diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 4 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/65044-0.txt | 10494 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/65044-0.zip | bin | 207171 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/65044-h.zip | bin | 4484196 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/65044-h/65044-h.htm | 15872 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/65044-h/images/img-035.jpg | bin | 339116 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/65044-h/images/img-119.jpg | bin | 300325 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/65044-h/images/img-127.jpg | bin | 301345 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/65044-h/images/img-141.jpg | bin | 358113 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/65044-h/images/img-144.jpg | bin | 368221 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/65044-h/images/img-181.jpg | bin | 393758 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/65044-h/images/img-225.jpg | bin | 299865 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/65044-h/images/img-239.jpg | bin | 218452 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/65044-h/images/img-257.jpg | bin | 292708 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/65044-h/images/img-265.jpg | bin | 351882 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/65044-h/images/img-277.jpg | bin | 309072 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/65044-h/images/img-296.jpg | bin | 282768 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/65044-h/images/img-cover.jpg | bin | 64853 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/65044-h/images/img-xii.jpg | bin | 389886 -> 0 bytes |
21 files changed, 17 insertions, 26366 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..34694a6 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #65044 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/65044) diff --git a/old/65044-0.txt b/old/65044-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 3bea804..0000000 --- a/old/65044-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,10494 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of The British Campaign in France and Flanders -1916, by Arthur Conan Doyle - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. 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. - -Title: The British Campaign in France and Flanders 1916 - -Author: Arthur Conan Doyle - -Release Date: April 09, 2021 [eBook #65044] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -Produced by: Al Haines - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BRITISH CAMPAIGN IN FRANCE AND -FLANDERS 1916 *** - - - - - THE BRITISH CAMPAIGN - - IN FRANCE AND FLANDERS - - 1916 - - - - BY - - ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE - - - - AUTHOR OF - 'THE GREAT BOER WAR,' ETC. - - - - HODDER AND STOUGHTON - LONDON NEW YORK TORONTO - MCMXVIII - - - - - SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE'S - HISTORY OF THE WAR - - Uniform with this Volume. - - THE BRITISH CAMPAIGN IN FRANCE AND FLANDERS - - 1914 - - THE BREAKING OF THE PEACE. - THE OPENING OF THE WAR. - THE BATTLE OF MONS. - THE BATTLE OF LE CATEAU. - THE BATTLE OF THE MARNE. - THE BATTLE OF THE AISNE. - THE LA BASSÉE-ARMENTIÈRES OPERATIONS. - THE FIRST BATTLE OF YPRES. - A RETROSPECT AND GENERAL SUMMARY. - THE WINTER LULL OF 1914. - - - THE BRITISH CAMPAIGN IN FRANCE AND FLANDERS - - 1915 - - THE OPENING MONTHS OF 1915. - NEUVE CHAPELLE AND HILL 60. - THE SECOND BATTLE OF YPRES. - THE BATTLE OF RICHEBOURG-FESTUBERT. - THE TRENCHES OF HOOGE. - THE BATTLE OF LOOS. - - With Maps, Plans, and Diagrams, - 6s. net each Volume. - - HODDER AND STOUGHTON - LONDON, NEW YORK, AND TORONTO - - - - -{v} - -PREFACE - -In two previous volumes of this work a narrative has been given of -those events which occurred upon the British Western Front during -1914, the year of recoil, and 1915, the year of equilibrium. In this -volume will be found the detailed story of 1916, the first of the -years of attack and advance. - -Time is a great toner down of superlatives, and the episodes which -seem world-shaking in our day may, when looked upon by the placid -eyes of historical philosophers in days to come, fit more easily into -the general scheme of human experience. None the less it can be said -without fear of ultimate contradiction that nothing approaching to -the Battle of the Somme, with which this volume is mainly concerned, -has ever been known in military history, and that it is exceedingly -improbable that it will ever be equalled in its length and in its -severity. It may be said to have raged with short intermissions, -caused by the breaking of the weather, from July 1 to November 14, -and during this prolonged period the picked forces of three great -nations were locked in close battle. The number of combatants from -first to last was between {vi} two and three millions, and their -united casualties came to the appalling total of at least -three-quarters of a million. These are minimum figures, but they -will give some idea of the unparalleled scale of the operations. - -With the increasing number and size of the units employed the scale -of the narrative becomes larger. It is more difficult to focus the -battalion, while the individual has almost dropped out of sight. -Sins of omission are many, and the chronicler can but plead the great -difficulty of his task and regret that his limited knowledge may -occasionally cause disappointment. - -The author should explain that this volume has had to pass through -three lines of censors, suffering heavily in the process. It has -come out with the loss of all personal names save those of casualties -or of high Generals. Some passages also have been excised. On the -other hand it is the first which has been permitted to reveal the -exact identity of the units engaged. The missing passages and names -will be restored when the days of peace return. - -ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE. - -_February_ 3, 1918. - - - - -{vii} - -CONTENTS - - -CHAPTER I - -JANUARY TO JULY 1916 - -General situation--The fight for the Bluff--The Mound of St. -Eloi--Fine performance of Third Division and Canadians--Feat of the -1st Shropshires--Attack on the Irish Division--Fight at Vimy -Ridge--Canadian Battle of Ypres--Death of General Mercer--Recovery of -lost position--Attack of Thirty-ninth Division--Eve of the Somme - - -CHAPTER II - -THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME - - Attack of the Seventh and Eighth Corps on Gommecourt, - Serre, and Beaumont Hamel - -Line of battle in the Somme sector--Great preparations--Advance of -Forty-sixth North Midland Division--Advance of Fifty-sixth -Territorials (London)--Great valour and heavy losses--Advance of -Thirty-first Division--Advance of Fourth Division--Advance of -Twenty-ninth Division--Complete failure of the assault - - -CHAPTER III - -THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME - -Attack of the Tenth and Third Corps, July 1, 1916 - -Magnificent conduct of the Ulster Division--Local success but general -failure--Advance of Thirty-second Division--Advance of Eighth -Division--Advance of Thirty-fourth Division--The turning-point of the -line - - -{viii} - -CHAPTER IV - -THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME - -The Attack of the Fifteenth and Thirteenth Corps, July 1, 1916 - -The advance of the Twenty-first Division--Of the 64th Brigade--First -permanent gains--50th Brigade at Fricourt--Advance of Seventh -Division--Capture of Mametz--Fine work by Eighteenth -Division--Capture of Montauban by the Thirtieth Division--General -view of the battle--Its decisive importance - - -CHAPTER V - -THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME - -From July 2 to July 14, 1916 - -General situation--Capture of La Boiselle by Nineteenth -Division--Splendid attack by 36th Brigade upon Ovillers--Siege and -reduction of Ovillers--Operations at Contalmaison--Desperate fighting -at the Quadrangle by Seventeenth Division--Capture of Mametz Wood by -Thirty-eighth Welsh Division--Capture of Trones Wood by Eighteenth -Division - - -CHAPTER VI - -THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME - -The Breaking of the Second Line. July 14, 1916 - -The great night advance--The Leicester Brigade at Bazentin--Assault -by Seventh Division--Success of the Third Division--Desperate fight -of Ninth Division at Longueval--Operations of First Division on -flank--Cavalry advance - - -CHAPTER VII - -THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME - -July 14 to July 31 - -Gradual advance of First Division--Hard fighting of Thirty-third -Division at High Wood--The South Africans in Delville Wood--The great -German counter-attack--Splendid work of 26th Brigade--Capture of -Delville Wood by 98th Brigade--Indecisive fighting on the Guillemont -front - - -{ix} - -CHAPTER VIII - -THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME - - The Operations of Gough's Army upon the Northern Flank - up to September 15 - -Advance, Australia!--Capture of Pozières--Fine work of Forty-eighth -Division--Relief of Australia by Canada--Steady advance of Gough's -Army--Capture of Courcelette - - -CHAPTER IX - -THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME - -August 1 to September 15 - -Continued attempts of Thirty-third Division on High -Wood--Co-operation of First Division--Operation of Fourteenth -Division on fringe of Delville Wood--Attack by Twenty-fourth Division -on Guillemont--Capture of Guillemont by 47th and 59th -Brigades--Capture of Ginchy by Sixteenth Irish Division - - -CHAPTER X - -THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME - -Breaking of the Third Line, September 15 - -Capture of Martinpuich by Fifteenth Division--Advance of Fiftieth -Division--Capture of High Wood by Forty-seventh Division--Splendid -advance of New Zealanders--Capture of Flers by Forty-first -Division--Advance of the Light Division--Arduous work of the Guards -and Sixth Divisions--Capture of Quadrilateral--Work of Fifty-sixth -Division on flank--Debut of the tanks - - -CHAPTER XI - -THE GAINING OF THE THIEPVAL RIDGE - -Assault on Thiepval by Eighteenth Division--Heavy -fighting--Co-operation of Eleventh Division--Fall of Thiepval--Fall -of Schwaben Redoubt--Taking of Stuff Redoubt--Important gains on the -Ridge - - -{x} - -CHAPTER XII - -THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME - -From September 15 to the Battle of the Ancre - -Capture of Eaucourt--Varying character of German resistance--Hard -trench fighting along the line--Dreadful climatic conditions--The -meteorological trenches--Hazy Trench--Zenith Trench--General -observations--General von Arnim's report - - -CHAPTER XIII - -THE BATTLE OF THE ANCRE - -November 13, 1916 - -The last effort--Failure in the north--Fine work of the Thirty-ninth, -Fifty-first, and Sixty-third Divisions--Surrounding of German -Fort--Capture of Beaumont Hamel--Commander Freyberg--Last operations -of the season--General survey--"The unwarlike Islanders" - - -INDEX - - - - -{xi} - -MAPS AND PLANS - -Approximate Positions of British Line at the Battle of the Somme - -British Battle Line, July 1, 1916 - -Quadrangle Position, July 5-11, 1916 - -Mametz Wood - -Trones Wood: Attack of 54th Brigade, July 13, 1916 - -The Second German Line, Bazentins, Delville Wood, etc. - -Map of Delville Wood - -Attack on German Left Flank, September 3, 1916 - -Final Position at Capture of Martinpuich - -Attack on Quadrilateral, September 15, 1916 - -Plan illustrating the Capture of Thiepval, September 26, October 5, -1916 - -Stuff Redoubt System, showing Hessian, Regina, and Stuff - -Meteorological Trenches, September 30-November 6, 1916 - -Map to illustrate the British Campaign in France and Flanders -[Transcriber's note: this map was omitted from the etext because its -size and fragility made it impractical to scan.] - - - - -[Illustration: APPROXIMATE POSITIONS OF BRITISH LINE AT THE BATTLE OF -THE SOMME] - - - - -{1} - -CHAPTER I - -JANUARY TO JULY 1916 - -General situation--The fight for the Bluff--The Mound of St. -Eloi--Fine performance of Third Division and Canadians--Feat of the -1st Shropshires--Attack on the Irish Division--Fight at Vimy -Ridge--Canadian Battle of Ypres--Death of General Mercer--Recovery of -lost position--Attack of Thirty-ninth Division--Eve of the Somme. - - -The Great War had now come into its second winter--a winter which was -marked by an absolute cessation of all serious fighting upon the -Western front. Enormous armies were facing each other, but until the -German attack upon the French lines of Verdun at the end of February, -the infantry of neither side was seriously engaged. There were many -raids and skirmishes, with sudden midnight invasions of hostile -trenches and rapid returns with booty or prisoners. Both sides -indulged in such tactics upon the British front. Gas attacks, too, -were occasionally attempted, some on a large scale and with -considerable result. The condition of the troops, though it could -not fail to be trying, was not so utterly miserable as during the -first cold season in the trenches. The British had ceased to be a -mere fighting fringe with nothing behind it. The troops were -numerous and eager, so that reliefs were frequent. All sorts of -devices were {2} adopted for increasing the comfort and conserving -the health of the men. Steadily as the winter advanced and the -spring ripened into summer, fresh divisions were passed over the -narrow seas, and the shell-piles at the bases marked the increased -energy and output of the workers in the factories. The early summer -found everything ready for a renewed attempt upon the German line. - -The winter of 1915-16 saw the affairs of the Allies in a condition -which could not be called satisfactory, and which would have been -intolerable had there not been evident promise of an amendment in the -near future. The weakness of the Russians in munitions had caused -their gallant but half-armed armies to be driven back until the whole -of Poland had fallen into the hands of the Germanic Powers, who had -also reconquered Galicia and Bukovina. The British attempt upon -Gallipoli, boldly conceived and gallantly urged, but wanting in the -essential quality of surprise, had failed with heavy losses, and the -army had to be withdrawn. Serbia and Montenegro had both been -overrun and occupied, while the efficient Bulgarian army had ranged -itself with our enemies. The Mesopotamian Expedition had been held -up by the Turks, and the brave Townshend, with his depleted division, -was hemmed in at Kut, where, after a siege of five months, he was -eventually compelled, upon April 26, to lay down his arms, together -with 9000 troops, chiefly Indian. When one remembers that on the top -of this Germany already held Belgium and a considerable slice of the -north of France, which included all the iron and coal producing -centres, it must be admitted that the Berlin Press had some reason -upon its side when it insisted that it had {3} already won the War -upon paper. To realise that paper, was, however, an operation which -was beyond their powers. - -What could the Allies put against these formidable successes? There -was the Colonial Empire of Germany. Only one colony, the largest and -most powerful, still remained. This was East Africa. General Smuts, -a worthy colleague of the noble Botha, had undertaken its reduction, -and by the summer the end was in sight. The capture of the colonies -would then be complete. The oceans of the world were another asset -of the Allies. These also were completely held, to the absolute -destruction of all German oversea commerce. These two conquests, and -the power of blockade which steadily grew more stringent, were all -that the Allies could throw into the other scale, save for the small -corner of Alsace still held by the French, the southern end of -Mesopotamia, and the port of Salonica, which was a strategic -checkmate to the southern advance of the Germans. The balance seemed -all against them. There was no discouragement, however, for all -these difficulties had been discounted and the Allies had always -recognised that their strength lay in those reserves which had not -yet had time to develop. The opening of the summer campaign of 1916, -with the capture of Erzeroum, the invasion of Armenia, and the -reconquest of Bukovina, showed that the Russian army had at last -found its second wind. The French had already done splendid work in -their classical resistance at Verdun, which had extended from the -last weeks of February onwards, and had cost the Germans over a -quarter of a million of casualties. The opening of the British -campaign in July found the whole {4} army most eager to emulate the -deeds of its Allies, and especially to take some of the weight from -the splendid defenders of Verdun. Their fight against very heavy -odds in men, munitions, and transport, was one of the greatest deeds -of arms, possibly the greatest deed of arms of the war. It was -known, however, before July that a diversion was absolutely -necessary, and although the British had taken over a fresh stretch of -trenches so as to release French reinforcements, some more active -help was imperatively called for. - -Before describing the summer campaign it is necessary to glance back -at the proceedings of the winter and spring upon the British line, -and to comment upon one or two matters behind that line which had a -direct influence upon the campaign. Of the minor operations to which -allusion has already been made, there are none between the Battle of -Loos and the middle of February 1916 which call for particular -treatment. Those skirmishes and mutual raidings which took place -during that time centred largely round the old salient at Ypres and -the new one at Loos, though the lines at Armentières were also the -scene of a good deal of activity. One considerable attack seems to -have been planned by the Germans on the north-east of Ypres in the -Christmas week of 1915--an attack which was preceded by a formidable -gas attack. The British artillery was so powerful, however, that it -crushed the advance in the trenches, where the gathered bayonets of -the stormers could be seen going down before the scourging shrapnel -like rushes before a gale. The infantry never emerged, and the -losses must have been very heavy. This was the only considerable -attempt made by either side during the winter. - -{5} - -At the time of Lord French's return another change was made at home -which had a very immediate bearing upon the direction of the War. -Britain had suffered greatly from the fact that at the beginning of -hostilities the distinguished officers who composed the central staff -had all been called away for service in the field. Lord Kitchener -had done wonders in filling their place, but it was impossible for -any man, however great his abilities or energy, to carry such a -burden upon his shoulders. The more conscientious the man the more -he desires to supervise everything himself and the more danger there -is that all the field cannot be covered. Already the recruiting -service, which had absorbed a great deal of Lord Kitchener's energies -with most splendid results, had been relegated to Lord Derby, whose -tact and wisdom produced fresh armies of volunteers. Now the -immediate direction of the War and the supervision of all that -pertained to the armies in the field was handed over to Sir William -Robertson, a man of great organising ability and of proved energy. -From this time onwards his character and judgment bulked larger and -larger as one of the factors which made for the success of the Allies. - -In January 1916 Britain gave her last proof of the resolution with -which she was waging war. Already she had shown that no question of -money could diminish her ardour, for she was imposing direct taxation -upon her citizens with a vigour which formed the only solid basis for -the credit of the Allies. Neither our foes nor our friends have -shown such absolute readiness to pay in hard present cash, that -posterity might walk with a straighter back, and many a man was -paying a good half of his income {6} to the State. But now a -sacrifice more intimate than that of money had to be made. It was of -that personal liberty which is as the very breath of our nostrils. -This also was thrown with a sigh into the common cause, and a -Military Service Bill was passed by which every citizen from 19 to 41 -was liable to be called up. It is questionable whether it was -necessary as yet as a military measure, since the enormous number of -5,000,000 volunteers had come forward, but as an act of justice by -which the burden should be equally distributed, and the shirker -compelled to his duty, it was possible to justify this radical -departure from the customs of our fathers and the instincts of our -race. Many who acquiesced in its necessity did so with a heavy -heart, feeling how glorious would have been our record had it been -possible to bring forward by the stress of duty alone the manhood of -the nation. As a matter of fact, the margin left over was neither -numerous nor important, but the energies of the authorities were now -released from the incessant strain which the recruiting service had -caused. - -The work of the trenches was made easier for the British by the fact -that they had at last reached an equality with, and in many cases a -superiority to, their enemy, in the number of their guns, the -quantity of their munitions, and the provision of those smaller -weapons such as trench mortars and machine-guns which count for so -much in this description of warfare. Their air supremacy which had -existed for a long time was threatened during some months by the -Fokker machines of the Germans, and by the skill with which their -aviators used them, but faster models from England soon restored the -balance. {7} There had been a time also when the system and the -telescopic sights of the German snipers had given them an ascendancy. -Thanks to the labours of various enthusiasts for the rifle, this -matter was set right and there were long stretches of the line where -no German head could for an instant be shown above the parapet. The -Canadian sector was particularly free from any snipers save their own. - -The first serious operation of the spring of 1916 upon the British -line was a determined German attack upon that section which lies -between the Ypres-Comines Canal and the Ypres-Comines railway on the -extreme south of the Ypres salient; Hill 60 lies to the north of it. -In the line of trenches there was one small artificial elevation, not -more than thirty feet above the plain. This was called the Bluff, -and was the centre of the attack. It was of very great importance as -a point of artillery observation. During the whole of February 13 -the bombardment was very severe, and losses were heavy along a front -of several miles, the right of which was held by the Seventeenth -Division, the centre by the Fiftieth, and the left by the -Twenty-fourth. Finally, after many of the trenches had been reduced -to dirt heaps five mines were simultaneously sprung under the British -front line, each of them of great power. The explosions were -instantly followed by a rush of the German infantry. In the -neighbourhood of the Bluff, the garrison, consisting at that point of -the 10th Lancashire Fusiliers, were nearly all buried or killed. To -the north lay the 10th Sherwood Foresters and north of them the 8th -South Staffords, whose Colonel, though four times wounded, continued -{8} to direct the defence. It was impossible, however, to hold the -whole line, as the Germans had seized the Bluff and were able to -enfilade all the trenches of the Sherwoods, who lost twelve officers -and several hundred men before they would admit that their position -was untenable. The South Staffords being farther off were able to -hold on, but the whole front from their right to the canal south of -the Bluff was in the hands of the Germans, who had very rapidly and -skilfully consolidated it. A strong counter-attack by the 7th -Lincolns and 7th Borders, in which the survivors of the Lancashire -Fusiliers took part, had some success, but was unable to permanently -regain the lost sector, six hundred