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diff --git a/old/50066-8.txt b/old/50066-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 5e9b66e..0000000 --- a/old/50066-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5620 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of War Services of the 62nd West Riding -Divisional Artillery, by A.T. Anderson - -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/license - - -Title: War Services of the 62nd West Riding Divisional Artillery - -Author: A.T. Anderson - -Release Date: September 27, 2015 [EBook #50066] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WAR SERVICES OF THE 62ND *** - - - - -Produced by Brian Coe, Moti Ben-Ari and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - - - - - - - - -WAR SERVICES OF THE 62ND DIVISIONAL ARTILLERY. - - - - - WAR SERVICES - OF THE - 62ND WEST RIDING - DIVISIONAL ARTILLERY - - BY - Colonel A. T. ANDERSON, C.M.G. - (_C.R.H. 62nd Division, 1916-1919_), - Author of "The Field Gunner's Catechism," "A Short History - of Lucknow," - - With a Preface by - Lieut.-General SIR W. P. BRAITHWAITE, K.C.B. - - - W. HEFFER & SONS LTD. - CAMBRIDGE - 1920 - - - - -TO THE MEMORY OF OUR FALLEN COMRADES. - - - "_As fighters with unequal lance we met, - Broken I lie, - And yet, - O Death, art thou the victor or am I?_" - - MARY BYRON. - - - - -CONTENTS - - - PAGE - PREFACE vii - - CHAPTER I. - THE FIRST ADVANCE 1 - - CHAPTER II. - JUNE TO OCTOBER 1917. TRENCH WARFARE 20 - - CHAPTER III. - THE BATTLE OF CAMBRAI 40 - - CHAPTER IV. - THE GREAT GERMAN OFFENSIVE 56 - - CHAPTER V. - WITH THE 5TH FRENCH ARMY 80 - - CHAPTER VI. - THE FINAL TRIUMPH 92 - - CHAPTER VII. - THE LAST PHASE 114 - - APPENDIX A. - SUBSEQUENT SERVICES OF THE 311TH BRIGADE 120 - - APPENDIX B. - ALPHABETICAL LIST OF OFFICERS 123 - - APPENDIX C. - LIST OF OFFICERS AND MEN AWARDED DECORATIONS - OR MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES 127 - - INDEX 137 - - - - -PREFACE - -BY LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR WALTER BRAITHWAITE, K.C.B. - - -Colonel Anderson has commenced his interesting record of the war -services of the 62nd Divisional Artillery in January, 1917. He has, -therefore, no word to say as to how the instrument he commanded so ably -and with such distinction during two strenuous years of war came to -attain the standard of excellence which the following pages attest. - -It was in February, 1916, that Brig.-General Anderson and Capt. -Lindsell, then serving at the Front, were selected to take over the -Command and Brigade-Majorship respectively of the 62nd Divisional -Artillery. - -The Division was then at Salisbury Plain, and, without going into -details, I would like to tender my tribute to the untiring devoted work -accomplished by these two officers in training and fitting for war the -Artillery of the Division I had the honour to command. - -They had their reward when the time came that the instrument they had -created was put to the test of war. It never failed to respond to their -touch. The proud record it established is the best testimony to their -teaching and training. - -In the early part of 1917 I was asked to write a foreword for the -Divisional Magazine, and in it I wrote that, given grit and discipline, -there was nothing the Division could not accomplish. Grit the -Yorkshireman has always possessed, discipline he learnt. I might have -added a third desideratum--co-operation. - -The event proved, however, that this virtue was not lacking. It is to -these three great qualities I attribute the success of the Division. -The Divisional Artillery knew that they existed for the purpose of -helping the Infantry. The Infantry knew that they could depend on the -Artillery in all circumstances and under all conditions. - -There are many glorious episodes described in the following pages, many -plain unvarnished tales of heroism, and much record of what, to the -casual reader unacquainted with the conditions of life "out there," may -appear to be commonplace drudgery. - -All had their place in building up the reputation of the 62nd -Divisional Artillery, and none were more important than others, or less. - -The strain on the horses, the toil of the men in the never-ceasing -"packing" of the ammunition to Miraumont, up the shell-swept road, -past Shrapnel Corner, to the fire-desolated village, had its result -and compensation in the advance to Bapaume and the capture of -Achiet-le-Petit and Achiet-le-Grand. - -The daily digging, the unceasing work on dug-outs and gun-positions -in Ecoust, and in the Noreuil Valley, saved many a life and rendered -possible the accurate service of the guns in the Battle of Bullecourt, -and in the subsequent period of holding that much-strafed line. - -The practice in driving and the training in open warfare found their -consummation in that glorious advance of the batteries to Graincourt. - -And then, after a year's hard work, came the first rest. In December, -1917, the gunners came out of the line for the first time, and hardly -knew themselves! - -January, 1918, saw the Division back in the line again in a -comparatively peaceful sector with, however, as always, one bad -spot--Bailleul, through which one never loitered. - -But peaceful bits of the line were not the lot of the 62nd Divisional -Artillery for long, and in March we were hurried down to Bucquoy. Here -was no line, peaceful or otherwise, no prepared positions to take over, -but the hurly-burly of battle, and positions to be chosen where they -could be found. But what splendid targets! - -After the battle came a period of holding the line again, in, I think, -the most unpleasant sector we occupied, of which Essarts was the most -unhealthy spot. - -Then came a change. A quick train journey to the South and a rush into -battle without time for proper reconnaissance, but with the willing and -ready help of French and Italian comrades. - -A quick change also to open warfare, and fighting in dense woods! But -these variations affected not at all the Divisional Artillery except in -so far as it stimulated the interest of officers and men. - -The fighting in the Ardre Valley was indeed an experience we shall all -look back upon with pride and with pleasure. - -It was in the thick woods bordering the main road from Epernay to -Rheims that the D.A.C. lost their show team of roans who fell victims -to a bomb in that much bombed area. I can see now the distress on -Fraser's face when he told me of the casualty. There were many other -gallant four-footed friends who paid the toll of war there. If "the -men both good and wise" are right we may yet hope "to give them joyous -greeting when we pass the Golden Gate." - -And so we come to the return journey, back again to the 4th Army Corps. -I am glad to say my own especial pets, a very handsome pair of blacks -in "A" Battery 310 Brigade, survived the bombs, and before long another -battle and the beginning of the glorious end. - -Indeed, had we but realised it at the time, the beginning had come, and -we had participated in it, one of the only four British Divisions which -had had the luck of that honour. - -It was shortly after our return from Rheims that I left the 62nd -Division for the 9th Army Corps, so I cannot speak from actual -experience of the thrilling excitement and glorious successes which the -Division achieved in the 2nd taking of Havrincourt, and in the other -great battles which brought this long war to a triumphant conclusion. -(I left just after the York and Lancasters made that thrilling bayonet -charge in company with the King's Company of the Grenadier Guards on -the heights near Mory.) - -But the story of these culminating triumphs is told in the pages of -this book, and it only remains for me to offer one or two remarks. - -Three things, among others, seem to me to be especially worthy of note: -the endurance of the personnel, the youth of the officers in command of -batteries, the efficiency of the Territorial gunner and driver. - -How often do we see the phrase, "The Infantry were withdrawn for a -rest, the Artillery remaining, as usual, in the line covering the --th -Division." - -The periodical reliefs of Divisions hardly affected the gunner at all. -It was a marvel to me how the various Divisional Artilleries managed -to "stick it out." A day or two in the wagon lines now and then seemed -all that was necessary to restore officers and men to full vigour and -activity again. It was a triumph of endurance. - -As the war progressed battery commanders became younger and younger. I -remember once congratulating an officer on gaining command of a six-gun -battery--he had just "put up" his crowns--and making some remark on his -age, to be met with the retort, "I'm not so very young, Sir, I'm nearly -21." - -I wonder what would have been thought of the prophet who, in 1913, had -predicted that batteries would be commanded in the greatest of all wars -by men of "nearly 21"! - -I well remember, some years before the war, when the Territorial Force -was first evolved, the utter scepticism expressed of the Territorial -ever being able to be made into a gunner. Infantry yes, but gunners--! -And a distinguished Colonel Commandant R.A., of the old school, told -me, during 1916, that Territorial Force gunners might be all right -during trench warfare, but that it was absurd to think that Territorial -Force drivers would ever be able to bring the guns into position in -a war of movement. The advance of the batteries to Graincourt at the -Battle of Cambrai, the changes of position on the Ardre, and 100 other -instances prove the fallacy of such gloomy prognostications. - -Properly trained and instructed--and the 62nd Divisional Artillery was -that--Territorial Force gunners and drivers proved themselves equal to -all tasks set them. Higher praise it is impossible to bestow. - -In the concluding paragraph of his book, Colonel Anderson writes of -"the brotherhood of officers and men" and of "steadfast and loyal -comradeship." - -It was these virtues fostered and encouraged by men like the writer -of this book, David Sherlock, Bedwell, Gadie, Woodcock, Lindsell, -FitzGibbon, and many others, which enabled the 62nd Divisional -Artillery to triumph over all obstacles, to achieve its deeds of -valour, and to gain its brilliant successes for the glory of England -and to the eternal honour of Yorkshiremen. - - WALTER BRAITHWAITE, - _Lieut.-General_. - - (A former Commander of the - 62nd (West Riding) Division, T.F.) - - _February 7th, 1920._ - - - - -CHAPTER I - -THE FIRST ADVANCE - - "_Come, join in the only battle - Wherein no man can fail, - Where whoso fadeth and dieth - Yet his deed shall still prevail._" - - WILLIAM MORRIS. - - -[Sidenote: Jan. 1917.] - -On the 23rd December, 1916, the 62nd Division received orders to embark -for France. The artillery, which was billeted in Northampton, was -conveyed from Southampton to Havre on the 6th and 7th January, 1917, -and thence railed to the concentration area at and around Wavans, -near Auxi-le-Chateau. The weather was of the worst type that January -can give, alternate frost and thaw and bitterly cold, and we began to -experience at once the distressing conditions of mud and slush, which -were to be so normal a feature in this and the two following winters in -France and Belgium. - -On the 17th January the 310th and 312th Brigades sent off one section -per battery by motor lorry to be attached to the 19th Division, then in -the firing line, for training preliminary to taking over finally their -part of the line. It was a snowy, uncomfortable sort of day, and the -lorries were, as so often happened, late in arriving, with the result -that the detachments did not get started on their journey till about 3 -p.m., and arrived at their destination after dark. Sections from the -311th Brigade followed the next day. - -On the 23rd the Divisional Artillery marched to Auteuil and Amplieu, -and remained in billets there for the next few days, the headquarters -being at Bus-les-Artois. The first gunner casualty took place on the -24th, a gunner of the 312th Brigade being wounded on that day while -attached to the 19th Division. - -The next few days were spent by the Staffs of Headquarters and -Brigades in inspecting the positions to be occupied by batteries -in the neighbourhood of Courcelles, Mailly-mailly, Colincamps, and -Engelbelmer, and in reconnoitring the observation posts on the high -ground north of Beaumont Hamel. This village, like so many that we were -now to become acquainted with, had been so thoroughly destroyed by -shell fire, our own and that of the enemy, that one might easily have -passed through it without realising that there had ever been a village -there. All the ground in its neighbourhood was so deeply pitted with -shell craters that it was almost impossible for a foot passenger even -to find a pathway through them, there being rarely more than an inch -or two of the original ground between each. The mud was, moreover, -indescribable, and there was not only a risk of being badly bogged, but -cases even occurred of men being engulphed and drowned in the viscous -mud of a shell crater, and two of our artillery horses lost their lives -in this way. - -[Sidenote: Feb. 1917.] - -On the night of the 1st February the 310th Brigade, and one battery of -the 311th, went into action near Auchonvillers and Engelbelmer, and a -few days later helped to support an attack by the 63rd Division, when -the enemy was driven out of a part of the Pusieux trench and thereby -forced to evacuate Grandcourt. - -On the 10th the same batteries supported the 32nd Division in a -successful assault on Ten Tree Alley; on this occasion we had the first -casualty among our officers, Capt. H. C. Lasbrey being severely wounded. - -The remainder of the batteries took over their positions in action -from the 7th Division on the 11th and 12th February, as did our -infantry during the following two days; and on the 15th I took over the -artillery command. After a period of intense cold, during which the -temperature fell below zero one night, a thaw set in this day, and the -mud difficulty again became acute. Early on the 17th the 63rd Division -on our immediate right attacked and captured the Swan trench north of -Grandcourt, taking about 100 prisoners. The 311th Brigade did good work -in this successful little operation, and I got a special message of -thanks for their help from the G.O.C. 2nd Corps. - -Arrangements were now in progress for a fresh attack, and, new -positions having being selected on the western outskirts of Beaumont -Hamel, the first sections of all the batteries moved into them on the -21st. The remainder was preparing to follow when, on the morning of -Saturday, the 24th February, our patrols discovered that the enemy had -vacated his line. The 5th Corps, to which we belonged, at once began -a cautious advance, and on the 25th had occupied Serre and Miraumont, -while the Division on our right pressed on into Pys. Strenuous efforts, -which none who took part in them are likely to forget, were now made -to push forward the guns, although the one road through Beaucourt to -Miraumont was all but impassable. Officers and men worked with a will, -and by the 28th all batteries were in action at the Bois d'Hollande and -Baillescourt, while one section of the Ammunition Column was advanced -to the neighbourhood of Hamel. Major R. C. Williams was wounded on this -date, and had to leave us, a great loss to the Divisional Artillery. - -[Sidenote: March 1917.] - -It was now established that the Boche was holding the line -Bucquoy--Achiet-le-Petit--Loupart, and it became necessary to advance -the guns to closer range. Positions were accordingly reconnoitred in -and around Miraumont, and every endeavour was made to occupy them as -quickly as possible. By the 3rd of March most of the batteries were in -their new positions, and the front infantry line on that date ran along -the dry ditch from the East of Pusieux to the railway line about a mile -N.E. of Miraumont. During the next week the forward move was completed -in the face of indescribable difficulties. On the 3rd March, Lieut. H. -A. Sabelli, and on the 5th Lieut. E. W. Jephson, were wounded, and two -more officers were hit on the 6th, Lieuts. R. Holburn and J. MacIlroy. -Major Swain had a fortunate escape; when his battery got into Miraumont -he took up his quarters in a German dug-out, which boasted the luxury -of a fireplace. His servant was about to light a fire, when Swain told -him that he needn't bother about it that night. Next morning the man -was laying the fire when he noticed a bit of wire; closer investigation -showed a length of quick-match fastened to the wire and leading to -a hole under the dug-out, in which was packed sufficient explosive -to have blown the whole place sky-high. On the 5th, Divisional -Headquarters moved to Engelsart, a hutted camp between Engelbelmer and -Martinsart. - -Miraumont was a particularly dangerous and unpleasant spot; the Bosche -kept it continually under shell-fire, and also bespattered freely the -one road which formed our communication with it. This road ran for -over half-a-mile in full view of the enemy, and was in such a shocking -state of disrepair that all ammunition had to be brought up on pack -saddles, each horse or mule carrying eight rounds. The country on each -side was such a slough of despond that it was generally impossible for -pack animals to leave the road, and as all movements had to take place -at night, the ammunition supply was a very serious problem. At least -4000 rounds were required for daily consumption, and I find in my diary -that 1600 horse loads were sent up on the night of the 4th, in batches -of 25 animals at ten minutes interval, and that only one man was hit -in the process, although the road was constantly under fire. There was -very little rest for any of the drivers, whether of the D.A.C. or of -the batteries, and their zeal, endurance, and good temper were beyond -all praise. - - Just before the road enters Miraumont a sunken road runs to the - left, honeycombed with dug-outs and occupied by one of our Infantry - Brigade Headquarters; and on the right a steep path leads down into - the valley. Here the three Colonels have their precarious shelters; - sometimes things may be quiet for a short breathing space--more - often they are just the reverse. On the 11th, all through the - afternoon, and right on through the night, shells were exploding - in this part of the valley on an average of one every two minutes. - Not much damage was done, but the strain of it may be imagined on - the nerves of those who have to live there without any adequate - cover. The village is utterly destroyed, but has not disappeared. - Walls and ruins still stand, sometimes as high as ten feet or so, - and the streets are distinguishable. But it is not good to linger - in them. Almost unceasingly in one part or another of the skeleton - village shells scream and crash, raking the streets with bullets - and splinters, and hurling bricks and beams in every direction. - Here are to be found Swain's, Foot's, Bigg's, Arnold Forster's, - Hudson's, and Robinson's batteries, the others being outside in the - scarcely less dangerous outskirts of the village. - -During the fighting in Miraumont, the losses in the Artillery amounted -to 6 officers (Capt. F. H. Seeman gassed, in addition to those already -mentioned) and about 70 other ranks, while a great many horses and -mules were killed; nine guns were knocked out by Artillery fire. The -strain on officers and men was very great; and although the latter -were able to get some slight respite from danger, though not from -hard work, by taking an occasional spell at the wagon lines, it was -difficult to give any relief to the officers. I therefore started an -experiment which was a great success for the short time in which it was -possible for it to remain in operation. One of the less ruined houses -in Mailly-mailly was commandeered and roughly fitted up as a rest house -in charge of one of the trench mortar officers, the mortars not yet -having been brought into action. It was arranged that three officers at -a time should be accommodated here for a clear three days and nights, -during which they would have nothing to do but take it easy and recoup -themselves, away from the noise and stress of battle. The change -was greatly appreciated by the few officers who were able to avail -themselves of it before a further advance put an end to the scheme. - -Irles was captured by the 18th Division, supported by our artillery, on -the 10th March, and on the 14th the enemy was driven out of Grevillers -and Loupart Wood. A plan of attack on Achiet-le-Petit was now drawn -up, to take place at dawn on the 18th. Our preliminary bombardment, -however, which began on the 16th and went on through the night, was too -much for the Boche, and on the morning of Saturday the 17th March our -infantry patrols entered the village and found it unoccupied. News came -through the day of further successes. Bapaume had fallen, and Bucquoy, -Biefvillers and Bihucourt were all in our possession. Hopes ran high, -and there was general excitement and delight. Once more the batteries -were ordered to push on as quickly as possible, and they moved forward -into positions close to Achiet-le-Petit. The 7th Division now passed -through us, and for a short time the 62nd Division ceased to take -an active part in the fighting, though still continuing to advance. -Advanced guards occupied Courcelles and Gomiecourt on the 18th, and the -Lucknow Cavalry Brigade pressed on further and hung on to the heels of -the retreating enemy. On the 21st, D/312 advanced at dawn and joined -the 7th Division advanced guard at Ervillers, to help them in an attack -on Croisilles, which the Boche was still holding. On this occasion we -had our first officer killed, Lieut. C. W. Pullan; a shell burst in the -observation post near St. Leger, from which he was gallantly directing -the fire of his battery. A/312 and C/312 went into action the same day -between Ervillers and St. Leger, also with the 7th Division, while the -310th Brigade remained in positions of readiness near Logeast Wood. - -The 311th Brigade was withdrawn from the line on the 22nd March, on -being converted into an Army Brigade, and marched from Engelbelmer on -the 24th, en route for an area in the North. It was with great regret -that I said farewell to this most efficient brigade, which, under the -able command of Lieut.-Colonel A. Gadie, had done consistently good -service, and had always given evidence of the finest fighting spirit -under the most trying conditions. - -On the 27th March the 310th Brigade moved up into action in support of -the 7th Division before Croisilles, and were followed four days later -by B/312, so that all batteries were then again active. - -[Sidenote: April 1917.] - -On the 1st April, Divisional Headquarters moved to Achiet-le-Grand, -and next day, to the accompaniment of a blizzard of snow, the 7th -Division captured the villages of Croisilles and Ecoust, supported by -the 62nd Divisional Artillery in addition to their own guns. In this -fight Lieut. E. W. F. Jephson was awarded the Military Cross for the -following act of gallantry:-- - -"On the 2nd April, 1917, during an attack on Ecoust, this officer -was sent forward with an orderly to reconnoitre for an O.P. On his -way forward two runners of the Gordon Highlanders were fired at by a -German sniper in a post. One was shot dead. The other runner, Lieut. -Jephson, and orderly procured bombs from some wounded men, and crept -up to the post from behind some fallen trees, and bombed the sniper, -severely wounding him. Lieut. Jephson then went on through Ecoust with -the orderly, when he discovered sniping from his right rear. He then -returned another way and saw three Germans running into a cellar, which -he approached. After he had fired some revolver shots into the cellar, -they came out when ordered. One of these prisoners was taken off as -a guide to the infantry, the other two being brought back by Lieut. -Jephson. He did good work at the O.P. previous to moving forward out -of Ecoust." - -The enemy was now firmly posted in his much advertised Hindenburg Line, -and as he showed every intention of holding on to it after his long -retreat, it became necessary to get all batteries forward to within -about 2500 yards range, in order to start wire cutting. The Ecoust -valley area was apportioned to my artillery, and the batteries began -to occupy positions there on the 3rd April. This was a work of great -difficulty and danger as the approaches were in view of the enemy, and -the positions themselves were barely concealed. As the first section of -B/312 were coming into action a shell completely knocked out one of the -detachments, killing five men and wounding three. - -On the 5th our infantry again went into the line, and I took over -command of the artillery, which included, in addition to my own -brigades, the 7th D.A., the 16th R.H.A. Brigade, and an Anzac Brigade. -That afternoon a mine exploded in Mory, killing one and wounding two -of my men, and also wounding some artillery mules. In the evening a -similar mine went off in Ervillers with disastrous effect, killing -five and wounding seven men of D/312. These mines, which we often met -with later, were worked by a corrosive acid, acting on a wire holding -a spring hammer; when the acid had eaten through the wire, which might -be within a period ranging from a few hours to several weeks, according -to the relative strengths of the acid and the wire, the hammer struck a -detonator, and the mine exploded; a typically Hunnish method of warfare. - -For the next few days guns were actively employed in wire cutting, and -the enemy responded by a vigorous shelling of the valley. Capt. J. -Willey and 14 men of B/310 were wounded on the 7th, and between the 6th -and the 9th three other officers were hit, Major F. A. Arnold Forster, -and Lieuts. P. K. B. Reynolds and H. C. Ashby. Five Military Medals -were awarded for gallant work on these days. - -On the 9th April the Third and First Armies on our left began a big -forward movement, to be known as the Battle of Arras, and by the -evening of the 13th they were in possession of the Vimy Ridge and the -whole of the Wancourt branch of the Hindenburg Line, and had taken -about 16,000 prisoners, together with a large number of guns and -mortars. Our share in the operations was to make holding attacks and to -keep as many of the enemy as possible glued to our front. One of the -trench mortar batteries, V/62, was lent to the 51st Division, and took -part in the capture of the Vimy Ridge. On the last day of the battle -C/312 suffered heavily, losing the Sergeant-Major, three Sergeants, and -four other ranks killed, eight men wounded and four guns knocked out. - -Capt. G. L. C. Hudson was wounded on the 13th, and Lieut. K. B. -Nicholson on the 14th; the latter officer was awarded the Military -Cross for the following services: - -"On the 13th April, 1917, Lieut. K. B. Nicholson entered a dug-out -in which both a gas shell and a high explosive shell had burst, and -bravely attempted to save the men inside. Later on in the day, though -suffering from the effects of the gas, he went to the O.P. with the -Battery Commander, and while under heavy shell fire volunteered to go -back over the wire, thereby keeping up communication with the battery. -The following day, while still suffering from the gas, he again -repaired to the O.P. under heavy gas fire, remaining there until he was -finally wounded in the head by a fragment of high explosive shell. By -his actions on the days under review this gallant officer showed a fine -example of devotion to duty." - -Our casualties in the artillery up to this date amounted to 14 officers -and about 150 other ranks. - -My command was now largely increased, with a view to further -operations, by the addition of the 11th and the 58th Divisional -Artilleries, which went into action near St. Leger and Ecoust -respectively. This brought the artillery with the 62nd Division to a -strength of 180 18-pounder guns and 48 howitzers. - -Early on the 15th the Huns made a determined counter-attack against -the Australian Division on our right. At first it was completely -successful; the enemy broke through as far as Noreuil and Lagnicourt, -and for a short time was actually in possession of two brigades of -the Australian artillery. At about 8 a.m., however, the Anzacs made a -magnificent recovery, and hurled the enemy back to his original line, -retaking their guns and capturing about 400 prisoners. Over a thousand -German corpses were left on the field. While all this was going on -my batteries were subjected to heavy shell fire, and suffered many -casualties. In one of the batteries of the 58th Division the losses -were particularly severe, three officers being killed and one wounded. -I sent one of the brigades of the 11th Division to reinforce the Anzacs -directly the attack commenced, and this was retained after the battle, -and therefore left my command. - -On the 16th Lieut.