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+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: ASCII
+
+*** 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)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ HISTORY OF 1/8th BATTALION
+ SHERWOOD FORESTERS 1914--1919
+
+
+
+
+ [Illustration: LIEUT.-COL. G. H. FOWLER.
+ Killed in action at Hohenzollern Redoubt, Oct. 15th, 1915.]
+
+
+
+
+ [Illustration: Arms]
+
+
+
+
+ THE SHERWOOD FORESTERS
+ IN THE GREAT WAR
+ 1914--1919
+
+
+
+
+ 1/8th BATTALION
+
+ By
+
+ CAPTAIN W. C. C. WEETMAN
+ M.C., CROIX DE GUERRE
+
+
+
+
+ With an introduction by
+ BRIG-GENERAL C. T. SHIPLEY, C.B.
+
+
+
+ NOTTINGHAM
+ THOS. FORMAN & SONS
+ 1920
+
+
+
+
+ _To_
+ _Our Fallen Comrades_
+
+ "_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._"
+
+ Sir John Smyth To Lord Burleigh
+ On Our Men In Flanders IN 1589-90.
+
+
+
+
+INTRODUCTION
+
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+As 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.
+
+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.
+
+It 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.
+
+One word more. I am fully convinced that if every Officer and man who
+joined up in 1914 _after_ the outbreak of war, had joined the
+Territorial Force and made himself efficient _before_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+ C. T. SHIPLEY.
+_12th September, 1920._
+
+
+
+
+AUTHOR'S NOTE.
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+ W. C. C. WEETMAN.
+_Hereford, October, 1920._
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+
+ CHAPTER.
+ Summary of Events
+ 1. England
+ 2. France
+ 3. The Salient
+ 4. Hohenzollern
+ 5. Richebourg--Marseilles--Candas
+ 6. Vimy Ridge
+ 7. The Battle of Gommecourt
+ 8. Bellacourt
+ 9. The Capture of Gommecourt
+ 10. Lens
+ 11. St. Elie and Hill 70
+ 12. Spring, 1918
+ 13. Gorre and Essars
+ 14. Auchel to Pontruet
+ 15. Bellenglise
+ 16. Ramicourt and Montbrehain
+ 17. The Last Fight
+ 18. Home Again
+
+ Appendix.
+ 1. Roll of Honour
+ 2. Honours
+
+
+
+
+ILLUSTRATIONS.
+
+
+ Lieut.-Colonel G. H. Fowler
+ Officers at Harpenden, Nov. 1914
+ The Avenue, Kemmel
+ Major J. P. Becher, D.S.O.
+ R.S.M. Westerman and N.C.O.'s of A Company
+ R.S.M. Mounteney and N.C.O.'s of C Company
+ Lieut.-Colonel B. W. Vann, V.C., M.C.
+ The Brasserie, Foncquevillers
+ Air Photograph of Lens and Loos Area
+ Air Photograph of Part of St. Elie Sector
+ The Beuvry--La Bassee Road
+ Gorre Brewery
+ The Clock Tower, Bethune
+ St. Quentin Canal, Bellenglise
+
+
+
+
+MAPS AND PLANS.
+
+
+ Sketch of Mine Galleries
+ Kemmel Sector
+ Hooge and Sanctuary Wood
+ Hohenzollern Redoubt
+ Gommecourt
+ Lens District
+ Diagram of Signal Communications
+ Battle of Ramicourt
+ Battle of Regnicourt
+ Battle of Bellenglise
+ General Map of Western Front
+
+
+
+
+SUMMARY OF EVENTS
+
+
+ 1914.
+
+ Aug. 4th War declared. Mobilisation ordered.
+
+ " 7th Concentration at Newark.
+
+ " 10th--
+ 11th Marched via Radcliffe-on-Trent to Derby.
+
+ " 15th Entrained at Derby for Luton.
+
+ " 21st Moved to Harpenden.
+ ( Sept. 29th--Inspection
+ " 22nd-- | by Lord Kitchener
+ Nov. 15th Training in Harpenden | at Luton Hoo.
+ Area. <
+ | Oct. 6th--Inspection by
+ | Lord Roberts at
+ ( Sandridge.
+
+ " 16th-18th Marched via Harlow and Dunmow to Bocking.
+
+ " 19th--
+ Dec. 27th Trench digging near Bocking.
+
+ " 28th-- By train to Luton for Musketry at Wardown
+ 1915. and Galley Hill Ranges, and Field Firing at
+ Jan 5th Dunstable, returning to Bocking.
+
+ " 6th-- ( Feb. 19th--Inspection
+ Feb. 24th Training in Bocking Area. < by H.M. The King near
+ ( Bishop's Stortford.
+
+ " 25th Entrained at Bocking for Southampton.
+
+ " 26th--
+ Mar. 3rd Crossed by detachments to Havre.
+
+ " 3rd--
+ " 4th By train to Cassel and marched to Oudezeele.
+
+ " 9th Marched to Merris.
+
+ " 10th Moved to Bac-St. Maur, for First Battle of Neuve
+ Chapelle. Temporarily attached to 2nd
+ Cavalry Division.
+
+ " 13th Marched to Neuf Berquin for training.
+
+ " 24th--
+ " 26th Moved via Vieux Berquin to Romarin.
+
+ " 27th--
+ " 30th Trench instruction at Ploegsteert and Messines.
+
+ " 31st Marched back to Vieux Berquin.
+
+ April 2nd Marched to Locre.
+
+ " 3rd Took over Kemmel sector.
+
+ ( April 22nd--Gas used
+ | against French and
+ | Canadians in Ypres
+ | Salient. Traces
+ | in trenches held by
+ | Battalion.
+ |
+ ( In line in Kemmel | April 24--Heavy trench
+ April 4th--< sector with intervals < mortar bombardment
+ June 20th | in rest billets at | of front line held by B,
+ ( Locre. | C and D Companies.
+ |
+ | June 15th--Enemy blew
+ | up by mines and
+ | raided part of front
+ ( line.
+
+ " 20th Marched to huts near Vlamertinghe.
+
+ ( In line at Hooge and )
+ | Sanctuary Wood, |
+ " 21st--< with intervals at rest > July 30th--First "liquid
+ Aug. 28th | in bivouacs near | fire" attack
+ ( Poperinghe. )
+
+ ( In line at Middlesex ) Sept. 21st--Inspection
+ | Wood, adjoining | by Gen. Plumer.
+ " 29th--< Ypres-Comines Canal, > Sept. 25th--Demonstrations
+ Sept. 30th | near St. Eloi, with | in conjunction
+ | rest bivouacs near | with attacks on other
+ ( Ouderdom. ) portions of the front.
+
+ Oct. 1st Marched from Ouderdom and entrained at Abeele
+ for Fouquereuil. Billeted in Bethune.
+
+ " 3rd Moved to Mont Bernenchon.
+
+ " 4th Marched back to Bethune, proceeded by 'bus to
+ Vermelles, and took over reserve trenches near
+ Lone Tree, North of Loos.
+
+ " 5th Moved back to Mazingarbe.
+
+ " 6th Marched to Fouquieres.
+
+ " 13th--
+ " 14th Attack on Hohenzollern Redoubt.
+
+ " 16th Moved back to Vaudricourt.
+
+ " 19th Marched to Lapugnoy for training.
+
+ " 26th Marched to Bethune.
+
+ Oct. 28th Composite Company with other troops of XI Corps
+ inspected by H.M. The King at Hesdigneul.
+
+ Nov 4th--
+ " 5th Marched via Epinette to Vieille Chapelle.
+
+ Nov. 6th-- In line in Richebourg sector, with rest billets at
+ Dec. 2nd Vieille Chapelle and Lacouture.
+
+ " 3rd Marched from Vieille Chapelle to Haverskerque
+ for training.
+
+ " 19th-- Marched via Wittes to Molinghem and continued
+ " 26th training.
+
+ 1916.
+
+ Jan. 7th--
+ " 9th Entrained at Berguette for Marseilles.
+
+ " 26th-- Returned by train to Pont Remy. Marched to
+ " 28th Ergnies for training.
+
+ Feb. 10th Marched to Ribeaucourt.
+
+ " 20th Moved by motor lorry to Candas.
+
+ " 21st-- Training and work for R.E.'s on new railway lines
+ March 5th in Candas area.
+
+ " 6th--
+ " 9th Marched via Iverny and Maizieres to Acq.
+
+ " 10th-- In line in Vimy sector, with intervals at rest in
+ April 20th huts behind Mont St. Eloy. Mining activity.
+
+ " 21st By 'bus to billets at Tincques and Bethencourt for
+ training.
+
+ " 29th Moved to Averdoignt.
+
+ May 6th-- Marched via Rebreuviette and Gaudiempre to
+ " 10th Bienvillers.
+
+ " 11th--
+ June 4th In line in front of Foncquevillers.
+
+ " 5th Moved back to Humbercamp.
+
+ " 6th Marched by night to Le Souich.
+
+ " 8th--
+ " 14th Training in attack practice near Sus-St. Leger.
+
+ " 15th Marched to Humbercamp.
+
+ " 16th-- Working parties found for digging cable trenches
+ " 18th and screening approaches near Bienvillers.
+
+ " 19th--
+ " 27th In line in front of Foncquevillers.
+
+ " 28th
+ " 29th Rested at Pommier.
+
+ " 30th Moved at night to assembly positions in front of
+ Foncquevillers.
+
+ July 1st Battle of Gommecourt.
+
+ " 2nd Moved back to Gaudiempre.
+
+ " 3rd Marched to huts at Bavincourt.
+
+ " 4th Marched back to Pommier and Bienvillers.
