SIR - Thursday, September 27 sees the centenary of the opening day of the Battle of the Canal du Nord where the BEF broke the Hindenburg Line and advanced further east pushing the German Army even further back. This battle is probably as important as the Battle of Amiens (August) in the last 100 days campaign as the German Army had intended to retreat to the Hindenburg Line, a heavily defended line of trenches and barbed wire, in order to wait for the winter of 1918 to wear out the Allies.
Territorial soldiers of the 62nd (West Riding) Division were one of thirteen divisions of the BEF which took part, having retaken Havrincourt (taken & lost in 1917). This battle was one part of a concerted attack which involved soldiers from Belgium (the Grande Armée de Flandres, GOC King Albert of the Belgians) in the north, to the Meuse-Argonne forest (where the American Expeditionary Force attacked in a heavily forested valley) in the south. During two days of heavy fighting 12 Victoria Crosses were awarded for conspicuous bravery and initiative while under fire, one of which was awarded to Henry Tandey of the 5th battalion of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment.
Peter J Palmer, Buttermere Road, Bradford
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