British Army 1914-18

In this episode, I look at the unsuccessful attempt to break the British line around Arras on 28 March, codenamed Operation Mars. The I discuss the closing stages of Operation Michael, between 29 March and 6 April, when the Germans tried in vain to get closer to Amiens.

In this episode, I explain why the German offensive across the Somme in March 1918 began to stall after a week of hard fighting. We see how Third Army's line stabilised between Arras and Albert. Meanwhile, the arrival of French reserves meant that Fifth Army would be saved in the nick of time.

In this episode, I discuss the desperate fighting Fifth Army was involved in during the German onslaught across the Somme Canal on 23, 24 and 25 March 1918. We see how time and again, General Gough's troops fought until the were in danger of being overrun, before they fell back, looking for a new defensive position. All the time hoping that French troops would help them hold their line.

In this episode, I look at Third Army's difficult retreat across the 1916 battlefield between 23 and 25 March, in an effort to break contact with the Germans. In doing so, General Byng's troops reached the old trenches between Arras and Albert, where they could make a stand while they waited for reinforcements.

In this episode, I discuss the German attacks against Fifth Army's line across the Somme on 21 and 22 March 1918. We see how the Germans penetrated General Gough's line before the reinforcements could arrive. Then we see how many men were forced to abandon good positions, as the line started to crumble, and found themselves falling back to the Somme and Crozat Canals.

In this episode, I talk about the German attacks against Third Army's line across the Somme on 21 and 22 March 1918. We see how General Byng's troops held on until the reinforcements arrived. Then we see how many men were forced to abandon good positions, as the line started to crumble, and found themselves falling back to a poor defensive line.

In this episode, I discuss why the Germans were able to assemble a huge number of troops on the Western Front. Then we see how the British Expeditionary Force tried to prepare for the onslaught, while having to reduce the size of its divisions, while taking over more trenches. I then talk about the barrage the German barrage used and the tactics the infantry used.

In this episode, I look at the German counterattack which struck Third Army, south-west of Cambrai. We see how it was soon stopped by British reinforcements. Then I explain how Third Army abandoned a large area of ground, to secure its line.

In this episode, we see how the advantages of the tank breakthrough on 20 November 1917 were negated by poor management, bad weather and German resistance. I describe the difficult fighting around Bourlon and its wood, Graincourt and Marcoing, as Third Army tried to get closer to Cambrai,

In this episode, I talk about the tank attack south-west of Cambrai on 20 November 1917. We see how the tanks smashed through the Hindenburg Line before struggling to clear Flesquières or cross the St Quentin Canal between Marcoing and Crèvecoeur.