+
+ July 10th Moved to Bellacourt.
+
+ ( In line in front of Bretencourt, with periods
+ " 11th--< in Support at Bellacourt, and in Reserve at
+ Oct. 28th | Bailleulval. (Sept. 22nd, Raid by A Company
+ ( near Blairville.)
+
+ " 29th-- Marched from Bailleulval via Warluzel, Le Souich
+ Nov. 3rd and Neuvillette to Maison Ponthieu, for training.
+
+ " 22nd-- Marched via Bealcourt and Neuvillette to
+ " 25th Humbercourt.
+
+ Dec. 6th Moved to Support billets at Foncquevillers and
+ Souastre.
+
+ ( In line in front of Foncquevillers, with intervals
+ " 7th--| in Support in posts in and about Foncquevillers,
+ 1917. < and in billets at Souastre. (Feb. 16th-17th,
+ Feb. 18th | heavy bombardment with gas shells and
+ ( bombs.)
+
+ " 19th Moved back to St. Amand.
+
+ " 20th Marched to Iverny for training.
+
+ " 28th--
+ March 1st Returned via Grenas to St. Amand.
+
+ " 3rd Took over recently evacuated German trenches at
+ Gommecourt.
+
+ " 4th-- Followed up enemy to Pigeon Wood, Brayelle
+ " 13th Farm and Essarts. (March 4th, heavy counter-attack
+ against C Company.)
+
+ " 17th Moved back to Souastre.
+
+ " 20th-- Marched via Bayencourt, Courcelles-au-Bois and
+ " 24th Contay to Bertangles.
+
+ " 25th Moved by 'bus through Amiens to Revelles.
+
+ " 28th Entrained at Bacouel.
+
+ " 29th Detrained at Berguette and marched to Westrehem
+ for training.
+
+ April 13th--
+ " 14th Marched via Vendin-lez-Bethune to Houchin.
+
+ " 18th Moved up to Support billets in Lievin.
+
+ " 19th--
+ " 22nd Skirmishing in Cite de Riaumont.
+
+ " 23rd Attack on Hill 65 by C Company.
+
+ " 24th-- Held sectors in front of Lievin and Loos, with
+ June 30th intervals in Support in Lievin and in Reserve
+ at Marqueffles Farm and Noeux-les-Mines.
+
+ July 1st In Brigade Reserve for attack by 46th Division
+ West of Lens.
+
+ July 4th On relief by Canadians marched to Bully Grenay
+ and by 'bus to Chelers for training.
+
+ " 23rd Marched to Verquin.
+
+ " 24th-- In line in St. Elie sector and in Support at
+ Aug. 15th Philosophe.
+
+ " 16th--
+ " 25th Training in Verquin area.
+
+ " 26th-- In line in Cambrin sector and in Support at
+ Sept. 12th Annequin.
+
+ " 13th--
+ " 19th In Divisional Reserve at Fouquieres.
+
+ " 20th Marched to Mazingarbe huts.
+
+ " 21st-- In line in Hill 70 sector, in Support in trenches
+ Nov. 14th North of Loos, and in Reserve at Mazingarbe.
+
+ " 15th-- In line in St. Elie sector, in Support at Philosophe,
+ 1918. and in Reserve at Verquin. (Jan. 2nd, Raid
+ Jan. 20th on front held by D Company.)
+
+ " 21st Marched from Verquin to Burbure.
+
+ " 22nd-- Training at Burbure. Large detachment at Mazingarbe
+ Feb. 8th digging reserve trenches near Vermelles.
+
+ " 9th Marched from Burbure to Laires and Livossart.
+
+ " 13th Moved to Enquin-les-Mines for training.
+
+ March 5th--
+ " 6th Marched to Westrehem and by 'bus to Bethune.
+
+ " 14th-- Held Annequin Fosse "Locality," in view of
+ " 19th heavy attacks expected.
+
+ " 20th-- In line in Cambrin sector. (March 22nd, Heavy
+ " 23rd bombardment and raid on A Company.)
+
+ " 24th--
+ " 26th In Support at Beuvry.
+
+ " 27th-- In line in St. Emile sector, and in Support in
+ April 10th St. Pierre.
+
+ " 11th On relief by Canadians, moved back to Vaudricourt.
+
+ " 18th Moved to reserve trenches in front of Sailly-Labourse.
+ Unsuccessful attack by enemy near Givenchy.
+
+ " 20th Returned to Vaudricourt.
+
+ " 23rd Marched to Bethune.
+
+ " 24th-- In line in Gorre and Essars sectors, and in Reserve
+ Aug. 17th at Fouquieres, Vaudricourt Park and Verquin.
+
+ " 18th Occupied Le Touret after driving out enemy
+ rear-guard.
+
+ " 19th-- In billets at Verquin, Vaudricourt Park,
+ " 31st Fouquieres, Essars and Gorre.
+
+ Sept. 1st Took over front line near Richebourg St. Vaast.
+
+ " 2nd--
+ " 3rd Continued to drive back enemy rearguards.
+
+ " 4th Attacked and occupied old British Line in front
+ of Richebourg l'Avoue.
+
+ " 5th--
+ " 7th Moved back via Beuvry to Auchel for training.
+
+ " 11th-- By train from Calonne Ricouart via Amiens to
+ " 12th Corbie and marched to La Houssoye for training.
+
+ " 18th Marched to Bonnay and by 'bus to Poeuilly.
+
+ " 20th--
+ " 25th In line about Pontru and Pontruet.
+
+ " 26th Moved back to bivouacs near Vendelles.
+
+ " 29th Battle of Bellenglise.
+
+ " 30th--
+ Oct. 2nd In dug-outs near Lehaucourt and Magny-la-Fosse.
+
+ " 3rd Battle of Ramicourt.
+
+ " 5th--
+ " 7th In line at Sequehart.
+
+ " 8th Resting at Lehaucourt.
+
+ " 9th-- Moved via Levergies and Mericourt to Jonnecourt
+ " 12th Farm, near Bohain.
+
+ " 17th Battle of Regnicourt.--The Last Fight.
+
+ " 18th Moved back to Fresnoy-le-Grand for training.
+
+ " 30th Marched to Bohain.
+
+ Nov. 3rd--
+ " 4th Marched via Escaufort to Catillon.
+
+ " 5th Crossed Sambre-Oise Canal and advanced to
+ Mezieres.
+
+ " 6th Occupied Prisches and Cartignies.
+
+ " 7th--
+ " 9th At Cartignies.
+
+ " 10th Marched from Cartignies to Boulogne-sur-Helpe.
+
+ " 11th Armistice.
+
+ " 14th Marched to Landrecies.
+
+ " 15th--
+ 1919 Clearing battlefield in Landrecies area.
+ Jan 2nd Demobilisation begun.
+
+ " 3rd Marched from Landrecies to Prisches and continued
+ clearing battlefield.
+
+ Feb. 19th-- Marched via Bazuel to Bethencourt, near Candry,
+ " 20th for completion of Demobilisation.
+
+ June 23rd Return of Cadre and Colours to Headquarters at
+ Newark.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+ENGLAND
+
+ _August 4th, 1914._ _February 25th, 1915._
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Territorial Camps were at once broken up and all ranks ordered home,
+with instructions to hold themselves in readiness for any emergency.
+
+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 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.
+
+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:--
+
+ A Company--Retford.--Lieut. W. R. Smith, 2nd Lieuts.
+ L. Rose and E. C. A. James.
+
+ B " Newark.--Capt. L. C. B. Appleby, Lieuts.
+ C. Davenport and A. H. Quibell.
+
+ C " Sutton-in-Ashfield.--Lieut. M. C. Martyn,
+ 2nd Lieuts. H. G. Wright and R. H. Piggford.
+
+ D " Mansfield.--Capt. A. C. Clarke, 2nd Lieut. J. W. Turner.
+
+ E " Carlton.--Lieut. F. G. Cursham, 2nd Lieut. H. Kirby.
+
+ F " Arnold.--2nd Lieuts. G. Clarke and A. F. O. Dobson.
+
+ G " Worksop.--Capt. E. W. E. Tylden-Wright, Lieut. W. H. Allen.
+
+ H " Southwell.--Capt. J. P. Becher, Lieut. J. K. Lane,
+ 2nd Lieut. H. B. S. Handford.
+
+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.
+
+The 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The 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.
+
+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.
+
+All the other units in the Division having more or less similarly
+settled this vital question, training was started in earnest.
+
+The 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 Brigades completed the
+North Midland Division, which was commanded by Major-General The Hon.
+E. J. Montagu Stuart-Wortley.
+
+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.
+
+Classification practices were fired at Wardown and Galley Hill ranges,
+near Luton, on thoroughly wet and disagreeable days, with ammunition
+not intended for the rifle we were using, and altogether under such
+adverse conditions, that good scores were impossible.
+
+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.
+
+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 Depot 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 Depot, and made up our strength practically to establishment.
+
+[Illustration: OFFICERS AT HARPENDEN; Nov., 1914.
+
+_Back Row_: 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.
+
+_Middle Row_: 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.
+
+_Front Row_: 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.
+
+_On Ground_: 2nd Lieut. R. H. Piggford 2nd Lieut. A. P. F. Hamilton.
+
+_Reproduced by permission of H. A. Valentine, Photographer,
+Harpenden._]
+
+Lieut.-Col. G. S. Foljambe, who had joined from the Territorial Force
+Reserve, was in charge at the Depot, 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 dangerous, when one of our chases took some of us
+over the railway embankment armed with loaded revolvers.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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, 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 interest to everyone,
+up to the Divisional Commander.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Into 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.
+
+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 to the first complete
+Territorial Division to embark for France.
