KINGS (LIVERPOOL)REGIMENT
18TH Bn
BATTLE OF ARRAS
9TH APRIL 1917.

DEDICATED TO MY GRANDFATHER PTE J HURST 42943 AND HIS COMRADES.

My Grandfather was a one of those lads who enthusiastically joined up in 1914. He was originally in the Kings Own Royal Lancaster Regiment which was shipped over in 1915.
He was first wounded on July 19th 1916 and on returning to the France was transferred into the 18th Bn Kings (Liverpool)Regiment, which was probably his first choice as he was probably aquainted with many of the lads there, but due to the huge numbers wanting to join all battalions were full. Ironically, the 18th was also the battalion of my Grandfather on my mothers side who was wounded by gas but survived the war but died prematurely due to the wounds. Though they weren’t related by marriage then. He was wounded again on January 7th 1917 and was in Sheffield Hospital , returning on 25th March 1917, when the build-up for the big offensive was being prepared.

The 18th were to form on the left of 21st Brigade , with the 2nd Wiltshires on the right.
This was part of 30th Division which also consisted of 19th Kings(Liverpool)to the right of 21st Brigade. The 18th relieved 17th Manchesters on 7th April on the St Martin-sur-Cojeul-Neuville Vitasse road. 89th Brigage were charged with the capture of St Martin-sur-Cojeul while 21st were to co-operate by attacking two strongly held mills on 8/9th April. St Martin was captured but the two mills could not be taken. The 20th Kings took part in the attack. On the morning of the 9th 21st Brigade had been ordered not to attack until Neuville-Vitasse had been taken. It was taken at 11:38am and the 21st was ordered to advance. Made more diffcult by the loss of the element of surprise. The capture of Saint-Martin-sur-Cojeul had made their task that much easier, but their task was the Neuvell-Vitasse Trench and The Egg (a small redoubt of considerable strength) and a mass of communications trenches which formed part of the switch line on the Brigade front. The southern boundary being Nepal and Natal trenches and the Lion Lane trench and Zoo trench which lay in 56 Division area. If not taken these trenches were likely to give infinite trouble to attacking forces. These were protected by powerful entanglements behind The Egg. But the greatest danger were the were the targets they would encounter as they advanced over 2000 yards of open countryside, like the two mills,etc. The Kings and 2nd Wilts advanced witth the 19th Manchesters and 2nd Green Howards in support.
They advanced in good order with intervals and direction well maintained. Across the advance lay two sunken lanes, the first being the Henin-Neuville-Vitasse road and the second St Martin-Neuville-Vitasse road. Due to German opposition forward of the two sunken roads it was found necessary to deploy under constant artillery fire. On gaining position immediately in front of the German lines it was found that the wire was practically uncut. This wire formed two strong belts in front of the German trenches so Capt.R.W.Jones began the job of consolidating in front of the wire and held on all that day until relieved by the 16th Manchesters at about 3am. All that time under continuous machine gun and rifle fire. That was the end of the 1st Battle of the Scarpe for the 18th Bn.
Which suffered many casualties among them my Grandfather.

John Hurst 16.02.2006