diff options
Diffstat (limited to '20527-h/20527-h.htm')
| -rw-r--r-- | 20527-h/20527-h.htm | 17410 |
1 files changed, 17410 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/20527-h/20527-h.htm b/20527-h/20527-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ca2f9e9 --- /dev/null +++ b/20527-h/20527-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,17410 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> + +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Sherwood Foresters In The Great War 1914—1919. Author: Captain W. C. C. Weetman</title> + + +<style type="text/css"> +<!-- + +body {font-size: 1em; text-align: justify; margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%;} + +h1 {font-size: 1.4em; text-align: center; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} +h2 {font-size: 1.3em; text-align: center; margin-top: 4em; margin-bottom: 2em;} +h3 {font-size: 1.3em; text-align: center; margin-top: 4em; margin-bottom: 1em;} +h4 {font-size: 1em; text-align: center; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 1em;} +h5 {font-size: 1em; text-align: center; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + +a {text-decoration: none;} + +table {border-collapse: collapse; table-layout: fixed; + width: 90%; margin-left: 5%;} + +.p0 {margin-top: 0em; margin-bottom: 0em;} +.p2 {margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 1em;} +.p4 {margin-top: 4em;} + +.pagenum {visibility: hidden; position: absolute; right:0; + font-size: 0.8em; text-align: right; + color: #C0C0C0; background-color: inherit;} + +.smcap2 {font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 85%;} +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 95%;} + +.col-30 {margin-left: -30%;} +.col05 {margin-left: 05%; margin-right: 25%; text-align: left;} +.col30 {margin-left: 30%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: left;} +.col50 {margin-left: 50%;} + +.left05 {margin-left: 05%;} + +.add2em {margin-left: 2em;} + +.figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center; + margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 0.5em;} + +.td-center {text-align: center;} +.td-right {text-align: right;} + +--> +</style> + +</head> + +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Sherwood Foresters in the Great War +1914 - 1919, by W.C.C. Weetman + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Sherwood Foresters in the Great War 1914 - 1919 + History of the 1/8th Battalion + +Author: W.C.C. Weetman + +Release Date: February 6, 2007 [EBook #20527] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SHERWOOD FORESTERS *** + + + + +Produced by David Clarke, Nicola Kerrison, Christine P. +Travers 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) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<h2>HISTORY OF 1/8<span class="smcap">th</span> BATTALION<br><br> +SHERWOOD FORESTERS 1914—1919</h2> + +<a id="img001" name="img001"></a> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/img001.jpg" width="400" height="612" alt="LIEUT.-COL. G. H. FOWLER. +Killed in action at Hohenzollern Redoubt, Oct. 15th, 1915." title="LIEUT.-COL. G. H. FOWLER. +Killed in action at Hohenzollern Redoubt, Oct. 15th, 1915."> +</div> + +<p class="figcenter">Lieut.-col. G. H. Fowler.<br> +Killed in action at Hohenzollern Redoubt, Oct. 15th, 1915.</p> + +<p class="p4"></p> + +<a id="img002" name="img002"></a> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/img002.jpg" width="100" height="108" alt="Arms" title="Arms"> +</div> + + +<h1>THE SHERWOOD FORESTERS<br> +IN THE GREAT WAR<br> +1914—1919</h1> + +<h1>1/8<span class="smcap2">th</span> Battalion</h1> + +<h4>By<br><br> +CAPTAIN W. C. C. WEETMAN<br> +<span class="smcap2">M.C., CROIX DE GUERRE</span></h4> + +<h5>With an introduction by<br> +BRIG-GENERAL C. T. SHIPLEY, C.B.</h5> + +<h4><span class="smcap2">NOTTINGHAM<br> +THOS. FORMAN & SONS<br> +1920</span></h4> + + +<p class="left05"><i>To</i> <span class="pagenum"><a id="page004" name="page004"></a>(p. 004)</span><br> +<i>Our Fallen Comrades</i></p> + +<p class="left05">"<i>In truth they were young Gentlemen, Yeomen and +Yeomen's Sons, and Artificers of the most brave sort, +such as went voluntarily to serve of a gaiety and +joyalty of mind: all which kind of people are the +Flower and Force of a Kingdom.</i>"</p> + +<p class="col50 smcap">Sir John Smyth to Lord Burleigh<br> +on our Men in Flanders in 1589-90.</p> + + + + + +<h2>INTRODUCTION <span class="pagenum"><a id="page005" name="page005"></a>(p. 005)</span></h2> + + +<p>It is not only a great honour to have been asked to +write an introduction to this book, but it is a real +pleasure to me to be linked in this manner to a Battalion +with which I was so intimately connected for nearly +six years and in which I made so many friends, of whom +many, alas, have passed the "great divide."</p> + +<p>The Battalion has been lucky in finding in Capt. +Weetman an author with such a ready and amusing pen, +and one especially who was in a position to see the +workings of the Battalion in almost every phase of its +career and from every standpoint, first as a Company +Officer, then as Adjutant and finally from Brigade +Headquarters.</p> + +<p>To me, perhaps naturally, the most interesting part +of the book is the early chapters. From the time, in +1911, when I took over the command of what, I was +informed by a Staff Officer qualified to know, was the +best Territorial Brigade in the Kingdom, I was a firm +believer in the Territorial Force. But I hardly think +that the most hardened optimist would at that time +have thought it possible for a Territorial Division to +mobilise and march complete with equipment and +Transport to its Mobilisation area on the sixth day +after receiving the order "Mobilise." The amount of +work done by Battalions and Companies was marvellous +and only those who experienced it can have an idea +of what it meant.</p> + +<p>As <span class="pagenum"><a id="page006" name="page006"></a>(p. 006)</span> for the Training, I don't believe better work +was ever done than during those weeks at Harpenden. +True we were lucky in the weather and in the Training +area, and the 8th Battalion were specially lucky in their +excellent staff of Sergeant-Instructors. All ranks put +their heart into the work. I remember particularly +the excellent work done by the large batch of recruits +which joined the Battalion at that time, including +surely as good a lot of young Officers as ever joined +a regiment. The author has described fully the training +carried out at Harpenden and in Essex, and that the +time and labour spent in it were not wasted is proved +by the manner in which all ranks so quickly took on +their responsibilities in the trenches, and with such +success. That the Territorial Force was in many ways +neglected by the Higher Authorities during those early +days is well known, but that the Force amply justified +itself is proved by its actions and was fully recognised +by those General Officers under whose command it +came. The following extract from a speech made by +Lieut-General Sir C. Fergusson, Commanding II Corps, +to the Brigade at Locre, when it left his command, is +worth recording to show the high opinion he held of our +work in front of Kemmel. "No Battalion," he said, +"and no Brigade could have held the lines better than +you have done or have done better work than you have +done.... Your work during the last three +months is work of which any Brigade and any Battalion +might be proud." No higher praise could have been +given to any troops by an officer of such standing and +repute.</p> + +<p>I have written rather at length on this period for +I consider the metamorphosis of a Territorial Battalion +into as fine a fighting Battalion as ever took the field, +is well worth the study of all those who have joined +since those days or will join in the future.</p> + +<p>It <span class="pagenum"><a id="page007" name="page007"></a>(p. 007)</span> is only fitting that some acknowledgment be made +to the memory of the man who did more than any +other to make the North Midland Division worthy to +take its place in line with the Regular Army. I refer +to the late Major-General Hubert Hamilton, who +commanded the Division from 1911 to June, 1914, and +fell early in the war at Richebourg-St. Vaast. He +foresaw that war with Germany must come and worked +with all his power to make the Division efficient in +every way—in Training as in Organisation. And it was +very largely due to his efforts that Mobilisation was +carried out so successfully.</p> + +<p>One word more. I am fully convinced that if every +Officer and man who joined up in 1914 <i>after</i> the outbreak +of war, had joined the Territorial Force and made +himself efficient <i>before</i> August, 1914, there would have +been no war. If Germany had known that England +could put 1,000,000 men into the field within a few +weeks of the declaration of war, instead of only 160,000, +she would never have dared to embark on her campaign +of spoliation. The risk would have been too great.</p> + +<p>If this story of the doings of a Territorial Battalion +in the Great War can do anything to bring that Battalion +up to strength, to keep it there, and to encourage all +ranks to make themselves thoroughly efficient, I am +sure that the author will consider himself well repaid +for all the time and all the trouble he has spent on it.</p> + +<p><span class="col50">C. T. SHIPLEY.</span><br> +<i>12th September, 1920.</i></p> + + + + +<h2>AUTHOR'S NOTE. <span class="pagenum"><a id="page008" name="page008"></a>(p. 008)</span></h2> + + +<p>In compiling this history of the 1/8th Sherwood +Foresters in the Great War, I have relied for my +main facts on the Official War Diary, but from many +other sources I have received much help. My thanks +are due especially to Lieut.-Col. H. Mellish, C.B., +for advice on many general points; to Lieut.-Col. +A. Hacking, D.S.O., M.C., for much help with "The +Salient" and "Lens" chapters, and for kindly revising +the whole of the book; to Capt. A. L. Ashwell, D.S.O., +for most of the "Hohenzollern" chapter, and for much +general assistance; to Capt. A. Andrews, M.C., for much +of the detail of the "Gorre and Essars" chapter, and +information on many other points, and to Capt. A. B. +Miners, M.C., for help with the account of the "Battle +of Ramicourt" and subsequent fighting.</p> + +<p>I have also to thank Capt. C. Davenport for some +details of Transport work; Capt. R. H. Piggford for +a few notes and the sketch dealing with Mining +operations; and Lieuts. C. H. S. Stephenson and E. W. +Warner, M.C., for some Signalling items, and the diagram +of Signal communications. I am also indebted to +Capt. J. D. Hills, M.C., of the 5th Leicestershire +Regiment, for many hints on the general arrangement +of the work, and to Pvte. A. Hunstone of the 6th +Battalion for the excellent plans. To many others +who have supplied me with information and helped +me on various points, I offer my grateful thanks.</p> + +<p>The book is not intended in any way to be a literary +effort. All that has been attempted has been a simple +narrative of our doings for the use primarily of persons +connected with the Battalion. My main endeavour +throughout, has been to secure accuracy, but it will +be understood that in sifting the mass of material +placed at my disposal, errors may have crept in. I +trust, however, that these are few.</p> + +<p><span class="col50">W. C. C. WEETMAN.</span><br> +<i>Hereford, October, 1920.</i></p> + + +<h3>CONTENTS. <span class="pagenum"><a id="page009" name="page009"></a>(p. 009)</span></h3> + +<h5>CHAPTER.</h5> + +<p class="col05"> +<a href="#page013"><span class="smcap">Summary of Events</span></a><br> + 1. <a href="#page019"><span class="smcap">England</span></a><br> + 2. <a href="#page036"><span class="smcap">France</span></a><br> + 3. <a href="#page062"><span class="smcap">The Salient</span></a><br> + 4. <a href="#page077"><span class="smcap">Hohenzollern</span></a><br> + 5. <a href="#page098"><span class="smcap">Richebourg—Marseilles—Candas</span></a><br> + 6. <a href="#page113"><span class="smcap">Vimy Ridge</span></a><br> + 7. <a href="#page128"><span class="smcap">The Battle of Gommecourt</span></a><br> + 8. <a href="#page145"><span class="smcap">Bellacourt</span></a><br> + 9. <a href="#page158"><span class="smcap">The Capture of Gommecourt</span></a><br> +10. <a href="#page175"><span class="smcap">Lens</span></a><br> +11. <a href="#page196"><span class="smcap">St. Elie and Hill 70</span></a><br> +12. <a href="#page215"><span class="smcap">Spring, 1918</span></a><br> +13. <a href="#page231"><span class="smcap">Gorre and Essars</span></a><br> +14. <a href="#page252"><span class="smcap">Auchel to Pontruet</span></a><br> +15. <a href="#page260"><span class="smcap">Bellenglise</span></a><br> +16. <a href="#page274"><span class="smcap">Ramicourt and Montbrehain</span></a><br> +17. <a href="#page289"><span class="smcap">The Last Fight</span></a><br> +18. <a href="#page308"><span class="smcap">Home Again</span></a><br> +<a href="#page315"><span class="smcap">Appendix.</span></a><br> + 1. <a href="#page315"><span class="smcap">Roll of Honour</span></a><br> + 2. <a href="#page321"><span class="smcap">Honours</span></a></p> + +<h4>ILLUSTRATIONS. <span class="pagenum"><a id="page010" name="page010"></a>(p. 010)</span></h4> + +<p class="col05"> +<a href="#img001"><span class="smcap">Lieut.-Colonel G. H. Fowler</span></a><br> +<a href="#img003"><span class="smcap">Officers at Harpenden, Nov. 1914</span></a><br> +<a href="#img004"><span class="smcap">The Avenue, Kemmel</span></a><br> +<a href="#img009"><span class="smcap">Major J. P. Becher, D.S.O.</span></a><br> +<a href="#img010"><span class="smcap">R.S.M. Westerman and N.C.O.'s of A Company</span></a><br> +<a href="#img012"><span class="smcap">R.S.M. Mounteney and N.C.O.'s of C Company</span></a><br> +<a href="#img014"><span class="smcap">Lieut.-Colonel B. W. Vann, V.C., M.C.</span></a><br> +<a href="#img015"><span class="smcap">The Brasserie, Foncquevillers</span></a><br> +<a href="#img017"><span class="smcap">Air Photograph of Lens and Loos Area</span></a><br> +<a href="#img019"><span class="smcap">Air Photograph of Part of St. Elie Sector</span></a><br> +<a href="#img021"><span class="smcap">The Beuvry—La Bassée Road</span></a><br> +<a href="#img022"><span class="smcap">Gorre Brewery</span></a><br> +<a href="#img023"><span class="smcap">The Clock Tower, Béthune</span></a><br> +<a href="#img024"><span class="smcap">St. Quentin Canal, Bellenglise</span></a><br> +</p> + +<h4>MAPS AND PLANS. <span class="pagenum"><a id="page011" name="page011"></a>(p. 011)</span></h4> + + +<p class="col05"> +<a href="#img005"><span class="smcap">Sketch of Mine Galleries</span></a><br> +<a href="#img006"><span class="smcap">Kemmel Sector</span></a><br> +<a href="#img007"><span class="smcap">Hooge and Sanctuary Wood</span></a><br> +<a href="#img008"><span class="smcap">Hohenzollern Redoubt</span></a><br> +<a href="#img016"><span class="smcap">Gommecourt</span></a><br> +<a href="#img018"><span class="smcap">Lens District</span></a><br> +<a href="#img020"><span class="smcap">Diagram of Signal Communications</span></a><br> +<a href="#img025"><span class="smcap">Battle of Ramicourt</span></a><br> +<a href="#img026"><span class="smcap">Battle of Regnicourt</span></a><br> +<a href="#img027"><span class="smcap">Battle of Bellenglise</span></a><br> +<a href="#img028"><span class="smcap">General Map of Western Front</span></a><br> +</p> + +<h4>SUMMARY OF EVENTS <span class="pagenum"><a id="page013" name="page013"></a>(p. 013)</span> +1914.</h4> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" summary="Summary Of Events"> +<colgroup> +<col width="7"> +<col width="10"> +<col width="3"> +<col width="30"> +<col width="50"> +</colgroup> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + Aug. + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 4th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + War declared. Mobilisation ordered. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 7th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Concentration at Newark. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 10th<br>11th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Marched via Radcliffe-on-Trent to Derby. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 15th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Entrained at Derby for Luton. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 21st + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Moved to Harpenden. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 22nd + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td rowspan="2"> + Training in Harpenden Area. + </td> + <td rowspan="2">Sept. 29th—Inspection by Lord Kitchener at Luton Hoo.<br> + Oct. 6th—Inspection by Lord Roberts at Sandridge. + </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + Nov. + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 15th + </td> + <td> + + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 16th<br>18th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Marched via Harlow and Dunmow to Bocking. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 19th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td rowspan="2" colspan="2"> + Trench digging near Bocking. + </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + Dec. + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 27th + </td> + <td> + + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 28th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan ="2" rowspan="3"> + By train to Luton for Musketry at Wardown and Galley Hill Ranges, and Field Firing at + Dunstable, returning to Bocking. + </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + 1915 + </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + Jan + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 5th + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 6th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td rowspan="2"> + Training in Bocking Area. + </td> + <td rowspan="2"> + Feb. 19th—Inspection by H.M. The King near Bishop's Stortford. + </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + Feb. + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 24th + </td> + <td> + + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 25th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Entrained at Bocking for Southampton. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 26th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2" rowspan="2"> + Crossed by detachments to Havre. + </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + Mar. + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 3rd + </td> + <td> + + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 3rd<br>4th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + By train to Cassel and marched to Oudezeele. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 9th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Marched to Merris. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 10th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Moved to Bac-St. Maur, for First Battle of Neuve Chapelle. Temporarily attached to 2nd Cavalry Division. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 13th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Marched to Neuf Berquin for training. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 24th<br>26th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Moved via Vieux Berquin to Romarin. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 27th<br>30th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Trench instruction at Ploegsteert and Messines. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 31st + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Marched back to Vieux Berquin. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + April + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 2nd + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Marched to Locre. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 3rd + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Took over Kemmel sector. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + April + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 4th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td rowspan="2"> + In line in Kemmel sector with intervals in rest billets at Locre. + </td> + <td rowspan="2"> + April 22nd—Gas used against French and Canadians in Ypres Salient. Traces in trenches held by Battalion.<br> + April 24—Heavy trench mortar bombardment of front line held by B, C and D Companies.<br> + June 15th—Enemy blew up by mines and raided part of front line. + <span class="pagenum"><a id="page014" name="page014"></a>(p. 014)</span> + </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + June + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 20th + </td> + <td> + + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 20th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Marched to huts near Vlamertinghe. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 21th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td rowspan="2"> + In line at Hooge and Sanctuary Wood, with intervals at rest in bivouacs near Poperinghe. + </td> + <td rowspan="2"> + July 30th—First "liquid fire" attack. + </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + Aug. + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 28th + </td> + <td> + + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 29th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td rowspan="2"> + In line at Middlesex Wood, adjoining Ypres-Comines Canal, near St. Eloi, with rest bivouacs near Ouderdom. + </td> + <td rowspan="2"> + Sept. 21st—Inspection by Gen. Plumer.<br> + Sept. 25th—Demonstrations in conjunction with attacks on other portions of the front. + </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + Sept. + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 30th + </td> + <td> + + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + Oct. + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 1st + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Marched from Ouderdom and entrained at Abeele for Fouquereuil. Billeted in Béthune. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 3rd + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Moved to Mont Bernenchon. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 4th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Marched back to Béthune, proceeded by 'bus to Vermelles, and took over reserve trenches near Lone Tree, + North of Loos. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 5th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Moved back to Mazingarbe. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 6th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Marched to Fouquières. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 13th<br>14th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Attack on Hohenzollern Redoubt. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 16th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Moved back to Vaudricourt. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 19th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Marched to Lapugnoy for training. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 26th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Marched to Béthune. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + Oct. + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 28th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Composite Company with other troops of XI Corps inspected by H.M. The King at Hesdigneul. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + Nov. + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 4th<br>5th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Marched via Epinette to Vieille Chapelle. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 6th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2" rowspan="2"> + In line in Richebourg sector, with rest billets at Vieille Chapelle and Lacouture. + <span class="pagenum"><a id="page015" name="page015"></a>(p. 015)</span> + </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + Dec. + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 2nd + </td> + <td> + + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 3rd + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Marched from Vieille Chapelle to Haverskerque for training. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 19th<br>26th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Marched via Wittes to Molinghem and continued training. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + 1916. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + Jan. + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 7th<br>9th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Entrained at Berguette for Marseilles. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + Jan. + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 26th<br>28th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Returned by train to Pont Remy. Marched to Ergnies for training. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + Feb. + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 10th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Marched to Ribeaucourt. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 20th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Moved by motor lorry to Candas. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 21st + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2" rowspan="2"> + Training and work for R.E.'s on new railway lines in Candas area. + </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + March + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 5th + </td> + <td> + + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 6th<br>9th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Marched via Iverny and Maizières to Acq. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 10th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2" rowspan="2"> + In line in Vimy sector, with intervals at rest in huts behind Mont St. Eloy. Mining activity. + </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + April + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 20th + </td> + <td> + + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 21st + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + By 'bus to billets at Tincques and Bethencourt for training. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 29th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Moved to Averdoignt. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + May + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 6th<br>10th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Marched via Rebreuviette and Gaudiempré to Bienvillers. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 11th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2" rowspan="2"> + In line in front of Foncquevillers. + </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + June + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 4th + </td> + <td> + + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 5th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Moved back to Humbercamp. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 6th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Marched by night to Le Souich. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 8th<br>14th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Training in attack practice near Sus-St. Leger. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 15th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Marched to Humbercamp. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 16th<br>18th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Working parties found for digging cable trenches and screening approaches near Bienvillers. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 19th<br>27th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + In line in front of Foncquevillers. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 28th<br>29th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Rested at Pommier. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 30th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Moved at night to assembly positions in front of Foncquevillers. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + July + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 1st + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Battle of Gommecourt. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 2nd + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Moved back to Gaudiempré. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 3rd + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Marched to huts at Bavincourt. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 4th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Marched back to Pommier and Bienvillers. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + July + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 10th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Moved to Bellacourt. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page016" name="page016"></a>(p. 016)</span> + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 11th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2" rowspan="2"> + In line in front of Bretencourt, with periods in Support at Bellacourt, and in Reserve at + Bailleulval. (Sept. 22nd, Raid by A Company near Blairville.) + </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + Oct. + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 28th + </td> + <td> + + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 29th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2" rowspan="2"> + Marched from Bailleulval via Warluzel, Le Souich and Neuvillette to Maison Ponthieu, for training. + </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + Nov. + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 3rd + </td> + <td> + + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 22nd<br>25th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Marched via Bealcourt and Neuvillette to Humbercourt. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + Dec. + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 6th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Moved to Support billets at Foncquevillers and Souastre. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 7th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2" rowspan="3"> + In line in front of Foncquevillers, with intervals in Support in posts in and about Foncquevillers, + and in billets at Souastre. (Feb. 16th—17th, heavy bombardment with gas shells and + bombs.) + </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + 1917. + </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + Feb. + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 18th + </td> + <td> + + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 19th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Moved back to St. Amand. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 20th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Marched to Iverny for training. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 28th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2" rowspan="2"> + Returned via Grenas to St. Amand. + </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + March + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 1st + </td> + <td> + + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 3rd + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Took over recently evacuated German trenches at Gommecourt. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 4th<br>13th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Followed up enemy to Pigeon Wood, Brayelle Farm and Essarts. (March 4th, heavy counter-attack + against C Company.) + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 17th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Moved back to Souastre. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 20th<br>24th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Marched via Bayencourt, Courcelles-au-Bois and Contay to Bertangles. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 25th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Moved by 'bus through Amiens to Revelles. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 28th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Entrained at Bacouel. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 29th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Detrained at Berguette and marched to Westrehem for training. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + April + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 13th<br>14th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Marched via Vendin-lez-Béthune to Houchin. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 18th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Moved up to Support billets in Liévin. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 19th<br>22nd + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Skirmishing in Cité de Riaumont. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 23rd + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Attack on Hill 65 by C Company. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 24th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2" rowspan="2"> + Held sectors in front of Liévin and Loos, with intervals in Support in Liévin and in Reserve + at Marqueffles Farm and Noeux-les-Mines. + </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + June + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 30th + </td> + <td> + + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + July + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 1st + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + In Brigade Reserve for attack by 46th Division West of Lens. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 4th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + On relief by Canadians marched to Bully Grenay and by 'bus to Chelers for training. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page017" name="page017"></a>(p. 017)</span> + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 23rd + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Marched to Verquin. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 24th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2" rowspan="2"> + In line in St. Elie sector and in Support at Philosophe. + </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + Aug. + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 15th + </td> + <td> + + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 16th<br>25th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Training in Verquin area. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 26th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2" rowspan="2"> + In line in Cambrin sector and in Support at Annequin. + </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + Sept. + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 12th + </td> + <td> + + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 13th<br>19th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + In Divisional Reserve at Fouquières. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 20th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Marched to Mazingarbe huts. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 21st + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2" rowspan="2"> + In line in Hill 70 sector, in Support in trenches North of Loos, and in Reserve at Mazingarbe. + </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + Nov. + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 14th + </td> + <td> + + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 15th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2" rowspan="3"> + In line in St. Elie sector, in Support at Philosophe, and in Reserve at Verquin. (Jan. 2nd, Raid + on front held by D Company.) + </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + 1918. + </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + Jan. + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 20th + </td> + <td> + + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 21st + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Marched from Verquin to Burbure. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 22nd + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2" rowspan="2"> + Training at Burbure. Large detachment at Mazingarbe digging reserve trenches near Vermelles. + </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + Feb. + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 8th + </td> + <td> + + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 9th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Marched from Burbure to Laires and Livossart. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 13th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Moved to Enquin-les-Mines for training. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + March + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 5th<br>6th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Marched to Westrehem and by 'bus to Béthune. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 14th<br>19th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Held Annequin Fosse "Locality," in view of heavy attacks expected. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 20th<br>23rd + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + In line in Cambrin sector. (March 22nd, Heavy bombardment and raid on A Company.) + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 24th<br>26th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + In Support at Beuvry. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 27th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2" rowspan="2"> + In line in St. Emile sector, and in Support in St. Pierre. + </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + April + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 10th + </td> + <td> + + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 11th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + On relief by Canadians, moved back to Vaudricourt. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 18th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Moved to reserve trenches in front of Sailly-Labourse. Unsuccessful attack by enemy near Givenchy. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 20th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Returned to Vaudricourt. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 23rd + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Marched to Béthune. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 24th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2" rowspan="2"> + In line in Gorre and Essars sectors, and in Reserve at Fouquières, Vaudricourt Park and Verquin. + </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + Aug. + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 17th + </td> + <td> + + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 18th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Occupied Le Touret after driving out enemy rear-guard. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 19th<br>31st + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + In billets at Verquin, Vaudricourt Park, Fouquières, Essars and Gorre. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + Sept. + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 1st + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Took over front line near Richebourg St. Vaast. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page018" name="page018"></a>(p. 018)</span> + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 2nd<br>3rd + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Continued to drive back enemy rearguards. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 4th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Attacked and occupied old British Line in front of Richebourg l'Avoué. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 5th<br>7th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Moved back via Beuvry to Auchel for training. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 11th<br>12th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + By train from Calonne Ricouart via Amiens to Corbie and marched to La Houssoye for training. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 18th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Marched to Bonnay and by 'bus to Poeuilly. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 20th<br>25th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + In line about Pontru and Pontruet. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 26th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Moved back to bivouacs near Vendelles. + </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 29th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Battle of Bellenglise. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 30th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2" rowspan="2"> + In dug-outs near Lehaucourt and Magny-la-Fosse. + </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + Oct. + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 2nd + </td> + <td> + + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 3rd + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Battle of Ramicourt. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 5th<br>7th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + In line at Sequehart. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 8th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Resting at Lehaucourt. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 9th<br>12th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Moved via Levergies and Mericourt to Jonnecourt Farm, near Bohain. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 17th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Battle of Regnicourt.—The Last Fight. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 18th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Moved back to Fresnoy-le-Grand for training. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 30th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Marched to Bohain. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + Nov. + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 3rd<br>4th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Marched via Escaufort to Catillon. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 5th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Crossed Sambre-Oise Canal and advanced to Mezières. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 6th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Occupied Prisches and Cartignies. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 7th<br>9th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + At Cartignies. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 10th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Marched from Cartignies to Boulogne-sur-Helpe. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 11th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Armistice. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 14th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Marched to Landrecies. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 15th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2" rowspan="3"> + Clearing battlefield in Landrecies area. Demobilisation begun. + </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + 1919. + </td> + <td class="td-right"> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + Jan. + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 2nd + </td> + <td> + + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + " + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 3rd + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Marched from Landrecies to Prisches and continued clearing battlefield. + </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + Feb. + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 19th<br>20th + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Marched via Bazuel to Bethencourt, near Candry, for completion of Demobilisation. + </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="td-center"> + June + </td> + <td class="td-right"> + 23rd + </td> + <td> + + </td> + <td colspan="2"> + Return of Cadre and Colours to Headquarters at Newark. + </td> +</tr> +</table> + + + +<h3>CHAPTER I <span class="pagenum"><a id="page019" name="page019"></a>(p. 019)</span></h3> + +<h5>ENGLAND</h5> + + +<p class="figcenter"><i>August 4th, 1914.</i>—<i>February 25th, 1915.</i></p> + +<p class="p2">When the 8th Sherwood Foresters concentrated +at Hunmanby, at the end of July, 1914, for +their usual annual training, the International horizon +was clouded with the diplomatic conversations which +had followed the murder of the Archduke Francis +Ferdinand of Austria by Servians at Sarajevo. Many +hoped, no doubt, that the experience of the Morocco +incident of 1905 and the Agadir incident of 1911, would +again be repeated and that once more the clouds of a +world war would be dissipated, but when we reflect upon +this period of the world's history it is easy now to see +that war with Germany, sooner or later, was inevitable.</p> + +<p>The atmosphere was so charged with electricity +that it was impossible to settle down to the normal +routine of training, and there was little surprise when +on August 3rd, Bank Holiday, Germany declared war +on France, and when on the following day, August 4th, +Great Britain herself, following upon the violation of +the neutrality of Belgium, joined forces with Russia +and France.</p> + +<p>Territorial Camps were at once broken up and all +ranks ordered home, with instructions to hold themselves +in readiness for any emergency.</p> + +<p>The Royal Proclamation for the embodiment of +the 8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts. and Derby +Regiment) was issued at 6.45 p.m. on Tuesday, +August 4th, and notified to all units in the briefest +possible telegram—"Mobilise." During Wednesday and +Thursday, August 5th and 6th, all Companies were +endeavouring to purchase locally and issue to every +man, underclothing and necessaries according to scale. +This <span class="pagenum"><a id="page020" name="page020"></a>(p. 020)</span> was a big undertaking, as the scheme for earmarking +such goods in the case of embodiment had not been +completed, and there was, therefore, some delay in +obtaining all requirements. The strength of the Battalion +on mobilisation was 29 officers and 852 other ranks.</p> + +<p>On Friday, August 7th, the Battalion concentrated +at Newark, under the Command of Lieut.-Col. C. J. +Huskinson, T.D., with Major G. H. Fowler second in +Command, and Capt. E. N. T. Collin, Adjutant, +Companies and their Officers at this time being as +follows:—</p> + +<p class="col30"> +<span class="col-30">A Company—Retford.—Lieut. W. R. Smith, 2nd Lieuts. + L. Rose and E. C. A. James.</span><br> + +<span class="col-30">B " Newark.—Capt. L. C. B. Appleby, Lieuts. + C. Davenport and A. H. Quibell.</span><br> + +<span class="col-30">C " Sutton-in-Ashfield.—Lieut. M. C. Martyn, + 2nd Lieuts. H. G. Wright and R. H. Piggford.</span><br> + +<span class="col-30">D " Mansfield.—Capt. A. C. Clarke, 2nd Lieut. J. W. Turner.</span><br> + +<span class="col-30">E " Carlton.—Lieut. F. G. Cursham, 2nd Lieut. H. Kirby.</span><br> + +<span class="col-30">F " Arnold.—2nd Lieuts. G. Clarke and A. F. O. Dobson.</span><br> + +<span class="col-30">G " Worksop.—Capt. E. W. E. Tylden-Wright, Lieut. W. H. Allen.</span><br> + +<span class="col-30">H " Southwell.—Capt. J. P. Becher, Lieut. J. K. Lane, + 2nd Lieut. H. B. S. Handford.</span></p> + + +<p>Lieut. A. L. Ashwell was Machine-Gun Officer; Capt. +F. W. Johnson, and Surgeon-Capt. H. Stallard, Medical +Officers, and Rev. J. P. Hales, Chaplain; Major W. N. +Sarll was Quarter-Master, but, being medically unfit, +at once handed over his duties to Capt. R. F. B. +Hodgkinson, who joined from the Territorial Force +Reserve. Capt. R. J. Wordsworth mobilised with Brigade +Headquarters.</p> + +<p>The <span class="pagenum"><a id="page021" name="page021"></a>(p. 021)</span> Battalion was billeted for the most part in +Schools: B Company were detailed for various duties +in the town, and H Company found guards on bridges +and other points on the Great Northern Railway, the +most important being the Tubular Bridge. Nothing of +interest happened except that a too keen sentry one night +loosed off at some suspicious looking persons, who turned +out to be innocent platelayers returning home from +work. Fortunately there were no casualties.</p> + +<p>On Monday, August 10th, at 9.30 a.m., we paraded +in the Market Place ready to begin our move to concentration +areas. The Mayor (Mr. J. C. Kew) and +Corporation were present, accompanied by Canon +Hindley, Vicar of Newark, and other Clergy, and there +was a dense crowd of onlookers. After an address by +the Mayor, who wished us God speed, and a short service, +we marched off via the Fosse Way to Radcliffe-on-Trent, +leaving behind H Company under Capt. Becher, to +guard the railway.</p> + +<p>For the first time in its history the Battalion had +complete First Line and Train Transport with it, this +being under the command of Lieut. Davenport, who had +been appointed Transport Officer. The vehicles were not +exactly regulation pattern, but little fault could be found +with the horses, all of which had been purchased locally. +Floats from Warwick and Richardson's and Hole's +formed the majority of the Small Arm Ammunition and +tool carts, whilst Dickens's Mineral Water drays and +Davy's Brewery drays made fairly good General Service +wagons, when fitted with light wooden sides. A furniture +van full of blankets, two Corporation water carts, and +a bread cart with a large red cross on each side, +completed the collection. We feel sure that few +Regimental Transports can have looked more like a circus +than did ours as we left Newark.</p> + +<p>The <span class="pagenum"><a id="page022" name="page022"></a>(p. 022)</span> march of 14 miles to Radcliffe-on-Trent was +completed about 4 p.m., and after a good night's rest +we left early on August 11th, and proceeding via +Nottingham, arrived at Derby at 6.30 p.m., after a +23 mile march. This was a very severe test for all, +as few were really "hard" enough at that time for +such a long trek. Route marches were accordingly +carried out, on each of the three extremely hot days +spent at Derby, as the main part of our programme.</p> + +<p>Whilst at Derby the main subject of discussion +was that of Imperial Service for Territorial units. So +far as we were concerned a considerable number of +officers and men had already volunteered. There +were many others who had not actually done so, but +there was no doubt as to what their answer would be. +Of the remainder many were practically disqualified +from serving abroad by reason of age, unfitness, family +and business ties, and other reasons, and for them, +in the light of the little we knew then, the decision was +most difficult, and the need for it we hardly thought +fair. The demand for volunteers was in the first instance +put rather baldly, with little notice, and with apparently +little realisation of the enormous difficulties under +which so many were labouring, and it was not surprising +that this appeal met with little response. A second +earnest appeal, reinforced by the feeling that the honour, +even the existence of the Battalion was in danger, +resulted in over 800 volunteering, which was eminently +satisfactory, though it is impossible to avoid the feeling +that many who volunteered then did so against their +better judgment, and that the decision should have +been made for them.</p> + +<p>All the other units in the Division having more or +less similarly settled this vital question, training was +started in earnest.</p> + +<p>The <span class="pagenum"><a id="page023" name="page023"></a>(p. 023)</span> first area allotted to the Division was Hertfordshire, +and we entrained on August 15th, for the +first time, and by no means the last. Hours went +by after our scheduled time before there was any sign +of the train. In an adjoining field, however, the +various Company entertainers had full scope and played +to large audiences. Eventually we got off in two trains, +and detraining at Leagrave marched the last three miles +to Luton, where we arrived in the early hours of August +16th. Here we stayed for six days and carried out a +little training, mostly at Luton Hoo and Markyate. +We cannot say that we regarded this as the most pleasant +of our experiences, as our billets were not of the best +either for Officers, who were mostly crowded into a few +cottages, and took turns at bathing in small tin baths +in the sculleries, or men who were also crowded in somewhat +unwholesome schools, while our menu consisted +monotonously of bully beef and pickle, and army biscuit +and cheese.</p> + +<p>Better things fortunately were in store, for on +August 21st, we moved on a few miles to Harpenden, +where we were destined to stay for three months, and +where we received on all sides the greatest possible +hospitality. We are sure that all who were billeted at +Harpenden will look back with the greatest pleasure +to the time spent in that delightful district. The men +for the most part were billeted in small houses, three +or four together, and with the more than ample rations +and billeting allowances then in force, both men and +billet owners were exceedingly well off.</p> + +<p>Here we had also the 5th, 6th and 7th Sherwood +Foresters, which, with ourselves, formed the Notts, +and Derby Infantry Brigade, under the Command of +Brigadier-General C. T. Shipley, who had Major E. M. +Morris as Brigade Major, and Capt. R. J. Wordsworth as +Staff Captain. The Stafford and Lincoln and Leicester +Infantry <span class="pagenum"><a id="page024" name="page024"></a>(p. 024)</span> Brigades completed the North Midland Division, +which was commanded by Major-General The Hon. +E. J. Montagu Stuart-Wortley.</p> + +<p>Fortunately the weather for some time was splendid, +and the Battalion soon began to shew the result of +constant and regular drill, and the turnout and smartness +improved rapidly. Training comprised almost every +possible form that could be required to make both +officers and men efficient, and went so far as to include +the detailing of Sergt.-Instructor Mounteney to carry out +the by no means easy task of trying to turn Officers +into swordsmen. It is no disparagement of his efforts to +congratulate ourselves that we never had to put our lessons +to the test of stern reality. "Infantry Training" and +"Field Service Regulations" were studied and more or less +followed out in practice in all we did. Most of our drill, +musketry instruction, bayonet fighting, physical exercises, +and outpost drill were carried out on the splendid +Common at Harpenden, but our training area extended +to most of the surrounding parks and farms, where the +bulk of our more advanced work in attack practice and +tactical exercises was carried out. Perhaps some of +the best remembered places are "High Firs," where we +first spent a night in bivouacs, Sandridge, where there +was a small range, Rothamstead Park, Redbourn, +Ayre's End, Hammond's End Farm, Annable's Farm, +Mackery End, Thrale's End Farm, where barbed wire +entanglements were put up, the like of which we never +saw in France or anywhere else, and Cold Harbour. +At Sundon, not far from Dunstable, we dug and occupied +our first real trench system, which after a preliminary +skirmish at night, when rockets were used to guide the +attacking troops, had to withstand a heavy dawn attack +by the Lincoln and Leicester Brigade.</p> + +<p>Classification practices were fired at Wardown and +Galley Hill ranges, near Luton, on thoroughly wet and +disagreeable <span class="pagenum"><a id="page025" name="page025"></a>(p. 025)</span> days, with ammunition not intended for the +rifle we were using, and altogether under such adverse +conditions, that good scores were impossible.</p> + +<p>In addition to Brigade and Divisional schemes in +the neighbourhood of Harpenden we had big shows on +two days at Kinsworth, near Dunstable. Of our indoor +classes, probably the most entertaining were the French +lessons given after mess sometimes by a kind friend +from the Y.M.C.A.; he did his best, but we fear that +it was not quite the right time of day to find a class +of Officers in a mood for imbibing instruction.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile there were many changes in personnel: +Lieut. James took over A Company from Lieut. Smith, +who was unfit; Capt. Appleby and Lieut. Cursham +proceeded to Dunstable to take charge of Home Service +men; Lieut. Quibell went to the Depôt at Newark; +Capt. Tylden-Wright being unfit, G Company was +handed over to Capt. Allen; Lieut. Turner took over +the Machine-Gun Section on Lieut. Ashwell becoming +Assistant Adjutant; Lieut. G. Clarke was Musketry +Officer; Lieut. H. B. S. Handford, Signalling Officer; +and Lieut. Piggford, Scout Officer. Subalterns who +joined during these early days included 2nd Lieuts. +W. H. Hollins, J. V. Edge, A. Hacking, E. M. Hacking, +W. N. Wright, J. R. Eddison, B. W. Vann, J. M. Gray. +J. S. C. Oates, R. E. Hemingway, A. P. F. Hamilton, and +W. C. C. Weetman. Hamilton soon left us to join the +Divisional Cyclists and afterwards served with the Tank +Corps, winning the M.C. In other ranks there were also +changes: Sergt.-Instructors Hancock, Holmes and Walker +went to other units, a number of men went to Dunstable, +and a good many were discharged medically unfit, +but our numbers were constantly being swelled by the +arrival of recruits who kept coming in batches at frequent +intervals from the Depôt, and made up our strength +practically to establishment.</p> + +<a id="img003" name="img003"></a> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/img003.jpg" width="600" height="410" alt="OFFICERS AT HARPENDEN; Nov., 1914." title="OFFICERS AT HARPENDEN; Nov., 1914."> +</div> + +<p class="figcenter">Officers At Harpenden; Nov., 1914.<br> + +<i>Back Row</i>: 2nd Lieut. A. F. O. Dobson, 2nd Lieut. J. S. C. Oates, 2nd Lieut. E. M. Hacking. 2nd Lieut. A. Hacking, 2nd Lieut. W. C. C. Weetman, + Lieut. H. B. S. Handford, Capt. J. K. Lane, 2nd Lieut. J. R. Eddison, 2nd Lieut. H. Kirby.<br> + +<i>Middle Row</i>: 2nd Lieut. J. M. Gray, 2nd Lieut. W. N. Wright, Lieut. H. G. Wright, 2nd Lieut. B. W. Vann, 2nd Lieut. J. V. Edge, + Lieut. G. Clarke, 2nd Lieut. W. H. Hollins, 2nd Lieut. E. C. A. James, 2nd Lieut. J. W. Turner, Lieut. C. Davenport.<br> + +<i>Front Row</i>: Capt. and Qtr.-Mtr. R. F. B. Hodgkinson, Capt. W. H. Allen, Major A. C. Clarke, Rev. J. P. Hales, Capt. and Adjt. E. N. T. Collin, + Lieut.-Col. C. J. Huskinson, Major G. H. Fowler, Capt. J. P. Becher, Capt. M. C. Martyn, Capt. A. L. Ashwell, Surgeon-Capt. H. Stallard.<br> + +<i>On Ground</i>: 2nd Lieut. R. H. Piggford 2nd Lieut. A. P. F. Hamilton.<br> + +<i>Reproduced by permission of H. A. Valentine, Photographer, Harpenden.</i></p> + +<p>Lieut.-Col. <span class="pagenum"><a id="page026" name="page026"></a>(p. 026)</span> G. S. Foljambe, who had joined from +the Territorial Force Reserve, was in charge at the +Depôt, and later commanded for some time the 3rd +Line, with the unenviable task of getting together +and training in an extraordinarily short space of time, +personnel to replenish the 1st and 2nd Lines. Many +young Officers and others who passed through his hands +in those days look back with pleasure and affection to +the happy times spent under his kindly care at Newark +and Belton Park.</p> + +<p>Recreations in these early days were run on the +usual lines. Padre Hales had a reading room and +organised Battalion Concerts from time to time, at +which much local talent was displayed, but with everyone +living in houses organised entertainment was not so +necessary as we later found it to be in isolated camps, +or at out-of-the-way villages in France.</p> + +<p>We were inspected three times during this period; +once at Harpenden by Lieut.-General Sir Ian Hamilton, +commanding the Central Force, again on September +29th, by Lord Kitchener in Luton Hoo Park, when we +thought we made a very creditable display, and lastly, +on October 6th, after we had carried out an attack +scheme ending up on the Sandridge Rifle Range, when the +Battalion had the honour of marching past Lord Roberts.</p> + +<p>The air, of course, was full of rumours. As early +as September 1st, we were told that we should be +off to France in a month: later the date was fixed for +October 30th, and then November 7th, Bordeaux being +mentioned as the elusive objective. On this last occasion +it seemed so certain that we were going that a farewell +sermon was preached, which turned out to be decidedly +premature. We heard with every conceivable detail +the delicious stories of the thousands of Russians +who kept pouring through Nottingham, and like +others we had the usual excitements of spy scares, +all of which were very entertaining, and one at least +highly <span class="pagenum"><a id="page027" name="page027"></a>(p. 027)</span> dangerous, when one of our chases took some of +us over the railway embankment armed with loaded +revolvers.</p> + +<p>Whatever the possibilities of our going out early +may have been, one step was taken which could have +had only that object in view, viz. inoculation against +typhoid. We can only hope that the Medical Officers +who operated on us got more fun out of the operation +than we did.</p> + +<p>Marching orders came eventually, and as ever, when +least expected. Late on Sunday evening, November +15th, we were told to be ready to move at an hour's +notice. This was presumed to be due to a feared raid +and landing on the East Coast—at any rate one hopes +there was some equally good reason for it, for quite a +number of Officers and men had been allowed to go on +week-end leave, and had to be recalled by telegram, +whilst the following day was to have been a holiday.</p> + +<p>We shall not easily forget that night—the energy +we expended in packing valises, brows sweating, tempers +bad, language beyond description,—all trying the +impossible feat of making the wonderful collection of +kit we had got together on the advice of one friend or +another keep within the allotted allowance of 35lbs.</p> + +<p>Apart from our own individual troubles, we had the +additional enormous task set of issuing new equipment +to everybody. The 1908 bandolier pattern had been +withdrawn, and new leather equipment (pattern 1914) +had arrived on the previous Friday and Saturday, and +the Quarter-Master's staff had been busy marking it and +getting it ready for issuing. This all had to be issued +during the Sunday night, and was carried round to billets +in blankets. The language of something like 900 men all +trying to put together an entirely new set of equipment, +the like of which they had never seen, may well be +imagined. We were the first Battalion to be issued +with this equipment, which on the next day's march +proved <span class="pagenum"><a id="page028" name="page028"></a>(p. 028)</span> very unsatisfactory, many buckles and straps +pulling right out of the webbing of the packs and haversacks. +We were glad when a month later it was all +withdrawn, and we were issued with the much more +popular and lasting web equipment.</p> + +<p>Eventually the Battalion paraded at 9 a.m. on +November 16th, one hour late, and in consequence +instead of leading the Brigade we had to march in rear. +We got to Harlow, a distance of something like 26 miles, +about 8 p.m. This was a very trying march, and as +many men had only been issued with new boots during +the night, it was not surprising that several fell out. On +this march we first realised what a difficult and technical +job "supply" can be. The supply and baggage wagons +appear to have been hopelessly overloaded, and in +consequence both rations and blankets failed to reach +us that night. It was largely owing to the extreme +kindness and hospitality of the inhabitants of the delightful +little village of Harlow, amongst whom was the +evergreen veteran Sir Evelyn Wood, V.C., that we were +fed and breakfasted and able to continue the march the +following day, 14 miles to Dunmow. This proved +more trying than the previous day, and the Medical +Officer and stretcher-bearers had a busy time attending +to those who fell out.</p> + +<p>On the 18th, we finished the journey by a nine mile +march to Bocking, and there settled down into billets +for the rest of our time in England. Though we were +spoilt at Harpenden, we are sure that all ranks have +nothing but pleasant recollections of the time spent at +Braintree and Bocking, where one and all treated us +with the greatest kindness, and we hope were sorry to +lose us. Where all were so kind it is almost invidious +to mention names, but one feels (though they themselves +would be the first to deny it) that a special debt +of gratitude is owed to the Nuns of the Convent at +Booking, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page029" name="page029"></a>(p. 029)</span> whose kindness and care for those who were +billeted at the Convent, and for all with whom they +came in contact, were beyond all praise.</p> + +<p>In order to prepare for any possible German landing +on the Essex coast orders had been issued for a series +of trenches to be dug to form defensive lines for the +protection of London, and we were at once set on to this +work, which was pushed on as rapidly as possible, systems +of trenches, redoubts, gun positions, and other defensive +works being put in hand. Our work was mainly at Panfield, +Marks Farm and Black Notley. It was not an +ideal season for trench digging, especially in the clay +of Essex, which was the "genuine" article, and we were +glad when the bulk of it was finished by Christmas. +This work was carried out under Royal Engineers' +supervision and was in some ways instructive, although +we thought that the principles we had been taught in +the Military Manuals were frequently violated by the +siting of trenches along the sides of prominent hedgerows. +Nevertheless, what we did was more after the +nature of what we were to meet in France, and therefore +of considerable practical value. That our work was +satisfactory was testified to by the insertion in Central +Force Orders of January 23rd, 1915, of the General +Officer Commanding-in-Chief's keen appreciation of the +soldierly spirit and enthusiasm shewn for the work +by all ranks. All the same, we have no regrets that it +was never necessary to occupy the trenches for actual +warfare.</p> + +<p>Owing to another scare Christmas leave was +cancelled. Scarborough had been bombarded on +December 22nd, and there was apparently a bit of a +"breeze." According to one writer this was due to a +little lack of liaison between our Naval and Military +authorities. The former had apparently spread a +rumour that an invasion of the German Coast was to +take <span class="pagenum"><a id="page030" name="page030"></a>(p. 030)</span> place, and the enemy concentrated numbers of +troops there in case it happened. This concentration +came to the knowledge of our military spies, who, however +were not told of the cause, and their report appears to +have caused our War Office to think that an invasion of +England was contemplated. We were not, however, +by any means dull at Christmas. On December 24th, +we beat the 6th Battalion 2—1 in the first round of +the Divisional Football competition, Vann being skipper, +and in the evening the Warrant Officers and N.C.O.'s had +a dance at Braintree Corn Exchange. On Christmas Day +there was Church Parade at Braintree, when the Bishop +of Derby preached. Later, dinners were issued on a +sumptuous scale, and in the evening the Officers were +entertained at the White Hart by the Colonel and Major +Fowler.</p> + +<p>In a later round of the Divisional Cup Competition, +we beat the Divisional Mechanical Transport Column +3—0, and got into the semi-final, when, however, we were +badly beaten by the 4th Leicesters at Bishop's Stortford, +by 3 goals to nil. In a Brigade paper chase which was +held on December 26th, Pvte. Allen of E Company +came in first.</p> + +<p>On December 28th, we returned to Luton by train +to carry out final firing practices at the Wardown and +Galley Hill Ranges, and field firing practice at Dunstable +in appalling weather, when frost, snow and rain made +accurate shooting perfectly impossible, and we were +glad indeed to get back to Bocking on January 6th, +1915.</p> + +<p>The rest of our time was spent in final training, +mainly carried out at Gosfield Park and Abbot's Hall, +and in preparations for going out, in which the inspection +and completion of equipment of all kinds played a +prominent part. This was not too easy a job for the +young Company or Section Commanders, as the men by +this <span class="pagenum"><a id="page031" name="page031"></a>(p. 031)</span> time were up to all the "old soldier" tricks, and +were very clever at making one article appear +almost simultaneously in half-a-dozen different kits. +Drill included a certain amount of new bayonet +fighting and other exercises under Major A. C. +Clarke, who had attended a course at Chelsea. Mules +arrived in January and were objects of much interest; +our miscellaneous transport vehicles were discarded and +replaced by new ordnance pattern issues, to which were +added two Lune Valley Cookers, kindly presented by +the ladies of Nottinghamshire. At the end of January +the Battalion had to be completely reorganised in order +to come into line with the regular Battalions: the old +8-Company system was abolished, and the 1914 +Double Company organisation introduced, entailing an +immense amount of work and keeping us busy right up +to the time of our departure. The situation was not +helped by the absence of Major Fowler with eight +Subalterns and 407 recruits, who were away carrying +out musketry classification practices at Luton from +February 3rd to 20th.</p> + +<p>Our chief relaxation at Bocking in the early +part of 1915 was night searching for elusive spies, +who were supposed to carry on lamp signalling; +more often than not when these were tracked down +they turned out to be innocent stable guards doing their +nightly rounds. At other times we picketed the roads +to hold up motor cars which were supposed to be acting +as guides to Zeppelins, but it is doubtful whether either +of these occupations did a great deal towards bringing +about the more rapid conclusion of the war.</p> + +<p>One also remembers the excitement caused by +the first Boche aeroplane dropping bombs within a +mile of the village, which we, of course, imagined had +been dropped for our especial benefit. One of the +Scouts secured a "dud," which was the object of +much <span class="pagenum"><a id="page032" name="page032"></a>(p. 032)</span> interest to everyone, up to the Divisional +Commander.</p> + +<p>It was about this time that the first distinguishing +patches were allotted to Battalions. Our first was a +square green patch worn behind the cap badge, undoubtedly +very smart, and the envy of the other +Battalions in the Brigade. When we got to France the +Officers of the Battalion had to wear two short vertical +green stripes at the top of the back of the jacket, to enable +them to be picked out from behind, as all ranks were +more or less similarly dressed and Officers' swords were +discarded. Later still these marks were worn by all +ranks in the Battalion, and the practice was continued +up to the end of the war.</p> + +<p>On February 15th, confidential orders were received +that we were to proceed abroad at a very early date. +Final preparations were put in hand, equipment, stores +and clothing were issued to complete, and everything +was made ready for a move.</p> + +<p>On February 16th, Col. Huskinson received notice +of his appointment as Commander of Base Details on +Lines of Communication with Capt. G. Clarke as his +Adjutant. Col. Huskinson had been to a great extent +responsible for the recruiting of the Battalion to full +strength before the war, and his keenness and enthusiasm +throughout the difficult times of reorganisation and +training during these first six months of the war, contributed +largely to the high standard of morale and +general efficiency reached in England. One and all were +sorry to lose him, but we were glad indeed to find +that Major Fowler was to succeed him in Command of +the Battalion.</p> + +<p>On February 19th, we had the honour of being +inspected with the rest of the Division by H.M. the King, +at Hallingbury Place, near Bishop's Stortford.</p> + +<p>Into <span class="pagenum"><a id="page033" name="page033"></a>(p. 033)</span> the last few days was crowded an immense +amount of work, for the final arrangements never seemed +to finish, and changes took place right up to the last. +We were made up to establishment in Officers by the +arrival of Lieuts. G. S. Heathcote and F. B. Lawson, +and 2nd Lieuts. C. L. Hill and T. H. F. Adams, whilst +large reinforcements from the 2/8th Battalion on +February 22nd, brought us up to full strength, and when +we left Bocking on February 25th, we were 31 Officers +and 996 other ranks. Second Lieut. R. E. Hemingway +was left behind with 100 men as the First Reinforcement, +and the Orderly Room was handed over to the care of +Col.-Sergt. Instructor F. Kieran. We left by two trains +at 7.50 and 9.15 a.m., and by 4.0 p.m. had all +detrained at Southampton Docks.</p> + +<p>On the whole the Battalion was well equipped, and +physically everyone was fit. The chief drawback +appeared to be that we had rather a large percentage of +young and inexperienced Officers and N.C.O.'s, but as +all had much to learn of the kind of warfare actually +going on, this was no great disadvantage. With so +many late additions and the very recent reorganisation, +few Commanders had had the opportunity of getting to +know their men. So far as training was concerned we +had covered in a way the whole of what the books had +to say, and were fairly well acquainted with ordinary +methods of fighting. There was a tendency towards +staleness at the moment, and it is doubtful whether +prolongation of our training in England would have been +beneficial. We felt somewhat ignorant of many practical +points affecting trench warfare, into which the fighting +on most of the Western front had degenerated, and +though we had received useful hints from Major Hume, +who had been out, we yet had a great deal to learn; this +we did in France, in the hard school of bitter experience. +Whatever our shortcomings, we felt proud indeed to +belong <span class="pagenum"><a id="page034" name="page034"></a>(p. 034)</span> to the first complete Territorial Division to +embark for France.</p> + +<p>At this time the personnel of Battalion and +Company Headquarters were as follows:—</p> + +<div> +Commanding Officer.—Lieut.-Colonel G. H. Fowler.<br> +Second-in-Command.—Major A. C. Clarke.<br> +Adjutant.—Capt. E. N. T. Collin.<br> +Medical Officer.—Surg.-Captain H. Stallard.<br> +Chaplain.—Rev. J. P. Hales.<br> +Quarter-Master.—Capt. R. F. B. Hodgkinson.<br> +Transport Officer.—Lieut. C. Davenport.<br> +Machine-Gun Officer.—Lieut. A. F. O. Dobson.<br> +<p class="p0">A Company—(formerly E and F Companies).</p> +<p class="p0 col30">Capt. A. L. Ashwell; Lieuts. G. S. + Heathcote, H. Kirby, and F. B. Lawson; + 2nd Lieuts. J. V. Edge, and E. M. Hacking; + Comp. Sergt.-Major A. Mabbott; Comp. + Quar.-Master Sergt. E. Haywood.</p> +<p class="p0">B " (formerly B and H Companies).</p> +<p class="p0 col30">Capt. J. P. Becher; Capt. J. K. Lane; + Lieut. J. W. Turner; 2nd Lieuts. W. H. + Hollins, J. R. Eddison and B. W. Vann; + Comp. Sergt.-Major W. Mounteney; Comp. + Quar.-Master Sergt. S. C. L. Shelton.</p> +<p class="p0">C " (formerly C and D Companies).</p> +<p class="p0 col30">Capt. M. C. Martyn; Capt. H. G. Wright; + Lieuts. H. B. S. Handford and R. H. + Piggford; 2nd Lieuts. A. Hacking and + T. H. F. Adams; Comp. Sergt.-Major + E. Hopkinson; Comp. Quar.-Master Sergt. + J. R. Dench.</p> +<p class="p0">D " (formerly A and G Companies).</p> +<p class="p0 col30">Capt. W. H. Allen; Lieuts. E. C. A. James + and W. C. C. Weetman; 2nd Lieuts. + J. M. Gray, C. L. Hill and J. S. C. Oates. + Comp. Sergt-.Major F. Spencer; Comp. + Quar.-Master Sergt. F. A. Pritchard.</p> +Acting <span class="pagenum"><a id="page035" name="page035"></a>(p. 035)</span> Regimental Sergt.-Major.—E. A. Westerman.<br> +Regimental Quar.-Master Sergt.—D. Tomlin.<br> +Armourer Quar.-Master Sergt.—R. A. G. Loughman.<br> +Signalling Sergt.—W. Burton.<br> +Machine-Gun Sergt.—F. Parker.<br> +Transport Sergt.—C. Green.<br> +Sergt. Drummer.—W. Clewes.<br> +Provost Sergt.—G. Phillipson.<br> +Sergt.-Cook.—S. Wiffen.<br> +Pioneer Sergt.—J. Caddy.<br> +Acting Sergt.-Tailor.—H. A. Huckerby.<br> +Sergt.-Shoemaker.—G. H. Fletcher.<br> +Orderly Room Sergt.—F. Torrance.<br> +Orderly Room Sergt. (Base).—E. Kirkby.<br> +Orderly Room Clerk.—Corpl. R. Harvey.<br> +Non-Commissioned Officer i/c Stretcher Bearers.—Corpl. R. F. Bescoby.<br> +Medical Orderly.—Corpl. B. Sissons.</div> + + + + +<h3>CHAPTER II <span class="pagenum"><a id="page036" name="page036"></a>(p. 036)</span></h3> + +<h5>FRANCE</h5> + + +<p class="figcenter"><i>February 25th, 1915.</i>—<i>June 20th, 1915.</i></p> + +<p class="p2">As soon as the detrainment was completed, we +proceeded on board the "Mount Temple," with +certain Royal Field Artillery Details, the ship being under +the command of Major Kent, R.F.A. At 6.30 p.m. we +dropped down to Netley, imagining we were off, instead +of which we anchored there for the night. The greater +part of the next day, February 26th, was spent on board +in physical and other exercises and inspections. Late in +the afternoon, much to our surprise, orders were received +that 21 Officers and 763 other ranks were to disembark, +presumably because it was not desirable for so many +troops to cross on a slow going boat like the "Mount +Temple." Having left on board Major Clarke, Capt. +Ashwell, and Lieut. Heathcote with two-and-a-half +platoons of A Company, and Capts. Hodgkinson and +Davenport with the Signal, Transport and Machine-Gun +Sections, the remainder of us disembarked about 6.30 p.m., +and proceeded to a Rest Camp about three miles outside +Southampton. It was very disappointing to be split up, +but there was nothing to be done but to make the best +of it. We cannot say that our two days' stay at the +Rest Camp was exactly enjoyable, for the camp was +uncomfortable, and no passes were allowed to the town. +We therefore fully appreciated the kindness of the ladies +of the St. John Ambulance Association, who had huts +near the camp, and gave us most excellent meals.</p> + +<p>On February 28th, a further contingent of 101 men +under Captain Becher embarked on the "Caledonian," +and later in the day the rest of us went on board a small +Clyde <span class="pagenum"><a id="page037" name="page037"></a>(p. 037)</span> pleasure steamer, the "King Edward," where we +were crowded beyond description. Neither party sailed, +however, that day, and we spent the night on board. +The next day those on the "King Edward" had to +disembark once again! This took place early in the +morning, and after a little wandering we ultimately +obtained billets for the Officers at the Central Hotel, +and for the men at the Watt Memorial Hall.</p> + +<p>In the end we embarked on the "King Edward" +on the afternoon of March 2nd, and sailed the same night. +There was so much to interest everyone until we got +out to sea that we had little time in which to indulge +sentimental feelings. That gliding down Southampton +Water in silence broken only by the throbbing of +the engines, with lights out, sentries posted, and in some +cases Machine-Guns mounted, the sudden appearance +out of the darkness from somewhere off the Isle of Wight +of a destroyer to pilot us across the Channel, the challenge +to the ship as to who we were, and the order to "carry +on," the numberless rays of searchlights sweeping around +on all sides—such was the start of our great expedition, +precisely the same, no doubt, as that of most other troops +who crossed during the war.</p> + +<p>We had an excellent crossing and anchored off +Havre early the following morning, disembarking about +7.30 a.m. The morning was spent amongst the hangars +at the docks, drawing sheep-skin coats and other +equipment. Here we were met by Major Clarke who +reported that Capt. Ashwell with two platoons had +already proceeded up country, and that they had all +had a very uncomfortable time at Havre, sleeping in +trucks or wherever they could. They had been joined +by M. Lacolle, who was to be attached to the Battalion +as Interpreter. After dinner we marched down to our +entraining point, and were able to entrain more or +less at leisure during the afternoon—our first experience +of <span class="pagenum"><a id="page038" name="page038"></a>(p. 038)</span> a French Troop train. Later on we got accustomed +to their ideas, but certainly for the men, and often for +Officers too, the French way is not quite in accordance +with our own ideas, and we must confess it went very +much against the grain to have to crowd 36 to 40 men +in nothing more or less than a cattle truck. "Hommes +40: Chevaux 8," may be all right for the "Chevaux," +but for the "Hommes" we consider a revised number +is required.</p> + +<p>During these first few hours spent at Havre we +learnt to appreciate the Y.M.C.A. huts, which supplied +much excellent refreshment, and the Officers will certainly +not forget the delicious tea and cakes so generously +provided by Mrs. Pitt.</p> + +<p>We left for the North at 5.15 p.m. At Rouen a +halt was made for the engine to take in water, and ourselves +coffee and rum. The taste of the latter was new +to most of us, but we liked it well enough to hope that +we might make its acquaintance again. Early in the +morning of March 4th, we had a short "halte repas" +at Abbeville for breakfast, and continuing via Calais +and St. Omer we eventually, about 1 p.m., after a +20 hours journey, detrained at Cassel, which if tradition +does not lie, was the happy hunting ground of the +good old Duke of York, who</p> + +<p class="left05"> +"Had ten thousand men,<br> +He marched 'em up to the top of the hill,<br> +And he marched 'em down again." +</p> + +<p>If the English Tommy of those days was anything like +the modern "Old Bill" he probably had something +pointed to say about the Hill of Cassel, and was equally +unappreciative of the magnificent view one got from +its summit!</p> + +<p>Capt. Ashwell met us at the Station and acted as +our guide to the little village of Oudezeele, which we +reached about 5 o'clock after a trying seven miles' march. +The <span class="pagenum"><a id="page039" name="page039"></a>(p. 039)</span> men were tired after their long, cramped journey; +many wore new boots, whilst all were weighed down +with enormous packs, which had been added to by the +newly drawn sheep-skin coats. It was not surprising +that under such conditions many fell out, and that most +of us were thoroughly weary by the time we reached our +destination. Ashwell and his party too, had not had a +pleasant time. Strangers in a strange land without +Battalion, Brigade or Divisional Headquarters—or any +of the other luxuries which make life worth living—they +had found existence rather precarious. Ashwell himself +had walked 45 miles in three days in search of rations, +so that our arrival with the transport was more than +welcome.</p> + +<p>We found our billets rather strange after the houses +and cottages to which we had become accustomed in +England, as they consisted mostly of scattered farms, +several platoons and sometimes a whole Company or +more being billeted at one farm, generally in barns.</p> + +<p>Capt. Becher and his party arrived late the following +day, having been kept three days on the "Caledonian," +and the Battalion was once more complete. As the +rest of the Brigade had crossed before us and had already +gone up for trench instruction, we were temporarily +attached to the Lincoln and Leicester Brigade.</p> + +<p>We spent a few days training at Oudezeele, including +one or two route marches to get accustomed to the <i>pavé</i> +roads, and Edge, as newly appointed Sniping Officer, +gave a little special instruction in that branch of warfare. +We had a visit from Major-General Stuart-Wortley, +who discussed the training to be carried out, and our +coming duties in the trenches. The weather was very +cold, and a good deal of work was in the shape of lectures +in billets, and the reading of various routine and other +orders issued to troops on arrival.</p> + +<p>It <span class="pagenum"><a id="page040" name="page040"></a>(p. 040)</span> was during one of our route marches in this +district, which took us through the little village of +Wormhoudt, that we made our first acquaintance with +French troops. Many of them were back resting in +billets, and the warm welcome they gave us as we +passed through the narrow streets of the village crowded +with French "poilus," the whole Battalion whistling +the "Marseillaise," was an experience which will not +be readily forgotten.</p> + +<p>On March 9th, we marched with the Lincoln and +Leicester Brigade via Cassel, Caestre (where General +Smith-Dorrien saw us march past), and Strazeele to +Merris, where we joined up with the rest of our Brigade, +back from their course of instruction in the trenches. +Fortunately the fur coats which had caused us so much +trouble on the last march were now carried for us by +motor 'bus. At Merris we saw our first real signs of +fighting, both the Church and the Hospice having been +hit several times by shells, whilst there were isolated +graves of both French and English scattered about the +surrounding country. Here too, we saw our first +"fighting" aeroplane (armed with one short French Rifle), +which had crashed just outside the village. It was +also at Merris that we had our first experience of paying +a Company "in the Field." Instructions on the subject +had led us to believe that this was a complicated +performance, but in practice it turned out to be quite +easy. Company "Imprests" were at a later date done +away with and a Battalion Imprest instituted, which +was much more convenient, as also was the very handy +"Officer's Advance Book," which was introduced later. +At first there seemed but little check on the money +that was drawn, and Field Cashiers appeared to issue +money to all and sundry on the flimsiest authority.