-Colonel F. A. Woodcock arrived to command the -D.A.C. vice Lieut.-Colonel F. Mitchell, who had gone to England. - -For some time past the weather had been very inclement, and the -unvarying cold and damp, added to the strain of heavy work and constant -danger night and day, was having its inevitable effect on the physical -powers, though not on the fighting spirit, of the officers and men -behind the guns; and, it should be added, of the officers and men of -the D.A.C., whose work in these operations had been of a most strenuous -and perilous nature. - - The men fall asleep while working at the guns. For nine or ten - weeks now they have worked without a rest, and it is a question - whether human endurance can go much further. They fire day and - night, and when not firing they are staggering through the mud - carrying up ammunition; they have no shelter except what they can - dig in the ground, and no sooner have they dug a resting place than - the batteries have to move to a fresh position. And the weather - is beyond words abominable. If it isn't raining it's snowing, and - it's impossible to keep anything dry; nothing but cold, squalor, - and hideous discomfort. And yet they stick it out with the utmost - courage and cheerfulness, and fight splendidly. - -It was impossible to relieve the artillery as a whole, but as it was -now decided to make no serious attack for at least a fortnight, I -obtained authority to keep 50 per cent. of my command at rest in the -wagon lines during this period, and this measure did something to -relieve the strain. The horses, too, had suffered severely; about five -per cent. had been killed, and ten per cent. had died of over work and -debility, twenty per cent. having been sent away for the same reason. -As the Veterinary authorities, who naturally knew more of the condition -of the animals than of the circumstances which had brought them into -so low a state, showed a disposition to attribute the state of affairs -to indifferent horsemastership, I was glad when the Army Commander, -Sir H. de la P. Gough, inspected my wagon lines on the 21st April. He -expressed himself as perfectly satisfied with all he saw, and was most -cordial and pleasant. It was a great relief to Brigade and Battery -Commanders, who had been much harassed during a time of great anxiety -by the criticisms referred to above, to know that the Army Commander -had now seen for himself that everything possible was being done. - -For the rest of the month little occurred of special interest; -preparations were being made for a further attack against the -Hindenburg Line, and meanwhile the now familiar form of trench warfare -was carried on from trenches about 200 yards apart. The Ecoust Valley -was still a far from healthy spot, though batteries improved their -cover day by day by incessant building and digging; and at times the -Boche turned his attention to the wagon lines as well. On the 18th the -310th lines were badly shelled, when two men were killed and seven -wounded, and several horses were lost. Lieut. G. P. Senior was wounded -(gassed) on the 24th, and on the 28th four more officers were hit, -Lieuts. C. T. Lutyens, S. C. Ball, R. Forrest, and J. W. Proctor. Five -Military Medals were awarded during this period, and the Military Cross -was gained by Lieut. J. C. F. Nowill. - -"On the evening of the 26th April, 1917, near Ecoust, the camouflage -covering a large ammunition dump at the battery position was set -ablaze by hostile shell fire. Lieut. Nowill, single-handed, removed -the burning mass from the dump and extinguished it, at very great -personal danger from the burning ammunition which was exploding in -large quantities. By his gallantry and prompt action he undoubtedly -stopped the explosions from spreading through the whole dump." - -On the 25th, Lieut.-Colonel G. R. V. Kinsman, D.S.O., left, much to -the regret of us all, to take up the duty of Artillery Instructor at -Shoeburyness; he was succeeded by Lieut.-Colonel D. J. C. Sherlock, -D.S.O. - -Now, and afterwards, efforts were constantly being made by which to -vary the monotony of trench warfare, and to make things more lively -for the Huns; as an example, I select the following instance. On the -27th April, at a given time, two howitzer batteries put "stops" on -selected portions of the enemy's support line about 200 yards apart. -Then on the trench thus enclosed three batteries opened a rapid fire -of gas and smoke shell, the object being to smoke the occupants out of -their dug-outs. After five minutes of this treatment two more batteries -opened with shrapnel on the only trench which could be used by the -enemy if he tried to escape to the rear--this, of course, in the hope -of getting some of them as they retired. The whole thing went off like -clockwork, and the fire was most accurate. As to the amount of damage -done, that must remain a matter of conjecture, as it was impossible to -see into the trenches. In this case, as always in such experiments, one -could but hope for the best. - -[Sidenote: May 1917.] - -All arrangements having been made for an attack on Bullecourt under -an artillery barrage, Divisional Headquarters moved up on the 2nd May -to an advanced position north of Ervillers. The attack was launched -early on the 3rd as part of a big operation in which altogether -fourteen divisions took part. Our infantry advanced under a barrage -at 3.45 a.m., and broke through the Hindenburg Line at Bullecourt. -The enemy was, however, in great strength, and his position was an -extraordinarily formidable one. Although our men managed to get through -and beyond the village, they were then checked by numerous machine guns -firing from concrete emplacements, and were finally forced back again -through Bullecourt by a strong counter-attack. The Division suffered -very heavy losses, and the results of the battle did not come up to -our high expectations; but, none the less, substantial progress had -been made, and at the end of the action we were able to hold on to and -consolidate a good slice of the village of Bullecourt, together with -about 2000 yards of the Hindenburg front line to the east of it. It -was hard that our first battle should have been so costly in life and -so apparently unfruitful in results, but our sorely tried infantry had -proved their mettle, and had shown that magnificent spirit in the face -of appalling odds which, in the Homeric battles which were still to -come, was so often to spur them on to victory. - -Lieut. C. Punchard was wounded (gas) on the 7th, and Lieuts. G. -H. Kitson and C. V. Montgomery were wounded on the 12th and 13th -respectively. - -On the 14th May there was a readjustment of the line, the 7th Division -taking over the Bullecourt front and the Hindenburg trench to the -South-East, while the 62nd Division became responsible for the sector -from Bullecourt for about 2400 yards to the North-West. This entailed -a general shuffle of the artillery, my own brigades coming under the -7th Division, while the guns of the 7th remained under my command. -On this same night the 310th Brigade was subjected to a more than -usually heavy bombardment; over two thousand gas shells fell among the -batteries, and we lost five gunners killed, and about 12 wounded. On -the 15th, Lieuts. A. J. Edwards and E. W. Jephson were wounded, the -latter for the second time. - -On the 16th May, Lieut.-Colonel E. P. Bedwell left the Division, -invalided home. His services had been invaluable, and I fully shared -the sorrow which all ranks of his brigade felt at his departure. He -had trained and commanded this brigade, the 312th, from the earliest -days of its formation, and might fairly claim to have made it; it must -have been a great satisfaction to him to see how well its performances -in France had repaid his care. I am glad to say that he recovered his -health and was able to take his place again in the fighting line later -on, though not in the 62nd Division. Major F. H. Lister took over the -command of the brigade, with the acting rank of Lieut.-Colonel. - -Both sides now settled down to deliberate trench warfare, a state -of things which entailed constant work of a dangerous and harassing -nature, but which furnished few outstanding incidents of sufficient -interest to be chronicled. On the 26th May a sad disaster occurred in -D/312 Howitzer Battery. The camouflage over one of the howitzers caught -fire and blazed up. It was merely a question of a few moments when the -flames should reach the ammunition and cause a terrible explosion, -but there was a slight chance of the fire being put out in time, and -Capt. H. B. Gallimore, who was temporarily commanding the battery, with -Lieut. G. Hardy and a party of N.C.O.'s and men, made a gallant attempt -to extinguish the flames. Unfortunately their efforts were vain, and -there was a tremendous explosion. Poor Gallimore was killed, and also -ten others (including all the six "Numbers One" of the battery), while -Hardy was dangerously wounded, and also five gunners more or less -severely. The loss of two such officers and six of the most valuable -N.C.O.'s was a very serious blow to D/312, but the splendid act of -devotion, in which they sacrificed their brave young lives, conferred -a lustre not only on their own battery, but on the whole of the -Divisional Artillery, and will not soon be forgotten. Hardy, unhappily, -died of his wounds on the 28th. - -The casualties in the artillery up to this date had been: - - 3 officers and 72 other ranks killed. - 23 officers and 256 other ranks wounded. - -On the 29th May our infantry was withdrawn from the line for a rest, -and I therefore ceased to command the artillery tactically; it remained -in the line in support of the 58th Division. - -It was a great disappointment to me that the artillery could not be -withdrawn for a rest after all its strenuous work since coming into -action. The promise of rest in the near future had long been dangled -before our eyes, but the plain fact was that guns _could_ not be -spared from the firing line, and although the Commander-in-Chief, in -a confidential circular issued about this time, showed that he "fully -realised the untiring energy of the artillery during the first half of -the year," still he was unable to hold out any hopes of relaxation, -and could only "rely upon all ranks to continue their good work -ungrudgingly." His reliance was well founded, for all ranks accepted -the situation loyally, and learned now, and I may add for the rest of -the war, to do without rest, and to "stick it" somehow or other even -when it might have been truly said that - - "there was nothing in them - "Except the will that said to them, Hold on." - -I think that all realised the impossibility of reducing the number -of guns in front of the enemy, and one scarcely ever heard a word of -grumbling, but it is well that the fact should be placed on record -that the artillery practically never got a rest. Their work was not -perhaps so much in the public eye as that of their gallant comrades -in the infantry, nor did they experience as a rule the same extremes -of danger, but it should be remembered that, while the latter were -periodically withdrawn from the danger zone after about eight days in -the trenches to rest billets miles behind the firing line, the men -behind the guns endured the dirt and discomfort of the trenches for -months at a time, were never safe day or night from hostile shell fire, -and were constantly hard at work. Only perhaps those who have actually -served in a battery in war-time can realise the amount of hard work and -nerve strain involved in keeping up even the normal programme of day -and night firing, the map readings and calculations to be worked out by -the officers in a damp dug-out by the light of a guttering candle, the -long spells of duty to be endured by the weak gun detachments always -under strength through sickness and casualties, the heart-breaking and -back-breaking labours of keeping up the ammunition supply, and with -it all the constant sense of an ever-brooding danger. That all sorts -and conditions of men should have endured this kind of existence for -several years, cheerfully and without a murmur, seems to me a more -wonderful phenomenon than even the most dramatic act of individual -gallantry. - -The following honours were announced on the 30th May:-- - - Major G. Fleming, Legion of Honour. - Major G. A. Swain, Croix de Guerre. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -JUNE TO OCTOBER, 1917. TRENCH WARFARE - - "The thundering line of battle stands, - And in the air Death moans and sings." - - JULIAN GRENFELL. - - -[Sidenote: June 1917.] - -In the next few weeks trench warfare pursued its monotonous -course--long periods, as it has been aptly said, of unutterable boredom -varied by moments of inexpressible terror--but June was, on the -whole, the quietest month the Division had in France. On the 15th the -Divisional Headquarters at Achiet-le-Grand was shelled by a 15-inch -gun firing from a range of about 20 miles. Two or three shells burst -within 50 yards of our mess, but the only casualties were one of my -clerks and my Reconnaissance Officer Anderson's servant, both slightly -wounded. On the 19th orders came for the Division to go into the line -again, relieving the 20th Division on the front opposite Riencourt and -Quéant, a side slip of a mile or two to the right of our old position. -The artillery were all in their new positions by the 22nd, on which -date I reassumed command, moving my headquarters to the Monument Camp -on the Sapignies-Bapaume road. - -I received the following letter from the G.O.C.R.A. 58th Division:-- - - "The B.G.R.A. 58th Division wishes to express his gratitude and - appreciation to all ranks of the 62nd Divisional Artillery, whom he - has had the honour to have under his command during the past month. - - "Despite heavy shelling of their positions and continual firing - night and day, they have never failed to respond quickly and - efficiently to every call which he has made upon them, and it has - been largely due to their excellent and energetic shooting that the - operations which have just concluded have attained the measure of - success which has come their way. - - "All ranks of the 58th Divisional Artillery unite in thanking the - 62nd Divisional Artillery for all their help, and wish them the - best of luck. - - "E. J. R. PEEL, - "_Brig.-General_." - -The 310th Brigade were now in positions in the Noreuil Valley, which -had been given not inaptly the name of the Valley of Death, and the -312th in the neighbourhood of Lagnicourt. Early in the morning of the -25th they supported a successful little raid made by our infantry -on the Boche front line south of Riencourt. No prisoners were taken -unfortunately, but the infantry found several dead bodies, killed by -our artillery fire. - -We now began to get the trench mortars into action. Up till this time -they had not had much chance of proving their value, although the -personnel had done much useful work in helping the D.A.C. with the -ammunition supply. They were now to take up their legitimate rôle in -the front trenches. - -On the 26th D/312 underwent a severe shelling, but although two -howitzers were badly hit, no men were hurt. - -About this time I used often to go round the O.P.'s in my spare time, -and to test the quickness of the different batteries in getting off -a round on a trial call of S.O.S. I considered it distinctly good if -a battery opened fire within 40 seconds of getting the call, but as -time went on most of them became extraordinarily quick to answer, and -I well remember my satisfaction when, during a walk round the O.P.'s -in company with General Benson, Commanding the 5th Corps Artillery, we -tried a few S.O.S. tests, and one of my batteries got off the answering -round in 17 seconds. I think that the record time was nine seconds, the -battery that reached it being C/310, then in position in the Noreuil -Valley. - -[Sidenote: July 1917.] - -On the 2nd July I was returning from one of these tours, and, calling -on my way back at the 310th Brigade Headquarters, which were then in -a sunken road just N.W. of Noreuil, I found that a few minutes before -my arrival a 4.2-inch shell had penetrated and burst inside a small -shelter in the trench, killing four men and wounding three--all, of my -special little R.A.R.E. company. The place was a shambles when I went -into it. It was a particularly distressing affair, as there was a good -and equally handy dug-out just beside the one that had suffered, fit -to withstand any number of 4.2-inch shells; and these poor fellows had -selected a place with no more protection than a corrugated iron roof. - -I have not mentioned the R.A.R.E. company before. It was an -unauthorised formation, not to be found, that is to say, in any -official manual, and was made up of eight sappers from the Divisional -R.E., together with about ten men from each brigade and from the -D.A.C. The company was thus brought up to an establishment of about -40 men, and was commanded by a Royal Engineer officer. We called it -the R.A.R.E. Company, and its duties were to supervise generally the -work of building gun emplacements, stables, shelters, dug-outs, etc., -and to carry out itself any works demanding skilled labour. I was most -fortunate in being given the services of Lieut. E. B. Hammond, M.C., -R.E., as its first commander. He took the keenest interest in his work -and inspired all his men with his own zeal and energy; and his cheery -personality, and unfailing tact and good humour ensured him a warm -welcome from every battery he visited, and the cordial co-operation, -moreover, of those who, at the inception of the scheme, might have -been inclined to resent the taking away of even a few men from their -depleted batteries. It did not take long to convince any such doubters -of the immense utility of this small body of men. From working with -the eight skilled sappers, the gunners and drivers furnished from the -brigades gradually became skilled workers themselves, and the company -proved such an invaluable addition to my command from this date until -the final breaking up of the division in the Army of Occupation, that -I do not know how the D.A. could ever have got on without it. It was -a great blow when Hammond left us in January, 1918, on appointment as -Adjutant R.E., but our luck still held good, and the work was carried -on most efficiently by Lieut. C. L. Clarson, M.C., his successor. - -On the 5th July Lieut.-Colonel Lister left the Division on appointment -to the Staff at G.H.Q., and was succeeded in command of the 312th -Brigade by Lieut.-Colonel A. T. Lough, who joined on the 9th. - -Major-General W. P. Braithwaite, our Divisional Commander, inspected -the D.A.C. on the 7th. The General always took the greatest interest in -his artillery, and was a constant visitor to one or other of the units, -and I only mention this particular occasion because I noted at the -time, and well remember, what a really splendid turn-out we saw that -day. I don't believe there was a better ammunition column in France. -Lieut.-Colonel Woodcock, though not an old Regular officer himself, -shared to the full the conviction held by most Regulars, that the -smartest and best turned out troops are almost invariably the hardest -workers and the best fighters, that in fact the one virtue leads -automatically to the other. He had the happy knack, too, of getting the -last ounce of work out of his subordinates without any unpleasantness -in the process. In writing a record of artillery work it is inevitable -that the performances of the batteries which do the actual fighting -should come in for more frequent mention than the less showy, but -equally indispensable and arduous, services of the D.A.C. Let me take -this opportunity, therefore, of recording that the 62nd D.A.C. never -failed me. As the war went on the daily expenditure of ammunition grew -greater and greater, and at times the demands made on the column seemed -almost impossible of fulfilment. Yet I can recall no instance when -the amount of ammunition required was not punctually to hand. Colonel -Woodcock was fortunate in his three Section Commanders, Captains -Fraser, Kewley, and (for the greater part of the war) Edmondson. They -were always cheery and willing, however difficult and depressing the -circumstances might be, and they infected the N.C.O.'s and men under -their command with the same spirit of cheeriness and good-will. - -At about this date the 5th Corps Staff left, and was replaced by that -of the 6th, to which corps we consequently now belonged. - -Lieut. J. A. Brown was wounded on the 7th, and Lieut. R. L. Pickard on -the 11th July. - -V/62 (Trench Mortar Battery), which had recently gone into action near -Bullecourt, took part in some successful minor operations towards the -end of July, at Hargicourt and Epehy, with the 34th and 35th Divisions -respectively, and had three men wounded. - -During the second half of July the activity of the hostile artillery -increased considerably. On the 17th three officers were wounded, -Lieuts. H. C. O. Lawrie, E. H. Vanderpump, and T. B. Wills, and three -guns of B/310 were put out of action. On the next day the Noreuil -Valley again came in for a severe shelling, chiefly directed on the -advanced section of A/310, which had one of its guns knocked out, but -no casualties in its personnel. - -The Army Commander, Sir Julian Byng, visited some of the batteries in -the right sector on the 19th, and also one or two of the O.P.'s. He -expressed himself as much pleased with all he saw. - -On the 22nd A/312 was heavily shelled in its position just west of -Lagnicourt, and had two guns put out of action. C/312 was bombarded -the same night for several hours in the village of Morchies; not much -harm was done, but the guns were shifted next day to a garden in -the village which afforded better cover from the view of the Boche -observation balloons. Morchies showed signs of having once been as -pretty a village as could be seen in France, and must have been a -charming spot before the Boche left his obscene trail there. At -this time it was a shameful ruin, wantonly and brutally destroyed -by the Huns when they retired through it a few months before. The -numerous fruit trees had all been barked or uprooted, and most of the -destruction in the village, both indoors and out, had obviously been -done purposely and malignantly, and not by our, or the enemy's, shell -fire. Of course this was only one out of hundreds of such cases, but -Morchies must have once been so pretty and simple, and so aloof, that -one felt an especial sense of outrage in seeing the hateful treatment -to which it had been subjected. I used to wish that some of our -pacifists could be brought out to see it. - -On the 24th A/310 was again plentifully bespattered with shell, but -so well were the guns and detachments protected that the net result -of several hours bombardment was only two men wounded, and one gun -wheel broken. Fortunately we were able to spot one of the batteries -responsible for these recent annoyances, and on the 25th July Major -Foot's battery, D/310, engaged this 5.9-inch battery with aeroplane -observation. The shoot was a very successful one; several direct hits -on the guns were recorded, and two emplacements were blown up with -their ammunition. As a rule the batteries that annoyed us were firing -from such a long range that they had to be dealt with by our heavy -artillery, and it was a great satisfaction to us all when we were able -to have a smack at them ourselves. - -[Sidenote: Aug. 1917.] - -On the 3rd August the Division made a side slip to the left, our left -sector now becoming our right; for the new left sector we took over -the rather unpleasant piece of trench (the old Hindenburg line) which -ran from due south of Riencourt to about 500 yards west of Bullecourt, -and which included the latter village. On this readjustment the 35th -Brigade, of the 7th Division, was added to my command, in positions in -the Ecoust valley. I moved two batteries of the 312th Brigade across -into the same valley, while A and C/312 remained on the Lagnicourt side -temporarily. - -About this time we heard from a prisoner that part of the artillery -acting against our front was the 49th Field Artillery Regiment; "but -we call it," he said, "the 48½th, because they never quite reach their -target, and are always firing into their own trenches." This was -satisfactory hearing; at the same time we were uncomfortably aware that -they managed to reach their targets rather more often than their own -infantry seemed to suppose. - -Good news reached us on the 4th from the Ypres front of 6000 prisoners -having been taken and St. Julien occupied. Operations had, however, -been brought to a standstill in the north by the vile weather; really -it seemed as though the elements were always on the side of the Powers -of Darkness. - -Lieut. A. G. Bennett was wounded on the 8th August. - -On about this date one of my trench mortar batteries went into action -in Bullecourt. - - They are in a ruin in the middle of the village. You get to them by - first entering an old cellar in another ruin, and then scrambling - down a sloping tunnel to an underground chamber about 30 feet - below the surface of the ground. Here the detachment live. Then you - crawl up another tunnel, and emerge into the ruin which holds the - mortar emplacements. - -I think that the trench mortar batteries had, on the whole, while -they were in action, the most uncomfortable and dangerous job of any -troops in the line. The infantry, while recognising their great value, -objected not unnaturally to have such favourite objects of the enemy's -attentions in any position near their dug-outs or much frequented -trenches; and, as it was necessary that the mortars should be sited as -close as possible to the enemy's front line, and yet, for the above -reason, not too near the infantry, it followed that the only available -positions were usually in unpopular spots shunned by all who had any -choice in the matter, and generally bearing such significant titles as -Hell Fire Point, V.C. Corner, Deadman's Gulley, etc. The unfortunate -detachments lived underground for practically the whole of their -tour of duty, as it was often impossible to get to and from their -emplacements during the daylight; and, owing to shortage of men, their -tours of duty were generally two or three times as long as those of -the infantry. When I went to visit them, I could nearly always promise -myself an exciting walk with plenty of thrills in it. I retain lively -recollections of crawling with Lindsell or Anderson, guided by Powell, -the D.T.M.O., along shallow trenches, or places where trenches had been -before they were demolished, and finally diving down into the ground to -find ourselves, when the eyes got used to the subterranean darkness, -in the midst of a party of smiling jolly looking gunners. They were a -cheerful lot, and, after all, they had their compensations. There were -times when there was no scope for the use of trench mortars, and then -they would sometimes get a rest for several weeks at a time, in some -pleasant billet well back from the firing line; and when they did get -a rest, it was well deserved. - -On the 11th August C/312 was accurately bombarded, and lost two men -killed and two wounded. The casualties up to this date amounted to - - 3 officers and 80 other ranks killed. - 28 officers and 292 other ranks wounded. - -C/310 came in for a tremendous bombardment on the 15th. For a long time -shells were bursting in the position at the rate of about two a minute, -chiefly 5.9-inch, varied by an occasional 8-inch. The detachments took -refuge in their deep dug-out, and were able to laugh at the Boche's -efforts, the effects of which were very slight considering the severity -of the bombardment. One gun was buried, but subsequently dug out -undamaged; another was blown out of its pit, but though the carriage -was knocked to atoms the piece itself was still quite serviceable. At -least 400 shells had fallen in and around the battery, and the ground -was churned up into huge craters, many dead bodies being exhumed from -their graves and scattered about. We felt that the Huns had not got -good value on this occasion for the four thousand pounds which, at the -very least, the expenditure of ammunition must have cost them. - -On the 18th the 6th Corps held an admirably managed horse show -at Bihucourt, which gave great enjoyment to a large concourse of -officers and men. The artillery competitors came from six divisional -artilleries, and we were remarkably successful, gaining the following -events:-- - - Tent-pegging for Officers--1st prize (Major Swain). - Tent-pegging for other ranks--1st prize (B.S.M. Howes of the D.A.C.). - Gun Team--3rd prize. - Pair of Light Draught Horses--1st prize. - G.S. Wagon and Pair--2nd prize. - Team of Mules--3rd prize. - -I may mention that all the three prizes for officers' chargers were -won by the division, going to Lieut.