Sambre

First World War

Date

4 November 1918

Brigadier-General Frederick O. Loomis was Commanding Officer of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade at this time.
Credit: Canada. Department of National Defence/Library and Archives Canada (MIKAN no. 3218435)

Geographical Parameters

The railway Boué – le Cateau (exclusive): thence road to Romeries – Famars: thence a line to la Sentinelle (exclusive) – Anzin: thence due north to the southern edge of the forest of Raismes: thence along southern edge to Escautpont (exclusive)

Context

A battle honour formally entitled the “Battle of the Sambre” and itself being part of “The Final Advance” ^{Footnote 1}.

Description

With the Canadian capture of the City of Valenciennes on 2 November 1918, the British advance now focused on the area from Le Quesnoy in the north to the River Sambre in the south. The First, Third and Fourth British Armies would attack along a thirty-mile front. For the Canadian Corps (Lieutenant-General Sir A.W. Currie) the advance along bad roads was relentless and the fighting was sporadic, the main enemy being the continuous rain which fell almost every day from 1 to 11 November. The Sambre-Oise Canal was forced on 4 November by the Fourth (British) Army while further north the First (British) Army (which included the Canadian Corps) was advancing in the general direction of Mons. An enemy retirement during the night of 3-4 November 1918 had caused the Canadians to lose contact. The 3rd (Major-General F.O.W. Loomis) and 4th (Major-General Sir D. Watson) Canadian Divisions crossed the River Aunelle and located the next German defensive line just beyond it. Since the enemy had dug-in, the artillery was brought forward to soften up the position, while the infantry prepared for a deliberate attack. This attack was not carried out as the enemy had slipped away again under cover of the driving rain to a new line 2,000 metres further east. The 4th Canadian Division would now turn the enemy out of this position and the pursuit continued.

Awarded to:

Currently Serving Units

• 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 Cape Breton Highlanders
  Awards to the 85th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Cape Breton Highlanders (GO 110/29)
• 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 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 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) and the 7th/11th Hussars (GO 10/39)
• 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)

Units on the Supplementary Order of Battle

• 24th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
  Awards to the 54th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Kootenay Regiment (GO 110/29)
• 27th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
  Award to The Eastern Townships Mounted Rifles (GO 110/29)
• 50th Field Artillery Regiment (The Prince of Wales' Rangers), RCA
  Awards to the 4th Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Corps, CEF (GO 123/29) and the 4th Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC (GO 123/29)
• The Winnipeg Grenadiers
  Awards to the 78th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (GO 110/29) and The Winnipeg Grenadiers (GO 110/29)