andyspiller Posted 30 April , 2004 Share Posted 30 April , 2004 (edited) Pals On the corner of the Rue Du Saumon in Arras is this plaque. Does anybody know why it is there? There is also a photo of it in Rose Coombes' BEF - but she does not say why either. Regards Andy Pic resized. Members please keep pics at 600 pixels width or less. Edited 30 April , 2004 by Chris_Baker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilB Posted 30 April , 2004 Share Posted 30 April , 2004 Why not, andy? They were in the Arras battles, after all. Interesting to see the "Dulce et decorum". I wonder when Owen`s poem killed that one off as an epitaph. Phil B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyspiller Posted 30 April , 2004 Author Share Posted 30 April , 2004 Phil Quite agree, but was really after anybody that might have any info as to whether or not the site of the plaque has any significance. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Morgan Posted 30 April , 2004 Share Posted 30 April , 2004 Andy, the plaque commemorates the Division's actions during the Battles of the Scarpe, 1918. And Phil, the first published collection of Owen's poetry came out in 1920, with a second printing in 1921, but it was the new 1931 edition, with a biography and introduction by Edmund Blunden, which really took off, I think. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyspiller Posted 30 April , 2004 Author Share Posted 30 April , 2004 Tom Confused now . I thought that the Scarpe battles were April/May 1917. Are they referred to as something else in 1918. Regards Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Morgan Posted 30 April , 2004 Share Posted 30 April , 2004 Andy - I think the plaque commemorates the 1918 Battle of the Scarpe (26th - 30th August, 1918) - start of the Second Battle of Arras. There were several "Battles of the Scarpe" and hopefully someone will be able to tell us which was the first, second etc!! Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_Baker Posted 30 April , 2004 Share Posted 30 April , 2004 Someone can tell us? It's all on the Long, Long Trail of course! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred W Posted 30 April , 2004 Share Posted 30 April , 2004 I think the 56th Div only took part in the First Battle of the Scarpe 9-14 April 1917. The other Battles of the Scarpe were 23-24 April 1917 and 26-30 August 1918. Fred W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyspiller Posted 30 April , 2004 Author Share Posted 30 April , 2004 Chris Firstly, sorry about the pic I did downsize from 800K to 160K! Had a quick look and found that both the Arras and Hindenburgh pages for 1918 are WIP . I will have to look somewhere else now. I am also still curious as to the siting of the memorial Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartinWills Posted 30 April , 2004 Share Posted 30 April , 2004 The 56th Division were involved in the Battle of the Scarpe which was a key part of the last months of the war. It is a battle honour shared by many units but which has very little publicity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred W Posted 30 April , 2004 Share Posted 30 April , 2004 Now I have looked things up there was a Battle of The Scarpe 3- May 1917 in which 56 Div (V1 Corps) was engaged and also 26-30 August 1918 as part of XV11 Corps) Fred W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 30 April , 2004 Share Posted 30 April , 2004 You'll find a short history of the Division here: http://battlefields1418.50megs.com/56_division.htm They did indeed serve at Arras in both 1917 and 1918; they did well in the April 1917 battle and helped stop the German Army east of Arras in March 1918 before taking part in the August 18 battles around Arras, so I suspect that is why they chose to have their divisional memorial in Arras. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyspiller Posted 30 April , 2004 Author Share Posted 30 April , 2004 Paul I've rechecked the Divisional History and can't find any particular reference to the division being stationed in Arras itself. I am just curious if the positioning of the plaque is significant or not - and also if anybody knows who put it up. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyspiller Posted 8 June , 2004 Author Share Posted 8 June , 2004 Pals to answer my own question - from The Times (1923). Regards Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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