diff options
Diffstat (limited to '22028-h')
| -rw-r--r-- | 22028-h/22028-h.htm | 6158 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 22028-h/images/img001.jpg | bin | 0 -> 25655 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 22028-h/images/img002.jpg | bin | 0 -> 36495 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 22028-h/images/img003.jpg | bin | 0 -> 37307 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 22028-h/images/img004.jpg | bin | 0 -> 26299 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 22028-h/images/img005.jpg | bin | 0 -> 42037 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 22028-h/images/img006.jpg | bin | 0 -> 37379 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 22028-h/images/img007.jpg | bin | 0 -> 54074 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 22028-h/images/img008.jpg | bin | 0 -> 70019 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 22028-h/images/img009.jpg | bin | 0 -> 55213 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 22028-h/images/img010.jpg | bin | 0 -> 27364 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 22028-h/images/img011.jpg | bin | 0 -> 18600 bytes |
12 files changed, 6158 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/22028-h/22028-h.htm b/22028-h/22028-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e277edc --- /dev/null +++ b/22028-h/22028-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6158 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The War Service of the 1/4 Royal Berkshire Regiment (T. F.), by Charles Robert Mowbray Fraser Cruttwell</title> +<style type="text/css"> +<!-- + +body {font-size: 1em; text-align: justify; margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%;} + +h1 {font-size: 140%; text-align: center; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} +h1.pg {font-size: 190%; text-align: center; margin-top: 0em; margin-bottom: 0em;} +h2 {font-size: 130%; text-align: center; margin-top: 4em; margin-bottom: 2em;} +h3 {font-size: 130%; text-align: center; margin-top: 4em; margin-bottom: 1em;} +h4 {font-size: 120%; text-align: center; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 2em;} +h4.pg {font-size: 100%; text-align: center; margin-top: 0em; margin-bottom: 0em;} + +a:focus, a:active {outline:#ffee66 solid 2px; background-color:#ffee66;} +a:focus img, a:active img {outline: #ffee66 solid 2px; } + +abbr {border: none; text-decoration: none;} + +ul {list-style: none; margin-left: 25%;} + +.p2 {margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 1em;} +.p2-3 {margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 3em;} +.p2-4 {margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 4em;} +.p4 {margin-top: 4em; margin-bottom: 1em;} + +.pagenum {visibility: hidden; position: absolute; right:0; + font-size: 13px; text-align: right; + color: #C0C0C0; background-color: inherit;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 95%;} +.smaller {font-size: smaller;} + +.poem10 {margin-left: 10%; font-size: 90%;} + +.add1em {margin-left: 1em;} +.add2em {margin-left: 2em;} +.add4em {margin-left: 4em;} + +.figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center; margin-top: 2em;} +.center {text-align: center;} + +.col10 {position: absolute; margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 67%; left: 1px;} +.col10-19 {position: absolute; margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 81%; right: 1px;} +.col10-49 {position: absolute; margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 51%; left: 1px;} +.col20-49 {position: absolute; margin-left: 20%; + margin-right: 51%; left: 1px;} +.col35-58 {position: absolute; margin-left: 35%; + margin-right: 42%; left: 1px;} +.col50-59 {position: absolute; margin-left: 50%; + margin-right: 41%; right: 1px;} +.col50-99 {position: absolute; margin-left: 51%; + margin-right: 1%; left: 1px;} +.col60-99 {position: absolute; margin-left: 60%; + margin-right: 1%; left: 1px;} + + hr.full { width: 100%; + height: 5px; } + pre { font-size: 85%; } +--> +</style> +</head> +<body> +<h1 class="pg">The Project Gutenberg eBook, The War Service of the 1/4 Royal Berkshire +Regiment (T. F.), by Charles Robert Mowbray Fraser Cruttwell</h1> +<pre> +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 <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: The War Service of the 1/4 Royal Berkshire Regiment (T. F.)</p> +<p>Author: Charles Robert Mowbray Fraser Cruttwell</p> +<p>Release Date: July 9, 2007 [eBook #22028]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WAR SERVICE OF THE 1/4 ROYAL BERKSHIRE REGIMENT (T. F.)***</p> +<br><br><center><h4 class="pg">E-text prepared by David Clarke, Christine P. Travers,<br> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br> + (<a href="http://www.pgdp.net/c/">http://www.pgdp.net</a>)<br> + from page images generously made available by<br> + Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries<br> + (<a href="http://www.archive.org/details/toronto">http://www.archive.org/details/toronto</a>)</h4></center><br><br> +<p> </p> +<table border=0 bgcolor="ccccff" cellpadding=10> + <tr> + <td valign="top"> + Note: + </td> + <td> + Images of the original pages are available through + Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries. See + <a href="http://www.archive.org/details/warserviceberk00crutuoft"> + http://www.archive.org/details/warserviceberk00crutuoft</a> + </td> + </tr> +</table> +<p> </p> +<h4 class="pg">Transcriber's Note</h4> +<p class="smaller">Obvious printer's errors have been corrected. All other + inconsistencies are as in the original. The author's spelling + has been maintained.<br> + <br> + The original book used for this file did not contain a table + of contents, and one has been added for the convenience of the + reader.<br> +<br> +<strong>Accessibility:</strong> Expansions of abbreviations have been +provided using the <abbr> tag (not recognized by Internet +Explorer), and changes in language are marked. +Speech rendering will be improved if voices for the following +languages are available: Fr, Pl, It, Nl, De.</p> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" noshade> +<p> </p> + +<a id="img001" name="img001"></a> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/img001.jpg" width="400" height="594" alt="Colonel O. PEARCE-SEROCOLD, C.M.G., V.D." title=""> +<p>Colonel O. PEARCE-SEROCOLD, <abbr title="Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George.">C.M.G.</abbr>, <abbr title="Volunteers Decoration">V.D.</abbr><br> +<span class="smcap">Commanding On Mobilization 5 <abbr title="August">Aug.</abbr> 1914 To 14 <abbr title="February">Feb.</abbr> 1916.</span></p> +</div> + + +<h1>THE WAR SERVICE<br> +of the 1/4 Royal Berkshire Regiment<br> +(T.F.)<br> +<span class="smaller">By</span><br> +C. R. M. F. CRUTTWELL</h1> + +<p class="center">Late Captain 1/4 Royal <abbr title="Berkshire">Berks.</abbr> <abbr title="Regiment">Regt.</abbr>, Fellow Of Hertford<br> + College, And Formerly Fellow Of All Souls College, Oxford</p> + +<p class="center p4">OXFORD BASIL BLACKWELL<br> +MCMXXII</p> + +<p class="smcap center p4">Oxford<br> +Fox, Jones & <abbr title="Company">Co.</abbr>,<br> +Kemp Hall Press,<br> +High Street.</p> + + +<a id="toc" name="toc"></a><h2>TABLE OF CONTENTS.</h2> +<ul> +<li><a href="#preface">Preface</a></li> +<li><a href="#chap1">Chapter I</a><br> +<span class="add2em smcap">mobilisation and training.</span></li> +<li><a href="#chap2">Chapter II</a><br> +<span class="add2em smcap">first days on active service.</span></li> +<li><a href="#chap3">Chapter III</a><br> +<span class="add2em smcap">holding the line at 'plugstreet'.</span></li> +<li><a href="#chap4">Chapter IV</a><br> +<span class="add2em smcap">on the move and in corps reserve.</span></li> +<li><a href="#chap5">Chapter V</a><br> +<span class="add2em smcap">relieving the french at hébuterne.</span></li> +<li><a href="#chap6">Chapter VI</a><br> +<span class="add2em smcap">summer and autumn in artois.</span></li> +<li><a href="#chap7">Chapter VII</a><br> +<span class="add2em smcap">winter in the trenches.</span></li> +<li><a href="#chap8">Chapter VIII</a><br> +<span class="add2em smcap">the new trench and the raid.</span></li> +<li><a href="#chap9">Chapter IX</a><br> +<span class="add2em smcap">before the battle.</span></li> +<li><a href="#chap10">Chapter X</a><br> +<span class="add2em smcap">the july fighting at pozières.</span></li> +<li><a href="#chap11">Chapter XI</a><br> +<span class="add2em smcap">rest and battle.</span></li> +<li><a href="#chap12">Chapter XII</a><br> +<span class="add2em smcap">uneventful days.</span></li> +<li><a href="#chap13">Chapter XIII</a><br> +<span class="add2em smcap">in the slough of despond.</span></li> +<li><a href="#chap14">Chapter XIV</a><br> +<span class="add2em smcap">the winter and the german retreat.</span></li> +<li><a href="#chap15">Chapter XV</a><br> +<span class="add2em smcap">ronssoy.</span></li> +<li><a href="#chap16">Chapter XVI</a><br> +<span class="add2em smcap">towards the hindenburg line.</span></li> +<li><a href="#chap17">Chapter XVII</a><br> +<span class="add2em smcap">the renewal of trench warfare.</span></li> +<li><a href="#chap18">Chapter XVIII</a><br> +<span class="add2em smcap">the third battle of ypres.</span></li> +<li><a href="#chap19">Chapter XIX</a><br> +<span class="add2em smcap">last days in france and the journey to italy.</span></li> +<li><a href="#chap20">Chapter XX</a><br> +<span class="add2em smcap">the italian winter.</span></li> +<li><a href="#chap21">Chapter XXI</a><br> +<span class="add2em smcap">mountain warfare.</span></li> +<li><a href="#chap22">Chapter XXII</a><br> +<span class="add2em smcap">the last summer.</span></li> +<li><a href="#chap23">Chapter XXIII</a><br> +<span class="add2em smcap">victory.</span></li> +<li><a href="#appenda">Appendix A.</a></li> +<li><a href="#appendb">Appendix B.</a></li> +</ul> + +<a id="preface" name="preface"></a><h2>PREFACE.</h2> + + +<p>This little work was undertaken at the request of <abbr title="Lieutenant-Colonel">Lieut.-Col.</abbr> R. J. +Clarke, <abbr title="Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George.">C.M.G.</abbr>, <abbr title="Companion of the Distinguished Service Order">D.S.O.</abbr>, while the war was still in progress. The +Editor of the <i>Berkshire Chronicle</i> kindly gave it the hospitality of +his columns in 1920. Its republication in book form is due to the +generous support of Berkshire people; and I have been very fortunate +in persuading Mr. Basil Blackwell to act as its publisher. The earlier +portion is based on my own personal recollections, the latter on the +war diary of the Battalion, which was admirably kept, and on +information supplied by officers and men.</p> + +<p>I have to thank <abbr title="Lieutenant-Colonel">Lieut.-Col.</abbr> Ewen and <abbr title="Captain">Capt.</abbr> Goodenough, <abbr title="Military Cross">M.C.</abbr>, for the +trouble which they have taken to supply me with all available +documents: and, among many others, Major G. A. Battcock, Captains W. +E. H. Blandy, O. B. Challenor, <abbr title="Military Cross">M.C.</abbr>, G. H. W. Cruttwell, and <abbr title="Sergeants">Sergts.</abbr> +Page and Riddell for giving me personal details, and thereby clearing +up many points which must otherwise have remained obscure.</p> + +<p>The fortunes in battle of a small unit, like a Battalion, in the late +war, can never make easy reading, but I hope that with the aid of the +large-scale maps inserted in the text they may prove fairly +intelligible. The Appendices are due to the present Adjutant, <abbr title="Captain">Capt.</abbr> L. +Goodenough, <abbr title="Military Cross">M.C.</abbr><a href="#toc">(Back to Contents)</a> +</p> + + + + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page001" name="page001"></a>(p. 001)</span><a id="chap1" name="chap1"></a><h3>CHAPTER <abbr title="1">I</abbr></h3> + +<h4>MOBILISATION AND TRAINING</h4> + + +<p>Late in the afternoon of August 2nd, 1914, the 4th Royal Berks +Regiment joined the remainder of the South Midland Infantry Brigade +for their annual camp on a hill above Marlow. War had broken out on +the previous day between Germany and Russia, and few expected that the +15 days' training would run its normal course. It was not, therefore, +a complete surprise when in the twilight of the next morning the +battalion re-entered the same trains which had brought them, and +returned to Reading. Soon after arrival, in accordance with orders +received, the battalion proceeded to disband; but many of the men, +unwilling to return to the distant parts of the county when further +developments were confidently expected, remained at their respective +armouries throughout that famous Bank Holiday. At last, at 7.20 p.m. +on the next day, August 4th, the order for mobilisation was received, +and conveyed throughout the county that night by the police and eager +parties of volunteers. The plan of mobilisation had been closely +studied in all its details, and worked with complete smoothness. By 2 +p.m. on the 5th the assemblage at Reading was complete, and after a +laborious day spent in medical inspection, drawing of equipment and of +ammunition, 28 officers and 800 other ranks entrained in the evening +for their war station at Portsmouth, while 2 officers and 65 other +ranks remained at Reading to receive the transport from the remount +depôt. At Portsmouth three days were spent mainly in digging, until a +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page002" name="page002"></a>(p. 002)</span>new move on the 9th brought the whole of the South Midland Division +together at Swindon. Here on the 14th the battalion was invited by +telegram from the War Office to volunteer immediately for foreign +service. At this date the formation of the new service units had +scarcely begun, and few realised how widely the common burden of +responsibility would be shouldered in the next few weeks. The +question, therefore, arose naturally in many minds, why those whose +patriotism had led them without encouragement and sometimes with +derision to qualify for the defence of the country in peace, should be +the first called upon to extend their statutory obligation when +emergency arose. None the less, within a few days a large majority of +the men, and practically all the officers, had volunteered. History +will, I believe, honour this prompt decision and recognise its value.</p> + +<p>On August 16th, the division entrained for Leighton Buzzard, and the +battalion spent four days in billets at Dunstable, 8 miles away, +before setting out on the 20th on a 70-mile trek to its final +destination at Chelmsford. In spite of the heat, the dusty roads and +the small opportunities afforded since mobilisation for practice in +marching, the journey was successfully accomplished in four days. The +inhabitants of Stevenage, Hoddesden, Waltham Abbey and Fyfield, where +we billeted in succession, to whom the passage of troops was still a +pleasing novelty, and the provision of billets more than a business +transaction, received us with every kindness. Thus Chelmsford became +the adopted home and theatre of training for the battalion, except for +the period September 24th-October 16th, which was spent in three +adjacent villages, Broomfield and Great and Little Waltham. The relations +between the town and the soldiers were excellent throughout, and many +warm friendships were made; while in the surrounding <span class="pagenum"><a id="page003" name="page003"></a>(p. 003)</span>country the +landowners and farmers made the troops free of their land, thereby +greatly assisting the field training, which was carried on uninterruptedly +through a fine autumn and a wet winter. We lost in September for duty +with the New Armies the permanent sergeant-instructors, one of whom had +been attached to each company in peace time, but were fortunately +allowed to retain our regular adjutant, Captain G. M. Sharpe, and the +<abbr title="Regimental Sergeant Major">R.S.-M.</abbr> (afterwards <abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> Hanney, <abbr title="Military Cross">M.C.</abbr>). About the close of the year +the double-company system was adopted, under which the two headquarter +companies became 'A' Company, under the command of Major Hedges, while +Captain Battcock commanded B Company, composed of the men from +Wallingford, Wantage and Newbury, Captain Lewis C Company, from +Windsor and Maidenhead, and Captain Thorne D Company, from Abingdon +and Wokingham. Many memories will remain with us of the laborious days +and nights spent throughout those seven months, of company training in +Highlands, fights on Galleywood Common, route marches up the long +slope of Danbury Hill, journeys to Boreham Range in the darkness of a +winter dawn, returning after dusk with a day's firing behind, and long +hours spent in guarding the <span lang="it">Marconi</span> station in rain, snow and mist. +All ranks were very keen and eager, especially before illness, the +monotony of routine and disappointment at receiving no orders for +overseas, produced some inevitable reaction. Colonel Serocold has +indeed expressed his opinion that the battalion, while under his +command, was never better trained than at the end of November, 1914.</p> + +<p>At last, however, on the evening of March 30th, 1915, amidst many +expressions of goodwill and regret from the townsfolk, who thronged +the streets, the battalion entrained for France, and left Folkestone +in the S.E.R. packet boat <i>Onward</i> at 11 p.m.<a href="#toc">(Back to Contents)</a></p> + + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page004" name="page004"></a>(p. 004)</span><a id="chap2" name="chap2"></a><h3>CHAPTER <abbr title="2">II</abbr></h3> + +<h4>FIRST DAYS ON ACTIVE SERVICE</h4> + + +<p>The night was calm and bright with stars as, with an escorting +destroyer, we crossed rapidly to <span lang="fr">Boulogne</span>. After disembarking we +marched to the Blue Base above the town, clattering over the cobbles, +and drawing the heads of the curious to their bedroom windows. Here we +lay down in tents and endured with the mitigation of one blanket a +bitter frost. That evening we continued our journey towards the +unknown from <span lang="fr">Pont des Briques</span> station, where we found our train +already contained the transport from <span lang="fr">Havre</span>, two of whose number had +been deposited on the line en route by the activities of a restive +horse. The men were crowded into those forbidding trucks labelled +<span lang="fr">"Hommes, 40, chevaux, 8,"</span> and suffered much discomfort as the train +crept through a frozen night, whose full moon illuminated a succession +of dykes and water meadows stiff with hoarfrost, and bearded French +Territorials with flaming braziers guarding the line. As dawn was +breaking we detrained on the long platform of Cassel, and after the +transport was unloaded moved up that steep hill which is so well known +a landmark in Flanders. When we reached the summit, leaving the town +on our left, we looked over the great Flemish plain, and heard for the +first time the faint pulsing of the guns. The sun had now fully risen, +and dissipated the thin morning mist; the level country parcelled out +into innumerable farms and clumps of trees stretched endlessly to the +east. Only to the northward the steep outline of the <span lang="fr">Mont des Cats</span> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page005" name="page005"></a>(p. 005)</span> +with the long ridge of the Mont Noir behind broke the plain. We +descended, and made our way wearily to <span lang="nl">Winnezeele</span>, a straggling +village of outlying farms, close to the Belgian frontier. Here we +remained three days, and with the zeal of new troops obeyed every +letter of the law. Orderly sergeants descended into the village in +marching order with full packs, no officer was ever seen without his +revolver, while every billet was guarded as if at any moment it might +be taken by assault.</p> + +<p>On April 2nd we marched to <span lang="nl">Steenvoorde</span>, where <abbr title="Lieutenant-General">Lieut.-General</abbr> Sir H. +Smith-Dorrien, commanding 2nd Army, inspected the 145th Brigade. He +congratulated them on their smart appearance, and spoke most warmly of +the work already done by Territorials in the war. He also cheered us +greatly by his anticipation of the fall of Budapest and of the forcing +of the Dardanelles within the next few weeks.</p> + +<p>On Easter Sunday, April 9th, we marched to <span lang="fr">Flêtre</span>, a village on the +great paved road to <span lang="fr">Lille</span>, 3 miles short of <span lang="fr">Bailleul</span>. Here long lines +of lorries attested the importance of this main artery of the Army; +while the effects of war were plainly seen in the bullet-riddled +houses, the random little trenches and crosses dotted around, which +recalled the successful fighting of the 4th Division on October 14th. +The château which Headquarters occupied was said to have been +similarly used for eight days by General <span lang="de">von Kluck</span>. Here for three +days we enjoyed the rain of Flanders, and a foretaste of its eternal +mud, before moving a stage nearer to the battle line, the flares of +which had been an object of much interest at nights. Our next journey, +on the 7th, led through <span lang="fr">Bailleul</span>, where the band of the Artists' +Rifles played in the great square, and the Warwicks of the 143rd +Brigade viewed us with the superior air of men who had already been in +the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page006" name="page006"></a>(p. 006)</span>trenches with the 6th Division; then between the poplars along +the <span lang="fr">Armentières</span> road, until we turned to the left at Rabot, and soon +arrived at our destination, a small village called Romarin. It lies +just within the Belgian frontier, a bare 3 miles behind the firing +line, whence the crackle of rifle fire was plainly audible, whilst +from the coppiced slopes of <span lang="fr">Neuve Église</span>, which bounded the northward +view, intermittent flashes denoted the presence of the field +batteries. The battalion was now attached to the 10th Brigade of the +4th Division, who were still holding the same ground where their +victorious advance had come to a standstill in October in front of +<span lang="nl">Ploegsteert</span> Wood and northward round the base of <span lang="fr">Messines</span> Hill. The +four Companies were divided for their period of 48 hours in the line +between 1st Warwicks, 2nd Seaforths, Royal Irish, Dublin Fusiliers, +and 7th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (T.F.). The time passed +without casualties or special incident, except for the shelling of a +night working party under <abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> Challoner, which escaped disaster +only by good fortune. All will remember with gratitude the good +comradeship and helpfulness of this Regular brigade, from whom we +learnt much during our short period of attachment. On its conclusion +we marched back to billets at <span lang="nl">Steenwerck</span>, a station on the <span lang="fr">Lille</span> line +midway between <span lang="fr">Bailleul</span> and <span lang="fr">Armentières</span>. Here we endeavoured +unsuccessfully, with the aid of a French officer, to locate a chain of +signalling lamps impudently displayed from <span lang="fr">Bailleul</span> right away towards +the German lines.</p> + +<p>On April 13th a Rugger match was played at <span lang="fr">Pont de Nieppe</span> between +teams representing the 4th and 48th Divisions, and resulted in a +victory for the latter. Here <abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> Ronald Poulton-Palmer, who +captained the side, played his last game. On April 15th we moved up +again, and took over for the first time our own line from the 2nd +Hants at <span lang="fr">Le Gheer</span>. The <span class="pagenum"><a id="page007" name="page007"></a>(p. 007)</span>trenches ran here with singular angles and +salients along the east face of <span lang="nl">Ploegsteert</span> Wood; many disconnected +posts, which could only be relieved by night, strong points in ruined +houses with such suggestive names as First and Second German House +were reminiscent rather of outposts than orthodox trench warfare. The +weather was bright, the enemy entirely inactive, and the wood, with +its oxlips and other spring flowers, its budding branches unscarred by +shell fire, was a picture of charm rare in modern warfare. Forty-eight +hours only were spent in this idyllic spot before we returned to +Romarin to the accompaniment of the roar of mines, artillery, and +concentrated rifle fire and machine gun fire, which heralded the +sudden outbreak of the Battle of Hill 60, 4 miles to the north, just +before sunset on April 17th. Our relief of the 4th Division was now +complete, and our instructors marched to billets in <span lang="fr">Bailleul</span>, only to +be thrown within a few days into the furnace of the second Battle of +<span lang="fr">Ypres</span>. Before leaving they placed a great board just outside the +Regent Street entrance to the wood, stating that it had been taken by +the 4th Division on October, 1914, and handed over intact to us.<a href="#toc">(Back to Contents)</a></p> + +<a id="img002" name="img002"></a> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/img002.jpg" width="400" height="579" alt="Berkshire Line At Ploegsteert." title=""> +<p>Berkshire Line At <span lang="nl">Ploegsteert.</span></p> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page009" name="page009"></a>(p. 009)</span><a id="chap3" name="chap3"></a><h3>CHAPTER <abbr title="3">III</abbr></h3> + +<h4>HOLDING THE LINE AT 'PLUGSTREET'</h4> + + +<p>The line held by the Division for the next two months was wholly +within Belgian territory, with a frontage of about 5,000 yards, which +stretched from a point about 500 yards south-east of <span lang="nl">Wulverghem</span> on the +north to just below <span lang="fr">Le Gheer</span>. The 143rd Brigade were on the left, +145th in the centre, and the 144th on the right. We were on the left +of the 145th, and worked on a self-relieving system by which two +Companies spent alternate periods of four days in the trenches and in +local reserve. B and C Companies on the right shared trenches 37 and +38, also named Berkshire and Argyll; A and D in turn inhabited +trenches 39 and 40, or Sutherland and Oxford, with a total frontage of +700 yards. The trenches ran along low ground between the wood and the +River Douve; on the left the famous hill of <span lang="fr">Messines</span> peered into our +positions, and though itself barely 200 feet above sea-level loomed +like a mountain among the mole-heaps of Flanders. The distance between +the opposing lines varied from 450 to 250 yards. Reliefs could be +carried out by day across the open on the right to Prowse Point +(called after Major Prowse, of the Somerset <abbr title="Light Infantry">L.I.</abbr>, who here organised a +successful counter-attack in November, 1914, and afterwards was killed +as a brigadier in the <span lang="fr">Somme</span> battles); but the left was much in the +air, as the only communication trench led up to some reserve +breastworks near the <span lang="fr">Messines</span> road, barely shoulder high, and +themselves incapable of secure daylight approach, and all rations, +stores, <abbr title="etcetera">etc.</abbr>, had <span class="pagenum"><a id="page010" name="page010"></a>(p. 010)</span>to be brought up overland by night over +bullet-swept ground, but with negligible casualties.</p> + +<p>The amenities of trench life depend almost wholly on the enemy and the +weather. In both these respects we were fortunate. The Saxons who +faced us lived up to their reputation, and apart from some accurate +sniping which did more damage to periscopes than to human life, made +no attempt to annoy us. No gas was ever emitted against us, though but +a few miles to the north the enemy was using this new weapon +incessantly. Throughout the end of April and for many days in May the +wind blew steadily out of a cloudless sky from the north-east, and +every morning we anxiously sniffed the breeze as we fingered the +inadequate and clumsy respirators of those times. Every day a new +pattern arrived with a new set of instructions. Then our sappers were +ordered to make boxes of gun-powder which were to be fired by fuse and +thrown over the parapet to dissipate the gas. In doing this they +succeeded in blowing up several of their own number in their infernal +den at Doo-Doo Farm. Scarcely, however, were these boxes ensconced in +their weather-proof niches in each traverse than they were condemned, +and the sweating infantry who had brought them up returned them with +many curses to store.</p> + +<p>The guns also left our sector in peace, which was the more fortunate +as our artillery was not in a position to reply effectively to even a +modest bombardment. Every now and then a little gun, apparently +mounted on an armoured car which ran along the avenue just behind the +German lines at dusk, would loose off half a dozen shells which burst +without any warning, like a pair of gigantic hands clapping. Sometimes +a few 'Little Willies' would strike Anton's Farm, which was included +in our trench line, but no attempt was made to level this valuable +ruin, which concealed patient and boastful <span class="pagenum"><a id="page011" name="page011"></a>(p. 011)</span>snipers. The Warwicks on +our left expiated the sins of the whole Division, and on most days it +was possible to watch with a feeling of complete security a variety of +shells bursting among them a few hundred yards away; while overhead +flew the liberal daily ration expended on the Château <span lang="fr">de la Hutte</span> on +Hill 63 behind. From the lovely garden which surrounded it, luxuriant +with lilac, Judas trees, tamarisk, wygelia and guelder-rose in full +bloom, you could view, like Moses, the unapproachable land of promise, +<span lang="fr">Lille</span> and <span lang="fr">Roubaix</span>, lying afar in the plain, with the smoke of enemy +activity rising from their numerous tall chimneys.</p> + +<p>We had our little excitements, as on May 9th, when the French attacked +at <span lang="fr">Souchez</span>, which was long remembered as 'the day of hate.' An +elaborate demonstration was prepared by the brigade, of which the +chief items were the exposure of trench-bridges 'obviously concealed,' +and the firing throughout the day of long bursts of rapid fire. These +interesting devices failed to deceive the enemy, who took little +notice beyond shelling the unhappy Warwicks and the town of +<span lang="nl">Ploegsteert</span> with unusual severity. My company was in the wood that day +in reserve, and lay about pretending to be in readiness. It was, in +fact, the only day in which we had nothing to do.</p> + +<p>We also had our mine, which was exploded opposite the Oxfords after +two false starts with much pomp and ceremony. A green rocket was sent +up one mile west of <span lang="nl">Ploegsteert</span> 'to deceive the enemy,' as the Staff +memorandum hopefully remarked. Captain Hadden, of the 1st/4th Oxfords, +opposite whose trench the explosion was to occur, was ordered to keep +half his company in the fire trench with the rifles and bayonets of +the other half. These were to be ostentatiously waved above the +parapet. The other half company spent some time marching up and down +the corduroy paths in the wood, that the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page012" name="page012"></a>(p. 012)</span>sound of their feet might +suggest the arrival of large reinforcements. When the Brigade invited +further suggestions of the same deceptive nature Hadden declared that +he indented for magic mirrors <span lang="fr"><i>à la</i></span> Maskelyne and Devant, which would +show the Oxfords not only in front but in rear of their enemy.</p> + +<p>There was also the occasion when the gunners promised to destroy a new +work erected by the Huns in front of their lines. They were heavily +handicapped at the outset by the necessity of employing percussion +shrapnel against a strong breastwork. But even when allowances were +made, it seemed unnecessary that their first shell, a premature, +should burst in the trees far behind on the <span lang="fr">Messines</span> road, that the +second should fall in our trenches, and the third damage our wire. The +fourth, however, it is fair to say, reached if it did not seriously +disturb its objective.</p> + +<p>The ground between the lines offered many opportunities for +patrolling; a belt of clover and rank weeds, knee-deep, in which our +wire was enclosed, was succeeded by a deep watery ditch, also +festooned with wire, and, beyond a fringe of willows on the further +side, ran a wide field of rye able to conceal the tallest man. Each +side cleared the ground immediately in front of their wire, and at +nights the sickle of the enemy reaper could be plainly heard cutting +swathes. More than once ambushes were laid in the daytime under cover +of the rye, which waited for an opportunity against him till late at +night, but without success. <abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> Gathorne-Hardy, who was the pioneer +of these daylight patrols, on one occasion, stayed out from noon till +4 p.m. with his faithful follower, <abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Westall, examining the +German wire, for which exploit the former received the <abbr title="Military Cross">M.C.</abbr> and the +latter the <abbr title="Distinguished Conduct Medal">D.C.M.</abbr> (to which was added a bar next year during the +fighting at <span lang="fr">Pozières</span> <span class="pagenum"><a id="page013" name="page013"></a>(p. 013)</span>for devotion to the wounded). Our losses during +these ten weeks were very light, but included <abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> Ronald Poulton-Palmer, who was shot through the heart by a random bullet while +superintending the building of a dugout just after midnight, May 4th, +1915. He had been nearly four years with the Battalion and was greatly +beloved by all ranks; as I went down the line at stand-to that morning +many of the men of old F Company, which he commanded at Chelmsford, +were crying. He was the first officer to fall, and was buried by the +Bishop of Pretoria in the Battalion cemetery in the wood on the east +side of the <span lang="fr">Messines</span> road, about 200 yards short of Hyde Park Corner.</p> + +<p>The actual routine of life in the trenches was pleasant enough. The +men knew exactly where they were. There was a time to eat, a time to +sleep, a time for fatigues, and a time for sentry-go. There was little +rain, and no bitter nights. The shelters, which held two or three men +a-piece, though mere flimsy shell-traps, were comfortable, and either +boarded or lined with straw, which was frequently renewed. When the +Warwicks took over from us they exclaimed in admiring surprise, 'Why, +they're all officers' dugouts.' Each section had its little oven made +of a biscuit tin built round with clay. For the officers' mess in D +Company we had the kitchen range from Anton's Farm, and a large +zinc-covered erection in which six people could eat or play cards at +once. The domestic element was supplied by two cats, who safely reared +their offspring among us. Indeed, the calm of that placid series of +days was such that it was difficult to realise that the second Battle +of <span lang="fr">Ypres</span> was raging with unbroken ferocity a few miles to the north, +until we listened to the unwearied rumble of the guns and saw by night +the great light in the sky where the doomed city blazed.</p> + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page014" name="page014"></a>(p. 014)</span><p>When in reserve our days were mainly spent in or close to the famous +wood, which was at that time regarded as the show-place, <i>par +excellence</i>, of the British front. Its natural glories have long since +departed under the devastating shell fire of the latter days of the +war, but in the spring and summer of 1915 it was a beautiful place, +where one might fancy that the many British dead rested more easily +beneath oaks and among familiar flowers than in most of the cemeteries +of this dreary land. The wood was about 1-½ miles long, with a +maximum depth of 1,400 yards, and its undergrowth, where not cut away, +was densely intertwined with alder, hazel, ash, and blackthorn, with +water standing in large pools on parts of its boggy surface. In one +corner was the picturesque <span lang="fr">Fosse Labarre</span>, a wide horseshoe moat +enclosing a little garden, now a machine-gun emplacement, where grew +the cumfrey, teazle and yellow flag. Everywhere the dog violet and +blue veronica flourished in enormous clumps, and near the Strand was a +great patch of Solomon's seal. It was a continual pleasure to see the +wood clothe itself from the nakedness of early April and increase in +fulness of life until we left at midsummer. The nightingale sang there +unwearingly, but other birds were few, and I never noticed a nest in +the wood. The few pheasants which survived a winter with the 4th +Division were, I fear, exterminated by us. Rabbits continued plentiful +in spite of rifles and snares, and every now and then a hare was +started in the deserted fields.</p> + +<p>Our predecessors had spent much labour and ingenuity in fitting up the +wood for comfortable military habitation. It was everywhere +intersected by corduroy paths, which though tiring to the feet, +completely saved one from the horrors of the mud, and enabled rations +and engineering stores to be brought up with ease in even the worst +weather. <span class="pagenum"><a id="page015" name="page015"></a>(p. 015)</span>Near the centre of the wood was Piccadilly Circus, whence +many of these paths radiated; Regent Street and the Strand were the +two great lateral highways; Bunhill Row preserved the memory of the +London Rifle Brigade; Mud Lane served to remind us of those days when +corduroy was still non-existent, whilst Spy Corner hinted at some grim +and secret episode in the wood's history.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, screened from aeroplane observation by the dense foliage, +the reserve Companies of the Brigade, lived in canvas tents +fantastically daubed or in log huts. Some of the more elaborate of +these latter served the double purpose of mess and bedroom for the +Company Officers, the sides being taken up by two tiers of bunks made +of wire and filled with straw. Outside the devices of the various +regiments which had built or occupied them were carved or painted. +Around them were little gardens, some of which with happy forethought +had been planted in the winter. The most elaborate of all boasted a +clump of Madonna lilies, and a red rose. We sowed vegetable seeds +also, and ate our own mustard and cress, lettuces and radishes. In +this connection, too, I should mention the 4,000 cabbages sent by +Messrs. Sutton <abbr title="and">&</abbr> Sons, which, planted in the transport lines at Rabot, +were left for the consumption of the 5th Battalion when we moved +south. These sylvan billets we generally shared with the 4th Oxfords, +Hunterston North and South, peaceful spots, seldom visited by shells +or stray bullets; less fortunate were the Bucks and 5th Gloucesters at +Somerset House, further to the east. Here by night a steady drizzle of +lead descended, and on one occasion 70 incendiary shells fell close to +Headquarters. One of these was a dud, and the Bucks, determined to +omit no precaution, sprinkled its resting place with chloride of lime! +On the west side of the <span lang="fr">Messines</span> road, just outside the wood, our +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page016" name="page016"></a>(p. 016)</span>Headquarters, with one reserve Company, inhabited the Piggeries, the +enormous bricked and covered sties of which easily accommodated 200 +men. The owner had only just completed his venture before war began, +and the place was unmarked on the map, which possibly accounted for +its immunity from shell fire.</p> + +<p>Life in the wood would have been wholly pleasant but for two things, +fatigues and lack of sleep. There is little doubt that if the war had +gone on for fifty years, its last month would have found the men as +strenuously employed in improving and strengthening the defences as in +those early days. Soldiers are naturally inclined to think when +depressed that (like the persons mentioned in the Bible) when 'they +have done all that is required of them they are but unprofitable +servants.' But at Plugstreet at least there was much which cried out +urgently to be done. A great gap in the trench line just east of +Prowse Point called for attention on our arrival. The work might, of +course, have been highly dangerous, for it was carried on within 200 +yards of the enemy. But no attempt was made to interfere with our +labours. Presumably the mild Hun who faced us was afraid that he would +be called upon to attack through the gap and rejoiced to see it +filled. Every night the picks and shovels of 300 or 400 men could be +heard merrily at work with the inevitable undercurrent of conversation +as familiarity increased security. When the moon was bright the enemy +could be seen peacefully attending to his own wire, while sometimes we +were reminded that the hour had come to break off by a voice from +opposite calling out, 'Time to pack up, sappers; go to bed.' Every +morning a new length of enormous breastwork invited shells, which +never came. On such occasions the thought arose that we must be taking +part <span class="pagenum"><a id="page017" name="page017"></a>(p. 017)</span>in the most expensive farce in the history of the world.</p> + +<p>The lack of sleep was a more serious hardship, especially as it +appeared avoidable. Owing, presumably, to the thinness with which the +line was held, and to the lack of potential reinforcements behind, we +were not allowed to sleep in the wood. Every night we made our way +either to the lower or higher breastworks. The former were just off +Mud Lane, and were consequently protected by the ridge from view, and +to a certain extent from bullets. Here you could bivouac in the open +under waterproof sheets, and except when the weather was very wet, +enjoy a tolerable night. The latter, however, were on the forward +slope, freely exposed to the continual fire with which the Huns +replied to the provocation of the Warwicks. It was therefore necessary +to lie at the bottom of a narrow and stinking trench on a 9-inch +board. You had hardly fallen into an insecure doze when you were +awakened and had to move out, for these breastworks, being barely +shoulder high, were always evacuated at dawn, and dawn comes very +early in June. The men naturally preferred the regular hours and the +clean and comfortable shelters of the fire trench. Whenever any of the +men desired to get rid of their pay quickly they had only to walk a +few hundred yards to <span lang="nl">Ploegsteert</span> village, where, within a mile of the +firing line, some hundreds of the inhabitants still remaining sold bad +beer, tinned fruit, and gaudy postcards at Flemish rates, which are +the highest in the world. When shelling was severe they locked up +their houses and disappeared mysteriously for a day or two until a +renewed lull enabled them to restart their profitable shop-keeping. +Many alleged spies lived here unharassed, especially in the outlying +farms; and credibility was lent to the current tales by the number of +carrier pigeons seen passing over <span class="pagenum"><a id="page018" name="page018"></a>(p. 018)</span>the lines, or by the incident of +the two dogs which suddenly appeared early one dawn from the German +lines, leapt our trenches, and were lost in the darkness behind, in +spite of Challoner's frenzied attempts to shoot them.</p> + +<p>Besides its inhabitants <span lang="nl">Ploegsteert</span> offered little of interest. The +church, in spite of a dozen holes in the roof, and a great chip out of +the east end, still reared its tall red-brick spire. On to the square +outside the Huns directed a short afternoon hate at 3.30 punctually +every day, reaching their target with wonderful precision, but doing +little harm except when, as on May 9th, they employed incendiary +shells. When baths and the disinfecting of trench-soiled clothing were +required, the men marched to <span lang="fr">Nieppe</span>, and wallowed in the famous vats, +where Mr. Asquith, one day arriving unexpectedly, found himself +cheered by a multitude of naked and steaming soldiers. From there it +was but a short walk to <span lang="fr">Armentières</span>, that centre of the great world, +where Perrier water champagne and other delights could be obtained, +where in a luxurious tea-room you were waited upon by female +attendants of seductive aspect, and where two variety entertainments, +the "Follies" and "Frivolities," were on view most nights. The ugly +industrial town had then been little injured by shells, though every +now and then it received its share. The Huns sometimes playfully +directed against it French 220's captured at <span lang="fr">Maubeuge</span>, and to point +the witticism sent over a few duds inscribed <span lang="fr">'<i>Un Souvenir de +Maubeuge</i>.'</span></p> + +<p>So passed seven weeks during which we learned the routine of war under +singularly favourable conditions.<a href="#toc">(Back to Contents)</a></p> + + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page019" name="page019"></a>(p. 019)</span><a id="chap4" name="chap4"></a><h3>CHAPTER <abbr title="4">IV</abbr></h3> + +<h4>ON THE MOVE AND IN CORPS RESERVE</h4> + + +<p>During the first week in June the three Brigades left their own +quarters and exchanged trench sections. The 145th moved from the +centre to the left, to the joy of the Warwicks, whose losses had been +considerable. While this move was in process the Battalion was taken +out of the wood, and marched to huts at Korte Pyp, on a plateau with a +wide prospect on the southern slopes of <span lang="fr">Neuve Église</span> Hill. The site +was admirable, the huts well-built and commodious, and (rarest of +sights in the rich cultivation of Flanders) a good-sized grass field +was at hand sufficiently level to make a decent cricket pitch. Here +for four days we were free of fatigues, were inspected by the new +<abbr title="General Officer Commanding">G.O.C.