1st Essex and the push for Cambrai 1918

In August 1918 the Germans were in retreat but provided stiff resistance.

On 23 August 1918 the 1st Essex were part of the forces committed to attack the German line near to the village of Achiet le Grand and take the strategic Arras-Amiens railway line at which the Germans had developed stung defences with machine guns every twenty yards.

The day proved to be one of the hottest of the year and at 11.08 the advance began.

2nd Lieut and the majority of his 20 men were killed when their attack was stalled. Captain Mathieson requested a tank and on it's arrival the advance again went forward with 2nd Lieutenants Butler, Silver and Moss to the fore and were in possession of the railway line by 2pm after the defences were outflanked at which point 60 Germans surrendered with eleven machine guns.

The Essex were in the vanguard of the attack and halted at the trenches by the railway line as there were no British troops to their left which left them exposed to counter attack.

By 7.30 the rest of the line had caught up with the Essex men and the advance continued with Essex taking up a reserve role.

Within 5 days the sector had been consolidated. Over 1000 prisoners plus a large quantity of military equipment had been captured and the way to Bapaume was open.

1st Essex had 3 officers and 78 other ranks killed with 10 officers and 197 other ranks wounded with 8 men.

Officers killed were 2nd Lieutenants  H J Whitcombe, E J Brand, and S J Wright with Captains L J Miles and W H Macauley, Lieutenant C H Campling missing, 2nd Lieutenants H Fairbank, A J Pearson, A L Bryant, E P Bugg, L H M Wilcox, J E Barrett and SD Macloughlin.

After a new draft of 248 men the battalion continued to advance reaching Lebucquiere by 2 September 1918.

Lt Colonel Sanders was promoted to Brig General and relinquished command to Major T J E Blake from the 13th Royal Fusiliers.

The battalion was given the task of clearing Havringcourt Wood.

Z Company under Captain W D Mathieson captured some German trenches and then Corporal Wells led a bombing party which captured 5 more Germans and a machine gun to prevent another obstacle to the advance.

During the advance near Havringcourt Lieutenant Young from the 1st Herts battalion who were advancing next to the Essex was awarded a VC for his actions and Lance Corporal Robinson was captured by The Germans but managed to escape and made his way back through the lines during an artillery barrage.

By the end of September 1918 the 1st Essex were taken back into reserve by which time they had taken 38 more casualties including 5 men killed.

On October 5th the advance began on Cambrai with 1st Essex in reserve but they joined in the attack on 7th October 1918 situated on the left of the Brigade line.

Considerable resistance was forthcoming from positions at Bel-aisle farm although X company managed to clear the farm taking over 80 prisoners.

From then on the advance progressed with little resistance capturing more ground before nightfall.

1st Essex suffered 166 casualties with 3 officers and 24 other ranks killed, four officers, including Lt Col Blake, and 107 other ranks wounded and 27 missing.

Those killed included 2nd Lieutenants C H Reid, S W Hughes and N A Noble.

Lt Colonel received the DSO for his actions during this advance.