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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/19814-0.txt b/19814-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0597d8c --- /dev/null +++ b/19814-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3764 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook of Three years in France with the Guns, by C. A. Rose + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you +will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before +using this eBook. + +Title: Three years in France with the Guns + Being Episodes in the life of a Field Battery + +Author: C. A. Rose + +Release Date: November 14, 2006 [eBook #19814] +[Most recently updated: October 18, 2021] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +Produced by: Geetu Melwani, Christine P. Travers, Sigal Alon and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THREE YEARS IN FRANCE WITH THE GUNS *** + +[Illustration] + + + + +Three years in France with the Guns + +BEING +EPISODES IN THE LIFE OF A FIELD +BATTERY. + +[Illustration] + +BY C.A. ROSE, M.C., +LATE OF THE +ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY. + + Printed By +The Allen Lithographic Co., Ltd., +Kirkcaldy + + +[Transcriber’s note: Obvious printer’s errors have been +corrected. +The original spelling has been retained. +—The caption of the illustrations were unclear. +—Page 50: “serious of raids” has been replaced by +“series of raids” +—Page 76: “must against” has been replaced by “much +against”] + +Contents + + INTRODUCTION + I. Breaking Us In + II. Our First Battle + III. “Peace Warfare.” + IV. In “The Salient.” + V. On the Somme + VI. Messines + VII. Ypres Again + VIII. Cambrai + IX. At Arras + X. March the 21st + XI. The Turn of the Tide + XII. Through the Hindenburg Line + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +These brief notes of experiences with the guns for thirty-eight months +in France were primarily penned for my own satisfaction. Friends who +read the manuscript expressed much interest in it, and added the hope +that it might be given a more permanent form. Hence it is that it is +now printed for private circulation. + +The story is a simple record of the fortunes of my own Battery and +Brigade, and is intended as a tribute to the good comradeship which +existed, under all conditions, among all ranks. + +C.A.R. + + +Edinburgh, +_January_, 1919. + + +The “Grey Battery” at St. Omer, May 1917 The “Grey Battery” at St. +Omer, May 1917 + + + + +CHAPTER I. +Breaking Us In + + +On a morning early in August, 1915, the Brigade disembarked at Havre +without mishap to man, horse, or material, and proceeded to a Rest Camp +on the outskirts of the town. We were in France at last! The same +evening the Batteries started to entrain, and every two hours a +complete unit was despatched up the line—to an unknown destination. The +men received refreshments at various Haltes, and the horses were duly +watered and fed, but the journey was, on the whole, long and tedious. +On one occasion only was the monotony broken, and that unwittingly, by +the humour of one of the officers. In the course of the evening, the +train stopped at a small station, and the compartment in which the +officers were settled drew up in front of the Buffet. Some one asked +where we were, and a subaltern, anxious to display his newly-acquired +knowledge of French, replied, “Bouvette,” which called forth no +response. Shortly afterwards the train proceeded on its way, and the +occupants of the carriage settled themselves down to sleep. All passed +quietly for the next couple of hours—then the train stopped once more, +and, as luck would have it, again our carriage came to a standstill +directly opposite the buffet of the station. At once a question was +asked as to our whereabouts. The same subaltern, shaking himself out of +a deep slumber, stretched, roused himself, and, peering out of the +window, exclaimed, “Good Lor’, still at this beastly hole, ‘Bouvette’!” +He expressed much surprise at the “unseemly mirth,” as he described it, +which followed!! + +After detraining, the Battery marched through beautiful country, which +reminded one of the Borders, as it was not unlike the valley of the +Tweed, and we were at once taken to the hearts of the inhabitants of +the good village of Seningham, which place was destined to be our home +for the next few days. The officers were afforded spacious +accommodation in the house of the Maire, whilst the men had comfortable +billets in the neighbourhood. Time was spent making our unit shipshape +after its travels by land and sea, and the “hairies” obtained as much +grazing as possible, to make them fit for what was in store for them. +It was wonderful how quickly the men adapted themselves to French ways, +and much amusement was caused by their eager, if somewhat unsuccessful, +attempts to master the language of our Allies. + +When it became known that the officers were anxious to increase their +knowledge of the language of the country, the maidens of the village +vied with one another to obtain posts as instructresses, and there was +nearly a free fight amongst them for the possession of our worthy +Senior Subaltern, whose taking ways did not fail to catch their +attention! + +But, alas! our peaceful warfare was not to be for long! One morning +sudden orders came through to prepare for the line in a couple of days’ +time. All was instant bustle, extra grooming was given to the horses, +and finishing touches were put to the howitzers and vehicles. We were +to be given a trial in action to show how we would comport ourselves +before joining the “Feet” of our own Division, the Guards, who at that +time were out at rest. For this purpose we were to be placed under the +orders of the C.R.A. of an Indian Division, to reinforce the Batteries +already in positions and receive instruction from them. + +At last the morning arrived to move off, the column, skirting the town +of St. Omer, took the main road to Hazebrouck, and, as we passed +through the village of Arques, we caught a first glimpse of our future +infantry. They appeared equally keen on seeing their new artillery, and +inspected us with a critical eye. The march was made in easy stages, +and on the morning of the third day the Brigade arrived at Merville, a +quaint old town in Flemish Flanders. After a hasty lunch, the officers +rode ahead, in order to get into touch with the unit we were to support +in the line, and another amusing incident happened _en route_. One of +the Junior Officers owned a sturdy mare, whose reputation as a charger +was apt to be ridiculed by his companions, as she was notorious for her +slow gait. When the party had proceeded some distance at the trot, +“Halting Hilda” was observed, to the astonishment of everyone, to be +gradually taking the lead. This fact called forth the remark from her +master, “By Jove, she is pulling extraordinarily hard to day: what can +be the matter with the animal?” It was then discovered that the rider +had been at her mercy for the last couple of miles, the bit clanking +merrily from side to side under her great jaw. In the hurry and +excitement of departure, after lunch! the bit had not been replaced in +her mouth! + +The afternoon was spent in reconnoitering the gun positions allotted to +us, which were the alternative positions of the units already in line. +As a rule, each battery makes a second or alternative gun position, in +case it should be shelled out of its existing one, so that no delay +takes place in getting into action again. When night fell there was +subdued excitement in the wagon line as the time drew near to take the +guns “in.” This was actually the beginning of our first venture—would +we have the luck to get there without being caught in the enemy’s +harassing fire? How would we behave under shell-fire: would we be +steady or otherwise? All these and many other questions flashed through +our minds, for a great deal depends, more than one would believe, on +how a new and inexperienced unit receives its baptism of fire. + +At length a start was made, and the Battery moved off, and soon turned +down the long, straight main road leading to La Bassée, the trees on +either side showing signs of shrapnel scars, and even in the darkness +it could be seen that the cottages were, for the most part, in ruins. +It felt distinctly eerie as the small column proceeded silently on its +way without showing lights of any description; the stillness and +darkness broken now and again by the barking of a gun as we drew nearer +the battery zone, and by an occasional Verey Light, which seemed to +reveal us in all our nakedness. That long stretch of road seemed +interminable—were we never going to reach our destination? However, all +remained quiet throughout our progress, and at last we arrived at the +entrance to the gun position, which was to be our home for the next +fortnight. The guns were speedily unlimbered and man-handled into the +pits awaiting their reception, the ammunition was unloaded from the +vehicles, and the teams were returned to the wagon line. + +The following morning the pieces were “layed out” on our particular +zone, and we had time to look round and take stock of our new abode, +which was a farmhouse standing in the centre of an orchard adjoining +the main road. The building itself was by no means intact, although, as +yet, habitable. It gave us enough shelter of a kind, and we soon +adjusted ourselves to the prevailing conditions, and the outhouses +surrounding it afforded ample accommodation for the detachments. The +gun pits were cunningly concealed in the front portion of the orchard, +special care having been taken against the prying eyes of hostile +aeroplanes. We were fortunate in the choice of position made for our +first time in the line, for two reasons, firstly, it was an interesting +zone—including the village of Neuve Chapelle now immediately behind our +front line—and, secondly, it was quiet. The country there is extremely +flat, with the exception of Aubers Ridge, which, occupied by the enemy, +overlooked us to a certain extent, although the many trees and woods +prevented his having an uninterrupted view. Our tuition began at once, +and we were conducted to the front line through innumerable +communication trenches, which, at first, reminded one of a maze at an +exhibition, the only difference being that numerous notice-boards +directed our movements. + +There we were welcomed, with smiling faces, by men of a Ghurka +battalion, their white teeth and flashing eyes showing up their brown +skins. Now and then they would stop sharpening their deadly-looking +kukris, their dearest possession, to allow us to pass along the trench. +Nothing delighted these brave little men more than to be permitted to +go on a silent raid at night, when they wormed themselves through the +wire in “No Man’s Land,” and did as much damage on the other side as +possible. They have been known to enter the enemy trenches without a +sound, killing everyone within reach, and to return radiant, quite +unscathed. When questioned as to why they had not brought in any +prisoners for identification purposes, they would merely roll their +eyes, shrug their shoulders, and say, “Enemy all quiet, he asleep,” and +calmly remove the still warm gore from their knives! Continuing on our +way, we next struck a Highland regiment, the necessary complement of +the one of stout little men just left behind. It was most interesting, +as one had heard so much about the traditional good comradeship +existing, in India, between Ghurka and Highlander, and here they were +still side by side in France. Their mutual admiration is boundless and +unconcealed, and it was most amusing to watch the little men aping the +ways of the big Highlanders, who look huge in comparison with them. The +Ghurka regiments have their own pipe bands, and play them as if they, +too, had been born and bred in the mountains and glens of Scotland. + +Soon we came to a fire bay, specially well placed to obtain a good view +of the enemy trenches, which had been converted into what is known as +an O.P., _i.e._, an artillery observation post. These O.P.’s are manned +during daylight by the F.O.O. (Forward Observation Officer) and his +signaller assistants. Their job is to keep a close watch on hostile +trenches, watching for any unusual movement or for the appearance of +new constructive works, such as machine gun emplacements or new saps. +The O.P. has numerous wires leading into it, and these come from all +the batteries in immediate support of that part of the line, which are +jointly responsible for its defence. Our own signallers had been out +early, and a wire had already been carefully laid and labelled from our +gun position to the O.P., so we were now ready to register our +howitzers on some definite object behind the enemy lines. A house, or +some such landmark which is shewn on our trench maps, is usually chosen +to calibrate upon. There is little trouble in effecting this, but, at +first, there is some difficulty in following the rounds as they fall, +through a periscope, owing to its small field of vision. It was, +however, imperative to make use of that instrument, in this case, as an +enemy sniper, watchful and on the alert, had already seen the top of +it, and from time to time a bullet passed overhead unpleasantly close. +This served to remind us to be discreet and to run no risks by exposing +ourselves in the slightest degree above the parapet. Sometimes it is +very difficult to restrain one’s enthusiasm when there is an +interesting shoot taking place. + +The pieces being duly registered, the Battery is now ready for any +emergency, and theoretically we can engage any target in our arc of +fire. It is then essential to learn the country in hostile territory, +and one looks out for likely targets and for points at which one can +inconvenience the enemy by keeping him under constant harassing fire. +This work must necessarily be done from a point of vantage where a good +wide view can be obtained, and, in most cases, a house, tree, or high +piece of ground well behind the lines, is selected for a Rear O.P. + +In an incredibly short space of time every officer learns the country +off by heart, and can bring any gun to bear on a particular target at +short notice. At first Junior Officers are allowed practice shoots on +targets well behind the enemy lines, and as they gain confidence and +experience, are entrusted with “close shoots,” _i.e._, firing on +hostile emplacements, etc., in the front line, a job which requires +extreme caution and accuracy, as “No Man’s Land” averages not more than +200 yards in width in most places. Batteries can always communicate +with Battalion Headquarters in the line, a wire, usually buried, +leading from there to our Brigade Headquarters, and each Battery has +its own private wire to the latter place. In the same way one can be +linked up with nearly every unit in a Division by means of an Exchange +run by the Royal Engineers. + +A few days sufficed us to make ourselves quite at home, and officers +went freely about “seeking whom they might devour,” visited old +established O.P.’s, and searched for new or better ones. It is a +curious fact that the average subaltern is never fully satisfied with +an O.P., and is always bent on discovering “something better,” although +in few cases is his ambition realised! One officer favours this O.P., +another that, and on this occasion the one which our worthy Battery +Commander had a preference for was a most unpleasant place, commonly +known as “The Doll’s House,” though why so called no one could tell. At +any rate, it was an abode to be avoided on all possible occasions, and +the subalterns were quite convinced it was the registering place of all +the hostile batteries within range and vision. At any rate, we daily +found less and less of the building, until one day the staircase was +blown away as well as the perch on top which afforded us our view. +Great was the relief when the B.C. at last declared the O.P. “out of +action” until further notice. + +Nearly every O.P. has an appropriate name given to it, and so we +repaired to “Stink Farm” after abandoning our old love! We put in most +useful days of practice there, and the knowledge and experience gained +was invaluable. Our thanks were due to the enemy for his consideration +in allowing us to conduct our daily tasks almost unmolested: he showed +himself to be most lethargic and sleepy, and did not waken up unless we +were unusually energetic. Perhaps his chief reason for remaining so +inactive was the absence of any heavy guns on our side. Our largest +piece was a 60 pdr., and he may have thought mere Field Artillery +beneath his consideration. Nor was he more active in the air; his +planes rarely passed over our lines, and when they did, it was at so +great a height that it was quite impossible for them to gather +information. However, one day, we were extremely fortunate in seeing a +hostile plane, that had ventured to cross over our lines at a lower +altitude, brought down in flames by a direct hit from an “Archie” +battery lying in wait close behind our own position. It is a rare +sight, for, to tell the truth, anti-aircraft batteries are not held in +particularly high respect by anyone except by those of their own ilk, +and on only two other occasions did we ever see the like again. + +Our fortnight soon sped by, and we were quite reluctant when the time +came to go “out.” We left our neighbours, who had befriended us so +well, with the sincere hope that we would have the good fortune to meet +and lie alongside of them again in the future. This hope, however, was +not destined to be fulfilled. We retraced our steps through Merville +and Aire to the same area from whence we came, to a village called +Nielles, in order to concentrate as a Division, which, when formed, was +designated the Guards Division. + +The inhabitants, as usual, extended a warm welcome to us and showed us +every consideration, and we settled down to enjoy the peaceful +surroundings bathed in the warm and pleasant September sunshine, while +the Senior Subaltern availed himself of the opportunity of again laying +siege to the hearts of his former conquests at Seningham close by. Our +own C.R.A. came to visit us here, and the officers were severally +introduced to him. He expressed satisfaction at the report which came +to him from the line, concerning our conduct in action, and added that +the high opinion formed of us at home had in no wise been diminished, +and that our reputation merited the distinction conferred on us of +being selected as the Artillery of the Guards from among the many units +of the new Army. + +Thus we waited, confident in the belief that, whatever we were in the +future called upon to do, we would at least put up a good show, and +determined to be a credit to the Division of which we now formed a +part. We had not long to wait, whispers passed round that we would be +up and doing at no distant date, and these rumours proved to be well +founded. + + + + +CHAPTER II. +Our First Battle. + + +Our marching orders came within the next few days. Each unit was +provided with portable bridges, which were carried under the wagon +bodies, and this, and several other preparations, gave us a good +indication that we were out for business. A couple of days trekking +brought us to the village of Nedonchel, which proved to be another +place of happy memory to our Senior Subaltern. Here we were given a +rough idea of the part we were to play in the coming proceedings. Two +army corps were to attack, on a six mile front, in the neighbourhood of +Loos and, if the assault was successful, the corps in reserve, which +included our Division, was to go through and exploit the victory to its +fullest advantage. We were to take no part in the initial attack. + +Large masses of troops were being moved up behind the battle area, and, +in order to screen our movements from hostile aircraft, the latter +stages of the journey were to be made under cover of darkness, so the +whole of the next day was spent in resting. At nightfall a diversion +was caused by a Cavalry Division passing through the village on its way +up, and a splendid sight it presented, as one famous regiment followed +swiftly on another. It was now almost time for us to make a start, and +the good lady of the house had remained out of bed to brew us hot +coffee and see us off the premises. As we were about to depart she told +us that her old mother, aged 88, who was in the next room, had +expressed the desire to see us for a moment, and so we were conducted +to the old lady’s bedside. She was lying telling her beads, but sat up +as we approached and beckoned to each officer in turn, who advanced, +knelt, and received a blessing. The inhabitants knew well that a big +battle was to be fought quite soon, as the little village had been the +scene of great activity during the past few days and, although it was a +considerable distance from the line, the preliminary bombardment could +be distinctly heard. The low muffled rumble was incessant, and, +to-night, seemed, if anything, more intense. Shortly after midnight we +set off and disappeared into the darkness, followed by words of good +cheer from the villagers and shouts of “Bon chance, messieurs, bon +chance.” + +Passing through Bruay we arrived a few miles behind the battle front on +the morning of the assault, which was delivered at an early hour, and +soon the news came back that, so far, everything was going well; the +village of Loos had already fallen into our hands. As the day wore on, +however, and the expected orders to advance were not forthcoming, we +suspected that all was not as it should be and our fears were confirmed +soon afterwards by instructions being given to prepare to bivouac +overnight on the ground close by. What actually happened was this:—The +initial attack was successful in capturing and overrunning the enemy’s +front line trenches over the whole area, but, on advancing to the +second trench system a great deal of wire was found to have been left +unbroken or untouched by our artillery, and this held the infantry up +at vital places. The attack, however, was pressed with great courage +and determination, and in some places the flood of men swept on, but, +unfortunately, in others, little or no progress was made. The line, +consequently, soon presented a crooked, irregular shape, which made the +situation difficult and obscure. The enemy, moreover, had anticipated +the attack and had large reinforcements at hand which were at once +thrown in, and after a ding-dong struggle throughout the day the +advance came to an abrupt standstill. Two Divisions from the Reserve +Corps were then sent in, and, on the following afternoon, the Guards +attacked and helped to a large extent in straightening out a +considerable portion of the line. It was not until nightfall of the +third day that we entered the battle and took up a position immediately +north of Vermelles Station in the back garden of a row of damaged +villas. On our way “in,” a couple of cavalry regiments, which had been +holding Loos for the last two days and which had just been relieved, +passed us. There passed also the remnant of one of the Scottish +Divisions which had fought so valiantly and paid so heavy a price. +Footsore, weary, and caked with mud from top to toe, with every sign of +what they had been through upon them, and heavily laden with +“souvenirs” in addition to their full kit, the men could scarcely crawl +along. However, just as one battalion came abreast of us, in such +condition, the pipes tuned up and at once every head was erect and not +a man was out of step as they swung past us; such is the moral force of +the bagpipes. It was one of those moments in which a lump rises in the +throat and a thrill runs down the spine. + +In our new position we speedily learnt what we could do and what we +could not do. For instance, the signallers were able to introduce +electric light into our abode by tapping a live wire which ran outside, +from one fosse to the next, for we were now in the Lens coal district +with mines dotted about here and there. On the other hand, we soon +learnt to refrain from sleeping or showing lights in the second storey +of our billet which was evidently under direct observation by the +enemy, who did not take long to acquaint us with the fact. + +There was always a good deal of firing to be done each day, for, +although the battle may be said to have finished after four or five +days, there were several side-shows before the line was adjusted to our +liking, and the enemy’s fire was almost continuous. This bothered the +F.O.O. parties considerably, and communication was difficult to +maintain for more than a short time between the front line and Battery. +The wire was frequently broken in numerous places, and this kept +signallers and linesmen working at high pressure to repair the damage. +The O.P.’s were moderately good, with the exception of one in “Gun +Trench,” where our men held a portion, then came a sand bagged wall +occupied on the other side by our opponents which they were able to +enter by a T-shaped communication trench, then another sand-bagged wall +with our infantry beyond. Neither side could shell this trench for fear +of injury to their own party, but this did not prevent a lively +exchange of bombs, intermingled with various forms and sizes of +“Minnies,” which were hurled at frequent intervals. Sniping was also +rampant, and periscopes, no matter how small, survived not longer than +a few minutes. It was from this delightful spot that one of the +subalterns arrived at the Battery one evening with his head swathed in +bandages like a Sultan’s turban. He had been trying conclusions with a +“Minnie,” and, as this was in the days before the introduction of the +steel helmet, the latter had easily come out on top. When the wound was +ascertained to be nothing like as serious as the size of the bandage +seemed to indicate, he was removed to the wagon line amid jeers from +his brother officers, and a few days’ rest sufficed to bring him back +to duty again. + +Now, in one portion of the zone which we were covering, “No Man’s Land” +extended some 1500 yards in depth, and midway, lying in the valley, +were what appeared to be two derelict enemy guns partially camouflaged +This aroused the curiosity of the Staff, who called for volunteers to +go out and make an investigation and report as to the condition of the +sights, etc. Our B.C. gallantly offered his services, in spite of the +fact that he was over six feet in height, and presented a most +conspicuous figure, and would not be deterred. He set off crawling +through the long grass on his perilous journey, and there was a huge +grin on his face when he returned. After his report went in we +ascertained that the two pieces were nothing more than cleverly +constructed dummies formed from cart wheels, telegraph poles and trunks +of trees, but it was not until he almost came up to them that he made +the discovery. + +The detachments meanwhile had settled down, making improvements to +their billets and strengthening the gun pits, and were already proving +themselves seasoned warriors. On one occasion a nasty accident +happened, due to the explosion of a howitzer, caused, as was afterwards +proved, by a faulty shell. The complete gun crew, with the exception of +the No. 1 in charge, was wounded. Three of their number were +temporarily buried by the earth thrown up by the explosion, and it was +probably due to that fact that no one was killed. The pit naturally +fell to bits and the debris was indescribable, but the Sergeant managed +to disentangle himself, and, standing stiffly to attention, reported to +the officer on duty, “No. 2 gun out of action, sir!” No time was lost +in digging out the injured men, and it was only found necessary to +evacuate three of the number to the nearest dressing station—the +remainder flatly refusing to go. The layer, in particular, deserved +great credit for his grit, for, in spite of having been buried, and +having scarcely a hair left on his head and devoid of eyebrows, not to +mention the shock to his nervous system, he was again serving his gun +24 hours later, on the arrival of the new piece. Some idea of the force +of the explosion can be gathered from the fact that the barrel was +found, in two pieces, some 150 yards away, having been blown over a +railway embankment, while the breech block, which weighs about a cwt., +was discovered, after a 12 hours’ search, embedded in the ground six +feet below the pit. At this period a considerable number of +“prematures” were taking place, and, on one occasion, we ascribed this +wounding of two gunners to this cause, but afterwards found out our +mistake. An S.O.S. went up after dark, and, at the time of firing No. 3 +gun, the layer and another gunner were both badly hit by what appeared +to be a “premature” just outside the bore of the piece. Throughout this +period we were firing nothing but high explosive shells. Great +therefore was our surprise when, three weeks later, letters arrived +from both men, who were in hospital, to say that in each case shrapnel +bullets had been extracted from them! What had actually occurred was +this: At the same time that the trigger was pulled and the shell +discharged, a “pip squeak” must have burst in front of the mouth of the +gun pit, driving the bullets through the entrance. + +Day after day passed in much the same way, neither side attempting to +make an attack on any large scale, but on the morning of the 8th +October, it was observed that the hostile shelling was not normal, and +had increased in extent along the whole recently captured area. +Preparations were therefore rapidly made to meet any eventuality, and, +as the day advanced and his bombardment gained in strength, it was +apparent to everyone that the enemy contemplated an attack. At noon +orders were received to be ready, at any time, to lay down a +destructive barrage on a certain zone. The Staff had happily +anticipated the point of attack accurately, and, by the time the enemy +concentrated his final burst of lire on his objectives, every gun in +the neighbourhood which could bear, was trained on the vital spot ready +to open out. When at last the time arrived, the bombardment ceased +abruptly, and the enemy’s infantry advanced to the assault wave upon +wave, for the most part in mass formation and with arms linked +together. Emerging from a wood, they had a considerable distance to +cover across open ground before approaching our trenches, so both our +infantry and artillery fire was at first withheld. This gave +encouragement to the enemy, and, as his bombardment had been pretty +severe, he expected more or less of a “walk over,” and did not reckon +on what was to follow. When he had advanced to within 200 yards of our +lines, suddenly rapid fire spurted out from our rifles and machine +guns, and guns of every description spat H.E. and shrapnel, and his +ranks were literally mown down. Then a curtain was put down behind—a +solid wall of fire—which made it practically impossible for the troops +to retire, and their plight was beyond all hope. While they were +cogitating whether to come on or go back, they were slaughtered in +heaps—raked by the deadly machine guns. Very few indeed survived to +tell the tale, but one prisoner claimed to be most indignant with the +whole proceedings, and expressed his opinion that we did not “play the +game” by withholding our fire, and that they imagined they had only to +walk into our trenches and take possession of them. This proved to be +the last big hostile counter-attack attempted, and indeed both sides +were content to remain in their own trenches. We made a smaller attack +the next week, but it was also unsuccessful, and little or no ground +was gained. The enemy artillery devoted themselves principally to +counter battery work, and several British batteries, which were ill +concealed, had a most unpleasant time. Free use was made of +lachrymatory shell, our first taste of it. One clear, moonlight night +the battery was firing at a slow rate, and apparently the enemy saw our +flashes, for he speedily turned a 4.2 battery on to us, his shells +landing just short of each gun pit. No casualties resulted, but a shell +entered the window of one detachment’s billet and exploded, completely +wrecking the room and destroying the men’s equipment. Soon afterwards +instructions were issued to change positions, and this was effected +without loss or mishap. The new position was more favourably placed, +some little way in front of the Fosse at Annequin, and had been +constructed by the French. We were now covering the Hohenzollern +Redoubt of evil memory. Another O.P. was constructed on the railway +embankment on the La Bassée-Vermelles line, which lent itself +favourably to the construction of a shaft for protection, the soil, for +the most part, being chalk, as indeed it was in all the surrounding +neighbourhood. It was our misfortune at this position to say farewell +to our Battery Commander, who left us to take up a Staff appointment +with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, and all ranks were sorry to +lose a leader who had thus far shared all their joys and sorrows. At +the same time we were fortunate in securing in his successor one who +quickly and tactfully took up the reins of office, and the Battery +continued to run on equally smooth lines. + +It now became quite evident that operations would not resume the nature +of a battle, and it was no surprise to receive intimation that the +Division would shortly retire from the conflict. Nobody was sorry at +the prospect of going out, although useful lessons had been learnt and +considerable experience had undoubtedly been gained. + +The weather was beginning to break, and towards the end of the first +week in November we withdrew to the village of Sailly, preparatory to +marching into the next area for which we were bound. + + + + +CHAPTER III. +“Peace Warfare.” + + +When it became known that our destination was to be the sector +immediately adjoining the one we had already been in, facing Aubers +Ridge, our delight knew no bounds, for all were well aware that that +locality was considered a “cushy” spot which augured well for the +coming winter. + +No delay was made in leaving Sailly, and, proceeding by way of Bethune +and St. Venant, we arrived at a small hamlet midway between the latter +town and Merville. The Battery remained in rest for a few days, while a +couple of “subs.” with a working party commenced construction on the +new position selected by the B.C. This entailed a considerable amount +of labour, for timber and all other material had to be carted from the +R.E. dump at La Gorgue some distance away. With an eye to comfort as +well as concealment, it was decided to dig the pits in an orchard, +along some old assembly trenches which had been used by troops before +the battle of Neuve Chapelle. Close by was a cluster of cottages and +outhouses in a wonderful state of preservation. + +By the end of the week the guns were pulled in, although there still +remained a lot to do on the position. The house in which the officers +quartered themselves was intact, with the exception of a few slates on +the roof and several broken window panes. Moreover, there was a little +furniture left and there were some fine open fireplaces, so we had +every reason to be satisfied. Within a short space of time the gun pits +were completed and camouflaged in keeping with the nature of the +ground, and great assistance was rendered us during this undertaking by +an airman who flew over the position from time to time and pointed out +the various deficiencies. At last when he reported that the position +could not be seen from a height of 2000 feet we concluded, rightly, +that nothing was to be feared in that direction. Thus we settled down +to a period commonly known as “Peace Warfare.” This may be summed up us +a time when one experiences the maximum amount of pleasure that is +possible under war conditions, with the minimum amount of discomfort. +The enemy were completely deceived as to our whereabouts, and took us +to be in another vacant position some way down the road, which was +liberally shelled by them whenever fire was opened by us, and we used +to encourage this procedure by occasionally ceasing in order to lead +him into the belief that he was doing us damage. At all events, the +position was never shelled the whole time we were in possession of it—a +somewhat unique experience for a battery in France. + +The infantry were also kept busy at the commencement of this period, as +we had relieved another Indian Division, and on this sector the parapet +had been built for the most part by Ghurkas, who, however stout fellows +they may be at heart, have not the stature of Guardsmen. The result was +the latter found their heads and shoulders showing well above the +parapet, and this necessitated the immediate heightening of the same +some two to three feet. + +The O.P. duties were divided equally between the subalterns, each doing +a third daily. The wagon lines were situated east of La Gorgue within +easy reach, and frequent visits were paid to them, although no officer +remained there permanently. + +During our stay here the Battery came under the direct orders of the +C.R.A. and was attached to no group in particular. Various tasks were +alloted to us, and these were, as a rule, most interesting and +instructive. To further increase our knowledge the B.C. gave the +majority of these shoots to the Junior Officers, briefly explaining the +orders and then leaving us to our own devices by departing for the rest +of the day to the wagon lines on the pretext that he had a birthday to +celebrate. He had many of them. This plan was much to our liking, and +tremendous keenness was displayed by all. Great pains were taken to +carry out everything to the letter, and the signallers also carried out +their part with equal spirit. The gun detachments at this time rose to +a high pitch of proficiency and could get 10 rounds a minute out of the +howitzers, which, considering the double load and triple movement, was +by no means a bad performance. + +A fine level field ran alongside of the position, and it was speedily +made use of as a recreation ground. Goal posts were erected, and often +a hot contest at football would be interrupted by the shrill blast of a +whistle summoning the men hastily to action. Their task completed, they +would calmly return and finish the game. + +All kinds of mutual understandings existed between the opposing sides +in this area, which we soon learnt and respected. For instance, the +village of Aubers lay behind the enemy lines approximately at the same +distance that Laventie did on our side. Both were used as Brigade +Headquarters and filled with troops. Neither town was shelled unless +the enemy accidentally dropped a shell into it, when instant +retaliation was forthcoming. On one occasion the placid calm of +Laventie was rudely shaken through the instrumentality of a young +officer in one of our sister brigades who, unconscious of what he was +doing, planted several shells into Aubers. The consequence was the +following conversation took place over the telephone between +Headquarters and the offending subaltern. + +“Hullo! Is that Ack Battery?” + +“Yes, sir. Just a moment, sir. I’ll put you through to the mess, sir.” + +“Right you are, but look sharp about it, please. Yes. Hullo! Is that an +officer? Well, I say, have you been firing just now?” + +“Yes, sir. So-and-so is doing a practice shoot from the O.P.” + +“Put me on to him at once.” + +“Yes, sir.” + +A brief interval follows, in which various mutterings are overheard by +the signaller in the exchange, who smiles to himself as he continues to +listen. + +“Hullo! hullo!! Damn these young officers! Will they never learn to +answer quickly? Slow, slow is not the word for it. Will have to go +round and shake them up a bit. This is absurd. Hullo! there. Hullo! Is +he never going to come? Exchange, can’t you get him?” + +“Just a moment, sir.” + +“Hullo! hullo!!” + +“Yes, sir. So-and-so speaking.” + +“What the devil are you firing at, young sir?” + +“Well, sir, I was given permission to fire a few rounds——” + +“Where?” + +“At the cross roads, sir.” + +“Seen any of them fall?” + +“Not as yet, sir.” + +“Well, for God’s sake stop firing at once, sir. Why, man, your shells +are dropping in Aubers, and they are retaliating like the very devil. +There goes another, just outside.” + +“Very sorry, sir. Couldn’t make out where the shells were falling.” + +“Well, report to me as soon as you get back, remember. Have no time to +listen to an explanation now.” + +“Very good, sir. Good-bye, sir.” + +An animated discussion now takes place in the telephone exchange, and +the unanimous opinion is that poor So-and-so is “for it” and will +perhaps even get the sack, and who will succeed to the Right Section if +he leaves the Battery? + +In these days a walk along the front line was a delight, and nothing +gave the F.O.O. greater pleasure than to take his morning +constitutional from one end of our area to the other and to peer over +the side at frequent intervals by means of a periscope. Sniping was +sometimes indulged in, but a target rarely presented itself for the +simple reason that the enemy was hardly ever in his front line trenches +during daylight. From one O.P. we could often see one or two men +running along the trenches with lighted torches kindling fires and +causing smoke in order to lead us into the belief that the trenches +were powerfully manned. + +Now, about this time, a number of hostile batteries, whose positions +could not be located, gave us a certain amount of trouble, but a +successful ruse was carried out which enabled us to discover them. +Operations were undertaken in order to force the enemy to show his +hand, and every indication was made by us that we were about to +institute a raid. Wire cutting was done by one battery, and others +registered strong points in rear behind the prescribed area. Then at +dusk, known as flesh time, when batteries are most likely to give their +positions away, all the O.P.’s were manned, spotting apparatus made +ready, and our barrage was put down on this sector. The infantry had +been provided with dummy figures, which they held aloft on poles, and +in the semi-darkness this gave the impression that they were preparing +to quit the trenches and go over the top, while high overhead hovered a +number of our aeroplanes waiting to assist. The plan worked admirably, +and in a few minutes the enemy’s counter preparation commenced. As the +result of our efforts his positions were pin-pointed and dealt with by +our 60-pdrs. the next day, after which we were not bothered by them to +such a great extent. + +Soon after this episode there came upon the scene what were commonly +known as “Cook’s Tourists.” These were officers whose units were still +at home, and who were sent out to gain experience by being attached to +batteries for a short period. At times the tourist laid himself open to +being the victim of many practical jokes, and this certainly +contributed to the liveliness of the mess. A certain officer was +escorted down to the front line trenches one day, and, as usual, the +party was armed with periscopes. All of a sudden he emitted a cry of +delight, as, gazing through the instrument, he told us of how crowds of +the enemy were walking along a road. Could we not get our guns on to +them quickly? This seemed an incredible occurrence, as, in this sector, +not a single German had been seen for days on end. The mystery was +speedily solved, however. By some means or other, he had been holding +the periscope so that it faced the opposite direction, and what he +actually saw was a party of our own men walking leisurely along the +road some way behind our lines. Needless to say, this officer came in +for a considerable amount of chaff, and, in course of time, was +solemnly presented with a paper medal, suitably inscribed, on which +reversed periscopes figured prominently. + +The festive season was now drawing near, which necessitated the +gathering of provisions, for the men were to celebrate the 25th of +December by having a special dinner, and presently leave was opened to +our unit and the first lucky ones departed for “Blighty.” Some sort of +gift was due the enemy on this occasion, and it took the shape of a +sharp five minutes’ bombardment, from every gun in the area, on the +stroke of midnight on Xmas Eve. In spite of this gruelling, the enemy +next morning showed signs of wishing to fraternise with our men in the +front line, but strict orders had been issued in advance that this was +not to be countenanced. The Germans showed themselves freely above the +parapet, and one could see that they had been dressed up smartly for +the occasion, probably in order to impress us with their appearance. +However, there was “nothing doing.” Little or no sniping took place, +but the artillery went through their usual routine, in fact rather +increased their fire that day. The men’s dinner was a great success, +and all seemed pleased with their fare—pork and potatoes, vegetables, +plum pudding and fruit, with plenty of beer or stout to wash it down. +The Officers’ Mess was lively also, and our first ’Xmas, under war +conditions, was voted most successful. Next day the Padre turned up, +and a service was held in one of the barns, but, in the middle of the +address, on “Peace on earth, goodwill towards men,” there was a sudden +call for “action.” A rush was made to the guns, and, after a few +minutes’ argument with the enemy, we returned and finished listening to +the discourse. Somehow or other one could not help feeling that the two +happenings were incongruous! + +We had a notion that perhaps the enemy would make an attempt to +retaliate on us at New Year for our little joke on ’Xmas Eve, and this +proved to be correct. He made rather a feeble demonstration, and it was +speedily squashed, as we were awaiting it. It was an extraordinary +thing, but we always found our foe very slow in the uptake: it +generally took him quite a week to think out some measure of +retaliation, and when it came, it consisted, as a rule, in copying what +we had done to him. We could usually count on that and consequently +guard against it. + +One day instructions came through calling for a report on a new charge, +for reducing the flashes when night firing, which was supposed to be in +our possession. Our worthy Senior Subaltern was at that time in +command, so he decided to have the trial the same evening and put in +his report at once. The remaining officers were to “stand by” at the +guns and first fire a salvo with the ordinary charge and then one with +the new one, while he stood some distance in front to wait the results. +All went well and the salvoes were duly fired, although, at the battery +end, there did not appear to be any difference between them, which fact +was unanimously agreed upon. However, that was not the opinion of the +Senior Subaltern, who waxed eloquent on the “soft, velvety colour” of +the new charge. This was all set down presently, in a lengthy dispatch +covering, at least, two columns of “foolscap,” and sent to the Brigade. +Nothing further was heard for several days, then a telephone message +came through which brought a smile to the face of everyone in the mess +except the officer concerned. It ran as follows:—“Reference my B214 of +the 9th inst. Report on flash reducing charges is herewith cancelled. +The production of same has not yet been issued to batteries in the +field A.A.A.” Both salvoes had been of the same nature! + +Our Right Section Commander had a mania for spy hunting, and it was +true that spies were known to infest the neighbourhood and had +sometimes actually been caught. On every available occasion this +officer would set out to scour the countryside in quest of a suspect. +One day this led to the waste of much energy on his part. Having +followed hard on the scent of a suspicious character, from one end of +our area to the other, the quarry suddenly doubled back along the La +Bassée road and disappeared into a house. Our friend entered also, and +found himself in a Brigade Headquarters, confronted by the “spy,” who +greeted him warmly, and asked him what service he could render him, at +the same time calling for tea. He had shadowed none other than the +chief Intelligence Officer of the Division the whole afternoon! There +was nothing for it but to own up and apologise as best he could, to the +vast amusement of the Staff Officer. After this incident, we were +spared further wild-goose chases by this enthusiast, and the keenness +hitherto shown by him for these quests somewhat abated. + +A good deal of excitement was caused, at this time, by the arrival of +some heavy artillery in our neighbourhood, so much talk had come to our +ears concerning them. The guns were duly placed in position, and on the +afternoon on which they were to open fire a large turn out of F.O.O.’s +collected in the O.P.’s to watch the enemy get a surprise. They did +considerable damage, but, at the same time, were largely responsible +for stirring up a veritable wasp’s nest of hostile heavies which had +been lying dormant for ages, and consequently our front again became +active. + +While our F.O.O. was proceeding one day from the O.P. to the front +line, he was caught in one of those bursts of hate and separated from +the telephonists who accompanied him. On the conclusion of the shoot, a +search was made for him, but he was nowhere to be found. They returned +to the Battery and reported the circumstance to the B.C., who, much +concerned, speedily organised a search-party, and set out for the scene +of action. After a couple of hours weary tramping, they came upon a +Company Headquarters in the front line, and there, comfortably +ensconced in an easy-chair, with a large whisky-and-soda by his side +and a cigarette in his mouth, sat the missing officer. Much indignation +was expressed and explanations followed, but, in future, it was only in +the last extremity that search parties were instituted! + +Thus the days sped by, until it came to the minds of those in authority +that the Division had vegetated quite long enough in this area, and, at +the beginning of February, we were pulled out and transferred to +another sphere of activity. + +Everyone regretted leaving this peaceful spot, and the period we spent +there was always looked back upon as the brightest and happiest time of +our sojourn in France. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. +In “The Salient.” + + +It soon became known that we were bound for Ypres. This town will, +without doubt, be the Mecca in France of the British soldier for all +time. This place, above all others, was always mentioned with a voice +of reverence and awe, and is hallowed by the presence of the gallant +dead who helped in its defence. It was truly the most ill-favoured +sector on the whole of the front held by our armies. + +Proceeding by way of Hazebrouck and Cassel, we entered the area +immediately behind the Salient and took up our quarters near the +village of Arneke, for we were not yet due for our spell of duty in the +line. At this time the weather was most unpropitious, and rendered +training in any shape or form out of the question. The ground was +covered with snow to the depth of several inches, and the roads were, +for the most part, frost-bound. A Divisional Artillery Horse Show was +organised, however, and great keenness was displayed by all the +batteries, who spent most of their time horse coping until the day of +the event, which was held at Zeggers Capelle. Our Right Section +Commander, with a team of fine little blacks, managed to secure the +second prize in the principal event. + +Several days afterwards we relieved the Division who were holding the +left centre of the Salient, and took up our position on the northern +extremity of Ypres itself, close to the Dead End of the Canal, a short +distance from “Salvation Corner.” Here a short description of the +position is imperative, in order to give some idea of the awkward +nature of this sector and of the conditions attaching thereto. The +distance between the jaws of the Salient was some five miles +across—from the banks of the Yser Canal at Boesinghe on the north to +the neighbourhood of St. Eloi on the south, while the ground held by us +extended about two and-a half miles east of Ypres in a semi-circle. +Nearly everywhere the enemy was established on rising ground and +overlooked our territory, and, with few exceptions, all that was +visible to us was his first line system. The enemy was thus enabled to +detect any movement behind our line, while we were more or less +“blind.” + +Owing to the confined space through which an entrance into the Salient +could be effected, great difficulty was experienced in the matter of +transport, as there was only one main artery, namely, the +Ypres-Poperinghe road. Every evening at dusk this thoroughfare was +crowded with all manner of vehicles, an endless stream, coming and +going throughout the night, and from Vlamertinghe onwards the road was +subjected to constant shelling, and was enfiladed from either side. +Piles of wreckage were always to be seen on the following morning, +which told the tale of the previous night’s work, and this long, +straight piece of road holds more sentiment for the British soldier +than any other. + +It was soon quite evident that the enemy was acquainted with our +location, and it was imperative to prepare an alternative position. A +site was chosen across the road, in the garden of a private villa, well +sheltered by shrubs and trees. As soon as the work was completed and a +communication trench constructed, covered with turf and plants, we +commenced moving the guns. This was done without interference from the +enemy until the last gun was in the act of being placed in position, +when, as luck would have it, a shrapnel shell burst in front of the +party, mortally wounding one layer and injuring another. Our B.C., +also, who was assisting, received a bullet through his arm, and was +forced to leave us. This was the second mishap we had suffered during +the course of the first few days, as the Right Section Commander had +already been lost to us. Having an insatiable thirst for knowledge, +this Officer had left the O.P. with his telephonist in order to explore +the front line, which, as everyone who knows the Salient will readily +own, was somewhat difficult to recognise in places, especially by a +newcomer. Suffering as he did from acute absent-mindedness, it was not +surprising that this zealous officer awakened suddenly from his +day-dreams to discover that something was wrong, and found himself +standing with his companion waist high in a shallow disused trench, +which, on further investigation, appeared uncommonly like “No Man’s +Land!” After a brief consultation, they decided to retrace their steps. +Alas! all too late: a hostile sniper, reserving his fire in the hope +that they would continue to walk into the enemy trenches, on seeing +them turn about, and thus being baulked of his prize and the prospect +of a fortnight’s leave in his own country, fired a bullet which passed +through the thighs of both men one after the other. A party of our +infantry, unable to attract their attention and put them right in time, +had witnessed this little drama, and proceeded, at great personal risk +and at the expense of at least one of their number being wounded, to +extricate the two unfortunates and convey them to the nearest dressing +station. It was not until a late hour that night that word came to us +at the Mess that the missing party had been passed through the prison +at Ypres, on their way to a C.C.S. Now, our Battery Commander, after +great trouble, had lately gained possession of an improved type of +periscope, which he had been persuaded to lend the F.O.O. on that day, +and, on receipt of this news, his first thought was for the safety of +his precious instrument. The fact that two valuable casualties had +resulted did not seem to weigh with him in the least compared with its +loss, and he was not to be consoled until it was ascertained that the +periscope was in safe keeping. Only then could he be persuaded to make +enquiries as to the nature of their wounds and express his sorrow at +their misfortune. + +The Infantry found the trenches in an appalling state, and forthwith +proceeded to repair them, but the enemy would not allow this to go on +long, and, after a few days’ work had been spent on them, a couple of +hours’ bombardment would suffice to demolish anything that had been +done. As it was a case of labour lost, all attempts at building on a +large scale were soon abandoned. + +Many interesting excursions were made in and around the town. There was +a certain amount of splendour about the ruined place. The high battered +remains of the Cloth Hall Tower stood up in proud defiance in the +centre of the stricken city, while the ancient ramparts surrounding it +gloried in their battle scars and showed a dauntless front to the +enemy. + +A good deal of annoyance was caused in getting about from place to +place through the uncongenial presence of a couple of hostile high +velocity guns which were commonly known as “Quick Dick” and “Silent +Sue,” his consort. They were so named on account of the rapidity with +which the shells arrived, and there was little or no warning of their +coming. Their chief object was to harass the neighbourhood, for they +appeared to have no definite target but just dropped a shell here and +there, trapping the unwary and doing considerable damage, as well as +effectively raising a certain amount of “wind”! + +As conditions suited the enemy admirably, many raids were made by him, +and, on one occasion, he launched four simultaneously, one on each +sector of the Salient, after a sharp and heavy bombardment. He attacked +us between Wieltje and Potijge, but was unsuccessful in his endeavour +to obtain an identification. The attempt was frustrated, and the only +result was that he left a number of prisoners in our hands. + +About the middle of May, the Division came out and returned to the area +behind Poperinghe. There was an unexpected treat in store for the +Brigade, for it was shortly sent down to the coast for a change of air. +A two days’ march brought the Battery to Cap Gris Nez, while the other +batteries were distributed along the small villages between Calais and +Boulogne. It was a real holiday for us, and a better part of the year +could not have been chosen. All that was expected of us was to exercise +the “hairies,” which we did by taking the guns a walk along the hard +sand in the early mornings. + +A large field was secured, and for several hours daily the horses were +put out to grass, and, if ever animals showed signs of joy, they +certainly did, and their antics were most amusing to witness. It was +expected that some difficulty would be experienced in catching them +again, but, after the first day, a trumpet call was all that was +required. On hearing the sound, they would throw up their heads, and +then slowly wander towards the entrance, where the drivers awaited and +secured them. + +The main feature of the day was, undoubtedly, the bathing parade, +enjoyed equally by man and beast. The horses knew at once what was in +store for them when they were led down to the beach. The men stripped, +and, mounting the eager horses, a wild dash was made for the water, and +quite a number of the animals proved themselves excellent swimmers, +many remaining a considerable time in deep water. On leaving the sea, +they would gallop along the sands, showing every sign of contentment, +and we were glad that, at last, they were receiving some reward for +their patient devotion and faithful service, for we were all fond of +our four-legged comrades. + +Amusements were instituted for the men—all manner of sports by day and +concerts in the evenings. The officers lived out of doors, attracted by +the cliffs, from which Dover was visible on most clear days, and +everyone voted this peaceful place the next best thing to home leave. + +It was, therefore, with much regret that, at the end of twelve days, we +retraced our steps to Arneke, where we were to remain for the latter +portion of the rest. + +We had no sooner arrived at this place than the enemy started making +himself unpleasant in the southern portion of the Salient, and, +attacking the Canadians from Hooge as far as St. Eloi, succeeded in +driving them back some distance before he was finally held up. It was +quite imperative to retake the ground lost, as he had captured +important points of observation overlooking the Salient. A counter +attack was set on foot, and we were suddenly called upon to help in the +preliminary bombardment and cover the assaulting troops, which included +a Brigade of Guards. Just before setting off, our B.C. rejoined us once +more, and at two hours’ notice we made a beeline for the scene of our +future activity. At dusk we entered the ruins of Ypres, and, without +delay, proceeded to dig ourselves “in,” behind a convent, not far from +the south side of the Cloth Hall. + +Owing to the number of extra batteries assembled for the operations, we +found ourselves without a billet until the genial Commander of a +Pioneer Battalion, affectionately known to the entire Dominion Forces +as “Big Jim,” and credited with innumerable deeds of “daring do,” took +pity upon us, and invited us to share his hearth and home. This offer +we gratefully accepted, and accommodation was also provided for the +detachment, and all were made most comfortable. + +The bombardment continued for three days, and it became clear, from the +enemy’s counter preparations, that he was not going to give up his +newly acquired gains without a struggle. A most stubborn resistance was +offered, and the infantry were forced to fight hard for every foot of +ground that was eventually recovered. The bombardment grew in intensity +as the zero hour approached. Shortly after midnight, the men went over, +and, by breakfast time, had gained all that was required of them, +except at one or two points, which were taken without much trouble +later. + +By the time affairs had settled down normally again, the Division was +due in the line, so the Battery pulled out for one night, before +transferring to our new zone, which was in the most northerly sector, +adjoining the one in which we had already been, and which had an even +worse reputation for unpleasantness. + +After crossing the Yser Canal, the ground gradually rises towards +Pilkem Ridge, and the enemy was ensconced thereon in a kind of +stronghold known as the High Command Redoubt. Our trenches lay beneath +them, which gave us the feeling of being in a cup encircled round the +brim by our foes. During this particular tour, the Battery was split up +for the purpose of forming two forward sections, and the greater part +of the firing was done by the left section, whose position was well +inside the Salient. Its chief object was to harass a certain portion of +a hostile trench which was taken in enfilade by it! In order to +accomplish this successfully, the guns were placed in an old disused +position in a field, near La Brique, on the backward slope of a hill, +and the low gun-pits were completely covered with tufts of growing +grass. The centre pits were occupied by the two pieces and the outside +ones were speedily converted into habitations for the men. + +When the trenches were not being subjected to hostile shelling, the +enemy devoted most of his time in endeavouring to destroy the numerous +O.P.’s dotted about here and there. These were constructed for the most +part of reinforced concrete, but the particular one used by us, called +“Frascatis,” had not yet been discovered, so we were free to carry out +shoots to our heart’s content. + +A favourite diversion was sniping with one of our pieces, which was a +particularly accurate one, and several points of observation and +snipers’ posts were carefully registered. Then we would lie in wait, +observe some movement, and let fly one round only. This method +exasperated and annoyed the enemy exceedingly. + +One of the enemy’s principal forms of amusement was to blow parts of +our front parapet away and train a machine gun on the space left +vacant, and snipe at any unsuspecting person who happened to pass +along. On many occasions we were able to bring assistance to the +harassed infantrymen, by spotting the offending snipers, and by, in +turn, sniping at them with our “How.” till we finally silenced them. + +At dusk the enemy invariably harassed all roads of communication, and +dropped innumerable shells of large calibre into the stricken city; and +we made a habit of sitting at the entrance to the little shack, used as +the officers’ mess, smoking our evening pipes, interested spectators, +while the shells screamed overhead, and alighted somewhere in the town, +sending up columns of brick dust. + +All the batteries in the line were now busy constructing new battery +positions, while fresh O.P.’s were also erected, and it was thought +that these preparations were preparatory to making an attack to enable +us to improve our position by the capture of Pilkem Ridge, but, +although the work was completed, nothing further developed. + +Soon there were whispers of an impending gigantic attack away down in +the south, and for several days before the opening of it our shelling +was considerably increased, while the infantry made a series of raids. +This was done throughout the whole length of the front, in order to +keep the enemy from guessing the exact point of eruption, and we had a +warm time in consequence. For a long time after the battle had +commenced, we continued making demonstrations, which undoubtedly helped +to prevent the removal of many reserves from the locality. + +But we were not content to remain here. There was a great scrap taking +place elsewhere, and were we going to be left completely out of it, to +eat our heads off, in Flanders? It seemed very unlikely that the +Division would not be called upon on such an occasion, and great was +the joy when one day orders came through that we were soon to proceed +to the scene of action. Within two days we pulled out to our old +resting place, where preparations were completed for our transference +to the battle area. + +Our first acquaintance with the dreaded Salient was at an end, and, +although the time spent there was always strenuous and difficult, we +were not what could be called uncomfortable, and our casualties happily +did not exceed expectations. + + + + +CHAPTER V. +On the Somme. + + +At the beginning of August, the Division detrained in the neighbourhood +of Doullens, and, proceeding in a southeasterly direction, the Brigade +established itself near the small village of Couin. In a few days’ time +we went “in,” and the Battery took up a position on the southern +outskirts of Hebuterne, overlooking the enemy stronghold at Serre. This +portion of the front was now in a normal state once more, as, on the +opening day of the great battle, the British assault from Hamel, +northward to Gommecourt, had met with no success, and the attack was +not further pressed. The enemy was content to remain quiet, and most of +the firing was carried out by us. A considerable number of hostile +“Minnies” made conditions somewhat unpleasant for the infantry in the +trenches, and during the night the battery position was subjected to +indirect machine-gun fire, which necessitated a certain amount of +caution in moving about. The O.P.’s were well placed, and afforded us +an excellent view, for we overlooked the enemy’s lines, and could see +some distance beyond them. We were now on the fringe of the battle, and +away half right, on clear days, we could see the struggle progressing, +as a considerable dent had already been made. The sight was a very +grand one, especially after dark. The Verey Lights and various S.O.S. +rockets, which were frequently sent up by our opponents, made a fine +spectacular display, far finer than any firework exhibition we had ever +witnessed in our own country in pre-war days. + +Gradually the Division was side-slipped to the south, and our next +position was close to the station of Mailly. We did not remain there +long, however, as the time had now arrived for us to put in an +appearance in the battle itself. We spent one night close to Amiens, +and availed ourselves of the opportunity to hold a dinner there, which +was attended by all the original officers in the Brigade—a last night +of fun and merriment before the long, stiff fight ahead of us, for who +knew how many would survive the ordeal. The next day brought us to +Vaux, on the River Somme, and, in the first week in September, we found +ourselves immersed in the battle. We took up our first position in the +lately captured second line German system, facing Montauban and +covering Guillemont, which had just been taken by an Irish Division. + +Very stiff lighting was in progress on this sector, as we were now +nearing the summit of the Ridge, the possession of which would be +invaluable, as the enemy’s territory would be laid bare to us, and he +would lose his observation over us. It was not surprising, therefore, +that he fought with the courage of despair and initiated counter-attack +upon counter-attack, all of which we had to meet with great +determination. The weather was extremely hot, which added much to the +discomfort: and, as progress had been very slow for some time, it was +impossible to clear up the battlefield, and the stench was almost +insupportable. At length the village of Guinchy was captured, and, with +our men installed on the further side of the slope, the fighting for +position came to an end. We were now entering on the third stage of the +great battle, which had commenced more than two months previously. An +attack, on a large scale, was planned, the object being to drive the +enemy down the slope of the hill into the low-lying country beyond. +Field batteries were moved up into forward positions, in order to +assist the infantry, by placing a creeping barrage—a new and most +successful invention, afterwards employed on all occasions—in front of +the advancing waves of men: and the “heavies,” of which, for the first +time, we possessed a preponderance, pounded the enemy communications +far behind his lines. + +The assault was delivered over a wide area, early in the morning of the +15th of September, but in no way did it come up to expectations—in +fact, it might almost be counted a reverse. Some divisions did well, +and took their objectives, but others were completely held up, at +certain strong points, which necessitated the withdrawal of the +remainder, in order to keep the line uniform. The Guards met with +instant success, and took their final objectives, only to discover that +the Division on each side of them had made little progress and could +get no further. They were reluctantly forced to return, and it was +while doing so that heavy casualties were inflicted on them, as they +were raked with fire from the sides as well as in front. During the +withdrawal, a party of machine-gunners occupied a trench, and attempted +to screen the retirement of the main body of troops, by holding the +enemy at bay. In order to use this machine-gun to the best advantage, +the piece was placed on top of the parapet, exposed to the full view of +the oncoming hordes, but our men never wavered in serving it, and, as +soon as one gunner dropped at his post, another instantly took the +vacant place, although it meant certain death within a few moments. + +Next day they were pulled out to refit, and, as they marched back to +rest, a very touching sight was witnessed. A certain battalion, a mere +remnant, swung along, headed by its band. All the officers had become +casualties, and the Battalion Sergeant-Major was in command, but as +many of the dead officers as could be recovered were brought back on +stretchers and placed each in his proper position. Headed by the body +of their late Commander, the column proceeded on its way, the men +marching at attention, and, although covered with mud and +blood-stained, they might have been proceeding down the Mall. Such is +the discipline of the Guards, and every tribute of respect was paid +them by the troops through whom they passed. + +The next battle was timed for the 25th inst., and our infantry came +back to the line a couple of days before that date. There was much +suppressed excitement and curiosity, for the mysterious Tanks were to +participate on this occasion for the first time, and it was thought +that the secret had been so well kept that they would come as a +complete surprise to the enemy. This proved to be the case, and the +attack was a great success. What was known as the Flers line was +everywhere penetrated, and all gains were held. The Tanks did splendid +work. They advanced well ahead of the infantry, and battered down +barbed wire, overran trenches, smashed machine-gun emplacements, +killing the gun crews, and even waddled as far as the village of +Gueudecourt. There they effected much execution and caused great panic +among the enemy reserves, which were concentrating for the inevitable +counter attack. + +Thus the battle continued, sometimes breaking out into fierce fights +and at other times reduced to isolated scraps, but all the time the +enemy was being gradually and relentlessly pushed down into the valley, +and the villages of Morval, Les Boeufs, and Gueudecourt fell into our +hands. + +It was almost uncanny the way in which villages would completely +disappear. For instance, at the time when these hamlets first came +within our vision, on our reaching the crest of the hill, they appeared +almost intact, but a few days rendered them unrecognisable—they had +become merely so many heaps of rubble. There are many places on the +Somme which have literally not one brick standing on top of another, +and one would never imagine for a moment that a prosperous little +village had ever existed there. + +Many changes of battery positions were made, and, whenever possible, we +burrowed down into the ground, as the enemy’s heavy pieces were out +after our blood. The great concentration of guns and the few suitable +localities for placing them in action added to our difficulties, and we +were thus rendered an easy target for the hostile counter batteries. +Innumerable brigades were huddled close together, in what was known as +the Death Valley, for the simple reason that there was no other +suitable spot wherein to place them, and heavy casualties resulted. We +had the good fortune, however, to be somewhat isolated from the others, +and occupied a forward position, where the guns were hidden in an old +German communication trench. The enemy never found it, but subjected +us, now and again, to a general burst of harassing fire: his main +volume of hate passed us by far overhead. + +And, meanwhile, what of our friend the F.O.O.? In those days his lot +was by no means an enviable one, and it was a task of no mean magnitude +to keep communications going between the trenches and the guns. +However, it had to be done, or at least attempted, and the following is +a brief account of a typical day in the life of a gunner subaltern. + +Orders would be given that a certain hostile trench was to be subjected +to a severe, annihilating bombardment, and this necessitated the laying +out of a wire to a part of our front line, from which the shoot could +be registered, as the target could not be observed from any other +locality than the trench immediately opposite it. The F.O.O. rises +early in the morning, and sets out with his little squad of +telephonists and linesmen. He requires to post a signalman and linesman +at frequent intervals, called Relay Stations, in order to preserve +communication, as the wire is being continually broken by hostile +gun-fire. Progress, in a case like this, is necessarily slow, and he +has to pick his way among the shell-holes, seeking as much protection, +for the line, as circumstances will permit. The signallers follow in +his footsteps, staggering along under the weight of a large reel of +wire. All goes well until they reach the summit of a ridge, when, +suddenly, a barrage from a “whizz bang” battery is placed right down on +top of the party. There is nothing for it but to remain crouched in a +friendly shell-hole, which affords a little protection, until the storm +blows over or to risk the chances of being hit in the open. The journey +is then resumed, and much relief is felt when at last the ground over a +nasty dip is traversed without mishap, as this is known to be a +favourite target for hostile gunners. A muddy, unkempt +communication-trench is now entered, and the party proceed, up a slope, +towards the support system, and eventually arrive at their +destination—a post in the front line overlooking its objective. +Difficulty is experienced in preserving the wire from the unguarded +feet of infantrymen, who look askance at the party as it passes, +cursing the idiosyncrasies of each fire bay. The instrument is +connected with the end of the wire, and all hold their breath in order +to hear the answering buzz which tells them that they are through to +the battery. Several futile buzzes may be made by the telephonist, and +then, no response being forthcoming, a linesman is sent down the wire +towards the first relay station. A break in the wire is discovered and +speedily mended, the next attempt is successful, and the battery is +called to action. + +During registration the wire often breaks, and serious delays occur, +but, at length, the last gun is duly pronounced O.K. by the officer. +Just in the nick of time, too! for the enemy commences a sharp +retaliation on the portion of the trench occupied by the little party. +Refuge is sought in an old enemy shaft close by, and there it awaits +the time for the “show” to commence. Several other batteries also take +part in the shoot, and it is quite impossible to pick out the shells +which belong to each one as they fall. Complete success crowns the +effort, but on the particular day here described the F.O.O. and party +failed to see the end of the bout, as they were subjected to very heavy +fire, and were all blown down the mouth of the shaft by the explosion +of a shell. Luckily, though badly shaken, all escaped without injury. + +Meanwhile the wire has been broken in many places and is beyond repair, +but it has already served its purpose, and, when fire has died down, +the party starts on the return journey. On arriving at the first relay +station, the telephonist on duty is found dead at his post, the +receiver still clutched in his hand and held to his ear. A nasty gash +in the forehead reveals the place where he has been hit and instantly +killed. His companion is nowhere to be found, although bloodstains +denote that he has at least been wounded, and, on investigation, it is +ascertained that the linesman has been hit, picked up by passing +comrades, and taken to an aid-post. The journey is resumed, the party +carrying the dead with them, and presently another hostile barrage is +encountered. Again the men lie low until it ceases, and then pick up +the remaining linesmen, and return to the battery utterly exhausted. +Many questions are asked, and it frequently happens that the F.O.O. is +cursed by his Battery Commander for not keeping the wire going, and +even the Brigade joins in the chorus. The young officer pays little +heed, and inwardly reflects that they should be extremely thankful that +communication was established at all, and that those of the party who +returned did so in safety. So, in spite of everything, he consumes a +hearty dinner and retires to bed, sleeping the sleep of the just, and +soon becomes oblivious of all his little worries and sombre +surroundings. + +Towards the middle of October the weather broke, and conditions became +intolerable. The roads, which had been partially repaired, were still +soft and broken, and developed into quagmires—mud and water to a depth +of two and three feet made vehicular traffic almost out of the +question. All ammunition had to be transported to the guns by means of +horses carrying pack saddles, a slow and tedious method, which took a +lot out of men and beasts alike. As yet no decca-ville railways had +been constructed as far as battery positions. Very heavy work thus fell +on those at the wagon lines, who were kept busy most of the day and +night. Although the distance to the gun position was under five miles +there and back, the journey rarely took less than ten hours to +accomplish. If a horse fell down in this sticky mud, heavily laden as +it was, attempts at rescue proved unavailing, except on rare occasions, +even with the aid of drag-ropes, and the unfortunate animal had to be +“dispatched.” Was it a sense of humour that prompted those in authority +to send the subalterns, in turn, to the wagon lines for a “rest”? +Anyhow, it was considered anything but that by the poor unfortunates +who went, and right glad they were when the time came round for their +next period of duty with the guns! + +As the weather rapidly became worse, operations came to a standstill, +and all proceeded to dig themselves in for the coming winter. Every +endeavour was made to make our quarters water-proof, as well as +shell-proof, and some attempts at mining were commenced, but the +condition of the ground was all against such an undertaking, and the +work was abandoned. Then whispers spread abroad that we were to be +relieved for a short rest, and, after ten weeks of incessant fighting, +we were withdrawn from the line and marched to a little village named +Hangest, a few miles west of Amiens. There we were glad to find +ourselves installed in billets with a roof covering us once more. A +week of leisure helped greatly to restore our spirits, and again we set +out for the line. Our destination this time was Combles, and we took +over a battery position from the French, who politely made us +acquainted with our new surroundings. Our allies, who had been fighting +side-by-side with us on our right flank throughout the great battle, +were then withdrawn, and the British front was extended to the south as +far as the banks of the River Somme. Evidence was speedily forthcoming +to convince us of the severe nature of the recent fight. The ground was +strewn with wreckage and material of all descriptions, and many hostile +guns were found abandoned or lying where they had been put out of +action by the irresistible dash of the Poilus. + +The country, in this part, was undulating, and better suited to the +concealment of battery positions, and nowhere was the enemy able to +overlook our territory. Our area included the defence of the joint +villages of Sailly-Saillisel, situated on commanding ground, which the +French had recently bravely stormed. Combles, too, which lay in a basin +shaped hollow, was interesting as having been the centre of supplies +for the southern portion of the German Army operating in the battle, +and much booty was discovered in the huge catacombs which ran +underneath the town. + +’Xmas passed in much the same way as in the previous year. A smart +bombardment was carried out in the morning in order to advise the enemy +that anything in the way of fraternising would not be countenanced by +us. At mid-day the men partook of their ’Xmas fare, which had been +fetched from Amiens, and a short service was conducted by the Padre in +one of the gun-pits. A slight disturbance took place at dusk, when the +S.O.S. went up from the front line and all batteries immediately opened +out. It seemed a rather extraordinary occurrence, as the evening was +unusually quiet, and, presently, it was discovered to have arisen +through an error, due to the fact that the enemy had put up a coloured +light in between two ordinary Verey lights which constituted our own +S.O.S. + +About this time the enemy caused considerable annoyance to a certain +Battalion Headquarters, situated in a quarry close behind the lines, by +occasionally dropping a shell right into it, the position having +probably been discovered by his aircraft. Retaliation tactics were +adopted, which consisted of subjecting the hostile trenches to a sharp +half-hour’s bombardment from eight batteries, firing a total of 2,000 +rounds. The enemy was well known to be very thick-skinned, but these +measures met with instant success, and it was only necessary to remind +him once again that we were not to be trifled with in this way. + +After the New Year, a severe spell of frost set in, with an occasional +heavy fall of snow, and we were somewhat annoyed when orders came +through to sideslip our position further south, as we had made our +quarters fairly comfortable by this time, and expected to remain +undisturbed throughout the winter. The new position was situated behind +the ruined village of Rancourt, facing St. Pierre Vaast wood, and was +one of the worst and most disagreeable localities it was ever our lot +to occupy, as we were, more or less, water-logged the whole of our time +there. Much difficulty was experienced by both friend and foe in +entering their respective front line, so much so that, by common +consent, sniping by rifle fire was discontinued until parapets were +constructed and made fit for occupation. However, sniping was still +indulged in by the artillery, and no parties of any size were permitted +to go about freely near the front line under observation. Affairs +continued thus until the middle of February, when it became apparent +that something unusual was taking place in enemy territory, and great +explosions were heard, after which volumes of smoke were seen to rise +in large columns. These, as was afterwards proved, were due to +preparations being made by the enemy to evacuate the low-lying country, +into which they had reluctantly been forced, as the result of the +battle of the Somme, prior to falling back upon the great prepared +defences known as the Hindenburg Line. + +Instantly every one was on the alert for further signs of evacuation, +and one morning a patrol reported that the enemy had vacated their +front line. Further patrols were at once pushed out, through St. Pierre +Vaast wood, in order to maintain contact with the retreating foe. Every +precaution had to be taken, as it was soon discovered that many forms +of booby-traps had been cunningly laid by him in his wake, and progress +was necessarily slow. Added to this, there was great difficulty in +manœuvring the guns over the innumerable trenches which existed in the +neighbourhood, and the pieces sank up to their axles in the clogging +mud, and were only extricated after hours of labour. The enemy retired +slowly and most methodically, destroying everything of value and +wantonly reducing the small villages and hamlets to mere shells, by +means of incendiary bombs. The inhabitants also were removed +beforehand, and, when the troops advanced, they might have been +traversing a wilderness, so complete was the ruin and desolation on all +sides. + +The time had now arrived for the Brigade to have a much-needed rest and +also to refit, so, at the end of March, we were withdrawn from the +contest. Marching westward, we arrived at the village of Morlancourt in +the first week of April, well content at the prospect of returning to +civilization for a protracted period. + +Division from Brigade R.F.A. Guards Division.” “Division from Brigade +R.F.A. Guards Division.” + + + + +CHAPTER VI. +Messines. + + +It was not long before those in authority discovered that the +neighbourhood of Morlancourt was peculiarly favourable for the carrying +out of manœuvres, with the result that a period of “intensive training” +set in. Drill orders took place four days a week, and batteries were +specially trained in the methods of open warfare, while many hours were +devoted to tactical schemes. + +At this time units were reorganised, all batteries were increased to +six guns, and there was plenty of work to keep everyone busy. The +narrator of these rambling notes, after a period of two years’ service +with the Brigade, here transferred his allegiance to the sister +howitzer battery of the Division, known as “The Grey Battery,” from the +fact that all the horses were of that colour. Sentiment ran strong for +his “old love” and those he was obliged to leave, but he was already +well acquainted with both officers and men of his new unit, and soon +settled down happily amongst them. + +All guns were carefully calibrated on a range due west of Peronne, and +the “hairies” picked up rapidly in condition, owing to the good care +and attention that was bestowed upon them. The big battles of Vimy +Ridge and Arras were now in full swing, and it seemed unlikely that we +would be called upon to take any part in them so late in the day. + +Many forms of amusement were created for the men, and football matches, +both “rugger” and “soccer,” were freely indulged in between batteries +and brigades, while the full regimental band of one of the Guards’ +regiments was kindly lent to the Divisional Artillery. It gave many a +fine entertainment in the evenings. + +Time thus sped by at an amazing rate, and various visits of inspection +paid us by officers from the C.R.A. up to the Army Commander made it +very apparent that we were undoubtedly being “fattened up”—but for +what? The question was more than we could answer, but speculations were +rife as to our possible destination, for we knew that the Somme would +see us no more—in the meantime, at all events. + +Six weeks had come and gone, and yet we remained inactive in this +peaceful village; then sudden orders were issued for us to be ready to +entrain at short notice, and, in the second week of May, the Battery +glided out of the station at Meulte prepared for anything. A long and +circuitous route was taken _via_ Amiens, Abbeville, Etaples, Boulogne, +Calais, St. Omer, and at length we arrived at Arques, near which we +remained, in billets, for some considerable time. It was while we were +there that we learnt that it was the intention of the British Commander +to gain possession of the great Messines Ridge, which towered over our +lines, and was a stronghold of inestimable value to the enemy. + +As long as he held this ridge, which was the keystone of his armies in +Flanders, he was immune from any vulnerable attack on our part, and was +free to launch any offensive operation from it by using it as a +stepping-off place. Added to this, the northern end of the heights +afforded him an uninterrupted view of the southern portion of the Ypres +salient, which was a source of great annoyance to our forces on that +part of the front. It was vital, therefore, for the future operations +of the British Armies, that this important ridge should be captured and +kept in our hands. + +Preparations were accordingly set on foot, and artillery of all calibre +was silently concentrated from all parts, and proceeded to dig itself +in for the coming fray. For a long time this sector had been free from +any serious operations, and was considered a kind of resting place for +exhausted troops, but soon the peace and quiet of the neighbourhood was +to receive a rude awakening, when the tide of battle broke out upon it +once more. + +Proceeding through Hazebrouck and Bailleul, the Brigade arrived at its +wagon lines, a short distance west of Neuve Eglise, and immediately +each battery sent work parties to the scene of action, in order to +construct emplacements and make its position habitable. The spot +allotted to our battery was in a little hollow close to the cut roads, +near the small ruined village of Wulverghen. Our front line was placed +on the top of an undulating rise, with the ridge itself beyond. + +Our principal business was to avoid attracting the attention of the +enemy to our preparations, and in this we were aided by the fact that +there was a considerable amount of cover beside us, in the form of +trees and undergrowth, the foliage of which was now in full leaf. + +Row upon row of batteries were placed in position behind hedges, or +artificially concealed, the barrels of the pieces peeping out from all +imaginable lurking places. The Divisional Artillery was situated in the +most advanced position, the 18 pr. batteries ranging from within 600 to +1,000 yards of the front line, with the howitzer batteries immediately +behind them. On account of our proximity to the enemy, the two brigades +had orders to remain silent until the day of the show, and we were only +allowed to fire enough rounds to enable us to carefully register the +pieces, and this was completed without giving away any of the +positions. + +All ammunition was conveyed to the guns by night, and was distributed +in small quantities near to them. Before long the enemy became alive to +the fact that we were contemplating some move, and consequently +increased his devastating fire by night, with the result that many +dumps in the vicinity were exploded by him. He was bound to hit +something, the countryside was so packed with all manner of ammunition. +He had no idea, however, of the magnitude of our coming effort, and +firmly believed his position to be impregnable, and that it was beyond +our power to free ourselves from his grip. + +He contented himself with drenching our little valley with chemical +shell whenever conditions were favourable, but so accustomed were the +men to their gas masks that no serious consequences resulted, although +it was distinctly unpleasant to have to pass each night enveloped in +these stuffy contrivances, especially as the weather remained hot and +oppressive. + +The Battery had more than their average share of good fortune +throughout these operations, and it is worthy of putting on record that +the unit did not sustain a single casualty to either man or horse. This +was all the more remarkable as the engineers had constructed a wide +plank road, which passed through the centre of our position, and could +not be concealed from our foes, who lavishly besprinkled it with +shrapnel after dark. Many casualties were caused to the transport, and +the Officers’ Mess virtually became an aid-post, where every assistance +was rendered the wounded men. + +Our sister howitzer battery was lined up alongside of us, and, when the +two positions were first inspected, much chaff ensued as to which had +the better place, and the men of our battery were certainly all of the +opinion that, had the selection devolved upon them, we would +unanimously have plumped for the other one. They had no landmarks +likely to attract hostile fire, and thus occasion them the unpleasant +sensation of living on top of a volcano, while we were slap-bang in the +middle of a conspicuous cross road, with a constant stream of traffic +coming and going through: yet, so strange and fickle are the fortunes +of war that, while we escaped unharmed, our comrades next door suffered +a heavy gruelling. + +The preliminary bombardment commenced, and continued throughout five +days, but, in order to deceive the enemy as to our weight of artillery, +not more than fifty per cent. of the guns in the line were allowed to +take part at one time. A row of O.P.’s had been constructed on Hill 65, +which overlooked the valley and town of Messines. A fine sight was +witnessed as that stronghold was gradually reduced to a mere shell by +our heavies, which effected extraordinarily good work in smashing the +elaborate structures of the enemy’s defence. + +The preparations were all that could be desired, and everything was +carefully worked out to the minutest detail: not a stone was left +unturned to render the operations a complete success. The labour and +expense was well rewarded too, for surely no battle ever ran so +smoothly from first to last, and it will always be looked back upon by +the British soldier as a model of triumphant organisation. The battle +only lasted a single day, but in that time the formidable network of +trenches was neatly and clearly shorn off, and the enemy, who relied so +much on the security of these positions, found himself suddenly pushed +down the slope into unsuitable ground, where he could no longer be a +menace to us. + +The “feet” of our Division were not in the line, being held in reserve, +and, as it turned out, they were not called upon at all at this +juncture, so well did the course of the battle progress. We were +covering the infantry of an English Division, and, on the evening +previous to the attack, the troops passed us noiselessly and in perfect +order on their way to their various points of assembly. All were in +excellent spirits, which augured well for the next day, and a feeling +of calm confidence appeared to prevail amongst them. A stream of gas +and tear shells was maintained by the foe throughout the night, but it +was mostly directed on the zone which contained the battery positions, +consequently the infantry was caused little inconvenience. + +Early the following morning, shortly before dawn, the attack was +heralded by the explosion of the mines, which had been in course of +preparation for months beforehand. This was the sign for the guns to +open out, and the assault was launched from north of St. Eloi in the +Salient to the neighbourhood of Ploegsterte in the south, the men +following close in the wake of the now familiar and popular creeping +barrage. + +The force of the explosions was terrific, and the vibration was felt +far and wide; even strong concrete “pill-boxes” were swung to and fro, +and the occupants were tossed from side to side as if they were on +board ship in a rough sea. Some indication of the colossal nature of +these upheavals may be gauged from the fact that the craters were, in +some cases, more than 200 ft. in diameter, and that the earth thrown up +obliterated every hostile trench in the vicinity, completely burying +the unfortunate garrisons who manned them. + +At the same moment the sky was lit up by all manner of S.O.S. lights +and the innumerable flashes from our guns, which were now showing their +maximum strength for the first time. They belched forth concentrated +death, the roar reached such a deafening crescendo that conversation +was entirely out of the question—indeed it was impossible to hear one’s +own voice. However, the scene was truly impressive, and the grandeur +was beyond anything hitherto seen. + +As daylight crept in, the infantry were observed to be making rapid +progress, although, here and there, stiff opposition was encountered. +Soon the summit of the ridge was gained, and the men swept on and +disappeared over the crest, leaving the mopping-up parties to complete +their work. The Tanks bravely waddled up after them, in a vain effort +to keep up, for the attacking infantry went so fast, in the first +stages, that they easily outstripped those ponderous giants and left +them far behind. + +Meanwhile the field batteries which had been in position farthest in +the rear, and so were already out of range, limbered up and dashed into +action in front of our Brigade. As soon as the next row was also out of +action, they too galloped past and took up their place again in “No +Man’s Land,” while the Engineers worked at their highest pressure to +pull down trenches and prepare the way for the gunners. Thus we were +able to give the fullest possible support to the infantry, and the fire +never ceased, while the men always found the creeping barrage laid down +in front of them. + +Early on in the fray prisoners came dribbling back in a more or less +dazed condition, and, as they passed the array of guns, they paused and +gazed in evident wonder at the huge concentration—probably realising +how fortunate they were in escaping the fate of so many of their +comrades. + +Now, the enemy, although he knew an attack was imminent, had failed to +anticipate the correct zero day, with the result that, on several +portions of this front, various reliefs were in process of taking place +at the actual time of the assault. The consequence was his defence was +thrown into a state of confusion, while the extra numbers in the trench +offered a double prey for the bayonets of our men, who were not slow in +seizing the chances thus afforded them. + +The whole of the first objectives were quickly in our possession, as +well as the villages of Messines and Wytscheate, and there was a slight +pause to give a breathing space to the infantry, and to allow time for +the field guns to take up their allotted positions beyond the recently +captured enemy trenches, before entering upon the second and final +stage of the battle. When the creeping barrage, which had remained +stationary during this period, went forward once more, the infantry +encountered stronger opposition, but by this time the Tanks were well +up in support, and were instrumental in breaking up the machine-gun +nests and thus enabling the men to proceed up to schedule time. + +The enemy lost a number of field artillery pieces, but had taken the +precaution to withdraw most of the heavy ones several days before, when +our bombardment commenced. His shooting, therefore, was rather wild and +erratic, as he evidently had not had sufficient time to register his +guns properly in the new positions. The result was that, fortunately +for us, most of his energy was misplaced, and, for a battle of this +magnitude, the casualties were not as heavy as might have been +expected. + +By early afternoon the final objectives were everywhere in our hands, +and the work of consolidating the fruitful gains that the last few +hours had yielded was immediately begun. + +Several counter-attacks were attempted by the enemy, but were not +pushed with much vigour, and no success was secured in that direction: +our infantry remained firm and could not be dislodged. + +Trenches were swiftly constructed, the work proceeding without +intermission, and by evening the men were, more or less, securely “dug +in,” except in a few places where the line was slightly irregular, and +which was afterwards rectified by means of a small operation. + +By the time the battle had finished we found ourselves the farthest +back Brigade in the line, the immense number of batteries which, at the +beginning, had been in our rear were now well in front of us, and on +this sector the Divisional Artillery were the only two Brigades who did +not move forward during the course of the fight. Moreover, by this time +we were firing almost at extreme range close to the enemy’s new front +line, which gives some idea of the distance our men covered. + +The day had been an exhausting one for the gunners, and, in order to +give some indication of the work and labour they had been called upon +to do, our battery alone fired over 4000 rounds of ammunition. This was +by no means a bad performance when one takes into consideration that +each shell weighs 35 lbs., and necessitated a goodly amount of +manhandling, but the men all had their “peckers well up,” and displayed +much determination throughout. + +For a few days following the battle there were a number of small +isolated scraps for positions, and one or two enemy counter-attacks, +before the new front settled down into something like normal conditions +again. Decca-ville and light railways were pushed up smartly by the +R.O.D., and the Engineers constructed new roads, while Labour +Battalions were busily employed repairing the old ones and clearing up +the litter of the battlefield. + +Ever since we came into action it had been no secret that our stay in +this area would be of short duration, and that we were only to be +employed in the battle itself, and were only to remain as long as our +services were really required. It was no surprise when, five days +later, orders came through for us to withdraw from the line. We pulled +out back to our wagon line, and from there proceeded through Bailleul +to the little hamlet of Borre, a few miles east of Hazebrouck, where we +remained pending removal to our next destination. We all had the +feeling that our recent tour had been a great success, and were well +satisfied with the part we had taken in the operations, for this was +the first occasion on which we had witnessed a battle go smoothly, +without a hitch from start to finish, and was a great contrast to any +previous one in which we had participated. + +A few days in rest sufficed to put the Brigade shipshape once more, and +we were now ready for the next bout. No delay was made in transferring +us to another neighbourhood, and we set out in a northerly direction, +which boded little good, for we knew that unpleasant events were +developing in that quarter. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. +Ypres Again. + + +In the middle of June the Division arrived in the neighbourhood of +Ypres, and at once took over from the Belgians from just below +Boesinghe northwards. We were thus back on familiar ground, as we had +occupied the next sector to the south in the previous year. Although we +were not actually in the Salient itself, we were situated at the +northern re-entrant to it. The Yser Canal constituted “No Man’s Land,” +the eastern bank of which was held by the enemy and the western by +ourselves. + +The battery positions on this occasion were placed a considerable +distance behind, mainly around the village of Elverdinghe, as the enemy +had close observation and overlooked us from Pilkem Ridge. We did not +take long to discover that our opponents were well acquainted with the +situation of our new homes, for the majority of the batteries were +subjected at once to an avalanche of shells as soon as they opened fire +in order to register the guns. It became imperative for us to build +alternative positions or go elsewhere, while other sections moved +forward and undertook most of the firing. We had not been settled more +than a few days when the enemy suddenly conceived a violent attraction +for the house occupied by the officers’ mess, and, after several direct +hits had been made on it, we decided that the place was becoming too +hot, and searched round for a more suitable abode. We packed up, made a +hasty flight, and secured accommodation in a house which was +strengthened by concrete, but even there we had to be wary, especially +at night, for we were very close to a road fork, beloved by the enemy +gunners. + +The majority of the O.P.’s were also obvious to the keen eyes of the +foe, who paid them much attention on every possible occasion, and it +was just as well for the occupants that they had been strongly +constructed with steel girders and concrete. On one occasion an +officer, doing a night O.P. duty, along with his telephonist, was +subjected to a full hour’s bombardment by two hostile batteries, which +fired salvoes regularly every minute. Next morning there was nothing +left of the house except the skeleton, with the O.P. structure standing +out defiant in bold relief in the midst of it. + +These then were the conditions on this sector at the time of our taking +it over, and it will be seen that the enemy did more or less what he +chose, and was undoubtedly top dog as far as gunnery was concerned. +However, this was not to remain long so, as almost immediately +preparations were set on foot for the coming offensive, which had +already been decided upon. + +A host of new O.P.’s were erected, new roads and light railways +constructed, while large working parties prepared fresh gun pits in +advanced positions, and all were carefully camouflaged where they were +exposed to enemy view. Every day new units arrived, and the country +appeared to be overrun with troops. Most of the forward work had to be +done during the night, and, as each position was completed, the guns +were silently concentrated. While this was in progress, the Divisional +Artillery only were maintained for the defence of the line, as it was +not advisable that the enemy should know until the last possible moment +that anything unusual was afoot. The scheme was a much more ambitious +one than that in which we had recently taken a part, and, if everything +went forward according to plan, it meant that we would be on the go for +a considerable time, and there even appeared to be a chance of getting +a taste of the long-talked-of open warfare. + +About this time a most amusing episode was witnessed by one of our +Subalterns who was doing a liaison with the infantry at a battalion +headquarters. This place was situated most unpleasantly, and was well +known to the enemy, consequently accommodation had to be sought +underground as much as possible. While the F.O.O. and his companion, +the Intelligence Officer, were performing their ablutions early one +morning outside the mouth of the cellar, a Brigadier with his Staff +suddenly appeared on the scene to pay a visit to the Commander. The two +Staff Officers remained outside, and opened conversation with them. The +Intelligence Officer, being something of a wag, brandished his shaving +brush in one hand and with the other jocularly shoved the Staff Captain +down the steps into their retreat, and asked him what he thought of the +bedchamber. The other officer, although much amused, stood aghast, and, +after the visitors had departed, he asked his companion to whom he had +been speaking. He replied that he did not know, for, although the +Captain’s features appeared familiar, he could not “place” him, though +he was a jolly sort of chap anyhow. On being told that it was none +other than the Prince of Wales that he had been familiarly digging in +the ribs for the past quarter of an hour, he was incredulous, and +exclaimed, “And to think I nearly killed the youngster down these +stairs!” + +At length preparations were completed, and the two Brigades of the +Divisional Artillery took up new advanced positions alongside the +reinforcing batteries already in line, while the heavies were thickly +aligned close in the rear. The preliminary bombardment broke out about +the middle of July, and at first it was keenly resented by the enemy, +who perceived that we were gradually wrestling the initiative from him, +but when, day after day, our fire continued unabated, he apparently +resigned himself to his fate. Hurricane shoots by field batteries soon +began to make a difference in the appearance of his trenches, and the +heavies, by means of aerial registration, demolished his strongholds +far back over the crest, and destroyed many of his battery positions. +Several thick woods were facing us across the canal, and these grew +thinner, and yet more thin, disclosing cunningly concealed pill-boxes, +which were then dealt with by the heavies, until at last only a few +stumps remained to indicate that a wood had ever existed there. The +enemy’s alarm grew daily, and soon our aeroplanes reported that the +hostile batteries were being withdrawn further out of danger, and that +work was proceeding feverishly upon new defences far behind his lines. +By this time we had complete control of the air, and the heavens were +alive with our aircraft, though the enemy tried his best to equalise +matters by bringing along his famous “travelling circus” to the scene +of action, and many thrilling fights were witnessed. The batteries were +subjected to much chemical shelling during the night, and the enemy +were known to bring forward special guns under cover of darkness for +this purpose, and to withdraw them out of range again before daybreak. + +It was during this period that he introduced the new mustard gas for +the first time, and it must be admitted that he surprised and inflicted +considerable casualties on us at first by this latest specimen in his +assortment of poison. + +Our initial attack had to be postponed for several days, as the French, +who came in immediately on our left, were delayed in putting in their +appearance, consequently they had many hours’ bombardment to make up, +but, when it did commence, it was no uncertain one, and the noise was +terrific. In the meantime our bombardment was continued also, though in +a lesser degree, and the destruction of the enemy’s lines was, as far +as we were able to judge, thorough and complete. + +This delay proved a blessing in disguise to the Guards, who were to +deliver the assault on our sector. The problem of effecting a crossing +of the canal was a most serious and difficult one, and it had been +arranged to send the men over on floating mats, as a good deal of water +still remained in parts of the bed. In others so much mud and slime +were encountered, while carrying out a series of raids, that it was +almost impossible to cross without some such assistance, and it will be +readily understood that it was imperative to waste no time in this +manoeuvre, especially as the foe was awaiting them on the further bank. +Whether it was that the enemy could not maintain communications between +his front line and the rear, on account of our intense bombardment, or +whether, as has been suggested, he suspected a repetition of Messines, +and that we had mined underneath the canal bed, at all events three +days before the attack he evacuated the canal bank and retired just +over the crest of the hill some 800 yards beyond. This movement, +however, had not been carried out unperceived by our valiant airmen, +who, flying at a low altitude, returned and reported the situation. +Immediately strong patrols crossed the canal and pushed up the slope on +the other side, in order to remain in contact with the enemy and gauge +his whereabouts. A series of posts were thus established 500 to 600 +yards east of the canal, and orders were given to hold them at all +costs, so that on the day of the battle our infantry could start off +from there without having any serious obstacle in their way. Many men +crossed the canal by means of hastily constructed foot bridges or +floating rafts made of biscuit and petrol tins ingeniously lashed +together. + +On this occasion we will follow the fortunes of the F.O.O.’s detailed +to accompany the infantry on their journey over the top on the first +day of the battle. The party consisted of two officers and fourteen +signallers and linesmen from the Brigade, who, during the past +fortnight, had received full instructions as to their duties. Every +detail had been carefully worked out beforehand: the men had been +divided into several groups, each armed with telephones, reels of wire, +flags, and Lucas lamps, all these things being necessary for the +provision of each relay station. One of the officers was to accompany +the attacking waves of infantry with his staff, consisting of a +telephonist, linesman, and signaller, while the duty of the other was +to work in conjunction with him and to maintain, as far as possible, +uninterrupted communication with the Brigade after laying down the +wire. The morning before the battle, the wire was laid out over the +canal as far as the series of outposts, in order to save time on the +following day. The same evening, at sunset, the party set out, after +receiving wishes for the best of good luck from those who had been +fortunate enough to escape being detailed for this arduous task. +Officers and men proceeded to their appointed places in the front line, +or rather in what had once been an enemy support trench, though now it +was scarcely recognisable as such, owing to the effects of our +bombardment, there to remain for the night and await coming events. + +Now, in consequence of the enemy’s premature retirement over the crest, +he lost most of his observation on us, but he was aware we had effected +a crossing and held posts on his side of the canal. He therefore +lavishly besprinkled this area with all manner of high explosive +shells—one here, one there: never two in the same place—and the members +of the party began to wonder whether they would survive to witness the +fortunes of the battle. It always appears to be a matter of conjecture +as to what are the real feelings of an F.O.O. about to take the plunge, +so perhaps it might be of interest in this case to acquaint ourselves +with them. As he lies out there with his men, where are his thoughts? +Are they of his home, his parents, wife, or children? Will he ever see +their dear faces again? No—! all that agony has been fought out over +and over again long ago, during the previous fortnight or so, since he +has been detailed for this particular job. Then, what does he think +about? If the truth be told, he is rapidly running over in his mind all +the little things which may perhaps, at the last moment, have been +omitted or forgotten. He questions Gunner “So-and-so” to make certain +that that extra piece of wire has been brought along, and asks what the +h—l Gunner “Somebody else” is doing standing there without a “tin-hat” +on, and enquires of the Bombardier if he has adjusted the Lucas lamp +properly, which has been giving some trouble previously. These and a +hundred-and-one other such questions flash through his brain as he lies +on the ground with his little party, all vigorously puffing pipes or +cigarettes. The hours go by very slowly, and conversation on any old +topic is attempted from time to time, sleep being entirely out of the +question, as everyone is much too excited for anything of that nature. +Meanwhile the bombardment continues without intermission, and the night +becomes intensely cold and eerie. Will the darkness never pass and let +us get started on the job? + +Soon after midnight the infantry, who are to make the assault, arrive +at their places of assembly, full of quips and jests, a sure sign that +they are cheery and in good form for the coming fray. Rum is served +out, and the men lie down in little bunches, either to snatch a few +minutes’ sleep or else to resume their constant arguments and +bickerings on every subject under the sun except anything connected +with the war. Zero hour at last draws near, and everyone grows more +restless, for this period is much the most trying time to endure, and +all topics of conversation have long since been exhausted. Then a +short, sharp order passes down the line, and the answering shouts +announce that all are present and ready—the “quarter to zero” has +arrived. Another crisp order comes along, and there are a series of +ominous clicks as each man adjusts his bayonet to the rifle, then the +men line up in perfect extended order, ready for the word to go. A +faint grey appears in the sky to the east, but only the next man is +visible to his neighbour, as the darkness is still upon us. The +F.O.O.’s and party are also up and ready, final instructions being +rapidly given to the signallers, who nod assent that everything is +prepared and understood. Then suddenly the guns bark out afresh, and a +creeping barrage drops down like a curtain in front of the men, who +follow after it at an easy walk. Fortune attends the little party, as +the wire has only been cut in three places, and these are speedily +repaired; and, as soon as the second wave of men is clear of the +trench, the line is laid out as rapidly as possible behind them. The +ground is difficult to traverse, being full of deep craters, so the +party progresses more slowly than the infantry, and presently the third +wave gains on and passes it by. At first the enemy puts down a nasty +barrage, just beyond our stepping-off place, but most of his heavy +stuff falls on the canal bank, and, as the majority of the troops have +already crossed, the damage is not severe. By this time the party has +gained the top of the crest, and, after establishing a relay station in +a pill-box lately occupied by their opponents, the remainder proceed on +their way. Many are the temptations to dawdle, instead of getting on +with the work, so much of interest is taking place around them, +including the amusing, and at that time not too frequent, sight of +scores of the enemy, with uplifted hands, emerging from pill boxes, +where they must have been packed like sardines. + +An auxiliary wire tapped into the main F.O.O. line is led to another +pill-box, now to be used as a new infantry headquarters for the time +being, and the party comes under the fire of a hostile machine gun +emplacement, which necessitates their lying in a shell-hole for a +while. On arrival there, the “mopping up” party is found still at work, +but it soon completes its grim task. The officer who has proceeded with +the infantry now sends his first message through to the effect that the +first objectives are taken, the wire fortunately holding out well at +the moment, every sound being clear and distinct. The Lucas lamp is +then fixed on top of the relay station, and communications established +in case the wire goes, but the morning dawns in mist, and signalling by +this method is unsatisfactory. + +After a short pause, the infantry proceed on the second stage of their +adventure, the F.O.O. and party following up and laying out wire close +behind them. More messages are sent through to Brigade, and the wire +breaks on several occasions, but is speedily dealt with by the +linesmen, who are kept busy patrolling up and down the line. Meanwhile, +items of extreme interest are taking place around the pill-pox of the +Central Relay Station. Numerous batches of prisoners are drifting back, +for the most part unattended, composed entirely of youths of nineteen +and twenty years of age, the Guards having refused to kill these +babies, only “despatching” the older men, for the Division up against +them was very mixed, and may best be described as a “dud” lot, and it +did not put up much of a fight. The lads all look weary and +mud-stained, although there is an expression of relief on their faces, +as they steadily munch the bread that has been good-naturedly handed to +them by their captors, for they have been starving for the past three +days or so, no food having reached them on account of the terrific +bombardment. An aid-post is hastily placed in a huge shell-hole close +by, and the wounded straggle back; those who are but slightly hit and +can walk help each other along, while the others are carried on +stretchers. Here, a man, ghastly wounded, minus one leg and with the +other almost severed, lies on a stretcher, calmly puffing at a +cigarette given him by the bearers, and attempts to raise himself on +his elbow that he may gaze at the curious scenes taking place around +him. Others just stagger along, their pinched faces showing signs of +suppressed pain, yet all have a quip or a jest on their lips as they +smoke the inevitable cigarette. The sight is truly a wonderful one! The +courage and calm that these wounded display in the midst of their +sufferings is beyond words, but they are “Greatheart’s all.” +Reinforcements are passing all this time on their way up to the battle +line, ready to throw themselves into the conflict when their time +arrives. + +Again the infantry move forward to the third and final objective, under +cover of the friendly barrage, and, by the time they arrive at their +allotted destination, an advance of some three miles from the canal +bank has been effected since morning. The wire is linked up, and the +F.O.O. selects a good point of vantage, and makes himself and his staff +as comfortable as possible, and then proceeds to gather as much +information as he can obtain to send back over the line. The infantry +are now busy digging themselves in, and are being subjected to heavy +shell-fire, but they stubbornly resist all efforts to dislodge them. By +this time the batteries have all limbered up and advanced to new +positions, mostly out in the open, and an order comes over the +telephone from the B.C.’s for the F.O.O. to register the guns afresh: +so he at once picks up some dependable landmark, and with much +difficulty observes the rounds as they fall, and thus gives the +necessary corrections. + +Then the wires break on account of the shelling, and some time is lost +before communications are again established. The enemy has now +recovered somewhat from the initial shock of the attack, and displays +much determination to recover lost ground—counter attacks are launched +without success. The F.O.O. now has an important message to convey, +but, when the telephonist endeavours to send it through, there is no +answering buzz. Thereupon the linesman is despatched as a runner, and, +on reaching the first relay station, he transfers the written message +to another linesman, who immediately sets out for the next relief, and +so on, until the message duly arrives at headquarters. + +Thus the day wears on: sometimes direct communication is possible, and +at others the wire is “dished,” but, on the whole, a good deal of +information is passed through. The relay posts are constantly shelled, +and the bombardier in charge is wounded, while one runner was killed in +his gallant endeavour to pass through a heavy barrage with an important +communication. In the evening the party, much exhausted with the +strenuous and never ending work of the day, is relieved by a fresh +group of officers and signallers, who take over from them, and the +little party wind their way homewards profoundly thankful to find +themselves back with their unit safe and sound. + +The situation, at the end of the opening day of the battle, was roughly +this:—In the north all had gone well, and most of the objectives aimed +at were successfully taken, but, such stiff resistance was met with +further south, that the assaulting troops were held up after they had +gained only about half of those allotted to them, and, although they +fought stubbornly and determinedly, they were unable to make further +ground. Thus the left wing was forced to mark time while the troops on +the right made a series of attacks in order to straighten out the line, +otherwise the army to the north would have found itself enclosed in a +nasty salient. The artillery, over the whole battle front, also +encountered great difficulty in advancing the guns, the ground was so +ploughed up by the effects of the long preliminary bombardment. Even +the horse gunners, who were detailed to move up in immediate support of +the infantry, were unable to proceed further than a few hundred yards +on the other side of the canal. Huge craters, placed lip to lip, met +them in all directions, and an advance was found to be out of the +question till new tracks were prepared and the road cleared of debris. +This naturally took some time to accomplish, and, meanwhile, all the +field batteries were advanced as close to the canal bank as possible, +but even then they were much too far behind, and were firing at almost +extreme range. + +No serious attack could be delivered, therefore, for some ten days, +until sufficient time had elapsed to enable the gunners to occupy new +positions some way across the canal, and, on this occasion, Langemarke +fell into our hands, as well as the line of the Broombeke. Progress +remained slow further south, consequently our front became stationary. +Now, it so happened that most of our batteries were in extremely +awkward positions, as we had expected to be moved forward at any time. +They were right out in the open, devoid of any cover, and, for the most +part, placed in shell holes which had been hastily converted into pits. +Here we were subjected to the most “gruelling” time that was ever our +lot to endure, and the battle developed into a gigantic duel between +batteries, in which our position was no worse than the others. We lived +in shell holes, scantily covered with corrugated iron and a layer or +two of sand-bags, scarcely splinter proof, nor had we any means of +making ourselves more secure. The enemy’s heavy counter batteries swept +and searched over the slope where the majority of our batteries were +congregated, and never before or after were they seen to reach such a +pitch of efficiency. + +Never a day passed without casualties, and often a number of gunners +were buried as the result of an explosion, and had to be hastily dug +out, and early on we lost one of our subaltern officers, who was borne +away to the dressing station with no less than a dozen wounds on him. +It was with great difficulty that the battery was kept in action +sometimes, and, though we soon shifted our position to a flank, this +did not relieve the situation. A 60 pdr. battery not far behind us +developed the fatal habit of becoming particularly active during “flash +time,” and, as its flash was notoriously conspicuous, it was not +surprising that its location was promptly pin-pointed by the enemy, who +proceeded to knock it out: and this they succeeded in doing without +much delay. During this particular contest we always got the short +rounds, and, as they were not peas that were coming over, but 8″ and +11″ shells, the atmosphere was unpleasant, to say the least of it! + +We considered ourselves lucky if we could keep 50 per cent. of the guns +in action at the same time, while every nerve was strained to dig out +the remainder, and it was a very heartless job, as a gun had no sooner +been recovered and set up in position than it was knocked out again +almost immediately. One morning, after a wild night of shelling by the +enemy, on going to ascertain the damage, we found one gun with its +barrel buried deep in the ground, the trail standing perpendicular +pointing towards the sky; another completely turned over on its back +pointing in the opposite direction, while a third had been blown right +out of the shell hole in which it had been placed, and hurled a +considerable distance away. Casualties to our establishment mounted at +a most alarming rate, and one night our B.C. was mortally wounded by a +high explosive shell, and, although such assistance as it was possible +to give was rendered, he did not survive long after reaching the +casually clearing station. His loss was much felt, not only by reason +of his own cheerful personality, but also on account of the way in +which he inspired all those under him to do their utmost, especially in +times of stress and danger, when he always proved himself a true +leader. The Captain now succeeded to the command of the battery, and +the Senior Subaltern became second-in-command. It soon became evident +that we could not carry on much longer under these conditions, and in +the last week of September we were pulled out to refit, and remained +near the village of Herszeele for a few days before again entering the +fray. + +Meanwhile a subaltern with a working party was busily occupied +preparing new emplacements for our reception, and on the day of their +completion he was wounded while riding his bicycle back to his billet: +thus we lost yet another officer. But, try as we would, it was +impossible to escape the vigilant eye of the enemy, who engaged battery +positions one after another, and the number of guns knocked out was +prodigious. Through a lucky chance it had been decided to take the guns +“in” at dawn, instead of during the night, and by reason of this we +escaped a most violent hostile bombardment which was directed against +the position, and which damaged at least two of the pits and completely +destroyed several dug-outs which the work party had recently striven so +hard to build. We set to work and repaired most of the damage, and, +whether or not it was the enemy thought he had disposed of us thereby, +at all events he did not repeat the performance beyond subjecting us to +the ordinary night harassing fire. + +Another attack was impending, which again necessitated the forward +movement of all batteries, and this time we were more fortunate in the +selection of a site, and had several German pill-boxes in which to live +and take refuge. Owing to the congestion on the one and only good road +in the neighbourhood and the hostile shelling thereof, it was a matter +of luck to find ourselves safely installed behind Abri Wood, and we +immediately set out preparing for the new fight. Unfortunately, the +weather again came to the assistance of our foe, and a spell of rain +and wind made conditions extremely difficult for both infantry and +gunners. However, the battle was proceeded with, and the result was an +advance over the mud and slime of the river Broombeke as far as the +outskirts of Houthoulst Forest, a distance of about two miles; our +French allies, on the left, keeping in step with us throughout this +operation. Then the inevitable forward move of the batteries was +resumed, and this time we occupied positions down the further slope of +the hill immediately across the rivulet of the Steenbeke. In +consequence of torrents of rain, which continued daily, the low-lying +ground became flooded, and it was all we could do to prevent the guns +sinking in the sodden earth, and they frequently disappeared in the mud +up to their axles. Dry accommodation was nowhere to be found except in +a great pill-box, which we added to and strengthened, and it was +popularly called the “Rabbit Hutch,” for the obvious reason that it +held the majority of the four batteries of the Brigade. + +Now, our last attack had advanced us considerably further than the men +on the right, who throughout the past month had encountered very stiff +opposition, so we had perforce to remain stationary and mark time, +while the battle continued to the south. On several occasions we +rendered assistance by putting up what is commonly known as a “Chinese +barrage,” _i.e._, the artillery carries out the ordinary programme +preceding an attack, but no action follows on the part of the infantry. +Conditions were equally disagreeable at the wagon lines, which speedily +developed into quagmires, and it was almost impossible to walk about +the lines unless attired in waders, and, even then, there was always +the possibility of completely disappearing in the mud. Over and above +that, the wagon lines were subjected every now and then to the +attentions of a high velocity gun, as well as frequent visits from +hostile night bombing machines, which were following the example set by +our airmen and were endeavouring to pay us back in our own coin. Much +damage was done in and around the neighbourhood, but our lines escaped +exceedingly lightly. The question of ammunition supply became acute, +and the use of pack saddles was again necessitated, and, because of the +great distance between wagon lines and gun position, the round journey +sometimes took eighteen hours to accomplish, and naturally the strain +eventually told greatly upon both men and horses. + +The battery positions were not long in being located by the enemy, who +expended great quantities of ammunition in his attempts to destroy +them: and he made much use of chemical and mustard shell, which in time +saturated the low-lying ground on which the guns were placed. In this +way he effectively gassed the B.C., a subaltern, and several of the +men, who were all despatched to the wagon line, and the Captain assumed +command for the time being and brought up reliefs with him. By this +time the Battery was again in a very bad way, and a rest was promised +on several occasions, only to be held up time and again with the +exhortation to hold out yet a little while longer. Winter was rapidly +approaching, and it was necessary to adjust our line before fighting +came to a standstill: and a considerable distance had yet to be +traversed before the goal—Passchendaele and the ridge on which it was +situated—could be reached. + +The battery, meanwhile, waited on in patience. All the remaining +officers were affected by the mustard gas, as well as the majority of +the gunners, and a sorry sight we presented when, in the first week in +November, an incoming battery took over from us. We then proceeded to +the new wagon lines, near Proven, in an utterly exhausted condition. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. +Cambrai. + + +Everyone thought that our long-expected rest was now forthcoming, so it +was a great surprise when we were ordered to hold ourselves in +readiness for a long march. + +What did it all mean? Were we marching into our new area and having our +rest there or were we to be pitchforked into another scrap? + +No indication of our destination was given, and everything seemed most +mysterious: and, when the Brigade arrived in the neighbourhood of +Merville, there did not appear to be any sign of a definite halt. At +all events the journey was being performed in easy stages, as if we +were filling in time, and we were always making further south, till, +passing behind Bethune, the vicinity of Arras was reached. Here news of +the surprise attack at Cambrai first reached our ears, the secret of +which had been kept so well, and, heading in the direction of Bapaume, +we were acquainted with the fact that we were again “for it.” + +Now, the initial attack, which came as a complete surprise to the +enemy, had met with instant success, and, with the aid of a +considerable number of Tanks, the great Hindenburg line had been +breeched over a distance of from 6 to 8 miles, with the result that the +fall of Cambrai a centre of great importance to the Germans appeared +imminent. + +However, after the first couple of days, the attack was not pressed +home as it might have been, for some reason or other, and the fight +came to an abrupt standstill, leaving our troops in a particularly +baggy salient. These were the conditions that prevailed when the +Division gradually moved nearer the scene of action. + +In the beginning of the fourth week of November, we entered the battle, +taking over from a famous Scottish Division which had fought with great +distinction on the opening days. + +The battery was placed in action to the north of Flesquieres, well +inside the salient facing Bourlon Wood, in a position only recently +completed by the enemy and which had not even been occupied by him. +There was plenty of accommodation for everyone in the deep mined +dug-outs prepared by him some thirty to forty feet below the ground, +and the officers’ quarters were spacious and lavishly constructed. + +From this point the domes and the spires of the city of Cambrai could +be clearly distinguished; indeed, they appeared such a short distance +away, it looked as if a saunter would carry us into the heart of the +town. + +It was most interesting and instructive studying the elaborate system +of the Hindenburg defences. First, there were three separate belts of +closely-entwined barbed wire, each being some thirty yards wide, and +behind them came a deep, narrow forefield trench that was only intended +to be lightly manned. Communication trenches led back to the main +Hindenburg trench some distance behind, in most cases being out of +immediate view from our lately occupied positions. + +This trench was both deep and wide, being some twelve feet across and +duck-boarded throughout, raised on wooden stakes to prevent the water +reaching the level of the pathway. At short intervals shafts led down +to the spacious dug-outs beneath, which were all connected and linked +up with one another. In fact, practically speaking, one could walk from +one end of the line to the other below the surface of the ground. + +Skilfully concealed, at frequent intervals, were emplacements for both +trench-mortars and machine-guns, all heavily concreted and covered on +top with turf. + +The enemy must have thought himself very secure in this vast +stronghold, but in a way this very fact contributed, in a great +measure, to his undoing; for, it is common knowledge that the more one +frequents deep dug-outs the less inclination there is to emerge from +them when a scrap is taking place. + +Finally, some 500 yards in the rear, a support line ran along, which, +though not constructed with the same strength, was formidable enough in +itself. + +To judge by the indescribable mess, and by the mass of material left +littered about, the enemy must indeed have beat a hasty retreat. The +dug-outs were filthy to the last degree, and there was no sign of any +system of sanitation having been used by these people, who considered +their “Kultur” to be superlative, and who desired to impose it on the +rest of mankind. All through the campaign, whenever one had the +opportunity of inspecting hostile trenches and billets, one always +found the same thing, filth and lack of sanitation. + +Now, for some little time our hold on Bourlon Wood had been precarious, +so a further attack was initiated, and the Guards went in to straighten +the line. They swept through the Wood, taking the villages of Bourlon +and Fontaine, but a gigantic counter attack pressed them back again +owing to reinforcements being late in arriving to render assistance. +They were so badly mauled and cut up that it was necessary to withdraw +them from the line to refit, and infantry from an “Old Contemptible” +Division took their place. Bourlon Wood became so saturated with gas +that, after a great tussle, neither side was able to tenant it any +longer, and so withdrew, leaving a screen of outposts to prevent any +surprise attack. + +This was the situation when dawn broke on the 30th of November, a day +which proved to be one of ups and downs for us, and caused many +misgivings to arise in the old country. The object of the enemy was to +pinch either side of the jaws, and, if his attack on the north had met +with equal success with that on the south, there would have been little +hope for the troops in the salient, who undoubtedly would have been +surrounded and cut off. However, as events turned out, our men held out +and remained firm. Moreover, it was afterwards discovered from captured +documents that the enemy’s scheme was a large and ambitious one. Not +only was it his intention to retake the whole of our recent gains, but +to press on further through Havrincourt Wood, and establish himself on +a line beyond it. + +The Germans employed the same tactics as we used on the opening day of +the battle—there was no preliminary bombardment, and their troops +advanced under cover of a heavy mist and preceded by a creeping +barrage. They put an overwhelming number of troops into the fight, the +odds against our men being something like three to one, but our +infantry in the north fought valiantly, although they were forced to +give ground step by step in the initial stages. As the day wore on and +the mist rose, we were able to see the hostile infantry advancing in +masses, but they were paying a heavy toll at the hands of our machine +gunners, who cut many a line in their ranks. + +The situation became tense when the enemy succeeded in driving our men +across the Bapaume-Cambrai road, and were seen to be approaching Anneux +and Graincourt. The 18 prs. batteries which were lying alongside of us +dragged their guns out of their pits on to the crest in front, and +proceeded to rake the enemy, firing as rapidly as they were able, +through open sights, the gunners stripped to the waist, toiling and +sweating in their endeavour to stop the oncoming tide. The fight swayed +backward and forward throughout the whole day, but finally the enemy +was held in check without gaining further ground, and he incurred very +heavy casualties. + +In the south the situation was very obscure, and somehow or other the +enemy broke a gap in the defences between La Vacquerie and +Gouzeaucourt, capturing the latter place as well as the village of +Gonnelieu, and commenced streaming through. He had advanced a +considerable distance before the importance of his move was fully +realised, consequently most extraordinary incidents occurred, stories +of which are now familiar to everyone. Battery positions were rapidly +overrun, and even wagon lines were captured, while Labour companies, +working on the roads far behind the front, on looking up, discovered +the foe almost on top of them. + +There were no reserves in immediate support, and affairs were taking on +a most serious complexion. Something had to be done and that right +speedily! Therefore the Guards, who had only two days previously been +withdrawn from the fight, were again called upon. They were lying in +rest around Bertincourt, Ytres and Ruyaulcourt, and were hurriedly +conveyed in ’buses and motor lorries to Metz, where they formed up and +set out on their big counter-attack, supported by our sister Brigade +and another gunner unit which chanced to have been pulled out on the +previous night. Now, the enemy troops appeared to be as much surprised +at their success as we were, and continued advancing in a bewildered +kind of fashion, astonished at the little or entire lack of opposition +with which they met. Suddenly, however, they came face to face with the +full strength of the best disciplined troops in the world, whereupon +they paused, staggered, and at length commenced to fall back, in +confusion and disorder, with the result that the day was saved just in +the nick of time, and most of the ground was recovered, in addition to +some 50 guns. + +Meanwhile the wagon lines were situated in the village of Ribecourt, +right inside the salient, and, although it was known that a scrap was +taking place, no one had any idea as to its stupendous nature. The fact +that the village lay in a valley, surrounded by hills, prevented much +noise of the conflict reaching those in it. However, shortly after +breakfast, it became apparent that something was amiss, and the place +became subjected to a heavy bombardment. The horses and vehicles were +evacuated as quickly as possible, without suffering undue casualties, +and collected on the hillside a short distance away, facing Bourlon +Wood, where they “stood to” awaiting further orders. + +Hostile aeroplanes put in an appearance, flying daringly low hither and +thither across the salient, endeavouring to pick up as much information +as possible, and sometimes dropping bombs. Many a tussle took place +between them and our airmen, who did not allow them undisputed sway for +long. + +At noon instructions came through to be prepared to withdraw the guns +at any moment, but in the end this was found unnecessary. Even at this +time we were unaware that the enemy had penetrated our line to the +south, and the first indication we had that something unusual was +taking place, was the arrival of some reinforcements, who hurried along +the top of the hillside behind us, and took up positions facing in the +opposite direction! A short time elapsed, and then we were astonished +and horrified to see a creeping barrage roll along, top the crest, and +gradually draw nearer us from the rear. Fortunately, it stopped before +actually reaching us, for by this time the enemy had attained his +furthest point of penetration, and the counter attack had already been +launched. Throughout the rest of the day the wagon line “stood to” +ready for any emergency, and at dusk the limbers were sent up to the +position, and the guns were withdrawn the same night and placed in +action in the railway cutting immediately behind the ridge to the south +of Flesquieres. + +It became evident, after the experiences of the previous day, that, as +long as we remained in this awkward salient, we would undoubtedly be +exposed to further attacks at the hands of the enemy. The Germans +meanwhile had concentrated huge forces in the vicinity, so a +continuation of our advance was now out of the question, and a +modification of our front was decided upon. The infantry constructed a +new line running north of Flesquieres Ridge, and, as soon as it was +completed, our troops fell back on it under cover of darkness, +unperceived and therefore unmolested by the enemy, who only made the +discovery on the following day, and then cautiously followed up until +they came in contact with us once more. The salient presented a curious +aspect at night to those inside it, and we seemed to be almost +surrounded by Verey lights, as indeed we were, except where the narrow +neck led out towards Metz. + +The enemy did not, as was expected, attempt any further operations on a +large scale, but contented himself with making things very +uncomfortable for us. In spite of our withdrawal, the line was still +saggy to a large extent, and he could bring his guns to bear on any +part of the salient and enfilade it. He also paid much attention to +bombing, and his planes came over at dawn and dusk and caused a good +deal of damage. The wagon lines came in for their share of +unpleasantness, and in the course of a fortnight we were forced to quit +no less than three positions in turn. The battery was specially +handicapped by the colour of its horses, and was evidently easily +spotted by hostile aircraft, for we had more than our share of ill +fortune at this period. To take the worst case that befell us, one +night the wagon line lost 35 horses. A covey of enemy planes had been +over at daybreak, and apparently made a mental note of our location, as +they returned the same evening and dropped several bombs, though, +strange to say, no damage was effected. However, towards midnight, a +4.2 battery suddenly opened fire with instantaneous fuse action, and +many casualties were inflicted before the horses could be removed, +owing to difficulties in the pitch darkness. + +The most wonderful fact in the whole proceedings was that, although +there was little or no cover for the men, who were ensconced in +bivouacs, except a few who were in an old disused trench close by, only +a couple of them were hit. The officers were rudely awakened by large +splinters entering their tent, and only just missing their heads as +they lay on their valises, while the sergeants had a most miraculous +escape. They had formed a Mess in a bay of the trench, the sides +supported and heightened by some of the Q.M.S.’s stores, and covered on +top by a large tarpaulin. A shell dropped practically on top of them, +fortunately detonating instantly against several boxes of iron rations, +which undoubtedly contributed to saving their lives. An officer arrived +on the scene immediately afterwards, and found them all lying +unconscious as the result of the explosion, but they soon revived and +took a stout part in rescuing the horses. The construction was +completely wrecked, and the clothes they wore were stripped into +ribbons, but only one of them had a scratch on him. + +No delay was made in attending to the wounded horses, and in conveying +the remainder to a place of safety. The drivers were all splendidly +cool and collected under the trying circumstances, but many of the poor +beasts were beyond human aid, and had to be destroyed. + +The scene next morning was a gruesome one, and it was a most pathetic +sight to watch the drivers, with tears running down their cheeks, +bidding a last farewell to their lost charges before burial, for the +men become exceedingly attached to their four-legged comrades, +especially when they have had charge of them for a considerable time. +No time was lost in selecting a new locality, as it was considered wise +to get out of the salient altogether, and thus avoid the risk of +incurring further unnecessary casualties; so the wagon lines were +removed to the vicinity of Ruyaulcourt. + +A spell of hard frost set in, with an occasional fall of snow, which +added to our difficulties as well as to our discomforts, for it must be +remembered that both battery position and wagon line were occupied at a +moment’s notice, and no time could be spent in making any preparations +beforehand for our reception. Affairs were now settling down for the +winter, and nothing unusual was taking place beyond a good deal of +artillery activity on both sides, consequently we were only awaiting +orders to withdraw from the line. These came through in a few days’ +time, and the Brigade pulled out in the middle of December to the +ruined village of Beaulencourt, situated south east of Bapaume. On the +following day a long march was undertaken, and we proceeded by way of +Achiet-le-Grand, Ayette, and Beaumetz to the village of Montennescourt, +due west of Arras, a distance of 25 miles. + +It says much for the battery that it accomplished this long trail with +no less than 43 horses below establishment, and without any outside +assistance, in spite of the heaviness of the roads. The guns were +pulled by six-horse teams, and the vehicles and other baggage wagons by +four-horse teams, made up by requisitioning all the available +outriders, yet none of the horses suffered to any great extent from the +extra strain imposed on them. + +It was with feelings of great gratification that we learnt that at last +we were going to have our long-delayed rest, and that it would fall to +our lot to spend the coming Christmas-tide and New Year season in more +congenial surroundings than had been the case in the two previous +years. All were prepared to enjoy themselves on this occasion, as it +was felt, on reviewing the past six months, during which time we had +been fighting incessantly in “pukka” battles, in which we had acquitted +ourselves not badly, that we had thoroughly earned a week or two of +complete rest and quiet. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. +At Arras. + + +The next fortnight was spent under most happy conditions, and all ranks +had an enjoyable time. As Christmas approached, active preparations +were made to excel anything we had ever had before in the way of +festivities, and this was possible now that we were out of action. +Quarter-Master-Sergeants, puffed out with importance, were to be seen +strutting hither and thither, returning with mysterious sacks and +parcels, presumably filled with good cheer. + +Plucked geese and turkeys appeared in large numbers, suspended from the +ceilings of billets, and several large barrels arrived on the scene, +and were duly placed under lock and key in the canteen, awaiting the +auspicious day. Much competition took place between batteries for the +possession of the only two live pigs in the village, which eventually +went to the highest bidders, while the remainder procured their joints +in the form of pork from Doullens. One of the batteries meanwhile grew +so attached to its prospective Christmas fare that it was almost +decided to spare his life and adopt him as a mascot. His fate was +sealed, however, when one day it was discovered that he had disposed of +several parcels of food which had, inadvertently, been placed within +his reach by some of the men. + +Concerts were arranged, and the village school-room was kindly lent and +artistically decorated for these occasions. The weather was all that +could be desired now that we were safely lodged in billets, and it was +a typical old-fashioned yule-tide, with a plentiful fall of snow +followed by hard frost. The little village was in a sheltered hollow, +and a small rivulet passed through it on its way down the valley, while +the scenery might have been that surrounding any hamlet in the south of +England. + +An open air service was conducted by the Padre, for the Brigade, on +’Xmas morning, and the rest of the day was given over to sports and +concerts, and the climax of enjoyment was reached at night when the men +partook of their dinner. Gramaphones were well to the fore, but all +kinds of musical instruments took part in the gaiety which followed. + +A certain amount of latitude was given the men for a few days after, in +order that they might recover from the orgy, for indeed they had never +had such a gorge since their arrival in France. All were in excellent +spirits, and these were by no means diminished when it became known +that our next area was in front of Arras. It was recognised to be an +enviable part of the line to be situated in, especially during the +winter months. It was also a locality with which we had not as yet made +acquaintance, and it was always interesting to visit a new portion of +the front, as we disliked being too long in the same surroundings +without a change of scene. + +The day following New Year, the Division entered on its period of duty +in the sector north of Monchy to the vicinity of Gavrelle, with the +heights of Vimy, which had fallen into our hands in the previous spring +on its left. + +The battery position was reached by following the Arras-Plouvain road +along the valley of the river Scarpe, and we took over from a Scottish +Division. The enemy lines were everywhere overlooked, consequently he +wisely refrained from showing much activity. + +A magnificent view was obtained from the rear O.P. on the heights +facing Vitry, and, on a clear day, Douai was plainly visible and even +the country far beyond it. + +Our front line ran along at the bottom of the slope, having the ruined +piles of Roeux, which was the scene of such furious fighting in the +latter stages of Arras battle, immediately in its rear. Half right, to +the south of the river Scarpe, what remained of the village of Monchy +stood out like a sentinel on the top of the hill. This point afforded a +splendid view in all directions and was the veritable keystone of the +whole position. Four of our pieces were placed in a quarry, a few yards +off the road leading through Fampoux, on its western extremity, while +the other two guns were moved forward, east of the same village, behind +a bank, and carefully camouflaged. As this sector was extraordinarily +quiet and there was not sufficient work to keep everyone occupied, the +Battery Commander decided to commence construction and endeavour to +make our position a model one. Two pits, which were already in +existence, were pulled down and rebuilt, and two others were +constructed alongside, and all of them were placed just as near the +front bank of the quarry as would permit of the guns clearing the +crest. The whole position was completely camouflaged, as, it will be +readily understood, a quarry made a conspicuous target for the enemy at +any time, and if he suspected the presence of a battery therein, there +would have been little peace or quiet for us. However, as things turned +out, we had evidently made a good job of our work, and to our surprise, +not a single shell dropped in the quarry during our period of +occupation. + +Walls were white-washed and ammunition and charge shelves elaborately +painted, the platforms were neatly tiled or bricked with material taken +from the surrounding ruins, and all manner of “eye wash” was employed +in making the pits look well. A communication trench was dug from one +extremity to the other, rivetted and duck-boarded throughout, and led +to the men’s quarters. These when completed were palatial, and put in +the shade any headquarter unit in the line. + +The near side of the quarry, which consisted of chalk, was easily and +rapidly mined, and, in the course of three weeks, the men had +comfortable quarters. Beds made of wire netting stretched on wooden +frames, a spacious dining hall, telephone pit, cook house, and they +even possessed a moderate sized bath room, which was highly valued and +put to great use. The officers’ quarters were no less sumptuously +fitted out. Each had sleeping accommodation, in cellars of the ruined +houses, running along the main street close to the quarry, nicely lined +with wood and canvas to keep the damp out, while the Mess itself was a +work of art. + +The latter was built entirely by the officers and their batmen, under +the personal supervision of our energetic B.C. + +The floors, walls and roof of the cellar were lined with three inch +timber, and one day a subaltern, who had been out exploring, came back +triumphant, bearing in his arms a huge roll of wall paper found buried +under some rubbish, at a spot which probably denoted the one time +existence of a decorator’s shop. The Mess was therefore duly papered, +with frieze complete, and with the addition of easy chairs, book +shelves, a stove and gramaphone, there was nothing left to wish for, +and the place was most cosy and snug. The entrance, too, was the +admiration of everybody, nicely tiled and decorated with fancy carvings +from the utterly destroyed church. Iron girders, beams, and countless +bricks to the height of several feet rested on top of our home. It is +not to be wondered at, then, that this model position was frequently +visited by high personages, brought hither by our Brigade-Commander or +C.R.A., who appeared almost as proud of the place as we were ourselves. +Moreover, as we were in such close proximity to the road leading up to +the front line, it was only natural that officers should drop in to +this half way house and rest and regale themselves before resuming +their journey, so before long our Mess was known as “The Pub” +throughout the Division. + +The forward position was treated in the same fashion, and never before +had both officers and men had such comfortable quarters. Thus we +settled down to a life of ease, such as we had not known since the +Laventie days of two winters ago, and proceeded to thoroughly enjoy +ourselves. + +Frequent trips were made into Arras, either on horseback or by river, +for there was a steamboat service, running daily on the Scarpe, which +landed one close to the Officers’ Club, a large wooden erection similar +to a Y.M.C.A. hut, run by the Expeditionary Force Canteen. + +The town had not been irreparably destroyed, and in most parts the +inhabitants had returned, and were carrying on their usual routine, +while many shops were re-opened and doing good business. The Cathedral +was badly damaged, as well as other prominent buildings, but, on the +whole, the town had escaped wonderfully considering how close the enemy +had been to it for so long. Now, of course, the enemy was over six +miles away, and the city could not be reached by any other than his +high velocity guns, and they seldom troubled to shell the place, and +when they did so, from time to time, the fire was chiefly directed on +the railway station and sidings in the vicinity. + +An equally peaceful time fell to the lot of those who were at the wagon +lines. They were situated just off the main Arras-Souchez road, within +easy reach of the former place. Accommodation for Officers and men was +provided by Nissen huts, containing stoves, while the horses had good +covered-in standings, with mud walls surrounding them for protection +against bombing raids. + +The transport of ammunition to the guns was easily conducted, as +excellent roads ran the whole way, and every care was taken to keep the +horses up to condition. The frost did not continue and in the early +months of the year the weather was wonderfully bright and mild, and +many a good gallop could be had in the neighbourhood, as there was a +fine stretch of open ground close to the wagon line. + +The horses undoubtedly had a better time than it is usually possible to +give them during the winter months. The war horse is an extraordinarily +intelligent animal and appreciates anything done for him in the way of +comfort. He also becomes very cute and cunning, and always knows the +routine of the day, and can tell his time of feeding almost to the +minute, and, if allowed, would go by himself automatically to the water +troughs and return to his own particular standing in the stable. + +One horse familiarly known by the name of “Shrapnel,” owing to several +wounds of that kind which refused to close up, and completely heal, +knew at once when he was “warned” for the line. Now, he disliked going +out at nights, and consequently was in the habit of “scrimp-shanking,” +and proceeded forthwith to go lame. At first he managed to fool +everybody, but on close investigation it was discovered that nothing at +all was the matter with him. + +Another fine beast, which at one time must have been ill-treated, when +he came to us had a bad rope gall on his near hind, and was extremely +nervous at being touched. After hours of coaxing he allowed his section +officer and driver to handle him, and, at length, showed great +affection to them both, but woe betide any other member of the battery, +who attempted to go near him, back went his ears and out went his feet +at once! + +About the middle of February, a feeling of uneasiness evidently entered +the minds of those in authority. It was known that the enemy was +transferring large numbers of troops, which had been released by the +collapse of Russia, to the Western front. Consequently every unit got +busy at once, the Infantry dug new trench systems in rear of their +existing ones, constructed strong points, and mile upon mile of barbed +wire was laid down. + +The gunners prepared new battle and reinforcing positions, in case a +retiral should be necessary, and filled them with ammunition against +all eventualities. + +In a little more than a month everything was completed, and during the +third week of March, the troops were warned of an impending great enemy +offensive, and became fully on the alert. + + + + +CHAPTER X. +March the 21st. + + +The morning of the 20th broke calm and the enemy did nothing to +indicate that anything out of the ordinary was about to take place, but +this did not deceive us, as it was known to our Command that the blow +was going to fall on the following morning. Silence reigned supreme, +except for the ordinary harassing artillery fire, up till midnight, but +shortly afterwards the German guns opened out their annihilating fire, +and drenched our forward system and battery positions with a severe gas +bombardment. + +In this area the majority of batteries had, at the last moment, taken +the precaution to change their positions, as these were known to the +enemy, and thus avoided being entirely demolished by the heavy +concentration which poured all manner of shell into those they had +lately vacated. + +At dawn, which, unfortunately for us, broke in a thick mist, after a +sustained bombardment of some four to five hours’ duration, the enemy +launched his gigantic attack over an area of fifty miles, from +Guenappe, immediately below Monchy in the North, to the neighbourhood +of La Fere in the south. Under cover of the mist, he congregated large +numbers of field guns, which were able to accompany and closely support +the attacking waves, while at some places he employed his new Tanks. +These, however, though rendering some assistance to him, by no means +came up to expectations, and were ponderous and clumsy, in spite of the +fact that he had previously captured several of ours from which to +copy, but they proved to be far behind ours, both in construction and +usefulness. + +A “Chinese barrage” was put down by the enemy on our sector, but no +attack developed. The same evening the Division was hurriedly withdrawn +from the line, and heading in a southern direction arrived in the +neighbourhood of Tilloy and prepared for instant action. + +In spite of the favourable conditions, our foes made little or no +ground, throughout the day, on the whole of the Army front, and were +held in our forefield. Further south, much the same thing happened, +although they penetrated further in some places, but nowhere had they +broken through, so the news on the whole was good and reassuring. + +The German attack was renewed on the following day, and still the +Northern Army remained firm, but they succeeded in effecting a serious +breech in the Army to the south, where the British had lately taken +over from our French allies. So swift was the enemy’s progress at this +point that our troops on either side of this bulge soon became +endangered, and a general retirement was immediately necessary in order +to keep the line straight. + +This applied to the Northern Army also, but not to anything like the +same extent. The Division again moved south, and took up positions +behind the Henin Ridge, between the village of that name and St. Leger, +for the purpose of covering the retirement. + +The whole line thus became mobile, and, for several days, a stiff +rear-guard action was fought, which resulted in very heavy casualties +being inflicted on the enemy. He was by this time flushed with his +success further south, and attempted to advance as if he were already +the conqueror, which led to his own undoing, as virtually he was only +permitted to gain ground at our time and will. It cannot be denied, +however, that the days were anxious ones and the infantry were kept +very heavily engaged and became much exhausted. However, they made the +most of their opportunities, and had hitherto rarely found such ready +targets, and their machine guns effected great execution on the enemy +ranks as the men came along laden with full packs. A story is told, and +is believed to be true, of one machine gunner that, in the course of +his morning’s work, he slaughtered over 200 German’s single handed with +his weapon, after which he became a raving lunatic and had to be +forceably removed. + +The infantry, too, admitted that they were getting tired of killing +Boches, and the casualties inflicted on our men were a mere nothing as +compared with those suffered by our foes. The gunners were equally busy +dropping into action here and there and falling back as the +circumstances required, until at the end of a week, the line became +more or less stationary. The front line now ran through Mercatel, +Boisleux and Moyenneville and thence, in a south westerly direction, +towards Serre. Thus the Germans were again almost back on the line they +had held, prior to the big retreat on the Hindenburg line in the spring +of 1917. + +It seemed a great pity to vacate the Henin Ridge, for the opposing +sides found themselves facing each other in a hollow, with rising +ground on either side, which made battery positions difficult to +conceal. So many disused trenches, which had previously formed part of +the old German line system, helped to shelter us, to a great extent, +for we were at this point nearly two miles east of the permanent line +of a year ago. + +Everyone feverishly sat about digging and constructing new trenches, +and an enormous amount of work was accomplished in a comparatively +short space of time, for it was felt that the enemy had by no means +expended all his strength, and would endeavour, in the near future, to +resume active operations. There could be no doubt that he would be +dissatisfied to remain where he was, especially as, so far, he had +little to shew on this particular part of the front for his gigantic +effort and huge loss of men. + +It was no surprise therefore when, at the beginning of the second week +in April, after a short sharp bombardment, the enemy made a strong +attack from Monchy, north to the Vimy Ridge, with the object of seizing +Arras and the heights before mentioned. The result was a costly +failure, as he was everywhere held up in our forefield system, and the +British Divisions opposed to him had the time of their lives. We were +very interested to hear about this battle, as, of course, it was fought +over the sector in which we had lately spent a number of happy months +and where we had done such an amount of work. It was distinctly +gratifying, too, when a wire was received from the Division who took +over from us thanking our Division for the wonderful defensive +construction made by us. It was due to that work that they were enabled +to bring the enemy so quickly to an abrupt standstill. + +They had seemingly experienced a veritable field day and thoroughly +enjoyed themselves on that occasion. + +After this unsuccessful effort, the enemy evidently gave up the attempt +to gain possession of Arras and Vimy by a frontal attack and turned his +thoughts elsewhere. + +Unfortunately, however, in the course of these operations, Monchy had +to be evacuated by the British, which enabled the Boche to gain +observation on the city which, thereafter, came in for a good amount of +shelling, and again the inhabitants were forced much against their will +to leave the stricken place. + +All manner of heavy shell fell in the town, and the damage caused was +considerable, and it was no longer the haven of rest for the troops +which it had been a few months previously. Our wagon lines, meanwhile, +had not escaped undamaged, and were forced to change positions on +several occasions until, at last, comfortable quarters were obtained in +the little village of Bretencourt, where the houses still had roofs +covering them, as the hamlet was just outside the devastated area. When +affairs settled down once more, the battery positions were gradually +advanced, and we dug a new position east of Ficheux, where the guns +were meanwhile situated. + +A forward section was established ahead in the railway cutting of the +Arras-Albert line, and we subjected the enemy to as much unpleasantness +as it lay in our power to devise. + +We were not, however, any length of time in this sector, and were +removed to the adjoining one immediately to the south. + +The line required rectifying in several places, and in a brilliant +minor operation, the village of Ayette was carried and remained firmly +in our hands. + +Our new position was situated on the high ground to the north of +Adinfer Wood, immediately behind the village of the same name, but the +neighbourhood was much more peaceful than that which we had recently +quitted, as everywhere we had observation over the enemy, and naturally +he never created trouble under such circumstances. + +The wagon lines were again moved, this time much further behind, to the +small village of Gaudiempre, where one might have imagined one was +completely out of the war area, it appeared so quiet. + +The place was intact and all were ensconced in snug little billets, +while the horses were well off also, as opportunities for grazing were +afforded round about the neighbourhood. + +Then the enemy’s second great offensive opened on the Lys, and all eyes +were turned in that direction, but everyone held the opinion that, +sooner or later, he would be brought to a standstill, which proved to +be the case. + +In fact, throughout the whole of this trying period, the confidence +among all ranks was extraordinary. No one had the feeling that we were +going down and under, and it would have done the pessimists at home a +world of good to have caught a glimpse of conditions out in France and +of the cheery optimism that prevailed there. There was even +disappointment, in some quarters, that the enemy had not attempted to +attack us on this front, but he evidently thought discretion was the +better part of valour, for the defences were, by this time, very +strong, and it would have been strange if he had managed to penetrate +to any depth. + +About the middle of May, it was the will of those in authority to rest +the Division a while, and although we were not in any urgent need of a +rest, we were not disinclined for it, as the season of the year was +favourable, and we pictured all manner of good times in store. + +The Brigade, therefore, withdrew to the wagon lines, marched the +following day to Humbercourt, the village appointed for our resting +place. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. +The Turn of the Tide. + + +It invariably happened, when the Brigade came out for a period of rest, +that expectations of a real holiday were never fully realized, and +although the time passed pleasantly enough and we were favoured with +fine weather, all ranks were kept pretty busy. Many tactical schemes +were practised, and we had always to hold ourselves in readiness to +render assistance, at short notice, to the troops who were in the line, +for our Command was taking no risks and had not entirely given up the +possibility of a hostile attack on this area. + +It must be admitted, however, that in the end everybody enjoyed +rehearsing these schemes, and we would have been well acquainted with +our duties had the emergency arisen. Our resentment, also, at being +called upon to partake of violent exercise so early in the morning, +completely disappeared after a while, the country looked so beautiful +at dawn, and we usually returned in time for breakfast, with +well-whetted appetites, after some three or four hours in the saddle. + +Unfortunately, at this time, the scourge known as “Flanders Grippe,” +which had been prevalent throughout the Army, developed in our Brigade. +For a considerable time this epidemic paralysed us, more or less, as +about half our number was down with the disease at the same time. +Although it passes after taking its three days’ course, one is left +very weak and groggy for some time, and several of the men were very +seriously ill. + +Inevitable inspections by Corps Commanders and minor officials passed +off without incident, but, of course, much labour and “eye-wash” was +expended as is always the case on these occasions. The Divisional Horse +Show, held towards the end of our rest, was undoubtedly the principal +diversion of our time out, as each unit naturally did its utmost to +outshine all others. The battery entered a gun team complete, +consisting of six dapple-grey horses, and we succeeded in securing the +second prize in the gunner’s Derby. Curiously enough, the winners, our +sister howitzer battery, won with five, out of six horses which had +been shown, over two years previously at Zeggers Capelle, in Flanders, +and who then carried off second prize in the competition with a team of +blacks. H.R.H. The Duke of Connaught afterwards inspected the +prize-winners, and evinced much interest on being told that ours was a +complete battery of grey horses. + +Paris leave opened for both officers and men as a consolation for home +furlough being stopped, and many availed themselves of the opportunity +of having a few days’ enjoyment in the “Gay City.” + +In the first days of June the Division returned to the line and +occupied the sector we had already been in prior to moving to Adinfer. +The area had become very quiet with one or two exceptions, and the +enemy did not subject our infantry to much shelling, and contented +himself with occasionally annoying them with trench mortars. But if, at +any time, he discovered the location of a battery position, that unit +had a most unhappy time. Four of our guns were placed in the railway +cutting, where we had previously had a forward section, and the +remainder were again detached some distance away. Mine shafts, which +were already in existence, were enlarged and the men had plenty cover +on top of them. + +Some little time afterwards certain indications pointed to the fact +that the enemy contemplated business once more on this front, and as +our guns were situated awkwardly where it would be impossible to +withdraw them quickly, we were directed to construct a new position +further behind. The work proceeded briskly, and, when completed, four +of the pieces were withdrawn and placed there, the other two remaining +in the railway embankment. The main position was a long way back, and +the guns could only just reach the enemy support trenches, consequently +they were only to be fired in case of a general S.O.S., and all the +shoots were accomplished by the forward section. Much time was spent in +making our new quarters shipshape, and the ground was well suited for +mining, as it consisted principally of chalk, and eventually all ranks +were comfortably installed in spacious underground quarters, although, +at the moment, they were quite unnecessary, and many lay out in the +open during the warm summer nights. The principal thing to do now was +to make sure that the officers and men did not stagnate for lack of +occupation and to find means to keep them hard and fit. Physical +exercises were indulged in during the morning, and sports of all kinds +were organised, both at the battery positions and at the wagon +lines—the latter having taken up their quarters at the village of +Baillemont. + +A modified kind of base-ball, introduced by an energetic and +enthusiastic Canadian subaltern, became very popular with the men, +while the corps ran a polo-club of sorts for the officers. A fairly +level patch of ground was selected which possessed a certain amount of +grass, and the numerous shell holes were filled in and levelled off by +fatigue parties, with the result that it became moderately good. The +polo ponies, however, left something to be desired, and it was no +uncommon sight to see a young officer appear mounted on a stalwart +wheeler, the best he could do for himself from among the horses in his +section. Possibly the explanation was that he had found a horse which +he could suitably “rein in”. + +Meanwhile the enemy’s third big offensive had come and gone and the +British Commander-in-Chief’s famous “back to the wall” order of the day +to his armies. Still we waited, but nothing unusual happened; then in +the middle of July the French were heavily attacked, and once more the +clouds appeared on the horizon. There was great enthusiasm when it +became known that our Allies had counter-attacked, and were driving the +enemy out of the Marne pocket, and when the daily bulletins arrived +there was always a scramble among the men to read them. Then the +British stroke fell south of the river Somme at Villers Brettonneux, +and excellent news, as to our progress, came through, which raised +everyone’s hopes to a high degree. Our artillery fire was increased +daily, and affairs became more lively, while flying was in full swing +and continued night and day. Both sides paid much attention to bombing, +and our Airmen freely besprinkled enemy territory with their bombs by +day, whereas the foe rarely attempted raids over our lines during +daylight. However, after dusk, the air was filled with the planes, as +the weather was particularly favourable, and the hum of the machines +coming and going was incessant throughout the whole night. At times one +could scarcely get any sleep for the continual drone they made, like +the hum of gigantic bees around their hives. One thing certain was that +we had almost complete control of the air and both out-numbered and +out-witted the enemy to a marked extent. It was most unpleasant to hear +the noise of the hostile planes drawing nearer, for one could not +mistake the beat made by the German machines. The amount of bombing +experienced by us was quite bad enough in all truth, but we used to +smile when contemplating what our foes must be suffering at the hands +of our Airmen, as truly it was ten times worse. + +During this period the two counter offensives were progressing +favourably in the south, and we suspected that something would be doing +on our front before long, as the din of battle was creeping further +north. It came as no surprise, therefore, when serious fighting +commenced north of the Somme, and the enemy retreated from Serre and +later withdrew in error from Ablainzevelle. As soon as he discovered +his mistake he attempted to retake it, but, by that time, our men were +firmly lodged there and could not be shifted from the village. + +In the middle of August, to everyone’s satisfaction, it became known +that we were to be up and doing at no distant date, and preparations +were immediately and silently set on foot. Throughout each night a +continual stream of teams and wagons conveyed thousands of rounds of +ammunition up the line to battery positions, and fresh dumps were +placed in forward localities. New battle positions were constructed in +advanced positions and stocked with shells, and we only awaited the +order to occupy them. Instructions were issued to wagon lines that all +surplus kit and stores were to be left behind, as a strenuous time was +in store for us, and all ranks responded with a will to the hard work +these preparations necessitated. Drivers were elated at the prospect of +a change from their humdrum existence, and their enthusiasm knew no +bounds. New reinforcing batteries appeared like mushrooms during the +night, and lay safely ensconced in their appointed places in readiness +for the coming fray, while the neighbourhood behind the lines bristled +with activity and also with new arrivals. We believed that probably +these preparations were being made in order to take the Henin Ridge in +front, and no one imagined that the coming operations would consist of +more than a local attack with a limited objective, as little or no +information had been given to anyone. It is true that rumours were +abroad, that our opponents were preparing to withdraw during the coming +winter to their defences in the Hindenburg Line, which meant that we +would be left most uncomfortably situated in the wilderness throughout +that season. Little did we dream, however, that this was the +commencement of a long series of hammer blows, lasting over several +months, and employing millions of men, and destined to be the last and +greatest battle the world has ever seen, ending with the complete +demoralisation of the enemy’s forces. The turn of the tide was at hand +at last! + + + + +CHAPTER XII. +Through the Hindenburg Line. + + +Before the serious work ahead of us could be undertaken, it was +necessary to shear off an awkward little bulge in the enemy’s line, +which included the ruined hamlet of Moyenneville. The corps on our +right were to take part in an assault two days previous to the +commencement of our own advance, so it was considered expedient to +accomplish the above task at the same time. Consequently, during the +big attack, delivered in the south on the 21st of August, which brought +our troops level with the Arras-Albert railway line, our small +side-show passed off successfully almost unnoticed. Desperate fighting +had also taken place in the neighbourhood of Morlancourt, just north of +the river Somme, in which the enemy troops had been driven back after +stubborn resistance. They thereupon evacuated the town of Albert, as +the place was getting too hot for them, and retired on positions to the +east of it. Our guns were now moved into their battle positions, and on +the eve of the attack everything was ready and in order. For once in a +way the weather was favourable, and this augured well for the speedy +advancement of the guns, which was essential for the success of the +operations. + +At dawn, therefore, on the 23rd inst., without any preliminary +bombardment, but, preceded by a dense creeping barrage and supported by +innumerable tanks, the infantry set out on their long journey. The men +swept on, capturing the villages of Boyelles and Hamelincourt at an +early hour, without meeting much opposition or suffering undue +casualties. The day went well throughout and all objectives were taken, +and by nightfall, the vast machinery in the rear commenced to move +slowly forward. Batteries were advanced and supplied with ammunition, +by their echelons, ready for the next bout, and wagon lines occupied +the positions only just vacated by the guns. The attack was continued +on the following morning, which necessitated the moving up of the guns +once more, and the same thing continued day after day. The enemy was +slowly and relentlessly pressed back without a pause or breathing +space, and once this gigantic force was set in motion it was +exceedingly difficult to stop it, as our opponents were soon to find +out to their cost. + +As the fight proceeded, our comrades on the left joined in, and +gradually the battle spread further north, assuming huge dimensions, +until it reached the river Scarpe. The enemy was caught napping before +Monchy, and the Dominion forces in one bound everywhere overwhelmed +their opponents, not only capturing the village but gaining ground to +the extent of two miles beyond it. By this time, Croisilles and St. +Leger had fallen into our hands, but the enemy made a most determined +stand in front of Ecoust, and a very stiff tussle took place for +several days before we eventually gained possession of it. + +Some extraordinary incidents took place during the course of these +operations. The long-hoped for open warfare was upon us at last, and +the gunners’ dream of galloping into action and firing with open sights +at close range was an accomplished fact almost before we were aware of +it. On one occasion, the whole Brigade, immediately at the close of +executing a creeping barrage, limbered up, and topping the crest in +front came face to face with the enemy, and dropped into action +alongside our advancing infantry. The enemy machine gunners were lined +up on a ridge some four hundred yards away, but on seeing us they +decamped with all speed, probably believing us to be a regiment of +cavalry. At any rate, if they had stood their ground and manned their +guns, they would have assuredly wiped us off the face of the map almost +before we could have opened fire on them. At the end of another day’s +work, our battery position was scarcely two hundred yards behind our +front line, where the infantry had installed themselves. + +The wagon lines were now well over late enemy territory, on the ground +where his batteries had been situated, and the mess was almost beyond +description. In some cases his positions were entirely obliterated, +which spoke volumes for the accuracy of the fire of our heavies, +directed by our gallant airmen, and if it had not been for the +quantities of ammunition and dead horses littered around, it would have +been impossible to have known that positions ever existed there. Mine +shafts had been entirely closed up by the explosion of the great +shells, and a conglomeration of huge craters marked their locality. +There was no rest for anyone these days, and no men were called upon to +perform more strenuous work than our little drivers, whose untiring and +never failing energy was worthy of the highest praise and admiration: +not only had they to care for their pair of horses, but were +incessantly on the go twixt gun positions, dumps, and wagon lines under +the most trying and difficult circumstances, and, at the same time, the +latter were changing positions frequently. However, they never faltered +or grumbled, and had always a cheery smile on their faces, even when +they returned in the middle of the night dead beat. For days on end it +was impossible to get out of one’s clothes, and sleep was almost an +unknown quantity: however, what did it matter as long as we continued +to advance, and in spite of everything—this was a long way better than +the monotonous routine of trench warfare. Everybody looked upon it in +this light, and the excitement and never ending novelty of the +experiences under which we were living, carried us on through thick and +thin. + +The corps on our left, meanwhile, had by a superhuman effort penetrated +the great Drocourt-Queant switch of the Hindenburg line, and firmly +maintained their grip on the ground to the east of it, and all counter +attacks made by the enemy, to dislodge them, proved unavailing. The +troops to the south had also effected good progress, and the ill-fated +town of Bapaume had again changed hands and passed for the last time +into the keeping of the Allies. Thus it came about that the enemy +troops, in spite of their very determined resistance in the +neighbourhood of Ecoust and Mory, found themselves in a most perilous +position, as the Dominion forces were now well in their rear, and were +carrying out a turning movement from a northerly direction. Therefore, +they were forced to do something, without further delay, which resulted +in a swift retirement on to the Hindenburg line some six miles to the +rear. + +It was a most interesting and instructive chase, and the enemy +retreated so fast that it was with the greatest difficulty that we +could keep up and maintain contact with him. The battery had +reluctantly to abandon a captured German field gun which had been doing +valiant work as the seventh gun for several days against its late +owners, for we had neither time or the means to convey surplus +equipment along with us. It was the kind of day that one reads about in +“Field Artillery Training” or even endeavours to imitate while +manœuvring out in rest, but for the first time we were doing it in +reality. The battery dropped into action on innumerable occasions +during the course of the day, and had only time to fire a few rounds +before the enemy had decamped out of range. Then we would limber up +with all speed, the teams waiting the orthodox two hundred yards in +rear and to the flank, and gallop forward and take up a new position +right out in the open, and help the enemy on his way with a few +reminders that we were up and after him, and that he would do well to +hurry. + +By evening our foes had snugly entrenched themselves behind the great +Hindenburg barrier, and we again came face to fare with this formidable +obstacle. The line had, meanwhile, been kept in an excellent state of +preservation, and it was quite out of the question to make a frontal +attack on it without first cutting the belts of broad wire and treating +the emplacements to a prolonged bombardment. Another formidable +hindrance in our way and placed between us, moreover, was the famous +Canal Du Nord, which was entirely dry in most places. It was a +considerable breadth across, and could obviously not be bridged as long +as the enemy kept watch over it from the opposite side, and it varied +from forty to seventy feet in depth. Thus, for the time being, the line +settled down stationary until this task could be accomplished, for it +was not the intention of our Command that we should sit down for the +winter before this great fortress, as our enemies wished and expected +us to do. + +Our opponents were too busily engaged removing their heavy pieces of +Artillery back to a place of safety to subject us to a great amount of +annoyance, and, as the weather remained good, the work of bringing our +heavies up was accomplished quickly and effectively. The battery took +up a position in our former front line facing Bourlon Wood, with the +ruined village of Mouevres immediately ahead, while the forward section +was placed in part of the Hindenburg line itself, south-east of +Pronville. Wire cutting was undertaken and carried out by all field +batteries, and the heavies pounded enemy emplacements and communication +trenches in the rear. + +Bombing by aircraft became intensive on both sides, and the enemy +adopted new tactics by coming over after dark, and, waiting for the gun +flashes, proceeded to drop bombs on the batteries. A fine spectacle was +witnessed two nights in succession in the form of a super-Gotha bombing +machine brought down in flames. Our small fighting planes were in the +habit of flying at a high altitude, keeping watch over our lines and +lying in wait for these monsters. As soon as one of them was picked out +in the rays of a searchlight, others would concentrate at once on it, +whereupon the archies immediately opened fire. Then far above a light +would twinkle out several times, which was a sign for the anti-aircraft +batteries to cease fire. Everything remained still for a while, the +searchlights always focused on their prey, which endeavoured to dodge +out of the brilliant light, but in vain, owing to its unwieldiness. +Then suddenly from out of the darkness a little object shot alongside +the giant plane and spat tracer bullets into it, whereupon it instantly +caught fire, and slowly heeling over commenced its downward journey to +destruction. + +Fierce fighting continued to the south, and by a series of brilliant +operations our troops had everywhere come in contact with the +Hindenburg Line, and commenced pounding its defences for the further +advance. At the beginning of the fourth week in September preparations +were almost complete for the coming assault, which would require all +the energy and fortitude we could display. The Division was +side-slipped down to the neighbourhood of Havrincourt, as it was +familiar ground to us, after our experiences in November and December +of the previous year. The policy at this juncture was, as far as it +could be carried out, to place Divisions in localities with which they +had already become acquainted. Our battle position was situated on the +outskirts of the small hamlet of Demicourt, and we were to cross the +canal a few hours after zero by means of a ramp already prepared and +carefully camouflaged at a point where it passed through our lines. If +all went according to expectations we were to follow a line due east, +and, passing to the north of Havrincourt, take up a position, already +known to us, on the railway cutting south of Flesquieres, although as +yet it was in enemy possession. + +The great battle opened on the morning of the 27th inst., under +excellent conditions, and it is now known to everyone how the crossing +of the canal was effected by means of scaling ladders, and, in some +instances, by the use of life-belts. + +From first to last the day went smoothly and well, and by nightfall the +great Hindenburg Line, upon which the enemy depended so much and in +which he had such faith, was everywhere behind us, and we were through, +at last, to open country beyond! + +It only remained for the Allies’ great Commander-in-Chief to deliver +the final knock-out blow at his own time and discretion. + +At this time the writer was reluctantly forced to leave the Battery on +account of ill health, and was sent home, and it is a source of keen +regret to him that on that account he missed the closing weeks of the +great campaign. + +It is now a matter of history how our Armies, after hot and incessant +fighting, swept the enemy divisions out of France. + +On Armistice Day, the Division was in possession of Maubeuge, and thus +the Guards found themselves on territory which they had occupied in the +early days of the War, prior to the retreat from Mons. + +After three and a half years of strenuous warfare, the Battery is now +lying at rest in Cologne, where it keeps its silent “Watch on the +Rhine.” + +THE END. + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THREE YEARS IN FRANCE WITH THE GUNS *** + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will +be renamed. + +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the +United States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. 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A. Rose</title> +<link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> +<style type="text/css"> + +body { margin-left: 20%; + margin-right: 20%; + text-align: justify; } + +h1, h2, h3, h4, h5 {text-align: center; font-style: normal; font-weight: +normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-top: .5em; margin-bottom: .5em;} + +h1 {font-size: 300%; + margin-top: 0.6em; + margin-bottom: 0.6em; + letter-spacing: 0.12em; + word-spacing: 0.2em; + text-indent: 0em;} +h2 {font-size: 150%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 1em;} +h3 {font-size: 130%; margin-top: 1em;} +h4 {font-size: 120%;} +h5 {font-size: 110%;} + +hr {width: 80%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always; margin-top: 4em;} + +p {text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: 0.25em; + margin-bottom: 0.25em; } + +p.letter {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; } + +p.right {text-align: right; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; } + +div.fig { display:block; + margin:0 auto; + text-align:center; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em;} + +p.caption {font-weight: bold; + text-align: center; } + +a:link {color:blue; text-decoration:none} +a:visited {color:blue; text-decoration:none} +a:hover {color:red} + +</style> + +</head> + +<body> + +<div style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Three years in France with the Guns, by C. A. Rose</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world 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 <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you +are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the +country where you are located before using this eBook. +</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Three years in France with the Guns<br /> + Being Episodes in the life of a Field Battery</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: C. A. Rose</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: November 14, 2006 [eBook #19814]<br /> +[Most recently updated: October 18, 2021]</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: Geetu Melwani, Christine P. Travers, Sigal Alon and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team</div> +<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THREE YEARS IN FRANCE WITH THE GUNS ***</div> + +<div class="fig" style="width:55%;"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" style="width:100%;" alt="[Illustration]" /> +</div> + +<h1>Three years in France with the Guns</h1> + +<h3>BEING<br /> +EPISODES IN THE LIFE OF A FIELD<br /> +BATTERY.