Arras 1914-1918: A Comprehensive Guide to the Battlefields. Part 1 - Arras South

Arras is known by some as the forgotten battle, because of this it’s not one of the most written about or visited First World War areas on the Western Front; in fact, it lacks the general awareness levels when compared to the iconic battlefields of the Somme or Passchendaele. Nevertheless, The Arras battlefields hold much to interest both the seasoned and curious visitor alike, with many visual reminders of the war over 100 years on.

This guide is designed to both educate and guide the visitor around four years of conflict that the city of Arras and its surrounding area endured. Organised geographically in sectors to aid the visitor, all the major engagements of the war in the Arras area are described and locations chosen to enable the visitor to gain a greater understanding of the battle; from the French on the Lorette Ridge in 1914 & 1915, the British from 1916-18 and the Canadians on Vimy Ridge in 1917, north of the city, to the Australians at Bullecourt in the south, the visitor will find the battlefield described in detail. The guide uses key observation points to ensure that the visitor is correctly orientated to get a fuller understanding of the battles and the ground they were fought over. The visitor can for example stand on Observation Ridge, look towards the city of Arras and using the description of the battle and the detailed maps and photographs taken from that key location, gain a full understanding of the attack of 12th Division on the morning of the 9th April. A detailed modern map then allows the visitor to turn and move to one of the many cemeteries in the area and again be able to read a detailed description of what he or she can see.

This is not a guide that will tell you where to go or give prescribed routes but by clearly marked key locations will allow the visitor to plan their own itinerary according to time, interest or inclination. Each location has photographs and a clear description of what can be seen and what happened at key moments of the war at that place. Advice is also given as to the accessibility (car, bicycle or on foot) for each location to aid the visitor when planning. Lavishly provided with maps and photographs, this guide will be the essential companion to anyone visiting the Arras battlefields and hopefully bring them back to the area again and again.

This volume deals with the area south of the River Scarpe where the British attacked in April and May 1917, the Germans in March 1918 and then the Anglo-Canadian offensive leading to the end of the war.

Brought up in Sheffield, Jim initially saw instructing in outdoor pursuits as a career prospect but was soon persuaded otherwise and trained as a teacher, graduating in 1990 from Durham University. After an initial couple of years teaching in West Yorkshire he moved to Germany to teach in the British Forces’ schools there. Jim has always had a keen interest in military history, beginning with an appetite for war gaming as a teen and often in later years he would visit the battlefields of the First and Second World Wars as much as possible. This passion eventually led to him buying a house in France in 2007 to have a base close to areas of the Western Front and the opportunity to ‘walk the ground’ of the battles he was studying. The closure of schools in Germany in 2014 and the opportunity to retire, move to his house permanently and ‘live the dream’ could not be passed by. Working as a battlefield guide on the Western Front has allowed Jim to share his enthusiasm with others, something he loves doing, being basically the best job he’s ever had. He has an appetite for primary research and the fluency to be able to do it in both English and German resulting in a deep knowledge and understanding of the First World War from both sides of the wire. It was only natural that Jim’s first book, A Taste of Success, had as its subject, the very battlefield upon which he lives; having walked the ground regularly and gained a deep insight into the fighting that went on there. Unlike most other people with a passion for the Great War, Tim has Disneyland Paris to thank for the start of his journey. It was during a trip to Disneyland Paris over 20 years ago that Tim passed through Ypres and witnessed the Last Post Ceremony, an event that would change his life forever. From that point, he spent any spare time that he had, visiting the WW1 battlefields of France and Flanders, walking the ground he had read about and gaining a full understanding of the events that will be etched in the history books of the commonwealth forever. His thirst for knowledge of WW1 also introduced him to medal collecting, avidly researching and understanding the men behind the medals, the part that they played and the respective actions that they fought in. Tim has strong family links to the Great War, his Grand Father, a member of the 2nd battalion Devonshire regiment was taken prisoner of war, captured during the 2nd Devons historic battle at the Bois Des Buttes on the 27th of May 1918, his great uncle was KIA on the 4th of June 1918 whilst serving with the 8th Battalion Gloucestershire regiment. After many years of visiting the battlefields came the realisation that "you only live once" Tim and his wife decided to purchase a property in the heart of the Somme battlefields, give up the corporate treadmill and start living the dream. Tim, a glass half full person with a zest for life, has been carrying out research and guiding groups large and small around the battlefields of France & Flanders for many years, sharing his passion and knowledge with anyone who wants to listen. He also had in his own words “ the privilege of being the founding chairman of the Somme branch of the Western Front Association”.