</abbr> of the Division, Major-General Fanshawe, enjoyed the sun, and +endured a violent thunderstorm. Thence returning to the wood we +sampled White Lodge, the Warwick's home under the steep wooded bluff +of Hill 63, where the rats made merry among the dirt and unburied +food; also <span lang="fr">La Plus Douce</span>, a pastoral but dangerous spot, where the +Douve flowed muddily amidst neglected water-meadows stretching along +to <span lang="nl">Wulverghem</span> with its battered church tower showing among the trees. +On the opposite slope were two broken farms called <span lang="fr"><abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Quentin</span> and +South Midland, wherein lay great quantities of abandoned tobacco, +while all around were the tarnished scabbards thrown away by <span lang="fr">De +Lisle</span>'s cavalry during the fighting at <span lang="fr">Messines</span> of the previous +October.</p> + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page020" name="page020"></a>(p. 020)</span><p>On June 15th the whole Battalion returned to the trenches, and held a +total length of 1,450 yards, stretching from our old right, Trench 37, +across the <span lang="fr">Messines</span> road to a ruined cottage, close by which our +trenches were carried over the Douve by a wooden bridge. Our line was +thus drawn in a curve right round the south of <span lang="fr">Messines</span> Hill, which +twinkled with points of fire at every morning 'stand-to' from the +tiers of trenches which honeycombed its face. Contrary to +expectations, the centenary of Waterloo passed without incident during +this tour, in spite of the Huns' reputed fondness for such +celebrations.</p> + +<p>At this time we were fortunate in having with us our 5th Battalion for +instruction, who had come out about a fortnight before with the 12th +Division, and there were many meetings of friends, both among the +officers and the men.</p> + +<p>We then returned for the last time to our familiar haunts in the wood, +where we found the wild strawberries, which we had watched creeping +timidly out of the earth, ripening everywhere in countless numbers. +Meanwhile the 12th Division abode in billets in <span lang="fr">Armentières</span> and +<span lang="fr">Nieppe</span>, and rumours grew strong that they would take over from us. The +secret was well kept, but on Thursday morning, June 24th, as the +Company Commanders were on their way to visit the Worcester trenches +they were recalled by orderly with the news that the Battalion was +moving to <span lang="fr">Bailleul</span> that night. The evening was hot and steamy, the men +soft from lack of exercise and sleep, and the 8 miles seemed +interminable. We arrived at <span lang="fr">Bailleul</span> about 1 a.m., and billeted in the +quarter adjoining the railway station. For the first time since +leaving England I slept in a bed with sheets in a room to myself.</p> + +<p>A fierce thunderstorm next day had failed to clear the air, when we +set out again about 9.30 p.m. <span class="pagenum"><a id="page021" name="page021"></a>(p. 021)</span>in an atmosphere of clinging dampness. +The whole brigade marched together with our faces turned south towards +unfamiliar country, and just before daybreak we arrived at <span lang="fr">Vieux +Berquin</span>, a village of detached farmhouses with gardens full of all +manner of fruit and vegetables. Here a dozen crosses with a smaller +black cross painted on the wood testified to the presence of the +Bavarians last autumn. That night, with the moon about the full, +though often obscured by clouds, the brigade made a long and weary +march south-west, edging gradually away from the flares and the +distant rifle shots. Towards midnight we had a long check at <span lang="fr">Merville</span>, +a placid little town with tree-planted boulevards along the banks of +the <span lang="fr">Lys</span>, while Canadian guns and transport passed us going north from +their second great fight at <span lang="fr">Festubert</span> and <span lang="fr">Givenchy</span>. Day had broken and +the sun was climbing an eastern sky ribbed with red and gold, when we +reached our destination, the village of <span lang="fr">Gonnehem</span>, which boasts an +ancient and beautiful church decorated with a quiet simplicity not +often found in these parts. No enemy had entered here since the +beginning of the war. It stands at the southern limit of the great +plain; beyond are the low wooded hills of <span lang="fr">Artois</span>, and away to the west +the great slag heaps of <span lang="fr">Marles-les-Mines</span> loomed through the thunder +clouds like pyramids. That Sunday evening we completed our last stage +of 4 miles by daylight, moving south-west again to the large +industrial village of <span lang="fr">Lapugnoy</span>, with a station on the <span lang="fr"><abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Pol</span> railway +5 miles west of <span lang="fr">Béthune</span>, lying in a valley overlooked on either side +by densely-timbered hills.</p> + +<p>Here, withdrawn 10 miles behind the line and comfortably housed, we +spent 17 days in a succession of drills, route marches and wood +fighting. We were now in the 1st Army and behind the southern +extremity of the then British line. From the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page022" name="page022"></a>(p. 022)</span>calvary above the +village the eye rested on many famous landmarks: the great cathedral +of <span lang="fr">Béthune</span>, untouched by the Hun, the church of <span lang="fr">Givenchy</span>, the slag +heaps of <span lang="fr">La Bassée</span>, and the low ridge of <span lang="fr">Aubers</span>, which barred the road +to <span lang="fr">Lille</span>, a dim frame in the background. We visited <span lang="fr">Béthune</span>, a +gracious little city girdled about with poplars, limes and chestnuts, +where most things could be bought, including the latest English +novels. The Guards had their Headquarters in the town, and impressed +everyone with their physical fitness and splendid discipline. We +consumed a morning waiting on the <span lang="fr">Lillers-Béthune</span> road to see Lord +Kitchener drive past in a motor; we watched the Indians going up to +the trenches in motor 'buses, and a motley crew of picturesque French +Colonials going by train to <span lang="fr">Souchez</span>: Zouaves, turbaned and bearded, +Algerians, with thick-lipped niggers from Congo and Senegal, who ran +along the open trucks shouting and gesticulating. On July 11th a +memorable meeting took place between the 1st and 4th Battalions in a +field near <span lang="fr">Fouquières-lès-Béthune</span>, where they spent the day together. +This momentary gathering of so many brothers, relatives and friends on +active service gave the greatest pleasure to all. In the improvised +sports which ensued the men of the 1st Battalion beat the 4th at a +tug-of-war, while in the officers' tug the result was reversed. The +1st Battalion were at this time commanded by Captain Bird, as their +late <abbr title="Commanding Officer">C.O.</abbr>, Major Hill, had been killed not many days before by a shell +which demolished the Headquarters' mess at <span lang="fr">Cuinchy</span>.</p> + +<p>The next evening found the brigade on the move again, through the +mining villages of <span lang="fr">Marles-les-Mines</span> and <span lang="fr">Bruay</span>, to a wretched hamlet +called <span lang="fr">Houchin</span>, where the only accommodation provided for the +battalion was a field of standing rye ripe for the scythe. When day +broke we found ourselves <span class="pagenum"><a id="page023" name="page023"></a>(p. 023)</span>in a desolate country with the high naked +ridge of <span lang="fr">Notre Dame de Lorette</span> shutting out the southern horizon. Here +in shelter of boughs and waterproof sheets we spent three days of +great discomfort under pouring rain and wind, employed day and night +in digging a reserve line some 4 miles away. As we worked near +<span lang="fr">Sailly-Labourse</span> we gazed with curiosity at an arid gentle slope some 2 +miles away, pitted by trenches and crowned by an elaborate iron +structure with two towers. This ground was the scene of the main +British attack on <span lang="fr">Loos</span> two months later, and the building was the +famous Tower Bridge. The squalid little town between <span lang="fr">Houchin</span> and +<span lang="fr">Sailly</span>, at whose busy coal-mine the enemy intermittently threw shells, +was <span lang="fr">Noeux-les-Mines</span>, where Lord French had his forward headquarters +during the fighting. But even then there was an abundance of the sound +of battle, for on the second evening a furious cannonade burst out to +the south-east, which signalled the recapture by the enemy of <span lang="fr">Souchez</span> +Cemetery: the last scene in that terrific fight which had endured +almost incessantly since May 9th.</p> + +<p>The day on which we went on the trek again (July 16th) was long +remembered. We had expected in due course to go into the trenches +somewhere near Grenay, but it suddenly became known that the brigade +was to march back to the neighbourhood of <span lang="fr">Lillers</span> preparatory to +entraining for an unknown destination. Half the battalion that day had +done their daily trip to <span lang="fr">Sailly</span> and came back about 4 p.m., after +marching 8 miles and digging for four hours. At 9 p.m. we moved off in +driving rain for an all-night march of 15 miles. The brigade transport +was in front, and checks were naturally frequent as we retraced our +steps through <span lang="fr">Bruay</span> and <span lang="fr">Marles</span>, +thence on to <span lang="fr">Burbure</span>, where our guide +misled us through a narrow inky lane, in which most <span class="pagenum"><a id="page024" name="page024"></a>(p. 024)</span>of the Brigade +lost touch. Just as the dawn was breaking and our troubles seemed +nearly over our guide again mistook the way, and we found ourselves +bogged in a cart track at the top of a down. The rain and hail +descended in a sudden most violent squall and wetted us to the skin; +while far away in the east the morning flares twinkled for 30 miles in +a great arc. One of the signallers was heard plaintively to remark as +we waited, 'What 'ave we done to deserve all this?' Finally we +descended into <span lang="fr">Lières</span>, a pleasant remote village in a fold of the +chalk, full of cherry trees, and slept peaceably till noon.</p> + +<p>After a day's rest we marched on Sunday afternoon, July 18th, to <span lang="fr">La +Berguette</span> station, on the <span lang="fr">Hazebrouck</span> line west of <span lang="fr">Lillers</span>. Here we met +detachments of our old friends of the wood, the L.R.B., who, reduced +in strength to 70 men during the <span lang="fr">Ypres</span> fighting, had been put on lines +of communication. We knew by now that our journey would take us to +<span lang="fr">Doullens</span>, a sub-prefecture of the <span lang="fr">Somme</span>, and that we were to take over +a portion of the French line. So back again in the cattle trucks and +second-class carriages, the Battalion moved off south under far more +pleasant circumstances. The rate of speed, too, was comparatively high +and can hardly have fallen short of 15 miles an hour.</p> + +<p>We reached our destination as usual in the early hours of the morning, +and after unloading drew out of the town, passing on the right the old +Citadelle with its red ramparts high upon a hill, and the point of +elderly Territorials at the junction of the great <span lang="fr">Amiens</span> road. Thence +we followed the south bank of the <span lang="fr">Authie</span> River, enclosed on either +side by rounded chalk hills 400 or 500 feet high. We breakfasted by +the road opposite the Château of <span lang="fr">Autheuille</span>, where Major Barron and +his M.T. lived luxuriously for many months 11 miles behind the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page025" name="page025"></a>(p. 025)</span>firing +line; then plodded on past Sarton, where the 5th Gloucesters watched +us from their billets, and finally bivouacked in the beech woods of +<span lang="fr">Marieux</span>. Close by was the site of the French aerodrome, now deserted +save for empty petrol tins; down in the valley, <span lang="fr">Mon Plaisir</span>, an +enormous country house was being prepared for the Headquarters of the +7th Corps; in the orchards were parked two batteries of long French +155's. The roads were encumbered with the impedimenta of two armies. +We were starting on another stage of the great adventure, and felt +again to a lesser degree the uncertainty of essaying the unknown.<a href="#toc">(Back to Contents)</a></p> + + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page026" name="page026"></a>(p. 026)</span><a id="chap5" name="chap5"></a><h3>CHAPTER V</h3> + +<h4>RELIEVING THE FRENCH AT <span lang="fr">HÉBUTERNE</span></h4> + + +<p>After 36 hours in the wood we packed up again and moved by night +through <span lang="fr">Authie</span>, afterwards most familiar and welcome of rest billets, +passing <span lang="fr">Coignieux</span>, where the French gunners, sitting by their fires in +the horse lines, called out greetings, and ascended the northern hill +to <span lang="fr">Bayencourt</span>, a stinking little village full of flies and odours.</p> + +<p>By now the enemy had apparently got wind of the coming of the English +(which was first confirmed, according to prisoners, by the discovery +of English bullets fired at their trenches), for during the next few +days aeroplanes flew constantly over the village at a great height. In +a field close by a French 75, which moved with a circular traverse +round a platform of greased wood let into a small pit, endeavoured to +arrest their progress with a wonderfully rapid barrage, and to throw +them back into the area covered by the next gun. Its adjutant had +spent several years in a solicitor's office at Ealing, and spoke +excellent English.</p> + +<p>Our ultimate destination was now the sector of <span lang="fr">Hébuterne</span>, which had +leapt into prominence on the occasion of the successful French attack +on <span lang="fr">Touvent</span> Farm, June 12th, but was now, from all accounts, peaceful +enough. The 5th Gloucesters and 4th Oxfords were the two first to go +into the trenches, where the French received them with enthusiasm, +putting fresh flowers in all the dugouts, and writing up everywhere +greetings of welcome.</p> + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page027" name="page027"></a>(p. 027)</span><p>My brother (Captain G. H. W. Cruttwell) went before us into +<span lang="fr">Hébuterne</span> +with part of B Company to relieve the guards of the 93rd Regiment +posted round the village, a ceremony more interesting and impressive +than the relief of the trenches by reason of its greater formality. He +dined with their officers afterwards, and was presented, as a farewell +gift, with the best mattress in the village. The rest of the battalion +started after sunset on July 22nd, passing a battalion of Frenchmen +returning by half platoons from the trenches, and marched into +<span lang="fr">Hébuterne</span>, a most interesting example of the ruined village organised +for defence, situated 600 yards only behind the front line trenches. +It was destined to be our forward billet for many months, and to +become as familiar to us in the smallest details as our own homes. A +somewhat detailed description will therefore perhaps not be without +interest.</p> + +<p><span lang="fr">Hébuterne</span> was a good-sized village of about 1,000 inhabitants, on no +highway but the converging point of many small roads, lying in a very +slight pocket of the rolling chalk plateaux of <span lang="fr">Artois</span>, surrounded on +every side by the orchards of the local bitter cider apple, with a +village green in the centre, and a pond surrounded by tall poplars. +The length of the village was about 900 yards, and its average breadth +about 500 yards. Almost every house was a one-storied farm of three to +four rooms, with considerable outbuildings of mud and plaster, capable +of accommodating in close billets one or two platoons. There were no +large houses, the so-called château on the <span lang="fr">Bucquoy</span> road being a very +moderate mansion, and, apart from it, the rectory, mairie, the mill by +the pond used as Brigade Headquarters, and the pleasant villa called +<span lang="fr">Poste Cambronne</span>, alone stood out in modest prominence. There were very +few inns, the largest of which bore the touching and appropriate sign, +'<i>A la Renaissance</i>.'</p> + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page028" name="page028"></a>(p. 028)</span><p>At the south end of the village stood the church, a broken gaping +shell of red brick with imitation marble pillars; it was afterwards +razed to the ground by the sappers, who required its bricks and +perhaps thought it too good a range-mark to exist so near their store.</p> + +<p>When we arrived we found, to our surprise, two civil inhabitants +clinging to their ruinous homes; one who held some vague post of +authority called himself a <span lang="fr">Garde Champêtre</span>; another, an aged crone, +suddenly emerged cursing from her hovel to expostulate with me for +unwittingly stealing her peas and young carrots. They were cleared out +immediately after our arrival. The flight of the remainder had been +evidently precipitate. Not only had beds, tables, and all bulkier +pieces of furniture been abandoned, but knives, forks, crockery and +many little china ornaments. The village had been reoccupied after a +stubborn fight in October, 1914, and the enemy pushed well beyond its +uttermost limits. In the western orchards was the large French +cemetery, and hard by that of our own division, adjoining a cricket +pitch, where we had many spirited games of tip and run.</p> + +<p>Though naturally much broken up, with perhaps a dozen houses left +intact, the village had never been so populous in days of peace. Not +less then 3,000 troops lived there above or below ground, including +the brigadier and at least three battalion commanders. That portion of +the village which lies north of the pond had been made into a +fortified redoubt known as the Keep, the garrison of which was the +equivalent of one battalion, whose <abbr title="Officer Commanding">O.C.</abbr> lived in the <span lang="fr">Poste Cambronne</span>, +a much desired residence until an 8.2 shell demolished its upper story +in December. Very few shells indeed ever fell in the Keep until the +beginning of 1916, the chief targets being the pond and the area round +the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page029" name="page029"></a>(p. 029)</span>church. The village was fortunate in being practically screened +from direct observation by a slight rise in ground between it and the +enemy, and the indirect machine gun fire which raked the streets at +odd intervals was curiously ineffective, for the majority of shots +went high, though on occasions one had to abandon respect and lie flat +in the mud, until the shower was overpast.</p> + +<p>We sampled all corners of the village—the Serre Cross Roads, where +the rain came through the roof and the machine gun bullets through the +wall of our crazy billet; the château, with its broken conservatory, +its fig tree, Christmas roses, and what we believed to be the only +arm-chair in Northern France; 'D' Farm, where Private Meads, our first +casualty in the village, was killed by a 4.2-inch just outside the +window; and 'B' Farm, with its collection of plates and ornaments +amassed on the first morning before most of the village was out of +bed. Battalion Headquarters were first in the house on the +<span lang="fr">Mailly-Maillet</span> road, afterwards appropriated by the Brigade, who +hollowed out for themselves great caverns in the earth: then in the +little house by Serre Cross Roads, where the owners had chalked up an +appeal to the French to take care of their newly-weaned calf; and +finally in the factory by the pond, where shells through <abbr title="Quartermaster">Q.M.</abbr> Payne's +bedroom and the gate posts drove them, too, underground, and led to +the erection of an enormous bulwark of sandbags 15 feet high, to +protect the mess.</p> + +<a id="img003" name="img003"></a> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/img003.jpg" width="500" height="463" alt="Map." title=""> +</div> + +<p>The defences of the village were formidable, and when one got to know +them, simple, in spite of the bewilderment caused by a first +inspection of what appeared to be a mere labyrinth. The Keep, as has +been mentioned, was simply a redoubt with trenches facing all points +of the compass, its two points of chief tactical importance being the +Mound, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page030" name="page030"></a>(p. 030)</span>eminently suited for enfilade machine gun fire, and the +barricades which closed the Keep to any enemy already in possession of +the village to the south of the pond. It will be seen, by studying the +map, that the whole of the eastern face of <span lang="fr">Hébuterne</span> was protected by +two lines of defences, outer and inner. The former were 200 to 300 +yards beyond the edge of the houses, and were excellently sited along +a hedge for almost the whole of their length. They were connected with +the first line fire trench by communication trenches about every 100 +yards. The inner defence, running through the orchards, just covered +the village, and was connected both with the outer line and with the +cellars of the houses by numerous communication trenches. Finally the +western exits of the village were commanded by a <span class="pagenum"><a id="page031" name="page031"></a>(p. 031)</span>group of trenches +astride the <span lang="fr">Sailly</span> road on rising ground. All this scheme had been +completed by the French before our arrival, and reflected great credit +on both their tactical skill and the energy required in construction.</p> + +<p>When we turned from the village to the trenches we found also many +points of interest and contrast. In <span lang="fr">Artois</span>, unlike Flanders, you can +dig to your heart's content, or, to speak more accurately, you can get +a surfeit of digging. The soil is either a light manageable clay, or +more frequently chalk. Here, then, we met with none of the conspicuous +breastworks of our old home, but fire trenches more than 6 feet deep, +and communicators whose bottoms were 8 or 9 feet below ground level. +Many of the dugouts, moreover, were elaborate caves, large enough to +accommodate 25 men, and capable, with their roofs of logs heaped over +with many feet of earth, of resisting the direct impact of a 5.9-inch +shell. The increase in security was naturally great, and bombardments +which would have destroyed whole trench sections at <span lang="nl">Ploegsteert</span> were +almost ineffective. In the winter, however, under stress of rain and +snow, the dugouts fell in, together with the sides of the trench, +which, from lack of material, could not be efficiently revetted. Then +men sighed for Trench 40, and the little sandbag shelters too small to +collect such quantities of water. But as we viewed them then the +dugouts seemed the last word in luxury; one of those which I inhabited +contained a mattress, two chairs, a table, a large gilt-framed mirror, +some artificial flowers, a portrait of the Czar and his wife, and an +engraving called <span lang="fr">'Le Repos du Marin,'</span> which depicted an old sailor +drinking peacefully under a tree. All would have been well but for the +small game; lice, a legacy from the French, enormous red slugs, which +ate any food which lay about, and left a viscous trail behind <span class="pagenum"><a id="page032" name="page032"></a>(p. 032)</span>every +movement, countless swarms of mice and gigantic rats, some of which +were so bold as to gnaw through the men's haversacks, as they slept, +in search of the food contained therein.</p> + +<p>We naturally examined every detail of these new trenches with minute +interest, and compared English and French models. The first sensation +was of bewilderment. For at <span lang="nl">Ploegsteert</span> we had been content with a +very simple system; wayfaring men, though fools, could scarcely err +therein. But here we had to learn our way about a perfect maze of +trench, where it was easy, or rather inevitable, at first to go wrong, +and, finding yourself enclosed by earth walls towering above your +head, to lose all sense of direction. This difficulty was not lessened +for the men by our retention of all the French names for the trenches, +most of which were christened after their Generals. Such names as +<span lang="fr">Bugeaud</span>, <span lang="pl">Poniatowski</span>, <span lang="fr">Bataille</span>, and the like, were so many pieces of +gibberish which it was hardly possible for a self-respecting English +soldier to pronounce, while <span lang="fr">Boyau, Abri, Feuillée</span> and <span lang="fr">Puisard</span> were not +helpful forms of identification. But anyone who had become familiar +with the labyrinth would at once admit that for purposes of relief and +inter-communication it was far superior to anything he had yet seen.</p> + +<p>Another useful novelty was the systematic use of saps for night-posts. +A sentry in the fire trench will always find his attention distracted +to a certain degree, especially when he is 500 yards from the enemy, +but put him in a sap-head with only a few yards of wire to protect +him, and the acuteness of his vision and hearing will be marvellously +increased.</p> + +<p>On the other hand, in certain points the French trenches fell below +the standards to which we had accustomed ourselves. Owing to their +superiority in artillery, and to the thinness with which they held +their front line, they did not bother to build strong <span class="pagenum"><a id="page033" name="page033"></a>(p. 033)</span>traverses +between the inordinately long fire bays, which were, in consequence, +seriously exposed to oblique gun fire. Again, no attempt had been made +to provide any flooring for the trenches, and the Battalion spent many +happy hours working under the August sun as amateur bricklayers, with +the material ready to hand from the village, in the hope, which the +winter was to bring utterly to naught, of thereby providing a solid +bottom.<a href="#toc">(Back to Contents)</a></p> + + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page034" name="page034"></a>(p. 034)</span><a id="chap6" name="chap6"></a><h3>CHAPTER <abbr title="6">VI</abbr></h3> + +<h4>SUMMER AND AUTUMN IN <span lang="fr">ARTOIS</span></h4> + + +<p>During the six weeks after our arrival the weather was very broken, +with many violent thunderstorms and very little heat. Except for eight +days at <span lang="fr">Sailly</span>, where fear of aeroplanes was fortunately sufficient to +prevent parades, but not cricket in the orchards, we spent all our +time at <span lang="fr">Hébuterne</span>. The Battalion, for the most part, relieved itself +as at Plugstreet, but had no fixed dwelling-place, sometimes extending +as far to the right as Trench <span lang="fr">Bugeaud</span>, half way up the north slope of +the hill of <span lang="fr">Serre</span>, where the ground was littered with the debris and +decomposing bodies of the June fighting, sometimes as far to the left +as Trench Morand, about 300 yards north of where the <span lang="fr">Bucquoy</span> road +crossed the trenches. From <span lang="fr">Morand</span> to <span lang="fr">Hoche</span> the lie of the land was all +in our favour; the trenches were sited just in front of the gentle +rise which covered <span lang="fr">Hébuterne</span>; 500 to 600 yards away, at the bottom of +the dip lay the enemy, about 40 feet below us, and behind him the +ground again rose leisurely and showed its slope towards us for 3,000 +yards, with the hand of the Hun writ large in chalk, revealing his +second and third line with the great covered communication trenches +which connected them. The left of the picture was closed by <span lang="fr">Gommecourt</span> +Wood, of sinister memory, with its pretty little red-roofed village +encased therein, and its gaping cemetery sticking out from the +south-east corner. On the skyline appeared several battered farms, <span lang="fr">La +Brayelle, Les Essarts</span>, and <span lang="fr">Rettemoy</span>, each surrounded by copses and +orchards, and on their <span class="pagenum"><a id="page035" name="page035"></a>(p. 035)</span>right +the <span lang="fr">Bois de Biez</span>, which provided a home +for those thorns in our flesh, the 5.9-inch howitzers. On its right +flank again running down the hill towards us was the <span lang="fr">Bois Rossignol</span>, +where an active battery of field guns made music less tuneful than +that of the bird whence the wood was named.</p> + +<p>Straight in front of Trench <span lang="fr">Bataille</span>, about 900 yards away, stood the +skeleton of the little farm called by the French <span lang="fr">Sans Nom</span>. It was the +favourite point on which every type of gun registered, and the Germans +attached great importance to its bowels, for night after night +hand-carts unloaded there, and men could be heard by patrols talking +and hammering. Much interest and amusement could be obtained from this +panorama with field glasses and telescope. Along the road which ran +obliquely from <span lang="fr">Les Essarts</span> to <span lang="fr">Gommecourt</span> came cyclists, fatigue men, +and occasionally formed bodies of troops, who, when assailed with long +range machine gun fire, extended and advanced in short rushes. One day +two fat Huns carrying a dixie walked along the side of the great chalk +communication trench, who, when Sergeant Daniels fired a shot at 1,200 +yards, dropped their burden and leapt nimbly into the trench. One +morning when Goolden and I were looking through a telescope we noticed +a trestle table being put up near <span lang="fr">Rettemoy</span> Farm: this was followed by +half a dozen German officers accompanied by two ladies dressed in +white, who, after surveying the view, sat down to lunch. We thought +this too good an opportunity to miss, and informed the <abbr title="Forward Observation Officer">F.O.O.</abbr> By +describing this little gathering as a working party, he obtained the +major's permission to fire, and the ladies' meal was soon interrupted +by four rounds of shrapnel.</p> + +<p>Opposite <span lang="fr">Lassalle</span> a shoulder ran out towards the German lines with its +steep northern face covered with dense thickets of thorn, apt cover +for night <span class="pagenum"><a id="page036" name="page036"></a>(p. 036)</span>adventures; this shoulder so restricted our view that from +one trench the field of fire amounted to no more than 10 yards. If +you walked south you passed the <span lang="fr">Puisieux</span> road, opposite which and some +500 yards away was a clump of tall poplars between the lines generally +known as the Seven Sisters. There was a superstition that this was +held by the enemy, but when explored by a daylight patrol of the 5th +Gloucesters nothing was discovered in the nature of defences. South of +the road the line curved south-west into lower ground and became +separated from the opposing trench by 900 yards. From here another +wide prospect unfolded itself, with <span lang="fr">Puisieux</span> 2 miles away, lifting its +white spire from a knoll enclosed on three sides by beech woods. +Behind an occasional wisp of smoke showed that a train was making its +way between <span lang="fr">Achiet</span> and <span lang="fr">Miraumont</span>, whose supply depots were frequently +visited by our bombarding squadrons. A mile to the south the hamlet of +Serre, twice fruitlessly attacked next year, topped a barren and +shell-blown ridge. About this point, notorious for frequent visits +from the earth-shelling aerial torpedo, began the lines of the 4th +Division, once again our neighbours. They were our sister division in +the 7th Corps, which was completed by the arrival at the end of August +of the 37th Division, who after spending some days with us for +instruction relieved the French on our left at <span lang="fr">Fonquevillers</span> and +<span lang="fr">Hannescamps</span>. The commander of the 3rd Army, which was gradually +increased until its line extended to the southern marshes of the +<span lang="fr">Somme</span>, was at this time Sir C. Monro, afterwards Commander-in-chief in +India.</p> + +<p>The month of August passed quietly with us, though rendered notable by +the great German successes in Russia. The fate of Warsaw moved the +enemy to put up notice-boards announcing the event, one of which had +on one side <span lang="de">'Warschau Gefallen,'</span><span class="pagenum"><a id="page037" name="page037"></a>(p. 037)</span> and on the other, apparently +reversable by a string, <span lang="de">'Gott Strafe England.'</span> With commendable +caution, however, they were planted so near their own trench that it +required a field glass to read them. A few days later, when the German +Fleet met with misfortune in the Gulf of Riga, <abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Tester posted a +board with details of that reverse just in front of their barbed wire. +The French batteries remained with us for a month, while our gunners +were registering, and given a free hand in accordance with the British +custom of annoying the enemy incessantly, showed a complete mastery +over him.</p> + +<p>Throughout the night at uncertain intervals their guns threw shells +into <span lang="fr">Gommecourt</span>. It was difficult to believe that the terrible +explosions which resulted were caused by a shell lighter than our 18 +pounders, whose shrapnel burst with an almost inaudible 'pip.' +Practically the only retaliation indulged in by the Germans was to +shell our batteries as they were getting into their gun-pits, though +without serious damage. About the end of the month, however, a serious +misfortune befell A Company, one of whose platoons was half destroyed +by a 4.2-inch, which struck the Brickfields, a dangerous and +conspicuous supporting point. The men had just returned from bathing +in the village, when the shell fell among them, killing five and +wounding nine. At the same spot also <abbr title="Lance-Corporal">Lance-Corpl.</abbr> Boston, of B +Company, was blown to pieces while gallantly remaining out to see that +the working party under his charge had taken cover safely.</p> + +<p>On September 3rd, Captain (now Major, <abbr title="Officer of the Order of the British Empire">O.B.E.</abbr>) Porter, Secretary of the +County Association, spent a night with the Battalion in the trenches, +and was thus able to assure the people of Berkshire, if such assurance +was needed, that its Territorial Battalion was doing its fair share of +the laborious task of holding <span class="pagenum"><a id="page038" name="page038"></a>(p. 038)</span>the British front line. Next day, after +a month's continuous residence in <span lang="fr">Hébuterne</span> or the trenches, we were +relieved by the 144th Brigade. The relief was carried out in daylight, +both Brigades marching boldly along the <span lang="fr">Sailly</span> road, the crest of +which was in clear distant view of the enemy. The two intermediate +communication trenches, <span lang="fr">Larrey</span> and <span lang="de">Jena</span>, some 2,500 yards long, were +not yet sufficiently repaired for our passage. This labour of love was +accomplished by the 5th Sussex, who were attached to the Brigade as +Pioneer Battalion, and lived at <span lang="fr">Sailly</span>. We marched to <span lang="fr">Authie</span>, 7 miles +back, and remained there 12 days; this village was until January to be +the rest billets of ourselves and the 4th Gloucesters for alternate +periods. It lies in the valley of the <span lang="fr">Authie</span> River, between downs of +chalk, beech-covered, which put on beautiful colours as soon as the +first frosts of autumn touched them. The whole countryside is indeed +strangely reminiscent of the Chiltern Hills of Oxfordshire and Bucks. +Battalion Headquarters were at the Château, a substantially-built, +comfortable house under the southern slopes of the hills, belonging to +a widow, <span lang="fr">Madame De Wailly</span>, who lived there with her two daughters. +Most of the best billets were occupied by the elderly heroes of the +<abbr title="Ammunition Ordnance Division">A.O.D.</abbr> and the Ammunition Column, but it is a roomy village, and +accommodated us without difficulty. The measure of its prosperity may +be gauged by the fact that whereas before the war there were three +shops, there were now 27. Our principal work was to make thousands of +hurdles in the <span lang="fr">Bois de Warnimont</span>, which greatly to the men's disgust +mysteriously disappeared as soon as made; for when we indented for +them in the trenches we received no more than 17 for the whole +Brigade. Presumably they went to beautify the corps line, which was +such a model of perfected trench artistry that it seemed almost a pity +that it <span class="pagenum"><a id="page039" name="page039"></a>(p. 039)</span>was never likely to be used. In this wood in company with a +few fallow deer, a Navvies' Battalion lived under canvas, who +performed most useful work in digging flints and repairing the roads. +In age they ranged from 40 to 70, and were a cheery crew, mainly from +Wales. Their notions of military discipline were, as may be imagined, +singular, and it is credibly reported that on one occasion, when +General Fanshawe rebuked a navvy for not saluting him, the offender +beckoned with his thumb towards a pal and exclaimed, ''Ere, Bill, come +and 'ave a look at this.'</p> + +<p>On September 7th General Monro, <abbr title="General Officer Commanding">G.O.C.</abbr> 3rd Army, inspected the +Battalion, who were drawn up in old quarter-column formation with 12 +paces interval in the Berkshire field on the west outskirts of the +village. He was greatly pleased with the appearance of the Battalion, +and in his subsequent address thus expressed his satisfaction:—</p> + +<p>'After hearing what your Divisional General has said of you, I +expected to see a very fine body of men on parade to-day, and I can +assure you—I say so straight out—that I am not in the very least +disappointed. Your bearing as well as your order and steadiness in the +ranks, and the way in which you put your equipment on, all go to show +that you know the right thing, and prove the high standard which you +set before you. I am well acquainted with your 1st Battalion, and have +served with them in this present war. They have lived up to the high +traditions which attach to the regiment, and to the good name which +they have won in the past. You are proud to belong to such a regiment; +you have already reached a high standard, and I hope and believe you +will continue to retain that high standard.... I hear from your +Divisional Commander that you have conscientiously carried out all the +work allotted to you. In the sentry line your vigilance <span class="pagenum"><a id="page040" name="page040"></a>(p. 040)</span>has been +beyond all criticism. You have done good work in all that pertains to +the work of the trenches, digging and so on. Moreover, your conduct in +the village and in billets has been uniformly good.'</p> + +<p>During this stay at <span lang="fr">Authie</span> rumours began to be active. It was +persistently reported that the 'great offensive' would be in full +swing before September was out. Some of the <abbr title="Army Service Corps">A.S.C.</abbr>, who had been +buying coal at <span lang="fr">Marles-les-Mines</span>, reported that the country round +<span lang="fr">Béthune</span> was incredibly thick with guns, while a similar and more +detailed forecast was brought back by officers who had dined with the +4th Divisional Headquarters. Then leave, which had been on more or +less regularly since the beginning of June, was indefinitely stopped. +Thus, though no one yet knew the date arranged for the opening of the +battle, expectations were abroad, and each morning the significance of +any unusual cannonade was eagerly discussed. Amidst such an atmosphere +of uncertainty we relieved the 4th Gloucesters at <span lang="fr">Hébuterne</span> on +September 17th, making the passage from <span lang="fr">Sailly</span> over the brow of the +hill for the first time by the congested <span lang="fr">Boyau Larrey</span>.</p> + +<p>For a few days we lived our ordinary trench life, and helped to +instruct a company of the 13th Manchesters; but on September 21st the +bombardment from the sea to the Vosges opened in our sector, with +short fierce bursts of fire on the enemy villages and roads. On +September 23rd, at 7.30 a.m., a squadron of 21 aeroplanes, spread +loosely over the sky, flew over <span lang="fr">Hébuterne</span> to attack the station of +<span lang="fr">Valenciennes</span>; throughout this day the roar of the guns to north and +south was continuous; as the sun set a fierce thunderstorm came up, +and the rival rumblings and flashes of nature and machinery in the +dusk made a sufficiently lurid prelude for battle. On the 24th it +became generally known that in certain <span class="pagenum"><a id="page041" name="page041"></a>(p. 041)</span>contingent events, carefully +kept secret, the Brigade would attack between <span lang="fr">Gommecourt</span> Wood and the +<span lang="fr">Puisieux</span> road, with the Berks and the Bucks in the leading waves. +Accordingly, the gunners got to work, and the 18-pounders cut three +narrow lanes in the enemy wire (which each night the patient Hun +carefully repaired), while the howitzers played on the forts and +beehive structures in <span lang="fr">Gommecourt</span> Wood and near <span lang="fr">Ferme Sans Nom</span>. It was +far and away their biggest show up to date, but the number of rounds +fired by the Divisional Artillery in the three hottest days was only +5,000, an amount which, by present-day standards, appears ludicrously +small. Meanwhile, two platoons of 5th Sussex, cursing the fortune +which had brought them up again to the trenches, were packed into the +battalion sector to look after our belongings, if we went over.</p> + +<p>Saturday, the 25th, broke wet and misty; the lovely autumn weather of +the past fortnight had gone for good. The gunners were unable clearly +to see their targets, or to mark by the spurt of dry earth the exact +strike of their wire-cutting shrapnel. Through the mist on that most +inappropriate morning appeared a herd of cows and men harvesting +between <span lang="fr">Rossignol</span> and <span lang="fr">Puisieux</span>, not much more than a mile from our +lines.</p> + +<p>During the day a notable series of messages came through from <abbr title="General Headquarters">G.H.Q.</abbr>, +and it seemed at first as if the attack had broken the German lines, +as we identified on our maps those names then unfamiliar—<span lang="fr">Loos</span>, Hill +70, Hulluch, <span lang="fr">Cité <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Elie</span>, and <span lang="fr">Cité <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Auguste</span>—which successive +messages announced as having passed into our hands. Then came the +reports from <span lang="fr">Champagne</span> with their impressive and ever-growing lists of +guns and prisoners. The men were in high spirits, and some of B +Company were heard making bets as to who would take the first German +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page042" name="page042"></a>(p. 042)</span>prisoner. Towards evening, however, the messages spoke only of +violent counter-attacks and ground lost, while it was announced that +the attack of the French Corps on our immediate left had failed +completely. When this message reached Major Hedges in the Keep just as +he was turning in, he summed up our general feeling by his remark: +'Well, I think I can take my boots off now.' Throughout the whole of +Sunday expectation was at its highest pitch, for all believed that if +the general advance was coming it would come quickly. But there was +little positive news beyond the short French statement: 'We have taken +<span lang="fr">Souchez</span>.' Yet in the evening all the last preparations for attack were +hastily carried through. A Berks and a Bucks dump were dug in the +trenches, in which were collected all the engineering material +required for an assault—tools, sandbags, trench bridges and flags for +marking out positions in the captured line. The Brigade Signallers +were busy putting up directions everywhere for the Bucks, who were to +take over the left of our line: and new maps were issued to come into +use at midnight. The night was very disturbed with bursts of rapid +fire, and once a great cheer from the Warwicks at <span lang="fr">Fonquevillers</span>, who +were simulating an attack; while thousands of spent bullets from the +37th Division in the loop north of <span lang="fr">Gommecourt</span> came wearily to rest in +our trenches, several of which struck sentries in the sap-heads +without doing them any harm. Early next morning a British aeroplane +flew very low over the enemy trenches and, as desired, drew heavy +fire, thereby proving them to be full of men, a matter in doubt +before, as they had not responded to our attempts at provocation. But +during the day it became increasingly clear that the great scheme had +failed; for, although a message came from 3rd Army saying 'that in +view of the great Allied successes both north and south it is +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page043" name="page043"></a>(p. 043)</span>possible that the Germans may evacuate their trenches, and in that +case you must be prepared to slip quietly into them at a moment's +notice,' its effect was more than discounted by a simple message which +read: 'Work may now be resumed as usual in the trenches.' The enemy, +meanwhile, appeared to be well acquainted with our plans, for voices +were heard calling out, 'Come on, Bucks, come on, Berks!' 