Battle of the Scarpe (1918)

Part of the Western Front of World War I
Hundred Days Offensive : Second Battle of Arras

Date	26–30 August 1918
Location	Monchy-le-Preux, France 50°16′14″N 02°53′39″E / 50.27056°N 2.89417°E / 50.27056; 2.89417Coordinates: 50°16′14″N 02°53′39″E / 50.27056°N 2.89417°E / 50.27056; 2.89417
Result	Allied victory

Belligerents

British Empire

Canada

German Empire

Commanders and leaders

Julian Byng

Arthur Currie

Casualties and losses

Canadians captured 3,300 prisoners

British Empire

The Battle of the Scarpe was a World War I battle that took place during the Hundred Days Offensive between 26 and 30 August 1918.

The Canadian Corps advanced over 5 kilometers and captured the towns of Monchy-le-Preux and Wancourt.

Lt. Charles Smith Rutherford VC MC MM from the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division performed actions that would earn him the Victoria Cross. He captured a German party of 45, including two officers and three machine-guns, then captured another pill-box along with another 35 prisoners and their guns.

Heavy rains during the night resulted in slippery ground, difficulties in assembling troops and late starts for the assaults. Stiff resistance from the Germans and their heavily defended positions limited gains to around 3 kilometers.

The 2nd and 3rd Canadian Infantry Divisions seized an important portion of the German Fresnes-Rouvroy defence system after three days of intense fighting. Total casualties are reported as 254 officers and 5,547 other ranks. They captured more than 3,300 prisoners, 53 guns and 519 machine guns.

Lt-Col. William Hew Clark-Kennedy, 24th Battalion, 2nd Canadian Infantry Division, earned a Victoria Cross by personally driving the advance despite being severely wounded, and suffering from intense pain and loss of blood.

Lt-Col. A. E. G. McKenzie, Commanding Officer of the 26th (New Brunswick) Battalion, was killed during action on August 28. He was posthumously awarded a bar to his Distinguished Service Order.

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