+
+At this time the personnel of Battalion and Company Headquarters were
+as follows:--
+
+ Commanding Officer.--Lieut.-Colonel G. H. Fowler.
+ Second-in-Command.--Major A. C. Clarke.
+ Adjutant.--Capt. E. N. T. Collin.
+ Medical Officer.--Surg.-Captain H. Stallard.
+ Chaplain.--Rev. J. P. Hales.
+ Quarter-Master.--Capt. R. F. B. Hodgkinson.
+ Transport Officer.--Lieut. C. Davenport.
+ Machine-Gun Officer.--Lieut. A. F. O. Dobson.
+ A Company--(formerly E and F Companies).
+ 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.
+ B " (formerly B and H Companies).
+ 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.
+ C " (formerly C and D Companies).
+ 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.
+ D " (formerly A and G Companies).
+ 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.
+
+ Acting Regimental Sergt.-Major.--E. A. Westerman.
+ Regimental Quar.-Master Sergt.--D. Tomlin.
+ Armourer Quar.-Master Sergt.--R. A. G. Loughman.
+ Signalling Sergt.--W. Burton.
+ Machine-Gun Sergt.--F. Parker.
+ Transport Sergt.--C. Green.
+ Sergt. Drummer.--W. Clewes.
+ Provost Sergt.--G. Phillipson.
+ Sergt.-Cook.--S. Wiffen.
+ Pioneer Sergt.--J. Caddy.
+ Acting Sergt.-Tailor.--H. A. Huckerby.
+ Sergt.-Shoemaker.--G. H. Fletcher.
+ Orderly Room Sergt.--F. Torrance.
+ Orderly Room Sergt. (Base).--E. Kirkby.
+ Orderly Room Clerk.--Corpl. R. Harvey.
+ Non-Commissioned Officer i/c Stretcher Bearers.--Corpl. R. F. Bescoby.
+ Medical Orderly.--Corpl. B. Sissons.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+FRANCE
+
+ _February 25th, 1915._ _June 20th, 1915._
+
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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
+
+ "Had ten thousand men,
+ He marched 'em up to the top of the hill,
+ And he marched 'em down again."
+
+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!
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+We spent a few days training at Oudezeele, including one or two route
+marches to get accustomed to the _pave_ 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.
+
+It 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.
+
+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.
+
+Preparations were being made about this time for a British offensive
+at Neuve Chapelle, and our Brigade was 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.
+
+We 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 _via_ Estaires to Neuf Berquin, where we had
+again to be content with rather crowded, if somewhat more comfortable
+billets than we had left.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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, 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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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 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.
+
+[Illustration: THE AVENUE, KEMMEL, 1915. _Reproduced by permission of
+Lieut.-Col. C. W. Birkin, C.M.G., T.D._]
+
+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 "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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+On 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."
+
+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 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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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, 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.
+
+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 than an ordinary nightmare, for we awoke with a
+start to hear the strains of a brass band coming along the _pave_,--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 _Daily Telegraph_, 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.'"
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: SKETCH SHEWING ARRANGEMENT OF MINE GALLERIES.]
+
+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 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 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 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.
+
+[Illustration: MAP SHEWING KEMMEL SECTOR SPRING. 1915.]
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Sometimes 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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+THE SALIENT
+
+ _June 20th, 1915._ _October 1st, 1915._
+
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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 cafe, 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.
+
+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 Chateau," we eventually 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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 Chateau. It was there that in our last tour
+we had seen a brilliant assault by the Gordons and Middlesex, after a
+terrific mine explosion.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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?"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: MAP TO ILLUSTRATE FIGHTING AT SANCTUARY WOOD.
+JULY-AUGUST. 1915.]
+
+Apart 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.
+
+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."
+
+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., 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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 Bethune 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.
+
+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 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!
+
+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.
+
+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 had also recently lost M. Lacolle, our one
+and only Battalion Interpreter. Henceforth we were not to be allowed
+this luxury.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+HOHENZOLLERN REDOUBT
+
+ _October 1st, 1915._ _October 17th, 1915._
+
+
+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 Bethune. 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
+Bassee 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 Bethune. 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 Bethune, 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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 Fouquieres, a nice clean little
+village about a mile west of Bethune. Here we found ourselves, for a
+short time, in peace and something approaching luxury.
+
+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 and N.C.O.'s (and stray
+inhabitants) spent some time in a careful and interested examination
+of it.
+
+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.
+
+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 had also
+proved a dismal failure. What, we wondered, was in store for the 46th
+Division?
+
+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.
+
+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), 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).
+
+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."
+
+Information 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.
+
+Our few days at Fouquieres 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.
+
+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 Fouquieres 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.
+
+We 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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+Our artillery fire during the morning was normal, "so as not to arouse
+the suspicions of the Germans," who, 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+It 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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, 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, very opportune and put
+fresh life into them.
+
+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.
+
+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
+they had made several attempts to progress along that trench without
+success.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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, whilst L.-Corpl. Skelton did splendid work
+in attending to wounded.
+
+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.
+
+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, Sergts. Leivers and
+Bexton, and Pvtes. Winterbottom, Allen, and Eyre.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: Map to illustrate the Battle of HOHENZOLLERN. October
+13th-15th. 1915.]
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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
+Fouquieres, the service being taken by his old friend Padre Hales.
+Some 18 months afterwards the Battalion arrived in billets six 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 Cure 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.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+RICHEBOURG--MARSEILLES--CANDAS
+
+ _October 18th, 1915._ _March 5th, 1916._
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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
+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.
+
+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 Bethune, where we were again fortunate in being comfortably
+billeted at the Orphanage, with Officers' billets and Headquarters'
+Mess in the Rue de Lille.
+
+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.
+
+Further reinforcements joined us at Bethune, 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.
+
+Our next move was to the Richebourg sector--probably the most
+miserable trenches we ever met with, and then held by Indian troops.
+Leaving Bethune 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'Avoue, 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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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!
+
+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," 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.
+
+Our 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.
+
+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 _louis_. 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!
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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. x 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 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.
+
+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."
+
+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 Cafe," 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.
+
+On December 19th, we marched to Wittes, a small village on the La
+Bassee Canal, near Aire. This was a short march on a bright Sunday
+morning, chiefly memorable for a wonderful equestrian feat on the part
+of 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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+[Illustrated: MAJOR J. P. BECHER, D.S.O. Died of wounds, Jan. 1st,
+1916.]
+
+On 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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 Cannibiere, 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!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+What 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.
+
+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.
+
+On 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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+VIMY RIDGE
+
+ _March 6th, 1916._ _April 21st, 1916._
+
+
+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.
+
+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-Bethune Road, known as the Route de Bethune, 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, 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.
+
+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-Bethune 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 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.
+
+Leaving Candas on March 6th, we marched on a very snowy day, via
+Doullens, to Iverny, moving on the 8th to Maizieres, 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.
+
+On the following day we moved up into support trenches, just in front
+of the Route de Bethune, 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.
+
+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.
+
+On 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.
+
+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.
+
+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), 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.
+
+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."
+
+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 "Blanchetiere." 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.
+
+Unfortunately 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.
+
+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.
+
+As 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.
+
+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!
+
+At 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.
+
+Marshall's "pet," however, was the "dummy tree" on the Route de
+Bethune. 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.
+
+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," 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: REGTL.-SERGT.-MAJOR A. WESTERMAN.]
+
+[Illustration: COMP. SERGT.-MAJOR J. T. SLATER AND N.C.O.'S OF 'A'
+COMPANY, 1917.]
+
+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 buried at Mont St. Eloy by
+Padre Hales, who a little later received an appreciative letter from
+the pilot's widow.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Our 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 Bethune 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 Bethune
+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 Bethune 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!
+
+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 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.
+
+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 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 debris, 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. If they had had any doubts as to the possibility
+of getting round, this made up their minds, and they retired
+hurriedly.
+
+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.
+
+On 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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+THE BATTLE OF GOMMECOURT
+
+ _April 22nd, 1916._ _July 2nd, 1916._
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+Our period of training at this juncture was not a long one, as we were
+required nearer the front to begin the 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.
+
+We moved by easy steps from this area, which we left on May 6th,
+marching that day to Rebreuviette, the following day to Gaudiempre,
+and on the 10th to Bienvillers. The Transport remained behind at
+Gaudiempre, but moved from there on the 11th to La Bazeque Farm, near
+Humbercamps. This move brought us into the VII Corps, commanded by
+Lieut.-General T. D'O. Snow.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+All the efforts of the troops of our Division who were not actually
+holding the line, were concentrated on 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 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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+This 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.
+
+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.
+
+A full size model of the German lines at Gommecourt that we were to
+attack, was made near Sus-St. Leger, the 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.
+
+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.
+[Illustration: REGTL.-SERGT.-MAJOR W. MOUNTENEY, D.C.M.]
+
+[Illustration: COMP. SERGT.-MAJOR W. STOKES, D.C.M. and SERGEANTS OF C
+COMPANY, 1917.]
+
+On June 15th, we marched to Humbercamp, the Transport at the same time
+moving to lines at La Bazeque 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!
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+It 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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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,
+and took a little while to get used to, but it proved a good friend to
+many in the days that were to come.
+
+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.
+
+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:--
+
+ "G1. sector 7.30 a.m. An extremely violent bombardment began,
+ overwhelming all the trenches and sweeping away the wire.
+
+ 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.
+
+ 8.40 a.m. 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.
+
+ The enemy built up his firing line and attempted to press forward
+ with bombers and flame-projectors, but was repulsed everywhere.
+
+ 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."
+
+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.
+
+Although 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.
+
+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 also rescued a wounded man, are deserving of special
+mention.
