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 hte 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.

 

More to follow

Read more...

Names

Showing 8 people of interest from campaign

Thumb 1b
WITHERS, Ernest John Churchman

Service number 253
Private
4th Machine Gun Battalion
AIF WW1
Born 12 Jul 1898

Thumb 0
CARR, William Bosward

Service number S34829
Lieutenant
Born 19 Aug 1885

Thumb 1aa
SCOBIE, Frank Maitland

Service number 7583
Private
4th Infantry Battalion
AIF WW1
Born 10 Mar 1898

Thumb 1a
GLIDDON, Henry Arthur

Service number 12615
Private
11th Field Ambulance
AIF WW1
Born Nov 1881

Thumb 1a
VENN, John Henry

Service number 3204
Private
2nd Pioneer Battalion
AIF WW1
Born 1893

Thumb daveyyy
DAVEY, Phillip

Service number 1327
Corporal
10th Infantry Battalion
AIF WW1
Born 10 Oct 1896

Thumb 1aa
JENKINS, William Roy

Service number 8001
Lieutenant
10th Infantry Battalion
AIF WW1
Born 18 Jan 1892

Thumb 1a
GILES, Robert Summers

Service number 7438
Sergeant
10th Infantry Battalion
AIF WW1
Born 29 Feb 1884