British Lines near Arras March/April 1917

[RichardsProductions99]

Greetings all!

 

I was wondering if anyone can help me pin down which units would have been in the British (and German if possible) lines, which cross the current track known as the 'Rue Emile Zola' that runs from the edge of Arras down to the modern day D60?

I think I have narrowed down the location on a March 1917 British map, though whether this is indeed the area, I'm not certain.

I presume these were the lines Prior to the Withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line? 

If anyone can help provide any information on the area I would be most grateful.

Best wishes,

Chris

Edited 18 June , 2022 by RichardsProductions99

[WhiteStarLine]

Chris,

The Western Front Association's TrenchMapper has 75 maps of your area, quite a few from March 1917.  This extract is a barrage map together with tank routes.

Right click on a map and select Map Id Jump.  Paste in m_5_000502a then OK to jump directly to Sheet 51B NW 3, Arras.

[charlie2]

The map from „Die Osterschlacht bei Arras 1917“ part 2, showing the British lines on 08.04.1917 and the German lines on the 9th.

Charlie

[battle of loos]

good morning,

here is one German map :

regards

michel

[RichardsProductions99]

Thanks All for those very interesting maps!

So I take it that the Germans facing that sector were if the 17 Reserve Division on 08/04/1917 and RJR 76?

Which British units were in that area, or is that going to be more difficult to work out?

[charlie2]

33 minutes ago, RichardsProductions99 said:

Which British units were in that area

Maps 4 & 5 from the British Official history F&B 1917 Vol 1

Charlie

[brianmorris547]

WSL's map shows that 76 Infantry Brigade of 3 Div were in the area. According to the WD of 76 Infantry Brigade WO 95/1433 1 Bn Gordons made a trench raid on 05/03/1917 in square G 36 c. 

EDIT The Gordons were also involved in G 36 in the Operations in April.

More about the trench raid in the Op Orders in the March WD of The Commander Royal Field Artillery 3 Div. The best map I can find of Square G 36 is in the May 1917 WD of the CRA 3 Div. Courtesy TNA WO 95/1393. I have cropped the map to show G 36 but the full map is on Ancestry Piece 1393 p 129.

Brian

Edited 20 June , 2022 by brianmorris547

[RichardsProductions99]

@brianmorris547that's brilliant! Thanks for posting that! Only this evening I walked where the Gordon's mounted their raids and April operations from!