</h3> + +<div class="fig" style="width:100%;"> +<img src="images/img001.jpg" width="100" height="103" alt="[Illustration]" /> +</div> + +<h2>BY C.A. ROSE, M.C.,<br /> +LATE OF THE<br /> +ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY.</h2> + +<h5> Printed By<br /> +The Allen Lithographic Co., Ltd.,<br /> +Kirkcaldy</h5> + +<hr /> + +<p> +[Transcriber’s note: Obvious printer’s errors have been +corrected.<br /> +The original spelling has been retained.<br /> +—The caption of the illustrations were unclear.<br /> +—Page 50: “serious of raids” has been replaced by +“series of raids”<br /> +—Page 76: “must against” has been replaced by “much +against”] +</p> + +<h2>Contents</h2> + +<table summary="" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto"> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap00">INTRODUCTION</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap01">I. Breaking Us In</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap02">II. Our First Battle</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap03">III. “Peace Warfare.”</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap04">IV. In “The Salient.”</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap05">V. On the Somme</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap06">VI. Messines</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap07">VII. Ypres Again</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap08">VIII. Cambrai</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap09">IX. At Arras</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap10">X. March the 21st</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap11">XI. The Turn of the Tide</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap12">XII. Through the Hindenburg Line</a></td> +</tr> + +</table> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap00"></a>INTRODUCTION</h2> + +<p> +These brief notes of experiences with the guns for thirty-eight months in +France were primarily penned for my own satisfaction. Friends who read the +manuscript expressed much interest in it, and added the hope that it might be +given a more permanent form. Hence it is that it is now printed for private +circulation. +</p> + +<p> +The story is a simple record of the fortunes of my own Battery and Brigade, and +is intended as a tribute to the good comradeship which existed, under all +conditions, among all ranks. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +C.A.R. +</p> + +<p class="letter"> +Edinburgh,<br /> +<i>January</i>, 1919. +</p> + +<div class="fig" style="width:100%;"> +<img src="images/img002.jpg" width="600" height="384" +alt="The “Grey Battery” at St. Omer, May 1917" /> +<p class="caption">The “Grey Battery” at St. Omer, May 1917</p> +</div> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap01"></a>CHAPTER I.<br /> +Breaking Us In</h2> + +<p> +On a morning early in August, 1915, the Brigade disembarked at Havre without +mishap to man, horse, or material, and proceeded to a Rest Camp on the +outskirts of the town. We were in France at last! The same evening the +Batteries started to entrain, and every two hours a complete unit was +despatched up the line—to an unknown destination. The men received +refreshments at various Haltes, and the horses were duly watered and fed, but +the journey was, on the whole, long and tedious. On one occasion only was the +monotony broken, and that unwittingly, by the humour of one of the officers. In +the course of the evening, the train stopped at a small station, and the +compartment in which the officers were settled drew up in front of the Buffet. +Some one asked where we were, and a subaltern, anxious to display his +newly-acquired knowledge of French, replied, “Bouvette,” which +called forth no response. Shortly afterwards the train proceeded on its way, +and the occupants of the carriage settled themselves down to sleep. All passed +quietly for the next couple of hours—then the train stopped once more, +and, as luck would have it, again our carriage came to a standstill directly +opposite the buffet of the station. At once a question was asked as to our +whereabouts. The same subaltern, shaking himself out of a deep slumber, +stretched, roused himself, and, peering out of the window, exclaimed, +“Good Lor’, still at this beastly hole, +‘Bouvette’!” He expressed much surprise at the +“unseemly mirth,” as he described it, which followed!! +</p> + +<p> +After detraining, the Battery marched through beautiful country, which reminded +one of the Borders, as it was not unlike the valley of the Tweed, and we were +at once taken to the hearts of the inhabitants of the good village of +Seningham, which place was destined to be our home for the next few days. The +officers were afforded spacious accommodation in the house of the Maire, whilst +the men had comfortable billets in the neighbourhood. Time was spent making our +unit shipshape after its travels by land and sea, and the “hairies” +obtained as much grazing as possible, to make them fit for what was in store +for them. It was wonderful how quickly the men adapted themselves to French +ways, and much amusement was caused by their eager, if somewhat unsuccessful, +attempts to master the language of our Allies. +</p> + +<p> +When it became known that the officers were anxious to increase their knowledge +of the language of the country, the maidens of the village vied with one +another to obtain posts as instructresses, and there was nearly a free fight +amongst them for the possession of our worthy Senior Subaltern, whose taking +ways did not fail to catch their attention! +</p> + +<p> +But, alas! our peaceful warfare was not to be for long! One morning sudden +orders came through to prepare for the line in a couple of days’ time. +All was instant bustle, extra grooming was given to the horses, and finishing +touches were put to the howitzers and vehicles. We were to be given a trial in +action to show how we would comport ourselves before joining the +“Feet” of our own Division, the Guards, who at that time were out +at rest. For this purpose we were to be placed under the orders of the C.R.A. +of an Indian Division, to reinforce the Batteries already in positions and +receive instruction from them. +</p> + +<p> +At last the morning arrived to move off, the column, skirting the town of St. +Omer, took the main road to Hazebrouck, and, as we passed through the village +of Arques, we caught a first glimpse of our future infantry. They appeared +equally keen on seeing their new artillery, and inspected us with a critical +eye. The march was made in easy stages, and on the morning of the third day the +Brigade arrived at Merville, a quaint old town in Flemish Flanders. After a +hasty lunch, the officers rode ahead, in order to get into touch with the unit +we were to support in the line, and another amusing incident happened <i>en +route</i>. One of the Junior Officers owned a sturdy mare, whose reputation as +a charger was apt to be ridiculed by his companions, as she was notorious for +her slow gait. When the party had proceeded some distance at the trot, +“Halting Hilda” was observed, to the astonishment of everyone, to +be gradually taking the lead. This fact called forth the remark from her +master, “By Jove, she is pulling extraordinarily hard to day: what can be +the matter with the animal?” It was then discovered that the rider had +been at her mercy for the last couple of miles, the bit clanking merrily from +side to side under her great jaw. In the hurry and excitement of departure, +after lunch! the bit had not been replaced in her mouth! +</p> + +<p> +The afternoon was spent in reconnoitering the gun positions allotted to us, +which were the alternative positions of the units already in line. As a rule, +each battery makes a second or alternative gun position, in case it should be +shelled out of its existing one, so that no delay takes place in getting into +action again. When night fell there was subdued excitement in the wagon line as +the time drew near to take the guns “in.” This was actually the +beginning of our first venture—would we have the luck to get there +without being caught in the enemy’s harassing fire? How would we behave +under shell-fire: would we be steady or otherwise? All these and many other +questions flashed through our minds, for a great deal depends, more than one +would believe, on how a new and inexperienced unit receives its baptism of +fire. +</p> + +<p> +At length a start was made, and the Battery moved off, and soon turned down the +long, straight main road leading to La Bassée, the trees on either side showing +signs of shrapnel scars, and even in the darkness it could be seen that the +cottages were, for the most part, in ruins. It felt distinctly eerie as the +small column proceeded silently on its way without showing lights of any +description; the stillness and darkness broken now and again by the barking of +a gun as we drew nearer the battery zone, and by an occasional Verey Light, +which seemed to reveal us in all our nakedness. That long stretch of road +seemed interminable—were we never going to reach our destination? +However, all remained quiet throughout our progress, and at last we arrived at +the entrance to the gun position, which was to be our home for the next +fortnight. The guns were speedily unlimbered and man-handled into the pits +awaiting their reception, the ammunition was unloaded from the vehicles, and +the teams were returned to the wagon line. +</p> + +<p> +The following morning the pieces were “layed out” on our particular +zone, and we had time to look round and take stock of our new abode, which was +a farmhouse standing in the centre of an orchard adjoining the main road. The +building itself was by no means intact, although, as yet, habitable. It gave us +enough shelter of a kind, and we soon adjusted ourselves to the prevailing +conditions, and the outhouses surrounding it afforded ample accommodation for +the detachments. The gun pits were cunningly concealed in the front portion of +the orchard, special care having been taken against the prying eyes of hostile +aeroplanes. We were fortunate in the choice of position made for our first time +in the line, for two reasons, firstly, it was an interesting +zone—including the village of Neuve Chapelle now immediately behind our +front line—and, secondly, it was quiet. The country there is extremely +flat, with the exception of Aubers Ridge, which, occupied by the enemy, +overlooked us to a certain extent, although the many trees and woods prevented +his having an uninterrupted view. Our tuition began at once, and we were +conducted to the front line through innumerable communication trenches, which, +at first, reminded one of a maze at an exhibition, the only difference being +that numerous notice-boards directed our movements. +</p> + +<p> +There we were welcomed, with smiling faces, by men of a Ghurka battalion, their +white teeth and flashing eyes showing up their brown skins. Now and then they +would stop sharpening their deadly-looking kukris, their dearest possession, to +allow us to pass along the trench. Nothing delighted these brave little men +more than to be permitted to go on a silent raid at night, when they wormed +themselves through the wire in “No Man’s Land,” and did as +much damage on the other side as possible. They have been known to enter the +enemy trenches without a sound, killing everyone within reach, and to return +radiant, quite unscathed. When questioned as to why they had not brought in any +prisoners for identification purposes, they would merely roll their eyes, shrug +their shoulders, and say, “Enemy all quiet, he asleep,” and calmly +remove the still warm gore from their knives! Continuing on our way, we next +struck a Highland regiment, the necessary complement of the one of stout little +men just left behind. It was most interesting, as one had heard so much about +the traditional good comradeship existing, in India, between Ghurka and +Highlander, and here they were still side by side in France. Their mutual +admiration is boundless and unconcealed, and it was most amusing to watch the +little men aping the ways of the big Highlanders, who look huge in comparison +with them. The Ghurka regiments have their own pipe bands, and play them as if +they, too, had been born and bred in the mountains and glens of Scotland. +</p> + +<p> +Soon we came to a fire bay, specially well placed to obtain a good view of the +enemy trenches, which had been converted into what is known as an O.P., +<i>i.e.</i>, an artillery observation post. These O.P.’s are manned +during daylight by the F.O.O. (Forward Observation Officer) and his signaller +assistants. Their job is to keep a close watch on hostile trenches, watching +for any unusual movement or for the appearance of new constructive works, such +as machine gun emplacements or new saps. The O.P. has numerous wires leading +into it, and these come from all the batteries in immediate support of that +part of the line, which are jointly responsible for its defence. Our own +signallers had been out early, and a wire had already been carefully laid and +labelled from our gun position to the O.P., so we were now ready to register +our howitzers on some definite object behind the enemy lines. A house, or some +such landmark which is shewn on our trench maps, is usually chosen to calibrate +upon. There is little trouble in effecting this, but, at first, there is some +difficulty in following the rounds as they fall, through a periscope, owing to +its small field of vision. It was, however, imperative to make use of that +instrument, in this case, as an enemy sniper, watchful and on the alert, had +already seen the top of it, and from time to time a bullet passed overhead +unpleasantly close. This served to remind us to be discreet and to run no risks +by exposing ourselves in the slightest degree above the parapet. Sometimes it +is very difficult to restrain one’s enthusiasm when there is an +interesting shoot taking place. +</p> + +<p> +The pieces being duly registered, the Battery is now ready for any emergency, +and theoretically we can engage any target in our arc of fire. It is then +essential to learn the country in hostile territory, and one looks out for +likely targets and for points at which one can inconvenience the enemy by +keeping him under constant harassing fire. This work must necessarily be done +from a point of vantage where a good wide view can be obtained, and, in most +cases, a house, tree, or high piece of ground well behind the lines, is +selected for a Rear O.P. +</p> + +<p> +In an incredibly short space of time every officer learns the country off by +heart, and can bring any gun to bear on a particular target at short notice. At +first Junior Officers are allowed practice shoots on targets well behind the +enemy lines, and as they gain confidence and experience, are entrusted with +“close shoots,” <i>i.e.</i>, firing on hostile emplacements, etc., +in the front line, a job which requires extreme caution and accuracy, as +“No Man’s Land” averages not more than 200 yards in width in +most places. Batteries can always communicate with Battalion Headquarters in +the line, a wire, usually buried, leading from there to our Brigade +Headquarters, and each Battery has its own private wire to the latter place. In +the same way one can be linked up with nearly every unit in a Division by means +of an Exchange run by the Royal Engineers. +</p> + +<p> +A few days sufficed us to make ourselves quite at home, and officers went +freely about “seeking whom they might devour,” visited old +established O.P.’s, and searched for new or better ones. It is a curious +fact that the average subaltern is never fully satisfied with an O.P., and is +always bent on discovering “something better,” although in few +cases is his ambition realised! One officer favours this O.P., another that, +and on this occasion the one which our worthy Battery Commander had a +preference for was a most unpleasant place, commonly known as “The +Doll’s House,” though why so called no one could tell. At any rate, +it was an abode to be avoided on all possible occasions, and the subalterns +were quite convinced it was the registering place of all the hostile batteries +within range and vision. At any rate, we daily found less and less of the +building, until one day the staircase was blown away as well as the perch on +top which afforded us our view. Great was the relief when the B.C. at last +declared the O.P. “out of action” until further notice. +</p> + +<p> +Nearly every O.P. has an appropriate name given to it, and so we repaired to +“Stink Farm” after abandoning our old love! We put in most useful +days of practice there, and the knowledge and experience gained was invaluable. +Our thanks were due to the enemy for his consideration in allowing us to +conduct our daily tasks almost unmolested: he showed himself to be most +lethargic and sleepy, and did not waken up unless we were unusually energetic. +Perhaps his chief reason for remaining so inactive was the absence of any heavy +guns on our side. Our largest piece was a 60 pdr., and he may have thought mere +Field Artillery beneath his consideration. Nor was he more active in the air; +his planes rarely passed over our lines, and when they did, it was at so great +a height that it was quite impossible for them to gather information. However, +one day, we were extremely fortunate in seeing a hostile plane, that had +ventured to cross over our lines at a lower altitude, brought down in flames by +a direct hit from an “Archie” battery lying in wait close behind +our own position. It is a rare sight, for, to tell the truth, anti-aircraft +batteries are not held in particularly high respect by anyone except by those +of their own ilk, and on only two other occasions did we ever see the like +again. +</p> + +<p> +Our fortnight soon sped by, and we were quite reluctant when the time came to +go “out.” We left our neighbours, who had befriended us so well, +with the sincere hope that we would have the good fortune to meet and lie +alongside of them again in the future. This hope, however, was not destined to +be fulfilled. We retraced our steps through Merville and Aire to the same area +from whence we came, to a village called Nielles, in order to concentrate as a +Division, which, when formed, was designated the Guards Division. +</p> + +<p> +The inhabitants, as usual, extended a warm welcome to us and showed us every +consideration, and we settled down to enjoy the peaceful surroundings bathed in +the warm and pleasant September sunshine, while the Senior Subaltern availed +himself of the opportunity of again laying siege to the hearts of his former +conquests at Seningham close by. Our own C.R.A. came to visit us here, and the +officers were severally introduced to him. He expressed satisfaction at the +report which came to him from the line, concerning our conduct in action, and +added that the high opinion formed of us at home had in no wise been +diminished, and that our reputation merited the distinction conferred on us of +being selected as the Artillery of the Guards from among the many units of the +new Army. +</p> + +<p> +Thus we waited, confident in the belief that, whatever we were in the future +called upon to do, we would at least put up a good show, and determined to be a +credit to the Division of which we now formed a part. We had not long to wait, +whispers passed round that we would be up and doing at no distant date, and +these rumours proved to be well founded. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap02"></a>CHAPTER II.<br /> +Our First Battle.</h2> + +<p> +Our marching orders came within the next few days. Each unit was provided with +portable bridges, which were carried under the wagon bodies, and this, and +several other preparations, gave us a good indication that we were out for +business. A couple of days trekking brought us to the village of Nedonchel, +which proved to be another place of happy memory to our Senior Subaltern. Here +we were given a rough idea of the part we were to play in the coming +proceedings. Two army corps were to attack, on a six mile front, in the +neighbourhood of Loos and, if the assault was successful, the corps in reserve, +which included our Division, was to go through and exploit the victory to its +fullest advantage. We were to take no part in the initial attack. +</p> + +<p> +Large masses of troops were being moved up behind the battle area, and, in +order to screen our movements from hostile aircraft, the latter stages of the +journey were to be made under cover of darkness, so the whole of the next day +was spent in resting. At nightfall a diversion was caused by a Cavalry Division +passing through the village on its way up, and a splendid sight it presented, +as one famous regiment followed swiftly on another. It was now almost time for +us to make a start, and the good lady of the house had remained out of bed to +brew us hot coffee and see us off the premises. As we were about to depart she +told us that her old mother, aged 88, who was in the next room, had expressed +the desire to see us for a moment, and so we were conducted to the old +lady’s bedside. She was lying telling her beads, but sat up as we +approached and beckoned to each officer in turn, who advanced, knelt, and +received a blessing. The inhabitants knew well that a big battle was to be +fought quite soon, as the little village had been the scene of great activity +during the past few days and, although it was a considerable distance from the +line, the preliminary bombardment could be distinctly heard. The low muffled +rumble was incessant, and, to-night, seemed, if anything, more intense. Shortly +after midnight we set off and disappeared into the darkness, followed by words +of good cheer from the villagers and shouts of “Bon chance, messieurs, +bon chance.” +</p> + +<p> +Passing through Bruay we arrived a few miles behind the battle front on the +morning of the assault, which was delivered at an early hour, and soon the news +came back that, so far, everything was going well; the village of Loos had +already fallen into our hands. As the day wore on, however, and the expected +orders to advance were not forthcoming, we suspected that all was not as it +should be and our fears were confirmed soon afterwards by instructions being +given to prepare to bivouac overnight on the ground close by. What actually +happened was this:—The initial attack was successful in capturing and +overrunning the enemy’s front line trenches over the whole area, but, on +advancing to the second trench system a great deal of wire was found to have +been left unbroken or untouched by our artillery, and this held the infantry up +at vital places. The attack, however, was pressed with great courage and +determination, and in some places the flood of men swept on, but, +unfortunately, in others, little or no progress was made. The line, +consequently, soon presented a crooked, irregular shape, which made the +situation difficult and obscure. The enemy, moreover, had anticipated the +attack and had large reinforcements at hand which were at once thrown in, and +after a ding-dong struggle throughout the day the advance came to an abrupt +standstill. Two Divisions from the Reserve Corps were then sent in, and, on the +following afternoon, the Guards attacked and helped to a large extent in +straightening out a considerable portion of the line. It was not until +nightfall of the third day that we entered the battle and took up a position +immediately north of Vermelles Station in the back garden of a row of damaged +villas. On our way “in,” a couple of cavalry regiments, which had +been holding Loos for the last two days and which had just been relieved, +passed us. There passed also the remnant of one of the Scottish Divisions which +had fought so valiantly and paid so heavy a price. Footsore, weary, and caked +with mud from top to toe, with every sign of what they had been through upon +them, and heavily laden with “souvenirs” in addition to their full +kit, the men could scarcely crawl along. However, just as one battalion came +abreast of us, in such condition, the pipes tuned up and at once every head was +erect and not a man was out of step as they swung past us; such is the moral +force of the bagpipes. It was one of those moments in which a lump rises in the +throat and a thrill runs down the spine. +</p> + +<p> +In our new position we speedily learnt what we could do and what we could not +do. For instance, the signallers were able to introduce electric light into our +abode by tapping a live wire which ran outside, from one fosse to the next, for +we were now in the Lens coal district with mines dotted about here and there. +On the other hand, we soon learnt to refrain from sleeping or showing lights in +the second storey of our billet which was evidently under direct observation by +the enemy, who did not take long to acquaint us with the fact. +</p> + +<p> +There was always a good deal of firing to be done each day, for, although the +battle may be said to have finished after four or five days, there were several +side-shows before the line was adjusted to our liking, and the enemy’s +fire was almost continuous. This bothered the F.O.O. parties considerably, and +communication was difficult to maintain for more than a short time between the +front line and Battery. The wire was frequently broken in numerous places, and +this kept signallers and linesmen working at high pressure to repair the +damage. The O.P.’s were moderately good, with the exception of one in +“Gun Trench,” where our men held a portion, then came a sand bagged +wall occupied on the other side by our opponents which they were able to enter +by a <b>T</b>-shaped communication trench, then another sand-bagged wall with +our infantry beyond. Neither side could shell this trench for fear of injury to +their own party, but this did not prevent a lively exchange of bombs, +intermingled with various forms and sizes of “Minnies,” which were +hurled at frequent intervals. Sniping was also rampant, and periscopes, no +matter how small, survived not longer than a few minutes. It was from this +delightful spot that one of the subalterns arrived at the Battery one evening +with his head swathed in bandages like a Sultan’s turban. He had been +trying conclusions with a “Minnie,” and, as this was in the days +before the introduction of the steel helmet, the latter had easily come out on +top. When the wound was ascertained to be nothing like as serious as the size +of the bandage seemed to indicate, he was removed to the wagon line amid jeers +from his brother officers, and a few days’ rest sufficed to bring him +back to duty again. +</p> + +<p> +Now, in one portion of the zone which we were covering, “No Man’s +Land” extended some 1500 yards in depth, and midway, lying in the valley, +were what appeared to be two derelict enemy guns partially camouflaged This +aroused the curiosity of the Staff, who called for volunteers to go out and +make an investigation and report as to the condition of the sights, etc. Our +B.C. gallantly offered his services, in spite of the fact that he was over six +feet in height, and presented a most conspicuous figure, and would not be +deterred. He set off crawling through the long grass on his perilous journey, +and there was a huge grin on his face when he returned. After his report went +in we ascertained that the two pieces were nothing more than cleverly +constructed dummies formed from cart wheels, telegraph poles and trunks of +trees, but it was not until he almost came up to them that he made the +discovery. +</p> + +<p> +The detachments meanwhile had settled down, making improvements to their +billets and strengthening the gun pits, and were already proving themselves +seasoned warriors. On one occasion a nasty accident happened, due to the +explosion of a howitzer, caused, as was afterwards proved, by a faulty shell. +The complete gun crew, with the exception of the No. 1 in charge, was wounded. +Three of their number were temporarily buried by the earth thrown up by the +explosion, and it was probably due to that fact that no one was killed. The pit +naturally fell to bits and the debris was indescribable, but the Sergeant +managed to disentangle himself, and, standing stiffly to attention, reported to +the officer on duty, “No. 2 gun out of action, sir!” No time was +lost in digging out the injured men, and it was only found necessary to +evacuate three of the number to the nearest dressing station—the +remainder flatly refusing to go. The layer, in particular, deserved great +credit for his grit, for, in spite of having been buried, and having scarcely a +hair left on his head and devoid of eyebrows, not to mention the shock to his +nervous system, he was again serving his gun 24 hours later, on the arrival of +the new piece. Some idea of the force of the explosion can be gathered from the +fact that the barrel was found, in two pieces, some 150 yards away, having been +blown over a railway embankment, while the breech block, which weighs about a +cwt., was discovered, after a 12 hours’ search, embedded in the ground +six feet below the pit. At this period a considerable number of +“prematures” were taking place, and, on one occasion, we ascribed +this wounding of two gunners to this cause, but afterwards found out our +mistake. An S.O.S. went up after dark, and, at the time of firing No. 3 gun, +the layer and another gunner were both badly hit by what appeared to be a +“premature” just outside the bore of the piece. Throughout this +period we were firing nothing but high explosive shells. Great therefore was +our surprise when, three weeks later, letters arrived from both men, who were +in hospital, to say that in each case shrapnel bullets had been extracted from +them! What had actually occurred was this: At the same time that the trigger +was pulled and the shell discharged, a “pip squeak” must have burst +in front of the mouth of the gun pit, driving the bullets through the entrance. +</p> + +<p> +Day after day passed in much the same way, neither side attempting to make an +attack on any large scale, but on the morning of the 8th October, it was +observed that the hostile shelling was not normal, and had increased in extent +along the whole recently captured area. Preparations were therefore rapidly +made to meet any eventuality, and, as the day advanced and his bombardment +gained in strength, it was apparent to everyone that the enemy contemplated an +attack. At noon orders were received to be ready, at any time, to lay down a +destructive barrage on a certain zone. The Staff had happily anticipated the +point of attack accurately, and, by the time the enemy concentrated his final +burst of lire on his objectives, every gun in the neighbourhood which could +bear, was trained on the vital spot ready to open out. When at last the time +arrived, the bombardment ceased abruptly, and the enemy’s infantry +advanced to the assault wave upon wave, for the most part in mass formation and +with arms linked together. Emerging from a wood, they had a considerable +distance to cover across open ground before approaching our trenches, so both +our infantry and artillery fire was at first withheld. This gave encouragement +to the enemy, and, as his bombardment had been pretty severe, he expected more +or less of a “walk over,” and did not reckon on what was to follow. +When he had advanced to within 200 yards of our lines, suddenly rapid fire +spurted out from our rifles and machine guns, and guns of every description +spat H.E. and shrapnel, and his ranks were literally mown down. Then a curtain +was put down behind—a solid wall of fire—which made it practically +impossible for the troops to retire, and their plight was beyond all hope. +While they were cogitating whether to come on or go back, they were slaughtered +in heaps—raked by the deadly machine guns. Very few indeed survived to +tell the tale, but one prisoner claimed to be most indignant with the whole +proceedings, and expressed his opinion that we did not “play the +game” by withholding our fire, and that they imagined they had only to +walk into our trenches and take possession of them. This proved to be the last +big hostile counter-attack attempted, and indeed both sides were content to +remain in their own trenches. We made a smaller attack the next week, but it +was also unsuccessful, and little or no ground was gained. The enemy artillery +devoted themselves principally to counter battery work, and several British +batteries, which were ill concealed, had a most unpleasant time. Free use was +made of lachrymatory shell, our first taste of it. One clear, moonlight night +the battery was firing at a slow rate, and apparently the enemy saw our +flashes, for he speedily turned a 4.2 battery on to us, his shells landing just +short of each gun pit. No casualties resulted, but a shell entered the window +of one detachment’s billet and exploded, completely wrecking the room and +destroying the men’s equipment. Soon afterwards instructions were issued +to change positions, and this was effected without loss or mishap. The new +position was more favourably placed, some little way in front of the Fosse at +Annequin, and had been constructed by the French. We were now covering the +Hohenzollern Redoubt of evil memory. Another O.P. was constructed on the +railway embankment on the La Bassée-Vermelles line, which lent itself +favourably to the construction of a shaft for protection, the soil, for the +most part, being chalk, as indeed it was in all the surrounding neighbourhood. +It was our misfortune at this position to say farewell to our Battery +Commander, who left us to take up a Staff appointment with the Mediterranean +Expeditionary Force, and all ranks were sorry to lose a leader who had thus far +shared all their joys and sorrows. At the same time we were fortunate in +securing in his successor one who quickly and tactfully took up the reins of +office, and the Battery continued to run on equally smooth lines. +</p> + +<p> +It now became quite evident that operations would not resume the nature of a +battle, and it was no surprise to receive intimation that the Division would +shortly retire from the conflict. Nobody was sorry at the prospect of going +out, although useful lessons had been learnt and considerable experience had +undoubtedly been gained. +</p> + +<p> +The weather was beginning to break, and towards the end of the first week in +November we withdrew to the village of Sailly, preparatory to marching into the +next area for which we were bound. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap03"></a>CHAPTER III.<br /> +“Peace Warfare.”</h2> + +<p> +When it became known that our destination was to be the sector immediately +adjoining the one we had already been in, facing Aubers Ridge, our delight knew +no bounds, for all were well aware that that locality was considered a +“cushy” spot which augured well for the coming winter. +</p> + +<p> +No delay was made in leaving Sailly, and, proceeding by way of Bethune and St. +Venant, we arrived at a small hamlet midway between the latter town and +Merville. The Battery remained in rest for a few days, while a couple of +“subs.” with a working party commenced construction on the new +position selected by the B.C. This entailed a considerable amount of labour, +for timber and all other material had to be carted from the R.E. dump at La +Gorgue some distance away. With an eye to comfort as well as concealment, it +was decided to dig the pits in an orchard, along some old assembly trenches +which had been used by troops before the battle of Neuve Chapelle. Close by was +a cluster of cottages and outhouses in a wonderful state of preservation. +</p> + +<p> +By the end of the week the guns were pulled in, although there still remained a +lot to do on the position. The house in which the officers quartered themselves +was intact, with the exception of a few slates on the roof and several broken +window panes. Moreover, there was a little furniture left and there were some +fine open fireplaces, so we had every reason to be satisfied. Within a short +space of time the gun pits were completed and camouflaged in keeping with the +nature of the ground, and great assistance was rendered us during this +undertaking by an airman who flew over the position from time to time and +pointed out the various deficiencies. At last when he reported that the +position could not be seen from a height of 2000 feet we concluded, rightly, +that nothing was to be feared in that direction. Thus we settled down to a +period commonly known as “Peace Warfare.” This may be summed up us +a time when one experiences the maximum amount of pleasure that is possible +under war conditions, with the minimum amount of discomfort. The enemy were +completely deceived as to our whereabouts, and took us to be in another vacant +position some way down the road, which was liberally shelled by them whenever +fire was opened by us, and we used to encourage this procedure by occasionally +ceasing in order to lead him into the belief that he was doing us damage. At +all events, the position was never shelled the whole time we were in possession +of it—a somewhat unique experience for a battery in France. +</p> + +<p> +The infantry were also kept busy at the commencement of this period, as we had +relieved another Indian Division, and on this sector the parapet had been built +for the most part by Ghurkas, who, however stout fellows they may be at heart, +have not the stature of Guardsmen. The result was the latter found their heads +and shoulders showing well above the parapet, and this necessitated the +immediate heightening of the same some two to three feet. +</p> + +<p> +The O.P. duties were divided equally between the subalterns, each doing a third +daily. The wagon lines were situated east of La Gorgue within easy reach, and +frequent visits were paid to them, although no officer remained there +permanently. +</p> + +<p> +During our stay here the Battery came under the direct orders of the C.R.A. and +was attached to no group in particular. Various tasks were alloted to us, and +these were, as a rule, most interesting and instructive. To further increase +our knowledge the B.C. gave the majority of these shoots to the Junior +Officers, briefly explaining the orders and then leaving us to our own devices +by departing for the rest of the day to the wagon lines on the pretext that he +had a birthday to celebrate. He had many of them. This plan was much to our +liking, and tremendous keenness was displayed by all. Great pains were taken to +carry out everything to the letter, and the signallers also carried out their +part with equal spirit. The gun detachments at this time rose to a high pitch +of proficiency and could get 10 rounds a minute out of the howitzers, which, +considering the double load and triple movement, was by no means a bad +performance. +</p> + +<p> +A fine level field ran alongside of the position, and it was speedily made use +of as a recreation ground. Goal posts were erected, and often a hot contest at +football would be interrupted by the shrill blast of a whistle summoning the +men hastily to action. Their task completed, they would calmly return and +finish the game. +</p> + +<p> +All kinds of mutual understandings existed between the opposing sides in this +area, which we soon learnt and respected. For instance, the village of Aubers +lay behind the enemy lines approximately at the same distance that Laventie did +on our side. Both were used as Brigade Headquarters and filled with troops. +Neither town was shelled unless the enemy accidentally dropped a shell into it, +when instant retaliation was forthcoming. On one occasion the placid calm of +Laventie was rudely shaken through the instrumentality of a young officer in +one of our sister brigades who, unconscious of what he was doing, planted +several shells into Aubers. The consequence was the following conversation took +place over the telephone between Headquarters and the offending subaltern. +</p> + +<p> +“Hullo! Is that Ack Battery?” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, sir. Just a moment, sir. I’ll put you through to the mess, +sir.” +</p> + +<p> +“Right you are, but look sharp about it, please. Yes. Hullo! Is that an +officer? Well, I say, have you been firing just now?” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, sir. So-and-so is doing a practice shoot from the O.P.” +</p> + +<p> +“Put me on to him at once.” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, sir.” +</p> + +<p> +A brief interval follows, in which various mutterings are overheard by the +signaller in the exchange, who smiles to himself as he continues to listen. +</p> + +<p> +“Hullo! hullo!! Damn these young officers! Will they never learn to +answer quickly? Slow, slow is not the word for it. Will have to go round and +shake them up a bit. This is absurd. Hullo! there. Hullo! Is he never going to +come? Exchange, can’t you get him?” +</p> + +<p> +“Just a moment, sir.” +</p> + +<p> +“Hullo! hullo!!” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, sir. So-and-so speaking.” +</p> + +<p> +“What the devil are you firing at, young sir?” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, sir, I was given permission to fire a few +rounds——” +</p> + +<p> +“Where?” +</p> + +<p> +“At the cross roads, sir.” +</p> + +<p> +“Seen any of them fall?” +</p> + +<p> +“Not as yet, sir.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, for God’s sake stop firing at once, sir. Why, man, your +shells are dropping in Aubers, and they are retaliating like the very devil. +There goes another, just outside.” +</p> + +<p> +“Very sorry, sir. Couldn’t make out where the shells were +falling.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, report to me as soon as you get back, remember. Have no time to +listen to an explanation now.” +</p> + +<p> +“Very good, sir. Good-bye, sir.” +</p> + +<p> +An animated discussion now takes place in the telephone exchange, and the +unanimous opinion is that poor So-and-so is “for it” and will +perhaps even get the sack, and who will succeed to the Right Section if he +leaves the Battery? +</p> + +<p> +In these days a walk along the front line was a delight, and nothing gave the +F.O.O. greater pleasure than to take his morning constitutional from one end of +our area to the other and to peer over the side at frequent intervals by means +of a periscope. Sniping was sometimes indulged in, but a target rarely +presented itself for the simple reason that the enemy was hardly ever in his +front line trenches during daylight. From one O.P. we could often see one or +two men running along the trenches with lighted torches kindling fires and +causing smoke in order to lead us into the belief that the trenches were +powerfully manned. +</p> + +<p> +Now, about this time, a number of hostile batteries, whose positions could not +be located, gave us a certain amount of trouble, but a successful ruse was +carried out which enabled us to discover them. Operations were undertaken in +order to force the enemy to show his hand, and every indication was made by us +that we were about to institute a raid. Wire cutting was done by one battery, +and others registered strong points in rear behind the prescribed area. Then at +dusk, known as flesh time, when batteries are most likely to give their +positions away, all the O.P.’s were manned, spotting apparatus made +ready, and our barrage was put down on this sector. The infantry had been +provided with dummy figures, which they held aloft on poles, and in the +semi-darkness this gave the impression that they were preparing to quit the +trenches and go over the top, while high overhead hovered a number of our +aeroplanes waiting to assist. The plan worked admirably, and in a few minutes +the enemy’s counter preparation commenced. As the result of our efforts +his positions were pin-pointed and dealt with by our 60-pdrs. the next day, +after which we were not bothered by them to such a great extent. +</p> + +<p> +Soon after this episode there came upon the scene what were commonly known as +“Cook’s Tourists.” These were officers whose units were still +at home, and who were sent out to gain experience by being attached to +batteries for a short period. At times the tourist laid himself open to being +the victim of many practical jokes, and this certainly contributed to the +liveliness of the mess. A certain officer was escorted down to the front line +trenches one day, and, as usual, the party was armed with periscopes. All of a +sudden he emitted a cry of delight, as, gazing through the instrument, he told +us of how crowds of the enemy were walking along a road. Could we not get our +guns on to them quickly? This seemed an incredible occurrence, as, in this +sector, not a single German had been seen for days on end. The mystery was +speedily solved, however. By some means or other, he had been holding the +periscope so that it faced the opposite direction, and what he actually saw was +a party of our own men walking leisurely along the road some way behind our +lines. Needless to say, this officer came in for a considerable amount of +chaff, and, in course of time, was solemnly presented with a paper medal, +suitably inscribed, on which reversed periscopes figured prominently. +</p> + +<p> +The festive season was now drawing near, which necessitated the gathering of +provisions, for the men were to celebrate the 25th of December by having a +special dinner, and presently leave was opened to our unit and the first lucky +ones departed for “Blighty.” Some sort of gift was due the enemy on +this occasion, and it took the shape of a sharp five minutes’ +bombardment, from every gun in the area, on the stroke of midnight on Xmas Eve. +In spite of this gruelling, the enemy next morning showed signs of wishing to +fraternise with our men in the front line, but strict orders had been issued in +advance that this was not to be countenanced. The Germans showed themselves +freely above the parapet, and one could see that they had been dressed up +smartly for the occasion, probably in order to impress us with their +appearance. However, there was “nothing doing.” Little or no +sniping took place, but the artillery went through their usual routine, in fact +rather increased their fire that day. The men’s dinner was a great +success, and all seemed pleased with their fare—pork and potatoes, +vegetables, plum pudding and fruit, with plenty of beer or stout to wash it +down. The Officers’ Mess was lively also, and our first ’Xmas, +under war conditions, was voted most successful. Next day the Padre turned up, +and a service was held in one of the barns, but, in the middle of the address, +on “Peace on earth, goodwill towards men,” there was a sudden call +for “action.” A rush was made to the guns, and, after a few +minutes’ argument with the enemy, we returned and finished listening to +the discourse. Somehow or other one could not help feeling that the two +happenings were incongruous! +</p> + +<p> +We had a notion that perhaps the enemy would make an attempt to retaliate on us +at New Year for our little joke on ’Xmas Eve, and this proved to be +correct. He made rather a feeble demonstration, and it was speedily squashed, +as we were awaiting it. It was an extraordinary thing, but we always found our +foe very slow in the uptake: it generally took him quite a week to think out +some measure of retaliation, and when it came, it consisted, as a rule, in +copying what we had done to him. We could usually count on that and +consequently guard against it. +</p> + +<p> +One day instructions came through calling for a report on a new charge, for +reducing the flashes when night firing, which was supposed to be in our +possession. Our worthy Senior Subaltern was at that time in command, so he +decided to have the trial the same evening and put in his report at once. The +remaining officers were to “stand by” at the guns and first fire a +salvo with the ordinary charge and then one with the new one, while he stood +some distance in front to wait the results. All went well and the salvoes were +duly fired, although, at the battery end, there did not appear to be any +difference between them, which fact was unanimously agreed upon. However, that +was not the opinion of the Senior Subaltern, who waxed eloquent on the +“soft, velvety colour” of the new charge. This was all set down +presently, in a lengthy dispatch covering, at least, two columns of +“foolscap,” and sent to the Brigade. Nothing further was heard for +several days, then a telephone message came through which brought a smile to +the face of everyone in the mess except the officer concerned. It ran as +follows:—“Reference my B214 of the 9th inst. Report on flash +reducing charges is herewith cancelled. The production of same has not yet been +issued to batteries in the field A.A.A.” Both salvoes had been of the +same nature! +</p> + +<p> +Our Right Section Commander had a mania for spy hunting, and it was true that +spies were known to infest the neighbourhood and had sometimes actually been +caught. On every available occasion this officer would set out to scour the +countryside in quest of a suspect. One day this led to the waste of much energy +on his part. Having followed hard on the scent of a suspicious character, from +one end of our area to the other, the quarry suddenly doubled back along the La +Bassée road and disappeared into a house. Our friend entered also, and found +himself in a Brigade Headquarters, confronted by the “spy,” who +greeted him warmly, and asked him what service he could render him, at the same +time calling for tea. He had shadowed none other than the chief Intelligence +Officer of the Division the whole afternoon! There was nothing for it but to +own up and apologise as best he could, to the vast amusement of the Staff +Officer. After this incident, we were spared further wild-goose chases by this +enthusiast, and the keenness hitherto shown by him for these quests somewhat +abated. +</p> + +<p> +A good deal of excitement was caused, at this time, by the arrival of some +heavy artillery in our neighbourhood, so much talk had come to our ears +concerning them. The guns were duly placed in position, and on the afternoon on +which they were to open fire a large turn out of F.O.O.’s collected in +the O.P.’s to watch the enemy get a surprise. They did considerable +damage, but, at the same time, were largely responsible for stirring up a +veritable wasp’s nest of hostile heavies which had been lying dormant for +ages, and consequently our front again became active. +</p> + +<p> +While our F.O.O. was proceeding one day from the O.P. to the front line, he was +caught in one of those bursts of hate and separated from the telephonists who +accompanied him. On the conclusion of the shoot, a search was made for him, but +he was nowhere to be found. They returned to the Battery and reported the +circumstance to the B.C., who, much concerned, speedily organised a +search-party, and set out for the scene of action. After a couple of hours +weary tramping, they came upon a Company Headquarters in the front line, and +there, comfortably ensconced in an easy-chair, with a large whisky-and-soda by +his side and a cigarette in his mouth, sat the missing officer. Much +indignation was expressed and explanations followed, but, in future, it was +only in the last extremity that search parties were instituted! +</p> + +<p> +Thus the days sped by, until it came to the minds of those in authority that +the Division had vegetated quite long enough in this area, and, at the +beginning of February, we were pulled out and transferred to another sphere of +activity. +</p> + +<p> +Everyone regretted leaving this peaceful spot, and the period we spent there +was always looked back upon as the brightest and happiest time of our sojourn +in France. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap04"></a>CHAPTER IV.<br /> +In “The Salient.”</h2> + +<p> +It soon became known that we were bound for Ypres. This town will, without +doubt, be the Mecca in France of the British soldier for all time. This place, +above all others, was always mentioned with a voice of reverence and awe, and +is hallowed by the presence of the gallant dead who helped in its defence. It +was truly the most ill-favoured sector on the whole of the front held by our +armies. +</p> + +<p> +Proceeding by way of Hazebrouck and Cassel, we entered the area immediately +behind the Salient and took up our quarters near the village of Arneke, for we +were not yet due for our spell of duty in the line. At this time the weather +was most unpropitious, and rendered training in any shape or form out of the +question. The ground was covered with snow to the depth of several inches, and +the roads were, for the most part, frost-bound. A Divisional Artillery Horse +Show was organised, however, and great keenness was displayed by all the +batteries, who spent most of their time horse coping until the day of the +event, which was held at Zeggers Capelle. Our Right Section Commander, with a +team of fine little blacks, managed to secure the second prize in the principal +event. +</p> + +<p> +Several days afterwards we relieved the Division who were holding the left +centre of the Salient, and took up our position on the northern extremity of +Ypres itself, close to the Dead End of the Canal, a short distance from +“Salvation Corner.” Here a short description of the position is +imperative, in order to give some idea of the awkward nature of this sector and +of the conditions attaching thereto. The distance between the jaws of the +Salient was some five miles across—from the banks of the Yser Canal at +Boesinghe on the north to the neighbourhood of St. Eloi on the south, while the +ground held by us extended about two and-a half miles east of Ypres in a +semi-circle. Nearly everywhere the enemy was established on rising ground and +overlooked our territory, and, with few exceptions, all that was visible to us +was his first line system. The enemy was thus enabled to detect any movement +behind our line, while we were more or less “blind.” +</p> + +<p> +Owing to the confined space through which an entrance into the Salient could be +effected, great difficulty was experienced in the matter of transport, as there +was only one main artery, namely, the Ypres-Poperinghe road. Every evening at +dusk this thoroughfare was crowded with all manner of vehicles, an endless +stream, coming and going throughout the night, and from Vlamertinghe onwards +the road was subjected to constant shelling, and was enfiladed from either +side. Piles of wreckage were always to be seen on the following morning, which +told the tale of the previous night’s work, and this long, straight piece +of road holds more sentiment for the British soldier than any other. +</p> + +<p> +It was soon quite evident that the enemy was acquainted with our location, and +it was imperative to prepare an alternative position. A site was chosen across +the road, in the garden of a private villa, well sheltered by shrubs and trees. +As soon as the work was completed and a communication trench constructed, +covered with turf and plants, we commenced moving the guns. This was done +without interference from the enemy until the last gun was in the act of being +placed in position, when, as luck would have it, a shrapnel shell burst in +front of the party, mortally wounding one layer and injuring another. Our B.C., +also, who was assisting, received a bullet through his arm, and was forced to +leave us. This was the second mishap we had suffered during the course of the +first few days, as the Right Section Commander had already been lost to us. +Having an insatiable thirst for knowledge, this Officer had left the O.P. with +his telephonist in order to explore the front line, which, as everyone who +knows the Salient will readily own, was somewhat difficult to recognise in +places, especially by a newcomer. Suffering as he did from acute +absent-mindedness, it was not surprising that this zealous officer awakened +suddenly from his day-dreams to discover that something was wrong, and found +himself standing with his companion waist high in a shallow disused trench, +which, on further investigation, appeared uncommonly like “No Man’s +Land!” After a brief consultation, they decided to retrace their steps. +Alas! all too late: a hostile sniper, reserving his fire in the hope that they +would continue to walk into the enemy trenches, on seeing them turn about, and +thus being baulked of his prize and the prospect of a fortnight’s leave +in his own country, fired a bullet which passed through the thighs of both men +one after the other. A party of our infantry, unable to attract their attention +and put them right in time, had witnessed this little drama, and proceeded, at +great personal risk and at the expense of at least one of their number being +wounded, to extricate the two unfortunates and convey them to the nearest +dressing station. It was not until a late hour that night that word came to us +at the Mess that the missing party had been passed through the prison at Ypres, +on their way to a C.C.S. Now, our Battery Commander, after great trouble, had +lately gained possession of an improved type of periscope, which he had been +persuaded to lend the F.O.O. on that day, and, on receipt of this news, his +first thought was for the safety of his precious instrument. The fact that two +valuable casualties had resulted did not seem to weigh with him in the least +compared with its loss, and he was not to be consoled until it was ascertained +that the periscope was in safe keeping. Only then could he be persuaded to make +enquiries as to the nature of their wounds and express his sorrow at their +misfortune. +</p> + +<p> +The Infantry found the trenches in an appalling state, and forthwith proceeded +to repair them, but the enemy would not allow this to go on long, and, after a +few days’ work had been spent on them, a couple of hours’ +bombardment would suffice to demolish anything that had been done. As it was a +case of labour lost, all attempts at building on a large scale were soon +abandoned. +</p> + +<p> +Many interesting excursions were made in and around the town. There was a +certain amount of splendour about the ruined place. The high battered remains +of the Cloth Hall Tower stood up in proud defiance in the centre of the +stricken city, while the ancient ramparts surrounding it gloried in their +battle scars and showed a dauntless front to the enemy. +</p> + +<p> +A good deal of annoyance was caused in getting about from place to place +through the uncongenial presence of a couple of hostile high velocity guns +which were commonly known as “Quick Dick” and “Silent +Sue,” his consort. They were so named on account of the rapidity with +which the shells arrived, and there was little or no warning of their coming. +Their chief object was to harass the neighbourhood, for they appeared to have +no definite target but just dropped a shell here and there, trapping the unwary +and doing considerable damage, as well as effectively raising a certain amount +of “wind”! +</p> + +<p> +As conditions suited the enemy admirably, many raids were made by him, and, on +one occasion, he launched four simultaneously, one on each sector of the +Salient, after a sharp and heavy bombardment. He attacked us between Wieltje +and Potijge, but was unsuccessful in his endeavour to obtain an identification. +The attempt was frustrated, and the only result was that he left a number of +prisoners in our hands. +</p> + +<p> +About the middle of May, the Division came out and returned to the area behind +Poperinghe. There was an unexpected treat in store for the Brigade, for it was +shortly sent down to the coast for a change of air. A two days’ march +brought the Battery to Cap Gris Nez, while the other batteries were distributed +along the small villages between Calais and Boulogne. It was a real holiday for +us, and a better part of the year could not have been chosen. All that was +expected of us was to exercise the “hairies,” which we did by +taking the guns a walk along the hard sand in the early mornings. +</p> + +<p> +A large field was secured, and for several hours daily the horses were put out +to grass, and, if ever animals showed signs of joy, they certainly did, and +their antics were most amusing to witness. It was expected that some difficulty +would be experienced in catching them again, but, after the first day, a +trumpet call was all that was required. On hearing the sound, they would throw +up their heads, and then slowly wander towards the entrance, where the drivers +awaited and secured them. +</p> + +<p> +The main feature of the day was, undoubtedly, the bathing parade, enjoyed +equally by man and beast. The horses knew at once what was in store for them +when they were led down to the beach. The men stripped, and, mounting the eager +horses, a wild dash was made for the water, and quite a number of the animals +proved themselves excellent swimmers, many remaining a considerable time in +deep water. On leaving the sea, they would gallop along the sands, showing +every sign of contentment, and we were glad that, at last, they were receiving +some reward for their patient devotion and faithful service, for we were all +fond of our four-legged comrades. +</p> + +<p> +Amusements were instituted for the men—all manner of sports by day and +concerts in the evenings. The officers lived out of doors, attracted by the +cliffs, from which Dover was visible on most clear days, and everyone voted +this peaceful place the next best thing to home leave. +</p> + +<p> +It was, therefore, with much regret that, at the end of twelve days, we +retraced our steps to Arneke, where we were to remain for the latter portion of +the rest. +</p> + +<p> +We had no sooner arrived at this place than the enemy started making himself +unpleasant in the southern portion of the Salient, and, attacking the Canadians +from Hooge as far as St. Eloi, succeeded in driving them back some distance +before he was finally held up. It was quite imperative to retake the ground +lost, as he had captured important points of observation overlooking the +Salient. A counter attack was set on foot, and we were suddenly called upon to +help in the preliminary bombardment and cover the assaulting troops, which +included a Brigade of Guards. Just before setting off, our B.C. rejoined us +once more, and at two hours’ notice we made a beeline for the scene of +our future activity. At dusk we entered the ruins of Ypres, and, without delay, +proceeded to dig ourselves “in,” behind a convent, not far from the +south side of the Cloth Hall. +</p> + +<p> +Owing to the number of extra batteries assembled for the operations, we found +ourselves without a billet until the genial Commander of a Pioneer Battalion, +affectionately known to the entire Dominion Forces as “Big Jim,” +and credited with innumerable deeds of “daring do,” took pity upon +us, and invited us to share his hearth and home. This offer we gratefully +accepted, and accommodation was also provided for the detachment, and all were +made most comfortable. +</p> + +<p> +The bombardment continued for three days, and it became clear, from the +enemy’s counter preparations, that he was not going to give up his newly +acquired gains without a struggle. A most stubborn resistance was offered, and +the infantry were forced to fight hard for every foot of ground that was +eventually recovered. The bombardment grew in intensity as the zero hour +approached. Shortly after midnight, the men went over, and, by breakfast time, +had gained all that was required of them, except at one or two points, which +were taken without much trouble later. +</p> + +<p> +By the time affairs had settled down normally again, the Division was due in +the line, so the Battery pulled out for one night, before transferring to our +new zone, which was in the most northerly sector, adjoining the one in which we +had already been, and which had an even worse reputation for unpleasantness. +</p> + +<p> +After crossing the Yser Canal, the ground gradually rises towards Pilkem Ridge, +and the enemy was ensconced thereon in a kind of stronghold known as the High +Command Redoubt. Our trenches lay beneath them, which gave us the feeling of +being in a cup encircled round the brim by our foes. During this particular +tour, the Battery was split up for the purpose of forming two forward sections, +and the greater part of the firing was done by the left section, whose position +was well inside the Salient. Its chief object was to harass a certain portion +of a hostile trench which was taken in enfilade by it! In order to accomplish +this successfully, the guns were placed in an old disused position in a field, +near La Brique, on the backward slope of a hill, and the low gun-pits were +completely covered with tufts of growing grass. The centre pits were occupied +by the two pieces and the outside ones were speedily converted into habitations +for the men. +</p> + +<p> +When the trenches were not being subjected to hostile shelling, the enemy +devoted most of his time in endeavouring to destroy the numerous O.P.’s +dotted about here and there. These were constructed for the most part of +reinforced concrete, but the particular one used by us, called +“Frascatis,” had not yet been discovered, so we were free to carry +out shoots to our heart’s content. +</p> + +<p> +A favourite diversion was sniping with one of our pieces, which was a +particularly accurate one, and several points of observation and snipers’ +posts were carefully registered. Then we would lie in wait, observe some +movement, and let fly one round only. This method exasperated and annoyed the +enemy exceedingly. +</p> + +<p> +One of the enemy’s principal forms of amusement was to blow parts of our +front parapet away and train a machine gun on the space left vacant, and snipe +at any unsuspecting person who happened to pass along. On many occasions we +were able to bring assistance to the harassed infantrymen, by spotting the +offending snipers, and by, in turn, sniping at them with our “How.” +till we finally silenced them. +</p> + +<p> +At dusk the enemy invariably harassed all roads of communication, and dropped +innumerable shells of large calibre into the stricken city; and we made a habit +of sitting at the entrance to the little shack, used as the officers’ +mess, smoking our evening pipes, interested spectators, while the shells +screamed overhead, and alighted somewhere in the town, sending up columns of +brick dust. +</p> + +<p> +All the batteries in the line were now busy constructing new battery positions, +while fresh O.P.’s were also erected, and it was thought that these +preparations were preparatory to making an attack to enable us to improve our +position by the capture of Pilkem Ridge, but, although the work was completed, +nothing further developed. +</p> + +<p> +Soon there were whispers of an impending gigantic attack away down in the +south, and for several days before the opening of it our shelling was +considerably increased, while the infantry made a series of raids. This was +done throughout the whole length of the front, in order to keep the enemy from +guessing the exact point of eruption, and we had a warm time in consequence. +For a long time after the battle had commenced, we continued making +demonstrations, which undoubtedly helped to prevent the removal of many +reserves from the locality. +</p> + +<p> +But we were not content to remain here. There was a great scrap taking place +elsewhere, and were we going to be left completely out of it, to eat our heads +off, in Flanders? It seemed very unlikely that the Division would not be called +upon on such an occasion, and great was the joy when one day orders came +through that we were soon to proceed to the scene of action. Within two days we +pulled out to our old resting place, where preparations were completed for our +transference to the battle area. +</p> + +<p> +Our first acquaintance with the dreaded Salient was at an end, and, although +the time spent there was always strenuous and difficult, we were not what could +be called uncomfortable, and our casualties happily did not exceed +expectations. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap05"></a>CHAPTER V.<br /> +On the Somme.</h2> + +<p> +At the beginning of August, the Division detrained in the neighbourhood of +Doullens, and, proceeding in a southeasterly direction, the Brigade established +itself near the small village of Couin. In a few days’ time we went +“in,” and the Battery took up a position on the southern outskirts +of Hebuterne, overlooking the enemy stronghold at Serre. This portion of the +front was now in a normal state once more, as, on the opening day of the great +battle, the British assault from Hamel, northward to Gommecourt, had met with +no success, and the attack was not further pressed. The enemy was content to +remain quiet, and most of the firing was carried out by us. A considerable +number of hostile “Minnies” made conditions somewhat unpleasant for +the infantry in the trenches, and during the night the battery position was +subjected to indirect machine-gun fire, which necessitated a certain amount of +caution in moving about. The O.P.’s were well placed, and afforded us an +excellent view, for we overlooked the enemy’s lines, and could see some +distance beyond them. We were now on the fringe of the battle, and away half +right, on clear days, we could see the struggle progressing, as a considerable +dent had already been made. The sight was a very grand one, especially after +dark. The Verey Lights and various S.O.S. rockets, which were frequently sent +up by our opponents, made a fine spectacular display, far finer than any +firework exhibition we had ever witnessed in our own country in pre-war days. +</p> + +<p> +Gradually the Division was side-slipped to the south, and our next position was +close to the station of Mailly. We did not remain there long, however, as the +time had now arrived for us to put in an appearance in the battle itself. We +spent one night close to Amiens, and availed ourselves of the opportunity to +hold a dinner there, which was attended by all the original officers in the +Brigade—a last night of fun and merriment before the long, stiff fight +ahead of us, for who knew how many would survive the ordeal. The next day +brought us to Vaux, on the River Somme, and, in the first week in September, we +found ourselves immersed in the battle. We took up our first position in the +lately captured second line German system, facing Montauban and covering +Guillemont, which had just been taken by an Irish Division. +</p> + +<p> +Very stiff lighting was in progress on this sector, as we were now nearing the +summit of the Ridge, the possession of which would be invaluable, as the +enemy’s territory would be laid bare to us, and he would lose his +observation over us. It was not surprising, therefore, that he fought with the +courage of despair and initiated counter-attack upon counter-attack, all of +which we had to meet with great determination. The weather was extremely hot, +which added much to the discomfort: and, as progress had been very slow for +some time, it was impossible to clear up the battlefield, and the stench was +almost insupportable. At length the village of Guinchy was captured, and, with +our men installed on the further side of the slope, the fighting for position +came to an end. We were now entering on the third stage of the great battle, +which had commenced more than two months previously. An attack, on a large +scale, was planned, the object being to drive the enemy down the slope of the +hill into the low-lying country beyond. Field batteries were moved up into +forward positions, in order to assist the infantry, by placing a creeping +barrage—a new and most successful invention, afterwards employed on all +occasions—in front of the advancing waves of men: and the +“heavies,” of which, for the first time, we possessed a +preponderance, pounded the enemy communications far behind his lines. +</p> + +<p> +The assault was delivered over a wide area, early in the morning of the 15th of +September, but in no way did it come up to expectations—in fact, it might +almost be counted a reverse. Some divisions did well, and took their +objectives, but others were completely held up, at certain strong points, which +necessitated the withdrawal of the remainder, in order to keep the line +uniform. The Guards met with instant success, and took their final objectives, +only to discover that the Division on each side of them had made little +progress and could get no further. They were reluctantly forced to return, and +it was while doing so that heavy casualties were inflicted on them, as they +were raked with fire from the sides as well as in front. During the withdrawal, +a party of machine-gunners occupied a trench, and attempted to screen the +retirement of the main body of troops, by holding the enemy at bay. In order to +use this machine-gun to the best advantage, the piece was placed on top of the +parapet, exposed to the full view of the oncoming hordes, but our men never +wavered in serving it, and, as soon as one gunner dropped at his post, another +instantly took the vacant place, although it meant certain death within a few +moments. +</p> + +<p> +Next day they were pulled out to refit, and, as they marched back to rest, a +very touching sight was witnessed. A certain battalion, a mere remnant, swung +along, headed by its band. All the officers had become casualties, and the +Battalion Sergeant-Major was in command, but as many of the dead officers as +could be recovered were brought back on stretchers and placed each in his +proper position. Headed by the body of their late Commander, the column +proceeded on its way, the men marching at attention, and, although covered with +mud and blood-stained, they might have been proceeding down the Mall. Such is +the discipline of the Guards, and every tribute of respect was paid them by the +troops through whom they passed. +</p> + +<p> +The next battle was timed for the 25th inst., and our infantry came back to the +line a couple of days before that date. There was much suppressed excitement +and curiosity, for the mysterious Tanks were to participate on this occasion +for the first time, and it was thought that the secret had been so well kept +that they would come as a complete surprise to the enemy. This proved to be the +case, and the attack was a great success. What was known as the Flers line was +everywhere penetrated, and all gains were held. The Tanks did splendid work. +They advanced well ahead of the infantry, and battered down barbed wire, +overran trenches, smashed machine-gun emplacements, killing the gun crews, and +even waddled as far as the village of Gueudecourt. There they effected much +execution and caused great panic among the enemy reserves, which were +concentrating for the inevitable counter attack. +</p> + +<p> +Thus the battle continued, sometimes breaking out into fierce fights and at +other times reduced to isolated scraps, but all the time the enemy was being +gradually and relentlessly pushed down into the valley, and the villages of +Morval, Les Boeufs, and Gueudecourt fell into our hands. +</p> + +<p> +It was almost uncanny the way in which villages would completely disappear. For +instance, at the time when these hamlets first came within our vision, on our +reaching the crest of the hill, they appeared almost intact, but a few days +rendered them unrecognisable—they had become merely so many heaps of +rubble. There are many places on the Somme which have literally not one brick +standing on top of another, and one would never imagine for a moment that a +prosperous little village had ever existed there. +</p> + +<p> +Many changes of battery positions were made, and, whenever possible, we +burrowed down into the ground, as the enemy’s heavy pieces were out after +our blood. The great concentration of guns and the few suitable localities for +placing them in action added to our difficulties, and we were thus rendered an +easy target for the hostile counter batteries. Innumerable brigades were +huddled close together, in what was known as the Death Valley, for the simple +reason that there was no other suitable spot wherein to place them, and heavy +casualties resulted. We had the good fortune, however, to be somewhat isolated +from the others, and occupied a forward position, where the guns were hidden in +an old German communication trench. The enemy never found it, but subjected us, +now and again, to a general burst of harassing fire: his main volume of hate +passed us by far overhead. +</p> + +<p> +And, meanwhile, what of our friend the F.O.O.? In those days his lot was by no +means an enviable one, and it was a task of no mean magnitude to keep +communications going between the trenches and the guns. However, it had to be +done, or at least attempted, and the following is a brief account of a typical +day in the life of a gunner subaltern. +</p> + +<p> +Orders would be given that a certain hostile trench was to be subjected to a +severe, annihilating bombardment, and this necessitated the laying out of a +wire to a part of our front line, from which the shoot could be registered, as +the target could not be observed from any other locality than the trench +immediately opposite it. The F.O.O. rises early in the morning, and sets out +with his little squad of telephonists and linesmen. He requires to post a +signalman and linesman at frequent intervals, called Relay Stations, in order +to preserve communication, as the wire is being continually broken by hostile +gun-fire. Progress, in a case like this, is necessarily slow, and he has to +pick his way among the shell-holes, seeking as much protection, for the line, +as circumstances will permit. The signallers follow in his footsteps, +staggering along under the weight of a large reel of wire. All goes well until +they reach the summit of a ridge, when, suddenly, a barrage from a “whizz +bang” battery is placed right down on top of the party. There is nothing +for it but to remain crouched in a friendly shell-hole, which affords a little +protection, until the storm blows over or to risk the chances of being hit in +the open. The journey is then resumed, and much relief is felt when at last the +ground over a nasty dip is traversed without mishap, as this is known to be a +favourite target for hostile gunners. A muddy, unkempt communication-trench is +now entered, and the party proceed, up a slope, towards the support system, and +eventually arrive at their destination—a post in the front line +overlooking its objective. Difficulty is experienced in preserving the wire +from the unguarded feet of infantrymen, who look askance at the party as it +passes, cursing the idiosyncrasies of each fire bay. The instrument is +connected with the end of the wire, and all hold their breath in order to hear +the answering buzz which tells them that they are through to the battery. +Several futile buzzes may be made by the telephonist, and then, no response +being forthcoming, a linesman is sent down the wire towards the first relay +station. A break in the wire is discovered and speedily mended, the next +attempt is successful, and the battery is called to action. +</p> + +<p> +During registration the wire often breaks, and serious delays occur, but, at +length, the last gun is duly pronounced O.K. by the officer. Just in the nick +of time, too! for the enemy commences a sharp retaliation on the portion of the +trench occupied by the little party. Refuge is sought in an old enemy shaft +close by, and there it awaits the time for the “show” to commence. +Several other batteries also take part in the shoot, and it is quite impossible +to pick out the shells which belong to each one as they fall. Complete success +crowns the effort, but on the particular day here described the F.O.O. and +party failed to see the end of the bout, as they were subjected to very heavy +fire, and were all blown down the mouth of the shaft by the explosion of a +shell. Luckily, though badly shaken, all escaped without injury. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the wire has been broken in many places and is beyond repair, but it +has already served its purpose, and, when fire has died down, the party starts +on the return journey. On arriving at the first relay station, the telephonist +on duty is found dead at his post, the receiver still clutched in his hand and +held to his ear. A nasty gash in the forehead reveals the place where he has +been hit and instantly killed. His companion is nowhere to be found, although +bloodstains denote that he has at least been wounded, and, on investigation, it +is ascertained that the linesman has been hit, picked up by passing comrades, +and taken to an aid-post. The journey is resumed, the party carrying the dead +with them, and presently another hostile barrage is encountered. Again the men +lie low until it ceases, and then pick up the remaining linesmen, and return to +the battery utterly exhausted. Many questions are asked, and it frequently +happens that the F.O.O. is cursed by his Battery Commander for not keeping the +wire going, and even the Brigade joins in the chorus. The young officer pays +little heed, and inwardly reflects that they should be extremely thankful that +communication was established at all, and that those of the party who returned +did so in safety. So, in spite of everything, he consumes a hearty dinner and +retires to bed, sleeping the sleep of the just, and soon becomes oblivious of +all his little worries and sombre surroundings. +</p> + +<p> +Towards the middle of October the weather broke, and conditions became +intolerable. The roads, which had been partially repaired, were still soft and +broken, and developed into quagmires—mud and water to a depth of two and +three feet made vehicular traffic almost out of the question. All ammunition +had to be transported to the guns by means of horses carrying pack saddles, a +slow and tedious method, which took a lot out of men and beasts alike. As yet +no decca-ville railways had been constructed as far as battery positions. Very +heavy work thus fell on those at the wagon lines, who were kept busy most of +the day and night. Although the distance to the gun position was under five +miles there and back, the journey rarely took less than ten hours to +accomplish. If a horse fell down in this sticky mud, heavily laden as it was, +attempts at rescue proved unavailing, except on rare occasions, even with the +aid of drag-ropes, and the unfortunate animal had to be +“dispatched.” Was it a sense of humour that prompted those in +authority to send the subalterns, in turn, to the wagon lines for a +“rest”? Anyhow, it was considered anything but that by the poor +unfortunates who went, and right glad they were when the time came round for +their next period of duty with the guns! +</p> + +<p> +As the weather rapidly became worse, operations came to a standstill, and all +proceeded to dig themselves in for the coming winter. Every endeavour was made +to make our quarters water-proof, as well as shell-proof, and some attempts at +mining were commenced, but the condition of the ground was all against such an +undertaking, and the work was abandoned. Then whispers spread abroad that we +were to be relieved for a short rest, and, after ten weeks of incessant +fighting, we were withdrawn from the line and marched to a little village named +Hangest, a few miles west of Amiens. There we were glad to find ourselves +installed in billets with a roof covering us once more. A week of leisure +helped greatly to restore our spirits, and again we set out for the line. Our +destination this time was Combles, and we took over a battery position from the +French, who politely made us acquainted with our new surroundings. Our allies, +who had been fighting side-by-side with us on our right flank throughout the +great battle, were then withdrawn, and the British front was extended to the +south as far as the banks of the River Somme. Evidence was speedily forthcoming +to convince us of the severe nature of the recent fight. The ground was strewn +with wreckage and material of all descriptions, and many hostile guns were +found abandoned or lying where they had been put out of action by the +irresistible dash of the Poilus. +</p> + +<p> +The country, in this part, was undulating, and better suited to the concealment +of battery positions, and nowhere was the enemy able to overlook our territory. +Our area included the defence of the joint villages of Sailly-Saillisel, +situated on commanding ground, which the French had recently bravely stormed. +Combles, too, which lay in a basin shaped hollow, was interesting as having +been the centre of supplies for the southern portion of the German Army +operating in the battle, and much booty was discovered in the huge catacombs +which ran underneath the town. +</p> + +<p> +’Xmas passed in much the same way as in the previous year. A smart +bombardment was carried out in the morning in order to advise the enemy that +anything in the way of fraternising would not be countenanced by us. At mid-day +the men partook of their ’Xmas fare, which had been fetched from Amiens, +and a short service was conducted by the Padre in one of the gun-pits. A slight +disturbance took place at dusk, when the S.O.S. went up from the front line and +all batteries immediately opened out. It seemed a rather extraordinary +occurrence, as the evening was unusually quiet, and, presently, it was +discovered to have arisen through an error, due to the fact that the enemy had +put up a coloured light in between two ordinary Verey lights which constituted +our own S.O.S. +</p> + +<p> +About this time the enemy caused considerable annoyance to a certain Battalion +Headquarters, situated in a quarry close behind the lines, by occasionally +dropping a shell right into it, the position having probably been discovered by +his aircraft. Retaliation tactics were adopted, which consisted of subjecting +the hostile trenches to a sharp half-hour’s bombardment from eight +batteries, firing a total of 2,000 rounds. The enemy was well known to be very +thick-skinned, but these measures met with instant success, and it was only +necessary to remind him once again that we were not to be trifled with in this +way. +</p> + +<p> +After the New Year, a severe spell of frost set in, with an occasional heavy +fall of snow, and we were somewhat annoyed when orders came through to sideslip +our position further south, as we had made our quarters fairly comfortable by +this time, and expected to remain undisturbed throughout the winter. The new +position was situated behind the ruined village of Rancourt, facing St. Pierre +Vaast wood, and was one of the worst and most disagreeable localities it was +ever our lot to occupy, as we were, more or less, water-logged the whole of our +time there. Much difficulty was experienced by both friend and foe in entering +their respective front line, so much so that, by common consent, sniping by +rifle fire was discontinued until parapets were constructed and made fit for +occupation. However, sniping was still indulged in by the artillery, and no +parties of any size were permitted to go about freely near the front line under +observation. Affairs continued thus until the middle of February, when it +became apparent that something unusual was taking place in enemy territory, and +great explosions were heard, after which volumes of smoke were seen to rise in +large columns. These, as was afterwards proved, were due to preparations being +made by the enemy to evacuate the low-lying country, into which they had +reluctantly been forced, as the result of the battle of the Somme, prior to +falling back upon the great prepared defences known as the Hindenburg Line. +</p> + +<p> +Instantly every one was on the alert for further signs of evacuation, and one +morning a patrol reported that the enemy had vacated their front line. Further +patrols were at once pushed out, through St. Pierre Vaast wood, in order to +maintain contact with the retreating foe. Every precaution had to be taken, as +it was soon discovered that many forms of booby-traps had been cunningly laid +by him in his wake, and progress was necessarily slow. Added to this, there was +great difficulty in manœuvring the guns over the innumerable trenches +which existed in the neighbourhood, and the pieces sank up to their axles in +the clogging mud, and were only extricated after hours of labour. The enemy +retired slowly and most methodically, destroying everything of value and +wantonly reducing the small villages and hamlets to mere shells, by means of +incendiary bombs. The inhabitants also were removed beforehand, and, when the +troops advanced, they might have been traversing a wilderness, so complete was +the ruin and desolation on all sides. +</p> + +<p> +The time had now arrived for the Brigade to have a much-needed rest and also to +refit, so, at the end of March, we were withdrawn from the contest. Marching +westward, we arrived at the village of Morlancourt in the first week of April, +well content at the prospect of returning to civilization for a protracted +period. +</p> + +<div class="fig" style="width:100%;"> +<img src="images/img003.jpg" width="600" height="396" +alt="Division from Brigade R.F.A. Guards Division.”" /> +<p class="caption">“Division from Brigade R.F.A. Guards Division.”</p> +</div> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap06"></a>CHAPTER VI.<br /> +Messines.</h2> + +<p> +It was not long before those in authority discovered that the neighbourhood of +Morlancourt was peculiarly favourable for the carrying out of manœuvres, +with the result that a period of “intensive training” set in. Drill +orders took place four days a week, and batteries were specially trained in the +methods of open warfare, while many hours were devoted to tactical schemes. +</p> + +<p> +At this time units were reorganised, all batteries were increased to six guns, +and there was plenty of work to keep everyone busy. The narrator of these +rambling notes, after a period of two years’ service with the Brigade, +here transferred his allegiance to the sister howitzer battery of the Division, +known as “The Grey Battery,” from the fact that all the horses were +of that colour. Sentiment ran strong for his “old love” and those +he was obliged to leave, but he was already well acquainted with both officers +and men of his new unit, and soon settled down happily amongst them. +</p> + +<p> +All guns were carefully calibrated on a range due west of Peronne, and the +“hairies” picked up rapidly in condition, owing to the good care +and attention that was bestowed upon them. The big battles of Vimy Ridge and +Arras were now in full swing, and it seemed unlikely that we would be called +upon to take any part in them so late in the day. +</p> + +<p> +Many forms of amusement were created for the men, and football matches, both +“rugger” and “soccer,” were freely indulged in between +batteries and brigades, while the full regimental band of one of the +Guards’ regiments was kindly lent to the Divisional Artillery. It gave +many a fine entertainment in the evenings. +</p> + +<p> +Time thus sped by at an amazing rate, and various visits of inspection paid us +by officers from the C.R.A. up to the Army Commander made it very apparent that +we were undoubtedly being “fattened up”—but for what? The +question was more than we could answer, but speculations were rife as to our +possible destination, for we knew that the Somme would see us no more—in +the meantime, at all events. +</p> + +<p> +Six weeks had come and gone, and yet we remained inactive in this peaceful +village; then sudden orders were issued for us to be ready to entrain at short +notice, and, in the second week of May, the Battery glided out of the station +at Meulte prepared for anything. A long and circuitous route was taken +<i>via</i> Amiens, Abbeville, Etaples, Boulogne, Calais, St. Omer, and at +length we arrived at Arques, near which we remained, in billets, for some +considerable time. It was while we were there that we learnt that it was the +intention of the British Commander to gain possession of the great Messines +Ridge, which towered over our lines, and was a stronghold of inestimable value +to the enemy. +</p> + +<p> +As long as he held this ridge, which was the keystone of his armies in +Flanders, he was immune from any vulnerable attack on our part, and was free to +launch any offensive operation from it by using it as a stepping-off place. +Added to this, the northern end of the heights afforded him an uninterrupted +view of the southern portion of the Ypres salient, which was a source of great +annoyance to our forces on that part of the front. It was vital, therefore, for +the future operations of the British Armies, that this important ridge should +be captured and kept in our hands. +</p> + +<p> +Preparations were accordingly set on foot, and artillery of all calibre was +silently concentrated from all parts, and proceeded to dig itself in for the +coming fray. For a long time this sector had been free from any serious +operations, and was considered a kind of resting place for exhausted troops, +but soon the peace and quiet of the neighbourhood was to receive a rude +awakening, when the tide of battle broke out upon it once more. +</p> + +<p> +Proceeding through Hazebrouck and Bailleul, the Brigade arrived at its wagon +lines, a short distance west of Neuve Eglise, and immediately each battery sent +work parties to the scene of action, in order to construct emplacements and +make its position habitable. The spot allotted to our battery was in a little +hollow close to the cut roads, near the small ruined village of Wulverghen. Our +front line was placed on the top of an undulating rise, with the ridge itself +beyond. +</p> + +<p> +Our principal business was to avoid attracting the attention of the enemy to +our preparations, and in this we were aided by the fact that there was a +considerable amount of cover beside us, in the form of trees and undergrowth, +the foliage of which was now in full leaf. +</p> + +<p> +Row upon row of batteries were placed in position behind hedges, or +artificially concealed, the barrels of the pieces peeping out from all +imaginable lurking places. The Divisional Artillery was situated in the most +advanced position, the 18 pr. batteries ranging from within 600 to 1,000 yards +of the front line, with the howitzer batteries immediately behind them. On +account of our proximity to the enemy, the two brigades had orders to remain +silent until the day of the show, and we were only allowed to fire enough +rounds to enable us to carefully register the pieces, and this was completed +without giving away any of the positions. +</p> + +<p> +All ammunition was conveyed to the guns by night, and was distributed in small +quantities near to them. Before long the enemy became alive to the fact that we +were contemplating some move, and consequently increased his devastating fire +by night, with the result that many dumps in the vicinity were exploded by him. +He was bound to hit something, the countryside was so packed with all manner of +ammunition. He had no idea, however, of the magnitude of our coming effort, and +firmly believed his position to be impregnable, and that it was beyond our +power to free ourselves from his grip. +</p> + +<p> +He contented himself with drenching our little valley with chemical shell +whenever conditions were favourable, but so accustomed were the men to their +gas masks that no serious consequences resulted, although it was distinctly +unpleasant to have to pass each night enveloped in these stuffy contrivances, +especially as the weather remained hot and oppressive. +</p> + +<p> +The Battery had more than their average share of good fortune throughout these +operations, and it is worthy of putting on record that the unit did not sustain +a single casualty to either man or horse. This was all the more remarkable as +the engineers had constructed a wide plank road, which passed through the +centre of our position, and could not be concealed from our foes, who lavishly +besprinkled it with shrapnel after dark. Many casualties were caused to the +transport, and the Officers’ Mess virtually became an aid-post, where +every assistance was rendered the wounded men. +</p> + +<p> +Our sister howitzer battery was lined up alongside of us, and, when the two +positions were first inspected, much chaff ensued as to which had the better +place, and the men of our battery were certainly all of the opinion that, had +the selection devolved upon them, we would unanimously have plumped for the +other one. They had no landmarks likely to attract hostile fire, and thus +occasion them the unpleasant sensation of living on top of a volcano, while we +were slap-bang in the middle of a conspicuous cross road, with a constant +stream of traffic coming and going through: yet, so strange and fickle are the +fortunes of war that, while we escaped unharmed, our comrades next door +suffered a heavy gruelling. +</p> + +<p> +The preliminary bombardment commenced, and continued throughout five days, but, +in order to deceive the enemy as to our weight of artillery, not more than +fifty per cent. of the guns in the line were allowed to take part at one time. +A row of O.P.’s had been constructed on Hill 65, which overlooked the +valley and town of Messines. A fine sight was witnessed as that stronghold was +gradually reduced to a mere shell by our heavies, which effected +extraordinarily good work in smashing the elaborate structures of the +enemy’s defence. +</p> + +<p> +The preparations were all that could be desired, and everything was carefully +worked out to the minutest detail: not a stone was left unturned to render the +operations a complete success. The labour and expense was well rewarded too, +for surely no battle ever ran so smoothly from first to last, and it will +always be looked back upon by the British soldier as a model of triumphant +organisation. The battle only lasted a single day, but in that time the +formidable network of trenches was neatly and clearly shorn off, and the enemy, +who relied so much on the security of these positions, found himself suddenly +pushed down the slope into unsuitable ground, where he could no longer be a +menace to us. +</p> + +<p> +The “feet” of our Division were not in the line, being held in +reserve, and, as it turned out, they were not called upon at all at this +juncture, so well did the course of the battle progress. We were covering the +infantry of an English Division, and, on the evening previous to the attack, +the troops passed us noiselessly and in perfect order on their way to their +various points of assembly. All were in excellent spirits, which augured well +for the next day, and a feeling of calm confidence appeared to prevail amongst +them. A stream of gas and tear shells was maintained by the foe throughout the +night, but it was mostly directed on the zone which contained the battery +positions, consequently the infantry was caused little inconvenience. +</p> + +<p> +Early the following morning, shortly before dawn, the attack was heralded by +the explosion of the mines, which had been in course of preparation for months +beforehand. This was the sign for the guns to open out, and the assault was +launched from north of St. Eloi in the Salient to the neighbourhood of +Ploegsterte in the south, the men following close in the wake of the now +familiar and popular creeping barrage. +</p> + +<p> +The force of the explosions was terrific, and the vibration was felt far and +wide; even strong concrete “pill-boxes” were swung to and fro, and +the occupants were tossed from side to side as if they were on board ship in a +rough sea. Some indication of the colossal nature of these upheavals may be +gauged from the fact that the craters were, in some cases, more than 200 ft. in +diameter, and that the earth thrown up obliterated every hostile trench in the +vicinity, completely burying the unfortunate garrisons who manned them. +</p> + +<p> +At the same moment the sky was lit up by all manner of S.O.S. lights and the +innumerable flashes from our guns, which were now showing their maximum +strength for the first time. They belched forth concentrated death, the roar +reached such a deafening crescendo that conversation was entirely out of the +question—indeed it was impossible to hear one’s own voice. However, +the scene was truly impressive, and the grandeur was beyond anything hitherto +seen. +</p> + +<p> +As daylight crept in, the infantry were observed to be making rapid progress, +although, here and there, stiff opposition was encountered. Soon the summit of +the ridge was gained, and the men swept on and disappeared over the crest, +leaving the mopping-up parties to complete their work. The Tanks bravely +waddled up after them, in a vain effort to keep up, for the attacking infantry +went so fast, in the first stages, that they easily outstripped those ponderous +giants and left them far behind. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the field batteries which had been in position farthest in the rear, +and so were already out of range, limbered up and dashed into action in front +of our Brigade. As soon as the next row was also out of action, they too +galloped past and took up their place again in “No Man’s +Land,” while the Engineers worked at their highest pressure to pull down +trenches and prepare the way for the gunners. Thus we were able to give the +fullest possible support to the infantry, and the fire never ceased, while the +men always found the creeping barrage laid down in front of them. +</p> + +<p> +Early on in the fray prisoners came dribbling back in a more or less dazed +condition, and, as they passed the array of guns, they paused and gazed in +evident wonder at the huge concentration—probably realising how fortunate +they were in escaping the fate of so many of their comrades. +</p> + +<p> +Now, the enemy, although he knew an attack was imminent, had failed to +anticipate the correct zero day, with the result that, on several portions of +this front, various reliefs were in process of taking place at the actual time +of the assault. The consequence was his defence was thrown into a state of +confusion, while the extra numbers in the trench offered a double prey for the +bayonets of our men, who were not slow in seizing the chances thus afforded +them. +</p> + +<p> +The whole of the first objectives were quickly in our possession, as well as +the villages of Messines and Wytscheate, and there was a slight pause to give a +breathing space to the infantry, and to allow time for the field guns to take +up their allotted positions beyond the recently captured enemy trenches, before +entering upon the second and final stage of the battle. When the creeping +barrage, which had remained stationary during this period, went forward once +more, the infantry encountered stronger opposition, but by this time the Tanks +were well up in support, and were instrumental in breaking up the machine-gun +nests and thus enabling the men to proceed up to schedule time. +</p> + +<p> +The enemy lost a number of field artillery pieces, but had taken the precaution +to withdraw most of the heavy ones several days before, when our bombardment +commenced. His shooting, therefore, was rather wild and erratic, as he +evidently had not had sufficient time to register his guns properly in the new +positions. The result was that, fortunately for us, most of his energy was +misplaced, and, for a battle of this magnitude, the casualties were not as +heavy as might have been expected. +</p> + +<p> +By early afternoon the final objectives were everywhere in our hands, and the +work of consolidating the fruitful gains that the last few hours had yielded +was immediately begun. +</p> + +<p> +Several counter-attacks were attempted by the enemy, but were not pushed with +much vigour, and no success was secured in that direction: our infantry +remained firm and could not be dislodged. +</p> + +<p> +Trenches were swiftly constructed, the work proceeding without intermission, +and by evening the men were, more or less, securely “dug in,” +except in a few places where the line was slightly irregular, and which was +afterwards rectified by means of a small operation. +</p> + +<p> +By the time the battle had finished we found ourselves the farthest back +Brigade in the line, the immense number of batteries which, at the beginning, +had been in our rear were now well in front of us, and on this sector the +Divisional Artillery were the only two Brigades who did not move forward during +the course of the fight. Moreover, by this time we were firing almost at +extreme range close to the enemy’s new front line, which gives some idea +of the distance our men covered. +</p> + +<p> +The day had been an exhausting one for the gunners, and, in order to give some +indication of the work and labour they had been called upon to do, our battery +alone fired over 4000 rounds of ammunition. This was by no means a bad +performance when one takes into consideration that each shell weighs 35 lbs., +and necessitated a goodly amount of manhandling, but the men all had their +“peckers well up,” and displayed much determination throughout. +</p> + +<p> +For a few days following the battle there were a number of small isolated +scraps for positions, and one or two enemy counter-attacks, before the new +front settled down into something like normal conditions again. Decca-ville and +light railways were pushed up smartly by the R.O.D., and the Engineers +constructed new roads, while Labour Battalions were busily employed repairing +the old ones and clearing up the litter of the battlefield. +</p> + +<p> +Ever since we came into action it had been no secret that our stay in this area +would be of short duration, and that we were only to be employed in the battle +itself, and were only to remain as long as our services were really required. +It was no surprise when, five days later, orders came through for us to +withdraw from the line. We pulled out back to our wagon line, and from there +proceeded through Bailleul to the little hamlet of Borre, a few miles east of +Hazebrouck, where we remained pending removal to our next destination. We all +had the feeling that our recent tour had been a great success, and were well +satisfied with the part we had taken in the operations, for this was the first +occasion on which we had witnessed a battle go smoothly, without a hitch from +start to finish, and was a great contrast to any previous one in which we had +participated. +</p> + +<p> +A few days in rest sufficed to put the Brigade shipshape once more, and we were +now ready for the next bout. No delay was made in transferring us to another +neighbourhood, and we set out in a northerly direction, which boded little +good, for we knew that unpleasant events were developing in that quarter. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap07"></a>CHAPTER VII.<br /> +Ypres Again.</h2> + +<p> +In the middle of June the Division arrived in the neighbourhood of Ypres, and +at once took over from the Belgians from just below Boesinghe northwards. We +were thus back on familiar ground, as we had occupied the next sector to the +south in the previous year. Although we were not actually in the Salient +itself, we were situated at the northern re-entrant to it. The Yser Canal +constituted “No Man’s Land,” the eastern bank of which was +held by the enemy and the western by ourselves. +</p> + +<p> +The battery positions on this occasion were placed a considerable distance +behind, mainly around the village of Elverdinghe, as the enemy had close +observation and overlooked us from Pilkem Ridge. We did not take long to +discover that our opponents were well acquainted with the situation of our new +homes, for the majority of the batteries were subjected at once to an avalanche +of shells as soon as they opened fire in order to register the guns. It became +imperative for us to build alternative positions or go elsewhere, while other +sections moved forward and undertook most of the firing. We had not been +settled more than a few days when the enemy suddenly conceived a violent +attraction for the house occupied by the officers’ mess, and, after +several direct hits had been made on it, we decided that the place was becoming +too hot, and searched round for a more suitable abode. We packed up, made a +hasty flight, and secured accommodation in a house which was strengthened by +concrete, but even there we had to be wary, especially at night, for we were +very close to a road fork, beloved by the enemy gunners. +</p> + +<p> +The majority of the O.P.’s were also obvious to the keen eyes of the foe, +who paid them much attention on every possible occasion, and it was just as +well for the occupants that they had been strongly constructed with steel +girders and concrete. On one occasion an officer, doing a night O.P. duty, +along with his telephonist, was subjected to a full hour’s bombardment by +two hostile batteries, which fired salvoes regularly every minute. Next morning +there was nothing left of the house except the skeleton, with the O.P. +structure standing out defiant in bold relief in the midst of it. +</p> + +<p> +These then were the conditions on this sector at the time of our taking it +over, and it will be seen that the enemy did more or less what he chose, and +was undoubtedly top dog as far as gunnery was concerned. However, this was not +to remain long so, as almost immediately preparations were set on foot for the +coming offensive, which had already been decided upon. +</p> + +<p> +A host of new O.P.’s were erected, new roads and light railways +constructed, while large working parties prepared fresh gun pits in advanced +positions, and all were carefully camouflaged where they were exposed to enemy +view. Every day new units arrived, and the country appeared to be overrun with +troops. Most of the forward work had to be done during the night, and, as each +position was completed, the guns were silently concentrated. While this was in +progress, the Divisional Artillery only were maintained for the defence of the +line, as it was not advisable that the enemy should know until the last +possible moment that anything unusual was afoot. The scheme was a much more +ambitious one than that in which we had recently taken a part, and, if +everything went forward according to plan, it meant that we would be on the go +for a considerable time, and there even appeared to be a chance of getting a +taste of the long-talked-of open warfare. +</p> + +<p> +About this time a most amusing episode was witnessed by one of our Subalterns +who was doing a liaison with the infantry at a battalion headquarters. This +place was situated most unpleasantly, and was well known to the enemy, +consequently accommodation had to be sought underground as much as possible. +While the F.O.O. and his companion, the Intelligence Officer, were performing +their ablutions early one morning outside the mouth of the cellar, a Brigadier +with his Staff suddenly appeared on the scene to pay a visit to the Commander. +The two Staff Officers remained outside, and opened conversation with them. The +Intelligence Officer, being something of a wag, brandished his shaving brush in +one hand and with the other jocularly shoved the Staff Captain down the steps +into their retreat, and asked him what he thought of the bedchamber. The other +officer, although much amused, stood aghast, and, after the visitors had +departed, he asked his companion to whom he had been speaking. He replied that +he did not know, for, although the Captain’s features appeared familiar, +he could not “place” him, though he was a jolly sort of chap +anyhow. On being told that it was none other than the Prince of Wales that he +had been familiarly digging in the ribs for the past quarter of an hour, he was +incredulous, and exclaimed, “And to think I nearly killed the youngster +down these stairs!” +</p> + +<p> +At length preparations were completed, and the two Brigades of the Divisional +Artillery took up new advanced positions alongside the reinforcing batteries +already in line, while the heavies were thickly aligned close in the rear. The +preliminary bombardment broke out about the middle of July, and at first it was +keenly resented by the enemy, who perceived that we were gradually wrestling +the initiative from him, but when, day after day, our fire continued unabated, +he apparently resigned himself to his fate. Hurricane shoots by field batteries +soon began to make a difference in the appearance of his trenches, and the +heavies, by means of aerial registration, demolished his strongholds far back +over the crest, and destroyed many of his battery positions. Several thick +woods were facing us across the canal, and these grew thinner, and yet more +thin, disclosing cunningly concealed pill-boxes, which were then dealt with by +the heavies, until at last only a few stumps remained to indicate that a wood +had ever existed there. The enemy’s alarm grew daily, and soon our +aeroplanes reported that the hostile batteries were being withdrawn further out +of danger, and that work was proceeding feverishly upon new defences far behind +his lines. By this time we had complete control of the air, and the heavens +were alive with our aircraft, though the enemy tried his best to equalise +matters by bringing along his famous “travelling circus” to the +scene of action, and many thrilling fights were witnessed. The batteries were +subjected to much chemical shelling during the night, and the enemy were known +to bring forward special guns under cover of darkness for this purpose, and to +withdraw them out of range again before daybreak. +</p> + +<p> +It was during this period that he introduced the new mustard gas for the first +time, and it must be admitted that he surprised and inflicted considerable +casualties on us at first by this latest specimen in his assortment of poison. +</p> + +<p> +Our initial attack had to be postponed for several days, as the French, who +came in immediately on our left, were delayed in putting in their appearance, +consequently they had many hours’ bombardment to make up, but, when it +did commence, it was no uncertain one, and the noise was terrific. In the +meantime our bombardment was continued also, though in a lesser degree, and the +destruction of the enemy’s lines was, as far as we were able to judge, +thorough and complete. +</p> + +<p> +This delay proved a blessing in disguise to the Guards, who were to deliver the +assault on our sector. The problem of effecting a crossing of the canal was a +most serious and difficult one, and it had been arranged to send the men over +on floating mats, as a good deal of water still remained in parts of the bed. +In others so much mud and slime were encountered, while carrying out a series +of raids, that it was almost impossible to cross without some such assistance, +and it will be readily understood that it was imperative to waste no time in +this manoeuvre, especially as the foe was awaiting them on the further bank. +Whether it was that the enemy could not maintain communications between his +front line and the rear, on account of our intense bombardment, or whether, as +has been suggested, he suspected a repetition of Messines, and that we had +mined underneath the canal bed, at all events three days before the attack he +evacuated the canal bank and retired just over the crest of the hill some 800 +yards beyond. This movement, however, had not been carried out unperceived by +our valiant airmen, who, flying at a low altitude, returned and reported the +situation. Immediately strong patrols crossed the canal and pushed up the slope +on the other side, in order to remain in contact with the enemy and gauge his +whereabouts. A series of posts were thus established 500 to 600 yards east of +the canal, and orders were given to hold them at all costs, so that on the day +of the battle our infantry could start off from there without having any +serious obstacle in their way. Many men crossed the canal by means of hastily +constructed foot bridges or floating rafts made of biscuit and petrol tins +ingeniously lashed together. +</p> + +<p> +On this occasion we will follow the fortunes of the F.O.O.’s detailed to +accompany the infantry on their journey over the top on the first day of the +battle. The party consisted of two officers and fourteen signallers and +linesmen from the Brigade, who, during the past fortnight, had received full +instructions as to their duties. Every detail had been carefully worked out +beforehand: the men had been divided into several groups, each armed with +telephones, reels of wire, flags, and Lucas lamps, all these things being +necessary for the provision of each relay station. One of the officers was to +accompany the attacking waves of infantry with his staff, consisting of a +telephonist, linesman, and signaller, while the duty of the other was to work +in conjunction with him and to maintain, as far as possible, uninterrupted +communication with the Brigade after laying down the wire. The morning before +the battle, the wire was laid out over the canal as far as the series of +outposts, in order to save time on the following day. The same evening, at +sunset, the party set out, after receiving wishes for the best of good luck +from those who had been fortunate enough to escape being detailed for this +arduous task. Officers and men proceeded to their appointed places in the front +line, or rather in what had once been an enemy support trench, though now it +was scarcely recognisable as such, owing to the effects of our bombardment, +there to remain for the night and await coming events. +</p> + +<p> +Now, in consequence of the enemy’s premature retirement over the crest, +he lost most of his observation on us, but he was aware we had effected a +crossing and held posts on his side of the canal. He therefore lavishly +besprinkled this area with all manner of high explosive shells—one here, +one there: never two in the same place—and the members of the party began +to wonder whether they would survive to witness the fortunes of the battle. It +always appears to be a matter of conjecture as to what are the real feelings of +an F.O.O. about to take the plunge, so perhaps it might be of interest in this +case to acquaint ourselves with them. As he lies out there with his men, where +are his thoughts? Are they of his home, his parents, wife, or children? Will he +ever see their dear faces again? No—! all that agony has been fought out +over and over again long ago, during the previous fortnight or so, since he has +been detailed for this particular job. Then, what does he think about? If the +truth be told, he is rapidly running over in his mind all the little things +which may perhaps, at the last moment, have been omitted or forgotten. He +questions Gunner “So-and-so” to make certain that that extra piece +of wire has been brought along, and asks what the h—l Gunner +“Somebody else” is doing standing there without a +“tin-hat” on, and enquires of the Bombardier if he has adjusted the +Lucas lamp properly, which has been giving some trouble previously. These and a +hundred-and-one other such questions flash through his brain as he lies on the +ground with his little party, all vigorously puffing pipes or cigarettes. The +hours go by very slowly, and conversation on any old topic is attempted from +time to time, sleep being entirely out of the question, as everyone is much too +excited for anything of that nature. Meanwhile the bombardment continues +without intermission, and the night becomes intensely cold and eerie. Will the +darkness never pass and let us get started on the job? +</p> + +<p> +Soon after midnight the infantry, who are to make the assault, arrive at their +places of assembly, full of quips and jests, a sure sign that they are cheery +and in good form for the coming fray. Rum is served out, and the men lie down +in little bunches, either to snatch a few minutes’ sleep or else to +resume their constant arguments and bickerings on every subject under the sun +except anything connected with the war. Zero hour at last draws near, and +everyone grows more restless, for this period is much the most trying time to +endure, and all topics of conversation have long since been exhausted. Then a +short, sharp order passes down the line, and the answering shouts announce that +all are present and ready—the “quarter to zero” has arrived. +Another crisp order comes along, and there are a series of ominous clicks as +each man adjusts his bayonet to the rifle, then the men line up in perfect +extended order, ready for the word to go. A faint grey appears in the sky to +the east, but only the next man is visible to his neighbour, as the darkness is +still upon us. The F.O.O.’s and party are also up and ready, final +instructions being rapidly given to the signallers, who nod assent that +everything is prepared and understood. Then suddenly the guns bark out afresh, +and a creeping barrage drops down like a curtain in front of the men, who +follow after it at an easy walk. Fortune attends the little party, as the wire +has only been cut in three places, and these are speedily repaired; and, as +soon as the second wave of men is clear of the trench, the line is laid out as +rapidly as possible behind them. The ground is difficult to traverse, being +full of deep craters, so the party progresses more slowly than the infantry, +and presently the third wave gains on and passes it by. At first the enemy puts +down a nasty barrage, just beyond our stepping-off place, but most of his heavy +stuff falls on the canal bank, and, as the majority of the troops have already +crossed, the damage is not severe. By this time the party has gained the top of +the crest, and, after establishing a relay station in a pill-box lately +occupied by their opponents, the remainder proceed on their way. Many are the +temptations to dawdle, instead of getting on with the work, so much of interest +is taking place around them, including the amusing, and at that time not too +frequent, sight of scores of the enemy, with uplifted hands, emerging from pill +boxes, where they must have been packed like sardines. +</p> + +<p> +An auxiliary wire tapped into the main F.O.O. line is led to another pill-box, +now to be used as a new infantry headquarters for the time being, and the party +comes under the fire of a hostile machine gun emplacement, which necessitates +their lying in a shell-hole for a while. On arrival there, the “mopping +up” party is found still at work, but it soon completes its grim task. +The officer who has proceeded with the infantry now sends his first message +through to the effect that the first objectives are taken, the wire fortunately +holding out well at the moment, every sound being clear and distinct. The Lucas +lamp is then fixed on top of the relay station, and communications established +in case the wire goes, but the morning dawns in mist, and signalling by this +method is unsatisfactory. +</p> + +<p> +After a short pause, the infantry proceed on the second stage of their +adventure, the F.O.O. and party following up and laying out wire close behind +them. More messages are sent through to Brigade, and the wire breaks on several +occasions, but is speedily dealt with by the linesmen, who are kept busy +patrolling up and down the line. Meanwhile, items of extreme interest are +taking place around the pill-pox of the Central Relay Station. Numerous batches +of prisoners are drifting back, for the most part unattended, composed entirely +of youths of nineteen and twenty years of age, the Guards having refused to +kill these babies, only “despatching” the older men, for the +Division up against them was very mixed, and may best be described as a +“dud” lot, and it did not put up much of a fight. The lads all look +weary and mud-stained, although there is an expression of relief on their +faces, as they steadily munch the bread that has been good-naturedly handed to +them by their captors, for they have been starving for the past three days or +so, no food having reached them on account of the terrific bombardment. An +aid-post is hastily placed in a huge shell-hole close by, and the wounded +straggle back; those who are but slightly hit and can walk help each other +along, while the others are carried on stretchers. Here, a man, ghastly +wounded, minus one leg and with the other almost severed, lies on a stretcher, +calmly puffing at a cigarette given him by the bearers, and attempts to raise +himself on his elbow that he may gaze at the curious scenes taking place around +him. Others just stagger along, their pinched faces showing signs of suppressed +pain, yet all have a quip or a jest on their lips as they smoke the inevitable +cigarette. The sight is truly a wonderful one! The courage and calm that these +wounded display in the midst of their sufferings is beyond words, but they are +“Greatheart’s all.” Reinforcements are passing all this time +on their way up to the battle line, ready to throw themselves into the conflict +when their time arrives. +</p> + +<p> +Again the infantry move forward to the third and final objective, under cover +of the friendly barrage, and, by the time they arrive at their allotted +destination, an advance of some three miles from the canal bank has been +effected since morning. The wire is linked up, and the F.O.O. selects a good +point of vantage, and makes himself and his staff as comfortable as possible, +and then proceeds to gather as much information as he can obtain to send back +over the line. The infantry are now busy digging themselves in, and are being +subjected to heavy shell-fire, but they stubbornly resist all efforts to +dislodge them. By this time the batteries have all limbered up and advanced to +new positions, mostly out in the open, and an order comes over the telephone +from the B.C.’s for the F.O.O. to register the guns afresh: so he at once +picks up some dependable landmark, and with much difficulty observes the rounds +as they fall, and thus gives the necessary corrections. +</p> + +<p> +Then the wires break on account of the shelling, and some time is lost before +communications are again established. The enemy has now recovered somewhat from +the initial shock of the attack, and displays much determination to recover +lost ground—counter attacks are launched without success. The F.O.O. now +has an important message to convey, but, when the telephonist endeavours to +send it through, there is no answering buzz. Thereupon the linesman is +despatched as a runner, and, on reaching the first relay station, he transfers +the written message to another linesman, who immediately sets out for the next +relief, and so on, until the message duly arrives at headquarters. +</p> + +<p> +Thus the day wears on: sometimes direct communication is possible, and at +others the wire is “dished,” but, on the whole, a good deal of +information is passed through. The relay posts are constantly shelled, and the +bombardier in charge is wounded, while one runner was killed in his gallant +endeavour to pass through a heavy barrage with an important communication. In +the evening the party, much exhausted with the strenuous and never ending work +of the day, is relieved by a fresh group of officers and signallers, who take +over from them, and the little party wind their way homewards profoundly +thankful to find themselves back with their unit safe and sound. +</p> + +<p> +The situation, at the end of the opening day of the battle, was roughly +this:—In the north all had gone well, and most of the objectives aimed at +were successfully taken, but, such stiff resistance was met with further south, +that the assaulting troops were held up after they had gained only about half +of those allotted to them, and, although they fought stubbornly and +determinedly, they were unable to make further ground. Thus the left wing was +forced to mark time while the troops on the right made a series of attacks in +order to straighten out the line, otherwise the army to the north would have +found itself enclosed in a nasty salient. The artillery, over the whole battle +front, also encountered great difficulty in advancing the guns, the ground was +so ploughed up by the effects of the long preliminary bombardment. Even the +horse gunners, who were detailed to move up in immediate support of the +infantry, were unable to proceed further than a few hundred yards on the other +side of the canal. Huge craters, placed lip to lip, met them in all directions, +and an advance was found to be out of the question till new tracks were +prepared and the road cleared of debris. This naturally took some time to +accomplish, and, meanwhile, all the field batteries were advanced as close to +the canal bank as possible, but even then they were much too far behind, and +were firing at almost extreme range. +</p> + +<p> +No serious attack could be delivered, therefore, for some ten days, until +sufficient time had elapsed to enable the gunners to occupy new positions some +way across the canal, and, on this occasion, Langemarke fell into our hands, as +well as the line of the Broombeke. Progress remained slow further south, +consequently our front became stationary. Now, it so happened that most of our +batteries were in extremely awkward positions, as we had expected to be moved +forward at any time. They were right out in the open, devoid of any cover, and, +for the most part, placed in shell holes which had been hastily converted into +pits. Here we were subjected to the most “gruelling” time that was +ever our lot to endure, and the battle developed into a gigantic duel between +batteries, in which our position was no worse than the others. We lived in +shell holes, scantily covered with corrugated iron and a layer or two of +sand-bags, scarcely splinter proof, nor had we any means of making ourselves +more secure. The enemy’s heavy counter batteries swept and searched over +the slope where the majority of our batteries were congregated, and never +before or after were they seen to reach such a pitch of efficiency. +</p> + +<p> +Never a day passed without casualties, and often a number of gunners were +buried as the result of an explosion, and had to be hastily dug out, and early +on we lost one of our subaltern officers, who was borne away to the dressing +station with no less than a dozen wounds on him. It was with great difficulty +that the battery was kept in action sometimes, and, though we soon shifted our +position to a flank, this did not relieve the situation. A 60 pdr. battery not +far behind us developed the fatal habit of becoming particularly active during +“flash time,” and, as its flash was notoriously conspicuous, it was +not surprising that its location was promptly pin-pointed by the enemy, who +proceeded to knock it out: and this they succeeded in doing without much delay. +During this particular contest we always got the short rounds, and, as they +were not peas that were coming over, but 8″ and 11″ shells, the +atmosphere was unpleasant, to say the least of it! +</p> + +<p> +We considered ourselves lucky if we could keep 50 per cent. of the guns in +action at the same time, while every nerve was strained to dig out the +remainder, and it was a very heartless job, as a gun had no sooner been +recovered and set up in position than it was knocked out again almost +immediately. One morning, after a wild night of shelling by the enemy, on going +to ascertain the damage, we found one gun with its barrel buried deep in the +ground, the trail standing perpendicular pointing towards the sky; another +completely turned over on its back pointing in the opposite direction, while a +third had been blown right out of the shell hole in which it had been placed, +and hurled a considerable distance away. Casualties to our establishment +mounted at a most alarming rate, and one night our B.C. was mortally wounded by +a high explosive shell, and, although such assistance as it was possible to +give was rendered, he did not survive long after reaching the casually clearing +station. His loss was much felt, not only by reason of his own cheerful +personality, but also on account of the way in which he inspired all those +under him to do their utmost, especially in times of stress and danger, when he +always proved himself a true leader. The Captain now succeeded to the command +of the battery, and the Senior Subaltern became second-in-command. It soon +became evident that we could not carry on much longer under these conditions, +and in the last week of September we were pulled out to refit, and remained +near the village of Herszeele for a few days before again entering the fray. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile a subaltern with a working party was busily occupied preparing new +emplacements for our reception, and on the day of their completion he was +wounded while riding his bicycle back to his billet: thus we lost yet another +officer. But, try as we would, it was impossible to escape the vigilant eye of +the enemy, who engaged battery positions one after another, and the number of +guns knocked out was prodigious. Through a lucky chance it had been decided to +take the guns “in” at dawn, instead of during the night, and by +reason of this we escaped a most violent hostile bombardment which was directed +against the position, and which damaged at least two of the pits and completely +destroyed several dug-outs which the work party had recently striven so hard to +build. We set to work and repaired most of the damage, and, whether or not it +was the enemy thought he had disposed of us thereby, at all events he did not +repeat the performance beyond subjecting us to the ordinary night harassing +fire. +</p> + +<p> +Another attack was impending, which again necessitated the forward movement of +all batteries, and this time we were more fortunate in the selection of a site, +and had several German pill-boxes in which to live and take refuge. Owing to +the congestion on the one and only good road in the neighbourhood and the +hostile shelling thereof, it was a matter of luck to find ourselves safely +installed behind Abri Wood, and we immediately set out preparing for the new +fight. Unfortunately, the weather again came to the assistance of our foe, and +a spell of rain and wind made conditions extremely difficult for both infantry +and gunners. However, the battle was proceeded with, and the result was an +advance over the mud and slime of the river Broombeke as far as the outskirts +of Houthoulst Forest, a distance of about two miles; our French allies, on the +left, keeping in step with us throughout this operation. Then the inevitable +forward move of the batteries was resumed, and this time we occupied positions +down the further slope of the hill immediately across the rivulet of the +Steenbeke. In consequence of torrents of rain, which continued daily, the +low-lying ground became flooded, and it was all we could do to prevent the guns +sinking in the sodden earth, and they frequently disappeared in the mud up to +their axles. Dry accommodation was nowhere to be found except in a great +pill-box, which we added to and strengthened, and it was popularly called the +“Rabbit Hutch,” for the obvious reason that it held the majority of +the four batteries of the Brigade. +</p> + +<p> +Now, our last attack had advanced us considerably further than the men on the +right, who throughout the past month had encountered very stiff opposition, so +we had perforce to remain stationary and mark time, while the battle continued +to the south. On several occasions we rendered assistance by putting up what is +commonly known as a “Chinese barrage,” <i>i.e.</i>, the artillery +carries out the ordinary programme preceding an attack, but no action follows +on the part of the infantry. Conditions were equally disagreeable at the wagon +lines, which speedily developed into quagmires, and it was almost impossible to +walk about the lines unless attired in waders, and, even then, there was always +the possibility of completely disappearing in the mud. Over and above that, the +wagon lines were subjected every now and then to the attentions of a high +velocity gun, as well as frequent visits from hostile night bombing machines, +which were following the example set by our airmen and were endeavouring to pay +us back in our own coin. Much damage was done in and around the neighbourhood, +but our lines escaped exceedingly lightly. The question of ammunition supply +became acute, and the use of pack saddles was again necessitated, and, because +of the great distance between wagon lines and gun position, the round journey +sometimes took eighteen hours to accomplish, and naturally the strain +eventually told greatly upon both men and horses. +</p> + +<p> +The battery positions were not long in being located by the enemy, who expended +great quantities of ammunition in his attempts to destroy them: and he made +much use of chemical and mustard shell, which in time saturated the low-lying +ground on which the guns were placed. In this way he effectively gassed the +B.C., a subaltern, and several of the men, who were all despatched to the wagon +line, and the Captain assumed command for the time being and brought up reliefs +with him. By this time the Battery was again in a very bad way, and a rest was +promised on several occasions, only to be held up time and again with the +exhortation to hold out yet a little while longer. Winter was rapidly +approaching, and it was necessary to adjust our line before fighting came to a +standstill: and a considerable distance had yet to be traversed before the +goal—Passchendaele and the ridge on which it was situated—could be +reached. +</p> + +<p> +The battery, meanwhile, waited on in patience. All the remaining officers were +affected by the mustard gas, as well as the majority of the gunners, and a +sorry sight we presented when, in the first week in November, an incoming +battery took over from us. We then proceeded to the new wagon lines, near +Proven, in an utterly exhausted condition. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap08"></a>CHAPTER VIII.<br /> +Cambrai.</h2> + +<p> +Everyone thought that our long-expected rest was now forthcoming, so it was a +great surprise when we were ordered to hold ourselves in readiness for a long +march. +</p> + +<p> +What did it all mean? Were we marching into our new area and having our rest +there or were we to be pitchforked into another scrap? +</p> + +<p> +No indication of our destination was given, and everything seemed most +mysterious: and, when the Brigade arrived in the neighbourhood of Merville, +there did not appear to be any sign of a definite halt. At all events the +journey was being performed in easy stages, as if we were filling in time, and +we were always making further south, till, passing behind Bethune, the vicinity +of Arras was reached. Here news of the surprise attack at Cambrai first reached +our ears, the secret of which had been kept so well, and, heading in the +direction of Bapaume, we were acquainted with the fact that we were again +“for it.” +</p> + +<p> +Now, the initial attack, which came as a complete surprise to the enemy, had +met with instant success, and, with the aid of a considerable number of Tanks, +the great Hindenburg line had been breeched over a distance of from 6 to 8 +miles, with the result that the fall of Cambrai a centre of great importance to +the Germans appeared imminent. +</p> + +<p> +However, after the first couple of days, the attack was not pressed home as it +might have been, for some reason or other, and the fight came to an abrupt +standstill, leaving our troops in a particularly baggy salient. These were the +conditions that prevailed when the Division gradually moved nearer the scene of +action. +</p> + +<p> +In the beginning of the fourth week of November, we entered the battle, taking +over from a famous Scottish Division which had fought with great distinction on +the opening days. +</p> + +<p> +The battery was placed in action to the north of Flesquieres, well inside the +salient facing Bourlon Wood, in a position only recently completed by the enemy +and which had not even been occupied by him. There was plenty of accommodation +for everyone in the deep mined dug-outs prepared by him some thirty to forty +feet below the ground, and the officers’ quarters were spacious and +lavishly constructed. +</p> + +<p> +From this point the domes and the spires of the city of Cambrai could be +clearly distinguished; indeed, they appeared such a short distance away, it +looked as if a saunter would carry us into the heart of the town. +</p> + +<p> +It was most interesting and instructive studying the elaborate system of the +Hindenburg defences. First, there were three separate belts of closely-entwined +barbed wire, each being some thirty yards wide, and behind them came a deep, +narrow forefield trench that was only intended to be lightly manned. +Communication trenches led back to the main Hindenburg trench some distance +behind, in most cases being out of immediate view from our lately occupied +positions. +</p> + +<p> +This trench was both deep and wide, being some twelve feet across and +duck-boarded throughout, raised on wooden stakes to prevent the water reaching +the level of the pathway. At short intervals shafts led down to the spacious +dug-outs beneath, which were all connected and linked up with one another. In +fact, practically speaking, one could walk from one end of the line to the +other below the surface of the ground. +</p> + +<p> +Skilfully concealed, at frequent intervals, were emplacements for both +trench-mortars and machine-guns, all heavily concreted and covered on top with +turf. +</p> + +<p> +The enemy must have thought himself very secure in this vast stronghold, but in +a way this very fact contributed, in a great measure, to his undoing; for, it +is common knowledge that the more one frequents deep dug-outs the less +inclination there is to emerge from them when a scrap is taking place. +</p> + +<p> +Finally, some 500 yards in the rear, a support line ran along, which, though +not constructed with the same strength, was formidable enough in itself. +</p> + +<p> +To judge by the indescribable mess, and by the mass of material left littered +about, the enemy must indeed have beat a hasty retreat. The dug-outs were +filthy to the last degree, and there was no sign of any system of sanitation +having been used by these people, who considered their “Kultur” to +be superlative, and who desired to impose it on the rest of mankind. All +through the campaign, whenever one had the opportunity of inspecting hostile +trenches and billets, one always found the same thing, filth and lack of +sanitation. +</p> + +<p> +Now, for some little time our hold on Bourlon Wood had been precarious, so a +further attack was initiated, and the Guards went in to straighten the line. +They swept through the Wood, taking the villages of Bourlon and Fontaine, but a +gigantic counter attack pressed them back again owing to reinforcements being +late in arriving to render assistance. They were so badly mauled and cut up +that it was necessary to withdraw them from the line to refit, and infantry +from an “Old Contemptible” Division took their place. Bourlon Wood +became so saturated with gas that, after a great tussle, neither side was able +to tenant it any longer, and so withdrew, leaving a screen of outposts to +prevent any surprise attack. +</p> + +<p> +This was the situation when dawn broke on the 30th of November, a day which +proved to be one of ups and downs for us, and caused many misgivings to arise +in the old country. The object of the enemy was to pinch either side of the +jaws, and, if his attack on the north had met with equal success with that on +the south, there would have been little hope for the troops in the salient, who +undoubtedly would have been surrounded and cut off. However, as events turned +out, our men held out and remained firm. Moreover, it was afterwards discovered +from captured documents that the enemy’s scheme was a large and ambitious +one. Not only was it his intention to retake the whole of our recent gains, but +to press on further through Havrincourt Wood, and establish himself on a line +beyond it. +</p> + +<p> +The Germans employed the same tactics as we used on the opening day of the +battle—there was no preliminary bombardment, and their troops advanced +under cover of a heavy mist and preceded by a creeping barrage. They put an +overwhelming number of troops into the fight, the odds against our men being +something like three to one, but our infantry in the north fought valiantly, +although they were forced to give ground step by step in the initial stages. As +the day wore on and the mist rose, we were able to see the hostile infantry +advancing in masses, but they were paying a heavy toll at the hands of our +machine gunners, who cut many a line in their ranks. +</p> + +<p> +The situation became tense when the enemy succeeded in driving our men across +the Bapaume-Cambrai road, and were seen to be approaching Anneux and +Graincourt. The 18 prs. batteries which were lying alongside of us dragged +their guns out of their pits on to the crest in front, and proceeded to rake +the enemy, firing as rapidly as they were able, through open sights, the +gunners stripped to the waist, toiling and sweating in their endeavour to stop +the oncoming tide. The fight swayed backward and forward throughout the whole +day, but finally the enemy was held in check without gaining further ground, +and he incurred very heavy casualties. +</p> + +<p> +In the south the situation was very obscure, and somehow or other the enemy +broke a gap in the defences between La Vacquerie and Gouzeaucourt, capturing +the latter place as well as the village of Gonnelieu, and commenced streaming +through. He had advanced a considerable distance before the importance of his +move was fully realised, consequently most extraordinary incidents occurred, +stories of which are now familiar to everyone. Battery positions were rapidly +overrun, and even wagon lines were captured, while Labour companies, working on +the roads far behind the front, on looking up, discovered the foe almost on top +of them. +</p> + +<p> +There were no reserves in immediate support, and affairs were taking on a most +serious complexion. Something had to be done and that right speedily! Therefore +the Guards, who had only two days previously been withdrawn from the fight, +were again called upon. They were lying in rest around Bertincourt, Ytres and +Ruyaulcourt, and were hurriedly conveyed in ’buses and motor lorries to +Metz, where they formed up and set out on their big counter-attack, supported +by our sister Brigade and another gunner unit which chanced to have been pulled +out on the previous night. Now, the enemy troops appeared to be as much +surprised at their success as we were, and continued advancing in a bewildered +kind of fashion, astonished at the little or entire lack of opposition with +which they met. Suddenly, however, they came face to face with the full +strength of the best disciplined troops in the world, whereupon they paused, +staggered, and at length commenced to fall back, in confusion and disorder, +with the result that the day was saved just in the nick of time, and most of +the ground was recovered, in addition to some 50 guns. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the wagon lines were situated in the village of Ribecourt, right +inside the salient, and, although it was known that a scrap was taking place, +no one had any idea as to its stupendous nature. The fact that the village lay +in a valley, surrounded by hills, prevented much noise of the conflict reaching +those in it. However, shortly after breakfast, it became apparent that +something was amiss, and the place became subjected to a heavy bombardment. The +horses and vehicles were evacuated as quickly as possible, without suffering +undue casualties, and collected on the hillside a short distance away, facing +Bourlon Wood, where they “stood to” awaiting further orders. +</p> + +<p> +Hostile aeroplanes put in an appearance, flying daringly low hither and thither +across the salient, endeavouring to pick up as much information as possible, +and sometimes dropping bombs. Many a tussle took place between them and our +airmen, who did not allow them undisputed sway for long. +</p> + +<p> +At noon instructions came through to be prepared to withdraw the guns at any +moment, but in the end this was found unnecessary. Even at this time we were +unaware that the enemy had penetrated our line to the south, and the first +indication we had that something unusual was taking place, was the arrival of +some reinforcements, who hurried along the top of the hillside behind us, and +took up positions facing in the opposite direction! A short time elapsed, and +then we were astonished and horrified to see a creeping barrage roll along, top +the crest, and gradually draw nearer us from the rear. Fortunately, it stopped +before actually reaching us, for by this time the enemy had attained his +furthest point of penetration, and the counter attack had already been +launched. Throughout the rest of the day the wagon line “stood to” +ready for any emergency, and at dusk the limbers were sent up to the position, +and the guns were withdrawn the same night and placed in action in the railway +cutting immediately behind the ridge to the south of Flesquieres. +</p> + +<p> +It became evident, after the experiences of the previous day, that, as long as +we remained in this awkward salient, we would undoubtedly be exposed to further +attacks at the hands of the enemy. The Germans meanwhile had concentrated huge +forces in the vicinity, so a continuation of our advance was now out of the +question, and a modification of our front was decided upon. The infantry +constructed a new line running north of Flesquieres Ridge, and, as soon as it +was completed, our troops fell back on it under cover of darkness, unperceived +and therefore unmolested by the enemy, who only made the discovery on the +following day, and then cautiously followed up until they came in contact with +us once more. The salient presented a curious aspect at night to those inside +it, and we seemed to be almost surrounded by Verey lights, as indeed we were, +except where the narrow neck led out towards Metz. +</p> + +<p> +The enemy did not, as was expected, attempt any further operations on a large +scale, but contented himself with making things very uncomfortable for us. In +spite of our withdrawal, the line was still saggy to a large extent, and he +could bring his guns to bear on any part of the salient and enfilade it. He +also paid much attention to bombing, and his planes came over at dawn and dusk +and caused a good deal of damage. The wagon lines came in for their share of +unpleasantness, and in the course of a fortnight we were forced to quit no less +than three positions in turn. The battery was specially handicapped by the +colour of its horses, and was evidently easily spotted by hostile aircraft, for +we had more than our share of ill fortune at this period. To take the worst +case that befell us, one night the wagon line lost 35 horses. A covey of enemy +planes had been over at daybreak, and apparently made a mental note of our +location, as they returned the same evening and dropped several bombs, though, +strange to say, no damage was effected. However, towards midnight, a 4.2 +battery suddenly opened fire with instantaneous fuse action, and many +casualties were inflicted before the horses could be removed, owing to +difficulties in the pitch darkness. +</p> + +<p> +The most wonderful fact in the whole proceedings was that, although there was +little or no cover for the men, who were ensconced in bivouacs, except a few +who were in an old disused trench close by, only a couple of them were hit. The +officers were rudely awakened by large splinters entering their tent, and only +just missing their heads as they lay on their valises, while the sergeants had +a most miraculous escape. They had formed a Mess in a bay of the trench, the +sides supported and heightened by some of the Q.M.S.’s stores, and +covered on top by a large tarpaulin. A shell dropped practically on top of +them, fortunately detonating instantly against several boxes of iron rations, +which undoubtedly contributed to saving their lives. An officer arrived on the +scene immediately afterwards, and found them all lying unconscious as the +result of the explosion, but they soon revived and took a stout part in +rescuing the horses. The construction was completely wrecked, and the clothes +they wore were stripped into ribbons, but only one of them had a scratch on +him. +</p> + +<p> +No delay was made in attending to the wounded horses, and in conveying the +remainder to a place of safety. The drivers were all splendidly cool and +collected under the trying circumstances, but many of the poor beasts were +beyond human aid, and had to be destroyed. +</p> + +<p> +The scene next morning was a gruesome one, and it was a most pathetic sight to +watch the drivers, with tears running down their cheeks, bidding a last +farewell to their lost charges before burial, for the men become exceedingly +attached to their four-legged comrades, especially when they have had charge of +them for a considerable time. No time was lost in selecting a new locality, as +it was considered wise to get out of the salient altogether, and thus avoid the +risk of incurring further unnecessary casualties; so the wagon lines were +removed to the vicinity of Ruyaulcourt. +</p> + +<p> +A spell of hard frost set in, with an occasional fall of snow, which added to +our difficulties as well as to our discomforts, for it must be remembered that +both battery position and wagon line were occupied at a moment’s notice, +and no time could be spent in making any preparations beforehand for our +reception. Affairs were now settling down for the winter, and nothing unusual +was taking place beyond a good deal of artillery activity on both sides, +consequently we were only awaiting orders to withdraw from the line. These came +through in a few days’ time, and the Brigade pulled out in the middle of +December to the ruined village of Beaulencourt, situated south east of Bapaume. +On the following day a long march was undertaken, and we proceeded by way of +Achiet-le-Grand, Ayette, and Beaumetz to the village of Montennescourt, due +west of Arras, a distance of 25 miles. +</p> + +<p> +It says much for the battery that it accomplished this long trail with no less +than 43 horses below establishment, and without any outside assistance, in +spite of the heaviness of the roads. The guns were pulled by six-horse teams, +and the vehicles and other baggage wagons by four-horse teams, made up by +requisitioning all the available outriders, yet none of the horses suffered to +any great extent from the extra strain imposed on them. +</p> + +<p> +It was with feelings of great gratification that we learnt that at last we were +going to have our long-delayed rest, and that it would fall to our lot to spend +the coming Christmas-tide and New Year season in more congenial surroundings +than had been the case in the two previous years. All were prepared to enjoy +themselves on this occasion, as it was felt, on reviewing the past six months, +during which time we had been fighting incessantly in “pukka” +battles, in which we had acquitted ourselves not badly, that we had thoroughly +earned a week or two of complete rest and quiet. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap09"></a>CHAPTER IX.<br /> +At Arras.</h2> + +<p> +The next fortnight was spent under most happy conditions, and all ranks had an +enjoyable time. As Christmas approached, active preparations were made to excel +anything we had ever had before in the way of festivities, and this was +possible now that we were out of action. Quarter-Master-Sergeants, puffed out +with importance, were to be seen strutting hither and thither, returning with +mysterious sacks and parcels, presumably filled with good cheer. +</p> + +<p> +Plucked geese and turkeys appeared in large numbers, suspended from the +ceilings of billets, and several large barrels arrived on the scene, and were +duly placed under lock and key in the canteen, awaiting the auspicious day. +Much competition took place between batteries for the possession of the only +two live pigs in the village, which eventually went to the highest bidders, +while the remainder procured their joints in the form of pork from Doullens. +One of the batteries meanwhile grew so attached to its prospective Christmas +fare that it was almost decided to spare his life and adopt him as a mascot. +His fate was sealed, however, when one day it was discovered that he had +disposed of several parcels of food which had, inadvertently, been placed +within his reach by some of the men. +</p> + +<p> +Concerts were arranged, and the village school-room was kindly lent and +artistically decorated for these occasions. The weather was all that could be +desired now that we were safely lodged in billets, and it was a typical +old-fashioned yule-tide, with a plentiful fall of snow followed by hard frost. +The little village was in a sheltered hollow, and a small rivulet passed +through it on its way down the valley, while the scenery might have been that +surrounding any hamlet in the south of England. +</p> + +<p> +An open air service was conducted by the Padre, for the Brigade, on ’Xmas +morning, and the rest of the day was given over to sports and concerts, and the +climax of enjoyment was reached at night when the men partook of their dinner. +Gramaphones were well to the fore, but all kinds of musical instruments took +part in the gaiety which followed. +</p> + +<p> +A certain amount of latitude was given the men for a few days after, in order +that they might recover from the orgy, for indeed they had never had such a +gorge since their arrival in France. All were in excellent spirits, and these +were by no means diminished when it became known that our next area was in +front of Arras. It was recognised to be an enviable part of the line to be +situated in, especially during the winter months. It was also a locality with +which we had not as yet made acquaintance, and it was always interesting to +visit a new portion of the front, as we disliked being too long in the same +surroundings without a change of scene. +</p> + +<p> +The day following New Year, the Division entered on its period of duty in the +sector north of Monchy to the vicinity of Gavrelle, with the heights of Vimy, +which had fallen into our hands in the previous spring on its left. +</p> + +<p> +The battery position was reached by following the Arras-Plouvain road along the +valley of the river Scarpe, and we took over from a Scottish Division. The +enemy lines were everywhere overlooked, consequently he wisely refrained from +showing much activity. +</p> + +<p> +A magnificent view was obtained from the rear O.P. on the heights facing Vitry, +and, on a clear day, Douai was plainly visible and even the country far beyond +it. +</p> + +<p> +Our front line ran along at the bottom of the slope, having the ruined piles of +Roeux, which was the scene of such furious fighting in the latter stages of +Arras battle, immediately in its rear. Half right, to the south of the river +Scarpe, what remained of the village of Monchy stood out like a sentinel on the +top of the hill. This point afforded a splendid view in all directions and was +the veritable keystone of the whole position. Four of our pieces were placed in +a quarry, a few yards off the road leading through Fampoux, on its western +extremity, while the other two guns were moved forward, east of the same +village, behind a bank, and carefully camouflaged. As this sector was +extraordinarily quiet and there was not sufficient work to keep everyone +occupied, the Battery Commander decided to commence construction and endeavour +to make our position a model one. Two pits, which were already in existence, +were pulled down and rebuilt, and two others were constructed alongside, and +all of them were placed just as near the front bank of the quarry as would +permit of the guns clearing the crest. The whole position was completely +camouflaged, as, it will be readily understood, a quarry made a conspicuous +target for the enemy at any time, and if he suspected the presence of a battery +therein, there would have been little peace or quiet for us. However, as things +turned out, we had evidently made a good job of our work, and to our surprise, +not a single shell dropped in the quarry during our period of occupation. +</p> + +<p> +Walls were white-washed and ammunition and charge shelves elaborately painted, +the platforms were neatly tiled or bricked with material taken from the +surrounding ruins, and all manner of “eye wash” was employed in +making the pits look well. A communication trench was dug from one extremity to +the other, rivetted and duck-boarded throughout, and led to the men’s +quarters. These when completed were palatial, and put in the shade any +headquarter unit in the line. +</p> + +<p> +The near side of the quarry, which consisted of chalk, was easily and rapidly +mined, and, in the course of three weeks, the men had comfortable quarters. +Beds made of wire netting stretched on wooden frames, a spacious dining hall, +telephone pit, cook house, and they even possessed a moderate sized bath room, +which was highly valued and put to great use. The officers’ quarters were +no less sumptuously fitted out. Each had sleeping accommodation, in cellars of +the ruined houses, running along the main street close to the quarry, nicely +lined with wood and canvas to keep the damp out, while the Mess itself was a +work of art. +</p> + +<p> +The latter was built entirely by the officers and their batmen, under the +personal supervision of our energetic B.C. +</p> + +<p> +The floors, walls and roof of the cellar were lined with three inch timber, and +one day a subaltern, who had been out exploring, came back triumphant, bearing +in his arms a huge roll of wall paper found buried under some rubbish, at a +spot which probably denoted the one time existence of a decorator’s shop. +The Mess was therefore duly papered, with frieze complete, and with the +addition of easy chairs, book shelves, a stove and gramaphone, there was +nothing left to wish for, and the place was most cosy and snug. The entrance, +too, was the admiration of everybody, nicely tiled and decorated with fancy +carvings from the utterly destroyed church. Iron girders, beams, and countless +bricks to the height of several feet rested on top of our home. It is not to be +wondered at, then, that this model position was frequently visited by high +personages, brought hither by our Brigade-Commander or C.R.A., who appeared +almost as proud of the place as we were ourselves. Moreover, as we were in such +close proximity to the road leading up to the front line, it was only natural +that officers should drop in to this half way house and rest and regale +themselves before resuming their journey, so before long our Mess was known as +“The Pub” throughout the Division. +</p> + +<p> +The forward position was treated in the same fashion, and never before had both +officers and men had such comfortable quarters. Thus we settled down to a life +of ease, such as we had not known since the Laventie days of two winters ago, +and proceeded to thoroughly enjoy ourselves. +</p> + +<p> +Frequent trips were made into Arras, either on horseback or by river, for there +was a steamboat service, running daily on the Scarpe, which landed one close to +the Officers’ Club, a large wooden erection similar to a Y.M.C.A. hut, +run by the Expeditionary Force Canteen. +</p> + +<p> +The town had not been irreparably destroyed, and in most parts the inhabitants +had returned, and were carrying on their usual routine, while many shops were +re-opened and doing good business. The Cathedral was badly damaged, as well as +other prominent buildings, but, on the whole, the town had escaped wonderfully +considering how close the enemy had been to it for so long. Now, of course, the +enemy was over six miles away, and the city could not be reached by any other +than his high velocity guns, and they seldom troubled to shell the place, and +when they did so, from time to time, the fire was chiefly directed on the +railway station and sidings in the vicinity. +</p> + +<p> +An equally peaceful time fell to the lot of those who were at the wagon lines. +They were situated just off the main Arras-Souchez road, within easy reach of +the former place. Accommodation for Officers and men was provided by Nissen +huts, containing stoves, while the horses had good covered-in standings, with +mud walls surrounding them for protection against bombing raids. +</p> + +<p> +The transport of ammunition to the guns was easily conducted, as excellent +roads ran the whole way, and every care was taken to keep the horses up to +condition. The frost did not continue and in the early months of the year the +weather was wonderfully bright and mild, and many a good gallop could be had in +the neighbourhood, as there was a fine stretch of open ground close to the +wagon line. +</p> + +<p> +The horses undoubtedly had a better time than it is usually possible to give +them during the winter months. The war horse is an extraordinarily intelligent +animal and appreciates anything done for him in the way of comfort. He also +becomes very cute and cunning, and always knows the routine of the day, and can +tell his time of feeding almost to the minute, and, if allowed, would go by +himself automatically to the water troughs and return to his own particular +standing in the stable. +</p> + +<p> +One horse familiarly known by the name of “Shrapnel,” owing to +several wounds of that kind which refused to close up, and completely heal, +knew at once when he was “warned” for the line. Now, he disliked +going out at nights, and consequently was in the habit of +“scrimp-shanking,” and proceeded forthwith to go lame. At first he +managed to fool everybody, but on close investigation it was discovered that +nothing at all was the matter with him. +</p> + +<p> +Another fine beast, which at one time must have been ill-treated, when he came +to us had a bad rope gall on his near hind, and was extremely nervous at being +touched. After hours of coaxing he allowed his section officer and driver to +handle him, and, at length, showed great affection to them both, but woe betide +any other member of the battery, who attempted to go near him, back went his +ears and out went his feet at once! +</p> + +<p> +About the middle of February, a feeling of uneasiness evidently entered the +minds of those in authority. It was known that the enemy was transferring large +numbers of troops, which had been released by the collapse of Russia, to the +Western front. Consequently every unit got busy at once, the Infantry dug new +trench systems in rear of their existing ones, constructed strong points, and +mile upon mile of barbed wire was laid down. +</p> + +<p> +The gunners prepared new battle and reinforcing positions, in case a retiral +should be necessary, and filled them with ammunition against all eventualities. +</p> + +<p> +In a little more than a month everything was completed, and during the third +week of March, the troops were warned of an impending great enemy offensive, +and became fully on the alert. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap10"></a>CHAPTER X.<br /> +March the 21st.</h2> + +<p> +The morning of the 20th broke calm and the enemy did nothing to indicate that +anything out of the ordinary was about to take place, but this did not deceive +us, as it was known to our Command that the blow was going to fall on the +following morning. Silence reigned supreme, except for the ordinary harassing +artillery fire, up till midnight, but shortly afterwards the German guns opened +out their annihilating fire, and drenched our forward system and battery +positions with a severe gas bombardment. +</p> + +<p> +In this area the majority of batteries had, at the last moment, taken the +precaution to change their positions, as these were known to the enemy, and +thus avoided being entirely demolished by the heavy concentration which poured +all manner of shell into those they had lately vacated. +</p> + +<p> +At dawn, which, unfortunately for us, broke in a thick mist, after a sustained +bombardment of some four to five hours’ duration, the enemy launched his +gigantic attack over an area of fifty miles, from Guenappe, immediately below +Monchy in the North, to the neighbourhood of La Fere in the south. Under cover +of the mist, he congregated large numbers of field guns, which were able to +accompany and closely support the attacking waves, while at some places he +employed his new Tanks. These, however, though rendering some assistance to +him, by no means came up to expectations, and were ponderous and clumsy, in +spite of the fact that he had previously captured several of ours from which to +copy, but they proved to be far behind ours, both in construction and +usefulness. +</p> + +<p> +A “Chinese barrage” was put down by the enemy on our sector, but no +attack developed. The same evening the Division was hurriedly withdrawn from +the line, and heading in a southern direction arrived in the neighbourhood of +Tilloy and prepared for instant action. +</p> + +<p> +In spite of the favourable conditions, our foes made little or no ground, +throughout the day, on the whole of the Army front, and were held in our +forefield. Further south, much the same thing happened, although they +penetrated further in some places, but nowhere had they broken through, so the +news on the whole was good and reassuring. +</p> + +<p> +The German attack was renewed on the following day, and still the Northern Army +remained firm, but they succeeded in effecting a serious breech in the Army to +the south, where the British had lately taken over from our French allies. So +swift was the enemy’s progress at this point that our troops on either +side of this bulge soon became endangered, and a general retirement was +immediately necessary in order to keep the line straight. +</p> + +<p> +This applied to the Northern Army also, but not to anything like the same +extent. The Division again moved south, and took up positions behind the Henin +Ridge, between the village of that name and St. Leger, for the purpose of +covering the retirement. +</p> + +<p> +The whole line thus became mobile, and, for several days, a stiff rear-guard +action was fought, which resulted in very heavy casualties being inflicted on +the enemy. He was by this time flushed with his success further south, and +attempted to advance as if he were already the conqueror, which led to his own +undoing, as virtually he was only permitted to gain ground at our time and +will. It cannot be denied, however, that the days were anxious ones and the +infantry were kept very heavily engaged and became much exhausted. However, +they made the most of their opportunities, and had hitherto rarely found such +ready targets, and their machine guns effected great execution on the enemy +ranks as the men came along laden with full packs. A story is told, and is +believed to be true, of one machine gunner that, in the course of his +morning’s work, he slaughtered over 200 German’s single handed with +his weapon, after which he became a raving lunatic and had to be forceably +removed. +</p> + +<p> +The infantry, too, admitted that they were getting tired of killing Boches, and +the casualties inflicted on our men were a mere nothing as compared with those +suffered by our foes. The gunners were equally busy dropping into action here +and there and falling back as the circumstances required, until at the end of a +week, the line became more or less stationary. The front line now ran through +Mercatel, Boisleux and Moyenneville and thence, in a south westerly direction, +towards Serre. Thus the Germans were again almost back on the line they had +held, prior to the big retreat on the Hindenburg line in the spring of 1917. +</p> + +<p> +It seemed a great pity to vacate the Henin Ridge, for the opposing sides found +themselves facing each other in a hollow, with rising ground on either side, +which made battery positions difficult to conceal. So many disused trenches, +which had previously formed part of the old German line system, helped to +shelter us, to a great extent, for we were at this point nearly two miles east +of the permanent line of a year ago. +</p> + +<p> +Everyone feverishly sat about digging and constructing new trenches, and an +enormous amount of work was accomplished in a comparatively short space of +time, for it was felt that the enemy had by no means expended all his strength, +and would endeavour, in the near future, to resume active operations. There +could be no doubt that he would be dissatisfied to remain where he was, +especially as, so far, he had little to shew on this particular part of the +front for his gigantic effort and huge loss of men. +</p> + +<p> +It was no surprise therefore when, at the beginning of the second week in +April, after a short sharp bombardment, the enemy made a strong attack from +Monchy, north to the Vimy Ridge, with the object of seizing Arras and the +heights before mentioned. The result was a costly failure, as he was everywhere +held up in our forefield system, and the British Divisions opposed to him had +the time of their lives. We were very interested to hear about this battle, as, +of course, it was fought over the sector in which we had lately spent a number +of happy months and where we had done such an amount of work. It was distinctly +gratifying, too, when a wire was received from the Division who took over from +us thanking our Division for the wonderful defensive construction made by us. +It was due to that work that they were enabled to bring the enemy so quickly to +an abrupt standstill. +</p> + +<p> +They had seemingly experienced a veritable field day and thoroughly enjoyed +themselves on that occasion. +</p> + +<p> +After this unsuccessful effort, the enemy evidently gave up the attempt to gain +possession of Arras and Vimy by a frontal attack and turned his thoughts +elsewhere. +</p> + +<p> +Unfortunately, however, in the course of these operations, Monchy had to be +evacuated by the British, which enabled the Boche to gain observation on the +city which, thereafter, came in for a good amount of shelling, and again the +inhabitants were forced much against their will to leave the stricken place. +</p> + +<p> +All manner of heavy shell fell in the town, and the damage caused was +considerable, and it was no longer the haven of rest for the troops which it +had been a few months previously. Our wagon lines, meanwhile, had not escaped +undamaged, and were forced to change positions on several occasions until, at +last, comfortable quarters were obtained in the little village of Bretencourt, +where the houses still had roofs covering them, as the hamlet was just outside +the devastated area. When affairs settled down once more, the battery positions +were gradually advanced, and we dug a new position east of Ficheux, where the +guns were meanwhile situated. +</p> + +<p> +A forward section was established ahead in the railway cutting of the +Arras-Albert line, and we subjected the enemy to as much unpleasantness as it +lay in our power to devise. +</p> + +<p> +We were not, however, any length of time in this sector, and were removed to +the adjoining one immediately to the south. +</p> + +<p> +The line required rectifying in several places, and in a brilliant minor +operation, the village of Ayette was carried and remained firmly in our hands. +</p> + +<p> +Our new position was situated on the high ground to the north of Adinfer Wood, +immediately behind the village of the same name, but the neighbourhood was much +more peaceful than that which we had recently quitted, as everywhere we had +observation over the enemy, and naturally he never created trouble under such +circumstances. +</p> + +<p> +The wagon lines were again moved, this time much further behind, to the small +village of Gaudiempre, where one might have imagined one was completely out of +the war area, it appeared so quiet. +</p> + +<p> +The place was intact and all were ensconced in snug little billets, while the +horses were well off also, as opportunities for grazing were afforded round +about the neighbourhood. +</p> + +<p> +Then the enemy’s second great offensive opened on the Lys, and all eyes +were turned in that direction, but everyone held the opinion that, sooner or +later, he would be brought to a standstill, which proved to be the case. +</p> + +<p> +In fact, throughout the whole of this trying period, the confidence among all +ranks was extraordinary. No one had the feeling that we were going down and +under, and it would have done the pessimists at home a world of good to have +caught a glimpse of conditions out in France and of the cheery optimism that +prevailed there. There was even disappointment, in some quarters, that the +enemy had not attempted to attack us on this front, but he evidently thought +discretion was the better part of valour, for the defences were, by this time, +very strong, and it would have been strange if he had managed to penetrate to +any depth. +</p> + +<p> +About the middle of May, it was the will of those in authority to rest the +Division a while, and although we were not in any urgent need of a rest, we +were not disinclined for it, as the season of the year was favourable, and we +pictured all manner of good times in store. +</p> + +<p> +The Brigade, therefore, withdrew to the wagon lines, marched the following day +to Humbercourt, the village appointed for our resting place. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap11"></a>CHAPTER XI.<br /> +The Turn of the Tide.</h2> + +<p> +It invariably happened, when the Brigade came out for a period of rest, that +expectations of a real holiday were never fully realized, and although the time +passed pleasantly enough and we were favoured with fine weather, all ranks were +kept pretty busy. Many tactical schemes were practised, and we had always to +hold ourselves in readiness to render assistance, at short notice, to the +troops who were in the line, for our Command was taking no risks and had not +entirely given up the possibility of a hostile attack on this area. +</p> + +<p> +It must be admitted, however, that in the end everybody enjoyed rehearsing +these schemes, and we would have been well acquainted with our duties had the +emergency arisen. Our resentment, also, at being called upon to partake of +violent exercise so early in the morning, completely disappeared after a while, +the country looked so beautiful at dawn, and we usually returned in time for +breakfast, with well-whetted appetites, after some three or four hours in the +saddle. +</p> + +<p> +Unfortunately, at this time, the scourge known as “Flanders +Grippe,” which had been prevalent throughout the Army, developed in our +Brigade. For a considerable time this epidemic paralysed us, more or less, as +about half our number was down with the disease at the same time. Although it +passes after taking its three days’ course, one is left very weak and +groggy for some time, and several of the men were very seriously ill. +</p> + +<p> +Inevitable inspections by Corps Commanders and minor officials passed off +without incident, but, of course, much labour and “eye-wash” was +expended as is always the case on these occasions. The Divisional Horse Show, +held towards the end of our rest, was undoubtedly the principal diversion of +our time out, as each unit naturally did its utmost to outshine all others. The +battery entered a gun team complete, consisting of six dapple-grey horses, and +we succeeded in securing the second prize in the gunner’s Derby. +Curiously enough, the winners, our sister howitzer battery, won with five, out +of six horses which had been shown, over two years previously at Zeggers +Capelle, in Flanders, and who then carried off second prize in the competition +with a team of blacks. H.R.H. The Duke of Connaught afterwards inspected the +prize-winners, and evinced much interest on being told that ours was a complete +battery of grey horses. +</p> + +<p> +Paris leave opened for both officers and men as a consolation for home furlough +being stopped, and many availed themselves of the opportunity of having a few +days’ enjoyment in the “Gay City.” +</p> + +<p> +In the first days of June the Division returned to the line and occupied the +sector we had already been in prior to moving to Adinfer. The area had become +very quiet with one or two exceptions, and the enemy did not subject our +infantry to much shelling, and contented himself with occasionally annoying +them with trench mortars. But if, at any time, he discovered the location of a +battery position, that unit had a most unhappy time. Four of our guns were +placed in the railway cutting, where we had previously had a forward section, +and the remainder were again detached some distance away. Mine shafts, which +were already in existence, were enlarged and the men had plenty cover on top of +them. +</p> + +<p> +Some little time afterwards certain indications pointed to the fact that the +enemy contemplated business once more on this front, and as our guns were +situated awkwardly where it would be impossible to withdraw them quickly, we +were directed to construct a new position further behind. The work proceeded +briskly, and, when completed, four of the pieces were withdrawn and placed +there, the other two remaining in the railway embankment. The main position was +a long way back, and the guns could only just reach the enemy support trenches, +consequently they were only to be fired in case of a general S.O.S., and all +the shoots were accomplished by the forward section. Much time was spent in +making our new quarters shipshape, and the ground was well suited for mining, +as it consisted principally of chalk, and eventually all ranks were comfortably +installed in spacious underground quarters, although, at the moment, they were +quite unnecessary, and many lay out in the open during the warm summer nights. +The principal thing to do now was to make sure that the officers and men did +not stagnate for lack of occupation and to find means to keep them hard and +fit. Physical exercises were indulged in during the morning, and sports of all +kinds were organised, both at the battery positions and at the wagon +lines—the latter having taken up their quarters at the village of +Baillemont. +</p> + +<p> +A modified kind of base-ball, introduced by an energetic and enthusiastic +Canadian subaltern, became very popular with the men, while the corps ran a +polo-club of sorts for the officers. A fairly level patch of ground was +selected which possessed a certain amount of grass, and the numerous shell +holes were filled in and levelled off by fatigue parties, with the result that +it became moderately good. The polo ponies, however, left something to be +desired, and it was no uncommon sight to see a young officer appear mounted on +a stalwart wheeler, the best he could do for himself from among the horses in +his section. Possibly the explanation was that he had found a horse which he +could suitably “rein in”. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the enemy’s third big offensive had come and gone and the +British Commander-in-Chief’s famous “back to the wall” order +of the day to his armies. Still we waited, but nothing unusual happened; then +in the middle of July the French were heavily attacked, and once more the +clouds appeared on the horizon. There was great enthusiasm when it became known +that our Allies had counter-attacked, and were driving the enemy out of the +Marne pocket, and when the daily bulletins arrived there was always a scramble +among the men to read them. Then the British stroke fell south of the river +Somme at Villers Brettonneux, and excellent news, as to our progress, came +through, which raised everyone’s hopes to a high degree. Our artillery +fire was increased daily, and affairs became more lively, while flying was in +full swing and continued night and day. Both sides paid much attention to +bombing, and our Airmen freely besprinkled enemy territory with their bombs by +day, whereas the foe rarely attempted raids over our lines during daylight. +However, after dusk, the air was filled with the planes, as the weather was +particularly favourable, and the hum of the machines coming and going was +incessant throughout the whole night. At times one could scarcely get any sleep +for the continual drone they made, like the hum of gigantic bees around their +hives. One thing certain was that we had almost complete control of the air and +both out-numbered and out-witted the enemy to a marked extent. It was most +unpleasant to hear the noise of the hostile planes drawing nearer, for one +could not mistake the beat made by the German machines. The amount of bombing +experienced by us was quite bad enough in all truth, but we used to smile when +contemplating what our foes must be suffering at the hands of our Airmen, as +truly it was ten times worse. +</p> + +<p> +During this period the two counter offensives were progressing favourably in +the south, and we suspected that something would be doing on our front before +long, as the din of battle was creeping further north. It came as no surprise, +therefore, when serious fighting commenced north of the Somme, and the enemy +retreated from Serre and later withdrew in error from Ablainzevelle. As soon as +he discovered his mistake he attempted to retake it, but, by that time, our men +were firmly lodged there and could not be shifted from the village. +</p> + +<p> +In the middle of August, to everyone’s satisfaction, it became known that +we were to be up and doing at no distant date, and preparations were +immediately and silently set on foot. Throughout each night a continual stream +of teams and wagons conveyed thousands of rounds of ammunition up the line to +battery positions, and fresh dumps were placed in forward localities. New +battle positions were constructed in advanced positions and stocked with +shells, and we only awaited the order to occupy them. Instructions were issued +to wagon lines that all surplus kit and stores were to be left behind, as a +strenuous time was in store for us, and all ranks responded with a will to the +hard work these preparations necessitated. Drivers were elated at the prospect +of a change from their humdrum existence, and their enthusiasm knew no bounds. +New reinforcing batteries appeared like mushrooms during the night, and lay +safely ensconced in their appointed places in readiness for the coming fray, +while the neighbourhood behind the lines bristled with activity and also with +new arrivals. We believed that probably these preparations were being made in +order to take the Henin Ridge in front, and no one imagined that the coming +operations would consist of more than a local attack with a limited objective, +as little or no information had been given to anyone. It is true that rumours +were abroad, that our opponents were preparing to withdraw during the coming +winter to their defences in the Hindenburg Line, which meant that we would be +left most uncomfortably situated in the wilderness throughout that season. +Little did we dream, however, that this was the commencement of a long series +of hammer blows, lasting over several months, and employing millions of men, +and destined to be the last and greatest battle the world has ever seen, ending +with the complete demoralisation of the enemy’s forces. The turn of the +tide was at hand at last! +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap12"></a>CHAPTER XII.<br /> +Through the Hindenburg Line.</h2> + +<p> +Before the serious work ahead of us could be undertaken, it was necessary to +shear off an awkward little bulge in the enemy’s line, which included the +ruined hamlet of Moyenneville. The corps on our right were to take part in an +assault two days previous to the commencement of our own advance, so it was +considered expedient to accomplish the above task at the same time. +Consequently, during the big attack, delivered in the south on the 21st of +August, which brought our troops level with the Arras-Albert railway line, our +small side-show passed off successfully almost unnoticed. Desperate fighting +had also taken place in the neighbourhood of Morlancourt, just north of the +river Somme, in which the enemy troops had been driven back after stubborn +resistance. They thereupon evacuated the town of Albert, as the place was +getting too hot for them, and retired on positions to the east of it. Our guns +were now moved into their battle positions, and on the eve of the attack +everything was ready and in order. For once in a way the weather was +favourable, and this augured well for the speedy advancement of the guns, which +was essential for the success of the operations. +</p> + +<p> +At dawn, therefore, on the 23rd inst., without any preliminary bombardment, +but, preceded by a dense creeping barrage and supported by innumerable tanks, +the infantry set out on their long journey. The men swept on, capturing the +villages of Boyelles and Hamelincourt at an early hour, without meeting much +opposition or suffering undue casualties. The day went well throughout and all +objectives were taken, and by nightfall, the vast machinery in the rear +commenced to move slowly forward. Batteries were advanced and supplied with +ammunition, by their echelons, ready for the next bout, and wagon lines +occupied the positions only just vacated by the guns. The attack was continued +on the following morning, which necessitated the moving up of the guns once +more, and the same thing continued day after day. The enemy was slowly and +relentlessly pressed back without a pause or breathing space, and once this +gigantic force was set in motion it was exceedingly difficult to stop it, as +our opponents were soon to find out to their cost. +</p> + +<p> +As the fight proceeded, our comrades on the left joined in, and gradually the +battle spread further north, assuming huge dimensions, until it reached the +river Scarpe. The enemy was caught napping before Monchy, and the Dominion +forces in one bound everywhere overwhelmed their opponents, not only capturing +the village but gaining ground to the extent of two miles beyond it. By this +time, Croisilles and St. Leger had fallen into our hands, but the enemy made a +most determined stand in front of Ecoust, and a very stiff tussle took place +for several days before we eventually gained possession of it. +</p> + +<p> +Some extraordinary incidents took place during the course of these operations. +The long-hoped for open warfare was upon us at last, and the gunners’ +dream of galloping into action and firing with open sights at close range was +an accomplished fact almost before we were aware of it. On one occasion, the +whole Brigade, immediately at the close of executing a creeping barrage, +limbered up, and topping the crest in front came face to face with the enemy, +and dropped into action alongside our advancing infantry. The enemy machine +gunners were lined up on a ridge some four hundred yards away, but on seeing us +they decamped with all speed, probably believing us to be a regiment of +cavalry. At any rate, if they had stood their ground and manned their guns, +they would have assuredly wiped us off the face of the map almost before we +could have opened fire on them. At the end of another day’s work, our +battery position was scarcely two hundred yards behind our front line, where +the infantry had installed themselves. +</p> + +<p> +The wagon lines were now well over late enemy territory, on the ground where +his batteries had been situated, and the mess was almost beyond description. In +some cases his positions were entirely obliterated, which spoke volumes for the +accuracy of the fire of our heavies, directed by our gallant airmen, and if it +had not been for the quantities of ammunition and dead horses littered around, +it would have been impossible to have known that positions ever existed there. +Mine shafts had been entirely closed up by the explosion of the great shells, +and a conglomeration of huge craters marked their locality. There was no rest +for anyone these days, and no men were called upon to perform more strenuous +work than our little drivers, whose untiring and never failing energy was +worthy of the highest praise and admiration: not only had they to care for +their pair of horses, but were incessantly on the go twixt gun positions, +dumps, and wagon lines under the most trying and difficult circumstances, and, +at the same time, the latter were changing positions frequently. However, they +never faltered or grumbled, and had always a cheery smile on their faces, even +when they returned in the middle of the night dead beat. For days on end it was +impossible to get out of one’s clothes, and sleep was almost an unknown +quantity: however, what did it matter as long as we continued to advance, and +in spite of everything—this was a long way better than the monotonous +routine of trench warfare. Everybody looked upon it in this light, and the +excitement and never ending novelty of the experiences under which we were +living, carried us on through thick and thin. +</p> + +<p> +The corps on our left, meanwhile, had by a superhuman effort penetrated the +great Drocourt-Queant switch of the Hindenburg line, and firmly maintained +their grip on the ground to the east of it, and all counter attacks made by the +enemy, to dislodge them, proved unavailing. The troops to the south had also +effected good progress, and the ill-fated town of Bapaume had again changed +hands and passed for the last time into the keeping of the Allies. Thus it came +about that the enemy troops, in spite of their very determined resistance in +the neighbourhood of Ecoust and Mory, found themselves in a most perilous +position, as the Dominion forces were now well in their rear, and were carrying +out a turning movement from a northerly direction. Therefore, they were forced +to do something, without further delay, which resulted in a swift retirement on +to the Hindenburg line some six miles to the rear. +</p> + +<p> +It was a most interesting and instructive chase, and the enemy retreated so +fast that it was with the greatest difficulty that we could keep up and +maintain contact with him. The battery had reluctantly to abandon a captured +German field gun which had been doing valiant work as the seventh gun for +several days against its late owners, for we had neither time or the means to +convey surplus equipment along with us. It was the kind of day that one reads +about in “Field Artillery Training” or even endeavours to imitate +while manœuvring out in rest, but for the first time we were doing it in +reality. The battery dropped into action on innumerable occasions during the +course of the day, and had only time to fire a few rounds before the enemy had +decamped out of range. Then we would limber up with all speed, the teams +waiting the orthodox two hundred yards in rear and to the flank, and gallop +forward and take up a new position right out in the open, and help the enemy on +his way with a few reminders that we were up and after him, and that he would +do well to hurry. +</p> + +<p> +By evening our foes had snugly entrenched themselves behind the great +Hindenburg barrier, and we again came face to fare with this formidable +obstacle. The line had, meanwhile, been kept in an excellent state of +preservation, and it was quite out of the question to make a frontal attack on +it without first cutting the belts of broad wire and treating the emplacements +to a prolonged bombardment. Another formidable hindrance in our way and placed +between us, moreover, was the famous Canal Du Nord, which was entirely dry in +most places. It was a considerable breadth across, and could obviously not be +bridged as long as the enemy kept watch over it from the opposite side, and it +varied from forty to seventy feet in depth. Thus, for the time being, the line +settled down stationary until this task could be accomplished, for it was not +the intention of our Command that we should sit down for the winter before this +great fortress, as our enemies wished and expected us to do. +</p> + +<p> +Our opponents were too busily engaged removing their heavy pieces of Artillery +back to a place of safety to subject us to a great amount of annoyance, and, as +the weather remained good, the work of bringing our heavies up was accomplished +quickly and effectively. The battery took up a position in our former front +line facing Bourlon Wood, with the ruined village of Mouevres immediately +ahead, while the forward section was placed in part of the Hindenburg line +itself, south-east of Pronville. Wire cutting was undertaken and carried out by +all field batteries, and the heavies pounded enemy emplacements and +communication trenches in the rear. +</p> + +<p> +Bombing by aircraft became intensive on both sides, and the enemy adopted new +tactics by coming over after dark, and, waiting for the gun flashes, proceeded +to drop bombs on the batteries. A fine spectacle was witnessed two nights in +succession in the form of a super-Gotha bombing machine brought down in flames. +Our small fighting planes were in the habit of flying at a high altitude, +keeping watch over our lines and lying in wait for these monsters. As soon as +one of them was picked out in the rays of a searchlight, others would +concentrate at once on it, whereupon the archies immediately opened fire. Then +far above a light would twinkle out several times, which was a sign for the +anti-aircraft batteries to cease fire. Everything remained still for a while, +the searchlights always focused on their prey, which endeavoured to dodge out +of the brilliant light, but in vain, owing to its unwieldiness. Then suddenly +from out of the darkness a little object shot alongside the giant plane and +spat tracer bullets into it, whereupon it instantly caught fire, and slowly +heeling over commenced its downward journey to destruction. +</p> + +<p> +Fierce fighting continued to the south, and by a series of brilliant operations +our troops had everywhere come in contact with the Hindenburg Line, and +commenced pounding its defences for the further advance. At the beginning of +the fourth week in September preparations were almost complete for the coming +assault, which would require all the energy and fortitude we could display. The +Division was side-slipped down to the neighbourhood of Havrincourt, as it was +familiar ground to us, after our experiences in November and December of the +previous year. The policy at this juncture was, as far as it could be carried +out, to place Divisions in localities with which they had already become +acquainted. Our battle position was situated on the outskirts of the small +hamlet of Demicourt, and we were to cross the canal a few hours after zero by +means of a ramp already prepared and carefully camouflaged at a point where it +passed through our lines. If all went according to expectations we were to +follow a line due east, and, passing to the north of Havrincourt, take up a +position, already known to us, on the railway cutting south of Flesquieres, +although as yet it was in enemy possession. +</p> + +<p> +The great battle opened on the morning of the 27th inst., under excellent +conditions, and it is now known to everyone how the crossing of the canal was +effected by means of scaling ladders, and, in some instances, by the use of +life-belts. +</p> + +<p> +From first to last the day went smoothly and well, and by nightfall the great +Hindenburg Line, upon which the enemy depended so much and in which he had such +faith, was everywhere behind us, and we were through, at last, to open country +beyond! +</p> + +<p> +It only remained for the Allies’ great Commander-in-Chief to deliver the +final knock-out blow at his own time and discretion. +</p> + +<p> +At this time the writer was reluctantly forced to leave the Battery on account +of ill health, and was sent home, and it is a source of keen regret to him that +on that account he missed the closing weeks of the great campaign. +</p> + +<p> +It is now a matter of history how our Armies, after hot and incessant fighting, +swept the enemy divisions out of France. +</p> + +<p> +On Armistice Day, the Division was in possession of Maubeuge, and thus the +Guards found themselves on territory which they had occupied in the early days +of the War, prior to the retreat from Mons. +</p> + +<p> +After three and a half years of strenuous warfare, the Battery is now lying at +rest in Cologne, where it keeps its silent “Watch on the Rhine.” +</p> + +<h3>THE END.