EVERY month archivist Steve Berridge transcribes the war diary and regimental chronicle of the 2nd Battalion of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.

A volunteer at the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum in Woodstock, he often travels to war memorial sites in France.

A former corporal in the Royal Green Jackets, Mr Berridge's interest in the history of the regiment started when he began researching the life story of his great-grandfather Corporal George Berridge, who served in the 1st Buckinghamshire Battalion during the First World War.

The 53-year-old said his great-grandfather, also a corporal, joined up in 1902 and was allowed home before the actual Battle of the Somme in 1916 because of his age and length of service.

He died in 1956 at the age of 72 following a long illness that may have been related to being gassed during the First World War.

The archivist's latest research has been focusing on the Battle of Arras, which took place 100 years ago this month.

He said the battle came as the Allies aimed to expel the Germans once and for all from France.

Mr Berridge said: "The aim was another joint Anglo-French offensive, with the British in the north around the city of Arras and the French further south on the Chemin des Dames and Champagne.

"At 5.30 am on April 9 the general attack was launched.

"Covered by a heavy barrage, British infantry ran right over the German lines, and the whole of the enemy first-line system was in our hands.

"Vimy Ridge was in the course of being captured by the Canadian Corps, and by 9.30am the Germans had been turned out of their second position.

"The only battalion of the regiment engaged in this day's fighting was the 5th (Service) Battalion, Ox and Bucks Light Infantry.

"The battalion gained its objectives and captured an estimated 100 prisoners and three machine guns although in the process incurred 12 officer casualties and 180 other ranks."

Mr Berridge said the Allies then engaged in a series of small-scale operations to consolidate new positions.

Although these battles were generally successful in achieving limited aims, territorial gains were made at the price of relatively large numbers of casualties.

On April 28 the 2nd Battalion of the Ox and Bucks Light Infantry took part in the attack on the Arleux-Oppy line and in doing so suffered six officer casualties and 200 casualties from other ranks.

Then on May 3 the 5th Battalion was again in action and distinguished itself in the assault at Vis-en-Artois. Eight officers were casualties along with 291 from other ranks.

Mr Berridge added: "On April 16, the French commenced their attacks on the Aisne but during the following days and after many attacks with varying success, they managed to obtain their objectives on the Chemin des Dames on May 5.

"By this stage, however, the French soldiers had had enough of their bad treatment and the incompetence of their superiors and a series of mutinies spread through the French Army.

"It therefore fell upon the British to keep the Germans occupied in order to take the pressure off of the French Army while it 'reorganised'."

This was done by continuing the offensive around Arras and in June operations shifted north to Belgium with the actions on Messines Ridge and at the end of July the Third Battle of Ypres.

Mr Berridge concluded: "The Battle of Arras finally wound down at the end of June and the sector was once again in stalemate.

"The British and Empire armies had captured upwards of 20,000 prisoners, 260 guns and innumerable trench-mortars and machine guns but it had cost around 158,000 casualties, with the German casualties estimated at between 120,000 to 130,000."