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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/16974-8.txt b/16974-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..aa30a04 --- /dev/null +++ b/16974-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4113 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Story of the "9th King's" in France +by Enos Herbert Glynne Roberts + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Story of the "9th King's" in France + +Author: Enos Herbert Glynne Roberts + +Release Date: October 31, 2005 [EBook #16974] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF THE "9TH *** + + + + +Produced by Irma Spehar, Christine D and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net. (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) + + + + + + +[Transcriber's note: Punctuation normalised, spelling normalised.] + + + The Story of the "9th King's" in France. + + BY ENOS HERBERT GLYNNE ROBERTS. + + + LIVERPOOL: + THE NORTHERN PUBLISHING CO. LTD., 17 GOREE PIAZZAS, + AND 11, BRUNSWICK STREET. + 1922. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +CHAPTER I. ENGLAND. + +CHAPTER II. THE 1ST DIVISION. + +CHAPTER III. THE 55TH DIVISION. + +CHAPTER IV. THE 57TH DIVISION. + +APPENDIX LIST OF DECORATIONS. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +ENGLAND. + + +Shortly after the commencement of the Volunteer Movement in 1859, many +members of the newspaper and printing trades in Liverpool were desirous of +forming a regiment composed of men connected with those businesses. A +meeting was held in the Liverpool Town Hall, and the scheme was so well +received that steps were taken towards the formation of a corps. Sanction +was obtained, and on the 21st February, 1861, the officers and men of the +new unit took the oath of allegiance at St. George's Hall. Thus came into +being the 80th Lancashire Rifle Volunteers, and on the 2nd April, 1863, +the 73rd Battalion of the Lancashire Rifle Volunteers was amalgamated with +it. In the early days of its existence the new unit attended reviews and +inspections at Mount Vernon, Newton-le-Willows and Aintree. Some time +afterwards it was renumbered the 19th Lancashire Rifle Volunteers. +Later--in 1888--it became the 6th Volunteer Battalion of The King's +(Liverpool Regiment). + +The early parades of the Regiment took place at Rose Hill Police Station, +and the Corn Exchange, Brunswick Street, until Headquarters were +established at 16, Soho Street. + +To those who took part in these parades great credit and thanks are due. +Through their efforts an organised battalion came into being, men were +trained for the bearing of arms and the defence of their country should +the occasion ever arise, and the soldierly spirit was inculcated in many +who followed a civilian occupation. Those who survived until the Great +War, though not privileged to lead on the battlefield, had at any rate the +satisfaction of realising that their work was not in vain. Directly +attributable to the efforts of the early volunteers is the fact that in +1915 the Territorial Force was ready for the reinforcement of the Regular +Army in the Western Theatre of the War, and this afforded the New Armies +which Lord Kitchener had formed ample time for the completion of their +training. + +In 1884 the Headquarters in Soho Street were changed for more commodious +and better equipped premises at 59, Everton Road, where the Battalion +remained domiciled until 1914. During the South African War the Battalion +sent out a company, and the experience the men gained there proved very +useful at the annual camps. Several of the men who went to South Africa +were privileged to serve in the next war. On the formation of the +Territorial Force the Battalion was once again renumbered and henceforth +it was known as the 9th Battalion of The King's (Liverpool Regiment) +Territorial Force. + +The recruiting area of the Battalion embraced the Everton district of +Liverpool, a locality inhabited chiefly by members of the tradesmen and +artisan classes, which furnished the Regiment with the bulk of its +recruits. There was a detachment located in the country at Ormskirk, from +which the Battalion drew some of its finest fighting material. +Agriculturalists make good soldiers, and this was evidenced on many +occasions later by the behaviour and ability of the men from this town. In +the ranks there was a sprinkling of sailors and miners, whose several +callings equipped them with knowledge which proved useful in their new +profession. The officers for the most part were drawn from the +professional class and business houses of the city. + +There came on the 4th August, 1914, a telegram to Headquarters containing +only the one word "Mobilize." On that day Great Britain declared war on +Germany. Notices were sent out ordering the men to report, and at 2-0 p.m. +on the 6th there was only one man unaccounted for. The mobilization was +satisfactory. + +Difficulties immediately presented themselves, for the men had to be +housed and fed. The first night the men spent in the Hippodrome Theatre, +where the artists gave them a special performance in addition to the +public performances. Afterwards sleeping accommodation was found in the +Liverpool College. Through the kindness of the committee of the Newsboys' +Home in Everton Road arrangements were made to feed the men. There were +too many for them to be fed all at once, so that meals had to be taken in +relays. At Headquarters there was a certain amount of congestion, for +equipment, picks, shovels and other mobilization stores took up a +considerable amount of room. Besides this there were collected at +Headquarters civilian milk floats, lorries, spring carts and other +vehicles which had been pressed into service as regimental transport. +Horses with patched civilian harness gave the transport the appearance of +a "haywire outfit." After the officers had gone to the trouble of +collecting this transport it was taken away by the Higher Command and +given to another unit. The same fate befell the second set of horses and +waggons. The third was retained. + +According to orders the Battalion entrained under the command of +Lieutenant-Colonel Luther Watts, V.D., on the 13th August, at Lime Street +Station, Liverpool. It was not known at the time whither the Battalion was +bound. In the afternoon Edinburgh was reached, where there was +considerable bustle on account of the departure of some regular regiments +for the front. Crossing the Firth of Forth, the men saw with what +activities the Naval Authorities were preparing for the reception of +further warships. Dunfermline proved to be the destination of the +Regiment, and on arrival supper was provided by some ladies of the town. +The men were accommodated first in tents at Transy, and afterwards in +billets in the Carnegie Institute, St. Leonard's and the Technical Schools +and the Workhouse. The inhabitants of Dunfermline and district were +extremely kind to all members of the Battalion, and almost every man had +an invitation to visit newly formed friends nightly. + +There were at this time not enough blankets in the possession of the +authorities, so that an appeal was made which brought forth an ample +supply of civilian blankets. Colonel Hall Walker, T.D., the Honorary +Colonel, gave the Battalion £500 when it was at Dunfermline, which was +expended on extra clothing and other comforts for the men. It was a very +generous sum and proved of great value. + +The usual training took place, and considering the circumstances a high +standard of efficiency was attained. In October the Regiment proceeded by +train to Tunbridge Wells, where it remained until it proceeded overseas. + +The training here consisted of an early morning run followed later by a +Battalion route march or field practice. Judged from later standards the +training was not as intensive as it might have been owing chiefly to the +facts that, unfortunately, no parade ground was available, and little, if +any, assistance was afforded by higher formations. An occasional night +alarm also ordered by higher authorities discomforted everyone and did +little good. Recruits were sent to Sandwich for musketry, and the +Battalion assisted in digging trenches, machine gun emplacements and other +defensive works on the inland side of the canal, originally constructed by +French prisoners during the Napoleonic Wars, and which skirted Romney +Marsh. Half the Battalion--that is four companies--was sent to assist with +the London Defences near Ashford, where the men learnt to construct what +the Royal Engineers were pleased to call "Low Command Redoubts," and which +were badly sited on forward slopes. The experience gained, however, proved +very useful afterwards in France. + +Parades at Tunbridge Wells finished early in the afternoon which afforded +ample time for recreation. The townspeople were very hospitable and +extended cordial invitations to the men, who availed themselves freely of +them. At Christmas time the men fared sumptuously through the generosity +and kindness of their hosts. + +In January a company was sent to guard cables and vulnerable points at +Birling Gap, Cuckmere Haven and Dungeness. Several other similar duties +afforded diversions from the usual training programme. + +While at Tunbridge Wells the greatest keenness was displayed by all. +Officers were jealous of anyone who was lucky enough to be sent on a +course of instruction. There were voluntary classes for the study of +tactics at which the younger officers sedulously studied the principles of +out-posts, advance guards, rear guards and so on. Everyone wanted to know +more of his new profession. The thirst for knowledge was not adequately +quenched as there were unfortunately, too few courses and too few +instructors available. + +Such an ardour possessed the men for the fight that in some it reached the +pitch of fear lest they should arrive too late upon the battlefield and +receive only a barless medal. Some actually wished to transfer to another +unit so as to ensure getting out at once. When at last the anxiously +awaited order came that the Battalion was to go "over there" one officer +was overcome with exultation. His intense joy at being allowed to serve +his King and country on fields more stricken than parade grounds was +clearly marked. After many months of distinguished service in the field, +he now rests peacefully at Montauban. + +The few days immediately preceding the exodus of the Regiment were days of +great activity and preparation. The affairs of the Battalion had to be +completely wound up. The mysterious pay and mess books were completed and +company cash accounts closed. New equipment was given out to officers and +men, as well as wirecutters, revolvers and other necessities of active +service. Field dressings were handed out--dark omens of what was now to be +anticipated. The transport section received its full complement of waggons +and limbers, together with its full number of mules, which proved to be +equal to any which proceeded to France. + +Under the impression that active service meant the end of the comforts of +civilisation, officers provided themselves with supplies of patent +medicine, bought small first-aid outfits and elaborate pannikins +containing numerous small receptacles, which did not prove useful and were +ultimately lost. Spare kit including Sam Browne belts was packed and +consigned to the Depot. In anticipation of an early death many of the +officers and men made their wills. This was encouraged by a rumour that +the War Office had ordered a further 76,000 hospital beds to be prepared. + +At the end of December, 1914, Lieut.-Colonel Luther Watts, V.D. took over +the command of the Reserve Battalion at Blackpool, which had been formed +late in 1914, and Lieut.-Colonel J.E. Lloyd, V.D., was gazetted to the +foreign service Battalion. + +Mention should here be made of the fact that shortly before leaving +England the old eight company organisation was abandoned, and the new four +company organisation adopted, and each new company was divided into four +platoons. The change was exceedingly beneficial, as it would have been +difficult in the field for a battalion commander to give orders to eight +company commanders. More responsibility was thrown on the company +commanders, who were at the time senior enough to assume it, and for the +first time the subaltern was given a command. For the future he had his +platoon which carried much greater responsibility than that previously +attached to a half company. It was a fighting unit, and a separate body in +which was reflected the work of a good commander. + +The 12th March, 1915, was the day destined for the departure from +Tunbridge Wells. One by one the companies, headed by a band kindly lent by +one of the other units quartered in the town, marched through the streets +for the last time. The greatest excitement prevailed when "D" Company, +which was the last, passed through the streets just as the shops were +opening. Farewells were waved, the troops were cheered, and for many this +was their last look at the town which had afforded them every hospitality +for the past few months. + +Arrived at the station, the men entrained for an unknown destination, and +there was some speculation as to which seaport it would be. It proved to +be Southampton, from whence the men embarked later in the day for France. +The excitement had to some extent worn off in the cool of the evening, and +as the men had their last glimpse of England by means of the beam of the +search-light, many thought of the happy homes they were leaving behind to +which they would perhaps never return. The journey to France was +uneventful, which circumstance was due largely to the protection afforded +by the torpedo-boat destroyers and other units of the Navy. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE 1ST DIVISION. + + +Next morning the Battalion disembarked at Le Havre and marched to a camp +at Sanvic. It was not to remain here long, and on the 14th the Battalion +entrained to join the First Army. The train journey was long, and the men +experienced for the first time the inconveniences of travelling in French +troop trains, being crowded fifty-six at a time into trucks labelled +"Hommes 48: Chevaux en long 8." Chocques was reached on the 15th and the +men marched therefrom to billets in a village close by called Oblinghem. +The Battalion was soon incorporated in the 2nd Infantry Brigade of the 1st +Division, a mixed brigade consisting of four Regular battalions reinforced +by two Territorial battalions. A few days were spent in Divisional Reserve +at Oblinghem during which time all the officers and several +non-commissioned officers were sent to the trenches at Festubert or +Richebourg for instruction by the Regular battalions which were holding +the line. + +At Oblinghem the men learnt for the first time what French billets were +like and experienced the insanitary conditions prevailing on the small +farms and the draughty and dirty barns. Looking around the countryside all +seemed quiet and peaceful. The ploughman ploughed the fields, others sowed +and the miners went to their daily tasks as usual. At times it was +difficult to realise that the firing line was within a few miles, but the +boom of the distant guns and the laden Red Cross motors indicated the +proximity of the fighting. A lot of old ideas as to the rigours of a +campaign were lost, and warfare in some respects was found not to be so +bad as had been expected. Wine and beer at any rate were plentiful, though +the potency of the beer was not quite sufficient for the taste of the +older men. Other regiments, lent officers to give a helping hand in +organisation and training. Company messes for officers were formed, as +anything in the nature of a battalion mess was impracticable. + +The men soon learnt that the estaminets were the equivalent in France of +the public houses at home, and thither they repaired in the evening to +spend their time. Many good young men who had never taken a drop of the +more invigorating liquors learnt that soldiers drank them, and the cause +of teetotalism began to wane. + +On the 24th a move was made to Les Facons, a straggling village outside +Bethune. Here on quiet nights one could easily hear the fusillade in the +trenches while the distant gun flashes lit up the night sky. The terrors +of the trenches were coming nearer. + +Early in April the various companies were attached each in turn to another +battalion in the Brigade, and went into the line for instruction in trench +duty at Port Arthur by Neuve Chapelle, and it was here that the first +casualties were sustained. It is claimed that the first shot fired by the +Battalion killed an enemy sniper. The men soon learnt the duties that fell +upon them as a consequence of trench warfare: the early morning stand-to, +the constant vigil of the neutral ground between the lines, and the +imperative necessity of keeping one's head low. Hitherto the men knew +little of the nature or use of guns, but now glimmerings of the mystery +surrounding artillery fire soon dawned. The men learnt the natures of +German shell, and the difference between shrapnel and high explosives and +what targets the enemy generally selected. Facts like these were explained +to them by the "real soldiers" of the Regular units to which they were +attached. On relief the Battalion marched back to Oblinghem once more, +where it stayed a week or two, and later in the month took over a portion +of the line at Richebourg St. Vaast where it was subjected to a very heavy +artillery bombardment on the 1st May. + +The military training of the men can be said to have been complete as +regards pre-war standard, but the war had introduced the use of two new +instruments of death. One was gas, the other the bomb. A primitive form of +respirator was given out in consequence of the use by the Germans of +chlorine at the Second Battle of Ypres. Instruction was given in the use +of bombs, of which the men had hitherto no knowledge. In those days the +bomb first in use was the jam-tin bomb. The men were taught how to cut +fuses, fix them into the detonator, attach the lighter and wire the whole +together preparatory for use against the enemy. Jam-tin bombs were soon +discarded for the Bethune bomb, and there was no regular bomb until much +later, when the use of the Mills bomb became universal. The Hairbrush and +Hales bombs were also studied in addition to the Bethune. A few also +received some instruction in a rather primitive form of trench mortar. + +In April, Lieut.-Colonel Lloyd, V.D., was invalided home, and in his stead +Major T.J. Bolland took over the command of the Battalion. + + +THE BATTLE OF AUBERS RIDGE + +The disastrous enterprise of the 9th May was the first major action of the +war in which the "Ninth" took part. Shattered at its inception, the whole +attack soon came to an end. The lack of high explosive shells and the +consequent failure of the British artillery to destroy the enemy wire +entanglements were probably the main causes of the holocaust that took +place on that day. Though one of the biggest disasters the British arms +sustained throughout the war, it was scarcely noted in the newspapers, and +would seem to a casual observer quite insignificant compared with the +sinking of the "Lusitania," which had taken place some days before, +although in the battle it is believed that the 2nd Infantry Brigade lost a +bigger proportion of men than had ever been previously known in warfare. + +On the 8th May, the Battalion took up its battle position in rear of the +Rue du Bois at Richebourg l'Avoué, and there awaited the attack on the +morrow. The detail that obtained in battle orders of later dates was +wanting, in view of the fact that greater responsibility was in the early +days placed upon Commanding Officers. The Battalion was to support the +attack as the third wave. The flanks were given and in the event of an +advance the Battalion was to keep Chocolat Menier Corner on its immediate +right. The fight commenced with an ordinary bombardment of forty minutes +chiefly by field pieces, which according to the text book are primarily +intended not for bombardment but for use against personnel. A battery of +heavy howitzers was also in action. The ordinary bombardment was followed +by an intense bombardment of ten minutes. + +At 5-30 a.m. the Battalion advanced to the third line of trenches +immediately in rear of the Rue du Bois, and several losses attributable to +machine guns and shells were sustained. At 6-0 a.m. the Battalion was +continuing the advance to the support line when the 2nd King's Royal +Rifles asked for immediate support in the attack. The Battalion therefore +passed over the support line and quickly reached the front line. The +advent of a fresh unit made confusion the worse confounded. The trenches +which afforded little shelter were filled with men, and the enemy was +using his artillery freely. Machine guns in profusion were disgorging +their several streams of bullets. Communication trenches had been blotted +out. Despite the lessons of Neuve Chapelle there was no effective liaison +between artillery and infantry as the telephone wires were soon cut, and +as a consequence the inferno was intensified by the short firing of the +British artillery, a battery of 6-inch howitzers being the chief offender. + +Numerous casualties had been suffered, and among them was the Commanding +Officer, who was killed. The command then passed to Major J.W.B. Hunt, who +decided that it was useless to attempt to assault the enemy position +without further artillery preparation, as the enemy's barbed wire was +practically intact, and the only two gaps that were available were covered +by enemy machine guns. A report on the situation was made to +Brigadier-General Thesiger, and instructions were received that on no +account was the Battalion to leave the front line, and it was to hold the +same against a possible and probable counter attack by the enemy. + +At 10-0 a.m. the Battalion was ordered to prepare to take part in a second +attack to be launched at 11-15 a.m. Half an hour later a further order +postponed the second attack until 12-30 p.m. Thousands had failed to take +the objectives in the early morning, and it was unlikely that hundreds +would succeed in the afternoon. This attack was ultimately cancelled, and +at 4-0 p.m. the Battalion was withdrawn. A further attack was delivered in +vain at 4-30 p.m. by other regiments in the Division. Though the Battalion +unfortunately accomplished little, it sustained almost a hundred +casualties, but it was fortunate in that it escaped the same fate as +befell four of the Battalions in the Brigade which were almost +annihilated. The battle from almost every point of view was a dismal +failure, and the rate of casualties was perhaps the highest then recorded. +It was during the 4-30 p.m. attack that the men were privileged to witness +one of the most magnificent episodes of the war, which was the advance +made by the 1st Battalion Black Watch and the 1st Battalion Cameron +Highlanders. This was carried out with parade-like precision in face of a +most withering rifle and machine-gun fire, out of which scarcely half a +dozen of those brave fellows returned. + +Relieved in the evening, the "Ninth" marched to Essars and the next day to +billets at Bethune, and it was not until the 20th day of the month that +the Battalion was again in line, this time at Cambrin. It had now come +under the command of Major F.W. Ramsay, a regular officer from the +Middlesex Regiment. The remainder of the month of May and the month of +June were spent at Cambrin and Cuinchy, this latter place being renowned +even in those days for its minenwerfer activity. The Cambrin sector had +good deep trenches made by the French pioneers, which were strong, well +timbered and comfortable. This was the first occasion the Battalion +occupied trenches as distinguished from breast-works. Hitherto the nature +of the ground had made trenches impossible. The trenches at Cuinchy were +in front of a row of brickstacks, and in consequence of the water-logged +nature of a portion of the front were only dug three feet down, and a +sand-bag parapet was built; the trenches were not duckboarded, and were in +consequence wet. Around each brickstack was built a keep, and this was +garrisoned by a platoon in each case. Every time an enemy projectile hit a +brickstack large quantities of broken bricks were scattered as splinters +which multiplied the killing effect of the shell. In this sector there was +considerable mining activity. The mine shafts, of which there were about +three per company frontage, were each manned by two men who acted as +listeners. As the front lines were only about twenty-five yards apart +there was a considerable exchange of grenades. + +No cooking was allowed in the trenches, as the smoke which would have been +occasioned by cooking would only have encouraged enemy fire. Therefore +ration and hot food parties had to go four times a day along a +communication trench called Boyau Maison Rouge, one and a half miles long, +and which was not duckboarded. After heavy rain it became very muddy, and +the men cut down their trousers which led to the adoption of shorts +throughout. Hosetops were improvised by cutting the feet off socks and +later they were bought. The colour ranged at first from light heliotrope +to flatman's blue, but later was standardized as salmon pink. The expense +of providing these hosetops was a heavy drain on any available funds, but +fortunately friends of the Battalion came to the rescue. + +On relief from the Cambrin trenches on the 7th July the Battalion spent a +little over a fortnight in Brigade and Divisional Reserves at Sailly +Labourse and the Faubourg d'Arras in Bethune respectively. On the 25th it +was in line at Vermelles. This sector was quiet except in that portion +which was opposite the Hohenzollern Redoubt, from which huge aerial +torpedoes were fired. + +August was spent doing tours of duty in Annequin and Vermelles. During the +last tour in Vermelles the whole Battalion assembled every night in no +man's land and successfully dug under fire jumping-off trenches for the +forthcoming operations, the casualties being comparatively few, owing to +the speed with which the men dug. + +During the first three weeks in September, the Battalion was out of the +line and spent most of the time at Burbure, a quiet little village outside +Lillers, where the men enjoyed a period of peace well removed from the +battle zone. The training was devoted almost entirely to the practice of +the attack preparatory to the impending fight. + +During the summer a horse show took place in the First Division, and the +"Ninth" secured all the prizes for mules, the first prize for a field +kitchen and two jumping prizes, thus obtaining the second place in the +Division for the total number of marks gained. This was a signal honour +for a Territorial unit, and perhaps came as a surprise to some of the +Regular soldiers, who thought that they were "the people." This +demonstrated the fact that though the Battalion had but a few months' +experience of active service, it had soon accustomed itself to the rigours +of warfare, and that the transport section at any rate had attained a +high pitch of efficiency. The horse shows which were held from time to +time as occasion permitted provided diversions and did much to maintain a +high standard of efficiency in the first line transport. + +Improvements had been effected in the organisation of the Regiment since +its advent to France. Clothing and food became more plentiful and the +latter was better cooked. Efforts were made to improve the comfort of the +men in billets. Proper sanitation was rigorously observed. Officers were +encouraged to display the greatest solicitude for the welfare of the men, +and the cumulative effect of these measures resulted in improved morale. + + +THE BATTLE OF LOOS. + +For three weeks in September the Battalion practised the attack in +Burbure, which it left on the 20th. Before leaving Burbure an amusing +incident took place. The Battalion had paraded and was ready to move off. +Suddenly two young women who were watching dashed into the ranks, embraced +two of the men, kissed them with resounding smacks, and then disappeared +in the gloom. The consternation of the two men caused great amusement to +all. The "Ninth" moved up by stages, marching via Lapugnoy and Verquin, to +its battle position in trenches by Le Rutoire Farm, which it reached on +the 24th. The Battalion and the London Scottish formed a body called +"Green's Force," to which was given as a first objective the German front +line trenches in the vicinity of Lone Tree, as this objective was left +uncovered by the diverging advance of the 1st Brigade on the right and the +2nd Brigade on the left. + +In the grey light of the morning on the 25th September the British guns +opened with a furious fire after many days of artillery preparation. The +great battle had begun. For some time, and according to orders, the +Battalion remained in its position. It was not to advance before 8-0 a.m. +At this time the men left the assembly trench to move over the open to the +front line. The enemy machine gunners had the range, and several were +wounded almost on leaving the trench. The advance was made by sectional +rushes, each section seeking what cover there was. Those who were wounded +while actually advancing in many cases received slight wounds, but those +that were hit while lying down were generally killed, as the bullets +struck them in the head or traversed the vital organs for the length of +the body. It required a courageous heart to advance seeing one's comrades +thus desperately wounded or lying dead. The shell fire was not heavy, and +few casualties were attributable to it. Lieutenant-Colonel Ramsay led the +attack in person, and he was easily recognisable by the wand which he +carried. One of the Battalion machine guns was pushed forward about 2-0 +p.m. and under the covering fire it afforded the advance was continued. +The advance had been slow and losses were severe, but at 3-30 p.m. the men +had succeeded in establishing themselves in one line about a hundred yards +from the German trenches. A few minutes afterwards the Germans +surrendered, and between three and four hundred prisoners were taken. They +chiefly belonged to the 59th and 157th Infantry Regiments. A harvest of +souvenirs was reaped by the men, many of whom secured the then coveted +Pickelhaube helmet. The prisoners were sent to the rear, and the Battalion +continued the advance and ultimately established a line on the +Lens-Hulluch Road. It is to be observed that the Battalion was the only +one that got its field kitchens up to the village of Loos on the first day +of the battle. At 4-0 a.m. next morning the Battalion was withdrawn to the +old British line. Later in the day it moved forward to the old German +trench system as reserve in the continued operations, sustaining several +gas and shell casualties. On the 28th September the Battalion moved back +to Mazingarbe, as the men thought, for a rest. They were soon +disappointed. At 7 p.m. on the same day orders were received to take up a +position at the Slag Heap or Fosse at Loos, known as London Bridge. At 9-0 +p.m. the Battalion left its billets in a deluge of rain and marched back +to the line in splendid spirits in spite of the fatigue resulting from the +recent fighting. It was relieved from the trenches on the 30th September, +and after one night spent in the ruined houses of Loos went to +Noeux-les-Mines for a few days to re-organise and re-equip. + +On the 7th October the Battalion returned to the front line which was +alongside the Lens-Hulluch Road to the north of Loos. The trench had +evidently once been the ditch on the side of the road. It was very +shallow, and it was decided to deepen it the next night as the men were +too tired after their long march. This was a good resolution, but it was +not carried out. The enemy commenced next morning about half-past ten with +heavy shell fire. In the afternoon it became intense and an attack seemed +imminent. There was no shelter in the shallow trench, as there had not +been sufficient time to make any dugouts. The men could do nothing but +wait. Minutes seemed hours. The shelling appeared endless. So terrific was +the enemy fire that it was doubted by the artillery observers in rear +whether any of the front line garrison was left alive. All who might be +lucky enough to escape physical destruction would at any rate be morally +broken. The Germans who had concentrated in the Bois Hugo attacked about +4-30 p.m. They were repulsed by rifle and machine gun fire, and it is +gratifying to know that two of the Battalion machine guns caught the enemy +in enfilade and executed great havoc. So exhausted were the men that the +Battalion was relieved that night and taken to the neighbourhood of Le +Rutoire Farm. + +Acquitting themselves with a noble fortitude, the stretcher bearers--whose +task was, perhaps, the worst of all--remained and toiled all night in +evacuating the trenches of the wounded. To stretcher bearers fall the most +trying duties in war, but in accounts of battles little mention is made of +their efforts. While the fight is on they share all the dangers of the +private soldier, and often they have to remain when the others are +relieved to finish their duty. The terrible sights of open wounds, bodies +that have been minced by shell splinters, torn off limbs, dying men +uttering their last requests, are enough to unnerve the bravest men. The +stretcher bearers nevertheless continue with their task, well knowing what +fate may soon befall them. + +For the second time in a fortnight the 9th King's had been called upon to +play an important part, and worthily had the men acquitted themselves on +each occasion. + +The following letters were received by the Battalion and show the value of +the good work done:-- + + To G.O.C., IV. Corps. + + This was a fine performance and reflects the greatest credit + on all ranks. + + I particularly admire the splendid tenacity displayed by our + infantry in holding on to their trenches during so many long + hours of heavy shell fire, and the skill with which they so + gloriously repulsed with bomb and rifle the enemy's most + determined onslaught. + + Our gunners, too, must be complimented on their timely and + accurate shooting. And lastly the Commanders, from General + Davies downward, deserve praise for the successful combination + of the two arms, for the handling of their units, and for the + well-judged advance of the supports to the aid of those in the + fire trenches. + + I am very glad to hear of the great deeds of the 9th Battalion + Liverpool Regiment on the 8th October. They have proved + themselves most worthy comrades of the 1st Liverpools who + started with me from Aldershot and have consistently fought + like heroes all through the campaign. + + Please convey my very hearty congratulation to all concerned + and to the 1st Division, in which I am proud to see the + determined fighting spirit is as strong as ever, in spite of + heavy losses. + + D. HAIG, + General, + Commanding 1st Army. + 10th October, 1915. + + * * * * * + + To 1st Division. + + In forwarding Sir Douglas Haig's remarks, I desire to endorse + every word he says, and to congratulate the Division on the + well deserved praise it has received from the Army Commander. + I hope before long to see them personally and to speak to them + on parade. + + H.S. RAWLINSON, + Lieut.-General, + Commanding IV. Corps. + 11th October, 1915. + + * * * * * + + 1st Div. No. 604/2 (G). + To 2nd Infantry Brigade. + + The General Officer Commanding wishes to place on record his + appreciation of the steady defence made by the 2nd Infantry + Brigade against the German attack yesterday afternoon. He + especially wishes to commend the soldierly qualities and + discipline displayed by the 9th Liverpool Regiment and the 1st + Gloucesters, which enabled them to endure the heavy shelling + to which our front trenches were subjected, and there to meet + and repulse with great loss the German infantry attack. + + The result of yesterday's attack again proves how powerless + the enemy's artillery is against good infantry, properly + entrenched and the superiority of our own infantry over that + of the enemy at close quarters. + + The General Officer Commanding wishes to record his + appreciation of the good work done by the artillery in support + of the infantry. + + H. LONGRIDGE, + Lieut.-Colonel, + General Staff, 1st Division. + 9th October, 1915. + + * * * * * + +The above remarks were communicated to the men, and they were all very +proud of the achievement of their unit and that it had so highly +distinguished itself in the defence of their country. For a few days the +Battalion remained in support, sending forth working parties each night +for the battle that was still continuing. + +On the 13th October the 1st Division attacked the village of Hulluch. An +intense barrage was directed against the enemy trenches in the early part +of the afternoon, and after a discharge of cloud gas an attempt was made +in vain to reach the enemy trenches. The 9th was held in close support, +ready to exploit any success that was gained, but, unfortunately, the +attack was a total failure. The Battalion came in for some very heavy +retaliatory shell fire. + +On the 14th October the Battalion was taken out of the line and marched to +Noeux-les-Mines, where it entrained for Lillers. Here the men were +accommodated in houses in the centre of the town in the vicinity of the +Church and the Rue Fanien. The billets were good, the parades not severe, +and several of the officers who were well quartered felt to some extent +the comforts of a home. The training area was near Burbure, where the +Battalion had trained for the battle. Many faces were missing that had +been present at the jovial little gatherings that had taken place before +the battle, and the survivors wondered at times who would be wanting at +the next divisional rest. + +As the parades were not onerous, there was plenty of time for recreation. +Concerts were arranged in the local concert hall at which the latent +talent of the Battalion came into evidence. Leave opened, and the prospect +of a trip to England was cheering to those who expected one. The rest at +Lillers was pleasantly spent and it was a long time before the men enjoyed +a similar holiday. + +On the 15th November the Battalion paraded on the Church Square and then +marched to Houchin, a particularly dirty little village, where a week was +spent. From there it went to Brigade Reserve in the mining village of +Philosophe, in which, though very close to the line, a few civilians still +remained. Butter, milk and other articles of food could be obtained from +the French shop-keepers, and English newspapers could be bought in the +streets the day after publication. It was a fairly quiet place, though +one's hours were punctuated by the intermittent firing of a battery of +4·7 guns in the colliery in rear, which fired over the billets. + +One of the Regular battalions of the 3rd Infantry Brigade was too weak in +numbers to do trench duty, and the 9th had the honour of replacing it, and +on the 26th November the Battalion found itself once more in the front +line and in exactly the same position as the one in which it had so +signally distinguished itself on the 8th October. + +Snow was lying on the ground and it was freezing hard. Henceforth the men +were to know the hardships of a winter campaign. There were no deep +dugouts and there were not sufficient shelters for the men to sleep in. +During the course of the winter, exposure alone killed some. Ever since +the battle the Loos sector had been very active, especially on Sundays, +and the trenches and alleys which led up to them were in a very wet +condition. The numbers lost in the recent fighting had not been made up, +and "C" Company, the weakest, had a trench strength all told of only 67 +officers and men. + +The relief from the front line on the night of the 29th November was +particularly severe. Following the frost came rain on that particular day, +and the relief was carried out on a very black night in a steady +downpour, and everyone was quickly wet through. The trenches filled with +water and the men had first to wade through deep sludge and then over +rain-sodden ground ankle-deep in mud. The men's clothes became caked with +the mud from the sides of the trench, which increased the weight to be +carried. + +During the tours of duty in this sector the paucity of the numbers and the +length of the communication trenches made the difficulties of food supply +very great. Behind the front line in the Loos sector was a devastated +region extending backwards for over two miles. There seemed a big gap +between the front line and any form of civilisation. Usable roads were +wanting, so that the transport could not approach near to the Battalion. +Consequently each company had to detail its own ration party of twenty to +twenty-five men, and these would assemble just after dusk and wander along +Posen or Hay Alley back to the vicinity of Lone Tree, and there pick up +the rations and water from the transport wagons. The communication +trenches contained a lot of water and caused great hardship to those men +who were not fortunate enough to possess gum boots. These ration fatigues +lasted from three to five hours, after which the men had to continue their +trench duties. Each man cooked his rations as best he could, in his own +mess tin; this meant that he did not get a hot meal which was so badly +needed in the intensely cold weather. + +In this sector there was a great shortage of water. Washing and shaving +were impossible, and at times there was not enough to drink. On one +occasion a man was known to have scraped the hoar frost off the sandbags +to assuage his thirst, and some drank the dirty water that was to be found +in shell craters. + +At this time there was a great danger of a gas attack, and it was +customary to have a bugler on duty in the front line to sound the alarm +when gas was seen coming over--a scheme which was scarcely likely to be +efficacious, for in a few moments he would have been gassed himself. Each +man had two anti-gas helmets--one with a mica window, and the other with +glass eyepieces and a tube through which to breathe out, and which was +known later as a P.H. helmet. There were Vermorel Sprayers here and there +in the trench, which were entrusted to the care of the sanitary men. +Instruction was given from time to time in anti-gas precautions, but +viewed from a subsequent standpoint these defensive measures were not +good. + +Steel helmets were in possession of the bombers, who were then called +"Grenadiers," and wore little red cloth grenades on their arms. These +helmets were called "bombing hats," and regarded as a nuisance. Each man +of the Battalion had a leather jerkin and a water-proof cape, and the +majority had a pair of long gum boots. + +There was only one Verey light pistol in each company, and this was +carried by the officer on duty. There was no special S.O.S. signal to the +artillery. Telephonic communication from the front line existed, and this +was freely used. It was not known at the time that the enemy had evolved a +means whereby he could hear these conversations. To prevent an illness +known as "trench feet" each man had to grease his feet daily with whale +oil, which was an ordeal on a bitterly cold day in wet, muddy trenches. +With such meticulous care was this done that the Battalion had not more +than three cases of trench feet during the whole of that winter--a +circumstance which reflects much credit on the men. The defence scheme at +this time was to hold the front line in the greatest strength available, +and the supports were rather far away. The system of echeloned posts had +not yet been developed. Machine guns were kept in the first trench and on +account of the intense cold had to be dismounted and kept by lighted +braziers to keep the lubricating oil and water in their jackets from +freezing. The entanglement in front was very poor and consisted only of +one fence. + +When not in the line the Battalion rested at Noeux-les-Mines or +Mazingarbe. At this latter village Christmas Day was spent. Companies were +told to make their own arrangements for providing the men with a good +dinner on this day. The officers provided the funds and the difficulties +of supply were overcome through the aid of Monsieur Levacon, the French +interpreter attached to the Battalion. Pigs and extra vegetables were +bought; apples and oranges came from somewhere. After great exertions a +few barrels of beer came on the scene. Christmas puddings came from +England. The school at Mazingarbe made an excellent dining room for two of +the companies and through the kindness of a Royal Engineer company in the +village the officers were able to secure the necessary timber to improvise +tables and chairs. The dinner was a great success and contributed not a +little to the good feeling which existed between officers and men. + +The next day the Battalion returned to the line. Though not known at the +time this was to be the last tour of duty with the 1st Division. Early in +January the truth became known that the Battalion was to leave the +Division, and on the 7th it proceeded by train to Hocquincourt. + +In the 1st Division it had had the honour of serving alongside some of the +most illustrious regiments of the Regular Army. The example set by these +famous regiments was readily copied, and in some respects emulated, and it +is not untrue to say that none of these Regular battalions assumed an air +of superiority, but displayed a sense of admiration that Territorial +soldiers could have so quickly learnt the profession of war. So good was +the human material in the Battalion that, in the space of a few months +spent on active service, a body of men picked in a desultory fashion from +various trades and occupations was quickly formed into an entity which was +able to take its place alongside experienced units of the Army. + +The Regiment had already won its laurels at the Battle of Loos. Its +glorious achievements were known in Liverpool. It was a Battalion to which +all its members were proud to belong. The fame of a military body is a +bond of unity which those who have not been soldiers can scarcely +understand. The reputation of one's regiment is a matter of personal +pride. It is a kind of cement which holds it together at all times. The +old spirit soon permeates the newcomers, the recruits become imbued with +the spirit which led the veterans to victory, and so it was with this +Battalion. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE 55TH DIVISION. + + +The West Lancashire Division was formed in the Hallencourt area under the +command of Major-General H.S. Jeudwine, and given the number 55. The +Battalion entered the 165th Infantry Brigade in this Division. This +brigade which was commanded by Brigadier-General F.J. Duncan, was entirely +composed of Liverpool battalions, namely, the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 9th +King's. In the Brigade the officers and men had the pleasure of meeting +friends they had known at home in Liverpool, comrades with whom they were +destined to serve for the next two years, principally in Artois and Ypres. +Friendly rivalry soon sprang up between the various battalions in the +Brigade which made for efficiency and put all on their "mettle." Everyone +naturally believed that his was the battalion par excellence, not only in +the Brigade but in the whole Division. + +The 9th was first billeted in Hocquincourt, a little French village near +Hallencourt. Viewed from a distance the village looked picturesque, with +the red tiled roofs of the houses contrasted against the sombre winter +sky, but a closer inspection revealed a different picture. The houses were +rickety, the billets poor, and the conditions insanitary. So backward were +the peasants in agriculture that they still adhered to the use of the +old-fashioned flails for thrashing corn. The Battalion moved on the 20th +January to Mérélessart about two miles away, where better quarters were +found particularly for the Battalion headquarters, which occupied a +somewhat pretentious chateau replete with all modern conveniences +including baths, which were very unusual in private houses in the war +area. + +Here the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Ramsay, D.S.O., left the +Battalion on his promotion to the rank of Brigadier-General. Before he +left he made a speech to the men and published the following "Farewell +Order":-- + + On relinquishing command of the Battalion to take over command + of the 48th Infantry Brigade, the Commanding Officer wishes to + express his regret at leaving the Regiment, which he has had + the honour of commanding for the last eight months, and his + gratitude for the loyal way in which all ranks have supported + him. + + The Commanding Officer is very sensible of the fact that the + excellent work done by the Regiment has gained for him his + decoration and promotion. + +Later in the war he received promotion and commanded the 58th (London) +Division as Major General. + +While at Mérélessart the usual training took place. There was little work +done as a complete unit not much attention being paid to tactical work. A +rifle range was at the disposal of the Battalion on which the companies +were able to fire a few practices and so keep up their musketry. + +It is worthy of remark that of the officers serving with the companies at +this time approximately two-thirds were subsequently killed during the +course of the war, while the survivors were almost all wounded at some +time or other. + +Early in February orders came along to the effect that the Division was +to go into line, and on the 6th February the Battalion left Mérélessart +and marched to Longpré where the night was spent, and the next day it +reached Berteaucourt-les-Dames. A few days were spent here, during which +Major C.P. James took over the command of the Battalion, and afterwards it +marched via Doullens to Amplier, and after a night's rest in some huts +there it reached Berles-au-Bois the next day. En route it passed through +Pas, where there was a steep hill which presented such difficulties to the +transport section that they remembered it when they returned in two year's +time. At Berles-au-Bois the men were billeted in the ruined village. This +was the first experience the Battalion had of a really tranquil front. + +This village lay within a mile of the front line, and it seemed uncanny to +be so near the enemy and yet to hear so few shots fired. Indeed it was +almost too good to be true. The unit did not take over the defence of this +area, and orders came soon that on the 15th the Battalion was to take over +a sector on the Wailly front, where it was to relieve a battalion of the +81ième Régiment Territoriale. Accordingly very early in the morning of +that day the Battalion marched to Monchiet in sleet and rain under cover +of darkness along roads which in daylight were exposed to the view of the +enemy, and on arrival the short day was spent in endeavouring to get dry. +Monchiet later became the location of the transport lines and +Quartermaster's store. + + +WAILLY. + +Having sent an advance party to General Xardel's headquarters at Beaumetz +to effect liaison, and to meet French guides, the Battalion paraded +towards evening, left Monchiet, picked up the guides en route and marched +to Wailly. The day had been one of blizzards and the night of the relief +was black and wet. Added to these circumstances was the difficulty of +understanding the directions of the Frenchmen, the Battalion's knowledge +of their language being not very extensive. Towards midnight, thoroughly +drenched, hungry and weary after a heavy day, the men were ultimately put +in their proper stations, some in the village and others in the trenches. + +From the appearance of the houses Wailly had been a prosperous farming +village lying within a short distance of Arras. Agricultural implements of +the latest manufacture were in evidence, and these could only have been +bought by peasants with some capital. This village was to be the +Battalion's home for the next five months. The Battalion first did a month +alternating in position between the front line and the village. For some +days while in the front line the Battalion was in touch with the 27ième +Régiment d'Infanterie, which had a sentry post in its area composed of men +from one of the companies who readily fraternised with the fantassins. +This regiment belonged to a division of the French Active Army, and in +consequence its efficiency was of a very high order. Nowhere had anyone +seen trenches so well revetted and so neatly constructed as those occupied +by this French regiment. The trenches stood out in marked contrast to +those actually taken over by the Battalion, whose former occupants, the +French Territorials, had left them in a very bad condition. + +The trenches had not been revetted or duckboarded, and during the first +month of the Battalion's occupation there was a good deal of snow, and +when this melted the sides of the trenches commenced to crumble, making +them very muddy at the bottom. In consequence of this mud they became +almost impassable. For the men doing trench duty the conditions were bad +enough. The man on post had to stand on the fire step for hours in damp +clothes, shivering in the freezing cold, knowing that when his tour of +duty was over all he could look forward to was the cold damp floor of a +dugout on which to rest his weary body. For the ration parties the +conditions were almost worse. The meals were cooked in the field kitchens +in the village, and fatigue parties to carry up the meals were found by +the support company which was in a trench called by the French the +Parallèle des Territoriaux. Many of the men will never forget the +innumerable times they trudged heavily laden with a dixie of tea or stew +through the mud in the tortuous communication trenches Boyau Eck, Sape 7, +and the Boyau des Mitrailleuses. At times these trenches became so muddy +that on one or two occasions reliefs had to be carried out over the top +under cover of darkness. It was risking a good deal to line up a whole +company outside the trench a few yards in rear of the front line, knowing +that an enemy machine gun was located about a hundred yards away, and that +the machine gunner might fire an illuminating flare at any moment, and so +expose the men to his view. + +It was during the first tour at Wailly that Major C.G. Bradley, D.S.O., +assumed command on the 29th February. + +After having done a month in the Wailly sector, the Battalion was taken +on the 14th March for a week in Brigade Reserve. Though the Battalion only +got into billets at 1 a.m., after a four mile march, a working party had +to be found at 8-30 a.m. for work on a Divisional show ground, which was a +place where model trenches were dug to show the uninitiated how things +ought to be done. Tasks like these were regarded as onerous by the men, +who were led to expect some period of rest when not in the advanced +positions. + +After a few days in Beaumetz the Battalion returned to Wailly, and until +June continued to do three tours of duty at Wailly, two in the front line +and one in the village, to one in Brigade Reserve at Beaumetz, the whole +cycle lasting a month. + +The enemy having in line opposite the 78th Landwehr Regiment, the sector +was very quiet, though the British did what they could to liven things up +in the way of artillery shoots and indirect machine gun fire at night on +the roads behind the enemy lines. + +The general defence scheme at first was not very elaborate. Three +companies manned the front line with one in support. Great attention was +paid to bombing posts, and the defence scheme always contained a plan for +a counter attack by the bombers, who were organised as a separate section, +working directly under the orders of the Commanding Officer. They were +given simple schemes and exercises in counter-attack while in the +trenches. For example the non-commissioned officer in command of a squad +would be told that the enemy had entered a particular sector of the +trench. He would then block the trench or deliver an imaginary counter +attack along the trench with the object of dislodging the fictitious +enemy, as the case might require. The companies were trained to take +shelter in the dugouts in the event of a heavy bombardment and immediately +on its cessation to re-man the front line. In the village when the +Battalion was in support it held three centres of resistance known from +right to left as Petit Moulin, Wailly Keep, and Petit Chateau. Wailly Keep +was a fortified farm on the fringe of the village, with loop-holed walls +and the adjacent roads barricaded. It was a relic of the French defence +scheme and was sound. + +The strictest precautions were taken against a gas attack. Each man had +two P.H. helmets which he had to keep with him at all times. Moreover, +sentries were instructed how to recognise gas and sound the alarm +immediately they noticed enemy gas. Large cartridge cases from the guns +were used as gas gongs, and Strombos horns were installed so as to spread +the alarm quickly should occasion arise. This was a much better scheme +than the one in which the bugler was to sound the alarm. As the lines were +near there was some danger of a flammenwerfer attack, so the whole +Battalion was taken on the 17th March to a demonstration, and shown what +to do should such an attack take place. One Lewis gun was given to each +company in place of the machine guns which were taken away from the +Battalion, and the Stokes mortar made its appearance in the trenches. This +was an over-rated weapon. Its range was very limited and it was soon +out-distanced by similar German weapons. Its bombs were essentially for +use against personnel at a range when rifles would have been cheaper and +more efficacious. Its bombs were not heavy enough for use against +earthworks, and wrought little damage on trenches. Its use and its +ammunition supply entailed large carrying parties which robbed the +companies of the men and sapped their energy. + +In May steel helmets were made part of every man's equipment, and a square +green patch on the back of the tunic became the Battalion distinguishing +mark. The steel helmets were the means of saving many lives, and were +covered with the same material as the sandbags were made of, for purposes +of camouflage. + +One night early in April a patrol consisting of a corporal and a private +was sent to examine and report on the enemy wire in front of a particular +sap head. At this point there were only seventy yards or so between the +British trench and the enemy sap heads, which were swathed in a dense mesh +of barbed wire. There were but few shell craters, little artillery fire +being directed on the front line when the lines were close owing to the +danger of short firing; and the grass being short there was little or no +cover. The night had been very quiet. Scarcely a rifle shot had broken the +silence. The patrol must have made some noise, and so aroused the +attention of the enemy sentry in the sap head who fired an illuminating +flare. The light betrayed the presence of the patrol to the enemy, who +opened fire and wounded both of the men. Afterwards the enemy kept firing +illuminating flares and maintained a lively rifle and machine gun fire, so +that any attempt at rescue was impossible. At dawn the enemy put up a flag +of truce and a party of them came out and gently lifted the wounded into +their own trench. It was noticed that the enemy were wearing the old blue +uniform of the German Army instead of the feldgrau uniform, and that they +carried tin canisters in which they had their gas masks. This rescue was +accomplished at great risk to the enemy as they did not know that the +British would refrain from firing; and the incident proves that at any +rate there were some among the Germans who would do the honourable thing. +When the Battalion was at Ypres about a year afterwards a letter came +saying that the graves of the two men had been found with an appropriate +inscription in the German language. + +In this sector there was much work to be done. The trenches, which were in +a state of decay after the frosts and rains of the winter, had to be +duckboarded and revetted. Besides sandbagging the front line the +Battalion, in conjunction with the relieving unit, the 7th King's, +constructed a new support line known as Parallel B., in which was +accommodated, when it was complete, a portion of the front line garrison. +The wire needed attention as well. The French had covered the front with a +chain of _chevaux de frise_, but this was not considered a sufficient +obstacle, so that concertina wire and "gooseberries" had to be put out in +front of the _chevaux de frise_. The wiring parties had a very difficult +task, as they had to work about forty yards away from the enemy, who were +often engaged on similar work. Also the men had to work in front of the +_chevaux de frise_, and they would have had great difficulty in getting +back to their own lines should they have been surprised by the enemy. +Besides this, innumerable rifle racks, bomb stores, machine gun +emplacements and other works of a similar nature were completed. In +addition to this the men had to form large carrying parties to carry large +elephant sections and other material to the Quarry for use by dugout +construction parties of the Royal Engineers. + +At this period the trench discipline attained a high standard as the men +had been together for some months and free from heavy casualties, and it +is well here to digress for a while and record what trench duty really +meant. "Stand to" would be at say 3-30 a.m., shortly before dawn. At this +time all would man the parapet and wait until it became daylight. The +rifles, ammunition, gas helmets, and feet of the men would be inspected by +the platoon officer. This generally took about an hour and a half. +Afterwards the men not actually on duty would wash and shave. Shaving in +the trenches was made compulsory in March, as it was thought that it kept +the men from deteriorating and would prevent any tendency to slovenliness. +There was little water for such a purpose, and consequently it was +particularly arduous in a muddy trench, and it is doubtful whether the +benefits derived were worth it. Breakfast would take place between six and +seven. Afterwards the men got what sleep they could during the day, but +they were constantly interrupted by sentry duty, meals, shell fire, and +occasionally a fatigue. The activity of night replaced little by little +the tranquility of the day. Towards sunset came evening "stand to" and +more inspections. After nightfall patrols would go out, and wiring parties +for the renovation and repair of the wire, ration parties for the food, +and working parties to keep the trenches in good condition would be +detailed. The men got no sleep at night, and in fact very little at all. +Trench duty was exacting and exhausting from a physical point of view +alone, but to this was added the continual attrition of numbers on account +of shell and rifle fire. + +In May the weather was glorious and the face of the countryside assumed a +pleasant aspect. The trees were in full leaf. Wild flowers in profusion +adorned the trenches, and larks in numbers hovered in the clear blue skies +above the trenches and sang sweetly in the early mornings. The sunsets +viewed from the front line were particularly beautiful. The lines of trees +on the Beaumetz-Arras road became silhouetted black against the skyline, +reddened by the setting sun, which produced a wonderful effect. + +As the summer advanced the front became more active. Shell fire increased, +and the British artillery, having a more liberal supply of ammunition, +expended it more lavishly than had been formerly the case. In July the +Battalion left the sector immediately in front of Wailly and took over +that in front of Blaireville Wood, which was held by the enemy. + +On the 28th June a series of raids took place on the Divisional front, +which were covered by a discharge of cloud gas. A party from the Battalion +took part in the raid, and two officers were able to enter an enemy sap +but they did not manage to secure any prisoners. The junior of the two +officers was unfortunately killed, being shot through the head. In +retaliation for the raids the enemy brought up, on the 2nd July, what was +called a "Circus" consisting of several 150 m.m. and 210 m.m. howitzers on +railway mountings, with which he utterly destroyed the front line trenches +for a distance of two hundred yards, blew in several mined dugouts, and +inflicted heavy casualties on "D" Company. In some respects this was the +heaviest and most destructive bombardment that had been endured by the +Battalion up to this time, though it was not so prolonged as that of the +8th October, 1915. + +On the 8th July, after five months continuous duty in the forward zone, +the Battalion went into Divisional Reserve at Gouy-en-Artois, where the +Battalion was housed in hutments close by the Divisional School. + +The Somme Battle had commenced, and there was every likelihood of the +Division being called upon either to attack on the front it already held +or as reinforcements. In consequence the Battalion, which had had very +little training for the past five months, turned its attention to +practising the attack in some cornfields near the hutments it occupied. + +The attack was henceforth to be made by successive waves of men and to +each wave was assigned a particular objective. Following these attacking +waves there came what were called "moppers up," whose task was to deal +with any of the enemy who might have hidden in dugouts and so escaped the +attention of the attackers. Recent lessons of the Somme Battle costing +many lives had brought about the necessity for the institution of moppers +up. The rear waves were also to act as carrying parties. One man had to +carry a coil of wire, another a spade, another a screw picket, and so on. +The reason for this was, that when the enemy trenches had been captured, +the enemy might cut off all supplies by means of an intense barrage on no +man's land, and it was necessary for the attacking troops to have +sufficient material at hand to enable them to put the captured positions +into a state of defence immediately, and thus be able to resist a +counter-attack. Model trenches were marked out and much good work was done +in the attack practices that took place. Large drafts arrived and the +Battalion was soon in excellent form. The cleanliness and smart appearance +of the men while in the village drew forth the special praise of the +Divisional Commander. + +At Gouy a Battalion concert party was formed, and a concert was given in +a large barn which formed part of the Divisional Canteen. The doctor +composed some verses for the occasion in which there was plenty of local +colour. + +In June a Divisional horse show had taken place at which the Battalion +again distinguished itself. "C" Company cooker again took first prize in +the Division, and the Battalion secured the second place for the total +number of marks gained. + +The days spent in this sector were comparatively pleasant. The front had +been quiet, and although the work was arduous casualties were few, and +leave was regular. In the light of later experience the time spent in +Wailly was very comfortable indeed, and during the next two months many +wished they could return. + + +THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME. + +About the 20th July the Battalion left Gouy-en-Artois for the scene of +battle. To begin with this meant a three days' march to the entraining +locality. The first day the Battalion got to Sus St. Leger where the night +was spent, and by the end of the second day the Battalion was at Halloy. +On the third day, after a long tiring march in hot weather along dusty +roads, the Regiment marched into Autheux. After a few days here the +Battalion entrained late one evening for the front, and next morning it +detrained at Méricourt. The first sight that the men beheld on quitting +the train was a prisoners' camp, in which were many Germans, living +evidence of the activity a few miles in front. The Battalion was billeted +in Méricourt for two days. Here there was every indication of activity. +Having been on a quiet front for several months the men were not used to +the whir of a busy railhead. All manner of vehicles, guns, and other +impedimenta of war were in evidence, and everyone was surprised to see +some of Merryweather's fire engines, which were probably required for +pumping purposes. + +On the 29th the Battalion left Méricourt for what was known as "The Happy +Valley," outside Bray. During the march the soldiers saw a mile or two +away an enormous column of smoke ascend. Something terrible had taken +place. An ammunition dump must surely have been blown up. It was not a +very pleasant prospect for those who were new to that kind of thing. The +mystery of the column of smoke was never clearly elucidated. The Happy +Valley was scarcely correctly named. The weather was exceedingly hot, +there were no billets, and consequently the men had to bivouac. The Valley +had one great drawback; there were no wells in the vicinity from which +water could be drawn. Owing to this shortage, the water-men had a very +onerous task as water was obtainable only at Bray, and thither the water +carts had to go, making as many journeys as possible during the day, to +obtain water for the thirsty troops. The Battalion in this locality was in +touch with the French, from whom the officers managed to secure some of +the French ration wine which proved very acceptable. + +On the 30th the Battalion moved to a place by Fricourt, and pitched a camp +which it left two days later for a bivouac area by Bronfay Farm, near +Carnoy. From this place the officers went forward on reconnaissance. They +saw for the first time Bernafay and Trones Woods, which then had achieved +great notoriety. To the neighbourhood of these woods the Battalion sent +forward night working parties. Only with the greatest difficulty did these +parties get to their rendezvous, and little work was done on account of +the intensity of the enemy shell fire. + +In the evening of the 3rd August the Battalion paraded and marched towards +the fighting, leaving behind a small percentage to form a nucleus should +all its fighting personnel perish. The march was wearying. The enemy guns +were active, the weather hot, and packs heavy. After a long trudge the +Briqueterie was reached, a dangerous and dreaded spot, for it was +periodically swept with shell fire. At last the companies got to their +allotted stations in the reserve trenches. Many had not yet experienced +the terrors of heavy shell fire, which by its very nature was intended to +produce an unnerving effect. The next day started fairly quietly. On the +right the men could see what was known as Death Valley. This was rightly +so called. Being obscured from the enemy's view, it was a covered means of +approach to the infantry positions in front, and afforded at the same time +cover for the guns. On this account it was never free from shell fire, and +was littered with corpses of men and horses. + +In the afternoon the Battalion had to take over the front line in the +neighbourhood of Arrow Head Copse in front of Guillemont. Passing along +Death Valley the Battalion got caught in heavy shell fire, and sixty +casualties took place almost immediately. It required a stout heart to +march cheerfully forward when seeing one's companions who had gone a +little in front coming back on stretchers, or lying dead alongside the +path. + +When the two leading companies arrived at Arrow Head Copse they manned +trenches varying in depth from a few inches to three feet, which afforded +little protection against shell fire. The dead, many of whom belonged to +the Liverpool Pals Brigade, were visible lying stark and numerous on the +battlefield. The weary desolation, and the unmitigated waste of equipment, +clothing, and life passes all description. This was the Somme battlefield, +of which one had heard so much. To those who had seen much of the war, the +thought came that nothing could be worse than this. + +The next day was a day of incessant shell fire on both sides. On the +British side it was the bombardment prior to the attack on Guillemont. The +fire was terrific. The terrible concussions of the high explosive shells +assailed both ears and nerves, and kept up a pall of dust over the +trenches. The whizzing and swirling of the shells was incessant. Some +whined, others moaned, and others roared like express trains. Light shells +passed with an unearthly shriek. It was useless taking any notice of the +lighter shells. They had come and burst before one realised what had +happened. The heavier shells, particularly those that were timed to burst +in the air, were very trying, and when they burst over Trones Wood the +noise reverberated through what remained of the trees, and so became +extraordinarily intensified. To expect the explosions of the shells +knowing they were on their way and to hear them coming, not knowing +whether they would be fatal or not, was the worst part of the ordeal. Such +a condition of turmoil and torment must have been meant by the words of +Dante in his description of Hell. + + "La bufera infernal che mai non resta." + +Every now and then a man was hit. Those killed outright were perhaps +spared much agony, and the wounded were lucky if they reached the aid +post alive. Many got shell shock which affected men in different ways. One +would be struck dumb, another would gibber like a maniac, while a third +would retain possession of his reason but lose control of his limbs. + +For two days in the sultry heat the Battalion endured the terrible strain +of this awful shell fire, the men receiving no proper food and water being +unprocurable. Then the Battalion was relieved and taken into support, +where three or four days were spent, and on the 10th two companies moved +to the Maltz Horn position. The next night the two remaining companies +moved up. The devastation in the neighbourhood of Cockrane Alley was worse +than at Guillemont. Here the men witnessed the full terrors of the +stricken field. Living men dwelt among the unburied dead. Booted feet of +killed soldiers protruded from the side of the trench. Here and there a +face or a hand was visible. Corpses of dead soldiers with blackening faces +covered with flies were rotting in the sun, and the reek of putrifying +flesh was nauseating. Added to this the heat was overpowering, the +artillery was firing short, and there was little or no water obtainable. + +The Battalion was in touch with the French, and there were a few Frenchmen +in the trenches with the men. On the 12th August the French attacked with +great success and captured the village of Maurepas. + +Between the two armies there was a wide broken-in trench running from the +Allied towards the German lines. For some time before zero the Allied +artillery kept up an incessant barrage on the German lines. The shells +fired by the French were noticeable by a much sharper report. At zero the +French attacked on the right of Cockrane Alley, advancing at a run in +small groups of from eight to twelve men, and they got a good distance +without any casualties. Then one by one the Frenchmen commenced to fall, +and on reaching the enemy line the French company immediately on the right +of the Battalion met with strong resistance. None came back and it is +thought that almost every man perished. Meanwhile the two companies of the +Battalion attacked in waves on the left of Cockrane Alley. They got eighty +or ninety yards without difficulty, when the enemy opened a heavy machine +gun fire, and the ground being convex the attackers formed a good target. +The Commander of the right company who led his company from the right so +as to be in touch with the bombers in Cockrane Alley, though twice +wounded, still continued the advance until he was shot dead. His example +was emulated by the Company Sergeant Major who perished in similar +circumstances. Meanwhile the bombers were endeavouring to work their way +down Cockrane Alley. The trench became shallower, and on reaching a road +it disappeared. As the bombers emerged on to the road they were shot down +one by one. The enemy then turned their machine guns on to Cockrane Alley, +and raked it with fire until it became a shambles. Most of the men of the +two companies were casualties, and many were killed. A few stragglers who +were able to take cover in shell craters managed to return later under +cover of darkness. + +What became of the wounded lying out between the lines was never known, as +any attempt at rescue was impossible. As most of the stretcher bearers +with the companies were themselves incapacitated through wounds the rapid +evacuation of the wounded even in the trenches was impossible, and +moreover the aid post at Headquarters was under heavy artillery fire, so +that it was only at great risk to the bearers that the wounded could be +cleared at all from the trenches. + +For the French the day had been very successful. They had captured +Maurepas, but for the Battalion it was a total failure. However, the work +done earned for the Battalion the praise of the Corps Commander, expressed +in an order published the next day, which was as follows:-- + + The Corps Commander wishes you to express to the Companies + engaged last night his admiration, and that of the French who + saw them, for the gallant and strenuous fight they put up. + + Had the ravine been captured by the French, there is no doubt + our objective could have been realised. + + 13th August, 1916. + +On the 13th the Battalion was relieved and the men, tired out, slowly +wended their way down Death Valley to Maricourt, passing many corpses, and +then to the bivouac area near Bronfay Farm they had left about ten days +before. Many who had marched away in the fullness of their health and +strength did not return. The next day a short move was made to +Ville-sur-Ancre, one of the few villages which contained a shop. Shortly +afterwards the Battalion moved by train to Ramburelles, not far from the +coast. Of all the villages the Battalion had ever visited, this was +perhaps the most insanitary. The men lived in barns almost on top of +manure heaps, and in consequence of the heat the number of flies was +great. Baths of late had been very few and consequently the men suffered +considerably from lice. + +Arduous training was the order of the day. Seven or eight hours each day +were devoted to work, while what the men most needed was rest. They were +exhausted after their late experience, and they were overworked by the +excessive training. Many were further weakened by the fact that septic +sores were very prevalent owing to the insanitary conditions among which +the men lived. + +At this period the Battalion routine orders, which were supposed to be +issued early in the afternoon were, for some unknown reason, always +received very late in the day and sometimes after ten o'clock at night. As +the Company Commanders had then to issue orders it meant that much +unnecessary waiting and work was caused. + +At Ramburelles so as to evade the heat of the day the Battalion paraded at +7 a.m. for a four-hours' parade, and then left off until late in the +afternoon. This scheme worked well only in theory. A lot had to be done +out of parade hours, which meant that the officers and men were very much +overworked. Sunday brought no respite. The Sunday previous to leaving the +place, the men were engaged on a work of supererogation until 8-30 p.m., +digging bombing trenches which were never used. + +While at Ramburelles seaside leave was granted to some of the officers, +who were able to spend two or three days away from the Battalion and enjoy +for a while the comforts of a seaside town. One or two, acting in the +belief that the Battalion would not return to the fight for some time, +postponed their trip, and on the very day that they arrived at Delville +Wood they remembered that that was the day they should have been basking +in the sun at Le Treport. Such is the folly of procrastination. On the +28th August the command devolved on Major P.G.A. Lederer, M.C., as the +Commanding Officer had been evacuated sick. On the 30th August the +Battalion marched by a tortuous route to Pont Remy, where it entrained and +arrived next day at Méricourt. It eventually was installed in close +billets at Dernancourt for a few days. + +On the 4th September the Battalion marched to Montauban. On the march +Major H.K.S. Woodhouse took over the command, and the officers were +introduced to him during the dinner halt. Montauban was not a very +pleasant place, particularly as the weather was rainy, and as the +companies were distributed among the field guns they came in for +considerable shell fire. + +On the 7th September the Battalion moved up to the front positions between +Delville Wood and High Wood. The shell fire in this area was terrific. The +enemy guns never stopped firing day or night at the means of approach to +the Battalion's position along the side of Delville Wood. At night the +Battalion had to send working parties into the neutral ground between the +lines to dig what were somewhat incorrectly known as strong points. When +these were finished they were garrisoned by a platoon in each case. The +small garrisons of these strong points were quite cut off during the day +as no movement was possible on account of snipers. Food and water could +only be brought up at night, and were a man wounded he would have to +remain without attention until darkness. A prisoner was taken belonging to +the 5th Bavarian Regiment, which showed that the Bavarians were in line +opposite. + +On the 9th there was a big attack by the British. The 16th Division +attacked on the right in front of Delville Wood, and the 1st Division on +the left, and consequently the Battalion was in the very centre of the +fight. The garrisons of the strong points being cut off as they were, did +not