'The Royal +Berks will lead the attack,' while a humorist shouted from the fort at +<span lang="fr">Gommecourt</span>, 'Run away, English; go away home.' The enemy had indeed +good reason to be confident in the strength of these positions, which +twice next year were to defy capture after the most elaborate +preparation. The turmoil of the last few days was now succeeded by a +complete calm in which scarcely a gun spoke.</p> + +<p>On September 30th we were relieved in due course by the 6th +Gloucesters, but went not to <span lang="fr">Authie</span>, which was considered too far +away, but to <span lang="fr">Souastre</span>, a village in the area of the 37th Division, +five kilometres west of <span lang="fr">Fonquevillers</span>. As we approached we were played +into the village by our band of drums and fifes, which had just +arrived from England. Here the Battalion remained for six days in +readiness to move at half an hour's notice, with baggage and transport +reduced to a minimum, before we returned to <span lang="fr">Authie</span> and resumed for +many months to come our customary alternation of trench duty and rest, +though the respective periods were in future lessened from 12 days to +8.</p> + +<p>By our next return to the trenches autumn was already merging into +early winter in this chilly tableland, with sharp night frosts and +thick white mists. For days on end it was almost impossible to +distinguish the hostile lines: and so the guns maintained their +silence, for it was unprofitable to fire where you could not observe, +and our own people <span class="pagenum"><a id="page044" name="page044"></a>(p. 044)</span>had the strictest orders to economise rigorously +until the expenditure of the <span lang="fr">Loos</span> battles had been again made good. +Such weather gave the finest opportunity for patrols, whose wanderings +were made easier by the apparent indifference of the enemy. His saps +and barbed wire were examined more than once, but though hares were +started constantly in the thick tangled grass, only once were his +patrols encountered. On this occasion a party of ten, moving in a +dense fog and pitch darkness along the enemy wire, was challenged, and +a lively fight ensued for a few minutes with rifles, revolvers and +bombs, in the course of which Private A. Gibbs, of D Company, a huge, +stout-hearted soldier, specially distinguished himself. As generally +happens in these blind affrays, there was more noise than damage, and +our patrol, which was considerably outnumbered, made its way safely +back. One man who became separated from his comrades remained, +uncertain of his direction, in No Man's Land for eight hours, until +sunrise showed him his bearings. An officer and sergeant of the 10th +Royal Irish Rifles, who formed part of the patrol, were spending their +first tour of instruction with us in the trenches.</p> + +<p>On October 17th-18th the general calm was rudely broken by the +performance of the Bavarian Circus, a travelling siege train of 5.9's +with a few heavier pieces, which retaliated effectively from the <span lang="fr">Bois +de Biez</span> for our September bombardments. The first day's firing was +directed on the forward billets, <span lang="fr">Hébuterne</span>, +<span lang="fr">Sailly</span> and <span lang="fr">Colincamps</span>, +with short fierce bursts from six or seven batteries firing +simultaneously. Next day it was the turn of the Trenches. On the left +of the battalion sector part of D Company held a little salient +position which enclosed a thicket standing steeply some 12 feet above +the <span lang="fr">Bucquoy</span> road. The enemy apparently believed it to be used for +observation purposes, and frequently directed <span class="pagenum"><a id="page045" name="page045"></a>(p. 045)</span>fire upon it, but in +point of fact it was untenanted by day. On this salient and on its +approaches, a total trench line of about 150 yards, the Bavarians +threw during an hour about 400 5.9's, not to mention smaller shells, +while two field guns galloped into <span lang="fr">Gommecourt</span> Park and unlimbering in +full view fired obliquely at the wire from point-blank range. They +were harassed and eventually forced to retire by the action of <abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> +Coombes, of the Bucks, on our left, who gallantly got a machine gun +into the open and took them in the flank. Our own guns were not +available at the time, as they were themselves engaged in a 'shoot' +and busy on pre-arranged targets. Although the trenches were cut to +pieces and the thicket levelled by the fire, which was of extreme +accuracy, not a single serious casualty was incurred. Captain Thorne +had his Company Headquarters just behind the salient, and his dugout +received several hits, and bulged ominously, but did not give way. All +wires were cut, but were promptly repaired by the Company Signallers +in the heat of the bombardment. Meanwhile, the Oxfords had been +assailed with much greater violence, and over 2,000 shells fell in +their lines; while their communication trenches were barraged with +lachrymatory shells. It almost seemed as if an infantry attack might +be imminent, and colour was lent to this theory by an aeroplane +message saying that what appeared to be gas cylinders were observed +along the enemy trenches between <span lang="fr">Gommecourt</span> and <span lang="fr">Serre</span>. Accordingly we +stood-to all night repairing the shattered trenches and re-erecting +the wire. The hostile infantry who probably disapproved of their +artillery's activity as likely to bring future trouble upon +themselves, made no attempt to hinder with rifle or machine-gun fire +our all-night task. This was by far the heaviest and most concentrated +bombardment which the Battalion had yet sustained.<a href="#toc">(Back to Contents)</a></p> + + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page046" name="page046"></a>(p. 046)</span><a id="chap7" name="chap7"></a><h3>CHAPTER <abbr title="7">VII</abbr></h3> + +<h4>WINTER IN THE TRENCHES</h4> + + +<p>In spite of many rumours of a rest the 48th Division remained in the +line throughout the whole of the winter, and, indeed, as we shall see, +until the spring of 1916 was far spent. Meanwhile, the wastage of the +Battalion was considerable, and was not made good by drafts, whose +total number up to March 1st, 1916, amounted only to 103 men. +Companies, therefore, with a fighting strength of from 90 to 110 men +had to hold (under far more trying conditions) the same frontage +(about 1,400 yards as a rule) which had been allotted to them when at +practically full strength in the summer. It is true that a company of +some New Army battalion was constantly arriving for instruction, but +during the two or three days of their visit they could not relieve our +men of any of the burden. On the contrary, the work and +responsibility, especially for officers and <abbr title="Non Commissioned Officer">N.C.O.</abbr>'s was considerably +increased, and the difficulty of finding accommodation in the teeming +hive of <span lang="fr">Hébuterne</span> for an extra 250 men added to the general +discomfort. A certain amount of change, however, from trench routine +was afforded by the courses now established at the various schools of +instruction behind the line; for instance, one officer and 30 men went +every fortnight to the Brigade Bomb School at <span lang="fr">Sailly</span>, and in spite of +constant shelling found reasonably comfortable billets.</p> + +<p>Although casualties still, happily, remained light, and no officer had +been killed since <abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> Poulton-Palmer, considerable changes took +place during the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page047" name="page047"></a>(p. 047)</span>winter which it is convenient to summarise here. +Colonel Serocold left the Battalion on February 14th, 1916. He had +served with the regiment for 32 years, and had commanded it for +11-½. All Berkshire people know of the affection and respect with +which he was regarded by the regiment, which alone can fully +appreciate the debt they owe to his training and personal example. He +was succeeded by Major (now <abbr title="Lieutenant-Colonel">Lieut.-Colonel</abbr>) R. J. Clarke, +<abbr title="Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George.">C.M.G.</abbr>, +<abbr title="Companion of the Distinguished Service Order">D.S.O.</abbr> The adjutant, Captain G. M. Sharpe, had already left in the +previous October, and was afterwards to command his first Battalion. +In losing him we all felt that we were losing not only an ideal +adjutant, but a personal friend. He was succeeded by <abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> L. E. +Ridley, who was killed next August, near <span lang="fr">Pozières</span>. The two commanders +of A and D Companies, Major F. R. Hedges and Captain H. U. H. Thorne, +came home through sickness about the end of 1915. Captain Thorne +afterwards won distinction in command of the 12th Royal Scots, and was +killed in the Battle of <span lang="fr">Arras</span>, April 9th, 1917, leading the first wave +of assault 'in the old chivalrous way,' as his Brigadier wrote. +Captains W. E. M. Blandy and R. G. Attride assumed command of A and D +Companies respectively. <abbr title="Regimental Sergeant Major">R.S.-M.</abbr> Hanney also left, to our great regret, +and received a commission in the 1st Battalion, where he afterwards +won an <abbr title="Military Cross">M.C.</abbr> His place was filled by the <abbr title="Company Sergeant Major">C.S.-M.</abbr> +(now <abbr title="Quartermaster">Q.M.</abbr>) Hogarth, of +A Company. In fact, after a year abroad, the Battalion lost just a +third of its original officers, and about 400 <abbr title="Non Commissioned Officer">N.C.O.</abbr>'s and men.</p> + +<p>Winter set in early and in its most unpleasant form. During November +there was only one day on which neither rain nor snow fell. The +trenches began collapsing at once; after each heavy storm the +unrevetted sides fell in, and liquid mud, reaching as high as the +thighs, made movement almost impossible; the sump-hole covers floated +away, and in the darkness <span class="pagenum"><a id="page048" name="page048"></a>(p. 048)</span>it sometimes happened that a man would be +plunged in water up to his neck. Many of the saps were entirely +blocked, and at one time it became necessary temporarily to abandon a +portion of the front line. Things would have been better if the floor +of the trenches had consisted of duckboards (for the bricks so +elaborately laid proved mere labour lost), while a proper supply of +revetting hurdles could, by the exercise of a little foresight by +Corps staff, have been made available. The thigh boots, which +gradually arrived in numbers sufficient for men actually in the front +line, went far towards preventing wet feet; whale oil was rubbed in, +and arrangements made in the village for drying 400 pairs of socks +every 24 hours, while the <abbr title="Royal Army Medical Corps">R.A.M.C.</abbr> provided hot baths in the factory +by the pond. Unfortunately, most of the dugouts, after a short +resistance, succumbed to the alternations of frost and torrential +rain. Sometimes the roof and sides collapsed, as the Oxfords found to +their cost when an iron girder killed four men. Sometimes the pressure +of water merely caused leakage, but in either case the result was +eventually the same. The plight of the men without shelter was often +extremely wretched. They lived in water and liquid mud, which mingled +with their food and with the fabric of their clothes. However, it was +found possible to hold the line more thinly, and during the eight days +at <span lang="fr">Hébuterne</span> no man (except the Machine Gunners) normally spent more +than 48 hours in the front line, as only two platoons of each of the +two Companies holding the line composed the trench garrison; the +remainder stayed in the support dugouts. Platoons were relieved every +24 hours and companies every 48. But the spirit of the men remained +unabated, and the rate of sickness surprisingly low; while the mild +open weather of January and February brought about a considerable +improvement in trench <span class="pagenum"><a id="page049" name="page049"></a>(p. 049)</span>conditions. On the other hand, as the winter +drew on the hours of duty in the trenches grew longer and the rests +shorter. For instance, during February the Battalion spent 25 days in +the trenches and only 4 in reserve. Moreover, the former period was +unusually exacting, as we held a more extended front, and the enemy's +guns showed violent and continuous activity; while the rest billets, +<span lang="fr">Sailly</span> and <span lang="fr">Courcelles</span>, +were uncomfortable and frequently shelled.</p> + +<p>It might have been expected that fighting activity would diminish +during this period, but this was far from being the case. Both sides +gradually brought up and permanently established in this sector large +numbers of big guns; the 9.2-inch and 8-inch howitzers, whose first +advent was signalled in the autumn, fired with increasing frequency as +stocks of ammunition accumulated. For several consecutive days in +February, <span lang="fr">Hébuterne</span> received a ration of several thousand shells, and +cases of shell shock made their appearance. During one of these +bombardments Company-<abbr title="Sergeant-Major">Sergt.-Major</abbr> Lawrence, of B Company, was blown to +pieces as he came up from the cellar of the sergeants' mess in the +Keep. Although a man of nearly 45 he made light of every hardship; his +constant cheerfulness and devotion to duty were an inspiration to all. +Intense bombardments of short trench sections also became more common, +as the art of raiding, first practised by the Canadians at <span lang="fr">Messines</span>, +developed. The 6th Gloucesters were the first Battalion in our +division to indulge in this amusement in November, 1915, when they +successfully penetrated the German lines at south-east of <span lang="fr">Gommecourt</span> +Wood. Our Battalion took neither an active nor a passive part in such +operations during the winter; their turn was to come, as will be +related, on May 16th.</p> + +<p>Small encounters between patrols, however, were <span class="pagenum"><a id="page050" name="page050"></a>(p. 050)</span>not infrequent, as +the enemy showed increased enterprise, and was no longer willing to +surrender tamely command of No-man's Land. On December 14th a patrol +of seven men, on reaching the east end of M hedge, were received with +bombs and machine-gun fire from the sunken road which ran diagonally +between the lines, losing one killed and three wounded. A search party +was organised by Captain Blandy, which succeeded in recovering the +body of the dead man. <abbr title="Lance-Corporal">Lance-Corpl.</abbr> Clayton (afterwards 2nd Lieutenant, +killed on the <span lang="fr">Somme</span>), a member of the patrol, though wounded, most +gallantly volunteered to lead the search party and covered their +withdrawal by throwing bombs. On March 17th, 1916, <abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> Goolden and +<abbr title="Corporal">Corpl.</abbr> V. H. Taylor had the satisfaction of shooting two Germans in a +mist, who were trying to get back through their own wire; and on +returning the patrol picked up an odd assortment of articles, which +sound like an extract from some mad auctioneer's catalogue: (1) a +glass globe full of liquid with a string net round it; (2) a strong +case with powder inside it; (3) six hand grenades; (4) a shoulder +strap, silver braid on red cloth, 169 in gilt; (5) a pair of gloves. +Scarcely a night passed without fresh ground being covered and new +information acquired, which was sometimes of a whimsical character. +Once, for instance, an enemy working was heard conversing entirely in +English, with such phrases as 'Dig that hole deeper,' 'Bring those +stakes along'; one would imagine them to have been a waiters' +battalion. Among the most active patrol leaders were <abbr title="Lieutenants">Lieuts.</abbr> +Gathorne-Hardy, Lund, Downs, Calder and Teed; the two last-named +distinguished themselves by a daylight reconnaissance lasting 3-¼ +hours in the course of which much information of value was collected.</p> + +<p>Nor must we fail to remember with gratitude the three cavalry officers +who were attached to us <span class="pagenum"><a id="page051" name="page051"></a>(p. 051)</span>during the winter for periods of one month: +Captain A. L. Friend and <abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> Ansell, of the 7th Dragoon Guards, and +Captain M. Simmonds, Indian Cavalry. All did their best to relieve the +short-handed company officers, while Captain Simmonds, although a +senior captain, took charge of a platoon, and shared all fatigue +duties with the subalterns of the Battalion.</p> + +<p>When we were back in reserve the various amusements and relaxations, +which a stationary warfare permits, were elaborated for the benefit of +the men.</p> + +<p>Christmas Day was fortunately spent at <span lang="fr">Authie</span>, and the various +companies sat down in comfort in the estaminets to a splendid dinner. +Three pigs had been killed for the Battalion's consumption, a plum +pudding was presented to each <abbr title="Non Commissioned Officer">N.C.O.</abbr> and +man by the <abbr title="Commanding Officer">C.O.</abbr>, and others +arrived from the <i>Daily News</i> Fund. A tin of cigarettes came from +Messrs. H. and G. Simonds', a packet of cigars from the Maidenhead +Fund. Each man received a shirt, muffler, socks and chocolate, the +produce of a fund most energetically collected from Berkshire by Mrs. +Serocold and Mrs. Hedges. The officers spent an equally happy evening +at the château, whose owner, <span lang="fr">Madame De Wailly</span>, kindly provided a room +and all other requisites.</p> + +<p>A Divisional Football Cup was given by the <abbr title="General Officer Commanding">G.O.C.</abbr>, which was competed +for by all units of the 48th Division under Association rules. We were +beaten in the first round by the 5th Gloucesters, who scored the +winning goal just on time, after an exciting game, in which <abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> +Hedges distinguished himself. The 'Varlets' of the 1st/1st South +Midland Field Ambulance, and the Divisional Variety Troupe, of which +Private Cooter (B Company) was a well-known member, performed for our +benefit, and perhaps most attractive of all was Major Barron's +cinematograph entertainment, which was always sure of the warmest +reception.</p> + +<p>Thus the first winter passed in the normal alternations of trench +welfare.<a href="#toc">(Back to Contents)</a></p> + + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page052" name="page052"></a>(p. 052)</span><a id="chap8" name="chap8"></a><h3>CHAPTER <abbr title="8">VIII</abbr></h3> + +<h4>THE NEW TRENCH AND THE RAID</h4> + + +<p>The spring of 1916 was slow in coming. The German attack at <span lang="fr">Verdun</span> had +coincided with a long spell of deep snow and bitter cold. An officer +going on leave at the end of February vividly remembers his +experiences on the frozen roads, and the sight of a column of French +troops of all arms 20 miles long, making their way painfully along the +great <span lang="fr">'Route Nationale'</span> to <span lang="fr">Amiens</span> +to join in the defence of <span lang="fr">Verdun</span>. +But towards the end of March the weather grew warm and genial and the +wild daffodils began to appear in all the fields around <span lang="fr">Sailly</span>. +Meanwhile the preliminaries for the <span lang="fr">Somme</span> offensive became +increasingly significant. The forward villages such as <span lang="fr">Sailly</span> and +<span lang="fr">Bayencourt</span> were cleared of the civil population, and handed over +entirely to the Army. Still more monstrous guns came crawling up, and +in place of the old battery of 60-pounders, the orchard at the western +outskirts of <span lang="fr">Sailly</span>, in the angle of the <span lang="fr">Bayencourt</span> road, harboured +two 15-inch howitzers. Gun-pits and enormous new dugouts were +constructed in <span lang="fr">Hébuterne</span>. The single-line railway which served the +48th and 4th Division with railheads at <span lang="fr">Acheux</span> and <span lang="fr">Louvaincourt</span> was +supplemented by numbers of light lines. Troops grew thick upon the +ground; the 56th Division appeared upon our left, the 31st on the +right, and in May the front held by the Division scarcely exceeded +that allotted to a single battalion during the winter. A 4th Army had +been formed, of which the 48th Division was on the left in the 10th +Corps. Conferences were held by the <abbr title="General Officer Commanding">G.O.C.</abbr> +with <abbr title="Commanding Officer">C.O.</abbr>'s <span class="pagenum"><a id="page053" name="page053"></a>(p. 053)</span>and Adjutants +two or three times a week, while parties were constantly detailed to +witness demonstrations of gas, smoke and flame throwers. At last, +also, the drafts so badly needed and so long overdue appeared in +fairly adequate numbers; in March alone 202 men joined the Battalion +for duty, which brought our total strength up to 874.</p> + +<a id="img004" name="img004"></a> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/img004.jpg" width="500" height="570" alt="Map." title=""> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page054" name="page054"></a>(p. 054)</span><p>Meanwhile +the <abbr title="General Officer Commanding">G.O.C.</abbr> was planning for the execution of the 145th +Brigade a task, which sounds prosaic enough on paper, but which +demanded for its success minute organisation and a high state of +discipline in all concerned—namely, the digging of a forward trench +in front of our own wire. Our line between <span lang="fr">Hébuterne</span> and Serre sagged +back in a westerly direction from Trench Hoche to Trench <span lang="fr">Bouillon</span>, +thereby interposing 800-900 yards between ourselves and the Germans, +with an intervening rise in No Man's Land. This configuration of the +ground presented three obvious defects for offensive operations. It +was impossible for the gunners to get direct observation on the sector +of enemy trench opposite; it meant that troops deploying for the +attack would get out of trenches facing in three directions, and would +have to cross an unnecessary depth of shell-swept ground before +getting to the assault. It was, therefore, determined to straighten +out the line between the two points mentioned above. The battalions +concerned assiduously practised wire-cutting, filing silently through +the gaps, and night-digging. Our Battalion, which was to find the +covering parties, took over the part of the line affected (J Sector, +from <span lang="fr">Serre</span> road to Trench <span lang="fr">Lassalle</span>) a week beforehand, and every +effort was made by means of patrols, two or three of which went out +each night, to locate any forward posts or rifle pits from which the +enemy might get wind of or interfere with the digging of the new +trench. On the night of the 9th-10th April the scheme was carried out +under the direction of Major Clissold (1st/1st Field Company, South +Midland <abbr title="Royal Engineers">R.E.</abbr>'s), an unfailing friend of the infantry, who was killed +in the autumn of 1917. About 1,500 men in all were engaged; the +digging was done by the 4th Oxfords and the 5th Gloucesters, while +covering parties and fatigues were provided by the Bucks Battalion and +ourselves. <span class="pagenum"><a id="page055" name="page055"></a>(p. 055)</span>About six hours were allotted for the completion of the +work, from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. The moon, which was near the full, shone +brilliantly, though at times obscured by clouds, so that there was no +fear of the confusion which arises from darkness, but rather of +detection by the enemy's posts. Soon after 8.30 p.m. A Company, who +were responsible for the protection from the right to the <span lang="fr">Puisieux</span> +road, strung themselves out into groups of three, some 20 yards apart, +about 70 paces in front of the tape which marked the course of the +proposed trench. While Captain Crouch, of the Bucks, was similarly +employed on the left, some of his men, losing touch, ran into the +vision of Hun sentries at the Poplars and were received with shots and +bombs, which caused uneasy anticipations of discovery, happily +unfulfilled. The diggers got to work behind their screen, and ate into +the ground with remarkable speed, for stray rounds of shrapnel, +intermittent sniping, and the constant discharge of Verey lights +throughout the night, suggested that the Hun had some uneasy suspicion +that all was not quite as usual; and indeed it seems almost incredible +that the clash of the tools, the whispered orders, and the movements +of the wiring parties should have entirely failed to strike the ear of +a vigilant sentry at 250 yards. By 2 a.m. the work was almost +finished; nothing remained but to strengthen the parapet of the new +trench and to fill up the spaces between the knife-rests, which +defended it some 40 yards in front, with screw pickets and loose +strands of wire. By 3.20 a.m. all the diggers had returned to the old +line, and the weary covering party, who had lain out for seven tedious +hours, came home to get a hot drink, which they had well earned. Only +15 casualties were reported from the whole Brigade, none of which fell +to the share of our Battalion. The trench was held by a few posts +until dawn and then evacuated. <span class="pagenum"><a id="page056" name="page056"></a>(p. 056)</span>About noon next day an enemy aeroplane +flew along it, and the observer could be plainly seen leaning out and +taking photographs of this mushroom growth. Almost immediately every +battery from <span lang="fr">La Brayelle</span> to <span lang="fr">Serre</span> began to register upon it, and for +weeks it was rendered unwholesome by the constant attention of +artillery and mine-throwers. A poem of <abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> Downs' preserves the air +of mystery in which the whole scheme was so fortunately conceived and +executed.</p> + +<div class="poem10"> +<p>A whisper wandered round<br> +<span class="add1em">Of a plan of the G.O.C's,</span><br> +And figures surveyed the ground<br> +<span class="add1em">In stealthy groups of threes;</span><br> +But the whole Brigade were there,<br> +<span class="add1em">Or pretty well all the lot,</span><br> +When we dug the trench at Never-mind-where,<br> +<span class="add1em">On April the Never mind-what.</span></p> + +<p>The What's-a-names dug the trench,<br> +<span class="add1em">The Who-is-its found the screen,</span><br> +And we mustn't forget to mench<br> +<span class="add1em">The Thingumies in between;</span><br> +The Tothermies built the fence,<br> +<span class="add1em">And the R.E.'s "also ran,"</span><br> +<span class="add1em">For we didn't spare any expense,</span><br> +<span class="add1em">With labour a shilling a man.</span></p> + +<p>There isn't much else to tell,<br> +<span class="add1em">Though the enemy made a song.</span><br> +And tried to blow it to Hell,<br> +<span class="add1em">But got the address all wrong;</span><br> +For you'll find it's still out there<br> +<span class="add1em">In the bally old self-same spot,</span><br> +That trench which we built at Never-mind-where,<br> +<span class="add1em">On April the Never-mind-what.</span></p> +</div> + +<p>After these excitements the Battalion moved back on the 12th, half to +<span lang="fr">Sailly</span>, half to the huts in the park of <span lang="fr">Couin</span> Château, which were +leaky and surrounded by a pathless morass of mud several inches deep. +Here the Battalion was reinoculated, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page057" name="page057"></a>(p. 057)</span>as 18 months had elapsed since +the original dose was injected in the autumn of 1914, and spent its +mornings in Platoon and Company Drill, until its return to J Sector on +the 20th. There was plenty of work and little comfort in the line that +tour. The conditions resembled those of the winter at their worst; in +the new trench, hastily dug and unrevetted, water and mud engulfed the +passer-by to the waist. One afternoon a German was reported to have +got in, and the Adjutant (<abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> Ridley) who happened to be on the +spot, at once organised a bombing party to deal with him, but after +wading laboriously to the point indicated, found that the bird had +flown. Meanwhile, the Huns showed their displeasure by sending into +the sector 500-1,000 shells every day, and casualties were naturally +higher than the normal, including <abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> Duff seriously wounded, and +<abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> Calder shell-shock. No one was therefore sorry when on the 25th +we returned to <span lang="fr">Authie</span>, after an interval of three months, to the great +delight of the inhabitants, and enjoyed the spring for a short while +in that pleasant valley. Before returning to the line the battalion +spent a few days at <span lang="fr">Sailly</span> and <span lang="fr">Couin</span>, furnishing working parties for +<span lang="fr">Hébuterne</span> each night and day. On May 8th we relieved the 4th Oxfords +in G Sector on the extreme right of the Brigade front. This tour was +destined to be memorable in the history of the Battalion. The ground +was entirely new to us, and extremely difficult. All rations and +supplies had to be brought up from <span lang="fr">Hébuterne</span> by communication trenches +more than a mile long and in bad repair. The whole sector had been the +scene of a fierce battle in June 1915, for the possession of <span lang="fr">Touvent</span> +Farm and the outskirts of Serre, and was everywhere cut up by old +disused trenches, French and German, and shell holes, and was still +littered with bones and skulls. Nor was the front line more +attractive; it formed <span class="pagenum"><a id="page058" name="page058"></a>(p. 058)</span>a sharp salient projecting towards Serre, held +by disconnected posts, ill defended, close to the enemy, and joined to +the support line by only two communication trenches, one at each side +of the salient. So vague and difficult of identification was this line +of posts that Captain Cruttwell, when visiting them for the first +time, nearly walked into the German lines while trying to establish +connection with D Company, until warned of his mistake by a shower of +rifle-grenades. The whole sector, indeed, closely resembled the crater +areas, which the experiences of the <span lang="fr">Somme</span> were to render familiar. The +first week in this dreary spot passed uneventfully; the enemy guns and +<span lang="de"><i>minenwerfer</i></span>, the latter of the largest calibre, whose explosion was +deafening, were active, but not unusually so, and up to the 15th the +Battalion could congratulate themselves on an absence of casualties +during the tour. They were to be relieved next day, and it seemed that +the trouble always expected here would be reserved for others. During +the 15th, however, the usual shelling seemed to the two Company +Commanders in the front line—Captain Cruttwell, of B, and Captain +Attride, of D, to be more methodical and to suggest a registration on +all tactical points. Still this impression was not definite enough to +arouse serious foreboding. Up to midnight all was quiet. Then a heavy +bombardment opened upon the 56th Division on the left; our divisional +guns, who were helping to cover that sector, opened at once in +response to the S.O.S. The two anxious Company Commanders felt +convinced that if a raid was intended they would not be the victims of +it. But as soon as our guns were securely switched off on to a false +target, the enemy showed his hand. His guns ceased to play on the 56th +Division and were directed with extreme violence against our front. It +was then 12.30 a.m. on the morning of May 16th; <span class="pagenum"><a id="page059" name="page059"></a>(p. 059)</span>the raid had begun. +It is now necessary, in order to understand its course, to describe +minutely, with the aid of the map, the dispositions of the two +Companies affected. The length of the line was approximately 1,200 +yards; on the right B Company had two platoons in the front line +strung out into seven posts between Nairne and Wrangel, each +containing from six to nine men. Two sections and a Lewis gun team +were in Jones Street, which had been chosen as the main defensive line +in case of attack. The remaining two sections with another Lewis gun +were in <span lang="fr">Caber</span>, and the fourth platoon in Worcester Street. Company +Headquarters were established some 800 yards behind the front line, at +Pimlico, where a platoon of A Company was placed in dugouts <span class="pagenum"><a id="page060" name="page060"></a>(p. 060)</span>at the +disposal of <abbr title="Officer Commanding">O.C.</abbr> Company. The line of D Company on the left stretched +from <span lang="de">Wrangel</span> to <span lang="de">Jena</span>, and was similarly held by two platoons +furnishing eight posts. The supporting platoon on the right was +equally divided between Trench Dominique and Oxford Street; that on +the left was located in the forward end of <span lang="de">Jena</span>. Company Headquarters +were in <span lang="fr">Vauban</span>, and Captain Attride disposed of a reserve platoon of C +Company in Vercingetorix. Further two platoons of C Company which were +returning from a working party in Wrangel when the bombardment +started, were placed in dugouts near Pimlico.</p> + +<a id="img005" name="img005"></a> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/img005.jpg" width="500" height="376" alt="16 May 1916." title=""> +<p>16 May 1916.</p> +</div> + +<p>The plan of the bombardment, which was a masterpiece of method, was as +follows:—From 12.30 to 1 a.m. the whole of our front and supervision +line was bombarded with field guns, 5.9-inch howitzers and +mine-throwers; but the chief intensity of fire was directed at B +Company between Nairne and <span lang="fr">Chasseur</span> Hedge, with the object, which was +practically accomplished, of destroying or burying all the posts +included therein. At 1 a.m. a red rocket was shot up from the enemy +lines, and the fire from Nairne to Wrangel lifted, but fell with +redoubled fury on the support and reserve lines, where every +communication trench and dugout was deluged with shells. At Pimlico, +in particular, 5.9-inch shells were thrown at the rate of 100 a +minute, enveloping it in a dense fog of smoke and fumes, and the +supporting platoon of A Company lost nearly half its strength.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the fire on either flank covered both front line and +support, rendering lateral communication impossible. Thus B Company +was isolated, and the enemy infantry immediately entered. Post No. 7 +opposed their entry, but was overpowered—none of the nine men who +composed it were ever seen again, but the ground about was afterwards +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page061" name="page061"></a>(p. 061)</span>found littered with exploded and unexploded German bombs, showing +that they had fought a good fight. The Germans then divided into two +parties with separate tasks. One party worked along Jones Street +towards the right, some moving in the trench, some along the parados. +They destroyed the left post in Jones Street, but were eventually +checked by <abbr title="Lance-Corporal">Lance-Corpl.</abbr> Cooke with his Lewis Gun team, which, +reflecting the coolness of its commander, kept up a steady rifle fire +when the gun jammed. The Huns then retired and left Jones Street at +the point of entry, after fulfilling what was presumably their job of +protecting their comrades from attack in the rear. For the other +party, working along the fire trench, attacked Posts 6-2 inclusive +from the rear. These posts were in sore straits. Their defences had +been blown to pieces, their rifles damaged, broken or buried, and +their bombs scattered; they had themselves been shaken or buried and +were left defenceless. The story of a survivor from Post 2, who +escaped, will serve as an example. As they endeavoured to extricate +themselves and their weapons from the wrecked post, Germans appeared +behind them and ordered them in English to mount the parapet or they +would be shot. Private Chapman at once tackled an officer with his +fists and, shot by the latter's revolver, died most bravely. Four men +were taken, and one alone escaped. However, 12 survivors in all +reached Post 1, which remained intact and resisted stoutly. Here +<abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> Ward, who was on duty, took charge, and reorganised the 12, +only to find that some were wounded, and that the rifles of the +remainder were useless. Accordingly he withdrew towards Nairne, and +was fortunate to get them back safely, for at one point four Germans +peered into the trench, which was a very deep one, close to the party, +but made off when Ward loosed his revolver at them. +Meanwhile, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page062" name="page062"></a>(p. 062)</span>No. 1 +Post, under <abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Holloway, a brave soldier from Abingdon, facing +both to front and rear, drove back all the enemy who approached them +with rifle and bombs, and effectively staved off their progress +towards Nairne, where the position was secured by a post of 13th West +Yorks (31st Division) which was promptly moved to the left in answer +to <abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> Ward's request. The support platoon was organised for +defence in <span lang="fr">Caber</span> by <abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> Field, who remained with his men though +seriously wounded. Here he was found by <abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> Gathorne-Hardy, who, +with his usual contempt for danger, had volunteered to go up from +Company Headquarters to re-establish connection, which had been broken +within five minutes of the commencement of the bombardment.</p> + +<p>While B Company was being attacked, fire was still directed with +violence on the front line of the left Company, and continued until +1.40 a.m., when it also lifted on to the support and reserve areas. +The damage here had been mainly confined to Posts 1-3, where all the +men had been killed or buried; at Post 1 five men were saved by the +systematic and collected courage of Private Appleby (4749), who dug +them out one after the other. At Post 3, Captain Boyle and <abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> +Pitman dug out <abbr title="Lance-Corporal">Lance-Corpl.</abbr> Sargeant and the other men, being +disturbed during the operation by the appearance of a German on the +parapet, whom they shot and wounded. <abbr title="Lance-Corporal">Lance-Corpl.</abbr> Sargeant was no +sooner extricated than he collected bombs, and returned to his post +only to find two wounded comrades being hauled off by a party of +Germans. They received his bombs into their midst and ran back into +the darkness behind <span lang="fr">Chasseur</span> Hedge, where their supports were waiting. +Meanwhile, Posts 4 and 5 remained intact and full of fight. Singing in +the intervals between firing:—</p> + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page063" name="page063"></a>(p. 063)</span><p class="add1em">'Pack up your troubles in your old kit-bag,<br> +<span class="add4em">And smile, smile, smile,'</span></p> + +<p>they held off the enemy, who could be dimly seen filing through their +wire and forming up outside in three lines, distinguished by white +armlets. Post 5 soon received a reinforcement of some 20 men under +<abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> V. H. Taylor, who came up from Oxford Street. They had been +summoned by <abbr title="Corporal">Corpl.</abbr> Page, a most gallant Wokingham man, who volunteered +to go back through the fiery curtain of the barrage, which task he +accomplished without harm. No further attack was made upon D Company, +which escaped with comparatively light casualties. Captain Boyle was +afterwards awarded the <abbr title="Military Cross">M.C.</abbr> for the skill and coolness with which he +organised the defence of his sector, and <abbr title="Corporal">Corpl.</abbr> Sargeant the Military +Medal. The bombardment continued unabated until 2.45, and then ceased +suddenly with the first light of dawn. The ruinous state of the +trenches made daylight movement difficult and dangerous, as the enemy +fired rifle grenades continually at broken points in the communication +trenches, causing several casualties among men who were not quick +enough in running the gauntlet. In spite of such difficulties all the +wounded were evacuated by 10 a.m., though in some cases it took four +hours to get the stretcher from the front line to the dressing station +in the village. The losses had been heavy, amounting in all to 98, of +whom 18 were killed and 29 missing; of these B Company supplied 60, +thus losing half of its fighting strength. Many hours were spent next +night by parties left behind after the relief of the Battalion in +search of the missing, who afterwards were almost without exception +reported as prisoners of war. This eventful night was the last spent +by the Battalion in the trenches for five weeks; the 48th Division, +which had established a record for an unbroken length of service in +the line, was being withdrawn <span class="pagenum"><a id="page064" name="page064"></a>(p. 064)</span>into Army Reserve. Thus the Battalion +came through their first serious test, and were not found wanting. The +praise which Colonel Clarke bestowed next day at <span lang="fr">Couin</span> on their +endurance, discipline and fighting spirit, was repeated by the +Divisional General and the Corps Commander.<a href="#toc">(Back to Contents)</a></p> + +<a id="img010" name="img010"></a> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/img010.jpg" width="400" height="597" alt="Lieut.-Col. R. J. CLARKE, C.M.G., D.S.O., T.D." title=""> +<p><abbr title="Lieutenant-Colonel">Lieut.-Col.</abbr> R. J. CLARKE, <abbr title="Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George.">C.M.G.</abbr>, <abbr title="Companion of the Distinguished Service Order">D.S.O.</abbr>, <abbr title="Territorial Decoration">T.D.</abbr><br> +<span class="smcap">Commanding From 14 <abbr title="February">Feb.</abbr> 1916 To 13 April, 1918.</span></p> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page065" name="page065"></a>(p. 065)</span><a id="chap9" name="chap9"></a><h3>CHAPTER <abbr title="9">IX</abbr></h3> + +<h4>BEFORE THE BATTLE</h4> + +<p>The day at <span lang="fr">Couin</span> was spent in packing and loading up, a task rendered +easier by the loan from our good friends, 3rd Warwick Battery, of two +<abbr title="General Staff">G.S.</abbr> wagons. Early on the 18th we joined the Brigade at <span lang="fr"><abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Leger</span> and +marched to <span lang="fr">Beauval</span>. The day was very hot. The march was mainly through +narrow valleys, dense with dust. The Battalion were short of sleep, +and very weary, while the sun beat down upon their steel helmets, +which they wore for the first time on the march. None the less, Sir A. +Hunter-Weston complimented Colonel Clarke on the way in which they +marched past him at <span lang="fr">Marieux</span>. <span lang="fr">Beauval</span> was reached at noon, a quiet +little country town, with long shady streets; and the billets were +very good. The fortnight here was spent in route marches, grouping +practices at the range, and platoon and company training in general. +The keen pleasure with which the men turned to drill and small company +schemes after the months of trench monotony was very noticeable. A +splendid compliment was paid to D Company by the Corps Commander, who +met them one day on the march. Stopping their commander, Captain +Attride, he said that he had never seen a finer body of men in France; +that he was proud of them, and that they had every right to be proud +of themselves, for their conduct on the night of the 16th. On the 31st +the Brigade made an early start, rising at dawn and moving off at 4 +a.m. in a bright, fresh, lovely morning, well-suited for <span class="pagenum"><a id="page066" name="page066"></a>(p. 066)</span>the long +march to the <span lang="fr"><abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Riquier</span> training area. The Battalion arrived at their +billets, the small village of <span lang="fr">Maison Roland</span>, some 7 miles north-east +of <span lang="fr">Abbeville</span>, before midday. The inhabitants, who had been unfortunate +in the troops quartered on them just before, showed some hostility, +closing their houses, and refusing to allow the men to enter. All +ill-feeling, however, was rapidly removed. Colonel Clarke had warned +the Battalion to do everything to create a good impression, and when +we left the Mayor sent a letter thanking all ranks for their +behaviour. The whole neighbourhood was a mass of troops rehearsing the +<span lang="fr">Somme</span> battles on specially prepared areas, where officers remarked on +the advantage of being able to move freely without fear of damaging +the crops. Some days in succession were spent in Battalion, Brigade +and Divisional Training, and all learnt by experience how much the +inevitable stagnation and immobility of long-continued trench warfare +dull the initiative and lessen the quickness of mind and body. The +days were strenuous; <span lang="fr">réveillé</span>, as a rule, was at 4 a.m., and work +began at 6 and lasted until 1, leaving the afternoons free, while the +nights were twice begun with Brigade attacks, and finished in bivouac. +But the men enjoyed their time; they grew hard for battle, with supple +limbs and the indescribable thrill of perfect physical fitness. And in +spite of the hard work time was found for recreation; cricket was +played again for the first time since the summer days at <span lang="fr">Hébuterne</span> in +1915, and a Brigade Horse Show created keen interest. In <span lang="fr"><abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Riquier</span> +men from all the Division could foregather in the estaminets, one of +which possessed a much-coveted billiard table, and sometimes it was +even possible to spend a day in the pleasant town of <span lang="fr">Abbeville</span>.