</h3> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THREE YEARS IN FRANCE WITH THE GUNS ***</div> +<div style='text-align:left'> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will +be renamed. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United +States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. 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Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8da754f --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #19814 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/19814) diff --git a/old/19814-8.txt b/old/19814-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..709e51b --- /dev/null +++ b/old/19814-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3855 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Three years in France with the Guns:, by C. A. Rose + +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: Three years in France with the Guns: + Being Episodes in the life of a Field Battery + +Author: C. A. Rose + +Release Date: November 14, 2006 [EBook #19814] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THREE YEARS IN FRANCE *** + + + + +Produced by Geetu Melwani, Christine P. Travers, Sigal +Alon and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian +Libraries) + + + + + +[Transcriber's note: Obvious printer's errors have been corrected. +The original spelling has been retained. +--The caption of the illustration page 38 was unclear. +--Page 50: "serious of raids" has been replaced by "series of raids" +--Page 76: "must against" has been replaced by "much against"] + + + + + THREE YEARS IN FRANCE + + WITH THE GUNS, + + + + BEING + + + + EPISODES IN THE LIFE OF A FIELD + + BATTERY. + + + + + BY + + C.A. ROSE, M.C., + + LATE OF THE + + ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY. + + + + + Printed By + The Allen Lithographic Co., Ltd., + Kirkcaldy + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +These brief notes of experiences with the guns for thirty-eight months +in France were primarily penned for my own satisfaction. Friends who +read the manuscript expressed much interest in it, and added the hope +that it might be given a more permanent form. Hence it is that it is +now printed for private circulation. + +The story is a simple record of the fortunes of my own Battery and +Brigade, and is intended as a tribute to the good comradeship which +existed, under all conditions, among all ranks. + C.A.R. +EDINBURGH, + _January, 1919._ + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +Chapter I., Breaking us in, 1 + + " II., Our First Battle, 8 + + " III., "Peace Warfare." 15 + + " IV., In "the Salient," 23 + + " V., On the Somme, 30 + + " VI., Messines, 39 + + " VII., Ypres Again, 47 + + " VIII., Cambrai, 60 + + " IX., At Arras, 68 + + " X., March the 21st, 73 + + " XI., The Turn of the Tide, 78 + + " XII., Through the Hindenburg Line, 83 + +[Illustration: The "Grey Battery" at St. Omer, May 1917] + + + + +CHAPTER I. (p. 001) + +Breaking Us In. + + +On a morning early in August, 1915, the Brigade disembarked at Havre +without mishap to man, horse, or material, and proceeded to a Rest +Camp on the outskirts of the town. We were in France at last! The same +evening the Batteries started to entrain, and every two hours a +complete unit was despatched up the line--to an unknown destination. +The men received refreshments at various Haltes, and the horses were +duly watered and fed, but the journey was, on the whole, long and +tedious. On one occasion only was the monotony broken, and that +unwittingly, by the humour of one of the officers. In the course of +the evening, the train stopped at a small station, and the compartment +in which the officers were settled drew up in front of the Buffet. +Some one asked where we were, and a subaltern, anxious to display his +newly-acquired knowledge of French, replied, "Bouvette," which called +forth no response. Shortly afterwards the train proceeded on its way, +and the occupants of the carriage settled themselves down to sleep. +All passed quietly for the next couple of hours--then the train +stopped once more, and, as luck would have it, again our carriage came +to a standstill directly opposite the buffet of the station. At once a +question was asked as to our whereabouts. The same subaltern, shaking +himself out of a deep slumber, stretched, roused himself, and, peering +out of the window, exclaimed, "Good Lor', still at this beastly hole, +'Bouvette'!" He expressed much surprise at the "unseemly mirth," as he +described it, which followed!! + +After detraining, the Battery marched through beautiful country, which +reminded one of the Borders, as it was not unlike the valley of the +Tweed, and we were at once taken to the hearts of the inhabitants (p. 002) +of the good village of Seningham, which place was destined to be our +home for the next few days. The officers were afforded spacious +accommodation in the house of the Maire, whilst the men had comfortable +billets in the neighbourhood. Time was spent making our unit shipshape +after its travels by land and sea, and the "hairies" obtained as much +grazing as possible, to make them fit for what was in store for them. +It was wonderful how quickly the men adapted themselves to French +ways, and much amusement was caused by their eager, if somewhat +unsuccessful, attempts to master the language of our Allies. + +When it became known that the officers were anxious to increase their +knowledge of the language of the country, the maidens of the village +vied with one another to obtain posts as instructresses, and there was +nearly a free fight amongst them for the possession of our worthy +Senior Subaltern, whose taking ways did not fail to catch their +attention! + +But, alas! our peaceful warfare was not to be for long! One morning +sudden orders came through to prepare for the line in a couple of +days' time. All was instant bustle, extra grooming was given to the +horses, and finishing touches were put to the howitzers and vehicles. +We were to be given a trial in action to show how we would comport +ourselves before joining the "Feet" of our own Division, the Guards, +who at that time were out at rest. For this purpose we were to be +placed under the orders of the C.R.A. of an Indian Division, to +reinforce the Batteries already in positions and receive instruction +from them. + +At last the morning arrived to move off, the column, skirting the town +of St. Omer, took the main road to Hazebrouck, and, as we passed +through the village of Arques, we caught a first glimpse of our future +infantry. They appeared equally keen on seeing their new artillery, +and inspected us with a critical eye. The march was made in easy +stages, and on the morning of the third day the Brigade arrived at +Merville, a quaint old town in Flemish Flanders. After a hasty lunch, +the officers rode ahead, in order to get into touch with the unit we +were to support in the line, and another amusing incident happened _en +route_. One of the Junior Officers owned a sturdy mare, whose +reputation as a charger was apt to be ridiculed by his companions, as +she was notorious for her slow gait. When the party had proceeded some +distance at the trot, "Halting Hilda" was observed, to the astonishment +of everyone, to be gradually taking the lead. This fact called (p. 003) +forth the remark from her master, "By Jove, she is pulling extraordinarily +hard to day: what can be the matter with the animal?" It was then +discovered that the rider had been at her mercy for the last couple of +miles, the bit clanking merrily from side to side under her great jaw. +In the hurry and excitement of departure, after lunch, the bit had not +been replaced in her mouth! + +The afternoon was spent in reconnoitering the gun positions allotted +to us, which were the alternative positions of the units already in +line. As a rule, each battery makes a second or alternative gun +position, in case it should be shelled out of its existing one, so +that no delay takes place in getting into action again. When night +fell there was subdued excitement in the wagon line as the time drew +near to take the guns "in." This was actually the beginning of our +first venture--would we have the luck to get there without being +caught in the enemy's harassing fire? How would we behave under +shell-fire: would we be steady or otherwise? All these and many other +questions flashed through our minds, for a great deal depends, more +than one would believe, on how a new and inexperienced unit receives +its baptism of fire. + +At length a start was made, and the Battery moved off, and soon turned +down the long, straight main road leading to La Basse, the trees on +either side showing signs of shrapnel scars, and even in the darkness +it could be seen that the cottages were, for the most part, in ruins. +It felt distinctly eerie as the small column proceeded silently on its +way without showing lights of any description; the stillness and +darkness broken now and again by the barking of a gun as we drew +nearer the battery zone, and by an occasional Verey Light, which +seemed to reveal us in all our nakedness. That long stretch of road +seemed interminable--were we never going to reach our destination? +However, all remained quiet throughout our progress, and at last we +arrived at the entrance to the gun position, which was to be our home +for the next fortnight. The guns were speedily unlimbered and +man-handled into the pits awaiting their reception, the ammunition was +unloaded from the vehicles, and the teams were returned to the wagon +line. + +The following morning the pieces were "layed out" on our particular +zone, and we had time to look round and take stock of our new (p. 004) +abode, which was a farmhouse standing in the centre of an orchard +adjoining the main road. The building itself was by no means intact, +although, as yet, habitable. It gave us enough shelter of a kind, and +we soon adjusted ourselves to the prevailing conditions, and the +outhouses surrounding it afforded ample accommodation for the +detachments. The gun pits were cunningly concealed in the front +portion of the orchard, special care having been taken against the +prying eyes of hostile aeroplanes. We were fortunate in the choice of +position made for our first time in the line, for two reasons, +firstly, it was an interesting zone--including the village of Neuve +Chapelle now immediately behind our front line--and, secondly, it was +quiet. The country there is extremely flat, with the exception of +Aubers Ridge, which, occupied by the enemy, overlooked us to a certain +extent, although the many trees and woods prevented his having an +uninterrupted view. Our tuition began at once, and we were conducted +to the front line through innumerable communication trenches, which, +at first, reminded one of a maze at an exhibition, the only difference +being that numerous notice-boards directed our movements. + +There we were welcomed, with smiling faces, by men of a Ghurka +battalion, their white teeth and flashing eyes showing up their brown +skins. Now and then they would stop sharpening their deadly-looking +kukris, their dearest possession, to allow us to pass along the +trench. Nothing delighted these brave little men more than to be +permitted to go on a silent raid at night, when they wormed themselves +through the wire in "No Man's Land," and did as much damage on the +other side as possible. They have been known to enter the enemy +trenches without a sound, killing everyone within reach, and to return +radiant, quite unscathed. When questioned as to why they had not +brought in any prisoners for identification purposes, they would +merely roll their eyes, shrug their shoulders, and say, "Enemy all +quiet, he asleep," and calmly remove the still warm gore from their +knives! Continuing on our way, we next struck a Highland regiment, the +necessary complement of the one of stout little men just left behind. +It was most interesting, as one had heard so much about the +traditional good comradeship existing, in India, between Ghurka and +Highlander, and here they were still side by side in France. Their +mutual admiration is boundless and unconcealed, and it was most (p. 005) +amusing to watch the little men aping the ways of the big Highlanders, +who look huge in comparison with them. The Ghurka regiments have their +own pipe bands, and play them as if they, too, had been born and bred +in the mountains and glens of Scotland. + +Soon we came to a fire bay, specially well placed to obtain a good +view of the enemy trenches, which had been converted into what is +known as an O.P., _i.e._, an artillery observation post. These O.P.'s +are manned during daylight by the F.O.O. (Forward Observation Officer) +and his signaller assistants. Their job is to keep a close watch on +hostile trenches, watching for any unusual movement or for the +appearance of new constructive works, such as machine gun emplacements +or new saps. The O.P. has numerous wires leading into it, and these +come from all the batteries in immediate support of that part of the +line, which are jointly responsible for its defence. Our own signallers +had been out early, and a wire had already been carefully laid and +labelled from our gun position to the O.P., so we were now ready to +register our howitzers on some definite object behind the enemy lines. +A house, or some such landmark which is shewn on our trench maps, is +usually chosen to calibrate upon. There is little trouble in effecting +this, but, at first, there is some difficulty in following the rounds +as they fall, through a periscope, owing to its small field of vision. +It was, however, imperative to make use of that instrument, in this +case, as an enemy sniper, watchful and on the alert, had already seen +the top of it, and from time to time a bullet passed overhead +unpleasantly close. This served to remind us to be discreet and to run +no risks by exposing ourselves in the slightest degree above the +parapet. Sometimes it is very difficult to restrain one's enthusiasm +when there is an interesting shoot taking place. + +The pieces being duly registered, the Battery is now ready for any +emergency, and theoretically we can engage any target in our arc of +fire. It is then essential to learn the country in hostile territory, +and one looks out for likely targets and for points at which one can +inconvenience the enemy by keeping him under constant harassing fire. +This work must necessarily be done from a point of vantage where a +good wide view can be obtained, and, in most cases, a house, tree, or +high piece of ground well behind the lines, is selected for a Rear +O.P. + +In an incredibly short space of time every officer learns the (p. 006) +country off by heart, and can bring any gun to bear on a particular +target at short notice. At first Junior Officers are allowed practice +shoots on targets well behind the enemy lines, and as they gain +confidence and experience, are entrusted with "close shoots," _i.e._, +firing on hostile emplacements, etc., in the front line, a job which +requires extreme caution and accuracy, as "No Man's Land" averages not +more than 200 yards in width in most places. Batteries can always +communicate with Battalion Headquarters in the line, a wire, usually +buried, leading from there to our Brigade Headquarters, and each +Battery has its own private wire to the latter place. In the same way +one can be linked up with nearly every unit in a Division by means of +an Exchange run by the Royal Engineers. + +A few days sufficed us to make ourselves quite at home, and officers +went freely about "seeking whom they might devour," visited old +established O.P.'s, and searched for new or better ones. It is a +curious fact that the average subaltern is never fully satisfied with +an O.P., and is always bent on discovering "something better," +although in few cases is his ambition realised! One officer favours +this O.P., another that, and on this occasion the one which our worthy +Battery Commander had a preference for was a most unpleasant place, +commonly known as "The Doll's House," though why so called no one +could tell. At any rate, it was an abode to be avoided on all possible +occasions, and the subalterns were quite convinced it was the +registering place of all the hostile batteries within range and +vision. At any rate, we daily found less and less of the building, +until one day the staircase was blown away as well as the perch on top +which afforded us our view. Great was the relief when the B.C. at last +declared the O.P. "out of action" until further notice. + +Nearly every O.P. has an appropriate name given to it, and so we +repaired to "Stink Farm" after abandoning our old love! We put in most +useful days of practice there, and the knowledge and experience gained +was invaluable. Our thanks were due to the enemy for his consideration +in allowing us to conduct our daily tasks almost unmolested: he showed +himself to be most lethargic and sleepy, and did not waken up unless +we were unusually energetic. Perhaps his chief reason for remaining so +inactive was the absence of any heavy guns on our side. Our largest +piece was a 60 pdr., and he may have thought mere Field Artillery (p. 007) +beneath his consideration. Nor was he more active in the air; his +planes rarely passed over our lines, and when they did, it was at so +great a height that it was quite impossible for them to gather +information. However, one day, we were extremely fortunate in seeing a +hostile plane, that had ventured to cross over our lines at a lower +altitude, brought down in flames by a direct hit from an "Archie" +battery lying in wait close behind our own position. It is a rare +sight, for, to tell the truth, anti-aircraft batteries are not held in +particularly high respect by anyone except by those of their own ilk, +and on only two other occasions did we ever see the like again. + +Our fortnight soon sped by, and we were quite reluctant when the time +came to go "out." We left our neighbours, who had befriended us so +well, with the sincere hope that we would have the good fortune to +meet and lie alongside of them again in the future. This hope, +however, was not destined to be fulfilled. We retraced our steps +through Merville and Aire to the same area from whence we came, to a +village called Nielles, in order to concentrate as a Division, which, +when formed, was designated the Guards Division. + +The inhabitants, as usual, extended a warm welcome to us and showed us +every consideration, and we settled down to enjoy the peaceful +surroundings bathed in the warm and pleasant September sunshine, while +the Senior Subaltern availed himself of the opportunity of again +laying siege to the hearts of his former conquests at Seningham close +by. Our own C.R.A. came to visit us here, and the officers were +severally introduced to him. He expressed satisfaction at the report +which came to him from the line, concerning our conduct in action, and +added that the high opinion formed of us at home had in no wise been +diminished, and that our reputation merited the distinction conferred +on us of being selected as the Artillery of the Guards from among the +many units of the new Army. + +Thus we waited, confident in the belief that, whatever we were in the +future called upon to do, we would at least put up a good show, and +determined to be a credit to the Division of which we now formed a +part. We had not long to wait, whispers passed round that we would be +up and doing at no distant date, and these rumours proved to be well +founded. + + + + +CHAPTER II. (p. 008) + +Our First Battle. + + +Our marching orders came within the next few days. Each unit was +provided with portable bridges, which were carried under the wagon +bodies, and this, and several other preparations, gave us a good +indication that we were out for business. A couple of days trekking +brought us to the village of Nedonchel, which proved to be another +place of happy memory to our Senior Subaltern. Here we were given a +rough idea of the part we were to play in the coming proceedings. Two +army corps were to attack, on a six mile front, in the neighbourhood +of Loos and, if the assault was successful, the corps in reserve, +which included our Division, was to go through and exploit the victory +to its fullest advantage. We were to take no part in the initial +attack. + +Large masses of troops were being moved up behind the battle area, +and, in order to screen our movements from hostile aircraft, the +latter stages of the journey were to be made under cover of darkness, +so the whole of the next day was spent in resting. At nightfall a +diversion was caused by a Cavalry Division passing through the village +on its way up, and a splendid sight it presented, as one famous +regiment followed swiftly on another. It was now almost time for us to +make a start, and the good lady of the house had remained out of bed +to brew us hot coffee and see us off the premises. As we were about to +depart she told us that her old mother, aged 88, who was in the next +room, had expressed the desire to see us for a moment, and so we were +conducted to the old lady's bedside. She was lying telling her beads, +but sat up as we approached and beckoned to each officer in turn, who +advanced, knelt, and received a blessing. The inhabitants knew well +that a big battle was to be fought quite soon, as the little (p. 009) +village had been the scene of great activity during the past few days +and, although it was a considerable distance from the line, the +preliminary bombardment could be distinctly heard. The low muffled +rumble was incessant, and, to-night, seemed, if anything, more +intense. Shortly after midnight we set off and disappeared into the +darkness, followed by words of good cheer from the villagers and +shouts of "Bon chance, messieurs, bon chance." + +Passing through Bruay we arrived a few miles behind the battle front +on the morning of the assault, which was delivered at an early hour, +and soon the news came back that, so far, everything was going well; +the village of Loos had already fallen into our hands. As the day wore +on, however, and the expected orders to advance were not forthcoming, +we suspected that all was not as it should be and our fears were +confirmed soon afterwards by instructions being given to prepare to +bivouac overnight on the ground close by. What actually happened was +this:--The initial attack was successful in capturing and overrunning +the enemy's front line trenches over the whole area, but, on advancing +to the second trench system a great deal of wire was found to have +been left unbroken or untouched by our artillery, and this held the +infantry up at vital places. The attack, however, was pressed with +great courage and determination, and in some places the flood of men +swept on, but, unfortunately, in others, little or no progress was +made. The line, consequently, soon presented a crooked, irregular +shape, which made the situation difficult and obscure. The enemy, +moreover, had anticipated the attack and had large reinforcements at +hand which were at once thrown in, and after a ding-dong struggle +throughout the day the advance came to an abrupt standstill. Two +Divisions from the Reserve Corps were then sent in, and, on the +following afternoon, the Guards attacked and helped to a large extent +in straightening out a considerable portion of the line. It was not +until nightfall of the third day that we entered the battle and took +up a position immediately north of Vermelles Station in the back +garden of a row of damaged villas. On our way "in," a couple of +cavalry regiments, which had been holding Loos for the last two days +and which had just been relieved, passed us. There passed also the +remnant of one of the Scottish Divisions which had fought so valiantly +and paid so heavy a price. Footsore, weary, and caked with mud from +top to toe, with every sign of what they had been through upon (p. 010) +them, and heavily laden with "souvenirs" in addition to their full +kit, the men could scarcely crawl along. However, just as one battalion +came abreast of us, in such condition, the pipes tuned up and at once +every head was erect and not a man was out of step as they swung past +us; such is the moral force of the bagpipes. It was one of those +moments in which a lump rises in the throat and a thrill runs down the +spine. + +In our new position we speedily learnt what we could do and what we +could not do. For instance, the signallers were able to introduce +electric light into our abode by tapping a live wire which ran +outside, from one fosse to the next, for we were now in the Lens coal +district with mines dotted about here and there. On the other hand, we +soon learnt to refrain from sleeping or showing lights in the second +storey of our billet which was evidently under direct observation by +the enemy, who did not take long to acquaint us with the fact. + +There was always a good deal of firing to be done each day, for, +although the battle may be said to have finished after four or five +days, there were several side-shows before the line was adjusted to +our liking, and the enemy's fire was almost continuous. This bothered +the F.O.O. parties considerably, and communication was difficult to +maintain for more than a short time between the front line and +Battery. The wire was frequently broken in numerous places, and this +kept signallers and linesmen working at high pressure to repair the +damage. The O.P.'s were moderately good, with the exception of one in +"Gun Trench," where our men held a portion, then came a sand bagged +wall occupied on the other side by our opponents which they were able +to enter by a *T*-shaped communication trench, then another sand-bagged +wall with our infantry beyond. Neither side could shell this trench +for fear of injury to their own party, but this did not prevent a +lively exchange of bombs, intermingled with various forms and sizes of +"Minnies," which were hurled at frequent intervals. Sniping was also +rampant, and periscopes, no matter how small, survived not longer than +a few minutes. It was from this delightful spot that one of the +subalterns arrived at the Battery one evening with his head swathed in +bandages like a Sultan's turban. He had been trying conclusions with a +"Minnie," and, as this was in the days before the introduction of the +steel helmet, the latter had easily come out on top. When the wound +was ascertained to be nothing like as serious as the size of the +bandage seemed to indicate, he was removed to the wagon line amid (p. 011) +jeers from his brother officers, and a few days' rest sufficed to +bring him back to duty again. + +Now, in one portion of the zone which we were covering, "No Man's +Land" extended some 1500 yards in depth, and midway, lying in the +valley, were what appeared to be two derelict enemy guns partially +camouflaged This aroused the curiosity of the Staff, who called for +volunteers to go out and make an investigation and report as to the +condition of the sights, etc. Our B.C. gallantly offered his services, +in spite of the fact that he was over six feet in height, and +presented a most conspicuous figure, and would not be deterred. He set +off crawling through the long grass on his perilous journey, and there +was a huge grin on his face when he returned. After his report went in +we ascertained that the two pieces were nothing more than cleverly +constructed dummies formed from cart wheels, telegraph poles and +trunks of trees, but it was not until he almost came up to them that +he made the discovery. + +The detachments meanwhile had settled down, making improvements to +their billets and strengthening the gun pits, and were already proving +themselves seasoned warriors. On one occasion a nasty accident +happened, due to the explosion of a howitzer, caused, as was +afterwards proved, by a faulty shell. The complete gun crew, with the +exception of the No. 1 in charge, was wounded. Three of their number +were temporarily buried by the earth thrown up by the explosion, and +it was probably due to that fact that no one was killed. The pit +naturally fell to bits and the debris was indescribable, but the +Sergeant managed to disentangle himself, and, standing stiffly to +attention, reported to the officer on duty, "No. 2 gun out of action, +sir!" No time was lost in digging out the injured men, and it was only +found necessary to evacuate three of the number to the nearest +dressing station--the remainder flatly refusing to go. The layer, in +particular, deserved great credit for his grit, for, in spite of +having been buried, and having scarcely a hair left on his head and +devoid of eyebrows, not to mention the shock to his nervous system, he +was again serving his gun 24 hours later, on the arrival of the new +piece. Some idea of the force of the explosion can be gathered from +the fact that the barrel was found, in two pieces, some 150 yards +away, having been blown over a railway embankment, while the (p. 012) +breech block, which weighs about a cwt., was discovered, after a 12 +hours' search, embedded in the ground six feet below the pit. At this +period a considerable number of "prematures" were taking place, and, +on one occasion, we ascribed this wounding of two gunners to this +cause, but afterwards found out our mistake. An S.O.S. went up after +dark, and, at the time of firing No. 3 gun, the layer and another +gunner were both badly hit by what appeared to be a "premature" just +outside the bore of the piece. Throughout this period we were firing +nothing but high explosive shells. Great therefore was our surprise +when, three weeks later, letters arrived from both men, who were in +hospital, to say that in each case shrapnel bullets had been extracted +from them! What had actually occurred was this: At the same time that +the trigger was pulled and the shell discharged, a "pip squeak" must +have burst in front of the mouth of the gun pit, driving the bullets +through the entrance. + +Day after day passed in much the same way, neither side attempting to +make an attack on any large scale, but on the morning of the 8th +October, it was observed that the hostile shelling was not normal, and +had increased in extent along the whole recently captured area. +Preparations were therefore rapidly made to meet any eventuality, and, +as the day advanced and his bombardment gained in strength, it was +apparent to everyone that the enemy contemplated an attack. At noon +orders were received to be ready, at any time, to lay down a +destructive barrage on a certain zone. The Staff had happily +anticipated the point of attack accurately, and, by the time the enemy +concentrated his final burst of fire on his objectives, every gun in +the neighbourhood which could bear, was trained on the vital spot +ready to open out. When at last the time arrived, the bombardment +ceased abruptly, and the enemy's infantry advanced to the assault wave +upon wave, for the most part in mass formation and with arms linked +together. Emerging from a wood, they had a considerable distance to +cover across open ground before approaching our trenches, so both our +infantry and artillery fire was at first withheld. This gave +encouragement to the enemy, and, as his bombardment had been pretty +severe, he expected more or less of a "walk over," and did not reckon +on what was to follow. When he had advanced to within 200 yards (p. 013) +of our lines, suddenly rapid fire spurted out from our rifles and +machine guns, and guns of every description spat H.E. and shrapnel, +and his ranks were literally mown down. Then a curtain was put down +behind--a solid wall of fire--which made it practically impossible for +the troops to retire, and their plight was beyond all hope. While they +were cogitating whether to come on or go back, they were slaughtered +in heaps--raked by the deadly machine guns. Very few indeed survived +to tell the tale, but one prisoner claimed to be most indignant with +the whole proceedings, and expressed his opinion that we did not "play +the game" by withholding our fire, and that they imagined they had +only to walk into our trenches and take possession of them. This +proved to be the last big hostile counter-attack attempted, and indeed +both sides were content to remain in their own trenches. We made a +smaller attack the next week, but it was also unsuccessful, and little +or no ground was gained. The enemy artillery devoted themselves +principally to counter battery work, and several British batteries, +which were ill concealed, had a most unpleasant time. Free use was +made of lachrymatory shell, our first taste of it. One clear, +moonlight night the battery was firing at a slow rate, and apparently +the enemy saw our flashes, for he speedily turned a 4.2 battery on to +us, his shells landing just short of each gun pit. No casualties +resulted, but a shell entered the window of one detachment's billet +and exploded, completely wrecking the room and destroying the men's +equipment. Soon afterwards instructions were issued to change +positions, and this was effected without loss or mishap. The new +position was more favourably placed, some little way in front of the +Fosse at Annequin, and had been constructed by the French. We were now +covering the Hohenzollern Redoubt of evil memory. Another O.P. was +constructed on the railway embankment on the La Basse-Vermelles line, +which lent itself favourably to the construction of a shaft for +protection, the soil, for the most part, being chalk, as indeed it was +in all the surrounding neighbourhood. It was our misfortune at this +position to say farewell to our Battery Commander, who left us to take +up a Staff appointment with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, and +all ranks were sorry to lose a leader who had thus far shared all +their joys and sorrows. At the same time we were fortunate in (p. 014) +securing in his successor one who quickly and tactfully took up the +reins of office, and the Battery continued to run on equally smooth +lines. + +It now became quite evident that operations would not resume the +nature of a battle, and it was no surprise to receive intimation that +the Division would shortly retire from the conflict. Nobody was sorry +at the prospect of going out, although useful lessons had been learnt +and considerable experience had undoubtedly been gained. + +The weather was beginning to break, and towards the end of the first +week in November we withdrew to the village of Sailly, preparatory to +marching into the nest area for which we were bound. + + + + +CHAPTER III. (p. 015) + +"Peace Warfare." + + +When it became known that our destination was to be the sector +immediately adjoining the one we had already been in, facing Aubers +Ridge, our delight knew no bounds, for all were well aware that that +locality was considered a "cushy" spot which augured well for the +coming winter. + +No delay was made in leaving Sailly, and, proceeding by way of Bethune +and St. Venant, we arrived at a small hamlet midway between the latter +town and Merville. The Battery remained in rest for a few days, while +a couple of "subs." with a working party commenced construction on the +new position selected by the B.C. This entailed a considerable amount +of labour, for timber and all other material had to be carted from the +R.E. dump at La Gorgue some distance away. With an eye to comfort as +well as concealment, it was decided to dig the pits in an orchard, +along some old assembly trenches which had been used by troops before +the battle of Neuve Chapelle. Close by was a cluster of cottages and +outhouses in a wonderful state of preservation. + +By the end of the week the guns were pulled in, although there still +remained a lot to do on the position. The house in which the officers +quartered themselves was intact, with the exception of a few slates on +the roof and several broken window panes. Moreover, there was a little +furniture left and there were some fine open fireplaces, so we had +every reason to be satisfied. Within a short space of time the gun +pits were completed and camouflaged in keeping with the nature of the +ground, and great assistance was rendered us during this undertaking +by an airman who flew over the position from time to time and pointed +out the various deficiencies. At last when he reported that the +position could not be seen from a height of 2000 feet we (p. 016) +concluded, rightly, that nothing was to be feared in that direction. +Thus we settled down to a period commonly known as "Peace Warfare." +This may be summed up as a time when one experiences the maximum +amount of pleasure that is possible under war conditions, with the +minimum amount of discomfort. The enemy were completely deceived as to +our whereabouts, and took us to be in another vacant position some way +down the road, which was liberally shelled by them whenever fire was +opened by us, and we used to encourage this procedure by occasionally +ceasing in order to lead him into the belief that he was doing us +damage. At all events, the position was never shelled the whole time +we were in possession of it--a somewhat unique experience for a +battery in France. + +The infantry were also kept busy at the commencement of this period, +as we had relieved another Indian Division, and on this sector the +parapet had been built for the most part by Ghurkas, who, however +stout fellows they may be at heart, have not the stature of Guardsmen. +The result was the latter found their heads and shoulders showing well +above the parapet, and this necessitated the immediate heightening of +the same some two to three feet. + +The O.P. duties were divided equally between the subalterns, each +doing a third daily. The wagon lines were situated east of La Gorgue +within easy reach, and frequent visits were paid to them, although no +officer remained there permanently. + +During our stay here the Battery came under the direct orders of the +C.R.A. and was attached to no group in particular. Various tasks were +alloted to us, and these were, as a rule, most interesting and +instructive. To further increase our knowledge the B.C. gave the +majority of these shoots to the Junior Officers, briefly explaining +the orders and then leaving us to our own devices by departing for the +rest of the day to the wagon lines on the pretext that he had a +birthday to celebrate. He had many of them. This plan was much to our +liking, and tremendous keenness was displayed by all. Great pains were +taken to carry out everything to the letter, and the signallers also +carried out their part with equal spirit. The gun detachments at this +time rose to a high pitch of proficiency and could get 10 rounds a +minute out of the howitzers, which, considering the double load and +triple movement, was by no means a bad performance. + +A fine level field ran alongside of the position, and it was (p. 017) +speedily made use of as a recreation ground. Goal posts were erected, +and often a hot contest at football would be interrupted by the shrill +blast of a whistle summoning the men hastily to action. Their task +completed, they would calmly return and finish the game. + +All kinds of mutual understandings existed between the opposing sides +in this area, which we soon learnt and respected. For instance, the +village of Aubers lay behind the enemy lines approximately at the same +distance that Laventie did on our side. Both were used as Brigade +Headquarters and filled with troops. Neither town was shelled unless +the enemy accidentally dropped a shell into it, when instant +retaliation was forthcoming. On one occasion the placid calm of +Laventie was rudely shaken through the instrumentality of a young +officer in one of our sister brigades who, unconscious of what he was +doing, planted several shells into Aubers. The consequence was the +following conversation took place over the telephone between +Headquarters and the offending subaltern. + +"Hullo! Is that Ack Battery?" + +"Yes, sir. Just a moment, sir. I'll put you through to the mess, sir." + +"Right you are, but look sharp about it, please. Yes. Hullo! Is that +an officer? Well, I say, have you been firing just now?" + +"Yes, sir. So-and-so is doing a practice shoot from the O.P." + +"Put me on to him at once." + +"Yes, sir." + +A brief interval follows, in which various mutterings are overheard by +the signaller in the exchange, who smiles to himself as he continues +to listen. + +"Hullo! hullo!! Damn these young officers! Will they never learn to +answer quickly? Slow, slow is not the word for it. Will have to go +round and shake them up a bit. This is absurd. Hullo! there. Hullo! Is +he never going to come? Exchange, can't you get him?" + +"Just a moment, sir." + +"Hullo! hullo!!" + +"Yes, sir. So-and-so speaking." + +"What the devil are you firing at, young sir?" + +"Well, sir, I was given permission to fire a few rounds----" + +"Where?" (p. 018) + +"At the cross roads, sir." + +"Seen any of them fall?" + +"Not as yet, sir." + +"Well, for God's sake stop firing at once, sir. Why, man, your shells +are dropping in Aubers, and they are retaliating like the very devil. +There goes another, just outside." + +"Very sorry, sir. Couldn't make out where the shells were falling." + +"Well, report to me as soon as you get back, remember. Have no time to +listen to an explanation now." + +"Very good, sir. Good-bye, sir." + +An animated discussion now takes place in the telephone exchange, and +the unanimous opinion is that poor So-and-so is "for it" and will +perhaps even get the sack, and who will succeed to the Right Section +if he leaves the Battery? + +In these days a walk along the front line was a delight, and nothing +gave the F.O.O. greater pleasure than to take his morning +constitutional from one end of our area to the other and to peer over +the side at frequent intervals by means of a periscope. Sniping was +sometimes indulged in, but a target rarely presented itself for the +simple reason that the enemy was hardly ever in his front line +trenches during daylight. From one O.P. we could often see one or two +men running along the trenches with lighted torches kindling fires and +causing smoke in order to lead us into the belief that the trenches +were powerfully manned. + +Now, about this time, a number of hostile batteries, whose positions +could not be located, gave us a certain amount of trouble, but a +successful ruse was carried out which enabled us to discover them. +Operations were undertaken in order to force the enemy to show his +hand, and every indication was made by us that we were about to +institute a raid. Wire cutting was done by one battery, and others +registered strong points in rear behind the prescribed area. Then at +dusk, known as flesh time, when batteries are most likely to give +their positions away, all the O.P.'s were manned, spotting apparatus +made ready, and our barrage was put down on this sector. The infantry +had been provided with dummy figures, which they held aloft on poles, +and in the semi-darkness this gave the impression that they were +preparing to quit the trenches and go over the top, while high +overhead hovered a number of our aeroplanes waiting to assist. The +plan worked admirably, and in a few minutes the enemy's counter (p. 019) +preparation commenced. As the result of our efforts his positions were +pin-pointed and dealt with by our 60-pdrs. the next day, after which +we were not bothered by them to such a great extent. + +Soon after this episode there came upon the scene what were commonly +known as "Cook's Tourists." These were officers whose units were still +at home, and who were sent out to gain experience by being attached to +batteries for a short period. At times the tourist laid himself open +to being the victim of many practical jokes, and this certainly +contributed to the liveliness of the mess. A certain officer was +escorted down to the front line trenches one day, and, as usual, the +party was armed with periscopes. All of a sudden he emitted a cry of +delight, as, gazing through the instrument, he told us of how crowds +of the enemy were walking along a road. Could we not get our guns on +to them quickly? This seemed an incredible occurrence, as, in this +sector, not a single German had been seen for days on end. The mystery +was speedily solved, however. By some means or other, he had been +holding the periscope so that it faced the opposite direction, and +what he actually saw was a party of our own men walking leisurely +along the road some way behind our lines. Needless to say, this +officer came in for a considerable amount of chaff, and, in course of +time, was solemnly presented with a paper medal, suitably inscribed, +on which reversed periscopes figured prominently. + +The festive season was now drawing near, which necessitated the +gathering of provisions, for the men were to celebrate the 25th of +December by having a special dinner, and presently leave was opened to +our unit and the first lucky ones departed for "Blighty." Some sort of +gift was due the enemy on this occasion, and it took the shape of a +sharp five minutes' bombardment, from every gun in the area, on the +stroke of midnight on Xmas Eve. In spite of this gruelling, the enemy +next morning showed signs of wishing to fraternise with our men in the +front line, but strict orders had been issued in advance that this was +not to be countenanced. The Germans showed themselves freely above the +parapet, and one could see that they had been dressed up smartly for +the occasion, probably in order to impress us with their appearance. +However, there was "nothing doing." Little or no sniping took place, +but the artillery went through their usual routine, in fact rather +increased their fire that day. The men's dinner was a great (p. 020) +success, and all seemed pleased with their fare--pork and potatoes, +vegetables, plum pudding and fruit, with plenty of beer or stout to +wash it down. The Officers' Mess was lively also, and our first 'Xmas, +under war conditions, was voted most successful. Next day the Padre +turned up, and a service was held in one of the barns, but, in the +middle of the address, on "Peace on earth, goodwill towards men," +there was a sudden call for "action." A rush was made to the guns, +and, after a few minutes' argument with the enemy, we returned and +finished listening to the discourse. Somehow or other one could not +help feeling that the two happenings were incongruous! + +We had a notion that perhaps the enemy would make an attempt to +retaliate on us at New Year for our little joke on 'Xmas Eve, and this +proved to be correct. He made rather a feeble demonstration, and it +was speedily squashed, as we were awaiting it. It was an extraordinary +thing, but we always found our foe very slow in the uptake: it +generally took him quite a week to think out some measure of +retaliation, and when it came, it consisted, as a rule, in copying +what we had done to him. We could usually count on that and +consequently guard against it. + +One day instructions came through calling for a report on a new +charge, for reducing the flashes when night firing, which was supposed +to be in our possession. Our worthy Senior Subaltern was at that time +in command, so he decided to have the trial the same evening and put +in his report at once. The remaining officers were to "stand by" at +the guns and first fire a salvo with the ordinary charge and then one +with the new one, while he stood some distance in front to wait the +results. All went well and the salvoes were duly fired, although, at +the battery end, there did not appear to be any difference between +them, which fact was unanimously agreed upon. However, that was not +the opinion of the Senior Subaltern, who waxed eloquent on the "soft, +velvety colour" of the new charge. This was all set down presently, in +a lengthy dispatch covering, at least, two columns of "foolscap," and +sent to the Brigade. Nothing further was heard for several days, then +a telephone message came through which brought a smile to the face of +everyone in the mess except the officer concerned. It ran as +follows:--"Reference my B214 of the 9th inst. Report on flash (p. 021) +reducing charges is herewith cancelled. The production of same has not +yet been issued to batteries in the field A.A.A." Both salvoes had +been of the same nature! + +Our Right Section Commander had a mania for spy hunting, and it was +true that spies were known to infest the neighbourhood and had +sometimes actually been caught. On every available occasion this +officer would set out to scour the countryside in quest of a suspect. +One day this led to the waste of much energy on his part. Having +followed hard on the scent of a suspicious character, from one end of +our area to the other, the quarry suddenly doubled back along the La +Basse road and disappeared into a house. Our friend entered also, and +found himself in a Brigade Headquarters, confronted by the "spy," who +greeted him warmly, and asked him what service he could render him, at +the same time calling for tea. He had shadowed none other than the +chief Intelligence Officer of the Division the whole afternoon! There +was nothing for it but to own up and apologise as best he could, to +the vast amusement of the Staff Officer. After this incident, we were +spared further wild-goose chases by this enthusiast, and the keenness +hitherto shown by him for these quests somewhat abated. + +A good deal of excitement was caused, at this time, by the arrival of +some heavy artillery in our neighbourhood, so much talk had come to +our ears concerning them. The guns were duly placed in position, and +on the afternoon on which they were to open fire a large turn out of +F.O.O.'s collected in the O.P.'s to watch the enemy get a surprise. +They did considerable damage, but, at the same time, were largely +responsible for stirring up a veritable wasp's nest of hostile heavies +which had been lying dormant for ages, and consequently our front +again became active. + +While our F.O.O. was proceeding one day from the O.P. to the front +line, he was caught in one of those bursts of hate and separated from +the telephonists who accompanied him. On the conclusion of the shoot, +a search was made for him, but he was nowhere to be found. They returned +to the Battery and reported the circumstance to the B.C., who, much +concerned, speedily organised a search-party, and set out for the +scene of action. After a couple of hours weary tramping, they came +upon a Company Headquarters in the front line, and there, comfortably +ensconced in an easy-chair, with a large whisky-and-soda by his (p. 022) +side and a cigarette in his mouth, sat the missing officer. Much +indignation was expressed and explanations followed, but, in future, +it was only in the last extremity that search parties were instituted! + +Thus the days sped by, until it came to the minds of those in +authority that the Division had vegetated quite long enough in this +area, and, at the beginning of February, we were pulled out and +transferred to another sphere of activity. + +Everyone regretted leaving this peaceful spot, and the period we spent +there was always looked back upon as the brightest and happiest time +of our sojourn in France. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. (p. 023) + +In "The Salient." + + +It soon became known that we were bound for Ypres. This town will, +without doubt, be the Mecca in France of the British soldier for all +time. This place, above all others, was always mentioned with a voice +of reverence and awe, and is hallowed by the presence of the gallant +dead who helped in its defence. It was truly the most ill-favoured +sector on the whole of the front held by our armies. + +Proceeding by way of Hazebrouck and Cassel, we entered the area +immediately behind the Salient and took up our quarters near the +village of Arneke, for we were not yet due for our spell of duty in +the line. At this time the weather was most unpropitious, and rendered +training in any shape or form out of the question. The ground was +covered with snow to the depth of several inches, and the roads were, +for the most part, frost-bound. A Divisional Artillery Horse Show was +organised, however, and great keenness was displayed by all the +batteries, who spent most of their time horse coping until the day of +the event, which was held at Zeggers Capelle. Our Right Section +Commander, with a team of fine little blacks, managed to secure the +second prize in the principal event. + +Several days afterwards we relieved the Division who were holding the +left centre of the Salient, and took up our position on the northern +extremity of Ypres itself, close to the Dead End of the Canal, a short +distance from "Salvation Corner." Here a short description of the +position is imperative, in order to give some idea of the awkward +nature of this sector and of the conditions attaching thereto. The +distance between the jaws of the Salient was some five miles +across--from the banks of the Yser Canal at Boesinghe on the north to +the neighbourhood of St. Eloi on the south, while the ground held by +us extended about two-and-a half miles east of Ypres in a semi-circle. +Nearly everywhere the enemy was established on rising ground and (p. 024) +overlooked our territory, and, with few exceptions, all that was +visible to us was his first line system. The enemy was thus enabled to +detect any movement behind our line, while we were more or less +"blind." + +Owing to the confined space through which an entrance into the Salient +could be effected, great difficulty was experienced in the matter of +transport, as there was only one main artery, namely, the +Ypres-Poperinghe road. Every evening at dusk this thoroughfare was +crowded with all manner of vehicles, an endless stream, coming and +going throughout the night, and from Vlamertinghe onwards the road was +subjected to constant shelling, and was enfiladed from either side. +Piles of wreckage were always to be seen on the following morning, +which told the tale of the previous night's work, and this long, +straight piece of road holds more sentiment for the British soldier +than any other. + +It was soon quite evident that the enemy was acquainted with our +location, and it was imperative to prepare an alternative position. A +site was chosen across the road, in the garden of a private villa, +well sheltered by shrubs and trees. As soon as the work was completed +and a communication trench constructed, covered with turf and plants, +we commenced moving the guns. This was done without interference from +the enemy until the last gun was in the act of being placed in +position, when, as luck would have it, a shrapnel shell burst in front +of the party, mortally wounding one layer and injuring another. Our +B.C., also, who was assisting, received a bullet through his arm, and +was forced to leave us. This was the second mishap we had suffered +during the course of the first few days, as the Right Section +Commander had already been lost to us. Having an insatiable thirst for +knowledge, this Officer had left the O.P. with his telephonist in +order to explore the front line, which, as everyone who knows the +Salient will readily own, was somewhat difficult to recognise in +places, especially by a newcomer. Suffering as he did from acute +absent-mindedness, it was not surprising that this zealous officer +awakened suddenly from his day-dreams to discover that something was +wrong, and found himself standing with his companion waist high in a +shallow disused trench, which, on further investigation, appeared +uncommonly like "No Man's Land!" After a brief consultation, they +decided to retrace their steps. Alas! all too late: a hostile sniper, +reserving his fire in the hope that they would continue to walk (p. 025) +into the enemy trenches, on seeing them turn about, and thus being +baulked of his prize and the prospect of a fortnight's leave in his +own country, fired a bullet which passed through the thighs of both +men one after the other. A party of our infantry, unable to attract +their attention and put them right in time, had witnessed this little +drama, and proceeded, at great personal risk and at the expense of at +least one of their number being wounded, to extricate the two +unfortunates and convey them to the nearest dressing station. It was +not until a late hour that night that word came to us at the Mess that +the missing party had been passed through the prison at Ypres, on +their way to a C.C.S. Now, our Battery Commander, after great trouble, +had lately gained possession of an improved type of periscope, which +he had been persuaded to lend the F.O.O. on that day, and, on receipt +of this news, his first thought was for the safety of his precious +instrument. The fact that two valuable casualties had resulted did not +seem to weigh with him in the least compared with its loss, and he was +not to be consoled until it was ascertained that the periscope was in +safe keeping. Only then could he be persuaded to make enquiries as to +the nature of their wounds and express his sorrow at their misfortune. + +The Infantry found the trenches in an appalling state, and forthwith +proceeded to repair them, but the enemy would not allow this to go on +long, and, after a few days' work had been spent on them, a couple of +hours' bombardment would suffice to demolish anything that had been +done. As it was a case of labour lost, all attempts at building on a +large scale were soon abandoned. + +Many interesting excursions were made in and around the town. There +was a certain amount of splendour about the ruined place. The high +battered remains of the Cloth Hall Tower stood up in proud defiance in +the centre of the stricken city, while the ancient ramparts +surrounding it gloried in their battle scars and showed a dauntless +front to the enemy. + +A good deal of annoyance was caused in getting about from place to +place through the uncongenial presence of a couple of hostile high +velocity guns which were commonly known as "Quick Dick" and "Silent +Sue," his consort. They were so named on account of the rapidity with +which the shells arrived, and there was little or no warning of their +coming. Their chief object was to harass the neighbourhood, for (p. 026) +they appeared to have no definite target but just dropped a shell +here and there, trapping the unwary and doing considerable damage, as +well as effectively raising a certain amount of "wind"! + +As conditions suited the enemy admirably, many raids were made by him, +and, on one occasion, he launched four simultaneously, one on each +sector of the Salient, after a sharp and heavy bombardment. He +attacked us between Wieltje and Potijge, but was unsuccessful in his +endeavour to obtain an identification. The attempt was frustrated, and +the only result was that he left a number of prisoners in our hands. + +About the middle of May, the Division came out and returned to the +area behind Poperinghe. There was an unexpected treat in store for the +Brigade, for it was shortly sent down to the coast for a change of +air. A two days' march brought the Battery to Cap Gris Nez, while the +other batteries were distributed along the small villages between +Calais and Boulogne. It was a real holiday for us, and a better part +of the year could not have been chosen. All that was expected of us +was to exercise the "hairies," which we did by taking the guns a walk +along the hard sand in the early mornings. + +A large field was secured, and for several hours daily the horses were +put out to grass, and, if ever animals showed signs of joy, they +certainly did, and their antics were most amusing to witness. It was +expected that some difficulty would be experienced in catching them +again, but, after the first day, a trumpet call was all that was +required. On hearing the sound, they would throw up their heads, and +then slowly wander towards the entrance, where the drivers awaited and +secured them. + +The main feature of the day was, undoubtedly, the bathing parade, +enjoyed equally by man and beast. The horses knew at once what was in +store for them when they were led down to the beach. The men stripped, +and, mounting the eager horses, a wild dash was made for the water, +and quite a number of the animals proved themselves excellent +swimmers, many remaining a considerable time in deep water. On leaving +the sea, they would gallop along the sands, showing every sign of +contentment, and we were glad that, at last, they were receiving some +reward for their patient devotion and faithful service, for we were +all fond of our four-legged comrades. + +Amusements were instituted for the men--all manner of sports by (p. 027) +day and concerts in the evenings. The officers lived out of doors, +attracted by the cliffs, from which Dover was visible on most clear +days, and everyone voted this peaceful place the next best thing to +home leave. + +It was, therefore, with much regret that, at the end of twelve days, +we retraced our steps to Arneke, where we were to remain for the +latter portion of the rest. + +We had no sooner arrived at this place than the enemy started making +himself unpleasant in the southern portion of the Salient, and, +attacking the Canadians from Hooge as far as St. Eloi, succeeded in +driving them back some distance before he was finally held up. It was +quite imperative to retake the ground lost, as he had captured +important points of observation overlooking the Salient. A counter +attack was set on foot, and we were suddenly called upon to help in +the preliminary bombardment and cover the assaulting troops, which +included a Brigade of Guards. Just before setting off, our B.C. +rejoined us once more, and at two hours' notice we made a beeline for +the scene of our future activity. At dusk we entered the ruins of +Ypres, and, without delay, proceeded to dig ourselves "in," behind a +convent, not far from the south side of the Cloth Hall. + +Owing to the number of extra batteries assembled for the operations, +we found ourselves without a billet until the genial Commander of a +Pioneer Battalion, affectionately known to the entire Dominion Forces +as "Big Jim," and credited with innumerable deeds of "daring do," took +pity upon us, and invited us to share his hearth and home. This offer +we gratefully accepted, and accommodation was also provided for the +detachment, and all were made most comfortable. + +The bombardment continued for three days, and it became clear, from +the enemy's counter preparations, that he was not going to give up his +newly acquired gains without a struggle. A most stubborn resistance +was offered, and the infantry were forced to fight hard for every foot +of ground that was eventually recovered. The bombardment grew in +intensity as the zero hour approached. Shortly after midnight, the men +went over, and, by breakfast time, had gained all that was required of +them, except at one or two points, which were taken without much +trouble later. + +By the time affairs had settled down normally again, the Division was +due in the line, so the Battery pulled out for one night, before (p. 028) +transferring to our new zone, which was in the most northerly sector, +adjoining the one in which we had already been, and which had an even +worse reputation for unpleasantness. + +After crossing the Yser Canal, the ground gradually rises towards +Pilkem Ridge, and the enemy was ensconced thereon in a kind of +stronghold known as the High Command Redoubt. Our trenches lay beneath +them, which gave us the feeling of being in a cup encircled round the +brim by our foes. During this particular tour, the Battery was split +up for the purpose of forming two forward sections, and the greater +part of the firing was done by the left section, whose position was +well inside the Salient. Its chief object was to harass a certain +portion of a hostile trench which was taken in enfilade by it! In +order to accomplish this successfully, the guns were placed in an old +disused position in a field, near La Brique, on the backward slope of +a hill, and the low gun-pits were completely covered with tufts of +growing grass. The centre pits were occupied by the two pieces and the +outside ones were speedily converted into habitations for the men. + +When the trenches were not being subjected to hostile shelling, the +enemy devoted most of his time in endeavouring to destroy the numerous +O.P.'s dotted about here and there. These were constructed for the +most part of reinforced concrete, but the particular one used by us, +called "Frascatis," had not yet been discovered, so we were free to +carry out shoots to our heart's content. + +A favourite diversion was sniping with one of our pieces, which was a +particularly accurate one, and several points of observation and +snipers' posts were carefully registered. Then we would lie in wait, +observe some movement, and let fly one round only. This method +exasperated and annoyed the enemy exceedingly. + +One of the enemy's principal forms of amusement was to blow parts of +our front parapet away and train a machine gun on the space left +vacant, and snipe at any unsuspecting person who happened to pass +along. On many occasions we were able to bring assistance to the +harassed infantrymen, by spotting the offending snipers, and by, in +turn, sniping at them with our "How." till we finally silenced them. + +At dusk the enemy invariably harassed all roads of communication, and +dropped innumerable shells of large calibre into the stricken (p. 029) +city; and we made a habit of sitting at the entrance to the little +shack, used as the officers' mess, smoking our evening pipes, +interested spectators, while the shells screamed overhead, and +alighted somewhere in the town, sending up columns of brick dust. + +All the batteries in the line were now busy constructing new battery +positions, while fresh O.P.'s were also erected, and it was thought +that these preparations were preparatory to making an attack to enable +us to improve our position by the capture of Pilkem Ridge, but, +although the work was completed, nothing further developed. + +Soon there were whispers of an impending gigantic attack away down in +the south, and for several days before the opening of it our shelling +was considerably increased, while the infantry made a series of raids. +This was done throughout the whole length of the front, in order to +keep the enemy from guessing the exact point of eruption, and we had a +warm time in consequence. For a long time after the battle had +commenced, we continued making demonstrations, which undoubtedly +helped to prevent the removal of many reserves from the locality. + +But we were not content to remain here. There was a great scrap taking +place elsewhere, and were we going to be left completely out of it, to +eat our heads off, in Flanders? It seemed very unlikely that the +Division would not be called upon on such an occasion, and great was +the joy when one day orders came through that we were soon to proceed +to the scene of action. Within two days we pulled out to our old +resting place, where preparations were completed for our transference +to the battle area. + +Our first acquaintance with the dreaded Salient was at an end, and, +although the time spent there was always strenuous and difficult, we +were not what could be called uncomfortable, and our casualties +happily did not exceed expectations. + + + + +CHAPTER V. (p. 030) + +On the Somme. + + +At the beginning of August, the Division detrained in the +neighbourhood of Doullens, and, proceeding in a southeasterly +direction, the Brigade established itself near the small village of +Couin. In a few days' time we went "in," and the Battery took up a +position on the southern outskirts of Hebuterne, overlooking the enemy +stronghold at Serre. This portion of the front was now in a normal +state once more, as, on the opening day of the great battle, the +British assault from Hamel, northward to Gommecourt, had met with no +success, and the attack was not further pressed. The enemy was content +to remain quiet, and most of the firing was carried out by us. A +considerable number of hostile "Minnies" made conditions somewhat +unpleasant for the infantry in the trenches, and during the night the +battery position was subjected to indirect machine-gun fire, which +necessitated a certain amount of caution in moving about. The O.P.'s +were well placed, and afforded us an excellent view, for we overlooked +the enemy's lines, and could see some distance beyond them. We were +now on the fringe of the battle, and away half right, on clear days, +we could see the struggle progressing, as a considerable dent had +already been made. The sight was a very grand one, especially after +dark. The Verey Lights and various S.O.S. rockets, which were +frequently sent up by our opponents, made a fine spectacular display, +far finer than any firework exhibition we had ever witnessed in our +own country in pre-war days. + +Gradually the Division was side-slipped to the south, and our next +position was close to the station of Mailly. We did not remain there +long, however, as the time had now arrived for us to put in an +appearance in the battle itself. We spent one night close to (p. 031) +Amiens, and availed ourselves of the opportunity to hold a dinner +there, which was attended by all the original officers in the +Brigade--a last night of fun and merriment before the long, stiff +fight ahead of us, for who knew how many would survive the ordeal. The +next day brought us to Vaux, on the River Somme, and, in the first +week in September, we found ourselves immersed in the battle. We took +up our first position in the lately captured second line German +system, facing Montauban and covering Guillemont, which had just been +taken by an Irish Division. + +Very stiff lighting was in progress on this sector, as we were now +nearing the summit of the Ridge, the possession of which would be +invaluable, as the enemy's territory would be laid bare to us, and he +would lose his observation over us. It was not surprising, therefore, +that he fought with the courage of despair and initiated +counter-attack upon counter-attack, all of which we had to meet with +great determination. The weather was extremely hot, which added much +to the discomfort: and, as progress had been very slow for some time, +it was impossible to clear up the battlefield, and the stench was +almost insupportable. At length the village of Guinchy was captured, +and, with our men installed on the further side of the slope, the +fighting for position came to an end. We were now entering on the +third stage of the great battle, which had commenced more than two +months previously. An attack, on a large scale, was planned, the +object being to drive the enemy down the slope of the hill into the +low-lying country beyond. Field batteries were moved up into forward +positions, in order to assist the infantry, by placing a creeping +barrage--a new and most successful invention, afterwards employed on +all occasions--in front of the advancing waves of men: and the +"heavies," of which, for the first time, we possessed a preponderance, +pounded the enemy communications far behind his lines. + +The assault was delivered over a wide area, early in the morning of the +15th of September, but in no way did it come up to expectations--in +fact, it might almost be counted a reverse. Some divisions did well, +and took their objectives, but others were completely held up, at +certain strong points, which necessitated the withdrawal of the +remainder, in order to keep the line uniform. The Guards met with +instant success, and took their final objectives, only to discover +that the Division on each side of them had made little progress (p. 032) +and could get no further. They were reluctantly forced to return, and +it was while doing so that heavy casualties were inflicted on them, as +they were raked with fire from the sides as well as in front. During +the withdrawal, a party of machine-gunners occupied a trench, and +attempted to screen the retirement of the main body of troops, by +holding the enemy at bay. In order to use this machine-gun to the best +advantage, the piece was placed on top of the parapet, exposed to the +full view of the oncoming hordes, but our men never wavered in serving +it, and, as soon as one gunner dropped at his post, another instantly +took the vacant place, although it meant certain death within a few +moments. + +Next day they were pulled out to refit, and, as they marched back to +rest, a very touching sight was witnessed. A certain battalion, a mere +remnant, swung along, headed by its band. All the officers had become +casualties, and the Battalion Sergeant-Major was in command, but as +many of the dead officers as could be recovered were brought back on +stretchers and placed each in his proper position. Headed by the body +of their late Commander, the column proceeded on its way, the men +marching at attention, and, although covered with mud and +blood-stained, they might have been proceeding down the Mall. Such is +the discipline of the Guards, and every tribute of respect was paid +them by the troops through whom they passed. + +The next battle was timed for the 25th inst., and our infantry came +back to the line a couple of days before that date. There was much +suppressed excitement and curiosity, for the mysterious Tanks were to +participate on this occasion for the first time, and it was thought +that the secret had been so well kept that they would come as a +complete surprise to the enemy. This proved to be the case, and the +attack was a great success. What was known as the Flers line was +everywhere penetrated, and all gains were held. The Tanks did splendid +work. They advanced well ahead of the infantry, and battered down +barbed wire, overran trenches, smashed machine-gun emplacements, +killing the gun crews, and even waddled as far as the village of +Gueudecourt. There they effected much execution and caused great panic +among the enemy reserves, which were concentrating for the inevitable +counter attack. + +Thus the battle continued, sometimes breaking out into fierce fights +and at other times reduced to isolated scraps, but all the time (p. 033) +the enemy was being gradually and relentlessly pushed down into +the valley, and the villages of Morval, Les Boeufs, and Gueudecourt +fell into our hands. + +It was almost uncanny the way in which villages would completely +disappear. For instance, at the time when these hamlets first came +within our vision, on our reaching the crest of the hill, they appeared +almost intact, but a few days rendered them unrecognisable--they had +become merely so many heaps of rubble. There are many places on the +Somme which have literally not one brick standing on top of another, +and one would never imagine for a moment that a prosperous little +village had ever existed there. + +Many changes of battery positions were made, and, whenever possible, +we burrowed down into the ground, as the enemy's heavy pieces were out +after our blood. The great concentration of guns and the few suitable +localities for placing them in action added to our difficulties, and +we were thus rendered an easy target for the hostile counter +batteries. Innumerable brigades were huddled close together, in what +was known as the Death Valley, for the simple reason that there was no +other suitable spot wherein to place them, and heavy casualties +resulted. We had the good fortune, however, to be somewhat isolated +from the others, and occupied a forward position, where the guns were +hidden in an old German communication trench. The enemy never found +it, but subjected us, now and again, to a general burst of harassing +fire: his main volume of hate passed us by far overhead. + +And, meanwhile, what of our friend the F.O.O.? In those days his lot +was by no means an enviable one, and it was a task of no mean +magnitude to keep communications going between the trenches and the +guns. However, it had to be done, or at least attempted, and the +following is a brief account of a typical day in the life of a gunner +subaltern. + +Orders would be given that a certain hostile trench was to be +subjected to a severe, annihilating bombardment, and this necessitated +the laying out of a wire to a part of our front line, from which the +shoot could be registered, as the target could not be observed from +any other locality than the trench immediately opposite it. The F.O.O. +rises early in the morning, and sets out with his little squad of +telephonists and linesmen. He requires to post a signalman and +linesman at frequent intervals, called Relay Stations, in order (p. 034) +to preserve communication, as the wire is being continually broken by +hostile gun-fire. Progress, in a case like this, is necessarily slow, +and he has to pick his way among the shell-holes, seeking as much +protection, for the line, as circumstances will permit. The signallers +follow in his footsteps, staggering along under the weight of a large +reel of wire. All goes well until they reach the summit of a ridge, +when, suddenly, a barrage from a "whizz bang" battery is placed right +down on top of the party. There is nothing for it but to remain +crouched in a friendly shell-hole, which affords a little protection, +until the storm blows over or to risk the chances of being hit in the +open. The journey is then resumed, and much relief is felt when at +last the ground over a nasty dip is traversed without mishap, as this +is known to be a favourite target for hostile gunners. A muddy, +unkempt communication-trench is now entered, and the party proceed, up +a slope, towards the support system, and eventually arrive at their +destination--a post in the front line overlooking its objective. +Difficulty is experienced in preserving the wire from the unguarded +feet of infantrymen, who look askance at the party as it passes, +cursing the idiosyncrasies of each fire bay. The instrument is +connected with the end of the wire, and all hold their breath in order +to hear the answering buzz which tells them that they are through to +the battery. Several futile buzzes may be made by the telephonist, and +then, no response being forthcoming, a linesman is sent down the wire +towards the first relay station. A break in the wire is discovered and +speedily mended, the next attempt is successful, and the battery is +called to action. + +During registration the wire often breaks, and serious delays occur, +but, at length, the last gun is duly pronounced O.K. by the officer. +Just in the nick of time, too! for the enemy commences a sharp +retaliation on the portion of the trench occupied by the little party. +Refuge is sought in an old enemy shaft close by, and there it awaits +the time for the "show" to commence. Several other batteries also take +part in the shoot, and it is quite impossible to pick out the shells +which belong to each one as they fall. Complete success crowns the +effort, but on the particular day here described the F.O.O. and party +failed to see the end of the bout, as they were subjected to very +heavy fire, and were all blown down the mouth of the shaft by the +explosion of a shell. Luckily, though badly shaken, all escaped +without injury. + +Meanwhile the wire has been broken in many places and is beyond (p. 035) +repair, but it has already served its purpose, and, when fire has died +down, the party starts on the return journey. On arriving at the first +relay station, the telephonist on duty is found dead at his post, the +receiver still clutched in his hand and held to his ear. A nasty gash +in the forehead reveals the place where he has been hit and instantly +killed. His companion is nowhere to be found, although bloodstains +denote that he has at least been wounded, and, on investigation, it is +ascertained that the linesman has been hit, picked up by passing +comrades, and taken to an aid-post. The journey is resumed, the party +carrying the dead with them, and presently another hostile barrage is +encountered. Again the men lie low until it ceases, and then pick up +the remaining linesmen, and return to the battery utterly exhausted. +Many questions are asked, and it frequently happens that the F.O.O. is +cursed by his Battery Commander for not keeping the wire going, and +even the Brigade joins in the chorus. The young officer pays little +heed, and inwardly reflects that they should be extremely thankful +that communication was established at all, and that those of the party +who returned did so in safety. So, in spite of everything, he consumes +a hearty dinner and retires to bed, sleeping the sleep of the just, +and soon becomes oblivious of all his little worries and sombre +surroundings. + +Towards the middle of October the weather broke, and conditions became +intolerable. The roads, which had been partially repaired, were still +soft and broken, and developed into quagmires--mud and water to a +depth of two and three feet made vehicular traffic almost out of the +question. All ammunition had to be transported to the guns by means of +horses carrying pack saddles, a slow and tedious method, which took a +lot out of men and beasts alike. As yet no decca-ville railways had +been constructed as far as battery positions. Very heavy work thus +fell on those at the wagon lines, who were kept busy most of the day +and night. Although the distance to the gun position was under five +miles there and back, the journey rarely took less than ten hours to +accomplish. If a horse fell down in this sticky mud, heavily laden as +it was, attempts at rescue proved unavailing, except on rare +occasions, even with the aid of drag-ropes, and the unfortunate animal +had to be "dispatched." Was it a sense of humour that prompted those +in authority to send the subalterns, in turn, to the wagon lines for a +"rest"? Anyhow, it was considered anything but that by the poor (p. 036) +unfortunates who went, and right glad they were when the time came +round for their next period of duty with the guns! + +As the weather rapidly became worse, operations came to a standstill, +and all proceeded to dig themselves in for the coming winter. Every +endeavour was made to make our quarters water-proof, as well as +shell-proof, and some attempts at mining were commenced, but the +condition of the ground was all against such an undertaking, and the +work was abandoned. Then whispers spread abroad that we were to be +relieved for a short rest, and, after ten weeks of incessant fighting, +we were withdrawn from the line and marched to a little village named +Hangest, a few miles west of Amiens. There we were glad to find +ourselves installed in billets with a roof covering us once more. A +week of leisure helped greatly to restore our spirits, and again we +set out for the line. Our destination this time was Combles, and we +took over a battery position from the French, who politely made us +acquainted with our new surroundings. Our allies, who had been +fighting side-by-side with us on our right flank throughout the great +battle, were then withdrawn, and the British front was extended to the +south as far as the banks of the River Somme. Evidence was speedily +forthcoming to convince us of the severe nature of the recent fight. +The ground was strewn with wreckage and material of all descriptions, +and many hostile guns were found abandoned or lying where they had +been put out of action by the irresistible dash of the Poilus. + +The country, in this part, was undulating, and better suited to the +concealment of battery positions, and nowhere was the enemy able to +overlook our territory. Our area included the defence of the joint +villages of Sailly-Saillisel, situated on commanding ground, which the +French had recently bravely stormed. Combles, too, which lay in a +basin shaped hollow, was interesting as having been the centre of +supplies for the southern portion of the German Army operating in the +battle, and much booty was discovered in the huge catacombs which ran +underneath the town. + +'Xmas passed in much the same way as in the previous year. A smart +bombardment was carried out in the morning in order to advise the enemy +that anything in the way of fraternising would not be countenanced by us. +At mid-day the men partook of their 'Xmas fare, which had been (p. 037) +fetched from Amiens, and a short service was conducted by the Padre in +one of the gun-pits. A slight disturbance took place at dusk, when the +S.O.S. went up from the front line and all batteries immediately +opened out. It seemed a rather extraordinary occurrence, as the +evening was unusually quiet, and, presently, it was discovered to have +arisen through an error, due to the fact that the enemy had put up a +coloured light in between two ordinary Verey lights which constituted +our own S.O.S. + +About this time the enemy caused considerable annoyance to a certain +Battalion Headquarters, situated in a quarry close behind the lines, +by occasionally dropping a shell right into it, the position having +probably been discovered by his aircraft. Retaliation tactics were +adopted, which consisted of subjecting the hostile trenches to a sharp +half-hour's bombardment from eight batteries, firing a total of 2,000 +rounds. The enemy was well known to be very thick-skinned, but these +measures met with instant success, and it was only necessary to remind +him once again that we were not to be trifled with in this way. + +After the New Year, a severe spell of frost set in, with an occasional +heavy fall of snow, and we were somewhat annoyed when orders came +through to sideslip our position further south, as we had made our +quarters fairly comfortable by this time, and expected to remain +undisturbed throughout the winter. The new position was situated +behind the ruined village of Rancourt, facing St. Pierre Vaast wood, +and was one of the worst and most disagreeable localities it was ever +our lot to occupy, as we were, more or less, water-logged the whole of +our time there. Much difficulty was experienced by both friend and foe +in entering their respective front line, so much so that, by common +consent, sniping by rifle fire was discontinued until parapets were +constructed and made fit for occupation. However, sniping was still +indulged in by the artillery, and no parties of any size were +permitted to go about freely near the front line under observation. +Affairs continued thus until the middle of February, when it became +apparent that something unusual was taking place in enemy territory, +and great explosions were heard, after which volumes of smoke were +seen to rise in large columns. These, as was afterwards proved, were +due to preparations being made by the enemy to evacuate the low-lying +country, into which they had reluctantly been forced, as the result of +the battle of the Somme, prior to falling back upon the great (p. 038) +prepared defences known as the Hindenburg Line. + +Instantly every one was on the alert for further signs of evacuation, +and one morning a patrol reported that the enemy had vacated their +front line. Further patrols were at once pushed out, through St. +Pierre Vaast wood, in order to maintain contact with the retreating +foe. Every precaution had to be taken, as it was soon discovered that +many forms of booby-traps had been cunningly laid by him in his wake, +and progress was necessarily slow. Added to this, there was great +difficulty in manoeuvring the guns over the innumerable trenches +which existed in the neighbourhood, and the pieces sank up to their +axles in the clogging mud, and were only extricated after hours of +labour. The enemy retired slowly and most methodically, destroying +everything of value and wantonly reducing the small villages and +hamlets to mere shells, by means of incendiary bombs. The inhabitants +also were removed beforehand, and, when the troops advanced, they +might have been traversing a wilderness, so complete was the ruin and +desolation on all sides. + +The time had now arrived for the Brigade to have a much-needed rest +and also to refit, so, at the end of March, we were withdrawn from the +contest. Marching westward, we arrived at the village of Morlancourt +in the first week of April, well content at the prospect of returning +to civilization for a protracted period. + +[Illustration: Division from Brigade R.F.A. Guards Division.] + + + + +CHAPTER VI. (p. 039) + +Messines. + + +It was not long before those in authority discovered that the +neighbourhood of Morlancourt was peculiarly favourable for the +carrying out of manoeuvres, with the result that a period of +"intensive training" set in. Drill orders took place four days a week, +and batteries were specially trained in the methods of open warfare, +while many hours were devoted to tactical schemes. + +At this time units were reorganised, all batteries were increased to +six guns, and there was plenty of work to keep everyone busy. The +narrator of these rambling notes, after a period of two years' service +with the Brigade, here transferred his allegiance to the sister +howitzer battery of the Division, known as "The Grey Battery," from +the fact that all the horses were of that colour. Sentiment ran strong +for his "old love" and those he was obliged to leave, but he was +already well acquainted with both officers and men of his new unit, +and soon settled down happily amongst them. + +All guns were carefully calibrated on a range due west of Peronne, and +the "hairies" picked up rapidly in condition, owing to the good care +and attention that was bestowed upon them. The big battles of Vimy +Ridge and Arras were now in full swing, and it seemed unlikely that we +would be called upon to take any part in them so late in the day. + +Many forms of amusement were created for the men, and football +matches, both "rugger" and "soccer," were freely indulged in between +batteries and brigades, while the full regimental band of one of the +Guards' regiments was kindly lent to the Divisional Artillery. It gave +many a fine entertainment in the evenings. + +Time thus sped by at an amazing rate, and various visits of inspection +paid us by officers from the C.R.A. up to the Army Commander made (p. 040) +it very apparent that we were undoubtedly being "fattened up"--but for +what? The question was more than we could answer, but speculations +were rife as to our possible destination, for we knew that the Somme +would see us no more--in the meantime, at all events. + +Six weeks had come and gone, and yet we remained inactive in this +peaceful village; then sudden orders were issued for us to be ready to +entrain at short notice, and, in the second week of May, the Battery +glided out of the station at Meulte prepared for anything. A long and +circuitous route was taken _via_ Amiens, Abbeville, Etaples, Boulogne, +Calais, St. Omer, and at length we arrived at Arques, near which we +remained, in billets, for some considerable time. It was while we were +there that we learnt that it was the intention of the British +Commander to gain possession of the great Messines Ridge, which +towered over our lines, and was a stronghold of inestimable value to +the enemy. + +As long as he held this ridge, which was the keystone of his armies in +Flanders, he was immune from any vulnerable attack on our part, and +was free to launch any offensive operation from it by using it as a +stepping-off place. Added to this, the northern end of the heights +afforded him an uninterrupted view of the southern portion of the +Ypres salient, which was a source of great annoyance to our forces on +that part of the front. It was vital, therefore, for the future +operations of the British Armies, that this important ridge should be +captured and kept in our hands. + +Preparations were accordingly set on foot, and artillery of all +calibre was silently concentrated from all parts, and proceeded to dig +itself in for the coming fray. For a long time this sector had been +free from any serious operations, and was considered a kind of resting +place for exhausted troops, but soon the peace and quiet of the +neighbourhood was to receive a rude awakening, when the tide of battle +broke out upon it once more. + +Proceeding through Hazebrouck and Bailleul, the Brigade arrived at its +wagon lines, a short distance west of Neuve Eglise, and immediately +each battery sent work parties to the scene of action, in order to +construct emplacements and make its position habitable. The spot +allotted to our battery was in a little hollow close to the cut roads, +near the small ruined village of Wulverghen. Our front line was placed +on the top of an undulating rise, with the ridge itself beyond. + +Our principal business was to avoid attracting the attention of (p. 041) +the enemy to our preparations, and in this we were aided by the +fact that there was a considerable amount of cover beside us, in the +form of trees and undergrowth, the foliage of which was now in full +leaf. + +Row upon row of batteries were placed in position behind hedges, or +artificially concealed, the barrels of the pieces peeping out from all +imaginable lurking places. The Divisional Artillery was situated in +the most advanced position, the 18 pr. batteries ranging from within +600 to 1,000 yards of the front line, with the howitzer batteries +immediately behind them. On account of our proximity to the enemy, the +two brigades had orders to remain silent until the day of the show, +and we were only allowed to fire enough rounds to enable us to +carefully register the pieces, and this was completed without giving +away any of the positions. + +All ammunition was conveyed to the guns by night, and was distributed +in small quantities near to them. Before long the enemy became alive +to the fact that we were contemplating some move, and consequently +increased his devastating fire by night, with the result that many +dumps in the vicinity were exploded by him. He was bound to hit +something, the countryside was so packed with all manner of +ammunition. He had no idea, however, of the magnitude of our coming +effort, and firmly believed his position to be impregnable, and that +it was beyond our power to free ourselves from his grip. + +He contented himself with drenching our little valley with chemical +shell whenever conditions were favourable, but so accustomed were the +men to their gas masks that no serious consequences resulted, although +it was distinctly unpleasant to have to pass each night enveloped in +these stuffy contrivances, especially as the weather remained hot and +oppressive. + +The Battery had more than their average share of good fortune +throughout these operations, and it is worthy of putting on record +that the unit did not sustain a single casualty to either man or +horse. This was all the more remarkable as the engineers had +constructed a wide plank road, which passed through the centre of our +position, and could not be concealed from our foes, who lavishly +besprinkled it with shrapnel after dark. Many casualties were caused +to the transport, and the Officers' Mess virtually became an aid-post, +where every assistance was rendered the wounded men. + +Our sister howitzer battery was lined up alongside of us, and, (p. 042) +when the two positions were first inspected, much chaff ensued as to +which had the better place, and the men of our battery were certainly +all of the opinion that, had the selection devolved upon them, we +would unanimously have plumped for the other one. They had no +landmarks likely to attract hostile fire, and thus occasion them the +unpleasant sensation of living on top of a volcano, while we were +slap-bang in the middle of a conspicuous cross road, with a constant +stream of traffic coming and going through: yet, so strange and fickle +are the fortunes of war that, while we escaped unharmed, our comrades +next door suffered a heavy gruelling. + +The preliminary bombardment commenced, and continued throughout five +days, but, in order to deceive the enemy as to our weight of +artillery, not more than fifty per cent. of the guns in the line were +allowed to take part at one time. A row of O.P.'s had been constructed +on Hill 65, which overlooked the valley and town of Messines. A fine +sight was witnessed as that stronghold was gradually reduced to a mere +shell by our heavies, which effected extraordinarily good work in +smashing the elaborate structures of the enemy's defence. + +The preparations were all that could be desired, and everything was +carefully worked out to the minutest detail: not a stone was left +unturned to render the operations a complete success. The labour and +expense was well rewarded too, for surely no battle ever ran so +smoothly from first to last, and it will always be looked back upon by +the British soldier as a model of triumphant organisation. The battle +only lasted a single day, but in that time the formidable network of +trenches was neatly and clearly shorn off, and the enemy, who relied +so much on the security of these positions, found himself suddenly +pushed down the slope into unsuitable ground, where he could no longer +be a menace to us. + +The "feet" of our Division were not in the line, being held in +reserve, and, as it turned out, they were not called upon at all at +this juncture, so well did the course of the battle progress. We were +covering the infantry of an English Division, and, on the evening +previous to the attack, the troops passed us noiselessly and in +perfect order on their way to their various points of assembly. All +were in excellent spirits, which augured well for the next day, and a +feeling of calm confidence appeared to prevail amongst them. A (p. 043) +stream of gas and tear shells was maintained by the foe throughout +the night, but it was mostly directed on the zone which contained the +battery positions, consequently the infantry was caused little +inconvenience. + +Early the following morning, shortly before dawn, the attack was +heralded by the explosion of the mines, which had been in course of +preparation for months beforehand. This was the sign for the guns to +open out, and the assault was launched from north of St. Eloi in the +Salient to the neighbourhood of Ploegsterte in the south, the men +following close in the wake of the now familiar and popular creeping +barrage. + +The force of the explosions was terrific, and the vibration was felt +far and wide; even strong concrete "pill-boxes" were swung to and fro, +and the occupants were tossed from side to side as if they were on +board ship in a rough sea. Some indication of the colossal nature of +these upheavals may be gauged from the fact that the craters were, in +some cases, more than 200 ft. in diameter, and that the earth thrown +up obliterated every hostile trench in the vicinity, completely +burying the unfortunate garrisons who manned them. + +At the same moment the sky was lit up by all manner of S.O.S. lights +and the innumerable flashes from our guns, which were now showing +their maximum strength for the first time. They belched forth +concentrated death, the roar reached such a deafening crescendo that +conversation was entirely out of the question--indeed it was +impossible to hear one's own voice. However, the scene was truly +impressive, and the grandeur was beyond anything hitherto seen. + +As daylight crept in, the infantry were observed to be making rapid +progress, although, here and there, stiff opposition was encountered. +Soon the summit of the ridge was gained, and the men swept on and +disappeared over the crest, leaving the mopping-up parties to complete +their work. The Tanks bravely waddled up after them, in a vain effort +to keep up, for the attacking infantry went so fast, in the first +stages, that they easily outstripped those ponderous giants and left +them far behind. + +Meanwhile the field batteries which had been in position farthest in +the rear, and so were already out of range, limbered up and dashed +into action in front of our Brigade. As soon as the next row was also +out of action, they too galloped past and took up their place (p. 044) +again in "No Man's Land," while the Engineers worked at their highest +pressure to pull down trenches and prepare the way for the gunners. +Thus we were able to give the fullest possible support to the infantry, +and the fire never ceased, while the men always found the creeping +barrage laid down in front of them. + +Early on in the fray prisoners came dribbling back in a more or less +dazed condition, and, as they passed the array of guns, they paused +and gazed in evident wonder at the huge concentration--probably +realising how fortunate they were in escaping the fate of so many of +their comrades. + +Now, the enemy, although he knew an attack was imminent, had failed to +anticipate the correct zero day, with the result that, on several +portions of this front, various reliefs were in process of taking +place at the actual time of the assault. The consequence was his +defence was thrown into a state of confusion, while the extra numbers +in the trench offered a double prey for the bayonets of our men, who +were not slow in seizing the chances thus afforded them. + +The whole of the first objectives were quickly in our possession, as +well as the villages of Messines and Wytscheate, and there was a +slight pause to give a breathing space to the infantry, and to allow +time for the field guns to take up their allotted positions beyond the +recently captured enemy trenches, before entering upon the second and +final stage of the battle. When the creeping barrage, which had +remained stationary during this period, went forward once more, the +infantry encountered stronger opposition, but by this time the Tanks +were well up in support, and were instrumental in breaking up the +machine-gun nests and thus enabling the men to proceed up to schedule +time. + +The enemy lost a number of field artillery pieces, but had taken the +precaution to withdraw most of the heavy ones several days before, +when our bombardment commenced. His shooting, therefore, was rather +wild and erratic, as he evidently had not had sufficient time to +register his guns properly in the new positions. The result was that, +fortunately for us, most of his energy was misplaced, and, for a +battle of this magnitude, the casualties were not as heavy as might +have been expected. + +By early afternoon the final objectives were everywhere in our (p. 045) +hands, and the work of consolidating the fruitful gains that the +last few hours had yielded was immediately begun. + +Several counter-attacks were attempted by the enemy, but were not +pushed with much vigour, and no success was secured in that direction: +our infantry remained firm and could not be dislodged. + +Trenches were swiftly constructed, the work proceeding without +intermission, and by evening the men were, more or less, securely "dug +in," except in a few places where the line was slightly irregular, and +which was afterwards rectified by means of a small operation. + +By the time the battle had finished we found ourselves the farthest +back Brigade in the line, the immense number of batteries which, at +the beginning, had been in our rear were now well in front of us, and +on this sector the Divisional Artillery were the only two Brigades who +did not move forward during the course of the fight. Moreover, by this +time we were firing almost at extreme range close to the enemy's new +front line, which gives some idea of the distance our men covered. + +The day had been an exhausting one for the gunners, and, in order to +give some indication of the work and labour they had been called upon +to do, our battery alone fired over 4000 rounds of ammunition. This +was by no means a bad performance when one takes into consideration +that each shell weighs 35 lbs., and necessitated a goodly amount of +manhandling, but the men all had their "peckers well up," and +displayed much determination throughout. + +For a few days following the battle there were a number of small +isolated scraps for positions, and one or two enemy counter-attacks, +before the new front settled down into something like normal +conditions again. Decca-ville and light railways were pushed up +smartly by the R.O.D., and the Engineers constructed new roads, while +Labour Battalions were busily employed repairing the old ones and +clearing up the litter of the battlefield. + +Ever since we came into action it had been no secret that our stay in +this area would be of short duration, and that we were only to be +employed in the battle itself, and were only to remain as long as our +services were really required. It was no surprise when, five days (p. 046) +later, orders came through for us to withdraw from the line. We pulled +out back to our wagon line, and from there proceeded through Bailleul +to the little hamlet of Borre, a few miles east of Hazebrouck, where +we remained pending removal to our next destination. We all had the +feeling that our recent tour had been a great success, and were well +satisfied with the part we had taken in the operations, for this was +the first occasion on which we had witnessed a battle go smoothly, +without a hitch from start to finish, and was a great contrast to any +previous one in which we had participated. + +A few days in rest sufficed to put the Brigade shipshape once more, +and we were now ready for the next bout. No delay was made in +transferring us to another neighbourhood, and we set out in a +northerly direction, which boded little good, for we knew that +unpleasant events were developing in that quarter. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. (p. 047) + +Ypres Again. + + +In the middle of June the Division arrived in the neighbourhood of +Ypres, and at once took over from the Belgians from just below +Boesinghe northwards. We were thus back on familiar ground, as we had +occupied the next sector to the south in the previous year. Although +we were not actually in the Salient itself, we were situated at the +northern re-entrant to it. The Yser Canal constituted "No Man's Land," +the eastern bank of which was held by the enemy and the western by +ourselves. + +The battery positions on this occasion were placed a considerable +distance behind, mainly around the village of Elverdinghe, as the +enemy had close observation and overlooked us from Pilkem Ridge. We +did not take long to discover that our opponents were well acquainted +with the situation of our new homes, for the majority of the batteries +were subjected at once to an avalanche of shells as soon as they +opened fire in order to register the guns. It became imperative for us +to build alternative positions or go elsewhere, while other sections +moved forward and undertook most of the firing. We had not been +settled more than a few days when the enemy suddenly conceived a +violent attraction for the house occupied by the officers' mess, and, +after several direct hits had been made on it, we decided that the +place was becoming too hot, and searched round for a more suitable +abode. We packed up, made a hasty flight, and secured accommodation in +a house which was strengthened by concrete, but even there we had to +be wary, especially at night, for we were very close to a road fork, +beloved by the enemy gunners. + +The majority of the O.P.'s were also obvious to the keen eyes of the +foe, who paid them much attention on every possible occasion, and it +was just as well for the occupants that they had been strongly (p. 048) +constructed with steel girders and concrete. On one occasion an +officer, doing a night O.P. duty, along with his telephonist, was +subjected to a full hour's bombardment by two hostile batteries, which +fired salvoes regularly every minute. Next morning there was nothing +left of the house except the skeleton, with the O.P. structure +standing out defiant in bold relief in the midst of it. + +These then were the conditions on this sector at the time of our +taking it over, and it will be seen that the enemy did more or less +what he chose, and was undoubtedly top dog as far as gunnery was +concerned. However, this was not to remain long so, as almost +immediately preparations were set on foot for the coming offensive, +which had already been decided upon. + +A host of new O.P.'s were erected, new roads and light railways +constructed, while large working parties prepared fresh gun pits in +advanced positions, and all were carefully camouflaged where they were +exposed to enemy view. Every day new units arrived, and the country +appeared to be overrun with troops. Most of the forward work had to be +done during the night, and, as each position was completed, the guns +were silently concentrated. While this was in progress, the Divisional +Artillery only were maintained for the defence of the line, as it was +not advisable that the enemy should know until the last possible +moment that anything unusual was afoot. The scheme was a much more +ambitious one than that in which we had recently taken a part, and, if +everything went forward according to plan, it meant that we would be +on the go for a considerable time, and there even appeared to be a +chance of getting a taste of the long-talked-of open warfare. + +About this time a most amusing episode was witnessed by one of our +Subalterns who was doing a liaison with the infantry at a battalion +headquarters. This place was situated most unpleasantly, and was well +known to the enemy, consequently accommodation had to be sought +underground as much as possible. While the F.O.O. and his companion, +the Intelligence Officer, were performing their ablutions early one +morning outside the mouth of the cellar, a Brigadier with his Staff +suddenly appeared on the scene to pay a visit to the Commander. The +two Staff Officers remained outside, and opened conversation with (p. 049) +them. The Intelligence Officer, being something of a wag, brandished +his shaving brush in one hand and with the other jocularly shoved the +Staff Captain down the steps into their retreat, and asked him what he +thought of the bedchamber. The other officer, although much amused, +stood aghast, and, after the visitors had departed, he asked his +companion to whom he had been speaking. He replied that he did not +know, for, although the Captain's features appeared familiar, he could +not "place" him, though he was a jolly sort of chap anyhow. On being +told that it was none other than the Prince of Wales that he had been +familiarly digging in the ribs for the past quarter of an hour, he was +incredulous, and exclaimed, "And to think I nearly killed the +youngster down these stairs!" + +At length preparations were completed, and the two Brigades of the +Divisional Artillery took up new advanced positions alongside the +reinforcing batteries already in line, while the heavies were thickly +aligned close in the rear. The preliminary bombardment broke out about +the middle of July, and at first it was keenly resented by the enemy, +who perceived that we were gradually wrestling the initiative from +him, but when, day after day, our fire continued unabated, he +apparently resigned himself to his fate. Hurricane shoots by field +batteries soon began to make a difference in the appearance of his +trenches, and the heavies, by means of aerial registration, demolished +his strongholds far back over the crest, and destroyed many of his +battery positions. Several thick woods were facing us across the +canal, and these grew thinner, and yet more thin, disclosing cunningly +concealed pill-boxes, which were then dealt with by the heavies, until +at last only a few stumps remained to indicate that a wood had ever +existed there. The enemy's alarm grew daily, and soon our aeroplanes +reported that the hostile batteries were being withdrawn further out +of danger, and that work was proceeding feverishly upon new defences +far behind his lines. By this time we had complete control of the air, +and the heavens were alive with our aircraft, though the enemy tried +his best to equalise matters by bringing along his famous "travelling +circus" to the scene of action, and many thrilling fights were +witnessed. The batteries were subjected to much chemical shelling +during the night, and the enemy were known to bring forward special +guns under cover of darkness for this purpose, and to withdraw (p. 050) +them out of range again before daybreak. + +It was during this period that he introduced the new mustard gas for +the first time, and it must be admitted that he surprised and +inflicted considerable casualties on us at first by this latest +specimen in his assortment of poison. + +Our initial attack had to be postponed for several days, as the +French, who came in immediately on our left, were delayed in putting +in their appearance, consequently they had many hours' bombardment to +make up, but, when it did commence, it was no uncertain one, and the +noise was terrific. In the meantime our bombardment was continued +also, though in a lesser degree, and the destruction of the enemy's +lines was, as far as we were able to judge, thorough and complete. + +This delay proved a blessing in disguise to the Guards, who were to +deliver the assault on our sector. The problem of effecting a crossing +of the canal was a most serious and difficult one, and it had been +arranged to send the men over on floating mats, as a good deal of +water still remained in parts of the bed. In others so much mud and +slime were encountered, while carrying out a series of raids, that it +was almost impossible to cross without some such assistance, and it +will be readily understood that it was imperative to waste no time in +this manoeuvre, especially as the foe was awaiting them on the further +bank. Whether it was that the enemy could not maintain communications +between his front line and the rear, on account of our intense +bombardment, or whether, as has been suggested, he suspected a +repetition of Messines, and that we had mined underneath the canal +bed, at all events three days before the attack he evacuated the canal +bank and retired just over the crest of the hill some 800 yards +beyond. This movement, however, had not been carried out unperceived +by our valiant airmen, who, flying at a low altitude, returned and +reported the situation. Immediately strong patrols crossed the canal +and pushed up the slope on the other side, in order to remain in +contact with the enemy and gauge his whereabouts. A series of posts +were thus established 500 to 600 yards east of the canal, and orders +were given to hold them at all costs, so that on the day of the battle +our infantry could start off from there without having any serious +obstacle in their way. Many men crossed the canal by means of hastily +constructed foot bridges or floating rafts made of biscuit and petrol +tins ingeniously lashed together. + +On this occasion we will follow the fortunes of the F.O.O.'s (p. 051) +detailed to accompany the infantry on their journey over the top on +the first day of the battle. The party consisted of two officers and +fourteen signallers and linesmen from the Brigade, who, during the +past fortnight, had received full instructions as to their duties. +Every detail had been carefully worked out beforehand: the men had +been divided into several groups, each armed with telephones, reels of +wire, flags, and Lucas lamps, all these things being necessary for the +provision of each relay station. One of the officers was to accompany +the attacking waves of infantry with his staff, consisting of a +telephonist, linesman, and signaller, while the duty of the other was +to work in conjunction with him and to maintain, as far as possible, +uninterrupted communication with the Brigade after laying down the +wire. The morning before the battle, the wire was laid out over the +canal as far as the series of outposts, in order to save time on the +following day. The same evening, at sunset, the party set out, after +receiving wishes for the best of good luck from those who had been +fortunate enough to escape being detailed for this arduous task. +Officers and men proceeded to their appointed places in the front +line, or rather in what had once been an enemy support trench, though +now it was scarcely recognisable as such, owing to the effects of our +bombardment, there to remain for the night and await coming events. + +Now, in consequence of the enemy's premature retirement over the +crest, he lost most of his observation on us, but he was aware we had +effected a crossing and held posts on his side of the canal. He +therefore lavishly besprinkled this area with all manner of high +explosive shells--one here, one there: never two in the same +place--and the members of the party began to wonder whether they would +survive to witness the fortunes of the battle. It always appears to be +a matter of conjecture as to what are the real feelings of an F.O.O. +about to take the plunge, so perhaps it might be of interest in this +case to acquaint ourselves with them. As he lies out there with his +men, where are his thoughts? Are they of his home, his parents, wife, +or children? Will he ever see their dear faces again? No--! all that +agony has been fought out over and over again long ago, during the +previous fortnight or so, since he has been detailed for this +particular job. Then, what does he think about? If the truth be told, +he is rapidly running over in his mind all the little things which +may perhaps, at the last moment, have been omitted or forgotten. (p. 052) +He questions Gunner "So-and-so" to make certain that that extra piece +of wire has been brought along, and asks what the h--l Gunner +"Somebody else" is doing standing there without a "tin-hat" on, and +enquires of the Bombardier if he has adjusted the Lucas lamp properly, +which has been giving some trouble previously. These and a +hundred-and-one other such questions flash through his brain as he +lies on the ground with his little party, all vigorously puffing pipes +or cigarettes. The hours go by very slowly, and conversation on any +old topic is attempted from time to time, sleep being entirely out of +the question, as everyone is much too excited for anything of that +nature. Meanwhile the bombardment continues without intermission, and +the night becomes intensely cold and eerie. Will the darkness never +pass and let us get started on the job? + +Soon after midnight the infantry, who are to make the assault, arrive +at their places of assembly, full of quips and jests, a sure sign that +they are cheery and in good form for the coming fray. Rum is served +out, and the men lie down in little bunches, either to snatch a few +minutes' sleep or else to resume their constant arguments and +bickerings on every subject under the sun except anything connected +with the war. Zero hour at last draws near, and everyone grows more +restless, for this period is much the most trying time to endure, and +all topics of conversation have long since been exhausted. Then a +short, sharp order passes down the line, and the answering shouts +announce that all are present and ready--the "quarter to zero" has +arrived. Another crisp order comes along, and there are a series of +ominous clicks as each man adjusts his bayonet to the rifle, then the +men line up in perfect extended order, ready for the word to go. A +faint grey appears in the sky to the east, but only the next man is +visible to his neighbour, as the darkness is still upon us. The +F.O.O.'s and party are also up and ready, final instructions being +rapidly given to the signallers, who nod assent that everything is +prepared and understood. Then suddenly the guns bark out afresh, and a +creeping barrage drops down like a curtain in front of the men, who +follow after it at an easy walk. Fortune attends the little party, as +the wire has only been cut in three places, and these are speedily +repaired; and, as soon as the second wave of men is clear of the +trench, the line is laid out as rapidly as possible behind them. The +ground is difficult to traverse, being full of deep craters, so (p. 053) +the party progresses more slowly than the infantry, and presently +the third wave gains on and passes it by. At first the enemy puts down +a nasty barrage, just beyond our stepping-off place, but most of his +heavy stuff falls on the canal bank, and, as the majority of the +troops have already crossed, the damage is not severe. By this time +the party has gained the top of the crest, and, after establishing a +relay station in a pill-box lately occupied by their opponents, the +remainder proceed on their way. Many are the temptations to dawdle, +instead of getting on with the work, so much of interest is taking +place around them, including the amusing, and at that time not too +frequent, sight of scores of the enemy, with uplifted hands, emerging +from pill boxes, where they must have been packed like sardines. + +An auxiliary wire tapped into the main F.O.O. line is led to another +pill-box, now to be used as a new infantry headquarters for the time +being, and the party comes under the fire of a hostile machine gun +emplacement, which necessitates their lying in a shell-hole for a +while. On arrival there, the "mopping up" party is found still at +work, but it soon completes its grim task. The officer who has +proceeded with the infantry now sends his first message through to the +effect that the first objectives are taken, the wire fortunately +holding out well at the moment, every sound being clear and distinct. +The Lucas lamp is then fixed on top of the relay station, and +communications established in case the wire goes, but the morning +dawns in mist, and signalling by this method is unsatisfactory. + +After a short pause, the infantry proceed on the second stage of their +adventure, the F.O.O. and party following up and laying out wire close +behind them. More messages are sent through to Brigade, and the wire +breaks on several occasions, but is speedily dealt with by the +linesmen, who are kept busy patrolling up and down the line. +Meanwhile, items of extreme interest are taking place around the +pill-pox of the Central Relay Station. Numerous batches of prisoners +are drifting back, for the most part unattended, composed entirely of +youths of nineteen and twenty years of age, the Guards having refused +to kill these babies, only "despatching" the older men, for the +Division up against them was very mixed, and may best be described as +a "dud" lot, and it did not put up much of a fight. The lads all look +weary and mud-stained, although there is an expression of relief (p. 054) +on their faces, as they steadily munch the bread that has been +good-naturedly handed to them by their captors, for they have been +starving for the past three days or so, no food having reached them on +account of the terrific bombardment. An aid-post is hastily placed in +a huge shell-hole close by, and the wounded straggle back; those who +are but slightly hit and can walk help each other along, while the +others are carried on stretchers. Here, a man, ghastly wounded, minus +one leg and with the other almost severed, lies on a stretcher, calmly +puffing at a cigarette given him by the bearers, and attempts to raise +himself on his elbow that he may gaze at the curious scenes taking +place around him. Others just stagger along, their pinched faces +showing signs of suppressed pain, yet all have a quip or a jest on +their lips as they smoke the inevitable cigarette. The sight is truly +a wonderful one! The courage and calm that these wounded display in +the midst of their sufferings is beyond words, but they are +"Greatheart's all." Reinforcements are passing all this time on their +way up to the battle line, ready to throw themselves into the conflict +when their time arrives. + +Again the infantry move forward to the third and final objective, +under cover of the friendly barrage, and, by the time they arrive at +their allotted destination, an advance of some three miles from the +canal bank has been effected since morning. The wire is linked up, and +the F.O.O. selects a good point of vantage, and makes himself and his +staff as comfortable as possible, and then proceeds to gather as much +information as he can obtain to send back over the line. The infantry +are now busy digging themselves in, and are being subjected to heavy +shell-fire, but they stubbornly resist all efforts to dislodge them. +By this time the batteries have all limbered up and advanced to new +positions, mostly out in the open, and an order comes over the +telephone from the B.C.'s for the F.O.O. to register the guns afresh: +so he at once picks up some dependable landmark, and with much +difficulty observes the rounds as they fall, and thus gives the +necessary corrections. + +Then the wires break on account of the shelling, and some time is lost +before communications are again established. The enemy has now +recovered somewhat from the initial shock of the attack, and displays +much determination to recover lost ground--counter attacks are +launched without success. The F.O.O. now has an important message to +convey, but, when the telephonist endeavours to send it through, (p. 055) +there is no answering buzz. Thereupon the linesman is despatched as a +runner, and, on reaching the first relay station, he transfers the +written message to another linesman, who immediately sets out for the +next relief, and so on, until the message duly arrives at +headquarters. + +Thus the day wears on: sometimes direct communication is possible, and +at others the wire is "dished," but, on the whole, a good deal of +information is passed through. The relay posts are constantly shelled, +and the bombardier in charge is wounded, while one runner was killed +in his gallant endeavour to pass through a heavy barrage with an +important communication. In the evening the party, much exhausted with +the strenuous and never ending work of the day, is relieved by a fresh +group of officers and signallers, who take over from them, and the +little party wind their way homewards profoundly thankful to find +themselves back with their unit safe and sound. + +The situation, at the end of the opening day of the battle, was +roughly this:--In the north all had gone well, and most of the +objectives aimed at were successfully taken, but, such stiff +resistance was met with further south, that the assaulting troops were +held up after they had gained only about half of those allotted to +them, and, although they fought stubbornly and determinedly, they were +unable to make further ground. Thus the left wing was forced to mark +time while the troops on the right made a series of attacks in order +to straighten out the line, otherwise the army to the north would have +found itself enclosed in a nasty salient. The artillery, over the +whole battle front, also encountered great difficulty in advancing the +guns, the ground was so ploughed up by the effects of the long +preliminary bombardment. Even the horse gunners, who were detailed to +move up in immediate support of the infantry, were unable to proceed +further than a few hundred yards on the other side of the canal. Huge +craters, placed lip to lip, met them in all directions, and an advance +was found to be out of the question till new tracks were prepared and +the road cleared of debris. This naturally took some time to +accomplish, and, meanwhile, all the field batteries were advanced as +close to the canal bank as possible, but even then they were much too +far behind, and were firing at almost extreme range. + +No serious attack could be delivered, therefore, for some ten (p. 056) +days, until sufficient time had elapsed to enable the gunners to +occupy new positions some way across the canal, and, on this occasion, +Langemarke fell into our hands, as well as the line of the Broombeke. +Progress remained slow further south, consequently our front became +stationary. Now, it so happened that most of our batteries were in +extremely awkward positions, as we had expected to be moved forward at +any time. They were right out in the open, devoid of any cover, and, +for the most part, placed in shell holes which had been hastily +converted into pits. Here we were subjected to the most "gruelling" +time that was ever our lot to endure, and the battle developed into a +gigantic duel between batteries, in which our position was no worse +than the others. We lived in shell holes, scantily covered with +corrugated iron and a layer or two of sand-bags, scarcely splinter +proof, nor had we any means of making ourselves more secure. The +enemy's heavy counter batteries swept and searched over the slope +where the majority of our batteries were congregated, and never before +or after were they seen to reach such a pitch of efficiency. + +Never a day passed without casualties, and often a number of gunners +were buried as the result of an explosion, and had to be hastily dug +out, and early on we lost one of our subaltern officers, who was borne +away to the dressing station with no less than a dozen wounds on him. +It was with great difficulty that the battery was kept in action +sometimes, and, though we soon shifted our position to a flank, this +did not relieve the situation. A 60 pdr. battery not far behind us +developed the fatal habit of becoming particularly active during +"flash time," and, as its flash was notoriously conspicuous, it was +not surprising that its location was promptly pin-pointed by the +enemy, who proceeded to knock it out: and this they succeeded in doing +without much delay. During this particular contest we always got the +short rounds, and, as they were not peas that were coming over, but 8" +and 11" shells, the atmosphere was unpleasant, to say the least of it! + +We considered ourselves lucky if we could keep 50 per cent. of the +guns in action at the same time, while every nerve was strained to dig +out the remainder, and it was a very heartless job, as a gun had no +sooner been recovered and set up in position than it was knocked (p. 057) +out again almost immediately. One morning, after a wild night of +shelling by the enemy, on going to ascertain the damage, we found one +gun with its barrel buried deep in the ground, the trail standing +perpendicular pointing towards the sky; another completely turned over +on its back pointing in the opposite direction, while a third had been +blown right out of the shell hole in which it had been placed, and +hurled a considerable distance away. Casualties to our establishment +mounted at a most alarming rate, and one night our B.C. was mortally +wounded by a high explosive shell, and, although such assistance as it +was possible to give was rendered, he did not survive long after +reaching the casualty clearing station. His loss was much felt, not +only by reason of his own cheerful personality, but also on account of +the way in which he inspired all those under him to do their utmost, +especially in times of stress and danger, when he always proved +himself a true leader. The Captain now succeeded to the command of the +battery, and the Senior Subaltern became second-in-command. It soon +became evident that we could not carry on much longer under these +conditions, and in the last week of September we were pulled out to +refit, and remained near the village of Herszeele for a few days +before again entering the fray. + +Meanwhile a subaltern with a working party was busily occupied +preparing new emplacements for our reception, and on the day of their +completion he was wounded while riding his bicycle back to his billet: +thus we lost yet another officer. But, try as we would, it was +impossible to escape the vigilant eye of the enemy, who engaged +battery positions one after another, and the number of guns knocked +out was prodigious. Through a lucky chance it had been decided to take +the guns "in" at dawn, instead of during the night, and by reason of +this we escaped a most violent hostile bombardment which was directed +against the position, and which damaged at least two of the pits and +completely destroyed several dug-outs which the work party had +recently striven so hard to build. We set to work and repaired most of +the damage, and, whether or not it was the enemy thought he had +disposed of us thereby, at all events he did not repeat the +performance beyond subjecting us to the ordinary night harassing fire. + +Another attack was impending, which again necessitated the forward (p. 058) +movement of all batteries, and this time we were more fortunate in the +selection of a site, and had several German pill-boxes in which to +live and take refuge. Owing to the congestion on the one and only good +road in the neighbourhood and the hostile shelling thereof, it was a +matter of luck to find ourselves safely installed behind Abri Wood, +and we immediately set out preparing for the new fight. Unfortunately, +the weather again came to the assistance of our foe, and a spell of +rain and wind made conditions extremely difficult for both infantry +and gunners. However, the battle was proceeded with, and the result +was an advance over the mud and slime of the river Broombeke as far as +the outskirts of Houthoulst Forest, a distance of about two miles; our +French allies, on the left, keeping in step with us throughout this +operation. Then the inevitable forward move of the batteries was +resumed, and this time we occupied positions down the further slope of +the hill immediately across the rivulet of the Steenbeke. In +consequence of torrents of rain, which continued daily, the low-lying +ground became flooded, and it was all we could do to prevent the guns +sinking in the sodden earth, and they frequently disappeared in the +mud up to their axles. Dry accommodation was nowhere to be found +except in a great pill-box, which we added to and strengthened, and it +was popularly called the "Rabbit Hutch," for the obvious reason that +it held the majority of the four batteries of the Brigade. + +Now, our last attack had advanced us considerably further than the men +on the right, who throughout the past month had encountered very stiff +opposition, so we had perforce to remain stationary and mark time, +while the battle continued to the south. On several occasions we +rendered assistance by putting up what is commonly known as a "Chinese +barrage," _i.e._, the artillery carries out the ordinary programme +preceding an attack, but no action follows on the part of the +infantry. Conditions were equally disagreeable at the wagon lines, +which speedily developed into quagmires, and it was almost impossible +to walk about the lines unless attired in waders, and, even then, +there was always the possibility of completely disappearing in the +mud. Over and above that, the wagon lines were subjected every now and +then to the attentions of a high velocity gun, as well as frequent (p. 059) +visits from hostile night bombing machines, which were following the +example set by our airmen and were endeavouring to pay us back in our +own coin. Much damage was done in and around the neighbourhood, but +our lines escaped exceedingly lightly. The question of ammunition +supply became acute, and the use of pack saddles was again +necessitated, and, because of the great distance between wagon lines +and gun position, the round journey sometimes took eighteen hours to +accomplish, and naturally the strain eventually told greatly upon both +men and horses. + +The battery positions were not long in being located by the enemy, who +expended great quantities of ammunition in his attempts to destroy +them: and he made much use of chemical and mustard shell, which in +time saturated the low-lying ground on which the guns were placed. In +this way he effectively gassed the B.C., a subaltern, and several of +the men, who were all despatched to the wagon line, and the Captain +assumed command for the time being and brought up reliefs with him. By +this time the Battery was again in a very bad way, and a rest was +promised on several occasions, only to be held up time and again with +the exhortation to hold out yet a little while longer. Winter was +rapidly approaching, and it was necessary to adjust our line before +fighting came to a standstill: and a considerable distance had yet to +be traversed before the goal--Passchendaele and the ridge on which it +was situated--could be reached. + +The battery, meanwhile, waited on in patience. All the remaining +officers were affected by the mustard gas, as well as the majority of +the gunners, and a sorry sight we presented when, in the first week in +November, an incoming battery took over from us. We then proceeded to +the new wagon lines, near Proven, in an utterly exhausted condition. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. (p. 060) + +Cambrai. + + +Everyone thought that our long-expected rest was now forthcoming, so +it was a great surprise when we were ordered to hold ourselves in +readiness for a long march. + +What did it all mean? Were we marching into our new area and having +our rest there or were we to be pitchforked into another scrap? + +No indication of our destination was given, and everything seemed most +mysterious: and, when the Brigade arrived in the neighbourhood of +Merville, there did not appear to be any sign of a definite halt. At +all events the journey was being performed in easy stages, as if we +were filling in time, and we were always making further south, till, +passing behind Bethune, the vicinity of Arras was reached. Here news +of the surprise attack at Cambrai first reached our ears, the secret +of which had been kept so well, and, heading in the direction of +Bapaume, we were acquainted with the fact that we were again "for it." + +Now, the initial attack, which came as a complete surprise to the +enemy, had met with instant success, and, with the aid of a +considerable number of Tanks, the great Hindenburg line had been +breeched over a distance of from 6 to 8 miles, with the result that +the fall of Cambrai a centre of great importance to the Germans +appeared imminent. + +However, after the first couple of days, the attack was not pressed +home as it might have been, for some reason or other, and the fight +came to an abrupt standstill, leaving our troops in a particularly +baggy salient. These were the conditions that prevailed when the +Division gradually moved nearer the scene of action. + +In the beginning of the fourth week of November, we entered the +battle, taking over from a famous Scottish Division which had fought +with great distinction on the opening days. + +The battery was placed in action to the north of Flesquieres, (p. 061) +well inside the salient facing Bourlon Wood, in a position only +recently completed by the enemy and which had not even been occupied +by him. There was plenty of accommodation for everyone in the deep +mined dug-outs prepared by him some thirty to forty feet below the +ground, and the officers' quarters were spacious and lavishly +constructed. + +From this point the domes and the spires of the city of Cambrai could +be clearly distinguished; indeed, they appeared such a short distance +away, it looked as if a saunter would carry us into the heart of the +town. + +It was most interesting and instructive studying the elaborate system +of the Hindenburg defences. First, there were three separate belts of +closely-entwined barbed wire, each being some thirty yards wide, and +behind them came a deep, narrow forefield trench that was only +intended to be lightly manned. Communication trenches led back to the +main Hindenburg trench some distance behind, in most cases being out +of immediate view from our lately occupied positions. + +This trench was both deep and wide, being some twelve feet across and +duck-boarded throughout, raised on wooden stakes to prevent the water +reaching the level of the pathway. At short intervals shafts led down +to the spacious dug-outs beneath, which were all connected and linked +up with one another. In fact, practically speaking, one could walk +from one end of the line to the other below the surface of the ground. + +Skilfully concealed, at frequent intervals, were emplacements for both +trench-mortars and machine-guns, all heavily concreted and covered on +top with turf. + +The enemy must have thought himself very secure in this vast +stronghold, but in a way this very fact contributed, in a great +measure, to his undoing; for, it is common knowledge that the more one +frequents deep dug-outs the less inclination there is to emerge from +them when a scrap is taking place. + +Finally, some 500 yards in the rear, a support line ran along, which, +though not constructed with the same strength, was formidable enough +in itself. + +To judge by the indescribable mess, and by the mass of material left +littered about, the enemy must indeed have beat a hasty retreat. The +dug-outs were filthy to the last degree, and there was no sign of any +system of sanitation having been used by these people, who (p. 062) +considered their "Kultur" to be superlative, and who desired to impose +it on the rest of mankind. All through the campaign, whenever one had +the opportunity of inspecting hostile trenches and billets, one always +found the same thing, filth and lack of sanitation. + +Now, for some little time our hold on Bourlon Wood had been +precarious, so a further attack was initiated, and the Guards went in +to straighten the line. They swept through the Wood, taking the +villages of Bourlon and Fontaine, but a gigantic counter attack +pressed them back again owing to reinforcements being late in arriving +to render assistance. They were so badly mauled and cut up that it was +necessary to withdraw them from the line to refit, and infantry from +an "Old Contemptible" Division took their place. Bourlon Wood became +so saturated with gas that, after a great tussle, neither side was +able to tenant it any longer, and so withdrew, leaving a screen of +outposts to prevent any surprise attack. + +This was the situation when dawn broke on the 30th of November, a day +which proved to be one of ups and downs for us, and caused many +misgivings to arise in the old country. The object of the enemy was to +pinch either side of the jaws, and, if his attack on the north had met +with equal success with that on the south, there would have been +little hope for the troops in the salient, who undoubtedly would have +been surrounded and cut off. However, as events turned out, our men +held out and remained firm. Moreover, it was afterwards discovered +from captured documents that the enemy's scheme was a large and +ambitious one. Not only was it his intention to retake the whole of +our recent gains, but to press on further through Havrincourt Wood, +and establish himself on a line beyond it. + +The Germans employed the same tactics as we used on the opening day of +the battle--there was no preliminary bombardment, and their troops +advanced under cover of a heavy mist and preceded by a creeping +barrage. They put an overwhelming number of troops into the fight, the +odds against our men being something like three to one, but our +infantry in the north fought valiantly, although they were forced to +give ground step by step in the initial stages. As the day wore on and +the mist rose, we were able to see the hostile infantry advancing in +masses, but they were paying a heavy toll at the hands of our machine +gunners, who cut many a line in their ranks. + +The situation became tense when the enemy succeeded in driving (p. 063) +our men across the Bapaume-Cambrai road, and were seen to be +approaching Anneux and Graincourt. The 18 prs. batteries which were +lying alongside of us dragged their guns out of their pits on to the +crest in front, and proceeded to rake the enemy, firing as rapidly as +they were able, through open sights, the gunners stripped to the +waist, toiling and sweating in their endeavour to stop the oncoming +tide. The fight swayed backward and forward throughout the whole day, +but finally the enemy was held in check without gaining further +ground, and he incurred very heavy casualties. + +In the south the situation was very obscure, and somehow or other the +enemy broke a gap in the defences between La Vacquerie and +Gouzeaucourt, capturing the latter place as well as the village of +Gonnelieu, and commenced streaming through. He had advanced a +considerable distance before the importance of his move was fully +realised, consequently most extraordinary incidents occurred, stories +of which are now familiar to everyone. Battery positions were rapidly +overrun, and even wagon lines were captured, while Labour companies, +working on the roads far behind the front, on looking up, discovered +the foe almost on top of them. + +There were no reserves in immediate support, and affairs were taking +on a most serious complexion. Something had to be done and that right +speedily! Therefore the Guards, who had only two days previously been +withdrawn from the fight, were again called upon. They were lying in +rest around Bertincourt, Ytres and Ruyaulcourt, and were hurriedly +conveyed in 'buses and motor lorries to Metz, where they formed up and +set out on their big counter-attack, supported by our sister Brigade +and another gunner unit which chanced to have been pulled out on the +previous night. Now, the enemy troops appeared to be as much surprised +at their success as we were, and continued advancing in a bewildered +kind of fashion, astonished at the little or entire lack of opposition +with which they met. Suddenly, however, they came face to face with +the full strength of the best disciplined troops in the world, +whereupon they paused, staggered, and at length commenced to fall +back, in confusion and disorder, with the result that the day was +saved just in the nick of time, and most of the ground was recovered, +in addition to some 50 guns. + +Meanwhile the wagon lines were situated in the village of (p. 064) +Ribecourt, right inside the salient, and, although it was known that a +scrap was taking place, no one had any idea as to its stupendous +nature. The fact that the village lay in a valley, surrounded by +hills, prevented much noise of the conflict reaching those in it. +However, shortly after breakfast, it became apparent that something +was amiss, and the place became subjected to a heavy bombardment. The +horses and vehicles were evacuated as quickly as possible, without +suffering undue casualties, and collected on the hillside a short +distance away, facing Bourlon Wood, where they "stood to" awaiting +further orders. + +Hostile aeroplanes put in an appearance, flying daringly low hither +and thither across the salient, endeavouring to pick up as much +information as possible, and sometimes dropping bombs. Many a tussle +took place between them and our airmen, who did not allow them +undisputed sway for long. + +At noon instructions came through to be prepared to withdraw the guns +at any moment, but in the end this was found unnecessary. Even at this +time we were unaware that the enemy had penetrated our line to the +south, and the first indication we had that something unusual was +taking place, was the arrival of some reinforcements, who hurried +along the top of the hillside behind us, and took up positions facing +in the opposite direction! A short time elapsed, and then we were +astonished and horrified to see a creeping barrage roll along, top the +crest, and gradually draw nearer us from the rear. Fortunately, it +stopped before actually reaching us, for by this time the enemy had +attained his furthest point of penetration, and the counter attack had +already been launched. Throughout the rest of the day the wagon line +"stood to" ready for any emergency, and at dusk the limbers were sent +up to the position, and the guns were withdrawn the same night and +placed in action in the railway cutting immediately behind the ridge +to the south of Flesquieres. + +It became evident, after the experiences of the previous day, that, as +long as we remained in this awkward salient, we would undoubtedly be +exposed to further attacks at the hands of the enemy. The Germans +meanwhile had concentrated huge forces in the vicinity, so a +continuation of our advance was now out of the question, and a +modification of our front was decided upon. The infantry (p. 065) +constructed a new line running north of Flesquieres Ridge, and, as +soon as it was completed, our troops fell back on it under cover of +darkness, unperceived and therefore unmolested by the enemy, who only +made the discovery on the following day, and then cautiously followed +up until they came in contact with us once more. The salient presented +a curious aspect at night to those inside it, and we seemed to be +almost surrounded by Verey lights, as indeed we were, except where the +narrow neck led out towards Metz. + +The enemy did not, as was expected, attempt any further operations on +a large scale, but contented himself with making things very +uncomfortable for us. In spite of our withdrawal, the line was still +saggy to a large extent, and he could bring his guns to bear on any +part of the salient and enfilade it. He also paid much attention to +bombing, and his planes came over at dawn and dusk and caused a good +deal of damage. The wagon lines came in for their share of +unpleasantness, and in the course of a fortnight we were forced to +quit no less than three positions in turn. The battery was specially +handicapped by the colour of its horses, and was evidently easily +spotted by hostile aircraft, for we had more than our share of ill +fortune at this period. To take the worst case that befell us, one +night the wagon line lost 35 horses. A covey of enemy planes had been +over at daybreak, and apparently made a mental note of our location, +as they returned the same evening and dropped several bombs, though, +strange to say, no damage was effected. However, towards midnight, a +4.2 battery suddenly opened fire with instantaneous fuse action, and +many casualties were inflicted before the horses could be removed, +owing to difficulties in the pitch darkness. + +The most wonderful fact in the whole proceedings was that, although +there was little or no cover for the men, who were ensconced in +bivouacs, except a few who were in an old disused trench close by, +only a couple of them were hit. The officers were rudely awakened by +large splinters entering their tent, and only just missing their heads +as they lay on their valises, while the sergeants had a most +miraculous escape. They had formed a Mess in a bay of the trench, the +sides supported and heightened by some of the Q.M.S.'s stores, and +covered on top by a large tarpaulin. A shell dropped practically on +top of them, fortunately detonating instantly against several (p. 066) +boxes of iron rations, which undoubtedly contributed to saving their +lives. An officer arrived on the scene immediately afterwards, and +found them all lying unconscious as the result of the explosion, but +they soon revived and took a stout part in rescuing the horses. The +construction was completely wrecked, and the clothes they wore were +stripped into ribbons, but only one of them had a scratch on him. + +No delay was made in attending to the wounded horses, and in conveying +the remainder to a place of safety. The drivers were all splendidly +cool and collected under the trying circumstances, but many of the +poor beasts were beyond human aid, and had to be destroyed. + +The scene next morning was a gruesome one, and it was a most pathetic +sight to watch the drivers, with tears running down their cheeks, +bidding a last farewell to their lost charges before burial, for the +men become exceedingly attached to their four-legged comrades, +especially when they have had charge of them for a considerable time. +No time was lost in selecting a new locality, as it was considered +wise to get out of the salient altogether, and thus avoid the risk of +incurring further unnecessary casualties; so the wagon lines were +removed to the vicinity of Ruyaulcourt. + +A spell of hard frost set in, with an occasional fall of snow, which +added to our difficulties as well as to our discomforts, for it must +be remembered that both battery position and wagon line were occupied +at a moment's notice, and no time could be spent in making any +preparations beforehand for our reception. Affairs were now settling +down for the winter, and nothing unusual was taking place beyond a +good deal of artillery activity on both sides, consequently we were +only awaiting orders to withdraw from the line. These came through in +a few days' time, and the Brigade pulled out in the middle of December +to the ruined village of Beaulencourt, situated south east of Bapaume. +On the following day a long march was undertaken, and we proceeded by +way of Achiet-le-Grand, Ayette, and Beaumetz to the village of +Montennescourt, due west of Arras, a distance of 25 miles. + +It says much for the battery that it accomplished this long trail with +no less than 43 horses below establishment, and without any outside +assistance, in spite of the heaviness of the roads. The guns (p. 067) +were pulled by six-horse teams, and the vehicles and other baggage +wagons by four-horse teams, made up by requisitioning all the +available outriders, yet none of the horses suffered to any great +extent from the extra strain imposed on them. + +It was with feelings of great gratification that we learnt that at +last we were going to have our long-delayed rest, and that it would +fall to our lot to spend the coming Christmas-tide and New Year season +in more congenial surroundings than had been the case in the two +previous years. All were prepared to enjoy themselves on this +occasion, as it was felt, on reviewing the past six months, during +which time we had been fighting incessantly in "pukka" battles, in +which we had acquitted ourselves not badly, that we had thoroughly +earned a week or two of complete rest and quiet. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. (p. 068) + +At Arras. + + +The next fortnight was spent under most happy conditions, and all +ranks had an enjoyable time. As Christmas approached, active +preparations were made to excel anything we had ever had before in the +way of festivities, and this was possible now that we were out of +action. Quarter-Master-Sergeants, puffed out with importance, were to +be seen strutting hither and thither, returning with mysterious sacks +and parcels, presumably filled with good cheer. + +Plucked geese and turkeys appeared in large numbers, suspended from +the ceilings of billets, and several large barrels arrived on the +scene, and were duly placed under lock and key in the canteen, +awaiting the auspicious day. Much competition took place between +batteries for the possession of the only two live pigs in the village, +which eventually went to the highest bidders, while the remainder +procured their joints in the form of pork from Doullens. One of the +batteries meanwhile grew so attached to its prospective Christmas fare +that it was almost decided to spare his life and adopt him as a +mascot. His fate was sealed, however, when one day it was discovered +that he had disposed of several parcels of food which had, +inadvertently, been placed within his reach by some of the men. + +Concerts were arranged, and the village school-room was kindly lent +and artistically decorated for these occasions. The weather was all +that could be desired now that we were safely lodged in billets, and +it was a typical old-fashioned yule-tide, with a plentiful fall of +snow followed by hard frost. The little village was in a sheltered +hollow, and a small rivulet passed through it on its way down the +valley, while the scenery might have been that surrounding any hamlet +in the south of England. + +An open air service was conducted by the Padre, for the Brigade, on +'Xmas morning, and the rest of the day was given over to sports and +concerts, and the climax of enjoyment was reached at night when (p. 069) +the men partook of their dinner. Gramaphones were well to the fore, +but all kinds of musical instruments took part in the gaiety which +followed. + +A certain amount of latitude was given the men for a few days after, +in order that they might recover from the orgy, for indeed they had +never had such a gorge since their arrival in France. All were in +excellent spirits, and these were by no means diminished when it +became known that our next area was in front of Arras. It was +recognised to be an enviable part of the line to be situated in, +especially during the winter months. It was also a locality with which +we had not as yet made acquaintance, and it was always interesting to +visit a new portion of the front, as we disliked being too long in the +same surroundings without a change of scene. + +The day following New Year, the Division entered on its period of duty +in the sector north of Monchy to the vicinity of Gavrelle, with the +heights of Vimy, which had fallen into our hands in the previous +spring on its left. + +The battery position was reached by following the Arras-Plouvain road +along the valley of the river Scarpe, and we took over from a Scottish +Division. The enemy lines were everywhere overlooked, consequently he +wisely refrained from showing much activity. + +A magnificent view was obtained from the rear O.P. on the heights +facing Vitry, and, on a clear day, Douai was plainly visible and even +the country far beyond it. + +Our front line ran along at the bottom of the slope, having the ruined +piles of Roeux, which was the scene of such furious fighting in the +latter stages of Arras battle, immediately in its rear. Half right, to +the south of the river Scarpe, what remained of the village of Monchy +stood out like a sentinel on the top of the hill. This point afforded +a splendid view in all directions and was the veritable keystone of +the whole position. Four of our pieces were placed in a quarry, a few +yards off the road leading through Fampoux, on its western extremity, +while the other two guns were moved forward, east of the same village, +behind a bank, and carefully camouflaged. As this sector was +extraordinarily quiet and there was not sufficient work to keep +everyone occupied, the Battery Commander decided to commence +construction and endeavour to make our position a model one. Two pits, +which were already in existence, were pulled down and rebuilt, (p. 070) +and two others were constructed alongside, and all of them were placed +just as near the front bank of the quarry as would permit of the guns +clearing the crest. The whole position was completely camouflaged, as, +it will be readily understood, a quarry made a conspicuous target for +the enemy at any time, and if he suspected the presence of a battery +therein, there would have been little peace or quiet for us. However, +as things turned out, we had evidently made a good job of our work, +and to our surprise, not a single shell dropped in the quarry during +our period of occupation. + +Walls were white-washed and ammunition and charge shelves elaborately +painted, the platforms were neatly tiled or bricked with material +taken from the surrounding ruins, and all manner of "eye wash" was +employed in making the pits look well. A communication trench was dug +from one extremity to the other, rivetted and duck-boarded throughout, +and led to the men's quarters. These when completed were palatial, and +put in the shade any headquarter unit in the line. + +The near side of the quarry, which consisted of chalk, was easily and +rapidly mined, and, in the course of three weeks, the men had +comfortable quarters. Beds made of wire netting stretched on wooden +frames, a spacious dining hall, telephone pit, cook house, and they +even possessed a moderate sized bath room, which was highly valued and +put to great use. The officers' quarters were no less sumptuously +fitted out. Each had sleeping accommodation, in cellars of the ruined +houses, running along the main street close to the quarry, nicely +lined with wood and canvas to keep the damp out, while the Mess itself +was a work of art. + +The latter was built entirely by the officers and their batmen, under +the personal supervision of our energetic B.C. + +The floors, walls and roof of the cellar were lined with three inch +timber, and one day a subaltern, who had been out exploring, came back +triumphant, bearing in his arms a huge roll of wall paper found buried +under some rubbish, at a spot which probably denoted the one time +existence of a decorator's shop. The Mess was therefore duly papered, +with frieze complete, and with the addition of easy chairs, book +shelves, a stove and gramaphone, there was nothing left to wish for, +and the place was most cosy and snug. The entrance, too, was the +admiration of everybody, nicely tiled and decorated with fancy +carvings from the utterly destroyed church. Iron girders, beams, (p. 071) +and countless bricks to the height of several feet rested on top of +our home. It is not to be wondered at, then, that this model position +was frequently visited by high personages, brought hither by our +Brigade-Commander or C.R.A., who appeared almost as proud of the place +as we were ourselves. Moreover, as we were in such close proximity to +the road leading up to the front line, it was only natural that +officers should drop in to this half way house and rest and regale +themselves before resuming their journey, so before long our Mess was +known as "The Pub" throughout the Division. + +The forward position was treated in the same fashion, and never before +had both officers and men had such comfortable quarters. Thus we +settled down to a life of ease, such as we had not known since the +Laventie days of two winters ago, and proceeded to thoroughly enjoy +ourselves. + +Frequent trips were made into Arras, either on horseback or by river, +for there was a steamboat service, running daily on the Scarpe, which +landed one close to the Officers' Club, a large wooden erection +similar to a Y.M.C.A. hut, run by the Expeditionary Force Canteen. + +The town had not been irreparably destroyed, and in most parts the +inhabitants had returned, and were carrying on their usual routine, +while many shops were re-opened and doing good business. The Cathedral +was badly damaged, as well as other prominent buildings, but, on the +whole, the town had escaped wonderfully considering how close the +enemy had been to it for so long. Now, of course, the enemy was over +six miles away, and the city could not be reached by any other than +his high velocity guns, and they seldom troubled to shell the place, +and when they did so, from time to time, the fire was chiefly directed +on the railway station and sidings in the vicinity. + +An equally peaceful time fell to the lot of those who were at the +wagon lines. They were situated just off the main Arras-Souchez road, +within easy reach of the former place. Accommodation for Officers and +men was provided by Nissen huts, containing stoves, while the horses +had good covered-in standings, with mud walls surrounding them for +protection against bombing raids. + +The transport of ammunition to the guns was easily conducted, as +excellent roads ran the whole way, and every care was taken to (p. 072) +keep the horses up to condition. The frost did not continue and +in the early months of the year the weather was wonderfully bright and +mild, and many a good gallop could be had in the neighbourhood, as +there was a fine stretch of open ground close to the wagon line. + +The horses undoubtedly had a better time than it is usually possible +to give them during the winter months. The war horse is an +extraordinarily intelligent animal and appreciates anything done for +him in the way of comfort. He also becomes very cute and cunning, and +always knows the routine of the day, and can tell his time of feeding +almost to the minute, and, if allowed, would go by himself +automatically to the water troughs and return to his own particular +standing in the stable. + +One horse familiarly known by the name of "Shrapnel," owing to several +wounds of that kind which refused to close up, and completely heal, +knew at once when he was "warned" for the line. Now, he disliked going +out at nights, and consequently was in the habit of "scrimp-shanking," +and proceeded forthwith to go lame. At first he managed to fool +everybody, but on close investigation it was discovered that nothing +at all was the matter with him. + +Another fine beast, which at one time must have been ill-treated, when +he came to us had a bad rope gall on his near hind, and was extremely +nervous at being touched. After hours of coaxing he allowed his +section officer and driver to handle him, and, at length, showed great +affection to them both, but woe betide any other member of the +battery, who attempted to go near him, back went his ears and out went +his feet at once! + +About the middle of February, a feeling of uneasiness evidently +entered the minds of those in authority. It was known that the enemy +was transferring large numbers of troops, which had been released by +the collapse of Russia, to the Western front. Consequently every unit +got busy at once, the Infantry dug new trench systems in rear of their +existing ones, constructed strong points, and mile upon mile of barbed +wire was laid down. + +The gunners prepared new battle and reinforcing positions, in case a +retiral should be necessary, and filled them with ammunition against +all eventualities. + +In a little more than a month everything was completed, and during the +third week of March, the troops were warned of an impending great +enemy offensive, and became fully on the alert. + + + + +CHAPTER X. (p. 073) + +March the 21st. + + +The morning of the 20th broke calm and the enemy did nothing to +indicate that anything out of the ordinary was about to take place, +but this did not deceive us, as it was known to our Command that the +blow was going to fall on the following morning. Silence reigned +supreme, except for the ordinary harassing artillery fire, up till +midnight, but shortly afterwards the German guns opened out their +annihilating fire, and drenched our forward system and battery +positions with a severe gas bombardment. + +In this area the majority of batteries had, at the last moment, taken +the precaution to change their positions, as these were known to the +enemy, and thus avoided being entirely demolished by the heavy +concentration which poured all manner of shell into those they had +lately vacated. + +At dawn, which, unfortunately for us, broke in a thick mist, after a +sustained bombardment of some four to five hours' duration, the enemy +launched his gigantic attack over an area of fifty miles, from +Guenappe, immediately below Monchy in the North, to the neighbourhood +of La Fere in the south. Under cover of the mist, he congregated large +numbers of field guns, which were able to accompany and closely +support the attacking waves, while at some places he employed his new +Tanks. These, however, though rendering some assistance to him, by no +means came up to expectations, and were ponderous and clumsy, in spite +of the fact that he had previously captured several of ours from which +to copy, but they proved to be far behind ours, both in construction +and usefulness. + +A "Chinese barrage" was put down by the enemy on our sector, but no +attack developed. The same evening the Division was hurriedly +withdrawn from the line, and heading in a southern direction arrived +in the neighbourhood of Tilloy and prepared for instant action. + +In spite of the favourable conditions, our foes made little or no (p. 074) +ground, throughout the day, on the whole of the Army front, and were +held in our forefield. Further south, much the same thing happened, +although they penetrated further in some places, but nowhere had they +broken through, so the news on the whole was good and reassuring. + +The German attack was renewed on the following day, and still the +Northern Army remained firm, but they succeeded in effecting a serious +breech in the Army to the south, where the British had lately taken +over from our French allies. So swift was the enemy's progress at this +point that our troops on either side of this bulge soon became +endangered, and a general retirement was immediately necessary in +order to keep the line straight. + +This applied to the Northern Army also, but not to anything like the +same extent. The Division again moved south, and took up positions +behind the Henin Ridge, between the village of that name and St. +Leger, for the purpose of covering the retirement. + +The whole line thus became mobile, and, for several days, a stiff +rear-guard action was fought, which resulted in very heavy casualties +being inflicted on the enemy. He was by this time flushed with his +success further south, and attempted to advance as if he were already +the conqueror, which led to his own undoing, as virtually he was only +permitted to gain ground at our time and will. It cannot be denied, +however, that the days were anxious ones and the infantry were kept +very heavily engaged and became much exhausted. However, they made the +most of their opportunities, and had hitherto rarely found such ready +targets, and their machine guns effected great execution on the enemy +ranks as the men came along laden with full packs. A story is told, +and is believed to be true, of one machine gunner that, in the course +of his morning's work, he slaughtered over 200 German's single handed +with his weapon, after which he became a raving lunatic and had to be +forceably removed. + +The infantry, too, admitted that they were getting tired of killing +Boches, and the casualties inflicted on our men were a mere nothing as +compared with those suffered by our foes. The gunners were equally +busy dropping into action here and there and falling back as the +circumstances required, until at the end of a week, the line became +more or less stationary. The front line now ran through Mercatel, (p. 075) +Boisleux and Moyenneville and thence, in a south westerly direction, +towards Serre. Thus the Germans were again almost back on the line +they had held, prior to the big retreat on the Hindenburg line in the +spring of 1917. + +It seemed a great pity to vacate the Henin Ridge, for the opposing +sides found themselves facing each other in a hollow, with rising +ground on either side, which made battery positions difficult to +conceal. So many disused trenches, which had previously formed part of +the old German line system, helped to shelter us, to a great extent, +for we were at this point nearly two miles east of the permanent line +of a year ago. + +Everyone feverishly sat about digging and constructing new trenches, +and an enormous amount of work was accomplished in a comparatively +short space of time, for it was felt that the enemy had by no means +expended all his strength, and would endeavour, in the near future, to +resume active operations. There could be no doubt that he would be +dissatisfied to remain where he was, especially as, so far, he had +little to shew on this particular part of the front for his gigantic +effort and huge loss of men. + +It was no surprise therefore when, at the beginning of the second week +in April, after a short sharp bombardment, the enemy made a strong +attack from Monchy, north to the Vimy Ridge, with the object of +seizing Arras and the heights before mentioned. The result was a +costly failure, as he was everywhere held up in our forefield system, +and the British Divisions opposed to him had the time of their lives. +We were very interested to hear about this battle, as, of course, it +was fought over the sector in which we had lately spent a number of +happy months and where we had done such an amount of work. It was +distinctly gratifying, too, when a wire was received from the Division +who took over from us thanking our Division for the wonderful +defensive construction made by us. It was due to that work that they +were enabled to bring the enemy so quickly to an abrupt standstill. + +They had seemingly experienced a veritable field day and thoroughly +enjoyed themselves on that occasion. + +After this unsuccessful effort, the enemy evidently gave up the +attempt to gain possession of Arras and Vimy by a frontal attack and +turned his thoughts elsewhere. + +Unfortunately, however, in the course of these operations, Monchy (p. 076) +had to be evacuated by the British, which enabled the Boche to gain +observation on the city which, thereafter, came in for a good amount +of shelling, and again the inhabitants were forced much against their +will to leave the stricken place. + +All manner of heavy shell fell in the town, and the damage caused was +considerable, and it was no longer the haven of rest for the troops +which it had been a few months previously. Our wagon lines, meanwhile, +had not escaped undamaged, and were forced to change positions on +several occasions until, at last, comfortable quarters were obtained +in the little village of Bretencourt, where the houses still had roofs +covering them, as the hamlet was just outside the devastated area. +When affairs settled down once more, the battery positions were +gradually advanced, and we dug a new position east of Ficheux, where +the guns were meanwhile situated. + +A forward section was established ahead in the railway cutting of the +Arras-Albert line, and we subjected the enemy to as much +unpleasantness as it lay in our power to devise. + +We were not, however, any length of time in this sector, and were +removed to the adjoining one immediately to the south. + +The line required rectifying in several places, and in a brilliant +minor operation, the village of Ayette was carried and remained firmly +in our hands. + +Our new position was situated on the high ground to the north of +Adinfer Wood, immediately behind the village of the same name, but the +neighbourhood was much more peaceful than that which we had recently +quitted, as everywhere we had observation over the enemy, and +naturally he never created trouble under such circumstances. + +The wagon lines were again moved, this time much further behind, to +the small village of Gaudiempre, where one might have imagined one was +completely out of the war area, it appeared so quiet. + +The place was intact and all were ensconced in snug little billets, +while the horses were well off also, as opportunities for grazing were +afforded round about the neighbourhood. + +Then the enemy's second great offensive opened on the Lys, and all +eyes were turned in that direction, but everyone held the opinion +that, sooner or later, he would be brought to a standstill, which +proved to be the case. + +In fact, throughout the whole of this trying period, the (p. 077) +confidence among all ranks was extraordinary. No one had the feeling +that we were going down and under, and it would have done the pessimists +at home a world of good to have caught a glimpse of conditions out in +France and of the cheery optimism that prevailed there. There was even +disappointment, in some quarters, that the enemy had not attempted to +attack us on this front, but he evidently thought discretion was the +better part of valour, for the defences were, by this time, very +strong, and it would have been strange if he had managed to penetrate +to any depth. + +About the middle of May, it was the will of those in authority to rest +the Division a while, and although we were not in any urgent need of a +rest, we were not disinclined for it, as the season of the year was +favourable, and we pictured all manner of good times in store. + +The Brigade, therefore, withdrew to the wagon lines, marched the +following day to Humbercourt, the village appointed for our resting +place. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. (p. 078) + +The Turn of the Tide. + + +It invariably happened, when the Brigade came out for a period of +rest, that expectations of a real holiday were never fully realized, +and although the time passed pleasantly enough and we were favoured +with fine weather, all ranks were kept pretty busy. Many tactical +schemes were practised, and we had always to hold ourselves in +readiness to render assistance, at short notice, to the troops who +were in the line, for our Command was taking no risks and had not +entirely given up the possibility of a hostile attack on this area. + +It must be admitted, however, that in the end everybody enjoyed +rehearsing these schemes, and we would have been well acquainted with +our duties had the emergency arisen. Our resentment, also, at being +called upon to partake of violent exercise so early in the morning, +completely disappeared after a while, the country looked so beautiful +at dawn, and we usually returned in time for breakfast, with +well-whetted appetites, after some three or four hours in the saddle. + +Unfortunately, at this time, the scourge known as "Flanders Grippe," +which had been prevalent throughout the Army, developed in our +Brigade. For a considerable time this epidemic paralysed us, more or +less, as about half our number was down with the disease at the same +time. Although it passes after taking its three days' course, one is +left very weak and groggy for some time, and several of the men were +very seriously ill. + +Inevitable inspections by Corps Commanders and minor officials passed +off without incident, but, of course, much labour and "eye-wash" was +expended as is always the case on these occasions. The Divisional +Horse Show, held towards the end of our rest, was undoubtedly the +principal diversion of our time out, as each unit naturally did its +utmost to outshine all others. The battery entered a gun team +complete, consisting of six dapple-grey horses, and we succeeded in +securing the second prize in the gunner's Derby. Curiously enough, (p. 079) +the winners, our sister howitzer battery, won with five, out of six +horses which had been shown, over two years previously at Zeggers +Capelle, in Flanders, and who then carried off second prize in the +competition with a team of blacks. H.R.H. The Duke of Connaught +afterwards inspected the prize-winners, and evinced much interest on +being told that ours was a complete battery of grey horses. + +Paris leave opened for both officers and men as a consolation for home +furlough being stopped, and many availed themselves of the opportunity +of having a few days' enjoyment in the "Gay City." + +In the first days of June the Division returned to the line and +occupied the sector we had already been in prior to moving to Adinfer. +The area had become very quiet with one or two exceptions, and the +enemy did not subject our infantry to much shelling, and contented +himself with occasionally annoying them with trench mortars. But if, +at any time, he discovered the location of a battery position, that +unit had a most unhappy time. Four of our guns were placed in the +railway cutting, where we had previously had a forward section, and +the remainder were again detached some distance away. Mine shafts, +which were already in existence, were enlarged and the men had plenty +cover on top of them. + +Some little time afterwards certain indications pointed to the fact +that the enemy contemplated business once more on this front, and as +our guns were situated awkwardly where it would be impossible to +withdraw them quickly, we were directed to construct a new position +further behind. The work proceeded briskly, and, when completed, four +of the pieces were withdrawn and placed there, the other two remaining +in the railway embankment. The main position was a long way back, and +the guns could only just reach the enemy support trenches, +consequently they were only to be fired in case of a general S.O.S., +and all the shoots were accomplished by the forward section. Much time +was spent in making our new quarters shipshape, and the ground was +well suited for mining, as it consisted principally of chalk, and +eventually all ranks were comfortably installed in spacious underground +quarters, although, at the moment, they were quite unnecessary, and +many lay out in the open during the warm summer nights. The principal +thing to do now was to make sure that the officers and men did not +stagnate for lack of occupation and to find means to keep them (p. 080) +hard and fit. Physical exercises were indulged in during the morning, +and sports of all kinds were organised, both at the battery positions +and at the wagon lines--the latter having taken up their quarters at +the village of Baillemont. + +A modified kind of base-ball, introduced by an energetic and +enthusiastic Canadian subaltern, became very popular with the men, +while the corps ran a polo-club of sorts for the officers. A fairly +level patch of ground was selected which possessed a certain amount of +grass, and the numerous shell holes were filled in and levelled off by +fatigue parties, with the result that it became moderately good. The +polo ponies, however, left something to be desired, and it was no +uncommon sight to see a young officer appear mounted on a stalwart +wheeler, the best he could do for himself from among the horses in his +section. Possibly the explanation was that he had found a horse which +he could suitably "rein in". + +Meanwhile the enemy's third big offensive had come and gone and the +British Commander-in-Chief's famous "back to the wall" order of the +day to his armies. Still we waited, but nothing unusual happened; then +in the middle of July the French were heavily attacked, and once more +the clouds appeared on the horizon. There was great enthusiasm when it +became known that our Allies had counter-attacked, and were driving +the enemy out of the Marne pocket, and when the daily bulletins +arrived there was always a scramble among the men to read them. Then +the British stroke fell south of the river Somme at Villers +Brettonneux, and excellent news, as to our progress, came through, +which raised everyone's hopes to a high degree. Our artillery fire was +increased daily, and affairs became more lively, while flying was in +full swing and continued night and day. Both sides paid much attention +to bombing, and our Airmen freely besprinkled enemy territory with +their bombs by day, whereas the foe rarely attempted raids over our +lines during daylight. However, after dusk, the air was filled with +the planes, as the weather was particularly favourable, and the hum of +the machines coming and going was incessant throughout the whole +night. At times one could scarcely get any sleep for the continual +drone they made, like the hum of gigantic bees around their hives. One +thing certain was that we had almost complete control of the air and +both out-numbered and out-witted the enemy to a marked extent. (p. 081) +It was most unpleasant to hear the noise of the hostile planes drawing +nearer, for one could not mistake the beat made by the German machines. +The amount of bombing experienced by us was quite bad enough in all +truth, but we used to smile when contemplating what our foes must be +suffering at the hands of our Airmen, as truly it was ten times worse. + +During this period the two counter offensives were progressing +favourably in the south, and we suspected that something would be +doing on our front before long, as the din of battle was creeping +further north. It came as no surprise, therefore, when serious +fighting commenced north of the Somme, and the enemy retreated from +Serre and later withdrew in error from Ablainzevelle. As soon as he +discovered his mistake he attempted to retake it, but, by that time, +our men were firmly lodged there and could not be shifted from the +village. + +In the middle of August, to everyone's satisfaction, it became known +that we were to be up and doing at no distant date, and preparations +were immediately and silently set on foot. Throughout each night a +continual stream of teams and wagons conveyed thousands of rounds of +ammunition up the line to battery positions, and fresh dumps were +placed in forward localities. New battle positions were constructed in +advanced positions and stocked with shells, and we only awaited the +order to occupy them. Instructions were issued to wagon lines that all +surplus kit and stores were to be left behind, as a strenuous time was +in store for us, and all ranks responded with a will to the hard work +these preparations necessitated. Drivers were elated at the prospect +of a change from their humdrum existence, and their enthusiasm knew no +bounds. New reinforcing batteries appeared like mushrooms during the +night, and lay safely ensconced in their appointed places in readiness +for the coming fray, while the neighbourhood behind the lines bristled +with activity and also with new arrivals. We believed that probably +these preparations were being made in order to take the Henin Ridge in +front, and no one imagined that the coming operations would consist of +more than a local attack with a limited objective, as little or no +information had been given to anyone. It is true that rumours were +abroad, that our opponents were preparing to withdraw during the +coming winter to their defences in the Hindenburg Line, which meant +that we would be left most uncomfortably situated in the wilderness +throughout that season. Little did we dream, however, that this (p. 082) +was the commencement of a long series of hammer blows, lasting +over several months, and employing millions of men, and destined to be +the last and greatest battle the world has ever seen, ending with the +complete demoralisation of the enemy's forces. The turn of the tide +was at hand at last! + + + + +CHAPTER XII. (p. 083) + +Through the Hindenburg Line. + + +Before the serious work ahead of us could be undertaken, it was +necessary to shear off an awkward little bulge in the enemy's line, +which included the ruined hamlet of Moyenneville. The corps on our +right were to take part in an assault two days previous to the +commencement of our own advance, so it was considered expedient to +accomplish the above task at the same time. Consequently, during the +big attack, delivered in the south on the 21st of August, which +brought our troops level with the Arras-Albert railway line, our small +side-show passed off successfully almost unnoticed. Desperate fighting +had also taken place in the neighbourhood of Morlancourt, just north +of the river Somme, in which the enemy troops had been driven back +after stubborn resistance. They thereupon evacuated the town of +Albert, as the place was getting too hot for them, and retired on +positions to the east of it. Our guns were now moved into their battle +positions, and on the eve of the attack everything was ready and in +order. For once in a way the weather was favourable, and this augured +well for the speedy advancement of the guns, which was essential for +the success of the operations. + +At dawn, therefore, on the 23rd inst., without any preliminary +bombardment, but, preceded by a dense creeping barrage and supported +by innumerable tanks, the infantry set out on their long journey. The +men swept on, capturing the villages of Boyelles and Hamelincourt at +an early hour, without meeting much opposition or suffering undue +casualties. The day went well throughout and all objectives were +taken, and by nightfall, the vast machinery in the rear commenced to +move slowly forward. Batteries were advanced and supplied with +ammunition, by their echelons, ready for the next bout, and wagon +lines occupied the positions only just vacated by the guns. The attack +was continued on the following morning, which necessitated the (p. 084) +moving up of the guns once more, and the same thing continued day +after day. The enemy was slowly and relentlessly pressed back without +a pause or breathing space, and once this gigantic force was set in +motion it was exceedingly difficult to stop it, as our opponents were +soon to find out to their cost. + +As the fight proceeded, our comrades on the left joined in, and +gradually the battle spread further north, assuming huge dimensions, +until it reached the river Scarpe. The enemy was caught napping before +Monchy, and the Dominion forces in one bound everywhere overwhelmed +their opponents, not only capturing the village but gaining ground to +the extent of two miles beyond it. By this time, Croisilles and St. +Leger had fallen into our hands, but the enemy made a most determined +stand in front of Ecoust, and a very stiff tussle took place for +several days before we eventually gained possession of it. + +Some extraordinary incidents took place during the course of these +operations. The long-hoped for open warfare was upon us at last, and +the gunners' dream of galloping into action and firing with open +sights at close range was an accomplished fact almost before we were +aware of it. On one occasion, the whole Brigade, immediately at the +close of executing a creeping barrage, limbered up, and topping the +crest in front came face to face with the enemy, and dropped into +action alongside our advancing infantry. The enemy machine gunners +were lined up on a ridge some four hundred yards away, but on seeing +us they decamped with all speed, probably believing us to be a +regiment of cavalry. At any rate, if they had stood their ground and +manned their guns, they would have assuredly wiped us off the face of +the map almost before we could have opened fire on them. At the end of +another day's work, our battery position was scarcely two hundred +yards behind our front line, where the infantry had installed +themselves. + +The wagon lines were now well over late enemy territory, on the ground +where his batteries had been situated, and the mess was almost beyond +description. In some cases his positions were entirely obliterated, +which spoke volumes for the accuracy of the fire of our heavies, +directed by our gallant airmen, and if it had not been for the +quantities of ammunition and dead horses littered around, it would +have been impossible to have known that positions ever existed there. +Mine shafts had been entirely closed up by the explosion of the great +shells, and a conglomeration of huge craters marked their (p. 085) +locality. There was no rest for anyone these days, and no men were +called upon to perform more strenuous work than our little drivers, +whose untiring and never failing energy was worthy of the highest +praise and admiration: not only had they to care for their pair of +horses, but were incessantly on the go twixt gun positions, dumps, and +wagon lines under the most trying and difficult circumstances, and, at +the same time, the latter were changing positions frequently. However, +they never faltered or grumbled, and had always a cheery smile on +their faces, even when they returned in the middle of the night dead +beat. For days on end it was impossible to get out of one's clothes, +and sleep was almost an unknown quantity: however, what did it matter +as long as we continued to advance, and in spite of everything--this +was a long way better than the monotonous routine of trench warfare. +Everybody looked upon it in this light, and the excitement and never +ending novelty of the experiences under which we were living, carried +us on through thick and thin. + +The corps on our left, meanwhile, had by a superhuman effort +penetrated the great Drocourt-Queant switch of the Hindenburg line, +and firmly maintained their grip on the ground to the east of it, and +all counter attacks made by the enemy, to dislodge them, proved +unavailing. The troops to the south had also effected good progress, +and the ill-fated town of Bapaume had again changed hands and passed +for the last time into the keeping of the Allies. Thus it came about +that the enemy troops, in spite of their very determined resistance in +the neighbourhood of Ecoust and Mory, found themselves in a most +perilous position, as the Dominion forces were now well in their rear, +and were carrying out a turning movement from a northerly direction. +Therefore, they were forced to do something, without further delay, +which resulted in a swift retirement on to the Hindenburg line some +six miles to the rear. + +It was a most interesting and instructive chase, and the enemy +retreated so fast that it was with the greatest difficulty that we +could keep up and maintain contact with him. The battery had +reluctantly to abandon a captured German field gun which had been +doing valiant work as the seventh gun for several days against its +late owners, for we had neither time or the means to convey (p. 086) +surplus equipment along with us. It was the kind of day that one reads +about in "Field Artillery Training" or even endeavours to imitate +while manoeuvring out in rest, but for the first time we were doing +it in reality. The battery dropped into action on innumerable +occasions during the course of the day, and had only time to fire a +few rounds before the enemy had decamped out of range. Then we would +limber up with all speed, the teams waiting the orthodox two hundred +yards in rear and to the flank, and gallop forward and take up a new +position right out in the open, and help the enemy on his way with a +few reminders that we were up and after him, and that he would do well +to hurry. + +By evening our foes had snugly entrenched themselves behind the great +Hindenburg barrier, and we again came face to fare with this +formidable obstacle. The line had, meanwhile, been kept in an +excellent state of preservation, and it was quite out of the question +to make a frontal attack on it without first cutting the belts of +broad wire and treating the emplacements to a prolonged bombardment. +Another formidable hindrance in our way and placed between us, +moreover, was the famous Canal Du Nord, which was entirely dry in most +places. It was a considerable breadth across, and could obviously not +be bridged as long as the enemy kept watch over it from the opposite +side, and it varied from forty to seventy feet in depth. Thus, for the +time being, the line settled down stationary until this task could be +accomplished, for it was not the intention of our Command that we +should sit down for the winter before this great fortress, as our +enemies wished and expected us to do. + +Our opponents were too busily engaged removing their heavy pieces of +Artillery back to a place of safety to subject us to a great amount of +annoyance, and, as the weather remained good, the work of bringing our +heavies up was accomplished quickly and effectively. The battery took +up a position in our former front line facing Bourlon Wood, with the +ruined village of Mouevres immediately ahead, while the forward +section was placed in part of the Hindenburg line itself, south-east +of Pronville. Wire cutting was undertaken and carried out by all field +batteries, and the heavies pounded enemy emplacements and +communication trenches in the rear. + +Bombing by aircraft became intensive on both sides, and the enemy +adopted new tactics by coming over after dark, and, waiting for (p. 087) +the gun flashes, proceeded to drop bombs on the batteries. A fine +spectacle was witnessed two nights in succession in the form of a +super-Gotha bombing machine brought down in flames. Our small fighting +planes were in the habit of flying at a high altitude, keeping watch +over our lines and lying in wait for these monsters. As soon as one of +them was picked out in the rays of a searchlight, others would +concentrate at once on it, whereupon the archies immediately opened +fire. Then far above a light would twinkle out several times, which +was a sign for the anti-aircraft batteries to cease fire. Everything +remained still for a while, the searchlights always focused on their +prey, which endeavoured to dodge out of the brilliant light, but in +vain, owing to its unwieldiness. Then suddenly from out of the +darkness a little object shot alongside the giant plane and spat +tracer bullets into it, whereupon it instantly caught fire, and slowly +heeling over commenced its downward journey to destruction. + +Fierce fighting continued to the south, and by a series of brilliant +operations our troops had everywhere come in contact with the +Hindenburg Line, and commenced pounding its defences for the further +advance. At the beginning of the fourth week in September preparations +were almost complete for the coming assault, which would require all +the energy and fortitude we could display. The Division was +side-slipped down to the neighbourhood of Havrincourt, as it was +familiar ground to us, after our experiences in November and December +of the previous year. The policy at this juncture was, as far as it +could be carried out, to place Divisions in localities with which they +had already become acquainted. Our battle position was situated on the +outskirts of the small hamlet of Demicourt, and we were to cross the +canal a few hours after zero by means of a ramp already prepared and +carefully camouflaged at a point where it passed through our lines. If +all went according to expectations we were to follow a line due east, +and, passing to the north of Havrincourt, take up a position, already +known to us, on the railway cutting south of Flesquieres, although as +yet it was in enemy possession. + +The great battle opened on the morning of the 27th inst., under +excellent conditions, and it is now known to everyone how the crossing +of the canal was effected by means of scaling ladders, and, in some +instances, by the use of life-belts. + +From first to last the day went smoothly and well, and by (p. 088) +nightfall the great Hindenburg Line, upon which the enemy depended so +much and in which he had such faith, was everywhere behind us, and we +were through, at last, to open country beyond! + +It only remained for the Allies' great Commander-in-Chief to deliver +the final knock-out blow at his own time and discretion. + +At this time the writer was reluctantly forced to leave the Battery on +account of ill health, and was sent home, and it is a source of keen +regret to him that on that account he missed the closing weeks of the +great campaign. + +It is now a matter of history how our Armies, after hot and incessant +fighting, swept the enemy divisions out of France. + +On Armistice Day, the Division was in possession of Maubeuge, and thus +the Guards found themselves on territory which they had occupied in +the early days of the War, prior to the retreat from Mons. + +After three and a half years of strenuous warfare, the Battery is now +lying at rest in Cologne, where it keeps its silent "Watch on the +Rhine." + + + + +THE END. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Three years in France with the Guns:, by C. 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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: Three years in France with the Guns: + Being Episodes in the life of a Field Battery + +Author: C. A. Rose + +Release Date: November 14, 2006 [EBook #19814] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THREE YEARS IN FRANCE *** + + + + +Produced by Geetu Melwani, Christine P. Travers, Sigal +Alon and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian +Libraries) + + + + + +[Transcriber's note: Obvious printer's errors have been corrected. +The original spelling has been retained. +--The caption of the illustration page 38 was unclear. +--Page 50: "serious of raids" has been replaced by "series of raids" +--Page 76: "must against" has been replaced by "much against"] + + + + + THREE YEARS IN FRANCE + + WITH THE GUNS, + + + + BEING + + + + EPISODES IN THE LIFE OF A FIELD + + BATTERY. + + + + + BY + + C.A. ROSE, M.C., + + LATE OF THE + + ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY. + + + + + Printed By + The Allen Lithographic Co., Ltd., + Kirkcaldy + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +These brief notes of experiences with the guns for thirty-eight months +in France were primarily penned for my own satisfaction. Friends who +read the manuscript expressed much interest in it, and added the hope +that it might be given a more permanent form. Hence it is that it is +now printed for private circulation. + +The story is a simple record of the fortunes of my own Battery and +Brigade, and is intended as a tribute to the good comradeship which +existed, under all conditions, among all ranks. + C.A.R. +EDINBURGH, + _January, 1919._ + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +Chapter I., Breaking us in, 1 + + " II., Our First Battle, 8 + + " III., "Peace Warfare." 15 + + " IV., In "the Salient," 23 + + " V., On the Somme, 30 + + " VI., Messines, 39 + + " VII., Ypres Again, 47 + + " VIII., Cambrai, 60 + + " IX., At Arras, 68 + + " X., March the 21st, 73 + + " XI., The Turn of the Tide, 78 + + " XII., Through the Hindenburg Line, 83 + +[Illustration: The "Grey Battery" at St. Omer, May 1917] + + + + +CHAPTER I. (p. 001) + +Breaking Us In. + + +On a morning early in August, 1915, the Brigade disembarked at Havre +without mishap to man, horse, or material, and proceeded to a Rest +Camp on the outskirts of the town. We were in France at last! The same +evening the Batteries started to entrain, and every two hours a +complete unit was despatched up the line--to an unknown destination. +The men received refreshments at various Haltes, and the horses were +duly watered and fed, but the journey was, on the whole, long and +tedious. On one occasion only was the monotony broken, and that +unwittingly, by the humour of one of the officers. In the course of +the evening, the train stopped at a small station, and the compartment +in which the officers were settled drew up in front of the Buffet. +Some one asked where we were, and a subaltern, anxious to display his +newly-acquired knowledge of French, replied, "Bouvette," which called +forth no response. Shortly afterwards the train proceeded on its way, +and the occupants of the carriage settled themselves down to sleep. +All passed quietly for the next couple of hours--then the train +stopped once more, and, as luck would have it, again our carriage came +to a standstill directly opposite the buffet of the station. At once a +question was asked as to our whereabouts. The same subaltern, shaking +himself out of a deep slumber, stretched, roused himself, and, peering +out of the window, exclaimed, "Good Lor', still at this beastly hole, +'Bouvette'!" He expressed much surprise at the "unseemly mirth," as he +described it, which followed!! + +After detraining, the Battery marched through beautiful country, which +reminded one of the Borders, as it was not unlike the valley of the +Tweed, and we were at once taken to the hearts of the inhabitants (p. 002) +of the good village of Seningham, which place was destined to be our +home for the next few days. The officers were afforded spacious +accommodation in the house of the Maire, whilst the men had comfortable +billets in the neighbourhood. Time was spent making our unit shipshape +after its travels by land and sea, and the "hairies" obtained as much +grazing as possible, to make them fit for what was in store for them. +It was wonderful how quickly the men adapted themselves to French +ways, and much amusement was caused by their eager, if somewhat +unsuccessful, attempts to master the language of our Allies. + +When it became known that the officers were anxious to increase their +knowledge of the language of the country, the maidens of the village +vied with one another to obtain posts as instructresses, and there was +nearly a free fight amongst them for the possession of our worthy +Senior Subaltern, whose taking ways did not fail to catch their +attention! + +But, alas! our peaceful warfare was not to be for long! One morning +sudden orders came through to prepare for the line in a couple of +days' time. All was instant bustle, extra grooming was given to the +horses, and finishing touches were put to the howitzers and vehicles. +We were to be given a trial in action to show how we would comport +ourselves before joining the "Feet" of our own Division, the Guards, +who at that time were out at rest. For this purpose we were to be +placed under the orders of the C.R.A. of an Indian Division, to +reinforce the Batteries already in positions and receive instruction +from them. + +At last the morning arrived to move off, the column, skirting the town +of St. Omer, took the main road to Hazebrouck, and, as we passed +through the village of Arques, we caught a first glimpse of our future +infantry. They appeared equally keen on seeing their new artillery, +and inspected us with a critical eye. The march was made in easy +stages, and on the morning of the third day the Brigade arrived at +Merville, a quaint old town in Flemish Flanders. After a hasty lunch, +the officers rode ahead, in order to get into touch with the unit we +were to support in the line, and another amusing incident happened _en +route_. One of the Junior Officers owned a sturdy mare, whose +reputation as a charger was apt to be ridiculed by his companions, as +she was notorious for her slow gait. When the party had proceeded some +distance at the trot, "Halting Hilda" was observed, to the astonishment +of everyone, to be gradually taking the lead. This fact called (p. 003) +forth the remark from her master, "By Jove, she is pulling extraordinarily +hard to day: what can be the matter with the animal?" It was then +discovered that the rider had been at her mercy for the last couple of +miles, the bit clanking merrily from side to side under her great jaw. +In the hurry and excitement of departure, after lunch, the bit had not +been replaced in her mouth! + +The afternoon was spent in reconnoitering the gun positions allotted +to us, which were the alternative positions of the units already in +line. As a rule, each battery makes a second or alternative gun +position, in case it should be shelled out of its existing one, so +that no delay takes place in getting into action again. When night +fell there was subdued excitement in the wagon line as the time drew +near to take the guns "in." This was actually the beginning of our +first venture--would we have the luck to get there without being +caught in the enemy's harassing fire? How would we behave under +shell-fire: would we be steady or otherwise? All these and many other +questions flashed through our minds, for a great deal depends, more +than one would believe, on how a new and inexperienced unit receives +its baptism of fire. + +At length a start was made, and the Battery moved off, and soon turned +down the long, straight main road leading to La Bassee, the trees on +either side showing signs of shrapnel scars, and even in the darkness +it could be seen that the cottages were, for the most part, in ruins. +It felt distinctly eerie as the small column proceeded silently on its +way without showing lights of any description; the stillness and +darkness broken now and again by the barking of a gun as we drew +nearer the battery zone, and by an occasional Verey Light, which +seemed to reveal us in all our nakedness. That long stretch of road +seemed interminable--were we never going to reach our destination? +However, all remained quiet throughout our progress, and at last we +arrived at the entrance to the gun position, which was to be our home +for the next fortnight. The guns were speedily unlimbered and +man-handled into the pits awaiting their reception, the ammunition was +unloaded from the vehicles, and the teams were returned to the wagon +line. + +The following morning the pieces were "layed out" on our particular +zone, and we had time to look round and take stock of our new (p. 004) +abode, which was a farmhouse standing in the centre of an orchard +adjoining the main road. The building itself was by no means intact, +although, as yet, habitable. It gave us enough shelter of a kind, and +we soon adjusted ourselves to the prevailing conditions, and the +outhouses surrounding it afforded ample accommodation for the +detachments. The gun pits were cunningly concealed in the front +portion of the orchard, special care having been taken against the +prying eyes of hostile aeroplanes. We were fortunate in the choice of +position made for our first time in the line, for two reasons, +firstly, it was an interesting zone--including the village of Neuve +Chapelle now immediately behind our front line--and, secondly, it was +quiet. The country there is extremely flat, with the exception of +Aubers Ridge, which, occupied by the enemy, overlooked us to a certain +extent, although the many trees and woods prevented his having an +uninterrupted view. Our tuition began at once, and we were conducted +to the front line through innumerable communication trenches, which, +at first, reminded one of a maze at an exhibition, the only difference +being that numerous notice-boards directed our movements. + +There we were welcomed, with smiling faces, by men of a Ghurka +battalion, their white teeth and flashing eyes showing up their brown +skins. Now and then they would stop sharpening their deadly-looking +kukris, their dearest possession, to allow us to pass along the +trench. Nothing delighted these brave little men more than to be +permitted to go on a silent raid at night, when they wormed themselves +through the wire in "No Man's Land," and did as much damage on the +other side as possible. They have been known to enter the enemy +trenches without a sound, killing everyone within reach, and to return +radiant, quite unscathed. When questioned as to why they had not +brought in any prisoners for identification purposes, they would +merely roll their eyes, shrug their shoulders, and say, "Enemy all +quiet, he asleep," and calmly remove the still warm gore from their +knives! Continuing on our way, we next struck a Highland regiment, the +necessary complement of the one of stout little men just left behind. +It was most interesting, as one had heard so much about the +traditional good comradeship existing, in India, between Ghurka and +Highlander, and here they were still side by side in France. Their +mutual admiration is boundless and unconcealed, and it was most (p. 005) +amusing to watch the little men aping the ways of the big Highlanders, +who look huge in comparison with them. The Ghurka regiments have their +own pipe bands, and play them as if they, too, had been born and bred +in the mountains and glens of Scotland. + +Soon we came to a fire bay, specially well placed to obtain a good +view of the enemy trenches, which had been converted into what is +known as an O.P., _i.e._, an artillery observation post. These O.P.'s +are manned during daylight by the F.O.O. (Forward Observation Officer) +and his signaller assistants. Their job is to keep a close watch on +hostile trenches, watching for any unusual movement or for the +appearance of new constructive works, such as machine gun emplacements +or new saps. The O.P. has numerous wires leading into it, and these +come from all the batteries in immediate support of that part of the +line, which are jointly responsible for its defence. Our own signallers +had been out early, and a wire had already been carefully laid and +labelled from our gun position to the O.P., so we were now ready to +register our howitzers on some definite object behind the enemy lines. +A house, or some such landmark which is shewn on our trench maps, is +usually chosen to calibrate upon. There is little trouble in effecting +this, but, at first, there is some difficulty in following the rounds +as they fall, through a periscope, owing to its small field of vision. +It was, however, imperative to make use of that instrument, in this +case, as an enemy sniper, watchful and on the alert, had already seen +the top of it, and from time to time a bullet passed overhead +unpleasantly close. This served to remind us to be discreet and to run +no risks by exposing ourselves in the slightest degree above the +parapet. Sometimes it is very difficult to restrain one's enthusiasm +when there is an interesting shoot taking place. + +The pieces being duly registered, the Battery is now ready for any +emergency, and theoretically we can engage any target in our arc of +fire. It is then essential to learn the country in hostile territory, +and one looks out for likely targets and for points at which one can +inconvenience the enemy by keeping him under constant harassing fire. +This work must necessarily be done from a point of vantage where a +good wide view can be obtained, and, in most cases, a house, tree, or +high piece of ground well behind the lines, is selected for a Rear +O.P. + +In an incredibly short space of time every officer learns the (p. 006) +country off by heart, and can bring any gun to bear on a particular +target at short notice. At first Junior Officers are allowed practice +shoots on targets well behind the enemy lines, and as they gain +confidence and experience, are entrusted with "close shoots," _i.e._, +firing on hostile emplacements, etc., in the front line, a job which +requires extreme caution and accuracy, as "No Man's Land" averages not +more than 200 yards in width in most places. Batteries can always +communicate with Battalion Headquarters in the line, a wire, usually +buried, leading from there to our Brigade Headquarters, and each +Battery has its own private wire to the latter place. In the same way +one can be linked up with nearly every unit in a Division by means of +an Exchange run by the Royal Engineers. + +A few days sufficed us to make ourselves quite at home, and officers +went freely about "seeking whom they might devour," visited old +established O.P.'s, and searched for new or better ones. It is a +curious fact that the average subaltern is never fully satisfied with +an O.P., and is always bent on discovering "something better," +although in few cases is his ambition realised! One officer favours +this O.P., another that, and on this occasion the one which our worthy +Battery Commander had a preference for was a most unpleasant place, +commonly known as "The Doll's House," though why so called no one +could tell. At any rate, it was an abode to be avoided on all possible +occasions, and the subalterns were quite convinced it was the +registering place of all the hostile batteries within range and +vision. At any rate, we daily found less and less of the building, +until one day the staircase was blown away as well as the perch on top +which afforded us our view. Great was the relief when the B.C. at last +declared the O.P. "out of action" until further notice. + +Nearly every O.P. has an appropriate name given to it, and so we +repaired to "Stink Farm" after abandoning our old love! We put in most +useful days of practice there, and the knowledge and experience gained +was invaluable. Our thanks were due to the enemy for his consideration +in allowing us to conduct our daily tasks almost unmolested: he showed +himself to be most lethargic and sleepy, and did not waken up unless +we were unusually energetic. Perhaps his chief reason for remaining so +inactive was the absence of any heavy guns on our side. Our largest +piece was a 60 pdr., and he may have thought mere Field Artillery (p. 007) +beneath his consideration. Nor was he more active in the air; his +planes rarely passed over our lines, and when they did, it was at so +great a height that it was quite impossible for them to gather +information. However, one day, we were extremely fortunate in seeing a +hostile plane, that had ventured to cross over our lines at a lower +altitude, brought down in flames by a direct hit from an "Archie" +battery lying in wait close behind our own position. It is a rare +sight, for, to tell the truth, anti-aircraft batteries are not held in +particularly high respect by anyone except by those of their own ilk, +and on only two other occasions did we ever see the like again. + +Our fortnight soon sped by, and we were quite reluctant when the time +came to go "out." We left our neighbours, who had befriended us so +well, with the sincere hope that we would have the good fortune to +meet and lie alongside of them again in the future. This hope, +however, was not destined to be fulfilled. We retraced our steps +through Merville and Aire to the same area from whence we came, to a +village called Nielles, in order to concentrate as a Division, which, +when formed, was designated the Guards Division. + +The inhabitants, as usual, extended a warm welcome to us and showed us +every consideration, and we settled down to enjoy the peaceful +surroundings bathed in the warm and pleasant September sunshine, while +the Senior Subaltern availed himself of the opportunity of again +laying siege to the hearts of his former conquests at Seningham close +by. Our own C.R.A. came to visit us here, and the officers were +severally introduced to him. He expressed satisfaction at the report +which came to him from the line, concerning our conduct in action, and +added that the high opinion formed of us at home had in no wise been +diminished, and that our reputation merited the distinction conferred +on us of being selected as the Artillery of the Guards from among the +many units of the new Army. + +Thus we waited, confident in the belief that, whatever we were in the +future called upon to do, we would at least put up a good show, and +determined to be a credit to the Division of which we now formed a +part. We had not long to wait, whispers passed round that we would be +up and doing at no distant date, and these rumours proved to be well +founded. + + + + +CHAPTER II. (p. 008) + +Our First Battle. + + +Our marching orders came within the next few days. Each unit was +provided with portable bridges, which were carried under the wagon +bodies, and this, and several other preparations, gave us a good +indication that we were out for business. A couple of days trekking +brought us to the village of Nedonchel, which proved to be another +place of happy memory to our Senior Subaltern. Here we were given a +rough idea of the part we were to play in the coming proceedings. Two +army corps were to attack, on a six mile front, in the neighbourhood +of Loos and, if the assault was successful, the corps in reserve, +which included our Division, was to go through and exploit the victory +to its fullest advantage. We were to take no part in the initial +attack. + +Large masses of troops were being moved up behind the battle area, +and, in order to screen our movements from hostile aircraft, the +latter stages of the journey were to be made under cover of darkness, +so the whole of the next day was spent in resting. At nightfall a +diversion was caused by a Cavalry Division passing through the village +on its way up, and a splendid sight it presented, as one famous +regiment followed swiftly on another. It was now almost time for us to +make a start, and the good lady of the house had remained out of bed +to brew us hot coffee and see us off the premises. As we were about to +depart she told us that her old mother, aged 88, who was in the next +room, had expressed the desire to see us for a moment, and so we were +conducted to the old lady's bedside. She was lying telling her beads, +but sat up as we approached and beckoned to each officer in turn, who +advanced, knelt, and received a blessing. The inhabitants knew well +that a big battle was to be fought quite soon, as the little (p. 009) +village had been the scene of great activity during the past few days +and, although it was a considerable distance from the line, the +preliminary bombardment could be distinctly heard. The low muffled +rumble was incessant, and, to-night, seemed, if anything, more +intense. Shortly after midnight we set off and disappeared into the +darkness, followed by words of good cheer from the villagers and +shouts of "Bon chance, messieurs, bon chance." + +Passing through Bruay we arrived a few miles behind the battle front +on the morning of the assault, which was delivered at an early hour, +and soon the news came back that, so far, everything was going well; +the village of Loos had already fallen into our hands. As the day wore +on, however, and the expected orders to advance were not forthcoming, +we suspected that all was not as it should be and our fears were +confirmed soon afterwards by instructions being given to prepare to +bivouac overnight on the ground close by. What actually happened was +this:--The initial attack was successful in capturing and overrunning +the enemy's front line trenches over the whole area, but, on advancing +to the second trench system a great deal of wire was found to have +been left unbroken or untouched by our artillery, and this held the +infantry up at vital places. The attack, however, was pressed with +great courage and determination, and in some places the flood of men +swept on, but, unfortunately, in others, little or no progress was +made. The line, consequently, soon presented a crooked, irregular +shape, which made the situation difficult and obscure. The enemy, +moreover, had anticipated the attack and had large reinforcements at +hand which were at once thrown in, and after a ding-dong struggle +throughout the day the advance came to an abrupt standstill. Two +Divisions from the Reserve Corps were then sent in, and, on the +following afternoon, the Guards attacked and helped to a large extent +in straightening out a considerable portion of the line. It was not +until nightfall of the third day that we entered the battle and took +up a position immediately north of Vermelles Station in the back +garden of a row of damaged villas. On our way "in," a couple of +cavalry regiments, which had been holding Loos for the last two days +and which had just been relieved, passed us. There passed also the +remnant of one of the Scottish Divisions which had fought so valiantly +and paid so heavy a price. Footsore, weary, and caked with mud from +top to toe, with every sign of what they had been through upon (p. 010) +them, and heavily laden with "souvenirs" in addition to their full +kit, the men could scarcely crawl along. However, just as one battalion +came abreast of us, in such condition, the pipes tuned up and at once +every head was erect and not a man was out of step as they swung past +us; such is the moral force of the bagpipes. It was one of those +moments in which a lump rises in the throat and a thrill runs down the +spine. + +In our new position we speedily learnt what we could do and what we +could not do. For instance, the signallers were able to introduce +electric light into our abode by tapping a live wire which ran +outside, from one fosse to the next, for we were now in the Lens coal +district with mines dotted about here and there. On the other hand, we +soon learnt to refrain from sleeping or showing lights in the second +storey of our billet which was evidently under direct observation by +the enemy, who did not take long to acquaint us with the fact. + +There was always a good deal of firing to be done each day, for, +although the battle may be said to have finished after four or five +days, there were several side-shows before the line was adjusted to +our liking, and the enemy's fire was almost continuous. This bothered +the F.O.O. parties considerably, and communication was difficult to +maintain for more than a short time between the front line and +Battery. The wire was frequently broken in numerous places, and this +kept signallers and linesmen working at high pressure to repair the +damage. The O.P.'s were moderately good, with the exception of one in +"Gun Trench," where our men held a portion, then came a sand bagged +wall occupied on the other side by our opponents which they were able +to enter by a *T*-shaped communication trench, then another sand-bagged +wall with our infantry beyond. Neither side could shell this trench +for fear of injury to their own party, but this did not prevent a +lively exchange of bombs, intermingled with various forms and sizes of +"Minnies," which were hurled at frequent intervals. Sniping was also +rampant, and periscopes, no matter how small, survived not longer than +a few minutes. It was from this delightful spot that one of the +subalterns arrived at the Battery one evening with his head swathed in +bandages like a Sultan's turban. He had been trying conclusions with a +"Minnie," and, as this was in the days before the introduction of the +steel helmet, the latter had easily come out on top. When the wound +was ascertained to be nothing like as serious as the size of the +bandage seemed to indicate, he was removed to the wagon line amid (p. 011) +jeers from his brother officers, and a few days' rest sufficed to +bring him back to duty again. + +Now, in one portion of the zone which we were covering, "No Man's +Land" extended some 1500 yards in depth, and midway, lying in the +valley, were what appeared to be two derelict enemy guns partially +camouflaged This aroused the curiosity of the Staff, who called for +volunteers to go out and make an investigation and report as to the +condition of the sights, etc. Our B.C. gallantly offered his services, +in spite of the fact that he was over six feet in height, and +presented a most conspicuous figure, and would not be deterred. He set +off crawling through the long grass on his perilous journey, and there +was a huge grin on his face when he returned. After his report went in +we ascertained that the two pieces were nothing more than cleverly +constructed dummies formed from cart wheels, telegraph poles and +trunks of trees, but it was not until he almost came up to them that +he made the discovery. + +The detachments meanwhile had settled down, making improvements to +their billets and strengthening the gun pits, and were already proving +themselves seasoned warriors. On one occasion a nasty accident +happened, due to the explosion of a howitzer, caused, as was +afterwards proved, by a faulty shell. The complete gun crew, with the +exception of the No. 1 in charge, was wounded. Three of their number +were temporarily buried by the earth thrown up by the explosion, and +it was probably due to that fact that no one was killed. The pit +naturally fell to bits and the debris was indescribable, but the +Sergeant managed to disentangle himself, and, standing stiffly to +attention, reported to the officer on duty, "No. 2 gun out of action, +sir!" No time was lost in digging out the injured men, and it was only +found necessary to evacuate three of the number to the nearest +dressing station--the remainder flatly refusing to go. The layer, in +particular, deserved great credit for his grit, for, in spite of +having been buried, and having scarcely a hair left on his head and +devoid of eyebrows, not to mention the shock to his nervous system, he +was again serving his gun 24 hours later, on the arrival of the new +piece. Some idea of the force of the explosion can be gathered from +the fact that the barrel was found, in two pieces, some 150 yards +away, having been blown over a railway embankment, while the (p. 012) +breech block, which weighs about a cwt., was discovered, after a 12 +hours' search, embedded in the ground six feet below the pit. At this +period a considerable number of "prematures" were taking place, and, +on one occasion, we ascribed this wounding of two gunners to this +cause, but afterwards found out our mistake. An S.O.S. went up after +dark, and, at the time of firing No. 3 gun, the layer and another +gunner were both badly hit by what appeared to be a "premature" just +outside the bore of the piece. Throughout this period we were firing +nothing but high explosive shells. Great therefore was our surprise +when, three weeks later, letters arrived from both men, who were in +hospital, to say that in each case shrapnel bullets had been extracted +from them! What had actually occurred was this: At the same time that +the trigger was pulled and the shell discharged, a "pip squeak" must +have burst in front of the mouth of the gun pit, driving the bullets +through the entrance. + +Day after day passed in much the same way, neither side attempting to +make an attack on any large scale, but on the morning of the 8th +October, it was observed that the hostile shelling was not normal, and +had increased in extent along the whole recently captured area. +Preparations were therefore rapidly made to meet any eventuality, and, +as the day advanced and his bombardment gained in strength, it was +apparent to everyone that the enemy contemplated an attack. At noon +orders were received to be ready, at any time, to lay down a +destructive barrage on a certain zone. The Staff had happily +anticipated the point of attack accurately, and, by the time the enemy +concentrated his final burst of fire on his objectives, every gun in +the neighbourhood which could bear, was trained on the vital spot +ready to open out. When at last the time arrived, the bombardment +ceased abruptly, and the enemy's infantry advanced to the assault wave +upon wave, for the most part in mass formation and with arms linked +together. Emerging from a wood, they had a considerable distance to +cover across open ground before approaching our trenches, so both our +infantry and artillery fire was at first withheld. This gave +encouragement to the enemy, and, as his bombardment had been pretty +severe, he expected more or less of a "walk over," and did not reckon +on what was to follow. When he had advanced to within 200 yards (p. 013) +of our lines, suddenly rapid fire spurted out from our rifles and +machine guns, and guns of every description spat H.E. and shrapnel, +and his ranks were literally mown down. Then a curtain was put down +behind--a solid wall of fire--which made it practically impossible for +the troops to retire, and their plight was beyond all hope. While they +were cogitating whether to come on or go back, they were slaughtered +in heaps--raked by the deadly machine guns. Very few indeed survived +to tell the tale, but one prisoner claimed to be most indignant with +the whole proceedings, and expressed his opinion that we did not "play +the game" by withholding our fire, and that they imagined they had +only to walk into our trenches and take possession of them. This +proved to be the last big hostile counter-attack attempted, and indeed +both sides were content to remain in their own trenches. We made a +smaller attack the next week, but it was also unsuccessful, and little +or no ground was gained. The enemy artillery devoted themselves +principally to counter battery work, and several British batteries, +which were ill concealed, had a most unpleasant time. Free use was +made of lachrymatory shell, our first taste of it. One clear, +moonlight night the battery was firing at a slow rate, and apparently +the enemy saw our flashes, for he speedily turned a 4.2 battery on to +us, his shells landing just short of each gun pit. No casualties +resulted, but a shell entered the window of one detachment's billet +and exploded, completely wrecking the room and destroying the men's +equipment. Soon afterwards instructions were issued to change +positions, and this was effected without loss or mishap. The new +position was more favourably placed, some little way in front of the +Fosse at Annequin, and had been constructed by the French. We were now +covering the Hohenzollern Redoubt of evil memory. Another O.P. was +constructed on the railway embankment on the La Bassee-Vermelles line, +which lent itself favourably to the construction of a shaft for +protection, the soil, for the most part, being chalk, as indeed it was +in all the surrounding neighbourhood. It was our misfortune at this +position to say farewell to our Battery Commander, who left us to take +up a Staff appointment with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, and +all ranks were sorry to lose a leader who had thus far shared all +their joys and sorrows. At the same time we were fortunate in (p. 014) +securing in his successor one who quickly and tactfully took up the +reins of office, and the Battery continued to run on equally smooth +lines. + +It now became quite evident that operations would not resume the +nature of a battle, and it was no surprise to receive intimation that +the Division would shortly retire from the conflict. Nobody was sorry +at the prospect of going out, although useful lessons had been learnt +and considerable experience had undoubtedly been gained. + +The weather was beginning to break, and towards the end of the first +week in November we withdrew to the village of Sailly, preparatory to +marching into the nest area for which we were bound. + + + + +CHAPTER III. (p. 015) + +"Peace Warfare." + + +When it became known that our destination was to be the sector +immediately adjoining the one we had already been in, facing Aubers +Ridge, our delight knew no bounds, for all were well aware that that +locality was considered a "cushy" spot which augured well for the +coming winter. + +No delay was made in leaving Sailly, and, proceeding by way of Bethune +and St. Venant, we arrived at a small hamlet midway between the latter +town and Merville. The Battery remained in rest for a few days, while +a couple of "subs." with a working party commenced construction on the +new position selected by the B.C. This entailed a considerable amount +of labour, for timber and all other material had to be carted from the +R.E. dump at La Gorgue some distance away. With an eye to comfort as +well as concealment, it was decided to dig the pits in an orchard, +along some old assembly trenches which had been used by troops before +the battle of Neuve Chapelle. Close by was a cluster of cottages and +outhouses in a wonderful state of preservation. + +By the end of the week the guns were pulled in, although there still +remained a lot to do on the position. The house in which the officers +quartered themselves was intact, with the exception of a few slates on +the roof and several broken window panes. Moreover, there was a little +furniture left and there were some fine open fireplaces, so we had +every reason to be satisfied. Within a short space of time the gun +pits were completed and camouflaged in keeping with the nature of the +ground, and great assistance was rendered us during this undertaking +by an airman who flew over the position from time to time and pointed +out the various deficiencies. At last when he reported that the +position could not be seen from a height of 2000 feet we (p. 016) +concluded, rightly, that nothing was to be feared in that direction. +Thus we settled down to a period commonly known as "Peace Warfare." +This may be summed up as a time when one experiences the maximum +amount of pleasure that is possible under war conditions, with the +minimum amount of discomfort. The enemy were completely deceived as to +our whereabouts, and took us to be in another vacant position some way +down the road, which was liberally shelled by them whenever fire was +opened by us, and we used to encourage this procedure by occasionally +ceasing in order to lead him into the belief that he was doing us +damage. At all events, the position was never shelled the whole time +we were in possession of it--a somewhat unique experience for a +battery in France. + +The infantry were also kept busy at the commencement of this period, +as we had relieved another Indian Division, and on this sector the +parapet had been built for the most part by Ghurkas, who, however +stout fellows they may be at heart, have not the stature of Guardsmen. +The result was the latter found their heads and shoulders showing well +above the parapet, and this necessitated the immediate heightening of +the same some two to three feet. + +The O.P. duties were divided equally between the subalterns, each +doing a third daily. The wagon lines were situated east of La Gorgue +within easy reach, and frequent visits were paid to them, although no +officer remained there permanently. + +During our stay here the Battery came under the direct orders of the +C.R.A. and was attached to no group in particular. Various tasks were +alloted to us, and these were, as a rule, most interesting and +instructive. To further increase our knowledge the B.C. gave the +majority of these shoots to the Junior Officers, briefly explaining +the orders and then leaving us to our own devices by departing for the +rest of the day to the wagon lines on the pretext that he had a +birthday to celebrate. He had many of them. This plan was much to our +liking, and tremendous keenness was displayed by all. Great pains were +taken to carry out everything to the letter, and the signallers also +carried out their part with equal spirit. The gun detachments at this +time rose to a high pitch of proficiency and could get 10 rounds a +minute out of the howitzers, which, considering the double load and +triple movement, was by no means a bad performance. + +A fine level field ran alongside of the position, and it was (p. 017) +speedily made use of as a recreation ground. Goal posts were erected, +and often a hot contest at football would be interrupted by the shrill +blast of a whistle summoning the men hastily to action. Their task +completed, they would calmly return and finish the game. + +All kinds of mutual understandings existed between the opposing sides +in this area, which we soon learnt and respected. For instance, the +village of Aubers lay behind the enemy lines approximately at the same +distance that Laventie did on our side. Both were used as Brigade +Headquarters and filled with troops. Neither town was shelled unless +the enemy accidentally dropped a shell into it, when instant +retaliation was forthcoming. On one occasion the placid calm of +Laventie was rudely shaken through the instrumentality of a young +officer in one of our sister brigades who, unconscious of what he was +doing, planted several shells into Aubers. The consequence was the +following conversation took place over the telephone between +Headquarters and the offending subaltern. + +"Hullo! Is that Ack Battery?" + +"Yes, sir. Just a moment, sir. I'll put you through to the mess, sir." + +"Right you are, but look sharp about it, please. Yes. Hullo! Is that +an officer? Well, I say, have you been firing just now?" + +"Yes, sir. So-and-so is doing a practice shoot from the O.P." + +"Put me on to him at once." + +"Yes, sir." + +A brief interval follows, in which various mutterings are overheard by +the signaller in the exchange, who smiles to himself as he continues +to listen. + +"Hullo! hullo!! Damn these young officers! Will they never learn to +answer quickly? Slow, slow is not the word for it. Will have to go +round and shake them up a bit. This is absurd. Hullo! there. Hullo! Is +he never going to come? Exchange, can't you get him?" + +"Just a moment, sir." + +"Hullo! hullo!!" + +"Yes, sir. So-and-so speaking." + +"What the devil are you firing at, young sir?" + +"Well, sir, I was given permission to fire a few rounds----" + +"Where?" (p. 018) + +"At the cross roads, sir." + +"Seen any of them fall?" + +"Not as yet, sir." + +"Well, for God's sake stop firing at once, sir. Why, man, your shells +are dropping in Aubers, and they are retaliating like the very devil. +There goes another, just outside." + +"Very sorry, sir. Couldn't make out where the shells were falling." + +"Well, report to me as soon as you get back, remember. Have no time to +listen to an explanation now." + +"Very good, sir. Good-bye, sir." + +An animated discussion now takes place in the telephone exchange, and +the unanimous opinion is that poor So-and-so is "for it" and will +perhaps even get the sack, and who will succeed to the Right Section +if he leaves the Battery? + +In these days a walk along the front line was a delight, and nothing +gave the F.O.O. greater pleasure than to take his morning +constitutional from one end of our area to the other and to peer over +the side at frequent intervals by means of a periscope. Sniping was +sometimes indulged in, but a target rarely presented itself for the +simple reason that the enemy was hardly ever in his front line +trenches during daylight. From one O.P. we could often see one or two +men running along the trenches with lighted torches kindling fires and +causing smoke in order to lead us into the belief that the trenches +were powerfully manned. + +Now, about this time, a number of hostile batteries, whose positions +could not be located, gave us a certain amount of trouble, but a +successful ruse was carried out which enabled us to discover them. +Operations were undertaken in order to force the enemy to show his +hand, and every indication was made by us that we were about to +institute a raid. Wire cutting was done by one battery, and others +registered strong points in rear behind the prescribed area. Then at +dusk, known as flesh time, when batteries are most likely to give +their positions away, all the O.P.'s were manned, spotting apparatus +made ready, and our barrage was put down on this sector. The infantry +had been provided with dummy figures, which they held aloft on poles, +and in the semi-darkness this gave the impression that they were +preparing to quit the trenches and go over the top, while high +overhead hovered a number of our aeroplanes waiting to assist. The +plan worked admirably, and in a few minutes the enemy's counter (p. 019) +preparation commenced. As the result of our efforts his positions were +pin-pointed and dealt with by our 60-pdrs. the next day, after which +we were not bothered by them to such a great extent. + +Soon after this episode there came upon the scene what were commonly +known as "Cook's Tourists." These were officers whose units were still +at home, and who were sent out to gain experience by being attached to +batteries for a short period. At times the tourist laid himself open +to being the victim of many practical jokes, and this certainly +contributed to the liveliness of the mess. A certain officer was +escorted down to the front line trenches one day, and, as usual, the +party was armed with periscopes. All of a sudden he emitted a cry of +delight, as, gazing through the instrument, he told us of how crowds +of the enemy were walking along a road. Could we not get our guns on +to them quickly? This seemed an incredible occurrence, as, in this +sector, not a single German had been seen for days on end. The mystery +was speedily solved, however. By some means or other, he had been +holding the periscope so that it faced the opposite direction, and +what he actually saw was a party of our own men walking leisurely +along the road some way behind our lines. Needless to say, this +officer came in for a considerable amount of chaff, and, in course of +time, was solemnly presented with a paper medal, suitably inscribed, +on which reversed periscopes figured prominently. + +The festive season was now drawing near, which necessitated the +gathering of provisions, for the men were to celebrate the 25th of +December by having a special dinner, and presently leave was opened to +our unit and the first lucky ones departed for "Blighty." Some sort of +gift was due the enemy on this occasion, and it took the shape of a +sharp five minutes' bombardment, from every gun in the area, on the +stroke of midnight on Xmas Eve. In spite of this gruelling, the enemy +next morning showed signs of wishing to fraternise with our men in the +front line, but strict orders had been issued in advance that this was +not to be countenanced. The Germans showed themselves freely above the +parapet, and one could see that they had been dressed up smartly for +the occasion, probably in order to impress us with their appearance. +However, there was "nothing doing." Little or no sniping took place, +but the artillery went through their usual routine, in fact rather +increased their fire that day. The men's dinner was a great (p. 020) +success, and all seemed pleased with their fare--pork and potatoes, +vegetables, plum pudding and fruit, with plenty of beer or stout to +wash it down. The Officers' Mess was lively also, and our first 'Xmas, +under war conditions, was voted most successful. Next day the Padre +turned up, and a service was held in one of the barns, but, in the +middle of the address, on "Peace on earth, goodwill towards men," +there was a sudden call for "action." A rush was made to the guns, +and, after a few minutes' argument with the enemy, we returned and +finished listening to the discourse. Somehow or other one could not +help feeling that the two happenings were incongruous! + +We had a notion that perhaps the enemy would make an attempt to +retaliate on us at New Year for our little joke on 'Xmas Eve, and this +proved to be correct. He made rather a feeble demonstration, and it +was speedily squashed, as we were awaiting it. It was an extraordinary +thing, but we always found our foe very slow in the uptake: it +generally took him quite a week to think out some measure of +retaliation, and when it came, it consisted, as a rule, in copying +what we had done to him. We could usually count on that and +consequently guard against it. + +One day instructions came through calling for a report on a new +charge, for reducing the flashes when night firing, which was supposed +to be in our possession. Our worthy Senior Subaltern was at that time +in command, so he decided to have the trial the same evening and put +in his report at once. The remaining officers were to "stand by" at +the guns and first fire a salvo with the ordinary charge and then one +with the new one, while he stood some distance in front to wait the +results. All went well and the salvoes were duly fired, although, at +the battery end, there did not appear to be any difference between +them, which fact was unanimously agreed upon. However, that was not +the opinion of the Senior Subaltern, who waxed eloquent on the "soft, +velvety colour" of the new charge. This was all set down presently, in +a lengthy dispatch covering, at least, two columns of "foolscap," and +sent to the Brigade. Nothing further was heard for several days, then +a telephone message came through which brought a smile to the face of +everyone in the mess except the officer concerned. It ran as +follows:--"Reference my B214 of the 9th inst. Report on flash (p. 021) +reducing charges is herewith cancelled. The production of same has not +yet been issued to batteries in the field A.A.A." Both salvoes had +been of the same nature! + +Our Right Section Commander had a mania for spy hunting, and it was +true that spies were known to infest the neighbourhood and had +sometimes actually been caught. On every available occasion this +officer would set out to scour the countryside in quest of a suspect. +One day this led to the waste of much energy on his part. Having +followed hard on the scent of a suspicious character, from one end of +our area to the other, the quarry suddenly doubled back along the La +Bassee road and disappeared into a house. Our friend entered also, and +found himself in a Brigade Headquarters, confronted by the "spy," who +greeted him warmly, and asked him what service he could render him, at +the same time calling for tea. He had shadowed none other than the +chief Intelligence Officer of the Division the whole afternoon! There +was nothing for it but to own up and apologise as best he could, to +the vast amusement of the Staff Officer. After this incident, we were +spared further wild-goose chases by this enthusiast, and the keenness +hitherto shown by him for these quests somewhat abated. + +A good deal of excitement was caused, at this time, by the arrival of +some heavy artillery in our neighbourhood, so much talk had come to +our ears concerning them. The guns were duly placed in position, and +on the afternoon on which they were to open fire a large turn out of +F.O.O.'s collected in the O.P.'s to watch the enemy get a surprise. +They did considerable damage, but, at the same time, were largely +responsible for stirring up a veritable wasp's nest of hostile heavies +which had been lying dormant for ages, and consequently our front +again became active. + +While our F.O.O. was proceeding one day from the O.P. to the front +line, he was caught in one of those bursts of hate and separated from +the telephonists who accompanied him. On the conclusion of the shoot, +a search was made for him, but he was nowhere to be found. They returned +to the Battery and reported the circumstance to the B.C., who, much +concerned, speedily organised a search-party, and set out for the +scene of action. After a couple of hours weary tramping, they came +upon a Company Headquarters in the front line, and there, comfortably +ensconced in an easy-chair, with a large whisky-and-soda by his (p. 022) +side and a cigarette in his mouth, sat the missing officer. Much +indignation was expressed and explanations followed, but, in future, +it was only in the last extremity that search parties were instituted! + +Thus the days sped by, until it came to the minds of those in +authority that the Division had vegetated quite long enough in this +area, and, at the beginning of February, we were pulled out and +transferred to another sphere of activity. + +Everyone regretted leaving this peaceful spot, and the period we spent +there was always looked back upon as the brightest and happiest time +of our sojourn in France. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. (p. 023) + +In "The Salient." + + +It soon became known that we were bound for Ypres. This town will, +without doubt, be the Mecca in France of the British soldier for all +time. This place, above all others, was always mentioned with a voice +of reverence and awe, and is hallowed by the presence of the gallant +dead who helped in its defence. It was truly the most ill-favoured +sector on the whole of the front held by our armies. + +Proceeding by way of Hazebrouck and Cassel, we entered the area +immediately behind the Salient and took up our quarters near the +village of Arneke, for we were not yet due for our spell of duty in +the line. At this time the weather was most unpropitious, and rendered +training in any shape or form out of the question. The ground was +covered with snow to the depth of several inches, and the roads were, +for the most part, frost-bound. A Divisional Artillery Horse Show was +organised, however, and great keenness was displayed by all the +batteries, who spent most of their time horse coping until the day of +the event, which was held at Zeggers Capelle. Our Right Section +Commander, with a team of fine little blacks, managed to secure the +second prize in the principal event. + +Several days afterwards we relieved the Division who were holding the +left centre of the Salient, and took up our position on the northern +extremity of Ypres itself, close to the Dead End of the Canal, a short +distance from "Salvation Corner." Here a short description of the +position is imperative, in order to give some idea of the awkward +nature of this sector and of the conditions attaching thereto. The +distance between the jaws of the Salient was some five miles +across--from the banks of the Yser Canal at Boesinghe on the north to +the neighbourhood of St. Eloi on the south, while the ground held by +us extended about two-and-a half miles east of Ypres in a semi-circle. +Nearly everywhere the enemy was established on rising ground and (p. 024) +overlooked our territory, and, with few exceptions, all that was +visible to us was his first line system. The enemy was thus enabled to +detect any movement behind our line, while we were more or less +"blind." + +Owing to the confined space through which an entrance into the Salient +could be effected, great difficulty was experienced in the matter of +transport, as there was only one main artery, namely, the +Ypres-Poperinghe road. Every evening at dusk this thoroughfare was +crowded with all manner of vehicles, an endless stream, coming and +going throughout the night, and from Vlamertinghe onwards the road was +subjected to constant shelling, and was enfiladed from either side. +Piles of wreckage were always to be seen on the following morning, +which told the tale of the previous night's work, and this long, +straight piece of road holds more sentiment for the British soldier +than any other. + +It was soon quite evident that the enemy was acquainted with our +location, and it was imperative to prepare an alternative position. A +site was chosen across the road, in the garden of a private villa, +well sheltered by shrubs and trees. As soon as the work was completed +and a communication trench constructed, covered with turf and plants, +we commenced moving the guns. This was done without interference from +the enemy until the last gun was in the act of being placed in +position, when, as luck would have it, a shrapnel shell burst in front +of the party, mortally wounding one layer and injuring another. Our +B.C., also, who was assisting, received a bullet through his arm, and +was forced to leave us. This was the second mishap we had suffered +during the course of the first few days, as the Right Section +Commander had already been lost to us. Having an insatiable thirst for +knowledge, this Officer had left the O.P. with his telephonist in +order to explore the front line, which, as everyone who knows the +Salient will readily own, was somewhat difficult to recognise in +places, especially by a newcomer. Suffering as he did from acute +absent-mindedness, it was not surprising that this zealous officer +awakened suddenly from his day-dreams to discover that something was +wrong, and found himself standing with his companion waist high in a +shallow disused trench, which, on further investigation, appeared +uncommonly like "No Man's Land!" After a brief consultation, they +decided to retrace their steps. Alas! all too late: a hostile sniper, +reserving his fire in the hope that they would continue to walk (p. 025) +into the enemy trenches, on seeing them turn about, and thus being +baulked of his prize and the prospect of a fortnight's leave in his +own country, fired a bullet which passed through the thighs of both +men one after the other. A party of our infantry, unable to attract +their attention and put them right in time, had witnessed this little +drama, and proceeded, at great personal risk and at the expense of at +least one of their number being wounded, to extricate the two +unfortunates and convey them to the nearest dressing station. It was +not until a late hour that night that word came to us at the Mess that +the missing party had been passed through the prison at Ypres, on +their way to a C.C.S. Now, our Battery Commander, after great trouble, +had lately gained possession of an improved type of periscope, which +he had been persuaded to lend the F.O.O. on that day, and, on receipt +of this news, his first thought was for the safety of his precious +instrument. The fact that two valuable casualties had resulted did not +seem to weigh with him in the least compared with its loss, and he was +not to be consoled until it was ascertained that the periscope was in +safe keeping. Only then could he be persuaded to make enquiries as to +the nature of their wounds and express his sorrow at their misfortune. + +The Infantry found the trenches in an appalling state, and forthwith +proceeded to repair them, but the enemy would not allow this to go on +long, and, after a few days' work had been spent on them, a couple of +hours' bombardment would suffice to demolish anything that had been +done. As it was a case of labour lost, all attempts at building on a +large scale were soon abandoned. + +Many interesting excursions were made in and around the town. There +was a certain amount of splendour about the ruined place. The high +battered remains of the Cloth Hall Tower stood up in proud defiance in +the centre of the stricken city, while the ancient ramparts +surrounding it gloried in their battle scars and showed a dauntless +front to the enemy. + +A good deal of annoyance was caused in getting about from place to +place through the uncongenial presence of a couple of hostile high +velocity guns which were commonly known as "Quick Dick" and "Silent +Sue," his consort. They were so named on account of the rapidity with +which the shells arrived, and there was little or no warning of their +coming. Their chief object was to harass the neighbourhood, for (p. 026) +they appeared to have no definite target but just dropped a shell +here and there, trapping the unwary and doing considerable damage, as +well as effectively raising a certain amount of "wind"! + +As conditions suited the enemy admirably, many raids were made by him, +and, on one occasion, he launched four simultaneously, one on each +sector of the Salient, after a sharp and heavy bombardment. He +attacked us between Wieltje and Potijge, but was unsuccessful in his +endeavour to obtain an identification. The attempt was frustrated, and +the only result was that he left a number of prisoners in our hands. + +About the middle of May, the Division came out and returned to the +area behind Poperinghe. There was an unexpected treat in store for the +Brigade, for it was shortly sent down to the coast for a change of +air. A two days' march brought the Battery to Cap Gris Nez, while the +other batteries were distributed along the small villages between +Calais and Boulogne. It was a real holiday for us, and a better part +of the year could not have been chosen. All that was expected of us +was to exercise the "hairies," which we did by taking the guns a walk +along the hard sand in the early mornings. + +A large field was secured, and for several hours daily the horses were +put out to grass, and, if ever animals showed signs of joy, they +certainly did, and their antics were most amusing to witness. It was +expected that some difficulty would be experienced in catching them +again, but, after the first day, a trumpet call was all that was +required. On hearing the sound, they would throw up their heads, and +then slowly wander towards the entrance, where the drivers awaited and +secured them. + +The main feature of the day was, undoubtedly, the bathing parade, +enjoyed equally by man and beast. The horses knew at once what was in +store for them when they were led down to the beach. The men stripped, +and, mounting the eager horses, a wild dash was made for the water, +and quite a number of the animals proved themselves excellent +swimmers, many remaining a considerable time in deep water. On leaving +the sea, they would gallop along the sands, showing every sign of +contentment, and we were glad that, at last, they were receiving some +reward for their patient devotion and faithful service, for we were +all fond of our four-legged comrades. + +Amusements were instituted for the men--all manner of sports by (p. 027) +day and concerts in the evenings. The officers lived out of doors, +attracted by the cliffs, from which Dover was visible on most clear +days, and everyone voted this peaceful place the next best thing to +home leave. + +It was, therefore, with much regret that, at the end of twelve days, +we retraced our steps to Arneke, where we were to remain for the +latter portion of the rest. + +We had no sooner arrived at this place than the enemy started making +himself unpleasant in the southern portion of the Salient, and, +attacking the Canadians from Hooge as far as St. Eloi, succeeded in +driving them back some distance before he was finally held up. It was +quite imperative to retake the ground lost, as he had captured +important points of observation overlooking the Salient. A counter +attack was set on foot, and we were suddenly called upon to help in +the preliminary bombardment and cover the assaulting troops, which +included a Brigade of Guards. Just before setting off, our B.C. +rejoined us once more, and at two hours' notice we made a beeline for +the scene of our future activity. At dusk we entered the ruins of +Ypres, and, without delay, proceeded to dig ourselves "in," behind a +convent, not far from the south side of the Cloth Hall. + +Owing to the number of extra batteries assembled for the operations, +we found ourselves without a billet until the genial Commander of a +Pioneer Battalion, affectionately known to the entire Dominion Forces +as "Big Jim," and credited with innumerable deeds of "daring do," took +pity upon us, and invited us to share his hearth and home. This offer +we gratefully accepted, and accommodation was also provided for the +detachment, and all were made most comfortable. + +The bombardment continued for three days, and it became clear, from +the enemy's counter preparations, that he was not going to give up his +newly acquired gains without a struggle. A most stubborn resistance +was offered, and the infantry were forced to fight hard for every foot +of ground that was eventually recovered. The bombardment grew in +intensity as the zero hour approached. Shortly after midnight, the men +went over, and, by breakfast time, had gained all that was required of +them, except at one or two points, which were taken without much +trouble later. + +By the time affairs had settled down normally again, the Division was +due in the line, so the Battery pulled out for one night, before (p. 028) +transferring to our new zone, which was in the most northerly sector, +adjoining the one in which we had already been, and which had an even +worse reputation for unpleasantness. + +After crossing the Yser Canal, the ground gradually rises towards +Pilkem Ridge, and the enemy was ensconced thereon in a kind of +stronghold known as the High Command Redoubt. Our trenches lay beneath +them, which gave us the feeling of being in a cup encircled round the +brim by our foes. During this particular tour, the Battery was split +up for the purpose of forming two forward sections, and the greater +part of the firing was done by the left section, whose position was +well inside the Salient. Its chief object was to harass a certain +portion of a hostile trench which was taken in enfilade by it! In +order to accomplish this successfully, the guns were placed in an old +disused position in a field, near La Brique, on the backward slope of +a hill, and the low gun-pits were completely covered with tufts of +growing grass. The centre pits were occupied by the two pieces and the +outside ones were speedily converted into habitations for the men. + +When the trenches were not being subjected to hostile shelling, the +enemy devoted most of his time in endeavouring to destroy the numerous +O.P.'s dotted about here and there. These were constructed for the +most part of reinforced concrete, but the particular one used by us, +called "Frascatis," had not yet been discovered, so we were free to +carry out shoots to our heart's content. + +A favourite diversion was sniping with one of our pieces, which was a +particularly accurate one, and several points of observation and +snipers' posts were carefully registered. Then we would lie in wait, +observe some movement, and let fly one round only. This method +exasperated and annoyed the enemy exceedingly. + +One of the enemy's principal forms of amusement was to blow parts of +our front parapet away and train a machine gun on the space left +vacant, and snipe at any unsuspecting person who happened to pass +along. On many occasions we were able to bring assistance to the +harassed infantrymen, by spotting the offending snipers, and by, in +turn, sniping at them with our "How." till we finally silenced them. + +At dusk the enemy invariably harassed all roads of communication, and +dropped innumerable shells of large calibre into the stricken (p. 029) +city; and we made a habit of sitting at the entrance to the little +shack, used as the officers' mess, smoking our evening pipes, +interested spectators, while the shells screamed overhead, and +alighted somewhere in the town, sending up columns of brick dust. + +All the batteries in the line were now busy constructing new battery +positions, while fresh O.P.'s were also erected, and it was thought +that these preparations were preparatory to making an attack to enable +us to improve our position by the capture of Pilkem Ridge, but, +although the work was completed, nothing further developed. + +Soon there were whispers of an impending gigantic attack away down in +the south, and for several days before the opening of it our shelling +was considerably increased, while the infantry made a series of raids. +This was done throughout the whole length of the front, in order to +keep the enemy from guessing the exact point of eruption, and we had a +warm time in consequence. For a long time after the battle had +commenced, we continued making demonstrations, which undoubtedly +helped to prevent the removal of many reserves from the locality. + +But we were not content to remain here. There was a great scrap taking +place elsewhere, and were we going to be left completely out of it, to +eat our heads off, in Flanders? It seemed very unlikely that the +Division would not be called upon on such an occasion, and great was +the joy when one day orders came through that we were soon to proceed +to the scene of action. Within two days we pulled out to our old +resting place, where preparations were completed for our transference +to the battle area. + +Our first acquaintance with the dreaded Salient was at an end, and, +although the time spent there was always strenuous and difficult, we +were not what could be called uncomfortable, and our casualties +happily did not exceed expectations. + + + + +CHAPTER V. (p. 030) + +On the Somme. + + +At the beginning of August, the Division detrained in the +neighbourhood of Doullens, and, proceeding in a southeasterly +direction, the Brigade established itself near the small village of +Couin. In a few days' time we went "in," and the Battery took up a +position on the southern outskirts of Hebuterne, overlooking the enemy +stronghold at Serre. This portion of the front was now in a normal +state once more, as, on the opening day of the great battle, the +British assault from Hamel, northward to Gommecourt, had met with no +success, and the attack was not further pressed. The enemy was content +to remain quiet, and most of the firing was carried out by us. A +considerable number of hostile "Minnies" made conditions somewhat +unpleasant for the infantry in the trenches, and during the night the +battery position was subjected to indirect machine-gun fire, which +necessitated a certain amount of caution in moving about. The O.P.'s +were well placed, and afforded us an excellent view, for we overlooked +the enemy's lines, and could see some distance beyond them. We were +now on the fringe of the battle, and away half right, on clear days, +we could see the struggle progressing, as a considerable dent had +already been made. The sight was a very grand one, especially after +dark. The Verey Lights and various S.O.S. rockets, which were +frequently sent up by our opponents, made a fine spectacular display, +far finer than any firework exhibition we had ever witnessed in our +own country in pre-war days. + +Gradually the Division was side-slipped to the south, and our next +position was close to the station of Mailly. We did not remain there +long, however, as the time had now arrived for us to put in an +appearance in the battle itself. We spent one night close to (p. 031) +Amiens, and availed ourselves of the opportunity to hold a dinner +there, which was attended by all the original officers in the +Brigade--a last night of fun and merriment before the long, stiff +fight ahead of us, for who knew how many would survive the ordeal. The +next day brought us to Vaux, on the River Somme, and, in the first +week in September, we found ourselves immersed in the battle. We took +up our first position in the lately captured second line German +system, facing Montauban and covering Guillemont, which had just been +taken by an Irish Division. + +Very stiff lighting was in progress on this sector, as we were now +nearing the summit of the Ridge, the possession of which would be +invaluable, as the enemy's territory would be laid bare to us, and he +would lose his observation over us. It was not surprising, therefore, +that he fought with the courage of despair and initiated +counter-attack upon counter-attack, all of which we had to meet with +great determination. The weather was extremely hot, which added much +to the discomfort: and, as progress had been very slow for some time, +it was impossible to clear up the battlefield, and the stench was +almost insupportable. At length the village of Guinchy was captured, +and, with our men installed on the further side of the slope, the +fighting for position came to an end. We were now entering on the +third stage of the great battle, which had commenced more than two +months previously. An attack, on a large scale, was planned, the +object being to drive the enemy down the slope of the hill into the +low-lying country beyond. Field batteries were moved up into forward +positions, in order to assist the infantry, by placing a creeping +barrage--a new and most successful invention, afterwards employed on +all occasions--in front of the advancing waves of men: and the +"heavies," of which, for the first time, we possessed a preponderance, +pounded the enemy communications far behind his lines. + +The assault was delivered over a wide area, early in the morning of the +15th of September, but in no way did it come up to expectations--in +fact, it might almost be counted a reverse. Some divisions did well, +and took their objectives, but others were completely held up, at +certain strong points, which necessitated the withdrawal of the +remainder, in order to keep the line uniform. The Guards met with +instant success, and took their final objectives, only to discover +that the Division on each side of them had made little progress (p. 032) +and could get no further. They were reluctantly forced to return, and +it was while doing so that heavy casualties were inflicted on them, as +they were raked with fire from the sides as well as in front. During +the withdrawal, a party of machine-gunners occupied a trench, and +attempted to screen the retirement of the main body of troops, by +holding the enemy at bay. In order to use this machine-gun to the best +advantage, the piece was placed on top of the parapet, exposed to the +full view of the oncoming hordes, but our men never wavered in serving +it, and, as soon as one gunner dropped at his post, another instantly +took the vacant place, although it meant certain death within a few +moments. + +Next day they were pulled out to refit, and, as they marched back to +rest, a very touching sight was witnessed. A certain battalion, a mere +remnant, swung along, headed by its band. All the officers had become +casualties, and the Battalion Sergeant-Major was in command, but as +many of the dead officers as could be recovered were brought back on +stretchers and placed each in his proper position. Headed by the body +of their late Commander, the column proceeded on its way, the men +marching at attention, and, although covered with mud and +blood-stained, they might have been proceeding down the Mall. Such is +the discipline of the Guards, and every tribute of respect was paid +them by the troops through whom they passed. + +The next battle was timed for the 25th inst., and our infantry came +back to the line a couple of days before that date. There was much +suppressed excitement and curiosity, for the mysterious Tanks were to +participate on this occasion for the first time, and it was thought +that the secret had been so well kept that they would come as a +complete surprise to the enemy. This proved to be the case, and the +attack was a great success. What was known as the Flers line was +everywhere penetrated, and all gains were held. The Tanks did splendid +work. They advanced well ahead of the infantry, and battered down +barbed wire, overran trenches, smashed machine-gun emplacements, +killing the gun crews, and even waddled as far as the village of +Gueudecourt. There they effected much execution and caused great panic +among the enemy reserves, which were concentrating for the inevitable +counter attack. + +Thus the battle continued, sometimes breaking out into fierce fights +and at other times reduced to isolated scraps, but all the time (p. 033) +the enemy was being gradually and relentlessly pushed down into +the valley, and the villages of Morval, Les Boeufs, and Gueudecourt +fell into our hands. + +It was almost uncanny the way in which villages would completely +disappear. For instance, at the time when these hamlets first came +within our vision, on our reaching the crest of the hill, they appeared +almost intact, but a few days rendered them unrecognisable--they had +become merely so many heaps of rubble. There are many places on the +Somme which have literally not one brick standing on top of another, +and one would never imagine for a moment that a prosperous little +village had ever existed there. + +Many changes of battery positions were made, and, whenever possible, +we burrowed down into the ground, as the enemy's heavy pieces were out +after our blood. The great concentration of guns and the few suitable +localities for placing them in action added to our difficulties, and +we were thus rendered an easy target for the hostile counter +batteries. Innumerable brigades were huddled close together, in what +was known as the Death Valley, for the simple reason that there was no +other suitable spot wherein to place them, and heavy casualties +resulted. We had the good fortune, however, to be somewhat isolated +from the others, and occupied a forward position, where the guns were +hidden in an old German communication trench. The enemy never found +it, but subjected us, now and again, to a general burst of harassing +fire: his main volume of hate passed us by far overhead. + +And, meanwhile, what of our friend the F.O.O.? In those days his lot +was by no means an enviable one, and it was a task of no mean +magnitude to keep communications going between the trenches and the +guns. However, it had to be done, or at least attempted, and the +following is a brief account of a typical day in the life of a gunner +subaltern. + +Orders would be given that a certain hostile trench was to be +subjected to a severe, annihilating bombardment, and this necessitated +the laying out of a wire to a part of our front line, from which the +shoot could be registered, as the target could not be observed from +any other locality than the trench immediately opposite it. The F.O.O. +rises early in the morning, and sets out with his little squad of +telephonists and linesmen. He requires to post a signalman and +linesman at frequent intervals, called Relay Stations, in order (p. 034) +to preserve communication, as the wire is being continually broken by +hostile gun-fire. Progress, in a case like this, is necessarily slow, +and he has to pick his way among the shell-holes, seeking as much +protection, for the line, as circumstances will permit. The signallers +follow in his footsteps, staggering along under the weight of a large +reel of wire. All goes well until they reach the summit of a ridge, +when, suddenly, a barrage from a "whizz bang" battery is placed right +down on top of the party. There is nothing for it but to remain +crouched in a friendly shell-hole, which affords a little protection, +until the storm blows over or to risk the chances of being hit in the +open. The journey is then resumed, and much relief is felt when at +last the ground over a nasty dip is traversed without mishap, as this +is known to be a favourite target for hostile gunners. A muddy, +unkempt communication-trench is now entered, and the party proceed, up +a slope, towards the support system, and eventually arrive at their +destination--a post in the front line overlooking its objective. +Difficulty is experienced in preserving the wire from the unguarded +feet of infantrymen, who look askance at the party as it passes, +cursing the idiosyncrasies of each fire bay. The instrument is +connected with the end of the wire, and all hold their breath in order +to hear the answering buzz which tells them that they are through to +the battery. Several futile buzzes may be made by the telephonist, and +then, no response being forthcoming, a linesman is sent down the wire +towards the first relay station. A break in the wire is discovered and +speedily mended, the next attempt is successful, and the battery is +called to action. + +During registration the wire often breaks, and serious delays occur, +but, at length, the last gun is duly pronounced O.K. by the officer. +Just in the nick of time, too! for the enemy commences a sharp +retaliation on the portion of the trench occupied by the little party. +Refuge is sought in an old enemy shaft close by, and there it awaits +the time for the "show" to commence. Several other batteries also take +part in the shoot, and it is quite impossible to pick out the shells +which belong to each one as they fall. Complete success crowns the +effort, but on the particular day here described the F.O.O. and party +failed to see the end of the bout, as they were subjected to very +heavy fire, and were all blown down the mouth of the shaft by the +explosion of a shell. Luckily, though badly shaken, all escaped +without injury. + +Meanwhile the wire has been broken in many places and is beyond (p. 035) +repair, but it has already served its purpose, and, when fire has died +down, the party starts on the return journey. On arriving at the first +relay station, the telephonist on duty is found dead at his post, the +receiver still clutched in his hand and held to his ear. A nasty gash +in the forehead reveals the place where he has been hit and instantly +killed. His companion is nowhere to be found, although bloodstains +denote that he has at least been wounded, and, on investigation, it is +ascertained that the linesman has been hit, picked up by passing +comrades, and taken to an aid-post. The journey is resumed, the party +carrying the dead with them, and presently another hostile barrage is +encountered. Again the men lie low until it ceases, and then pick up +the remaining linesmen, and return to the battery utterly exhausted. +Many questions are asked, and it frequently happens that the F.O.O. is +cursed by his Battery Commander for not keeping the wire going, and +even the Brigade joins in the chorus. The young officer pays little +heed, and inwardly reflects that they should be extremely thankful +that communication was established at all, and that those of the party +who returned did so in safety. So, in spite of everything, he consumes +a hearty dinner and retires to bed, sleeping the sleep of the just, +and soon becomes oblivious of all his little worries and sombre +surroundings. + +Towards the middle of October the weather broke, and conditions became +intolerable. The roads, which had been partially repaired, were still +soft and broken, and developed into quagmires--mud and water to a +depth of two and three feet made vehicular traffic almost out of the +question. All ammunition had to be transported to the guns by means of +horses carrying pack saddles, a slow and tedious method, which took a +lot out of men and beasts alike. As yet no decca-ville railways had +been constructed as far as battery positions. Very heavy work thus +fell on those at the wagon lines, who were kept busy most of the day +and night. Although the distance to the gun position was under five +miles there and back, the journey rarely took less than ten hours to +accomplish. If a horse fell down in this sticky mud, heavily laden as +it was, attempts at rescue proved unavailing, except on rare +occasions, even with the aid of drag-ropes, and the unfortunate animal +had to be "dispatched." Was it a sense of humour that prompted those +in authority to send the subalterns, in turn, to the wagon lines for a +"rest"? Anyhow, it was considered anything but that by the poor (p. 036) +unfortunates who went, and right glad they were when the time came +round for their next period of duty with the guns! + +As the weather rapidly became worse, operations came to a standstill, +and all proceeded to dig themselves in for the coming winter. Every +endeavour was made to make our quarters water-proof, as well as +shell-proof, and some attempts at mining were commenced, but the +condition of the ground was all against such an undertaking, and the +work was abandoned. Then whispers spread abroad that we were to be +relieved for a short rest, and, after ten weeks of incessant fighting, +we were withdrawn from the line and marched to a little village named +Hangest, a few miles west of Amiens. There we were glad to find +ourselves installed in billets with a roof covering us once more. A +week of leisure helped greatly to restore our spirits, and again we +set out for the line. Our destination this time was Combles, and we +took over a battery position from the French, who politely made us +acquainted with our new surroundings. Our allies, who had been +fighting side-by-side with us on our right flank throughout the great +battle, were then withdrawn, and the British front was extended to the +south as far as the banks of the River Somme. Evidence was speedily +forthcoming to convince us of the severe nature of the recent fight. +The ground was strewn with wreckage and material of all descriptions, +and many hostile guns were found abandoned or lying where they had +been put out of action by the irresistible dash of the Poilus. + +The country, in this part, was undulating, and better suited to the +concealment of battery positions, and nowhere was the enemy able to +overlook our territory. Our area included the defence of the joint +villages of Sailly-Saillisel, situated on commanding ground, which the +French had recently bravely stormed. Combles, too, which lay in a +basin shaped hollow, was interesting as having been the centre of +supplies for the southern portion of the German Army operating in the +battle, and much booty was discovered in the huge catacombs which ran +underneath the town. + +'Xmas passed in much the same way as in the previous year. A smart +bombardment was carried out in the morning in order to advise the enemy +that anything in the way of fraternising would not be countenanced by us. +At mid-day the men partook of their 'Xmas fare, which had been (p. 037) +fetched from Amiens, and a short service was conducted by the Padre in +one of the gun-pits. A slight disturbance took place at dusk, when the +S.O.S. went up from the front line and all batteries immediately +opened out. It seemed a rather extraordinary occurrence, as the +evening was unusually quiet, and, presently, it was discovered to have +arisen through an error, due to the fact that the enemy had put up a +coloured light in between two ordinary Verey lights which constituted +our own S.O.S. + +About this time the enemy caused considerable annoyance to a certain +Battalion Headquarters, situated in a quarry close behind the lines, +by occasionally dropping a shell right into it, the position having +probably been discovered by his aircraft. Retaliation tactics were +adopted, which consisted of subjecting the hostile trenches to a sharp +half-hour's bombardment from eight batteries, firing a total of 2,000 +rounds. The enemy was well known to be very thick-skinned, but these +measures met with instant success, and it was only necessary to remind +him once again that we were not to be trifled with in this way. + +After the New Year, a severe spell of frost set in, with an occasional +heavy fall of snow, and we were somewhat annoyed when orders came +through to sideslip our position further south, as we had made our +quarters fairly comfortable by this time, and expected to remain +undisturbed throughout the winter. The new position was situated +behind the ruined village of Rancourt, facing St. Pierre Vaast wood, +and was one of the worst and most disagreeable localities it was ever +our lot to occupy, as we were, more or less, water-logged the whole of +our time there. Much difficulty was experienced by both friend and foe +in entering their respective front line, so much so that, by common +consent, sniping by rifle fire was discontinued until parapets were +constructed and made fit for occupation. However, sniping was still +indulged in by the artillery, and no parties of any size were +permitted to go about freely near the front line under observation. +Affairs continued thus until the middle of February, when it became +apparent that something unusual was taking place in enemy territory, +and great explosions were heard, after which volumes of smoke were +seen to rise in large columns. These, as was afterwards proved, were +due to preparations being made by the enemy to evacuate the low-lying +country, into which they had reluctantly been forced, as the result of +the battle of the Somme, prior to falling back upon the great (p. 038) +prepared defences known as the Hindenburg Line. + +Instantly every one was on the alert for further signs of evacuation, +and one morning a patrol reported that the enemy had vacated their +front line. Further patrols were at once pushed out, through St. +Pierre Vaast wood, in order to maintain contact with the retreating +foe. Every precaution had to be taken, as it was soon discovered that +many forms of booby-traps had been cunningly laid by him in his wake, +and progress was necessarily slow. Added to this, there was great +difficulty in manoeuvring the guns over the innumerable trenches +which existed in the neighbourhood, and the pieces sank up to their +axles in the clogging mud, and were only extricated after hours of +labour. The enemy retired slowly and most methodically, destroying +everything of value and wantonly reducing the small villages and +hamlets to mere shells, by means of incendiary bombs. The inhabitants +also were removed beforehand, and, when the troops advanced, they +might have been traversing a wilderness, so complete was the ruin and +desolation on all sides. + +The time had now arrived for the Brigade to have a much-needed rest +and also to refit, so, at the end of March, we were withdrawn from the +contest. Marching westward, we arrived at the village of Morlancourt +in the first week of April, well content at the prospect of returning +to civilization for a protracted period. + +[Illustration: Division from Brigade R.F.A. Guards Division.] + + + + +CHAPTER VI. (p. 039) + +Messines. + + +It was not long before those in authority discovered that the +neighbourhood of Morlancourt was peculiarly favourable for the +carrying out of manoeuvres, with the result that a period of +"intensive training" set in. Drill orders took place four days a week, +and batteries were specially trained in the methods of open warfare, +while many hours were devoted to tactical schemes. + +At this time units were reorganised, all batteries were increased to +six guns, and there was plenty of work to keep everyone busy. The +narrator of these rambling notes, after a period of two years' service +with the Brigade, here transferred his allegiance to the sister +howitzer battery of the Division, known as "The Grey Battery," from +the fact that all the horses were of that colour. Sentiment ran strong +for his "old love" and those he was obliged to leave, but he was +already well acquainted with both officers and men of his new unit, +and soon settled down happily amongst them. + +All guns were carefully calibrated on a range due west of Peronne, and +the "hairies" picked up rapidly in condition, owing to the good care +and attention that was bestowed upon them. The big battles of Vimy +Ridge and Arras were now in full swing, and it seemed unlikely that we +would be called upon to take any part in them so late in the day. + +Many forms of amusement were created for the men, and football +matches, both "rugger" and "soccer," were freely indulged in between +batteries and brigades, while the full regimental band of one of the +Guards' regiments was kindly lent to the Divisional Artillery. It gave +many a fine entertainment in the evenings. + +Time thus sped by at an amazing rate, and various visits of inspection +paid us by officers from the C.R.A. up to the Army Commander made (p. 040) +it very apparent that we were undoubtedly being "fattened up"--but for +what? The question was more than we could answer, but speculations +were rife as to our possible destination, for we knew that the Somme +would see us no more--in the meantime, at all events. + +Six weeks had come and gone, and yet we remained inactive in this +peaceful village; then sudden orders were issued for us to be ready to +entrain at short notice, and, in the second week of May, the Battery +glided out of the station at Meulte prepared for anything. A long and +circuitous route was taken _via_ Amiens, Abbeville, Etaples, Boulogne, +Calais, St. Omer, and at length we arrived at Arques, near which we +remained, in billets, for some considerable time. It was while we were +there that we learnt that it was the intention of the British +Commander to gain possession of the great Messines Ridge, which +towered over our lines, and was a stronghold of inestimable value to +the enemy. + +As long as he held this ridge, which was the keystone of his armies in +Flanders, he was immune from any vulnerable attack on our part, and +was free to launch any offensive operation from it by using it as a +stepping-off place. Added to this, the northern end of the heights +afforded him an uninterrupted view of the southern portion of the +Ypres salient, which was a source of great annoyance to our forces on +that part of the front. It was vital, therefore, for the future +operations of the British Armies, that this important ridge should be +captured and kept in our hands. + +Preparations were accordingly set on foot, and artillery of all +calibre was silently concentrated from all parts, and proceeded to dig +itself in for the coming fray. For a long time this sector had been +free from any serious operations, and was considered a kind of resting +place for exhausted troops, but soon the peace and quiet of the +neighbourhood was to receive a rude awakening, when the tide of battle +broke out upon it once more. + +Proceeding through Hazebrouck and Bailleul, the Brigade arrived at its +wagon lines, a short distance west of Neuve Eglise, and immediately +each battery sent work parties to the scene of action, in order to +construct emplacements and make its position habitable. The spot +allotted to our battery was in a little hollow close to the cut roads, +near the small ruined village of Wulverghen. Our front line was placed +on the top of an undulating rise, with the ridge itself beyond. + +Our principal business was to avoid attracting the attention of (p. 041) +the enemy to our preparations, and in this we were aided by the +fact that there was a considerable amount of cover beside us, in the +form of trees and undergrowth, the foliage of which was now in full +leaf. + +Row upon row of batteries were placed in position behind hedges, or +artificially concealed, the barrels of the pieces peeping out from all +imaginable lurking places. The Divisional Artillery was situated in +the most advanced position, the 18 pr. batteries ranging from within +600 to 1,000 yards of the front line, with the howitzer batteries +immediately behind them. On account of our proximity to the enemy, the +two brigades had orders to remain silent until the day of the show, +and we were only allowed to fire enough rounds to enable us to +carefully register the pieces, and this was completed without giving +away any of the positions. + +All ammunition was conveyed to the guns by night, and was distributed +in small quantities near to them. Before long the enemy became alive +to the fact that we were contemplating some move, and consequently +increased his devastating fire by night, with the result that many +dumps in the vicinity were exploded by him. He was bound to hit +something, the countryside was so packed with all manner of +ammunition. He had no idea, however, of the magnitude of our coming +effort, and firmly believed his position to be impregnable, and that +it was beyond our power to free ourselves from his grip. + +He contented himself with drenching our little valley with chemical +shell whenever conditions were favourable, but so accustomed were the +men to their gas masks that no serious consequences resulted, although +it was distinctly unpleasant to have to pass each night enveloped in +these stuffy contrivances, especially as the weather remained hot and +oppressive. + +The Battery had more than their average share of good fortune +throughout these operations, and it is worthy of putting on record +that the unit did not sustain a single casualty to either man or +horse. This was all the more remarkable as the engineers had +constructed a wide plank road, which passed through the centre of our +position, and could not be concealed from our foes, who lavishly +besprinkled it with shrapnel after dark. Many casualties were caused +to the transport, and the Officers' Mess virtually became an aid-post, +where every assistance was rendered the wounded men. + +Our sister howitzer battery was lined up alongside of us, and, (p. 042) +when the two positions were first inspected, much chaff ensued as to +which had the better place, and the men of our battery were certainly +all of the opinion that, had the selection devolved upon them, we +would unanimously have plumped for the other one. They had no +landmarks likely to attract hostile fire, and thus occasion them the +unpleasant sensation of living on top of a volcano, while we were +slap-bang in the middle of a conspicuous cross road, with a constant +stream of traffic coming and going through: yet, so strange and fickle +are the fortunes of war that, while we escaped unharmed, our comrades +next door suffered a heavy gruelling. + +The preliminary bombardment commenced, and continued throughout five +days, but, in order to deceive the enemy as to our weight of +artillery, not more than fifty per cent. of the guns in the line were +allowed to take part at one time. A row of O.P.'s had been constructed +on Hill 65, which overlooked the valley and town of Messines. A fine +sight was witnessed as that stronghold was gradually reduced to a mere +shell by our heavies, which effected extraordinarily good work in +smashing the elaborate structures of the enemy's defence. + +The preparations were all that could be desired, and everything was +carefully worked out to the minutest detail: not a stone was left +unturned to render the operations a complete success. The labour and +expense was well rewarded too, for surely no battle ever ran so +smoothly from first to last, and it will always be looked back upon by +the British soldier as a model of triumphant organisation. The battle +only lasted a single day, but in that time the formidable network of +trenches was neatly and clearly shorn off, and the enemy, who relied +so much on the security of these positions, found himself suddenly +pushed down the slope into unsuitable ground, where he could no longer +be a menace to us. + +The "feet" of our Division were not in the line, being held in +reserve, and, as it turned out, they were not called upon at all at +this juncture, so well did the course of the battle progress. We were +covering the infantry of an English Division, and, on the evening +previous to the attack, the troops passed us noiselessly and in +perfect order on their way to their various points of assembly. All +were in excellent spirits, which augured well for the next day, and a +feeling of calm confidence appeared to prevail amongst them. A (p. 043) +stream of gas and tear shells was maintained by the foe throughout +the night, but it was mostly directed on the zone which contained the +battery positions, consequently the infantry was caused little +inconvenience. + +Early the following morning, shortly before dawn, the attack was +heralded by the explosion of the mines, which had been in course of +preparation for months beforehand. This was the sign for the guns to +open out, and the assault was launched from north of St. Eloi in the +Salient to the neighbourhood of Ploegsterte in the south, the men +following close in the wake of the now familiar and popular creeping +barrage. + +The force of the explosions was terrific, and the vibration was felt +far and wide; even strong concrete "pill-boxes" were swung to and fro, +and the occupants were tossed from side to side as if they were on +board ship in a rough sea. Some indication of the colossal nature of +these upheavals may be gauged from the fact that the craters were, in +some cases, more than 200 ft. in diameter, and that the earth thrown +up obliterated every hostile trench in the vicinity, completely +burying the unfortunate garrisons who manned them. + +At the same moment the sky was lit up by all manner of S.O.S. lights +and the innumerable flashes from our guns, which were now showing +their maximum strength for the first time. They belched forth +concentrated death, the roar reached such a deafening crescendo that +conversation was entirely out of the question--indeed it was +impossible to hear one's own voice. However, the scene was truly +impressive, and the grandeur was beyond anything hitherto seen. + +As daylight crept in, the infantry were observed to be making rapid +progress, although, here and there, stiff opposition was encountered. +Soon the summit of the ridge was gained, and the men swept on and +disappeared over the crest, leaving the mopping-up parties to complete +their work. The Tanks bravely waddled up after them, in a vain effort +to keep up, for the attacking infantry went so fast, in the first +stages, that they easily outstripped those ponderous giants and left +them far behind. + +Meanwhile the field batteries which had been in position farthest in +the rear, and so were already out of range, limbered up and dashed +into action in front of our Brigade. As soon as the next row was also +out of action, they too galloped past and took up their place (p. 044) +again in "No Man's Land," while the Engineers worked at their highest +pressure to pull down trenches and prepare the way for the gunners. +Thus we were able to give the fullest possible support to the infantry, +and the fire never ceased, while the men always found the creeping +barrage laid down in front of them. + +Early on in the fray prisoners came dribbling back in a more or less +dazed condition, and, as they passed the array of guns, they paused +and gazed in evident wonder at the huge concentration--probably +realising how fortunate they were in escaping the fate of so many of +their comrades. + +Now, the enemy, although he knew an attack was imminent, had failed to +anticipate the correct zero day, with the result that, on several +portions of this front, various reliefs were in process of taking +place at the actual time of the assault. The consequence was his +defence was thrown into a state of confusion, while the extra numbers +in the trench offered a double prey for the bayonets of our men, who +were not slow in seizing the chances thus afforded them. + +The whole of the first objectives were quickly in our possession, as +well as the villages of Messines and Wytscheate, and there was a +slight pause to give a breathing space to the infantry, and to allow +time for the field guns to take up their allotted positions beyond the +recently captured enemy trenches, before entering upon the second and +final stage of the battle. When the creeping barrage, which had +remained stationary during this period, went forward once more, the +infantry encountered stronger opposition, but by this time the Tanks +were well up in support, and were instrumental in breaking up the +machine-gun nests and thus enabling the men to proceed up to schedule +time. + +The enemy lost a number of field artillery pieces, but had taken the +precaution to withdraw most of the heavy ones several days before, +when our bombardment commenced. His shooting, therefore, was rather +wild and erratic, as he evidently had not had sufficient time to +register his guns properly in the new positions. The result was that, +fortunately for us, most of his energy was misplaced, and, for a +battle of this magnitude, the casualties were not as heavy as might +have been expected. + +By early afternoon the final objectives were everywhere in our (p. 045) +hands, and the work of consolidating the fruitful gains that the +last few hours had yielded was immediately begun. + +Several counter-attacks were attempted by the enemy, but were not +pushed with much vigour, and no success was secured in that direction: +our infantry remained firm and could not be dislodged. + +Trenches were swiftly constructed, the work proceeding without +intermission, and by evening the men were, more or less, securely "dug +in," except in a few places where the line was slightly irregular, and +which was afterwards rectified by means of a small operation. + +By the time the battle had finished we found ourselves the farthest +back Brigade in the line, the immense number of batteries which, at +the beginning, had been in our rear were now well in front of us, and +on this sector the Divisional Artillery were the only two Brigades who +did not move forward during the course of the fight. Moreover, by this +time we were firing almost at extreme range close to the enemy's new +front line, which gives some idea of the distance our men covered. + +The day had been an exhausting one for the gunners, and, in order to +give some indication of the work and labour they had been called upon +to do, our battery alone fired over 4000 rounds of ammunition. This +was by no means a bad performance when one takes into consideration +that each shell weighs 35 lbs., and necessitated a goodly amount of +manhandling, but the men all had their "peckers well up," and +displayed much determination throughout. + +For a few days following the battle there were a number of small +isolated scraps for positions, and one or two enemy counter-attacks, +before the new front settled down into something like normal +conditions again. Decca-ville and light railways were pushed up +smartly by the R.O.D., and the Engineers constructed new roads, while +Labour Battalions were busily employed repairing the old ones and +clearing up the litter of the battlefield. + +Ever since we came into action it had been no secret that our stay in +this area would be of short duration, and that we were only to be +employed in the battle itself, and were only to remain as long as our +services were really required. It was no surprise when, five days (p. 046) +later, orders came through for us to withdraw from the line. We pulled +out back to our wagon line, and from there proceeded through Bailleul +to the little hamlet of Borre, a few miles east of Hazebrouck, where +we remained pending removal to our next destination. We all had the +feeling that our recent tour had been a great success, and were well +satisfied with the part we had taken in the operations, for this was +the first occasion on which we had witnessed a battle go smoothly, +without a hitch from start to finish, and was a great contrast to any +previous one in which we had participated. + +A few days in rest sufficed to put the Brigade shipshape once more, +and we were now ready for the next bout. No delay was made in +transferring us to another neighbourhood, and we set out in a +northerly direction, which boded little good, for we knew that +unpleasant events were developing in that quarter. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. (p. 047) + +Ypres Again. + + +In the middle of June the Division arrived in the neighbourhood of +Ypres, and at once took over from the Belgians from just below +Boesinghe northwards. We were thus back on familiar ground, as we had +occupied the next sector to the south in the previous year. Although +we were not actually in the Salient itself, we were situated at the +northern re-entrant to it. The Yser Canal constituted "No Man's Land," +the eastern bank of which was held by the enemy and the western by +ourselves. + +The battery positions on this occasion were placed a considerable +distance behind, mainly around the village of Elverdinghe, as the +enemy had close observation and overlooked us from Pilkem Ridge. We +did not take long to discover that our opponents were well acquainted +with the situation of our new homes, for the majority of the batteries +were subjected at once to an avalanche of shells as soon as they +opened fire in order to register the guns. It became imperative for us +to build alternative positions or go elsewhere, while other sections +moved forward and undertook most of the firing. We had not been +settled more than a few days when the enemy suddenly conceived a +violent attraction for the house occupied by the officers' mess, and, +after several direct hits had been made on it, we decided that the +place was becoming too hot, and searched round for a more suitable +abode. We packed up, made a hasty flight, and secured accommodation in +a house which was strengthened by concrete, but even there we had to +be wary, especially at night, for we were very close to a road fork, +beloved by the enemy gunners. + +The majority of the O.P.'s were also obvious to the keen eyes of the +foe, who paid them much attention on every possible occasion, and it +was just as well for the occupants that they had been strongly (p. 048) +constructed with steel girders and concrete. On one occasion an +officer, doing a night O.P. duty, along with his telephonist, was +subjected to a full hour's bombardment by two hostile batteries, which +fired salvoes regularly every minute. Next morning there was nothing +left of the house except the skeleton, with the O.P. structure +standing out defiant in bold relief in the midst of it. + +These then were the conditions on this sector at the time of our +taking it over, and it will be seen that the enemy did more or less +what he chose, and was undoubtedly top dog as far as gunnery was +concerned. However, this was not to remain long so, as almost +immediately preparations were set on foot for the coming offensive, +which had already been decided upon. + +A host of new O.P.'s were erected, new roads and light railways +constructed, while large working parties prepared fresh gun pits in +advanced positions, and all were carefully camouflaged where they were +exposed to enemy view. Every day new units arrived, and the country +appeared to be overrun with troops. Most of the forward work had to be +done during the night, and, as each position was completed, the guns +were silently concentrated. While this was in progress, the Divisional +Artillery only were maintained for the defence of the line, as it was +not advisable that the enemy should know until the last possible +moment that anything unusual was afoot. The scheme was a much more +ambitious one than that in which we had recently taken a part, and, if +everything went forward according to plan, it meant that we would be +on the go for a considerable time, and there even appeared to be a +chance of getting a taste of the long-talked-of open warfare. + +About this time a most amusing episode was witnessed by one of our +Subalterns who was doing a liaison with the infantry at a battalion +headquarters. This place was situated most unpleasantly, and was well +known to the enemy, consequently accommodation had to be sought +underground as much as possible. While the F.O.O. and his companion, +the Intelligence Officer, were performing their ablutions early one +morning outside the mouth of the cellar, a Brigadier with his Staff +suddenly appeared on the scene to pay a visit to the Commander. The +two Staff Officers remained outside, and opened conversation with (p. 049) +them. The Intelligence Officer, being something of a wag, brandished +his shaving brush in one hand and with the other jocularly shoved the +Staff Captain down the steps into their retreat, and asked him what he +thought of the bedchamber. The other officer, although much amused, +stood aghast, and, after the visitors had departed, he asked his +companion to whom he had been speaking. He replied that he did not +know, for, although the Captain's features appeared familiar, he could +not "place" him, though he was a jolly sort of chap anyhow. On being +told that it was none other than the Prince of Wales that he had been +familiarly digging in the ribs for the past quarter of an hour, he was +incredulous, and exclaimed, "And to think I nearly killed the +youngster down these stairs!" + +At length preparations were completed, and the two Brigades of the +Divisional Artillery took up new advanced positions alongside the +reinforcing batteries already in line, while the heavies were thickly +aligned close in the rear. The preliminary bombardment broke out about +the middle of July, and at first it was keenly resented by the enemy, +who perceived that we were gradually wrestling the initiative from +him, but when, day after day, our fire continued unabated, he +apparently resigned himself to his fate. Hurricane shoots by field +batteries soon began to make a difference in the appearance of his +trenches, and the heavies, by means of aerial registration, demolished +his strongholds far back over the crest, and destroyed many of his +battery positions. Several thick woods were facing us across the +canal, and these grew thinner, and yet more thin, disclosing cunningly +concealed pill-boxes, which were then dealt with by the heavies, until +at last only a few stumps remained to indicate that a wood had ever +existed there. The enemy's alarm grew daily, and soon our aeroplanes +reported that the hostile batteries were being withdrawn further out +of danger, and that work was proceeding feverishly upon new defences +far behind his lines. By this time we had complete control of the air, +and the heavens were alive with our aircraft, though the enemy tried +his best to equalise matters by bringing along his famous "travelling +circus" to the scene of action, and many thrilling fights were +witnessed. The batteries were subjected to much chemical shelling +during the night, and the enemy were known to bring forward special +guns under cover of darkness for this purpose, and to withdraw (p. 050) +them out of range again before daybreak. + +It was during this period that he introduced the new mustard gas for +the first time, and it must be admitted that he surprised and +inflicted considerable casualties on us at first by this latest +specimen in his assortment of poison. + +Our initial attack had to be postponed for several days, as the +French, who came in immediately on our left, were delayed in putting +in their appearance, consequently they had many hours' bombardment to +make up, but, when it did commence, it was no uncertain one, and the +noise was terrific. In the meantime our bombardment was continued +also, though in a lesser degree, and the destruction of the enemy's +lines was, as far as we were able to judge, thorough and complete. + +This delay proved a blessing in disguise to the Guards, who were to +deliver the assault on our sector. The problem of effecting a crossing +of the canal was a most serious and difficult one, and it had been +arranged to send the men over on floating mats, as a good deal of +water still remained in parts of the bed. In others so much mud and +slime were encountered, while carrying out a series of raids, that it +was almost impossible to cross without some such assistance, and it +will be readily understood that it was imperative to waste no time in +this manoeuvre, especially as the foe was awaiting them on the further +bank. Whether it was that the enemy could not maintain communications +between his front line and the rear, on account of our intense +bombardment, or whether, as has been suggested, he suspected a +repetition of Messines, and that we had mined underneath the canal +bed, at all events three days before the attack he evacuated the canal +bank and retired just over the crest of the hill some 800 yards +beyond. This movement, however, had not been carried out unperceived +by our valiant airmen, who, flying at a low altitude, returned and +reported the situation. Immediately strong patrols crossed the canal +and pushed up the slope on the other side, in order to remain in +contact with the enemy and gauge his whereabouts. A series of posts +were thus established 500 to 600 yards east of the canal, and orders +were given to hold them at all costs, so that on the day of the battle +our infantry could start off from there without having any serious +obstacle in their way. Many men crossed the canal by means of hastily +constructed foot bridges or floating rafts made of biscuit and petrol +tins ingeniously lashed together. + +On this occasion we will follow the fortunes of the F.O.O.'s (p. 051) +detailed to accompany the infantry on their journey over the top on +the first day of the battle. The party consisted of two officers and +fourteen signallers and linesmen from the Brigade, who, during the +past fortnight, had received full instructions as to their duties. +Every detail had been carefully worked out beforehand: the men had +been divided into several groups, each armed with telephones, reels of +wire, flags, and Lucas lamps, all these things being necessary for the +provision of each relay station. One of the officers was to accompany +the attacking waves of infantry with his staff, consisting of a +telephonist, linesman, and signaller, while the duty of the other was +to work in conjunction with him and to maintain, as far as possible, +uninterrupted communication with the Brigade after laying down the +wire. The morning before the battle, the wire was laid out over the +canal as far as the series of outposts, in order to save time on the +following day. The same evening, at sunset, the party set out, after +receiving wishes for the best of good luck from those who had been +fortunate enough to escape being detailed for this arduous task. +Officers and men proceeded to their appointed places in the front +line, or rather in what had once been an enemy support trench, though +now it was scarcely recognisable as such, owing to the effects of our +bombardment, there to remain for the night and await coming events. + +Now, in consequence of the enemy's premature retirement over the +crest, he lost most of his observation on us, but he was aware we had +effected a crossing and held posts on his side of the canal. He +therefore lavishly besprinkled this area with all manner of high +explosive shells--one here, one there: never two in the same +place--and the members of the party began to wonder whether they would +survive to witness the fortunes of the battle. It always appears to be +a matter of conjecture as to what are the real feelings of an F.O.O. +about to take the plunge, so perhaps it might be of interest in this +case to acquaint ourselves with them. As he lies out there with his +men, where are his thoughts? Are they of his home, his parents, wife, +or children? Will he ever see their dear faces again? No--! all that +agony has been fought out over and over again long ago, during the +previous fortnight or so, since he has been detailed for this +particular job. Then, what does he think about? If the truth be told, +he is rapidly running over in his mind all the little things which +may perhaps, at the last moment, have been omitted or forgotten. (p. 052) +He questions Gunner "So-and-so" to make certain that that extra piece +of wire has been brought along, and asks what the h--l Gunner +"Somebody else" is doing standing there without a "tin-hat" on, and +enquires of the Bombardier if he has adjusted the Lucas lamp properly, +which has been giving some trouble previously. These and a +hundred-and-one other such questions flash through his brain as he +lies on the ground with his little party, all vigorously puffing pipes +or cigarettes. The hours go by very slowly, and conversation on any +old topic is attempted from time to time, sleep being entirely out of +the question, as everyone is much too excited for anything of that +nature. Meanwhile the bombardment continues without intermission, and +the night becomes intensely cold and eerie. Will the darkness never +pass and let us get started on the job? + +Soon after midnight the infantry, who are to make the assault, arrive +at their places of assembly, full of quips and jests, a sure sign that +they are cheery and in good form for the coming fray. Rum is served +out, and the men lie down in little bunches, either to snatch a few +minutes' sleep or else to resume their constant arguments and +bickerings on every subject under the sun except anything connected +with the war. Zero hour at last draws near, and everyone grows more +restless, for this period is much the most trying time to endure, and +all topics of conversation have long since been exhausted. Then a +short, sharp order passes down the line, and the answering shouts +announce that all are present and ready--the "quarter to zero" has +arrived. Another crisp order comes along, and there are a series of +ominous clicks as each man adjusts his bayonet to the rifle, then the +men line up in perfect extended order, ready for the word to go. A +faint grey appears in the sky to the east, but only the next man is +visible to his neighbour, as the darkness is still upon us. The +F.O.O.'s and party are also up and ready, final instructions being +rapidly given to the signallers, who nod assent that everything is +prepared and understood. Then suddenly the guns bark out afresh, and a +creeping barrage drops down like a curtain in front of the men, who +follow after it at an easy walk. Fortune attends the little party, as +the wire has only been cut in three places, and these are speedily +repaired; and, as soon as the second wave of men is clear of the +trench, the line is laid out as rapidly as possible behind them. The +ground is difficult to traverse, being full of deep craters, so (p. 053) +the party progresses more slowly than the infantry, and presently +the third wave gains on and passes it by. At first the enemy puts down +a nasty barrage, just beyond our stepping-off place, but most of his +heavy stuff falls on the canal bank, and, as the majority of the +troops have already crossed, the damage is not severe. By this time +the party has gained the top of the crest, and, after establishing a +relay station in a pill-box lately occupied by their opponents, the +remainder proceed on their way. Many are the temptations to dawdle, +instead of getting on with the work, so much of interest is taking +place around them, including the amusing, and at that time not too +frequent, sight of scores of the enemy, with uplifted hands, emerging +from pill boxes, where they must have been packed like sardines. + +An auxiliary wire tapped into the main F.O.O. line is led to another +pill-box, now to be used as a new infantry headquarters for the time +being, and the party comes under the fire of a hostile machine gun +emplacement, which necessitates their lying in a shell-hole for a +while. On arrival there, the "mopping up" party is found still at +work, but it soon completes its grim task. The officer who has +proceeded with the infantry now sends his first message through to the +effect that the first objectives are taken, the wire fortunately +holding out well at the moment, every sound being clear and distinct. +The Lucas lamp is then fixed on top of the relay station, and +communications established in case the wire goes, but the morning +dawns in mist, and signalling by this method is unsatisfactory. + +After a short pause, the infantry proceed on the second stage of their +adventure, the F.O.O. and party following up and laying out wire close +behind them. More messages are sent through to Brigade, and the wire +breaks on several occasions, but is speedily dealt with by the +linesmen, who are kept busy patrolling up and down the line. +Meanwhile, items of extreme interest are taking place around the +pill-pox of the Central Relay Station. Numerous batches of prisoners +are drifting back, for the most part unattended, composed entirely of +youths of nineteen and twenty years of age, the Guards having refused +to kill these babies, only "despatching" the older men, for the +Division up against them was very mixed, and may best be described as +a "dud" lot, and it did not put up much of a fight. The lads all look +weary and mud-stained, although there is an expression of relief (p. 054) +on their faces, as they steadily munch the bread that has been +good-naturedly handed to them by their captors, for they have been +starving for the past three days or so, no food having reached them on +account of the terrific bombardment. An aid-post is hastily placed in +a huge shell-hole close by, and the wounded straggle back; those who +are but slightly hit and can walk help each other along, while the +others are carried on stretchers. Here, a man, ghastly wounded, minus +one leg and with the other almost severed, lies on a stretcher, calmly +puffing at a cigarette given him by the bearers, and attempts to raise +himself on his elbow that he may gaze at the curious scenes taking +place around him. Others just stagger along, their pinched faces +showing signs of suppressed pain, yet all have a quip or a jest on +their lips as they smoke the inevitable cigarette. The sight is truly +a wonderful one! The courage and calm that these wounded display in +the midst of their sufferings is beyond words, but they are +"Greatheart's all." Reinforcements are passing all this time on their +way up to the battle line, ready to throw themselves into the conflict +when their time arrives. + +Again the infantry move forward to the third and final objective, +under cover of the friendly barrage, and, by the time they arrive at +their allotted destination, an advance of some three miles from the +canal bank has been effected since morning. The wire is linked up, and +the F.O.O. selects a good point of vantage, and makes himself and his +staff as comfortable as possible, and then proceeds to gather as much +information as he can obtain to send back over the line. The infantry +are now busy digging themselves in, and are being subjected to heavy +shell-fire, but they stubbornly resist all efforts to dislodge them. +By this time the batteries have all limbered up and advanced to new +positions, mostly out in the open, and an order comes over the +telephone from the B.C.'s for the F.O.O. to register the guns afresh: +so he at once picks up some dependable landmark, and with much +difficulty observes the rounds as they fall, and thus gives the +necessary corrections. + +Then the wires break on account of the shelling, and some time is lost +before communications are again established. The enemy has now +recovered somewhat from the initial shock of the attack, and displays +much determination to recover lost ground--counter attacks are +launched without success. The F.O.O. now has an important message to +convey, but, when the telephonist endeavours to send it through, (p. 055) +there is no answering buzz. Thereupon the linesman is despatched as a +runner, and, on reaching the first relay station, he transfers the +written message to another linesman, who immediately sets out for the +next relief, and so on, until the message duly arrives at +headquarters. + +Thus the day wears on: sometimes direct communication is possible, and +at others the wire is "dished," but, on the whole, a good deal of +information is passed through. The relay posts are constantly shelled, +and the bombardier in charge is wounded, while one runner was killed +in his gallant endeavour to pass through a heavy barrage with an +important communication. In the evening the party, much exhausted with +the strenuous and never ending work of the day, is relieved by a fresh +group of officers and signallers, who take over from them, and the +little party wind their way homewards profoundly thankful to find +themselves back with their unit safe and sound. + +The situation, at the end of the opening day of the battle, was +roughly this:--In the north all had gone well, and most of the +objectives aimed at were successfully taken, but, such stiff +resistance was met with further south, that the assaulting troops were +held up after they had gained only about half of those allotted to +them, and, although they fought stubbornly and determinedly, they were +unable to make further ground. Thus the left wing was forced to mark +time while the troops on the right made a series of attacks in order +to straighten out the line, otherwise the army to the north would have +found itself enclosed in a nasty salient. The artillery, over the +whole battle front, also encountered great difficulty in advancing the +guns, the ground was so ploughed up by the effects of the long +preliminary bombardment. Even the horse gunners, who were detailed to +move up in immediate support of the infantry, were unable to proceed +further than a few hundred yards on the other side of the canal. Huge +craters, placed lip to lip, met them in all directions, and an advance +was found to be out of the question till new tracks were prepared and +the road cleared of debris. This naturally took some time to +accomplish, and, meanwhile, all the field batteries were advanced as +close to the canal bank as possible, but even then they were much too +far behind, and were firing at almost extreme range. + +No serious attack could be delivered, therefore, for some ten (p. 056) +days, until sufficient time had elapsed to enable the gunners to +occupy new positions some way across the canal, and, on this occasion, +Langemarke fell into our hands, as well as the line of the Broombeke. +Progress remained slow further south, consequently our front became +stationary. Now, it so happened that most of our batteries were in +extremely awkward positions, as we had expected to be moved forward at +any time. They were right out in the open, devoid of any cover, and, +for the most part, placed in shell holes which had been hastily +converted into pits. Here we were subjected to the most "gruelling" +time that was ever our lot to endure, and the battle developed into a +gigantic duel between batteries, in which our position was no worse +than the others. We lived in shell holes, scantily covered with +corrugated iron and a layer or two of sand-bags, scarcely splinter +proof, nor had we any means of making ourselves more secure. The +enemy's heavy counter batteries swept and searched over the slope +where the majority of our batteries were congregated, and never before +or after were they seen to reach such a pitch of efficiency. + +Never a day passed without casualties, and often a number of gunners +were buried as the result of an explosion, and had to be hastily dug +out, and early on we lost one of our subaltern officers, who was borne +away to the dressing station with no less than a dozen wounds on him. +It was with great difficulty that the battery was kept in action +sometimes, and, though we soon shifted our position to a flank, this +did not relieve the situation. A 60 pdr. battery not far behind us +developed the fatal habit of becoming particularly active during +"flash time," and, as its flash was notoriously conspicuous, it was +not surprising that its location was promptly pin-pointed by the +enemy, who proceeded to knock it out: and this they succeeded in doing +without much delay. During this particular contest we always got the +short rounds, and, as they were not peas that were coming over, but 8" +and 11" shells, the atmosphere was unpleasant, to say the least of it! + +We considered ourselves lucky if we could keep 50 per cent. of the +guns in action at the same time, while every nerve was strained to dig +out the remainder, and it was a very heartless job, as a gun had no +sooner been recovered and set up in position than it was knocked (p. 057) +out again almost immediately. One morning, after a wild night of +shelling by the enemy, on going to ascertain the damage, we found one +gun with its barrel buried deep in the ground, the trail standing +perpendicular pointing towards the sky; another completely turned over +on its back pointing in the opposite direction, while a third had been +blown right out of the shell hole in which it had been placed, and +hurled a considerable distance away. Casualties to our establishment +mounted at a most alarming rate, and one night our B.C. was mortally +wounded by a high explosive shell, and, although such assistance as it +was possible to give was rendered, he did not survive long after +reaching the casualty clearing station. His loss was much felt, not +only by reason of his own cheerful personality, but also on account of +the way in which he inspired all those under him to do their utmost, +especially in times of stress and danger, when he always proved +himself a true leader. The Captain now succeeded to the command of the +battery, and the Senior Subaltern became second-in-command. It soon +became evident that we could not carry on much longer under these +conditions, and in the last week of September we were pulled out to +refit, and remained near the village of Herszeele for a few days +before again entering the fray. + +Meanwhile a subaltern with a working party was busily occupied +preparing new emplacements for our reception, and on the day of their +completion he was wounded while riding his bicycle back to his billet: +thus we lost yet another officer. But, try as we would, it was +impossible to escape the vigilant eye of the enemy, who engaged +battery positions one after another, and the number of guns knocked +out was prodigious. Through a lucky chance it had been decided to take +the guns "in" at dawn, instead of during the night, and by reason of +this we escaped a most violent hostile bombardment which was directed +against the position, and which damaged at least two of the pits and +completely destroyed several dug-outs which the work party had +recently striven so hard to build. We set to work and repaired most of +the damage, and, whether or not it was the enemy thought he had +disposed of us thereby, at all events he did not repeat the +performance beyond subjecting us to the ordinary night harassing fire. + +Another attack was impending, which again necessitated the forward (p. 058) +movement of all batteries, and this time we were more fortunate in the +selection of a site, and had several German pill-boxes in which to +live and take refuge. Owing to the congestion on the one and only good +road in the neighbourhood and the hostile shelling thereof, it was a +matter of luck to find ourselves safely installed behind Abri Wood, +and we immediately set out preparing for the new fight. Unfortunately, +the weather again came to the assistance of our foe, and a spell of +rain and wind made conditions extremely difficult for both infantry +and gunners. However, the battle was proceeded with, and the result +was an advance over the mud and slime of the river Broombeke as far as +the outskirts of Houthoulst Forest, a distance of about two miles; our +French allies, on the left, keeping in step with us throughout this +operation. Then the inevitable forward move of the batteries was +resumed, and this time we occupied positions down the further slope of +the hill immediately across the rivulet of the Steenbeke. In +consequence of torrents of rain, which continued daily, the low-lying +ground became flooded, and it was all we could do to prevent the guns +sinking in the sodden earth, and they frequently disappeared in the +mud up to their axles. Dry accommodation was nowhere to be found +except in a great pill-box, which we added to and strengthened, and it +was popularly called the "Rabbit Hutch," for the obvious reason that +it held the majority of the four batteries of the Brigade. + +Now, our last attack had advanced us considerably further than the men +on the right, who throughout the past month had encountered very stiff +opposition, so we had perforce to remain stationary and mark time, +while the battle continued to the south. On several occasions we +rendered assistance by putting up what is commonly known as a "Chinese +barrage," _i.e._, the artillery carries out the ordinary programme +preceding an attack, but no action follows on the part of the +infantry. Conditions were equally disagreeable at the wagon lines, +which speedily developed into quagmires, and it was almost impossible +to walk about the lines unless attired in waders, and, even then, +there was always the possibility of completely disappearing in the +mud. Over and above that, the wagon lines were subjected every now and +then to the attentions of a high velocity gun, as well as frequent (p. 059) +visits from hostile night bombing machines, which were following the +example set by our airmen and were endeavouring to pay us back in our +own coin. Much damage was done in and around the neighbourhood, but +our lines escaped exceedingly lightly. The question of ammunition +supply became acute, and the use of pack saddles was again +necessitated, and, because of the great distance between wagon lines +and gun position, the round journey sometimes took eighteen hours to +accomplish, and naturally the strain eventually told greatly upon both +men and horses. + +The battery positions were not long in being located by the enemy, who +expended great quantities of ammunition in his attempts to destroy +them: and he made much use of chemical and mustard shell, which in +time saturated the low-lying ground on which the guns were placed. In +this way he effectively gassed the B.C., a subaltern, and several of +the men, who were all despatched to the wagon line, and the Captain +assumed command for the time being and brought up reliefs with him. By +this time the Battery was again in a very bad way, and a rest was +promised on several occasions, only to be held up time and again with +the exhortation to hold out yet a little while longer. Winter was +rapidly approaching, and it was necessary to adjust our line before +fighting came to a standstill: and a considerable distance had yet to +be traversed before the goal--Passchendaele and the ridge on which it +was situated--could be reached. + +The battery, meanwhile, waited on in patience. All the remaining +officers were affected by the mustard gas, as well as the majority of +the gunners, and a sorry sight we presented when, in the first week in +November, an incoming battery took over from us. We then proceeded to +the new wagon lines, near Proven, in an utterly exhausted condition. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. (p. 060) + +Cambrai. + + +Everyone thought that our long-expected rest was now forthcoming, so +it was a great surprise when we were ordered to hold ourselves in +readiness for a long march. + +What did it all mean? Were we marching into our new area and having +our rest there or were we to be pitchforked into another scrap? + +No indication of our destination was given, and everything seemed most +mysterious: and, when the Brigade arrived in the neighbourhood of +Merville, there did not appear to be any sign of a definite halt. At +all events the journey was being performed in easy stages, as if we +were filling in time, and we were always making further south, till, +passing behind Bethune, the vicinity of Arras was reached. Here news +of the surprise attack at Cambrai first reached our ears, the secret +of which had been kept so well, and, heading in the direction of +Bapaume, we were acquainted with the fact that we were again "for it." + +Now, the initial attack, which came as a complete surprise to the +enemy, had met with instant success, and, with the aid of a +considerable number of Tanks, the great Hindenburg line had been +breeched over a distance of from 6 to 8 miles, with the result that +the fall of Cambrai a centre of great importance to the Germans +appeared imminent. + +However, after the first couple of days, the attack was not pressed +home as it might have been, for some reason or other, and the fight +came to an abrupt standstill, leaving our troops in a particularly +baggy salient. These were the conditions that prevailed when the +Division gradually moved nearer the scene of action. + +In the beginning of the fourth week of November, we entered the +battle, taking over from a famous Scottish Division which had fought +with great distinction on the opening days. + +The battery was placed in action to the north of Flesquieres, (p. 061) +well inside the salient facing Bourlon Wood, in a position only +recently completed by the enemy and which had not even been occupied +by him. There was plenty of accommodation for everyone in the deep +mined dug-outs prepared by him some thirty to forty feet below the +ground, and the officers' quarters were spacious and lavishly +constructed. + +From this point the domes and the spires of the city of Cambrai could +be clearly distinguished; indeed, they appeared such a short distance +away, it looked as if a saunter would carry us into the heart of the +town. + +It was most interesting and instructive studying the elaborate system +of the Hindenburg defences. First, there were three separate belts of +closely-entwined barbed wire, each being some thirty yards wide, and +behind them came a deep, narrow forefield trench that was only +intended to be lightly manned. Communication trenches led back to the +main Hindenburg trench some distance behind, in most cases being out +of immediate view from our lately occupied positions. + +This trench was both deep and wide, being some twelve feet across and +duck-boarded throughout, raised on wooden stakes to prevent the water +reaching the level of the pathway. At short intervals shafts led down +to the spacious dug-outs beneath, which were all connected and linked +up with one another. In fact, practically speaking, one could walk +from one end of the line to the other below the surface of the ground. + +Skilfully concealed, at frequent intervals, were emplacements for both +trench-mortars and machine-guns, all heavily concreted and covered on +top with turf. + +The enemy must have thought himself very secure in this vast +stronghold, but in a way this very fact contributed, in a great +measure, to his undoing; for, it is common knowledge that the more one +frequents deep dug-outs the less inclination there is to emerge from +them when a scrap is taking place. + +Finally, some 500 yards in the rear, a support line ran along, which, +though not constructed with the same strength, was formidable enough +in itself. + +To judge by the indescribable mess, and by the mass of material left +littered about, the enemy must indeed have beat a hasty retreat. The +dug-outs were filthy to the last degree, and there was no sign of any +system of sanitation having been used by these people, who (p. 062) +considered their "Kultur" to be superlative, and who desired to impose +it on the rest of mankind. All through the campaign, whenever one had +the opportunity of inspecting hostile trenches and billets, one always +found the same thing, filth and lack of sanitation. + +Now, for some little time our hold on Bourlon Wood had been +precarious, so a further attack was initiated, and the Guards went in +to straighten the line. They swept through the Wood, taking the +villages of Bourlon and Fontaine, but a gigantic counter attack +pressed them back again owing to reinforcements being late in arriving +to render assistance. They were so badly mauled and cut up that it was +necessary to withdraw them from the line to refit, and infantry from +an "Old Contemptible" Division took their place. Bourlon Wood became +so saturated with gas that, after a great tussle, neither side was +able to tenant it any longer, and so withdrew, leaving a screen of +outposts to prevent any surprise attack. + +This was the situation when dawn broke on the 30th of November, a day +which proved to be one of ups and downs for us, and caused many +misgivings to arise in the old country. The object of the enemy was to +pinch either side of the jaws, and, if his attack on the north had met +with equal success with that on the south, there would have been +little hope for the troops in the salient, who undoubtedly would have +been surrounded and cut off. However, as events turned out, our men +held out and remained firm. Moreover, it was afterwards discovered +from captured documents that the enemy's scheme was a large and +ambitious one. Not only was it his intention to retake the whole of +our recent gains, but to press on further through Havrincourt Wood, +and establish himself on a line beyond it. + +The Germans employed the same tactics as we used on the opening day of +the battle--there was no preliminary bombardment, and their troops +advanced under cover of a heavy mist and preceded by a creeping +barrage. They put an overwhelming number of troops into the fight, the +odds against our men being something like three to one, but our +infantry in the north fought valiantly, although they were forced to +give ground step by step in the initial stages. As the day wore on and +the mist rose, we were able to see the hostile infantry advancing in +masses, but they were paying a heavy toll at the hands of our machine +gunners, who cut many a line in their ranks. + +The situation became tense when the enemy succeeded in driving (p. 063) +our men across the Bapaume-Cambrai road, and were seen to be +approaching Anneux and Graincourt. The 18 prs. batteries which were +lying alongside of us dragged their guns out of their pits on to the +crest in front, and proceeded to rake the enemy, firing as rapidly as +they were able, through open sights, the gunners stripped to the +waist, toiling and sweating in their endeavour to stop the oncoming +tide. The fight swayed backward and forward throughout the whole day, +but finally the enemy was held in check without gaining further +ground, and he incurred very heavy casualties. + +In the south the situation was very obscure, and somehow or other the +enemy broke a gap in the defences between La Vacquerie and +Gouzeaucourt, capturing the latter place as well as the village of +Gonnelieu, and commenced streaming through. He had advanced a +considerable distance before the importance of his move was fully +realised, consequently most extraordinary incidents occurred, stories +of which are now familiar to everyone. Battery positions were rapidly +overrun, and even wagon lines were captured, while Labour companies, +working on the roads far behind the front, on looking up, discovered +the foe almost on top of them. + +There were no reserves in immediate support, and affairs were taking +on a most serious complexion. Something had to be done and that right +speedily! Therefore the Guards, who had only two days previously been +withdrawn from the fight, were again called upon. They were lying in +rest around Bertincourt, Ytres and Ruyaulcourt, and were hurriedly +conveyed in 'buses and motor lorries to Metz, where they formed up and +set out on their big counter-attack, supported by our sister Brigade +and another gunner unit which chanced to have been pulled out on the +previous night. Now, the enemy troops appeared to be as much surprised +at their success as we were, and continued advancing in a bewildered +kind of fashion, astonished at the little or entire lack of opposition +with which they met. Suddenly, however, they came face to face with +the full strength of the best disciplined troops in the world, +whereupon they paused, staggered, and at length commenced to fall +back, in confusion and disorder, with the result that the day was +saved just in the nick of time, and most of the ground was recovered, +in addition to some 50 guns. + +Meanwhile the wagon lines were situated in the village of (p. 064) +Ribecourt, right inside the salient, and, although it was known that a +scrap was taking place, no one had any idea as to its stupendous +nature. The fact that the village lay in a valley, surrounded by +hills, prevented much noise of the conflict reaching those in it. +However, shortly after breakfast, it became apparent that something +was amiss, and the place became subjected to a heavy bombardment. The +horses and vehicles were evacuated as quickly as possible, without +suffering undue casualties, and collected on the hillside a short +distance away, facing Bourlon Wood, where they "stood to" awaiting +further orders. + +Hostile aeroplanes put in an appearance, flying daringly low hither +and thither across the salient, endeavouring to pick up as much +information as possible, and sometimes dropping bombs. Many a tussle +took place between them and our airmen, who did not allow them +undisputed sway for long. + +At noon instructions came through to be prepared to withdraw the guns +at any moment, but in the end this was found unnecessary. Even at this +time we were unaware that the enemy had penetrated our line to the +south, and the first indication we had that something unusual was +taking place, was the arrival of some reinforcements, who hurried +along the top of the hillside behind us, and took up positions facing +in the opposite direction! A short time elapsed, and then we were +astonished and horrified to see a creeping barrage roll along, top the +crest, and gradually draw nearer us from the rear. Fortunately, it +stopped before actually reaching us, for by this time the enemy had +attained his furthest point of penetration, and the counter attack had +already been launched. Throughout the rest of the day the wagon line +"stood to" ready for any emergency, and at dusk the limbers were sent +up to the position, and the guns were withdrawn the same night and +placed in action in the railway cutting immediately behind the ridge +to the south of Flesquieres. + +It became evident, after the experiences of the previous day, that, as +long as we remained in this awkward salient, we would undoubtedly be +exposed to further attacks at the hands of the enemy. The Germans +meanwhile had concentrated huge forces in the vicinity, so a +continuation of our advance was now out of the question, and a +modification of our front was decided upon. The infantry (p. 065) +constructed a new line running north of Flesquieres Ridge, and, as +soon as it was completed, our troops fell back on it under cover of +darkness, unperceived and therefore unmolested by the enemy, who only +made the discovery on the following day, and then cautiously followed +up until they came in contact with us once more. The salient presented +a curious aspect at night to those inside it, and we seemed to be +almost surrounded by Verey lights, as indeed we were, except where the +narrow neck led out towards Metz. + +The enemy did not, as was expected, attempt any further operations on +a large scale, but contented himself with making things very +uncomfortable for us. In spite of our withdrawal, the line was still +saggy to a large extent, and he could bring his guns to bear on any +part of the salient and enfilade it. He also paid much attention to +bombing, and his planes came over at dawn and dusk and caused a good +deal of damage. The wagon lines came in for their share of +unpleasantness, and in the course of a fortnight we were forced to +quit no less than three positions in turn. The battery was specially +handicapped by the colour of its horses, and was evidently easily +spotted by hostile aircraft, for we had more than our share of ill +fortune at this period. To take the worst case that befell us, one +night the wagon line lost 35 horses. A covey of enemy planes had been +over at daybreak, and apparently made a mental note of our location, +as they returned the same evening and dropped several bombs, though, +strange to say, no damage was effected. However, towards midnight, a +4.2 battery suddenly opened fire with instantaneous fuse action, and +many casualties were inflicted before the horses could be removed, +owing to difficulties in the pitch darkness. + +The most wonderful fact in the whole proceedings was that, although +there was little or no cover for the men, who were ensconced in +bivouacs, except a few who were in an old disused trench close by, +only a couple of them were hit. The officers were rudely awakened by +large splinters entering their tent, and only just missing their heads +as they lay on their valises, while the sergeants had a most +miraculous escape. They had formed a Mess in a bay of the trench, the +sides supported and heightened by some of the Q.M.S.'s stores, and +covered on top by a large tarpaulin. A shell dropped practically on +top of them, fortunately detonating instantly against several (p. 066) +boxes of iron rations, which undoubtedly contributed to saving their +lives. An officer arrived on the scene immediately afterwards, and +found them all lying unconscious as the result of the explosion, but +they soon revived and took a stout part in rescuing the horses. The +construction was completely wrecked, and the clothes they wore were +stripped into ribbons, but only one of them had a scratch on him. + +No delay was made in attending to the wounded horses, and in conveying +the remainder to a place of safety. The drivers were all splendidly +cool and collected under the trying circumstances, but many of the +poor beasts were beyond human aid, and had to be destroyed. + +The scene next morning was a gruesome one, and it was a most pathetic +sight to watch the drivers, with tears running down their cheeks, +bidding a last farewell to their lost charges before burial, for the +men become exceedingly attached to their four-legged comrades, +especially when they have had charge of them for a considerable time. +No time was lost in selecting a new locality, as it was considered +wise to get out of the salient altogether, and thus avoid the risk of +incurring further unnecessary casualties; so the wagon lines were +removed to the vicinity of Ruyaulcourt. + +A spell of hard frost set in, with an occasional fall of snow, which +added to our difficulties as well as to our discomforts, for it must +be remembered that both battery position and wagon line were occupied +at a moment's notice, and no time could be spent in making any +preparations beforehand for our reception. Affairs were now settling +down for the winter, and nothing unusual was taking place beyond a +good deal of artillery activity on both sides, consequently we were +only awaiting orders to withdraw from the line. These came through in +a few days' time, and the Brigade pulled out in the middle of December +to the ruined village of Beaulencourt, situated south east of Bapaume. +On the following day a long march was undertaken, and we proceeded by +way of Achiet-le-Grand, Ayette, and Beaumetz to the village of +Montennescourt, due west of Arras, a distance of 25 miles. + +It says much for the battery that it accomplished this long trail with +no less than 43 horses below establishment, and without any outside +assistance, in spite of the heaviness of the roads. The guns (p. 067) +were pulled by six-horse teams, and the vehicles and other baggage +wagons by four-horse teams, made up by requisitioning all the +available outriders, yet none of the horses suffered to any great +extent from the extra strain imposed on them. + +It was with feelings of great gratification that we learnt that at +last we were going to have our long-delayed rest, and that it would +fall to our lot to spend the coming Christmas-tide and New Year season +in more congenial surroundings than had been the case in the two +previous years. All were prepared to enjoy themselves on this +occasion, as it was felt, on reviewing the past six months, during +which time we had been fighting incessantly in "pukka" battles, in +which we had acquitted ourselves not badly, that we had thoroughly +earned a week or two of complete rest and quiet. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. (p. 068) + +At Arras. + + +The next fortnight was spent under most happy conditions, and all +ranks had an enjoyable time. As Christmas approached, active +preparations were made to excel anything we had ever had before in the +way of festivities, and this was possible now that we were out of +action. Quarter-Master-Sergeants, puffed out with importance, were to +be seen strutting hither and thither, returning with mysterious sacks +and parcels, presumably filled with good cheer. + +Plucked geese and turkeys appeared in large numbers, suspended from +the ceilings of billets, and several large barrels arrived on the +scene, and were duly placed under lock and key in the canteen, +awaiting the auspicious day. Much competition took place between +batteries for the possession of the only two live pigs in the village, +which eventually went to the highest bidders, while the remainder +procured their joints in the form of pork from Doullens. One of the +batteries meanwhile grew so attached to its prospective Christmas fare +that it was almost decided to spare his life and adopt him as a +mascot. His fate was sealed, however, when one day it was discovered +that he had disposed of several parcels of food which had, +inadvertently, been placed within his reach by some of the men. + +Concerts were arranged, and the village school-room was kindly lent +and artistically decorated for these occasions. The weather was all +that could be desired now that we were safely lodged in billets, and +it was a typical old-fashioned yule-tide, with a plentiful fall of +snow followed by hard frost. The little village was in a sheltered +hollow, and a small rivulet passed through it on its way down the +valley, while the scenery might have been that surrounding any hamlet +in the south of England. + +An open air service was conducted by the Padre, for the Brigade, on +'Xmas morning, and the rest of the day was given over to sports and +concerts, and the climax of enjoyment was reached at night when (p. 069) +the men partook of their dinner. Gramaphones were well to the fore, +but all kinds of musical instruments took part in the gaiety which +followed. + +A certain amount of latitude was given the men for a few days after, +in order that they might recover from the orgy, for indeed they had +never had such a gorge since their arrival in France. All were in +excellent spirits, and these were by no means diminished when it +became known that our next area was in front of Arras. It was +recognised to be an enviable part of the line to be situated in, +especially during the winter months. It was also a locality with which +we had not as yet made acquaintance, and it was always interesting to +visit a new portion of the front, as we disliked being too long in the +same surroundings without a change of scene. + +The day following New Year, the Division entered on its period of duty +in the sector north of Monchy to the vicinity of Gavrelle, with the +heights of Vimy, which had fallen into our hands in the previous +spring on its left. + +The battery position was reached by following the Arras-Plouvain road +along the valley of the river Scarpe, and we took over from a Scottish +Division. The enemy lines were everywhere overlooked, consequently he +wisely refrained from showing much activity. + +A magnificent view was obtained from the rear O.P. on the heights +facing Vitry, and, on a clear day, Douai was plainly visible and even +the country far beyond it. + +Our front line ran along at the bottom of the slope, having the ruined +piles of Roeux, which was the scene of such furious fighting in the +latter stages of Arras battle, immediately in its rear. Half right, to +the south of the river Scarpe, what remained of the village of Monchy +stood out like a sentinel on the top of the hill. This point afforded +a splendid view in all directions and was the veritable keystone of +the whole position. Four of our pieces were placed in a quarry, a few +yards off the road leading through Fampoux, on its western extremity, +while the other two guns were moved forward, east of the same village, +behind a bank, and carefully camouflaged. As this sector was +extraordinarily quiet and there was not sufficient work to keep +everyone occupied, the Battery Commander decided to commence +construction and endeavour to make our position a model one. Two pits, +which were already in existence, were pulled down and rebuilt, (p. 070) +and two others were constructed alongside, and all of them were placed +just as near the front bank of the quarry as would permit of the guns +clearing the crest. The whole position was completely camouflaged, as, +it will be readily understood, a quarry made a conspicuous target for +the enemy at any time, and if he suspected the presence of a battery +therein, there would have been little peace or quiet for us. However, +as things turned out, we had evidently made a good job of our work, +and to our surprise, not a single shell dropped in the quarry during +our period of occupation. + +Walls were white-washed and ammunition and charge shelves elaborately +painted, the platforms were neatly tiled or bricked with material +taken from the surrounding ruins, and all manner of "eye wash" was +employed in making the pits look well. A communication trench was dug +from one extremity to the other, rivetted and duck-boarded throughout, +and led to the men's quarters. These when completed were palatial, and +put in the shade any headquarter unit in the line. + +The near side of the quarry, which consisted of chalk, was easily and +rapidly mined, and, in the course of three weeks, the men had +comfortable quarters. Beds made of wire netting stretched on wooden +frames, a spacious dining hall, telephone pit, cook house, and they +even possessed a moderate sized bath room, which was highly valued and +put to great use. The officers' quarters were no less sumptuously +fitted out. Each had sleeping accommodation, in cellars of the ruined +houses, running along the main street close to the quarry, nicely +lined with wood and canvas to keep the damp out, while the Mess itself +was a work of art. + +The latter was built entirely by the officers and their batmen, under +the personal supervision of our energetic B.C. + +The floors, walls and roof of the cellar were lined with three inch +timber, and one day a subaltern, who had been out exploring, came back +triumphant, bearing in his arms a huge roll of wall paper found buried +under some rubbish, at a spot which probably denoted the one time +existence of a decorator's shop. The Mess was therefore duly papered, +with frieze complete, and with the addition of easy chairs, book +shelves, a stove and gramaphone, there was nothing left to wish for, +and the place was most cosy and snug. The entrance, too, was the +admiration of everybody, nicely tiled and decorated with fancy +carvings from the utterly destroyed church. Iron girders, beams, (p. 071) +and countless bricks to the height of several feet rested on top of +our home. It is not to be wondered at, then, that this model position +was frequently visited by high personages, brought hither by our +Brigade-Commander or C.R.A., who appeared almost as proud of the place +as we were ourselves. Moreover, as we were in such close proximity to +the road leading up to the front line, it was only natural that +officers should drop in to this half way house and rest and regale +themselves before resuming their journey, so before long our Mess was +known as "The Pub" throughout the Division. + +The forward position was treated in the same fashion, and never before +had both officers and men had such comfortable quarters. Thus we +settled down to a life of ease, such as we had not known since the +Laventie days of two winters ago, and proceeded to thoroughly enjoy +ourselves. + +Frequent trips were made into Arras, either on horseback or by river, +for there was a steamboat service, running daily on the Scarpe, which +landed one close to the Officers' Club, a large wooden erection +similar to a Y.M.C.A. hut, run by the Expeditionary Force Canteen. + +The town had not been irreparably destroyed, and in most parts the +inhabitants had returned, and were carrying on their usual routine, +while many shops were re-opened and doing good business. The Cathedral +was badly damaged, as well as other prominent buildings, but, on the +whole, the town had escaped wonderfully considering how close the +enemy had been to it for so long. Now, of course, the enemy was over +six miles away, and the city could not be reached by any other than +his high velocity guns, and they seldom troubled to shell the place, +and when they did so, from time to time, the fire was chiefly directed +on the railway station and sidings in the vicinity. + +An equally peaceful time fell to the lot of those who were at the +wagon lines. They were situated just off the main Arras-Souchez road, +within easy reach of the former place. Accommodation for Officers and +men was provided by Nissen huts, containing stoves, while the horses +had good covered-in standings, with mud walls surrounding them for +protection against bombing raids. + +The transport of ammunition to the guns was easily conducted, as +excellent roads ran the whole way, and every care was taken to (p. 072) +keep the horses up to condition. The frost did not continue and +in the early months of the year the weather was wonderfully bright and +mild, and many a good gallop could be had in the neighbourhood, as +there was a fine stretch of open ground close to the wagon line. + +The horses undoubtedly had a better time than it is usually possible +to give them during the winter months. The war horse is an +extraordinarily intelligent animal and appreciates anything done for +him in the way of comfort. He also becomes very cute and cunning, and +always knows the routine of the day, and can tell his time of feeding +almost to the minute, and, if allowed, would go by himself +automatically to the water troughs and return to his own particular +standing in the stable. + +One horse familiarly known by the name of "Shrapnel," owing to several +wounds of that kind which refused to close up, and completely heal, +knew at once when he was "warned" for the line. Now, he disliked going +out at nights, and consequently was in the habit of "scrimp-shanking," +and proceeded forthwith to go lame. At first he managed to fool +everybody, but on close investigation it was discovered that nothing +at all was the matter with him. + +Another fine beast, which at one time must have been ill-treated, when +he came to us had a bad rope gall on his near hind, and was extremely +nervous at being touched. After hours of coaxing he allowed his +section officer and driver to handle him, and, at length, showed great +affection to them both, but woe betide any other member of the +battery, who attempted to go near him, back went his ears and out went +his feet at once! + +About the middle of February, a feeling of uneasiness evidently +entered the minds of those in authority. It was known that the enemy +was transferring large numbers of troops, which had been released by +the collapse of Russia, to the Western front. Consequently every unit +got busy at once, the Infantry dug new trench systems in rear of their +existing ones, constructed strong points, and mile upon mile of barbed +wire was laid down. + +The gunners prepared new battle and reinforcing positions, in case a +retiral should be necessary, and filled them with ammunition against +all eventualities. + +In a little more than a month everything was completed, and during the +third week of March, the troops were warned of an impending great +enemy offensive, and became fully on the alert. + + + + +CHAPTER X. (p. 073) + +March the 21st. + + +The morning of the 20th broke calm and the enemy did nothing to +indicate that anything out of the ordinary was about to take place, +but this did not deceive us, as it was known to our Command that the +blow was going to fall on the following morning. Silence reigned +supreme, except for the ordinary harassing artillery fire, up till +midnight, but shortly afterwards the German guns opened out their +annihilating fire, and drenched our forward system and battery +positions with a severe gas bombardment. + +In this area the majority of batteries had, at the last moment, taken +the precaution to change their positions, as these were known to the +enemy, and thus avoided being entirely demolished by the heavy +concentration which poured all manner of shell into those they had +lately vacated. + +At dawn, which, unfortunately for us, broke in a thick mist, after a +sustained bombardment of some four to five hours' duration, the enemy +launched his gigantic attack over an area of fifty miles, from +Guenappe, immediately below Monchy in the North, to the neighbourhood +of La Fere in the south. Under cover of the mist, he congregated large +numbers of field guns, which were able to accompany and closely +support the attacking waves, while at some places he employed his new +Tanks. These, however, though rendering some assistance to him, by no +means came up to expectations, and were ponderous and clumsy, in spite +of the fact that he had previously captured several of ours from which +to copy, but they proved to be far behind ours, both in construction +and usefulness. + +A "Chinese barrage" was put down by the enemy on our sector, but no +attack developed. The same evening the Division was hurriedly +withdrawn from the line, and heading in a southern direction arrived +in the neighbourhood of Tilloy and prepared for instant action. + +In spite of the favourable conditions, our foes made little or no (p. 074) +ground, throughout the day, on the whole of the Army front, and were +held in our forefield. Further south, much the same thing happened, +although they penetrated further in some places, but nowhere had they +broken through, so the news on the whole was good and reassuring. + +The German attack was renewed on the following day, and still the +Northern Army remained firm, but they succeeded in effecting a serious +breech in the Army to the south, where the British had lately taken +over from our French allies. So swift was the enemy's progress at this +point that our troops on either side of this bulge soon became +endangered, and a general retirement was immediately necessary in +order to keep the line straight. + +This applied to the Northern Army also, but not to anything like the +same extent. The Division again moved south, and took up positions +behind the Henin Ridge, between the village of that name and St. +Leger, for the purpose of covering the retirement. + +The whole line thus became mobile, and, for several days, a stiff +rear-guard action was fought, which resulted in very heavy casualties +being inflicted on the enemy. He was by this time flushed with his +success further south, and attempted to advance as if he were already +the conqueror, which led to his own undoing, as virtually he was only +permitted to gain ground at our time and will. It cannot be denied, +however, that the days were anxious ones and the infantry were kept +very heavily engaged and became much exhausted. However, they made the +most of their opportunities, and had hitherto rarely found such ready +targets, and their machine guns effected great execution on the enemy +ranks as the men came along laden with full packs. A story is told, +and is believed to be true, of one machine gunner that, in the course +of his morning's work, he slaughtered over 200 German's single handed +with his weapon, after which he became a raving lunatic and had to be +forceably removed. + +The infantry, too, admitted that they were getting tired of killing +Boches, and the casualties inflicted on our men were a mere nothing as +compared with those suffered by our foes. The gunners were equally +busy dropping into action here and there and falling back as the +circumstances required, until at the end of a week, the line became +more or less stationary. The front line now ran through Mercatel, (p. 075) +Boisleux and Moyenneville and thence, in a south westerly direction, +towards Serre. Thus the Germans were again almost back on the line +they had held, prior to the big retreat on the Hindenburg line in the +spring of 1917. + +It seemed a great pity to vacate the Henin Ridge, for the opposing +sides found themselves facing each other in a hollow, with rising +ground on either side, which made battery positions difficult to +conceal. So many disused trenches, which had previously formed part of +the old German line system, helped to shelter us, to a great extent, +for we were at this point nearly two miles east of the permanent line +of a year ago. + +Everyone feverishly sat about digging and constructing new trenches, +and an enormous amount of work was accomplished in a comparatively +short space of time, for it was felt that the enemy had by no means +expended all his strength, and would endeavour, in the near future, to +resume active operations. There could be no doubt that he would be +dissatisfied to remain where he was, especially as, so far, he had +little to shew on this particular part of the front for his gigantic +effort and huge loss of men. + +It was no surprise therefore when, at the beginning of the second week +in April, after a short sharp bombardment, the enemy made a strong +attack from Monchy, north to the Vimy Ridge, with the object of +seizing Arras and the heights before mentioned. The result was a +costly failure, as he was everywhere held up in our forefield system, +and the British Divisions opposed to him had the time of their lives. +We were very interested to hear about this battle, as, of course, it +was fought over the sector in which we had lately spent a number of +happy months and where we had done such an amount of work. It was +distinctly gratifying, too, when a wire was received from the Division +who took over from us thanking our Division for the wonderful +defensive construction made by us. It was due to that work that they +were enabled to bring the enemy so quickly to an abrupt standstill. + +They had seemingly experienced a veritable field day and thoroughly +enjoyed themselves on that occasion. + +After this unsuccessful effort, the enemy evidently gave up the +attempt to gain possession of Arras and Vimy by a frontal attack and +turned his thoughts elsewhere. + +Unfortunately, however, in the course of these operations, Monchy (p. 076) +had to be evacuated by the British, which enabled the Boche to gain +observation on the city which, thereafter, came in for a good amount +of shelling, and again the inhabitants were forced much against their +will to leave the stricken place. + +All manner of heavy shell fell in the town, and the damage caused was +considerable, and it was no longer the haven of rest for the troops +which it had been a few months previously. Our wagon lines, meanwhile, +had not escaped undamaged, and were forced to change positions on +several occasions until, at last, comfortable quarters were obtained +in the little village of Bretencourt, where the houses still had roofs +covering them, as the hamlet was just outside the devastated area. +When affairs settled down once more, the battery positions were +gradually advanced, and we dug a new position east of Ficheux, where +the guns were meanwhile situated. + +A forward section was established ahead in the railway cutting of the +Arras-Albert line, and we subjected the enemy to as much +unpleasantness as it lay in our power to devise. + +We were not, however, any length of time in this sector, and were +removed to the adjoining one immediately to the south. + +The line required rectifying in several places, and in a brilliant +minor operation, the village of Ayette was carried and remained firmly +in our hands. + +Our new position was situated on the high ground to the north of +Adinfer Wood, immediately behind the village of the same name, but the +neighbourhood was much more peaceful than that which we had recently +quitted, as everywhere we had observation over the enemy, and +naturally he never created trouble under such circumstances. + +The wagon lines were again moved, this time much further behind, to +the small village of Gaudiempre, where one might have imagined one was +completely out of the war area, it appeared so quiet. + +The place was intact and all were ensconced in snug little billets, +while the horses were well off also, as opportunities for grazing were +afforded round about the neighbourhood. + +Then the enemy's second great offensive opened on the Lys, and all +eyes were turned in that direction, but everyone held the opinion +that, sooner or later, he would be brought to a standstill, which +proved to be the case. + +In fact, throughout the whole of this trying period, the (p. 077) +confidence among all ranks was extraordinary. No one had the feeling +that we were going down and under, and it would have done the pessimists +at home a world of good to have caught a glimpse of conditions out in +France and of the cheery optimism that prevailed there. There was even +disappointment, in some quarters, that the enemy had not attempted to +attack us on this front, but he evidently thought discretion was the +better part of valour, for the defences were, by this time, very +strong, and it would have been strange if he had managed to penetrate +to any depth. + +About the middle of May, it was the will of those in authority to rest +the Division a while, and although we were not in any urgent need of a +rest, we were not disinclined for it, as the season of the year was +favourable, and we pictured all manner of good times in store. + +The Brigade, therefore, withdrew to the wagon lines, marched the +following day to Humbercourt, the village appointed for our resting +place. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. (p. 078) + +The Turn of the Tide. + + +It invariably happened, when the Brigade came out for a period of +rest, that expectations of a real holiday were never fully realized, +and although the time passed pleasantly enough and we were favoured +with fine weather, all ranks were kept pretty busy. Many tactical +schemes were practised, and we had always to hold ourselves in +readiness to render assistance, at short notice, to the troops who +were in the line, for our Command was taking no risks and had not +entirely given up the possibility of a hostile attack on this area. + +It must be admitted, however, that in the end everybody enjoyed +rehearsing these schemes, and we would have been well acquainted with +our duties had the emergency arisen. Our resentment, also, at being +called upon to partake of violent exercise so early in the morning, +completely disappeared after a while, the country looked so beautiful +at dawn, and we usually returned in time for breakfast, with +well-whetted appetites, after some three or four hours in the saddle. + +Unfortunately, at this time, the scourge known as "Flanders Grippe," +which had been prevalent throughout the Army, developed in our +Brigade. For a considerable time this epidemic paralysed us, more or +less, as about half our number was down with the disease at the same +time. Although it passes after taking its three days' course, one is +left very weak and groggy for some time, and several of the men were +very seriously ill. + +Inevitable inspections by Corps Commanders and minor officials passed +off without incident, but, of course, much labour and "eye-wash" was +expended as is always the case on these occasions. The Divisional +Horse Show, held towards the end of our rest, was undoubtedly the +principal diversion of our time out, as each unit naturally did its +utmost to outshine all others. The battery entered a gun team +complete, consisting of six dapple-grey horses, and we succeeded in +securing the second prize in the gunner's Derby. Curiously enough, (p. 079) +the winners, our sister howitzer battery, won with five, out of six +horses which had been shown, over two years previously at Zeggers +Capelle, in Flanders, and who then carried off second prize in the +competition with a team of blacks. H.R.H. The Duke of Connaught +afterwards inspected the prize-winners, and evinced much interest on +being told that ours was a complete battery of grey horses. + +Paris leave opened for both officers and men as a consolation for home +furlough being stopped, and many availed themselves of the opportunity +of having a few days' enjoyment in the "Gay City." + +In the first days of June the Division returned to the line and +occupied the sector we had already been in prior to moving to Adinfer. +The area had become very quiet with one or two exceptions, and the +enemy did not subject our infantry to much shelling, and contented +himself with occasionally annoying them with trench mortars. But if, +at any time, he discovered the location of a battery position, that +unit had a most unhappy time. Four of our guns were placed in the +railway cutting, where we had previously had a forward section, and +the remainder were again detached some distance away. Mine shafts, +which were already in existence, were enlarged and the men had plenty +cover on top of them. + +Some little time afterwards certain indications pointed to the fact +that the enemy contemplated business once more on this front, and as +our guns were situated awkwardly where it would be impossible to +withdraw them quickly, we were directed to construct a new position +further behind. The work proceeded briskly, and, when completed, four +of the pieces were withdrawn and placed there, the other two remaining +in the railway embankment. The main position was a long way back, and +the guns could only just reach the enemy support trenches, +consequently they were only to be fired in case of a general S.O.S., +and all the shoots were accomplished by the forward section. Much time +was spent in making our new quarters shipshape, and the ground was +well suited for mining, as it consisted principally of chalk, and +eventually all ranks were comfortably installed in spacious underground +quarters, although, at the moment, they were quite unnecessary, and +many lay out in the open during the warm summer nights. The principal +thing to do now was to make sure that the officers and men did not +stagnate for lack of occupation and to find means to keep them (p. 080) +hard and fit. Physical exercises were indulged in during the morning, +and sports of all kinds were organised, both at the battery positions +and at the wagon lines--the latter having taken up their quarters at +the village of Baillemont. + +A modified kind of base-ball, introduced by an energetic and +enthusiastic Canadian subaltern, became very popular with the men, +while the corps ran a polo-club of sorts for the officers. A fairly +level patch of ground was selected which possessed a certain amount of +grass, and the numerous shell holes were filled in and levelled off by +fatigue parties, with the result that it became moderately good. The +polo ponies, however, left something to be desired, and it was no +uncommon sight to see a young officer appear mounted on a stalwart +wheeler, the best he could do for himself from among the horses in his +section. Possibly the explanation was that he had found a horse which +he could suitably "rein in". + +Meanwhile the enemy's third big offensive had come and gone and the +British Commander-in-Chief's famous "back to the wall" order of the +day to his armies. Still we waited, but nothing unusual happened; then +in the middle of July the French were heavily attacked, and once more +the clouds appeared on the horizon. There was great enthusiasm when it +became known that our Allies had counter-attacked, and were driving +the enemy out of the Marne pocket, and when the daily bulletins +arrived there was always a scramble among the men to read them. Then +the British stroke fell south of the river Somme at Villers +Brettonneux, and excellent news, as to our progress, came through, +which raised everyone's hopes to a high degree. Our artillery fire was +increased daily, and affairs became more lively, while flying was in +full swing and continued night and day. Both sides paid much attention +to bombing, and our Airmen freely besprinkled enemy territory with +their bombs by day, whereas the foe rarely attempted raids over our +lines during daylight. However, after dusk, the air was filled with +the planes, as the weather was particularly favourable, and the hum of +the machines coming and going was incessant throughout the whole +night. At times one could scarcely get any sleep for the continual +drone they made, like the hum of gigantic bees around their hives. One +thing certain was that we had almost complete control of the air and +both out-numbered and out-witted the enemy to a marked extent. (p. 081) +It was most unpleasant to hear the noise of the hostile planes drawing +nearer, for one could not mistake the beat made by the German machines. +The amount of bombing experienced by us was quite bad enough in all +truth, but we used to smile when contemplating what our foes must be +suffering at the hands of our Airmen, as truly it was ten times worse. + +During this period the two counter offensives were progressing +favourably in the south, and we suspected that something would be +doing on our front before long, as the din of battle was creeping +further north. It came as no surprise, therefore, when serious +fighting commenced north of the Somme, and the enemy retreated from +Serre and later withdrew in error from Ablainzevelle. As soon as he +discovered his mistake he attempted to retake it, but, by that time, +our men were firmly lodged there and could not be shifted from the +village. + +In the middle of August, to everyone's satisfaction, it became known +that we were to be up and doing at no distant date, and preparations +were immediately and silently set on foot. Throughout each night a +continual stream of teams and wagons conveyed thousands of rounds of +ammunition up the line to battery positions, and fresh dumps were +placed in forward localities. New battle positions were constructed in +advanced positions and stocked with shells, and we only awaited the +order to occupy them. Instructions were issued to wagon lines that all +surplus kit and stores were to be left behind, as a strenuous time was +in store for us, and all ranks responded with a will to the hard work +these preparations necessitated. Drivers were elated at the prospect +of a change from their humdrum existence, and their enthusiasm knew no +bounds. New reinforcing batteries appeared like mushrooms during the +night, and lay safely ensconced in their appointed places in readiness +for the coming fray, while the neighbourhood behind the lines bristled +with activity and also with new arrivals. We believed that probably +these preparations were being made in order to take the Henin Ridge in +front, and no one imagined that the coming operations would consist of +more than a local attack with a limited objective, as little or no +information had been given to anyone. It is true that rumours were +abroad, that our opponents were preparing to withdraw during the +coming winter to their defences in the Hindenburg Line, which meant +that we would be left most uncomfortably situated in the wilderness +throughout that season. Little did we dream, however, that this (p. 082) +was the commencement of a long series of hammer blows, lasting +over several months, and employing millions of men, and destined to be +the last and greatest battle the world has ever seen, ending with the +complete demoralisation of the enemy's forces. The turn of the tide +was at hand at last! + + + + +CHAPTER XII. (p. 083) + +Through the Hindenburg Line. + + +Before the serious work ahead of us could be undertaken, it was +necessary to shear off an awkward little bulge in the enemy's line, +which included the ruined hamlet of Moyenneville. The corps on our +right were to take part in an assault two days previous to the +commencement of our own advance, so it was considered expedient to +accomplish the above task at the same time. Consequently, during the +big attack, delivered in the south on the 21st of August, which +brought our troops level with the Arras-Albert railway line, our small +side-show passed off successfully almost unnoticed. Desperate fighting +had also taken place in the neighbourhood of Morlancourt, just north +of the river Somme, in which the enemy troops had been driven back +after stubborn resistance. They thereupon evacuated the town of +Albert, as the place was getting too hot for them, and retired on +positions to the east of it. Our guns were now moved into their battle +positions, and on the eve of the attack everything was ready and in +order. For once in a way the weather was favourable, and this augured +well for the speedy advancement of the guns, which was essential for +the success of the operations. + +At dawn, therefore, on the 23rd inst., without any preliminary +bombardment, but, preceded by a dense creeping barrage and supported +by innumerable tanks, the infantry set out on their long journey. The +men swept on, capturing the villages of Boyelles and Hamelincourt at +an early hour, without meeting much opposition or suffering undue +casualties. The day went well throughout and all objectives were +taken, and by nightfall, the vast machinery in the rear commenced to +move slowly forward. Batteries were advanced and supplied with +ammunition, by their echelons, ready for the next bout, and wagon +lines occupied the positions only just vacated by the guns. The attack +was continued on the following morning, which necessitated the (p. 084) +moving up of the guns once more, and the same thing continued day +after day. The enemy was slowly and relentlessly pressed back without +a pause or breathing space, and once this gigantic force was set in +motion it was exceedingly difficult to stop it, as our opponents were +soon to find out to their cost. + +As the fight proceeded, our comrades on the left joined in, and +gradually the battle spread further north, assuming huge dimensions, +until it reached the river Scarpe. The enemy was caught napping before +Monchy, and the Dominion forces in one bound everywhere overwhelmed +their opponents, not only capturing the village but gaining ground to +the extent of two miles beyond it. By this time, Croisilles and St. +Leger had fallen into our hands, but the enemy made a most determined +stand in front of Ecoust, and a very stiff tussle took place for +several days before we eventually gained possession of it. + +Some extraordinary incidents took place during the course of these +operations. The long-hoped for open warfare was upon us at last, and +the gunners' dream of galloping into action and firing with open +sights at close range was an accomplished fact almost before we were +aware of it. On one occasion, the whole Brigade, immediately at the +close of executing a creeping barrage, limbered up, and topping the +crest in front came face to face with the enemy, and dropped into +action alongside our advancing infantry. The enemy machine gunners +were lined up on a ridge some four hundred yards away, but on seeing +us they decamped with all speed, probably believing us to be a +regiment of cavalry. At any rate, if they had stood their ground and +manned their guns, they would have assuredly wiped us off the face of +the map almost before we could have opened fire on them. At the end of +another day's work, our battery position was scarcely two hundred +yards behind our front line, where the infantry had installed +themselves. + +The wagon lines were now well over late enemy territory, on the ground +where his batteries had been situated, and the mess was almost beyond +description. In some cases his positions were entirely obliterated, +which spoke volumes for the accuracy of the fire of our heavies, +directed by our gallant airmen, and if it had not been for the +quantities of ammunition and dead horses littered around, it would +have been impossible to have known that positions ever existed there. +Mine shafts had been entirely closed up by the explosion of the great +shells, and a conglomeration of huge craters marked their (p. 085) +locality. There was no rest for anyone these days, and no men were +called upon to perform more strenuous work than our little drivers, +whose untiring and never failing energy was worthy of the highest +praise and admiration: not only had they to care for their pair of +horses, but were incessantly on the go twixt gun positions, dumps, and +wagon lines under the most trying and difficult circumstances, and, at +the same time, the latter were changing positions frequently. However, +they never faltered or grumbled, and had always a cheery smile on +their faces, even when they returned in the middle of the night dead +beat. For days on end it was impossible to get out of one's clothes, +and sleep was almost an unknown quantity: however, what did it matter +as long as we continued to advance, and in spite of everything--this +was a long way better than the monotonous routine of trench warfare. +Everybody looked upon it in this light, and the excitement and never +ending novelty of the experiences under which we were living, carried +us on through thick and thin. + +The corps on our left, meanwhile, had by a superhuman effort +penetrated the great Drocourt-Queant switch of the Hindenburg line, +and firmly maintained their grip on the ground to the east of it, and +all counter attacks made by the enemy, to dislodge them, proved +unavailing. The troops to the south had also effected good progress, +and the ill-fated town of Bapaume had again changed hands and passed +for the last time into the keeping of the Allies. Thus it came about +that the enemy troops, in spite of their very determined resistance in +the neighbourhood of Ecoust and Mory, found themselves in a most +perilous position, as the Dominion forces were now well in their rear, +and were carrying out a turning movement from a northerly direction. +Therefore, they were forced to do something, without further delay, +which resulted in a swift retirement on to the Hindenburg line some +six miles to the rear. + +It was a most interesting and instructive chase, and the enemy +retreated so fast that it was with the greatest difficulty that we +could keep up and maintain contact with him. The battery had +reluctantly to abandon a captured German field gun which had been +doing valiant work as the seventh gun for several days against its +late owners, for we had neither time or the means to convey (p. 086) +surplus equipment along with us. It was the kind of day that one reads +about in "Field Artillery Training" or even endeavours to imitate +while manoeuvring out in rest, but for the first time we were doing +it in reality. The battery dropped into action on innumerable +occasions during the course of the day, and had only time to fire a +few rounds before the enemy had decamped out of range. Then we would +limber up with all speed, the teams waiting the orthodox two hundred +yards in rear and to the flank, and gallop forward and take up a new +position right out in the open, and help the enemy on his way with a +few reminders that we were up and after him, and that he would do well +to hurry. + +By evening our foes had snugly entrenched themselves behind the great +Hindenburg barrier, and we again came face to fare with this +formidable obstacle. The line had, meanwhile, been kept in an +excellent state of preservation, and it was quite out of the question +to make a frontal attack on it without first cutting the belts of +broad wire and treating the emplacements to a prolonged bombardment. +Another formidable hindrance in our way and placed between us, +moreover, was the famous Canal Du Nord, which was entirely dry in most +places. It was a considerable breadth across, and could obviously not +be bridged as long as the enemy kept watch over it from the opposite +side, and it varied from forty to seventy feet in depth. Thus, for the +time being, the line settled down stationary until this task could be +accomplished, for it was not the intention of our Command that we +should sit down for the winter before this great fortress, as our +enemies wished and expected us to do. + +Our opponents were too busily engaged removing their heavy pieces of +Artillery back to a place of safety to subject us to a great amount of +annoyance, and, as the weather remained good, the work of bringing our +heavies up was accomplished quickly and effectively. The battery took +up a position in our former front line facing Bourlon Wood, with the +ruined village of Mouevres immediately ahead, while the forward +section was placed in part of the Hindenburg line itself, south-east +of Pronville. Wire cutting was undertaken and carried out by all field +batteries, and the heavies pounded enemy emplacements and +communication trenches in the rear. + +Bombing by aircraft became intensive on both sides, and the enemy +adopted new tactics by coming over after dark, and, waiting for (p. 087) +the gun flashes, proceeded to drop bombs on the batteries. A fine +spectacle was witnessed two nights in succession in the form of a +super-Gotha bombing machine brought down in flames. Our small fighting +planes were in the habit of flying at a high altitude, keeping watch +over our lines and lying in wait for these monsters. As soon as one of +them was picked out in the rays of a searchlight, others would +concentrate at once on it, whereupon the archies immediately opened +fire. Then far above a light would twinkle out several times, which +was a sign for the anti-aircraft batteries to cease fire. Everything +remained still for a while, the searchlights always focused on their +prey, which endeavoured to dodge out of the brilliant light, but in +vain, owing to its unwieldiness. Then suddenly from out of the +darkness a little object shot alongside the giant plane and spat +tracer bullets into it, whereupon it instantly caught fire, and slowly +heeling over commenced its downward journey to destruction. + +Fierce fighting continued to the south, and by a series of brilliant +operations our troops had everywhere come in contact with the +Hindenburg Line, and commenced pounding its defences for the further +advance. At the beginning of the fourth week in September preparations +were almost complete for the coming assault, which would require all +the energy and fortitude we could display. The Division was +side-slipped down to the neighbourhood of Havrincourt, as it was +familiar ground to us, after our experiences in November and December +of the previous year. The policy at this juncture was, as far as it +could be carried out, to place Divisions in localities with which they +had already become acquainted. Our battle position was situated on the +outskirts of the small hamlet of Demicourt, and we were to cross the +canal a few hours after zero by means of a ramp already prepared and +carefully camouflaged at a point where it passed through our lines. If +all went according to expectations we were to follow a line due east, +and, passing to the north of Havrincourt, take up a position, already +known to us, on the railway cutting south of Flesquieres, although as +yet it was in enemy possession. + +The great battle opened on the morning of the 27th inst., under +excellent conditions, and it is now known to everyone how the crossing +of the canal was effected by means of scaling ladders, and, in some +instances, by the use of life-belts. + +From first to last the day went smoothly and well, and by (p. 088) +nightfall the great Hindenburg Line, upon which the enemy depended so +much and in which he had such faith, was everywhere behind us, and we +were through, at last, to open country beyond! + +It only remained for the Allies' great Commander-in-Chief to deliver +the final knock-out blow at his own time and discretion. + +At this time the writer was reluctantly forced to leave the Battery on +account of ill health, and was sent home, and it is a source of keen +regret to him that on that account he missed the closing weeks of the +great campaign. + +It is now a matter of history how our Armies, after hot and incessant +fighting, swept the enemy divisions out of France. + +On Armistice Day, the Division was in possession of Maubeuge, and thus +the Guards found themselves on territory which they had occupied in +the early days of the War, prior to the retreat from Mons. + +After three and a half years of strenuous warfare, the Battery is now +lying at rest in Cologne, where it keeps its silent "Watch on the +Rhine." + + + + +THE END. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Three years in France with the Guns:, by C. 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