receive news of the attack. Suddenly in the afternoon after a +comparatively quiet morning the artillery on both sides became very +active, both the British and German artillery developing intense barrages. +To the men in the strong points this presaged an enemy attack, and the +order was given to be ready to fire the moment the enemy should come into +view. The members of these small garrisons knew there would be no hope for +them, as they would soon have been surrounded and annihilated, and most +probably all of them bayoneted. Fortunately the attack was by the British +and these eventualities did not arise. The Battalion was relieved during +the next two days and went into reserve at Buire-sur-Ancre. After a few +days here it moved to a bivouac area at E. 15 a., outside Dernancourt. +Though this was some considerable distance behind the front line the enemy +forced the Battalion to evacuate this area by firing at it with a +long-ranged gun. In the evening there was a cinema show in the open, at +which were shown pictures of the Somme Battle. It was very strange to see +the soldiers keenly interested in the pictures of what shell fire was like +when there were actual shells falling about half a mile away, and they had +been shelled out of their camp that very afternoon. The British Army had +made a successful attack on the 15th September, and on the 17th the +Battalion went into line again at Flers, where two miserable days were +spent in an incessant downpour of rain and very heavy shell fire. On +relief it came back to the transport lines at Pommier Redoubt. + +On the 23rd the Battalion paraded, leaving behind its surplus personnel +and moved up to Flers for the attack. Orders were received the next day +that the attack was to take place on the 25th, and that zero was to be at +12-35 p.m. The objective allotted to the "Ninth" was from Seven Dials to +Factory Corner, which meant an advance of 1,000 yards. At 7-30 a.m. the +barrage commenced and lasted for hours, and increased in intensity as the +moment for the advance drew nearer. At zero the Battalion advanced in four +waves, the distance between the waves being 100 yards. The first wave had +to keep close to the creeping barrage of shrapnel. Of the last wave +scarcely a man survived, as it came in for the enemy barrage which the +leading waves had escaped. The bombers took an enemy strong point and +fought their way along Grove Alley and got to work with the bayonet, +inflicting many casualties on the enemy and taking several prisoners. This +was the first experience the men had of advancing under cover of a +creeping barrage of shrapnel and the first occasion that they saw tanks in +action. The attack was a great success and reflected no little credit on +the Battalion. Everyone of the Headquarters personnel present will +remember the Advanced Headquarters being blown up and the signallers and +runners sustaining many casualties. During the same evening two companies +of another unit came to the trench occupied by Headquarters. They tried to +enter the trench at the same spot and crowded close on each other. At this +time the enemy suddenly dropped four 5.9 shells among the crowded men. +Next morning forty-seven dead were counted. + +The next day the Battalion was relieved, and by small stages the remnants +of the companies made their way to Buire-sur-Ancre. This was the +Battalion's last time in action on the Somme, and it presented a very +changed aspect to its first arrival on this battlefield. Companies were +reduced to the size of platoons, and platoons to sections or less. During +the battle about 650 casualties had been sustained, including fifteen +officers dead. This was a large incision into the fighting strength, and +it was a long time before these losses were made up. + +For the Battalion the Somme Battle with its terrible holocausts, incessant +shell fire and continuous slaughter, was at an end, but there was no +respite for the weary soldier. There was to be no rest or period for +recuperation. The Regiment was ordered to Ypres immediately. Tired and +exhausted, the men were taken out of the Somme inferno, having lost many +of their comrades, and with weary bodies and heavy hearts they faced the +prospect of the untold terrors of the fatal city of Ypres. + +The journey to Ypres was long. First the Battalion entrained at Méricourt +in the afternoon of Sunday the 1st October. At midnight the men detrained +at Longpré and marched to Cocquerel, arriving at 3 a.m. the next day. The +men then bivouacked until reveille at 6-30 a.m. At 8-30 a.m. the Regiment +was again on the march to Pont Remy, where it entrained for Esquelbecq, +where it arrived at 9-30 p.m., and marched to billets at Wormhoudt. Two +days were spent here, and this afforded the men the rest they so badly +needed. The state of the Battalion can be gauged from the fact that at +Wormhoudt only one company commander had a subaltern. + + +YPRES. + +On the 4th October the Battalion entrained on a light railway, and soon +reached Poperinghe, where it remained until darkness and then entrained on +a broad gauge train at Poperinghe Station for Ypres. It was a new +experience for the men to be in a train and yet within range of the +enemy's artillery. The personnel detrained just by the railway station at +Ypres and went into billets close by. Little could be seen of the city in +the dark. Stillness pervaded the area that night, and after the Somme +Battle the quietness was uncanny. + +The next day the men had an opportunity of seeing the city that had +suffered so much in the war. It must have been subjected to many a tornado +of shells, for there was not a single house untouched and very few had +roofs. A few shells fell in the Square during the morning, but that was +all. To the men it was a great relief to be in a quiet area after such a +place as the Somme. Ypres was not as bad as had been expected. + +The trenches were to be taken over at once. The officers reconnoitred the +line during the afternoon, and towards evening the Battalion paraded and +marched along the Rue de Stuers, the Rue au Beurre, past the Cloth Hall, +through the Square, and the Menin Gate towards Potijze. Afterwards it took +over the sector from the Roulers Railway to Duke Street with Headquarters +in Potijze Wood. Four days only had elapsed since it had left the Somme +railhead. This area was to be the Battalion's battle station for several +months to come, and many times were the companies to repeat the journey +they had just completed. It was to take part in two big battles in the +vicinity and add greatly to its honours and leave many of its members +entombed in soldiers' graves in what was to be perhaps the biggest +graveyard of its kind in the world. + +The Ypres sector was very quiet, but there was every danger of a gas +attack, and the Battalion received the strictest warnings from the +relieved unit, which had lost many men two months before through +inattention to precautionary measures. The first night that the Battalion +went into the line there was an alarm, but as the wind at the moment was +in a safe quarter its falsity was immediately recognised. The men at this +time had only the then out-of-date P.H. helmet. These helmets were changed +in the course of a week or two for the more efficacious box respirators, +which remained with slight modifications until the end of the war as the +soldiers' protection against enemy gas. The enemy artillery was very +quiet, and obviously the British had the artillery ascendancy, and it was +surmised that this was attributable to the fact that he had removed his +artillery to the Somme. The minenwerfers were active and so were the enemy +snipers. After a tour in the line the Battalion repaired to Ypres. A few +days afterwards it went to take over the "L" defences at Brielen, with +Headquarters in Elverdinghe Chateau. Only one tour was done here and the +Battalion then returned to Ypres. Until January it did three tours of duty +in the line, either in Ypres itself or the front line to one in reserve at +Brandhoek. + +While in the front line the routine was practically the same as at Wailly, +but the conditions were different. In the Salient it was not possible to +dig deep trenches as the land was so low lying that water was met on +reaching a depth of about two feet. Trenches were not feasible, so it was +a case of breast-works. The defences therefore consisted of sand-bag +revetments held in position by wooden frames over which expanded metal had +been spread. These frames were called "A" frames or "Z" frames. The former +were used for preventing narrow ways from staving in, and the latter were +to face sand-bag walls. They were not easy to use and the men had to learn +how to fix them, and their employment entailed many long and tedious +carrying parties. The breast-works were divided into fire bays by +traverses which were situated every few yards. These fire bays, which were +all numbered, had firing platforms made of wood or well-revetted sandbags. +The parapet was sufficiently high to give good command over the ground in +front. During the winter it silted down and in many places it became not +even bullet-proof. The parados was fairly good, though in many places +there was none at all. For shelter the men had small recesses like dog +kennels in the parapet or parados; these were usually roofed by a sheet of +corrugated iron and were very small, uncomfortable, and infested with +rats. There were not sufficient shelters to accommodate all the men, and +the surplus had to sleep as best they could on the firing platform with +only greatcoats as coverings. + +The men had endured much and many were war weary. They were tired of +fighting, and their former enthusiasm had cooled, especially as there was +no immediate prospect of a rapid termination of the war. Among those who +stood to arms in the whizz-banged trench in the cold raw hour of dawn were +many who had given up assured positions--skilled mechanics, master +printers, clerks, university men, solicitors, and others of several +professions and callings who had sacrificed their various situations and +appointments, and whose wives struggled on a very meagre separation +allowance. Fully aware were they also that while they were manning the +trench as infantrymen and receiving as remuneration a miserable pittance, +munition workers in England were receiving excessively high wages for +congenial work and enjoying freedom from all discomfort and danger of the +trenches. + +The water-logged ground between the British and German lines was pitted +with shell holes and overgrown with rank grass and weeds. Numerous trees +lopped of their branches were still standing, while many others were lying +on the ground. Exactly half way across to the enemy lines were the remains +of what had been a moated farm, which was a favourite objective of +patrols. Railway Wood, which was situated on slightly higher ground on the +right of the Battalion's sector, was a minehead and in consequence the +scene of much activity. At one time there had been a wood, but so intense +had been the artillery fire that not a single tree or trunk higher than +three or four feet was left standing. Almost every afternoon, about 4-30 +p.m., the usual trench mortar "strafe" would commence, and would last for +an hour or so. A few months later Railway Wood became a scene of much +mining activity, and mines and camouflets were sprung either by the +British or the Germans almost daily. In the Battalion area there was +situated what was known as Number 6 Crater, a deep mine crater half full +of water, and said to be then one of the largest in France. In the +vicinity of this crater there were some overhead traverses to prevent the +enemy snipers from enfilading the trench, probably constructed after +several casualties had been incurred. + +Company headquarters were close to the front line, and never consisted of +anything more than a small shelter. The cooking was done in cook-houses in +the company areas, fatigue parties being detailed to bring up rations and +water in petrol tins. Battalion headquarters were housed in dugouts in the +wood adjoining the White Chateau at Potijze, in front of which was a large +cemetery. While in Ypres itself three companies were billeted in the +cellars of the gutted houses in the neighbourhood of the Boulevard Malou, +which was a better class district once inhabited by the more wealthy +citizens. Headquarters and one company were housed in the cellars of the +Ecole Moyenne, which was erroneously called the Convent. These billets +were not bad, though in many cases damp. + +For the companies there was a parade in the morning, and every evening +several working parties paraded at the Convent, and marched out afterwards +through the Menin Gate for work in the Brigade area. The biggest working +party numbered 100. It moved off at 5-30 p.m., drew shovels, picks, and +gum boots at Potijze Dump, and then worked until almost midnight in +constructing Cambridge Trench. The work was inadequately supervised by the +Royal Engineers, who left the task to a second corporal and a few sappers, +and consequently little progress was made and most probably the trench was +never properly completed. The men had their last meal at 4-30 p.m., and as +a consequence they could not work with proper efficiency right up to +midnight. After a while they became very tired and were unable to +continue. As a considerable quantity of material was requisite to keep the +trenches in repair, large carrying parties were necessary. These could +have been to a large extent obviated had light Decauville railways been +constructed, such as the Germans were discovered later to have been using. + +For the comfort of the men there was a Divisional canteen near the billets +in Ypres, and another in the Infantry Barracks. There was a recreation +room in the Prison, where Church parades were held later. There were also +baths in the Rue d'Elverdinghe, so that the men were able to keep clean. + +During the day there was very little movement at Ypres, but at night this +was different, as the transport lorries had to bring up stores and +ammunition for the guns. They used to go through the city at a great pace +for fear of being caught by the enemy shell fire, and it is interesting to +record that on one occasion a complaint was made by the Battalion to the +effect that the streets were unsafe at night on this account. This of +course was in addition to the unsafety resulting from enemy fire. + +When in reserve the Battalion was stationed at "B" Camp at Brandhoek, on +the Poperinghe-Ypres Road. Here the officers and men were accommodated in +very comfortable wooden huts, from which Poperinghe, with its shops and +cafes, could easily be reached. Attention should be directed to the +rigorous sanitary measures which obtained in this Corps, chiefly due to +the insistence of the Corps Commander. Great progress had been made in +this direction since the beginning of the war. Latrines and ablution +places were kept scrupulously clean. All rubbish was cast into the +incinerators, and billets had to be kept clean and tidy. On relief each +unit had to obtain a certificate from the relieving unit to the effect +that the billets had been left in a clean and sanitary condition. These +measures, though rigid, were beneficial and kept down sickness to a large +extent. + +On Christmas day the Battalion was in Ypres, and one of the Churches in +the Boulevard Malou was decorated, and proved a useful dining room, in +which the men partook of a good Christmas dinner which was thoroughly +enjoyed. After the meal the Commanding Officer ascended into the pulpit +and treated the soldiers to an inspiring address, but it can be safely +assumed that the men enjoyed the meal much more than the lecture. + +The New Year was heralded by an intense bombardment by the British, and in +anticipation of the enemy retaliation the front line was cleared, except +for the officer on watch, and Lewis gun teams. The line was badly knocked +about by the enemy fire, but was built up again by the Battalion in one +night. + +In January the first Divisional rest for ten months commenced, and it was +spent by the Battalion first at "Z" Camp and then at Proven. The weather +at this time was intensely cold, and as the men in "Z" Camp had only +Nissen huts they suffered greatly in consequence. These huts were made of +unseasoned timber, and large gaps appeared in the floors through which the +cold east wind entered, reducing the temperature to a figure well below +zero. + +The first week or so was devoted to training. There was a fear at this +time that the principles of open warfare might easily be forgotten during +the long periods of stagnation in the trenches. Consequently exercises in +open warfare were ordered by the Higher Command, and the Battalion carried +out several tactical schemes, and also some night operations. These latter +struck the men as rather unnecessary, as they had all been on night +patrols in the neutral ground between the lines, which after all was what +might be called the real thing. The other exercises were very beneficial, +as were also the attack practices which took place. + +At Proven the men discovered that the term Divisional rest was a misnomer. +Reveille was before six, and in the dim light of the early morning, the +men had to wash and shave in icy cold water in the teeth of a bitter east +wind. There followed a meagre breakfast cooked on an unsheltered field +kitchen in the dark, and often in the rain. The men paraded at seven, and +went out on a working party for the rest of the day. Their tasks were to +load earth on railway trucks and then off-load it after a short train +journey, to serve as ballast for another portion of line that was in +course of construction. The earth was frozen several inches deep and it +was necessary to loosen it by means of a pick before it could be shovelled +on to the trucks. Towards the evening the men returned, cold, weary and +tired, to a draughty barn, with the dismal prospect of a similar day on +the morrow. + +For the officers there was a lecture by the Commanding Officer on a +pamphlet recently brought out called "The Division in the Attack." The +lecture took place every evening at 5 p.m. in the village school, and this +meant that in many cases the officers were on duty for twelve hours +continuously. During the day time there was also a Lewis gun class for the +officers who were not on the working party, and they studied the weapon +assiduously. While at Proven the Battalion was visited, while working on +the railway, by Lord Wavertree, then Colonel Hall Walker, the Honorary +Colonel, to whom the officers were presented. It seemed a long time since +they had seen him last at Sailly Labourse, and his presence was very +welcome to all the old members. + +An outbreak of scarlet fever prolonged the Battalion's stay for a few +days, but on the 23rd February it left Proven, detrained at the Asylum at +Ypres and moved into billets at the Prison, with two of the companies in +the Magazine. While in the Prison one of the officers facetiously remarked +that it was a much better gaol than he had been used to, and observed that +it was built on the panopticon principle. The next day the Battalion moved +to its old haunts at Potijze, and resumed duties as before. During this +tour Lieutenant-Colonel F.W.M. Drew took over the command in succession to +Lieutenant-Colonel Woodhouse. At this time so short was the Battalion of +officers that "D" Company had only one officer, who was the Company +Commander, and as his company was disposed partly in a sector of trench +known as X3, Potijze Defences, St. James' Trench and the Garden of Eden, +he had a good deal to do. + +On the 4th March a successful raid took place on an enemy post opposite to +Number 5 Crater, in the vicinity of the Railway. The sentry post was in a +sap head around which the wire had been cut up by shell fire. A shrapnel +barrage was directed against the post for a few minutes, while the raiding +party was waiting in no man's land. The barrage lifted suddenly, and the +small raiding party rushed in and, taking the sentries by surprise, +secured them as prisoners. On the 19th March the enemy successfully raided +the Battalion, and unfortunately captured about ten prisoners. The plan +adopted was ingenious. The night had been exceptionally quiet, when +suddenly about half an hour before dawn the enemy opened with a barrage of +all calibres on the sector immediately on the left of the Battalion, with +the intention of diverting the attention of the British artillery to that +sector. The enemy raiding party meanwhile was lying in no man's land. The +enemy suddenly opened with a devastating fire on the Battalion's trenches +for a few minutes, lengthened the range, and under cover of this barrage +the raiding party entered and surprised the men in the front line. Orders +had lately been received that the officer on watch was not to fire the +S.O.S. signal to the artillery until he was sure that the enemy had left +their trenches. But as it was dark he could not ascertain this, and +consequently the signal was not fired. The Company Commander sent back the +S.O.S. signal, but the message was not delivered through the foolishness +of a signaller who was afraid to use the power buzzer, fearing that the +enemy might intercept the message. The Germans left one of their men dead +in the trench and another just in front of the parapet. This was an +incident which had to be avenged, and soon the Battalion by means of two +successful raids secured enough prisoners to equalize. + +Towards the end of the month another raid was expected. To frustrate this +the Commanding Officer decided to have a body of about sixty men lying in +the middle of no man's land, in such a position that they would escape the +enemy barrage and intercept the raiding party and take them by surprise. +This was a sound scheme, but it was very exhausting for the men who had to +lie for four or five hours on the frozen ground. Moreover, the anticipated +raid did not eventualise. + +The 13th March was the anniversary of the advent of the Battalion to +France, and as the Battalion was then at Brandhoek, the sergeants invited +the Commanding Officer and the remaining original officers who had landed +at Le Havre with the Battalion to attend a smoking concert. The officers +spent a short time at the concert, during which the usual eulogistic +speeches were made. + +About this time the platoons were reorganised in accordance with a +training pamphlet that had lately been issued. Henceforth they were to +consist of a Lewis gun section, a section of bombers, another of rifle +grenadiers, and a fourth of rifle-men, and the men were taught the new +formation to be adopted for the attack which was known as the "Normal +Formation," one consisting of lines and waves of attackers. + +In April, when the Battalion's turn came for a period in reserve, two +companies had to remain in Ypres to assist the Royal Engineers with +working parties, so that the personnel of these companies missed their +period of rest. At this time one of these companies had its headquarters +in a house in a terrace called the Place d'Amour. In the gardens of the +houses a battery of field guns was installed, and there was another just +close by. The headquarters of these two batteries were also in the Place +d'Amour--one on each side of the infantry company headquarters. One +morning the enemy decided to annihilate one of the batteries and commenced +to fire ranging shots over the terrace. The artillerymen knew what was +coming, and told everyone to leave the billets, but to uphold the honour +of the infantry, the men refused to leave the billets until after the +gunners had evacuated the position. They got away just in time. + +On the 17th April the Battalion moved to the Ecole, a place outside the +city on the east, which had apparently been a large technical school, and +after a few days here it moved to Railway Wood sector where things were +very active. After a tour here and a few days in reserve it returned to +Potijze sector once more. On the 11th May a very successful night raid was +carried out by two officers and forty other ranks on Oskar Farm. Under +cover of a barrage two parties entered the enemy positions. Some Germans +were found in a dugout, which was then bombed and six Germans surrendered. +A small bombing party was counter-attacked by six Germans, and the +sergeant in command shot three and bayoneted one, while the other two +escaped. The War Diary states that on the way back some of the prisoners +became unruly and were effectively dealt with, which means that they were +killed. At least ten Germans were killed besides those in the dugout that +was bombed. The prisoners belonged to the 1st Matrosen Regiment of the +German Naval Division. + +On the 17th May the Battalion went to Bollezeele, where it remained for a +month. This was a clean, well-built village, where the men were very +comfortable. The training ground was about an hour's march away, and so +the Battalion paraded in the main street every morning with the drummers +in the centre, and marched to the training ground where the companies were +placed at the disposal of their commanders for drill and instruction. A +meal was taken at noon and when the afternoon's work was done the +Battalion reformed and marched back to billets. The weather at this time +was very fine. Never had the men witnessed such beautiful blue skies, and +scarcely a drop of rain marred the stay in the village. The Brigade sports +were held early in June, and the Battalion did very well in the military +contests, winning three out of four events, but unfortunately not quite +so well in the others. + +On the 11th June the Battalion left Bollezeele, and early the next morning +arrived at Ypres, and immediately went to the usual sector at Potijze. As +the shell fire in this area had become much more severe of late, to move +troops through Ypres or even around it was done at great risk, and all +were glad when the move was over. + +By a chain of unfortunate circumstances, leave for officers had been very +slow. In January it had been stopped as it was considered necessary for +the officers to be with their men during training while out of line. +Difficulties of transport brought about the closing of leave from January +to June. It opened again in June, but as all could not go at once it +happened that some officers did not get leave for nine or ten months. + +After a few days in Potijze sector the Battalion sidestepped to the +Wieltje sector. The tour here was characterised by intense enemy artillery +activity. Heavy batteries constantly countered each other, and day and +night were punctuated by cannonades of varying intensity. Ypres itself was +shelled by the celebrated 420 m.m. Skoda howitzer. The enemy drenched the +area with the old lachrymatory gas shells, as well as a new gas he had +lately introduced known as "Yellow Cross" or "Mustard" gas. Bilge Trench +came in for special attention, and on one day it was estimated that 1,200 +heavy shells fell in its vicinity. + +It was a time of great aerial activity also. Richthoven and his squadron +visited the sector quite frequently--generally in the early morning--and +fired machine guns at the men in the trenches. His squadron could be +easily distinguished, as the bodies of the aeroplanes were painted red. +Also they flew very low, and the anti-aircraft gunners did not dare to +fire, leaving it to the infantrymen to defend themselves with Lewis guns +as best they could. + +During the tour in Wieltje the Battalion dug Hopkin's Trench in no man's +land, under machine gun, granatenwerfer and rifle-grenade fire, which were +the cause of several casualties. Fortunately there was a very good mined +dugout at Wieltje containing many rooms which were lighted by electricity. +The shelter it afforded reduced considerably the number of casualties that +would otherwise have taken place, and it was a pity that there were not +more like it. + +Though very good work was done by the companies during these months of +trench duty, it should be remembered that perhaps the most dangerous task +was the bringing up of rations and water. Ypres was approachable from +Poperinghe by one road only, along which came almost all the supplies for +the troops in the Salient. From a point on the road called Shrapnel +Crossing to the city it was within convenient range of the enemy +artillery, and being well aware that the road was much used at night, the +enemy subjected it to considerable fire, and caused casualties nightly. +Once arrived in Ypres the Battalion transport had to pass the Square and +the Menin Gate, which were well known danger points, where there was no +cover, and then proceed to Potijze along a road that could easily be +enfiladed by the enemy gunners. No matter how heavy was the enemy shelling +there was no night on which the transport section failed to deliver the +rations. + +At the beginning of July the Battalion went to Moringhem to prepare for +the great battle. This was a very small hamlet, and there must have been +a great concentration of troops in the Pas de Calais, as this little +place had to accommodate two battalions. The men were placed under canvas, +and some of the officers lived in tents, while the remainder were +accommodated in billets. The training was mainly devoted to the attack. +The British and the enemy trenches were taped out on some cornfields, in +propinquity to the hamlet, and the forthcoming attack was rehearsed time +and time again by all the battalions in the Brigade. Great attention was +paid to synchronisation of watches, and the immediate reporting of all +information. Maps and aeroplane photographs of the ground were studied +with meticulous care, and a model of the Battalion's sector over which it +was to attack, showing Uhlan Farm, Jasper and Plum Farms, Pommern Castle, +and Pommern Redoubt, was constructed outside the camp to explain the lie +of the ground to the men. Tanks were represented by half limbers during +these practices, and the shrapnel barrage by drums. + +During the stay at Moringhem the officers were able to ride into St. Omer +on one or two occasions, and there dine at the restaurants, where a +welcome change in their usual menu was obtainable. + + +THE THIRD BATTLE OF YPRES. + +On the 21st July the Battalion left Moringhem, and once more found itself +at "B" Camp at Brandhoek. This was a very different place from what it had +been during the winter, and being full of troops, the Battalion had only +one-third of its former area in which to accommodate itself. Anti-aircraft +batteries, tunnelling companies, transport lines, field hospitals, and +observation balloons were everywhere. + +The training was complete. Everyone knew the orders and it was merely a +case of waiting for "Z" day, the day of the attack. On the 29th July, +which turned out to be "X" day, the fighting personnel left Brandhoek, and +moved to Durham Redoubt, an area just west of Ypres, where the men +bivouacked for the night. The next day illuminating flares, iron rations, +spare water-bottles, bombs, and maps were given to the men. + +Though all knew the rôle of the Battalion and its allotted objectives, no +one in the Battalion knew the extent of the attack, or which divisions +were attacking, or what was to happen if all objectives were captured. It +was believed that if the attack succeeded, there were other divisions in +rear ready to exploit the success. Wild rumours began to filter through. +One of the most prevalent was that eighty mines would be sprung at zero, +and this was inspiring to all, and infused new courage into the men. + +Towards evening the companies left the area, and slowly in the darkness +moved via the Plaine d'Amour past the Dixmude Gate and the Dead End to +Oxford Trench, where they took up a position and waited. This waiting was +very unpleasant, as the enemy was obviously expecting an attack and +shelled the whole area almost all night. There was little shelter, as the +trench was shallow and wide, and several were wounded before the fight +commenced. + +The objective allotted to the Battalion consisted of a section of the +enemy second line called the "Stutzpunkt" Line, comprising Pommern Redoubt +(called "Gartenhof" by the Germans) to Bank Farm, known to the enemy as +"Blucher." The distance of the objective from the Battalion's zero +position was approximately a mile and a half, which was at that period of +the war a big distance to be called upon to cover in one day. + +Two hours before zero it became known that the artillery was firing gas +shells on the enemy batteries, so that at zero the enemy would not be able +to work their guns. The drone of the gas shells passing overhead, and the +knowledge of this device on the part of the British artillery, was very +reassuring to the waiting troops. + +For a few minutes before zero all was tranquil, and the men were quietly +waiting. Zero was at 3-50 a.m., at which hour it was quite dark. Suddenly +there was heard the firing of an 18-pounder battery. It was a battery +firing just a second or two early. There followed a deafening roar. All +the guns had fired together, and their shells were racing across the sky. +A sheet of flame covered the enemy trenches. The fight had begun. The men +rose from their positions slowly and went over the top to the front line, +where according to plan they waited twenty-five minutes. The advance then +continued. They should have advanced in waves, but that was impossible +over the shell-cratered ground, as the going over the churned-up earth was +very difficult, particularly in view of the heavy loads the men carried. +All cohesion was soon lost, and the men sauntered forward in little groups +endeavouring as best they could to keep the proper direction. No one knew +what was happening. After passing the enemy front line all danger from his +barrage was over, but his machine guns were active, and every now and then +a man dropped--in many cases not to rise again. At length the river +Steenbeek was reached. Numbers were few and hopes of success were rapidly +vanishing. How the fight had progressed on the right or left no one knew. +In front was a strong position on the other side of the Steenbeek Valley, +which turned out ultimately to be Bank Farm. + +The enemy in the dim light was firing his machine guns and causing +casualties, but with a final rush the men were in the centre of a German +strong point. The companies were weak, one consisting of only a dozen men +or so, and the Germans were in occupation of the position as well, and +fired coloured lights to encourage the support of their artillery. They +were dealt with by the bombers, and one sensible private, who soon used up +all his available bombs found a store of German bombs, which he employed +to advantage. About the same time another party of the Battalion captured +Pommern Redoubt, while the 7th King's on the right got into Pommern +Castle. In all about eighty prisoners were taken, which considerably +exceeded the numbers of the men that first dashed up to the objective. The +prisoners belonged to the infantry regiments of the 235th Division, and a +few of them were artillerists belonging to the 6th Feldartillerie +Regiment. + +The taking of Pommern Redoubt was specially commented upon in the Dispatch +of Sir Douglas Haig dealing with this battle, though the Redoubt fell much +earlier than was therein stated. + +Among the dugouts several things were found, such as field glasses, +medical apparatus, rifles, bombs, and so on. In one was a store of bottles +of aerated water. In another there was a store of rations which were +ultimately consumed, and strange to relate, in one dugout there was a copy +of a recent number of the "Tatler." + +The position was consolidated, trenches were dug and manned by the men. A +captured German machine gun was turned round and got into action. Four or +five hours after the capture of the Stutzpunkt position another brigade +continued the attack, but though the efforts of its members were +successful at first they had in consequence of their exposed flanks to +retire at nightfall, and the Battalion was then holding the line without +anyone in front. Rain commenced to fall, and the ground having been +churned up by countless shells, the whole area soon became dissolved into +a morass of spongy earth pitted with innumerable shell craters half full +of water. The trenches that had been dug soon filled, and the men were wet +through. They were utterly exhausted, and some of them had to get what +sleep they could, huddled up in these wet trenches, with their feet +several inches deep in water. + +Cooking was impossible, and it was only with the greatest difficulty that +any food at all could be supplied to the men in the advanced positions. +Added to this was the fact that the enemy artillery was exceedingly +active, and the shells killed many in the exposed trenches. The British +heavy artillery also fired short, which had a most demoralising effect on +the men in front. + +On the 2nd August it became known that the enemy intended definitely to +recapture the Stutzpunkt line. The men were informed of this, and told to +resist to the last. All available men were sent up from the transport +lines to reinforce the men in front. These reinforcements suffered +considerably from shell fire on the way up, but their advent inspired and +cheered the weary men who had been through the whole fight, and whose +rifles were in many cases so choked with mud as to be unserviceable. +Towards midday the enemy developed a heavy barrage. He was about to +attack, and everyone was waiting for the anticipated onslaught without +fear, as all felt that any counter-attack would be repulsed with great +loss. The S.O.S. signal and machine guns were ready, but the artillery +observer saw the enemy first, and the artillery barrage of the British +soon dispersed the attack. + +Owing to the insufficiency of the number of surviving stretcher bearers, +the evacuation of the wounded was exceedingly difficult. These were +collected in a dugout at Bank Farm, where they lay for a long time after +having received some slight attention. Two wounded Germans whom the +stretcher bearers had been unable to clear were handed over to the +relieving unit. The Battalion Aid Post was at Plum Farm, where the Medical +Officer and his staff worked to the limit of their powers in attending and +evacuating wounded. + +Major E.G. Hoare, who was in command of the Battalion during the +operation, wrote a poem which describes the conditions of the Ypres +battle, and it is here given in full:-- + + +THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW. + +31ST JULY, 1917. + + Down in the valley the Steenbeek flows, + A brook you may cross with an easy stride, + In death's own valley between the rows + Of stunted willows on either side. + You may cross in the sunshine without a care, + With a brow that is fanned by the summer's breath. + Though you cross with a laugh, yet pause with a prayer, + For this is the Vale of the Shadow of Death. + + Down in the valley was rain and rain, + Endless rain from a dismal sky, + But the valley was Liberty's land again, + And the crest-line smoked like a Sinai. + Rain that beat on the tangled mass + Of weeds and pickets and broken wire, + And astride the stream was a brown morass, + In the valley of water and mud and fire. + + Down in the valley the barrage fell, + Fountains of water and steel and smoke, + Scream of demons and blast of hell, + The flash that blinds and the fumes that choke. + The mud and the wire have chained the feet, + You are up to the knees in swamp and slime, + There's a laugh when the crossing is once complete, + But a setting of teeth for the second time. + + Down in the valley the shambles lay + With the sordid horrors of hate revealed, + Tattered khaki and shattered grey + And the splintered wrecks of a battlefield. + Thank God for the end that is sure and swift, + For the fate that comes with a leap and bound, + But what if God leaves you alone to drift + To the lingering death in the pestilent ground? + + Up on the slope was a line hard pressed + By bullets and shells and relentless strain, + An enemy massing behind the crest + And a trench that crumbled in fire and rain. + Sleepless, shelterless, night and day, + Drenched and weary and sniped and shelled, + The word was given that come what may + The line must hold, and the line was held. + + But all who pass to the crumbling trench + Must go in the spirit that games with fate, + With feet that stumble and teeth that clench + Over the valley of hell and hate. + Over the knees in water and mud, + Up to the waist if you miss the track, + You shall know your path by the trail of blood, + And silent figures shall guide you back. + + Down in the valley the waters flow, + You may jump the brook with an easy stride, + They cross it in silence, they who know + What happened that day upon either side. + In the voice of the brook are their comrades' tones, + In the summer's breeze they shall feel their breath, + For under the grass we have laid their bones, + Here in the Vale of the Shadow of Death.[A] + +[Footnote A: Copied by permission from "Dawn and Other Poems" by +Lieut.-Colonel E. Godfrey Hoare, D.S.O. Publishers: Erskine Macdonald, +Limited.] + +The Battalion was relieved on the night of the second-third, and the men +drifted down in small parties through the mud to Potijze. Some hours were +spent here, during which several casualties took place, as the enemy +subjected the area to the fire of 8-inch shells. Towards evening the men +were told to rendezvous at Vlamertinghe. There was no need to pay much +attention to the means of getting there. That could be left to the men +themselves. Everyone was ready to give them a lift, for their muddy +appearance showed that they had just been in the fight, and consequently +practically all arrived in motor lorries. At Vlamertinghe, rum was issued +and later all embussed for the Watou area, which they reached shortly +after midnight. After debussing there was a short march to billets. For +some even this was too much, and about thirty were unable to walk, and had +to be sent to hospital. The remaining men were put into billets, and at +4-30 a.m. the officers sat down to dinner, the first proper meal they had +had for several days. Afterwards they lay down to sleep for six or seven +hours. + +What had been done by the Battalion during the last few days, at the +commencement of the struggle for Passchendaele, was then perhaps the +greatest achievement the Battalion had accomplished. Undoubtedly it had +done well, and the following message was received from the Brigade +Commander:-- + + To Officer Commanding, + 9th King's Liverpool Regt. + + Will you please congratulate all ranks of your Battalion on + the great gallantry they displayed during the recent + operations? They not only captured all their objectives, but + also helped other troops to capture theirs. The magnificent + way in which they captured the position and held it against + all counter-attacks makes me very proud to have such a + Battalion in my Brigade. + + L. BOYD MOSS, + Brigadier General, + 165th Brigade. + 4th August, 1917. + +On the 6th August the Battalion was taken by train to Audruicq, and +billeted near by in a hamlet called Blanc Pignon, where the next six weeks +were spent. The troops were well housed in this place, which was very +clean in comparison with the other villages in which the Battalion +sojourned from time to time. Each man was given a new suit, deficiencies +in kit were made up, and the companies soon began to resume their normal +appearance. Leave opened, and it was possible for those who wished to have +day trips to Calais, and one or two of the more fortunate managed to get +seaside leave at Paris Plage or Wimereux. The time spent at Blanc Pignon +passed without special incident, except that one night there was a bombing +raid by which the Germans obviously hoped to blow up the ammunition dump +which was in close proximity to the billets. Fortunately, although many +were dropped, not one of the bombs was effective enough to explode the +ammunition. During the raid a large Gotha aeroplane was caught in the beam +of one of the searchlights, and this was the first occasion the men saw +this particular type of machine. + +Despite the training the men had undergone before the battle, there was a +good deal of time devoted to field work, as in view of the experience +gained and the lessons learned in the recent attack new tactics had to be +evolved. Until the Third Battle of Ypres, the chief obstacles to the +advance of the British had been the German wire entanglements. The fuses +on the British shells had always permitted the shells to bury themselves +to some extent before exploding. This meant that a crater was formed, and +though the enemy wire in the immediate vicinity of the crater would be +destroyed, the obstacle effect of the whole entanglement remained almost +in its entirety. A new fuse which was known as No. 106 was introduced in +1917, by means of which the shells would explode instantaneously on +impact, and the splinters would destroy the wire over a much bigger area +than had formerly been the case. The artillery could now ensure the proper +cutting of the enemy wire entanglements, and it had been anticipated that +in the attack of the 31st July the troops would not encounter serious +obstacles in the way of wire entanglements, particularly as they were to +be supported by tanks. It is true the artillery had cut the wire, but +several units had nevertheless been held up. The Germans had anticipated +to some extent the British methods of attack and invented a system of +defence to meet it. + +The Commander of the Fourth German Army which was defending the Ypres +sector, Infantry General Sixt von Arnim, was a commander of high standing, +inasmuch as the British Higher Command had thought fit to publish some +observations of his on the Somme Battle. In the Ypres sector he had +adopted the plan of holding the forward zone with few troops well disposed +in depth, with strong reserves in rear which could be used for an +immediate counter-attack before the British could consolidate any +positions they had won. His advanced troops were carefully echeloned in +fortified farms, each strongly concreted and armed with several machine +guns. The advantage of this scheme was that it afforded few definite +targets to the British artillery, and gave every opportunity to the +Germans to ambush and enfilade advancing British infantry. Tanks were of +little avail against these block-houses, which in reality formed a belt of +small fortresses which could only be overpowered one by one. At any rate +they could easily break up the force of an attack, and inflict a large +number of casualties at a small loss. The reserves could then be used to +counter-attack the British before they had properly put the positions won +into a state of defence. Such a method of defence was indeed a difficult +obstacle to the advance, and its efficacy had been learnt at great cost in +the last fight. This system of defence meant that new tactics had to be +evolved to combat such a scheme. The German method of defence was +explained in printed sheets and the explanations were retailed to the men. +In the numerous tactical schemes and attack practices that took place the +men were taught to encircle enemy strong points rapidly and close in on +them. These exercises were supervised by the Divisional Commander in +person. + +While in this area another Divisional horse show took place, the third to +which the Battalion had sent entries. It was rather a good show, and there +was some very fine jumping, in which Belgian cavalry officers took part. +The Battalion secured two first prizes for a water cart and limbered +wagon, two second prizes and two third prizes. It obtained the third place +in the Division for the total number of marks gained. + +All good times come to an end and the 14th September was the Battalion's +last day at Blanc Pignon. The occasion was marked by great festivities, +and most of the men apparently consumed large quantities of beer. For this +they could not be blamed as they were going into action, and might never +survive to indulge so freely again. The next day the Battalion moved by +train to Vlamertinghe, where the men bivouacked in the open, having for +shelter large bivouac sheets. + +The orders were that surplus personnel had to be left here, and all the +officers who had taken part in the Battle of the 31st July were, with one +exception, left behind. On the 17th the Battalion moved up from +Vlamertinghe to Ypres, turned left at the Water Tower, skirted the Plaine +d'Amour and proceeded along No. 5 Track to the neighbourhood of Warwick +Farm. The next day the Battalion headquarters and two companies moved up +to Bank Farm and took over the front shell crater position. Though two big +attacks had taken place since the Battalion was last in this area, the +front line was approximately in the same place as when the Battalion had +left it in the early days of August. A fortified farm called Somme had +been captured, and that was about all. Hill 35 was still in possession of +the enemy. The Battalion with its sister regiments in the Brigade was to +succeed where others had failed. + +The Battalion held the shell crater position from the evening of the 18th, +and it was obvious that the enemy expected an attack as he searched the +whole area with heavy artillery fire at dawn on the 19th. + +The two remaining companies moved up after nightfall on the 19th. It +commenced to rain and the difficulties of placing the men in their proper +places were great. The night was black and there was nothing by which one +could locate oneself. After several hours a tape was placed along the line +of shell craters to serve as a jumping off mark along which the men were +duly aligned. + +The _rôle_ of the Battalion was to capture Hill 35 and Gallipoli, which +was a strongly fortified centre of resistance in such a position, situated +on rising ground, that it commanded a large area to the north. After its +capture other units in the Brigade were to pass through the Battalion and +continue the attack. The distance of the attack by the Battalion was from +four to five hundred yards, and it was to be made in four waves, a company +to each wave. It was anticipated that though the position might be fairly +easily captured the enemy would make a desperate effort to dislodge the +attackers. + +The attack was evidently anticipated, as the enemy shell fire for a few +minutes before zero was particularly heavy. Meanwhile the British +artillery maintained a silence in which the gunners were able to prepare +for the impending barrage. Zero was at 5-40 a.m., and at that time +suddenly there opened an enormous crescendo of fire from the British guns, +together with a machine gun barrage, which latter some attributed +erroneously to the enemy. At this time it was fairly light, and one could +see from a hundred and fifty to two hundred yards, quite light enough to +enable the German machine gunners to inflict many casualties. + +Owing to the fact that the men had to jump off from shell craters, and +many were anxious to advance quickly so as to evade the enemy shell fire, +and that there was some mixing of units, the waves were somewhat confused. +The German artillery was ready and intensified its fire. The enemy machine +gunners opened fire at once and the attackers began to fall almost as soon +as the attack was commenced. + +On the right of Hill 35 the Germans had manned a derelict tank and could +not be dislodged. Even though surrounded they did not surrender for some +time. The men, however, pressed gallantly forward and eventually got as +far as Gallipoli Farm. The Germans here were very stout hearted and +refused to surrender. One had a machine gun on top of a concrete dugout +and, for some reason or other, perhaps excitement, the men could not bring +him down. Following the brilliant example of one of the company +commanders, the men eventually closed in and after a fierce hand to hand +encounter, in which bomb and bayonet were freely used, the place fell. + +On Hill 35 a 90 m.m. field gun of an old pattern manufactured by Krupps +was captured, and altogether eight heavy and light machine guns fell into +the hands of the Battalion. About forty prisoners were taken belonging +chiefly to the 2nd Reserve Division of the Prussian Guards. The enemy +machine guns were soon turned round and got into action against the +Germans by those of the men who understood their use. + +Towards 5-30 p.m. in the evening the enemy opened fire with a heavy +barrage of all calibres. The fire was particularly intense at Gallipoli +Farm, where the company commander had himself relieved the sentry on +look-out at his headquarters, until he was blown almost senseless by the +violence of the concussion of a shell which burst almost on top of him. +Afterwards the Germans advanced, but they were seen by the men and +repulsed by machine gun fire. A party of Germans was observed carrying a +stretcher and a white flag. It was a favourite device of the enemy to +pretend that they were carrying a stretcher when they were actually +carrying a machine gun, and in consequence this particular party was soon +dispersed. + +Towards dark on the 21st the enemy put down another heavy barrage on the +line of Somme Farm. He was apparently delivering another counter-attack. +After it had been kept up some time great consternation prevailed at +Battalion headquarters. No word had been received from the troops in +front. Perhaps the enemy had captured the front positions, and that the +line was lost. The barrage was still intense, and anyone who should dare +to advance through it would expect to meet with almost certain death. Yet +some one had to go to ascertain if all was well or ill. The Commanding +Officer made arrangements to burn all papers and told everyone they must +fight to the last where they stood. The Second in Command ultimately +managed to get to Somme Farm and came back with the information that all +was well, which was of inestimable worth, for had the British barrage +lines been withdrawn, as had been suggested, the troops in front would all +have been sacrificed. + +On the 22nd September the Battalion was relieved. The greatest care was +taken to get the captured machine guns that were not needed for the +defence back to the transport lines. They were collected at Battalion +headquarters and carefully escorted to the neighbourhood of the old +British front line near Potijze, where they were met by the transport +officer, and duly delivered to Divisional headquarters. + +Having been relieved the men made their way back in small parties to +Vlamertinghe, where the night was spent. The next day the Battalion moved +by train to a camp by Watou. Two or three days were spent here, and then +the Battalion detrained to go down south to join General Byng's Third +Army. + + +LEMPIRE. + +The train journey lasted all day and the Battalion detrained at Bapaume, +and by a night march on a bright moonlight night marched to a Nissen hut +camp between Barastre and Haplincourt, where it sojourned for a few days. +During this time a few of the non-commissioned officers were able to visit +the Somme battlefield, and locate a few of the graves of the men who had +fallen a little over twelve months ago. A day's march on the 1st October +brought the Battalion to Aizecourt-le-Bas, and after a night's rest it +proceeded to St. Emilie, where the men were billeted amid the ruins of +what had formerly been a sugar factory. During the march it was made +plainly evident to all with what thoroughness the work of destruction had +been carried out by the Germans. The villages were not merely in ruins. +Every house and every room had been rendered useless as a billet or +shelter of any kind. The cellars had been filled with stones or refuse, +so that even these were of no use. The trees had all been wantonly +destroyed. Even small fruit trees of only a few years' growth did not +escape the axe. The wells had all been blown in, and in many cases they +were poisoned as well. The churches were treated exactly the same as the +houses. The whole region was desolate. There were no civilian inhabitants, +and soldiers were the only occupants of this wilderness. + +After a few days in the Sugar Factory the Battalion moved to the forward +positions at Lempire. This sector was very different from any sector the +Battalion had occupied. There was no trench system comprising front and +support trenches. The front was held by means of isolated posts occupied +by a platoon or a company as the case might be, and these posts were +linked up by means of communication trenches, so that they could be +visited. There being little artillery on either side, the whole sector was +very quiet, and as the lines were far apart there was little sniping. + +The Battalion did one tour in Cat, Fleeceall and Grafton Posts in front of +Lempire, and then moved up to the Ossus sector. Though the Germans had +destroyed all buildings behind the British line, the buildings behind the +German lines were intact, and the men experienced the unpleasant sight of +the comfortable chateaux and houses in which the German troops were +billeted when they themselves were very badly off in this respect. + +Three companies had been in the front in the Lempire position, and as +three companies were necessary to take over the Ossus sector, one company +had to do two successive tours. It was a poor relief to have to move from +one portion of the front line to another, especially as this company had +only one subaltern. The sector held by the Battalion was roughly 2,000 +yards, and consequently the three front companies each had from six to +seven hundred yards. The trench strength of the companies was somewhere +between eighty and ninety, the numbers not having been made up after the +Ypres casualties, and consequently there was a great amount of work for +everyone to do. + +On the 18th the Battalion moved to reserve at Vaughan's Bank by Epéhy, +from whence on the 22nd it moved into reserve at Tincourt. The American +Railway Engineers had constructed a light railway from Epéhy to Tincourt, +and they expressed their readiness to convey the Battalion there by rail. +Their offer was gladly accepted, and the Battalion duly arrived at the +station and entrained. There was a slight incline to commence and the +numbers that arrived exceeded the haulage capacity of the only serviceable +locomotive at the station, and consequently no progress was made. As there +was no telegraph a message had to be sent on foot for another engine, +which came along after a long wait, and eventually a start was made. The +couplings were bad and the train soon broke into three portions. As the +way was downhill the various sections glided down to the next station +independently. Here there was another train and a loop line, and it also +happened that one train was too long for the loop. Nothing daunted, the +railway engineers indulged in a considerable amount of shunting, and +decided to take a portion of the waiting train back with the troop train. +All went well until the next incline was reached. There was a great strain +on the engine, but eventually after charging the hill three or four times, +accompanied by much racing of engines and skidding of wheels, the top was +reached, and the Battalion got to Tincourt having taken on the journey +twice the time it would have taken to march the distance. + +At Tincourt a pleasant week was spent, after which the Battalion returned +to the Birdcage sector, the portion of which immediately in front of Eagle +Quarry was the scene of much minenwerfer activity. + + +THE BATTLE OF CAMBRAI. + +No particularly arduous duty was assigned to the Battalion in connection +with the operations on the 20th November. To divert the attention of the +enemy from other troops who were attacking the Knoll, a few hundred yards +on the right, the Battalion was ordered to place a dummy tank and dummy +men out in no man's land in front of the vicinity of the Birdcage, and +shortly after zero these were put in operation by means of wires. +Naturally the Battalion came in for a good deal of the retaliatory fire of +the enemy, but few casualties took place. Incidentally the enemy claimed +to have repulsed an attack on this front, from which it follows that the +dummies had been efficacious. + +The Germans had been driven back by the surprise attack of the British, +and Cambrai was nearly reached. The fighting died down in a few days, but +on the 30th Cavalry General von der Marwitz delivered his counter-attack. +He selected not the apex of the salient that had been driven into the +German line, but the portion of the line to the south of it, which was so +weakly held. On the morning of the 30th the Battalion was in support to +the 165th Brigade in some dugouts in Lempire. + +A warning had been received during the course of the night that an enemy +attack was imminent, and the order was given to "stand to" well before +dawn. At "stand to" all was perfectly quiet. The expected attack had not +developed. The men stood down and a normal day was anticipated. At +breakfast time there sounded a heavy barrage a mile or two to the north, +and afterwards shells began to fall in the village. Large gas shells were +creating a cloud near by, and a rumour came that the Germans had broken +through at the Birdcage. The troops had such confidence in the other +battalions in the Brigade that the rumour was not believed. Later a +message came from Headquarters that the line further north had broken. +Lempire must be held at all costs, and the Battalion was ordered to dig a +line running east and west on the high ground to the north of the village, +so as to command the ground as far as Holt's Bank. This was then in the +possession of the Germans, who were within a few hundred yards of Epéhy, +and if this latter place had fallen the Battalion would have been in great +danger of being surrounded. The men dug in under shell fire, and in full +view of the enemy, while a large squadron of enemy aeroplanes circled +overhead, and turned their machine guns on the men as they were digging. +Fortunately few casualties were incurred. In the afternoon one company was +sent to form a defensive flank at Priel Bank, and another to reinforce the +6th Liverpool Rifles at Cruciform Post. On the 2nd December the Battalion +took over from the 6th Liverpools, and had the task of putting the line +from Heythrop Post, Cruciform Post, to Priel Bank in a state of defence. +These places were almost isolated during the day, and it was only at great +risk that they could be visited. The post at Catelet Copse was almost a +bait to the enemy, one of whom walked up to it. Even the Battalion +headquarters at F.4. Central were under close rifle fire. In fact there +were no troops in front of Headquarters, and it can be said that on this +occasion the Battalion headquarters were in the front line. + +On the 5th December the Battalion was relieved by a battalion from +Brigadier-General Ramsay's 48th Brigade, and he visited his former command +next morning at St. Emilie. Of the officers that had served under him in +the 1st Division, only two then remained, and they were pleased to see +their former commanding officer once more. That day the Battalion went by +motor lorry to billets in Péronne, where four days were spent. A few +civilians had returned to this ruined town, and had opened shops at which +fish and vegetables could be bought. These civilians were much impressed +by the nightly retreat sounded by the bugles and drums which had attained +a high pitch of efficiency. A long tedious railway journey on the 10th +brought the Battalion to Maroeuil. The night was spent in "Y" hutments, +and it then entered General Horne's First Army. + +It left Maroeuil on the 12th and marched to Bailleul-aux-Cornailles, a +village it was to visit later in August, 1918. The next day Eps was +reached, and on the following day the Battalion arrived at its destination +at Lisbourg, where it was to remain until the end of January, which meant +a six week's rest. + +Here the men were billeted in the peasants' byres, which were in rather a +dilapidated condition. The training was chiefly devoted to musketry. The +bomb had gone out of fashion, and it was realised that the principal +weapon of the infantryman was the rifle. According to the orders of the +Divisional Commander each company built a thirty yards' range for itself, +and a two hundred yards' range was allotted to the Battalion. Snow fell +but that made no difference to the training programme. The men had to lie +on the frozen snow to fire the various practices, and bearing in mind that +the rifles were very cold to handle, the results attained were excellent. + +Christmas was spent here, and the Christmas dinner which took place in the +school and a large barn was a great success, and demonstrated the good +feeling that existed between the officers and men. A few days afterwards +the Battalion was visited by Lieutenant-Colonel Luther Watts, O.B.E., +V.D., the Town Major of St. Pol, and who had commanded the Battalion prior +to the war, and at Dunfermline and Tunbridge Wells. Those of the officers +and men who had served under him in England were pleased to see their +former commanding officer once more. + +While at Lisbourg efforts were made to induce the men to invest in War +Saving Certificates. At first they were somewhat reluctant, saying that +they did not wish to hand back their pay which they had earned. Lectures +on the subject were delivered to them, and when the scheme was fully +explained, and they understood the necessity for money in order to carry +on the war, they readily responded, and over £1,000 was subscribed by the +officers and men, which was the highest figure attained in the Division. +This was an achievement of which the Battalion was justly proud, and shows +the keenness and interest the men displayed in their Regiment, and the +cause for which they were fighting. + +In consequence of the reduction of the number of infantry battalions in +the organisation of the British division from twelve to nine, the "first +ninth" being the junior battalion in the Brigade was split up. A selected +party of the officers and men was detailed for the second line Battalion, +and they were regarded with envy by the less fortunate. The remainder was +split up into drafts for the 1st, 4th, and 12th King's. The day of the +break up was a very sad one indeed. To a soldier his regiment is his home, +and to be called upon to leave it, to sever his friendships and to lose +his comrades of many a tragic day is for him very bitter. It is not untrue +to say that as the drafts were leaving and comrades were saying "Goodbye," +several of the soldiers, who had braved nearly inconceivable terrors, were +almost in tears. As was feared at the time the "Goodbye" in many cases was +for ever, as many were killed shortly afterwards by the German offensive +in March. The Divisional Commander and several officers from other units +came to say "Farewell" to the Battalion they were never to see again. A +note of sadness is struck in the following order which was issued:-- + + 55th (West Lancashire) Division, + + Special Order of the Day. + 31st January, 1918. + + On the departure from the Division of three Battalions, the + 1-8th The King's Liverpool Regt. (Liverpool Irish), 1-9th The + King's Liverpool Regt., and 1-5th Loyal North Lancashire + Regt., I wish to assure all officers, warrant officers, + non-commissioned officers and men belonging to them, how + greatly I, and I am sure, everyone in the Division, regrets + their loss. + + Some, I am glad to say, remain with us. + + As to the battalions themselves, I refuse to regard the + separation as permanent, and I look forward confidently to the + day when they will rejoin their old Division. + + They have had their full share in all the hard fighting of the + past two years, and have helped to make and maintain the + reputation which the Division has gained, a reputation which, + I am sure, makes every member of it proud of belonging to it. + As for myself, to have commanded it during these years is the + highest privilege. + + I hope that eventually the Liverpool Irish, the 9th King's, + and the 5th Loyal North Lancs. may rejoin our ranks, and that + the final blow may be given shoulder to shoulder with them. + + Till they come back again I wish them, on the part of the + Division and myself, all good fortune and success, and can + assure them that we shall watch their career as keenly as if + they were still with us. + + H.S. JEUDWINE, + Major General, + Commanding 55th Division. + +Unfortunately the hopes of the Major General were not realised. He never +saw this Battalion on parade again. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE 57TH DIVISION. + + +The second line Battalion was formed at Blackpool in 1914, and on the +departure of the first Battalion from Tunbridge Wells for France its place +was taken by the second Battalion. For a considerable time it carried out +training at Tunbridge Wells, Ashford, Oxted, Maidstone, Canterbury and +Blackdown, from which place it departed on the 17th February, 1917, for +France. + +It was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Leggatt, and formed part of +Brigadier-General Paynter's 172nd Infantry Brigade of the 57th Division, +which was a Division composed entirely of Lancashire troops, and a sister +Division to the 55th. + +After being delayed for three days at Folkestone, it crossed to Boulogne +on the 20th. The next day it was moved by train to the neighbourhood of +Bailleul, and from there by stages to the village of Erquinghem, south of +Armentières. After a week spent in training, completing equipment, and +reconnoitring the sector to be taken over, it went into the Bois Grenier +sector. During the first tour in the trenches, the front held was twice +extended and eventually it held a front of one and three-quarter miles. +Here the Battalion remained for nearly seven months. The sector had been +held by the New Zealanders, and was one of the quietest on the whole +British front, but orders were now given to liven things up in order to +keep as many enemy troops opposite the sector as possible, and distract +their attention from the impending operations at Messines on the left. +This object was achieved by considerable activity, patrols, and artillery +bombardments. The extent of the front held entailed a good deal of +exertion in the way of working parties, both to prevent the breast-works +from falling into complete decay and to keep the trenches drained; and +though the Battalion was very fortunate and suffered comparatively few +casualties, the numbers steadily dwindled as no drafts were forthcoming. +The enemy had very little artillery opposite this sector, and relied +mainly for his defence on minenwerfers which he used liberally and +skilfully, harassing the Battalion with an exceedingly heavy bombardment +about once a fortnight. + +In August, the Commanding Officer left the Regiment and the command was +taken over by Lieutenant-Colonel Manger. The following month the Battalion +was taken out of the line for a rest, and was billeted in the village of +Febvin Palfart. Here it remained for a month reorganising and practising +the attack, special attention being paid to the method of taking "pill +boxes" by encirclement. + +In October the "Second Ninth" set out for the Ypres salient, and on +arriving at Proven was accommodated in tents. There it was told that the +Division was about to take part in an attack on Passchendaele, but the +weather conditions were so bad that, after an attack by one of the other +brigades in the Division, the offensive was finally abandoned. The +Battalion then held the shell crater line in front of Langemarck for a few +days at the beginning of November, sustaining a considerable number of +casualties. The Division was then withdrawn and the Battalion was put +into rest billets at Nielles. After about a month spent there in +re-organisation and training for the attack, it moved up to Emile Camp, +just outside Elverdinghe. The weather was bitterly cold and the ground +frozen hard. On Christmas Day the Battalion went into the shell crater +line at Poelcappelle, and spent four days there. The weather conditions +were very severe, snow had fallen, the ground was wet and the machine gun +fire very active. The first week in January the Regiment was once again in +its original sector at Armentières. Here things were comparatively quiet, +though the trenches were in a very bad condition, and the danger of trench +feet was considerable. The Battalion carried out a very successful raid on +the 1st February. Several patrols had been sent out to locate the best +place of entry into the enemy line. After an intense bombardment on the +selected spot, a party was able to enter and secure a few prisoners. This +was the most successful raid the Division had accomplished. + +The remnants of the first Battalion left Lisbourg for Steenwerck, where +they spent a few days awaiting the return of the second Battalion from the +trenches. The two units met at Waterlands Camp outside Armentières, and +were united to form one battalion. The union, though imperative, was +distasteful to some, as many officers and non-commissioned officers had to +relinquish acting ranks which they had held for some time, and it perhaps +gave rise to some jealousy which fortunately disappeared in time. + +After a few days spent at Waterlands, the Battalion moved into support at +Erquinghem, with one company in the Lunatic Asylum at Armentières, and +after a short stay it did one tour in the line near Houplines, and then +went to Estaires, where it was in support to the Portuguese Army. + +This was then a quiet country town in which the shops were still open, and +incidentally doing a very good trade, and it had suffered little from the +effects of artillery. During the next three months it was to be reduced to +ruins. The Battalion was accommodated in a Nissen hut camp just outside +the town, where the company commanders had an opportunity of completing +the re-organisation of their companies. + +On the 13th March the non-commissioned officers celebrated the anniversary +of the Battalion's first arrival in France by arranging a kind of concert +in one of the estaminets in Estaires. This was the last occasion before +the Armistice on which such a celebration took place, and it has developed +into an annual reunion of the senior non-commissioned officers. + +Towards the end of the month the Battalion left Estaires for the +Armentières front, and on the 21st March Ludendorff's advance commenced on +the 5th Army front, at which time the Battalion was in line in the +Fleurbaix sector. Ten days later the unit was relieved and marched to +Estaires, where it arrived on the morning of the 1st April. Leaving this +town later in the day, it made Haverskerque that night, left there the +next day for Steenwerck, and entrained for Doullens. Detraining at +Doullens at 1 a.m. on the 3rd, the Battalion proceeded by night march to +Sus St. Leger. The night was dark and the roads were in bad condition and +a few men fell out, but on the whole, the march discipline was good. On +the 5th the Battalion moved to Warluzel, where it remained for three days +and then proceeded to Thièvres, staying there four days. These moves +meant a great strain on everyone. To march in full pack on bad roads with +motor lorries splashing mud, day after day, is an ordeal. In each village +a fresh start had to be made. Billets had to be found and allotted, fire +orders put up and billet guards mounted. Latrines and cook-houses had to +be improvised, and the usual foot inspections were made. Besides this the +usual routine returns had to be rendered to people that sat in comfortable +offices, and the men had to do ration fatigues and guards. Though the +difficulties of the companies were great, the difficulties of the +Quartermaster's department and that of the Transport Officer were much +greater. The Quartermaster had not enough room to take the stores he +wished, and the Transport Officer had as much as he could do to carry all +the stores there were. + +On the 12th a move was made to Sombrin, and the next day the Battalion +left Sombrin late in the afternoon for an unknown destination. Even the +Colonel did not know, and there was a vague rumour that the Brigade staff +were to look after the unit. The men marched over bad roads and in the +dark, and ultimately they were turned into a wood and told there were no +billets, and they could bivouac for the night. Officers and men lay down +on the damp earth where they were and slept. Fortunately it did not rain. +A few tents came up very late, and in the darkness they could not be +pitched, but they were spread out and thrown over the men as they lay +sleeping on the ground. Fires could not be lighted as the enemy aeroplanes +would have used them as aiming marks. In the morning the Battalion on +awaking found it was just outside Pas, in what was called Beaucamp Ravine. +Here it remained for two days, and then moved to Hénu, where the men +pitched a camp in a field, and there the Battalion remained for a little +over a fortnight. But it was no rest camp. The weather was very bad and +the ground became wet and sodden. Every alternate day large working +parties, which consumed almost all the available men, were detailed for +work on the rear lines of defence, that were being hastily constructed, in +view of the imminence of a fresh enemy offensive. On the intervening days +training took place. There was a thirty yards' range in a ravine just in +the rear of the camp, where some very interesting competitions took place. +Rifle sections were pitted against Lewis gun sections and it was found +that, in some platoons a rifle section of eight men was able to get as +many shots on the target as the Lewis gun, and it was noticed incidentally +that after two hundred rounds the Lewis gun became far too hot to handle. +It was a much over-rated weapon, and was only effective in the hands of +highly trained men. + +Several reconnaissances were made by the officers while at Hénu. The +forward area was visited again and again. Defence schemes were studied and +prepared, but these tended to become a little too complex, and had it been +necessary to put them into operation something would surely have gone +wrong. + +The morale at this time was low. The extent of the losses on the 5th and +2nd Army fronts were known. The enemy was using British 60-pounder guns +against the area occupied by the Battalion, but as the enemy gunners did +not thoroughly understand how to set the fuses, the shells were all blind. +The Germans seemed to be able to advance whenever they wished, whereas the +British had miserably failed at Ypres the last year. The men were not in +very good fettle owing to the several recent marches, and the chance of +complete victory seemed to be remote. Nevertheless there were many who +kept cheerful and intended like game cocks to fight to the last. + +The first week in May the Battalion went into line at Gommecourt. The +other two units in the Brigade were in the outpost line, and the 9th +King's was in close support in Gommecourt Park. It was accommodated in +what were formerly the front line enemy positions in 1916. It was an +education in military engineering to examine them. The trenches were deep +and wide, and there were traverses every few yards. They were revetted +with hurdles and planks of timber which were kept in position by iron +pickets, which were securely wired to anchor pickets driven sideways into +the walls of the trench. So well anchored were the revetments that in +spite of the continuous bombardments of the Somme Battle they were still +in position. The whole line was stellated with concrete machine-gun +emplacements, which gave a perfect command over the former British front +line trenches. Armoured look-out posts for sentries were at the top of all +the dugout stairs. The dugouts were deeply mined and well timbered, and +would provide shelter for a large garrison. + +In front of the trenches was a dense wire entanglement at least twenty +yards broad, and although it had suffered much from artillery fire it was +still an obstacle which was only passable by infantry in certain places +where lanes had been made. Anyone who saw this entanglement did not wonder +why the British attack on the Somme on the 1st July, 1916, failed. Several +graves of the fallen could be seen here and there in the wire. + +It was very interesting to walk through the Park. Despite the +bombardments it had undergone, the rides were clearly marked, and several +trees were still alive, including one or two fine copper beeches. Wild +hyacinths and other flowers were blooming in profusion, and a cuckoo, with +doubtful wisdom, persisted in remaining in its usual haunts. + +While in this position the whole Battalion was engaged in reclaiming old +trenches, digging new ones, and putting the area in a position of defence +and establishing a central keep. + +On the 11th May the enemy shelled Foncquevillers, a village immediately in +rear of the Battalion's position, with gas shells, most of which were +charged with mustard gas, and some of the gas being inhaled by the men of +the Battalion twenty-four casualties were sustained. + +Three days later the Battalion took over the front line, the Headquarters +still remaining at Gommecourt, but in another part of the village. The +trenches were very wet, and reminded one of the Loos trenches in 1915. It +was a time of great patrol activity. No one was quite sure where the +Germans were and in what force. Daylight and night fighting patrols +constantly left the British lines, and almost invariably came across +parties of the enemy, but as the enemy was caged in by wire prisoners +could not be obtained. + +In this sector the enemy had full observation of the village from +Rossignol Wood, and men from other units were in the habit of betraying +the location of dumps and headquarters by walking along the roads in +daylight instead of through the communication trenches. This enabled the +enemy to note ways of approach which he could shell after nightfall, and +so inflict casualties on working parties. To prevent this, two snipers +were told off to lie in the grass and fire above the head of anyone who +did not keep in the communication trenches. The scheme was efficacious; +the men respected the snipers more than the enemy, and little trouble was +given afterwards by the casual visitor to the sector. + +One fine morning the enemy elected to shell Battalion headquarters, to the +great amusement of the companies in the front line. Two out of the three +mine entrances to the dugout occupied by the headquarter's personnel +received direct hits and were blocked. The Second in Command then had the +unpleasant duty of crawling out of the third entrance to see if all was +well. Fortunately nothing untoward had taken place except three slight +casualties. + +On relief two companies went to the Chateau de la Haie, and the two other +companies and Headquarters to Rossignol Farm, a large monastic farm of +considerable age. There was an enormous byre partitioned off into several +pig styes, and this was allotted to the officers, one pig stye for each +officer. The War Diary for the next three weeks gives an interesting and +accurate account of what took place, so the following extract is +included:-- + + May 24th.