+
+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 Gaudiempre.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+BELLACOURT
+
+ _July 2nd, 1916._ _October 29th, 1916._
+
+
+We spent one night at Gaudiempre, 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.
+
+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.
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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, 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.
+
+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.
+
+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, 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.
+
+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.
+
+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. 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.
+
+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."
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 Snow, the Corps Commander,
+was with him, and appeared to be quite satisfied with the turnout.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The 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.
+
+[Illustration: 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.]
+
+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 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
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 "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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+THE CAPTURE OF GOMMECOURT
+
+ _October 29th, 1916._ _March 17th, 1917._
+
+
+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.
+
+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-Chateau, 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. Riquier was
+quite interesting, and the battlefield of Crecy was not far off.
+Abbeville some distance away, was patronised only by a few lucky ones.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 one from the 7th Battalion, and beat them one-nil
+after a great tussle.
+
+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 a
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 Hebuterne.
+
+When 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."
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: MAJOR-GENERAL THWAITES OUTSIDE BATTALION HEAD-QUARTERS,
+THE BRASSERIE, FONCQUEVILLERS. _Reproduced by permission of the
+Imperial War Museum._]
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+Though normally quiet the sector was occasionally trench mortared and
+shelled fairly heavily, most attention being paid to the front line
+about Roberts 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 partly to
+the high concentration of the gas used we suffered heavy casualties,
+four men being killed and 24 wounded.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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 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 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.
+
+On February 19th, after handing over our portion of the front line to
+Battalions of the 138th Brigade, we marched back to St. Amand.
+
+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 for the rest
+of the war. The Signallers were also reorganised under Lieut. Warner,
+and divided into "Battalion" and "Company" Signallers.
+
+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 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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 the previous night in an attack on "Kite Copse."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: MAP TO ILLUSTRATE CHAPTERS VII & IX.]
+
+In 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.
+
+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.
+
+As 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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
+chateau, 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."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+LENS
+
+ _March 17th, 1917._ _July 4th, 1917._
+
+
+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.
+
+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, 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!"
+
+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 Cafe du Cathedral.
+
+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 cafe." 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
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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
+Nedonchelle. 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.
+
+On April 13th, we began to move towards the line once more, spending
+that night at Vendin-lez-Bethune, 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.
+
+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",
+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.
+
+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 Lievin, where we
+took over billets from the 13th Middlesex.
+
+[Illustration: AIR PHOTOGRAPH OF LENS-LOOS AREA, 1917. _Reproduced by
+permission of Captain P. Huskinson, M.C._]
+
+Lievin 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, but had
+been forced on him by the capture by the Canadians early in April of
+Vimy Ridge.
+
+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 Cite-de-Riaumont and Eastern outskirts of
+Lievin, across the Lens-Lievin Road, through Cite-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 "Cites,"
+with their rows of cottages and neat gardens, pits or "puits,"
+slag-heaps, and other usual features of a colliery district.
+
+The town of Lievin 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.
+
+Information 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
+Cite-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 Cite-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 Cite-de-Riaumont and finally from Hill 65. The
+loss of this last covering position should, it was thought,
+necessitate their withdrawal from Lens.
+
+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.
+
+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, during the
+absence on leave of Capt. Turner) were in support in the Bois de
+Riaumont and Cite 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 Chateau.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+As soon as it was dark the Company moved up from their quarters in the
+River Line to Cite-de-Riaumont, where the men were safely got into the
+cellars of 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!
+
+D Company, who were to "mop up," took over the rest of A Company's
+area, the latter Company returning to Lievin, 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 Chateau, the Eastern edge
+of the village, and the approaches from Lievin. 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.
+
+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 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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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 _Punch_ a few years ago:--
+
+ "But most he loved to lie upon Lorette
+ And, couched on cornflowers, gaze across the lines
+ On Vimy Ridge--we had not Vimy yet--
+ Pale Souchez's bones, and Lens among the mines.
+ Till, eagle-like, with hoarse indignant shrieks.
+ Gunners arose from some deep-delved lair.
+ To chase the intruder from their sacred peaks
+ And cast him down to Ablain-St. Nazaire."
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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 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.
+
+After a short rest at Noeux-les-Mines, we went back to the Lievin
+sector again on May 25th and took over the line from Fosse 9 and
+Cite-St. Theodore to just South of the Lievin-Lens Road. Battalion
+Headquarters were at the corner house near the "Marble Arch" in
+Lievin. 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.
+
+The first six days of June were spent in Brigade support in Lievin, at
+the end of which time we went back into the line in front of Cite-St.
+Theodore, where the only excitements were the pushing forward of
+advanced 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.
+
+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 Lievin 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 Lievin, 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.
+
+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 Chateau. Strawberries, currants, gooseberries and rhubarb
+were also plentiful in Cite-St. Pierre. Indeed the attractions of the
+first were too much for one greedy German, who was so much occupied
+in 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!
+
+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
+Lievin 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 Lievin sector, stores were sent up by light
+railway from Bully Grenay or Aix Noulette.
+
+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.
+
+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" 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.
+
+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 Lievin, with Headquarters at the Red Mill.
+
+Here we got orders for working parties required for carrying and
+digging assembly trenches at Cite-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
+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 Depot
+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-Lievin Road.
+
+[Illustration: MAP TO ILLUSTRATE OPERATIONS NEAR LENS: April-July,
+1917.]
+
+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-Lievin 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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 the line unfortunately take the hard consequences of faulty
+information or false appreciation.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+ST. ELIE AND HILL 70
+
+ _July 4th, 1917._ _January 21st, 1918._
+
+
+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 Chateau, 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 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!
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+This 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 happen in the way of mining, which had already had its
+day.
+
+[Illustration: AIR PHOTOGRAPH OF PART OF ST. ELIE SECTOR, 1917.]
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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!"
+
+On the night August 10/11th, we moved back into support with Battalion
+Headquarters, A and C Companies at 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
+Fouquieres, and on the 16th to Verquin, where they were joined by B
+and D Companies.
+
+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.
+
+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 chateau, both there and at Fouquieres, 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 Bethune with its many attractions, was within
+easy walking distance, and always a popular resort for all ranks.
+
+There 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.
+
+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 Bassee Canal.
+
+This sector extended from just North-West of the Hohenzollern Redoubt,
+nearly to the Bethune-La Bassee 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, 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.
+
+On September 13th, we left this sector on being relieved by the 7th
+Battalion, and moved back to Fouquieres, 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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 Rase" 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. Many had been blown in, and practically
+all the entrances faced the wrong way, which was a distinct drawback.
+
+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.
+
+The 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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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 Previte
+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.
+
+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. Stewart did excellent work in repairing
+broken telephone wires.
+
+[Illustration: STRAIGHT LINE DIAGRAM OF TRENCH COMMUNICATIONS AT HILL
+70. November, 1917.]
+
+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!
+
+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 Bethune, 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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+SPRING, 1918
+
+ _January 22nd, 1918._ _April 20th, 1918._
+
+
+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 Labuissiere 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 Bethune 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
+Bethune. 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 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.
+
+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 whole of their area, which included the entire region round
+about and in front of Bethune, 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.
+
+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
+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."
+
+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!
+
+Musketry 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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 Bethune, 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.
+
+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 Bethune 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.
+
+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, with only a short break, until the
+conclusion of the war.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: THE BEUVRY--LA BASSEE ROAD, NEAR CAMBRIN, 1917.
+_Reproduced by permission of the Imperial War Museum._]
+
+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 bombardment with gas
+shells, which was decidedly unpleasant, though not causing us any
+casualties.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 attack
+should mature. We even made arrangements for a possible retreat, and
+worse than that, all leave was stopped.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 Cites, back to the outskirts of
+Lens itself. These Cites were now to all intents and purposes
+destroyed, and presented nothing but a mass of streets heaped up with
+broken tiles, brick and other debris, 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 Bassee 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 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.
+
+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 Bethune, or by continuing his enveloping movement from the
+North, and attacking it from that direction across the La Bassee
+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 Bethune, 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 were mostly
+set to work in digging line upon line of additional trenches about
+Fouquieres 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!
+
+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.
+
+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 Bassee 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, 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.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+GORRE AND ESSARS
+
+ _April 21st, 1918._ _September 6th, 1918._
+
+
+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 Bassee
+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 Bassee Canal,
+and at the nearest point about two and-a-half miles from Bethune.
+
+Leaving Vaudricourt on the evening of April 23rd, we marched the short
+journey to Bethune, where after some rearrangement, we were eventually
+allotted billets in one of the French Barracks. How changed was our
+favourite old town of Bethune! 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 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?
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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 to keep out of sight and make
+ourselves as comfortable as very cramped quarters would allow.
+
+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.
+
+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 chateau 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 it all
+amused us, and after all it was a very welcome change from ordinary
+trench life.
+
+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 Facons, 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.
+
+On April 28th, we were relieved by the 5th Leicesters, and moved back
+into Divisional Reserve at Fouquieres, 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.
+
+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 chateau, 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.
+
+[Illustration: GORRE BREWERY AND BRIDGE, 1918. _Reproduced by
+permission of the Imperial War Museum._]
+
+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 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!
+
+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 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.
+
+On May 10th, we went back to bivouacs in Vaudricourt Park, in
+Divisional Reserve. These bivouacs and the villages of Fouquieres and
+Verquin, were from now onwards allotted in rotation to the three
+Battalions of the Brigade out at rest.
+
+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 Bethune, 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 Bethune "Locality" all night. The attack
+passed off without happening, as did several others! The bridges over
+the La Bassee 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 to be on the wrong side of the
+Canal! That well-known landmark, Bethune 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 Bethune 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 debris, 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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+By 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.
