I cannot find many good sources about the battle of Cambrai on the internet or in the library, so I was hoping I could ask your community some questions. If you have found a good source I would be very greatful.
1. Was the town of Flesquières fortified ? 2. Was it bombarded by artillery? 3. Did the 51st Highlanders engage in street fighting in the town on the first day and then push the Germans out on the second or where they only able to enter on the second day? (my sources are conflicting on this point)
Sorry if I seem like I'm using you as a research tool.
Flèsquieres is/was a village, not a town, of rather moderate size. It wasn't fortified, but when you approach it from the side where the British attack occured it looks like some medieval fortress (walls, roofs, walls, hardly any openings like roads). A German intermediate position ran in front of Flèsquieres - on the reverse slope - with a wire obstacle mostly intact. The German defenders remained in control of F. on November 20th, and withdrew in the following night when it became clear they wouldn't be reinforced or supplied - and no German counter-attack was planned for Nov 21st. Some tanks were disabled by infantry, either in the intermediate position or in F., but there are no reports about street fighting.