--Battalion headquarters moved up to Chateau de la + Haie, and Lieutenant-Colonel F.W.M. Drew, D.S.O., being in + need of a rest, was evacuated sick, and Major S.C. Ball, M.C., + assumed command. While at this Chateau, Battalion headquarters + had the pleasure of being closely associated with the + headquarters of the 1st Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers; and + it is interesting to record that this was not the first time + that the Battalion had the honour of working in conjunction + with this illustrious regiment. Many members of the Battalion + could clearly remember how the 9th had the honour of relieving + the 2nd Royal Munster Fusiliers, elements of which were + incorporated in the 1st Royal Munster Fusiliers, after the + Battle of Loos, in the 3rd Infantry Brigade of the 1st + Division. + + May 25th.--BEER TRENCH.--The Battalion relieved the 1st + Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers in Beer Trench, where "A" + and "D" Companies and the Lewis gunners of "B" were + accommodated. "B" and "C" Companies remained in the Chateau de + la Haie Switch. There was heavy shelling in "A" Company's area + during the evening, but no casualties were sustained. The + Battalion came tactically under the orders of the 170th + Infantry Brigade while in Beer Trench. + + May 26th.--Gas shells known as yellow cross shells, were fired + over "A" Company's sector in the early morning. The men + quickly adjusted their masks, and no casualties were + sustained. The rest of the day passed quietly. + + May 27th to 29th.--These days were fairly quiet. + + May 29th.--RUM TRENCH.--The Battalion relieved the 2-4th Loyal + North Lancashire Regiment and occupied the reserve position in + the Left Brigade Sector. "B" Company and Headquarters were in + Gommecourt Wood. "A" Company was in the centre with posts in + Gommecourt Trench, and "C" Company was on the left flank in + Pigeon Wood. "D" Company was in reserve with orders to man a + strong point, known as Julius Point, in case of an attack. + Opportunity was afforded of studying the solidarity of the + enemy forms of revetment, their fortified sentry boxes, + observation posts, and the thoroughness of the mined dugouts, + several of which were occupied by the Battalion. + + May 30th--31st.--These days were spent in comparative + quietness, and the Battalion furnished several working + parties. There was abnormal sickness during this tour in the + trenches, due in all probability to the effects of gas. + + June 1st.--GOMMECOURT.--The Battalion was in reserve to the + Brigade in the Left Brigade Sector at Gommecourt with + Headquarters in the old German support line, north of + Gommecourt Wood, which was renamed Rum Support. The companies + were disposed from right to left in order, "B," "A" and "C" in + Gommecourt Trench and Gommecourt Support. "D" Company was in + reserve. The companies were housed in mined dugouts made by + the enemy, and again evidence of the industry of the Germans + was seen in the mined dugouts, armoured sentry boxes, + substantial revetments and belts of wire entanglements. + + At morning "stand to," the enemy put down a barrage on the + Divisional Front. The S.O.S. went up in several places and our + artillery--some of which was immediately in rear--opened with + rapid fire. It transpired later that the enemy raided the + Right Brigade sector without success. The usual working + parties were provided in the evening. + + June 2nd.--The IV. Corps Commander visited the Battalion's + sector. The Battalion did considerable work in its own sector + digging rifle slits, and making baby elephant dugouts, besides + providing the Royal Engineers with the usual working parties. + + June 3rd.--The day passed in comparative tranquillity. Owing + to the good weather prevailing at this period our observers + were able to observe well behind the enemy lines. Occasionally + they could see small bodies of the enemy moving about and + sometimes horses grazing. + + June 4th.--The day was spent very quietly, and there is + nothing of interest to record. + + June 5th.--The Brigadier commanding 172nd Infantry Brigade + visited the Battalion and expressed his appreciation of the + wiring done at Salmon Trench. Visibility was very good in the + evening, and several parties of Germans were again seen. + + June 6th.--The enemy opened a harassing fire on Battalion + headquarters with 77 m.m. guns and 10.5 c.m. howitzers, firing + with occasional short intervals until 3 p.m. + + June 7th.--The day was spent very quietly and there is nothing + of interest to relate. + + June 7th--8th.--The Battalion relieved the 2-4th Battalion + South Lancashire Regiment in the left section of the Left + Brigade Front. Companies were disposed as follows:--Left front + company, "A." Centre company, "D." Right front company, "C." + Reserve company, "B." Battalion headquarters were established + in Salmon Trench in the vicinity of a locality known as Salmon + Point. + + June 9th.--IN THE LINE.--The enemy displayed more than usual + activity. The Brigadier General visited the sector. + + June 10th.--Some rain fell during the day. The enemy displayed + his usual artillery activity. Two enemy aeroplanes, one of + which was a Halberstadter, flew over the Battalion area at a + low altitude for some time. + + June 11th.--The day was fairly quiet, our forward posts in + front of Rossignol Wood were troubled by our own artillery + which persistently fired short. + + June 12th.--The enemy was noticeably quieter. + + June 13th.--The Duke of Marlborough and Mr. Winston Churchill + visited the Battalion sector, accompanied by the Divisional + Commander. + + June 14th.--Artillery activity at night has quietened + considerably. Our gunners still continued to harass the enemy + with an occasional _rafale_ from their field guns. + + The Battalion found a wiring party to assist the 2-4th + Battalion South Lancashire Regiment to wire Biez Wood. The + Brigadier General visited the sector. + + June 14th--15th.--The Battalion was relieved by the 2-6th + Battalion Liverpool Regiment. During the relief the enemy + artillery was very active. + + June 15th.--ROSSIGNOL FARM.--On relief the Battalion was + disposed as follows:--"A" and "D" Companies at Chateau de la + Haie; "B" and "C" Companies and Battalion headquarters at + Rossignol Farm. + + * * * * * + +In May and June the Gommecourt sector was active, and the artillery fire +on both sides was severe. The enemy employed a shell with an instantaneous +fuse called the E.K.Z. fuse, which functioned before the shell buried +itself and so gave the shell a very great splinter effect. It was usual +for the enemy to fire on cross roads and similar targets in salvoes of +four. The British artillery replied and kept up a lively fire most of the +time, and it appeared to have the ascendency. Gas shells were frequently +used on both sides. + +Early in July the Battalion came out to rest at Authie, where it was +accommodated under canvas. Here it was that Lieutenant-Colonel Lord Henry +Seymour, D.S.O., of the Grenadier Guards, took command. Training for the +attack took place in some cornfields near to the camp, and particular +attention was paid to the keeping of direction in the advance, the +tactical employment of Lewis guns and the envelopment of machine gun +nests. The fighting had become more open this year than it had been in +1917, and consequently the men had to be kept up to date. To consolidate a +position the men were taught to form platoon strong points with the flanks +refused or bent back so as to be able to meet an attack from any +direction. Unfortunately the corn crops were spoilt by the training of the +troops. + +While at Authie, sports took place, and in the Brigade sports the +Battalion secured seven first, eight second, and one third prize. The Army +Rifle Competitions took place here, and No. 6 platoon of "B" Company won +the eliminating competition in the Brigade, but unfortunately failed to +win the Divisional competition. + +Then followed a period of meanderings which lasted for a month, and which +at the time were difficult to understand. On the 29th July the Battalion +left Authie and marched to billets at Warluzel by the following route: +Pas, Grincourt, and Couterelle. The march was rather severe as the weather +was very hot, and it needed the greatest firmness on the part of the +officers to prevent the men from falling out. The next day the Battalion +paraded at 6-15 a.m., and marched to Agnez-les-Duisans _via_ Hermaville, +where it arrived in the afternoon. + +In the evening of the following day the Battalion paraded and marched to +Arras, entering the city by the Baudimont Gate, and the men were billeted +for the night in the Spanish houses in the Grande Place. In the evening of +the next day the Battalion paraded in the Square and marched to Wakefield +Camp by Roclincourt. While in Arras the troops found an old hat shop and +great amusement was caused by the soldiers arraying themselves in ladies' +hats, which gave them a very strange appearance. A tall silk hat very much +out of fashion was reserved for the officers, which they tried on in turn. + +A week or so was spent in training at Roclincourt, and on the 9th the +Battalion took over the outpost zone in the Gavrelle-Fampoux sector. The +companies were taken up to the forward area by a light railway, and this +was the only occasion on which the Battalion was taken to the forward area +in such a manner. + +The positions occupied gave a good view over the enemy hinterland. From +the Battalion headquarters at the Point du Jour, factory chimneys could be +seen smoking in several villages behind the German line, and the clock on +Douai Church was clearly visible. Occasionally a train was seen moving, +and now and then a party of Germans was observed. Behind the British line +lay the rolling Artois country which was fundamentally agricultural, and +in front there loomed in the distance an industrial manufacturing +district, which seemed a far-off civilization in contrast to the +devastation behind. It was a time of great aeriel activity on both sides. +Battles were fought at high altitudes, of which one was scarcely conscious +except when one of the combatant machines fell headlong to earth. As a +means of self protection Lewis guns were placed on aeriel mountings, and a +sharp look out was kept for any daring Halberstadter that should venture +too low. The weather at the time was fine, and the tour was regarded as +one of the easiest the men had been called upon to do. + +On the 17th August the Battalion was relieved just before midnight, and +marched to Anzin, where it arrived at 4-30 a.m. the next morning, and the +men had breakfast. Later it entrained for Bailleul-aux-Cornailles, where +four days were spent. On the 21st an order was received about 10 p.m., +(after the men had bedded down) to move at once. The move was quite +unexpected as everyone believed the Battalion was to stay in the village +for several days longer. Kits were hastily packed in the darkness, and in +an hour the Battalion was ready to move. Fosseux was reached in the early +morning, breakfast taken, and the men rested until 1 p.m. In the evening +another sudden message ordered a night march to Boucquemaison, which was +reached early on the 23rd, and the men rested during the day time, paraded +at nightfall and marched to Barly. + +These marches were perhaps rather fatiguing, but as they took place at +night and the weather was very pleasant, they were not as bad as they +might have been. The march discipline was excellent and scarcely any men +fell out. The companies as day was breaking presented nevertheless a +worn-out appearance. The men were dusty and tired out as they trudged in +the mist of the morning, with the field kitchen and Lewis gun cart in the +rear. The cooks were doing their best to get the fire lighted to boil the +water for breakfast. The pack animals seemed to wonder what necessity +there could be for all this marching, and the company charger, generally a +very dejected jade, feeling as proud of his position as his mean station +in the equine world would permit, persistently refused to keep his proper +position when a halt was called. + +It was during the march to Barly that the men were told, during a halt at +midnight, that victory was certain, and that Marshal Foch had ordered +everyone to advance. This news instantly raised the _morale_ of every one, +and the rest of the journey seemed more pleasant than usual. + + +THE SECOND BATTLE OF ARRAS. + +A day's halt took place at Barly, where the surplus personnel was left +while the fighting men left for Bellacourt. The next day the Battalion +left and, passing _en route_ Ficheux and Blaireville, the villages in +front of which it had spent so many weary months in 1916, arrived at +Mercatel. + +On the 27th August the Battalion proceeded, dressed in fighting order, to +the Hindenburg Line, _via_ Henin, and took over trenches in V. 7.c. On the +28th a warning order was received at 6 a.m. that the Battalion would +attack that day. Operation orders followed later. The two leading +companies were to assemble at Humber Redoubt and Mole Lane, and the other +two companies in the rear. The first objective assigned to the Battalion +was Hoop Lane and the second the village of Riencourt. Flanks were given +and zero was fixed for 12-30 p.m. + +It was fortunate that a warning order had been given as otherwise the +companies would not have been in position in time. At 12-30 p.m. the +barrage came down and the men commenced to move forward. The going at +first was not easy, owing to the wire and numerous shell holes. Shortly +after zero the contact aeroplane unfortunately received a direct hit by a +shell and crashed to earth. Very heavy machine gun fire was directed +against the leading companies from Copse Trench, which brought about many +casualties. Fag Alley was reached and in its vicinity several machine guns +were captured, and the teams either killed or taken prisoners. From this +point to the first objective the resistance was not so strong, and on +reaching it red flares were lit. + +About 1-50 p.m. the Battalion continued the advance from the first +objective, and swung left in the direction of the village of Hendicourt. +The resistance became stronger. The enemy was using his machine guns +boldly. Some of these were outflanked and captured with a few light +minenwerfers. About fifty prisoners, chiefly belonging to the 121st and +the 180th Infantry Regiments of the 26th Reserve Division were taken, +along with a few Uhlans. Eventually the fringe of Hendicourt was reached, +and several men entered the village. As it was reported that there were no +British troops on either side of the village it was decided on the spot to +withdraw to Cemetery Avenue temporarily. "D" Company was endeavouring to +get round the north side of the village but was held up by heavy machine +gun fire from Crow's Nest. Owing to this machine gun fire and to the fact +that the left flank of the Battalion was in the air, and that the British +artillery was shelling the village, it was decided to consolidate Cemetery +Trench. Meanwhile some enemy field gunners were firing at the British at +very close range. By this time the troops had got very mixed up, and it +was essential that the commanders on the spot should organise what men +they found near by. This was done and the Battalion remained in its +consolidated positions until the next day, when at noon it was withdrawn +to Copse Trench and afterwards to a bivouac area at Henin. + +Unfortunately, Lord Henry Seymour was wounded on the 28th August and the +command then devolved upon Major Ball. There was a great deal of +re-organisation to be done. The surplus personnel rejoined. Lists of +casualties had to be prepared, ammunition, flares, Verey lights, and iron +rations had to be given out. New platoon rolls had to be made at once. +Lost Lewis guns and spare parts had to be made up, as well as possible. As +a temporary measure "A" and "C" Companies, now sadly depleted in numbers, +were united to form "X" Company, while "B" and "D" Companies formed "Y" +Company. This scheme was adopted so that the original companies and +platoons would not sink their identities in that of a sister company. This +re-organisation was completed, equipment made up, and all necessary stores +given out within twenty-four hours, and the Battalion was again ready for +action. The bivouac area was vacated at 4 p.m. on the 1st September, and +the Battalion went to the Hindenburg Line, where a few hours were spent. +It left the Hindenburg Line about 10-30 p.m. for Hendicourt. An +unfortunate circumstance, however, had taken place. The intelligence +section, which was to act as guides to take the companies to Hendicourt, +was annihilated by a shell, and as a consequence it was very difficult to +get there to time in view of the lack of guides. The Battalion was piloted +by the Adjutant over numerous broken-in trenches, while enemy aeroplanes +were disseminating bombs quite liberally. + +Hendicourt was reached fifteen minutes before zero, which was at 5 a.m. +One company was then ordered to advance in the direction of Riencourt, the +fringe of which village it reached by advancing over the open under cover +of the barrage and, incidentally, encountering the German barrage. + +On this day the famous Drocourt-Quéant Switch, the last and perhaps the +strongest line of resistance of the enemy, was completely broken. Months +had been spent on its preparation and in making concrete machine gun +emplacements and belts of barbed wire, and its fall in one day was +remarkable. + +Later in the day the companies went forward over the ground captured by +the other units in the Brigade, and one or two patrols were sent out. The +following evening the Battalion was withdrawn to a bivouac area outside +Croisilles, which vicinity was shelled by a 350 m.m. Krupp gun. The +Battalion was reorganised on a four-company basis once more the next day. + +On the 7th September the Battalion proceeded, _via_ Hendicourt and +Riencourt, to a reserve position by Cagnicourt, and on the 10th the +Battalion furnished two companies for manning the Buissy Switch in the +rear of Inchy-en-Artois. Battalion headquarters were situated in the +Hindenburg Line and the two forward companies were just on the fringe of +Inchy, and accommodated in what had lately been the headquarters of the +115th Feldartillerie Regiment. The dugout was cut into the side of the +road and consisted of several well-timbered rooms and there were about +four entrances. This dugout was so well fitted that it actually contained +a pump, to ensure an adequate supply of water for the garrison. + +On the 11th September there was an attack by other units in the 57th +Division in conjunction with the Guards Division on the east side of Inchy +and Moeuvres, so as to secure the line of the Canal du Nord. The attack +was covered by an intense bombardment of the enemy front positions and +Bourlon Wood, and the advance of the infantry was covered by smoke. +Officers from the Battalion observed the attack from Buissy Switch to note +where lay the enemy barrage lines. The attack at Inchy was, unfortunately, +a failure. + +On the 12th the Battalion took over the defence of Inchy. The right +company was located in Grabburg Post, and the left in a shell crater +position by the Agache Springs. The other two companies were in support. +The conditions were bad, and the men in front had to lie in their shell +craters all day. As these generally contained water, the men got very wet. +The village was incessantly shelled and periodically drenched with gas. +Even night brought no respite and the guns still disgorged their fatal +missiles. Some idea of the intensity of the shell fire may be gained from +the following incident. + +"A" Company headquarters and one platoon were quartered in a long cellar +belonging to a factory. The cellar was divided into two compartments, and +of these only the one further from the entrance was occupied. While the +shelling was taking place the Company Commander was out interviewing the +Commanding Officer and, returning to his headquarters, he saw shell after +shell burst in the vicinity. When the intensity of the fire was somewhat +mitigated, he returned to company headquarters and there saw a shell had +entered and burst in the empty compartment. When he asked the men about it +they did not know what had happened, and they even had not noticed it amid +the several other shells that had burst close by. + +While at Inchy the Battalion had the misfortune to lose its most popular +officer, who was killed while doing a daylight patrol in Pavilland Wood. +He had fought in the first Battle of Ypres in 1914 and had remained in +France until wounded in 1917. Though blind in one eye and deaf in one ear, +he insisted on returning to the battlefield after his wounds had healed. +His conduct stands out in sharp contrast to the thousands who were evading +service at home. + +On the 16th September, the Battalion was relieved and marched by companies +to a bivouac area by Bullecourt. On arrival a thunderstorm took place. The +men were soon wet, the ground sodden, and the bivouac sheets caked with +mud. To this was added the fact that fires and lights were not permitted +on account of the enemy aeroplanes. The next day, however, was fine and +everyone quickly dried. Of the village scarcely a vestige remained. Here +and there the foundation of a wall was discernible in the mud. French +villages are usually well wooded, but of all the trees in Bullecourt there +was only one standing, and that had died from the effects of shell fire. +The Battalion marched off next day and entrained by Boyelles, and after a +short journey detrained at Beaumetz. Here the men saw once again the +village they knew so well in 1916. It seemed strange that trains were +running in the station now. + +At Beaumetz the Battalion marched past some of its former billets to +Bailleulment. Here a few days were spent in resting and training, and on +the 25th September the Battalion marched to Beaumetz and by train and +route march proceeded to a bivouac area at Lagnicourt. + +On the 27th September the Battalion took part in the advance. The men got +to the position of assembly in the Hindenburg Line and then passed through +Moeuvres, crossed the Canal du Nord and advanced in artillery formation +towards the southern corner of Bourlon Wood. + +While coming over the crest just north of Anneux "A" Company came under +the direct fire of a 105 m.m. enemy gun, the detachment of which was +firing over open sights, and several casualties were sustained. The +Battalion was soon held up by machine gun fire, but it afterwards advanced +and took up a position between Anneux and Bourlon Wood. The 29th was spent +in re-organisation. + +On the 30th the Battalion paraded, and an attempt was made to carry on the +attack. Unfortunately, the suburb of Proville had not been captured, as +had been originally supposed, and the attack could not proceed on account +of the heavy machine gun fire from the houses. + +The Battalion was then withdrawn to La Folie Wood, where a few days were +spent in old German shelters. The enemy evidently knew that the wood was +occupied, for he persistently shelled it with his heavy batteries, and the +trees served to intensify the sound of the explosions. Several 18-pounder +guns and a battery of 8-inch howitzers were about a hundred yards or so in +rear of the Battalion's position; and when an attack by one of the other +units in the Division was in progress the noise was intense. + +On the 5th October the Battalion took over the outpost zone at Proville, +with headquarters at La Marlière. At this time there were few troops on +the bridgehead east of the Canal de l'Escaut. The area was periodically +searched by the enemy heavy artillery, and the posts at Proville suffered +considerably from minenwerfer fire. On relief the Battalion returned to La +Folie Wood. + +When Cambrai fell on the 9th October the Battalion left for the Cantaing +area and on the 11th moved to a bivouac area by Inchy. The next day it +marched to Hermies, and there entrained for Bethune, where it arrived next +day and marched to Douvrin. + +It was now almost three years since the Battalion had been in the vicinity +of Bethune, but there were still some present who could remember how the +Battalion in the spring of 1915 had marched for the first time to the +trenches in front of this town. The next day the Battalion went by motor +lorries through Locon and other places the men had known so well in 1915 +and, debussing near Laventie, the Battalion marched via Fromelles to Le +Maisnil en Weppes. Passing through what was formerly no man's land at +Laventie, the men were able to recognise the places they had held in the +trenches in the early part of the year. + + +LILLE. + +Three days were spent at Le Maisnil, during which the seizure of Lille was +carefully studied by the officers and orders were given as to the mode of +procedure should the enemy evacuate the town. On the 17th October at 1-15 +p.m. the Battalion paraded in fighting order and advanced to the +deliverance of the city. There was at this time a vague report that the +enemy had departed, but it was not known to what point the British troops +had then attained. There might have been troops between the Battalion and +the enemy, and there might not. Road mines and "booby" traps were to be +expected. The Battalion arrived at Haubourdin at 4 p.m., where there was a +halt for a meal. On reaching the suburbs of Lille advance guards had to be +sent out, as any point of vantage might have concealed an enemy machine +gun. The canal on the west of the city was reached about 5 o'clock. The +bridges had all been blown up, but the Pont de Canteleu, though broken in +two and half in the canal, afforded a means of crossing one at a time. + +At this bridge the greatest excitement prevailed. Crowds of women were +singing the "Marseillaise." They surrounded the troops and could not be +prevented from kissing the soldiers. So great was the crowd that the +passage of the troops was impeded. Eventually the companies reached their +allotted stations and formed guards on the various gates to prevent all +egress. In this way the Battalion was the first infantry to reach the +city. Actually the first to enter was "D" Company. + +Here was a city without civil administration. The late authorities had +been the Germans, and they had gone. There were no police and no post; the +streets were unlit and the trams had long since ceased to run; garbage was +deposited in the street and there putrified. There was a great shortage of +food. The shops were empty, hundreds had died of want, and the strength of +the inhabitants was very low. + +For three days the Battalion remained on guard at the gates to prevent all +egress of the inhabitants, as there were some residents in the city that +the French authorities wished to arrest, and so it was necessary to +prevent their escape before the French police arrived. Out of the men not +actually on duty, a guard of honour was found to accompany M. Clemenceau +on his triumphal entry into the city on behalf of the French Republic. It +was an inspiring occasion, and the greatest enthusiasm prevailed. The +Battalion on the 21st marched through Lille, being met by "A" Company at +the Porte des Postes, to Ascq, where it stayed the night. The next day it +moved to Willems on the Belgian frontier. + + +TOURNAI. + +On the 24th October the Battalion took over the outpost zone at Froyennes +by Tournai. This was a new kind of warfare. There were no trenches, no +enemy line and no clearly defined British line. Sentry groups were located +in houses, behind hedges and perhaps in a ditch on the side of the road. +Sentries kept a look-out from a skylight window or gap in the hedge. +Civilians were living in the same houses as the troops and some of these +appeared rather friendly towards the enemy. One woman actually wished to +take some washing to the Germans in Tournai. For the most part these +civilians were women, and the soldiers admired their wonderful courage. +Even though they were in the centre of the fighting they did not lose +heart and there was no panic. + +In the right company area was situated a chateau which had formerly been +the headquarters of General von Quast, the commander of the Sixth German +Army. Company headquarters were in the next chateau, the Chateau de +Froyennes, belonging to the Germiny family, and the then occupier, +Mademoiselle Thérèse de Germiny, who had remained, lent her boat to the +Company, and several men were able to row on the ornamental lake which was +situated at the side of the chateau in a beautiful park. One platoon was +quartered in a restaurant which had a beautiful and rustic garden, though +it was too near the enemy for the men to really enjoy the comfort it +afforded. Another platoon found in a laundry a number of clean white +shirts which the men readily donned. + +Though the Germans had been defeated, they still continued to indulge in +a lavish expenditure of ammunition. Probably they were firing so as to use +up their remaining shells before evacuating. Day after day the park +belonging to the Froyennes Chateau was searched by all manner of shell. So +intense was the fire that it reminded one of the terrible moments of the +Somme Battle. The Hospital or Convent in which one of the companies was +located was subjected to incessant minenwerfer fire. + +It is interesting to record that "A" Company elected to do the full tour +of four days in the front position with the intention of spending all the +next tour in support, an eventuality which did not take place as the +Armistice intervened. + +Coming out from Froyennes the Battalion was shelled on the road. Little +did anyone think that night that the Battalion had finished with shell +fire. For the men the war was over. Their last time in action was passed. +Among those that trudged wearily out of action that night were a few who +had landed at Le Havre with the Regiment more than three and a half years +before. Though they did not realise it until much later these men were the +lucky ones who were to survive the war. + +The Battalion marched to Cornet and the next day to Hellemmes, outside +Lille, for a period of rest. Here the men were quartered in a cotton +spinning factory, the machinery of which was all utterly destroyed, and +every man had his own bunk. The officers were billeted in private houses +in the vicinity. While on parade on the morning of the 11th November it +was announced to the men that the Armistice had been signed. The news of +the cessation of hostilities was received by the soldiers without any +manifestation of the joy or excitement that marked the occasion at home. +The parade continued and the rest of the day was spent quite as usual. The +news for which the men had waited so long seemed when it came to be almost +too good to be true. + +Some there were--savages by nature--who were not altogether glad. They had +been taught to kill, and they wanted to kill. They thought the Germans had +not been punished enough for their crimes and atrocities, and that the +enemy country ought to suffer the same devastation as France. In the main, +however, the men were glad that the war was virtually over. They would +soon be able to return to their homes and live with their loved ones +again. On the night of the 13th the reality of the terms of the Armistice +was evidenced by the returning British prisoners of war from the German +lines. A picquet was posted on the main road outside Battalion +headquarters, and on arrival returning prisoners were escorted to a billet +which was prepared for them. Fires were burning in the billet, and all of +the late prisoners were supplied with a bed. A hot meal, tea and a rum +ration were served to them as they arrived. By midnight about eighty had +come through. The majority of them arrived in an exhausted condition, +having marched between forty and fifty kilometres. Many were the stirring +and pitiful stories recounted by these unfortunate fellows of the harsh +treatment which they had received during their period of captivity. The +ensuing days of the month were spent at Hellemmes under the command of +Lieutenant-Colonel Dawson for a few days, and afterwards +Lieutenant-Colonel M.E. Makgill-Crichton-Maitland, D.S.O., of the +Grenadier Guards, took command. + +Training as usual was continued as it was not realised at the time that +the fighting was finished. The parades took place in the vicinity of Fort +Macmahon, which had been used by the Germans as quarters for prisoners of +war. The conditions inside the fort were terrible and constituted strong +evidence of the sufferings the prisoners of war must have endured. In view +of the imminence of demobilisation, education classes were started, and +much good work was done in this direction. In the evenings concerts and +parties took place, and friendships soon sprang up between the soldiers +and the Lilloises. + + +ARRAS. + +It was soon decided that the Army was to be used for salvage work on the +devastated area, and accordingly orders came for a move to the Arras area. +On the 3rd December the Battalion left Lille, and after a march of roughly +15 miles it reached Carvin and spent the night in some German ammunition +huts in a wood. The next day the Battalion passed through Lens, and one +was surprised to see how near the Highlanders must have got to the town at +the Battle of Loos. After leaving Lens the Battalion marched right through +the centre of the district in which the Vimy Ridge Battles had taken +place. The whole region was now desolate and deserted. After a march of +twenty-one miles three of the companies marched to their billets at Etrun +without the loss of a single man. This was a striking example of the +efficiency of the Battalion and the standard of its march discipline. + +A few days were spent in billets at Etrun and then the Battalion moved to +a Nissen hut camp a short distance away at Maroeuil. Twelve months ago the +Battalion had spent a night at the camp on its way to Lisbourg. The camp +had been empty for some months and was in a bad condition, so that a +great deal had to be done to make the huts habitable. Beds and tables had +to be constructed, cook houses established and ovens built. Duckboard +tracks had to be laid as the ground was muddy. In this work the men were +assisted by some German prisoners who worked very well and thoroughly. No +enmity was evinced by the men, who would give the prisoners food if not +watched. So soon had the British soldiers forgotten their hatred of the +Germans. The Battalion was given a large area to clear and every day large +parties were engaged on salvage work. The afternoons were devoted to games +and some very keen football matches took place. + +Christmas time was an occasion for great rejoicing. A competition for the +best decorated dining hut was held. Materials were not easily available +and the ingenuity of the officers was taxed to the utmost. One company +commander had a scenic artist among his men and he managed to secure an +ample supply of paint. Others telegraphed to England for table decorations +and some things could be bought in Arras. One sergeant-major borrowed bed +sheets from some lady friend and these served as table cloths. The dining +huts were consequently well decorated and comfortable, and eventually "B" +Company secured the prize. Christmas Day was one of feasting. A cross +country run the next day, in which all from Commanding Officer downward, +took part wore off any evil effect. + +Early in January a "Colour Party" left for Liverpool, where it received +the colours of the Regiment from the Lord Mayor on the 7th January, and +later brought them to the Battalion. + +Demobilisation commenced in January, and by the end of February the +disintegration of the Battalion was proceeding rapidly. The numbers +dwindled so steadily that at length parades ceased. Men who had served +and lived together for so long were parting and might perhaps never see +each other again. Friendships of months' standing were now to come to an +end. No bugle would ever call these men together again. They were each to +return to their civilian life once more, and there seek their several +fortunes. + +The members of the Battalion took different paths. A large contingent +ultimately made its way to Egypt as part of the garrison there. Others, +members of the cadre, came home with the Colours in June and were received +with due honour by the Lord Mayor. One or two isolated members crept up to +the Rhine Army, where they had the pleasure of seeing the result of their +comrades' work, and the Germans dejected and defeated. It was indeed +gratifying to see British soldiers quartered in Bonn University, that home +of "kultur" where the late Kaiser Wilhelm was educated. A reunion took +place in St. George's Hall on the 30th May, 1919. Afterwards the Battalion +ceased to exist as infantry, as the War Office changed it to a Battalion +of Royal Engineers called the 2nd Battalion West Lancashire Divisional +Royal Engineers, to which several of the officers transferred. + +The work of the Battalion is done. By the bravery and industry of the +officers and men, by the soldierly spirit with which all were imbued, by +the discipline and good comradeship which kept all together working in +harmonious union, the Battalion earned for itself a high reputation for +efficiency in every direction. The work it was given to do has been done +in a cheerful and thorough manner, and let there be inscribed, with due +honour, upon the list of the illustrious regiments which have deserved +well of their country, the name of the 9th Battalion of The King's +(Liverpool Regiment) Territorial Force. + + + + +APPENDIX. + + +_List of Decorations earned by officers and men while serving with the +Battalion._ + +A BAR TO THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER. + +Lieutenant-Colonel LORD H.C. SEYMOUR. + +THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER AND THE MILITARY CROSS. + +Captain R.C. WILDE. + +THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER. + +Major-General F.W. RAMSAY +Lieutenant-Colonel H.K.S. WOODHOUSE +Lieutenant-Colonel F.W.M. DREW +Major F.S. EVANS +Major J. MAHONY, R.A.M.C. + +THE MILITARY CROSS AND A BAR. + +Captain E.H.G. ROBERTS +Captain C.G.R. HILL +Lieutenant S.H. RANDALL +Lieutenant A.O. WARDE + +THE MILITARY CROSS. + +Major J.W.B. HUNT +Major P.G.A. LEDERER +Captain S.T.J. PERRY +Captain E.L. MACKENZIE, R.A.M.C. +Captain W. RAINE +Captain A.G. WARDE +Captain E. PAYNE +Captain L.L.S. RICHER +Captain L.S. ELTON +Captain F. ATKINSON +Captain G.F. BUCKLE +Captain C.B. JOHNSON +Lieutenant R. DARLING +Lieutenant G.E. MORTON +Lieutenant A.C. SHEPHERD +Lieutenant F.E. BOUNDY +Lieutenant R.C.H. ELLAM +Lieutenant A.M. ADAMS +Lieutenant W.L. GELDERD +Lieutenant W.G. HARRISON, R.A.M.C. +Lieutenant W.J. LUNNON +Lieutenant L.T. LOCAN +Lieutenant A. ROE +Lieutenant W. DAVENPORT +Lieutenant A.T. BARKER +Lieutenant C. STENT +Lieutenant E.H. MAXWELL +Regimental Sergeant-Major F.W. MILLER +Regimental Sergeant-Major D. ROBERTS +Company Sergeant-Major F.E. ASH + +THE DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL, MILITARY MEDAL AND A BAR. + +Sergeant W. GRIFFITHS. + +THE DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL AND THE MILITARY MEDAL. + +Company Sergeant-Major J. MCCARTEN +Sergeant H. WILLIAMS +Sergeant H. CHISNALL +Sergeant J.S. MORGAN + +THE DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL. + +Company Sergeant-Major P. BYRNE +Company Sergeant-Major J. OWENS +Company Sergeant-Major T. BRAMMER +Sergeant R. WILLIAMS +Sergeant A. BENNET +Sergeant J. MIDGHALL +Lance-Sergeant J.W. HEAP +Private W. SMITH +Private F. FOWLER + +THE MILITARY MEDAL AND A BAR. + +Sergeant R.D. WALKER +Sergeant L.L. DELMAS +Sergeant L. BENTLEY (D.C.M. with 4th Kings) + +THE MILITARY MEDAL. + +Company Sergeant-Major MEADOWS +Sergeant GILMARTIN +Sergeant P.J. HALL +Sergeant E. JONES +Sergeant MCCARTHY +Sergeant SHAW +Sergeant W.T. POPE +Sergeant R. LEE +Sergeant C. MADDEN +Sergeant STAPLETON +Sergeant MCNIFFE +Sergeant T. BALL +Lance-Sergeant PENNINGTON +Lance-Sergeant B. MADDEN +Lance-Sergeant W. MAWER +Corporal WINROW +Corporal E. HYLAND +Corporal H. READ +Corporal W. GRIFFIN +Corporal BROWN, R.A.M.C. +Corporal J. CLARKE +Corporal LEATHER +Corporal L. JONES +Corporal J. CORLESS +Corporal A. SALMON +Corporal W.H. COCKAYNE +Corporal J.R. SERVICE +Lance-Corporal A. HILTON +Lance-Corporal H. COOPER +Lance-Corporal H. JOHNSTONE +Lance-Corporal A. OTTY +Lance-Corporal SHIELDS +Lance-Corporal MARCHBANK +Lance-Corporal LEWIS +Lance-Corporal WESTWOOD +Lance-Corporal RAINFORD +Lance-Corporal H. MONTGOMERIE +Lance-Corporal T. GILL +Lance-Corporal J. TAYLOR +Lance-Corporal W. SALMON +Private W. WILLIAMS +Private A. TURNBULL +Private W. HANKEY +Private R. NAPIER +Private W. TYLDESLEY +Private W.W. OSWALD +Private T.W. MEERS +Private T.V. ANDERSON +Private T. BUXTON +Private J. DILWORTH +Private J. HANNA +Private W. HOPLEY +Private T. LLOYD +Private W. BLEASDALE +Private FOULKES +Private MORRIS +Private SHALLCROSS +Private ENTWISTLE +Private MCDONALD +Private WALKER +Private BROUGH +Private E.O. PARRY +Private MOTTRAM +Private T. HUGHES +Private H. WALMESLEY +Private MULLARD +Private T. HARRISON +Private F. LAMB +Private G. CLUES +Private J. JALLIMORE +Private W. BOYD +Private C.L. ALLEN +Private J. STURDY +Private J. PETRIE +Private W. BECKWITH +Private R. YATES +Private C. MOSLEY +Private J.C. HOWES +Private H. BAILLIE +Private A. ROWLANDS +Private R. HALL +Private E. HIGGINBOTTOM +Private H. LAWRENSON +Private F.C. MULVEY +Private A.E. PEARCE +Private A. COPPACH +Private T. GROOM +Private C.H. HOOPER +Private A. MARSH +Private J. TYSON + +THE MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL. + +Regimental Quarter-Master-Sergeant A.J. FORD +Regimental Quarter-Master-Sergeant W. O'BRIEN +Company Quarter-Master-Sergeant A. JONES +Sergeant W.G. EDINGTON +Sergeant T. MUNCASTER +Sergeant GRAHAM +Sergeant CONOLLY +Sergeant H. KENNISTON +Lance-Corporal R. GRAYSON + +FRENCH DECORATION. MEDAILLE MILITAIRE. + +Company Sergeant-Major P. BYRNE + +BELGIAN DECORATION. CROIX DE GUERRE. + +Corporal H. READ + +RUSSIAN DECORATION. CROSS OF SAINT GEORGE. + +Sergeant H. CHISNALL + +MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES. + +Major-General F.W. RAMSAY, D.S.O. +Lieutenant-COLONEL LORD H.C. SEYMOUR, D.S.O. +Lieutenant-COLONEL F.W.M. DREW, D.S.O. +Lieutenant-COLONEL H.K.S. WOODHOUSE, D.S.O. +Lieutenant-COLONEL C.G. BRADLEY, D.S.O. +Major J.W.B. HUNT, M.C. +Major F.S. EVANS, D.S.O. +Major S.C. BALL, M.C. +Major J. MAHONY, D.S.O., R.A.M.C. +Major P.G.A. LEDERER, M.C. +Major N.L. WATTS +Major A.W. FULTON +Captain B.W. HOWROYD +Captain J.H. HALLIWELL +Captain D.H.D. WOODERSON, R.A.M.C. +Captain H.H. COVELL +Captain E.D.H. STOCKER +Captain W.R. PERRY +Captain R.C. WILDE, D.S.O., M.C. +Captain E. ASHTON +Captain C.B. JOHNSON, M.C. +Captain A.G. WARDE, M.C. +Second-Lieutenant C. NOTT +Regimental Sergeant-Major F.W. MILLER, M.C. +Regimental Quarter-Master-Sergeant A.J. FORD +Company Sergeant-Major J.C. WARD +Company Sergeant-Major J. OWENS, D.C.M. +Company Sergeant-Major R. GRAYSON +Company Sergeant-Major J.J. SNAITH +Company Quarter-Master-Sergeant A. JONES +Company Quarter-Master-Sergeant J. MEADOWS +Sergeant J.E. SMITH +Sergeant T. BALL, M.M. +Corporal R.L. ROBERTS +Lance-Corporal E. MOSS +Private W.J. HANNA +Private A. BOWYER + + + +PRINTED BY THE NORTHERN PUBLISHING CO. LTD., + +17 GOREE PIAZZAS, AND 11 BRUNSWICK STREET: LIVERPOOL. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Story of the "9th King's" in France +by Enos Herbert Glynne Roberts + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF THE "9TH *** + +***** This file should be named 16974-8.txt or 16974-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/9/7/16974/ + +Produced by Irma Spehar, Christine D and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Story of the "9th King's" in France + +Author: Enos Herbert Glynne Roberts + +Release Date: October 31, 2005 [EBook #16974] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF THE "9TH *** + + + + +Produced by Irma Spehar, Christine D and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net. (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<p class='bbox'>Transcriber's note: Punctuation normalised, spelling normalised.</p> + + +<h1>The Story of the "9th King's" +in France.</h1> + +<h3>BY</h3> +<h2>ENOS HERBERT GLYNNE ROBERTS.</h2> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 244px;"><a href="images/cover.jpg"> +<img src="images/cover_th.jpg" width="244" height="399" alt="Cover" title="Cover" /></a> +</div> + +<p class='center'>LIVERPOOL:<br /> +<span class="smcap">The Northern Publishing Co. Ltd., 17 Goree Piazzas,<br /> +and 11. Brunswick Street.</span><br /><br /> +1922.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS.</h2> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'>CHAPTER I.</td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_I">ENGLAND.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>CHAPTER II.</td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_II">THE 1ST DIVISION.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>CHAPTER III.</td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_III">THE 55TH DIVISION.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>CHAPTER IV.</td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">THE 57TH DIVISION.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>APPENDIX</td><td align='left'><a href="#APPENDIX">LIST OF DECORATIONS.</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p class='pagenum'>[Pg 7]<a name="Page_7" id="Page_7"></a></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">England.</span></h3> + + +<p>Shortly after the commencement of the +Volunteer Movement in 1859, many members +of the newspaper and printing trades in +Liverpool were desirous of forming a regiment +composed of men connected with those businesses. +A meeting was held in the Liverpool Town Hall, +and the scheme was so well received that steps +were taken towards the formation of a corps. +Sanction was obtained, and on the 21st February, +1861, the officers and men of the new unit took +the oath of allegiance at St. George's Hall. Thus +came into being the 80th Lancashire Rifle Volunteers, +and on the 2nd April, 1863, the 73rd +Battalion of the Lancashire Rifle Volunteers was +amalgamated with it. In the early days of its +existence the new unit attended reviews and +inspections at Mount Vernon, Newton-le-Willows +and Aintree. Some time afterwards it was +renumbered the 19th Lancashire Rifle Volunteers. +Later—in 1888—it became the 6th Volunteer +Battalion of The King's (Liverpool Regiment).</p> + +<p>The early parades of the Regiment took place +at Rose Hill Police Station, and the Corn Exchange, +Brunswick Street, until Headquarters +were established at 16, Soho Street.</p> + +<p>To those who took part in these parades great +credit and thanks are due. Through their efforts +an organised battalion came into being, men were +trained for the bearing of arms and the defence of +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 8]<a name="Page_8" id="Page_8"></a></span>their country should the occasion ever arise, and +the soldierly spirit was inculcated in many who +followed a civilian occupation. Those who survived +until the Great War, though not privileged +to lead on the battlefield, had at any rate the +satisfaction of realising that their work was not in +vain. Directly attributable to the efforts of the +early volunteers is the fact that in 1915 the +Territorial Force was ready for the reinforcement +of the Regular Army in the Western Theatre of +the War, and this afforded the New Armies which +Lord Kitchener had formed ample time for the +completion of their training.</p> + +<p>In 1884 the Headquarters in Soho Street were +changed for more commodious and better equipped +premises at 59, Everton Road, where the +Battalion remained domiciled until 1914. During +the South African War the Battalion sent out a +company, and the experience the men gained there +proved very useful at the annual camps. Several +of the men who went to South Africa were +privileged to serve in the next war. On the +formation of the Territorial Force the Battalion +was once again renumbered and henceforth it was +known as the 9th Battalion of The King's (Liverpool +Regiment) Territorial Force.</p> + +<p>The recruiting area of the Battalion embraced +the Everton district of Liverpool, a locality inhabited +chiefly by members of the tradesmen and +artisan classes, which furnished the Regiment with +the bulk of its recruits. There was a detachment +located in the country at Ormskirk, from which +the Battalion drew some of its finest fighting +material. Agriculturalists make good soldiers, +and this was evidenced on many occasions later by +the behaviour and ability of the men from this +town. In the ranks there was a sprinkling of +sailors and miners, whose several callings equipped +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 9]<a name="Page_9" id="Page_9"></a></span> +them with knowledge which proved useful in their +new profession. The officers for the most part +were drawn from the professional class and business +houses of the city.</p> + +<p>There came on the 4th August, 1914, a telegram +to Headquarters containing only the one +word "Mobilize." On that day Great Britain +declared war on Germany. Notices were sent +out ordering the men to report, and at 2-0 p.m. +on the 6th there was only one man unaccounted +for. The mobilization was satisfactory.</p> + +<p>Difficulties immediately presented themselves, +for the men had to be housed and fed. The first +night the men spent in the Hippodrome Theatre, +where the artists gave them a special performance +in addition to the public performances. Afterwards +sleeping accommodation was found in the +Liverpool College. Through the kindness of the +committee of the Newsboys' Home in Everton +Road arrangements were made to feed the men. +There were too many for them to be fed all at +once, so that meals had to be taken in relays. At +Headquarters there was a certain amount of +congestion, for equipment, picks, shovels and other +mobilization stores took up a considerable amount +of room. Besides this there were collected at +Headquarters civilian milk floats, lorries, spring +carts and other vehicles which had been pressed +into service as regimental transport. Horses with +patched civilian harness gave the transport the +appearance of a "haywire outfit." After the +officers had gone to the trouble of collecting this +transport it was taken away by the Higher Command +and given to another unit. The same fate +befell the second set of horses and waggons. +The third was retained.</p> + +<p>According to orders the Battalion entrained +under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Luther +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 10]<a name="Page_10" id="Page_10"></a></span>Watts, V.D., on the 13th August, at Lime +Street Station, Liverpool. It was not known +at the time whither the Battalion was bound. +In the afternoon Edinburgh was reached, where +there was considerable bustle on account of the +departure of some regular regiments for the front. +Crossing the Firth of Forth, the men saw with +what activities the Naval Authorities were preparing +for the reception of further warships. +Dunfermline proved to be the destination of +the Regiment, and on arrival supper was provided +by some ladies of the town. The men were +accommodated first in tents at Transy, and afterwards +in billets in the Carnegie Institute, St. +Leonard's and the Technical Schools and the +Workhouse. The inhabitants of Dunfermline and +district were extremely kind to all members of the +Battalion, and almost every man had an invitation +to visit newly formed friends nightly.</p> + +<p>There were at this time not enough blankets in +the possession of the authorities, so that an +appeal was made which brought forth an ample +supply of civilian blankets. Colonel Hall Walker, +T.D., the Honorary Colonel, gave the Battalion +£500 when it was at Dunfermline, which was expended +on extra clothing and other comforts for the +men. It was a very generous sum and proved of +great value.</p> + +<p>The usual training took place, and considering +the circumstances a high standard of efficiency was +attained. In October the Regiment proceeded +by train to Tunbridge Wells, where it remained +until it proceeded overseas.</p> + +<p>The training here consisted of an early morning +run followed later by a Battalion route march or +field practice. Judged from later standards the +training was not as intensive as it might have been +owing chiefly to the facts that, unfortunately, no +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 11]<a name="Page_11" id="Page_11"></a></span> +parade ground was available, and little, if any, +assistance was afforded by higher formations. +An occasional night alarm also ordered by higher +authorities discomforted everyone and did little +good. Recruits were sent to Sandwich for +musketry, and the Battalion assisted in digging +trenches, machine gun emplacements and other +defensive works on the inland side of the canal, +originally constructed by French prisoners during +the Napoleonic Wars, and which skirted Romney +Marsh. Half the Battalion—that is four companies—was +sent to assist with the London Defences +near Ashford, where the men learnt to construct +what the Royal Engineers were pleased to +call "Low Command Redoubts," and which were +badly sited on forward slopes. The experience +gained, however, proved very useful afterwards +in France.</p> + +<p>Parades at Tunbridge Wells finished early in +the afternoon which afforded ample time for +recreation. The townspeople were very hospitable +and extended cordial invitations to the men, +who availed themselves freely of them. At +Christmas time the men fared sumptuously through +the generosity and kindness of their hosts.</p> + +<p>In January a company was sent to guard cables +and vulnerable points at Birling Gap, Cuckmere +Haven and Dungeness. Several other similar +duties afforded diversions from the usual training +programme.</p> + +<p>While at Tunbridge Wells the greatest keenness +was displayed by all. Officers were jealous of +anyone who was lucky enough to be sent on a +course of instruction. There were voluntary +classes for the study of tactics at which the younger +officers sedulously studied the principles of out-posts, +advance guards, rear guards and so on. +Everyone wanted to know more of his new profession. +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 12]<a name="Page_12" id="Page_12"></a></span> +The thirst for knowledge was not adequately +quenched as there were unfortunately, +too few courses and too few instructors available.</p> + +<p>Such an ardour possessed the men for the fight +that in some it reached the pitch of fear lest they +should arrive too late upon the battlefield and +receive only a barless medal. Some actually +wished to transfer to another unit so as to ensure +getting out at once. When at last the anxiously +awaited order came that the Battalion was to go +"over there" one officer was overcome with +exultation. His intense joy at being allowed to +serve his King and country on fields more stricken +than parade grounds was clearly marked. After +many months of distinguished service in the +field, he now rests peacefully at Montauban.</p> + +<p>The few days immediately preceding the +exodus of the Regiment were days of great +activity and preparation. The affairs of the +Battalion had to be completely wound up. The +mysterious pay and mess books were completed +and company cash accounts closed. New equipment +was given out to officers and men, as well as +wirecutters, revolvers and other necessities of +active service. Field dressings were handed out—dark +omens of what was now to be anticipated. +The transport section received its full complement +of waggons and limbers, together with its full +number of mules, which proved to be equal to +any which proceeded to France.</p> + +<p>Under the impression that active service meant +the end of the comforts of civilisation, officers +provided themselves with supplies of patent +medicine, bought small first-aid outfits and +elaborate pannikins containing numerous small +receptacles, which did not prove useful and were +ultimately lost. Spare kit including Sam Browne +belts was packed and consigned to the Depot. +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 13]<a name="Page_13" id="Page_13"></a></span> +In anticipation of an early death many of the +officers and men made their wills. This was +encouraged by a rumour that the War Office had +ordered a further 76,000 hospital beds to be +prepared.</p> + +<p>At the end of December, 1914, Lieut.-Colonel +Luther Watts, V.D. took over the command of +the Reserve Battalion at Blackpool, which had +been formed late in 1914, and Lieut.-Colonel J.E. +Lloyd, V.D., was gazetted to the foreign service +Battalion.</p> + +<p>Mention should here be made of the fact that +shortly before leaving England the old eight +company organisation was abandoned, and the new +four company organisation adopted, and each new +company was divided into four platoons. The +change was exceedingly beneficial, as it would +have been difficult in the field for a battalion +commander to give orders to eight company +commanders. More responsibility was thrown on +the company commanders, who were at the time +senior enough to assume it, and for the first time +the subaltern was given a command. For the +future he had his platoon which carried much +greater responsibility than that previously +attached to a half company. It was a fighting +unit, and a separate body in which was reflected +the work of a good commander.</p> + +<p>The 12th March, 1915, was the day destined for +the departure from Tunbridge Wells. One by +one the companies, headed by a band kindly +lent by one of the other units quartered in the +town, marched through the streets for the last +time. The greatest excitement prevailed when +"D" Company, which was the last, passed +through the streets just as the shops were opening. +Farewells were waved, the troops were cheered, +and for many this was their last look at the town +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 14]<a name="Page_14" id="Page_14"></a></span> +which had afforded them every hospitality for +the past few months.</p> + +<p>Arrived at the station, the men entrained for +an unknown destination, and there was some speculation +as to which seaport it would be. It proved +to be Southampton, from whence the men embarked +later in the day for France. The excitement +had to some extent worn off in the cool of +the evening, and as the men had their last glimpse +of England by means of the beam of the search-light, +many thought of the happy homes they +were leaving behind to which they would +perhaps never return. The journey to France +was uneventful, which circumstance was due +largely to the protection afforded by the torpedo-boat +destroyers and other units of the Navy.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p class='pagenum'>[Pg 15]<a name="Page_15" id="Page_15"></a></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The 1st Division.</span></h3> + + +<p>Next morning the Battalion disembarked at +Le Havre and marched to a camp at Sanvic. It +was not to remain here long, and on the 14th +the Battalion entrained to join the First Army. +The train journey was long, and the men experienced +for the first time the inconveniences +of travelling in French troop trains, being crowded +fifty-six at a time into trucks labelled "Hommes 48: +Chevaux en long 8." Chocques was reached on +the 15th and the men marched therefrom to +billets in a village close by called Oblinghem. +The Battalion was soon incorporated in the 2nd +Infantry Brigade of the 1st Division, a mixed +brigade consisting of four Regular battalions reinforced +by two Territorial battalions. A few days +were spent in Divisional Reserve at Oblinghem +during which time all the officers and several non-commissioned +officers were sent to the trenches +at Festubert or Richebourg for instruction by the +Regular battalions which were holding the line.</p> + +<p>At Oblinghem the men learnt for the first time +what French billets were like and experienced the +insanitary conditions prevailing on the small +farms and the draughty and dirty barns. Looking +around the countryside all seemed quiet and +peaceful. The ploughman ploughed the fields, +others sowed and the miners went to their daily +tasks as usual. At times it was difficult to +realise that the firing line was within a few miles, +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 16]<a name="Page_16" id="Page_16"></a></span> +but the boom of the distant guns and the laden +Red Cross motors indicated the proximity of the +fighting. A lot of old ideas as to the rigours of a +campaign were lost, and warfare in some respects +was found not to be so bad as had been expected. +Wine and beer at any rate were plentiful, though +the potency of the beer was not quite sufficient +for the taste of the older men. Other regiments, +lent officers to give a helping hand in organisation +and training. Company messes for officers were +formed, as anything in the nature of a battalion +mess was impracticable.</p> + +<p>The men soon learnt that the estaminets were +the equivalent in France of the public houses at +home, and thither they repaired in the evening to +spend their time. Many good young men who +had never taken a drop of the more invigorating +liquors learnt that soldiers drank them, and the +cause of teetotalism began to wane.</p> + +<p>On the 24th a move was made to Les Facons, +a straggling village outside Bethune. Here on +quiet nights one could easily hear the fusillade in +the trenches while the distant gun flashes lit up +the night sky. The terrors of the trenches were +coming nearer.</p> + +<p>Early in April the various companies were +attached each in turn to another battalion in the +Brigade, and went into the line for instruction in +trench duty at Port Arthur by Neuve Chapelle, +and it was here that the first casualties were sustained. +It is claimed that the first shot fired by +the Battalion killed an enemy sniper. The men +soon learnt the duties that fell upon them as a +consequence of trench warfare: the early morning +stand-to, the constant vigil of the neutral ground +between the lines, and the imperative necessity of +keeping one's head low. Hitherto the men knew +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 17]<a name="Page_17" id="Page_17"></a></span> +little of the nature or use of guns, but now +glimmerings of the mystery surrounding artillery +fire soon dawned. The men learnt the natures of +German shell, and the difference between shrapnel +and high explosives and what targets the enemy +generally selected. Facts like these were explained +to them by the "real soldiers" of the +Regular units to which they were attached. On +relief the Battalion marched back to Oblinghem +once more, where it stayed a week or two, and +later in the month took over a portion of the +line at Richebourg St. Vaast where it was subjected +to a very heavy artillery bombardment on the +1st May.</p> + +<p>The military training of the men can be said +to have been complete as regards pre-war standard, +but the war had introduced the use of two new +instruments of death. One was gas, the other the +bomb. A primitive form of respirator was given +out in consequence of the use by the Germans of +chlorine at the Second Battle of Ypres. Instruction +was given in the use of bombs, of which +the men had hitherto no knowledge. In those +days the bomb first in use was the jam-tin bomb. +The men were taught how to cut fuses, fix them +into the detonator, attach the lighter and wire the +whole together preparatory for use against the +enemy. Jam-tin bombs were soon discarded for +the Bethune bomb, and there was no regular +bomb until much later, when the use of the Mills +bomb became universal. The Hairbrush and +Hales bombs were also studied in addition to the +Bethune. A few also received some instruction +in a rather primitive form of trench mortar.</p> + +<p>In April, Lieut.-Colonel Lloyd, V.D., was invalided +home, and in his stead Major T.J. Bolland +took over the command of the Battalion.</p> + +<p class='pagenum'>[Pg 18]<a name="Page_18" id="Page_18"></a></p> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Battle of Aubers Ridge</span></h3> + +<p>The disastrous enterprise of the 9th May was +the first major action of the war in which the +"Ninth" took part. Shattered at its inception, +the whole attack soon came to an end. The lack +of high explosive shells and the consequent failure +of the British artillery to destroy the enemy wire +entanglements were probably the main causes of the +holocaust that took place on that day. Though +one of the biggest disasters the British arms sustained +throughout the war, it was scarcely noted +in the newspapers, and would seem to a casual +observer quite insignificant compared with the +sinking of the "Lusitania," which had taken place +some days before, although in the battle it is +believed that the 2nd Infantry Brigade lost a bigger +proportion of men than had ever been previously +known in warfare.</p> + +<p>On the 8th May, the Battalion took up its +battle position in rear of the Rue du Bois at +Richebourg l'Avoué, and there awaited the attack +on the morrow. The detail that obtained in +battle orders of later dates was wanting, in view +of the fact that greater responsibility was in +the early days placed upon Commanding Officers. +The Battalion was to support the attack as the +third wave. The flanks were given and in the +event of an advance the Battalion was to keep +Chocolat Menier Corner on its immediate right. +The fight commenced with an ordinary bombardment +of forty minutes chiefly by field pieces, +which according to the text book are primarily +intended not for bombardment but for use +against personnel. A battery of heavy howitzers +was also in action. The ordinary bombardment +was followed by an intense bombardment of ten +minutes.</p> + +<p class='pagenum'>[Pg 19]<a name="Page_19" id="Page_19"></a></p> + +<p>At 5-30 a.m. the Battalion advanced to the +third line of trenches immediately in rear of the +Rue du Bois, and several losses attributable to +machine guns and shells were sustained. At 6-0 +a.m. the Battalion was continuing the advance to +the support line when the 2nd King's Royal Rifles +asked for immediate support in the attack. The +Battalion therefore passed over the support line +and quickly reached the front line. The advent +of a fresh unit made confusion the worse confounded. +The trenches which afforded little +shelter were filled with men, and the enemy was +using his artillery freely. Machine guns in profusion +were disgorging their several streams of +bullets. Communication trenches had been +blotted out. Despite the lessons of Neuve Chapelle +there was no effective liaison between artillery and +infantry as the telephone wires were soon cut, +and as a consequence the inferno was intensified +by the short firing of the British artillery, a +battery of 6-inch howitzers being the chief +offender.</p> + +<p>Numerous casualties had been suffered, and +among them was the Commanding Officer, who +was killed. The command then passed to Major +J.W.B. Hunt, who decided that it was useless to +attempt to assault the enemy position without +further artillery preparation, as the enemy's +barbed wire was practically intact, and the only +two gaps that were available were covered by +enemy machine guns. A report on the situation +was made to Brigadier-General Thesiger, and +instructions were received that on no account +was the Battalion to leave the front line, and it +was to hold the same against a possible and +probable counter attack by the enemy.</p> + +<p>At 10-0 a.m. the Battalion was ordered to +prepare to take part in a second attack to be +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 20]<a name="Page_20" id="Page_20"></a></span> +launched at 11-15 a.m. Half an hour later a +further order postponed the second attack until +12-30 p.m. Thousands had failed to take the +objectives in the early morning, and it was +unlikely that hundreds would succeed in the afternoon. +This attack was ultimately cancelled, and +at 4-0 p.m. the Battalion was withdrawn. A +further attack was delivered in vain at 4-30 p.m. +by other regiments in the Division. Though the +Battalion unfortunately accomplished little, it +sustained almost a hundred casualties, but it was +fortunate in that it escaped the same fate as befell +four of the Battalions in the Brigade which were +almost annihilated. The battle from almost +every point of view was a dismal failure, and the +rate of casualties was perhaps the highest then +recorded. It was during the 4-30 p.m. attack +that the men were privileged to witness one of +the most magnificent episodes of the war, which +was the advance made by the 1st Battalion Black +Watch and the 1st Battalion Cameron Highlanders. +This was carried out with parade-like +precision in face of a most withering rifle and +machine-gun fire, out of which scarcely half a +dozen of those brave fellows returned.</p> + +<p>Relieved in the evening, the "Ninth" marched +to Essars and the next day to billets at Bethune, +and it was not until the 20th day of the month +that the Battalion was again in line, this time +at Cambrin. It had now come under the command +of Major F.W. Ramsay, a regular officer +from the Middlesex Regiment. The remainder +of the month of May and the month of June +were spent at Cambrin and Cuinchy, this latter +place being renowned even in those days for +its minenwerfer activity. The Cambrin +sector had good deep trenches made by the +French pioneers, which were strong, well timbered +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 21]<a name="Page_21" id="Page_21"></a></span> +and comfortable. This was the first +occasion the Battalion occupied trenches as distinguished +from breast-works. Hitherto the +nature of the ground had made trenches impossible. +The trenches at Cuinchy were in front +of a row of brickstacks, and in consequence of +the water-logged nature of a portion of the front +were only dug three feet down, and a sand-bag +parapet was built; the trenches were not duckboarded, +and were in consequence wet. Around +each brickstack was built a keep, and this was +garrisoned by a platoon in each case. Every +time an enemy projectile hit a brickstack large +quantities of broken bricks were scattered as +splinters which multiplied the killing effect of +the shell. In this sector there was considerable +mining activity. The mine shafts, of which there +were about three per company frontage, were +each manned by two men who acted as listeners. +As the front lines were only about twenty-five +yards apart there was a considerable exchange +of grenades.</p> + +<p>No cooking was allowed in the trenches, as the +smoke which would have been occasioned by +cooking would only have encouraged enemy fire. +Therefore ration and hot food parties had to go +four times a day along a communication trench +called Boyau Maison Rouge, one and a half miles +long, and which was not duckboarded. After +heavy rain it became very muddy, and the men +cut down their trousers which led to the adoption +of shorts throughout. Hosetops were improvised +by cutting the feet off socks and later they were +bought. The colour ranged at first from light +heliotrope to flatman's blue, but later was +standardized as salmon pink. The expense of +providing these hosetops was a heavy drain on +any available funds, but fortunately friends of +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 22]<a name="Page_22" id="Page_22"></a></span> +the Battalion came to the rescue.</p> + +<p>On relief from the Cambrin trenches on the 7th +July the Battalion spent a little over a fortnight +in Brigade and Divisional Reserves at Sailly +Labourse and the Faubourg d'Arras in Bethune +respectively. On the 25th it was in line at +Vermelles. This sector was quiet except in that +portion which was opposite the Hohenzollern +Redoubt, from which huge aerial torpedoes were +fired.</p> + +<p>August was spent doing tours of duty in +Annequin and Vermelles. During the last tour +in Vermelles the whole Battalion assembled every +night in no man's land and successfully dug +under fire jumping-off trenches for the forthcoming +operations, the casualties being comparatively +few, owing to the speed with which +the men dug.</p> + +<p>During the first three weeks in September, +the Battalion was out of the line and spent most +of the time at Burbure, a quiet little village outside +Lillers, where the men enjoyed a period of peace +well removed from the battle zone. The training +was devoted almost entirely to the practice of the +attack preparatory to the impending fight.</p> + +<p>During the summer a horse show took place +in the First Division, and the "Ninth" secured +all the prizes for mules, the first prize for a field +kitchen and two jumping prizes, thus obtaining +the second place in the Division for the total number +of marks gained. This was a signal honour +for a Territorial unit, and perhaps came as a surprise +to some of the Regular soldiers, who thought +that they were "the people." This demonstrated +the fact that though the Battalion had +but a few months' experience of active service, it +had soon accustomed itself to the rigours of warfare, +and that the transport section at any rate +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 23]<a name="Page_23" id="Page_23"></a></span> +had attained a high pitch of efficiency. The horse +shows which were held from time to time as +occasion permitted provided diversions and did +much to maintain a high standard of efficiency in +the first line transport.</p> + +<p>Improvements had been effected in the +organisation of the Regiment since its advent to +France. Clothing and food became more plentiful +and the latter was better cooked. Efforts +were made to improve the comfort of the men in +billets. Proper sanitation was rigorously +observed. Officers were encouraged to display the +greatest solicitude for the welfare of the men, +and the cumulative effect of these measures +resulted in improved morale.</p> + + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Battle of Loos.</span></h3> + +<p>For three weeks in September the Battalion +practised the attack in Burbure, which it left on +the 20th. Before leaving Burbure an amusing +incident took place. The Battalion had paraded +and was ready to move off. Suddenly two young +women who were watching dashed into the ranks, +embraced two of the men, kissed them with +resounding smacks, and then disappeared in the +gloom. The consternation of the two men caused +great amusement to all. The "Ninth" +moved up by stages, marching via Lapugnoy +and Verquin, to its battle position in trenches +by Le Rutoire Farm, which it reached on the +24th. The Battalion and the London Scottish +formed a body called "Green's Force," to which +was given as a first objective the German front +line trenches in the vicinity of Lone Tree, as this +objective was left uncovered by the diverging +advance of the 1st Brigade on the right and the +2nd Brigade on the left.</p> +<p class='pagenum'>[Pg 24]<a name="Page_24" id="Page_24"></a></p> + +<p>In the grey light of the morning on the 25th +September the British guns opened with a furious +fire after many days of artillery preparation. The +great battle had begun. For some time, and +according to orders, the Battalion remained in +its position. It was not to advance before 8-0 +a.m. At this time the men left the assembly +trench to move over the open to the front line. +The enemy machine gunners had the range, and +several were wounded almost on leaving the trench. +The advance was made by sectional rushes, each +section seeking what cover there was. Those who +were wounded while actually advancing in many +cases received slight wounds, but those that were +hit while lying down were generally killed, as the +bullets struck them in the head or traversed the +vital organs for the length of the body. It required +a courageous heart to advance seeing one's +comrades thus desperately wounded or lying dead. +The shell fire was not heavy, and few casualties +were attributable to it. Lieutenant-Colonel +Ramsay led the attack in person, and he was +easily recognisable by the wand which he carried. +One of the Battalion machine guns was pushed +forward about 2-0 p.m. and under the covering +fire it afforded the advance was continued. The +advance had been slow and losses were severe, +but at 3-30 p.m. the men had succeeded in establishing +themselves in one line about a hundred +yards from the German trenches. A few minutes +afterwards the Germans surrendered, and between +three and four hundred prisoners were +taken. They chiefly belonged to the 59th +and 157th Infantry Regiments. A harvest of +souvenirs was reaped by the men, many of whom +secured the then coveted Pickelhaube helmet. +The prisoners were sent to the rear, and the +Battalion continued the advance and ultimately +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 25]<a name="Page_25" id="Page_25"></a></span> +established a line on the Lens-Hulluch Road. +It is to be observed that the Battalion was the +only one that got its field kitchens up to the village +of Loos on the first day of the battle. At 4-0 +a.m. next morning the Battalion was withdrawn +to the old British line. Later in the day it moved +forward to the old German trench system as reserve +in the continued operations, sustaining +several gas and shell casualties. On the 28th +September the Battalion moved back to Mazingarbe, +as the men thought, for a rest. They were +soon disappointed. At 7 p.m. on the same +day orders were received to take up a position at +the Slag Heap or Fosse at Loos, known as London +Bridge. At 9-0 p.m. the Battalion left its billets +in a deluge of rain and marched back to the line +in splendid spirits in spite of the fatigue resulting +from the recent fighting. It was relieved from +the trenches on the 30th September, and after one +night spent in the ruined houses of Loos went to +Noeux-les-Mines for a few days to re-organise and +re-equip.</p> + +<p>On the 7th October the Battalion returned to +the front line which was alongside the Lens-Hulluch +Road to the north of Loos. The trench +had evidently once been the ditch on the side of +the road. It was very shallow, and it was decided +to deepen it the next night as the men were too +tired after their long march. This was a good +resolution, but it was not carried out. The +enemy commenced next morning about half-past +ten with heavy shell fire. In the afternoon it +became intense and an attack seemed imminent. +There was no shelter in the shallow trench, as +there had not been sufficient time to make any +dugouts. The men could do nothing but wait. +Minutes seemed hours. The shelling appeared +endless. So terrific was the enemy fire that it +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 26]<a name="Page_26" id="Page_26"></a></span> +was doubted by the artillery observers in rear +whether any of the front line garrison was left +alive. All who might be lucky enough to escape +physical destruction would at any rate be +morally broken. The Germans who had concentrated +in the Bois Hugo attacked about +4-30 p.m. They were repulsed by rifle and machine +gun fire, and it is gratifying to know that two of +the Battalion machine guns caught the enemy +in enfilade and executed great havoc. So exhausted +were the men that the Battalion was +relieved that night and taken to the neighbourhood +of Le Rutoire Farm.</p> + +<p>Acquitting themselves with a noble fortitude, +the stretcher bearers—whose task was, perhaps, +the worst of all—remained and toiled all night +in evacuating the trenches of the wounded. To +stretcher bearers fall the most trying duties in +war, but in accounts of battles little mention is +made of their efforts. While the fight is on +they share all the dangers of the private soldier, +and often they have to remain when the others are +relieved to finish their duty. The terrible sights +of open wounds, bodies that have been minced by +shell splinters, torn off limbs, dying men uttering +their last requests, are enough to unnerve the +bravest men. The stretcher bearers nevertheless +continue with their task, well knowing what fate +may soon befall them.</p> + +<p>For the second time in a fortnight the 9th +King's had been called upon to play an important +part, and worthily had the men acquitted themselves +on each occasion.</p> + +<p>The following letters were received by the +Battalion and show the value of the good work +done:—</p> + +<p class='pagenum'>[Pg 27]<a name="Page_27" id="Page_27"></a></p> +<div class="blockquot"><p>To G.O.C., IV. Corps.</p> + +<p>This was a fine performance and reflects +the greatest credit on all ranks.