+
+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 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!
+
+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.
+
+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 Fouquieres, 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 Bethune 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 Fouquieres. The 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.
+
+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 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).
+
+[Illustration: THE CLOCK TOWER, BETHUNE, 1918. _Reproduced by
+permission of the Imperial War Museum._]
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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
+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 Bassee 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
+Bethune 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.
+
+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 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 Preol. 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.
+
+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'Avoue, 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.
+
+Very 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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."
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+AUCHEL TO PONTRUET
+
+ _Sept. 7th, 1918._ _Sept. 26th, 1918._
+
+
+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 Bethune as "Lily."
+
+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 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.
+
+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 recollections. We had been there for
+seventeen months without a break.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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 as Poeuilly, to which we marched, and where we
+were told we had to bivouac.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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-Bihecourt Road, put up for us
+by the 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+BELLENGLISE
+
+ _Sept. 26th, 1918._ _Sept. 29th, 1918._
+
+
+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.
+
+In 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: THE ST. QUENTIN CANAL, BELLENGLISE--LOOKING
+NORTH--1918.]
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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
+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 "Helene 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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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 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.
+
+At 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 did not come within our province, as they
+were all beyond our objective.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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 _was_
+impregnable.
+
+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,"[1] to the action of September 29th, says:--
+
+ "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."
+
+[Footnote 1: Published by Messrs. Hutchinson & Co.]
+
+For once General Headquarters' arrangements for the 46th Division
+miscarried.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+RAMICOURT AND MONTBREHAIN
+
+ _Sept. 30th, 1918._ _October 4th, 1918._
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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 Montbrehain, which would probably be a difficult problem to
+tackle.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+It was not long before we began to encounter, in addition to the
+enemy's counter-barrage, opposition of a 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The main Fonsomme Line was now ours, though won at heavy cost.
+Direction had improved, though we were 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.
+
+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.
+
+Having 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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+Out 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.
+
+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.
+
+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
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 be counted as one of the most gallant exploits
+of the whole war.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: MAP TO ILLUSTRATE--BATTLE OF RAMICOURT OCT: 3rd 1918.
+
+Red, Blue & Dotted Blue Lines represent various objectives.]
+
+During 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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+THE LAST FIGHT
+
+ _October 4th, 1918._ _November 11th, 1918._
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 Fresnoy-le-Grand,
+which was entered by the 138th Brigade the same morning.
+
+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.
+
+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 Officer at a Battalion Parade, ending up with the
+Battalion marching past the recipients whilst the band played the
+Regimental March.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 Foret
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+We moved on again between 2 and 3 a.m., and without difficulty reached
+and formed up on our jumping-off line, 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 Vallee 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.
+
+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.
+
+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
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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
+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.
+
+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 enemy were also
+firing into the rear of B Company, who had gone past them.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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. 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+By noon the enemy in the Foret d'Andigny must have begun to feel that
+with the 138th Brigade--who had now captured the village of
+Andigny-les-Fermes--on their 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.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: MAP TO ILLUSTRATE THE BATTLE OF REGNICOURT.]
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+We now had several days complete rest, and were fortunate in getting,
+almost at once, a draft of 120 reinforcements, 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.
+
+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!
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+We had been informed that owing to the "blowing" of the bridge over
+the Canal at Catillon, we should have to make a detour 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 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 debris 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!
+
+Late in the afternoon we moved into poor billets in the village of
+Mezieres, 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.
+
+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.
+
+We 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.
+
+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
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+HOME AGAIN
+
+ _November 12th, 1918._ _July 5th, 1919._
+
+
+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 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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+In 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+On 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.
