Mystery of unknown survivors from one of war’s key battles
IT WAS the winter of 1917 and, having survived one of the most significant battles of the First World War, the officers of various British regiments lined up for a group photograph.
Yet, despite having just taken part in the historic Battle of Cambrai – the first tank battle in history – their names were lost to posterity.
Only one of their number has ever been identified; Captain Thomas Box, of the King’s (Liverpool Regiment).
Now historians have appealed to the public to help them name the men and track down their descendants. Identifying the men would, they say, allow them to be properly commemorated.
The Battle of Cambrai marked the first use of the new technology of armoured tanks in mass formation against enemy troops.
After some first day British success, the Mark IV tanks began to break down, with others falling to German artillery and infantry. However, it did point the way forwards in breaking the stalemate on the Western Front.
The British suffered 47,596 casualties, of whom 9,000 were taken prisoner, with 41,000 German casualties.
The photograph shows the men lining up outside a sturdy brick building that may have doubled as their prison quarters. It was taken on Nov 30 1917 by Walter Heinsen, a 17-year old who served on the Western Front as a German army photographer. John Heinsen, the photographer’s American grandson, has in recent years travelled to and from northern France to piece together the stories behind the images.
Mr Heinsen, 47, a TV executive from California, said: “My grandfather was very anti-war, like many artists of his generation. I want to spread this message of forgiveness and reconciliation to generations going forward. Only in the last few weeks have we started to identify some of the men’s uniforms.”
The uniforms, regimental insignia and service ribbons provide strong clues to the men’s identities. One is a lieutenant in the Royal Engineers or the Royal Artillery and wears the Military Cross. Another is an officer in the Somerset Light Infantry. A third, his kilt clearly visible, is a private in the Seaforth Highlanders. It is thought most of the men survived the war.
Now the charity There But Not There has urged the public to put names to the 30 men photographed with Capt Box, so that tribute can be paid. For every man identified, it will present a Tommy statuette engraved with his name, to his descendants.