Northumbrian Gunner: Op Piper

Situated beneath Arras are caves where 24,500 British Soldiers sheltered prior to the Battle of Arras in April 1917.

The caves had been underground quarries and their existence had been forgotten. They were discovered in October 1916 and developed by New Zealand tunneling companies.

The tunnels led to the front line, sometimes into no mans land. The assaulting troops remained in safety right up to the moment they started their attack on the German front line.