“Scarpe, 1917, ’18” is a Battle Honour awarded to the 2nd Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), and perpetuated by the Governor General’s Foot Guards.
The Battle of the ScarpeThe honour covers operations in the Arras sector along the Scarpe River during two different years of the war:
• 1917 (Fresnoy): The Regimental historical dates list specifically associates May 3, 1917, with the Battle of the Scarpe. On this date (during the phase known officially as the Third Battle of the Scarpe), the 2nd Battalion launched a frontal attack on the village of Fresnoy. In a bitter engagement, the Battalion captured the village and held the “Brown Objective” (a low ridge east of the village), suffering over 400 casualties, including the death of the popular Lieutenant Leslie Tubman.
• 1918 (The Advance): In 1918, the honour relates to the Second Battle of Arras. In July 1918, the Battalion operated directly on the River Scarpe, relieving the King’s Own Scottish Borderers at Fampoux. Later, in late August 1918, the Battalion participated in the general advance east of Arras (Battle of the Scarpe, 1918), pushing toward the Fresnes-Rouvroy line.
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