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Memorial at la Chapelle de Feuchy
LocationSeven kilometres east of Arras on the main road to Cambrai (D 939). Travelling towards Cambrai it is on the right hand side of the road. You will see Feuchy Chapel CWGC Cemetery and a short distance further on this Cross. There is not a great deal of room to park and this is a very busy road, with the cross situated just before an autoroute intersection.
9 April 1917In November 1916 an Allied military conference had agreed on certain objectives for the coming year. Although General Joffre had been replaced by Nivelle, Marshal Haig stuck by the agreed strategy. One of Haig's spring objectives was to remove the German salient around Arras. In doing so he was hoping to draw as many German reserves north as he could, and thus assisting the French who were preparing for their own assault on the Chemin des Dames. On the same morning as the Canadians launched their offensive against Vimy Ridge the 1st Battle of the Scarpe opened with the British pushing against the German held villages on the eastern side of Arras - towards Cambrai. During the initial attack by VI Corps the 12th Division were at the front of the attack. Following the opening attack at 05:30 hours the 12th Division stormed down into the plain capturing a number of German field guns. By 14:00 hours the 12th had reached Feuchy Chapel and were engaged in beating off a German counter-attack. The day had been one of remarkable success all round. That night the sleet and showers that had been seen during the day turned into snow and this was to hamper the advance over the following days. It would be another couple of days before Monchy-le-Preux fell to the 37th Division. In stark contrast to the opening of the Somme - and this battle had been prepared just as meticulously - the 3rd Army suffered only 8,238 casualties in three days whilst capturing 7,000 prisoners and 112 guns. The cross raised by the Division is a replica of that in York Minster. Another cross was erected at Epehy, but only the base of that one has survived. |
In the locality
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