</p> + +<p>I particularly admire the splendid tenacity +displayed by our infantry in holding on to their +trenches during so many long hours of heavy +shell fire, and the skill with which they so +gloriously repulsed with bomb and rifle the +enemy's most determined onslaught.</p> + +<p>Our gunners, too, must be complimented +on their timely and accurate shooting. And +lastly the Commanders, from General Davies +downward, deserve praise for the successful +combination of the two arms, for the handling +of their units, and for the well-judged advance +of the supports to the aid of those in the +fire trenches.</p> + +<p>I am very glad to hear of the great deeds of +the 9th Battalion Liverpool Regiment on the 8th +October. They have proved themselves most +worthy comrades of the 1st Liverpools who +started with me from Aldershot and have +consistently fought like heroes all through the +campaign.</p> + +<p>Please convey my very hearty congratulation +to all concerned and to the 1st Division, +in which I am proud to see the determined +fighting spirit is as strong as ever, in spite of +heavy losses.</p> + +<p class='right'>D. HAIG,<br /> +General,<br /> +Commanding 1st Army.<br /> +10th October, 1915.</p> +</div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>To 1st Division.</p> + +<p>In forwarding Sir Douglas Haig's remarks, +I desire to endorse every word he says, and to +congratulate the Division on the well deserved +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 28]<a name="Page_28" id="Page_28"></a></span> +praise it has received from the Army Commander. +I hope before long to see them personally +and to speak to them on parade.</p> + +<p class='right'> +H.S. RAWLINSON,<br /> +Lieut.-General,<br /> +Commanding IV. Corps.<br /> +11th October, 1915.</p> +</div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p> +1st Div. No. 604/2 (G).<br /> +To 2nd Infantry Brigade.<br /> +</p> + +<p>The General Officer Commanding wishes to +place on record his appreciation of the steady +defence made by the 2nd Infantry Brigade +against the German attack yesterday afternoon. +He especially wishes to commend the +soldierly qualities and discipline displayed by +the 9th Liverpool Regiment and the 1st +Gloucesters, which enabled them to endure the +heavy shelling to which our front trenches were +subjected, and there to meet and repulse with +great loss the German infantry attack.</p> + +<p>The result of yesterday's attack again +proves how powerless the enemy's artillery is +against good infantry, properly entrenched and +the superiority of our own infantry over that +of the enemy at close quarters.</p> + +<p>The General Officer Commanding wishes +to record his appreciation of the good work done +by the artillery in support of the infantry.</p> + +<p class='right'> +H. LONGRIDGE,<br /> +Lieut.-Colonel,<br /> +General Staff, 1st Division.<br /> +9th October, 1915. +</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The above remarks were communicated to the +men, and they were all very proud of the achievement +of their unit and that it had so highly distinguished +itself in the defence of their country. +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 29]<a name="Page_29" id="Page_29"></a></span> +For a few days the Battalion remained in support, +sending forth working parties each night for the +battle that was still continuing.</p> + +<p>On the 13th October the 1st Division attacked +the village of Hulluch. An intense barrage was +directed against the enemy trenches in the early +part of the afternoon, and after a discharge of +cloud gas an attempt was made in vain to reach +the enemy trenches. The 9th was held in close +support, ready to exploit any success that was +gained, but, unfortunately, the attack was a +total failure. The Battalion came in for some +very heavy retaliatory shell fire.</p> + +<p>On the 14th October the Battalion was taken +out of the line and marched to Noeux-les-Mines, +where it entrained for Lillers. Here the men +were accommodated in houses in the centre of the +town in the vicinity of the Church and the Rue +Fanien. The billets were good, the parades not +severe, and several of the officers who were well +quartered felt to some extent the comforts of a +home. The training area was near Burbure, +where the Battalion had trained for the battle. +Many faces were missing that had been present +at the jovial little gatherings that had taken +place before the battle, and the survivors wondered +at times who would be wanting at the +next divisional rest.</p> + +<p>As the parades were not onerous, there was +plenty of time for recreation. Concerts were +arranged in the local concert hall at which the +latent talent of the Battalion came into evidence. +Leave opened, and the prospect of a trip to England +was cheering to those who expected one. +The rest at Lillers was pleasantly spent and it +was a long time before the men enjoyed a similar +holiday.</p> + +<p>On the 15th November the Battalion paraded +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 30]<a name="Page_30" id="Page_30"></a></span> +on the Church Square and then marched to +Houchin, a particularly dirty little village, where +a week was spent. From there it went to Brigade +Reserve in the mining village of Philosophe, in +which, though very close to the line, a few civilians +still remained. Butter, milk and other articles of +food could be obtained from the French shop-keepers, +and English newspapers could be bought +in the streets the day after publication. It was +a fairly quiet place, though one's hours were +punctuated by the intermittent firing of a battery +of 4·7 guns in the colliery in rear, which fired over +the billets.</p> + +<p>One of the Regular battalions of the 3rd +Infantry Brigade was too weak in numbers to do +trench duty, and the 9th had the honour of replacing +it, and on the 26th November the +Battalion found itself once more in the front line +and in exactly the same position as the one in +which it had so signally distinguished itself on the +8th October.</p> + +<p>Snow was lying on the ground and it was freezing +hard. Henceforth the men were to know the +hardships of a winter campaign. There were no +deep dugouts and there were not sufficient +shelters for the men to sleep in. During the course +of the winter, exposure alone killed some. Ever +since the battle the Loos sector had been very +active, especially on Sundays, and the trenches +and alleys which led up to them were in a very +wet condition. The numbers lost in the recent +fighting had not been made up, and "C" Company, +the weakest, had a trench strength all told +of only 67 officers and men.</p> + +<p>The relief from the front line on the night of +the 29th November was particularly severe. +Following the frost came rain on that particular +day, and the relief was carried out on a very black +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 31]<a name="Page_31" id="Page_31"></a></span> +night in a steady downpour, and everyone was +quickly wet through. The trenches filled with +water and the men had first to wade through deep +sludge and then over rain-sodden ground ankle-deep +in mud. The men's clothes became caked +with the mud from the sides of the trench, which +increased the weight to be carried.</p> + +<p>During the tours of duty in this sector the +paucity of the numbers and the length of the +communication trenches made the difficulties of +food supply very great. Behind the front line in +the Loos sector was a devastated region extending +backwards for over two miles. There seemed +a big gap between the front line and any form +of civilisation. Usable roads were wanting, so +that the transport could not approach near to the +Battalion. Consequently each company had to +detail its own ration party of twenty to twenty-five +men, and these would assemble just after dusk +and wander along Posen or Hay Alley back to +the vicinity of Lone Tree, and there pick up the +rations and water from the transport wagons. +The communication trenches contained a lot of +water and caused great hardship to those men +who were not fortunate enough to possess gum +boots. These ration fatigues lasted from three +to five hours, after which the men had to continue +their trench duties. Each man cooked his +rations as best he could, in his own mess tin; this +meant that he did not get a hot meal which was +so badly needed in the intensely cold weather.</p> + +<p>In this sector there was a great shortage of +water. Washing and shaving were impossible, +and at times there was not enough to drink. On +one occasion a man was known to have scraped +the hoar frost off the sandbags to assuage his +thirst, and some drank the dirty water that was +to be found in shell craters.</p> + +<p class='pagenum'>[Pg 32]<a name="Page_32" id="Page_32"></a></p> +<p>At this time there was a great danger of a gas +attack, and it was customary to have a bugler on +duty in the front line to sound the alarm when +gas was seen coming over—a scheme which was +scarcely likely to be efficacious, for in a few +moments he would have been gassed himself. +Each man had two anti-gas helmets—one with a +mica window, and the other with glass eyepieces +and a tube through which to breathe out, and which +was known later as a P.H. helmet. There were +Vermorel Sprayers here and there in the trench, +which were entrusted to the care of the sanitary +men. Instruction was given from time to time +in anti-gas precautions, but viewed from a subsequent +standpoint these defensive measures were +not good.</p> + +<p>Steel helmets were in possession of the bombers, +who were then called "Grenadiers," and wore +little red cloth grenades on their arms. These +helmets were called "bombing hats," and regarded +as a nuisance. Each man of the Battalion had a +leather jerkin and a water-proof cape, and the +majority had a pair of long gum boots.</p> + +<p>There was only one Verey light pistol in each +company, and this was carried by the officer on +duty. There was no special S.O.S. signal to the +artillery. Telephonic communication from the +front line existed, and this was freely used. It was +not known at the time that the enemy had evolved +a means whereby he could hear these conversations. +To prevent an illness known as "trench feet" each +man had to grease his feet daily with whale oil, +which was an ordeal on a bitterly cold day in wet, +muddy trenches. With such meticulous care was +this done that the Battalion had not more than +three cases of trench feet during the whole of that +winter—a circumstance which reflects much credit +on the men. The defence scheme at this time was +<!-- Page 33 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 33]<a name="Page_33" id="Page_33"></a></span>to hold the front line in the greatest strength +available, and the supports were rather far away. +The system of echeloned posts had not yet been +developed. Machine guns were kept in the first +trench and on account of the intense cold had +to be dismounted and kept by lighted braziers to +keep the lubricating oil and water in their jackets +from freezing. The entanglement in front was +very poor and consisted only of one fence.</p> + +<p>When not in the line the Battalion rested at +Noeux-les-Mines or Mazingarbe. At this latter +village Christmas Day was spent. Companies were +told to make their own arrangements for providing +the men with a good dinner on this day. +The officers provided the funds and the difficulties +of supply were overcome through the aid of +Monsieur Levacon, the French interpreter +attached to the Battalion. Pigs and extra +vegetables were bought; apples and oranges came +from somewhere. After great exertions a few +barrels of beer came on the scene. Christmas +puddings came from England. The school at +Mazingarbe made an excellent dining room for +two of the companies and through the kindness +of a Royal Engineer company in the village the +officers were able to secure the necessary timber +to improvise tables and chairs. The dinner was a +great success and contributed not a little to the +good feeling which existed between officers and +men.</p> + +<p>The next day the Battalion returned to the +line. Though not known at the time this was to +be the last tour of duty with the 1st Division. +Early in January the truth became known that +the Battalion was to leave the Division, and on +the 7th it proceeded by train to Hocquincourt.</p> + +<p>In the 1st Division it had had the honour +of serving alongside some of the most illustrious +<!-- Page 34 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 34]<a name="Page_34" id="Page_34"></a></span> +regiments of the Regular Army. The +example set by these famous regiments was +readily copied, and in some respects emulated, +and it is not untrue to say that none of +these Regular battalions assumed an air of +superiority, but displayed a sense of admiration +that Territorial soldiers could have so quickly +learnt the profession of war. So good was the +human material in the Battalion that, in the space +of a few months spent on active service, a body of +men picked in a desultory fashion from various +trades and occupations was quickly formed into +an entity which was able to take its place alongside +experienced units of the Army.</p> + +<p>The Regiment had already won its laurels at +the Battle of Loos. Its glorious achievements +were known in Liverpool. It was a Battalion +to which all its members were proud to belong. +The fame of a military body is a bond of unity +which those who have not been soldiers can scarcely +understand. The reputation of one's regiment +is a matter of personal pride. It is a kind of +cement which holds it together at all times. The +old spirit soon permeates the newcomers, the +recruits become imbued with the spirit which +led the veterans to victory, and so it was with +this Battalion.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<!-- Page 35 --><p class='pagenum'>[Pg 35]<a name="Page_35" id="Page_35"></a></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The 55th Division</span>.</h3> + + +<p>The West Lancashire Division was formed in +the Hallencourt area under the command of Major-General +H.S. Jeudwine, and given the number +55. The Battalion entered the 165th Infantry +Brigade in this Division. This brigade which +was commanded by Brigadier-General F.J. +Duncan, was entirely composed of Liverpool +battalions, namely, the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 9th +King's. In the Brigade the officers and men had +the pleasure of meeting friends they had known +at home in Liverpool, comrades with whom they +were destined to serve for the next two years, +principally in Artois and Ypres. Friendly rivalry +soon sprang up between the various battalions +in the Brigade which made for efficiency and put +all on their "mettle." Everyone naturally +believed that his was the battalion par excellence, +not only in the Brigade but in the whole Division.</p> + +<p>The 9th was first billeted in Hocquincourt, a +little French village near Hallencourt. Viewed +from a distance the village looked picturesque, +with the red tiled roofs of the houses contrasted +against the sombre winter sky, but a closer inspection +revealed a different picture. The houses +were rickety, the billets poor, and the conditions +insanitary. So backward were the peasants in +agriculture that they still adhered to the use of +the old-fashioned flails for thrashing corn. The +Battalion moved on the 20th January to +<!-- Page 36 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 36]<a name="Page_36" id="Page_36"></a></span>Mérélessart about two miles away, where better +quarters were found particularly for the Battalion +headquarters, which occupied a somewhat pretentious +chateau replete with all modern conveniences +including baths, which were very unusual in +private houses in the war area.</p> + +<p>Here the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel +Ramsay, D.S.O., left the Battalion on his +promotion to the rank of Brigadier-General. +Before he left he made a speech to the men and +published the following "Farewell Order":—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>On relinquishing command of the Battalion +to take over command of the 48th Infantry +Brigade, the Commanding Officer wishes to +express his regret at leaving the Regiment, +which he has had the honour of commanding +for the last eight months, and his gratitude +for the loyal way in which all ranks have +supported him.</p> + +<p>The Commanding Officer is very sensible +of the fact that the excellent work done by +the Regiment has gained for him his decoration +and promotion.</p></div> + +<p>Later in the war he received promotion and +commanded the 58th (London) Division as Major +General.</p> + +<p>While at Mérélessart the usual training took +place. There was little work done as a complete +unit not much attention being paid to +tactical work. A rifle range was at the disposal +of the Battalion on which the companies were +able to fire a few practices and so keep up their +musketry.</p> + +<p>It is worthy of remark that of the officers +serving with the companies at this time approximately +two-thirds were subsequently killed +during the course of the war, while the survivors +were almost all wounded at some time or other.</p> +<p class='pagenum'>[Pg 37]<a name="Page_37" id="Page_37"></a></p> +<p>Early in February orders came along to the +effect that the Division was to go into line, and +on the 6th February the Battalion left Mérélessart +and marched to Longpré where the night +was spent, and the next day it reached Berteaucourt-les-Dames. +A few days were spent here, +during which Major C.P. James took over the +command of the Battalion, and afterwards it +marched via Doullens to Amplier, and after a +night's rest in some huts there it reached Berles-au-Bois +the next day. En route it passed +through Pas, where there was a steep hill which +presented such difficulties to the transport +section that they remembered it when they +returned in two year's time. At Berles-au-Bois +the men were billeted in the ruined village. This +was the first experience the Battalion had of a +really tranquil front.</p> + +<p>This village lay within a mile of the front +line, and it seemed uncanny to be so near the +enemy and yet to hear so few shots fired. Indeed +it was almost too good to be true. The +unit did not take over the defence of this area, +and orders came soon that on the 15th the +Battalion was to take over a sector on the Wailly +front, where it was to relieve a battalion of the +81ième Régiment Territoriale. Accordingly very +early in the morning of that day the Battalion +marched to Monchiet in sleet and rain under +cover of darkness along roads which in daylight +were exposed to the view of the enemy, and on +arrival the short day was spent in endeavouring +to get dry. Monchiet later became the location +of the transport lines and Quartermaster's store.</p> + + +<h3><span class="smcap">Wailly</span>.</h3> + +<p>Having sent an advance party to General +<!-- Page 38 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 38]<a name="Page_38" id="Page_38"></a></span> +Xardel's headquarters at Beaumetz to effect +liaison, and to meet French guides, the Battalion +paraded towards evening, left Monchiet, picked +up the guides en route and marched to Wailly. +The day had been one of blizzards and the night +of the relief was black and wet. Added to these +circumstances was the difficulty of understanding +the directions of the Frenchmen, the Battalion's +knowledge of their language being not very +extensive. Towards midnight, thoroughly +drenched, hungry and weary after a heavy day, +the men were ultimately put in their proper +stations, some in the village and others in the +trenches.</p> + +<p>From the appearance of the houses Wailly +had been a prosperous farming village lying +within a short distance of Arras. Agricultural +implements of the latest manufacture were in +evidence, and these could only have been bought +by peasants with some capital. This village +was to be the Battalion's home for the next five +months. The Battalion first did a month +alternating in position between the front line +and the village. For some days while in the front +line the Battalion was in touch with the 27ième +Régiment d'Infanterie, which had a sentry post +in its area composed of men from one of the companies +who readily fraternised with the fantassins. +This regiment belonged to a division of the French +Active Army, and in consequence its efficiency +was of a very high order. Nowhere had anyone +seen trenches so well revetted and so neatly +constructed as those occupied by this French +regiment. The trenches stood out in marked +contrast to those actually taken over by the +Battalion, whose former occupants, the French +Territorials, had left them in a very bad condition.</p> +<p class='pagenum'>[Pg 39]<a name="Page_39" id="Page_39"></a></p> +<p>The trenches had not been revetted or duckboarded, +and during the first month of the +Battalion's occupation there was a good deal +of snow, and when this melted the sides of the +trenches commenced to crumble, making them +very muddy at the bottom. In consequence of +this mud they became almost impassable. For +the men doing trench duty the conditions were +bad enough. The man on post had to stand on +the fire step for hours in damp clothes, shivering +in the freezing cold, knowing that when his tour +of duty was over all he could look forward to was +the cold damp floor of a dugout on which to +rest his weary body. For the ration parties +the conditions were almost worse. The meals +were cooked in the field kitchens in the village, +and fatigue parties to carry up the meals were +found by the support company which was in a +trench called by the French the Parallèle des +Territoriaux. Many of the men will never forget +the innumerable times they trudged heavily +laden with a dixie of tea or stew through the +mud in the tortuous communication trenches +Boyau Eck, Sape 7, and the Boyau des Mitrailleuses. +At times these trenches became so muddy +that on one or two occasions reliefs had to be +carried out over the top under cover of darkness. +It was risking a good deal to line up a whole +company outside the trench a few yards in rear +of the front line, knowing that an enemy +machine gun was located about a hundred yards +away, and that the machine gunner might fire +an illuminating flare at any moment, and so +expose the men to his view.</p> + +<p>It was during the first tour at Wailly that +Major C.G. Bradley, D.S.O., assumed command +on the 29th February.</p> + +<p>After having done a month in the Wailly +<!-- Page 40 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 40]<a name="Page_40" id="Page_40"></a></span>sector, the Battalion was taken on the 14th March +for a week in Brigade Reserve. Though the +Battalion only got into billets at 1 a.m., after a +four mile march, a working party had to be +found at 8-30 a.m. for work on a Divisional show +ground, which was a place where model trenches +were dug to show the uninitiated how things ought +to be done. Tasks like these were regarded as +onerous by the men, who were led to expect some +period of rest when not in the advanced positions.</p> + +<p>After a few days in Beaumetz the Battalion +returned to Wailly, and until June continued to +do three tours of duty at Wailly, two in the front +line and one in the village, to one in Brigade +Reserve at Beaumetz, the whole cycle lasting a +month.</p> + +<p>The enemy having in line opposite the 78th +Landwehr Regiment, the sector was very quiet, +though the British did what they could to liven +things up in the way of artillery shoots and indirect +machine gun fire at night on the roads +behind the enemy lines.</p> + +<p>The general defence scheme at first was not +very elaborate. Three companies manned the +front line with one in support. Great attention +was paid to bombing posts, and the defence scheme +always contained a plan for a counter attack by +the bombers, who were organised as a separate +section, working directly under the orders of the +Commanding Officer. They were given simple +schemes and exercises in counter-attack while in +the trenches. For example the non-commissioned +officer in command of a squad would be told that +the enemy had entered a particular sector of the +trench. He would then block the trench or +deliver an imaginary counter attack along the +trench with the object of dislodging the fictitious +enemy, as the case might require. The com<!-- Page 41 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 41]<a name="Page_41" id="Page_41"></a></span>panies +were trained to take shelter in the dugouts +in the event of a heavy bombardment and +immediately on its cessation to re-man the +front line. In the village when the Battalion +was in support it held three centres of resistance +known from right to left as Petit Moulin, Wailly +Keep, and Petit Chateau. Wailly Keep was a +fortified farm on the fringe of the village, with +loop-holed walls and the adjacent roads barricaded. +It was a relic of the French defence +scheme and was sound.</p> + +<p>The strictest precautions were taken against +a gas attack. Each man had two P.H. helmets +which he had to keep with him at all times. +Moreover, sentries were instructed how to +recognise gas and sound the alarm immediately +they noticed enemy gas. Large cartridge cases +from the guns were used as gas gongs, and Strombos +horns were installed so as to spread the alarm +quickly should occasion arise. This was a much +better scheme than the one in which the bugler +was to sound the alarm. As the lines were near +there was some danger of a flammenwerfer attack, +so the whole Battalion was taken on the 17th +March to a demonstration, and shown what to +do should such an attack take place. One Lewis +gun was given to each company in place of the +machine guns which were taken away from the +Battalion, and the Stokes mortar made its +appearance in the trenches. This was an over-rated +weapon. Its range was very limited and +it was soon out-distanced by similar German +weapons. Its bombs were essentially for use +against personnel at a range when rifles would +have been cheaper and more efficacious. Its +bombs were not heavy enough for use against +earthworks, and wrought little damage on +trenches. Its use and its ammunition supply +<!-- Page 42 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 42]<a name="Page_42" id="Page_42"></a></span>entailed large carrying parties which robbed the +companies of the men and sapped their energy.</p> + +<p>In May steel helmets were made part of every +man's equipment, and a square green patch on +the back of the tunic became the Battalion +distinguishing mark. The steel helmets were +the means of saving many lives, and were +covered with the same material as the sandbags +were made of, for purposes of camouflage.</p> + +<p>One night early in April a patrol consisting +of a corporal and a private was sent to examine +and report on the enemy wire in front of a particular +sap head. At this point there were only +seventy yards or so between the British trench +and the enemy sap heads, which were swathed +in a dense mesh of barbed wire. There were +but few shell craters, little artillery fire being +directed on the front line when the lines were +close owing to the danger of short firing; and the +grass being short there was little or no cover. +The night had been very quiet. Scarcely a rifle +shot had broken the silence. The patrol must +have made some noise, and so aroused the +attention of the enemy sentry in the sap head +who fired an illuminating flare. The light betrayed +the presence of the patrol to the enemy, +who opened fire and wounded both of the men. +Afterwards the enemy kept firing illuminating +flares and maintained a lively rifle and machine +gun fire, so that any attempt at rescue was impossible. +At dawn the enemy put up a flag of truce +and a party of them came out and gently lifted +the wounded into their own trench. It was +noticed that the enemy were wearing the old blue +uniform of the German Army instead of the +feldgrau uniform, and that they carried tin +canisters in which they had their gas masks. This +rescue was accomplished at great risk to the +<!-- Page 43 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 43]<a name="Page_43" id="Page_43"></a></span>enemy as they did not know that the British +would refrain from firing; and the incident +proves that at any rate there were some among +the Germans who would do the honourable thing. +When the Battalion was at Ypres about a year +afterwards a letter came saying that the graves +of the two men had been found with an appropriate +inscription in the German language.</p> + +<p>In this sector there was much work to be +done. The trenches, which were in a state of +decay after the frosts and rains of the winter, +had to be duckboarded and revetted. Besides +sandbagging the front line the Battalion, in +conjunction with the relieving unit, the 7th King's, +constructed a new support line known as +Parallel B., in which was accommodated, when +it was complete, a portion of the front line +garrison. The wire needed attention as well. +The French had covered the front with a chain +of <i>chevaux de frise</i>, but this was not considered a +sufficient obstacle, so that concertina wire and +"gooseberries" had to be put out in front of the +<i>chevaux de frise</i>. The wiring parties had a very +difficult task, as they had to work about forty +yards away from the enemy, who were often +engaged on similar work. Also the men had to +work in front of the <i>chevaux de frise</i>, and they +would have had great difficulty in getting back +to their own lines should they have been surprised +by the enemy. Besides this, innumerable +rifle racks, bomb stores, machine gun emplacements +and other works of a similar nature were +completed. In addition to this the men had to +form large carrying parties to carry large elephant +sections and other material to the Quarry +for use by dugout construction parties of the +Royal Engineers.</p> + +<p>At this period the trench discipline attained +<!-- Page 44 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 44]<a name="Page_44" id="Page_44"></a></span>a high standard as the men had been together +for some months and free from heavy casualties, +and it is well here to digress for a while and +record what trench duty really meant. "Stand +to" would be at say 3-30 a.m., shortly before +dawn. At this time all would man the parapet +and wait until it became daylight. The rifles, +ammunition, gas helmets, and feet of the men +would be inspected by the platoon officer. This +generally took about an hour and a half. Afterwards +the men not actually on duty would wash +and shave. Shaving in the trenches was made +compulsory in March, as it was thought that it +kept the men from deteriorating and would +prevent any tendency to slovenliness. There +was little water for such a purpose, and consequently +it was particularly arduous in a muddy +trench, and it is doubtful whether the benefits +derived were worth it. Breakfast would take +place between six and seven. Afterwards the men +got what sleep they could during the day, but +they were constantly interrupted by sentry duty, +meals, shell fire, and occasionally a fatigue. The +activity of night replaced little by little the +tranquility of the day. Towards sunset came +evening "stand to" and more inspections. After +nightfall patrols would go out, and wiring parties +for the renovation and repair of the wire, ration +parties for the food, and working parties to keep +the trenches in good condition would be detailed. +The men got no sleep at night, and in fact very +little at all. Trench duty was exacting and +exhausting from a physical point of view alone, +but to this was added the continual attrition of +numbers on account of shell and rifle fire.</p> + +<p>In May the weather was glorious and the face +of the countryside assumed a pleasant aspect. +The trees were in full leaf. Wild flowers in profusion +<!-- Page 45 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 45]<a name="Page_45" id="Page_45"></a></span> +adorned the trenches, and larks in numbers +hovered in the clear blue skies above the +trenches and sang sweetly in the early mornings. +The sunsets viewed from the front line were +particularly beautiful. The lines of trees on the +Beaumetz-Arras road became silhouetted black +against the skyline, reddened by the setting sun, +which produced a wonderful effect.</p> + +<p>As the summer advanced the front became +more active. Shell fire increased, and the +British artillery, having a more liberal supply +of ammunition, expended it more lavishly than +had been formerly the case. In July the +Battalion left the sector immediately in front +of Wailly and took over that in front of Blaireville +Wood, which was held by the enemy.</p> + +<p>On the 28th June a series of raids took place +on the Divisional front, which were covered by a +discharge of cloud gas. A party from the +Battalion took part in the raid, and two officers +were able to enter an enemy sap but they did +not manage to secure any prisoners. The +junior of the two officers was unfortunately +killed, being shot through the head. In retaliation +for the raids the enemy brought up, on the +2nd July, what was called a "Circus" consisting +of several 150 m.m. and 210 m.m. howitzers on +railway mountings, with which he utterly destroyed +the front line trenches for a distance of +two hundred yards, blew in several mined dugouts, +and inflicted heavy casualties on "D" +Company. In some respects this was the heaviest +and most destructive bombardment that had +been endured by the Battalion up to this time, +though it was not so prolonged as that of the +8th October, 1915.</p> + +<p>On the 8th July, after five months continuous +duty in the forward zone, the Battalion went into +<!-- Page 46 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 46]<a name="Page_46" id="Page_46"></a></span>Divisional Reserve at Gouy-en-Artois, where the +Battalion was housed in hutments close by the +Divisional School.</p> + +<p>The Somme Battle had commenced, and there +was every likelihood of the Division being called +upon either to attack on the front it already +held or as reinforcements. In consequence the +Battalion, which had had very little training for +the past five months, turned its attention to +practising the attack in some cornfields near the +hutments it occupied.</p> + +<p>The attack was henceforth to be made by +successive waves of men and to each wave was +assigned a particular objective. Following these +attacking waves there came what were called +"moppers up," whose task was to deal with any +of the enemy who might have hidden in dugouts +and so escaped the attention of the attackers. +Recent lessons of the Somme Battle costing +many lives had brought about the necessity +for the institution of moppers up. The rear +waves were also to act as carrying parties. One +man had to carry a coil of wire, another a spade, +another a screw picket, and so on. The reason +for this was, that when the enemy trenches had +been captured, the enemy might cut off all supplies +by means of an intense barrage on no man's +land, and it was necessary for the attacking troops +to have sufficient material at hand to enable them +to put the captured positions into a state of +defence immediately, and thus be able to resist +a counter-attack. Model trenches were marked +out and much good work was done in the attack +practices that took place. Large drafts arrived +and the Battalion was soon in excellent form. +The cleanliness and smart appearance of the men +while in the village drew forth the special praise +of the Divisional Commander.</p> + +<p class='pagenum'>[Pg 47]<a name="Page_47" id="Page_47"></a></p> +<p>At Gouy a Battalion concert party was formed, +and a concert was given in a large barn which +formed part of the Divisional Canteen. The +doctor composed some verses for the occasion in +which there was plenty of local colour.</p> + +<p>In June a Divisional horse show had taken +place at which the Battalion again distinguished +itself. "C" Company cooker again took first +prize in the Division, and the Battalion secured +the second place for the total number of marks +gained.</p> + +<p>The days spent in this sector were comparatively +pleasant. The front had been quiet, and +although the work was arduous casualties were +few, and leave was regular. In the light of later +experience the time spent in Wailly was very +comfortable indeed, and during the next two +months many wished they could return.</p> + + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Battle of the Somme</span>.</h3> + +<p>About the 20th July the Battalion left Gouy-en-Artois +for the scene of battle. To begin with +this meant a three days' march to the entraining +locality. The first day the Battalion got to +Sus St. Leger where the night was spent, +and by the end of the second day the Battalion +was at Halloy. On the third day, after a +long tiring march in hot weather along dusty +roads, the Regiment marched into Autheux. +After a few days here the Battalion entrained +late one evening for the front, and next morning +it detrained at Méricourt. The first sight that +the men beheld on quitting the train was a +prisoners' camp, in which were many Germans, +living evidence of the activity a few miles in +front. The Battalion was billeted in Méricourt +for two days. Here there was every indication +<!-- Page 48 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 48]<a name="Page_48" id="Page_48"></a></span>of activity. Having been on a quiet front for +several months the men were not used to the +whir of a busy railhead. All manner of vehicles, +guns, and other impedimenta of war were in +evidence, and everyone was surprised to see +some of Merryweather's fire engines, which were +probably required for pumping purposes.</p> + +<p>On the 29th the Battalion left Méricourt for +what was known as "The Happy Valley," outside +Bray. During the march the soldiers saw a mile +or two away an enormous column of smoke +ascend. Something terrible had taken place. +An ammunition dump must surely have been +blown up. It was not a very pleasant prospect +for those who were new to that kind of thing. +The mystery of the column of smoke was never +clearly elucidated. The Happy Valley was +scarcely correctly named. The weather was +exceedingly hot, there were no billets, and consequently +the men had to bivouac. The Valley +had one great drawback; there were no +wells in the vicinity from which water could +be drawn. Owing to this shortage, the water-men +had a very onerous task as water was obtainable +only at Bray, and thither the water +carts had to go, making as many journeys as +possible during the day, to obtain water for the +thirsty troops. The Battalion in this locality +was in touch with the French, from whom the +officers managed to secure some of the French +ration wine which proved very acceptable.</p> + +<p>On the 30th the Battalion moved to a place +by Fricourt, and pitched a camp which it left two +days later for a bivouac area by Bronfay Farm, +near Carnoy. From this place the officers went +forward on reconnaissance. They saw for the +first time Bernafay and Trones Woods, which +then had achieved great notoriety. To the +<!-- Page 49 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 49]<a name="Page_49" id="Page_49"></a></span>neighbourhood of these woods the Battalion sent +forward night working parties. Only with the +greatest difficulty did these parties get to their +rendezvous, and little work was done on account +of the intensity of the enemy shell fire.</p> + +<p>In the evening of the 3rd August the Battalion +paraded and marched towards the fighting, leaving +behind a small percentage to form a nucleus +should all its fighting personnel perish. The +march was wearying. The enemy guns were +active, the weather hot, and packs heavy. After +a long trudge the Briqueterie was reached, a +dangerous and dreaded spot, for it was periodically +swept with shell fire. At last the companies +got to their allotted stations in the reserve trenches. +Many had not yet experienced the terrors of heavy +shell fire, which by its very nature was intended to +produce an unnerving effect. The next day +started fairly quietly. On the right the men +could see what was known as Death Valley. This +was rightly so called. Being obscured from the +enemy's view, it was a covered means of approach +to the infantry positions in front, and afforded +at the same time cover for the guns. On this +account it was never free from shell fire, and was +littered with corpses of men and horses.</p> + +<p>In the afternoon the Battalion had to +take over the front line in the neighbourhood of +Arrow Head Copse in front of Guillemont. Passing +along Death Valley the Battalion got caught +in heavy shell fire, and sixty casualties took +place almost immediately. It required a stout +heart to march cheerfully forward when seeing +one's companions who had gone a little in front +coming back on stretchers, or lying dead alongside +the path.</p> + +<p>When the two leading companies arrived at +Arrow Head Copse they manned trenches varying +<!-- Page 50 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 50]<a name="Page_50" id="Page_50"></a></span>in depth from a few inches to three feet, which +afforded little protection against shell fire. The +dead, many of whom belonged to the Liverpool +Pals Brigade, were visible lying stark and +numerous on the battlefield. The weary desolation, +and the unmitigated waste of equipment, +clothing, and life passes all description. This +was the Somme battlefield, of which one had +heard so much. To those who had seen much of +the war, the thought came that nothing could +be worse than this.</p> + +<p>The next day was a day of incessant shell fire +on both sides. On the British side it was the +bombardment prior to the attack on Guillemont. +The fire was terrific. The terrible concussions +of the high explosive shells assailed both ears +and nerves, and kept up a pall of dust over the +trenches. The whizzing and swirling of the +shells was incessant. Some whined, others +moaned, and others roared like express trains. +Light shells passed with an unearthly shriek. It +was useless taking any notice of the lighter shells. +They had come and burst before one realised +what had happened. The heavier shells, particularly +those that were timed to burst in the +air, were very trying, and when they burst over +Trones Wood the noise reverberated through +what remained of the trees, and so became extraordinarily +intensified. To expect the explosions +of the shells knowing they were on their way and +to hear them coming, not knowing whether they +would be fatal or not, was the worst part of the +ordeal. Such a condition of turmoil and torment +must have been meant by the words of Dante +in his description of Hell.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"La bufera infernal che mai non resta."</p></div> + +<p>Every now and then a man was hit. Those +killed outright were perhaps spared much agony, +<!-- Page 51 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 51]<a name="Page_51" id="Page_51"></a></span>and the wounded were lucky if they reached +the aid post alive. Many got shell shock which +affected men in different ways. One would be +struck dumb, another would gibber like a maniac, +while a third would retain possession of his reason +but lose control of his limbs.</p> + +<p>For two days in the sultry heat the Battalion +endured the terrible strain of this awful shell +fire, the men receiving no proper food and water +being unprocurable. Then the Battalion was +relieved and taken into support, where three or +four days were spent, and on the 10th two companies +moved to the Maltz Horn position. The +next night the two remaining companies moved +up. The devastation in the neighbourhood of +Cockrane Alley was worse than at Guillemont. +Here the men witnessed the full terrors of the +stricken field. Living men dwelt among the +unburied dead. Booted feet of killed soldiers +protruded from the side of the trench. Here +and there a face or a hand was visible. Corpses +of dead soldiers with blackening faces covered +with flies were rotting in the sun, and the reek of +putrifying flesh was nauseating. Added to this +the heat was overpowering, the artillery was firing +short, and there was little or no water obtainable.</p> + +<p>The Battalion was in touch with the French, +and there were a few Frenchmen in the trenches +with the men. On the 12th August the French +attacked with great success and captured the +village of Maurepas.</p> + +<p>Between the two armies there was a wide +broken-in trench running from the Allied towards +the German lines. For some time before +zero the Allied artillery kept up an incessant +barrage on the German lines. The shells fired +by the French were noticeable by a much +sharper report. At zero the French attacked on +<!-- Page 52 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 52]<a name="Page_52" id="Page_52"></a></span>the right of Cockrane Alley, advancing at a run +in small groups of from eight to twelve men, and +they got a good distance without any casualties. +Then one by one the Frenchmen commenced to +fall, and on reaching the enemy line the French +company immediately on the right of the +Battalion met with strong resistance. None +came back and it is thought that almost every +man perished. Meanwhile the two companies +of the Battalion attacked in waves on the left +of Cockrane Alley. They got eighty or ninety +yards without difficulty, when the enemy opened +a heavy machine gun fire, and the ground being +convex the attackers formed a good target. The +Commander of the right company who led his +company from the right so as to be in touch with +the bombers in Cockrane Alley, though twice +wounded, still continued the advance until he +was shot dead. His example was emulated by +the Company Sergeant Major who perished in +similar circumstances. Meanwhile the bombers +were endeavouring to work their way down +Cockrane Alley. The trench became shallower, +and on reaching a road it disappeared. As the +bombers emerged on to the road they were shot +down one by one. The enemy then turned their +machine guns on to Cockrane Alley, and raked +it with fire until it became a shambles. Most of +the men of the two companies were casualties, +and many were killed. A few stragglers who +were able to take cover in shell craters managed +to return later under cover of darkness.</p> + +<p>What became of the wounded lying out +between the lines was never known, as any +attempt at rescue was impossible. As most of +the stretcher bearers with the companies were +themselves incapacitated through wounds the +rapid evacuation of the wounded even in the +<!-- Page 53 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 53]<a name="Page_53" id="Page_53"></a></span>trenches was impossible, and moreover the aid +post at Headquarters was under heavy artillery +fire, so that it was only at great risk to the bearers +that the wounded could be cleared at all from +the trenches.</p> + +<p>For the French the day had been very successful. +They had captured Maurepas, but for +the Battalion it was a total failure. However, +the work done earned for the Battalion the praise +of the Corps Commander, expressed in an order +published the next day, which was as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The Corps Commander wishes you to express +to the Companies engaged last night +his admiration, and that of the French who +saw them, for the gallant and strenuous +fight they put up.</p> + +<p>Had the ravine been captured by the +French, there is no doubt our objective could +have been realised.</p> + +<p>13th August, 1916.</p></div> + +<p>On the 13th the Battalion was relieved and the +men, tired out, slowly wended their way down +Death Valley to Maricourt, passing many corpses, +and then to the bivouac area near Bronfay Farm +they had left about ten days before. Many who +had marched away in the fullness of their health +and strength did not return. The next day a +short move was made to Ville-sur-Ancre, one of +the few villages which contained a shop. Shortly +afterwards the Battalion moved by train to +Ramburelles, not far from the coast. Of all the +villages the Battalion had ever visited, this was +perhaps the most insanitary. The men lived in +barns almost on top of manure heaps, and in +consequence of the heat the number of flies was +<!-- Page 54 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 54]<a name="Page_54" id="Page_54"></a></span>great. Baths of late had been very few and consequently +the men suffered considerably from lice.</p> + +<p>Arduous training was the order of the day. +Seven or eight hours each day were devoted to +work, while what the men most needed was rest. +They were exhausted after their late experience, +and they were overworked by the excessive training. +Many were further weakened by the fact +that septic sores were very prevalent owing to +the insanitary conditions among which the men +lived.</p> + +<p>At this period the Battalion routine orders, +which were supposed to be issued early in the +afternoon were, for some unknown reason, always +received very late in the day and sometimes after +ten o'clock at night. As the Company Commanders +had then to issue orders it meant that +much unnecessary waiting and work was caused.</p> + +<p>At Ramburelles so as to evade the heat of the +day the Battalion paraded at 7 a.m. for a four-hours' +parade, and then left off until late in the +afternoon. This scheme worked well only in +theory. A lot had to be done out of parade hours, +which meant that the officers and men were very +much overworked. Sunday brought no respite. +The Sunday previous to leaving the place, the men +were engaged on a work of supererogation until +8-30 p.m., digging bombing trenches which were +never used.</p> + +<p>While at Ramburelles seaside leave was granted +to some of the officers, who were able to spend two +or three days away from the Battalion and enjoy +for a while the comforts of a seaside town. One +or two, acting in the belief that the Battalion +would not return to the fight for some time, +postponed their trip, and on the very day that +they arrived at Delville Wood they remembered +that that was the day they should have been +<!-- Page 55 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 55]<a name="Page_55" id="Page_55"></a></span>basking in the sun at Le Treport. Such is the +folly of procrastination. On the 28th August +the command devolved on Major P.G.A. +Lederer, M.C., as the Commanding Officer had +been evacuated sick. On the 30th August the +Battalion marched by a tortuous route to Pont +Remy, where it entrained and arrived next day +at Méricourt. It eventually was installed in +close billets at Dernancourt for a few days.</p> + +<p>On the 4th September the Battalion marched +to Montauban. On the march Major H.K.S. +Woodhouse took over the command, and the +officers were introduced to him during the dinner +halt. Montauban was not a very pleasant place, +particularly as the weather was rainy, and as the +companies were distributed among the field guns +they came in for considerable shell fire.</p> + +<p>On the 7th September the Battalion moved up +to the front positions between Delville Wood and +High Wood. The shell fire in this area was terrific. +The enemy guns never stopped firing day or night +at the means of approach to the Battalion's +position along the side of Delville Wood. At +night the Battalion had to send working parties +into the neutral ground between the lines to dig +what were somewhat incorrectly known as strong +points. When these were finished they were +garrisoned by a platoon in each case. The small +garrisons of these strong points were quite cut off +during the day as no movement was possible on +account of snipers. Food and water could only +be brought up at night, and were a man wounded +he would have to remain without attention until +darkness. A prisoner was taken belonging to +the 5th Bavarian Regiment, which showed that +the Bavarians were in line opposite.</p> + +<p>On the 9th there was a big attack by the +British. The 16th Division attacked on the right +<!-- Page 56 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 56]<a name="Page_56" id="Page_56"></a></span>in front of Delville Wood, and the 1st Division on +the left, and consequently the Battalion was in +the very centre of the fight. The garrisons of +the strong points being cut off as they were, did +not receive news of the attack. Suddenly in the +afternoon after a comparatively quiet morning +the artillery on both sides became very active, +both the British and German artillery developing +intense barrages. To the men in the strong points +this presaged an enemy attack, and the order was +given to be ready to fire the moment the enemy +should come into view. The members of these +small garrisons knew there would be no hope for +them, as they would soon have been surrounded +and annihilated, and most probably all of them +bayoneted. Fortunately the attack was by the +British and these eventualities did not arise. The +Battalion was relieved during the next two days +and went into reserve at Buire-sur-Ancre. After +a few days here it moved to a bivouac +area at E. 15 a., outside Dernancourt. Though +this was some considerable distance behind the +front line the enemy forced the Battalion to +evacuate this area by firing at it with a long-ranged +gun. In the evening there was a cinema +show in the open, at which were shown pictures +of the Somme Battle. It was very strange to +see the soldiers keenly interested in the pictures of +what shell fire was like when there were actual +shells falling about half a mile away, and they +had been shelled out of their camp that very +afternoon. The British Army had made a successful +attack on the 15th September, and on the +17th the Battalion went into line again at Flers, +where two miserable days were spent in an incessant +downpour of rain and very heavy shell +fire. On relief it came back to the transport lines +at Pommier Redoubt.</p> + +<!-- Page 57 --><p class='pagenum'>[Pg 57]<a name="Page_57" id="Page_57"></a></p> +<p>On the 23rd the Battalion paraded, leaving +behind its surplus personnel and moved up to +Flers for the attack. Orders were received the +next day that the attack was to take place on the +25th, and that zero was to be at 12-35 p.m. The +objective allotted to the "Ninth" was from +Seven Dials to Factory Corner, which meant an +advance of 1,000 yards. At 7-30 a.m. the barrage +commenced and lasted for hours, and increased +in intensity as the moment for the advance +drew nearer. At zero the Battalion advanced +in four waves, the distance between +the waves being 100 yards. The first wave had +to keep close to the creeping barrage of shrapnel. +Of the last wave scarcely a man survived, as it +came in for the enemy barrage which the leading +waves had escaped. The bombers took an enemy +strong point and fought their way along Grove +Alley and got to work with the bayonet, inflicting +many casualties on the enemy and taking several +prisoners. This was the first experience the men +had of advancing under cover of a creeping barrage +of shrapnel and the first occasion that they +saw tanks in action. The attack was a great +success and reflected no little credit on the Battalion. +Everyone of the Headquarters personnel +present will remember the Advanced Headquarters +being blown up and the signallers and +runners sustaining many casualties. During the +same evening two companies of another unit came +to the trench occupied by Headquarters. They +tried to enter the trench at the same spot and +crowded close on each other. At this time the +enemy suddenly dropped four 5.9 shells among the +crowded men. Next morning forty-seven dead +were counted.</p> + +<p>The next day the Battalion was relieved, and +by small stages the remnants of the companies +<!-- Page 58 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 58]<a name="Page_58" id="Page_58"></a></span>made their way to Buire-sur-Ancre. This was +the Battalion's last time in action on the Somme, +and it presented a very changed aspect to its +first arrival on this battlefield. Companies were +reduced to the size of platoons, and platoons to +sections or less. During the battle about 650 +casualties had been sustained, including fifteen +officers dead. This was a large incision into the +fighting strength, and it was a long time before +these losses were made up.</p> + +<p>For the Battalion the Somme Battle with its +terrible holocausts, incessant shell fire and continuous +slaughter, was at an end, but there was +no respite for the weary soldier. There was to +be no rest or period for recuperation. The +Regiment was ordered to Ypres immediately. +Tired and exhausted, the men were taken out of +the Somme inferno, having lost many of their +comrades, and with weary bodies and heavy hearts +they faced the prospect of the untold terrors of +the fatal city of Ypres.</p> + +<p>The journey to Ypres was long. First the +Battalion entrained at Méricourt in the afternoon +of Sunday the 1st October. At midnight the +men detrained at Longpré and marched to +Cocquerel, arriving at 3 a.m. the next day. The +men then bivouacked until reveille at 6-30 a.m. +At 8-30 a.m. the Regiment was again on the +march to Pont Remy, where it entrained for +Esquelbecq, where it arrived at 9-30 p.m., and +marched to billets at Wormhoudt. Two days +were spent here, and this afforded the men the +rest they so badly needed. The state of the +Battalion can be gauged from the fact that at +Wormhoudt only one company commander had +a subaltern.</p> + +<p class='pagenum'>[Pg 59]<a name="Page_59" id="Page_59"></a></p> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Ypres</span>.</h3> + +<p>On the 4th October the Battalion entrained +on a light railway, and soon reached Poperinghe, +where it remained until darkness and then +entrained on a broad gauge train at Poperinghe +Station for Ypres. It was a new experience for +the men to be in a train and yet within range of +the enemy's artillery. The personnel detrained +just by the railway station at Ypres and went +into billets close by. Little could be seen of the +city in the dark. Stillness pervaded the area +that night, and after the Somme Battle the quietness +was uncanny.</p> + +<p>The next day the men had an opportunity of +seeing the city that had suffered so much in the +war. It must have been subjected to many a +tornado of shells, for there was not a single house +untouched and very few had roofs. A few shells +fell in the Square during the morning, but that +was all. To the men it was a great relief to be +in a quiet area after such a place as the Somme. +Ypres was not as bad as had been expected.</p> + +<p>The trenches were to be taken over at once. +The officers reconnoitred the line during the +afternoon, and towards evening the Battalion +paraded and marched along the Rue de Stuers, +the Rue au Beurre, past the Cloth Hall, through +the Square, and the Menin Gate towards Potijze. +Afterwards it took over the sector from the +Roulers Railway to Duke Street with Headquarters +in Potijze Wood. Four days only had +elapsed since it had left the Somme railhead. +This area was to be the Battalion's battle station +for several months to come, and many times were +the companies to repeat the journey they had +just completed. It was to take part in two big +battles in the vicinity and add greatly to its +<!-- Page 60 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 60]<a name="Page_60" id="Page_60"></a></span>honours and leave many of its members entombed +in soldiers' graves in what was to be perhaps the +biggest graveyard of its kind in the world.</p> + +<p>The Ypres sector was very quiet, but there +was every danger of a gas attack, and the Battalion +received the strictest warnings from the relieved +unit, which had lost many men two months +before through inattention to precautionary +measures. The first night that the Battalion +went into the line there was an alarm, but as the +wind at the moment was in a safe quarter its +falsity was immediately recognised. The men at +this time had only the then out-of-date P.H. +helmet. These helmets were changed in the +course of a week or two for the more efficacious +box respirators, which remained with slight +modifications until the end of the war as the +soldiers' protection against enemy gas. The +enemy artillery was very quiet, and obviously +the British had the artillery ascendancy, and +it was surmised that this was attributable to the +fact that he had removed his artillery to the +Somme. The minenwerfers were active and so +were the enemy snipers. After a tour in the +line the Battalion repaired to Ypres. A few +days afterwards it went to take over the +"L" defences at Brielen, with Headquarters in +Elverdinghe Chateau. Only one tour was done +here and the Battalion then returned to Ypres. +Until January it did three tours of duty in the +line, either in Ypres itself or the front line to one +in reserve at Brandhoek.</p> + +<p>While in the front line the routine was +practically the same as at Wailly, but the conditions +were different. In the Salient it was not +possible to dig deep trenches as the land was so +low lying that water was met on reaching a depth +of about two feet. Trenches were not feasible, +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 61]<a name="Page_61" id="Page_61"></a></span>so it was a case of breast-works. The defences +therefore consisted of sand-bag revetments held +in position by wooden frames over which expanded +metal had been spread. These frames were +called "A" frames or "Z" frames. The former +were used for preventing narrow ways from staving +in, and the latter were to face sand-bag walls. +They were not easy to use and the men had to +learn how to fix them, and their employment +entailed many long and tedious carrying parties. +The breast-works were divided into fire bays by +traverses which were situated every few yards. +These fire bays, which were all numbered, had +firing platforms made of wood or well-revetted +sandbags. The parapet was sufficiently high to +give good command over the ground in front. +During the winter it silted down and in many +places it became not even bullet-proof. The +parados was fairly good, though in many places +there was none at all. For shelter the men had +small recesses like dog kennels in the parapet or +parados; these were usually roofed by a sheet of +corrugated iron and were very small, uncomfortable, +and infested with rats. There were not +sufficient shelters to accommodate all the men, +and the surplus had to sleep as best they could +on the firing platform with only greatcoats as +coverings.</p> + +<p>The men had endured much and many were +war weary. They were tired of fighting, and +their former enthusiasm had cooled, especially as +there was no immediate prospect of a rapid termination +of the war. Among those who stood +to arms in the whizz-banged trench in the cold +raw hour of dawn were many who had given up +assured positions—skilled mechanics, master +printers, clerks, university men, solicitors, and +others of several professions and callings who had +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 62]<a name="Page_62" id="Page_62"></a></span>sacrificed their various situations and appointments, +and whose wives struggled on a very +meagre separation allowance. Fully aware were +they also that while they were manning the +trench as infantrymen and receiving as remuneration +a miserable pittance, munition workers in +England were receiving excessively high wages +for congenial work and enjoying freedom from +all discomfort and danger of the trenches.</p> + +<p>The water-logged ground between the British +and German lines was pitted with shell holes and +overgrown with rank grass and weeds. Numerous +trees lopped of their branches were still +standing, while many others were lying on the +ground. Exactly half way across to the enemy +lines were the remains of what had been a moated +farm, which was a favourite objective of patrols. +Railway Wood, which was situated on slightly +higher ground on the right of the Battalion's +sector, was a minehead and in consequence the +scene of much activity. At one time there had +been a wood, but so intense had been the artillery +fire that not a single tree or trunk higher than +three or four feet was left standing. Almost +every afternoon, about 4-30 p.m., the usual +trench mortar "strafe" would commence, and +would last for an hour or so. A few months later +Railway Wood became a scene of much mining +activity, and mines and camouflets were sprung +either by the British or the Germans almost +daily. In the Battalion area there was situated +what was known as Number 6 Crater, a deep +mine crater half full of water, and said to be then +one of the largest in France. In the vicinity of +this crater there were some overhead traverses +to prevent the enemy snipers from enfilading the +trench, probably constructed after several casualties +had been incurred.</p> + +<p class='pagenum'>[Pg 63]<a name="Page_63" id="Page_63"></a></p> +<p>Company headquarters were close to the +front line, and never consisted of anything +more than a small shelter. The cooking was +done in cook-houses in the company areas, fatigue +parties being detailed to bring up rations and +water in petrol tins. Battalion headquarters +were housed in dugouts in the wood adjoining +the White Chateau at Potijze, in front of which +was a large cemetery. While in Ypres itself +three companies were billeted in the cellars of +the gutted houses in the neighbourhood of the +Boulevard Malou, which was a better class district +once inhabited by the more wealthy citizens. +Headquarters and one company were housed in +the cellars of the Ecole Moyenne, which was +erroneously called the Convent. These billets +were not bad, though in many cases damp.</p> + +<p>For the companies there was a parade in the +morning, and every evening several working +parties paraded at the Convent, and marched +out afterwards through the Menin Gate for work +in the Brigade area. The biggest working party +numbered 100. It moved off at 5-30 p.m., drew +shovels, picks, and gum boots at Potijze Dump, +and then worked until almost midnight in constructing +Cambridge Trench. The work was +inadequately supervised by the Royal Engineers, +who left the task to a second corporal and a few +sappers, and consequently little progress was +made and most probably the trench was never +properly completed. The men had their last +meal at 4-30 p.m., and as a consequence they +could not work with proper efficiency right up to +midnight. After a while they became very tired +and were unable to continue. As a considerable +quantity of material was requisite to keep the +trenches in repair, large carrying parties were +necessary. These could have been to a large +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 64]<a name="Page_64" id="Page_64"></a></span>extent obviated had light Decauville railways +been constructed, such as the Germans were +discovered later to have been using.</p> + +<p>For the comfort of the men there was a +Divisional canteen near the billets in Ypres, and +another in the Infantry Barracks. There was a +recreation room in the Prison, where Church +parades were held later. There were also baths +in the Rue d'Elverdinghe, so that the men were +able to keep clean.</p> + +<p>During the day there was very little movement +at Ypres, but at night this was different, as +the transport lorries had to bring up stores and +ammunition for the guns. They used to go +through the city at a great pace for fear of being +caught by the enemy shell fire, and it is interesting +to record that on one occasion a complaint was +made by the Battalion to the effect that the +streets were unsafe at night on this account. This +of course was in addition to the unsafety resulting +from enemy fire.</p> + +<p>When in reserve the Battalion was stationed +at "B" Camp at Brandhoek, on the Poperinghe-Ypres +Road. Here the officers and men were +accommodated in very comfortable wooden huts, +from which Poperinghe, with its shops and cafes, +could easily be reached. Attention should be +directed to the rigorous sanitary measures +which obtained in this Corps, chiefly due to the +insistence of the Corps Commander. Great +progress had been made in this direction since +the beginning of the war. Latrines and ablution +places were kept scrupulously clean. All rubbish +was cast into the incinerators, and billets had to +be kept clean and tidy. On relief each unit had +to obtain a certificate from the relieving unit to +the effect that the billets had been left in a clean +and sanitary condition. These measures, though +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 65]<a name="Page_65" id="Page_65"></a></span>rigid, were beneficial and kept down sickness to a +large extent.</p> + +<p>On Christmas day the Battalion was in Ypres, +and one of the Churches in the Boulevard Malou +was decorated, and proved a useful dining room, +in which the men partook of a good Christmas +dinner which was thoroughly enjoyed. After +the meal the Commanding Officer ascended into +the pulpit and treated the soldiers to an inspiring +address, but it can be safely assumed that the +men enjoyed the meal much more than the lecture.</p> + +<p>The New Year was heralded by an intense +bombardment by the British, and in anticipation +of the enemy retaliation the front line was cleared, +except for the officer on watch, and Lewis gun +teams. The line was badly knocked about by the +enemy fire, but was built up again by the Battalion +in one night.</p> + +<p>In January the first Divisional rest for ten +months commenced, and it was spent by the +Battalion first at "Z" Camp and then at Proven. +The weather at this time was intensely cold, and +as the men in "Z" Camp had only Nissen huts +they suffered greatly in consequence. These +huts were made of unseasoned timber, and large +gaps appeared in the floors through which the +cold east wind entered, reducing the temperature +to a figure well below zero.</p> + +<p>The first week or so was devoted to training. +There was a fear at this time that the principles +of open warfare might easily be forgotten during +the long periods of stagnation in the trenches. +Consequently exercises in open warfare were +ordered by the Higher Command, and the +Battalion carried out several tactical schemes, +and also some night operations. These latter +struck the men as rather unnecessary, as they +had all been on night patrols in the neutral ground +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 66]<a name="Page_66" id="Page_66"></a></span>between the lines, which after all was what might +be called the real thing. The other exercises +were very beneficial, as were also the attack +practices which took place.</p> + +<p>At Proven the men discovered that the term +Divisional rest was a misnomer. Reveille was +before six, and in the dim light of the early morning, +the men had to wash and shave in icy cold +water in the teeth of a bitter east wind. There +followed a meagre breakfast cooked on an unsheltered +field kitchen in the dark, and often in +the rain. The men paraded at seven, and went +out on a working party for the rest of the day. +Their tasks were to load earth on railway trucks +and then off-load it after a short train journey, to +serve as ballast for another portion of line that was +in course of construction. The earth was frozen +several inches deep and it was necessary to loosen +it by means of a pick before it could be shovelled +on to the trucks. Towards the evening the men +returned, cold, weary and tired, to a draughty +barn, with the dismal prospect of a similar day +on the morrow.</p> + +<p>For the officers there was a lecture by the +Commanding Officer on a pamphlet recently +brought out called "The Division in the Attack." +The lecture took place every evening at 5 p.m. in +the village school, and this meant that in many +cases the officers were on duty for twelve hours +continuously. During the day time there was +also a Lewis gun class for the officers who were +not on the working party, and they studied the +weapon assiduously. While at Proven the Battalion +was visited, while working on the railway, by +Lord Wavertree, then Colonel Hall Walker, the +Honorary Colonel, to whom the officers were presented. +It seemed a long time since they had +seen him last at Sailly Labourse, and his presence +<!-- Page 67 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 67]<a name="Page_67" id="Page_67"></a></span>was very welcome to all the old members.</p> + +<p>An outbreak of scarlet fever prolonged the +Battalion's stay for a few days, but on the 23rd +February it left Proven, detrained at the Asylum +at Ypres and moved into billets at the Prison, +with two of the companies in the Magazine. +While in the Prison one of the officers facetiously +remarked that it was a much better gaol than he +had been used to, and observed that it was built +on the panopticon principle. The next day the +Battalion moved to its old haunts at Potijze, +and resumed duties as before. During this tour +Lieutenant-Colonel F.W.M. Drew took over the +command in succession to Lieutenant-Colonel +Woodhouse. At this time so short was the +Battalion of officers that "D" Company had only +one officer, who was the Company Commander, +and as his company was disposed partly in a +sector of trench known as X3, Potijze Defences, +St. James' Trench and the Garden of Eden, he +had a good deal to do.</p> + +<p>On the 4th March a successful raid took place +on an enemy post opposite to Number 5 Crater, +in the vicinity of the Railway. The sentry post +was in a sap head around which the wire had +been cut up by shell fire. A shrapnel barrage +was directed against the post for a few minutes, +while the raiding party was waiting in no man's +land. The barrage lifted suddenly, and the small +raiding party rushed in and, taking the sentries +by surprise, secured them as prisoners. On the +19th March the enemy successfully raided the +Battalion, and unfortunately captured about ten +prisoners. The plan adopted was ingenious. +The night had been exceptionally quiet, when +suddenly about half an hour before dawn the +enemy opened with a barrage of all calibres on +the sector immediately on the left of the Battalion, +<!-- Page 68 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 68]<a name="Page_68" id="Page_68"></a></span>with the intention of diverting the attention of +the British artillery to that sector. The enemy +raiding party meanwhile was lying in no man's +land. The enemy suddenly opened with a devastating +fire on the Battalion's trenches for a few +minutes, lengthened the range, and under cover +of this barrage the raiding party entered and +surprised the men in the front line. Orders had +lately been received that the officer on watch +was not to fire the S.O.S. signal to the artillery +until he was sure that the enemy had left their +trenches. But as it was dark he could not ascertain +this, and consequently the signal was not +fired. The Company Commander sent back the +S.O.S. signal, but the message was not delivered +through the foolishness of a signaller who was +afraid to use the power buzzer, fearing that the +enemy might intercept the message. The +Germans left one of their men dead in the trench +and another just in front of the parapet. This +was an incident which had to be avenged, and +soon the Battalion by means of two successful +raids secured enough prisoners to equalize.</p> + +<p>Towards the end of the month another raid +was expected. To frustrate this the Commanding +Officer decided to have a body of about sixty +men lying in the middle of no man's land, in such +a position that they would escape the enemy +barrage and intercept the raiding party and take +them by surprise. This was a sound scheme, +but it was very exhausting for the men who had +to lie for four or five hours on the frozen ground. +Moreover, the anticipated raid did not eventualise.</p> + +<p>The 13th March was the anniversary of the +advent of the Battalion to France, and as the +Battalion was then at Brandhoek, the sergeants +invited the Commanding Officer and the remain<!-- Page 69 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 69]<a name="Page_69" id="Page_69"></a></span>ing +original officers who had landed at Le Havre +with the Battalion to attend a smoking concert. +The officers spent a short time at the concert, +during which the usual eulogistic speeches were +made.</p> + +<p>About this time the platoons were reorganised +in accordance with a training pamphlet that had +lately been issued. Henceforth they were to +consist of a Lewis gun section, a section of bombers, +another of rifle grenadiers, and a fourth of rifle-men, +and the men were taught the new formation +to be adopted for the attack which was known +as the "Normal Formation," one consisting of +lines and waves of attackers.</p> + +<p>In April, when the Battalion's turn came +for a period in reserve, two companies had to +remain in Ypres to assist the Royal Engineers +with working parties, so that the personnel of +these companies missed their period of rest. At +this time one of these companies had its headquarters +in a house in a terrace called the Place +d'Amour. In the gardens of the houses a battery +of field guns was installed, and there was another +just close by. The headquarters of these two +batteries were also in the Place d'Amour—one +on each side of the infantry company headquarters. +One morning the enemy decided to +annihilate one of the batteries and commenced +to fire ranging shots over the terrace. The artillerymen +knew what was coming, and told everyone +to leave the billets, but to uphold the honour of +the infantry, the men refused to leave the billets +until after the gunners had evacuated the position. +They got away just in time.</p> + +<p>On the 17th April the Battalion moved to the +Ecole, a place outside the city on the east, which +had apparently been a large technical school, +and after a few days here it moved to Railway +<!-- Page 70 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 70]<a name="Page_70" id="Page_70"></a></span>Wood sector where things were very active. After +a tour here and a few days in reserve it returned +to Potijze sector once more. On the 11th May +a very successful night raid was carried out by +two officers and forty other ranks on Oskar Farm. +Under cover of a barrage two parties entered +the enemy positions. Some Germans were found +in a dugout, which was then bombed and six +Germans surrendered. A small bombing party +was counter-attacked by six Germans, and the +sergeant in command shot three and bayoneted +one, while the other two escaped. The War +Diary states that on the way back some of the +prisoners became unruly and were effectively +dealt with, which means that they were killed. +At least ten Germans were killed besides those +in the dugout that was bombed. The prisoners +belonged to the 1st Matrosen Regiment of the +German Naval Division.</p> + +<p>On the 17th May the Battalion went to +Bollezeele, where it remained for a month. This +was a clean, well-built village, where the men +were very comfortable. The training ground +was about an hour's march away, and so the +Battalion paraded in the main street every +morning with the drummers in the centre, and +marched to the training ground where the companies +were placed at the disposal of their commanders +for drill and instruction. A meal was +taken at noon and when the afternoon's work was +done the Battalion reformed and marched back +to billets. The weather at this time was +very fine. Never had the men witnessed such +beautiful blue skies, and scarcely a drop of +rain marred the stay in the village. The +Brigade sports were held early in June, and the +Battalion did very well in the military contests, +winning three out of four events, but unfortun<!-- Page 71 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 71]<a name="Page_71" id="Page_71"></a></span>ately +not quite so well in the others.</p> + +<p>On the 11th June the Battalion left Bollezeele, +and early the next morning arrived at Ypres, +and immediately went to the usual sector at +Potijze. As the shell fire in this area had become +much more severe of late, to move troops through +Ypres or even around it was done at great risk, +and all were glad when the move was over.</p> + +<p>By a chain of unfortunate circumstances, +leave for officers had been very slow. In January +it had been stopped as it was considered +necessary for the officers to be with their men +during training while out of line. Difficulties +of transport brought about the closing of leave +from January to June. It opened again in June, +but as all could not go at once it happened that +some officers did not get leave for nine or ten +months.</p> + +<p>After a few days in Potijze sector the +Battalion sidestepped to the Wieltje sector. The +tour here was characterised by intense enemy +artillery activity. Heavy batteries constantly +countered each other, and day and night were +punctuated by cannonades of varying intensity. +Ypres itself was shelled by the celebrated +420 m.m. Skoda howitzer. The enemy drenched +the area with the old lachrymatory gas shells, +as well as a new gas he had lately introduced +known as "Yellow Cross" or "Mustard" gas. +Bilge Trench came in for special attention, and +on one day it was estimated that 1,200 heavy +shells fell in its vicinity.</p> + +<p>It was a time of great aerial activity also. +Richthoven and his squadron visited the sector +quite frequently—generally in the early morning—and +fired machine guns at the men in the +trenches. His squadron could be easily +distinguished, as the bodies of the aeroplanes +<!-- Page 72 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 72]<a name="Page_72" id="Page_72"></a></span>were painted red. Also they flew very low, and +the anti-aircraft gunners did not dare to fire, +leaving it to the infantrymen to defend themselves +with Lewis guns as best they could.