+
+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 Peronne. 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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+ "Speak! Was our course well run? Is there aught wherewith to upbraid us?
+ Have we fled from the thunder of battle, or flinched at the lightning's
+ track?
+ Answer! What need of answer? By the God of Truth who hath made us,
+ Thou knowest the Flag went forward, and never a foot went back!"
+
+ "THE LAST MUSTER," by _J. S. Arkwright_.
+
+
+
+
+APPENDIX I.
+
+ROLL OF HONOUR
+
+_List of those who were Killed, or Died of Wounds or Sickness._
+
+
+OFFICERS.
+
+ 1915.
+
+ April 22--2nd Lieut. J. R. Eddison
+
+ June 6--Capt. H. G. Wright
+ " 15--Lieut. A. F. O. Dobson
+ " 15--2nd Lieut. W. H. Hollins
+ Oct. 13--2nd Lieut. R. E. Hemingway
+ " 14--2nd Lieut. E. F. S. Handford
+ " 14--Capt. H. B. S. Handford
+ " 14--2nd Lieut. E. S. Strachan
+ " 15--Lieut.-Col. G. H. Fowler
+ " 25--2nd Lieut. G. H. Fisher
+ Nov. 12--Lieut. C. M. Houfton
+
+ 1916.
+
+ Jan. 1--Major J. P. Becher
+ Dec. 20--2nd Lieut. L. E. King-Stephens
+
+ 1917.
+
+ March 4--Lieut. R. A. Abrams
+ April 23--2nd Lieut. W. P. Duff
+ " 23--2nd Lieut. E. Hopkinson
+ Aug. 30--2nd Lieut. D. Tanner
+ Oct. 27--2nd Lieut. J. H. Hofmeyr
+
+ 1918.
+
+ April 29--Capt. H. K. Simonet
+ Sept. 6--2nd Lieut. C. J. Elly
+ " 29--Lieut. S. E. Cairns
+ Oct. 3--2nd Lieut. A. D. H. Dunkin
+ " 4--2nd Lieut. T. F. Mitchell
+ " 17--Capt. A. E. Geary
+ " 17--2nd Lieut. R. S. Plant
+ " 17--2nd Lieut. W. G. Jacques
+
+
+ OTHER RANKS.
+
+ 1914.
+
+ Sept. 28--Drummer R. Baker
+ Nov. 17--Pvte. S. Shelton
+
+
+ 1915.
+
+ April 6--Pvte. J. Hyde
+ " 11--Pvte. P. Richardson
+ " 12--Pvte. D. Smith
+ " 12--Pvte. A. Frary
+ " 13--Pvte. W. R. Copley
+ " 15--Pvte. A. E. Hopewell
+ " 20--Pvte. H. Trickett
+ " 20--Pvte. J. Wright
+ " 21--Pvte. T. Murden
+ " 21--Pvte. A. Bates
+ " 21--Pvte. F. Adams
+ " 21--Pvte. J. Berresford
+ " 21--Sergt. G. Wilmore
+ " 21--Pvte. T. H. Mayman
+ " 22--Pvte. H. Sketchley
+ " 23--Pvte. H. Stevenson
+ " 23--Pvte. W. Taylor
+ " 24--Pvte. W. Hunt
+ " 24--Pvte. C. Redmile
+ " 24--Pvte. W. Godfrey
+ " 24--Pvte. C. Hibbert
+ " 24--Pvte. R. East
+ " 24--Pvte. J. Bonner
+ " 24--Pvte. H. Grant
+ " 24--Pvte. H. Husband
+ " 24--Pvte. W. Johnson
+ " 24--Pvte. W. Pattison
+ " 24--L.-Corpl. W. Ashley
+ " 24--Pvte. A. E. Hincks
+ " 24--Pvte. H. Randall
+ " 24--Pvte. E. Worthington
+ April 29--Pvte. J. Brindley
+ " 30--Pvte. H. Foster
+ " 30--L.-Corpl. E. Markwell
+ May 2--L.-Corpl. C. Land
+ " 2--Corpl. E. Parker
+ " 8--Pvte. H. Kirk
+ " 8--Pvte. A. V. Soar
+ " 8--L.-Corpl. W. H. Ridgard
+ " 10--L.-Corpl. A. Priestley
+ " 17--Pvte. E. Eaton
+ " 24--Pvte. W. Widnall
+ " 24--Pvte. T. Hardy
+ " 25--Pvte. H. Spademan
+ June 5--Pvte. R. Mills
+ " 6--Pvte. T. Massey
+ " 12--Pvte. F. Paling
+ " 14--Corpl. C. J. Wilson
+ " 15--Corpl. F. Wilcox
+ " 15--Pvte. A. E. Armitage
+ " 15--Pvte. F. Hill
+ " 15--Pvte. B. Cox
+ " 15--Pvte. P. May
+ " 15--Pvte. R. W. Moakes
+ " 15--Pvte. W. Richardson
+ " 15--Pvte. O. L. Bryan
+ " 15--Pvte. A. Cook
+ " 16--Pvte. G. Richardson
+ " 24--Pvte. W. H. Hird
+ " 27--L.-Corpl. J. Churn
+ " 27--Pvte. F. Edwards
+ " 27--Pvte. C. E. Stones
+ July 12--Pvte. E. Robinson
+ " 16--Pvte. G. Tinker
+ " 16--Corpl. F. Godson
+ " 18--Corpl. E. Dewsnap
+ " 20--Pvte. E. Richardson
+ " 21--Pvte. C. Taylor
+ " 21--Pvte. G. Hinton
+ " 22--Pvte. J. Bowskill
+ " 25--Pvte. J. Watson
+ " 30--Pvte. J. W. Jubb
+ " 30--Pvte. J. Rudkin
+ " 30--Pvte. F. Walster
+ " 30--Pvte. C. Thorpe
+ " 30--Pvte. R. Downham
+ " 30--Pvte. S. Oliver
+ " 30--Pvte. R. Huckerby
+ " 30--Pvte. F. Ingham
+ " 30--Pvte. F. Parker
+ " 30--Pvte. C. Lines
+ " 30--Pvte. A. Woodhead
+ " 30--Pvte. A. Coy
+ " 30--Pvte. J. Rossington
+ " 30--Pvte. A. R. Walker
+ " 30--Pvte. H. Taylor
+ " 30--Pvte. H. W. Raynor
+ " 31--Corpl. S. Humberstone
+ " 31--L.-Corpl. I. Webster
+ " 31--Corpl. R. J. Hotson
+ " 31--Pvte. T. Davidson
+ August 1--Pvte. J. Hopewell
+ " 1--Pvte. H. H. Turner
+ " 4--Pvte. J. W. Lee
+ " 5--Pvte. C. Crampton
+ " 7--Pvte. H. Moore
+ " 7--Pvte. A. Scott
+ " 8--Sergt. A. Phillipson
+ " 8--L.-Corpl. P. Scott
+ " 8--Pvte. A. Smith
+ " 8--Pvte. F. Gumsley
+ " 8--Pvte. E. King
+ " 13--L.-Sergt. E. Layhe
+ " 14--Pvte. G. E. Fletcher
+ " 14--Pvte. A. Walsham
+ " 14--Pvte. W. Kirkham
+ " 14--Corpl. G. C. Higham
+ " 17--Pvte. J. A. Saunders
+ " 30--Pvte. G. W. Cartwright
+ " 30--Pvte. G. Richards
+ Sept. 3--Pvte. H. Key
+ " 10--Pvte. L. Smith
+ " 12--Pvte. A. Wesson
+ " 16--Pvte. W. T. Marshall
+ " 19--Pvte. G. Barker
+ " 25--L.-Corpl. T. Humphrey
+ " 25--Pvte. L. Hayes
+ " 28--Pvte. R. Gray
+ " 29--Drummer J. Newton
+ Oct. 5--L.-Corpl. E. Hale
+ " 5--Pvte. J. R. Roe
+ " 5--L.-Sergt. C. E. Harrison
+ " 8--Pvte. N. Chadbourne
+ " 14--Sergt. C. E. Cox
+ " 14--L.-Corpl. A. Spencer
+ " 14--Corpl. J. C. Simpson
+ " 14--Pvte. E. Mecklenburgh
+ " 14--Corpl. W. Wardle
+ " 14--L.-Corpl. E. Clay
+ " 14--L.-Corpl. W. J. Herepath
+ " 14--L.-Corpl. A. H. Hardy
+ " 14--Pvte. A. Baldwinson
+ " 14--Pvte. H. L. Smith
+ " 14--Pvte. E. Kirk
+ " 14--Pvte. J. W. Renshaw
+ " 14--Pvte. C. Stimsom
+ " 14--Pvte. S. P. Huggins
+ " 14--Pvte. L. H. Flint
+ Oct. 14--Pvte. F. W. Coleman
+ " 14--Pvte. G. Simms
+ " 14--Pvte. A. Fotheringham
+ " 14--Pvte. S. H. Lister
+ " 14--Pvte. A. Pettinger
+ " 14--Pvte. A. Hazzard
+ " 14--Sergt. M. Millband
+ " 14--L.-Corpl. H. E. Woodhead
+ " 14--Pvte. J. Dodsworth
+ " 14--Corpl. J. Sharman
+ " 14--L.-Corpl. B. C. Vick
+ " 14--Pvte. A. Hazlewood
+ " 14--Pvte. H. Cook
+ " 14--Pvte. C. S. Harrison
+ " 14--Pvte. H. Wilkinson
+ " 14--Pvte. A. Eyre
+ " 14--Pvte. E. C. Phillipson
+ " 14--Pvte. W. Anthony
+ " 14--Pvte. F. Farrand
+ " 14--Pvte. A. B. Smith
+ " 14--Pvte. W. Thompson
+ " 14--Pvte. G. Seymour
+ " 14--Pvte. F. Bryan
+ " 14--Sergt. H. Hall
+ " 14--Pvte. A. Moyses
+ " 15--Pvte. W. Radford
+ " 15--Sergt. G. F. Foster
+ " 15--Pvte. S. Broughton
+ " 16--Pvte. R. Taylor
+ " 18--L.-Corpl. F. J. Lowe
+ " 22--Pvte. A. Woolley
+ " 27--Pvte. E. Chilvers
+ " 30--Pvte. R. Hurt
+ Nov. 22--Sergt. A. Sheppard
+ Dec. 2--Pvte. C. H. Cliffe
+ " 8--Pvte. C. Redfern
+
+ 1916.
+
+ March 20--Pvte. J. Evans
+ " 21--Pvte. F. Footitt
+ " 25--Pvte. E. Gilbert
+ " 28--Pvte. C. E. Ellis
+ April 4--Pvte. J. E. Easton
+ " 4--Pvte. A. Wright
+ " 4--Pvte. F. Johnson
+ " 4--Pvte. J. W. Hempsall
+ " 5--Pvte. E. A. Hill
+ " 15--Pvte. G. Wilcockson
+ " 15--Pvte. L. Chandlee
+ " 17--Sergt. W. H. Markham
+ " 17--Pvte. W. North
+ " 17--Pvte. E. H. Mutton
+ " 18--Pvte. H. Ellis
+ " 18--Pvte. E. Nelson
+ " 18--Pvte. W. Robinson
+ " 18--L.-Corpl. J. Footitt
+ " 18--Pvte. G. Marriott
+ " 18--Pvte. G. H. Johnson
+ " 18--Pvte. L. J. Moore
+ " 20--Pvte. H. Hicking
+ " 20--Pvte. T. B. Terry
+ " 25--Pvte. C. Wells
+ June 3--Pvte. H. Skillington
+ " 20--Pvte. A. E. Pulford
+ " 20--Pvte. J. Fogg
+ " 20--Pvte. G. A. Bingley
+ " 20--Pvte. L. Tyers
+ " 20--Pvte. T. Stout
+ " 24--Pvte. A. Froggatt
+ " 24--Pvte. J. W. Moor
+ " 24--Pvte. A. English
+ " 24--Pvte. T. Cope
+ " 25--Pvte. M. Johnson
+ " 25--L.-Corpl. A. E. Sooley
+ " 26--Pvte. E. Toyne
+ " 26--Corpl. W. G. Moore
+ " 26--Pvte. E. Judson
+ " 27--L.-Corpl. A. A. Grant
+ " 27--Pvte. F. W. Bonser
+ July 1--Pvte. F. Clarke
+ " 1--Corpl. E. Allen
+ " 1--Pvte. J. W. Edwards
+ " 1--Pvte. G. Seagrave
+ " 1--Corpl. S. Matthews
+ " 1--Corpl. J. J. Alvey
+ " 1--Pvte. T. F. Barlow
+ " 3--Pvte. A. Bousfield
+ " 6--Pvte. G. Talbot
+ " 10--Pvte. G. Jeffery
+ " 12--L.-Corpl. W. Young
+ " 13--L.-Corpl. E. Pride
+ " 13--Pvte. W. E. Beardsley
+ " 14--Corpl. A. E. Paling
+ " 17--Pvte. J. F. Wood
+ " 24--Pvte. J. R. Seymour
+ August 8--Pvte. J. Burke
+ Sept. 21--Pvte. A. Stocks
+ Oct. 7--Pvte. W. Hammond
+
+ 1917.
