The greatest contribution to the liberation of Saint Quentin was probably the effort of the 46^th (North Midland) Division which managed to cross the St.Quentin Canal in a number of places between the Bellenglise and the Riqueval Bridge enabling the French Army to enter the city shortly afterwards.

The successful attacks began at 5.50 a.m. on 29^th September 1918 in misty conditions assisted by the exploit of nine men of the 1/6^th North Staffordshire Regiment under the command of Captain Charlton, who rushed the Riqueval Bridge over the canal before it could be destroyed, enabling following troops to form a bridgehead and later make the impressive advance of a mile beyond the canal.

By late evening that day the British Army was through the Hindenburg Line defences and established some 8000 yards beyond. The 32^nd Division which included the 2^nd Manchesters (Wilfred Owen’s battalion) was poised ready to attack Joncourt the next day. Very shortly the Beaurevoir-Fonsomme Line was to be breached, a battle in which 2^nd Lieutenant Wilfred Owen was to win his Military Cross.

From now on trench warfare was to cease. Open warfare was about to commence and by the 11^th November 1918 the war had ended with the British back in Mons from where they had been forced to leave so abruptly in August 1914.