-Colonel Hore-Ruthven V.C., -Major-General Braithwaite, and Lieut. C. Newman respectively; the -second of these was a particularly popular win. - -By this time the science of protective building and digging had been -brought to a wonderful state of perfection in the batteries, as was -evidenced by the remarkably small number of casualties caused by the -enemy's constant shelling. Rarely a day passed but that the Noreuil and -Ecoust valleys were under fire, and the former valley in particular -presented an extraordinarily sinister appearance. It was thickly -pitted with deep shell craters along its whole length, and a casual -visitor would have found it hard to believe that any human beings -could go on living in such a shell-swept area. Further investigation -would however have shown that beneath all this desolation an active -and busy underground existence was being carried on. The gun positions -were camouflaged to appear like the surrounding ground, or disguised -to represents heaps of debris, and were generally strongly enough -protected to resist the impact of a 4.2-inch shell; and from every -position at least two stairways led deep down into the ground to a -network of passages and sleeping chambers from 30 to 40 feet below the -surface. Where all the positions were so good, it would be difficult -to discriminate between them, but perhaps the palm should be given -to D/310. The Battery Commander, Major R. C. Foot, was a mining -engineer by profession, and two of his subalterns, Lieuts. Currie and -Casey, had been students with him at the same engineering college; -their experience was of great value in a case of this sort, and their -scientifically constructed position in a sunken road just north-west of -Noreuil was a model of what a position should be, and was visited with -great interest by many senior officers of other divisions as well as of -our own. - -Concealment from view was daily becoming more and more impossible. -The enemy's balloons were so numerous, and were poised at so great an -altitude, that very few depressions on the ground were deep enough to -conceal emplacements from one or another of them. But, in addition -to this, as the science of sound ranging was brought to greater and -greater perfection, concealment became less and less useful, and -overhead protection became the most important consideration. We -now adopted a practice which was henceforth followed when possible -throughout the war. Each battery had a main position, the guns of which -remained silent except in combined "strafes," when every gun in the -line was firing; when this happened the gun flashes were so numerous -and continuous along the whole front that it was almost impossible for -observers in the hostile balloons to take accurate bearings to any one -battery, and sound ranging also was impracticable. For the ordinary -routine shooting each battery kept an advanced section; this could be -moved with comparative ease if the Boche artillery should make the -position too hot, and in any case it is more difficult to spot two -guns than six, and harder to hit them when found. - -On the 21st August B/310 and C/312 were bombarded for several hours by -5.9 and 8-inch howitzers; although a tremendous weight of metal was -poured into the positions, no material damage was done, and only two -men were wounded. - -On the 23rd and 24th the 35th Brigade was withdrawn from my command, -and a readjustment of batteries had to be made. The 310th continued -to cover the right, or Noreuil, sector, and the left, or Bullecourt, -sector fell to the 312th. A/312 consequently moved from Lagnicourt -to the Ecoust Valley; to our great delight the Boche threw about 400 -rounds into the empty position the day after the battery had cleared -out of it. - -[Sidenote: Sept. 1917.] - -On the 4th and 6th September the Noreuil valley was again heavily -shelled; on the first of these dates A/310 had two guns knocked out, -but suffered no loss to personnel; on the 6th the fire was directed -on B/310 and C/310; one man was killed and one wounded, but no damage -whatever was done to material. Capt. J. G. Robinson was awarded the -Military Cross in connection with the above: - -"On the 4th September, near Vaulx, the battery position was very -heavily shelled. Capt. Robinson, having got his men into safety, -endeavoured to locate the hostile battery by compass bearing. Later on, -noticing that the camouflage of the two gun pits had caught fire, he, -with Sergt. Rider and Gunner Charlesworth, left cover, and proceeded -to extinguish the fires and to recover the gun pits with camouflage. -As the shelling continued and the dial sights had not been removed -from the guns, he again went out and removed four of them. All this was -done under very heavy fire and at great personal risk. He showed very -great gallantry and coolness, and set a fine example to the rest of the -battery." - -On the 10th the trench mortars in Bullecourt carried out one of their -periodical bombardments of the Boche trenches and knocked them about -handsomely. The enemy turned a number of batteries of varying calibres -on to the mortar emplacements and put one mortar out of action. -Corporal W. Settle, who was in charge of one of the mortars, behaved -with great gallantry. He was almost buried by an explosion, and his -coat was literally riddled, with at least 30 rents and holes, though in -some miraculous way he escaped unwounded. In spite of this he stuck to -his work until the shoot was finished. He got the Military Medal, but, -to my great sorrow, was killed five days later at Cherisy. - -At the beginning of September the G.S.O.I. of the Division, -Lieut.-Colonel the Hon. A. Hore-Ruthven V.C., left us on transfer to -the Guards Division, much to the regret of us all. He was succeeded by -a Gunner, Lieut.-Colonel C. R. Newman, D.S.O. - -On the night of the 11th our infantry carried out a successful -little raid on the Star Cross Roads, about quarter of a mile S.W. of -Riencourt. The guns bombarded the trench from 11.10 to 11.15 p.m., and -then formed a box barrage round the cross roads for quarter of an hour, -while the infantry walked in; they bombed the dug-outs, did as much -destruction as they could, and returned with four prisoners; their own -casualties were only three wounded. Early in the morning of the 13th -the enemy attempted a raid on our trenches at the Apex. The S.O.S. -signal was sent up, and our guns were firing hard for about two hours. -The attack was completely repulsed. - -The G.O.C. received the following message from Sir Douglas Haig: - -"The Commander-in-Chief congratulates you and your troops on the -repeated successes shown in your local operations, which show excellent -spirit and skill. These successes help appreciably in the general plan." - -A few days before this attack I had been ordered to lend two 18-pounder -batteries and two trench mortar batteries to the 50th Division to help -them in a raid in the neighbourhood of Cherisy, and as they had marched -out on the 12th for an absence of four days, our artillery strength was -in a dangerously low state when the attack took place, their being only -sixteen 18-pounder guns and eleven howitzers to cover a front of 5000 -yards. - -The two field batteries that were temporarily detached for this -duty were A/310 and B/312. The raid was a very successful one, but, -unhappily, our losses in the trench mortars were very heavy, and -we lost two valuable officers killed, Lieuts. G. A. Craven and W. -E. Harris, and one wounded, Lieut. W. Wooliscroft. Seven N.C.O.'s -and gunners were also killed, and a large number wounded. Lieut. E. -Parkinson was given the Military Cross "for gallantry and devotion to -duty during minor operations west of Cherisy. After his battery had -suffered many casualties during the first phase, he reorganised his -positions, and, after his Commanding Officer had been killed, went -round under heavy fire encouraging his men to keep their mortars going. -Later, under heavy fire, he searched his gun position and assisted to -get wounded clear and his men away." - -Lieut. Parkinson has kindly furnished me with the following account of -what took place: - -"Y/62 and Z/62 trench mortar batteries were lent to the 50th Division -for a raid they carried out on September 15th, 1917. The field guns -and trench mortars provided a box barrage, the latter putting their -contributions at each side, while the field guns shelled the enemy's -support trenches. - -"Our positions were in a little-used trench about 150 yards behind -our own front line, opposite Cherisy. This trench had previously -suffered very little from the German barrage, and it was expected that -casualties there would be slight. The wire was not cut from any of -these positions, and guns not even registered from them. - -"The first portion of the raid was carried out from 4 p.m. to 4.40 -p.m., and was completely successful. The Battalion which went over -the top was commanded by the late Brig.-General Bradford, V.C., -then Colonel, who afterwards came to the 62nd Division as a Brigade -Commander. - -"As ill luck would have it (I cannot think it anything else), the -trench the mortars were in received about 75 per cent. of the total -German barrage, and casualties were so heavy among Z battery that they -were unable to man their guns for the full length of time. Lieut. G. -A. Craven was so severely wounded that he died the same evening, while -Lieut. W. Wooliscroft was wounded, and most of the men either killed or -wounded. - -"At 7.40 p.m. half a battalion went over the top again, and in -this case also the results were all that could have been desired. -Previously Y Battery had only had two men killed, and so were able to -man their four guns. The German barrage was again very heavy, and we -suffered severely. Round one gun were grouped about a hundred bombs -ready for firing, and exactly what happened we shall never know, but -the lot were detonated. The detachment was of course blown to atoms, -and at the next gun two men were killed by the explosion as well as -Lieut. Harris. One man alone was left unharmed, and after carrying some -wounded under cover, he returned and manned his gun single-handed until -the raid was over. - -"We went to the raid 4 officers and about 40 other ranks, and returned -to our Division 1 officer and 6 other ranks." - -I received the following letter from the G.O.C.R.A., 50th Division: - -"Will you please thank your fellows very much for the good work they -did for us yesterday. I am most awfully sorry your trench mortars had -such a bad time. It was just bad luck; the Boche put down a barrage -where he had never put one down before, and caught them. It was most -unfortunate. I can't tell you how sorry I am about it." - -On the 26th September we carried out a bombardment of the enemy's -trenches south of Riencourt, together with a barrage, with the object -of making him think we were assaulting, and inducing him to unmask his -artillery positions. This object was successfully attained, the enemy -"got the wind up" thoroughly, and answered with every available gun. -Our planes and balloons were able to fix the positions of nearly 40 -batteries. - -Major A. F. Bayley arrived on the 27th, and was posted to the 310th -Brigade. - -For the next few weeks things were comparatively quiet, though life in -the batteries was diversified by occasional bombardments. I take from a -note written at the time a short account of one of my routine trips. It -is a fairly typical one, and will serve to give some idea of the sort -of condition under which we were now holding the line: - - First we drive in the car for about two miles; then we alight, fix - gas helmets in the ready position, put on tin hats, and go on on - foot, leaving the car in a sunken road fairly safe and snug. Now - the excitement begins. We go across country, generally in full - view of the Boche lines, though they are still far off, and often - dodging the places where their long-range shells are falling, or - lying down till they burst if we hear them coming near us. A walk - of one and a half miles brings us into a much-battered village in - which my most advanced guns are scattered about, and now begins the - second and more dangerous stage. The village (Ecoust) is a deserted - ruin, but for occasional individuals moving hastily from cover to - cover, and we waste no time in passing through it, and enter the - communication trench which leads up to the front infantry line. As - the Boche has exact photographs of the course of this trench, he - frequently bombards it; and though the chances are greatly against - a shell falling on any one bit of the trench just at the moment - when one is passing, still at the time the possibility seems far - from remote, and the situation is thrilling enough. About a mile of - trench as the crow flies (but treble that distance to walk, owing - to the zig-zag formation of the trench, so designed to prevent - a shell from sweeping right down it) brings one to the support - line. Stage three, and the most dangerous one, now begins; one - follows the support trench for a good long way; it is generally - pretty deep, but in places it has almost been destroyed by recent - shelling, and then one has to crawl and duck until a safer depth is - reached; then up other zig-zags to the very front line. Here one - is in comparative safety, for the enemy is only one or two hundred - yards off, and his artillery dare not shoot at you for fear of - hitting their own front line; so you are safe except for snipers - (if you are foolish enough to show yourself), or for that most - terrible of all terrors, the minenwerfer. - -These trips were often unpleasant enough even to people who, like -myself, could always count on returning to a comfortable and fairly -safe billet for the night, and they helped us, I hope, to realise the -strain and discomfort which the officers and men at the batteries were -forced to endure from day to day and night to night. The bulletins -"nothing fresh to report" or "all quiet on such a front" had for _them_ -very little signification. - -During this period, in addition to the normal duties at the gun -positions and in the wagon lines, every spare man was kept constantly -hard at work in building stabling for the coming winter. It was a -case of "sic vos non vobis," for everyone knew that our chances of -remaining in this particular place were very small indeed, and that -other men would enter into the fruit of our labours; however, the same -considerations applied to the whole army, and one could only work one's -hardest and trust that other divisions would do the same--a trust -which, it is only fair to say, was rarely disappointed, even though, -as must also be admitted, batteries almost always thought that the -stables, shelters, and positions, which they had made, were a good deal -better than those to which they succeeded. This belief may or may not -have been always justified; anyway, it was human nature, and certainly -the stabling constructed for this winter by the brigades and D.A.C. was -of a very excellent and substantial nature. - -During the period covered by this chapter 14 Military Medals were -gained in the Divisional Artillery. Lieut. F. C. Pritchard won the -Military Cross on the 8th October for the following act: - -"When an ammunition pit and the camouflage over a gun were on fire, he -went out and pulled the camouflage off the gun, and shovelled wet mud -on to the fire. He did not leave until it was isolated from the other -ammunition, thereby preventing much destruction." - - - - -CHAPTER III - -THE BATTLE OF CAMBRAI - - "_And you, good Yeomen, - Whose limbs were made in England, show us here - The mettle of your pasture; let us swear - That you are worth your breeding._" - - SHAKESPEARE.--KING HENRY THE FIFTH. - - -[Sidenote: Oct. 1917.] - -Our infantry withdrew from the line for a rest on the 12th October. -The artillery, however, merely changed the scene of their labours, and -about ten days later marched straight up from their former positions -into action in the neighbourhood of Wancourt, to cover the 51st -Division; the trench mortar batteries in the meantime were temporarily -distributed between the 3rd and the 16th Divisions. - -On the 29th we had the misfortune to lose a valuable officer in Lieut. -H. Sutherland, signalling officer of the 312th Brigade, who was killed -very soon after his brigade had joined the 51st Division. - -My own headquarters had meanwhile moved to Haplincourt, and on the -30th October I learned from the G.O.C.R.A. of the 4th Corps that a big -attack was to be made in the direction of Cambrai within about three -weeks, in which the 62nd Division was to play a leading part. It was, -in fact, to attack and capture the village of Havrincourt, a position -of enormous strength protected by an elaborate system of trenches and -barbed wire entanglements, and forming one of the strongest portions of -the formidable Hindenburg line. - -[Sidenote: Nov. 1917.] - -The method of attack was to be an entirely new departure. There was -to be no artillery preparation; in other words, not one gun beyond -the normal was to be fired until the moment of assault, or what is -technically known as "Zero." Then the barrage was to begin, and the -infantry were to assault preceded by tanks. In addition to my own -brigades, I was to have under my command for the operation the 77th, -93rd, and 16th Brigades, i.e. twenty batteries in all. - -A period of intense activity now commenced. A tremendous lot of work -had to be done, and there were at first very few men to do it. A party -of about 100 men, taken from the 3rd and 16th Brigades R.H.A., was -placed at my disposal, and I entrusted the superintendence of the -work to Major C. A. Eeles, who tackled it with the greatest energy. -Positions were selected for the five brigades at ranges of from 2000 to -2500 yards from the enemy's front line, chiefly along the Hubert road -on the northern edge of the Havrincourt Wood, and, as it was absolutely -essential that the work should be done without the Boche suspecting it, -and the whole country was visible from his lines, the task was a very -difficult one. The first thing to do was to screen off the proposed -positions from view. That part of the wood through which the Hubert -road ran had been cut down by the Huns when they retreated through -it in April; a lot of scrub had grown up in the clearing during the -summer, and with this a screen of twigs and branches was erected in one -night, for a distance of two miles along the edge of the road on the -enemy's side. When morning broke on the 4th November the road itself -was invisible from the German trenches, and yet the screen that hid it -mingled so well with the surrounding scrub that the enemy never noticed -any change. For the next fortnight the work of preparation went on -night and day, and so careful were the precautions taken by the working -parties, that the enemy never had the slightest suspicion that anything -unusual was going on. On this occasion the weather helped us, as the -days were usually misty, and yet not a drop of rain fell all the time. - -The preliminaries consisted in making positions for 20 batteries, -digging ammunition recesses and telephone pits, construction of -shelters for the detachments, the preparation of gun platforms and -trail beds, and the collection at the gun pits of tremendous dumps of -ammunition (700 rounds per 18-pounder gun and 450 rounds per howitzer). -For the conveyance of the latter about three miles of light railway had -to be laid down. Then O.P.'s and brigade headquarters were selected -and prepared, and camouflage was collected and placed over all work as -it was carried out, and also arranged ready for putting on the guns as -they were required to move into their positions in action. - -Lieut. E. W. Davis was wounded on the 9th November. - -Lieut.-Colonel R. M. Foot, D.S.O., A.A. and Q.M.G. of the Division, -left us about this time on appointment to a corps. He had always been -most helpful to the gunners, and we were very sorry to lose him. His -place was taken, after an interval of a few weeks, by Lieut.-Colonel -Harold Lea, D.S.O., with whom the Divisional Artillery always preserved -the same happy relations. - -The artillery concentration began on the night of the 12th/13th -November, when the 310th and 312th Brigades arrived in the -neighbourhood of Beaulencourt; they concentrated next day at Barastre, -where their wagon lines were to be during the battle. In this advance -to the battle area the most elaborate precautions were taken to keep -the enemy's suspicions from being awakened. All troops marched by -night, and remained hidden during the day time in the various big -woods, which are dotted about in this part of the country. I well -remember walking over to the Corps Headquarters at Villers au Flos on -the evening of the 14th; it was a pitch dark night, and I found it -almost impossible to make my way along the road, which was covered -along its whole length by an unbroken column of heavy guns being drawn -by caterpillars--the heavy artillery concentrating for the battle. And -yet next morning that same road presented its usual empty and tranquil -appearance to such hostile planes as might happen to fly overhead. - -On the 18th, Divisional headquarters moved to Neuville. The 312th -Brigade moved into their gun positions on the night of the 17th/18th, -and all the rest of my command on the night of the 18th/19th, i.e. the -310th, 77th, 93rd, and 153rd Brigades. - -Lieut.-Colonel Lough, commanding 312th Brigade, left on the 17th, -invalided home, and his successor, Lieut.-Col. A. G. Eden, joined us on -the 19th. - -The night of the 19th was a very anxious one, and will long be -remembered by all who took part in the battle. It was impossible to -tell whether the enemy had any suspicions of what was in store for -him; he might even know all about it, and this was the more possible, -as he had made a raid two nights before the battle and had captured -one or two of our men. There was a chance that he might have wormed -some information out of them, for an uneducated man may often give -away valuable information quite innocently, out of pure ignorance or -indiscretion. If he _did_ know, the enemy might have wrecked the attack -before it began, by bombarding the long line of guns, which had the -most definite orders on no account to fire a round till 6.20 a.m. when -the attack was to be launched. As it happened, the Boche showed great -uneasiness, and fired very heavily during the night, though fortunately -not on any vital places. We listened to the firing in great suspense, -and watched the flashes of the shell bursting apparently very near our -line of guns; but we could get no information, for no telephones were -allowed until the moment of attack, lest indiscreet things might be -said, and tapped by the enemy's listening apparatus. - -At 5.45 a.m. there was a particularly furious burst of firing, which -died down at a few minutes past six, and was succeeded by a dead -silence, during which one could fancy one heard the anxious beating -of fifty thousand hearts. Did the Boche know; had he some infernal -surprise for us? We stood in a little group outside the hut which -served for our headquarters, and fixed our eyes on the long grey line -of wood along the edge of which the guns lay waiting. The moment -arrived. A tremendous thunder clap broke the silence; the whole sky -grew red, and the air sighed with shell. The battle had begun according -to our plans, and success was certain. - -Preceded by the tanks, our infantry swept forward in an irresistible -wave, and pressing close up behind the barrage, overcame all -obstacles, capturing system after system of strongly fortified posts, -and following the tanks through a jungle of barbed wire which the Boche -might well have believed to be absolutely impenetrable. By about noon -they had taken all their objectives. Havrincourt, Graincourt, Anneux, -and the Cambrai road, from the factory north-west of Graincourt to the -canal, were in our hands, together with several hundreds of prisoners, -a 4.2-inch howitzer battery, and many machine guns and mortars. The -Division had made the record advance of the war, 7000 yards in one day. -The following message was received in the evening: - -"Army Commander sends special congratulations to all ranks of the 62nd -Division on their very fine achievements to-day." - -As this was the greatest battle in which the Division had yet been -engaged, I shall here give in full the official account of the -artillery action, as it was made out at the time by Capt. Lindsell, my -Brigade Major. - -_20th November._ From zero (6.20 a.m.) until the capture of the brown -line the artillery action was in the nature of a set piece, the barrage -being fired according to timetable as detailed. No modifications were -found necessary. - -_10.30 a.m._ The first artillery advance was ordered, 77th Brigade -being directed to send forward one battery to the area north-east of -Havrincourt Wood in support of the 185th Infantry Brigade. - -_10.40 a.m._ Eight prisoners were captured by the advanced -reconnoitring party of C/310. - -_10.50 a.m._ The 5th Brigade R.H.A., having passed under the orders of -the C.R.A. 62nd Division, was ordered to advance battery by battery to -the east of Havrincourt, to support the advance of the 186th Infantry -Brigade on Graincourt. - -_11.40 a.m._ The 77th Brigade was ordered to advance complete to the -south-west of Havrincourt to cover the line Graincourt--Factory on -Bapaume-Cambrai road. - -_12 noon._ The 310th Brigade was ordered to advance battery by battery -to the east of Havrincourt to support, with 5th Brigade R.H.A., the -further advance of the 186th Infantry Brigade. - -_2 p.m._ The Divisional Artillery situation was as follows: - - 5th Brigade R.H.A. East of Havrincourt, moving into action. - 310th Brigade R.F.A. In column of route moving forward. - 77th " " Two batteries in action south-west of - Havrincourt, and two moving into - action in the same area. - } Still in original positions, 93rd - 93rd " " } and 153rd awaiting orders - 153rd " " } from 36th Division, to whose - 312th " " } command they had now passed. - -_2 p.m._ It was ascertained that the 51st Division (on our right) had -not captured Flesquières. As this position exposed the right of the -attack of the 62nd Division, the 310th Brigade were ordered back to -their former positions; this order did not, however, take effect, as on -receipt of later information they were allowed to continue their former -movement. - -_2.30 p.m._ The 77th Brigade was in action complete S.W. of -Havrincourt. - -_4.10 p.m._ The 5th Brigade R.H.A. and 310th Brigade R.F.A., in action -east of Havrincourt, were grouped under Colonel West, R.H.A., to -cover the line gained by the 186th Infantry Brigade in the vicinity -of Graincourt. The 77th Brigade was ordered to cover the part in the -direction of Flesquières. The 312th Brigade, still in its original -position, was ordered to be prepared to cover the brown line as a -defensive measure in case of necessity. - -_6.50 p.m._ Orders were issued for the 62nd Division to continue the -advance on Bourlon on the 21st, and for a further advance of all -artillery brigades in support of this attack. Owing to the state of -the ground it was found impossible to get the guns forward during the -night. Brigades therefore advanced as early as possible on the 21st to -positions S.W. of Graincourt, with the exception of the 5th Brigade -R.H.A., which remained N.E. of Havrincourt. The four brigades, as their -batteries were able to get into action, were placed at the disposal of -the G.O.C. 186th Infantry Brigade for his attack on Bourlon Wood. Owing -to bad going and damaged roads the difficulties of getting guns forward -proved very considerable, but all brigades were in position by the -afternoon of the 21st, with communication established with the Infantry -Brigade headquarters in Graincourt. - -_21st November._ Bourlon Wood and village were attacked, under a -barrage fired by the 5th R.H.A. and 310th Brigades. The attack was held -up by machine gun fire from the Marquion trench. During the remainder -of the day the artillery forward moves were continued, and a fresh -attack on the Marquion line was organised for the 22nd. - -_22nd November._ The 62nd Division again attacked under a barrage -provided by all four artillery brigades. The attack succeeded in -gaining a hold astride the Marquion line, south of Bourlon Wood. - -The 40th Division then relieved the 62nd, the artillery, however, -remaining in action under the former division. - - * * * * * - -The following Divisional Order was issued on the 24th November: - -"SPECIAL ORDER OF THE DAY. - -"The