XVII Corps (United Kingdom)
Encyclopedia
The British XVII Corps was a British infantry corps during World War I
.
in January 1916 under Lieutenant General Julian Byng
. In April 1917 the Corps attacked to the east of Arras
near the River Scarpe but became bogged down in rain and snow. However the Corps held the line at Arras, continued to hold it through into 1918 and then broke the main Hindenburg Line
at its strongest point in September 1918.
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
History
British XVII Corps was formed in FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in January 1916 under Lieutenant General Julian Byng
Julian Byng, 1st Viscount Byng of Vimy
Field Marshal Julian Hedworth George Byng, 1st Viscount Byng of Vimy was a British Army officer who served as Governor General of Canada, the 12th since Canadian Confederation....
. In April 1917 the Corps attacked to the east of Arras
Arras
Arras is the capital of the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. The historic centre of the Artois region, its local speech is characterized as a Picard dialect...
near the River Scarpe but became bogged down in rain and snow. However the Corps held the line at Arras, continued to hold it through into 1918 and then broke the main Hindenburg Line
Hindenburg Line
The Hindenburg Line was a vast system of defences in northeastern France during World War I. It was constructed by the Germans during the winter of 1916–17. The line stretched from Lens to beyond Verdun...
at its strongest point in September 1918.
General Officers Commanding
Commanders included:- January 1916 - May 1916 Lieutenant-General Sir Julian ByngJulian Byng, 1st Viscount Byng of VimyField Marshal Julian Hedworth George Byng, 1st Viscount Byng of Vimy was a British Army officer who served as Governor General of Canada, the 12th since Canadian Confederation....
- May 1916 - November 1918 Lieutenant-General Sir Charles Fergusson