Cambrai, 1918

Canadians entering the Square in Cambrai, three sides of it on fire. Advance East of Arras. Oct. 1918.
Credit: Canada. Department of National Defence/Library and Archives Canada (MIKAN no. 3643090)

First World War

Date

8-9 October 1918

Geographical parameters

Road Fresnoy – Sequehart – Bellinglise – Bellicourt – Vendhuille – Villers-Guislain – Villers-Plouich – Graincourt – Bourlon – Oisy-le-Verger: thence the river Sensée

Context

A battle honour incorporating the tactical incidents “Capture of Villers-Outréaux” and “Capture of Cambrai”, formally entitled the “Battle of Cambrai, 1918”, and itself being part of “The Battles of the Hindenburg Line”.^{Footnote 1}

Description

Having broken through the Hindenburg Line, the strongest German fixed defences on the Western Front, The Canadian Corps (Lieutenant-General Sir A.W. Currie) proceeded to outflank the city of Cambrai on its northern side. The Corps' task was to secure crossing sites over the Canal de l'Escaut that ran through the city in a south west to north east direction. While the 2nd Canadian Division (Major-General Sir H.E. Burstall) secured the crossing points, the 3rd Canadian Division (Major-General F.O.W. Loomis) entered the city from the north west. Except for small German rearguards the Canadians found the city to be deserted. German attempts to burn Cambrai had been thwarted by the rapid Canadian advance.

Awarded to:

Currently serving units

• 1st Hussars
  Award to the 1st Hussars (GO 71/30)
• The Algonquin Regiment
  Awards to the 228th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 5/31) and The Algonquin Regiment (GO 88/31)
• The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise's)
  Awards to the 19th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), the 3rd Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Corps, CEF (GO 123/29), The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise's) (GO 110/29), and the 3rd Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC (GO 123/29)
• The British Columbia Dragoons
  Award to The British Columbia Dragoons (GO 110/29)
• The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own)
  Awards to the 29th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29) and The Vancouver Regiment (GO 71/30)
• The Essex and Kent Scottish
  Awards to the 18th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Essex Scottish (GO 110/29).
• The Fort Garry Horse
  Award to The Fort Garry Horse (GO 5/31)
• 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 112/35), and The Mississauga Horse (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)
• Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians)
  Award to Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) (GO 5/31)
• The North Saskatchewan Regiment
  Awards to the 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29), the 16th Canadian Light Horse (GO 110/29), and The Saskatchewan Mounted Rifles (GO 110/29)
• The Nova Scotia Highlanders
  Awards to the 25th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29) and The Colchester and Hants Regiment (GO 110/29)
• The Ontario Regiment (RCAC)
  Awards to the 116th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Ontario Regiment (GO 123/29)
• 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)
• 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 York Rangers (1st American Regiment) (RCAC)
  Awards to the 20th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Queen's Rangers, 1st American Regiment (GO 110/29)
• Royal 22e Régiment
  Award to the Royal 22e Régiment (GO 110/29)
• The Royal Canadian Dragoons
  Award to The Royal Canadian Dragoons (GO 5/31)
• 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 2nd Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Corps, CEF (GO 123/29) and the 2nd Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC (GO 123/29)
• The Royal New Brunswick Regiment
  Awards to the 26th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Saint John Fusiliers (GO 110/29)
• The Royal Regiment of Canada
  Awards to the 58th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Royal Grenadiers (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 Winnipeg Rifles
  Award to the 27th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 123/29)
• The Sherbrooke Hussars
  Awards to the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) 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), and the 19th Alberta Dragoons (GO 71/30)

Units on the Supplementary Order of Battle

• 27th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
  Award to The Eastern Townships Mounted Rifles (GO 110/29)
• 38th Field Battery, RCA
  Awards to the 2nd Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade, CEF (GO 71/30), the Machine Gun Squadron, Canadian Cavalry Brigade, CEF (GO 5/31), the 1st Cavalry Machine Gun Squadron (GO 5/31), and the 2nd Motor Machine Gun Brigade, CMGC (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)
• The Victoria Rifles of Canada
  Awards to the 24th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Victoria Rifles of Canada (GO 110/29)

Disbanded Units

• The Manitoba Regiment
  Award to The Manitoba Regiment (GO 123/29).
• The North Alberta Regiment
  Awards to the 31st Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The North Alberta Regiment (GO 110/29)