yards of which remained with the -enemy. A lieutenant, with 40 bombers of the Lincolns, 38 of whom -fell, did heroic work. - -The attack had extended to the north, where it had fallen upon the -Fiftieth Division, and to the Twenty-fourth Division upon the left of -it. Here it was held and eventually repulsed. Of the company of the -9th Sussex who held the extreme left of the line, a large portion -were blown up by a mine and forty were actually buried in the crater. -Young Lieutenant McNair, however, the officer in charge, showed great -energy and presence of mind. He held the Germans from the crater and -with the help of another officer, who had rushed up some supports, -drove them back to their trenches. For this McNair received his -Victoria Cross. The 3rd Rifle Brigade, a veteran regular battalion, -upon the right of the Sussex, had also put up a vigorous resistance, -as had the central Fiftieth Division, so that in spite of the sudden -severity of the attack it was only at the one {9} point of the Bluff -that the enemy had made a lodgment--that point being the real centre -of their effort. They held on strongly to their new possession, and -a vigorous fire with several partial attacks during the next -fortnight failed to dislodge them. - -Early in March the matter was taken seriously in hand, for the -position was a most important one, and a farther advance at this -point would have involved the safety of Ypres. The Seventeenth -Division still held the supporting trenches, and these now became the -starting-point for the attack. A considerable artillery -concentration was effected, two brigades of guns and two companies of -sappers were brought up from the Third Division, and the 76th Brigade -of the same Division came up from St. Omer, where it had been -resting, in order to carry out the assault. The general commanding -this brigade was in immediate command of the operations. - -The problem was a most difficult one, as the canal to the south and a -marsh upon the north screened the flanks of the new German position, -while its front was covered by shell-holes which the tempestuous -weather had filled with water. There was nothing for it, however, -but a frontal attack, and this was carried out with very great -gallantry upon March 2, at 4.30 in the morning. The infantry left -their trenches in the dark and crept forward undiscovered, dashing -into the enemy's line with the first grey glimmer of the dawn. The -right of the attack formed by the 2nd Suffolks had their revenge for -Le Cateau, for they carried the Bluff itself with a rush. So far -forward did they get that a number of Germans emerged from dug-outs -in their rear, and were organising a dangerous attack when they were -pelted back {10} into their holes by a bombing party. Beyond the -Bluff the Suffolks were faced by six deep shelters for machine-guns, -which held them for a time but were eventually captured. The centre -battalion consisted of the 8th Royal Lancasters, who lost heavily -from rifle fire but charged home with great determination, flooding -over the old German front line and their support trenches as well as -their immediate objective. The left battalion in the attack were the -1st Gordon Highlanders, who had a most difficult task, being exposed -to the heaviest fire of all. For a moment they were hung up, and -then with splendid spirit threw themselves at the hostile trenches -again and carried everything before them. They were much helped in -this second attack by the supporting battalion, the 7th Lincolns, -whose bombers rushed to the front. The 10th Welsh Fusiliers, who -were supporting on the right, also did invaluable service by helping -to consolidate the Bluff, while the 9th West Ridings on the left held -the British front line and repulsed an attempt at a flanking -counter-attack. - -In spite of several counter-attacks and a very severe bombardment the -line now held firm, and the Germans seem to have abandoned all future -designs upon this section. They had lost very heavily in the -assault, and 250 men with 5 officers remained in the hands of the -victors. Some of the German trench taken was found to be untenable, -but the 12th West Yorkshires of the 8th Brigade connected up the new -position with the old and the salient was held. So ended a -well-managed and most successful little fight. Great credit was due -to a certain officer, who passed through the terrible {11} German -barrage again and again to link up the troops with headquarters. -Extreme gallantry was shown also by the brigade-runners, many of whom -lost their lives in the all-important work of preserving -communications. - -Students of armour in the future may be interested to note that this -was the first engagement in which British infantry reverted after a -hiatus of more than two centuries to the use of helmets. Dints of -shrapnel upon their surfaces proved in many cases that they had been -the salvation of their wearers. Several observers have argued that -trench warfare implies a special trench equipment, entirely different -from that for surface operations. - -In the middle of March the pressure upon the French at Verdun had -become severe, and it was determined to take over a fresh section of -line so as to relieve troops for the north-eastern frontier. General -Foch's Tenth Army, which had held the sector opposite to Souchez and -Lorette, was accordingly drawn out, and twelve miles were added to -the British front. From this time forward there were four British -armies, the Second (Plumer) in the Ypres district, the First (Monro) -opposite to Neuve Chapelle, the Third (Allenby) covering the new -French sector down to Arras, the Fourth (Rawlinson) from Albert to -the Somme. - -A brisk skirmish which occurred in the south about this period is -worthy of mention--typical of many smaller affairs the due record of -which would swell this chapter to a portentous length. In this -particular instance, a very sudden and severe night attack was -directed by the Germans against a post held by the 8th East Surreys -of the Eighteenth {12} Division at the points where the British and -French lines meet just north of the Somme. This small stronghold, -known as Ducks' Post, was at the head of a causeway across a -considerable marsh, and possessed a strategic importance out of all -proportion to its size. A violent bombardment in the darkness of the -early morning of March 20 was followed by an infantry advance, pushed -well home. It was an unnerving experience. "As the Huns charged," -says one who was present, "they made the most hellish screaming row I -ever heard." The Surrey men under the lead of a young subaltern -stood fast, and were reinforced by two platoons. Not only did they -hold up the attack, but with the early dawn they advanced in turn, -driving the Germans back into their trenches and capturing a number -of prisoners. The post was strengthened and was firmly held. - -The next episode which claims attention is the prolonged and severe -fighting which took place from March 27 onwards at St. Eloi, the -scene of so fierce a contest just one year before. A small salient -had been formed by the German line at this point ever since its -capture, and on this salient was the rising known as the Mound (not -to be confounded with the Bluff), insignificant in itself since it -was only twenty or thirty feet high, but of importance in a war where -artillery observation is the very essence of all operations. It -stood just east of the little village of St. Eloi. This place was -known to be very strongly held, so the task of attacking it was -handed over to the Third Division, which had already shown at the -Bluff that they were adepts at such an attack. After several weeks -of energetic preparation, five {13} mines were ready with charges -which were so heavy that in one instance 30,000 pounds of ammonal -were employed. The assault was ordered for 4.15 in the morning of -March 27. It was known to be a desperate enterprise and was -entrusted to two veteran battalions of regular troops, the 4th Royal -Fusiliers and the 1st Northumberland Fusiliers. A frontal attack was -impossible, so it was arranged that the Royals should sweep round the -left flank and the Northumberlands the right, while the remaining -battalions of the 9th Brigade, the 12th West Yorks and 1st Scots -Fusiliers, should be in close support in the centre. At the -appointed hour the mines were exploded with deadly effect, and in the -pitch darkness of a cloudy rainy morning the two battalions sprang -resolutely forward upon their dangerous venture. The trenches on -each flank were carried, and 5 officers with 193 men of the 18th -Reserve Jaeger fell into our hands. As usual, however, it was the -retention of the captured position which was the more difficult and -costly part of the operation. The Northumberlands had won their way -round on the right, but the Fusiliers had been partially held up on -the left, so that the position was in some ways difficult and -irregular. The guns of the Third Division threw forward so fine a -barrage that no German counter-attack could get forward, but all day -their fire was very heavy and deadly upon the captured trenches, and -also upon the two battalions in support. On the night of the 27th -the 9th Brigade was drawn out and the 8th took over the new line, all -access to it being impossible save in the darkness, as no -communication trenches existed. The situation was complicated by the -fact that although the British {14} troops had on the right won their -way to the rear of the craters, one of these still contained a German -detachment, who held on in a most heroic fashion and could not be -dislodged. On March 30 the situation was still unchanged, and the -76th Brigade was put in to relieve the 8th. The 1st Gordons were now -in the line, very wet and weary, but declaring that they would hold -the ground at all costs. It was clear that the British line must be -extended and that the gallant Germans in the crater must be -overwhelmed. For this purpose, upon the night of April 2, the 8th -Royal Lancasters swept across the whole debatable ground, with the -result that 4 officers and 80 men surrendered at daylight to the -Brigade-Major and a few men who summoned them from the lip of the -crater. The Divisional General had himself gone forward to see that -the captured ground was made good. "We saw our Divisional General -mid-thigh in water and splashing down the trenches," says an -observer. "I can tell you it put heart into our weary men." So -ended the arduous labours of the Third Division, who upon April 4 -handed over the ground to the 2nd Canadians. The episode of the St. -Eloi craters was, however, far from being at an end. The position -was looked upon as of great importance by the Germans, apart from the -artillery observation, for their whole aim was the contraction, as -that of the British was the expansion, of the space contained in the -Ypres salient. "Elbow room! More elbow room!" was the hearts' cry -of Plumer's Second Army. But the enemy grudged every yard, and with -great tenacity began a series of counter-attacks which lasted with -varying fortunes for several weeks. - -{15} - -Hardly had the Third Division filed out of the trenches when the -German bombers were buzzing and stinging all down the new line, and -there were evident signs of an impending counter-attack. Upon April -6 it broke with great violence, beginning with a blasting storm of -shells followed by a rush of infantry in that darkest hour which -precedes the dawn. It was a very terrible ordeal for troops which -had up to then seen no severe service, and for the moment they were -overborne. The attack chanced to come at the very moment when the -27th Winnipeg Regiment was being relieved by the 29th Vancouvers, -which increased the losses and the confusion. The craters were taken -by the German stormers with 180 prisoners, but the trench line was -still held. The 31st Alberta Battalion upon the left of the position -was involved in the fight and drove back several assaults, while a -small French Canadian machine-gun detachment from the 22nd Regiment -distinguished itself by an heroic resistance in which it was almost -destroyed. About noon the bombardment was so terrific that the front -trench was temporarily abandoned, the handful of survivors falling -back upon the supports. The 31st upon the left were still able to -maintain themselves, however, and after dusk they were able to -reoccupy three out of the five craters in front of the line. From -this time onwards the battle resolved itself into a desperate -struggle between the opposing craters. During the whole of April 7 -it was carried on with heavy losses to both parties. On one occasion -a platoon of 40 Germans in close formation were shot down to a man as -they rushed forward in a gallant forlorn hope. For three days the -struggle went on, at the end of {16} which time four of the craters -were still held by the Canadians. Two medical men particularly -distinguished themselves by their constant passage across the open -space which divided the craters from the trench. The consolidation -of the difficult position was admirably carried out by the C.R.E. of -the Second Canadian Division. - -The Canadians were left in comparative peace for ten days, but on -April 19 there was a renewed burst of activity. Upon this day the -Germans bombarded heavily, and then attacked with their infantry at -four different points of the Ypres salient. At two they were -entirely repulsed. On the Ypres-Langemarck road on the extreme north -of the British position they remained in possession of about a -hundred yards of trench. Finally, in the crater region they won back -two, including the more important one which was on the Mound. Night -after night there were bombing attacks in this region, by which the -Germans endeavoured to enlarge their gains. New Brunswick and Nova -Scotia were now opposed to them and showed the same determination as -the men of the West. The sector held by the veteran First Canadian -Division was also attacked, the 13th Battalion having 100 casualties -and the Canadian Scots 50. Altogether this fighting had been so -incessant and severe, although as a rule confined to a very small -front, that on an average 1000 casualties a week were recorded in the -corps. The fighting was carried on frequently in heavy rain, and the -disputed craters became deep pools of mud in which men fought waist -deep, and where it was impossible to keep rifle or machine-gun from -being fouled and clogged. Several of the smaller craters were found -{17} to be untenable by either side, and were abandoned to the -corpses which lay in the mire. - -The Germans did not long remain in possession of the trench which -they had captured upon the 19th in the Langemarck direction. Though -it was almost unapproachable on account of the deep mud, a storming -column of the 1st Shropshires waded out to it in the dark up to their -waists in slush, and turned the enemy out with the point of the -bayonet. Upon April the 21st the line was completely re-established, -though a sapper is reported to have declared that it was impossible -to consolidate porridge. In this brilliant affair the Shropshires -lost a number of officers and men, including their gallant Colonel, -Luard, and Lieutenant Johnstone, who was shot by a sniper while -boldly directing the consolidation from outside the parapet without -cover of any kind. The whole incident was an extraordinarily fine -feat of arms which could only have been carried out by a highly -disciplined and determined body of men. The mud was so deep that men -were engulfed and suffocated, and the main body had to throw -themselves down and distribute their weight to prevent being sucked -down into the quagmire. The rifles were so covered and clogged that -all shooting was out of the question, and only bombs and bayonets -were available for the assault. The old 53rd never did a better -day's work. - -During the whole winter the Loos salient had been simmering, as it -had never ceased to do since the first tremendous convulsion which -had established it. In the early part of the year it was held by -cavalry brigades, taking turns in succession, and during this time -there was a deceptive quiet, which {18} was due to the fact that the -Germans were busy in running a number of mines under the position. -At the end of February the Twelfth Division took over the north of -the section, and for ten weeks they found themselves engaged in a -struggle which can only be described as hellish. How constant and -severe it was may be gauged from the fact that without any real -action they lost 4000 men during that period. As soon as they -understood the state of affairs, which was only conveyed to them by -several devastating explosions, they began to run their own mines and -to raid those of their enemy. It was a nightmare conflict, half -above ground, half below, and sometimes both simultaneously, so that -men may be said to have fought in layers. The upshot of the matter, -after ten weeks of fighting, was that the British positions were held -at all points, though reduced to an extraordinary medley of craters -and fissures, which some observer has compared to a landscape in the -moon. The First Division shared with the Twelfth the winter honours -of the dangerous Loos salient. - -On April 27 a considerable surface attack developed on this part of -the line, now held by the Sixteenth Irish Division. Early upon that -day the Germans, taking advantage of the wind, which was now becoming -almost as important in a land as it had once been in a sea battle, -loosed a cloud of poison upon the trenches just south of Hulluch and -followed it up by a rush of infantry which got possession of part of -the front and support lines in the old region of the chalk-pit wood. -The 49th Brigade was in the trenches. This Brigade consisted of the -7th and 8th Inniskillings, with the 7th and 8th Royal Irish. It was -upon the first two battalions that the cloud of {19} gas descended, -which seems to have been of a particularly deadly brew, since it -poisoned horses upon the roads far to the rear. Many of the men were -stupefied and few were in a condition for resistance when the enemy -rushed to the trenches. Two battalions of Dublin Fusiliers, however, -from the 48th Brigade were in the adjoining trenches and were not -affected by the poison. These, together with the 8th Inniskillings, -who were in the rear of the 7th, attacked the captured trench and -speedily won it back. This was the more easy as there had been a -sudden shift of wind which had blown the vile stuff back into the -faces of the German infantry. A Bavarian letter taken some days -later complained bitterly of their losses, which were stated to have -reached 1300 from poison alone. The casualties of the Irish Division -were about 1500, nearly all from gas, or shell-fire. Coming as it -did at the moment when the tragic and futile rebellion in Dublin had -seemed to place the imagined interests of Ireland in front of those -of European civilisation, this success was most happily timed. The -brunt of the fighting was borne equally by troops from the north and -from the south of Ireland--a happy omen, we will hope, for the future. - -Amongst the other local engagements which broke the monotony of -trench life may be mentioned one upon May 11 near the Hohenzollern -Redoubt where the Germans held for a short time a British trench, -taking 127 of the occupants prisoners. More serious was the fighting -upon the Vimy Ridge south of Souchez on May 15. About 7.30 on the -evening of that day the British exploded a series of mines which, -either by accident or design, were short of {20} the German trenches. -The sector was occupied by the Twenty-fifth Division, and the -infantry attack was entrusted to the 11th Lancashire Fusiliers and -the 9th North Lancashires, both of the 74th Brigade. They rushed -forward with great dash and occupied the newly-formed craters, where -they established themselves firmly, joining them up with each other -and cutting communications backwards so as to make a new observation -trench. - -The Twenty-fifth Division lay at this time with the Forty-seventh -London Division as its northern neighbour, the one forming the -left-hand unit of the Third Army, and the other the extreme right of -the First. Upon the 19th the Londoners took over the new position -from the 74th, and found it to be an evil inheritance, for upon May -21, when they were in the very act of relieving the 7th and 75th -Brigades, which formed the front of the Twenty-fifth Division, they -were driven in by a terrific bombardment and assault from the German -lines. On the front of a brigade the Germans captured not only the -new ground won but our own front line and part of our supporting -line. Old soldiers declared that the fire upon this occasion was -among the most concentrated and deadly of the whole War. With the -new weapons artillery is not needed at such short range, for with -aerial torpedoes the same effect can be produced as with guns of a -great calibre. - -In the early morning of April 30, there was a strong attack by the -Germans at Wulverghem, which was the village to the west of Messines, -to which our line had been shifted after the attack of November 2, -1914. There is no doubt that all this bustling upon the part of the -Germans was partly for the purpose {21} of holding us to our ground -while they dealt with the French at Verdun, and partly to provoke a -premature offensive, since they well knew that some great movement -was in contemplation. As a matter of fact, all the attacks, -including the final severe one upon the Canadian lines, were dealt -with by local defenders and had no strategic effect at all. In the -case of the Wulverghem attack it was preceded by an emission of gas -of such intensity that it produced much sickness as far off as -Bailleul, at least six miles to the west. Horses in the distant -horse lines fell senseless under the noxious vapour. It came on with -such rapidity that about a hundred men of the Twenty-fourth Division -were overcome before they could get on their helmets. The rest were -armed against it, and repelled the subsequent infantry attacks -carried out by numerous small bodies of exploring infantry, without -any difficulty. The whole casualties of the Fifth Corps, whose front -was attacked, amounted to 400, half by gas and half by the shells. - -In May, General Alderson, who had commanded the Canadians with such -success from the beginning, took over new duties and gave place to -General Sir Julian Byng, the gallant commander of the Third Cavalry -Division. - -Upon June 2 there began an action upon the Canadian front at Ypres -which led to severe fighting extending over several weeks, and put a -very heavy strain upon a corps the First Division of which had done -magnificent work during more than a year, whilst the other two -divisions had only just eased up after the fighting of the craters. -Knowing well that the Allies were about to attack, the Germans were -exceedingly anxious to gain some success which would {22} compel them -to disarrange their plans and to suspend that concentration of troops -and guns which must precede any great effort. In searching for such -a success it was natural that they should revert to the Ypres -salient, which had always been the weakest portion of the line--so -weak, indeed, that when it is seen outlined by the star shells at -night, it seems to the spectator to be almost untenable, since the -curve of the German line was such that it could command the rear of -all the British trenches. It was a region of ruined cottages, -shallow trenches commanded by the enemy's guns, and shell-swept woods -so shattered and scarred that they no longer furnished any cover. -These woods, Zouave Wood, Sanctuary Wood, and others lie some hundred -yards behind the front trenches and form a rallying-point for those -who retire, and a place of assembly for those who advance. - -The Canadian front was from four to five miles long, following the -line of the trenches. The extreme left lay upon the ruined village -of Hooge. This part of the line was held by the Royal Canadian -Regiment. For a mile to their right, in front of Zouave and -Sanctuary Woods, the Princess