The Spring Offensive Wednesday, March 21st, 2018
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On the morning of the 21st of March 1918 Operation Michael, the Spring Offensive was launched with a huge barrage of artillery on a front which ran from Arras in the north to a distance south of the River Somme. Over the winter the German Army had been building up both men and resources, although the attack was expected, the magnitude was not. Over the next few weeks the Allied forces would be pushed back over hard fought ground.
Whilst the area we have been researching remained quiet, the storm was on the horizon. As the battle raged to the south, in our area around Plogsteert and Houplines, the men of 3rd Australian Division worked hard to complete new defence works and strengthen the existing. In front of Messines and Whitesheets their fellow countrymen took on similar tasks, to the south and west of Armentieres where the ground was flat and wet, British troops filled sandbags to patch the breastwork and dug into sodden earth. Behind them others, assisted by the Australians fortified the 2nd GHQ Line and the forts and posts beyond.
This winter our team have been researching the defensive works and the change of tactics on the Western Front as well as continuing to look at the training of troops. We will be sharing our findings over the 2018 season along with the next phase of our fieldwork. We hope you will follow our progress.
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Filed under: Archaeology, Great War History by
PlugStreetTeam
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