</p> + +<p>During the tour in Wieltje the Battalion +dug Hopkin's Trench in no man's land, under +machine gun, granatenwerfer and rifle-grenade +fire, which were the cause of several casualties. +Fortunately there was a very good mined dugout +at Wieltje containing many rooms which were +lighted by electricity. The shelter it afforded +reduced considerably the number of casualties +that would otherwise have taken place, and it +was a pity that there were not more like it.</p> + +<p>Though very good work was done by the +companies during these months of trench duty, +it should be remembered that perhaps the most +dangerous task was the bringing up of rations +and water. Ypres was approachable from +Poperinghe by one road only, along which came +almost all the supplies for the troops in the +Salient. From a point on the road called Shrapnel +Crossing to the city it was within convenient +range of the enemy artillery, and being well +aware that the road was much used at night, +the enemy subjected it to considerable fire, and +caused casualties nightly. Once arrived in Ypres +the Battalion transport had to pass the Square +and the Menin Gate, which were well known +danger points, where there was no cover, and then +proceed to Potijze along a road that could easily +be enfiladed by the enemy gunners. No matter +how heavy was the enemy shelling there was no +night on which the transport section failed to +deliver the rations.</p> + +<p>At the beginning of July the Battalion went to +Moringhem to prepare for the great battle. This +was a very small hamlet, and there must have been +<!-- Page 73 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 73]<a name="Page_73" id="Page_73"></a></span>a great concentration of troops in the Pas de Calais, +as this little place had to accommodate two battalions. +The men were placed under canvas, and +some of the officers lived in tents, while the +remainder were accommodated in billets. The +training was mainly devoted to the attack. The +British and the enemy trenches were taped out +on some cornfields, in propinquity to the hamlet, +and the forthcoming attack was rehearsed time +and time again by all the battalions in the +Brigade. Great attention was paid to synchronisation +of watches, and the immediate reporting +of all information. Maps and aeroplane photographs +of the ground were studied with meticulous +care, and a model of the Battalion's +sector over which it was to attack, showing +Uhlan Farm, Jasper and Plum Farms, Pommern +Castle, and Pommern Redoubt, was constructed +outside the camp to explain the lie of the ground +to the men. Tanks were represented by half +limbers during these practices, and the shrapnel +barrage by drums.</p> + +<p>During the stay at Moringhem the officers +were able to ride into St. Omer on one or two +occasions, and there dine at the restaurants, +where a welcome change in their usual menu +was obtainable.</p> + + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Third Battle of Ypres.</span></h3> + +<p>On the 21st July the Battalion left Moringhem, +and once more found itself at "B" Camp at +Brandhoek. This was a very different place +from what it had been during the winter, and being +full of troops, the Battalion had only one-third +of its former area in which to accommodate +itself. Anti-aircraft batteries, tunnelling +companies, transport lines, field hospitals, and +<!-- Page 74 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 74]<a name="Page_74" id="Page_74"></a></span>observation balloons were everywhere.</p> + +<p>The training was complete. Everyone knew +the orders and it was merely a case of waiting +for "Z" day, the day of the attack. On the +29th July, which turned out to be "X" day, +the fighting personnel left Brandhoek, and moved +to Durham Redoubt, an area just west of Ypres, +where the men bivouacked for the night. The +next day illuminating flares, iron rations, spare +water-bottles, bombs, and maps were given to +the men.</p> + +<p>Though all knew the rôle of the Battalion +and its allotted objectives, no one in the Battalion +knew the extent of the attack, or which +divisions were attacking, or what was to happen +if all objectives were captured. It was believed +that if the attack succeeded, there were other +divisions in rear ready to exploit the success. +Wild rumours began to filter through. One of the +most prevalent was that eighty mines would be +sprung at zero, and this was inspiring to all, and +infused new courage into the men.</p> + +<p>Towards evening the companies left the area, +and slowly in the darkness moved via the Plaine +d'Amour past the Dixmude Gate and the Dead +End to Oxford Trench, where they took up a +position and waited. This waiting was very +unpleasant, as the enemy was obviously expecting +an attack and shelled the whole area almost +all night. There was little shelter, as the trench +was shallow and wide, and several were wounded +before the fight commenced.</p> + +<p>The objective allotted to the Battalion consisted +of a section of the enemy second line +called the "Stutzpunkt" Line, comprising +Pommern Redoubt (called "Gartenhof" by the +Germans) to Bank Farm, known to the enemy as +"Blucher." The distance of the objective from +<!-- Page 75 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 75]<a name="Page_75" id="Page_75"></a></span>the Battalion's zero position was approximately +a mile and a half, which was at that period of the +war a big distance to be called upon to cover in +one day.</p> + +<p>Two hours before zero it became known that +the artillery was firing gas shells on the enemy +batteries, so that at zero the enemy would not be +able to work their guns. The drone of the gas +shells passing overhead, and the knowledge of +this device on the part of the British artillery, +was very reassuring to the waiting troops.</p> + +<p>For a few minutes before zero all was tranquil, +and the men were quietly waiting. Zero was at +3-50 a.m., at which hour it was quite dark. +Suddenly there was heard the firing of an 18-pounder +battery. It was a battery firing just +a second or two early. There followed a +deafening roar. All the guns had fired together, +and their shells were racing across the sky. A +sheet of flame covered the enemy trenches. The +fight had begun. The men rose from their positions +slowly and went over the top to the front +line, where according to plan they waited twenty-five +minutes. The advance then continued. +They should have advanced in waves, but that +was impossible over the shell-cratered ground, +as the going over the churned-up earth was very +difficult, particularly in view of the heavy loads +the men carried. All cohesion was soon lost, +and the men sauntered forward in little groups +endeavouring as best they could to keep the +proper direction. No one knew what was happening. +After passing the enemy front line all +danger from his barrage was over, but his machine +guns were active, and every now and then a man +dropped—in many cases not to rise again. At +length the river Steenbeek was reached. Numbers +were few and hopes of success were rapidly +<!-- Page 76 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 76]<a name="Page_76" id="Page_76"></a></span>vanishing. How the fight had progressed on +the right or left no one knew. In front was a +strong position on the other side of the Steenbeek +Valley, which turned out ultimately to be Bank +Farm.</p> + +<p>The enemy in the dim light was firing his +machine guns and causing casualties, but with +a final rush the men were in the centre of a German +strong point. The companies were weak, one +consisting of only a dozen men or so, and the +Germans were in occupation of the position as +well, and fired coloured lights to encourage the +support of their artillery. They were dealt with +by the bombers, and one sensible private, who +soon used up all his available bombs found a +store of German bombs, which he employed to +advantage. About the same time another party +of the Battalion captured Pommern Redoubt, +while the 7th King's on the right got into Pommern +Castle. In all about eighty prisoners were +taken, which considerably exceeded the numbers +of the men that first dashed up to the objective. +The prisoners belonged to the infantry regiments +of the 235th Division, and a few of them were +artillerists belonging to the 6th Feldartillerie +Regiment.</p> + +<p>The taking of Pommern Redoubt was specially +commented upon in the Dispatch of Sir Douglas +Haig dealing with this battle, though the Redoubt +fell much earlier than was therein stated.</p> + +<p>Among the dugouts several things were found, +such as field glasses, medical apparatus, rifles, +bombs, and so on. In one was a store of bottles +of aerated water. In another there was a store +of rations which were ultimately consumed, and +strange to relate, in one dugout there was a copy +of a recent number of the "Tatler."</p> + +<p>The position was consolidated, trenches were +<!-- Page 77 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 77]<a name="Page_77" id="Page_77"></a></span>dug and manned by the men. A captured German +machine gun was turned round and got into +action. Four or five hours after the capture of +the Stutzpunkt position another brigade continued +the attack, but though the efforts of its +members were successful at first they had in +consequence of their exposed flanks to retire at +nightfall, and the Battalion was then holding the +line without anyone in front. Rain commenced +to fall, and the ground having been churned up +by countless shells, the whole area soon became +dissolved into a morass of spongy earth pitted +with innumerable shell craters half full of water. +The trenches that had been dug soon filled, and +the men were wet through. They were utterly +exhausted, and some of them had to get what +sleep they could, huddled up in these wet +trenches, with their feet several inches deep in +water.</p> + +<p>Cooking was impossible, and it was only with +the greatest difficulty that any food at all could +be supplied to the men in the advanced positions. +Added to this was the fact that the enemy artillery +was exceedingly active, and the shells killed +many in the exposed trenches. The British +heavy artillery also fired short, which had a most +demoralising effect on the men in front.</p> + +<p>On the 2nd August it became known that +the enemy intended definitely to recapture the +Stutzpunkt line. The men were informed of +this, and told to resist to the last. All available +men were sent up from the transport lines to +reinforce the men in front. These reinforcements +suffered considerably from shell fire on the way +up, but their advent inspired and cheered the +weary men who had been through the whole +fight, and whose rifles were in many cases so +choked with mud as to be unserviceable. Towards +<!-- Page 78 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 78]<a name="Page_78" id="Page_78"></a></span>midday the enemy developed a heavy barrage. +He was about to attack, and everyone was waiting +for the anticipated onslaught without fear, +as all felt that any counter-attack would be repulsed +with great loss. The S.O.S. signal and +machine guns were ready, but the artillery +observer saw the enemy first, and the artillery +barrage of the British soon dispersed the attack.</p> + +<p>Owing to the insufficiency of the number of +surviving stretcher bearers, the evacuation of the +wounded was exceedingly difficult. These were +collected in a dugout at Bank Farm, where they +lay for a long time after having received some +slight attention. Two wounded Germans whom +the stretcher bearers had been unable to clear +were handed over to the relieving unit. The +Battalion Aid Post was at Plum Farm, where +the Medical Officer and his staff worked to the +limit of their powers in attending and evacuating +wounded.</p> + +<p>Major E.G. Hoare, who was in command +of the Battalion during the operation, wrote a +poem which describes the conditions of the +Ypres battle, and it is here given in full:—</p> + + +<p class='center'>THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW.</p> + +<p class='center'><span class="smcap">31st July, 1917</span>.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Down in the valley the Steenbeek flows,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">A brook you may cross with an easy stride,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In death's own valley between the rows<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Of stunted willows on either side.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">You may cross in the sunshine without a care,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With a brow that is fanned by the summer's breath.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Though you cross with a laugh, yet pause with a prayer,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">For this is the Vale of the Shadow of Death.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<!-- Page 79 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 79]<a name="Page_79" id="Page_79"></a></span> +<span class="i0">Down in the valley was rain and rain,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Endless rain from a dismal sky,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But the valley was Liberty's land again,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And the crest-line smoked like a Sinai.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Rain that beat on the tangled mass<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Of weeds and pickets and broken wire,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And astride the stream was a brown morass,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">In the valley of water and mud and fire.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Down in the valley the barrage fell,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Fountains of water and steel and smoke,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Scream of demons and blast of hell,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The flash that blinds and the fumes that choke.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The mud and the wire have chained the feet,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">You are up to the knees in swamp and slime,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">There's a laugh when the crossing is once complete,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">But a setting of teeth for the second time.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Down in the valley the shambles lay<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With the sordid horrors of hate revealed,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Tattered khaki and shattered grey<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And the splintered wrecks of a battlefield.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thank God for the end that is sure and swift,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">For the fate that comes with a leap and bound,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But what if God leaves you alone to drift<br /></span> +<span class="i2">To the lingering death in the pestilent ground?<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Up on the slope was a line hard pressed<br /></span> +<span class="i2">By bullets and shells and relentless strain,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">An enemy massing behind the crest<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And a trench that crumbled in fire and rain.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sleepless, shelterless, night and day,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Drenched and weary and sniped and shelled,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The word was given that come what may<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The line must hold, and the line was held.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">But all who pass to the crumbling trench<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Must go in the spirit that games with fate,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With feet that stumble and teeth that clench<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Over the valley of hell and hate.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Over the knees in water and mud,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Up to the waist if you miss the track,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">You shall know your path by the trail of blood,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And silent figures shall guide you back.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<!-- Page 80 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 80]<a name="Page_80" id="Page_80"></a></span> +<span class="i0">Down in the valley the waters flow,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">You may jump the brook with an easy stride,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">They cross it in silence, they who know<br /></span> +<span class="i2">What happened that day upon either side.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In the voice of the brook are their comrades' tones,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">In the summer's breeze they shall feel their breath,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For under the grass we have laid their bones,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Here in the Vale of the Shadow of Death.<a name="FNanchor_A_1" id="FNanchor_A_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_A_1" id="Footnote_A_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_A_1"><span class="label">[A]</span></a> Copied by permission from "Dawn and Other Poems" by Lieut.-Colonel +E. Godfrey Hoare, D.S.O. Publishers: Erskine Macdonald, +Limited.</p></div> + +<p>The Battalion was relieved on the night of the +second-third, and the men drifted down in +small parties through the mud to Potijze. Some +hours were spent here, during which several +casualties took place, as the enemy subjected +the area to the fire of 8-inch shells. Towards +evening the men were told to rendezvous at +Vlamertinghe. There was no need to pay much +attention to the means of getting there. That +could be left to the men themselves. Everyone +was ready to give them a lift, for their muddy +appearance showed that they had just been in +the fight, and consequently practically all +arrived in motor lorries. At Vlamertinghe, rum +was issued and later all embussed for the Watou +area, which they reached shortly after midnight. +After debussing there was a short march to billets. +For some even this was too much, and about +thirty were unable to walk, and had to be sent +to hospital. The remaining men were put into +billets, and at 4-30 a.m. the officers sat down to +dinner, the first proper meal they had had for +several days. Afterwards they lay down to +sleep for six or seven hours.</p> + +<p>What had been done by the Battalion during +the last few days, at the commencement of the +struggle for Passchendaele, was then perhaps the +greatest achievement the Battalion had accom<!-- Page 81 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 81]<a name="Page_81" id="Page_81"></a></span>plished. +Undoubtedly it had done well, and +the following message was received from the +Brigade Commander:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p> +To Officer Commanding,<br /> +9th King's Liverpool Regt.<br /> +</p> + +<p>Will you please congratulate all ranks of +your Battalion on the great gallantry they +displayed during the recent operations? They +not only captured all their objectives, but also +helped other troops to capture theirs. The +magnificent way in which they captured the +position and held it against all counter-attacks +makes me very proud to have such a Battalion +in my Brigade.</p> + +<p class='right'> +L. BOYD MOSS,<br /> +Brigadier General,<br /> +165th Brigade.<br /> +4th August, 1917.<br /> + +</p></div> + +<p>On the 6th August the Battalion was taken +by train to Audruicq, and billeted near by in a +hamlet called Blanc Pignon, where the next six +weeks were spent. The troops were well housed +in this place, which was very clean in comparison +with the other villages in which the Battalion +sojourned from time to time. Each man was +given a new suit, deficiencies in kit were made up, +and the companies soon began to resume their +normal appearance. Leave opened, and it was +possible for those who wished to have day trips +to Calais, and one or two of the more fortunate +managed to get seaside leave at Paris Plage or +Wimereux. The time spent at Blanc Pignon +passed without special incident, except that one +night there was a bombing raid by which the +Germans obviously hoped to blow up the ammunition +dump which was in close proximity to the +<!-- Page 82 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 82]<a name="Page_82" id="Page_82"></a></span>billets. Fortunately, although many were +dropped, not one of the bombs was effective +enough to explode the ammunition. During the +raid a large Gotha aeroplane was caught in the +beam of one of the searchlights, and this was the +first occasion the men saw this particular type +of machine.</p> + +<p>Despite the training the men had undergone +before the battle, there was a good deal of time +devoted to field work, as in view of the experience +gained and the lessons learned in the recent attack +new tactics had to be evolved. Until the Third +Battle of Ypres, the chief obstacles to the advance +of the British had been the German wire entanglements. +The fuses on the British shells had +always permitted the shells to bury themselves +to some extent before exploding. This meant +that a crater was formed, and though the enemy +wire in the immediate vicinity of the crater would +be destroyed, the obstacle effect of the whole +entanglement remained almost in its entirety. +A new fuse which was known as No. 106 was +introduced in 1917, by means of which the shells +would explode instantaneously on impact, and +the splinters would destroy the wire over a much +bigger area than had formerly been the case. The +artillery could now ensure the proper cutting +of the enemy wire entanglements, and it had been +anticipated that in the attack of the 31st July +the troops would not encounter serious obstacles +in the way of wire entanglements, particularly +as they were to be supported by tanks. It is +true the artillery had cut the wire, but several +units had nevertheless been held up. The Germans +had anticipated to some extent the British +methods of attack and invented a system of +defence to meet it.</p> + +<p>The Commander of the Fourth German Army +<!-- Page 83 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 83]<a name="Page_83" id="Page_83"></a></span>which was defending the Ypres sector, Infantry +General Sixt von Arnim, was a commander of +high standing, inasmuch as the British Higher +Command had thought fit to publish some observations +of his on the Somme Battle. In the Ypres +sector he had adopted the plan of holding the +forward zone with few troops well disposed in +depth, with strong reserves in rear which could +be used for an immediate counter-attack before +the British could consolidate any positions they +had won. His advanced troops were carefully +echeloned in fortified farms, each strongly concreted +and armed with several machine guns. +The advantage of this scheme was that it afforded +few definite targets to the British artillery, and +gave every opportunity to the Germans to ambush +and enfilade advancing British infantry. Tanks +were of little avail against these block-houses, +which in reality formed a belt of small fortresses +which could only be overpowered one by one. +At any rate they could easily break up the force +of an attack, and inflict a large number of casualties +at a small loss. The reserves could then be +used to counter-attack the British before they +had properly put the positions won into a state +of defence. Such a method of defence was indeed +a difficult obstacle to the advance, and its +efficacy had been learnt at great cost in +the last fight. This system of defence meant +that new tactics had to be evolved to combat +such a scheme. The German method of defence +was explained in printed sheets and the explanations +were retailed to the men. In the numerous +tactical schemes and attack practices that took +place the men were taught to encircle enemy +strong points rapidly and close in on them. +These exercises were supervised by the Divisional +Commander in person.</p> + +<!-- Page 84 --><p class='pagenum'>[Pg 84]<a name="Page_84" id="Page_84"></a></p> +<p>While in this area another Divisional horse +show took place, the third to which the Battalion +had sent entries. It was rather a good show, +and there was some very fine jumping, in which +Belgian cavalry officers took part. The +Battalion secured two first prizes for a water cart +and limbered wagon, two second prizes and two +third prizes. It obtained the third place in the +Division for the total number of marks gained.</p> + +<p>All good times come to an end and the 14th +September was the Battalion's last day at Blanc +Pignon. The occasion was marked by great +festivities, and most of the men apparently consumed +large quantities of beer. For this they +could not be blamed as they were going into +action, and might never survive to indulge so +freely again. The next day the Battalion moved +by train to Vlamertinghe, where the men bivouacked +in the open, having for shelter large bivouac +sheets.</p> + +<p>The orders were that surplus personnel had +to be left here, and all the officers who had taken +part in the Battle of the 31st July were, with one +exception, left behind. On the 17th the +Battalion moved up from Vlamertinghe to Ypres, +turned left at the Water Tower, skirted the +Plaine d'Amour and proceeded along No. 5 +Track to the neighbourhood of Warwick Farm. +The next day the Battalion headquarters and +two companies moved up to Bank Farm and took +over the front shell crater position. Though two +big attacks had taken place since the Battalion +was last in this area, the front line was approximately +in the same place as when the Battalion +had left it in the early days of August. A fortified +farm called Somme had been captured, and that +was about all. Hill 35 was still in possession +of the enemy. The Battalion with its sister +<!-- Page 85 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 85]<a name="Page_85" id="Page_85"></a></span>regiments in the Brigade was to succeed where +others had failed.</p> + +<p>The Battalion held the shell crater position +from the evening of the 18th, and it was obvious +that the enemy expected an attack as he searched +the whole area with heavy artillery fire at dawn +on the 19th.</p> + +<p>The two remaining companies moved up after +nightfall on the 19th. It commenced to rain +and the difficulties of placing the men in their +proper places were great. The night was black +and there was nothing by which one could locate +oneself. After several hours a tape was placed +along the line of shell craters to serve as a jumping +off mark along which the men were duly aligned.</p> + +<p>The <i>rôle</i> of the Battalion was to capture Hill +35 and Gallipoli, which was a strongly fortified +centre of resistance in such a position, situated on +rising ground, that it commanded a large area +to the north. After its capture other units in +the Brigade were to pass through the Battalion +and continue the attack. The distance of the +attack by the Battalion was from four to five +hundred yards, and it was to be made in four +waves, a company to each wave. It was anticipated +that though the position might be fairly +easily captured the enemy would make a desperate +effort to dislodge the attackers.</p> + +<p>The attack was evidently anticipated, as the +enemy shell fire for a few minutes before zero was +particularly heavy. Meanwhile the British +artillery maintained a silence in which the gunners +were able to prepare for the impending barrage. +Zero was at 5-40 a.m., and at that time suddenly +there opened an enormous crescendo of fire from +the British guns, together with a machine gun +barrage, which latter some attributed erroneously +to the enemy. At this time it was fairly light, +<!-- Page 86 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 86]<a name="Page_86" id="Page_86"></a></span>and one could see from a hundred and fifty to two +hundred yards, quite light enough to enable the +German machine gunners to inflict many +casualties.</p> + +<p>Owing to the fact that the men had to jump +off from shell craters, and many were anxious to +advance quickly so as to evade the enemy shell +fire, and that there was some mixing of units, +the waves were somewhat confused. The +German artillery was ready and intensified its +fire. The enemy machine gunners opened fire +at once and the attackers began to fall almost +as soon as the attack was commenced.</p> + +<p>On the right of Hill 35 the Germans had +manned a derelict tank and could not be dislodged. +Even though surrounded they did not +surrender for some time. The men, however, +pressed gallantly forward and eventually got as +far as Gallipoli Farm. The Germans here were +very stout hearted and refused to surrender. +One had a machine gun on top of a concrete +dugout and, for some reason or other, perhaps +excitement, the men could not bring him down. +Following the brilliant example of one of the +company commanders, the men eventually closed +in and after a fierce hand to hand encounter, +in which bomb and bayonet were freely used, +the place fell.</p> + +<p>On Hill 35 a 90 m.m. field gun of an old +pattern manufactured by Krupps was captured, +and altogether eight heavy and light machine +guns fell into the hands of the Battalion. About +forty prisoners were taken belonging chiefly to +the 2nd Reserve Division of the Prussian Guards. +The enemy machine guns were soon turned round +and got into action against the Germans by +those of the men who understood their use.</p> + +<p class='pagenum'>[Pg 87]<a name="Page_87" id="Page_87"></a></p> +<p>Towards 5-30 p.m. in the evening the enemy +opened fire with a heavy barrage of all calibres. +The fire was particularly intense at Gallipoli +Farm, where the company commander had himself +relieved the sentry on look-out at his headquarters, +until he was blown almost senseless by +the violence of the concussion of a shell which +burst almost on top of him. Afterwards the +Germans advanced, but they were seen by the +men and repulsed by machine gun fire. A party +of Germans was observed carrying a stretcher +and a white flag. It was a favourite device of +the enemy to pretend that they were carrying a +stretcher when they were actually carrying a +machine gun, and in consequence this particular +party was soon dispersed.</p> + +<p>Towards dark on the 21st the enemy put down +another heavy barrage on the line of Somme +Farm. He was apparently delivering another +counter-attack. After it had been kept up some +time great consternation prevailed at Battalion +headquarters. No word had been received from +the troops in front. Perhaps the enemy had +captured the front positions, and that the line +was lost. The barrage was still intense, and +anyone who should dare to advance through it +would expect to meet with almost certain death. +Yet some one had to go to ascertain if all was well +or ill. The Commanding Officer made arrangements +to burn all papers and told everyone they +must fight to the last where they stood. The +Second in Command ultimately managed to get +to Somme Farm and came back with the information +that all was well, which was of inestimable +worth, for had the British barrage lines been +withdrawn, as had been suggested, the troops +in front would all have been sacrificed.</p> + +<p>On the 22nd September the Battalion was +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 88]<a name="Page_88" id="Page_88"></a></span> +relieved. The greatest care was taken to get +the captured machine guns that were not needed +for the defence back to the transport lines. They +were collected at Battalion headquarters and +carefully escorted to the neighbourhood of the +old British front line near Potijze, where they +were met by the transport officer, and duly +delivered to Divisional headquarters.</p> + +<p>Having been relieved the men made their way +back in small parties to Vlamertinghe, where the +night was spent. The next day the Battalion +moved by train to a camp by Watou. Two or +three days were spent here, and then the +Battalion detrained to go down south to join +General Byng's Third Army.</p> + + +<h3><span class="smcap">Lempire</span>.</h3> + +<p>The train journey lasted all day and the +Battalion detrained at Bapaume, and by a night +march on a bright moonlight night marched to a +Nissen hut camp between Barastre and Haplincourt, +where it sojourned for a few days. During +this time a few of the non-commissioned officers +were able to visit the Somme battlefield, and +locate a few of the graves of the men who had +fallen a little over twelve months ago. A day's +march on the 1st October brought the Battalion +to Aizecourt-le-Bas, and after a night's rest it +proceeded to St. Emilie, where the men were +billeted amid the ruins of what had formerly been +a sugar factory. During the march it was made +plainly evident to all with what thoroughness +the work of destruction had been carried out by +the Germans. The villages were not merely in +ruins. Every house and every room had been +rendered useless as a billet or shelter of any kind. +The cellars had been filled with stones or refuse, +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 89]<a name="Page_89" id="Page_89"></a></span> +so that even these were of no use. The trees had all +been wantonly destroyed. Even small fruit trees +of only a few years' growth did not escape the +axe. The wells had all been blown in, and in +many cases they were poisoned as well. The +churches were treated exactly the same as the +houses. The whole region was desolate. There +were no civilian inhabitants, and soldiers were +the only occupants of this wilderness.</p> + +<p>After a few days in the Sugar Factory the +Battalion moved to the forward positions at +Lempire. This sector was very different from +any sector the Battalion had occupied. There +was no trench system comprising front and +support trenches. The front was held by means +of isolated posts occupied by a platoon or a company +as the case might be, and these posts were +linked up by means of communication trenches, +so that they could be visited. There being little +artillery on either side, the whole sector was +very quiet, and as the lines were far apart there +was little sniping.</p> + +<p>The Battalion did one tour in Cat, Fleeceall +and Grafton Posts in front of Lempire, and then +moved up to the Ossus sector. Though the +Germans had destroyed all buildings behind the +British line, the buildings behind the German +lines were intact, and the men experienced the +unpleasant sight of the comfortable chateaux +and houses in which the German troops were +billeted when they themselves were very badly +off in this respect.</p> + +<p>Three companies had been in the front in the +Lempire position, and as three companies were +necessary to take over the Ossus sector, one +company had to do two successive tours. It +was a poor relief to have to move from one +portion of the front line to another, especially +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 90]<a name="Page_90" id="Page_90"></a></span> +as this company had only one subaltern. The +sector held by the Battalion was roughly 2,000 +yards, and consequently the three front companies +each had from six to seven hundred yards. +The trench strength of the companies was somewhere +between eighty and ninety, the numbers +not having been made up after the Ypres +casualties, and consequently there was a great +amount of work for everyone to do.</p> + +<p>On the 18th the Battalion moved to reserve +at Vaughan's Bank by Epéhy, from whence on the +22nd it moved into reserve at Tincourt. The +American Railway Engineers had constructed a +light railway from Epéhy to Tincourt, and they +expressed their readiness to convey the Battalion +there by rail. Their offer was gladly accepted, +and the Battalion duly arrived at the station and +entrained. There was a slight incline to commence +and the numbers that arrived exceeded +the haulage capacity of the only serviceable +locomotive at the station, and consequently no +progress was made. As there was no telegraph +a message had to be sent on foot for another +engine, which came along after a long wait, and +eventually a start was made. The couplings +were bad and the train soon broke into three +portions. As the way was downhill the various +sections glided down to the next station independently. +Here there was another train and a loop +line, and it also happened that one train was too +long for the loop. Nothing daunted, the railway +engineers indulged in a considerable amount of +shunting, and decided to take a portion of the +waiting train back with the troop train. All +went well until the next incline was reached. +There was a great strain on the engine, but +eventually after charging the hill three or four +times, accompanied by much racing of engines +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 91]<a name="Page_91" id="Page_91"></a></span> +and skidding of wheels, the top was reached, and +the Battalion got to Tincourt having taken on +the journey twice the time it would have taken +to march the distance.</p> + +<p>At Tincourt a pleasant week was spent, after +which the Battalion returned to the Birdcage sector, +the portion of which immediately in front of +Eagle Quarry was the scene of much minenwerfer +activity.</p> + + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Battle of Cambrai</span>.</h3> + +<p>No particularly arduous duty was assigned to +the Battalion in connection with the operations +on the 20th November. To divert the attention +of the enemy from other troops who were attacking +the Knoll, a few hundred yards on the right, the +Battalion was ordered to place a dummy tank +and dummy men out in no man's land in front +of the vicinity of the Birdcage, and shortly after +zero these were put in operation by means of +wires. Naturally the Battalion came in for a +good deal of the retaliatory fire of the enemy, but +few casualties took place. Incidentally the +enemy claimed to have repulsed an attack on +this front, from which it follows that the +dummies had been efficacious.</p> + +<p>The Germans had been driven back by the +surprise attack of the British, and Cambrai was +nearly reached. The fighting died down in a +few days, but on the 30th Cavalry General von +der Marwitz delivered his counter-attack. He +selected not the apex of the salient that had been +driven into the German line, but the portion of +the line to the south of it, which was so weakly +held. On the morning of the 30th the Battalion +was in support to the 165th Brigade in some +dugouts in Lempire.</p> + +<p>A warning had been received during the +<!-- Page 92 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 92]<a name="Page_92" id="Page_92"></a></span>course of the night that an enemy attack was +imminent, and the order was given to "stand to" +well before dawn. At "stand to" all was +perfectly quiet. The expected attack had not +developed. The men stood down and a normal +day was anticipated. At breakfast time there +sounded a heavy barrage a mile or two to the +north, and afterwards shells began to fall in the +village. Large gas shells were creating a cloud +near by, and a rumour came that the Germans +had broken through at the Birdcage. The +troops had such confidence in the other battalions +in the Brigade that the rumour was not believed. +Later a message came from Headquarters that +the line further north had broken. Lempire +must be held at all costs, and the Battalion was +ordered to dig a line running east and west on the +high ground to the north of the village, so as to +command the ground as far as Holt's Bank. This +was then in the possession of the Germans, who +were within a few hundred yards of Epéhy, and +if this latter place had fallen the Battalion would +have been in great danger of being surrounded. +The men dug in under shell fire, and in full view +of the enemy, while a large squadron of enemy +aeroplanes circled overhead, and turned their +machine guns on the men as they were digging. +Fortunately few casualties were incurred. In +the afternoon one company was sent to form a +defensive flank at Priel Bank, and another to +reinforce the 6th Liverpool Rifles at Cruciform +Post. On the 2nd December the Battalion took +over from the 6th Liverpools, and had the +task of putting the line from Heythrop Post, +Cruciform Post, to Priel Bank in a state of +defence. These places were almost isolated +during the day, and it was only at great risk that +they could be visited. The post at Catelet +<!-- Page 93 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 93]<a name="Page_93" id="Page_93"></a></span>Copse was almost a bait to the enemy, one of +whom walked up to it. Even the Battalion +headquarters at F.4. Central were under close +rifle fire. In fact there were no troops in front +of Headquarters, and it can be said that on this +occasion the Battalion headquarters were in the +front line.</p> + +<p>On the 5th December the Battalion was relieved +by a battalion from Brigadier-General +Ramsay's 48th Brigade, and he visited his former +command next morning at St. Emilie. Of the +officers that had served under him in the 1st +Division, only two then remained, and they were +pleased to see their former commanding officer +once more. That day the Battalion went by +motor lorry to billets in Péronne, where four +days were spent. A few civilians had returned +to this ruined town, and had opened shops at +which fish and vegetables could be bought. These +civilians were much impressed by the nightly +retreat sounded by the bugles and drums which +had attained a high pitch of efficiency. A long +tedious railway journey on the 10th brought the +Battalion to Maroeuil. The night was spent in +"Y" hutments, and it then entered General +Horne's First Army.</p> + +<p>It left Maroeuil on the 12th and marched to +Bailleul-aux-Cornailles, a village it was to visit +later in August, 1918. The next day Eps was +reached, and on the following day the Battalion +arrived at its destination at Lisbourg, where it +was to remain until the end of January, which +meant a six week's rest.</p> + +<p>Here the men were billeted in the peasants' +byres, which were in rather a dilapidated condition. +The training was chiefly devoted to +musketry. The bomb had gone out of fashion, +and it was realised that the principal weapon of +<!-- Page 94 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 94]<a name="Page_94" id="Page_94"></a></span>the infantryman was the rifle. According to the +orders of the Divisional Commander each company +built a thirty yards' range for itself, and a two +hundred yards' range was allotted to the +Battalion. Snow fell but that made no difference +to the training programme. The men had to lie +on the frozen snow to fire the various practices, +and bearing in mind that the rifles were very cold +to handle, the results attained were excellent.</p> + +<p>Christmas was spent here, and the Christmas +dinner which took place in the school and a large +barn was a great success, and demonstrated the +good feeling that existed between the officers +and men. A few days afterwards the Battalion +was visited by Lieutenant-Colonel Luther Watts, +O.B.E., V.D., the Town Major of St. Pol, and who +had commanded the Battalion prior to the war, +and at Dunfermline and Tunbridge Wells. Those +of the officers and men who had served under +him in England were pleased to see their former +commanding officer once more.</p> + +<p>While at Lisbourg efforts were made to induce +the men to invest in War Saving Certificates. +At first they were somewhat reluctant, saying +that they did not wish to hand back their pay +which they had earned. Lectures on the subject +were delivered to them, and when the scheme was +fully explained, and they understood the necessity +for money in order to carry on the war, they +readily responded, and over £1,000 was subscribed +by the officers and men, which was the +highest figure attained in the Division. This +was an achievement of which the Battalion was +justly proud, and shows the keenness and interest +the men displayed in their Regiment, and the +cause for which they were fighting.</p> + +<p>In consequence of the reduction of the number +of infantry battalions in the organisation of the +<!-- Page 95 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 95]<a name="Page_95" id="Page_95"></a></span>British division from twelve to nine, the "first +ninth" being the junior battalion in the Brigade +was split up. A selected party of the officers +and men was detailed for the second line Battalion, +and they were regarded with envy by the less +fortunate. The remainder was split up into +drafts for the 1st, 4th, and 12th King's. The +day of the break up was a very sad one indeed. +To a soldier his regiment is his home, and to be +called upon to leave it, to sever his friendships +and to lose his comrades of many a tragic day is +for him very bitter. It is not untrue to say +that as the drafts were leaving and comrades +were saying "Goodbye," several of the soldiers, +who had braved nearly inconceivable terrors, +were almost in tears. As was feared at the time +the "Goodbye" in many cases was for ever, +as many were killed shortly afterwards by the +German offensive in March. The Divisional +Commander and several officers from other units +came to say "Farewell" to the Battalion they +were never to see again. A note of sadness is +struck in the following order which was issued:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p> +55th (West Lancashire) Division,<br /> +<br /> +Special Order of the Day.<br /> +31st January, 1918.<br /> +</p> + +<p>On the departure from the Division of three +Battalions, the 1-8th The King's Liverpool Regt. +(Liverpool Irish), 1-9th The King's Liverpool +Regt., and 1-5th Loyal North Lancashire +Regt., I wish to assure all officers, warrant +officers, non-commissioned officers and men +belonging to them, how greatly I, and I am +sure, everyone in the Division, regrets their +loss.</p> + +<p class='pagenum'>[Pg 96]<a name="Page_96" id="Page_96"></a></p> +<p>Some, I am glad to say, remain with us.</p> + +<p>As to the battalions themselves, I refuse to +regard the separation as permanent, and I +look forward confidently to the day when +they will rejoin their old Division.</p> + +<p>They have had their full share in all the +hard fighting of the past two years, and have +helped to make and maintain the reputation +which the Division has gained, a reputation +which, I am sure, makes every member of it +proud of belonging to it. As for myself, to +have commanded it during these years is the +highest privilege.</p> + +<p>I hope that eventually the Liverpool +Irish, the 9th King's, and the 5th Loyal +North Lancs. may rejoin our ranks, and that +the final blow may be given shoulder to +shoulder with them.</p> + +<p>Till they come back again I wish them, on +the part of the Division and myself, all good +fortune and success, and can assure them that +we shall watch their career as keenly as if they +were still with us.</p> + +<p class='right'> +<span class="smcap">H.S. Jeudwine</span>,<br /> +Major General,<br /> +Commanding 55th Division.<br /> +</p></div> + +<p>Unfortunately the hopes of the Major General +were not realised. He never saw this Battalion +on parade again.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p class='pagenum'>[Pg 97]<a name="Page_97" id="Page_97"></a></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The 57th Division</span>.</h3> + + +<p>The second line Battalion was formed at +Blackpool in 1914, and on the departure of the +first Battalion from Tunbridge Wells for France +its place was taken by the second Battalion. For +a considerable time it carried out training at +Tunbridge Wells, Ashford, Oxted, Maidstone, +Canterbury and Blackdown, from which place it +departed on the 17th February, 1917, for France.</p> + +<p>It was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel +Leggatt, and formed part of Brigadier-General +Paynter's 172nd Infantry Brigade of the 57th +Division, which was a Division composed entirely +of Lancashire troops, and a sister Division to the +55th.</p> + +<p>After being delayed for three days at Folkestone, +it crossed to Boulogne on the 20th. The +next day it was moved by train to the neighbourhood +of Bailleul, and from there by stages to the +village of Erquinghem, south of Armentières. +After a week spent in training, completing equipment, +and reconnoitring the sector to be taken +over, it went into the Bois Grenier sector. During +the first tour in the trenches, the front held +was twice extended and eventually it held +a front of one and three-quarter miles. Here +the Battalion remained for nearly seven months. +The sector had been held by the New Zealanders, +and was one of the quietest on the whole British +front, but orders were now given to liven things +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 98]<a name="Page_98" id="Page_98"></a></span> +up in order to keep as many enemy troops opposite +the sector as possible, and distract their +attention from the impending operations at +Messines on the left. This object was achieved +by considerable activity, patrols, and artillery +bombardments. The extent of the front held +entailed a good deal of exertion in the way of +working parties, both to prevent the breast-works +from falling into complete decay and to keep +the trenches drained; and though the Battalion +was very fortunate and suffered comparatively +few casualties, the numbers steadily dwindled +as no drafts were forthcoming. The enemy had +very little artillery opposite this sector, and +relied mainly for his defence on minenwerfers +which he used liberally and skilfully, harassing +the Battalion with an exceedingly heavy bombardment +about once a fortnight.</p> + +<p>In August, the Commanding Officer left the +Regiment and the command was taken over by +Lieutenant-Colonel Manger. The following +month the Battalion was taken out of the line for +a rest, and was billeted in the village of Febvin +Palfart. Here it remained for a month reorganising +and practising the attack, special +attention being paid to the method of taking +"pill boxes" by encirclement.</p> + +<p>In October the "Second Ninth" set out for the +Ypres salient, and on arriving at Proven was +accommodated in tents. There it was told that the +Division was about to take part in an attack on +Passchendaele, but the weather conditions were +so bad that, after an attack by one of the other +brigades in the Division, the offensive was finally +abandoned. The Battalion then held the shell +crater line in front of Langemarck for a few +days at the beginning of November, sustaining +a considerable number of casualties. The +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 99]<a name="Page_99" id="Page_99"></a></span> +Division was then withdrawn and the Battalion +was put into rest billets at Nielles. After about +a month spent there in re-organisation and training +for the attack, it moved up to Emile Camp, just +outside Elverdinghe. The weather was bitterly +cold and the ground frozen hard. On Christmas +Day the Battalion went into the shell crater +line at Poelcappelle, and spent four days there. +The weather conditions were very severe, snow +had fallen, the ground was wet and the machine +gun fire very active. The first week in January +the Regiment was once again in its original sector +at Armentières. Here things were comparatively +quiet, though the trenches were in a very bad +condition, and the danger of trench feet was +considerable. The Battalion carried out a very +successful raid on the 1st February. Several +patrols had been sent out to locate the best place +of entry into the enemy line. After an intense +bombardment on the selected spot, a party was +able to enter and secure a few prisoners. This +was the most successful raid the Division had +accomplished.</p> + +<p>The remnants of the first Battalion left +Lisbourg for Steenwerck, where they spent a few +days awaiting the return of the second Battalion +from the trenches. The two units met at +Waterlands Camp outside Armentières, and +were united to form one battalion. The union, +though imperative, was distasteful to some, as +many officers and non-commissioned officers had +to relinquish acting ranks which they had held +for some time, and it perhaps gave rise to some +jealousy which fortunately disappeared in time.</p> + +<p>After a few days spent at Waterlands, the +Battalion moved into support at Erquinghem, +with one company in the Lunatic Asylum at +Armentières, and after a short stay it did one +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 100]<a name="Page_100" id="Page_100"></a></span> +tour in the line near Houplines, and then went to +Estaires, where it was in support to the Portuguese +Army.</p> + +<p>This was then a quiet country town in which +the shops were still open, and incidentally doing +a very good trade, and it had suffered little from +the effects of artillery. During the next three +months it was to be reduced to ruins. The +Battalion was accommodated in a Nissen hut +camp just outside the town, where the company +commanders had an opportunity of completing +the re-organisation of their companies.</p> + +<p>On the 13th March the non-commissioned +officers celebrated the anniversary of the +Battalion's first arrival in France by arranging +a kind of concert in one of the estaminets in +Estaires. This was the last occasion before the +Armistice on which such a celebration took +place, and it has developed into an annual reunion +of the senior non-commissioned officers.</p> + +<p>Towards the end of the month the Battalion +left Estaires for the Armentières front, and on +the 21st March Ludendorff's advance commenced +on the 5th Army front, at which time the Battalion +was in line in the Fleurbaix sector. Ten days +later the unit was relieved and marched to +Estaires, where it arrived on the morning of the +1st April. Leaving this town later in the day, +it made Haverskerque that night, left there the +next day for Steenwerck, and entrained for +Doullens. Detraining at Doullens at 1 a.m. +on the 3rd, the Battalion proceeded by night +march to Sus St. Leger. The night was dark +and the roads were in bad condition and a few +men fell out, but on the whole, the march discipline +was good. On the 5th the Battalion +moved to Warluzel, where it remained for three +days and then proceeded to Thièvres, staying +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 101]<a name="Page_101" id="Page_101"></a></span> +there four days. These moves meant a great +strain on everyone. To march in full pack on +bad roads with motor lorries splashing mud, +day after day, is an ordeal. In each village a +fresh start had to be made. Billets had to be +found and allotted, fire orders put up and billet +guards mounted. Latrines and cook-houses had +to be improvised, and the usual foot inspections +were made. Besides this the usual routine +returns had to be rendered to people that sat in +comfortable offices, and the men had to do ration +fatigues and guards. Though the difficulties of +the companies were great, the difficulties of the +Quartermaster's department and that of the +Transport Officer were much greater. The +Quartermaster had not enough room to take the +stores he wished, and the Transport Officer had +as much as he could do to carry all the stores +there were.</p> + +<p>On the 12th a move was made to Sombrin, +and the next day the Battalion left Sombrin late +in the afternoon for an unknown destination. +Even the Colonel did not know, and there was a +vague rumour that the Brigade staff were to look +after the unit. The men marched over bad +roads and in the dark, and ultimately they were +turned into a wood and told there were no billets, +and they could bivouac for the night. Officers +and men lay down on the damp earth where they +were and slept. Fortunately it did not rain. A +few tents came up very late, and in the darkness +they could not be pitched, but they were spread +out and thrown over the men as they lay sleeping +on the ground. Fires could not be lighted as the +enemy aeroplanes would have used them as aiming +marks. In the morning the Battalion on awaking +found it was just outside Pas, in what was called +Beaucamp Ravine. Here it remained for two +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 102]<a name="Page_102" id="Page_102"></a></span> +days, and then moved to Hénu, where the men +pitched a camp in a field, and there the Battalion +remained for a little over a fortnight. But it +was no rest camp. The weather was very bad +and the ground became wet and sodden. Every +alternate day large working parties, which consumed +almost all the available men, were detailed +for work on the rear lines of defence, that were +being hastily constructed, in view of the imminence +of a fresh enemy offensive. On the intervening +days training took place. There was a thirty +yards' range in a ravine just in the rear of the +camp, where some very interesting competitions +took place. Rifle sections were pitted against +Lewis gun sections and it was found that, in some +platoons a rifle section of eight men was able to +get as many shots on the target as the Lewis gun, +and it was noticed incidentally that after two +hundred rounds the Lewis gun became far too +hot to handle. It was a much over-rated weapon, +and was only effective in the hands of highly +trained men.</p> + +<p>Several reconnaissances were made by the +officers while at Hénu. The forward area was +visited again and again. Defence schemes were +studied and prepared, but these tended to become +a little too complex, and had it been necessary to +put them into operation something would surely +have gone wrong.</p> + +<p>The morale at this time was low. The extent +of the losses on the 5th and 2nd Army fronts +were known. The enemy was using British +60-pounder guns against the area occupied by the +Battalion, but as the enemy gunners did not +thoroughly understand how to set the fuses, the +shells were all blind. The Germans seemed to +be able to advance whenever they wished, whereas +the British had miserably failed at Ypres the last +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 103]<a name="Page_103" id="Page_103"></a></span> +year. The men were not in very good fettle +owing to the several recent marches, and the +chance of complete victory seemed to be remote. +Nevertheless there were many who kept cheerful +and intended like game cocks to fight to the last.</p> + +<p>The first week in May the Battalion went into +line at Gommecourt. The other two units in +the Brigade were in the outpost line, and the +9th King's was in close support in Gommecourt +Park. It was accommodated in what were +formerly the front line enemy positions in 1916. +It was an education in military engineering to +examine them. The trenches were deep and +wide, and there were traverses every few yards. +They were revetted with hurdles and planks of +timber which were kept in position by iron pickets, +which were securely wired to anchor pickets +driven sideways into the walls of the trench. So +well anchored were the revetments that in spite +of the continuous bombardments of the Somme +Battle they were still in position. The whole +line was stellated with concrete machine-gun +emplacements, which gave a perfect command +over the former British front line trenches. +Armoured look-out posts for sentries were at the +top of all the dugout stairs. The dugouts were +deeply mined and well timbered, and would +provide shelter for a large garrison.</p> + +<p>In front of the trenches was a dense wire +entanglement at least twenty yards broad, and +although it had suffered much from artillery fire +it was still an obstacle which was only passable +by infantry in certain places where lanes had +been made. Anyone who saw this entanglement +did not wonder why the British attack on the +Somme on the 1st July, 1916, failed. Several +graves of the fallen could be seen here and there +in the wire.</p> + +<p class='pagenum'>[Pg 104]<a name="Page_104" id="Page_104"></a></p> +<p>It was very interesting to walk through the +Park. Despite the bombardments it had undergone, +the rides were clearly marked, and several +trees were still alive, including one or two fine +copper beeches. Wild hyacinths and other +flowers were blooming in profusion, and a cuckoo, +with doubtful wisdom, persisted in remaining +in its usual haunts.</p> + +<p>While in this position the whole Battalion +was engaged in reclaiming old trenches, digging +new ones, and putting the area in a position of +defence and establishing a central keep.</p> + +<p>On the 11th May the enemy shelled Foncquevillers, +a village immediately in rear of the Battalion's +position, with gas shells, most of which were +charged with mustard gas, and some of the gas +being inhaled by the men of the Battalion twenty-four +casualties were sustained.</p> + +<p>Three days later the Battalion took over the +front line, the Headquarters still remaining at +Gommecourt, but in another part of the village. +The trenches were very wet, and reminded one of +the Loos trenches in 1915. It was a time of great +patrol activity. No one was quite sure where +the Germans were and in what force. Daylight +and night fighting patrols constantly left the +British lines, and almost invariably came across +parties of the enemy, but as the enemy was caged +in by wire prisoners could not be obtained.</p> + +<p>In this sector the enemy had full observation +of the village from Rossignol Wood, and men +from other units were in the habit of betraying +the location of dumps and headquarters by walking +along the roads in daylight instead of through the +communication trenches. This enabled the +enemy to note ways of approach which he could +shell after nightfall, and so inflict casualties on +working parties. To prevent this, two snipers +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 105]<a name="Page_105" id="Page_105"></a></span> +were told off to lie in the grass and fire above the +head of anyone who did not keep in the communication +trenches. The scheme was efficacious; +the men respected the snipers more than the +enemy, and little trouble was given afterwards +by the casual visitor to the sector.</p> + +<p>One fine morning the enemy elected to shell +Battalion headquarters, to the great amusement +of the companies in the front line. Two out +of the three mine entrances to the dugout occupied +by the headquarter's personnel received direct +hits and were blocked. The Second in Command +then had the unpleasant duty of crawling out +of the third entrance to see if all was well. +Fortunately nothing untoward had taken place +except three slight casualties.</p> + +<p>On relief two companies went to the Chateau +de la Haie, and the two other companies and +Headquarters to Rossignol Farm, a large monastic +farm of considerable age. There was an enormous +byre partitioned off into several pig styes, and +this was allotted to the officers, one pig stye for +each officer. The War Diary for the next three +weeks gives an interesting and accurate account +of what took place, so the following extract is +included:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>May 24th.—Battalion headquarters moved up to +Chateau de la Haie, and Lieutenant-Colonel +F.W.M. Drew, D.S.O., being in need of a rest, +was evacuated sick, and Major S.C. Ball, M.C., +assumed command. While at this Chateau, +Battalion headquarters had the pleasure of +being closely associated with the headquarters +of the 1st Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers; +and it is interesting to record that this was not +the first time that the Battalion had the +honour of working in conjunction with this +illustrious regiment. Many members of the +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 106]<a name="Page_106" id="Page_106"></a></span> +Battalion could clearly remember how the +9th had the honour of relieving the 2nd Royal +Munster Fusiliers, elements of which were +incorporated in the 1st Royal Munster +Fusiliers, after the Battle of Loos, in the 3rd +Infantry Brigade of the 1st Division.</p> + +<p>May 25th.—<span class="smcap">Beer Trench</span>.—The Battalion +relieved the 1st Battalion Royal Munster +Fusiliers in Beer Trench, where "A" and +"D" Companies and the Lewis gunners of +"B" were accommodated. "B" and "C" +Companies remained in the Chateau de la Haie +Switch. There was heavy shelling in "A" +Company's area during the evening, but no +casualties were sustained. The Battalion +came tactically under the orders of the 170th +Infantry Brigade while in Beer Trench.</p> + +<p>May 26th.—Gas shells known as yellow cross +shells, were fired over "A" Company's +sector in the early morning. The men +quickly adjusted their masks, and no casualties +were sustained. The rest of the day +passed quietly.</p> + +<p>May 27th to 29th.—These days were fairly quiet.</p> + +<p>May 29th.—<span class="smcap">Rum Trench</span>.—The Battalion relieved +the 2-4th Loyal North Lancashire +Regiment and occupied the reserve position +in the Left Brigade Sector. "B" Company +and Headquarters were in Gommecourt Wood. +"A" Company was in the centre with posts +in Gommecourt Trench, and "C" Company +was on the left flank in Pigeon Wood. "D" +Company was in reserve with orders to man a +strong point, known as Julius Point, in case of +an attack. Opportunity was afforded of studying +the solidarity of the enemy forms of revetment, +their fortified sentry boxes, observation +posts, and the thoroughness of the mined +<!-- Page 107 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 107]<a name="Page_107" id="Page_107"></a></span>dugouts, several of which were occupied by the +Battalion.</p> + +<p>May 30th—31st.—These days were spent in +comparative quietness, and the Battalion +furnished several working parties. There was +abnormal sickness during this tour in the +trenches, due in all probability to the effects +of gas.</p> + +<p>June 1st.—<span class="smcap">Gommecourt</span>.—The Battalion was in +reserve to the Brigade in the Left Brigade +Sector at Gommecourt with Headquarters in +the old German support line, north of Gommecourt +Wood, which was renamed Rum Support. +The companies were disposed from right to +left in order, "B," "A" and "C" in Gommecourt +Trench and Gommecourt Support. "D" +Company was in reserve. The companies were +housed in mined dugouts made by the enemy, +and again evidence of the industry of the +Germans was seen in the mined dugouts, +armoured sentry boxes, substantial revetments +and belts of wire entanglements.</p> + +<p>At morning "stand to," the enemy put +down a barrage on the Divisional Front. The +S.O.S. went up in several places and our +artillery—some of which was immediately in +rear—opened with rapid fire. It transpired later +that the enemy raided the Right Brigade +sector without success. The usual working +parties were provided in the evening.</p> + +<p>June 2nd.—The IV. Corps Commander visited +the Battalion's sector. The Battalion did +considerable work in its own sector digging +rifle slits, and making baby elephant dugouts, +besides providing the Royal Engineers with +the usual working parties.</p> + +<p>June 3rd.—The day passed in comparative tranquillity. +Owing to the good weather prevailing +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 108]<a name="Page_108" id="Page_108"></a></span>at this period our observers were able to +observe well behind the enemy lines. Occasionally +they could see small bodies of the enemy +moving about and sometimes horses grazing.</p> + +<p>June 4th.—The day was spent very quietly, +and there is nothing of interest to record.</p> + +<p>June 5th.—The Brigadier commanding 172nd +Infantry Brigade visited the Battalion and +expressed his appreciation of the wiring done +at Salmon Trench. Visibility was very good +in the evening, and several parties of Germans +were again seen.</p> + +<p>June 6th.—The enemy opened a harassing fire on +Battalion headquarters with 77 m.m. guns +and 10.5 c.m. howitzers, firing with occasional +short intervals until 3 p.m.</p> + +<p>June 7th.—The day was spent very quietly and +there is nothing of interest to relate.</p> + +<p>June 7th—8th.—The Battalion relieved the +2-4th Battalion South Lancashire Regiment +in the left section of the Left Brigade Front. +Companies were disposed as follows:—Left +front company, "A." Centre company, "D." +Right front company, "C." Reserve company, +"B." Battalion headquarters were established +in Salmon Trench in the vicinity of a +locality known as Salmon Point.</p> + +<p>June 9th.—<span class="smcap">In the Line</span>.—The enemy displayed +more than usual activity. The Brigadier +General visited the sector.</p> + +<p>June 10th.—Some rain fell during the day. +The enemy displayed his usual artillery +activity. Two enemy aeroplanes, one of +which was a Halberstadter, flew over the +Battalion area at a low altitude for some +time.</p> + +<p>June 11th.—The day was fairly quiet, our forward +posts in front of Rossignol Wood were +<!-- Page 109 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 109]<a name="Page_109" id="Page_109"></a></span>troubled by our own artillery which persistently +fired short.</p> + +<p>June 12th.—The enemy was noticeably quieter.</p> + +<p>June 13th.—The Duke of Marlborough and Mr. +Winston Churchill visited the Battalion +sector, accompanied by the Divisional Commander.</p> + +<p>June 14th.—Artillery activity at night has +quietened considerably. Our gunners still +continued to harass the enemy with an occasional +<i>rafale</i> from their field guns.</p> + +<p>The Battalion found a wiring party to +assist the 2-4th Battalion South Lancashire +Regiment to wire Biez Wood. The Brigadier +General visited the sector.</p> + +<p>June 14th—15th.—The Battalion was relieved +by the 2-6th Battalion Liverpool Regiment. +During the relief the enemy artillery was very +active.</p> + +<p>June 15th.—<span class="smcap">Rossignol Farm</span>.—On relief the +Battalion was disposed as follows:—"A" +and "D" Companies at Chateau de la Haie; +"B" and "C" Companies and Battalion +headquarters at Rossignol Farm.</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>In May and June the Gommecourt sector was +active, and the artillery fire on both sides was +severe. The enemy employed a shell with an +instantaneous fuse called the E.K.Z. fuse, which +functioned before the shell buried itself and so +gave the shell a very great splinter effect. It +was usual for the enemy to fire on cross roads and +similar targets in salvoes of four. The British +artillery replied and kept up a lively fire most of +the time, and it appeared to have the ascendency. +Gas shells were frequently used on both sides.</p> + +<p>Early in July the Battalion came out to rest +at Authie, where it was accommodated under +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 110]<a name="Page_110" id="Page_110"></a></span> +canvas. Here it was that Lieutenant-Colonel +Lord Henry Seymour, D.S.O., of the Grenadier +Guards, took command. Training for the attack +took place in some cornfields near to the camp, and +particular attention was paid to the keeping of +direction in the advance, the tactical employment +of Lewis guns and the envelopment of machine +gun nests. The fighting had become more open +this year than it had been in 1917, and consequently +the men had to be kept up to date. To +consolidate a position the men were taught to +form platoon strong points with the flanks +refused or bent back so as to be able to meet an +attack from any direction. Unfortunately the +corn crops were spoilt by the training of the +troops.</p> + +<p>While at Authie, sports took place, and in the +Brigade sports the Battalion secured seven first, +eight second, and one third prize. The Army +Rifle Competitions took place here, and No. 6 +platoon of "B" Company won the eliminating +competition in the Brigade, but unfortunately +failed to win the Divisional competition.</p> + +<p>Then followed a period of meanderings which +lasted for a month, and which at the time were +difficult to understand. On the 29th July the +Battalion left Authie and marched to billets at +Warluzel by the following route: Pas, Grincourt, +and Couterelle. The march was rather severe as +the weather was very hot, and it needed the +greatest firmness on the part of the officers to +prevent the men from falling out. The next +day the Battalion paraded at 6-15 a.m., and +marched to Agnez-les-Duisans <i>via</i> Hermaville, +where it arrived in the afternoon.</p> + +<p>In the evening of the following day the Battalion +paraded and marched to Arras, entering the +<!-- Page 111 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 111]<a name="Page_111" id="Page_111"></a></span>city by the Baudimont Gate, and the men were +billeted for the night in the Spanish houses in the +Grande Place. In the evening of the next day the +Battalion paraded in the Square and marched +to Wakefield Camp by Roclincourt. While in +Arras the troops found an old hat shop and great +amusement was caused by the soldiers arraying +themselves in ladies' hats, which gave them a +very strange appearance. A tall silk hat very +much out of fashion was reserved for the officers, +which they tried on in turn.</p> + +<p>A week or so was spent in training at Roclincourt, +and on the 9th the Battalion took over the +outpost zone in the Gavrelle-Fampoux sector. +The companies were taken up to the forward area +by a light railway, and this was the only occasion +on which the Battalion was taken to the forward +area in such a manner.</p> + +<p>The positions occupied gave a good view over +the enemy hinterland. From the Battalion headquarters +at the Point du Jour, factory chimneys +could be seen smoking in several villages behind +the German line, and the clock on Douai Church +was clearly visible. Occasionally a train was +seen moving, and now and then a party of +Germans was observed. Behind the British line +lay the rolling Artois country which was fundamentally +agricultural, and in front there loomed +in the distance an industrial manufacturing +district, which seemed a far-off civilization in +contrast to the devastation behind. It was a +time of great aeriel activity on both sides. Battles +were fought at high altitudes, of which one was +scarcely conscious except when one of the combatant +machines fell headlong to earth. As a +means of self protection Lewis guns were placed +on aeriel mountings, and a sharp look out was +<!-- Page 112 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 112]<a name="Page_112" id="Page_112"></a></span>kept for any daring Halberstadter that should +venture too low. The weather at the time was +fine, and the tour was regarded as one of the +easiest the men had been called upon to do.</p> + +<p>On the 17th August the Battalion was relieved +just before midnight, and marched to +Anzin, where it arrived at 4-30 a.m. the next +morning, and the men had breakfast. Later it +entrained for Bailleul-aux-Cornailles, where four +days were spent. On the 21st an order was +received about 10 p.m., (after the men had bedded +down) to move at once. The move was quite +unexpected as everyone believed the Battalion +was to stay in the village for several days longer. +Kits were hastily packed in the darkness, and in +an hour the Battalion was ready to move. Fosseux +was reached in the early morning, breakfast +taken, and the men rested until 1 p.m. In the +evening another sudden message ordered a night +march to Boucquemaison, which was reached +early on the 23rd, and the men rested during the +day time, paraded at nightfall and marched to +Barly.</p> + +<p>These marches were perhaps rather fatiguing, +but as they took place at night and the weather +was very pleasant, they were not as bad as they +might have been. The march discipline was +excellent and scarcely any men fell out. The +companies as day was breaking presented nevertheless +a worn-out appearance. The men were +dusty and tired out as they trudged in the mist +of the morning, with the field kitchen and Lewis +gun cart in the rear. The cooks were doing their +best to get the fire lighted to boil the water for +breakfast. The pack animals seemed to wonder +what necessity there could be for all this marching, +and the company charger, generally a very dejected +jade, feeling as proud of his position as +<!-- Page 113 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 113]<a name="Page_113" id="Page_113"></a></span>his mean station in the equine world would permit, +persistently refused to keep his proper +position when a halt was called.</p> + +<p>It was during the march to Barly that the +men were told, during a halt at midnight, that +victory was certain, and that Marshal Foch had +ordered everyone to advance. This news instantly +raised the <i>morale</i> of every one, and the rest of the +journey seemed more pleasant than usual.</p> + + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Second Battle of Arras</span>.</h3> + +<p>A day's halt took place at Barly, where the +surplus personnel was left while the fighting men +left for Bellacourt. The next day the Battalion +left and, passing <i>en route</i> Ficheux and Blaireville, +the villages in front of which it had spent so many +weary months in 1916, arrived at Mercatel.</p> + +<p>On the 27th August the Battalion proceeded, +dressed in fighting order, to the Hindenburg +Line, <i>via</i> Henin, and took over trenches in V. 7.c. +On the 28th a warning order was received at 6 a.m. +that the Battalion would attack that day. Operation +orders followed later. The two leading +companies were to assemble at Humber Redoubt +and Mole Lane, and the other two companies in +the rear. The first objective assigned to the +Battalion was Hoop Lane and the second the +village of Riencourt. Flanks were given and +zero was fixed for 12-30 p.m.</p> + +<p>It was fortunate that a warning order had been +given as otherwise the companies would not have +been in position in time. At 12-30 p.m. the +barrage came down and the men commenced to +move forward. The going at first was not easy, +owing to the wire and numerous shell holes. +Shortly after zero the contact aeroplane unfortunately +received a direct hit by a shell and crashed +<!-- Page 114 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 114]<a name="Page_114" id="Page_114"></a></span>to earth. Very heavy machine gun fire was +directed against the leading companies from +Copse Trench, which brought about many casualties. +Fag Alley was reached and in its vicinity +several machine guns were captured, and the +teams either killed or taken prisoners. From +this point to the first objective the resistance was +not so strong, and on reaching it red flares were +lit.</p> + +<p>About 1-50 p.m. the Battalion continued the +advance from the first objective, and swung left +in the direction of the village of Hendicourt. +The resistance became stronger. The enemy was +using his machine guns boldly. Some of these +were outflanked and captured with a few light +minenwerfers. About fifty prisoners, chiefly +belonging to the 121st and the 180th Infantry +Regiments of the 26th Reserve Division were +taken, along with a few Uhlans. Eventually the +fringe of Hendicourt was reached, and several +men entered the village. As it was reported that +there were no British troops on either side of the +village it was decided on the spot to withdraw to +Cemetery Avenue temporarily. "D" Company +was endeavouring to get round the north side of +the village but was held up by heavy machine gun +fire from Crow's Nest. Owing to this machine +gun fire and to the fact that the left flank of the +Battalion was in the air, and that the British +artillery was shelling the village, it was decided to +consolidate Cemetery Trench. Meanwhile some +enemy field gunners were firing at the British at +very close range. By this time the troops had +got very mixed up, and it was essential that the +commanders on the spot should organise what +men they found near by. This was done and +the Battalion remained in its consolidated positions +until the next day, when at noon it was +<!-- Page 115 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 115]<a name="Page_115" id="Page_115"></a></span>withdrawn to Copse Trench and afterwards to +a bivouac area at Henin.</p> + +<p>Unfortunately, Lord Henry Seymour was +wounded on the 28th August and the command +then devolved upon Major Ball. There was a +great deal of re-organisation to be done. The +surplus personnel rejoined. Lists of casualties +had to be prepared, ammunition, flares, Verey +lights, and iron rations had to be given out. New +platoon rolls had to be made at once. Lost Lewis +guns and spare parts had to be made up, as well +as possible. As a temporary measure "A" and +"C" Companies, now sadly depleted in numbers, +were united to form "X" Company, while "B" +and "D" Companies formed "Y" Company. +This scheme was adopted so that the original companies +and platoons would not sink their identities +in that of a sister company. This re-organisation +was completed, equipment made up, and all necessary +stores given out within twenty-four hours, +and the Battalion was again ready for action. +The bivouac area was vacated at 4 p.m. on the +1st September, and the Battalion went to the +Hindenburg Line, where a few hours were spent. +It left the Hindenburg Line about 10-30 p.m. for +Hendicourt. An unfortunate circumstance, however, +had taken place. The intelligence section, +which was to act as guides to take the companies +to Hendicourt, was annihilated by a shell, and as +a consequence it was very difficult to get there to +time in view of the lack of guides. The Battalion +was piloted by the Adjutant over numerous broken-in +trenches, while enemy aeroplanes were disseminating +bombs quite liberally.</p> + +<p>Hendicourt was reached fifteen minutes before +zero, which was at 5 a.m. One company was +then ordered to advance in the direction of +Riencourt, the fringe of which village it reached +<!