Welcome to my site, initiated shortly before the 100th Anniversary of the Battle of Arras which took place in April and May of 1917, during the First World War.
I hope to develop the site to improve the knowledge and interest in this often overlooked battle of the Great War.
My name is Jim Smithson and at the moment I live both in the UK and very near the battlefield in a village called Boiry Becquerelle. I am a retired teacher and spend my time either on the battlefield, researching and guiding visitors, or writing.
This is Rookery Cemetery on the high ground above Wancourt and is an example of some of the places that I will post blogs about to help readers understand the battlefield and maybe visit one day.
I have written one book, “A Taste of Success”, on the first part of the battle and also a guide to the southern part of the battlefield available on Amazon here: Arras 1914-18. The northern part of the guide should be published in 2022.
Arras 1917 