+
+ Jan. 24--Pvte. J. H. Spence
+ " 24--Pvte. J. Stafford
+ " 24--Pvte. R. Knee
+ Feb. 12--Pvte. F. Robertson
+ " 16--Pvte. F. W. Beighton
+ " 17--L.-Corpl. E. Slack
+ " 17--Pvte. J. W. Sharman
+ " 17--Pvte. F. Makin
+ " 17--Pvte. G. Addison
+ March 4--L.-Corpl. R. Marriott
+ " 4--Pvte. H. Rimes
+ " 4--Pvte. J. Myatt
+ " 4--Pvte. P. Faulkner
+ " 4--Pvte. F. S. Cooper
+ " 5--Sergt. J. Henley
+ " 5--Pvte. S. J. Preece
+ " 6--Pvte. J. H. Haslam
+ " 15--Pvte. C. H. Bryan
+ April 21--Pvte. G. Stubbins
+ " 21--Pvte. J. E. Wilkinson
+ " 21--Pvte. L. Burrows
+ " 23--Corpl. W. Street
+ " 23--L.-Corpl. R. Vacey
+ " 23--L.-Corpl. J. Hinchley
+ " 23--L.-Corpl. W. Ward
+ " 23--Pvte. W. Barwise
+ " 23--Pvte. G. Garbett
+ " 23--Pvte. G. H. Smith
+ " 23--Pvte. E. Goodacre
+ " 23--Pvte. E. R. Hewson
+ " 23--Pvte. J. Holwell
+ " 23--Pvte. T. H. Jones
+ " 23--Pvte. G. Miller
+ " 23--Pvte. F. Phillips
+ " 23--Pvte. W. Steele
+ " 23--Pvte. H. Barnes
+ " 23--Pvte. S. Hodgkinson
+ " 24--Corpl. A. Cox
+ " 26--Pvte. J. Nicholson
+ May 8--Pvte. D. McGlure
+ " 10--Pvte. R. Short
+ " 10--Pvte. C. Perkins
+ " 11--Pvte. F. W. Brown
+ " 11--Pvte. G. Nicholls
+ " 12--Pvte. A. L. Varley
+ " 12--Pvte. J. Sinclair
+ " 12--Pvte. R. Turner
+ " 19--Pvte. J. K. Strachan
+ " 28--L.-Corpl. H. Newman
+ " 28--Pvte. R. Morris
+ " 29--Pvte. F. Marshall
+ " 30--Pvte. L. Houeton
+ " 30--Pvte. T. Sherratt
+ " 30--Pvte. H. Simpson
+ " 30--Pvte. S. Morley
+ June 2--Pvte. W. Gale
+ " 3--Pvte. S. Peach
+ " 6--Pvte. A. L. Reekie
+ " 8--Pvte. J. H. Whitehead
+ " 8--Pvte. G. W. Henley
+ June 8--Pvte. G. S. Reiace
+ " 8--Corpl. F. S. Pickering
+ " 8--Pvte. T. Clarke
+ " 9--Pvte. A. Fitzhugh
+ " 22--Pvte. W. N. Stone
+ " 22--Pvte. J. W. Bradbury
+ " 22--Pvte. A. Simpson
+ " 22--L.-Corpl. E. Johnson
+ " 22--Pvte. A. Mawson
+ " 23--Pvte. T. Grosse
+ " 23--Pvte. H. F. Buckler
+ " 23--Corpl. A. Humberstone
+ " 23--Pvte. G. F. Collins
+ " 23--Pvte. J. Buswell
+ " 26--Pvte. C. E. Allen
+ " 26--Pvte. J. H. Fox
+ " 26--Drummer S. R. Willingham
+ July 1--Pvte. P. N. Coupe
+ " 26--Pvte. G. H. Stubbins
+ " 28--L.-Corpl. A. Huntbach
+ " 28--L.-Corpl. W. Bulman
+ " 30--Pvte. G. F. Allen
+ August 4--L.-Corpl. H. Taylor
+ " 5--L.-Sergt. S. Bowler
+ " 30--Corpl. H. Wright
+ Sept. 2--Pvte. A. Robertson
+ " 3--Pvte. A. P. Frettingham
+ " 12--Pvte. H. Wilson
+ " 12--L.-Sergt. J. Blythe
+ " 12--L.-Corpl. H. C. Key
+ " 13--Pvte. L. Lilley
+ " 13--Pvte. G. Darwin
+ " 13--L.-Corpl. C. Parkin
+ " 13--Pvte. W. S. Bell
+ " 13--Pvte. W. A. Beckett
+ " 13--Pvte. W. C. Randall
+ " 13--Pvte. E. Stewart
+ " 13--Pvte. S. Thorne
+ " 29--Pvte. T. Gilbert
+ " 29--Pvte. H. C. Smedley
+ Oct. 4--Sergt. W. H. Drabble
+ " 4--Pvte. G. H. West
+ " 4--Pvte. A. Lovegrove
+ " 5--Pvte. H. Shufflebottom
+ " 14--Pvte. J. Bennett
+ Nov. 2--Pvte. E. Sharpe
+ " 4--Pvte. H. Syson
+ " 23--Pvte. W. Blackshaw
+ " 28--Pvte. H. Fox
+ Dec. 6--Pvte. W. J. Palmer
+ " 9--L.-Corpl. A. Dean
+ " 11--Pvte. H. Moult
+ " 21--Pvte. G. Large
+
+ 1918.
+
+ March 17--Pvte. F. L. Chapman
+ " 22--Pvte. S. S. Ives
+ " 22--Pvte. J. Thompson
+ " 22--Corpl. H. Tyne
+ April 8--Pvte. C. Scholes
+ " 18--Corpl. G. Caudwell
+ " 18--Pvte. C. H. Aram
+ " 18--Pvte. A. Leader
+ " 28--Pvte. E. Cross
+ " 28--Pvte. F. Townsend
+ " 29--Pvte. G. F. Garratt
+ May 5--Pvte. A. E. Cliff
+ " 5--Pvte. A. H. Wheway
+ " 9--Pvte. E. H. Asling
+ " 15--Pvte. A. Beastall
+ " 18--Pvte. H. Cooper
+ " 19--Pvte. A. Armstrong
+ June 15--Pvte. W. H. Baldwin
+ " 15--Pvte. W. Buckley
+ " 16--Pvte. G. R. Atkinson
+ " 16--Pvte. A. Lover
+ " 19--Pvte. W. Clarke
+ " 23--Pvte. W. Tudbury
+ " 29--Pvte. C. J. Rickett
+ July 10--L.-Corpl. H. Smith
+ August 7--Pvte. G. Chadwick
+ " 13--Pvte. J. G. Boothby
+ " 14--L.-Corpl. F. Peck
+ " 17--Pvte. G. Rowley
+ " 26--Pvte. S. Berry
+ " 28--Pvte. E. Powell
+ " 28--Pvte. G. Williamson
+ " 29--Pvte. J. A. Riley
+ " 29--Pvte. G. Stendall
+ " 29--Pvte. G. Renshaw
+ " 29--Pvte. F. H. Heighway
+ Sept. 22--Pvte. G. F. Rogers
+ " 25--Corpl. A. E. Lambert
+ " 25--Pvte. W. Rogers
+ " 26--Pvte. W. J. Phippard
+ " 26--Corpl. J. W. Elcock
+ " 29--Pvte. I. Evans
+ " 29--Pvte. T. Rennie
+ " 29--Corpl. H. Russell
+ " 29--L.-Corpl. J. Hoe
+ " 29--Pvte. J. E. Tinkler
+ " 29--Pvte. G. S. Goodbourne
+ " 29--Pvte. F. Conway
+ " 29--L.-Corpl. T. H. Swann
+ " 29--Pvte. F. Key
+ " 29--Pvte. E. Leek
+ " 29--Pvte. J. Rice
+ " 29--Pvte. C. E. Goddard
+ " 30--Comp. Sergt.-Major J. F. Rawding
+ " 30--Pvte. E. Walker
+ " 30--Pvte. T. Johnson
+ Oct. 1--Pvte. A. Watson
+ " 3--Pvte. J. E. Smith
+ " 3--L.-Corpl. G. T. Tolly
+ " 3--Pvte. G. Ballington
+ " 3--Pvte. D. Irvine
+ " 3--Pvte. S. Spencer
+ " 3--Pvte. J. Taylor
+ " 3--Sergt. C. H. Genders
+ " 3--Pvte. J. Holmes
+ " 3--Pvte. J. R. Rush
+ " 3--L.-Corpl. A. Mantle
+ " 3--Pvte. H. F. Russell
+ " 3--Pvte. F. W. Lambert
+ " 3--Pvte. H. Keech
+ " 3--Pvte. H. G. Handley
+ " 3--Pvte. S. Guy
+ " 3--Sergt. S. Hurt
+ " 3--Pvte. J. Sulley
+ " 3--Pvte. W. Barksby
+ " 3--Pvte. J. W. North
+ " 3--Pvte. A. Goldsmith
+ " 3--Pvte. A. E. Ward
+ " 3--Pvte. J. Moon
+ " 4--Pvte. F. J. Lewis
+ " 4--L.-Corpl. C. H. Chadbourne
+ " 7--Pvte. A. Clemerson
+ " 8--Pvte. H. Silvester
+ " 9--L.-Corpl. A. H. Penford
+ " 12--Pvte. W. Walters
+ " 13--Pvte. A. S. Roberts
+ " 14--Pvte. C. E. Hallam
+ " 17--Pvte. W. Godson
+ " 17--Pvte. J. Bailey
+ " 17--Pvte. G. E. Smith
+ " 17--Pvte. G. E. P. Dennis
+ " 17--Pvte. H. Adlington
+ " 17--Pvte. S. Seal
+ " 17--Pvte. H. Simmons
+ " 17--Pvte. T. W. Horne
+ " 17--Pvte. F. Woodhead
+ " 17--Pvte. A. Jones
+ " 17--Pvte. J. W. Stewart
+ " 17--Pvte. G. Floyd
+ " 17--Pvte. F. N. Guttridge
+ " 17--Pvte. T. Turner
+ " 17--Pvte. A. Diggle
+ " 17--Pvte. E. Goddard
+ " 17--L.-Corpl. F. H. Clarke
+ Oct. 17--L.-Corpl. W. C. Creamer
+ " 17--Pvte. G. Wildsmith
+ " 17--L.-Corpl. J. F. Harper
+ " 17--Pvte. G. Welbourne
+ " 17--Pvte. G. Redfern
+ " 18--Pvte. T. Sedgewick
+ " 18--Pvte. J. Robinson
+ " 18--Pvte. C. Whittaker
+ " 18--Corpl. A. C. Scott
+ " 18--Pvte. A. Bacon
+ " 22--Pvte. G. W. Rollett
+ " 23--L.-Corpl. L. Horton
+ " 23--Pvte. B. A. Cutler
+ " 24--Pvte. A. Gittens
+ Nov. 1--Pvte. W. J. Coates
+ " 5--Pvte. C. Wagstaff
+ " 11--Pvte. T. S. Handy
+ " 13--Pvte. R. Hand
+ Dec. 24--Pvte. H. Buzan
+
+
+_Officers who were Killed or Died of Wounds whilst serving with other
+Units._
+
+ 2nd Lieut. A. D. Bailey
+ 2nd Lieut. F. E. Kebblewhite
+ 2nd Lieut. F. M. Corry
+ Lieut. C. H. Hicks
+ Lieut.-Col. B. W. Vann
+
+
+_Other Ranks who were Killed or Died of Wounds, after being granted
+Commissions in other Units._
+
+ Comp. Sergt.-Major J. A. Green
+ Comp. Sergt.-Major F. Spencer
+ L.-Corpl. F. L. Wilson
+ L.-Corpl. F. B. Gill
+ Comp. Sergt.-Major E. Haywood
+ Comp. Sergt.-Major W. H. M. Hotson
+ Pvte. J. A. Christie
+
+
+
+
+APPENDIX II.
+
+HONOURS.