-- Page 116 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 116]<a name="Page_116" id="Page_116"></a></span>by advancing over the open under cover of the +barrage and, incidentally, encountering the German +barrage.</p> + +<p>On this day the famous Drocourt-Quéant +Switch, the last and perhaps the strongest line +of resistance of the enemy, was completely broken. +Months had been spent on its preparation and in +making concrete machine gun emplacements and +belts of barbed wire, and its fall in one day was +remarkable.</p> + +<p>Later in the day the companies went forward +over the ground captured by the other units in the +Brigade, and one or two patrols were sent out. +The following evening the Battalion was withdrawn +to a bivouac area outside Croisilles, which +vicinity was shelled by a 350 m.m. Krupp gun. +The Battalion was reorganised on a four-company +basis once more the next day.</p> + +<p>On the 7th September the Battalion proceeded, +<i>via</i> Hendicourt and Riencourt, to a reserve position +by Cagnicourt, and on the 10th the Battalion +furnished two companies for manning the Buissy +Switch in the rear of Inchy-en-Artois. Battalion +headquarters were situated in the Hindenburg +Line and the two forward companies were just on +the fringe of Inchy, and accommodated in what +had lately been the headquarters of the 115th +Feldartillerie Regiment. The dugout was cut +into the side of the road and consisted of several +well-timbered rooms and there were about four +entrances. This dugout was so well fitted that +it actually contained a pump, to ensure an adequate +supply of water for the garrison.</p> + +<p>On the 11th September there was an attack by +other units in the 57th Division in conjunction +with the Guards Division on the east side of Inchy +and Moeuvres, so as to secure the line of the +<!-- Page 117 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 117]<a name="Page_117" id="Page_117"></a></span>Canal du Nord. The attack was covered by an +intense bombardment of the enemy front positions +and Bourlon Wood, and the advance of the +infantry was covered by smoke. Officers from +the Battalion observed the attack from Buissy +Switch to note where lay the enemy barrage lines. +The attack at Inchy was, unfortunately, a failure.</p> + +<p>On the 12th the Battalion took over the defence +of Inchy. The right company was located in +Grabburg Post, and the left in a shell crater position +by the Agache Springs. The other two companies +were in support. The conditions were bad, +and the men in front had to lie in their shell craters +all day. As these generally contained water, the +men got very wet. The village was incessantly +shelled and periodically drenched with gas. Even +night brought no respite and the guns still disgorged +their fatal missiles. Some idea of the +intensity of the shell fire may be gained from the +following incident.</p> + +<p>"A" Company headquarters and one platoon +were quartered in a long cellar belonging to a factory. +The cellar was divided into two compartments, +and of these only the one further from +the entrance was occupied. While the shelling +was taking place the Company Commander was +out interviewing the Commanding Officer and, +returning to his headquarters, he saw shell after +shell burst in the vicinity. When the intensity +of the fire was somewhat mitigated, he returned +to company headquarters and there saw a shell +had entered and burst in the empty compartment. +When he asked the men about it they did +not know what had happened, and they even had +not noticed it amid the several other shells that +had burst close by.</p> + +<p>While at Inchy the Battalion had the misfortune +to lose its most popular officer, who was +<!-- Page 118 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 118]<a name="Page_118" id="Page_118"></a></span>killed while doing a daylight patrol in Pavilland +Wood. He had fought in the first Battle of +Ypres in 1914 and had remained in France until +wounded in 1917. Though blind in one eye and +deaf in one ear, he insisted on returning to the +battlefield after his wounds had healed. His +conduct stands out in sharp contrast to the +thousands who were evading service at home.</p> + +<p>On the 16th September, the Battalion was +relieved and marched by companies to a bivouac +area by Bullecourt. On arrival a thunderstorm +took place. The men were soon wet, the ground +sodden, and the bivouac sheets caked with mud. +To this was added the fact that fires and lights +were not permitted on account of the enemy +aeroplanes. The next day, however, was fine +and everyone quickly dried. Of the village +scarcely a vestige remained. Here and there the +foundation of a wall was discernible in the mud. +French villages are usually well wooded, but of +all the trees in Bullecourt there was only one +standing, and that had died from the effects of +shell fire. The Battalion marched off next day and +entrained by Boyelles, and after a short journey +detrained at Beaumetz. Here the men saw once +again the village they knew so well in 1916. It +seemed strange that trains were running in the +station now.</p> + +<p>At Beaumetz the Battalion marched past some +of its former billets to Bailleulment. Here a few +days were spent in resting and training, and on +the 25th September the Battalion marched to +Beaumetz and by train and route march proceeded +to a bivouac area at Lagnicourt.</p> + +<p>On the 27th September the Battalion took +part in the advance. The men got to the position +of assembly in the Hindenburg Line and then +passed through Moeuvres, crossed the Canal du +<!-- Page 119 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 119]<a name="Page_119" id="Page_119"></a></span>Nord and advanced in artillery formation towards +the southern corner of Bourlon Wood.</p> + +<p>While coming over the crest just north of +Anneux "A" Company came under the direct +fire of a 105 m.m. enemy gun, the detachment of +which was firing over open sights, and several +casualties were sustained. The Battalion was +soon held up by machine gun fire, but it afterwards +advanced and took up a position between Anneux +and Bourlon Wood. The 29th was spent in re-organisation.</p> + +<p>On the 30th the Battalion paraded, and an +attempt was made to carry on the attack. Unfortunately, +the suburb of Proville had not been +captured, as had been originally supposed, and +the attack could not proceed on account of the +heavy machine gun fire from the houses.</p> + +<p>The Battalion was then withdrawn to La +Folie Wood, where a few days were spent in old +German shelters. The enemy evidently knew +that the wood was occupied, for he persistently +shelled it with his heavy batteries, and the trees +served to intensify the sound of the explosions. +Several 18-pounder guns and a battery of 8-inch +howitzers were about a hundred yards or so in +rear of the Battalion's position; and when an +attack by one of the other units in the Division +was in progress the noise was intense.</p> + +<p>On the 5th October the Battalion took over +the outpost zone at Proville, with headquarters at +La Marlière. At this time there were few troops +on the bridgehead east of the Canal de l'Escaut. +The area was periodically searched by the enemy +heavy artillery, and the posts at Proville suffered +considerably from minenwerfer fire. On relief +the Battalion returned to La Folie Wood.</p> + +<p>When Cambrai fell on the 9th October the +Battalion left for the Cantaing area and on the +<!-- Page 120 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 120]<a name="Page_120" id="Page_120"></a></span>11th moved to a bivouac area by Inchy. The +next day it marched to Hermies, and there entrained +for Bethune, where it arrived next day +and marched to Douvrin.</p> + +<p>It was now almost three years since the +Battalion had been in the vicinity of Bethune, but +there were still some present who could remember +how the Battalion in the spring of 1915 had +marched for the first time to the trenches in front +of this town. The next day the Battalion went +by motor lorries through Locon and other places +the men had known so well in 1915 and, debussing +near Laventie, the Battalion marched via +Fromelles to Le Maisnil en Weppes. Passing +through what was formerly no man's land at +Laventie, the men were able to recognise the places +they had held in the trenches in the early part of +the year.</p> + + +<h3><span class="smcap">Lille</span>.</h3> + +<p>Three days were spent at Le Maisnil, during +which the seizure of Lille was carefully studied +by the officers and orders were given as to the +mode of procedure should the enemy evacuate the +town. On the 17th October at 1-15 p.m. the +Battalion paraded in fighting order and advanced +to the deliverance of the city. There was at this +time a vague report that the enemy had departed, +but it was not known to what point the British +troops had then attained. There might have been +troops between the Battalion and the enemy, +and there might not. Road mines and "booby" +traps were to be expected. The Battalion arrived +at Haubourdin at 4 p.m., where there was a halt +for a meal. On reaching the suburbs of Lille +advance guards had to be sent out, as any point of +vantage might have concealed an enemy machine +<!-- Page 121 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 121]<a name="Page_121" id="Page_121"></a></span>gun. The canal on the west of the city was reached +about 5 o'clock. The bridges had all been blown +up, but the Pont de Canteleu, though broken in +two and half in the canal, afforded a means of +crossing one at a time.</p> + +<p>At this bridge the greatest excitement prevailed. +Crowds of women were singing the "Marseillaise." +They surrounded the troops and could +not be prevented from kissing the soldiers. So +great was the crowd that the passage of the troops +was impeded. Eventually the companies reached +their allotted stations and formed guards on the +various gates to prevent all egress. In this way +the Battalion was the first infantry to reach the +city. Actually the first to enter was "D" Company.</p> + +<p>Here was a city without civil administration. +The late authorities had been the Germans, and +they had gone. There were no police and no +post; the streets were unlit and the trams had +long since ceased to run; garbage was deposited +in the street and there putrified. There was a +great shortage of food. The shops were empty, +hundreds had died of want, and the strength of +the inhabitants was very low.</p> + +<p>For three days the Battalion remained on +guard at the gates to prevent all egress of the +inhabitants, as there were some residents in the +city that the French authorities wished to arrest, +and so it was necessary to prevent their escape +before the French police arrived. Out of the men +not actually on duty, a guard of honour was +found to accompany M. Clemenceau on his +triumphal entry into the city on behalf of the +French Republic. It was an inspiring occasion, +and the greatest enthusiasm prevailed. The +Battalion on the 21st marched through Lille, +being met by "A" Company at the Porte des +<!-- Page 122 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 122]<a name="Page_122" id="Page_122"></a></span>Postes, to Ascq, where it stayed the night. The +next day it moved to Willems on the Belgian +frontier.</p> + + +<h3><span class="smcap">Tournai</span>.</h3> + +<p>On the 24th October the Battalion took over +the outpost zone at Froyennes by Tournai. This +was a new kind of warfare. There were no +trenches, no enemy line and no clearly defined +British line. Sentry groups were located in +houses, behind hedges and perhaps in a ditch on +the side of the road. Sentries kept a look-out +from a skylight window or gap in the hedge. +Civilians were living in the same houses as the +troops and some of these appeared rather friendly +towards the enemy. One woman actually wished +to take some washing to the Germans in Tournai. +For the most part these civilians were women, +and the soldiers admired their wonderful courage. +Even though they were in the centre of the fighting +they did not lose heart and there was no panic.</p> + +<p>In the right company area was situated a +chateau which had formerly been the headquarters +of General von Quast, the commander of the +Sixth German Army. Company headquarters +were in the next chateau, the Chateau de +Froyennes, belonging to the Germiny family, and +the then occupier, Mademoiselle Thérèse de +Germiny, who had remained, lent her boat to the +Company, and several men were able to row on +the ornamental lake which was situated at the +side of the chateau in a beautiful park. One +platoon was quartered in a restaurant which had +a beautiful and rustic garden, though it was too +near the enemy for the men to really enjoy the +comfort it afforded. Another platoon found in a +laundry a number of clean white shirts which the +men readily donned.</p> + +<p class='pagenum'>[Pg 123]<a name="Page_123" id="Page_123"></a></p> +<p>Though the Germans had been defeated, they +still continued to indulge in a lavish expenditure +of ammunition. Probably they were firing so +as to use up their remaining shells before evacuating. +Day after day the park belonging to the +Froyennes Chateau was searched by all manner +of shell. So intense was the fire that it reminded +one of the terrible moments of the Somme Battle. +The Hospital or Convent in which one of the companies +was located was subjected to incessant +minenwerfer fire.</p> + +<p>It is interesting to record that "A" Company +elected to do the full tour of four days in +the front position with the intention of spending +all the next tour in support, an eventuality which +did not take place as the Armistice intervened.</p> + +<p>Coming out from Froyennes the Battalion +was shelled on the road. Little did anyone think +that night that the Battalion had finished with +shell fire. For the men the war was over. Their +last time in action was passed. Among those +that trudged wearily out of action that night +were a few who had landed at Le Havre with +the Regiment more than three and a half years +before. Though they did not realise it until much +later these men were the lucky ones who were to +survive the war.</p> + +<p>The Battalion marched to Cornet and the next +day to Hellemmes, outside Lille, for a period of +rest. Here the men were quartered in a cotton +spinning factory, the machinery of which was all +utterly destroyed, and every man had his own +bunk. The officers were billeted in private houses +in the vicinity. While on parade on the morning +of the 11th November it was announced to the +men that the Armistice had been signed. The +news of the cessation of hostilities was received +by the soldiers without any manifestation of the +<!-- Page 124 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 124]<a name="Page_124" id="Page_124"></a></span>joy or excitement that marked the occasion at +home. The parade continued and the rest of the +day was spent quite as usual. The news for +which the men had waited so long seemed when it +came to be almost too good to be true.</p> + +<p>Some there were—savages by nature—who +were not altogether glad. They had been +taught to kill, and they wanted to kill. They +thought the Germans had not been punished +enough for their crimes and atrocities, and that the +enemy country ought to suffer the same devastation +as France. In the main, however, the men were +glad that the war was virtually over. They would +soon be able to return to their homes and live with +their loved ones again. On the night of the 13th the +reality of the terms of the Armistice was evidenced +by the returning British prisoners of war from the +German lines. A picquet was posted on the main +road outside Battalion headquarters, and on arrival +returning prisoners were escorted to a billet which +was prepared for them. Fires were burning in +the billet, and all of the late prisoners were +supplied with a bed. A hot meal, tea and a rum +ration were served to them as they arrived. By +midnight about eighty had come through. The +majority of them arrived in an exhausted condition, +having marched between forty and fifty +kilometres. Many were the stirring and pitiful +stories recounted by these unfortunate fellows +of the harsh treatment which they had received +during their period of captivity. The ensuing +days of the month were spent at Hellemmes under +the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Dawson for +a few days, and afterwards Lieutenant-Colonel +M.E. Makgill-Crichton-Maitland, D.S.O., of the +Grenadier Guards, took command.</p> + +<p>Training as usual was continued as it was not +realised at the time that the fighting was finished. +<!-- Page 125 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 125]<a name="Page_125" id="Page_125"></a></span>The parades took place in the vicinity of Fort +Macmahon, which had been used by the Germans +as quarters for prisoners of war. The conditions +inside the fort were terrible and constituted strong +evidence of the sufferings the prisoners of war +must have endured. In view of the imminence +of demobilisation, education classes were started, +and much good work was done in this direction. +In the evenings concerts and parties took place, +and friendships soon sprang up between the +soldiers and the Lilloises.</p> + + +<h3><span class="smcap">Arras</span>.</h3> + +<p>It was soon decided that the Army was to be +used for salvage work on the devastated area, +and accordingly orders came for a move to the +Arras area. On the 3rd December the Battalion +left Lille, and after a march of roughly 15 miles +it reached Carvin and spent the night in some +German ammunition huts in a wood. The next +day the Battalion passed through Lens, and one +was surprised to see how near the Highlanders +must have got to the town at the Battle of Loos. +After leaving Lens the Battalion marched right +through the centre of the district in which the +Vimy Ridge Battles had taken place. The whole +region was now desolate and deserted. After a +march of twenty-one miles three of the companies +marched to their billets at Etrun without +the loss of a single man. This was a striking +example of the efficiency of the Battalion and the +standard of its march discipline.</p> + +<p>A few days were spent in billets at Etrun and +then the Battalion moved to a Nissen hut camp +a short distance away at Maroeuil. Twelve +months ago the Battalion had spent a night at the +camp on its way to Lisbourg. The camp had been +empty for some months and was in a bad condition, +<!-- Page 126 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 126]<a name="Page_126" id="Page_126"></a></span>so that a great deal had to be done to make the +huts habitable. Beds and tables had to be constructed, +cook houses established and ovens built. +Duckboard tracks had to be laid as the ground +was muddy. In this work the men were assisted +by some German prisoners who worked very well +and thoroughly. No enmity was evinced by the +men, who would give the prisoners food if not +watched. So soon had the British soldiers forgotten +their hatred of the Germans. The Battalion +was given a large area to clear and every +day large parties were engaged on salvage work. +The afternoons were devoted to games and some +very keen football matches took place.</p> + +<p>Christmas time was an occasion for great rejoicing. +A competition for the best decorated +dining hut was held. Materials were not easily +available and the ingenuity of the officers was +taxed to the utmost. One company commander +had a scenic artist among his men and he managed +to secure an ample supply of paint. Others telegraphed +to England for table decorations and some +things could be bought in Arras. One sergeant-major +borrowed bed sheets from some lady friend +and these served as table cloths. The dining +huts were consequently well decorated and comfortable, +and eventually "B" Company secured +the prize. Christmas Day was one of feasting. +A cross country run the next day, in which all +from Commanding Officer downward, took part +wore off any evil effect.</p> + +<p>Early in January a "Colour Party" left +for Liverpool, where it received the colours of the +Regiment from the Lord Mayor on the 7th +January, and later brought them to the Battalion.</p> + +<p>Demobilisation commenced in January, and by +the end of February the disintegration of the +Battalion was proceeding rapidly. The numbers +<!-- Page 127 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 127]<a name="Page_127" id="Page_127"></a></span>dwindled so steadily that at length parades ceased. +Men who had served and lived together for so +long were parting and might perhaps never see +each other again. Friendships of months' standing +were now to come to an end. No bugle would +ever call these men together again. They were +each to return to their civilian life once more, +and there seek their several fortunes.</p> + +<p>The members of the Battalion took different +paths. A large contingent ultimately made its +way to Egypt as part of the garrison there. +Others, members of the cadre, came home with +the Colours in June and were received with due +honour by the Lord Mayor. One or two isolated +members crept up to the Rhine Army, where they +had the pleasure of seeing the result of their comrades' +work, and the Germans dejected and +defeated. It was indeed gratifying to see British +soldiers quartered in Bonn University, that home of +"kultur" where the late Kaiser Wilhelm was educated. +A reunion took place in St. George's Hall +on the 30th May, 1919. Afterwards the Battalion +ceased to exist as infantry, as the War Office +changed it to a Battalion of Royal Engineers +called the 2nd Battalion West Lancashire +Divisional Royal Engineers, to which several of +the officers transferred.</p> + +<p>The work of the Battalion is done. By the +bravery and industry of the officers and men, by +the soldierly spirit with which all were imbued, by +the discipline and good comradeship which kept +all together working in harmonious union, the +Battalion earned for itself a high reputation for +efficiency in every direction. The work it was +given to do has been done in a cheerful and +thorough manner, and let there be inscribed, with +due honour, upon the list of the illustrious +<!-- Page 128 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 128]<a name="Page_128" id="Page_128"></a></span>regiments which have deserved well of their +country, the name of the 9th Battalion of The +King's (Liverpool Regiment) Territorial Force.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<!-- Page 129 --><p class='pagenum'>[Pg 129]<a name="Page_129" id="Page_129"></a></p> +<h2><a name="APPENDIX" id="APPENDIX"></a>APPENDIX.</h2> +<p><i>List of Decorations earned by officers and men while +serving with the Battalion.</i></p> +<h5>A BAR TO THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER.</h5> +<p>Lieutenant-Colonel <span class="smcap">Lord H.C. Seymour</span>.<br /></p> +<h5>THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER AND THE MILITARY CROSS.</h5> +<p>Captain <span class="smcap">R.C. Wilde</span>.<br /></p> +<h5>THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER.</h5> +<p>Major-General <span class="smcap">F.W. Ramsay</span><br /> +Lieutenant-Colonel <span class="smcap">H.K.S. Woodhouse</span><br /> +Lieutenant-Colonel <span class="smcap">F.W.M. Drew</span><br /> +Major <span class="smcap">F.S. Evans</span><br /> +Major <span class="smcap">J. Mahony</span>, R.A.M.C.<br /></p> +<h5>THE MILITARY CROSS AND A BAR.</h5> +<p>Captain <span class="smcap">E.H.G. Roberts</span><br /> +Captain <span class="smcap">C.G.R. Hill</span><br /> +Lieutenant <span class="smcap">S.H. Randall</span><br /> +Lieutenant <span class="smcap">A.O. Warde</span><br /></p> +<h5>THE MILITARY CROSS.</h5> +<p>Major <span class="smcap">J.W.B. Hunt</span><br /> +Major <span class="smcap">P.G.A. Lederer</span><br /> +Captain <span class="smcap">S.T.J. Perry</span><br /> +Captain <span class="smcap">E.L. Mackenzie</span>, R.A.M.C.<br /> +Captain <span class="smcap">W. Raine</span><br /> +Captain <span class="smcap">A.G. Warde</span><br /> +Captain <span class="smcap">E. Payne</span><br /> +Captain <span class="smcap">L.L.S. Richer</span><br /> +Captain <span class="smcap">L.S. Elton</span><br /> +Captain <span class="smcap">F. Atkinson</span><br /> +Captain <span class="smcap">G.F. Buckle</span><br /> +Captain <span class="smcap">C.B. Johnson</span><br /> +Lieutenant <span class="smcap">R. Darling</span><br /> +Lieutenant <span class="smcap">G.E. Morton</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 130]<a name="Page_130" id="Page_130"></a></span> +Lieutenant <span class="smcap">A.C. Shepherd</span><br /> +Lieutenant <span class="smcap">F.E. Boundy</span><br /> +Lieutenant <span class="smcap">R.C.H. Ellam</span><br /> +Lieutenant <span class="smcap">A.M. Adams</span><br /> +Lieutenant <span class="smcap">W.L. Gelderd</span><br /> +Lieutenant <span class="smcap">W.G. Harrison</span>, R.A.M.C.<br /> +Lieutenant <span class="smcap">W.J. Lunnon</span><br /> +Lieutenant <span class="smcap">L.T. Locan</span><br /> +Lieutenant <span class="smcap">A. Roe</span><br /> +Lieutenant <span class="smcap">W. Davenport</span><br /> +Lieutenant <span class="smcap">A.T. Barker</span><br /> +Lieutenant <span class="smcap">C. Stent</span><br /> +Lieutenant <span class="smcap">E.H. Maxwell</span><br /> +Regimental Sergeant-Major <span class="smcap">F.W. Miller</span><br /> +Regimental Sergeant-Major <span class="smcap">D. Roberts</span><br /> +Company Sgt.-Major <span class="smcap">F.E. Ash</span><br /> +</p> +<h5>THE DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL, MILITARY MEDAL AND A BAR.</h5> +<p>Sergeant <span class="smcap">W. Griffiths</span>.<br /></p> +<h5>THE DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL AND THE MILITARY MEDAL.</h5> +<p>Company Sergeant-Major <span class="smcap">J. McCarten</span><br /> +Sergeant <span class="smcap">H. Williams</span><br /> +Sergeant <span class="smcap">H. Chisnall</span><br /> +Sergeant <span class="smcap">J.S. Morgan</span><br /> +</p> +<h5>THE DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL.</h5> +<p>Company Sergeant-Major <span class="smcap">P. Byrne</span><br /> +Company Sergeant-Major <span class="smcap">J. Owens</span><br /> +Company Sergeant-Major <span class="smcap">T. Brammer</span><br /> +Sergeant <span class="smcap">R. Williams</span><br /> +Sergeant <span class="smcap">A. Bennet</span><br /> +Sergeant <span class="smcap">J. Midghall</span><br /> +Lance-Sergeant <span class="smcap">J.W. Heap</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">W. Smith</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">F. Fowler</span><br /> +</p> +<h5>THE MILITARY MEDAL AND A BAR.</h5> +<p>Sergeant <span class="smcap">R.D. Walker</span><br /> +Sergeant <span class="smcap">L.L. Delmas</span><br /> +Sergeant <span class="smcap">L. Bentley</span> (D.C.M. with 4th Kings)<br /> +</p> +<h5>THE MILITARY MEDAL.</h5> +<p>Company Sgt.-Major <span class="smcap">Meadows</span><br /> +Sergeant <span class="smcap">Gilmartin</span><br /> +Sergeant <span class="smcap">P.J. Hall</span><br /> +Sergeant <span class="smcap">E. Jones</span><br /> +Sergeant <span class="smcap">McCarthy</span><br /> +Sergeant <span class="smcap">Shaw</span><br /> +Sergeant <span class="smcap">W.T. Pope</span><br /> +Sergeant <span class="smcap">R. Lee</span><br /> +Sergeant <span class="smcap">C. Madden</span><br /> +<!-- Page 131 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 131]<a name="Page_131" id="Page_131"></a></span> +Sergeant <span class="smcap">Stapleton</span><br /> +Sergeant <span class="smcap">McNiffe</span><br /> +Sergeant <span class="smcap">T. Ball</span><br /> +Lance-Sergeant <span class="smcap">Pennington</span><br /> +Lance-Sergeant <span class="smcap">B. Madden</span><br /> +Lance-Sergeant <span class="smcap">W. Mawer</span><br /> +Corporal <span class="smcap">Winrow</span><br /> +Corporal <span class="smcap">E. Hyland</span><br /> +Corporal <span class="smcap">H. Read</span><br /> +Corporal <span class="smcap">W. Griffin</span><br /> +Corporal <span class="smcap">Brown</span>, R.A.M.C.<br /> +Corporal <span class="smcap">J. Clarke</span><br /> +Corporal <span class="smcap">Leather</span><br /> +Corporal <span class="smcap">L. Jones</span><br /> +Corporal <span class="smcap">J. Corless</span><br /> +Corporal <span class="smcap">A. Salmon</span><br /> +Corporal <span class="smcap">W.H. Cockayne</span><br /> +Corporal <span class="smcap">J.R. Service</span><br /> +Lance-Corporal <span class="smcap">A. Hilton</span><br /> +Lance-Corporal <span class="smcap">H. Cooper</span><br /> +Lance-Corporal <span class="smcap">H. Johnstone</span><br /> +Lance-Corporal <span class="smcap">A. Otty</span><br /> +Lance-Corporal <span class="smcap">Shields</span><br /> +Lance-Corporal <span class="smcap">Marchbank</span><br /> +Lance-Corporal <span class="smcap">Lewis</span><br /> +Lance-Corporal <span class="smcap">Westwood</span><br /> +Lance-Corporal <span class="smcap">Rainford</span><br /> +Lance-Corporal <span class="smcap">H. Montgomerie</span><br /> +Lance-Corporal <span class="smcap">T. Gill</span><br /> +Lance-Corporal <span class="smcap">J. Taylor</span><br /> +Lance-Corporal <span class="smcap">W. Salmon</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">W. Williams</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">A. Turnbull</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">W. Hankey</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">R. Napier</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">W. Tyldesley</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">W.W. Oswald</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">T.W. Meers</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">T.V. Anderson</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">T. Buxton</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">J. Dilworth</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">J. Hanna</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">W. Hopley</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">T. Lloyd</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">W. Bleasdale</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">Foulkes</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">Morris</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">Shallcross</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">Entwistle</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">McDonald</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">Walker</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">Brough</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">E.O. Parry</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">Mottram</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">T. Hughes</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">H. Walmesley</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">Mullard</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">T. Harrison</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">F. Lamb</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">G. Clues</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">J. Jallimore</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">W. Boyd</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">C.L. Allen</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">J. Sturdy</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">J. Petrie</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">W. Beckwith</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">R. Yates</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">C. Mosley</span><br /> +<!-- Page 132 --><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 132]<a name="Page_132" id="Page_132"></a></span> +Private <span class="smcap">J.C. Howes</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">H. Baillie</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">A. Rowlands</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">R. Hall</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">E. Higginbottom</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">H. Lawrenson</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">F.C. Mulvey</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">A.E. Pearce</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">A. Coppach</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">T. Groom</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">C.H. Hooper</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">A. Marsh</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">J. Tyson</span><br /> +</p> +<h5>THE MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL.</h5> +<p>Regimental Quarter-Master-Sergeant <span class="smcap">A.J. Ford</span><br /> +Regimental Quarter-Master-Sergeant <span class="smcap">W. O'Brien</span><br /> +Company Quarter-Master-Sergeant <span class="smcap">A. Jones</span><br /> +Sergeant <span class="smcap">W.G. Edington</span><br /> +Sergeant <span class="smcap">T. Muncaster</span><br /> +Sergeant <span class="smcap">Graham</span><br /> +Sergeant <span class="smcap">Conolly</span><br /> +Sergeant <span class="smcap">H. Kenniston</span><br /> +Lance-Corporal <span class="smcap">R. Grayson</span><br /> +</p> +<h5>FRENCH DECORATION. MEDAILLE MILITAIRE.</h5> +<p>Company Sergeant-Major <span class="smcap">P. Byrne</span><br /></p> +<h5>BELGIAN DECORATION. CROIX DE GUERRE.</h5> +<p>Corporal <span class="smcap">H. Read</span><br /></p> +<h5>RUSSIAN DECORATION. CROSS OF SAINT GEORGE.</h5> +<p>Sergeant <span class="smcap">H. Chisnall</span><br /></p> +<h5>MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES.</h5> +<p>Major-General <span class="smcap">F.W. Ramsay</span>, D.S.O.<br /> +Lieutenant-Colonel <span class="smcap">Lord H.C. Seymour</span>, D.S.O.<br /> +Lieutenant-Colonel <span class="smcap">F.W.M. Drew</span>, D.S.O.<br /> +Lieutenant-Colonel <span class="smcap">H.K.S. Woodhouse</span>, D.S.O.<br /> +Lieutenant-Colonel <span class="smcap">C.G. Bradley</span>, D.S.O.<br /> +Major <span class="smcap">J.W.B. Hunt</span>, M.C.<br /> +Major <span class="smcap">F.S. Evans</span>, D.S.O.<br /> +Major <span class="smcap">S.C. Ball</span>, M.C.<br /> +Major <span class="smcap">J. Mahony</span>, D.S.O., R.A.M.C.<br /> +Major <span class="smcap">P.G.A. Lederer</span>, M.C.<br /> +Major <span class="smcap">N.L. Watts</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 133]<a name="Page_133" id="Page_133"></a></span> +Major <span class="smcap">A.W. Fulton</span><br /> +Captain <span class="smcap">B.W. Howroyd</span><br /> +Captain <span class="smcap">J.H. Halliwell</span><br /> +Captain <span class="smcap">D.H.D. Wooderson</span>, R.A.M.C.<br /> +Captain <span class="smcap">H.H. Covell</span><br /> +Captain <span class="smcap">E.D.H. Stocker</span><br /> +Captain <span class="smcap">W.R. Perry</span><br /> +Captain <span class="smcap">R.C. Wilde</span>, D.S.O., M.C.<br /> +Captain <span class="smcap">E. Ashton</span><br /> +Captain <span class="smcap">C.B. Johnson</span>, M.C.<br /> +Captain <span class="smcap">A.G. Warde</span>, M.C.<br /> +Second-Lieutenant <span class="smcap">C. Nott</span><br /> +Regimental Sergeant-Major <span class="smcap">F.W. Miller</span>, M.C.<br /> +Regimental Quarter-Master-Sergeant <span class="smcap">A.J. Ford</span><br /> +Company Sergeant-Major <span class="smcap">J.C. Ward</span><br /> +Company Sergeant-Major <span class="smcap">J. Owens</span>, D.C.M.<br /> +Company Sergeant-Major <span class="smcap">R. Grayson</span><br /> +Company Sergeant-Major <span class="smcap">J.J. Snaith</span><br /> +Company Quarter-Master-Sergeant <span class="smcap">A. Jones</span><br /> +Company Quarter-Master-Sergeant <span class="smcap">J. Meadows</span><br /> +Sergeant <span class="smcap">J.E. Smith</span><br /> +Sergeant <span class="smcap">T. Ball</span>, M.M.<br /> +Corporal <span class="smcap">R.L. Roberts</span><br /> +Lance-Corporal <span class="smcap">E. Moss</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">W.J. Hanna</span><br /> +Private <span class="smcap">A. Bowyer</span><br /></p> + +<p class='pagenum'>[Pg 134]<a name="Page_134" id="Page_134"></a></p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p class='center'><span class="smcap">Printed by THE NORTHERN PUBLISHING CO. LTD.</span>,<br /> +17 <span class="smcap">Goree Piazzas, and 11 Brunswick Street: Liverpool</span>.</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Story of the "9th King's" in France +by Enos Herbert Glynne Roberts + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF THE "9TH *** + +***** This file should be named 16974-h.htm or 16974-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/9/7/16974/ + +Produced by Irma Spehar, Christine D and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + +*** END: FULL LICENSE *** + + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> + diff --git a/16974-h/images/cover.jpg b/16974-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..cdb089d --- /dev/null +++ b/16974-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/16974-h/images/cover_th.jpg b/16974-h/images/cover_th.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d3fd16c --- /dev/null +++ b/16974-h/images/cover_th.jpg diff --git a/16974.txt b/16974.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0ef0a26 --- /dev/null +++ b/16974.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4113 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Story of the "9th King's" in France +by Enos Herbert Glynne Roberts + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Story of the "9th King's" in France + +Author: Enos Herbert Glynne Roberts + +Release Date: October 31, 2005 [EBook #16974] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF THE "9TH *** + + + + +Produced by Irma Spehar, Christine D and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net. (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) + + + + + + +[Transcriber's note: Punctuation normalised, spelling normalised.] + + + The Story of the "9th King's" in France. + + BY ENOS HERBERT GLYNNE ROBERTS. + + + LIVERPOOL: + THE NORTHERN PUBLISHING CO. LTD., 17 GOREE PIAZZAS, + AND 11, BRUNSWICK STREET. + 1922. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +CHAPTER I. ENGLAND. + +CHAPTER II. THE 1ST DIVISION. + +CHAPTER III. THE 55TH DIVISION. + +CHAPTER IV. THE 57TH DIVISION. + +APPENDIX LIST OF DECORATIONS. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +ENGLAND. + + +Shortly after the commencement of the Volunteer Movement in 1859, many +members of the newspaper and printing trades in Liverpool were desirous of +forming a regiment composed of men connected with those businesses. A +meeting was held in the Liverpool Town Hall, and the scheme was so well +received that steps were taken towards the formation of a corps. Sanction +was obtained, and on the 21st February, 1861, the officers and men of the +new unit took the oath of allegiance at St. George's Hall. Thus came into +being the 80th Lancashire Rifle Volunteers, and on the 2nd April, 1863, +the 73rd Battalion of the Lancashire Rifle Volunteers was amalgamated with +it. In the early days of its existence the new unit attended reviews and +inspections at Mount Vernon, Newton-le-Willows and Aintree. Some time +afterwards it was renumbered the 19th Lancashire Rifle Volunteers. +Later--in 1888--it became the 6th Volunteer Battalion of The King's +(Liverpool Regiment). + +The early parades of the Regiment took place at Rose Hill Police Station, +and the Corn Exchange, Brunswick Street, until Headquarters were +established at 16, Soho Street. + +To those who took part in these parades great credit and thanks are due. +Through their efforts an organised battalion came into being, men were +trained for the bearing of arms and the defence of their country should +the occasion ever arise, and the soldierly spirit was inculcated in many +who followed a civilian occupation. Those who survived until the Great +War, though not privileged to lead on the battlefield, had at any rate the +satisfaction of realising that their work was not in vain. Directly +attributable to the efforts of the early volunteers is the fact that in +1915 the Territorial Force was ready for the reinforcement of the Regular +Army in the Western Theatre of the War, and this afforded the New Armies +which Lord Kitchener had formed ample time for the completion of their +training. + +In 1884 the Headquarters in Soho Street were changed for more commodious +and better equipped premises at 59, Everton Road, where the Battalion +remained domiciled until 1914. During the South African War the Battalion +sent out a company, and the experience the men gained there proved very +useful at the annual camps. Several of the men who went to South Africa +were privileged to serve in the next war. On the formation of the +Territorial Force the Battalion was once again renumbered and henceforth +it was known as the 9th Battalion of The King's (Liverpool Regiment) +Territorial Force. + +The recruiting area of the Battalion embraced the Everton district of +Liverpool, a locality inhabited chiefly by members of the tradesmen and +artisan classes, which furnished the Regiment with the bulk of its +recruits. There was a detachment located in the country at Ormskirk, from +which the Battalion drew some of its finest fighting material. +Agriculturalists make good soldiers, and this was evidenced on many +occasions later by the behaviour and ability of the men from this town. In +the ranks there was a sprinkling of sailors and miners, whose several +callings equipped them with knowledge which proved useful in their new +profession. The officers for the most part were drawn from the +professional class and business houses of the city. + +There came on the 4th August, 1914, a telegram to Headquarters containing +only the one word "Mobilize." On that day Great Britain declared war on +Germany. Notices were sent out ordering the men to report, and at 2-0 p.m. +on the 6th there was only one man unaccounted for. The mobilization was +satisfactory. + +Difficulties immediately presented themselves, for the men had to be +housed and fed. The first night the men spent in the Hippodrome Theatre, +where the artists gave them a special performance in addition to the +public performances. Afterwards sleeping accommodation was found in the +Liverpool College. Through the kindness of the committee of the Newsboys' +Home in Everton Road arrangements were made to feed the men. There were +too many for them to be fed all at once, so that meals had to be taken in +relays. At Headquarters there was a certain amount of congestion, for +equipment, picks, shovels and other mobilization stores took up a +considerable amount of room. Besides this there were collected at +Headquarters civilian milk floats, lorries, spring carts and other +vehicles which had been pressed into service as regimental transport. +Horses with patched civilian harness gave the transport the appearance of +a "haywire outfit." After the officers had gone to the trouble of +collecting this transport it was taken away by the Higher Command and +given to another unit. The same fate befell the second set of horses and +waggons. The third was retained. + +According to orders the Battalion entrained under the command of +Lieutenant-Colonel Luther Watts, V.D., on the 13th August, at Lime Street +Station, Liverpool. It was not known at the time whither the Battalion was +bound. In the afternoon Edinburgh was reached, where there was +considerable bustle on account of the departure of some regular regiments +for the front. Crossing the Firth of Forth, the men saw with what +activities the Naval Authorities were preparing for the reception of +further warships. Dunfermline proved to be the destination of the +Regiment, and on arrival supper was provided by some ladies of the town. +The men were accommodated first in tents at Transy, and afterwards in +billets in the Carnegie Institute, St. Leonard's and the Technical Schools +and the Workhouse. The inhabitants of Dunfermline and district were +extremely kind to all members of the Battalion, and almost every man had +an invitation to visit newly formed friends nightly. + +There were at this time not enough blankets in the possession of the +authorities, so that an appeal was made which brought forth an ample +supply of civilian blankets. Colonel Hall Walker, T.D., the Honorary +Colonel, gave the Battalion L500 when it was at Dunfermline, which was +expended on extra clothing and other comforts for the men. It was a very +generous sum and proved of great value. + +The usual training took place, and considering the circumstances a high +standard of efficiency was attained. In October the Regiment proceeded by +train to Tunbridge Wells, where it remained until it proceeded overseas. + +The training here consisted of an early morning run followed later by a +Battalion route march or field practice. Judged from later standards the +training was not as intensive as it might have been owing chiefly to the +facts that, unfortunately, no parade ground was available, and little, if +any, assistance was afforded by higher formations. An occasional night +alarm also ordered by higher authorities discomforted everyone and did +little good. Recruits were sent to Sandwich for musketry, and the +Battalion assisted in digging trenches, machine gun emplacements and other +defensive works on the inland side of the canal, originally constructed by +French prisoners during the Napoleonic Wars, and which skirted Romney +Marsh. Half the Battalion--that is four companies--was sent to assist with +the London Defences near Ashford, where the men learnt to construct what +the Royal Engineers were pleased to call "Low Command Redoubts," and which +were badly sited on forward slopes. The experience gained, however, proved +very useful afterwards in France. + +Parades at Tunbridge Wells finished early in the afternoon which afforded +ample time for recreation. The townspeople were very hospitable and +extended cordial invitations to the men, who availed themselves freely of +them. At Christmas time the men fared sumptuously through the generosity +and kindness of their hosts. + +In January a company was sent to guard cables and vulnerable points at +Birling Gap, Cuckmere Haven and Dungeness. Several other similar duties +afforded diversions from the usual training programme. + +While at Tunbridge Wells the greatest keenness was displayed by all. +Officers were jealous of anyone who was lucky enough to be sent on a +course of instruction. There were voluntary classes for the study of +tactics at which the younger officers sedulously studied the principles of +out-posts, advance guards, rear guards and so on. Everyone wanted to know +more of his new profession. The thirst for knowledge was not adequately +quenched as there were unfortunately, too few courses and too few +instructors available. + +Such an ardour possessed the men for the fight that in some it reached the +pitch of fear lest they should arrive too late upon the battlefield and +receive only a barless medal. Some actually wished to transfer to another +unit so as to ensure getting out at once. When at last the anxiously +awaited order came that the Battalion was to go "over there" one officer +was overcome with exultation. His intense joy at being allowed to serve +his King and country on fields more stricken than parade grounds was +clearly marked. After many months of distinguished service in the field, +he now rests peacefully at Montauban. + +The few days immediately preceding the exodus of the Regiment were days of +great activity and preparation. The affairs of the Battalion had to be +completely wound up. The mysterious pay and mess books were completed and +company cash accounts closed. New equipment was given out to officers and +men, as well as wirecutters, revolvers and other necessities of active +service. Field dressings were handed out--dark omens of what was now to be +anticipated. The transport section received its full complement of waggons +and limbers, together with its full number of mules, which proved to be +equal to any which proceeded to France. + +Under the impression that active service meant the end of the comforts of +civilisation, officers provided themselves with supplies of patent +medicine, bought small first-aid outfits and elaborate pannikins +containing numerous small receptacles, which did not prove useful and were +ultimately lost. Spare kit including Sam Browne belts was packed and +consigned to the Depot. In anticipation of an early death many of the +officers and men made their wills. This was encouraged by a rumour that +the War Office had ordered a further 76,000 hospital beds to be prepared. + +At the end of December, 1914, Lieut.-Colonel Luther Watts, V.D. took over +the command of the Reserve Battalion at Blackpool, which had been formed +late in 1914, and Lieut.-Colonel J.E. Lloyd, V.D., was gazetted to the +foreign service Battalion. + +Mention should here be made of the fact that shortly before leaving +England the old eight company organisation was abandoned, and the new four +company organisation adopted, and each new company was divided into four +platoons. The change was exceedingly beneficial, as it would have been +difficult in the field for a battalion commander to give orders to eight +company commanders. More responsibility was thrown on the company +commanders, who were at the time senior enough to assume it, and for the +first time the subaltern was given a command. For the future he had his +platoon which carried much greater responsibility than that previously +attached to a half company. It was a fighting unit, and a separate body in +which was reflected the work of a good commander. + +The 12th March, 1915, was the day destined for the departure from +Tunbridge Wells. One by one the companies, headed by a band kindly lent by +one of the other units quartered in the town, marched through the streets +for the last time. The greatest excitement prevailed when "D" Company, +which was the last, passed through the streets just as the shops were +opening. Farewells were waved, the troops were cheered, and for many this +was their last look at the town which had afforded them every hospitality +for the past few months. + +Arrived at the station, the men entrained for an unknown destination, and +there was some speculation as to which seaport it would be. It proved to +be Southampton, from whence the men embarked later in the day for France. +The excitement had to some extent worn off in the cool of the evening, and +as the men had their last glimpse of England by means of the beam of the +search-light, many thought of the happy homes they were leaving behind to +which they would perhaps never return. The journey to France was +uneventful, which circumstance was due largely to the protection afforded +by the torpedo-boat destroyers and other units of the Navy. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE 1ST DIVISION. + + +Next morning the Battalion disembarked at Le Havre and marched to a camp +at Sanvic. It was not to remain here long, and on the 14th the Battalion +entrained to join the First Army. The train journey was long, and the men +experienced for the first time the inconveniences of travelling in French +troop trains, being crowded fifty-six at a time into trucks labelled +"Hommes 48: Chevaux en long 8." Chocques was reached on the 15th and the +men marched therefrom to billets in a village close by called Oblinghem. +The Battalion was soon incorporated in the 2nd Infantry Brigade of the 1st +Division, a mixed brigade consisting of four Regular battalions reinforced +by two Territorial battalions. A few days were spent in Divisional Reserve +at Oblinghem during which time all the officers and several +non-commissioned officers were sent to the trenches at Festubert or +Richebourg for instruction by the Regular battalions which were holding +the line. + +At Oblinghem the men learnt for the first time what French billets were +like and experienced the insanitary conditions prevailing on the small +farms and the draughty and dirty barns. Looking around the countryside all +seemed quiet and peaceful. The ploughman ploughed the fields, others sowed +and the miners went to their daily tasks as usual. At times it was +difficult to realise that the firing line was within a few miles, but the +boom of the distant guns and the laden Red Cross motors indicated the +proximity of the fighting. A lot of old ideas as to the rigours of a +campaign were lost, and warfare in some respects was found not to be so +bad as had been expected. Wine and beer at any rate were plentiful, though +the potency of the beer was not quite sufficient for the taste of the +older men. Other regiments, lent officers to give a helping hand in +organisation and training. Company messes for officers were formed, as +anything in the nature of a battalion mess was impracticable. + +The men soon learnt that the estaminets were the equivalent in France of +the public houses at home, and thither they repaired in the evening to +spend their time. Many good young men who had never taken a drop of the +more invigorating liquors learnt that soldiers drank them, and the cause +of teetotalism began to wane. + +On the 24th a move was made to Les Facons, a straggling village outside +Bethune. Here on quiet nights one could easily hear the fusillade in the +trenches while the distant gun flashes lit up the night sky. The terrors +of the trenches were coming nearer. + +Early in April the various companies were attached each in turn to another +battalion in the Brigade, and went into the line for instruction in trench +duty at Port Arthur by Neuve Chapelle, and it was here that the first +casualties were sustained. It is claimed that the first shot fired by the +Battalion killed an enemy sniper. The men soon learnt the duties that fell +upon them as a consequence of trench warfare: the early morning stand-to, +the constant vigil of the neutral ground between the lines, and the +imperative necessity of keeping one's head low. Hitherto the men knew +little of the nature or use of guns, but now glimmerings of the mystery +surrounding artillery fire soon dawned. The men learnt the natures of +German shell, and the difference between shrapnel and high explosives and +what targets the enemy generally selected. Facts like these were explained +to them by the "real soldiers" of the Regular units to which they were +attached. On relief the Battalion marched back to Oblinghem once more, +where it stayed a week or two, and later in the month took over a portion +of the line at Richebourg St. Vaast where it was subjected to a very heavy +artillery bombardment on the 1st May. + +The military training of the men can be said to have been complete as +regards pre-war standard, but the war had introduced the use of two new +instruments of death. One was gas, the other the bomb. A primitive form of +respirator was given out in consequence of the use by the Germans of +chlorine at the Second Battle of Ypres. Instruction was given in the use +of bombs, of which the men had hitherto no knowledge. In those days the +bomb first in use was the jam-tin bomb. The men were taught how to cut +fuses, fix them into the detonator, attach the lighter and wire the whole +together preparatory for use against the enemy. Jam-tin bombs were soon +discarded for the Bethune bomb, and there was no regular bomb until much +later, when the use of the Mills bomb became universal. The Hairbrush and +Hales bombs were also studied in addition to the Bethune. A few also +received some instruction in a rather primitive form of trench mortar. + +In April, Lieut.-Colonel Lloyd, V.D., was invalided home, and in his stead +Major T.J. Bolland took over the command of the Battalion. + + +THE BATTLE OF AUBERS RIDGE + +The disastrous enterprise of the 9th May was the first major action of the +war in which the "Ninth" took part. Shattered at its inception, the whole +attack soon came to an end. The lack of high explosive shells and the +consequent failure of the British artillery to destroy the enemy wire +entanglements were probably the main causes of the holocaust that took +place on that day. Though one of the biggest disasters the British arms +sustained throughout the war, it was scarcely noted in the newspapers, and +would seem to a casual observer quite insignificant compared with the +sinking of the "Lusitania," which had taken place some days before, +although in the battle it is believed that the 2nd Infantry Brigade lost a +bigger proportion of men than had ever been previously known in warfare. + +On the 8th May, the Battalion took up its battle position in rear of the +Rue du Bois at Richebourg l'Avoue, and there awaited the attack on the +morrow. The detail that obtained in battle orders of later dates was +wanting, in view of the fact that greater responsibility was in the early +days placed upon Commanding Officers. The Battalion was to support the +attack as the third wave. The flanks were given and in the event of an +advance the Battalion was to keep Chocolat Menier Corner on its immediate +right. The fight commenced with an ordinary bombardment of forty minutes +chiefly by field pieces, which according to the text book are primarily +intended not for bombardment but for use against personnel. A battery of +heavy howitzers was also in action. The ordinary bombardment was followed +by an intense bombardment of ten minutes. + +At 5-30 a.m. the Battalion advanced to the third line of trenches +immediately in rear of the Rue du Bois, and several losses attributable to +machine guns and shells were sustained. At 6-0 a.m. the Battalion was +continuing the advance to the support line when the 2nd King's Royal +Rifles asked for immediate support in the attack. The Battalion therefore +passed over the support line and quickly reached the front line. The +advent of a fresh unit made confusion the worse confounded. The trenches +which afforded little shelter were filled with men, and the enemy was +using his artillery freely. Machine guns in profusion were disgorging +their several streams of bullets. Communication trenches had been blotted +out. Despite the lessons of Neuve Chapelle there was no effective liaison +between artillery and infantry as the telephone wires were soon cut, and +as a consequence the inferno was intensified by the short firing of the +British artillery, a battery of 6-inch howitzers being the chief offender. + +Numerous casualties had been suffered, and among them was the Commanding +Officer, who was killed. The command then passed to Major J.W.B. Hunt, who +decided that it was useless to attempt to assault the enemy position +without further artillery preparation, as the enemy's barbed wire was +practically intact, and the only two gaps that were available were covered +by enemy machine guns. A report on the situation was made to +Brigadier-General Thesiger, and instructions were received that on no +account was the Battalion to leave the front line, and it was to hold the +same against a possible and probable counter attack by the enemy. + +At 10-0 a.m. the Battalion was ordered to prepare to take part in a second +attack to be launched at 11-15 a.m. Half an hour later a further order +postponed the second attack until 12-30 p.m. Thousands had failed to take +the objectives in the early morning, and it was unlikely that hundreds +would succeed in the afternoon. This attack was ultimately cancelled, and +at 4-0 p.m. the Battalion was withdrawn. A further attack was delivered in +vain at 4-30 p.m. by other regiments in the Division. Though the Battalion +unfortunately accomplished little, it sustained almost a hundred +casualties, but it was fortunate in that it escaped the same fate as +befell four of the Battalions in the Brigade which were almost +annihilated. The battle from almost every point of view was a dismal +failure, and the rate of casualties was perhaps the highest then recorded. +It was during the 4-30 p.m. attack that the men were privileged to witness +one of the most magnificent episodes of the war, which was the advance +made by the 1st Battalion Black Watch and the 1st Battalion Cameron +Highlanders. This was carried out with parade-like precision in face of a +most withering rifle and machine-gun fire, out of which scarcely half a +dozen of those brave fellows returned. + +Relieved in the evening, the "Ninth" marched to Essars and the next day to +billets at Bethune, and it was not until the 20th day of the month that +the Battalion was again in line, this time at Cambrin. It had now come +under the command of Major F.W. Ramsay, a regular officer from the +Middlesex Regiment. The remainder of the month of May and the month of +June were spent at Cambrin and Cuinchy, this latter place being renowned +even in those days for its minenwerfer activity. The Cambrin sector had +good deep trenches made by the French pioneers, which were strong, well +timbered and comfortable. This was the first occasion the Battalion +occupied trenches as distinguished from breast-works. Hitherto the nature +of the ground had made trenches impossible. The trenches at Cuinchy were +in front of a row of brickstacks, and in consequence of the water-logged +nature of a portion of the front were only dug three feet down, and a +sand-bag parapet was built; the trenches were not duckboarded, and were in +consequence wet. Around each brickstack was built a keep, and this was +garrisoned by a platoon in each case. Every time an enemy projectile hit a +brickstack large quantities of broken bricks were scattered as splinters +which multiplied the killing effect of the shell. In this sector there was +considerable mining activity. The mine shafts, of which there were about +three per company frontage, were each manned by two men who acted as +listeners. As the front lines were only about twenty-five yards apart +there was a considerable exchange of grenades. + +No cooking was allowed in the trenches, as the smoke which would have been +occasioned by cooking would only have encouraged enemy fire. Therefore +ration and hot food parties had to go four times a day along a +communication trench called Boyau Maison Rouge, one and a half miles long, +and which was not duckboarded. After heavy rain it became very muddy, and +the men cut down their trousers which led to the adoption of shorts +throughout. Hosetops were improvised by cutting the feet off socks and +later they were bought. The colour ranged at first from light heliotrope +to flatman's blue, but later was standardized as salmon pink. The expense +of providing these hosetops was a heavy drain on any available funds, but +fortunately friends of the Battalion came to the rescue. + +On relief from the Cambrin trenches on the 7th July the Battalion spent a +little over a fortnight in Brigade and Divisional Reserves at Sailly +Labourse and the Faubourg d'Arras in Bethune respectively. On the 25th it +was in line at Vermelles. This sector was quiet except in that portion +which was opposite the Hohenzollern Redoubt, from which huge aerial +torpedoes were fired. + +August was spent doing tours of duty in Annequin and Vermelles. During the +last tour in Vermelles the whole Battalion assembled every night in no +man's land and successfully dug under fire jumping-off trenches for the +forthcoming operations, the casualties being comparatively few, owing to +the speed with which the men dug. + +During the first three weeks in September, the Battalion was out of the +line and spent most of the time at Burbure, a quiet little village outside +Lillers, where the men enjoyed a period of peace well removed from the +battle zone. The training was devoted almost entirely to the practice of +the attack preparatory to the impending fight. + +During the summer a horse show took place in the First Division, and the +"Ninth" secured all the prizes for mules, the first prize for a field +kitchen and two jumping prizes, thus obtaining the second place in the +Division for the total number of marks gained. This was a signal honour +for a Territorial unit, and perhaps came as a surprise to some of the +Regular soldiers, who thought that they were "the people." This +demonstrated the fact that though the Battalion had but a few months' +experience of active service, it had soon accustomed itself to the rigours +of warfare, and that the transport section at any rate had attained a +high pitch of efficiency. The horse shows which were held from time to +time as occasion permitted provided diversions and did much to maintain a +high standard of efficiency in the first line transport. + +Improvements had been effected in the organisation of the Regiment since +its advent to France. Clothing and food became more plentiful and the +latter was better cooked. Efforts were made to improve the comfort of the +men in billets. Proper sanitation was rigorously observed. Officers were +encouraged to display the greatest solicitude for the welfare of the men, +and the cumulative effect of these measures resulted in improved morale. + + +THE BATTLE OF LOOS. + +For three weeks in September the Battalion practised the attack in +Burbure, which it left on the 20th. Before leaving Burbure an amusing +incident took place. The Battalion had paraded and was ready to move off. +Suddenly two young women who were watching dashed into the ranks, embraced +two of the men, kissed them with resounding smacks, and then disappeared +in the gloom. The consternation of the two men caused great amusement to +all. The "Ninth" moved up by stages, marching via Lapugnoy and Verquin, to +its battle position in trenches by Le Rutoire Farm, which it reached on +the 24th. The Battalion and the London Scottish formed a body called +"Green's Force," to which was given as a first objective the German front +line trenches in the vicinity of Lone Tree, as this objective was left +uncovered by the diverging advance of the 1st Brigade on the right and the +2nd Brigade on the left. + +In the grey light of the morning on the 25th September the British guns +opened with a furious fire after many days of artillery preparation. The +great battle had begun. For some time, and according to orders, the +Battalion remained in its position. It was not to advance before 8-0 a.m. +At this time the men left the assembly trench to move over the open to the +front line. The enemy machine gunners had the range, and several were +wounded almost on leaving the trench. The advance was made by sectional +rushes, each section seeking what cover there was. Those who were wounded +while actually advancing in many cases received slight wounds, but those +that were hit while lying down were generally killed, as the bullets +struck them in the head or traversed the vital organs for the length of +the body. It required a courageous heart to advance seeing one's comrades +thus desperately wounded or lying dead. The shell fire was not heavy, and +few casualties were attributable to it. Lieutenant-Colonel Ramsay led the +attack in person, and he was easily recognisable by the wand which he +carried. One of the Battalion machine guns was pushed forward about 2-0 +p.m. and under the covering fire it afforded the advance was continued. +The advance had been slow and losses were severe, but at 3-30 p.m. the men +had succeeded in establishing themselves in one line about a hundred yards +from the German trenches. A few minutes afterwards the Germans +surrendered, and between three and four hundred prisoners were taken. They +chiefly belonged to the 59th and 157th Infantry Regiments. A harvest of +souvenirs was reaped by the men, many of whom secured the then coveted +Pickelhaube helmet. The prisoners were sent to the rear, and the Battalion +continued the advance and ultimately established a line on the +Lens-Hulluch Road. It is to be observed that the Battalion was the only +one that got its field kitchens up to the village of Loos on the first day +of the battle. At 4-0 a.m. next morning the Battalion was withdrawn to the +old British line. Later in the day it moved forward to the old German +trench system as reserve in the continued operations, sustaining several +gas and shell casualties. On the 28th September the Battalion moved back +to Mazingarbe, as the men thought, for a rest. They were soon +disappointed. At 7 p.m. on the same day orders were received to take up a +position at the Slag Heap or Fosse at Loos, known as London Bridge. At 9-0 +p.m. the Battalion left its billets in a deluge of rain and marched back +to the line in splendid spirits in spite of the fatigue resulting from the +recent fighting. It was relieved from the trenches on the 30th September, +and after one night spent in the ruined houses of Loos went to +Noeux-les-Mines for a few days to re-organise and re-equip. + +On the 7th October the Battalion returned to the front line which was +alongside the Lens-Hulluch Road to the north of Loos. The trench had +evidently once been the ditch on the side of the road. It was very +shallow, and it was decided to deepen it the next night as the men were +too tired after their long march. This was a good resolution, but it was +not carried out. The enemy commenced next morning about half-past ten with +heavy shell fire. In the afternoon it became intense and an attack seemed +imminent. There was no shelter in the shallow trench, as there had not +been sufficient time to make any dugouts. The men could do nothing but +wait. Minutes seemed hours. The shelling appeared endless. So terrific was +the enemy fire that it was doubted by the artillery observers in rear +whether any of the front line garrison was left alive. All who might be +lucky enough to escape physical destruction would at any rate be morally +broken. The Germans who had concentrated in the Bois Hugo attacked about +4-30 p.m. They were repulsed by rifle and machine gun fire, and it is +gratifying to know that two of the Battalion machine guns caught the enemy +in enfilade and executed great havoc. So exhausted were the men that the +Battalion was relieved that night and taken to the neighbourhood of Le +Rutoire Farm. + +Acquitting themselves with a noble fortitude, the stretcher bearers--whose +task was, perhaps, the worst of all--remained and toiled all night in +evacuating the trenches of the wounded. To stretcher bearers fall the most +trying duties in war, but in accounts of battles little mention is made of +their efforts. While the fight is on they share all the dangers of the +private soldier, and often they have to remain when the others are +relieved to finish their duty. The terrible sights of open wounds, bodies +that have been minced by shell splinters, torn off limbs, dying men +uttering their last requests, are enough to unnerve the bravest men. The +stretcher bearers nevertheless continue with their task, well knowing what +fate may soon befall them. + +For the second time in a fortnight the 9th King's had been called upon to +play an important part, and worthily had the men acquitted themselves on +each occasion. + +The following letters were received by the Battalion and show the value of +the good work done:-- + + To G.O.C., IV. Corps. + + This was a fine performance and reflects the greatest credit + on all ranks. + + I particularly admire the splendid tenacity displayed by our + infantry in holding on to their trenches during so many long + hours of heavy shell fire, and the skill with which they so + gloriously repulsed with bomb and rifle the enemy's most + determined onslaught. + + Our gunners, too, must be complimented on their timely and + accurate shooting. And lastly the Commanders, from General + Davies downward, deserve praise for the successful combination + of the two arms, for the handling of their units, and for the + well-judged advance of the supports to the aid of those in the + fire trenches. + + I am very glad to hear of the great deeds of the 9th Battalion + Liverpool Regiment on the 8th October. They have proved + themselves most worthy comrades of the 1st Liverpools who + started with me from Aldershot and have consistently fought + like heroes all through the campaign. + + Please convey my very hearty congratulation to all concerned + and to the 1st Division, in which I am proud to see the + determined fighting spirit is as strong as ever, in spite of + heavy losses. + + D. HAIG, + General, + Commanding 1st Army. + 10th October, 1915. + + * * * * * + + To 1st Division. + + In forwarding Sir Douglas Haig's remarks, I desire to endorse + every word he says, and to congratulate the Division on the + well deserved praise it has received from the Army Commander. + I hope before long to see them personally and to speak to them + on parade. + + H.S. RAWLINSON, + Lieut.-General, + Commanding IV. Corps. + 11th October, 1915. + + * * * * * + + 1st Div. No. 604/2 (G). + To 2nd Infantry Brigade. + + The General Officer Commanding wishes to place on record his + appreciation of the steady defence made by the 2nd Infantry + Brigade against the German attack yesterday afternoon. He + especially wishes to commend the soldierly qualities and + discipline displayed by the 9th Liverpool Regiment and the 1st + Gloucesters, which enabled them to endure the heavy shelling + to which our front trenches were subjected, and there to meet + and repulse with great loss the German infantry attack. + + The result of yesterday's attack again proves how powerless + the enemy's artillery is against good infantry, properly + entrenched and the superiority of our own infantry over that + of the enemy at close quarters. + + The General Officer Commanding wishes to record his + appreciation of the good work done by the artillery in support + of the infantry. + + H. LONGRIDGE, + Lieut.-Colonel, + General Staff, 1st Division. + 9th October, 1915. + + * * * * * + +The above remarks were communicated to the men, and they were all very +proud of the achievement of their unit and that it had so highly +distinguished itself in the defence of their country. For a few days the +Battalion remained in support, sending forth working parties each night +for the battle that was still continuing. + +On the 13th October the 1st Division attacked the village of Hulluch. An +intense barrage was directed against the enemy trenches in the early part +of the afternoon, and after a discharge of cloud gas an attempt was made +in vain to reach the enemy trenches. The 9th was held in close support, +ready to exploit any success that was gained, but, unfortunately, the +attack was a total failure. The Battalion came in for some very heavy +retaliatory shell fire. + +On the 14th October the Battalion was taken out of the line and marched to +Noeux-les-Mines, where it entrained for Lillers. Here the men were +accommodated in houses in the centre of the town in the vicinity of the +Church and the Rue Fanien. The billets were good, the parades not severe, +and several of the officers who were well quartered felt to some extent +the comforts of a home. The training area was near Burbure, where the +Battalion had trained for the battle. Many faces were missing that had +been present at the jovial little gatherings that had taken place before +the battle, and the survivors wondered at times who would be wanting at +the next divisional rest. + +As the parades were not onerous, there was plenty of time for recreation. +Concerts were arranged in the local concert hall at which the latent +talent of the Battalion came into evidence. Leave opened, and the prospect +of a trip to England was cheering to those who expected one. The rest at +Lillers was pleasantly spent and it was a long time before the men enjoyed +a similar holiday. + +On the 15th November the Battalion paraded on the Church Square and then +marched to Houchin, a particularly dirty little village, where a week was +spent. From there it went to Brigade Reserve in the mining village of +Philosophe, in which, though very close to the line, a few civilians still +remained. Butter, milk and other articles of food could be obtained from +the French shop-keepers, and English newspapers could be bought in the +streets the day after publication. It was a fairly quiet place, though +one's hours were punctuated by the intermittent firing of a battery of +4.7 guns in the colliery in rear, which fired over the billets. + +One of the Regular battalions of the 3rd Infantry Brigade was too weak in +numbers to do trench duty, and the 9th had the honour of replacing it, and +on the 26th November the Battalion found itself once more in the front +line and in exactly the same position as the one in which it had so +signally distinguished itself on the 8th October. + +Snow was lying on the ground and it was freezing hard. Henceforth the men +were to know the hardships of a winter campaign. There were no deep +dugouts and there were not sufficient shelters for the men to sleep in. +During the course of the winter, exposure alone killed some. Ever since +the battle the Loos sector had been very active, especially on Sundays, +and the trenches and alleys which led up to them were in a very wet +condition. The numbers lost in the recent fighting had not been made up, +and "C" Company, the weakest, had a trench strength all told of only 67 +officers and men. + +The relief from the front line on the night of the 29th November was +particularly severe. Following the frost came rain on that particular day, +and the relief was carried out on a very black night in a steady +downpour, and everyone was quickly wet through. The trenches filled with +water and the men had first to wade through deep sludge and then over +rain-sodden ground ankle-deep in mud. The men's clothes became caked with +the mud from the sides of the trench, which increased the weight to be +carried. + +During the tours of duty in this sector the paucity of the numbers and the +length of the communication trenches made the difficulties of food supply +very great. Behind the front line in the Loos sector was a devastated +region extending backwards for over two miles. There seemed a big gap +between the front line and any form of civilisation. Usable roads were +wanting, so that the transport could not approach near to the Battalion. +Consequently each company had to detail its own ration party of twenty to +twenty-five men, and these would assemble just after dusk and wander along +Posen or Hay Alley back to the vicinity of Lone Tree, and there pick up +the rations and water from the transport wagons. The communication +trenches contained a lot of water and caused great hardship to those men +who were not fortunate enough to possess gum boots. These ration fatigues +lasted from three to five hours, after which the men had to continue their +trench duties. Each man cooked his rations as best he could, in his own +mess tin; this meant that he did not get a hot meal which was so badly +needed in the intensely cold weather. + +In this sector there was a great shortage of water. Washing and shaving +were impossible, and at times there was not enough to drink. On one +occasion a man was known to have scraped the hoar frost off the sandbags +to assuage his thirst, and some drank the dirty water that was to be found +in shell craters. + +At this time there was a great danger of a gas attack, and it was +customary to have a bugler on duty in the front line to sound the alarm +when gas was seen coming over--a scheme which was scarcely likely to be +efficacious, for in a few moments he would have been gassed himself. Each +man had two anti-gas helmets--one with a mica window, and the other with +glass eyepieces and a tube through which to breathe out, and which was +known later as a P.H. helmet. There were Vermorel Sprayers here and there +in the trench, which were entrusted to the care of the sanitary men. +Instruction was given from time to time in anti-gas precautions, but +viewed from a subsequent standpoint these defensive measures were not +good. + +Steel helmets were in possession of the bombers, who were then called +"Grenadiers," and wore little red cloth grenades on their arms. These +helmets were called "bombing hats," and regarded as a nuisance. Each man +of the Battalion had a leather jerkin and a water-proof cape, and the +majority had a pair of long gum boots. + +There was only one Verey light pistol in each company, and this was +carried by the officer on duty. There was no special S.O.S. signal to the +artillery. Telephonic communication from the front line existed, and this +was freely used. It was not known at the time that the enemy had evolved a +means whereby he could hear these conversations. To prevent an illness +known as "trench feet" each man had to grease his feet daily with whale +oil, which was an ordeal on a bitterly cold day in wet, muddy trenches. +With such meticulous care was this done that the Battalion had not more +than three cases of trench feet during the whole of that winter--a +circumstance which reflects much credit on the men. The defence scheme at +this time was to hold the front line in the greatest strength available, +and the supports were rather far away. The system of echeloned posts had +not yet been developed. Machine guns were kept in the first trench and on +account of the intense cold had to be dismounted and kept by lighted +braziers to keep the lubricating oil and water in their jackets from +freezing. The entanglement in front was very poor and consisted only of +one fence. + +When not in the line the Battalion rested at Noeux-les-Mines or +Mazingarbe. At this latter village Christmas Day was spent. Companies were +told to make their own arrangements for providing the men with a good +dinner on this day. The officers provided the funds and the difficulties +of supply were overcome through the aid of Monsieur Levacon, the French +interpreter attached to the Battalion. Pigs and extra vegetables were +bought; apples and oranges came from somewhere. After great exertions a +few barrels of beer came on the scene. Christmas puddings came from +England. The school at Mazingarbe made an excellent dining room for two of +the companies and through the kindness of a Royal Engineer company in the +village the officers were able to secure the necessary timber to improvise +tables and chairs. The dinner was a great success and contributed not a +little to the good feeling which existed between officers and men. + +The next day the Battalion returned to the line. Though not known at the +time this was to be the last tour of duty with the 1st Division. Early in +January the truth became known that the Battalion was to leave the +Division, and on the 7th it proceeded by train to Hocquincourt. + +In the 1st Division it had had the honour of serving alongside some of the +most illustrious regiments of the Regular Army. The example set by these +famous regiments was readily copied, and in some respects emulated, and it +is not untrue to say that none of these Regular battalions assumed an air +of superiority, but displayed a sense of admiration that Territorial +soldiers could have so quickly learnt the profession of war. So good was +the human material in the Battalion that, in the space of a few months +spent on active service, a body of men picked in a desultory fashion from +various trades and occupations was quickly formed into an entity which was +able to take its place alongside experienced units of the Army. + +The Regiment had already won its laurels at the Battle of Loos. Its +glorious achievements were known in Liverpool. It was a Battalion to which +all its members were proud to belong. The fame of a military body is a +bond of unity which those who have not been soldiers can scarcely +understand. The reputation of one's regiment is a matter of personal +pride. It is a kind of cement which holds it together at all times. The +old spirit soon permeates the newcomers, the recruits become imbued with +the spirit which led the veterans to victory, and so it was with this +Battalion. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE 55TH DIVISION. + + +The West Lancashire Division was formed in the Hallencourt area under the +command of Major-General H.S. Jeudwine, and given the number 55. The +Battalion entered the 165th Infantry Brigade in this Division. This +brigade which was commanded by Brigadier-General F.J. Duncan, was entirely +composed of Liverpool battalions, namely, the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 9th +King's. In the Brigade the officers and men had the pleasure of meeting +friends they had known at home in Liverpool, comrades with whom they were +destined to serve for the next two years, principally in Artois and Ypres. +Friendly rivalry soon sprang up between the various battalions in the +Brigade which made for efficiency and put all on their "mettle." Everyone +naturally believed that his was the battalion par excellence, not only in +the Brigade but in the whole Division. + +The 9th was first billeted in Hocquincourt, a little French village near +Hallencourt. Viewed from a distance the village looked picturesque, with +the red tiled roofs of the houses contrasted against the sombre winter +sky, but a closer inspection revealed a different picture. The houses were +rickety, the billets poor, and the conditions insanitary. So backward were +the peasants in agriculture that they still adhered to the use of the +old-fashioned flails for thrashing corn. The Battalion moved on the 20th +January to Merelessart about two miles away, where better quarters were +found particularly for the Battalion headquarters, which occupied a +somewhat pretentious chateau replete with all modern conveniences +including baths, which were very unusual in private houses in the war +area. + +Here the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Ramsay, D.S.O., left the +Battalion on his promotion to the rank of Brigadier-General. Before he +left he made a speech to the men and published the following "Farewell +Order":-- + + On relinquishing command of the Battalion to take over command + of the 48th Infantry Brigade, the Commanding Officer wishes to + express his regret at leaving the Regiment, which he has had + the honour of commanding for the last eight months, and his + gratitude for the loyal way in which all ranks have supported + him. + + The Commanding Officer is very sensible of the fact that the + excellent work done by the Regiment has gained for him his + decoration and promotion. + +Later in the war he received promotion and commanded the 58th (London) +Division as Major General. + +While at Merelessart the usual training took place. There was little work +done as a complete unit not much attention being paid to tactical work. A +rifle range was at the disposal of the Battalion on which the companies +were able to fire a few practices and so keep up their musketry. + +It is worthy of remark that of the officers serving with the companies at +this time approximately two-thirds were subsequently killed during the +course of the war, while the survivors were almost all wounded at some +time or other. + +Early in February orders came along to the effect that the Division was +to go into line, and on the 6th February the Battalion left Merelessart +and marched to Longpre where the night was spent, and the next day it +reached Berteaucourt-les-Dames. A few days were spent here, during which +Major C.P. James took over the command of the Battalion, and afterwards it +marched via Doullens to Amplier, and after a night's rest in some huts +there it reached Berles-au-Bois the next day. En route it passed through +Pas, where there was a steep hill which presented such difficulties to the +transport section that they remembered it when they returned in two year's +time. At Berles-au-Bois the men were billeted in the ruined village. This +was the first experience the Battalion had of a really tranquil front. + +This village lay within a mile of the front line, and it seemed uncanny to +be so near the enemy and yet to hear so few shots fired. Indeed it was +almost too good to be true. The unit did not take over the defence of this +area, and orders came soon that on the 15th the Battalion was to take over +a sector on the Wailly front, where it was to relieve a battalion of the +81ieme Regiment Territoriale. Accordingly very early in the morning of +that day the Battalion marched to Monchiet in sleet and rain under cover +of darkness along roads which in daylight were exposed to the view of the +enemy, and on arrival the short day was spent in endeavouring to get dry. +Monchiet later became the location of the transport lines and +Quartermaster's store. + + +WAILLY. + +Having sent an advance party to General Xardel's headquarters at Beaumetz +to effect liaison, and to meet French guides, the Battalion paraded +towards evening, left Monchiet, picked up the guides en route and marched +to Wailly. The day had been one of blizzards and the night of the relief +was black and wet. Added to these circumstances was the difficulty of +understanding the directions of the Frenchmen, the Battalion's knowledge +of their language being not very extensive. Towards midnight, thoroughly +drenched, hungry and weary after a heavy day, the men were ultimately put +in their proper stations, some in the village and others in the trenches. + +From the appearance of the houses Wailly had been a prosperous farming +village lying within a short distance of Arras. Agricultural implements of +the latest manufacture were in evidence, and these could only have been +bought by peasants with some capital. This village was to be the +Battalion's home for the next five months. The Battalion first did a month +alternating in position between the front line and the village. For some +days while in the front line the Battalion was in touch with the 27ieme +Regiment d'Infanterie, which had a sentry post in its area composed of men +from one of the companies who readily fraternised with the fantassins. +This regiment belonged to a division of the French Active Army, and in +consequence its efficiency was of a very high order. Nowhere had anyone +seen trenches so well revetted and so neatly constructed as those occupied +by this French regiment. The trenches stood out in marked contrast to +those actually taken over by the Battalion, whose former occupants, the +French Territorials, had left them in a very bad condition. + +The trenches had not been revetted or duckboarded, and during the first +month of the Battalion's occupation there was a good deal of snow, and +when this melted the sides of the trenches commenced to crumble, making +them very muddy at the bottom. In consequence of this mud they became +almost impassable. For the men doing trench duty the conditions were bad +enough. The man on post had to stand on the fire step for hours in damp +clothes, shivering in the freezing cold, knowing that when his tour of +duty was over all he could look forward to was the cold damp floor of a +dugout on which to rest his weary body. For the ration parties the +conditions were almost worse. The meals were cooked in the field kitchens +in the village, and fatigue parties to carry up the meals were found by +the support company which was in a trench called by the French the +Parallele des Territoriaux. Many of the men will never forget the +innumerable times they trudged heavily laden with a dixie of tea or stew +through the mud in the tortuous communication trenches Boyau Eck, Sape 7, +and the Boyau des Mitrailleuses. At times these trenches became so muddy +that on one or two occasions reliefs had to be carried out over the top +under cover of darkness. It was risking a good deal to line up a whole +company outside the trench a few yards in rear of the front line, knowing +that an enemy machine gun was located about a hundred yards away, and that +the machine gunner might fire an illuminating flare at any moment, and so +expose the men to his view. + +It was during the first tour at Wailly that Major C.G. Bradley, D.S.O., +assumed command on the 29th February. + +After having done a month in the Wailly sector, the Battalion was taken +on the 14th March for a week in Brigade Reserve. Though the Battalion only +got into billets at 1 a.m., after a four mile march, a working party had +to be found at 8-30 a.m. for work on a Divisional show ground, which was a +place where model trenches were dug to show the uninitiated how things +ought to be done. Tasks like these were regarded as onerous by the men, +who were led to expect some period of rest when not in the advanced +positions. + +After a few days in Beaumetz the Battalion returned to Wailly, and until +June continued to do three tours of duty at Wailly, two in the front line +and one in the village, to one in Brigade Reserve at Beaumetz, the whole +cycle lasting a month. + +The enemy having in line opposite the 78th Landwehr Regiment, the sector +was very quiet, though the British did what they could to liven things up +in the way of artillery shoots and indirect machine gun fire at night on +the roads behind the enemy lines. + +The general defence scheme at first was not very elaborate. Three +companies manned the front line with one in support. Great attention was +paid to bombing posts, and the defence scheme always contained a plan for +a counter attack by the bombers, who were organised as a separate section, +working directly under the orders of the Commanding Officer. They were +given simple schemes and exercises in counter-attack while in the +trenches. For example the non-commissioned officer in command of a squad +would be told that the enemy had entered a particular sector of the +trench. He would then block the trench or deliver an imaginary counter +attack along the trench with the object of dislodging the fictitious +enemy, as the case might require. The companies were trained to take +shelter in the dugouts in the event of a heavy bombardment and immediately +on its cessation to re-man the front line. In the village when the +Battalion was in support it held three centres of resistance known from +right to left as Petit Moulin, Wailly Keep, and Petit Chateau. Wailly Keep +was a fortified farm on the fringe of the village, with loop-holed walls +and the adjacent roads barricaded. It was a relic of the French defence +scheme and was sound. + +The strictest precautions were taken against a gas attack. Each man had +two P.H. helmets which he had to keep with him at all times. Moreover, +sentries were instructed how to recognise gas and sound the alarm +immediately they noticed enemy gas. Large cartridge cases from the guns +were used as gas gongs, and Strombos horns were installed so as to spread +the alarm quickly should occasion arise. This was a much better scheme +than the one in which the bugler was to sound the alarm. As the lines were +near there was some danger of a flammenwerfer attack, so the whole +Battalion was taken on the 17th March to a demonstration, and shown what +to do should such an attack take place. One Lewis gun was given to each +company in place of the machine guns which were taken away from the +Battalion, and the Stokes mortar made its appearance in the trenches. This +was an over-rated weapon. Its range was very limited and it was soon +out-distanced by similar German weapons. Its bombs were essentially for +use against personnel at a range when rifles would have been cheaper and +more efficacious. Its bombs were not heavy enough for use against +earthworks, and wrought little damage on trenches. Its use and its +ammunition supply entailed large carrying parties which robbed the +companies of the men and sapped their energy. + +In May steel helmets were made part of every man's equipment, and a square +green patch on the back of the tunic became the Battalion distinguishing +mark. The steel helmets were the means of saving many lives, and were +covered with the same material as the sandbags were made of, for purposes +of camouflage. + +One night early in April a patrol consisting of a corporal and a private +was sent to examine and report on the enemy wire in front of a particular +sap head. At this point there were only seventy yards or so between the +British trench and the enemy sap heads, which were swathed in a dense mesh +of barbed wire. There were but few shell craters, little artillery fire +being directed on the front line when the lines were close owing to the +danger of short firing; and the grass being short there was little or no +cover. The night had been very quiet. Scarcely a rifle shot had broken the +silence. The patrol must have made some noise, and so aroused the +attention of the enemy sentry in the sap head who fired an illuminating +flare. The light betrayed the presence of the patrol to the enemy, who +opened fire and wounded both of the men. Afterwards the enemy kept firing +illuminating flares and maintained a lively rifle and machine gun fire, so +that any attempt at rescue was impossible. At dawn the enemy put up a flag +of truce and a party of them came out and gently lifted the wounded into +their own trench. It was noticed that the enemy were wearing the old blue +uniform of the German Army instead of the feldgrau uniform, and that they +carried tin canisters in which they had their gas masks. This rescue was +accomplished at great risk to the enemy as they did not know that the +British would refrain from firing; and the incident proves that at any +rate there were some among the Germans who would do the honourable thing. +When the Battalion was at Ypres about a year afterwards a letter came +saying that the graves of the two men had been found with an appropriate +inscription in the German language. + +In this sector there was much work to be done. The trenches, which were in +a state of decay after the frosts and rains of the winter, had to be +duckboarded and revetted. Besides sandbagging the front line the +Battalion, in conjunction with the relieving unit, the 7th King's, +constructed a new support line known as Parallel B., in which was +accommodated, when it was complete, a portion of the front line garrison. +The wire needed attention as well. The French had covered the front with a +chain of _chevaux de frise_, but this was not considered a sufficient +obstacle, so that concertina wire and "gooseberries" had to be put out in +front of the _chevaux de frise_. The wiring parties had a very difficult +task, as they had to work about forty yards away from the enemy, who were +often engaged on similar work. Also the men had to work in front of the +_chevaux de frise_, and they would have had great difficulty in getting +back to their own lines should they have been surprised by the enemy. +Besides this, innumerable rifle racks, bomb stores, machine gun +emplacements and other works of a similar nature were completed. In +addition to this the men had to form large carrying parties to carry large +elephant sections and other material to the Quarry for use by dugout +construction parties of the Royal Engineers. + +At this period the trench discipline attained a high standard as the men +had been together for some months and free from heavy casualties, and it +is well here to digress for a while and record what trench duty really +meant. "Stand to" would be at say 3-30 a.m., shortly before dawn. At this +time all would man the parapet and wait until it became daylight. The +rifles, ammunition, gas helmets, and feet of the men would be inspected by +the platoon officer. This generally took about an hour and a half. +Afterwards the men not actually on duty would wash and shave. Shaving in +the trenches was made compulsory in March, as it was thought that it kept +the men from deteriorating and would prevent any tendency to slovenliness. +There was little water for such a purpose, and consequently it was +particularly arduous in a muddy trench, and it is doubtful whether the +benefits derived were worth it. Breakfast would take place between six and +seven. Afterwards the men got what sleep they could during the day, but +they were constantly interrupted by sentry duty, meals, shell fire, and +occasionally a fatigue. The activity of night replaced little by little +the tranquility of the day. Towards sunset came evening "stand to" and +more inspections. After nightfall patrols would go out, and wiring parties +for the renovation and repair of the wire, ration parties for the food, +and working parties to keep the trenches in good condition would be +detailed. The men got no sleep at night, and in fact very little at all. +Trench duty was exacting and exhausting from a physical point of view +alone, but to this was added the continual attrition of numbers on account +of shell and rifle fire. + +In May the weather was glorious and the face of the countryside assumed a +pleasant aspect. The trees were in full leaf. Wild flowers in profusion +adorned the trenches, and larks in numbers hovered in the clear blue skies +above the trenches and sang sweetly in the early mornings. The sunsets +viewed from the front line were particularly beautiful. The lines of trees +on the Beaumetz-Arras road became silhouetted black against the skyline, +reddened by the setting sun, which produced a wonderful effect. + +As the summer advanced the front became more active. Shell fire increased, +and the British artillery, having a more liberal supply of ammunition, +expended it more lavishly than had been formerly the case. In July the +Battalion left the sector immediately in front of Wailly and took over +that in front of Blaireville Wood, which was held by the enemy. + +On the 28th June a series of raids took place on the Divisional front, +which were covered by a discharge of cloud gas. A party from the Battalion +took part in the raid, and two officers were able to enter an enemy sap +but they did not manage to secure any prisoners. The junior of the two +officers was unfortunately killed, being shot through the head. In +retaliation for the raids the enemy brought up, on the 2nd July, what was +called a "Circus" consisting of several 150 m.m. and 210 m.m. howitzers on +railway mountings, with which he utterly destroyed the front line trenches +for a distance of two hundred yards, blew in several mined dugouts, and +inflicted heavy casualties on "D" Company. In some respects this was the +heaviest and most destructive bombardment that had been endured by the +Battalion up to this time, though it was not so prolonged as that of the +8th October, 1915. + +On the 8th July, after five months continuous duty in the forward zone, +the Battalion went into Divisional Reserve at Gouy-en-Artois, where the +Battalion was housed in hutments close by the Divisional School. + +The Somme Battle had commenced, and there was every likelihood of the +Division being called upon either to attack on the front it already held +or as reinforcements. In consequence the Battalion, which had had very +little training for the past five months, turned its attention to +practising the attack in some cornfields near the hutments it occupied. + +The attack was henceforth to be made by successive waves of men and to +each wave was assigned a particular objective. Following these attacking +waves there came what were called "moppers up," whose task was to deal +with any of the enemy who might have hidden in dugouts and so escaped the +attention of the attackers. Recent lessons of the Somme Battle costing +many lives had brought about the necessity for the institution of moppers +up. The rear waves were also to act as carrying parties. One man had to +carry a coil of wire, another a spade, another a screw picket, and so on. +The reason for this was, that when the enemy trenches had been captured, +the enemy might cut off all supplies by means of an intense barrage on no +man's land, and it was necessary for the attacking troops to have +sufficient material at hand to enable them to put the captured positions +into a state of defence immediately, and thus be able to resist a +counter-attack. Model trenches were marked out and much good work was done +in the attack practices that took place. Large drafts arrived and the +Battalion was soon in excellent form. The cleanliness and smart appearance +of the men while in the village drew forth the special praise of the +Divisional Commander. + +At Gouy a Battalion concert party was formed, and a concert was given in +a large barn which formed part of the Divisional Canteen. The doctor +composed some verses for the occasion in which there was plenty of local +colour. + +In June a Divisional horse show had taken place at which the Battalion +again distinguished itself. "C" Company cooker again took first prize in +the Division, and the Battalion secured the second place for the total +number of marks gained. + +The days spent in this sector were comparatively pleasant. The front had +been quiet, and although the work was arduous casualties were few, and +leave was regular. In the light of later experience the time spent in +Wailly was very comfortable indeed, and during the next two months many +wished they could return. + + +THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME. + +About the 20th July the Battalion left Gouy-en-Artois for the scene of +battle. To begin with this meant a three days' march to the entraining +locality. The first day the Battalion got to Sus St. Leger where the night +was spent, and by the end of the second day the Battalion was at Halloy. +On the third day, after a long tiring march in hot weather along dusty +roads, the Regiment marched into Autheux. After a few days here the +Battalion entrained late one evening for the front, and next morning it +detrained at Mericourt. The first sight that the men beheld on quitting +the train was a prisoners' camp, in which were many Germans, living +evidence of the activity a few miles in front. The Battalion was billeted +in Mericourt for two days. Here there was every indication of activity. +Having been on a quiet front for several months the men were not used to +the whir of a busy railhead. All manner of vehicles, guns, and other +impedimenta of war were in evidence, and everyone was surprised to see +some of Merryweather's fire engines, which were probably required for +pumping purposes. + +On the 29th the Battalion left Mericourt for what was known as "The Happy +Valley," outside Bray. During the march the soldiers saw a mile or two +away an enormous column of smoke ascend. Something terrible had taken +place. An ammunition dump must surely have been blown up. It was not a +very pleasant prospect for those who were new to that kind of thing. The +mystery of the column of smoke was never clearly elucidated. The Happy +Valley was scarcely correctly named. The weather was exceedingly hot, +there were no billets, and consequently the men had to bivouac. The Valley +had one great drawback; there were no wells in the vicinity from which +water could be drawn. Owing to this shortage, the water-men had a very +onerous task as water was obtainable only at Bray, and thither the water +carts had to go, making as many journeys as possible during the day, to +obtain water for the thirsty troops. The Battalion in this locality was in +touch with the French, from whom the officers managed to secure some of +the French ration wine which proved very acceptable. + +On the 30th the Battalion moved to a place by Fricourt, and pitched a camp +which it left two days later for a bivouac area by Bronfay Farm, near +Carnoy. From this place the officers went forward on reconnaissance. They +saw for the first time Bernafay and Trones Woods, which then had achieved +great notoriety. To the neighbourhood of these woods the Battalion sent +forward night working parties. Only with the greatest difficulty did these +parties get to their rendezvous, and little work was done on account of +the intensity of the enemy shell fire. + +In the evening of the 3rd August the Battalion paraded and marched towards +the fighting, leaving behind a small percentage to form a nucleus should +all its fighting personnel perish. The march was wearying. The enemy guns +were active, the weather hot, and packs heavy. After a long trudge the +Briqueterie was reached, a dangerous and dreaded spot, for it was +periodically swept with shell fire. At last the companies got to their +allotted stations in the reserve trenches. Many had not yet experienced +the terrors of heavy shell fire, which by its very nature was intended to +produce an unnerving effect. The next day started fairly quietly. On the +right the men could see what was known as Death Valley. This was rightly +so called. Being obscured from the enemy's view, it was a covered means of +approach to the infantry positions in front, and afforded at the same time +cover for the guns. On this account it was never free from shell fire, and +was littered with corpses of men and horses. + +In the afternoon the Battalion had to take over the front line in the +neighbourhood of Arrow Head Copse in front of Guillemont. Passing along +Death Valley the Battalion got caught in heavy shell fire, and sixty +casualties took place almost immediately. It required a stout heart to +march cheerfully forward when seeing one's companions who had gone a +little in front coming back on stretchers, or lying dead alongside the +path. + +When the two leading companies arrived at Arrow Head Copse they manned +trenches varying in depth from a few inches to three feet, which afforded +little protection against shell fire. The dead, many of whom belonged to +the Liverpool Pals Brigade, were visible lying stark and numerous on the +battlefield. The weary desolation, and the unmitigated waste of equipment, +clothing, and life passes all description. This was the Somme battlefield, +of which one had heard so much. To those who had seen much of the war, the +thought came that nothing could be worse than this. + +The next day was a day of incessant shell fire on both sides. On the +British side it was the bombardment prior to the attack on Guillemont. The +fire was terrific. The terrible concussions of the high explosive shells +assailed both ears and nerves, and kept up a pall of dust over the +trenches. The whizzing and swirling of the shells was incessant. Some +whined, others moaned, and others roared like express trains. Light shells +passed with an unearthly shriek. It was useless taking any notice of the +lighter shells. They had come and burst before one realised what had +happened. The heavier shells, particularly those that were timed to burst +in the air, were very trying, and when they burst over Trones Wood the +noise reverberated through what remained of the trees, and so became +extraordinarily intensified. To expect the explosions of the shells +knowing they were on their way and to hear them coming, not knowing +whether they would be fatal or not, was the worst part of the ordeal. Such +a condition of turmoil and torment must have been meant by the words of +Dante in his description of Hell. + + "La bufera infernal che mai non resta." + +Every now and then a man was hit. Those killed outright were perhaps +spared much agony, and the wounded were lucky if they reached the aid +post alive. Many got shell shock which affected men in different ways. One +would be struck dumb, another would gibber like a maniac, while a third +would retain possession of his reason but lose control of his limbs. + +For two days in the sultry heat the Battalion endured the terrible strain +of this awful shell fire, the men receiving no proper food and water being +unprocurable. Then the Battalion was relieved and taken into support, +where three or four days were spent, and on the 10th two companies moved +to the Maltz Horn position. The next night the two remaining companies +moved up. The devastation in the neighbourhood of Cockrane Alley was worse +than at Guillemont. Here the men witnessed the full terrors of the +stricken field. Living men dwelt among the unburied dead. Booted feet of +killed soldiers protruded from the side of the trench. Here and there a +face or a hand was visible. Corpses of dead soldiers with blackening faces +covered with flies were rotting in the sun, and the reek of putrifying +flesh was nauseating. Added to this the heat was overpowering, the +artillery was firing short, and there was little or no water obtainable. + +The Battalion was in touch with the French, and there were a few Frenchmen +in the trenches with the men. On the 12th August the French attacked with +great success and captured the village of Maurepas. + +Between the two armies there was a wide broken-in trench running from the +Allied towards the German lines. For some time before zero the Allied +artillery kept up an incessant barrage on the German lines. The shells +fired by the French were noticeable by a much sharper report. At zero the +French attacked on the right of Cockrane Alley, advancing at a run in +small groups of from eight to twelve men, and they got a good distance +without any casualties. Then one by one the Frenchmen commenced to fall, +and on reaching the enemy line the French company immediately on the right +of the Battalion met with strong resistance. None came back and it is +thought that almost every man perished. Meanwhile the two companies of the +Battalion attacked in waves on the left of Cockrane Alley. They got eighty +or ninety yards without difficulty, when the enemy opened a heavy machine +gun fire, and the ground being convex the attackers formed a good target. +The Commander of the right company who led his company from the right so +as to be in touch with the bombers in Cockrane Alley, though twice +wounded, still continued the advance until he was shot dead. His example +was emulated by the Company Sergeant Major who perished in similar +circumstances. Meanwhile the bombers were endeavouring to work their way +down Cockrane Alley. The trench became shallower, and on reaching a road +it disappeared. As the bombers emerged on to the road they were shot down +one by one. The enemy then turned their machine guns on to Cockrane Alley, +and raked it with fire until it became a shambles. Most of the men of the +two companies were casualties, and many were killed. A few stragglers who +were able to take cover in shell craters managed to return later under +cover of darkness. + +What became of the wounded lying out between the lines was never known, as +any attempt at rescue was impossible. As most of the stretcher bearers +with the companies were themselves incapacitated through wounds the rapid +evacuation of the wounded even in the trenches was impossible, and +moreover the aid post at Headquarters was under heavy artillery fire, so +that it was only at great risk to the bearers that the wounded could be +cleared at all from the trenches. + +For the French the day had been very successful. They had captured +Maurepas, but for the Battalion it was a total failure. However, the work +done earned for the Battalion the praise of the Corps Commander, expressed +in an order published the next day, which was as follows:-- + + The Corps Commander wishes you to express to the Companies + engaged last night his admiration, and that of the French who + saw them, for the gallant and strenuous fight they put up. + + Had the ravine been captured by the French, there is no doubt + our objective could have been realised. + + 13th August, 1916. + +On the 13th the Battalion was relieved and the men, tired out, slowly +wended their way down Death Valley to Maricourt, passing many corpses, and +then to the bivouac area near Bronfay Farm they had left about ten days +before. Many who had marched away in the fullness of their health and +strength did not return. The next day a short move was made to +Ville-sur-Ancre, one of the few villages which contained a shop. Shortly +afterwards the Battalion moved by train to Ramburelles, not far from the +coast. Of all the villages the Battalion had ever visited, this was +perhaps the most insanitary. The men lived in barns almost on top of +manure heaps, and in consequence of the heat the number of flies was +great. Baths of late had been very few and consequently the men suffered +considerably from lice. + +Arduous training was the order of the day. Seven or eight hours each day +were devoted to work, while what the men most needed was rest. They were +exhausted after their late experience, and they were overworked by the +excessive training. Many were further weakened by the fact that septic +sores were very prevalent owing to the insanitary conditions among which +the men lived. + +At this period the Battalion routine orders, which were supposed to be +issued early in the afternoon were, for some unknown reason, always +received very late in the day and sometimes after ten o'clock at night. As +the Company Commanders had then to issue orders it meant that much +unnecessary waiting and work was caused. + +At Ramburelles so as to evade the heat of the day the Battalion paraded at +7 a.m. for a four-hours' parade, and then left off until late in the +afternoon. This scheme worked well only in theory. A lot had to be done +out of parade hours, which meant that the officers and men were very much +overworked. Sunday brought no respite. The Sunday previous to leaving the +place, the men were engaged on a work of supererogation until 8-30 p.m., +digging bombing trenches which were never used. + +While at Ramburelles seaside leave was granted to some of the officers, +who were able to spend two or three days away from the Battalion and enjoy +for a while the comforts of a seaside town. One or two, acting in the +belief that the Battalion would not return to the fight for some time, +postponed their trip, and on the very day that they arrived at Delville +Wood they remembered that that was the day they should have been basking +in the sun at Le Treport. Such is the folly of procrastination. On the +28th August the command devolved on Major P.G.A. Lederer, M.C., as the +Commanding Officer had been evacuated sick. On the 30th August the +Battalion marched by a tortuous route to Pont Remy, where it entrained and +arrived next day at Mericourt. It eventually was installed in close +billets at Dernancourt for a few days. + +On the 4th September the Battalion marched to Montauban. On the march +Major H.K.S. Woodhouse took over the command, and the officers were +introduced to him during the dinner halt. Montauban was not a very +pleasant place, particularly as the weather was rainy, and as the +companies were distributed among the field guns they came in for +considerable shell fire. + +On the 7th September the Battalion moved up to the front positions between +Delville Wood and High Wood. The shell fire in this area was terrific. The +enemy guns never stopped firing day or night at the means of approach to +the Battalion's position along the side of Delville Wood. At night the +Battalion had to send working parties into the neutral ground between the +lines to dig what were somewhat incorrectly known as strong points. When +these were finished they were garrisoned by a platoon in each case. The +small garrisons of these strong points were quite cut off during the day +as no movement was possible on account of snipers. Food and water could +only be brought up at night, and were a man wounded he would have to +remain without attention until darkness. A prisoner was taken belonging to +the 5th Bavarian Regiment, which showed that the Bavarians were in line +opposite. + +On the 9th there was a big attack by the British. The 16th Division +attacked on the right in front of Delville Wood, and the 1st Division on +the left, and consequently the Battalion was in the very centre of the +fight. The garrisons of the strong points being cut off as they were, did +not receive news of the attack. Suddenly in the afternoon after a +comparatively quiet morning the artillery on both sides became very +active, both the British and German artillery developing intense barrages. +To the men in the strong points this presaged an enemy attack, and the +order was given to be ready to fire the moment the enemy should come into +view. The members of these small garrisons knew there would be no hope for +them, as they would soon have been surrounded and annihilated, and most +probably all of them bayoneted. Fortunately the attack was by the British +and these eventualities did not arise. The Battalion was relieved during +the next two days and went into reserve at Buire-sur-Ancre. After a few +days here it moved to a bivouac area at E. 15 a., outside Dernancourt. +Though this was some considerable distance behind the front line the enemy +forced the Battalion to evacuate this area by firing at it with a +long-ranged gun. In the evening there was a cinema show in the open, at +which were shown pictures of the Somme Battle. It was very strange to see +the soldiers keenly interested in the pictures of what shell fire was like +when there were actual shells falling about half a mile away, and they had +been shelled out of their camp that very afternoon. The British Army had +made a successful attack on the 15th September, and on the 17th the +Battalion went into line again at Flers, where two miserable days were +spent in an incessant downpour of rain and very heavy shell fire. On +relief it came back to the transport lines at Pommier Redoubt. + +On the 23rd the Battalion paraded, leaving behind its surplus personnel +and moved up to Flers for the attack. Orders were received the next day +that the attack was to take place on the 25th, and that zero was to be at +12-35 p.m. The objective allotted to the "Ninth" was from Seven Dials to +Factory Corner, which meant an advance of 1,000 yards. At 7-30 a.m. the +barrage commenced and lasted for hours, and increased in intensity as the +moment for the advance drew nearer. At zero the Battalion advanced in four +waves, the distance between the waves being 100 yards. The first wave had +to keep close to the creeping barrage of shrapnel. Of the last wave +scarcely a man survived, as it came in for the enemy barrage which the +leading waves had escaped. The bombers took an enemy strong point and +fought their way along Grove Alley and got to work with the bayonet, +inflicting many casualties on the enemy and taking several prisoners. This +was the first experience the men had of advancing under cover of a +creeping barrage of shrapnel and the first occasion that they saw tanks in +action. The attack was a great success and reflected no little credit on +the Battalion. Everyone of the Headquarters personnel present will +remember the Advanced Headquarters being blown up and the signallers and +runners sustaining many casualties. During the same evening two companies +of another unit came to the trench occupied by Headquarters. They tried to +enter the trench at the same spot and crowded close on each other. At this +time the enemy suddenly dropped four 5.9 shells among the crowded men. +Next morning forty-seven dead were counted. + +The next day the Battalion was relieved, and by small stages the remnants +of the companies made their way to Buire-sur-Ancre. This was the +Battalion's last time in action on the Somme, and it presented a very +changed aspect to its first arrival on this battlefield. Companies were +reduced to the size of platoons, and platoons to sections or less. During +the battle about 650 casualties had been sustained, including fifteen +officers dead. This was a large incision into the fighting strength, and +it was a long time before these losses were made up. + +For the Battalion the Somme Battle with its terrible holocausts, incessant +shell fire and continuous slaughter, was at an end, but there was no +respite for the weary soldier. There was to be no rest or period for +recuperation. The Regiment was ordered to Ypres immediately. Tired and +exhausted, the men were taken out of the Somme inferno, having lost many +of their comrades, and with weary bodies and heavy hearts they faced the +prospect of the untold terrors of the fatal city of Ypres. + +The journey to Ypres was long. First the Battalion entrained at Mericourt +in the afternoon of Sunday the 1st October. At midnight the men detrained +at Longpre and marched to Cocquerel, arriving at 3 a.m. the next day. The +men then bivouacked until reveille at 6-30 a.m. At 8-30 a.m. the Regiment +was again on the march to Pont Remy, where it entrained for Esquelbecq, +where it arrived at 9-30 p.m., and marched to billets at Wormhoudt. Two +days were spent here, and this afforded the men the rest they so badly +needed. The state of the Battalion can be gauged from the fact that at +Wormhoudt only one company commander had a subaltern. + + +YPRES. + +On the 4th October the Battalion entrained on a light railway, and soon +reached Poperinghe, where it remained until darkness and then entrained on +a broad gauge train at Poperinghe Station for Ypres. It was a new +experience for the men to be in a train and yet within range of the +enemy's artillery. The personnel detrained just by the railway station at +Ypres and went into billets close by. Little could be seen of the city in +the dark. Stillness pervaded the area that night, and after the Somme +Battle the quietness was uncanny. + +The next day the men had an opportunity of seeing the city that had +suffered so much in the war. It must have been subjected to many a tornado +of shells, for there was not a single house untouched and very few had +roofs. A few shells fell in the Square during the morning, but that was +all. To the men it was a great relief to be in a quiet area after such a +place as the Somme. Ypres was not as bad as had been expected. + +The trenches were to be taken over at once. The officers reconnoitred the +line during the afternoon, and towards evening the Battalion paraded and +marched along the Rue de Stuers, the Rue au Beurre, past the Cloth Hall, +through the Square, and the Menin Gate towards Potijze. Afterwards it took +over the sector from the Roulers Railway to Duke Street with Headquarters +in Potijze Wood. Four days only had elapsed since it had left the Somme +railhead. This area was to be the Battalion's battle station for several +months to come, and many times were the companies to repeat the journey +they had just completed. It was to take part in two big battles in the +vicinity and add greatly to its honours and leave many of its members +entombed in soldiers' graves in what was to be perhaps the biggest +graveyard of its kind in the world. + +The Ypres sector was very quiet, but there was every danger of a gas +attack, and the Battalion received the strictest warnings from the +relieved unit, which had lost many men two months before through +inattention to precautionary measures. The first night that the Battalion +went into the line there was an alarm, but as the wind at the moment was +in a safe quarter its falsity was immediately recognised. The men at this +time had only the then out-of-date P.H. helmet. These helmets were changed +in the course of a week or two for the more efficacious box respirators, +which remained with slight modifications until the end of the war as the +soldiers' protection against enemy gas. The enemy artillery was very +quiet, and obviously the British had the artillery ascendancy, and it was +surmised that this was attributable to the fact that he had removed his +artillery to the Somme. The minenwerfers were active and so were the enemy +snipers. After a tour in the line the Battalion repaired to Ypres. A few +days afterwards it went to take over the "L" defences at Brielen, with +Headquarters in Elverdinghe Chateau. Only one tour was done here and the +Battalion then returned to Ypres. Until January it did three tours of duty +in the line, either in Ypres itself or the front line to one in reserve at +Brandhoek. + +While in the front line the routine was practically the same as at Wailly, +but the conditions were different. In the Salient it was not possible to +dig deep trenches as the land was so low lying that water was met on +reaching a depth of about two feet. Trenches were not feasible, so it was +a case of breast-works. The defences therefore consisted of sand-bag +revetments held in position by wooden frames over which expanded metal had +been spread. These frames were called "A" frames or "Z" frames. The former +were used for preventing narrow ways from staving in, and the latter were +to face sand-bag walls. They were not easy to use and the men had to learn +how to fix them, and their employment entailed many long and tedious +carrying parties. The breast-works were divided into fire bays by +traverses which were situated every few yards. These fire bays, which were +all numbered, had firing platforms made of wood or well-revetted sandbags. +The parapet was sufficiently high to give good command over the ground in +front. During the winter it silted down and in many places it became not +even bullet-proof. The parados was fairly good, though in many places +there was none at all. For shelter the men had small recesses like dog +kennels in the parapet or parados; these were usually roofed by a sheet of +corrugated iron and were very small, uncomfortable, and infested with +rats. There were not sufficient shelters to accommodate all the men, and +the surplus had to sleep as best they could on the firing platform with +only greatcoats as coverings. + +The men had endured much and many were war weary. They were tired of +fighting, and their former enthusiasm had cooled, especially as there was +no immediate prospect of a rapid termination of the war. Among those who +stood to arms in the whizz-banged trench in the cold raw hour of dawn were +many who had given up assured positions--skilled mechanics, master +printers, clerks, university men, solicitors, and others of several +professions and callings who had sacrificed their various situations and +appointments, and whose wives struggled on a very meagre separation +allowance. Fully aware were they also that while they were manning the +trench as infantrymen and receiving as remuneration a miserable pittance, +munition workers in England were receiving excessively high wages for +congenial work and enjoying freedom from all discomfort and danger of the +trenches. + +The water-logged ground between the British and German lines was pitted +with shell holes and overgrown with rank grass and weeds. Numerous trees +lopped of their branches were still standing, while many others were lying +on the ground. Exactly half way across to the enemy lines were the remains +of what had been a moated farm, which was a favourite objective of +patrols. Railway Wood, which was situated on slightly higher ground on the +right of the Battalion's sector, was a minehead and in consequence the +scene of much activity. At one time there had been a wood, but so intense +had been the artillery fire that not a single tree or trunk higher than +three or four feet was left standing. Almost every afternoon, about 4-30 +p.m., the usual trench mortar "strafe" would commence, and would last for +an hour or so. A few months later Railway Wood became a scene of much +mining activity, and mines and camouflets were sprung either by the +British or the Germans almost daily. In the Battalion area there was +situated what was known as Number 6 Crater, a deep mine crater half full +of water, and said to be then one of the largest in France. In the +vicinity of this crater there were some overhead traverses to prevent the +enemy snipers from enfilading the trench, probably constructed after +several casualties had been incurred. + +Company headquarters were close to the front line, and never consisted of +anything more than a small shelter. The cooking was done in cook-houses in +the company areas, fatigue parties being detailed to bring up rations and +water in petrol tins. Battalion headquarters were housed in dugouts in the +wood adjoining the White Chateau at Potijze, in front of which was a large +cemetery. While in Ypres itself three companies were billeted in the +cellars of the gutted houses in the neighbourhood of the Boulevard Malou, +which was a better class district once inhabited by the more wealthy +citizens. Headquarters and one company were housed in the cellars of the +Ecole Moyenne, which was erroneously called the Convent. These billets +were not bad, though in many cases damp. + +For the companies there was a parade in the morning, and every evening +several working parties paraded at the Convent, and marched out afterwards +through the Menin Gate for work in the Brigade area. The biggest working +party numbered 100. It moved off at 5-30 p.m., drew shovels, picks, and +gum boots at Potijze Dump, and then worked until almost midnight in +constructing Cambridge Trench. The work was inadequately supervised by the +Royal Engineers, who left the task to a second corporal and a few sappers, +and consequently little progress was made and most probably the trench was +never properly completed. The men had their last meal at 4-30 p.m., and as +a consequence they could not work with proper efficiency right up to +midnight. After a while they became very tired and were unable to +continue. As a considerable quantity of material was requisite to keep the +trenches in repair, large carrying parties were necessary. These could +have been to a large extent obviated had light Decauville railways been +constructed, such as the Germans were discovered later to have been using. + +For the comfort of the men there was a Divisional canteen near the billets +in Ypres, and another in the Infantry Barracks. There was a recreation +room in the Prison, where Church parades were held later. There were also +baths in the Rue d'Elverdinghe, so that the men were able to keep clean. + +During the day there was very little movement at Ypres, but at night this +was different, as the transport lorries had to bring up stores and +ammunition for the guns. They used to go through the city at a great pace +for fear of being caught by the enemy shell fire, and it is interesting to +record that on one occasion a complaint was made by the Battalion to the +effect that the streets were unsafe at night on this account. This of +course was in addition to the unsafety resulting from enemy fire. + +When in reserve the Battalion was stationed at "B" Camp at Brandhoek, on +the Poperinghe-Ypres Road. Here the officers and men were accommodated in +very comfortable wooden huts, from which Poperinghe, with its shops and +cafes, could easily be reached. Attention should be directed to the +rigorous sanitary measures which obtained in this Corps, chiefly due to +the insistence of the Corps Commander. Great progress had been made in +this direction since the beginning of the war. Latrines and ablution +places were kept scrupulously clean. All rubbish was cast into the +incinerators, and billets had to be kept clean and tidy. On relief each +unit had to obtain a certificate from the relieving unit to the effect +that the billets had been left in a clean and sanitary condition. These +measures, though rigid, were beneficial and kept down sickness to a large +extent. + +On Christmas day the Battalion was in Ypres, and one of the Churches in +the Boulevard Malou was decorated, and proved a useful dining room, in +which the men partook of a good Christmas dinner which was thoroughly +enjoyed. After the meal the Commanding Officer ascended into the pulpit +and treated the soldiers to an inspiring address, but it can be safely +assumed that the men enjoyed the meal much more than the lecture. + +The New Year was heralded by an intense bombardment by the British, and in +anticipation of the enemy retaliation the front line was cleared, except +for the officer on watch, and Lewis gun teams. The line was badly knocked +about by the enemy fire, but was built up again by the Battalion in one +night. + +In January the first Divisional rest for ten months commenced, and it was +spent by the Battalion first at "Z" Camp and then at Proven. The weather +at this time was intensely cold, and as the men in "Z" Camp had only +Nissen huts they suffered greatly in consequence. These huts were made of +unseasoned timber, and large gaps appeared in the floors through which the +cold east wind entered, reducing the temperature to a figure well below +zero. + +The first week or so was devoted to training. There was a fear at this +time that the principles of open warfare might easily be forgotten during +the long periods of stagnation in the trenches. Consequently exercises in +open warfare were ordered by the Higher Command, and the Battalion carried +out several tactical schemes, and also some night operations. These latter +struck the men as rather unnecessary, as they had all been on night +patrols in the neutral ground between the lines, which after all was what +might be called the real thing. The other exercises were very beneficial, +as were also the attack practices which took place. + +At Proven the men discovered that the term Divisional rest was a misnomer. +Reveille was before six, and in the dim light of the early morning, the +men had to wash and shave in icy cold water in the teeth of a bitter east +wind. There followed a meagre breakfast cooked on an unsheltered field +kitchen in the dark, and often in the rain. The men paraded at seven, and +went out on a working party for the rest of the day. Their tasks were to +load earth on railway trucks and then off-load it after a short train +journey, to serve as ballast for another portion of line that was in +course of construction. The earth was frozen several inches deep and it +was necessary to loosen it by means of a pick before it could be shovelled +on to the trucks. Towards the evening the men returned, cold, weary and +tired, to a draughty barn, with the dismal prospect of a similar day on +the morrow. + +For the officers there was a lecture by the Commanding Officer on a +pamphlet recently brought out called "The Division in the Attack." The +lecture took place every evening at 5 p.m. in the village school, and this +meant that in many cases the officers were on duty for twelve hours +continuously. During the day time there was also a Lewis gun class for the +officers who were not on the working party, and they studied the weapon +assiduously. While at Proven the Battalion was visited, while working on +the railway, by Lord Wavertree, then Colonel Hall Walker, the Honorary +Colonel, to whom the officers were presented. It seemed a long time since +they had seen him last at Sailly Labourse, and his presence was very +welcome to all the old members. + +An outbreak of scarlet fever prolonged the Battalion's stay for a few +days, but on the 23rd February it left Proven, detrained at the Asylum at +Ypres and moved into billets at the Prison, with two of the companies in +the Magazine. While in the Prison one of the officers facetiously remarked +that it was a much better gaol than he had been used to, and observed that +it was built on the panopticon principle. The next day the Battalion moved +to its old haunts at Potijze, and resumed duties as before. During this +tour Lieutenant-Colonel F.W.M. Drew took over the command in succession to +Lieutenant-Colonel Woodhouse. At this time so short was the Battalion of +officers that "D" Company had only one officer, who was the Company +Commander, and as his company was disposed partly in a sector of trench +known as X3, Potijze Defences, St. James' Trench and the Garden of Eden, +he had a good deal to do. + +On the 4th March a successful raid took place on an enemy post opposite to +Number 5 Crater, in the vicinity of the Railway. The sentry post was in a +sap head around which the wire had been cut up by shell fire. A shrapnel +barrage was directed against the post for a few minutes, while the raiding +party was waiting in no man's land. The barrage lifted suddenly, and the +small raiding party rushed in and, taking the sentries by surprise, +secured them as prisoners. On the 19th March the enemy successfully raided +the Battalion, and unfortunately captured about ten prisoners. The plan +adopted was ingenious. The night had been exceptionally quiet, when +suddenly about half an hour before dawn the enemy opened with a barrage of +all calibres on the sector immediately on the left of the Battalion, with +the intention of diverting the attention of the British artillery to that +sector. The enemy raiding party meanwhile was lying in no man's land. The +enemy suddenly opened with a devastating fire on the Battalion's trenches +for a few minutes, lengthened the range, and under cover of this barrage +the raiding party entered and surprised the men in the front line. Orders +had lately been received that the officer on watch was not to fire the +S.O.S. signal to the artillery until he was sure that the enemy had left +their trenches. But as it was dark he could not ascertain this, and +consequently the signal was not fired. The Company Commander sent back the +S.O.S. signal, but the message was not delivered through the foolishness +of a signaller who was afraid to use the power buzzer, fearing that the +enemy might intercept the message. The Germans left one of their men dead +in the trench and another just in front of the parapet. This was an +incident which had to be avenged, and soon the Battalion by means of two +successful raids secured enough prisoners to equalize. + +Towards the end of the month another raid was expected. To frustrate this +the Commanding Officer decided to have a body of about sixty men lying in +the middle of no man's land, in such a position that they would escape the +enemy barrage and intercept the raiding party and take them by surprise. +This was a sound scheme, but it was very exhausting for the men who had to +lie for four or five hours on the frozen ground. Moreover, the anticipated +raid did not eventualise. + +The 13th March was the anniversary of the advent of the Battalion to +France, and as the Battalion was then at Brandhoek, the sergeants invited +the Commanding Officer and the remaining original officers who had landed +at Le Havre with the Battalion to attend a smoking concert. The officers +spent a short time at the concert, during which the usual eulogistic +speeches were made. + +About this time the platoons were reorganised in accordance with a +training pamphlet that had lately been issued. Henceforth they were to +consist of a Lewis gun section, a section of bombers, another of rifle +grenadiers, and a fourth of rifle-men, and the men were taught the new +formation to be adopted for the attack which was known as the "Normal +Formation," one consisting of lines and waves of attackers. + +In April, when the Battalion's turn came for a period in reserve, two +companies had to remain in Ypres to assist the Royal Engineers with +working parties, so that the personnel of these companies missed their +period of rest. At this time one of these companies had its headquarters +in a house in a terrace called the Place d'Amour. In the gardens of the +houses a battery of field guns was installed, and there was another just +close by. The headquarters of these two batteries were also in the Place +d'Amour--one on each side of the infantry company headquarters. One +morning the enemy decided to annihilate one of the batteries and commenced +to fire ranging shots over the terrace. The artillerymen knew what was +coming, and told everyone to leave the billets, but to uphold the honour +of the infantry, the men refused to leave the billets until after the +gunners had evacuated the position. They got away just in time. + +On the 17th April the Battalion moved to the Ecole, a place outside the +city on the east, which had apparently been a large technical school, and +after a few days here it moved to Railway Wood sector where things were +very active. After a tour here and a few days in reserve it returned to +Potijze sector once more. On the 11th May a very successful night raid was +carried out by two officers and forty other ranks on Oskar Farm. Under +cover of a barrage two parties entered the enemy positions. Some Germans +were found in a dugout, which was then bombed and six Germans surrendered. +A small bombing party was counter-attacked by six Germans, and the +sergeant in command shot three and bayoneted one, while the other two +escaped. The War Diary states that on the way back some of the prisoners +became unruly and were effectively dealt with, which means that they were +killed. At least ten Germans were killed besides those in the dugout that +was bombed. The prisoners belonged to the 1st Matrosen Regiment of the +German Naval Division. + +On the 17th May the Battalion went to Bollezeele, where it remained for a +month. This was a clean, well-built village, where the men were very +comfortable. The training ground was about an hour's march away, and so +the Battalion paraded in the main street every morning with the drummers +in the centre, and marched to the training ground where the companies were +placed at the disposal of their commanders for drill and instruction. A +meal was taken at noon and when the afternoon's work was done the +Battalion reformed and marched back to billets. The weather at this time +was very fine. Never had the men witnessed such beautiful blue skies, and +scarcely a drop of rain marred the stay in the village. The Brigade sports +were held early in June, and the Battalion did very well in the military +contests, winning three out of four events, but unfortunately not quite +so well in the others. + +On the 11th June the Battalion left Bollezeele, and early the next morning +arrived at Ypres, and immediately went to the usual sector at Potijze. As +the shell fire in this area had become much more severe of late, to move +troops through Ypres or even around it was done at great risk, and all +were glad when the move was over. + +By a chain of unfortunate circumstances, leave for officers had been very +slow. In January it had been stopped as it was considered necessary for +the officers to be with their men during training while out of line. +Difficulties of transport brought about the closing of leave from January +to June. It opened again in June, but as all could not go at once it +happened that some officers did not get leave for nine or ten months. + +After a few days in Potijze sector the Battalion sidestepped to the +Wieltje sector. The tour here was characterised by intense enemy artillery +activity. Heavy batteries constantly countered each other, and day and +night were punctuated by cannonades of varying intensity. Ypres itself was +shelled by the celebrated 420 m.m. Skoda howitzer. The enemy drenched the +area with the old lachrymatory gas shells, as well as a new gas he had +lately introduced known as "Yellow Cross" or "Mustard" gas. Bilge Trench +came in for special attention, and on one day it was estimated that 1,200 +heavy shells fell in its vicinity. + +It was a time of great aerial activity also. Richthoven and his squadron +visited the sector quite frequently--generally in the early morning--and +fired machine guns at the men in the trenches. His squadron could be +easily distinguished, as the bodies of the aeroplanes were painted red. +Also they flew very low, and the anti-aircraft gunners did not dare to +fire, leaving it to the infantrymen to defend themselves with Lewis guns +as best they could. + +During the tour in Wieltje the Battalion dug Hopkin's Trench in no man's +land, under machine gun, granatenwerfer and rifle-grenade fire, which were +the cause of several casualties. Fortunately there was a very good mined +dugout at Wieltje containing many rooms which were lighted by electricity. +The shelter it afforded reduced considerably the number of casualties that +would otherwise have taken place, and it was a pity that there were not +more like it. + +Though very good work was done by the companies during these months of +trench duty, it should be remembered that perhaps the most dangerous task +was the bringing up of rations and water. Ypres was approachable from +Poperinghe by one road only, along which came almost all the supplies for +the troops in the Salient. From a point on the road called Shrapnel +Crossing to the city it was within convenient range of the enemy +artillery, and being well aware that the road was much used at night, the +enemy subjected it to considerable fire, and caused casualties nightly. +Once arrived in Ypres the Battalion transport had to pass the Square and +the Menin Gate, which were well known danger points, where there was no +cover, and then proceed to Potijze along a road that could easily be +enfiladed by the enemy gunners. No matter how heavy was the enemy shelling +there was no night on which the transport section failed to deliver the +rations. + +At the beginning of July the Battalion went to Moringhem to prepare for +the great battle. This was a very small hamlet, and there must have been +a great concentration of troops in the Pas de Calais, as this little +place had to accommodate two battalions. The men were placed under canvas, +and some of the officers lived in tents, while the remainder were +accommodated in billets. The training was mainly devoted to the attack. +The British and the enemy trenches were taped out on some cornfields, in +propinquity to the hamlet, and the forthcoming attack was rehearsed time +and time again by all the battalions in the Brigade. Great attention was +paid to synchronisation of watches, and the immediate reporting of all +information. Maps and aeroplane photographs of the ground were studied +with meticulous care, and a model of the Battalion's sector over which it +was to attack, showing Uhlan Farm, Jasper and Plum Farms, Pommern Castle, +and Pommern Redoubt, was constructed outside the camp to explain the lie +of the ground to the men. Tanks were represented by half limbers during +these practices, and the shrapnel barrage by drums. + +During the stay at Moringhem the officers were able to ride into St. Omer +on one or two occasions, and there dine at the restaurants, where a +welcome change in their usual menu was obtainable. + + +THE THIRD BATTLE OF YPRES. + +On the 21st July the Battalion left Moringhem, and once more found itself +at "B" Camp at Brandhoek. This was a very different place from what it had +been during the winter, and being full of troops, the Battalion had only +one-third of its former area in which to accommodate itself. Anti-aircraft +batteries, tunnelling companies, transport lines, field hospitals, and +observation balloons were everywhere. + +The training was complete. Everyone knew the orders and it was merely a +case of waiting for "Z" day, the day of the attack. On the 29th July, +which turned out to be "X" day, the fighting personnel left Brandhoek, and +moved to Durham Redoubt, an area just west of Ypres, where the men +bivouacked for the night. The next day illuminating flares, iron rations, +spare water-bottles, bombs, and maps were given to the men. + +Though all knew the role of the Battalion and its allotted objectives, no +one in the Battalion knew the extent of the attack, or which divisions +were attacking, or what was to happen if all objectives were captured. It +was believed that if the attack succeeded, there were other divisions in +rear ready to exploit the success. Wild rumours began to filter through. +One of the most prevalent was that eighty mines would be sprung at zero, +and this was inspiring to all, and infused new courage into the men. + +Towards evening the companies left the area, and slowly in the darkness +moved via the Plaine d'Amour past the Dixmude Gate and the Dead End to +Oxford Trench, where they took up a position and waited. This waiting was +very unpleasant, as the enemy was obviously expecting an attack and +shelled the whole area almost all night. There was little shelter, as the +trench was shallow and wide, and several were wounded before the fight +commenced. + +The objective allotted to the Battalion consisted of a section of the +enemy second line called the "Stutzpunkt" Line, comprising Pommern Redoubt +(called "Gartenhof" by the Germans) to Bank Farm, known to the enemy as +"Blucher." The distance of the objective from the Battalion's zero +position was approximately a mile and a half, which was at that period of +the war a big distance to be called upon to cover in one day. + +Two hours before zero it became known that the artillery was firing gas +shells on the enemy batteries, so that at zero the enemy would not be able +to work their guns. The drone of the gas shells passing overhead, and the +knowledge of this device on the part of the British artillery, was very +reassuring to the waiting troops. + +For a few minutes before zero all was tranquil, and the men were quietly +waiting. Zero was at 3-50 a.m., at which hour it was quite dark. Suddenly +there was heard the firing of an 18-pounder battery. It was a battery +firing just a second or two early. There followed a deafening roar. All +the guns had fired together, and their shells were racing across the sky. +A sheet of flame covered the enemy trenches. The fight had begun. The men +rose from their positions slowly and went over the top to the front line, +where according to plan they waited twenty-five minutes. The advance then +continued. They should have advanced in waves, but that was impossible +over the shell-cratered ground, as the going over the churned-up earth was +very difficult, particularly in view of the heavy loads the men carried. +All cohesion was soon lost, and the men sauntered forward in little groups +endeavouring as best they could to keep the proper direction. No one knew +what was happening. After passing the enemy front line all danger from his +barrage was over, but his machine guns were active, and every now and then +a man dropped--in many cases not to rise again. At length the river +Steenbeek was reached. Numbers were few and hopes of success were rapidly +vanishing. How the fight had progressed on the right or left no one knew. +In front was a strong position on the other side of the Steenbeek Valley, +which turned out ultimately to be Bank Farm. + +The enemy in the dim light was firing his machine guns and causing +casualties, but with a final rush the men were in the centre of a German +strong point. The companies were weak, one consisting of only a dozen men +or so, and the Germans were in occupation of the position as well, and +fired coloured lights to encourage the support of their artillery. They +were dealt with by the bombers, and one sensible private, who soon used up +all his available bombs found a store of German bombs, which he employed +to advantage. About the same time another party of the Battalion captured +Pommern Redoubt, while the 7th King's on the right got into Pommern +Castle. In all about eighty prisoners were taken, which considerably +exceeded the numbers of the men that first dashed up to the objective. The +prisoners belonged to the infantry regiments of the 235th Division, and a +few of them were artillerists belonging to the 6th Feldartillerie +Regiment. + +The taking of Pommern Redoubt was specially commented upon in the Dispatch +of Sir Douglas Haig dealing with this battle, though the Redoubt fell much +earlier than was therein stated. + +Among the dugouts several things were found, such as field glasses, +medical apparatus, rifles, bombs, and so on. In one was a store of bottles +of aerated water. In another there was a store of rations which were +ultimately consumed, and strange to relate, in one dugout there was a copy +of a recent number of the "Tatler." + +The position was consolidated, trenches were dug and manned by the men. A +captured German machine gun was turned round and got into action. Four or +five hours after the capture of the Stutzpunkt position another brigade +continued the attack, but though the efforts of its members were +successful at first they had in consequence of their exposed flanks to +retire at nightfall, and the Battalion was then holding the line without +anyone in front. Rain commenced to fall, and the ground having been +churned up by countless shells, the whole area soon became dissolved into +a morass of spongy earth pitted with innumerable shell craters half full +of water. The trenches that had been dug soon filled, and the men were wet +through. They were utterly exhausted, and some of them had to get what +sleep they could, huddled up in these wet trenches, with their feet +several inches deep in water. + +Cooking was impossible, and it was only with the greatest difficulty that +any food at all could be supplied to the men in the advanced positions. +Added to this was the fact that the enemy artillery was exceedingly +active, and the shells killed many in the exposed trenches. The British +heavy artillery also fired short, which had a most demoralising effect on +the men in front. + +On the 2nd August it became known that the enemy intended definitely to +recapture the Stutzpunkt line. The men were informed of this, and told to +resist to the last. All available men were sent up from the transport +lines to reinforce the men in front. These reinforcements suffered +considerably from shell fire on the way up, but their advent inspired and +cheered the weary men who had been through the whole fight, and whose +rifles were in many cases so choked with mud as to be unserviceable. +Towards midday the enemy developed a heavy barrage. He was about to +attack, and everyone was waiting for the anticipated onslaught without +fear, as all felt that any counter-attack would be repulsed with great +loss. The S.O.S. signal and machine guns were ready, but the artillery +observer saw the enemy first, and the artillery barrage of the British +soon dispersed the attack. + +Owing to the insufficiency of the number of surviving stretcher bearers, +the evacuation of the wounded was exceedingly difficult. These were +collected in a dugout at Bank Farm, where they lay for a long time after +having received some slight attention. Two wounded Germans whom the +stretcher bearers had been unable to clear were handed over to the +relieving unit. The Battalion Aid Post was at Plum Farm, where the Medical +Officer and his staff worked to the limit of their powers in attending and +evacuating wounded. + +Major E.G. Hoare, who was in command of the Battalion during the +operation, wrote a poem which describes the conditions of the Ypres +battle, and it is here given in full:-- + + +THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW. + +31ST JULY, 1917. + + Down in the valley the Steenbeek flows, + A brook you may cross with an easy stride, + In death's own valley between the rows + Of stunted willows on either side. + You may cross in the sunshine without a care, + With a brow that is fanned by the summer's breath. + Though you cross with a laugh, yet pause with a prayer, + For this is the Vale of the Shadow of Death. + + Down in the valley was rain and rain, + Endless rain from a dismal sky, + But the valley was Liberty's land again, + And the crest-line smoked like a Sinai. + Rain that beat on the tangled mass + Of weeds and pickets and broken wire, + And astride the stream was a brown morass, + In the valley of water and mud and fire. + + Down in the valley the barrage fell, + Fountains of water and steel and smoke, + Scream of demons and blast of hell, + The flash that blinds and the fumes that choke. + The mud and the wire have chained the feet, + You are up to the knees in swamp and slime, + There's a laugh when the crossing is once complete, + But a setting of teeth for the second time. + + Down in the valley the shambles lay + With the sordid horrors of hate revealed, + Tattered khaki and shattered grey + And the splintered wrecks of a battlefield. + Thank God for the end that is sure and swift, + For the fate that comes with a leap and bound, + But what if God leaves you alone to drift + To the lingering death in the pestilent ground? + + Up on the slope was a line hard pressed + By bullets and shells and relentless strain, + An enemy massing behind the crest + And a trench that crumbled in fire and rain. + Sleepless, shelterless, night and day, + Drenched and weary and sniped and shelled, + The word was given that come what may + The line must hold, and the line was held. + + But all who pass to the crumbling trench + Must go in the spirit that games with fate, + With feet that stumble and teeth that clench + Over the valley of hell and hate. + Over the knees in water and mud, + Up to the waist if you miss the track, + You shall know your path by the trail of blood, + And silent figures shall guide you back. + + Down in the valley the waters flow, + You may jump the brook with an easy stride, + They cross it in silence, they who know + What happened that day upon either side. + In the voice of the brook are their comrades' tones, + In the summer's breeze they shall feel their breath, + For under the grass we have laid their bones, + Here in the Vale of the Shadow of Death.[A] + +[Footnote A: Copied by permission from "Dawn and Other Poems" by +Lieut.