</p> + +<p>For the latter part of this training period the Battalion had moved to +<span lang="fr">Gapennes</span>, a village some 6 <span class="pagenum"><a id="page067" name="page067"></a>(p. 067)</span> +miles north of <span lang="fr">Maison Roland</span>, where, as +before, hostility shown at arrival was soon changed to friendliness +and goodwill.</p> + +<p>On June 10th the Battalion set its face again towards the east; and +after two days' long and dusty marching we found ourselves again in +the huts of <span lang="fr">Couin</span>, which next day were exchanged for an undesirable +and filthy bivouac at <span lang="fr">Sailly</span>. The preparations of the last month had +completely changed the aspect of these forward villages, and it was +clear that the time was at hand. <span lang="fr">Sailly</span> was full of camps and dumps; +the bare and desolate slopes to the east harboured tier upon tier of +guns. Reliefs from the Brigade worked day and night without a pause in +<span lang="fr">Hébuterne</span> and the adjacent trenches. When the Battalion took over H. +Sector on the 16th, they found every nook and corner of the trenches +by night filled with parties digging new dugouts and Stokes mortar +emplacements, bringing up gas-cylinders, smoke candles and all the +diverse paraphernalia of the modern offensive; while the enemy's +artillery and machine guns incessantly harassed these suspected +activities. Otherwise, no incident of especial note occurred during +this tour, except a forced landing by one of our machines in front of +<span lang="fr">Puisieux</span>, which drew immediately into the open a mob of inquisitive +Germans estimated at several hundreds. The 24th found the battalion +back at <span lang="fr">Couin</span>, where they were to stay until the fateful 1st July. The +damp, ill-ventilated and crowded huts were responsible for a good many +cases of sore throat and rheumatism. But there was little time to be +sick. In the interval between working parties, bayonet fighting and +wire-cutting, the last and most significant preparations for attack +were made. Blue hearts, the distinguishing mark of the Battalion, were +sewn on to the back of the steel helmet cover, and tin triangles +affixed to the haversack, which was <span class="pagenum"><a id="page068" name="page068"></a>(p. 068)</span>to be worn on the back in +fighting order. It may be of interest to give in detail the equipment +with which the men went into battle. Two sandbags were tucked in front +of the belt; one Mills bomb was in each of the bottom pockets of the +tunic; 50 extra rounds of ammunition were slung in a bandolier over +the right shoulder. In his haversack each man carried one iron ration, +cardigan waistcoat, soft cap, and pair of socks; the waterproof sheet +was folded and strapped on outside, and the mess-tin fastened to the +lowest buckle of the haversack. Every other man carried a pick or +shovel slung; and the Brigade, with a more intimate solicitude, +advised all ranks to carry a pipe, matches and tobacco.</p> + +<p>The bombardment had begun on the 25th, and night after night from the +hilltop at <span lang="fr">Couin</span> watchers saw with exultation and confident +expectation, reflected in many letters, the great shells picking out +the enemy's lines with fire.</p> + +<p>On July 1st the 48th Division were in Corps Reserve, and took no part +in the battle, with the exception of the 5th and 6th Warwicks, who +covered themselves with glory in Serre, though suffering terrible +losses, which included both their commanding officers. The Division +was concentrated for the day round <span lang="fr">Mailly-Maillet</span>, which we reached +about 1 p.m. after numberless checks in the encumbered roads. +Detachments of Indian Cavalry were resting their horses by the +roadside as we passed through <span lang="fr">Bus</span>. The rest of the day was spent in +bivouac in an open field; the guns around fired incessantly, including +a 15-inch close at hand, but no hostile shell fell near. We were about +3 miles west of <span lang="fr">Beaumont-Hamel</span>, where the 29th Division were so +furiously engaged. All the good news of the morning, the taking of +<span lang="fr">Gommecourt</span> Cemetery and of <span lang="fr">Serre</span>, had fired expectation, and the +disappointment was correspondingly bitter when it was known at +nightfall <span class="pagenum"><a id="page069" name="page069"></a>(p. 069)</span>that the 8th Army Corps were everywhere back in their +original front line. Next morning the Brigade received orders to +attack early on the 3rd, their objective being south of <span lang="fr">Beaumont-Hamel</span> +and beyond the Ancre brook, a piece of country which none of them had +seen before. The Brigadier, with the Commanding Officers, tried to get +forward during the day and pick up the lie of the land, but the +shelling, smoke and dust made observation impossible. The Brigade, +therefore, moved up that night to <span lang="fr">Mesnil</span>, a small ruined village 1 +mile behind the line, very much in the dark. As they moved in, many +smelt for the first time the curious fragrant odour of lachrymatory +gas, which seemed to come from the flowers of some wayside garden +until the pricking and watering at the eyes proved otherwise. The +Company Commanders went forward into the trenches to find out what +they could; to their right loomed a great black mass, and they debated +whether it was a hill or a cloud. Suddenly an array of lights and a +flicker of rifle-fire running along the top revealed it as the steep +western slopes of <span lang="fr">Thiepval</span>. A Company was just filing into the +trenches when a rumour was brought by <abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> Hughes that the attack +was cancelled; inquiries were made and its truth confirmed. The +Battalion returned the way it had come and bivouacked again in +<span lang="fr">Mailly-Maillet</span> at daybreak. The men, who had moved out in high spirits, +were greatly cast down by this conclusion. It is, however, a matter +for congratulation that the Battalion was not called upon to make its +first attack under circumstances so unfavourable on positions which +had defied the elaborate preparations which preceded the assault on +July 1st. Next day guns and limbers passed in a steady stream going +south—a sure indication that all efforts were being concentrated in +widening the breach already made. That evening the Battalion returned +to the huts at <span class="pagenum"><a id="page070" name="page070"></a>(p. 070)</span> +<span lang="fr">Couin</span> much depressed at the prospect of taking up +again the drab monotony of trench life after hopes aroused in the last +few days. The weather now became very bad with almost incessant rain, +and we relieved the 5th Gloucesters on July 8th in trenches waist deep +in water, badly damaged by the bombardment, and affording the +depressing view to right and left of the dead of the 31st and 56th +Divisions lying out unburied. Meanwhile a great show of activity was +kept up to foster among the enemy the idea that further attacks were +intended; new stores of smoke bombs were sent up with instructions +when and how to let them off, which were invariably cancelled before +performance. Another assaulting trench was dug by the Brigade, running +some 700 yards south of that already described, for which the +Battalion supplied a small covering party of 50 men, who suffered a +few casualties in the bright moonlight. The weather fortunately +improved, and we were able to hand over the trenches to the 5th +Gloucesters on July 12th dry and in good repair. Next day 100 men went +over to see the 5th Battalion in the <span lang="fr">Bois de Warnimont</span>. Thirteen +months ago they had come to us for their first experience of trench +warfare; this time a small remnant, they were resting from their +attack on <span lang="fr">Ovillers</span>, where every officer except the <abbr title="Commanding Officer">C.O.</abbr> had been killed +or wounded. We were now immediately to follow them into battle, for +next day a fleet of motor-'buses bore us south to the crowded village +of Senlis behind the <span lang="fr">Ovillers—La Boisselle</span> Sector of the <span lang="fr">Somme</span> +front.<a href="#toc">(Back to Contents)</a></p> + + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page071" name="page071"></a>(p. 071)</span><a id="chap10" name="chap10"></a><h3>CHAPTER <abbr title="10">X</abbr></h3> + +<h4>THE JULY FIGHTING AT <span lang="fr">POZIÈRES</span></h4> + + +<p>The successful night attack of July 14th had eaten into the third +German line between <span lang="fr">Longueval</span> and <span lang="fr">Bazentin-le-Petit</span> on a front of some +three miles. The principal British efforts for the next six weeks were +consequently directed towards getting more elbow-room on both flanks. +On the north progress had been greatly hindered by the stubborn +resistance of the German Guards at <span lang="fr">Ovillers</span>, which was not cleared up +till July 11th. Our line now skirted the southern orchards of +<span lang="fr">Pozières</span>, running westwards just north of <span lang="fr">Ovillers</span> and then curving +sharply back to the old front line near <span lang="fr">Authuille</span>. All this sector +was, to our great disadvantage, overlooked and enfiladed by the height +of <span lang="fr">Thiepval</span>; and progress, though steady, was for the most part slow +and heavily bought.</p> + +<p>On this occasion the Battalion was given ample time to view and get +familiar with the ground, as the attack did not take place until July +23rd. Soon after arrival at Senlis the officers went over to <span lang="fr">La +Boisselle</span>. This first sight of the devastated area created the deepest +impression. Afterwards such complete destruction became common enough; +but till then no one had seen a village literally blown away. Not only +the walls, but the very brick dust had vanished; its site could be +fixed only by reference to the map and to the board stating <q class="smcap">This is +<span lang="fr">La Boisselle</span></q>. Every kind of battle-wreckage lay about, including many +dead bodies, ten days unburied in the midsummer heat. But though the +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page072" name="page072"></a>(p. 072)</span>guns had done their work so well, enough remained of the wonderful +fortified labyrinth to suggest the difficulties of attacking troops. +The Battalion moved up by degrees, bivouacking on the 18th east of +<span lang="fr">Albert</span> in support of the Oxfords; and taking over trenches west of +<span lang="fr">Pozières</span> next night from 7th Royal Warwicks. Only two platoons of B +Company held the short front line; which was naturally of a rough and +ready description, shallow and blocked in places by earth or bodies. +The enemy, in hourly anticipation of attack, were very restless; their +infantry, who appeared to be very thick on the ground, sent up showers +of lights and fired at intervals throughout the night hours. Their +guns, mostly 5.9-inch and 8-inch, fired almost incessantly; even a +comparative lull, it was remarked, would have been counted a heavy +bombardment in the old quiet days. Many gas shells were used, mainly +on road junctions and assembly points in the rear. We had only some +seven casualties from this source—our support and reserve companies +moved up or down constantly in accordance with the ever-shifting +situations. Battalion Headquarters remained in a German dugout in <span lang="fr">La +Boisselle</span>. Though tainted by the foul reek from the village, it earned +the admiration of its tenants by its solid and elaborate construction.</p> + +<p>The 21st was a day of great activity, stores were brought up all day, +and the trenches improved for the attack as far as intense enemy fire +would permit. <abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> Downs that night took out a patrol from the +right, who explored the south-west corner of <span lang="fr">Pozières</span> in spite of the +extreme alertness of the Huns, and returned safely with the most +valuable information for which the Anzacs, over whose attacking +frontage the patrol had gone, were most grateful. Everyone was glad to +have them on our flank, for they were splendid men, full of confidence +and keenness.</p> + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page073" name="page073"></a>(p. 073)</span> + +<a id="img006" name="img006"></a> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/img006.jpg" width="500" height="489" alt="Map." title=""> +</div> + +<p>Next day detailed orders were issued for the attack of the 145th +Brigade. The two assaulting Battalions, 4th Oxfords and 5th +Gloucesters, were allotted a frontage of about 500 yards a-piece. The +right flank of the Oxfords rested on the Anzacs at a point some 500 +yards west of <span lang="fr">Pozières</span>. We were in support to the Oxfords, and, +therefore, concerned only with their objectives. To understand the +events of the following day it is necessary closely to study the map. +The irregular curve of Sickle Trench, prolonged along the north side +of the main road, constituted our front line. The Huns held a somewhat +similar line, with a marked southward bulge; the Oxfords had orders to +take the whole <span class="pagenum"><a id="page074" name="page074"></a>(p. 074)</span>of this trench from Point 81 to Point 11. The +difficulties of a simultaneous attack on such a pronounced salient are +obvious, and were increased by the trench running southward from Point +81 for 150 yards, which terminated in a hostile strong point at 97.</p> + +<p>The Oxfords attacked at dawn, but were immediately pressed at both +flanks, and began to be squeezed into the centre near Point 28. B +Company (Captain Aldworth) and C. Company (Captain Lewis), Royal +Berks, had come up the main road under cover of darkness and were +deployed by 3.30 a.m. (summer time), along a tape running east and +west some 250 yards south of the centre of the Oxfords' objective. +Here they waited for information and orders. It was still twilight and +no certain information could be gained. Shots were now heard +intermittently, and wounded men came back, telling, as wounded men +will, contradictory stories. Some said that the Oxfords were wiped +out; others that they had captured the trench. Two men were sent +forward to reconnoitre, and came back to report that the position was +critical. It was now 3.55 a.m.; the day was coming and the enemy +barrage was growing more intense. Captain Aldworth at once ordered the +two Companies to go forward to the assistance of the Oxfords. For this +prompt decision, which undoubtedly secured the success of the whole +operation, and for his bravery throughout, Captain Aldworth was +awarded the <abbr title="Military Cross">M.C.</abbr> The two Companies now advanced into the captured +trench, losing some men en route from shell fire, especially on the +right, where 2nd <abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> Clayton was killed. During the advance B +Company got split in two, Nos. 5 and 8 Platoons being divided by C +Company from Nos. 6 and 7, who entered the left of the trench with +Captain Aldworth. The congestion of the men of the two Battalions in +the centre of the shallow <span class="pagenum"><a id="page075" name="page075"></a>(p. 075)</span>trench was great, and there could be no +security until the flanks were cleared and made good. Point 97 was +soon gained, and <abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> Downs pushed resolutely forward beyond 81, +endeavouring to get in touch with the Australians. He reached the +heavily-wired German second line, which ran north and south through +the outskirts of <span lang="fr">Pozières</span>, but was forced back. Returning with about +20 men from all three Companies he barricaded and secured Point 81, +after killing 11 Germans in hand-to-hand fighting and capturing 2. +Meanwhile, Point 11 was attacked on two sides. When the left of B +Company got into the trench some Germans were still in view running +away towards the left, one of whom Captain Aldworth bayoneted himself. +<abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> Tripp at once followed them up and bombed them out of Point 11 +with the assistance of a party under <abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> Wakeford, who jumped out +of the centre and led them fearlessly over the open to the disputed +place. <abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> Wakeford was shot dead just as he reached his objective, +but his action was entirely successful. By 6 a.m. the situation was +reported safe, and the men still crowded and mixed up, were able to +start consolidating and deepening the trench. At 6.30 a.m. about 200 +men appeared over the brow of the hill on the left, where it dips down +towards <span lang="fr">Ovillers</span>, advancing with fixed bayonets. It was a Company of +the Bucks moving in perfect order and with great fire. As they reached +the trenches east of Point 11 the Huns could be seen coming out of +their dugouts and flying in all directions, many with their hands up. +A Lewis gun from C Company opened on those who tried to bolt back +northwards, but soon stopped, as it was clear that they could not +escape the Bucks. Captain Lewis went up to meet the Bucks officer, and +they decided on Point 11 as a division between the two Battalions. The +morning passed quietly, with no more than intermittent <span class="pagenum"><a id="page076" name="page076"></a>(p. 076)</span>sniping on +both sides, in which <abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Giles accounted for several Huns. Thanks +to the excellent organisation of Captain Attride, parties from D +Company brought up all that was required in the way of bombs, sandbags +and so forth. By 10 o'clock the trenches had been reduced to a decent +order, and the men were able to eat their breakfasts. At noon the +Oxfords, who had been moving away to the right, took over from 81-97; +B Company carried on the line to a large bush near 28, which had +escaped the bombardment, and from there C Company extended to the +Bucks' right flank. This sorting out had scarcely been accomplished +when the enemy started a heavy bombardment, which lasted until 5 p.m. +For the last two hours in particular it was of extreme violence, and +fell chiefly on B Company. Here in the ruinous and improvised trenches +very great damage was done, and more than 50 per cent of the Company +were put out of action. Many of the carrying parties from D Company +had also been hit, and lay in the open. Private C. J. Sadler, from +Wokingham, a Company Stretcher-Bearer, dressed them all, and put them +into shell holes until nightfall. In the performance of these very +brave actions three of his ribs were broken by a shell. He was +subsequently awarded the <abbr title="Distinguished Conduct Medal">D.C.M.</abbr></p> + +<p>Meanwhile touch had been established with the Anzacs. News of their +progress had been sought throughout the day with great eagerness. They +had been seen in the morning by D Company making their way through the +ruins of <span lang="fr">Pozières</span>; and later on the fires which they imperturbably lit +on the captured ground to fry their bacon, had drawn heavy shell-fire +on the whole area. But it was not until the afternoon that a more or +less continuous line was linked up. The violence of the shelling +suggested a counter-attack after dark, which it would be difficult to +repel with the greatly reduced forces <span class="pagenum"><a id="page077" name="page077"></a>(p. 077)</span>available. There was great joy, +therefore, when Captain Aldworth returned from a journey to Battalion +Headquarters at 6.30 p.m. with the news that the Battalion would be +relieved that night by the 5th Warwicks. The two Companies stood-to +from dark onwards, but no attack developed. There was an anxious +moment for C Company when a bomb exploded close to 2nd <abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> Beazley +in the trench. He had just come up to join his Company and was hard at +work digging. A light was sent up and showed the ground in front to be +clear; the bomb had evidently been buried in the trench and went off +when struck by a shovel. <abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> Beazley was fortunate to escape with +some severe bruises. The relief was begun at 10.30 p.m., and the weary +men were able to get a short rest by sleeping in the old German line +south of <span lang="fr">Ovillers</span>. The rest was, however, a very short one, for by +1.30 p.m. next day the Battalion were back in the trenches, which they +had taken over from the Bucks, immediately to the left of their former +line. They were alloted a frontage of about 400 yards, spanning the +head of the shallow valley running down to <span lang="fr">Ovillers</span>; between the lines +ran the almost obliterated tracks of a light railway.</p> + +<p>About 200 yards north of the left of our line a German strong point on +higher ground looked into and enfiladed the whole of the captured +ground, and D Company was ordered to attack it at 1.50 a.m. next +morning. Colonel Clarke was able to make his arrangements direct with +the artillery through Major Todd, the forward liaison officer, much to +their mutual satisfaction. The batteries concerned gave a five-minutes +intensive bombardment with wonderful accuracy in the darkness. This, +however, was the only part of the attack which was destined to go +smoothly, for the enemy replied at once by a furious artillery and +machine-gun fire, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page078" name="page078"></a>(p. 078)</span>causing many casualties, and made it almost +impossible for the attack to develop. One bombing party pushed forward +a few yards, only to lose every man but two from a concentrated shower +of rifle grenades. The Germans, in fact, were in great force, and held +every approach to the strong point resolutely. All chance of surprise +had gone, and the <abbr title="Commanding Officer">C.O.</abbr> therefore refused Captain Attride's request to +be allowed to make a new attack. Indeed, at daybreak the German +bombardment, which had died down, restarted with a violence which kept +on increasing until 5.15 a.m., when a bombing attack was made on 13 +and 14 Platoons at the road barricade. 2nd <abbr title="Lieutenants">Lieuts.</abbr> Taylor and Cooke +(the latter having come up with supports) kept up a hot fire with +rifle grenades and by their action and example drove back the enemy. +<abbr title="Company Sergeant Major">C.S.M.</abbr> Rider, who had joined the Battalion not long before, had the +first opportunity of showing that combination of bravery and capacity +which afterwards earned him a <abbr title="Military Cross">M.C.</abbr> After the counter-attack had been +repulsed there remained only a few hours to hold on until the 5th +Gloucesters relieved us, and we were able to get back to bivouacs near +<span lang="fr">Albert</span> to enjoy a hot meal and fall asleep.</p> + +<p>Such were the fortunes of the Battalion in their first attack. Their +losses for the six days spent under continuous heavy fire were, if +judged by the standards of this present war, very moderate. Three +officers, 2nd <abbr title="Lieutenants">Lieuts.</abbr> Wakeford, Clayton and Teed, were killed, and +three wounded (2nd <abbr title="Lieutenants">Lieuts.</abbr> Down, Taylor and Kenney). The losses among +other ranks amounted to 230, of whom only 27, a singularly low +proportion, were killed. The total number who went into action was +about 650.</p> + +<p>I will close this chapter with a short quotation from the special +order of the day on these operations by Colonel Clarke, whose words of +praise were fully <span class="pagenum"><a id="page079" name="page079"></a>(p. 079)</span>endorsed by the Divisional and the Corps +Commanders.</p> + +<p>'It will be a matter of great pride for all who know or are connected +with the Battalion to hear of the gallant way in which the Company +Officers led the attacks, and the able way in which they handled their +various commands; of the contempt for danger and ready resource shown +by all the <abbr title="Non Commissioned Officer">N.C.O.</abbr>'s, and the bravery, extreme steadiness and coolness +in which the lines advanced across the open to the attack or held the +captured trenches under the heavy machine-gun fire, and during the +counter-attack.'</p> + +<p>The acts of individual gallantry and devotion were many and +conspicuous. Some have already been mentioned in the course of this +narrative, and a full list will be found at the end of the book.<a href="#toc">(Back to Contents)</a></p> + + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page080" name="page080"></a>(p. 080)</span><a id="chap11" name="chap11"></a><h3>CHAPTER <abbr title="11">XI</abbr></h3> + +<h4>REST AND BATTLE</h4> + + +<p>The Battalion stood greatly in need of a respite from fighting. As we +have seen, it had lost rather more than a third of its fighting +strength. It is true that numbers had been practically maintained by a +succession of drafts, but time was required to assimilate these men +into the companies, and to complete their training, which was in some +respects seriously deficient. Conscription had only come into +operation in the spring, and voluntary supplies had fallen very low; +the wastage of the first two months of the <span lang="fr">Somme</span> had therefore to be +made good by men whose average length of service was no more than +three months. Some of them were by no means familiar with the handling +or mechanism of their rifles, and knew nothing about a bomb, while +their marching powers, as tested by the hot July sun and the dusty +roads, fell short of the required standard. The Companies, also, which +had suffered very unequally in the fighting, required considerable +reorganisation, while many fresh <abbr title="Non Commissioned Officer">N.C.O.</abbr>'s had to be created, and made +familiar with their duties as far as the short time available +permitted.</p> + +<p>The Brigade made a long two days' journey from <span lang="fr">Bouzincourt</span>, a crowded +little village west of <span lang="fr">Albert</span>, through <span lang="fr">Beauval</span>, where the inhabitants +welcomed us for one night in our old billets, to <span lang="fr">Cramont</span>. Here, in +glorious midsummer weather the Battalion spent ten days enjoying with +an intense pleasure, after the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page081" name="page081"></a>(p. 081)</span>blasted and featureless battle front, +the peacefulness of a charming village, with green fields and trees, +almost beyond the sound of the guns. The whole of this period was +allotted to Company Training, and many hours were spent in bayonet +fighting and bombing. Every man, indeed, threw at least two live +bombs, a practice which proved of the greatest value in the August +fighting ahead.</p> + +<p>Major Barron's cinematograph and Divisional Band made their +reappearance, to the general pleasure; whilst all clothing received a +much-needed disinfecting from a travelling thresher. The brief +interlude was soon over. On 9th August the Battalion moved back in the +same direction, though a detour caused by blocked roads, lengthened +the return journey to three days. <span lang="fr">Bouzincourt</span> was now the daily target +of long-range guns, and as cellar room was very limited it was thought +prudent for the Battalion to bivouac outside the village on the Senlis +road. The Division was returning to exactly the same sector west of +<span lang="fr">Pozières</span>, where the 12th Division had been operating during our +absence. The difficulties of the uphill advance may be estimated by +the fact that the line had been advanced barely half a mile during +that period. On the night of the 12th, however, our 5th Battalion, +taking the Huns by surprise, won an important success by taking Ridge +Trench or 6th Avenue, at the crest of the long slope, with a view +northward and eastward. This they accomplished at the incredibly low +cost of three casualties. Three platoons of the Oxfords crawled up in +daylight next morning and successfully relieved them without incident. +The remainder of that day passed quietly; the Battalion were in +dugouts round the southern and eastern outskirts of <span lang="fr">Ovillers</span>, in +support to the Oxfords, comparatively comfortable and secure, and +expecting no immediate call. But they were to undergo within 24 hours +by <span class="pagenum"><a id="page082" name="page082"></a>(p. 082)</span>far their severest ordeal since they landed in France.</p> + +<p>The first hint of trouble came at 9.30 p.m. that evening, when a +message from the Oxfords stated that the enemy were trying to bomb +them out of the trench. An hour later the Brigade ordered bombs to be +sent up, and Nos. 1 and 2 Platoons, under <abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> Garside, were sent +forward. It was at that time intended that the Oxfords themselves +should undertake the counter-attack; but <abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Taylor went to the +Oxford Headquarters to maintain close touch between the two +Battalions. At 12.50 a.m. D Company were similarly put by the Brigade +under the orders of Colonel Bartlett, and left with a further supply +of bombs. Colonel Clarke realised that the situation was becoming more +serious, and that further help might be demanded of him, though he was +at present assured that one Company would be sufficient. The other two +Companies were accordingly warned to be in instant readiness, and +Captain Lewis moved C Company out of their dugouts into one of the +communication trenches leading up to the Oxfords' Headquarters, which +were in the line captured by the Bucks on July 23rd. Here they waited +after bombs and a bandolier a-piece had been served out. Two hours +passed in uncertainty. But at 2.50 a.m. an unwelcome message was +received from Colonel Bartlett, asking Colonel Clarke if he would +undertake the counter-attack. The latter most naturally refused, on +the ground that Colonel Bartlett was on the spot, knew the ground +(which our Battalion had never seen), and had his own Battalion with +1-½ of our Companies. The Brigadier, however, finding that the +Oxfords were not in a position to take the action required, owing to +their losses, made a virtue of necessity, and ordered Colonel Clarke +to do so as soon as possible. It was now 3 a.m.; the Oxford +Headquarters had already told us that 1-½ hours would be quite +sufficient to get the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page083" name="page083"></a>(p. 083)</span>Battalion into its assaulting position. The +attack was therefore fixed for 4.45 a.m., and a 7-minutes barrage +arranged with the artillery. C Company and the remaining two platoons +of A began their journey forward with all speed, though time was found +to give each man his tot of rum before starting. They reached Point 18 +on the place of assembly (which will be remembered as the junction +between Bucks and Berks on July 23rd) about 4.15. Here Colonel Clarke +found the Company Commanders with Captain Pickford, of the Oxfords. +The latter gave them the disastrous information that another hour +would be required to get into position instead of the half hour +previously estimated. Colonel Clarke instantly went back to Oxford +Headquarters to make the necessary alterations with the artillery, and +to secure a barrage commencing at 5.15 a.m. Meanwhile the Companies +doubled up, with C leading and A in the rear. The need for haste was +most urgent, for the day was breaking and the trench was seriously +battered. The men crouched low as they ran, but the Hun probably saw +their heads, for shrapnel was sprinkled along the communication +trench, causing a few casualties. As Captain Blandy (<abbr title="Officer Commanding">O.C.</abbr> A Company) +approached the head of the communication trench in broad daylight, he +looked at his watch and found it was already 5.10 a.m. His remaining +two platoons were waiting for him, lying low in the trench, very +weary, for they had been carrying all night. They got up and followed +along at the rear of the Company. Turning right-handed they entered a +vacant and much-broken fire trench. A man looked over the parapet and +exclaimed: 'There are our boys going over on the right,' These were C +and D Companies. An officer of the Oxfords came along at the moment +trying to straighten things out, but he had no detailed orders, and +did not know where the flanks of <span class="pagenum"><a id="page084" name="page084"></a>(p. 084)</span>the Companies were to rest. +Moreover, there was no barrage.</p> + +<p>Thus the three Companies went over most bravely, in face of almost +certain failure. They had 250 yards of absolutely unfamiliar ground to +cover. The rifle and machine-gun fire was intense, and terribly +accurate. The Huns, having no shells directed at them, stood up in +their trenches aiming deliberately at each man in the broken and +thinning lines. Short rushes were made from shell-hole to shell-hole, +each rush proving very costly in casualties. Few, if any, of the men +got within 100 yards of the enemy. Captain Attride had been wounded in +the body, and Captain Lewis in the thigh, and hardly an officer was +left. It was evident that no bravery or determination on earth could +turn failure into success. The men began, therefore, in accordance +with orders to edge into a shallow communication trench only half +finished, which the 5th Berks had started from their old line to 6th +Avenue. It was a poor shelter, but offered a chance of safe return. +Captain Lewis reached it with his orderly's help, and, though +grievously wounded, was brought back. Captain Attride was shot through +the head as he reached the very edge, and pitched forward dead. He had +commanded D Company for nine months with the greatest tact and +ability; his many friends mourned the best of comrades. Captain Blandy +was shot through the face and blinded for the time while stepping out +of the way of a wounded man lying at the bottom of the trench. Some +men still lay out scattered in shell-holes, not daring to move, for +the Hun still aimed at every living thing, picking off the wounded if +they stirred. After a while a British aeroplane flew low over the +scene, sounding its horn. <abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Page resourcefully lit some flares, +which he had with him, and the pilot flew back. He proved a good +friend in necessity, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page085" name="page085"></a>(p. 085)</span>for +almost immediately our 9.2's opened on 6th +Avenue, the heads of the Huns disappeared, and the survivors made +quickly for the communication trench. One of them, in entering, +stepped on the body of an officer; he turned him over, and saw that it +was Captain Attride. The casualties were naturally very heavy. Besides +those officers already mentioned the killed were <abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> O'Hara (1st +East Surrey Regiment, attached), 2nd <abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> Beasley (whose little son +was presented with the <abbr title="Military Medal">M.M.</abbr> which his father had won by the King when +he visited Reading in March, 1918), and 2nd <abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> Bartram, while 2nd +<abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> Taylor was wounded. He lay out for 48 hours, tended throughout +that time with wonderful devotion by <abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Westall, who well earned a +bar to his <abbr title="Distinguished Conduct Medal">D.C.M.</abbr> This sergeant, the bravest of the brave, when with +the 2/4th next autumn near <span lang="fr">Arras</span>, was last seen in a shell-hole close +to the German wire, during a daylight patrol, laughing at the Huns, +who were firing rifle grenades at him, but has since returned safely +from captivity in Germany. Casualties among other ranks were 140, of +whom 28 were killed and 31 missing, of most, if not all, of whom, I +fear, no news has ever been heard. Failure is often more heroic than +success, and I believe that those who read this imperfect account will +realise that on August 14th the Battalion showed the highest and +hardest form of courage.</p> + +<a id="img007" name="img007"></a> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/img007.jpg" width="500" height="594" alt="Map." title=""> +</div> + +<p>As soon as the high ridge west of <span lang="fr">Pozières</span> had been taken, a +converging movement began upon <span lang="fr">Thiepval</span>, that stubbornly defended +height, which was not to fall until the 27th September. The 48th +Division, facing half left, now began to move towards it from the +south-east, whilst continuous pressure was directed from the west, or +the direction of our old front line. On August 18th the 143rd +(Warwick) Brigade attacked on a line about 1,000 yards north of +<span lang="fr">Ovillers</span>, with their right secured <span class="pagenum"><a id="page086" name="page086"></a>(p. 086)</span>by a bombing attack made by B +Company 4th Royal Berks. The ground round here was one of the grimmest +of crater fields; almost every one of the many trenches which scarred +it being marked on the map as either 'destroyed' or 'much damaged.' +The 143rd Brigade attacked about 5 p.m. The whole course of the attack +was visible to our men holding the front line, who looked over the +parapet cheering and shouting with excitement as the successive <span class="pagenum"><a id="page087" name="page087"></a>(p. 087)</span>waves +moved inevitably forward and disappeared into the German trenches. +Major Aldworth (<abbr title="Officer Commanding">O.C.</abbr> B Company) handled his men with great skill, +capturing 27 prisoners and a machine gun, and driving many of the +enemy into the hands of the 6th Warwicks. Confused and fierce fighting +went on until midnight; attack and counter-attack succeeding each +other as either side received fresh supplies of men and bombs, but B +Company finally held their objectives. The value of the bomb practice +at <span lang="fr">Cramont</span> was evident, for the men threw splendidly. <abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> L. E. +Ridley was killed fighting bravely at the head of his bombing party. +Captains Cruttwell and Lacy, <abbr title="Lieutenants">Lieuts.</abbr> Wix and Smith (3rd East Surreys, +attached), were wounded, the two former while getting their Companies +ready for an expected counter-attack during the night. The remaining +casualties amounted to nine killed and 36 wounded.</p> + +<p>The fighting strength of the Battalion had now been reduced to about +500, but it was to take one last highly successful part in the <span lang="fr">Somme</span> +fighting before being withdrawn.</p> + +<p>The Division had now reached a point about midway between <span lang="fr">Ovillers</span> and +<span lang="fr">Thiepval</span>. A deep and narrow valley separated them from the latter +stronghold, which rose steeply 170 feet above: a line of broken stumps +standing forlornly near the crest line, 1,000 yards away, marked where +the apple orchards had run along the southern outskirts of the little +village. The enemy's positions lay astride this valley, thrust forward +in a pronounced salient towards <span lang="fr">Ovillers</span>. The whole of the Division +were engaged in this attack, the 145th Brigade being in the centre, +with 143 on the right and 144 on the left. The two assaulting +Battalions of the 145th Brigade were 5th Gloucesters on the left and +ourselves on the right. Each Battalion had a frontage of about 300 +yards, our objectives being the point of <span class="pagenum"><a id="page088" name="page088"></a>(p. 088)</span>the salient (79) and its +eastern face, running obliquely across the hill slope towards the +valley on the left (<i>i.e.</i>, from 79-92). The attack was launched at 5 +p.m., heralded by a splendid barrage of three minutes' duration. More +than 50 guns were firing on the Battalion's front alone, and their +accuracy was perfect. The two Companies, A on the left, C on the +right, moved up close behind the barrage, in which they showed +complete confidence. On the right little difficulty was experienced, +the trenches had been ruined, and many of their defenders buried. But +the 8th Royal Warwicks, with whom our own men were to join hands in +the trench running north from 92, were unable to reach their +objectives, thus leaving an open flank. A strong point was therefore +started at once in the heap of debris and scattered earth, known as +Point 91, and a platoon of our old friends, 5th Royal Sussex, came up +with the darkness and helped to dig a communication trench back to our +old front line. No counter-attack developed, though shell-fire from +the usual 5.9's was heavy for 12 hours, and the position was held +securely until relief.</p> + +<p>On the left there was more opposition. The key to the enemy's defence +was Point 79: the trench here, and a collection of dugouts around it, +had been almost untouched by our heavy guns. One of our platoons +rushed up a communication trench leading from their assembly trench to +Point 79, while two others kept pace along the open, one to the right +and one to left. The enemy showed plenty of fight, standing on their +parapets to throw bombs and to fire at the platoon advancing up the +trench, in spite of cross-fire from Lewis guns, which did great +execution amongst them. They delayed, but could not check the advance, +which broke through them into the disputed point. abbr title="Lance-Corporal">Lance-Corpl. Rixon, +of Reading, deserves much of the credit for this success. He <span class="pagenum"><a id="page089" name="page089"></a>(p. 089)</span>was in +charge of the first bombing party in the communication trench. When +they were held up, he sprang on the parapet, and from that point of +vantage directed the bomb throwers, escaping unhurt himself by +singular good fortune. This gallant action subsequently earned him the +<abbr title="Military Medal">M.M.</abbr> Unable to retire under cover, since the available trenches on +either flank were already occupied, the Germans fled back across the +open down the slopes of the hill, affording a target which was not +neglected. Ten only remained to be taken alive, but their dead were +thick on the captured ground. The 5th Gloucesters were already in +their objectives, and the left flank was secured. A section of the +<abbr title="Royal Engineers">R.E.</abbr>'s following closely up helped to put the defences of 79 in order.</p> + +<p>There were now, owing to casualties, no officers with A Company, but +there was no lack of direction or control, thanks to Sergeant White, +an old Territorial of many years standing. He inspired the men with +his energy, and kept them constantly at work, moving up and down +throughout the night under a rain of shells. He was rewarded with the +<abbr title="Distinguished Conduct Medal">D.C.M.</abbr></p> + +<p>The attack had been well planned and well executed, and happily cost +very little life. Thirty one men were killed or missing, and 50 +wounded (including 2nd <abbr title="Lieutenants">Lieuts.</abbr> Garside and Buck). The men were +specially pleased and proud of their success, which had been gained at +the expense of the 5th Grenadier Battalion of the Prussian Guard. The +latter had recently been sent to <span lang="fr">Thiepval</span> after a commendatory speech +from the Kaiser, which, as often, had failed to ensure good fortune. +We were relieved next day by the 74th Brigade, and returned to bivouac +at <span lang="fr">Bouzincourt</span>. The 48th Division, every unit of which had been +engaged at least thrice, was to enjoy a well-earned rest. They +received gratifying tributes to the value of the work achieved. <span class="pagenum"><a id="page090" name="page090"></a>(p. 090)</span>The +Army Commander wrote as follows: 'The Division has fought with only +very short periods of rest since July 1st. Since then it has met and +defeated many different units of the German Army, and has fully +maintained the best traditions of British infantry. This record shows +a high sense of discipline and honour in all ranks.' The Corps +Commander (<abbr title="Lieutenant-General">Lieut.-General</abbr> Jacob) <abbr title="General Officer Commanding">G.O.C.