+
+
+ BAR to D.S.O.
+
+ Lieut.-Col. J. F. Dempster
+ Lieut.-Col. R. W. Currin
+
+
+ D.S.O.
+
+ Lieut.-Col. J. E. Blackwall
+ Major A. L. Ashwell
+ Rev. J. P. Hales
+ Major J. P. Becher
+ Major R. J. Wordsworth
+
+
+ 2nd BAR to M.C.
+
+ Major V. O. Robinson
+
+
+ M.C. and BAR.
+
+ Capt. B. W. Vann
+
+
+ M.C.
+
+ 2nd Lieut. J. S. C. Oates
+ Capt. A. Hacking
+ Capt. W. C. C. Weetman
+ 2nd Lieut. W. P. Duff
+ 2nd Lieut. E. Hopkinson
+ Capt. A. E. Geary
+ Capt. J. W. Turner
+ 2nd Lieut. A. C. Fairbrother
+ Capt. H. de C. Martelli
+ Capt. H. K. Simonet
+ Major A. Andrews
+ Capt. E. A. Huskinson
+ 2nd Lieut. S. Bradwell
+ 2nd Lieut. James Howard Smith
+ Capt. G. Thomas
+ Capt. J. B. White
+ 2nd Lieut. J. Bloor
+ 2nd Lieut. W. J. Winter
+ Capt. A. B. Miners
+ 2nd Lieut. F. L. Harrap
+ Lieut. S. E. Cairns
+ 2nd Lieut. T. F. Mitchell
+ Capt. St. G. L. M. Homan, R.A.M.C.
+ Rev. D. E. Sturt
+ Capt. C. G. Druce
+ Capt. E. W. Warner
+ 2nd Lieut. J. F. Shackleton
+ Capt. A. Bedford
+ Lieut. A. G. T. Lomer
+
+
+ O.B.E. and M.V.O.
+
+ Major G. S. Heathcote
+
+
+ O.B.E. and BREVET MAJORITY.
+
+ Major G. Clarke
+
+
+ O.B.E.
+
+ Lieut.-Col. C. J. Huskinson
+ Lieut.-Col. R. F. B. Hodgkinson
+
+
+ D.C.M. and BAR.
+
+ Comp. Sergt.-Major F. Attenborough
+
+
+ D.C.M. AND M.M.
+
+ L.-Sergt. C. Claxton
+ Pvte. G. H. Wesley
+
+ D.C.M. and M.S.M.
+
+ Comp. Sergt.-Major J. F. Rawding
+
+
+ D.C.M.
+
+ Regimental Sergt.-Major W. Mounteney
+ Sergt. A. Sheppard
+ Corpl. H. Tyne
+ Sergt. E. Grantham
+ Pvte. J. Nicholson
+ Corpl. W. E. Boot
+ Sergt.-Drummer W. Clewes
+ L.-Sergt. T. Turgoose
+ Pvte. R. Kerling
+ Comp. Sergt.-Major E. Haywood
+ Sergt. C. E. Crooks
+ Sergt. H. Scrimshaw
+ Sergt. J. L. Peach
+ Corpl. R. Francis
+ Comp. Sergt.-Major A. Cobb
+ Comp. Sergt.-Major W. Stokes
+ L.-Corpl. W. Beech
+ Sergt. H. Wilson
+
+
+ M.M. and 2 BARS.
+
+ Pvte. L. Thomas
+
+
+ M.M. and BAR.
+
+ Pvte. F. Green
+
+
+ M.M. and M.S.M.
+
+ Pvte. J. Nelson
+
+
+ M.M.
+
+ Sergt. J. T. Templeman
+ Corpl. W. H. Lacey
+ Corpl. S. Matthews
+ L.-Sergt. T. Martin
+ Pvte. G. F. Holbery
+ Sergt. C. Grainger
+ L.-Corpl. H. J. Walsh
+ Corpl. H. Hickman
+ Corpl. C. E. Bryan
+ Corpl. J. W. Wilson
+ Sergt. W. L. Green
+ Sergt. L. Bell
+ Sergt. C. T. Blunt
+ Comp. Sergt.-Major E. E. Deverall
+ Sergt. J. G. Collins
+ Sergt. W. G. Oldfield
+ Corpl. T. W. Lowe
+ Pvte. W. Heath
+ Sergt. J. Henley
+ Corpl. W. Street
+ L.-Corpl. W. Teare
+ Corpl. C. Hagues
+ Sergt. R. H. Bolton
+ L.-Corpl. J. F. Stewart
+ Pvte. G. F. Garratt
+ Sergt. W. H. Martin
+ L.-Sergt. R. Turner
+ Pvte. G. Wildsmith
+ Pvte. W. H. Tailby
+ Pvte. G. Stamford
+ Pvte. G. Cook
+ L.-Sergt. W. Field
+ L.-Sergt. F. Illger
+ L.-Corpl. J. North
+ Pvte. G. Feighery
+ Pvte. W. Westnidge
+ Corpl. G. Skelton
+ Pvte. B. Smithurst
+ Pvte. W. Titmus
+ Pvte. A. W. Colton
+ Pvte. C. Welbourne
+ Pvte. G. Sulley
+ Corpl. S. Slater
+ Corpl. W. Foster
+ Pvte. W. Parker
+ Pvte. A. W. Stapleton
+ Corpl. R. Harvey
+ Sergt. J. Stimson
+ Pvte. E. Crow
+ Sergt. C. Vann
+ L.-Corpl. S. Slater
+ Corpl. J. Wright
+ Pvte. J. W. Starr
+ L.-Corpl. F. Baxter
+ Corpl. W. Clark
+ Sergt. W. Wrigglesworth
+ Sergt. C. Sharrock
+ Pvte. W. H. Martin
+ Sergt. H. Shepperson
+ Sergt. A. Winson
+ Pvte. J. Roe
+ L.-Corpl. J. U. Coombs
+ Pvte. F. Draper
+ Pvte. A. Jackson
+ Pvte. A. Turpin
+ Pvte. N. Lees
+ Pvte. J. Vipond
+ Pvte. W. Houghton
+ Pvte. W. G. Nicholson
+ Pvte. C. Smith
+ Pvte. H. Beresford
+ Corpl. S. Gadsby
+ Pvte. E. Mosgrove
+
+
+ M.S.M.
+
+ Comp. Sergt.-Major A. Mabbott
+ Sergt T. Taylor
+ Sergt. J. Eggleston
+ Sergt. R. Harvey
+ Regtl. Qtr.-Mtr. Sergt. F. A. Pritchard
+ Comp. Qtr.-Mtr. Sergt. H. J. Wilson
+ Comp. Qtr.-Mtr. Sergt. G. E. Bee
+ Comp. Qtr.-Mtr. Sergt. W. I. Dale
+
+
+ MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES.
+
+ Lieut.-Col. G. H. Fowler
+ Major J. P. Becher
+ Major A. L. Ashwell
+ Major R. J. Wordsworth (2)
+ 2nd Lieut. J. S. C. Oates
+ Capt. E. C. A. James
+ Capt. E. N. T. Collin
+ Capt. B. W. Vann
+ Capt. A. Hacking
+ Capt. J. W. Turner
+ Lieut.-Col. J. E. Blackwall
+ Rev. J. P. Hales (2)
+ Lieut.-Col. C. J. Huskinson (2)
+ Capt. C. L. Hill
+ Major G. Clarke
+ Lieut. W. H. B. Rezin (2)
+ Hon. Lieut, and Quarter-Master F. Torrance
+ Capt. R. Whitton
+ Capt. C. G. Tomlinson
+ Lieut. C. H. S. Stephenson
+ Lieut.-Col. R. W. Currin
+ Capt. N. L. Hindley
+ Lieut. S. Sanders
+ Sergt. E. Grantham
+ Comp. Sergt.-Major J. F. Rawding
+ Sergt. J. T. Templeman
+ Sergt. C. T. Blunt
+ Pvte. F. Holland
+ Regtl. Sergt.-Major W. Mounteney
+ Sergt. A. Phillipson
+ Pvte. S. Boothby
+ Pvte. C. Redfern
+ Corpl. G. Caudwell
+ Pvte. H. Needham
+ Comp. Sergt.-Major T. Powell
+ Comp. Sergt-Major J. T. Slater
+ Sergt. R. F. Bescoby.
+ Regtl. Qtr.-Mtr. Sergt. F. A. Pritchard
+ Sergt. R. Harvey
+ L.-Corpl. W. Beech
+ Comp. Sergt.-Major E. E. Deverall
+ Corpl. E. Dexter
+ Sergt. F. Lobley
+ L.-Sergt. J. Wicks
+
+
+ FOREIGN DECORATIONS.
+
+ FRENCH:--
+
+ Legion d'Honneur (Chevalier).
+
+ Lieut.-Col. J. E. Blackwall
+
+
+ Croix de Guerre.
+
+ Capt. B. W. Vann
+ Capt. W. C. C. Weetman
+ Comp. Sergt.-Major A. Cobb
+ Pvte. F. Holland
+ Sergt. T. Oldham
+
+
+ BELGIAN:--
+
+ Croix de Guerre.
+
+ Regimental Sergt.-Major W. Mounteney
+
+
+ RUSSIAN:--
+ Medal of St. George (4th Class).
+
+ Drummer J. Newton
+ Drummer W. Robb
+ Corpl. J. Sharman
+
+
+
+[Illustration: MAP TO ILLUSTRATE BATTLE OF BELLENGLISE. SEPT: 29th
+1918.]
+
+
+
+ PRINTED BY THOS. FORMAN AND SONS
+ NOTTINGHAM
+
+
+
+
+
+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 ***
+
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