Arras, 1917

A German shell bursting in Arras during the battle. May, 1917.
Credit: Canada. Department of National Defence/Library and Archives Canada (MIKAN no. 3403834)

The ruined Hotel de Ville at Arras. May, 1917.
Credit: Canada. Department of National Defence/Library and Archives Canada (MIKAN no. 3403817)

Victorious Canadians going out for a rest after the fighting on Vimy Ridge.
Credit: W.I. Castle / Library and Archives Canada / PA-001267 (MIKAN no. 3521924)

First World War

Date

9 April – 4 May 1917

Geographical parameters

No geographical parameters defined.

Context

A group honour incorporating the “Battle of Vimy Ridge”, the “First Battle of the Scarpe, 1917”, the “Second Battle of the Scarpe, 1917”, the “Battle of Arleux” and the “Third Battle of the Scarpe”, formally entitled “The Battles of Arras, 1917”, and itself being part of “The Arras Offensive (9 April - 15 May 1917)”.^{Footnote 1}

Description

The Honour “Arras, 1917” was awarded to units of the British Empire involved in the offensive that began on 9 April 1917 and the successive battles that took place until 4 May 1917. Within this honour three further individual honours were awarded. The Honour “Vimy 1917” was awarded to all units involved in the northern part of the initial attack for the successful capture of the dominant geographical feature of Vimy Ridge. The Honour Arleux was awarded for the capture of this village by British and Canadians. The Honour “Scarpe, 1917” was awarded for the last part of the Arras offensive for successfully repulsing German counterattacks and for pushing the Germans lines further back from the area of Fresnoy at the beginning of May 1917.

Awarded to:

Currently serving units

• 1st Hussars
  Award to the 1st Hussars (GO 71/30)
• 26th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
  Award to The Manitoba Rangers (GO 71/30)
• 31 Combat Engineer Regiment (The Elgin's)
  Award to The Elgin Regiment (GO 71/30)
• 42nd Field Artillery Regiment (Lanark and Renfrew Scottish), RCA
  Award to The Lanark and Renfrew Scottish Regiment (GO 71/30).
• 48th Highlanders of Canada
  Awards to the 15th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The 48th Regiment (Highlanders) (GO 110/29)
• 49th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
  Award to The Sault Ste. Marie Regiment (GO 71/30)
• 56th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
  Awards to the 4th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), The Dufferin Rifles of Canada (GO 110/29), and The Norfolk Regiment of Canada (GO 71/30)
• 64th Field Battery, RCA
  Award to The Yorkton Regiment (GO 71/30)
• 116th Independent Field Battery, RCA
  Award to The Kenora Light Infantry (GO 71/30)
• The Algonquin Regiment
  Award to The Northern Pioneers (GO 71/30)
• The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise's)
  Awards to the 19th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise's) (GO 110/29)
• The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada
  Awards to the 13th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), the 42nd Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), the 73rd Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), and The Royal Highlanders of Canada (GO 110/29)
• The British Columbia Dragoons
  Awards to the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The British Columbia Dragoons (GO 110/29)
• The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own)
  Awards to the 7th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 71/30), the 29th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29), the 102nd Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), the 1st British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own) (GO 110/29), The North British Columbia Regiment (GO 123/29), The Irish Fusiliers of Canada (GO 71/30), and The Vancouver Regiment (GO 71/30)
• The Calgary Highlanders
  Awards to the 10th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29) and The Calgary Highlanders (GO 110/29)
• The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa
  Awards to the 38th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29) and The Ottawa Highlanders (GO 110/29)
• The Canadian Grenadier Guards
  Awards to the 87th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Canadian Grenadier Guards (GO 110/29)
• The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's)
  Awards to the 16th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), the 3rd Pioneer Battalion (48th Canadians), CEF (GO 110/29), the 67th Canadian (Pioneer) Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29), and The Canadian Scottish Regiment (GO 110/29)
• The Cape Breton Highlanders
  Award to the 85th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Cape Breton Highlanders (GO 110/29)
• The Essex and Kent Scottish
  Awards to the 18th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Essex Scottish (GO 110/29)
• Les Fusiliers du St-Laurent
  Award to Les Fusiliers du St. Laurent (GO 71/30)
• Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal
  Award to Les Carabiniers Mont-Royal (GO 71/30).
• Governor General's Foot Guards
  Awards to the 2nd Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29) and The Governor General's Foot Guards (GO 71/30 and GO 32/32)
• The Governor General's Horse Guards
  Awards to the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), The Governor General's Body Guard (GO 71/30 and GO 112/35) and The Mississauga Horse (GO 110/29)
• The Grey and Simcoe Foresters
  Award to The Simcoe Foresters (GO 71/30)
• The Halifax Rifles (RCAC)
  Award to The Halifax Rifles (GO 71/30)
• The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment
  Awards to The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment (GO 71/30), The Argyll Light Infantry (GO 71/30), The Northumberland Regiment (GO 71/30), and The Durham Regiment (GO 71/30)
• Irish Regiment of Canada
  Award to The Irish Regiment (GO 71/30)
• The King's Own Calgary Regiment (RCAC)
  Awards to the 50th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Calgary Regiment (GO 110/29)
• The Lake Superior Scottish Regiment
  Awards to the 52nd Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29) and The Lake Superior Regiment (GO 110/29)
• The Lincoln and Welland Regiment
  Awards to The Lincoln Regiment (GO 71/30) and The Lincoln and Welland Regiment (GO 71/30)
• The Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment)
  Awards to The Halton Rifles (GO 71/30) and The Peel and Dufferin Regiment (GO 71/30)
• The Loyal Edmonton Regiment (4th Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry)
  Awards to the 49th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Edmonton Regiment (GO 110/29)
• The North Saskatchewan Regiment
  Awards to the 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), the 5th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), the 16th Canadian Light Horse (GO 110/29), The Saskatchewan Mounted Rifles (GO 110/29), The Saskatoon Light Infantry (GO 110/29), and The Prince Albert Volunteers (GO 71/30)
• The North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment
  Award to The North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment (GO 71/30)
• The Nova Scotia Highlanders
  Awards to the 25th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29), The Colchester and Hants Regiment (GO 110/29), and The Cumberland Highlanders (GO 71/30)
• The Ontario Regiment (RCAC)
  Awards to the 116th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Ontario Regiment (GO 123/29)
• The Prince Edward Island Regiment (RCAC)
  Awards to The Prince Edward Island Light Horse (GO 71/30) and The Prince Edward Island Highlanders (GO 71/30)
• The Princess Louise Fusiliers
  Award to The Princess Louise Fusiliers (GO 71/30)
• The Princess of Wales' Own Regiment
  Awards to the 21st Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29) and The Princess of Wales' Own Regiment (GO 110/29)
• Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
  Award to Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (GO 123/29)
• The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada
  Awards to the 43rd Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada (GO 110/29)
• The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada
  Awards to the 3rd Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29) and The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada (GO 110/29)
• The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) (RCAC)
  Awards to the 20th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), The Queen's Rangers, 1st American Regiment (GO 110/29) and The York Rangers (GO 71/30)
• Le Régiment de Maisonneuve
  Awarded through perpetuation of the 41st Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (CAO Part “A” 33-1 and 229-1 10 July 1961)
• The Rocky Mountain Rangers
  Award to The Rocky Mountain Rangers (GO 71/30)
• Royal 22e Régiment
  Award to the Royal 22e Régiment (GO 110/29)
• The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal)
  Awards to the 1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade, CEF (GO 110/29) and the 1st Motor Machine Gun Brigade (GO 110/29)
• The Royal Canadian Regiment
  Awards to the 1st Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), The Royal Canadian Regiment (GO 110/29), The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) (GO 110/29), and The Oxford Rifles (GO 71/30)
• The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment)
  Awards to the 4th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (GO 110/29), and The Wentworth Regiment (GO 71/30)
• The Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada
  Award to The Highland Light Infantry of Canada (GO 71/30)
• The Royal Montreal Regiment
  Awards to the 14th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Royal Montreal Regiment (GO 110/29)
• The Royal New Brunswick Regiment
  Awards to the 26th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), The Carleton Light Infantry (GO 110/29), The Saint John Fusiliers (GO 110/29), The York Regiment (GO 71/30) and The New Brunswick Rangers (GO 71/30)
• The Royal Newfoundland Regiment
  Award to The Royal Newfoundland Regiment (Award to The Royal Newfoundland Regiment (1914-1919) (Adjutant General, War Office, to Official Secretary, Office of the High Commissioner for Canada, 14 Dec 1951)
• The Royal Regiment of Canada
  Awards to the 3rd Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29), the 58th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), the 123rd Canadian Pioneer Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29), the 124th Canadian Pioneer Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29), The Royal Grenadiers (GO 110/29), and The Toronto Regiment (GO 110/29)
• The Royal Regina Rifles
  Awards to the 28th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Regina Rifle Regiment (GO 110/29)
• The Royal Westminster Regiment
  Awards to the 47th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Westminster Regiment (GO 110/29)
• The Royal Winnipeg Rifles
  Awards to the 8th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), the 10th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29), the 27th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29), the 44th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), The Winnipeg Rifles (GO 110/29) and The Winnipeg Light Infantry (GO 110/29)
• The Saskatchewan Dragoons
  Awards to the 46th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The King's Own Rifles of Canada (GO 110/29)
• The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada
  Awards to the 72nd Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 5/31) and The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada (GO 5/31)
• The Sherbrooke Hussars
  Awards to the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), The Sherbrooke Regiment (GO 71/30), and the 7th/11th Hussars (GO 10/39)
• The South Alberta Light Horse
  Awards to the 31st Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), The South Alberta Regiment (GO 110/29), the 19th Alberta Dragoons (GO 71/30), The Edmonton Fusiliers (GO 71/30), and The South Alberta Horse (GO 88/31)
• The Toronto Scottish Regiment (Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother's Own)
  Awards to the 75th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Toronto Scottish Regiment (GO 110/29)
• Les Voltigeurs de Québec
  Award to Les Voltigeurs de Québec (GO 71/30)
• The West Nova Scotia Regiment
  Awards to The Annapolis Regiment (GO 71/30) and The Lunenburg Regiment (GO 71/30)

