Great War>The Battles

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Operation Michael, the Spring Offensive    On the 21st of March 1918 the German Army launched attack on the Western Front, code named Operation Michael. Half a million German troops were moved from the Russian front to take part in the offensive. Attack opened with a huge bombardment over 45 miles of the front line . One million artillery shells were fired on the Allied lines during a five hour barrage. This was followed by a swift assault across a battered landscape swathed in mist and artillery smoke. Sixty five Divisions of the Imperial German Army overwhelmed the 26 Allied Divisions who were holding the trenches. The front lines were pushed back across the hard fought battlefields of the Somme and by the time the advance was brought to a halt in early May, parts of the front line were further west than the old front line had been prior to the 1st of July 1916 when the Allied had launched their assault. 20th Mar 1918 Bombardment 20th Mar 1918 Into Support 20th Mar 1918 Orders 20th Mar 1918 In Action 21st Mar 1918 34th Division over run  On 21st March 1918, the great German spring offensive overran the positions of 34th Division at Croisilles on the River Sensee, causing many losses. 21st Mar 1918 6th Dorsets hold the line 21st March 1918 In Action 21st Mar 1918 Into Position 21st Mar 1918 Arrangements 21st Mar 1918 In Action 21st Mar 1918 In Defence 21st Mar 1918 Enemy Attacks 21st March 1918 Withdraw under artillery fire 21st Mar 1918 Bombardment 21st Mar 1918 Gas 21st Mar 1918 In Defence 21st Mar 1918 Attack 21st Mar 1918 Enemy Attacks 21st Mar 1918 Bombardment 21st Mar 1918 Enemy Attack 21st Mar 1918 In Defence 21st Mar 1918 Enemy Attacks 21st March 1918 7th Battalion, East Kent Regiment (The Buffs). 21st March 1918 In Action 21st Mar 1918 Enemy Attack 21st Mar 1918 Bombardment 21st Mar 1918 In Action 21st Mar 1918 Orders 21st Mar 1918 Bombardment 21st Mar 1918 Under Attack 21st Mar 1918 Photograph 21st Mar 1918 Attack 21st Mar 1918 Enemy Attack 21st Mar 1918 Enemy Attacks 21st of March 1918 Intense Barrage 21st Mar 1918 Thick Mist 21st March 1918 Bombardment 21st Mar 1918 In Action 22nd Mar 1918 Withdrawal 22nd Mar 1918 Messages 22nd Mar 1918 Fighting Withdrawal 22nd Mar 1918 In Action 22nd Mar 1918 Aerial Battles 22nd Mar 1918 Recce 22nd Mar 1918 Withdrawal 22nd Mar 1918 Bridge 22nd Mar 1918 Fighting Retreat 22nd March 1918 In Action 22nd Mar 1918 Heavy Shelling 22nd Mar 1918 In Action 22nd Mar 1918 In Defence 22nd Mar 1918 In Action 22nd Mar 1918 In Action 22nd Mar 1918 In Action 22nd Mar 1918 Dispositions 22nd Mar 1918 Attack Made 22nd Mar 1918 In Action 22nd Mar 1918 Under Pressure 22nd Mar 1918 Under Attack 22nd Mar 1918 Heavy Shelling 22nd Mar 1918 Enemy Attacks 22nd of March 1918 Message 22nd Mar 1918 Withdrawal 23rd Mar 1918 Withdrawal 23rd Mar 1918 Messages 23rd Mar 1918 Fighting Withdrawal 23nd Mar 1918 Reliefs 23nd Mar 1918 In Defence 23rd Mar 1918 Orders 23rd Mar 1918 Withdrawal 