Divisional Commander has the honour to announce that both the -Commander-in-Chief and the Army Commander have expressed their high -appreciation of the achievements of the 62nd Division in the battle. - -"The Divisional Commander had the most implicit confidence that the -Division would acquit itself with honour. To have advanced 7000 yards -on the first day, taken all objectives, held them against counter -attacks, and handed over all gains intact to the relieving division, is -a feat of arms of which any division may be justly proud. - -"The number of prisoners taken by the division is not far short of -2000. Thirty-seven guns have been captured, which include two 8-inch -howitzers, one complete 4.2-inch battery, one complete battery of -5.9-inch, and the remainder guns of various calibres, many of which -were brought into action against the enemy. - -"The number of machine guns, granatenwerfer, etc., etc., which have -fallen into our possession is so considerable that it has not been -possible yet to make an accurate tally of them. - -"The advance of the artillery to Graincourt, and the accuracy of the -barrage, is worthy of the best traditions of the Royal Regiment. - -"To G Battalion, the Tanks, all ranks of the Division expresses their -admiration of the skill, bravery, and the splendid self-sacrifice which -made success possible. - -"The discipline, valour, and steadiness of all ranks has been beyond -praise. - -"It is with great and legitimate pride that I have the honour to sign -my name as Commander of the 62nd West Riding Division. - - "WALTER BRAITHWAITE, - Major-General." - -On the 23rd, 24th and 25th November attacks were continued by the 40th -Division against Bourlon Wood, which ended in the gaining of a firm -footing in its southern outskirts. I received a letter from the G.O.C. -40th Division expressing his thanks "for the excellent and untiring -support which the 62nd Divisional Artillery gave to the infantry under -his command" on these days. - -On Sunday the 25th the 62nd Division was ordered back into the line, -much to our surprise, in relief of the 40th Division, which had -suffered heavily in its severe three days' fight. Our orders were to -capture Bourlon Wood, and we had the support of the following artillery -in addition to our own: 5th Brigade R.H.A., 77th, 178th, and 181st -Brigade R.F.A., and the 87th Heavy Artillery group. - -Divisional headquarters moved forward into the Park of Havrincourt -Chateau. - -The attack was made at 6.20 a.m. on the 27th under a rolling barrage, -and resulted in the capture of almost the whole of Bourlon Wood, the -highest piece of ground for miles round. Our losses were very heavy, -but the success was a most important one, and in the battle our tired -Division met and shattered a division of Prussian Guards which had to -be withdrawn from the line after only 24 hours in action. - -Lieut. E. E. C. Lintern was wounded on the 25th, and for gallant -services on the 21st and 22nd, Major E. W. F. Jephson won a bar to his -Military Cross, and Lieut. N. Hess was awarded the Military Cross. The -same honour was gained by Lieut. J. B. Boden and Lieut. P. C. Furlong -for the following acts: - -"On the 23rd November, Lieut. Boden, finding a disabled enemy field gun -in a forward position, fitted the breech mechanism of another gun to -it, and brought it into action in the open. He fired about 60 rounds -with excellent effect, though under heavy fire, and in full view of the -enemy." - -"On the 25th November, when one of his guns blew up while his battery -was in action, Lieut. Furlong collected the detachment who were -suffering from shell shock, got them under cover, and steadied the -detachments at the other guns, under heavy shell fire." - -On the night of the 28th our infantry was relieved by the 47th -Division. On this day and on the 29th there was a great increase of -activity on the part of the enemy's artillery, and it became evident -that he had been strongly reinforced. - -At 8.45 a.m. on the 30th the enemy launched a very formidable counter -attack, pouring his infantry forward in great masses and with the most -desperate determination, supported by a tremendous artillery fire of -high explosive and gas shell. As the hostile infantry appeared over -the crest of the hill, to the west of Bourlon Wood, they were engaged -with direct fire by our field artillery, which swept through and raked -the advancing masses again and again, inflicting the most appalling -losses upon them. The most desperate fighting went on all day, and at -one time my two most forward batteries, A/312 and D/312, were within -a few hundred yards of the Boche infantry. Batteries have seldom been -given such excellent targets of massed infantry in the open as offered -themselves that day to nearly all my batteries, and full advantage was -taken of the opportunity. At 4 p.m., when darkness came on, the enemy -had made no progress against our corps front, the most determined -attacks of four German divisions, with three others in support, having -been utterly crushed by the unconquerable resistance of the three -British Divisions in the line. To quote from the official account -issued by the General Staff: - -"At the end of this day of high courage and glorious achievement, -except for a few advanced positions, some of which were afterwards -regained, our line had been maintained intact. The men who had come -triumphantly through this mighty contest felt, and rightly felt, that -they had won a great victory, in which the enemy had come against them -in his full strength, and had been defeated with losses at which even -the victors stood aghast." - -Against the corps on our right the Boche had been more successful, and -the position on its extreme right was at one time full of peril. Here -the enemy penetrated our lines and captured Gonnelieu and Gouzancourt, -though he was driven out of the latter village by the Guards that same -night. The back areas were very heavily bombarded all through the day, -and the D.A.C. in Metz suffered a good many casualties. - -Lieut. C. B. Innes was wounded during this day's fighting; Lieut. E. T. -Williams was awarded the Military Cross, while Lieut. J. B. Boden added -a bar to the decoration which he had earned only eight days before: - -"During a strong enemy attack the battery was in action during the -whole of the day. For over seven hours the battery was heavily shelled, -and during the whole of this period Lieut. Boden was among the guns, -occasionally working a gun himself, and setting a magnificent example -to the men of his detachment. Finally he was put _hors de combat_ -through a shell dropping close by him and stunning him. His cool -determination and devotion to duty were magnificent." - -"On the battery being heavily shelled, and fired on by machine guns -from the flank, orders were received to withdraw. Lieut. Williams -remained behind with two guns, the wheels of which had been damaged, -but succeeded in getting both of them clear of the position, thereby -setting a splendid example of gallantry and fearlessness to the men." - -Thirty-three Military Medals were also awarded (v. Appendix). - -I handed over artillery command on the evening of the 30th, and -rejoined Divisional Headquarters at Haplincourt, to find that all -our three infantry brigades had again been thrown into the line in -support of three different divisions. I heard to my great sorrow that -Brig.-General Bradford, V.C., who had joined the 62nd only about three -weeks before, had been killed. He was a man of extraordinary gallantry -and great personal charm, and a born soldier and leader of men. - -I copy here an extract from a captured document, signed by the -Commander of the German army on our front, which was rather flattering -to our pride as gunners: - -"It is worthy of remark that our enemy's guns have a much smaller zone -of dispersion than our own. They also appear to have better and more -accurate data for shooting from the map than we have. This seems to be -proved from the fact that in weather that excludes all possibility of -observation, and under conditions very different from those prevailing -during previous shoots, he obtains hits on small targets with great -accuracy." - -[Sidenote: Dec. 1917.] - -Divisional Headquarters left the area of the Cambrai battle on the -4th December, together with the infantry of the Division, and after -several moves the Artillery Headquarters finally settled down for a -time at Bethoncourt, near Tincques, on the 19th. The guns, as usual, -remained in action, supporting different divisions in the arduous work -of adjusting the new trench line. Bourlon Wood was given up together -with some more of the captured ground, but Havrincourt was retained, -and the net result to us was considerably on the credit side. - -Capt. E. F. Johnson was killed on the 9th December only about a week -after joining the Division. On the 13th Lieut. L. Gane was awarded the -Military Cross when in action at Doignies: - -"When an enemy shell hit one of the gun pits which contained a large -number of charges, Lieut. Gane ordered all the men away, and himself -went into the pit. Satisfied that immediate action would save the shell -dump and prevent the fire from spreading, he had a party to extinguish -the flames, which was successfully accomplished. By his prompt action -and coolness he saved the shells and guns from being blown up." - -I received the following letter dated the 11th December from the G.O.C. -R.A. of the 47th Division: - -"To-morrow I shall be parting with your brigades and D.A.C., and I take -the opportunity of thanking you most heartily for all the work they -have done since you handed them over to me. - -"Our infantry have been greatly pleased with the support your gallant -fellows have given them, not only on November 30th, but ever since, and -I am only sorry that they have had to put up with so much discomfort, -but the conditions have made it impossible to do much for them. Colonel -Sherlock has been a tower of strength. - - "E. N. WHITLEY, - Brig.-General R.A." - -At last, after another fortnight of hard fighting and great discomfort, -the artillery was withdrawn, and arrived in the rest area behind Arras -on the 29th December. In spite of the severity of the weather, all -ranks greatly enjoyed the rest which they had so well earned, although -it could only be called a rest in the sense that they were out of -danger and in a condition of comparative comfort. Much work of course -had to be done in cleaning up and generally refitting, and in preparing -to take up the new positions just north of Arras, which were now to be -our special charge. - -[Sidenote: Jan. 1918.] - -On the 7th January my Brigade-Major, Capt. W. G. Lindsell, D.S.O., -M.C., left the Division to take up the appointment of Staff Officer -R.A. of the 8th Corps. He was greatly regretted throughout the -Division, by none more sincerely than by myself. To an unlimited -capacity for work, and a meticulously accurate knowledge of staff -duties, he added a tact and charm of manner which made him many friends -in the Divisional Artillery, and helped to ensure that all orders, -however unpleasant, were carried out cheerfully and without question in -full confidence that nothing which bore the Brigade-Major's signature -would ever be unreasonable or unnecessary. - -Major F. FitzGibbon, D.S.O., was appointed Brigade-Major in Lindsell's -place, and I may say at once that he proved a most worthy successor. - -In the New Year's gazette Capt. Lindsell, M.C., and Major Arnold -Forster both received the D.S.O., and Major R. C. Foot the Military -Cross. All these honours had been thoroughly well earned, but it -was a great disappointment to me that more officers could not -receive decorations. The allotment of honours allowed for regimental -officers was always so small that each gazette left this feeling of -disappointment behind it, and many an officer remained undecorated -at the end of the war who had earned such distinction over and over -again. Major Arnold Forster, I may here mention, was the only battery -commander to hold that position in the Division throughout the war; one -or two others ran him close as far as service in France was concerned, -but he commanded a battery--and commanded it with conspicuous -success--from May, 1916, till the breaking up of the Division in -Germany, and had the satisfaction therefore of fighting the battery -which he had himself trained. - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -THE GREAT GERMAN OFFENSIVE - - "_There is but one task for all, - For each one life to give, - Who stands, if freedom fall? - Who dies, if England live?_" - - KIPLING. - - -[Sidenote: Jan. 1918.] - -On the 9th January Divisional Headquarters moved to Victory Camp, near -Roclincourt, and I assumed command of the artillery in the line, the -56th Divisional Artillery. - -Our own artillery relieved the 56th on the 15th. The front we now -covered ran roughly from Gavrelle to Oppy. The 310th Brigade, which -formed the right group, occupied positions on or about the southern end -of the Vimy Ridge, with one advanced battery, B/310, close to Arleux, -and only about a thousand yards from the Boche front line; this battery -was so sited as to enfilade a long portion of the enemy's trenches; and -though in what was apparently a dangerously forward position, it was so -well concealed in a hollow of the ground that it came in for no greater -attention than did the other batteries much further in rear. - -The 312th Brigade was the left group; two of its batteries, B/312 and -D/312, were in the shattered ruins of Bailleul village; this was a -most unpleasant spot, and I don't think I've ever seen a village which -bore the signs of such serious and constant shell fire. - -We now belonged to the 13th Corps, which consisted of the 31st and 56th -Divisions, in addition to our own. A system of reliefs was arranged -under which two divisions should hold the line and one division remain -at rest, and it was hoped that divisional artilleries would get about -three weeks' rest for every six weeks spent in action. No one, however, -believed in his heart that this scheme would prove a lasting one. -There were many indications that the enemy was preparing for a great -offensive, and indeed it was now obvious that his only chance would -be to strike, and strike hard, before the full weight of American -intervention should be thrown into the balance. - -The next few weeks were comparatively quiet ones, and a tremendous lot -of work was done in improving the very indifferent positions which we -had taken over. These positions, it is only fair to state, had not been -occupied for more than ten days or so by the 56th Divisional Artillery, -who were in no way to blame for their unsatisfactory condition. - -Two Regular Majors were posted to us about this time, Majors M. R. H. -Crofton, D.S.O., and J. F. K. Lockhart, who took over command of C/312 -and A/310 respectively. - -The experiment was now made of employing Indian drivers in ammunition -columns, and on the 26th January I inspected those who had been sent to -the 62nd D.A.C. There were about 130 of them, all Mussulmans, and they -looked a useful lot of men; they proved to be so as it turned out, and -did very good work for the rest of the war. - -[Sidenote: Feb. 1918.] - -On February 1st our heavy trench mortar battery, which, under command -of Capt. S. V. Bowden, had done much good service, was transferred -to the Corps, as it was now decided that divisional artillery should -only have medium trench mortars. Capt. Bowden himself remained in the -Division with the latter. - -I have described this period as a comparatively quiet one, but that is -not to say that the batteries were left alone by the Boche artillery. -Shelling of a desultory sort was always going on, and most of the -batteries came in for an occasional bombardment--a _daily_ bombardment -it would be more correct to say in the case of the two batteries in -Bailleul. Fortunately the shooting was strangely ineffective. D/310, -for instance, was heavily shelled on the evening of the 23rd January; -but though there were three direct hits on emplacements and the whole -position was deeply pitted with shell craters, no damage was done to -men or material. A/310 was less fortunate on the 5th February, when, -unhappily, two sergeants and a signaller were killed, though no guns -were put out of action. B/310 was shelled the same day at Arleux, and -on this occasion one officer was wounded, Lieut. C. R. Witcher. - -On the 16th February the artillery withdrew from the line into billets -in and around Aubigny, Caucourt, and Frevin Capelle, the headquarters -being in the chateau at Berles. This was the only rest we were to get -under the scheme mentioned above. - -[Sidenote: March, 1918.] - -On the 6th and 7th March we went into the line in relief of the 31st -Division, against an enemy front of about 4000 yards, stretching from -Oppy to Acheville; the 310th was again on the right, and the 312th -on the left, batteries being mostly in or about Willerval and Farbus. -Headquarters were at Roclincourt. - -It now seemed certain that a big German offensive was brewing, and -henceforth practically all our firing was done by detached sections, -while the main positions remained silent, and every possible artifice -was employed to conceal them from detection by the enemy. At the same -time several single guns were distributed along the front for defence -against tanks, being so sited that every possible approach by a hostile -tank would be under fire from one or more of the guns. - -Some experimental firing by single guns was carried out on the -afternoon of the 10th March near Souchez. A dummy tank, about -three-quarters real size, was drawn across an open space at about a -thousand yards from the gun. Detachments from various divisions engaged -it in turn, and the results were most reassuring, two or three direct -hits being very quickly scored in nearly every case; it seemed to -prove that an anti-tank gun well handled ought to be able to knock out -several tanks in a minute or two. - -On the 11th Divisional Headquarters were persistently shelled by a 13 -cm. gun firing from a range of about 14,000 yards. Information had been -received that the long expected offensive was to begin on the 13th, and -as the enemy's attacks were often heralded by long range firing into -the back areas, it seemed likely that the report might in this case be -correct, and all preparations were made accordingly. The bombardment -was repeated on the night of the 12th, and all troops, artillery and -infantry, were standing-to from an hour before dawn on the 13th. -Nothing unusual, however, happened, although the long range activity -against our headquarters became a regular nightly occurrence from now -on. As it was important to find out what was brewing, it was decided -to carry out a raid with the object of taking prisoners and getting -such information out of them as might be possible. The raid was carried -out by a battalion of the 186th Infantry Brigade. At 10.50 p.m. on -the 17th March, two batteries of the 56th Divisional Artillery opened -on the Boche front about a thousand yards south of the part we were -raiding. The enemy at once sent up S.O.S. signals, and his artillery -put down a barrage on that part of the front--which was exactly what we -wanted. At 11 p.m. all our guns opened fire on the real front for five -minutes, and then, lifting off the part that was to be raided, formed a -box barrage all round it. Our raiding party, consisting of 2 officers -and 70 men, then went over the top, passing through gaps in the wire -which had previously been cut by the trench mortars and by Bangalore -torpedoes. At 11.25 they returned, having killed several Huns and taken -five prisoners. The guns kept up the barrage till 11.40, and one of -the howitzer batteries fired a screen of smoke shell along the edge of -Fresnoy Park from 11.25 to 11.40, to screen our men as they returned. -The whole thing went off like clockwork, and our infantry only had -three men slightly wounded. - -I received the following letter next day from the G.O.C. 186th Infantry -Brigade: - -"The raiders wish me to say that the barrage was perfect. Would you -please accept for yourself and your batteries their thanks for the -large part you contributed towards the success of the show. To show -the accuracy of the shooting, the Bangalore torpedoes were inserted -in the wire while the barrage was still on the front line. This and -the absence of casualties from short shooting, and the fact that the -garrison was discovered prostrate on the floor of the trench, I think -speaks for itself. - - "J. G. BURNETT, - "Brig.-General." - -And also the following from Lieut.-Colonel Thackeray, who commanded the -battalion that carried out the raid: - -"Both the officers and men who took part in the raid last night are -loud in their praise of the wonderful accuracy of the barrage. It gave -them the greatest confidence...." - -I may say here that the infantry were always most generous in their -acknowledgment of our support, and there was the best possible -feeling between the two arms in our Division. We all had the greatest -admiration for our wonderful infantry, and it was a great gratification -to us to know that they appreciated _our_ efforts. - -Eight Military Medals were awarded while we were in action in this part -of the line (v. Appendix). - -Early on the morning of the 21st March the enemy began a tremendous -bombardment on our front, and we could hear the thunder of his guns -extending apparently for many miles to either flank. The great -offensive had evidently begun, and we received orders to be prepared -to withdraw from our part of the line, which was to be taken over by a -Canadian Division, and to become G.H.Q. reserve. - -Lieut. H. G. Goldsmith was wounded this day. - -It was sometime before we could get any news of what was taking place, -but on the 23rd we learned that the Boche had opened an attack with -45 divisions along a front of 50 miles, from the Oise to the Sensèe, -and thence to the Scarpe, that he had retaken Ecoust, Noreuil, and the -Mort Homme heights, and that the 17th Corps on our right had evacuated -the important height of Monchy. Further news came at mid-day that our -5th Army was retiring on Peronne, and that the 3rd Army was also being -pressed back by sheer weight of numbers. Two batteries of the 312th -Brigade, A and B, withdrew from the line that night, and went into -action on the 24th in positions close to Beaurains to support the 17th -Corps. My headquarters moved on the same day to Warlus, and the 310th -Brigade, and the remainder of the 312th, were ordered to withdraw from -the line that night and march to the Warlus area. - -Events, however, were moving rapidly, and at midnight on the 24th I -received instructions to concentrate at Ayette. The previous orders -were at once countermanded; the batteries at Beaurains were ordered -to withdraw from action forthwith and to march on Ayette, where they -were to be joined by the rest of the artillery, which had just arrived -at the Roclincourt wagon lines. I left myself at 6 a.m. on the 25th -and met the G.O.C. at Ayette. Here we found orders awaiting us to push -on to Bucquoy. Our infantry began to arrive there about mid-day, and, -tired as they were after marching all through the night, were at once -thrown into the line from Logeast Wood to Achiet-le-Petit, where the -Boche was attacking in great strength. - -The scene in Bucquoy that morning and all through the day was a -remarkable one, never to be forgotten. For hour after hour one -continuous unbroken stream of transport belonging to several -different divisions passed through the village retiring west towards -Hannescamps. Everything had to move along one rather narrow road -which, in bad enough condition to start with, became execrable later on -in the day, and one bad breakdown of a lorry or wagon might have led -to a disastrous block and the ultimate loss of thousands of vehicles. -Fortunately the traffic control was admirably managed, and the shells, -which as the day wore on began to fall with more and more frequency -in the village, never happened to find out the crowded road, so that -_that_ particular disaster was averted. We moved on to the high ground -just east of Bucquoy, and were able to get a good view of the general -situation. We joined the Headquarter Staffs of two other Divisions -there, and heard from them that our troops were still falling slowly -back under great and increasing pressure, and that there was actually a -large gap on the right through which our flank was in imminent danger -of being turned. As it was obvious that my guns could be of no use in -Bucquoy, and would only make the confusion in the crowded village worse -confounded, General Braithwaite directed me to divert their march if -still possible, and to put them into action near Monchy au Bois. The -advanced parties arrived about noon, and were sent back to Ayette, -where they were just in time to stop the brigades and turn them off to -the positions ordered. - -General Braithwaite now assumed command, and we found ourselves -responsible for a tremendous number of guns, consisting of several -divisional artilleries. Nobody seemed to know where they all were, some -batteries being in action, some on the move, and some in positions of -observation or readiness in rear. FitzGibbon, however, did wonders, -and, with the help of Trench, the Signalling Officer, and Anderson the -R.O., at last succeeded in locating and establishing communication -with the majority of them. - -As night fell the shelling of Bucquoy grew very severe, and orders -were received from Corps Headquarters to retire the infantry to a line -covering Bucquoy, while the Divisional Headquarters moved back to -Foncquevillers. It was a night of great stress and anxiety during which -there was no sleep for anyone; the artillery was safely withdrawn, -and positions were taken up in the area between Hannescamps and Les -Essarts, my own weary batteries having to move up from the positions -they had just occupied near Monchy. When the morning of the 26th dawned -the infantry were holding their new line, and the guns were nearly -all in action. There was desperate fighting throughout this day, -in the course of which our right was pressed back out of Puisieux. -Headquarters was shelled constantly, as was the whole area occupied by -the artillery. Fortunately the enemy had not yet had time to locate the -battery positions, and the shelling, being distributed over the whole -country side, caused fewer casualties than might have been expected. - -The situation was most critical, as the gap on our right flank still -lay open to the enemy who kept pressing up into it and actually got up -to the outskirts of Hebuterne in the afternoon. It seemed as though -he would succeed in getting round the rear of the division, and many -alarmist reports were rife as to the presence of Huns in all sorts of -unlikely places behind us. These reports spread back for miles and -caused a good deal of commotion in the back area. It was believed that -they were propagated by German spies, and it may well have been so. -Certainly many suspicious cases were reported of orders having been -given to various units to retire at once by red-tabbed officers who -could never be identified afterwards as belonging to the staff of -any of the divisions engaged. At least one such case occurred in the -Divisional Artillery; a Staff Officer hurried up to Major Jephson, -and, telling him that the enemy was working round behind his Division, -advised him to retire his battery, C/310, before it should be too late. -Jephson, of course, declined to adopt the suggestion, and reported the -matter by telephone to Headquarters. He was from there told to arrest -the Staff Officer, but unfortunately by the time the order got through -to him the bird had flown. - -That evening as the dusk was falling a group of us were standing at -a corner of Foncquevillers watching Hebuterne rather anxiously, when -an officer called out that he could see a crowd of Huns on our side -of that village. Glasses were levelled on the place, and a very brief -inspection served to show that the men were moving into and not out of -the village. A moment later, and a sharp-eyed officer declared that -he could make out the familiar slouched hats of the Australians. In -the gathering darkness it was hard to make certain of this, but the -arrival of an Australian Staff Officer a few minutes later dispelled -all doubts. The infantry brigade to which he belonged had been rushed -up to the critical point, and by 8 p.m. it had occupied Hebuterne and -driven back the Hun patrols in front of that village, thereby greatly -easing the situation. Later on in the night the New Zealand Division -arrived after a wonderful 29 mile march, and filled up the gap still -further to our right, from east of Colincamps to Beaumont