Units on the Supplementary Order of Battle

• 11th Field Squadron, RCE
  Award to The Lambton Regiment (GO 71/30)
• 14th Canadian Hussars
  Award to the 14th Canadian Light Horse (GO 5/31)
• 24th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
  Awards to the 54th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Kootenay Regiment (GO 110/29)
• 26th Field Battery, RCA
  Award to The Lambton Regiment (GO 71/30)
• 27th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
  Award to The Eastern Townships Mounted Rifles (GO 110/29)
• 33rd Medium Artillery Regiment, RCA
  Award to The Frontenac Regiment (GO 71/30)
• 48th Field Squadron, RCE
  Award to The Lambton Regiment (GO 71/30)
• 50th Field Artillery Regiment (The Prince of Wales' Rangers), RCA
  Awards to the 2nd Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29), The Peterborough Rangers (GO 110/29), and The Victoria and Haliburton Regiment (GO 71/30)
• 118th Medium Battery, RCA
  Awards to the 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Manitoba Mounted Rifles (GO 5/31)
• 202nd Field Battery, RCA
  Award to The Yorkton Regiment (GO 71/30)
• The Royal Rifles of Canada
  Award to The Royal Rifles of Canada (GO 71/30)
• The South Saskatchewan Regiment
  Awards to The Weyburn Regiment (GO 71/30) and The Saskatchewan Border Regiment (GO 71/30)
• Victoria Rifles of Canada
  Awards to the 24th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), the 60th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Victoria Rifles of Canada (GO 110/29)
• The Winnipeg Grenadiers
  Awards to the 78th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Winnipeg Grenadiers (GO 110/29)

Disbanded Units

• 2nd Canadian Pioneer Battalion, CEF
  Award to the 2nd Canadian Pioneer Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29)
• 16th/17th (Reserve) Medium Battery, RCA
  Award to The Kenora Light Infantry (GO 71/30)
• 107th Canadian Pioneer Battalion, CEF
  Award to the 107th Canadian Pioneer Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29)
• The Manitoba Regiment
  Award to The Manitoba Regiment (GO 123/29)
• McGill University Contingent (148th Bn., C.E.F.), The Canadian Officers' Training Corps
  Award to the McGill University Contingent (148th Bn., C.E.F.), The Canadian Officers' Training Corps (GO 136/32)
• The Middlesex and Huron Regiment
  Award to The Middlesex Light Infantry (GO 71/30)
• The North Alberta Regiment
  Awards to the 31st Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The North Alberta Regiment (GO 110/29)