Patricia's held the line over low-lying -ground. In immediate support was the 49th Regiment. These all -belonged to the 7th Canadian Brigade. This formed the left or -northern sector of the position. - -In the centre was a low hill called Mount Sorel, in which the front -trenches were located. Immediately in its rear is another elevation, -somewhat higher, and used as an observing station. This was -Observatory Hill. A wood, Armagh Wood, covered the slope of this -hill. There is about two hundred yards {23} of valley between Mount -Sorel and Observatory Hill, with a small stream running down it. -This section of the line was essential for the British, since in the -hands of the enemy it would command all the rest. It was garrisoned -by the 8th Brigade, consisting of Canadian Mounted Rifles. - -The right of the Canadian line, including St. Eloi upon the extreme -limit of their sector, was held by troops of the Second Canadian -Division. This part of the line was not involved in the coming -attack. It broke upon the centre and the left, the Mount Sorel and -the Hooge positions. - -The whole operation was very much more important than was appreciated -by the British public at the time, and formed a notable example of -anticipatory tactics upon the part of the German General Staff. Just -as they had delayed the advance upon the west by their furious -assault upon Verdun on the east, so they now calculated that by a -fierce attack upon the north of the British line they might disperse -the gathering storm which was visibly banking up in the Somme Valley. -It was a bold move, boldly carried out, and within appreciable -distance of success. - -Their first care was to collect and concentrate a great number of -guns and mine-throwers on the sector to be attacked. This -concentration occurred at the very moment when our own heavy -artillery was in a transition stage, some of it going south to the -Somme. Hardly a gun had sounded all morning. Then in an instant -with a crash and a roar several mines were sprung under the trenches, -and a terrific avalanche of shells came smashing down among the -astounded men. It is doubtful if a more hellish {24} storm of -projectiles of every sort had ever up to that time been concentrated -upon so limited a front. There was death from the mines below, death -from the shells above, chaos and destruction all around. The men -were dazed and the trenches both in front and those of communication -were torn to pieces and left as heaps of rubble. - -One great mine destroyed the loop of line held by the Princess -Patricia's and buried a company in the ruins. A second exploded at -Mount Sorel and did great damage. At the first outburst Generals -Mercer and Williams had been hurried into a small tunnel out of the -front line, but the mine explosion obliterated the mouth of the -tunnel and they were only extricated with difficulty. General Mercer -was last seen encouraging the men, but he had disappeared after the -action and his fate was unknown to friend or foe until ten days later -his body was found with both legs broken in one of the side trenches. -He died as he had lived, a very gallant soldier. For four hours the -men cowered down in what was left of the trenches, awaiting the -inevitable infantry attack which would come from the German lines -fifty yards away. When at last it came it met with little -resistance, for there were few to resist. Those few were beaten down -by the rush of the Würtembergers who formed the attacking division. -They carried the British line for a length of nearly a mile, from -Mount Sorel to the south of Hooge, and they captured about 500 men, a -large proportion of whom were wounded. General Williams, Colonel -Usher, and twelve other officers were taken. - -When the German stormers saw the havoc in the trenches they may well -have thought that they had {25} only to push forward to pierce the -line and close their hands at last upon the coveted Ypres. If any -such expectation was theirs, they must have been new troops who had -no knowledge of the dour tenacity of the Canadians. The men who -first faced poison gas without masks were not so lightly driven. The -German attack was brought to a standstill by the withering rifle-fire -from the woods, and though the assailants were still able to hold the -ground occupied they were unable to increase their gains, while in -spite of a terrific barrage of shrapnel fresh Canadian battalions, -the 14th and 15th from the 3rd Canadian Brigade, were coming up from -the rear to help their exhausted companions. - -The evening of June 2 was spent in confused skirmishing, the advanced -patrols of the Germans getting into the woods and being held up by -the Canadian infantry moving up to the front. Some German patrols -are said to have got as far as Zillebeke village, three-quarters of a -mile in advance of their old line. By the morning of June 3 these -intruders had been pushed back, but a counter-attack before dawn by -the 9th Brigade was held up by artillery fire, Colonel Hay of the -52nd (New Ontario) Regiment and many officers and men being put out -of action. The British guns were now hard at work, and the -Würtembergers in the captured trenches were enduring something of -what the Canadians had undergone the day before. About 7 o'clock the -2nd and 3rd Canadian Brigades, veterans of Ypres, began to advance, -making their way through the woods and over the bodies of the German -skirmishers. When the advance got in touch with the captured -trenches it was held up, for the Würtembergers stood to it {26} like -men, and were well supported by their gunners. On the right the 7th -and 10th Canadians got well forward, but had not enough weight for a -serious attack. It became clear that a premature counter-attack -might lead to increased losses, and that the true method was to -possess one's soul in patience until the preparation could be made -for a decisive operation. The impatience and ardour of the men were -very great, and their courage had a fine edge put upon it by a -churlish German official communiqué, adding one more disgrace to -their military annals, which asserted that more Canadian prisoners -had not been taken because they had fled so fast. Canadians could -smile at the insult, but it was the sort of smile that is more -menacing than a frown. The infantry waited grimly while some of the -missing guns were recalled into their position. Up to this time the -losses had been about 80 officers and 2000 men. - -The weather was vile, with incessant rain which turned the fields -into bogs and the trenches into canals. For a few days things were -at a standstill, for the clouds prevented aeroplane reconnaissance -and the registration of the guns. The Corps lay in front of its lost -trenches like a wounded bear looking across with red eyes at its -stolen cub. The Germans had taken advantage of the lull to extend -their line, and on June 6 they had occupied the ruins of Hooge, which -were impossible to hold after all the trenches to the south had been -lost. In their new line the Germans awaited the attack which they -afterwards admitted that they knew to be inevitable. The British -gunfire was so severe that it was very difficult for them to improve -their new position. - -On the 13th the weather had moderated and all {27} was ready for the -counter-attack. It was carried out at two in the morning by two -composite brigades. The 3rd (Toronto) and 7th Battalions led upon -the right, while the 13th (Royal Highlanders) and 16th (Canadian -Scots) were in the van of the left, with their pipers skirling in -front of them. Machine-guns supported the whole advance. The right -flank of the advance, being exposed to the German machine-guns, was -shrouded by the smoke of 200 bombs. The night was a very dark one -and the Canadian Scots had taken advantage of it to get beyond the -front line, and, as it proved, inside the German barrage zone, so -that heavy as it was it did them no scathe. The new German line was -carried with a magnificent rush, and a second heave lifted the wave -of stormers into the old British trenches--or the place where they -had been. Nine machine-guns and 150 prisoners from the 119th, 120th, -125th, and 127th Würtemberg Regiments were captured. To their great -joy the Canadians discovered that such munitions as they had -abandoned upon June 2 were still in the trenches and reverted into -their hands. It is pleasant to add that evidence was found that the -Würtembergers had behaved with humanity towards the wounded. From -this time onwards the whole Canadian area from close to Hooge (the -village still remained with the enemy) across the front of the woods, -over Mount Sorel, and on to Hill 60, was consolidated and maintained. -Save the heavy reciprocal losses neither side had anything to show -for all their desperate fighting, save that the ruins of Hooge were -now German. The Canadian losses in the total operations came to -about 7000 men--a figure which is eloquent as to the severity of the -fighting. They emerged {28} from the ordeal with their military -reputation more firmly established than ever. Ypres will surely be a -place of pilgrimage for Canadians in days to come, for the ground -upon the north of the city and also upon the south-east is -imperishably associated with the martial traditions of their country. -The battle just described is the most severe action between the epic -of Loos upon the one side, and that tremendous episode in the south, -upon the edge of which we are now standing. - -There is one other happening of note which may in truth be taken as -an overture of that gigantic performance. This was the action of the -Seventeenth Corps upon June 30, the eve of the Somme battle, in which -the Thirty-ninth Division, supported by guns from the Thirty-fifth -and Fifty-first Divisions upon each side of it, attacked the German -trenches near Richebourg at a spot known as the Boar's Head. The -attack was so limited in the troops employed and so local in area -that it can only be regarded as a feint to take the German attention -from the spot where the real danger was brewing. - -After an artillery preparation of considerable intensity, the -infantry assault was delivered by the 12th and 13th Royal Sussex of -the 116th Brigade. The scheme was that they should advance in three -waves and win their way to the enemy support line, which they were to -convert into the British front line, while the divisional pioneer -battalion, the 13th Gloster, was to join it up to the existing system -by new communication trenches. For some reason, however, a period of -eleven hours seems to have elapsed between the first bombardment and -the actual attack. The latter was delivered at three {29} in the -morning after a fresh bombardment of only ten minutes. So ready were -the Germans that an observer has remarked that had a string been tied -from the British batteries to the German the opening could not have -been more simultaneous, and they had brought together a great weight -of metal. Every kind of high explosive, shrapnel, and trench mortar -bombs rained on the front and support line, the communication -trenches and No Man's Land, in addition to a most hellish fire of -machine-guns. The infantry none the less advanced with magnificent -ardour, though with heavy losses. On occupying the German front line -trenches there was ample evidence that the guns had done their work -well, for the occupants were lying in heaps. The survivors threw -bombs to the last moment, and then cried, "Kamerad!" Few of them -were taken back. Two successive lines were captured, but the losses -were too heavy to allow them to be held, and the troops had -eventually under heavy shell-fire to fall back on their own front -lines. Only three officers came back unhurt out of the two -battalions, and the losses of rank and file came to a full two-thirds -of the number engaged. "The men were magnificent," says one who led -them, but they learned the lesson which was awaiting so many of their -comrades in the south, that all human bravery cannot overcome -conditions which are essentially impossible. A heavy German -bombardment continued for some time, flattening out the trenches and -inflicting losses, not only upon the 39th but upon the 51st Highland -Territorial Division. This show of heavy artillery may be taken as -the most pleasant feature in the whole episode, since it shows that -its object was attained at least to the very important {30} extent of -holding up the German guns. Those heavy batteries upon the Somme -might well have modified our successes of the morrow. - -A second attack made with the same object of distracting the -attention of the Germans and holding up their guns was made at an -earlier date at a point called the triangle opposite to the Double -Grassier near Loos. This attack was started at 9.10 upon the evening -of June 10, and was carried out in a most valiant fashion by the 2nd -Rifles and part of the 2nd Royal Sussex, both of the 2nd Brigade. -There can be no greater trial for troops, and no greater sacrifice -can be demanded of a soldier, than to risk and probably lose his life -in an attempt which can obviously have no permanent result, and is -merely intended to ease pressure elsewhere. The gallant stormers -reached and in several places carried the enemy's line, but no -lasting occupation could be effected, and they had eventually to -return to their own line. The Riflemen, who were the chief -sufferers, lost 11 officers and 200 men. - -A word should be said as to the raids along the line of the German -trenches by which it was hoped to distract their attention from the -point of attack, and also to obtain precise information as to the -disposition of their units. It is difficult to say whether the -British were the gainers, or the losers on balance in these raids, -for some were successful, while some were repelled. Among a great -number of gallant attempts, the details of which hardly come within -the scale of this chronicle, the most successful perhaps were two -made by the 9th Highland Light Infantry and by the 2nd Welsh -Fusiliers, both of the Thirty-third Division. In both of these cases -very extensive damage was done and numerous prisoners were taken. -{31} When one reads the intimate accounts of these affairs, the -stealthy approaches, the blackened faces, the clubs and revolvers -which formed the weapons, the ox-goads for urging Germans out of -dug-outs, the dark lanterns and the knuckle-dusters--one feels that -the age of adventure is not yet past and that the spirit of romance -was not entirely buried in the trenches of modern war. There were 70 -such raids in the week which preceded the great attack. - -Before plunging into the huge task of following and describing the -various phases of the mighty Battle of the Somme a word must be said -upon the naval history of the period which can all be summed up in -the Battle of Jutland, since the situation after that battle was -exactly as it had always been before it. This fact in itself shows -upon which side the victory lay, since the whole object of the -movements of the German Fleet was to produce a relaxation in these -conditions. Through the modesty of the British bulletins, which was -pushed somewhat to excess, the position for some days was that the -British, who had won everything, claimed nothing, while the Germans, -who had won nothing, claimed everything. It is true that a number of -our ships were sunk and of our sailors drowned, including Hood and -Arbuthnot, two of the ablest of our younger admirals. Even by the -German accounts, however, their own losses in proportion to their -total strength were equally heavy, and we have every reason to doubt -their accounts since they not only do not correspond with reliable -observations upon our side, but because their second official account -was compelled to admit that their first one had been false. The -whole affair may be summed up by saying that after making an -excellent {32} fight they were saved from total destruction by the -haze of evening, and fled back in broken array to their ports, -leaving the North Sea now as always in British keeping. At the same -time it cannot be denied that here as at Coronel and the Falklands -the German ships were well fought, the gunnery was good, and the -handling of the fleet, both during the battle and especially under -the difficult circumstances of the flight in the darkness to avoid a -superior fleet between themselves and home, was of a high order. It -was a good clean fight, and in the general disgust at the flatulent -claims of the Kaiser and his press the actual merit of the German -performance did not perhaps receive all the appreciation which it -deserved. - - - - -{33} - -CHAPTER II - -THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME - - Attack of the Seventh and Eighth Corps on - Gommecourt, Serre, and Beaumont Hamel - -Line of battle in the Somme sector--Great preparations--Advance of -Forty-sixth North Midland Division--Advance of Fifty-sixth -Territorials (London)--Great valour and heavy losses--Advance of -Thirty-first Division--Advance of Fourth Division--Advance of -Twenty-ninth Division--Complete failure of the assault. - - -The continued German pressure at Verdun which had reached a high -point in June called insistently for an immediate allied attack at -the western end of the line. With a fine spirit of comradeship -General Haig had placed himself and his armies at the absolute -disposal of General Joffre, and was prepared to march them to Verdun, -or anywhere else where he could best render assistance. The solid -Joffre, strong and deliberate, was not disposed to allow the western -offensive to be either weakened or launched prematurely on account of -German attacks at the eastern frontier. He believed that Verdun -could for the time look after herself, and the result showed the -clearness of his vision. Meanwhile, he amassed a considerable French -army, containing many of his best active troops, on either side of -the Somme. General Foch was in command. They formed the right wing -of the {34} great allied force about to make a big effort to break or -shift the iron German line, which had been built up with two years of -labour, until it represented a tangled vista of trenches, parapets, -and redoubts mutually supporting and bristling with machine-guns and -cannon, for many miles of depth. Never in the whole course of -history have soldiers been confronted with such an obstacle. Yet -from general to private, both in the French and in the British -armies, there was universal joy that the long stagnant trench life -should be at an end, and that the days of action, even if they should -prove to be days of death, should at last have come. Our concern is -with the British forces, and so they are here set forth as they -stretched upon the left or north of their good allies. - -The southern end of the whole British line was held by the Fourth -Army, commanded by General Rawlinson, an officer who has always been -called upon when desperate work was afoot. His army consisted of -five corps, each of which included from three to four divisions, so -that his infantry numbered about 200,000 men, many of whom were -veterans, so far as a man may live to be a veteran amid the slaughter -of such a campaign. The Corps, counting from the junction with the -French, were, the Thirteenth (Congreve), Fifteenth (Horne), Third -(Pulteney), Tenth (Morland), and Eighth (Hunter-Weston). Their -divisions, frontage, and the objectives will be discussed in the -description of the battle itself. - -------------------------------------------------------------------- - -{35} - -[Illustration: BRITISH BATTLE LINE July 1st 1916] - -------------------------------------------------------------------- - -North of Rawlinson's Fourth Army, and touching it at the village of -Hébuterne, was Allenby's Third Army, of which one single corps, the -Seventh (Snow), was engaged in the battle. This added three {36} -divisions, or about 30,000 infantry, to the numbers quoted above. - -It had taken months to get the troops into position, to accumulate -the guns, and to make the enormous preparations which such a battle -must entail. How gigantic and how minute these are can only be -appreciated by those who are acquainted with the work of the staffs. -As to the Chief Staff of all, if a civilian may express an opinion -upon so technical a matter, no praise seems to be too high for -General Kiggell and the others under the immediate direction of Sir -Douglas Haig, who had successively shown himself to be a great Corps -General, a great Army leader, and now a great General-in-Chief. The -preparations were enormous and meticulous, yet everything ran like a -well-oiled piston-rod. Every operation of the attack was practised -on similar ground behind the lines. New railheads were made, huge -sidings constructed, and great dumps accumulated. The corps and -divisional staffs were also excellent, but above all it was upon -those hard-worked and usually overlooked men, the sappers, that the -strain fell. Assembly trenches had to be dug, double communication -trenches had to be placed in parallel lines, one taking the -up-traffic and one the down, water supplies, bomb shelters, staff -dug-outs, poison-gas arrangements, tunnels and mines--there was no -end to the work of the sappers. The gunners behind laboured night -after night in hauling up and concealing their pieces, while day -after day they deliberately and carefully registered upon their -marks. The question of ammunition supply had assumed incredible -proportions. For the needs of one single corps forty-six miles of -motor-lorries were engaged in bringing up {37} the shells. However, -by the end of June all was in place and ready. The bombardment began -about June 23, and was at once answered by a German one of lesser -intensity. The fact that the attack was imminent was everywhere -known, for it was absolutely impossible to make such preparations and -concentrations in a secret fashion. "Come on, we are ready for you," -was hoisted upon placards on several of the German trenches. The -result was to show that they spoke no more than the truth. - -There were limits, however, to the German appreciation of the plans -of the Allies. They were apparently convinced that the attack would -come somewhat farther to the north, and their plans, which covered -more than half of the ground on which the attack actually did occur, -had made that region impregnable, as we were to learn to our cost. -Their heaviest guns and their best troops were there. They had made -a far less elaborate preparation, however, at the front which -corresponded with the southern end of the British line, and also on -that which faced the French. The reasons for this may be surmised. -The British front at that point is very badly supplied with roads (or -was before the matter was taken in hand), and the Germans may well -have thought that no advance upon a great scale was possible. So far -as the French were concerned they had probably over-estimated the -pre-occupation of Verdun and had not given our Allies credit for the -immense reserve vitality which they were to show. The French front -to the south of the Somme was also faced by a great bend of the river -which must impede any advance. Then again it is wooded, broken -country down there, and gives good concealment for masking an -operation. These {38} were probably the reasons which induced the -Germans to make a miscalculation which proved to be an exceedingly -serious one, converting what might have been a German victory into a -great, though costly, success for the Allies, a prelude to most vital -results in the future. - -It is, as already stated, difficult to effect a surprise upon the -large scale in modern warfare. There are still, however, certain -departments in which with energy and ingenuity effects may be -produced as unforeseen as they are disconcerting. The Air Service of -the Allies, about which a book which would be one long epic of -heroism could be written, had been growing stronger, and had -dominated the situation during the last few weeks, but it had not -shown its full strength nor its intentions until the evening before -the bombardment. Then it disclosed both in most dramatic fashion. -Either side had lines of