The advance continued. Canadian Forces continued to pour over the Canal de L’Escaut, towards German occupied Belgium and Northern France.

With Valenciennes serving as a orienting point, the 3 Canadian Divisions manning the front lines thrust forward. Over 40 communities fell into the hands of the advancing Corps - towns and villages that had been occupied since the beginning of the War. Chief amongst them was Denain, a huge industrial centre on the north bank of the Canal d L’Escaut.

The previous day’s operations had seen rapid advances made by the 3 Canadian Divisions at the front line.

Continuing to move with haste, the 1st and 4th Divisions captured 10 and 8 kilometres of respective territory. Over a dozen communities fell into the hands of the Corps on October 18th.

Battle resumed. Elements of 3 Canadian Divisions began moving against the German Army, who had begun retreating in earnest.

The 12th to the 17th of October were characterized by routine in the Canadian sector. Each day began with a “test barrage” - a brief artillery strike on suspected German positions - followed by a waiting period to see whether or not German forces would retaliate. More often than not, Canadian Forces would find these positions deserted, as the German Army had begun retreating freely.

All along the Western Front, Allied Forces were taking the fight to the beleaguered German Armies.

In Belgium, Army Group Flanders had pushed Friedrich von Armin’s 4th Army across the Lys River, with King Albert of Belgium’s Forces in hot pursuit.

Another day had passed. Although the war was not yet over, the efforts of millions of men on the Western Front brought it ever closer with each day.

The launch of yesterday’s Courtrai Offensive had seen stable gains made by Allied Forces, and the momentum carried on into today’s operations. Elements of the 2nd British Army thrust forward, capturing Menin, and gaining a strongpoint outside of Courtrai.

In Artois, the 1st and 2nd Canadian Divisions held the line.

Probing assaults by the 1st Division reached the town of Férin, but stiff counterattacks forced a withdrawal.

To the north, in Flanders, the Battle of Courtrai began. In a similar fashion to other Allied offensives, it was meant to divert German troops to Belgium and create openings for Allied troops in France. It would be spearheaded by Army Group Flanders.

By now, the Canadian Line ran from Aubencheul-au-Bac in the north, to Le Cateau in the south, covering a distance of around 15 miles. '

The German 2nd Army continued a strategic retreat to the Hermann Position on the Selle River, while trying to delay the Canadian and British forces in hot pursuit.

The Hindenburg Line had been totally overrun. German forces had been routed. A full retreat from Cambrai to Le Cateau saw Canadian Forces hot on their heels, inching ever closer to victory on the Western Front.

Northern-bound, and with their eyes on Valenciennes, Canadian forces continued to slog through German resistance on their path to end the First World War.

Two clear objectives existed for the 2nd Division. Firstly, they continued to clear and capture the systems of moats and canals running over the Canal de L’Escaut. The 4th and 5th Brigades ran astride the eastern side of the Canal, advancing on Iwuy, while the 6th operated on the western side.

While the Third and Fourth British Armies clashed with German forces on the outskirts of Cambrai, Canadian forces steeled themselves for an assault on the city itself.

High Command was reticent to send forces into the city itself, especially without a preceding artillery barrage. Although the Canadian Corps were considered elite, they (like most other armies of the First World War) lacked experience in urban fighting. The only prior battle in an urban atmosphere had been in Lens back in 1917, and the Canadians had failed to capture the city.