Pursuit to the Selle
Encyclopedia
The Pursuit to the Selle, a portion of which is referred to as the Battle of the Selle, (October 17 - October 26, 1918) was a series of skirmishes between allied forces and the German Army, fought during what is known as The Last Hundred Days
of World War I
, and which occurred after the Second Battle of Cambrai
.
The pursuit began with an advance by the Canadian Corps
, parts of which were temporarily under the command of the British 22nd Corps, with support from the New Zealand Division
and the British
First and Third armies. After the Battle of Cambrai, on day four of the pursuit, the allies advanced almost two miles and liberated the French
towns of Naves and Thun-St-Martin. Although the capture of Cambrai was achieved significantly quicker than expected, and with moderately low casualties, German resistance northeast of the town stiffened, slowing the advance and forcing the Canadian Corps to dig in. On October 11, Lieutenant
Wallace Lloyd Algie
earned the Victoria Cross
for gallantry in action. On October 15, Belgian
troops captured the villages of Iseghem and Cortemarck, then on October 17, what is commonly known as the "Battle of the Selle" began. On October 18 the 1st and 4th Canadian Divisions advance more than 8 miles, securing twenty more villages.
At that stage in the pursuit, the German Army was broken, and retreating at a forced but controlled pace. On 24 October, the German Army counterattack
ed at the Canal de la Dérivation, but were repulsed and pushed back by the Belgian Army. This day also saw Lt. Frederick William Hedges
earn his Victoria Cross. On October 25, the Battle of Selle ended, and the next day, 26 October, Erich Ludendorff
, First Quartermaster General
of the German army, resigned under pressure from Kaiser Wilhelm II.
Hundred Days Offensive
The Hundred Days Offensive was the final period of the First World War, during which the Allies launched a series of offensives against the Central Powers on the Western Front from 8 August to 11 November 1918, beginning with the Battle of Amiens. The offensive forced the German armies to retreat...
of World War I
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...
, and which occurred after the Second Battle of Cambrai
Battle of Cambrai (1918)
The Battle of Cambrai was a battle between troops of the British First, Third and Fourth Armies and German Empire forces during the Hundred Days Offensive of the First World War. The battle took place in and around the French city of Cambrai, between 8 and 10 October 1918...
.
The pursuit began with an advance by the Canadian Corps
Canadian Corps
The Canadian Corps was a World War I corps formed from the Canadian Expeditionary Force in September 1915 after the arrival of the 2nd Canadian Division in France. The corps was expanded by the addition of the 3rd Canadian Division in December 1915 and the 4th Canadian Division in August 1916...
, parts of which were temporarily under the command of the British 22nd Corps, with support from the New Zealand Division
New Zealand Division
The New Zealand Division was a World War I infantry division formed in Egypt in January 1916 following the evacuation of Gallipoli. At the outbreak of war the New Zealand Expeditionary Force contained a single infantry brigade which was combined with the unattached Australian 4th Infantry Brigade...
and the British
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
First and Third armies. After the Battle of Cambrai, on day four of the pursuit, the allies advanced almost two miles and liberated the French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
towns of Naves and Thun-St-Martin. Although the capture of Cambrai was achieved significantly quicker than expected, and with moderately low casualties, German resistance northeast of the town stiffened, slowing the advance and forcing the Canadian Corps to dig in. On October 11, Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
Wallace Lloyd Algie
Wallace Lloyd Algie
Wallace Lloyd Algie, VC was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Early life:...
earned the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
for gallantry in action. On October 15, Belgian
Belgian Army
The Land Component is organised using the concept of capacities, whereby units are gathered together according to their function and material. Within this framework, there are five capacities: the command capacity, the combat capacity, the support capacity, the services capacity and the training...
troops captured the villages of Iseghem and Cortemarck, then on October 17, what is commonly known as the "Battle of the Selle" began. On October 18 the 1st and 4th Canadian Divisions advance more than 8 miles, securing twenty more villages.
At that stage in the pursuit, the German Army was broken, and retreating at a forced but controlled pace. On 24 October, the German Army counterattack
Counterattack
A counterattack is a tactic used in response against an attack. The term originates in military strategy. The general objective is to negate or thwart the advantage gained by the enemy in attack and the specific objectives are usually to regain lost ground or to destroy attacking enemy units.It is...
ed at the Canal de la Dérivation, but were repulsed and pushed back by the Belgian Army. This day also saw Lt. Frederick William Hedges
Frederick William Hedges
Frederick William Hedges VC was a British recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:...
earn his Victoria Cross. On October 25, the Battle of Selle ended, and the next day, 26 October, Erich Ludendorff
Erich Ludendorff
Erich Friedrich Wilhelm Ludendorff was a German general, victor of Liège and of the Battle of Tannenberg...
, First Quartermaster General
Quartermaster general
A Quartermaster general is the staff officer in charge of supplies for a whole army.- The United Kingdom :In the United Kingdom, the Quartermaster-General to the Forces is one of the most senior generals in the British Army...
of the German army, resigned under pressure from Kaiser Wilhelm II.