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The Evening Standard. Jan 30 1928

Haig's "Back to the Wall" Message.

To All Ranks of the British Forces in France

Three weeks ago today the Enemy began this terrific attack against us in a 50 mile front. His objects are to [illegible] from the French, to take the Channel ports and destroy the British Army.

[illegible] & throwing already 106 Division into the battle and enduring the two most reckless known life, no less as yet little progress toward his goals. We owe this to the determined fighting & self sacrifice of our troops. Words fail me to express the admiration this [illegible] for the offensive resistance offered by all ranks of our Army under the most trying circumstances.

Many amongst us now are tired. To those I will say that Victory will belong to the side which holds out the longest. The French army's moving rapidly & in great force to our support ------

There is no other course open to us but to fight it out! Every position must be held to 'the East man' there must be no retirement. With our Goeks to the West and believing in the justice of our cause each one man must fight on to the end. The safety of our Houses and the Freedom of mankind alike depend upon the [illegible] each one of us at this critical moment.

D. Haig

Thursday, 11 April 1918

A reproduction of Haig's famous message to the Army during the German offensive in the spring of 1918.

BC Archives, MS-2879, Box 83, File 1 CREASE FAMILY, "Diary of the War", diary and scrapbook of Arthur Douglas Crease, 1915-1919.