100 Days.
Hindenberg Line. Anneux. 2/4 Bn Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. 28 September 1918.
Over the 25-26 September 1918 the 2/4 Bn Loyal North Lancashire Regiment moved to bivouacs at Noreuil. The would be in action during the Battle of Cambrai to attack the Marcoing Line (Map C) – the second German line behind the Hindenburg Line and defending Cambrai.
On 27 September. at 4.30am, the battalion moved forward to Tadpole Copse, located in the Hindenburg line near to Moevre, where they arrived at 6.30am. , About 9.00am they continued and crossed the Canal du Nord at noon, then halted for three hours to allow the artillery to cross and take up positions. By 9.00pm they were in position at (Map A) between Graincourt and Anneux.
At 6.00am on 28 September the battalion moved off in close support to the 2/5th King’s Own Royal Lancaster. By about 8.30am they had reached the sunken road running between Anneux and Cantaing (Map B). The advance was made under harassing fire from the enemy and in artillery formation (single file).
On reaching the sunken road they formed up for the attack, the left flank on the Cambrai Road and the right against La Folie Wood. The advance was carried out by short rushes under heavy machine-gun fire from Marcoing Trench (Map C) and the wood. By 11.30 they were held up by a very severe bombardment in front of the enemy wire. Unable to move forward they dug in; here they remained until relieved early the next morning. Casualties are recorded in the War Dairy as ‘fairly heavy’ – CWGC lists about 20 men from 2/4 Bn LNL KIA on 28 September, nearly all buried at Anneux British Cemetery.
GOOGLE MAPS Satellite view centres on Fontaine Notre Dame with the road to Cambrai running through on which 2/4 Bn LNL formed their left flank.
2/4 Bn Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. Battle of Cambrai. Anneux. 28 September 1918. (National Archives)
References and Sources WAR DIARY 2/4 Bn Loyal North Lancs.
B&O 1918. 100 Days. Battle of Cambrai. Anneux. 2/4 Bn Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. 28 September 1918.
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