</p> + +<p>Preparations were being made about this time for +a British offensive at Neuve Chapelle, and our Brigade +was <span class="pagenum"><a id="page041" name="page041"></a>(p. 041)</span> attached temporarily to General Gough's 2nd +Cavalry Division, with the object, if the attack succeeded, +of breaking through in the region of the Bois du Biez. +In order to be nearer the scene of operations we were +moved from Merris at an hour's notice at noon on +March 10th, and marched via Rouge Croix to Bac-St. +Maur. This was a memorable experience, but later on we +became accustomed to rapid movement, and the great +concentration of troops which was necessary when +fighting was imminent. Transport marched brigaded, +and in passing through Sailly-sur-Lys in the darkness +seemed to be so mixed up in the seething mass of +men that we almost began to doubt if they would +ever extricate themselves. Under the guiding hand +and voice of Capt. Davenport, however, our Transport +eventually got clear. During this operation "Davvy" +evidently made a great impression on one soldier (a +Regular), by his forcible language, as the latter was +heard to remark "There's a bloke what knows 'is job." +Confusion was great in Bac-St. Maur too, for when we +got there, the billets which we had been allotted were +still occupied by Canadians. Eventually, we all got +shelter of a kind, in probably the dirtiest and poorest +billets we ever had either in France or Belgium. This +was our first meeting with our Canadian friends, and we +can hardly say we were impressed, though we all knew +well what they were made of. We have specially vivid +recollections of one Canadian sentry on duty at night +opposite D Company's billet, evidently "well away," +loosing off his rifle at intervals, apparently to let us +know that he was "present and correct." One bullet +was close enough to be unpleasant, and fetched a lump +off the tree just outside the window. In this area we +were nearer to the line than we had yet been, some of +our guns firing from quite close to the village, and we +found it an interesting experience to see for the first +time an aeroplane being shelled.</p> + +<p>We <span class="pagenum"><a id="page042" name="page042"></a>(p. 042)</span> stood by for two days, ready to move at a +moment's notice, hearing much of the noise of the +battle. The attack, however, was not successful and the +Bois du Biez plan, therefore, fell through. On March 13th, +we got orders to move to fresh billets. We had to travel +light as we were still regarded as a "flying column." +Much superfluous kit was left behind, to be sent for +later on, and the weird bundles left at the Estaminet +at Bac-St. Maur will not readily be forgotten. We +marched that afternoon <i>via</i> Estaires to Neuf Berquin, +where we had again to be content with rather crowded, +if somewhat more comfortable billets than we had left.</p> + +<p>One or two changes in personnel had already taken +place. Capt. Hodgkinson gave up the appointment of +Quar.-Master owing to some technicalities, and for the +moment acted as Censor. In this capacity he was obliged, +to our great annoyance, to carry out the order to relieve +us of our cameras, which were sent home,—no doubt on the +whole a wise and necessary precaution. Capt. Hodgkinson +was succeeded as Quar.-Master by Lieut. Torrance, who +was destined, with a short break in 1918, to carry out the +duties up to the end of the war. He performed them +with much success, and in a way that only Torrance could. +On his appointment as Quar. Master, the Orderly Room +came under the charge of Corpl. R. Harvey, who carried +out his difficult task with the utmost devotion, without +a break until the last man of the Battalion was +demobilised. Second Lieut. G. W. Fosbery, who +received his Commission as we were about to cross to +France, took over his platoon from Handford, who as +Signalling Officer had enough other work to keep him +busy.</p> + +<p>We stayed at Neuf Berquin for ten days and did a +considerable amount of useful training, but unfortunately +at this time many men were sick, owing to the bad +water, so that parades were somewhat small. In addition +to <span class="pagenum"><a id="page043" name="page043"></a>(p. 043)</span> continued route marches to keep feet in condition +we practised formations for advancing through woods +in the Bois d'Aval, open warfare attack under the +watchful eye of General Gough, and several trench-to-trench +attacks on the leap-frog principle, the first line +capturing and holding the front trench, and other lines +passing through them to attack the support trenches. +We also began to practise making and throwing the +old "jam-tin bomb," the beginning of the attack of +"bomb fever," which unfortunately was to play such +a prominent part in the warfare of the next two or three +years, undoubtedly to the detriment of all sound training +and tactics.</p> + +<p>Arrangements had meanwhile been made for our +initiation into the mysteries of real trench warfare, and +with that object in view we were moved on March 24th, +to Vieux Berquin, and on the 26th, across the frontier +to Romarin in Belgium, being once more attached to +the Lincoln and Leicester Brigade. Much to our regret +the rum issue was stopped the next day!</p> + +<p>We were attached for instruction to the 10th +Infantry Brigade, 4th Division, and the programme +arranged allowed each Company to spend two nights +in the trenches, with a break of 24 hours in billets. The +Battalions to which we were attached included the +Royal Irish Rifles, 2nd Royal Dublin Fusiliers, Argyll +and Sutherland Highlanders, 2nd Seaforth Highlanders, +and 2nd Royal Warwicks, who held the trenches about +Ploegsteert and opposite Messines.</p> + +<p>The first night each Officer and man studied the +work of his counterpart in the Battalion to which he +was attached, and the second night platoons were allotted +definite lengths of trench, for which they were held +responsible. This first experience was not exactly full +of incident, as on the whole we had a very quiet time, +but for us, as for all others on their first visit to the +line, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page044" name="page044"></a>(p. 044)</span> many little incidents of everyday trench routine +were novel and exciting. Recollection lingers on the +long, slow tramp to the trenches, along corduroy tracks +in thick darkness lighted up from time to time by +Very lights from our own trenches and by the infinitely +superior ones from the enemy (we recollect that some of +us, faithful to our instructions, but slightly misguided, +began ducking quite five miles behind the line when a flare +went up), the constant order to keep closed up, the +whizz of bullets, at every one of which we ducked +instantly, the cracking of rifles, the 'dead cow' smell +which afterwards became so painfully familiar, the +arrival at the trenches and the posting of sentries. +Later the cautious creeping over the parapet to look +at the wire and at dawn stand-to, followed by the +frizzling of bacon and the brewing of tea (in these days +each side had a more or less respectable breakfast, +evidenced by the columns of smoke that went up from +the respective front line trenches directly after stand-down). +Such incidents we feel sure were sufficiently +novel at the time to impress themselves vividly on the +memories of those whom a kindly fate has preserved to +read these recollections.</p> + +<p>Probably the most uncanny feeling some of us had +was, when on starting from Battalion Headquarters for the +trenches, we met a stretcher party carrying out one of our +own men, Comp. Sergt.-Major Hopkinson, who had been +wounded by a sniper, and was our first casualty. It was +an experience that everyone had to go through, but it +was not pleasant. Hopkinson and two men of D Company +wounded by shell fire were our only casualties during +our instructional tours. That we did not make a bad +impression is attested by a letter written from an Officer +of the 2nd Seaforths, who says:—"I thought your +Officers and men most awfully keen, and I was immensely +struck by the way your men came into the trench—no +noise <span class="pagenum"><a id="page045" name="page045"></a>(p. 045)</span> at all, and perfect discipline and quietness and +keenness. They were awfully willing to act up to any +small suggestions you made as to what they ought to +do. They came in so much better than Regulars, +and I was genuinely filled with admiration for them. +They were a splendid body of men." It is, perhaps, +needless to say that we on our part much appreciated +the great kindness shewn us by the units to which we +were attached. Those of us who happened to be in +or near Petit Douvre Farm during this attachment were +much interested in finding some of the early drawings of +Bairnsfather, as done for the "Bystander." The interior +walls of the farm were covered with his charcoal sketches, +in some cases to the order of Commanding Officers who +were to follow! It was at the same farm that Pvte. Cottam, +of D Company, acted as head butcher in the slaughter +of an abandoned pig, causing a good deal of excitement +before final despatch. Most of the men brought away +with them "souveneers" of this first visit, none more +unaccountable than the dud 77 mm. shell carried about +in his pack for several days, by a sturdy sanitary man +of A Company—in fact, until discovered by a rather +alarmed Company Commander.</p> + +<p>On March 31st, we left Romarin, and marched back +to our old billets at Vieux Berquin, being met at +Doulieu and escorted from there by the 6th Battalion +band. Only one band had been allowed to come out +with the Brigade, and after some discussion that of the +6th Battalion was selected, and carried on up to the end +of the war, virtually as a Brigade Band.</p> + +<p>Orders were received on April 1st, for our Division +to take over its first portion of the British front in relief +of the 28th Division, and on April 2nd we marched with +the rest of the Brigade via Bailleul to Locre, in Belgium. +As few, if any of us, had ever studied Flemish, the +language question in some of the villages of Flanders +presented <span class="pagenum"><a id="page046" name="page046"></a>(p. 046)</span> a little difficulty, but with his guiding principle +of "tout-de-suite, and the touter the sweeter," the British +Tommy never seemed to have any trouble in getting +what he wanted. We were disposed to think sometimes +that the Belgians did not look very kindly on us. +Perhaps it was because in our early days we were rather +inclined to take too much notice of the frequent reports +we heard of supposed Belgian spies, and of Belgians +being in communication by various means with the +Boche on the other side of the lines. One well remembers +the suggestion made from time to time that signalling +was carried on by means of the windmill on Mont Rouge, +or by the display of washing laid out to dry on the ground +by Belgian housewives. At any rate we did find a house +at Locre, where a number of pigeons were kept, a fact +which aroused the suspicions of some of the Officers of +D Company, and in the same house were discovered +quantities of British stores of all kinds, which must have +been got from our troops in a not too straightforward +manner. Some of the inhabitants, too, treated us with +scant courtesy. It was here that the lady of the +establishment removed the handle from the pump +where Sergt. Markham's platoon was billeted, and not +content with that went a step further, and for some +reason best known to herself, gave him a cold douche +when asleep one night. Some of us, on the other hand, +were more fortunate in our billets, and all who went to +the Hospice can have nothing but the most pleasant +recollections of the great kindness of the Mother Superior +and other ladies. Padre Hales, who left us to be attached +to Brigade Headquarters, when we crossed to France, +was billeted there with our Field Ambulance, and we +were allowed to go there for baths when out of the line, +and always received much kindness and hospitality. +Unfortunately during the German onslaught in 1918, this +delightful place was completely destroyed. The bathing +arrangements <span class="pagenum"><a id="page047" name="page047"></a>(p. 047)</span> in general at this time were somewhat poor, +the nearest military baths being at Bailleul, about four +miles away, so that we were very delighted at receiving +during our stay at Locre, from Miss Gilstrap, of +Winthorpe, Newark, three galvanised iron baths, with +boiler complete. With these and other local devices +we were able to get the men bathed at their own billets, +which was a great boon. Another similar consignment +from Mrs. John Becher, unfortunately got lost in the +post, but we trust was of benefit to some other unit.</p> + +<a id="img004" name="img004"></a> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/img004.jpg" width="400" height="601" alt="The Avenue Kemmel, 1915." title="The Avenue Kemmel, 1915."> +</div> + +<p class="figcenter">The Avenue Kemmel, 1915.<br> +<i>Reproduced by permission of Lieut.-Col. C. W. Birkin, C.M.G., T.D.</i></p> + +<p>In the afternoon of Easter Eve, April 3rd, we +attended a Church Parade, taken by the Bishop of +London, of which many of us have bitter recollections, +as owing to a mistake in Divisional Orders, we were +rigged out in full marching order. Further, as it was +a damp and windy day, few of us could hear a word of +the address, and all wanted to get as much sleep as +possible in view of the great adventure before us. +The same night, which turned out to be miserably wet, +we left Locre, to take over the trench sector in front of +Kemmel held by the 1st Devons. Company Commanders +had already been in the trenches for 24 hours to get the +lie of the land, and they, together with the guides of the +Devons, met us at the appointed rendezvous, the celebrated +band stand at Kemmel. There were, of course, +no lights; rations and trench fuel, which had been +taken up by the Transport, were issued in sandbags, +and water in petrol tins, and each platoon was then led +off by itself. When one looks back on trench reliefs, +one is inclined to wonder how on some occasions they +were carried out at all, the possibilities of going wrong +seemed so great. In the present case, however, nothing +untoward happened, and we set off by our various +routes to the front line, passing such favourite spots as +the "Sahara Desert" (the final resting place of every +bullet fired within a radius of five miles, or so it seemed), +the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page048" name="page048"></a>(p. 048)</span> "Willows," "Irish Farm" or "The Orchard," +and into the G and H trenches. In our heavy greatcoats +and with full packs, which we continued religiously +to carry for many months for no apparent reason, the +journey was not pleasant, and we were not sorry to get +into the trenches, where the relief was completed about +11 p.m. C Company being mainly composed of miners +and under the command of a Mining Engineer, were +put in the right sector where was our only mine, much +to the relief of, at least, one Company Commander, who +had mental visions of a mine as a large black cavern, +where hand-to-hand fighting went on incessantly! A +Company had the centre and D Company the left, B +Company occupying the two supporting points and +billets in Kemmel Village. Battalion Headquarters +were at the Doctor's house in Kemmel, and the Transport +and Quar.-Master's Stores remained at Locre.</p> + +<p>There was practically only one trench line at this +time, and this, like most of the trenches in Belgium and +the low lying districts, was a line of breastworks with +very little wire in front, and only one or two small supporting +points. The opposing front lines varied from +25 to about 300 yards apart, being closest at "Peckham +Corner," on the right. Shelters were built mostly of +timber and corrugated iron, strengthened with sandbags, +and were generally in the parados of the trench.</p> + +<p>Easter day—our first day holding a bit of line on +our own—was fairly quiet, except for a little shelling +of D Company on the left during the afternoon. On +the right, some men of C Company sang hymns, and +the enemy made overtures for a truce by showing +a white flag. About 40 of them appeared on the +parapet, and a brisk conversation ensued for several +minutes across "No Man's Land." A somewhat unflattering +remark from one of the enemy who had a +wonderful knowledge of forcible English, ended the +armistice rather hurriedly.</p> + +<p>On <span class="pagenum"><a id="page049" name="page049"></a>(p. 049)</span> most nights during these early days of the war, +each side had its turn at five or ten rounds "rapid" +to relieve the monotony of things. In this we were on +equal terms with the enemy, but during the day we +were hopelessly outclassed owing to the great shortage +of periscopes, and the lack of telescopic rifles and well +constructed loophole plates, of all of which the Hun +seemed to have an abundant supply. It was long before +we got anything like adequate numbers of these very +necessary trench requisites. It was not surprising, +therefore, that for some time the Boche snipers had the +upper hand and could do almost what they liked. Their +shooting was extremely accurate, and as the trenches +were enfiladed on all sides, and there was in many cases +little parados, we soon had casualties, most of which +were sentries shot through the head. Our first fatal +casualty was Pvte. Hyde, of A Company, shot in this +way on April 6th. We were also short and entirely +inexperienced in the use of rifle grenades and trench +mortars, with which the enemy made very good practice. +A large trench mortar certainly did find its way up to the +trenches by some means one day, and provided considerable +amusement to our men. It is reported to have +dropped its first bomb into the enemy trench, and its +second into our own—its erratic behaviour ultimately +making it no doubt more annoying to ourselves than +to the enemy. Lieuts. A. Hacking and Hollins were +the pioneers in the use of rifle grenades, with which +they eventually did good work at "Peckham Corner."</p> + +<p>After a tour of four days which were most +uncomfortable owing to constant rain, we returned +to Locre. The system of four days in trenches and +four in billets, taking turns with the 6th Battalion, +continued for some time with little variation. When +out of the line we, of course, had to find those never-to-be-forgotten +working parties, which had become +part <span class="pagenum"><a id="page050" name="page050"></a>(p. 050)</span> of the normal trench warfare system. Having +had a hard four days in the trenches, it was never a +pleasant duty to have to march up three or four miles on +one or perhaps two nights out of our few days' rest, to do +a job for the Royal Engineers or some other specialists in +the trenches. Otherwise, our stays at Locre were fairly +pleasant. There were no great attractions, but we had +enough to do as a rule in general training and cleaning, +and the country round about was extremely pleasant, +either for walking or riding. Perhaps the greatest +excitement was to go down to Bailleul to shop and call +on "Tina." Such luxuries as Canteens for supplying +the wants of the inner man were quite unknown in these +early days, when we had to rely mainly on parcels from +home or purchases in the local towns.</p> + +<p>Work in the trenches consisted mainly of +strengthening or rebuilding the parapet and parados, +and in putting out barbed wire defences. As a rule, we +wanted far more sandbags than were ever forthcoming, +but in these days they were used indiscriminately, and +in consequence many very weak structures were built, +which could not possibly stand without support through +a single wet season. The barbed wire defences were +very poor, and as soon as we got into the way of doing +it much time was spent in that not too pleasant work, +for Boche snipers did execution by night as well as by +day, and made themselves very objectionable. Our +entanglements consisted mainly of "knife-rests"—wooden +frames strung with barbed wire. These were +made by the men in the Brigade workshop at Kemmel, +run by Major Wordsworth, the Staff Captain, to which +each Battalion contributed a quota of pioneers and +trade specialists. One Officer learnt a very practical +lesson in their use from the enemy. He had some +carefully placed in position one night, where he +thought his wire particularly weak, but his spirits fell +to <span class="pagenum"><a id="page051" name="page051"></a>(p. 051)</span> zero the following morning, when on looking over +the top he saw his precious knife-rests in position +guarding the Boche trenches opposite! From that time +onwards knife-rests were securely fastened to each other +and to the ground. Our Brigade (hereafter known as +the 139th Infantry Brigade) had a good reputation for +trench work, and the digging element was used to great +advantage by the 6th Battalion commencing what was +one of the first long communication trenches dug on the +British front. It extended from the front line nearly +back to Kemmel and was for ever known as the "Via +Gellia." In its later stages it was worked on by ourselves. +This trench was a great convenience, as it enabled reliefs +to be carried out much more securely by avoiding going +over the open, and permitted of visits of inspection to be +made by daylight, and the wounded to be carried back +to the dressing station at Kemmel. In the early days +they remained in the trenches until it was dark enough +for the journey to be made over the top.</p> + +<p>On April 22nd, we experienced a little of the backwash +of the first Hun gas attack against the French and +Canadians in the Ypres Salient a few miles North of us. +During most of the time we had been in this area there +had been considerable activity in that quarter, and the +shelling and burning of Ypres could be plainly seen from +the Kemmel trenches. This attack was the beginning +of the second battle of Ypres. The only effect on +ourselves of the gas used on this occasion, was to make +our eyes smart and a few men sick. It did, however, +cause a commotion on all sides, and with unaccustomed +speed, the first consignment of respirators was sent out to +us—pieces of gauze which had to be filled with tea-leaves, +damped, and fastened round the mouth in the event of +attack. These were improved from time to time, and a +little later we got a gas-proof smoke helmet—the earliest +form known as "P," and the later as "P.H." Vermorel +sprayers <span class="pagenum"><a id="page052" name="page052"></a>(p. 052)</span> were also provided in due course, and some +solution for spraying the trenches to clear them of gas. +Bells and gongs formed of shell cartridge cases or pieces +of iron were also hung in the trenches to be sounded +by the sentry if any sign of cloud gas was seen. +There was perhaps a natural tendency to imagine gas +when there was none, and an official report of gas by C +Company on the night of May 8th, was found to be due +to the proximity of a dead cow.</p> + +<p>April 24th witnessed our first serious bombardment. +We had already had several somewhat severe baptisms, +but they were trifling in comparison. About 6 p.m., after +an exceptionally quiet day, and just before we were to +be relieved, the enemy began an organised trench mortar +bombardment of G1 and 2, occupied by platoons of C +and D Companies, and H 4 held by Lieut. Vann and his +platoon of B Company. It lasted for about an hour, and +made large breaches in the parapet of G1 and 2, and +practically demolished the whole of H 4, a small isolated +trench on the extreme left, opposite Petit Bois. Both +these trenches were completely enfiladed by the Boche, +so that their shooting was extremely accurate. It was +thought at one time that the enemy might attempt a +raid on G1 and 2, but this did not develop. A Machine +Gun team consisting of L.-Corpl. Sharrock and Pvtes. +Hopewell and Davis, which was posted in G1, behaved +most coolly, and Sergt. A. Phillipson, of D Company, did +very gallant work in the same trench under heavy fire with +Pvtes. Coombes and Durand, all in a more or less dazed +condition, helping to dig out the wounded. On the left +Vann and his platoon had a very bad time. Whilst he +was digging out wounded a bomb fell close by, killing +four and burying three others, and blowing Vann himself +several yards across the open at the back of the trench, +and practically wiping out the garrison. Major Becher +brought up reinforcements and helped Vann to get the +position <span class="pagenum"><a id="page053" name="page053"></a>(p. 053)</span> made good, and great assistance was given by +2nd Lieut. Hollins and L.-Corpl. Humberstone. Pvtes. +F. Boothby and A. Gleaden of B Company also did +excellent work, helping to dig out and dress the wounded, +most of the time in full view of the enemy, not more +than 70 yards away. The 2nd Royal Scots on our +immediate left, also gave us valuable assistance. Our +total casualties during the hour's bombardment were +14 men killed and two Officers (Vann and Gray), and +14 men wounded. When we were back at Locre +after this tour, General Shipley spoke to the Battalion +on parade and thanked them for the good work done, +especially congratulating Vann, and on the following +day the General Officer Commanding our Division also +congratulated the Battalion on its behaviour under fire.</p> + +<p>Several changes took place during April, owing to +casualties. Capt. Allen went down sick on April 6th, +and Lieut. James took over the command of D Company +until the 14th, when Capt. Hodgkinson was appointed. +He, however, also had a short stay there, for on April +22nd, when in an excess of zeal to see what was going on +opposite G1, where some suspicious work was reported, +he apparently thought he could sufficiently camouflage +himself behind a pair of field glasses to gaze over the +top of the parapet, the almost immediate result was a +bullet which just grazed his head, and he, too, had to +leave us. D Company then came under Capt. Lane. +Second Lieut. Eddison, our first fatal Officer casualty, +was killed on April 21st, being hit by a bullet whilst out +wiring, and though help was instantly rendered by +Drummers Newton and Robb, who pulled him out of +the shell-hole of water, into which he had fallen, and +carried him into the trench, he died in a few minutes. +Four Officers were down for a short time with measles, +including Capt. Martyn, who unfortunately was +invalided to England, and was succeeded in command +of <span class="pagenum"><a id="page054" name="page054"></a>(p. 054)</span> C Company, by Capt. H. G. Wright. Martyn served +later in Ireland and France, as Second-in-Command of +the 2/8th Battalion and in command of the 2/7th +Battalion, and won the D.S.O. and M.C. Lieut. Lawson +got a shell wound in the shoulder and had to leave, and +2nd Lieuts. Gray and Vann also had to be in hospital +for a short time from what was later known as "shell-shock." +A great loss, too, was Sergt. Wilmore, a very +gallant soldier, who was sniped one day when outside +his trench.</p> + +<p>May found us beginning to feel our feet. The Commanding +Officer had talks with Officers as to a more +aggressive attitude being taken up; we had a lecture +from Major Howard, R.E., at Kemmel as to the construction +of an invisible loophole, low down in the parapet, +and so built as to afford a good field of fire and permit of +our replying better to the Hun snipers. Sergt.-Drummer +Clewes also got into action with his telescopic rifle from +sniping posts cunningly placed behind the front line, +the only possible position from which really successful +sniping could be done, and was not long in getting +quite a good "bag." Shortly afterwards he was put +in charge of the newly-formed Brigade Sniping Section. +A trench mortar was actually got into use, and did +a certain amount of damage to the Boche trenches, but +naturally produced considerable retaliation. Further +efforts to fire rifle grenades met with some success, +whilst a "Gamage" catapult introduced to throw bombs +provided, at any rate, a little amusement. In patrolling +considerable progress was made. Second Lieut. A. +Hacking did some very daring work at "Peckham +Corner," and near Petit Bois; 2nd Lieut. Hollins and +L.-Corpls. Heath and G. Gadd of B Company made +splendid reconnaissances of the enemy's wire; and 2nd +Lieut. Edge, who was always to the fore in wiring, no +matter how bright the night, carried out a daring daylight +reconnaissance, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page055" name="page055"></a>(p. 055)</span> the first attempted in the Battalion, +getting nearly up to the German front line in company +with Pvte. C. E. Bryan, of A Company. Pvte. W. O'Brien, +of the same Company, was another who knew no danger; +in fact, at night it was difficult to keep these two men +in the trench at all. Daring patrols were also carried +out by 2nd Lieut. Vann, Sergt. Pickering and L.-Corpl. +Humberstone. Perhaps the most successful was a +fighting patrol, which went out on the night of May +9-10th under 2nd Lieut. Oates, with the object of +rounding up a Hun patrol. Oates, who had a party +of six men with him, went forward with Pvte. Nicholson, +leaving the remainder behind, to within about 50 +yards of the German wire. On their way back they +ran into a Boche patrol. Oates promptly shot one +man, Nicholson bayoneted another, whilst two others +who were wounded got away. Oates and his party +got back safely.</p> + +<p>On May 14th, we carried out one of those little +manoeuvres which may have been of immense importance, +but appeared to us at the moment to be so much waste +of time, trouble and energy. Instead of proceeding to +the trenches that night according to programme, we got +sudden orders to "embus" for Hill 60, in the Ypres +Salient, to dig there under Royal Engineers' supervision +for the 5th Division. The net result was that of the 600 +who went, 400 dug for one-and-a-half hours, and 200 for +three-quarters-of-an-hour, after which the party returned +to Locre in the 'buses. The idea, doubtless, was a good +one, as it was necessary to dig more trenches where part +of our line had given way during the recent fighting, +but the organisation of the work seemed to leave a good +deal to be desired. It was the remnants of a Canadian +Battalion returning from this fighting in the Salient +shortly after midnight on one occasion, whilst we were +back at Locre, which made us think we must have had +more <span class="pagenum"><a id="page056" name="page056"></a>(p. 056)</span> than an ordinary nightmare, for we awoke with +a start to hear the strains of a brass band coming along +the <i>pavé</i>,—at 1 a.m. such a proceeding seemed decidedly +strange. It was not long, however, before we found +that all was well, and that it was our own Brigade +Band playing the Canadians through the village. This +was evidently appreciated by them, for one of their +number in a letter to the <i>Daily Telegraph</i>, after describing +the magic effect of the music on his men, concludes with +the remark: "The Canadians will remember how the band +of the Sherwood Foresters played them through the +darkness at midnight out of 'Bloody Ypres.'"</p> + +<p>About the middle of May we began reliefs with +the 7th Battalion, and our sector was extended slightly +left to include some of the J trenches opposite Petit +Bois. An interesting entry in the War Diary is that +May 16th, the day following relief, was the first day +absolutely free from casualties since we took over our +portion of the line. This, however, must have been +an exceptional day, for bad luck so far as casualties +went pursued us with great regularity. Capt. Lane +was badly wounded on May 26th, when out wiring, and +the command of D Company then passed to Lieut. +James. Capt. H. G. Wright, to the great regret of +his friends in all ranks was killed on June 6th, being +shot, through the double loophole plate from which he +was firing, and was succeeded in command of C Company +by Capt. G. S. Heathcote. Lieuts. Kirby and Weetman +and 2nd Lieut. Fosbery were wounded in May, and +2nd Lieut. Oates early in June, and all had to leave +the Battalion. Capt. Ashwell and 2nd Lieut. Edge +were also slightly wounded. Our only reinforcement +Officers were 2nd Lieuts. N. L. Hindley and G. G. +Elliott. Comp. Sergt.-Major Mabbott, of A Company, +was invalided to the Base, and was succeeded by +Comp. Quarter-Master Sergt. Haywood, Sergt. G. W. +Godfrey <span class="pagenum"><a id="page057" name="page057"></a>(p. 057)</span> being promoted Comp. Quarter-Master Sergt. +in his place. Comp. Sergt.-Major Mounteney, B Company, +was invalided to England and Sergt. Chappell +was appointed Comp. Sergt.-Major of that Company. +Sergt. J. A. Green was appointed Comp. Sergt.-Major of +C Company in place of Comp. Sergt.-Major Hopkinson +wounded, and Sergt. T. Powell became Comp. Sergt.-Major +of D Company after Comp. Sergt.-Major Spencer +left, also wounded. The latter obtained a Commission +some time later, only to be killed in France when +doing excellent work in command of a Company of +another Battalion of the Regiment. A change had also +taken place in the Brigade Staff, Major E. M. Morris, +the Brigade Major, who had worked so strenuously all +through our period of training in England, and done +so much to help us in learning our job in France, having +left on June 1st, to take command of the 2nd Royal +Irish Rifles. He was succeeded by Major W. G. Neilson, +D.S.O., of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.</p> + +<p>Early in June we moved still further left and took +over more of the J and K trenches, with the reserve +company at Siege Farm, and Battalion Headquarters +at Rossignol Farm. Our numbers at this time were +swelled by the presence of a Company of the 8th King's +Royal Rifle Corps who were attached for instruction—the +first of Kitchener's Army that we had seen.</p> + +<a id="img005" name="img005"></a> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/img005.jpg" width="400" height="298" alt="Sketch Shewing Arrangement Of Mine Galleries." title="Sketch Shewing Arrangement Of Mine Galleries."> +</div> + +<p class="figcenter">Sketch Shewing Arrangement Of Mine Galleries.</p> + +<p>Our severest handling in the Kemmel area occurred +on the last day of our last tour there, and was begun +by the blowing of enemy mines, a form of warfare +which had already developed considerably at various +points along the battle front. Tunnelling Companies +of the Royal Engineers had been formed, but their +numbers were not sufficient to cope with all the work, +and in order to help them Mining Sections were formed +in some of the Infantry Brigades as well. From the +miners of the 139th Brigade, it was not difficult to select +suitable <span class="pagenum"><a id="page058" name="page058"></a>(p. 058)</span> men for this purpose, and towards the end of +May, a small party was taken from the Battalion to +join the Brigade Mining Section, which was put under +the command of Capt. Piggford. Included in the party +were Corpls. Boot and Attenborough, both of whom later +received decorations for gallantry in underground work. +These Brigade Sections were normally used for defensive +mining only—broadly to prevent the enemy blowing +up our trenches. The Royal Engineers' Tunnelling +Companies on the other hand, were employed for offensive +work in blowing up the enemy. Where mining was +feared, sentries in the front line had to report at once if +any suspicious sounds were heard, which might indicate +that the enemy were mining in the neighbourhood, in +order <span class="pagenum"><a id="page059" name="page059"></a>(p. 059)</span> that protective measures might be taken. The +J trenches, which varied from 30 to 70 yards away +from those of the Boche, were mostly built on water-logged +ground, where to sink shafts and drive galleries +was not an easy task. Nevertheless, for some time +signs and sounds had been reported which seemed to +indicate that mining on the part of the enemy was +going on in this very region. Attempts had, therefore, +been made by us to sink shafts and take counter measures, +but these had proved unavailing owing to the bad nature +of the ground. The enemy, however, succeeded where +we failed, and on June 15th, exploded three mines, one +of which blew up a portion of J 3 Right. This took +place at 9.10 p.m., when the 7th Battalion were just +beginning to arrive to relieve us. At the same time +a terrific fire was opened with artillery, trench mortars, +rifle grenades, Machine Guns and rifles, and for over an +hour an incessant cannonade was kept up on our front +line, Support Company and Battalion Dump. Telephone +wires were broken—an occurrence looked on later with +less anxiety as it happened so often, and we had +no S.O.S. signal; pigeon service, which had been +established in the trenches just before this time, was, of +course, of no avail for night work, and Battalion Headquarters +were out of communication with the trenches +except by runner. Our reply to the bombardment was +almost negligible, and whatever the politicians and their +statistics may prove, we know that our supply of gun +ammunition at this time was totally inadequate. Some +of the enemy got into the mine crater, but were driven +out by C Company at the point of the bayonet. Pvte. +J. Sharman, of B Company, who was practically the only +man left in the trench when the enemy tried to occupy +it, shot one and drove off another, both of them having +attacked him at the same time. He was hit on the leg +by a dud bomb, and got a bullet through his haversack. +Excellent <span class="pagenum"><a id="page060" name="page060"></a>(p. 060)</span> work was also done by Corpl. Humberstone +in reorganising the garrison, and by L.-Corpl. Templeman +and Pvte. Tongue in repairing telephone wires. Eventually +things quietened down, and when the relief was complete, +we returned to Locre for a few days' well-earned rest. +Our casualties were unfortunately heavy, and included +two excellent Officers, Eric Dobson and Humphrey +Hollins, also Corpl. Wilcox and eight men killed, and +29 wounded, whilst the 6th King's Own Yorkshire Light +Infantry, some of whom were in the trenches with us for +instruction, also lost several men.</p> + +<a id="img006" name="img006"></a> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/img006.jpg" width="500" height="665" alt="Map Shewing Kemmel Sector Spring. 1915." title="Map Shewing Kemmel Sector Spring. 1915."> +</div> +<p class="figcenter">Map Shewing Kemmel Sector Spring. 1915.</p> + +<p>This was one of the earliest raids that ever took +place, and was planned doubtless to inflict casualties +and secure prisoners, but not to capture trenches. One +man of D Company is reported to have blamed this +affair for the loss of a pair of boots, as he assured his +Platoon Commander at a kit inspection a little later +"that they were lost when that there mine at Kemmel +went up!" As no man had more than one pair at a +time the Platoon Commander scratched his head.</p> + +<p>Thus ended our stay in the Kemmel sector, which +was taken over by the 50th (Northumbrian) Division. +We were now beginning to feel quite "old hands," but +our experience had been dearly bought. We had lost +heavily and were sadly in need of a draft, for to balance +our total casualties in other ranks of 49 killed or died +of wounds, and 120 wounded, we had so far received only +20 reinforcements.</p> + +<p>The Corps paid a tribute to the work performed by +the Brigade during our stay at Kemmel. Far more +valuable, however, were our first experiences of trench +warfare. The meaning and importance of responsibility +and discipline were for the first time really impressed +upon the minds of Officers and men alike. Gradually, +if imperceptibly, they had learnt something of what +would be required of them in the times of fighting ahead.</p> + +<p>Sometimes <span class="pagenum"><a id="page061" name="page061"></a>(p. 061)</span> one is tempted to compare conditions +at Kemmel with trench routine three years later. In the +Kemmel days the Platoon Commander lived with his +Platoon, and seldom even visited his Company Headquarters +and he undoubtedly acquired an intimate +knowledge of every man of his Platoon, which was +never equalled in later days. This further bred a sense +of responsibility and initiative which was all to the good +at a time when comfort, safety and enterprise depended +so largely on individual initiative. At the same time it +must not be forgotten that in later days Officers and +men alike were called upon to undertake more patrols +and raids, and had to suffer far heavier and more +incessant shelling and trench-mortaring than was our +general experience at Kemmel.</p> + +<p>As a school of instruction our time at Kemmel +undoubtedly provided a very valuable lesson not only +to Officers, N.C.O.'s and men of the Battalion, but to +Officers of the Brigade and Divisional Staffs, whose +experience of the new form of warfare could hardly +have been learnt under better conditions than those +which obtained during our first two months of trench +routine.</p> + + + + +<h3>CHAPTER III <span class="pagenum"><a id="page062" name="page062"></a>(p. 062)</span></h3> + +<h5>THE SALIENT</h5> + + +<p class="figcenter"><i>June 20th, 1915.</i>— +<i>October 1st, 1915.</i></p> + +<p class="p2">The Canadian's description of it as "Bloody Ypres," +referring doubtless to the Salient in general, was +very apt, and will be endorsed by all who ever had the +misfortune to sample it at any period of the war. We +have never met anyone who boasted of having found +a "cushy spot" in it, and so far as we ourselves were +concerned, the three months spent in the Salient were +very nearly, if not quite, the hardest months of the +war.</p> + +<p>Leaving Locre on the evening of June 20th, we +marched with the rest of the Brigade to the Ouderdom +Huts on the Reninghelst—Vlamertinghe Road. These +were the first "huts" ever occupied by the Battalion; +they were absolutely exposed to view, the surroundings +being open ploughed fields, and when the Boche +"Sausage" went up "Silent Percy," a German long-range +gun, warned anyone walking about that movement +must cease. There were, however, deep shelter trenches +round the huts, which afforded good protection, and +we escaped without casualties, though the Transport +having had a few shells in the horse lines, deemed it +wise to move back a little. We left there on June +23rd, and marching via Kruistraat and Zillebeke +proceeded to "Sanctuary Wood," where we relieved +the 5th East Yorkshires in trenches 7 to 12. These +trenches were good, being both narrow and deep. There +was a good deal of liveliness on both sides, and things +were anything but pleasant in the region of a wood. +whose <span class="pagenum"><a id="page063" name="page063"></a>(p. 063)</span> title was something of a misnomer. The Transport +too, had many good runs for their money when bringing +up rations and stores. The congestion on the road each +night was intense. Only one bridge, "14," over the +Ypres-Comines Canal was available for the transport of +all units occupying the centre of the Salient, and the +journey from the transport lines to the dump and back, +took something approaching seven hours. We were not +particularly envious of their job here on many occasions, +though never once did they fail to get supplies up to +the dump. This was at the South-West corner of +"Sanctuary Wood," and a very unhealthy spot, where +we were lucky indeed in not getting very heavy casualties. +There was hardly any water fit for drinking in the front +area, so that one of the water carts had to be brought +up full every night and left in the shelter of the wood, +and the empty one taken back.</p> + +<p>Rain made the trenches very uncomfortable, and +we had plenty to do in keeping them in order, and in +building shelters, of which we were very short. These +consisted for the most part of two or more waterproof +sheets laced together, and held in position across the +trench, by stones placed on the ends on the parapet +and parados. Little was done by us in the way of +active operations during our first tour, except a certain +amount of patrolling, in which 2nd Lieut. Adams and +Pvte. Needham were the leading lights, and got some +useful information. A Company had rather a bad time, +suffering over 20 casualties from "Whizz-bangs" (77 mm. +shells) and salvoes of 5.9's.</p> + +<p>We were relieved on the night of June 29/30th, +after a seven days' tour, by the 5th Lincolns, and moved +back to bivouacs at a charming camp near Poperinghe, +where we spent 12 of the most enjoyable days we +ever had in France. The weather was glorious, and we +made the most of it. We were spared strenuous work +as <span class="pagenum"><a id="page064" name="page064"></a>(p. 064)</span> far as possible on the very hot days, but carried out +much useful training of a general kind, and reorganised +and refitted all the units in the Battalion. Two new +Officers, 2nd Lieuts. R. E. Hemingway, and E. S. Strachan +joined us, the former eventually succeeding Lieut. A. +Hacking, who had just been appointed our first Battalion +Grenade Officer. A draft of 69 men also arrived, +together with 11 rejoined men,—a most acceptable +addition to our numbers. Several quite interesting +cricket matches were played, the last of which, Officers +v. N.C.O's., was won by the Officers. We managed +one concert, which was given entirely by our own artistes, +and went off very successfully. Poperinghe was quite +close, and though possessing no great attraction, yet +it was a change to walk or if possible get a horse for +the afternoon and ride over there sometimes to see +what was going on, and call on our little friend "Ginger" +at the café, and do any shopping that was wanted. +Here for the first time we encountered a Divisional +Troupe, and enjoyed many a pleasant evening with +the 6th Division "Fancies," with their Belgian artistes +"Vaseline" and "Glycerine." But perhaps the +greatest source of pleasure to all ranks now, was +that great institution "Leave" which had just been +started. True it was but four days, and for an extremely +small number, but it was something after all, and +encouraged those who were not lucky enough to have +it at the moment, that their turn would eventually +come to get out of the war for a brief space, and return +to their families at home. Capt. Ashwell left us whilst +we were here to take charge of reinforcements at St. +Omer. During his absence of five or six weeks A +Company was commanded by Lieut. J. V. Edge.</p> + +<p>We left camp with much regret on the afternoon +of July 11th, and proceeding via Kruistraat, where a +halt was made for tea, at the "White Château," we +eventually <span class="pagenum"><a id="page065" name="page065"></a>(p. 065)</span> took over trenches B 2, 3, 4, 7 and 8, in +the Hooge sector, from the North Staffords. The +trenches here were close together, at some points not +more than 25 yards apart. This nearness necessitated +in some cases the erection of small-mesh wire netting +to prevent the enemy throwing hand-grenades into +our trenches. Mining was carried on unceasingly, and +with both sides displaying abnormal activity with +every kind of war machine invented, life was not at all +pleasant. Possibly we had the greatest dislike for the +rifle grenades which the Hun was in the habit of showering +over on every possible occasion, but his shelling of the +whole of our sector, which he carried out with great +regularity, was extremely uncomfortable, and casualties +mounted rapidly. To the more normal means of trying +to wear down the enemy, we were now able to add +fixed rifles and rifle batteries. These were laid on +definite targets, and fired according to a time table +specially arranged, and we hope had the effect desired. +Sergt.-Drummer Clewes too, in charge of the Brigade +Sniping Section, was always worrying the Huns on every +possible occasion, and made some splendid "bags." +Work in the trenches was of a more or less normal +kind, consisting chiefly of strengthening fire and support +trenches and putting out wire, not forgetting the never-ending +efforts to drain away the water. Good patrols +were carried out by Lieut. James and Corpl. Hotson.</p> + +<p>After a heavy tour of 12 days we were relieved +on July 23rd, by the 7th Battalion, and marched back +to bivouacs near Ouderdom, a long trek, the last Company +not getting there until 7 a.m. the following morning. +We were shelled out of this camp almost immediately, +doubtless because a Staff Officer anxious for the comfort +of the Officers had had four beautiful white tents put +up. Unfortunately they had been pitched on the +Eastern slope of the field in full view of the "Sausage" +already <span class="pagenum"><a id="page066" name="page066"></a>(p. 066)</span> mentioned, and "Silent Percy" soon got busy! +On July 25th, we took over another field near Busseboom, +where we were left in peace, so far as the Hun was +concerned, though as the field had just previously been +used by Gunners for horse lines we had in other ways +quite a lively time. Here we were joined by 2nd Lieut. +Everard Handford and an excellent draft from the +2/8th Battalion.</p> + +<p>We had little time during this six days' rest to do +more than the usual refitting and cleaning, as large +fatigue parties were required on two days for Divisional +work. Bathing was an easier matter, as we were now +able to use the new Divisional baths at "Pop." So +far as the washing of clothing was concerned, the men +did their own, laundries being very few and far between.</p> + +<p>We had now in front of us what turned out to be +the longest and most trying of all the Battalion's experiences +in the trenches, for after relieving the 7th +Battalion in trenches B 3, 4, 7, and 8 at "Sanctuary +Wood" on the night of July 29/30th, we did not get +out for 19 days.</p> + +<p>Col. Fowler at this time was on leave, whilst Major +A. C. Clarke was unfit, and a little later had to return +to England. Major Becher, who succeeded him as Second-in-Command +was, therefore, in temporary command of +the Battalion. Much to our regret our old friend "Doc" +Stallard had also just left us for a tour of home duty. +Well had he stuck it all through, but he was beginning +to feel the strain of his strenuous duties, which were now +taken over by Surgeon-Lieut. C. B. Johnstone. The +latter had a memorable journey to join the Battalion, +which was then in the line, riding up on the front of the +horse ambulance that used to go nightly to "Maple +Copse" to evacuate the previous twenty-four hours' +wounded. The road was very rough and mostly shell +holes full of water, and he had a decidedly rough passage. +Other <span class="pagenum"><a id="page067" name="page067"></a>(p. 067)</span> arrivals about this time included three new +subalterns, Lieut. C. M. Houfton, and 2nd Lieuts. R. V. +Harvey and A. H. Date, whose first experience of trench +warfare was to be rather more exciting than the average! +Comp. Sergt.-Major J. A. Green was temporarily acting +as Regimental Sergt.-Major in place of Sergt.-Major +Westerman, who had just left for England.</p> + +<p>The trench system taken over ran partly on the +outskirts of "Sanctuary Wood," and partly through the +wood itself, which in those days was most picturesque, +with delightful wild flowers and thick undergrowth. +The right was held by B Company (Lieut. J. W. Turner) +and C Company (Capt. G. S. Heathcote) and the left +by D Company (Lieut. E. C. A. James), whilst A +Company (Lieut. J. V. Edge) were in reserve. By a +very happy coincidence, we had with us A Company +of the 10th Sherwood Foresters, sent into the line for +the first time for instruction. Capt. G. P. Goodall, +subsequently killed at St. Eloi, was in charge of this +Company, amongst whom our men found many friends.</p> + +<p>We occupied the left of the 46th Divisional sector, +with the 5th Battalion on our right, the 7th Battalion +in immediate support in "Maple Copse," and the 6th +Battalion in Brigade Reserve.</p> + +<p>The 14th Division, which had only been in France +a few weeks, and had been with us for instruction at +Kemmel, had recently taken over the sector on our left, +where there had been much fighting during the past few +weeks for the possession of Hooge, which centred about +the stables and wall running near the Château. It was +there that in our last tour we had seen a brilliant assault +by the Gordons and Middlesex, after a terrific mine +explosion.</p> + +<p>At 3.30 a.m. on July 30th, immediately after stand-down, +and within a few hours of our arrival in the +trenches, on a perfect summer morning, the whole of +the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page068" name="page068"></a>(p. 068)</span> wood was suddenly surrounded by a ring of fire, +while at the same time a heavy bombardment was +opened, concentrating apparently on the trenches +around "Hooge Crater." Under cover of this bombardment, +and behind "flammenwerfer," the enemy attacked +the point of the salient held by C Company, at the same +time throwing the greater weight of his forces against +the Hooge sector occupied by units of the 14th Division. +The latter, who like ourselves had only come into the +line the night before, were undoubtedly surprised by the +sudden attack, and by this first use of "flammenwerfer." +Their men, dead tired, had just got down to sleep, +and the rapidity of the enemy attack left little opportunity +for organising successful defence.</p> + +<p>The result was that the enemy succeeded at once +in gaining the whole of the front and support trenches +on our left, pushing forward into the North end of the +wood, and threatening to cut off the whole of the salient, +and leaving the trenches held by D Company in imminent +danger of being turned from the rear.</p> + +<p>The first attack on the point of the salient was +driven off by rifle and machine gun fire. Here Pvte. +Grantham displayed conspicuous gallantry in remaining +at his post, in spite of being surrounded by flames, and +killing several of the enemy at close quarters. Very few +of the enemy succeeded in getting into our lines, though +for a short space of time there was a dangerous gap on +the left of C Company, which was filled up by the presence +of mind of 2nd Lieut. Hindley and Sergts. Sheppard and +Smith, and a platoon of B Company, one of whom, +Pvte. Tyne, did particularly fine execution by throwing +back unexploded enemy bombs. This platoon lined +the parapet, and by opening rapid fire prevented the +attack from developing. Unfortunately, an enemy +machine gun traversed the parapet, killing many of the +men of this gallant platoon, until a bomb thrown a +prodigious <span class="pagenum"><a id="page069" name="page069"></a>(p. 069)</span> distance by Sergt. G. F. Foster appears to have +fallen on the top of it, evidently knocking it out, and by +the volume of smoke produced wrecking a "flammenwerfer." +Several of the enemy were seen to be killed +or wounded by this lucky bomb.</p> + +<p>Further attacks by the enemy on the point of the +salient were made during the day, and a more serious +one early next morning, but they were readily driven +off with loss. We should like here to pay a tribute to +the magnificent courage and coolness of the men of the +10th Battalion, which contributed very largely to the +entire defeat of the enemy's attack on this front.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the position on the left was uncertain +and very alarming, and Sergt. A. Phillipson in particular, +in command of the left platoon, No. 13, had a most +anxious and trying time. Elements of the 14th Division +straggled from the left with stories of the German +advance. These accounts might easily have demoralised +our Battalion but for the magnificent example of Lieut. +James, his Second-in-Command, 2nd Lieut. Vann and +Sergt. A. Phillipson, and the coolness and courage of +every man of D Company. The situation on this flank +was serious indeed. All the trenches on the left had been +captured, and the enemy were reported as pushing into +the wood in the rear of our trenches. James acted +promptly, and immediately pushed out a left flank-guard. +Major Becher at Headquarters sent forward +reinforcements from the Reserve Company, and +eventually the 7th Battalion from "Maple Copse" +were despatched by Brigade and did splendid work in +spite of heavy shelling, in digging a switch line connecting +the trenches in the neighbourhood of "Zouave Wood" +to our left flank.</p> + +<p>Early in the afternoon the Reserve Brigade of the +14th Division, who had only reached bivouacs near +Poperinghe at three in the morning, returned and +made <span class="pagenum"><a id="page070" name="page070"></a>(p. 070)</span> a gallant but fruitless counter-attack to recover +the lost trenches. Could it have been expected that +men, who had been in the trenches for a week, marched +back during the night no less than 12 miles, only +to turn once more, march back those interminable +12 miles, part of the time under heavy shell fire, +dog-tired, without sleep or food, could without adequate +artillery preparation perform a feat which later required +a Division of fresh troops, after one of the most carefully +planned and destructive bombardments at that time +known? The Brigade could but have failed, and to the +onlooker it seemed a tragic blunder, but to those who +have read the pathetic story of a tragic day, the title +given by "The Student in Arms" of "The Honour +of the Brigade" alone provides the excuse for an operation +which from every other point of view, was one of the +costly blunders of the war.</p> + +<p>On August 9th, the 6th Division attacked after a +very heavy bombardment and re-established the +situation. No troops could have done finer work. +The enemy who had manned the redoubtable "Hooge +Crater" in great strength, suffered very heavily, but +the total prisoners captured in a hard fought attack +amounted to five. The 2nd Sherwood Foresters, under +that magnificent Officer Col. Hobbs, who in pre-war +days had at one time been Adjutant of our Battalion, +eventually endeavoured to hold the crater on our left, +but this was soon found to be untenable, and remained +in No Man's Land.</p> + +<p>An incident which is not without its humour, while +illustrating the tiredness of our men, may be worth +recalling. During the bombardment preliminary to +the counter-attack, when the noise of our own artillery +was deafening, and the proximity of the enemy shelling +far from assuring, a platoon commander discovered one +of his men fast asleep on the firestep. With some +difficulty <span class="pagenum"><a id="page071" name="page071"></a>(p. 071)</span> he was aroused and, rubbing his eyes, he +exclaimed, not without a certain degree of indignation +that his slumbers had been cut short—"What's oop?"</p> + +<p>Our casualties during the activities of July 30th +and 31st, amounted to 21 killed and 40 wounded, +and the 10th Battalion had ten casualties in addition. +This total was increased from day to day by incessant +shelling, trench mortars and rifle grenades, and by +the unfortunate inaccuracy of one of our 6-inch naval +guns, which persisted in firing into our trenches +until its identity was eventually discovered. During +the first fortnight in the line here, our casualties were +no fewer than four Officers wounded (Vann, E. M. +Hacking, Hindley and G. G. Elliott); 36 other +ranks killed, or died of wounds, and 90 wounded. +Included amongst the killed were Sergt. A. Phillipson, +who throughout had shewn the utmost coolness and +gallantry, and Sergt. E. Layhe, who had done very good +work as Scout Sergeant. "Jimmy" James, who had +struggled on manfully in spite of being very unfit, +eventually had to give up and go to hospital, D +Company being taken over by Vann.</p> + +<p>During these days there was much active patrolling +in order to make certain of the dispositions of +the enemy, and much daring work was carried out by +Lieuts. Vann, Turner, and H. B. S. Handford, 2nd +Lieuts. A. & E. M. Hacking, Corpl. Gadd, L.-Corpl. Wilson, +and Pvtes. Nicholson and Thompson. Vann in particular +was much in the good books of General Allenby, the +Corps Commander, for his splendid work, though he was +once the cause of his very nearly spoiling an immaculate +pair of breeches when showing him with much glee +a particularly un-get-at-able loophole plate in a very +muddy trench. We are led to believe, however, that +this crime was forgiven, as Vann was later honoured by +the General with an invitation to dinner.</p> + +<a id="img007" name="img007"></a> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/img007.jpg" width="500" height="657" alt="Map To Illustrate Fighting At Sanctuary Wood. July-august. 1915." title="Map To Illustrate Fighting At Sanctuary Wood. July-august. 1915."> +</div> + +<p class="figcenter">Map To Illustrate Fighting At Sanctuary Wood. July-august. 1915.</p> + +<p>Apart <span class="pagenum"><a id="page072" name="page072"></a>(p. 072)</span> from shelling, which continued intermittently, +the rest of our stay in the line was uneventful. It was +not, however, until August 17th, that the Battalion, +reduced in numbers but tried at last in real fighting, were +relieved by the 7th Battalion, and marched back to +bivouacs near Ouderdom, dead tired but happy in the +thought that they could hand over intact the trenches +which they had taken over three weeks before.</p> + +<p>The attack had evidently not been an attempt to +break through. The enemy no doubt had hoped to +seize our front line system from the right of B 4 +trench northwards. There can be no doubt that had +this succeeded the difficulty of the counter-attack +would have been largely increased. Indeed, at a time +when troops could ill have been spared, it is probable +that the Ypres Salient would have been considerably +reduced, and the morale of the enemy proportionately +increased. This was pointed out by General Allenby, +who, addressing the Battalion on parade on August +25th, said: "I have read with great pleasure and +pride the report of the General commanding your +Division, telling of the arduous work which you recently +did in the neighbourhood of Hooge. By your boldness, +tenacity, and gallantry, you did work of very great +importance. Perhaps you do not know that not only +did your action have an important bearing on that +particular bit of line, but on the whole campaign, because +of the political reason for holding the Salient. The +town of Ypres is nothing to us, but if the Boche took it +they would publish it to the world that they had captured +the fortress of Ypres, which we have held since November, +1914."</p> + +<p>The Battalion also received the special thanks of +the Field Marshal Commanding-in-Chief on their efforts +during the tour. To the delight of everyone, especially +all ranks of B Company, John Becher was awarded the +D.S.O., <span class="pagenum"><a id="page073" name="page073"></a>(p. 073)</span> a very well-deserved honour for most splendid +work whilst in command of the Battalion, during one of +the most anxious periods in its history; Vann for his +gallantry here and previously at Kemmel got the M.C. +Mention must also be made of the splendid work of +our new Medical Officer (Johnstone), his assistants Corpls. +Sissons, Martin, and Bescoby, and all the stretcher-bearers, +who worked indefatigably day and night, often +in circumstances of great personal risk in dressing and +evacuating the wounded, not only of our own Battalion, +but of the King's Royal Rifle Corps, the Rifle Brigade, +and the 2nd Sherwood Foresters. In these operations +they established a reputation for gallantry and devotion +to duty which in the whole Brigade was conspicuous +throughout the war.</p> + +<p>Our bivouacs were in a nice spot sheltered from +view by a small wood. Our rest was not a long one, +and was much of the usual type, but had an additional +interest in that we were fortunate in getting two very +good entertainments from the 46th Divisional Concert +Party, the "Whizzbangs," which had lately been +formed, and was to be a source of much pleasure from +now on to the end of the war. Whilst there we were +joined by two new Officers, 2nd Lieuts. A. H. G. C. +Moore and P. C. Hemingway, and 107 other ranks, but +we wanted men badly now, as in addition to our heavy +casualties in the line, we lost during the month of August +41 N.C.O's. and men, whose term of enlistment expired +on the completion of one year's war service. These +included many old hands who were difficult to replace.</p> + +<p>On August 29th, we took over trenches at +"Middlesex Wood," where the Brigade were holding +the line astride the Ypres-Comines Canal, near St. +Eloi, and there we stayed, with one short rest in bivouacs, +for a month of more or less normal trench warfare. +Perhaps the main points of interest were that we were +covered <span class="pagenum"><a id="page074" name="page074"></a>(p. 074)</span> by Belgian gunners, who were not too particular +where or when they fired, that we were now getting a +supply of sniperscopes (specially constructed rifles, +fitted with periscopes, for firing from a trench without +looking directly over the parapet), which formed most +useful additions to our trench stores, and seemed to cause +the enemy considerable annoyance, and that we were +able on one or two occasions to make good practice +with Col. Fowler's Elephant Gun against some of +the enemy's loophole plates. On September 25th, +in conjunction with attacks by the French and British, +on various other parts of the Western front, we had to +"demonstrate" by means of artillery, machine gun +and rifle fire, and a dummy gas and smoke attack, which +was to be provided by burning on the parapet of the +front line trenches large quantities of damp straw, +which had been carried up with much labour, and a +good deal of very frank comment. Much to the relief +of those intimately concerned with this bonfire, the +wind on the day of the attack was unfavourable, and +the straw at least did not end in smoke. The +demonstration provided some amusement to our +Grenadiers, who, with the assistance of a "Gamage" +catapult, and two West Spring Throwers succeeded, +to their immense delight in bursting the old Béthune +bomb as shrapnel over the German trenches. It was +only when the last bomb was thrown that Sergt. G. F. +Foster, the stoutest Bomber that ever lived and fell, +ended a demonstration which can hardly have caused +a flutter in the dove-cotes of the German Higher +Command.</p> + +<p>Here, as on many other occasions, all ranks would +have worked more intelligently, and with greater personal +satisfaction, if they had known something of the general +plan, and the part they were being asked to play. This +plan really must have been a big thing, for some one +was <span class="pagenum"><a id="page075" name="page075"></a>(p. 075)</span> kind enough to send us a lot of literature on such +subjects as "How to guard against spies in newly +captured territory," and generally how to behave there; +whilst maps and other documents gave us the most +intricate detail of every well, and other supply of water +for at least 20 miles East of where we were. Evidently +the sender was an optimist!</p> + +<p>On the 30th September, the 8th Lincolns took over +from us in support in the Canal dug-outs. The enemy +having already given us an extremely unpleasant afternoon +chose this very inconvenient occasion for "putting +up" a mine under the trenches held by the 6th Battalion, +on the South side of the Canal. This operation and the +accompanying bombardment involved a stand-to, and +caused a certain number of casualties both in the trenches +and among the troops in the support dug-outs. The +relief was, however, duly carried out, and the Battalion +marched back to tents near Ouderdom in the early +hours of October 1st, where a little later in the day +General Allenby came to say goodbye and wish us +luck in our new sphere of action.</p> + +<p>We had previously, on September 21st, had the +honour of being inspected by General Plumer, commanding +the Second Army, who expressed himself as +very satisfied with the smart turnout of the Battalion. +We were still very weak, though we had continued to +receive small drafts of reinforcements, and had been +joined by five new Officers, 2nd Lieuts. G. H. F. Payling, +R. T. Skinner, R. A. Abrams, G. H. Fisher, and C. +Pickerell; "Dolly" Gray also came out again and +rejoined. We had, however, lost Capt. Collin, the +Adjutant, who had just left to take up a Staff Captaincy, +and his place after being held for a few days by Lieut. +A. Hacking, was now taken by Lieut. Weetman, who +had just rejoined. Capt. Piggford had gone home +sick, and 2nd Lieut. P. C. Hemingway wounded; and +we <span class="pagenum"><a id="page076" name="page076"></a>(p. 076)</span> had also recently lost M. Lacolle, our one and only +Battalion Interpreter. Henceforth we were not to be +allowed this luxury.</p> + +<p>It is, perhaps, not out of place to mention here an +interesting little episode which had taken place at +home, namely the depositing of the Colours in Newark +Parish Church. This ceremony was carried out on +July 24th, and was attended by the Mayor and Corporation +of Newark. Lieut.-Col. G. S. Foljambe was in +charge of the parade, and Capt. R. F. B. Hodgkinson +commanded the escort to the Colours, which were +carried by 2nd Lieuts. R. J. Shipley and C. Pickerell.</p> + + + + +<h3>CHAPTER IV <span class="pagenum"><a id="page077" name="page077"></a>(p. 077)</span></h3> + +<h5>HOHENZOLLERN REDOUBT</h5> + + +<p class="figcenter"><i>October 1st, 1915.</i>— +<i>October 17th, 1915.</i></p> + +<p class="p2">We packed up during the afternoon of October 1st, +and in the evening marched to Abeele, where we +entrained for a destination unknown to most of us, but +presumed to be somewhere in the far South. We made +ourselves as comfortable as we could for the expected +long journey, only to be rudely awakened after what +seemed to be a five minutes' sleep, and turned out into +the cold dark night at Fouquereuil, a suburb of Béthune. +The remainder of the night was spent at a somewhat +elusive Orphanage in the town itself. On the following +day we moved into billets at the Northern end of the town +on the banks of the La Bassée Canal, where we were +joined by the Transport which had come from Ouderdom +by road. October 3rd saw us once more on the move to +Mont Bernenchon, a clean, attractive little village, a +few miles N.W. of Béthune. Our hopes of spending a +day or two in peace were soon shattered, for on the +following day we made what seemed to be another +emergency move to Béthune, where we embussed for +regions unknown. Shortly after dark we arrived at +Vermelles, and picked up guides, who led us as only +guides can, to what proved to be a portion of the German +front line system captured in the fighting a few days +before. The trenches, which were near the "Lone Tree," +and within sight of the famous "Tower Bridge" at Loos, +were little damaged, and seemed to have been captured +without a great deal of fighting, but the incessant rain and +scarcity of habitable dug-outs made our stay as uncomfortable +as the most hardened stoic could have desired. +Our <span class="pagenum"><a id="page078" name="page078"></a>(p. 078)</span> work consisted of reversing portions of the original +German support trench to form a fire trench facing the +other way. Owing to the distance to the then German +line (1,000 to 1,500 yards) and the low visibility, we +were able to work openly and practically unmolested. +Our only casualties were the result of an unlucky shell +which fell on the morning of October 5th, amongst +a party of Signallers, killing L.-Sergt. C. E. Harrison, +Signalling Sergeant, and three men, whilst another +man died of wounds a few days later.</p> + +<p>The same evening we got orders to leave the trenches, +and after a thoroughly unpleasant tramp, in heavy rain +and thick darkness over the slippery chalk tracks, +which were guess-work to most of us, we arrived soon +after midnight at Mazingarbe, which for dirt, damp, +and general cheerlessness, almost rivalled our never-to-be-forgotten +billets at Bac-St. Maur. So ended a +beastly, tiring, and, for all we ever learned, quite purposeless +expedition.</p> + +<p>After a short meal and much needed rest we felt +fit for anything, and made light of the trek on the early +morning of October 6th, to our rest billets, which we +found at Fouquières, a nice clean little village about a +mile west of Béthune. Here we found ourselves, for a +short time, in peace and something approaching luxury.</p> + +<p>Our move South had brought us into the First +Army (General Haig) and XI Corps. (Lt.-General Haking), +which had been busy in the recent fighting, and we now +learned definitely for the first time that in the further +fighting that was shortly to take place we were to play +a prominent part. On Saturday, October 9th, preliminary +orders and plans were issued, and we learned that our +task was to be the capture of the "Hohenzollern +Redoubt" and "Fosse 8," an admirably constructed +scale model of which had been made on the ground +outside Divisional Headquarters at Gosnay, where +Officers <span class="pagenum"><a id="page079" name="page079"></a>(p. 079)</span> and N.C.O.'s (and stray inhabitants) spent some +time in a careful and interested examination of it.</p> + +<p>In addition, a somewhat hurried reconnaissance of +the position itself was made by Col. Fowler and the +Company Commanders from our trenches in front of +Vermelles, from which the attack was to be made. In +the short space of a couple of hours they endeavoured +to get a working knowledge of the maze of communication +trenches, and the hostile ground over which, if all went +well, we should have to advance. Sunday was spent +in Church Parade, and in going again through the +preliminary orders and plans, and in the afternoon the +Corps Commander interviewed the Officers of the +Division at Divisional Headquarters. We were then +told something more as to the reason and general plan +of the attack, and were informed that we should be +supported by the heaviest concentration of artillery +yet known in the war—400 guns of all calibres,—that all +contingencies had been provided for, and that in spite +of the strength of the position, we should probably +encounter very little opposition before reaching our +objective.</p> + +<p>The object of the attack, which was to be undertaken +by the XI Corps, was to establish the left flank of +the First Army, and to render possible a further advance +in conjunction with the French on the South. The +objective included the "Quarries" and Fosse 8, +the 46th Division being allotted the task of capturing +the Hohenzollern Redoubt and Fosse 8, whilst the +12th Division was to attack on our right, and be +responsible for the Quarries. The Fosse and surroundings +had already been in our hands once, having +been attacked and captured during the last week in +September by the 9th Division, who unfortunately, +however, had been compelled to withdraw, and a +subsequent attempt by the 28th Division to recapture +it <span class="pagenum"><a id="page080" name="page080"></a>(p. 080)</span> had also proved a dismal failure. What, we wondered, +was in store for the 46th Division?</p> + +<p>Fosse 8 is, or rather was, a typical colliery pit, +with the usual winding and head gear and other plant, +and pit-head pile of slag (called in this case "The Dump"), +which like its neighbour, the famous Tower of Wingles, +overlooked the whole position, whilst in rear there were +the usual rows of miners' cottages. These cottages (called +"Corons") had cellars, and were thus very easy to defend +with machine guns, which could fire with great effect, +and comparative safety, from ground level. In front +of the Fosse and protecting it lay the Hohenzollern +Redoubt, consisting of a salient trench system shaped +rather like a big bean, and projecting well in front of the +German main system, to which it was connected by +communication trenches, and by two flank trenches +known as "Big Willie" and "Little Willie." The +importance of the position lay in the fact that it was +on the top of a gentle rise, giving command and good +observation of our position on either side. Its capture +was rendered difficult by the fact that the ground in +front of it was level, and almost devoid of cover, affording +a very fine field of fire, which could be swept from +practically every direction. From our trenches very +little could be seen except the Dump, and the roof of +the manager's house.</p> + +<p>The attack was to be carried out by the 137th +Brigade on the right under Brigadier-General E. Feetham, +C.B., and the 138th Brigade on the left under Brigadier-General +G. C. Kemp, whilst the 139th Brigade were to +be in Divisional Reserve under Brigadier-General C. T. +Shipley. To the 137th Brigade were attached 100 Grenadiers +from the 139th Brigade, two sections Divisional +Cyclist Company, and the 1/2nd Field Company, Royal +Engineers (less one section), and to the 138th Brigade, +the 1st Monmouthshire Regiment (Divisional Pioneer +Battalion), <span class="pagenum"><a id="page081" name="page081"></a>(p. 081)</span> 125 Grenadiers from the 139th Brigade, two +sections Divisional Cyclist Company, and the 1/1st Field +Company, Royal Engineers (less one section), whilst +General Shipley's Divisional Reserve consisted of the +139th Brigade (less 225 Grenadiers), one Platoon Divisional +Cyclist Company, and two Troops Yorkshire Hussars. +The covering Artillery consisted of three groups of heavy +Artillery under the Corps Commander, and one group +of Divisional Artillery (six Brigades of 18-pounders, +and one Brigade of 4.5 Howitzers).</p> + +<p>To his immense pleasure, 2nd Lieut. R. E. +Hemingway, our Battalion Grenade Officer, was put +in charge of the Grenadiers attached to the 138th Brigade, +the party also including the Battalion Grenadier Sergeant, +G. F. Foster. Bombing was now entering on the period +of its greatest importance—always in our humble +opinion greatly exaggerated. The Mills bomb was +rapidly ousting all other kinds, and shortly became +almost the only one in normal use. Much time was put +in at throwing practice, and every kind of artifice was +adopted by instructors to make it interesting, and at +the same time improve the aim and distance thrown. +A "platoon" of "grenadiers," as they were at first +called, was formed in each Battalion, consisting of a +Grenadier Officer, a sergeant and 32 men, (eight from +each Company), and to show how much we respected +them, we put them when on the march at the head of +the Battalion. There was a Brigade Grenadier Officer +too, who made himself generally responsible for the +training and work of Grenadiers throughout the Brigade. +The first Officer appointed to this post in our Brigade +was Lieut. A. Hacking, who had taken over the duties +just before the Hohenzollern battle. The task allotted +to the Grenadiers in this fight, was to bomb the various +communication trenches leading from "West Face" +to "Fosse Trench," clear dug-outs and establish blocks +in "Fosse Alley."</p> + +<p>Information <span class="pagenum"><a id="page082" name="page082"></a>(p. 082)</span> regarding the enemy, gained by Corps +Intelligence during the attacks of September 25th, +and following days from our own Officers, and from the +examination of prisoners, was to the effect that the +enemy trenches in the Redoubt, with the exception +of "Dump Trench" and "South Face," were badly +damaged and not strongly wired, that previous attacks +had been exposed to heavy enfilade fire from "Mad Point" +or "Madagascar," that it was not thought there +would be much enfilade fire from the South-East, and +that it was not necessary to waste a lot of heavy shell +on the Dump, as it could be made untenable by +both sides. How far this was justifiable will be seen.</p> + +<p>Our few days at Fouquières passed very quickly in +the bustle of completing equipment, going again and +again with all ranks through the maps and plans of attack, +detailing and organising bombing squads in the place of +those detached for duty with the other Brigades, and +writing last letters home "in case——" There was little +or no excitement. We had most of us seen too much by +this time to be either unduly pessimistic or over-confident +about our own chances, so that everything seemed to +go quietly and smoothly. The first steel helmets had +just arrived—quaint, antique, Japanese looking things, +with ingenious corrugations to catch the bullets—and +were issued to the Machine Gunners, who had also +received the first supply of the new Box Respirator, +issued in place of the Smoke Helmet. The Machine +Gun section was now commanded by Lieut. Adams.</p> + +<p>It was at 3.45 p.m. on October 12th, after making +our final inspections and collecting blankets, packs and +other surplus stores at a convenient barn, that we moved +off from Fouquières on a fine Autumn afternoon, leaving +behind only 2nd Lieut. Gray, and a few odd men, who +were not fit to go into action. Transport marched in +rear of the Battalion to temporary lines behind Noyelles, +where it remained until after the battle.</p> + +<p>We <span class="pagenum"><a id="page083" name="page083"></a>(p. 083)</span> had a very pleasant and easy march up to +Vermelles, where a halt was made for tea. Here we +were passed by one of the Stafford Battalions who were +to make the assault. It was too dark to see their faces, +but their voices were full of confidence and cheeriness, +which it did one good to hear.</p> + +<p>A temporary Quarter-Master's Stores was fitted up +at "Clarke's Keep," Vermelles, where Companies picked +up their rations for the 13th, water in petrol tins, +grenades, Vermorel sprayers, and other odds and ends +likely to be required. An emergency ration of cold +bacon and bread was also issued.</p> + +<p>Eventually after a very slow march through +Vermelles, which was a seething mass of men and +transport, we arrived about 11 p.m. at our assembly +position in "Sussex Trench," where space was allotted +to us by Lieut. C. L. Hill, Signalling Officer, who had +gone on ahead with a few Signallers for that purpose. +We soon settled down and made the best we could of +what remained of the night. This was not long, for the +carrying parties for the 138th Brigade, and others had +to report for duty at Clarke's Keep at 6 a.m. on +October 13th. In all we provided a total of five Officers +and 300 other ranks for this duty, and they were +busy most of the morning taking up to the front line +such necessary articles as rations, water, grenades, +and rum. His devotion to the last-named duty was +too much for one bloodthirsty, but very ill-disciplined +member of the Battalion, who became "non-effective" +in consequence, and was reported by someone, who +saw him lying in the bottom of a communication trench, +as "dead—shot through the head." He was "dead" +right enough, but he lived to fight—and, it is feared to +"die" again—another day!</p> + +<p>Our artillery fire during the morning was normal, +"so as not to arouse the suspicions of the Germans," +who, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page084" name="page084"></a>(p. 084)</span> as a fact, probably knew quite as much as +most of us about the time and nature of our attack. +But at 12.0 noon, every gun began in real earnest, and +it was possible to stand on the firestep of our trench, +and get an undisturbed, if rather distant, view of the +shells bursting all over the German trenches. After +half-an-hour of this most unusual, but very pleasing +spectacle, one felt that there would be little left for us +to attack.</p> + +<p>At 1 p.m. the greenish yellow clouds of smoke and +chlorine gas (known for some time as "The Auxiliary") +discharged from cylinders in our front line began to +roll towards the enemy lines, the breeze being exactly +right both in strength and direction, and we became +happier still at the thought of paying the Germans back +in their own coin. During the whole of our bombardment +we could hear very little reply from the German guns, +though from time to time we could see a few "woolly +bears" and other shell-bursts, at odd points about the +forward trenches. Probably they were saving most +of their fire for the actual assault, and except for a stray +machine gun bullet or two, we ourselves were in no kind +of danger. One of those, however, which must have +dropped at a steep angle, slightly wounded Regimental +Sergt-Major Mounteney, who was standing in the trench +with the Officers of Battalion Headquarters. He had +only rejoined from England a few days before, and +was our first casualty in the attack.</p> + +<p>At 1.50 p.m. the gas discharge ceased, but the +smoke was continued until 2.0 p.m., when our guns +"lifted" from the enemy front line, and the 137th and +138th Brigades began the assault. As the smoke +cleared away, we could get a fair view of a portion of +the attacking troops (Staffords) on the right as they +went steadily, and apparently in excellent order over +the top, but, almost at the same time we heard with +surprise <span class="pagenum"><a id="page085" name="page085"></a>(p. 085)</span> and dismay, the somewhat slow "tap-tap" +of numbers of those enemy machine guns, which were +to have been so completely silenced by our bombardment! +We watched the Staffords for a few moments +until they disappeared from view.</p> + +<p>Then followed a period of anxious waiting, and the +only information we got was to the effect that the 138th +Brigade on the left had practically gained their portion +of the Redoubt.</p> + +<p>Soon after 3 o'clock, we received orders to move +forward, and began to proceed by way of "Inverness +Trench," "Bomb Alley" and "Left Boyau" to +"Reserve Trench." Movement was very slow, owing +to the congestion of the traffic, and the narrowness of +the trenches, and took a long time to complete. There +we were destined to remain for several hours, and suffered +a few casualties from shell fire, apparently directed at +the junctions of the trench with "Central" and "Right +Boyaux." We were now nominally at the disposal of +General Officer Commanding 137th Brigade, but never +received any orders from him, and eventually drifted +to the command of General Officer Commanding 138th +Brigade.</p> + +<p>Traffic became more and more congested by the +stream of wounded which was now pouring down +Central Boyau and "Barts Alley," and by carrying +parties and supports endeavouring to get along the +Reserve Trench up to the Redoubt.</p> + +<p>Soon we began to gather scraps of information +from those who were coming down, and to realise that +things were going far from well. The usual answer +was "Don't ask me, all I know is it's Hell up there!" +It was now getting too dark to see, and we could only +gather that at any rate we were holding the West +Face and having a pretty bad time in doing so; also +that our Grenadiers attached to the 138th Brigade, had +suffered <span class="pagenum"><a id="page086" name="page086"></a>(p. 086)</span> heavily. Sergt. G. F. Foster was carried down +dying from wounds in the body, and Hemingway was +reported to be dangerously wounded, if not already dead.