Table of Contents

Chapter 8. Exhausted Armies -- 1917

The First World War enters the critical fourth year as British and French offensives nearly destroy the fighting capacity of their armies. The tours commence with two actions near Arras; the Canadian Corps victory in battle of Vimy Ridge and Australian divisions’ two actions around Bullecourt. The beautiful Chemin des Dames region west of Reims is toured to view the site of the Second Battle of the Aisne where French Commander-in-Chief, General Robert Nivelle’s disastrous attack led French units to mutiny. The focus again returns to Flanders to tour the sites connected with British General Sir Herbert Plumer’s swift capture of Messines Ridge and the Third Battle of Ypres and the capture of the village of Passchendaele. The sites of the battle of Cambrai are toured to note the first mass use of tanks in modern warfare.

#27 Battle of Vimy Ridge -- 9 to 13 April 1917
#28 First & Second Battles of Bullecourt -- 11 April and 3 to 17 May 1917
#29 Second Battle of the Aisne -- 16 April to 9 May 1917
#30 Third Battle of Ypres (Messines) -- 7 to 14 June 1917
#31 Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele) -- 31 July to 10 November 1917
#32 Battle of Cambrai -- 20 November to 7 December 1917