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 Arras to begin operations against the Hindenburg Line. By August 26^th the Corps was advancing on a broad front with the main road from Arras to Cambrai as their axis of advance.  Units of the 1^st Canadian Division, including the 15^th 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 15^th Battalion would assault on September 1^st.

2393305 Private Alfred Thomson was an 18 year old farmer from Weston, ON April 1917 when he attested into the CEF as part of a draft from the 48^th Highlanders. He arrived at the 15^th Battalion in March 1918 and served with No. 4 Company in the April trench tour at Gavrelle and the battle of Amiens in August. On August 30^th while in Ulster Trench he was killed instantly by a shrapnel wound to the head. He is buried nearby in Sun Quarry Cemetery.

NOK: Son of William and Elizabeth Anderson Thomson, of Milton, Ontario. Native of Aberdeenshire. Scotland.  Mrs W. Thomson (M) RR#3 Weston, ON