</p> + +<p>Things had not gone well. As we learned afterwards +the attack of the Staffords on the right had been held +up almost immediately by machine gun fire, and very +little ground had been made. On the left, the Lincolns +and Leicesters at first were more fortunate, and reaching +West Face with comparatively few casualties, began +to make their way up to Fosse Trench. But the +further they advanced, the more heavy became their +losses, until eventually the advance came to a standstill, +the furthest point reached being about 100 yards from +Fosse Trench. From these more advanced positions +they were gradually forced back, until only the West +Face was in our hands. It is abundantly clear that the +effect of our bombardment did not come up to expectations, +and that many machine guns were untouched, and, +worst of all, that the Dump, on which "heavy shell +need not be wasted, as it could be made untenable by +either side," proved to be a miniature Gibraltar, honeycombed +with shafts and galleries leading to concealed +machine gun emplacements. Small wonder that little +ground could be made or held in the face of such defences.</p> + +<p>The news that things were going badly induced a +Battalion Commander of another Brigade, whose +Battalion had been taken from him piecemeal and +scattered to the four winds of heaven, to order A +Company, in the absence of Col. Fowler, to go across +to the Redoubt to reinforce the troops there. Information, +however, was brought by L.-Corpl. Simpson of A +Company (killed a few hours later), who made a rapid +and courageous journey over the open to West Face, +to the effect that that trench was already overcrowded, +and that the troops there required thinning, rather +than reinforcing.</p> + +<p>It <span class="pagenum"><a id="page087" name="page087"></a>(p. 087)</span> was now getting late and things seemed to be in +a very unsatisfactory state, when orders were issued +by Col. Fowler, who had met General Kemp in the +trenches, and received verbal instructions to be prepared +to carry out an attack at short notice on the right portion +of the Redoubt, for Companies (except B who were +detached for other work) to begin to move up in readiness +to our front line trenches. This movement began about +9.0 p.m. very slowly along Reserve Trench and +"Hayward's Heath." The difficulty of moving a +Battalion at night, in single file, through a maze of +unfamiliar trenches without losing touch, may be better +imagined than described, and it was after midnight +before we had covered the 400 or 500 yards, which was +all we had to do.</p> + +<p>Whilst this was going on Col. Fowler and the +Adjutant, accompanied by the Staff Captain, Major +Wordsworth, made a hasty reconnaissance of the position, +and found that elements of the 138th Brigade and +Monmouths were holding the North-Western portion +of West Face, whilst the Eastern portion of Big +Willie was held by the 6th Battalion. Except for +a short distance near the barricade on each flank, the +trench between these points was held by the enemy.</p> + +<p>At 2.45 a.m. on October 14th, we received from +General Officer Commanding 138th Brigade, written +orders to attack and consolidate "as soon as possible" +the South-Eastern portion of West Face, the junction +of South Face and Big Willie (shewn on the map +as Point 60), and if possible the "Chord" of the +Redoubt. The order stated that the 6th Battalion in +Big Willie would co-operate by a bombing attack +along that trench "at the same time." Owing to the +difficulty of getting messages to and fro, in the maze +of unknown trenches in the dark, it was quite impossible +to get in touch with the 6th Battalion so as to give them +any <span class="pagenum"><a id="page088" name="page088"></a>(p. 088)</span> idea when our attack would begin, so that we were +not able to rely on getting much help from them. The +Commanding Officer decided that two Companies would +be sufficient for the attack, which was of course going to +be without artillery support, and A Company (Major +A. L. Ashwell), and D Company (Capt. B. W. Vann), +were detailed. A hasty conference was arranged at a +small dug-out at which Col. Fowler, who intended himself +to lead the attack, gave the few orders that were +possible in the circumstances:—"A quiet advance, no +firing, and in with the bayonet."</p> + +<p>Owing to the darkness and the unfamiliar ground, +it was necessary to make some arrangement for keeping +direction. Major Becher was, therefore, sent across +to the West Face, with instructions to stay at the +extreme right flank of the 138th Brigade position, and +there to show a light from a flash lamp on which the +left flank of our attack would be directed.</p> + +<p>As soon as this was settled, and Company Commanders +had issued their instructions, we began to +deploy in front of our original front line trench, as nearly +as possible opposite our objective.</p> + +<p>It was again a very slow job getting the men out +of the deep and narrow support trenches, and over a +single duck-board bridge across the front line into +position; indeed many men of D Company never +received the order at all, and remained in the support +trench in ignorance of what was going on. The men +were extended to about four paces, D Company on +the right, A on the left. This movement was carried +out very quietly, with entire absence of hesitation or +confusion, and the men were then dressed as nearly as +possible on the required alignment—no easy matter +when one has only a map, and has never seen the objective +or the ground in front of it. Rifles were loaded +and bayonets fixed, Col. Fowler with characteristic +unselfishness, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page089" name="page089"></a>(p. 089)</span> giving his rifle to an Officer who had a +bayonet, but no rifle to put it on. All these preliminaries +were carried out without attracting the attention of the +enemy, who were about 250 yards away. Finally at +about 3.45 a.m. the order was given to advance, keeping +our left flank on Becher's lamp, which we could see +from time to time across the intervening ground. It +was a strange experience, this slow night advance through +the darkness and mist in the almost uncanny stillness +which, sooner or later, always follows heavy fighting; +so like what many of us had done in peace-time "night-ops," +that it was difficult to realise that this was war, +and would end in hand-to-hand fighting; that, however +quietly we went, we must eventually be discovered, +and perhaps swept away by machine gun and rifle fire. +The ground was for the most part level, and not badly +cut up, and there was little wire. A few of our dead, one +or two severely wounded still struggling painfully back +to our lines, and a number of abandoned rifles were +all that were left to show what had happened on the +previous day. When we were about half-way across +it was realised that we were getting too far to the left, +and direction was changed half-right. It was not +until the right of the line was close up to the old German +wire, that we were discovered. Fire was opened from +somewhere half-right, probably in the neighbourhood +of Point 60, but it was not severe, and only a few +casualties were caused. On arriving at West Face +it was found to be practically empty on the right, the +few Germans who had been there having probably left +hurriedly as we approached. On the left we found +a mixed crowd of Lincolns, Leicesters, and Monmouths, +with a few Robin Hoods, all under the command of +Col. Evill, of the Monmouths. Many of them were +wounded, and nearly all were exhausted by their dreadful +experiences of the previous day. Our arrival was, +therefore, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page090" name="page090"></a>(p. 090)</span> very opportune and put fresh life into +them.</p> + +<p>It was now quite evident that we had come too +far to the left, and although we had gained 100 yards +or so of the West Face, our right flank was not in +touch with the 6th Battalion in Big Willie. In their +eagerness to get at the Germans, and urged on by the +shouts of the Lincolns and Leicesters, the left half of +A Company ran through the West Face and began +pushing on. The enemy, however, were waking up, +and our men were met with much heavier fire, which, +although unaimed, caused a number of casualties. +Edge was severely wounded in the arm and chest, and +Everard Handford was killed instantaneously by a +bullet in the head, whilst numbers of men also fell. It +was then seen that any further advance was out of the +question. The only thing to be done was to consolidate +what we had, and try to extend our gains laterally +by bombing along the West Face. Grenadiers and +grenades (English and German) were collected, parties +were organised by Ashwell and Vann, and several more +yards of trench were gained. Strachan leading one of +these along the trench with utter fearlessness was never +seen again, and was probably killed at once. Shortage +of grenades soon made it clear that we must stop and +build a barricade to hold up the Germans, who as usual +seemed to have a never-ending supply.</p> + +<p>On the extreme right, Vann and others of D Company +had come across some Boches out of the trench, +apparently preparing to make an attack over the open. +Most of these were slaughtered, and the rest made all +possible haste back to their trench. This appears to +have been part of an organised counter-attack, as the +enemy tried a similar attack on the left as well, which +also failed. Nothing was heard of the bombing in Big +Willie by the 6th Battalion, but we learnt afterwards +that <span class="pagenum"><a id="page091" name="page091"></a>(p. 091)</span> they had made several attempts to progress along +that trench without success.</p> + +<p>All available tools and sandbags were got together +in the trench to build a barricade at the right flank. +It was now getting light, and this was attended with +much danger, and in the work of filling sandbags and +placing them at the barricade, we had several men +killed in a very short time.</p> + +<p>Vann had already been wounded by a bullet in the +left forearm, and had gone down to be dressed, returning +with his usual courage and tenacity, after having his +wound attended to. The Commanding Officer, however, +would not let him stay, and he had to go down again +to hospital. Ashwell was hit by a bullet in the right +shoulder a few minutes after Vann, and he, too, had to +leave us.</p> + +<p>The enemy were not more than fifty yards away, +and the least exposure brought a bullet with deadly +aim, though in this respect they did not have things +entirely their own way. We could distinctly see the +tops of their helmets over the parapet, and at one time +there was such a collection that we thought they were +going to attack, but nothing came of it, and we settled +down to work again. There was no wire or obstacle +of any kind between the two trenches. We were too +close to get our guns on to them, otherwise we could +have done much execution. Practically all the work +on the right was done by men of D Company, who +eventually made a barricade, which was more or less +bullet-proof, and dug a length of trench to protect that +flank. Here Sergt. W. L. Green did excellent work, +encouraging everyone by his fine example. For nearly +24 hours he stuck to his post in spite of bombs +and rifle fire. He was ably assisted by Sergt. Turgoose +and Pvtes. Keeling, Hubbard, Dickinson, Offord and +Sly of D Company, also Pvte. F. Attenborough of A +Company, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page092" name="page092"></a>(p. 092)</span> whilst L.-Corpl. Skelton did splendid work +in attending to wounded.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Col. Fowler had made arrangements for +the defence of the trench on the left, from which, much to +their relief the Lincolns, Leicesters, and Monmouths, had +been withdrawn during the early hours of the morning. +Their place had been taken by A Company, which +having lost all its Officers, was now commanded by Sergt. +L. Bell. Parties were set to work to improve the trench, +which was badly knocked about, and during the following +night the Company dug a new trench a few yards in +front, in order to get a better field of fire and for better +protection. The Northern end of West Face was all +this time held by the 7th Battalion.</p> + +<p>C Company (Capt. H. B. S. Handford, in place +of Capt. G. S. Heathcote, who had left to do duty at +the Base) who had been left behind in Hayward's +Heath when A and D Companies went over to attack, +stayed there until 5.0 a.m. when 2nd Lieut. R. A. +Abrams and a party of 15 were detailed to carry grenades +up to A Company in the Redoubt, where many of them +remained. The rest of the Company moved up to a +communication trench near the original front line, +where they received orders from a Battalion Commander +of another Brigade, to carry water and grenades over +the open to the Redoubt. They started shortly after +7.30 a.m., but as it was quite light, they were seen +immediately, and heavy machine gun and rifle fire +was opened on them at once. Basil Handford and +several others were killed instantaneously, and several +were wounded. The attempt was foredoomed to failure, +and the men were ordered back into the trench. For +the rest of the day they helped to carry stores to the +Redoubt by way of a new communication trench and +to fetch in and attend to the wounded. Very gallant +work was done in this operation by Comp. Sergt.-Major +Haywood, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page093" name="page093"></a>(p. 093)</span> Sergts. Leivers and Bexton, and Pvtes. +Winterbottom, Allen, and Eyre.</p> + +<p>B Company (Capt. Turner) had been detached +about 5.0 p.m. on October 13th, and ordered to proceed +over the open to reinforce the garrison of our original +front line. They remained for some time in the old +support line, from which all the Company Grenadiers +were sent up to reinforce the men in the Redoubt. +One of these, L.-Corpl. G. W. Moore, did very gallant +work in remaining alone for three-quarters-of-an-hour +on the enemy's side of a barricade, which was being +built up behind him, and then continued to bomb the +enemy for eight hours. The Company was later ordered +to dig a communication trench to link up the Redoubt +with our old front line. They started about 9.0 p.m., +and worked continuously on it throughout the night, +much of the time under heavy rifle fire, and by dawn +a serviceable trench had been dug, and a very important +communication established. Capt. Turner was congratulated +by the Officer Commanding the 7th Battalion +on the very good work of his Company, in the supervision +of which he had been most ably assisted by Sergt. +Rawding.</p> + +<a id="img008" name="img008"></a> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/img008.jpg" width="500" height="362" alt="Map to illustrate the Battle of HOHENZOLLERN. October 13th-15th. 1915." title="Map to illustrate the Battle of HOHENZOLLERN. October 13th-15th. 1915."> +</div> + +<p class="figcenter">Map to illustrate the Battle of HOHENZOLLERN. October 13th-15th. 1915.</p> + +<p>October 14th seemed a never-ending day for those in +the Redoubt. Fortunately in a way, the lines were too +close together for us to be shelled, but bombing went +on almost uninterruptedly, and our casualties mounted +rapidly. Grenadier reinforcements were sent along +from time to time from every Company in the Battalion, +also from the 5th Battalion, whilst 2nd Lieut. G. H. +Fisher, who was acting as Grenade Officer in the absence +of Hemingway, came up during the morning, and at the +right barricade displayed the greatest courage until +he was badly wounded and had to leave, dying a few +days later. Bombing was also going on at the left +barricade, and throughout the day from one flank or +the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page094" name="page094"></a>(p. 094)</span> other, the cry was ever "more bombs" or "more +Bombers." We had fortunately been able to get a +signal line up to the Redoubt, and a station established +there, in a fairly deep dug-out, so that most of the time +we were in telephonic communication with those behind.</p> + +<p>Our relief promised for the night of October 14th, +never came, and we were compelled, alas, to remain +in the Redoubt. Everyone was tired out, having had +little or no sleep, and very little food, for 48 hours. +As soon as it was dark the Sappers put out some wire +in front of West Face, which encouraged us considerably, +and we got through the night without any +untoward incident. About 6.30 a.m., on the morning +of October 15th, we were relieved in West Face by +portions of the 5th and 6th Battalions, and by +Grenadiers of the Irish Guards, and withdrawn to +"Railway Reserve Trench," where we joined up with +the remainder of B and C Companies. By the tragic +irony of fate, as the Guards were actually filing +into West Face and the relief was nearly complete, +Col. Fowler, who was taking a last glance over the +top to see if he could find any trace of Major Becher, +the last signs of whom had been the flashes of his lamp, +to guide us across to the Redoubt—was killed instantaneously +by a sniper's bullet. So determined had he +been to find Becher, that he had himself gone out during +the night with Sergt. Stokes in a gallant but unsuccessful +endeavour to find him.</p> + +<p>Major J. E. Blackwall of the 6th Battalion took +over the remnants of the Battalion the same evening, +and shortly before midnight we were devoutly thankful +to be relieved by the Irish Guards. As the relief was +taking place, the enemy attempted an attack against +the garrison of West Face, but as this was now swelled +by the relieving troops, they got rather more than they +bargained for, and were beaten off with heavy loss. At +the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page095" name="page095"></a>(p. 095)</span> same time they put down quite a barrage on the +reserve trenches, and made our relief distinctly unpleasant, +but eventually we got it completed without +further casualty.</p> + +<p>Much to our delight, just before leaving, we heard +that Becher had been found. It appears that whilst +we were going over to the attack, he had been bombed +by the Boches, and badly wounded, as also had Daniels, +his batman, who was with him. They got separated, +but both managed to crawl away, though Becher eventually +had to lie by in an old bit of trench near the German +lines. It was from here that, after having been discovered +by an Officer of the Leicesters, he was eventually rescued +on October 15th, by Comp. Sergt.-Major Haywood, and +L.-Sergt. T. Martin, who carried him a distance of 200 +yards under more or less continuous rifle fire. Alas, however, +he was not to recover, and after lingering on for ten +weeks, he died in hospital on January 1st, 1916. In John +Becher the Battalion lost one who was beloved by all, +who had throughout ever had at heart the welfare of +his men, whether in or out of the trenches, at work or +at play. What he did in the early trench days at +Kemmel, was known to few. Often and often he was out +on patrol at night in "No Man's Land," mainly for the +sake of example, for it was part of his creed never to +tell a man to do anything that he would not dare to do +himself. He lies buried in the British cemetery at +Abbeville. It was a hard fate that struck down John +Becher and his two brothers-in-law, Basil and Everard +Handford—two of the most promising young Officers in +the Battalion—within a few hours of each other.</p> + +<p>Much untiring energy and devotion were shewn +by many during these strenuous three days, not by any +means the least by our Medical Officer, Capt. C. B. +Johnstone, and his stretcher bearers. Johnstone himself +worked almost incessantly for over 48 hours in attending +the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page096" name="page096"></a>(p. 096)</span> wounded, and in many cases helped to carry them +long distances, often under heavy fire. To him and all +his helpers are due our grateful thanks for their work +on that occasion.</p> + +<p>On relief we marched out to the Transport Lines +behind Noyelles, where, in the early hours of October +16th, we got some most welcome and refreshing tea, +supplied by Torrance and his followers, and then moved +on, most of us more asleep than awake, to Vaudricourt, +where we arrived about 6.30 a.m., and at once got down +to sleep in some of the poorest billets it was ever our +misfortune to strike.</p> + +<p>Thus ended the more or less fruitless battle of +Hohenzollern Redoubt. Though we held a portion +of the Redoubt as a result of the fighting, it was of no +tactical value, and indeed later on was evacuated or +blown up. The 12th Division fared no better, and we +can only look back on the whole attack as, through no +fault of our own, a dismal failure. The battle caused +us enormous casualties, all to no purpose. Our Battalion +alone lost seven Officers and 35 other ranks killed or +died of wounds, three Officers and 132 other ranks +wounded, and 14 missing, all of whom were afterwards +found to have been killed. Amongst the casualties +were Sergt. H. Hall, killed, and Sergts. Archer, Burn, +Barrow, and I. B. Bell and Corpl. Bruerton wounded.</p> + +<p>It was a pleasure to all to hear a little later that for +his gallantry and splendid work in this attack, and on +many other occasions, "Pat" Ashwell was awarded +a well-deserved D.S.O.</p> + +<p>At 5.0 p.m. on the afternoon of October 17th, the +whole Battalion and many Officers of the Brigade and +Division, attended the funeral of our beloved Colonel +in the English cemetery, under the Church at Fouquières, +the service being taken by his old friend Padre Hales. +Some 18 months afterwards the Battalion arrived in billets +six <span class="pagenum"><a id="page097" name="page097"></a>(p. 097)</span> miles away from this spot, after a long and tiring +march. They were expected to move into the line the +next day, and some Officers who were lucky enough to +be mounted, rode over to see the Colonel's grave. Around +the grave, which had been carefully looked after by +the Curé and other kind friends, and was covered +with snowdrops and daffodils just in bloom, they found +a number of the old Warrant Officers and N.C.O.'s of +the Battalion paying a silent tribute to their old +Commanding Officer. Such a tribute, surely is the +finest testimonial to the character of a man who ever +inspired in all ranks an affection and respect, which can +never have been exceeded in any unit of the army.</p> + + + +<H3>CHAPTER V <span class="pagenum"><a id="page098" name="page098"></a>(p. 098)</span></h3> + +<h5>RICHEBOURG—MARSEILLES—CANDAS</h5> + + +<p class="figcenter"><i>October 18th, 1915.</i>— +<i>March 5th, 1916.</i></p> + +<p class="p2">We were now little more than a skeleton of a +Battalion, so that the arrival of 103 reinforcements, +including Sergt. E. E. Deverall, was very +welcome, but so far as Officers were concerned we +remained for the moment very depleted. Capt. Turner +remained in command of B Company; Lieut. E. M. +Hacking took over A; Lieut. Abrams C, and Lieut. +Gray D.</p> + +<p>Major-General Stuart-Wortley came to see us on +October 18th, when the Battalion paraded in a field +just outside Vaudricourt, and thanked us for our work +in the battle, and spoke to a few of the N.C.O.'s and +men, whose names had been forwarded as having done +specially well.</p> + +<p>The following day we were not sorry to leave our +wretched billets and march to Lapugnoy, where we +got very comfortable quarters, and stayed for a week. +Here we were able to do a little reorganising, and were +fortunate in getting several new subalterns, viz.: 2nd +Lieuts. A. Andrews, H. R. Peerless, who shortly became +Battalion Grenade Officer, F. E. Kebblewhite, C. H. +Powell, A. H. G. Cox, E. Hopkinson (formerly Comp. +Sergt.-Major of C Company) and H. B. Hammond. +With their welcome arrival. Companies got more or less +into shape. We were unfortunate in having to send a +large party by 'bus one day to Sailly Labourse, to +help to fetch out the empty gas cylinders from the +Hohenzollern <span class="pagenum"><a id="page099" name="page099"></a>(p. 099)</span> trenches, but on the whole the few days +spent at Lapugnoy were very pleasant. The "Whizzbangs" +were in the same village, and gave several good +shows, which after our recent gruelling were very +refreshing, the more so as on this occasion they were +assisted by two French ladies, who, needless to say, +added enormously to the attraction.</p> + +<p>The "Vin blink" of Lapugnoy was also most +attractive, and apparently rather more than usually +potent, for it was undoubtedly the cause of casualties +amongst all ranks. We left there on October 26th, and +marched to Béthune, where we were again fortunate +in being comfortably billeted at the Orphanage, with +Officers' billets and Headquarters' Mess in the Rue de +Lille.</p> + +<p>Two days later, on October 28th, a review of troops +of the XI Corps, was held by the King and the Prince +of Wales at Hesdigneul. Representatives of all units of +the 46th Division were included in the parade, to which +we contributed a composite Company of six Officers and +250 other ranks, under Capt. Davenport. The parade +ground was a newly ploughed field, and as for several +days previously there had been heavy rain the conditions +were extremely unfavourable. After taking the +salute, the King went on to inspect another unit in an +adjoining field, where, unfortunately, he had a nasty +accident, and the last we saw of him was driving +away from the parade ground and looking very ill.</p> + +<p>Further reinforcements joined us at Béthune, +mostly from entrenching Battalions, making our strength +up to more normal figures, though for many months to +come, we seldom exceeded 600 to 700 all told. +Capt. Hill was appointed to command D Company, +2nd Lieut. Cox succeeding him as Signalling Officer. +Mounteney rejoined and resumed his duties as Regimental +Sergt.-Major.</p> + +<p>Our <span class="pagenum"><a id="page100" name="page100"></a>(p. 100)</span> next move was to the Richebourg sector—probably +the most miserable trenches we ever met with, +and then held by Indian troops. Leaving Béthune on +November 4th, we proceeded via Epinette, where we +spent one night, to Vieille Chapelle and relieved the +58th Rifles (Meerut Division) in front line trenches on +November 6th, with Battalion Headquarters in "Edward +Road," just behind Richebourg L'Avoué, and the front +line a little in front of that village, and just South of +Neuve Chapelle. This was a bad country for trenches, +being flat and low lying, with the water level even at +normal times very near the surface. The Boche as +usual had such high ground as there was. This was +mainly in the region of the Bois du Biez on our left, from +which he got a fair view over much of our area. The +Indians had done little trench work, and all that was +taken over was a very poor front line, with a few scraps +of support trenches, and one or two communication +trenches, mostly full of water. It was during our first +tour that a waggish Hun called out one night, after one +of our Very lights had made rather a worse display than +usual, "Better luck next time. I'll shew you how to +send them "—which he promptly did, adding later, "I +don't want to fight, I've had enough of the war." Towards +the end of our stay in this area, we came across +another talkative lot of Boches, who had a good deal to +say one night, enquiring what regiment we were, and +making various remarks about cigarettes and plum +puddings.</p> + +<p>It was towards the end of our first tour that we +had the first of our happily few casualties in this area, +Lieut. Houfton being killed early in the morning of +November 11th. He was endeavouring to make his way +with Lieut. Abrams along an absolutely water-logged +trench to "Boar's Head," the extreme right of our +Battalion sector, and they were evidently being carefully +watched <span class="pagenum"><a id="page101" name="page101"></a>(p. 101)</span> by a Boche sniper, who was doubtless able from +time to time to catch a glimpse of their caps above the +parapet. Eventually, when they got to a spot where the +parapet was particularly low, he fired, the bullet killing +Houfton, and passing through the peak of Abrams' cap. +Sergt. T. Martin gallantly went to Houfton's aid, across +400 yards of very difficult and exposed ground.</p> + +<p>The front we held was changed somewhat after a +time, and we side-stepped to the left, with Battalion +Headquarters in dug-outs, at the side of the Rue du Bois. +The few odd houses left along this road were mostly +used by the Gunners as observation posts, the principal +being "Ritz," "Carlton," "Princes," and "Trocadero," +and as the Boche gunners probably had a very shrewd +suspicion of this, the neighbourhood of the road was +often not a healthy spot, and on one or two occasions +was shelled fairly heavily. It was on one of these, when +we had some men wounded near "Factory Corner," that +Pvte. Redfern, the old bandsman, coolly went to their +aid in the midst of the shelling, and was dressing one of the +men when he was himself mortally wounded. L.-Corpls. +W. H. Lacey and S. Matthews also shewed great bravery +in rescuing wounded men at the same time. In +connection with this shelling of areas behind the front +line, a somewhat unhappily worded order was received +to the effect that daily reports frequently omitted +to mention the activities of hostile artillery, and that +as an example at a certain time on a certain day, +"Guards Trench" was subjected to a sharp bombardment, +and that had it not been for the fact that "a +Staff Officer was accidentally in the front line at the +time," nothing would have been known of this at +Divisional Headquarters!</p> + +<p>The Boche machine gunners gave us a certain amount +of trouble too, particularly at night, when they regularly +sprayed all the area from the Rue du Bois to "Windy +Corner," <span class="pagenum"><a id="page102" name="page102"></a>(p. 102)</span> doubtless hoping to catch transport and +carrying parties. One particular artiste used to try to +play tunes with his gun and we had no difficulty in +recognising his favourite as an attempt at "Yip-y-addy." +It was a very unlucky burst from one of these one night +that killed that very brave soldier Sergt. Sheppard, who +had previously been awarded the D.C.M. for gallantry at +Hooge. Lieut. Adams, our machine gun Officer, did his +best to get his own back against them, and used to stalk +out nightly alone, contrary to all regulations, and fire off +his guns at odd times in the hope of catching someone. +He was rewarded one night, after patiently lying in +wait for a search light that the enemy had used occasionally +from their front line parapet, by knocking it out +with a burst of fire almost the instant it shewed itself. +But on the whole there was very little excitement; +in fact, we hardly had time for much, as we only spent +a total of 16 days in the trenches here altogether. Cold +winter weather had set in, and there was little or no +comfort possible for the men holding the front line. It +was here that we first really found it necessary to use +"gumboots thigh" when they could be got, and to +dress legs and feet daily with whale oil to try and ward +off that horrid complaint "trench feet," which might +easily have caused many casualties in such trenches +as these. A most complicated form had to be filled up +with every case sent down to hospital suffering from +trench foot, and no mercy was shewn to any Commanding +Officer who did not take every precaution to prevent it. +Fortunately we had a very good record. Every effort +was made to relieve the men in the front line every +24 hours, and to take them back as often as possible +to the billets near Windy Corner, where they were able +to get their clothes dried, and a good night's rest before +going back to the line.</p> + +<p>Our <span class="pagenum"><a id="page103" name="page103"></a>(p. 103)</span> rest billets and Transport were at Vieille Chapelle. +The field where the latter had their lines was nothing +but a mass of mud, in most places knee-deep. The +Transport at this time shewed remarkable activity, +limbers going backwards and forwards all day to +Lacouture on some mysterious duty, which was by no +means unconnected with the excitement which arose +in "A" Branch of Divisional Headquarters towards +the end of our stay, about some houses missing from +that village! They had been removed piecemeal to the +transport lines, where they were used to form standings.</p> + +<p>During one tour spent in Brigade support, Battalion +Headquarters and two Companies were in that village, +and two Companies in billets in Richebourg St. Vaast, +or finding garrisons for "St. Vaast," "Grotto" and +"Angle" posts. An interesting discovery in the rafters +of a ruined house at Richebourg St. Vaast was a pepper +box found to contain several gold <i>louis</i>. Capt. E. M. +Hacking was the means of their being handed over to +the French authorities and, we hope, eventually restored +to their owner. The billets at Lacouture were not very +good, but we had a great find there in the shape of what +had once been a billiard table in the remains of the +Village Institute. At the same time curiously enough, +and for some time afterwards, the Quarter-Master reported +that the demand for green cloth for putting +behind cap badges was extraordinarily small!</p> + +<p>The main drawback to our periods of rest was those +wretched working parties, which seemed to pursue us +everywhere. Here the work in hand was the building +of a solid breastwork in continuation of Guards Trench, +just East of the Rue du Bois. Two nights out of each +four we were at rest, we had to send large parties to +Richebourg to carry on this work, which was being done +"by the piece." A certain number of sandbags were +issued to each man about half-a-mile before he got to +his <span class="pagenum"><a id="page104" name="page104"></a>(p. 104)</span> work, and he was told that when these had been +filled and laid he could return. It is perhaps needless +to say that many of the sandbags found a resting place +in the nearest ditch, not far from the Royal Engineers' +dump, where they were issued, and that the building of +the breastwork did not proceed very rapidly.</p> + +<p>During our stay here several new Officers joined, +including 2nd Lieuts. H. K. Simonet, G. A. P. Rawlings, +and A. H. Michie from the 2/8th Battalion, and 2nd +Lieuts. A. Bedford, G. G. Elliott, and W. W. Pitt. We +were also given as Second-in-Command, Major E. H. +Heathcote, from the 6th Battalion, whilst his brother +Capt. G. S. Heathcote, rejoined at the end of November +and resumed command of C Company. At the same +time Capt. E. M. Hacking went to Brigade Headquarters +to learn Staff duties, leaving A Company +under Lieut. Andrews, until taken over a little later +by Capt. A. Hacking, who rejoined from Brigade. We +also lost 2nd Lieut. Pickerell, who was invalided home. +Our losses in other ranks during our stay amounted +to three killed and 15 wounded.</p> + +<p>On December 2nd—we retain most pleasant +memories of that night—we were relieved by the 7th +Battalion in the left sector, and on one of the darkest +nights known, made our way back in the usual way to +Vieille Chapelle. About 9.30 p.m. a message was +received from Brigade that the Commanding Officer or +Adjutant was wanted at once. The Adjutant was sent +and came back with the news that we were to be +"prepared to move at short notice to an unknown +destination." At 5.0 a.m. the next morning further +orders were received and we left Vieille Chapelle at noon +the same day, marching via Merville to Haverskerque, +where we got very good if scattered billets. There we +proceeded to clean off some of the mud of the Richebourg +trenches. During our march we met units of the +19th <span class="pagenum"><a id="page105" name="page105"></a>(p. 105)</span> Division, moving up to relieve the troops in the +trenches, and could not help feeling a touch of sympathy +for them having been suddenly fetched away from +comfortable billets, to take over such water-logged +trenches, and we felt that for once fortune had +favoured us.</p> + +<p>Rumours of all kinds began to float around, and of +all quarters of the globe that were mentioned "Egypt" +was believed to be "it," and it was not long before we +found out that that indeed was our intended destination.</p> + +<p>Everyone was happy, and we were soon looking smart +once more; in fact, so splendid was the effort at cleaning +up, that the Battalion was congratulated by our +Divisional Commander at his inspection on December +7th, as being the smartest Battalion of the eleven he +had inspected.</p> + +<p>Odd men who had been detached for duty with +other units rejoined. We had a few small drafts, and +one new Officer, 2nd Lieut. W. H. B. Rezin.</p> + +<p>We now settled down for drill, interior economy, +and lectures. Particular attention was given to guard +drill and guard mounting ceremonies, as the Divisional +Commander expressed a wish that we should turn out +like the Guards Division, who were in the same Corps. +Fur coats and other winter kit were handed in. A +horrid pro forma certificate reached Orderly Room, and +the Commanding Officer found he had to sign a +certificate to the effect that the Battalion was in +possession of every article enumerated in A.F.G. 1098 +(Mobilisation Store Table). This document contained +such items as "screws, brass, buckle roller 1 in. × 7/8 in.—2" +"awls, brad—1;" "cordage, tarred spun yarn,—lbs. +14," and other luxuries which had long been +considered superfluous, and mostly lost in the Salient. +We had been told to indent for anything we wanted +in the way of clothing or equipment, so that there +was <span class="pagenum"><a id="page106" name="page106"></a>(p. 106)</span> some consternation on the arrival of a new and +fierce Deputy Assistant Director of Ordnance Services +just at this moment, who told Quarter-Masters that +during the last month, the whole of the Guards Division +had not used the number of articles they were indenting +for. Formal indents for "awls, brad," etc., were therefore +out of the question. The Quarter-Master accused +the Transport Officer, and the Transport Officer accused +the Quarter-Master, but in the end the mess cart, which +had a good cover, was requisitioned, and made two +or three secret journeys by night to Merville, and +when surprise was expressed that everything on the +Mobilisation Store Table was present, both the individuals +concerned looked supremely innocent, and no more was +said about it. It has since transpired that a jar of +rum played a prominent part in this incident.</p> + +<p>Here we parted with "Big Ben," "Old Bob," +and other heavy draught horses, which had been with +us since leaving Newark, and received in exchange mules +from the Guards Divisional Ammunition Column, two +of which rejoiced in the aristocratic names of "Harry +Thaw," and "Legs Eleven."</p> + +<p>We were inspected by the Assistant Director of +Medical Services; we had lectures on "Duties on board +ship" and "Entraining." Special short leave was +granted to a few lucky ones, and all preparations were +made for a big move. Our billets were very comfortable. +We could get good dinners at the "Corner Café," +and those of us who were there, will never forget the +wonderful concert given by the 19th Divisional Ammunition +Column who were billeted there, in which two +ladies from Merville assisted.</p> + +<p>On December 19th, we marched to Wittes, a small +village on the La Bassée Canal, near Aire. This was +a short march on a bright Sunday morning, chiefly +memorable for a wonderful equestrian feat on the part +of <span class="pagenum"><a id="page107" name="page107"></a>(p. 107)</span> a certain Company Commander, who went with his +horse into a dyke at the starting point, and instead of +coming out with the animal, stayed in by himself, and +for the fact that an unfortunate mistake in map reading, +caused the Battalion to perform a most startling and +snake-like turning feat in a lane only a few feet wide, +the mistake being discovered just as the last transport +vehicle had entered the lane. However, as it was a +bright day and we were going away, great good humour +prevailed, and each Company played "Here we go +round the water cart" in its own good time, and the +tangle was soon sorted out.</p> + +<p>Our before breakfast parade at Wittes on a few +occasions took the novel form of the whole Battalion +doubling up and down along the Canal side to the +accompaniment of the drums. This was entertaining +for a brief space, but the novelty soon wore off. Ordinary +training was continued, and included several route +marches. It was during one of these that the C Company +"wag" brought forth a spontaneous remark one day +when passing one of those little dog-carts one used to +see so often. It was very heavily laden and the dog +was straining every nerve. A big, powerful looking +woman was walking at the side carrying a horse whip, +but taking no share in the burden. As the Company +passed, our friend remarked "Eh, mum, you've forgotten +your spurs!"</p> + +<p>Christmas, 1915, spent at Wittes was a very cheery +one. All sorts of good things had been received from +home, including a present for every Officer and man +from the Nottingham Comforts Fund, and altogether +we had a most enjoyable time. Football matches and +sports of all kinds were indulged in, and one has vivid +recollections of Sergt. Deverall giving a wonderful boxing +display, and of a poor Frenchman waking up one morning +to find his best wagon at the bottom of the Canal.</p> + +<a id="img009" name="img009"></a> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/img009.jpg" width="400" height="590" alt="Major J. P. Becher, D.S.O. +Died of wounds, Jan. 1st, 1916." title="Major J. P. Becher, D.S.O. +Died of wounds, Jan. 1st, 1916."> +</div> + +<p class="figcenter">Major J. P. Becher, D.S.O. +Died of wounds, Jan. 1st, 1916.</p> + +<p>On <span class="pagenum"><a id="page108" name="page108"></a>(p. 108)</span> Boxing-Day we marched via Aire to fresh +billets at Molinghem, which were probably the most +verminous we ever found. In spite of this drawback +we had a very good time, and on January 6th, 1916, +had the pleasure of welcoming the 11th Sherwood +Foresters, who marched over from a neighbouring +village and played us at football. After a good game +we beat them by two goals to one. A Brigade inter-Battalion +football competition was also played, in which +after beating the 5th Battalion one—none, and the 7th +Battalion three—none, we won the Brigade championship +and some very neat medals.</p> + +<p>Whilst at Molinghem, we got our long expected +orders to move South, and on January 7th, A and C +Companies, and half the First Line Transport vehicles, +under Major E. H. Heathcote entrained at Berguette, +and were followed by the remainder of the Battalion on +January 9th, except the horses, which were entrained at +Lillers on January 11th. Eventually, after a train +journey of nearly three days, the Battalion was concentrated +at Marseilles, where after some rearranging, +Battalion Headquarters and B and D Companies were +billeted at Camp Moussot, and A and C Companies under +Major Heathcote, at Camp Borely.</p> + +<p>At Marseilles we spent what was probably our +happiest fortnight in France. It is not difficult to +imagine the pleasure everyone experienced at being +transported to the shores of the Mediterranean in January +after the filth and mud in the trenches, and wet and +fogs of Northern France. The change was marvellous, +and the turnout and appearance of the men splendid, +and indeed the subject of comment by English people +arriving from abroad, who said they could not help being +struck on landing at finding the place full of well set-up +and healthy English Tommies. Truly the change was +delightful, though the Officers who had the misfortune +to <span class="pagenum"><a id="page109" name="page109"></a>(p. 109)</span> be billeted for a time in the draughty bathing establishment +opposite Borely Camp, are not likely to forget +the cold nights they spent there. Sea bathing, which +we got almost next door to the Camp, was a great +delight, and of course the town itself was full of +attractions. We need only mention such names as +the Cannibière, Theresa's Bar, Lindens, The Alcazar, +Castell Muro, The Palais Crystal, The Bodega, and The +Novelty, to recall many incidents to all those who +were fortunate enough to be with us. It was certainly +delightful, but played havoc with our banking accounts, +and must have given Mr. Cox a very busy time. +We did a certain amount of training in our more +serious moments, which were not many, ordinary work +normally finishing about 1.0 p.m., and the men being +allowed out from 2.0 p.m. onwards. Many guards +and camp and town fatigues had to be found, however, +almost daily, which much depleted our numbers +on parade. Training was mainly of the barrack square +type. There was a certain amount of interest for those +at Moussot Camp, in watching the Indian Troops, +whilst those at Borely spent much time either in +dodging the loose horses and mules, which wandered +at will about the Camp, or the Camp Commandant, +who had a violent dislike to orange peel, and if he +found any at once arrested the nearest man, whether +guilty or not!</p> + +<p>Four new Officers joined us there, viz., 2nd Lieuts. +C. G. Tomlinson, E. C. Marshall, A. A. Hodgson, and +W. S. Jones, and a draft of 39 men, all of whom no +doubt thought it a very "bon" war.</p> + +<p>Plans for our sea journey had got so far advanced +that our transport vehicles had actually been taken down +to the docks for loading, when, alas for us, our hopes of +going East were shattered on January 24th, by the +receipt of orders to entrain the next night.</p> + +<p>What <span class="pagenum"><a id="page110" name="page110"></a>(p. 110)</span> exactly caused the sudden change of plans we +did not know at the time, but subsequently heard it was +due to the unexpected ease with which Gallipoli had +been evacuated. Needless to say there was much regret +on all sides, especially when we found that we were to +go back to the North of France and join the Third Army +on the Western Front. On the evening of the +25th January, we marched down through cheering crowds +of French people to the Gare d'Arenc, where after +waiting about for four hours, we entrained at 4.10 a.m. +on the 26th. It is sad to think that this wait gave an +opportunity once more for light-fingered people in the +Transport Section to annex eight or nine P.L.M. goods +sheets, which were carefully stowed away, one on each +limber, and later proved of great value in several places +where there was a scarcity of billets.</p> + +<p>We detrained at Pont Remy on the morning of +January 28th, after a peculiarly uncomfortable journey, +and owing to our guide preferring to go three miles +uphill to one on the flat our march to Ergnies was a +somewhat lengthy business. In this area we followed +the Ulster Division, and we are glad to add that the +billets taken over from them were invariably scrupulously +clean, and had evidently been vastly improved under +their able medical authorities. We stayed here for +several days, and had an opportunity of resting the men +after their long journey, and of carrying out a little +training. Some of this was in preparation for a Brigade +ceremonial parade, which took place on February 3rd, +when General Shipley spoke of the splendid work done +by the Brigade in France up to that time, and read out +a list of the honours and decorations awarded, of which +we had had a fair share. At Ergnies we had flying +visits from Col. Huskinson and "Doc." Stallard, both +of whom we were delighted to see looking very fit.</p> + +<p>On <span class="pagenum"><a id="page111" name="page111"></a>(p. 111)</span> February 10th, we marched to Ribeaucourt, +where we stayed for a little over a week. Here on +February 16th, we parted with Lieut. Adams, 2nd Lieut. +Rezin, and 35 N.C.O.'s and men of the Machine Gun +Section, who went to form part of the newly created +"Brigade Machine Gun Company." In place of the +Vickers gun thus withdrawn, we were issued with the new +light Lewis Machine Gun, air cooled, mounted on a bipod +and easily carried. Each Company had two of these +and the whole were supervised by a Battalion Lewis +Gun Officer, 2nd Lieut. Simonet being the first to be +appointed to this duty. Musketry was carried out on +a 300 yard range, which we fitted up near the village, +and bombing practice under the guidance of 2nd Lieut. +Peerless, who made considerable progress in the use of +the West Spring Thrower. Capt. A. Hacking had +been again taken to Brigade Headquarters, to act as +Grenade Officer, and Capt. Lawson who had rejoined +at Wittes, was appointed to command A Company +in his place. All this time we were well in the back +regions out of harm's way. The only journey made to +the front area was that by a party of Officers, who one +day had to reconnoitre some reserve lines of trenches +near Forceville and Mailly Maillet. We once had orders +to be prepared to take over the line at Beaumont Hamel, +but this fell through.</p> + +<p>Ribeaucourt we shall always remember, owing to +the exorbitant claims made by the inhabitants for +damage to billets. Never before nor after did +we receive such demands as those made by the good +people of that village, headed by the Maire, who after +showing much hospitality to a few of us, seemed to want +to give the villagers a lead in their demands! How +they were eventually settled we never found out. Here, +too, Capt. Davenport and Sergt. Blunt were chased +down the village street one day by two infuriated women +armed <span class="pagenum"><a id="page112" name="page112"></a>(p. 112)</span> with broomsticks, their store of bully beef and +army shirts having been discovered by the former, when +looking for odds and ends to hand into the Deputy +Assistant Director of Ordnance Services in exchange for +new articles. The D.A.D.O.S. had just issued an +ultimatum to the effect that he would issue nothing +except on the return of the old article. Transport +men, therefore, scoured the country side for bottoms of +nose-bags, backs of dandy brushes, pieces of rope, etc., +which were cleaned and handed in and quite a good +stock of new articles was obtained in return.</p> + +<p>On February 20th, we were taken in motor 'buses +by a somewhat circuitous route to fresh billets at +Candas, where we stayed until March 6th. Most of +this time the weather was extremely cold and there +were several heavy snowstorms. Navvying on new railways +was our chief work, under the supervision of the +112th Company Royal Engineers, either about Puchevillers, +or the station at Candas, in preparation for the +offensive that was to take place later on. Our fortnight +at Candas completed three whole months of what was +practically "rest" in the back areas. We were now to +play a more active part in the war.</p> + + + + +<h3>CHAPTER VI <span class="pagenum"><a id="page113" name="page113"></a>(p. 113)</span></h3> + +<h5>VIMY RIDGE</h5> + + +<p class="figcenter"><i>March 6th, 1916.</i>— +<i>April 21st, 1916.</i></p> + +<p class="p2">Vimy Ridge will always bring up in the minds of +those of the 8th Sherwood Foresters, who were +with us at that time the word "Mines." Everyone +seemed somehow or other to have heard that that part +of the line was famous for mining warfare, and as the +news was passed on from one to another that Vimy +Ridge was our destination, a kind of whisper of "Mines" +passed with it. The area proved to be a mass of mines, +and we found that mining warfare was extremely unpleasant, +though most of our own experience was confined +to the latter part of our stay there.</p> + +<p>The front line in this sector, in the early part of 1915 +had run through the East end of the Lorette Ridge to +Carency, and thence to La Targette, but on September 25th +of that year, the French had driven the enemy back +nearly a mile, practically to the foot of the Vimy +Ridge itself. In this area were portions of the front +having such well-known names as "The Labyrinth," +and Souchez Sugar Refinery—reminders of the fact that +some of the most savage fighting of the whole war took +place there, owing to the struggle of the enemy to +retain a footing on that splendid line of observation, +the Lorette Ridge. The Arras-Béthune Road, known +as the Route de Béthune, and bordered by a few +scraggy trees, ran through the sector more or less +from North to South—about a mile behind the front +line, and two miles in front of Mont St. Eloy. The +forward area was a scene of desolation—trenches and +wire, shell-holes everywhere, mine craters here and +there, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page114" name="page114"></a>(p. 114)</span> shewing more or less where No Man's Land +was, and beyond them the gently sloping ridge, with +little variation except a few shattered trees marking the +site of La Folie Wood.</p> + +<p>Such was the sector that our advance party of +Officers went up to reconnoitre on March 5th. The +French were holding the line, and this was the Battalion's +only experience of taking over from them. We were +not let into the secret of the why and wherefore of the +move, but doubtless we relieved in order to allow them +to send much wanted help to their friends at Verdun, +who were now so hard pressed owing to the enemy's +continued attacks. It was hoped that the fact of our +taking over this part of the line could be kept from the +Boche, at least until relief was complete, and to further +this object the advance party were given French "tin +hats" to wear so as to maintain the deception. We fear +that despite our efforts, the enemy knew just about as +much of the relief as we did, and rumour says that a +Boche scout, on getting across to the French front line +two days before we relieved them, openly expressed +his surprise to the French sentry that the English had +not already arrived! We were shewn the greatest kindness +by the French when we went up to reconnoitre, +and they did all they could to explain the situation, +and many an Officer drank confusion to the enemy +in a glass of sweet sparkling wine. Those who were +there will doubtless well remember the group of Officers +being assembled just behind the Arras-Béthune road, +in full view of the German lines, under the French Brigade +Major, who was acting as guide, when the Hun gunners, +not being able to let such an opportunity slip, at once +put over a few "pip-squeaks," and we discovered +with a considerable amount of pleasure, that our gallant +Allies were just about as good in getting to ground +as ourselves, if not a trifle better. It was, however, +a <span class="pagenum"><a id="page115" name="page115"></a>(p. 115)</span> rude awakening to the fact that a war was still on, +which we had rather forgotten during our stay in the +South of France, and in the back areas.</p> + +<p>Leaving Candas on March 6th, we marched on a +very snowy day, via Doullens, to Iverny, moving on the +8th to Maizières, and on the 9th to Acq, where we had to +make the best of most uncomfortable billets, the whole +village being a seething mass of troops, French and +English, and every billet crowded to its utmost limit. +On the occasion of this move we marched, in accordance +with instructions, in column of three's. This system +was tried owing to the narrow roads, but only lasted a +few months.</p> + +<p>On the following day we moved up into support +trenches, just in front of the Route de Béthune, where +we stayed for four days cleaning trenches, carrying out +general trench repairs, and improving dug-outs. There +were a certain number of deep dug-outs in this sector—our +first experience of them—proof against all but the +heaviest shells, though in every other respect a bad +invention. Further behind, at Berthonval Farm, were +huge caverns hewn out of the chalk, fitted up with wire +beds, absolutely shell-proof, and having accommodation +for about two Companies. The dug-outs in the front +line trenches, however, were mere shelters. Later on +we were told to make our shelters in this area of a uniform +pattern in small saps running back from the trenches, +and when men could be spared from other more pressing +work, a certain amount of progress was made in this +respect.</p> + +<p>The French dug-outs possessed one unique quality; +they were decorated as only a Frenchman could decorate +them, with most wonderful designs in pokerwork, which +were always objects of the greatest interest to our +visitors.</p> + +<p>On <span class="pagenum"><a id="page116" name="page116"></a>(p. 116)</span> March 15th, we were relieved by the 2nd Royal +Irish Rifles, and withdrew for four days to rest billets, +which consisted of some French huts partly in the wood, +and partly in the open, just behind Mont St. Eloy. +We are afraid we could not have given our predecessors +a "billet clean" certificate in respect of these huts, +many of which were a foot or more deep with accumulated +rubbish of every description. There were no baths, +and we had to rig up home-made ones with ground +sheets and other means, using the cookers for providing +the necessary hot water. We managed, however, to get +clean clothing from time to time from the Staff Captain, +Major Wordsworth, who got together a fascinating +crowd of French ladies, and did much useful work as +Officer Commanding Laundry, at Mont St. Eloy.</p> + +<p>We were at this time called upon to provide a +contribution towards the Brigade Mining Section, which +was re-formed to help the French Miners in the sector, +and on March 17th, we had to part temporarily with +Lieut. R. V. Harvey, Corpl. Boot and 12 men, who joined +the Brigade Section under Lieut. Webster, of the Robin +Hoods. The arrival of 140 reinforcements the previous +day had, however, swelled our numbers considerably, +amongst several old friends in the draft being Sergt. +G. Powell, who shortly became Comp. Sergt.-Major of +A Company, Sergts. I. B. Bell, S. Foster, Collins and +Beniston, and Corpl. A. B. North. We thus had a reasonable +trench strength when we relieved the 7th Battalion +in the left sub-sector on March 19th.</p> + +<p>In this area we always kept to the same sub-sector, +relieving as on many other occasions with the Robin +Hoods. The 5th and 6th Battalions shared the right +sub-sector, whilst the 138th Brigade were on our left. +Each Company, too, had its own section of trench, +finding its own supports. From right to left they ran +in order: D (Capt. Hill), B (Capt. Turner), C (Major +G. S. Heathcote), <span class="pagenum"><a id="page117" name="page117"></a>(p. 117)</span> A (Capt. Vann, who had recently +rejoined; during his absence on a course at 3rd Army +School, his place was taken by Capt. Lawson). Battalion +Headquarters was in a delightful spot just under the +steep side of the Talus des Zouaves, and well nigh out +of reach of everything but aeroplane bombs. Second +Lieut. Cox was Signalling Officer, 2nd Lieut. Simonet, +Lewis Gun Officer, 2nd Lieut. Peerless, Grenade Officer, +and 2nd Lieut. Marshall, Intelligence Officer. The last-named +was the first Officer in the Battalion to hold that +newly created appointment.</p> + +<p>The enemy front line was close to ours, in most parts +about 70 yards away, but bombing posts in saps were +in several cases not more than 10 to 15 yards apart. +Talking and movement in the front line could often +be heard quite plainly, whilst our Bombers in the posts +used to indulge sometimes in lobbing practice, and +spent their odd moments in erecting or repairing wire +netting to catch the Boche "potato mashers."</p> + +<p>Our two communication trenches running forward—"Boyau +Central" and "Avenue Lassale"—though well +cared for and kept up by the French, were almost straight, +and hardly traversed at all, particularly the former, and +movement along them was precarious. The fire and support +trenches, bearing such names as "Schiller," "Grange," +"Broadmarsh," "Duffield," and "Bertrand," were in +very bad order, and work was at once concentrated in +an effort to make a good line of resistance along "Guerin +Trench," practically the support line. Some work was +also done on a reserve trench, known as "Blanchetière." +We felt this all the more necessary, as just before we +took over from the French, the Boche had driven them +out of their front line, and it seemed quite within the +range of possibility that he might try to make a further +advance. Our fears turned out to be correct, for later +he did make an onslaught, though luckily not whilst we +were there.</p> + +<p>Unfortunately <span class="pagenum"><a id="page118" name="page118"></a>(p. 118)</span> the enemy in capturing the trenches, +had secured the shafts of all the French mines, and +had consequently got a good start at various points +along the front before the French could begin again. +The result was that practically all the French mines +were defensive, and intended merely to try and blow +the Germans, before they could get under our lines. +No doubt each side knew almost exactly where the +other side was working, and at what approximate time +any particular mine would go up. These were all shewn +to us on a plan, and carefully explained by the Officer +in charge of the French Miners, who were still at work +in the sector. Each Company had a cut-and-dried +scheme for carrying out the instant a mine went up in +its own or adjoining sectors. Anticipating the mine, +parties were kept available to seize the near lip of the +crater formed, with covering parties of Lewis gunners, +riflemen, and bombers to go out on each flank, and working +parties behind them to begin at once to dig a trench to +join up the broken front line across the lip of the crater, +wire the front and establish observation posts on the +lip. All this work had to be started the instant the +mine was exploded, in order to make certain that the +Boche did not get possession of our lip of the crater, +as well as his own. This entailed constant readiness +and considerable anxiety on the part of those holding +the front line.</p> + +<p>The enemy shewed no special activity, though on +several occasions our front and support lines were badly +knocked about, both by shells and trench mortars, which +necessitated a vast amount of repairs, and caused us +considerable casualties. In addition to high explosive he +now began to send over for the first time "lachrymatory" +gas shells, having a sweet smell and doing little harm +except to make our eyes water. In the later stages of +the war, they became, as we shall see, much more disagreeable.</p> + +<p>As <span class="pagenum"><a id="page119" name="page119"></a>(p. 119)</span> it was so difficult in this sector for our Gunners +to be able to identify our front line, we had to mark it +with "artillery boards,"—white boards about 3 ft. by +2 ft., marked with different letters denoting the different +sections of the front. These were stuck up by the +Infantry at night, in such a position that they could +be seen by our Gunners but be invisible to the enemy. +Whether they were any real help or not is doubtful. +Later on we were given a smaller portable type of board, +coloured brown and marked with a black cross, a number +of which were issued to each Battalion, and carried with +us as part of our equipment. They were intended for +use in moving warfare to mark our advanced positions, +but were eventually discarded as unsuitable.</p> + +<p>We now began seriously to try and harass the +enemy with trench mortars, for which purpose Trench +Mortar Batteries were formed. The medium batteries +fired a fairly heavy shell with a long tail (known +as "Footballs" or "Toffee Apples"), and the Stokes +batteries a light shell, which could be fired at the rate +of 20 or more per minute. We had recently sent +2nd Lieut. Kebblewhite and five men to a school for +a course in this work. It is feared, however, that the +first efforts of the trench mortar experts in the trenches +were not fully appreciated. A very nervous Officer would +go to his emplacement, fire off a few shells, and then +gracefully, but rapidly retire, leaving the people on the +spot to put up with any retaliation. And we well remember +Capt. Lawson being so annoyed at this going on, +that on one occasion the bed plate mysteriously disappeared. +On another occasion an emplacement was +made one night with much care on D Company's front, +ready for a big bombardment, but when completed was +found to be in full view of six enemy sniper plates, +about 100 yards away!</p> + +<p>At <span class="pagenum"><a id="page120" name="page120"></a>(p. 120)</span> sniping we more than held our own, though the +enemy were very keen, and used to fire from steel plates +fixed round the mine craters. We were unfortunate +in losing at this period Sergt.-Drummer Clewes, who +went home for discharge. He had done much excellent +work in charge of the Brigade Snipers, his own "bag" +being stated to amount to considerably over 100. As +some recognition of his good work he was later awarded +the D.C.M. His son, Corpl. G. W. Clewes, another excellent +sniper, left at the same time. L.-Corpl. Hagues took +over the duties of N.C.O. in charge of Snipers, and +with 2nd Lieut. Marshall, did some splendid work, +including the blowing-in of several loophole plates with +Col. Fowler's Elephant Gun, which was now brought +into use again.</p> + +<p>Marshall's "pet," however, was the "dummy +tree" on the Route de Béthune. This was a hollow +tree about 20 feet high, formed of steel casing, and +covered with imitation bark. Inside there were ledges +to climb up by, and from it a most excellent view for +a very long distance around, could be obtained. It +had been erected by the enemy before they had been +driven back.</p> + +<p>Another item in the "Intelligence Department" +which now came into use, was that extraordinary +instrument known as the "I-Tok," intended for picking +up enemy telegraphic and telephonic messages. We +never were supposed to know where its operators performed, +and rarely did know, but more often than not +they placed themselves near Battalion Headquarters, +and the sheaves of papers they sent to Brigade were +mostly filled with scraps of our own messages. It is +doubtful if much of value was picked up from enemy +messages, but they certainly did good in keeping a +check on our own conversations over the telephone, +and were regularly used from now onwards. The +"Fullerphone," <span class="pagenum"><a id="page121" name="page121"></a>(p. 121)</span> which was introduced a little later, and +largely superseded the ordinary telephone, was reputed +to be capable of transmitting messages in such a way +that they could not be picked up.</p> + +<p>Our Firework Artistes, too, decided that they +ought to have a show, and accordingly arranged for us +one night to have a display of red rockets in the front +line. These rockets had been issued for use for night +S.O.S. When the time came for them to be let off, the +only visible result to those behind watching, was one +feeble rocket which made a short lob, and fell to the +earth. Only one other went off at all, and it had a great +tussle with John Turner, nearly knocking him through +a traverse, and then fizzing itself out in the bottom of +the trench.</p> + +<p>Another brainy person, one of our German scholars, +decided one day to try the result of putting up a placard +to give the Boche the news that the L.15 had been sunk +in the Thames. This was on April 2nd. Two days +later a notice was put up opposite B Company's +front, which said "Thanks for your news: you are all +mad"—shewing, we thought, a lack of originality on +his part. This was one of the very few occasions upon +which we either sent or received a message in this +way.</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" summary="Pictures"> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center"> +<a id="img010" name="img010"></a> +<img src="images/img010.jpg" width="200" height="305" alt="Regtl.-sergt.-major A. Westerman." title="Regtl.-sergt.-major A. Westerman."> +</td> +<td class="td-center"> +<a id="img011" name="img011"></a> +<img src="images/img011.jpg" width="200" height="308" alt="Comp. Sergt.-major J. T. Slater And N.C.O.'s Of +'A' Company, 1917." title="Comp. Sergt.-major J. T. Slater And N.C.O.'s Of +'A' Company, 1917."> +</td> +<tr> +<td class="td-center"> +Regtl.-sergt.-major A. Westerman. +</td> +<td class="td-center"> +Comp. Sergt.-major J. T. Slater And N.C.O.'s Of +'A' Company, 1917. +</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p>Just about the same time, we had the pleasure of +seeing a Hun plane brought down by one of our own, +after a short sharp scrap in mid-air. Our man dived +at the Hun and opened with Lewis gun fire, killing both +the pilot and observer. The plane took charge of +itself, and after a brief wild career, crashed near our +Battalion Headquarters. It was no sooner down than +it was shelled by the enemy and eventually set on fire. +Various useful documents, however, were secured from +it including some maps and a signalling code. The +bodies of the pilot, Lieut. Ziemssen, and the observer +were <span class="pagenum"><a id="page122" name="page122"></a>(p. 122)</span> buried at Mont St. Eloy by Padre Hales, who a +little later received an appreciative letter from the pilot's +widow.</p> + +<p>With these and sundry other excitements, we got +through two six-day tours in the line, and also spent +two periods of similar length at our rest huts cleaning, +training, and reorganising, for we were continually +losing Officers and men in various ways, and fresh ones +were joining. Amongst the former we lost 2nd Lieuts. +G. G. Elliott and Pitt, invalided to England, and the +following Warrant Officers and N.C.O.'s who left us on +completion of their term of service: Regimental Quarter-Master +Sergt. Tomlin, Comp. Sergt.-Major Haywood, +Comp. Quarter-Master Sergt. Shelton, and Sergts. Murden, +Handford and Kettle. Arrivals included Major Ashwell, +Capt. H. Kirby, Lieut. G. Wright, 2nd Lieut. W. P. Duff, +and about 70 men, many of whom were returned +casualties, and in some cases anything but fit to +resume active service. Comp. Quarter-Master Sergt. +Dench became Regimental Quarter-Master Sergt., Sergt. +Bee Comp. Quarter-Master Sergt. of B Company, +and Sergt. Hotson Comp. Quarter-Master Sergt. of C +Company.</p> + +<p>We were able to offer very little in the way of +amusement just at this period, entertainers either +being more or less non-existent, or somewhat shy. +One afternoon, however, we succeeded in rousing +sufficient enthusiasm to organise a boxing contest, +one of the very few ever carried through by the Battalion. +In the heavy-weight contest between those two stalwarts, +Sergt. Slater and Corpl. Bryan, the latter retired after the +third round with an injured hand. The middle-weight +competition was won by Sergt. L. Green, and the lightweight +by Sergt. Attenborough. The same evening, we +managed an impromptu concert in one of the huts.</p> + +<p>Our <span class="pagenum"><a id="page123" name="page123"></a>(p. 123)</span> Transport Lines and Quarter-Master's stores +during this period were back at Acq, and were fairly +comfortable. Here for the first time we had the experience +of taking rations and stores up to the line on the light +railways, already constructed by the French, a system of +transport in which both they and the Germans were much +ahead of us. Stores were unloaded from the limbers at +Ecoivres on to flat trucks, each of which was pulled by +three mules. The "Decauville Track" ran past +"Berthonval Farm," across the Béthune road, branching +there right and left for the various Battalion dumps, ours +being in the Talus des Zouaves, near Battalion Headquarters. +At first, the system did not work well, and there +was much confusion, but later it was properly organised so +that rations went up first, and Royal Engineers' stores +about midnight. When we first took over the sector, the +French caused much alarm to our men by carrying their +stores to and from the Béthune Road by electric trucks, +actually the chassis and platforms of trains from Paris +Plage, to which the bells used for warning pedestrians were +still attached. One brakesman, Alphonse by name, +like a wise person, usually went about his own business +on arrival at the Béthune Road Dump, which was often +a warm spot. The driver meanwhile got his load to +take back, and anxious as all were who ever had a job +of work at that particular spot, to get it done and be off, +he adopted the practice which seemed to us rather +foolish, of vigorously sounding his gong time after time, +at the same time shouting "Alphonse, Alphonse," with +the result that all our men vanished "tout-de-suite," +leaving him and the errant Alphonse to face any whizz-bangs +which might result. Truly, the French are a +remarkable race!</p> + +<p>We must, however, congratulate them on that +excellent institution in the Vimy sector, Trench Coffee +Shops. Where cooking for the trenches was a matter +of <span class="pagenum"><a id="page124" name="page124"></a>(p. 124)</span> some difficulty, as in this sector, it was a great +boon to be able to get such excellent supplies of hot tea +and other comforts as they provided. They were run +by the French for some time after our arrival, but +later were taken over by our own Brigade, and put +under the care of Capt. E. M. Hacking, who was attached +to Brigade Headquarters. We feel, however, we must +attribute to the somewhat casual sanitary measures +adopted by the French, the presence of so many rats +in this sector. One often met them in droves in the +trenches, and never before or after did we come across +such numbers of the beasts, and such colossal specimens +as we found during our stay in the Vimy trenches.</p> + +<p>On April 12th, after a brief inspection near our +huts by Major-General Stuart-Wortley, we went up to +the trenches for our last and most eventful tour, which +was destined to last eight days. Owing to falls of snow +and rain, the trenches were in a deplorable state, and +gumboots were in great demand, and our only means of +keeping the men at all dry. At this time we had no such +luxuries as drying-rooms. Heavy shelling by the enemy +during the first three days made things still more uncomfortable. +The real business of the tour, however, +began on April 16th, on which night the French had +arranged to blow one mine on our front, and another +on the front of the 6th Battalion. Combined with this +we had arranged for a small raid to be carried out by +Lieut. A. Bedford and 12 other ranks, who immediately +the mines were exploded were to rush forward round +the left edge of our crater, and endeavour to capture +any Germans found in a small forward trench they had +recently dug there. The mines were to go up at midnight, +and at the same time our guns and trench mortars +were to put down a barrage on the Boche trenches, +which was to be augmented by rifle grenades and showers +of grenades thrown from West Spring Throwers, under +the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page125" name="page125"></a>(p. 125)</span> arrangement of our Grenade Officer. Unfortunately, +there had evidently been some bad synchronisation +somewhere, for at five minutes before zero two Frenchmen +suddenly came rushing towards Bedford, who was +waiting in a communication trench with his party, +shouting "Tout-de-suite! Tout-de-suite!" and almost +at the same instant the mines went up. This was very +unfortunate, as it enabled the Boche, who evidently +knew all about it, to get their barrage down before our +own Gunners, who were waiting for zero. Bedford at +once pushed on with his party with much dash in face +of heavy fire from machine guns, rifles, trench mortars +and bombs. He got as far as the advanced trench, +which, however, was held in considerable strength, and +finding himself bombed on both sides, he had to withdraw +without getting a prisoner. His party got back alright, +but unfortunately Bedford himself was knocked down +by a bomb, and although only slightly wounded had +to leave us, and a few days later was invalided to +England. Capt. Hill meanwhile carried out the consolidation +with much success. As soon as the mass +of débris, chalk and stones had stopped falling, parties +at once got to work digging a new trench across the +crater which was something like 30 yards wide by 30 +feet deep, to connect the broken front line, establishing +observation posts and putting out fresh wire. In spite +of intense fire a sufficient trench had been dug by +dawn, and the position made good. Great assistance +was rendered by Capt. Gray and the N.C.O.'s of D +Company. Unfortunately Sergt. Markham, after most +gallantly controlling the fire of his platoon for nearly +two hours, under very heavy fire, was shot through the +head and killed instantly. Another excellent piece +of work was performed by Pvte. E. Dobb, who leapt out +of the trench on seeing a party of Huns trying to get +round the crater, and hurled two bombs right amongst +them. <span class="pagenum"><a id="page126" name="page126"></a>(p. 126)</span> If they had had any doubts as to the possibility of +getting round, this made up their minds, and they +retired hurriedly.</p> + +<p>The following night at midnight, the enemy sprang +a mine on the front of our left Company (A), which +caused considerable trouble and heavy loss before the +position was finally made good. A portion of our front +line was blown up, and owing to the heavy state of the +ground, which was much water-logged, and to the +intense hostile bomb, rifle and machine gun fire, it was +impossible to get a trench dug round our lip of the crater. +It was not until three nights after that the situation was +cleared, and our lip of the crater finally occupied, after +some of the most difficult and miserable nights that it was +ever our misfortune to experience. During these days +there was little rest for anyone, and much excellent +work was done by all ranks. Marshall carried out +some splendid patrols, ably assisted by L.-Corpl. +Hinchley, going out nightly through mud and filth, +to ascertain the position around the crater. Duff +did almost superhuman work with bombs and rifle +grenades, being at it practically the whole night, +for three nights in succession, and this was only his +second tour in the trenches. The Stretcher Bearers too, +as always, did most notable work, particularly Pvtes. +Holbery and Thomas, who fetched in our wounded +from the slopes of the crater only a few yards below +and in full view of the German sentry post, whilst Sergts. +Deverall and Collins, and L.-Corpl. Ostick also did very +gallant work, and L.-Corpl. J. T. Templeman throughout +carried out his work of repairing telephone wires, with +his usual skill and courage. So uncanny was the work of +this period, that Lieut. Peerless was able on one occasion +to take deliberate aim, at 30 yards range, at a German +digging hard in the bright moonlight, on the top of +a crater.</p> + +<p>On <span class="pagenum"><a id="page127" name="page127"></a>(p. 127)</span> April 19th, the French sprang another mine, +just to the left of our Battalion front, as a result of which +we got a certain amount of hostile shelling, whilst on the +20th, the enemy put up another, slightly to our left, +which also brought its share of shelling on us. This, +however, was our last, for much to our relief, and at +comparatively short notice, the 10th Cheshires (25th +Division) took over our sector on the night of the 20th, +and after a weary trudge over that never-ending duck-board +track, we got to Ecoivres by 1 a.m. on the 21st. +Having done full justice to the excellent tea which the +Quarter-Master and his followers had ready for us, we +were taken in 'buses to Tincques, where we arrived about +6 a.m., and found that we were to be billeted partly there, +and partly in the neighbouring village of Bethencourt. +We fear we did not present a happy sight at that early +hour to the ladies just going to church on a lovely Good +Friday morning. Dawn is not an ideal time for seeing a +Battalion at its best, especially after an exceptionally +hard eight days in water-logged trenches. Our total +casualties in the Vimy sector amounted to 17 killed or +died of wounds, 69 wounded and five missing.</p> + +<p>It was a matter of great regret to us to hear later +that the 25th Division suffered very heavily shortly +after we left, when the enemy made a determined attack +on the front recently held by us, and recaptured several +trenches.</p> + + + + +<h3>CHAPTER VII <span class="pagenum"><a id="page128" name="page128"></a>(p. 128)</span></h3> + +<h5>THE BATTLE OF GOMMECOURT</h5> + + +<p class="figcenter"><i>April 22nd, 1916.</i>— +<i>July, 2nd, 1916.</i></p> + +<p class="p2">At the time of our relief in the Vimy sector, plans at +General Headquarters must have been in a forward +state for the great offensive, which was to take place +later in the year, and the part which the 46th Division +was to play in that offensive must also have been fixed, +and all our preparations now were for operations on +a large scale.</p> + +<p>We soon got rid of the mud and filth of the trenches, +and were fortunate in finding at Tincques excellent +baths run by the 51st Division, of which we made the +best possible use, and having got our clothes and boots +into respectable order, and everyone generally tidied up, +it was not long before we were in very good form and +fit for anything. Whilst this and other work connected +with the interior economy of the Battalion was going +on, some of the Officers had to spend a rather long day +on Easter Monday, April 24th, in making a reconnaissance +of the Corps line between Maroeuil and Mont St. +Eloy.</p> + +<p>On April 26th, we were inspected by General Shipley, +and felt rather pleased with the result of our efforts at +cleaning, for the Battalion looked well, and the General +expressed his pleasure at the smart turnout.</p> + +<p>The weather now was improving fast, and though +excellent for training, it seemed too lovely on some +of those delightful Spring days, to be spending our time +learning how to kill people. Training included the +new form of bayonet fighting, expounded by Officers +and others on their return from the Third Army School, +where <span class="pagenum"><a id="page129" name="page129"></a>(p. 129)</span> they had been duly instructed in its art by that +expert, Major Campbell, who always succeeded in his +inimitable way in so impressing his hearers, that they +were not likely to forget for many a long day that "two +inches well placed" was ample, and many other similar +maxims. Many tips were also given us in bayonet +fighting by Sergt.-Major Curly, one of the travelling +Physical Training Instructors, who often came to see us, +and made a great impression on all who ever came under +his instruction by his extraordinary keenness and energy. +Eventually we passed on to practise the attack in +"waves," and were initiated into the art of doing this +under the shelter of a smoke screen. In this form of +attack, the advance from the moment of leaving the +trenches, was carried out behind a smoke barrage, formed +by lighting smoke bombs in the front line trench, and +heaving them forward over the parapet. If they were +good, a dense cloud of smoke was produced, and, provided +the wind was in the right direction, it was possible to +advance concealed behind the smoke cloud for a considerable +distance. This method depended almost entirely for +its success on the strength and direction of the wind. +Later on, when the method was improved in the light +of experience gained, smoke grenades fired from rifles +were used, together with smoke shells fired by the +artillery, so that a barrage could be put down at any +required point, and, except in very strong winds, the +smoke made to drift across any desired portion of the +front of attack. In many of the later attacks this was +done extensively, and was on the whole very successful. +We practised at Tincques with hand smoke bombs +only, and found it was not very difficult to keep direction +through the smoke, whilst at the same time we were +screened from the vision of the enemy.</p> + +<p>Our period of training at this juncture was not a +long one, as we were required nearer the front to begin +the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page130" name="page130"></a>(p. 130)</span> many operations necessary to prepare for the big +attack. During that short period, however, we had to +change our billets, and moved on April 29th, to +Averdoignt, a pretty little village near St. Pol, where +we were well housed and very comfortable. From +there we were called upon to send a detachment for a +few weeks' duty at Third Army Headquarters, at +St. Pol, and a composite company consisting of 60 of +B Company, and 100 of C under Major G. S. Heathcote +were entrusted with the task. They must have done +excellent work and evidently made a good impression, +as a letter of special praise on their smartness and +good work, was sent to the Battalion, on their return +by the Army Commander, General Allenby.</p> + +<p>We moved by easy steps from this area, which we +left on May 6th, marching that day to Rebreuviette, +the following day to Gaudiempré, and on the 10th to +Bienvillers. The Transport remained behind at +Gaudiempré, but moved from there on the 11th to +La Bazéque Farm, near Humbercamps. This move +brought us into the VII Corps, commanded by Lieut.-General +T. D'O. Snow.</p> + +<p>Up to the time of our arrival this part of the line +was reputed to be almost the quietest on the whole of +the Western Front. It was said that Company Commanders +slept in pyjamas, even when holding the front +line, and certainly the personnel of Battalion Headquarters +at Foncquevillers, which was only about 1000 +yards from the enemy line, lived there for all the world, +as if in a peaceful country village in England. The dug-outs +were made for comfort rather than safety, and were in +many cases artistically decorated with pictures, doubtless +got from houses in the village, and surrounded with +elegant little garden plots, which showed evident signs of +careful tending on the part of our predecessors. Together +they formed a kind of miniature "Garden City." This +comparative <span class="pagenum"><a id="page131" name="page131"></a>(p. 131)</span> quietness lasted for a considerable time +after our arrival; indeed we often failed to understand +why the enemy refrained from shelling, as on many +occasions we must have offered exceptionally favourable +targets. Day by day work went on often in full view +of the Hun, and within a range of between one and two +miles, and the roads almost daily were a mass of +transport of every kind, moving to and fro in broad +daylight, and literally asking for trouble. There can be +no question that the chief reason was a great shortage +of ammunition at this time amongst the Germans, who +were under very strict orders as to its conservation, +otherwise no doubt we should have had a very disagreeable +time. Doubtless they made careful note of all +our doings, and the fact that something big was going +to take place must have been perfectly obvious to them. +That it was so we found afterwards, when in a successful +attack, the diary of the German regiment opposite to us +(55th R.I.R.) was captured, and from it we learned +that they had been able to foresee exactly where the +attack was coming. This diary was most interesting +reading, as it noted each day their observations of our +doings, and the conclusions they drew from them.