</abbr>, 2nd Corps, in forwarding his +message to General Fanshawe, added his own tribute: 'Will you please +express my gratitude and thanks to all the units under your command +for their devotion to duty, and for the way they have fought and +worked.... All ranks of artillery, engineers and infantry have carried +out their tasks with such spirit and co-operation that the results +have exceeded expectations. You have all done nobly and I congratulate +you and your officers on the way the Division has worked. Your record +in the recent operations is first rate.'<a href="#toc">(Back to Contents)</a></p> + + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page091" name="page091"></a>(p. 091)</span><a id="chap12" name="chap12"></a><h3>CHAPTER <abbr title="12">XII</abbr></h3> + +<h4>UNEVENTFUL DAYS</h4> + + +<p>The Battalion now moved back to <span lang="fr">Bus</span>, that shady village with its white +château so long used as Divisional Headquarters in the old days. Here +General Fanshawe inspected the Battalion, addressed them on their late +exploits, and presented Military Medals to Privates S. Smith and T. +Russell. He spoke of the importance of practising open fighting, which +he said might be the next task of the Battalion, a prophecy which, as +we shall see, was fulfilled when we fought at <span lang="fr">Ronssoy</span> in the German +retreat next April. He added that the responsibility of officers and +<abbr title="Non Commissioned Officer">N.C.O.</abbr>'s would be even greater than that in the late fighting, where +all realised by experience how much depended upon them.</p> + +<p>A short spell of 48 hours in the trenches followed in front of +<span lang="fr">Auchonvillers</span>, facing the coveted spur of <span lang="fr">Beaumont-Hamel</span>, which was to +fall in November. Here we sustained our only casualties during the +month, one killed and one wounded, a happy contrast to August, when +286 men were put out of action. During this tour the Huns loosed a +number of small balloons, which drifted behind our lines, scattering +leaflets. These effusions, written in French for the benefit of the +civil population, commented with brazen and comic impudence on the +action of French aviators in bombing innocent German towns. The German +military authorities, they amusingly remarked, believing that the +French were incapable of such barbarity, thought that the airmen must +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page092" name="page092"></a>(p. 092)</span>have mistaken their objectives. But, no! The origin of these crimes +is now known. They were expressly ordered by M. <span lang="fr">Poincaré</span>, 'the slave +of England.' (This new title for the President is printed in thick +black type.) They are part of a devilish plan, conceived by England to +revive the dying hatred of France against Germany, by forcing the +latter Power to reprisals on French civilians, reprisals which she +would be most reluctant to take. This illuminating specimen of German +psychology deserves, I think, to be recorded.</p> + +<p>The remainder of the month was divided between <span lang="fr">Beauval</span> and <span lang="fr">Candas</span>, a +new village, whose inhabitants, with a curious naiveness, imagined +that the blue hearts, which the Battalion wore as distinguishing +badges, were the hallmark of a dangerous brand of storm-troops, and +signified their desire to have the hearts of their enemies. So strong +was this conviction among them that they locked their houses and +refused us an entry until matters were explained. The barns allotted +to the men were found half full of the produce of the harvest. The +usual work was carried on; new drafts arrived steadily, men of good +quality, but of little experience, though always with a leaven of old +1st/4th men returning after wounds and sickness. A number of new +officers, 17 in all, also joined the Battalion from a variety of +regiments, 5th Norfolks, 4th Northants, 4th Royal Sussex and 10th +Middlesex, no supplies from our own Reserve Battalion being at the +moment available. Further awards also of decorations won during July +and August kept coming through with gratifying regularity, and will be +found in the appendix. Finally the <abbr title="Commanding Officer">C.O.</abbr> +was awarded the <abbr title="Companion of the Distinguished Service Order">D.S.O.</abbr> to the +delight of all ranks, who trusted him implicitly, knew how minutely he +studied their comfort, and how much of their success was due to his +untiring thoroughness in every detail of organisation.</p> + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page093" name="page093"></a>(p. 093)</span><p>October, that +wettest of months, in which the last fires of the <span lang="fr">Somme</span> +flickered out, quenched by the everlasting rain, was spent by us in a +variety of places, mainly well behind the lines, but far from +comfortable. Such was <span lang="fr">Sombrin</span>, 9 miles south-west of <span lang="fr">Arras</span>, where +officers were faced with the unpleasing alternative of sleeping in +barns or in dripping and unboarded tents. Then we revisited <span lang="fr">Souastre</span> +after thirteen months, overlooking the ruins of <span lang="fr">Fonquevillers</span> and the +splintered remnants of <span lang="fr">Gommecourt</span> Wood ravaged by 15-inch shells. Here +again the liveliest activity was manifest. That successful finale to +the year's fighting known as the Ancre Battle had been planned for +October 14th, though owing to repeated postponements it was not +launched until a month later. Again, day after day enormous working +parties descended into <span lang="fr">Hébuterne</span>, some to pursue mining operations +under the <abbr title="Royal Engineers">R.E.</abbr>'s, others to bury cable between the village and <span lang="fr">Sailly</span>. +Two strenuous days (12th and 13th) spent in the trenches immediately +opposite <span lang="fr">Gommecourt</span> cost us 16 casualties. Our line here still bore +witness to the terrible bombardment which had frustrated the efforts +of the 56th Division on July 1st, for long sections of trench then +levelled and rendered impassable had not since been opened out. Every +man not on duty was employed with one or other of the multifarious +details for the expected attack, while on the morning of the 13th +heavy shells were poured upon us, amongst them being many 11-inch. +About this time Major Aldworth left the Battalion, to which he +afterwards returned as Second-in-Command, to attend General Kentish's +school for senior officers at Aldershot. B Company, as we have seen, +did extraordinarily well under his command. The following <abbr title="Non Commissioned Officer">N.C.O.</abbr>'s +were promoted to commissioned rank at <span lang="fr">Souastre</span> for bravery and good +conduct in the field: <abbr title="Sergeants">Sergts.</abbr> Wickens, Ross, Turner, Rogers, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page094" name="page094"></a>(p. 094)</span>Cawley +and Crust. The two latter gained command of B and A Companies +respectively during 1918. These appointments were most gratifying to +officers and men of the Battalion. During the remainder of the month +we moved about from place to place in the neighbourhood of <span lang="fr">Beauval</span> and +between it and the <span lang="fr">Somme</span>. It stands greatly to the credit of the +Battalion's fitness and discipline that not a man fell out during all +those marches in the rain over indescribably miry roads.</p> + +<p>On October 31st an eastward move of the Brigade settled us in a camp +at <span lang="fr">Millencourt</span>, the village on the western hill looking down at +<span lang="fr">Albert</span>, on the fringe of the old battlefields. The fighting had died +down, but an enemy had to be encountered more insidious and more +trying to endurance and moral—namely, the mud and the cold.<a href="#toc">(Back to Contents)</a></p> + + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page095" name="page095"></a>(p. 095)</span><a id="chap13" name="chap13"></a><h3>CHAPTER <abbr title="13">XIII</abbr></h3> + +<h4>IN THE SLOUGH OF DESPOND</h4> + + +<p>After three days at <span lang="fr">Millencourt</span> the Battalion moved forward into that +featureless waste for the possession of which so much blood had been +shed. For 7 miles or more east of <span lang="fr">Albert</span> along both sides of the great +highway to <span lang="fr">Bapaume</span> up the long slope from <span lang="fr">La Boisselle</span> +to <span lang="fr">Pozières</span> +windmill, and down again towards <span lang="fr">Le Sars</span>, the eye would pick out no +natural landmark except a few broken sticks, once trees. The surface +of the country, churned up and scooped out by innumerable shells, was +literally a sea of mud; where water had collected in the hollows it +was deeply stained with green and yellow, the result of gas and fumes. +The cold was coming, but at present was only sufficient to chill the +mud through and through, not to freeze it into hardness. No buildings +were available for the great army echelonned along this area, and few +dugouts; the vast majority of all ranks lived out in rough shelters, +or under the scanty protection of sodden tents. Though the infantry +were glued to their shell-holes the artillery still maintained the +characteristic activity of battle areas: and the few roads and paths +available for transport and communication were their constant targets, +especially during the hours of darkness.</p> + +<p>The Battalion soon found that the hardships to be undergone far +exceeded those experienced up to date. On their arrival at <span lang="fr">Lozenge</span> +Wood (so-called) they took over from the 11th Argyll & Sutherland +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page096" name="page096"></a>(p. 096)</span>Highlanders in the pouring rain a camp which consisted only of one +bivouac sheet per platoon, and eight tents for officers: and any +attempt at improvement was frustrated by the complete absence of +material. Reserve and support lines were alike in affording no shelter +of any kind, and the front trenches were naturally the worst of all, +any part of which was considered to be in good condition if the liquid +mud at the bottom did not exceed a foot in depth. No hot rations could +be brought up, for the cookers could come no nearer than the ridge +behind <span lang="fr">Martinpuich</span>, more than 2 miles away as the crow flies. A +'Tommy's cooker' was served out to each section, but there were no +dugouts in which to use it, and in the open the mud and rain were an +effectual hindrance. The trenches themselves were in the shallow +valley to the north of <span lang="fr">Le Sars</span>, looking across to the last ridge that +defended <span lang="fr">Bapaume</span>, with <span lang="fr">Loupart</span> Wood fringing its crest. On the left +our line was extremely dangerous and weak, for it was enfiladed from +the high ground in the direction of <span lang="fr">Pys</span>; while the extreme left post +in a chalkpit was not only isolated by 300 yards from the next +Battalion, but had close by a covered ravine leading to the German +lines. This post was, in fact, raided by the enemy soon after we had +been relieved. This first tour lasted three days, and considering the +violence and the methodical character of the shelling the Battalion +were fortunate in having only 17 casualties. In addition five cases of +trench feet were reported, for though dry socks were sent up every +twenty-four hours, this could do little to mitigate hardship. It was +rather surprising that the number of cases were so small, for amongst +the men was a large draft of Yeomanry having their first experience of +the trenches.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile a new camp at Lower Wood, about a mile behind <span lang="fr">Martinpuich</span>, +had been started, and we <span class="pagenum"><a id="page097" name="page097"></a>(p. 097)</span>inhabited and improved it during the next +four days. The rain had at last ceased; and the whole country was +enveloped with those dense, clinging mists so characteristic of +<span lang="fr">Artois</span>, which at least had the merit of blinding the artillery's +action.</p> + +<p>On November 16th orders came for the Battalion to make an attack on +the <span lang="fr">Butte</span> of Warlencourt in 48 hours. Accordingly that night they +moved up into the trenches on the east of the <span lang="fr">Bapaume</span> road immediately +facing the <span lang="fr">Butte</span>. This ancient burial place rose steeply in a rounded +hump 50 feet above the surrounding country about 500 yards north-east +of <span lang="fr">Le Sars</span>. Its greyish-white sides were pitted and scarred by +shell-fire, but none the less in its chalky bowels it contained plenty +of dugouts filled with machine gunners, who took full advantage of +their dominant position. It had already been reached and even +partially taken, but never held. The attack, however, was cancelled at +the last moment. Everything, indeed, had combined to make success +unlikely. The flanks were not secure, the weather was again thoroughly +broken and the Battalion was very weak in numbers. Although the +nominal ration strength was not much under 700, barely half of these +were available for fighting purposes; in D Company at this time the +average strength of platoons was only 13. In these wretched trenches +the average casualties each day were about six, an apparently small +number, perhaps, but equivalent in a year to twice the strength of a +strong Battalion. The wastage from sickness was also high, while many +of those who carried on in the line were tired almost to the point of +collapse. Nor was there any rest, comfort or security in the camps +behind. There were no fires, no cookhouses, only tents without +floorboards. It was very different from the winter before, when, +whatever the hardships of the line (and they were incomparably +smaller) men could look <span class="pagenum"><a id="page098" name="page098"></a>(p. 098)</span>forward +to a good spell at <span lang="fr">Authie</span> with its +pleasant aspect, its untouched houses, its estaminets, and its +cheerful civilian population. Almost the only thing which could now be +done for the comfort of the men was the institution of a Battalion +Canteen, at which all the articles bought from the Expeditionary Force +Canteen were sold at cost price.</p> + +<p>The weary interchange between camp and trench went on for nearly +another month. Scotland and Chalk Trenches, the same line which had +been taken over after first going forward from <span lang="fr">Lozenge</span> Wood, were +twice revisited. On the second occasion 2nd <abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> Cawley was kept +throughout in <span lang="fr">Destremont</span> Farm with 20 men, and used entirely for +patrol work. This new experiment proved a great success, for on one of +these expeditions, which started from the chalk pit already mentioned +on the left, they came by surprise on a German working party, and +killed about 30 without loss to themselves. Among the many other +troubles in these trenches was the exact knowledge which the Germans +naturally possessed of their few dugouts, which the artillery firing +(as always against captured ground) with great accuracy continually +shelled. On December 8th C Company Headquarters were blown in and +three casualties caused; next day a shell hit A Company Headquarters, +with even more disastrous effect, killing 3 and wounding 6. These +shelters might, it is true, be patched up, but with the earth +liquefying all around and a shortage of material the result was not +likely to be very secure. At last, on December 14th, the Battalion, +now reduced in strength to 540 all ranks, moved back to <span lang="fr">Bécourt</span> Camp, +a mile south of <span lang="fr">La Boisselle</span>. It was a poor place, but situated beyond +the western border of the great waste, and practically immune from +shell-fire. For the greater part of December the Battalion was +commanded by Captain J. H. Goolden, who had returned during +the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page099" name="page099"></a>(p. 099)</span><span lang="fr">Somme</span> +Battles after a long absence with the Brigade and Divisional Staff. +Colonel Clarke was at this time on a month's leave in England, while +Major Battcock had gone sick. Of the original officers who had gone +out in March, 1915, there were now only four remaining: Colonel +Clarke, Captains Goolden and Challoner, with the Quartermaster, <abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> +Payne. The interpreter, M. <span lang="fr">Hénaut</span>, still remained with us, and indeed +stayed on, always cheerful, willing and helpful, the friend of +everybody, until our departure for Italy next November. The casualties +(exclusive of sick) during this year of severe fighting amounted in +all to 779, including 24 officers. As a result of these losses, and +the impossibility of finding adequate local drafts, the Battalion +during the latter half of the year gradually lost its exclusive +Berkshire character, which at the beginning of the war had been its +unique possession.<a href="#toc">(Back to Contents)</a></p> + + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page100" name="page100"></a>(p. 100)</span><a id="chap14" name="chap14"></a><h3>CHAPTER <abbr title="14">XIV</abbr></h3> + +<h4>THE WINTER AND THE GERMAN RETREAT</h4> + + +<p>Christmas was spent in the huts at <span lang="fr">Bécourt</span> with a wild gale blowing; +the festivities and feastings of the previous year at <span lang="fr">Authie</span> were not +possible, but at least the men could congratulate themselves that they +were not in the trenches. On the 28th we moved back through <span lang="fr">Albert</span> to +the village of <span lang="fr">Bresle</span>, which lies just north of the great straight +highway from <span lang="fr">Amiens</span> to <span lang="fr">Albert</span>. Here some houses yet remained, and +contact was re-established with the vestiges of civilisation. The +Brigade, drawn up in a hollow square, was inspected by <abbr title="Lieutenant-General">Lieut.-General</abbr> +Sir W. P. Pulteney, the Corps Commander, and earned his praise. Boxing +competitions, concerts and football matches reappeared in the +intervals of work. A train journey on January 9th took us to Citerne, +a quiet, comfortable village, intact of war, in the French area south +of the <span lang="fr">Somme</span>. The inhabitants were most friendly, accommodation good, +and each officer found a bed at his disposal. The three weeks' respite +from the rigours of the line was the more appreciated as the great +cold had now set in, which was to continue with almost unmitigated +intensity until the middle of April. There was much to be done in the +way of training, for the new platoon organisation had now come into +force. Its object was to make the platoon a self-contained unit of +specialists, with its four sections divided into riflemen, Lewis +gunners, bombers and rifle-bombers. This was obviously to require from +the average man a higher <span class="pagenum"><a id="page101" name="page101"></a>(p. 101)</span>standard +of specialisation than before, and +consequently threw greater responsibility on the platoon and section +commanders. It was, in fact, found impossible during the course of the +1917 campaign fully to attain this ideal, as the time available for +the training of new drafts was not generally sufficient. Another train +journey on January 28th took the Battalion by a circuitous route +through <span lang="fr">Amiens</span>, past <span lang="fr">Villars-Brettoneaux</span> +to <span lang="fr">Hamel</span>, two names destined +next year to become famous in the fighting history of the Australians. +<span lang="fr">Hamel</span> was soon exchanged for <span lang="fr">Cappy</span>, a village high above the southern +bank of the <span lang="fr">Somme</span>, overlooking its great loops, and the widespread +marshes and pools all frozen stiff. Although only about 2,000 yards +behind the trenches from which the French started to the assault of +<span lang="fr">Frise</span> on July 1st, it was not badly knocked about. Houses and barns +were available for billets, but the men suffered considerably from the +cold, as fuel was very scarce, and the frost was now at its height, +the thermometer marking 20 or more degrees of frost every night. Then +followed a few days in the great French Adrian Huts, each holding a +Company, in a camp by the edge of the <span lang="fr">Somme</span> Canal a few hundred yards +further east.</p> + +<p>The month of February passed uneventfully, though unpleasantly, in +alternatives between the trenches west of <span lang="fr">Peronne</span> and <span lang="fr">Cappy</span>. Until the +16th the extreme cold continued unabated, so that all the water which +was brought up in petrol tins each night from <span lang="fr">Cappy</span> froze solidly in +transit. Another result of the severe weather more appreciated by the +men was the hardness of the trenches, which made most of the ordinary +trench fatigues impossible. A thaw, however, set in on the 16th, and a +mist arose over all the country, which lasted for many days, and made +it possible for the enemy to carry out unobserved his plans for the +great retirement. <span class="pagenum"><a id="page102" name="page102"></a>(p. 102)</span>Though further north throughout this very bitter +weather fighting was incessant round <span lang="fr">Miraumont</span> and the approaches of +<span lang="fr">Bapaume</span>, here inactivity prevailed, and the month cost the Battalion +no more than nine casualties. There was also little sickness, and +strength and fitness were well maintained.</p> + +<p>March came in with a return of frost and snow, but the front was +gradually waking into life. It was obviously the German policy to mask +the moment of their withdrawal by lively activity, and their artillery +and machine guns showed considerable vigour. On the other hand, though +the British had not yet realised that the front was about to give +along a stretch of 80 miles it was clear from the events round <span lang="fr">Bapaume</span> +that the enemy had for the first time begun to entertain the idea of +ceding ground voluntarily. Hence raids for purposes of identification +again became frequent. One of these was most successfully carried out +by the Battalion on the night of 7th-8th March without any loss to +themselves. The raiders were under the command of 2nd <abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> +Hampshire, and were divided into three small parties, each of 8 men. +The portion of trench to be entered was shut off by a 'box barrage,' +which, falling on both flanks and on the support line, enclosed it, so +to speak, in a frame of shells. The wire was fully cut, and no +difficulty was found in penetrating the enemy's line, but all the +birds had flown beyond the limits of the barrages on either side. +Accordingly, as no prisoner had been caught, a second attempt was made +at 2.45 a.m. Again an entry was easily effected on the left; the party +worked further down towards the south owing to the enlargement of the +barrage, and finally found a small dugout, which was bombed. This had +the effect of producing two Germans, who were carried off. The object +of the raid thus happily accomplished, Hampshire and his men returned. +The flanks throughout had been <span class="pagenum"><a id="page103" name="page103"></a>(p. 103)</span>strongly held by the enemy, who fired +rapidly but inaccurately, and caused no casualties whatever. The only +effect of this action was to prevent the entry into their trench of +our right-hand party towards <span lang="fr">La Maisonnette</span>, which could not get +through the hostile wire, but returned undamaged. The two +prisoners were found, on examination, to belong to King Constantine's +Own 88th Infantry Regiment, and had their shoulder-straps adorned with +a crown and the letter K beneath. The <abbr title="General Officer Commanding">G.O.C.</abbr> of the Division sent +special congratulations on the success of the whole operation. For +their conspicuous share in this success, 2nd <abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> Hampshire received +the <abbr title="Military Cross">M.C.</abbr>, <abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> A. C. Evans, +<abbr title="Corporal">Corpl.</abbr> H. Hart, <abbr title="Lance-Corporals">Lance-Corpls.</abbr> J. Mazey +and G. W. Hutchings the <abbr title="Military Medal">M.M.</abbr></p> + +<p>Shortly after this the results of the weary and bloody months on the +<span lang="fr">Somme</span> battlefields became manifest. On March 17th-18th the enemy began +his general retreat. The 48th Division was in the forefront of the +pursuit south of the <span lang="fr">Somme</span>. The 1st/7th Royal Warwicks were the first +British troops to enter <span lang="fr">Peronne</span>, and the flag which they planted on +the ruined towers is now carefully preserved and treasured in the +Imperial War Museum. Our Battalion was in reserve at <span lang="fr">Cappy</span> practising +Advance Guards. Open warfare was no longer relegated to the dim and +uncertain future, but became the certainty of the moment. On the +morning of the 20th operation orders were issued which began: 'The +Battalion will move to <span lang="fr">Peronne</span> at 11 a.m.' For the first time since +they went abroad, they could advance unmolested over enemy country. +The weather at last showed a delusive promise of spring, and the sun +shone. Hopes ran high and all were pleased beyond measure to be +leaving the mire and clay for the green untouched country beyond. They +went over the forsaken trenches, crossed the <span lang="fr">Somme</span> by a bridge thrown +over at <span lang="fr">Bézancourt</span> Farm and entered <span lang="fr">Peronne</span>. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page104" name="page104"></a>(p. 104)</span>The little town, after +its long history as a French fortress, after the battle of <span lang="fr">Mont <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> +Quentin</span> and the German occupation of 1870, had now been laid utterly +waste. Few houses had been previously damaged from shell-fire, since +the French gunners had purposely spared the place, but now the +destruction by the hand of the enemy was complete; it had been +organised with the greatest care to make impossible military and civil +occupation. In the suburbs the fruit trees had been felled; children's +toys and all manner of debris, wantonly destroyed, lay about the +streets. The Battalion was billeted in the remains of the barracks, +and was joined during the evening and night by the rest of the +Brigade.</p> + +<p>Next day a march was made south-east along the Cologne Brook, which +was crossed at <span lang="fr">Doignt</span>. The roads were being everywhere busily +repaired, the tall poplar trees which had been felled across them were +being dragged out of the way, the great mine-craters at the crossroads +were being filled up; the whole countryside was alive with labour +repairing the damage for the advancing army. For some days the time +was spent in outpost duty in the old style between <span lang="fr">Peronne</span> and <span lang="fr">Roisel</span>, +and working on the defences which were being provisionally dug, till +touch was fully restored with the Hun, and the limits of his retreat +became clear. On March 24th the 5th Cavalry Division passed by, riding +eastward, a sign of the new conditions of warfare. At <span lang="fr">Flamicourt</span>, one +of the adjacent villages used as billets for the Battalion for several +days, were several interesting signs both of the carefulness of the +enemy and of his hasty departure. In the street outside almost every +house were great heaps of tin and zinc ready to be carted away; at +another court was a pile of copper stripped from our shells. Here, +too, for the first time was seen that inspiring yet most pitiful +spectacle, a number of the civil population released <span class="pagenum"><a id="page105" name="page105"></a>(p. 105)</span>from German +captivity. The proof of victory, they were also an incitement to +vengeance; their faces, from which all life and hope seemed to have +departed, were a testimony to the misery which they had endured for +the last 30 months. Among them were the inhabitants of Tincourt, whom +the Germans, by a refinement of cruelty compelled to halt on the rise +overlooking their homes and there to witness the destruction.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, in the bitter weather that had returned, incessant pressure +was being exerted against the stubborn German rearguards, who were +being gradually pushed eastward towards the much-vaunted defences of +the <span lang="de">Hindenburg</span> Line.<a href="#toc">(Back to Contents)</a></p> + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page106" name="page106"></a>(p. 106)</span> + +<a id="img008" name="img008"></a> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/img008.jpg" width="600" height="453" alt="Map." title=""> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page107" name="page107"></a>(p. 107)</span><a id="chap15" name="chap15"></a><h3>CHAPTER <abbr title="15">XV</abbr></h3> + +<h4><span lang="fr">RONSSOY</span></h4> + + +<p>The beginning of April found the 145th Brigade round <span lang="fr">Villers-Faucon</span> in +support to the other two Brigades who were fighting their way forward +beyond <span lang="fr">Epéhy</span>. On the 4th the Battalion received orders in concert with +the remainder of the Brigade to take the three villages of <span lang="fr">Ronssoy, +Basse Boulogne</span> and <span lang="fr">Lempire</span>. These three lie closely clustered together +at the head of a valley with an undulating rise to the east. It was +arranged to capture them by an encircling movement from the south and +west. Snow fell heavily throughout the 4th, and frustrated all +attempts of the Company Officers who had gone forward to see the lie +of the land. A cold, dense mist wrapped everything in still greater +obscurity when the Battalion moved off from <span lang="fr">Villers-Faucon</span> at 2 a.m. +The narrow sunken lanes, with numerous steep little hills, were +clogged with snow. In spite of this we neither lost direction nor +time, but reached the rendezvous at <span lang="fr">Templeux</span> Wood by 4 a.m. Touch was +obtained with the 8th Warwicks in <span lang="fr">Templeux</span> village, who were +prolonging the attack on the right, and with the 4th Oxfords on the +left. The Companies were silently deployed a few hundred yards east of +the wood. As the fighting was open and no elaborate defences were +expected, each Company had a frontage of 200 yards, and was drawn up +in depth with six waves each of two lines, the distance between the +former being 50 yards and between the latter 25 yards. The village of +<span lang="fr">Ronssoy</span> was 1,600 <span class="pagenum"><a id="page108" name="page108"></a>(p. 108)</span>yards away; between it and the attackers was a +girdle of little woods, still untouched of green, and a number of +small intersecting lanes and ditches. The enemy's outposts, as far as +was known, were about 1,000 yards away, running north-west and +south-east to cover the village. The morning was ideal for surprise, +provided that mistakes were not made in the mist; for that reason no +barrage would be provided unless called for by signal rockets.</p> + +<p>We must now follow the fortunes of the three Companies, who began +their advance at 4.30 a.m. B Company, on the right, had only gone 200 +yards before enfilade fire was directed at them through the darkness +from the slag-heaps on the right. A platoon was detached to deal with +it, and its garrison, fearing encirclement, gave themselves up to the +8th Worcesters, who were coming up on the other side. Another 800 +yards advance disclosed a further obstacle: the wire of the German +outposts with well-manned trenches just behind. A Lewis gun was +brought into action, gaps were cut, a barrage called for, which +descended on the enemy at 5.45 and shortly afterwards the position was +gained without any hand-to-hand fighting. The Company now turned to +its fourth task of protecting the flank of the Battalion, and dug +themselves in on a line just east of the captured slag-heap. A Company +under Captain Challoner, in the centre, also ran into the wire of the +same position rather further north, but were able to break through +without much difficulty. Then, led by Captain Challoner with great +dash and determination, they pushed on rapidly through the eastern +outskirts of the village, seized the cemetery, and there divided. One +platoon joined hands with the 7th Gloucesters, whose successful attack +from the west had put them in possession of the joint hamlets of +<span lang="fr">Lempire</span> and <span lang="fr">Basse Boulogne</span>. The remainder, moving to the right, +occupied <span class="pagenum"><a id="page109" name="page109"></a>(p. 109)</span>a bank 800 yards south-east of the village, which had been +designated beforehand as the left of the new outpost position. This +long advance of 1-½ miles over unknown country with the successful +division of forces just after the assault, when disorganisation is +most wont to occur, reflects the highest credit on all concerned. +Captain Challoner, who kept the firmest grasp throughout, and both +inspired and controlled his men, well deserved the Military Cross +which was awarded a few days later. A fine example of initiative was +shown by <abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Millican, whose Platoon Commander was killed as the +village was entered: taking charge instantly he led his men with +distinction throughout the rest of the fight.</p> + +<p>To D Company on the left fell the lion's share of the fighting and of +the booty. Approaching unobserved almost to the south entrance to the +village, they overwhelmed two hostile posts in the first light of +dawn, killing every man among them and taking two machine guns. Though +their flank was for the moment open, as the Oxfords were held up on +the edge of <span lang="fr">Ronssoy</span> Wood, they burst into the village. Here was the +wildest confusion. No attack had been expected in the wild weather, +and the enemy were in their cellars and dugouts just sitting down to +breakfast. Figures could be seen running about outlined in the snow; +at a corner of the street a sergeant-major was shouting and beckoning +to his men to fall in round him. D Company, wild with excitement, +hunted them through the cellars and lanes and made a great slaughter. +The dead lay all about the streets and in the bombed dugouts. <abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> +Rogers, <abbr title="Officer Commanding">O.C.</abbr> No. 16 Platoon, was reputed to have killed eight himself. +Those Huns who escaped ran pell-mell singly or in groups up the hill +and along the <span lang="fr">Hargicourt</span> road, flinging away their packs, with which +the slope was littered. Captain James, who had led the Company so +gallantly and successfully, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page110" name="page110"></a>(p. 110)</span>got them together and wheeled round to +the east of the village in the chance of exploiting still further the +result achieved. Through the clearing mist a battery could be dimly +seen on the ridge 1,000 yards away limbering up and then disappearing +over the crest, and it seemed possible to advance there, and thus +command a view into <span lang="fr">Hargicourt</span>. Unfortunately at this moment our +barrage, by some unexplained mistake, fell upon the eastern exit of +the village, causing several casualties. Part of the Company, +therefore, made its way to its alloted position in the outpost line. +The remainder cleared up <span lang="fr">Ronssoy</span>, and found all kinds of booty. Soup, +coffee, bread and sausages were all ready in the dugouts and were +consumed by the victors. A mail had just come in, and the letters lay +about unopened. The equipment and packs were examined with keen +interest. Everything was new and of the best material, for the Huns +had just come from Russia, and had been hastily fitted out for the +Western Front. In every pack, in addition to the usual articles, were +a change of underclothing and three pairs of socks. One fortunate +sergeant found a bottle of whisky in a dugout, which was quickly +shared; it was not till afterwards that he discovered that it was not +legitimate loot, but the property of the Brigade <abbr title="Machine Gun">M.G.</abbr> officer, who had +appropriated the dugout and most incautiously left unguarded his +treasure, which he had brought up with him in the attack. At the other +end of the village a lively dispute was going on with the Oxfords, who +were found carrying off the two machine guns captured when the +outposts were rushed. The men were wonderfully excited and delighted +at their achievement, and have always declared since that it was the +best fight they have ever had in France.</p> + +<p>The enemy's artillery had been active throughout the attack, but +ineffective, as it was without direction. <span class="pagenum"><a id="page111" name="page111"></a>(p. 111)</span>It had shelled Brigade +Headquarters and the ground in front of <span lang="fr">Templeux</span> Wood, but had never +overtaken the attack. Throughout the day 5.9-inch shells were poured +into <span lang="fr">Ronssoy</span>, but did no damage whatever, as the men were either in +the unlocated outpost line, or withdrawn well west of the village. A +patrol of C Company managed during the day to get up to the ridge and +look into <span lang="fr">Hargicourt</span>, in front of which the enemy were visible, +digging actively. Once or twice small patrols of Uhlans rode along the +skyline, the first enemy cavalry that had yet been seen. No +counter-attack of any description was attempted, and it was clear that +the enemy rearguards, who were not in great strength, had been +seriously inconvenienced by this surprise capture of their positions. +General Fanshawe, who, as usual, was not far behind, soon came up, and +after going over the village said he had not seen a better day's work +since he had been in France.</p> + +<p>The casualties in officers were heavy, which is explained by their +conspicuous gallantry in leading and directing their commands over the +unfamiliar country. Four were killed or died of wounds; 2nd <abbr title="Lieutenants">Lieuts.</abbr> +Garside, Heppell, Hunt and Bostock; while Captain James and 2nd <abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> +Rogers were wounded. Other ranks escaped very lightly with 9 killed +and 39 wounded.<a href="#toc">(Back to Contents)</a></p> + +<a id="img011" name="img011"></a> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/img011.jpg" width="400" height="549" alt="Lieut.-Col. A. B. LLOYD-BAKER, D.S.O., T.D." title=""> +<p><abbr title="Lieutenant-Colonel">Lieut.-Col.</abbr> A. B. LLOYD-BAKER, <abbr title="Companion of the Distinguished Service Order">D.S.O.</abbr>, <abbr title="Territorial Decoration">T.D.</abbr><br> +<span class="smcap">Commanding From 13 April, 1918 To 1 September, 1918.</span></p> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page112" name="page112"></a>(p. 112)</span><a id="chap16" name="chap16"></a><h3>CHAPTER <abbr title="16">XVI</abbr></h3> + +<h4>TOWARDS THE <span lang="de">HINDENBURG</span> LINE</h4> + +<p>April pursued its bitter way with snow and sleet. The first and +triumphant stage of the Battle of <span lang="fr">Arras</span> was fought on the 9th, when +the enemy was thrust back 5 miles with the heaviest losses in +prisoners and guns which he had yet suffered at the hands of the +British. The repercussion of this violent fighting was felt all along +the British line, and particularly to the southward, where the +positions were still semi-fluid. The enemy's object was to delay as +long as possible in his outposts before the <span lang="de">Hindenburg</span> Line, while the +British endeavoured to push him rapidly upon his main positions, which +would then be open to regular attack. Accordingly, small actions to +seize local tactical features were epidemic throughout the 4th Army +during this month. The Battalion at first rested from its labours in +the village of <span lang="fr">Hamel</span>, its former halting place in January, from 5th to +13th April, when it returned via <span lang="fr">Villers-Faucon</span> to take over from the +Oxfords. The line had by now been consolidated some 2,000 yards east +of <span lang="fr">Ronssoy</span> on the slopes of the hill, the crest of which was occupied +by the German outposts, the key to whose position was the fortified +farm of <span lang="fr">Guillemont</span>. The Battalion was ordered to attack this point +next evening in conjunction with a combined night movement by the +whole Division. The weather was again vile, and wet snow fell +incessantly. The night was pitch dark, and without firing lights it +was impossible to see 5 yards. The attack was due <span class="pagenum"><a id="page113" name="page113"></a>(p. 113)</span>to start at 11.30 +p.m. It was to be carried out by two Companies, C and D. The password +was 'Wilson,' which called to mind the entry of the United States into +the war a few days previously. The Companies arrived punctually after +a march of 2 miles from support, and began to form up for the assault. +While they were doing so, covering parties ahead reported that the +enemy were advancing on the right flank. This was probably a patrol, +but Captain James wisely pushed forward a platoon of D Company to +secure his Company's advance. The enemy disappeared into the darkness, +and immediately telephoned to their artillery, which promptly put a +heavy and accurate barrage on our men who were formed up on open +ground with no kind of cover. This caused 30 casualties, and as the +men were so cold that they could hardly hold, much less fire, their +rifles, it was decided not to proceed with the attack, and they were +withdrawn to the trenches. A second attack, which was proposed for +1.30 a.m., was vetoed by the Brigade. General Fanshawe, when +addressing the Battalion on the 22nd April, said that he was 'fully +satisfied with the effort put forward, and that if it had been +possible to reach the objective the Battalion would have done so.' +<span lang="fr">Guillemont</span> Farm was taken by the 144th Brigade on 24th April. In this +attack our Battalion cooperated after a few days' renewed rest at +<span lang="fr">Hamel</span>, where the immediate awards to officers and men for the fight at +<span lang="fr">Ronssoy</span> were made.</p> + +<p>The attack, on the night of the 24th-25th resolved itself, as far as +the Battalion went, into a demonstration. Apparently owing to the +darkness of the night and the width of frontage allotted to the +attacking Companies, touch was lost with the right Battalion of the +144th Brigade which was enveloping <span lang="fr">Guillemont</span> Farm from the south. As +our rôle was to protect the right flank, and as the attack on <span class="pagenum"><a id="page114" name="page114"></a>(p. 114)</span>the +left was disorganised by shell-fire, the operations came to a +standstill. Dawn arrived before it was possible to sort out the +attackers and to get a fresh Company into position. The two Companies +engaged, A and B, lost only 1 killed and 9 wounded from machine gun +fire. The net result of the attack was that <span lang="fr">Guillemont</span> Farm was taken, +but the <span lang="fr">Quennemont</span> Spur to the south remained in the enemy's hand. The +Battalion next day took over the whole of the front concerned from +Companies of each of the four Battalions of the 144th Brigade. The +relief was long and laborious, as all the Companies were mixed +together and their exact limits uncertain. The enemy, expecting a +renewal of the attack, showed great nervousness, and put down a +counter-preparation three times during the night, but without doing +much harm. This state of anxious expectancy continued during the +remainder of the tour making life the more unpleasant, as the trenches +were as yet improvised, and supplies had to be brought up over the +open. Much patrolling was done to discover the exact position of the +enemy's forward posts, while the snipers of D Company from their +commanding position in <span lang="fr">Guillemont</span> Farm claimed several victims. At +sunset on the 29th the 7th Worcesters relieved us, and we went back +into billets at <span lang="fr">Villers-Faucon</span>. The long winter had ended, and spring +arrived with a burst of sun and warmth. A fortnight's well-earned rest +was now to follow, in which time could be given to refit and to +assimilate the new drafts, which, however, were only sufficient to +bring the total strength, from 600 to 700 men. It was remarked that +although the general quality was good, out of the first contingent of +35, five wore trusses and three others possessed flat feet, varicose +veins or hammer toes.<a href="#toc">(Back to Contents)</a></p> + + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page115" name="page115"></a>(p. 115)</span><a id="chap17" name="chap17"></a><h3>CHAPTER <abbr title="17">XVII</abbr></h3> + +<h4>THE RENEWAL OF TRENCH WARFARE</h4> + + +<p>The great attempts to break through in April had definitely failed +from a variety of causes. The Russian Revolution had rendered +impossible the blow in the East, for which British munitions had for +the first time adequately armed the Russian Armies. The German retreat +had partially disorganised the combined British and French plan. The +failure of Nivelle's great blow at the <span lang="fr">Chemin des Dames</span> on the 16th +April with enormous losses, made the French Armies incapable of any +offensive operation on a large scale for several months. Hence the +Battle of <span lang="fr">Arras</span>, which had begun so happily, degenerated towards the +end of April into a series of furious struggles, each of which showed +less promise of decisive importance than the last. The centre of +gravity shifted to the north, where preparations on a vast scale were +pushed forward for the main attack in Flanders, which opened on 31st +July. Accordingly, the southern sector in which the Battalion +remained, settled down into a normal period of what is called +inactivity.