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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online -at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: The British Campaign in France and Flanders 1915</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Arthur Conan Doyle</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: April 09, 2021 [eBook #65043]</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: Al Haines</div> - -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BRITISH CAMPAIGN IN FRANCE AND FLANDERS 1915 ***</div> - -<h1> -<br /><br /> - THE BRITISH CAMPAIGN<br /> -<br /> - IN FRANCE AND FLANDERS<br /> -<br /> - 1915<br /> -</h1> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> - BY<br /> -</p> - -<p class="t2"> - ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE<br /> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="t4"> - AUTHOR OF<br /> - 'THE GREAT BOER WAR,' ETC.<br /> -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3"> - SECOND EDITION<br /> -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3"> - HODDER AND STOUGHTON<br /> - LONDON NEW YORK TORONTO<br /> - MCMXVII<br /> -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3"> - UNIFORM WITH THIS VOLUME.<br /> -<br /> - BY THE SAME AUTHOR<br /> -<br /> - THE BRITISH CAMPAIGN<br /> - IN FRANCE AND FLANDERS<br /> - 1914<br /> -<br /> - LONDON: HODDER AND STOUGHTON<br /> -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="Pv"></a>v}</span> -</p> - -<p class="t3b"> -PREFACE -</p> - -<p> -In the previous volume of this work, which dealt -with the doings of the British Army in France and -Flanders during the year 1914, I ventured to claim -that a great deal of it was not only accurate but that -it was very precisely correct in its detail. This claim -has been made good, for although many military -critics and many distinguished soldiers have read it -there has been no instance up to date of any serious -correction. Emboldened by this I am now putting -forward an account of the doings of 1915, which will -be equally detailed and, as I hope, equally accurate. -In the late autumn a third volume will carry the -story up to the end of 1916, covering the series of -battles upon the Somme. -</p> - -<p> -The three years of war may be roughly divided -into the year of defence, the year of equilibrium, and -the year of attack. This volume concerns itself with -the second, which in its very nature must be less -dramatic than the first or third. None the less it -contains some of the most moving scenes of the great -world tragedy, and especially the second Battle of -Ypres and the great Battle of Loos, two desperate -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="Pvi"></a>vi}</span> -conflicts the details of which have not, so far as I -know, been given up to now to the public. -</p> - -<p> -Now, as before, I must plead guilty to many -faults of omission, which often involve some injustice, -since an author is naturally tempted to enlarge upon -what he knows at the expense of that about which he -is less well informed. These faults may be remedied -with time, but in the meantime I can only claim -indulgence for the obvious difficulty of my task. With -the fullest possible information at his disposal, I do not -envy the task of the chronicler who has to strike a -just balance amid the claims of some fifty divisions. -</p> - -<p class="noindent"> -ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE. -</p> - -<p class="noindent"> - WINDLESHAM, CROWBOROUGH,<br /> - <i>April</i> 1917.<br /> -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="Pvii"></a>vii}</span> -</p> - -<p class="t3b"> -CONTENTS -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -<a href="#chap01">CHAPTER I</a> -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -THE OPENING MONTHS OF 1915 -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -Conflict of the 1st Brigade at Cuinchy, and of the 3rd Brigade at -Givenchy—Heavy losses of the Guards—Michael O'Leary, -V.C.—Relief of French Divisions by the Twenty-seventh and -Twenty-eighth British—Pressure on the Fifth Corps—Force subdivided -into two armies—Disaster to 16th Lancers—The dearth of munitions -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="t3"> -<a href="#chap02">CHAPTER II</a> -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -NEUVE CHAPELLE AND HILL 60 -</p> - -<p> -The opening of the spring campaign—Surprise of Neuve Chapelle—The -new artillery—Gallant advance and terrible losses—The Indians -in Neuve Chapelle—A sterile victory—The night action of -St. Eloi—Hill 60—The monstrous mine—The veteran 13th Brigade—A -bloody battle—London Territorials on the Hill—A contest of -endurance—The first signs of poison -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="t3"> -<a href="#chap03">CHAPTER III</a> -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -THE SECOND BATTLE OF YPRES -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -(Stage I.—The Gas Attack, April 22-30) -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -Situation at Ypres—The poison gas—The Canadian ordeal—The fight -in the wood of St. Julien—The French recovery—Miracle days—The -glorious Indians—The Northern Territorials—Hard -fighting—The net result—Loss of Hill 60 -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="Pviii"></a>viii}</span> -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -<a href="#chap04">CHAPTER IV</a> -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -THE SECOND BATTLE OF YPRES -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -(Stage II.—The Bellewaarde Lines) -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -The second phase—Attack on the Fourth Division—Great stand of -the Princess Pats—Breaking of the line—Desperate attacks—The -cavalry save the situation—The ordeal of the 11th Brigade—The -German failure—Terrible strain on the British—The last effort of -May 24—Result of the battle—Sequence of events -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="t3"> -<a href="#chap05">CHAPTER V</a> -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -THE BATTLE OF RICHEBOURG-FESTUBERT -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -(May 9-24) -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -The new attack—Ordeal of the 25th Brigade—Attack of the First -Division—Fateful days—A difficult situation—Attack of the -Second Division—Attack of the Seventh Division—British -success—Good work of the Canadians—Advance of the Forty-seventh -London Division—The lull before the storm -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="t3"> -<a href="#chap06">CHAPTER VI</a> -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -THE TRENCHES OF HOOGE -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -The British line in June 1915—Canadians at Givenchy—Attack of -154th Brigade—8th Liverpool Irish—Third Division at -Hooge—11th Brigade near Ypres—Flame attack on the Fourteenth -Light Division—Victory of the Sixth Division at Hooge -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="t3"> -<a href="#chap07">CHAPTER VII</a> -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -THE BATTLE OF LOOS -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -(The First Day—September 25) -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -General order of battle—Check of the Second Division—Advance of the -Ninth and Seventh Divisions—Advance of the First Division—Fine -progress of the Fifteenth Division—Capture of Loos—Work -of the Forty-seventh London Division -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="Pix"></a>ix}</span> -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -<a href="#chap08">CHAPTER VIII</a> -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -THE BATTLE OF LOOS -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -(The Second Day—September 26) -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -Death of General Capper—Retirement of the Fifteenth Division—Advance -of the Twenty-fourth and Twenty-first Divisions—Heavy -losses—Desperate struggle—General retirement on the right—Rally -round Loos—Position in the evening -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="t3"> -<a href="#chap09">CHAPTER IX</a> -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -THE BATTLE OF LOOS -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -(From September 27 to the end of the year) -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -Loss of Fosse 8—Death of General Thesiger—Advance of the -Guards—Attack of the Twenty-eighth Division—Arrival of the Twelfth -Division—German counter-attacks—Attack by the Forty-sixth -Division upon Hohenzollern Redoubt—Subsidiary attacks—General -observations—Return of Lord French to England -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="noindent"> -<a href="#chap10">INDEX</a> -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -MAPS AND PLANS -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="contents"> -Map to illustrate the British Campaign in France and Flanders -[Transcriber's note: omitted from ebook because its size -and fragility made it impractical to scan] -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -<a href="#img-xiii">British Front, 1915</a> -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -<a href="#img-047">Ypres District</a> -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -<a href="#img-087">Order of Battle, May 7th</a> -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -<a href="#img-117">Richebourg District</a> -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -<a href="#img-173">Loos District</a> -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -<a href="#img-177">Battle of Loos—I.</a> -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -<a href="#img-211">Battle of Loos—II.</a> -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-xiii"></a> -<br /> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-xiii.jpg" alt="BRITISH FRONT, 1915." /> -<br /> -BRITISH FRONT, 1915. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p><a id="chap01"></a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P1"></a>1}</span></p> - -<h3> -CHAPTER I -<br /> -THE OPENING MONTHS OF 1915 -</h3> - -<p class="intro"> -Conflict of the 1st Brigade at Cuinchy, and of the 3rd Brigade at -Givenchy—Heavy losses of the Guards—Michael O'Leary, -V.C.—Relief of French Divisions by the Twenty-seventh and -Twenty-eighth British—Pressure on the Fifth Corps—Force subdivided into -two armies—Disaster to 16th Lancers—The dearth of munitions. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -The weather after the new year was atrocious, heavy -rain, frost, and gales of wind succeeding each other -with hardly a break. The ground was so sodden that -all movements of troops became impossible, and the -trench work was more difficult than ever. The -British, with their steadily increasing numbers, were -now able to take over some of the trenches of the -French and to extend their general line. This trench -work came particularly hard upon the men who were -new to the work and often fresh from the tropics. -A great number of the soldiers contracted frost-bite -and other ailments. The trenches were very wet, -and the discomfort was extreme. There had been -some thousands of casualties in the Fifth Corps from -this cause before it can be said to have been in -action. On the other hand, the medical service, which -was extraordinarily efficient, did everything possible -to preserve the health of the men. Wooden troughs -were provided as a stance for them in the trenches, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P2"></a>2}</span> -and vats heated to warm them when they emerged. -Considering that typhoid fever was common among -the civilian residents, the health of the troops -remained remarkably good, thanks to the general -adoption of inoculation, a practice denounced by a -handful of fanatics at home, but of supreme importance -at the front, where the lesson of old wars, that -disease was more deadly than the bullet, ceased to -hold good. -</p> - -<p> -On January 25 the Germans again became aggressive. -If their spy system is as good as is claimed, -they must by this time have known that all talk of -bluff in connection with the new British armies was -mere self-deception, and that if ever they were to -attempt anything with a hope of success, it must be -speedily before the line had thickened. As usual -there was a heavy bombardment, and then a determined -infantry advance—this time to the immediate -south of the Bethune Canal, where there was a salient -held by the 1st Infantry Brigade with the French -upon their right. The line was thinly held at the -time by a half-battalion 1st Scots Guards and a -half-battalion 1st Coldstream, a thousand men in all. -One trench of the Scots Guards was blown up by a -mine and the German infantry rushed it, killing, -wounding, or taking every man of the 130 defenders. -Three officers were hit, and Major Morrison-Bell, a -member of parliament, was taken after being buried -in the debris of the explosion. The remainder of the -front line, after severe losses both in casualties and -in prisoners, fell back from the salient and established -themselves with the rest of their respective battalions -on a straight line of defence, one flank on the canal, -the other on the main Bethune-La Bassée high road. -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P3"></a>3}</span> -A small redoubt or keep had been established here, -which became the centre of the defence. -</p> - -<p> -Whilst the advance of the enemy was arrested at -this line, preparations were made for a strong -counter-attack. An attempt had been made by the enemy -with their heavy guns to knock down the lock gates -of the canal and to flood the ground in the rear of -the position. This, however, was unsuccessful, and -the counter-attack dashed to the front. The -advancing troops consisted of the 1st Black Watch, part -of the 1st Camerons, and the 2nd Rifles from the -reserve. The London Scottish supported the -movement. The enemy had flooded past the keep, which -remained as a British island in a German lake. They -were driven back with difficulty, the Black Watch -advancing through mud up to their knees and losing -very heavily from a cross fire. Two companies were -practically destroyed. Finally, by an advance of the -Rifles and 2nd Sussex after dark the Germans were -ousted from all positions in advance of the keep, and -this line between the canal and the road was held -once more by the British. The night fell, and after -dark the 1st Brigade, having suffered severely, was -withdrawn, and the 2nd Brigade remained in occupation -with the French upon their right. This was the -action of Cuinchy falling upon the 1st Brigade, -supported by part of the 2nd. -</p> - -<p> -Whilst this long-drawn fight of January 25 had -been going on to the south of the canal, there had been -a vigorous German advance to the north of it, over -the old ground which centres on Givenchy. The -German attack, which came on in six lines, fell -principally upon the 1st Gloucesters, who held the -front trench. Captain Richmond, who commanded -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P4"></a>4}</span> -the advanced posts, had observed at dawn that the -German wire had been disturbed and was on the -alert. Large numbers advanced, but were brought to -a standstill about forty yards from the position. These -were nearly all shot down. Some of the stormers -broke through upon the left of the Gloucesters, and -for a time the battalion had the enemy upon their -flank and even in their rear, but they showed great -steadiness and fine fire discipline. A charge was -made presently upon the flank by the 2nd Welsh aided -by a handful of the Black Watch under Lieutenant -Green, who were there as a working party, but found -more congenial work awaiting them. Lieutenant -Bush of the Gloucesters with his machine-guns did -particularly fine work. This attack was organised -by Captain Rees, aided by Major MacNaughton, who -was in the village as an artillery observer. The -upshot was that the Germans on the flank were all -killed, wounded, or taken. A remarkable individual -exploit was performed by Lieutenant James and -Corporal Thomas of the Welsh, who took a trench -with 40 prisoners. A series of attacks to the -north-east of the village were also repulsed, the South -Wales Borderers doing some splendid work. -</p> - -<p> -Thus the results of the day's fighting was that on -the north the British gained a minor success, beating -off all attacks, while to the south the Germans could -claim an advantage, having gained some ground. -The losses on both sides were considerable, those of the -British being principally among Scots Guards, -Coldstream and Black Watch to the south, and Welsh to -the north. The action was barren of practical results. -</p> - -<p> -There were some days of quiet, and then upon -January 29 the Fourteenth German Corps buzzed -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P5"></a>5}</span> -out once more along the classic canal. This time -they made for the keep, which has already been -mentioned, and endeavoured to storm it with the aid -of axes and scaling ladders. Solid Sussex was inside -the keep, however, and ladders and stormers were -hurled to the ground, while bombs were thrown on -to the heads of the attackers. The Northamptons -to the south were driven out for an instant, but came -back with a rush and drove off their assailants. -The skirmish cost the British few casualties, but the -enemy lost heavily, leaving two hundred of his dead -behind him. "Having arranged a code signal we -got the first shell from the 40th R.F.A. twelve seconds -after asking for it." So much for the co-operation -between our guns and our infantry. -</p> - -<p> -On February 1 the Guards who had suffered in the -first fight at Cuinchy got back a little of what was -owing to them. The action began by a small post of -the 2nd Coldstream of the 4th Brigade being driven -back. An endeavour was made to reinstate it in -the early morning, but it was not successful. After -daylight there was a proper artillery preparation, -followed by an assault by a storming party of -Coldstream and Irish Guards, led by Captain Leigh -Bennett and Lieutenant Graham. The lost ground -and a German trench beyond it were captured with -32 prisoners and 2 machine-guns. It was in this -action that Michael O'Leary, the gallant Irish -Guardsman, shot or bayoneted eight Germans and cleared -a trench single-handed, one of the most remarkable -individual feats of the War, for which a Victoria -Cross was awarded. Again the fight fell upon the -4th Brigade, where Lord Cavan was gaining something -of the reputation of his brother peer, Lord -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P6"></a>6}</span> -"Salamander" Cutts, in the days of Marlborough. -On February 6 he again made a dashing attack with -a party of the 3rd Coldstream and Irish, in which the -Germans were driven out of the Brickfield position. -The sappers under Major Fowkes rapidly made good -the ground that the infantry had won, and it remained -permanently with the British. -</p> - -<p> -Another long lull followed this outburst of activity -in the region of the La Bassée Canal, and the troops -sank back once more into their muddy ditches, where, -under the constant menace of the sniper, the bomb -and the shell, they passed the weary weeks with a -patience which was as remarkable as their valour. -The British Army was still gradually relieving the -French troops, who had previously relieved them. -Thus in the north the newly-arrived Twenty-seventh -and Twenty-eighth Divisions occupied several miles -which had been held on the Ypres salient by -General D'Urbal's men. Unfortunately, these two -divisions, largely composed of men who had come -straight from the tropics, ran into a peculiarly -trying season of frost and rain, which for a time -inflicted great hardship and loss upon them. To -add to their trials, the trenches at the time they -took them over were not only in a very bad state of -repair, but had actually been mined by the Germans, -and these mines were exploded shortly after the -transfer, to the loss of the new occupants. The -pressure of the enemy was incessant and severe in this -part of the line, so that the losses of the Fifth Corps -were for some weeks considerably greater than those -of all the rest of the line put together. Two of the -veteran brigades of the Second Corps, the 9th Fusilier -Brigade (Douglas Smith) and the 13th (Wanless -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P7"></a>7}</span> -O'Gowan), were sent north to support their comrades, -with the result that this sector was once again firmly -held. Any temporary failure was in no way due -to a weakness of the Fifth Army Corps, who were -to prove their mettle in many a future fight, but -came from the fact, no doubt unavoidable but none -the less unfortunate, that these troops, before they -had gained any experience, were placed in the very -worst trenches of the whole British line. "The -trenches (so called) scarcely existed," said one who -went through this trying experience, "and the ruts -which were honoured with the name were liquid. -We crouched in this morass of water and mud, living, -dying, wounded and dead together for 48 hours at -a stretch." Add to this that the weather was bitterly -cold with incessant rain, and more miserable conditions -could hardly be imagined. In places the trenches -of the enemy were not more than twenty yards off, -and the shower of bombs was incessant. -</p> - -<p> -The British Army had now attained a size when -it was no longer proper that a corps should be its -highest unit. From this time onwards the corps were -themselves distributed into different armies. At -present, two of these armies were organised. The -First, under General Sir Douglas Haig, comprised the -First Corps, the Fourth Corps (Rawlinson), and the -Indian Corps. The Second Army contained the -Second Corps (Ferguson), the Third Corps (Pulteney), -and the Fifth Corps (Plumer), all under Sir Horace -Smith-Dorrien. The new formations as they came -out were either fitted into these or formed part of a -third army. Most of the brigades were strengthened -by the addition of one, and often of two territorial -battalions. Each army consisted roughly at this -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P8"></a>8}</span> -time of 120,000 men. The Second Army was in charge -of the line to the north, and the First to the south. -</p> - -<p> -On the night of February 14 Snow's Twenty-seventh -Division, which had been somewhat hustled -by the Germans in the Ypres section, made a strong -counter-attack under the cover of darkness, and won -back four trenches near St. Eloi from which they had -been driven by a German rush. This dashing advance -was carried out by the 82nd Brigade (Longley's), and -the particular battalions which were most closely -engaged were the 2nd Cornwalls, the 1st Royal Irish, -and 2nd Royal Irish Fusiliers. They were supported -by the 80th Brigade (Fortescue's). The losses -amounted to 300 killed and wounded. The Germans -lost as many and a few prisoners were taken. The -affair was of no great consequence in itself, but it -marked a turn in the affairs of Plumer's Army Corps, -whose experience up to now had been depressing. -The enemy, however, was still aggressive and -enterprising in this part of the line. Upon the 20th they -ran a mine under a trench occupied by the 16th -Lancers, and the explosion produced most serious -effects. 5 officers killed, 3 wounded, and 60 men -<i>hors de combat</i> were the fruits of this unfortunate -incident, which pushed our trenches back for 40 -yards on a front of 150 yards. The Germans had -followed up the explosion by an infantry attack, -which was met and held by the remains of the 16th, -aided by a handful of French infantry and a squadron -of the 11th Hussars. On this same day an accidental -shot killed General Gough, chief staff officer of the -First Corps, one of the most experienced and valuable -leaders of the Army. -</p> - -<p> -On the 21st, the Twenty-eighth Division near Ypres -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P9"></a>9}</span> -had a good deal of hard fighting, losing trenches and -winning them, but coming out at the finish rather -the loser on balance. The losses of the day were -250 killed and wounded, the greatest sufferers being -the Royal Lancasters. Somewhat south of Ypres, -at Zwarteleen, the 1st West Kents were exposed to -a shower of projectiles from the deadly <i>minenwerfer</i>, -which are more of the nature of aerial torpedoes than -ordinary bombs. Their losses under this trying ordeal -were 3 officers and 19 men killed, 1 officer and 18 men -wounded. There was a lull after this in the trench -fighting for some little time, which was broken upon -February 28 by a very dashing little attack of the -Princess Patricia's Canadian regiment, which as one -of the units of the 80th Brigade had been the first -Canadian Battalion to reach the front. Upon this -occasion, led by Lieutenants Crabb and Papineau, -they rushed a trench in their front, killed eleven of its -occupants, drove off the remainder, and levelled it so -that it should be untenable. Their losses in this -exploit were very small. During this period of the -trench warfare it may be said generally that the -tendency was for the Germans to encroach upon -British ground in the Ypres section and for the British -to take theirs in the region of La Bassée. -</p> - -<p> -With the opening of the warmer weather great -preparations had been made by Great Britain for -carrying on the land campaign, and these now began -to bear fruit. Apart from the numerous Territorial -regiments which had already been incorporated with -regular brigades—some fifty battalions in all—there -now appeared several divisions entirely composed of -Territorials. The 46th North Midland and 48th South -Midland Divisions were the first to form independent -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P10"></a>10}</span> -units, but they were soon followed by others. It had -been insufficiently grasped that the supply of -munitions was as important as that of men, and that the -expenditure of shell was something so enormous in -modern warfare that the greedy guns, large and small, -could keep a great army of workmen employed in -satisfying their immoderate demands. The output -of shells and cartridges in the month of March was, -it is true, eighteen times greater than in September, -and 3000 separate firms were directly or indirectly -employed in war production; but operations were -hampered by the needs of batteries which could -consume in a day what the workshops could at that -time hardly produce in a month. Among the other -activities of Great Britain at this period was the great -strengthening of her heavy artillery, in which for many -months her well-prepared enemy had so vast an -advantage. Huge engines lurked in the hearts of -groves and behind hillocks at the back of the British -lines, and the cheery news went round that even the -heaviest bully that ever came out of Essen would -find something of its own weight stripped and ready -for the fray. -</p> - -<p> -There was still considerable activity in the -St. Eloi sector south-east of Ypres, where the German -attacks were all, as it proved, the preliminaries of -a strong advance. So persistent were they that -Plumer's men were constantly striving for elbow room. -On March 2 part of Fortescue's 80th Brigade, under -Major Widdington of the 4th Rifles, endeavoured to -push back the pressure in this region, and carried -the nearest trench, but were driven out again by -the German bombs. The losses were about 200, of -which 47 fell upon the 3rd, and 110 upon the 4th -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P11"></a>11}</span> -Rifles. In these operations a very great strain came -upon the Engineers, who were continually in front of -the trenches at night, fixing the wire entanglements -and doing other dangerous work under the very rifles -of the Germans. It is pleasing to record that in this -most hazardous task the Territorial sappers showed -that they were worthy comrades of the Regulars. -Major Gardner, Commander of the North Midland -Field Company, and many officers and men died in -the performance of this dangerous duty. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p><a id="chap02"></a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P12"></a>12}</span></p> - -<h3> -CHAPTER II -<br /><br /> -NEUVE CHAPELLE AND HILL 60 -</h3> - -<p class="intro"> -The opening of the spring campaign—Surprise of Neuve Chapelle—The -new artillery—Gallant advance and terrible losses—The Indians -in Neuve Chapelle—A sterile victory—The night action of -St. Eloi—Hill 60—The monstrous mine—The veteran 13th Brigade—A -bloody battle—London Territorials on the Hill—A contest of -endurance—The first signs of poison. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -We now come to the close of the long period of petty -and desultory warfare, which is only relieved from -insignificance by the fact that the cumulative result -during the winter was a loss to the Army of not less -than twenty thousand men. With the breaking of -the spring and the drying of the water-soaked meadows -of Flanders, an era of larger and more ambitious -operations had set in, involving, it is true, little change -of position, but far stronger forces on the side of the -British. The first hammer-blow of Sir John French -was directed, upon March 10, against that village of -Neuve Chapelle which had, as already described, -changed hands several times, and eventually remained -with the Germans during the hard fighting of -Smith-Dorrien's Corps in the last week of October. The -British trenches had been drawn a few hundred yards -to the west of the village, and there had been no -change during the last four months. Behind the -village was the Aubers Ridge, and behind that again -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P13"></a>13}</span> -the whole great plain of Lille and Turcoing. This -was the spot upon which the British General had -determined to try the effects of his new artillery. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -The British surprise. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -His secret was remarkably well kept. Few British and -and no Germans knew where the blow was to fall. -The boasted spy system was completely at fault. -The success of Sir John in keeping his secret was -largely dependent upon the fact that above the -British lines an air space had been cleared into which -no German airman could enter save at his own very -great peril. No great movement of troops was needed -since Haig's army lay opposite to the point to be -attacked, and it was to two of his corps that the main -assault was assigned. On the other hand, there was -a considerable concentration of guns, which were -arranged, over three hundred in number, in such a -position that their fire could converge from various -directions upon the area of the German defences. -</p> - -<p> -It was planned that Smith-Dorrien, along the whole -line held by the Second Army to the north, should -demonstrate with sufficient energy to hold the Germans -from reinforcing their comrades. To the south of -the point of attack, the First Army Corps in the -Givenchy neighbourhood had also received instructions -to make a strong demonstration. Thus the Germans -of Neuve Chapelle, who were believed to number -only a few battalions, were isolated on either side. -It was advisable also to hinder their reinforcements -coming from the reserves in the northern towns -behind the fighting lines. With this object, instructions -were given to the British airmen at any personal -risk to attack all the railway points along which the -trains could come. This was duly done, and the -junctions of Menin, Courtrai, Don, and Douai were -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P14"></a>14}</span> -attacked, Captain Carmichael and other airmen -bravely descending within a hundred feet of their -mark. -</p> - -<p> -The troops chosen for the assault were Rawlinson's -Fourth Army Corps upon the left and the Indian -Corps upon the right, upon a front of half a mile, -which as the operation developed broadened to three -thousand yards. The object was not the mere -occupation of the village, but an advance to the -farthest point attainable. The Second Division of -Cavalry was held in reserve, to be used in case the -German line should be penetrated. All during the -hours of the night the troops in single file were brought -up to the advanced trenches, which in many cases -were less than a hundred yards from the enemy. -Before daylight they were crammed with men waiting -most eagerly for the signal to advance. Short ladders -had been distributed, so that the stormers could -swarm swiftly out of the deep trenches. -</p> - -<p> -The obstacle in front of the Army was a most -serious one. The barbed wire entanglements were -on an immense scale, the trenches were bristling with -machine-guns, and the village in the rear contained -several large outlying houses with walls and orchards, -each of which had been converted into a fortress. On -the other hand, the defenders had received no warning, -and therefore no reinforcement, so that the attackers -were far the more numerous. It is said that a German -officer's attention was called to the stir in the opposing -trenches, and that he was actually at the telephone -reporting his misgivings to headquarters when the -storm broke loose. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -Terrific bombardment. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -It was at half-past seven that the first gun boomed -from the rear of the British position. Within a few -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P15"></a>15}</span> -minutes three hundred were hard at work, the gunners -striving desperately to pour in the greatest possible -number of shells in the shortest period of time. It -had been supposed that some of the very heavy guns -could get in forty rounds in the time, but they actually -fired nearly a hundred, and at the end of it the -huge garrison gunners were lying panting like spent -hounds round their pieces. From the 18-pounder -of the field-gun to the huge 1400-pound projectile -from the new monsters in the rear, a shower of -every sort and size of missile poured down upon the -Germans, many of whom were absolutely bereft of -their senses by the sudden and horrible experience. -Trenches, machine-guns, and human bodies flew high -into the air, while the stakes which supported the -barbed wire were uprooted, and the wire itself torn -into ribbons and twisted into a thousand fantastic -coils with many a gap between. In front of part of -the Indian line there was a clean sweep of the impediments. -So also to the right of the British line. Only -at the left of the line, to the extreme north of the -German position, was the fatal wire still quite -unbroken and the trenches unapproachable. Meanwhile, -so completely was the resistance flattened out -by the overpowering weight of fire that the British -infantry, with their own shells flowing in a steady -stream within a few feet of their heads, were able to -line their parapets and stare across at the wonderful -smoking and roaring swirl of destruction that faced -them. Here and there men sprang upon the parapets -waving their rifles and shouting in the hot eagerness of -their hearts. "Our bomb-throwers," says one -correspondent, "started cake-walking." It was but half -an hour that they waited, and yet to many it seemed -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P16"></a>16}</span> -the longest half-hour of their lives. It was an -extraordinary revelation of the absolute accuracy of -scientific gunfire that the British batteries should dare -to shell the German trenches which were only a -hundred yards away from their own, and this at a -range of five or six thousand yards. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -The infantry attack. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -At five minutes past eight the guns ceased as -suddenly as they had begun, the shrill whistles of the -officers sounded all along the line, and the ardent -infantry poured over the long lip of the trenches. -The assault upon the left was undertaken by Pinney's -23rd Infantry Brigade of the Eighth Division. The -25th Brigade of the same division (Lowry-Cole's) was -on the right, and on the right of them again were the -Indians. The 25th Brigade was headed by the 2nd -Lincolns (left) and the 2nd Berkshires (right), who -were ordered to clear the trenches, and then to form -a supporting line while their comrades of the 1st Irish -Rifles (left) and the 2nd Rifle Brigade (right) passed -through their ranks and carried the village beyond. -The 1st Londons and 13th London (Kensingtons) were -pressing up in support. Colonel McAndrew, of the -Lincolns, was mortally hit at the outset, but watched -the assault with constant questions as to its progress -until he died. It was nothing but good news that -he heard, for the work of the brigade went splendidly -from the start. It overwhelmed the trenches in an -instant, seizing the bewildered survivors, who crouched, -yellow with lyddite and shaken by the horror of their -situation, in the corners of the earthworks. As the -Berkshires rushed down the German trench they met -with no resistance at all, save from two gallant German -officers, who fought a machine-gun until both were -bayoneted. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P17"></a>17}</span> -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -The ordeal of the 23rd Brigade. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -It was very different, however, with the 23rd -Brigade upon the left. Their experience was a terrible -one. As they rushed forward, they came upon a broad -sheet of partly-broken wire entanglement between -themselves and the trenches which had escaped -the artillery fire. The obstacle could not be passed, -and yet the furious men would not retire, but tore -and raged at the edge of the barrier even as their -ancestors raged against the scythe-blades of the -breach of Badajoz. The 2nd Scottish Rifles and the -2nd Middlesex were the first two regiments, and -their losses were ghastly. Of the Scottish Rifles, -Colonel Bliss was killed, every officer but one was -either killed or wounded, and half the men were on the -ground. The battalion found some openings, however, -especially B Company (Captain Ferrers), upon -their right flank, and in spite of their murderous -losses made their way into the German trenches, the -bombardiers, under Lieutenant Bibby, doing fine work -in clearing them, though half their number were -killed. The Middlesex men, after charging through -a driving sleet of machine-gun bullets, were -completely held up by an unbroken obstacle, and after -three gallant and costly attacks, when the old -"Die-hards" lived up to their historic name, the remains -of the regiment were compelled to move to the right -and make their way through the gap cleared by the -Scottish Rifles. "Rally, boys, and at it again!" -they yelled at every repulse. The 2nd Devons and -2nd West Yorkshires were in close support of the first -line, but their losses were comparatively small. The -bombers of the Devons, under Lieutenant Wright, -got round the obstacle and cleared two hundred -yards of trench. On account of the impregnable -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P18"></a>18}</span> -German position upon the left, the right of the brigade -was soon three hundred yards in advance and suffered -severely from the enfilade fire of rifles and machine-guns, -the two flanks being connected up by a line of -men facing half left, and making the best of the very -imperfect cover. -</p> - -<p> -It should be mentioned that the getting forward -of the 23rd Brigade was largely due to the personal -intervention of General Pinney, who, about 8.30, -hearing of their difficult position, came forward -himself across the open and inspected the obstacle. -He then called off his men for a breather while he -telephoned to the gunners to reopen fire. This cool -and practical manoeuvre had the effect of partly -smashing the wires. At the same time much -depended upon the advance of the 25th Brigade. -Having, as stated, occupied the position which faced -them, they were able to outflank the section of the -German line which was still intact. Their left flank -having been turned, the defenders fell back or -surrendered, and the remains of the 23rd Brigade were -able to get forward into an alignment with their -comrades, the Devons and West Yorkshires passing -through the thinned ranks in front of them. The -whole body then advanced for about a thousand yards. -</p> - -<p> -At this period Major Carter Campbell, who had -been wounded in the head, and Second Lieutenant -Somervail, from the Special Reserve, were the only -officers left with the Scottish Rifles; while the -Middlesex were hardly in better case. Of the former -battalion only 150 men could be collected after -the action. The 24th Brigade was following closely -behind the other two, and the 1st Worcesters, 2nd -East Lancashires, 1st Sherwood Foresters, and 2nd -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P19"></a>19}</span> -Northampton were each in turn warmly engaged -as they made good the ground that had been won. -The East Lancashires materially helped to turn the -Germans out of the trenches on the left. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -Gallant Indian advance. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -Whilst the British brigades had been making this -advance upon the left the Indians had dashed forward -with equal fire and zeal upon the right. It was their -first real chance of attack upon a large scale, and they -rose grandly to the occasion. The Garhwali Brigade -attacked upon the left of the Indian line, with the -Dehra Duns (Jacob) upon their right, and the Bareillys -(Southey) in support, all being of the Meerut Division. -The Garhwalis, consisting of men from the mountains -of Northern India, advanced with reckless courage, -the 39th Regiment upon the left, the 3rd Gurkhas -in the centre, the 2nd Leicesters upon the right, -while the 8th Gurkhas, together with the 3rd -London Territorials and the second battalion of the -Garhwalis, were in support. Part of the front was -still covered with wire, and the Garhwalis were -held up for a time, but the Leicesters, on their -right, smashed a way through all obstacles. Their -Indian comrades endured the loss of 20 officers and -350 men, but none the less they persevered, finally -swerving to the right and finding a gap which brought -them through. The Gurkhas, however, had passed -them, the agile little men slipping under, over, or -through the tangled wire in a wonderful fashion. The -3rd Londons closely followed the Leicesters, and were -heavily engaged for some hours in forcing a -stronghold on the right flank, held by 70 Germans with -machine-guns. They lost 2 officers, Captain Pulman -and Lieutenant Mathieson, and 50 men of A Company, -but stuck to their task, and eventually, with the help -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P20"></a>20}</span> -of a gun, overcame the resistance, taking 50 prisoners. -The battalion lost 200 men and did very fine work. -Gradually the Territorials were winning their place -in the Army. "They can't call us Saturday night -soldiers now," said a dying lad of the 3rd Londons; -and he spoke for the whole force who have endured -perverse criticism for so long. -</p> - -<p> -The moment that the infantry advance upon the -trenches had begun, the British guns were turned -upon the village itself. Supported by their fire, as -already described, the victorious Indians from the -south and the 25th Brigade from the west rushed into -the streets and took possession of the ruins which -flanked them, advancing with an ardour which -brought them occasionally into the zone of fire from -their own guns. By twelve o'clock the whole position, -trenches, village, and detached houses, had been -carried, while the artillery had lengthened its range -and rained shrapnel upon the ground over which -reinforcements must advance. The Rifles of the -25th Brigade and the 3rd Gurkhas of the Indians were -the first troops in Neuve Chapelle. -</p> - -<p> -It is not to be imagined that the powerful guns -of the enemy had acquiesced tamely in these rapid -developments. On the contrary, they had kept up -a fire which was only second to that of the British -in volume, but inferior in effect, since the latter -had registered upon such fixed marks as the trenches -and the village, while the others had but the -ever-changing line of an open order attack. How dense -was the fall of the German shells may be reckoned -from the fact that the telephone lines by which the -observers in the firing line controlled the gunners -some miles behind them were continually severed, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P21"></a>21}</span> -although they had been laid down in duplicate, and -often in triplicate. There were heavy losses among -the stormers, but they were cheerfully endured as -part of the price of victory. The jovial exultation -of the wounded as they were carried or led to the -dressing stations was one of the recollections which -stood out clearest amid the confused impressions -which a modern battle leaves upon the half-stunned -mind of the spectator. -</p> - -<p> -At twelve o'clock the position had been carried, -and yet it was not possible to renew the advance -before three. These few hours were consumed in -rearranging the units, which had been greatly mixed -up during the advance, in getting back into position -the left wing of the 25th Brigade, which had been -deflected by the necessity of relieving the 23rd Brigade, -and in bringing up reserves to take the place of -regiments which had endured very heavy losses. -Meanwhile the enemy seemed to have been completely -stunned by the blow which had so suddenly fallen -upon him. The fire from his lines had died down, -and British brigades on the right, forming up for the -renewed advance, were able to do so unmolested in -the open, amid the horrible chaos of pits, mounds, -wire tangles, splintered woodwork, and shattered -bodies which marked where the steel cyclone had -passed. The left was still under very heavy fire. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -The reserved advance. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -At half-past three the word was given, and again -the eager khaki fringe pushed swiftly to the front, -On the extreme left of the line of attack Watts's 21st -Brigade pushed onwards with fierce impetuosity. -This attack was an extension to the left of the original -attack. The 21st was the only brigade of the Seventh -Division to be employed that day. There is a hamlet -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P22"></a>22}</span> -to the north-east of Neuve Chapelle called Moulin-du-Piètre, -and this was the immediate objective of the -attack. Several hundreds of yards were gained before -the advance was held up by a severe fire from the -houses, and by the discovery of a fresh, undamaged -line of German trenches opposite to the right of the -21st Brigade. Here the infantry was held, and did no -more than keep their ground until evening. Their -comrades of the Eighth Division upon their right had -also advanced, the 24th Brigade (Carter's) taking -the place of the decimated 23rd in the front line; -but they also came to a standstill under the fire of -German machine-guns, which were directed from the -bridge crossing the stream of the little Des Layes -River in front of them. -</p> - -<p> -The Bois du Biez is an important wood on the -south-east of Neuve Chapelle, and the Indians, after -their successful assault, directed their renewed advance -upon this objective. The Garhwali Brigade, which -had helped to carry the village, was now held back, -and the Dehra Dun Brigade of 1st and 4th Seaforths, -Jats, and Gurkhas, supported by the Jullundur -Brigade from the Lahore Division, moved forward to -carry the wood. They gained a considerable stretch -of ground by a magnificent charge over the open, but -were held up along the line of the river as their -European comrades had been to the north. More -than once the gallant Indians cleared the wood, but -could not permanently hold it. The German post at -the bridge was able to enfilade the line, and our -artillery was unable to drive it out. Three regiments -of the 1st Brigade were brought up to Richebourg in -support of the attack, but darkness came on before -the preparations were complete. The troops slept -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P23"></a>23}</span> -upon the ground which they had won, ready and eager -for the renewal of the battle in the morning. The -losses had been heavy during the day, falling with -undue severity upon a few particular battalions; but -the soldiers were of good heart, for continual strings -of German prisoners, numbering nine hundred in all, -had been led through their lines, and they had but to -look around them to assure themselves of the loss -which they had inflicted upon the enemy. In that -long winter struggle a few yards to west or east had -been a matter for which a man might gladly lay down -his life, so that now, when more than a thousand -yards had been gained by a single forward spring, -there was no desire to flinch from the grievous cost. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -Subsidiary attacks. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -It has already been stated that the British had -made demonstrations to right and to left in order to -hold the enemy in their trenches. In the case of -Smith-Dorrien's Second Army, a bombardment along -the line was sufficient for the purpose. To the south, -however, at Givenchy, the First Corps made an attack -upon the trenches two hundred yards in front of them, -which had no success, as the wire had been uncut. -This attack was carried out by Fanshawe's 6th -Infantry Brigade, and if it failed the failure was not -due to want of intrepid leading by the officers and -desperate courage of the men. The 1st King's -(Liverpool) suffered very heavily in front of the -impassable wire. "Our boys took their bayonets -and hacked away. It was impossible to break -through." Colonel Carter was wounded, but -continued to lead his men. Feveran and Suatt, who led -the assault, were respectively killed and wounded. -The officers were nearly all hit, down to the young -Subaltern Webb, who kept shouting "Come on, the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P24"></a>24}</span> -King's!" until he could shout no more. A hundred -were killed and 119 wounded in the ranks. Both the -2nd South Staffords and the 1st King's Royal Rifles -joined in this brave, but ineffectual, attack, and lost -very heavily. The total loss of the brigade was -between six and seven hundred, but at least it had -prevented this section of the line from reinforcing -Neuve Chapelle. All along the line the night was -spent in making good the ground that had been -won. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -Second day of battle. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -The morning of the 11th broke with thick mist, -a condition which continued during the whole of the -day. Both the use of the aircraft and the direction -of the artillery were negatived by the state of the -weather—a grievous piece of ill-fortune, as it put a -stop to any serious advance during the day, since it -would have been a desperate business to march -infantry against a difficult front without any artillery -preparation. In this way the Germans gained a -precious respite during which they might reinforce -their line and prepare for a further attack. They -essayed a counter-attack from the Bois du Biez in the -morning, but it was easily repulsed by the Indians. -Their shell-fire, however, was very murderous. The -British infantry still faced Moulin-du-Piètre in the -north and the Bois du Biez in the south, but could -make no progress without support, while they lost -heavily from the German artillery. The Indians were -still at the south of the line, the 24th Brigade in the -middle and the 21st in the north. Farther north -still, at a point just south of Armentières, a useful -little advance was made, for late at night, or early -in the morning of the 12th, the 17th Infantry Brigade -(Harper's) had made a swift dash at the village of -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P25"></a>25}</span> -l'Epinette, calculating, no doubt, that some of its -defenders had been drafted south to strengthen the -stricken line. The place was carried by storm at -the small cost of five officers and thirty men, and the -line carried forward at this point to a depth of three -hundred yards over a front of half a mile. A -counter-attack upon the 13th was driven off with loss. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -Third day. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -So far as the main operation was concerned, the -weather upon the 12th was hardly more favourable -than upon the 11th. The veil of mist still intervened -between the heavy artillery and its target. Three -aeroplanes were lost in the determined efforts of the -airmen to get close observation of the position. It -also interfered with the accuracy of the German fire, -which was poured upon the area held by the British -troops, but inflicted small damage upon them. The -day began by an attack in which the Germans got -possession of a trench held by the 1st Sherwood -Foresters. As the mist rose the flank company of -the 2nd West Yorks perceived these unwelcome -neighbours and, under the lead of Captain Harrington, -turned them out again. Both the Indians on the -right and the Seventh Division on the left lost a -number of men during the morning in endeavouring, -with poor success, to drive the German garrisons out -of the various farmhouses, which were impregnable -to anything but artillery. The gallant 20th Brigade, -which had done such great work at Ypres in October, -came into action this day and stormed up to the -strongholds of the Moulin-du-Piètre. One of them, with -three hundred Germans inside, was carried by the 2nd -Borders, the defenders being made prisoners. All -the battalions of the brigade—the 2nd Scots Guards, -the 1st Grenadiers, the 2nd Gordons, and their -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P26"></a>26}</span> -Territorial comrades, the 6th Gordons—lost heavily -in this most desperate of all forms of fighting. Colonel -McLean of the latter regiment died at the head of his -men. "Go about your duty," was his last speech -to those who tended him. The Grenadiers fought like -heroes, and one of them, Corporal Fuller, performed -the extraordinary feat of heading off fifty Germans -by fleetness of foot, and single-handed compelling -the surrender of all of them. At the other end of the -line, the 25th Brigade, led by the Rifle Brigade, also -made desperate efforts to get on, but were brought -to a standstill by the trenches and machine-guns in -the houses. The losses of the British upon this -day were heavy, but they were a small matter -compared to those of the Germans, who made several -counter-attacks in close formation from dawn -onwards in the vain hope of recovering the ground that -had been lost. It is doubtful if in the whole war -greater slaughter has been inflicted in a shorter time -and in so confined a space as in the case of some of -these advances, where whole dense bodies of infantry -were caught in the converging fire of machine-guns -and rifles. In front of the 1st Worcesters, of the -24th Brigade, alone more than a thousand dead were -counted. From the ridge of Aubers, half a mile to -the eastward, down to the front of the Indian and -British line, the whole sloping countryside was -mottled grey with the bodies of the fallen. All that -the British had suffered in front of the barbed wire -upon the 10th was repaid with heavy interest during -the counter-attacks of the 12th. Gradually they -faded away and were renewed no more. For the -first time in the war the Germans finally abandoned -a position that they had lost, and made no further -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P27"></a>27}</span> -attempt to retake it. The Battle of Neuve Chapelle -was at an end, and the British, though their -accomplishment fell far short of their hopes, had none the -less made a permanent advance of a thousand yards -along a front of three thousand, and obtained a -valuable position for their operations in the future. -The sappers were busy all evening in wiring and -sand-bagging the ground gained, while the medical -organisation, which was strained to the uttermost, -did its work with a bravery and a technical efficiency -which could not be surpassed. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -Result of Battle of Neuve Chapelle. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -Upon the last day of the fighting some 700 more -prisoners had been taken, bringing the total number -to 30 officers and 1650 men. The original defenders -had been men of the Seventh German Corps, raised -from Karlsruhe in Westphalia; but the reinforcements -which suffered so heavily were either Saxons or -Bavarians. The losses of the Germans were estimated, -and possibly overestimated, at 18,000 men. The -British losses were very heavy, consisting of 562 -officers and 12,239 men. Some 1800 of these were -returned as "Missing," but these were the men who -fell in the advanced attack upon ground which was -not retained. Only the wounded fell into the enemy's -hands. The Fourth Corps lost 7500 men, and the -Indians about 4000. -</p> - -<p> -Of the six brigades of the Fourth Corps, all suffered -about equally, except the 22nd, which was not so hard -hit as the others. The remaining brigades lost over -25 per cent of their numbers, but nothing of their -efficiency and zeal, as they were very soon to show -in the later engagements. When one remembers -that Julius Cæsar describes an action as a severe one -upon the ground that every tenth man was wounded, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P28"></a>28}</span> -it may be conjectured that he would have welcomed -a legion of Scottish Rifles or Sherwood Foresters. -Certainly no British soldier was likely to live long -enough to have his teeth worn down by the ration -bread, as was the case with the Tenth Legion. The -two units named may have suffered most, but the -2nd Lincolns, 2nd Berkshires, 2nd Borders, 2nd Scots -Fusiliers, 1st Irish Rifles, 2nd Rifle Brigade, the two -battalions of Gordons, and the 1st Worcesters were -all badly cut up. Of the five commanding officers -of the 20th Brigade, Uniacke of the 2nd Gordons, -McLean of the 5th Gordons, and Fisher Rowe of the -Grenadiers were killed, while Paynter of the 2nd Scots -Guards was wounded. The only survivor, the Colonel -of the Borders, was shot a few days later. It was -said at the time of the African War that the British -colonels had led their men up to and through the -gates of Death. The words were still true. Of the -brave Indian Corps, the 1st Seaforths, 2nd Leicesters, -39th Garhwalis, with the 3rd and 4th Gurkhas, were -the chief sufferers. The 1st Londons, 3rd Londons, -and 13th (Kensingtons) had also shown that they -could stand punishment with the best. -</p> - -<p> -So ended the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, a fierce and -murderous encounter in which every weapon of -modern warfare—the giant howitzer, the bomb, and -the machine-gun—was used to the full, and where the -reward of the victor was a slice of ground no larger -than a moderate farm. And yet the moral prevails -over the material, and the fact that a Prussian line, -built up with four months of labour, could be rushed -in a couple of hours, and that by no exertion could a -German set foot upon it again, was a hopeful first -lesson in the spring campaign. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P29"></a>29}</span> -</p> - -<p> -On March 12 an attack was made upon the enemy's -trenches south-west of the village of Wytschaete—the -region where, on November 1, the Bavarians had -forced back the lines of our cavalry. The advance -was delayed by the mist, and eventually was ordered -for four in the afternoon. It was carried out by the -1st Wilts and the 3rd Worcesters, of the 7th Brigade -(Ballard), advancing for two hundred yards up a -considerable slope. The defence was too strong, -however, and the attack was abandoned with a loss -of 28 officers and 343 men. It may be said, however, -to have served the general purpose of diverting troops -from the important action in the south. It is to be -hoped that this was so, as the attack itself, though -fruitless, was carried out with unflinching bravery -and devotion. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -Action of St. Eloi. