After spending the morning at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial and a short break for lunch in Arras, we drove to the Carrière Wellington. This tunnel system underneath Arras originated from the chalk quarries in the middle ages. The town needed a a reliable source of stones as building material and the chalk underneath was the best material at hands. Part of the 1917 offensive plan of the allies was to use the quarries as safe haven for the local population from the constant German bombardment, but also to enlarge the tunnels and station secretively troops for the offensive right at the front.
Carriere Wellington @Arras
500 men from New Zealand, including Maori and Pacific islanders, came to Arras to enlarge the existing tunnel system. These mining specialists worked together with English underground specialists to dig up another 20 miles of tunnels.
rough terrain to dig @Carrière Wellington
The plan was to get underneath the German forces and attack in a concentrated effort (see also Vimy). The museum has a small exhibition on ground level to get oneself acquainted with the historic circumstances. Even though it was the first great war, it is already more than 100 years ago. I was happy to read up on the history before we started with the tour. The tunnels are about 20 meters below and after a short introduction we took an elevator to get below.
entrance to the museum @Carrière Wellington
prepared to get below @Carrière Wellington
At that time Arras was already a ghost town, having been badly damaged in the previous years. At night though, the town woke up and people would still go out. In these tunnels more than 24.000 men waited a week before April 9th for the attack.
waiting in the tunnels @Carrière Wellington
attack day @Carrière Wellington
When the day came, the offensive force pushed the Germans back and kept doing so for another day. The goal was to overrun the three defense lines. The Allies managed the first two, but then took a much deserved break. The problem was though that most men left their winter coats in the tunnels to be not encumbered when they running out of the trenches. After forty eight they were hungry and freezing with no supplies or a chance of fresh troops. Unlike the Germans, who were totally surprised at first, but then used the break from April 10 to 11 to get fresh troops to the front. This break prolonged the war for another 18 months.
life in the tunnels @Carrière Wellington
Seeing the tunnels for myself and listening to all these stories was quite emotional. But I also learned so much about the troops fighting here. I never realized that the Canadians committed over 100.000 men in total, and that even Australians, South Africans, New Zealanders, Moroccans, and other British empire nations fought in the war. All the colonies had to send troops, which made this really into a World War.
stories about individual soldiers @Carrière Wellington
The guided tour through the tunnels of the museum really made an impression on me. Living down here for a week must have been awful for all these men. Digging the tunnels and staying below for long periods must have been even worse. Alone 41 men of the New Zealand unit died while enlarging the tunnel system and many more were injured. Too bad that mankind never learns anything from its history. Yours, Pollybert
Carrière Wellington @Arrras