</p> + +<p>The Battalion spent the beginning of May in the ruins of the village +of <span lang="fr">Doignt</span>, now greatly improved since they passed over the blasted +roads on the 22nd March. Here the time passed in the usual training +and recreations, and a Challenge Cup, presented by the <abbr title="Commanding Officer">C.O.</abbr>, was +competed for in inter-Platoon Football Matches. Here, too, an +invaluable thresher installed at <span lang="fr">Peronne</span> disinfected the blankets, +which <span class="pagenum"><a id="page116" name="page116"></a>(p. 116)</span>were in a filthy condition. On the 12th the Battalion, now +under Major Aldworth's command, as the <abbr title="Commanding Officer">C.O.</abbr> was Acting Brigadier, +moved to <span lang="fr">Combles</span>, and entered the 15th Corps area. The old Corps +Commander rode up to the Brigade on the way and expressed his regret +at leaving such a gallant and well-behaved Brigade. The old <span lang="fr">Somme</span> +battlefields were still entirely desolate, the ground was full of +corruption and noxious fumes and littered with the debris of battle. +Far away, on the eastern horizon, a green strip appeared, showing the +limits of the devastation. Next day the march was continued through +the centre of the waste past <span lang="fr">Le Transloy</span> to a capacious camp at +<span lang="fr">Beulencourt</span> on the <span lang="fr">Peronne</span> road, 2 miles south of <span lang="fr">Bapaume</span>. Next day +the Battalion re-entered the line in front of <span lang="fr">Hermies</span>, relieving the +9th Sherwoods, whose <abbr title="Commanding Officer">C.O.</abbr>, Colonel Thornton, came from our 1st +Battalion. Until the end of June our lot was cast in this +neighbourhood with normal periods of trench duty and relief. The line +held by the Brigade stretched south from the great <span lang="fr">Bapaume-Cambrai</span> +road. It was from these trenches that the northern part of the +surprise attack against <span lang="fr">Cambrai</span> was launched on 20th November. The +enemy was ensconced in his <span lang="de">Hindenburg</span> Line, which took advantage of +every undulation in the bare tableland. The villages in our +occupation, <span lang="fr">Hermies, Doignies</span> and <span lang="fr">Beaumetz</span>, had all shared in the +systematic devastation of the spring. The foremost British line was +still a matter of partially connected outposts, each Platoon forming +as a rule a self-contained strong point, while inter-communication +with other posts was always difficult and sometimes impossible by day. +The Battalion frontage was strung out to a width of about 2,300 yards, +and on our arrival was protected only by discontinuous belts of wire, +but before the first tour had been completed they had all been linked +together. No <span class="pagenum"><a id="page117" name="page117"></a>(p. 117)</span>Man's Land was wide and ill-defined, amounting sometimes +to 1,000 yards, with such debateable features as ruined farms or +clumps of trees situated in the midst, which required constant +patrolling, but were found regularly unoccupied. The aspect of the +country with its tangled growth of grass and weeds revived memories of +<span lang="fr">Hébuterne</span> two summers ago.</p> + +<p>Thus six weeks were spent in comparative stagnation. Again the enemy's +artillery were almost silent for days on end, though now and again +violent bursts of 5.9-inch would be directed at the Support Companies. +The Battalion made no raids; the only one which was attempted against +them was on a small scale, and was completely crushed by Sergeant +Garrett, of Wokingham, whose good leadership of the post attacked +earned him the Military Medal. We suffered no loss, and took one +prisoner entangled in the wire. The total casualties for the period +were no more than 15, but included Captain Down, who died of wounds on +22nd May. He had been with the Battalion since the spring of 1916, and +was deeply regretted as a capable officer, who showed always the +greatest consideration for his men. On 30th June the Battalion turned +their backs on this quiet spot and marched by stages through <span lang="fr">Velu</span> and +<span lang="fr">Bihucourt</span> northwards to <span lang="fr">Bailleulval</span>, a village about 6 miles +south-west of <span lang="fr">Arras</span>, now 10 miles behind the line to which it had been +in close proximity until that spring.</p> + +<p>Here every sign suggested that the Battalion was soon to take part in +an offensive. Drafts arrived in such numbers that the total strength +was raised to 930, a higher figure than at any period since we first +crossed to France. Training went on feverishly through the sultry +days. The old system of trenches in front of the village were the +scene of <span class="pagenum"><a id="page118" name="page118"></a>(p. 118)</span>many practice attacks, nor did the musketry, bombing, and +gas specialists neglect their opportunities. The Brigadier appeared, +to give lectures and to inspect the capacity of each officer to use +his compass. The Divisional General carried off all the senior +officers for staff rides. Thus the three weeks were spent in most +arduous preparation, which left no doubt that a severe ordeal was +imminent. That a general offensive was intended in the north was no +secret either to our Army or to the enemy, and was indeed the natural +sequel to the Battle of <span lang="fr">Messines</span>. All doubts were resolved when the +Battalion entrained on 21st July at <span lang="fr">Mondicourt</span> and moved north into +Flanders. They passed along the same route by which exactly two years +before they had come down to <span lang="fr">Hébuterne</span>, and the survivors of those +days cheered as they passed the well-remembered little towns of <span lang="fr">Marles</span> +and <span lang="fr">Lapugnoy</span>. As the evening drew in the train wandered slowly through +<span lang="fr">Lillers</span> and <span lang="fr">Hazebrouck</span>, vast centres of activity, finally drawing up +at <span lang="nl">Godewaersvelde</span> at 10.45 p.m., whence a weary march ended at dawn at +<span lang="nl">Houtkerque</span>, which, curiously enough, was next door to our first +resting place in Flanders,—<span lang="nl">Winnezeele</span>. The entire move had occupied +20 hours; it is interesting to note that while the direct distance +between the two points was 43 miles, the Battalion had traversed by +road and rail at least 70.<a href="#toc">(Back to Contents)</a></p> + + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page119" name="page119"></a>(p. 119)</span><a id="chap18" name="chap18"></a><h3>CHAPTER <abbr title="18">XVIII</abbr></h3> + +<h4>THE THIRD BATTLE OF <span lang="fr">YPRES</span></h4> + + +<p>The prolonged and terrible struggle which was now about to begin was +the last attempt to break through in the west on the old plan. The +immense collection of guns, ammunition, railway material, and every +kind of transport aroused high hopes. It was believed that the +bombardment prolonged throughout many days with an intensity far +greater than before the <span lang="fr">Somme</span> would overwhelm the German resistance, +and open the way to the Flanders coast and to the submarine bases then +at the most successful height of their activity. These expectations +were disappointed. The German positions no longer consisted of +continuous trench lines, which could be reduced to shapeless masses of +earth. An organisation of great depth had taken their place. Machine +gun nests and pill-boxes scattered about were almost indistinguishable +from the sea of mud in which they were placed, and defied accurate +aerial reconnaissance. In this fortified zone the foremost lines were +weakly held, and the British troops after taking them found the main +resistance still before them, when their energies were almost +exhausted by their painful journey through the mire. The artillery had +done its work only too well in tearing the soil to pieces; but had +none the less left intact many a pill-box which would only succumb to +the direct hit of a 9.2-inch shell. The dice of success were thus +loaded heavily against the attackers, and complete victory was +rendered impossible by the incredible weather. The great <span class="pagenum"><a id="page120" name="page120"></a>(p. 120)</span>storm which +raged throughout the initial attack on July 31st was succeeded by +almost unprecedented rain throughout August. The brief improvement of +September relapsed into the deluges which made the last stages of the +struggle for <span lang="nl">Passchendaele</span> so heroic a feat of endurance. The last +month of the <span lang="fr">Somme</span> Battle had been terrible, but the whole of the +events now to be described were fought under far worse conditions. No +trenches or dugouts were available for sheltering the troops in the +battle area, of whom only a small fraction could be accommodated in +such pill-boxes as remained intact. The corduroy paths by which alone +rations and stores could be brought up were gassed and shelled night +and day; one false step was to be engulfed sometimes beyond hope of +recovery. The artillery were in little better case, their guns were +placed almost wheel to wheel in the open, always sinking deeper into +the morass, and unable to move away from the storm of shells. The +light railways on which they depended for a regular supply of shells +often sank themselves from lack of solid foundation. Far behind, +junctions, dumps and rest camps were attacked by long-range fire and +bombs, with a violent persistency quite unprecedented until the March +days next year. The ordeal was bitterly hard, and the prize +incompletely won, but the spirit of the British Armies rose supreme +over all, and the German defence was taxed to the uttermost.</p> + +<p>The 31st July brought the Battalion no excitements. Leaving camp soon +after midnight they crossed the Belgian frontier and moved to <span lang="nl"><abbr title="Sint">St.</abbr> Jan +Ter Beezen</span>, just west of <span lang="nl">Poperinghe</span>. The flickers and rumble of the +greatest bombardment yet known in war accompanied them through the +night. The rain descended and the floods came for the next three days. +Again, as in the days of <span lang="fr">Loos</span> and the <span lang="fr">Somme</span>, the first expectations +and the eager hopes <span class="pagenum"><a id="page121" name="page121"></a>(p. 121)</span>were disappointed. Success had been only partial; +the weather was impossible, operations were postponed. Next day the +sodden men found themselves in dripping tents, just pitched, a stage +nearer the line at <span lang="fr">Dambre</span> Farm, in the low country west of <span lang="fr">Ypres</span>. On +the 5th the battlefield was reached. All through the afternoon at five +minutes' interval the platoons moved up. Heavy shells followed them +all the way. At dusk the relief of the 188th Brigade in the reserve +lines south of <span lang="fr"><abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Julien</span> was completed. Water stood everywhere, the +trenches were blotted out, the pill-boxes themselves were flooded. The +shelling was incessant, and no sleep was possible that night. On the +night of the 6th-7th the 1st/4th Oxfords were relieved, and 24 hours +were spent on either side of <span lang="fr"><abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Julien</span> through which runs the +<span lang="nl">Steenbeck</span>, foulest of streams. Next night, amidst violent thunder, the +Battalion crawled back to <span lang="fr">Dambre</span> Camp. The four days had cost them 11 +killed and 31 wounded, which might well have been increased but for +the steady discipline prevailing among all ranks.</p> + +<p>Next week the attack, whose date was yet unknown, was sedulously +practised in all its details. A large scale model of the ground was +inspected by all officers and <abbr title="Non Commissioned Officer">N.C.O.</abbr>'s at Divisional Headquarters. On +the 15th the time for action had arrived. The march to the battle was +slow and deliberate. The men halted at midday at the camp of +<span lang="de">Reigersberg</span>, ate and slept. Then ate again a last hot meal before +setting out on their final journey through the darkness. All the +Companies were in position by 3.30 a.m. on the 16th. Then followed a +period of anxious inactivity, until at 4.45 the British barrage burst +forth in its awful salute to the dawn. Men began to advance against +the enemy on the whole front of 25 miles; the second act of the great +struggle had begun.</p> + +<p>The attack was, on the whole, a complete failure, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page122" name="page122"></a>(p. 122)</span>though on the left +the French made progress through the swamps towards <span lang="nl">Houthulst</span> Forest, +and the 23rd Division took <span lang="nl">Langemarck</span>. In the centre, where our +Division was engaged, progress was infinitesimal. The enemy troops, +hidden in their deep and inconspicuous labyrinth of defence, were +fresh and fought stoutly. Our attack was based on the support of +tanks, which, owing to the condition of the ground, could not come +into action. The forces alloted were far too weak to approach the +ambitious objectives which had been assigned to them: and were +fortunate if they succeeded in winning a few hundred yards after a +long and desperate struggle which left them crippled. Our Battalion +had a hard and disspiriting task. Assigned as Reserve to the Brigade +it had been intended to sweep through the assaulting Battalions to the +final objective. Actually their rôle was reduced to hanging about +under violent shelling, almost stationary, turning now to right, now +to left, to fill up gaps in the line, or to ward off threatened +counter-attacks, always waiting for an order to advance which never +came.</p> + +<p>Although I have avoided criticism as far as possible in this +narrative, I cannot refrain from saying, after a careful study of the +documents available, that the staff work of the 5th Army (General +Gough) was thoroughly bad as far as our Division was concerned. Time +after time units were set impossible tasks, with inadequate support +from artillery and tanks, and with ludicrously small reserves. This +opinion is thoroughly shared by others more competent to pass judgment +than myself.</p> + +<a id="img009" name="img009"></a> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/img009.jpg" width="500" height="411" alt="Map." title=""> +</div> + +<p>The order of battle for the Brigade was as follows:—Starting from the +line of the <span lang="nl">Steenbeek</span> the three Battalions, covering a frontage of +about 1,200 yards, were to take the fortified line of the <span lang="nl">Langemarck</span> +road from the crossroads at Winnipeg to those just west of <span lang="nl">Keerselare</span>. +This accomplished, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page123" name="page123"></a>(p. 123)</span>their assault was to take them beyond the Pink and +Blue lines to an outpost position along the farms of Flora Hubner and +Stroppe. The 5th Gloucesters on the right joined the Ulster Division, +the Bucks Battalion was in the centre, and on the left the 4th Oxfords +touched the 12th Division. It will thus be seen that the Brigade, +unsupported, was expected to advance about a mile through the mud, +everywhere ankle-deep, taking on its way three regularly-organised +positions, to say nothing of the intermediate strong points with which +the ground bristled. The enemy was at his strongest, well-prepared and +expectant. The 7th Bavarian Regiment, which faced us, had just come +into line; it was part of a good Division, the 5th Bavarian. His +barrage descended only three minutes after our own had begun. It is +not surprising that, as a result, no impression was made even on the +line of the <span lang="fr">Langemarck</span> road, except at one point round Springfield. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page124" name="page124"></a>(p. 124)</span>The fight swayed about round the pill-boxes, disused gun-pits and +fortified farms which studded the countryside. Each one of these had +to be taken separately; the pill-boxes in particular had to be rushed +by bombers, who crept up and threw their bombs through the loopholes, +which meanwhile were silenced by continuous machine-gun fire. One of +these structures, entirely surrounded by water except for a narrow +causeway, successfully defied all attempts at capture.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, our four Companies had varied experiences just behind this +all-day battle. A Company on the right, advancing over the <span lang="nl">Steenbeek</span> +at zero, caught the full blast of the barrage. Captain Tripp (3rd East +Surreys), who was in command, was immediately killed, and the only +other officer, 2nd <abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> Brooke, wounded. 2nd <abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> Buck was then +sent from Headquarters to take command. During the remainder of the +day the Company, harassed continuously by shells and rifle fire (for +the enemy held positions within 300 yards of them), reduced in +strength by almost a half, succeeded in maintaining touch with the +Ulsters and the Gloucesters. Twice the enemy, pushing forward small +parties, tried to find a gap, but was arrested at once. The line +remained, curving in an arc east of <span lang="fr"><abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Julien</span>, about 200 yards beyond +the starting point. B Company also experienced great difficulty in +making their way through the barrage. Captain Norrish, who was in +command, walked up and down looking for a gap. After a while he +brought them through by the north-east corner of <span lang="fr"><abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Julien</span>. Thence, +turning right-handed in small parties, they dug in behind A Company +and the Gloucesters. For the remainder of the day they remained in +support to the latter, who were vainly endeavouring to force their way +forward to the <span lang="nl">Langemarck</span> road. This Company seems to have lost about +40 men during the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page125" name="page125"></a>(p. 125)</span>day. To C Company fell such small share of actual +fighting as came the way of the Battalion. The Bucks, on moving +forward, were held up by a large strong point at Hillock Farm, which +resisted obstinately with machine guns. Two platoons of C Company, +creeping up from the north-west, played their Lewis guns upon the +loopholes. The farm was encircled and taken, 50 of the garrison were +killed and the remainder captured. This was about 7 a.m. During the +next three hours the Bucks thrust slowly forward, losing heavily all +the way. By 10.30 they had gained a precarious footing in the Green +line on a front of about 200 yards round Springfield. Their position +was very dangerous, as both their flanks were in the air. The Oxfords, +on their left, had been completely hung up, and were barely beyond our +front line. Two platoons of C Company pushed up northwards into the +gap at 11.30, but found only small parties of the enemy, who enfiladed +them at close range from some disused gun-pits 200 yards west of the +<span lang="fr">Poelcapelle</span> road. These snipers caused constant casualties, and when +Captain Holmes was hit at noon all the officers had been put out of +action. Under the leadership of <abbr title="Sergeant-Major">Sergt.-Major</abbr> Heath they cleared the +gun-pits and extracted six prisoners, the only trophies of the day; +there they remained until relief, losing at least 50 men. <abbr title="Company Sergeant Major">C.S.-M.</abbr> +Heath obtained the <abbr title="Military Cross">M.C.</abbr> D Company, contrary to their experience at +<span lang="fr">Ronssoy</span>, had the easiest time of the four. Held back on the western +bank of the <span lang="nl">Steenbeek</span> by the congestion at the bridges until 5.15 +a.m., they crossed when the barrage, always lighter on our left, had +greatly slackened and suffered only slight loss. They dug in near the +eastern bank, and remained all day there in support of the Bucks. At +noon one platoon moved forward to the right, and securing the Bucks' +right flank, kept in connection with the posts of A Company. <span class="pagenum"><a id="page126" name="page126"></a>(p. 126)</span>The +losses of this company were about 30 men. In all the casualties of the +Battalion were 35 killed (including Captain Tripp), and 138 wounded +and missing (including Captains Winslow and Holmes and 2nd <abbr title="Lieutenants">Lieuts.</abbr> +Brooke, Oldridge and Wood). This amounted to about a third of the +fighting strength. The remainder of the Brigade suffered more heavily, +especially the Bucks, who had clung for hours with splendid gallantry +to the exposed and practically untenable position round Springfield.</p> + +<p>The Battalion next day was relieved by Companies at dawn and dusk, and +reassembled at <span lang="fr">Dambre</span> Camp. The respite was short, for before many +days the Division was called again to make a fresh attempt at the same +spot. Although no general attack was found practicable until the 20th +September, it was apparently deemed essential first to gain a footing +on the low ridge of <span lang="de">Gravenstal</span>, which, though it rose only 60 feet +above the <span lang="nl">Steenbeek</span> Valley, dominated the country as far as <span lang="fr">Ypres</span>, and +gave the enemy eyes to see our preparations. The next attack was fixed +for 27th August; this time it was the turn of the 143rd and 144th +Brigades to attack, while we remained in Divisional Reserve. The front +and the objectives were almost exactly the same. On the left was the +11th Division, on the right the 61st, our second line. It was the +first time that these two had come together on the battlefield, and +the occasion was not fortunate, for both were unable to make headway +and lost severely. The plan of attack showed great lack of +imagination, and shook general confidence in the staff of the 5th +Army. The lessons of the 16th seemed to have been entirely thrown +away. The same impossible advance was expected. The ground was far +worse than before. The water lay knee-deep in the valley. As the men +struggled forward they could be seen pulling one another out of the +glutinous mud in which they had sunk to the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page127" name="page127"></a>(p. 127)</span>waist. The tanks, +promised as before, were unable to perform. Finally, the attack +started at the singular hour of 1.55 p.m., which rendered concealment +of all the final preparations impossible, and gave the German machine +gunners deadly opportunities for dealing with the reserves who poured +up in the afternoon along the crowded tracks. The Battalion arrived at +its assembly place on the road running through <span lang="fr"><abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Julien</span> about 3.30 +p.m., and, as before, waited on events. Towards dusk it became known +that the Warwicks' attack had completely failed, while further north +the 7th and 8th Worcesters succeeded after four hours' fighting in +seizing the Green line from Springfield as far as the <span lang="nl">Keerselare</span> cross +roads. At 8 p.m. all hope of a further advance in the Warwick area had +gone, and the Battalion was ordered to relieve the shattered Brigade, +one Company taking the place of each Battalion. There was naturally +much difficulty in taking over, and next morning it was discovered +that three platoons of the 8th Warwicks, whose position was unknown to +their <abbr title="Commanding Officer">C.O.</abbr>, were still lying unrelieved round Border Farm. Meanwhile, +on the evening of the 27th, confused fighting still went on north of +Springfield, where the 1st/4th Oxfords had been brought up to try by +exploiting the success already gained to turn the Spot Farm-Winnipeg +portion of the Green line. No further ground, however, was secured; +the men were at the limits of their endurance, and by next morning it +was clear that everything had combined to render a further attack +impossible. The day was therefore, passed quietly for the exhausted +combatants; in front the stretcher-bearers bravely and indefatigably +picked up the wounded, who had lain out all night in the liquid mud. +That night two companies of the 2nd/10th London relieved us. Thus half +a Battalion held defensively the whole fighting front <span class="pagenum"><a id="page128" name="page128"></a>(p. 128)</span>of a Brigade. +We returned again to <span lang="fr">Dambre</span> Camp, which the enemy shelled viciously +with a naval gun. The Battalion may be considered fortunate in losing +only 11 killed (including Captain Norrish, 10th Middlesex), and 51 +wounded (including Captain Shaw, 4th Northants).</p> + +<p><span lang="nl"><abbr title="Sint">St.</abbr> Jan Ter Beezen</span> now reharboured the Battalion, which was built up +again in strength by a succession of curious little drafts of 6 and +11. The usual training, increasing in intensity as the men recovered +from the fatigue of battle, was carried on through a spell of close +and thundery weather. The nights were more than once disturbed by a +shower of bombs. On 16th September a train journey removed us far from +the front to <span lang="fr">Audenfort</span>, near <span lang="fr">Calais</span>, to occupy the farms and barns of +several scattered hamlets. The attitude of the population, as +sometimes happened in the back areas, was unfriendly. The reason, +doubtless, is that the distance from the realities of war is apt to +make the inhabitants less accommodating and the troops less +well-disciplined. In this case, however, excellent relations were +established in a few days. The training during the ensuing ten days +was mainly confined to musketry, and A Company had the satisfaction of +beating all the other companies of the Division in a field practice +fired under the eyes of the <abbr title="General Officer Commanding">G.O.C.</abbr></p> + +<p>On the 27th September the Battalion returned to the same blighted +region, now enveloped by dense autumn mists. The great attack of 20th +September had rolled forward the tide of battle for more than a mile, +and the British, now ensconced in the demolished farms on the east +side of the <span lang="de">Gravenstal</span> Ridge, were preparing to carry out another +stage of that painful and bloody progress. At dawn on 4th October the +143rd Brigade attacked through us, advancing some 1,500 yards. The +Battalion spent the next three days in an uneasy reserve, changing +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page129" name="page129"></a>(p. 129)</span>their quarters every 24 hours, continuously soaked by the rain, which +again fell pitilessly. On 7th October they regained the front line, +pulling one another out of the trackless mire as they crawled up +through the dripping night, plentifully sprinkled with gas on their +way. Next night was even worse; the 7th Worcesters came up to relieve +us under shell-fire; most of the guides we sent down to them were +either killed or buried and the relief was long and arduous. The 144th +Brigade attacked again on the 8th-9th October, under the worst +possible conditions; our Battalion, in Divisional Reserve, was +allotted to the Brigade, and lay out scattered by Companies until dusk +on the 9th, ready to repel counter-attacks and to lend help as +required, but was not actively engaged. The total casualties during +this period amounted to 84, of whom 16 were killed. All who took part +in these ten days' operations agree that the hardships suffered by the +men exceeded everything yet endured on active service. The exhausted +troops were taken back to <span lang="fr">Dambre</span> Camp on the 9th by motor lorries. +This was their last experience of that tremendous and ill-conducted +battle, in which they had been engaged with but slight intermission +for 70 days.<a href="#toc">(Back to Contents)</a></p> + + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page130" name="page130"></a>(p. 130)</span><a id="chap19" name="chap19"></a><h3>CHAPTER <abbr title="19">XIX</abbr></h3> + +<h4>LAST DAYS IN FRANCE AND THE JOURNEY TO ITALY</h4> + + +<p>On 15th October the Battalion left the Flemish swamps for good, and, +returning south by rail, eventually settled for the remainder of the +month in the huts at <span lang="fr">Villars-au-Bois</span>, north-west of <span lang="fr">Arras</span>. Here they +rested in pleasant country behind the 2nd Canadian Division, one of +whose regiments, the 27th, they replaced in reserve. The former were a +splendid body of men, and very friendly. Their Quartermaster excited +general admiration, being a man of over 60 years of age, two of whose +sons were serving in the same Battalion as Second-in-Command and +Adjutant. As usual, after active operations adequate drafts arrived of +both officers and men; the former came mainly from the 3rd Wilts, the +latter from the M.T., who, though practically ignorant of infantry +work, soon developed in a very satisfactory way. From 2nd-10th +November we occupied the sector in front of <span lang="fr">Vimy</span> Ridge, the scene of +the great Canadian victories in April, looking across to the +devastated mining town of Lens. The Canadians had done all that was +possible to improve the trenches, which the counter-bombardment of +either side had levelled, and they were generally good except on the +left, where all the soil had been shot away. The dugouts, as generally +in ground captured from the Huns, were excellent; there was little +fighting activity, and no more than three casualties were suffered. On +the 8th the Battalion received the thanks of the 31st Division for +their assistance <span class="pagenum"><a id="page131" name="page131"></a>(p. 131)</span>in a daylight raid carried out by the latter on our +right. Smoke-clouds were emitted from our trenches, while the skilful +manipulation of life-sized dummies successfully produced the illusion +of lines of men issuing from their trenches, who drew on their wooden +bodies the desired effect of heavy enemy fire. On November 14th Savy +and <span lang="fr">Villars Brulin</span> received the Battalion. These little villages, some +12 miles from the firing line near the source of the Scarpe, were, +though we knew it not, to be the last billets of the Battalion in +France. Every autumn the enemy had replied to our offensive in France +with a furious blow elsewhere. As in 1915 he had crushed Serbia, in +1916 occupied two-thirds of Roumania, so this year he fell upon the +Italians at <span lang="it">Caporetto</span> on the 25th October. This enormous disaster, +which cost the Italians 250,000 prisoners and a third of their +artillery, brought the Austro-Germans by the beginning of November to +the banks of the <span lang="it">Piave</span>, and it was decided that British and French +forces should be dispatched to Italy to defend Venice and to give the +Italian Army a breathing space for reorganisation. Therefore, when we +were resting on the 21st, and speculating on the possibility of taking +part in the Cambrai Battle so dramatically begun the day before, +orders arrived for entrainment next afternoon with nine days' rations. +The journey was made in two trains, under the command of Colonel +Clarke and Major Aldworth respectively, which made for Italy by +different routes, after leaving <span lang="fr">Troyes</span>. Colonel Clarke's train reached +<span lang="fr">Dijon</span> on the second evening; <span lang="fr">Lyons</span> early the next morning; throughout +that day the exquisite and fruitful Rhone Valley passed before the +delighted eyes of the men. The journey was slow, and when <span lang="fr">Avignon</span> was +reached at 2 a.m. on the 25th, the train was already twelve hours +late. Still further time was then lost owing to an accident at +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page132" name="page132"></a>(p. 132)</span> +<span lang="fr">Toulon</span>, which station was only entered at dusk after a triumphant +progress through crowds of excited southerners, who gathered along the +line cheering and waving. Most of the famous places of the French +Riviera were passed in darkness, but at 8.10 on the 26th the frontier +was passed at Ventimille. The journey continued along the lovely +Italian coast until <span lang="it">Savona</span> was reached at nightfall. The Italians +showed little disposition to welcome their deliverers, and the +unpopularity of the war in these districts was patent. Next dawn found +the train at <span lang="it">Pavia</span>, whence it proceeded along the Po to <span lang="it">Cremona</span>, where +a 16-hour halt enabled the men to stretch their legs. With band +playing they marched through the streets, and succeeded in arousing +the enthusiasm of the inhabitants. The local commandante, Cav. +<span lang="it">Vittorio</span>, a very courteous gentleman, took the salute as the two +Companies re-entered the station. The extreme congestion of the +Italian railways now upset all timetables completely. <span lang="it">Mantua</span> was not +reached until 1 a.m. on the 29th, but finally the two Companies +detrained at <span lang="it">Saletto</span>; and in the afternoon billeting orders arrived, +and the evening found them lodged in a private house, a theatre and a +monastery at <span lang="fr">Noventa</span>. The billets were shared with a detachment of the +Italian Veterinary Corps, the miserable condition of whose horses and +mules bore witness to the rigours of the recent retreat. An 8-mile +march next day over roads slippery with frost ended in a most elegant +billet, a gorgeous château, which belonged to a Colonel Cabely, killed +near <span lang="fr">Gorizia</span>. Part of its magnificence, however, consisted in marble +floors, a cold bed for men wrapped up in only one blanket.</p> + +<p>Major Aldworth's train travelled more rapidly; by midnight on the 24th +it had crossed the <span lang="fr">Mont Cenis</span> and was running through Italian +territory. Early next morning everyone was peering out of <span class="pagenum"><a id="page133" name="page133"></a>(p. 133)</span>the +windows at the great snow mountains through which the train descended +to the <span lang="it">Piedmontese</span> Plain. The bells of the village churches were +ringing everywhere on this Sunday morning as the train moved towards +Turin, which was reached at noon on the 25th November. This city +provided a rousing welcome; ladies handed out chocolate, cigarettes +and little silk flags from the platform; the train steamed out into +the open country between vociferating crowds. The journey henceforth +was slow and circuitous, the direction being first north-east to +Milan, which was passed during the night of 26th-27th November; then +south to <span lang="it">Pavia</span>, and from there along the Po +through <span lang="it">Mantua</span> to <span lang="it">Nogaro</span>, +where the men were comfortably installed in billets by 9 p.m. on 27th +November. Both journeys were as comfortable as could be expected in +the exceptional circumstances. The men were able to get a hot drink at +least twice a day, which was often supplemented by the energy of Red +Cross ladies on the platforms, particularly in France.<a href="#toc">(Back to Contents)</a></p> + + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page134" name="page134"></a>(p. 134)</span><a id="chap20" name="chap20"></a><h3>CHAPTER <abbr title="20">XX</abbr></h3> + +<h4>THE ITALIAN WINTER</h4> + + +<p>Happy the Battalion which for a while at least in wartime has no +history. We had come to Italy expecting at once to be desperately +engaged against the victorious invaders. But the Italians, greatly to +their credit, had reorganised their broken forces, and, with their +left resting on the mountains, had repelled all attempts of the enemy +to cross the <span lang="it">Piave</span>, swollen with autumn rains. By the end of December +the British and French Armies were fully concentrated, and a period of +immobility set in, not to be broken for six months. The 48th Division, +which formed part of General Haking's 11th Corps, found itself +peacefully installed in Army Reserve. Under the clear Italian skies, +in the peaceful Venetian plain, moderately well housed and not +overworked, their lot was cast in a fair ground. The two halves of the +Battalion reunited on 4th December, and finally settled on the 15th +December at <span lang="it"><abbr title="Santa">S.</abbr> Croce Bigolina</span>, where they remained six weeks. This +village is situated just east of the <span lang="it">Brenta</span>, about 20 miles north of +<span lang="it">Padua</span>, where <abbr title="General Headquarters">G.H.Q.</abbr> were established, and a similar distance south of +the foothills of the <span lang="it">Trentino</span> Alps, where the line ran through the +famous plateau of <span lang="it">Asiago</span>. Excursions to these hills in small parties +for the purpose of reconnaissance formed from time to time a diversion +from the ordinary routine of training.</p> + +<p>Christmas was celebrated with great festivity. The officers had +supplemented the men's rations by <span class="pagenum"><a id="page135" name="page135"></a>(p. 135)</span>a subscription, stores were +purchased in <span lang="it">Vicenza</span> and <span lang="it">Padua</span>, and a cheque of £50 was received from +the County Association for the same purpose. Dinners, concerts and +suppers were provided for the Companies; the officers were given free +use of the house of the Parish Priest, who was entertained by them as +the guest of the evening. It was the happiest Christmas which had been +spent overseas.</p> + +<p>With the New Year winter set in with a hard, bright frost, so keen +that all the running streams were frozen. Visits of inspection were +paid by General Plumer, the popular Commander-in-Chief, and by General +Haking, whose kindliness and geniality in chatting to the men as +individuals was heartily welcomed. At this time also the gratifying +news was received that the commanding officer had been awarded the +<abbr title="Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George.">C.M.G.</abbr></p> + +<p>On the 24th January the Battalion left <span lang="it"><abbr title="Santa">S.</abbr> Croce</span> amidst general regret. +The excellent priest, who had worked with all his will to promote good +relations, in a parting message to Colonel Clarke especially commended +the honourable and chivalrous relations which had existed between the +troops and the women of the neighbourhood. At <span lang="fr">Paviola</span>, which was +reached after a weary march in a misty thaw over roads reduced to +quagmires, the Battalion split up again: B and D Companies, with +Headquarters remained in the same area, while Captain Challenor with +the remainder moved to the Convent <span lang="it">di Praglia</span>, south of <span lang="it">Padua</span>, in +order to supply working parties to the central school at <abbr title="General Headquarters">G.H.Q.</abbr> Here +they remained till the end of February, doing every kind of job, to +the complete satisfaction of those concerned. Some worked at the +quarries, some at a bayonet-fighting assault course, some at the +musketry school, others at the gas school; finding, however, time +between their labours to play a number of football matches with +neighbouring units.</p> + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page136" name="page136"></a>(p. 136)</span><p>By the end of the month all were again reunited; their long spell of +rest had come temporarily to an end, and on the 27th they took over +from the 2nd Queen's (7th Division) reserve lines on the <span lang="it">Montello</span>, +that well-known hill overlooking the right bank of the <span lang="it">Piave</span>, which +was one of the key-positions of the Italian line. The next fortnight +was spent in this area, about half in the front line. It was an +interesting though, fortunately, not a very dangerous experience, as +the losses amounted only to one killed and one wounded. The long hill, +which stretched for miles to the west of the river, was furrowed with +numbers of deep, narrow dells, in which the platoons were housed. +Along the foreshore was a series of disconnected posts, every second +of which was armed with a Lewis gun. The majority of these were held +only at night. They looked across the wide bed of the <span lang="it">Piave</span>, which, +like all capricious mountain streams, divided into three or four +channels, intersected by overgrown islands and beds of shingle, which +heavy rain, as in the June battles, would convert speedily into a +roaring torrent. The widest and deepest stream flowed on the enemies' +side. Their inactivity was very marked, scarcely a shot was fired +either by day or night, and except for the last day their artillery +gave few signs of life. As was proved time after time, the last thing +desired by the weary and disillusioned Austrian was to provoke the +British.</p> + +<p>This interlude was the nearest approach to warfare encountered for +many weeks to come. On the night of the 14th March in intense darkness +the Italians relieved us without incident, and we turned our backs on +the <span lang="it">Montello</span> for good. The division now moved west for many days; some +short time was spent at <span lang="it">Arsego</span>, but it was not till 3rd April that the +Battalion settled down to a three weeks' sojourn at <span lang="it">Valle</span>, in the hill +country west of <span lang="it">Vicenza</span>. <span class="pagenum"><a id="page137" name="page137"></a>(p. 137)</span>The great events, which were shaking the +Western Front to its foundations, found no echo here; two British +Divisions were, it is true, moved to France, but the 48th was not +among them. The Austrians as yet showed no signs of renewing their +attacks.</p> + +<p>While the Battalion were at <span lang="it">Valle</span> they lost their Commanding Officer, +<abbr title="Lieutenant-Colonel">Lieut.-Colonel</abbr> Clarke, who was appointed to command the newly-formed +Divisional Machine Gun Battalion. His departure was deeply regretted. +He had led the Battalion through all its serious fighting, and had +gained the complete confidence of all. He had kept a strict discipline +without worrying the men about trifles; they could all appreciate his +administrative ability, his grasp of detail and practical concern for +their comfort. We were fortunate in gaining as his successor Colonel +Lloyd Baker, of the Bucks Battalion, who had been well-known earlier +in the war as General McClintock's Staff Captain, and he brought to +his new duties all his characteristic kindness and tact.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the constant exercise in hill-climbing for men and pack +ponies, the schemes of attack and defence suggested that our next +destination would be northward in the mountains. Nor was expectation +falsified; for by the 23rd the Battalion had climbed up out of the +warm, showery spring of the valley, and billeted in Italian huts at +<span lang="it">Granezza</span>, about 4,500 feet above sea-level in storms of snow and hail. +They were in Brigade Reserve immediately behind the lines on the +<span lang="it">Asiago</span> plateau, which they were destined to guard until the advance to +final victory at the end of October.<a href="#toc">(Back to Contents)</a></p> + + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page138" name="page138"></a>(p. 138)</span><a id="chap21" name="chap21"></a><h3>CHAPTER <abbr title="21">XXI</abbr></h3> + +<h4>MOUNTAIN WARFARE</h4> + + +<p>The new line ran along the forward slope of the hills, which had just +been so painfully climbed, and whose reverse sides sheltered in their +folds, densely populated with pine forests, the local reserves. The +trenches themselves were strangely unlike any as yet inhabited, being +blasted out of the solid rock. An impressive and, indeed, magnificent +panorama extended itself in front. The valley of the Seven Communes, +that curious little tongue of German-speaking territory projecting +into pre-war Italy, ran across the foreground. Barren and almost +treeless, it had been in the battle-line since the Austrian offensive +of May, 1916, which had nearly broken successfully into the Venetian +plain. Many villages and hamlets dotted the plain, especially towards +the western end, the most imposing of which was <span lang="it">Asiago</span>. Though knocked +about to a certain extent, they offered a regular and habitable +outline as compared with the blank desolation of France. On the +further side of the valley the pine-clad shoulders of the mountains +were gradually merged in the great snow-covered, cloud-capped bastions +of the Alps. Between the lines a vast No Man's Land extended, in many +places nearly a mile in width, with miniature hills and valleys, and +studded with houses and copses, over which our patrols were able to +roam almost at will unmolested. Such was the general calm prevailing +that officers in the front line were accustomed to sleep in their +pyjamas. The entire <span class="pagenum"><a id="page139" name="page139"></a>(p. 139)</span>casualties during May, most of which month was +spent in the line, were three wounded. In a successful raid carried +out on the 12th by two platoons of D Company, 2nd <abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> Stott, +slightly wounded, was the only victim. He obtained the <abbr title="Military Cross">M.C.