take over the sector on the River Ancre, where fighting had bogged down during the Somme Offensive. When V Corps took over, the line was held by the Guards, 6th and 20th (Light) Divisions. These were replaced by the fresh 2nd, 39th and 48th (South Midland) Division for the renewed attacks on the Ancre Heights, which continued from September to November 1916 with regular rotation of divisions as they became exhausted. V Corps finally took some of the 1 July objectives, such as Beaumont Hamel (by the 51st (Highland) Division), but ended with a failure at Redan Ridge during the action known as the Battle of the Ancre. Order of Battle 26 February 1917 GOC: Lt-Gen Edward Fanshawe 7th Division 19th (Western) Division 31st Division 62nd (2nd West Riding) Division 1917 Fighting Winter Operations on the Ancre included the capture of Ten Tree Alley by 32nd Division of V Corps on 10–13 February 1917. When the Germans began their retreat to the Hindenburg Line (14 March – 5 April 1917) V Corps followed up slowly against rearguards. On 11 April, Fifth Army attacked the new line at Bullecourt, with the 62nd Division of V Corps in action alongside I Anzac Corps. The same forces met the German attack on Lagnicourt on 15 April 1917. V Corps took part in the second attack on Bullecourt with the 7th Division, the 58th (2/1st London) Division and the 62nd (West Riding) Division. The Corps lost approximately 300 officers and 6500 other ranks between 3 and 17 May. After Bullecourt, Fifth Army HQ and many of its divisions moved north to prepare for the Ypres Offensive and V Corps HQ was made available to command reserves. V Corps' staff for the Ypres Offensive comprised: GOC: Lt-Gen Sir Edward Fanshawe BGGS Brig-Gen G.F. Boyd DA&QMG: Brig-Gen H.M. de F. Montgomery BGRA: Brig-Gen R.P. Benson BGHA: Brig-Gen A.M. Tyler CE: Brig-Gen A.J. Craven On 7 September, V Corps relieved XIX Corps, taking command of 9th (Scottish) Division and 55th (West Lancashire) Division in the line. On 20 September, V Corps was assigned stiff objectives for the Battle of the Menin Road, and the 55th Division took heavy casualties. For the succeeding Battle of Polygon Wood, the frontline divisions were relieved, and V Corps attacked with the 3rd and 59th (2nd North Midland) Divisions. On 1 December, V Corps HQ was transferred to Third Army and relieved