stationary airships from which shell-fire is -observed. To the stranger approaching the lines they are the first -intimation that he is in the danger area, and he sees them in a -double row, extending in a gradually dwindling vista to either -horizon. Now by a single raid and in a single night, every -observation airship of the Germans was brought in flames to the -earth. It was a splendid coup, splendidly carried out. Where the -setting sun had shone on a long German array the dawn showed an empty -eastern sky. From that day for many a month the Allies had command -of the air with all that it means to modern artillery. It was a good -omen for the coming fight, and a sign of the great efficiency to -which the British Air Service under General Trenchard had attained. -The various types for scouting, for artillery work, {39} for raiding, -and for fighting were all very highly developed and splendidly -handled by as gallant and chivalrous a band of heroic youths as -Britain has ever enrolled among her guardians. The new F.E. machine -and the de Haviland Biplane fighting machine were at this time equal -to anything the Germans had in the air. - -The attack had been planned for June 28, but the weather was so -tempestuous that it was put off until it should moderate, a change -which was a great strain upon every one concerned. July 1 broke calm -and warm with a gentle south-western breeze. The day had come. All -morning from early dawn there was intense fire, intensely answered, -with smoke barrages thrown during the last half-hour to such points -as could with advantage be screened. At 7.30 the guns lifted, the -whistles blew, and the eager infantry were over the parapets. The -great Battle of the Somme, the fierce crisis of Armageddon, had come. -In following the fate of the various British forces during this -eventful and most bloody day we will begin at the northern end of the -line, where the Seventh Corps (Snow) faced the salient of Gommecourt. - -This corps consisted of the Thirty-seventh, Forty-sixth, and -Fifty-sixth Divisions. The former was not engaged and lay to the -north. The others were told off to attack the bulge on the German -line, the Forty-sixth upon the north, and the Fifty-sixth upon the -south, with the village of Gommecourt as their immediate objective. -Both were well-tried and famous territorial units, the Forty-sixth -North Midland being the division which carried the Hohenzollern -Redoubt upon October 13, 1915, while the Fifty-sixth was made up of -the old London territorial battalions, {40} which had seen so much -fighting in earlier days while scattered among the regular brigades. -Taking our description of the battle always from the north end of the -line we shall begin with the attack of the Forty-sixth Division. - -The assault was carried out by two brigades, each upon a -two-battalion front. Of these the 137th Brigade of Stafford men were -upon the right, while the 139th Brigade of Sherwood Foresters were on -the left, each accompanied by a unit of sappers. The 138th Brigade, -less one battalion, which was attached to the 137th, was in reserve. -The attack was covered so far as possible with smoke, which was -turned on five minutes before the hour. The general instructions to -both brigades were that after crossing No Man's Land and taking the -first German line they should bomb their way up the communication -trenches, and so force a passage into Gommecourt Wood. Each brigade -was to advance in four waves at fifty yards interval, with six feet -between each man. Warned by our past experience of the wastage of -precious material, not more than 20 officers of each battalion were -sent forward with the attack, and a proportional number of N.C.O.'s -were also withheld. The average equipment of the stormers, here and -elsewhere, consisted of steel helmet, haversack, water-bottle, -rations for two days, two gas helmets, tear-goggles, 220 cartridges, -two bombs, two sandbags, entrenching tool, wire-cutters, field -dressings, and signal-flare. With this weight upon them, and with -trenches which were half full of water, and the ground between a -morass of sticky mud, some idea can be formed of the strain upon the -infantry. - -{41} - -Both the attacking brigades got away with splendid steadiness upon -the tick of time. In the case of the 137th Brigade the 6th South -Staffords and 6th North Staffords were in the van, the former being -on the right flank where it joined up with the left of the -Fifty-sixth Division. The South Staffords came into a fatal blast of -machine-gun fire as they dashed forward, and their track was marked -by a thick litter of dead and wounded. None the less, they poured -into the trenches opposite to them but found them strongly held by -infantry of the Fifty-second German Division. There was some fierce -bludgeon work in the trenches, but the losses in crossing had been -too heavy and the survivors were unable to make good. The trench was -held by the Germans and the assault repulsed. The North Staffords -had also won their way into the front trenches, but in their case -also they had lost so heavily that they were unable to clear the -trench, which was well and stoutly defended. At the instant of -attack, here as elsewhere, the Germans had put so terrific a barrage -between the lines that it was impossible for the supports to get up -and no fresh momentum could be added to the failing attack. - -The fate of the right attack had been bad, but that of the left was -even worse, for at this point we had experience of a German procedure -which was tried at several places along the line with most deadly -effect, and accounted for some of our very high losses. This device -was to stuff their front line dug-outs with machine-guns and men, who -would emerge when the wave of stormers had passed, attacking them -from the rear, confident that their own rear was safe on account of -the terrific barrage between the lines. {42} In this case the -stormers were completely trapped. The 5th and 7th Sherwood Foresters -dashed through the open ground, carried the trenches and pushed -forward on their fiery career. Instantly the barrage fell, the -concealed infantry rose behind them, and their fate was sealed. With -grand valour the leading four waves stormed their way up the -communication trenches and beat down all opposition until their own -dwindling numbers and the failure of their bombs left them helpless -among their enemies. Thus perished the first companies of two fine -battalions, and few survivors of them ever won their way back to the -British lines. Brave attempts were made during the day to get across -to their aid, but all were beaten down by the terrible barrage. In -the evening the 5th Lincolns made a most gallant final effort to -reach their lost comrades, and got across to the German front line -which they found to be strongly held. So ended a tragic episode. -The cause which produced it was, as will be seen, common to the whole -northern end of the line, and depended upon factors which neither -officers nor men could control, the chief of which were that the work -of our artillery, both in getting at the trench garrisons and in its -counter-battery effects had been far less deadly than we had -expected. The losses of the division came to about 2700 men. - -The attack upon the southern side of the Gommecourt peninsula, though -urged with the utmost devotion and corresponding losses, had no more -success than that in the north. There is no doubt that the -unfortunate repulse of the 137th Brigade upon their left, occurring -as it did while the Fifty-sixth Division was still advancing, enabled -the {43} Germans to concentrate their guns and reserves upon the -Londoners, but knowing what we know, it can hardly be imagined that -under any circumstances, with failure upon either side of them, the -division could have held the captured ground. The preparations for -the attack had been made with great energy, and for two successive -nights as many as 3000 men were out digging between the lines, which -was done with such disciplined silence that there were not more than -50 casualties all told. The 167th Brigade was left in reserve, -having already suffered heavily while holding the water-logged -trenches during the constant shell-fall of the last week. The 7th -Middlesex alone had lost 12 officers and 300 men from this cause--a -proportion which may give some idea of what the heavy British -bombardment may have meant to the Germans. The advance was, -therefore, upon a two-brigade front, the 168th being on the right and -the 169th upon the left. The London Scottish and the 12th London -Rangers were the leading battalions of the 168th, while the -Westminsters and Victorias led the 169th with the 4th London, 13th -Kensingtons, 2nd London and London Rifle Brigade in support. The -advance was made with all the fiery dash with which the Cockney -soldiers have been associated. The first, second, and third German -lines of trench were successively carried, and it was not until they, -or those of them who were left, had reached the fourth line that they -were held. It was powerfully manned, bravely defended, and well -provided with bombs--a terrible obstacle for a scattered line of -weary and often wounded men. The struggle was a heroic one. Even -now had their rear been clear, or had there been a shadow of support -{44} these determined men would have burst the only barrier which -held them from Gommecourt. But the steel curtain of the barrage had -closed down behind them, and every overrun trench was sending out its -lurking occupants to fire into their defenceless backs. Bombs, too, -are essential in such a combat, and bombs must ever be renewed, since -few can be carried at a time. For long hours the struggle went on, -but it was the pitiful attempt of heroic men to postpone that retreat -which was inevitable. Few of the advanced line ever got back. The -3rd London, particularly, sent forward several hundred men with -bombs, but hardly any got across. Sixty London Scots started on the -same terrible errand. In the late afternoon the remains of the two -brigades were back in the British front line, having done all, and -more than all, that brave soldiers could be expected to do. The -losses were very heavy. Never has the manhood of London in one -single day sustained so grievous a loss. It is such hours which test -the very soul of the soldier. War is not all careless slang and -jokes and cigarettes, though such superficial sides of it may amuse -the public and catch the eye of the descriptive writer. It is the -most desperately earnest thing to which man ever sets his hand or his -mind. Many a hot oath and many a frenzied prayer go up from the -battle line. Strong men are shaken to the soul with the hysteria of -weaklings, and balanced brains are dulled into vacancy or worse by -the dreadful sustained shock of it. The more honour then to those -who, broken and wearied, still hold fast in the face of all that -human flesh abhors, bracing their spirits by a sense of soldierly -duty and personal honour which is strong enough to prevail over death -itself. - -{45} - -It is pleasing to be able to record an instance of good feeling upon -the part of the enemy. Some remains of the old German spirit would -now and again, though with sad rarity, shake itself free from the -acrid and poisonous Prussian taint. On this occasion a German -prisoner was sent back from our lines after nightfall with a note to -the officer in command asking for details as to the fate of the -British missing. An answer was found tied on to the barbed wire in -the morning which gave the desired information. It is fair to state -also that the wounded taken by the enemy appear to have met with good -treatment. - -So much for the gallant and tragic attack of the Seventh Corps. -General Snow, addressing his men after the battle, pointed out that -their losses and their efforts had not been all in vain. "I can -assure you," he said, "that by your determined attack you managed to -keep large forces of the enemy at your front, thereby materially -assisting in the operations which were proceeding farther south with -such marked success." No doubt the claim is a just one, and even -while we mourn over the fate of four grand Army corps upon the left -wing of the Allied Army, we may feel that they sacrificed themselves -in order to assure the advance of those corps of their comrades to -the south who had profited by the accumulation of guns and men to the -north of them in order to burst their way through the German line. -It is possible that here as on some other occasions the bitter hatred -which the Germans had for the British, nurtured as it was by every -lie which could appeal to their passions, had distorted their vision -and twisted their counsels to an extent which proved to be their ruin. - -{46} - -The Eighth Corps, a magnificent body of troops, was under the command -of General Sir Aylmer Hunter-Weston. It consisted of the -Forty-eighth South Midland Territorial Division, the Fourth Regular -Division, the Twenty-ninth Regular Division, and the Thirty-first -Division of the New Army. Their front extended from Hébuterne in the -north, where they joined on to the Fifty-sixth Division, down to a -point just north of the Ancre, and it faced the very strong German -positions of Serre in the north, and of Beaumont Hamel in the centre. -The latter was an exceptionally difficult place, for it contained -enormous quarries and excavations in which masses of Germans could -remain concealed, almost immune to shell-fire and ready to sally out -when needed. In spite of the terrific bombardment the actual damage -done to the enemy was not excessive, and neither his numbers, his -_moral_, nor his guns had been seriously diminished. - -The order of battle was as follows: the Forty-eighth Division was in -reserve, save for the 143rd Warwick Brigade. Of this brigade two -battalions, the 5th and 6th Warwicks, were placed on a defensive line -with orders to hold the trenches for about a mile south of Hebuterne. -The 7th and 8th Warwicks were attached to the Fourth Division for the -assault. - -Immediately south of the defensive line held by the two Warwick -battalions was the Thirty-first Division, having Serre for its -objective. South of this, and opposite to Beaumont Hamel, was the -Fourth, and south of this again was the Twenty-ninth Division, which -had returned from the magnificent failure of the Dardanelles, bearing -with it a high reputation for efficiency and valour. Incorporated -with it was a regiment of Newfoundlanders, men recruited from {47} -among the fishers and farmers of that northern land, the oldest -colony of Britain. Such was the force, comprising nearly 50,000 -excellent infantry, who set forth upon the formidable adventure of -forcing the lines of Beaumont Hamel. They were destined to show the -absolute impossibility of such a task in the face of a steadfast -unshaken enemy, supported by a tremendous artillery, but their story -is a most glorious one, and many a great British victory contains no -such record of tenacity and military virtue. - -At a quarter past five the assaulting lines were in the assembly -trenches, and shortly afterwards the smoke and artillery barrages -were released. At 7.20 an enormous mine, which had been run under -Hawthorn Redoubt in front of the Fourth Division, was exploded, and a -monstrous column of debris, with the accompanying shock of an -earthquake, warned friend and foe that the hour of doom, the crisis -of such mighty preparations, was at hand. At 7.30 the whistles blew, -and the men, springing with eager alacrity over the parapet, advanced -in successive lines of assault against the German trenches. - -Before giving in detail the circumstances which determined the result -in each division, it may be well to avoid wearisome iteration by -giving certain facts which are common to each. In every case the -troops advanced in an extended formation of companies in successive -waves. In nearly every case the German front line was seized and -penetrated, in no case was there any hesitation or disorder among the -advancing troops, but the highest possible degree of discipline and -courage was shown by regulars, territorials, and men of the New Army, -nor could it be said that there was any difference between them. In -each case also {48} the Germans met the assault with determined -valour; in each case the successive lines of trenches were more -strongly held, and the assailants were attacked from the rear by -those who emerged from the dug-outs behind them, and above all in -each case a most murderous artillery fire was opened from a -semi-circle all round the German position, but especially from one -huge accumulation of heavy guns, said to number a hundred batteries, -stationed on the high ground near Bucquoy and commanding the British -position. These guns formed successive lines of barrage with -shrapnel and high explosives, one of them about 200 yards behind the -British line, to cut off the supports; another 50 yards behind; -another 50 yards in front; and a fourth of shrapnel which was under -observed control, and followed the troops in their movements. The -advanced lines of assault were able in most cases to get through -before these barrages were effectively established, but they made it -difficult, deadly, and often impossible for the lines who followed. - -None the less it is the opinion of skilled observers that the -shell-fire alone, however heavy, could not have taken the edge from -the inexorable insistence of the British attack. It is to the skill -and to the personal gallantry of the German machine-gunners that the -result is to be traced. The bombardment of the German line had been -so severe that it was hoped that most of the machine-guns had been -rooted out. So indeed they had, but they had been withdrawn to the -safety of excavations in the immediate rear. Suspecting this, the -British artillery sprayed the ground behind the trenches with showers -of shrapnel to prevent their being brought forward {49} again. This -barrage was not sufficient to subdue the gunners, who dashed forward -and established their pieces at the moment of the assault upon the -various parapets and points of vantage, from which, regardless of -their own losses, they poured a withering fire upon the infantry in -the open. These brave Würtembergers were seen, with riflemen at -their side, exposed waist-deep and dropping fast, but mowing the open -slope as with a scythe of steel. "I cannot," said a general officer, -who surveyed the whole scene, "adequately express my admiration for -the British who advanced, or for the Germans who stood up under such -a heavy barrage to oppose them." It was indeed that contest between -the chosen children of Odin in which Professor Cramb has declared -that the high gods of virility might well rejoice. - -We will now turn to the left of the line and carry on the detailed -description of the general assault from that of the 56th Territorials -in the north, who were linked up by the defensive line of the -Warwicks. The Thirty-first Division was on the left of the Eighth -Corps. Of this division, two brigades, the 93rd and the 94th, were -in the line, with the 92nd in reserve. The 93rd, which consisted of -the 15th, 16th, 18th West Yorks, and the 18th Durhams, was on the -right, the 94th, including the 11th East Lancashires, and the 12th, -13th, and 14th York and Lancasters, was on the left. The advance was -made upon a front of two companies, each company on a front of two -platoons, the men extended to three paces interval. On the left the -leading battalions were the 11th East Lancashires and 12th York and -Lancasters, the latter on the extreme left {50} flank of the whole -division. That this position with its exposed flank was the place of -honour and of danger, may be best indicated by the fact that the -colonel and six orderlies were the only men who could be collected of -this heroic Sheffield battalion upon the next morning. On the right -the leading troops were the 15th and 16th West Yorks. These grand -North-countrymen swept across No Man's Land, dressed as if on parade, -followed in succession by the remaining battalions, two of which, the -13th and 14th York and Lancasters, were the special town units of -Barnsley and Leeds. "I have never seen and could not have imagined -such a magnificent display of gallantry, discipline, and -determination," said the observer who was been already quoted. The -men fell in lines, but the survivors with backs bent, heads bowed, -and rifles at the port, neither quickened nor slackened their -advance, but went forward as though it was rain and not lead which -lashed them. Here and elsewhere the German machine-gunners not only -lined the parapet, but actually rushed forward into the open, partly -to get a flank fire, and partly to come in front of the British -barrage. Before the blasts of bullets the lines melted away, and the -ever-decreasing waves only reached the parapet here and there, -lapping over the spot where the German front lines had been, and -sinking for ever upon the farther side. About a hundred gallant men -of the East Lancashires, favoured perhaps by some curve in the -ground, got past more than one line of trenches, and a few desperate -individuals even burst their way as far as Serre, giving a false -impression that the village was in our hands. But the losses had -been so heavy that the weight and momentum had gone out of the {51} -attack, while the density of the resistance thickened with every yard -of advance. By the middle of the afternoon the survivors of the two -attacking brigades were back in their own front line trenches, having -lost the greater part of their effectives. The 15th West Yorks had -lost heavily in officers, and the 16th and 18th were little better -off. The 18th Durhams suffered less, being partly in reserve. Of -the 94th Brigade the two splendid leading battalions, the 11th East -Lancashires and 12th York and Lancasters, had very many killed within -the enemy line. The heaviest loss in any single unit was in the 11th -East Lancashires. The strength of the position is indicated by the -fact that when attacked by two divisions in November, with a very -powerful backing of artillery, it was still able to hold its own. - -The experiences of all the troops engaged upon the left of the -British attack were so similar and their gallantry was so uniform, -that any variety in description depends rather upon the units engaged -than upon what befell them. Thus in passing from the Thirty-first -Division to the Fourth upon their right, the general sequence of -cause and effect is still the same. In this instance the infantry -who rushed, or rather strode, to the assault were, counting from the -right, the 1st East Lancs, the 1st Rifle Brigade, and the 8th -Warwicks, who were immediately followed by the 1st Hants, the 1st -Somersets, and the 6th Warwicks, advancing with three companies in -front and one in support. The objective here as elsewhere upon the -left was the capture of the Serre-Grandcourt Ridge, with the further -design of furnishing a defensive flank for the operations lower down. -The troops enumerated belonged to the 11th Brigade, led by {52} the -gallant Prowse, who fell hit by a shell early in the assault, calling -after his troops that they should remember that they were the -Stonewall Brigade. The attack was pressed with incredible -resolution, and met with severe losses. Again the front line was -carried and again the thin fringe of survivors had no weight to drive -the assault forward, whilst they had no cover to shelter them in the -ruined lines which they had taken. The Somerset men had the honour -of reaching the farthest point attained by the division. "If -anything wants shifting the Somersets will do it." So said their -General before the action. But both their flanks were in the air, -and their position was an impossible one, while the right of the -attack north of Beaumont Hamel had been entirely held up. Two units -of the 10th Brigade advanced about 9 o'clock on the right, and two of -the 12th on the left. These were in their order, the 2nd Dublins, -2nd Seaforths, 2nd Essex, and 1st King's Own Lancasters. All went -forward with a will, but some could not get beyond their own front -trenches, and few got over the German line. All the weight of their -blood so lavishly and cheerfully given could not tilt the scale -towards victory. Slowly the survivors of the Somersets and Rifle -Brigade were beaten back with clouds of bombers at their heels. The -8th Warwicks, who, with some of the 6th Warwicks, had got as far -forward as any of the supporting line, could not turn the tide. Late -in the afternoon the assault had definitely failed, and the remainder -were back in their own front trenches, which had now to be organised -against the very possible counter-attack. Only two battalions of the -division remained intact, and the losses included {53} General -Prowse, Colonel the Hon. C. W. Palk of the Hampshires, Colonel -Thicknesse of the Somersets, Colonel Wood of the Rifle Brigade, and -Colonel Franklin of the 6th Warwicks, all killed; while Colonels -Innes of the 8th Warwicks, Hopkinson of the Seaforths, and Green of -the East Lancashires were wounded. For a long time a portion of the -enemy's trench was held by mixed units, but it was of no value when -detached from the rest and was abandoned in the evening. From the -afternoon onwards no possible course save defence was open to General -Lambton. There was considerable anxiety about one company of Irish -Fusiliers who were in a detached portion of the German trench, but -they succeeded in getting back next morning, bringing with them not -only their wounded but some prisoners. - -Immediately to the right of the Fourth Division was the Twenty-ninth -Division[1] from Gallipoli, which rivalled in its constancy and -exceeded in its losses its comrades upon the left. The 86th Brigade -and the 87th formed the first line, with the 88th in support. - - -[1] Since the constituents of this famous regular Division have not -been given in full (as has been done with their comrades in preceding -volumes) they are here enumerated as they were on July 1, 1916: - -86_th Brigade_.