</abbr> and the +Italian Silver Medal for Valour as a reward for his work. It was +somewhat difficult to capture the prisoner required for +identification, as the only post encountered promptly ran away; one, +however, of the elderly Hungarians of the 24th Honved Regiment, who +composed it, tripped and fell into a shell-hole, and was carried off +by the raiders. The enemy made up for their lack of resistance by +bombing their own wire and shouting assiduously until daybreak. On the +22nd the Battalion returned to Cornedo, in the plains; summer had by +now fully set in; the vines, the maize, the mulberry and the orange, +with many other diverse forms of luxuriant foliage, had completely +changed the aspect of the country. The men were glad to wear the suits +of drill and the sun-helmet which had now been issued. Thus May merged +into June; the fourth great German attack was battering at the gates +of <span lang="fr">Compiègne</span>, but the Italian front had as yet given no sign. On our +next visit, however, to the line, it became known that a British +offensive was to be launched in the middle of June. The usual +conferences and rehearsals took place; detailed orders were issued, +the very date became known. It was to take place on the 16th of June. +Twenty-four hours beforehand the Austrians, goaded at length out of +their long sleep by the prodding of their Allies, suddenly launched +that great attack on practically the whole of the front, which was the +last offensive effort of the Hapsburg dynasty. After a somewhat +alarming initial success on the <span lang="it">Montello</span> and the lower <span lang="it">Piave</span>, it +changed into a complete failure. We have now to see how it affected +the fortunes of our Battalion.</p> + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page140" name="page140"></a>(p. 140)</span><p>The +Austrian attack was planned after the model of <span lang="de">Ludendorf's</span> great +offensive of March 21st; that is to say, it was preceded by a short +but violent bombardment of high explosive and gas directed +particularly on the back areas and gun-positions. Its effectiveness +was not, however, great, partly owing to the extreme difficulty of +searching all the crannies of the mountain country, partly because the +level of Austrian efficiency was low. Their gas-shells, in particular, +seem to have been almost innocuous. The shelling began about 3 a.m., +and lasted for three hours, when the infantry left the trenches. The +two British Divisions in the line, 23rd and 48th, were attacked by +portions of four Austrian Divisions; it is said that the latter had +been brought up immediately before the battle in lorries, and told +that their objective was weakly held by Italians, as their +disinclination to face British and French troops was notorious. +However that may be, they advanced against our Division with +considerable energy at the outset. The two Battalions of the 145th +Brigade in the line were from right to left, the 1st/4th Oxfords and +1st/5th Gloucesters. The enemy succeeded in driving in the outer +flanks of both Battalions, and also in pushing a wedge between them to +a maximum depth of about 1,000 yards. But attacking uphill over +unfamiliar and blind country, exposed to cross-fire from rifles and +machine-guns, and heavily bombarded, their progress was soon arrested. +Our Battalion was in Brigade Reserve, and did useful work during the +day in joining hands with the two assaulted Battalions. D Company +joined the Oxfords at noon, and suffered some loss during the +afternoon while forming up in the open to counter-attack. Here its +commander, Captain C. Buck, a good and conscientious officer, was +killed. He had served unhurt through the whole of the third Battle <span class="pagenum"><a id="page141" name="page141"></a>(p. 141)</span>of +<span lang="fr">Ypres</span>, and was the only officer whom we lost by death during the +Italian year.</p> + +<p>Next morning very early, with the co-operation of C Company and one +platoon of A, a completely successful advance was made to the old +front line. All the heart had now gone out of the enemy, the failure +of whose effort was patent. They made scarcely a shadow of resistance, +and more than 60 prisoners remained in our hands. During the previous +day C Company had been already engaged in stopping the gap between the +Oxfords and Gloucesters. The latter, who had been isolated on both +flanks, were in danger of complete encirclement during the morning and +early afternoon, but extricated themselves and joined hands with C +Company at 5.30 p.m.</p> + +<p>During the 16th the whole divisional front was without exception +re-established, and patrols were pushed forward into No Man's Land; +the Austrians continued to surrender in little bodies, until the +Division had collected over 1,000, with eight mountain guns abandoned +and picked up. The casualty list of the Battalion afforded happy proof +of the ineffectiveness of the enemy. We lost no more than five killed +and 13 wounded. Thus ended ignominiously the great Austrian attack.<a href="#toc">(Back to Contents)</a></p> + + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page142" name="page142"></a>(p. 142)</span><a id="chap22" name="chap22"></a><h3>CHAPTER <abbr title="22">XXII</abbr></h3> + +<h4>THE LAST SUMMER</h4> + + +<p>The remainder of June was spent pleasantly in rest billets, disturbed +only by the first of the great influenza epidemics, which, pursuing a +mild course, resulted in no deaths, but caused the evacuation in all +of 112 men. On the 20th the Division lost their Commander, Sir R. +Fanshawe, who returned home. He had commanded us for more than three +years; devoted to the care of his Division and to the task of +defeating the enemy, he demanded in everything the same high standard +which he always set himself. A frequent visitor to the trenches, he +did not reserve his appearance for quiet times; at <span lang="fr">Pozières</span> and +<span lang="fr">Ronssoy</span>, for example, he was on the captured ground at the heels of +his infantry. Therefore, he retained the confidence of the men +throughout, in good days and bad.</p> + +<p>Our sojourn in the plains was prolonged during the first twenty days +of July under the full heat of summer, all moves being made in the +early hours of the morning. On 12th July the Battalion had the +satisfaction of winning the Divisional Signal Competition.</p> + +<p>The ten days spent in the line were devoid of incident, one man only +being wounded by a shell, and on the 30th July a return was made to +<span lang="fr">Marziele</span> for ten days, where a terrific storm one night blew down all +the tents and bivouacs. The 10th August found them again in the +mountains taking over from the 6th Gloucesters the extreme left of the +divisional <span class="pagenum"><a id="page143" name="page143"></a>(p. 143)</span>line. The war had now entered upon its penultimate stage +with the splendid Allied victories of 18th July and 8th August; the +enemy had lost everywhere the initiative, and was not to have the +chance of regaining it. Although the Italians did not feel themselves +capable at present of any important attack, the Austrians were not +left in peace. Large-scale raids resulting often in the capture of +hundreds of prisoners, were undertaken without respite by the French +and British, provoking no attempt at retaliation.</p> + +<p>Nor was the Battalion without share in these activities. The ground +was first prepared for a full-dress raid by offensive patrols. On +August 16th <abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> Baxton attacked and bombed a party of the enemy on +Coda Spur, the bombs falling clean among them. On the 15th a similar +party under 2nd <abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> Crawford shot five Austrians, who were +patrolling their own wire, and who, when challenged, with fatal +stupidity, halted and stood outlined against the skyline, an easy +mark.</p> + +<p>The time was now ripe for a more ambitious effort. The Battalion was +withdrawn for a few days to <span lang="it">Granezza</span>, and returning to the trenches on +the evening of the 26th, made a successful raid that same night in +conjunction with the Bucks on our left. The attack was to be directed +against the enemy trenches on either side of <span lang="it">Asiago</span>, the point of +junction between the Battalions being at the south-east corner of the +town. All four Companies were engaged; C on the right was to form a +defensive flank within the enemy's trenches; B, on the left, was to +seize the front line before <span lang="it">Asiago</span>, where A, passing through, would +secure the support line, and allow D Company in turn, passing through +them, to explore the southernmost limits of the town, and join hands +with the Bucks. The withdrawal was to be in inverse order—<i>i.e.</i>, C +and B were to hold the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page144" name="page144"></a>(p. 144)</span>captured positions until the other two +Companies had been safely passed back.</p> + +<p>Zero hour was 10.40 p.m., and there had been no preliminary barrage. +The Companies had moved out from our outpost line at 9 p.m. and got +into striking position after safely traversing the wide intervening +area. As they lay waiting for the fiery signal, the enemy began to +show nervousness; they had probably heard something suspicious, but +could not see far, as clouds obscured the moon, and a white mist hung +in the valley. They fired lights and rifle grenades and a few shells +during the last half-hour before the bombardment opened, but caused no +serious inconvenience. The barrage worked well; 32 minutes elapsed +before it completed its shift from the front line to the final +objective, which also it enclosed in a frame of shells on either +flank. Here it remained for one hour, after which it died gradually +away, as the withdrawal progressed. C Company reached and held their +objective on the right with little difficulty, extracting 50 prisoners +from the trenches and dugouts. B were equally successful, though a +little hand-to-hand fighting was necessary to force an entrance on +their right; they found the trenches shallow and ruinous, with few +occupants (they could only collect six prisoners), and the dugouts in +the quarry behind were wholly untenanted. The enemy annoyed them +during their occupation of the trench with continuous shell-fire. A +Company, according to programme, now passed through them in small +columns, but as their commander was hit at this difficult moment, they +lost direction and got mixed up with the Bucks, so that only one +platoon met the enemy, who showed some fight in houses and dugouts +near his support line. D Company successfully reached their objective, +the enemy flying wildly before them and leaving four only in their +hands. Those houses of <span lang="it">Asiago</span> which they <span class="pagenum"><a id="page145" name="page145"></a>(p. 145)</span>searched were neither +garrisoned nor fortified. The withdrawal took place with surprising +ease, without even being troubled by systematic shell-fire. Prisoners +were handed in to the 144th Brigade and receipts were given for 72; +but it seems that nearly 100 was the actual bag. Casualties were +fairly numerous, amounting in all to 77, but very light in character, +only one man being killed and four missing, while of the wounded 26 +remained on duty. The majority of wounds was due to shell-fire and +unaimed machine-gun bullets, as there was very little genuine +fighting. Many awards were made in connection with this well-executed +operation; they are given in an appendix. I may mention here that +Captain Cawley, who was wounded, received the <abbr title="Military Cross">M.C.</abbr> and the Italian +Silver Medal, and <abbr title="Company Sergeant Major">C.S.-M.</abbr> Alder the same Italian decoration, together +with the <abbr title="Distinguished Conduct Medal">D.C.M.</abbr></p> + +<p>September passed quite quietly in alternations between the front line +and <span lang="fr">Granezza</span>. The Battalion was now under the command of Colonel +Whitehead, who succeeded, but did not replace, Colonel Lloyd Baker. He +was a brave man, but of a narrow and unsympathetic school, staled by +continuous service throughout the war.</p> + +<p>October brought no change except in the weather, which declined +suddenly to autumn on the hilltops, with night-frosts and continuous +violent rain. The Austrians were still harassed perpetually by +enormous and invariably successful raids, by bombardments and aerial +bombing, to which they submitted with the patience of necessity.</p> + +<p>The absence of any great concerted attempt to destroy them seemed +almost inexplicable to our troops, as they heard of all the great +works which were being performed against their enemies elsewhere. +Already had Bulgaria fallen; the last Turkish Army had been dissolved; +the German line was crumbling to pieces under the remorseless <span class="pagenum"><a id="page146" name="page146"></a>(p. 146)</span>hammer +of the British; and the interchange of Notes with America foreshadowed +the end of the war. The Italians, however, were determined to wait +until the possibility of failure had been reduced to a minimum, and +doubtless they were the best judges of the capacity of their own +troops. Thus it was not until 25th October that they launched the blow +which was to prove the destruction of the Austrian Empire.<a href="#toc">(Back to Contents)</a></p> + + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page147" name="page147"></a>(p. 147)</span><a id="chap23" name="chap23"></a><h3>CHAPTER <abbr title="23">XXIII</abbr></h3> + +<h4>VICTORY</h4> + + +<p>The attack was started first on the <span lang="it">Piave</span> and the <span lang="it">Brenta</span>; and +operations further west were contingent on success in those areas. +Accordingly, its effects did not become apparent on our front until +29th October, when the Austrians were already in headlong flight +towards the <span lang="it">Tagliamento</span>. At that date we were holding the extreme +right of the Divisional Area. On that morning, at daybreak, C Company +sent out a patrol, which found that the Austrians had abandoned their +front lines—a retirement which deserters had foreshadowed for some +days past. They pushed on at noon and entered <span lang="it">Asiago</span>, a silent +village; thence exploring more boldly, they wandered right across the +valley as far as <span lang="fr">Ebene</span>, close to its northernmost limits. There they +saw the French patrols similarly engaged in searching the houses. Then +the enemy gave the first sign of his continued existence, firing with +two machine guns from a little knoll, which commanded the village 500 +or 600 yards away. The Bucks, who were out on the left, brought back +similar word, and it was apparent that a general retirement had been +carried out to their Winterstellung, or Winter Lines, which ran along +the northern slopes and barred ingress into the side valleys which led +up to the railway of the Val <span lang="it">Sugana</span>. It now became necessary to +discover whether the enemy was standing strongly in this main line of +defence, or whether it could be overrun by a <span lang="fr"><i>coup-de-main</i></span>. During +the night of <span class="pagenum"><a id="page148" name="page148"></a>(p. 148)</span>the 29th-30th, therefore, B Company was sent forward to +feel its way and report on the resistance encountered. Captain Winslow +now established his Headquarters in the Military Barracks at <span lang="it">Asiago</span>, +keeping one platoon at hand. The remaining three spread widely over +the plain and moved forward. They occupied the villages lying at the +foot of the mountains, but it was evident that the enemy was still in +strength before them. Here and there they extracted Austrians who had +been left behind in houses and dugouts. The left platoon, in +particular, discovered 17 in <span lang="it">Bosco</span>, including an officer; as they +drove this party before them towards <span lang="it">Asiago</span>, while it was still light, +machine-gun fire was directed upon them from the ridges of <span lang="it">Monte Catz</span>, +causing several casualties. The prisoners, headed by their officer, +were foolish enough to refuse to continue their journey, and their +mutiny cost them dear, as, with one exception, they were all killed. +Next day A Company took on the patrolling work, and found the lines +still occupied, while the Austrians denied them access to <span lang="it">Costa</span>, which +had been examined on the previous day. Reports from either flank gave +similar information; there was nothing, therefore, to suggest the +speedy and dramatic overthrow which was to follow.</p> + +<p>During the night of the 31st October-1st November, the Corps decided +to make a general attack at dawn, the orders being verbally delivered +to Colonel Whitehead by the Brigade-Major soon after midnight. There +was thus very little time to make preparations. Fortunately Major +Battcock was acting as intelligence officer, and set to work with all +his characteristic energy and method. He had only rejoined the +Battalion at his own request some days previously, and although senior +to every officer except that of the Colonel, had volunteered to act in +any capacity in which he could <span class="pagenum"><a id="page149" name="page149"></a>(p. 149)</span>be useful. He was living in advanced +Headquarters at <span lang="it">Asiago</span> School, and succeeded in getting everyone in +position by 3.30 a.m. Meanwhile D Company, whose duty it was that +night to patrol in front, reported that <span lang="it">Monte Catz</span> was still strongly +held. This long bare shoulder, which projected southward from the main +ridge into the valley, was the objective of the Battalion. It was the +key of the whole of this section of the Winterstellung, as it +overlooked the trenches on either side. At 5.35 the attack was +launched; C and D Companies, from right to left, were charged with the +assault; they advanced close behind a barrage. Each had a section +widely extended in advance as skirmishers, the main body advancing in +two lines. C Company met with immediate and splendid success. Brushing +aside opposition at <span lang="it">Costa</span> and on the slopes of the hill, they stood +upon the summit at 7.30 a.m.; they had already taken 65 prisoners and +had completely cleared their area. D Company had met with a tougher +resistance, and being assailed by cross-fire from both right and left, +were held up in the Plain until B Company came into the gap, and +seized the machine-gun nests on the south-west slopes of <span lang="it">Monte Catz</span> +about 7.30 a.m.</p> + +<p>Thus our position was satisfactory beyond expectation. The 144th +Brigade, however, on the left, were in a less happy condition. Their +assault on the lower slopes of M. <span lang="it">Interrotto</span> had not been successful. +The enemy had even passed to a counter-offensive, and had thrown them +back beyond the uttermost villages of the Plain, <span lang="it">Camporovere</span> and +<span lang="it">Bosco</span>. The evacuation of the latter imperilled all our dispositions, +and Colonel Whitehead wisely kept A Company at <span lang="it">Asiago</span> in case the +enemy should drive a wedge between the two Brigades. It was the more +unfortunate that <abbr title="Officer Commanding">O.C.</abbr> D Company, acting on one of those vague orders +which often circulate during <span class="pagenum"><a id="page150" name="page150"></a>(p. 150)</span>battle, whose source it is impossible to +trace with certainty, had withdrawn his company somewhat from the +slopes, believing himself to be conforming to the desires of the 144th +Brigade. <span lang="it">Monte Catz</span> was therefore left in a dangerously salient +position on the west, but as the Bucks, and beyond them the French on +the east, had been completely successful, it was thought well to take +the risk of exploiting the success which the 145th Brigade had already +won. The indefatigable C Company, therefore, pushed on up the hill, +seized and passed the Sichestal Trench (the last organised defence in +that area); the Bucks securely protected their right flank; on the +left B Company held a line slanting backwards to the Plain, where D +continued the line on the outskirts of <span lang="it">Bosco</span>, still untaken. All this +was accomplished by about 3 p.m. The blow of the Battalion had been +decisive, as Lord Cavan mentions in his despatch. They had taken that +day 480 prisoners, and more than 30 guns, and had destroyed many more. +Next morning the 144th Brigade seized all their objectives with little +difficulty; the Winterstellung existed no longer. The Division held +the entrance and both sides of the Val d'<span lang="it">Assa</span>, and began to march up +it towards their final objective, the Val <span lang="it">Sugana</span>, one of the main +nerves of the enemy system. The Austrians fell into a rout, which can +have few parallels in military history. Famished and without hope in +the world, faced at the same moment with military disaster and +political collapse, they fled headlong into the mountains, or swarmed +down in enormous numbers to surrender to our advancing troops; almost +the last remnant of self-respect which they retained was their +determination not to become the prisoners of the Italians. The rough +mountain tracks were blocked with their debris; and the crowds of +unarmed men embarrassed our advance-guards and checked their progress. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page151" name="page151"></a>(p. 151)</span>Generals and superior officers came down to meet us, sometimes at the +head of troops, sometimes as solitary stragglers. A Corps Commander +and three Divisional Generals were among the spoil of the Division. +Here and there during the 2nd and the early morning of the 3rd, little +bodies of devoted men still resisted; as at Mount <span lang="it">Meatta</span>, where a +Company of 4th Oxfords put 100 Austrians to flight after a sharp +combat. It was noted also that when the red-capped Bosnian Regiment +surrendered to our Battalion, the men obeyed their officers smartly, +and laid down their arms and equipment neatly at the word of command. +It was curious that these Mahommedans, from the latest acquired of all +the Austrian possessions, should have been the most faithful to their +military oath. During the 3rd the confusion among the Austrians was, +if possible, increased by their mistaken belief that the Armistice had +come into force; they ceased even the isolated semblance of +resistance, and were herded in the valleys like sheep. Meanwhile the +Division advanced inexorably by the Val d'<span lang="it">Assa</span> and the subsidiary Val +<span lang="it">Portule</span>; they crossed the enemy's frontier at 8.30 on that morning, +first of all the armies of the West (except for that portion of Alsace +which had remained in French hands since 1914). That evening the +Battalion lodged in <span lang="it">Caldonazza</span>, just south of the Val <span lang="it">Sugana</span>; here the +enemy had abandoned a vast ordnance park and more than 200 guns. The +Advanced Guards were already in Levico, that pleasant little spa in +the valley, with its baths and springs, only 20 miles from <span lang="it">Trent</span>. Next +morning the news came that the Armistice was signed and was to come +into force at 3 p.m. The weary troops continued their march up the +valley until that hour, taking still vast quantities of prisoners; +then they halted. For our Battalion the war ended at the village of +<span lang="it">Vigalzano</span>. They had covered 35 miles <span class="pagenum"><a id="page152" name="page152"></a>(p. 152)</span>in two and a-half days over +rough paths in the mountains. Not a single man had fallen out. Their +casualties in this last glorious battle amounted to 17 killed and 23 +wounded. Their individual captures cannot be recorded, but the booty +of the Division was unprecedented, and reached 22,000 prisoners and at +least 600 guns.</p> + +<p>Here I will leave them; I will not describe their subsequent stay in +Italy, the demobilisation of the Battalion, the return of the nucleus +and its welcome at Reading, or its rebirth in peace under its present +popular and capable Commander, Colonel Aldworth, and its excellent +Adjutant, Captain Goodenough.</p> + +<p>Let us not forget these Berkshire men, who played a worthy part in the +changing scenes of this tremendous conflict: who, at the close, amidst +the utter confusion of their enemies, bore witness to the truth of +that saying, 'He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.'</p> + + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page153" name="page153"></a>(p. 153)</span><a id="appenda" name="appenda"></a><h2>APPENDIX A.</h2> + +<p class="center">1/4TH BATTALION ROYAL BERKSHIRE REGIMENT.<br> +ROLL OF OFFICERS, NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND MEN WHO DIED IN THE WAR.</p> + + +<p class="p2-3 center">CAPTAINS.<br><br> +<span class="col10">Attride, R. G.</span> +<span class="col35-58">Buck, C.</span> +<span class="col60-99">Down, W. O., <abbr title="Military Cross">M.C.</abbr></span></p> + +<p class="p2-3 center">LIEUTENANTS.<br><br> +<span class="col10">Hunt, N. G.</span> +<span class="col35-58">Palmer, R. W. P.</span> +<span class="col60-99">Ridley, L. E.</span></p> + +<p class="p2-3 center">SECOND-LIEUTENANTS.<br><br> +<span class="col10-49">Bartram, A.</span> +<span class="col60-99">Heppell, H. D.</span><br> +<span class="col10-49">Beasley, A. W., <abbr title="Military Medal">M.M.</abbr></span> +<span class="col60-99">Teed, H. S.</span><br> +<span class="col10-49">Clayton, N.</span> +<span class="col60-99">Wakeford, G. T.</span><br> +<span class="col10-49">Garside, T. O.</span></p> + +<p class="p2-3 center">ATTACHED TO OTHER UNITS.<br><br> +<span class="col10-49"><abbr title="Lieutenant-Colonel">Lieut.-Colonel</abbr> Thorne, H. U. H.</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> Wells, H. M. W.</span></p> + +<p class="p2-3 center">COMPANY <abbr title="Sergeant-Majors">SERGT.-MAJORS.</abbr><br><br> +<span class="col10-19">392</span> +<span class="col20-49">Lawrence, W.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200546</span> +<span class="col60-99">Wright, A. T., <abbr title="Distinguished Conduct Medal">D.C.M.</abbr></span></p> + +<p class="p2-3 center">COMPANY QUARTERMASTER SERGEANTS.<br><br> +<span class="col10-19">599</span> +<span class="col20-49">Moore, F. W.</span> +<span class="col50-59">1637</span> +<span class="col60-99">Perrin, C.</span></p> + +<p class="p2-3 center">SERGEANTS.<br><br> + +<span class="col10-19">2399</span> +<span class="col20-49">Amor, A. S.</span> +<span class="col50-59">2610</span> +<span class="col60-99">House, A. E.</span><br> +<span class="col10-19">200627</span> +<span class="col20-49">Benn, C.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200861</span> +<span class="col60-99">Lukeman, C. H.</span><br> +<span class="col10-19">2478</span> +<span class="col20-49">Brewerton, W. W.</span> +<span class="col50-59">2529</span> +<span class="col60-99">Lush, G.</span><br> +<span class="col10-19">200485</span> +<span class="col20-49">Childs, F.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200605</span> +<span class="col60-99">Nicholls, A.</span><br> +<span class="col10-19">2327</span> +<span class="col20-49">Didcock, F.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200406</span> +<span class="col60-99">Paddick, H.</span><br> +<span class="col10-19">2402</span> +<span class="col20-49">Forge, G. F.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200670</span> +<span class="col60-99">Parker, C. J.</span><br> +<span class="col10-19">202093</span> +<span class="col20-49">Garrard, C. J. C.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200169</span> +<span class="col60-99">Parker, J.</span><br> +<span class="col10-19">200080</span> +<span class="col20-49">Giles, F. C.</span> +<span class="col50-59">2773</span> +<span class="col60-99">Pinnell, H. J.</span><br> +<span class="col10-19">2883</span> +<span class="col20-49">Grant, E. J.</span> +<span class="col50-59">44</span> +<span class="col60-99">Reddrop, R. T.</span><br> +<span class="col10-19">426</span> +<span class="col20-49">Haines, G.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200542</span> +<span class="col60-99">Russell, T. D.</span><br> +<span class="col10-19">891</span> +<span class="col20-49">Hedges, F. W.</span> +<span class="col50-59">441</span> +<span class="col60-99">Rutter, P.</span><br> +<span class="col10-19">203799</span> +<span class="col20-49">Henson, A.</span> +<span class="col50-59">2434</span> +<span class="col60-99">Taylor, V. H.</span><br> +<span class="col10-19">2446</span> +<span class="col20-49">Hewett, W. C. E.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200246</span> +<span class="col60-99">Weavings, R.</span><br> +<span class="col10-19">200010</span> +<span class="col20-49">Holloway, W. C.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200690</span> +<span class="col60-99">Wright, F. J.</span></p> + +<p class="p2-3 center">LANCE-SERGEANTS.<br><br> +<span class="col10-19">2342</span> +<span class="col20-49">Gorring, H. J.</span> +<span class="col50-59">1937</span> +<span class="col60-99">Watson, F. W.</span><br> +<span class="col10-19">200390</span> +<span class="col20-49">Langford, A. W.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200192</span> +<span class="col60-99">Webb, F. W.</span></p> + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page154" name="page154"></a>(p. 154)</span><p class="p2-3 center">CORPORALS.<br><br> + +<span class="col10-19">202402</span> +<span class="col20-49">Cocking, J. H. A.</span> +<span class="col50-59">203840</span> +<span class="col60-99">Russell, W. J.</span><br> +<span class="col10-19">200422</span> +<span class="col20-49">Davies, E. L., <abbr title="Military Medal">M.M.</abbr></span> +<span class="col50-59">1678</span> +<span class="col60-99">Rutland, H. S.</span><br> +<span class="col10-19">2340</span> +<span class="col20-49">Jones, A. T. N.</span> +<span class="col50-59">1825</span> +<span class="col60-99">Searle, A. E.</span><br> +<span class="col10-19">12799</span> +<span class="col20-49">Killmaster, W.</span> +<span class="col50-59">203836</span> +<span class="col60-99">Simmonds, T. G.</span><br> +<span class="col10-19">201482</span> +<span class="col20-49">Knight, F.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200896</span> +<span class="col60-99">Snow, J. M.</span><br> +<span class="col10-19">1830</span> +<span class="col20-49">Painter, A. G.</span> +<span class="col50-59">2154</span> +<span class="col60-99">Taylor, W. G.</span><br> +<span class="col10-19">2701</span> +<span class="col20-49">Papps, A. C.</span> +<span class="col50-59">201555</span> +<span class="col60-99">Watts, W.</span><br> +<span class="col10-19">2575</span> +<span class="col20-49">Piggott, W.</span> +<span class="col50-59">2395</span> +<span class="col60-99">Wilson, R. G.</span></p> + +<p class="p2-3 center">LANCE-CORPORALS.<br><br> + +<span class="col10-19">200412</span> +<span class="col20-49">Attride, G. J.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200513</span> +<span class="col60-99">Hatto, H. H.</span><br> +<span class="col10-19">200382</span> +<span class="col20-49">Barker, E. A.</span> +<span class="col50-59">2659</span> +<span class="col60-99">House, H. J.</span><br> +<span class="col10-19">200344</span> +<span class="col20-49">Beard, H. E.</span> +<span class="col50-59">203833</span> +<span class="col60-99">Jenkins, W.</span><br> +<span class="col10-19">2765</span> +<span class="col20-49">Boston, A. W.</span> +<span class="col50-59">4945</span> +<span class="col60-99">Johnson, W. G. A.</span><br> +<span class="col10-19">200137</span> +<span class="col20-49">Brooks, A. C.</span> +<span class="col50-59">1470</span> +<span class="col60-99">Lambert, A. J.</span><br> +<span class="col10-19">203198</span> +<span class="col20-49">Campbell, H. V.</span> +<span class="col50-59">1767</span> +<span class="col60-99">Legge, A. E.</span><br> +<span class="col10-19">5649</span> +<span class="col20-49">Cole, A. C.</span> +<span class="col50-59">201450</span> +<span class="col60-99">Lewis, F. C.</span><br> +<span class="col10-19">200125</span> +<span class="col20-49">Cook, W. C.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200242</span> +<span class="col60-99">Mills, G.</span><br> +<span class="col10-19">200160</span> +<span class="col20-49">Dean, H. S.</span> +<span class="col50-59">2442</span> +<span class="col60-99">Odell, E. V.</span><br> +<span class="col10-19">1625</span> +<span class="col20-49">Deane, M. A. C.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200425</span> +<span class="col60-99">Perkins, E. H. R.</span><br> +<span class="col10-19">200946</span> +<span class="col20-49">Dee, A. E.</span> +<span class="col50-59">201508</span> +<span class="col60-99">Rackley, A.</span><br> +<span class="col10-19">2176</span> +<span class="col20-49">Garrett, F. H.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200621</span> +<span class="col60-99">Saunders, E.</span><br> +<span class="col10-19">2947</span> +<span class="col20-49">George, R. W.</span> +<span class="col50-59">6289</span> +<span class="col60-99">Smith, F.</span><br> +<span class="col10-19">666</span> +<span class="col20-49">Godwin, A. H.</span> +<span class="col50-59">1690</span> +<span class="col60-99">Somerville, S.</span><br> +<span class="col10-19">2946</span> +<span class="col20-49">Goodall, A.</span> +<span class="col50-59">2354</span> +<span class="col60-99">Vaughan, F. W.</span><br> +<span class="col10-19">200813</span> +<span class="col20-49">Hands, W. T.</span> +<span class="col50-59">201543</span> +<span class="col60-99">Ward, E.</span><br> +<span class="col10-19">3015</span> +<span class="col20-49">Haskins, R.</span> +<span class="col50-59">5775</span> +<span class="col60-99">Wright, A. V.</span></p> + +<p class="p2-3 center">PRIVATES.<br><br> + +<span class="col10-19">4716</span> +<span class="col20-49">Abery, L. H.</span> +<span class="col50-59">5529</span> +<span class="col60-99">Adlam, F. C.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">200545</span> +<span class="col20-49">Allum, F. S.</span> +<span class="col50-59">203061</span> +<span class="col60-99">Andrews, G.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">202156</span> +<span class="col20-49">Andrews, W.</span> +<span class="col50-59">201477</span> +<span class="col60-99">Annetts, P.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">5455</span> +<span class="col20-49">Appleton, G.</span> +<span class="col50-59">2653</span> +<span class="col60-99">Atkins, F.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">200824</span> +<span class="col20-49">Aubrey, F. W.</span> +<span class="col50-59">201843</span> +<span class="col60-99">Austin, J. W.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">5654</span> +<span class="col20-49">Ayles, E. H.</span> +<span class="col50-59">1883</span> +<span class="col60-99">Ayres, F.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">2714</span> +<span class="col20-49">Bacon, P. G. W.</span> +<span class="col50-59">1939</span> +<span class="col60-99">Badcock, A.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">4682</span> +<span class="col20-49">Baker, P. G.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200617</span> +<span class="col60-99">Barnett, A. A.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">1768</span> +<span class="col20-49">Barney, C.</span> +<span class="col50-59">5789</span> +<span class="col60-99">Bateman, J.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">2962</span> +<span class="col20-49">Beckett, A. J.</span> +<span class="col50-59">5831</span> +<span class="col60-99">Beckinsale, L.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">200157</span> +<span class="col20-49">Belcher, H.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200743</span> +<span class="col60-99">Belcher, S. E.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">202211</span> +<span class="col20-49">Benger, A. T.</span> +<span class="col50-59">201877</span> +<span class="col60-99">Bickle, A. E.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">5843</span> +<span class="col20-49">Bird, F.</span> +<span class="col50-59">1473</span> +<span class="col60-99">Blade, H. R. W.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">4920</span> +<span class="col20-49">Bloomfield, C. I.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200472</span> +<span class="col60-99">Bolton, C.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">10116</span> +<span class="col20-49">Bond, F. S.</span> +<span class="col50-59">2748</span> +<span class="col60-99">Boothby, R.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">37969</span> +<span class="col20-49">Borley, F. G.</span> +<span class="col50-59">3088</span> +<span class="col60-99">Bowell, G. P.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">20662</span> +<span class="col20-49">Bracey, G. G.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200400</span> +<span class="col60-99">Brant, B. J. L.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">36259</span> +<span class="col20-49">Bromley, H.</span> +<span class="col50-59">5444</span> +<span class="col60-99">Brooman, H. B.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">2076</span> +<span class="col20-49">Brown, C. J. F.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200544</span> +<span class="col60-99">Brown, S. R.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">203847</span> +<span class="col20-49">Brown, W. A.</span> +<span class="col50-59">203181</span> +<span class="col60-99">Buckingham, F. J.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">220192</span> +<span class="col20-49">Bullen, E. L.</span> +<span class="col50-59">18181</span> +<span class="col60-99">Burrows, C.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">2782</span> +<span class="col20-49">Butler, A. J.</span> +<span class="col50-59">4969</span> +<span class="col60-99">Buxcey, A. E.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">200960</span> +<span class="col20-49">Buxton, W.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200632</span> +<span class="col60-99">Cane, N.</span><br> + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page155" name="page155"></a>(p. 155)</span> + +<span class="col10-19">203294</span> +<span class="col20-49">Cannon, H. F.</span> +<span class="col50-59">202033</span> +<span class="col60-99">Carter, A.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">203195</span> +<span class="col20-49">Chaplin, F. A.</span> +<span class="col50-59">2122</span> +<span class="col60-99">Chapman, A. E.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">202068</span> +<span class="col20-49">Chapman, W. J.</span> +<span class="col50-59">5327</span> +<span class="col60-99">Clarke, E. F.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">36539</span> +<span class="col20-49">Clayton, W. M.</span> +<span class="col50-59">37974</span> +<span class="col60-99">Clements, F.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">203192</span> +<span class="col20-49">Cleveland, F. T.</span> +<span class="col50-59">201991</span> +<span class="col60-99">Cockell, J.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">5648</span> +<span class="col20-49">Collacott, F. E. V.</span> +<span class="col50-59">201548</span> +<span class="col60-99">Collis, A.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">202139</span> +<span class="col20-49">Commins, H. J.</span> +<span class="col50-59">34087</span> +<span class="col60-99">Cook, A. E.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">18346</span> +<span class="col20-49">Cook, F. H. V.</span> +<span class="col50-59">30435</span> +<span class="col60-99">Cook, J.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">203706</span> +<span class="col20-49">Cook, R.</span> +<span class="col50-59">37977</span> +<span class="col60-99">Cooke, F. T.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">5671</span> +<span class="col20-49">Cooper, H.</span> +<span class="col50-59">17723</span> +<span class="col60-99">Copas, A. W.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">4801</span> +<span class="col20-49">Coventry, H. T.</span> +<span class="col50-59">4815</span> +<span class="col60-99">Cox, E. B.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">5263</span> +<span class="col20-49">Coxhead, W.</span> +<span class="col50-59">5199</span> +<span class="col60-99">Cripps, A. E.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">200902</span> +<span class="col20-49">Crook, W.</span> +<span class="col50-59">4701</span> +<span class="col60-99">Cropp, C.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">5349</span> +<span class="col20-49">Cruse, A. G.</span> +<span class="col50-59">202219</span> +<span class="col60-99">Curtis, W. J.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">202181</span> +<span class="col20-49">Dale, S.</span> +<span class="col50-59">2656</span> +<span class="col60-99">Dance, W. W. S.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">202887</span> +<span class="col20-49">Darling, F. H.</span> +<span class="col50-59">5855</span> +<span class="col60-99">Davey, A. A.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">2983</span> +<span class="col20-49">Denham, C. W.</span> +<span class="col50-59">2753</span> +<span class="col60-99">Dix, W. H.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">5828</span> +<span class="col20-49">Dixon, G.</span> +<span class="col50-59">202230</span> +<span class="col60-99">Drake, F. J. V.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">5738</span> +<span class="col20-49">Duckett, H. E.</span> +<span class="col50-59">202107</span> +<span class="col60-99">Eade, J.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">202149</span> +<span class="col20-49">Eady, L.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200566</span> +<span class="col60-99">Early, F. W.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">20350</span> +<span class="col20-49">Eighteen, H. T.</span> +<span class="col50-59">5083</span> +<span class="col60-99">Elbrow, A. J.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">201908</span> +<span class="col20-49">Elwick, C. G.</span> +<span class="col50-59">201773</span> +<span class="col60-99">Emmett, C. W.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">202186</span> +<span class="col20-49">Emmons, C. W. H.</span> +<span class="col50-59">5208</span> +<span class="col60-99">Evans, D.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">200535</span> +<span class="col20-49">Fennell, F.</span> +<span class="col50-59">3250</span> +<span class="col60-99">Filbee, W. H. F.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">3271</span> +<span class="col20-49">Filmore, H. W.</span> +<span class="col50-59">37921</span> +<span class="col60-99">Fisher, H. A.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">203326</span> +<span class="col20-49">Fleetwood, F. P.</span> +<span class="col50-59">20202</span> +<span class="col60-99">Fleming, B.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">2727</span> +<span class="col20-49">Ford, A. E.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200878</span> +<span class="col60-99">Freeman, J.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">12384</span> +<span class="col20-49">Freeth, R.</span> +<span class="col50-59">202895</span> +<span class="col60-99">French, H.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">201970</span> +<span class="col20-49">Fryer, E. G.</span> +<span class="col50-59">203712</span> +<span class="col60-99">Fullbrook, A. H.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">37979</span> +<span class="col20-49">Furness, F. C.</span> +<span class="col50-59">203075</span> +<span class="col60-99">Garraway, R. H.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">201356</span> +<span class="col20-49">Geater, A. J.</span> +<span class="col50-59">2539</span> +<span class="col60-99">Gee, R. B.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">2996</span> +<span class="col20-49">Gibbard, H.</span> +<span class="col50-59">4983</span> +<span class="col60-99">Gibbons, C. E.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">5641</span> +<span class="col20-49">Giles, E. S.</span> +<span class="col50-59">3053</span> +<span class="col60-99">Giles, F.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">203881</span> +<span class="col20-49">Giles, H.</span> +<span class="col50-59">37915</span> +<span class="col60-99">Goddard, H. T. W.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">200058</span> +<span class="col20-49">Goodenough, A. S. J.</span> +<span class="col50-59">2062</span> +<span class="col60-99">Goodship, A. B.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">4874</span> +<span class="col20-49">Gore, A. J.</span> +<span class="col50-59">201412</span> +<span class="col60-99">Gould, A.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">4939</span> +<span class="col20-49">Grant, G.</span> +<span class="col50-59">44411</span> +<span class="col60-99">Grant, G.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">5131</span> +<span class="col20-49">Graves, T. H.</span> +<span class="col50-59">203255</span> +<span class="col60-99">Green, W. G.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">32808</span> +<span class="col20-49">Greenaway, E.</span> +<span class="col50-59">5092</span> +<span class="col60-99">Greenough, E. J.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">4124</span> +<span class="col20-49">Grigg, J.</span> +<span class="col50-59">201694</span> +<span class="col60-99">Haines, A. E.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">201757</span> +<span class="col20-49">Haines, H. W.</span> +<span class="col50-59">2613</span> +<span class="col60-99">Hall, A. E.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">201883</span> +<span class="col20-49">Hall, A. E.</span> +<span class="col50-59">201883</span> +<span class="col60-99">Harding, A. E.