"The officers and men of the famous Squadron of Fort Garry Horse passing through a village on the Cambrai Front some days after the advance." Lieutenant Harcus Strachan VC, MC, [on horseback with forage cap and moustache] whose gallantry on the opening day of the battle had won him a VC, with a Squadron of the Canadian Fort Garry Horse passing through Epehy, while moving up to the forward area. From the Fort Garry Horse Regimental Website (http://www.fortgarryhorse.ca): 1917 - Cambrai The plan for the attack on the German Hindenburg Line relied on a massed tank and infantry breakthrough to be exploited by the Cavalry, which were to push forward and isolate the city of Cambrai. The Fort Garry Horse, as part of the Canadian Cavalry Brigade, 5th Cavalry Division, was given the task of leading as advance guard for the Division. "B" Squadron, commanded by Captain Campbell, was given the special mission of capturing a German Corps Headquarters in the town of Escaudoeuvres. The remainder of the regiment was held up by a bridge which had collapsed under the weight of a tank, but "B" Squadron managed to cross on a temporary bridge constructed (with the help of the Machine Gun Squadron and German prisoners) over a damaged lock gate. Shortly after the crossing, the CO, Lt. Col. R. W. Paterson, received orders to cancel the entire Cavalry advance but "B" Squadron was already on the way to their objective. The Squadron came under heavy machine gun fire, killing Captain Campbell. Lt. Harcus Strachan immediately took command. He led the Squadron forward and came upon a German artillery battery which was destroyed by a charge with swords drawn. The Squadron continued forward and halted to rest under cover in a sunken road, where Lt. Strachan found that only 43 men and horses were left from the start of 129 men and 140 horses. Realizing that the Squadron could not accomplish their mission, Lt. Strachan and Lt. W Cowen led the remaining men back in two groups through the German lines at night, bringing in 15 prisoners. For his gallantry and leadership, Lt. Strachan was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest award for valour. he Battle of Cambrai, 1918 (also known as the Second Battle of Cambrai) was a battle between troops of the British First, Third and Fourth Armies and German Empire forces during the Hundred Days Offensive of the First World War. The battle took place in and around the French city of Cambrai, between 8 and 10 October 1918. The battle incorporated many of the newer tactics of 1918, in particular tanks, meaning that the attack was an overwhelming success with light casualties in an extremely short amount of time. Although the capture of Cambrai was achieved significantly sooner than expected, German resistance northeast of the town stiffened, slowing the advance and forcing the Canadian Corps to dig in.