23rd Mar 1918 Fighting Withdrawal 23rd Mar 1918 Fighting Retreat 23rd March 1918 Received head injury 23rd March 1918 In Action 23rd Mar 1918 Rearguard Action 23rd Mar 1918 Withdrawal 23rd Mar 1918 In Defence 23rd Mar 1918 On the Move 23rd Mar 1918 Withdrawal 23rd Mar 1918 Heavy Fighting 23rd Mar 1918 Enemy Advance 23rd Mar 1918 Hard Fighting 23rd Mar 1918 In Action 23rd Mar 1918 Further Back 23rd March 1918 Orders 23rd Mar 1918 Retreat 24th Mar 1918 In Defence 24th Mar 1918 Messages 24th Mar 1918 Fighting Withdrawal 24th Mar 1918 Holding the Line 24th Mar 1918 Enemy Advances 24th Mar 1918 Fighting Retreat 24th Mar 1918 Fighting Withdrawal 24th Mar 1918 In Defence 24th March 1918 In Action 24th Mar 1918 Fierce Fighting 24th Mar 1918 Orders 24th Mar 1918 Town Lost 24th Mar 1918 In Defence 24th Mar 1918 Withdrawal 24th Mar 1918 Fighting Withdrawal 24th of March 1918 Message 24th Mar 1918 In Action 24th Mar 1918 Pushed Back 24th March 1918 Shelling 25th Mar 1918 Counter Attack 25th Mar 1918 Holding the Line 25th Mar 1918 Enemy Attacks 25th Mar 1918 Enemy Advance 25th Mar 1918 In Defence 25th Mar 1918 Counter Attack 25th Mar 1918 In Defence 25th March 1918 In Action 25th Mar 1918 Fierce Attack 25th Mar 1918 Holding the Line 25th Mar 1918 Enemy Attacks 25th Mar 1918 Hard Fighting 25th Mar 1918 Withdrawal 25th Mar 1918 Pressed Back 25th Mar 1918 Enemy Advance 25th Mar 1918 Withdrawal 25th Mar 1918 In Action 25th March 1918 Reliefs 25th Mar 1918 Line Broken 26th Mar 1918 In Action 26th Mar 1918 Withdrawal 26th Mar 1918 Shelling 26th Mar 1918 Reliefs Complete 26th Mar 1918 Withdrawal 26th Mar 1918 In Defence 26th March 1918 Holding the Line 26th Mar 1918 Holding the Line 26th Mar 1918 In Defence 26th Mar 1918 On the March 26th Mar 1918 Fighting Withdrawal 26th Mar 1918 On the Move 26th Mar 1918 Fighting Withdrawal 26th Mar 1918 Casualties 26th Mar 1918 Orders 26th Mar 1918 On the Move 26th Mar 1918 Infantry Withdraw 26th March 1918 The Green Line held 26th Mar 1918 Withdrawal 26th Mar 1918 Reopening 27th Mar 1918 Congratulation Telegram 27th Mar 1918 Under Fire 27th Mar 1918 In Action 27th Mar 1918 Counter Attack 27th Mar 1918 Praise 27th Mar 1918 Fighting Withdrawal 27th March 1918 Attack & Counter Attack 27th Mar 1918 Into Billets 27th Mar 1918 On the March 27th Mar 1918 Enemy Push 27th Mar 1918 In Defence 27th Mar 1918 Attacks Repelled 27th Mar 1918 At Rest 27th Mar 1918 On the Move 27th Mar 1918 New Positions 27th March 1918 Front heavily bombarded 27th Mar 1918 In Action 28th Mar 1918 In Action 28th Mar 1918 Confusion 28th Mar 1918 Move 28th Mar 1918 In Action 28th Mar 1918 Reliefs Complete 28th Mar 1918 Holding the Line 28th March 1918 In Action 28th Mar 1918 Reorganisation 28th Mar 1918 On the March 28th Mar 1918 On the March 28th Mar 1918 In Defence 28th Mar 1918 Harassing Fire 28th Mar 1918 Reorganisation 28th March 1918 Line Held 29th Mar 1918 Orders 29th Mar 1918 Relief 29th Mar 1918 Holding the Line 29th Mar 1918 Inspection   King George V inspecting the 