Hamel. - -The Military Cross was won this day by Lieuts. F. Abrahams and A. C. -Murray: - -"As Battery Signalling Officer, Lieut. Abrahams, regardless of -personal safety, superintended the mending of wires under heavy shell -fire, encouraging the signallers and men of the battery in their task -by his example of energy and devotion to duty." - -"When the line between the receiving station and the guns, some 300 -yards, was broken, Lieut. Murray volunteered to take the orders from -the station up to the guns. He did this again and again under very -heavy fire. On a later date he carried out most useful observation from -an O.P., in spite of continual shelling." - -Bitter fighting went on on the 27th, when we beat off five separate -attacks, all made in great strength, and killed large numbers of Huns. -The hostile artillery fire was again very intense on Headquarters -and the area occupied by the batteries. Lieut. W. P. Holt gained his -Military Cross for the following action: - -"Finding that he could see little from his O.P., Lieut. Holt worked -forward to the infantry, and, returning, sent back messages which -obtained artillery support for a counter-attack. He displayed marked -courage and enterprise in moving over the open under heavy fire and -keeping touch with the fighting infantry. The information he sent back -was most valuable." - -Next day, the 28th, four attacks were made from the direction of -Puisieux. One especially, launched at 10 a.m. against the 5th Duke of -Wellington's, was delivered in tremendous strength, but the attacking -enemy troops were nearly annihilated, and the battalion not only -held its own, but captured some twenty prisoners. The shelling of -Foncquevillers had now grown so severe that it became impossible to -keep Divisional Headquarters there any longer and still maintain -communication with the troops in front and the Corps Headquarters in -rear. We consequently moved to Souastre, leaving an advanced signal -station in Foncquevillers, at which one officer of my staff always -remained, taking it in turns among them to do each a 24-hour spell of -duty there. - -On this day Lieuts. L. C. Gane, M.C., and C. V. Montgomery were -wounded, and Capt. A. Senior was awarded the Military Cross for -"conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty"; this decoration was also -gained by Capts. H. de B. Archer, Adjutant 310th Brigade, and J. Miles, -its Signalling Officer: - -"On the 26th, 27th and 28th March, 1918, during operations round -Bucquoy, Capt. Archer sat, practically in the open, for 72 hours by -the telephone, receiving and sending messages. He was constantly under -shell fire, and had to carry the telephone from spot to spot, to be -able to carry on. His coolness and thoroughness throughout this period -greatly helped and encouraged the batteries. On the 25th and 26th March -he also carried out most useful reconnaissances under constant heavy -shell fire." - -"On the 26th, 27th and 28th March, during operations near Bucquoy, -Capt. Miles established and maintained a complete system of -communication to all batteries of the brigade, and all neighbouring -formations taking part in the operations. During the whole of this time -he was continuously laying or mending wires; where the shelling was -most severe he had to go oftenest, and did so with entire disregard for -his personal safety. His work (and the results of it) and his behaviour -were beyond all praise." - -On the 29th fighting was still very severe, but our front line was -now more firmly consolidated, and it began to look as though the -tremendous onslaught had been checked not only here but all along -the British front. This was Good Friday, and it seemed very fitting -that the day which already means so much for humanity should be still -further consecrated as marking the first serious check received by the -opponents of all that Christianity stands for. The following Divisional -Order was issued: - -"The Divisional Commander knows that all ranks are cheerfully bearing -the strain of the prolonged fighting, and he is proud of their -endurance and fine fighting spirit. - -"The Division is performing a very important rôle of holding up the -German advance in this part of the battlefield, and the very heavy -casualties inflicted on the enemy are an earnest of their determined -fighting. - -"He congratulates all troops on their splendid gallantry, and is -confident in the continuation of the fine resistance they are making to -the enemy's attempts to break our line. - -"Well done, 62nd (West Riding) Division! - - "WALTER BRAITHWAITE, - "29/3/18. Major-General." - -Lieut. G. A. Ellis was this day awarded the Military Cross: - -"He maintained communication and observed for his battery throughout -the day, though his O.P. was spotted by the enemy and subjected to -continuous rifle fire and shelling. He twice mended the wire, which was -cut by shell fire, in the open." - -Fifteen Military Medals were gained in the Divisional Artillery during -the fighting from the 21st to the end of the month (v. Appendix). - -During these strenuous days I had seven brigades of Field Artillery -under my command, disposed as follows: - - Right group. 93rd and 235th Brigades. - Centre " 187th, 236th and 310th Brigades. - Left " 190th and 312th Brigades. - -And also the 54th, 71st, and 92nd Brigades of Heavy Artillery. - -On the 30th March Lieut. C. R. Witcher was again wounded. - -[Sidenote: April 1918.] - -On the 1st April the 37th Division relieved our infantry but the -artillery remained unchanged, the batteries of the relieving division -not having arrived yet in the area. - -On the 3rd April, Major J. Willey, Commanding A/312, was killed, to the -great sorrow of all who knew him. He was a gallant, unassuming officer, -with a rather diffident and altogether charming manner, and the loss of -so able a battery commander at this critical time was felt severely. - -Early on the morning of April 5th the 37th Division carried out an -attack on Rossignol Wood and a position running thence westwards, under -cover of a barrage from the guns, which was kept up from 5.30 to 7.30 -a.m. The enemy answered with a very heavy fire on all the batteries, -and especially on the headquarters of the right group at Chateau la -Haie. Here the Adjutant of the 235th Brigade was wounded, and there -were several casualties among the telephonists. About 130 prisoners -were captured, including four officers. It soon appeared, however, that -this local operation had merely forestalled another tremendous German -attack, which reached its full force at about 10.45 a.m., and was kept -up all through this and the following day. The Boche bombardment was -extraordinarily intense, and stretched far into the back area. It -included a large amount of gas shell, concentrated chiefly on the 312th -Brigade, which was in action along a hedge close to and south-west of -Les Essarts. The brigade fought with magnificent courage, and though -inundated with gas shell the batteries never failed to fire when called -upon throughout the day; there was scarcely a man but had his hands -badly blistered by the foul mustard gas, while many officers and men -were temporarily blinded by it. C/312 had a particularly terrible -experience. All the six officers with the guns, including Major M. R. -H. Crofton, D.S.O., were wounded or gassed, and the majority of the -gunners, while several guns were knocked out. In fact by the evening -the battery had ceased to exist as a fighting unit, and it was about a -fortnight before it could take an active share again in the fighting. -Much sympathy was felt for the gallant Battery Commander, Major -Crofton. He had already been three or four times wounded during the -war, and on this day orders arrived appointing him to the command of a -brigade, a promotion which he was unable to avail himself of owing to -this fresh wound. It was particularly bad luck, as he had once before -missed promotion in Mesopotamia for the same reason, having been badly -wounded on the day on which he was appointed to a command. - -The enemy suffered a sanguinary defeat, being repulsed by our troops -with tremendous loss at all points, except that he gained possession of -a small corner of Bucquoy. - -Major G. A. Swain was awarded the Military Cross for his gallant -behaviour on the 5th. His battery, D/312, fired no less than 2600 -rounds while under the heavy gas bombardment referred to above. - -During the two days' fighting the following officers were wounded in -addition to Major Crofton: - - Lieut. H. F. Nowill, M.C. } - " F. G. Sharpling } A/310. - Capt. A. Senior } - Lieut. J. B. Boden, M.C. } - " S. A. Rissik } all of C/312. - " E. W. Puttock } - " A. E. Stuttle } - -Although the Boche had failed so disastrously on this occasion, his -resources in men and guns seemed to be unlimited, and he still kept up -his daily attacks with unremitting vigour. Our troops were exhausted -almost beyond the limits of human endurance, and the first three -weeks of the great offensive seemed to us like as many months--a -period of constant danger and anxiety, unceasing hardships, and utter -fatigue. The news from other fronts was of so sinister a nature -that it might well have driven even the bravest of men to despair. -Amongst our splendid troops, however, there was never any thought -of further retreat, and the following stirring order, issued by the -Commander-in-Chief on the 11th April, only served to confirm the -resolution already taken by every officer and man in the British army -to hold back the hated enemy as long as there was a gun or rifle left -to fire at him: - -"To all ranks of the British army in France and Flanders. - -"Three weeks ago to-day the enemy began his terrific attacks against us -on a fifty-mile front. His objects are to separate us from the French, -to take the Channel ports, and destroy the British army. - -"In spite of throwing already 106 Divisions into the battle, and -enduring the most reckless sacrifice of human life, he has as yet made -little progress towards his goal. - -"We owe this to the determined fighting and self-sacrifice of our -troops. Words fail me to express the admiration which I feel for the -splendid resistance offered by all ranks of our army under the most -trying circumstances. - -"Many amongst us now are tired. To those I would say that victory will -belong to the side which holds out the longest. The French army is -moving rapidly and in great force to our support. - -"There is no other course open to us but to fight it out. Every -position must be held to the last man; there must be no retirement. -With our backs to the wall, and believing in the justice of our cause, -each one of us must fight on to the end. The safety of our homes and -the freedom of mankind alike depend upon the conduct of each one of us -at this critical moment. - - "D. HAIG, - "Commander-in-Chief British Armies in France." - -Divisional Headquarters were now at Henu, and on the 18th a -readjustment of the artillery took place, bringing back the 310th to -cover their own instead of the 37th Division. The right group now -consisted of the 310th and 312th Brigades, and the 187th Brigade, -while the 26th, 295th and 296th Brigades formed the left group. The -headquarters of the right group was established in a dug-out at Chateau -la Haie, and the batteries of the 62nd Divisional Artillery, which -had been in the Essarts area, were now distributed about between -Foncquevillers and Sailly au Bois. This was not quite so unpleasant an -area as the one they had left, and things gradually became a little -less strenuous. By the 19th April a French army had arrived in our -support, and though it was not brought into action, the knowledge of -its presence in close proximity to us was very reassuring. - -The infantry of the Division was withdrawn from the line for a rest on -the 24th April, and our headquarters moved back to Pas en Artois. The -artillery remained in action, and had settled down by the end of the -month to the old familiar routine of trench warfare. We had six more -officers wounded during April, viz.: - - Lieut. E. H. Vanderpump April 7th. - Major E. W. Jephson, M.C. " 8th (for the third time). - Lieut. E. J. C. Sheppard " 11th. - " J. E. McIlroy " 18th. - Major W. F. Tuthill " 22nd. - Lieut. A. E. Cockerell " 22nd. - -Twenty-four Military Medals were awarded during the month (v. Appendix). - -I insert here a message received from Her Majesty the Queen. The -generous sympathy shown for us by all at home, and their unshaken -confidence in the army had been a source of great comfort and support -to us all during the ordeal we had passed through, and Her Majesty's -gracious and touching words were highly appreciated: - -"From H.M. the Queen to F.M. Sir Douglas Haig. - -"29/4/18. - -"To the men of our Navy, Army, and Air Force, I send this message to -tell every man how much we, the women of the British Empire at home, -watch and pray for you during the long hours of these days of stress -and endurance. Our pride in you is immeasurable, our hope unbounded, -our trust absolute. You are fighting in the cause of righteousness and -freedom, fighting to defend the children and women of our land from -the horrors that have overtaken other countries, fighting for our very -existence as a people at home and across the seas. You are offering -your all. You hold back nothing, and day by day you show a love so -great that no man can have greater. We, on our part, send forth with -full hearts and unfaltering will the lives we hold most dear. We, too, -are striving in all ways possible to make the war victorious. I know -that I am expressing what is felt by thousands of wives and mothers -when I say that we are determined to help one another in keeping your -homes ready against your glad home-coming. In God's name we bless you, -and by His help we, too, will do our best. - - "MARY R." - -The following special order of the day was published on the 9th May: - -[Sidenote: May 1918.] - -"I wish to convey to all ranks of the Royal Regiment of Artillery my -deep appreciation of the splendid service rendered by them in all -stages of the Somme and Lys battles since the opening of the enemy's -attack. - -"The difficult conditions imposed by a defensive fight against greatly -superior numbers have been faced with the same skill, courage and -devotion to duty which characterised the work of all branches of the -artillery through the offensive battles of 1917. With less constant -and loyal co-operation on the part of both field, heavy, and siege -batteries, the great bravery and determination of the infantry could -scarcely have availed to hold up the enemy's advance. The infantry are -the first to admit the inestimable value of the artillery support so -readily given them on all occasions. - -"The knowledge possessed by each arm, doubly confirmed by the severe -tests already passed through successfully, that it can rely with -absolute confidence upon the most whole-hearted and self-sacrificing -co-operation of the other, is the greatest possible assurance that -all further assaults of the enemy will be met and defeated. I thank -the artillery for what it has already done, and count without fear of -disappointment upon the maintenance of the same gallant spirit and high -standard of achievement in the future. - - "D. HAIG, F.M., - "Commander-in-Chief British Armies in France." - -Lieut. J. Owen was wounded on the 10th May by a shell that entered his -dug-out at Sailly au Bois. - -[Sidenote: June 1918.] - -During May and June there was not much activity on our front. We got -many warnings from prisoners and other sources of the imminence of a -further offensive, and on the 26th May especially an unusually severe -bombardment, extending to the back areas, seemed to presage a fresh -German effort. Nothing however came of it, except that on this latter -date a big attack was started against the French near Reims. Our -Headquarters came in for a good deal of unpleasant attention, chiefly -from a high velocity gun firing from near Bapaume which bombarded us -with especial intensity on the 18th and 19th May, and on the 9th June. -We were also considerably annoyed by bombing aeroplanes at night, and -early in the morning of the 17th June several bombs fell very close -to the chateau in which we lived. One bomb on this occasion burst ten -yards from a small shanty in which two men were sleeping. Fortunately -the inside of the hut had been dug down about 2½ feet, and the men were -lying below the ground level, with the happy result that although the -hut was blown to fragments the men inside were absolutely unhurt. The -batteries were subjected to a good many bombardments, but generally -without much effect. D/310, however, had an unfortunate experience on -the 11th June. A 5.9 shell penetrated one of their dug-outs, going -through 12 feet of earth before it burst and killing all the six men -who were inside it at the time. Major Foot, who commanded this battery, -was at the time studying the duties of Brigade Major at headquarters, -and I may mention here that, in order to have understudies always ready -to take the place of any Staff Officer who might become casualties, -there was generally a Regimental Officer attached to my headquarters to -learn the work. We had a good many officers in the Divisional Artillery -who had been trained in this way, and who were quite competent to take -on the respective duties at a moment's notice. Majors Eeles and Foot, -and Capts. Archer and Middleton did particularly good work of this sort -at one time or another. - -Several raiding operations were carried out by us. On the night of the -25th May our guns supported the 57th Division in a raid which resulted -in the capture of eleven prisoners, and at 1 a.m. on the 18th June -we fired off a thousand gas projectors at Ablainzeville, the guns -and trench mortars firing a barrage through the village at the same -time. The mortars that took part in this operation were firing from a -position barely 400 yards from the Boche line, which had been selected -by Bottomley, who had succeeded Powell as Trench Mortar Officer. It was -a very dangerous and badly "strafed" place, but the risk was well worth -taking, and the mortars were a constant thorn in the enemy's side. -For obvious reasons the results of operations of this sort could very -rarely be ascertained, but in this instance we were more fortunate for -we learned from a document, captured in the following August, that the -Germans lost in this gas attack two officers and 51 men killed, and 66 -gassed, all of the 12th Bavarian R.I.R. - -There were two rather notable events in the wagon lines during this -period. On the 19th May, Whit-Sunday, General Braithwaite attended -a parade service there and presented a large number of Military -Medals. He took the occasion to make us a very graceful speech and to -congratulate all ranks on their courage and fine behaviour during the -trying days of the great offensive. - -On the 16th June he inspected the D.A.C. and presented three -Distinguished Service Medals which had been won by Indian drivers. The -Indians, as I have said before, were a very useful lot of men, and -could always be counted upon to obey orders, however difficult and -dangerous the execution of them might be. In fact, as the following -incident shows, the literal way in which they tried to obey their -orders was sometimes carried to excess. Sometime during April, when -the fighting was at its hottest, some wagons of the D.A.C., driven by -Indian drivers, were carrying ammunition up to a battery near Essarts. -The drivers of one of the wagons were making their first trip up to the -battery area, and one of the instructions given them was that they must -on no account leave anything behind them when they returned, however -heavily they might be shelled. As luck would have it this wagon had a -very bad time of it, the British N.C.O. with it being badly wounded, -and two out of the six mules being killed. The drivers behaved very -well, finished their job of delivering ammunition, and brought back -the wounded man safely. They were, however, full of apologies on their -return to camp; they had done their utmost, they said, to load up the -two dead mules on to the wagon, but although they had tried their -hardest for about an hour under heavy fire, they had had to give it up -at last as beyond their powers. - -On the 14th June a rather disturbing order came out, reducing our -establishment of horses and mules; the first line wagons and all the -ammunition wagons of the D.A.C. were henceforth to be drawn by four -instead of six horses. No doubt this step was unavoidable owing to the -shortage of animals, but it added enormously to the difficulties of -ammunition supply for the rest of the war. - -On the 18th the 312th Brigade, which had been supporting the Division -on our right for some time past, moved across to the neighbourhood of -Foncquevillers and joined its own division again. - -In the _Gazette_ of the 3rd June, Lieut.-Colonel F. A. Woodcock and -Major C. A. Eeles were awarded the D.S.O. - -Nine Military Medals were awarded during May and June (v. Appendix), -and two Military Crosses--to Lieuts. H. O. Schofield on the 9th June -and Harold Smith on the 23rd: - -"When a shell burst in a gun pit, set the camouflage on fire and -damaged the gun, Lieut. Schofield, with a non-commissioned officer -(Corpl. Edwin Burton, D.C.M.) rushed to the spot, and, despite -continuous enemy shelling and the dangerously overheated condition -of the ammunition, they removed the clinometer and a large number of -rounds to a place of safety and put out the fire, thereby saving much -ammunition." - -"During a destructive shoot on the battery, Lieut. H. Smith, with the -assistance of a N.C.O., removed all dial sights from the guns, carrying -them to a place of safety. Later, when the camouflage on the pit caught -fire from a direct hit, he, with the help of two men, cleared the -burning stuff away and removed ammunition whilst rounds were exploding -and the battery was still under heavy fire. He eventually put out the -fire, and thereby saved a gun from destruction." - -On the 25th June the Division withdrew from the line to go into G.H.Q. -reserve, and the sorely tried batteries at last got a brief spell of -peace, and went into rest billets in and about Orville, Amplier, and -Sarton. - - - - -CHAPTER V - -WITH THE 5TH FRENCH ARMY - - "_O torn out of thy trance, - O deathless, O my France, - O many wounded mother, O redeemed to reign._ - - _Out of the obscene eclipse - Re-risen with burning lips, - To witness for us if we looked for thee in vain._" - - SWINBURNE. - - -[Sidenote: July 1918.] - -Comfortable billets and beautiful summer weather, with sports, -entertainments given by the excellent "Pelican Troupe," and other -distractions, contributed to make the rest a very pleasant one, but it -was not to last long. On about the 12th July the Division was ordered -to prepare for a move to an unknown destination, and on the 15th the -artillery entrained and was taken south through Paris. That all units -had made good use of their time in a peaceful area is proved by this -letter, which the G.O.C. received from the General commanding the R.A. -of the 4th Corps: - -"My dear General,--I saw your artillery entraining at two stations on -the 15th. I saw portions of six batteries and the D.A.C. - -"I told the Corps Commander that I have seldom seen horses in such -magnificent condition, or a better turn-out of men, horses and -vehicles. They might have been proceeding for a ceremonial show in -London, instead of going to take part in a battle. - -"I told the Battery Commanders how sorry we are in the Corps to part -with your Division. We know the Division and the Division knows the -Corps, and all our battle associations have been happy and successful. - -"We sincerely hope that the gallant Pelicans will come back to us. - -"I thought you would like to hear about your artillery. They certainly -impressed all who saw them very much, and I am sure that they will -impress our Allies.... - - "Yours very sincerely, - "J. G. GEDDES." - -On the 15th July the enemy began a big attack on a front of 50 -miles, each side of Reims, and the Division, which was originally, I -believe, to have gone to Verdun, was diverted while still in the troop -trains towards the Reims front, and by the 18th had been detrained -and billeted in an area between Arcis and Epernay, with headquarters -at Tours Sur Marne. We now learned that we, with the 51st Highland -Division, had been formed into the 22nd Corps, under command of -Lieut.-General Sir A. Godley, and were for the time being a part of -the 5th French Army. We heard, too, the cheering news that not only -had the German offensive been definitely checked, but that the French -had counter-attacked on a long front from Soissons southwards, and, in -addition to advancing several kilometres, had captured about 17,000 -prisoners. - -Late at night on the 18th I was aroused by the news that we were to -advance at once and take our place in the line of battle. Accordingly -we moved our headquarters on the 19th to Germaine, in the forest of -Reims, while the two brigades and the D.A.C. concentrated near Avenay -and Fontaine. In the afternoon I rode out with the Brigade and Battery -Commanders, and reconnoitred a position of assembly in the forest, out -of view of aeroplane observation. Early next morning the batteries -moved up into this position, while the Divisional Headquarters was -established in the village of St. Imoges. The D.A.C. took up its -position close to the Reims-Epernay road, about two miles east of -Courtagnon. - -At 8 a.m. the French artillery attached to the Division opened a -barrage, under which our infantry attacked Marfaux and the Bois -de Reims. While in their positions of readiness the artillery was -unmolested except by a chance shell, which unfortunately burst on -a sub-section of B/312, killing six men and wounding two officers -(Lieuts. J. M. Whitworth and W. Burt) and five men. As the fight -progressed the brigades were ordered into action, and by 6 p.m. all -batteries were in position in the Patis d'Ecueil, with the exception of -C/312, which came into action about 800 yards west of Courtagnon Farm. -Lieut. P. K. Baillie-Reynolds was also wounded this day. Lieut. G. A. -Ellis added a bar to the Military Cross which he had won in March: "He -carried an officer, who was wounded in the battery O.P., back to safety -through a heavy barrage, and then returned to his post to observe the -progress of the attack, sending back valuable information. Later on, -when the battery of which he was left in charge was heavily shelled, -he promptly moved the men. His coolness and judgment prevented many -casualties." - -At 10 a.m. on Sunday the 21st we launched an attack against the wooded -ridge running north-west from the north of Cuitron. The enemy offered -a stubborn resistance, and neither we nor the 51st were able to make -much progress. Firing was almost continuous during the day and night, -sometimes at the request of our own infantry and sometimes of the -French on our right. - -Next day we attacked the Bois du Petit Champ just north of Cuitron, and -by 4 p.m. we had taken the wood, making prisoners over 200 Huns and -capturing 30 machine guns. Lieuts. H. E. Stephens and V. A. H. Draper -were wounded, and about ten men were killed or wounded. - -At 6 a.m. on the 23rd July the Division attacked under a barrage of our -own artillery and French guns, and captured the villages of Marfaux and -Cuitron, together with 130 prisoners and about 30 more machine guns. -We also recovered a battery of French guns which had been lost in the -opening offensive. Several batteries fired as many as 600 rounds per -gun, and the infantry declared that the barrage was magnificent. The -prisoners were in a great state of depression, and reported that their -losses from our artillery fire had been enormous. This was no more than -we expected, for large bodies of the enemy had frequently presented -ideal targets to our guns throughout the day, and the batteries had -taken full advantage of their opportunity. Divisional Headquarters -moved to Hautvillers in the evening. - -The 24th July was spent chiefly in consolidating the positions won. -The artillery fire was mainly in support of the 77th French division -on our right. Boche aeroplanes were very active during the night, and -the D.A.C. were particularly unfortunate, losing 26 animals killed and -20 wounded from hostile bombs. In the two brigades about nine horses -were killed, and there were several casualties among the men. Lieut. -W. H. House, United States Army, who was attached to the D.A.C. as -Medical Officer, was awarded the M.C. for gallantry on this occasion. -A great many bombs fell in the vicinity of our headquarters, and a -large ammunition dump, in the valley about a mile distant, was set -on fire, and went on exploding all through the night with tremendous -detonations. The spectacle as viewed from the roof of our billet was a -very grand and awe-inspiring one; the loss of ammunition to the French -must have been very serious. - -The following letter referred to the work of these last few days: - - "Le Général Serrigny, C.B., C.M.G., - "Commandant la 77me Division d'lnfanterie. - "à Monsieur le Général Commandant - "La 62me Division Britannique. - "le 26 Juillet, 1918. - -"Mon Général, - -"J'ai l'honneur de vous prier de vouloir bien transmettre au Commandant -de l'Artillerie Britannique placèe sur vos ordres mes remerciements -pour le concours efficace qu'elle a prété à ma Division au cours des -attaques sur le bois de Reims et le château de Commetreuil. - -"L'enlèvement difficile de cette région boisèe avait été préparé par -les actions energiques menées par la 62me D. I. Britannique pendant -les journées précédentes; l'appui de I'artillerie anglaise pour les -opérations des 22 et 23 Juillet a facilité grandement la tâche de la -77me D. I. francaise. - -"Je vous exprime, au nom des troupes sur mes ordres, toute leur -gratitude, et vous prie d'agréer l'expression de ma considération la -plus distinguèe. - - "SERRIGNY." - -On the 25th and 26th July preparations were made for a further -attack, and dumps at battery positions were made up to 600 rounds per -18-pounder, and 500 rounds per howitzer. The 310th Headquarters at the -Ferme d'Ecueil was heavily shelled on the 26th, and had to be moved -a few hundred yards. Lieut.