Arras, Capitale d’Artois.

Fabulous C18th engraving of the ancient French town of Arras, located in Northern France at the confluence of the Scarpe river and the Crinchon River. The scene is with an elaborate engraved framed border design.

During World War I, the Battle of Arras, also known as the ‘Arras Offensive’, was fought from 9 April to 17 May 1917. The Allied plan for 1917 was for a major French offensive on the Western Front on the Aisne river, 120km south-east of Arras, to begin in mid April. The British agreed to launch an attack at Arras a week earlier to draw German reserves away from the French attack. The Battle of Arras began on an 18km front from Vimy ridge in the north to Neuville-Vitasse in the south. When it ended on 17 May, the British had advanced up to 10km eastwards. The offensive was hailed as a success, although the larger French offensive was a failure. Twice during the Battle of Arras, Australians attacked near the town of Bullecourt, on the southern flank of the main advance and 12km south-east of the city of Arras.