--2nd Royal Fusiliers, 1st Lancashire Fusiliers, 1st -Dublin Fusiliers, 16th Middlesex. - -87_th Brigade_.--1st Inniskilling Fusiliers, 1st South Wales -Borderers, 1st Scottish Borderers, 1st Border Regiment. - -88_th Brigade_.--1st Essex, 2nd Hants, 4th Worcesters, Newfoundland -Regiment. - - -The van of the attack upon the right of the division was formed by -the 1st Inniskilling Fusiliers and the Welsh Borderers, while the van -upon the left was formed by the 2nd Royal Fusiliers and the 1st -Lancashire Fusiliers. The other battalions of the {54} brigades -formed the supporting line, and two battalions of the 88th Brigade, -the Essex and the Newfoundlanders, were also drawn into the fight, so -that, as in the Fourth Division, only two battalions remained intact -at the close, the nucleus upon which in each case a new division had -to be formed. - -Upon the explosion of the great mine already mentioned two platoons -of the 2nd Royal Fusiliers with machine-guns and Stokes mortars -rushed forward to seize the crater. They got the near lip, but the -enemy were already in possession of the far side, and no farther -advance could be made. At this point, and indeed at nearly all -points down the line, the wire was found to have been very thoroughly -cut by the artillery fire, but for some reason our own wire had not -been cut to the same extent and was a serious obstacle to our own -advance. - -Parties of the leading regiments were speedily up to the German -front-line trench, but their advance beyond it was delayed by the -fact that the dug-outs were found to be full of lurking soldiers who -had intended no doubt to rush out and attack the stormers in the -rear, as in the case of the Forty-sixth and Fifty-sixth Divisions in -the north, but who were discovered in time and had to fight for their -lives. These men were cleared out upon the right, and the advance -then made some progress, but on the left by 9 o'clock the 86th -Brigade had been completely held up by a murderous machine-gun fire -in front of Beaumont Hamel, a position which, as already explained, -presented peculiar difficulties. The Essex and Newfoundland men of -the 88th Brigade were ordered forward and charged with such splendid -resolution that the advance was carried forward again, and the {55} -whole situation changed for the better. By 10.15 the casualties had -become so great, however, through the fire of flanking machine-guns, -that it was clear that the attack could not possibly reach its -objective. The huge crater left by the explosion of the Beaumont -Hamel mine was held for hours as a redoubt, but it also was enfiladed -by fire and became untenable. By half-past ten the action had -resolved itself into a bombardment of the German front line once -more, and the assault had definitely failed. There was an attempt to -renew it, but when it was found that the 86th Brigade and the 87th -Brigade were equally reduced in numbers, it was recognised that only -a defensive line could be held. It is true that the Divisional -General had the Worcesters and the Hants still in hand, and was -prepared to attack with them, but a further loss might have -imperilled the Divisional line, so no advance was allowed. - -All the troops of the Twenty-ninth Division had lived up to their -fame, but a special word should be said of the Newfoundlanders, who, -in their first action, kept pace with the veterans beside them. This -battalion of fishermen, lumbermen, and farmers proved once more the -grand stuff which is bred over the sea--the stuff which Bernhardi -dismissed in a contemptuous paragraph. "They attacked regardless of -loss, moving forward in extended order, wave behind wave. It was a -magnificent exhibition of disciplined courage." Well might General -Hunter-Weston say next day after visiting the survivors: "To hear men -cheering as they did, after undergoing such an experience, and in the -midst of such mud and rain, made one proud to have the command of -such a battalion." The losses of the Newfoundlanders {56} were -severe. Losses are always the index of the sorrow elsewhere, but -when they fall so heavily upon a small community, where every man -plays a vital part and knows his neighbour, they are particularly -distressing. From Cape Race to the coast of Labrador there was pride -and mourning over that day. The total losses of the division were -heavy, and included Colonels Pierce and Ellis of the Inniskillings -and Borderers. - -It must have been with a heavy heart that General Hunter-Weston -realised, with the approach of night, that each of his divisions had -met with such losses that the renewal of the attack was impossible. -He, his Divisional Commanders, his officers and his men had done both -in their dispositions and in their subsequent actions everything -which wise leaders and brave soldiers could possibly accomplish. If -a criticism could be advanced it would be that the attack was urged -with such determined valour that it would not take No until long -after No was the inevitable answer. But grim persistence has won -many a fight, and no leader who is worthy to lead can ever have an -excess of it. They were up against the impossible, as were their -companions to right and left. It is easy to recognise it now, but it -could not be proved until it had been tested to the uttermost. Could -other tactics, other equipment, other methods of guarding the -soldiers have brought them across the fatal open levels? It may be -so, and can again only be tried by testing. But this at least was -proved for all time, that, given clear ground, unshaken troops, -prepared positions, and ample artillery, no human fire and no human -hardihood can ever hope to break such a defensive line. It should be -added that here as {57} elsewhere the British artillery, though less -numerous than it became at a later date, was admirable both in its -heavy and in its lighter pieces. Observers have recorded that under -its hammer blows the German trenches kept momentarily changing their -shape, while the barrage was as thick and accurate and the lifting as -well-timed as could have been wished. There was no slackness -anywhere, either in preparation or in performance, and nothing but -the absolute impossibility of the task under existing conditions -stood in the way of success. - - - - -{58} - -CHAPTER III - -THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME - -Attack of the Tenth and Third Corps, July 1, 1916 - -Magnificent conduct of the Ulster Division--Local success but general -failure--Advance of Thirty-second Division--Advance of Eighth -Division--Advance of Thirty-fourth Division--The turning-point of the -line. - - -Morland's Tenth Corps consisted of the Thirty-sixth, Forty-ninth, and -Thirty-second Divisions. It lay between Hunter-Weston's Eighth Corps -upon the left and Pulteney's Third Corps upon the right. It covered -a front from a mile north of Hamel to a mile north of Ovillers. At -its northern end it was cut by the river Ancre, a sluggish canalised -stream, running between two artificial dykes which the Germans -periodically cut by their artillery fire and the British mended as -best they might. This sector of attack, together with the one -farther south which faced the Third Corps, presented peculiar -difficulties to the assailants, as the ground sloped upward to the -strong village of Thiepval with the ridge behind it, from which -German guns could sweep the whole long glacis of approach. Nowhere -were there more gallant efforts for a decision and nowhere were they -more hopeless. - -{59} - -The division to the north of the Tenth Corps was the Thirty-sixth -Ulster Division. This division was composed of magnificent material, -for the blend of Scot and Celt to be found in the North of Ireland -produces a soldier who combines the fire of the one with the solidity -of the other. These qualities have been brought to a finer temper by -the atmosphere of opposition in which they have lived, and the -difficult economical circumstances which they have overcome in so -remarkable a way. Long ago in unhappy civil strife they had shown -their martial qualities, and now upon a nobler and wider stage they -were destined to confirm them. It might well seem invidious to give -the palm to any one of the bands of heroes who shed their blood like -water on the slopes of Picardy, but at least, all soldiers would -agree that among them all there was not one which could at its -highest claim more than equality of achievement that day with the men -of Ulster. - -The objective of this division was the German position from -Beaucourt-sur-Ancre on the north to the northern edge of Thiepval. -When the signal was given the two leading brigades, the 108th and the -107th, came away at a deliberate pace which quickened into the rush -of a released torrent, and went roaring over the German trenches. -"They were like bloodhounds off the leash." Like every one else they -were horribly scourged by shrapnel and machine-fire as they rushed -across, but whether it was that some curve in the ground favoured -part of their line, or whatever the cause, they suffered less than -the other divisions, and struck on to the German front line with -their full shattering momentum, going through it as though it were -paper. The 108th {60} Brigade, consisting of the 9th Irish Fusiliers -and the 11th, 12th, and 13th Irish Rifles, was on the left. Two of -these, the Fusiliers and one of the Irish Rifle battalions, were on -the north side of the Ancre, and were acting rather with the -Twenty-ninth Division upon their left than with their own comrades on -the right. This detachment fought all day side by side with the -regulars, made their way at one time right up to Beaucourt Station, -and had finally to retire to their own trenches together with the -rest of the line north of the Ancre. Next morning the survivors -crossed the Ancre, and from then onwards the Eighth Corps extended so -as to take over this ground. - -South of the Ancre the two remaining battalions of the 108th Brigade, -and the whole of the 107th Brigade, consisting of the 8th, 9th, 10th, -and 15th Irish Rifles, advanced upon a front of 3000 yards. The men -had lost very heavily in the assembly trenches, and two companies of -the 10th Irish Rifles had dwindled to two platoons before ever they -got clear of the shattered wood in which they gathered. None the -less, the fire and fury of their onset was terrific and sustained. -"The place was covered with smoke and the explosion of heavy shells," -says one who saw the scene from a front observation post. "I felt -that no attack was possible, when suddenly out of the clouds I saw -men advancing as if on parade, quite slowly. It seemed impossible, -and yet they went on, stormed at on the left by high explosive and -shrapnel, and on the right by enfilade machine-gun fire. Suddenly -they charged, and when I could next see through the clouds on the -slope (less than a mile away) I saw that they had taken the front -trench, and in another minute the trench behind was taken, {61} as -our fellows shouting, 'No surrender!' got through--God knows how! As -they advanced the fire of the guns became more and more enfilade, but -nothing could stop their steady progress." - -The long line of Irish Riflemen had rolled over every obstacle, and -although their dead and wounded lay thick behind them they still -stormed forwards with the same fury with which they started. -Bunching up into platoons in artillery formation they pushed on and -carried the third line. Ahead of them, across a considerable -interval, was a fourth line, with a large redoubt upon the flank. -They steadied themselves for a few minutes, and then dashing onwards -once again they captured both the fourth line and the redoubt. So -far forward were they now that they had reached regions north of -Thiepval which were never trodden by a British foot again until three -months of constant fighting had cleared a way to them. It was the -great Schwaben Redoubt which was now before them. The reserve -brigade, the 109th, consisting of the 9th, 10th, and 11th -Inniskilling Fusiliers, with the 14th Irish Rifles, had dashed -forward at 10.40, leaving only the pioneer battalion, the 16th Irish -Rifles, to guard the trenches. With the additional weight of the -survivors of this reinforcing line the fringe of stormers, for they -were now a fringe and nothing more, again rushed forward and threw -themselves into the Schwaben trenches. This was their limit, and for -most of them their grave. They had no further supports, no -ammunition could reach them, and they were embedded in the depths of -the German line at a point far deeper than any unit upon the left of -the line had attained. The village of Thiepval commanded them from -their right rear. {62} Some remained in little groups, huddling in -some coign of vantage, and fighting to the last cartridge, absolutely -refusing to take one step to the rear. To the Germans they were as -dangerous as so many cornered wolves. Others fell back in orderly -fashion, but not an inch farther than was needful, for they held on -all day to the frontage taken by them. The first two lines were kept -in their fierce grip till nightfall of the next day, when they handed -them over to the relieving division. - -In this splendid deed of arms the Thirty-sixth Division left half its -number upon the battlefield. The instances of gallantry were -innumerable, and so equally distributed that their General, when -asked to name a special battalion, could only answer that the whole -twelve had done equally well. Had the divisions to right and left -been able to get as far, the whole gain would have been permanent. -As it was, 540 prisoners were brought in, and few were lost save the -wounded, chief of whom was Colonel Craig, who directed the movements -of his men long after he was unable to direct his own. Colonel -Bernard of the 10th Rifles, Captain Davidson, who worked his -machine-gun after his leg was shattered, Captain Gaffikin, who died -while leading his company with an orange handkerchief waving in his -hand, are but a few of the outstanding names. The pressure upon the -different brigades is indicated by the losses in officers of the -107th, the 108th, and the 109th. - -A very detailed account would be necessary to bring home to the -reader the full gallantry of this deed of arms. Experienced soldiers -who saw it were moved to the limit of human speech. "I wish I had -{63} been born an Ulsterman," cried one of them. "But I am proud to -have been associated with these wonderful men." To have penetrated -all alone for two miles into the German line, and to withdraw from -such a salient in military order, holding fast to all that could be -retained, was indeed a great feat for any troops to have performed. -The requiem for their fallen was best expressed by one of the -survivors, who wrote that "they died for the cause of Liberty, -Honour, and Freedom, for the Old Flag, the emblem of Britain, died -for Ireland, died for Ulster!" - -The Thirty-second Division was on the immediate right of the men of -Ulster. Their advance was carried out with the 96th Brigade on the -left, the 97th upon the right, and the 14th in support. The reader -may be warned that from this time onwards he will often find, as in -this case, that old brigades have been added to new formations, so -that the former simplicity of numbering is often disturbed. The -storming lines went forward in each case with two battalions abreast -in front and two in succession in support. The front line of attack -taken from the north, or left, consisted of the 15th Lancashire -Fusiliers, 16th Northumberland Fusiliers, and the 16th and 17th -Highland Light Infantry. Of these four battalions the 16th -Northumberland Fusiliers came under very heavy fire, and were unable -to press their attack home. On the right the Highlanders had crawled -up to within a hundred yards of the Leipzig salient and were into it -with a rush the moment that the barrage lifted. The 15th Lancashire -Fusiliers upon the left made a particularly brilliant advance. The -right company was held up in front of Thiepval village, but the left -company swept on with the Thirty-sixth Division, {64} keeping pace -with their magnificent advance. It appears to have reached the east -end of Thiepval, but there it was buried deeply in the enemy's -position and was never heard of again. The supporting battalions of -the 96th Brigade, the 16th Lancashire Fusiliers and the 2nd -Inniskilling Fusiliers, tried hard to regain touch with their lost -comrades, but in vain. These various gallant bodies who, at -different points of our line, pushed forward into impossible -positions, were no doubt for the greater part killed or wounded, but -from among them came the 850 prisoners whom the Germans claimed to -have taken on the northern part of the line on that day. The left of -the divisional line was so weakened by these losses that they were -compelled to withdraw to their own front trenches. - -On the right, however, the Highlanders were able to hold on to a part -of the Leipzig salient. The losses, however, upon this flank had -been very heavy, not only in the front wave, but among the 1st -Dorsets and the 11th Borders as they came out from a wood in support. -Coming under a concentrated fire of machine-guns, these two -battalions suffered heavily. Colonel Machell, gallantly leading his -Borders, was shot dead, his adjutant, Lieutenant Gordon, was badly -wounded as he stooped over his body, Major Diggle was wounded, and -the greater number of the officers were on the ground. Colonel -Machell, it may be remarked, was a high civil official of the -Egyptian Government, Under Secretary for the Interior, whose -patriotism had led him to join the New Armies and thus to meet his -death upon the field of battle. The 1st Dorsets lost nearly as -heavily as the men of the Border; their leader, Major Shute, was -disabled, and their ranks thrown into temporary {65} confusion. They -were splendidly rallied, however, by the adjutant, who led them on -and succeeded with the survivors in reaching the Leipzig Redoubt. -Colonel Laidlaw, of the 16th Highland Light Infantry, had also been -wounded, the third commanding officer killed or injured on this wing -of the attack. - -There had been no flinching anywhere, and the military virtue shown -had been of the highest possible quality; but the losses from the -machine-guns and from the barrage were so heavy that they deprived -the attack of the weight and momentum necessary to win their way -through the enemy's position. Under the desperate circumstances, it -might well be considered a remarkable result that a stretch of the -Leipzig Redoubt should be won and permanently held by the -Highlanders, especially by the 17th Highland Light Infantry. The -sappers had prepared a Russian sap running up to the enemy line, and -this was invaluable as a communication trench. On the 2nd and 3rd -the enemy endeavoured to turn out the intruders, but the 2nd -Manchesters and 15th Highland Light Infantry not only held their -ground, but enlarged it. On the night of the 3rd the division was -relieved by the Twenty-fifth Division and withdrew to refit after its -tragic but splendid exertions. - -Out of the novel conditions of what may be called Bloch warfare -certain rules and axioms are slowly evolving. That it is impossible -without artificial protection to attack over the open against an -unshaken enemy provided with machine-guns is the most certain. But -there is another which might be formulated thus: If there are sharp -salients in the enemy line, either these salients must be taken first -or the attack must be made out of range of them, {66} otherwise their -guns must flank the whole advance. Very many examples might be -quoted where the disregard of this axiom has brought disaster to -either side. A conspicuous case would be that of the Third Corps now -to be described, where the sinister salient of Thiepval protruded to -the north, and a smaller but very efficient one to the south, so that -the whole advance was conducted under the fire of two lines of guns -which raked it from end to end. In addition the opposing infantry -included a division of the Prussian Guard. In the whole long -position there would appear to be no sector where there was less -prospect of success, and yet there was no sector where it was more -essential to hold the enemy fast, since victory might await us to the -immediate south. - -The Third Corps, under General Pulteney, occupied the front -immediately to the east of Albert. This large town was almost -exactly in the centre of its rear, and the important road from Albert -to Bapaume bisected the British position. Ovillers to the north, -within the German lines, and Bécourt to the south, in the British, -marked roughly the two ends of the sector. It was a comparatively -narrow stretch, so that only two divisions were in the firing line, -and one in reserve. These were respectively the Eighth Regular -Division to the north, the Thirty-fourth of the New Army to the -south, and the Nineteenth, also of the New Army, in support. - -Had the Thirty-second Division succeeded in holding its grip upon -Thiepval upon the north, there might have been some chance of -success, but as it was, the machine-guns from that quarter shaved the -whole of No Man's Land as a mower may shave a lawn, and after the -first rush, which {67} carried the brave fellows of the Eighth -Division over the trenches, it proved to be absolutely impossible to -send them either supports or supplies. The main body of this -magnificent division disappeared into the smoke and haze of the -battle, and their comrades in the trenches waited with aching hearts, -their eyes fixed upon their front where the roar of battle rose from -the other side of the pelting sleet of bullets. All day they waited, -dashing out occasionally and being beaten back with ever-dwindling -numbers. After dusk, they searched the shell-holes and brought in -some 400 wounded. A few bewildered men came staggering in during the -night, half-delirious with fatigue and strain, and unable themselves -to say how they had got back across the enemy's front line from the -depths to which they had penetrated. - -This tragic but heroic attack in which the whole force who went -forward fought literally to the death, was carried out in the -following order: - -On the right was the 23rd Brigade; in the centre the 25th; and on the -left the 70th. The 23rd and 25th were the old hard-working units of -Neuve Chapelle and many another fray. The 70th was a particularly -fine brigade of the New Army. This division had up to the last -moment been without a pioneer battalion, but the infantry had dug -themselves particularly good assembly and communication trenches, -which helped them much upon the day of battle. They had also, under -the direction of the Commander of Divisional sappers, run two covered -ways up to the enemy's trenches which might have been a vital factor -in the day's work, had it not been that the stormers pushed on, -leaving it to others to {68} secure their gains. The result was that -the advancing infantry passed rather than occupied the front -trenches, the barrage cut off supports, the enemy emerged from their -dug-outs, and the line still remained under their control, forbidding -the use or even the disclosure of the covered ways, since men could -not emerge in single file in an enemy trench. - -Following the plan of describing operations always from the north, we -will first picture from such reliable material as is available the -attack of the 70th Brigade, which contained some of the finest -North-country stuff that ever fought the battles of the country. -This brigade was separated on the north by a clear space of about 300 -yards from the Highland Light Infantry of the 97th Brigade, who -formed the extreme right of the Thirty-second Division. The 8th York -and Lancaster was the flank battalion, with the 8th Yorkshire Light -Infantry upon its right. The 9th York and Lancaster were behind -their comrades, and the 11th Sherwood Foresters behind the Light -Infantry. - -As it is impossible to give with any fulness the story of any one -regiment, and as each may be taken as typical of the others, we may -follow the front flank battalion on its advance. This, the 8th York -and Lancaster, consisted almost entirely of miners, a class of men -who have furnished grand military material to the New Armies. This -unit came chiefly from the Rotherham district. The frontage of the -battalion was 750 yards. - -As the hour of attack approached, the enemy's counter-bombardment -became so violent that there was the utmost difficulty in getting the -men into the front-line trenches. Many were killed and even {69} -buried before the advance had begun. When the whistles blew the -stormers went forward in four waves with 50 yards between, the -supporting battalions following instantly. The machine-guns were -sweeping the ground and about 350 yards had to be covered between the -lines. Officers and men went down in heaps under the enfilade fire -from four lines of guns, one behind the other, in the Thiepval -district. The approach was over a billiard-table glacis with no -cover of any kind. The ranks kept formation and trudged steadily -forward, throwing themselves head-long into the front German -trenches. There they steadied themselves for a few minutes, and then -advancing once more sprang down into the second German line which was -strongly held. Colonel Maddison had been shot down early in the -attack. Captain Dawson, the adjutant, had been wounded, but -staggered on with the men until he was killed at the second line of -trenches. "Come on, boys! let's get at 'em and clear 'em out!" were -his last words. On this second line the battalion, together with its -support, beat itself to pieces. A few survivors unable to get back -were taken prisoners, and a German report has stated that they were -very proud and defiant when marched away. At night a number of -wounded were carried in along the whole divisional front from No -Man's Land, but many lives were lost in the gallant work, and many of -the wounded also lost their lives in trying to crawl back, for the -Germans turned their machine-guns during the daytime upon everything -that moved in front of their lines. - -To show how uniform was the experience, one may quote the doings of a -battalion of the 23rd Brigade. This brigade was on the right of the -Eighth Division {70} line, and the 2nd Middlesex, the battalion in -question, formed the right battalion joining on with the Tyneside -Scottish of the Thirty-fourth Division to the south. Upon its left -was the 2nd Devons. The supporting troops, two companies of the 2nd -West Yorkshires and the 2nd Scottish Rifles, seem to have been held -back when it was seen how fatal was the advance, and so in part -escaped from the catastrophe. The Middlesex advanced almost opposite -to La Boiselle. There was a slight dip in the ground to the -immediate front which formed a partial protection from the -machine-guns, so that although the losses were very heavy, about 300 -men with six Lewis guns made good their footing in the German -front-line trench. Their gallant commander was wounded twice, but -still kept at their head while they swept onwards to the second line. -It was stuffed with Germans, but the handful of British stormers -flung themselves in among them and cleared a standing place in the -trench. The German guns, however, had the exact range, and four out -of the six Lewis guns were blown into the air. Finally, only five -men and a sergeant were left unwounded in this trench. This handful -made its way back. One hundred and thirty of the Middlesex men seem -to have got through or round on to the Pozières Road, but their fate -was never cleared up. Finally, only 30 men of this grand battalion -answered the roll-call that night. - -The space between the two attacks described from the point of view of -the two wing battalions of the division was occupied by the 25th -Brigade, whose advance and losses were exactly similar to those which -have been narrated. The 2nd Lincolns and 2nd Berkshires were the -leading battalions, and their {71} devotion in attempting the -impossible was as great as that of their comrades to right and left. - -Both regiments suffered heavily, and it is probable that the -Berkshires went deeper than any other. The 1st Irish Rifles had -occupied the trenches for six days in dreadful weather, and had -suffered heavily from the retaliatory bombardment of the Germans. -They were therefore held in reserve, but none the less made repeated -efforts and with great loss to cross the barrage and help their -comrades, for which they afterwards received a special message of -thanks from the Divisional Commander. - -Up to this point the writer has been faced by the painful and -monotonous task of one long record of failure from Gommecourt in the -north to La Boiselle in the south. It cannot be doubted that we had -over-estimated the effects of our bombardment, and that the German -guns were intact to a degree which was unexpected. Our one -consolation must be that the German reserves were held in their -position, and that improved prospects were assured for the remainder -of the British line and for the whole of the French line. Had the -front of the battle covered only the region which has been treated up -to now, the episode would have been a tragic one in British military -history. Thousands of men had fallen, nor could it be truthfully -said that anything of permanence had been achieved. Next day the -remains of the Eighth Division were withdrawn, the 70th Brigade was -restored to the Twenty-third Division, to which it rightfully -belonged, and the Twelfth Division came forward to fill the gap in -the line, helped by the gunners and sappers of the Eighth, who -remained at their posts until July 4. - -{72} - -On the right of the Eighth Division was the Thirty-fourth, a unit -which consisted of one mixed English and Scotch Brigade; while the -other two were raised respectively from the Tyneside Irish and from -the Tyneside Scots, hardy and martial material from the coalpits and -foundries of the North. They attacked upon the front between the -Albert-Bapaume Road on the north and the village of Bécourt on the -south. The idea was to storm La Boiselle village, and to push the -attack home both north and south of it upon Contalmaison, which lay -behind it. Immediately before the assault two great mines were -blown, one of which, containing the unprecedented amount of 60,000 -lbs. of gun-cotton, threw hundreds of tons of chalk into the air. -Within a few minutes of the explosion the Thirty-fourth Division were -out of their trenches and advancing in perfect order upon the German -trenches. The 101st Brigade, consisting of the 15th and 16th Royal -Scots, the 10th Lincolns, and 11th Suffolks, were on the right, the -Tyneside Scots upon the left, and the Tyneside Irish in support -behind the right brigade. In the immediate rear lay the Nineteenth -Division with instructions to hold and consolidate the ground gained. - -In no part of the line was the advance more gallant, and it marks the -point at which unalloyed failure began first to change to partial -success, ripening into complete victory in the southern section. -Some slight cover seems to have helped the troops for the first few -hundred yards, and it would appear also that though the small-arm -fire was very severe, the actual shell-fire was not so heavy as that -which devastated the divisions in the north. None the less, the -obstacles were sufficient to test to the highest any {73} troops in -the world, and they were gloriously surmounted by men, none of whom -had been in action before. "I, their commander," wrote the -Divisional General, "will never forget their advance through the -German curtain of fire. It was simply wonderful, and they behaved -like veterans." The scream of the war-pipes, playing "The Campbells -are coming," warmed the blood of the soldiers. Upon the left, the -Tyneside Scots penetrated two lines of trenches and found themselves -to the north of the village of La Boiselle, where further progress -was made impossible by a murderous fire from front and flank. Of the -four battalions of the 101st Brigade, the two English units were -nearly opposite the village, and though they advanced with great -resolution, they were unable to get a permanent lodgment. The two -Royal Scots battalions upon the flank got splendidly forward, and -some of them made their way deeper into the German line than any -organised body of troops, save only the Ulster men, had succeeded in -doing, getting even as far as the outskirts of Contalmaison. The -valiant leader of the advanced party of the 15th Royal Scots was -wounded, but continued to encourage his men and to try to consolidate -his desperate position, which was nearly a mile within the German -lines. He was again severely wounded, and Lieutenant Hole was -killed, upon which the only remaining officer fell back to a point -some hundreds of yards westward, called Round Wood or Round Alley. -Here the Scots stuck fast, and nothing could budge them. Germans -were in front of them, were in La Boiselle upon their left rear, and -were behind them in the trenches, which led from the village. By all -the laws of war, the detachment was {74} destroyed; but in practice -the Germans found that they could not achieve it. A small -reinforcement of the 27th Northumberland Fusiliers (from the 103rd of -the Brigade), under an experienced soldier, had joined them, and -their situation was less forlorn because they were in slight touch -with the skirts of the 64th Brigade of the Twenty-first Division, who -had also, as will presently be shown, won a very forward position. -By means of this division communication was restored with the -isolated detachment, and the colonel of the 16th Royal Scots, a very -well-known volunteer officer of Edinburgh, succeeded in reaching his -men. His advent gave them fresh spirit, and under his leadership -they proceeded next morning not only to hold the position, but to -enlarge it considerably, sending bombers down every sap and -endeavouring to give the impression of great numbers. Two companies -of the East Lancashire Regiment from the Nineteenth Division made -their way forward, and joined with effect in these attacks. This -small body of men held their own until the afternoon of July 3, when -the advance of the Nineteenth Division upon La Boiselle enabled them -to be relieved. It was time, for the water was exhausted and -munitions were running low. It was a glad moment when, with their -numerous German captives, they joined up with their cheering -comrades. It should be said that in this fine feat of arms a small -party of the 11th Suffolks played a valiant part. General Pulteney -issued a special order thanking these troops for their stout defence, -and the matter was in truth of wider importance than any local issue, -for it had the effect of screening the left flank of the Twenty-first -Division, enabling them to make {75} good their hold upon Crucifix -Trench and the Sunken Road, as will now be told. - -Before leaving the Thirty-fourth Division it should be said that -although La Boiselle remained untaken, the Tyneside Scots and Irish -carried a number of trenches and returned with many prisoners. It -has been the universal experience of our soldiers that the Germans, -though excellent with their guns, and very handy with their bombs, -are wanting in that spice of devilry called for in bayonet work--a -quality which their ally the Turk possesses to a marked degree. In -this instance, as in many others, when the Tyneside men swept roaring -into the trenches the Germans either fled or threw up their hands. -The condition of the prisoners was unexpectedly good. "They have new -uniforms, new brown boots, leggings, and are as fat as butter," said -one spectator, which is at great variance with descriptions from -other parts of the line. - -We have now completed our survey of that long stretch of line in -which our gallant advance was broken against an equally gallant -resistance. The account has necessarily had to concern itself with -incessant details of units and orders of battle, since these are the -very essence of such an account, and without them it might read, as -contemporary descriptions did read, like some vague combat in the -moon. But, casting such details aside, the reader can now glance up -that long line and see the wreckage of that heroic disaster--the -greatest and also the most glorious that ever befell our arms. - - - - -{76} - -CHAPTER IV - -THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME - - The Attack of the Fifteenth and Thirteenth Corps, - July 1, 1916 - -The advance of the Twenty-first Division--64th Brigade--First -permanent gains--50th Brigade at Fricourt--Advance of Seventh -Division--Capture of Mametz--Fine work by Eighteenth -Division--Capture of Montauban by the Thirtieth Division--General -view of the battle--Its decisive importance. - - -Immediately to the south of Pulteney's Third Corps, and extending -from Bécourt in the north to a point opposite Fricourt village, lay -Horne's Fifteenth Corps. The general task of this Corps was to -attack Mametz on the right, contain Fricourt in the centre, and -attack between there and La Boiselle towards Mametz Wood. It -consisted of the Twenty-first, the Seventh, and the Seventeenth -Divisions. Of these, the most northerly was the Twenty-first, that -fine North-country division which had so terrible an ordeal when it -came up in support upon the second day of Loos. Those who held that -in spite of defeat its conduct upon that occasion was soldierly, were -borne out by its achievement on the Somme, where it made a lodgment -in the enemy's line upon the first {77} day, and did good service at -later stages of the battle. Let us now turn our attention to its -advance. It may first be mentioned that the units were the same as -those enumerated in the description of Loos, save that in each -brigade one regular battalion had been substituted. Thus the 1st -Lincolns, 4th Middlesex, and 1st East Yorks took the place of the 8th -East Yorks, 12th West Yorks, and 14th Durhams respectively. The 50th -Brigade of the Seventeenth Division was attached to the Twenty-first -Division for the purpose of the attack, and will be included with it -in this summary of the operations. The rest of the Seventeenth -Division was in reserve. - -The attack was on a three-brigade front, the 64th Brigade upon the -north, just south of La Boiselle, and in close touch with the -Thirty-fourth Division. To the right of the 64th was the 63rd -Brigade, and to the right of that the 50th, which advanced straight -upon Fricourt. The 62nd Brigade was in reserve. It will be best to -deal with the attack of the 64th Brigade with some detail, as its -exploits had a very direct bearing upon the issue of the battle. - -This brigade advanced upon the signal with the 10th Yorkshire Light -Infantry upon the left in touch with the Royal Scots of the 101st -Brigade. On their right was their 9th namesake battalion. Behind -them in immediate support were the 1st East Yorks (left) and 15th -Durhams (right). The advance was greatly helped by the formation of -a Russian sap between the lines on which the front companies could -assemble. It was found, however, upon the men advancing that the -fire was so severe that they could only get forward by crawling from -hole to hole, with the result that the barrage lifted {78} before -they could reach the front trenches, and the Germans were able to -mount the parapet and slate them with rifle-fire. Colonel Lynch of -the 9th Yorkshire Light Infantry was killed by a shell between -trenches, as were all four captains, but the men stuck to their work -and finally the leading battalions swept over the German lines, which -had been greatly disorganised by the artillery, and they killed or -captured the occupants with no very severe resistance. Two fixed -points lay in front of the brigade, which were part of the definite -objectives of the division. The first was a sunken road 1100 yards -from the British front, the second was a trench 400 yards farther, on -which, by the irony of Fate, a large wayside crucifix looked down, so -that it was called Crucifix Trench. Beyond these on the left front -were several shattered woods, Shelter Wood and Birch-tree Wood, which -gave the enemy good cover, and to the right was a large ruined -building, Fricourt Farm, which raked the advance with its snipers and -machine-guns. - -On passing the front German line the successive British waves lost -their formation and clubbed together, so that a long loose line of -Yorkshire and Durham men scrambled onwards into, out of and over the -successive impediments, beating down all resistance as they went. -When the fire became too hot, the men crawled forwards upon their -stomachs or made short sharp rushes from one shell-hole to another, -but the advance was steady and unbroken. The smoke from the shells -was as dense as a Scotch mist. Every now and then through the haze -the flashes of a machine-gun would be spied and possibly the vague -figures of the German gunners as they swept it across in their deadly -traverse, but a rush of {79} furious infantry put each in turn out of -action. The evidence seems to be conclusive that some at least of -these gunners were found to be chained to their guns, which may well -have happened at their own request, as a visible proof that they -would never desert their post. They fired up to the last instant, -and naturally they received no quarter from the stormers. Now and -again the ragged line of men would stumble suddenly upon a section of -proper trench, would spring down into it, clear up the occupants, and -then sit in flushed, hard-breathing groups until a whistle from the -officer and a cheer from their comrades would call them on once more. - -In this sector there appears, however, to have been a systematic, if -superficial, examination of the dug-outs before a trench was passed. -One does not hear of those surprise attacks from the rear which were -so common and so fatal to the north. The examination usually took -the form of a sharp summons at the mouth of the burrow, quickly -followed--if there were no response--by a Mills bomb. Then, as often -as not, there would crawl out of the black orifice eight or ten -terrified and bleeding men, who would join the numerous small convoys -trailing backwards to the rear. These prisoners were nearly all from -the 110th and 111th Reserve Bavarian Regiments, and the alacrity with -which they made for the rear with their hands above their heads, -formed the only comic touch in a tragic day. One made a grab for a -rifle. "He lived about five seconds," says the narrator. "They were -thin, unshaven, and terrified," says an officer, talking of the -particular batch he handled. "Most had dark hair--a very different -type from the Prussians." - -Having overrun the German trenches, the infantry {80} were now faced -with a considerable stretch of open which lay between them and the -Sunken Road, leading from Fricourt to Contalmaison. Many were hit -upon this perilous passage. A subsidiary line of German trenches lay -in front of this road, and into this the British tumbled. The -colonel of the 15th Durhams was the senior officer who had got up, -and he took command at this point, rallying the weary men of all four -battalions for a fresh advance. A few of the Royal Scots of the -Thirty-fourth Division were found already in possession, the fringe -of that body who have previously been described as making so -invaluable a stand at Round Wood. - -At this point the 64th Brigade was found to be some distance in front -of the main body of the Thirty-fourth Division on the left, and of -their comrades on the right, so that they could get no farther for -the moment without their flanks being badly exposed. In front -through the haze they could dimly see the Crucifix which was their -ultimate objective. The men had to cower low, for the bullets were -coming in a continuous stream from Fricourt Farm on the right and -from the woods on the left. The Sunken Road was ten or twelve feet -deep at the spot, and though it was exposed at the sides, by rapid -digging the men got some cover, though many dropped before they could -make a shelter. Here the survivors of the advance waited for some -hours, spending some of the time in ransacking the enormous -thirty-foot deep dug-outs which the Germans had excavated at certain -points along the side of the road. Into these the wounded were -conveyed, and refreshed by the good things of life, from -Seltzer-water to gold-tipped cigarettes, which were found within. - -{81} - -In the afternoon the General Officer Commanding had come up as far as -the Sunken Road, and had examined the position for himself. The 63rd -Brigade was now well forward upon the right and the advance could be -resumed. It was pushed swiftly onwards and Crucifix Trench was -occupied, nearly a mile from the British front line. A lieutenant of -the 9th Yorkshires, though wounded by shrapnel, seems to have been -the first to lead a party into this advanced trench, but soon it was -strongly occupied. The pressing need was to consolidate it, for it -was swept by gusts of fire from both flanks. Another lieutenant of -the Yorkshires, also a wounded man, took over the direction, and the -men, with very little cover, worked splendidly to strengthen the -position. Their numbers were so reduced that a counter-attack would -have been most serious, but the splendid support given by the -artillery held the German infantry at a distance. A few of the -British tried to advance upon Shelter Wood, but the machine-guns were -too active and they had to fall back or lie in shell-holes until -after dark, only seventeen out of sixty getting back. - -A captain of the 10th Yorkshires took over the advanced command and -sent back to the colonel of the Durhams, who had meantime been -wounded at the Sunken Road, to ask for instructions. The answer was -to hold on and that help was at hand. This help was in the form of -the 62nd Reserve Brigade, the leading battalions of which, the 1st -Lincolns and 10th Yorkshire Regiment, came swinging splendidly across -the open and flung themselves into Crucifix Trench. From that time -the maintenance of the ground was assured. The men of the 64th -Brigade who had done so finely were {82} drawn back into the Sunken -Road, having fully secured their objective. One cannot but marvel -here, as so often elsewhere, at the