6th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders of 51st Division, 29th of March 1918. The Battalion had just come out of the line having lost 16 officers and 300 men. The Battalion was at Frevent and about to entrain. © IWM (Q 11465) IWM 29th March 1918 Hard Fighting 29th Mar 1918 In Defence 29th Mar 1918 Harassing Fire 29th Mar 1918 Orders 29th Mar 1918 On the Move 29th Mar 1918 Attack 29th Mar 1918 In Action 30th Mar 1918 Orders 30th Mar 1918 Reliefs 30th Mar 1918 In Action 30th Mar 1918 Holding the Line 30th Mar 1918 Reliefs 30th Mar 1918 Relief Completed 30th Mar 1918 Defence 31st Mar 1918 Fierce Fighting 31st Mar 1918 Attack 31st Mar 1918 Quieter 31st Mar 1918 Into the Trenches 31st Mar 1918 Holding the Line 31st March 1918 Relief 31st Mar 1918 Reliefs 31st Mar 1918 In Action 31st March 1918 Report on recent operations 1st Apr 1918 Prisoners Taken 1st Apr 1918 Holding the Line 2nd Apr 1918 Holding the Line 2nd Apr 1918 Attack Made 2nd Apr 1918 Holding the Line 3rd Apr 1918 Holding the Line 3rd Apr 1918 Praise 3rd Apr 1918 Holding the Line 4th Apr 1918 Reliefs 4th Apr 1918 Shelling 4th Apr 1918 Reliefs 4th Apr 1918 Inspiring Conduct In Recent Battle 5th Apr 1918 Shelling 5th Apr 1918 Shelling 5th Apr 1918 On the March 6th Apr 1918 Enemy Attacks 6th Apr 1918 Reliefs 7th Apr 1918 Reliefs 7th Apr 1918 Holding the Line 8th Apr 1918 Holding the Line 8th Apr 1918 Reorganisation 9th Apr 1918 Reliefs 9th Apr 1918 On the March 1918-04-13 No Casualties 22nd Mar 1918 Heavy Shelling If you can provide any additional information, please add it here. Want to know more about Operation Michael, the Spring Offensive? There are:227 items tagged Operation Michael, the Spring Offensive available in our Library   These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War. Those known to have served in Operation Michael, the Spring Offensive during the Great War 1914-1918. Adams William Thomas. Pte (d.21st March 1918) Addiss Thomas. Pte. (d.21st Mar 1918) Armstrong Reginald George. Pte. (d.26th Mar 1918) Astles Edgar. AB. Atkins Bert. Pte. (d.1st Apr 1918) Bailey Harry. Pte. (d.21st Mar 1918) Bartlet Albert Edward. Pte. Bates Hermann Robert Alfred. Pte. (d.27th Mar 1918) Baxter Charles Roland James. Pte. (d.21st March 1918) Beeson Francis Henry. Pte. Beney Horace. Pte. (d.21st March 1918) Billingsley John Alexander. Pte. (d.22nd Mar 1918) Blake James. Pte. (d.21st March 1918) Bourque Eugene Valentine. Britton Albert. Sgt. (d.25th March 1918) Brooksbank Gordon. Pte. (d.20th Mar 1918 ) Broom William John. Pte. Burt MiD. Leonard. CSM. (d.26th October 1918) Burton Charles Silvester. Pte. (d.23rd Mar 1918) Capon George William. Pte. (d.24th March 1918) Carbis Thomas. L/Bmbdr. (d.21st March 1918) Casey John. Pte. (d.21st March 1918) Casterton Percy Thomas Frederick. Pte. Catanach Charles Edward. Pte. (d.21st March 1918) Cavill John Thomas. Rfmn. Chapman Percy. Pte. (d.28th Mar 1918) Coates John. Pte. (d.24th Mar 1918) Cockerill George William. Pte. (d.23rd March 1918) Cockwill