March to victory
The Germans retreated to another river line, this time on the Sambre. A preliminary attack on 1-2 November saw the Canadians capture Valenciennes, and then on 4 November Haig launched an attack on a 50 kilometre (30 mile) front along the Sambre. This was the final British offensive of the war. When the Armistice came into effect on 11 November 1918, the British were back at Mons where the BEF had first been engaged in 1914. For the first time in its history the British Army had fought and defeated the main body of the main enemy in a European war. Peace came at a huge cost. The mobile warfare since March had cost each side over a million men. 1918 was by far the most costly year of warfare on the Western Front.
‘Entering a village as we followed behind the Brigade, our Drums struck up the “Marseilles”. The populace became wildly excited, not having heard their National Anthem for a long time. An old man wearing an old fashioned night cap opened a window and leant so far forward, cheering and waving his arms that one feared he might topple out.’
Note by Lance Corporal Frederick Walter, 9th Battalion, The London Regiment, on an armistice order issued by the 169th Infantry Brigade, 11 November 1918. NAM 1985-04-40-6
4th Battalion, The Worcestershire Regiment, crossing the German frontier to join the Army of Occupation, 5 December 1918. NAM 1997-12-75-102