fine work done by young -subalterns when the senior officers have been disabled. A lieutenant -of the 9th Yorkshire Light Infantry found himself in command of the -whole battalion at the most critical moment of the engagement, and on -leaving could only hand it over to a brother subaltern, who carried -on with equal courage and ability. The brigade was drawn back to the -German first line, where it lay for forty-eight hours, and finally -acted as reserve brigade to the successful advance undertaken by the -62nd Brigade, by which Shelter Wood was captured on July 3. - -Such, in some detail, were the adventures of the 64th Brigade, which -may be taken as parallel to those of the 63rd upon the right, who -were faced by much the same obstacles, having the Sunken Road ahead -and the Fricourt houses upon their right. The 8th Somersets were on -the left in touch with the 9th Yorkshire Light Infantry, and -supported by the 8th Lincolns. On the right were the 4th Middlesex -and the 10th York and Lancasters. They were able to get well up to -Fricourt Farm upon the left of the village, but the ground was -unfavourable and they never got as far forward as their comrades on -the left. Of the German resistance on this front, it can be said -that it was worthy of the reputation which the Bavarians have won in -the War. The men were of splendid physique and full of courage. -They fought their machine-guns to the last. All was ready for a -vigorous advance next morning. The artillery of the Twenty-first -Division, which has won a name {83} for exceptional efficiency, was -up nearly level with the infantry at 10 P.M. that night, a road -having been laid in that time from the original gun position to a -point half a mile inside the German front line. - -On the immediate right of the 63rd Brigade, in front of Fricourt, was -the 50th Brigade (Glasgow), to which was assigned the task of -attacking the village while the Twenty-first Division got part of it -upon the north. The brigade advanced gallantly, the front line -consisting of two fine Yorkshire battalions, the 10th West Yorks and -the 7th East Yorks, with part of the 7th Yorkshires. The attack -reached and partly occupied the front trenches, but the fire and the -losses were both very heavy, the 10th West Yorkshires being specially -hard hit. The survivors behaved with great gallantry, and some of -them held on all day, though surrounded by enemies. In the afternoon -a second advance was made by Yorkshires and East Yorkshires, with 6th -Dorsets in support, but again the losses were heavy and no solid -foothold could be got in the village. When dusk fell some of the -troops who had held their own all day were able to get back to the -British trenches bringing prisoners with them. A notable example is -that of a lieutenant of the West Yorks, who managed to stagger back -with three wounds upon him and three Germans in front of him. The -51st Brigade was brought up in the evening to continue the assault, -but with the morning of the 2nd it was found that the work had been -done, and that the advance upon both flanks had caused the evacuation -of the village. - -The line of trenches takes a very peculiar turn just south of -Fricourt, which is shown in the diagram of the battle, so that the -attack of the Seventh {84} Division, which was the next in the line, -was from almost due south, whilst all the others had been from due -west. The project was that a holding attack to engage the defenders -should be made upon Mametz, whilst the remaining divisions in the -line, the Seventh of the Fifteenth Corps, with the Eighteenth and -Thirtieth of the Thirteenth Corps, should advance upon the line -Mametz-Montauban. Their success would obviously make the position -both of Fricourt and of Mametz impossible, the more so if the -Twenty-first Division could maintain its position at the Sunken Road -to the north of Fricourt. This was the calculation, and it worked to -perfection, so that both these villages fell eventually into our -hands with a minimum loss of life to the assailants. Every honour is -due to the leaders who devised and to the soldiers who carried out -the scheme, but it should at the same time be understood that in the -case of these southern divisions, and also of the French Army of -General Foch upon the right, they were attacking a portion of the -line which was far less organised, and manned by very inferior troops -to those in the north. All this section of attack seems to have been -a complete surprise to the Germans. - -The famous Seventh Division was now commanded by one of the three -Brigadiers who had led it during its heroic days at Ypres. Its -units, however, had changed considerably, and the 91st Brigade had -taken the place of the 21st. This Brigade, consisting partly of -Manchester battalions and partly of old units of the Seventh Division -(2nd Queen's Surrey, 1st South Staffords, 21st and 22nd Manchesters), -attacked upon the right, while the 20th Brigade advanced upon the -left, having the 2nd Gordons and 9th {85} Devons in the van, with the -8th Devons and 2nd Borders in support. The front trenches were -overrun without much difficulty. The order of battle was the 22nd -Manchesters upon the right with the 1st South Staffords in close -support. In the centre were the 2nd Gordons and upon their left the -9th Devons. The right got forward with comparatively small losses -and overran the front German line. The Gordons had their left -company held up by uncut wire, but got forward none the less with -considerable losses. The 9th Devons were the most exposed and -suffered very severely, but in spite of a casualty list which -included half the officers and men, they never winced or wavered for -an instant, showing what had been often shown before, that the spirit -of old days still lives in the country of Drake and of Raleigh. The -survivors seized and held Tirpitz Trench. The 2nd Borders had also -seized Danube Support, and the whole front line was in British hands. - -The 91st Brigade were now closing in upon the right of Mametz village -and had entered Danzig Alley, from which they were for a time driven -by a brisk counter-attack. The 1st South Staffords had won their way -into the outskirts of Mametz, but the losses were heavy, and half of -the 21st Manchesters came racing up to reinforce. At one o'clock the -Danzig Alley had again been occupied by the Manchesters. Half the -2nd Warwicks were sent up to reinforce the Gordons and the line of -infantry dashed forward upon the village, 600 of the enemy throwing -up their hands in front of them. The 20th Manchesters also advanced, -losing heavily by the fire from Fricourt, but pushing on as far as -the Sunken Road on the extreme left of the advance. There is a -tangle of {86} trenches at this point, the chief of which is the -Rectangle, but with the aid of the 1st Welsh Fusiliers they were all -cleared and the flank of the Division made good, and consolidated, -since it had advanced farther than the troops to the left. In the -morning however, when it was found that Fricourt had been evacuated, -the whole division was able to get forward and by July 3 had occupied -Bottom Wood, while the 2nd Royal Irish had actually penetrated Mametz -Wood, taking 2 guns and 50 prisoners. Some days later, Mametz Wood -had become a different proposition, but the general orders at the -time were that it should not be seriously attacked. - -Altogether in these Mametz operations the Seventh Division took 1500 -prisoners, seven field-guns, and much booty of different kinds. - -We have now recorded in succession the repulse of the Seventh Corps -at Gommecourt, that of the Eighth Corps at Serre and Beaumont Hamel, -and that of the Tenth Corps at Thiepval. The record of heroic -disaster was then alleviated by the partial success of the Third -Corps at La Boiselle, the considerable success of the Fifteenth Corps -at Mametz, and now by the complete success of the Thirteenth Corps at -Montauban. South of this point along the whole French line the -victory was never in doubt. These latter operations do not come -within the direct scope of this narrative, though some short account -must be given of them later, in order to co-ordinate the results of -the two wings of the Allied Armies. - -The Thirteenth Corps was commanded by General Congreve, who, it will -be remembered, gained his V.C. in the affair of the guns where young -Roberts met his death at Colenso. It consisted of the {87} -Eighteenth, the Thirtieth, and the Ninth Divisions of the New Army. -Of these the Eighteenth was on the left in touch with the victorious -Seventh, the Thirtieth was on the right in touch with the French, and -the Ninth, the Scottish Division which had done such great work at -Loos, was in reserve. - -The Eighteenth Division, which had done no serious fighting before, -established a remarkable record for good service during the whole -course of the Somme battle, into which it was thrust again and again, -never without leaving its mark. It was entirely an English division. -Some complex and successful trench-digging had been done on this part -of the front. Eight covered saps had been driven forward and reached -a point within twenty yards of the German trenches without their -knowledge. Upon the advance being ordered the ends of these were -opened up, machine-guns and flame-throwers were thrust through, and -the saps behind were quickly unroofed and turned into communication -trenches. It was a variant of the device adopted in the Eighth -Division, and was superior to it in that its success did not depend -upon the actual capture of the trench. - -The front of the attack was about 2500 yards, and it was carried out -by three brigades abreast, each covering about 700 yards. Each -brigade had two battalions in front, one in support and one in -reserve. Each was also allotted its own particular artillery apart -from the general divisional artillery. There are many good arguments -for such a formation of divisional attack, as compared with the -two-brigades-in-front and one-in-the-rear formation. Upon this -occasion, at any rate, it worked very smoothly. The objectives were -from the immediate {88} western end of Montauban upon the right, -along Montauban Alley to a point east of Mametz where they should -touch the right units of the Seventh Division. - -Of the three brigades the 55th was on the right, the 53rd in the -centre, and the 54th on the left. In accordance with the general -scheme of description we will begin with the latter. - -The 54th Brigade had the 7th Bedford on the right, the 11th Royal -Fusiliers on the left, the 6th Northants in support, and the 12th -Middlesex in reserve. As they rushed forward they faced a feeble -barrage, but a heavy machine-gun fire. It was found, however, here, -and along the whole divisional front, that the German wire was -utterly destroyed, thanks largely to the work of the trench mortars -which had supplanted field-guns for this particular purpose. The -first trenches were taken without a pause, and parties remained -behind to clear out the dug-outs. - -"Cowering in the trench," says one of the stormers, "clad in the pale -grey uniforms we had longed for twelve months to see, unarmed and -minus equipment, with fear written on their faces, were a few of -those valiant warriors of the Kaiser whose prowess we were out to -dispute. Here let me say that the exact moment selected for our -attack had taken the Huns by surprise. This view was subsequently -confirmed by prisoners, who said that they had expected us earlier in -the day and had since stood down." This idea of a surprise only -refers of course to the front trench. Soon the fighting grew very -severe. - -The first serious check was in front of a strong {89} point called -the Pommiers Redoubt. The wire here had been invisible from long -grass so that its presence was a surprise. Again and again the -machine-guns swept away the leading files of the attack. The redoubt -could be outflanked, however, and an officer of the Fusiliers brought -his bombers round and eventually to the rear of it. Snipers held him -for a time, but they were rushed by an officer and a few men. The -Germans still held bravely to their point, but Bedfords and Fusiliers -swarmed in upon them until their arms went down and their hands up. -From this strong point bombing parties were sent down the -communication trenches, the infantry following closely and occupying -the new ground. - -The brigade was now in some danger from its own success, for it had -outrun the 91st Brigade of the Seventh Division upon its left, and -its own comrades of the 53rd Brigade upon its right. The 6th -Northants held the defensive flank on the left. Later in the day the -53rd came into line upon the right, and before dark the 54th was able -to move on again with little resistance until it had reached its full -objective at Montauban Alley. - -The 53rd Brigade was on the right of the 54th. Its assaulting line -was formed by the 8th Norfolk upon the right, and the 6th Berkshires -upon the left, with the 10th Essex in support and the 8th Suffolk in -reserve. The first two lines were taken in their stride with little -loss. A strong point behind these lines held them up for a short -time, but was rushed, and its garrison of the 109th Regiment was -captured. Further progress of the Norfolks was made difficult, -however, by a flanking fire and by a second redoubt in front. As in -the case of the 53rd Brigade {90} it was found that the way round is -often the shorter. Two bombing parties under gallant subalterns -worked up the trenches on the flank, while that murderous weapon, a -Stokes gun, was brought up and opened fire. The combined effect was -decisive and 150 Germans threw down their arms. Sixty more were -taken in another redoubt to the left. - -Whilst the Norfolks had been fighting their way forward in this -fashion the Berkshires upon their left, following very closely upon -their own barrage, had attained their objective in twenty minutes, -and had to hold it for some hours until the Norfolks had made good. -During this time their right flank was necessarily exposed. This -flank was defended successfully by means of bombing parties and a -Lewis gun, while the left company instead of resting lent a hand to -their neighbours of the 54th Brigade in carrying Pommiers Redoubt. - -Meanwhile the Norfolks had come ahead again, but the advance of the -Berkshires was held up by a small but determined band of bombers and -snipers in a strong position. A Stokes mortar drove back the -bombers, but the snipers still held fast, and killed in succession -Lieutenant Rushton and Lieutenant Saye who gallantly attacked them. -A sergeant-major of the Berkshires was more fortunate, however, and -killed the chief sniper whose automatic rifle had played the part of -a machine-gun. In doing so he was severely wounded himself. The -Essex had come up into the firing line, but progress was still slow -until an invaluable Stokes mortar was again brought to bear and with -its shower of heavy bombs blasted the strong point out of existence. -When night fell the whole line of Montauban Alley had been -successfully {91} won and the various units were in close touch and -were busily organising their position. - -Great obstinacy was shown by the Germans in their defence, which was -a gallant one, and might well have been successful against a less -skilful attack. Among other instances of their tenacity was one in -which a sniper in a trench behind the stormers continued to fire from -some subterranean retreat and defied all efforts to get at him, until -it was found necessary to blow in the whole face of the dug-out and -so to bury him within his own stronghold. - -The hardest fighting of any fell to the lot of the 55th Brigade upon -the right. The advance was made with the 8th East Surrey and 7th -Queen's Surrey in front, the latter to the left. The 7th Buffs were -in support and the 7th West Kents in reserve. No sooner had the -troops come out from cover than they were met by a staggering fire -which held them up in the Breslau Trench. The supports had soon to -be pushed up to thicken the ranks of the East Surrey--a battalion -which, with the ineradicable sporting instinct and light-heartedness -of the Londoner had dribbled footballs, one for each platoon, across -No Man's Land and shot their goal in the front-line trench. A crater -had been formed by a mine explosion, forming a gap in the German -front, and round this crater a fierce fight raged for some time, the -Germans rushing down a side sap which brought them up to the fray. -Into this side sap sprang an officer and a sergeant of the Buffs, and -killed 12 of the Germans, cutting off their flow of reinforcements, -while half a company of the same battalion cleared up the crater and -captured a machine-gun which had fought to the last cartridge. It is -worth recording {92} that in the case of one of these machine-guns -the gunner was actually found with a four-foot chain attaching him to -the tripod. Being badly wounded and unable to disengage himself, the -wretched man had dragged himself, his wound, and his tripod for some -distance before being captured by the British. The fact was duly -established by a sworn inquiry. - -The brigade was winning its way forward, but the hard resistance of -the Germans had delayed it to such a point that there was a danger -that it would not be in its place so as to cover the left flank of -the 90th Brigade, who were due to attack Montauban at 10 A.M. Such a -failure might make the difference between victory and defeat. At -this critical moment the officer commanding the East Surreys dashed -to the front, re-formed his own men with all whom he could collect -and led them onwards. Captain Neville was killed in gallantly -leading the rush, but the wave went forward. There was check after -check, but the point had to be won, and the Suffolks of the 53rd -Brigade were brought round to strengthen the attack, while the West -Kents were pushed forward to the fighting line. By mid-day two -platoons of West Kents were into Montauban Alley, and had seized two -houses at the western end of Montauban, which were rapidly fortified -by a section of the 92nd Field Company. The flank of the 90th was -assured. A South African officer led the first group of Surrey men -who seized Montauban. He is said during the action to have slain -seventeen of the enemy. - -The rest of the brigade, however, had desperate work to get into line -with the village. The East Surreys and Buffs were coming along well, -but the {93} Queen's Surreys had lost heavily and were held up by a -strong point called Back Trench. A major of the Queen's gathered his -men together, called up a bombing party from the 8th Sussex, the -pioneer battalion of the brigade, and then by a united front and -flank attack carried the position. One hundred and seventy Germans -remained alive in the trench. The infantry then surged forward to -the line of the Mametz-Montauban Road, where they lay under -machine-gun fire with their left in the air, for a considerable gap -had developed between them and the 53rd Brigade. The main line of -Montauban Alley in front of them was still strongly held by the -enemy. Once again the Stokes guns saved what looked like a dangerous -situation. They blasted a hole in Montauban Alley, and through the -hole rushed a furious storming party of the Queen's. As evening -fell, after that long day of fighting, the weary Eighteenth Division, -splendid soldiers, splendidly led, held the whole line from Montauban -to the junction with the Seventh Division near Mametz. One does not -know which to admire most--the able dispositions, the inflexible -resolution of the troops, or the elastic adaptability which enabled -the initiative of the officers upon the spot to use ever-varying -means for getting over the successive difficulties. The losses were -very heavy, amounting to about 3000 officers and men, something under -1000 being fatal. Of the Germans 700 were captured, 1200 were buried -after the action, and the total loss could not possibly have been -less than those incurred by the British. It should be added that a -great deal of the success of the attack was due to the 82nd, 83rd, -84th, and 85th Brigades, Royal Field Artillery, forming the -divisional artillery, who earned the deepest {94} gratitude of the -infantry, the highest reward to which the gunner can attain. Some of -the artillery of the Ninth Division was also engaged. - -A few words may be said of the immediate future of the Eighteenth -Division before the narrative of July 1 is completed by a -consideration of the work of the Thirtieth Division. The ground -captured included part of what may be called the Montauban Ridge, and -the possession of this point proved to be of great service for -observation in connection with the immediate operations at Bottom, -Shelter, and Mametz Woods by the Fifteenth Corps. The guns were at -once advanced and patrols were thrown out in front which penetrated -and eventually occupied Caterpillar Wood, a long winding plantation -on the immediate front of the Division. These various patrols picked -up no less than twelve German field-guns abandoned by the enemy. The -front was held until July 8, when the Eighteenth was relieved by the -Third Division. - -As to the fighting of the Germans upon this front, it was excellent -as usual--but it is needful to accentuate it, as there is a tendency -to depreciate the enemy at a point where he is beaten, which is an -injustice to the victors. The latter had no doubts about the matter. -"There is one thing we have all learned and that is that the Hun is a -jolly good soldier and engineer, so don't listen to any other -nonsense. If you get hand-to-hand with him he gives in at once, but -he practically never lets you get so close. As long as Fritz has a -trench and a gun he will stick there till he is made crows' rations. -We know we are just slightly better than he is, but there's nothing -much in it--nothing to justify contempt or {95} liberties." Such was -the considered opinion of an experienced soldier. - -If the advance of the Eighteenth Division was successful, that of the -Thirtieth upon its right was not less so. This division had been -raised originally from Liverpool and Manchester, the battalions being -all of the King's Liverpool or of the Manchester Regiments. The -greater part of these battalions, which owe their origin largely to -that great patriot, Lord Derby, were recruited on the "pal" system, -by which friends in peace should be comrades in war. So close was -Lord Derby's connection with the division that his brother commanded -one brigade, and three of his family served with the guns, one of -them commanding an artillery unit. This was the first appearance of -this fine force in actual battle, and it can truly be said that no -division could have been more fortunate or have given a better -account of itself. It may be explained that it had exchanged its -91st Brigade for the 21st of the Seventh Division, and that several -of the veteran battalions of the old Seventh now served with the -Thirtieth. - -The objective of this division was the important village of Montauban -deep within the enemy's line. It seemed an ambitious mark in a war -where every yard means an effort, but it was accomplished with -surprising ease, for the advance was as determined as the defence was -slack. On the right opposite Maricourt the attack fell to the 89th -Brigade, consisting of the 2nd Bedfords and the 17th, 19th, and 20th -King's Liverpool battalions. On their left was the 21st Brigade, -while the 90th Brigade was in immediate support with orders to go -through and seize the village {96} itself. From the start the attack -went like clockwork. The artillery was admirable, the infantry -inexorable, and the leading all that could be desired. The -ever-ready machine-guns put up a fierce defence, especially on the -left flank, where the 18th King's Liverpools, led by their popular -colonel, lost three-quarters of their effectives but carried their -objective none the less. The 2nd West Yorks behind them were also -terribly scourged, but gained the line of the Glatz Redoubt all the -same. Here, as with the Eighteenth Division, there was every sign -that the garrison of the front trenches