</p> + +<p>The attack of the 46th Division was to be directed +against the German trenches West of Gommecourt, +immediately opposite the village of Foncquevillers. +The German trench line here, forming the Gommecourt +salient, was the most Westerly point that they ever +held as a permanent line. The general object of +the attack was to cut off this salient. The 56th +Division were to attack on the South, and join hands +with our Division East of the village of Gommecourt, +and so establish the left flank of the whole Somme +attack.</p> + +<p>All the efforts of the troops of our Division who +were not actually holding the line, were concentrated +on <span class="pagenum"><a id="page132" name="page132"></a>(p. 132)</span> preparing the Divisional front for the attack. The +chief work that we were concerned with, was the digging +out of old communication trenches from Foncquevillers +to the front line, a distance of about 700 yards. There +were something like ten or a dozen of these, several of +which were named after our Division. The principal +were "Stafford Avenue," "Lincoln Lane," "Leicester +Street," "Nottingham Street," "Derby Dyke," +"Roberts Avenue," "Rotten Row," "Regent Street," +"Raymond Avenue," and "Crawlboys Lane." All +these had to be dug out about two feet below their +existing level, making them about seven feet deep, +and boarded with trench grids from end to end, which +entailed an enormous amount of work. In addition, the +front line had to be cleared of the barbed wire, with which +the unoccupied portions had been filled, support and +reserve trenches had to be prepared for the supporting +troops in the attack, forward or "jumping-off" trenches +to be dug at the last moment, for the assaulting troops +to attack from, "Russian saps" to be dug out into No +Man's Land to form communication trenches, by +knocking in the thin covering of earth left to hide them, +dug-outs to be made for forward Battalion Headquarters, +and several miles of narrow cable trench to be dug about +six feet deep for the protection of telephone wires from +forward Headquarters back to Brigade, Division and +Artillery Headquarters. In addition to all this navvying +work, large quantities of stores had to be carried up to +forward dumps in the trenches, ready for taking forward if +the attack succeeded, shelters had to be made at various +points in side trenches, convenient to get at from +communication trenches, for storing large quantities of +bombs of all kinds, small arm ammunition, iron rations, +water, picks, shovels, sandbags, and other Royal +Engineers' material likely to be required to consolidate the +ground we hoped to win in the attack. The transport +of <span class="pagenum"><a id="page133" name="page133"></a>(p. 133)</span> all these stores, and of all the necessary Royal +Engineers' material, and the work entailed in all these +preparations was colossal, and our first real experience of +anything of the kind. It is probable that at this time +the mass and variety of material required in an attack, +reached a degree of complication never equalled either +before or after. The German comment on this contained +in the diary already mentioned is of interest. "It must +be acknowledged," it states, "that the equipment and +preparation of the English attack were magnificent. +The assaulting troops were amply provided with numerous +machine guns, Lewis guns, trench mortars, and storming-ladders. +The Officers were provided with excellent +maps, which shewed every German trench system +actually named and gave every detail of our positions. +The sketches had been brought up to date with all +our latest work, and the sectors of attack were shewn +on a very large scale. Special sketches shewing the +objectives of the different units, also aeroplane photographs +were found amongst the captured documents."</p> + +<p>During our week at Bienvillers from May 10th to +18th, we were mostly engaged in improving the defences +of the village, and the approach trenches behind +Foncquevillers, and in work on cable trenches. It +was here that one or two civilians roused our suspicions, +as they insisted on ploughing and carrying on their +cultivations so very near the front, some days working +with grey horses, others with brown, and our Battalion +Scouts were told to keep a special eye on them. Nothing, +however, happened so far as we were aware that in any +way altered the course of the war, as a result of our or +their action.</p> + +<p>On May 19th, we relieved the 5th North Staffords +in Foncquevillers, being then in reserve to our 5th, 6th, +and 7th Battalions, who were holding the front line. +Our Transport moved the following day to Souastre.</p> + +<p>This <span class="pagenum"><a id="page134" name="page134"></a>(p. 134)</span> was a somewhat uneventful period, and after +a few days in the front line mostly spent in improving +trenches, we were relieved on June 5th, by the 4th +Leicesters, and marched back to huts at Humbercamp, +preparatory to moving further back for our final training +for the "Big Push." We left there the following +night, and arrived in the early hours of June 7th at +Le Souich, where we were destined to spend one of the +least enjoyable periods out of the line that we ever +experienced. We were only there for a week, but into +that short time was crammed an immense amount of +work both in training, and in cutting wood and making +wattle hurdles in Lucheux Forest. The weather was +very wet, and our billets were anything but comfortable. +In our humble opinion the training here was too +strenuous. We had to march out four miles to the training +ground, and four miles back in full marching order, +practise the attack for two hours through fields of growing +corn three or four feet high soaked with rain, and complete +six hours training daily (not including the marching) +with bayonet fighting, physical exercises, and drill in +the fields near our billets. It takes very little of such +intensive training to make men stale.</p> + +<p>The form of attack practised was that ordered for +the general attack, which we now knew was to take place +about the end of June: this allowed each Battalion a +frontage of 250 yards, with three Companies in front, +and one in support, each Company having its four +platoons echelonned in depth at distances of about +50 yards, thus forming four "waves," the men in each +wave being extended to about four paces. In the attack +the leading wave was to go through to the final objective, +the other waves occupying and mopping up the trenches +passed over by the leading wave.</p> + +<p>A full size model of the German lines at Gommecourt +that we were to attack, was made near Sus-St. Leger, +the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page135" name="page135"></a>(p. 135)</span> trenches being dug to a depth of about two feet. +Tape lines were laid for the men to form up on, and the +whole attack was practised time and again as a "drill," +until eventually we were able to carry it out without +losing direction, with a fair amount of success.</p> + +<p>We were now stronger in Officers than we had ever +been during the campaign, our strength being 38. This +was due to the recent arrival of several reinforcements, +including Capt. Piggford and Lieut. Hindley, rejoined, +and 2nd Lieuts. H. de C. Martelli, J. B. White, C. J. +Wells, A. G. T. Lomer, T. G. Day, E. A. Huskinson, +H. I. Newton, and A. A. Field. We had, however, +lost Capt. Lawson, who left for a tour of duty at home, +and Major E. H. Heathcote, Capt. Gray, and 2nd +Lieut. Hodgson invalided to England, also 2nd Lieut. +Peerless, who unfortunately got badly hurt one day by +accidentally kicking a live rifle grenade, which had +been left lying on the bombing practice ground. His +place as Battalion Grenade Officer was taken by 2nd +Lieut. Duff. Lieut. Simonet had gone to hospital, and +was succeeded as Lewis Gun Officer by 2nd Lieut. +Tomlinson. Major G. S. Heathcote was attached to +Headquarters, Third Army, and was succeeded in +command of C Company by Capt. Piggford, whilst +Major Ashwell became Second-in-Command. We were +not particularly strong in other ranks, something less +than 500 being available for the attack, though we had +recently received over 100 reinforcements, including a +very good draft of 61 from the 2nd Sherwood Foresters. +Fortunately General Headquarters had taken an excellent +step in laying down that certain Officers and other +ranks known as "Battle Details," were now to be left +out of every attack to form a nucleus for carrying on +Battalions in the event of their suffering heavy casualties. +This was a very wise precaution, and was adopted by +us for the first time in the attack at Gommecourt.</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" summary="Pictures"> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center"> +<a id="img012" name="img012"></a> +<img src="images/img012.jpg" width="200" height="288" alt="Regtl.-sergt.-major W. Mounteney, D.C.M." title="Regtl.-sergt.-major W. Mounteney, D.C.M."> +</td> +<td class="td-center"> +<a id="img013" name="img013"></a> +<img src="images/img013.jpg" width="200" height="289" alt="Comp. Sergt.-major W. Stokes, D.C.M. and Sergeants +Of C Company, 1917" title="Comp. Sergt.-major W. Stokes, D.C.M. and Sergeants +Of C Company, 1917"> +</td> +<tr> +<td class="td-center"> +Regtl.-sergt.-major W. Mounteney, D.C.M. +</td> +<td class="td-center"> +Comp. Sergt.-major W. Stokes, D.C.M. and Sergeants +Of C Company, 1917. +</td> +</tr> +</table> + + +<p>On <span class="pagenum"><a id="page136" name="page136"></a>(p. 136)</span> June 15th, we marched to Humbercamp, the +Transport at the same time moving to lines at La Bazéque +Farm. Capt. H. Kirby was now Transport Officer, having +taken over from Capt. Davenport, who, after being +attached for some time to XVII Corps Light Railway +Company, Royal Engineers, went to Brigade Headquarters +to learn Staff work. The transport vehicles had somewhat +camouflaged themselves, having been decorated +on all sides by wonderful and mystic signs, so as to show +to the initiated to what unit they belonged. If you enquired +you would be told that the dark blue square meant +"First Line Transport," the narrow light green oblong +edged with white placed on the left of this square was +for the "8th Sherwood Foresters," whilst the square +divided diagonally into red and green, and bordered +with white, was the sign of the "46th Division." It was +not an easy matter to arrange all these coloured patches +clear of the odds and ends carried on the different +vehicles, and this problem was still exercising the minds +of those in authority nearly up to the Armistice—such +an important part did it play in the ultimate winning +of the war!</p> + +<p>We now knew that in our Brigade we were to be the +Battalion in reserve, the 5th and 7th Battalions having +to carry out the assault, with the 6th Battalion in +immediate support. As a consequence much of the +"dirty" work during the final preparations for the +attack fell to our lot. This consisted chiefly in holding +the trenches during our preliminary bombardment, +and putting up with such retaliation as the Hun might +choose to carry out, and in completing the final arrangements +in our own trenches. After three days at Humbercamp, +during which we found large working parties +for digging cable trenches, and putting up screens to +conceal the approaches to trenches, we moved to +Foncquevillers on June 18th, and took over part of the +left <span class="pagenum"><a id="page137" name="page137"></a>(p. 137)</span> sub-sector from the 5th Lincolns. An immense +amount of work had been done whilst we had been +away; the prospects seemed bright, and our hopes +rose. Our Headquarters at Foncquevillers became a +centre of attraction to all and sundry. At every hour +of the day and night we had callers, from the Divisional +Commander downwards. The Brigadier and his staff +constantly paid us visits. Gunners galore came to +sample what we kept, and incidentally to see about +finding observation posts. Royal Engineer gentlemen +requested our help at every turn and corner, usually +wanting working parties rather larger than our total +strength, whilst "Tock Emma" Officers were on our +doorstep day and night. Indeed so great was the crowd +that at one time we almost had to put Corpl. Cross on +to regulate the queue, and all the time our poor stock +of victuals and drinks was getting less and less.</p> + +<p>All went well until the afternoon of June 23rd, +when there was a violent thunderstorm, which practically +undid the whole of the work we had carried out in the +trenches, filling them in most cases to a depth of two +feet or more with mud and water. This area was a +difficult one to drain, and it was impossible to get the +water away, so that all hands had to be got on as soon as +possible to man trench pumps, and endeavour to clear +the trenches in that way. This method was extremely +laborious, and very little real progress was made, though +every available man was put on to the work. Our poor +dug-outs were knee deep in water, and the newly constructed +bomb and other stores were too weak to stand +such a storm, and in most cases collapsed. Our hopes +sank, for we realised how much depended on all the +careful preparations which had been made, and that the +time left before the attack would be all too short for us +to get the damage repaired.</p> + +<p>It <span class="pagenum"><a id="page138" name="page138"></a>(p. 138)</span> is impossible to give anything like an adequate +idea of our plight for the next few days. The artillery +scheme, including a six days' bombardment, began on +the following day with wire cutting, causing a certain +amount of retaliation, which added to our trouble. This +got worse on the following days, doubtless owing partly +to the fact that we dug a new advanced trench. This was +in a deplorable mess, and our men who had to occupy it +had a most distressing time. Casualties rose rapidly, especially +in B Company, whose front line trench was enfiladed +from Adinfer Wood. Our carrying parties, who had to +take up Royal Engineer material, ammunition of all sorts, +rations and other stores to various points in the line, +mostly adopted the very suitable dress of a sandbag kilt +and boots. They were objects of much interest, but it +was the most workmanlike rig-out for our trenches, which +in many cases remained knee deep in mud and water for +several days. The carrying had to go on whatever +happened, and continued night and day, assistance being +got from the 6th and 7th Battalions, from the Machine +Gun Company, and from the Transport men of all units, +parties of whom marched up nightly for the purpose. +With trenches in such a state, it is needless to say that +it was impossible for men to hold the line for many days, +and in order to give us a brief respite, we were relieved +by the 5th Battalion on the night of June 27th, and +moved back to Pommier.</p> + +<p>The nine strenuous days during which we had held the +line, had been a severe trial, and where everyone did so +well it is difficult to single out any for special mention, +but we feel we must say how much we owed to Capts. +Turner, Vann and Hill, for the excellent way in which +they worked to keep up the spirits of their men during +those trying times, and to Sergts. Slater and Rawding, +for the splendid way they kept their men together +during several particularly unpleasant "straffs" by +the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page139" name="page139"></a>(p. 139)</span> Boche of our front trenches. During that time, +too, much excellent patrolling was done by Marshall, +who unfortunately was wounded one day when taking +rather too great risks in observing the Boche lines, and +Martelli, ably helped by L.-Corpl. Hickman, and Pvte. E. C. +Bryan. Our casualties during those nine days included +Capt. Vann, slightly wounded, Lieut. Hindley, who got +a nasty splinter wound on the nose, 16 other ranks +killed, and 44 wounded.</p> + +<p>The chief incident during our two days' stay at +Pommier, occurred on the afternoon of June 30th, when +the Huns began shelling the church. John Turner, +Michie and Harvey, were having tea in their mess, +which was only a few yards from the church, when a +5.9 blew in the end of the house, practically bursting +inside the room where they were sitting. Their escape +was little short of a miracle. John Turner, however, +as one would expect, came into Headquarters smiling +and perfectly cool, though covered with dust and blood. +Harvey and Michie were a bit shaken, the former having +to go to hospital.</p> + +<p>The attack, having been postponed owing to the +bad weather, was eventually fixed to take place on the +morning of July 1st, and we left Pommier again the night +before to take up our position at Foncquevillers. Our +cookers were taken down to the Western edge of the wood +behind the village, where we were issued with soup and +rum on arrival at about 10 p.m. Each man carried +in addition to the following day's ration, his iron ration, +and a bacon and bread sandwich. Equipment carried +included 200 rounds small arm ammunition, four sandbags, +two Mills grenades, two gas helmets, haversack, +waterproof sheet, and a supply of wire cutters and +gloves. The new pattern "tin hat," with which we had +by this time all been supplied, formed a by no means +unimportant part of our dress. It was not a thing of +beauty, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page140" name="page140"></a>(p. 140)</span> and took a little while to get used to, but it proved +a good friend to many in the days that were to come.</p> + +<p>The attack by the 46th Division was to be carried +out with two Brigades, Staffords and Sherwood Foresters, +with the Lincolns and Leicesters in reserve. The 139th +Brigade on the left was to attack between the Northern +edge of Gommecourt Wood and the "Little Z," the +5th Battalion being on the right, and 7th on the +left, the 6th Battalion in support, and 8th in Reserve; +the German first, second and third lines were to be +captured, and in conjunction with the 56th Division on +the right, our line was to be carried to a point just East +of Gommecourt village.</p> + +<p>We reached our assembly positions early on the +morning of July 1st. Our bombardment opened at 6.25 +a.m. and the discharge of smoke from our front line +began an hour later. Under cover of this the assaulting +Battalions moved off from our advanced trenches at +7.30 a.m. A heavy and accurate barrage was immediately +put down on our front and support lines by the enemy, +who were evidently well aware of the extent of the +attack and ready for it. The attack by the 139th Brigade +is described in the following extracts from the captured +diary of the 55th R.I.R., the times given being German:—</p> + +<p>"G1. sector 7.30 a.m. An extremely violent bombardment +began, overwhelming all the trenches and +sweeping away the wire.</p> + +<p>8.30 a.m. The enemy's fire lifted. The enemy's +attack, which was made under cover of gas bombs, was +perceived. In consequence of the sharp look-out kept +by the Commander of the 4th Company, and by a Platoon +Commander holding the most dangerous portion of +the line, the shell holes were occupied exactly at the +right moment, and the attackers were received with +hand grenades. The barrage fire which had been called +for began at once.</p> + +<p>8.40 a.m. <span class="pagenum"><a id="page141" name="page141"></a>(p. 141)</span> Strong hostile skirmishing lines deployed +from Pilier Farm. They were at once met by heavy +machine gun and infantry fire. Second Lieut. ——, +of the 2nd Company who was holding the 3rd support +line of G1, recognised the superior strength of the +enemy's attack which was being carried out against +No. 4 Company. In spite of the intense bombardment +he decided to advance with his Platoon over the open, +and, crossing the second line, reached the front line of +G1 at the decisive moment to reinforce No. 4 Company.</p> + +<p>The enemy built up his firing line and attempted +to press forward with bombers and flame-projectors, +but was repulsed everywhere.</p> + +<p>10.30 a.m. The fine spirit of the troops of the +2nd and 4th Companies succeeded by their stubborn +resistance in annihilating the thick charging waves of the +English. The ground was covered with numbers of +dead, and in front of our trench lay quantities of English +arms and equipment. Gradually the artillery fire +recommenced on the front line trenches and rose to a +pitch of extreme violence in the course of the afternoon. +The fact that all attacks were completely repulsed +without the enemy gaining a footing in the front line +of G1. at any point is due, next to the bravery of the +troops, to the carefully thought-out arrangements of +Major ——, to the care of the Officer Commanding +No. 4 Company, and to the energy of the Platoon +Commanders."</p> + +<p>To resume our own story. At about 8.0 a.m., as +the forward trenches were cleared of troops, we began +to move forward, but everywhere found the trenches, +which were still in many parts deep in mud and water, +blown in, or blocked by dead bodies, or wounded men +trying to make their way back. Little progress was +possible, and there was nothing to be done but to await +further developments.</p> + +<p>Although <span class="pagenum"><a id="page142" name="page142"></a>(p. 142)</span> little news came through, it soon became +evident that the attack on our front had not succeeded. +We learnt later that, owing to the difficulty experienced +by the supporting waves in getting across our own +water-logged trenches, they lost the advantage of the +barrage, and that the smoke cleared long before the +bulk of the assaulting troops had got across No Man's +Land. In spite of our long protracted artillery +bombardment comparatively little damage had been +done to the German trenches and wire, and our men +met with heavy rifle and machine gun fire, not only +from their front, but also from the right flank, where +the 137th Brigade were unable to gain the German front +line owing to uncut wire. A few of both the 5th and 7th +Battalions got into the German trenches, but they were +soon surrounded and overwhelmed. Some who were +wounded before reaching the wire, crawled for shelter +into shell holes, where in several instances, they were +deliberately bombed or shot by the Boche from their +trenches. At 3 p.m. a fresh bombardment was begun +by the right Brigade, and continued on our front, with +a view to an attack being made by two Companies of +the 6th Battalion, but this was cancelled.</p> + +<p>At 5.5 p.m. we were ordered to send out daylight +patrols to ascertain the position of affairs in front. +Several volunteers, amongst whom were Corpls. G. Clay, +and C. E. Bryan, L.-Corpls. Moss and Hickman, and +Pvtes. Charles, Brett, Adams, and Nightingall, remained +out for some time, and brought back useful information. +Meanwhile much gallant work was also being done by the +Stretcher Bearers and others. Pvtes. Holbery, Thomas, +Nelson, and Shearman worked continuously for nearly +36 hours carrying in wounded, often under heavy fire, +whilst Comp. Sergt.-Major T. Powell, who brought in +three wounded men by daylight, and Sergt. Grainger, +who controlled his men with great skill during the battle +and <span class="pagenum"><a id="page143" name="page143"></a>(p. 143)</span> also rescued a wounded man, are deserving of special +mention.</p> + +<p>At 6.10 p.m. we received instructions to take over +the original front and advanced trenches from the 6th, and +remnants of the 5th and 7th Battalions, who were there, +and this was done. Later, however, the 5th Lincolns +took over the line as they had been ordered to carry +out another attack at midnight, in order to try and +rescue some of the 5th and 7th Battalions, who it was +thought were still in the Boche trenches. This, however, +was not pressed, and finally A Company of our Battalion +were given the melancholy task of scouring No Man's +Land to find the dead and wounded. Eventually the +5th Lincolns took over from us on the morning of the +2nd July, and we withdrew the same day to billets at +Gaudiempré.</p> + +<p>Even as we left Foncquevillers ill-luck pursued us, +for a premature burst of a shell from one of our guns +took place close to us as we were formed up behind the +wood ready to move off, and wounded four, fortunately +not seriously. Otherwise our casualties during the actual +battle had not been heavy, amounting to three killed, +two missing (attached to Trench Mortar Battery) and +37 wounded.</p> + +<p>We cannot look back with anything but regret +on that awful battle, when so many lives were sacrificed +apparently to no purpose. July 1st is not our happiest +of days—indeed on two successive occasions it was our +most unfortunate day of the year. It must have been +quite obvious to the enemy that this was to be the flank +of the Somme attack, although some demonstration was +made by the 37th Division on our left. The enemy, therefore, +were able to bring all their guns from the direction +of Adinfer Wood to bear on No Man's Land on our front. +Lack of troops had necessitated the employment of the +attacking Battalions in the most exacting fatigues +up <span class="pagenum"><a id="page144" name="page144"></a>(p. 144)</span> to the very eve of the assault. Probably, barely a +man had had a full night's sleep for a week prior to the +attack, and there had been scarcely a day or night when +rain had not fallen consistently and heavily, and working +parties had not been soaked through to the skin. Those +of us, who eight months later, stood on some of the +German concrete machine gun emplacements opposite, +commanding a magnificent field of fire from positions +proof against the heaviest shells, saw still the lines of +dead bodies lying in No Man's Land, a tragic and pitiable +witness, if witness were needed, that the failure of +the attack was in no measure due to any lack of dash or +courage on the part of our indomitable Infantry. +Practically every Officer of the attacking Battalions +was killed or wounded, and a large proportion of the +men, and but an insignificant proportion fell alive into +the hands of the enemy.</p> + +<p>It was some slight comfort to receive from the +Corps Commander an appreciation of our efforts, which +had kept busy a large number of the enemy's best +troops, and to know that we had a share in the success +of the great Somme attack, and that our terrible losses +were not entirely in vain.</p> + + + + +<h3>CHAPTER VIII <span class="pagenum"><a id="page145" name="page145"></a>(p. 145)</span></h3> + +<h5>BELLACOURT</h5> + + +<p class="figcenter"><i>July 2nd, 1916.</i>— +<i>October 29th, 1916.</i></p> + +<p class="p2">We spent one night at Gaudiempré, and on July 3rd, +moved a few miles North to a delightful Camp +at Bavincourt, where we made up our minds to have a +well-earned rest. The Camp was charmingly situated, +and we were preparing to have it run on model lines, +when alas, in the early hours of July 4th, sudden orders +were received to move. We had, however, made the +best of our few hours there, most of us going to an +excellent entertainment by the "Barn Owls," the +Concert Party of the 37th Division, which cheered us +immensely.</p> + +<p>The fighting on the Somme, which had gone successfully +for us in many parts, was causing rapid reorganisation +and consequent movement of troops, so that +our sudden move was not altogether surprising. We +left Bavincourt on the morning of July 4th, and after +a little excitement due to the shelling of the road, and +a terrific thunderstorm, we eventually got settled once +more at Pommier, with the exception of A Company, +who went on to Bienvillers. The rest of the Battalion +joined them there on July 7th, except Transport and +Quarter-Master's Stores, which moved to La Cauchie. Our +most important work there was the somewhat ticklish +procedure on two nights of carrying up to the Monchy +trenches, about two miles North of Foncquevillers, +cylinders of gas to loose off on a suitable occasion. +These were drawn at Hannescamp, and for carrying +were fastened to poles, each cylinder requiring two +men. <span class="pagenum"><a id="page146" name="page146"></a>(p. 146)</span> Special precautions were taken to ensure perfect +silence, so as not to give the enemy an idea that gas was +being installed. Further, in order to protect the carrying +party, in case any of the cylinders got broken by shells +or otherwise on the way up, every man wore his smoke +helmet rolled up on his head, ready for instantly pulling +down over his face. Neither steel helmets nor caps +were worn on these occasions. As the cylinders had +to be got up to our front line trench, the operation was +attended with considerable risk, but fortune favoured +us, and it is believed that the Battalion never suffered +a casualty when engaged on the work, though large +parties had to be found on several occasions for a +similar purpose.</p> + +<p>We moved on July 10th, by route march to +Bellacourt, a village about five miles south-west of +Arras, and giving its name to a sector which was to +prove easily the most peaceful and enjoyable part of +the line we ever held. Transport moved to Bailleulval, +where they got good lines in a small orchard, and +the Quarter-Master's Stores were comfortably fixed up +in billets.</p> + +<p>It was from this department that we were first to +hear of the activities of our new Divisional Commander, +Major-General W. Thwaites, R.A., who made it a practice +of frequently visiting transport lines at early morning +stables. Torrance with his ready wit at once dubbed +him "The Mushroom Picker," an epithet which we +were told gave him much pleasure when it reached his +ears, but did not have the least effect upon his early +morning visits.</p> + +<p>Several new Officers had recently joined from our +3rd Line, including 2nd Lieuts. C. F. Woodward, F. M. +Corry, H. G. Kirby, B. P. Page, W. B. Easterfield, and +D. H. Parker. Second Lieut. A. Bedford also rejoined, +and others who arrived shortly afterwards were Lieut. +R. Whitton, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page147" name="page147"></a>(p. 147)</span> who had been Adjutant of the 3rd Line, +2nd Lieuts. Skinner and Moore, back for the second +time, and 2nd Lieuts. C. H. Hicks, D. F. Ranson, +L. E. King-Stephens, G. F. Visser, F. D. Byrne, B. W. +Hall, and A. D. Bailey. Comp. Sergt.-Major Haywood +rejoined with a draft of 72 reinforcements, and was +appointed Comp. Sergt.-Major of C Company, where +Sergt. Leivers had been carrying on for a short time in +place of Comp. Sergt.-Major J. A. Green, who had been +invalided to England.</p> + +<p>We were thus fairly well off for numbers, when on +July 11th, we relieved the Liverpool Scottish in the +left sub-sector of the Brigade sector, this being one of +the rare occasions on which relief was carried out by +daylight. The distribution was as follows: Right—"The +Willows"—A Company (Capt. Vann); Centre +"The Osiers"—B Company (Capt. Turner); Left—"The +Ravine"—C Company (Capt. Piggford); Reserve—Bretencourt—D +Company (Capt. Hill). Battalion +Headquarters was in the "Sunken Road," just in +front of Bretencourt, off "Engineer Street." Each +Company had two platoons in the front line and two in +support; a system which, besides being more or less in +accordance with Field Service Regulations, worked +extremely satisfactorily, for whilst the front line posts +could be held by comparatively few men, either in the +line or at the heads of the various saps running out into +No Man's Land, working parties and patrols were +found from the support platoons, and were thus able +to get back to the support line on completion of their +task, and rest in comparative comfort.</p> + +<p>The frontage allotted to us was a long one, and +the front line was thinly held, some of the posts being +as much as 200 yards apart. Frequent visiting patrols +were necessary during the night to prevent any daring +Boche from getting into our lines. In the communication +trenches, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page148" name="page148"></a>(p. 148)</span> blocking posts and gates were fixed at various +points to hold up the enemy if they did ever get in and +attempt to push forward. To look after the rear +portion of these communication trenches the system +of Trench Wardens was instituted during our stay at +Bellacourt. These were usually light duty, or warworn +men drawn from the various Battalions, whose +duty it was to repair broken trench grids, relay any +that required it, clear falls of earth, and generally +look after upkeep.</p> + +<p>This sector was reputed to be the quietest on the +British Front, and though we had one or two lively times, +there is no doubt that for the period of three-and-a-half +months we were there, it lived up to its reputation. +Rumour said that some of our troops had been in the +habit of going out and repairing the barbed wire by +daylight! Certainly it was normally extremely peaceful. +The trenches were from 300 to 400 yards apart, and in +the region of the Ransart Road on the right, one could +indeed go out for some distance without coming in view +of the Boche trenches. The weather during most +of our stay was of the best, and there could be few +things more pleasant than to stroll on a quiet afternoon +round some of the communication trenches, e.g., "Dyke +Street," "Couturelle," and "La Motte," where masses +of wild flowers of every kind and of brilliant colours +were in full bloom, and in many parts completely covered +the sides of the trenches. Cooking was normally done +out of the trenches, and hot meals were carried up in +kettles or food containers (something in the nature of +large thermos flasks) by the Reserve Company billeted +at Bretencourt.</p> + +<p>We had something of a shock during our first tour +in the trenches, and began to suspect the reports as to +the quietness of the sector, for on our second morning +the enemy poured over for nearly an hour, between +4.0 a.m. <span class="pagenum"><a id="page149" name="page149"></a>(p. 149)</span> and 5.0 a.m., showers of heavy trench mortars +on to part of the front line held by B Company. Their +aim was very good, several bombs falling right into +the trench and doing considerable damage, whilst Lieut. +Lomer's Platoon, which was holding the part bombarded, +had four men killed and nine wounded. One man +had to have his foot amputated by Johnstone, the +Medical Officer, in order to be released from a shelter +that had been smashed by the bombs. Sergts. Tanner and +Yeomans did splendid work in rescuing the wounded, +as did also Sergt. Bescoby, Pvte. Axon and other +Stretcher Bearers. This, however, turned out to be +the only "hate" of its particular kind that the enemy +inflicted on us during our stay. Possibly it was to let +us know that he was aware of our recent arrival, and +wished to give us a welcome, but most likely it was +what we knew as his "Travelling Circus" which he +brought up at certain times in order to carry out an +organised "straff" on a particular piece of the line.</p> + +<p>For some time after this, and in fact for most of +Our sojourn here, life in the trenches was of a somewhat +humdrum character. There were a few days cf activity +now and then, but normally the enemy was very inoffensive +so far as we were concerned. He did, however, +raid the 6th Battalion one night in the right sub-sector, +almost completely levelling one of their communication +trenches with heavy trench mortars during the preliminary +bombardment, on account of which we had +to stand-to, when back at our rest billets at Bailleulval. +On another occasion we had a fidgety night owing to +a gas alarm having been given. This however, proved +but another case of "wind."</p> + +<p>The work in the trenches was of a normal character, +but we welcomed that new article known as the "A" +Frame, consisting as its name indicates of framing +shaped like the letter A. This was the best form of +support <span class="pagenum"><a id="page150" name="page150"></a>(p. 150)</span> for trench revetment that we ever had, and +from this time onwards was used almost universally. +A suggestion of this exact form of framing had been +made by Col. Blackwall as early as November 1915. +and submitted to higher authorities, who turned it down +as unsuitable.</p> + +<p>A further great advance was made by us here in the +provision of deep dug-outs, for which the chalk soil was +eminently adapted. Excellent plans were drawn out +by Major Zeller, commanding the Field Company +attached to our Brigade, for complete systems of these +dug-outs to be made in the support line, and a special +Brigade Dug-out Company was formed for this purpose, +to which we contributed, besides a number of men, +2nd Lieuts. Moore and Powell. Great progress was made +with the work, and before we left the sector a large +number had been finished, and fitted up with wire +beds on wooden framework in two tiers, with rifle racks +and other etceteras. The organisation of this work +was one of the first tasks of the new Brigade Major, +Capt. W. P. Buckley, D.S.O., of the Duke of Cornwall's +Light Infantry, who had succeeded Major Neilson, when +the latter left to take up a higher appointment. In +Major Neilson we lost one who was always ready to +help and advise on every possible occasion, and though +it was with the greatest regret that we said goodbye +to him, it was a great pleasure to know that his hard +work had brought its reward.</p> + +<p>At this period after doing six days in the front line, +we spent six days in Brigade Reserve at Bellacourt, +where three Companies were in billets, and usually found +large parties for the Royal Engineers for working in +trenches and dug-outs, and one Company provided garrisons +for the four posts in front of the village, "Starfish," +"Boundary," "Burnt Farm" and "Orchard." +After a further six days in the front line we went back +for <span class="pagenum"><a id="page151" name="page151"></a>(p. 151)</span> six days to Bailleulval, where we were able to have +our periodical clean up, do a little training, and generally +enjoy life for a brief space. We relieved always with +the 7th Battalion, and held the left of the Brigade sector, +which remained the same as originally taken over, except +that we gave up the "Willows" on the right and took +over "Epsom" on the left.</p> + +<p>Our billets at Bailleulval were fairly comfortable, +and were constantly improved, under the guiding hand +of Major Wordsworth, the Staff Captain. We had a +splendid parade ground on the high land behind the +village, a good Canteen, a Sergeants' Mess, a Corporals' +Mess, home-made Russian baths erected with much skill +by our own Pioneers, and frequent visits from the +"Whizz-bangs," who gave us excellent programmes. We +played cricket, football, both soccer and rugger; we +had Officers' Riding Classes, which were a source of +much interest not to say amusement, to the onlookers, +and we got good dinners at the well-known "Seven +Sisters," in the neighbouring village of Basseux. The +weather for the most part was delightful, and life was +extremely pleasant.</p> + +<p>Major-General Thwaites twice inspected us, and +all who were in the Battalion during the time he reigned +at Division will remember what an inspection by him +entailed! Our best salute proved very inadequate on +the first occasion, and the Commanding Officer was +requested, after putting himself and his horse in front +of the centre of the Battalion, to do it again! Capt. +Turner, too, who was acting Second-in-Command, got +a polite enquiry as to what he was doing with his +horse! Poor "Strawberry" was apparently rather +upset over the fixing of bayonets! As a rule, +however, we believe our efforts to make a good show +did not pass unnoticed, though a good deal that was +uncomplimentary was said. On his second inspection +Lieut.-General <span class="pagenum"><a id="page152" name="page152"></a>(p. 152)</span> Snow, the Corps Commander, was with +him, and appeared to be quite satisfied with the turnout.</p> + +<p>Training at this time, so far as the Battalion was +concerned, consisted only of such general work as could be +done in the few days we spent periodically at Bailleulval. +The Divisional School, however, was in full going order, +Regimental Sergt.-Major Mounteney doing duty there +for a time, and in addition a Brigade School was formed +at Basseux, to which Major Ashwell went as Commandant +and expounded the art of war to young Subalterns and +others, taking with him 2nd Lieut. Hopkinson as his +Adjutant. Whilst Major Ashwell was away, Capt. Turner +took over the duties of Second-in-Command, leaving +B Company in the capable hands of Lieut. G. Wright. At +an Assault Competition arranged by the Brigade School +on October 12th, we almost swept the board, winning +five out of eight events—Physical Drill, Bayonet Fighting, +Bombing, Relay Race, and Obstacle Race—so we were +well satisfied with our efforts, and the training work +that was being done. By this time the whole Battalion +had been fitted out with the short rifle, the last of +the old long rifles being handed to Ordnance on +September 26th.</p> + +<p>A new "toy" that was issued in these days was +that horrible thing known as the "Lewis Gun Hand +Cart." Tomlinson had some most entertaining +experiences in trying to get mules to pull these "handcarts," +but the mules usually found it more interesting +to try and turn round to see what extraordinary things +on wheels they were now being insulted by being asked +to pull, or in going off at breakneck speeds to try and +get rid of them. These carts were never popular, and +never a success, and gradually, by being carefully "left" +by the roadside or some other convenient spots, they +were eventually disposed of.</p> + +<p>The <span class="pagenum"><a id="page153" name="page153"></a>(p. 153)</span> most notable event during this period was +undoubtedly Vann's raid, the first really successful +raid carried out by the Battalion. This took place on +the night of September 21/22nd, and was carried out +by Capt. Vann, with practically the whole of his (A) +Company. In order to illustrate the thorough manner +in which the scheme was devised and carried out, the +story is given in some detail.</p> + +<a id="img014" name="img014"></a> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/img014.jpg" width="400" height="652" alt="Lieut.-col. B. W. Vann, V.C., M.C." title="Lieut.-col. B. W. Vann, V.C., M.C."> +</div> + +<p class="figcenter">Lieut.-col. B. W. Vann, V.C., M.C. +Killed in action at Ramicourt, Oct. 3rd, 1918, when in command of the 6th Sherwood +Foresters.</p> + +<p>The point to be raided was a short sap known +as "Italy Sap," running out from the Boche front +line about 300 yards away. The wire protecting the +sap was cut during the afternoon of September 21st +by our 2-inch trench mortars, and other gaps were +cut on another part of the front further North, partly +as a "blind" and partly for use in a future operation. +In order to verify that the gaps were properly cut, a +wire patrol under L.-Corpl. Hickman went out at 8.0 p.m. +and reported that the gaps were good, and that the +ammonal tubes which the Royal Engineers had in readiness +to take out and blow gaps with were not required. +Frequent bursts were fired by our machine guns on to +the gaps to prevent them being repaired by the enemy +before the raiding party got there. At 11.15 p.m., the +wire patrol again went out and laid tapes from the gaps +back to "Cavendish Sap" in our own front line to +guide the raiding party across No Man's Land. The +party was divided up into several smaller parties, +commanded respectively by Lieut. Martelli, 2nd Lieuts. +Duff, White, and Hall, and Comp. Sergt.-Major G. Powell. +In addition there were two teams of Brigade machine +gunners to guard the flanks, and seven sappers to blow +up dug-outs. The total of the party was five Officers, +and 136 other ranks. All identification marks, badges, +letters, etc., had been removed from all members of the +raiding party, and faces, hands and bayonets were +blackened. Smoke helmets were carried in the pocket, +and <span class="pagenum"><a id="page154" name="page154"></a>(p. 154)</span> gas and phosphorus bombs were taken for clearing +dug-outs, together with a number of flashlights and +torches. At 12.15 am the enemy trenches in the +region of the area to be raided were bombarded by +18 pounders, 4.5 and 6-inch howitzers, 2-inch trench +mortars, and 3-inch Stokes mortars. The raiding party +guided by the tapes, got as close up to the barrage as +possible, and as soon as it lifted at 12.28 a.m., went +through the gaps and into the enemy trenches. One +German who was met was at once bayoneted. Several +dug-outs were bombed, and in some cases set on fire, one +being blown up by the Royal Engineers with an ammonal +tube. An enemy machine gun which opened fire from the +right was immediately silenced by our Lewis and machine +guns. The time fixed for the return of the party was +12.50 a.m. and it was only in the last minute or so that +the main object of the raid, a prisoner, was secured. +Most of the dug-outs were empty, but eventually Vann +found one which contained some Boches. These he at +once ordered to come out. Two came up with bayonets +fixed, one of whom was at once shot dead by Vann, +and the other wounded. They were followed by four +others, including a stretcher bearer, who came out with +hands up shouting "Kamerad!" "Kamerad!" They +were at once hustled out of the trench with the scantiest +of ceremony and brought back to our lines. Immediately +after this, Vann ordered his bugler to sound the recall +signal, and at the same instant the prearranged signal +of six red rockets went up at Battalion Headquarters. +During the last ten minutes of the raid the enemy had +surrounded the occupied portion of the trenches with +red lights and their artillery had begun to shell their +front line and "Italy Sap," but did the party little +harm, and every man got back to our trenches, the only +casualties being eight men wounded. The net result +of the raid was that five Germans were killed by the +raiding <span class="pagenum"><a id="page155" name="page155"></a>(p. 155)</span> party, and five taken prisoners, including one +wounded, apart from any casualties inflicted by our +bombardments. It is worth noting that a bombardment +of the area around the blind gap was also carried out, and +that the barrage there "lifted" before that on the gaps +where the raid was actually to take place. This was +undoubtedly of great assistance to the raiding party in +diverting the enemy's attention, and in causing his +barrage to come down first in No Man's Land opposite +the blind gap, where we had no troops whatever. The +number of rounds used to cut the wire was 670, fired +by seven 2-inch trench mortars.</p> + +<p>Many messages of congratulation were received on the +success of the raid, including one from the Corps Commander. +It was a great pleasure to all when it was known +shortly afterwards, that Vann, whose gallantry knew no +bounds, had been given a bar to his M.C., and that the +M.C. had been awarded to Duff, who had already done +most admirable work at Vimy, and was one of the +pluckiest Officers the Battalion ever had. Vann was +subsequently awarded the French Croix-de-Guerre.</p> + +<p>Much of the success of the raid was undoubtedly +due to the excellent patrolling which had been done by +Martelli and his Scouts, L.-Corpl. Hickman, and Pvtes. +Bambrook and Haslam, who throughout worked with +the greatest skill, and left nothing undone to ensure +that all was in order. Many gallant deeds too, were +performed in the enemy trenches. Pvte. Chappel, a +leading bayonet man successfully shewed one Boche +the proper way of making the point; Pvte. Walsh +wanted to go on to the German second line when he +was unable to find any to kill where he was; Drummer +Heath shewed great bravery and devotion as he had +often done on previous occasions, in carrying messages; +Drummer A. L. Smith, though wounded, remained +at his post to the last to sound the recall signal; while +great <span class="pagenum"><a id="page156" name="page156"></a>(p. 156)</span> gallantry was also shewn by Lieut. Martelli, +Comp. Sergt.-Major G. Powell, Sergt. Slater, Corpl. +Carrier, and Pvte. Needham. The raiding party had a +special little dinner of their own a few days after the +raid at the canteen at Bailleulval.</p> + +<p>There is but little to record of our other doings in +the trenches. We recall efforts being made to have "Daily +Trench Exercises" carried out, such as physical jerks, +bomb throwing, and rifle practice, but the orders issued +on the subject were, we fear, honoured rather in the +breach than the observance! We did, however, appreciate +the opportunity given us in these days of sending Officers +from time to time to our Gunner friends to learn something +of the elements of artillery work, and though +these visits were very short, it was certainly not the fault +of the Gunners if we were not wiser for the instruction +they gave us. We on our part were also called upon to +do some instructing, having attached to us at various +times Lieut.-Col. Smeathman of the Hertfordshire +Regiment, Lieut. Haslam (afterwards killed) and 12 men +of the Artists' Rifles, and an Officer and 14 men of the +1st King's Dragoon Guards, to all of whom we imparted +as much of our knowledge of trench warfare as was +possible during the short time they were with us.</p> + +<p>As time wore on changes took place. Vann, who +had once more been slightly wounded during his raid +and was not very fit, went to the Senior Officers' Course +at Aldershot, and was succeeded in command of A +Company by Capt. E. M. Hacking. Capt. Davenport +after a week's tour in the trenches for instruction left +to attend the Staff Course at Cambridge. Hicks, who +was afterwards killed, went to the Trench Mortar +Battery, E. A. Huskinson to the 138th Brigade to learn +Staff duties, Easterfield to the Machine Gun Corps, +where he won the M.C., Corry (who later died of wounds) +and Newton to the Royal Flying Corps, Woodward to +the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page157" name="page157"></a>(p. 157)</span> "Whizz-bangs," and Capt. A. Hacking (from Brigade +Headquarters), Field, Parker and Wells were invalided +to England. Jones, who followed Marshall as Intelligence +Officer, got wounded on patrol, and was succeeded by +Martelli. Under the new scheme of sending home as +Instructors, Warrant Officers and N.C.O.'s who were +feeling the strain of long periods of active service, we +lost Comp. Sergt.-Major Chappell, and Sergts. L. Bell, +Shore and Wells. Comp. Quarter-Master-Sergt. Hotson +then became Comp. Sergt.-Major of B Company, and +Sergt. Deverall, Comp. Quarter-Master-Sergt. of C Company. +Our casualties during the period amounted to +seven killed, and 37 wounded. Against these losses we +were joined by two Officers, 2nd Lieuts. J. M. Johnston, +and E. W. Warner, and about 80 men, including 40 from +No. 4 Entrenching Battalion.</p> + +<p>All this time the Somme fighting had been going +on, more or less successfully, and we wondered time and +again when our turn would come to go and take part +in it. Divisions around us were moved backwards +and forwards, to and from the fighting area, with almost +lightning rapidity, and still we were left in this peaceful +part with few cares, and almost began to think we had +been forgotten, or that the office boy had scratched +our name off the list of Divisions in France! But it was +apparently not so, for on October 20th, we got news of +our approaching move to a training area, preparatory, +no doubt, to taking a more active part in the fighting. +Eventually, on October 29th, we were relieved by the +16th Manchesters and said goodbye to that delightful +area where we had such good times, and to which we +shall always look back with the greatest possible pleasure.</p> + + + + +<h3>CHAPTER IX <span class="pagenum"><a id="page158" name="page158"></a>(p. 158)</span></h3> + +<h5>THE CAPTURE OF GOMMECOURT</h5> + + +<p class="figcenter"><i>October 29th, 1916.</i>— +<i>March 17th, 1917.</i></p> + +<p class="p2">Having spent the afternoon of October 29th in +packing up, we left Bailleulval about dusk, and +late the same evening arrived at Warluzel, where we +spent the night in indifferent billets. We proceeded +the following day to our old quarters at Le Souich, +where we rested for 24 hours, continuing the march on +November 1st to Neuvillette, and on November 3rd, +to our final destination Maison Ponthieu, in the Third +Army (St. Riquier) training area, having completed +a march of something like 40 miles.</p> + +<p>Considering that this area had been used for training +for some considerable time, we cannot say that we found +the billets of the best or well provided with those comforts, +which one might reasonably expect for troops out of +the line preparing to take part in an offensive. Our +energies at first were therefore concentrated on trying +to make ourselves comfortable, and a considerable time +was spent in carrying out improvements, making bathing +arrangements, cookhouses, canteen and reading rooms. +Rightly or wrongly we were inclined to think that we +were unlucky with regard to billets, as we so often found +ourselves scavenging and cleaning up other people's +refuse. Doubtless every other unit thought the same. +In the way of entertainments we had little or nothing, +and Maison Ponthieu itself boasted nothing more than +one or two estaminets. Auxi-le-Château, the home of +the Third Army Training School, had a few shops and was +rather more lively, while, for those who could get there, +St. <span class="pagenum"><a id="page159" name="page159"></a>(p. 159)</span> Riquier was quite interesting, and the battlefield of +Crécy was not far off. Abbeville some distance away, +was patronised only by a few lucky ones.</p> + +<p>We stayed in this area for nearly three weeks, +and trained hard with a view to taking part in the +Somme offensive. The chief points were to make everyone +fit, and to practise formations for open warfare. For +the former, recreation of every kind and for all ranks +was an essential part of the programme, though we +were inclined to think that perhaps a little too much +compulsion was added to this part of the scheme. Inter-platoon +football matches were a prominent part of the +recreational training, and created a great deal of genuine +interest and amusement. There were also inter-battalion +football matches in the Division, in which we started +well by beating the 7th Battalion, but were hopelessly +defeated by the 5th Battalion at Noyelle on November +18th, by eight goals to nil. One of the most entertaining +matches was that which took place at Maison Ponthieu, +between Divisional Headquarters and Brigade Headquarters. +When the Divisional goal was threatened +S.O.S. rockets were sent up and smoke bombs let off, +which to the onlookers, seemed rather to baffle the +defending goalkeeper, who was none other than the +Assistant Provost Marshal, Major Newbold! Preliminary +contests held to select representatives for the Divisional +Boxing Championship, which unfortunately did not +materialise, were won by Sergt. Slater, Sergt. Attenborough, +Signaller Gearney, and Pvte. Hall.</p> + +<p>For open warfare we practised mostly the attack, +beginning with artillery formation. Those who did +know something of it had by now grown very rusty, +after so many months in trenches, whilst many Officers +and men in the Battalion at this time, had had +practically no training at all in this kind of warfare, so +that much work was required in the simple practices +of <span class="pagenum"><a id="page160" name="page160"></a>(p. 160)</span> shaking out into artillery formation, lines of companies, +half-companies, platoons or sections, and eventually +extending for the final stages of the attack leading up +to the assault. The other main feature of the training, +was practice in night marching on a compass bearing +and subsequent deployment for attack.</p> + +<p>On the whole we must confess we felt that the +training was rather overdone. We had to put in many +hours daily, and the march to the training ground at +Yvrencheux and back, some six miles in all, was to say +the least of it somewhat tedious. We were besides, +most unfortunate with regard to weather, which was +very unpleasant most of the time, and we were hardly +sorry when our time came to leave the area. We were +not, however, required to take part in the Somme fighting, +as this had by now more or less worn itself out. From +what we read and heard from troops, who came out of it, +of the appalling condition of the ground and the +impossibility of making any further progress during the +Winter, we were not surprised or sorry that there was +no need for us in that direction. Our lot was to return +once more to our old trenches at Foncquevillers.</p> + +<p>Changes in personnel during this period were mostly +in Officers. Major Ashwell had rejoined and resumed +his duties as Second-in-Command; Major Lane also rejoined +after nearly 18 months in England, as a result of +his wound at Kemmel, and took over A Company from +Capt. E. M. Hacking. A further addition was Lieut. +Simonet, who had by some means managed to get the +Hospital Authorities to pass him fit again for general +service. We also had a small draft of 32 men. On +the other hand we had to part with six Officers at +extremely short notice to the 12th Rifle Brigade and +King's Royal Rifle Corps which had lost very heavily +in the Somme fighting, and sent 2nd Lieuts. Ranson, +Hall (who later won the M.C.), Visser, H. G. Kirby, +Byrne <span class="pagenum"><a id="page161" name="page161"></a>(p. 161)</span> and Bailey (afterwards killed). Second Lieut. Cox +also left us to join the Signal Company of the 14th +Division, his place as Signalling Officer being taken by +Lieut. Warner. For good work on a subsequent occasion +Cox was awarded the M.C. Lieut. Martelli was still +Intelligence Officer, Lieut. White, Grenade Officer, and +Lieut. Tomlinson, Lewis Gun Officer.</p> + +<p>We went by easy stages back to the line, leaving +Maison Ponthieu on November 22nd, and proceeding +to Bealcourt, and the following day to Neuvillette. The +chief item of interest in our two days' stay there, was a +revolver shooting match between teams of Officers from +our own and the 7th Battalion, in which we were badly +beaten. On November 25th, we marched to Humbercourt +on a pouring wet morning, arriving there about mid-day +drenched to the skin. Here we stayed for nearly a fortnight, +training and cutting wood in Lucheux Forest. +The weather was wet and cold, and as the village lay +in a hollow, we got the full benefit of all the rain, and +consequent flooded streams. On November 30th, we +took part in a Divisional cross-country run, a part of the +programme left over from the St. Riquier area. The +distance was two and three-quarter miles, and we felt +quite pleased to finish 6th out of the 13 Battalions running, +our pleasure knowing no bounds at seeing C. B. Johnstone +and F. Torrance finish well within the time limit, happy +if breathless.</p> + +<p>On December 2nd, a Brigade Ceremonial Parade +was held at Sus-St. Leger, where we were inspected by +Major-General Thwaites. It was a bitterly cold day, +but on the whole the show passed off well. It was +perhaps aided a little by the fog, which covered one or +two of our more intricate and unconventional movements +rather successfully.</p> + +<p>On the following day we took part in what was +probably one of the most interesting football matches +in the Battalion's history, when a team of Officers +played <span class="pagenum"><a id="page162" name="page162"></a>(p. 162)</span> one from the 7th Battalion, and beat them one-nil +after a great tussle.</p> + +<p>It was at Humbercourt that Sergt. "Sammy" Foster +played an important part in trying to make us all +"gas proof." With much success he made up a gas +chamber in the village out of the shed for the "Pompe +à incendie," where all ranks of the Battalion were fitted +with the new small box respirator, which had just +arrived. This proved to be much the most satisfactory +form of gas mask we ever had, and continued in general +use up to the end of the war.</p> + +<p>We left Humbercourt on December 6th, and the +same day went into Brigade Reserve, in the Foncquevillers +sector, the 46th Division having taken over this +portion of the line from the 49th Division. The sector +was now fairly quiet, everyone having more or less gone +into winter quarters. Our rest billets and Transport Lines +were at Souastre, where, considering all things, we were +fairly comfortable. There were good baths under the +control of one of those celebrated Town Majors, of whom +so much has been heard, a Y.M.C.A. hut, and a new +form of entertainment in the shape of a Cinema, which +our Division had recently added to its institutions. The +Divisional "Whizz-bangs" were still showing, but were +rather under a cloud, although that great actor subaltern +from the Battalion, Moffat Johnston, gave them a +helping hand for a short time. Being "out to soldier," +however, he preferred the front line, and very soon +came back to us.</p> + +<p>When in Divisional Reserve all companies were back +at Souastre, and carried out a little training in addition +to the usual refitting and cleaning. Parties were also +generally provided for Town Major's fatigues. When +in Brigade Reserve two companies were at Souastre, and +two at Foncquevillers, the latter finding garrisons for +posts on the Eastern edge of the village, and at "Fort +Dick," between Foncquevillers and Hébuterne.</p> + +<p>When <span class="pagenum"><a id="page163" name="page163"></a>(p. 163)</span> in the line we held the left sub-sector, relieving +with the 7th Battalion, the right company front having +its right on the Foncquevillers-Gommecourt Road, the +centre company being disposed about "Lincoln Lane," +and the left company front running from "Roberts +Avenue" to the Brayelle Road. Companies holding +the line, had two or three platoons in the front line, +and the remainder in support. The support Company +occupied the dug-outs in "Sniper's Square."</p> + +<p>The trenches throughout this period were in an +appalling state, though efforts had been made to improve +them by the 49th Division, who certainly left Roberts +Avenue well revetted, and with a good floor of trench +grids. For the most part, however, they were deep in +mud, and in a deplorable condition, and "gumboots +thigh" were in great demand. Dug-outs were of the +poorest, and life in the trenches was not pleasant. +Efforts were made to improve matters during our stay +and the Royal Engineers and Monmouths did a great +deal of work, helped by large parties from all Battalions, +but improvement was very slow.</p> + +<a id="img015" name="img015"></a> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/img015.jpg" width="500" height="437" alt="Major-general Thwaites +Outside Battalion Head-quarters, The Brasserie, Foncquevillers." title="Major-general Thwaites +Outside Battalion Head-quarters, The Brasserie, Foncquevillers."> +</div> + +<p class="figcenter">Major-general Thwaites +Outside Battalion Head-quarters, The Brasserie, Foncquevillers. +<i>Reproduced by permission of the Imperial War Museum.</i></p> + +<p>Fortunately the trenches were no great distance +from the village, where Company cooks had their +cookers, whilst the Battalion was in the line, so that +hot meals were sent up regularly, and included a hot +supper issued generally about midnight, the meals being +mostly carried up by the Support Company. During +the latter part of January and beginning of February, +we had very hard frosts and much snow, and the +carrying parties had a difficult task in walking on the +slippery roads and trench grids, but this was overcome +to a great extent by the use of sandbags tied over the +boots. It was perhaps a somewhat expensive method to +employ with sandbags costing something like a shilling +each, but they served the purpose very well, and +were in great demand in consequence. A drying-room +was <span class="pagenum"><a id="page164" name="page164"></a>(p. 164)</span> established at Battalion Headquarters in the +village, in a large cellar, fitted with double-tier wire +beds, stoves, and braziers. A supply of blankets was +also available, so that the men who had been on +patrol, or had got wet through, could come down +from the line and get their wet clothes dried and a good +rest and sleep in comfort. Inter-Battalion reliefs +were carried out every four days, whilst Companies +were able to relieve their men in the front line +every 48 hours, or, when the weather was extremely +bad, every 24 hours, by taking up the men from the +support line. By this means, the time any particular +man was actually in the front line was reduced to the +lowest possible limit. During December and January, +reliefs were carried out by daylight, usually beginning +immediately after breakfast, and being completed by +about noon. This system not only enabled the incomers +to settle down in the trenches before night, but also +gave the relieved Battalion four complete nights out, +a system which was very much appreciated. At the +end of January we changed to night reliefs. The main +artery for traffic was the Foncquevillers-Souastre +Road, and although it was usually fairly quiet, we +sometimes astonished ourselves at the pace we made +along it on relief nights, and most of us were glad when +we got over the crest into Souastre.</p> + +<p>Martelli and his Scouts and many others did some +very good patrols, but on some nights when the moon +was bright, and the ground covered with snow, this +work was not easy. Long white nightshirts complete +with hoods were tried, but not considered very suitable, +as they looked quite dark against the white snow, and on +the whole were not a success.</p> + +<p>Though normally quiet the sector was occasionally +trench mortared and shelled fairly heavily, +most attention being paid to the front line about +Roberts <span class="pagenum"><a id="page165" name="page165"></a>(p. 165)</span> Avenue and Lincoln Lane, the Gommecourt +Road, the Orchard in front of the village, where our +heavy trench mortars, familiarly known as "Flying +Pigs", had their quarters, and the village itself. It +was in connection with one of these bombardments +that the I-Tok machine professed to have some success. +By some means a Boche map had been secured shewing +the areas into which our front was divided for the purpose +of "shoots", and if the I-Tok picked up messages from +which it was inferred that a shoot over a particular +area was likely to take place, the information was at +once passed on to the Battalion concerned. On one +occasion when such information was received, no sooner +were the men cleared of the area than it was indeed +shelled! It may have been an accident of course, but the +I-Tok personnel took the credit, which we hope was +deserved.</p> + +<p>One night, when the 7th Battalion were in the line, +they were raided after a very heavy bombardment, in +which they suffered several casualties. The following +day the Officer Commanding that Battalion sent us a kind +message of appreciation of the prompt way in which +Capt. Turner and B Company, who were in support in +Foncquevillers, had turned out and stood by ready to help. +Fortunately their services were not required.</p> + +<p>The most unpleasant experience we ourselves +had was on February 16th, when we relieved the 7th +Battalion for the last time in this sector. The relief +itself was carried out under difficulties, owing to a certain +amount of gas shelling, but later on the Hun sent over +perfect showers of gas bombs, and absolutely deluged +the front and support lines, whilst he also fired a considerable +number of gas shells into the village. It is estimated +that in all between 500 and 600 were put over, mostly +filled with phosgene. It was our first experience of any +real gas shell bombardment, and partly owing to this +and <span class="pagenum"><a id="page166" name="page166"></a>(p. 166)</span> partly to the high concentration of the gas used +we suffered heavy casualties, four men being killed and +24 wounded.</p> + +<p>Christmas Day, 1916, was spent in the line, and +passed off very peacefully without anything untoward +happening. We were not able to get our Christmas +dinners until early in the New Year, when we were back +at Souastre, and made the most of all the good things +that had been sent out by kind friends at home. Each +Company enjoyed a most sumptuous dinner, followed by +a splendid entertainment provided by local talent, +speeches, and so on.</p> + +<p>The Battalion front remained unchanged until +early in February, when we extended Northwards to +include the "Crawlboys Lane" area, then held by the +138th Brigade.</p> + +<p>About the same time we had Companies of the +2/5th, 2/8th, and 2/11th Battalions London Regiment +with us for instruction, and a fine lot of men they were. +Our difficulty was in knowing where to put them, for +whereas we were about 80 per Company, they came +out with their full complement of 250. One dreaded +on occasions what might happen if the enemy suddenly +decided to shell the trenches they held, for in some +parts they were almost like the proverbial sardines. +They came out fully equipped, with mobilisation stores +made up to completion. Rumour says that when they +had finished their instruction with us they were wiser +not only in trench routine, but also in their Quarter-Master's +Department!</p> + +<p>This period saw several important changes in +personnel. With great regret we had to part with +Major Ashwell, who left to take up the duties of Commandant +of the Divisional School. This post, however, +he only held for a brief space, as his excellent services +throughout the war were very soon rewarded by his +appointment <span class="pagenum"><a id="page167" name="page167"></a>(p. 167)</span> to command first the 5th, and shortly +afterwards the 6th Battalion. He was succeeded as +Second-in-Command by Major Lane. Capt. E. M. +Hacking, who commanded A Company for a time, +was appointed Railhead Disbursing Officer, and handed +over his duties to Lieut. Andrews. Capt. Turner stuck +to B Company, but during periods of absence of the +Commanding Officer and Major Lane, acted as Second-in-Command, +leaving Lieut. G. Wright to look after his +Company. Capt. Piggford, after struggling on for some +time, although very unfit, eventually had to go down +sick, and shortly afterwards was appointed Divisional +Claims Officer, to which he later added the duties of +Divisional Burials Officer. When he left, C Company +was handed over to Lieut. Abrams. Capt. Hill, after +a long and successful period in command of D Company, +also had to leave owing to sickness, and was succeeded +by Lieut. Simonet. In 2nd Lieut. King-Stephens we lost +a very gallant Officer, and a great favourite. He was +killed one morning when returning from wiring. The fog +which had been so helpful for the purpose, cleared +rather suddenly and a Boche sniper picked him off +just as he was getting back to the trench. Reinforcement +Officers who joined during the period were +2nd Lieuts. C. H. S. Stephenson, A. E. Geary, and +J. E. Mitchell. So far as other ranks were concerned +there were now no discharges as the Military Service Act, +which was in force, gave to very few the opportunity +of getting home. We lost, however, two excellent +Comp. Sergt.-Majors, G. Powell and Hotson, who went +to England to train for commissions, and were shortly +followed by Comp. Sergt.-Major T. Powell. George Powell +was destined one day to be awarded the D.S.O., whilst +Hotson unfortunately met his fate in Italy. Sergts. +Slater and Rawding, and Comp. Quarter-Master Sergt. +Deverall, then became Comp. Sergt.-Majors of A, B, and +D <span class="pagenum"><a id="page168" name="page168"></a>(p. 168)</span> Companies respectively. Our casualties in the line +during this period were not heavy, amounting to seven +killed and 47 wounded. Reinforcements who joined +totalled 243, and included several men from the Sherwood +Rangers Yeomanry.</p> + +<p>On February 19th, after handing over our portion +of the front line to Battalions of the 138th Brigade, we +marched back to St. Amand.</p> + +<p>We now entered upon what turned out to be one +of the most interesting periods in the history of the +Battalion. The idea at the moment was that the 46th +Division should take part in an early offensive against +Beaurains, just south of Arras, and the immediate purpose +of our relief was to withdraw to the Sus-St. Leger area +and dig a model of the front to be attacked, ready for +one of the other Brigades of the Division to practise over. +With this object we moved back on February 20th, +to Ivergny, where we spent the first few days refitting +and reorganising. The latter was now becoming of +great moment, for important changes were taking +place. To begin with the Battalion Grenade Platoon, +that picked body of specially trained Bombers, to which +it was everyone's ambition to belong, ceased to exist, +and the personnel rejoined their Companies, in which +from this time onward each platoon had its own section +of Bombers. This was only a preliminary to the absolute +reorganisation of the platoon, which was now rightly +coming into its own, and regarded as the most important +tactical fighting unit. We had already been lectured +at Souastre by Lieut.-General Sir Ivor Maxse, our Corps +Commander, and later Director General of Training, also +by Major-General Thwaites, on the new organisation +of the platoon, which was now to consist of four specialist +sections: (1) Riflemen, (2) Bombers, (3) Rifle Grenadiers, +(4) Lewis Gunners. We now began the preliminaries +of this new organisation, which was to remain practically +unchanged <span class="pagenum"><a id="page169" name="page169"></a>(p. 169)</span> for the rest of the war. The Signallers were +also reorganised under Lieut. Warner, and divided into +"Battalion" and "Company" Signallers.</p> + +<p>After only a few days training in Lucheux Wood, +and digging model trenches near by, we were ordered +to move to Simencourt, preparatory to taking over the +line near Beaurains. Just about the same time, however, +the Boche began his great Somme retirement, and on +February 27th, the news came through that he was +evacuating the Gommecourt salient. This of course +entailed a complete change in our plans, and instead +of moving North, we marched back towards Foncquevillers, +reaching Grenas on February 28th. There we +stayed for one night, proceeding the following morning +to St. Amand, where hurried preparations were made +to relieve the 138th Brigade, who were busy following +up the retreating enemy. We left St. Amand early +on the morning of March 3rd, for Gommecourt, where +we took over the old Boche lines from the 5th Leicesters. +The enemy were still in the Northern and Eastern +outskirts of the village, and the line was in a more +or less "fluid" state. The enemy's retirement continued +slowly during the day, and our troops kept +moving on in close touch. The 7th Battalion were +working in conjunction with us on the left, and the +31st Division on our right. On March 4th, the withdrawal +was more rapid, and it became somewhat +difficult to keep touch. The few dug-outs that were +not set on fire or otherwise destroyed, were found to +contain quantities of stores and rations, and shewed +evident signs of having been evacuated very hurriedly. +A neat souvenir in the shape of a Boche +bugle was got from one of these dug-outs, and is now +treasured with the Battalion plate at Newark. One +was rather nervous of "booby traps" in some of them, +but so far as our experience went at this time there +were <span class="pagenum"><a id="page170" name="page170"></a>(p. 170)</span> none. "Pigeon Wood" was captured during the +afternoon, after some fighting and an unpleasant sort +of game of hide and seek, and we also occupied Rettemoy +Farm, and "The Z."</p> + +<p>Evidently thinking that we were too close on his +heels, the enemy delivered a determined counter-attack +about 6 p.m. against C Company, who were holding +the trench line in front of La Brayelle Farm, forcing +them to withdraw slightly. During this attack Lieut. +Duff did magnificent work in holding off a bombing +attack, and L.-Sergt. Sansom gallantly held on to a +bombing post which was cut off, until he was rescued +by a party ably led by Corpl. Street, who went forward +under heavy fire, and opening fire on the attacking +enemy, enabled the post to withdraw. Sergt. Henley +also did splendid work in holding his post against a strong +bombing attack, until he was eventually wounded in +the head, dying the next day.</p> + +<p>The Battalion suffered a great loss the same day +by the death of Lieut. Abrams, who was killed during +the afternoon whilst reconnoitring near La Brayelle +Farm. Thinking, apparently, that the coast was clear, +he was walking across the open with his batman when +a Boche machine gun suddenly opened fire on them +at close range, killing them both instantaneously. +C Company then came under the command of Lieut. A. +Bedford. The casualties that day in other ranks, were +seven killed and 17 wounded.</p> + +<p>Very little happened on March 5th, except a certain +number of bombing encounters, and at night the 5th +Battalion took over the right portion of our front from +Rettemoy Farm to "Brayelle Graben". On March 6th, +we were relieved by the 6th Battalion, commanded by +Major Ashwell, and moved back to dug-outs in and +around Gommecourt. It was with much regret that +we heard on the 9th that Major Ashwell had been badly +wounded <span class="pagenum"><a id="page171" name="page171"></a>(p. 171)</span> the previous night in an attack on "Kite +Copse."</p> + +<p>The line had not altered appreciably when we +relieved the 6th Battalion again on March 10th. The +weather was cold, and the trenches were deep in mud +and water, and movement was extremely exhausting. +The object now was to force the enemy to retire more +rapidly, and orders were received that we were to seize +"Hedge Trench" and "Kite Copse" as soon as possible, +and form a line across to "Rettemoy Graben" on the +right, which was to be captured by the 5th Battalion. +As a preliminary during the night of March 11/12th, a +party from C Company under Corpl. Kirk successfully +cut gaps in the wire in front of Hedge Trench.</p> + +<p>At 1.10 a.m. on March 13th—a wet, pitch dark +night—the 5th Battalion attempted to seize Rettemoy +Graben in conjunction with a hastily planned attack +by the Staffords on their right. In spite of the most +gallant efforts, these attacks were dismal failures, and +attended with a large number of casualties. At the +same time strong parties of A, C and D Companies +made demonstrations along communication trenches +towards Hedge Trench. At 7 a.m. on the same day +Capt. A. Hacking, who had now rejoined the Battalion and +taken command of A Company, ordered Lieut. A. H. +Michie with his platoon to seize Kite Copse. Michie +made a rapid reconnaissance, and in a very short time +found himself in possession of this important point, the +enemy garrison having nearly all left to fetch their +rations. The water was boiling in the dug-outs, and +a supply of coffee was found, which enabled Michie's +platoon to get breakfast as soon as the position was +consolidated. During the evening the enemy made two +determined counter-attacks against the position, but +these were both driven off with heavy loss by the +excellent work of Pvte. Teare with his Lewis gun, +Sergt. King and Corpl. Scrimshaw.</p> + +<a id="img016" name="img016"></a> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/img016.jpg" width="500" height="637" alt="Map To Illustrate Chapters VII & IX." title="Map To Illustrate Chapters VII & IX."> +</div> + +<p class="figcenter">Map To Illustrate Chapters VII & IX.</p> + +<p>In <span class="pagenum"><a id="page172" name="page172"></a>(p. 172)</span> the afternoon of the same day Lieut. Hopkinson +attempted to push through the "Burg Graben" to +Hedge Trench, but was met by strong opposition. He, +however, withdrew his party without casualties, after +inflicting several on the enemy. For his gallantry here +and splendid work on other occasions "Hoppy" was +awarded the M.C. On this occasion Corpl. Kirk again +did splendid work. Many other gallant deeds were +performed during these strenuous days, special credit +being due to Sergt. Edis for good work in charge of a +platoon, Corpl. J. Wilson, who worked unceasingly for 36 +hours, when in charge of an advanced bombing post, +Corpls. Blythe and Marvill for good patrol work, and +L.-Corpls. Fern, Martin and Leonard, and Pvtes. Simpson, +Crane, Peplow, W. Barwise, and Bacon. Invaluable work +was also done by the Transport Section, who had a very +hard time in getting supplies up to Gommecourt. The +roads were in an appalling state, and every night were +thronged with horses and vehicles, whilst the enemy +had ample ammunition to loose off before retiring, both +high explosive and gas, most of which he sent over to +Foncquevillers or Gommecourt, or the road in between. +It was on one of these nights that Pvte. Chapman did +excellent work in clearing a block in the road, in the midst +of heavy shell fire, and enabling the masses of transport to +pass.</p> + +<p>In this miniature moving warfare, the Signallers +found their task more entertaining than it had hitherto +been. Warner one day went so far as to try flag-wagging, +until he found that his performance was in full view of +the enemy. On another occasion he established a +Trench Wireless set to Brigade, which he maintained +successfully for an hour, but at the end of that period +the whole apparatus was dissipated in the explosion +of a German shell. A second effort with new apparatus +met with a precisely similar fate.</p> + +<p>As <span class="pagenum"><a id="page173" name="page173"></a>(p. 173)</span> evidence of the closeness with which we had +followed up the retreating enemy it is interesting to +note that at one time Capt. Hacking reported that +from his front line, he could hear perfectly plainly both +our own Gunners and those of the Boche giving their +fire orders.</p> + +<p>An incident in the Quarter-Master's Department +that was not without interest, was a great ride by +our great Quarter-Master. In his anxiety to see that +all our wants were provided for (or was it for a heavy +wager?), long before horses were allowed so far forward +"Harry" Torrance arrived one night at Pigeon Wood +mounted on "Buster," having defied the Military Police +and all other Traffic Controls. Another unique experience +was that of Lieut. Whitton, who for a brief space held +the appointment of Town Major of Gommecourt, and +was we believe, the one and only person ever to occupy +that post of honour. As Officer Commanding 300 dozen +Boche mineral waters found in the village, he was a very +useful person to know.</p> + +<p>On March 14th, we moved back to Gommecourt, +where we were finally relieved by the 4th Leicesters +three days later. The enemy were retiring very rapidly, +and on the same day evacuated Essarts and Bucquoy. +Being squeezed out owing to the shortening of the line, +the 46th Division began to follow several other Divisions +to the back areas, preparatory to taking part in operations +in other spheres. Never again did we go to Gommecourt, +which we believe is being retained by the French untouched. +It will thus ever remain a type of a completely +destroyed village, for it is probably one of the worst +treated in the whole of France. There were certainly +one or two spots where the remains of buildings were +still standing, but practically every sign of a once +prosperous village had been obliterated. As a type of +German fortification it was probably one of the best, +containing <span class="pagenum"><a id="page174" name="page174"></a>(p. 174)</span> the deepest and best constructed trenches we +ever saw. The wire in front was almost impossible to +break through; each line of trenches was protected in +much the same way; the dug-outs were deep and proof +against all except the very heaviest of shells, and there +was a long subterranean passage built by the Boche +from behind Gommecourt Wood to his second line, along +which reinforcements could be brought in safety to +counter-attack any troops that might have gained a +footing in the front line. It was sad to find magnificent +tapestries and valuable pieces of furniture, evidently +taken from the château, which once existed there, +adorning the German dug-outs or ruthlessly cut and +knocked about, but sadder still to find the bodies of our +own Officers and men lying unburied exactly as they +had fallen on that fated 1st of July, 1916. It is pleasing, +however, to record that the grave of an Officer of the +Brigade was found in Essarts with the inscription in +English on the Cross: "To the memory of a very +gallant British Officer and Gentleman, killed July 1st, +1916."</p> + + + + +<h3>CHAPTER X <span class="pagenum"><a id="page175" name="page175"></a>(p. 175)</span></h3> + +<h5>LENS</h5> + + +<p class="figcenter"><i>March 17th, 1917.</i>— +<i>July 4th, 1917.</i></p> + +<p class="p2">After relief at Gommecourt we spent two days at +Souastre, and then marched via Bayencourt and +Courcelles-au-Bois to Contay, where we arrived on March +23rd. The roads for much of this journey were in an +appalling mess, partly as a result of constant shelling, +and partly through being cut up by the masses of transport +which had passed over them during the recent +wet weather either in following up the retreating enemy +or in withdrawing to back areas. Vehicles were often +up to the axle in mud, whilst bicycles gave an immense +amount of trouble, and this was not the only occasion +on which we found it far preferable to foot-slog, even +with heavy packs, than to be Signallers with bicycles, +which practically had to be carried. Loaded with pack +and other paraphernalia, the heavy army pattern bicycle +is not a lovable companion, except on a more or less +perfect road. A really first-class exhibition of bicycle +manoeuvring was given during the move by Pvte. Bunce, +who always seemed to be in trouble, and was a source +of much amusement to his fellow Signallers. We stayed +one night at Contay, moving the following day to +Bertangles, and on March 25th to Revelles, a delightful +village about seven miles West of Amiens. We were +taken through Amiens itself in motor 'buses, which +picked us up just North of the town, and deposited us +on the other side, leaving us to finish the journey on +foot.</p> + +<p>On passing through one village during this backward +march we saw some men wearing Sherwood Forester +badges. They turned out to be men of the 2/8th +Battalion, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page176" name="page176"></a>(p. 176)</span> and proved the correctness of rumours we +had recently heard that that Battalion was actually +in France. One of the 2/8th men accosted a fellow man +of our Battalion, as he passed, with the remark "Who +are you?" "1/8th" was the reply, "Who are you?" +"2/8th"—"Right", said our friend—we believe a +Signaller—"You can tell your mother you've seen some +real soldiers now!"