-Colonel Sherlock on this occasion showed -great personal gallantry in removing wounded men under very heavy fire. -It rained heavily in the evening, and a cloudy night kept the bombers -from troubling us. - -At 6 a.m. on the 27th the Corps launched a fresh attack. It was -completely successful, and by 11.30 a.m. we had captured the villages -of Espilly and Nappe. After the attack the batteries advanced one at -a time, and were all in their new positions before dark, the 310th in -the Bois du petit Champ, and the 312th close to and west of Pourcy. We -moved our headquarters to Nanteuil in the evening. It was raining hard, -and the move was rather a cheerless one, the more so as the enemy was -shelling the village hard when we entered it. Lieut. E. S. Lloyd gained -the Military Cross for gallant and distinguished conduct in this day's -action. - -By this time I had under my command, in addition to my own artillery, -12 batteries of French Field Artillery and six French heavy batteries. - -On the 28th the 312th Brigade moved forward at dawn to positions west -of Marfaux, and supported a successful attack by the 185th Infantry -Brigade on the Montagne de Bligny. The D.A.C. advanced to the vicinity -of Courtagnon. - -On the 29th we consolidated and pushed patrols forward, and there -was some very hard fighting. The 310th Brigade moved at dawn to -positions north of Cuitron, and engaged many moving targets with -direct observation firing about 1500 rounds per battery during the -day. D/310 engaged three hostile batteries with great success. Shortly -after mid-day A/310 and C/310 advanced in full view of the enemy to -positions near the Moulin de Chaumuzy and engaged machine guns which -were annoying the infantry. The 312th also advanced two batteries in -close support; B/312 trotted into a position near Chaumuzy under heavy -fire, and suffered a few casualties. - -Orders came in the afternoon for the British Corps to be withdrawn from -the line and entrained to another destination, and after supporting -a small operation from 7.45 to 8.45 p.m. the 310th withdrew to their -wagon lines. - -The 312th Brigade fired, in the early morning of the 30th, in support -of a French advance, and then withdrew at 10 a.m. to St. Imoges and -thence to Aigny. Divisional Headquarters moved back to Hautvillers. - -The Divisional Artillery then marched to Chalons and Coolus, where -they entrained on the 1st and 2nd August, and returned to our old -neighbourhood. Headquarters were in Pas, the 310th Brigade in Couin, -the 312th in Bus, and the D.A.C. in Authie St. Leger. - -So ended a very interesting and exciting experience. I think we all -felt it a great privilege to have been selected as part of the force -sent to help our French comrades against a formidable offensive, and we -found them so cordial and pleasant, and so easy to get on with, that we -all carried away very agreeable memories of our connection with their -5th Army, in spite of the strenuous nature of the fighting and the -many hardships and dangers which we had to face. The fighting was of -quite a new and unaccustomed type. It was moving, as opposed to trench -warfare, and batteries were continually changing position, and had no -more protection than they could dig for themselves in the intervals of -firing; they took to it as readily as if they had done nothing else all -through the war, and, in spite of all the difficulties of ammunition -supply and keeping up communications in the thickly wooded country, -they were always ready to open fire up to time, and to support the -infantry in their rapid advances. This could only be achieved, however, -by the unremitting exertion of every officer, N.C.O., and man, who were -fighting and toiling night and day without shelter of any sort, and -with never more than a chance hour or two of sleep at a time, from the -20th to the 30th July. Although the infantry suffered very severely, -our casualties were not heavy, owing to the indifferent counter-battery -work of the enemy, and to the excellent habit, which had become a -second nature in all the batteries, of digging themselves in directly -a position was occupied. The total losses in the Divisional Artillery -in the ten days' fighting were only five officers wounded, nine other -ranks killed, and about 60 other ranks wounded. - -As some indication of the extent of artillery activity while with the -5th French army, I note here the number of rounds handled during the -period by the D.A.C.: - - From railhead to reserve dump, 18-pr. How. - by lorry 55,705 18,450 - - Delivered to the guns from the - reserve dump by limbers 52,321 17,476 - -Eight Military Medals were awarded in connection with the operations, -and also one Legion of Honour and nine Croix de Guerre (v. Appendix). - -The following special order of the day was issued on the 31st July by -Maj.-General Braithwaite: - -"The operations which commenced on the 20th July were brought to a -successful termination at midnight on the 30th July. - -"During the whole of this period the 62nd Division has had continuous -fighting, manoeuvring, and marching in new and hitherto unknown -country of a character entirely different from anything in which it -has operated before during this campaign. Especially have the densely -wooded slopes of the Bois de Reims been a difficulty for troops -unaccustomed to wood fighting. - -"But neither the difficulty of the country, nor the determined and -bitter resistance of the enemy, have militated against the victorious -operations of the Division. - -"The Division made a great name for itself at the battle of Cambrai. -It enhanced that reputation at Bucquoy, where it withstood the attacks -of some of the best of the German troops, up to that time flushed -with success. It has in this great battle set the seal on its already -established reputation as a fighting force of the first quality. - -"During the period, it has been fighting with its comrades of the -French army, and side by side with the 51st (Highland) Division, the -62nd (West Riding) Division has utterly defeated the 123rd German -Division, which had to be withdrawn on the 22nd inst., and the 50th -German Division (an assault division of the first rank) shared a -similar fate a few days later. - -"The fortitude, steadfastness, and valour of all ranks has been beyond -praise. - -"Marfaux, Cuitron, Bouilly the clearing of the Bois du Petit Champ, -attest your gallantry, while Espilly, Nappes, the advance up the Ardre -Valley, and the capture of Bligny and the Montagne de Bligny are -evidence of your sustained valour. - -"To every officer, warrant officer, non-commissioned officer and -private soldier I tender my grateful thanks, and express my unstinted -admiration of their victorious efforts. They have gloriously upheld the -highest traditions of the British Army. - -"It is with intense pride that, once again after a great victory I -have the honour to sign myself as Commander of the 62nd (West Riding) -Division. - - "WALTER BRAITHWAITE, - "Major-General." - -The Corps had also the honour of receiving a complimentary order from -General Berthelot in the following terms: - -"Ordre Général No. 63 le 30 Juillet, 1918. - -"Au moment ou le XXII. C. A. Britannique est appelé à quitter la -Vme Armée, le Général Commandant l'Armée lui exprime toute la -reconnaissance et toute l'admiration qu'ont merité les hauts faits -qu'il vient d'accomplir. - -"A peine débarqué, tenant à l'honneur de participer à la contre -offensive victorieuse qui venait d'arrêter la furieuse ruée de l'ennemi -sur la Marne, et commencait à le rejeter en desordre vers le Nords, -précipitant ses mouvements, réduisant à l'extreme la durée de ses -reconnaissances, le XXII. C. A. s'est jeté avec ardeur dans la melée. - -"Poussant sans répit ses efforts, harcellant, talonnant l'ennemi, il a, -pendant 10 jours successifs d'âpres combats, fait sienne cette vallée -de l'Ardre largement arrosée de son sang. - -"Grace au courage héroique, et à la tenacité proverbiale des fils de -la Grande Bretagne, les efforts continus et répétés de ce brave Corps -d'Armée n'ont pas étés vains; - -"21 officiers, plus de 1300 soldats prisonniers, 140 mitrailleuses, 40 -canons, enlevés à l'ennemi, dont 4 divisions ont été successivement -malmenées et refoulées, - -"la haute vallée de l'Ardre réconquise avec les hauteurs qui la -dominent au Nord et au Sud. - -"tel est le bilan de la participation Britannique à l'effort de la Vme -Armée. - -"Ecossais de la Montagne, sous le commandement du Général -Carter-Campbell, Commandant la 51me Division! - -"Enfants de Yorkshire, sous le commandement du Général Braithwaite, -commandant la 62nd Division! - -"Cavaliers Neo-Zelandais et Australiens! - -"Vous tous, officers et soldats du 22me C.A., si brillament commandé -par le Général Sir A. Godley, vous venez d'ajoutir une page glorieuse -à votre histoire. - -"Marfaux, Chaumuzy, Montagne de Bligny, ces noms prestigieux pourront -être écrits en lettres d'or dans les annales de vos regiments. - -"Vos amis Francais se souviendront avec émotion de votre brillant -bravoure, et de votre parfaite cameraderie de combat. - - "Le Général Commandant la Vme Armée, - "BERTHELOT." - -The G.O.C. also received the following letter from Sir A. Godley: - -"I am very sorry not to have been able to see any of your artillery on -coming out of the battle. I had hoped to do so, but could not manage -it. I should be very glad if you would convey to them my most grateful -thanks and high appreciation of all the good work that they have done -during the last ten days. The way in which batteries worked with -battalions, and brigades with brigades of infantry, in open warfare, -must have been a source of enormous satisfaction to all officers, -non-commissioned officers, and men, and the way in which it was done is -worthy of the best traditions of the Royal Regiment. Will you please -convey my heartiest congratulations to all ranks." - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -THE FINAL TRIUMPH - -"_The Right Hand of the Lord hath the pre-eminence. The Right Hand of -the Lord bringeth mighty things to pass._"--PSALM CXVIII. - - -[Sidenote: Aug. 1918.] - -On the 8th August the 4th Army launched a completely successful attack -west of Amiens, and an offensive on a large scale was then decided on -in which our Army, the third, was to participate. The 62nd Division was -in reserve, but its artillery was temporarily placed under the 37th -Division, and took up positions between Essarts and Bucquoy. The attack -began on the 21st with a substantial victory. Our troops advanced -through and beyond Bucquoy, Ablainzeville, and Moyenville, and later -on in the day captured Achiet le Petit and Courcelles. In this action -Lieut. A. G. Bennett was awarded the Military Cross: - -"On the 21st August Lieut. Bennett was in charge of a section of trench -mortars, and took part in the barrage preceding the attack on Bucquoy. -In spite of the difficulties due to misfires, owing to dampness of -charges on account of the atmospheric conditions, he succeeded in -firing the whole of the hundred rounds in ten minutes, the shooting -being excellent. On completion of the barrage he went forward with -the infantry to reconnoitre, taking with him Gunner E. Wendrop, M.M. -In Bucquoy they met four of the enemy partly concealed, who had been -overlooked by the first wave, and who were then sniping our men from -the rear. With difficulty they got round them, and then rushed them, -taking them prisoners." - -The artillery pushed on, and on the 23rd our batteries supported the -4th Corps in another great attack, which resulted in the capture -of Achiet le Grand, Bihucourt, and Irles. Our casualties were not -heavy, but unhappily we lost one officer killed, Lieut. J. C. -Massey-Beresford. That same evening the 62nd Divisional Artillery were -withdrawn to Bertrancourt, and thence marched to join the 38th Division -in an attack from the neighbourhood of Aveluy Wood. They remained with -this division until the 6th September, and took part in the arduous -advance from the Ancre to the Tortille river, being in action as the -fight progressed in and about the ruined remains of the historical -villages of Pozières, Bazentin, Flers, Morval, Mesnil, and Manancourt. -I myself, with my Headquarter Staff, was with the artillery supporting -the 62nd Division all this time, during its advance from Behagnies to -the neighbourhood of Morchies; unfortunately, therefore, I am unable to -describe the operations of the 62nd Divisional Artillery in detail, but -they entailed very heavy fighting and continuous hard work. Major R. C. -Foot has kindly furnished the following notes of the experiences of the -310th Brigade: - -"Early on the 24th August we marched to Bouzincourt, where battery -commanders went forward. The 38th Division had crossed the Ancre and -made good Albert, but the enemy were still holding Tara and Usna Hills, -which overlook Albert from the east. Our orders were to take up -positions east of the river to cover the next morning's advance. The -three 18-pounder batteries went into action on the low ground east of -the river that night, and I went in by the goods station close to the -river. I remember we had to have 200 rounds per howitzer that night, -which meant that the horses were on the road all night after 48 hours -practically continuous marching. - -"On the morning of the 25th we fired a barrage to cover the attack; -Tara and Usna Hills were taken with three 77 mm. guns and some -prisoners. That afternoon the 310th Brigade went into action near the -crest in front of La Boisselle. The infantry advanced this evening and -the next day, with little opposition after the morning's success. - -"On the 26th the brigade was in action in the valley between -Contalmaison and Pozières. That evening B/310 and D/310 did a combined -shoot on a counter attack by two companies of the 3rd Grenadier -Regiment, made against the right brigade of the 38th Division; the -Germans came out of Trones Wood across the open, and Jim Currie -(commanding B/310) caught them beautifully; we counted about 40 dead -there next morning. - -"On the 27th we were in action by Mametz Wood and Bazentin Wood. -Here we fired a barrage for an attack on the Longueval--Guillemont -area that morning. The 28th saw us in action at Ginchy covering the -advance on Morval, which proved rather a difficult place to take. Here -Latter behaved very gallantly under heavy shelling, for which he was -subsequently awarded the M.C. I had some very nice shooting from here -on some infantry dragging light trench mortars; I hit two teams and -counted 12 dead and all three mortars left there next day. - -"We remained at Ginchy two days, and on the 30th went into action at -Morval. From this position we covered the advance on Sailly Saillisel -Ridge, which was taken on September 1st. - -[Sidenote: Sept. 1918.] - -"Reconnoitring the long forward slope down to the Canal du Nord at -Manancourt on the 2nd was a nasty job, and some 38th Division batteries -who were pushed on in front of us here had a bad time. Meanwhile my -battery moved up close behind Sailly Saillisel. - -"On the evening of the 3rd we moved up close to the canal. I went in -rear of B/310, about 800 yards from the canal, which our infantry -were to cross in the morning. By bad luck I came under a German gas -concentration, which lasted from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. I had to stay there -to fire a barrage, and consequently got about 90 per cent. of the men -at my gun positions gassed. We were digging, and carrying ammunition -all night; the position was close to Manancourt. Nelson got an M.C. for -his work that night. - -"The Brigade crossed the canal on the 5th, but on the 6th was withdrawn -from action. The advance had been 18 miles as the crow flies, in 13 -days, over the old Somme battlefield." - -The official records of the two Military Crosses mentioned in the above -account are as follows: - -"When ordered to reconnoitre at Ginchy for a gun position for an -advance, Lieut. Latter found the enemy in possession of the area, and -sweeping all approaches with machine gun fire. He successfully marked -a position, although he was at times in the open within 300 yards of -the hostile machine guns. Later, in command of a detached section, he -displayed great gallantry and initiative, moving to and fro several -times from his section to the main battery position for orders, in -preference to sending runners from his men." - -"Lieut. H. G. Nelson: when his battery came into action in a forward -position it was heavily shelled with gas, but with great courage and -determination he moved about encouraging his men. Later, when two of -his guns received direct hits, he kept them in action, removing the -casualties himself. His disregard for his own safety was a splendid -example to his men, and enabled them to maintain the fire of their guns -when this appeared impossible." - -Four officers were wounded during these operations, Lieuts. F. R. -Stuart, W. J. Green, J. C. Harker, and H. G. Nelson. Eight Military -Medals were gained (v. Appendix). Lieut. N. Hess won a bar on the 1st -September to the M.C., which he gained in November 17, and Lieut. E. C. -Lintern was awarded the Military Cross for the following action on the -3rd September at Mesnil: - -"When during night harassing fire one of the guns of D/312 burst, -killing two and wounding two of his detachment and setting fire to the -pit, he and a gunner at once went to the assistance of the wounded men. -They removed burning charges which had been blown into the ammunition -recess, and succeeded in preventing an explosion and keeping down the -fire, until other help was forthcoming and the fire was put out. His -prompt action prevented further loss of life." - -The following letter was received by the Divisional Commander from the -G.O.C. 38th Division: - -"I have experienced the great honour and privilege of having under my -command, from the 21st August to the 5th September, 1918, the artillery -of your Division. - -"This Division has attacked on a 3000 yard front for 16 days -consecutively with a truly remarkable success. I attribute this success -to a great degree to the magnificent support I have received from -the Field Artillery. On many occasions batteries of your artillery -have literally moved parallel with my advancing infantry. Their dash, -determination, and staying power are above all praise. - -"I wish especially to bring to your notice the gallant and -distinguished conduct of Lieut.-Colonel D. J. Sherlock, D.S.O., and -Lieut.-Colonel A. G. Eden." - -This battle from the 21st to 31st August is now officially known as the -Battle of Bapaume, which, runs the official account, turning the flank -of the German positions on the Somme compelled the enemy to withdraw -to the east bank of the river. Here 23 divisions defeated 35 German -divisions, capturing 34,250 prisoners and 250 guns. - -On the 28th August Major-General W. P. Braithwaite left us on promotion -to the command of a corps. Glad as we all were that he should receive -the recognition due to his distinguished services, each one of us felt -his departure as a personal loss. He had always taken the keenest -interest in his artillery, and had been a constant visitor at the -battery positions, and we felt that we were losing in him a leader -who inspired confidence and could understand our needs. Whatever the -difficulty and danger of the situation, he always preserved the same -cheery, courteous, and debonnaire demeanour, and he never passed -through a battery without leaving the officers and men the happier for -his visit. Less than this I cannot say, and I would gladly say more; -but it would be unbecoming in me to speak of the soldierly qualities of -a superior officer, while he and I are still on the active list, and I -must content myself with saying that Sir Walter Braithwaite will long -be remembered with admiration and affection by his old artillery. - -He was succeeded in command of the Division by Major-General Sir Robert -Whigham. - -[Sidenote: Sept. 1918.] - -My own artillery joined the Division again on the 8th September. -Divisional Headquarters were then at the Triangle Copse near -Gomiecourt, and the Division was enjoying a short rest some distance -in rear of the front line, which ran roughly along the Canal du Nord. -I had hoped that our gunners would have a rest too after their fine -work with the 38th Division, but it was not to be, for on the day of -their arrival we received orders to be prepared to attack and capture -Havrincourt, the scene of our former triumph in a few days. The -brigades and D.A.C. accordingly moved on the 9th to the area round -Beugny, and the work of reconnoitring positions for the coming battle -began at once. The positions selected lay chiefly between Havrincourt -Wood and the Canal, a little to the left of those occupied in the -battle of the 20th November, 1917. The 3rd Divisional Artillery, -together with the 5th, 76th, 93rd, and 232nd brigades, were temporarily -added to my command, making a total of twenty-four 18-pounder batteries -and eight 4.5 howitzer batteries to support the Division in its attack. -Batteries set to work forthwith to prepare their positions, and to -dump thereon 450 rounds per gun. While engaged in this work Lieut. B. -Alderton won the Military Cross "for great gallantry at Havrincourt -Wood on September 10th, 1918, in leading ammunition wagons which were -being heavily shelled to a place of safety. He dealt with the situation -with great pluck and skill, assisted the five drivers who had been -wounded, and undoubtedly saved further damage being done." - -The following Divisional Order was issued on the 10th: - - "The 62nd (West Riding) Division has been called on to make a - big effort to capture the high ground on which the village of - Havrincourt stands. - - "The early capture of this important tactical feature is regarded - as essential to the success of larger operations in the near - future. Every day given to the enemy to strengthen his positions - there is a day gained for him. - - "There are no tanks available for this attack at Havrincourt, which - will be carried out under intense artillery barrage and bombardment. - - "The 62nd Division has borne a brilliant share in the operations - on the Marne in July, and more recently in nine days hard fighting - round Mory and Vaulx. It captured Havrincourt on the 20th November - last year, and a second capture of this strong position in the - Hindenburg line will add fresh lustre to the splendid record of the - Division. - - "R. D. WHIGHAM, - "Major-General." - -All the batteries went into action during the night of the 11th -September, and in the early hours of the 12th Divisional Headquarters -moved to the canal bank south-west of Hermies. At 5.25 a.m. the barrage -opened, and continued for about three hours, sweeping north-east -through the village of Havrincourt at the rate of 100 yards in three -minutes. The infantry pressed on irresistibly behind the line of -bursting shell, and once more this almost impregnable position fell -before the unconquerable onslaught of our wonderful battalions. The -prisoners numbered 12 officers and over 600 other ranks. We had one -officer wounded in the Divisional Artillery, Lieut. J. B. C. Hewitt. -All through the 13th there was fierce fighting round the village. The -Boche counter-attacked vigorously, and at one time got a foothold in a -corner of Havrincourt, but by the evening he was again thrust out. The -guns were hard at work all day, and we learned from prisoners that the -counter-attacking troops lost heavily from our artillery fire. - -On the 14th the infantry again attacked under a barrage, and captured a -trench about a thousand yards east of Havrincourt, together with five -officers and 204 other ranks. The 15th was spent in consolidating the -positions gained. The enemy's aeroplanes were very active and brought -down three of our observation balloons in flames. That afternoon, -when visiting the headquarters of the 185th Infantry Brigade with -the G.O.C., I heard a curious story from Lord Hampden, the Infantry -Brigadier. During the attack of the previous day some of his men -entered a dug-out and found four Boches playing cards; they simply held -up their hands for a moment, remarked "Kamerad," and then went on with -their game! It was rather an amusing proof that the Huns were beginning -to regard defeat and capture as a thing naturally to be expected. - -On the 16th September the infantry of the Division withdrew for a rest, -the guns remaining in the line, as usual, under the 3rd Division. -Lieut. S. A. Rissik was wounded this day. No further advance was made -for some days, but preparations were set in hand for another great -attack to be begun by the 3rd Division, and carried on afterwards by -the 62nd. - -On the 18th the enemy counter-attacked heavily. For about two and a -half hours he kept up a bombardment of extraordinary intensity, and -shells of all sizes, about half of them gas, were falling in and around -our batteries; over a hundred shell craters were afterwards counted -in B/312's position alone. All communication lines were cut, but the -batteries fired hard on their S.O.S. lines, and the attack finally -broke down. In this action Lieuts. H. J. Dowden and C. F. M. Douet won -their Military Crosses: - -"In response to an S.O.S., Lieut. Dowden at once got all the guns -into action, and maintained a quick rate of fire in spite of a heavy -barrage. He fired one gun himself until the detachment was collected, -and then assisted to bind up a wounded officer." - -Lieut. Douet was "in charge of a forward section of his battery -when it was firing S.O.S. under heavy bombardment, previous to a -hostile counter attack. One of his guns was put out of action and the -detachment incapacitated, the detachment of the other gun were killed -or wounded. He, with an N.C.O., worked the gun until the order to cease -fire was received." - -On the 25th Capt. K. B. Nicholson, M.C., was wounded. - -We moved our headquarters on the 26th to a dug-out just north of -Hermies, and at 5.20 a.m. on the 27th the battle began. The 3rd -Division advanced under an artillery barrage and captured the strong -defensive positions of Flesquières and Ribecourt. The artillery command -then passed to me, and the 62nd Division, pushing on through the 3rd, -pressed forward towards Marcoing and captured a strong line of defence -between that village and Flesquières, taking prisoner 15 officers and -about 300 other ranks. The victory was complete all along the line, -Bourlon Wood having fallen to the Canadians and Graincourt to the 17th -Corps. - -Next day we continued our advance, captured Marcoing, and secured -the crossings of the St. Quentin Canal. The 186th Infantry Brigade -pushed on the same night and secured an important line of trench -east of the Canal. We moved Divisional Headquarters to a dug-out on -the Graincourt road just north of Havrincourt. In these two days' -fighting our Division had captured about 60 officers and 1600 rank and -file, together with 49 guns and howitzers. On the 29th the action was -continued, and the Division took Masnières. Our headquarters shifted -to a dug-out east of Flesquières, the battery positions being now for -the most part in the area south of Marcoing. We were much gratified -at receiving the following telegram to the Division from our former -Commander, Lieut.