Brigadier General J V Campbell Addressing Troops From the Riqueval Bridge Over the St. Quentin Canal, October 1918

This famous photo shows Brigadier-General John Vaughan Campbell VC addressing men of the 137th Brigade (46th Division) on the Riqueval Bridge over the St. Quentin Canal in France on October 2, 1918, during the final months of World War I.

The image was taken just after the successful capture of the Riqueval Bridge—a critical objective in the Battle of St. Quentin Canal, part of the broader Allied Hundred Days Offensive that led to the end of the war.

The St. Quentin Canal formed part of the heavily fortified Hindenburg Line, a key segment of the German defensive network on the Western Front. The 9th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment, under Brigadier General John Vaughan Campbell, executed a daring assault to seize the bridge intact before the Germans could demolish it. Campbell had previously been awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery during the Battle of the Somme in 1916. His leadership at Riqueval became a symbol of the Allies’ growing momentum in 1918.

The soldiers in this photo were participating in the so-called “100 Days Offensive” at the end of World War I. The offensive began in August 1918 and took place along the entire Western Front. By this point in the war, the German army’s initiative had halted, and their forces were in a dire state. The soldiers were exhausted, and morale was low.

For the first time in the war, Allied planes, tanks, and artillery were coordinated with infantry on the ground. Additionally, French, British, and American troops worked closely together. This coordination was key to Allied success, alongside their dominance in the skies, which was a significant advantage. There were heavy losses on both sides.

During the offensive, Allied casualties totaled approximately 700,000, while German casualties reached around 760,000. Gradually, the offensive caused the German army to collapse, forcing them to retreat further and further as the Allies continued their attacks. The arrival of over a million fresh American troops significantly bolstered the Allied effort, contributing to the final defeat of the German army in November 1918.