-Colonel E. Godfrey Hoare, D.S.O. Publishers: Erskine Macdonald, +Limited.] + +The Battalion was relieved on the night of the second-third, and the men +drifted down in small parties through the mud to Potijze. Some hours were +spent here, during which several casualties took place, as the enemy +subjected the area to the fire of 8-inch shells. Towards evening the men +were told to rendezvous at Vlamertinghe. There was no need to pay much +attention to the means of getting there. That could be left to the men +themselves. Everyone was ready to give them a lift, for their muddy +appearance showed that they had just been in the fight, and consequently +practically all arrived in motor lorries. At Vlamertinghe, rum was issued +and later all embussed for the Watou area, which they reached shortly +after midnight. After debussing there was a short march to billets. For +some even this was too much, and about thirty were unable to walk, and had +to be sent to hospital. The remaining men were put into billets, and at +4-30 a.m. the officers sat down to dinner, the first proper meal they had +had for several days. Afterwards they lay down to sleep for six or seven +hours. + +What had been done by the Battalion during the last few days, at the +commencement of the struggle for Passchendaele, was then perhaps the +greatest achievement the Battalion had accomplished. Undoubtedly it had +done well, and the following message was received from the Brigade +Commander:-- + + To Officer Commanding, + 9th King's Liverpool Regt. + + Will you please congratulate all ranks of your Battalion on + the great gallantry they displayed during the recent + operations? They not only captured all their objectives, but + also helped other troops to capture theirs. The magnificent + way in which they captured the position and held it against + all counter-attacks makes me very proud to have such a + Battalion in my Brigade. + + L. BOYD MOSS, + Brigadier General, + 165th Brigade. + 4th August, 1917. + +On the 6th August the Battalion was taken by train to Audruicq, and +billeted near by in a hamlet called Blanc Pignon, where the next six weeks +were spent. The troops were well housed in this place, which was very +clean in comparison with the other villages in which the Battalion +sojourned from time to time. Each man was given a new suit, deficiencies +in kit were made up, and the companies soon began to resume their normal +appearance. Leave opened, and it was possible for those who wished to have +day trips to Calais, and one or two of the more fortunate managed to get +seaside leave at Paris Plage or Wimereux. The time spent at Blanc Pignon +passed without special incident, except that one night there was a bombing +raid by which the Germans obviously hoped to blow up the ammunition dump +which was in close proximity to the billets. Fortunately, although many +were dropped, not one of the bombs was effective enough to explode the +ammunition. During the raid a large Gotha aeroplane was caught in the beam +of one of the searchlights, and this was the first occasion the men saw +this particular type of machine. + +Despite the training the men had undergone before the battle, there was a +good deal of time devoted to field work, as in view of the experience +gained and the lessons learned in the recent attack new tactics had to be +evolved. Until the Third Battle of Ypres, the chief obstacles to the +advance of the British had been the German wire entanglements. The fuses +on the British shells had always permitted the shells to bury themselves +to some extent before exploding. This meant that a crater was formed, and +though the enemy wire in the immediate vicinity of the crater would be +destroyed, the obstacle effect of the whole entanglement remained almost +in its entirety. A new fuse which was known as No. 106 was introduced in +1917, by means of which the shells would explode instantaneously on +impact, and the splinters would destroy the wire over a much bigger area +than had formerly been the case. The artillery could now ensure the proper +cutting of the enemy wire entanglements, and it had been anticipated that +in the attack of the 31st July the troops would not encounter serious +obstacles in the way of wire entanglements, particularly as they were to +be supported by tanks. It is true the artillery had cut the wire, but +several units had nevertheless been held up. The Germans had anticipated +to some extent the British methods of attack and invented a system of +defence to meet it. + +The Commander of the Fourth German Army which was defending the Ypres +sector, Infantry General Sixt von Arnim, was a commander of high standing, +inasmuch as the British Higher Command had thought fit to publish some +observations of his on the Somme Battle. In the Ypres sector he had +adopted the plan of holding the forward zone with few troops well disposed +in depth, with strong reserves in rear which could be used for an +immediate counter-attack before the British could consolidate any +positions they had won. His advanced troops were carefully echeloned in +fortified farms, each strongly concreted and armed with several machine +guns. The advantage of this scheme was that it afforded few definite +targets to the British artillery, and gave every opportunity to the +Germans to ambush and enfilade advancing British infantry. Tanks were of +little avail against these block-houses, which in reality formed a belt of +small fortresses which could only be overpowered one by one. At any rate +they could easily break up the force of an attack, and inflict a large +number of casualties at a small loss. The reserves could then be used to +counter-attack the British before they had properly put the positions won +into a state of defence. Such a method of defence was indeed a difficult +obstacle to the advance, and its efficacy had been learnt at great cost in +the last fight. This system of defence meant that new tactics had to be +evolved to combat such a scheme. The German method of defence was +explained in printed sheets and the explanations were retailed to the men. +In the numerous tactical schemes and attack practices that took place the +men were taught to encircle enemy strong points rapidly and close in on +them. These exercises were supervised by the Divisional Commander in +person. + +While in this area another Divisional horse show took place, the third to +which the Battalion had sent entries. It was rather a good show, and there +was some very fine jumping, in which Belgian cavalry officers took part. +The Battalion secured two first prizes for a water cart and limbered +wagon, two second prizes and two third prizes. It obtained the third place +in the Division for the total number of marks gained. + +All good times come to an end and the 14th September was the Battalion's +last day at Blanc Pignon. The occasion was marked by great festivities, +and most of the men apparently consumed large quantities of beer. For this +they could not be blamed as they were going into action, and might never +survive to indulge so freely again. The next day the Battalion moved by +train to Vlamertinghe, where the men bivouacked in the open, having for +shelter large bivouac sheets. + +The orders were that surplus personnel had to be left here, and all the +officers who had taken part in the Battle of the 31st July were, with one +exception, left behind. On the 17th the Battalion moved up from +Vlamertinghe to Ypres, turned left at the Water Tower, skirted the Plaine +d'Amour and proceeded along No. 5 Track to the neighbourhood of Warwick +Farm. The next day the Battalion headquarters and two companies moved up +to Bank Farm and took over the front shell crater position. Though two big +attacks had taken place since the Battalion was last in this area, the +front line was approximately in the same place as when the Battalion had +left it in the early days of August. A fortified farm called Somme had +been captured, and that was about all. Hill 35 was still in possession of +the enemy. The Battalion with its sister regiments in the Brigade was to +succeed where others had failed. + +The Battalion held the shell crater position from the evening of the 18th, +and it was obvious that the enemy expected an attack as he searched the +whole area with heavy artillery fire at dawn on the 19th. + +The two remaining companies moved up after nightfall on the 19th. It +commenced to rain and the difficulties of placing the men in their proper +places were great. The night was black and there was nothing by which one +could locate oneself. After several hours a tape was placed along the line +of shell craters to serve as a jumping off mark along which the men were +duly aligned. + +The _role_ of the Battalion was to capture Hill 35 and Gallipoli, which +was a strongly fortified centre of resistance in such a position, situated +on rising ground, that it commanded a large area to the north. After its +capture other units in the Brigade were to pass through the Battalion and +continue the attack. The distance of the attack by the Battalion was from +four to five hundred yards, and it was to be made in four waves, a company +to each wave. It was anticipated that though the position might be fairly +easily captured the enemy would make a desperate effort to dislodge the +attackers. + +The attack was evidently anticipated, as the enemy shell fire for a few +minutes before zero was particularly heavy. Meanwhile the British +artillery maintained a silence in which the gunners were able to prepare +for the impending barrage. Zero was at 5-40 a.m., and at that time +suddenly there opened an enormous crescendo of fire from the British guns, +together with a machine gun barrage, which latter some attributed +erroneously to the enemy. At this time it was fairly light, and one could +see from a hundred and fifty to two hundred yards, quite light enough to +enable the German machine gunners to inflict many casualties. + +Owing to the fact that the men had to jump off from shell craters, and +many were anxious to advance quickly so as to evade the enemy shell fire, +and that there was some mixing of units, the waves were somewhat confused. +The German artillery was ready and intensified its fire. The enemy machine +gunners opened fire at once and the attackers began to fall almost as soon +as the attack was commenced. + +On the right of Hill 35 the Germans had manned a derelict tank and could +not be dislodged. Even though surrounded they did not surrender for some +time. The men, however, pressed gallantly forward and eventually got as +far as Gallipoli Farm. The Germans here were very stout hearted and +refused to surrender. One had a machine gun on top of a concrete dugout +and, for some reason or other, perhaps excitement, the men could not bring +him down. Following the brilliant example of one of the company +commanders, the men eventually closed in and after a fierce hand to hand +encounter, in which bomb and bayonet were freely used, the place fell. + +On Hill 35 a 90 m.m. field gun of an old pattern manufactured by Krupps +was captured, and altogether eight heavy and light machine guns fell into +the hands of the Battalion. About forty prisoners were taken belonging +chiefly to the 2nd Reserve Division of the Prussian Guards. The enemy +machine guns were soon turned round and got into action against the +Germans by those of the men who understood their use. + +Towards 5-30 p.m. in the evening the enemy opened fire with a heavy +barrage of all calibres. The fire was particularly intense at Gallipoli +Farm, where the company commander had himself relieved the sentry on +look-out at his headquarters, until he was blown almost senseless by the +violence of the concussion of a shell which burst almost on top of him. +Afterwards the Germans advanced, but they were seen by the men and +repulsed by machine gun fire. A party of Germans was observed carrying a +stretcher and a white flag. It was a favourite device of the enemy to +pretend that they were carrying a stretcher when they were actually +carrying a machine gun, and in consequence this particular party was soon +dispersed. + +Towards dark on the 21st the enemy put down another heavy barrage on the +line of Somme Farm. He was apparently delivering another counter-attack. +After it had been kept up some time great consternation prevailed at +Battalion headquarters. No word had been received from the troops in +front. Perhaps the enemy had captured the front positions, and that the +line was lost. The barrage was still intense, and anyone who should dare +to advance through it would expect to meet with almost certain death. Yet +some one had to go to ascertain if all was well or ill. The Commanding +Officer made arrangements to burn all papers and told everyone they must +fight to the last where they stood. The Second in Command ultimately +managed to get to Somme Farm and came back with the information that all +was well, which was of inestimable worth, for had the British barrage +lines been withdrawn, as had been suggested, the troops in front would all +have been sacrificed. + +On the 22nd September the Battalion was relieved. The greatest care was +taken to get the captured machine guns that were not needed for the +defence back to the transport lines. They were collected at Battalion +headquarters and carefully escorted to the neighbourhood of the old +British front line near Potijze, where they were met by the transport +officer, and duly delivered to Divisional headquarters. + +Having been relieved the men made their way back in small parties to +Vlamertinghe, where the night was spent. The next day the Battalion moved +by train to a camp by Watou. Two or three days were spent here, and then +the Battalion detrained to go down south to join General Byng's Third +Army. + + +LEMPIRE. + +The train journey lasted all day and the Battalion detrained at Bapaume, +and by a night march on a bright moonlight night marched to a Nissen hut +camp between Barastre and Haplincourt, where it sojourned for a few days. +During this time a few of the non-commissioned officers were able to visit +the Somme battlefield, and locate a few of the graves of the men who had +fallen a little over twelve months ago. A day's march on the 1st October +brought the Battalion to Aizecourt-le-Bas, and after a night's rest it +proceeded to St. Emilie, where the men were billeted amid the ruins of +what had formerly been a sugar factory. During the march it was made +plainly evident to all with what thoroughness the work of destruction had +been carried out by the Germans. The villages were not merely in ruins. +Every house and every room had been rendered useless as a billet or +shelter of any kind. The cellars had been filled with stones or refuse, +so that even these were of no use. The trees had all been wantonly +destroyed. Even small fruit trees of only a few years' growth did not +escape the axe. The wells had all been blown in, and in many cases they +were poisoned as well. The churches were treated exactly the same as the +houses. The whole region was desolate. There were no civilian inhabitants, +and soldiers were the only occupants of this wilderness. + +After a few days in the Sugar Factory the Battalion moved to the forward +positions at Lempire. This sector was very different from any sector the +Battalion had occupied. There was no trench system comprising front and +support trenches. The front was held by means of isolated posts occupied +by a platoon or a company as the case might be, and these posts were +linked up by means of communication trenches, so that they could be +visited. There being little artillery on either side, the whole sector was +very quiet, and as the lines were far apart there was little sniping. + +The Battalion did one tour in Cat, Fleeceall and Grafton Posts in front of +Lempire, and then moved up to the Ossus sector. Though the Germans had +destroyed all buildings behind the British line, the buildings behind the +German lines were intact, and the men experienced the unpleasant sight of +the comfortable chateaux and houses in which the German troops were +billeted when they themselves were very badly off in this respect. + +Three companies had been in the front in the Lempire position, and as +three companies were necessary to take over the Ossus sector, one company +had to do two successive tours. It was a poor relief to have to move from +one portion of the front line to another, especially as this company had +only one subaltern. The sector held by the Battalion was roughly 2,000 +yards, and consequently the three front companies each had from six to +seven hundred yards. The trench strength of the companies was somewhere +between eighty and ninety, the numbers not having been made up after the +Ypres casualties, and consequently there was a great amount of work for +everyone to do. + +On the 18th the Battalion moved to reserve at Vaughan's Bank by Epehy, +from whence on the 22nd it moved into reserve at Tincourt. The American +Railway Engineers had constructed a light railway from Epehy to Tincourt, +and they expressed their readiness to convey the Battalion there by rail. +Their offer was gladly accepted, and the Battalion duly arrived at the +station and entrained. There was a slight incline to commence and the +numbers that arrived exceeded the haulage capacity of the only serviceable +locomotive at the station, and consequently no progress was made. As there +was no telegraph a message had to be sent on foot for another engine, +which came along after a long wait, and eventually a start was made. The +couplings were bad and the train soon broke into three portions. As the +way was downhill the various sections glided down to the next station +independently. Here there was another train and a loop line, and it also +happened that one train was too long for the loop. Nothing daunted, the +railway engineers indulged in a considerable amount of shunting, and +decided to take a portion of the waiting train back with the troop train. +All went well until the next incline was reached. There was a great strain +on the engine, but eventually after charging the hill three or four times, +accompanied by much racing of engines and skidding of wheels, the top was +reached, and the Battalion got to Tincourt having taken on the journey +twice the time it would have taken to march the distance. + +At Tincourt a pleasant week was spent, after which the Battalion returned +to the Birdcage sector, the portion of which immediately in front of Eagle +Quarry was the scene of much minenwerfer activity. + + +THE BATTLE OF CAMBRAI. + +No particularly arduous duty was assigned to the Battalion in connection +with the operations on the 20th November. To divert the attention of the +enemy from other troops who were attacking the Knoll, a few hundred yards +on the right, the Battalion was ordered to place a dummy tank and dummy +men out in no man's land in front of the vicinity of the Birdcage, and +shortly after zero these were put in operation by means of wires. +Naturally the Battalion came in for a good deal of the retaliatory fire of +the enemy, but few casualties took place. Incidentally the enemy claimed +to have repulsed an attack on this front, from which it follows that the +dummies had been efficacious. + +The Germans had been driven back by the surprise attack of the British, +and Cambrai was nearly reached. The fighting died down in a few days, but +on the 30th Cavalry General von der Marwitz delivered his counter-attack. +He selected not the apex of the salient that had been driven into the +German line, but the portion of the line to the south of it, which was so +weakly held. On the morning of the 30th the Battalion was in support to +the 165th Brigade in some dugouts in Lempire. + +A warning had been received during the course of the night that an enemy +attack was imminent, and the order was given to "stand to" well before +dawn. At "stand to" all was perfectly quiet. The expected attack had not +developed. The men stood down and a normal day was anticipated. At +breakfast time there sounded a heavy barrage a mile or two to the north, +and afterwards shells began to fall in the village. Large gas shells were +creating a cloud near by, and a rumour came that the Germans had broken +through at the Birdcage. The troops had such confidence in the other +battalions in the Brigade that the rumour was not believed. Later a +message came from Headquarters that the line further north had broken. +Lempire must be held at all costs, and the Battalion was ordered to dig a +line running east and west on the high ground to the north of the village, +so as to command the ground as far as Holt's Bank. This was then in the +possession of the Germans, who were within a few hundred yards of Epehy, +and if this latter place had fallen the Battalion would have been in great +danger of being surrounded. The men dug in under shell fire, and in full +view of the enemy, while a large squadron of enemy aeroplanes circled +overhead, and turned their machine guns on the men as they were digging. +Fortunately few casualties were incurred. In the afternoon one company was +sent to form a defensive flank at Priel Bank, and another to reinforce the +6th Liverpool Rifles at Cruciform Post. On the 2nd December the Battalion +took over from the 6th Liverpools, and had the task of putting the line +from Heythrop Post, Cruciform Post, to Priel Bank in a state of defence. +These places were almost isolated during the day, and it was only at great +risk that they could be visited. The post at Catelet Copse was almost a +bait to the enemy, one of whom walked up to it. Even the Battalion +headquarters at F.4. Central were under close rifle fire. In fact there +were no troops in front of Headquarters, and it can be said that on this +occasion the Battalion headquarters were in the front line. + +On the 5th December the Battalion was relieved by a battalion from +Brigadier-General Ramsay's 48th Brigade, and he visited his former command +next morning at St. Emilie. Of the officers that had served under him in +the 1st Division, only two then remained, and they were pleased to see +their former commanding officer once more. That day the Battalion went by +motor lorry to billets in Peronne, where four days were spent. A few +civilians had returned to this ruined town, and had opened shops at which +fish and vegetables could be bought. These civilians were much impressed +by the nightly retreat sounded by the bugles and drums which had attained +a high pitch of efficiency. A long tedious railway journey on the 10th +brought the Battalion to Maroeuil. The night was spent in "Y" hutments, +and it then entered General Horne's First Army. + +It left Maroeuil on the 12th and marched to Bailleul-aux-Cornailles, a +village it was to visit later in August, 1918. The next day Eps was +reached, and on the following day the Battalion arrived at its destination +at Lisbourg, where it was to remain until the end of January, which meant +a six week's rest. + +Here the men were billeted in the peasants' byres, which were in rather a +dilapidated condition. The training was chiefly devoted to musketry. The +bomb had gone out of fashion, and it was realised that the principal +weapon of the infantryman was the rifle. According to the orders of the +Divisional Commander each company built a thirty yards' range for itself, +and a two hundred yards' range was allotted to the Battalion. Snow fell +but that made no difference to the training programme. The men had to lie +on the frozen snow to fire the various practices, and bearing in mind that +the rifles were very cold to handle, the results attained were excellent. + +Christmas was spent here, and the Christmas dinner which took place in the +school and a large barn was a great success, and demonstrated the good +feeling that existed between the officers and men. A few days afterwards +the Battalion was visited by Lieutenant-Colonel Luther Watts, O.B.E., +V.D., the Town Major of St. Pol, and who had commanded the Battalion prior +to the war, and at Dunfermline and Tunbridge Wells. Those of the officers +and men who had served under him in England were pleased to see their +former commanding officer once more. + +While at Lisbourg efforts were made to induce the men to invest in War +Saving Certificates. At first they were somewhat reluctant, saying that +they did not wish to hand back their pay which they had earned. Lectures +on the subject were delivered to them, and when the scheme was fully +explained, and they understood the necessity for money in order to carry +on the war, they readily responded, and over L1,000 was subscribed by the +officers and men, which was the highest figure attained in the Division. +This was an achievement of which the Battalion was justly proud, and shows +the keenness and interest the men displayed in their Regiment, and the +cause for which they were fighting. + +In consequence of the reduction of the number of infantry battalions in +the organisation of the British division from twelve to nine, the "first +ninth" being the junior battalion in the Brigade was split up. A selected +party of the officers and men was detailed for the second line Battalion, +and they were regarded with envy by the less fortunate. The remainder was +split up into drafts for the 1st, 4th, and 12th King's. The day of the +break up was a very sad one indeed. To a soldier his regiment is his home, +and to be called upon to leave it, to sever his friendships and to lose +his comrades of many a tragic day is for him very bitter. It is not untrue +to say that as the drafts were leaving and comrades were saying "Goodbye," +several of the soldiers, who had braved nearly inconceivable terrors, were +almost in tears. As was feared at the time the "Goodbye" in many cases was +for ever, as many were killed shortly afterwards by the German offensive +in March. The Divisional Commander and several officers from other units +came to say "Farewell" to the Battalion they were never to see again. A +note of sadness is struck in the following order which was issued:-- + + 55th (West Lancashire) Division, + + Special Order of the Day. + 31st January, 1918. + + On the departure from the Division of three Battalions, the + 1-8th The King's Liverpool Regt. (Liverpool Irish), 1-9th The + King's Liverpool Regt., and 1-5th Loyal North Lancashire + Regt., I wish to assure all officers, warrant officers, + non-commissioned officers and men belonging to them, how + greatly I, and I am sure, everyone in the Division, regrets + their loss. + + Some, I am glad to say, remain with us. + + As to the battalions themselves, I refuse to regard the + separation as permanent, and I look forward confidently to the + day when they will rejoin their old Division. + + They have had their full share in all the hard fighting of the + past two years, and have helped to make and maintain the + reputation which the Division has gained, a reputation which, + I am sure, makes every member of it proud of belonging to it. + As for myself, to have commanded it during these years is the + highest privilege. + + I hope that eventually the Liverpool Irish, the 9th King's, + and the 5th Loyal North Lancs. may rejoin our ranks, and that + the final blow may be given shoulder to shoulder with them. + + Till they come back again I wish them, on the part of the + Division and myself, all good fortune and success, and can + assure them that we shall watch their career as keenly as if + they were still with us. + + H.S. JEUDWINE, + Major General, + Commanding 55th Division. + +Unfortunately the hopes of the Major General were not realised. He never +saw this Battalion on parade again. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE 57TH DIVISION. + + +The second line Battalion was formed at Blackpool in 1914, and on the +departure of the first Battalion from Tunbridge Wells for France its place +was taken by the second Battalion. For a considerable time it carried out +training at Tunbridge Wells, Ashford, Oxted, Maidstone, Canterbury and +Blackdown, from which place it departed on the 17th February, 1917, for +France. + +It was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Leggatt, and formed part of +Brigadier-General Paynter's 172nd Infantry Brigade of the 57th Division, +which was a Division composed entirely of Lancashire troops, and a sister +Division to the 55th. + +After being delayed for three days at Folkestone, it crossed to Boulogne +on the 20th. The next day it was moved by train to the neighbourhood of +Bailleul, and from there by stages to the village of Erquinghem, south of +Armentieres. After a week spent in training, completing equipment, and +reconnoitring the sector to be taken over, it went into the Bois Grenier +sector. During the first tour in the trenches, the front held was twice +extended and eventually it held a front of one and three-quarter miles. +Here the Battalion remained for nearly seven months. The sector had been +held by the New Zealanders, and was one of the quietest on the whole +British front, but orders were now given to liven things up in order to +keep as many enemy troops opposite the sector as possible, and distract +their attention from the impending operations at Messines on the left. +This object was achieved by considerable activity, patrols, and artillery +bombardments. The extent of the front held entailed a good deal of +exertion in the way of working parties, both to prevent the breast-works +from falling into complete decay and to keep the trenches drained; and +though the Battalion was very fortunate and suffered comparatively few +casualties, the numbers steadily dwindled as no drafts were forthcoming. +The enemy had very little artillery opposite this sector, and relied +mainly for his defence on minenwerfers which he used liberally and +skilfully, harassing the Battalion with an exceedingly heavy bombardment +about once a fortnight. + +In August, the Commanding Officer left the Regiment and the command was +taken over by Lieutenant-Colonel Manger. The following month the Battalion +was taken out of the line for a rest, and was billeted in the village of +Febvin Palfart. Here it remained for a month reorganising and practising +the attack, special attention being paid to the method of taking "pill +boxes" by encirclement. + +In October the "Second Ninth" set out for the Ypres salient, and on +arriving at Proven was accommodated in tents. There it was told that the +Division was about to take part in an attack on Passchendaele, but the +weather conditions were so bad that, after an attack by one of the other +brigades in the Division, the offensive was finally abandoned. The +Battalion then held the shell crater line in front of Langemarck for a few +days at the beginning of November, sustaining a considerable number of +casualties. The Division was then withdrawn and the Battalion was put +into rest billets at Nielles. After about a month spent there in +re-organisation and training for the attack, it moved up to Emile Camp, +just outside Elverdinghe. The weather was bitterly cold and the ground +frozen hard. On Christmas Day the Battalion went into the shell crater +line at Poelcappelle, and spent four days there. The weather conditions +were very severe, snow had fallen, the ground was wet and the machine gun +fire very active. The first week in January the Regiment was once again in +its original sector at Armentieres. Here things were comparatively quiet, +though the trenches were in a very bad condition, and the danger of trench +feet was considerable. The Battalion carried out a very successful raid on +the 1st February. Several patrols had been sent out to locate the best +place of entry into the enemy line. After an intense bombardment on the +selected spot, a party was able to enter and secure a few prisoners. This +was the most successful raid the Division had accomplished. + +The remnants of the first Battalion left Lisbourg for Steenwerck, where +they spent a few days awaiting the return of the second Battalion from the +trenches. The two units met at Waterlands Camp outside Armentieres, and +were united to form one battalion. The union, though imperative, was +distasteful to some, as many officers and non-commissioned officers had to +relinquish acting ranks which they had held for some time, and it perhaps +gave rise to some jealousy which fortunately disappeared in time. + +After a few days spent at Waterlands, the Battalion moved into support at +Erquinghem, with one company in the Lunatic Asylum at Armentieres, and +after a short stay it did one tour in the line near Houplines, and then +went to Estaires, where it was in support to the Portuguese Army. + +This was then a quiet country town in which the shops were still open, and +incidentally doing a very good trade, and it had suffered little from the +effects of artillery. During the next three months it was to be reduced to +ruins. The Battalion was accommodated in a Nissen hut camp just outside +the town, where the company commanders had an opportunity of completing +the re-organisation of their companies. + +On the 13th March the non-commissioned officers celebrated the anniversary +of the Battalion's first arrival in France by arranging a kind of concert +in one of the estaminets in Estaires. This was the last occasion before +the Armistice on which such a celebration took place, and it has developed +into an annual reunion of the senior non-commissioned officers. + +Towards the end of the month the Battalion left Estaires for the +Armentieres front, and on the 21st March Ludendorff's advance commenced on +the 5th Army front, at which time the Battalion was in line in the +Fleurbaix sector. Ten days later the unit was relieved and marched to +Estaires, where it arrived on the morning of the 1st April. Leaving this +town later in the day, it made Haverskerque that night, left there the +next day for Steenwerck, and entrained for Doullens. Detraining at +Doullens at 1 a.m. on the 3rd, the Battalion proceeded by night march to +Sus St. Leger. The night was dark and the roads were in bad condition and +a few men fell out, but on the whole, the march discipline was good. On +the 5th the Battalion moved to Warluzel, where it remained for three days +and then proceeded to Thievres, staying there four days. These moves +meant a great strain on everyone. To march in full pack on bad roads with +motor lorries splashing mud, day after day, is an ordeal. In each village +a fresh start had to be made. Billets had to be found and allotted, fire +orders put up and billet guards mounted. Latrines and cook-houses had to +be improvised, and the usual foot inspections were made. Besides this the +usual routine returns had to be rendered to people that sat in comfortable +offices, and the men had to do ration fatigues and guards. Though the +difficulties of the companies were great, the difficulties of the +Quartermaster's department and that of the Transport Officer were much +greater. The Quartermaster had not enough room to take the stores he +wished, and the Transport Officer had as much as he could do to carry all +the stores there were. + +On the 12th a move was made to Sombrin, and the next day the Battalion +left Sombrin late in the afternoon for an unknown destination. Even the +Colonel did not know, and there was a vague rumour that the Brigade staff +were to look after the unit. The men marched over bad roads and in the +dark, and ultimately they were turned into a wood and told there were no +billets, and they could bivouac for the night. Officers and men lay down +on the damp earth where they were and slept. Fortunately it did not rain. +A few tents came up very late, and in the darkness they could not be +pitched, but they were spread out and thrown over the men as they lay +sleeping on the ground. Fires could not be lighted as the enemy aeroplanes +would have used them as aiming marks. In the morning the Battalion on +awaking found it was just outside Pas, in what was called Beaucamp Ravine. +Here it remained for two days, and then moved to Henu, where the men +pitched a camp in a field, and there the Battalion remained for a little +over a fortnight. But it was no rest camp. The weather was very bad and +the ground became wet and sodden. Every alternate day large working +parties, which consumed almost all the available men, were detailed for +work on the rear lines of defence, that were being hastily constructed, in +view of the imminence of a fresh enemy offensive. On the intervening days +training took place. There was a thirty yards' range in a ravine just in +the rear of the camp, where some very interesting competitions took place. +Rifle sections were pitted against Lewis gun sections and it was found +that, in some platoons a rifle section of eight men was able to get as +many shots on the target as the Lewis gun, and it was noticed incidentally +that after two hundred rounds the Lewis gun became far too hot to handle. +It was a much over-rated weapon, and was only effective in the hands of +highly trained men. + +Several reconnaissances were made by the officers while at Henu. The +forward area was visited again and again. Defence schemes were studied and +prepared, but these tended to become a little too complex, and had it been +necessary to put them into operation something would surely have gone +wrong. + +The morale at this time was low. The extent of the losses on the 5th and +2nd Army fronts were known. The enemy was using British 60-pounder guns +against the area occupied by the Battalion, but as the enemy gunners did +not thoroughly understand how to set the fuses, the shells were all blind. +The Germans seemed to be able to advance whenever they wished, whereas the +British had miserably failed at Ypres the last year. The men were not in +very good fettle owing to the several recent marches, and the chance of +complete victory seemed to be remote. Nevertheless there were many who +kept cheerful and intended like game cocks to fight to the last. + +The first week in May the Battalion went into line at Gommecourt. The +other two units in the Brigade were in the outpost line, and the 9th +King's was in close support in Gommecourt Park. It was accommodated in +what were formerly the front line enemy positions in 1916. It was an +education in military engineering to examine them. The trenches were deep +and wide, and there were traverses every few yards. They were revetted +with hurdles and planks of timber which were kept in position by iron +pickets, which were securely wired to anchor pickets driven sideways into +the walls of the trench. So well anchored were the revetments that in +spite of the continuous bombardments of the Somme Battle they were still +in position. The whole line was stellated with concrete machine-gun +emplacements, which gave a perfect command over the former British front +line trenches. Armoured look-out posts for sentries were at the top of all +the dugout stairs. The dugouts were deeply mined and well timbered, and +would provide shelter for a large garrison. + +In front of the trenches was a dense wire entanglement at least twenty +yards broad, and although it had suffered much from artillery fire it was +still an obstacle which was only passable by infantry in certain places +where lanes had been made. Anyone who saw this entanglement did not wonder +why the British attack on the Somme on the 1st July, 1916, failed. Several +graves of the fallen could be seen here and there in the wire. + +It was very interesting to walk through the Park. Despite the +bombardments it had undergone, the rides were clearly marked, and several +trees were still alive, including one or two fine copper beeches. Wild +hyacinths and other flowers were blooming in profusion, and a cuckoo, with +doubtful wisdom, persisted in remaining in its usual haunts. + +While in this position the whole Battalion was engaged in reclaiming old +trenches, digging new ones, and putting the area in a position of defence +and establishing a central keep. + +On the 11th May the enemy shelled Foncquevillers, a village immediately in +rear of the Battalion's position, with gas shells, most of which were +charged with mustard gas, and some of the gas being inhaled by the men of +the Battalion twenty-four casualties were sustained. + +Three days later the Battalion took over the front line, the Headquarters +still remaining at Gommecourt, but in another part of the village. The +trenches were very wet, and reminded one of the Loos trenches in 1915. It +was a time of great patrol activity. No one was quite sure where the +Germans were and in what force. Daylight and night fighting patrols +constantly left the British lines, and almost invariably came across +parties of the enemy, but as the enemy was caged in by wire prisoners +could not be obtained. + +In this sector the enemy had full observation of the village from +Rossignol Wood, and men from other units were in the habit of betraying +the location of dumps and headquarters by walking along the roads in +daylight instead of through the communication trenches. This enabled the +enemy to note ways of approach which he could shell after nightfall, and +so inflict casualties on working parties. To prevent this, two snipers +were told off to lie in the grass and fire above the head of anyone who +did not keep in the communication trenches. The scheme was efficacious; +the men respected the snipers more than the enemy, and little trouble was +given afterwards by the casual visitor to the sector. + +One fine morning the enemy elected to shell Battalion headquarters, to the +great amusement of the companies in the front line. Two out of the three +mine entrances to the dugout occupied by the headquarter's personnel +received direct hits and were blocked. The Second in Command then had the +unpleasant duty of crawling out of the third entrance to see if all was +well. Fortunately nothing untoward had taken place except three slight +casualties. + +On relief two companies went to the Chateau de la Haie, and the two other +companies and Headquarters to Rossignol Farm, a large monastic farm of +considerable age. There was an enormous byre partitioned off into several +pig styes, and this was allotted to the officers, one pig stye for each +officer. The War Diary for the next three weeks gives an interesting and +accurate account of what took place, so the following extract is +included:-- + + May 24th.--Battalion headquarters moved up to Chateau de la + Haie, and Lieutenant-Colonel F.W.M. Drew, D.S.O., being in + need of a rest, was evacuated sick, and Major S.C. Ball, M.C., + assumed command. While at this Chateau, Battalion headquarters + had the pleasure of being closely associated with the + headquarters of the 1st Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers; and + it is interesting to record that this was not the first time + that the Battalion had the honour of working in conjunction + with this illustrious regiment. Many members of the Battalion + could clearly remember how the 9th had the honour of relieving + the 2nd Royal Munster Fusiliers, elements of which were + incorporated in the 1st Royal Munster Fusiliers, after the + Battle of Loos, in the 3rd Infantry Brigade of the 1st + Division. + + May 25th.--BEER TRENCH.--The Battalion relieved the 1st + Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers in Beer Trench, where "A" + and "D" Companies and the Lewis gunners of "B" were + accommodated. "B" and "C" Companies remained in the Chateau de + la Haie Switch. There was heavy shelling in "A" Company's area + during the evening, but no casualties were sustained. The + Battalion came tactically under the orders of the 170th + Infantry Brigade while in Beer Trench. + + May 26th.--Gas shells known as yellow cross shells, were fired + over "A" Company's sector in the early morning. The men + quickly adjusted their masks, and no casualties were + sustained. The rest of the day passed quietly. + + May 27th to 29th.--These days were fairly quiet. + + May 29th.--RUM TRENCH.--The Battalion relieved the 2-4th Loyal + North Lancashire Regiment and occupied the reserve position in + the Left Brigade Sector. "B" Company and Headquarters were in + Gommecourt Wood. "A" Company was in the centre with posts in + Gommecourt Trench, and "C" Company was on the left flank in + Pigeon Wood. "D" Company was in reserve with orders to man a + strong point, known as Julius Point, in case of an attack. + Opportunity was afforded of studying the solidarity of the + enemy forms of revetment, their fortified sentry boxes, + observation posts, and the thoroughness of the mined dugouts, + several of which were occupied by the Battalion. + + May 30th--31st.--These days were spent in comparative + quietness, and the Battalion furnished several working + parties. There was abnormal sickness during this tour in the + trenches, due in all probability to the effects of gas. + + June 1st.--GOMMECOURT.--The Battalion was in reserve to the + Brigade in the Left Brigade Sector at Gommecourt with + Headquarters in the old German support line, north of + Gommecourt Wood, which was renamed Rum Support. The companies + were disposed from right to left in order, "B," "A" and "C" in + Gommecourt Trench and Gommecourt Support. "D" Company was in + reserve. The companies were housed in mined dugouts made by + the enemy, and again evidence of the industry of the Germans + was seen in the mined dugouts, armoured sentry boxes, + substantial revetments and belts of wire entanglements. + + At morning "stand to," the enemy put down a barrage on the + Divisional Front. The S.O.S. went up in several places and our + artillery--some of which was immediately in rear--opened with + rapid fire. It transpired later that the enemy raided the + Right Brigade sector without success. The usual working + parties were provided in the evening. + + June 2nd.--The IV. Corps Commander visited the Battalion's + sector. The Battalion did considerable work in its own sector + digging rifle slits, and making baby elephant dugouts, besides + providing the Royal Engineers with the usual working parties. + + June 3rd.--The day passed in comparative tranquillity. Owing + to the good weather prevailing at this period our observers + were able to observe well behind the enemy lines. Occasionally + they could see small bodies of the enemy moving about and + sometimes horses grazing. + + June 4th.--The day was spent very quietly, and there is + nothing of interest to record. + + June 5th.--The Brigadier commanding 172nd Infantry Brigade + visited the Battalion and expressed his appreciation of the + wiring done at Salmon Trench. Visibility was very good in the + evening, and several parties of Germans were again seen. + + June 6th.--The enemy opened a harassing fire on Battalion + headquarters with 77 m.m. guns and 10.5 c.m. howitzers, firing + with occasional short intervals until 3 p.m. + + June 7th.--The day was spent very quietly and there is nothing + of interest to relate. + + June 7th--8th.--The Battalion relieved the 2-4th Battalion + South Lancashire Regiment in the left section of the Left + Brigade Front. Companies were disposed as follows:--Left front + company, "A." Centre company, "D." Right front company, "C." + Reserve company, "B." Battalion headquarters were established + in Salmon Trench in the vicinity of a locality known as Salmon + Point. + + June 9th.--IN THE LINE.--The enemy displayed more than usual + activity. The Brigadier General visited the sector. + + June 10th.--Some rain fell during the day. The enemy displayed + his usual artillery activity. Two enemy aeroplanes, one of + which was a Halberstadter, flew over the Battalion area at a + low altitude for some time. + + June 11th.--The day was fairly quiet, our forward posts in + front of Rossignol Wood were troubled by our own artillery + which persistently fired short. + + June 12th.--The enemy was noticeably quieter. + + June 13th.--The Duke of Marlborough and Mr. Winston Churchill + visited the Battalion sector, accompanied by the Divisional + Commander. + + June 14th.--Artillery activity at night has quietened + considerably. Our gunners still continued to harass the enemy + with an occasional _rafale_ from their field guns. + + The Battalion found a wiring party to assist the 2-4th + Battalion South Lancashire Regiment to wire Biez Wood. The + Brigadier General visited the sector. + + June 14th--15th.--The Battalion was relieved by the 2-6th + Battalion Liverpool Regiment. During the relief the enemy + artillery was very active. + + June 15th.--ROSSIGNOL FARM.--On relief the Battalion was + disposed as follows:--"A" and "D" Companies at Chateau de la + Haie; "B" and "C" Companies and Battalion headquarters at + Rossignol Farm. + + * * * * * + +In May and June the Gommecourt sector was active, and the artillery fire +on both sides was severe. The enemy employed a shell with an instantaneous +fuse called the E.K.Z. fuse, which functioned before the shell buried +itself and so gave the shell a very great splinter effect. It was usual +for the enemy to fire on cross roads and similar targets in salvoes of +four. The British artillery replied and kept up a lively fire most of the +time, and it appeared to have the ascendency. Gas shells were frequently +used on both sides. + +Early in July the Battalion came out to rest at Authie, where it was +accommodated under canvas. Here it was that Lieutenant-Colonel Lord Henry +Seymour, D.S.O., of the Grenadier Guards, took command. Training for the +attack took place in some cornfields near to the camp, and particular +attention was paid to the keeping of direction in the advance, the +tactical employment of Lewis guns and the envelopment of machine gun +nests. The fighting had become more open this year than it had been in +1917, and consequently the men had to be kept up to date. To consolidate a +position the men were taught to form platoon strong points with the flanks +refused or bent back so as to be able to meet an attack from any +direction. Unfortunately the corn crops were spoilt by the training of the +troops. + +While at Authie, sports took place, and in the Brigade sports the +Battalion secured seven first, eight second, and one third prize. The Army +Rifle Competitions took place here, and No. 6 platoon of "B" Company won +the eliminating competition in the Brigade, but unfortunately failed to +win the Divisional competition. + +Then followed a period of meanderings which lasted for a month, and which +at the time were difficult to understand. On the 29th July the Battalion +left Authie and marched to billets at Warluzel by the following route: +Pas, Grincourt, and Couterelle. The march was rather severe as the weather +was very hot, and it needed the greatest firmness on the part of the +officers to prevent the men from falling out. The next day the Battalion +paraded at 6-15 a.m., and marched to Agnez-les-Duisans _via_ Hermaville, +where it arrived in the afternoon. + +In the evening of the following day the Battalion paraded and marched to +Arras, entering the city by the Baudimont Gate, and the men were billeted +for the night in the Spanish houses in the Grande Place. In the evening of +the next day the Battalion paraded in the Square and marched to Wakefield +Camp by Roclincourt. While in Arras the troops found an old hat shop and +great amusement was caused by the soldiers arraying themselves in ladies' +hats, which gave them a very strange appearance. A tall silk hat very much +out of fashion was reserved for the officers, which they tried on in turn. + +A week or so was spent in training at Roclincourt, and on the 9th the +Battalion took over the outpost zone in the Gavrelle-Fampoux sector. The +companies were taken up to the forward area by a light railway, and this +was the only occasion on which the Battalion was taken to the forward area +in such a manner. + +The positions occupied gave a good view over the enemy hinterland. From +the Battalion headquarters at the Point du Jour, factory chimneys could be +seen smoking in several villages behind the German line, and the clock on +Douai Church was clearly visible. Occasionally a train was seen moving, +and now and then a party of Germans was observed. Behind the British line +lay the rolling Artois country which was fundamentally agricultural, and +in front there loomed in the distance an industrial manufacturing +district, which seemed a far-off civilization in contrast to the +devastation behind. It was a time of great aeriel activity on both sides. +Battles were fought at high altitudes, of which one was scarcely conscious +except when one of the combatant machines fell headlong to earth. As a +means of self protection Lewis guns were placed on aeriel mountings, and a +sharp look out was kept for any daring Halberstadter that should venture +too low. The weather at the time was fine, and the tour was regarded as +one of the easiest the men had been called upon to do. + +On the 17th August the Battalion was relieved just before midnight, and +marched to Anzin, where it arrived at 4-30 a.m. the next morning, and the +men had breakfast. Later it entrained for Bailleul-aux-Cornailles, where +four days were spent. On the 21st an order was received about 10 p.m., +(after the men had bedded down) to move at once. The move was quite +unexpected as everyone believed the Battalion was to stay in the village +for several days longer. Kits were hastily packed in the darkness, and in +an hour the Battalion was ready to move. Fosseux was reached in the early +morning, breakfast taken, and the men rested until 1 p.m. In the evening +another sudden message ordered a night march to Boucquemaison, which was +reached early on the 23rd, and the men rested during the day time, paraded +at nightfall and marched to Barly. + +These marches were perhaps rather fatiguing, but as they took place at +night and the weather was very pleasant, they were not as bad as they +might have been. The march discipline was excellent and scarcely any men +fell out. The companies as day was breaking presented nevertheless a +worn-out appearance. The men were dusty and tired out as they trudged in +the mist of the morning, with the field kitchen and Lewis gun cart in the +rear. The cooks were doing their best to get the fire lighted to boil the +water for breakfast. The pack animals seemed to wonder what necessity +there could be for all this marching, and the company charger, generally a +very dejected jade, feeling as proud of his position as his mean station +in the equine world would permit, persistently refused to keep his proper +position when a halt was called. + +It was during the march to Barly that the men were told, during a halt at +midnight, that victory was certain, and that Marshal Foch had ordered +everyone to advance. This news instantly raised the _morale_ of every one, +and the rest of the journey seemed more pleasant than usual. + + +THE SECOND BATTLE OF ARRAS. + +A day's halt took place at Barly, where the surplus personnel was left +while the fighting men left for Bellacourt. The next day the Battalion +left and, passing _en route_ Ficheux and Blaireville, the villages in +front of which it had spent so many weary months in 1916, arrived at +Mercatel. + +On the 27th August the Battalion proceeded, dressed in fighting order, to +the Hindenburg Line, _via_ Henin, and took over trenches in V. 7.c. On the +28th a warning order was received at 6 a.m. that the Battalion would +attack that day. Operation orders followed later. The two leading +companies were to assemble at Humber Redoubt and Mole Lane, and the other +two companies in the rear. The first objective assigned to the Battalion +was Hoop Lane and the second the village of Riencourt. Flanks were given +and zero was fixed for 12-30 p.m. + +It was fortunate that a warning order had been given as otherwise the +companies would not have been in position in time. At 12-30 p.m. the +barrage came down and the men commenced to move forward. The going at +first was not easy, owing to the wire and numerous shell holes. Shortly +after zero the contact aeroplane unfortunately received a direct hit by a +shell and crashed to earth. Very heavy machine gun fire was directed +against the leading companies from Copse Trench, which brought about many +casualties. Fag Alley was reached and in its vicinity several machine guns +were captured, and the teams either killed or taken prisoners. From this +point to the first objective the resistance was not so strong, and on +reaching it red flares were lit. + +About 1-50 p.m. the Battalion continued the advance from the first +objective, and swung left in the direction of the village of Hendicourt. +The resistance became stronger. The enemy was using his machine guns +boldly. Some of these were outflanked and captured with a few light +minenwerfers. About fifty prisoners, chiefly belonging to the 121st and +the 180th Infantry Regiments of the 26th Reserve Division were taken, +along with a few Uhlans. Eventually the fringe of Hendicourt was reached, +and several men entered the village. As it was reported that there were no +British troops on either side of the village it was decided on the spot to +withdraw to Cemetery Avenue temporarily. "D" Company was endeavouring to +get round the north side of the village but was held up by heavy machine +gun fire from Crow's Nest. Owing to this machine gun fire and to the fact +that the left flank of the Battalion was in the air, and that the British +artillery was shelling the village, it was decided to consolidate Cemetery +Trench. Meanwhile some enemy field gunners were firing at the British at +very close range. By this time the troops had got very mixed up, and it +was essential that the commanders on the spot should organise what men +they found near by. This was done and the Battalion remained in its +consolidated positions until the next day, when at noon it was withdrawn +to Copse Trench and afterwards to a bivouac area at Henin. + +Unfortunately, Lord Henry Seymour was wounded on the 28th August and the +command then devolved upon Major Ball. There was a great deal of +re-organisation to be done. The surplus personnel rejoined. Lists of +casualties had to be prepared, ammunition, flares, Verey lights, and iron +rations had to be given out. New platoon rolls had to be made at once. +Lost Lewis guns and spare parts had to be made up, as well as possible. As +a temporary measure "A" and "C" Companies, now sadly depleted in numbers, +were united to form "X" Company, while "B" and "D" Companies formed "Y" +Company. This scheme was adopted so that the original companies and +platoons would not sink their identities in that of a sister company. This +re-organisation was completed, equipment made up, and all necessary stores +given out within twenty-four hours, and the Battalion was again ready for +action. The bivouac area was vacated at 4 p.m. on the 1st September, and +the Battalion went to the Hindenburg Line, where a few hours were spent. +It left the Hindenburg Line about 10-30 p.m. for Hendicourt. An +unfortunate circumstance, however, had taken place. The intelligence +section, which was to act as guides to take the companies to Hendicourt, +was annihilated by a shell, and as a consequence it was very difficult to +get there to time in view of the lack of guides. The Battalion was piloted +by the Adjutant over numerous broken-in trenches, while enemy aeroplanes +were disseminating bombs quite liberally. + +Hendicourt was reached fifteen minutes before zero, which was at 5 a.m. +One company was then ordered to advance in the direction of Riencourt, the +fringe of which village it reached by advancing over the open under cover +of the barrage and, incidentally, encountering the German barrage. + +On this day the famous Drocourt-Queant Switch, the last and perhaps the +strongest line of resistance of the enemy, was completely broken. Months +had been spent on its preparation and in making concrete machine gun +emplacements and belts of barbed wire, and its fall in one day was +remarkable. + +Later in the day the companies went forward over the ground captured by +the other units in the Brigade, and one or two patrols were sent out. The +following evening the Battalion was withdrawn to a bivouac area outside +Croisilles, which vicinity was shelled by a 350 m.m. Krupp gun. The +Battalion was reorganised on a four-company basis once more the next day. + +On the 7th September the Battalion proceeded, _via_ Hendicourt and +Riencourt, to a reserve position by Cagnicourt, and on the 10th the +Battalion furnished two companies for manning the Buissy Switch in the +rear of Inchy-en-Artois. Battalion headquarters were situated in the +Hindenburg Line and the two forward companies were just on the fringe of +Inchy, and accommodated in what had lately been the headquarters of the +115th Feldartillerie Regiment. The dugout was cut into the side of the +road and consisted of several well-timbered rooms and there were about +four entrances. This dugout was so well fitted that it actually contained +a pump, to ensure an adequate supply of water for the garrison. + +On the 11th September there was an attack by other units in the 57th +Division in conjunction with the Guards Division on the east side of Inchy +and Moeuvres, so as to secure the line of the Canal du Nord. The attack +was covered by an intense bombardment of the enemy front positions and +Bourlon Wood, and the advance of the infantry was covered by smoke. +Officers from the Battalion observed the attack from Buissy Switch to note +where lay the enemy barrage lines. The attack at Inchy was, unfortunately, +a failure. + +On the 12th the Battalion took over the defence of Inchy. The right +company was located in Grabburg Post, and the left in a shell crater +position by the Agache Springs. The other two companies were in support. +The conditions were bad, and the men in front had to lie in their shell +craters all day. As these generally contained water, the men got very wet. +The village was incessantly shelled and periodically drenched with gas. +Even night brought no respite and the guns still disgorged their fatal +missiles. Some idea of the intensity of the shell fire may be gained from +the following incident. + +"A" Company headquarters and one platoon were quartered in a long cellar +belonging to a factory. The cellar was divided into two compartments, and +of these only the one further from the entrance was occupied. While the +shelling was taking place the Company Commander was out interviewing the +Commanding Officer and, returning to his headquarters, he saw shell after +shell burst in the vicinity. When the intensity of the fire was somewhat +mitigated, he returned to company headquarters and there saw a shell had +entered and burst in the empty compartment. When he asked the men about it +they did not know what had happened, and they even had not noticed it amid +the several other shells that had burst close by. + +While at Inchy the Battalion had the misfortune to lose its most popular +officer, who was killed while doing a daylight patrol in Pavilland Wood. +He had fought in the first Battle of Ypres in 1914 and had remained in +France until wounded in 1917. Though blind in one eye and deaf in one ear, +he insisted on returning to the battlefield after his wounds had healed. +His conduct stands out in sharp contrast to the thousands who were evading +service at home. + +On the 16th September, the Battalion was relieved and marched by companies +to a bivouac area by Bullecourt. On arrival a thunderstorm took place. The +men were soon wet, the ground sodden, and the bivouac sheets caked with +mud. To this was added the fact that fires and lights were not permitted +on account of the enemy aeroplanes. The next day, however, was fine and +everyone quickly dried. Of the village scarcely a vestige remained. Here +and there the foundation of a wall was discernible in the mud. French +villages are usually well wooded, but of all the trees in Bullecourt there +was only one standing, and that had died from the effects of shell fire. +The Battalion marched off next day and entrained by Boyelles, and after a +short journey detrained at Beaumetz. Here the men saw once again the +village they knew so well in 1916. It seemed strange that trains were +running in the station now. + +At Beaumetz the Battalion marched past some of its former billets to +Bailleulment. Here a few days were spent in resting and training, and on +the 25th September the Battalion marched to Beaumetz and by train and +route march proceeded to a bivouac area at Lagnicourt. + +On the 27th September the Battalion took part in the advance. The men got +to the position of assembly in the Hindenburg Line and then passed through +Moeuvres, crossed the Canal du Nord and advanced in artillery formation +towards the southern corner of Bourlon Wood. + +While coming over the crest just north of Anneux "A" Company came under +the direct fire of a 105 m.m. enemy gun, the detachment of which was +firing over open sights, and several casualties were sustained. The +Battalion was soon held up by machine gun fire, but it afterwards advanced +and took up a position between Anneux and Bourlon Wood. The 29th was spent +in re-organisation. + +On the 30th the Battalion paraded, and an attempt was made to carry on the +attack. Unfortunately, the suburb of Proville had not been captured, as +had been originally supposed, and the attack could not proceed on account +of the heavy machine gun fire from the houses. + +The Battalion was then withdrawn to La Folie Wood, where a few days were +spent in old German shelters. The enemy evidently knew that the wood was +occupied, for he persistently shelled it with his heavy batteries, and the +trees served to intensify the sound of the explosions. Several 18-pounder +guns and a battery of 8-inch howitzers were about a hundred yards or so in +rear of the Battalion's position; and when an attack by one of the other +units in the Division was in progress the noise was intense. + +On the 5th October the Battalion took over the outpost zone at Proville, +with headquarters at La Marliere. At this time there were few troops on +the bridgehead east of the Canal de l'Escaut. The area was periodically +searched by the enemy heavy artillery, and the posts at Proville suffered +considerably from minenwerfer fire. On relief the Battalion returned to La +Folie Wood. + +When Cambrai fell on the 9th October the Battalion left for the Cantaing +area and on the 11th moved to a bivouac area by Inchy. The next day it +marched to Hermies, and there entrained for Bethune, where it arrived next +day and marched to Douvrin. + +It was now almost three years since the Battalion had been in the vicinity +of Bethune, but there were still some present who could remember how the +Battalion in the spring of 1915 had marched for the first time to the +trenches in front of this town. The next day the Battalion went by motor +lorries through Locon and other places the men had known so well in 1915 +and, debussing near Laventie, the Battalion marched via Fromelles to Le +Maisnil en Weppes. Passing through what was formerly no man's land at +Laventie, the men were able to recognise the places they had held in the +trenches in the early part of the year. + + +LILLE. + +Three days were spent at Le Maisnil, during which the seizure of Lille was +carefully studied by the officers and orders were given as to the mode of +procedure should the enemy evacuate the town. On the 17th October at 1-15 +p.m. the Battalion paraded in fighting order and advanced to the +deliverance of the city. There was at this time a vague report that the +enemy had departed, but it was not known to what point the British troops +had then attained. There might have been troops between the Battalion and +the enemy, and there might not. Road mines and "booby" traps were to be +expected. The Battalion arrived at Haubourdin at 4 p.m., where there was a +halt for a meal. On reaching the suburbs of Lille advance guards had to be +sent out, as any point of vantage might have concealed an enemy machine +gun. The canal on the west of the city was reached about 5 o'clock. The +bridges had all been blown up, but the Pont de Canteleu, though broken in +two and half in the canal, afforded a means of crossing one at a time. + +At this bridge the greatest excitement prevailed. Crowds of women were +singing the "Marseillaise." They surrounded the troops and could not be +prevented from kissing the soldiers. So great was the crowd that the +passage of the troops was impeded. Eventually the companies reached their +allotted stations and formed guards on the various gates to prevent all +egress. In this way the Battalion was the first infantry to reach the +city. Actually the first to enter was "D" Company. + +Here was a city without civil administration. The late authorities had +been the Germans, and they had gone. There were no police and no post; the +streets were unlit and the trams had long since ceased to run; garbage was +deposited in the street and there putrified. There was a great shortage of +food. The shops were empty, hundreds had died of want, and the strength of +the inhabitants was very low. + +For three days the Battalion remained on guard at the gates to prevent all +egress of the inhabitants, as there were some residents in the city that +the French authorities wished to arrest, and so it was necessary to +prevent their escape before the French police arrived. Out of the men not +actually on duty, a guard of honour was found to accompany M. Clemenceau +on his triumphal entry into the city on behalf of the French Republic. It +was an inspiring occasion, and the greatest enthusiasm prevailed. The +Battalion on the 21st marched through Lille, being met by "A" Company at +the Porte des Postes, to Ascq, where it stayed the night. The next day it +moved to Willems on the Belgian frontier. + + +TOURNAI. + +On the 24th October the Battalion took over the outpost zone at Froyennes +by Tournai. This was a new kind of warfare. There were no trenches, no +enemy line and no clearly defined British line. Sentry groups were located +in houses, behind hedges and perhaps in a ditch on the side of the road. +Sentries kept a look-out from a skylight window or gap in the hedge. +Civilians were living in the same houses as the troops and some of these +appeared rather friendly towards the enemy. One woman actually wished to +take some washing to the Germans in Tournai. For the most part these +civilians were women, and the soldiers admired their wonderful courage. +Even though they were in the centre of the fighting they did not lose +heart and there was no panic. + +In the right company area was situated a chateau which had formerly been +the headquarters of General von Quast, the commander of the Sixth German +Army. Company headquarters were in the next chateau, the Chateau de +Froyennes, belonging to the Germiny family, and the then occupier, +Mademoiselle Therese de Germiny, who had remained, lent her boat to the +Company, and several men were able to row on the ornamental lake which was +situated at the side of the chateau in a beautiful park. One platoon was +quartered in a restaurant which had a beautiful and rustic garden, though +it was too near the enemy for the men to really enjoy the comfort it +afforded. Another platoon found in a laundry a number of clean white +shirts which the men readily donned. + +Though the Germans had been defeated, they still continued to indulge in +a lavish expenditure of ammunition. Probably they were firing so as to use +up their remaining shells before evacuating. Day after day the park +belonging to the Froyennes Chateau was searched by all manner of shell. So +intense was the fire that it reminded one of the terrible moments of the +Somme Battle. The Hospital or Convent in which one of the companies was +located was subjected to incessant minenwerfer fire. + +It is interesting to record that "A" Company elected to do the full tour +of four days in the front position with the intention of spending all the +next tour in support, an eventuality which did not take place as the +Armistice intervened. + +Coming out from Froyennes the Battalion was shelled on the road. Little +did anyone think that night that the Battalion had finished with shell +fire. For the men the war was over. Their last time in action was passed. +Among those that trudged wearily out of action that night were a few who +had landed at Le Havre with the Regiment more than three and a half years +before. Though they did not realise it until much later these men were the +lucky ones who were to survive the war. + +The Battalion marched to Cornet and the next day to Hellemmes, outside +Lille, for a period of rest. Here the men were quartered in a cotton +spinning factory, the machinery of which was all utterly destroyed, and +every man had his own bunk. The officers were billeted in private houses +in the vicinity. While on parade on the morning of the 11th November it +was announced to the men that the Armistice had been signed. The news of +the cessation of hostilities was received by the soldiers without any +manifestation of the joy or excitement that marked the occasion at home. +The parade continued and the rest of the day was spent quite as usual. The +news for which the men had waited so long seemed when it came to be almost +too good to be true. + +Some there were--savages by nature--who were not altogether glad. They had +been taught to kill, and they wanted to kill. They thought the Germans had +not been punished enough for their crimes and atrocities, and that the +enemy country ought to suffer the same devastation as France. In the main, +however, the men were glad that the war was virtually over. They would +soon be able to return to their homes and live with their loved ones +again. On the night of the 13th the reality of the terms of the Armistice +was evidenced by the returning British prisoners of war from the German +lines. A picquet was posted on the main road outside Battalion +headquarters, and on arrival returning prisoners were escorted to a billet +which was prepared for them. Fires were burning in the billet, and all of +the late prisoners were supplied with a bed. A hot meal, tea and a rum +ration were served to them as they arrived. By midnight about eighty had +come through. The majority of them arrived in an exhausted condition, +having marched between forty and fifty kilometres. Many were the stirring +and pitiful stories recounted by these unfortunate fellows of the harsh +treatment which they had received during their period of captivity. The +ensuing days of the month were spent at Hellemmes under the command of +Lieutenant-Colonel Dawson for a few days, and afterwards +Lieutenant-Colonel M.E. Makgill-Crichton-Maitland, D.S.O., of the +Grenadier Guards, took command. + +Training as usual was continued as it was not realised at the time that +the fighting was finished. The parades took place in the vicinity of Fort +Macmahon, which had been used by the Germans as quarters for prisoners of +war. The conditions inside the fort were terrible and constituted strong +evidence of the sufferings the prisoners of war must have endured. In view +of the imminence of demobilisation, education classes were started, and +much good work was done in this direction. In the evenings concerts and +parties took place, and friendships soon sprang up between the soldiers +and the Lilloises. + + +ARRAS. + +It was soon decided that the Army was to be used for salvage work on the +devastated area, and accordingly orders came for a move to the Arras area. +On the 3rd December the Battalion left Lille, and after a march of roughly +15 miles it reached Carvin and spent the night in some German ammunition +huts in a wood. The next day the Battalion passed through Lens, and one +was surprised to see how near the Highlanders must have got to the town at +the Battle of Loos. After leaving Lens the Battalion marched right through +the centre of the district in which the Vimy Ridge Battles had taken +place. The whole region was now desolate and deserted. After a march of +twenty-one miles three of the companies marched to their billets at Etrun +without the loss of a single man. This was a striking example of the +efficiency of the Battalion and the standard of its march discipline. + +A few days were spent in billets at Etrun and then the Battalion moved to +a Nissen hut camp a short distance away at Maroeuil. Twelve months ago the +Battalion had spent a night at the camp on its way to Lisbourg. The camp +had been empty for some months and was in a bad condition, so that a +great deal had to be done to make the huts habitable. Beds and tables had +to be constructed, cook houses established and ovens built. Duckboard +tracks had to be laid as the ground was muddy. In this work the men were +assisted by some German prisoners who worked very well and thoroughly. No +enmity was evinced by the men, who would give the prisoners food if not +watched. So soon had the British soldiers forgotten their hatred of the +Germans. The Battalion was given a large area to clear and every day large +parties were engaged on salvage work. The afternoons were devoted to games +and some very keen football matches took place. + +Christmas time was an occasion for great rejoicing. A competition for the +best decorated dining hut was held. Materials were not easily available +and the ingenuity of the officers was taxed to the utmost. One company +commander had a scenic artist among his men and he managed to secure an +ample supply of paint. Others telegraphed to England for table decorations +and some things could be bought in Arras. One sergeant-major borrowed bed +sheets from some lady friend and these served as table cloths. The dining +huts were consequently well decorated and comfortable, and eventually "B" +Company secured the prize. Christmas Day was one of feasting. A cross +country run the next day, in which all from Commanding Officer downward, +took part wore off any evil effect. + +Early in January a "Colour Party" left for Liverpool, where it received +the colours of the Regiment from the Lord Mayor on the 7th January, and +later brought them to the Battalion. + +Demobilisation commenced in January, and by the end of February the +disintegration of the Battalion was proceeding rapidly. The numbers +dwindled so steadily that at length parades ceased. Men who had served +and lived together for so long were parting and might perhaps never see +each other again. Friendships of months' standing were now to come to an +end. No bugle would ever call these men together again. They were each to +return to their civilian life once more, and there seek their several +fortunes. + +The members of the Battalion took different paths. A large contingent +ultimately made its way to Egypt as part of the garrison there. Others, +members of the cadre, came home with the Colours in June and were received +with due honour by the Lord Mayor. One or two isolated members crept up to +the Rhine Army, where they had the pleasure of seeing the result of their +comrades' work, and the Germans dejected and defeated. It was indeed +gratifying to see British soldiers quartered in Bonn University, that home +of "kultur" where the late Kaiser Wilhelm was educated. A reunion took +place in St. George's Hall on the 30th May, 1919. Afterwards the Battalion +ceased to exist as infantry, as the War Office changed it to a Battalion +of Royal Engineers called the 2nd Battalion West Lancashire Divisional +Royal Engineers, to which several of the officers transferred. + +The work of the Battalion is done. By the bravery and industry of the +officers and men, by the soldierly spirit with which all were imbued, by +the discipline and good comradeship which kept all together working in +harmonious union, the Battalion earned for itself a high reputation for +efficiency in every direction. The work it was given to do has been done +in a cheerful and thorough manner, and let there be inscribed, with due +honour, upon the list of the illustrious regiments which have deserved +well of their country, the name of the 9th Battalion of The King's +(Liverpool Regiment) Territorial Force. + + + + +APPENDIX. + + +_List of Decorations earned by officers and men while serving with the +Battalion._ + +A BAR TO THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER. + +Lieutenant-Colonel LORD H.C. SEYMOUR. + +THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER AND THE MILITARY CROSS. + +Captain R.C. WILDE. + +THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER. + +Major-General F.W. RAMSAY +Lieutenant-Colonel H.K.S. WOODHOUSE +Lieutenant-Colonel F.W.M. DREW +Major F.S. EVANS +Major J. MAHONY, R.A.M.C. + +THE MILITARY CROSS AND A BAR. + +Captain E.H.G. ROBERTS +Captain C.G.R. HILL +Lieutenant S.H. RANDALL +Lieutenant A.O. WARDE + +THE MILITARY CROSS. + +Major J.W.B. HUNT +Major P.G.A. LEDERER +Captain S.T.J. PERRY +Captain E.L. MACKENZIE, R.A.M.C. +Captain W. RAINE +Captain A.G. WARDE +Captain E. PAYNE +Captain L.L.S. RICHER +Captain L.S. ELTON +Captain F. ATKINSON +Captain G.F. BUCKLE +Captain C.B. JOHNSON +Lieutenant R. DARLING +Lieutenant G.E. MORTON +Lieutenant A.C. SHEPHERD +Lieutenant F.E. BOUNDY +Lieutenant R.C.H. ELLAM +Lieutenant A.M. ADAMS +Lieutenant W.L. GELDERD +Lieutenant W.G. HARRISON, R.A.M.C. +Lieutenant W.J. LUNNON +Lieutenant L.T. LOCAN +Lieutenant A. ROE +Lieutenant W. DAVENPORT +Lieutenant A.T. BARKER +Lieutenant C. STENT +Lieutenant E.H. MAXWELL +Regimental Sergeant-Major F.W. MILLER +Regimental Sergeant-Major D. ROBERTS +Company Sergeant-Major F.E. ASH + +THE DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL, MILITARY MEDAL AND A BAR. + +Sergeant W. GRIFFITHS. + +THE DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL AND THE MILITARY MEDAL. + +Company Sergeant-Major J. MCCARTEN +Sergeant H. WILLIAMS +Sergeant H. CHISNALL +Sergeant J.S. MORGAN + +THE DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL. + +Company Sergeant-Major P. BYRNE +Company Sergeant-Major J. OWENS +Company Sergeant-Major T. BRAMMER +Sergeant R. WILLIAMS +Sergeant A. BENNET +Sergeant J. MIDGHALL +Lance-Sergeant J.W. HEAP +Private W. SMITH +Private F. FOWLER + +THE MILITARY MEDAL AND A BAR. + +Sergeant R.D. WALKER +Sergeant L.L. DELMAS +Sergeant L. BENTLEY (D.C.M. with 4th Kings) + +THE MILITARY MEDAL. + +Company Sergeant-Major MEADOWS +Sergeant GILMARTIN +Sergeant P.J. HALL +Sergeant E. JONES +Sergeant MCCARTHY +Sergeant SHAW +Sergeant W.T. POPE +Sergeant R. LEE +Sergeant C. MADDEN +Sergeant STAPLETON +Sergeant MCNIFFE +Sergeant T. BALL +Lance-Sergeant PENNINGTON +Lance-Sergeant B. MADDEN +Lance-Sergeant W. MAWER +Corporal WINROW +Corporal E. HYLAND +Corporal H. READ +Corporal W. GRIFFIN +Corporal BROWN, R.A.M.C. +Corporal J. CLARKE +Corporal LEATHER +Corporal L. JONES +Corporal J. CORLESS +Corporal A. SALMON +Corporal W.H. COCKAYNE +Corporal J.R. SERVICE +Lance-Corporal A. HILTON +Lance-Corporal H. COOPER +Lance-Corporal H. JOHNSTONE +Lance-Corporal A. OTTY +Lance-Corporal SHIELDS +Lance-Corporal MARCHBANK +Lance-Corporal LEWIS +Lance-Corporal WESTWOOD +Lance-Corporal RAINFORD +Lance-Corporal H. MONTGOMERIE +Lance-Corporal T. GILL +Lance-Corporal J. TAYLOR +Lance-Corporal W. SALMON +Private W. WILLIAMS +Private A. TURNBULL +Private W. HANKEY +Private R. NAPIER +Private W. TYLDESLEY +Private W.W. OSWALD +Private T.W. MEERS +Private T.V. ANDERSON +Private T. BUXTON +Private J. DILWORTH +Private J. HANNA +Private W. HOPLEY +Private T. LLOYD +Private W. BLEASDALE +Private FOULKES +Private MORRIS +Private SHALLCROSS +Private ENTWISTLE +Private MCDONALD +Private WALKER +Private BROUGH +Private E.O. PARRY +Private MOTTRAM +Private T. HUGHES +Private H. WALMESLEY +Private MULLARD +Private T. HARRISON +Private F. LAMB +Private G. CLUES +Private J. JALLIMORE +Private W. BOYD +Private C.L. ALLEN +Private J. STURDY +Private J. PETRIE +Private W. BECKWITH +Private R. YATES +Private C. MOSLEY +Private J.C. HOWES +Private H. BAILLIE +Private A. ROWLANDS +Private R. HALL +Private E. HIGGINBOTTOM +Private H. LAWRENSON +Private F.C. MULVEY +Private A.E. PEARCE +Private A. COPPACH +Private T. GROOM +Private C.H. HOOPER +Private A. MARSH +Private J. TYSON + +THE MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL. + +Regimental Quarter-Master-Sergeant A.J. FORD +Regimental Quarter-Master-Sergeant W. O'BRIEN +Company Quarter-Master-Sergeant A. JONES +Sergeant W.G. EDINGTON +Sergeant T. MUNCASTER +Sergeant GRAHAM +Sergeant CONOLLY +Sergeant H. KENNISTON +Lance-Corporal R. GRAYSON + +FRENCH DECORATION. MEDAILLE MILITAIRE. + +Company Sergeant-Major P. BYRNE + +BELGIAN DECORATION. CROIX DE GUERRE. + +Corporal H. READ + +RUSSIAN DECORATION. CROSS OF SAINT GEORGE. + +Sergeant H. CHISNALL + +MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES. + +Major-General F.W. RAMSAY, D.S.O. +Lieutenant-COLONEL LORD H.C. SEYMOUR, D.S.O. +Lieutenant-COLONEL F.W.M. DREW, D.S.O. +Lieutenant-COLONEL H.K.S. WOODHOUSE, D.S.O. +Lieutenant-COLONEL C.G. BRADLEY, D.S.O. +Major J.W.B. HUNT, M.C. +Major F.S. EVANS, D.S.O. +Major S.C. BALL, M.C. +Major J. MAHONY, D.S.O., R.A.M.C. +Major P.G.A. LEDERER, M.C. +Major N.L. WATTS +Major A.W. FULTON +Captain B.W. HOWROYD +Captain J.H. HALLIWELL +Captain D.H.D. WOODERSON, R.A.M.C. +Captain H.H. COVELL +Captain E.D.H. STOCKER +Captain W.R. PERRY +Captain R.C. WILDE, D.S.O., M.C. +Captain E. ASHTON +Captain C.B. JOHNSON, M.C. +Captain A.G. WARDE, M.C. +Second-Lieutenant C. NOTT +Regimental Sergeant-Major F.W. MILLER, M.C. +Regimental Quarter-Master-Sergeant A.J. FORD +Company Sergeant-Major J.C. WARD +Company Sergeant-Major J. OWENS, D.C.M. +Company Sergeant-Major R. GRAYSON +Company Sergeant-Major J.J. SNAITH +Company Quarter-Master-Sergeant A. JONES +Company Quarter-Master-Sergeant J. MEADOWS +Sergeant J.E. SMITH +Sergeant T. BALL, M.M. +Corporal R.L. ROBERTS +Lance-Corporal E. MOSS +Private W.J. HANNA +Private A. BOWYER + + + +PRINTED BY THE NORTHERN PUBLISHING CO. LTD., + +17 GOREE PIAZZAS, AND 11 BRUNSWICK STREET: LIVERPOOL. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Story of the "9th King's" in France +by Enos Herbert Glynne Roberts + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF THE "9TH *** + +***** This file should be named 16974.txt or 16974.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/9/7/16974/ + +Produced by Irma Spehar, Christine D and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net. 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