The shelled ruins of Arras.
[Photo from Old Postcard.]
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23rd APRIL. 4.15 a.m. The two Front line Btns were reported "in position and OK."
4.40 a.m. Two tanks attached to the 50th Division moved slowly forward.
4.45 a.m. 84 Eighteen pounder guns and 30 4.5 in howitzers opened fire at once and the Infantry began to
advance.
German rockets signalled to their own Artillery and their barrage descended about 40 seconds afterwards.
About 100 yds ahead of their own trenches the two Yorkshire Btns ran into their own barrage which was "creeping" forward
at too slow a rate. The 4th Btn suffered several casualties from our own guns.
"W" Company, on the right, met considerable opposition from rifle and machine gun fire and had to take shelter in
shell holes about 50 yds from the enemy's trenches. Not until the Company had established superiority of fire and
a tank had passed through was it possible to rush the trench which was found to be strongly held. But the Green
Howards beat down opposition and many prisoners were taken. Many dead and wounded Germans littered the trench which,
however was not in bad condition.
In the centre "X" Company had reached the enemy trench a little earlier and had less opposition, but had some 30
casualties from machine gun and artillery fire.
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On the left "Z" Company, which had been facing North East at zero hour swung
round, aligned themselves with "X"
Company and reached the German front line with few casualties and less opposition than the other Companies.
The Battalion, by now considerably thinned out, but still a continuous line, then moved East to the German Support
Trench.
5.25 a.m. The Support Trench was reached and found to be broad and literally filled with dead Germans, except
for the occupants of two deep dug-outs on "X" Coy's front. No prisoners were taken here.
By this time our line had become very thin. No East Yorks were observable on the right and the 44th Infantry Brigade
appeared not to have progressed on the left. The Battalion, however, moved forward and captured a 3 gun howitzer
battery.
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Capt David Philip Hirsch. V.C.
Capt Hirsch was awarded the Victoria Cross for his outstanding bravery on the
23rd April.
Despite being twice wounded he continued to rally his men until
he was killed.
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6.05 a.m. Began to dig in along a line 100 to 200 yds West of the first objective. Enemy rifle and
Artillery fire had practically ceased, but Machine Gun fire was increasing in intensity and a particularly deadly
stream of bullets was directed on to our left flank from a farm North of the Cojeul River and East of
Guemappe. Captain Hirsch [now the only Officer left] therefore established a defensive flank with half of "Y" Company
along a line above and parallel to the River Cojeul. With the remainder of the Battalion [about 150 men] he decided
to hold on to his position and sent back for reinforcements and Small Arms Ammunition.
The Battalion had no contact with the East Yorkshires on the right. They had lost all their Officers earlier in
the attack. Neither had the Divisions to either side progressed and the 4th Yorks Btn found themselves surrounded
by Germans on three sides.
6.30 a.m. "A" Coy of the 5th Durham Light Infantry were sent up to reinforce and with ammunition,
the special
object of this Coy was to try to extend our line on the right across the railway and if possible get in touch with
the 5th Yorks Btn.
They finally reached our line and established themselves across the railway but found their right
flank as much "in the air" as "W" Coy's had previously been.
7.15 a.m. Capt Hirsch [who had previously been wounded was killed and Mr Luckhurst of the T.M Battery appears to
have taken over the Btn for a short time. His fate is now uncertain.
7.40 a.m. The Btn appears to have maintained itself near the first objective ["Z" Coy being slightly forward,
"W" Coy swung back and forming a defensive flank facing South East.] for a matter of something over an hour and a
half. But by 7.30 the Germans were seen massing for a counter-attack. One party were creeping down the low ground
along the Cojeul. Others were seen coming forward from the trenches in from of Vis En Artois. A third block of men
on our right rear previously mistaken for the East Yorks were now observed to be Germans. A retirement in successive
phases was therefore undertaken - first to the German 2nd line, then to his first and finally to our front line.
The whole withdrawal was carried out under heavy Machine Gun fire and directed by not more than half a dozen junior
N.C.Os, who state that throughout the line was under control and that with sections of riflemen constantly fought
rearguard actions to cover the retirement of the rest.
8.10 a.m Our men were back in our Front line. They state that to their knowledge no unwounded prisoners were
taken. Casualties since 21st were 3 Officers killed, 7 wounded and 1 missing, believed killed.
352 other ranks were killed, wounded or missing; the proportions not immediately ascertained.
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Capt Geoffrey Arnold Tugwell.
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6.0 p.m. The remnants of the Btn under Major Stead remained in our front line in support to the attack by
the 9th Durham Light Infantry and the 5th Border Regt. Btn HQ moved back to Wancourt.
At least 109 men of the 4th Yorks Battalion were killed in action on the 23rd.
The following 86 have no known grave and are commemorated on the Arras Memorial.
Capt David Philip Hirsch Age 20. Killed in action. Home at Westwood Grove, Leeds, Yorks.
He was awarded the Victoria Cross and had previously been wounded and mentioned in despatches.
"The London Gazette", dated 14th June, 1917, records the following:- "For most conspicuous
bravery and devotion to duty in attack.
Having arrived at the first objective, Capt. Hirsch, although already twice
wounded, returned over fire-swept slopes to satisfy himself that the defensive flank was being established. Machine
gun fire was so intense that it was necessary for him to be continuously up and down the line encouraging his men to
dig and hold the position. He continued to encourage his men by standing on the parapet and steadying them in the face
of machine gun fire and counter-attack until he was killed. His conduct throughout was a magnificent example of the
greatest devotion to duty."
Capt Geoffrey Arnold Tugwell. Killed in action. Age 24. Home at 40, Esplanade, Scarborough. He had previously
been twice wounded at Ypres and on the Somme. An old boy of Lancing College, Sussex.
Lt Isaac Hinton Scarth Killed in action. Age 23. Home at Stanghow House, Stanghow, Boosbeck, Yorks. Before the War he was an
articled clerk to W Richardson, Solicitors of Guisborough, N Yorks. He had been commissioned into the Bn in May 1915 and just been
promoted to Lt.
2Lt William Luckhurst. Killed in action. Age 21. Home at South Mundham, Chichester, Sussex.
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202329 Pte Bailey Arthur. Home in Irthlingborough Northants. Enlisted in Northampton.
Ex 3172 Northants Regt.
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British burial party at Arras.
[Picture courtesy of - "The Heritage of the Great War".].
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200897 Pte Archer Robert. Home at 22 Boosbeck Rd, Skelton Green, N Yorks. Born Boosbeck, N Yorks.
Enlisted at Skelton in Cleveland. Age 21.
200861 Cpl Bainbridge Thomas, Lawrence. Home at 5 Castle Terrace, Richmond, N Yorks.
Enlisted at Northallerton. Age 25.
201035 Pte Baker Albert Edward Home at Scarborough, N Yorks. Enlisted at Skelton in Cleveland,
N Yorks.
202226 Pte Barnett Sydney. Home at Kingsthorpe Northants, town of birth. Enlisted
at Northampton. Ex 5371 Northants Regt.
202273 Pte Bartlett Henry, James, Edwin. Born and enlisted at Northampton.
Ex 5357 Northants Regt.
202219 Pte Bateman Harry. Home at The Lion and Lamb Inn, Daventry Northants. Enlisted at
Northampton. Age 26. Ex 5357 Northants Regt.
203108 Pte Bell Thomas, Edward. Home at 20 Beaumont St, Newcastle on Tyne, town of birth
and enlistment. Age 22.
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