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">203727</span> +<span class="col20-49">Harmer, H.</span> +<span class="col50-59">2723</span> +<span class="col60-99">Harris, J. F.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">2881</span> +<span class="col20-49">Harvey, E. E.</span> +<span class="col50-59">4759</span> +<span class="col60-99">Harvey, F. W.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">203793</span> +<span class="col20-49">Hawkes, C. J.</span> +<span class="col50-59">5178</span> +<span class="col60-99">Hays, J.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">2968</span> +<span class="col20-49">Head, W.</span> +<span class="col50-59">1686</span> +<span class="col60-99">Heath, W. H.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">2130</span> +<span class="col20-49">Herne, G.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200660</span> +<span class="col60-99">Herring, C.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">201736</span> +<span class="col20-49">Hester, H. R.</span> +<span class="col50-59">5688</span> +<span class="col60-99">Higgins, A. H.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">2380</span> +<span class="col20-49">Higgs, A. W.</span> +<span class="col50-59">201085</span> +<span class="col60-99">Higgs, J.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">202365</span> +<span class="col20-49">Hill, S. A.</span> +<span class="col50-59">36755</span> +<span class="col60-99">Hipkiss, J. P.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">202201</span> +<span class="col20-49">Hodges, S. G.</span> +<span class="col50-59">202426</span> +<span class="col60-99">Holloway, E.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">4906</span> +<span class="col20-49">Holton, F. V.</span> +<span class="col50-59">37918</span> +<span class="col60-99">Hood, J.</span><br> + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page156" name="page156"></a>(p. 156)</span> + +<span class="col10-19">202247</span> +<span class="col20-49">Hopkins, R. G.</span> +<span class="col50-59">2718</span> +<span class="col60-99">House, O.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">203852</span> +<span class="col20-49">Humphries, W.</span> +<span class="col50-59">3382</span> +<span class="col60-99">Hunt, A.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">203736</span> +<span class="col20-49">Ireland, G.</span> +<span class="col50-59">37186</span> +<span class="col60-99">Jackson, C.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">202044</span> +<span class="col20-49">Jefferies, G. H.</span> +<span class="col50-59">37958</span> +<span class="col60-99">Jessel, H.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">37939</span> +<span class="col20-49">Jones, L. L.</span> +<span class="col50-59">201568</span> +<span class="col60-99">Jones, T. H.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">200293</span> +<span class="col20-49">Josey, B.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200196</span> +<span class="col60-99">Kinchin, H.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">203187</span> +<span class="col20-49">King, A. E.</span> +<span class="col50-59">6126</span> +<span class="col60-99">King, F.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">201455</span> +<span class="col20-49">King, H. A.</span> +<span class="col50-59">2616</span> +<span class="col60-99">Knott, A. T.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">200251</span> +<span class="col20-49">Lambourne, W.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200834</span> +<span class="col60-99">Langford, A. B.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">203746</span> +<span class="col20-49">Langmead, A. R.</span> +<span class="col50-59">6124</span> +<span class="col60-99">Lee, A. H.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">202016</span> +<span class="col20-49">Lennard, J.</span> +<span class="col50-59">202041</span> +<span class="col60-99">Leonard, A.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">3058</span> +<span class="col20-49">Leonard, R.</span> +<span class="col50-59">202703</span> +<span class="col60-99">Lett, G. E.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">3113</span> +<span class="col20-49">Lewendon, A.</span> +<span class="col50-59">5709</span> +<span class="col60-99">Liddard, E.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">200291</span> +<span class="col20-49">Long, D.</span> +<span class="col50-59">2607</span> +<span class="col60-99">Loving, H.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">2204</span> +<span class="col20-49">Luke, W. S.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200783</span> +<span class="col60-99">Lunnon, P.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">36028</span> +<span class="col20-49">Macdonald, A.</span> +<span class="col50-59">37913</span> +<span class="col60-99">Main, A. H.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">3955</span> +<span class="col20-49">Maidwaring, H.</span> +<span class="col50-59">3198</span> +<span class="col60-99">Marshall, H. K.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">202124</span> +<span class="col20-49">Martin, J.</span> +<span class="col50-59">36831</span> +<span class="col60-99">Mason, L. G. A.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">203045</span> +<span class="col20-49">Mathers, G.</span> +<span class="col50-59">3166</span> +<span class="col60-99">May, C.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">202118</span> +<span class="col20-49">May, P.</span> +<span class="col50-59">3836</span> +<span class="col60-99">McKay, J.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">3060</span> +<span class="col20-49">Meads, F.</span> +<span class="col50-59">3809</span> +<span class="col60-99">Meads, T.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">201494</span> +<span class="col20-49">Meads, W. H.</span> +<span class="col50-59">14102</span> +<span class="col60-99">Merriman, H. J. C.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">203817</span> +<span class="col20-49">Miles, W. H.</span> +<span class="col50-59">1816</span> +<span class="col60-99">Miles, W. T. G.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">18439</span> +<span class="col20-49">Millest, S. E.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200583</span> +<span class="col60-99">Mitcham, W. C.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">41312</span> +<span class="col20-49">Mitchell, G.</span> +<span class="col50-59">2758</span> +<span class="col60-99">Moody, L. F.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">5422</span> +<span class="col20-49">Morton, T. W.</span> +<span class="col50-59">2951</span> +<span class="col60-99">Muggridge, F. J.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">2143</span> +<span class="col20-49">Mulford, F.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200361</span> +<span class="col60-99">Mulford, R. C. A.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">37932</span> +<span class="col20-49">Nacowitz, J.</span> +<span class="col50-59">201396</span> +<span class="col60-99">Neale, G. W.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">3193</span> +<span class="col20-49">Nelson, F.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200099</span> +<span class="col60-99">New, J.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">37941</span> +<span class="col20-49">Newell, J.</span> +<span class="col50-59">20375</span> +<span class="col60-99">Newman, E. T.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">1826</span> +<span class="col20-49">Noakes, A.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200454</span> +<span class="col60-99">Norman, J. P.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">201765</span> +<span class="col20-49">Osborne, H. J.</span> +<span class="col50-59">201994</span> +<span class="col60-99">Packford, C.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">3483</span> +<span class="col20-49">Painter, F. C.</span> +<span class="col50-59">202194</span> +<span class="col60-99">Panting, G. A.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">5240</span> +<span class="col20-49">Parker, A. Y.</span> +<span class="col50-59">203760</span> +<span class="col60-99">Parker, H. L.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">5653</span> +<span class="col20-49">Parsons, C. F.</span> +<span class="col50-59">5567</span> +<span class="col60-99">Parsons, W. H.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">202148</span> +<span class="col20-49">Pascoe, H.</span> +<span class="col50-59">201839</span> +<span class="col60-99">Pearce, E. A.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">201474</span> +<span class="col20-49">Pearce, W. A.</span> +<span class="col50-59">36417</span> +<span class="col60-99">Pepper, C.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">3234</span> +<span class="col20-49">Piddington, W. J.</span> +<span class="col50-59">3456</span> +<span class="col60-99">Pike, W.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">37960</span> +<span class="col20-49">Platt, R.</span> +<span class="col50-59">202014</span> +<span class="col60-99">Plumridge, W.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">3032</span> +<span class="col20-49">Pocock, S. H. V.</span> +<span class="col50-59">201029</span> +<span class="col60-99">Pocock, S. R.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">200310</span> +<span class="col20-49">Poole, J. H.</span> +<span class="col50-59">2713</span> +<span class="col60-99">Pratt, R. E.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">36684</span> +<span class="col20-49">Prowse, W.</span> +<span class="col50-59">203846</span> +<span class="col60-99">Quarterman, C. F.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">3450</span> +<span class="col20-49">Rackley, F.</span> +<span class="col50-59">202892</span> +<span class="col60-99">Robertson, R. H.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">4974</span> +<span class="col20-49">Robey, W. R.</span> +<span class="col50-59">37169</span> +<span class="col60-99">Robinson, C. E.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">6144</span> +<span class="col20-49">Rodman, S. H.</span> +<span class="col50-59">3004</span> +<span class="col60-99">Rogers, G. F. D.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">2057</span> +<span class="col20-49">Rose, C. R.</span> +<span class="col50-59">18532</span> +<span class="col60-99">Rudge, S.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">200373</span> +<span class="col20-49">Russ, E.</span> +<span class="col50-59">201581</span> +<span class="col60-99">Sadler, J. H.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">203803</span> +<span class="col20-49">Sadler, T.</span> +<span class="col50-59">3384</span> +<span class="col60-99">Salmon, H.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">35971</span> +<span class="col20-49">Salmon, W. H.</span> +<span class="col50-59">37989</span> +<span class="col60-99">Sargent, S.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">200737</span> +<span class="col20-49">Schaffer, A.</span> +<span class="col50-59">201975</span> +<span class="col60-99">Searing, A.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">202059</span> +<span class="col20-49">Searle, C.</span> +<span class="col50-59">202121</span> +<span class="col60-99">Searle, E.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">2848</span> +<span class="col20-49">Selby, F. P.</span> +<span class="col50-59">2845</span> +<span class="col60-99">Seymour, A. J.</span><br> + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page157" name="page157"></a>(p. 157)</span> + +<span class="col10-19">3033</span> +<span class="col20-49">Shackleford, A. F.</span> +<span class="col50-59">201881</span> +<span class="col60-99">Sharland, H.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">201801</span> +<span class="col20-49">Shepherd, C.</span> +<span class="col50-59">37935</span> +<span class="col60-99">Skuce, W.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">2469</span> +<span class="col20-49">Smith, A. F.</span> +<span class="col50-59">2378</span> +<span class="col60-99">Smith, W. T.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">37925</span> +<span class="col20-49">Spice, A. F.</span> +<span class="col50-59">21830</span> +<span class="col60-99">Stevens, L.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">203854</span> +<span class="col20-49">Stratford, W.</span> +<span class="col50-59">2635</span> +<span class="col60-99">Street, H. S.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">5312</span> +<span class="col20-49">Swain, A. T.</span> +<span class="col50-59">36875</span> +<span class="col60-99">Taylor, G.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">202165</span> +<span class="col20-49">Tellan, F. E.</span> +<span class="col50-59">203822</span> +<span class="col60-99">Thompson, J. H.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">203781</span> +<span class="col20-49">Thorn, R. E.</span> +<span class="col50-59">5164</span> +<span class="col60-99">Tipping, H.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">202174</span> +<span class="col20-49">Trather, E.</span> +<span class="col50-59">203782</span> +<span class="col60-99">Treadwell, W. S.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">200054</span> +<span class="col20-49">Turner, F.</span> +<span class="col50-59">2639</span> +<span class="col60-99">Turner, J.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">203300</span> +<span class="col20-49">Tyler, W.</span> +<span class="col50-59">1751</span> +<span class="col60-99">Tyrell, E.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">5193</span> +<span class="col20-49">Vickers, J.</span> +<span class="col50-59">5729</span> +<span class="col60-99">Vockins, B. O.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">200879</span> +<span class="col20-49">Waite, A.</span> +<span class="col50-59">2960</span> +<span class="col60-99">Walker, H. V.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">201060</span> +<span class="col20-49">Walters, C. H.</span> +<span class="col50-59">3216</span> +<span class="col60-99">Warren, P.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">1947</span> +<span class="col20-49">Webb, G. W.</span> +<span class="col50-59">2017</span> +<span class="col60-99">Webb, W. E.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">203845</span> +<span class="col20-49">Welch, F. A.</span> +<span class="col50-59">5844</span> +<span class="col60-99">Wells, A.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">19430</span> +<span class="col20-49">Werrell, W.</span> +<span class="col50-59">203770</span> +<span class="col60-99">Wheatcroft, A. F.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">5197</span> +<span class="col20-49">Wheeler, F.</span> +<span class="col50-59">1457</span> +<span class="col60-99">Wheeler, G.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">200986</span> +<span class="col20-49">White, C. V. T.</span> +<span class="col50-59">2662</span> +<span class="col60-99">White, J. H.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">4795</span> +<span class="col20-49">White, R. J.</span> +<span class="col50-59">5856</span> +<span class="col60-99">Whittle, W.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">200804</span> +<span class="col20-49">Wickens, B. E.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200665</span> +<span class="col60-99">Wicks, N. J.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">5143</span> +<span class="col20-49">Wicks, W. C.</span> +<span class="col50-59">5553</span> +<span class="col60-99">Wicks, W. G.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">201131</span> +<span class="col20-49">Wiggins, A. J.</span> +<span class="col50-59">202115</span> +<span class="col60-99">Wiles, F.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">5638</span> +<span class="col20-49">Williams, A. G.</span> +<span class="col50-59">5412</span> +<span class="col60-99">Wiltshire, G.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">2580</span> +<span class="col20-49">Wing, A. G.</span> +<span class="col50-59">2633</span> +<span class="col60-99">Winter, L. V.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">201514</span> +<span class="col20-49">Witts, H.</span> +<span class="col50-59">2764</span> +<span class="col60-99">Woodall, R. E.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">202000</span> +<span class="col20-49">Woodley, A. G.</span> +<span class="col50-59">203790</span> +<span class="col60-99">Woodley, F. W.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">202684</span> +<span class="col20-49">Woodward, H.</span> +<span class="col50-59">23660</span> +<span class="col60-99">Woolford, E. J.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">5793</span> +<span class="col20-49">Young, S.</span><a href="#toc">(Back to Contents)</a></p> + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page158" name="page158"></a>(p. 158)</span><a id="appendb" name="appendb"></a><h2>APPENDIX B.</h2> + +<p class="center">Honours And Decorations Gained By Officers, <abbr title="Non Commissioned Officer">N.C.O.</abbr>'s And Men Of The +<span class="smcap">1st/4th</span> Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment, While Serving With The +Battalion.</p> + +<p class="p2-3 center"><abbr title="Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George.">C.M.G.</abbr><br><br> +<span class="col10-49">Colonel O. Pearce Serocold.</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Lieutenant-Colonel">Lieut.-Col.</abbr> R. J. Clarke.</span></p> + +<p class="p2-3 center"><abbr title="Companion of the Distinguished Service Order">D.S.O.</abbr><br><br> +<span class="center"><abbr title="Lieutenant-Colonel">Lieut.-Col.</abbr> A. B. Lloyd-Baker (Bucks <abbr title="Battalion">Battn.</abbr> attached).</span><br> +<span class="col10-49"><abbr title="Lieutenant-Colonel">Lieut.-Col.</abbr> R. J. Clarke.</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Captain">Capt.</abbr> W. A. Wetherilt.</span></p> + +<p class="p2-3 center"><abbr title="Military Cross">M.C.</abbr><br><br> +<span class="col10-49">Major J. N. Aldworth.</span> +<span class="col50-99"><abbr title="Captain">Capt.</abbr> E. W. Crust.</span><br> +<span class="col10-49"><abbr title="Captain">Capt.</abbr> S. Boyle.</span> +<span class="col50-99"><abbr title="Captain">Capt.</abbr> B. F. Holmes (Norfolk <abbr title="Regiment">Regt.</abbr> attached).</span><br> +<span class="col10-49"><abbr title="Captain">Capt.</abbr> G. M. Gaythorne-Hardy.</span> +<span class="col50-99"><abbr title="Captain">Capt.</abbr> J. W. Cawley.</span><br> +<span class="col10-49"><abbr title="Captain">Capt.</abbr> O. B. Challenor.</span> +<span class="col50-99"><abbr title="Captain">Capt.</abbr> G. C. W. Gregory (East Surrey <abbr title="Regiment">Regt.</abbr> attached).</span><br> +<span class="col10-49"><abbr title="Captain">Capt.</abbr> W. O. Down.</span> +<span class="col50-99"><abbr title="Captain">Capt.</abbr> L. Ball (<abbr title="Royal Army Medical Corps">R.A.M.C.</abbr> attached).</span><br> +<span class="col10-49"><abbr title="Captain">Capt.</abbr> D. J. Ward.</span> +<span class="col50-99"><abbr title="Captain">Capt.</abbr> L. T. Goodenough.</span><br> +<span class="col10-49"><abbr title="Captain">Capt.</abbr> O. M. James.</span> +<span class="col50-99"><abbr title="Captain">Capt.</abbr> S. C. Larn.</span><br><br> + +<span class="col10-49"><abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> W. O. Forder.</span> +<span class="col50-99"><abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> A. O. Stott.</span><br> +<span class="col10-49"><abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> P. G. Handford (Wilts <abbr title="Regiment">Regt.</abbr> attached).</span> +<span class="col50-99"><abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> H. T. Wevill.</span><br> +<span class="col10-49"><abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> T. Rogers.</span> +<span class="col50-99">2nd/<abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> E. E. Millar (Wilts <abbr title="Regiment">Regt.</abbr> attached).</span><br><br> + +<span class="col10-49">200005 <abbr title="Company Sergeant Major">C.S.M.</abbr>, A. G. Rider.</span> +<span class="col50-99">201108 <abbr title="Company Sergeant Major">C.S.M.</abbr>, W. H. Heath.</span></p> + +<p class="p2-3 center">DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL.<br><br> + +<span class="col10-49">200024 <abbr title="Regimental Sergeant Major">R.S.M.</abbr> Laidler, A. H.</span> +<span class="col60-99">201115 <abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Wilson, W.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-49">200546 <abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Wright, A. T.</span> +<span class="col60-99">200052 <abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Holloway, T.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-49">3134 <abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Rogers, T.</span> +<span class="col60-99">200756 <abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Salmon, J. H.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-49">65 <abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> White, S.</span> +<span class="col60-99">200500 <abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Moore, S. W.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-49">203794 <abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Gilding, F.</span> +<span class="col60-99">203791 <abbr title="Company Sergeant Major">C.S.M.</abbr> Alder, G.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-49">200569 <abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> White, W. T.</span> +<span class="col60-99">4749 <abbr title="Private">Pte.</abbr> Appleby, J.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-49">[A]405 <abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Westall, A. G.</span> +<span class="col60-99">2594 <abbr title="Private">Pte.</abbr> Sadler, G.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-49">200034 <abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Roberts, W. A.</span></p> + +<p class="center">[A: <i>denotes award of Bar to <abbr title="Distinguished Conduct Medal">D.C.M.</abbr></i>]</p> + +<p class="p2-3 center">MILITARY MEDAL.<br><br> + +<span class="col10-19">12</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Beasley, A. W.</span> +<span class="col50-59">2035</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Private">Pte.</abbr> Sellwood, P.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">445</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Wickens, R. A.</span> +<span class="col50-59">3128</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Private">Pte.</abbr> Ross, B. A.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">203809</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Lance-Corporal">L/Cpl.</abbr> Ranscombe, W.</span> +<span class="col50-59">4968</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Private">Pte.</abbr> Wernham, H. W.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">142</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Shorter, G.</span> +<span class="col50-59">[B]3120</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Lance-Corporal">L/Cpl.</abbr> Rixon, W.</span><br> + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page159" name="page159"></a>(p. 159)</span> + +<span class="col10-19">2439</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Lance-Corporal">L/Cpl.</abbr> Davies, E. L.</span> +<span class="col50-59">26031</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Lance-Corporal">L/Cpl.</abbr> Lloyd, L. V.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">2612</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Lance-Corporal">L/Cpl.</abbr> Rice, R.</span> +<span class="col50-59">203873</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Thatcher, A.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">2646</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Corporal">Corpl.</abbr> Cooke, W.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200905</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Private">Pte.</abbr> Robinson, F. W.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">[B]200814</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Private">Pte.</abbr> Mitchell, R.</span> +<span class="col50-59">201115</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Wilson, W.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">144</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Private">Pte.</abbr> Smith, S.</span> +<span class="col50-59">36796</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Private">Pte.</abbr> Cooksey, E. H.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">2629</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Private">Pte.</abbr> Russell, T.</span> +<span class="col50-59">202187</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Private">Pte.</abbr> Disbury, C.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">1547</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Goodenough, L. T.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200500</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Moore, S. W.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">2768</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Corporal">Corpl.</abbr> Crust, E. W.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200256</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Corporal">Corpl.</abbr> Duncan, J. A.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">200150</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Garrett, E. J.</span> +<span class="col50-59">1794</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Lance-Corporal">L/Cpl.</abbr> Sargent, E. N.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">200633</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Private">Pte.</abbr> Lambden, R. E.</span> +<span class="col50-59">1140</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Holloway, T.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">200426</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Millican, H.</span> +<span class="col50-59">203771</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Lance-Corporal">L/Cpl.</abbr> Stratton, W. W.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">200847</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Lance-Corporal">L/Cpl.</abbr> De Gruchy, H.</span> +<span class="col50-59">37937</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Lance-Corporal">L/Cpl.</abbr> Rogers, S.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">200620</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Martin, S.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200485</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Corporal">Corpl.</abbr> Childs, F. W.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">200647</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Seeley, C. L.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200562</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Private">Pte.</abbr> Clare, H. H.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">203875</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Lance-Sergeant">L/Sergt.</abbr> Baylis, L. G.</span> +<span class="col50-59">203812</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Lance-Corporal">L/Cpl.</abbr> Parris, A. T.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">200661</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Lance-Corporal">L/Cpl.</abbr> Slatter, S. G.</span> +<span class="col50-59">201775</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Private">Pte.</abbr> Cund, F.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">201824</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Private">Pte.</abbr> Breadmore, F.</span> +<span class="col50-59">201917</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Private">Pte.</abbr> Curtis, C. W.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">200846</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> White, H. G.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200796</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Private">Pte.</abbr> Stokes, W. J.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">200406</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Paddick, H.</span> +<span class="col50-59">201505</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Prior, S. C.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">200373</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Private">Pte.</abbr> Russ, E.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200215</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Private">Pte.</abbr> Carter, A.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">200682</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Fuller, B. H.</span> +<span class="col50-59">203772</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Private">Pte.</abbr> Cartland, J.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">20649</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Lance-Corporal">L/Cpl.</abbr> Mazey, J.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200216</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Lance-Corporal">L/Cpl.</abbr> Bricks, H. A.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">2772 </span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Private">Pte.</abbr> Hutchings, G. W.</span> +<span class="col50-59">203862</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Private">Pte.</abbr> Wiggins, C. W.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">2252</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Evans, A.</span> +<span class="col50-59">201753</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Private">Pte.</abbr> Evans, G.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">3143</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Corporal">Corpl.</abbr> Hart, H.</span> +<span class="col50-59">201796</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Lance-Corporal">L/Cpl.</abbr> Thomas, M.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">1858</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Private">Pte.</abbr> Oliver, M. W.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200877</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Lance-Corporal">L/Cpl.</abbr> Freeman, J.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">8362</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Corporal">Corpl.</abbr> Allen, W.</span> +<span class="col50-59">34146</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Private">Pte.</abbr> Tyrrell, F.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">200675</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Shaw, E.</span> +<span class="col50-59">202165</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Private">Pte.</abbr> Crouch, W. J.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">200263</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Harman, C. H.</span> +<span class="col50-59">202244</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Lance-Corporal">L/Cpl.</abbr> Edwards, H. F.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">37317</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Corporal">Corpl.</abbr> White, N. B.</span> +<span class="col50-59">21799</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Private">Pte.</abbr> Brooks, F. J.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">200356</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Corporal">Corpl.</abbr> Withers, A. V.</span> +<span class="col50-59">201383</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Private">Pte.</abbr> Hopkins, F.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">38157</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Private">Pte.</abbr> Black, D.</span> +<span class="col50-59">17048</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Private">Pte.</abbr> Fisher, A.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">203850</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Corporal">Corpl.</abbr> Cripps, H. J.</span> +<span class="col50-59">201776</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Corporal">Corpl.</abbr> Sturgess, A. H.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">201508</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Private">Pte.</abbr> Rackley, A.</span><br> +<span class="col10-19">36644</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Private">Pte.</abbr> Edmunds, F.</span></p> + +<p class="center">[B: <i>denotes award of Bar to Military Medal.</i>]</p> + +<p class="p2-3 center">MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL.<br><br> + +<span class="col10-19">200423</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Company Quartermaster Sergeant">C.Q.M.S.</abbr> Pitman, C. E.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200549</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Morris, W. H.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">200063</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Company Quartermaster Sergeant">C.Q.M.S.</abbr> Snarey, F. A.</span> +<span class="col50-59">203829</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Lance-Corporal">L/Cpl.</abbr> Kurton, C.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">200019</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Company Quartermaster Sergeant">C.Q.M.S.</abbr> Hatton, E. S.</span> +<span class="col50-59">203753</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Private">Pte.</abbr> Meads, H. H.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">200849</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Grover, F. R.</span></p> + + +<p class="p2-3 center">MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES.<br><br> + +<span class="col10-49">Colonel O. Pearce Serocold (twice).</span> +<span class="col50-99"><abbr title="Captain">Capt.</abbr> G. M. Gaythorne-Hardy.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-49"><abbr title="Lieutenant-Colonel">Lieut.-Col.</abbr> R. J. Clarke (three times).</span> +<span class="col50-99"><abbr title="Captain">Capt.</abbr> R. G. Attride.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-49"><abbr title="Lieutenant-Colonel">Lieut.-Col.</abbr> A. B. Lloyd-Baker (twice) (Bucks <abbr title="Battalion">Battn.</abbr> attached).</span> +<span class="col50-99"><abbr title="Captain">Capt.</abbr> O. B. Challenor.</span><br> + +<span class="col50-99"><abbr title="Captain">Capt.</abbr> L. Ball (<abbr title="Royal Army Medical Corps">R.A.M.C.</abbr> attached).</span><br> + +<span class="col50-99"><abbr title="Captain">Capt.</abbr> A. C. Hughes.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-49">Major G. A. Battcock (twice).</span> +<span class="col50-99"><abbr title="Captain">Capt.</abbr> O. M. James.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-49">Major J. N. Aldworth (twice).</span> +<span class="col50-99"><abbr title="Captain">Capt.</abbr> F. Winsloe.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-49"><abbr title="Captain">Capt.</abbr> A. G. M. Sharpe.</span><br> + +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page160" name="page160"></a>(p. 160)</span> + +<span class="col10-49"><abbr title="Captain">Capt.</abbr> W. A. Wetherilt.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200532</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Higgs, W. A. E. (twice).</span><br> +<span class="col10-49"><abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> R. A. Hogarth.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-49"><abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> J. Payne.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200848</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Gale, A.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-49"><abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> R. W. Wells.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200947</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Lance-Sergeant">L/Sergt.</abbr> Earle, W.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-49"><abbr title="2nd Lieutenant">2/Lieut.</abbr> C. A. Freeman.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200072</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Corporal">Corpl.</abbr> Eggleton, A. E.</span><br> +<span class="col50-59">200356</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Corporal">Corpl.</abbr> Withers, A. V. (twice).</span><br> + +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Regimental Sergeant Major">R.S.M.</abbr> Hanney, W. C.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200415</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Corporal">Corpl.</abbr> Peacock, W. J.</span><br> + +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Regimental Sergeant Major">R.S.M.</abbr> Hogarth, R. A.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200040</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Corporal">Corpl.</abbr> Poulter, E.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">2361</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant">R.Q.M.S.</abbr> Borton, E.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200275</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Corporal">Corpl.</abbr> Croft, J.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">200024</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Company Sergeant Major">C.S.M.</abbr> Laidler, A. H.</span> +<span class="col50-59">899</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Corporal">Corpl.</abbr> Collier, G. H.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">200427</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Gutteridge, A.</span> +<span class="col50-59">203182</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Lance-Corporal">L/Cpl.</abbr> Parris, L.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">200756</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Salmon, J. H.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200810</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Lance-Corporal">L/Cpl.</abbr> Shaw, A. E.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">203798</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Neal, S.</span> +<span class="col50-59">17048</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Private">Pte.</abbr> Fisher, A.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">200540</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Monney, J. T.</span> +<span class="col50-59">202196</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Private">Pte.</abbr> Hardy, T. E.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">200084</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Palmer, F.</span> +<span class="col50-59">200562</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Private">Pte.</abbr> Clare, H. H.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">1179</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Beaver, H.</span> +<span class="col50-59">38172</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Private">Pte.</abbr> Jukes, F.</span></p> + + +<p class="p4 center"><strong>FOREIGN DECORATIONS</strong>.</p> + +<p class="p2 center">FRENCH <span lang="fr">CROIX DE GUERRE</span>.</p> + +<p class="center"><abbr title="Lieutenant-Colonel">Lieut.-Col.</abbr> H. F. Whitehead (E. Lancs. <abbr title="Regiment">Regt.</abbr> attached).<br> + 203842 <abbr title="Private">Pte.</abbr> Holley, P. F.</p> + +<p class="p2 center">BELGIAN <span lang="fr">CROIX DE GUERRE</span>.</p> + +<p class="center">200415 <abbr title="Corporal">Corpl.</abbr> Peacock, W. J.</p> + +<p class="p2-4 center">ITALIAN SILVER MEDAL FOR VALOUR.<br><br> + +<span class="col10-49"><abbr title="Captain">Capt.</abbr> J. W. Cawley.</span> +<span class="col50-99"><abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> A. O. Stott.</span><br> +<span class="col10-49"><abbr title="Captain">Capt.</abbr> W. A. Wetherilt.</span> +<span class="col50-99">203791 <abbr title="Company Sergeant Major">C.S.M.</abbr> Alder, G.</span></p> + +<p class="p2-4 center">ITALIAN BRONZE MEDAL FOR VALOUR.<br><br> + +<span class="col10-49"><abbr title="Lieutenant">Lieut.</abbr> O. Buxton.</span> +<span class="col50-59">38157</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Private">Pte.</abbr> Black, D.</span><br> +<span class="col10-49">203846 <abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Gilbey, O.</span></p> + +<p class="p2-4 center">ITALIAN <span lang="it">CROCE DI GUERRA</span>.<br><br> + +<span class="col10-49"><abbr title="Lieutenant-Colonel">Lieut.-Col.</abbr> A. B. Lloyd-Baker (Bucks <abbr title="Battalion">Battn.</abbr> attached).</span><br> +<span class="col50-59">203850</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Corporal">Corpl.</abbr> Cripps, H. J.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">202235</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> Hill, A. J.</span> +<span class="col50-59">201753</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Private">Pte.</abbr> Evans, G.</span><br> + +<span class="col10-19">200569</span> +<span class="col20-49"><abbr title="Sergeant">Sergt.</abbr> White, W. T.</span> +<span class="col50-59">36796</span> +<span class="col60-99"><abbr title="Private">Pte.</abbr> Cooksey, E. H.</span></p> + +<p class="p2 center">FRENCH <span lang="fr">OFFICIER DU MÉRITE D'AGRICOLE</span>.</p> + +<p class="center"><abbr title="Lieutenant-Colonel">Lieut.-Col.</abbr> R. J. Clarke.</p> + +<p class="p2 center">FRENCH <span lang="fr">CHEVALIER DU MÉRITE D'AGRICOLE</span>.</p> + +<p class="center">Major J. N. Aldworth.<a href="#toc">(Back to Contents)</a></p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" noshade> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WAR SERVICE OF THE 1/4 ROYAL BERKSHIRE REGIMENT (T. F.)***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 22028-h.txt or 22028-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/2/0/2/22028">http://www.gutenberg.org/2/2/0/2/22028</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution.</p> + + + +<pre> +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/license">http://www.gutenberg.org/license)</a>. + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS,' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://www.gutenberg.org/about/contact + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook's +eBook number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII, +compressed (zipped), HTML and others. + +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks replace the old file and take over +the old filename and etext number. The replaced older file is renamed. +VERSIONS based on separate sources are treated as new eBooks receiving +new filenames and etext numbers. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org">http://www.gutenberg.org</a> + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + +EBooks posted prior to November 2003, with eBook numbers BELOW #10000, +are filed in directories based on their release date. If you want to +download any of these eBooks directly, rather than using the regular +search system you may utilize the following addresses and just +download by the etext year. + +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext06/">http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext06/</a> + + (Or /etext 05, 04, 03, 02, 01, 00, 99, + 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90) + +EBooks posted since November 2003, with etext numbers OVER #10000, are +filed in a different way. The year of a release date is no longer part +of the directory path. The path is based on the etext number (which is +identical to the filename). The path to the file is made up of single +digits corresponding to all but the last digit in the filename. For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/GUTINDEX.ALL">http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/GUTINDEX.ALL</a> + +*** END: FULL LICENSE *** +</pre> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/22028-h/images/img001.jpg b/22028-h/images/img001.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ee1fd2a --- /dev/null +++ b/22028-h/images/img001.jpg diff --git a/22028-h/images/img002.jpg b/22028-h/images/img002.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8c089a9 --- /dev/null +++ b/22028-h/images/img002.jpg diff --git a/22028-h/images/img003.jpg b/22028-h/images/img003.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..99e9f7e --- /dev/null +++ b/22028-h/images/img003.jpg diff --git a/22028-h/images/img004.jpg b/22028-h/images/img004.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1ee6925 --- /dev/null +++ b/22028-h/images/img004.jpg diff --git a/22028-h/images/img005.jpg b/22028-h/images/img005.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b360771 --- /dev/null +++ b/22028-h/images/img005.jpg diff --git a/22028-h/images/img006.jpg b/22028-h/images/img006.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ce10d3d --- /dev/null +++ b/22028-h/images/img006.jpg diff --git a/22028-h/images/img007.jpg b/22028-h/images/img007.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b1d6deb --- /dev/null +++ b/22028-h/images/img007.jpg diff --git a/22028-h/images/img008.jpg b/22028-h/images/img008.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..68247a1 --- /dev/null +++ b/22028-h/images/img008.jpg diff --git a/22028-h/images/img009.jpg b/22028-h/images/img009.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b85840e --- /dev/null +++ b/22028-h/images/img009.jpg diff --git a/22028-h/images/img010.jpg b/22028-h/images/img010.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4bf1560 --- /dev/null +++ b/22028-h/images/img010.jpg diff --git a/22028-h/images/img011.jpg b/22028-h/images/img011.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d6a5e90 --- /dev/null +++ b/22028-h/images/img011.jpg |
