The opening battle of the 100 Days campaign had been successfully executed at Amiens on Amiens August 8-10, 1918 spearheaded by the Canadian and Australian Corps. The tactical strategy for the campaign was based on using deception and surprise to conduct material heavy attacks that would see a shifting series of concentric attacks to keep the enemy off balance forcing them to react and commit their dwindling reserves. As had happened at Amiens, once the limits of the breakthrough and penetration of the German line had been successfully executed and the German resistance stiffened as they committed reserves, the attack would stop. The spearhead would then rapidly shift to a new location and conduct a new attack.
In late August 1918, the Canadian Corps left the ground captured during the Amiens battle and shifted to the Arras to begin operations against the Hindenburg Line. By August 26th the Corps was advancing on a broad front with the main road from Arras to Cambrai as their axis of advance. Units of the 1st Canadian Division, including the 15th Battalion, were on the right of that axis advancing through Wancourt and Cherisy towards the main objective which was the Drocourt-Queant Line near Hendecourt , Cagnicourt and Buissy. Guarding the approach to the D-Q Line was The Crow’s Nest which the 15th Battalion would assault on September 1st.
1045335 Private James Henry Grimes was 23 year old machinist from Sault St Marie, On when he attested into the 241st Battalion in September 1916. He arrived at the 15th Battalion as a reinforcement following Passchendaele in November 1917 and was assigned to No. 4 Company. He served in the December trench tour near Lens, all the 1918 trench tours and the battle of Amiens in August. At about 10AM On August 30th he was in a shell hole between Sun Quarry and the ridge behind Ulster trench close to the Cherisy-Hendicourt Road when he was killed in action by shrapnel to the head. He is buried in Croisilles British Cemetery
NOK: Joseph Grimes (F) 25 Albert St., Sault Ste Marie, ON