</p> + +<p>We were supposed to entrain for the North almost +at once, but as five or six other Divisions were being +moved besides ourselves it was not surprising that +trains were running a day or two late, so we were able +to have a short rest at Revelles, which was much enjoyed, +especially as we were able to make trips to Amiens, +which at that time had only been slightly damaged +by bombs, and was full of life. The chief centres of +attraction were the Hotel Godbert, The Savoy, +Charlie's Bar, and the Café du Cathédral.</p> + +<p>Eventually we entrained at Bacouel Station in the +afternoon of March 28th, the entrainment being one of +the most expeditious ever carried out by the Battalion. +Not so, however, the journey! Times without number +we came to a stop with a succession of jerks, not on +account of signals—indeed it would appear that few, +if any, existed—but because other trains were in front. +During a tedious night of such progress, we passed through +Abbeville, Boulogne, Calais and St. Omer, and arrived +about 9.0 a.m. on March 29th, at Hazebrouck. Being +told there by a French Railway Official that the train +would stop for 15 minutes, most of the Officers dashed +for the buffet on the opposite platform and ordered +"Omelettes et café." As one might have imagined, +the train began to move without warning just as breakfast +was started. There was a wild dash, but all to no +purpose, for the train was well under way. By the +best of good luck, however, a supply train was found, +which <span class="pagenum"><a id="page177" name="page177"></a>(p. 177)</span> apparently was going in the same direction, though +the guard and driver appeared to have different views +on the subject, which led to a decidedly heated argument +between them. At any rate our party boarded the train +and fortunately found it brought them very shortly to +Berguette Station, where the rest of the Battalion were +just detraining.</p> + +<p>The Adjutant's duty of seeing the Battalion safely +across the railway, near the station, was indeed a pleasant +one, and less fortunate members of the Battalion have +accused him of carrying on in an unseemly manner +with the fair keeper of the level crossing. We have his +assurance, however, that though he felt proud indeed +at having such a charming young lady by his side, his +behaviour was beyond reproach! A few hours' march +brought us to Westrehem, where we found most comfortable +billets, and were welcomed and treated in the most +cordial manner by all.</p> + +<p>This move brought us into the First Army (General +Horne), of which we were now to form part for many +months, and into the II Corps, and though we only +remained in this Corps for a few days the Commander, +Lieut.-General Sir C. Jacob, lost no time in coming to +make our acquaintance, having all the Officers paraded +to meet him at the School at Westrehem, two days +after our arrival.</p> + +<p>We spent about a fortnight there refitting and +training, the most important part of the latter being +practice in the new Company and Platoon formations +for attack, in which much attention was paid to the +question of the numbers and positions of the personnel +attached to Company and Platoon Headquarters. +Practice advances were also carried out with these +formations behind a creeping barrage represented by +flags and drums. Outposts and advance guards were +practised, as well as tactical open warfare schemes, +with <span class="pagenum"><a id="page178" name="page178"></a>(p. 178)</span> Officers and N.C.O.'s, and firing was carried out on +a range near the village. One day was devoted to a +Divisional Route March, in which every unit in the +Division took part. It was carried out as a tactical +scheme, the Division supposed to be pursuing a retreating +enemy, and the 8th Battalion forming part of the +Advance Guard.</p> + +<p>On the recreational side, football was the chief +feature, and several very interesting matches were +played, in one of which the 7th Battalion Officers got +their revenge by beating us three—nil at Nédonchelle. +Westrehem was also the venu of a Rugby football match, +between a team from the 6th and 8th Battalions, and one +from the 5th and Machine Gun Company, which ended +after a hard fight in a draw. Padre Uthwatt, who had +recently joined us, did his best to try and organise +amusements, and the Divisional Cinema came over and +gave one or two shows. There was small attraction in +the village except one or two shops and estaminets, but +you could get anything from chewing gum upwards at +"Lane's Emporium," and the inhabitants were so extremely +kind that we lacked little. The chief drawback +during our stay at Westrehem was the weather, which at +times was very cold, and on several days there were +heavy falls of snow.</p> + +<p>On April 13th, we began to move towards the line +once more, spending that night at Vendin-lez-Béthune, +and proceeding the following day to Houchin. There +we went under canvas, sharing a camp with the 7th +Battalion, and had a comfortable if chilly stay of three +days.</p> + +<p>Changes which took place about this time included +the departure of our Medical Officer, Capt. C. B. Johnstone, +who was replaced for a brief period by Capt. Walsh, +and later by Capt. W. C. Gavin; Capt. E. M. Hacking, +and Lieut. Moore were invalided to England, and +"Weetie", <span class="pagenum"><a id="page179" name="page179"></a>(p. 179)</span> who had been our Adjutant for over 18 +months, handed over his duties to Lieut. Whitton on +being attached to Brigade Headquarters. A little +later he succeeded "Peter" Wordsworth, who left to +take up a higher appointment after being Staff Captain +for over three years, during which we were grateful for +his kind help on many occasions. Regimental Quarter-Master +Sergt. Dench went home to train for a commission, +but we met him again in the later stages of +the war, when he did excellent work with the 5th Battalion, +gaining the M.C. and two bars. His place was +taken by Comp. Quarter-Master Sergt. Pritchard, who +was succeeded in D Company by Sergt. Gammon; +Armourer Quarter-Master Sergt. Loughman went to +hospital, and from that time onwards no official +armourer was allowed.</p> + +<p>We left Houchin on April 18th, and soon found +familiar signs of our proximity to the front. In Noeux-les-Mines, +a not exactly encouraging notice said "These +cross-roads are registered." Needless to say we did +not loiter there, especially as it had been shelled several +times during the preceding few days. Passing Petit +Sains and Aix Noulette—the latter mostly in ruins—another +notice warned us that "Small box Respirators +must be worn in the alert position East of this point". +A little further on we found parties of men at work +making good the roads, and laying temporary corduroy +tracks across what had recently been No Man's Land. +Passing over this waste we descended to Angres—known +later as "Angry Corner"—and entered Liévin, where we +took over billets from the 13th Middlesex.</p> + +<a id="img017" name="img017"></a> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/img017.jpg" width="500" height="385" alt="Air Photograph Of Lens-loos Area, 1917." title="Air Photograph Of Lens-loos Area, 1917."> +</div> + +<p class="figcenter">Air Photograph Of Lens-loos Area, 1917. +<i>Reproduced by permission of Captain P. Huskinson, M.C.</i></p> + +<p>Liévin had only been evacuated by the enemy +and occupied by the 24th Division two days before our +arrival. This evacuation was not part of his general +scheme of withdrawing from some of his salients and +shortening his line, which we had experienced at +Gommecourt, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page180" name="page180"></a>(p. 180)</span> but had been forced on him by the capture +by the Canadians early in April of Vimy Ridge.</p> + +<p>Included in the line now held by the enemy West +of Lens were the strong positions of Fosse 3 and Hill 65, +opposite the South of the front taken over by the 46th +Division, and Hill 70 on the North. His outpost line ran +through the Cité-de-Riaumont and Eastern outskirts of +Liévin, across the Lens-Liévin Road, through Cité-St. +Laurent to Hill 70. Lens itself was one of the most +important centres in the mining district and the whole +area was a mass of mining villages or "Cités," with their +rows of cottages and neat gardens, pits or "puits," +slag-heaps, and other usual features of a colliery district.</p> + +<p>The town of Liévin lay astride the Souchez river, +about three miles West of Lens. Previously a thriving +mining centre, it had now been badly knocked about by +shelling, though large numbers of houses were still +more or less intact. The Boche had done much work in +strengthening the cellars of the houses by covering +them with concrete, paving setts torn up from the road, +bricks and other material, the only drawback being that +much of the extra strengthening had been put on the +side facing the old front line, so that we now got little +advantage from it, and felt we should like to turn +the houses round, as the side towards the enemy was +often none too strong. The evacuation had been so +hurried that the enemy had not had time to destroy or +remove much of the furniture and clothing from the +houses, in many of which we found all the available beds +collected in the cellars, which were also well furnished +with chairs, tables, cupboards, cutlery and much other +civilian property and made very comfortable billets. +Sappers made an inspection of all these cellars, and of +the dug-outs recently evacuated by the enemy before +we occupied them, in order to ensure the absence of +"booby traps," and in this respect we had no +excitement.</p> + +<p>Information <span class="pagenum"><a id="page181" name="page181"></a>(p. 181)</span> from prisoners indicated that a further +retreat behind Lens was imminent, and the impression +of the Higher Command was that only slight pressure +was necessary to push the enemy outposts out of +Cité-de-Riaumont and Hill 65, and to establish a line +East of that town. Unfortunately this information was +true only up to a point. It has transpired since that +for a day or two before the 46th Division came into the +line there really was something approaching a panic in +the German Command in this sector, and that all +preparations had been made to evacuate Lens. By the +time of our arrival, however, the panic was at an end, +and the enemy were undoubtedly holding the Southern +portion of Cité-de-Riaumont and the strong defences +of Hill 65 in considerable strength. Corps and Army +Intelligence refused, however, to believe this to be more +than a show, and the general trend of orders was that +attacks by small numbers should be made at once to +clear the enemy out of Cité-de-Riaumont and finally +from Hill 65. The loss of this last covering position +should, it was thought, necessitate their withdrawal +from Lens.</p> + +<p>The flexibility of the position is indicated by the +fact that a Divisional Commander, in making a reconnaissance +in Riaumont Wood, had run against an enemy +patrol. History does not relate which was the more +surprised, but both escaped without casualties.</p> + +<p>On April 19th we took over the left sub-sector of +the Brigade sector from the 7th Northamptons, commanded +by that gallant sportsman, Col. Mobbs. The +main defence just established was on the Eastern edge +of the Bois de Riaumont. The Northern two rows of +houses in the village of Riaumont were occupied by +our outposts, and the enemy were reported to be holding +the remainder in force. A Company (Capt. A. Hacking) +took over the outpost line; B Company (Lieut. G. +Wright, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page182" name="page182"></a>(p. 182)</span> during the absence on leave of Capt. Turner) +were in support in the Bois de Riaumont and Cité des-Bureaux, +whilst C Company (Capt. A. Bedford) and +D Company (Capt. Simonet) were in billets in the "River +Line," not far from Battalion Headquarters, which were +at the White Château.</p> + +<p>It was clear that no attempt to capture Hill 65 +would be possible until the whole of Riaumont village +was in our hands, and instructions to this effect were +given to Capt. A. Hacking, operations to secure which +were carried out on the night after relief in conjunction +with the 6th Battalion on our right. The advance +took place quietly in pitch darkness. Several parties of +the enemy were encountered, some being killed and one +captured. By midnight the Battalion's objective had +been secured, and posts established in the Railway +Cutting along the Company front. In this difficult and +rather uncanny work of clearing and searching the +houses and cellars of the village, Lieut. Geary, Sergt. +Stokes and Corpl. Brett did splendid work, for which +the first-named—who was the last Officer of the Battalion +to be killed, a fortnight before Armistice—was awarded +the Military Cross. Later in the night the enemy opened +a sudden and very heavy bombardment, and parties +were seen advancing down one of the streets, but were +driven off with loss. We had no casualties during this +operation.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the 6th Battalion were not able to make +good the remainder of the village South of the cross +roads, which the enemy were holding in greater strength, +and it was apparent that he intended to hold the trench +on the South side as part of his Lens outposts.</p> + +<p>The work put into the cellars of the colliery +houses here was quite extraordinary. In several cases, +fifteen feet under the cellars, were found subterranean +passages with large dormitories and rooms capable of +accommodating <span class="pagenum"><a id="page183" name="page183"></a>(p. 183)</span> large numbers of men. These were well +furnished, but owing to their depth and the proximity +of the enemy, we were unable to use them as much as +we should have liked.</p> + +<p>Further fighting and a good deal of shelling took +place during the night of April 21/22, causing us several +casualties, but not any material alteration in the +situation. Particularly good work was done during that +time by Sergt. Bolton.</p> + +<p>It was in these circumstances, and rather to the +surprise of those who were acquainted with the position, +that orders were received that we were to attack and +capture Hill 65 in conjunction with the 6th Battalion, +who were at the same time to attack Fosse 3, and make +good the remainder of the village and the enemy trench +to the South. The attack was to be carried out by +C Company, starting from the railway cutting, so far +as this had been established by A Company. There was +little time to make any preparations. A hasty reconnaissance +was made from an old Boche reinforced observation +post East of the railway cutting, just off "Absalom" +Trench, kindly placed at our disposal by a Gunner Officer, +from which an excellent view was obtained of Hill 65, +a bare hill with a row or two of colliery cottages on the +top, later found to contain the inevitable deep cellars. +The rest of the details were fixed at hurriedly summoned +conferences of Officers and N.C.O.'s. The final objective +was "Advance" Trench, just beyond the Hill. The +137th Brigade on the left were to send patrols to gain +touch with us at "Abode" Trench, and the 6th Battalion +on the right were to meet our parties in "Admiral" +Trench. Their attack was not in line with ours but was +more or less echelonned in rear.</p> + +<p>As soon as it was dark the Company moved up +from their quarters in the River Line to Cité-de-Riaumont, +where the men were safely got into the cellars +of <span class="pagenum"><a id="page184" name="page184"></a>(p. 184)</span> the houses, relieving part of A Company. Pvte. +Bradshaw, a most excellent Company cook, having +decided that a Company Mess in Advance Trench +would be a dreary place for his Officers without whisky, +slung on his back a bottle which the Mess President had +thought of leaving behind for the incoming Mess. +Unfortunately it proved to be a case of "Love's Labour +Lost," for the man, and it is feared the bottle too, fell +into the hands of the Boche!</p> + +<p>D Company, who were to "mop up," took over the +rest of A Company's area, the latter Company returning +to Liévin, and two platoons of B Company occupied +Absalom Trench. The imminence of our attack was +evidently known to the enemy, whose artillery during +the night liberally shelled Absalom Trench, Riaumont +Château, the Eastern edge of the village, and the +approaches from Liévin. Trench mortars were also very +active on the village, in fact, at one time it was thought +that the Boche himself might be attacking, and shortly +after midnight C Company were got out of the cellars +and ordered to stand to. During that time Comp. Sergt.-Major +Haywood was slightly wounded and had to go +back. Nothing further happened, however, and the +Company eventually took up their final position in the +railway cutting about 4.0 a.m. on April 23rd (after +waiting for the rum and tea which were delayed by the +shelling and arrived too late). Several casualties were +caused now by our own artillery firing short, one shell, +which luckily was a "dud," burying itself in the side +of the embankment amongst a group of men.</p> + +<p>Leaving a right flanking party to deal with the +enemy in the railway cutting, the remainder of the +Company, deploying from the cutting at Zero, 4.45 a.m., +changed direction half-right and moved forward under a +barrage of artillery and trench mortars. The preliminary +bombardment had more or less destroyed the houses on +the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page185" name="page185"></a>(p. 185)</span> hill and cut good gaps in the wire, which the party +had little difficulty in getting through. The right leading +platoon under Lieut. Skinner got into one of the numerous +trenches and at first met with little opposition, but +being separated from the rest of the Company, were +rapidly surrounded by large numbers of the enemy, and +practically all were killed or captured. The left platoon, +under 2nd Lieut. Hopkinson, reinforced by the remainder +of the Company, were held up by machine gun fire, +which caused many casualties, until Corpl. Fletcher +managed to get a direct hit on one of the guns with a +No. 23 grenade. A message was meanwhile taken by +C Company runner, the redoubtable "Mungo" Marsh, to +D Company, asking them to try and work a party round +to the North side of the houses. Further attempts made +to rush another gun which was doing much damage, +were met now with bombs thrown from a trench just +in front of the houses. The folly of attempting the attack +with the Southern half of the cutting still in the hands +of the enemy, now became apparent, for at this moment +large parties of the enemy appeared on the right rear, +with which the flanking party had apparently been +quite unable to deal. Then from the cellars of the houses +on top of the hill also emerged many of the enemy, and +the now small remains of the Company were in imminent +danger of being completely surrounded. Orders were +given to withdraw, but few returned to tell the tale. +Duff, one of the most heroic and stout-hearted Officers +the Battalion ever possessed, was last seen firing his +revolver amid a horde of the enemy. Hopkinson was +never heard of again. Sergt. Cox died of wounds and +Sergts. Curtis, Sansom and Chalk were amongst the 70 +missing, whilst the wounded numbered 34. The highest +praise is due to all ranks of C Company for their +magnificent efforts and especially to Capt. A. Bedford, +who throughout worked incessantly and led the attack +with <span class="pagenum"><a id="page186" name="page186"></a>(p. 186)</span> the utmost gallantry. It was only through a hard +fate that his endeavours did not meet with the success +they so well deserved. Very good work was also done +by the mopping-up platoon of D Company, under +Sergt. Painter, which helped to cover the withdrawal +of the remnants of C Company.</p> + +<p>The 6th Battalion fared no better, and the attack +produced, what was suspected by those who knew the +ground, exactly nothing except a total of casualties +which are felt to have been sacrificed on the altar of +faulty intelligence.</p> + +<p>It is easy, perhaps, to be wise after the event. All +information received by Corps Intelligence indicated +an imminent retreat by the enemy. On no other premises +could an attack by so small a force on so strong a position +have been justified. One further principle of warfare, +by no means new, was justified to the hilt—no frontal +attack should ever be attempted unless all counter +attack from a flank is impossible, or unless sufficient +forces are available to render such an attack an impracticability. +The ultimate capture of the Hill necessitated +nearly two months' artillery preparation and the +employment at intervals of two Brigades. Perhaps there +is one further illustration of the uncertainty of modern +warfare in the history of Hill 65. With that Hill in our +hands, and later on the dominating position of Hill 70, +all the tenets of war would conclude that Lens would +be completely untenable, and yet it was not until more +than a year afterwards that the enemy, in the last stages +of the war, evacuated a town which will, in the history +of the Battalion and of the 46th Division, be for ever +associated with the fortunes of Hill 65.</p> + +<p>On April 24th we went back into Brigade Support +with Battalion Headquarters at the Red Mill, and +Companies billeted in cellars. Some readjustments +had to be made the following day, when Battalion +Headquarters <span class="pagenum"><a id="page187" name="page187"></a>(p. 187)</span> moved to cellars on the Lens Road. This +spot seemed to be a favourite target for a Whizz-bang, +which fired straight down the road, and was responsible +for many sprints and much language at different times on +the part of various members of Battalion Headquarters.</p> + +<p>Three days later the Brigade was relieved by the +137th Brigade and moved into Divisional Reserve, the +Battalion proceeding to a delightful little spot known as +Marqueffles Farm, nestling under the wooded slopes of +the Lorette Ridge. Here we were extremely comfortable, +and on this and a future occasion spent a most agreeable +time, being especially fortunate in the matter of weather. +It was a stiff climb to the top of the ridge, at the Eastern +edge of which were the remains of Notre Dame de +Lorette. This was the favourite spot of the Gipsy bomber, +whose story was told in <i>Punch</i> a few years ago:—</p> + +<p class="left05"> +"But most he loved to lie upon Lorette<br> +<span class="add2em">And, couched on cornflowers, gaze across the lines</span><br> +On Vimy Ridge—we had not Vimy yet—<br> +<span class="add2em">Pale Souchez's bones, and Lens among the mines.</span><br> +Till, eagle-like, with hoarse indignant shrieks.<br> +<span class="add2em">Gunners arose from some deep-delved lair.</span><br> +To chase the intruder from their sacred peaks<br> +<span class="add2em">And cast him down to Ablain-St. Nazaire."</span></p> + +<p>Torrance on one occasion climbed the ridge with +Col. Blackwall, and can testify that the view from the +top was worth the walk! It formed a perfectly ideal +observation post, and we now understood why the Hun +had fought so strenuously to maintain a footing on the +ridge.</p> + +<p>The chief item whilst at rest was the reorganisation +of C Company, which was practically non-existent. +Each of the other three Companies contributed a quota, +the transfers including Sergt. Stokes, from A Company, +who was appointed Comp.-Sergt. Major. A little later +Sergt. H. J. Wilson, who for a long period had ably +superintended the Battalion cooking arrangements, +was <span class="pagenum"><a id="page188" name="page188"></a>(p. 188)</span> appointed Comp. Quarter-Master-Sergt., and was +succeeded as Sergt.-Cook by Corpl. Bateman. In addition +to other casualties we had lost Lieut. G. Wright, who +injured his knee up in the Riaumont sector and was +now invalided to England, whilst 2nd Lieut. White went +to England for temporary duty as a Bombing Instructor, +and 2nd Lieut. Mitchell was appointed Adjutant of +I Corps School. Our strength was thus considerably +reduced, whilst reinforcements at the moment were +exactly nil.</p> + +<p>On May 6th we relieved the 5th Lincolns in the left +sub-sector of the left Brigade sector, with Battalion +Headquarters in the remnants of some mine galleries +at the back of Hart's Crater, just in front of Loos. There +were only two Brigades of the Division in the line at +this period, and each Brigade went to each sector in turn. +We always went into the left sub-sector of each sector, +relieving with the 7th Battalion. The trenches here +were very bad, so shallow that it was almost impossible +to get round by day, and considerably overlooked by the +enemy, particularly from the tower of Fosse 14. Their +names began with the letter N, the best known being +"Nero," "Novel," "Netley," and "Nash." They were +old Boche trenches taken in the recent advance. The +whole sector had a very desolate appearance and life +was not pleasant there. The discomfort was increased +by the enormous number of wing bombs and rifle grenades +and occasional deluges of gas bombs and shells fired by +the enemy, which in our first six-day tour there, caused +us 39 casualties. This was followed by six days in +support, when we lived in dug-outs in some trenches +between Loos and the famous Colliery slag heap, known +as the "Double Crassier." Battalion Headquarters were +at an exceptionally fine dug-out known as "Elvaston +Castle," which had been dug by the 2nd Sherwood +Foresters. Here, in addition to ordinary work, we +amused <span class="pagenum"><a id="page189" name="page189"></a>(p. 189)</span> ourselves at times by cutting the vetches which +were thriving on some parts of the area, and sending +them back for the transport animals. It was here also +that a certain Padre was overheard one day by the +I-Tok, arranging for a funeral at Maroc, with the result +that he was requested to attend at Brigade Headquarters +to explain his indiscretions.</p> + +<p>After a short rest at Noeux-les-Mines, we went back +to the Liévin sector again on May 25th and took over +the line from Fosse 9 and Cité-St. Théodore to just South +of the Liévin-Lens Road. Battalion Headquarters were +at the corner house near the "Marble Arch" in Liévin. +Here the monotony of trench life was varied by long +distance patrols, and an enemy raid on the night of +May 29/30th on our post at the junction of "Crocodile" +Trench and the railway cutting, when we lost two men +captured, three killed and seven wounded. Casualties +during the whole of this period unfortunately were +heavy and reinforcements few, one Officer, 2nd Lieut. +H. C. Orton and 36 men who joined in May, being our +sole additions. We also lost Sergt. Burton, who had done +much excellent work as Signalling-Sergeant. He went for +a Commission, and was succeeded by Corpl. J. T. +Templeman. Our strength at this period was so small +that for some time Companies had to be organised in +three platoons instead of four. About the same time, +much to the regret of all those who had been privileged +to serve under him at any time, during the long period +in which he so successfully commanded the Brigade, +both in England and France, General Shipley left for +a tour of duty at home, and was succeeded by Brigadier-General +G. G. S. Carey, C.B., R.A.</p> + +<p>The first six days of June were spent in Brigade +support in Liévin, at the end of which time we went +back into the line in front of Cité-St. Théodore, where +the only excitements were the pushing forward of +advanced <span class="pagenum"><a id="page190" name="page190"></a>(p. 190)</span> posts to help to protect the left flank of the +138th Brigade in an attack on Fosse 3, and a number of +long distance patrols in which Lieut. Martelli and his +Scouts always played a prominent part. After another +short rest at Marqueffles Farm, where on June 12th we +won first prize for the best Transport turnout at the +Brigade Horse Show, we went back for a short tour in +Brigade support in front of Loos on June 15th.</p> + +<p>We had now fairly sampled most of the area and +found little of it to our liking. Hart's Crater sector +was the most monotonous for both front line and support +work, there being nothing but trenches to live in. In +Liévin sector, though the front line work was more +interesting and we had fairly comfortable billets when in +support, the enemy shelled the town itself so incessantly +both with high explosive and gas, that one had to take +more than ordinary precautions. Apart from the fact +that our own Division and the Canadians on the right +were carrying out "stunts" of one kind or other almost +every day, provoking considerable retaliation, we had +an immense number of batteries tucked away amongst +the houses in Liévin, and under almost every bank round +about it, besides many more or less in the open. The +Boche located these batteries with considerable accuracy, +and from time to time literally rained shells (principally +5.9's) on to them, and almost every day knocked out +numbers of guns.</p> + +<p>Many of the gardens in the area close behind the +front line were now in full bearing and provided a very +welcome addition to our rations, and more than one +has pleasant recollections of the excellent dishes of early +asparagus and stewed gooseberries gathered from the +garden of Riaumont Château. Strawberries, currants, +gooseberries and rhubarb were also plentiful in Cité-St. +Pierre. Indeed the attractions of the first were too +much for one greedy German, who was so much occupied +in <span class="pagenum"><a id="page191" name="page191"></a>(p. 191)</span> filling his helmet with this luscious fruit that he +walked into one of the outposts of the 6th Battalion. +It is doubtful if he was allowed to reap the fruits of his +labour, at any rate when he eventually arrived at +Battalion Headquarters both the helmet and the strawberries +were conspicuous by their absence!</p> + +<p>The Transport and Quarter-Master's Stores were +back in a very nice spot at Sains-en-Gohelle, but their +journeys to the line with rations and stores were almost +as unpleasant as they could be. In going to Liévin they +usually got shelled with high explosive and at Loos with +gas, and it says much for the excellent way in which +Capt. H. Kirby and Sergt. Blunt handled the Transport +on these occasions that they never failed to deliver the +stores and had scarcely a single casualty. For a short +period in the Liévin sector, stores were sent up by light +railway from Bully Grenay or Aix Noulette.</p> + +<p>The Higher Command all this time had the fixed +idea that the enemy could be driven out of Lens, and all +the efforts of the 46th Division and of the Canadians on +the right were concentrated to bring this about. The +idea was probably strengthened by the fact that fires +and explosions were observed almost daily in Lens itself, +evidently due to the enemy's desire to leave as little as +possible in the event of his having to withdraw. Numerous +small enterprises carried out from time to time enabled +some slight advance to be made, but towards the end of +June operations took place more frequently and on a +larger scale.</p> + +<p>The Canadians having just captured the Generating +Station and the high ground around it, South of the +Souchez River, which overlooked the Boche positions +about Fosse 3, the 138th Brigade were ordered to attack +the Fosse again on June 19th, and this time succeeded +in taking it, and on the night June 21/22nd, we +relieved the 5th Leicesters in their new outpost line in +"Boot" <span class="pagenum"><a id="page192" name="page192"></a>(p. 192)</span> and "Brick" trenches, having spent the last +three days at Calonne, to which place we had moved +from the Loos area on June 18th. The two days spent +there were two of the most unpleasant in the history of +the Battalion. All four Companies were in the line, there +was little accommodation or shelter, the enemy shelling +and trench-mortaring were intense, and there was the +constant fear of a counter-attack from the right—altogether +rather a nightmare. We were lucky in not +getting more casualties than we did; as it was we lost +ten killed and 31 wounded in the two days, during +which we were attached in turn to the 138th and 137th +Brigades. We were relieved on the night June 23/24th +and went back to Calonne. A Company had a particularly +unpleasant relief, as the enemy chose that time to send +over a number of gas shells and trench mortars, most +of which fell amongst that Company, causing them several +casualties.</p> + +<p>On June 25th the 137th Brigade, with little or no +trouble, at last occupied Hill 65, and the same night +we were again attached to that Brigade, and moved +into Liévin, with Headquarters at the Red Mill.</p> + +<p>Here we got orders for working parties required for +carrying and digging assembly trenches at Cité-de-Riaumont +for the 137th and 138th Brigades, who were +to carry out further operations. Company Commanders +assembled at the Red Mill to get their orders for this +work at the same moment that the Boche had planned +to shell a battery of our guns almost adjacent to it. +Heavies arrived in salvoes for some time; several direct +hits were obtained on the guns, the ammunition dump +just behind it was hit and explosions continued for +days. It caused considerable inconvenience to Company +Commanders and further entailed the hasty exit of +Lieut. Tomlinson from the delightful bathing pool which +had been made in the stream adjoining the Mill. It was +whilst <span class="pagenum"><a id="page193" name="page193"></a>(p. 193)</span> out with one of these working parties at Riaumont +that Moffat Johnston, temporarily in command of B +Company, got badly knocked about by a shell and had to +leave, the Company then being taken over by 2nd Lieut. +Day, Capt. Turner being away with the 46th Division +Depôt Battalion. On the night of June 27/28th we +moved back to billets in Maroc. The following evening +the 137th and 138th Brigades made further progress in +another successful attack, the Canadians also pushing +on South of the River Souchez, practically into the +outskirts of Lens itself. At the same time the 6th and +7th Battalions co-operated with considerable success +North of the Lens-Liévin Road.</p> + +<a id="img018" name="img018"></a> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/img018.jpg" width="500" height="361" alt="Map To Illustrate Operations +Near Lens." title="Map To Illustrate Operations +Near Lens."> +</div> + +<p class="figcenter">Map To Illustrate Operations +Near Lens: <span class="smcap">April-July</span>. 1917.</p> + +<p>The Higher Authorities were now more convinced +than ever that the Germans opposite us were completely +demoralised, and that with a small push we should +capture Lens itself. Hasty plans were accordingly +devised, and, although we were now lamentably weak +in numbers, it was resolved to put the whole Division +into a final effort on the morning of July 1st. The 137th +and 138th Brigades were to attack South of the Lens-Liévin +Road and the 139th Brigade North of it. For this +attack the 2nd Sherwood Foresters and the 9th Norfolks +from the 6th Division on our left were attached to our +Brigade. The assaulting Battalions were the 2nd, 5th +and 6th Sherwood Foresters. We were in support and +late on June 30th moved into St. Pierre. A and D Companies +were attached to the 6th Battalion, A being now +commanded by Capt. Andrews, who had recently +succeeded Capt. A. Hacking on the latter's appointment +as Second-in-Command of the 5th Battalion. This +Company held the 6th Battalion left Company front, +whilst D Company remained in support. B Company +were attached to the 2nd Battalion, but were not required +until the following afternoon, when they were taken up +to "Crook Redoubt." Owing to casualties this Company +came <span class="pagenum"><a id="page194" name="page194"></a>(p. 194)</span> under the command of Sergt. Cobb, who carried +out his duties and looked after the Company during a +rather trying time in a most excellent manner. C Company +were attached to the 5th Battalion and were in +support in "Cowden" Trench.</p> + +<p>The attack was launched at dawn on July 1st and +part of the objective taken, but an enemy-counter attack +found our men too weak to hold the position, and apart +from a small portion in the neighbourhood of Crocodile +Trench, the ground gained had to be evacuated. The +137th and 138th Brigades on the right met with no +greater success and Lens remained in the hands of the +enemy. July 1st is not a lucky day in the history of the +46th Division.</p> + +<p>We remained in St. Pierre, with some Companies +still detached, until the night of July 3/4th, when we +were relieved by the 23rd and 27th Canadian Battalions, +and went back to the Square at Bully Grenay, where +'buses picked us up soon after dawn on July 4th, and +took us back to the delightful little village of Chelers.</p> + +<p>In spite of considerable shelling our casualties +during the last few days had only been two Officers +(Day and Hammond) and four men wounded. Our total +casualties during the Lens operations amounted to five +Officers wounded, three missing, 42 other ranks killed, +180 wounded, and 72 missing.</p> + +<p>The whole history of the Lens operations proves, +if proof were needed, how important a part intelligence +plays in modern operations. Intelligence is gained by +reconnaissance by land or from the air, and from information +from prisoners and captured documents. The +responsibility of the Officer, who must judge the truth +from what must often be conflicting reports from these +sources, is serious indeed. On his appreciation of the +position depends to an extent not always recognised the +success or failure of active operations. The Infantry +in <span class="pagenum"><a id="page195" name="page195"></a>(p. 195)</span> the line unfortunately take the hard consequences of +faulty information or false appreciation.</p> + +<p>In reviewing the short history of these operations +we are inclined to forget other occasions in which the +credit of successes was due not only to the dash and +courage of the Infantry but to the information sifted +from one source or another, weighed in the balance, and +finally put forward as the premises on which operations +have been based. In our humble judgment the Army of +the future should take care that this branch of technical +training receives a greater measure of attention than it +had received up to the commencement of the Great War.</p> + + + + +<h3>CHAPTER XI <span class="pagenum"><a id="page196" name="page196"></a>(p. 196)</span></h3> + +<h5>ST. ELIE AND HILL 70</h5> + + +<p class="figcenter"><i>July 4th, 1917.</i>— +<i>January 21st, 1918.</i></p> + +<p class="p2">After nearly three months' strenuous fighting, +it was a great relief to us to find ourselves back +once more in the quiet regions, and the change was +thoroughly appreciated by all. The weather was +delightful and the country was looking its best, and +altogether the 18 days spent at Chelers were extremely +enjoyable. There was not much in the way of amusement, +as there was little opportunity for it, and we +were so far in the heart of the country that visits to +towns were impossible, except for the few lucky ones +with horses, for whom the journey to St. Pol and back +was a pleasant afternoon's ride. Billets were quite +comfortable, and Battalion Headquarters were certainly +in clover at the Château, where it was one of their +pleasures to bask in the delightful garden and regale +themselves on peaches brought by the small daughter +of the house. Otherwise there was little attraction in the +village, though in "Lizzie Five-Nine," it possessed a pearl +of great price. Major Lane was in command for part of +the time, as Col. Blackwall was on leave. The latter on +his return, not being fortunate enough to be met at +Boulogne by a car—Battalion Commanders only got cars +when they were not wanted by the gilded Staff—found, as +so often happened, that Railway Transport Officers knew +nothing of our movements, and sent him off to quite +the wrong place, about 30 miles from Chelers, to which +he had to get as best he could. On a hot summer day +this was not a nice experience to pile on to that "end +of leave feeling" that most of us had at getting back. +and <span class="pagenum"><a id="page197" name="page197"></a>(p. 197)</span> to make matters still worse he found on his arrival +that the supply of lime-juice at the Headquarter Mess +had run out! The truth of course was that not being in +demand during his absence, it had not been replenished!</p> + +<p>In training special stress was laid on bayonet +fighting, taken by Comp. Sergt.-Major Lowe of the +Canadian Army Gymnastic Staff, musketry, and firing +practice on the Rocourt Range, where a two days' +Divisional Rifle Meeting was held on July 19th and +20th, at which our representatives shot remarkably +well, and carried off amongst other prizes two silver +bugles, which now repose with the Battalion Plate at +Newark. A large marquee was erected on the ground, +where refreshments could be obtained, and a band was +in attendance each day. All the arrangements were +admirable, and the programme was carried out without +a hitch. Teams from B Company won the Inter-Company +Snap-Shooting and Rapid-Firing competition, +and the Lewis Gun competition, whilst a knock-out +competition for Officers was won by our team composed +of Lieut.-Col. Blackwall, Capt. A. Bedford and +2nd Lieuts. Tomlinson and Martelli. In the final +round this team beat the one from Divisional Headquarters, +which included Major-General Thwaites. In +the General Officer Commanding's Cup competition for +revolver shooting for Officers, our team won second +prize. On the whole the results from this competition +and the practice leading up to it, were extremely +good, and had a marked effect on the shooting all +round, both with rifle and Lewis gun. Two ceremonial +inspections were carried out, one by the Brigadier on +July 11th, and another by the Divisional Commander +on July 17th, both of which went off successfully.</p> + +<p>Our stay at Chelers came to an end on July 23rd, +when we started back once more to the forward area, +marching that day to Verquin, where we billeted for +the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page198" name="page198"></a>(p. 198)</span> night. The next night we relieved the 1st Leicesters +(6th Division) in the St. Elie Left sub-sector +trenches. We were not very strong at this time, about +650 all told. Four new subalterns who had just joined, +were 2nd Lieuts. J. H. Hofmeyr, C. J. Elly, W. H. +Sutton, and R. W. Clarke. Second Lieut. White rejoined +from duty in England, and further Officer reinforcements +who came up shortly afterwards, included 2nd +Lieuts. H. G. Kirby, F. C. Tucker, C. J. Wells, +D. Tanner, and J. A. Pearce.</p> + +<p>We now entered on what was to be the longest +continuous period of trench warfare that it was ever our +lot to take part in, for we were destined to remain in the +forward area, holding trenches with but short reliefs, +for a whole six months, and there was little to break the +monotony except one or two changes of trench areas +and the interspersal, now and then of raids carried +out either by ourselves or the enemy. Raids had now +become part and parcel almost of trench warfare routine. +The Divisional Commander's wishes were that they +should be carried out frequently, and he was strongly +supported by General Carey, who insisted on each Battalion +preparing a scheme for a raid, either large or small, +as soon as it took over the line, so that no time should +be wasted in preliminary arrangements after the order +was given for a raid to be carried out. The drawback, +perhaps, was that raids were apt to be of much the +same type, for it was not easy to introduce variations. +In the normal raid there was always the cutting of +gaps in the enemy wire, which was almost bound to +give them the intimation that something was going to +happen, the bombardment about "Zero" of the area +to be raided, and the forming of a "Box Barrage" +round it, to prevent the enemy bringing up reinforcements, +whilst our men dealt with any enemy found +within the barrage.</p> + +<p>This <span class="pagenum"><a id="page199" name="page199"></a>(p. 199)</span> sub-sector of trenches, "St. Elie Left," was +named after the village of St. Elie, the remains of which +were in the enemy lines opposite. This sector was just +South-East of the Hohenzollern Redoubt, and was +entirely overlooked by that old enemy of former days +"The Dump," which had now for some reason changed +its name to "Slag Heap." It was difficult at first to +recognise the front lines, so changed was their appearance. +Instead of a more or less level tract between the front +line trenches, No Man's Land consisted of a chain of +whitish chalk peaks, the sides of huge mine craters, +which had entirely changed the aspect of the area. +There were not so many, perhaps, in the sector in which +we were immediately interested, as there were opposite +Hohenzollern itself, but the general appearance of the +so-called front line was much the same in both. All +this part of the front had remained practically unmoved +since the finish of the fighting in the Autumn of +1915. The withdrawal of the enemy further South +early in 1917, and our attacks later at Messines and +other parts to the North, had not affected this portion. +Mining had been begun and carried on pretty regularly +by both sides so long as that kind of warfare was +thought worth while,—a method in which the Boche, who +was a nervous miner, had been completely beaten—but +for some time before our arrival it had lapsed, and the +only visible signs of it were the craters, on each lip of +which sentry posts had been established by ourselves +and the enemy respectively. A certain amount of +excavation was still going on underground, under the +supervision of Australian Tunnellers, but this was +mainly connected with the somewhat complicated +system of "listening" in vogue. Apparatus was fitted +up, and men were always on duty so as to notify at +once any indication of mining operations being started +by the enemy. Nothing more as a matter of fact +did <span class="pagenum"><a id="page200" name="page200"></a>(p. 200)</span> happen in the way of mining, which had already had +its day.</p> + +<a id="img019" name="img019"></a> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/img019.jpg" width="500" height="586" alt="Map To Illustrate Operations +Near Lens." title="Map To Illustrate Operations +Near Lens."> +</div> + +<p class="figcenter">Air Photograph Of Part Of St. Elie Sector, 1917.</p> + +<p>Behind the chain of craters all along this area was +another feature peculiar to this part of the line, an +extraordinary system of tunnels. It is believed that +these first originated owing to the necessity for finding +ways up to the front line by day, without using the +communication trenches, which were mostly overlooked +from the Slag Heap, and other prominent points, from +which the enemy could get an excellent view over most +of our forward area. Behind the trench system attempts +had been made to obviate this drawback by the erection +of long lengths of camouflage screens, which were a +great feature of this part of the front. In the trench +system itself underground passages were dug some 15 +to 25 feet deep, from about the Reserve Line up to the +front. These in due course got connected with the mine +levels and shafts, and eventually rooms were excavated +off the passages, timber and wire beds put up, electric +light plant installed, cook houses and cooking apparatus +fixed, wells sunk, and in fact a sort of underground +barracks was formed, and all within 100 to 400 yards +of the Boche front line. It was a remarkable +development.</p> + +<p>The posts in the so-called front line were arranged +almost entirely round about the craters, and were reached +by flights of steps from the tunnels. These posts were +some distance apart, the system of holding these trenches +being a thin front line of posts well wired in, with No +Man's Land protected by active patrolling, and a +strong, well-built, and well-wired support line or "Line of +Resistance," where every effort would be made to +hold up any big attack which might develop. An +elaborate arrangement of doors and gas blankets fixed +at entrances, and at various intermediate points in the +tunnels, was made to protect them in case of gas attack, +and <span class="pagenum"><a id="page201" name="page201"></a>(p. 201)</span> a carefully arranged system of electric bells was +fitted up from the sentry posts to the garrison living +in the tunnels, so that warning could be given immediately +in case of an enemy attack. These tunnels +served an excellent purpose, but there is no question +that had they been in use to any extent they might +easily have become a great source of weakness, as they +undoubtedly had a very demoralising effect on the +troops who had to live in them.</p> + +<p>The Battalion sector extended from "Fosse" and +"Stansfield Posts" on the right, through "Hairpin +Craters," "North" and "South Craters," "Border +Redoubt" and "Rat Creek" to "Hulluch Alley" and +"Russian Sap" on the left. Communication trenches in +this sector were the best we ever met, floorboarded and +revetted practically throughout their entire length. The +support trench was also fairly good, and the front posts +not too bad, though they frequently got knocked in with +heavy trench mortars, and required constant repairing. +Work in the trenches, therefore, normally consisted +more of general upkeep, than of any extensive new +work. Three companies were in the line, with the +fourth in support, living mostly in "Stansfield Tunnel." +Battalion Headquarters was in a dug-out in "Stansfield +Road." Company Commanders were:—(A) Capt. +Andrews, (B) Lieuts. Tomlinson, Lomer and Day in +succession, followed a little later by Capt. Turner, (C) +Capt. A. Bedford, (D) Capt. Simonet. We only had +two tours in these trenches at this time, one of six days, +and one of four, during which the enemy were active +mainly with trench mortars, including a large number +of "Wing Bombs" or "Pineapples." A raid which +we were ordered to carry out during this period was +left in the capable hands of Capt. Simonet, and fixed +to take place at 11.30 p.m. on August 4th. It was all +carefully rehearsed beforehand, on ground near the +support <span class="pagenum"><a id="page202" name="page202"></a>(p. 202)</span> billets at Philosophe. In addition to his own +Company, Simonet had the help of B Company under +Lieut. Tomlinson. The raid was made against the +enemy's first and second line trenches nearly opposite +North Crater, and was intended in addition to +inflicting casualties to obtain identification, and destroy +suspected trench mortar emplacements and dug-outs. +Unfortunately success did not attend their efforts on this +occasion, for, though B Company reached the enemy +trenches, and a few men got as far as the second line, +they had to be recalled, as D Company were unable to +make any headway owing to heavy machine gun fire +from the flanks. Both Companies suffered a few +casualties in withdrawing.</p> + +<p>It was on the following day, August 5th, when the +Battalion was in Brigade support in Philosophe, that +we got what was probably the heaviest shelling of billets +that we ever experienced, for the Boche deliberately +shelled the village without a break from 6 to 10 p.m. +with 4.2's and 5.9's. As soon as the bombardment +began, everyone withdrew to the open fields behind the +village, and remained there until it was over. We were +fortunate in escaping without a single casualty. Some +of the billets were badly knocked about, but we saved +our skins, which after all was the main thing. We +must confess to having felt on this occasion almost a +suspicion of satisfaction in seeing Brigade Headquarters +get a full share of this shelling. Their mess was so +shaken and upset that the Brigadier had to dine at a +much later hour than usual off cold bully beef. It is +perhaps difficult to understand exactly the reason, but +there is no shadow of doubt that in every formation +there was a feeling almost of delight when a unit saw the +Headquarters of the next higher unit being "straffed!"</p> + +<p>On the night August 10/11th, we moved back into +support with Battalion Headquarters, A and C Companies +at <span class="pagenum"><a id="page203" name="page203"></a>(p. 203)</span> Noyelles, and B and D Companies in support trenches. +On August 14th, the half Battalion at Noyelles handed +over to the 5th Leicesters, and moved back to billets +at Fouquières, and on the 16th to Verquin, where they +were joined by B and D Companies.</p> + +<p>By a brilliant attack on the previous day, August +15th, the Canadians finally captured Hill 70, which +had so often been a bone of contention, but was now +to remain always in our hands.</p> + +<p>We now had ten very enjoyable days in comfortable +and homely billets at Verquin. Some of the Officers +were fortunate enough to be invited to play tennis at +the château, both there and at Fouquières, and owe a +great debt of gratitude to the kind ladies at both those +places, for many acts of kindness and hospitality. It was +almost like being at home to be playing "mixed doubles," +and after dinner to have music in the drawing room. +The men, too, had a very nice time in the miners' cottages +in Verquin, and other mining villages. Shops and village +life always had their attraction, and we felt very much +at home in this part of France, which in the end we came +to know almost by heart. The French miner was +always particularly kind to us all. It may be that +many of our miners, by exchanging views on their +calling, enlisted the sympathies of the Frenchmen in +the Battalion as a whole. Whether this is so or not, +in no part of France did the inhabitants behave to +Officers and men with such invariable kindness and +courtesy, as that exhibited in the various French colliery +districts, in which we were so fortunate as to be billeted +at this time. In addition to the village attractions, we +were getting splendid shows given by the "Whizz-bangs," +who were now in good form once more, and did much to +liven things up, whilst Béthune with its many attractions, +was within easy walking distance, and always a popular +resort for all ranks.</p> + +<p>There <span class="pagenum"><a id="page204" name="page204"></a>(p. 204)</span> were several training grounds within easy +reach, and pleasantly situated. Training consisted +mainly of musketry and attack practice, whilst the +usual Ceremonial was introduced in the shape of a +Brigade Parade, at Vaudricourt Park on August 18th, +when the General Officer Commanding distributed +medal ribbons. On August 24th, Regimental sports +were held in a field at Drouvin, in conjunction with the +139th Machine Gun Company, and 139th Trench Mortar +Battery. Perhaps the most entertaining and amusing +feature of a most successful day, was the winning of the +Victoria Cross race on a pack pony by "Doc" Johnstone, +whom we found stationed at Verquin.</p> + +<p>We now entered on the second phase of this long +trench warfare period, relieving the 23rd Battalion +Royal Fusiliers (2nd Division) in Cambrin Left sub-sector +on August 26th. There we remained until +September 13th, with the exception of a short interval +in Brigade support, when Battalion Headquarters were +in billets in Annequin, and Companies in dug-outs in the +reserve trenches in front of Cambrin. It was here that +we first came across our Portugese Allies, who were +holding the trenches North of the La Bassée Canal.</p> + +<p>This sector extended from just North-West of the +Hohenzollern Redoubt, nearly to the Béthune-La Bassée +Road, and was of a similar nature to the St. Elie sector +we had recently held, except that it was not so much +overlooked by the enemy. Familiar names in the front +line, are "Railway Craters," "Twin Sap," "Minehead +Sap," and "Fusilier Sap." The support trench was +named "Old Boots." There were two main tunnels, +"Munster" on the right, and "Wilson" on the left. +The main communication trenches were "Railway +Alley," "Lewis Alley," "Munster Parade," and "Dundee +Walk." After a little rearrangement on first taking +over, all Companies were in the line, finding their own +supports, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page205" name="page205"></a>(p. 205)</span> Battalion Headquarters being in dug-outs +just off Railway Alley. The first tour was very quiet, +but was marred by the unfortunate loss on patrol of +2nd Lieut. D. Tanner, and Corpl. Wright on August +30th. Tanner very gallantly undertook to reconnoitre +a Boche post, and took out with him Corpl. Wright +and two men. The two men got back safely, but Tanner +and the N.C.O. were missing, and were reported later to +have either been killed or to have died of wounds. Another +misfortune occurred in our next trench tour on September +11th, when a raid was attempted by Capt. Martelli, +in command of a party consisting of C Company and +half A Company. The raid was to be carried out against +enemy trenches opposite Railway Craters, at 11.45 +p.m. It was carefully practised beforehand over a +taped model. Unfortunately, the enemy were evidently +aware of our intentions, probably divining that a raid +was in prospect from the fact of our having cut gaps in +the wire, and whilst our men were forming up in No +Man's Land, they suddenly opened an intense bombardment, +mostly of gas bombs, which fell right amongst +them. Our men immediately put on their box respirators, +but in the dark it was quite impossible to advance with +them on, and seeing that progress was impossible, +Martelli, who was himself wounded, withdrew his party, +suffering in casualties during the whole operation, three +other ranks killed, and 30 wounded. C Company +were again unfortunate the following night, when they +were bombarded with heavy trench mortars, and suffered +nine more casualties.</p> + +<p>On September 13th, we left this sector on being +relieved by the 7th Battalion, and moved back to +Fouquières, where we spent a very enjoyable week +training and refitting. Leaving there on September +20th, we marched to Mazingarbe, where we spent a night +in huts, and the following day took over the support +trenches <span class="pagenum"><a id="page206" name="page206"></a>(p. 206)</span> in the Hill 70 sector, just North of Loos. +Shortly after its capture by the Canadians, Hill 70 +had been handed over to the 6th Division to consolidate, +and it now fell to the lot of the 46th Division to complete +the consolidation.</p> + +<p>Just before the change, we had been joined by a +new Medical Officer, Lieut. St. G. L. M. Homan, who +replaced Capt. Gavin, and three new subalterns, Lieut. +C. Cursham, and 2nd Lieuts. S. Bridden and E. W. +Hartle; but on the other hand, we lost Lieut. Michie, +and 2nd Lieut. Orton, invalided to England, and 2nd +Lieut. Pearce, who joined the 139th Trench Mortar +Battery. Comp. Sergt. Major Haywood had also gone +home to train for a commission, only to be killed later +when serving with another Battalion.</p> + +<p>It was an agreeable change for us to occupy such a +position as Hill 70, as observation could be got from +there over the enemy country for many miles, and it was +pleasant after having almost invariably been overlooked, +to be able now to see something of the other side of the +picture. The enemy, however, had good observation +from Hulluch and Wingles, over our approaches through +Loos, in the valley, and movement was mainly by that +never-ending communication trench "Railway Alley," +running from the top of the ridge behind Loos, through +the outskirts of that village up to Hill 70, where it +joined up to "Humbug Alley," the main communication +trench of the left sector. The front line which was in none +too good order, was known mainly as to its position with +regard to the remnants of woods in its neighbourhood, +"Bois de Dix-huit" opposite the right, "Bois Rasé" +in the centre, and "Bois Hugo" on the left. All +the forward trenches bore names beginning with H, +two of which were "Heaven" and "Hell," but the +former was not quite the Paradise one might expect from +its name. Such dug-outs as were usable, were deep, but +small. <span class="pagenum"><a id="page207" name="page207"></a>(p. 207)</span> Many had been blown in, and practically all +the entrances faced the wrong way, which was a distinct +drawback.</p> + +<p>For seven weeks, probably the most monotonous +in the history of the Battalion's trench warfare, we +helped to hold Hill 70, relieving in the line with the +7th Battalion. When in Brigade support, we lived in +dug-outs in the old British and German front line trenches +in front of and behind the Loos-Hulluch Road, with +Battalion Headquarters in "Tosh Alley." When in +Divisional Reserve, we lived in the Mazingarbe huts, +which were fairly comfortable, but capable of much +improvement. Battalion Headquarters occupying a +house in the aristocratic street known as "Snobs' Alley." +Tours in the trenches, in support and reserve were each +of six days. Life in the trenches was of a most humdrum +nature. There was not even a raid of any kind, so far +as our Battalion was concerned. We simply slogged on +week after week at real trench work, making fire-bays +and fire-steps, thickening the barbed wire in front, +improving dug-outs, and making good the communication +trenches and reserve line, by revetting and trench gridding. +The latter was probably the most important work +carried out, and many were the "A" frames that were +fixed, and trench grids that were placed in position +during those tedious times, to say nothing of the tons of +earth that were dug out in order that this might be done, +for the trenches had mostly been flattened out by our +bombardment before the hill was captured, and needed +the expenditure of untold energy and hard work to get +them in good order. Great keenness in connection with +this work was shewn by Capt. E. J. Grinling, M.C., of the +Lincolns, who had recently succeeded that most energetic +Officer Capt. Buckley, as Brigade Major, when the latter +left to take up a higher appointment.</p> + +<p>The <span class="pagenum"><a id="page208" name="page208"></a>(p. 208)</span> weather during the early part of October was +fine, hot and dry, but with the inevitable rain which set +in later, the trenches, where not cleaned and floorboarded, +soon became in an almost impassable state, for the mud +and chalk together made a sort of paste, two or three +feet deep, of an extraordinarily sticky nature, almost +impossible to get through, so that the carrying of all +kinds of stores was extremely exhausting work. +Fortunately we got some slight assistance by the use +of Tump Lines—a leather arrangement by which the +load was carried on the back, but the weight taken by +a broad leather across the forehead—and Yukon packs—a +kind of wooden framework covered with canvas, on +which the material was fastened with thin rope, and the +whole carried on the back, and held in position by straps +round the shoulders. Constant practice in their use +was carried out when back at the Mazingarbe huts, and +in the end a number of men became quite expert, and +could carry big loads with either of these devices, with +much less fatigue, and in a much shorter time than was +possible in any other way.</p> + +<p>Water was supplied here, as in the Cambrin sector, +by a system of pipes. These were the only two instances +we met with where this system of supply was in vogue. +To supply the Hill 70 sector, Australian Engineers had +tapped the water from the mine at the end of the Loos +"Crassier," and pumped it up to tanks fixed at different +points in the trenches. The chief drawback of course +was that the pipes were apt to get broken by shells. +It was a drawback to be short of water for more reasons +than one, as an essential part of trench discipline was to +shave regularly, and the visitor to Battalion Headquarters +must have noticed on more than one occasion a petrol tin +labelled "Shaving Water," put in a prominent position +so as to catch the eye (of the Brigadier!) Two of General +Carey's pet orders in connection with trench routine, +were <span class="pagenum"><a id="page209" name="page209"></a>(p. 209)</span> that all ranks as far as reasonably possible should +shave every day, and that tea leaves should not be +deposited in or on the sides of the trenches.</p> + +<p>Rations and supplies were mainly brought up by +pack mules, the only sector in which this method was +used regularly. The mules were taken from the Transport +lines at Sailly-Labourse by road to Fosse 3, thence +over a cross-country track past Brigade Headquarters +at Prèvite Castle, to the Battalion dumps at Tosh +Alley, and the old British front line. This was a +perfectly silent method, and one which, with little +practice, soon became a very expeditious one. During +our stay, work was begun on the laying of tramlines +up to Hill 70, but whilst we were there they were not +used to any great extent.</p> + +<p>There was a normal amount of shelling in the area, +and an uncomfortable amount of heavy trench mortaring, +particularly of the Left-Company front, whilst machine +gun bullets along the front line, and about the Tosh +Alley dump, which was enfiladed from Hulluch, often +took much dodging. Otherwise the sector so far as +we were concerned was fairly quiet. Our most unpleasant +experience undoubtedly was on October 4th, +when we got caught in the bombardment connected +with an attempted Boche raid on the 7th Battalion, +whom we were relieving. They had been very heavily +shelled and trench mortared, and suffered numerous +casualties, the clearing of which caused the relief to be +a long and difficult business. Several dug-out entrances +were blown in, and the front line in many parts was +almost unrecognisable. B Company unfortunately got +mixed up with some of the shelling, and lost several men, +including Sergt. Drabble, who was killed. Pvte. Frank +Green did very good work on this occasion, in rescuing +buried men, working for five hours on end, though +severely shaken as a result of the trench mortaring, and +L.-Corpl. <span class="pagenum"><a id="page210" name="page210"></a>(p. 210)</span> Stewart did excellent work in repairing broken +telephone wires.</p> + +<a id="img020" name="img020"></a> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/img020.jpg" width="400" height="535" alt="Straight Line Diagram Of Trench Communications +At Hill 70." title="Straight Line Diagram Of Trench Communications +At Hill 70."> +</div> + +<p class="figcenter">Straight Line Diagram Of Trench Communications +At Hill 70. <span class="smcap">November.</span> 1917.</p> + +<p>A very good daylight patrol was carried out on +November 11th, by 2nd Lieut. A. C. Fairbrother, a +newly joined Subaltern, who managed to get into the +enemy trenches, shoot a Boche, and return with the +two men who were with him without casualty. For +this he was awarded the M.C. A decoration of a different +kind ought to have been awarded to another Officer, +who on a perfectly quiet night in the line, when we had +nothing to disturb our peace of mind, boldly sent off +the cryptic message "G.A.S."—only to be used in case +of cloud gas attack, and likely to cause every Officer +and man, horse and mule, back almost to General +Headquarters to have their box respirators or gas masks +put on! Not content with that, he turned on a Strombos +Horn, which was also to be used only on occasions of +cloud gas, but fortunately it could not rise to anything +more than a painful kind of wheeze. The cause of all +his excitement apparently was that he imagined he heard +another Strombos Horn some miles away!</p> + +<p>Whilst we were in the Hill 70 sector, the 59th +Division (our second line Territorials) took over a portion +of the line about Avion, just South of Lens, and it was a +great pleasure to welcome some old friends who came +over to see us, including A. C. Clarke commanding the +2/6th Battalion, M. C. Martyn commanding the 2/7th +Battalion, and F. W. Johnson, commanding a Field +Ambulance in the 59th Division. Over an excellent +little dinner, at Béthune, arranged by our good friend +Col. Barron of the 1/1st North Midland Field Ambulance, +we were able to compare notes, and go over many +items of interest.</p> + +<p>We were not sorry when news came that the +Divisional General had decided that, as the Hill 70 +sector was the most unpleasant one of the three held +by <span class="pagenum"><a id="page211" name="page211"></a>(p. 211)</span> the Division, an inter-Brigade relief should be +carried out with a view to giving another Brigade a +chance of "doing its bit" there as well. The lot fell +on the 138th Brigade, and on November 15th, we were +relieved by the 5th Leicesters, and moved back once +more to support in the St. Elie sector, with Battalion +Headquarters and two Companies at Philosophe, and +two Companies in trenches, one in support to each of +the two Battalions holding the line. This was the +beginning of the last phase of this trench warfare period.</p> + +<p>Much to the regret of all ranks we now lost Major +Lane, who left us for a tour of duty at home, and was +succeeded as Second-in-Command by Major E. M. +Gingell, of the Wiltshires. Capt. A. Bedford also went +to England for a rest at the beginning of November, +and Capt. Geary then took command of C Company. +Lieut. Lomer went to Brigade Headquarters, where he +later became Intelligence Officer. Second Lieut. Hofmeyr +unfortunately had been killed whilst we were at Hill 70, +and Capt. Vann after holding various appointments +during the summer, had finally left to take command +of the 6th Battalion at the end of September. Several +reinforcement Officers, however, had arrived, including +2nd Lieuts. T. Saunders, W. B. Newton, A. D. Sims, +N. Martin and C. M. Bedford, and our strength in Officers +was consistently kept up to something over 30, and in +other ranks to about 650.</p> + +<p>Our second period in the St. Elie Left sub-sector +lasted until the middle of January, 1918. We continued +the old system of six days in the line, six days in Brigade +support at Philosophe, and after a further six days in +the line the same period in Divisional reserve at Verquin. +The weather was now getting very bad, and as few troops +as possible were kept on duty in the front line, which +as usual was held by posts at considerable intervals, the +defence of the line being assured by the activity of patrols +which <span class="pagenum"><a id="page212" name="page212"></a>(p. 212)</span> were out in No Man's Land much of the night, +and did some excellent work, on several occasions +getting right inside the enemy lines.</p> + +<p>We were lucky in being out of the line for Christmas, +which was spent at Verquin with much feasting and +merriment. There seemed to be no shortage of good +things, and we feel sure that the inhabitants of Verquin +will not think that at any rate at Christmas time we +take our pleasures seriously. Of course tales of all +kinds are told of our doings, and though perhaps some +of them may have been exaggerated, there is no doubt +we did ourselves proud. It was a memorable sight +to see the four Company Commanders slogging back +to the trenches on December 28th, to relieve the 7th +Battalion in the line. Jack White in temporary command +of A, John Turner of B, Geary of C, and "Simmy" of +D. Passing Brigade Headquarters at Philosophe they +wore a look that seemed to say "another little drink +wouldn't do us any harm," and after a refresher there, +they went on looking as if they didn't care two straws +if the Boche attacked or not. As a matter of fact on +January 2nd, 1918, the enemy did actually attempt a raid +on our front, but thanks mainly to much careful planning +by Simonet, and supervision by Major Hacking, who was +in temporary command of the Battalion, the raid was +successfully beaten off. The first intimation of anything +of the kind being likely to happen, was a message received +from Col. Vann of the 6th Battalion, on our right, at 3.30 +p.m. on that day stating that an obvious gap had been +cut by the enemy in their wire opposite "Breslau Sap," +on the 6th Battalion front, and asking for co-operation +in the event of a raid at that point. Steps were +accordingly taken to cover the front between Breslau +and Hairpin Craters with Lewis gun fire, whilst +trench mortar co-operation was also arranged, and all +Companies warned to be particularly alert. The raid +was <span class="pagenum"><a id="page213" name="page213"></a>(p. 213)</span> attempted as anticipated, the intention apparently +being to surround Hairpin Crater post. The barrage +began at 9.30 p.m. with heavy trench mortars and +whizz-bangs, opening South of Breslau and gradually +extending North. A barrage was also put down on +the front of the Battalion on our left. The heaviest +bombardment was on Hairpin Craters. Lewis gun +fire was at once opened by us along the whole of +the front, from Breslau to Border Redoubt. Various +groups of the enemy attempted to push through to +our posts when their barrage lifted, but it was evident +that they had lost direction, and got very disorganised, +and we had no difficulty in driving them off with rifle +and Lewis gun fire and bombs, and eventually things +quietened down. Our casualties were only one Officer, +and seven other ranks wounded, all slight, whilst we +captured two unwounded prisoners, and a third was +brought in dead. For his excellent preliminary arrangements, +and for his wise judgment and control of the +situation during the attack, Capt. Simonet was awarded +the M.C. Great gallantry was shewn on the same +occasion by Sergt. W. H. Martin, L.-Sergt. Turner, +and Pvte. Wildsmith, and good work was also done +by L.-Corpl. Rowley, and Pvte. Crouch.</p> + +<p>During our stay in the St. Elie sector, much more +use was made than on any previous occasion of trench +light railway and tram systems. At first rations and +stores were brought up nightly by our own Transport +to the "Mansion House" at Vermelles, and there +transferred to small trench trams, which were taken up +to forward dumps by pushing parties found by the +Battalion. As we were so short of men, however, +mules were requisitioned for this purpose. Later on, +stores were brought up all the way from Sailly-Labourse +on the light railway. The larger trucks on this railway +were also available on one or two occasions to take +the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page214" name="page214"></a>(p. 214)</span> Battalion on relief to Sailly, a ride which was +much appreciated, and saved some part, at any +rate, of the weary tramp back to billets.</p> + +<p>The chief recreation in these days was as usual +football. A "league" was formed, including practically +every Unit in the Division. So that the notices of +matches might not give direct evidence of our identity, +each Unit was allotted a code name. We rejoiced in the +name of "County," whilst teams we played included +those having such aristocratic names as "Dragons," +"Miners," "Tigers," "Wyverns," and "Maconochies." +We were not very fortunate and occupied a somewhat +humble position in the final league table.</p> + +<p>Our losses in personnel during the last two months +of this period included Capt. Turner, who after a +wonderfully successful and lengthy period in command +of B Company, left to take a commission in the +Indian Army. He was succeeded by Lieut. Day. Second +Lieuts. Tucker, Bridden, Sims, Wells, and E. A. Palmer +(a newly joined Subaltern) were wounded, and Lieut. +Cursham went to the Machine Gun Corps. We were also +constantly losing N.C.O.'s on transfer to England to train +for commissions. Fresh Subalterns who joined were 2nd +Lieuts. C. P. O. Bradish, T. R. Christian, H. L. Kennett, +A. S. Judd, A. Spinney, J. S. Whitelegge, A. B. Miners, +C. G. Druce, A. Jewell, E. H. Seymour, J. Bloor, M.M., +V. L. Morris and L. Bromham.</p> + +<p>On January 17th, we were relieved in the St. Elie +sector and moved to billets at Verquin, where we spent a +few days cleaning, and were lectured on the all-absorbing +topic of "War Savings." Leaving there on January +21st, we marched to Burbure preparatory to a long +period of training, the 46th Division having been relieved +in the line by the 11th Division.</p> + + + + +<h3>CHAPTER XII <span class="pagenum"><a id="page215" name="page215"></a>(p. 215)</span></h3> + +<h5>SPRING, 1918</h5> + + +<p class="figcenter"><i>January 22nd, 1918.</i>— +<i>April 20th, 1918.</i></p> + +<p class="p2">What the ultimate object of our training was to +have been is somewhat uncertain. Our withdrawal +from the forward area after six months may have +been merely to give us a thorough rest, but with affairs in +the state they then were, we can hardly imagine that the +intention was to fit us for anything of an offensive +character for some time to come, for as a result of the +withdrawal of Russia from the war, and the consequent +release of German troops from the Russian front, +everything pointed to the Allies on the Western front +being on the defensive for some considerable time. +That the I Corps knew this had been clear for some +time before we left the St. Elie sector. Their Headquarters +had remained in the same billets at Labuissière +since the beginning of the war, and they were taking all +precautions not to have them disturbed—in fact sometimes +we used to think that they intended to end their +days there! There was no doubt a genuine fear that the +Boche might try to break through and capture the rest +of the mining district round about Béthune and Bruay, +and this caused them to take early steps to prevent +such a catastrophe, and for some time before we left the +St. Elie sector, they had all available labour and material +disposed strengthening the defences behind the line as +far back as Béthune. This mainly consisted of putting +up row upon row of "double-apron" barbed wire +entanglements every few hundred yards, which was +looked upon, rightly we think, as the best kind of obstacle +to <span class="pagenum"><a id="page216" name="page216"></a>(p. 216)</span> hold up an attack. With machine guns skilfully +placed at intervals, so as to enfilade these entanglements, +it was thought that the best form of defence had been +attained. Work on trenches in the Division and Corps +reserve lines was also pushed on, and the machine gun +emplacements were made ready for occupation in case +of need, and provided with supplies of ammunition and +water. We were called upon to help in this work +shortly after we were relieved, and on January 30th, sent +a party of 460 of all ranks by motor lorry to Mazingarbe +for this purpose. They stayed there with Col. Blackwall +himself in charge until February 7th, and during that +time worked hard in digging reserve trenches, constructing +anti-tank trenches, and wiring "localities" under +Royal Engineer supervision, near Vermelles. These +"localities" were points in the different reserve lines +most suitable for, and capable of, all-round defence; +they were selected mainly as having a good field of fire +on all sides, and so as to command approaches by which +the enemy might advance in case of a break through.</p> + +<p>The detailing of such a large party naturally left +us with very few men for training at Burbure, so that we +were able to do little in that respect. Such refitting +as was possible was done, and bathing after a good deal +of trouble was arranged at Lillers, but as was the case +in many of the back areas "billet comforts" were +not good. Just at this time, too, we suffered from a +scarcity of clean clothes, and later on the scarcity +became worse. The supply was extremely short, and more +often than not the clothes were rather dirtier on their +return from the Abbeville laundry, than when they +were sent off. This was not our experience in the +I Corps, which we had just left, and whatever we +may have thought or said about some of the doings +of that Corps, it must be confessed that many of +their "Q" matters were very well worked, and in +the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page217" name="page217"></a>(p. 217)</span> whole of their area, which included the entire region +round about and in front of Béthune, in which we +spent many months, we were seldom short of anything +in the nature of supplies which one might reasonably +require, though there may have been some Battalion +Commanders who considered that there should have +been a much more liberal allowance of motor lorries, +which they were certainly very chary about letting us +have.</p> + +<p>Economy in all things was now the order of the day, +and in order to make the most of our diminishing +forces, and to reduce the number of units, it was decided +to reorganise the Army on the basis of three instead of +four Battalions to a Brigade. This was begun whilst +we were at Burbure, the 46th Division being one of the +earliest to undergo the change. In the 139th Brigade +the 7th Battalion was the one selected to be temporarily +broken up. The change was carried out with lightning +rapidity, and within about three days of first getting +the order that they were to be so treated, our old friends +the 7th, were scattered almost to the four winds. We +were very glad to be allotted of their number six Officers, +Lieuts. R. B. Gamble, S. E. Cairns, S. Sanders, who +was attached to the 139th Trench Mortar Battery, +and B. W. Dale, and 2nd Lieuts. W. S. Peach and O.S. +Kent, also 151 other ranks, who joined us and were +absorbed into our Battalion on January 29th. On +the 30th we said "Goodbye" with much regret to +their Commander Col. Toller, who left that day with the +bulk of his Headquarter Staff, to join their corresponding +unit in the 59th Division. From the 2/8th Battalion, +which was the Sherwood Forester Battalion of the +59th Division to be broken up, we also got a quota +of five Officers, Major F. G. Cursham, Capt. C. P. +Elliott, M.C., Lieuts. G. G. Elliott, M.C., and G. Thomas, +and 2nd Lieut. E. R. Elphick, and 85 other ranks, +who <span class="pagenum"><a id="page218" name="page218"></a>(p. 218)</span> joined us on January 31. Frank Cursham, who +later met such a sad fate in England, was known to +some of the older members of the Battalion, and G. G. +Elliott too, had already served with us. This large +influx sent up our strength with a bound, and at the end +of January, we were probably the strongest we ever +touched, viz., 53 Officers and 987 other ranks. The old +nomenclature "1/8th" and "2/8th," used to designate +the 1st and 2nd lines of the Battalion, was no longer +necessary, and we were henceforth known simply as the +"8th Sherwood Foresters."</p> + +<p>On February 9th, the Division moved back by +route march to the First Army Training Area, known +officially as the "Bomy Area." This move was carried +out as a sort of scheme, the idea being that the Division +was following up a retreating enemy, and that at the end +of the day's move we should billet just as though we +were actually pursuing in a hostile country, without +so much prearrangement as was generally possible. +This did not tend, perhaps, to billeting in as great comfort +as one might have wished, and we were inclined to think +it was unnecessary. Be that as it may, we found +ourselves at the end of the day with Headquarters +and two Companies at Laires, and two Companies at +Livossart, all somewhat crowded. This in the nature +of things was unsatisfactory, and steps were at once +taken to try and bring about a change, with the result +that on February 13th, we moved to a very nice little +mining village, Enquin-les-Mines, which we had to ourselves. +The Headquarter Mess was at the Maire's House, +where we were particularly comfortable, and received +much kindness from the Maire and his family. There +we had rather more callers than on some other occasions, +but none of them seemed disappointed if we were not at +home, so long as they could leave a message with the +Maire's charming daughter, and Officers of the Battalion +positively vied with each other in gallantry!</p> + +<p>Musketry <span class="pagenum"><a id="page219" name="page219"></a>(p. 219)</span> played the most important part in our +training, and ranges were in great demand. An A.R.A. +platoon competition was carried out in the Division +and roused considerable interest. The winning platoon +in the Battalion was No. 15 (D Company), but unfortunately +in the Brigade competition, they were +beaten by the platoon from the 5th Battalion. Much +open warfare and trench-to-trench attack practice was +also carried out, a very ominous sign being that this +consisted mainly of counter-attacks to regain portions +of trenches lost! The training culminated in a fairly +successful Brigade Field Day, near Coyecque.</p> + +<p>Recreation of course figured largely in the training. +In a Brigade inter-Company football competition, B +Company's team reached the semi-final, in which they +were knocked out by a team from the 5th Battalion. +For amusements we were not well off, as we were +somewhat isolated. We did, however, manage to get +the Divisional Cinema for the last week of our stay, a +very acceptable acquisition.</p> + +<p>Whilst we were at Enquin our "tin hats" which +had recently been shorn of their questionably ornamental +or useful sandbags, with which we had been ordered to +keep them covered, were painted a dull green, with, for +some curious reason, the Transport sign (dark blue square), +and narrow light green stripe on the left (denoting 8th +Battalion) painted on the side. The change was doubtless +due to the pressing need for economy.</p> + +<p>By the first week in March, it was realised on all +hands that the great Boche offensive could not long be +delayed. The enemy had brought Division after +Division from the Russian front across to the Western, +and, during the Winter, had got together an enormous +concentration of troops in France and Belgium, including +at least three Austrian Divisions, and it was now only +a question of knowing exactly when and where the +onslaught <span class="pagenum"><a id="page220" name="page220"></a>(p. 220)</span> would come. In these circumstances our +training was cut short, and on March 5th, we began to +retrace our steps once more towards the forward area, +marching that day to Westrehem, where we had been +so comfortably billeted nearly a year before, and were +now enthusiastically greeted by our old friends. Only +one night was spent there, and the next day we were +taken in 'buses to Béthune, and billeted once more at +the Orphanage, this being our third time to be quartered +there. We were now back again in the I Corps.