Arras - Monchy le Preux

The village of Monchy le Preux lies 10km SE of Arras and was one of the objectives to be captured by VI Corps on 9th April when the Battle of Arras was launched. By the eve of the second day of the Battle it was still in German hands.

The village was situated on higher round and was key terrain which needed to be captured in order for the Green Line objective to be achieved.

Battle of Arras
Moncy sketch by  Captain David Burles of Essex Yeomanry

The Third Army issued orders at 23:00 for the 37th Division to renew the attack on the 11th April. Despite orders not being received till 04:00, the attack would commence at 05:00. The men of the Division were roused from their snow covered positions and readied for battle.

The 111h Brigade was on the left, directly facing Monchy, 112th Brigade right, the attack would be supported by six tanks. The attack would be supported on the left flank by the 15th (Scottish) Division. Initially the attack did not go well as the advancing troops were met by heavy machine gun fire from the heavily fortified village. Eventually the infantry broke into the village supported by two tanks. 

Information was received at Third Army HQ that Monchy had been taken, and at 08:30 the 8th Cavalry Brigade was ordered to advance North of Monchy to exploit a breakthrough.

Battle of Arras
Cavalry Advancing

The advance was premature, Monchy was held by no more than 150 gallant men and the position was precarious. As the cavalry galloped in to action they met heavy artillery and machine gun fire and they were forced into Monchy.

The Germans then brought every gun they could spare to bear on the village firing a box barrage which gradually moved inwards. As the cavalry men took cover as best they could in trenches, cellars and the ruins of the buildings, the horses were caught in the open resulting in heavy loss. The cavalry joined the infantry in preparing defensive positions to secure Monchy.

Battle of Arras
37th Division Memorial Monchy le Preux

The final objective was the Green Line. To renew the offensive fresh Divisions would relieve those currently in the front line. Allotted to IV Corps were the 17th and 29th Divisions, to their south the 50th (Northumbrian) Division would join VII Corps.

The village of Monchy would be allocated to the 88th Brigade of the 29th Division who would attack on 14th April 1917. At 05:30 an artillery barrage supported the advance of the 1st Essex Regiment (left) and the Newfoundland Regiment (right) towards the objective of Infantry Hill.

Battle of Arras
Attack from Monchy 14th April 1914

After 90 minutes the Essex had secured their part of the objective, the Newfoundland Regiment  were slowed  by heavy machine gun fire. They pressed on. Despite suffering heavy casualties they occupied the enemy front line trenches and continued reaching the high ground of the hill. At this point the Germans counter attacked, small groups of men held on till they were captured or wounded.

At 10:00, The Commanding Officer of the Newfoundland Regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel Forbes-Robertson, gathered the men from his HQ and advanced forward under fire to meet a force of who were advancing towards Monchy. For four hours, ten men held the German attack, "all that stood between the Germans and Monchy, one of the most vital positions on the whole battlefield." (British Official History 1917 Vol 1 page 292). The party were eventually relieved at 14:45 by a platoon of the 2nd Hampshire's and Monchy was saved.

A monument commemorating the actions of the Newfoundland Regiment was erected in Monchy le Preux.

Monchy le Preux
Newfoundland Regiment Memorial