Merris (France) (World War 1, 1 May 1918 to 30 June 1918)

About This Campaign

Merris May - July 1918

Merris is a small town in the far north of France adjacent to the Belgian border.

The 1st Division of the AIF had been rushed south in late March April to stem the advance on the Somme but was hastily returned and was deployed to stem another German offensive along the line of the Franco Belgian border.  In this region Operation Georgette, the second largest of the Geman lines of attack had aimed to strike towards the Channel Ports at Calais via the important rail head of Hazebrouk.

Hazebrouk was held and the German offensive stalled as it had further south, short of their objectives.

During May and June of 1918, the Australians engaged in 'Peaceful Penetration' attempting to win back ground lost to the Germans via small stealthy 'snatch and grab' attacks that seized German outposts.

 

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By Steve Larkins 2014  Updated 2025

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Names

Showing 8 people of interest from campaign

GOSLING, Archibald James

Service number 882
Private
43rd Infantry Battalion
AIF WW1
Born 9 Jan 1880

CHAMBERS, Ernest Malcolm

Service number 373
Corporal
5th Infantry Battalion
AIF WW1
Born 1892

ROOKE, George Evelyn

Service number N102343
Lieutenant
31 Garrison Battalion (NSW)
Australian Military Forces (WW2)
Born 22 May 1898

SELWAY, George

Service number 6883
Private
48th Infantry Battalion
AIF WW1
Born 14 Sep 1896

MELLIS, James

Service number 3727A
Private
49th Infantry Battalion
AIF WW1
Born 20 Mar 1887

CHERRY, Arthur

Service number 6953
Private
15th Infantry Battalion
AIF WW1
Born 8 Nov 1895

STEEL, Isaac John Henry

Service number 3237
Private
45th Infantry Battalion
AIF WW1
Born 15 Feb 1888

NORRIS, John

Service number 951
Sergeant
25th Infantry Battalion
AIF WW1
Born 1895

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