BY
ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
AUTHOR OF
'THE GREAT BOER WAR,' ETC.
HODDER AND STOUGHTON
LONDON NEW YORK TORONTO
MCMXIX
SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE'S
HISTORY OF THE WAR
Uniform with this Volume.
THE BRITISH CAMPAIGN IN FRANCE
AND FLANDERS
1914
THE BREAKING OF THE PEACE.
THE OPENING OF THE WAR.
THE BATTLE OF MONS.
THE BATTLE OF LE CATEAU.
THE BATTLE OF THE MARNE.
THE BATTLE OF THE AISNE.
THE LA BASSÉE-ARMENTIÈRES OPERATIONS.
THE FIRST BATTLE OF YPRES.
A RETROSPECT AND GENERAL SUMMARY.
THE WINTER LULL OF 1914.
THE BRITISH CAMPAIGN IN FRANCE
AND FLANDERS
1915
THE OPENING MONTHS OF 1915.
NEUVE CHAPELLE AND HILL 60.
THE SECOND BATTLE OF YPRES.
THE BATTLE OF RICHEBOURG-FESTUBERT.
THE TRENCHES OF HOOGE.
THE BATTLE OF LOOS.
THE BRITISH CAMPAIGN IN FRANCE
AND FLANDERS
1916
JANUARY TO JULY 1916.
THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME.
THE GAINING OF THE THIEPVAL RIDGE.
THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME.
THE BATTLE OF THE ANCRE.
With Maps, Plans, and Diagrams.
HODDER AND STOUGHTON
LONDON, NEW YORK, AND TORONTO
PREFACE
This, the fourth volume of The British Campaign inFrance and Flanders, carries the story through thelong and arduous fighting of 1917, which culminatedin the dramatic twofold battle of Cambrai. Theseevents are cut deep into the permanent history ofthe world, and we are still too near it to read thewhole of that massive and tremendous inscription.It is certain, however, that this year marked theperiod in which the Allies gained a definite militaryascendancy over the German forces, in spite of theone great subsequent rally which had its source inevents which were beyond the control of the Westernpowers. So long as ink darkens and paper holds,our descendants, whose freedom has been won bythese exertions, will dwell earnestly and with reverenceupon the stories of Arras, Messines, Ypres, Cambrai,and other phases of this epic period.
I may be permitted to record with some thankfulnessand relief, that in the course of three thickvolumes, in which for the first time the detailed battle-lineof these great encounters has been set out, it hasnot yet been shown that a brigade has ever beenout of its place, and even a battalion has seldomgone amiss. Such good fortune cannot last for ever.Absit omen! But the fact is worth recording, as it{vi}may reassure the reader who has natural doubtswhether history which is so recent can also lay claimto be of any permanent value.
The Censorship has left me untrammelled in thematter of units, for which I am sufficiently grateful.The ruling, however, upon the question of namesmust be explained, lest it should seem that theirappearance or suppression is due to lack of knowledgeor to individual favour or caprice. I would explain,then, that I am permitted to use the names of Armyand Corps Commanders, but only of such divisionalGenerals as are mentioned in the Headquarte