Reginald Darke. Pte. (d.26th March 1918) Coffee Albert Charles. L/Cpl. (d.23rd March 1918) Collins Harry. Drvr. (d.22th Mar 1918) Cooper MiD, Joseph. Bmbdr. (d.21st Mar 1918) Cooper Myles. Lt. Copplestone Alfred Percy. Cpl. Cornford Percy David Frederick. Pte. (d.27th May 1918) Cosford Joseph Henry. Rflmn. (d.21st March 1918) Cowling Bernard William Kingsbury. Rflmn. (d.24th Apr 1918) Cross Terriss Norman. Sig. Crossan Bernard. Pte. (d.22nd March 1918) Cunnington Edward Charles. Capt. (d.23rd March 1918) Curry Robert Beckett. Pte. Davies Benjamin. Pte. (d.21st March 1918) Davies Frederick George. Pte (d.March 1918) Deeming Frank Tetlow. Capt. (d.21st Mar 1918) Deykin Harold H.. Pte. (d.21st Mar 1918) Douglas William. Pte. (d.21st Mar 1918) Dowling Patrick. Sgt. (d.21st March 1918) Dunlop MM. Stanley Ward. Pte. (d.24th of March 1918) Edwards Thomas William. Pte. Ellis William Henry. Pte. (d.21st Mar 1918) Evans Thomas Joseph. Sgt. (d.26th March 1918) Fall Reginald. Pte. (d.24th Mar 1918) Fell David. Pte. (d.29th March 1918) Fell David. Pte. (d.29th March 1918) Fisher MM. Leonard. Pte. (d.22nd March 1918) Francis William Joseph. 2nd Lt. (d.23rd March 1918) Friday John Edward. Pte. (d.23rd Mar 1918) Gardiner John Slater. Cpl. (d.21st March 1918) Gawthorpe William. Pte. (d.21st Mar 1918) Gilbert Fred. Pte. (d.24th March 1918) Glover Roland. Pte. (d.4th April 1918) Gordon Duncan. (d.21st - 29th March 1918) Gregory Haworth. Pte. (d.2nd Apr 1918) Grover Walter Ernest. Pte. Hancocks William Thomas. L/Cpl. (d.21st March 1918) Harper Levi. Pte. Hawkes Frederick James . Pte. (d.24th March 1918) Heenan Thomas George Grandon. 2Lt. (d.21st March 1918) Hibbert Francis Benjamin. Pte. Hodder MM. Benjamin Alfred. Cpl. Hodge Geoffrey. Cpl. (d.21st March 1918) Hollingsworth John Albert. L/Cpl. Hosier Ernest. L/Cpl. (d.29th March 1918) Howorth Harry. Pte. (d.27th March 1918) Hubbard Albert Edward. Pte. (d.24th Mar 1918) Huison George Christopher . Cpl. Humberstone Samuel. Pte. (d.25th March 1918) Ingham Charles Henry. Spr. (d.22nd March 1918) Ingram John Leonard. Pte. Jackson David. Pte. (d.21st March 1918) Jackson Samuel. Pte. (d.27th Mar 1918) Kay MBE. John Brayshaw. Pte. Kaye Lister Walter. Sgt. (d.21st Mar 1918) Kemp MC. Douglas. 2nd Lt. (d.23rd Mar 1918) Kirton Arthur Edgar. Pte. Klink Charles Ambrose. L/Cpl. (d.27th Mar 1918) Larder Francis Emlyn. Gnr. (d.30th Mar 1918) Larn MC, MID. Cyril Francis. Mjr. Law Frank Edger. Sgt. Lee George. Pte. (d.21st Mar 1918) LeLievre Jean Auguste. Able Sea. (d.2nd April 1918) Lloyd Edwin Robert. Rflm. (d.23rd March 1918) Low Harold Ayling. Rflmn. (d.21st March 1918) Lyons John. Rflmn. Mapplethorpe William Alfred Gorbutt. Fitter. (d.21st Mar 1918) Mayhew Frank. Dvr. McCarroll James. Rflmn. (d.24th March 1918) McClymont James. Pte (d.22nd March 1918) McCord William. Pte. (d.29th of March 1918) McCusker James. Sgt. McKenna John James. Cpl. Mckenzie Donald. Pte. (d.21st Mar 1918) McPartlin Michael Joseph. Sgt. Melrose Thomas Shaw. Pte. (d.21st March 