Arras
Pas-de-Calais, France
Mentioned: 1917, 1918
Vimy / Artois Sector The city that gave its name to the Battle of Arras, of which Vimy Ridge was part. Robertson visits in person on April 23, 1917, finding it "far more interesting than Albert," and returns again that July for garden supplies. A February 12, 1918 visit finds it much changed: "a pitiful sight," he writes, comparing it unfavourably to Ypres, which he had walked through himself in 1916.
View on the map →Mentioned in the diary · 7 entries
1917
- 9 April 1917… -BRAY with Bell & Lang to see the show start. – Zero hr. 5.30 A.M. Wonderful sight – from SOUCHEZ to s. of ARRAS. – Mine blown on left. – Guns & horse lines moved up almost immediately. – Organization s …
- 23 April 1917… at follows the completion of a dirty job. – It took me till noon to get up. – Teddy Brickett & I went into ARRAS to have a look around. – The town is far more interesting than ALBERT. C.R.E was up at th …
- 25 April 1917… ge & a chance to broaden out a bit while learning the inner workings of the mysteries of Hdrs. – Rode into ARRAS with Waddy this aft.
- 26 May 1917… heard dropping fairly ajacent. (that's wrong, I know it) – They bombed around Cup last night & shot up the Arras-Bethune road with M.G.'s – They will be back too as the moon gets brighter. – Only hope t …
- 21 July 1917Warm. Nothing much doing so went down to ARRAS with Sutherland to get some stuff for the gardens. – French Mission have the old gardens …
1918
- 12 February 1918Fair. Gus & I went to ARRAS on the morning leave train. – Visited Ordinance, lunched at the club, did some shopping & …
- 16 April 1918… N. Eglise & a few more places. Lots of strafing going on to-night. – The “MAIL” says he’s massing between ARRAS & ALBERT.