</p> + +<p>Then began a period of about seven weeks activity, +during which we had a considerable amount of excitement, +some of it of not too pleasant a nature, and one was +never quite certain what a day might bring forth. The +first week, however, was spent in absolute peace at +Béthune in most delightful summer-like weather, and +was thoroughly enjoyed by all. During that time the +46th Division took over the Cambrin sector again, and +on March 14th, we relieved the support Battalion in +that sector, the 5th Lincolns, who were holding the +Annequin "Locality," including the whole of Annequin +Fosse and its Colliery cottages, which was being put in +a state of defence, and was to be held to the last in the +event of the enemy breaking through the front line +system of trenches.</p> + +<p>With the greatest regret we had now to say goodbye +to Col. Blackwall, who left us for a tour of duty at home. +He had been in command of the Battalion without a +break since October 15th, 1915, and during the whole +time had never been off duty, except when on leave or +attending courses. We feel sure no one felt more than +he did what bad luck it was that he should go just at +this important juncture, but he left with the best wishes +of everyone for a well-earned rest at home. At the same +time we welcomed to the command of the Battalion +Lieut.-Col. R. W. Currin, D.S.O., of the York and +Lancaster Regiment, who was destined to remain with +us, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page221" name="page221"></a>(p. 221)</span> with only a short break, until the conclusion of the +war.</p> + +<p>Several other changes had recently taken place. +Hugh Kirby had left to take up a commission in the +Indian Cavalry, and the Transport was now under the +charge of Capt. Tomlinson. We had also lost Lieuts. +White, Day, and Cairns, who had gone to England for +a rest, and were followed shortly afterwards by Lieut. +H. G. Kirby. Lieut. Gamble, and 2nd Lieuts. Sutton, +Peach and Saunders were unfit and were struck off +strength, and 2nd Lieut. Clarke went to the Machine +Gun Corps. Major Cursham had taken over C Company +from Capt. Geary, and Capt. C. P. Elliott had succeeded +Lieut. Day in command of B Company. We had been +given a new Padre, W. N. Kempe, who made himself +very popular during his few months' stay with us. +Sergt. J. Eggleston, after a long period of excellent +work as Pioneer Sergt., was appointed Comp. Quarter-Master +Sergt. of D Company, in place of Gammon, who +went home for a commission.</p> + +<p>Transport was lucky in being put in lines at Le +Quesnoy, probably the best constructed and best equipped +that we ever struck during the whole war. Units which +had been there before had evidently worked hard on +them to carry out improvements, and for once we were +really lucky in finding a good spot. The stables were +strongly built, well roofed, floored, and provided with +harness and fodder rooms, and to a certain extent +protected from bomb splinters by earth revetments.</p> + +<a id="img021" name="img021"></a> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/img021.jpg" width="500" height="400" alt="The Beuvry—la Bassée Road, Near Cambrin, 1917." title="The Beuvry—la Bassée Road, Near Cambrin, 1917."> +</div> + +<p class="figcenter">The Beuvry—la Bassée Road, Near Cambrin, 1917. +<i>Reproduced by permission of the Imperial War Museum.</i></p> + +<p>On March 20th, we relieved the 5th Battalion in +the Cambrin left sub-sector, with which we were already +well acquainted. On the following day there took place +in the South the first onslaught of the Boche, in his +great Spring Offensive of 1918. There was no actual +attack anywhere near us, the only offensive action on +our front being a "demonstration" in the shape of a +heavy <span class="pagenum"><a id="page222" name="page222"></a>(p. 222)</span> bombardment with gas shells, which was decidedly +unpleasant, though not causing us any casualties.</p> + +<p>During the night of March 21/22nd, we did experience +a real touch of the offensive in the shape of a big raid on +the right Company, the most vulnerable portion of the +line on the whole Brigade front. This front, which +was held by A Company was of enormous length, +extending from Railway Craters on the right to Munster +Parade on the left, a distance of about 600 yards. +Three platoons (about 60 all told) held the outpost line +in small posts of four or five men, each under a N.C.O., +the fourth platoon being held in support as a counterattacking +platoon in Old Boots Trench at the West +end of Munster Tunnel. The latter was about 400 +yards behind the outpost line, and was also occupied +by the support Company, and contained the right +Company Headquarters. The orders laid down were +that in case of attack the platoon detailed for the task +was to counter-attack either through the tunnel (quite +impossible if the enemy obtained a footing in the trench +at the tunnel mouth) or over the top.</p> + +<p>Shortly after midnight, the enemy put down an +intense barrage of trench mortars, wing bombs, and shells +of all calibres, along the whole of the Brigade front and +support lines, forward communication trenches, Battalion +Headquarters, the Village Line, and extending even +to roads, villages, and batteries far behind the line. +Telephone wires were broken immediately, but the +"S.O.S." was sent by signal rocket and power buzzer, +and our artillery and machine guns replied at once. +There had been no preliminary bombardment or warning +of any kind. The enemy entered our trenches directly +behind his barrage from the cover of the craters on the +right, between our right post and the left Company of +the 138th Brigade, who were on our right, also near +Dundee Walk in the centre, and just North of +Munster <span class="pagenum"><a id="page223" name="page223"></a>(p. 223)</span> Tunnel on the left. Such wire as had been +put up by the few men who were usually available was +swept away by the hurricane bombardment, which +prevented movement of any kind, either to or from the +front or support lines. Two runners were wounded +whilst attempting to take messages between Company +Headquarters and Munster Tunnel, a distance of 50 +yards. The posts in the front line were unable, +owing to their small numbers, to offer any prolonged +resistance, or on account of the distance between them, +to assist neighbouring posts.</p> + +<p>The front line entrance to Munster Tunnel was +held by us the whole time, and an attempt to blow it +in, which was one of the main objects of the raid, was +frustrated, 2nd Lieut. Hartle being wounded by a hand +grenade. That the garrison of the outpost line withstood +the onslaught to their utmost there is no doubt, +and to this the pools of blood and reeking bayonets +of some of the rifles found afterwards in the trench, +bore convincing testimony. After the enemy's withdrawal, +one unwounded and one seriously wounded +German were left in our hands, the former having +apparently become detached from his party, and being +discovered later in front of our trench with a sheet of +newspaper fluttering from his rifle.</p> + +<p>The thoroughness with which the Boche trained for +this raid was proved from the prisoners' statements +and documents, which afterwards came into our hands. +For six weeks the raiding party, consisting of about +250 men, had been training over an exact replica of our +trenches, constructed with the help of an aeroplane +photograph. The training had also included the teaching +of several words of English. The work of the raiders +was extraordinary, and our own men in the front line +testified to the remarkable dexterity with which they +removed their casualties. This is the more wonderful +inasmuch <span class="pagenum"><a id="page224" name="page224"></a>(p. 224)</span> as they had to penetrate our barrages, in +order to regain their trench, and there is no doubt that +in doing so they lost heavily. Our casualties amounted +to three other ranks killed, including a very gallant +N.C.O., Corpl. Tyne, 26 other ranks missing, and one +Officer (Hartle), and ten other ranks wounded. We +should like to pay tribute to the excellent work done by +the Signallers, who as usual worked their hardest, to try +and keep their lines in order, in spite of the heavy +shelling. L.-Corpl. Parry's efforts to repair the broken +lines back from one of the front Companies, were especially +praiseworthy.</p> + +<p>Though there was an element of surprise in the raid, +there is no doubt that its success was due to the fact that +the defence was designed for an attack on a large scale, +and led inevitably to a weakening of our outpost line, +making it peculiarly vulnerable to a raid or attack with +a limited objective.</p> + +<p>The following night, the whole Battalion was +ordered to wire as hard as possible, and hundreds of reels +of barbed wire were put out. Even Battalion Headquarters +shared in the work, the whole staff being out +in an endeavour to wire themselves in.</p> + +<p>On March 24th, we were relieved by the 6th +Battalion, Headquarters and two Companies proceeding +to Beuvry, and two Companies remaining in the +trenches in close support. "Wind" at this time +was very "high," and our Intelligence reported that +we must be prepared for any eventuality. The enemy +had made enormous progress in their attack in the +South, and everything pointed to the possibility of a +general attack along the whole front. As a matter of +fact no such attempt was ever made on the Cambrin-St. +Elie sector, but we had to take every precaution, +and for the next two or three nights, we marched up to +our battle positions in front of Cambrin, in case the +expected <span class="pagenum"><a id="page225" name="page225"></a>(p. 225)</span> attack should mature. We even made arrangements +for a possible retreat, and worse than that, all +leave was stopped.</p> + +<p>It was at this juncture that our Brigade Commander, +General Carey left us to take Command of the 20th +Division, with everyone's good wishes and congratulations. +He arrived near Amiens in time to assume +Command of a composite Army, known as "Carey's +Force," and to assist materially in finally stopping the +great German onslaught. He was succeeded by General +Wood.</p> + +<p>The "wind" in this quarter, dropped for the +moment, but we heard that things just North of Arras +were not looking too bright. The enemy were expected +to attack at Vimy, and the Canadians who were holding +the sector opposite Lens, were to be moved to that part +to help the defence. As a result, we got orders on +March 25th, to move back once more to the Lens region, +to relieve the Canadians. Hasty plans were made by +which the 11th Division took over from us, and on +March 27th, we marched to Calonne and relieved +the 72nd Canadian Battalion there in reserve, moving +up the following night to the St. Emile sector, in front of +St. Pierre, where we took over the right sub-sector front +line from the 78th Canadian Battalion. The completion +of the relief had to be rather hurried, as the enemy +attacked at Oppy on March 28th, and the Canadians +were hastily sent there to help. Transport and Quarter-Master's +Stores had meanwhile gone to Fosse 10.</p> + +<p>The front line in this sector was now of course much +further forward, than when we were last there, as the +Canadians in connection with their attack on Hill 70, +had forced the enemy out of the whole of St. Pierre, +St. Laurent, and St. Emile Cités, back to the outskirts +of Lens itself. These Cités were now to all intents +and purposes destroyed, and presented nothing but +a <span class="pagenum"><a id="page226" name="page226"></a>(p. 226)</span> mass of streets heaped up with broken tiles, brick +and other débris, interspersed here and there with +trenches, the remains of houses, and a few shattered +trees. Amongst the ruins the Canadians had laid a +splendid system of tramways, and the transport of +stores and rations to the line was carried out every +night by this means, in a most expeditious manner. +Canadian Engineers continued to run the lines during +our stay, and we must confess that we did not envy the +drivers their job, for the lines went up uncomfortably +close to the front line, and a good deal of noise +accompanied the arrival and departure of the trains, +unloading of stores, and loading of empties for the +return journey, the guard or man in charge usually +helping matters with a few shrill blasts of his whistle, +quite in approved Canadian fashion.</p> + +<p>After a quiet tour of four days, we were relieved in +the early morning of April 1st, by the 6th Battalion, and +went back to Brigade support at St. Pierre, where we +lived in the cellars of the otherwise destroyed houses. +Our stay there was rendered less pleasant than it might +have been, by the fact that practically the whole of the +village was under observation from Lens, so that during +the day hardly any movement was possible, and most +of our exercise had to be taken by night, when we were +kept pretty busy with carrying and working parties. +The nightly gas shelling of the village made this work +anything but pleasant. Bathing parades too, were +held at night, and took place in the weirdest bathing +establishment we ever met, which was in the crypt of +the church. It was well protected by the ruins of the +church, and had been fitted up with a spray bath.</p> + +<p>On April 3rd, we relieved the 5th Battalion in the +line, and had a somewhat "thin" six days, owing to the +enemy being extremely active, particularly with heavy +trench mortars, with which he did a lot of damage to our +front <span class="pagenum"><a id="page227" name="page227"></a>(p. 227)</span> line, being particularly obnoxious on the night of +April 5/6th, in retaliation for one of our gas projector +shows. L.-Corpl. Beech did especially commendable +work during these days in charge of a Lewis gun post.</p> + +<p>One morning during a tour in the front line in this +sector. Col. Currin very nearly lost his runner. It was a +rather foggy morning, and the Commanding Officer +sent him to find an Officer in an adjoining Company. +Unfortunately the runner made a mistake at a trench +junction, and gaily followed an old communication +trench, running straight to the enemy's lines. It was +doubtful which party was the more surprised when he +suddenly found himself confronted by a Boche sentry +post behind a barricade. At any rate the latter were +too amazed to shoot, whilst true to his calling the runner +ran, and never stopped until he nearly crashed into the +arms of the Colonel, who was wondering what on earth +had happened.</p> + +<p>On April 9th, the 6th Battalion relieved us again, +and we went back to St. Pierre. On the same day there +happened an event which was to have an enormous +effect on the future of the war, at any rate so far as +the fighting on the Northern portion of the front was +concerned, viz., the attack on the British line immediately +North of the La Bassée Canal, and on the Portuguese in +the Neuve Chapelle area. The result was that whilst +the 55th Division put up a magnificent defence on the +Canal, and completely beat off all the enemy attacks, the +Portuguese gave way, and the enemy were able to push +on West for a considerable distance, until brought to +a halt by the British, who were later helped by reinforcements +rapidly sent up by the French. This had an +almost immediate effect on us, for on the night of April +11/12th, we were taken out of the line, being relieved +once more by the Canadians (13th Battalion) who were +hurried up from the area North of Arras, where things +seemed <span class="pagenum"><a id="page228" name="page228"></a>(p. 228)</span> to be quiet once more. After a great scramble, +relief was completed by 5.30 a.m. when it was practically +daylight. Some got rides on the trains which brought +up the Canadians, but the rest had to walk, and eventually +we all got to Noeux-les-Mines, where we had +breakfast and dinner, and proceeded in the afternoon +to Vaudricourt. The whole Division had been relieved—one +of the quickest reliefs known—and we now found +ourselves in Army Reserve, to be sent to any spot where +we might be required.</p> + +<p>Things once more were in a very "nervy" state, +as it was felt that ere long the enemy would make +another desperate attempt to capture the rest of the +mining area, either by direct frontal attack from the +East towards Béthune, or by continuing his enveloping +movement from the North, and attacking it from that +direction across the La Bassée Canal. A large part of +this area now formed a prominent salient, with the enemy +on the East and North, and the consequence was a +rapid evacuation of the French inhabitants from many +of the mining towns and villages in that district, including +Béthune, Beuvry, Annequin, Sailly-Labourse, Noeux-les-Mines, +and Bully Grenay—all of which we knew well. +For several days we watched the wretched inhabitants +toiling along the roads, taking with them by whatever +means they could, the few belongings they most treasured +or required. Some had carts loaded with bedding and +furniture, some their little dog carts full to overflowing, +others footed it burdened with loads almost beyond +human strength to carry. Ever the throng kept passing +back from the forward regions, having left everything +that they could not carry just as it was in their houses, +with no other protection than locked doors. Their cattle +and horses too, were driven back, and taken to pounds +in villages in safer regions. Several more mines had to +cease work, and the French miners thus thrown out of +employment <span class="pagenum"><a id="page229" name="page229"></a>(p. 229)</span> were mostly set to work in digging line upon +line of additional trenches about Fouquières and Drouvin, +for us to fall back on in case of a break through, as it +was determined to contest every bit of the ground to +the very utmost. Right well they worked, and in an +incredibly short time, they had dug miles of trenches, +and well wired them in front with substantial entanglements. +Our only fear was that if the enemy got through, +we should not have sufficient men to garrison these +trenches so excellently dug!</p> + +<p>This was probably the darkest period of the war. +The inspiring message from the Commander-in-Chief +was read to all ranks, and all indeed realised that we +had our backs to the wall and were fighting for our +very existence, and that it was touch and go whether +the Hun would not, after all, break through the whole +line and sweep through to the coast, and ultimately +to England.</p> + +<p>It was in these circumstances, after a few days +quiet training about Vaudricourt, that we got word at +2.30 a.m. on the morning of April 18th, that a German +prisoner had been captured, and had given information +to the effect that the enemy were going to make another +desperate attack that morning along the La Bassée +Canal. We were accordingly ordered at once to man +part of the Sailly-Labourse "Locality," known as the +"Tuning Fork Line," just in front of that village, so-called +because it formed part of a system of trenches and +breastworks shaped like a tuning fork. There was +some slight delay in getting the orders passed on, and +it was 4.30 a.m. before we marched off. This was +unfortunate, for we were not able to reach our battle +position before dawn, when the enemy's barrage began. +This as usual included heavy shelling of the rear roads +and villages through which we had to pass, particularly +Verquigneul and Sailly, where we suffered several +casualties, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page230" name="page230"></a>(p. 230)</span> and lost Corpl. Caudwell, who had done such +good work with the Transport, and two men killed and +several others wounded. One of the cookers was also +badly blown about by a shell in Verquigneul. We got +to our position at 6.30 a.m. where we were comparatively +comfortable. The enemy had actually attacked at +Givenchy, but once again, thanks to the 1st and 55th +Divisions, he was completely defeated, and never again +did he try to get through on this part of the front. We +were kept in our positions here for two days, by which +time things had become normal once more, and in the +afternoon of April 20th, we marched back to our billets +at Vaudricourt.</p> + + + + +<h3>CHAPTER XIII <span class="pagenum"><a id="page231" name="page231"></a>(p. 231)</span></h3> + +<h5>GORRE AND ESSARS</h5> + +<p class="figcenter"><i>April 21st, 1918.</i>— +<i>September 6th, 1918.</i></p> + +<p class="p2">Two days after our return to Vaudricourt, the +46th Division was called upon to relieve the 3rd +Division in the area North of the La Bassée Canal, afterwards +known as Gorre and Essars sectors, where they +had recently held up the German attack. This front +extended from the 55th Division boundary on the right, +near Givenchy, where the line bent now almost at a right +angle, to Mesplaux Farm on the Lawe Canal, on the left, +this line being more or less parallel with the La Bassée +Canal, and at the nearest point about two and-a-half +miles from Béthune.</p> + +<p>Leaving Vaudricourt on the evening of April 23rd, +we marched the short journey to Béthune, where after +some rearrangement, we were eventually allotted billets +in one of the French Barracks. How changed was our +favourite old town of Béthune! From the earliest days +of the war a resting place for the traveller, the chief +shopping centre for a very wide area, probably the most +popular and best known town to British Troops on the +whole of the Western Front, full of life, and to a certain +extent gaiety, although within such a short distance +of the line, she had now been deserted by all her +inhabitants, and was like a city of the dead. Previously +only hit by a few stray shells on odd occasions, she +was now being bombarded regularly, as the enemy had +brought up his guns much closer, and they had already +made their presence known in no uncertain manner. +Everywhere notices had been put up warning troops +against the crime of looting, but is it not more than +human <span class="pagenum"><a id="page232" name="page232"></a>(p. 232)</span> nature can stand to see houses, as they were +here, often open for anyone to walk straight into, filled +with all kinds of valuables, many quite easy to carry +away, and all liable at any instant to be destroyed by +shell or fire?</p> + +<p>At the moment, however, we had little time to +trouble about the town ourselves, as on April 24th, we +moved out again. After a novel and amusing cricket +match—if such it could be called—in the Barrack Square +in the afternoon, we relieved at night the 2nd Royal +Scots in the right sub-sector of the Essars sector, with +two Companies in the front line and two in support, +Battalion Headquarters being at Le Hamel, in the cellar +of a farmhouse. Company Commanders at this time +were: A, Capt. Andrews; B, Capt. C. P. Elliott; +C, 2nd Lieut. Kent, who had taken over command when +Major Cursham went to hospital; D, Capt. Simonet. +It was fortunate that they had been up to reconnoitre +the day before, for when platoons reached the appointed +rendezvous, the guides were not there. We had had +sufficient experience by this time to know that, +although all possible precautions were taken, it was +a most difficult problem to make certain that every +guide was a picked man, knew exactly where he was +to meet his party, what that party was, and where +it was to be guided to, and to be able to do all this +by night without a hitch. Ian Hay has classified guides +in two grades (a) the guide who doesn't know the way +and tells you so; (b) the guide who doesn't know the +way and doesn't tell you so until he has lost both you +and himself. We might add to this (c) the guide who +doesn't turn up! In this case however, nothing desperate +happened, and in due course the relief was carried out.</p> + +<p>The conditions here were indeed novel, and more +like those of "open warfare" than any we had yet +experienced. It might almost be said that we had now +bidden <span class="pagenum"><a id="page233" name="page233"></a>(p. 233)</span> farewell to real trenches, for, though the line in +the Gorre and Essars sectors, remained stationary for +nearly four months and trenches certainly were dug, +from now onwards we never had quite the same type +of front line as we had hitherto been accustomed to. +The German rush had been brought to a halt, not many +days before we took over, so that there were practically +no defences of any kind. The outpost line consisted of +a few shell-holes, and small slits dug in the ground at +intervals with a very small amount of barbed wire in +front. The support line, known as the "Liverpool Line," +consisted mainly of a few slits, but was protected for a +great portion of its length by the Beuvry River, and a +fair barbed wire entanglement. A few shelters had +already been made in both lines, by putting sheets of +corrugated iron over some of the small trenches which +had been dug, and camouflaging them with earth. +Some distance behind the Liverpool Line there +were some old breastworks, forming part of a reserve +line, which some of us remembered seeing the French +constructing in the Autumn of 1915, when we were in +the Vieille Chapelle area, just North of this. In some +of these there were small concrete shelters very much +like old-fashioned pigsties, which on the left of the +Essars sector, were used for Battalion Headquarters. +There were of course no communication trenches +whatever, all communication to the front posts being +over the top, mostly by tracks through the growing +crops.</p> + +<p>The whole area was perfectly flat, and almost +entirely under observation, so that by day no movement +was possible, and no work could be done, and as the +nights were now getting shorter and shorter, very few +hours in every 24 could be utilised for doing the work +we were so anxious to get on with. There was nothing +to be done by day, apart from ordinary sentry duty, +except <span class="pagenum"><a id="page234" name="page234"></a>(p. 234)</span> to keep out of sight and make ourselves as +comfortable as very cramped quarters would allow.</p> + +<p>A further disadvantage was that the water level in +the ground was very near the surface, so that dug-outs +were impossible, and the most we could do was to put +up small corrugated iron shelters, mainly in T-shaped +saps running back from the trenches. These we pushed +on with as rapidly as possible, in order to afford some +protection in case of bad weather. In this respect we +were extremely lucky, and for a very great part of our +stay the weather was delightful, days and sometimes +weeks together passing without a single drop of rain.</p> + +<p>The first tour of four days was quiet, except for some +gas shelling, which the Boche was doing much more +extensively now, especially about sunrise and sunset, +when he was particularly fond of dosing Battalion +Headquarters at Le Hamel, and Essars and Gorre. +At the latter place the château and the wood were +the favourite targets, and on several occasions were +absolutely drenched with gas. At this time it was mainly +"yellow cross" or "mustard" gas that was used, a very +deadly gas, affecting any part of the body exposed to +it, and particularly dangerous when the sun was up. +A certain amount of "green cross" or "phosgene" +which was decidedly dangerous, was also used, as well +as a little "blue cross," which apart from making one +sneeze had no very ill effect, unless inhaled in large +quantities. During this tour we did little except get used +to the new conditions, and try to find our way about. +It was the simplest thing in the world to get in front of the +outpost line without knowing you were there, and on +occasions people were even discovered in No Man's Land +asking for the support line! Visiting the posts in the +front line was also at first more or less a matter of +conjecture, but in course of time most of them were +joined up by a continuous trench. At first the novelty +of <span class="pagenum"><a id="page235" name="page235"></a>(p. 235)</span> it all amused us, and after all it was a very welcome +change from ordinary trench life.</p> + +<p>It was during the first tour that we had the great +misfortune to lose a very gallant Officer and sportsman—H. K. +Simonet. He had moved his Company Headquarters +from an unprotected shell-hole to a cottage at +Les Façons, in the outpost line itself, only to get a direct +hit on it almost immediately which resulted in Simonet +and his runner, Pvte. Garratt, one of the most reliable +and gallant men in the Battalion, being badly wounded. +Neither recovered, and they were buried near each other +in the Cemetery at Lapugnoy. A most capable Officer, +of fine leadership and magnificent character, "Simmy" +was liked by all and his loss was felt most keenly throughout +the Battalion. He was succeeded in command of +D Company by Lieut. Warner, whose place as Signalling +Officer was taken by 2nd Lieut. Stephenson.</p> + +<p>On April 28th, we were relieved by the 5th Leicesters, +and moved back into Divisional Reserve at Fouquières, +where we stayed four days, during which the chief +excitement was that we had to stand to in the early +hours of May 1st, as there were rumours of another +German attack, which fortunately did not mature.</p> + +<p>We took over from the 6th South Staffords in support +in the Gorre sector, on May 2nd, and had something of +a shock on finding that they had lost nearly 50 per +cent. of their numbers during their tour by mustard +gas poisoning, with which the Boche had literally +drenched the whole of Gorre Wood and château, and +most of the village. It was not a comfortable +introduction to the sector! Fortunately most of the +casualties proved to be slight, and the greater part were +able to rejoin a few days later.</p> + +<a id="img022" name="img022"></a> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/img022.jpg" width="500" height="401" alt="Gorre Brewery And Bridge, 1918." title="Gorre Brewery And Bridge, 1918."> +</div> + +<p class="figcenter">Gorre Brewery And Bridge, 1918. +<i>Reproduced by permission of the Imperial War Museum.</i></p> + +<p>There was nothing fresh about the kind of work +required of us in support. It was as ever, and was for +several more months, the carrying of Royal Engineers' +and <span class="pagenum"><a id="page236" name="page236"></a>(p. 236)</span> other material to front line Battalions, and the +provision of working parties for Royal Engineers. +How we blessed them and their working parties! It +would fill a book much larger than the present one to +attempt to put down half what one thought, and what +one heard and said about them, but this shall be our last +uncivil remark! They had a splendid dump at Le +Quesnoy, known as "Kantara." Situated next door +to the station and canal, almost adjoining the road, +and having a branch from the tramline running into it, +this dump could not very well have been in a more +suitable position, though the same advantages made it +a most convenient target for the Hun gunners. Almost +next door to it was Gorre Brewery, also very well situated, +and having the additional attraction of a tall chimney +which gave the Boche the line of the bridge over the +canal a few yards behind it. Though they did some +quite good shooting at these targets and damaged the +canal bridge, the chimney in the end was blown up by +our own Sappers. In view of these facts it seemed at +first rather curious that this spot should have been chosen +for the Headquarters of the support Battalion and the +Aid Post. Perhaps the first people went there to find +the beer; if so they certainly took it all, for there was +none left when we got there!</p> + +<p>On May 4th, we relieved the 6th Battalion in the +right or "Route A Keep" sub-sector, undoubtedly the +unhealthiest part of the whole Divisional front. The +so-called "Keep" was merely the highest ground in +the locality, overlooking the Boche to a certain extent, +and so an important tactical feature, though having +nothing in the way of defences to warrant the term +"Keep." There had been considerable fighting over +its possession during the time the 55th Division held +this area, and counter-attacks were made time and +again by the enemy to get them out. Eventually they +got <span class="pagenum"><a id="page237" name="page237"></a>(p. 237)</span> tired, and in the end, after its capture by the +Stafford Brigade on April 29th, they made no further +efforts to retake it. Corpses lay on all sides, both of +our own troops and of the enemy, and made the place +distinctly offensive. Life was made still more unpleasant +by constant trench mortaring and shelling, +whilst protection was of the scantiest. We tried to +improve this during our first tour by digging an advanced +trench well in front of the outpost line, and so as to +conform with the front lines of flank battalions. Though +the trench was dug with little interruption on the part +of the enemy, we did not exactly look upon it as a +masterpiece, nor by any means our best piece of work +in France, but it served its purpose very well, and in time +was considerably improved.</p> + +<p>On May 10th, we went back to bivouacs in +Vaudricourt Park, in Divisional Reserve. These +bivouacs and the villages of Fouquières and Verquin, +were from now onwards allotted in rotation to the +three Battalions of the Brigade out at rest.</p> + +<p>The atmosphere during the greater part of May was +again very "breezy." From various sources, including +prisoners' statements, our Intelligence Department +were led to believe that another big attack was going to +be made, and might begin at any moment, with the +object of getting Béthune, and the rest of the coalfield. +In fact, so great was the general anxiety on the occasion +of our relief on May 10th, that we had to remain in the +Béthune "Locality" all night. The attack passed +off without happening, as did several others! The +bridges over the La Bassée Canal were mined and +guarded by Sapper and Infantry sentries, with instructions +as to blowing them up in case a further withdrawal +became necessary. We felt quite certain that they +would be blown up alright should the occasion arise, +but had grave doubts as to what might befall those who +happened <span class="pagenum"><a id="page238" name="page238"></a>(p. 238)</span> to be on the wrong side of the Canal! That +well-known landmark, Béthune Church Tower, which +commanded views for miles in all directions, had also +had a powerful charge laid at its base, so that it might +be blown up in the event of our retirement. Ultimately +it was blown up, not on account of any retirement on +our part, but by the enemy shelling the town. Having +brought up numbers of guns into the newly-formed +Merville salient, they shelled Béthune daily, until on +May 17th, a shell landed near enough to the base of the +Church Tower to explode the charge, and the remnants +of the tower disappeared with the most appalling +explosion, followed by an enormous cloud of dust and +débris, bricks and stones being thrown for hundreds of +yards. Numerous incendiary shells were also fired into +the town, and with the delightful weather we were then +having it did not take long to set fire to the whole of the +central congested part, which blazed away for days. It +was a glorious sight to watch the flames and the smoke +rolling away, but sad to see so much useless destruction.</p> + +<p>The constant fear of further enemy attacks, coupled +with the absolute impossibility of our thinking of any +offensive action for some considerable time, decided +the authorities that a really strong line of resistance +was of first importance. Work of Battalions holding +the line was, therefore, concentrated on strengthening +the Liverpool Line, whilst Divisional troops, Royal +Engineers, Monmouths, and special working parties +found by the Brigade in reserve, were engaged in building +lines behind, known as the "Manchester" and +"Newcastle" lines. To build a double line of breastworks +protected by barbed wire entanglements along the +whole Divisional front was a colossal task. The wire +was put up, and long sections of breastwork were more +or less completed, but by that time things had fortunately +so altered that no further defensive work was necessary. +The <span class="pagenum"><a id="page239" name="page239"></a>(p. 239)</span> other important work was the improvement of +billets in the forward area, which was destitute of +buildings, except for a few farm houses and cottages, +mostly knocked about by shell fire. With the possible +prospect of having to winter here, efforts were made to +improve these buildings, by putting inside them +"Elephant" shelters, covered with concrete. The +Royal Engineers made considerable progress with this +work, and before we left, several comfortable billets +had been thus improvised.</p> + +<p>Another work in which all could help—no matter +what their rank—and which took a prominent part in +our daily life in these days, was "Salvage." Undoubtedly +there was apt to be great waste by allowing material to +be left lying about, and at this time there was a pressing +need to retrieve everything that could possibly be +found. We did our best and endeavoured to rescue such +articles as 18-pounder guns and limbers, which we thought +might come in useful, but judging from the screeds that +were received as to "the true spirit of salvage" we +were wrong, and found that the returns of salvage that +got the most marks were those containing such items as +"socks 200" (got generally from derelict Quarter-Master's +Stores found in the forward area, and packed +into a limber in about half-a-minute), but the work +entailed in hauling 18-pounders and limbers out of +dangerous parts of the front, apparently counted for +little. Towards the end of our stay, when we moved into +the XIII Corps (Lieut.-General Morland) and Fifth Army +(General Birdwood), even greater attention was paid to +salvage, and every scrap of paper had to be returned +to the Paper Dump, bottles to the Bottle Dump, tins to +special incinerators, to have the solder melted out and +collected, and so on, all no doubt of vital necessity, +though seeming at the time rather a bore to carry out.</p> + +<p>By <span class="pagenum"><a id="page240" name="page240"></a>(p. 240)</span> the end of May several changes had taken place +in the personnel of the Battalion, not the least important +being that of the Quarter-Master. Torrance, who had not +been well for some time, went to England for a tour of +home duty at the end of April. Lieut. Dale, who acted +in his place for a few days, managed to get wounded, and +then Regimental Quarter-Master Sergt. Pritchard carried +on until May 26th, when Lieut. J. Brewer from the +"Pool" of Quarter-Masters at the Base joined for duty. +Kent, in command of C Company, had a very brief +period in which to enjoy the Company Commander's +well-earned privilege of being granted the rank and pay +of Captain, for he got badly wounded by a machine +gun bullet on May 31st, in the Gorre sector, and was +succeeded by Capt. Miners. We also lost 2nd Lieuts. +Christian, Judd, Jewel, and Fairbrother—all wounded—and +2nd Lieut. Russell, sick. Reinforcement Officers +who joined were 2nd Lieuts. A. D. H. Dunkin and +H. Hallam.</p> + +<p>Trench reliefs continued more or less according to +schedule, 12 days being spent in the line to six out at +rest, and though there were minor excitements now and +then, nothing exceptional happened on our part of the +front for many weeks, although on May 27th, the enemy +renewed his attacks near Rheims in the South, and +Locre in the North, and made some further progress. +Of the Brigade sectors, Essars was looked upon as the +more preferable, if only on account of the excellent +vegetables which grew there in large quantities, and +needless to say, found their way to the messes of Officers +and men alike, where they were a most welcome addition +to rations. There were also numbers of livestock left +behind by the French, which owing to the rapid onrush +of the Boche they had been unable to take with them. +It is reported that two pigs found at "Tank" or +"Portuguese" farm, by a certain Company Commander +were <span class="pagenum"><a id="page241" name="page241"></a>(p. 241)</span> not unconnected with a noticeable improvement +in the rations the next time we were out at rest! A cow +which was kept at Battalion Headquarters for a few +days, came to an unfortunate end by dying of gas +poisoning!</p> + +<p>In order that the men might do a little cooking for +themselves in the trenches, as it was impossible to take +hot meals up to them by day, special issues of "Tommies' +Cookers" were made, with which they were able to make +hot drinks, and warm their savoury "Maconochies," +"Meat and Vegetables," "Pork and Beans," and other +delicacies, whilst during the night hot porridge and +tea were made at Battalion Headquarters, and sent round +in food containers.</p> + +<p>Rations were taken up each night in the early days +by our own Transport, which had been provided with lines +in a rather low lying field at Fouquières, but later moved +to the back of Divisional Headquarters at Gosnay, +where timber and corrugated iron brought back from +derelict horse lines in the forward area, made useful huts +and shelters. There was little to choose between the +sectors so far as transport was concerned, for the shelling +of roads was a regular feature of the enemy's offensive +action, particularly during the night. It seemed of +little use trying to avoid it by going earlier or later, +for at whatever time transport was about, there were +sure to be shells, mostly gas. The most lively spots +were Gorre and Le Quesnoy villages on the right, and the +road between Béthune Cemetery Corner and Le Hamel +on the left, and it was always advisable to "get a move +on" at night along these particular roads. Later on +the trench tramway system, which already existed on +the right, was improved and extended to the Essars +sector, and eventually stores of all kinds were taken up +each night to both sectors in that way, the trains being +loaded up at "Speedwell Spur," near Fouquières. +The <span class="pagenum"><a id="page242" name="page242"></a>(p. 242)</span> engine was taken off at Essars on the left, and at +Le Quesnoy on the right, and from there the trucks +were man-handled forward to Battalion Headquarters, +or other points.</p> + +<p>During the first three and a half months of this +period we were not called upon to carry out a raid or +attack of any kind. Gunners and Trench Mortar people +carried out shoots on various occasions, and our machine +gunners, who were now formed into one Battalion for +the Division, made the most horrible noise every night +with their "barrages," but we were let off with nothing +more serious than patrolling. The country was admirably +adapted to this form of reconnaissance, and patrols +were out by day almost as much as by night. The corn +crops which covered much of the area, were of course +left untouched (except just in front of our lines, where +they were cut so as to afford a field of fire), and provided +excellent cover, as did also the hedges and ditches, which +were fairly frequent, and by these means it was possible +to get right up to the German outpost line by daylight, +and at times even past it. The enemy, of course, played +the same game, and unfortunately on one occasion +managed to snaffle the N.C.O. and two men from one +of our posts. Sometimes patrols went out just before +dawn, and remained out the whole of the day, observing +from some ditch or other place of concealment, returning +to our lines again when darkness fell. Of the many +splendid patrols carried out, probably the most daring +were those by Capt. Andrews, who had previously got +a good "chit" from the Corps and Divisional Commanders, +for an excellent daylight patrol at "Hairpin +Craters," in the St. Elie sector. It is reported that on +one occasion, when trying to get back to our line +he was mistaken for an enemy patrol, and fired on by +his own Lewis gunners, and that when he did eventually +get safely back, the No. 1 of the team got severely +straffed <span class="pagenum"><a id="page243" name="page243"></a>(p. 243)</span> for his poor shooting! Others who did most +excellent work in connection with patrolling were Lieuts. +Elphick and G. G. Elliott; 2nd Lieuts. Spinney, C. M. +Bedford, Hallam, Seymour, Sellis, and Fairbrother; +Comp. Sergt.-Major Rawding; Sergts. Brett, Teece and +Sharrock; Corpls. T. H. Johnson, Foster, Brooks and +Hurt; L.-Corpl. Beech, and Pvtes. Stanley and Hinton +(A Company), Curley, Walker and Elliott (B Company), +Green (a Stretcher Bearer), and Miller (C Company), +and Huckerby, Wildsmith, and Stubbings (D Company).</p> + +<a id="img023" name="img023"></a> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/img023.jpg" width="500" height="390" alt="The Clock Tower, Béthune, 1918." title="The Clock Tower, Béthune, 1918."> +</div> + +<p class="figcenter">The Clock Tower, Béthune, 1918. +<i>Reproduced by permission of the Imperial War Museum.</i></p> + +<p>So far as training was concerned, an important +change was made during this period by the formation +of the "Battle Details," into what became known as +the "Divisional Wing." As the periods out of the line, +were too short for any satisfactory Battalion training, +to be carried out, a number of Officers and men selected +from each Battalion were left out of the line at regular +intervals, to undergo a short course of general training. +These courses usually lasted for twelve days. The +first assembly was at Bruay, but later more permanent +quarters were found at the aerodrome at Hesdigneul. +Each Brigade had its own "Wing," and each Battalion +had a Senior Officer on the spot to supervise the training. +Lieut. C. H. Powell of our Battalion was for some time +a most efficient Adjutant of the 139th Brigade Wing. +Lewis gun training and instruction in the meaning of +"Chain of Command" were at this time perhaps the +most important points. Every man in the Battalion +had to be taught to load and fire the Lewis gun, and to +know not only who his commanders were, but how the +command might descend to him in case of casualties. +Fresh issues of Lewis guns, which were made from time +to time, allowed each Company to have eight. Their +transport was provided by the allotment of two limbered +wagons per Company, which carried, in addition to the +guns, their ammunition "drums," spare parts, some +boxed <span class="pagenum"><a id="page244" name="page244"></a>(p. 244)</span> ammunition, and other paraphernalia. Lieut. +Bradish, a most conscientious Lewis gun Officer, both +in and out of the line, was responsible for the Lewis +gun work, in which he was ably helped by Sergts. King, +Teece, and Milne.</p> + +<p>There were two Brigade Ceremonial parades during +this period, both of which were held at Gosnay. On +May 28th, the Divisional Commander inspected us and +presented medals, and on June 10th, General Horne, +commanding the First Army, honoured us in a similar +way. Both inspections went off well, and without +any adverse criticisms.</p> + +<p>For entertainments we had the "Whizz-bangs," +who seldom gave better shows than we got almost every +night in the hut in Vaudricourt Wood, and the Cinema +at Divisional Headquarters at Gosnay. There were the +additional attractions of estaminets and shops in the +neighbouring villages, especially Verquin, where we had +many a good dinner, and drank many bottles of Veuve +Cliquot at the estaminet of a great favourite of the +Battalion, Mlle. Bertha.</p> + +<p>On July 18th, a whole day was given up to Battalion +Sports, on the aerodrome at Hesdigneul. Beginning +at 9 a.m. they were not over until 7.30 p.m., after a most +successful day, which was mainly due to the excellent +arrangements made by Major Gingell, and Sergt. Major +Mounteney. At the Brigade Horse Show and Sports +held two days later, we won first prize for a good type +of Officer's Charger, a chestnut, at one time ridden by +Capt. Whitton, and later by the Second-in-Command +(this horse won again a little later at the Divisional +Show), whilst the first three places in the Cross-country +Run also fell to the Battalion, and firsts in +the 100 yards and quarter mile races. Whilst we were +not quite so successful at these shows with Transport +turnouts, their smartness reflected great credit on the +Transport <span class="pagenum"><a id="page245" name="page245"></a>(p. 245)</span> Officer, Lieut. Tomlinson, and that veteran +N.C.O. Sergt. Blunt. As they had got the Transport +satisfactorily through one of Major-General Thwaites's +critical inspections early in June, we felt sure there +could be little cause for complaint.</p> + +<p>What was, perhaps, from a rather selfish point of +view, a drawback to the long spells of fine weather and +brilliant moonlight nights that we had during this period, +was that it enabled the enemy to make frequent night +bombing raids. Our own bombing squadrons of course, +did precisely the same thing, but it was not pleasant to +be disturbed at night when out at rest, by aeroplanes, +cruising around and dropping bombs. Fortunately +we escaped with little harm, but the billets and Transport +Lines of many Units suffered severely. For our better +protection in this respect, a regular system of anti-aircraft +defence was devised, and a special allotment +of Lewis guns made for the purpose. These were mounted +on poles, fixed at various points in the trenches, at the +Transport Lines, and in the vicinity of the more important +villages behind the line. Though perhaps in a general +way they added to our protection against aeroplanes, +for which we had hitherto relied almost entirely on our +anti-aircraft guns, known as "Archies," we seldom +saw them bring anything down, and were inclined to +look upon them as likely to give away the positions +they were supposed to be protecting.</p> + +<p>As the months went by several changes took place in +personnel. We lost Capt. Whitton, who after being +Adjutant for 14 months, went for duty to the First Army +Rest Camp at the end of June, and was succeeded by +2nd Lieut. Martin. Capt. Warner went to the Divisional +Signal Company early in July, and D Company was +then taken over by Capt. White. Second Lieuts. +Bromham and Russell went down sick, and 2nd Lieut. +Elphick to the Machine Gun Corps. New Officers who +joined <span class="pagenum"><a id="page246" name="page246"></a>(p. 246)</span> were 2nd Lieuts. E. J. Taylor, James Howard +Smith, T. J. Sellis, H. M. Toyne, F. L. Harrap, J. F. +Shackleton, F. T. W. Saunders, W. Pennington, S. A. +Tebbutt, and S. Bradwell, D.C.M., and we were given a +new Padre in the person of D. E. Sturt. Sergt. Bescoby, +who had done excellent work in charge of the Stretcher +Bearers, became Comp. Quarter-Master Sergt. of A +Company, in place of Godfrey, who left to train for a +commission. Our strength was kept fairly level by +drafts, and we averaged throughout this period about +40 Officers, and 920 other ranks.</p> + +<p>Our somewhat humdrum existence eventually +came to an end about the middle of August. By this +time the German offensive had finally ceased, having +received its knock-out blow in the fruitless attack made +against the French near Rheims on July 15th. On +this occasion the French had received ample warning +of the attack, and were consequently able to dispose +their forces in such a manner as to inflict appalling +casualties on the enemy with insignificant losses to +themselves. This was followed up by a series of attacks +by French, Americans, British, and Italians, which +began on July 18th and finally drove the enemy out +of the Marne Valley. Even before that time it had +been realised that the Germans were not likely to make +any further attacks on our part of the front, and about +the middle of July we had gone so far as to contemplate +an offensive in the Merville salient. Preliminary plans +were actually made for the attack to be made on July +15th, by the Canadians and our own Division, but +eventually the scheme was cancelled.</p> + +<p>The offensive in the South met with extraordinary +success at all points, and soon extended to the Third +Army area, nearly as far North as Lens, with the result +that in the end the Boche decided that he must take +steps to withdraw from the Merville salient. His +offensive <span class="pagenum"><a id="page247" name="page247"></a>(p. 247)</span> on this front was, undoubtedly, from the +first a serious strategic error. The unexpected ease +with which the enemy had advanced on the Portugese +front had induced him to push forward further than +had been the first intention. Consequently, in holding +the inner portion of a most pronounced salient on flat +ground, overlooked from the high land south of the +La Bassée Canal, he had at last experienced some of +those difficulties and losses which had been for so long +our experience in the Ypres salient. The many destroyed +guns which we ultimately found on our subsequent +advance bore witness, not only to the remarkable +accuracy and efficiency of our own artillery, but to +the folly of attempting to hold the salient when once +the possibility of capturing Béthune and the area South +of the Canal had disappeared. Owing to this mistake +of tactics and strategy there is no question that the +enemy's losses had been extremely heavy since his +advance in April.</p> + +<p>During the second week in August, whilst we were +in the Gorre sector, we heard that the enemy were +carrying out extensive demolitions behind the line, and +our patrols were constantly out, so as to ensure keeping +touch, should he begin to move back. He had already +begun to do so on our left, but we were not actually +affected until August 19th, by which time we had moved +across to the Essars right sub-sector. About noon on +that day, our left Company reported that the enemy had +evacuated several of the front line posts astride the +Rue-du-Bois. A and D Companies, which were in the +front line, accordingly sent out strong patrols to keep +touch, the remainder moving forward to the old German +front line. Some 600 yards in front of our old line, +lay the hamlet of Le Touret. This was cleared by the +leading Companies with little opposition, except for a +few snipers left to harass our advance, and by evening +the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page248" name="page248"></a>(p. 248)</span> line ran East of that place, a total advance of about +1,000 yards. The same night we handed over to the 6th +North Staffords. On August 26th, the Battalion moved +up to support in the Gorre sector, and was disposed +about the Tuning Fork Breastworks, with Battalion +Headquarters by the canal side, near Le Préol. Lieut. +G. G. Elliott was badly wounded here during a bombardment +of the position held by A Company, of which he +was then in command. A battery of guns had been +put in the orchard adjoining his Headquarters, in spite +of many protests, and naturally drew a considerable +amount of shelling. Several men were wounded at the +same time. "G.G." had succeeded Capt. Andrews, +who had recently been appointed Second-in-Command +on Major Gingell's departure for a tour of duty at home, +and the command of A Company now passed to Lieut. +Thomas.</p> + +<p>Re-adjustments of the Divisional front became +necessary, owing to the continued withdrawal of the +enemy, and on September 1st, we crossed over to relieve +our 6th Battalion in the left Brigade sector. Here +the withdrawal had been fairly rapid, Lacouture and +Vieille Chapelle both having been evacuated, and the +enemy were now holding a line roughly running from +Richebourg St. Vaast through "Windy Corner" to +Richebourg L'Avoué, the general direction of our advance +being North-East. At the time we relieved them, the +6th Battalion were engaged in sharp encounters trying +to dislodge the enemy from a number of posts just West +of Windy Corner. We continued this hole and corner +fighting, and on September 3rd, C Company occupied +"Hens Post," Windy Corner, and "Edward's Post," +after some sharp scrapping, taking one wounded prisoner, +whilst B Company occupied "Dogs Post" without +opposition.</p> + +<p>Very <span class="pagenum"><a id="page249" name="page249"></a>(p. 249)</span> gallant work was done during this fighting +by Corpl. Mosgrove, who in spite of heavy fire +established liaison with the Company on his right which +was held up, thereby enabling the advance to continue; +by Pvte. Stamford, a Stretcher Bearer, who on two +separate occasions went forward into the open, in full +view of enemy snipers at close range to help wounded +comrades, and by L.-Corpl. Beech, who did exceptionally +good work in charge of a Lewis gun team.</p> + +<p>Those who had been with the Battalion in the +Autumn of 1915, were now on familiar ground, as the +fighting was taking place on what was then the area +just behind the line that we held in the Richebourg +sector. The capture of the posts about Windy Corner +straightened out the line, and enabled us to obtain +suitable jumping-off positions for an attack which was +to take place the following day, as it had been decided +to speed up the enemy's retreat in this part, and drive +him back far enough to enable us to retake the old +British front line near Neuve Chapelle, the enemy being +at this moment about 2,000 yards West of that line.</p> + +<p>Instructions for the attack were issued somewhat +hurriedly during the night. B and C were to be the +leading Companies, with A and D in support. The 5th +Leicesters were attacking on our right, and the 19th +Division on the left. There was little or no time to make +any reconnaissance. Zero was 5.15 a.m. on September +4th, and the barrage came down on the stroke 200 +yards East of a line through "Haystack," "Orchard," +"Albert," "Dogs" and "Edward's" Posts. Having +remained on this line four minutes it moved forward +at the rate of 100 yards in two minutes, closely followed +by the leading troops. The enemy made little resistance, +and had evidently decided not to offer any serious +defence to operations on a large scale, but to get out of +the way as quickly as possible. The result was that +within <span class="pagenum"><a id="page250" name="page250"></a>(p. 250)</span> a couple of hours we had regained possession of the +old British front line, and the "contact aeroplane" +which cruised round a little later, saw our ground flares +burning in the identical trenches we held in November, +1915. The 5th Leicesters met with equal success, and +were abreast of us on the same line. The 19th Division +on our left had met with considerable resistance at +Neuve Chapelle, and did not get the whole of their +objective until later in the day. The enemy had decided +for the moment to stand on his old line running through +the Bois-du-Biez, a strong position, from which it would +be difficult to dislodge him. The troops on our left +suffered several casualties in a fruitless endeavour to +push platoons forward into the wood. Our casualties +were negligible owing to the feeble resistance offered, +and the weak counter-barrage put down. Battalion +Headquarters moved immediately after the attack to +"Lansdowne Post."</p> + +<p>Communication had been well maintained during +this and other recent advances, and we were seldom +out of touch by telephone, either with advanced +Companies or with Brigade Headquarters. In fact, +on the advance into Le Touret, there was so much +cover available, on or near the Rue du Bois that a forward +Signalling Station, supplied by a South and a North +line, was established only a few hundred yards behind +the front line, within a few minutes of that line being +consolidated, and of these two lines the North line +was not a mere ground line, but a poled cable. We owed +it to the untiring efforts of the Signal Section, under +Lieut. Stephenson, ably backed by Sergt. Templeman, +Corpl. Osborne and others, that communications were +kept up so well.</p> + +<p>The peace that we enjoyed for the rest of the day, +was unfortunately not maintained, for on September +5th, the Boche made things unpleasant by shelling the +various <span class="pagenum"><a id="page251" name="page251"></a>(p. 251)</span> posts we were holding, which were nothing but +isolated shallow trenches with a few corrugated iron +shelters covered with earth. One of these, which was +used as Battalion Headquarters, got a direct hit with +a 4.2 whilst the whole of the Headquarters' staff, except +the Medical Officer were in it. The result was disastrous. +Every Officer in it was wounded, though "Andy" +escaped with nothing worse than a few scratches. Col. +Currin got a leg damaged, Martin the Adjutant, and +Elly, Intelligence Officer, both got broken legs, and +several other wounds. Stephenson and Taylor (Works +Officer) were also wounded in the leg, whilst Spinney +(Assistant Adjutant) and Salmon (Artillery Liaison +Officer), sustained serious head and face wounds. Elly +died the following day at the Casualty Clearing Station, +at Pernes.</p> + +<p>Owing to the continuance of the shelling, Battalion +Headquarters moved to Hens Post near Windy +Corner, but again were not left alone, as the enemy +put over some eight-inch and gas shells in the vicinity. +Altogether it was a decidedly unpleasant day, and we +were not sorry to hear that the 19th Division were to +relieve us the same night. The relieving Battalion, the +9th Cheshires, fortunately for them did not arrive until +things had quietened down, and the relief, if somewhat +lengthy, was carried out more or less in peace. The +lucky ones got a ride from Le Touret on the light railway, +but the trains for the rest failed to turn up, and +they had to foot it back to Beuvry, where the Battalion +was billeted, with Major Andrews in temporary +command.</p> + + + + +<h3>CHAPTER XIV <span class="pagenum"><a id="page252" name="page252"></a>(p. 252)</span></h3> + +<h5>AUCHEL TO PONTRUET</h5> + +<p class="figcenter"><i>Sept. 7th, 1918.</i>— +<i>Sept. 26th, 1918.</i></p> + +<p class="p2">We left Beuvry on the morning of Sept. 7th and +were taken back on the light railway to Ferfay. +On this occasion, much to our surprise, the trains moved +off at the scheduled time. From Ferfay it was but a +short march to Auchel, another mining village, where +we found very good billets, and were welcomed in their +usual hospitable way by the French miners and their +families. Thanks to a most generous Town Major we +got all sorts of little billet comforts, of which he seemed to +have an unlimited supply, whilst opposite the Headquarters +Mess was a very comfortable little restaurant, +bearing the sign, "Cosy Corner," where we found helping +to run the show, an old friend known to us in earlier +days at Béthune as "Lily."</p> + +<p>On the day after our arrival Lieut.-Col. J. F. +Dempster, D.S.O., 2nd Manchesters, took over command +of the Battalion, Major Andrews resuming the duties of +Second-in-Command, and Lieut. C. H. Powell temporarily +acting as Adjutant. Changes had also taken place in the +Higher Commands in the Division. Brigadier-General +John Harington, D.S.O., from the 46th Machine Gun +Battalion, had succeeded General Wood in command of +the 139th Brigade, and Major-General Thwaites, who +had laboured so assiduously to keep the Division up to +the highest pitch of perfection in every respect, had gone +to England to take up the duties of Director of Military +Intelligence at the War Office, and we now had the +pleasure of meeting his successor, Major-General G. F. +Boyd, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., D.C.M., who was to command +the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page253" name="page253"></a>(p. 253)</span> Division for the rest of the war. He came to see us +at Auchel, and we soon realised that under his leadership, +given ordinary luck, we could not help doing well. Fresh +from the battles of the South, he had much to tell us +about the latest forms of attack, particularly those +carried out in conjunction with Tanks, and we were not +long in finding out that what he could not tell us about +the kind of fighting that was going on was not worth +knowing. He introduced to us the system of advancing +in the early stages of the attack in the "Blob" formation, +that is, with Companies on wide frontages, echelonned in +depth, with each Platoon in a line of sections in "blobs," +or small and somewhat open groups. With this formation +there was less likelihood of severe casualties from shelling +or machine guns, whilst it was a most simple formation +from which extensions could be carried out, and at the +same time it allowed the Section Commander to retain +control of his men up to the last possible moment. This +system we at once set about practising, and later on +used it in all the battles in which we took part. Very +little training was possible during the few days spent at +Auchel owing to the bad weather.</p> + +<p>It was, of course, general knowledge that we were +shortly to take an active part in the fighting in the South, +and therefore no surprise when we received orders to +entrain. This was carried out in the early hours of +Sept. 12th, at Calonne-Ricouart Station, and was rendered +extremely uncomfortable by a torrential downpour, +which made it specially difficult to get the transport +vehicles up the steep ramps on to the trucks. C Company +had to do the loading for the whole Brigade, and were +at the station for nearly twenty-four hours, working in +shifts. They left by the last train at 12.40 p.m., the +main body having left at 3.16 a.m. This was our farewell +to a district of which we had got to know practically +every inch, and of which we shall always retain most +happy <span class="pagenum"><a id="page254" name="page254"></a>(p. 254)</span> recollections. We had been there for seventeen +months without a break.</p> + +<p>Slowly but surely we wended our way Southwards, +until we reached Amiens. At one period the town had +been emptied of all civilians, but they were just beginning +to come back and the streets were now showing slight +signs of life again. A certain amount of damage had been +done by shell-fire, and as we moved Eastward from +Amiens, signs of the one-time proximity of the front +line became more marked. Eventually we came to a stop +at Corbie Station, where we detrained during the afternoon, +after a journey of about twelve hours. After +most welcome and refreshing tea, which we owed to the +forethought of Capt. Salter, the Acting Staff-Captain, we +marched to billets at La Houssoye, some five miles away, +where C Company joined us early the following morning. +We were now in the IX Corps, which formed part of +General Rawlinson's Fourth Army. We were soon able +to make ourselves comfortable, though the village was +somewhat battered and contained very few inhabitants. +When we moved further forward, it was, from a purely +military point of view, a decided advantage to find no +civilians at all. All around was a delightfully free rolling +country, and we could wander anywhere according to +our own sweet will, those lucky enough to have horses +getting some lovely gallops across the chalk downs. +This area had been too near the front line for the past +few months for any work to be carried out on the land, +and such crops as there were were now being harvested +by soldier labour, mostly Canadian.</p> + +<p>The enemy had been driven back from the neighbourhood +during August by the Australians, who had had +particularly hard fighting about Villers-Bretonneux, +not many miles distant from where we were billeted, +and the work of clearing the battlefield was already in +hand. Gangs of Chinese were employed in the task, but +we <span class="pagenum"><a id="page255" name="page255"></a>(p. 255)</span> were not impressed by their industry. Everything +had to be carried to dumps by the roadside, and no +matter what the burden the only authorised way of +carrying it was by putting it on the end of a pole, which +the "Chink" carried over his shoulder. It seemed +decidedly comical, to say the least, to see a man walk +several hundred yards to retrieve a coat, for example, +hang it on the pole, and walk several more hundred +yards with it to a dump! Nevertheless, this seemed to +be the recognised way of working.</p> + +<p>Such training as we carried out was mostly in the +attack and other operations, such as advanced guards, +likely to be required in open warfare. Little was done +in the way of bombing, which had had its day. There +was a good deal of Lewis gun work, and "field-firing" +practice in the shape of Platoon attacks on strong points. +Flags to represent Tanks were introduced into the scheme +with a view to giving some idea of how to follow up a +Tank and take possession of the ground it gained. A +good deal of practice in Map Reading and Compass work +was carried out by Officers and N.C.O.'s, which proved +most useful in the days to come. Several Officers and +N.C.O.'s here enjoyed their first aeroplane flight through +the kindness of the Officer commanding a Bombing +Squadron in the vicinity.</p> + +<p>Orders for a move came after little delay, but with +unexpected suddenness. We had to break off in the +middle of a practice attack on September 18th, to prepare +for our departure, and at 9 p.m. on the same day we +left La Houssoye and marched to Bonnay, where we +embussed for the forward area once more. Transport +marched brigaded and was now under Lieut. Toyne, who +took charge when Lieut. Tomlinson broke his collar-bone +in a jumping competition a little while before at +Vaudricourt. Somewhere about midnight the long +procession of lorries moved off. The other two Brigades +of <span class="pagenum"><a id="page256" name="page256"></a>(p. 256)</span> the Division were being moved by the same means, +and there is no doubt that the Auxiliary 'Bus Companies +were having a pretty busy time! In the darkness the +journey seemed endless. It was too bumpy to allow even +a doze, sleepy as most of us felt. The whole area was a +desolate ruin, but in the darkness we were, of course, +able to see little or nothing of it. For something like +40 miles, the Somme area, through which we were passing, +was nothing but an immense wilderness—every village +practically in ruins, and hardly sufficient remains in +many cases to identify their position. In one case a +signboard had been put up to mark the site of the +village, and on maps they were usually described as +"—— ruins of." Old trenches and barbed wire entanglements +existed at various points. Not a scrap of ground +was cultivated—all was wild and uncared for. Not a +living soul was there except a few odd troops of our own, +working mostly on roads or guarding dumps, and French, +Italians, Portuguese and "Chinks" working on the +railways. A few odd woods and shattered trees were +practically the only things standing in this enormous +tract of country. Later on we saw all this for ourselves +when we used to cross this devastated area going on +leave or for trips to Amiens, which a generous staff +permitted us to indulge in occasionally. Much of the area +had been fought over four times—firstly, when captured +by the enemy in the original advance; secondly, when +he withdrew to the Hindenburg Line early in 1917 and +laid the whole place waste; thirdly, during his offensive +of 1918; and, lastly, when he was driven out once and +for all by British and other troops just before our +arrival.</p> + +<p>Eventually, about dawn on September 19th, the +long train of lorries came to a halt, and we were dumped +on the road about a mile West of a one-time village +known <span class="pagenum"><a id="page257" name="page257"></a>(p. 257)</span> as Poeuilly, to which we marched, and where +we were told we had to bivouac.</p> + +<p>It was a cheerless prospect to be turned loose into +a bare field at 4.0 a.m. on a late September morning. +Poeuilly, however, was found to contain a certain amount +of useful material which very soon found its way to our +field, and with the aid of a few "trench shelters," and +taking advantage of some trenches which were there, +it was not long before we had put up some quite useful +protection. Though chilly in the early morning the +weather was quite seasonable, and on the whole we did +not fare badly. Our Transport arrived late the same day.</p> + +<p>The Hindenburg Line lay a few miles in front of us, +and some of its outer defences were already in our hands. +On the afternoon of September 20th, we left Poeuilly +and relieved the 2nd Royal Sussex in Brigade Reserve +in trenches and dug-outs about Pontru, with Battalion +Headquarters at "Cooker" Quarry, the 5th and 6th +Battalions taking over the front line. At this point we +were some seven miles North-West of St. Quentin, and +two to three miles West of Bellenglise, on the St. Quentin +Canal. There was no great excitement during the three +days we spent there except that we had rather bad luck +with the Transport. As the idea was rather pressed on us +that we were now taking part in "moving warfare," some +of the horses and Company limbers of bombs and small +arm ammunition were taken forward to the edge of a +small wood just behind Battalion Headquarters. Unfortunately +this wood got shelled and several mules were +knocked out, with the result that the ammunition was +dumped, and the limbers and rest of the animals were +sent back to Poeuilly.</p> + +<p>On September 23rd we received orders for certain +action to be carried out by us in connection with an attack +which was to be launched the next day, when the 46th +Division were to carry out a "minor operation" in +conjunction <span class="pagenum"><a id="page258" name="page258"></a>(p. 258)</span> with the 1st Division on their right. The +Australians had pushed forward considerably on the +left, and the line now bent back sharply, where the +troops we had relieved had been held up by the village +of Pontruet. The attack was planned both to straighten +out the line and to get possession of the high ground on +the right. The 138th Brigade, who had taken over from +the Australians on the left, were ordered to capture the +village of Pontruet, and for this purpose detailed the +5th Leicesters. The attack was to be carried out by an +enveloping movement from the North, and the village +was to be rushed from the East. Our 5th and 6th +Battalions were to co-operate by occupying some trenches +about Pontruet, and, on the night following, the 8th +Battalion was to relieve the 5th Leicesters as far North +as the inter-Brigade boundary.</p> + +<p>The attack was launched at 5 a.m. on September +24th, and though the 5th Leicesters made most strenuous +efforts to attain their objectives, they just failed to +achieve the full purpose for which they set out, and at +the end of the day Pontruet was not ours. Our 5th +Battalion on the right also had some stiff fighting, and +suffered several casualties, taking their objective on the +high ground South of Pontruet, and capturing about +100 prisoners. Late in the day our orders to relieve the +5th Leicesters were cancelled, and we had to take over +from our own 5th Battalion, who were holding the Western +edge of Pontruet. This operation was completed just +before dawn on the 25th, Battalion Headquarters being in +a dug-out in the high ground South of Pontru. Fortunately +we were there only two days, for the discomfort +was very great, the dug-outs and cellars swarming with +flies and vermin, and there was little other protection +from the enemy shelling, which was fairly frequent. On +September 26th we were relieved on an intensely dark +night by the 1st Black Watch and went back to bivouacs +just off the Vendelles-Bihécourt Road, put up for us by +the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page259" name="page259"></a>(p. 259)</span> Battle Details, who had moved up from Poeuilly. +They, together with the Transport and Quar.-Master's +stores, had had none too peaceful a time during the last +few days. Having moved to Vendelles they were shelled +out of it almost at the moment they arrived, but +eventually found a quiet resting-place for a brief space +at Bernes, where, in addition to ordinary stores, there +were piled all the men's packs and spare kit, and +numbers of Lewis gun boxes. All moves now were done +in light "fighting order" and the Quar.-Master and +Quar.-Master-Sergts. had their time fully occupied in +thinking how all the spare kit was to be got forward +when it was wanted.</p> + +<p>During our recent moves we had received a regular +influx of new Officers, no fewer than nine having joined +between September 3rd and September 26th. They were +2nd Lieuts. G. Newton, John Henry Smith, A. N. Davis, +R. N. Barker, T. F. Mitchell, W. J. Winter, R. S. Plant, +P. A. Turner, and W. G. Jacques. We had lost 2nd Lieut. +Morris, who had gone to the 139th Trench Mortar +Battery; and Comp. Sergt.-Major Slater and five N.C.O.'s +who were sent to England as Instructors. Slater was +succeeded as Comp.-Sergt.-Major of A Company, by +Sergt. Attenborough. Our battle casualties at Pontruet +amounted to five killed and 24 wounded.</p> + +<p>The men were now very fit and the Battalion was on +the top of its form. Our chief anxiety was whether after +all we were to be in a real good push. We suspected that +we might have been brought here to be whittled away +in minor trench attacks, and that the opportunity of +really showing what stuff the Battalion was made of +would never present itself. Our fears were not lessened +when we saw how the 5th Leicesters and 5th Sherwood +Foresters suffered at Pontruet, and we saw looming ahead +what we imagined to be the never-ending luck of the +46th Division. Our fears were ill-founded. Better things +were before us and arrived sooner than we expected.</p> + + + + +<h3>CHAPTER XV <span class="pagenum"><a id="page260" name="page260"></a>(p. 260)</span></h3> + +<h5>BELLENGLISE</h5> + +<p class="figcenter"><i>Sept. 26th, 1918.</i>— +<i>Sept. 29th, 1918.</i></p> + +<p class="p2">A great effort was to be made to break the +Hindenburg Line. Preliminary orders received +on September 26th were to the effect that the 46th +Division, as part of a major operation (simultaneous +attacks by the British and French taking place at +several other points), would at an early date cross the +St. Quentin Canal between Bellenglise and Riquerval +Bridge, and capture the Hindenburg Line. The general +scheme was that the 137th Brigade were to capture the +canal and hold the crossings, advancing as far as the +"Brown Line" shown on the map, whilst the 139th +Brigade on the right and 138th Brigade on the left, +were to pass through them and consolidate up to and +including the "Green Line." If all went well the 32nd +Division were to pass through and make further progress. +The 1st Division were to protect our right flank, where +the enemy were still occupying a large area of ground +which might be decidedly dangerous to us, and in the +event of the enemy withdrawing, they were to follow up +and, if possible, capture Thorigny and the high ground +round about it. On our left the 30th American Division, +attached to the Australian Corps, were to seize the +Bellicourt Tunnel (where the canal ran underground) +and continue the attack in that direction. Tanks were +to cross the canal by passing over the tunnel and come +down to operate with the 138th and 139th Brigades and +help them to reach their objectives.</p> + +<p>In <span class="pagenum"><a id="page261" name="page261"></a>(p. 261)</span> order to improve our position the 138th Brigade, +who were holding the line running along the high ground +just East of "Victoria Cross Roads," carried out an +attack on September 27th against the German trenches +on the high ground North-East of "Chopper Ravine." +This was successful and the trenches were handed over to +the 137th Brigade. Unfortunately, the following morning +the enemy delivered a heavy counter-attack against the +Staffords, and recovered so much ground that at night +the latter had to withdraw from the portions still held +and come back to our original line. This set-back, +however, had no ill result.</p> + +<p>Our preparations had to be made on the assumption +that the attack would take place on the early morning +of Sunday, September 29th, as it did.</p> + +<p>From the line held by the Division it was possible +to get a good view of the canal and the ground beyond +for some distance, and such reconnaissance as could be +carried out in the time at our disposal was made by +observation from this line.</p> + +<a id="img024" name="img024"></a> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/img024.jpg" width="500" height="399" alt="The St. Quentin Canal, Bellenglise—looking North—1918." title="The St. Quentin Canal, Bellenglise—looking North—1918."> +</div> + +<p class="figcenter">The St. Quentin Canal, Bellenglise—looking North—1918.] + +<p>Running diagonally across the front, through +No Man's Land, down the slope to the Riquerval Bridge, +on the left, was a narrow road known as "Watling +Street." Immediately in front of our trenches was the +ridge which we had had to evacuate, and from there the +land again sloped down to the canal. Immediately the +other side of the canal was the village of Bellenglise, about +three-quarters-of-a-mile from our present front line, but +looking much closer. The canal ran in a cutting, into +which it was not possible to see, but from descriptions +obtained from various sources it appeared that it had +steep banks twelve to eighteen yards deep, and we were +told that where there was water we might expect it to be +seven to eight feet deep. As a matter of fact the canal +in some parts was quite dry, and in other parts the water +was held up by big dams of concrete. When we did +properly <span class="pagenum"><a id="page262" name="page262"></a>(p. 262)</span> see it, it appeared to be more or less derelict. +On the right towards Bellenglise it was mostly dry. +Rising from the canal on the other side was a fairly +gradual, but none the less decided, slope for some +distance, fortified with lines of trenches, barbed wire +and concrete machine gun emplacements, apparently +a most unpromising position to attack—indeed, we +thought it impregnable, and no doubt the Boche did so, +too. It was an ideal spot for concealed dug-outs all along +the canal banks. Many were found there, and Bellenglise +itself contained a wonderfully constructed tunnel, +estimated to be capable of holding at least a thousand +men.</p> + +<p>The problem of dealing with any water that might +be found in the canal was a difficult but important one, +as every preparation had to be made for getting across +on the assumption that all the bridges would be destroyed. +Accordingly the 137th Brigade were equipped with +a number of collapsible boats and rafts, also mats for +getting across any soft mud they might encounter, +whilst almost at the last moment, numbers of lifebelts +were sent up for their use, taken from the leave boats.</p> + +<p>As it was doubtless realised that this great +stronghold would require pounding almost to atoms, +arrangements were made for getting together what must +have been the largest array of guns that ever was +collected, at any rate in such a short space of time. +Battery after battery of every known calibre took up +positions in one or other of the ravines and valleys +behind the line. Indeed, there seemed no room for them +all and many of them were practically in the open.</p> + +<p>Behind the line an immense amount of railway and +road work was being carried out in order to maintain +supplies. Probably the most interesting piece of work +was the relaying of the railway line from Roizel to +Vermand, preparatory to its being continued into St. +Quentin <span class="pagenum"><a id="page263" name="page263"></a>(p. 263)</span> as soon as the latter should be liberated. We +enjoyed watching the Canadian Engineers at work +rebuilding bridges and bringing up and relaying fresh +sleepers and metals, all the old ones having been removed +by the enemy for several miles. The rapid reconstruction +of the line was of vital importance, as it would form the +main source of transport for all our supplies.</p> + +<p>On the night of September 27/28th, we moved from +bivouacs near Vendelles, and marched to our preliminary +assembly position in some trenches near "Red Wood," +about half-a-mile North-West of that well-known landmark +"The Tumulus," a high chalk mound from which +an excellent view could be obtained, but where it was +not wise to pause to admire the scenery. Battalion +Headquarters was in a dug-out at "Hudson's Post," +between Red Wood and the "Twin Craters." This +move was carried out without casualty, but the very dark +night, coupled with a certain amount of gas shelling, +and the absence of good guiding marks, made going +somewhat difficult. A section from the 139th Trench +Mortar Battery, which was to be attached to us for the +battle, joined us just before the move.</p> + +<p>The attack was to be carried out under a creeping +barrage, and the objective allotted to us was the +"Yellow Line" East of Bellenglise. The frontage +allotted to the Battalion was about 1,200 yards, and +the advance in its final stages was to be carried out with +two Companies in the front line and two in support. +In each case there were to be three Platoons leading, with +one in support, each front Platoon thus having a frontage +of about 200 yards. The distance between front and +support Companies was to be 200 to 250 yards. The +Artillery barrage was to move at the rate of 100 yards +in four minutes, making long pauses after each objective +had been gained in order to allow time for the rear +troops to continue the advance. A machine gun +barrage <span class="pagenum"><a id="page264" name="page264"></a>(p. 264)</span> also was to be fired during the opening stages +of the attack, and for this purpose our Divisional +Battalion was strengthened by the addition of the 2nd +Life Guards Machine Gun Battalion and the 100th +Machine Gun Battalion. By a happy coincidence some +South Notts. Yeomanry were included amongst these +Machine Gunners. The Royal Engineers and Monmouth +Pioneers, detailed to put emergency bridges on cork +piers across the canal for foot traffic and artillery, were +to follow in rear of the 137th Brigade, and immediately +in front of us. Second Lieut. Davis with ten men was to +keep touch with the last Battalion of the 137th Brigade, +whilst 2nd Lieut. Plant was detailed to act as Liaison +Officer with the 137th Brigade Headquarters. Second +Lieut. Bradish was to do similar duty with the 139th +Brigade, and 2nd Lieut. Winter with the 6th Battalion, +who were to follow immediately behind us, the 5th Battalion +bringing up the rear. Guides from each Company +were detailed to follow the 137th Brigade and direct +their Companies to the canal crossings. Flags were to be +carried to mark Battalion and Company Headquarters. +In addition to red flares for notifying the position +of the advanced troops to our 'contact aeroplanes,' a +number of tin discs were issued, which were to be waved +by the men carrying them so as to catch the eye of the +Observers. "Success Signals"—rifle grenades bursting +into "white over white over white"—were to be fired +by the leading Companies as soon as they reached their +objective. Pack transport was arranged in readiness +for taking forward ammunition, water and other supplies, +if required, as soon as it was possible to get them across +the canal.