 On 28 May 1916, Byng took command of the Canadian Corps from Lieutenant-General Sir Edwin Alderson.Formal discussions for a spring offensive near Arras began, following a conference of corps commanders held at the First Army Headquarters on 21 November 1916.In March 1917, the First Army headquarters formally presented Byng with orders outlining Vimy Ridge as the Canadian Corps objective for the Arras Offensive.