From the Somme to Arras

In 1917, the British and Canadians – together with intelligence from the Royal Flying Corps – took the German position of Vimy Ridge as part of the Battle of Arras, April to May 1917.

By the end of April, the ’flying life’ of a pilot was down to mere days; with inexperienced pilots pitted against Germany’s ‘Red Baron’. Peter Hart (Imperial War Museum) will tell the story of the air war over Arras.

Andrew Lock will discuss progress made by the British Expeditionary Forces between the battles of the Somme (1916) and Arras. Although lessons were learned during the Somme campaign, Arras clearly exposed command and preparation deficiencies, leading to setbacks and the highest casualty rate of any British offensive in the war.