1918) Mills Archibald. Pte. Mills Robert. Pte. (d.29th March 1918) Moulding George. Sgt. (d.25th Mar 1918) Murphy Charles. Pte. (d.18th May 1918) Nairn MID William John. Pte. Nelson Frederick. Pte. (d.22nd Mar 1918) Ness William. Pte. (d.28th Mar 1918) Oliver Albert George. Rfmn. Osman Stanley Victor. Pte. Parker Charles Frederick. Pte. (d.21st March 1918) Pass Thomas Francis. Pte. Peace Thomas. Pte. (d.5th April 1918) Philcox Stanley James. Pte. Platt Sydney. Pte. (d.24th Mar 1918) Preddy Frederick William. Pte. (d.16th June 1918) Prizeman Frederick Joseph. Pte. (d.21st March 1918) Quicke Henry. 2nd Lt. (d.23rd Mar 1918) Ree Henry. Pte. (d.30th Mar 1918) Roberts MM Frederick Paul. Gnr. (d.9th July 1918) Rumsey Stanley Frederick. Spr. (d.25th Mar 1918) Ryan Patrick Joseph. 2nd Lt. (d.21st March 1918) Searle Ronald Spencer. Lt. Seymour Charles Thomas. Pte. Sharpe William. Sgt. Shillibeer John William Laurance. Rflmn. (d.23rd March 1918) Shimeld Percy. Pte. (d.23rd-25th August 1918) Skipp Ralph. Pte. (d.27th Mar 1918) Smallman George. Pte. (d.21st March 1918) Smith Ernest Arthur. Pte. (d.28th Mar 1918) Souter Andrew. Pte (d.March 1918) Spencer John. Pte. (d.4th Apr 1918) Sprott MC. Robert. Lt. Stewart John Armit . Pte. Stewart MM. Percy Douglas. 2nd Lt. Swallow Alfred Bailey. CSM. (d.21st Mar 1918) Swann William. Pte. Sweetland John Thomas. Pte. (d.24th Mar 1918) Thompson Arthur Minke. Pte. Townson Francis Richard. Pte. (d.20th July 1918) Traylen MC. Norman Algernon. Lt. (d.4th November 1918) Tritton Edward Henry. Sgt. Turnbull Gilbert Stanley. Gnr. Turner William. Pte. Vaughan Thomas Llewellyn. Pte. (d.22nd March 1918) Vaux Frederic. Pte. Walker Roland Alex. Pte. (d.8th Aug 1918) Ward MID. Leonard Richard. Cpl. (d.24th March 1918) Westwood Edward James. Rflmn. Williams Horace P.. Rflmn. (d.1st April 1918) Willis Benjamin. Pte. (d.21st March 1918) Wilson John. Gnr. (d.12th April 1918) Wixted Michael. Pte. Wolff MID. Gustav Frederick. A/Maj. (d.21st Mar 1918) Wolstenholme MM & Bar. William. Sgt. Wright Charles. Rflmn. (d.31st Mar 1918) Wright Sydney Paul Johnson. Pte (d.21st March 1918) Young Robert. Pte. The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List Records of Operation Michael, the Spring Offensive from other sources. The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website. 1st of September 2023 marks 24 years since the launch of the Wartime Memories Project. Thanks to everyone who has supported us over this time. Want to find out more about your relative's service? Want to know what life was like during the Great War? Our Library contains many many diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text. Looking for help with Family History Research?    Please see Family History FAQ's Please note: We are unable to provide individual research. Can you help? 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Links German Offensive of 21st March 1918, Cambrai-St. Quentin front Suggest a link

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