A Taste of Success: The First Battle of the Scarpe

[Crunchy]

A Taste of Success: The First Battle of the Scarpe; The Opening Phase of the Battle of Arras, 9-14 April 1917. Jim Smithson, Helion, Solihull, 2017, pp309.

 

Volumes have been written on the 1916 Battle of the Somme and the Third Battle of Ypres, largely driven by the appalling casualties suffered in those long drawn out offensives. Yet sandwiched in between them, the successful attack at Arras on 9 April 1917 has received little serious study, apart from Cyril Falls volume of the British Official History (1940), and Jonathan Nicholls' Cheerful Sacrifice: The Battle of Arras 1917 (1990), together with works on the Canadian's contribution to the battle at Vimy Ridge. Now we have Jim Smithson's meticulously researched A Taste of Success: The Battle of the Scarpe; The Opening Phase of the Battle of Arras, 9-14 April 1917 to build on the two previous works, and which addresses in great detail the first major success of the BEF in attacking the heavily fortified German lines on the Western Front.

 

That this book not only narrates the battle, but seeks to explain what occurred, and why in a thoughtful and balanced approach, makes it a welcome addition to the historiography of the Western Front.  Arras deserves attention, showing how far the BEF had come since the 1st July 1916, and as a stepping stone in honing it into the highly trained force it eventually became. Smithson's work clearly makes these points, and that they occurred in early 1917 is often forgotten in histories of subsequent battles

 

As background, in his opening chapter Smithson outlines the fighting in 1914 that led to the solidification of the lines around Arras, and the subsequent struggles that sought to regain the high ground around Vimy Ridge and the Lorrette Spur. Then follow four relatively short chapters providing us with the political and operational background that led to the offensive, the planning and preparations for it, and the plan of attack itself.  These include a useful and insightful discussion on the Chantilly conference, consideration of the improvements in training and tactics following the Somme, and pertinent observations on the limitations of some of the resources the British had at that stage of the war. All provide a solid background to the nub of the book - the battle itself which Smithson then delves into.  The attack on 9 April is narrated in two very detailed and extensive chapters, followed by another two chapters covering the subsequent actions from 10-14 April.  Wrapping up the book is an excellent 'Epilogue and Conclusion' in which much thoughtful analysis is considered. Some will disagree with the criticisms of a few of command decisions, which seem not to take sufficient recognition of the chaos of battle, that commanders can only work on the information they have at hand, or what they perceive is happening.

 

  Overall, however, Smithson is fair and balanced in most of his observations, and in doing so he convincingly overturns several earlier criticisms, either made at the time or in the later Official History.  Four appendices accompany the work, the Anglo-French Agreement from the Calais Conference, a divisional operation, a battalion operation order, and a company commander's report. Unusually an Order of Battle of the opposing forces is not included, which would have been a useful addition to gain an clearer idea of the forces involved.     

 

There is little doubt Smithson knows this battle inside out: his research has been extensive and meticulous, including many of the available German sources. Nor has he accepted sources on face value, but has compared them with others to correct inconsistencies around certain actions and dispel several myths along the way. Moreover, he has walked the ground with an eye to understanding the fighting and considering the validity of reasons advanced for certain failures, and he has given considerable thought to the issues he discusses. Explaining a battle as large as Arras succinctly so as to provide an clear picture of the overall action, yet in sufficient detail to give a sound understanding of what occurred in each area and phase is always a difficult task. Getting the balance right is not easy, and this reviewer is not sure Smithson has achieved it.

 

In an effort to make the story of an assault undertaken by four corps involving 14 divisions on a 15 mile frontage manageable, he has taken the sensible approach of discussing the battle in sections. Employing this means, the attack on 9 April unfolds within each divisional area following from north to south each brigade and each battalion, often at company level, the fighting during the morning success to the Blue Line. This is then repeated in the next chapter for the afternoon advance to the final objectives.  While this  approach enables the reader to understand which trenches were secured by which units, within each sector, it conveys a rather repetitive and tiresome character to the narrative, and one tends to lose sight of the big picture and what was achieved in a broader context. Starting with a wider focus at Corps level, outlining the action by each division to set the scene against which the subsequent detail could be referenced, would have enhanced our comprehension of the entire affair, and made it easier to grasp the essential elements and details of the battle as it unfolded. Fortunately the fighting on subsequent days is more readily grasped. Nonetheless, the detail provides those who like to know what every unit did with a wealth of information, although it may not appeal to those preferring a more succinct study.

 

Similarly, in a rather fireside chat style, the author often tells us that the reasons for a particular setback, delay or consequence will be addressed later in the book. Consequently, one is left wondering what these were, and is not sure they were addressed in the conclusion. It would have been much more rewarding to have discussed the reasons after each event, and reiterating them in the broader analysis of the final chapter.

 

The maps are extensive and clear but inconsistent in what they contain. The 1st Army coloured map displaying the successive objectives, brigades, and their planned routes is excellent, but that for the 3rd Army simply shows the lines to be taken. The remainder are black and white with varying degrees of detail. These range from the detailed VII Corps area showing the successive lines to be captured, the brigades involved, and the divisional boundaries, to others like that accompanying the unsuccessful attack near Roeux on 10 April, where only the terrain, villages, trenches, and the 2017 roads and cemeteries are displayed. No unit information whatsoever is provided. On the other hand the coloured reproduction of six contemporary trench maps with the planning detail on them are a welcome addition.

 

All in all, A Taste of Success delivers a detailed, meticulously researched narrative and a fine, balanced analysis. It deserves a place on the bookshelves of all those with an interest in the Great War, and brings this much neglected battle to our attention.

Edited 7 May , 2018 by Crunchy

[paulgranger]

Impressive review, and the book is being offered at a discounted price by Naval & Military Press at the moment.

[Steven Broomfield]

I recently used it as a reference for a talk I gave on the affair at Monchy involving the 8th Cavalry Brigade, and fully concur with Chris's review. Good value when I bought it. Even better if knocked-down by N&M

 

(Incidentally, anyone else think that N&M's sales are becoming like those of a certain purveyor of sofas?)

[keithfazzani]

Yes, but whose complaining?

[josquin]

Exemplary review, as always--admirably balanced, highly informative, and valuable for your insights regarding the realities of active service and engagement.

I concur that a corps rather than divisional presentation would have been preferable, but I applaud such a searching treatment of an important battle

regrettably neglected for a century.

Best regards,

Josquin

[Crunchy]

Many thanks for kind words Paul and Josquin.

 

Warm regards

Chris