-General Sir W. P. Braithwaite: - -"To General Whigham, 62nd Division. Just heard of your great success at -Ribecourt and Marcoing. It is all splendid and just like 62. Will you -allow me to congratulate you and the Division and to say how very proud -I am to have once commanded so splendid a Division." - -[Sidenote: Oct. 1918.] - -The 3rd Division relieved our infantry during the night of the 30th -September and captured Rumilly under an artillery barrage on the 1st -October. - -On the 2nd Major-General Sir R. Whigham visited the D.A.C. and brigades -with me. The former was in the Ribecourt Valley, and the brigades were -still in the neighbourhood of Marcoing, where they were enjoying a -short rest before being pushed forward again. They had lost a large -number of horses during the few preceding days from shell fire and -bombs. I remember that Lieut. G. A. Murray, the Signalling Officer of -the 310th Brigade, showed us round the positions; he had only been with -us for a few weeks, and I was much taken by his smiling, cheery manner, -and his evident grasp of his duties. It was therefore a great shock to -me when I heard next day that he had been killed while laying a line -across a bridge in Masnières; it was a great sorrow to us all, and a -serious loss to the brigade. - -The Boche now made a peace offer in the vain hope of staying our -progress--the humblest thing that had yet emanated from Berlin. There -could, however, be no parleying with a foe who was destitute of honour -or humanity, and the answer, on our part of the front, was a fresh -attack made on the 8th October, in which the 2nd and 3rd Divisions -captured the high ground running through Seranvillers, and pushed on -through that village towards Wambaix. Our guns took part in the action, -and Lieut. E. Smart won his Military Cross for the following act of -bravery: "On October 8th he was observing officer; when the infantry -advanced over the crest he was unable to observe the situation, and so -went forward and kept in close touch with the infantry, then held up in -a trench. He established an O.P. in the trench and there observed the -enemy counter attacking, supported by three tanks. Our infantry were -compelled to retire, but Lieut. Smart remained at his post for some -considerable time, and sent back valuable information. Throughout the -whole of the period he was under constant shell fire from the enemy -barrage." - -Cambrai was captured on the 9th by troops on our left, and on the -10th October we moved headquarters to Masnières. The position on that -day was as follows: on our front the Guards were in Bevilly, the 4th -Corps had captured Beauvois and Caudry, and the 5th Corps was closing -up on le Cateau. The 310th Brigade was in action covering the Guards' -Division, but the 312th were resting at and around Estourmel, and -came back under my command. This day brought to a close the Battle of -Cambrai--St. Quentin, 27th September to 10th October, which in ten days -of victorious fighting broke through the last and strongest of the -enemy's fully prepared positions, opening the way to a war of movement -and an advance on the German main lines of communication. Thirty-five -Infantry, 3 Cavalry, and 2 American Divisions defeated 45 German -Divisions, taking 48,500 prisoners and 630 guns. - -On the 10th I walked up to Estourmel with Elston, my Staff Captain, to -see the 312th Brigade, which was then temporarily under Major Arnold -Forster's command, vice Lieut.-Colonel Eden, who had gone home on a -course a short time previously. Lieut.-Colonel R. H. Johnson, D.S.O., -took over the command a few days later. I remember that we were much -struck by the rapid change in the appearance of the country. Masnières, -the village from which we started, was a mere heap of ruins; the next -village on the road, Seranvillers, had been badly knocked about, and -then came Wambaix, which was in not quite so bad a state. After that -the country presented an almost normal appearance, and church spires -and compact little villages were to be seen dotted about the landscape, -practically unharmed by the brutal Boche, who was now retiring in such -haste that he had little time to carry out the wanton destruction -in which his soul delighted. In Estourmel most of the houses were in -pretty good condition, and even contained furniture. The gardens were -cultivated, and Elston, as good and thorough a Staff Captain in the -lighter as he was in the sterner duties of warfare, was able to collect -a useful load of vegetables for the refreshment of our mess. We moved -our headquarters into this village on the 11th. - -The 310th Brigade advanced on this day to St. Hilaire, still in support -of the Guards. The enemy was now holding a strong position along the -Selle river, and an attack was arranged for the 20th October in which -the whole of the 3rd and 4th Armies were to be engaged. The task of -the 62nd Division was to force the passage of the river to capture -the town of Solesmes and the village of St. Python, and then to -establish itself on a line about 3000 yards north-east of them. The 3rd -Divisional Artillery was put under my orders for the battle, and these -two brigades, together with the 310th and 312th, began to take up their -positions on the 16th, south of the Cambrai--Solesmes road, and about -2000 yards to the west of the river. We established headquarters at -Bevillers on the 18th. The barrage was rather a complicated one to make -out, not only because it had to be accurately co-ordinated with the -barrages of the Guards Division and the 42nd Division on each side of -us, but also owing to the fact that large numbers of French civilians -were known to be still living in both the town and the village, and we -were naturally anxious to put them into as little danger as possible. -It was finally decided not to direct any artillery on Solesmes itself, -but only on its suburbs on our side of the river, and on the village -of St. Python. It was assumed that the civilians would take refuge in -the cellars, and as no high explosive shell were to be fired at the -buildings, but only shrapnel, the risk to them would not be a serious -one. These suburbs and St. Python were at the time in "No Man's Land," -and for a few nights before the battle our infantry patrols used -actually to enter them under cover of darkness and take coffee with the -unfortunate but stout-hearted inhabitants. - -The attack was launched in bright moonlight at 2 a.m. on the 20th -October. The barrage was kept up for 23 minutes on the village and -suburbs mentioned above, while the infantry forced their way across -the river; it then crept up on each side of Solesmes at the rate of -100 yards in four minutes. The infantry followed it up closely and -secured the ground on each side of the town, while specially detailed -battalions turned in to the right and left and entered Solesmes, which -they took possession of after some hard fighting. While the town was -being "mopped up," the guns kept up a standing barrage beyond it for -over an hour. At 4.20 a.m. the artillery ceased firing for a time, and -some of the more distant batteries moved up to closer range. At 7.40 -a.m. the creeping barrage began again, and moved north-east at the same -rate as before, followed by a fresh infantry brigade up to a line about -500 yards short of Romeries. The victory was complete, not only on our -immediate front, but along the whole army line. The 62nd Division took -prisoner 12 officers and 539 men, and also three field guns, several -trench mortars, and a large number of machine guns; its own casualties -were under three hundred. The infantry were loud in their praise of the -shooting of the guns, and I was proud to get the following note from -Brig.-General J. L. G. Burnett, D.S.O., Commanding the 186th Infantry -Brigade: - - "As I know that you people like to know what the infantry who - attacked thought of the barrage: both the left attacking battalion - and the one which took the railway station wish me to say that it - was the most accurate barrage which they have yet advanced under. - Would you please convey our thanks to the men behind the guns who - so largely contributed towards the success. - - "Yours sincerely, - "J. G. BURNETT." - -The batteries advanced across the river as soon as crossings could be -prepared for them, a work which was carried out by the sappers in a -marvellously short time, and I found them already in action north of -Solesmes when I visited that place next day, the 21st. Two or three -thousand civilians were still in the town, and though a lot of shell -were already beginning to fall there, they were parading the streets -in great numbers, and there was a great doffing of hats and waving -of handkerchiefs as we passed through. I saw a party of prisoners -being marched along the main street; women and children were running -alongside shaking their fists at them, and crying out, "Sales Boches! -Sales Boches!" with all the strength of their lungs. When I thought of -all their sufferings at the hands of the barbarous savages, I could -hardly find it in my heart to blame them for this triumph over their -humbled enemy. The civilians would all have gladly stayed where they -were, but it was thought necessary in their own interests to get the -women and children, and the old men, out of the place as long as the -Boche guns remained within range. It was a very pathetic sight to see -them arriving in Bevilly that afternoon. Groups of soldiers met the -lorries as they arrived at the buildings reserved for the refugees, -and it was pleasant to see the tenderness with which the men lifted -out the children--and sometimes the old grand-mothers--and carried -them across the sea of mud that lay between the roadway and the -house. It was painful to think of the hell that these poor people had -been through, crouching in their cellars while our shell crashed and -screamed overhead, and later while our infantry hunted out the Boche -from house to house and street to street. However, they looked happy, -most of them, in spite of their discomforts; they were free at last and -out of danger, and had the prospect before them of a speedy return to -their own homes. - -The 3rd Division took over our front during the night of the 22nd -and attacked at 3.20 a.m. the next day. Our guns helped to support -the attack, which resulted in the capture of Romeries and Vertain. -Continuing their victorious progress on the 24th, the 3rd Division -captured Escarmain, and reached the railway line north of Ruesnes. - -So ended our share in the Battle of the Selle River, which forced the -enemy from the line of that river and drove a big salient into his -defences, and in which 26 Divisions defeated 31 German Divisions, with -21,000 prisoners and 450 guns. - -A great many mines had been going up during our advance along the -railway lines, and the delay thus caused in the bringing up of -ammunition and supplies was becoming very serious. It was decided -therefore to call a halt for a few days until the communications -could be made more secure. This decision made it possible to give -the artillery the rest which they so sorely needed, and my brigades -withdrew to Quiévy on the 26th October while the D.A.C. remained at St. -Python, to which place they had gone after the capture of Solesmes. We -moved our headquarters to the latter town on the 30th. On this day we -heard the cheering news of the conclusion of an armistice with Turkey. - -[Sidenote: Nov. 1918.] - -We were now warned that we were to take part in a great attack on the -4th November, our immediate objectives being the villages of Orsinval -and Frasnoy. The 40th, 42nd, and 76th Brigades R.F.A. and the 84th -Brigade R.G.A. were put under my command for the battle in addition to -the 62nd Divisional Artillery. Positions were selected near Ruesnes for -the batteries, and across the railway close up to the front infantry -line for the trench mortars. The 310th and 312th moved up to Escarmain -on the 2nd; the village was heavily shelled that night and B/312 -lost 44 horses. Next day the batteries occupied their positions, and -Divisional Headquarters went to Escarmain. - -The barrage opened at 5.30 a.m. on the 4th November, and our infantry -made a victorious advance of 7000 yards, capturing their two villages -and taking over 600 prisoners and a large number of guns. The Guards, -on our left, met with equal success, and north and south along the -whole far flung battle line the enemy was completely defeated. Early -in the battle we advanced our headquarters into a ruined chateau in -Ruesnes; it had been badly knocked about, and a great deal of wanton -destruction had been done to a large and valuable library. In the -afternoon the New Zealand Division, on our right flank, captured -the fortified town of Le Quesnoy, together with its garrison of a -thousand men. Our casualties were not heavy, but two of the Battery -Sergeant-Majors were killed, and Lieut. J. A. Brown was wounded (for -the second time). Our satisfaction in the result of the day's fighting -was increased by the news we received that night that an armistice with -Austria had come into effect at 3 p.m. - -On the 5th we pushed on and extended our gains. It was pouring with -rain, and the mud and slush made progress extraordinarily difficult. -We moved our headquarters to Frasnoy, where we were greeted with the -greatest enthusiasm by the 200 civilians who still remained in the -village--wild with joy at their deliverance after four years' suffering -at the hands of the hated Boche. - -On the 6th and 7th the advance was continued without much opposition. -The roads were in a shocking state, and the forward movement was so -rapid that it was a matter of the greatest difficulty to comply with -the ammunition demands. The D.A.C. did wonders, but no sooner was a -dump of ammunition formed in one place than the tide of battle rolled -far beyond it, and another one had to be started further on. Never -during the whole war were the men and horses of the brigades and D.A.C. -worked to a greater state of exhaustion than in these closing days. -Headquarters went to Le Trechon on the 7th, the advanced infantry -having on that day reached a line about 5000 yards east of Obies. D/310 -came under heavy shell fire during one of its advances, and Lieuts. W. -P. Holt and K. A. Latter were badly wounded. Lieut. R. G. Morgan gained -the Military Cross "for conspicuous gallantry and perseverance on the -6th and 7th November at Le Trechon and near Harguies. He kept in close -touch with the attacking infantry, advancing his guns in the face of -intense fire so as to afford them the utmost support. The following day -he carried out a similar task, advancing his section on very bad tracks -through heavy shell fire. He made several reconnaissances throughout -the day, which enabled him to afford effectual support to the infantry." - -In Le Trechon I came across an authentic case of Boche barbarity. One -of our cavalry on patrol entered the village on the 6th, and seeing -four Germans preparing to destroy a bridge fired on them, killing -one. They returned the fire and he fell wounded. The Germans then -fled, thinking that there were more of our men close behind. The -French inhabitants of the nearest house, one of whom was my informant, -came out and made the wounded man as comfortable as they could. As -he was too badly hurt to be moved they laid a blanket over him so -that any passing Boche might think him dead. After a short time the -three Germans returned, seeing that no British were yet in sight, and -deliberately murdered the wounded man with their bayonets. An officer -of the 20th London Regiment told me that he had seen the corpse, and -that there were several bayonet wounds in it in addition to the mark of -the bullet. - -On the 8th our infantry took the village of Neuf Mesnil, but, what with -the vile weather and a temporary stiffening of the enemy's resistance, -the day's advance was only about three kilometres. We heard that the -German emissaries had crossed our lines to sue for an armistice. - -The 9th was a beautiful sunny day. There was little resistance to our -advance, and the Guards entered Maubeuge, while our infantry took -possession of the large suburb of Sous le Bois, and pushed through and -beyond it. Divisional Headquarters moved to Neuf Mesnil. - -On the 10th we remained where we were. The enemy had retired about -six miles east of Maubeuge, and a short delay was necessary to get up -ammunition and supplies for a further forward movement. News came that -the Kaiser had abdicated, and that his ignoble son had renounced his -claim to the succession. A revolution in Berlin was also reported, and -the end seemed so close in sight that it was scarcely a surprise when, -at 9 a.m. on the 11th November, I received the wire, "Hostilities cease -at 11 a.m. to-day." - -So ended the Battle of Maubeuge, which, lasting from the 1st to the -11th November, struck at and broke the enemy's last important lateral -communications, turned his position on the Scheldt, and forced him -to retreat rapidly from Courtrai. This victory completed the great -strategical aim of the whole series of battles by dividing the enemy's -forces into two parts, one on each side of the great natural barrier -of the Ardennes. The pursuit of the beaten enemy all along the Allied -line was only stopped by the Armistice. Twenty-six Divisions defeated -32 German Divisions, taking 19,000 prisoners and 450 guns. - -The total casualties in the 62nd Divisional Artillery since landing in -France had been - - 10 officers and 160 other ranks killed. - 71 officers and 714 other ranks wounded. - -The following special order of the day was issued on the 11th: - - _TO ALL RANKS OF THE THIRD ARMY._ - - The operations of the last three months have forced the enemy to - sue for an armistice as a prelude to peace. - - Your share in the consummation of this achievement is one that - fills me with pride and admiration. - - Since August 21st you have won eighteen decisive battles, you have - driven the enemy back over sixty miles of country and you have - captured 67,000 prisoners and 800 guns. - - That is your record, gained by your ceaseless enterprise, your - indomitable courage and your loyal support to your leaders. - - Eleven Divisions in the four Corps (Guards 2nd 3rd and 62nd, - 5th 37th 42nd and New Zealand, 17th 21st and 38th), have been - continuously in action since the beginning of the advance and have - borne the brunt of the operations. Other Divisions have joined and - left, each one adding fresh lustre to its history. - - To all ranks, to all Corps and formations, to all administrative - and transport units, I tender my thanks. May your pride in your - achievements be as great as mine is in the recollection of having - commanded the Army in which you served. - - J. BYNG, General, - Commanding Third Army. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -THE LAST PHASE - - -On the 12th November we went into comfortable billets in Sous le Bois -and Neuf Mesnil, while preparations were being made to march into -Germany. The 62nd Division was to form part of the 9th Corps, under -our former Commander, Lieut.-General Sir Walter Braithwaite, the other -divisions being the 1st and the 6th; the trench mortars were to be left -behind, but were to join us subsequently in Germany. While in Sous le -Bois Lieut. E. S. Lloyd, M.C., Signalling Officer of the 312th Brigade, -was taken ill with influenza, and to the great sorrow of us all died -after a few days' illness. On the 17th we had a thanksgiving service -for the Divisional Artillery, conducted by the Rev. S. Garrett, our -senior chaplain. I may mention here that the Rev. T. A. Horne, who came -out from England with the artillery, was invalided home in December, -1917, and was succeeded by the Rev. H. O. Perry. The latter was with us -all through the big German push, and was then transferred to another -appointment while we were fighting at the Marne in July, 1918. He was -succeeded in his turn by the Rev. S. Garrett. - -We marched on the 18th November, a wet, unpleasant day, to Ferrière la -Grande. The artillery marched for the future in a separate column from -the rest of the division, our itinerary being as follows. I give as a -rule the name of the place where headquarters halted; the remainder of -the artillery was billeted in the surrounding area, generally within a -mile or two of headquarters. - -19th. Solre sur Sambre, our first entry into Belgian territory. - -20th. Berzèe. On arrival here we were greeted by the local band, -which played our National Anthem over and over again with remarkable -persistency for about two hours. It would be tedious to describe our -reception at each halting place throughout the march, but I quote here, -as typical of other greetings, the address presented to the 312th -Brigade on their arrival in this area; it was couched in English as -follows: - -"Dear Allied Friends, - -"After more than four years of a terrible war without example in the -history of the world, the Belgians deprived of their freedom and rights -during all that time have the immense joy of seeing again the sun of -liberty shining bright and joyful over their heads. To tell you what a -boundless feeling of happiness and gratitude we have now in our hearts -is impossible for us to do in some words. We are like slaves whose -fetters would fall down all of a sudden, like birds kept for long years -in a dull cage and which unexpectedly could fly freely again in the -open air of a nice spring day. Our hearts sing merrily, our souls are -transported with joy and hope. On this memorable day where you bring -us freedom, we turn away from the hard and unjust past to look forward -with hope to the future. But if we are so to say mad for joy, our -hearts are large enough to make room for another feeling as sincere and -powerful as our happiness--our gratefulness to all our Allied friends. -Yes, to you all which have helped us to reconquer our liberty, to you -all which have given your blood for a destruction of a system of -oppression, violence and brutality which threatened the world, we are -immensely obliged. We are full of admiration for the great exploits -of your armies; their courage, their spirit of self-sacrifice, their -perseverance in the duty are for us external signs of the inner forces -which animate them; passion for independence, justice and liberty. We -are proud indeed to have as friends and Allies men of such a noble -character. - -"In the name of the Civil Authorities of the village of Thy-le-Chateau -I am proud and glad to have the privilege of greeting you heartily. - -"Hurrah for the English people and their valiant armies. - -"Hurrah for our brave Allies. Hurrah." - -24th. Gerpinnes. - -25th. Ermetont. The 310th Brigade on this occasion were billeted _en -masse_ in the Abbey of Maredsous, where they were entertained most -hospitably by the Benedictine Monks. The Prior and eight of the monks -had only just got back from serving two years' imprisonment with hard -labour in Germany. This savage punishment was inflicted on them for -having given a few days' shelter to a wounded British soldier. - -27th. A long march through Dinant, where we crossed the Meuse, to -the Thynne area, where we had a long and rather tedious halt. The -headquarters billet was in a most picturesque chateau situated in a -deep hollow surrounded by rugged hills, on the road from Dinant to -Lisangues. The owner was the widow of a retired French General. She -told me that when the Germans were occupying her chateau, at the time -of the Dinant atrocities, they treated her and her husband, an old man -over eighty, with the greatest roughness. Finally they told the old -couple one day that if any further act of hostility were committed by -the surrounding villagers, _they_ would both be shot. The next day the -old General fell dead of heart disease. - -[Sidenote: Dec. 1918.] - -10th December. Area round Laignon. Headquarters at the Chateau de -Barçenal. - -11th. Barvaux Condray. - -12th. Clavier. - -13th. Ville. We billeted in the fine chateau, which had been in the -early days of the war the headquarters of Prince Eitel and his staff. -Monsieur La Masch, the owner of the house, told me that his unwelcome -guests drank about a thousand bottles of his wine, for which they -offered him on their departure the generous payment of a franc a -bottle. As most of the wine they affected had cost from 15 to 20 francs -a bottle he declined their offer, and he was now entering the full -value in his claim against the Boche Government. The royal Eitel, a -true Boche, looted all the linen when he left, tablecloths, napkins, -sheets and towels; he even carried off all Madame's lace, most of it -old and priceless. - -14th. Chevron. Here the scenery was as magnificent as the billets were -mean and uncomfortable. - -16th. Basse Bodeux. - -17th. We crossed the German frontier, and marched through Malmédy to -Weismes. It was decided that we should hold our anniversary dinners -on this auspicious date. We halted here for a few days in rather -uncomfortable billets. The weather was very bad, and it snowed -continuously. - -21st. Elsenborn Camp. This was a sort of German "Salisbury Plain." The -huts were however far superior to those provided in an English practice -camp; they were substantially built and well heated, and officers and -men found them almost luxurious after the cramped village accommodation -which they had been accustomed to. - -22nd. Mountjoie. - -23rd. The area round Schleiden. Headquarters marched straight through -to Gemund, our final destination. - -25th. The Divisional Artillery made their final march in a snow -blizzard and went into billets as follows: - - 14th Brigade R.H.A. (now attached to the Division), Kal and - Keldernich. - 310th Brigade R.H.A., Gemund and Malsbenden. - 312th Brigade R.H.A., Gemund, with two batteries at Nierfeld and - Schleven. - D.A.C. Kal and Sottenich. - Trench Mortars (eventually), Urft. - -The purpose of this work is to describe the war services of the -artillery, and I shall not therefore write about our life in Germany. -The ordinary military routine, under what were practically peace -conditions, affords little of interest to a Chronicler, and it is -sufficient to say that life was agreeable enough, and that ski-ing, -tobogganing, and later on fishing broke the monotony of our routine -duties in a very pleasant manner. Demobilisation dragged on slowly but -surely, and on the 18th February we heard that the Division was to be -broken up, and to be reformed as the Highland Division. Most of the -officers now began to drift away, but it was not till the 19th April -that I said farewell to my command. My Staff all left at about the same -time. - -The Divisional Artillery remained with the Highland Division, though -greatly changed in personnel and with an almost entirely new set of -commanding officers. Major Lockhart was, I believe, the only battery -commander who stayed on until the final breaking up. The artillery left -Germany in the middle of August, and returned to England (Salisbury -Plain); on the 5th December the headquarters' office closed, and on -that date the Divisional Artillery may be said to have ceased to exist. - -That it may long exist, however, as a brotherhood of officers and men, -bound together by a thousand memories of danger and privation borne in -common, proud in the consciousness of duty done, and strong to maintain -in peace the steadfast and loyal comradeship which knit them together -in war, is the sincere hope of the writer of this little chronicle. - - - - -APPENDIX A - -SUBSEQUENT SERVICES OF THE 311TH BRIGADE - - -I should like to have been able to bring the records of the 311th -Brigade within the scope of this work, but the difficulties have proved -too great, and I must content myself with giving a brief digest of its -services after leaving the 62nd Division, for which I am indebted to -the kindness of Lieut.