Prelude to the German Spring Offensive at Amiens

Around this time 100 years ago, Sydney Williams' war record shows he was transferred on 19 March 1918 to "Y" Battery from the "Z" Trench Mortar Battery to which he had been attached since August 1916.

Meanwhile, the New Zealand Artillery in the Field, 1914-18 records of this time say: 

The enemy displayed marked activity along the whole of the Ypres sector during March. ... hostile batteries were persistently active on forward areas, and there was a recrudescence of long range shelling in back areas. Anxiety was felt as to whether the heavy shelling of forward areas might not be the prelude to infantry action, and counter-preparation was ordered and fired in the early morning of the 10th, and on the three following mornings. There were constant alarms during the week that followed, but the tension remained unbroken until on the 21st March intelligence was received that the long-expected German offensive had been launched in the south. Details at first were meagre and, as always, rumours and vague reports of the most varied description sprang to life with a fecundity that is usual at such times. It was soon learnt, however, that the enemy had struck on a very wide front with tremendous weight, and that the situation was one of extreme gravity. On March 22nd Brigades and the D.A.C. were warned to be ready to move, and detailed instructions regarding reliefs were issued.

This was the beginning of the German bid for Amiens.