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -On March 14, two days after the Battle of Neuve -Chapelle, the Germans endeavoured to bring about -a counter-stroke in the north which should avenge -their defeat, arguing, no doubt, that the considerable -strength which Haig's First Army had exhibited in -the south meant some subtraction from Smith-Dorrien -at the other end of the line. This new action broke -out at the hamlet of St. Eloi, some miles to the -south-east of Ypres, a spot where many preliminary -bickerings and a good deal of trench activity had heralded -this more serious effort. This particular section of -the line was held by the 82nd Brigade (Longley's) -of the Twenty-seventh Division, the whole quarter -being under the supervision of General Plumer. There -was a small mound in a brickfield to the south-east -of the village with trenches upon either side of it -which were held by the men of the 2nd Cornish Light -Infantry. It is a mere clay dump about seventy feet -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P30"></a>30}</span> -long and twenty feet high. After a brief but furious -bombardment, a mine which had been run under this -mound was exploded at five in the evening, and both -mound and trenches were carried by a rush of German -stormers. These trenches in turn enfiladed other -ones, and a considerable stretch was lost, including -two support trenches west of the mound and close -to it, two breastworks and trenches to the north-east -of it, and also the southern end of St. Eloi village. -</p> - -<p> -So intense had been the preliminary fire that every -wire connecting with the rear had been severed, and -it was only the actual explosion upon the mound—an -explosion which buried many of the defenders, -including two machine-guns with their detachments—which -made the situation clear to the artillery in -support. The 19th and 20th Brigades concentrated -their thirty-six 18-pounders upon the mound and -its vicinity. The German infantry were already in -possession, having overwhelmed the few survivors of -the 2nd Cornwalls and driven back a company of -the 2nd Irish Fusiliers, who were either behind the -mound or in the adjacent trenches to the east of -the village. The stormers had rushed forward, -preceded by a swarm of men carrying bombs and -without rifles. Behind them came a detachment -of sappers with planks, fascines, and sand-bags, -together with machine-gun detachments, who dug -themselves instantly into the shattered mound. The -whole German organisation and execution of the -attack were admirable. Lieutenants Fry and Aston -of the Cornwall Light Infantry put up a brave -fight with their handful of shaken men. As the -survivors of the British front line fell back, two -companies of the 1st Cambridge Territorials took up -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P31"></a>31}</span> -a rallying position. The situation was exceedingly -obscure from the rear, for, as already stated, all wires -had been cut, but daring personal reconnaissance -by individual officers, notably Captain Follett and -Lieutenant Elton, cleared it up to some extent. By -nine o'clock preparations had been made for a counter-attack, -the 1st Leinsters and 1st Royal Irish, of the -82nd Brigade, being brought up, while Fortescue's -80th Brigade was warned to support the movement. -</p> - -<p> -It was pitch-dark, and the advance, which could -only be organised and started at two in the morning, -had to pass over very difficult ground. The line was -formed by two companies of the Royal Irish, the -Leinster Regiment, and the 4th Rifles in general -support. The latter regiment was guided to their -position by Captain Harrison, of the Cornwalls, who -was unfortunately shot, so that the movement, so -far as they were concerned, became disorganised. -Colonel Prowse, of the Leinsters, commanded the -attack. The Irishmen rushed forward, but the -Germans fought manfully, and there was a desperate -struggle in the darkness, illuminated only by the -quick red flash of the guns and the flares thrown up -from the trenches. By the light of these the -machine-guns installed upon the mound held up the advance -of the Royal Irish, who tried bravely to carry the -position, but were forced in the end, after losing -Colonel Forbes, to be content with the nearest house, -and with gaining a firm grip upon the village. The -Leinsters made good progress and carried first a -breastwork and then a trench in front of them, -but could get no farther. About 4.30 the 80th -Brigade joined in the attack. The advance was -carried out by the 4th Rifle Brigade upon the right -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P32"></a>32}</span> -and the Princess Patricia's (Canadians) upon the left, -with the Shropshires and the 3rd Rifles in support. -It was all-important to get in the attack before -daylight, and the result was that the dispositions were -necessarily somewhat hurried and incomplete. The -Canadians attacked upon the left, but their attack -was lacking in weight, being confined to three platoons, -and they could make no headway against the fire from -the mound. They lost 3 officers and 24 men in the -venture. Thesiger's 4th Rifle Brigade directed its -attack, not upon the mound, but on a trench at the -side of it. This was carried with a rush by Captain -Mostyn Pryce's company. Several obstacles were -also taken in succession by the Riflemen, but though -repeated attempts were made to get possession of the -mound, all of them were repulsed. One company, -under Captain Selby-Smith, made so determined an -attack upon one barricade that all save four were -killed or wounded, in spite of which the barricade was -actually carried. A second one lay behind, which -was taken by Lieutenant Sackville's company, only -to disclose a third one behind. Two companies of -the Shropshires were brought up to give weight to -the further attack, but already day was breaking and -there was no chance of success when once it was light, -as all the front trenches were dominated by the -mound. This vigorous night action ended, therefore, -by leaving the mound itself and the front trench in -the hands of the Germans, who had been pushed back -from all the other trenches and the portion of the -village which they had been able to occupy in the -first rush of their attack. The losses of the British -amounted to 40 officers and 680 men—killed, wounded, -and missing, about 100 coming under the last category, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P33"></a>33}</span> -who represent the men destroyed by the explosion. -The German losses were certainly not less, but it must -be admitted that the mound, as representing the -trophy of victory, remained in their hands. In the -morning of the 15th the Germans endeavoured to -turn the Leinsters out of the trench which they had -recaptured, but their attack was blown back, and -they left 34 dead in front of the position. -</p> - -<p> -It is pleasing in this most barbarous of all wars -to be able to record that all German troops did not -debase themselves to the degraded standards of -Prussia. Upon this occasion the Bavarian general -in charge consented at once to a mutual gathering in -of the wounded and a burying of the dead—things -which have been a matter of course in all civilised -warfare until the disciples of Kultur embarked upon -their campaign. It is also to be remarked that in -this section of the field a further amenity can be noted, -for twice messages were dropped within the British -lines containing news as to missing aviators who had -been brought down by the German guns. It was -hoped for a time that the struggle, however stern, was -at last about to conform to the usual practices of -humanity—a hope which was destined to be wrecked -for ever upon that crowning abomination, the -poisoning of Langemarck. -</p> - -<p> -A month of comparative quiet succeeded the -battle of Neuve Chapelle, the Germans settling -down into their new position and making no -attempt to regain their old ones. Both sides were -exhausted, though in the case of the Allies the -exhaustion was rather in munitions than in men. The -regiments were kept well supplied from the depots, -and the brutality of the German methods of warfare -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P34"></a>34}</span> -ensured a steady supply of spirited recruits. That -which was meant to cow had in reality the effect of -stimulating. It is well that this was so, for so -insatiable are the demands of modern warfare that -already after eight months the whole of the regiments -of the original expeditionary force would have -absolutely disappeared but for the frequent replenishments, -which were admirably supplied by the central -authorities. They had been far more than annihilated, -for many of the veteran corps had lost from one and -a half times to twice their numbers. The 1st Hants -at this date had lost 2700 out of an original force of -1200 men, and its case was by no means an exceptional -one. Even in times of quiet there was a continual -toll exacted by snipers, bombers, and shells along the -front which ran into thousands of casualties per week. -The off-days of Flanders were more murderous than -the engagements of South Africa. Now and then a -man of note was taken from the Army in this chronic -and useless warfare. The death of General Gough, -of the staff of the First Army, has already been -recorded. Colonel Farquhar, of the Princess Patricia -Canadians, lost his life in a similar fashion. The -stray shell or the lurking sniper exacted a continual -toll, General Maude of the 14th Brigade, Major Leslie -Oldham, one of the heroes of Chitral, and other -valuable officers being killed or wounded in this manner. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -Battle of Hill 60. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -On April 17 there began a contest which was -destined to rage with great fury, though at intermittent -intervals, for several weeks. This was the -fight for Hill 60. Hill 60 was a low ridge about fifty -feet high and two hundred and fifty yards from end to -end, which faced the Allied trenches in the Zillebeke -region to the south-east of Ypres. This portion of -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P35"></a>35}</span> -the line had been recently taken over by Smith-Dorrien's -Army from the French, and one of the first -tasks which the British had set themselves was to -regain the hill, which was of considerable strategic -importance, because by their possession of it the -Germans were able to establish an observation post -and direct the fire of their guns towards any -portion of the British line which seemed to be -vulnerable. With the hill in British hands it would be -possible to move troops from point to point without -their being overseen and subjected to fire. Therefore -the British had directed their mines towards the hill, -and ran six underneath it, each of them ending -in a chamber which contained a ton of gunpowder. -This work, begun by Lieutenant Burnyeat and a -hundred miners of the Monmouth battalions, was -very difficult owing to the wet soil. It was charged -by Major Norton Griffiths and the 171st Mining -Company Royal Engineers. At seven in the evening -of Saturday, April 17, the whole was exploded with -terrific effect. Before the smoke had cleared away -the British infantry had dashed from their trench -and the hill was occupied. A handful of dazed -Germans were taken prisoners and 150 were buried -under the debris. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -Storming of the Hill. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -The storming party was drawn from two battalions -of the veteran 13th Brigade, and the Brigadier Wanless -O'Gowan was in general control of the operations -under General Morland, of the Fifth Division. The -two battalions immediately concerned were the 1st -Royal West Kents and the 2nd Scottish Borderers. -Major Joslin, of the Kents, led the assault, and C -Company of that regiment, under Captain Moulton -Barrett, was actually the first to reach the crest while -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P36"></a>36}</span> -it was still reeking and heaving from the immense -explosion. Sappers of the 2nd Home Counties -Company raced up with the infantry, bearing sandbags -and entrenching tools to make good the ground, -while a ponderous backing of artillery searched on -every side to break up the inevitable counter-attack. -There was desperate digging upon the hill to raise -some cover, and especially to cut back communication -trenches to the rear. Without an over-crowding -which would have been dangerous under artillery fire, -there was only room for one company upon the very -crest. The rest were in supporting trenches -immediately behind. By half-past one in the morning of -the 18th the troops were dug in, but the Germans, -after a lull which followed the shock, were already -thickening for the attack. Their trenches came up -to the base of the hill, and many of their snipers and -bomb-throwers hid themselves amid the darkness in -the numerous deep holes with which the whole hill -was pocked. Showers of bombs fell upon the British -line, which held on as best it might. -</p> - -<p> -At 3.30 A.M. the Scots Borderers pushed forward -to take over the advanced fire trench from the Kents, -who had suffered severely. This exchange was an -expensive one, as several officers, including Major -Joslin, the leader of the assault, Colonel Sladen, and -Captains Dering and Burnett, were killed or wounded, -and in the confusion the Germans were able to get more -of their bombers thrown forward, making the front -trench hardly tenable. The British losses up to this -time had almost entirely arisen from these bombs, -and two attempts at regular counter-attacks had been -nipped in the bud by the artillery fire, aided by motor -machine-guns. As the sky was beginning to whiten -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P37"></a>37}</span> -in the east, however, there was a more formidable -advance, supported by heavy and incessant bombing, -so that at half-past five the 2nd West Ridings were -sent forward, supported by the 1st Bedfords from -the 15th Brigade. A desperate fight ensued. In -the cold of the morning, with bomb and bayonet men -stood up to each other at close quarters, neither side -flinching from the slaughter. By seven o'clock the -Germans had got a grip of part of the hill crest, -while the weary Yorkshiremen, supported by their -fellow-countrymen of the 2nd Yorkshire Light -Infantry, were hanging on to the broken ground -and the edge of the mine craters. From then -onwards the day was spent by the Germans in -strengthening their hold, and by the British in -preparing for a renewed assault. This second assault, -more formidable than the first, since it was undertaken -against an expectant enemy, was fixed for six o'clock -in the evening. -</p> - -<p> -At the signal five companies of infantry, three -from the West Ridings and two from the Yorkshire -Light Infantry, rushed to the front. The losses of -the storming party were heavy, but nothing could -stop them. Of C Company of the West Ridings only -Captain Barton and eleven men were left out of a -hundred, but none the less they carried the point at -which their charge was aimed. D Company lost all -its officers, but the men carried on. After a fierce -struggle the Germans were ejected once again, and -the whole crest held by the British. The losses had -been very heavy, the various craters formed by the -mines and the heavy shells being desperately fought -for by either party. It was about seven o'clock on -the evening of the 18th that the Yorkshiremen of -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P38"></a>38}</span> -both regiments drew together in the dusk and made -an organised charge across the whole length of the -hill, sweeping it clear from end to end, while the 59th -Company Royal Engineers helped in making good -the ground. It was a desperate tussle, in which men -charged each other like bulls, drove their bayonets -through each other, and hurled bombs at a range of -a few yards into each other's faces. Seldom in the -war has there been more furious fighting, and in the -whole Army it would have been difficult to find better -men for such work than the units engaged. -</p> - -<p> -From early morning of that day till late at night -the Brigadier-General O'Gowan was in the closest -touch with the fighting line, feeding it, binding it, -supporting it, thickening it, until he brought it -through to victory. His Staff-Captain Egerton was -killed at his side, and he had several narrow escapes. -The losses were heavy and the men exhausted, but -the German defence was for the time completely -broken, and the British took advantage of the lull to -push fresh men into the advanced trenches and -withdraw the tired soldiers. This was done about -midnight on the 18th, and the fight from then onwards -was under the direction of General Northey, who had -under him the 1st East Surrey, the 1st Bedfords, and -the 9th London (Queen Victoria) Rifles. Already in -this murderous action the British casualties had been -50 officers and 1500 men, who lay, with as many of -the Germans, within a space no larger than a moderate -meadow. -</p> - -<p> -During the whole of the daylight hours of April 19 -a furious bombardment was directed upon the hill, -on and behind which the defenders were crouching. -Officers of experience described this concentration -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P39"></a>39}</span> -of fire as the worst that they had ever experienced. -Colonel Griffith of the Bedfords held grimly to his front -trench, but the losses continued to be heavy. During -that afternoon a new phenomenon was observed for and -the first time—an indication of what was to come. -Officers seated in a dug-out immediately behind the -fighting line experienced a strong feeling of suffocation, -and were driven from their shelter, the candles in -which were extinguished by the noxious air. Shells -bursting on the hill set the troops coughing and -gasping. It was the first German experiment in the -use of poison—an expedient which is the most -cowardly in the history of warfare, reducing their -army from being honourable soldiers to the level of -assassins, even as the sailors of their submarines had -been made the agents for the cold-blooded murder -of helpless civilians. Attacked by this new agent, -the troops still held their ground. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -Desperate fighting. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -Tuesday, April 20, was another day of furious -shell-fire. A single shell upon that morning blew in -a parapet and buried Lieutenant Watson with twenty -men of the Surreys. The Queen Victorias under -Colonel Shipley upheld the rising reputation of the -Territorial troops by their admirable steadiness. -Major Lees, Lieutenant Summerhays, and many others -died an heroic death; but there was no flinching from -that trench which was so often a grave. As already -explained, there was only one trench and room for a -very limited number of men on the actual crest, while -the rest were kept just behind the curve, so as to avoid -a second Spion Kop. At one time upon this eventful -day a handful of London Territorials under a boy -officer, Woolley of the Victorias, were the only troops -upon the top, but it was in safe keeping none the less. -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P40"></a>40}</span> -This officer received the Victoria Cross. Hour after -hour the deadly bombardment went on. About -7.30 in the evening the bombers of the enemy got -into some folds in the ground within twenty yards -and began a most harassing attack. All night, under -the sudden glare of star shells, there were a succession -of assaults which tried the half-stupefied troops to the -utmost. Soon after midnight in the early morning -of Wednesday, April 21, the report came in to the -Brigadier that the 1st Surreys in the trenches to the -left had lost all their officers except one subaltern. -As a matter of fact, every man in one detachment had -been killed or wounded by the grenades. It was -rumoured that the company was falling back, but on -a message reaching them based upon this supposition, -the answer was, "We have not budged a yard, and -have no intention of doing so." At 2.30 in the -morning the position seemed very precarious, so fierce -was the assault and so worn the defence. Of A -Company of the Surreys only 55 privates were left out -of 180, while of the five officers none were now -standing, Major Paterson and Captain Wynyard being killed, -while Lieutenant Roupell, who got the Cross, and two -others were wounded. It was really a subalterns' -battle, and splendidly the boys played up. -</p> - -<p> -All the long night trench-mortars and mine-throwers -played upon them, while monstrous explosions -flung shattered khaki figures amid a red glare -into the drifting clouds of smoke, but still the hill was -British. With daylight the 1st Devons were brought -up into the fight, and an hour later the hill was clear -of the enemy once more, save for a handful of snipers -concealed in the craters of the north-west corner. In -vain the Germans tried to win back a foothold. Nothing -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P41"></a>41}</span> -could shift that tenacious infantry. Field-guns -were brought up by the attackers and fired at short -range at the parapets hastily thrown up, but the -Devons lay flat and held tight. It had been a grand -fight. Heavy as were the strokes of the Thor hammer -of Germany, they had sometimes bent but never -shattered the iron line of Britain. Already the -death-roll had been doubled, and 100 officers with 3000 of -our men were stretched upon that little space, littered -with bodies and red with blood from end to end. -But now the action was at last drawing to its close. -Five days it had raged with hardly a break. British -guns were now run up and drove the German ones to -cover. Bombers who still lurked in the craters were -routed out with the bayonet. In the afternoon of -the 21st the fire died gradually away and the assaults -came to an end. Hill 60 remained with the British. -The weary survivors were relieved, and limped back -singing ragtime music to their rest-camps in the rear, -while the 2nd Cameron Highlanders, under Colonel -Campbell, took over the gruesome trenches. -</p> - -<p> -It was a fine feat of arms for which the various -brigadiers, with General Morland of the Fifth Division, -should have the credit. It was not a question of the -little mound—important as that might be, it could not -justify so excessive a loss of life, whether German or -British. Hill 60 was a secondary matter. What -was really being fought for was the ascendancy of the -British or the Prussian soldier—that subtle thing -which would tinge every battle which might be fought -thereafter. Who would cry "Enough!" first? Who -would stick it to the bitter end? Which had the -staying-power when tried out to a finish? The -answer to that question was of more definite military -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P42"></a>42}</span> -importance than an observation post, and it was -worth our three thousand slain or maimed to have -the award of the God of battles to strengthen us -hereafter. -</p> - -<p> -This description may well be ended by the general -order in which Sir John French acknowledged the -services of the troops engaged in this arduous affair: -</p> - -<p> -"I congratulate you and the troops of the Second -Army on your brilliant capture and retention of the -important position at Hill 60. Great credit is due to -Lieutenant-General Sir Charles Ferguson, commanding -Second Corps; Major-General Morland, commanding -Fifth Division; Brigadier-General Wanless O'Gowan, -commanding 13th Brigade; and Brigadier-General -Northey, commanding 15th Brigade, for their energy -and skill in carrying out the operations. I wish -particularly to express my warmest admiration for -the splendid dash and spirit displayed by the battalions -of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Brigades which took part -under their respective commanding officers. This -has been shown in the first seizure of the position, by -the fire attack of the Royal West Kents and the King's -Own Scottish Borderers, and in the heroic tenacity -with which the hill has been held by the other -battalions of these brigades against the most violent -counter-attacks and terrific artillery bombardment. -I also must commend the skilful work of the Mining -Company R.E., of the 59th Field Company R.E., and -2nd Home Counties Field Company R.E., and of the -Artillery. I fully recognise the skill and foresight -of Major-General Bulfin, commanding Twenty-eighth -Division, and his C.R.E., Colonel Jerome, who are -responsible for the original conception and plan of -the undertaking." -</p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P43"></a>43}</span> -</p> - -<p> -It will be noticed that in his generous commendation -Sir John French quotes the different separate units -of Engineers as a token of his appreciation of the -heavy work which fell upon them before as well as -during the battle. Many anecdotes were current in -the Army as to the extraordinary daring and energy -of the subterranean workers, who were never so happy -as when, deep in the bowels of the earth, they were -planning some counter-mine with the tapping of the -German picks growing louder on their ears. One -authentic deed by Captain Johnston's 172nd Mining -Company may well be placed upon record. The -sapping upon this occasion was directed against the -Peckham Farm held by the Germans. Finding that -the enemy were countermining, a <i>camouflet</i> was laid -down which destroyed their tunnel. After an interval -a corporal descended into the shaft, but was poisoned -by the fumes. An officer followed him and seized -him by the ankles, but became unconscious. A -private came next and grabbed the officer, but lost -his own senses. Seven men in succession were in -turn rescuers and rescued, until the whole chain was -at last brought to the surface. Lieutenants Severne -and Williams, with Corporal Gray and Sappers -Hattersley, Hayes, Lannon, and Smith, were the heroes -of this incident. It is pleasant to add that though -the corporal died, the six others were all resuscitated. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -A military crime. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -It is with a feeling of loathing that the chronicler -turns from such knightly deeds as these to narrate -the next episode of the war, in which the gallant -profession of arms was degraded to the level of the -assassin, and the Germans, foiled in fair fighting, stole -away a few miles of ground by the arts of the murderer. -So long as military history is written, the poisoning of -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P44"></a>44}</span> -Langemarck will be recorded as a loathsome incident -by which warfare was degraded to a depth unknown -among savages, and a great army, which had long been -honoured as the finest fighting force in the world, -became in a single day an object of horror and -contempt, flying to the bottles of a chemist to make the -clearance which all the cannons of Krupp were unable -to effect. The crime was no sudden outbreak of spite, -nor was it the work of some unscrupulous subordinate. -It could only have been effected by long preparation, -in which the making of great retorts and wholesale -experiments upon animals had their place. Our -generals, and even our papers, heard some rumours of -such doings, but dismissed them as being an incredible -slur upon German honour. It proved now that it was -only too true, and that it represented the deliberate, -cold-blooded plan of the military leaders. Their lies, -which are as much part of their military equipment -as their batteries, represented that the British had -themselves used such devices in the fighting on Hill -60. Such an assertion may be left to the judgment -of the world. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p><a id="chap03"></a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P45"></a>4}</span></p> - -<h3> -CHAPTER III -<br /><br /> -THE SECOND BATTLE OF YPRES -</h3> - -<p class="t3"> -Stage I.—The Gas Attack, April 22-30 -</p> - -<p class="intro"> -Situation at Ypres—The poison gas—The Canadian ordeal—The fight -in the wood of St. Julien—The French recovery—Miracle days—The -glorious Indians—The Northern Territorials—Hard -fighting—The net result—Loss of Hill 60. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -It may be remembered that the northern line of the -Ypres position, extending from Steenstraate to Langemarck, -with Pilken somewhat to the south of the -centre, had been established and held by the British -during the fighting of October 21, 22, and 23. -Later, when the pressure upon the British to the east -and south became excessive, the French took over -this section. The general disposition of the Allies -at the 22nd of April was as follows. -</p> - -<p> -The Belgians still held the flooded Yser Canal -up to the neighbourhood of Bixschoote. There the -line was carried on by the French Eighth Army, now -commanded by General Putz in the place of General -d'Urbal. His troops seem to have been all either -Colonial or Territorial, two classes which had -frequently shown the utmost gallantry, but were less -likely to meet an unexpected danger with steadiness -than the regular infantry of the line. These formations -held the trenches from Bixschoote on the canal -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P46"></a>46}</span> -to the Ypres-Poelcapelle road, two thousand yards -east of Langemarck, on the right. At this point they -joined on to Plumer's Fifth Corps, the Canadian -Division, Twenty-eighth and Twenty-seventh British -Divisions, forming a line which passed a mile north -of Zonnebeke, curling round south outside the Polygon -Wood to the point where the Fifth Division of the -Second Corps kept their iron grip upon Hill 60. The -average distance from Ypres to all these various lines -would be about five miles. Smith-Dorrien, as -commander of the Second Army, was general warden of -the district. -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P47"></a>47}</span> -</p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-047"></a> -<br /> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-047.jpg" alt="Ypres" /> -<br /> -Ypres -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -The coming of the poison gas. April 22. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -Up to the third week of April the enemy opposite -the French had consisted of the Twenty-sixth Corps, -with the Fifteenth Corps on the right, all under the -Duke of Würtemberg, whose headquarters were at -Thielt. There were signs, however, of secret -concentration which had not entirely escaped the -observation of the Allied aviators, and on April 20 and 21 -the German guns showered shells on Ypres. About -5 P.M. upon Thursday, April 22, a furious artillery -bombardment from Bixschoote to Langemarck began -along the French lines, including the left of the -Canadians, and it was reported that the Forty-fifth -French Division was being heavily attacked. At the -same time a phenomenon was observed which would -seem to be more in place in the pages of a romance -than in the record of an historian. From the base -of the German trenches over a considerable length -there appeared jets of whitish vapour, which gathered -and swirled until they settled into a definite low -cloud-bank, greenish-brown below and yellow above, where -it reflected the rays of the sinking sun. This ominous -bank of vapour, impelled by a northern breeze, drifted -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P49"></a>49}</span> -swiftly across the space which separated the two lines. -The French troops, staring over the top of their -parapet at this curious screen which ensured them a -temporary relief from fire, were observed suddenly -to throw up their hands, to clutch at their throats, -and to fall to the ground in the agonies of asphyxiation. -Many lay where they had fallen, while their -comrades, absolutely helpless against this diabolical -agency, rushed madly out of the mephitic mist and -made for the rear, over-running the lines of trenches -behind them. Many of them never halted until they -had reached Ypres, while others rushed westwards -and put the canal between themselves and the enemy. -The Germans, meanwhile, advanced, and took possession -of the successive lines of trenches, tenanted only -by the dead garrisons, whose blackened faces, contorted -figures, and lips fringed with the blood and foam from -their bursting lungs, showed the agonies in which they -had died. Some thousands of stupefied prisoners, -eight batteries of French field-guns, and four British -4.7's, which had been placed in a wood behind the -French position, were the trophies won by this -disgraceful victory. The British heavy guns belonged -to the Second London Division, and were not deserted -by their gunners until the enemy's infantry were -close upon them, when the strikers were removed -from the breech-blocks and the pieces abandoned. -It should be added that both the young officers -present, Lieuts. Sandeman and Hamilton Field, -died beside their guns after the tradition of their -corps. -</p> - -<p> -By seven o'clock the French had left the Langemarck -district, had passed over the higher ground -about Pilken, and had crossed the canal towards -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P50"></a>50}</span> -Brielen. Under the shattering blow which they had -received, a blow particularly demoralising to African -troops, with their fears of magic and the unknown, it -was impossible to rally them effectually until the next -day. It is to be remembered in explanation of this -disorganisation that it was the first experience of -these poison tactics, and that the troops engaged -received the gas in a very much more severe form than -our own men on the right of Langemarck. For a -time there was a gap five miles broad in the front of -the position of the Allies, and there were many hours -during which there was no substantial force between -the Germans and Ypres. They wasted their time, -however, in consolidating their ground, and the -chance of a great coup passed for ever. They had -sold their souls as soldiers, but the Devil's price was -a poor one. Had they had a corps of cavalry ready, -and pushed them through the gap, it would have been -the most dangerous moment of the war. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -The Canadian ordeal. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -A portion of the German force, which had passed -through the gap left by the retirement of the French, -moved eastwards in an endeavour to roll up the -Canadian line, the flank of which they had turned. -Had they succeeded in doing this the situation would -have become most critical, as they would have -been to the rear of the whole of the Fifth Army Corps. -General Alderson, commanding the Canadians, took -instant measures to hold his line. On the exposed -flank were the 13th (Royal Highlanders) and 15th -(48th Highlanders), both of the 3rd Brigade. To the -right of these were the 8th Canadians and 5th -Canadians in the order named. The attack developed -along two-thirds of a front of five thousand yards, but -was most severe upon the left, where it had become a -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P51"></a>51}</span> -flank as well as a frontal assault; but in spite of the -sudden and severe nature of the action, the line held -splendidly firm. Any doubt as to the quality of our -Canadian troops—if any such doubt had existed—was -set at rest for ever, for they met the danger with -a joyous and disciplined alacrity. General Turner, -who commanded the 3rd Brigade upon the left, -extended his men to such an extent that, while -covering his original front, he could still throw back -a line several thousand yards long to the south-west -and so prevent the Germans breaking through. By -bending and thinning his line in this fashion he -obviously formed a vulnerable salient which was -furiously attacked by the Germans by shell and rifle -fire, with occasional blasts of their hellish gas, which -lost something of its effectiveness through the -direction of the wind. The Canadian guns, swinging round -from north to west, were pouring shrapnel into the -advancing masses at a range of two hundred yards -with fuses set at zero, while the infantry without -trenches fired so rapidly and steadily that the attack -recoiled from the severity of the punishment. The -British 118th and 365th Batteries did good work in -holding back this German advance. -</p> - -<p> -Two reserve battalions had been brought up in -hot haste from Ypres to strengthen the left of the -line. These were the 16th (Canadian Scottish) and -the 10th Canadians. Their advance was directed -against the wood to the west of St. Julien, in which -lay our four guns which, as already described, -had fallen into the hands of the Germans. Advancing -about midnight by the light of the moon, these two -brave regiments, under Colonels Leckie and Boyle, -rushed at the wood which the Germans had already -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P52"></a>52}</span> -entrenched and carried it at the point of the bayonet -after a furious hand-to-hand struggle. Following at -the heels of the flying Germans, they drove them ever -deeper into the recesses of the wood, where there -loomed up under the trees the huge bulk of the -captured guns. For a time they were once again in -British hands, but there was no possible means of -removing them, so that the Canadians had to be -content with satisfying themselves that they were -unserviceable. For some time the Canadians held the -whole of the wood, but Colonel Leckie, who was in -command, found that there were Germans on each -side of him and no supports. It was clear, since he -was already a thousand yards behind the German -line, that he would be cut off in the morning. With -quick decision he withdrew unmolested through the -wood, and occupied the German trenches at the south -end of it. Colonel Boyle lost his life in this very -gallant advance, which may truly be said to have -saved the situation, since it engaged the German -attention and gave time for reinforcements to arrive. -The immediate pressing necessity was to give the -French time to re-form, and to make some sort of line -between the Canadian left and the French right. As -early as half-past two in the morning, while the two -Canadian regiments were struggling in the wood of -St. Julien, the First Cavalry Division were showing -once again the value of a mobile reserve. De Lisle's -horsemen were despatched at full speed to get across -the Canal, so as to act as a support and an immediate -reserve for the French. The 2nd East Yorks from -the Twenty-eighth Division was also sent on the -same errand. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -April 23. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -With the dawn it became of most pressing importance -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P53"></a>53}</span> -to do something to lessen, if not to fill, the -huge gap which yawned between the left of the -Canadians and the canal, like a great open door five -miles wide leading into Ypres. Troops were already -streaming north at the call of Smith-Dorrien from all -parts of the British lines, but the need was quick -and pressing. The Canadian 1st Brigade, which had -been in reserve, was thrown into the broad avenue -down which the German army was pouring. The -four battalions of General Mercer's Brigade—the -1st (Ontario), 4th, 2nd, and 3rd (Toronto)—advanced -south of Pilken. Nearer still to St. Julien was the -wood, still fringed by their comrades of the 10th -and the 16th, while to the east of St. Julien the -remaining six battalions of Canadians were facing -north-eastwards to hold up the German advance -from that quarter, with their flank turned north-west -to prevent the force from being taken in the rear. -Of these six battalions the most northern was the -13th Royal Canadian Highlanders, and it was on -the unsupported left flank of this regiment that the -pressure was most severe, as the Germans were in the -French trenches alongside them, and raked them -with their machine-guns without causing them to -leave their position, which was the pivot of the whole -line. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -The crisis. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -Gradually, out of the chaos and confusion, the -facts of the situation began to emerge, and in the -early morning of April 23 French saw clearly how great -an emergency he had to meet and what forces he had -with which to meet it. The prospect at first sight -was appalling if it were handled by men who allowed -themselves to be appalled. It was known now that -the Germans had not only broken a five-mile gap -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P54"></a>54}</span> -in the line and penetrated two miles into it, but that -they had taken Steenstraate, had forced the canal, -had taken Lizerne upon the farther side, and had -descended the eastern side as far south as Boesinghe. -At that time it became known, to the great relief of -the British higher command, that the left of the -Canadian 1st Brigade, which had been thrown out, was -in touch with six French battalions—much exhausted -by their terrible experience—on the east bank of the -canal, about a mile south-east of Boesinghe. From -that moment the situation began to mend, for it had -become clear where the reinforcements which were -now coming to hand should be applied. A line had -been drawn across the gap, and it only remained to -stiffen and to hold it, while taking steps to modify -and support the salient in the St. Julien direction, -where a dangerous angle had been created by the new -hasty rearrangement of the Canadian line. -</p> - -<p> -It has been said that a line had been drawn across -the gap, but dots rather than a line would have -described the situation more exactly. Patrols had -reached the French, but there was no solid obstacle -to a German advance. This was partially remedied -through the sacrifices of a body of men, who have -up to now received the less credit in the matter -because, being a mere chance collection of military -atoms, they had no representative character. No -finer proof of soldierly virtue could be given than the -behaviour of these isolated British regiments which -were now pushed up out of their rest camps near -Ypres, many of them wearied from recent fighting, -and none of them heartened by the presence of the -comrades and superior officers who had formed their -old brigades. The battalions were the 2nd Buffs, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P55"></a>55}</span> -half of the 3rd Middlesex, the 1st York and Lancasters, -the 5th Royal Lancasters, the 4th Rifle Brigade, the -2nd Cornwalls, the 9th Royal Scots, and half the 2nd -Shropshires. These odd battalions were placed under -the command of Colonel Geddes of the Buffs, and -may be described as Geddes' Detachment. These -scattered units, hardly conscious of each other's -presence, were ordered upon April 23 not only to -advance and fill the gap, but actually to attack the -German Army, so as to give the impression of strength, -and bring the assailants to a halt while reinforcements -were being hurried to the Ypres front. These -battalions, regardless of fire and gas, marched straight -across country at the Germans, got right up to their -line, and though unable to break it, held them fast -in their positions. The 1st Royal Irish, under -Colonel Gloster, had done the same farther to the -eastward. For three days these battalions played -their part in the front line, deliberately sacrificing -themselves for the sake of the army. Colonel Geddes -himself, with many senior officers, was killed, and -the losses of some of these stubborn units were so -heavy that it is reported that an observer approached -a long row of prostrate men, whom he took to be the -1st York and Lancaster, only to find that it was the -helpless swathe of their dead and wounded filling a -position from which the survivors had been moved. -The other battalions were in no better case, but -their audacity in attacking at a time when even a -defence might seem a desperate business, had its -effect, and held up the bewildered van of the enemy. -It might well be quoted as a classical example of -military bluff. Nearly all these battalions were in -reserve to the 27th or 28th Divisions, who were -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P56"></a>56}</span> -themselves holding a long line in face of the enemy, -and who, by turning their reserves to the West, -were like a bank which transfers money to a neighbour -at a time when it may have to face a run upon its -own resources. But the times were recognised as -being desperate, and any risk must be run to keep -the Germans out of Ypres and to hold the pass until -further help should come from the south. It was of -course well understood that, swiftly as our -reinforcements could come, the movement of the German -troops, all swirling towards this sudden gap in the -dam, would necessarily be even swifter, since they -could anticipate such a situation and we could not. -The remains of these battalions had by the evening -of the 23rd dug themselves in on a line which roughly -joined up the French and the Canadians. -</p> - -<p> -In the afternoon of the 23rd those of the French -troops who had escaped the gas attack advanced -gallantly to recover some of their ground, and their -movement was shared by the Canadian troops on the -British left wing and by Geddes' detachment. The -advance was towards Pilken, the French being on the -left of the Ypres-Pilken road, and the British on the -right. Few troops would have come back to the -battle as quickly as our allies, but these survivors of -the Forty-fifth Division were still rather a collection -of brave men than an organised force. The strain -of this difficult advance upon a victorious enemy fell -largely upon the 1st and 4th Battalions of Mercer's -1st Canadian Brigade. Burchall, of the latter -regiment, with a light cane in his hand, led his men on -in a debonair fashion, which was a reversion to more -chivalrous days. He fell, but lived long enough to -see his infantry in occupation of the front German -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P57"></a>57}</span> -line of trenches. No further progress could be made, -but at least the advance had for the moment been -stayed, and a few hours gained at a time when every -hour was an hour of destiny. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -Canadian gallantry. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -A line had now been formed upon the left, and the -Germans had been held off. But in the salient to -the right in the St. Julien section the situation was -becoming ever more serious. The gallant 13th -Canadians (Royal Highlanders) were learning something -of what their French comrades had endured the -day before, for in the early dawn the horrible gases -were drifting down upon their lines, while through the -yellow mist of death there came the steady thresh -of the German shells. The ordeal seemed mechanical -and inhuman—such an ordeal as flesh and blood can -hardly be expected to bear. Yet with admirable -constancy the 13th and their neighbours, the 15th, -held on to their positions, though the trenches were -filled with choking and gasping men. The German -advance was blown back by rifle-fire, even if the -fingers which pulled the triggers were already -stiffening in death. No soldiers in the world could have -done more finely than these volunteers, who -combined the dashing American spirit with the cool -endurance of the North. Little did Bernhardi think -when he penned his famous paragraph about our -Colonial Militia and their uselessness upon a European -battlefield that a division of those very troops were -destined at a supreme moment to hold up one of -the most vital German movements in the Western -campaign. -</p> - -<p> -The French upon the left were not yet in a position -to render much help, so General Alderson, who was -in command of this movement, threw back his left -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P58"></a>58}</span> -wing and held a line facing westwards with the 4th -Rifle Brigade and a few Zouaves, so as to guard -against a German advance between him and the canal. -When the night of the 23rd fell it ended a day of hard -desultory fighting, but the Allies could congratulate -themselves that the general line held in the morning -had been maintained, and even improved. -</p> - -<p> -Reinforcements were urgently needed by the -advanced line, so during the early hours of the morning -of April 24 two battalions of the York and Durham -Territorial Brigade—the 4th East Yorkshires and -another—were sent from the west to Ypres to -reinforce the weary 13th Brigade, much reduced by its -exertions at Hill 60, which was in immediate support -near Brielen. There was no fighting at this point -during the night, but just about daybreak some -of the 2nd Canadian Brigade upon the right of -the British line, who were still holding their original -trenches, were driven out of them by gas, and -compelled to re-form a short distance behind them. -</p> - -<p> -Though the British advance upon the left had -gained touch with the Canadian 3rd Brigade, the -latter still formed a salient which was so exposed -that the edge of it, especially the 13th and 15th -battalions, were assailed by infantry from the flank, -and even from the rear. To them it seemed, during -the long morning of April 24, as if they were entirely -isolated, and that nothing remained but to sell their -lives dearly. They were circumstances under which -less spirited troops might well have surrendered. -So close was the fighting that bayonets were crossed -more than once, Major Norsworthy, of the 13th, -among others, being stabbed in a fierce encounter. -Very grim was the spirit of the Canadians. "Fine -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P59"></a>59}</span> -men, wonderful fellows, absolutely calm, and I have -never seen such courage," wrote a Victoria Rifle -Territorial, who had himself come fresh from the -heroic carnage of Hill 60. It may be added that, good -as the Canadian infantry was, their artillery was -worthy to stand behind it. It is on record that one -Canadian heavy battery, that of Colonel McGee, was -so pre-eminently efficient that it was in demand at -any threatened portion of the line. -</p> - -<p> -It was clear on the morning of April 24 that the -advanced angle, where the French and Canadians had -been torn apart, could no longer be held in face of the -tremendous shell-fire which was directed upon it and -the continuous pressure of the infantry attacks. The -3rd Canadian Brigade fell slowly back upon the village -of St. Julien. This they endeavoured to hold, but -a concentrated fire rained upon it from several sides -and the retreat continued. A detachment of the -13th and 14th Canadians were cut off before they -could get clear, and surrounded in the village. Here -they held out as long as their cartridges allowed, but -were finally all killed, wounded, and taken. The -prisoners are said to have amounted to 700 men. -The remainder of the heroic and decimated 3rd -Brigade rallied to the south of St. Julien, but their -retirement had exposed the flank of the 2nd Canadian -Brigade (Curry's), even as their own flank had been -exposed by the retirement of the French Forty-fifth -Division. This 2nd Brigade flung back its left flank -in order to meet the situation, and successfully held -its ground. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -The arrival of reinforcements. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -In doing this they were greatly aided by supports -which came from the rear. This welcome reinforcement -consisted of three battalions of the 84th Brigade, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P60"></a>60}</span> -under Colonel Wallace. These three battalions were -ordered to advance about four o'clock in the afternoon, -their instructions being to make straight for Fortuin. -Their assault was a desperate one, since there was -inadequate artillery support, and they had to cross -two miles of open ground under a dreadful fire. They -went forward in the open British formation—the -1st Suffolks in the van, then the 12th London Rangers, -and behind them the 1st Monmouths. Numerous -gassed Canadians covered the ground over which they -advanced. The losses were very heavy, several -hundred in the Suffolks alone, but they reached a -point within a few hundred yards of the enemy, where -they joined hands with the few Canadians who were -left alive in those trenches. They hailed their advent -with cheers. The whole line lay down at this point, -being unable to get farther, and they were joined at -a later date by the 9th Durhams, who came up on the -right. This body, which may be called Wallace's -detachment, remained in this position during the -night, and were exposed to severe attack next day, -as will be seen later. So perilous was their position -at the time the 9th Durhams came up that preparations -had been made for destroying all confidential -records in view of the imminent danger of being -overwhelmed. -</p> - -<p> -In this and subsequent fighting the reader is likely -to complain that he finds it difficult to follow the -movements or order of the troops, but the same trouble -was experienced by the generals at the time. So -broken was the fighting that a regimental officer had -units of nine battalions under him at one moment. -The general situations both now and for the next -three days may be taken to be this: that certain -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P61"></a>61}</span> -well-defined clumps of British troops—Twenty-eighth -Division, 10th Brigade, Canadians, and so forth—are -holding back the Germans, and that odd battalions -or even companies are continually pushed in, in -order to fill the varying gaps between these ragged -forces and to save their flanks, so far as possible, -from being turned. These odd battalions coalesced -into irregular brigades which are named here Geddes', -Tuson's, or Wallace's detachment, after their senior -officer. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -Days of miracle. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -Every hour of this day was an hour of danger, and -fresh ground had been abandoned and heavy losses -incurred. None the less it may be said that on the -evening of Saturday, April 24, the worst was over. -From the British point of view it was a war of narrow -escapes, and this surely was among the narrowest. -The mystics who saw bands of bowmen and of knights -between the lines during the retreat from Mons did -but give definite shape to the undeniable fact that -again and again the day had been saved when it -would appear that the energy, the numbers, or the -engines of the enemy must assure a defeat. On this -occasion the whole front had, from an unforeseen -cause, fallen suddenly out of the defence. Strong -forces of the Germans had only five miles to go in -order to cut the great nerve ganglion of Ypres out of -the British system. They were provided with new -and deadly devices of war. They were confronted -by no one save a single division of what they looked -upon as raw Colonial Militia, with such odds and ends -of reinforcements as could be suddenly called upon. -And yet of the five miles they could only accomplish -two, and now after days of struggle the shattered -tower of the old Cloth Hall in front of them was as -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P62"></a>62}</span> -inaccessible as ever. It needs no visions of -over-wrought men to see the doom of God in such episodes -as that. The innocent blood of Belgium for ever -clogged the hand of Germany. -</p> - -<p> -Reinforcements were now assembling to the -immediate south of St. Julien. By evening the -Northumberland Brigade and the Durham Light -Infantry Brigade—both of the Fiftieth Territorial -Division—had reached Potijze. More experienced, -but not more eager, was Hull's 10th Regular Brigade, -which had come swiftly from the Armentières region. -All these troops, together with Geddes' detachment -and two battalions of the York and Durham Territorials, -were placed under the hand of General Alderson -for the purpose of a strong counter-attack upon -St. Julien. This attack was planned to take place on -the morning of Sunday, April 25. When night fell -upon the 24th the front British line was formed as -follows:— -</p> - -<p> -The Twenty-seventh and Twenty-eighth Divisions -held their original trenches facing eastwards. In -touch with their left was the 2nd Canadian Brigade, -with one battalion of the 1st Canadian Brigade. -Then came Wallace's detachment with two battalions -of the York and Durham Territorials joining with -the remains of the 3rd Canadian Brigade. Thence -Geddes' detachment and the 13th Brigade prolonged -the line, as already described, towards the canal. -Behind this screen the reinforcements gathered for -the attack. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -April 25. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -The advance was made at 6.30 in the morning -of April 25, General Hull being in immediate control -of the attack. It was made in the first instance by -the 10th Brigade and the 1st Royal Irish from the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P63"></a>63}</span> -82nd Brigade. The remains of the indomitable 3rd -Canadian Brigade kept pace with it upon the right. -Little progress was made, however, and it became -clear that there was not weight enough behind the -advance to crush a way through the obstacles in front. -Two flank battalions retired, and the 2nd Seaforths -were exposed to a terrible cross-fire. "We shouted -to our officers (what was left of them) to give the order -to charge, knowing in our minds that it was hopeless, -as the smoke was so thick from their gas shells that -we could see nothing on either side of us." Some -cavalry was seen, the first for many days, but was -driven off by the machine-gun of the Highlanders. -Finally a brigade of Northumberland Territorials came -up to sustain the hard-pressed line, passing over some -two miles of open country under heavy fire on their -advance. It was then nearly mid-day. From that -point onwards the attackers accepted the situation -and dug themselves in at the farthest point which -they could reach near the hamlet of Fortuin, about -a mile south of St. Julien. -</p> - -<p> -It will be remembered that Wallace's detachment -had upon the day before already reached this point. -They were in a position of considerable danger, -forming a salient in front of the general line. -Together with the 9th Durhams upon their right, they -sustained several German assaults, which they drove -back while thrusting wet rifle rags into their mouths -to keep out the drifting gas. From their right -trenches they had the curious experience of seeing -clearly the detraining of the German reserves at -Langemarck Station, and even of observing a speech made -by a German general before his troops hurried from -the train into the battle. This advanced line was held -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P64"></a>64}</span> -by these troops, not only during the 25th, but for -three more days, until they were finally relieved after -suffering very heavy losses, but having rendered most -vital service. -</p> - -<p> -Whilst the British were vainly endeavouring to -advance to the north, a new German attack developed -suddenly from the north-east in the region of Broodseinde, -some five miles from St. Julien. This attack -was on a front of eight hundred yards. The trenches -attacked were those of the 84th and 85th Brigades -of the Twenty-eighth Division, and no doubt the -Germans held the theory that these would be found -to be denuded or at least fatally weakened, their -occupants having been drafted off to stiffen the -Western line. Like so many other German theories, -this particular one proved to be a fallacy. In spite -of a constant shower of poison shells, which suffocated -many of the soldiers, the enemy were vigorously -repulsed, the 2nd East Surrey Regiment getting at -one time to hand-to-hand fighting. The few who -were able to reach the trenches remained in them as -prisoners. Great slaughter was caused by a machine-gun -of the 3rd Royal Fusiliers under Lieutenant -Mallandain. Still, the movement caused a further -strain upon the resources of the British General, as it -was necessary to send up three battalions to remain -in reserve in this quarter in case of a renewal of the -attack. On the other hand, the 11th Brigade (Hasler), -less the 1st East Lancashires, came up from the south -to join the 10th, and Indian troops were known to be -upon the way. The flank of the 85th Brigade was -in danger all day, and it was covered by the great -devotion of the 8th Durham Light Infantry to the -north of it. This battalion lost heavily both in killed, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P65"></a>65}</span> -wounded, and prisoners, but it fought with remarkable -valour in a very critical portion of the field. Early in -the morning of the 26th the 1st Hants, on the right -of the newly-arrived 11th Brigade, joined up with -the 3rd Royal Fusiliers on the left of the 85th Brigade, -and so made the line complete. Shortly after the -arrival of the Hampshires the enemy charged through -the dim dawn with a shout of "Ve vos the Royal -Fusiliers." Wily Hampshire was awake, however, -and the trick was a failure. -</p> - -<p> -Up to the evening of Sunday, April 25, the 2nd -Canadian Brigade had succeeded in holding its original -line, which was along a slight eminence called the -Gravenstrafel Ridge. All the regiments had fought -splendidly, but the greatest pressure had been borne -by Colonel Lipsett's 8th Battalion (90th Winnipeg -Rifles), who had been gassed, enfiladed, and -bombarded to the last pitch of human endurance. About -five o'clock their trenches were obliterated by the -fury of the German bombardment, and the weary -soldiers, who had been fighting for the best part of -four days, fell back towards Wieltje. That evening -a large part of the Canadian Division, which had -endured losses of nearly 50 per cent and established -a lasting reputation for steadfast valour, were moved -into reserve, while the Lahore Indian Division (Keary) -came into the fighting line. It is a remarkable -illustration, if one were needed, of the unity of the -British Empire that, as the weary men from Montreal -or Manitoba moved from the field, their place was -filled by eager soldiers from the Punjab and the slopes -of the Himalayas. -</p> - -<p> -That evening a fresh French Division, the One -Hundred and Fifty-second, under General de Ligne, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P66"></a>66}</span> -came up from the south, and two others were -announced as being on their way, so that a powerful -French offensive was assured for next day upon the -further side of the Canal. De Lisle's First Division -of Cavalry continued to support the French opposite -Lizerne, while Kavanagh's Second Division was -dismounted and pushed into the French territorial -trenches in front of Boesinghe. The enemy had -come within shelling distance of Poperinghe, and -caused considerable annoyance there, as the town -was crowded with wounded. -</p> - -<p> -Splendid work was done during these days by -the motor ambulances, which on this one evening -brought 600 wounded men from under the very -muzzles of the German rifles in front of St. Julien. -Several of them were destroyed by direct hits, but no -losses damped their splendid ardour. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -Glorious advance of the Indians. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -The Lahore Division having now arrived, it was -directed to advance on the left of the British and on -the right of the French, along the general line of the -Ypres-Langemarck road. Encouraged by this -reinforcement, and by the thickening line of the French, -General Smith-Dorrien, who had spent several -nightmare days, meeting one dire emergency after another -with never-failing coolness and resource, ordered a -general counter-attack for the early afternoon of -April 26. There was no sign yet of any lull in the -German activity which would encourage the hope -that they had shot their bolt. On the contrary, -during the whole morning there had been confused -and inconclusive fighting along the whole front, and -especially along the Gravenstrafel Ridge, where the -British 10th and 11th Brigades were now opposing -the advance. The 11th Brigade and 85th Brigade -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P67"></a>67}</span> -suffered heavily from shell-fire. About two o'clock -the counter-attack was set in motion, all forces -co-operating, the general idea being to drive the -enemy back from the line between Boesinghe on the -left and Zonnebeke on the right. Of the French -attack on the east of the Canal one can only say that -it kept pace generally with the British, but on the -west of the Canal it was pushed very strongly in the -direction of the village of Lizerne, where the Germans -had established an important bridge-head. -</p> - -<p> -The Indians advanced to the right of the French, -with the Jullundur Brigade upon the right and the -Ferozepore Brigade upon the left, the Sirhind Brigade -in reserve. This Indian advance was an extraordinarily -fine one over fifteen hundred yards of open -under a very heavy shell-fire. They had nearly -reached the front line of German trenches, and were -making good progress, when before them there rose -once more the ominous green-yellow mist of the -poisoners. A steady north-east wind was blowing, -and in a moment the Indians were encircled by the -deadly fumes. It was impossible to get forward. -Many of the men died where they stood. The -mephitic cloud passed slowly over, but the stupefied -men were in no immediate condition to resume their -advance. The whole line was brought to a halt, but -the survivors dug themselves in, and were eventually -supported and relieved by the Sirhind Brigade, who, -with the help of the 3rd Sappers and Miners and the -34th Pioneers, consolidated the front line. General -Smith-Dorrien tersely summed up the characteristics -of this advance of the Lahore Division when he said -that it was done "with insufficient artillery -preparation, up an open slope in the face of overwhelming -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P68"></a>68}</span> -shell, rifle, and machine-gun fire and clouds of poison -gas, but it prevented the German advance and ensured -the safety of Ypres." In this war of great military -deeds there have been few more heroic than this, but -it was done at a terrible cost. Of the 129th Baluchis, -only a hundred could be collected that night, and -many regiments were in little better case. The 1st -Manchesters and 1st Connaughts had fought -magnificently, but it cannot be said that there was any -difference of gallantry between Briton and Indian. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -The Northern Territorials. April 26. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -Farther to the eastwards another fine advance -had been made by the Northumberland Brigade of -Territorials (Riddell) of the Fiftieth Division, who -had just arrived from England. Some military -historian has remarked that British soldiers never fight -better than in their first battle, and this particular -performance, carried out by men with the home dust still -upon their boots, could not have been improved upon. -In this as in other attacks it was well understood -that the object of the operations was rather to bluff -the Germans into suspending their dangerous advance -than to actually gain and permanently hold any of -the lost ground. The brigade advanced in artillery -formation which soon broke into open order. The -fire, both from the German guns, which had matters -all their own way, and from their riflemen, was -incessant and murderous. The 6th Northumberland -Fusiliers were on the left with the 7th upon the right, -the other two battalions being nominally in second -line but actually swarming up into the gaps. In spite -of desperately heavy losses the gallant Geordies won -their way across open fields, with an occasional rest -behind a bank or hedge, until they were on the actual -outbuildings of St. Julien. They held on to the edge -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P69"></a>69}</span> -of the village for some time, but they had lost their -Brigadier, the gallant Riddell, and a high proportion -of their officers and men. Any support would have -secured their gains, but the 151st Durham Light -Infantry Brigade behind them had their own hard -task to perform. The battalions which had reached -the village were compelled to fall back. Shortly -after six in the evening the survivors had dropped -back to their own trenches. Their military career -had begun with a repulse, but it was one which was -more glorious than many a facile success. -</p> - -<p> -On their right the Twenty-eighth Division had been -severely attacked, and the pressure was so great that -two and a half battalions had to be sent to their help, -thus weakening the British advance to that extent. -Had these battalions been available to help the -Northumbrians, it is possible that their success could -have been made good. The strain upon our overmatched -artillery may be indicated by the fact that -on that one afternoon the 366th Battery of the Twenty-eighth -Division fired one thousand seven hundred and -forty rounds. The troops in this section of the -battlefield had been flung into the fight in such stress that -it had been very difficult to keep a line without gaps, -and great danger arose from this cause on several -occasions. Thus a gap formed upon the left of the -Hampshire Regiment, the flank of the 11th Brigade, -through which the Germans poured. Another gap -formed on the right of the Hampshires between them -and the 3rd Royal Fusiliers of the 85th Brigade. -One company of the 8th Middlesex was practically -annihilated in filling this gap, but by the help of the -8th Durham Light Infantry and other Durham and -Yorkshire Territorials the line was restored. The -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P70"></a>70}</span> -2nd Shropshire Light Infantry also co-operated in -this fierce piece of fighting, their Colonel Bridgford -directing the operation. -</p> - -<p> -The Indians upon the left had suffered from -the gas attack, but the French near the Canal -had been very badly poisoned. By 3.30 they had -steadied themselves, however, and came forward once -again, while the Indians kept pace with them. The -whole net advance of the day upon this wing did not -exceed three hundred yards, but it was effected in -the face of the poison fumes, which might well have -excused a retreat. In the night the front line was -consolidated and the Sirhind reserve brigade brought -up to occupy it. It was a day of heavy losses and -uncertain gains, but the one vital fact remained that, -with their artillery, their devil's gas, and their -north-east wind, the Germans were not a yard nearer to that -gaunt, tottering tower which marked the goal of their -desire. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -A day of hard fighting. April 27. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -The night of the 26th was spent by the British in -reorganising their line, taking out the troops who -were worn to the bone, and substituting such reserves -as could be found. The French had been unable to -get forward on the east of the Canal, but on the west, -where they were farther from the gas, they had made -progress, taking trenches between Boesinghe and -Lizerne, and partially occupying the latter village. -In the early afternoon of the 27th our indomitable -Allies renewed their advance upon our left. They -were held up by artillery fire, and finally, about 7 P.M., -were driven back by gas fumes. The Sirhind and -Ferozepore Indian Brigades kept pace with the French -upon the right, but made little progress, for the fire -was terrific. The losses of the Sirhind Brigade were -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P71"></a>71}</span> -very heavy, but they held their own manfully. The -1st and 4th Gurkhas had only two officers left -unwounded in each battalion. The 4th King's also -made a very fine advance. Four battalions from -corps reserve—the 2nd Cornwalls, 2nd West Ridings, -5th King's Own, and 1st York and Lancaster—were -sent up at 3 P.M., under Colonel Tuson, to support -the Indians. The whole of this composite brigade -was only one thousand three hundred rifles, three -out of the four battalions having been with Geddes' -decimated force. The advance could not get -forward, but when in the late evening the French -recoiled before the deadly gas, the left of the Sirhind -Brigade would have been in the air but for the -deployment of part of Tuson's detachment to cover -their flank. At 9 P.M. the Morocco Brigade of -the French Division came forward once more and -the line was re-formed, Tuson's detachment falling -back into support. Once again it was a day of -hard fighting, considerable losses, and inconclusive -results, but yet another day had gone and Ypres was -still intact. On the right of the British the 10th -and 11th Brigades had more than held their own, and -the line of the Gravenstrafel Ridge was in their hands. -Across the Canal also the French had come on, and -the Germans were being slowly but surely pushed -across to the farther side. By the evening of the -28th a continuation of this movement had entirely -cleared the western side, and on the eastern had -brought the French line up to the neighbourhood of -Steenstraate. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -Results. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -At this point the first phase of the second battle -of Ypres may be said to have come to an end, although -for the next few days there was desultory fighting -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P72"></a>72}</span> -here and there along the French and British fronts. -The net result of the five days' close combat had been -that the Germans had advanced some two miles -nearer to Ypres. They had also captured the four -large guns of the London battery, eight batteries of -French field-guns, a number of machine-guns, several -thousand French, and about a thousand British -prisoners. The losses of the Allies had been very -heavy, for the troops had fought with the utmost -devotion in the most difficult circumstances. Our -casualties up to the end of the month in this region -came to nearly 20,000 men, and at least 12,000 -French would have to be added to represent the total -Allied loss. The single unit which suffered most was -the British 10th Brigade (Hull), consisting of the -1st Warwicks, 2nd Seaforths, 1st Irish Fusiliers, 2nd -Dublin Fusiliers, and 7th Argyll and Sutherlands. -These battalions lost among them no fewer than -63 officers and 2300 men, a very high proportion of -their total numbers. Nearly as high were the losses -of the three Canadian brigades, the first losing -64 officers and 1862 men; the second 71 officers -and 1770 men; while the third lost 62 officers -and 1771 men. The Northumbrian Division was also -very hard hit, losing 102 officers and 2423 men, just -half of the casualties coming from the Northumberland -Infantry Brigade. The Lahore Division had about the -same losses as the Northern Territorials, while the -Twenty-seventh and Twenty-eighth Divisions each lost -about 2000. General Hasler, of the 11th Brigade, -General Riddell, of the Northumberlands, Colonel -Geddes, of the Buffs, Colonels Burchall, McHaig, and -Boyle, of the 4th, 7th, and 10th Canadians, Colonel -Martin, of the 1st King's Own Lancasters, Colonel -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P73"></a>73}</span> -Hicks, of the 1st Hants, with many senior regimental -officers, were among the dead. No British or Canadian -guns were lost save the four heavy pieces, which were -exposed through the exceptional circumstance of the -gas attack. The saving of all the Canadian guns was -an especially fine achievement, as two-thirds of the -horses were killed, and it was necessary to use the -same teams again and again to get away pieces which -were in close contact with the enemy. -</p> - -<p> -The airmen, too, did great work during this -engagement, bombarding Steenstraate, Langemarck, -Poelcapelle, and Paschendaale. In so short an -account of so huge an operation it is difficult to descend -to the individual, but no finer deed could be chronicled -in the whole war than that of Lieutenant -Rhodes-Moorhouse, who, having been mortally wounded in -the execution of his duty, none the less steered his -machine home, delivered her at the hangar, and made -his report before losing consciousness for ever. -</p> - -<p> -As to the German losses, they were very considerable. -The Twenty-sixth Corps returned a casualty -list of 10,572, and the Twenty-seventh of 6101. These -are great figures when one considers that it was -almost entirely to their rifles that the British had to -trust. There were many other units engaged, and -the total could not have been less than 25,000 killed, -wounded, or taken. -</p> - -<p> -In this hard-fought battle the British, if one -includes the whole area of contest, had seven divisions -engaged—the Fourth, Fifth, Twenty-seventh, Twenty-eighth, -Fiftieth, Canadian, and Lahore. Nearly half -of these were immobile, however, being fixed to the -long line of eastern trenches. Forty thousand men -would be a fair estimate of those available from first -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P74"></a>74}</span> -to last to stop the German advance. It would be -absurd to deny that the advantage rested with the -Germans, but still more absurd to talk of the honours -of war in such a connection. By a foul trick they -gained a trumpery advantage at the cost of an eternal -slur upon their military reputation. It was recognised -from this time onwards that there was absolutely -nothing at which these people would stick, and that -the idea of military and naval honour or the -immemorial customs of warfare had no meaning for -them whatever. The result was to infuse an -extraordinary bitterness into our soldiers, who had seen -their comrades borne past them in the agonies of -asphyxiation. The fighting became sterner and more -relentless, whilst the same feeling was reflected in -Great Britain, hardening the resolution with which -the people faced those numerous problems of -recruiting, food supply, and munitions which had to be -solved. Truly honesty is the better policy in war -as in peace, for no means could have been contrived -by the wit of man to bring out the full, slow, -ponderous strength of the British Empire so -effectively as the long series of German outrages, each -adding a fresh stimulus before the effect of the last -was outworn. Belgium, Louvain, Rheims, Zeppelin -raids, Scarborough, poison-gas, the <i>Lusitania</i>, Edith -Cavell, Captain Fryatt—these were the stages which -led us on to victory. Had Germany never violated -the Belgian frontier, and had she fought an honest, -manly fight from first to last, the prospect would have -been an appalling one for the Allies. There may -have been more criminal wars in history, and there -may have been more foolish policies, but the historian -may search the past in vain for any such combination -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P75"></a>75}</span> -of crime and folly as the methods of "frightfulness" -by which the Germans endeavoured to carry out the -schemes of aggression which they had planned so -long. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -Reorganization. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -The gain of ground by the Germans from north -to south in this engagement necessitated a drawing-in -of the line from east to west over a front of nearly -eight miles in order to avoid a dangerous projecting -salient at Zonnebeke. It was hard in cold blood to -give up ground which had been successfully held for -so many months, and which was soaked with the -blood of our bravest and best. On the other hand, -if it were not done now, while the Germans were still -stunned by the heavy losses which they had sustained -and wearied out by their exertions, it might be -exposed to an attack by fresh troops, and lead to an -indefensible strategic position. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -May 2. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -Upon Sunday, May 2, they made a fresh attack -on the north of Ypres along the front held by the -French to the immediate south of Pilken and along -the British left to the east of St. Julien, where the -newly-arrived 12th Brigade (Anley) and the remains -of the 10th and 11th were stationed. The 12th -Brigade, which came up on May 1, consisted at that -time of the 1st King's Own Lancasters, 2nd Lancashire -Fusiliers, 2nd Essex, 5th South Lancashires -(T.F.), 2nd Monmouths (T.F.), and 2nd Royal Irish. -The attack was in the first instance carried out by -means of a huge cloud of gas, which was ejected under -high pressure from the compressed cylinders in their -trenches, and rapidly traversed the narrow space -between the lines. As the troops fell back to avoid -asphyxiation they were thickly sprayed by shrapnel -from the German guns. The German infantry -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P76"></a>76}</span> -followed on the fringe of their poison cloud, but they -brought themselves into the zone of the British guns, -and suffered considerable losses. Many of the troops -in the trenches drew to one side to avoid the gas, or -even, in some cases, notably that of the 7th Argyll -and Sutherland Highlanders, waited for the gas to -come, and then charged swiftly through it to reach -the stormers upon the other side, falling upon them -with all the concentrated fury that such murderous -tactics could excite. The result was that neither on -the French nor on the British front did the enemy -gain any ground. Two battalions of the 12th Brigade—the -2nd Lancashire Fusiliers and the 2nd Essex—suffered -heavily, many of the men being poisoned. -The Lancashire Fusiliers lost 300 men from this -cause, among them the heroic machine-gunner, -Private Lynn, who stood without a respirator in the -thick of the fumes, and beat off a German attack -almost single-handed, at the cost of a death of torture -to himself. -</p> - -<p> -It was found that even when the acute poisoning -had been avoided, a great lassitude was produced -for some time by the inhalation of the gas. In the -case of Hull's 10th Brigade, which had been practically -living in the fumes for a fortnight, but had a specially -bad dose on May 2, it was found that out of 2500 -survivors, only 500 were really fit for duty. The -sufferings of the troops were increased by the use of -gas shells, which were of thin metal with -highly-compressed gas inside. All these fiendish devices -were speedily neutralised by means of respirators, -but a full supply had not yet come to hand, nor had -the most efficient type been discovered, so that many -of the Allies were still poisoned. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P77"></a>77}</span> -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -May 3. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -Upon May 3 the enemy renewed his attack upon -the 11th Brigade, now commanded by Brigadier-General -Prowse, and the 1st Rifle Brigade, which was -the right flank regiment, was badly mauled, their -trenches being almost cleared of defenders. The -1st Somersets also suffered heavily. Part of the -1st York and Lancasters and the 5th King's Own -Lancasters were rushed up to the rescue from the -supports of the Twenty-eighth Division. The gallant -Colonel of the latter battalion, Lord Richard -Cavendish, was wounded while waving on his men with his -cane and shouting, "Come along, King's Own." At -the same time the German infantry tried to push in -between the 11th Brigade on our left and the 85th -on the right, at the salient between the Fourth and -Twenty-eighth Divisions, the extreme north-east -corner of the British lines. The fight was a very -desperate one, being strongly supported by field-guns -at short ranges. Three more British battalions—the -2nd Buffs, 3rd Fusiliers, and 2nd East Yorks—were -thrown into the fight, and the advance was -stopped. That night the general retirement took -place, effected in many cases from positions within a -few yards of the enemy, and carried out without the -loss of a man or a gun. The retirement was upon the -right of the British line, and mainly affected the -Twenty-seventh, and to a less degree the Twenty-eighth, -Divisions. The Fourth Division upon the -left or north did not retire, but was the hinge upon -which the others swung. During the whole of these -and subsequent operations the Fourth Division was -splendidly supported by the French artillery, which -continually played upon the attacking Germans. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -Lost of Hill 60. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -Before closing this chapter, dealing with the gas -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P78"></a>78}</span> -attacks to the north of Ypres, and beginning the -next one, which details the furious German assault -upon the contracted lines of the Fifth Army Corps, -it would be well to interpolate some account of the new -development at Hill 60. This position was a typical -one for the German use of gas, just as the Dardanelles -lines would have been for the Allies, had they -condescended to such an atrocity upon a foe who did -not themselves use such a weapon. Where there is -room for flexibility of manoeuvre, and a temporary -loss of ground is immaterial, the gas is at a discount; -but where there is a fixed and limited position it is -without respirators practically impossible to hold it against -such an agency. Up to now the fighting at Hill 60 -had furnished on both sides a fine epic of manliness, -in which man breasted man in honest virile combat. -Alas, that such a brave story should have so cowardly -an ending! Upon the evening of May 1 the poisoners -got to work, and the familiar greenish gas came -stealing out from the German trenches, eddied and -swirled round the base of the hill, and finally -submerged the summit, where the brave men of the -Dorsets in the trenches were strangled by the chlorine -as they lay motionless and silent, examples of a -discipline as stern as that of the Roman sentry at -Herculaneum. So dense were the fumes that the -Germans could not take possession, and it was a -reinforcement of Devons and Bedfords of the 15th -Brigade who were the first to reach the trenches, -where they found the bodies of their murdered -comrades, either fixed already in death or writhing in -the agonies of choking. It is said that the instructions -of the relieving force were to carry up munitions -and to carry down the Dorsets. One officer and -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P79"></a>79}</span> -50 men had been killed at once, while 4 officers and -150 men were badly injured, many of them being -permanently incapacitated. The 59th Company of -Royal Engineers were also overwhelmed by the fumes, -three officers and many men being poisoned. -</p> - -<p> -The gas attack upon Hill 60 on May 1 may have -been a mere experiment upon the part of the Germans -to see how far they could submerge it, for it was not -followed up by an infantry advance. A more -sustained and more successful attack was made by the -same foul means upon May 5. Early in the morning -the familiar cloud appeared once more, and within -a few minutes the British position was covered by -it. Not only the hill itself, but a long trench to -the north of it was rendered untenable, and so -was another trench two thousand yards north of -Westhoek. -</p> - -<p> -The 2nd West Ridings were holding the front -trench at the time, and suffered horribly from the -poison. Mr. Valentine Williams, in his admirable -account of the episode, says: "There appeared staggering -towards the dug-out of the commanding officer of -the Duke's in the rear two figures, an officer and an -orderly. The officer was as pale as death, and when he -spoke his voice came hoarsely from his throat. Beside -him his orderly, with unbuttoned coat, his rifle clasped -in his hand, swayed as he stood. The officer said -slowly, in his gasping voice, 'They have gassed the -Duke's. I believe I was the last man to leave the hill. -The men are all up there dead. They were splendid. -I thought I ought to come and report.' That officer -was Captain Robins.... They took him and his -faithful orderly to hospital, but the gallant officer -died that night." His two subalterns, Lieut. Miller -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P80"></a>80}</span> -and another, both remained in the front trench until -they died. -</p> - -<p> -Such was the upshot of the fighting at Hill 60. What -with the shells and what with the mines, very little -of the original eminence was left. The British still -held the trenches upon the side while the Germans held -the summit, if such a name could be applied. The -British losses, nearly all from poison, had been -considerable in the affair, and amounted to the greater -part of a thousand men, the Dorsets, Devons, Bedfords, -and West Ridings being the regiments which suffered -most heavily. When the historian of the future sums -up the deeds of the war it is probable that he will find -nothing more remarkable than the patient endurance -with which the troops faced a death of torture from -the murderous gas in the days when no protection -had yet been afforded them. -</p> - -<p> -One incident of this period may be quoted as -showing the peculiar happenings of modern warfare. -The village of Poperinghe was at this time the chief -depot for stores and resting-place for wounded, being -ten miles to the rear of the line. Great surprise and -confusion were caused, therefore, by a sudden fall of -immense shells, which came out of space with no -indication whatever as to their origin. They caused -more fright than damage, but were excessively -unnerving. From their measured fall it was clear that -they all came from one single gun of gigantic power -behind the far distant German line. To the -admirable aeroplanes was given the task of solving the -mystery, and regardless of gun-fire or hostile craft -they quartered the whole country round until at last, -by a combination of luck and skill, they concluded -that a Belgian barn, five miles behind the enemy -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P81"></a>81}</span> -line and fifteen from Poperinghe, was the lair of the -monster. A large British gun came stealthily up -and lay concealed till dawn when it opened upon the -barn. The third or fourth shell went home, a magazine -exploded, the barn went up, and there was peace -henceforth in Poperinghe. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p><a id="chap04"></a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P82"></a>82}</span></p> - -<h3> -CHAPTER IV -<br /><br /> -THE SECOND BATTLE OF YPRES -</h3> - -<p class="t3"> -Stage II.—The Bellewaarde Lines -</p> - -<p class="intro"> -The second phase—Attack on the Fourth Division—Great stand of -the Princess Pats—Breaking of the line—Desperate attacks—The -cavalry save the situation—The ordeal of the 11th -Brigade—The German failure—Terrible strain on the British—The -last effort of May 24—Result of the battle—Sequence of -events. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -It was upon the evening of May 4 that the difficult -operations were finished by which the lines of the -British Army on the north-east of Ypres were brought -closer to the city. The trenches which faced north, -including those which looked towards Pilken and -St. Julien, were hardly affected at all by this -rearrangement. The section which was chiefly modified -was the long curved line which was held from Zonnebeke -southwards by the Twenty-seventh and Twenty-eighth -Divisions. Instead of averaging five miles -from Ypres, these troops were now not more than -three from that centre, and the curve of their line -was from Wieltje and Frezenberg to past the -Bellewaarde wood and lake, and so through Hooge and on -to Hill 60. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -The second phase. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -The second phase of this great battle, which -began with the poisoning of Langemarck, is dated -from the time that the British line was readjusted. -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P83"></a>83}</span> -The Germans were naturally much encouraged by so -general a withdrawal, and it seemed to them that, -with a further effort, they would be able to burst -their way through and take possession at last of this -town which faced them, still inviolate, after nearly -eight months of incessant attack. Their guns, aided -by their aeroplanes, after wasting a day in bombarding -the empty trenches, hastened to register upon -the new line of defences. -</p> - -<p> -During the 5th, 6th, and 7th the enemy were -perfecting their new arrangements, but no peace or -rest was given to that northern portion of the line -which was still in its old trenches. The bombardment -was turned on to this or that battalion in turn. -On the evening of the 5th it was the 5th South -Lancashires, on the right of the 12th Brigade, who -were torn to pieces by jets of steel from the terrible -hose. The battalion was relieved by the 2nd -Monmouths, who beat off an attack next morning. All -day upon the 7th the Germans were massing for an -attack, but were held back by the steady fire of the -French and British batteries. On the 8th, however, -the new preparations were complete, and a terrible -storm, destined to last for six unbroken days—days -never to be forgotten by those who endured them—broke -along the whole east, north-east, and north of -the British line. -</p> - -<p> -It has been shown in the last chapter that during -the long and bitter fight which had raged from the 22nd -to the 28th of April the two British divisions which -together formed the Fifth Army Corps had not only -been closely engaged in their own trenches, but had -lent battalions freely to the Canadians, so that they -had at one time only a single battalion in their own -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P84"></a>84}</span> -reserve. During the period of the readjustment of -the line nearly all these troops returned, but they -came back grievously weakened and wearied by the -desperate struggle in which they had been involved. -None the less, they got to work at once in forming -and strengthening the new dyke which was to keep -the German flood out of Ypres. Day and night they -toiled at their lines, helped by working parties from -the Fifth Division, the 50th Northumbrian Division, -and two field companies of sappers from the Fourth -Division. All was ready when the German attack -broke upon the line. The left of this attack was -borne by the Fourth Division, the centre, in the -Frezenberg sector, was held by the Twenty-eighth -Division, and the right by the Twenty-seventh -Division, who joined up with the Fifth Division in -the south. This was at first almost entirely an -artillery attack, and was of a most destructive -character. Such an attack probably represents the fixed -type of the future, where the guns will make an area -of country impossible for human life, and the function -of the infantry will simply be to move forward -afterwards and to occupy. Along the whole line of the -three divisions for hour after hour an inexhaustible -rain of huge projectiles fell with relentless precision -into the trenches, smashing them to pieces and -burying the occupants in the graves which they had -prepared for themselves. It was with joy that the -wearied troops saw the occasional head of an infantry -assault and blew it to pieces with their rifles. For -the greater part it was not a contest between men -and men, but rather one between men and metal, in -which our battalions were faced by a deserted and -motionless landscape, from which came the ceaseless -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P85"></a>85}</span> -downpour of shells and occasional drifting clouds of -chlorine. At one point, near Frezenberg, the trenches -had been sited some 70 yards down the forward slope -of a hill, with disastrous results, as the 3rd Monmouths -and part of the 2nd Royal Lancasters who held this -section were almost destroyed. When the 3rd -Monmouths were eventually recalled the Battalion -H.Q. and some orderlies and signallers were all who -appeared in answer to the summons. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -Attack on the Fourth Division. May 8. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -About seven o'clock the German infantry attack -developed against that part of the line—the northern -or left wing—which was held by the Fourth Division. -The advance was pushed with great resolution and -driven back with heavy losses, after getting within a -hundred yards of the trenches. "Company after -company came swinging forward steadily in one long, -never-ending line," says an observer of the 11th -Brigade, describing the attack as it appeared from -the front of the 1st East Lancashires and of the 5th -London Rifle Brigade. "Here and there their attack -slackened, but the check was only temporary. On -they came again, and the sight was one that almost -mesmerised us. They were near enough for us to -hear the short, sharp cries of the officers, and the -rain of bullets became more deadly than ever. It -was simple murder." The barbed wire in front of -the defences was choked and heaped with dead and -wounded men. This desperate German attack had -more success farther to the south. -</p> - -<p> -At this part of the line the Germans had pushed -through a gap and had seized the village of Wieltje, -thus getting behind the right rear of the 12th Brigade. -It was essential to regain the village, for it was a -vital point in the line. The 1st Royal Irish, which -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P86"></a>86}</span> -had been attached to this brigade, together with two -companies of the 5th South Lancashire, were ordered -to advance, while two reserve battalions of the 1st -Irish Fusiliers and the 7th Argyll and Sutherlands, -all under General Anley, supported the attack. It -is no light matter with an inferior artillery to attack -a village held by German troops, but the assault was -brilliantly successful and the village was regained, -while the dangerous gap was closed in the British -line. That night there was some desperate fighting -round Wieltje, which occasionally got down to -bayonet work. The 1st Hants and 1st East Lancashire -from the 11th Brigade had come up and helped -in the fierce defence, which ended where it began, -with the British line still intact. -</p> - -<p> -So much for the fighting on May 8 in front of the -Fourth Division. Farther down the line to the south -the situation was more serious. A terrific bombardment -had demolished the trenches of the Fifth Corps, -and a very heavy infantry advance had followed, -which broke the line in several places. -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P87"></a>87}</span> -</p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-087"></a> -<br /> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-087.jpg" alt="SECOND BATTLE OF YPRES ORDER OF BATTLE FROM MAY 7th." /> -<br /> -SECOND BATTLE OF YPRES ORDER OF BATTLE FROM MAY 7th. -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -The weight of this attack fell upon the Twenty-eighth -Division in front of Frezenberg, and very -particularly upon the 83rd Brigade, which formed -the unit on the right flank. The German rush was -stemmed for a time by the staunch North of England -battalions which made up this brigade—the 1st -Yorkshire Light Infantry on the extreme right, and -their neighbours of the 5th Royal Lancasters, the -2nd Royal Lancasters, and the 2nd East Yorkshires. -Great drifts of gas came over, and the gasping soldiers, -with their hands to their throats and the tears running -down their cheeks, were at the same time cut to -pieces by every kind of shell beating upon them in an -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P89"></a>89}</span> -endless stream. Yet they made head against this -accumulation of horrors. The East Yorkshires were -particularly badly cut up, and the Monmouths, who -were in support, endured a terrible and glorious -baptism of fire while advancing in splendid fashion -to their support. But the losses from the shell-fire -had been very heavy, and the line was too weak to -hold. Of 2500 men in the Frezenberg trenches only -600 men were left standing. The brigade had to fall -back. The left flank of the 80th Brigade of the -Twenty-seventh Division upon the right was -consequently exposed and in the air. A glance at the -accompanying diagram will show the situation created -by the retirement of any unit. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -Great stand of the Princess Pats. May 8. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -The flank trench was held by the Princess Patricia -Canadians, and their grand defence of it showed once -more the splendid stuff which the Dominion had -sent us. Major Gault and all the other senior officers -were killed or wounded, and the command devolved -upon Lieutenant Niven, who rose greatly to the -occasion. Besides the heavy shelling and the gas, -the trenches were raked by machine-guns in -neighbouring buildings. So accurate was the German -artillery that the machine-guns of the Canadians were -buried again and again, but were dug up and spat out -their defiance once more. Corporal Dover worked -one of these guns till both his leg and his arm had -been shot away. When the trenches were absolutely -obliterated the Canadians manned the communication -trench and continued the desperate resistance. -The 4th Rifle Brigade sent up a reinforcement and -the fight went on. Later a party of the 2nd -Shropshires pushed their way also into the fire-swept -trenches, bringing with them a welcome supply of -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P90"></a>90}</span> -cartridges. It was at this hour that the 83rd Brigade -upon the right of the Twenty-eighth Division had to -fall back, increasing the difficulty of holding the -position. The enemy charged once more and got -possession of the trench at a point where all the -defenders had been killed. There was a rush, -however, by the survivors in the other sections, and the -Germans were driven out again. From then until -late at night the shell-fire continued, but there was -no further infantry advance. Late that night, when -relieved by the Rifles, the Canadian regiment, which -had numbered nearly 700 in the morning, could only -muster 150 men. Having read the service over their -comrades, many of whom had already been buried by -the German shells, they were led back by Lieutenants -Niven, Clark, Vandenburg, and Papineau after a -day of great stress and loss, but of permanent glory. -"No regiment could have fought with greater -determination or endurance," said an experienced British -general. "Many would have failed where they -succeeded." -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -Breaking of the line. May 8. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -It has already been described how the 83rd Brigade -had been driven back by the extreme weight of the -German advance. Their fellow brigade upon the left, -the 84th (Bowes), had a similar experience. They -also held their line under heavy losses, and were -finally, shortly after mid-day, compelled to retire. -The flank regiment on the right, the 1st Suffolk, were -cut off and destroyed even as their second battalion -had been at Le Cateau. -</p> - -<p> -At this time the 1st Suffolk was so reduced -by the losses sustained when it had formed part of -Wallace's detachment, as described in the last chapter, -that there were fewer than 300 men with the Colours. -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P91"></a>91}</span> -When the Germans broke through the left flank of -the 83rd Brigade they got partly to the rear of the -Suffolk trenches. The survivors of the Suffolks were -crowded down the trench and mixed up with the -2nd Cheshires, who were their immediate neighbours. -The parapets were wrecked, the trenches full of debris, -the air polluted with gas, and the Germans pushing -forward on the flank, holding before them the -prisoners that they had just taken from the 83rd -Brigade. It is little wonder that in these circumstances -this most gallant battalion was overwhelmed. -Colonel Wallace and 130 men were taken. The 2nd -Northumberland Fusiliers and the 1st Monmouths -sustained also very heavy losses, as did the 12th -London Rangers. The shattered remains of the -brigade were compelled to fall back in conformity -with the 83rd upon the right, sustaining fresh losses -as they were swept with artillery fire on emerging -from the trenches. This was about 11.30 in the -morning. The 1st Monmouths upon the left of the -line seem, however, to have kept up their resistance -till a considerably later hour, and to have behaved -with extraordinary gallantry. Outflanked and -attacked in the rear after the Germans had taken the -trenches on the right, they still, under their gallant -Colonel Robinson, persevered in what was really a -hopeless resistance. The Germans trained a machine-gun -upon them from a house which overlooked their -trench, but nothing could shift the gallant miners -who formed the greater part of the regiment. Colonel -Robinson was shot dead while passing his men -down the trench one by one in the hope of forming -a new front. Half the officers and men were -already on the ground. The German stormers were -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P92"></a>92}</span> -on the top of them with cries of "Surrender! -Surrender!" "Surrender be damned!" shouted -Captain Edwards, and died still firing his revolver -into the grey of them. It was a fine feat of arms, -but only 120 men out of 750 reassembled that -night. -</p> - -<p> -After this severe blow battalions held back in -reserve were formed up for a counter-attack, which -was launched about half-past three. The attack -advanced from the point where the Fourth and -Twenty-eighth Divisions adjoined, and two battalions -of the Fourth Division—the 1st Warwicks and the -2nd Dublin Fusiliers—together with the 2nd East -Surreys, 1st York and Lancasters, and 3rd Middlesex, -of the 85th Brigade, took part in it, pushing forwards -towards the hamlet of Frezenberg, which they -succeeded in occupying. On their left the 12th London -Regiment (the Rangers) won their way back to the -line which their brigade, the 84th, had held in the -morning, but they lost very heavily in their gallant -attack. Two other reserve battalions, the 1st East -Lancashires, of the 11th Brigade, and the 7th Argyll -and Sutherland Highlanders, of the 10th, fought -their way up as already mentioned on the extreme -left in the neighbourhood of Wieltje, and spliced the -line at the weak point of the junction of divisions. -All these attacks were made against incessant drifts -of poison-gas, as well as heavy rifle and shell fire. -It was a day of desperate and incessant fighting, -where all General Plumer's skill and resolution were -needed to restore and to hold his line. The Germans -claimed to have taken 500 prisoners, mostly of the -84th Brigade. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -Desperate attacks. May 9. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -The net result of the fighting upon May 8 was -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P93"></a>93}</span> -that the area held in the north-east of Ypres was -further diminished. Early upon the 9th the Germans, -encouraged by their partial success, continued their -attack, still relying upon their massive artillery, -which far exceeded anything which the British could -put against it. The attack on this morning came down -the Menin road, and the trenches on either side of it -were heavily bombarded. At ten o'clock there was an -infantry advance upon the line of the 81st Brigade -(Croker), which was driven back by the 2nd Cameron -Highlanders and the 2nd Gloucesters. The shell-fire -was continued upon the same line until 4 P.M., when -the trench was obliterated, and a second advance of -the German infantry got possession of it. A -counter-attack of the Gloucesters was held up with -considerable loss, the advance of the regiment through -the wood being greatly impeded by the number -of trees cut down by shells and forming abattis -in every direction, like the windfalls of a -Canadian forest. This trench was the only capture -made by the Germans during the day, and it did -not materially weaken the position. The Gloucesters -lost Colonel Tulloh, five other officers, and 150 -men. -</p> - -<p> -These attacks along the line of the Menin road -and to the north of Lake Bellewaarde were all directed -upon the Twenty-seventh Division, but the Twenty-eighth -Division immediately to the north, which had -been defending the sector which runs through Frezenberg -and Wieltje, had also been most violently shelled, -but had held its line, as had the Fourth Division to -the north. All these divisions had considerable losses. -The general result was a further slight contraction of -the British line. It could not be broken, and it could -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P94"></a>94}</span> -not be driven in upon Ypres, but the desperate and -(apart from the gas outrages) valorous onslaughts of -the Germans, aided by their overpowering artillery, -gained continually an angle here and a corner there, -with the result that the British position was being -gradually whittled away. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -May 10. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -On the 10th the Germans again attacked upon the -line of the Menin road, blasting a passage with their -artillery, but meeting with a most determined resistance. -The weight of their advance fell chiefly upon -the 80th Brigade to the north of the road, the 4th -Rifle Brigade and the 4th Rifles bearing the brunt of -it and suffering very severely, though the 2nd -Camerons and 9th Royal Scots, of the 81st Brigade, -were also hard hit. So savage had been the bombardment, -and so thick the gas, that the German infantry -thought that they could safely advance, but the -battalions named, together with the 3rd Battalion of -Rifles, drove them back with heavy loss. It was -always a moment of joy for the British infantry when -for a brief space they were faced by men rather than -machines. The pitiless bombardment continued; -the garrison of the trenches was mostly killed or -buried, and the survivors fell back on to the support -trenches west of the wood. This defence of the -Riflemen was as desperate a business as that of the -Canadians upon the 8th. Several of the platoons -remained in the shattered trenches until the Germans -had almost surrounded them, and finally shot and -stabbed a path for themselves till they could rejoin -their comrades. It was on this day that the 9th -Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders suffered heavy -losses, including their splendid Colonel, James -Clark. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P95"></a>95}</span> -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -May 11. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -On May 11 the attack was still very vigorous. -The Twenty-seventh Division was strongly pressed -in the morning. The 80th Brigade was to the north -and somewhat to the west of the 81st, which caused -the latter to form a salient. With their usual quickness -in taking advantage of such things, the Germans -instantly directed their fire upon this point. After -several hours of heavy shelling, an infantry attack -about 11 A.M. got into the trenches, but was driven -out again by the rush of the 9th Royal Scots. The -bombardment was then renewed, and the attack was -more successful at 4 P.M.—an almost exact repetition -of the events upon the day before, save that the stress -fell upon the 81st instead of the 80th Brigade. During -the night the Leinsters of the 82nd Brigade drove -the Germans out again, but found that the trench -was untenable on account of the shell-fire. It -was abandoned, therefore, and the line was drawn -back into the better cover afforded by a wood. -Afterwards the trench was partly reoccupied by a -company of the 2nd Gloucestershires under Captain -Fane. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -The cavalry save the situation. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -By this date many of the defending troops had -been fighting with hardly a break from April 22. It -was an ordeal which had lasted by day and by night, -and had only been interrupted by the labour of -completing the new lines. The losses had been -very heavy, and reinforcements were most urgently -needed. Some idea of the stress may be gathered -from the fact that at the time the six battalions -of the 83rd Brigade had been formed into one -composite battalion under Colonel Worsley Gough. At -the same time it was impossible to take any troops -from the northern sector, which was already hardly -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P96"></a>96}</span> -strong enough to hold a violent German attack. In -the south the Army had, as will be shown, become -involved in the very serious and expensive operations -which began at Richebourg on May 9. In these -difficult circumstances it was to the never-failing -cavalry that General Plumer had to turn. It is sinful -extravagance to expend these highly trained -horsemen, who cannot be afterwards improvised, on work -that is not their own, but there have been many times -in this war when it was absolutely necessary that the -last man, be he who he might, should be put forward. -So it was now, and the First and Third Cavalry -Divisions, under General de Lisle, were put into the -firing line to the north of Lake Bellewaarde, taking -the place of the Twenty-eighth Division, which at that -time had hardly a senior regimental officer left -standing. The First Cavalry Division took the line from -Wieltje to Verlorenhoek, while the Third carried it on -to Hooge, where it touched the Twenty-seventh -Division. Their presence in the front firing line was -a sign of British weakness, but, on the other hand, it -was certain that the Germans had lost enormously, -that they were becoming exhausted, and that they -were likely to wear out the rifling of their cannon -before they broke the line of the defence. A few -more days would save the situation, and it was -hoped that the inclusion of the cavalry would win -them. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -May 12. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -They took over the lines just in time to meet the -brunt of what may have been the most severe attack -of all. The shelling upon May 12 can only be -described as terrific. The Germans appeared to have an -inexhaustible supply of munitions, and from morning -to night they blew to pieces the trenches in front -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P97"></a>97}</span> -and the shelters behind which might screen the -supports. -</p> - -<p> -It was a day of tempestuous weather, and the -howling wind, the driving rain, and the pitiless fire -made a Dantesque nightmare of the combat. The -attack on the right fell upon the Third Cavalry -Division. This force had been reorganised since the -days in October when it had done so splendidly with -the Seventh Infantry Division in the fighting before -Ypres. It consisted now of the 6th Brigade (1st -Royals, 3rd Dragoon Guards, North Somerset -Yeomanry), the 7th Brigade (1st and 2nd Life Guards -and Leicestershire Yeomanry), and the 8th Brigade -(Blues, 10th Hussars, and Essex Yeomanry). This -Division was exposed all morning to a perfectly hellish -fire, which was especially murderous to the north of -the Ypres-Roulers road. At this point the 1st Royals, -3rd Dragoon Guards, and Somerset Yeomanry were -stationed, and were blown, with their trenches, into -the air by a bombardment which continued for -fourteen hours. A single sentence may be extracted -from the report of the Commander-in-Chief, which the -Somersets should have printed in gold round the -walls of their headquarters. "The North Somerset -Yeomanry on the right of the brigade," says the -General, "although also suffering severely, hung on -to their trenches throughout the day and actually -advanced and attacked the enemy with the bayonet." The -Royals came up in support, and the brigade held -its own. On one occasion the enemy actually got -round the left of the 3rd Dragoon Guards, who were -the flank regiment, upon which Captain Neville, who -was killed later upon the same day, gave the order, -"Even numbers deal with the enemy in the rear, odd -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P98"></a>98}</span> -numbers carry on!" which was calmly obeyed with -complete success. On the right the flank of the -Twenty-seventh Division had been exposed, but the -2nd Irish Fusiliers were echeloned back so as to -cover it. So with desperate devices a sagging line -was still drawn between Ypres and the ever-pressing -invaders. The strain was heavy, not only upon the -cavalry, but upon the Twenty-seventh Division to the -south of them. There was a time when the pressure -upon the 4th Rifle Brigade, a battalion which had -endured enormous losses, was so great that help was -urgently needed. The Princess Patricia's had been -taken out of the line, as only 100 men remained -effective, and the 4th Rifles were in hardly a better -position, but the two maimed battalions were formed -into one composite body, which pushed up with a -good heart into the fighting line and took the place -of the 3rd Rifles, who in turn relieved the exhausted -Rifle Brigade. -</p> - -<p> -On the left of the cavalry line, where the First -Cavalry Division joined on to the Fourth Infantry -Division, near Wieltje, the artillery storm had burst -also with appalling violence. The 18th Hussars lost -150 men out of their already scanty ranks. The -Essex Regiment on their left helped them to fill the -gap until the 4th Dragoon Guards came up in support. -This fine regiment and their comrades of the 9th -Lancers were heavily punished, but bore it with grim -stoicism. To their right Briggs' 1st Brigade held -splendidly, though all of them, and especially the -Bays, were terribly knocked about. In the afternoon -the 5th Dragoon Guards were momentarily driven in -by the blasts of shell, but the 11th Hussars held the -line firm. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P99"></a>99}</span> -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -The ordeal of the 11th Brigade. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -The situation as the day wore on became somewhat -more reassuring. The British line had been badly -dented in the middle, where the cavalry had been -driven back or annihilated, but it held firm at each -end. South of the Menin road the Twenty-seventh -Division, much exhausted, were still holding on, -officers and men praying in their weary souls that the -enemy might be more weary still. These buttressed -the right of the line, while three miles to the north the -Fourth Division, equally worn and ragged, was holding -the left. The 10th Brigade had sustained such -losses in the gas battle that it was held, as far as -possible, in reserve, but the 11th and 12th were hard -pressed during the long, bitter day, in which -they were choked by gas, lashed with artillery fire, -and attacked time after time by columns of infantry. -The 11th Brigade in that dark hour showed to a -supreme degree the historic qualities of British -infantry, their courage hardening as the times grew -worse. The 1st East Lancashires had their trenches -destroyed, lost Major Rutter and many of their officers, -but still, under their gallant Colonel Lawrence, held -on to their shattered lines. Every point gained by -the stubborn Germans was wrenched from them again -by men more stubborn still. They carried a farmhouse -near Wieltje, but were turned out again by the -indomitable East Lancashires after desperate fighting -at close quarters. It is said to have been the fourth -time that this battalion mended a broken line. Severe -attacks were made upon the trenches of the 1st -Hampshires and the 5th London Rifle Brigade, but -in each case the defenders held their line, the latter -Territorial battalion being left with fewer than 200 -men. It was in this action that Sergeant Belcher, of -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P100"></a>100}</span> -the London Rifle Brigade, with eight of his Territorials -and two Hussars, held a vital position against the full -force of a German infantry attack, losing half their -little band, but saving the whole line from being -enfiladed. -</p> - -<p> -The 12th Brigade had been drawn back into -reserve, but it was not a day for rest, and the 2nd -Essex was hurried forward to the relief of the extreme -left of the cavalry, where their line abutted upon the -Fourth Division. The battalion made a very fine -counter-attack under a hail of shells, recovering some -trenches and clearing the Germans out of a farmhouse, -which they subsequently held against all -assailants. This attack was ordered on the instant -by Colonel Jones, of the Essex, and was carried out -so swiftly that the enemy had no time to consolidate -his new position. -</p> - -<p> -Whilst each buttress held firm, a gallant attempt -was made in the afternoon to straighten out the line -in the centre where the Third Cavalry Division had -been pushed back. The 8th Brigade of Cavalry, -under Bulkeley-Johnson, pushed forward on foot and -won their way to the original line of trenches, chasing -the Germans out of them and making many prisoners, -but they found it impossible to hold them without -supports under the heavy shell-fire. They fell back, -therefore, and formed an irregular line behind the -trenches, partly in broken ground and partly in the -craters of explosions. This they held for the rest of -the day. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -The German failure. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -Thus ended a truly desperate conflict. The -Germans had failed in this, which proved to be their -final and supreme effort to break the line. On the -other hand, the advance to the north of the Bellewaarde -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P101"></a>101}</span> -Lake necessitated a further spreading and -weakening of the other forces, so that it may truly be -said that the prospects never looked worse than at -the very moment when the Germans had spent their -strength and could do no more. From May 13 the -righting died down, and for some time the harassed -and exhausted defenders were allowed to re-form and -to recuperate. The 80th Brigade, which had suffered -very heavily, was drawn out upon the 17th, the -Second Cavalry Division, under Kavanagh, taking its -place. Next day the 81st Brigade, and on May 22 -the 82nd, were also drawn back to the west of Ypres, -their place being taken by fresh troops. The various -units of the Twenty-eighth Division were also rested -for a time. For the gunners and sappers there was -no rest, however, but incessant labour against -overmastering force. -</p> - -<p> -The second phase of this new Battle of Ypres may -be said to have lasted from May 4 to May 13. It -consisted of a violent German attack, pushed chiefly -by poison and by artillery, against the Twenty-seventh -and Twenty-eighth Divisions of the Fifth British Corps -and the Fourth Division to the north of them. Its -aim was, as ever, the capture of Ypres. In this aim -it failed, nor did it from first to last occupy any village -or post which gave it any return for its exertions. It -inflicted upon the British a loss of from 12,000 to -15,000 men, but endured itself at the very least an -equal slaughter without any compensating advantage. -The whole operation can only be described, therefore, -as being a costly failure. Throughout these operations -the British infantry were provided with respirators -soaked in alkalis, while many wore specially-constructed -helmets to save them from being poisoned. -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P102"></a>102}</span> -To such grotesque expedients had Germany brought -the warfare of the twentieth century. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -Terrible strain on the British. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -There is no doubt that the three British regular -divisions and the cavalry were worn to a shadow at -the end of these operations. Since the enemy ceased -to attack, it is to be presumed that they were in no -better case. The British infantry had been fighting -almost day and night for three weeks, under the most -desperate conditions. Their superiority to the -infantry of the Germans was incontestable, but there -was no comparison at all between the number of heavy -guns available, which were at least six to one in favour -of the enemy. Shells were poured down with a -profusion, and also with an accuracy, never before seen -in warfare, and though the British infantry continually -regained trenches which had been occupied by -the German infantry, it was only to be shelled out of -them again by a fire against which they could make -no adequate answer. An aerial observer has described -that plain simply flaming and smoking from end to -end with the incessant heat of the shells, and has -expressed his wonder that human life should have -been possible under such a fire. And yet the road to -Ypres was ever barred. -</p> - -<p> -All the infantry losses, heavy as they were, are -eclipsed by those of the Third Cavalry Division, which -bore the full blast of the final whirlwind, and was -practically destroyed in holding it back from Ypres. -This splendid division, to whom, from first to last, the -country owes as much as to any body of troops in the -field, was only engaged in the fighting for one clear -day, and yet lost nearly as heavily in proportion as -either of the infantry divisions which had been in the -firing line for a week. Their casualties were 91 officers -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P103"></a>103}</span> -and 1050 men. This will give some idea of the -concentrated force of the storm which broke upon them -on May 12. It was a most murderous affair, and they -were only driven from their trenches when the trenches -themselves had been blasted to pieces. It is doubtful -whether any regiments have endured more in so short -a time. These three brigades were formed of <i>corps -d'élites</i>, and they showed that day that the blue blood -of the land was not yet losing its iron. The casualty -lists in this and the succeeding action of the 24th read -like a society function. Colonel Ferguson, of the -Blues, Colonel the Hon. Evans-Freke, Lord Chesham, -Captain the Hon. J. Grenfell, Lord Leveson-Gower, Sir -Robert Button, Lord Compton, Major the Hon. C. B. Mitford, -the Hon. C. E. A. Phillips, Viscount Wendover—so -runs the sombre and yet glorious list. The -sternest of Radicals may well admit that the aristocrats -of Britain have counted their lives cheap when -the enemy was at the gate. Colonel Smith-Bingham, -of the 3rd Dragoon Guards, Colonel Steele, of the 1st -Royals, Colonel Freke, of the Leicestershire Yeomanry, -and many other senior officers were among the dead -or wounded. The Leicester Yeomanry suffered very -severely, but their comrades of Essex and of Somerset, -the Blues and the 1st Royals, were also hard hit. -The losses of the First Cavalry Division were not so -desperately heavy as those of the Third, but were -none the less very serious, amounting to 54 officers -and 650 men. -</p> - -<p> -It is possible that the German attack desisted -because the infantry were exhausted, but more -probable that the great head of shells accumulated had -been brought down to a minimum level, and that the -gas cylinders were empty. For ten days, while the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P104"></a>104}</span> -British strengthened their battered line, there was a -lull in the fighting. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -The last effort of May 24. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -There was no change, however, in the German -plan of campaign, and the fight which broke out -again upon May 24 may be taken as the continuation -of the battle which had died down upon the 13th. -Fresh reservoirs of poison had been accumulated, and -early in the morning in the first light of dawn the -infernal stuff was drifting down wind in a solid bank -some three miles in length and forty feet in depth, -bleaching the grass, blighting the trees, and leaving a -broad scar of destruction behind it. A roaring torrent -of shells came pouring into the trenches at the instant -that the men, hastily aroused from sleep, were -desperately fumbling in the darkness to find their -respirators and shield their lungs from the strangling -poison. The front of this attack was from a farm -called "Shell-trap," between the Poelcapelle and -Langemarck roads on the north, to Bellewaarde Lake -on the south. The surprise of the poison in that -weird hour was very effective, and it was immediately -followed by a terrific and accurate bombardment, -which brought showers of asphyxiating shells into the -trenches. The main force of the chlorine seems to -have struck the extreme right of the Fourth Division -and the whole front of the Twenty-eighth Division. -but the Twenty-seventh and the cavalry were also -involved in a lesser degree. -</p> - -<p> -Anley's 12th Brigade was on the left of the British -line, with Hull's 10th Brigade upon its right, the -11th being in reserve. On the 12th and 10th fell the -full impact of the attack. The 12th, though badly -mauled, stood like a rock and blew back the Germans -as they tried to follow up the gas. "They doubled -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P105"></a>105}</span> -out of their trenches to follow it up half an hour after -the emission," wrote an officer of the Essex. "They -were simply shot back into them by a blaze of fire. -They bolted back like rabbits." All day the left and -centre of the 12th Brigade held firm. The Royal -Irish upon the right were less fortunate. The pressure -both of the gas and the shells fell very severely upon -them, and the few survivors were at last driven from -their trenches, some hundreds of yards being lost, -including the Shell-trap Farm. The Dublin Fusiliers, -in the exposed flank of the 10th Brigade, were also -very hard hit. Of these two gallant Irish regiments -only a handful remained, and the Colonels of each, -Moriarty and Loveband, fell with their men. Several -of the regiments of the 10th Brigade suffered severely, -and the 7th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders were -left with only 2 officers and 76 men standing. -These two officers, by some freak of fate, were -brothers named Scott, the sole hale survivors -of thirty-six who had been attached to the -battalion. -</p> - -<p> -This misfortune upon the right left the rest of the -12th Brigade in a most perilous position, attacked -on the front, the flank, and the right rear. No soldiers -could be subjected to a more desperate test. The -flank battalion was the 1st Royal Lancasters (Colonel -Jackson), who lived up to the very highest traditions -of the British Army. Sick and giddy with the gas, -and fired into from three sides, they still stuck -doggedly to their trenches. The Essex battalion -stood manfully beside them, and these two fine -battalions, together with the East Lancashires and -Rifle Brigade, held their places all day and even made -occasional aggressive efforts to counter-attack. At -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P106"></a>106}</span> -eight in the evening they were ordered to form a new -line with the 10th Brigade, five hundred yards in the -rear. They came back in perfect order, carrying -their wounded with them. Up to this moment the -Fourth Division had held exactly the same line which -they had occupied from May 1. -</p> - -<p> -To return to the events of the morning. The -next unit from the north was the 85th Brigade -(Chapman), which formed the left flank of the -Twenty-eighth Division. Upon it also the gas descended -with devastating effect. There was just enough -breeze to drift it along and not enough to disperse it. -The 2nd East Surrey, the flank battalion, held on -heroically, poison-proof and heedless of the shells. -Next to them, just south of the railway, the 3rd -Royal Fusiliers were so heavily gassed that the great -majority of the men were absolutely incapacitated. -The few who could use a rifle resisted with desperate -valour while two companies of the Buffs were sent -up to help them, and another company of the same -regiment was despatched to Hooge village, where the -9th Lancers and 18th Hussars of the 2nd Cavalry -Brigade were very hard pressed. On the left of the -cavalry, between Hooge and Bellewaarde, was the -Durham Territorial Brigade, which was pushed -forward and had its share of the gas and of the attack -generally, though less hard pressed than the divisions -of regular troops upon their left. In a war of large -numbers and of many brave deeds it is difficult -and perhaps invidious to particularise, but a few -sentences may be devoted to one isolated combat -which showed the qualities of the disciplined British -soldier. Two platoons of the 7th Durhams, under -two 19-year-old lieutenants, Arthur Rhodes and -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P107"></a>107}</span> -Pickersgill, were by chance overlooked when the -front line was withdrawn 200 yards. They were -well aware that a mistake had been made, but with -a heroic if perhaps Quixotic regard for duty they -remained waist-deep in water in their lonely trench -waiting for their certain fate, without periscopes or -machine guns, and under fire from their own guns as -well as those of the enemy. Both wings were of -course in the air. In the early morning they beat -back three German attacks but were eventually -nearly all killed or taken. Rhodes was shot again -and again but his ultimate fate is unknown. Pickersgill -was wounded, and the survivors of his platoon -got him to the rear. The loss of such men is to be -deplored, but the tradition of two platoons in cold -blood facing an army is worth many such losses. -</p> - -<p> -The Durham Territorial Artillery did excellent -work in supporting the cavalry, though they were -handicapped by their weapons, which were the -ancient fifteen-pounders of the South African type. -These various movements were all in the early -morning under the stress of the first attack. The -pressure continued to be very severe on the line -of the Royal Fusiliers and Buffs, who were covering -the ground between the railway line on the -north and Bellewaarde Lake on the south, so the -remaining company of the Buffs was thrown into -the fight. At the same time, the 3rd Middlesex, with -part of the 6th and 8th Durham Light Infantry, -advanced to the north of the railway line. The -German pressure still increased, however, and at -mid-day the Buffs and Fusiliers, having lost nearly -all their officers and a large proportion of their ranks, -fell back into the wood to the south of the railway. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P108"></a>108}</span> -</p> - -<p> -A determined attempt was at once made to -recapture the line of trenches from which they had -been forced. The 84th Brigade (Bowes), hitherto -in reserve, was ordered to move along the south of the -line, while the whole artillery of the Fifth Corps -supported the advance. Meanwhile, the 80th Brigade -(Fortescue) was pushed forward on the right of the -84th, with orders to advance upon Hooge and restore -the situation there. It was evening before all -arrangements were completed. About seven o'clock the -84th advanced with the 2nd Cheshires upon the left -and the 2nd Northumberland Fusiliers upon the -right, supported by the 1st Welsh, the Monmouths, -and the feeble remains of the 1st Suffolks. Darkness -had fallen before the lines came into contact, and a -long and obstinate fight followed, which swayed back -and forwards under the light of flares and the sudden -red glare of bursting shells. So murderous was the -engagement that the 84th Brigade came out of it -without a senior officer left standing out of six -battalions, and with a loss of 75 per cent of the -numbers with which it began. The machine-gun -fire of the Germans was extremely intense, and was -responsible for most of the heavy losses. At one -time men of the Welsh, the Suffolks, and the Northumberland -Fusiliers were actually in the German trenches, -but at dawn they were compelled to retire. Late in -the evening the 3rd and 4th Brigades of Cavalry were -pushed into the trenches on the extreme right of the -British position, near Hooge, to relieve the 1st and -2nd Brigades, who had sustained heavy losses for -the second time within ten days. -</p> - -<p> -The general result of the attack of May 24 was -that this, the most profuse emission of poison, had -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P109"></a>109}</span> -no more solid effect than the other recent ones, since -the troops had learned how to meet it. The result -seems to have convinced the Germans that this -filthy ally which they had called in was not destined to -serve them as well as they had hoped, for from this day -onwards there was no further attempt to use it upon -a large scale in this quarter. In this action, which -may be known in history as the Battle of Bellewaarde, -since it centred round the lake of that name, the -British endured a loss of some thousands of men -killed, wounded, or poisoned, but their line, though -forced back at several points, was as firm as ever. -</p> - -<p> -In all the fighting which forms the second half of -this great battle one is so absorbed by the desperate -efforts of regimental officers and men to hold on to -their trenches that one is inclined to do less than -justice to the leaders who bore the strain day after -day of that uphill fight. Plumer, of the Second Army; -Ferguson, of the Fifth Army Corps; Wilson, Snow, -and Bulfin, of the Fourth, Twenty-seventh, and -Twenty-eighth Divisions, De Lisle of the Cavalry—these -were the men who held the line in those weeks -of deadly danger. -</p> - -<p> -On May 25 the line was consolidated and -straightened out, joining the French at the same -point as before, passing through Wieltje, and so past -the west end of Lake Bellewaarde to Hooge. At -this latter village there broke out between May 31 -and June 3 what may be regarded as an aftermath -of the battle which has just been described. The -château at this place, now a shattered ruin, was the -same building in which General Lomax was wounded -and General Monro struck senseless in that desperate -fight on October 31. Such was the equilibrium of -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P110"></a>110}</span> -the two great forces that here in May the fight was -still raging. Château and village were attacked -very strongly by the German artillery, and later by -the German infantry, between May 30 and June 3, -but no impression was made. The post was held by -the survivors of the 3rd Dragoon Guards, and the -action, though a local one, was as fine an exhibition -of tenacious courage as has been seen in the war. -The building was destroyed, so to a large extent was -the regiment, but the post remained with the British. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -Result of the battle. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -This narrative is a brief outline of the series of events -which make up the second phase of that battle which, -beginning in the north of the Allied lines upon April -22, was continued upon the north-eastern salient, -and ended, as shown, at Hooge at the end of May. -In this fighting at least 100,000 men of the three -nations were killed or wounded. The advantage -with which the Germans began was to some extent -neutralised before the end, for our gallant Allies had -never rested during this time, and had been gradually -re-establishing their position, clearing the west of -the canal, recapturing Steenstraate and Het Sas, -and only stopping short of Pilken. On the other -hand, the British had been compelled to draw in for -two miles, and Ypres had become more vulnerable to -the guns of the enemy. If any advantage could be -claimed the balance lay certainly with the Germans, -but as part of a campaign of attrition nothing could -be devised which would be more helpful to the Allies. -The whole of these operations may be included under -the general title of the second Battle of Ypres, but -they can be divided into two clearly separated episodes, -the first lasting from April 22 to the end of the -month, which may be called the Battle of Langemarck, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P111"></a>111}</span> -and the second from May 4th to the 24th, with -a long interval in the centre, which may, as already -stated, be known as the Battle of Bellewaarde. In -this hard-fought war it would be difficult to say that -any action was more hard-fought than this, and it will -survive for centuries to come if only in the glorious -traditions of the Canadian Division, who first showed -that a brave heart may rise superior to bursting lungs. -These were the greatest of all, but they had worthy -comrades in the Indians, who at the end of an -exhausting march hurled themselves into so diabolical -a battle; the Northern Territorial Division, so lately -civilians to a man, and now fighting like veterans; -the 13th Brigade, staggering from their exertions at -Hill 60, and yet called on for this new effort; the -glorious cavalry, who saved the situation at the last -moment; and the much-enduring Fourth, Twenty-seventh, -and Twenty-eighth Divisions of the line, -who bore the bufferings of the ever-rising German -tide. Their dead lie at peace on Ypres plain, but -shame on Britain if ever she forgets what she owes -to those who lived, for they and their comrades of -1914 have made that name a symbol of glory for ever. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -Sequence of events. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -It may help the reader's comprehension of the sequence -sequence of events, and of the desperate nature of -this second Battle of Ypres, if a short <i>résumé</i> be here -given of the happenings upon the various dates. A -single day of this contest would have appeared to -be a considerable ordeal to any troops. It is difficult -to realise the cumulative effect when such blows fell -day after day and week after week upon the same -body of men. The more one considers this action -the more remarkable do the facts appear. -</p> - -<p> -<i>April</i> 22.—Furious attack upon the French and -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P112"></a>112}</span> -Canadians. Germans gain several miles of ground, -eight batteries of French guns, and four heavy -British guns by the use of poison-gas. The Canadians -stand firm. -</p> - -<p> -<i>April</i> 23.—Canadians hold the line. Furious -fighting. French begin to re-form. Reserves from -the Twenty-seventh and Twenty-eighth British Divisions, -13th Brigade, and cavalry buttress up the line. -</p> - -<p> -<i>April</i> 24.—Desperate fighting. Line pushed -farther back, and Germans took about a thousand -prisoners. Line never broken. -</p> - -<p> -<i>April</i> 25.—Battle at its height. 50th Northern -Territorial Division come into the fight. 10th Regular -Brigade come up. Canadians drawn out. The -French advancing. -</p> - -<p> -<i>April</i> 26.—11th Regular Brigade thrown into the -fight. Also the Lahore Division of Indians. Trenches -of Twenty-eighth Division attacked. -</p> - -<p> -<i>April</i> 27.—The French made some advance on the -left. There was equilibrium on the rest of the line. -Hard fighting everywhere. -</p> - -<p> -<i>April</i> 28.—The enemy still held, and his attack -exhausted for the moment. French made some -progress. -</p> - -<p> -<i>May</i> 1.—British 12th Brigade came into line. -</p> - -<p> -<i>May</i> 2.—Renewed German assault on French and -British, chiefly by gas. Advance held back with -difficulty by the Fourth Division. -</p> - -<p> -<i>May</i> 3 and 4.—Contraction of the British position, -effected without fighting, but involving the abandonment -of two miles of ground at the north-eastern -salient. -</p> - -<p> -<i>May</i> 5.—German attack upon Fourth Division. -</p> - -<p> -<i>May</i> 6.—Attack still continued. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P113"></a>113}</span> -</p> - -<p> -<i>May</i> 7.—Artillery preparation for general German -attack. -</p> - -<p> -<i>May</i> 8.—Furious attack upon Fourth, Twenty-eighth, -and Twenty-seventh British Divisions. -Desperate fighting and heavy losses. The British -repulsed the attack on their left wing (Fourth -Division), but sustained heavy loss on centre and -right. -</p> - -<p> -<i>May</i> 9.—Very severe battle continued. British -left held its ground, but right and centre tended to -contract. -</p> - -<p> -<i>May</i> 10.—Fighting of a desperate character, -falling especially upon the Twenty-seventh Division. -</p> - -<p> -<i>May</i> 11.—Again very severe fighting fell upon the -Twenty-seventh Division on the right of the British -line. Losses were heavy, and there was a slight -contraction. -</p> - -<p> -<i>May</i> 12.—Readjustment of British line. Two -divisions of cavalry put in place of Twenty-eighth -Division. Furious artillery attack, followed by -infantry advance. Cavalry and Twenty-seventh -Division terribly punished. Very heavy losses, but -the line held. Fourth Division fiercely engaged and -held its line. -</p> - -<p> -<i>May</i> 13.—The Germans exhausted. The attack -ceased. Ten days of mutual recuperation. -</p> - -<p> -<i>May</i> 24.—Great gas attack. Fourth Division on -left had full force of it, lost heavily, but could not -be shifted. In the evening had to retire five hundred -yards for the first time since the fighting began. -General result of a long day of furious fighting was -some contraction of the British line along its whole -length, but no gap for the passage of the enemy. -This may be looked upon as a last despairing effort -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P114"></a>114}</span> -of the Germans, as no serious attempt was afterwards -made that year to force the road to Ypres. -</p> - -<p> -Such, in a condensed form, was the record of the -second Battle of Ypres, which for obstinacy in attack -and inflexibility in defence can only be compared -with the first battle in the same section six months -before. Taking these two great battles together, -their result may be summed up in the words that the -Germans, with an enormous preponderance of men in -the first and of guns in the second, had expended -several hundred thousand of their men with absolutely -no military advantage whatever. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p><a id="chap05"></a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P115"></a>115}</span></p> - -<h3> -CHAPTER V -<br /><br /> -THE BATTLE OF RICHEBOURG—FESTUBERT -</h3> - -<p class="t3"> -(May 9-24) -</p> - -<p class="intro"> -The New Attack—Ordeal of the 25th Brigade—Attack of the 1st -Division—Fateful days—A difficult situation—Attack of the -2nd Division—Attack of the 7th Division—British -success—Good work of Canadians—Advance of the 47th London -Division—Lull before the storm. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -Whilst this desperate fighting was going on in the -north a very extensive and costly operation had been -begun in the south, a great attack being made by the -First Army, with the main purpose of engaging the -German troops and preventing them from sending -help to their comrades, who were hard pressed by -the French near Arras. In this the movement was -entirely successful, but the direct gain of ground -was not commensurate with the great exertions -and losses of the Army. For some days the results -were entirely barren, but the patient determination -of Sir John French and of Sir Douglas Haig -had their final reward, and by May 25, when the -movement had been brought to a close, there had been -a general advance of 600 yards over a front of four -miles, with a capture of 10 machine guns and some -800 prisoners. These meagre trophies of victory may, -however, hardly be said to compensate us for the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P116"></a>116}</span> -severe and unavoidable losses which must always in -the case of the attack be heavier than those of the -defence. -</p> - -<p> -This important attack was made upon May 9, over -a front of about ten miles from the Laventie district -in the north to that of Richebourg in the south. In -the case of the northern attack it was carried out by -Rawlinson's Fourth Corps, and was directed upon the -sector of the German lines to the north-west of -Fromelles at the point which is named Rouges Bancs. -The southern attack was allotted to the Indian Corps -(Willcocks) and the First Corps acting together. -These two efforts represented the real foci of activity, -but a general action was carried on from one end of -the line to the other in order to confuse the issue, and -hold the enemy in his trenches. -</p> - -<p> -Both in the north and in the south the special -attack was opened by a sudden and severe bombardment, -which lasted for about forty minutes. This -had been the prelude to the victory of Neuve Chapelle, -but in the case of Neuve Chapelle the British attack -had been a complete surprise, whereas in this action -of May 9 there is ample evidence that the Germans -were well informed as to the impending movement, -and were prepared for it. Their trenches were -very deep, and more vulnerable to high explosives, -in which we were deficient, than to shrapnel. None -the less, the bombardment was severe and accurate, -though, as it proved, insufficient to break down the -exceedingly effective system of defence, based upon -barbed wire, machine guns, and the mutual support -of trenches. -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P117"></a>117}</span> -</p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-117"></a> -<br /> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-117.jpg" alt="Southern Portion of Richebourg-Festubert Operations." /> -<br /> -Southern Portion of Richebourg-Festubert Operations. -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -The attack in the north was confided to Lowry-Cole's -25th Brigade, supported by the remainder of -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P119"></a>119}</span> -the Eighth Division. This brigade consisted of the -1st Irish Rifles, 2nd Berkshires, 2nd Rifle Brigade, -2nd Lincoln, and two Territorial battalions—the -1st London and the 13th London (Kensington). -The latter regiment was given a special task, which -was to seize and hold a considerable mine-crater -upon the left of the line. The rest of the brigade -were ordered at 5.30 to charge the German trenches, -which was done with the greatest dash and gallantry. -Through a terrific fire of rifles and machine-guns -the wave of men rolled forward, and poured -into the trench, the 1st Irish Rifles and the 2nd -Rifle Brigade leading the assault. It was found, -however, that further progress could not be made. -As the men sprang over the parapets they were -mowed down in an instant. Long swathes of our -dead marked the sweep of the murderous machine-guns. -The Brigadier himself with his Brigade-major -at his heels, sprang forward to lead the troops, but -both were shot down in an instant, Lowry-Cole being -killed and Major Dill badly wounded. It was simply -impossible to get forward. No bravery, no -perseverance, no human quality whatever could avail -against the relentless sleet of lead. The 1st Londons -coming up in support deployed and advanced over -400 yards of open with the steadiness of veterans, -but lost nearly half their numbers. The Kensingtons -in their crater had a similar experience, and could -only hold on and endure a most pitiless pelting. For -a long day, until the forenoon of the 10th, the ground -which had been won was held. Then at last the -bitter moment came when the enfeebled survivors, -weakened by thirty-six hours of fighting, and fiercely -attacked on all sides, were compelled to fall back -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P120"></a>120}</span> -upon their original lines. The retirement was -conducted with a steadiness which verged upon bravado. -"These God-like fools!" was the striking phrase of -a generous German who observed the thin ranks -sauntering back under a crushing fire, with occasional -halts to gather up their wounded. The casualty -figures show how terrific was the ordeal to which -the men had been exposed. The Irish Rifles lost -the very heavy numbers of 9 officers killed, 13 -wounded, and 465 men out of action. The total of -the 2nd Rifle Brigade was even more terrible, working -out as 21 officers and 526 men dead or wounded. -The figures of the 2nd Berkshires and of the 2nd -Lincolns were heavy, but less disastrous than those -already quoted. The former lost 20 officers and 263 -men, the latter 8 officers and 258 men. The 24th -Brigade (Oxley) which had supported the 25th, and -had also reached the first trenches, endured losses -which were almost as disastrous. The 2nd East -Lancashires lost 19 officers and 435 men; the 1st -Sherwood Foresters, 17 officers and 342 men; the -2nd Northamptons, 12 officers and 414 men; the 5th -Black Watch, 8 officers and 140 men. The losses -of the 23rd Brigade, which remained in support, were -by no means light, for the Scottish Rifles lost 12 -officers and 156 men; while the 2nd Devons lost 7 -officers and 234 men. Altogether the Eighth Division -lost 4500 men, a single brigade (the 25th), accounting -for 2232 of these casualties. Deplorable as they are, -these figures must at least show that officers and men -had done all that could be attempted to achieve the -victory. When it is remembered that these were the -same battalions which had lost so terribly at Neuve -Chapelle just two months before, one can but marvel -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P121"></a>121}</span> -at the iron nerve which enabled them once again to -endure so searching a test. -</p> - -<p> -It has been stated that the Kensingtons were given -a separate mission of their own in the capture and -defence of a mine-crater upon the left of the British -line. They actually carried not only the crater, but -a considerable section of the hostile trenches, -penetrating at one time as deep as the third line; but -reinforcements could not reach them, their flanks were -bare, and they were at last forced to retire. "It was -bitter and damnable!" cries one of them out of his -full heart. It was with the greatest difficulty that -the remains of the gallant band were able to make -their way back again to the British line of trenches. -Nine officers were killed, 4 wounded, and 420 men -were hit out of about 700 who went into action. -</p> - -<p> -Such was the attack and bloody repulse which -began the Battle of Richebourg. At the same hour -the Indians and the First Corps had advanced upon -the German lines to the north of Givenchy with the -same undaunted courage, the same heavy losses, and -the same barren result. The events of May 9 will -always stand in military history as among the most -honourable, but also the most arduous, of the many -hard experiences of the British soldiers in France. -</p> - -<p> -In the case of the Indians, the attack was checked -early, and could make no headway against the -terribly arduous conditions. Their advance was upon -the right of that already described of the Fourth Corps. -Farther still to the right or to the south in the region -of Richebourg L'Avoué was the front of the First -Division, which was fated to be even more heavily -punished than the Eighth had been in the north. In -this case also there was a prelude of forty minutes' -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P122"></a>122}</span> -concentrated fire—a period which, as the result -showed, was entirely inadequate to neutralise the -many obstacles with which the stormers were faced. -During the night, the sappers had bridged the ditches -between the front trenches and the supports, and had -also crept out and thrown bridges over the ditches -between the two lines. The 2nd Brigade (Thesiger), -consisting of the 1st Northamptons, 2nd and 5th -Sussex, 2nd Rifles, 1st North Lancashires, and 9th -Liverpools, attacked upon the right—indeed, they -formed at that moment the extreme right of the whole -British Army, save for the Forty-seventh London -Division to the south. The weather was bright and -clear, but the effect of the bombardment was to -raise such a cloud of dust that two men from -each platoon in the front line were able to carry -forward a light bridge with which they gained a line -about eighty yards from the enemy's parapet. The -instant that the guns ceased, the infantry dashed -forward, but were met by a withering fire. The 1st -Northamptons and 2nd Sussex were in the lead, and -the ground between the armies was littered with their -bodies. In a second wave came the 2nd Rifles and -the 5th Sussex, but human valour could do nothing -against the pelting sleet of lead. The wire had been -very imperfectly cut, and it was impossible to get -through. The survivors fell back into the front -trenches, while their comrades lay in lines and heaps -upon the bullet-swept plain. The 5th Sussex Territorials -had their baptism of fire, the first and last for -many, and carried themselves like men. A line of -German machine-guns was posted in a very close -position almost at right angles to the advance, and it -was these which inflicted the heaviest losses. Hardly -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P123"></a>123}</span> -a single man got as far as the German parapet. At -6.20 the assault was a definite failure. -</p> - -<p> -On the left, the 3rd Brigade had kept pace with -the 2nd, and had shared its trials and its losses. The -van of the charging brigade was formed by the 2nd -Munsters and the 2nd Welsh. The 1st Gloucesters, -1st South Wales Borderers, and 4th Welsh Fusiliers -were in close support. Their attack was on the German -line at the Rue des Bois, 300 yards away. They -reached the trenches, though Colonel Richard of the -Munsters and very many of his men were killed. -This was the third Munster Colonel—Charrier, Bent, -Richard—to be killed or disabled in the war. The -men surged over the parapet, Captain Campbell-Dick -standing on the crest of it, and whooping them on -with his cap as if they were a pack of hounds. He -fell dead even as they passed him. The trenches were -taken, but could not be held, as there were no supports -and the assault had failed on either side. Under -cover of a renewed artillery fire the survivors came -slowly and sullenly back. Once more, and for the third -time, the 2nd Munsters were reduced to 200 rank and -file. Three officers emerged unhurt from the action. -</p> - -<p> -A second attack was ordered for mid-day, the -regiments being shifted round so as to bring the -supports into the front line. It was soon found, -however, that the losses had already been so heavy -that it was impossible, especially in the 2nd Brigade, -to muster sufficient force for a successful advance. -The 1st Guards Brigade (Lowther) was therefore -brought to the front, and after a renewed bombardment -at 4 o'clock the two leading battalions—the 1st -Black Watch and the 1st Cameron Highlanders—rushed -to the assault over the bodies of their fallen -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P124"></a>124}</span> -comrades. It is on record that as the Highlanders -dashed forward, a number of the wounded who had -been lying in the open since morning, staggered to -their feet and joined in the charge. It was a desperate -effort, and the khaki wave rolled up to the trenches, -and even lapped over them in places; but the losses -were too heavy, and the advance had lost all weight -before it reached the German line. At one point a -handful of Black Watch got over the line, but it was -impossible to reinforce them, and they were compelled -to fall back. The 3rd Brigade on their flank -had pushed forward the 1st Gloucesters and 1st -South Wales Borderers. They found the enemy -"standing 3 and 4 deep in their breastworks and -fighting like demons." The British threw -themselves down, and their guns showered shrapnel on -the crowded German trenches. The enemy losses -were great but the machine-guns were intact and no -advance was possible. At 6 o'clock the survivors of -both Brigades were back in their trenches once more. -Late the same night the 5th Brigade of the Second -Division was brought up to take over the line, and -the remains of the First Division were withdrawn to -the rear. -</p> - -<p> -The losses of the 2nd Brigade were 70 officers and -1793 men, which might have been cited as possibly -the highest number incurred in the same length of -time up to that time, had it not been for the terrible -figures of the 25th Brigade upon the same fatal day. -The other two brigades of the Division were hard -hit, the total losses of the Division amounting to -nearly 5000 men. If the loss of the Indian Corps -be included, the number of casualties in this assault -cannot have been less than from 12,000 to 13,000 -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P125"></a>125}</span> -men; while the losses to the enemy inflicted by the -artillery could not possibly have approximated to this -figure, nor had any advantage been obtained. -</p> - -<p> -There are few single periods of the War so crowded -with incident as from May 7 to 9, 1915. In the north -the second Battle of Ypres was at its height. In the -south the Battle of Richebourg had begun. But a third -incident occurred upon the earlier date which struck -the civilised world with a horror which no combat, -however murderous, could inspire. It was the day -when nearly 1200 civilians, with a considerable -proportion of women and little children, were murdered -by being torpedoed and drowned in the unarmed liner -the <i>Lusitania</i>. Such incidents do not come within the -direct scope of this narrative, and yet this particular -one had an undoubted military bearing upon the War, -since it hardened our resolve, stimulated our recruiting, -and nerved our soldiers in a very marked degree, -while finally removing any possibility of peace based -upon compromise. No such crime against civilians -has been committed in deliberate warfare since the -days of Tamerlane or Timour the Tartar; yet it is -dreadful to have to add that it was hailed as a triumph -from one end of Germany to the other, that medals -were struck to commemorate it, and that no protest -appeared in the German Press. To such depths of -demoralisation had this once Christian and civilised -nation been reduced! Touch Germany where one -would, on land or air, on the sea or under it, one came -always upon murder. -</p> - -<p> -It is impossible not to admire the tenacity of Sir -John French under the very difficult circumstances -in which he was now placed. His troops at Ypres -were still fighting with their backs to the wall. Their -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P126"></a>126}</span> -position on May 10 was precarious. The only -reinforcements they could hope for in case of disaster -were from the south. And yet the south had itself -received a severe rebuff. Was it best to abandon the -attack there, and reassume the defensive, so as to -have the men available in case there should come an -urgent call from the north? A weaker general would -have said so, and accepted his check at Festubert. -Sir John, however, was not so easily to be deflected -from his plans. He steadied himself by a day -or two of rest, during which he not only prepared -fresh forces for striking, but got the measure of the -enemy's power at Ypres. Then it was determined -that the action should proceed, but that it should be -directed to the more southerly area of the British -position, where it would be in closer touch with the -French, and receive some support from their admirable -artillery. -</p> - -<p> -The centre of the British movement was still at -Richebourg l'Avoué, but the direction of the advance -was to the south and west. It had already been -shown that the passage of open spaces under machine-gun -fire was difficult and deadly by daylight, so it was -determined that night should be used for the advance. -Several successive nights were unfavourable, but the -days were spent in a deliberate artillery preparation -until the action was recommenced upon May 15. In -the interval, the Second Division had taken the place -of the First in the Givenchy sector, and the Seventh -Division of the Fourth Corps had been brought round -from the Laventie district, and was now upon the right -of their comrades of the First Corps. The Canadian -Division was brought up in support, while the Indian -Corps still preserved its position upon the left. The -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P127"></a>127}</span> -general line of attack was from Richebourg by the -Rue des Bois, and so south in front of Festubert. -</p> - -<p> -The advance was made by the Indians upon the -left, and the Second Division upon the right at 11.30 -on the night of May 15. The Indians were held up, -and maintained from that time onwards a defensive -position. When it is remembered that the Meerut -Division had suffered heavily at Neuve Chapelle, that -the Lahore Division had been very hard hit at Ypres, -and that there was only a limited facility for replacing -the losses of the native regiments, it is not to be -wondered at that the Corps had weakened. The -Second Division, however, would take no denial. -The attack was in the hands of the 5th and 6th -Brigades, with the 4th Guards Brigade in support. -It was to sweep over the ground, which had been the -scene of the repulse of the 9th, but it was to be -screened by darkness. Soon after ten o'clock the -men passed silently over the front trench, and lay -down in four lines in the open waiting for the signal. -At 11.30 the word was passed, and they advanced at -a walk. The front line of the 5th Brigade was -composed of the 2nd Worcesters upon the left, and the -Inniskilling Fusiliers (taken from the 12th Brigade) -upon the right. The leading battalions of the 6th -Brigade were the 1st Rifles, the 1st King's Liverpools, -1st Berkshires, and upon the extreme right two -companies (A and B) of the 7th King's Liverpools. Flares -were suddenly discharged from the German trenches, -and a ghostly flickering radiance illuminated the long -lines of crouching men. There were numerous ditches -in front, but the sappers had stolen forward and -spanned them with rude bridges. The German fire -was terrific, but the uncertain quivering light made it -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P128"></a>128}</span> -less deadly than it had been during the daytime, -though very many fell. It was insufficient to -stop the determined rush of the British infantry. -The rifles could not hold them back, and sweeping -jets from machine-guns could not kill them fast -enough: nothing but Death could hold that furious -line. In three minutes they had swarmed across the -open, and poured into the trenches, killing or taking -all the Germans who were in the front line. The 2nd -Worcesters on the left were held up by unbroken -barbed wire, and were unable to get forward; but -all the other battalions reached the trench, and cleared -it for a considerable distance on either flank, the -bombers rushing along it and hurling their deadly -weapons in front of them. The remainder rushed -down the communication trench, and seized the -second line of defences some hundreds of yards behind -the first. On the morning of Sunday, May 16, the -Second Division had gained and firmly held about -half a mile in breadth and a quarter of a mile in depth -of the German trenches. There was still an open plain -in the rear between the advanced troops and their -supports, which as the light grew clearer was so swept -by German fire that it was nearly impossible to get -across it. About 8.30 in the morning, the remainder -of the 7th King's Liverpools with some of their -comrades of the 5th King's Liverpools endeavoured to -join the others in front, but were shot to pieces in -the venture. During the whole of the morning, -however, single volunteers kept running forward carrying -fresh supplies of bombs and bandoliers of cartridges -for the men in front. The names of most of these -brave men are to be found in the casualty lists, and -their memory in the hearts of their comrades. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P129"></a>129}</span> -</p> - -<p> -Four hours after this successful attack by the -Second Division, at 3.30 on the morning of Sunday -May 16, another assault was made some miles to the -south, just to the north of Festubert. The attack -was made by the 20th Brigade (Heyworth) upon the -left and the 22nd (Lawford) upon the right. The -2nd Borders and 2nd Scots Guards led the rush of -the 20th, supported later by the 1st Grenadiers and -2nd Gordons; while the 1st Welsh Fusiliers and -2nd Queen's Surrey were in the van of the 22nd -with the 2nd Warwicks, 8th Royal Scots, and 1st -South Staffords behind them. The famous Seventh -Division has never yet found its master in this -campaign, and the Seventh Prussian Corps in the south -could make no more of it than the Fifteenth had done -in the north. -</p> - -<p> -In the case of the 20th Brigade the Borders upon -the left were held up for a time, but the Scots Guards -advanced with a fury which took them far beyond -the immediate objective, and was carried to such an -extent that one company outdistanced all their -comrades, and being isolated in the German position, -were nearly all cut off. The rest of the Guards, -however, having crossed the trench line, swung across, -so that they were in the rear of the Germans who were -holding up the Borders, so that the defenders were -compelled to surrender. The 1st Grenadiers came -up in support and the ground was made good. -Meanwhile the 22nd Brigade upon the right had some -desperate fighting. The 2nd Queen's Surrey had -been temporarily stopped by heavy machine-gun -fire, but two companies of the Welsh Fusiliers -rushed the trenches opposite them and were quickly -joined by the rest of the battalion. The Queen's -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P130"></a>130}</span> -Surrey refused to be rebuffed, and with the support -of the 1st Staffords they again came forward, -and dashing through a sleet of bullets got to the -German line. Colonel Gabbett of the Fusiliers and -Major Bottomley of the Queen's, one of the heroes of -Gheluvelt, both met their death in this fine attack. -On reaching the trenches the South Staffords sent -their bombers under Lieutenant Hassell down the -alleys of the Germans, gathering in many prisoners. -A surprising feat was performed by Sergeant-Major -Barter of the Welsh Fusiliers, while engaged in similar -work, for he and seven men brought back 94 Germans, -including 3 officers. The leading companies of the -South Staffords under Major Lord and Captain -Bearman got well forward into the enemy's ground, -and held on there for three days under a terrible -shell-fall, until they handed the position over to the -21st Brigade. Meanwhile, upon the left a mixed lot -of men from the Welsh Fusiliers, Scots Guards, and -Warwicks, all under Captain Stockwell, struggled -along, actually swimming one ditch which was too -deep to wade, and got into the Orchard which had been -assigned as their objective. These men were -afterwards withdrawn to the German front line trenches -in order to escape from the very severe bombardment -on the Orchard. Great difficulty was experienced -in bringing in the wounded, owing to the space covered -and to the incessant and extreme shelling. It is on -record that the men of the field ambulance, under -Lieutenant Greenlees of the Royal Medical Corps, -were at work for thirty-six hours with three hours' -break, always in the open and always under fire. -These are the men who have all the dangers of -war without its thrills, working and dying for the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P131"></a>131}</span> -need of their comrades and the honour of their -corps. -</p> - -<p> -In this fine day's work, in which the Seventh -Division lived up to its own reputation, Colonel Wood -of the Borders and Colonel Brook of the 8th Royal -Scots were killed, making four losses in one day -among commanding officers of battalions. -</p> - -<p> -On the night of May 16 the Germans made a -counter-attack, which pushed back the extreme apex -of the ground gained by the Seventh Division. All -other points were held. The British had now cut -two holes in the German front over a distance of -about three miles; but between the two holes into -which the heads of the Second and Seventh Divisions -had buried themselves, there lay one portion of a -thousand yards inviolate, strongly defended by -intricate works and machine-guns. Desperate -endeavours had been made upon the 16th to get round -the north of this position by the Second Division, -but the fire was too murderous, and all were repulsed. -At half-past nine in the morning of the 17th the -attempt was renewed from both sides with a strong -artillery support. On the north the Highland Light -Infantry and the 2nd Oxford and Bucks made a -strong attack, while on the south the 21st Brigade -pushed to the front. The 4th Camerons, a Gaelic-speaking -battalion of shepherds and gillies, kept fair -pace with the veteran regular battalions of the Brigade, -but lost their gallant Colonel, Fraser. The fiery valour -of the Camerons is shown by the fact that afterwards -bodies of the fallen were found far ahead of any -point reached that day by the main advance. Gradually -the valiant defenders were driven from post to -post, and crushed under the cross fire. About -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P132"></a>132}</span> -mid-day the position was in the hands of the British, -300 survivors having been captured. After this -consolidation of their front, the two attacking -divisions drove on together to the eastward, winning -ground all the day, but meeting everywhere the -same stark resistance. Farmhouse after farmhouse -was carried. At one point a considerable body of -Germans rushed out from an untenable position; -but on their putting up their hands and advancing -towards the British, they were mowed down to the -number of some hundreds by the rifles and cannon -of their comrades in the rear. South of Festubert -the thick spray of bombers and bayonet men thrown -out by the Seventh Division into the German trenches -were also making ground all day, and the enemy's -loss in this quarter was exceedingly heavy. The 57th -Prussian Regiment of Infantry, among others, is said -to have lost more than two-thirds of their numbers -during these operations. -</p> - -<p> -By the evening of Monday, May 17, the hostile -front had been crushed in for a space of over two -miles, and the British Army had regained the -ascendancy which had been momentarily checked upon -May 9. If a larger tale of prisoners was not -forthcoming as a proof of victory, the explanation lay -in the desperate nature of the encounter. The -sinking of the <i>Lusitania</i>, and the murders by poison-gas, -were in the thoughts and on the lips of the -assaulting infantry, and many a German made a -vicarious atonement. At the same time the little -mobs of men who rushed forward with white flags -in one hand, and in many cases their purses -outstretched in the other, were given quarter and led -to the rear, safe from all violence save from their -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P133"></a>133}</span> -own artillery. There were many fierce threats of no -quarter before the engagement, but with victory the -traditional kindliness of the British soldier asserted -itself once more. -</p> - -<p> -On the evening of the 17th the men in the front -line were relieved, Lord Cavan's 4th Guards Brigade -taking over the advanced trenches in which the 1st -King's Liverpools and other battalions of the 5th and -6th Brigades were lying. The Guards had to advance -a considerable distance under very heavy fire to -reach their objective, and there is a touch of other -days in the fact that the Bishop of Khartoum stood -by the trenches and blessed them as they passed. -They lost many men from the terrible artillery fire, -but in spite of this they at once advanced in a most -gallant attack which won several hundred yards of -ground. The Irish and 2nd Grenadiers were the -attacking battalions with the Herts territorials in -close support. The Irish Guards were especially -forward and held the ground gained, but lost 17 officers -and several hundred men. All day of the 18th the -Guards held the advanced front line until relieved at -midnight of that date by the advance of another -Division. -</p> - -<p> -The 18th saw the general advance renewed, but -it was hampered by the fact that the heavy weather -made it difficult to obtain the artillery support which -is so needful where buildings have to be carried. The -Indians upon the left sustained a heavy attack upon -this day, the losses falling chiefly upon the Sirhind -Brigade, and especially on the 1st Highland Light -Infantry and the 15th Sikhs. It was in this action -that Lieutenant Smyth and Private Lal Singh of the -latter regiment saved the fight at a critical moment -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P134"></a>134}</span> -by bringing up a fresh supply of bombs. Ten men -started on the venture, and only the two won home. -The 19th was wet and misty. It was upon this -date that the two hard-working and victorious -Divisions, the Second and the Seventh, were relieved -respectively by the Fifty-first Highland Territorial -Division and by the Canadians, the guns of the two -regular Divisions being retained. The operations -which had hitherto been under Monro of the First -Corps, were now confided to Alderson of the Canadians. -At this time, the general level of the advance was -the road which extends from La Quinque to Bethune. -The change of troops did not entail any alteration -in strategy, and the slow advance went forward. -Upon the night of May 20-21 the Canadians continued -the work of the Seventh Division, and added several -fresh German trenches to the area already secured. -From Richebourg to the south and east there was now -a considerable erosion in the German position. The -first objective of the Canadians was an orchard in -the Quinque Rue position, which was assaulted by -the 14th Montreal Regiment (Meighen) and the 16th -Canadian Scottish (Leckie), after a gallant -reconnaissance by Major Leckie of the latter regiment. -The Canadians were thrust in between the 3rd -Coldstream Guards of the Second Division upon their -left, and the 2nd Wiltshires of the Seventh Division -upon their right. The orchard was cleared in most -gallant fashion, and a trench upon the flank of it was -taken, but the Canadian loss was considerable in -the battalions named and in the 13th Royal Canadian -Highlanders in support. Another Canadian battalion, -the 10th, had attacked the German line a mile to the -south of the orchard, and had been repulsed. A -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P135"></a>135}</span> -heavy bombardment was organised, and the attempt -was renewed upon the following day, two companies -of the 10th, preceded by a company of grenade-throwers, -carrying 400 yards of the trench at a very -severe cost. It was partly recaptured by the Germans -upon May 22, while part remained in the hands of -the Canadians. Several counter-attacks were made -upon the Canadians during this day, but all withered -away before the deadly fire of the Western infantry. -</p> - -<p> -On May 24 the Canadians were attacking once -more at the position where the 10th Battalion had -obtained a partial success upon the 22nd. It was a -strongly fortified post, which had been named "Bexhill" -by the British. The assault was carried out at -daybreak by two companies of the 5th Battalion -under Major Edgar, with a company of the 7th -British Columbians in support. Before six o'clock -the position had been carried, and was held all day -in face of a concentrated shell-fire from the German -guns. It was a terrible ordeal, for the Brigade lost -50 officers and nearly 1000 men, but never their -grip of the German trench. On the same night, -however, another Canadian attack delivered by the -3rd Battalion (Rennie) with great fire, was eventually -repulsed by the machine-guns. -</p> - -<p> -This long-drawn straggling action, which had -commenced with such fury upon May 9, was now -burning itself out. Prolonged operations of this -kind can only be carried on by fresh relays of troops. -The Forty-seventh London Territorial Division was -brought up into the front line, and found itself -involved at once in some fierce fighting at the -extreme right of the British line near Givenchy. The -Forty-seventh Division (formerly the Second London -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P136"></a>136}</span> -Division) was in reality the only London division, -since the battalions which composed the first, the -Artists, Victorias, Rangers, Westminsters, etc., had -already been absorbed by regular brigades. The -division commanded by General Barter consisted of -the 140th (Cuthbert), 141st (Thwaites), and 142nd -(Willoughby) Brigades. On the evening of May 25 the -latter Brigade, which occupied the front-line trench, -was ordered to make an attack upon the German -line opposite, whilst the 18th Battalion of the 141st -Brigade made a strong feint to draw their fire. The -first-line battalions were the 23rd and 24th (Queen's), -of which the 23rd upon the left had some 300 yards -of open to cross, while the 24th upon the right had -not more than 150. Both battalions reached their -objective in safety, and within three minutes had -established telephonic communications with their -supports of the 21st and 22nd Battalions. The -capture of the trenches had not been difficult, but -their retention was exceedingly so, as there was a -ridge from which the German machine-guns -commanded the whole line of trench. Each man had -brought a sandbag with him, and these were rapidly -filled, while officers and men worked desperately in -building up a defensive traverse—a labour in which -Sergeant Oxman greatly distinguished himself. Three -German counter-attacks got up within ten yards of -the 24th, but all were beaten back. The German -bombers, however, were deadly, and many officers -and men were among their victims. The 21st -Battalion had followed up the 23rd, and by 10.30 -they were able to work along the line of the German -trench and make good the position. All day upon -May 26 they were exposed to a very heavy and -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P137"></a>137}</span> -accurate German fire, but that afternoon about -4 P.M. they were relieved by the 20th London -from Thwaites' 141st Brigade. The line was -consolidated and held, in spite of a sharp attack on -the afternoon of May 28, which was beaten off by -the 20th Battalion. -</p> - -<p> -Whilst the London Division had been thrust into -the right of the British line, the Canadian infantry -had been relieved by bringing forward into the -trenches the dismounted troopers of King Edward's -and Strathcona's Horse, belonging to Seely's Mounted -Canadian Brigade, who fought as well as their -fellow-countrymen of the infantry—a standard not to be -surpassed. From this time onwards there was a -long lull in this section of the British line. The time -was spent in rearranging the units of the Army, and -in waiting for those great reinforcements of munitions -which were so urgently needed. It was recognised -that it was absolutely impossible to make a victorious -advance, or to do more than to hold one's ground, -when the guns of the enemy could fire six shells to -one. In Britain, the significance of this fact had -at last been made apparent, and the whole will and -energy of the country were turned to the production -of ammunition. Not only were the old factories -in full swing, but great new centres were created in -towns which had never yet sent forth such sinister -exports. Mr. Lloyd George, a man who has made -atonement for any wrong that he did his country in -the days of the Boer War by his magnificent services -in this far greater crisis, threw all his energy and -contagious enthusiasm into this vital work, and performed -the same miracles in the organisation and improvisation -of the tools of warfare that Lord Kitchener -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P138"></a>138}</span> -had done in the case of the New Armies. They were -services which his country can never forget. Under -his energy and inspiration the huge output of Essen -and the other factories of Germany were equalled, -and finally surpassed by the improvised and largely -amateur munition workers of Britain. The main -difficulty in the production of high explosives had -lain in the scarcity of picric acid. Our Free Trade -policy, which has much to recommend it in some -aspects, had been pushed to such absurd and pedantic -lengths that this vital product had been allowed to -fall into the hands of our enemy, although it is a -derivative of that coal tar in which we are so rich. -Now at last the plants for its production were laid -down. Every little village gasworks was sending up -its quota of toluol to the central receivers. Finally, -in explosives as in shells and guns, the British were -able to supply their own wants fully and to assist -their Allies. One of the strangest, and also most -honourable, episodes of the War was this great -economic effort which involved sacrifices to the time, -comfort, and often to the health of individuals so -great as to match those of the soldiers. Grotesque -combinations resulted from the eagerness of all -classes to lend a hand. An observer has described -how a peer and a prize-fighter have been seen working -on the same bench at Woolwich, while titled ladies -and young girls from cultured homes earned sixteen -shillings a week at Erith, and boasted in the morning -of the number of shell cases which they had turned -and finished in their hours of night shift. Truly it -had become a National War. Of all its strange -memories none will be stranger than those of the -peaceful middle-aged civilians who were seen eagerly -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P139"></a>139}</span> -reading books upon elementary drill in order to -prepare themselves to face the most famous soldiers -in Europe, or of the schoolgirls and matrons who -donned blue blouses and by their united work -surpassed the output of the great death factories of -Essen. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p><a id="chap06"></a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P140"></a>140}</span></p> - -<h3> -CHAPTER VI -<br /><br /> -THE TRENCHES OF HOOGE -</h3> - -<p class="intro"> -The British line in June 1915—Canadians at Givenchy—Attack of -the 154th Brigade—8th Liverpool Irish—Third Division at -Hooge—11th Brigade near Ypres—Flame attack on the Fourteenth -Light Division—Victory of the Sixth Division at Hooge. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -The spring campaign may be said to have ended at -the beginning of June. It had consisted, so far as -the British were concerned, in three great battles. -The first was that of Neuve Chapelle. The second, -and incomparably the greatest, was the second Battle -of Ypres, extending from April 22 to the end of May, -in which both sides fought themselves to a standstill, -but the Germans, while gaining some ground, failed -to reach their final objective. The third was the -Battle of Richebourg, from May 9 to May 18, which -began with a check and ended by a definite but limited -advance for the British. The net result of the whole -operations of these three months was a gain of ground -to the Germans in the Ypres section and a gain of -ground to the Allies in the region of Festubert and -Arras. Neither gain can be said to have been of -extreme strategic importance, and it is doubtful if -there was any great discrepancy between the losses -of the two sides. There now followed a prolonged -lull, during which the Germans were content to remain -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P141"></a>141}</span> -upon the defensive upon the west while they vigorously -and successfully attacked the Russians in the east, -combining their forces with those of Austria, and -driving their half-armed enemy from the passes of the -Carpathians right across Poland until the line of the -Vistula had been secured. The Allies meanwhile pursued -their ill-fated venture in the Dardanelles, while they -steadily increased their numbers and, above all, their -munitions of war in France and Flanders, having learned -by experience that no bravery or devotion can make -one gun do the work of six, or enable infantry who -have no backing from artillery to gain ground from -infantry which are well supported. For a long period -to come the most important engagements were a series -of fights upon June 16, July 30, and August 9, which -may be looked upon as a single long-drawn-out engagement, -since they were all concerned with the successive -taking and retaking of the same set of trenches near -Hooge, in the extreme northern section of the line. -Before giving some account of these events it would -be well to interrupt the narrative for a time in order -to describe that vast expansion of the British Army -which was the most unexpected, as it was the most -decisive, factor in the war. Without entering into -the question of the huge muster of men within the -island, and leaving out of consideration the forces -engaged in the Near East, the Persian Gulf, and the -various Colonial campaigns, an attempt will be made -to show the reader the actual battle-line in France, -with the order and composition of the troops, during -the summer of 1915. -</p> - -<p> -The extreme left wing of the Allied Army consisted -now, as before, of the Belgians and of a French corps, -the right Moroccan Division of which was the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P142"></a>142}</span> -neighbour of the British Army. The British line had been -extended northwards as far as the village of Boesinghe. -If now the reader could for a moment imagine himself -in an aeroplane, flying from north to south down the -Imperial battle-line, he would see beneath him first -Keir's Sixth Army Corps, which was composed of -the Fourth Division (Wilson) and of the Sixth Division -(Congreve). To the south of these lay the Forty-ninth -West Riding Division of Territorials (Baldock). These -three divisions, the Fourth, the Sixth, and the -Forty-ninth, formed Keir's Sixth Army Corps, lying to the -north of Hooge. Upon their right, in the neighbourhood -of Hooge, holding the ground which had been -the recent scene of such furious fighting, and was -destined to be the most active section of the line in -the immediate future, was Allenby's Fifth Corps. -General Allenby had been taken from the command -of the cavalry, which had passed to General Byng, -and had filled Plumer's place when the latter took -over Smith-Dorrien's Army at the end of April. -Allenby's Corps consisted of the veteran Third -Division (Haldane's) on the north. Then came, -defending the lines of Hooge, the new Fourteenth -Light Division (Couper). Upon its right was the -Forty-sixth North Midland Division (Stuart-Wortley). -These three divisions, the Third Regular, Fourteenth -New, and Forty-sixth Territorial, made up the Fifth -Corps. -</p> - -<p> -The Second Army Corps (Ferguson) lay to the -south of Hooge. Their northern unit was the old -Regular Fifth Division (Morland). To its south was -a second Regular division—Bulfin's Twenty-eighth, -of Ypres renown. On its right was the Fiftieth -Northumbrian Division (Lindsay), consisting of those -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P143"></a>143}</span> -three gallant Territorial brigades which had done so -splendidly in the crisis of the gas battle. -</p> - -<p> -The Third Army Corps (Pulteney's) came next in -the line. This was the strongest corps in the whole -force, containing no fewer than four divisions. These -were, counting as ever from the north, the Canadian -Division (Alderson), the Twelfth New Division (Wing), -the Twenty-seventh Division of Regulars (Snow), -and the Eighth Division of Regulars (Davies). All -these troops, the Sixth, Fifth, Second, and Third -Corps, made up Plumer's Second Army, which contained -no fewer than thirteen divisions, or, approximately, -260,000 men. -</p> - -<p> -The First Army, under Haig, which occupied the -southern section of the British line, consisted of three -Army Corps. To the north, in the Festubert region, -was the hard-worked and depleted Indian Corps, -which had fought under such extraordinary difficulties -and shown such fine military qualities. Attached to -them was the Fifty-first Highland Territorial Division -(Bannatine-Allason). The first two brigades of this -were pure Scottish, but the third contained three -battalions from that nursery of British regiments, -Lancashire. South of the Indians came the glorious -old First Corps, and south of it the equally glorious -Seventh Division (Capper), forming part of Rawlinson's -Fourth Corps. Next to the Seventh Division -was the new Ninth Division (Landon), composed of -Scottish regiments—a very fine unit. South of these, -carrying the British line over the Bethune-La Bassée -Canal, and six miles towards Arras, were the -Forty-seventh London Division (Barter) and the -Forty-eighth South Midland Division (Fanshawe), drawn -mostly from Warwick, Worcester, Gloucester, and -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P144"></a>144}</span> -Bucks. Altogether, Haig's First Army at the end -of June contained nine divisions, or, roughly, 180,000 -men. The whole great Army, then, which extended -from north of Ypres to north of Arras, may have -mustered in the line about 440,000 men, backed by -an efficient field service, which may easily have -numbered 120,000 more. -</p> - -<p> -When one contemplates this magnificent force -and remembers that ten months earlier the whole -British Army at Mons had been four divisions, that -at the Aisne there were six, that in the days of the -first Ypres battle there were eight, and that now there -were twenty-two, one marvels at the extraordinary -powers of creation and organisation which had -created so efficient and powerful a machine. It -was rapidly made, and yet in no way was it crude -or feeble. Particularly pleasing was it to note the -names of the divisional commanders, and to see how -many of the heroic leaders of brigades in those early -classical conflicts—Landon, Snow, Bulfin, Davies, -Morland, Wing, Haldane, Wilson, and Congreve—were -now at the head of small armies of their own. -Of the quality of this great force it is superfluous to -speak. The whole of this chronicle is a record of it. -One observation, however, should in justice be made. -With that breadth and generosity of mind which -make them the truly imperial people of the world, -the English and the English press have continually -extolled the valour of the Scots, Irish, Welsh, or men -of the Overseas Dominions. There has hardly ever -been a mention of the English as such, and the fact -has given rise to some very false impressions. It is -for the reader to bear in mind, none the less, that -four-fifths of this great army was purely English, and -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P145"></a>145}</span> -that the English Divisions, be they North or South, -have shown a sobriety of discipline and an alacrity of -valour which place them in the very first place among -fighting races. The New Army like the Old Fleet -was in the main a triumph of England. Of its first -thirty-three divisions all but five were -predominantly English. -</p> - -<p> -The men and the generals were there. The delay -was still with the guns and the munitions. A heavy -gun is not the product of a week or of a month, and -before a great increase can be made in the output -of shells the machinery for producing them has itself -to be produced. But energetic minds and capable -hands were busied with the problem from one end of -Britain to the other, and the results were rapidly -taking form. A considerable amount of the product -was being despatched to Archangel to help our -hard-pressed Russian Allies, and constant supplies were -being despatched to the Dardanelles; but an -accumulation was also being stored behind the lines in -Flanders. The whole progress of the campaign -depended upon this store being sufficient to sustain -a prolonged attack, and the time had not yet come. -</p> - -<p> -Before turning to the trenches of Hooge, where -the greater part of the fighting occurred during this -period of the war, some description must be given of -a brisk action upon June 15, opposite Givenchy, -immediately to the north of the La Bassée Canal, where -the Canadian Division attacked with great gallantry -and partly occupied a position which it was not found -possible to retain. In this attack the Canadians -displayed their usual energy and ingenuity by bringing -up two eighteen-pounder field-pieces into their front -trench, and suddenly opening fire point-blank at the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P146"></a>146}</span> -German defences only seventy-five yards away. -Captain Stockwell, with Lieutenants Craig and Kelly -and their men, obviously took their lives in their -hands, as their guns became the immediate mark of -the German artillery, with the result that one was -destroyed by a direct hit, and the crew of the other -were put out of action by a shrapnel-burst. But -before they were silenced the two guns did great -damage to the German front-line defence, knocking -out several machine-guns and cutting the barbed -wire to pieces. After a quarter of an hour of glorious -activity they were out of action; but they had -smoothed the path for the infantry, who at six in the -evening were over the parapet and into the trench -opposite. The attack was made by the 1st Ontario -Battalion (Hill), supported by the rest of the 1st -Canadian Brigade. The storming-party was checked -for a moment by the explosion of their own mine, -which threw back with disastrous results, killing -Lieutenant-Colonel Beecher and burying the bomb-store -of the front line. Having seized the German -trench, some remained to reverse the parapet, while -others rushed on to the second trench, which they -also carried. The supply of bombs ran short, however, -and could not be replenished. Four messengers -in succession rushing back for more were shot dead -by the enemy's fire. A fort upon the left had not -been taken, and the machine-guns from its loopholes -swept down the captured trench and made it -untenable. Slowly the Canadians were forced back, -and before ten o'clock what was left of the Ontarios -were back in their own trench once more. When -it is stated that of 23 officers who took part in the -advance 20 were killed or wounded, no further -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P147"></a>147}</span> -proof is needed of the stern insistence of the -attack. -</p> - -<p> -This gallant though fruitless attack of the Canadians -at Grivenchy was, as it appears, intended to -coincide with an advance by the Seventh Division -on their left, and of the Fifty-first upon the right of -them. In the case of the Seventh Division there were -two advances, one by day and one by night, in which -single battalions were employed and no result achieved. -In the second of these the 2nd Gordons lost heavily, -having occupied a deserted trench which proved to -be so commanded as to be untenable. Before -regaining their own lines D Company was cut off and -destroyed. On the right the Fifty-first Highland -Territorial Division had an experience which was -equally unsatisfactory. Hibbert's 154th Brigade -made an advance which was bravely urged and -bloodily repelled. The preparatory bombardment -was answered by a very intense German fire, which -was so heavy and accurate that it buried a number -of men in the advance trenches, destroyed the -bomb-stores, and made all communication nearly impossible. -The secret of this extreme readiness of the Germans -was divulged by a deserter who came over into -the British trenches at the last moment, and said -that they all knew that the attack was for six -o'clock that day. It was at that very hour that -the 6th Scottish Rifles and the 4th North Lancashires, -of the Brigade, rushed the German position. -Each battalion lost its commanding officer and its -adjutant in the first few minutes, but the line of -trenches was carried at one tiger-spring. The enemy's -shell-fire was exceedingly heavy, and the losses were -considerable. Having cleared the trench, the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P148"></a>148}</span> -attacking line, especially the Scottish Rifles upon the left, -came on unbroken wire, so they dug themselves in -in the open and awaited supports. These for some -reason were slow in coming up, and as the Germans -were in force on either side, and the North Lancashires -were also held up by wire, there was a danger lest the -forward line might be cut off. It fell back, therefore, -closely followed by the enemy, until an advance of -the 4th Royal Lancasters helped them to form a -line. The whole night was spent in a prolonged -rifle duel, the two sides being at very close quarters, -and the action resolving itself into a series of stubborn -encounters by little groups of men holding shell-craters -or fragments of trenches, and offering a sullen -resistance to the considerable forces which were now -pressing upon them. All order had been lost, the -three battalions were hopelessly mixed together, and -the command of each little group fell into the hands -of any natural leader who won the confidence of the -comrades round him. Slowly the ragged line retired, -until they found themselves in the early morning -back in the position from which they had started, -having suffered and inflicted grievous losses, but with -no gain of ground to justify them. -</p> - -<p> -It might well have seemed that the attack had -failed, or at least that another brigade would be -needed to put matters right; but a reserve battalion -had not yet gone into action, and to this unit was -given the hard task of putting the Germans out -once more from the trench which they had -re-occupied. There have been days when the Liverpool -Irish have proved themselves to be pugnacious in -riotous times at home, but now they were to efface -all such memories by their splendid bearing at this -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P149"></a>149}</span> -critical hour. It was 4 P.M. upon June 16, when, -with a true Celtic yell, the 8th King's Liverpool, led -by Major Johnson, dashed over the parapet and -stormed through a hellish sleet of shrapnel to the -German trenches. "It was pattering like hail upon -a window-pane." Officers and men went down -in heaps, but nothing could stop the glorious -impetuosity of the charge, delivered in the full -light of a summer afternoon. "It's sure death, -but remember we are Irish!" yelled a sergeant as -he bounded on to the sand-bags. Next instant he -had been blown to pieces. Captain Finegan, leading -the rush, was shot down, as were the greater number -of the regimental officers. Finegan's body was found -afterwards at the extreme point of the advance, with -twelve of his men lying round him. The Germans -were swept out of the front trenches once more, and -the Irishmen held desperately on to it for a long time -against all the shell-fire of the enemy. It was a great -day for Liverpool, July 16, when two of their citizen -regiments, the 8th in the south and the 10th in the -north, helped to stem the tide of two separate battles. -The 8th King's lost nearly 500 men, and gained a -reputation which will not easily die. The survivors -were too few, however, to permanently hold the -shell-raked trench which they had gained. The -153rd Brigade (Campbell), consisting of Gordons -and Black Watch, relieved them in the front line, -and the exhausted and decimated battalion was -drawn off. In the meantime the 152nd Brigade, -upon the left, had been unable to make progress. -Of the attackers of the Fifty-first Division some -1500 men had fallen, and there was no permanent -gain of ground. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P150"></a>150}</span> -</p> - -<p> -On Wednesday, June 16, there occurred a brisk -action to the immediate north of Hooge, at a point -to the west and south-west of the Château, where the -German line formed somewhat of a salient. This -it was determined to straighten out in the familiar -fashion, and a considerable force of artillery was -secretly concentrated. The assault was assigned to -the Third Division, and was carried out by Bowes' -8th Brigade on the left, and on the right by the -9th Brigade, which consisted of the three Fusilier -battalions and the Lincolns, together with the 10th -Liverpool Scottish. The latter battalion had been -seven months at the Front, doing every sort of -hard work, but never getting an opportunity for -distinction in action. The 9th Brigade, now -commanded by General Douglas Smith, was in reserve -near Poperinghe, but it was brought forward through -Ypres for the assault. They marched through the -shattered town on the Tuesday evening. "The -sight of the ruined beauties of that once glorious -old town did lots to make us just long to get at the -Vandals who had done this wanton act of destruction." It -was a longing which was soon to be appeased. By -midnight the troops were in position, and at three -in the morning of June 16 the bombardment began. -It lasted with terrific intensity for about an hour, -and was helped by the guns of the French Thirty-sixth -Corps firing towards Pilken, whence the supports -might come. Black and yellow clouds covered -the whole line of the front German trench, which lay -at the fringe of a wood, and out of this mist of death -trees, sand-bags, and shattered human bodies flew -high in the air. The barbed wire was shattered to -pieces and the front parapets knocked to atoms. -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P151"></a>151}</span> -Then, in an instant, the guns lifted on to the more -distant support trenches, and the infantry, swarming -over the low barricades, dashed in perfect order -over the two hundred yards which separated them -from the Germans. -</p> - -<p> -It was an admirable advance, and could not -have been better carried out. The front of the -assault was about a quarter of a mile. The three -Fusilier battalions in one long line, Northumberland -Fusiliers on the left, Royals in the centre, and Scots -on the right, rushed forward with terrific impetus, -the rising sun glinting upon their lines of bayonets. -They were over the lip of the front trench without -a check, and rushed on for the second one. The -supports, who were the Lincolns on the right and -the Liverpool Scots on the left, followed closely -after them, and seizing the German survivors, sent -them to the rear, while they did what they could to -reverse the parapet and prepare for a counter-attack. -As they charged forward, it had been observed that -one German trench upon the left was at right angles -to the line of advance, and that it had been -untouched by the bombardment. It was only about -forty yards in length, but the fire from it was very -murderous as it swept across the open ground. -With quick decision the rear company of the Liverpool -Scottish turned aside, and in spite of unbroken -barbed wire carried the trench, capturing all the -occupants. -</p> - -<p> -Meanwhile the German artillery had opened with -an intensity which was hardly inferior to that of the -British, and they shelled with great accuracy the -captured trench. The Fusiliers had dashed onwards, -while the Liverpool Scots and Lincolns followed -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P152"></a>152}</span> -swiftly behind them, leaving the captured trench to -the leading battalions of the 7th Brigade (Ballard), -which was immediately in the rear of the attackers, -So eager was every one that the van of the supporting -brigade was mixed with the rear of the attacking one. -Thus the Honourable Artillery Company were exposed -to a baptism of fire only second in severity to that -of their Territorial comrades from Liverpool. They -and the 3rd Worcesters, together with the 1st Wiltshires -upon the flank, endured a very violent shelling, -but held on for many hours to the captured positions. -The Worcesters had over 300 casualties, including -their colonel (Stuart), who had led them ever since -Mons. The Honourable Artillery Company and -Wiltshires suffered almost as heavily. -</p> - -<p> -The advance still continued with great fury. It -should have ended on the taking of the second line -of trenches, but it was impossible to restrain the -men, who yelled, "Remember the <i>Lusitania</i>!" to -each other as they surged over the parapets and -dashed once more at the enemy with bayonet and -bomb. The third trench was carried, and even -the fourth. But the assault had gone too far. -The farther spray of stormers had got as far as -the Bellewaarde Lake. It was impossible to hold -these advanced positions. The assailants dropped -sullenly back, and finally contented themselves by -settling into the first line and consolidating their -position there on a front of a thousand yards. The -losses had been heavy, especially from the -high-explosive shells, which, as usual, blew both trenches -and occupants to pieces. Men died happy, however, -with the knowledge that the days were past when no -artillery answer could be made, and that now at -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P153"></a>153}</span> -least they had given the enemy the same intolerable -experience which they had themselves so often -endured. The Liverpool Scots suffered especially -heavily, losing about 400 men and 20 officers. All -the battalions of the 9th Brigade paid the price of -victory, and the 8th Brigade, upon the left, sustained -considerable losses, but these were certainly not -larger than those of the Germans. Altogether, it -was a very brisk little fight, and a creditable -victory—small, of course, when measured by the scale of -Neuve Chapelle or Richebourg, but none the less -heartening to the soldiers. Two hundred prisoners -and a quantity of material were taken. The trenches -gained were destined to be retaken with strange -weapons by the enemy upon July 30, and were again -carried at the point of the bayonet by the British -upon August 9. These actions will be described later. -</p> - -<p> -A pause of nearly three weeks followed, broken -only by the usual bickerings up and down the line, -where opposite trenches ran mines up to each other -or exchanged fusillades of hand-bombs. There was -no serious movement upon either side, the Germans -being concentrated upon their great and successful -Eastern advance; while the Allies in the West were -content to wait for the day when they should have -accumulated such a head of shell as would enable -them to make a prolonged effort which would promise -some definite result. More and more it had become -clear, both from the German efforts and our own, -that any <i>coup de main</i> was impossible, and that a -battle which would really achieve a permanent gain -must be an affair which would last a month or so, -with steady, inexorable advance from day to day. -This could only be hoped for by the storage of a very -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P154"></a>154}</span> -great quantity of ammunition. Hence the pause in -the operations. -</p> - -<p> -The lull was broken, however, by a sharp fight -upon July 6, in which Prowse's 11th Brigade of the -Fourth Division took, and permanently held, a section -of the German line. This considerable action was -fought at the extreme northern end of the British -line, where it joined on to the French Moroccan -troops to the north of Ypres. The sudden and swift -advance of the 1st Rifle Brigade, the leading British -battalion, seems to have taken the Germans by -surprise, and, dashing forwards, they seized two -lines of trenches and established themselves firmly -within them. The 1st Somerset Light Infantry shared -the credit and the losses of the charge. They were -in immediate support of the Rifle Brigade, their task -being to dig a communication trench. A hundred -prisoners and a number of mortars and machine-guns -were the immediate trophies. Three times during -the day did the Germans counter-attack in force, -and three times they were driven back with heavy -loss. Their total casualties certainly ran into a -thousand. On the other hand, both the Rifle Brigade -and the Somersets suffered severely, partly from -flanking machine-gun fire in the attack, but chiefly, -as usual, from heavy shell-fire afterwards. Indeed, -it may be said that a victorious battalion was too -often an exhausted battalion, for since the German -guns had the precise length of the captured trench, -the more heroically it was held the heavier the losses. -Until the artillery of the Allies should be able to -dominate that of the enemy, it was difficult to see -how ground could be gained without this grievous -after-price to be paid. On this occasion it was -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P155"></a>155}</span> -paid to the full, but the ground was permanently -occupied, and a heavy blow was struck at the -Bavarians and Prussians who held that portion of -the line. -</p> - -<p> -Part of the 12th Brigade (Anley) took over some -of the captured trenches from the 11th, and came -in for some of the German anger in consequence. -The 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers were very heavily -shelled, losing their commanding officer, Colonel -Griffin, the machine-gun officer, and the adjutant on -the morning of July 7. A sap ran up to the trench, -and this was the scene of desperate bomb-fighting, -the Fusiliers expending eight thousand bombs in -two days. So great was the pressure that part of -the 1st Warwicks came up in support. There were -several infantry advances of the enemy, which were -all crushed by the British fire. No dervishes could -have shown more devoted courage than some of the -Germans. In one rush of sixty men all were shot -down, which did not prevent another forty from -emerging later from the same trench. Gradually -they learned that their task was impossible, and -the position remained with the British. Altogether -the Lancashire Fusiliers lost 8 officers and 400 men -in this action. -</p> - -<p> -The succession of British successes which have -been recorded in their order was broken at this point -by a temporary reverse, which involved no permanent -loss of ground, but cost many valuable lives. It is -a deplorable thing that, when fighting against men -who are usually brave and sometimes heroic, we are -obliged continually to associate any success which -they may obtain with some foul breach of the ancient -customs of war. With the Germans no trick was -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P156"></a>156}</span> -too blackguardly or unsoldierly for them to attempt. -At the end of April, as already shown, they nearly -snatched an important victory by the wholesale use -of poison. Now, at the end of July, they gained -an important local success by employing the cruel -expedient of burning petrol. These different foul -devices were hailed by the German Press at the -time as various exhibitions of superior chemical -methods; whereas in fact they were exhibitions of -utter want of military chivalry and of that -self-restraint which even in the fiercest contest prevents -a civilised nation from sinking to such expedients. -It is the most pressing objection to such methods that -if they are once adopted the other side has no choice -but to adopt them also. In the use of gas devices, -both aggressive and offensive, the British engineers -soon acquired an ascendency, but even if the Germans -learned to rue the day that they had stooped to such -methods the responsibility for this unchivalrous -warfare must still rest with them. -</p> - -<p> -The attack fell upon that section of trench which -had been taken by the British in the Hooge district -on June 16. It was held now by a brigade of the -Fourteenth Light Infantry Division (Couper), which -had the distinction of being the first unit of the -New Army to be seriously engaged. Nothing could -have been more severe—indeed, terrific—than the -ordeal to which they were subjected, nor more heroic -than the way in which it was borne. Under very -desperate conditions, all the famous traditions of -the British rifle regiments were gloriously upheld. -They were destined for defeat—but such a defeat as -shows the true fibre of a unit as clearly as any -victory. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P157"></a>157}</span> -</p> - -<p> -Nugent's 41st Brigade, which held this section of -trench, consisted of the 7th and 8th King's Royal -Rifles, with the 7th and 8th Rifle Brigade. The -position was a dangerous little salient, projecting -right up to the German line. -</p> - -<p> -It is clear that the Germans mustered great forces, -both human and mechanical, before letting go their -attack. For ten days before the onset they kept -up a continuous fire, which blew down the parapets -and caused great losses to the defenders. On July -29 the 7th King's Royal Rifles and the 8th Rifle -Brigade manned the front and supporting trenches, -taking the place of their exhausted comrades. They -were just in time for the fatal assault. At 3.20 in -the morning of July 30 a mine exploded under the -British parapet, and a moment afterwards huge jets -of flame, sprayed from their diabolical machines, -rose suddenly from the line of German trenches and -fell in a sheet of fire into the front British position. -The distance was only twenty yards, and the effect -was complete and appalling. Only one man is -known to have escaped from this section of trench. -The fire was accompanied by a shower of aerial -torpedoes from the <i>minenwerfer</i>, which were in themselves -sufficient to destroy the garrison. The Germans -instantly assaulted and occupied the defenceless -trench, but were held up for a time by the reserve -companies in the supporting trenches. Finally these -were driven out by the weight of the German attack, -and fell back about two hundred yards, throwing -themselves down along the edges of Zouave and -Sanctuary Woods, in the immediate rear of the old -position. What with the destruction of the men in -the front trench and the heavy losses of the supports, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P158"></a>158}</span> -the two battalions engaged had been very highly -tried, but they still kept their faces to the foe, in -spite of a terrific fall of shells. The British artillery -was also in full blast. For many hours, from dawn -onwards, its shells just skimmed over the heads of -the front British line, and pinned the Germans down -at a time when their advance might have been a -serious thing, in the face of the shaken troops in front -of them. It is said that during fourteen hours only -five of their shells are known to have fallen short, -though they fired from a distance of about three -miles, and only a couple of hundred yards separated -the lines—a testimony to the accuracy of the -munition-workers as well as of the gunners. -</p> - -<p> -The position gained by the Germans put them -behind the line of trenches held upon the British -right by two companies of the 8th Rifle Brigade. -These brave men, shot at from all sides and unable -to say which was their parapet and which their -parados, held on during the whole interminable -July day, until after dusk the remains of them -drew off into the shelter of the prophetically-named -Sanctuary Wood. Another aggressive movement -was made by the German stormers down the -communication trenches, which enabled them to -advance while avoiding direct fire; but this, -after hard fighting, was stopped by the bombers of -the Riflemen. -</p> - -<p> -The two battalions of the 41st Brigade, which -had just been relieved and were already on their way -to a place of rest, were halted and brought back. -They were the 8th King's Royal Rifles and the 7th -Rifle Brigade. These two battalions had been eight -days under incessant fire in the trenches, with -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P159"></a>159}</span> -insufficient food, water, and sleep. They were now -hurried back into a hellish fire, jaded and weary, -but full of zeal at the thought that they were taking -some of the pressure off their comrades. An order -for an instant counter-attack had been given, but -it was recognised that two brigades at least were -necessary for such a task, and that even then, without -a very thorough artillery preparation, the affair was -desperate, since the Germans had already consolidated -the position, and their artillery, large and small, -was very masterful. For some reason, however, -instead of a brigade, only two fresh battalions could -be spared. These were the 9th King's Royal Rifles, -of the 42nd Brigade, and the 6th Cornwalls, of the -43rd. Of these the 9th King's Royal Rifles attacked, -not from the wood, but from the Menin road upon -the left. -</p> - -<p> -There had been three-quarters of an hour of intense -bombardment before the attack, but it was not -successful in breaking down the German resistance. At -2.45 P.M. the infantry advance began from the wood, -all four units of the 41st Brigade taking part in -it. It is difficult to imagine any greater trial for -troops, since half of them had already been grievously -reduced and the other half were greatly exhausted, -while they were now asked to advance several hundred -yards without a shadow of cover, in the face of a fire -which was shaving the very grass from the ground. -"The men behaved very well," says an observer, -"and the officers with a gallantry no words can -adequately describe. As they came out of the woods -the German machine-gun fire met them and literally -swept them away, line after line. The men struggled -forward, only to fall in heaps along the edge of the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P160"></a>160}</span> -woods." The Riflemen did all that men could do, -but there comes a time when perseverance means -annihilation. The remains of the four battalions -were compelled to take shelter once more at the -edge of the wood. Fifty officers out of 90 had -fallen. By 4 P.M. the counter-attack had definitely -failed. -</p> - -<p> -The attack of the 9th King's Royal Rifles, along -the Menin road, led by Colonel Chaplin, had rather -better success, and was pushed home with great -valour and corresponding loss. At one time the -stormers reached the original line of trenches and -took possession of one section of it. Colonel Chaplin -was killed, with many of his officers and men, by a -deadly machine-gun fire from the village of Hooge. -A gallant lad, Lieutenant Geen, with a handful of -men, charged into this village, but never emerged. -The attack was not altogether unproductive, for, -though the advanced position was not held, the 9th -retained trenches which linked up the Menin road -with the left of the Zouave Wood. With the darkness, -the wearied and thinned ranks of the 41st Brigade -were withdrawn into reserve. -</p> - -<p> -It was not destined, however, that Nugent's -hard-worked brigade should enjoy the rest that they -needed so badly. They had left the 10th Durham -Light Infantry and the 6th Cornwall Light Infantry -to defend the wood, but at 2.20 in the morning the -Germans renewed their diabolical tactics with liquid -fire, which blazed over the trenches and scorched the -branches overhead. This time the range was farther -and the effect less deadly. An attack was evidently -impending, and the Riflemen were hurried back to -reinforce the two battalions left in possession. There -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P161"></a>161}</span> -was a night of alarms, of shell-fire, and of losses, but -the German infantry advance was not serious, and -those who reached the woods were driven out again. -For some days afterwards there was no change in -the general situation. Sixty officers and 2000 men -were the terrible losses of the 41st Brigade during -this action. The 9th battalion, in its flank attack, -lost 17 officers and 333 of the ranks. The 43rd -Brigade (Cockburn) endured considerable losses whilst -in support of the 41st, especially the 6th Cornwalls, -who bore the brunt of the fighting. This battalion -had only seven officers left when it returned to Ypres, -and by the unfortunate mischance of the fall of a -ruined house, they lost immediately afterwards four -more, including Major Barnett, the temporary chief, -and the adjutant Blagrove. These officers perished -whilst endeavouring to save their men who were -buried among the ruins. -</p> - -<p> -This difficult and trying action was fought under -the immediate supervision of General Nugent, of -the 41st Brigade, who was with the firing-line in -the woods during the greater part of it. When the -brigade, or the shattered remains of it, were -withdrawn upon August 1, General Nugent remained -behind, and consulted with General Cockburn, -of the 43rd Brigade, as to the feasibility of a near -attack. The consultation took the form of a -reconnaissance conducted on hands and knees up -to a point close to the enemy line. After this -inspection it was determined that the position was -far too formidable for any merely local attempt. -It was determined that General Congreve, of the -Sixth Division, should take the matter over, that -several days should be devoted to preparatory -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P162"></a>162}</span> -bombardment, and that the whole division should -be used for the assault. -</p> - -<p> -All foul advantages, whether they be gas, vitriol, -or liquid fire, bring with them their own disadvantages. -In this case the fall of their comrades filled the soldiers -with a righteous anger, which gave them a fury in -the assault which nothing could withstand. The -preparations were completed in a week, and the -signal was given in the early morning of August 9. -Artillery had been concentrated during the interval, -and the bombardment was extraordinarily intense -and accurate. So perfect was the co-ordination -between the infantry and the guns, that the storming -battalions dashed out of the trenches whilst the -German lines were still an inferno of exploding shells, -with the certain conviction that the shell-fire would -have ceased before they had actually got across the -open. The cease-fire and the arrival of the panting, -furious soldiers were practically simultaneous. On -the left, some of our men ran into our own shrapnel, -but otherwise all went to perfection. -</p> - -<p> -The infantry assault had been assigned to the -Sixth Division, who advanced at 3.15, with two -brigades in front and one in support. The 18th -Brigade (Ainslie) was upon the right. Colonel Towsey -was in immediate command. The 2nd Durham Light -Infantry were in the lead, and got across two -companies in front with little loss; while the 2nd -Sherwood Foresters, who followed, were caught in -shell-fire and had very many casualties. The attack on -this flank was supported by the 1st East Yorks and -the Westminsters, who lay in the woods to the -rear, the East Yorks being speedily engaged. The -wave of infantry were over the German parapet -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P163"></a>163}</span> -in an instant. All resistance was vain, and those -who stood were bayoneted, while the fugitives -were pelted with bombs from traverse to traverse -wherever they attempted to make head against -their pursuers. So sudden had been the British -rush that many of the Germans were found in the -dug-outs and in the old mine-crater, from which they -had not time to emerge and to meet the assault for -which they were waiting. Over a hundred of these -were taken prisoners. The whole place was a perfect -charnel-house, for there were 200 German dead in the -crater, 300 in front of the line, and a great number also -of the Riflemen who had been killed nine days before. -</p> - -<p> -On the left of the line a no less dashing attack -had been made by the 16th Brigade (Nicholson), -and the trenches were carried in line with those now -held by the 18th. This successful advance was carried -out by the 1st Shropshires, the 1st Buffs, and the 2nd -York and Lancasters, with the 1st Leicesters in -support. The distance between the lines at this point -was very much less than on the right, which partly -accounts for the smaller casualties. -</p> - -<p> -When the trenches had been taken, the sappers, -with their usual cool disregard of danger, sprang -forward into the open and erected barbed wire. The -gains were rapidly consolidated, men were sent back -to avoid overcrowding, and protective cover raised -against the heavy shelling which always follows -swiftly upon the flight of the German infantry. It -came in due course, and was succeeded by an attempt -at a counter-attack. "At about 10 o'clock the -enemy was observed creeping in four parties towards -us. They were very near us, and came forward on -their hands and knees, laden with bombs and -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P164"></a>164}</span> -hand-grenades. We opened fire with rifles and machine-guns. -Our bomb-throwers worked like machines, and -splendid work they did. The Germans were all -mowed down and blown to atoms, or else ran for -their lives." Many of our prisoners were killed by -German shells before they could be removed. In -spite of the failure of the German infantry, the -artillery fire was very deadly, both the Durhams and -the Sherwood Foresters being hard put to it to hold -on to their trenches. At 4.30 in the afternoon the -Sherwood Foresters fell back to the edge of the wood, -some of their trenches having entirely ceased to exist. -</p> - -<p> -There were several German infantry attempts -during the day, but all of them met the same -fate as the first. The loss of the enemy, both in the -attack and in the subsequent attempts at recapture, -was very heavy, running certainly into some thousands -of dead or wounded; while the British losses in the -actual attack, owing to the admirable artillery -arrangements, were very moderate. Some hundreds -of prisoners were taken, sixty of whom by a strange -freak surrendered to an unarmed observation officer -named Booth. It was a fair revenge for the -set-back of July 30, and it was won in honest, virile -fashion by the use of the legitimate weapons of -civilised warfare. -</p> - -<p> -During the long day the Germans strove hard, -by an infernal shell-fire, raking all the trenches -from the direction of Hill 60, to drive the infantry -from the captured position. They clung desperately -to what they had won, but they were cut off from all -supplies. Many of the Westminsters lost their lives -in heroically bringing up water and food to the -advanced line. For fourteen hours the men were -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P165"></a>165}</span> -under a murderous fire, and for the same period the -British artillery worked hard in supporting them. -Men can endure punishment far more cheerfully when -they hear the roar of their own shells overhead and -know that the others are catching it also. "The -guns put heart into us," said one of the survivors. -Finally, night put an end to the slaughter and the -uproar. Under the shadow of darkness relieving -troops crept to the front, and the weary, decimated, -but triumphant brigades were drawn off to the rear. -</p> - -<p> -Some of the more forward of the troops had got -right across the Menin road and established themselves -in positions so far in advance that for some time no -orders could reach them; nor was their situation -known until desperate messengers came back from -them clamouring for cartridges and bombs. These -men were only drawn in on the morning of the 10th, -after enduring nearly thirty hours of desperate -fighting, without food, water, or help of any kind. -</p> - -<p> -The losses were, as usual, far heavier in holding -the trenches than in winning them. The 16th Brigade -lost 400 and the 18th 1300 men. The 2nd Durhams -were the chief sufferers, with 12 officers and 500 men -out of action; but the Shropshires lost no fewer than -19 officers with 250 men. The 2nd Sherwoods, 1st -East Yorkshires, 1st Buffs, and 2nd York and -Lancasters were all hard hit. -</p> - -<p> -A considerable change in the general arrangement -of the Army was carried out early in August. This -consisted in the formation of a third army under -General Monro, an officer whose rapid rise was one of -the phenomena of the war. This army consisted of -the Seventh Corps (Snow) and the Tenth Corps -(Morland). The rearrangement would be of little -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P166"></a>166}</span> -importance, since most of the units have already been -mentioned, but it was accompanied by a large -extension of the British line. Up to this date it had -joined the French about six miles south of the La -Bassée Canal. Now the Tenth French Army (Foch) -was left in position before Lens, and the British took -up the line again upon the farther side of them, -carrying it from the south of Arras to the neighbourhood -of Albert, thus adding a dozen miles or so to the -British region, and bringing the total to about fifty—a -small proportion, it is true, but a very vital sector, -and the one most free from any natural feature of -protection. There was at this time an ever-thickening -flow of reinforcements, as well as of munitions, from -across the Channel, but the new movements of -Germany in the Near East made it very evident that -their use would not be confined to the lines of Flanders. -It was towards the end of this summer that the -length of the war and the increasing pressure of the -blockade began to interfere with the food-supplies -of the German people. It had been pretended that -this was so before, but this was an attempt by the -German Government to excite sympathy in neutrals. -There is no doubt, however, that it was now a fact, -and that it continued to slowly tighten from month -to month, until it finally became extreme. There -are few Britons who feel satisfaction at such a method -of warfare, but so long as armies represent the whole -manhood of a nation, it is impossible to make any -provision by which food shall reach the civilian and -not the soldier. It is always to be borne in mind that -the British, with an almost exaggerated chivalry, -considering the many provocations which they had -received, did not exert their full power of blockade -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P167"></a>167}</span> -for many months. It was only when Germany -declared the British Islands to be blockaded as from -February 18, 1915, and that food-ships would be -destroyed, that the British in retaliation, by an Order -of Council in March of the same year, placed German -food upon the index. Thus by one more miscalculation -the Germans called down trouble upon their own -heads, for whereas their decree proved to be worthless, -that of Britain was ever more effective. It is curious -to remember that only forty-five years before, the -Germans, without one word of protest from any of -their people, had starved the two millions of Paris, -while Bismarck, in his luxurious rooms at Versailles, -had uttered his brutal jest about roast babies. They -are not so very slow—those mills of God! -</p> - -<p> -Before passing on to an account of the great Battle -of Loos, which terminated the operations upon the -British front for this year, a few words may be said -of those happenings elsewhere which do not come -within the immediate scope of this narrative, but -which cannot be entirely omitted since every failure -or success had an indirect influence upon the position -in France. This is particularly true of the naval -campaign, for the very existence of our Army depended -upon our success in holding the command of the sea. -This was fully attained during the year 1915 by the -wise provisions of Admiral Jellicoe, who held back -his Grand Fleet in such a manner that, far from the -attrition upon which the German war-prophets had -confidently counted, it was far stronger at the end -of the year than at the beginning, while its influence -had been such that the German High Sea Fleet might -as well have never existed for all the effect which it -had upon the campaign. In spite of the depredations -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P168"></a>168}</span> -of German submarines, which were restrained -by no bonds of law or humanity, British commerce -flowed in its double tide, outwards and inwards, with -a volume which has seldom been surpassed, and the -Channel crossing was guarded with such truly miraculous -skill that not a transport was lost. It was a task -which the Navy should never have been called upon -to do, since the need of a Channel tunnel had for years -been obvious; but granting that it had to be done, -nothing could exceed the efficiency with which it -was carried out. The success, however, cannot blind -us to the waste of merchant tonnage or of convoying -cruisers absorbed in this vital task, nor to the -incessant delays and constant expense due to the -want of foresight upon the part of those who opposed -this necessary extension of our railway system. -</p> - -<p> -There was little naval fighting during the year, for -the simple reason that our sailors had nothing to fight. -Upon January 24 a German squadron of battle-cruisers -attempted a repetition of the Scarborough -Raid, but was nearly intercepted by a British squadron -of greater power under Admiral Beatty. In a -running fight which only came to an end when the -Germans had gained the protection of their mine-fields -considerable punishment was inflicted upon -them, which included the loss of the 15,000-ton -armoured cruiser <i>Blücher</i>. There were 123 survivors -out of a crew of 800. Some damage was inflicted -upon the <i>Lion</i>, but the British casualties were -slight and no vessel was lost, save in the Berlin -papers. -</p> - -<p> -Upon February 20 the adventure of the Dardanelles -was begun by a bombardment of the outer forts by -the Allied Fleets. The British ships engaged in these -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P169"></a>169}</span> -operations were pre-Dreadnought battleships, with -the notable exception of the new cruiser Queen -<i>Elizabeth</i>. On March 18, in an attempt to force the -Straits, the <i>Ocean</i> and the <i>Irresistible</i> were lost by -floating torpedoes. On May 13 we lost in the same -locality the <i>Goliath</i>, which was also torpedoed in a -very gallant surface attack delivered at night by a -Turkish or German boat. On the 26th the <i>Triumph</i> -fell a victim to a submarine in the same waters. The -other naval events of the year include numerous -actions of small craft with varying results, and the final -destruction of the <i>Dresden</i>, the <i>Königsberg</i>, and every -other German warship left upon the face of the waters. -The British anti-submarine devices in home waters -reached a high point of efficiency, and the temporary -subsidence of submarine warfare is to be attributed -rather to the loss of these vessels than to any -remonstrances upon the part of neutrals. -</p> - -<p> -Some allusion should be made to the Zeppelins -which were malevolently active during the year, -but whose efficiency fortunately fell very far short of -either the activity or the malevolence. Instead of -proving a blessing to mankind, the results of the energy -and ingenuity of the aged German inventor were at -once turned to the most devilish use conceivable, -for their raids effected no possible military object, -but caused the death or mutilation of numerous -civilians, including a large number of women and -children. The huge bombs were showered down -from the airships with no regard at all as to whether -a legitimate mark lay beneath them, and the huge -defenceless city of London was twice attacked on -the plea that the possession of munition works made -the whole of it a fortress. The total result of all the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P170"></a>170}</span> -raids came to about 1500 killed and wounded. It -is probable that the destruction of the invading -airships in 1916 killed more German fighting adults -than were killed in England by all their raids -combined. They effected nothing decisive save the -ignominy of the murderers who used them. -</p> - -<p> -Of the Dardanelles Campaign nothing need be -said, since it will be fully treated in many separate -accounts, save that our general position was greatly -weakened by the large number of vessels needed for -the conduct of these operations, nor did we profit -much by their abandonment since the call of Salonica -soon became equally insistent. We were able during -the year to continue the absorption of the German -Colonial Empire, none of which, save East Africa, -remained intact at the end of it. Egypt was -successfully defended against one or two half-hearted -advances upon the part of the Turks. The Mesopotamian -Campaign, however, had taken at the close -of the year a sinister turn, for General Townshend, -having pushed forward almost to the gates of Bagdad -with a very inadequate force, was compelled to retreat -to Kut, where he was surrounded and besieged by -a considerable Turkish army. The defence was a -heroic one, and only ended in the spring of 1916, when -the starving survivors were forced to surrender. -</p> - -<p> -As to the affairs of our Allies, some allusion will be -made later to the great French offensive in Champagne, -which was simultaneous with our own advance at -Loos. For the rest there was constant fighting along -the line, with a general tendency for the French to -gain ground though usually at a heavy cost. The -year, on the other hand, had been a disastrous one for -the Russians who, half-armed and suffering terrible -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P171"></a>171}</span> -losses, had been compelled to relinquish all their gains -and to retreat for some hundreds of miles. As is now -clear, the difficulties in the front were much -increased by lamentable political conditions, including -treachery in high places in the rear. For a time -even Petrograd seemed in danger, but thanks to fresh -supplies of the munitions of war from Britain and -from Japan they were able at last to form a firm line -from Riga in the north to the eastern end of the -Roumanian frontier in the south. -</p> - -<p> -The welcome accession of Italy upon May 23 and -the lamentable defection of Bulgaria on October 11 -complete the more salient episodes of the year. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p><a id="chap07"></a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P172"></a>172}</span></p> - -<h3> -CHAPTER VII -<br /><br /> -THE BATTLE OF LOOS -</h3> - -<p class="t3"> -(The First Day—September 25) -</p> - -<p class="intro"> -General order of battle—Check of the Second Division—Advance of -the Ninth and Seventh Divisions—Advance of the First -Division—Fine progress of the Fifteenth Division—Capture -of Loos—Work of the Forty-seventh London Division. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -Whilst the Army had lain in apparent torpidity -during the summer—a torpidity which was only -broken by the sharp engagements at Hooge and -elsewhere—great preparations for a considerable attack -had been going forward. For several months the -sappers and the gunners had been busy concentrating -their energies for a serious effort which should, as it -was hoped, give the infantry a fair chance of breaking -the German line. Similar preparations were going -on among the French, both in Foch's Tenth Army to -the immediate right of the British line, and also on -a larger scale in the region of Champagne. Confining -our attention to the British effort, we shall now -examine the successive stages of the great action in -front of Hulluch and Loos—the greatest battle, both -as to the numbers engaged and as to the losses incurred, -which had ever up to that date been fought by our -Army. -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P173"></a>173}</span> -</p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-173"></a> -<br /> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-173.jpg" alt="La Bassée-Loos area" /> -<br /> -La Bassée-Loos area -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -The four days which preceded the great attack -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P175"></a>175}</span> -of September 25 were days of great activity. An -incessant and severe bombardment was directed upon -the German lines along the whole front, but especially -in the sector to the immediate south of the La Bassée -Canal, where the main thrust was to be made. To -this severe fire the Germans made hardly any reply, -though whether from settled policy or from a -comparative lack of munitions is not clear. On each of -the days a feint attack was made upon the German -line so far as could be done without actually exposing -the men. The troops for the assault were gradually -brought into position, and the gas-cylinders, which -were to be used for the first time, were sunk in the -front parapets. -</p> - -<p> -The assault in the main area was to extend from -the La Bassée Canal in the north to the village of -Grenay in the south, a front of about seven miles, -and it was to be supported and supplemented by -many subsidiary attacks along the whole line up to -the Ypres salient, and northwards still to where the -monitors upon the coast held the German coastguards -to their sand-dunes. For the moment we will deal -only with the fortunes of the main attack. This was -to be delivered by two army corps, both belonging -to Haig's First Army, that tempered blade which -has so often been the spear-head for the British -thrust. The corps were the First (Hubert Gough's) -and the Fourth (Rawlinson's). It will be remembered -that a British army corps now consisted of three -divisions, so that the storming line was composed of -six divisions, or about seventy thousand infantry. -</p> - -<p> -The line of the advance was bisected by a high -road from Vermelles to Hulluch. This was made the -boundary line between the two attacking corps. To -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P176"></a>176}</span> -the left, or north of this road, was the ground of the -First Corps; to the right, or south, of the Fourth. -The qualities of the Regular and Territorial regiments -had already been well attested. This was the first -occasion, however, when, upon a large scale, use was -made of those new forces which now formed so -considerable a proportion of the whole. Let it be -said at once that they bore the test magnificently, -and that they proved themselves to be worthy of -their comrades to the right and the left. It had -always been expected that the new infantry would -be good, for they had in most cases been under intense -training for a year, but it was a surprise to many -British soldiers, and a blow to the prophets in Berlin, -to find that the scientific branches, the gunners and -the sappers, had also reached a high level. "Our -enemy may have hoped," said Sir John French, "not -perhaps without reason, that it would be impossible -for us, starting with such small beginnings, to build -up an efficient artillery to provide for the very large -expansion of the Army. If he entertained such hopes -he has now good reason to know that they have not -been justified by the result. The efficiency of the -artillery of the new armies has exceeded all -expectations." These were the guns which, in common with -many others of every calibre, worked furiously in -the early dawn of Saturday, September 25, to prepare -for the impending advance. The high explosives -were known to have largely broken down the German -system of defences, but it was also known that there -were areas where the damage had not been great and -where the wire entanglements were still intact. No -further delay could be admitted, however, if our -advance was to be on the same day as that of the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P179"></a>179}</span> -French. The infantry, chafing with impatience, -were swarming in the fire trenches. At 5.40 A.M. the -gas-cylinders were turned on. At 6.30 A.M. the guns -ceased fire, and the ardent soldiers—Regulars, New, -and Territorials—dashed forward upon their desperate -venture. -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P177"></a>177}</span> -</p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-177"></a> -<br /> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-177.jpg" alt="BATTLE OF LOOS I" /> -<br /> -BATTLE OF LOOS I -</p> - -<p class="t3"> - APPROXIMATE POSITIONS OF BRITISH<br /> - DIVISIONS ON AFTERNOON OF SEPT. 25th<br /> -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -The rough diagram of the action on page 177 will -help the reader to understand the order in which -the six divisions attacked, and in a very rough way -the objectives in front of them. It is impossible to -describe simultaneously the progress of so extended a -line. It will be best, therefore, to take the various -divisions from the northern end, and to follow the -fortunes of each until it reached some definite limit. -Afterwards an attempt will be made to co-ordinate -these results and show their effects upon each other. -</p> - -<p> -The second regular division (Horne), acting upon -the extreme left of the main attack, had two brigades -north of the La Bassée Canal and one to the south. -The most northern was the 5th (Cochrane's), and its -operations really formed part of the subsidiary -attacks, and will be treated under that head. South -of it was the 6th (Daly's), to the immediate north -of the canal. The gas, drifting slowly up the line -before a slight southern breeze, had contaminated -the air in this quarter, and many of the men were -suffering from the effects. None the less, at half-past -six the advance was made in a most dashing manner, -but the barbed wire defences were found to be only -partially damaged and the trenches to be intact, so -no progress could be made. The 2nd South Staffords -and 1st King's Liverpools on the left and right reached -the German position, but in face of a murderous fire -were unable to make good their hold, and were -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P180"></a>180}</span> -eventually forced back to their own trenches after -enduring heavy losses, shared in a lesser degree by -the 1st Rifles and 1st Berks in support. Upon their -right, south of the canal, was the 19th Brigade -(Robertson). The two leading regiments, the 1st -Middlesex and 2nd Argylls, sprang from the trenches -and rushed across the intervening space, only to -find themselves faced by unbroken and impassable -wire. For some reason, probably the slope of the -ground, the artillery had produced an imperfect -effect upon the defences of the enemy in the whole -sector attacked by the Second Division, and if there -is one axiom more clearly established than another -during this war, it is that no human heroism can -carry troops through uncut wire. They will most -surely be shot down faster than they can cut the -strands. The two battalions lay all day, from -morning till dusk, in front of this impenetrable -obstacle, lashed and scourged by every sort of fire, -and losing heavily. Two companies of the 2nd Welsh -Fusiliers, who gallantly charged forward to support -them, shared their tragic experience. It was only -under the cover of dusk that the survivors were able -to get back, having done nothing save all that men -could do. Their difficult situation was rendered -more desperate by the fact that the wind drifted the -gas—that filthy and treacherous ally—over a portion -of the line, and some of our soldiers were poisoned by -the effects. The hold-up was the more unfortunate, -as it left the Germans the power to outflank the whole -advance, and many of the future difficulties arose -from the fact that the enemy's guns were still working -from Auchy and other points on the left rear of the -advancing troops. In justice to the Second Division, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P181"></a>181}</span> -it must be remembered that they were faced by the -notoriously strong position called "the railway -triangle," and also that it is on the flanking units -that the strain must especially fall, as was shown -equally clearly upon the same day in the great French -advance in Champagne. -</p> - -<p> -The advance of the next division, the Ninth -Scottish Division (Thesiger's) of the new armies, was -of a most energetic nature, and met with varying -fortunes according to the obstacles in their path. -The valour and perseverance of the men were equally -high in each of its brigades. By an unfortunate -chance, General Landon, the officer who had played -so essential a part on the fateful October 31, 1914, -and who had commanded the Ninth Division, was -invalided home only two days before the battle. -His place was taken by General Thesiger, who had -little time in which to get acquainted with his staff -and surroundings. The front to be assaulted was of a -most formidable nature. This Hohenzollern Redoubt -jutted forward from the main German line, and was -an enclosure seamed with trenches, girdled with wire, -and fringed with machine-guns. Behind and to the -north of it lay the slag-heap Fosse 8. The one -favourable point lay in the fact that the attacking -infantry had only a hundred yards to cross, while in -the other parts of the line the average distance was -about a quarter of a mile. -</p> - -<p> -The attack of the Ninth Division was carried -out with two brigades, the 26th (Ritchie) and 28th -(Dickens), with the 27th (Bruce) in close support. -</p> - -<p> -Continuing the plan of taking each unit from the -north, we will follow the tragic fortunes of the 28th -Brigade on the left. This brigade seems to have been -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P182"></a>182}</span> -faced by the same unbroken obstacles which had -held up their neighbours of the Second Division upon -the left, and they found it equally impossible to get -forward, though the attack was urged with all the -constancy of which human nature is capable, as the -casualty returns only too clearly show. -</p> - -<p> -The most veteran troops could not have endured -a more terrible ordeal or preserved a higher heart -than these young soldiers in their first battle. The -leading regiments were the 6th Scottish Borderers and -the 11th Highland Light Infantry. Nineteen officers -led the Borderers over the parapet. Within a few -minutes the whole nineteen, including Colonel Maclean -and Major Hosley, lay dead or wounded upon the -ground. Valour could no further go. Of the rank -and file of the Borderers some 500 out of 1000 were -lying in the long grass which faced the German -trenches. The Highland Light Infantry had suffered -very little less. Ten officers and 300 men fell in the -first rush before they were checked by the barbed -wire of the enemy. Every accumulation of evil -which can appal the stoutest heart was heaped upon -this brigade—not only the two leading battalions, -but their comrades of the 9th Seaforths and 10th -H.L.I, who supported them. The gas hung thickly -about the trenches, and all of the troops, but -especially the 10th H.L.I., suffered from it. Colonel -Graham of this regiment was found later incoherent -and half unconscious from poisoning, while Major -Graham and four lieutenants were incapacitated in -the same way. The chief cause of the slaughter, -however, was the uncut wire, which held up the -brigade while the German rifle and machine-gun -fire shot them down in heaps. It was observed that -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P183"></a>183}</span> -in this part of the line the gas had so small an effect -upon the enemy that their infantry could be seen with -their heads and shoulders clustering thickly over their -parapets as they fired down at the desperate men -who tugged and raved in front of the wire entanglement. -An additional horror was found in the shape -of a covered trench, invisible until one fell into it, -the bottom of which was studded with stakes and -laced with wire. Many of the Scottish Borderers lost -their lives in this murderous ditch. In addition to all -this, the fact that the Second Division was held up -exposed the 28th Brigade to fire on the flank. In -spite of every impediment, some of the soldiers fought -their way onwards and sprang down into the German -trenches; notably Major Sparling of the Borderers -and Lieutenant Sebold of the H.L.I. with a handful -of men broke through all opposition. There was -no support behind them, however, and after a time -the few survivors were compelled to fall back to -the trenches from which they had started, both the -officers named having been killed. The repulse on -the left of the Ninth Division was complete. The -mangled remains of the 28th Brigade, flushed and -furious but impotent, gathered together to hold -their line against a possible counter-attack. Shortly -after mid-day they made a second attempt at a -forward movement, but 50 per cent of their number -were down, all the battalions had lost many of their -officers, and for the moment it was not possible to -sustain the offensive. -</p> - -<p> -A very different fate had befallen the 26th Brigade -upon their right. The leading battalions of this -brigade were the 5th Camerons on the left, gallantly -led by Lochiel himself, the hereditary chieftain of -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P184"></a>184}</span> -the clan, and the 7th Seaforths on the right. These -two battalions came away with a magnificent rush, -closely followed by the 8th Gordons and the 8th -Black Watch. It was a splendid example of that -<i>furor Scoticus</i> which has shown again and again -that it is not less formidable than the Teutonic -wrath. The battalions were over the parapet, across -the open, through the broken wire, and over the -entrenchment like a line of Olympic hurdlers. Into -the trenches they dashed, seized or killed the -occupants, pressed rapidly onwards up the -communications, and by seven o'clock had made their way -as far as Fosse 8, a coal-mine with a long, low -slag-heap lying in the rear of the great work, but linked -up to it in one system of defences. It was a splendid -advance, depending for its success upon the extreme -speed and decision of the movement. Many officers -and men, including Lord Sempill, the gallant Colonel -of the Black Watch, were left upon the ground, but -the front of the brigade rolled ever forwards. Not -content with this considerable success, one battalion, -the 8th Gordons, with a handful of the Black Watch, -preserved sufficient momentum to carry it on to -the edge of the fortified village of Haisnes, in the -rear of the German position. The reserve brigade, the -27th, consisting of the 11th and 12th Royal Scots, 10th -Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, and 6th Scots -Fusiliers, swept onwards in support of this movement. -This brigade had varying fortunes, part of it being -held up by wire. It did not get so far forward as -the brigade upon its left, but it reached and took -Fosse Alley, to the immediate west of the Lens-Hulluch -road. This position it held against bombing -attacks upon each flank until the morning of Monday -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P185"></a>185}</span> -the 27th, as will be described later. The Highlanders -upon their left, who had got nearly to Haisnes, -dropped back when they found themselves -unsupported, and joined the rest of their brigade in -the neighbourhood of Fosse 8. -</p> - -<p> -It should be mentioned that the field-guns of the -52nd Brigade R.F.A. pushed up in the immediate -rear of the firing line of the Ninth Division, and gave -effective support to the infantry. The fact that -they could do this across the open tends to show -that infantry supports could be pushed up without -being confined unduly to the communication trenches. -The spirited action of these guns was greatly -appreciated by the infantry. -</p> - -<p> -For the moment we will leave the Ninth Division, -its left held up in line with the Second Division, its -right flung forward through the Hohenzollern -Redoubt and Fosse 8 until the spray from the wave had -reached as far as Haisnes. Let us turn now to the -veterans of the Seventh Division, the inheritors of -the glories of Ypres, who filled the space between the -right of the Ninth Division and the road from -Vermelles to Hulluch which divided Gough's First and -Rawlinson's Fourth Corps. This division was -constituted as before, save that the 8th and 9th Devons -of the New Army had taken the place of the two -Guards battalions in the 20th Brigade. Upon -receiving the word to advance, "Over the top and the -best of luck!" the men swarmed on short ladders -out of the fire trenches and advanced with cool, -disciplined valour over the open ground. On reaching -the German wire the leading brigades—the 22nd on -the left with the 2nd Warwicks and 1st South Staffords -in the lead, the 20th on the right with the 2nd Gordons -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P186"></a>186}</span> -and 8th Devons in the place of honour—lay down for a -short breather, while each soldier obeyed instructions -by judging for himself the point at which the broken, -tangled mass of writhing strands could most easily -be penetrated. Then once more the whistles blew, -the men rushed forward, and, clearing the wire, they -threw themselves into the front trench. The garrison -of 200 men threw their arms down and their hands up -with the usual piteous but insincere cry of -"Kameraden!" Flooding over the line of trenches, the -division pushed rapidly on without a check until -they reached the Quarries, a well-marked post in -front of the village of Hulluch. Here more prisoners -and eight field-guns were taken by the 20th Brigade. -From the Quarries to the village is roughly half a -mile of uphill ground, devoid of cover. The impetus -of the advance carried the men on until they were -at the very edge of the village, where they were held -up by the furious fire and by a line of barbed wire, -which was bravely cut by Private Vickers of the 2nd -Warwicks and other devoted men. Another smaller -village, Cité St. Elie, to the north of Hulluch, was -also reached, the 2nd Queen's Surrey making good -the western edge of it. At both these points the -division had reached its limit, but still farther to -the north its left-hand brigade was at the southern -outskirts of Haisnes in touch with the gallant men -of the Ninth Division, who were to the west of that -important village. These advanced lines could not -be held without supports; the 21st Brigade had -already been absorbed farther back, and the men -of the Seventh Division fell back about 4 P.M. as far -as the Quarries, where for a time they remained, -having lost many officers and men, including Colonel -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P187"></a>187}</span> -Stansfeld of the 2nd Gordons, a gallant officer who -was hit by a shell in the first advance, but asked -only that he should be let lie where he could see -his men. Colonel Heath of the Surreys was also -killed after the return to the Quarries. -</p> - -<p> -Such was the advance of the First Army Corps, -ending in a bloody repulse upon the left of the line -and a hardly less bloody success upon the right. -Across the Vermelles-Hulluch high road, the Fourth -Army Corps had been advancing on the same line, -and its fortunes had been very similar to those of -its neighbour. The First Division was operating on -the left of the corps, with the Fifteenth Scottish -Division (New) in the centre and the Forty-seventh -Territorial (London) on the right. Thus the First -Division was advancing upon Hulluch on the -immediate right of the Seventh Division, so that its -operations are the next to be considered. -</p> - -<p> -The attack of this division was carried out by -the 1st Brigade upon the left and by the 2nd -upon the right, while the 3rd was in support. Two -battalions, the 9th King's Liverpool and the London -Scottish, acted as a small independent unit apart -from the brigades. The respective objectives for the -two leading brigades were the Chalk Pit and Fosse -14 for the 2nd, while the 1st was to aim at Hulluch. -These objectives were somewhat diverging, and the -two Territorial battalions, forming what was called -Green's Force, were to fill up the gap so occasioned, -and to prevent any German counter-attack coming -through. -</p> - -<p> -Both brigades soon found great difficulties in their -path. In the case of each the wire was but imperfectly -cut, and the German trenches were still strong. -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P188"></a>188}</span> -We will first follow the fortunes of the 1st Brigade. -Their rush was headed by two brave battalions of the -New Army, the 8th Berkshires on the left and the -10th Gloucesters on the right. Both of these units -did extraordinarily well, and after bearing down a -succession of obstacles got as far as the edge of -Hulluch, capturing three lines of trenches and several -guns upon the way. The 1st Camerons pressed close -at their heels, lending them the weight to carry -them over each successive difficulty. The advance -took some time and was very costly. The Berkshires -alone in the course of the day lost 17 officers and -400 men, and were led by a young sub-lieutenant -(Lawrence) at the close. The Gloucesters and -Camerons suffered almost as heavily. -</p> - -<p> -The experience of the 2nd Brigade to the immediate -south was still more trying, and it was held up to an -extent which had a serious bearing upon the fortunes -of the day. The German trenches near Lone Tree, -which faced the brigade, were found to be intact and -strongly covered by wire. They were attacked by -the 2nd Rifles and 1st North Lancashires, with the -2nd Sussex in immediate support, but no progress -could be made. The 1st Northamptons threw themselves -into the fight, but still the trench was held at a -time when it was vital that the 2nd Brigade should -be at its post in the general scheme of advance. The -ground was taken, however, on each flank of the -Lone Tree position, and Green's Force, whose function -had been to link up the diverging operations of the -two brigades, was brought up for the attack. The -two battalions advanced over six hundred yards -by platoon rushes under heavy gusts of fire. As they -reached a point within fifty yards of the German line, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P189"></a>189}</span> -a few grey-clad, battle-stained infantrymen clambered -slowly on to the parapet with outstretched hands. -Upon the British ceasing their fire a party of 3 officers -and 400 men were marched out of the trenches and -gave themselves up. Their stout resistance is a lesson -in the effect which a single obstinate detachment can -exert in throwing a large scheme out of gear. -</p> - -<p> -The 1st Brigade had now got through upon the -left, and the 2nd was able to follow them, so that -the whole force advanced as far as the Lens-Hulluch -road, getting in touch with the 20th Brigade of the -Seventh Division on the left. Here the resistance -was strong and the fire heavy. The division had lost -very heavily. Of the 9th King's Liverpool only -Colonel Ramsay, 4 subalterns, and 120 men were left, -while many of the other battalions were almost -as hard hit. It was now raining and the light -was failing. The men dug themselves in near the -old German trenches, the 3rd Brigade coming up -and taking its position on the right flank, where late -that night it connected up by means of its outer -unit, the 2nd Welsh, with the Twenty-fourth Division, -which had come up in support. -</p> - -<p> -The temporary check to the advance of the First -Division had exposed the left flank of its neighbour -to the south, the Fifteenth (M'Cracken's) Scottish -Division of the New Army. The two divisions were -to have met at Fosse 14, but the Fifteenth Division -arrived there some hours before the others, for the -reason already stated. In spite of this a very fine -advance was made, which gained a considerable -stretch of ground and pierced more deeply than any -other into the German line. The 46th Brigade was -on the left, consisting of the 7th Scots Borderers and -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P190"></a>190}</span> -12th Highland Light Infantry in front, with the 8th -Borderers and 10th Scottish Rifles behind them. It -was upon the parapet in front of this brigade that -Piper Laidlaw marched up and down before the -attack under a heavy fire, warming the blood of the -crouching men with the maddening scream of his -war-pipes. Not until he was shot down did this -gallant man cease to urge forward his comrades. -The 46th Brigade dashed forward at the signal, and -with a fine fury flooded over the German trenches, -which they carried at a rush, storming onwards -across the Lens road and up the long slope of Hill 70, -taking Fosse 14 upon the way, and eventually reaching -the summit of the incline. The 45th supporting -Brigade came along after them, detaching, as they -passed, 100 bombers of the 6th Camerons to help the -First Division to get forward. These brave Highlanders -held the advanced line for some hours under -heavy fire from the Lens batteries. -</p> - -<p> -The 44th Brigade upon the right of the 46th had -made an advance which was equally fiery and -successful. In this brigade the 9th Black Watch and 8th -Seaforths were in the lead, with the 7th Camerons -and 10th Gordons behind. This brigade dashed into -the main street of Loos, where they met the Londoners -of Barter's Forty-seventh Division. They helped -to consolidate this flank and to clear the houses of -Loos, while some of them pushed forward towards -Hill 70. When they reached the crest of the hill -they found the remains of the 46th Brigade, consisting -of remnants of the 12th H.L.I., 7th Scots Borderers, -and 10th Scottish Rifles, upon their left. It is -possible that they could have dug in and held their -own, but the objective as given in the original orders -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P191"></a>191}</span> -had been the village of St. Augustine, and with heroic -perseverance these brave men would be contented -with nothing less than the full performance or death -in the attempt. Alas! for many of them it was the -latter. Gathering themselves together, they flung -themselves forward over the crest. On the other -side was a long, low slope with isolated houses at the -bottom, the suburbs of the village of St. Laurent, -which they mistook for St. Augustine. These crackled -at every window with machine-gun fire. Of the -devoted band who rushed forward none reached -the houses. The few survivors fell back upon the -crest, and then, falling back about one hundred -and fifty yards, they dug in upon the slope on the -west side of it. Their position was an extraordinarily -dangerous one, for they had no protection upon the -left flank, where lay a thick wood—the Bois -Hugo—through which a German attack might come which -would cut them off from the Army. Colonel Purvis, of -the Highland Light Infantry, with quick foresight, built -up a thin line of resistance upon this side from Fosse -14 in the south to the advanced left point, manning -it with a few of his own men under Lieutenant M'Neil. -A welcome reinforcement of the 6th Camerons and -7th Scots Fusiliers from the 45th Brigade were thrown -in to strengthen this weak point. This was done -about 1 P.M. It was only just in time, for in the -afternoon the German infantry did begin to debouch -from the wood, but finding organised resistance they -dropped back, and their advance on this line was not -renewed until the next morning, when it fell upon the -Twenty-first Division. For a time the pressure was -very great, but the men rallied splendidly round a -tattered flag bearing the Cameron tartan, and, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P192"></a>192}</span> -although it was impossible to get forward, they still, -in a mixed and straggling line with hardly any officers, -held firmly to their ground. Late in the evening the -13th Royal Scots and the 11th Argyll and Sutherlands -came up to thicken the line. -</p> - -<p> -Leaving the Fifteenth Division holding on desperately -to that advanced position where, as Captain -Beith has tersely said, a fringe of Jocks and Sandies -lie to mark the farthest point of advance, we turn to -the remaining division upon the right—the Forty-seventh -London, under General Barter. This division -upheld splendidly upon this bloody day the secular -reputation of the Cockney as a soldier. With a keen, -quick brain, as well as a game heart, the Londoner, -like the Parisian, has proved that the artificial life -of a great city does not necessarily dull the primitive -qualities which make the warrior. The cream of -the London Territorial regiments had already been -distributed among regular brigades, and had made -themselves an individual name, but this was the first -occasion upon which a whole division was engaged -in a really serious operation. -</p> - -<p> -The left of the division was formed by Thwaites' -141st Brigade with the 18th London Irish in the front -line and the 20th Blackheath Battalion in immediate -support. To their right was Cuthbert's 140th Brigade, -which formed the extreme right of the whole attack, -a position which caused them to think as much of -their flank protection as of their frontal advance. -This brigade had the 6th and 7th Londons in the -van, with the 8th and 15th (Civil Service) in support. -The 142nd Brigade (Willoughby) was in the second -line. -</p> - -<p> -The advance of the 141st Brigade was a splendid -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P193"></a>193}</span> -one. At the whistle the 18th London Irish, with a -fighting yell, flooded over the parapet with their -regimental football kicked in front of them, and were -into the German trench like a thunderbolt. A few -minutes later they were followed by the Blackheath -men, who passed the captured trench, rushed on to -the second, and finally won the third, which opened -for them the road to Loos. Into the south end of -Loos they streamed, while the 44th Brigade of the -Fifteenth Division rushed the north end, turning out -or capturing the 23rd Silesians, who held the post. -The 19th St. Pancras Battalion followed up the -attack, while the 17th (Poplar) were in reserve. -Meanwhile, the 140th Brigade had done most useful -work by making a lodgment on the Double Grassier, -formidable twin slag-heaps which had become a German -fort. The ground to the immediate south of Loos was -rapidly seized and consolidated by the Londoners, -several guns being captured in the chalk pits near -the village. This operation was of permanent -importance, as the successful British advance would -inevitably form a salient projecting into the hostile -lines, which would be vulnerable if there were not -some good defensive position on the flank. The -work of the Forty-seventh Division assured such a -line in the south. -</p> - -<p> -By mid-day, as has been shown, the British advance -had spent its momentum, and had been brought to a -standstill at all points. The German lines had been -almost—but not quite—shattered. A map of the -photographed trenches shows that beyond the point -reached by the advanced troops there was only the -last line which held them up. To the east of that -was open country. But the German reserves were -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P194"></a>194}</span> -hurrying up from all quarters in their rear, from -Roulers, from Thielt, from Courtrai and Menin -and Douai. At the latter place was a division of -Guards just brought across from the Russian front. -These also were hurried into the fight. The extreme -British line was too thin for defence, and was held by -exhausted men. They were shelled and bombed and -worn down by attack after attack until they were -compelled to draw slowly back and re-form on interior -lines. The grand salient which had been captured -with such heroic dash and profuse loss of life was -pared down here and contracted there. The portion -to the south held by the Londoners was firmly -consolidated, including the important village of -Loos and its environs. An enormous mine crane, -three hundred feet high, of latticed iron, which had -formed an extraordinarily good observation point, was -one of the gains in this direction. The Fifteenth -Division had been driven back to the western -side of Hill 70, and to the line of the -Lens-Hulluch-La Bassée road. The Seventh and Ninth -Divisions had fallen back from Haisnes, but they -still held the western outskirts of Hulluch, the edge -of St. Elie, the Quarries, and Fosse 8. It was at this -end of the line that the situation was most dangerous, -for the failure of the Second Division to get forward -had left a weak flank upon the north, which was -weaker because the heavily-gunned German position -of Auchy lay to the north-west of it in a way that -partially enfiladed it. -</p> - -<p> -The struggle was particularly desperate round the -slag-heaps which were known as Fosse 8. This -position was held all day by the 5th Camerons, the -8th Black Watch, and the 7th Seaforths of the 26th -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P195"></a>195}</span> -Brigade, the remaining battalion of which, the 8th -Gordons, were with the bulk of the 27th Brigade in -the direction of Haisnes. These three battalions, -under a murderous fire from the Auchy guns and -from the persistent bombers, held on most tenaciously -till nightfall. When the welcome darkness came, -without bringing them the longed-for supports, the -defenders had shrunk to 600 men, but their grip -of the position was not relaxed, and they held it -against all attacks during the night. About five -next morning the 73rd Brigade of the Twenty-fourth -Division—a unit straight from home—pushed up to -their help under circumstances to be afterwards -explained, and shared their great dangers and losses -during the second day of the fighting. -</p> - -<p> -The battalions of the Ninth Division which had -got as far as the outskirts of Haisnes held on there -until evening. By that time no reinforcements had -reached them and they had lost very heavily. -Both their flanks were turned, and at nightfall they -were driven back in the direction of the Quarries, -which was held by those men of the Seventh Division -(mostly of the 22nd Brigade) who had also been -compelled to fall back from Hulluch. During the night -this position was wired by the 54th Company of Royal -Engineers, but the Germans, by a sudden and furious -attack, carried it, driving out the garrison and -capturing some of them, among whom was General Bruce, -the Brigadier of the 27th Brigade. After the capture -of the Quarries, the flanks of the 27th Brigade were -again turned, and it was compelled to return as far as -the old German front line. The 20th Brigade had -fallen back to the same point. These misfortunes -all arose from the radically defective position of the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P196"></a>196}</span> -northern British line, commanded as it was by -German guns from its own left rear, and unprotected -at the flank. -</p> - -<p> -Whilst this set-back had occurred upon the left -of the attack, the right had consolidated itself very -firmly. The position of the Forty-seventh Division -when darkness fell was that on their right the 140th -Brigade had a strong grip of part of the Double Grassier. -On their left the 19th Battalion (St. Pancras), which -had lost its Colonel, Collison-Morley, and several -senior officers, was holding South-east Loos in the -rear of the right flank of the Fifteenth Division. -The 20th was holding the Loos Chalk Pit, while -the 17th and 18th were in the German second-line -trenches. -</p> - -<p> -There is reason to believe that the rapid dash of -the stormers accomplished results more quickly than -had been thought possible. The Twenty-first and -Twenty-fourth Divisions were now brought up, as -Sir John French clearly states in his dispatch, for a -specific purpose: "To ensure the speedy and effective -support of the First and Fourth Corps in the case of -their success, the Twenty-first and Twenty-fourth -Divisions passed the night of the 24th and 25th on the -line of Beuvry-Noeux-les-Mines." -</p> - -<p> -Leaving the front line holding hard to, or in some -cases recoiling from, the advanced positions which -they had won, we will turn back and follow the -movements of these two divisions. It is well to -remember that these divisions had not only never heard -the whistle of a bullet, but they had never even been -inside a trench, save on some English down-side. It -is perhaps a pity that it could not be so arranged -that troops so unseasoned in actual warfare should -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P197"></a>197}</span> -occupy some defensive line, while the older troops -whom they relieved could have marched to battle. -Apart, however, from this inexperience, which was no -fault of their own or of their commanders, there is no -doubt at all that the men were well-trained infantry -and full of spirit. To bring them to the front without -exciting attention, three separate night marches -were undertaken, of no inordinate length, but tiring -on account of the constant blockings of the road and -the long waits which attended them. Finally they -reached the point at which Sir John French reported -them in his dispatch, but by ill-fortune their cookers -came late, and they were compelled in many cases to -move on again without a proper meal. After this -point the cookers never overtook them, and the -men were thrown back upon their iron rations. -Providence is not a strong point of the British -soldier, and it is probable that with more economy -and foresight at the beginning these troops would -have been less exhausted and hungry at the end. -The want of food, however, was not the fault of the -supply services. -</p> - -<p> -The troops moved forward with no orders for an -instant attack, but with the general idea that they were -to wait as a handy reserve and go forward when called -upon to do so. The 62nd Brigade of the Twenty-first -Division was sent on first about eleven o'clock, but -the other brigades were not really on the road till -much later. The roads on which they moved—those -which lead through Vermelles to Hulluch -or to Loos—were blocked with traffic: guns -advancing, ambulances returning, troops of all sorts -coming and going, Maltese carts with small-arm -ammunition hurrying forward to the fighting-line. -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P198"></a>198}</span> -The narrow channel was choked with the crowd. -The country on either side was intersected with -trenches and laced with barbed wire. It was pouring -with intermittent showers. The soldiers, cold, wet, -and hungry, made their way forward with many -stoppages towards the firing, their general direction -being to the centre of the British line. -</p> - -<p> -"As we got over this plain," writes an officer, -"I looked back, and there was a most extraordinary -sight; as far as you could see there were thousands -and thousands of our men coming up. You could -see them for miles and miles, and behind them a -most colossal thundercloud extending over the whole -sky, and the rain was pouring down. It was just -getting dark, and the noise of our guns and the whole -thing was simply extraordinary." -</p> - -<p> -Early on the march the leading brigade, the 73rd, -was met by a staff officer of the First Army, who gave -the order that it should detach itself, together with the -129th Field Company of Sappers, and hasten to the -reinforcement of the Ninth Division at Fosse 8. They -went, and the Twenty-fourth Division knew them no -more. The other two brigades found themselves -between 9 and 10 P.M. in the front German trenches. -They had been able to deploy after leaving Vermelles, -and the front line were now in touch with the 63rd -Brigade of the Twenty-first Division upon the right, -and with the 2nd Welsh Regiment, who represented -the right of the 3rd Brigade of the First Division, -upon their left. The final orders were that at eleven -o'clock next day these three divisions—First, -Twenty-fourth, and Twenty-first—were to make a united -assault past Hulluch, which was assumed to be in our -hands, and on to the main German line. This, then, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P199"></a>199}</span> -was the position of the reserves on the night of -September 25-26. -</p> - -<p> -It was a nightmare night in the advanced line of the -Army. The weather had been tempestuous and rainy -all day, though the men had little time to think of -such matters. But now they were not only tired -and hungry, but soaked to the skin. An aggressive -enemy pelted them with bombs from in front, and their -prospects seemed as black as the starless sky above -them. It is, however, at such a time that the British -soldier, a confirmed grumbler in his hours of ease, -shows to the best advantage. The men knew that -much ground had been gained. They had seen -prisoners by hundreds throwing up their hands, and -had marked as they rushed past them the vicious -necks of the half-buried captured cannon. It was -victory for the Army, whatever might be their own -discomfort. Their mood, therefore, was hilarious -rather than doleful, and thousands of weary Mark -Tapleys huddled under the dripping ledges of -the parapets. "They went into battle with their -tails right up, and though badly mauled have their -tails up still." So wrote the officer of a brigade -which had lost more than half its effectives. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p><a id="chap08"></a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P200"></a>200}</span></p> - -<h3> -CHAPTER VIII -<br /><br /> -THE BATTLE OF LOOS -</h3> - -<p class="t3"> -(The Second Day—September 26) -</p> - -<p class="intro"> -Death of General Capper—Retirement of the Fifteenth -Division—Advance of the Twenty-fourth Division—Heavy -losses—Twenty-first Division before Bois Hugo—Desperate -struggle—General -retirement on the right—Rally round Loos—Position on the -evening of September 26. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -Sunday the 26th was a day of hard fighting and of -heavy losses, the reserves streaming up from the rear -upon both sides, each working furiously to improve -its position. From early in the day the fighting was -peculiarly bitter round Fosse 8 in the section carried -and held by the Ninth Division. It has been already -mentioned that three battalions, the 5th Camerons, -7th Seaforths, and 8th Black Watch of the 26th -Brigade, held this place all the evening of the 25th -and all night, until reduced to less than the strength -of a regiment. It has also been stated that the -73rd Brigade had been detached from the Twenty-fourth -Division to their aid. These men, with no -preliminary hardening, found themselves suddenly -thrust into one of the very hottest corners of a -desperate fight. Under these circumstances it is all -to the credit of these troops that they were able to -hold their position all day, though naturally their -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P201"></a>201}</span> -presence was not of the same value as that of a more -veteran brigade. -</p> - -<p> -The 73rd Brigade were put into German trenches -to the east of Fosse 8, their order from the left being -7th Northamptons, 12th Royal Fusiliers, and 9th -Sussex, with the 13th Middlesex echeloned on their -right rear. They were constantly attacked, but -were suffering more from cold, hunger, and -exhaustion than from the Germans. All day they and -the remains of the Scots held the place against -intermittent assaults, which occasionally had some -partial success, but never quite enabled the enemy -to re-establish his position. It was not, however, -until the morning of the 27th, as will afterwards -be narrated, that their most severe ordeal was to -come. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -Death of General Capper. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -Close to Fosse 8, and on the south of it, was the -position of the Quarries, from which the 22nd Brigade -of the Seventh Division had been driven by a sudden -rush of the Germans during the night. After an -abortive but expensive attack by the 9th Norfolks -next morning, there was a more serious effort by a -body of mixed troops, led by Captain Carter and -including several units of the Second Division, -notably the 2nd Worcesters and 1st Rifles. These -battalions pushed their way up to the Quarries, and -although they were unable to evict the Germans -they established themselves firmly close to the -south-western edge and there awaited events. To -the south of them the 20th Brigade of the Seventh -Division held firmly to their line. It was on this day -that they lost their heroic leader, Sir Thomson Capper, -the fine soldier who had so often braced by word and -example their ever-thinning lines during the black -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P202"></a>202}</span> -days of Ypres, with which his name and that of his -division will be eternally associated. There was no -more valiant or trusted leader in the Army. He was -shot through the lungs, was carried to the rear, and -died in hospital next day. "We are here to do the -impossible" was one of the fiery aphorisms which -he left to the Army. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -The Fifteenth Division on Hill 70. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -On the southern front of the British there was also -an inclination to contract the line upon the morning -of the 26th. The fact that the French attack upon -the right on the day before had not had much success -rendered that wing very open to a flank attack. -The Fifteenth Scottish Division still held on hard -to the slopes of Hill 70, but early in the day their -line had been driven somewhat to the westward. At -nine o'clock they had renewed their attack upon Hill -70, supported by some reinforcements. They were -not strong enough, nor was their artillery support -sufficiently powerful to enable them to carry the -crest of the hill. When their advance was checked -the Germans returned upon them with a series of -counter-attacks which gradually drove them down -the hill. In the desperate series of rallies in which -they made head against the Germans it is difficult to -distinguish regiments, since the men fought for the -most part in a long, scattered fringe of mixed units, -each dour infantryman throwing up his own cover -and fighting his own battle. The 6th Camerons -preserved their cohesion, however, and particularly -distinguished themselves, their gallant leader, Douglas -Hamilton, falling at their head in the thick of the -fight. "I must get up! I must get up!" were his -last words before he expired. The final effect of these -episodes was to drive the British off the greater part -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P203"></a>203}</span> -of the slope of Hill 70, and down towards the village -of Loos. -</p> - -<p> -It will be remembered that the weary Twenty-fourth -Division (Ramsay), with its comrade the Twenty-first -(Forestier-Walker) upon its right and the Regular -First Division upon its left, had received its orders -to advance at eleven o'clock. It had been supposed -that Hulluch was in British hands, but this was found -not to be so. The orders, however, still held good. -The Twenty-fourth Division had already been stripped -of the 73rd Brigade, and now it was further denuded -by two battalions of the 71st, the 9th Norfolks and -8th Bedfords, who were told off to help to retake the -Quarries. The Norfolks made an attack upon a -strong position, and lost 200 men and officers in the -attempt. The Bedfords, who were in support, lost -touch both with their own division and with the -one that they were helping, so that they were not -strongly engaged during the day. -</p> - -<p> -The hour had now come for the general advance. -General Mitford with the 72nd Brigade was leading, -with two battalions of the 71st Brigade behind, and -his pioneer battalion in support. On his left was the -2nd Welsh, and, as he imagined, the whole of the First -Division. On his right was the 63rd Brigade and the -rest of the Twenty-first Division, less the 62nd Brigade, -as afterwards explained. It formed a solid wall of -20,000 infantry which might well turn the tide of a -great battle. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -The advance of the Twenty-fourth Division. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -We shall follow this advance of the Twenty-fourth -Division upon the left, who were compelled to go -forward with their flank exposed on account of some -delay in the attack by the First Division. Afterwards -we shall return to consider the movements of the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P204"></a>204}</span> -Twenty-first Division on their right. The leading -brigade, the 72nd, moved forward with the 8th West -Kents upon the left, and the 9th East Surreys upon -the right. Behind them were the 8th Queen's Surreys -(left) and the 8th Buffs (right), with the pioneer -battalion, the 12th Sherwood Foresters, in support. -They were followed by the two remaining battalions -of the 71st Brigade, the 9th Suffolks and the 11th -Essex. As the advance continued the second line -joined with the first, and the 11th Essex from behind -also pushed its way abreast of the foremost. The -line of advance was to the south of Hulluch, and this -line was preserved. As matters turned out, the -numerous guns in the south of that village were all -available for defence against the advance of the -Twenty-fourth Division. This caused them very -heavy losses, but in spite of them they swept onwards -with an unfaltering energy which was a monument -to those long months of preparation during which -Sir John Ramsay had brought his men to a high state -of efficiency. Under every possible disadvantage of -hunger, cold, exhaustion, and concentrated fire, they -behaved with a steadiness which made them worthy -of the honoured names which gleamed upon their -shoulder-straps. One platoon of the Essex diverged -into Hulluch in a vain attempt to stop the machine-guns -and so shield their comrades. Hardly a man -of this body survived. The rest kept their eyes -front, took their punishment gamely, and pushed -on for their objective. The breadth of the attack -was such that it nearly covered the space between -Hulluch in the north and the Bois Hugo in the south. -About mid-day the Twenty-fourth Division had -reached a point across the Lens-Hulluch road which -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P205"></a>205}</span> -was ahead of anything attained in this quarter the -day before. They were up against unbroken wire -with an enfilade rifle and machine-gun fire from both -flanks and from Hulluch on their left rear, as well as -a heavy shell-fire of asphyxiating shells. A gallant -attempt was made to pierce the wires, which were -within fifty yards of the German position, but it was -more than flesh and blood could do. They were -driven back, and in the retirement across the long -slope which they had traversed their losses were -greatly increased. Their wounded had to be left -behind, and many of these fell afterwards into the -hands of the Germans, receiving honourable treatment -from them. The losses would have been heavier -still had it not been that the Suffolks in support -lined up in a sunken road three hundred yards south -of Hulluch, and kept down the fire of the machine-guns. -Some of these raw battalions endured losses -which have never been exceeded in this war before -they could finally persuade themselves that the task -was an impossible one. The 8th West Kents lost their -Colonel, Vansittart, 24 officers, and 556 men; the 8th -Buffs their Colonel, Romer, 24 officers, and 534 men; -the other battalions were nearly as hard hit. These -figures speak for themselves. Mortal men could not -have done more. The whole brigade lost 78 officers -and 2000 men out of about 3600 engaged in the attack. -When these soldiers walked back—and there is -testimony that their retirement was in many cases at a -walk—they had earned the right to take their stand -with any troops in the world. The survivors resumed -their place about 1.30 in the German trenches, where for -the rest of the day they endured a very heavy shelling. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -The story of the Twenty-first Division. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -The movements of the Twenty-first Division upon -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P206"></a>206}</span> -the right were of a very much more complex nature, -and there is a conflict of evidence about them which -makes the task of the historian a peculiarly difficult -one. The great outstanding fact, however, which -presents itself in the case of each of the three brigades -is that the men in nearly every instance behaved with -a steady gallantry under extraordinarily difficult -circumstances which speaks volumes for their soldierly -qualities. Sir Edward Hutton, who raised them, and -General Forestier-Walker, who led them, had equal -cause to be contented with the personnel. "The men -were perfectly magnificent, quite cool and collected, -and would go anywhere," says one wounded officer. -"The only consolation I have is the memory of the -magnificent pluck and bravery shown by our good -men. Never shall I forget it," cries another. It is -necessary to emphasise the fact, because rumours got -about at the time that all was not as it should -be—rumours which came from men who were either -ignorant of all the facts or were not aware of the -tremendous strain which was borne by this division -during the action. These rumours were cruel libels -upon battalions many of which sustained losses in -this their first action which have seldom been -matched during the war. We will follow the fortunes -of each brigade in turn, holding the balance as far as -possible amid evidence which, as already stated, is -complex and conflicting. -</p> - -<p> -The 62nd Brigade (Wilkinson), consisting of the -8th East Yorks, 10th Yorks, 12th and 13th -Northumberland Fusiliers, with the 14th Northumberland -Fusiliers as pioneer battalion, was hurried away -separately and taken to the south and east of Loos -to reinforce the Fifteenth Division, which had -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P207"></a>207}</span> -sustained such losses on the 25th that they could not -hold both the front and the flank. -</p> - -<p> -The 62nd pushed on, reached the point of danger -as early as the night of the 25th, and occupied a -line of slag-heaps to the south-east of Loos, where -there was a gap through which the enemy could -penetrate from the flank. It was a prolongation of -the same general defensive line which had been -established and held by the Forty-seventh Division, -and it was the more important as the French advance -upon our right had not progressed so far as our own, -leaving our right flank in the air, exactly as our left -flank had been left open by the holding up of the -Second Division. The 62nd Brigade was only just -in time in getting hold of the position, for it was -strongly attacked at five in the morning of the 26th. -The attack fell mainly upon the 8th East Yorkshires -and the 10th Yorkshires, who were driven back from -the farther side of the great dump which was the -centre of the fight, but held on to the Loos side of it -with the support of the 13th Northumberland Fusiliers. -This line was held all day of the 26th. So stern was -the fighting that the Fusiliers lost 17 officers and 400 -men, while the 8th East Yorkshires at the slag-heaps -lost the same heavy proportion of officers and 300 -men. More than once the fighting was actually hand -to hand, especially with the East Yorkshires. Colonel -Hadow, together with Majors Noyes and Dent, all of -the 10th Yorkshires, were killed, while Colonel Way of -the East Yorkshires was wounded. It will be noted, -then, that the 62nd Brigade was working independently -of the rest of the Twenty-first Division on one -flank, as the 73rd of the Twenty-fourth Division was -upon the other. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P208"></a>208}</span> -</p> - -<p> -The main attack of the division was carried out -by the 63rd and 64th Brigades, the only ones which -remained under the command of General Forestier-Walker. -A formidable line of obstacles faced them -as they formed up, including the Chalk Pit and the -Chalk Pit Wood, and on the other side of the -Lens-Hulluch road, upon their right front, Fosse 14 and -the Bois Hugo, the latter a considerable plantation -full of machine-guns and entanglements. The original -plan had been that the advance should be simultaneous -with that upon the left, but the enemy were very -active from an early hour upon this front, and the -action seems, therefore, to have been accelerated. -Indeed, the most reasonable view of what occurred -seems to be that the enemy had themselves planned -a great attack at this point at that hour, that the -bickerings of the morning were their preliminary -bombardment, and that the British attack became -speedily a defensive action, in which the 63rd Brigade -was shattered by the weight of the enemy attack, -but inflicted such loss upon it that it could get no -farther, and ceased to endanger the continuity of our -line. It is only on this supposition of a double -simultaneous attack that one can reconcile the -various statements of men, some of whom looked -upon the movement as an attack and some as a -defence. -</p> - -<p> -The 63rd Brigade (Nicholls) moved forward with -the 8th Lincolns upon the right and the 12th -Yorkshires upon the left. These regiments advanced to a -point just east of the Lens-Hulluch road. In support, -on the immediate west of the road, lining the Chalk -Pit Wood, were the 10th Yorks and Lancasters, with -the 8th Somersets. For several hours this position -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P209"></a>209}</span> -was maintained under a heavy and deadly fire. -"The shells ploughed the men out of their shallow -trenches as potatoes are turned from a furrow," says -an officer. Two companies of the 8th Somersets, -however, seem to have lost direction and wandered off -to Hill 70, where they were involved in the fighting of -the Fifteenth Division. Two companies of the Yorks -and Lancasters were also ordered up in that direction, -where they made a very heroic advance. A spectator -watching them from Hill 70 says: "Their lines came -under the machine-guns as soon as they were clear -of the wood. They had to lie down. Many, of course, -were shot down. After a bit their lines went forward -again and had to go down again. They went on, -forward a little and then down, and forward a little -and then down, until at last five gallant figures rose -up and struggled forward till they, too, went down.... -The repeated efforts to get forward through the -fire were very fine." -</p> - -<p> -These four companies having left, there remained -only two of the Somersets and two of the Yorks and -Lancasters in the wood. Their comrades in advance -had in the meantime become involved in a very fierce -struggle in the Bois Hugo. Here, after being -decimated by the machine-guns, they met and held for a -time the full force of the German attack. The men -of Yorkshire and of Lincolnshire fought desperately -against heavy masses of troops, thrown forward with -great gallantry and disregard of loss. For once the -British rifle-fire had a chance, and exacted its usual -high toll. "We cut line after line of the enemy down -as they advanced." So rapid was the fire that -cartridges began to run low, and men were seen crawling -up to their dead comrades to ransack their pouches. -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P210"></a>210}</span> -The enemy was dropping fast, and yet nothing could -stop him. Brigadier Nicholls walked up to the firing -line with reckless bravery and gave the order to charge. -Bayonets were actually crossed and the enemy thrown -back. The gallant Nicholls fell, shot in the thigh -and stomach, and the position became impossible. -The Lincolns had suffered the appalling loss of all -their officers and 500 men. The Yorkshires were in -no better case. The survivors fell back rapidly upon -the supports. -</p> - -<p> -Fortunately, these were in close attendance. As -the remains of the Lincolns and the West Yorkshires, -after their most gallant and desperate resistance to -the overwhelming German attack, came pouring back -with few officers and in a state of some confusion -from the Bois Hugo and over the Lens-Hulluch -road, the four companies under Majors Howard and -Taylor covered their retreat and held up for a time -the German swarms behind them, the remains of the -four battalions fighting in one line. -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P211"></a>211}</span> -</p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-211"></a> -<br /> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-211.jpg" alt="BATTLE OF LOOS II" /> -<br /> -BATTLE OF LOOS II -</p> - -<p class="t3"> - APPROXIMATE POSITIONS OF BRITISH<br /> - DIVISIONS ON FORENOON OF SEPT. 26th<br /> -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -One party of mixed Lincolns and Yorkshires -held out for about seven hours in an advanced trench, -which was surrounded by the enemy about eleven, -and the survivors, after sustaining very heavy -losses—"the trench was like a shambles"—did not -surrender until nearly six o'clock, when their ammunition -had all been shot away. The isolation of this body -was caused by the fact that their trenches lay opposite -the south end of the Bois Hugo. The strong German -attack came round the north side of the wood, and -thus, as it progressed, a considerable number of the -Lincolns and some of the West Yorks, still holding the -line upon the right, were entirely cut off. Colonel -Walter of the Lincolns, with Major Storer, Captains -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P213"></a>213}</span> -Coates and Stronguist, and three lieutenants, are -known to have been killed, while almost all the others -were wounded. A number of our wounded were left -in the hands of the Germans. There is no doubt -that the strength of the German attack and the resistance -offered to it were underrated by the public at the -time, which led to the circulation of cruel and unjust -rumours. -</p> - -<p> -The 64th Brigade (Gloster) was in support some -little distance to the right rear of the 63rd, covering -the ground between the Lens-Hulluch road and Loos. -About noon a message was received by them to the -effect that the 63rd was being very strongly pressed, -and that help was urgently needed. The 14th -Durham Light Infantry was moved forward in -support, and came at once under heavy fire, losing its -Colonel (Hamilton), 17 officers, and about 200 men. -The 15th Durham Light Infantry was then thrown -into the fight, and sustained even heavier losses. -Colonel Logan, 18 officers, and 400 men were killed or -wounded. About one o'clock the two Durham battalions -were in the thick of the fight, while Captain -Liebenrood, machine-gun officer of the 64th Brigade, -did good work in keeping down the enemy fire. The -two battalions of Yorkshire Light Infantry (9th and -10th) were held in reserve. About 2.30 the pressure -upon the front of the 63rd Brigade had become too -great, and both it and the two Durham battalions -were driven back. Their resistance, however, -seems to have taken the edge off the dangerous -counter-attack, for the Germans did not come -on past the line of the road and of the Chalk Pit -Wood. -</p> - -<p> -It will be remembered that when the two advanced -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P214"></a>214}</span> -brigades of the Fifteenth Division established -themselves in hastily-dug trenches upon the western slope -of Hill 70, they threw back their left flank obliquely -down the hill towards Fosse 14 in order to avoid being -at the mercy of any force which endeavoured to get -behind them on this side. Only a very thin line of -men could be spared for this work, under a young -Australian subaltern named M'Neil. These soldiers -held the post for twenty-four hours, but when the -heavy German attack—which drove in the Twenty-first -Division and cut off the Lincolns—struck up -against them, they were all killed or wounded, -including their gallant leader, who managed, with -several bullets in him, to get back to the British line. -This led to the final retirement down Hill 70 of the -men of the Scotch Division, who dug themselves in -once more at the foot of the hill, not far from the -village of Loos. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -The losses. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -It may be noted that the losses of the two supporting -divisions were about 8000 men. Their numbers -in infantry were about equal to the British troops at -Waterloo, and their casualties were approximately -the same. Mention has already been made of the -endurance of Mitford's 72nd Brigade. The figures of -the 63rd and their comrades of the 64th are little -inferior. Of these troops more than 40 per cent of -the rank and file, 65 per cent of their officers, and 75 -per cent of their commanders lay upon the field of -battle. When one recollects that 33 per cent was -reckoned a high rate of loss by the greatest authorities -upon warfare, and when one remembers that these -were raw troops fighting under every discomfort and -disadvantage, one feels that they have indeed worthily -continued the traditions of the old Army and founded -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P215"></a>215}</span> -those of the new. There were isolated cases of -unordered retirement, but in the main the regiments -showed the steadiness and courage which one would -expect from the good North-country stock from which -they came. -</p> - -<p> -The divisional artillery of the Twenty-first Division -had come into action in the open behind the advancing -infantry, and paid the price for their gallant -temerity. The 94th Brigade R.F.A. lost especially -heavily, eight of its guns being temporarily put out -of action. Major Dobson of this brigade was among -the killed. It is to be feared that the guns did not -always realise the position of the infantry, and that -many of the 64th Brigade especially were hit by their -own shrapnel. Such painful incidents seem almost -inseparable from modern warfare. The artillery kept -its place, and afterwards rendered good service by -supporting the advance of the Guards. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -Reorganization. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -Whilst this advance and check had taken place -in the centre and right centre of the British position, -the London Division, upon the extreme right, was -subjected rather to bombardment than to assault. -A heavy fall of asphyxiating shells was experienced -a little after 9 A.M., and many men were gassed before -they were able to put on their helmets. The second -German line of captured trenches was held very -firmly by General Thwaites with the rest of the 141st -Brigade, while the 140th retained a defensive flank, -the whole forming a strong <i>point d'appui</i> for a rally -and reorganisation. Men of the Twenty-first Division -re-formed upon this line, and the battle was soon -re-established. This re-establishment was materially -helped by the action of the 9th and 10th Yorkshire -Light Infantry battalions previously mentioned of -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P216"></a>216}</span> -the Twenty-first Division, who had become a -divisional reserve. These two battalions now -advanced and gained some ground to the east of -Loos on the enemy's left flank. It may be -mentioned that one of these battalions was ordered to -discard its packs in order to ease the tired soldiers, -and that on advancing from their trenches these packs -were never regained. Their presence afterwards may -have given the idea that equipment had been -abandoned, whereas an actual order had been obeyed. -The movement covered the reorganisation which was -going on behind them. One small detachment under -Captain Laskie of the 10th Y.L.I. did especially good -work. The Yorkshiremen were aided by men of the -Northumberland Fusiliers of the 62nd Brigade, who -held on to the trenches to the east of Loos. A cavalry -detachment from Campbell's 6th Cavalry Brigade, -under Campbell himself, had also appeared about -4 P.M. as a mobile reserve and thrown itself into -Loos to strengthen the defence. -</p> - -<p> -The evening of this day, September 26, found -the British lines contracted as compared with what -they had been in the morning. The Forty-seventh -Division had, if anything, broadened and strengthened -their hold upon the southern outskirts of Loos. The -western slope of Hill 70 was still held in part. Thence -the line bent back to the Loos-La Bassée road, -followed the line of that road for a thousand yards, -thence onwards to near the west end of the village -of Hulluch, and then as before. But the exchanges -would seem to have been in favour of the Germans, -since they had pushed the British back for a stretch -of about a mile from the Lens-Hulluch road, thus -making a dent in their front. On both sides reserves -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P217"></a>217}</span> -were still mustering. The Guards' Division had been -brought up by Sir John French, and were ready -for operations upon the morning of the 27th, while -the Twenty-eighth Division was on its way. The -Germans, who had been repeatedly assured that the -British Army extension was a bluff, and that the units -existed only upon paper, must have found some food -for thought as the waves rolled up. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p><a id="chap09"></a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P218"></a>218}</span></p> - -<h3> -CHAPTER IX -<br /><br /> -THE BATTLE OF LOOS -</h3> - -<p class="t3"> -(From September 27 to the end of the year) -</p> - -<p class="intro"> -Loss of Fosse 8—Death of General Thesiger—Advance of the -Guards—Attack of the Twenty-eighth Division—Arrival of the Twelfth -Division—German counter-attacks—Attack by the Forty-sixth -Division upon Hohenzollern Redoubt—Subsidiary -attacks—General observations—Return of Lord French to England. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -The night of September 26 was a restless and -tumultuous one, the troops being much exhausted by their -long ordeal, which involved problems of supply -unknown in any former wars. The modern soldier -must be a great endurer as well as an iron fighter. -The Germans during the night were very pushful in -all directions. Their reserves are said to have been -very mixed, and there was evidence of forty-eight -battalions being employed against the British line, -but their attacks were constant and spirited. The -advanced positions were, however, maintained, and -the morning of the 27th found the attackers, after -two days of incessant battle, still keeping their grip -upon their gains. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -Loss of Fosse 8. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -The main part of the day began badly for the -British, however, as in the early morning they were -pushed off Fosse 8, which was an extremely important -point and the master-key of the whole position, as its -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P219"></a>219}</span> -high slag-heap commanded Slag Alley and a number -of the other trenches to the south of it, including most -of the Hohenzollern Redoubt. The worn remains of -the 26th Brigade were still holding the pit when -morning dawned, and the units of the 73rd Brigade -(Jelf) were in a semicircle to the east and south -of it. These battalions, young troops who had never -heard the whiz of a bullet before, had now been -in close action for thirty-six hours, and had been cut -off from all supplies of food and water for two days. -Partly on account of their difficult tactical position, -and partly because they were ignorant of how -communications are kept up in the trenches, they had -become entirely isolated. It was on these exhausted -troops that the storm now broke. The northern unit -consisted of the 7th Northamptons, whose left wing -seems to have been in the air. Next to them were -the 12th Royal Fusiliers. There had been several -infantry attacks, which were repulsed during the -night. Just at the dawn two red rockets ascended -from the German lines, and at the same moment an -intense bombardment opened upon Fosse 8, causing -great loss among the occupants. It was at this time -that General Thesiger, Commander of the Ninth -Division, together with his Staff-Major, Burney, was -killed by a shell. Colonel Livingstone, Divisional -C.O. of Engineers, and Colonel Wright, of the 8th -Gordons, were also hit. In the obstinate defence of -the post the 90th Company R.E. fought as infantry, -after they had done all that was possible to strengthen -the defences. -</p> - -<p> -A strong infantry attack had immediately followed -the bombardment. They broke in, to the number of -about a thousand, between the Northamptons and -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P220"></a>220}</span> -Fusiliers. By their position they were now able to -command Fosse 8, where the 9th Sussex had been, -and also to make untenable the position of the -27th Brigade, which occupied trenches to the south -which could be enfiladed. In "The First Hundred -Thousand" will be found a classical account of the -straits of these troops and their retirement to a safer -position. General Jelf telephoned in vain for the -support of heavy guns, and even released a carrier -pigeon with the same urgent request. Seeing that -Fosse 8 was lost, he determined to hold on hard to the -Hohenzollern Redoubt, and lined its trenches with -the broken remains of his wearied brigade. The -enemy at once attacked with swarms of well-provided -bombers in the van, but were met foot to foot by the -bombers of the 73rd Brigade, who held them up. The -26th Brigade endeavoured to counter-attack, but -were unable to get forward against the machine-guns, -but their bombers joined those of the English brigade -and did splendid work. The ground was held until -the troops, absolutely at the limit of human endurance, -were relieved by the 85th Brigade of the Twenty-eighth -Division, as will be described later. The -trench held by the Sussex was commanded from above -and attacked by bombers from below, so that the -battalion had a very severe ordeal. Lieutenant -Shackles defended a group of cabarets at one end of -the position until he and every man with him was -dead or wounded. Having taken that corner, the -Germans bombed down the trench. Captain MacIvor -with thirty men on that flank were all killed or -wounded, but the officer leading the bombers was -shot by Captain Langden and the position saved. -Nineteen officers and 360 men fell in this one battalion. -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P221"></a>221}</span> -"We gained," said one of them, "two Military -Crosses and many wooden ones." It had been an -anxious day for all, and most of all for General Jelf, -who had been left without a staff, both his major -and his captain having fallen. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -The coming of the Guards. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -Up to mid-day of the 27th the tide of battle had -set against the British, but after that hour there came -into action a fresh force, which can never be employed -without leaving its mark upon the conflict. This was -the newly-formed division of Guards (Lord Cavan), -consisting of the eight battalions which had already done -such splendid service from Mons onwards, together -with the newly-formed Welsh Guards, the 3rd and -4th Grenadier Guards, the 2nd Coldstream, and the -2nd Irish. -</p> - -<p> -On September 25 the Guards reached Noeux-les-Mines, -and on September 26 were at Sailly-la-Bourse. -On the morning of the 27th they moved forward upon -the same general line which the previous attack had -taken—that is, between Hulluch on the left and -Loos on the right—and relieved the two divisions -which had suffered so heavily upon the previous day. -The general distribution of the Guards was that the -1st Brigade (Fielding), consisting of the 2nd Grenadiers, -2nd and 3rd Coldstream, and 1st Irish, were on the -left. They had taken over trenches from the First -Division, and were now in touch upon their left with -the Seventh Division. On the right of the 1st Guards' -Brigade was the 2nd (Ponsonby), consisting of the 3rd -Grenadiers, 1st Coldstream, 1st Scots, and 2nd Irish. -On their right again, in the vicinity of Loos, was the -3rd Brigade (Heyworth), the 1st and 4th Grenadiers, -2nd Scots, and 1st Welsh. These last two brigades, upon -which the work fell—for the 1st Brigade remained in a -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P222"></a>222}</span> -holding position—were operating roughly upon the same -ground as the Twenty-first Division had covered the -day before, and had in their immediate front the same -wood—the Chalk Pit Wood—from which we had been -driven, and the Chalk Pit near the Lens-Hulluch -road, which we had also lost, while a little more to the -right was the strong post of Fosse 14 and the long slope -of Hill 70, the whole of which had passed back into -the hands of the enemy. These formidable obstacles -were the immediate objective of the Guards. During -the night of the 26th-27th many stragglers from the -Twenty-first and Twenty-fourth Divisions passed -through the Guards, informing them that their front -was practically clear of British troops, and that they -were face to face with the enemy. -</p> - -<p> -At 2.30 P.M. the British renewed their heavy -bombardment in the hope of clearing the ground for the -advance. There is evidence that upon the 25th the -enemy had been so much alarmed by the rapid -advance that they had hurriedly removed a good deal -of their artillery upon the Lens side. This had now -been brought back, as we found to our cost. At four -o'clock the heavy guns eased off, and the two brigades -of Guards (2nd and 3rd) advanced, moving forward -in artillery formation—that is, in small clumps of -platoons, separated from each other. -</p> - -<p> -The 2nd Irish were given their baptism of fire by -being placed in the van of the 2nd Brigade with -orders to make good the wood in front. The 1st -Coldstream were to support them. Advancing in -splendid order, they reached the point without undue -loss, and dug themselves in according to orders. As -they lay there their comrades of the 1st Scots passed -on their right under very heavy fire in salvos of -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P223"></a>223}</span> -high-explosive shells, and carried Fosse 14 by storm in -the most admirable manner, while the Irish covered -them with their rifle-fire. Part of the right-hand -company of the Irish Guards got drawn into this -attack and rushed forward with the Scots. Having -taken Fosse 14, this body of men pushed impetuously -forward, met a heavy German counter-attack, and -were driven back. Their two young leaders, -Lieutenants Clifford and Kipling, were seen no more. -The German attack came with irresistible strength, -supported by a very heavy enfilade fire. The remains -of the Scots Guards were driven with heavy losses -out of Fosse 14, and both they and the Irish were -thrown back as far as the line of the Loos-Hulluch -road. -</p> - -<p> -The remains of the shaken battalions were joined -by two companies of the 2nd Coldstream and -reformed for another effort. In this attack of the 2nd -Brigade upon Fosse 14, the Scots were supported -by two companies of the 3rd Grenadiers, the other -two being in general reserve. These two companies, -coming up independently somewhat later than the -main advance, were terribly shelled, but reached -their objective, where they endured renewed losses. -The officers were nearly all put out of action, and -eventually a handful of survivors were brought back -to the Chalk Pit Wood by Lieutenant Ritchie, -himself severely wounded. -</p> - -<p> -Captain Alexander, with some of the Irish, had -succeeded also in holding their ground in the Chalk -Pit Wood, though partly surrounded by the German -advance, and they now sent back urgently for help. -A fresh advance was made, in the course of which the -other two companies of Coldstreamers pushed forward -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P224"></a>224}</span> -on the left of the wood and seized the Chalk Pit. -It was hard soil and trenching was difficult, but -the line of the wood and of the pit was consolidated -as far as possible. A dangerous gap had been left -between the 1st Coldstream, who were now the -extreme left of the 2nd Brigade, and the right of the -1st Brigade. It was filled up by 150 men, hastily -collected, who frustrated an attempt of the enemy to -push through. This line was held until dark, though -the men had to endure a very heavy and accurate -shelling, against which they had little protection. -In the early morning the 1st Coldstream made a -fresh advance from the north-west against Fosse 14, -but could make no headway against the German -fire. The line of Chalk Pit Wood now became the -permanent line of the Army. -</p> - -<p> -The 3rd Brigade of Guards had advanced at the -same time as the 2nd, their attack being on the -immediate right on the line of Fosse 14 and Hill 70. It -may indeed be said that the object of the 2nd Brigade -attack upon Fosse 14 was very largely to silence or -engage the machine-guns there and so make it easier -for the 3rd Brigade to make headway at Hill 70. The -Guardsmen advanced with great steadiness up the -long slope of the hill, and actually gained the crest, -the Welsh and the 4th Grenadiers in the lead, but a -powerful German redoubt which swept the open -ground with its fire made the summit untenable, and -they were compelled to drop back over the crest line, -where they dug themselves in and remained until -this section of the line was taken over by the Twelfth -Division. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -Rearrangements. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -The Guards had lost very heavily during these -operations. The 2nd Irish had lost 8 officers and 324 -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P225"></a>225}</span> -men, while the 1st Scots and 1st Coldstream had -suffered about as heavily. The 3rd Brigade had been -even more severely hit, and the total loss of the division -could have been little short of 3000. They continued -to hold the front line until September 30, when the -35th and 36th Brigades of the Twelfth Division -relieved them for a short rest. The Fifteenth Division -had also been withdrawn, after having sustained -losses which had probably never been excelled up to -that hour by any single division in one action during -the campaign. It is computed that no fewer than -6000 of these gallant Scots had fallen, the greater -part upon the blood-stained slope and crest of Hill 70. -Of the 9th Black Watch little more than 100 emerged -safely, but an observer has recorded that their fierce -and martial bearing was still that of victors. -</p> - -<p> -The curve of the British position presented a -perimeter which was about double the length of -the arc which marked the original trenches. Thus -a considerably larger force was needed to hold it, -which was the more difficult to provide as so many -divisions had already suffered heavy losses. -</p> - -<p> -The French attack at Souchez having come to a -standstill, Sir John French asked General Foch, the -Commander of the Tenth Army, to take over the -defence of Loos, which was done from the morning of -the 28th by our old comrades of Ypres, the Ninth -Corps. During this day there was a general -rearrangement of units, facilitated by the contraction -of the line brought about by the presence of our -Allies. The battle-worn divisions of the first line -were withdrawn, while Bulfin's Twenty-eighth Division -came up to take their place. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -Arrival of Twenty-eighth Division. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -The Twenty-eighth Division, of Ypres renown, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P226"></a>226}</span> -had reached Vermelles in the early morning of Monday -the 27th—the day of the Guards' advance. The -general plan seems to have been that it should restore -the fight upon the left half of the battlefield, while -the Guards' Division did the same upon the right. -General Bulfin, the able and experienced Commander -of the Twenty-eighth, found himself suddenly placed -in command of the Ninth also, through the death of -General Thesiger. The situation which faced him -was a most difficult one, and it took cool judgment -in so confused a scene to make sure where his force -should be applied. Urgent messages had come in -to the effect that the defenders of Fosse 8 had been -driven out, that as a consequence the whole of the -Hohenzollern Redoubt was on the point of recapture, -and that the Quarries had been wrested from the -Seventh Division by the enemy. A very strong -German attack was surging in from the north, and if -it should advance much farther our advance line -would be taken in the rear. It was clear that the -Twenty-eighth Division had only just arrived in time. -The 85th Brigade under General Pereira was -hurried forward, and found things in a perilous state -in the Hohenzollern Redoubt, where the remains of -the 26th and 73rd Brigades, driven from Fosse 8 and -raked by guns from the great dump, were barely -holding on to the edge of the stronghold. The 2nd -Buffs dashed forward with all the energy of fresh -troops, swept the enemy out of the redoubt, pushed -them up the trench leading northwards, which is -called "Little Willie" ("Big Willie" leads eastward), -and barricaded the southern exit. Matters were -hung up for a time by the wounding both of General -Pereira and of his Brigade-Major Flower, but Colonel -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P227"></a>227}</span> -Roberts, of the 3rd Royal Fusiliers, carried on. The -Royal Fusiliers relieved the Buffs, and the 2nd East -Surrey took over the left of the line. -</p> - -<p> -An attack was organised upon the powerful position -at Fosse 8, but it had to be postponed until the -morning of September 28. At 9 A.M. the 2nd Buffs -delivered a very strong assault. The 3rd Middlesex -were to have supported them, but came under so -heavy a fire in their trenches that they were unable -to get forward. The Buffs, in the face of desperate -opposition, scrambled up the difficult sides of the -great dump—a perfect hill self-erected as a monument -of generations of labour. They reached the summit, -but found it swept by gusts of fire which made all life -impossible. Colonel Worthington and fifteen of his -officers were killed or wounded in the gallant venture. -Finally, the remains of the battalion took cover from -the fire in Dump Trench at the bottom of the hill. It -was in this trench that the Middlesex men had been -held. Their Colonel, Neale, had also been killed. From -this time onwards Fosse 8 was left in the hands of the -Germans, and the action of the Twenty-eighth Division -became more of a defensive one to prevent any -further whittling away of the ground already gained. -</p> - -<p> -As the pressure was still great from the direction -of Fosse 8, two battalions of the 83rd Brigade, the 1st -York and Lancasters and 1st Yorkshire Light Infantry, -were sent up to reinforce the line. On the 29th they -helped to repel two attacks all along the front of the -redoubt, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, -when the Germans came on to the surface only to be -shot back into their burrows again. On the same -day the 83rd and 84th Brigades relieved the weary -Seventh Division in the Quarries. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P228"></a>228}</span> -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -Mixed fighting. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -Whilst these operations had been carried on upon -the north half of the field of battle, to the left of -the bisecting road, the Twelfth Division, a South of -England unit of the New Army, had moved forward -into the space to the right of the road, taking over the -trenches held by the Guards, and connecting up with -the French at Loos. Save in the sector occupied by -the Twenty-eighth Division the action had died down, -and the British, aided partly by those pioneer -battalions which had been formed out of ordinary infantry -regiments to do work usually assigned to the sappers, -strengthened their hold upon the ground that they had -won, in the sure conviction that they would soon have -to defend it. The shell-fire continued to be heavy -upon both sides, and in the course of it General Wing, -of the Twelfth Division, was unfortunately killed, -being struck by a shell outside his divisional -headquarters. He had been one of the artillery officers -who had most to do with the fine handling of the -guns of the Second Corps at Le Cateau, and was a -very rising soldier of the most modern sort. Three -divisional generals killed—Capper, Wing, and Thesiger—and -one brigadier a prisoner! Such losses in the -higher ranks are hardly to be matched in our history. -To equal them one has to go back a hundred years to -that supreme day when Picton, De Lancy, Ponsonby, -and so many others died in front of their troops upon -the historic plateau of Waterloo. -</p> - -<p> -On October 1, at eight in the evening, Bulfin's men -were hard at work once more. It will be remembered -that the "Little Willie" Trench had been plugged at -the southern end by the Buffs three days before. -The Germans still held the main line of it, but could -not get down it into the Hohenzollern Redoubt. It -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P229"></a>229}</span> -was now charged most brilliantly and carried by the -1st Welsh, of the 84th Brigade, but after holding it for -a day they lost so heavily that they were compelled to -resume their old position once more. The 1st Suffolk -tried to win the ground back, but without success. -</p> - -<p> -Upon the afternoon of Sunday, October 3, the -fighting, which had died down, broke out once more. -The front line at this date was formed by the Ninth -French Corps, our splendid comrades of Ypres, upon -the right, occupying Loos and that portion of the -slopes of Hill 70 which had remained in our hands. -On their left was the Twelfth British Division up to -the Vermelles-Hulluch road, and to their left Bulfin's -Twenty-eighth Division, holding the northern area, -including the Hohenzollern Redoubt. For several -days the bombing parties of the enemy had been -eating their way into this fortress, and upon the 3rd -the greater part of it reverted into their hands, the -enemy driving in the 84th Brigade. These attacks -were based upon their strong positions in the north, -and supported by the machine-guns of Fosse 8 and the -heavy artillery of Auchy. On the same day a strong -force advanced against the right of the Twenty-eighth -Division between the Quarries and the Vermelles-Hulluch -road, but this attack was repulsed with heavy -loss. -</p> - -<p> -On October 4 and 5 the Twenty-eighth Division -was withdrawn, and the Guards, after three days' -rest, were called upon once more, the 3rd Guards -Brigade taking its position at the section of the -Hohenzollern Redoubt which we held, while the 1st -was on their right, and the 2nd in reserve at Vermelles. -At the same time the First Division moved to the -front on the right of the Guards, relieving the Twelfth -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P230"></a>230}</span> -Division. All these troops were keenly alive to the -fact that the Germans were unlikely to sit down -under their defeat, and that the pause was only the -preliminary to a great counter-attack. All efforts -were therefore made to consolidate the ground. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -The great counter-attack. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -The expectations were fulfilled, for upon October 8 -the enemy brought up their reserves from far and -near, determined to have back the ground that they -had lost. The British and French were no less -inexorable in their grip of that which had cost them -so much to win. It is the attacker in modern warfare -who pays the price. Sometimes he gets the value of -his blood, sometimes he pays it freely and gets nothing -whatever in exchange. So it was in this instance. -Along the whole long curve of the defence, from the -southern trenches of the Hohenzollern Redoubt in -the north to the French position in the south, the roar -of the battle went up. On the left of the French was -the First Division, on their left the Twelfth, on theirs -the Guards, on theirs the Seventh, stout fighters all. -The Germans rushed on boldly, swarms of bombers -in front, lines of supporting infantry behind. -Everywhere they were cut down and brought to a stand by -the sleet of bullets. It was the British machine-gunner -who now crouched under cover and spread death -fanwise before him, while it was the German infantryman -who rushed and tripped and rose and fell in the -desperate effort to carry out the plans of his chiefs. -All honour to him for the valour of his attempt. -</p> - -<p> -To appreciate the nature of a great deal of this -fighting one must remember that the whole scene of -it was intersected by a perfect maze of trenches which -belonged to the original German third line of defence, -and were therefore familiar to them, while they were -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P231"></a>231}</span> -strange to those British troops who now occupied -them. All along these zigzag lines the two parties -were only from thirty to fifty yards apart, so that the -broad, deserted plain was really intersected with -narrow runways of desperately active life. Attacks -developed in an instant, bombing parties sprang -forward at any moment, rifles were used at point-blank -range, so that an exposed bayonet was often snapped -off by a bullet. "Close to the bombers' keep fifty -small bayonet periscopes, four bayonets, and five -foresights of rifles were shot off in an hour and a half," -says an officer present. Over traverses men pelted -each other with anything that was deadly, while -above their heads the great shells for ever screamed -and rumbled. -</p> - -<p> -A great effort was made against the trench called -"Big Willie," running out from the Hohenzollern -Redoubt, which had been taken over by the Guards. -In the afternoon of the 8th, after a heavy -bombardment had flailed the position for four hours, -there was a determined rush of bombers upon these -trenches, the Germans, our old friends of the Seventh -Westphalian Corps, coming on in three battalions, -each of them down a different communication trench. -The general direction of the attack was from the -north and east. The trenches assaulted were held -by the 1st and 2nd Brigades of Guards, both of which -were heavily engaged. The riflemen, however, were -useless, as only a bomber can meet a bomber. At -first the stormers had some success, for, pushing along -very valiantly and with great technical precision, they -broke into the section of trench held by the 3rd -Grenadiers, putting out of action most of the bombers -and machine-gunners of that corps. "Our fellows were -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P232"></a>232}</span> -being bombed back from traverse to traverse, and we -could just see the top of the Bosche helmets going along -the trench." Lieut. Williams, with a machine-gun, -stopped the rush, but was soon shot through the head. -General Ponsonby, commanding the 2nd Brigade, -called, however, for the bombers of the 3rd Coldstream, -who swept down the trench, pelted the Germans out -of it, and gloriously avenged the prostrate Grenadiers. -The 2nd Coldstream had themselves been driven back, -and their bomb-store was temporarily captured, but -they came back and regained it after some stark -face-to-face fighting, in which Sergeant Brooks, a -British berserker, won his V.C. The remains of the -3rd Grenadiers also came back, led by Lieut. Geoffrey -Gunnis, and cleared the last corner of what they had -lost. The Guards lost 100 men in this action, many of -them blown to pieces by the bombs, but they entirely -cleared the trenches and regained every inch of lost -ground. The fight lasted for two hours and a half, -in the course of which 9000 bombs were thrown by -the British. -</p> - -<p> -Another focus of strife upon October 8 was the -Chalk Pit upon the Lens-Hulluch road, that tragic -spot which had seen in turn the advance of the -Fifteenth Division, of the Twenty-first, and of the -Guards. It had now been taken over by the First -Division, who had come back into the line after a -rest. Across that road of death, the Loos-Hulluch -highway, lay the ill-omened Bois Hugo, which offered -a screen for the German advance. Twelve battalions -were attacking, and as many more on the line held -by the French. Here the Germans lost very heavily, -going down in heaps before the rifle-fire of the 1st -Gloucesters, 2nd Munster Fusiliers, 9th King's Liverpool, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P233"></a>233}</span> -and other battalions in the First Division firing -line. The French 75's had been equally deadly and -successful. Between the position held by the Guards -near the Hohenzollern Redoubt on the left and that -of the First Division at the Chalk Pit on the right, the -ground was held by the Twelfth Division, the 37th -Brigade of which (Fowler) was briskly engaged. The -6th Buffs of this brigade was immediately to the right -of the Vermelles-Hulluch road, with the 6th Royal -West Kent continuing the line northwards down to -the Quarries. The 6th Queen's Surrey and 7th East -Surrey were in support. Somewhat to the right front -of this brigade was a position one hundred and fifty -yards wide, called Gun Trench, which was one of the -scattered forts which the enemy still held to the west -of the Loos-Hulluch road. An attack was organised -upon this position by Colonel Venables of the West -Kents, who was badly wounded in the venture. The -British, led by Captain Margetts, reached the trench -in spite of terrific fire and corresponding losses, -including the whole crew of a machine-gun of the East -Surreys which had been most gallantly rushed to the -front by Lieutenant Gibson. Half the trench was -cleared, but the Germans had themselves been on -the point of attacking, and the communications -leading eastwards were stuffed with men—a -prolongation, no doubt, of the same attack which was -breaking to the north upon the Guards. The weak -spray of British stormers could make no progress -against the masses in the supporting trenches, and -were bombed back to their own position. It was -a brave but fruitless attempt, which was destined to -be renewed with greater success a few days later, -when Gun Trench passed completely into the hands -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P234"></a>234}</span> -of the British. The West Kents lost 200 killed and -wounded in this affair. At night the whole line of -the French and British defences was inviolate, and -though there was an acute controversy between the -official accounts as to the number of German casualties, -it is certain that, whatever they may have been, -they had nothing to show in return, nor is it a sign of -military virtue to recoil from an enterprise with little -loss. The German fighter is a tougher fellow than the -cutters-down of his casualty lists will allow. British -losses were comparatively small. -</p> - -<p> -Though the Germans had gained no ground upon -the 8th, the British were averse from allowing them -to remain in undisputed possession of that which -they had won upon the 3rd. It was especially -upon the Hohenzollern Redoubt that the British -fighting line fixed a menacing gaze, for it had long -been a centre of contention, and had now passed -almost completely into the possession of the enemy. -It was determined to make a vigorous attempt to win -it back. The Forty-sixth North Midland Territorial -Division (Stuart-Wortley), who were veterans of nine -months' service at trench warfare, but had not yet -been heavily engaged, were brought up from the rear, -and upon October 12 they relieved the Guards Division -on the left of the front line. At the same time it was -planned that there should be an attack of the First -Division to the west of Hulluch, and of the Twelfth -Division in the region of the Quarries. Of these we -shall first describe the attack of the Territorials upon -the Hohenzollern Redoubt. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -Attack of the Forty-sixth Division. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -On October 13, at noon, a severe bombardment -was opened which concentrated upon the enclosure of -the redoubt, and the space between that and Fosse 8. -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P235"></a>235}</span> -This bombardment for some reason does not seem -to have been effective, and even while it went on the -sniping and machine-guns were active in the enemy -line. An hour later there was an emission of gas, -borne by a brisk breeze towards the German trenches, -and later still a smoke-cloud was sent out to cover -the advance. At two o'clock the troops dashed over -the parapet, the 138th Brigade, consisting of men of -Lincoln and Leicester, upon the left, while the 137th, -the men of Stafford, were on the right. In immediate -support was the 139th, a Sherwood Forester Brigade. -The line upon the left was headed by the 4th Leicesters -and 5th Lincolns, the men, with that light-hearted -courage which is so intolerable to the heavier German -spirit, singing, "Here we are, here we are, here we are -again!" as they vaulted out of their trenches. The -attack upon the right was led by the 5th North and -5th South Staffords. The advance was splendidly -executed, and won the critical admiration of some of -the Guards who were privileged to see it. In the face of -a murderous fire the attacking line swept, in an order -which was only broken by the fall of stricken men, up -to the front-line trench, two hundred yards in front. -</p> - -<p> -Here, however, the attack was held up by an -overwhelming fire. The 5th North Staffords, whose -objective was "Big Willie," were exterminated for all -immediate military purposes, their losses being 19 -officers and 488 men. The gallant survivors succeeded -in getting as far as a communication trench which led -to "Big Willie," and held on there. The advance of -the 5th South Staffords upon the right was conditional -upon the success of their comrades to the left. The -officer commanding the left companies saw that little -progress had been made, and exercised his discretion -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P236"></a>236}</span> -in holding back his men. The officer on the right of -the South Staffords could not see what was going on, -and advanced his company, with the result that they -ran into the same fatal fire, and lost terribly. The -two reserve companies coming up were only able -with very great difficulty to reach the British -front-line trenches, dropping half their number in the -venture. The result of all this slaughter, which seems -to have been entirely due to inadequate artillery -preparation, was that the second line of attack upon -the right, consisting of the 6th North and 6th South -Staffords, could do no more than garrison the -front-line trenches, and lost very heavily in doing so. -</p> - -<p> -On the left, however, things had gone better, for -at that part our guns seemed to have made more -impression. The advance of the 4th Leicesters and -5th Lincolns swept over the Hohenzollern Redoubt and -carried the whole of this formidable work up to Fosse -Trench. About a hundred yards short of this point -the advance was held up by concentrated machine-gun -fire. The losses had been very heavy, especially -in officers. The rear companies won forward to -the front none the less, and the 4th Lincolns came -up also to thicken the attenuated firing-line. They -held their ground with difficulty, but were greatly -helped by their pioneer battalion, the 1st Monmouths, -veterans of Ypres, who rushed forward with rifle and -with spade to consolidate the captured ground. -</p> - -<p> -Bombing parties had been sent out by the British, -those on the right to reach and bomb their way down -"Big Willie," those on the left to clear Fosse Trench. -The parties upon the right, drawn from the various -Stafford regiments, got into "Big Willie," and stuck to -their work until they were all destroyed, officers and -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P237"></a>237}</span> -men. The enemy bombers then counter-attacked, but -were met by Lieutenant Hawkes with a party of the -5th South Staffords, who drove them back again. -The pressure was very severe, however, until about -four in the afternoon, when the action upon the right -died down into a duel of heavy guns upon either side. -</p> - -<p> -On the left, however, where the gallant Territorial -infantry held hard to its gains, the action was very -severe. The bombing attacks went on with varied -fortunes, a company of the 5th Leicesters bombing -its way for more than two hundred yards up "Little -Willie" Trench before its supplies ran out and it had -to retire. At three o'clock there was a fresh infantry -advance, the 7th Sherwood Foresters of the reserve -139th Brigade endeavouring to get forward, but losing -so many in crossing the redoubt that they were -unable to sally out from the farther side. The redoubt -was now so crowded with mixed units all under heavy -fire that there might have been a Spion Kop but for -the steadiness of all concerned. At one time the -men, finding themselves practically without officers, -began to fall back, but were splendidly rallied by -Colonel Evill of the 1st Monmouths and a few other -survivors. The advent of two companies of the 5th -Leicesters retaining their disciplined order helped -to avert the danger, and the line was formed once -again along the western face of the redoubt. During -this movement the 7th Sherwood Foresters who -remained in the north-east of the redoubt were cut -off, but with splendid pertinacity they held their -ground, and made their way back when darkness -fell. In the early morning of the 14th, Captain -Checkland, with a company of the 5th Sherwood -Foresters, pushed an advance up to the place where -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P238"></a>238}</span> -their comrades of the 7th Battalion had been, and -found Captain Vickars of that regiment, who, with -of a bravery which deserves to be classical, defended -almost single-handed a barrier, while he ordered a -second one to be built behind him, cutting him off -from all succour. He was desperately wounded, but -was brought back by his comrades. -</p> - -<p> -The 8th Sherwood Foresters had also come to -the front, and made a spirited attack in the early -morning of the 14th, driving the enemy from the -western side of the redoubt and firmly establishing -the British gains in that quarter. This gain was -permanent, though it proved to be rather a visible -prize for valour than a useful strategic addition to the -line. So long as the sinister, low-lying dump of Fosse -8 overlooked it and was itself untaken, it was -impossible to make much use of the redoubt. For -forty-eight hours the advanced line was held by the 139th -Brigade against several brisk counter-attacks. At the -end of that time the position was handed over to -the safe custody of the Guards, while the Forty-sixth -North Midland Division withdrew from that front -line which was of their own creation. Colonel Martin -of the 4th Leicesters, who was shot through the knee, -but refused to move until he saw the result of the -attack, Colonel Fowler of the 8th Sherwoods, Colonel -Sandall of the 5th Lincolns, Major Cooper of the 4th -Lincolns, and nearly 4000 officers and men, were -among the casualties during the forty-eight hours of -exposure. -</p> - -<p> -The action was a very desperate one, and nothing -could have been finer than the conduct of all engaged. -"It was not the actual advance, but the holding -of the position afterwards, that was dreaded, as -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P239"></a>239}</span> -the Germans are so quick at counter-attacking." So -wrote one of the combatants. The dread was -well founded, for the Germans proved to be very -numerous and aggressive, and there can be little -doubt that at this period their bombers had a technical -proficiency which was superior to our own, whether -their opponents were Guards or Territorials. It is -characteristic of the unique warfare now prevailing -that the contending parties had practically abandoned -rifles, save as so many pikes, and that each -man carried a pouch full of projectiles, the size of a -duck's egg, and capable of disabling a dozen in a single -burst. It may be added that both sides wore leathern -helmets, sometimes with the visors up and sometimes -with the face entirely concealed, so that it appeared -to be a murderous strife of the strange, goggle-eyed, -mask-faced creatures of a nightmare. Such were the -extraordinary products of modern European warfare. -</p> - -<p> -Could all the ground taken have been permanently -held, this would have been a fine little victory. So -constant has been the phenomenon that the extreme -point cannot be held that it could now be stated as -an axiom for either side, and seemed to suggest that -the methods of attack should be in some way modified. -Each successive line of resistance has decreased the -momentum of the stormers and has helped to lessen -their store of bombs, while the farther they have -advanced the more difficult it is for fresh men or -supplies to reach them. Then, again, their diminished -numbers have caused a contraction and bunching of -the line, so enabling the counter-attack to get round -their flanks. Add to this the physical exhaustion -caused by extreme exertions while carrying a considerable -weight, and one has the factors which always -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P240"></a>240}</span> -produce the same result, and which led eventually to -the more fruitful tactics of the limited objective. -</p> - -<p> -When the Forty-sixth Midland Division advanced -upon the Hohenzollern Redoubt on October 13, there -was a brisk attack also by the Twelfth Division -upon their right, and by the First Division on the -right of the Twelfth. In the case of the Twelfth -Division, now commanded by General Scott, the -37th Brigade (Fowler) was heavily engaged. The -7th East Surreys of this brigade carried and -permanently held the Gun Trench, a position which had -cost them the lives of many officers and men upon -the 8th. Attacking the same line of trenches to -the left, the 6th Buffs lost heavily under oblique fire, -without any appreciable gain. Of three companies -who went out, 11 officers and 400 men were left upon -the ground, and a photograph has revealed the perfect -alignment of the dead. The 35th Brigade (Straubensee) -had a similar experience to the left near the -Quarries, the losses falling most heavily upon the -5th Berkshires and the 7th Norfolks. -</p> - -<p> -At the same hour the First Division, with a smoke -and gas screen before them, had broken in upon the -German lines to the south-west of Hulluch, near the -Hulluch-Lens road. About a thousand yards of -trenches were taken, but the shell-fire was so murderous -that it was found to be impossible to retain them. -On the whole, it must be admitted that, although -ground was gained along the whole line from the -Hohenzollern Redoubt to Hulluch by this very -desperate fighting, the losses were so heavy and the -results so barren that there was no adequate return -for the splendid efforts of the men. The attack was -urged by Territorials upon the left, New Army men -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P241"></a>241}</span> -in the centre, and Regulars upon the right, and at -all points it was equally gallant. -</p> - -<p> -The operations at the main seat of action, the Loos -sector, have been treated continuously in order to -make a consecutive narrative, but we must now return -to consider the subsidiary attacks along the line upon -September 25. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -Subsidiary attacks. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -While the First and Fourth Corps, supported by -the Eleventh, had been delivering this great attack -between La Bassée and Grenay, a series of holding -actions had been fought from the coast downwards, -so as to pin the Germans so far as possible to their -places. Some of these attacks were little more than -demonstrations, while others in less serious times -would have appeared to be considerable engagements. -</p> - -<p> -The Second Regular Division (Horne), acting upon -the extreme left of the main attack, was astride of the -La Bassée Canal. The most northern brigade, the -5th (Cochrane's), was opposite to Givenchy, and its -advance seems to have been intended rather as a -distraction than as a serious effort. It took place -half an hour or so before the general attack in the -hope of misleading them as to the British plans. -At the signal the three leading regiments, the 1st -Queen's Surrey, the 2nd Oxford and Bucks, and the -2nd Highland Light Infantry, dashed forward and -carried the trench line which faced them. The 9th -Glasgow Highlanders advanced upon their right. -The attack was unable to make any further progress, -but the fight was sustained for several hours, and had -the desired effect of occupying the local forces of the -enemy and preventing them from detaching -reinforcements to the south. -</p> - -<p> -The same remark would apply to the forward -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P242"></a>242}</span> -movement of the 58th Brigade of the Nineteenth Division to -the immediate north of Givenchy. This division of -the New Army is mainly English in composition, but -on this their first serious engagement the work fell -chiefly upon two Welsh battalions, the 9th Welsh and -the 9th Welsh Fusiliers. Both these corps sustained -heavy losses, but sacrificed themselves, as so many -others were obliged to do, in keeping up the appearance -of an attack which was never seriously intended. -</p> - -<p> -Taking the subsidiary attacks from the south -upwards, we come next to that of the Indians in the -vicinity of Neuve Chapelle. This was a very brilliant -affair, carried out with the true Indian tiger spring. -Had it been possible to support by adequate reserves -of men and an unrestricted gun-fire, it had in it the -possibility of a fine victory. The attack was carried -out by the Meerut Division, with the Garhwali Brigade -on the right and the Bareilly upon the left, the Dehra -Dun being in reserve. On the right the Garhwalis -were partly held up by wire, but the Bareillys came -through everything and swept into the front-line -trenches, taking 200 unwounded prisoners of the -Seventh Westphalian Corps. Two battalions of the -Black Watch, the 2nd and 4th, with the 69th Sikhs, -were in the lead, a combination which has broken -many a battle line before. The 58th Rifles -(Vaughan's) and a second Sikh regiment, the 33rd, -thickened the attack, and they swept forward into -the second-line trenches, which they also cleared. -They were now half a mile within the enemy's position, -and both their flanks were open to attack. The -reserve brigade was hurried up, but the trenches were -blocked with wounded and prisoners, so that progress -was very difficult. The German counter-attack was -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P243"></a>243}</span> -delivered with great energy and valour. It took the -form of strong bombing parties acting upon each -exposed flank. The 8th Gurkhas, who had been the -only battalion which succeeded in breaking through -on the right, linked up with the 4th Black Watch, -holding back the flank advance to the south, but -to the north the Germans got so far forward that -the advanced Indians were practically cut off. The -immediate neighbours of the Indians to the north -were the 60th Brigade of the Twentieth Division, -another English division of the New Army. Two -battalions of this brigade, the 12th Rifle Brigade and -the 6th Shropshires, were thrown into the fight, and -covered the threatened flank until their supply of -bombs—more and more an essential of modern -warfare—was exhausted. It was clearly necessary that -the advanced troops should be drawn back, since the -reserves could not be got up to support them, and -the need was becoming very great. In a little they -might be attacked on front and rear with the chance -of disaster. The Sikhs and Highlanders fell back, -therefore, with great steadiness, but enduring heavy -losses. In the end no ground was gained, but -considerable punishment was inflicted as well as suffered, -the German trenches being full of their dead. The -primary purpose of holding them to their ground was -amply fulfilled. It cannot be denied, however, that -in this, as in so many other episodes of the Battle of -Loos, the German showed himself to be a stubborn -fighter, who rises superior to temporary defeat and -struggles on while there is still a chance of victory. -His superior supply of bombs had also a good deal to -do with the success of his counter-attack. -</p> - -<p> -Whilst this very sharp conflict had been raging -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P244"></a>244}</span> -on the Indian line, the Eighth Division to the north -was engaged in a very similar operation in the region -of Bois-Grenier. The course of events was almost -exactly the same in each instance. The attack of the -Eighth Division was carried out by the 25th Brigade -(Stephens). The 2nd Rifle Brigade were on the right, -the 2nd Berks in the centre, and the 2nd Lincoln upon -the left. The front trench was carried, and 120 men -of the Sixth Bavarian Reserve Division fell into the -hands of the stormers. Part of the second line was -also captured. The positions were held for the -greater part of the day, and it was not until four in -the afternoon that the increasing pressure of the -counter-attack drove the British back to their original -line. Here again the object of detention had been -fully achieved. -</p> - -<p> -The most important, however, of all the subsidiary -attacks was that which was carried out to the extreme -north of the line in the district of Hooge. This attack -was made by the Fifth Corps, which had changed -both its general and its divisions since the days of -its long agony in May. It was now commanded by -General Allenby, and it consisted of the Third Regular -Division (Haldane), the Fourteenth Light Infantry -Division of the New Army (Couper), and the Forty-sixth -Division of Midland Territorials (Stuart-Wortley), -the fine work of which at a later stage of -the operations has already been described. The first -two of these units bore the brunt upon September 25. -The advance, which was across the old bloody ground -of Bellewaarde, was signalled by the explosion of a -large mine under the German position in the trenches -immediately south of that Via Dolorosa, the -Ypres-Menin road. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P245"></a>245}</span> -</p> - -<p> -The attack upon the left was made by the 42nd -Brigade (Markham), all four battalions, the 5th -Oxford and Bucks, 5th Shropshires, 9th Rifle Brigade, -and 9th Rifles being strongly engaged. The German -trenches were reached and occupied, but after some -hours the counter-attack proved to be too strong, -and the brigade fell back to its original line. -</p> - -<p> -Two brigades of the Third Division attacked in -the centre in the direction of Bellewaarde Lake. The -7th Brigade upon the left ran into unbroken wire, -before which the leading regiments, the 2nd Irish -Rifles and the 2nd South Lancashire, sustained heavy -losses while making no progress. The 8th Brigade to -the south of them had better fortune, however. This -brigade, strengthened by the 1st Scots Fusiliers, made -a fine advance immediately after the great mine -explosion. Some 200 prisoners and a considerable -stretch of trench were captured. A redoubt had been -taken by the 4th Gordons, and was held by them and -by the 4th Middlesex, but the bombardment in the -afternoon was so terrific that it had to be abandoned. -By evening the original line had been reoccupied, -the division having certainly held the Germans to -their ground, but at very heavy cost to themselves. -As these various attacks from the 5th Brigade at the -La Bassée Canal to the Fourteenth Division at Ypres -never entered into the scheme of the main fight, it -is not to be wondered at that they ended always as -they began. Heavy loss of life was doubtless incurred -in nearly every case. Sad as it is that men should -die in movements which are not seriously intended, -operations of this kind must be regarded as a whole, -and the man who drops in an attack which from the -beginning has been a mere pretence has enjoyed as -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P246"></a>246}</span> -heroic an end as he who falls across the last parapet -with the yell of victory in his dying ears. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -Results. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -A modern battle is a sudden furious storm, which -may blow itself out in two or three days, but leaves -such a tempestuous sea behind it that it is difficult -to say when the commotion is really over. In the -case of the Battle of Loos, or of Loos-Hulluch, it -may be said to have begun with the British advance -upon September 25, and to have ended with the -establishment of an equilibrium on the northern flank -of our salient on October 13. From that time onwards -for many weeks comparative peace rested upon this -sector. A time therefore, has come when the -operations may be reviewed as a whole. The net result -was a gain to the British of nearly seven thousand -yards of front and four thousand of depth, though if -one be asked what exact advantage this gain brought, -save as a visible sign of military virtue, it is hard to -find an answer. Had the gain gone to that farther -distance which was hoped for and aimed at, the -battle might, as in the case of the French in -Champagne, have been a considerable victory. As it was, -the best that we can claim is that one or two more -such advances in the same neighbourhood would -bring the valuable French coal-fields back to their -rightful owners. The most substantial proofs of -victory were 3000 prisoners, including 57 officers, -26 field-guns, and 40 machine-guns. On the other -hand, in the mixed fighting of the 26th we lost not -fewer than 1000 prisoners, including a brigadier-general. -Altogether the losses to the Army during -the three weeks of fighting were not less than 50,000 -men and 2000 officers. A large proportion of these -were wounded. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P247"></a>247}</span> -</p> - -<p> -There are some consolations for our limited -success in this venture. Having started to -endeavour to break the German line in one movement, -it was natural to persevere, but now that we can see -from how strong a hand our enemy played, we may -well ask ourselves whether a more successful advance -upon the 26th and 27th might not have led to grave -troubles. The French had been held on the right; the -Second Division was stationary upon the left. -Therefore we were advancing from a contracted base, and -the farther the advance went the more it resembled a -long, thin tongue protruded between the jaws of the -enemy. There was considerable danger that the -enemy, closing in on either flank while holding the -advance in front, might have bitten it off, for we know -for certain that we had none of those successive -rolling waves of reinforcement coming up which would -turn an ebb to a flood. However, as it was we had -much for which to be thankful. When one thinks of -the almost superstitious reverence with which the -German army used to be regarded—an army which -had never once been really beaten during three -European campaigns—it is surely a just cause for -sober satisfaction that a British force, half of which -consisted of new formations, should have driven such -an enemy with loss of prisoners and guns out of a -triple line of fortifications, strengthened by every -device of modern art, and should afterwards have -permanently held the greater part of the field against -every effort at reconquest. -</p> - -<p> -The account of this great battle, a battle in which -from first to last no fewer than twelve British divisions -were engaged in the Loos area alone, cannot be -concluded without a word as to the splendid French -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P248"></a>248}</span> -success won in Champagne during the same period. -There is a great similarity between the two operations, -but the French attacked with at least three times as -many men upon a threefold broader front. As in -our own case, their best results were gained in the -first spring, and they were able to continue their -gains for several days, until, like ourselves, they found -that the consolidating defence was too strong for the -weakening attack. Their victory was none the less -a very great one, yielding 25,000 prisoners and 125 -captured cannon. It is impossible to doubt that both -French and British if they duly learned their lessons, -and if they continued to accumulate their resources, -were now on the path which would lead them to -final victory. -</p> - -<p> -Before settling down into the inactivity enforced -by the Flemish mud, there was one further brisk -skirmish upon October 20 in that old battle-ground, -the Hohenzollern Redoubt. This was a bombing -attack, organised by the 2nd Irish Guards and led -by Captain Hubbard. The Irishmen were new to the -game, and somewhat outclassed at first by the more -experienced Germans, but under the gallant encouragement -of Lieutenant Tallents, who rallied them after -being himself badly wounded, they turned the tide, -and, aided by the Coldstream, made good the section -attacked. Lieutenant Hamilton was killed and 60 -men killed or wounded in this brisk encounter. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -Coming of winter. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -So, for a second time, wet, foggy winter settled -down upon the water-logged, clay-bottomed trenches. -Little did those who had manned them at Christmas -of 1914 imagine that Christmas of 1915 would find -them in the same position. Even their brave hearts -would have sunk at the thought. And yet a move -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P249"></a>249}</span> -back of a couple of miles at Ypres, and a move -forward of the same extent in the south, were all that -either side could show for a year's hard work and the -loss of so many thousand lives. Bloch, the military -prophet of 1898, had indeed been justified of his -wisdom. Far off, where armies could move, the year -had seen great fluctuations. The Russians had been -pushed out of Poland and far over their own borders. -Serbia had been overrun. Montenegro was on the -verge of utter destruction. The great attempt upon -the Dardanelles had been made and had failed, after -an epic of heroism which will surely live for ever in -our history and in that of our brave Australian and -New Zealand brothers. We had advanced in -Mesopotamia to within sight of the minarets of Bagdad, -and yet again we had been compelled to leave our -task unfinished and our little force was besieged at -Kut. The one new gleam of light in the whole -year had been the adhesion of Italy to the cause of -Freedom. And yet, though nearly every detail had -been adverse to us, our deepest instincts told us that -the stream did in truth move with us, however great -and confusing might be the surface current. Here -on the long western line, motionless, but not passive, -locked in a vast strain which grew ever more tense, -was the real war. All others were subsidiary. And -here in this real war, the one theatre where decisive -results could be looked for, our position was very -different in the opening of 1916 to that which 1915 -had shown us. In the year our actual Army in France -had grown three- and fourfold. The munitions had -increased in far greater proportions. The days had -gone for ever when a serious action meant three months -of shell economy before the fight and three months -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P250"></a>250}</span> -of recuperation after it. To the gunners it was like -an evil dream to look back to the days when three -shots per day was the allowance, and never save on -a definite target. Now, thanks to the driving power -of Lloyd George and his admirable band of assistants, -there would never again be a dearth, and no attack -should ever languish for want of the means to -follow it up. Our guns, too, were clustering ever -more thickly and looming ever larger. Machine-guns -were pouring forth, though there, perhaps, we -had not yet overtaken our enemy. Above all, our -Fleet still held the seas, cries of distress or at -least of discomfort from within Germany rose ever -more clearly, and it was certain that the sufferings -which she had so wantonly and wickedly inflicted -upon others were beginning to be repaid to her. -"Gott" does indeed "strafe," and needs no -invocation, but now, as always, it is on the guilty -that the rod falls. The close of 1915 found the -Empire somewhat disappointed at the past, but full -of grim resolution for the future. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -Change of command. -</span> -</p> - -<p> -One event had occurred in the latter end of the -year which cannot be allowed to pass without -comment. This was the retirement of Sir John French, -and his return as Lord French to take command of -the home forces. It is a difficult matter to get the -true proportion, either of events or of characters, in -so great an epoch as this. It will be years before the -true scale will gradually be found. At the same time -it can be said now with absolute certainty that the -name of John French will go down to history for the -sterling work that he has done during sixteen months -of extreme military pressure. Nothing which the -future could bring, however terrific our task, could -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P251"></a>251}</span> -be charged with the same possibilities of absolute -disaster as those operations of the past through which -he and his brilliant subordinates had successfully -brought the Army. His was the preparation of the -troops before the campaign, his the responsibilities -of mobilisation, and his the primary credit that they -were in the fighting line by August 22, 1914—they -who, upon August 4, had been scattered without their -reserves or full equipment over a dozen garrison -towns. This alone was a great feat. Then came -the long, desperate fight to make head against a -superior foe, the rally, the return, the fine change of -position, the long struggle for the coast, the victory -saddened by the practical annihilation of the old -Regular Army, the absorption and organisation of -the new elements, the resumption of the offensive, -and that series of spirited actions which, if they never -attained full success, were each more formidable than -the last, and were all preparatory exercises for the -great Somme battles of 1916. This was the record -which Lord French took back with him to the Horse -Guards, and it is one which can never be forgotten by -his fellow-countrymen. -</p> - -<p> -Sir Douglas Haig, who succeeded to the chief -command, was the leader who would undoubtedly -have been called to the vacant post by both Army -and public had leaders been chosen in the old -Pretorian fashion. From the beginning he and -Smith-Dorrien had been the right and left hands of the -Chief, and now that ill-health had unhappily eliminated -the latter, Haig's claim was paramount. Again -and again he had borne the heaviest part in the -fighting, and had saved the situation when it seemed -desperate. He was a man of the type which the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P252"></a>252}</span> -British love, who shines the brighter against a dark -background. Youthful for so high a command, and -of with a frame and spirit which were even younger than -his years, with the caution of a Scotchman and the -calculated dash of a leader of cavalry, he was indeed -the ideal man for a great military crisis. No task -might seem impossible to the man who had held back -the German tide at Ypres. With Haig in command -and with an Army which was ever growing in -numbers, in quality, and in equipment, the British -waited with quiet confidence for the campaign of 1916. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p><a id="chap10"></a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P253"></a>253}</span></p> - -<h3> -INDEX -</h3> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Ainslie, General, <a href="#P162">162</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Alderson, General, <a href="#P50">50</a>, <a href="#P57">57</a>, <a href="#P62">62</a>, <a href="#P134">134</a>, -<a href="#P143">143</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Alexander, Captain, <a href="#P223">223</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Allenby, General, <a href="#P142">142</a>, <a href="#P244">244</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Anley, General, <a href="#P75">75</a>, <a href="#P86">86</a>, <a href="#P104">104</a>, <a href="#P155">155</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Army Medical Service, <a href="#P1">1</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Aston, Lieutenant, <a href="#P30">30</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Baldock, General, <a href="#P142">142</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Ballard, General, <a href="#P29">29</a>, <a href="#P152">152</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Bannatine-Allason, General, <a href="#P143">143</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Barnett, Major, <a href="#P161">161</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Barrett, Captain Moulton, <a href="#P35">35</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Barter, General, <a href="#P136">136</a>, <a href="#P143">143</a>, <a href="#P190">190</a>, <a href="#P192">192</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Barton, Captain, <a href="#P37">37</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Bearman, Captain, <a href="#P130">130</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Beatty, Admiral Sir David, <a href="#P168">168</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Beecher, Lieutenant-Colonel, <a href="#P146">146</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Beith, Captain, <a href="#P192">192</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Bellewaarde, battle of, <a href="#P82">82</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Bennett, Captain Leigh, <a href="#P5">5</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Bernhardi and our Colonial Militia, <a href="#P57">57</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Bibby, Lieutenant, <a href="#P17">17</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Blagrove, Adjutant, <a href="#P161">161</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Bliss, Colonel, <a href="#P17">17</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Bottomley, Major, <a href="#P130">130</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Bowes, General, <a href="#P90">90</a>, <a href="#P108">108</a>, <a href="#P150">150</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Boyle, Colonel, <a href="#P51">51</a>, <a href="#P52">52</a>, <a href="#P72">72</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Bridgford, Colonel, <a href="#P70">70</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Briggs, General, <a href="#P98">98</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Brook, Colonel, <a href="#P131">131</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Brooks, Sergeant, V.C., <a href="#P232">232</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Bruce, General, <a href="#P181">181</a>, <a href="#P195">195</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Bulfin, General, <a href="#P42">42</a>, <a href="#P109">109</a>, <a href="#P142">142</a>, <a href="#P144">144</a>, -<a href="#P225">225</a>, <a href="#P226">226</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Bulgaria joins the Central Powers, -<a href="#P171">171</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Bulkeley-Johnson, General, <a href="#P100">100</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Burchall, Colonel, <a href="#P56">56</a>, <a href="#P72">72</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Burnett, Captain, <a href="#P36">36</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Burney, Staff-Major, <a href="#P219">219</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Burnyeat, Lieutenant, <a href="#P35">35</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Bush, Lieutenant, <a href="#P4">4</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Byng, General Sir Julian, <a href="#P142">142</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Cameron of Lochiel, Colonel, <a href="#P183">183</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Campbell, General, <a href="#P149">149</a>, <a href="#P216">216</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Campbell, Colonel, <a href="#P41">41</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Campbell, Major Carter, <a href="#P18">18</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Campbell-Dick, Captain, <a href="#P123">123</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Capper, General, <a href="#P143">143</a>, <a href="#P201">201</a>, <a href="#P228">228</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Carmichael, Captain, <a href="#P14">14</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Carter, General, <a href="#P22">22</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Carter, Colonel, <a href="#P23">23</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Carter, Captain, <a href="#P201">201</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Cavan, Lord, <a href="#P5">5</a>, <a href="#P133">133</a>, <a href="#P221">221</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Cavendish, Colonel Lord Richard, <a href="#P77">77</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Champagne, French offensive in, -<a href="#P170">170</a>, <a href="#P248">248</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Chaplin, Colonel, <a href="#P160">160</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Chapman, General, <a href="#P106">106</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Checkland, Captain, <a href="#P237">237</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Chesham, Lord, <a href="#P103">103</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Clark, Colonel James, <a href="#P94">94</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Clark, Lieutenant, <a href="#P90">90</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Clifford, Lieutenant, <a href="#P223">223</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Coates, Captain, <a href="#P213">213</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Cochrane, General, <a href="#P179">179</a>, <a href="#P241">241</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Cockburn, General, <a href="#P161">161</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Collison-Morley, Colonel, <a href="#P196">196</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Compton, Lord, <a href="#P103">103</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Congreve, General, V.C., <a href="#P142">142</a>, <a href="#P144">144</a>, -<a href="#P161">161</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Cooper, Major, <a href="#P238">238</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Couper, General, <a href="#P142">142</a>, <a href="#P156">156</a>, <a href="#P244">244</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Crabb, Lieutenant, <a href="#P9">9</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Craig, Lieutenant, <a href="#P146">146</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Croker, General, <a href="#P93">93</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Cuinchy, action of, <a href="#P2">2</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Curry, General, <a href="#P59">59</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Cuthbert, General, <a href="#P136">136</a>, <a href="#P192">192</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Daly, General, <a href="#P179">179</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Dardanelles, attempt to force the, -<a href="#P168">168</a>, <a href="#P170">170</a>, <a href="#P249">249</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Davies, General, <a href="#P143">143</a>, <a href="#P144">144</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -De Ligne, General, <a href="#P65">65</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -De Lisle, General, <a href="#P52">52</a>, <a href="#P66">66</a>, <a href="#P96">96</a>, <a href="#P109">109</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Dent, Major, <a href="#P207">207</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Dering, Captain, <a href="#P36">36</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Dickens, General, <a href="#P181">181</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Dill, Major, <a href="#P119">119</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Dobson, Major, <a href="#P215">215</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -D'Urbal, General, <a href="#P6">6</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Edgar, Major, <a href="#P135">135</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Edwards, Captain, <a href="#P92">92</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Egerton, Staff-Captain, <a href="#P38">38</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Elton, Lieutenant, <a href="#P31">31</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Evans-Freke, Colonel the Hon., -<a href="#P103">103</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Evill, Colonel, <a href="#P237">237</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Fane, Captain, <a href="#P95">95</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Fanshawe, General, <a href="#P23">23</a>, <a href="#P143">143</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Farquhar, Colonel, <a href="#P34">34</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Ferguson, General, <a href="#P7">7</a>, <a href="#P42">42</a>, <a href="#P109">109</a>, <a href="#P142">142</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Ferguson, Colonel, <a href="#P103">103</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Ferrers, Captain, <a href="#P17">17</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Festubert, battle of, <a href="#P115">115</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Feveran, Captain, <a href="#P23">23</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Field, Lieutenant Hamilton, <a href="#P49">49</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Fielding, General, <a href="#P221">221</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Finegan, Captain, <a href="#P149">149</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Flower, Brigade-Major, <a href="#P226">226</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Foch, General, <a href="#P166">166</a>, <a href="#P172">172</a>, <a href="#P225">225</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Follett, Captain, <a href="#P31">31</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Forbes, Colonel, <a href="#P31">31</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Forestier-Walker, General, <a href="#P203">203</a>, <a href="#P206">206</a>, -<a href="#P208">208</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Fortescue, General, <a href="#P8">8</a>, <a href="#P10">10</a>, <a href="#P31">31</a>, <a href="#P108">108</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Fowkes, Major, <a href="#P6">6</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Fowler, General, <a href="#P233">233</a>, <a href="#P240">240</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Fowler, Colonel, <a href="#P238">238</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Fraser, Colonel, <a href="#P131">131</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Freke, Colonel, <a href="#P103">103</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -French, General Sir John, <a href="#P12">12</a>, <a href="#P13">13</a>, <a href="#P42">42</a>, -<a href="#P43">43</a>, <a href="#P97">97</a>, <a href="#P115">115</a>, <a href="#P125">125</a>, <a href="#P176">176</a>, <a href="#P196">196</a>, <a href="#P197">197</a>, -<a href="#P217">217</a>, <a href="#P225">225</a>, <a href="#P250">250</a>, <a href="#P251">251</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Fry, Lieutenant, <a href="#P30">30</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Gabbett, Colonel, <a href="#P130">130</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Gardner, Major, <a href="#P11">11</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Gault, Major, <a href="#P89">89</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Geddes, Colonel, <a href="#P55">55</a>, <a href="#P72">72</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Geen, Lieutenant, <a href="#P160">160</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -George, Right Hon. David Lloyd, -<a href="#P137">137</a>, <a href="#P250">250</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Gibson, Lieutenant, <a href="#P233">233</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Givenchy, actions at, <a href="#P3">3</a>, <a href="#P145">145</a>, <a href="#P147">147</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Gloster, General, <a href="#P55">55</a>, <a href="#P213">213</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Gough, General, killed, <a href="#P8">8</a>, <a href="#P34">34</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Gough, General Hubert, <a href="#P175">175</a>, <a href="#P185">185</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Gough, Colonel Worsley, <a href="#P95">95</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Graham, Colonel, <a href="#P182">182</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Graham, Major, <a href="#P182">182</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Graham, Lieutenant, <a href="#P5">5</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Green, Lieutenant, <a href="#P4">4</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Greenlees, Lieutenant, <a href="#P130">130</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Grenfell, Captain the Hon. J., <a href="#P103">103</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Griffin, Colonel, <a href="#P155">155</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Griffith, Colonel, <a href="#P39">39</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Griffiths, Major Norton, <a href="#P35">35</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Gunnis, Lieutenant Geoffrey, <a href="#P232">232</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Hadow, Colonel, <a href="#P207">207</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Haig, General Sir Douglas, <a href="#P7">7</a>, <a href="#P13">13</a>, <a href="#P29">29</a>, -<a href="#P115">115</a>, <a href="#P143">143</a>, <a href="#P144">144</a>, <a href="#P175">175</a>, <a href="#P251">251</a>, <a href="#P252">252</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Haldane, General, <a href="#P142">142</a>, <a href="#P144">144</a>, <a href="#P244">244</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Hamilton, Colonel (Durham Light -Infantry), <a href="#P213">213</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Hamilton, Colonel Douglas, <a href="#P202">202</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Hamilton, Lieutenant, <a href="#P248">248</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Harper, General, <a href="#P24">24</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Harrington, Captain, <a href="#P25">25</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Harrison, Captain, <a href="#P31">31</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Hasler, General, <a href="#P64">64</a>, <a href="#P72">72</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Hassell, Lieutenant, <a href="#P130">130</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Hawkes, Lieutenant, <a href="#P237">237</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Heath, Colonel, <a href="#P187">187</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Heyworth, General, <a href="#P129">129</a>, <a href="#P221">221</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Hibbert, General, <a href="#P147">147</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Hicks, Colonel, <a href="#P73">73</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Hill 60, battle of, <a href="#P34">34-44</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Hill 70, fight for, <a href="#P202">202-225</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Hohenzollern Redoubt, fight for, -<a href="#P220">220-240</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Hooge, action at, <a href="#P140">140-165</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Horne, General, <a href="#P179">179</a>, <a href="#P241">241</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Hosley, Major, <a href="#P182">182</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Howard, Major, <a href="#P210">210</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Hubbard, Captain, <a href="#P248">248</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Hull, General, <a href="#P62">62</a>, <a href="#P72">72</a>, <a href="#P76">76</a>, <a href="#P104">104</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Hutton, General Sir Edward, <a href="#P206">206</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Italy joins the Allies, <a href="#P171">171</a>, <a href="#P249">249</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Jackson, Colonel, <a href="#P105">105</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Jacob, General, <a href="#P19">19</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -James, Lieutenant, <a href="#P4">4</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Jelf, General, <a href="#P219">219</a>, <a href="#P220">220</a>, <a href="#P221">221</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Jellicoe, Admiral Sir John, <a href="#P167">167</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Jerome, Colonel, <a href="#P42">42</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Johnson, Major, <a href="#P149">149</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Johnston, Captain, <a href="#P43">43</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Jones, Colonel, <a href="#P100">100</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Joslin, Major, <a href="#P35">35</a>, <a href="#P36">36</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Kavanagh, General, <a href="#P66">66</a>, <a href="#P101">101</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Keary, General, <a href="#P65">65</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Keir, General, <a href="#P142">142</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Kelly, Lieutenant, <a href="#P146">146</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Khartoum, Bishop of, <a href="#P133">133</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Kipling, Lieutenant, <a href="#P223">223</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Kitchener, Lord, <a href="#P137">137</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Kut, British force besieged in, <a href="#P170">170</a>, -<a href="#P249">249</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Laidlaw, Piper, V.C., <a href="#P190">190</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Landon, General, <a href="#P143">143</a>, <a href="#P144">144</a>, <a href="#P181">181</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Langden, Captain, <a href="#P220">220</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Langemarck, battle of, <a href="#P45">45</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Laskie, Captain, <a href="#P216">216</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Lawford, General, <a href="#P129">129</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Lawrence, Colonel, <a href="#P99">99</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Lawrence, Lieutenant, <a href="#P188">188</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Leckie, Colonel, <a href="#P51">51</a>, <a href="#P52">52</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Leckie, Major, <a href="#P134">134</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Lees, Major, <a href="#P39">39</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Leveson-Gower, Lord, <a href="#P103">103</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Liebenrood, Captain, <a href="#P213">213</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Lindsay, General, <a href="#P142">142</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Lipsett, Colonel, <a href="#P65">65</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Livingstone, Colonel, <a href="#P219">219</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Logan, Colonel, <a href="#P213">213</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Lomax, General, <a href="#P109">109</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Longley, General, <a href="#P8">8</a>, <a href="#P29">29</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Loos, battle of, <a href="#P172">172-252</a>; operations -reviewed, <a href="#P246">246</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Lord, Major, <a href="#P130">130</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Loveband, Colonel, <a href="#P105">105</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Lowry-Cole, General, <a href="#P16">16</a>, <a href="#P116">116</a>, <a href="#P119">119</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Lowther, General, <a href="#P123">123</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -<i>Lusitania</i>, sinking of the, <a href="#P125">125</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -McAndrew, Colonel, <a href="#P16">16</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -M'Cracken, General, <a href="#P189">189</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -McGee, Colonel, <a href="#P59">59</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -McHaig, Colonel, <a href="#P72">72</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -MacIvor, Captain, <a href="#P220">220</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Maclean, Colonel, <a href="#P182">182</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -McLean, Colonel, <a href="#P26">26</a>, <a href="#P28">28</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -MacNaughton, Major, <a href="#P4">4</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -M'Neil, Lieutenant, <a href="#P191">191</a>, <a href="#P214">214</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Mallandain, Lieutenant, <a href="#P64">64</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Margetts, Captain, <a href="#P233">233</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Markham, General, <a href="#P245">245</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Martin, Colonel (Lancaster), <a href="#P72">72</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Martin, Colonel (Leicester), <a href="#P238">238</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Mathieson, Lieutenant, <a href="#P19">19</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Maude, General, <a href="#P34">34</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Mercer, General, <a href="#P53">53</a>, <a href="#P56">56</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Mesopotamia, campaign in, <a href="#P170">170</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Miller, Lieutenant, <a href="#P79">79</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Mitford, General, <a href="#P203">203</a>, <a href="#P214">214</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Mitford, Major the Hon. C. B., <a href="#P103">103</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Monro, General, <a href="#P109">109</a>, <a href="#P134">134</a>, <a href="#P165">165</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Moriarty, Colonel, <a href="#P105">105</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Morland, General, <a href="#P35">35</a>, <a href="#P41">41</a>, <a href="#P42">42</a>, <a href="#P142">142</a>, -<a href="#P144">144</a>, <a href="#P165">165</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Morrison-Bell, Major, M.P., <a href="#P2">2</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Neale, Colonel, <a href="#P227">227</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Neuve Chapelle, battle of, <a href="#P12">12-28</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Neville, Captain, <a href="#P97">97</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Nicholls, General, <a href="#P208">208</a>, <a href="#P210">210</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Nicholson, General, <a href="#P163">163</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Niven, Lieutenant, <a href="#P89">89</a>, <a href="#P90">90</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Norsworthy, Major, <a href="#P58">58</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Northey, General, <a href="#P38">38</a>, <a href="#P42">42</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Noyes, Major, <a href="#P207">207</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Nugent, General, <a href="#P157">157</a>, <a href="#P160">160</a>, <a href="#P161">161</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -O'Gowan, General Wanless, <a href="#P6">6</a>, <a href="#P35">35</a>, -<a href="#P38">38</a>, <a href="#P42">42</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Oldham, Major Leslie, <a href="#P34">34</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -O'Leary, Private Michael, V.C., <a href="#P5">5</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Oxley, General, <a href="#P120">120</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Papineau, Lieutenant, <a href="#P9">9</a>, <a href="#P90">90</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Paterson, Major, <a href="#P40">40</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Paynter, Colonel, <a href="#P28">28</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Pereira, General, <a href="#P226">226</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Phillips, Hon. C. E. A., <a href="#P103">103</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Pickersgill, Lieutenant, <a href="#P107">107</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Pinney, General, <a href="#P16">16</a>, <a href="#P18">18</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Plumer, General, <a href="#P7">7</a>, <a href="#P8">8</a>, <a href="#P10">10</a>, <a href="#P29">29</a>, <a href="#P46">46</a>, <a href="#P92">92</a>, -<a href="#P96">96</a>, <a href="#P109">109</a>, <a href="#P142">142</a>, <a href="#P143">143</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Ponsonby, General, <a href="#P221">221</a>, <a href="#P232">232</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Prowse, General, <a href="#P77">77</a>, <a href="#P154">154</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Prowse, Colonel, <a href="#P31">31</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Pryce, Captain Mostyn, <a href="#P32">32</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Pulman, Captain, <a href="#P19">19</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Pulteney, General, <a href="#P7">7</a>, <a href="#P143">143</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Purvis, Colonel, <a href="#P191">191</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Putz, General, <a href="#P45">45</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Ramsay, General Sir John, <a href="#P23">23</a>, <a href="#P204">204</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Ramsay, Colonel, <a href="#P189">189</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Rawlinson, General Sir Henry, <a href="#P7">7</a>, <a href="#P14">14</a>, -<a href="#P116">116</a>, <a href="#P175">175</a>, <a href="#P185">185</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Rees, Captain, <a href="#P4">4</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Regiments: -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -<br /> -<i>Artillery—</i> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Durham Territorial Artillery, <a href="#P107">107</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Hon. Artillery Company, <a href="#P152">152</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -R.F.A., 40th Brigade, <a href="#P5">5</a>; 52nd -Brigade, <a href="#P185">185</a>; 94th Brigade, <a href="#P215">215</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -<br /> -<i>Cavalry—</i> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -1st Life Guards, <a href="#P97">97</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -2nd Life Guards, <a href="#P97">97</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Royal Horse Guards (Blues), <a href="#P97">97</a>, <a href="#P103">103</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -1st Dragoons (Royals), <a href="#P79">79</a>, <a href="#P103">103</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -3rd Dragoon Guards, <a href="#P97">97</a>, <a href="#P110">110</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -4th Dragoon Guards, <a href="#P98">98</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -5th Dragoon Guards, <a href="#P98">98</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -10th Hussars, <a href="#P97">97</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -11th Hussars, <a href="#P8">8</a>, <a href="#P98">98</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -18th Hussars, <a href="#P98">98</a>, <a href="#P106">106</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -9th Lancers, <a href="#P98">98</a>, <a href="#P106">106</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -16th Lancers, <a href="#P8">8</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Essex Yeomanry, <a href="#P97">97</a>, <a href="#P103">103</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Leicestershire Yeomanry, <a href="#P97">97</a>, <a href="#P103">103</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -North Somerset Yeomanry, <a href="#P97">97</a>, <a href="#P103">103</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -<br /> -<i>Guards—</i> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Coldstream, <a href="#P2">2</a>, <a href="#P4">4</a>, <a href="#P5">5</a>, <a href="#P6">6</a>, <a href="#P134">134</a>, <a href="#P221">221</a>, -<a href="#P222">222</a>, <a href="#P223">223</a>, <a href="#P224">224</a>, <a href="#P225">225</a>, <a href="#P232">232</a>, <a href="#P248">248</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Grenadier, <a href="#P25">25</a>, <a href="#P26">26</a>, <a href="#P28">28</a>, <a href="#P129">129</a>, <a href="#P133">133</a>, -<a href="#P221">221</a>, <a href="#P223">223</a>, <a href="#P224">224</a>, <a href="#P231">231</a>, <a href="#P232">232</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Irish, <a href="#P5">5</a>, <a href="#P6">6</a>, <a href="#P133">133</a>, <a href="#P221">221</a>, <a href="#P222">222</a>, <a href="#P223">223</a>, <a href="#P224">224</a>, -<a href="#P232">232</a>, <a href="#P248">248</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Scots, <a href="#P2">2</a>, <a href="#P4">4</a>, <a href="#P25">25</a>, <a href="#P28">28</a>, <a href="#P129">129</a>, <a href="#P130">130</a>, <a href="#P221">221</a>, -<a href="#P222">222</a>, <a href="#P223">223</a>, <a href="#P225">225</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Welsh, <a href="#P221">221</a>, <a href="#P224">224</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -<br /> -<i>Infantry—</i> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, -<a href="#P72">72</a>, <a href="#P76">76</a>, <a href="#P86">86</a>, <a href="#P92">92</a>, <a href="#P94">94</a>, <a href="#P105">105</a>, -<a href="#P180">180</a>, <a href="#P184">184</a>, <a href="#P192">192</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Artists' Rifles (28th London), <a href="#P136">136</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Bedford, <a href="#P37">37</a>, <a href="#P38">38</a>, <a href="#P39">39</a>, <a href="#P78">78</a>, <a href="#P80">80</a>, <a href="#P203">203</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Berkshire, <a href="#P16">16</a>, <a href="#P28">28</a>, <a href="#P119">119</a>, <a href="#P120">120</a>, <a href="#P127">127</a>, -<a href="#P180">180</a>, <a href="#P188">188</a>, <a href="#P240">240</a>, <a href="#P244">244</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Black Watch, <a href="#P3">3</a>, <a href="#P4">4</a>, <a href="#P120">120</a>, <a href="#P123">123</a>, <a href="#P125">125</a>, -<a href="#P149">149</a>, <a href="#P184">184</a>, <a href="#P190">190</a>, <a href="#P194">194</a>, <a href="#P200">200</a>, <a href="#P225">225</a>, -<a href="#P242">242</a>, <a href="#P243">243</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Border, <a href="#P25">25</a>, <a href="#P28">28</a>, <a href="#P129">129</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Buffs (East Kent), <a href="#P54">54</a>, <a href="#P77">77</a>, <a href="#P106">106</a>, -<a href="#P107">107</a>, <a href="#P163">163</a>, <a href="#P165">165</a>, <a href="#P204">204</a>, <a href="#P205">205</a>, <a href="#P226">226</a>, -<a href="#P227">227</a>, <a href="#P228">228</a>, <a href="#P233">233</a>, <a href="#P240">240</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Cambridge, <a href="#P30">30</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Cameron Highlanders, <a href="#P3">3</a>, <a href="#P41">41</a>, <a href="#P93">93</a>, -<a href="#P94">94</a>, <a href="#P123">123</a>, <a href="#P131">131</a>, <a href="#P183">183</a>, <a href="#P188">188</a>, <a href="#P190">190</a>, <a href="#P191">191</a>, -<a href="#P194">194</a>, <a href="#P200">200</a>, <a href="#P202">202</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), <a href="#P17">17</a>, -<a href="#P28">28</a>, <a href="#P120">120</a>, <a href="#P147">147</a>, <a href="#P148">148</a>, <a href="#P190">190</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Cheshire, <a href="#P91">91</a>, <a href="#P108">108</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Connaught Rangers, <a href="#P68">68</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Devon, <a href="#P17">17</a>, <a href="#P18">18</a>, <a href="#P40">40</a>, <a href="#P41">41</a>, <a href="#P78">78</a>, <a href="#P80">80</a>, -<a href="#P120">120</a>, <a href="#P185">185</a>, <a href="#P186">186</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Dorset, <a href="#P78">78</a>, <a href="#P80">80</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Dublin Fusiliers, <a href="#P72">72</a>, <a href="#P92">92</a>, <a href="#P105">105</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Duke of Cornwall's, <a href="#P8">8</a>, <a href="#P29">29</a>, <a href="#P30">30</a>, -<a href="#P55">55</a>, <a href="#P71">71</a>, <a href="#P159">159</a>, <a href="#P160">160</a>, <a href="#P161">161</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Durham Light Infantry, <a href="#P60">60</a>, <a href="#P62">62</a>, -<a href="#P64">64</a>, <a href="#P69">69</a>, <a href="#P106">106</a>, <a href="#P107">107</a>, <a href="#P160">160</a>, <a href="#P162">162</a>, <a href="#P164">164</a>, -<a href="#P165">165</a>, <a href="#P213">213</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -East Lancashire, <a href="#P18">18</a>, <a href="#P19">19</a>, <a href="#P64">64</a>, <a href="#P85">85</a>, <a href="#P86">86</a>, -<a href="#P92">92</a>, <a href="#P99">99</a>, <a href="#P105">105</a>, <a href="#P120">120</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -East Surrey, <a href="#P38">38</a>, <a href="#P39">39</a>, <a href="#P40">40</a>, <a href="#P64">64</a>, <a href="#P92">92</a>, -<a href="#P106">106</a>, <a href="#P204">204</a>, <a href="#P227">227</a>, <a href="#P233">233</a>, <a href="#P240">240</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -East Yorkshire, <a href="#P52">52</a>, <a href="#P58">58</a>, <a href="#P77">77</a>, <a href="#P86">86</a>, -<a href="#P89">89</a>, <a href="#P162">162</a>, <a href="#P165">165</a>, <a href="#P206">206</a>, <a href="#P207">207</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Essex, <a href="#P75">75</a>, <a href="#P76">76</a>, <a href="#P98">98</a>, <a href="#P100">100</a>, <a href="#P105">105</a>, <a href="#P204">204</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Gloucester, <a href="#P3">3</a>, <a href="#P4">4</a>, <a href="#P93">93</a>, <a href="#P95">95</a>, <a href="#P123">123</a>, <a href="#P125">125</a>, -<a href="#P188">188</a>, <a href="#P232">232</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Gordon Highlanders, <a href="#P25">25</a>, <a href="#P26">26</a>, <a href="#P28">28</a>, -<a href="#P129">129</a>, <a href="#P147">147</a>, <a href="#P149">149</a>, <a href="#P184">184</a>, <a href="#P185">185</a>, <a href="#P190">190</a>, -<a href="#P195">195</a>, <a href="#P245">245</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Hampshire, <a href="#P34">34</a>, <a href="#P65">65</a>, <a href="#P69">69</a>, <a href="#P86">86</a>, <a href="#P99">99</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Herts, <a href="#P133">133</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Highland Light Infantry, <a href="#P131">131</a>, -<a href="#P133">133</a>, <a href="#P182">182</a>, <a href="#P190">190</a>, <a href="#P191">191</a>, <a href="#P241">241</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Inniskilling Fusiliers, <a href="#P127">127</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Irish Fusiliers, <a href="#P98">98</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -King's Liverpool, <a href="#P23">23</a>, <a href="#P127">127</a>, <a href="#P128">128</a>, -<a href="#P133">133</a>, <a href="#P149">149</a>, <a href="#P179">179</a>, <a href="#P187">187</a>, <a href="#P189">189</a>, <a href="#P232">232</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -King's Own Royal Lancaster, <a href="#P71">71</a>, -<a href="#P75">75</a>, <a href="#P77">77</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -King's Own Scottish Borderers, <a href="#P35">35</a>, -<a href="#P36">36</a>, <a href="#P42">42</a>, <a href="#P182">182</a>, <a href="#P183">183</a>, <a href="#P189">189</a>, <a href="#P190">190</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -King's Royal Rifles, <a href="#P24">24</a>, <a href="#P71">71</a>, <a href="#P157">157</a>, -<a href="#P158">158</a>, <a href="#P159">159</a>, <a href="#P160">160</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Lancashire Fusiliers, <a href="#P75">75</a>, <a href="#P76">76</a>, <a href="#P155">155</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Leicester, <a href="#P19">19</a>, <a href="#P28">28</a>, <a href="#P163">163</a>, <a href="#P235">235</a>, <a href="#P236">236</a>, -<a href="#P237">237</a>, <a href="#P238">238</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Leinster, <a href="#P31">31</a>, <a href="#P33">33</a>, <a href="#P95">95</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Lincoln, <a href="#P16">16</a>, <a href="#P28">28</a>, <a href="#P119">119</a>, <a href="#P120">120</a>, <a href="#P150">150</a>, <a href="#P151">151</a>, -<a href="#P208">208</a>, <a href="#P210">210</a>, <a href="#P214">214</a>, <a href="#P235">235</a>, <a href="#P236">236</a>, <a href="#P238">238</a>, <a href="#P244">244</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Liverpool, <a href="#P122">122</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Liverpool Scottish, <a href="#P150">150</a>, <a href="#P151">151</a>, <a href="#P153">153</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -London Rifle Brigade, <a href="#P85">85</a>, <a href="#P99">99</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -London Scottish, <a href="#P3">3</a>, <a href="#P187">187</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -1st London, <a href="#P16">16</a>, <a href="#P28">28</a>, <a href="#P119">119</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -3rd London, <a href="#P19">19</a>, <a href="#P28">28</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -6th London, <a href="#P192">192</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -7th London, <a href="#P192">192</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -8th London, <a href="#P192">192</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -9th London (Queen Victoria -Rifles), <a href="#P38">38</a>, <a href="#P39">39</a>, <a href="#P136">136</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -12th London (Rangers), <a href="#P60">60</a>, <a href="#P91">91</a>, <a href="#P92">92</a>, -<a href="#P136">136</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -13th London (Kensington), <a href="#P16">16</a>, <a href="#P28">28</a>, -<a href="#P119">119</a>, <a href="#P121">121</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -15th London (Civil Service), <a href="#P192">192</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -17th London (Poplar), <a href="#P193">193</a>, <a href="#P196">196</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -18th London (Irish), <a href="#P136">136</a>, <a href="#P192">192</a>, -<a href="#P193">193</a>, <a href="#P196">196</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -19th London (St. Pancras), <a href="#P193">193</a>, -<a href="#P196">196</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -20th London (Blackheath), <a href="#P136">136</a>, -<a href="#P192">192</a>, <a href="#P193">193</a>, <a href="#P196">196</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -21st London, <a href="#P136">136</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -22nd London, <a href="#P136">136</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -23rd London, <a href="#P136">136</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -24th London, <a href="#P136">136</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Manchester, <a href="#P68">68</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Middlesex, <a href="#P17">17</a>, <a href="#P18">18</a>, <a href="#P55">55</a>, <a href="#P69">69</a>, <a href="#P92">92</a>, <a href="#P107">107</a>, -<a href="#P180">180</a>, <a href="#P201">201</a>, <a href="#P227">227</a>, <a href="#P245">245</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Monmouth, <a href="#P35">35</a>, <a href="#P60">60</a>, <a href="#P75">75</a>, <a href="#P83">83</a>, <a href="#P85">85</a>, <a href="#P89">89</a>, -<a href="#P91">91</a>, <a href="#P108">108</a>, <a href="#P236">236</a>, <a href="#P237">237</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Munster Fusiliers, <a href="#P123">123</a>, <a href="#P232">232</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Norfolk, <a href="#P201">201</a>, <a href="#P203">203</a>, <a href="#P240">240</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Northampton, <a href="#P5">5</a>, <a href="#P18">18</a>, <a href="#P120">120</a>, <a href="#P122">122</a>, <a href="#P188">188</a>, -<a href="#P201">201</a>, <a href="#P219">219</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -North Lancashire, <a href="#P122">122</a>, <a href="#P147">147</a>, <a href="#P148">148</a>, -<a href="#P188">188</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -North Staffordshire, <a href="#P235">235</a>, <a href="#P236">236</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Northumberland Fusiliers, <a href="#P68">68</a>, <a href="#P91">91</a>, -<a href="#P108">108</a>, <a href="#P150">150</a>, <a href="#P151">151</a>, <a href="#P206">206</a>, <a href="#P207">207</a>, <a href="#P216">216</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Oxford and Bucks, <a href="#P131">131</a>, <a href="#P241">241</a>, <a href="#P245">245</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Queen Victoria Rifles, <a href="#P38">38</a>, <a href="#P39">39</a>, <a href="#P136">136</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Queen's Westminsters, <a href="#P136">136</a>, <a href="#P162">162</a>, -<a href="#P164">164</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Queen's (West Surrey), <a href="#P129">129</a>, <a href="#P186">186</a>, -<a href="#P204">204</a>, <a href="#P233">233</a>, <a href="#P241">241</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Rifle Brigade, <a href="#P16">16</a>, <a href="#P26">26</a>, <a href="#P28">28</a>, <a href="#P32">32</a>, <a href="#P58">58</a>, -<a href="#P77">77</a>, <a href="#P89">89</a>, <a href="#P94">94</a>, <a href="#P98">98</a>, <a href="#P105">105</a>, <a href="#P119">119</a>, <a href="#P120">120</a>, -<a href="#P154">154</a>, <a href="#P157">157</a>, <a href="#P158">158</a>, <a href="#P243">243</a>, <a href="#P244">244</a>, <a href="#P245">245</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Rifles, <a href="#P3">3</a>, <a href="#P10">10</a>, <a href="#P20">20</a>, <a href="#P31">31</a>, <a href="#P32">32</a>, <a href="#P90">90</a>, <a href="#P94">94</a>, <a href="#P98">98</a>, -<a href="#P122">122</a>, <a href="#P127">127</a>, <a href="#P180">180</a>, <a href="#P188">188</a>, <a href="#P201">201</a>, <a href="#P245">245</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Royal Fusiliers, <a href="#P64">64</a>, <a href="#P65">65</a>, <a href="#P69">69</a>, <a href="#P77">77</a>, -<a href="#P106">106</a>, <a href="#P107">107</a>, <a href="#P150">150</a>, <a href="#P151">151</a>, <a href="#P201">201</a>, <a href="#P219">219</a>, <a href="#P227">227</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Royal Irish, <a href="#P8">8</a>, <a href="#P31">31</a>, <a href="#P55">55</a>, <a href="#P62">62</a>, <a href="#P75">75</a>, <a href="#P85">85</a>, -<a href="#P105">105</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Royal Irish Fusiliers, <a href="#P8">8</a>, <a href="#P30">30</a>, <a href="#P72">72</a>, <a href="#P86">86</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Royal Irish Rifles, <a href="#P16">16</a>, <a href="#P28">28</a>, <a href="#P119">119</a>, -<a href="#P120">120</a>, <a href="#P245">245</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Royal Lancaster, <a href="#P9">9</a>, <a href="#P55">55</a>, <a href="#P85">85</a>, <a href="#P86">86</a>, <a href="#P104">104</a>, -<a href="#P148">148</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Royal Scots, <a href="#P55">55</a>, <a href="#P94">94</a>, <a href="#P95">95</a>, <a href="#P129">129</a>, <a href="#P184">184</a>, -<a href="#P192">192</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Royal Scots Fusiliers, <a href="#P28">28</a>, <a href="#P150">150</a>, <a href="#P151">151</a>, -<a href="#P184">184</a>, <a href="#P191">191</a>, <a href="#P245">245</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Royal West Kent, <a href="#P9">9</a>, <a href="#P35">35</a>, <a href="#P36">36</a>, <a href="#P42">42</a>, -<a href="#P204">204</a>, <a href="#P205">205</a>, <a href="#P233">233</a>, <a href="#P234">234</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Seaforth Highlanders, <a href="#P22">22</a>, <a href="#P28">28</a>, <a href="#P62">62</a>, -<a href="#P72">72</a>, <a href="#P182">182</a>, <a href="#P184">184</a>, <a href="#P190">190</a>, <a href="#P194">194</a>, <a href="#P200">200</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Sherwood Foresters, <a href="#P18">18</a>, <a href="#P25">25</a>, <a href="#P28">28</a>, -<a href="#P120">120</a>, <a href="#P162">162</a>, <a href="#P164">164</a>, <a href="#P165">165</a>, <a href="#P204">204</a>, <a href="#P235">235</a>, -<a href="#P237">237</a>, <a href="#P238">238</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Shropshire, <a href="#P32">32</a>, <a href="#P55">55</a>, <a href="#P70">70</a>, <a href="#P89">89</a>, <a href="#P163">163</a>, -<a href="#P165">165</a>, <a href="#P243">243</a>, <a href="#P245">245</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Somerset Light Infantry, <a href="#P77">77</a>, <a href="#P154">154</a>, -<a href="#P208">208</a>, <a href="#P209">209</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -South Lancashire, <a href="#P75">75</a>, <a href="#P83">83</a>, <a href="#P86">86</a>, <a href="#P245">245</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -South Staffordshire, <a href="#P24">24</a>, <a href="#P129">129</a>, <a href="#P130">130</a>, -<a href="#P179">179</a>, <a href="#P185">185</a>, <a href="#P235">235</a>, <a href="#P236">236</a>, <a href="#P237">237</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -South Wales Borderers, <a href="#P4">4</a>, <a href="#P123">123</a>, <a href="#P125">125</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Suffolk, <a href="#P60">60</a>, <a href="#P90">90</a>, <a href="#P91">91</a>, <a href="#P108">108</a>, <a href="#P204">204</a>, <a href="#P205">205</a>, -<a href="#P229">229</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Sussex, <a href="#P3">3</a>, <a href="#P5">5</a>, <a href="#P122">122</a>, <a href="#P188">188</a>, <a href="#P201">201</a>, <a href="#P220">220</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Warwick, <a href="#P72">72</a>, <a href="#P92">92</a>, <a href="#P129">129</a>, <a href="#P130">130</a>, <a href="#P155">155</a>, -<a href="#P185">185</a>, <a href="#P186">186</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Welsh, <a href="#P4">4</a>, <a href="#P108">108</a>, <a href="#P123">123</a>, <a href="#P189">189</a>, <a href="#P198">198</a>, <a href="#P203">203</a>, -<a href="#P229">229</a>, <a href="#P242">242</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Welsh Fusiliers, <a href="#P123">123</a>, <a href="#P129">129</a>, <a href="#P130">130</a>, <a href="#P180">180</a>, -<a href="#P242">242</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -West Riding, <a href="#P37">37</a>, <a href="#P71">71</a>, <a href="#P79">79</a>, <a href="#P80">80</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -West Yorkshire, <a href="#P17">17</a>, <a href="#P18">18</a>, <a href="#P25">25</a>, <a href="#P210">210</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Wiltshire, <a href="#P29">29</a>, <a href="#P134">134</a>, <a href="#P152">152</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Worcester, <a href="#P18">18</a>, <a href="#P26">26</a>, <a href="#P28">28</a>, <a href="#P29">29</a>, <a href="#P127">127</a>, <a href="#P128">128</a>, -<a href="#P152">152</a>, <a href="#P201">201</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -York and Lancaster, <a href="#P55">55</a>, <a href="#P71">71</a>, <a href="#P77">77</a>, -<a href="#P92">92</a>, <a href="#P163">163</a>, <a href="#P165">165</a>, <a href="#P208">208</a>, <a href="#P209">209</a>, <a href="#P227">227</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Yorkshire, <a href="#P206">206</a>, <a href="#P207">207</a>, <a href="#P208">208</a>, <a href="#P210">210</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Yorkshire Light Infantry, <a href="#P37">37</a>, <a href="#P86">86</a>, -<a href="#P213">213</a>, <a href="#P215">215</a>, <a href="#P216">216</a>, <a href="#P227">227</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index2"> -Royal Engineers, <a href="#P11">11</a>, <a href="#P35">35</a>, <a href="#P36">36</a>, <a href="#P38">38</a>, -<a href="#P42">42</a>, <a href="#P43">43</a>, <a href="#P79">79</a>, <a href="#P84">84</a>, <a href="#P195">195</a>, <a href="#P198">198</a>, <a href="#P219">219</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -<br /> -<i>Canadian—</i> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -1st Canadians (Ontario), <a href="#P53">53</a>, <a href="#P146">146</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -2nd Canadians, <a href="#P53">53</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -3rd Canadians (Toronto), <a href="#P53">53</a>, <a href="#P135">135</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -4th Canadians, <a href="#P53">53</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -5th Canadians, <a href="#P50">50</a>, <a href="#P135">135</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -7th Canadians (British Columbia), -<a href="#P135">135</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -8th Canadians (Winnipeg Rifles), -<a href="#P50">50</a>, <a href="#P65">65</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -10th Canadians, <a href="#P51">51</a>, <a href="#P134">134</a>, <a href="#P135">135</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -13th Canadians (Royal Highlanders), -<a href="#P50">50</a>, <a href="#P53">53</a>, <a href="#P57">57</a>, <a href="#P58">58</a>, <a href="#P59">59</a>, <a href="#P134">134</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -14th Canadians (Montreal), <a href="#P59">59</a>, <a href="#P134">134</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -15th Canadians (48th Highlanders), -<a href="#P50">50</a>, <a href="#P57">57</a>, <a href="#P58">58</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -16th Canadian Scottish, <a href="#P51">51</a>, <a href="#P134">134</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Princess Patricia's, <a href="#P9">9</a>, <a href="#P32">32</a>, <a href="#P89">89</a>, <a href="#P98">98</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -King Edward's Horse, <a href="#P137">137</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Seely's Mounted Brigade, <a href="#P137">137</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Strathcona's Horse, <a href="#P137">137</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -<br /> -<i>Indian Army—</i> -<br /> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -129th Baluchis, <a href="#P68">68</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -39th Garhwalis, <a href="#P19">19</a>, <a href="#P28">28</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -1st Gurkhas, <a href="#P71">71</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -3rd Gurkhas, <a href="#P19">19</a>, <a href="#P20">20</a>, <a href="#P22">22</a>, <a href="#P28">28</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -4th Gurkhas, <a href="#P22">22</a>, <a href="#P28">28</a>, <a href="#P71">71</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -8th Gurkhas, <a href="#P19">19</a>, <a href="#P243">243</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -58th Indian Rifles (Vaughan's), -<a href="#P242">242</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -3rd Indian Sappers and Miners, <a href="#P67">67</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Jats, <a href="#P22">22</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -34th Pioneers, <a href="#P67">67</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -15th Sikhs, <a href="#P133">133</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -33rd Sikhs, <a href="#P242">242</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -69th Sikhs, <a href="#P242">242</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Rhodes, Lieutenant Arthur, <a href="#P107">107</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Rhodes-Moorhouse, Lieutenant, <a href="#P73">73</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Richard, Colonel, <a href="#P123">123</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Richebourg, battle of, <a href="#P115">115</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Richmond, Captain, <a href="#P3">3</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Riddell, General, <a href="#P69">69</a>, <a href="#P72">72</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Ritchie, General, <a href="#P181">181</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Ritchie, Lieutenant, <a href="#P223">223</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Roberts, Colonel, <a href="#P227">227</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Robertson, General, <a href="#P180">180</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Robins, Captain, <a href="#P79">79</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Robinson, Colonel, <a href="#P91">91</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Romer, Colonel, <a href="#P205">205</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Roupell, Lieutenant, V.C., <a href="#P40">40</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Rowe, Colonel Fisher, <a href="#P28">28</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Rutter, Major, <a href="#P99">99</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -St. Eloi, action of, <a href="#P29">29</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Sackville, Lieutenant, <a href="#P32">32</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Sandall, Colonel, <a href="#P238">238</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Sandeman, Lieutenant, <a href="#P49">49</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Scott, General, <a href="#P240">240</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Scott, Lieutenant, <a href="#P105">105</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Seebold, Lieutenant, <a href="#P183">183</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Selby-Smith, Captain, <a href="#P32">32</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Sempill, Colonel Lord, <a href="#P184">184</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Severne, Lieutenant, <a href="#P43">43</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Shackles, Lieutenant, <a href="#P220">220</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Shipley, Colonel, <a href="#P39">39</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Sladen, Colonel, <a href="#P36">36</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Smith, General Douglas, <a href="#P6">6</a>, <a href="#P150">150</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Smith-Bingham, Colonel, <a href="#P103">103</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Smith-Dorrien, General Sir Horace, -<a href="#P7">7</a>, <a href="#P12">12</a>, <a href="#P13">13</a>, <a href="#P23">23</a>, <a href="#P29">29</a>, <a href="#P35">35</a>, <a href="#P46">46</a>, <a href="#P53">53</a>, <a href="#P66">66</a>, -<a href="#P67">67</a>, <a href="#P142">142</a>, <a href="#P251">251</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Smyth, Lieutenant, <a href="#P133">133</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Snow, General, <a href="#P8">8</a>, <a href="#P109">109</a>, <a href="#P143">143</a>, <a href="#P144">144</a>, <a href="#P165">165</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Somervail, Lieutenant, <a href="#P18">18</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Southey, General, <a href="#P19">19</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Sparling, Major, <a href="#P183">183</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Stansfeld, Colonel, <a href="#P187">187</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Steele, Colonel, <a href="#P103">103</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Stephens, General, <a href="#P244">244</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Stockwell, Captain, <a href="#P130">130</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Stockwell, Captain (Canadians), <a href="#P146">146</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Storer, Major, <a href="#P210">210</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Straubensee, General, <a href="#P240">240</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Stronguist, Captain, <a href="#P213">213</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Stuart, Colonel, <a href="#P152">152</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Stuart-Wortley, General, <a href="#P142">142</a>, <a href="#P234">234</a>, -<a href="#P244">244</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Suatt, Captain, <a href="#P23">23</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Summerhays, Lieutenant, <a href="#P39">39</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Sutton, Sir Robert, <a href="#P103">103</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Tallents, Lieutenant, <a href="#P248">248</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Taylor, Major, <a href="#P210">210</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Thesiger, General, <a href="#P32">32</a>, <a href="#P122">122</a>, <a href="#P181">181</a>, <a href="#P219">219</a>, -<a href="#P228">228</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Thwaites, General, <a href="#P136">136</a>, <a href="#P192">192</a>, <a href="#P215">215</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Townshend, General, <a href="#P170">170</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Towsey, Colonel, <a href="#P162">162</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Tulloh, Colonel, <a href="#P93">93</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Turner, General, <a href="#P51">51</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Uniacke, Colonel, <a href="#P28">28</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Vandenburg, Lieutenant, <a href="#P90">90</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Vansittart, Colonel, <a href="#P205">205</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Venables, Colonel, <a href="#P233">233</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Vickars, Captain, <a href="#P238">238</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Wallace, Colonel, <a href="#P60">60</a>, <a href="#P91">91</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Walter, Colonel, <a href="#P210">210</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Watson, Lieutenant, <a href="#P39">39</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Watts, General, <a href="#P21">21</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Way, Colonel, <a href="#P207">207</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Webb, Lieutenant, <a href="#P23">23</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Wendover, Viscount, <a href="#P103">103</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Widdington, Major, <a href="#P10">10</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Wilkinson, General, <a href="#P206">206</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Willcocks, General Sir James, <a href="#P116">116</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Williams, Lieutenant, <a href="#P43">43</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Williams, Lieutenant (Grenadier -Guards), <a href="#P232">232</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Williams, Valentine, quoted, <a href="#P79">79</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Willoughby, General, <a href="#P136">136</a>, <a href="#P192">192</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Wilson, General, <a href="#P109">109</a>, <a href="#P142">142</a>, <a href="#P144">144</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Wing, General, <a href="#P143">143</a>, <a href="#P144">144</a>, <a href="#P228">228</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Wood, Colonel, <a href="#P131">131</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Woolley, Lieutenant, V.C., <a href="#P39">39</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Worthington, Colonel, <a href="#P227">227</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Wright, Colonel, <a href="#P219">219</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Wright, Lieutenant, <a href="#P17">17</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Würtemberg, Duke of, <a href="#P46">46</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Wynyard, Captain, <a href="#P40">40</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Ypres, second battle of, <a href="#P45">45-114</a>; -result of the battle, <a href="#P110">110</a>; -sequence of events, <a href="#P111">111-114</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Zeppelin raids on Britain, <a href="#P169">169</a> -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3"> -THE END -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t4"> -<i>Printed in Great Britain by</i> R. & R. 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