</p> + +<p>Enough and more than enough work was entailed in +all these details to keep us busy during the short time +available before the attack. Nevertheless all was ready +by the appointed time, and about 3 a.m. on the morning +of <span class="pagenum"><a id="page265" name="page265"></a>(p. 265)</span> September 29th, after a most welcome issue of rum, +which fortunately arrived just in time, we began to +move into our final assembly position on the Eastern +side of "Ascension Valley." The valley never had been +a place to linger in, as most nights and early mornings +the Hun was in the habit of treating it liberally with high +explosive and gas shells, and this occasion was no +exception, a combination of the two making things very +unpleasant. Further, it was a dark night, and, worse +than all, a dense fog came down over everything, so +that movement over these more or less open spaces with +little or nothing to guide us was extremely difficult. +However, in the end everyone got into position in good +time and without accident. Fortunately most of the +shells were then passing over us into the valley behind. +Companies were drawn up as follows: Right Front (A +Company), Capt. Thomas; Left Front (B Company), +2nd Lieut. Bloor; Right Support (C Company), Lieut. +Cairns, in the absence of Capt. Miners on leave; Left +Support (D Company), Capt. White. Capt. C. P. Elliott +was acting as Second-in-Command, Major Andrews being +away on leave.</p> + +<p>Zero was fixed for 5.50 a.m., at which time the 137th +Brigade were to advance from our front line. At the same +time the 1st Division were to advance so as to protect +our right flank up to a point near Bellenglise Bridge.</p> + +<p>Promptly at Zero an uncanny stillness was broken +by an inferno of noise. With a din and roar that can +never be forgotten by those who heard it, one of the +greatest concentrations of artillery the World had ever +seen came into action. The crash and rattle were +appalling. Sandwiched as we were, with machine guns +blazing away just in front, and 18-pounders belching +out fire just behind, it was perfect pandemonium. Speech +was impossible. Though it was now practically daylight +the fog was so intense that you could not see a yard +in <span class="pagenum"><a id="page266" name="page266"></a>(p. 266)</span> front of you. All over the battlefield it was the same. +We could only imagine the difficulty with which the +Staffords were going, if they were going at all, and we +could see nothing. Our right Company, A, had been +detailed to assist that Brigade to mop up the enemy +trenches West of the canal, and on completion re-form +in the old German front line, and await the arrival of +the other Companies. This Company advanced in +Artillery formation as soon as the machine guns ceased +firing, about 15 minutes after Zero, and reached these +trenches without accident. Little was found to be +done there, and having distributed themselves in the +trenches, they awaited the time for the general advance +to begin. The rest of the Battalion moved forward +at the same time in a similar formation to "Nib" +and "Quill" trenches on "Hélène Ridge." Even for +this short move direction could only be maintained by +means of compasses. We made ourselves as comfortable +as possible there, as we knew that we should +have some time to wait before advancing further. +In any case we were not to move without orders +from Brigade Headquarters, and it was not intended +that we should be involved in the actual fighting until +the 137th Brigade were East of the canal, and then +probably not for some time unless they were in difficulties. +The Boche had put down a counter-barrage directly +after our attack began, and a certain number of shells +and some machine gun bullets fell about the ridge where +we were, but caused us little inconvenience.</p> + +<p>In spite of the fog wounded men were finding their +way back, and odd lots of German prisoners were +being brought back by escorts of Staffords. How they +did it we never quite knew, but it was reported that +in one case the escort of a party of prisoners having been +lost in the fog, got a captured German Officer to act as +guide by marching due West on a compass bearing! +For <span class="pagenum"><a id="page267" name="page267"></a>(p. 267)</span> over three hours we were unable to get any definite +news as to the progress of the battle. The first official +message which reached our Brigade Headquarters to +the effect that the 137th Brigade were across the canal, +arrived at 8.30 a.m., and orders were at once sent to +the three Battalions to get on the move and keep in close +touch. Unfortunately our telephone line to Brigade +Headquarters was broken, and the message had to be +sent by runners, who after experiencing the greatest +difficulty owing to the fog, eventually reached us at +9.37 a.m. Orders were sent to Companies as quickly as +possible, and we moved off again in artillery formation, +keeping direction with our compasses. Progress, of +course, was extremely slow. By the time we reached +the canal, which seemed much further away than we +had imagined, the fog began to clear and caused us no +more trouble. The canal was crossed by plank foot +bridges, which, fortunately, were still more or less intact, +and Companies pushed on in a direction practically half-right +towards the villages of Bellenglise on the right and +La Baraque on the left.</p> + +<p>Here our first real fighting began, considerable +opposition being met with from isolated snipers and +machine gun posts, particularly on the right, where +A Company had a very rough time. Two Platoons of +that Company, under 2nd Lieuts. Bradwell and +Shackleton, worked their way along the bend of the +canal sheltered by a large ditch, and rushed several +"pill-boxes" from the rear. At one large concrete +dug-out a Boche was discovered just emerging with his +machine gun ready to fire. Bradwell stopped him with +a revolver bullet through the chest. The bullet went +through the next man behind him as well, and finished +by lodging in the throat of a third—a very useful shot! +A little later the same Officer got a sniper, who was +obstinately holding up the advance with a small group +of <span class="pagenum"><a id="page268" name="page268"></a>(p. 268)</span> men, by a rifle bullet neatly placed between the eyes +at 300 yards. The left of A Company also met with +opposition from machine gun nests in the ruins of the +houses. Thomas himself, in rushing one machine gun, +had no time to draw his revolver, but put one Boche out +of action by a kick under the jaw. C Company reinforced +A and shared with them the clearing of Bellenglise, but +in doing so they also had a bad time. Stanley Cairns led +them with great dash, only to be killed in an attack on +a group of Boches who were holding up the left of A +Company. They were, however, eventually rushed and +all bayoneted. On the left some of B Company lost +direction and strayed over to the 138th Brigade. Though +the resistance on this flank was not so great it was not +altogether easy going, and there was considerable shelling +and machine gun fire. Bloor, in command, got badly +wounded, and Rawding, his very gallant Comp. Sergt.-Major +also fell, dying the next day. Mobilised with the +Battalion he went out with it as a Private and won promotion +by sheer merit. All ranks of the Battalion had the +greatest regard for him and his loss was very keenly +felt. D Company, under Capt. White, ably assisted by +2nd Lieut. Smith, acting as Second-in-Command, also +gave a hand in the mopping up. Casualties were, of +course, mounting, as there was heavy shelling going +on most of the time, particularly on the Eastern edge +of Bellenglise. Eventually, however, the village was +cleared and we got to our next starting-point, the +"Brown Line," with our right on the canal, at 11.30 a.m. +This was only ten minutes after our scheduled time +which, considering the almost insuperable difficulties +caused by the fog, must be considered excellent. It +meant, of course, that our barrage, which advanced again +at 11.20 a.m. (five-and-a-half hours after Zero) was +slightly ahead of us, but that was now too late to be +altered and we had to make the best of it.</p> + +<p>At <span class="pagenum"><a id="page269" name="page269"></a>(p. 269)</span> this point we were to have been joined by a +Company of five Tanks, but they had not turned up. +They arrived, however, a little later and were going +forward to help the attack of the 6th Battalion, who +followed us, when they were put out of action by enemy +field guns firing from South of the canal and at point +blank range. Our final advance, therefore, had to be +continued without their help. We moved off this time +in extended order and met with little opposition, though +there was considerable machine gun fire from the South +side of the canal, which was not particularly accurate +and did little damage. We reached our final objective +about 12.15 p.m., only a few minutes after scheduled +time, and the 6th Battalion immediately pushed on +through us.</p> + +<p>Our right flank was somewhat exposed, as the enemy +were still holding the ground South of the canal, and one +or two feeble attempts at counter-attacks were made +from that direction, but were easily broken up. The 1st +Division had been unable to advance to connect across +with us at Bellenglise, but by their demonstration they +doubtless prevented the enemy from concentrating for +a counter-attack in that quarter, which was a decidedly +weak spot.</p> + +<p>Our advance had been extremely rapid and to +a certain extent our success was due to that fact. The +enemy in many cases were taken before they had +time to get to their battle positions. At the same time +every member of the Battalion was determined to +"get there." Particularly good work was done by +Sergt. Peach, who was acting Comp. Sergt.-Major of +C Company, and himself accounted for three of the +enemy at one post, by Sergt. Oldham, Lance-Sergts. +Field and Illger, and Corpl. Slater, when in temporary +command of Platoons, also by Sergt. Claxton, Corpls. +Gadsby, Skelton and W. Foster, L.-Corpl. R. Harvey. +and <span class="pagenum"><a id="page270" name="page270"></a>(p. 270)</span> Pvtes. Cook, Titmus, Welbourne and Stapleton. +Communication throughout the day was almost entirely +by runners, who had an exceptionally strenuous time, +but in spite of all their difficulties they never failed +to get their messages through. Specially valuable work +was done in this respect by Pvtes. B. Smithurst, Feighery, +Sully, Colton and Parker. The Signallers had a thankless +task in trying to keep their lines repaired. A special word +of praise is due to L.-Corpl. J. North for his work in +this connection. The Medical Officer, Capt. Homan, had +a difficult task in attending to the wounded in open +trenches and often under heavy shell fire. He got great +help from Padre Sturt, who was always rendering faithful +service, and from a willing band of Stretcher Bearers, +who worked unceasingly throughout the battle, notably +Corpl. Wrigglesworth and Pvtes. Westnidge and Green. +Comp. Sergt.-Major Stokes, who was acting as Regt.-Sergt.-Major, +was also of the greatest service in looking +after ammunition and other stores.</p> + +<p>The sight presented by the enemy defences East of +the canal gave no room for doubt that our guns had done +most deadly work. The ground was literally torn to +pieces, trenches and wire being blown to atoms in all +directions, and there seemed to be scarcely a spot that +had not been touched.</p> + +<p>The prisoners taken by us numbered something +like 300. There is no doubt that our bombardment had +caused many of them to become more or less senseless. +In many cases all they did was to retire to their +dug-outs and await the end. Full dug-outs emptied +themselves at the first word, and poured out their +garrisons, which were as quickly marshalled by our +men and led off to the prisoner cages in batches, 50 or +more in a batch, and very often not more than one +of our men in charge. In addition to prisoners we +captured over 40 machine guns and 10 trench mortars. +Guns <span class="pagenum"><a id="page271" name="page271"></a>(p. 271)</span> did not come within our province, as they were +all beyond our objective.</p> + +<p>Our casualties, considering all things, were small, +and this was doubtless due to the great rapidity with +which the advance had been carried out. In addition +to the two Officer casualties, our losses during the day +were 14 other ranks killed and 80 wounded.</p> + +<p>The battlefield after the fog lifted presented a sight +never to be forgotten. On the left, Tanks could be +seen working their way along the German trenches, +followed by groups of Infantry, who at once took +possession of the ground gained. Behind, guns were +limbering up and being got forward to fresh positions; +pack ponies and limbers were being taken up with +ammunition; parties of Boche prisoners were wending +their way back from the front areas in batches of +10's, 20's, up to 200 or more, presenting a very +bedraggled appearance. Many of them had been +requisitioned for duty at the forward aid posts and were +carrying back our wounded. Add to the whole, shells +bursting here and there—one knew not when or where +the next was coming and didn't care—and some idea +may be formed of what the battlefield of Bellenglise +looked like. It was like an enormous circus.</p> + +<p>The 138th Brigade on the left met with equal +success, but North of them the attack did not go so well, +and at the end of the day the Australians and Americans, +though in a satisfactory position for continuing the +attack, were considerably behind their objective.</p> + +<p>During the afternoon the 32nd Division came moving +over the back areas by Companies in artillery formation +and pushed on through us, but there was no time that +day for them to make any fresh attacks, and they had +to be content with putting out outposts. There is no +doubt that could their attack have been pushed on at +once the fighting of the next few days would not have +been <span class="pagenum"><a id="page272" name="page272"></a>(p. 272)</span> necessary. As it was our line did not get further +than the final objective of the 5th Battalion, and further +preparation was required to push the Boche from the +few remaining points that he still held in the Hindenburg +Line. By the victory of the 46th Division on September +29th the main portion of that line had been absolutely +smashed and the last great turning-point in the war +passed, and from now onwards the final defeat of the +enemy was but a matter of days. It must be confessed +that the fog, which lasted practically the whole morning, +largely accounted for our success. Without it it is very +difficult to conceive how we could have managed to +get possession of the canal and the high ground on the +East of it. A naturally strong defensive line itself, +it formed with the addition of the artificial defences +made by the enemy, an almost impregnable position. +General Headquarters thought it <i>was</i> impregnable.</p> + +<p>It has since transpired that our fears that our +attack was only in the nature of a "demonstration" +were only too well founded, as it appears to be a fact +that we were not expected to cross the canal at all. +Lieut.-General Sir John Monash, who commanded the +Australian Corps on our left, referring in his book, +"The Australian Victories in France in +1918,"<a id="footnotetag1" name="footnotetag1"></a><a href="#footnote1">[1]</a> to the +action of September 29th, says:—</p> + +<p class="left05">"Quite early in the day news came in that the +IX Corps on my right hand had achieved an astonishing +success, that Bellenglise had been captured, and that +the deep canal had been successfully crossed in several +places. It was the 46th Imperial Division to which +this great success was chiefly due.——There can +be no doubt that this success, conceived at first as +a demonstration to distract attention from the +Australian Corps' front, materially assisted me in the +situation in which I was placed later on the same day."</p> + + +<p>For <span class="pagenum"><a id="page273" name="page273"></a>(p. 273)</span> once General Headquarters' arrangements for +the 46th Division miscarried.</p> + +<p>Sappers got the Riquerval Bridge fit for transport +early in the afternoon, and by 3.0 p.m. guns and other +horse transport were passing over it. Later in the evening, +after the 32nd Division had got clear, some of our +Transport and cookers came up, and our hardworking +Quarter-Master-Sergts. brought us very welcome and +much-needed refreshment after a most strenuous day.</p> + + + + +<h3>CHAPTER XVI <span class="pagenum"><a id="page274" name="page274"></a>(p. 274)</span></h3> + +<h5>RAMICOURT AND MONTBREHAIN</h5> + +<p class="figcenter"><i>Sept. 30th, 1918.</i>— +<i>October 4th, 1918.</i></p> + +<p class="p2">September 30th was spent in dug-outs and +trenches in the region of our objective of the +previous day, between Bellenglise and Lehaucourt. +Early that morning the 1st Division advanced and +occupied Thorigny and Talana Hill, South of the canal, +thus securing our right flank, the retreating enemy +offering splendid targets for our Lewis guns. The +same day St. Quentin fell to the French.</p> + +<p>In the afternoon the 32nd Division moved forward +to the attack, supported by Cavalry, which it was hoped +it would be possible to use if the Infantry broke through +the last remaining fragment of the Hindenburg Line. +This was known as the Beaurevoir-Fonsomme Line +and ran more or less North and South about midway +between Joncourt and Ramicourt. It consisted of +a strong barbed wire entanglement and a double line of +shallow trenches about a foot deep, with concrete +machine gun emplacements every 50 yards. The whole +was in a very incomplete state, but at the same time +constituted a strong line of defence. Unfortunately the +32nd Division were unable to break this line, which the +enemy were holding in force. Similarly, the 1st Division +on the right were unable to make any further progress, +and the 2nd Australian Division met with no greater +success on the left. In consequence the Cavalry had to +withdraw behind the canal.</p> + +<p>The arrival of the Cavalry a few days previously +behind our lines had presented one of the most +picturesque scenes one could wish to see. Two abreast +they <span class="pagenum"><a id="page275" name="page275"></a>(p. 275)</span> came in almost endless streams along the roads and +side-tracks and passed on to forward positions behind +the canal, and the sight was one never to be forgotten. +Not less wonderful, perhaps, was the unceasing flow of +transport of every conceivable kind backwards and +forwards along the Vadencourt-Bellenglise Road. +The surface of the road was in excellent condition and +in an incredibly short period the Sappers, who were +now having very strenuous times, erected an Inglis +bridge over the canal at Bellenglise, capable of carrying +lorries and guns of all calibres. The way all this work +was pushed on was little short of marvellous, and one +could not help being struck by the enormous amount of +organisation it all entailed, and the care with which +every detail connected with the advance had been +arranged.</p> + +<p>The 139th Brigade were now temporarily attached +to the 32nd Division, whilst the 137th and 138th Brigades +were concentrated near the canal. We were supposed +at this moment to be ready either for another battle or +for moving forward according to the ordinary rules of +warfare, with advanced guards and so on, if the enemy +should give way. Preliminary orders were indeed +received that portions of the Brigade were to be employed +as Advanced Guard to the Corps, with their objective +as Le Cateau.</p> + +<p>With the object, therefore, of reorganising as far +as possible, we were withdrawn from our position near +Lehaucourt on October 1st, and moved about a mile +North, to the trench system in "Springbok Valley," +just behind Magny la-Fosse. On the same day the +Transport, Quarter-Master's Stores and Battle Details +which had previously moved to a field near "Hart +Copse," a few hundred yards North-West of the Twin +Craters, moved further forward and established themselves +in Chopper Ravine, near the canal. This was +not <span class="pagenum"><a id="page276" name="page276"></a>(p. 276)</span> a specially comfortable spot, and the Quarter-Master's +Department was constantly put out of order by the +arrival from time to time of odd shells from a German +long-range gun. Several of the riding horses, the +cookers and some of the ammunition and Lewis gun +limbers were up with the Battalion, so that the amount +of transport left behind was not great. Both men and +horses were now having a most strenuous time, and we +were lucky at this juncture in getting back Capt. A. +Bedford from a tour of duty at home. He arrived on +September 29th and was at once appointed Transport +Officer. We had been obliged to leave behind at Bernes +large quantities of stores, including packs and Lewis gun +tin boxes, owing to lack of transport, and it was a most +trying business, when everyone was wanting lorries, to +get the extra transport necessary to bring them along. +To make matters worse the Hun was just now particularly +active with his aeroplanes, and with fine nights he made +frequent trips over our lines, dropping bombs. When +the nights were very dark he often used to let off +brilliant white parachute lights, and as they descended +he was able to get some view of the roads and transport +lines and any movement there might be. Usually he +flew extremely low, and there is no doubt that he did +considerable damage; especially as there were such +masses of troops and transport concentrated in +a particularly small area. We unfortunately lost several +horses, but casualties amongst personnel were +insignificant. His best bombing effort was on the evening +of October 3rd. Having evidently seen a large party of +men near La Baraque cross-roads, the airman promptly +made for them and let loose two bombs, which fell +right amongst them. Between 40 and 50 were blown +to bits, whilst nearly as many were badly wounded, and +the rest scared out of their wits. What the airman +doubtless did not know was that they were a party of +Boche <span class="pagenum"><a id="page277" name="page277"></a>(p. 277)</span> prisoners! Only about six British soldiers were +killed. It made a ghastly mess at the cross-roads, which +was a most uninviting spot to pass for days afterwards.</p> + +<p>During the short time at our disposal we did the +best we could to reorganise our somewhat reduced +forces. In spite of our losses at Bellenglise we still had +46 Officers and 752 other ranks, so were fairly well off. +Second Lieut. Winter was put in command of B Company, +and Capt. Miners, who had just returned from leave, +resumed command of C.</p> + +<p>On October 2nd orders were received that we were +to take part in another big attack in conjunction with +the 2nd Australian Division. Our Divisional Commander +only received his orders for this attack at 4.30 p.m. on +that day, and the operation was to take place early the +next morning, so that there was very little time to get +orders passed to the lower commanders and the necessary +arrangements made. The orders were explained by the +Brigade Commander to Battalion Commanders at +a conference at Brigade Headquarters at Magny-la-Fosse +about 9 p.m., and it was after 10 p.m. before +Col. Dempster was able to give his orders out to +Companies. The general scheme was that the 139th +Brigade were to break through the Beaurevoir-Fonsomme +Line and capture the villages of Ramicourt +and Montbrehain, whilst the 137th Brigade on the right +and the 2nd Australian Division on the left, were to +attack at the same time, and the 1st Division, on the +right of the 137th Brigade, were to capture Sequehart.</p> + +<p>The objective of the 5th and 8th Battalions was the +"Red Line" running North-West to South-East, just +West of Montbrehain, the 5th Battalion being on the +right and the 8th on the left, whilst the 6th Battalion +was to pass through, capture Montbrehain and push out +outposts as far as the "dotted blue line." This was +something like 4,000 yards from our present Outpost Line. +A <span class="pagenum"><a id="page278" name="page278"></a>(p. 278)</span> Company of nine Tanks were to co-operate with the +Brigade, advancing immediately behind the first line. +The attack was to be launched at dawn and was to be +carried out under an artillery barrage which, after +delaying six minutes on the opening line, was to move +at the rate of 100 yards in four minutes. The delay was +to enable the Infantry to adjust their distance behind +the barrage, which was to open a good deal further in +front of them than usual, owing to the fact that the +Artillery had mostly to move into fresh positions, and +we could not, therefore, risk getting up close to its +assumed line, whilst allowance also had to be made for +the attacking troops not being exactly in their right +position, owing to the difficulty of forming up in the +dark on an uncertain mark.</p> + +<p>Our jumping-off line ran from near Joncourt +Cemetery to the Railway Cutting. The Battalion +frontage was approximately 1,000 yards and was divided +into two Company lengths. A (Thomas) on the right, +and B (Winter) on the left were to lead, with C (Miners) +and D (White) in support about 150 yards behind them. +Second Lieut. Plant was sent as Liaison Officer to the +Australian Battalion on our left, 2nd Lieut. Newton to +Brigade Headquarters, and 2nd Lieut. Jacques to the +5th Battalion. Some additional work was to be thrown +on C and D Companies, who were to follow up the 6th +Battalion, mop up for them in Montbrehain and then +return to the "Red Line." There was no time for +reconnaissance. All we knew of the country was what +we had gathered from maps or our Intelligence Department. +From personal observation we knew nothing. +Even the front held by the 32nd Division was not at +all certain. We did know, however, that the enemy were +holding the Beaurevoir-Fonsomme Line in force and +that the country was of a fairly open type, sloping gently +down to Ramicourt in the valley and up again beyond +to <span class="pagenum"><a id="page279" name="page279"></a>(p. 279)</span> Montbrehain, which would probably be a difficult +problem to tackle.</p> + +<p>It was in these circumstances that we set out +shortly before midnight in the pitch darkness from +Springbok Valley. Guides from the 32nd Division +met us at the entrance to Joncourt and conducted us to +the forming-up line, A and B Companies throwing out +a screen of scouts in front as a precaution before we +formed up. Though this was a most precarious proceeding +it was carried out successfully, and by 5.30 a.m. on +October 3rd, all troops were in their assembly positions, +leading Companies extended in two lines and support +Companies in lines of "section-blobs." During this +operation the enemy did a certain amount of shelling, +but not enough to cause us any great trouble. There +was some fog at first, and this in the early stages of the +battle, combined with smoke from a screen put down +by the Artillery to hide the Tanks, made direction +somewhat difficult. Later on it cleared and the day +became quite bright and fine.</p> + +<p>There was not such a concentration of guns as we +had had on September 29th, nor had we anything like +so many heavies, though there was a certain number +of them firing on a few special targets, such as villages +and other points behind the lines. The Guards Machine +Gun Battalion again helped with the preliminary barrage, +which opened promptly at 6.5 a.m., just as it was +beginning to get light. We adjusted our position to the +line of bursting shells and followed on as soon as the +guns lifted. The rate of progress, 100 yards in four +minutes, was throughout found to be too slow in this +more open fighting, and we were constantly either +waiting for the barrage to move on or running into it—not +at all a pleasant proceeding.</p> + +<p>It was not long before we began to encounter, in +addition to the enemy's counter-barrage, opposition of +a <span class="pagenum"><a id="page280" name="page280"></a>(p. 280)</span> serious nature from his Infantry. The inevitable delay +since we crossed the canal on September 29th had given +the enemy time to bring up large reserves, and on this +occasion the 46th Division had opposed to it four Boche +Divisions—two tired and two fresh. Doubtless the +enemy realised that every effort must be made to retain +this, his last organised defence on this part of the +front, and certainly the men holding the line we had to +attack put up a most strenuous fight, and in hundreds +of cases died bravely, fighting to the last.</p> + +<p>The Beaurevoir-Fonsomme Line was strongly +held. In addition to many machine guns in the line +itself, there were also machine gun sections in rifle-pits +immediately behind it. Unfortunately the barrage put +down by our guns was somewhat thin. There had been +no previous bombardment, and as a result we found +that the defences of this line were practically intact. +No machine gun emplacements had been touched and +not a single gap made in the wire, which was very strong, +and we had to manipulate it as best we could.</p> + +<p>A good deal of resistance in the early part of the +fight was met with from the neighbourhood of Wiancourt +on the left, and the high ground South-East of Swiss +Cottage, and it was found that the Australians had not +been able to make much progress and were practically +held up. This being the case it was realised that the +village of Wiancourt, which should have been taken by +them, would be a serious menace to our left flank, and +it was, therefore, decided that we should go out of our +way and take it in the general advance. Two Platoons +of A Company, with portions of B and D (Companies +having got somewhat mixed owing to loss of direction), +penetrated into the village and opened heavy Lewis gun +and rifle fire on its defenders, who offered a stubborn +resistance, mainly from machine gun posts. Eventually +some of them were seen to run back, and our line +immediately <span class="pagenum"><a id="page281" name="page281"></a>(p. 281)</span> rushed forward with the bayonet and killed +or captured the whole of the garrison. Several were +killed whilst still holding the handles of their machine +guns. Comp. Sergt.-Major Attenborough, of A Company, +here performed several gallant feats in leading rushes +against machine gun groups, and later did most valuable +work in trying to establish liaison with the Australians, +who unfortunately, even after the capture of Wiancourt, +were unable to advance so as to help us.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the right was not making much headway, +and C Company, from support, had become one with +the attacking Company. The advance here being held +up by machine gun fire, L.-Corpl. Vann with much +gallantry crawled forward and managed to knock out +the gun team which was causing most of the trouble. +A trench something like 100 yards long, crowded with +the enemy, was thus taken in the flank, and those who +did not surrender were killed in trying to escape. They +had, however, caused us many casualties, including +2nd Lieut. Dunkin and Sergt. Hurt killed, besides many +wounded. One of the most gallant N.C.O.'s in the +Battalion, Sergt. Hurt had already won the D.C.M. and +M.M., and his death was a very great loss.</p> + +<p>Similar actions had been taking place in other parts +of the line. Again and again nests of machine guns +were rushed at the point of the bayonet, which weapon +undoubtedly did more deadly work on this occasion +than on any other in our experience. Where they could +not be taken by frontal attack, parties worked round +their flanks and rushed them from the rear. The intensity +of the fighting can be imagined from the fact that after +the battle nearly 200 dead Germans were found along +this line of trenches on the front of the 139th Brigade +alone.</p> + +<p>The main Fonsomme Line was now ours, though +won at heavy cost. Direction had improved, though we +were <span class="pagenum"><a id="page282" name="page282"></a>(p. 282)</span> all too far to the left and much disorganised. We +had to make the best of it and try to straighten out as +we pushed on into the valley towards Ramicourt. Here +we were met with fire from Boche guns firing from +behind Montbrehain with open sights, causing many +casualties. The position was as exposed as it could be, +the only shelter being provided by one or two sunken +roads. At the same time four or five of the Tanks, which +for some reason had got behind at the start, had now +come up and did much useful work in the outskirts of +Ramicourt, though the same Boche guns brought most +effective fire to bear on them, one of them getting five +direct hits. On the left, B Company, who under Winter's +excellent leadership, had done much fighting, now +mixed up with A and reinforced by D, were also suffering +heavily from the enemy artillery fire, and advanced by +section rushes covered by Lewis gun fire. It was here +that 2nd Lieut. T. F. Mitchell, commanding a Platoon +of D Company, which he led with supreme gallantry, +caring nothing for his own safety, was mortally wounded, +dying the next day.</p> + +<p>Ramicourt was eventually reached by oddments of +A, C and D Companies, the remainder of the Battalion +having got too far left, and passing through its Northern +outskirts. There were several machine guns in the +village, and snipers were active from the windows +of the houses. These were all successfully mopped +up with the help of the 6th Battalion, who pushed up +a Company and their Battalion Headquarters, as there +were so few troops at this point, the 5th Battalion +having edged off through the Southern outskirts of +the village. Jack White was seen in the village, +wandering round quite unconcerned, revolver in holster—a +small cane which he carried being apparently his +most trusty weapon.</p> + +<p>Having <span class="pagenum"><a id="page283" name="page283"></a>(p. 283)</span> completed the capture of the village, which +yielded a total of something like 400 prisoners, the +remnants of the troops there were gathered together and +the advance continued. A machine gun nest at Ramicourt +Station having been rushed with the aid of a Tank, we +pushed on to our objective, which, except on the extreme +left, we reached practically up to scheduled time, +10.30 a.m., most of the troops being disposed in sunken +roads on the West of Montbrehain. It had not been a good +day for the Tanks, which in the end were all knocked out, +though the last one working with the 5th Battalion +on the right had a good run and knocked out no fewer +than 16 machine guns before being put out of action.</p> + +<p>As soon as the barrage lifted from the "Red Line," +the 6th Battalion began to push on. They had met with +an appalling disaster soon after crossing the Beaurevoir-Fonsomme +Line, where Col. Vann, once more gallantly +leading his Battalion and in the forefront of the battle, +was killed, shot through the head. The 5th Battalion +too, lost Col. A. Hacking, who was wounded in the arm. +Thus two old Officers of the 8th were put out of action +almost at the same moment, both leading Battalions +in our own Brigade. Alfred Hacking had done invaluable +work during the few months he had commanded the +5th Battalion, and for his excellent leadership and +gallantry during the fighting of September 29th and +October 3rd was awarded the D.S.O. and Bar. Bernard +Vann, affectionately known to some of his earlier friends +as "Vasi," was described on one occasion by General +Allenby, as the most fearless Officer he had ever met, +whilst a brother Officer writes of him: "I can think +of him only as a fighter, not merely against the enemy +in the field, but a fighter against everything and everybody +that was not an influence for good to his men. +It was his extraordinary courage and tenacity which +will be remembered by all who knew him: he inspired +all <span class="pagenum"><a id="page284" name="page284"></a>(p. 284)</span> by his wonderful example of courage and energy." +Wounded at least eight times, and awarded the M.C. +and Bar, and the French Croix de Guerre with Palm, +it was fitting that his constant gallantry and magnificent +example should be further recognised—alas! after his +death—by the award of the Victoria Cross.</p> + +<p>On continuing the advance the 6th Battalion edged +towards the South, going through the centre and right +of Montbrehain, and leaving the Northern portion alone. +This left us considerably exposed, and an enemy machine +gun firing from a position at the cross-roads on our left +front, was doing much damage. White, Thomas and +Miners held a hasty conference and decided to rush it, +and the two former with a reconnoitring party went +into the village to see if it could be outflanked from the +region of the cemetery. At this moment a little "Joey" +came in with "hands up," and it was decided to try +a ruse. It was suggested to him that he should go and +tell his friends to surrender, and after a little persuasion +he went. The Machine gun stopped firing and he +approached the post and disappeared into the ground, +thus telling us what we wanted to know—the way in. +Action was taken at once to deal with it. Second Lieut. +Harrap, who had already done much valuable work, +got together some Lewis guns and opened frontal fire on +the position, whilst Miners and Sergt. Stimson worked +round the flank from the village side and by a careful +manoeuvre rushed on to the post the instant Harrap's +guns stopped firing. Much to their surprise the post +was found to be a quarry containing something like ten +or a dozen machine guns and 60 or 70 men! A few +bombs and revolver shots and the white flag went up. +Harrap, who had rushed his men forward across the +intervening 200 yards, was also at hand, and the capture +of the post was complete. Second Lieut. Barker's +Platoon (A Company) also assisted with rifle and Lewis +gun fire, Barker himself being wounded.</p> + +<p>Out <span class="pagenum"><a id="page285" name="page285"></a>(p. 285)</span> of the medley of troops which collected there—of +all Battalions in the Brigade—some attempt was +then made to organise a Company, and posts were +pushed further forward. The rest of the village after +a hard struggle fell into the hands of the 6th Battalion +about the scheduled time, 11.30 a.m. Loud explosions, +heard soon after the village was entered, were caused by +the blowing up by the Boche of two houses in the main +street near the Church. Attempts were made to push +out Platoons to the "line of exploitation," beyond the +village, but this was found to be impossible owing to +heavy machine gun fire.</p> + +<p>Both in Ramicourt and Montbrehain we found +French civilians, whose pleasure at being at last released +from the Hun terror knew no bounds. About 70 all told +had remained behind, refusing to be evacuated by the +Boche. They gave us a great welcome and in spite of +shells and bullets, brought out coffee to our men as they +passed by. Later, under the guidance of the Brigade +Interpreter, M. Duflos, they were taken back to safer +regions.</p> + +<p>It soon became evident that further trouble was +in store for us owing to the fact that our left flank was +again in the air. The Australians were not up with us +and we were very uncertain of their whereabouts, though +apparently not altogether out of touch with them, for +one of their Officers, who was met in hospital later in +the day, reported having received from someone in our +Battalion the laconic message: "We are at ——. +Where is the Australian Corps?" The enemy were still +holding in force a position at no great distance from our +left flank, and indeed, at one time were reported to be +massing for a counter-attack which, however, did not +mature. But on the right of the Brigade the situation +was far worse. There the 137th Brigade, after making +some progress, had eventually to give ground, and their +left <span class="pagenum"><a id="page286" name="page286"></a>(p. 286)</span> was now considerably behind our right. We were +thus in a most awkward salient with both flanks exposed. +It was, therefore, not surprising to find soon after noon +very evident signs of a real counter-attack being prepared +against the Brigade exposed right flank, and when a +little later this attack was launched, the enemy managed +to get round the South-East of Montbrehain and into +that corner of the village in some strength, and it was +decided to withdraw from it. This was successfully +carried out under great difficulties, and eventually the +Brigade took up a line just East of Ramicourt, the 8th +Battalion occupying the railway and sunken road +North-East of that village. The enemy soon reoccupied +the whole of Montbrehain, but was unable to advance +further.</p> + +<p>We were now very short of ammunition as no supplies +had been sent forward. This was mainly due to the fact +that we had depended on a "Supply Tank," which did +not fetch up quite where we expected. Fortunately no +ill results accrued, but it taught the lesson that the +supply of ammunition to advanced troops in moving +warfare requires very careful prearrangement.</p> + +<p>Company Commanders again conferred and decided +to alter their dispositions, and with a view to protecting +our left flank, B and C Companies moved across to bridge +the gap there, leaving A and D Companies in the railway +cutting. In these positions we were left for the rest of +the day more or less in peace.</p> + +<p>In spite of a slight set-back it had been a glorious day +for the 8th Battalion. There was really no comparison +between this battle and that of September 29th. The +attack on September 29th was undoubtedly more +spectacular, but in our humble judgment, having regard +to the extremely short notice received, the strength of +the enemy and the many difficulties encountered, the +breaking of the Fonsomme Line on October 3rd may +truly <span class="pagenum"><a id="page287" name="page287"></a>(p. 287)</span> be counted as one of the most gallant exploits +of the whole war.</p> + +<p>Where one and all did so well and so many gallant +deeds were performed it is difficult to single out any for +special praise, but it is desired to note specially the +good work of the following in addition to those +already mentioned: Sergt. H. Wilson, L.-Sergt. Wicks, +Corpl. Clark, L.-Corpl. Creamer, and Pvtes. Draper, +Crowe, Slater, Wesley, Starr, Baxter, Jackson, and Martin. +The day, however, had cost us much. Our casualties +were one Officer and 20 other ranks (including Sergt. +Gurdens) killed, and three Officers (2nd Lieuts. T. F. +Mitchell, who died the next day, Barker, and F. T. W. +Saunders), and 86 other ranks wounded.</p> + +<p>Captain Homan had his Regimental Aid Post with +Battalion Headquarters in a dug-out in the sunken road +near our jumping-off line. Here he and Padre Sturt +worked for something like 24 hours on end, attending to +the wounded, though both badly gassed, whilst a willing +band of Stretcher Bearers again performed a prodigious +amount of work under most trying circumstances. +Particular praise is due to Corpls. Wrigglesworth and +J. Wright, and to Pvtes. L. Thomas and F. Green, +the latter of whom was awarded a bar and the +former a second bar to his M.M., for gallant work on +this occasion.</p> + +<p>It was impossible to estimate the actual number of +prisoners captured by us, as there was one "pool" +for the whole Brigade, but undoubtedly we had a very +large share of the total, which was 36 Officers and nearly +1,500 other ranks; in addition to which large numbers +were left on the ground dead. Of machine guns too, +we captured a very large number, but owing to the +impossibility of collecting them, little idea of the total +could be formed.</p> + +<a id="img025" name="img025"></a> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/img025.jpg" width="600" height="399" alt="Map To Illustrate— +Battle Of Ramicourt Oct: 3rd 1918." title="Map To Illustrate— +Battle Of Ramicourt Oct: 3rd 1918."> +</div> + +<p class="figcenter">Map To Illustrate— +Battle Of Ramicourt Oct: 3rd 1918. +<span class="smcap">Red, Blue & Dotted Blue Lines</span> +Represent various Objectives.</p> + +<p>During <span class="pagenum"><a id="page288" name="page288"></a>(p. 288)</span> much of the day Horse Artillery and +numbers of light rapid-moving Tanks, known as +"Whippets," had been waiting in the valleys behind +Joncourt, ready to push on once the line was broken, +and endeavour to make a clean break through. Unfortunately +their services could not be used, and once more +they had to withdraw.</p> + +<p>Late at night we got news that we were being +relieved by the 4th Leicesters. They turned up alright +to take over from B and C Companies, but owing to some +error failed to relieve A and D, who were left holding +the line, with little ammunition and no rations, and +were not relieved until the afternoon of October 4th, +when they made their way back to the valley just in +front of Magny-la-Fosse and joined the rest of the +Battalion in tents and bivouacs put up by "Tony" +Bradish and Hallam, with the help of the Battle Details. +"Bedder" too, was there, with Regt.-Quarter-Master-Sergt. +Pritchard (who during these strenuous times had +to carry on without a Quarter-Master), and the four +Quarter-Master-Sergeants, all of whom did their utmost +to make everyone comfortable.</p> + + + + +<h3>CHAPTER XVII <span class="pagenum"><a id="page289" name="page289"></a>(p. 289)</span></h3> + +<h5>THE LAST FIGHT</h5> + +<p class="figcenter"><i>October 4th, 1918.</i>— +<i>November 11th, 1918.</i></p> + +<p class="p2">Such impromptu cleaning up as was possible, was +carried out during what remained of October 4th, +and we felt much better. We also carried out a certain +amount of reorganisation of Companies, which were +now thinning rather more rapidly than we cared for, +but the opportune arrival of 85 reinforcements at this +moment, helped us considerably. The enemy caused +a certain amount of annoyance, and a few casualties, +by every now and then firing in our direction with a +high-velocity gun, and at night dropped a few bombs +uncomfortably near, so that it was not quite as peaceful +as we should have liked.</p> + +<p>The next morning we were rather disturbed at +hearing that there was more work to be done. The +32nd Division on our right had suffered heavy casualties +in trying to get hold of Sequehart, and the 139th Brigade +was now detailed to relieve some of their exhausted +troops. At this moment our Brigade was attached to +the 6th Division. Rapid reconnaissance was made +during the day, and at night we relieved the 97th Brigade. +So heavy had their casualties been that our three Companies +for the front line and support each relieved a +Battalion. These were Dorsets, Highland Light Infantry +and Royal Scots.</p> + +<p>The line taken over ran through the village of +Sequehart, and was the extreme right of the British +front, next to the French. C Company were on the right, +D on the left, astride the cross roads, with B in support +and <span class="pagenum"><a id="page290" name="page290"></a>(p. 290)</span> A in reserve. C Company had the unusual privilege +of forming an "International Post" with the French, +and Corpl. Simpson, who spoke the language, was put +in charge of our part of the garrison. We cannot say +that after our visits to the French Headquarters, we felt +we quite knew where their front line was, but possibly +it was our fault. When they suggested "we are here," +we certainly thought they were somewhere else, but we +managed very well, and materially assisted them in an +attack on the 7th, by conforming to their movements +and giving them flank support, and their Commanding +Officer expressed his grateful thanks for our help.</p> + +<p>We have before spoken of "Bloody Ypres." The +Officer Commanding D Company is reported to have +applied the superlative of the same expressive word to +this sector, but then he had cause for doing so, for during +the two days the Battalion held it, his Company Headquarters +got five direct hits. Perhaps under such +circumstances, he was slightly embittered! During the +time we were there, the enemy hardly ceased to shell +the village—not desultory shelling, but veritable barrages +from end to end. It had already changed hands three +times, and we wondered if they were going to try and +turn us out! Signs of fierce struggles were on every +hand. In the streets and all around lay bodies still +unburied, both of our own and the enemy's. It was a +ghastly place to be in. Signallers and linesmen had a +particularly rough time, and lines were down almost +continuously.</p> + +<p>October 6th, was a particularly bad day, as we lost +Col. Dempster and the Second-in-Command (Capt. C. P. +Elliott), both wounded. They had gone to see how things +were going on in the forward area, and on returning to +Headquarters, which was in a dug-out behind Levergies, +they were unfortunate enough to be in the neighbourhood +of a dump of shells by the roadside at the same moment +as <span class="pagenum"><a id="page291" name="page291"></a>(p. 291)</span> a Hun gunner dropped a shell right on the dump. +The result was that both these Officers began to soar +skywards, as if off for their "harp and wings divine," +but eventually found themselves on mother earth once +more, the Commanding Officer badly shaken and cut +about the face, the strap of his tin hat broken by the +force of the explosion, and Pynsent Elliott finding that +for some little time he would have to take his meals off +the mantelpiece! The Commanding Officer was anxious +to be allowed to remain with us, but eventually was +persuaded otherwise, and they both left for the Dressing +Station, and Major V. O. Robinson, M.C., of the 6th +Battalion, was sent to take over temporary command.</p> + +<p>The following night we were relieved by the +Monmouths, who had orders to clear out the Boche from +some machine gun nests on the Sequehart-Mericourt +Road the next morning, in conjunction with an attack +by the 6th Division on the left, and French on the right. +Relief was complete about midnight, and we marched +back to Lehaucourt, where we spent the following day. +On October 9th, Col. Dempster returned, though not +looking at all well. Major Robinson remained with us +as Second-in-Command, as Major Andrews had left a few +days previously, to attend the Senior Officers' Course +at Aldershot. A day or two later Capt. Miners was +appointed Adjutant, and was succeeded in command of +C Company by 2nd Lieut. Druce.</p> + +<p>Things were now moving rapidly. Although the +gallant attack by the Monmouths had been repulsed +with heavy casualties, their action had enabled the 6th +Division to get on, and eventually surround the enemy +and capture the lot. The enemy then withdrew +more quickly, closely followed by the 138th Brigade, +who led the pursuit. On October 9th, we moved to +Levergies, and the next day to Mericourt, where we +went into bivouacs. This village was just on the West +of <span class="pagenum"><a id="page292" name="page292"></a>(p. 292)</span> Fresnoy-le-Grand, which was entered by the 138th +Brigade the same morning.</p> + +<p>We now took a little more interest in life. Everyone +was feeling better for the rest, and found the rapid +movement quite entertaining, especially as we were now +approaching civilisation again. Fresnoy was the first +town of any size that we reached; though showing +distinct signs of shelling here and there, it was not badly +damaged. It was interesting to see the Boche "War +Savings Campaign" posters, and probably the most +interesting specimen, painted all over the gable end +of a house, represented "John Bull" on his Island, +tearing his hair in a perfect frenzy, with "U" Boats +all around him! Here, too, there were many inhabitants, +who were of course delighted to see us. Much of the +land was under cultivation, and we had really come +to the end of that desolate region which was so +distasteful to us all.</p> + +<p>On October 12th, we moved a further step forward, +and that afternoon reached Jonnecourt Farm, between +Fresnoy and Bohain. Just before leaving we had all +welcomed back Col. Currin, more or less recovered from +his wound, and with his arrival Col. Dempster left us. +Jonnecourt Farm was somewhat damaged, and said to +be mined, so we put up our bivouacs and tents in the open +just by it. The farm had been captured only a few days +before by our Cavalry, and we had the uncongenial +task of burying the bodies of those who had been killed +in the attack. We now had a few days peace, and were +able to refit, bath at the old German baths in Fresnoy, +which were excellently fitted up, and reorganise our +diminished forces. A pleasing little ceremony was +performed here, when the "Congratulatory Cards" +from the Divisional Commander for the N.C.O.'s and +men, who had been recommended for good work during +the recent fighting, were presented to them by the +Commanding <span class="pagenum"><a id="page293" name="page293"></a>(p. 293)</span> Officer at a Battalion Parade, ending up +with the Battalion marching past the recipients whilst +the band played the Regimental March.</p> + +<p>We were not left here for long, there being more +"dirty work" to be done yet. The 138th Brigade had +been joined by the 137th Brigade, and together they +were now held up about the Bois-de-Riquerval, East of +Bohain, where some tough fighting had been going on, +the enemy rear-guard making a stout defence, so as to +give his main body time to get away. With the object, +therefore, of clearing the whole of this front and pushing +the enemy back to the Sambre-Oise Canal, a general +attack was arranged to take place on October 17th, by +the IX Corps in conjunction with the French on the +right, and the Americans on the left, the 46th Division +being ordered to clear the enemy from the Bois-de-Riquerval +and the Andigny-les-Fermes Ridge.</p> + +<p>On October 16th, we received orders for the attack, +which was to take place early the following morning. +The 138th Brigade were to attack on the left of the +139th Brigade whilst the 137th Brigade were to hold their +present line on the right. The attack of the 139th Brigade +was to be on a one Battalion front, and we were selected +to carry out the attack, with two Companies of the 5th +Battalion in close support, the remainder of the Brigade +being in reserve. The objective (The "Blue Line") was +the line of the Andigny-les-Fermes-Bohain Road, the +consolidation of which was to include two strong points, +one being the hamlet of Regnicourt. Royal Engineers +were allotted to us to help in the consolidation, and +posts were to be pushed forward South of this road. +The two Companies of the 5th Battalion had two tasks +allotted. One was to move through our right Company, +after the objective had been captured, occupy a small +length of trench there, and seize a small wood, so as +to protect our right from possible counter-attack from +Hennechies <span class="pagenum"><a id="page294" name="page294"></a>(p. 294)</span> Wood. The other was to follow our centre +Company, mop up any enemy left in the elements of +trenches in that Company's area, and help to mop up +Regnicourt itself.</p> + +<p>Tanks were to assist in the operation, one moving +down our right boundary, and helping to mop up the +trenches on the extreme right, and two others working +along the high ground on the left, and assisting if required +in the capture of Regnicourt, proceeding thence to help +the 138th Brigade at Andigny-les-Fermes.</p> + +<p>A glance at the map will show that the attack was +at right angles to the general line of our advance, which +was North East. It was therefore impossible for our +guns to fire the normal barrage, and the attack had to be +carried out under an enfilade barrage, working forward +on the leap-frog principle. This was difficult to lay +correctly, and the greatest care had to be taken that +troops forming up were well clear of it. After three +minutes on the opening line it was to advance at the rate +of 100 yards every three minutes. One round of smoke +shell was to be fired at each lift, which obviously would +not be so easy to identify as in the case of an overhead +barrage. A smoke curtain was also to be fired on the +Northern edge of the Forêt d'Andigny. The Life +Guards Machine Gun Battalion were to help with their +barrage, also a Company of the 6th Machine Gun +Battalion. Three sections of our own Machine Gun +Battalion were allotted to us, to be used mainly in +defence against possible counter-attacks, and a section +from the 139th Trench Mortar Battery, to assist in the +capture of Regnicourt.</p> + +<p>In order to help matters on our front a "Chinese" +or "Dummy" attack was arranged to take place on the +front of the 137th Brigade on the right. Dummy +Tanks and figures were to be placed in position during +the night, so as to appear at dawn as if attacking the +Bois-de-Riquerval <span class="pagenum"><a id="page295" name="page295"></a>(p. 295)</span> from the West, whilst a rolling barrage +was arranged to move through the wood in order to give +a further idea of an attack being in progress there, and, +it was hoped, bring down some of the enemy's barrage +in that quarter.</p> + +<p>During the afternoon of October 16th, a reconnaissance +was made by the Commanding Officer, Second-in-Command, +and Company Commanders. During this +operation, which was interrupted by a fierce bombardment +of our lines, an old lady could be seen quietly +moving her household effects on a wheelbarrow down that +portion of the Vaux-Andigny Road running between our +lines and the enemy's.</p> + +<p>Leaving our surplus stores, bivouacs and other +paraphernalia at Jonnecourt Farm, we moved off about +10.30 p.m., Col. Currin having previously harangued +us in no uncertain way, and in a manner truly +characteristic. On reaching the outskirts of Bohain, +we turned off to the right and proceeded by a track +previously taped out by the Royal Engineers, so as to +relieve the roads of traffic, and avoid going through the +town. On reaching the quarry East of Bohain, just off +the Bohain-Vaux-Andigny Road, we halted, and had an +excellent issue of hot porridge, tea and rum—our cookers +having gone up to that point beforehand. Pack mules +and limbers with ammunition and other stores, were a +little further behind, but near enough to be got forward +quickly if required during the battle. On this occasion +the ammunition supply was well arranged, thanks to the +good work of "Bedder" and "Tommy" Tomlinson, +who got pack mules forward in the attack with Lewis +gun "drums" just at the right moment, to the +accompaniment of some very expressive language on the +part of the Transport men.</p> + +<p>We moved on again between 2 and 3 a.m., and without +difficulty reached and formed up on our jumping-off +line, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page296" name="page296"></a>(p. 296)</span> which had been previously taped out by the +Brigade Major, Capt. Grinling, about 70 yards South of +the Bohain-Vaux-Andigny Road. We had three +Companies in the front line, A (Toyne, in the absence +of Thomas on leave) on the right; B (Geary) in the +centre; and C (Druce) on the left; whilst D (Warner), +in support behind C Company, was in the vicinity of +Vallée Hasard Farm. Battalion Headquarters and the +Regimental Aid Post were at a house near the road. +A and B Companies each had attached half a section +of Royal Engineers from the 465th Field Company. +Two Companies of the 5th Battalion were in rear, and +the rest of that Battalion were more or less dug in under +the woods on our right. The 6th Battalion were in +reserve North-West of the road. All troops were in +position by 3.45 a.m. on October 17th. Our actual +forming up line was in the area of the 6th Division, who +had been holding the front we were attacking; they +withdrew from this line some time before "zero" so as +to give us a free course.</p> + +<p>The frontage allotted to us was about 1,200 yards, +each of the leading Companies thus having approximately +400 yards. This was a long space to cover, especially +now that our numbers were so diminished that we +had been forced to reduce platoons to three sections +instead of four. Each of the leading Companies had +three platoons in the front line, with sections in blobs, +and one platoon in support, whilst D Company was +formed in a rectangle with a platoon at each corner, +and Company Headquarters in the centre, the three +sections of each platoon being arranged in a kind of +arrowhead.</p> + +<p>Zero was 5.20 a.m. The barrage came down +punctually, and we started forward to our last attack. +There was a certain amount of mist which developed +into a dense fog, and was doubtless intensified by our +own <span class="pagenum"><a id="page297" name="page297"></a>(p. 297)</span> smoke shells. A troop of our Cavalry in the +vicinity of the Vaux-Andigny road put their gas masks +on, and were last seen moving along the road in that +"get-up."</p> + +<p>It is pretty safe to say that everyone was lost +almost immediately, and as a consequence we wandered +out of our course, a fact which was destined to give us +much trouble. It was also impossible to judge the +lifts of the barrage, so that there was great confusion, +and things for a long while did not go at all well. On +this occasion, too, compasses do not appear to have +proved of great avail. C Company on the left kept +going for some time alright, and got possession of some +high ground after overcoming, under the excellent +leadership of 2nd Lieut. Druce, some opposition from +machine gun nests, though some of these were missed +owing to the fog. Then they wandered off in an Easterly +direction and got on to the 138th Brigade area on our +left, and later, when the fog cleared, they found +themselves nearly at Andigny-les-Fermes. B Company +in the centre went on until they were held up by +unbroken wire, and heavy machine gun fire from the +Regnicourt Ridge, and from a clearing in the centre of +the Battalion area. Their Commander, Capt. Geary, +was killed by machine gun fire after leading his men +with the greatest bravery. On many previous occasions +he had done excellent work, and his loss was most keenly +felt. A Company on the right soon lost touch with +B, but got on until they reached a position near the +railway track, in spite of having had a very nasty time +and many casualties from the machine guns in the same +clearing.</p> + +<p>D Company lost touch with everyone at first, and got +completely split up. Company Headquarters were +lucky enough to run into a Boche machine gun post, +which they cleared with much skill, capturing 11 men, +and <span class="pagenum"><a id="page298" name="page298"></a>(p. 298)</span> putting the two guns out of action. Then they +decided to try and find Battalion Headquarters, as they +concluded they must have got too far forward. By a +somewhat circuitous route they eventually succeeded in +doing so, and found that Col. Currin had also had difficulty +in getting to his advanced Headquarters, which was no +more than a "Map Reference." Of the rest of D +Company, three platoons got across to the right of our +front and did good work there, particularly 2nd Lieut. +Newton and his platoon, who were of great assistance +to A Company. A great feat was performed by some +members of the other platoon of D Company, who had +kept their direction on the left towards Regnicourt. +Having run up against a couple of machine guns, Sergt. +Robinson and L.-Corpl. Harper went forward to +reconnoitre the position, and finding it strongly held, +went back for the rest of the platoon. With a combination +of "fire and movement" they succeeded in getting +round the flank of the post and rushing it. L.-Corpl. +Harper, who stood up when only a few yards from the +post in order to be able to aim more accurately, was shot +through the head, and L.-Corpl. Coombes at once rushed +forward, shot six Germans with his revolver, and finished +off the last man who was trying to run away with his +Lewis gun.</p> + +<p>When news of all these happenings duly reached +him by runners, stragglers and other means. Col. +Currin collected all the oddments who had wandered to +his Headquarters, and sent them forward under Major +Robinson to push the enemy out of the clearing between +B and C Companies. The fog had to a certain extent +cleared by this time, but it was still not easy to keep +direction. Very soon, however, it lifted altogether, +and the party found itself on the Western edge of the +clearing and fired at by the enemy both from the clearing +and from the ridge towards their right front, from which +the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page299" name="page299"></a>(p. 299)</span> enemy were also firing into the rear of B Company, +who had gone past them.</p> + +<p>The party now advanced by bounds, and was +throughout most gallantly led by Major Robinson, who +went out absolutely unarmed, but later managed to get +a Boche pistol lent him, which he very soon lost. +Knowing him as we do we are not surprised that such a +small matter did not worry him in the least! Eventually +they got possession of a trench on the ridge, which +afforded them a certain amount of cover. The garrison +of this trench, about 10 men with a machine gun, were +very fortunate in receiving quarter, as they fired on +our advancing line up to the last minute, and then +threw up their hands. Most of the trouble now came +from machine guns about half right, and it was +determined to round them up. At this point Sergt. +Winson, of C Company, did most excellent work. +Regardless of all risk he kept his Lewis gun trained on +the enemy, whilst a party worked round their right +flank, first by crawling over to a small clearing, and then +rushing the post from there. This manoeuvre was +entirely successful, six machine guns, and about 40 +prisoners being captured.</p> + +<p>At the same time that part of C Company, which +had wandered away to the left, turned back and moved +towards the high ground East of Regnicourt. The +enemy in the clearing now realised that they were more +or less surrounded, and after little more resistance +surrendered, 27 machine guns and 140 prisoners being +taken from this small area. A Company of the 5th +Battalion under our old Regimental Quarter-Master +Sergt., now Capt. Dench, arrived shortly afterwards +and took up a position in the clearing as a reserve.</p> + +<p>A Company on the right had fared very badly, +having met with heavy machine gun and rifle fire and +suffered many casualties, including their commander. +Lieut. <span class="pagenum"><a id="page300" name="page300"></a>(p. 300)</span> Toyne, who was wounded, and 2nd Lieut. Jacques, +killed, leaving the Company under the command of +2nd Lieut. Shackleton. Eventually, owing to their +exposed position they had to retire slightly, but later +were reinforced by two Companies from the 5th Battalion, +and together they were able, after some very stiff fighting, +to dislodge the enemy and get their objective. Lieut. +Thomas of the 465th Field Company, Royal Engineers, +did some very gallant work here in reorganising parties +and leading them forward in attempts to get on, and +the greatest praise is due to him for his splendid efforts.</p> + +<p>Major Robinson's party, after getting the Ridge, +pushed on to Regnicourt Village, where they found some +of the Leicesters, who had wandered on to our front. +Just beyond, one of our Tanks had broken down, and +had a very rough time before its crew could be rescued. +It was now about 10.15 a.m. Capt. Warner was put +in charge of the front line with orders to consolidate, +and he accordingly reorganised the odd parties of men +he found under his command, and began to establish +strong points South of the Andigny-les-Fermes-Bohain +Road. Some trouble was caused at this time by a +German field gun inside Hennechies Wood, which was +firing on these parties at point blank range. Once its +position was located, however, it was not long before +our Gunners forced it to withdraw, and the posts were +eventually established.</p> + +<p>About 11 a.m. the enemy were seen massing for a +counter-attack about 1,500 yards away on our right +front, but we got the guns of the whole "group" turned +on to the area in a very short time, and the Boches were +completely broken, only a half-hearted attempt being +made, and only one man reaching our lines.</p> + +<p>By noon the enemy in the Forêt d'Andigny must +have begun to feel that with the 138th Brigade—who +had now captured the village of Andigny-les-Fermes—on +their <span class="pagenum"><a id="page301" name="page301"></a>(p. 301)</span> right flank, and the 137th Brigade and ourselves +on their left, it was time they were moving, for +a patrol which we pushed out towards the wood found +it occupied only by a few odd machine guns. Major +Robinson himself took charge of this patrol, which +consisted of a platoon of B Company, under Comp. +Sergt.-Major Cobb. On one or two occasions, owing to +their small numbers they had to creep round to avoid +these machine guns, but they escaped without accident, +and after proceeding a distance of something like 2,000 +yards in a South-Eastern direction, they eventually +found a French post about 100 yards South of +"Forester's House." The "poilus" were delighted +to see them, and shewed their appreciation by giving our +men the whole of the contents of their water bottles.</p> + +<p>About 5 p.m., Companies having been to some +extent reorganised, an outpost line was formed running +due North and South from Hennechies Wood, East of +Regnicourt, and joining up on the left with the 138th +Brigade. Later on, the 137th Brigade moved up a +Battalion through the wood to fill the gap between our +right flank and the French.</p> + +<a id="img026" name="img026"></a> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/img026.jpg" width="400" height="556" alt="Map To Illustrate The Battle Of Regnicourt." title="Map To Illustrate The Battle Of Regnicourt."> +</div> + +<p class="figcenter">Map To Illustrate The Battle Of Regnicourt.</p> + +<p>During the attack we captured something like +220 prisoners, and nearly 100 machine guns, besides +inflicting many other casualties. Our own losses, too, +were heavy—the heaviest in Officers that we had experienced +in the recent fighting. Besides Geary, we +lost 2nd Lieuts. Plant and Jacques killed, and Lieuts. +Toyne and Whitelegge, and 2nd Lieut. John H. Smith +wounded, whilst in other ranks we lost 25 killed or died +of wounds, and 54 wounded, including Sergts. Oldham, +Sharrock and Wicks. Deeds of gallantry were +conspicuous on all sides, and especially good work +was done by several N.C.O.'s in charge of platoons. +Amongst the following, who did particularly well +and have not already been mentioned in connection +with <span class="pagenum"><a id="page302" name="page302"></a>(p. 302)</span> the Battle of Regnicourt, are several who had +previously displayed conspicuous courage in other recent +battles: Sergts. Shepperson, Sharrock, Wallis, Scrimshaw, +and H. Wilson; Corpls. Watson and Francis; +L.-Corpls. Slater, Creamer (killed), Robinson and Beech, +and Pvtes. Wesley, Houghton, Martin, Draper, Jackson, +Berresford, C. Smith, Vipond, Lees, Turpin and Roe.</p> + +<p>In a way it was an unsatisfactory day, and we feel +we have hardly had our deserts for the gallant work +done by all ranks against an enemy holding in much +greater strength much more strongly fortified positions +than had been anticipated. The fighting was extremely +hard, if anything harder than at Ramicourt, and the +greatest possible credit is due to all for the gallant way +they fought, and the great dash and determination they +displayed to get their objective. Regnicourt is apt to +be looked on as a small matter, but for the 8th Battalion +it was one of the most strenuously fought battles +of the war.</p> + +<p>About midnight, we were relieved by the 6th +Battalion, and rested for the night just behind Regnicourt. +The following day, as the Brigade had been squeezed +out of the line altogether by the further retirement +of the enemy, we were able to withdraw, and in the +evening marched back to Fresnoy. We were met on +the road by our Drums, under the leadership of Corpl. +(shortly to become Sergt.-Drummer) Coupe, who had got +them to a wonderful state of perfection. They cheered +everyone up, and considerably helped the last part of +the march. We were glad to see General Harington +waiting for us just before reaching the village, and his +brief "Well done, Sherwoods" as we passed, was the +fullest appreciation of our efforts that we could wish +for.</p> + +<p>We now had several days complete rest, and were +fortunate in getting, almost at once, a draft of 120 +reinforcements, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page303" name="page303"></a>(p. 303)</span> mostly men of the Northumberland +Hussars, who had not previously seen service abroad. +They were a good lot, and with their addition we felt +more like ourselves once more; in fact our paper strength +now totalled 34 Officers, and 745 other ranks. We had +quite a pleasant time doing a little training, as well as +reorganising and cleaning, and devoting the afternoons +to football.</p> + +<p>The fighting moving further off each day, we had to +move forward on October 29th to Bohain. This was +carried out as a Brigade march, and we entered Bohain +with bands playing, and the civilian population in the +streets to welcome us. The town had been knocked about +very little, and the billets were extremely comfortable. +Our training here included a route march across the +scene of our recent fighting, in order to imbue the newly +arrived with a sense of the honour they should realise +had been done them in posting them to such a fine +Battalion!</p> + +<p>A great drawback to our advance all this time was +the business-like way in which the Boche had mined the +roads and blown up railways. Every railway and river +bridge had been systematically blown up, and mines +had been put at every cross roads, and usually in the +deep cuttings and high embankments, so as to give the +maximum of trouble in filling and getting past. In +many cases, these mines had actually been blown and +all we found were huge craters. In a few cases delay-action +mines had been laid, which did not explode for +some little time. All this gave our Sappers much work +to do in reconnoitring road crossings, and other points +for signs of mining where they were not blown, or in +arranging for temporary roadways to be constructed, +or craters to be filled in where they had been exploded. +But on a larger scale the enemy's very clever system of +working his delay-action mines on the railways, was the +biggest <span class="pagenum"><a id="page304" name="page304"></a>(p. 304)</span> nuisance we had to contend with. The railway +having been repaired well forward, a mine would suddenly +go up miles behind, thus preventing trains getting on to +the appointed railhead, and so causing endless worry to +the authorities who had to arrange for our supplies +coming up. To them this disorganisation must have +been extremely disconcerting, and it went on altogether +for nearly a month. The mines were so cunningly +concealed that it was impossible to locate them. In +spite of everything supplies reached us in some marvellous +way without a hitch.</p> + +<p>On November 3rd, in order to support the 1st and +32nd Divisions, who were to attack the line of the +Sambre-Oise Canal on the following day, and to exploit +the success if they broke through, we moved to the +little village of Escaufort. It was a heavy march, the +roads were bad, and we arrived late in the evening +soaked through to spend a dreary night in poor billets, +many of which had suffered during the bombardment +of the last few days, and in bivouacs. Early the +following morning we pushed on to St. Souplet, where +we prepared to stay for the night in a few old barns. +Later in the day, however, news was brought that the +attack had been successful, and we moved on to Catillon, +on the Canal. Transport, Quarter-Master's Stores and +Battle Details moved to Mazinghien. The same night +we got orders that we were to pass through the 1st +Division and 138th Brigade, and take up the pursuit, the +following day.</p> + +<p>We had been informed that owing to the "blowing" +of the bridge over the Canal at Catillon, we should have +to make a détour of several miles with cookers and +Lewis gun limbers to get across by a pontoon bridge, +in order to arrive at our point of assembly on the Catillon-La +Groise Road, which was only about 1,000 yards +away! We determined to see if we could not find some +other <span class="pagenum"><a id="page305" name="page305"></a>(p. 305)</span> means of doing this, and thanks to a reconnaissance +by Major Robinson, we found that it was possible for +Infantry to cross the Canal over débris from the blown +up bridge, though the Transport would have to go round. +This was a great boon, as it enabled us to get breakfast +before starting considerably later than would otherwise +have been necessary. Capt. A. Bedford arrived with +the rations about 3.0 a.m., we had breakfast at six, +and at eight moved off, being across the Canal, and +in our proper position by 8.30. Limbers and cookers +joined us about nine, A Company's cooker having fallen +overboard in crossing the pontoon bridge but having +been extricated without damage. We were the only +Battalion in the Brigade that day to start out with a +full stomach and our day's rations with us!</p> + +<p>Late in the afternoon we moved into poor billets in +the village of Mezières, where we stayed the night, and +were joined by Transport, Stores and Battle Details. +Bedford worked uncommonly well, as did also the +Quarter-Master's Branch, in getting up rations, which +they had to man-handle over the canal crossing—still +impossible for traffic—and reload into our transport +limbers. For all their efforts we were duly thankful.</p> + +<p>On November 6th, the 5th Battalion were to attack +as the 6th had been held up just West of Prisches, and +we were to move up in support. The method adopted +was for the attacking troops to pass round the village, +whilst the support Battalion, pushing one Company on +the road as an advanced guard, moved by platoons at +about 50 yards interval. This was now true open +warfare, and there was no organised line of defence. +The day's objectives were Prisches and Cartignies. After +an early start we continued our march towards Prisches, +the attacking troops meeting with little opposition, and +our advanced guard, A Company, were quickly in after +them. The enemy had gone and we had got possession +by 10.30 a.m.</p> + +<p>We <span class="pagenum"><a id="page306" name="page306"></a>(p. 306)</span> shall never forget the reception by the +inhabitants of Prisches! We were the first of the relieving +troops they had seen, and their feelings at being thus +released after four years of oppression and slavery +at the hands of the Hun, found expression in many +demonstrations of joy and gratitude. Civilians of all +ages came out to greet us. Their national flags—Heaven +only knows where they came from or how they +were concealed from the enemy—were displayed on all +sides, and even before the enemy were clear of the village +the Tricolour was floating from the Church Tower! It +was truly a wonderful sight, and a day never to be +forgotten. We were surrounded by offers of coffee and +fruit, cider and cognac, plentifully mingled with the +tears and kisses of the grateful inhabitants. Indeed, +so insistent were they that progress became difficult. +We eventually, however, managed to establish Battalion +Headquarters in a farmhouse at the East end of +the village, where we again had a great reception, and +stayed for some refreshment during a temporary hold-up +of the advanced troops.</p> + +<p>The attacking troops were to push on through the +next village, Cartignies, and establish an outpost line +on the other side of it. So rapid was the retreat, and +so certain were we of success, that whilst at Prisches we +despatched Bradish and a party of N.C.O.'s to get our +billets there for the night! In the afternoon we were +able to push on with the rest of the Battalion, B Company +forming the advanced guard. On arriving at Cartignies +we were met by Bradish, who informed us that he had +made arrangements for billeting us, but that half the +village was still in the hands of the enemy, who were +firing on the 5th Battalion with machine guns. The +Commanding Officer whilst reconnoitring near the +Church, soon discovered this for himself, so withdrew +diplomatically, deciding that it was not "our war" +just <span class="pagenum"><a id="page307" name="page307"></a>(p. 307)</span> then. Accordingly we got into our billets and +posted sentries and Lewis guns at windows and other +points for our protection. Owing to some of the Staffords +who were also in the village, deciding to hold their outpost +line in the village, instead of on the other side the +river, the clearing of the village was a longer process +than it should have been. It caused us no trouble, but +we doubt if Tomlinson and Tebbutt would have slept so +comfortably had they known that their billet was in +No Man's Land! However, all was well; we had had +another great reception from the delighted inhabitants, +and after a long and tiring day we were soon asleep +in good, comfortable billets.</p> + +<p>For the next three days we stayed there, being +joined by the Transport and Stores, Battle Details and +several Officers from England, who had never been out +before.</p> + +<p>The Hun was now going away rapidly, and it +was very doubtful if we should be required again. +We never were, and were glad to find we had done +with him.</p> + +<p>There was talk of an Armistice, and we were also +warned that German Envoys were expected, and might +come through our lines. This they did not do and we +were not sorry.</p> + +<p>On November 10th, we had to move out of Cartignies +to a small village, Boulogne-sur-Helpe, near by—the +most Easterly point the Battalion ever reached.</p> + +<p>November 11th came in just the same as any other +day, but quite early a wire from Brigade Headquarters +stated that the Germans had agreed to our Armistice +terms, and the Great War was over.</p> + + + + +<h3>CHAPTER XVIII <span class="pagenum"><a id="page308" name="page308"></a>(p. 308)</span></h3> + +<h5>HOME AGAIN</h5> + +<p class="figcenter"><i>November 12th, 1918.</i>— +<i>July 5th, 1919.</i></p> + +<p class="p2">For the next few days we lived in an atmosphere +of uncertainty. Were we to be one of the chosen +Divisions to go forward as part of the Army of Occupation, +or were we to be left to spend weary months scavenging +in the fair land of France? There may have been a few +who did not want to go on, thinking they would probably +lose their chance of an early return home, but in the +main we were anxious to push on and satisfy our souls +by actually setting foot on German soil as part of the +Conquering Army. Our hopes fell from day to day as +we heard no orders to prepare to move forward, and +eventually, much to our regret, we learnt that after +all we were not going to Germany. It was nearly +the end of November when we received the following +letter from General Sir H. S. Rawlinson, commanding +the Fourth Army:—"It is a matter of very deep regret +to me that the 46th Division is not accompanying the +Fourth Army to the Frontier. I desire, however, to +place on record my appreciation of the splendid performances +of the Division during the recent operations, +and to congratulate all ranks on the conspicuous part +they have played in the battles of the 100 days. The +forcing of the main Hindenburg line on the Canal, and the +capture of Bellenglise rank as one of the finest and most +dashing exploits of the war. The attacks of October 3rd, +and the subsequent operations about Bohain, together +with the later advance towards the Sambre Canal, +constitute a record of which all ranks of the Division +may <span class="pagenum"><a id="page309" name="page309"></a>(p. 309)</span> justly feel proud. I offer to all ranks my warmest +thanks for their great gallantry, and to the leaders and +staffs my admiration of their skilful direction and staff +work throughout these battles. To every Officer, N.C.O., +and man of the Division, I offer my warm thanks and +hearty congratulations, and trust that at some future +time they may again form part of the Fourth Army."</p> + +<p>On the day after the Armistice, Major-General +Boyd came to see us, and presented some medal ribbons, +and in the afternoon an entertaining football match +between Officers and N.C.O.'s was won by the latter, the +Officers in a few cases having some difficulty in staying +the course.</p> + +<p>We left Boulogne-sur-Helpe on November 14th, +and marched via Cartignies to Landrecies—a town +which had seen much of the recent fighting, as well as +having played a prominent part in the early days of the +war. The whole of the 139th Brigade was concentrated +here, and as our stay was likely to be a lengthy one, we +soon set to work to make ourselves comfortable. Most +of the Battalion were billeted in one of the French +Barracks, D Company being allotted a school near by. +Though the town had been considerably damaged by +shells, our billets were more or less watertight, and in +fairly good order. The Transport and Quarter-Master's +Stores were also in the town close to the Barracks.</p> + +<p>On Sunday, November 17th, a Church Parade of +the whole Division was held at Landrecies, as a Thanksgiving +Service, and afterwards the Major-General +distributed medal ribbons. He paid us a high +compliment as we marched past after the ceremony, +when he said that in all his military career he had never +seen a Battalion march past in better style!</p> + +<p>The work of clearing the battlefield in the area +round about Landrecies began at once. We did four +hours a day at this work on four days a week, and on +the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page310" name="page310"></a>(p. 310)</span> other two days carried out ordinary military training. +Education classes were also started and carried on for +several months, and though the numbers who attended +were not large, there is no doubt that very much useful +work was done in this way. Lieut. C. M. Bedford was +responsible for the educational work at first, handing +it over later to Lieut. Tebbutt. Afternoons were +invariably spent in recreation, Inter-Battalion and +Inter-Company "Soccer" matches, cross-country runs, +and other sports. There were also "Rugger" teams +in the Division, and later a Brigade Hockey team was +formed. A few lucky ones got trips in Col. Barron's +Ambulances to Brussels, Amiens, Valenciennes, and other +towns of interest within reach, but this luxury did not +last long. A recreation room at the Barracks was +started for reading and indoor games, whilst Lieut. +Pennington got an extraordinarily good Concert Party +going, which was known eventually as "The Penguins" +and gave entertainments to several other units. +"Robbo" managed to "scrounge" a piano for them +from a ruined house in the town, and during the dark +nights we had much to thank them for. Later on there +were whist drives, and some of the gayer element even +went to dances, classes in which gentle art were held +by the 6th Battalion. Padre Sturt, in addition to giving +valuable help with the Education Classes, started +a Debating Society, at which many entertaining topics +were discussed.