-Colonel A. Gadie. - -The brigade was first attached to the 34th Division, and took part in -the battle of Arras on Easter Monday, 1917; after this it occupied -positions in the Arras sector, opposite Gavrelle and Oppy. - -In May it marched to Ploeg Street Wood, and fought in the battle of -Messines, in support of the Anzacs. The battery positions in this -battle were in some cases within 850 yards of the Boche front line. - -In June, 1917, the brigade enjoyed a rest at Bailleul, and then -returned to its old positions at Messines, near Warneton. - -In October, 1917, it pulled out and went to the Ypres salient, where it -took part in the strenuous fighting at Passchendale. - -December, 1917. St. Quentin sector. - -February, 1918. In action at Jeancourt until the big German offensive -began. The brigade then retired steadily to the Somme, taking up as -many as five separate positions in one day. At St. Christ's bridge -it held on to its positions for two days, and then only retired on -being outflanked by the enemy. The batteries remained in action on -this occasion, firing over open sights, until the infantry had retired -behind the guns. Positions were finally taken up about 8 miles east of -Amiens. - -May, 1918. To the Arras sector. When the final great advance was in -preparation, the brigade moved into seven different positions in ten -days, in order to cover the withdrawal of the Canadians, who were being -sent south. It finished up by occupying positions on the top of the -Vimy ridge. - -During the advance, which began in August, the brigade was attached to -the 8th Division and to the Canadians. - -When the armistice was concluded on the 11th November, 1918, it was at -the village of Le Havre, about three miles east of Mons. - - -The following officers were awarded Military Crosses: - - *ARMITAGE, Lieut. H. G. - *BROWNE, Major W. - *CAMPBELL, Major C. W. - DANBY, Capt. - *DAWSON, Capt. H. B. - *FRASER-MACKENZIE, Major E. R. L. - HANNAH, Major (also a D.S.O.) - *HOLLINGWORTH, Major A. (also a bar, and a Croix de Guerre). - HUNT, Lieut. - *JAMESON, Major A. A. (also a bar), afterwards killed. - *KNOWLES, Lieut. G. (_w._) - MORGAN, Capt. - SABERSTON, Lieut. - *SAMPSON, Lieut. H. T. - - MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES. - - *GADIE, Lieut.-Colonel A. - BECKETT, Capt. - *BROWNE, Major W. - *HOLLINGWORTH, Major A. - *ARMITAGE, Lieut. H. G. - - * _Originally in the 62nd Divisional Artillery._ - - - - -APPENDIX B - -ALPHABETICAL LIST OF OFFICERS WHO SERVED WITH THE 62ND DIVISIONAL -ARTILLERY. - -(An asterisk denotes that the officer has been more than once wounded -while with the Division.) - - - ABRAHAMS, F., Lieut., M.C. - ALDERTON, B., Lieut., M.C. - ALDRICH, E. C., Capt. - ANDERSON, A. T., Brig.-Gen., C.M.G. - ANDERSON, R. A. T., Lieut. - ARCHER, H. de B., Capt., M.C. - ARMITAGE, H. G., Lieut. - _w_ARNOLD-FORSTER, F. A., Major, D.S.O. - _w_ASHBY, H. C., Lieut. - ASPINWALL, R. H. S., Lieut. - ASTLEY, N. T., Lieut. - BADHAM-JACKSON, C. O., Lieut. - *_w_BAILLIE-REYNOLDS, P. K., Lieut. - BAKER, W., Capt. - _w_BALL, S. C., Lieut. - BAYLEY, A. F., Major - BEDWELL, E. P., Lieut.-Col. - BELBIN, H., Capt. - BENNION, C. F., Major - _w_BENNETT, A. G., Capt., M.C. - BERESFORD, G. W. Capt. R.A.M.C.) - BIGG, L. B., Major - BLOW, A., Lieut. - _w_BODEN, J. B., Lieut., M.C. - BOTTOMLEY, G. R., Capt. - BOWDEN, S. V., Capt. - BRADFORD, L. B., Major - *_w_BROWN, J. A., Lieut. - BROWNE, W., Capt. - _w_BURT, W., Lieut. - CAIRNS-SMITH, A. F., Lieut. - CAMPBELL, C. W., Major, M.C. - CASEY, N. B. V. Major - CASEY, S. N., Capt. - CLARSON, C. L., Lieut. (R.E.) M.C. - CLAYTON-BARKER, A. G. - COCKAYNE, W. R., Major - _w_COCKERELL, A. E., Lieut. - COLEMAN, E. T., Lieut. - CORKE, C. A., Lieut. - _w_CRAVEN, G. A., Lieut. - _w_CROFTON, M. R. H., Major, D.S.O. - CURRER-BRIGGS, D. H., Major - CURRIE, J. M., Major - _w_DAVIS, E. W., Lieut. - DAWSON, H. B., Lieut. - DIXON, W. T., Lieut. - DONOVAN, J., Lieut. - DOUET, C. F. M., Lieut., M.C. - DOWDEN, H. J., Lieut., M.C. - DRABBLE, L., Capt. - _w_DRAPER, V. A. H., Lieut. - EAGER, W. McG., Lieut. - EDEN, A. G., Lieut.-Col. - EDMONDSON, J. E., Capt., T.D. - _w_EDWARDS, A. J., Lieut. - EELES, C. A., Major, D.S.O. - ELLIS, G. A., Lieut., M.C. - ELSTON, A. J., Major, T.D. - EVELEIGH, E. D., Major, M.C. - FITZGIBBON, F., Major, D.S.O. - FLEMING, G. R., Major - FLETCHER, S. R. H., Lieut. - FOOT, R. C., Major, M.C. - _w_FORREST, R., Lieut. - FOWLER, A., Lieut. - FOWLER, J. R., Lieut. - FRASER, John, Capt. - FRASER-MACKENZIE, E. R. L., Major, M.C. - FURLONG, P. C., Capt., M.C. - GADIE, A., Lieut.-Col., T.D. - GADIE, C. A., Lieut. - +GALLIMORE, H. B., Capt. - _w_GANE, L. C., Lieut., M.C. - GARRETT, S., The Rev. - GEDDES, R., Lieut. - GIFFEN, J. H. P., Lieut. - GLOVER, A., Lieut. (R.E. Signals) - _w_GOLDSMITH, H. G., Lieut. - GOW, J. L., Capt. - GRAVETT, G. M., Lieut. - GREEN, J. S., Lieut. - _w_GREEN, W. J., Lieut. - HAIGH, S., Lieut. - HAMMOND, E. B., Capt. (R.E.), M.C. - +HARDY, G., Lieut. - _w_HARKER, J. C., Lieut. - +HARRIS, W. E., Lieut. - HARTLEY, Capt. (R.A.M.C.) - HATCHER, H. G. B., Capt. - HAY, A. J., Lieut. - HAYDOCK, T., Lieut. - HEMPEL, F. H., Lieut. - HESS, N., Lieut., M.C. - _w_HEWITT, J. B. C., Lieut., M.M. - HINCHCLIFFE, H., Lieut. - HIRST, P. A., Lieut. - _w_HOLBURN, R., Lieut. - HOLLINGWORTH, A., Lieut. - _w_HOLT, W. P. Lieut., M.C. - HORNE, T. A., The Rev. - HOUSE, H., Lieut. (United States) - HOWELL, V. P., Lieut. (R.E. Signals) - _w_HUDSON, G. L. C., Lieut. - HUMPHREYS, B. J., Lieut. - ILLINGWORTH, M., Lieut. - _w_INNES, C. B., Lieut. - JAMES, W. L., Lieut. - +JAMESON, A. A., Lieut. - *_w_JEPHSON, E. W. F., Major, M.C. - JOHNSON, R. H., Lieut.-Col., D.S.O. - +JOHNSON, E. F., Capt. - JOHNSTON, Lieut.-Col. (Horse Master) - JONES, K. S., Lieut. - JOSLIN, G. A., Lieut. - KENSETT, F., Lieut. - KEWLEY, T. C., Capt. - KINSMAN, G. R. V., Lieut.-Col., D.S.O., Comg. 310th Bde. - KIRKCONNEL, W. H., Lieut., M.C. - _w_KITSON, H. G., Lieut. - +KNAGGS, V. St. G., Lieut. - KNOWLES, G., Lieut. - LAMB, Capt. (R.E. Signals) - LANE, L., Lieut. - _w_LASBREY, H. C., Capt. - _w_LATTER, K. A., Lieut., M.C. - _w_LAWRIE, H. C. O., Lieut. - LAWRENCE, J. H., Capt. - LINDSELL, W. G., Major, D.S.O., O.B.E., M.C. - _w_LINTERN, E. E. C., Lieut., M.C. - LISTER, F. H., Lieut.-Col., D.S.O. - +LLOYD, E. S., Lieut., M.C. - LOCKHART, J. F. K., Major, D.S.O. - LONG, V. H. S., Capt. - LOUGH, A. T., Lieut.-Col. - *+LUTYENS, J. L. C., Lieut. - LYN-JONES, R. F., Capt. (R.A.M.C.) - *_w_MACILROY, J. C., Capt. - MAJOR, A. E., Lieut. - MARPLES, G., Capt. - MARRIOTT, E. C., Lieut., M.M. - MARTIN, Capt. (A.V.C.) - +MASSEY-BERESFORD, J. C., Lieut. - MIDDLETON, H. D., Capt. - MILES, J., Capt., M.C. - MILLET, J., Interpreter - MITCHELL, F., Lieut.-Col. - *_w_MONTGOMERY, C. V., Lieut. - MORGAN, R. G., Lieut., M.C. - MORT, A., Lieut. - MOSSOP, G. N., Capt. - MOXHAM, H. E., Lieut. - MOXON, C. E., Lieut. - MOXON, T. C., Lieut. - MURRAY, A. C., Lieut., M.C. - +MURRAY, G. A., Lieut. - _w_NELSON, H. G., Lieut., M.C. - NICKOLS, R., Major - NICKOLS, N. F., Major - *_w_NICHOLSON, K. B., Major, MC. - _w_NOWILL, J. C. F., Lieut., M.C. - OWEN, H. A., Lieut. - _w_OWEN, J., Lieut. - PARKINSON, E., Lieut., M.C. - PERRY, H. O., The Rev. - _w_PICKARD, R. L., Lieut. - POWELL, J. B., Capt., M.C. - _w_PROCTOR, J. W., Lieut. - PRITCHARD, F. C., Lieut., M.C. - +PULLAN, C. W., Lieut. - _w_PUNCHARD, C., Capt. - _w_PUTTOCK, E. W., Lieut. - REW, J., Lieut. - RICE, R. G., Capt. - RICHARDSON, Norman, Lieut. - RICHARDSON, N., Lieut. - *_w_RISSIK, S. A., Lieut. - ROBINSON, J. G., Major, M.C. - ROBINSON, G., Major - ROTHERAY, E., Major, M.C. - RUDKIN, G. C. R., Lieut. - RUNACRES, W., Lieut. - _w_SABELLI, H. A., Lieut. - SAMPSON, H. T., Lieut., M.C. - SCHOFIELD, H. O., Lieut., M.C. - _w_SEEMAN, F. H., Major - _w_SENIOR, A., Major, M.C. - _w_SENIOR, G. P., Major - SEVERNE, A. de M., Lieut. - SHARP, H. G., Capt. - _w_SHARPLING, F. G., Lieut. - _w_SHEPPARD, E. J. C., Lieut. - SHERLOCK, D. J. C., Lieut.-Col., D.S.O., Comg. 310th Bde. - SIDDONS, N. H., Major - SMART, E., Lieut., M.C. - SMITH, Harold, Capt., M.C. - SPENCE, J. H., Lieut. - _w_STEPHENS, H. E., Lieut. - STROUD, A. H., Capt. (A.V.C.) - STURROCK, G., Lieut. - _w_STUART, F. R., Lieut. - STUTTLE, A. E., Lieut. - +SUTHERLAND, H. S., Lieut. - SWAIN, G. A., Major, M.C. - TANNER, G., Lieut. - TRENCH, A. S. C., Lieut. (R.E., Signals), M.C. - _w_TUTHILL, W. F., Major - *_w_VANDERPUMP, E. H., Lieut. - WALKER, C. S., Capt. - WALKER, R., Capt. - WEBBER, L. M., Major - WHITE, O., Lieut. - _w_WHITWORTH, J. N., Lieut. - *+WILLEY, J., Major - _w_WILLIAMS, R. C., Major, D.S.O. - _w_WILLIAMS, E. T., Lieut., M.C. - WILLIAMSON, R. E., Col. (R.A.M.C.), T.D. - WILLS, H. A., Lieut. - _w_WILLS, T. B., Lieut. - WILSON, A., Lieut. - WILSON, L., Lieut. - WILSON, N. G., Lieut. - *_w_WITCHER, C. R., Lieut. - _w_WOODCOCK, F. A., Lieut.-Col., D.S.O. - WOODWARD, D. S. H., Major - _w_WOOLISCROFT, W., Lieut. - WRANGLE, B. G., Lieut. - WRIGHT, P. A., Capt., M.C. - - - - -APPENDIX C - - LIST OF OFFICERS AND MEN AWARDED DECORATIONS OR MENTIONED IN - DESPATCHES WHILE SERVING IN THE 62ND DIVISIONAL ARTILLERY. - - -C.M.G. - - ANDERSON, A. T. Brig.-General 3. 6.18 - - -D.S.O. - - LINDSELL, W. G. Major 1. 1.18 - ARNOLD-FORSTER, F. A. Major 1. 1.18 - EELES, C. A. Major 3. 6.18 - WOODCOCK, F. A. Lieut.-Colonel 3. 6.18 - LOCKHART, J. F. K. Major 1. 1.19 - - -MILITARY CROSS. - - JEPHSON, E. W. F. Lieut. 2. 4.17 - (and bar on 21.11.17) - NICHOLSON, K. B. N. Lieut. 13. 4.17 - NOWILL, J. C. F. Lieut. 26. 4.17 - ROBINSON, J. G. Capt. 4. 9.17 - PARKINSON, E. Lieut. 15. 9.17 - PRITCHARD, F. C. Lieut. 8.10.17 - HESS, N. Lieut. 22.11.17 - (and bar on 1.9.18) - BODEN, J. B. Lieut. 22.11.17 - (and bar on 30.11.17) - FURLONG, P. C. Lieut. 25.11.17 - WILLIAMS, E. T. Lieut. 30.11.17 - GANE, L. Lieut. 13.12.17 - FOOT, R. C. Major 1. 1.18 - ABRAHAMS, F. Lieut. 26. 3.18 - MURRAY, A. C. Lieut. 26. 3.18 - HOLT, W. P. Lieut. 27. 3.18 - SENIOR, A. Capt. 28. 3.18 - ARCHER, H. DE B. Capt. 28. 3.18 - MILES, J. Lieut. 28. 3.18 - ELLIS, G. A. Lieut. 29. 3.18 - (and bar on 20.7.18) - SWAIN, G. A. Major 5. 4.18 - POWELL, J. B. Capt. 3. 6.18 - SCHOFIELD, H. O. Lieut. 16. 6.18 - SMITH, HAROLD Lieut. 23. 6.18 - HOUSE, W. H. Lieut. (U.S.A.) 24. 7.18 - LLOYD, E. S. Lieut. 27. 7.18 - BENNETT, A. G. Lieut. 21. 8.18 - LATTER, K. A. Lieut. 30. 8.18 - LINTERN, E. E. C. Lieut. 3. 9.18 - NELSON, H. G. Lieut. 5. 9.18 - ALDERTON, B. Lieut. 10. 9.18 - DOWDEN, H. J. Lieut. 18. 9.18 - DOUET, C. F. M. Lieut. 18. 9.18 - SMART, E. Lieut 8.10.18 - MORGAN, R. G. Lieut. 7.11.18 - ROTHERAY, E. Major 3. 6.19 - - -LEGION OF HONOUR. - - FLEMING, G. Major (Chevalier) 30. 5.17 - ANDERSON, A. T. Brig.-General (Officier) 30. 7.18 - - -CROIX DE GUERRE (French). - - SWAIN, G. A. Major 30. 5.17 - ELSTON, A. J. Major 30. 7.18 - FITZGIBBON, F. Major 30. 7.18 - CURRIE, J. M. Major 30. 7.18 - WOODCOCK, F. A. Lieut.-Colonel 30. 7.18 - SHERLOCK, D. J. C. Lieut.-Colonel 30. 7.18 - EDEN, A. G. Lieut.-Colonel 30. 7.18 - LAWRENCE, J. H. Capt. 30. 7.18 - LONG, V. H. S. Capt. 30. 7.18 - ANDERSON, R. A. T. Lieut. 30. 7.18 - ANDERSON, A. T. Brig.-General 15.12.19 - - -CROIX DE GUERRE (Belgian). - - ARCHER, H. DE B. Capt. 3. 1.18 - - -BREVETS. - - ANDERSON, A. T. Brig.-General - Brevet-Colonel 1. 1.18 - SHERLOCK, D. J. Lieut.-Colonel - Brevet-Lt.-Col. 3. 6.19 - - -MILITARY MEDALS. - - 786049 LEAF Gunner 6. 4.17 - 786012 ELLIS Driver 6. 4.17 - 4317 SMART, G. Driver 6. 4.17 - 14383 COOPER, J. S. Gunner 6. 4.17 - 785652 WHEATLY, G. Driver 9. 4.17 - 775585 CLARKE, F. Corporal 22. 4.17 - 2334 WHITE, A. Corporal 26. 4.17 - 796450 MATHER, W. Sergeant 26. 4.17 - (and bar on 2.11.18) - 78616 TWEED, A. Bombardier 1. 5.17 - 786276 CARTWRIGHT, M. Driver 1. 5.17 - UTLEY, F. A. Driver 19. 5.17 - HARRISON, C. Corporal 20. 5.17 - WAIDE, E. H. Sergeant 12. 8.17 - 40915 CHAMBERLAIN, C. Sergeant 12. 8.17 - (and bar on 30.9.18) - SETTLE, W. Corporal 25. 8.17 - ESHELBY, J. Gunner 2. 9.17 - FOSTER, E. Gunner 2. 9.17 - RIDER, H. Sergeant 4. 9.17 - CHARLESWORTH, G. Gunner 4. 9.17 - 785747 JOW, G. R. Bombardier 10. 9.17 - (and bar on 15.9.17) - 797096 SCHOFIELD, H. H. Corporal 15.9.17 - 40813 JOHNSON, W. L. Gunner 9.10.17 - 781506 BURTON, E. Corporal 9.10.17 - 99305 PARKER, J. Sergeant 10.10.17 - 26073 WENDROP, E. Gunner 10.10.17 - (and bar on 21.8.18) - 796216 FISHER, R. Gunner 10.10.17 - 776671 HARRISON, H. Sergeant 21.11.17 - 775809 PRESTON, J. Bombardier 21.11.17 - 786544 CLAPTON, G. Gunner 22.11.17 - 786176 NOBBS, J. Gunner 22.11.17 - 786216 HEATON, R. Gunner 22.11.17 - 686672 POTTS, J. Gunner 24.11.17 - 82908 YATES, J. Sergeant 24.11.17 - 403491 YATES, C. Pte. (R.A.M.C.) 24.11.17 - 479756 SWITHENBANK, H. S. Corporal 25.11.17 - 479751 CLARKE, F. W. H. Corporal 25.11.17 - 526246 PAGE, W. Sapper 25.11.17 - 534665 STOCKWELL, A. W. Sapper 25.11.17 - 785528 BODEN, G. F. B.S.M. 25.11.17 - 786705 KETTLEWELL, J. Sergeant 25.11.17 - 479981 BUTCHER, C. Sapper 25.11.17 - (and bar on 5.4.18) - 490257 FISHER, H. Sapper 25.11.17 - 254350 STANDING, E. Sapper 25.11.17 - 776689 ASPINALL, C. Bombardier 26.11.17 - (and bar on 21.3.18) - 765565 WALKER, H. Gunner 26.11.17 - 686744 BLACK, J. Sergeant 26.11.17 - 786087 SMITH, J. A. Corporal 26.11.17 - 775811 OTHEN, P. Corporal 30.11.17 - 786070 PARKINSON, T. Driver 30.11.17 - 785656 DAVIS, H. Bombardier 30.11.17 - 786267 WILTHEW, L. Shoeing Smith 30.11.17 - 785248 HEBBLETHWAITE, J. Sergeant 30.11.17 - 785507 HASLAM, W. Gunner 30.11.17 - 786597 BREARS, B. Bombardier 30.11.17 - 14394 FRENCH, F. Gunner 30.11.17 - 11390 SLATER, B. Driver 30.11.17 - 786714 WORSNOP, C. Corporal 30.11.17 - 796765 BAWN, A. S. Bombardier 8.12.17 - 795432 SCOTT, E. Gunner 8.12.17 - 78621 FIRTH, H. Sergeant 12.12.17 - (and bar on 20.7.18) - 786143 EMMETT, H. Bombardier 12.12.17 - 105408 WILLIAMS, T. R. Driver 22. 1.18 - 42374 HIGDON, C. E. Corporal 22. 1.18 - 775647 PHILLIPS, F. Driver 5. 2.18 - 238966 MAGUIRE, W. J. Driver 5. 2.18 - 781555 SPENCER, W. Gunner 7. 2.18 - 781130 BESWICK, C. Gunner 7. 2.18 - 55022 SALMON, J. P. B.S.M., M.M. 12. 3.18 - (Bar to M.M.) - 68968 BAIN, W. Driver 12. 3.18 - 775421 BENTLEY, J. A. Sergeant 21. 3.18 - 775421 BENTLEY, J. A. Sergeant 21. 3.18 - 775909 CHAPMAN, A. Corporal 21. 3.18 - 776421 KIRK, J. Bombardier 21. 3.18 - 776440 SLATER, F. Gunner 21. 3.18 - 775873 SIMPSON, A. Driver 21. 3.18 - 776659 WOODS, P. Gunner 21. 3.18 - 745725 GREEN, T. J. Driver 22. 3.18 - 170024 HALES, A. E. Gunner 26. 3.18 - 259377 WILLIAMS, M. A. Corporal 27. 3.18 - (and bar on 12.9.18) - 482131 SNOWDEN, W. H. Sapper 27. 3.18 - 775175 FENLY, M. Gunner 27. 3.18 - 775526 PAWSEY, O. Bombardier 27. 3.18 - 776686 MCCART, J. Bombardier 27. 3.18 - SIMPSON, J. Bombardier 27. 3.18 - 785292 BUCHANAN, H. Sergeant 28. 3.18 - 786257 SWEENEY, A. Sergeant 4. 4.18 - 62366 READ, G. W. Sapper 5. 4.18 - 786247 WHITAKER, S. Driver 5. 4.18 - 786788 SIMPSON, T. Sergeant 5. 4.18 - 786581 ORME, J. Bombardier 5. 4.18 - 786041 JEFFREY, H. Corporal 5. 4.18 - 786570 HOLLYHEAD, G. Gunner 5. 4.18 - 947529 GLASS, A. Gunner 5. 4.18 - 403103 ROBINSON, H. Pte. (R.A.M.C.) 5. 4.18 - 786145 PENNY, A. Sergeant 5. 4.18 - 786191 POLLARD, F. Corporal 5. 4.18 - 786289 STOBART, G. Bombardier 5. 4.18 - 785989 BLAND, C. Corporal 5. 4.18 - 786051 MCGOWAN, H. Sergeant 5. 4.18 - 482124 MAXFIELD, T. Corporal 5. 4.18 - 479979 BLAIR, S. Corporal 5. 4.18 - 776418 JAMES, T. E. Corporal 5. 4.18 - 149519 GERRARD, F. B. Bombardier 6. 4.18 - 03191 MOLLETT, T. A. Sergt. (A.V.C.) 11. 4.18 - 775729 FINCHAM, G. Bombardier 12. 4.18 - 795519 SIMMONS, F. W. Gunner 18. 4.18 - 795469 WHEATER, T. W. Driver 18. 4.18 - 796906 MORLEY, T. H. Driver 18. 4.18 - 795487 HATTERSLEY, J. W. Bombardier 18. 4.18 - 786097 STRADLING, C. H. Sergeant 25. 5.18 - (and bar on 30.9.18) - 776462 GREEN, M. Bombardier 25. 5.18 - 776428 MIDDLETON, W. G. Gunner 25. 5.18 - 776401 ELMY, G. E. Bombardier 25. 5.18 - 776389 CLEMENTS, L. D. J. Sergeant 10. 6.18 - 781506 BURTON, E. B. Corpl, D.C.M. 16. 6.18 - 786598 FIRTH, E. Corporal 17. 6.18 - 70957 STEVENSON, W. Sergeant 23. 6.18 - 117895 ROBERTS, J. R. Bombardier 23. 6.18 - 68531 BRACKFIELD, E. Corporal 20. 7.18 - TURNER, G. B.S.M. 20. 7.18 - 776435 PEARCE, H. E. Bombardier 21. 7.18 - 796698 TAYLOR, E. Driver 21. 7.18 - 814159 MELLOR, T. H. Gunner 21. 7.18 - 786071 BARR, G. Sergeant 21. 7.18 - 73925 HEDGES, J. W. B.S.M. 21. 7.18 - 786321 HOWARD, G. Driver 21. 7.18 - 776403 STAPLEY, A. H. Sergeant 24. 7.18 - 216999 WILLIS, W. Driver 29. 7.18 - 50531 EGGETT, G. H. Sergeant 23. 8.18 - 178962 GETHING, W. H. Gunner 26. 8.18 - 940904 BROWN, J. D. B.S.M. 27. 8.18 - 479989 WILSON, H. Sapper 27. 8.18 - 786188 WAKEFIELD, E. Sergeant 28. 8.18 - 960755 DARLING, G. Sergeant 1. 9.18 - 686809 MITCHELL, D. J. Corporal 4. 9.18 - 686749 BLAKELEY, J. Bombardier 4. 9.18 - 98085 HEAD, W. Gunner 5. 9.18 - 775441 MARSDEN, W. Driver 10. 9.18 - 142257 GISBY, S. Sapper 12. 9.18 - 811015 FELLOWES, A. Gunner 15. 9.18 - 03221 DANIELLS, J. W. Sergt. (A.V.C.) 30. 9.18 - 775071 HOWARD, A. Corporal 30. 9.18 - DAWE, W. H. Signaller 2.10.18 - CRERAR, E. Signaller 2.10.18 - 795531 LACEY, W. Sergeant 6.10.18 - 795655 FIRTH, A. Bombardier 6.10.18 - 55862 HILL, F. Signaller 8.10.18 - 795460 MALLINSON, G. Sergeant 17.10.18 - 796893 MARTIN, W. J. Driver 17.10.18 - 775228 NAYLOR, C. B. Bombardier 20.10.18 - 775859 MILNES, N. Signaller 20.10.18 - 154325 THORNTON, F. W. Signaller 20.10.18 - 775939 ARUNDEL, J. W. Corporal 4.11.18 - 776494 MORNAN, J. Bombardier 4.11.18 - 775751 SMITH, H. Corporal 4.11.18 - 776523 MALHAM, A. Bombardier 4.11.18 - 482341 SQUIRES, A. Corporal 5.11.18 - 247749 COURTNEY, H. Signaller 6.11.18 - 775451 DOOLAN, J. Signaller 7.11.18 - 482343 HOLMES, F. H. W. Sapper 7.11.18 - 57500 HEARD, J. Bombardier 7.11.18 - 795579 MARKS, H. Driver 8.11.18 - 670 MORGAN, D. E. Driver 8.11.18 - 785515 AMES, O. Driver 8.11.18 - 785624 BROTHWELL, T. Sergeant 8.11.18 - - -D.C.M. - - 788499 JEFFREY, W. Corporal 30.11.17 - WHITTAKER, F. Sergeant 11. 1.18 - 775056 MOODY, J. Sergeant 3. 6.18 - 786077 PULLAN, P. E. B.Q.M.S. 3. 6.18 - - -MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL. - - SHAW Bombr. (T.M.) 1919 - - -MEDAILLE MILITAIRE. - - 786097 STRADLING, C. H. Sergeant 30. 4.18 - - -CROIX DE GUERRE (Belgian). - - 775017 WHARTON, H. Sergeant 3. 1.18 - 776421 KIRK, J. Gunner 3. 1.18 - 786260 EDMONSON, C. Sergeant 3. 1.18 - 786044 KITCHIN, F. B.S.M. 3. 1.18 - 780086 HARGREAVES, W. Corporal 3. 1.18 - 797010 TYLER, J. A. Gunner 3. 1.18 - - -INDIAN DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL. - - 21316 BASHIR AHMED Driver 22. 4.18 - 27652 ABDUL QUAYUM Driver 22. 4.18 - 33810 NATHOO KHAN Driver 22. 4.18 - - -MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES. - - ANDERSON, A. T. Brig.-General, C.M.G. - ANDERSON, R. A. T. Lieut. - BEDWELL, E. P. Lieut.-Colonel - BOWDEN, S. V. Capt. - CHAMPION B.S.M. - 786544 CLAPTON, G. Gunner, M.M. - EELES, C. A. Major, D.S.O. - ELSTON, A. J. Major - FRASER, J. Capt. - 6998 HOWES, T. W. B.S.M., D.C.M. - KEWLEY, T. C. Capt. - LINDSELL, W. G. Major, D.S.O., M.C. - LOCKHART, J. F. K. Major, D.S.O. - LONG, V. H. S. Capt. - NICKOLS, R. Major - ROBINSON, G. Major - 781825 RUTTER, C. Sergeant - SEEMAN, F. H. Major - SENIOR, A. Capt., M.C. - SHERLOCK, D. J. C. Lieut.-Colonel, D.S.O. - WILLEY, J. Major - WOODCOCK, F. A. Lieut.-Colonel, D.S.O. - - -MENTIONED IN DIVISIONAL ORDERS FOR ACTS OF GALLANTRY. - - CLAPTON, G. Gunner 17. 3.17 - TRISTRAM, F. Gunner 17. 3.17 - LAIRD, W. Bombardier 6. 5.17 - SALT, L. K. Sergeant 22. 7.17 - EDMONSON, C. Sergeant 22. 7.17 - WELLS, H. T. Bombardier 22. 7.17 - PICKERING, A. S. Bombardier 22. 7.17 - CLAYTON, A. C. Sergeant 22. 7.17 - HEBBLETHWAITE, J. Sergeant 23. 7.17 - CAMERON, A. Bombardier 23. 7.17 - PARKER, R. Bombardier 23. 7.17 - EVEREST, H. Gunner 23. 7.17 - WEBSTER, G. Gunner 23. 7.17 - GIBSON, J. W. Gunner 23. 7.17 - LEVETT, J. A. Sergeant 28. 7.17 - BRACKFIELD Gunner 10.10.17 - KNAGGS, V. S. G. Lieut. 10.10.17 - - - - -INDEX - - - Ablainzeville, gas attack on, 77 - - Abrahams, Lieut. F., 65 - - Achiet le Grand, 8, 20, 93 - - Achiet le Petit, 4, 7, 62, 92 - - Albert, 93 - - Alderton, Lieut. B., 98 - - Ammunition supply, 5, 24, 42, 88 - - Anderson, Lieut. R. A. T., 20, 28, 63 - - Anneux, 45 - - Archer, Capt. H. de B., 67, 76 - - Arleux, 56, 58 - - Armistice, 112 - - Arnold-Forster, Maj. F. A., 6, 10, 55, 104 - - Arras, Battle of, 10 - - Artillery, French, 85 - - Ashby, Lieut. H. C., 10 - - Auchonvillers, 2 - - Australians, 11, 65 - - Austria, armistice, 110 - - Aveluy wood, 93 - - Ayette, 62 - - - Bailleul, 57, 58 - - Baillie-Reynolds, Lieut. P. K., 10, 82 - - Ball, Lieut. S. C., 13 - - Bapaume, 7 - - " Battle of, 97 - - Barastre, 43 - - Barvaux, 117 - - Basse-Bodeux, 117 - - Batteries, A/310, 26, 32, 34, 58, 71, 86 - - Batteries, B/310, 10, 32, 56, 58, 94, 95 - - Batteries, C/310, 29, 32, 45, 65, 71, 86 - - Batteries, D/310, 26, 31, 58, 76, 86, 94, 95, 110 - - Batteries, A/312, 7, 32, 51, 62 - - " B/312, 8, 9, 34, 56, 62, 82, 86, 101, 109 - - Batteries, C/312, 7, 10, 29, 32, 70, 82 - - Batteries, D/312, 7, 9, 16, 51, 56, 71, 96 - - Bayley, Maj. A. F., 37 - - Beaumont Hamel, 2, 3, 65 - - Beaurains, 62 - - Bedwell, Lt.-Col. E. P., 16 - - Bennett, Lieut. A. G., 27, 92 - - Benson, Brig.-Gen., 22 - - Berthelot, Gen., 89 - - Berzèe, 115 - - Bethoncourt, 53 - - Bevillers, 105 - - Bigg, Maj. L. B., 6 - - Bihucourt, 7, 93 - - Bligny, 86 - - Boden, Lieut. J. B., 50, 52, 71 - - Bois d'Hollande, 4 - - Bois du petit champs, 83 - - Bois de Reims, 82 - - Bombing planes, 76, 84 - - Bottomley, Capt. G. R., 77 - - Bourlon Wood, 47, 49, 51, 53, 102 - - Bowden, Capt. S. V., 58 - - Bradford, Brig.-Gen., 35, 52 - - Braithwaite, Lt.-Gen. Sir W. P., 24, 30, 63, 68, 77, 88, 97, 102, 114 - - Brigade, 310th, 1, 2, 7, 8, 16, 21, 43, 46, 56, 62, 72, 85, 86, 93, - 104, 105, 118 - - Brigade, 311th, 2, 3, 7, 8, 120, 121 - - Brigade, 312th, 1, 7, 16, 21, 27, 43, 46, 56, 70, 72, 78, 85, 86, - 104, 118 - - Brown, Lieut. J. A., 25, 110 - - Bucquoy, 4, 7, 62, 64, 92 - - Bullecourt, 14, 15, 27, 32 - - Burnett, Brig.-Gen. J. G., 61, 107 - - Burt, Lieut. W., 82 - - Burton, Corpl. E., 79 - - Bus les Artois, 2, 86 - - Byng, Gen. Sir Julian, 25, 113 - - - Cambrai, 103 - - " Battle of, 45 - - Cambrai--St. Quentin, Battle of, 104 - - Canal du Nord, 98 - - Casey, Maj. N. B. V., 32 - - Casualty, First, 2 - - " First Officer, 3 - - Casualties, number of, 11, 17, 29, 87, 112 - - Charlesworth, Gunner, 32 - - Chalons, 86 - - Chateau la Haie, 69, 72 - - Chaumuzy, 86 - - Cherisy, 33-35 - - Chevron, 117 - - Clarson, Lieut. C. L., 23 - - Clavier, 117 - - Cockerell, Lieut. A. E., 73 - - Colincamps, 2, 65 - - Couin, 86 - - Courtagnon, 82, 86 - - Craven, Lieut. G. A., 34, 35 - - Crofton, Maj. M. R. H., 57, 70 - - Croisilles, 7, 8 - - Cuitron, 83 - - Currie, Maj. J. M., 31, 94 - - - D.A.C., 5, 12, 24, 52, 57, 77, 78, 82, 84, 86, 102, 110, 118 - - Davis, Lieut. E. W., 42 - - Dinant, 116 - - Douet, Lieut. C. F. M., 101 - - Dowden, Lieut. H. J., 101 - - Draper, Lieut. V. A. H., 83 - - - Ecoust, 8, 9, 11, 13, 27, 30, 32, 37, 62 - - Eden, Lt.-Col. A. G., 43, 97, 104 - - Edmondson, Capt. J. E., 24 - - Edwards, Lieut. A. J., 16 - - Eeles, Maj. C. A., 41, 76, 78 - - Eitel, Prince, 117 - - Ellis, Lieut. G. A., 68, 82 - - Elsenborn, 117 - - Elston, Maj. A. J., 104, 105 - - Engelbelmer, 2, 57 - - Engelsart, 5 - - Ermetont, 116 - - Ervillers, 7, 9, 14 - - Escarmain, 108, 109 - - Espilly, 85 - - Essarts, 64, 70, 92 - - Establishment of horses, 78 - - Estourmel, 104 - - - Farbus, 59 - - Ferme d'Ecueil, 85 - - Ferrière la Grande, 114 - - Fitzgibbon, Maj. F., 55, 63 - - Fleming, Maj. G., 19 - - Flesquières, 46, 47, 101 - - Foncquevillers, 64-66, 73 - - Foot, Brig.-Gen. R. M., 42 - - " Maj. R. C., 6, 26, 31, 55, 76, 93 - - Forrest, Lieut. R., 13 - - Fraser, Capt. J., 24 - - Frasnoy, 109, 110 - - Frontier, Crossing the, 117 - - Furlong, Lieut. P. C., 50 - - - Gadie, Lt.-Col. A., 8, 120 - - Gallimore, Capt. H. B., 16, 17 - - Gane, Lieut. L. C., 53, 67 - - Garrett, Rev. S., 114 - - Gas attack on 312th, 70 - - Gavrelle, 56 - - Geddes, Brig.-Gen. J. G., 81 - - Gemund, 118 - - Germaine, 82 - - Gerpinnes, 116 - - Ginchy, 94, 95 - - Godley, Sir A., 81, 91 - - Goldsmith, Lieut. H. G., 61 - - Gomiecourt, 7 - - Gonnelieu, 51 - - Gough, Sir H. de la P., 13 - - Gouzancourt, 51 - - Graincourt, 45-47 - - Grandcourt, 3 - - Green, Lieut. W. J., 96 - - - Haig, F.M. Sir Douglas, 72, 75 - - Hammond, Lieut. E. B., 23 - - Hampden, Brig.-Gen. Viscount, 100 - - Hannescamps, 62, 64 - - Haplincourt, 40, 52 - - Hardy, Lieut. G., 16, 17 - - Harker, Lieut. J. C., 96 - - Harris, Lieut. W. E., 34, 36 - - Hautvillers, 83, 86 - - Havrincourt, 40, 45-47, 53, 98, 99 - - Hebuterne, 64, 65 - - Henu, 72 - - Hermies, 101 - - Hess, Lieut. N., 50, 96 - - Hewitt, Lieut. J. B. C., 100 - - Hindenburg line, 9, 10, 13, 15, 27, 41 - - Holburn, Lieut. R., 4 - - Holt, Lieut. W. P., 66, 110 - - Hore-Ruthven, Lt.-Col. The Hon. A., 30, 33 - - Horne, Rev. T. A., 114 - - Horse Show, 29 - - House, Lieut. W. H., 84 - - Howes, B. S. M., 30 - - Hubert Road, 41 - - Hudson, Capt. G. L. C., 6, 10 - - - Indian drivers, 57, 77 - - Infantry appreciation, 60, 106, 107 - - Innes, Lieut. C. B., 52 - - - Jephson, Maj. E. W. F., 4, 8, 16, 50, 65, 73 - - Johnson, Capt. E. F., 53 - - " Lt.-Col. R. H., 104 - - - Kal, 118 - - Keldernich, 118 - - Kewley, Capt. T. C., 24 - - Kinsman, Lt.-Col. G. R. V., 14 - - Kitson, Lieut. G. H., 15 - - - Lagnicourt, 11, 21, 25, 27 - - Laignon, 117 - - Lasbrey, Capt. H. C., 3 - - Latter, Lieut. K. A., 94, 95, 110 - - Lawrie, Lieut. H. C. O., 25 - - Lea, Lt.-Col. H., 42 - - Le Quesnoy, 110 - - Le Trechon, 110, 111 - - Lindsell, Maj. W. G., 28, 45, 54, 55 - - Lintern, Lieut. E. E. C., 50, 96 - - Lister, Lt.-Col. F. H., 16, 23 - - Lloyd, Lieut. E. S., 85, 114 - - Lockhart, Maj. J. F. K., 57, 119 - - Logeast Wood, 7, 62 - - Lough, Lt.-Col. A. T., 24, 43 - - Lutyens, Lieut. C. T., 13 - - - MacIlroy, Lieut. J., 4, 73 - - Mailly-mailly, 2, 6 - - Malsbenden, 118 - - Marcoing, 101, 102 - - Maredsous, 116 - - Marfaux, 82, 83, 86 - - Marquion, 47 - - Martinsart, 5 - - Masnières, 102, 104 - - Massey-Beresford, Lieut. J. C., 93 - - Maubeuge, Battle of, 112 - - Medals, Presentation of, 77 - - Mesnil, 93, 96 - - Metz, 52 - - Middleton, Capt. H. D., 76 - - Miles, Lieut. J., 67 - - Mines, 9 - - Miraumont, 3-6 - - Mitchell, Lt.-Col. F., 12 - - Monchy au Bois, 63 - - Montgomery, Lieut. C. V., 15, 67 - - Monument Camp, 20 - - Morchies, 25, 26, 93 - - Morgan, Lieut. R. G., 110, 111 - - Morval, 94 - - Mory, 9 - - Mountjoie, 118 - - Murray, Lieut. A. C., 65 - - Murray, Lieut. G. A., 103 - - - Nappe, 85 - - Nelson, Lieut. H. G., 95, 96 - - Neuf Mesnil, 111, 114 - - Neuville, 43 - - Newman, Lt.-Col. C. R., 33 - - Newman, Lieut. C., 30 - - New Zealanders, 65, 110 - - Nicholson, Maj. K. B., 10, 101 - - Nierfeld, 118 - - Noreuil, 11, 21, 22, 25, 30, 32, 62 - - Nowill, Lieut. J. C. F., 13, 71 - - - Obies, 110 - - Oppy, 56, 58 - - Orders, special, 34, 45, 48, 68, 71, 74, 88, 89, 91, 99, 113 - - Orsinval, 109 - - Orville, 79 - - Owen, Lieut. J., 75 - - - Parkinson, Lieut. E., 34, 35 - - Pas en Artois, 73, 86 - - Patis d'Ecueil, 82 - - Peel, Brig.-Gen. E. J. R., 20 - - Pelican Troupe, 80 - - Perry, Rev. H. O., 114 - - Pickard, Lieut. R. L., 25 - - Powell, Capt. J. B., 28 - - Pritchard, Lieut. F. C., 39 - - Proctor, Lieut. J. W., 13 - - Puisieux, 4, 64, 66 - - Pullan, Lieut. C. W., 7 - - Punchard, Lieut. C., 15 - - Puttock, Lieut. E. W., 71 - - - Quéant, 20 - - Queen, Message from H.M. the, 73 - - Quiévy, 109 - - - Raids, 33, 34, 35, 60, 76 - - R.A.R.E. Company, 22, 23 - - Reims, 81 - - Rest house, 6 - - Ribecourt, 101 - - Rider, Sergt., 32 - - Riencourt, 20, 21, 27, 36 - - Rissik, Lieut. S. A., 71, 100 - - Robinson, Maj. J. G., 6, 32 - - Roclincourt, 56, 59 - - Romeries, 106 - - Rossignol Wood, 69 - - Ruesnes, 109 - - Rumilly, 102 - - - Sabelli, Lieut. H. A., 4 - - Sailly au Bois, 73 - - Sailly Saillisel, 95 - - St. Hilaire, 105 - - St. Imoges, 82 - - St. Leger, 11 - - St. Python, 105, 106 - - Schleiden, 118 - - Schleven, 118 - - Schofield, Lieut. H. O., 79 - - Seeman, Capt. F. H., 6 - - Selle River, Battle of, 108 - - Senior, Maj. A., 67, 71 - - " Maj. G. P., 13 - - Seranvillers, 103, 104 - - Serrigny, General, 84 - - Settle, Corpl. W., 33 - - Sharpling, Lieut. F. G., 71 - - Sheppard, Lieut. E. J. C., 73 - - Sherlock, Lt.-Col. D. J. C., 14, 54, 85, 97 - - Smart, Lieut. E., 103 - - Smith, Capt. H., 79 - - Solesmes, 105-107 - - Solre sur Sambre, 115 - - S.O.S. Test calls, 22 - - Sottenich, 118 - - Souastre, 67 - - Sous le Bois, 112, 114 - - Special orders, 34, 45, 48, 68, 71, 74, 88, 89, 91, 99, 113 - - Spies, German, 64 - - Stephens, Lieut. H. E., 83 - - Stuart, Lieut. F. R., 96 - - Stuttle, Lieut. A. E., 71 - - Sutherland, Lieut. H., 40 - - Swain, Maj. G. A., 4, 6, 19, 29, 70 - - - Tanks, Practice against, 59 - - Thackeray, Lt.-Col., 61 - - Thy le Chateau, 116 - - Tortille river, 93 - - Tours sur Marne, 81 - - Trench, Capt. A. S. C., 63 - - Trench Mortar Batteries, 10, 21, 25, 27, 28, 33-35, 40, 58, 77, - 109, 114, 118 - - Turkey, Armistice, 109 - - Tuthill, Maj. W. F., 73 - - - Urft, 118 - - - Vanderpump, Lieut. E. H., 25, 73 - - Vertain, 108 - - Villers au Flos, 43 - - Vimy Ridge, 10, 56 - - Ville, 117 - - - Wambaix, 103, 104 - - Wancourt, 40 - - Weismes, 117 - - Wendrop, Gunner E., 93 - - Whigham, Maj.-Gen. Sir R., 98, 99, 102 - - Whitley, Brig.-Gen. E. N., 54 - - Whitworth, Lieut. J. M., 82 - - Willerval, 59 - - Willey, Maj. J., 10, 69 - - Williams, Lieut. E. T., 52 - - " Maj. R. C., 4 - - Wills, Lieut. T. B., 24 - - Witcher, Lieut. C. R., 58, 69 - - Woodcock, Lt.-Col. F. A., 11, 24, 78 - - Wooliscroft, Lieut. W., 34, 35 - - - - - PRINTED BY - W. HEFFER AND SONS LTD. - CAMBRIDGE, ENGLAND - - - - -Transcriber's Notes - -Obvious errors of punctuation and diacritics repaired. - -Inconsistent hyphenation fixed. - -P. 63: the shell, which as the day wore on -> the shells, which as the -day wore on. - -P. 84: I'ai l'honneur -> J'ai l'honneur. - -P. 117: 16. Basse Bodeux -> 16th. Basse Bodeux. - -P. 121: East Monday -> Easter Monday. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of War Services of the 62nd West Riding -Divisional Artillery, by A.T. 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