The Western Front January–June 1918

British troops in retreat at the beginning of Operation Michael, March 1918
(© Imperial War Museum: Q 8621)

The German Offensive (Operation Michael, The Kaiserschlacht) (21 March–10 June 1918). Includes:

• the Battle of the Lys (9–29 April);
• the Third Battle of the Aisne (27 May–6 June): 98,000 French casualties, 29,000 British casualties, c.128,000 German casualties.

“It is said that our soldiers have now less heart in fighting, and less dislike of the Germans – who are behaving better. It seems doubtful whether the acquisition of Alsace-Lorraine for France is a war aim wh[ich] appeals to them. I don’t know whether this sort of spirit has spread to them from home or vice-versa. I fear it may disguise from the public mind the enormous importance of beating Germany in the interest not only of our country and empire but of justice and freedom in the world at large.”

(C.C.J. Webb, Diary entry, 4 February 1918)

Brown, Edward Frederic Montagu  8.i.1918

Morey, Alan Wilson  24.i.1918

Maclachlan, Alexander Fraser Campbell  22.iii.1918

Powell, Edward Ingram  22.iii.1918

Shrapnel, Victor George Fleetwood  23.iii.1918

Parsons, Arthur Oscar  26.iii.1918

Brown, Kenneth Edward  13.iv.1918

Hood, Revd Charles Ivo Sinclair  15.iv.1918

Edwards, Cuthbert  17.iv.1918

Miln, George Gordon  22.iv.1918

Kennedy, John Patrick Francis  24.iv.1918

Walling, Ernest  25.iv.1918

Fleet, William Alexander  18.v.1918

Gardner, Maurice Reginald George  27.v.1918