</p> + +<p>On November 29th, the first batch of miners left +for demobilisation, an urgent call having been made +for these men owing to the coal shortage. The batch +included several "old hands," who had crossed to +France with the Battalion in 1915. The remainder +were sent off in December, during which month we lost +no fewer than 230.</p> + +<p>In <span class="pagenum"><a id="page311" name="page311"></a>(p. 311)</span> the afternoon of December 1st, we were honoured +by a visit from the King, the Prince of Wales, and Prince +Albert. They were received by Major-General Boyd +and the Mayor, and afterwards walked through the +town surrounded by masses of troops of the Division. +It was all delightfully informal; they had a wonderful +reception, and at times found it difficult to get on.</p> + +<p>A week later, on December 8th, we were delighted +to see a representative from our own County, in the +person of the Duke of Portland. He was accompanied +by Cols. Mellish and Foljambe, the Bishop of Southwell, +and Major E. T. Baines, whilst Padre Hales, who was +now Deputy Chaplain General of a neighbouring Corps, +also came over for the ceremony. The opportunity was +taken of getting the Duke to present medal ribbons to +some Officers and men who had been awarded decorations +during the recent fighting. This was done at a Battalion +Parade, at which the Duke gave a short address, saying +that he had brought from the Home County congratulations +and greetings on our work during the last few +months. After the Parade the Battalion marched past +the Duke headed by the Brigade band.</p> + +<p>The following week a Colour party consisting of Capt. +White, 2nd Lieut. James H. Smith, Comp.-Sergt.-Major +Cobb, Sergt. Martin and Sergt. Skelton, having been sent +to Newark for the special purpose, arrived with the +Colours, which remained with the Battalion for the rest +of our stay in France.</p> + +<p>Amongst numerous Officers who joined us in these +days we were particularly glad to welcome our old +friend Torrance, who at once resumed the duties of +Quarter-Master.</p> + +<p>The last item of interest in the great year 1918, +was the celebration of Christmas. The only drawback +on this occasion was that we were not able to celebrate +it until Boxing Day, owing to the non-arrival of the +necessary <span class="pagenum"><a id="page312" name="page312"></a>(p. 312)</span> feeding stuffs and drinks. Something had +gone wrong in the back regions, a thing which had been +going on for some time, as canteen stores were always +short, and rations at no other period of the war were so +scarce or poor. We poured curses on the Royal Army +Service Corps, and all connected with them, but to no +purpose. Boxing day, however, will live long in our +memory. There was plenty of food and drink, and all +sorts of other good things, towards the purchase of which +we had been largely helped by money presents from +friends at home. Each Company had its own dinner, +followed by a concert. The Major-General visited every +Company, and was greeted with the greatest enthusiasm. +He wished every one a happy time and prosperity in the +New Year. The children of Landrecies also had a treat, +being given a special show by the Divisional Cinema, +and a sumptuous feed, and we venture to think they +will not forget Christmas 1918 for many a long day—they +had certainly not had one like it during the previous +four years. Col. Barron and his excellent Quarter-Master, +Major Moreton, of our Field Ambulance, were +largely responsible for the feed, whilst we helped to buy +toys.</p> + +<p>It took us some time to get over Christmas. In +fact, Christmas at Landrecies in 1918 lasted several +days, and was full of incident! As soon as the New +Year came in—on January 3rd, 1919—we moved once +more to Prisches, where a fresh area was allotted us +to clear. Here we carried on in much the same way +as at Landrecies, but owing to demobilisation having +become more general, we were losing men daily and +our numbers were gradually but surely dropping. Early +in the New Year Major Robinson left us to rejoin the +6th Battalion, and Major Andrews resumed duty as +Second-in-Command.</p> + +<p>On <span class="pagenum"><a id="page313" name="page313"></a>(p. 313)</span> February 19th, we began a Westward move to +be nearer railhead, marching that day to Bazuel, and +the following day to Bethencourt, near Caudry, from +which place we were destined finally to be scattered to +the four winds. From here we sent back most of our +horses and mules, with others from the Brigade, to an +Auction sale at Prisches, where they were sold in a most +entertaining manner by a French Auctioneer at good +prices to the local inhabitants. Our Transport vehicles +were sent to the Divisional Park at Caudry.</p> + +<p>The same sort of work and play and demobilisation +continued, and at the end of April we were left with +only nine Officers and 52 other ranks. Officers and +men who were not demobilised went mostly to the +51st and 52nd Sherwood Foresters (Young Soldiers +Battalions), or to Prisoners of War Camps at Nancy +and Péronne. Eventually in June, Col. Currin and the +Cadre left for England, leaving behind only a baggage +guard under Capt. Warner, who came home in July. +Col. Currin and his party arrived at Newark late on +June 21st, and the official welcome took place on +June 23rd, when the Mayor met them at the Town Hall, +and the Colours were once more placed at the Drill Hall. +With the Colonel were Regimental Sergt.-Major +Mounteney, Comp. Quarter-Master Sergt. Bee, Sergt. +Blunt, L.-Corpl. Tuckwood, and Pvte. Durand. With +the exception of two short periods when he was away +sick or wounded, Regimental Sergt.-Major Mounteney +served with us the whole of our stay in France. Both +in and out of the line he rendered most valuable service +to the Battalion, and even in the darkest hours we +were always sure of his cheerful help.</p> + +<p>On July 5th, a Memorial Service was held at +Southwell Cathedral, for the Nottinghamshire men who +had fallen in the war. After the ceremony, the men +of the Battalion who were present, were entertained +to <span class="pagenum"><a id="page314" name="page314"></a>(p. 314)</span> tea in the schools at Southwell, and Col. Huskinson +took that opportunity of thanking the ladies of the +County for their kind help during the war. We feel +sure, that though on this occasion they are put last, +they will none the less accept our kind appreciation of +all the work they were at such pains to do, and for the +thousands of comforts they got together and sent out to +us.</p> + +<p>From the time we left England to final disembodiment +no fewer than 193 Officers, and 2,650 other ranks +served with the Battalion. There were 21 deaths from +sickness and four fatal accidents. Battle casualties +amounted to 26 Officers, and 447 other ranks killed, +or died of wounds, and 64 Officers, and 1,400 other +ranks wounded. Such a tragic total, however, cannot +wholly be a measure of the trials and vicissitudes of +three-and-a-half years' fighting. If in this record we +have succeeded in conveying an impression to those +who were not so fortunate as to be with us, or in reminding +those who were, of courage, dogged perseverance, +and unselfish devotion to duty in action, of +pleasures, humour and happier times at rest, our efforts +may not, perhaps, be without value in the days that +are to come.</p> + +<div> +<p class="p0 left05">"Speak! Was our course well run? Is there aught wherewith to upbraid us?<br> +Have we fled from the thunder of battle, or flinched at the lightning's track?<br> +Answer! What need of answer? By the God of Truth who hath made us,<br> +Thou knowest the Flag went forward, and never a foot went back!"</p> + +<p class="p0 col30"> +<span class="smcap">"The Last Muster,"</span> by <i>J. S. Arkwright</i>.</p></div> + + + + + +<h3>APPENDIX I. <span class="pagenum"><a id="page315" name="page315"></a>(p. 315)</span></h3> + +<h5>ROLL OF HONOUR</h5> + +<p class="figcenter"><i>List of those who were Killed, or Died of Wounds or Sickness.</i></p> + +<p class="figcenter">OFFICERS.</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" summary="Officers"> +<colgroup> +<col width="7%"> +<col width="7%"> +<col width="35%"> +<col width="2%"> +<col width="7%"> +<col width="7%"> +<col width="35%"> +</colgroup> + +<tr> +<td colspan="3" class="td-center">1915.</td> +<td> </td> +<td colspan="3" class="td-center">1917.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>April</td> +<td class="td-right">22—</td> +<td>2nd Lieut. <span class="smcap">J. R. Eddison</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td>March</td> +<td class="td-right">4—</td> +<td>Lieut. <span class="smcap">R. A. Abrams</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>June</td> +<td class="td-right">6—</td> +<td>Capt. <span class="smcap">H. G. Wright</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td>April</td> +<td class="td-right">23—</td> +<td>2nd Lieut. <span class="smcap">W. P. Duff</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">15—</td> +<td>Lieut. <span class="smcap">A. F. O. Dobson</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">23—</td> +<td>2nd Lieut. <span class="smcap">E. Hopkinson</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">15—</td> +<td>2nd Lieut. <span class="smcap">W. H. Hollins</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td>Aug.</td> +<td class="td-right">30—</td> +<td>2nd Lieut. <span class="smcap">D. Tanner</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Oct.</td> +<td class="td-right">13—</td> +<td>2nd Lieut. <span class="smcap">R. E. Hemingway</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td>Oct.</td> +<td class="td-right">27—</td> +<td>2nd Lieut. <span class="smcap">J. H. Hofmeyr</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>2nd Lieut. <span class="smcap">E. F. S. Handford</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td colspan="3" rowspan="2" class="td-center">1918.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>Capt. <span class="smcap">H. B. S. Handford</span></td> +<td> </td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>2nd Lieut. <span class="smcap">E. S. Strachan</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td>April</td> +<td class="td-right">29—</td> +<td>Capt. <span class="smcap">H. K. Simonet</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">15—</td> +<td>Lieut.-Col. <span class="smcap">G. H. Fowler</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td>Sept.</td> +<td class="td-right">6—</td> +<td>2nd Lieut. <span class="smcap">C. J. Elly</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">25—</td> +<td>2nd Lieut. <span class="smcap">G. H. Fisher</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">29—</td> +<td>Lieut. <span class="smcap">S. E. Cairns</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Nov.</td> +<td class="td-right">12—</td> +<td>Lieut. <span class="smcap">C. M. Houfton</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td>Oct.</td> +<td class="td-right">3—</td> +<td>2nd Lieut. <span class="smcap">A. D. H. Dunkin</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td colspan="3" rowspan="2" class="td-center">1916.</td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">4—</td> +<td>2nd Lieut. <span class="smcap">T. F. Mitchell</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">17—</td> +<td>Capt. <span class="smcap">A. E. Geary</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Jan.</td> +<td class="td-right">1—</td> +<td>Major <span class="smcap">J. P. Becher</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">17—</td> +<td>2nd Lieut. <span class="smcap">R. S. Plant</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Dec.</td> +<td class="td-right">20—</td> +<td>2nd Lieut. <span class="smcap">L. E. King-Stephens</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">17—</td> +<td>2nd Lieut. <span class="smcap">W. G. Jacques</span></td> +</tr> + +</table> + +<p class="figcenter"><br>OTHER RANKS.</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="1" summary="Other ranks"> +<colgroup> +<col width="7%"> +<col width="7%"> +<col width="35%"> +<col width="2%"> +<col width="7%"> +<col width="7%"> +<col width="35%"> +</colgroup> + +<tr> +<td colspan="7" class="td-center">1914.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Sept.</td> +<td class="td-right">28—</td> +<td>Drummer <span class="smcap">R. Baker</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td>Nov.</td> +<td class="td-right">17—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">S. Shelton</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td colspan="7" class="td-center">1915.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>April</td> +<td class="td-right">6—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. Hyde</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td>April</td> +<td class="td-right">11—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">P. Richardson</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">12—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">D. Smith</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">12—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. Frary</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">13—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">W. R. Copley</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">15—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. E. Hopewell</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">20—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">H. Trickett</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">20—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. Wright</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">21—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">T. Murden</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">21—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. Bates</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">21—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">F. Adams</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">21—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. Berresford</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">21—</td> +<td>Sergt. <span class="smcap">G. Wilmore</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">21—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">T. H. Mayman</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">22—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">H. Sketchley</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">23—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">H. Stevenson</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">23—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">W. Taylor</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">24—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">W. Hunt</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">24—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">C. Redmile</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">24—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">W. Godfrey</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">24—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">C. Hibbert</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">24—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">R. East</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">24—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. Bonner</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">24—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">H. Grant</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">24—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">H. Husband</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">24—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">W. Johnson</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">24—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">W. Pattison</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">24—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. <span class="smcap">W. Ashley</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">24—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. E. Hincks</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">24—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">H. Randall</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">24—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">E. Worthington</span> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page316" name="page316"></a>(p. 316)</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">29—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. Brindley</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">30—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">H. Foster</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">30—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. <span class="smcap">E. Markwell</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>May</td> +<td class="td-right">2—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. <span class="smcap">C. Land</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td>May</td> +<td class="td-right">2—</td> +<td>Corpl. <span class="smcap">E. Parker</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">8—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">H. Kirk</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">8—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. V. Soar</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">8—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. <span class="smcap">W. H. Ridgard</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">10—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. <span class="smcap">A. Priestley</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">17—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">E. Eaton</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">24—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">W. Widnall</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">24—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">T. Hardy</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">25—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">H. Spademan</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>June</td> +<td class="td-right">5—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">R. Mills</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td>June</td> +<td class="td-right">6—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">T. Massey</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">12—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">F. Paling</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>Corpl. <span class="smcap">C. J. Wilson</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">15—</td> +<td>Corpl. <span class="smcap">F. Wilcox</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">15—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. E. Armitage</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">15—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">F. Hill</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">15—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">B. Cox</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">15—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">P. May</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">15—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">R. W. Moakes</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">15—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">W. Richardson</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">15—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">O. L. Bryan</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">15—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. Cook</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">16—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">G. Richardson</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">24—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">W. H. Hird</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">27—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. <span class="smcap">J. Churn</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">27—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">F. Edwards</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">27—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">C. E. Stones</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>July</td> +<td class="td-right">12—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">E. Robinson</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td>July</td> +<td class="td-right">16—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">G. Tinker</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">16—</td> +<td>Corpl. <span class="smcap">F. Godson</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">18—</td> +<td>Corpl. <span class="smcap">E. Dewsnap</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">20—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">E. Richardson</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">21—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">C. Taylor</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">21—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">G. Hinton</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">22—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. Bowskill</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">25—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. Watson</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">30—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. W. Jubb</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">30—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. Rudkin</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">30—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">F. Walster</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">30—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">C. Thorpe</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">30—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">R. Downham</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">30—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">S. Oliver</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">30—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">R. Huckerby</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">30—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">F. Ingham</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">30—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">F. Parker</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">30—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">C. Lines</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">30—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. Woodhead</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">30—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. Coy</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">30—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. Rossington</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">30—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. R. Walker</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">30—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">H. Taylor</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">30—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">H. W. Raynor</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">31—</td> +<td>Corpl. <span class="smcap">S. Humberstone</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">31—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. <span class="smcap">I. Webster</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">31—</td> +<td>Corpl. <span class="smcap">R. J. Hotson</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">31—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">T. Davidson</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td>August</td> +<td class="td-right">1—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. Hopewell</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>August</td> +<td class="td-right">1—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">H. H. Turner</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">4—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. W. Lee</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">5—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">C. Crampton</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">7—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">H. Moore</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">7—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. Scott</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">8—</td> +<td>Sergt. <span class="smcap">A. Phillipson</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">8—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. <span class="smcap">P. Scott</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">8—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. Smith</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">8—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">F. Gumsley</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">8—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">E. King</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">13—</td> +<td>L.-Sergt. <span class="smcap">E. Layhe</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">G. E. Fletcher</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. Walsham</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">W. Kirkham</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>Corpl. <span class="smcap">G. C. Higham</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">17—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. A. Saunders</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">30—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">G. W. Cartwright</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">30—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">G. Richards</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Sept.</td> +<td class="td-right">3—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">H. Key</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td>Sept.</td> +<td class="td-right">10—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">L. Smith</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">12—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. Wesson</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">16—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">W. T. Marshall</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">19—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">G. Barker</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">25—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. <span class="smcap">T. Humphrey</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">25—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">L. Hayes</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">28—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">R. Gray</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">29—</td> +<td>Drummer <span class="smcap">J. Newton</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td>Oct.</td> +<td class="td-right">5—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. <span class="smcap">E. Hale</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Oct.</td> +<td class="td-right">5—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. R. Roe</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">5—</td> +<td>L.-Sergt. <span class="smcap">C. E. Harrison</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">8—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">N. Chadbourne</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>Sergt. <span class="smcap">C. E. Cox</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. <span class="smcap">A. Spencer</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>Corpl. <span class="smcap">J. C. Simpson</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">E. Mecklenburgh</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>Corpl. <span class="smcap">W. Wardle</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. <span class="smcap">E. Clay</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. <span class="smcap">W. J. Herepath</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. <span class="smcap">A. H. Hardy</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. Baldwinson</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">H. L. Smith</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">E. Kirk</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. W. Renshaw</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">C. Stimsom</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">S. P. Huggins</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">L. H. Flint</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">F. W. Coleman</span> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page317" name="page317"></a>(p. 317)</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">G. Simms</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. Fotheringham</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">S. H. Lister</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. Pettinger</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. Hazzard</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>Sergt. <span class="smcap">M. Millband</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. <span class="smcap">H. E. Woodhead</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. Dodsworth</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>Corpl. <span class="smcap">J. Sharman</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. <span class="smcap">B. C. Vick</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. Hazlewood</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">H. Cook</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">C. S. Harrison</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">H. Wilkinson</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. Eyre</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">E. C. Phillipson</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">W. Anthony</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">F. Farrand</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. B. Smith</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">W. Thompson</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">G. Seymour</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">F. Bryan</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>Sergt. <span class="smcap">H. Hall</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. Moyses</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">15—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">W. Radford</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">15—</td> +<td>Sergt. <span class="smcap">G. F. Foster</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">15—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">S. Broughton</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">16—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">R. Taylor</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">18—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. <span class="smcap">F. J. Lowe</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">22—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. Woolley</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">27—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">E. Chilvers</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">30—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">R. Hurt</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td>Nov.</td> +<td class="td-right">22—</td> +<td>Sergt. <span class="smcap">A. Sheppard</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Dec.</td> +<td class="td-right">2—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">C. H. Cliffe</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td>Dec.</td> +<td class="td-right">8—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">C. Redfern</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td colspan="7" class="td-center">1916.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>March</td> +<td class="td-right">20—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. Evans</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td>March</td> +<td class="td-right">21—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">F. Footitt</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">25—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">E. Gilbert</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">28—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">C. E. Ellis</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>April</td> +<td class="td-right">4—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. E. Easton</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td>April</td> +<td class="td-right">4—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. Wright</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">4—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">F. Johnson</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">4—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. W. Hempsall</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">5—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">E. A. Hill</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">15—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">G. Wilcockson</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">15—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">L. Chandlee</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">17—</td> +<td>Sergt. <span class="smcap">W. H. Markham</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">17—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">W. North</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">17—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">E. H. Mutton</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">18—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">H. Ellis</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">18—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">E. Nelson</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">18—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">W. Robinson</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">18—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. <span class="smcap">J. Footitt</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">18—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">G. Marriott</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">18—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">G. H. Johnson</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">18—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">L. J. Moore</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">20—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">H. Hicking</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">20—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">T. B. Terry</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">25—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">C. Wells</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>June</td> +<td class="td-right">3—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">H. Skillington</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td>June</td> +<td class="td-right">20—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. E. Pulford</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">20—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. Fogg</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">20—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">G. A. Bingley</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">20—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">L. Tyers</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">20—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">T. Stout</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">24—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. Froggatt</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">24—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. W. Moor</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">24—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. English</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">24—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">T. Cope</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">25—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">M. Johnson</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">25—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. <span class="smcap">A. E. Sooley</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">26—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">E. Toyne</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">26—</td> +<td>Corpl. <span class="smcap">W. G. Moore</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">26—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">E. Judson</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">27—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. <span class="smcap">A. A. Grant</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">27—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">F. W. Bonser</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td>July</td> +<td class="td-right">1—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">F. Clarke</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>July</td> +<td class="td-right">1—</td> +<td>Corpl. <span class="smcap">E. Allen</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">1—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. W. Edwards</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">1—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">G. Seagrave</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">1—</td> +<td>Corpl. <span class="smcap">S. Matthews</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">1—</td> +<td>Corpl. <span class="smcap">J. J. Alvey</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">1—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">T. F. Barlow</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">3—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. Bousfield</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">6—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">G. Talbot</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">10—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">G. Jeffery</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">12—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. <span class="smcap">W. Young</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">13—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. <span class="smcap">E. Pride</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">13—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">W. E. Beardsley</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>Corpl. <span class="smcap">A. E. Paling</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">17—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. F. Wood</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">24—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. R. Seymour</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td>August</td> +<td class="td-right">8—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. Burke</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Sept.</td> +<td class="td-right">21—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. Stocks</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td>Oct.</td> +<td class="td-right">7—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">W. Hammond</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td colspan="7" class="td-center">1917.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Jan.</td> +<td class="td-right">24—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. H. Spence</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td>Jan.</td> +<td class="td-right">24—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. Stafford</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">24—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">R. Knee</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td>Feb.</td> +<td class="td-right">12—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">F. Robertson</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Feb.</td> +<td class="td-right">16—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">F. W. Beighton</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">17—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. <span class="smcap">E. Slack</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">17—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. W. Sharman</span> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page318" name="page318"></a>(p. 318)</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">17—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">F. Makin</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">17—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">G. Addison</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td>March</td> +<td class="td-right">4—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. <span class="smcap">R. Marriott</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>March</td> +<td class="td-right">4—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">H. Rimes</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">4—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. Myatt</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">4—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">P. Faulkner</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">4—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">F. S. Cooper</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">5—</td> +<td>Sergt. <span class="smcap">J. Henley</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">5—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">S. J. Preece</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">6—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. H. Haslam</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">15—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">C. H. Bryan</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>April</td> +<td class="td-right">21—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">G. Stubbins</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td>April</td> +<td class="td-right">21—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. E. Wilkinson</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">21—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">L. Burrows</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">23—</td> +<td>Corpl. <span class="smcap">W. Street</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">23—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. <span class="smcap">R. Vacey</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">23—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. <span class="smcap">J. Hinchley</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">23—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. <span class="smcap">W. Ward</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">23—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">W. Barwise</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">23—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">G. Garbett</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">23—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">G. H. Smith</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">23—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">E. Goodacre</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">23—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">E. R. Hewson</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">23—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. Holwell</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">23—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">T. H. Jones</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">23—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">G. Miller</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">23—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">F. Phillips</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">23—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">W. Steele</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">23—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">H. Barnes</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">23—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">S. Hodgkinson</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">24—</td> +<td>Corpl. <span class="smcap">A. Cox</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">26—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. Nicholson</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td>May</td> +<td class="td-right">8—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">D. McGlure</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>May</td> +<td class="td-right">10—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">R. Short</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">10—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">C. Perkins</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">11—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">F. W. Brown</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">11—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">G. Nicholls</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">12—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. L. Varley</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">12—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. Sinclair</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">12—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">R. Turner</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">19—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. K. Strachan</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">28—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. <span class="smcap">H. Newman</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">28—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">R. Morris</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">29—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">F. Marshall</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">30—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">L. Houeton</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">30—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">T. Sherratt</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">30—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">H. Simpson</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">30—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">S. Morley</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td>June</td> +<td class="td-right">2—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">W. Gale</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>June</td> +<td class="td-right">3—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">S. Peach</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">6—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. L. Reekie</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">8—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. H. Whitehead</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">8—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">G. W. Henley</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">8—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">G. S. Reiace</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">8—</td> +<td>Corpl. <span class="smcap">F. S. Pickering</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">8—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">T. Clarke</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">9—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. Fitzhugh</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">22—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">W. N. Stone</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">22—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. W. Bradbury</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">22—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. Simpson</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">22—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. <span class="smcap">E. Johnson</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">22—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. Mawson</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">23—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">T. Grosse</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">23—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">H. F. Buckler</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">23—</td> +<td>Corpl. <span class="smcap">A. Humberstone</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">23—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">G. F. Collins</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">23—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. Buswell</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">26—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">C. E. Allen</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">26—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. H. Fox</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">26—</td> +<td>Drummer <span class="smcap">S. R. Willingham</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td>July</td> +<td class="td-right">1—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">P. N. Coupe</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>July</td> +<td class="td-right">26—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">G. H. Stubbins</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">28—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. <span class="smcap">A. Huntbach</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">28—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. <span class="smcap">W. Bulman</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">30—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">G. F. Allen</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>August</td> +<td class="td-right">4—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. <span class="smcap">H. Taylor</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td>August</td> +<td class="td-right">5—</td> +<td>L.-Sergt. <span class="smcap">S. Bowler</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">30—</td> +<td>Corpl. <span class="smcap">H. Wright</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td>Sept.</td> +<td class="td-right">2—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. Robertson</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Sept.</td> +<td class="td-right">3—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. P. Frettingham</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">12—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">H. Wilson</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">12—</td> +<td>L.-Sergt. <span class="smcap">J. Blythe</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">12—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. <span class="smcap">H. C. Key</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">13—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">L. Lilley</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">13—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">G. Darwin</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">13—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. <span class="smcap">C. Parkin</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">13—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">W. S. Bell</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">13—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">W. A. Beckett</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">13—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">W. C. Randall</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">13—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">E. Stewart</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">13—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">S. Thorne</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">29—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">T. Gilbert</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">29—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">H. C. Smedley</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Oct.</td> +<td class="td-right">4—</td> +<td>Sergt. <span class="smcap">W. H. Drabble</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td>Oct.</td> +<td class="td-right">4—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">G. H. West</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">4—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. Lovegrove</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">5—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">H. Shufflebottom</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. Bennett</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td>Nov.</td> +<td class="td-right">2—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">E. Sharpe</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Nov.</td> +<td class="td-right">4—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">H. Syson</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">23—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">W. Blackshaw</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">28—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">H. Fox</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td>Dec.</td> +<td class="td-right">6—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">W. J. Palmer</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Dec.</td> +<td class="td-right">9—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. <span class="smcap">A. Dean</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">11—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">H. Moult</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">21—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">G. Large</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td colspan="7" class="td-center">1918.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>March</td> +<td class="td-right">17—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">F. L. Chapman</span> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page319" name="page319"></a>(p. 319)</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td>March</td> +<td class="td-right">22—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">S. S. Ives</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">22—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. Thompson</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">22—</td> +<td>Corpl. <span class="smcap">H. Tyne</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>April</td> +<td class="td-right">8—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">C. Scholes</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td>April</td> +<td class="td-right">18—</td> +<td>Corpl. <span class="smcap">G. Caudwell</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">18—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">C. H. Aram</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">18—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. Leader</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">28—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">E. Cross</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">28—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">F. Townsend</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">29—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">G. F. Garratt</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td>May</td> +<td class="td-right">5—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. E. Cliff</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>May</td> +<td class="td-right">5—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. H. Wheway</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">9—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">E. H. Asling</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">15—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. Beastall</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">18—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">H. Cooper</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">19—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. Armstrong</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td>June</td> +<td class="td-right">15—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">W. H. Baldwin</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>June</td> +<td class="td-right">15—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">W. Buckley</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">16—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">G. R. Atkinson</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">16—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. Lover</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">19—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">W. Clarke</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">23—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">W. Tudbury</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">29—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">C. J. Rickett</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>July</td> +<td class="td-right">10—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. <span class="smcap">H. Smith</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td>August</td> +<td class="td-right">7—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">G. Chadwick</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>August</td> +<td class="td-right">13—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. G. Boothby</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. <span class="smcap">F. Peck</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">17—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">G. Rowley</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">26—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">S. Berry</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">28—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">E. Powell</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">28—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">G. Williamson</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">29—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. A. Riley</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">29—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">G. Stendall</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">29—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">G. Renshaw</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">29—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">F. H. Heighway</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Sept.</td> +<td class="td-right">22—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">G. F. Rogers</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td>Sept.</td> +<td class="td-right">25—</td> +<td>Corpl. <span class="smcap">A. E. Lambert</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">25—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">W. Rogers</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">26—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">W. J. Phippard</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">26—</td> +<td>Corpl. <span class="smcap">J. W. Elcock</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">29—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">I. Evans</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">29—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">T. Rennie</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">29—</td> +<td>Corpl. <span class="smcap">H. Russell</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">29—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. <span class="smcap">J. Hoe</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">29—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. E. Tinkler</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">29—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">G. S. Goodbourne</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">29—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">F. Conway</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">29—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. <span class="smcap">T. H. Swann</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">29—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">F. Key</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">29—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">E. Leek</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">29—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. Rice</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">29—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">C. E. Goddard</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">30—</td> +<td>Comp. Sergt.-Major <span class="smcap">J. F. Rawding</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">30—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">E. Walker</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">30—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">T. Johnson</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Oct.</td> +<td class="td-right">1—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. Watson</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td>Oct.</td> +<td class="td-right">3—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. E. Smith</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">3—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. <span class="smcap">G. T. Tolly</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">3—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">G. Ballington</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">3—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">D. Irvine</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">3—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">S. Spencer</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">3—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. Taylor</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">3—</td> +<td>Sergt. <span class="smcap">C. H. Genders</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">3—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. Holmes</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">3—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. R. Rush</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">3—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. <span class="smcap">A. Mantle</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">3—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">H. F. Russell</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">3—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">F. W. Lambert</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">3—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">H. Keech</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">3—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">H. G. Handley</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">3—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">S. Guy</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">3—</td> +<td>Sergt. <span class="smcap">S. Hurt</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">3—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. Sulley</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">3—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">W. Barksby</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">3—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. W. North</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">3—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. Goldsmith</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">3—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. E. Ward</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">3—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. Moon</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">4—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">F. J. Lewis</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">4—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. <span class="smcap">C. H. Chadbourne</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">7—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. Clemerson</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">8—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">H. Silvester</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">9—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. <span class="smcap">A. H. Penford</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">12—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">W. Walters</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">13—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. S. Roberts</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">14—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">C. E. Hallam</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">17—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">W. Godson</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">17—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. Bailey</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">17—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">G. E. Smith</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">17—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">G. E. P. Dennis</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">17—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">H. Adlington</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">17—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">S. Seal</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">17—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">H. Simmons</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">17—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">T. W. Horne</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">17—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">F. Woodhead</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">17—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. Jones</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">17—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">J. W. Stewart</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">17—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">G. Floyd</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">17—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">F. N. Guttridge</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">17—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">T. Turner</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">17—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">A. Diggle</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">17—</td> +<td>Pvte. <span class="smcap">E. Goddard</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">17—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. <span class="smcap">F. H. Clarke</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">17—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. W. C. <span class="smcap">Creamer</span> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page320" name="page320"></a>(p. 320)</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">17—</td> +<td>Pvte. G. <span class="smcap">Wildsmith</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">17—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. J. F. <span class="smcap">Harper</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">17—</td> +<td>Pvte. G. <span class="smcap">Welbourne</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">17—</td> +<td>Pvte. G. <span class="smcap">Redfern</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">18—</td> +<td>Pvte. T. <span class="smcap">Sedgewick</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">18—</td> +<td>Pvte. J. <span class="smcap">Robinson</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">18—</td> +<td>Pvte. C. <span class="smcap">Whittaker</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">18—</td> +<td>Corpl. A. C. <span class="smcap">Scott</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">18—</td> +<td>Pvte. A. <span class="smcap">Bacon</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">22—</td> +<td>Pvte. G. W. <span class="smcap">Rollett</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">23—</td> +<td>L.-Corpl. L. <span class="smcap">Horton</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">23—</td> +<td>Pvte. B. A. <span class="smcap">Cutler</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">24—</td> +<td>Pvte. A. <span class="smcap">Gittens</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Nov.</td> +<td class="td-right">1—</td> +<td>Pvte. W. J. <span class="smcap">Coates</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td>Nov.</td> +<td class="td-right">5—</td> +<td>Pvte. C. <span class="smcap">Wagstaff</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">11—</td> +<td>Pvte. T. S. <span class="smcap">Handy</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td class="td-center">"</td> +<td class="td-right">13—</td> +<td>Pvte. R. <span class="smcap">Hand</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Dec.</td> +<td class="td-right">24—</td> +<td>Pvte. H. <span class="smcap">Buzan</span></td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="figcenter"><i>Officers who were Killed or Died of Wounds whilst serving with +other Units.</i></p> + +<p class="left05"> +2nd Lieut. A. D. <span class="smcap">Bailey</span><br> +2nd Lieut. F. E. <span class="smcap">Kebblewhite</span><br> +2nd Lieut. F. M. <span class="smcap">Corry</span><br> +Lieut. C. H. <span class="smcap">Hicks</span><br> +Lieut.-Col. B. W. <span class="smcap">Vann</span></p> + +<p class="figcenter"><i>Other Ranks who were Killed or Died of Wounds, after being +granted Commissions in other Units.</i></p> + +<p class="left05"> +Comp. Sergt.-Major J. A. <span class="smcap">Green</span><br> +Comp. Sergt.-Major F. <span class="smcap">Spencer</span><br> +L.-Corpl. F. L. <span class="smcap">Wilson</span><br> +L.-Corpl. F. B. <span class="smcap">Gill</span><br> +Comp. Sergt.-Major E. <span class="smcap">Haywood</span><br> +Comp. Sergt.-Major W. H. M. <span class="smcap">Hotson</span><br> +Pvte. J. A. <span class="smcap">Christie</span></p> + + + + +<h3>APPENDIX II. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page321" name="page321"></a>(p. 321)</span> +</h3> + +<h5>HONOURS.</h5> + + +<p class="figcenter"><span class="smcap">Bar to</span> D.S.O.</p> + +<p class="left05"> +Lieut.-Col. J. F. <span class="smcap">Dempster</span><br> +Lieut.-Col. R. W. <span class="smcap">Currin</span></p> + + +<p class="figcenter">D.S.O.</p> + +<p class="left05"> +Lieut.-Col. J. E. <span class="smcap">Blackwall</span><br> +Major A. L. <span class="smcap">Ashwell</span><br> +Rev. J. P. <span class="smcap">Hales</span><br> +Major J. P. <span class="smcap">Becher</span><br> +Major R. J. <span class="smcap">Wordsworth</span></p> + + +<p class="figcenter"><span class="smcap">2nd Bar to</span> M.C.</p> + +<p class="left05"> +Major V. O. <span class="smcap">Robinson</span></p> + + +<p class="figcenter">M.C. <span class="smcap">and Bar</span>.</p> + +<p class="left05"> +Capt. B. W. <span class="smcap">Vann</span></p> + + +<p class="figcenter">M.C.</p> + +<p class="left05"> +2nd Lieut. J. S. C. <span class="smcap">Oates</span><br> +Capt. A. <span class="smcap">Hacking</span><br> +Capt. W. C. C. <span class="smcap">Weetman</span><br> +2nd Lieut. W. P. <span class="smcap">Duff</span><br> +2nd Lieut. E. <span class="smcap">Hopkinson</span><br> +Capt. A. E. <span class="smcap">Geary</span><br> +Capt. J. W. <span class="smcap">Turner</span><br> +2nd Lieut. A. C. <span class="smcap">Fairbrother</span><br> +Capt. H. <span class="smcap">de C. Martelli</span><br> +Capt. H. K. <span class="smcap">Simonet</span><br> +Major A. <span class="smcap">Andrews</span><br> +Capt. E. A. <span class="smcap">Huskinson</span><br> +2nd Lieut. S. <span class="smcap">Bradwell</span><br> +2nd Lieut. <span class="smcap">James Howard Smith</span><br> +Capt. G. <span class="smcap">Thomas</span><br> +Capt. J. B. <span class="smcap">White</span><br> +2nd Lieut. J. <span class="smcap">Bloor</span><br> +2nd Lieut. W. J. <span class="smcap">Winter</span><br> +Capt. A. B. <span class="smcap">Miners</span><br> +2nd Lieut. F. L. <span class="smcap">Harrap</span><br> +Lieut. S. E. <span class="smcap">Cairns</span><br> +2nd Lieut. T. F. <span class="smcap">Mitchell</span><br> +Capt. St. G. L. M. <span class="smcap">Homan</span>, R.A.M.C.<br> +Rev. D. E. <span class="smcap">Sturt</span><br> +Capt. C. G. <span class="smcap">Druce</span><br> +Capt. E. W. <span class="smcap">Warner</span><br> +2nd Lieut. J. F. <span class="smcap">Shackleton</span><br> +Capt. A. <span class="smcap">Bedford</span><br> +Lieut. A. G. T. <span class="smcap">Lomer</span></p> + + +<p class="figcenter"><span class="smcap">O.B.E. and M.V.O.</span></p> + +<p class="left05"> +Major G. S. <span class="smcap">Heathcote</span></p> + + +<p class="figcenter">O.B.E. <span class="smcap">and Brevet Majority</span>.</p> + +<p class="left05"> +Major G. <span class="smcap">Clarke</span></p> + + +<p class="figcenter">O.B.E.</p> + +<p class="left05"> +Lieut.-Col. C. J. <span class="smcap">Huskinson</span><br> +Lieut.-Col. R. F. B. <span class="smcap">Hodgkinson</span></p> + + +<p class="figcenter">D.C.M. <span class="smcap">and Bar</span>.</p> + +<p class="left05"> +Comp. Sergt.-Major F. <span class="smcap">Attenborough</span></p> + + +<p class="figcenter">D.C.M. AND M.M.</p> + +<p class="left05"> +L.-Sergt. C. <span class="smcap">Claxton</span><br> +Pvte. G. H. <span class="smcap">Wesley</span></p> + +<p class="figcenter"><span class="smcap">D.C.M. and M.S.M.</span></p> + +<p class="left05"> +Comp. Sergt.-Major J. F. <span class="smcap">Rawding</span> + <span class="pagenum"><a id="page322" name="page322"></a>(p. 322)</span></p> + + +<p class="figcenter">D.C.M.</p> + +<p class="left05"> +Regimental Sergt.-Major W. <span class="smcap">Mounteney</span><br> +Sergt. A. <span class="smcap">Sheppard</span><br> +Corpl. H. <span class="smcap">Tyne</span><br> +Sergt. E. <span class="smcap">Grantham</span><br> +Pvte. J. <span class="smcap">Nicholson</span><br> +Corpl. W. E. <span class="smcap">Boot</span><br> +Sergt.-Drummer W. <span class="smcap">Clewes</span><br> +L.-Sergt. T. <span class="smcap">Turgoose</span><br> +Pvte. R. <span class="smcap">Kerling</span><br> +Comp. Sergt.-Major E. <span class="smcap">Haywood</span><br> +Sergt. C. E. <span class="smcap">Crooks</span><br> +Sergt. H. <span class="smcap">Scrimshaw</span><br> +Sergt. J. L. <span class="smcap">Peach</span><br> +Corpl. R. <span class="smcap">Francis</span><br> +Comp. Sergt.-Major A. <span class="smcap">Cobb</span><br> +Comp. Sergt.-Major W. <span class="smcap">Stokes</span><br> +L.-Corpl. W. <span class="smcap">Beech</span><br> +Sergt. H. <span class="smcap">Wilson</span></p> + + +<p class="figcenter"><span class="smcap">M.M. and 2 Bars</span>.</p> + +<p class="left05"> +Pvte. L. <span class="smcap">Thomas</span></p> + + +<p class="figcenter">M.M. <span class="smcap">and Bar</span>.</p> + +<p class="left05"> +Pvte. F. <span class="smcap">Green</span></p> + + +<p class="figcenter">M.M. <span class="smcap">and M. S. M.</span></p> + +<p class="left05"> +Pvte. J. <span class="smcap">Nelson</span></p> + +<p class="figcenter">M.M.</p> + +<p class="left05"> +Sergt. J. T. <span class="smcap">Templeman</span><br> +Corpl. W. H. <span class="smcap">Lacey</span><br> +Corpl. S. <span class="smcap">Matthews</span><br> +L.-Sergt. T. <span class="smcap">Martin</span><br> +Pvte. G. F. <span class="smcap">Holbery</span><br> +Sergt. C. <span class="smcap">Grainger</span><br> +L.-Corpl. H. J. <span class="smcap">Walsh</span><br> +Corpl. H. <span class="smcap">Hickman</span><br> +Corpl. C. E. <span class="smcap">Bryan</span><br> +Corpl. J. W. <span class="smcap">Wilson</span><br> +Sergt. W. L. <span class="smcap">Green</span><br> +Sergt. L. <span class="smcap">Bell</span><br> +Sergt. C. T. <span class="smcap">Blunt</span><br> +Comp. Sergt.-Major E. E. <span class="smcap">Deverall</span><br> +Sergt. J. G. <span class="smcap">Collins</span><br> +Sergt. W. G. <span class="smcap">Oldfield</span><br> +Corpl. T. W. <span class="smcap">Lowe</span><br> +Pvte. W. <span class="smcap">Heath</span><br> +Sergt. J. <span class="smcap">Henley</span><br> +Corpl. W. <span class="smcap">Street</span><br> +L.-Corpl. W. <span class="smcap">Teare</span><br> +Corpl. C. <span class="smcap">Hagues</span><br> +Sergt. R. H. <span class="smcap">Bolton</span><br> +L.-Corpl. J. F. <span class="smcap">Stewart</span><br> +Pvte. G. F. <span class="smcap">Garratt</span><br> +Sergt. W. H. <span class="smcap">Martin</span><br> +L.-Sergt. R. <span class="smcap">Turner</span><br> +Pvte. G. <span class="smcap">Wildsmith</span><br> +Pvte. W. H. <span class="smcap">Tailby</span><br> +Pvte. G. <span class="smcap">Stamford</span><br> +Pvte. G. <span class="smcap">Cook</span><br> +L.-Sergt. W. <span class="smcap">Field</span><br> +L.-Sergt. F. <span class="smcap">Illger</span><br> +L.-Corpl. J. <span class="smcap">North</span><br> +Pvte. G. <span class="smcap">Feighery</span><br> +Pvte. W. <span class="smcap">Westnidge</span><br> +Corpl. G. <span class="smcap">Skelton</span><br> +Pvte. B. <span class="smcap">Smithurst</span><br> +Pvte. W. <span class="smcap">Titmus</span><br> +Pvte. A. W. <span class="smcap">Colton</span><br> +Pvte. C. <span class="smcap">Welbourne</span><br> +Pvte. G. <span class="smcap">Sulley</span><br> +Corpl. S. <span class="smcap">Slater</span><br> +Corpl. W. <span class="smcap">Foster</span><br> +Pvte. W. <span class="smcap">Parker</span><br> +Pvte. A. W. <span class="smcap">Stapleton</span><br> +Corpl. R. <span class="smcap">Harvey</span><br> +Sergt. J. <span class="smcap">Stimson</span><br> +Pvte. E. <span class="smcap">Crow</span><br> +Sergt. C. <span class="smcap">Vann</span><br> +L.-Corpl. S. <span class="smcap">Slater</span><br> +Corpl. J. <span class="smcap">Wright</span><br> +Pvte. J. W. <span class="smcap">Starr</span><br> +L.-Corpl. F. <span class="smcap">Baxter</span><br> +Corpl. W. <span class="smcap">Clark</span><br> +Sergt. W. <span class="smcap">Wrigglesworth</span><br> +Sergt. C. <span class="smcap">Sharrock</span><br> +Pvte. W. H. <span class="smcap">Martin</span><br> +Sergt. H. <span class="smcap">Shepperson</span><br> +Sergt. A. <span class="smcap">Winson</span><br> +Pvte. J. <span class="smcap">Roe</span><br> +L.-Corpl. J. U. <span class="smcap">Coombs</span><br> +Pvte. F. <span class="smcap">Draper</span><br> +Pvte. A. <span class="smcap">Jackson</span><br> +Pvte. A. <span class="smcap">Turpin</span><br> +Pvte. N. <span class="smcap">Lees</span><br> +Pvte. J. <span class="smcap">Vipond</span><br> +Pvte. W. <span class="smcap">Houghton</span><br> +Pvte. W. G. <span class="smcap">Nicholson</span><br> +Pvte. C. <span class="smcap">Smith</span><br> +Pvte. H. <span class="smcap">Beresford</span><br> +Corpl. S. <span class="smcap">Gadsby</span><br> +Pvte. E. <span class="smcap">Mosgrove</span></p> + + +<p class="figcenter">M.S.M. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page323" name="page323"></a>(p. 323)</span> +</p> + +<p class="left05"> +Comp. Sergt.-Major A. <span class="smcap">Mabbott</span><br> +Sergt T. <span class="smcap">Taylor</span><br> +Sergt. J. <span class="smcap">Eggleston</span><br> +Sergt. R. <span class="smcap">Harvey</span><br> +Regtl. Qtr.-Mtr. Sergt. F. A. <span class="smcap">Pritchard</span><br> +Comp. Qtr.-Mtr. Sergt. H. J. <span class="smcap">Wilson</span><br> +Comp. Qtr.-Mtr. Sergt. G. E. <span class="smcap">Bee</span><br> +Comp. Qtr.-Mtr. Sergt. W. I. <span class="smcap">Dale</span></p> + + +<p class="figcenter"><span class="smcap">Mentioned in Despatches</span>.</p> + +<p class="left05"> +Lieut.-Col. G. H. <span class="smcap">Fowler</span><br> +Major J. P. <span class="smcap">Becher</span><br> +Major A. L. <span class="smcap">Ashwell</span><br> +Major R. J. <span class="smcap">Wordsworth</span> (2)<br> +2nd Lieut. J. S. C. <span class="smcap">Oates</span><br> +Capt. E. C. A. <span class="smcap">James</span><br> +Capt. E. N. T. <span class="smcap">Collin</span><br> +Capt. B. W. <span class="smcap">Vann</span><br> +Capt. A. <span class="smcap">Hacking</span><br> +Capt. J. W. <span class="smcap">Turner</span><br> +Lieut.-Col. J. E. <span class="smcap">Blackwall</span><br> +Rev. J. P. <span class="smcap">Hales</span> (2)<br> +Lieut.-Col. C. J. <span class="smcap">Huskinson</span> (2)<br> +Capt. C. L. <span class="smcap">Hill</span><br> +Major G. <span class="smcap">Clarke</span><br> +Lieut. W. H. B. <span class="smcap">Rezin</span> (2)<br> +Hon. Lieut, and Quarter-Master F. <span class="smcap">Torrance</span><br> +Capt. R. <span class="smcap">Whitton</span><br> +Capt. C. G. <span class="smcap">Tomlinson</span><br> +Lieut. C. H. S. <span class="smcap">Stephenson</span><br> +Lieut.-Col. R. W. <span class="smcap">Currin</span><br> +Capt. N. L. <span class="smcap">Hindley</span><br> +Lieut. S. <span class="smcap">Sanders</span><br> +Sergt. E. <span class="smcap">Grantham</span><br> +Comp. Sergt.-Major J. F. <span class="smcap">Rawding</span><br> +Sergt. J. T. <span class="smcap">Templeman</span><br> +Sergt. C. T. <span class="smcap">Blunt</span><br> +Pvte. F. <span class="smcap">Holland</span><br> +Regtl. Sergt.-Major W. <span class="smcap">Mounteney</span><br> +Sergt. A. <span class="smcap">Phillipson</span><br> +Pvte. S. <span class="smcap">Boothby</span><br> +Pvte. C. <span class="smcap">Redfern</span><br> +Corpl. G. <span class="smcap">Caudwell</span><br> +Pvte. H. <span class="smcap">Needham</span><br> +Comp. Sergt.-Major T. <span class="smcap">Powell</span><br> +Comp. Sergt-Major J. T. <span class="smcap">Slater</span><br> +Sergt. R. F. <span class="smcap">Bescoby</span>.<br> +Regtl. Qtr.-Mtr. Sergt. F. A. <span class="smcap">Pritchard</span><br> +Sergt. R. <span class="smcap">Harvey</span><br> +L.-Corpl. W. <span class="smcap">Beech</span><br> +Comp. Sergt.-Major E. E. <span class="smcap">Deverall</span><br> +Corpl. E. <span class="smcap">Dexter</span><br> +Sergt. F. <span class="smcap">Lobley</span><br> +L.-Sergt. J. <span class="smcap">Wicks</span></p> + + +<p class="figcenter">FOREIGN DECORATIONS.</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<span class="smcap">French</span>:—<br> +<span class="smcap">Légion d'Honneur (Chevalier</span>).</p> + +<p class="left05"> +Lieut.-Col. J. E. <span class="smcap">Blackwall</span></p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<span class="smcap">Croix de Guerre</span>.</p> + +<p class="left05"> +Capt. B. W. <span class="smcap">Vann</span><br> +Capt. W. C. C. <span class="smcap">Weetman</span><br> +Comp. Sergt.-Major A. <span class="smcap">Cobb</span><br> +Pvte. F. <span class="smcap">Holland</span><br> +Sergt. T. <span class="smcap">Oldham</span></p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<span class="smcap">Belgian</span>:—<br> +<span class="smcap">Croix de Guerre</span>.</p> + +<p class="left05"> +Regimental Sergt.-Major W. <span class="smcap">Mounteney</span></p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<span class="smcap">Russian</span>:—<br> +<span class="smcap">Medal of St. George</span> (<span class="smcap">4th Class</span>).</p> + +<p class="left05"> +Drummer J. <span class="smcap">Newton</span><br> +Drummer W. <span class="smcap">Robb</span><br> +Corpl. J. <span class="smcap">Sharman</span></p> + + +<a id="img027" name="img027"></a> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/img027b.jpg"> +<img src="images/img027.jpg" width="500" height="258" alt="Map To Illustrate Battle Of Bellenglise. Sept: 29th 1918." title="Map To Illustrate Battle Of Bellenglise. Sept: 29th 1918."></a> +</div> + +<p class="figcenter">Map To Illustrate Battle Of Bellenglise. Sept: 29th 1918.</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<span class="smcap">Printed by Thos. Forman and Sons +Nottingham</span> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page324" name="page324"></a>(p. 324)</span></p> + +<a id="img028" name="img028"></a> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/img028.jpg" width="600" height="639" alt="General map." title="General map."> +</div> + +<p><a id="footnote1" name="footnote1"></a> +<b>Footnote 1:</b> Published by Messrs. Hutchinson & Co.<a href="#footnotetag1">(back)</a></p> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Sherwood Foresters in the Great +War 1914 - 1919, by W.C.C. Weetman + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SHERWOOD FORESTERS *** + +***** This file should be named 20527-h.htm or 20527-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/5/2/20527/ + +Produced by David Clarke, Nicola Kerrison, Christine P. +Travers 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) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions 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. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> |