had been surprised. "The -Germans gave us plenty of machine-gun fire while we were advancing -upon them; when we reached the trench only a few showed fight. The -rest flung up their arms and cried: 'Mercy, Kamerad!'" It was clear -they had been taken by surprise, for many of them were barefooted, -none of them had any equipment. When there was no attack at 4 A.M. -they were then told that they could lie down and have a rest, "as the -British would not now come out till four in the afternoon." It is -abundantly clear that the famous German intelligence department was -absolutely at fault in the southern sector of the great battle. - -Although the first three trenches were carried without a hitch, the -garrison of the fourth had time to stand to arms, and were greatly -assisted in their defence by a flank fire from the still untaken -village of Mametz, and from machine-guns in the southern corner of -Mametz Wood which lies to the north of Montauban. The resistance -caused considerable losses, including that of Colonel Johnson of the -17th Manchesters, but the advance was irresistible, and {97} swept -over every obstacle until they had reached their objective. On the -right, the Liverpool brigade, the 17th and 18th King's Liverpools in -the lead, fought their way up to the brick-fields, which lie nearly -level with Montauban, but to the south of it. A company seized these -and a good bunch of prisoners. There it consolidated in close touch -with the famous "iron corps" of the French army upon their right, -while on the left the blue and yellow advance-flags of the Thirtieth -formed a continuous line with the red and yellow of the Eighteenth -Division. On the left of the Liverpools the Manchesters with the -Scots Fusiliers of the 90th Brigade had stormed their way into -Montauban, the first of that long list of village fortresses which -were destined in the succeeding months to fall into the hands of the -British. It was carried with a rush in spite of the determined -resistance of small groups of Germans in various houses, which had -already been greatly mauled by our artillery. The British fought -their way from room to room, drove their enemies down into the -cellars, and hurled bombs on to them from above. The German losses -were heavy, and several hundreds of prisoners were sent to the rear. -By the early afternoon the whole village was in the hands of the 90th -Brigade, who had also occupied Montauban Alley, the trench 200 yards -upon the farther side of it, whence by their rifle-fire they crushed -several attempts at counter-attack. These were feeble during the -day, but a very heavy one came during the night, aided by a powerful -shrapnel fire. The Germans, advancing in the closest order, for a -time won a lodgment in the new British front trench, killing a party -of the 17th Manchesters, but {98} they were unable to hold it, and -with daylight they were ejected once more. The reader who is weary -of hearing of British losses will be interested to know, on the -authority of Colonel Bedell of the 16th Bavarians, that out of a -garrison of 3500 men from the 6th Bavarian Reserve Regiments only 500 -escaped from the Montauban front. All these operations were carried -out in close touch with the French upon the right, so close indeed -that the colonel of the 17th King's Liverpools, seeing that the -French colonel of the flank battalion was advancing beside his men, -sprang out and joined him, so that the two colonels shook hands in -the captured position. - -Some stress has in this narrative been laid upon the fact that the -difficulties to be overcome in the south were less than those in the -north. Such an assertion is only fair to the gallant men who failed. -At the same time nothing should detract from the credit due to those -splendid southerly divisions who really won the battle and made the -hole through which the whole army eventually passed. - -Though the French operations do not primarily come within the scope -of this record, it is necessary to give some superficial account of -them, since they form an integral and essential part of the battle. -So important were they, and so successful, that it is not too much to -say that it was the complete victory upon their line which atoned for -our own want of success in the north, and assured that the balance of -this most bloody day should be in our favour. It is true, as they -would be the first to admit, that the troops of General Foch had none -of those impassable barrages, concentrations of machine-guns, and -desperately defended inner lines of trenches which {99} inflicted -such losses upon our stormers. Both the positions and the men who -held them were less formidable. On the other hand, it is for us to -bear in mind that the French had already made their great effort in -the common cause at Verdun, and that this attack upon the West was -primarily a British offensive in which they were playing a subsidiary -part. It is the more remarkable that their success should have been -so great and that they should have been able for months to come to -play so notable a part in the battle that the tale of their prisoners -and booty was not less than our own. - -The attack of the British was roughly upon a twenty-mile front, from -the Gommecourt salient to Maricourt. On this stretch they broke the -German lines for 7 miles from the north of Fricourt to Montauban. -The French front was about 8 miles long, and moved forward for its -whole extent. Thus it may be said that the whole battle line was 28 -miles, and that more than one-half, or 15 miles, represented the area -of victory. During the whole operations for many months the French -army was cut in two by the marshy valley of the Somme, the detachment -to the north of it acting in close unison with the British Thirteenth -Corps upon their left. We will call these the northern and the -southern French armies, both being under the direction of General -Foch. - -It may briefly be stated that the advance of the French army was -carried out with great dash and valour on both banks of the river. -After carrying several lines of trenches at very little loss to -themselves, the northern army found itself, on the evening of July 1, -holding the outskirts of the villages of {100} Curlu and of -Hardecourt. On July 2 Curlu was entirely occupied, and shortly -afterwards Hardecourt also fell. The southern army, which consisted -of the fiery Colonial Division upon the left and the Twentieth upon -the right, under the immediate leadership of General Fayolle, had -even greater success. Not only all the lines of trenches but the -villages of Dompierre, Becquincourt, Bussu, and Fay were stormed upon -July 1. On the 2nd Frise and the Moreaucourt Wood had also been -taken, and several counter-attacks repelled. On that evening the -French were able to report that they had taken 6000 prisoners, while -the British operations had yielded 3500--or 9500 in all. - -When the sun set upon that bloody day--probably the most stirring of -any single day in the whole record of the world--the higher command -of the Allies must have looked upon the result with a strange mixture -of feelings, in which dismay at the losses in the north and pride at -the successes in the south contended for the mastery. The united -losses of all the combatants, British, French, and Germans, must have -been well over 100,000 between the rising and the setting of one -summer sun. It is a rout which usually swells the casualties of a -stricken army, but here there was no question of such a thing, and -these huge losses were incurred in actual battle. As the attackers -our own casualties were undoubtedly heavier than those of the enemy, -and it is natural that as we turn from that list we ask ourselves the -question whether our gains were worth it. Such a question might be -an open one at Neuve Chapelle or at Loos, but here the answer must be -a thousand times Yes. Together we had done the greatest day's {101} -work in the War up to that time--a day's work which led to many -developments in the future, and eventually to a general German -retreat over 70 miles of front. It was not a line of trenches which -we broke, it was in truth the fortified frontier of Germany built up -by a year and a half of unremitting labour. By breaking it at one -point we had outflanked it from the Somme to the sea, and however -slow the process might be of getting room for our forces to deploy, -and pushing the Germans off our flank, it was certain that sooner or -later that line must be rolled up from end to end. It was hoped, -too, that under our gunfire no other frontier of similar strength -could grow up in front of us. That was the great new departure which -may be dated from July 1, and is an ample recompense for our losses. -These young lives were gladly laid down as a price for final -victory--and history may show that it was really on those Picardy -slopes that final victory was in truth ensured. Even as the day of -Gettysburg was the turning-point of the American Civil War, and as -that of Paardeberg was the real death-blow to the Boers, so the -breaking of the line between Fricourt and Frise may well prove to -have been the decisive victory in the terrible conflict which the -swollen dreams of Prussia had brought upon the world. - -When one considers the enormous scale of the action, the desperate -valour of the troops engaged, and the fact that the German line was -fairly and permanently broken for the first time, one feels that this -date should be for ever marked in British military annals as the -glorious First of July. - - - - -{102} - -CHAPTER V - -THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME - -From July 2 to July 14, 1916 - -General situation--Capture of La Boiselle by Nineteenth -Division--Splendid attack by 36th Brigade upon Ovillers--Siege and -reduction of Ovillers--Operations at Contalmaison--Desperate fighting -at the Quadrangle by Seventeenth Division--Capture of Mametz Wood by -Thirty-eighth Welsh Division--Capture of Trones Wood by Eighteenth -Division. - - -The terrible fighting just described, during which the German line -was broken at its southern end, was but the opening of a most -desperate battle, which extended over many months. This, while it -cost very heavy losses to both sides, exacted such a toll from the -Germans in prisoners and lost material, as well as in casualties, -that it is probable that their army would have been largely -disorganised had not the wet weather of October come to hamper the -operations. As it was, the letters of the soldiers and the -intercepted messages of the Generals show an amount of demoralisation -which proves the mighty pressure applied by the allied armies. It -was a battle which was seldom general throughout the curve into which -the attackers had encroached, but which confined itself to this or -that limited objective--to the north, to the east, {103} or to the -south, the blow falling the more suddenly, since during the whole of -this time the Allies preserved the command of the air to an extent -which actually enabled them to push their guns forward across the -open. Sometimes it was a fortified village which was carried. -Sometimes it was the trenches between villages, so that the garrisons -might feel in danger of being cut off. Sometimes--the worst obstacle -of all--it was one of the patches of wood dotted over the -countryside, which had to be cleared of the enemy's stubborn infantry -and machine-gunners. But whatever the task might be, it may be -stated generally that it was always carried out, if not at the first, -then at the second, third, or some subsequent attempt. It may also -be said that never once during all that time did a yard of ground -which had been taken by the Allies pass permanently back to the -enemy. Before the winter had fallen more than forty villages had -been carried and held by the attack--but not one by the -counter-attack. The losses were heavy, sometimes very heavy, but so -perfect now was the co-ordination between infantry and guns, and so -masterful the allied artillery, that it is highly probable that at -last the defence was losing as many as the attack. Those deep -ravines which had enabled the Germans to escape the effects of the -early bombardments no longer existed in the new lines, and the -superficial ditches which now formed the successive lines of defence -offered little protection from a fire directed by a most efficient -air service. On the other hand, since the German air service had -been beaten out of the sky, the sight of the German gunners was dim, -and became entirely blind when by their successive advances the -Allies had pushed them over the {104} low ridges which formed their -rearward positions. The map, however skilfully used, is a poor -substitute for the observation officer and the aeroplane. - -Standing on the edge of this welter, and gazing at this long haze -into which vigorous divisions continually plunge, relieving exhausted -units, only to stagger out in their turn, rent and torn, while yet -others press to the front, one feels appalled at the difficulty of -following such complex operations and of conveying them clearly and -in their due order to the mind of the reader. Some fixed system must -evidently be followed if the narrative is to remain intelligible and -the relation of the various actions to each other to be made evident. -Therefore the course of events will still, so far as possible, be -traced from the north, and each incident be brought to some sort of -natural pause before we pass onwards down the line. We can at once -eliminate the whole northern portion of the British line from the -Gommecourt salient down to Albert, since for that long stretch attack -had changed definitely to defence, and we start our narrative from -the south of the Albert-Bapaume road. From that point four villages -immediately faced the old British line, and each was now a centre of -fighting. From the north they were La Boiselle, Fricourt, Mametz, -and Montauban. The latter had been held against a strong -counter-attack on the early morning of July 2, and it was firmly in -the possession of the Thirtieth Division. Mametz was held by the -Seventh Division, who were pushing on to the north, driving a weak -resistance before them. Fricourt had been deserted by the morning of -July 2, and had been occupied by the Seventeenth Division, who also -at once pushed on towards the woodlands {105} behind. La Boiselle -was closely assailed with part of the Thirty-fourth Division to the -south of it, and the Twelfth and Nineteenth Divisions with other -troops all round it. These four villages and the gaps between them -represented the break in the German front line. - -The second German main line ran through the Bazentins and Longueval, -and it was reached and carried by the British Army upon July 14. The -intervening fortnight between the battle of the front and of the -second line was occupied in clearing the many obstacles, consisting -for the most part of woods and subsidiary trenches which filled the -space between the two lines, and also in attacking the two villages -of Ovillers and Contalmaison, which hampered operations upon the left -wing. It will help the reader very much to understand these -apparently complex movements if he will realise that they divide -themselves into three distinct groups of activity, counting from the -north of the line. The first group is concerned with the capture of -Ovillers, and in it the Twelfth, Nineteenth, Thirty-second, and -Twenty-fifth Divisions are concerned. The second group is connected -with the capture of the strong position which is bastioned by -Contalmaison upon one side and Mametz Wood at the other, with the -Quadrangle system of trenches between. In this very severe conflict -the Twenty-third, Seventeenth, Seventh, and Thirty-eighth Divisions -were engaged. Finally there is the group of operations by which the -right wing was advanced through Bernafoy Wood and up to Trones Wood. -In these, the Ninth, Thirtieth, and Eighteenth Divisions were chiefly -concerned. We shall now take each of these in turn, beginning with -the {106} northern one, the taking of Ovillers, and carrying each -narrative to a definite term. Before embarking upon this account it -should be mentioned that the two northern corps of Rawlinson's -army--the Eighth and Tenth--were from now onwards detached as a -separate Fifth Army under Sir Hubert Gough, one of the most rising -commanders in the Service. The functions of this Army were to hold -the line from La Boiselle to Serre, and to form a defensive flank and -pivot for the Third, Fifteenth, and Thirteenth Corps to the south. - -We shall first follow the further fortunes of the troops which -operated in the north. Upon July 3 there was a short but severe -action upon that part of the old British line immediately to the left -of the gap which had been broken. In this action, which began at 6 -A.M., the Thirty-second Division, already greatly weakened by its -exertions two days before, together with the 75th Brigade, lent them -by the Twenty-fifth Division, tried to widen the rent in the German -line by tearing open that portion of it which had been so fatal to -the Eighth Division. The attack failed, however, though most bravely -delivered, and the difficulties proved once more to be -unsurmountable. The attempt cost us heavy casualties, a considerable -proportion of which fell upon the 75th Brigade, especially upon the -11th Cheshires, whose colonel was killed, and upon the 2nd South -Lancashires, who ran into wire and were held up there. The 8th -Borders reached their objective, but after one-and-a-half hours were -forced to let go of it. The operation proved that whatever -misfortunes had befallen the Germans to the south, they were still -rooted as firmly as ever {107} in their old positions. The same -lesson was to be taught us on the same morning at an adjacent portion -of the line. - -This episode was at the immediate south of the unsuccessful attack -just described. It has already been stated that the Twelfth, the -English division which had seen so much hard fighting at Loos, had -taken over part of the trenches of the Eighth Division, and so found -themselves facing Ovillers. Their chances of a successful advance -upon the village were increased by the fact that the Nineteenth -Division, after hard fighting, had got into La Boiselle to the south, -and so occupied a flank to their advance. - -Some further definition is required as to the situation at La -Boiselle, how it was brought about, and its extreme importance to the -general plan of operations. When the left of the Thirty-fourth -Division had failed to hold the village, while some mixed units of -the right brigade had established themselves within the German lines -as already narrated, it became very vital to help them by a renewed -attempt upon the village itself. For this purpose the Nineteenth -Division had moved forward, a unit which had not yet been seriously -engaged. It was under the command of a fighting Irish dragoon, whose -whimsical expedient for moving forwards the stragglers at St. Quentin -has been recorded in a previous volume. On the evening of July 1, -one battalion of this division, the 9th Cheshires, had got into the -German front line trench near the village, but they were isolated -there and hard put to it to hold their own during a long and -desperate night. On the following afternoon, about 4 o'clock, two of -their fellow-battalions of the 58th Brigade, the 9th {108} Royal -Welsh Fusiliers and the 6th Wilts, charged suddenly straight across -the open at the village, while by a clever device the British barrage -was turned elsewhere with the effect of misleading the German barrage -which played upon the wrong area. By 9 P.M. on July 2 the south end -of the village had been captured, but the resistance was still very -fierce. Early next morning the whole of the division was drawn into -this street fighting, and gradually the Germans were pushed back. -There was one desperate counter-attack during which the British line -was hard put to it to hold its own, and the house-to-house fighting -continued throughout the whole day and night. Two British colonels, -one of the 7th South Lancashires and the other of the 8th -Gloucesters, particularly distinguished themselves in this close -fighting. The latter, a dragoon like his commander, was a hard -soldier who had left an eye in Somaliland and a hand at Ypres, but -the sight of him in this day of battle, tearing out the safety-pin of -bombs with his teeth and hurling them with his remaining hand, was -one which gave heart to his men. Slowly the Germans were worn down, -but the fighting was fierce and the British losses heavy, including -three commanding officers, Wedgwood of the North Staffords, Royston -Piggott of the 10th Worcesters, and Heath of the 10th Warwicks, the -first two killed, the latter wounded. In the midst of the infantry -fighting a single gun of the 19th Battery galloped with extraordinary -gallantry right into the village and engaged the enemy point-blank -with splendid effect. For this fine performance Captain Campbell and -ten men of the gun's crew received decorations. By the evening of -the 6th the whole {109} village was solidly consolidated by the -Nineteenth Division, they had broken up a strong counter-attack from -the direction of Pozières, and they had extended their conquest so as -to include the redoubt called Heligoland. We must turn, however, to -the attack which had in the meanwhile been prepared upon the line to -the immediate north of La Boiselle by the Twelfth Division. - -This attack was carried out at three in the morning of July 7 by the -35th and the 37th Brigades. The fighting line from the right -consisted of the 5th Berks, 7th Suffolks, 6th Queen's Surrey, and 6th -West Kent, with the other battalions in close support. Unhappily, -there was a group of machine-guns in some broken ground to the north -of La Boiselle, which had not yet been reached by the Nineteenth -Division, and the fire of these guns was so deadly that the -battalions who got across were too weak to withstand a counter-attack -of German bombers. They were compelled, after a hard struggle, to -fall back to the British line. One curious benefit arose in an -unexpected way from the operation, for part of the 9th Essex, losing -its way in the dark, stumbled upon the rear of the German defenders -of the northern edge of La Boiselle, by which happy chance they took -200 prisoners, helped the Nineteenth in their task, and participated -in a victory instead of a check. - -It was evident that before the assault was renewed some dispositions -should be made to silence the guns which made the passage perilous. -With this in view, another brigade, the 74th from the Twenty-fifth -Division, was allotted to the commander of the Twelfth Division, by -whom it was placed between his {110} own position and that held by -the Nineteenth at La Boiselle. It was arranged that these fresh -troops should attack at eight o'clock in the morning of July 7, -approaching Ovillers from the south, and overrunning the noxious -machine-guns, while at 8.30 the 36th Brigade, hitherto in reserve, -should advance upon Ovillers from the west. By this difference of -half an hour in the attack it was hoped that the 74th would have got -the guns before the 36th had started. - -After an hour's bombardment the signal was given and the 74th Brigade -came away with a rush, headed by the 13th Cheshires and 9th North -Lancashires, with the 2nd Irish Rifles and 11th Lancashire Fusiliers -in support. The advance found the Germans both in front and on -either flank of them, but in spite of a withering fire they pushed on -for their mark. Nearly every officer of the 13th Cheshires from -Colonel Finch down to Somerset, the junior subaltern, was hit. -Half-way between La Boiselle and Ovillers the attack was brought to a -halt, and the men found such cover as they could among the -shell-holes. Their supporting lines had come up, but beyond some -bombing parties there was no further advance during the day. Fifty -yards away the untaken machine-gun emplacements lay in front of them, -while Ovillers itself was about 500 yards distant upon their left -front. - -In the meantime, after waiting half an hour, the 36th Brigade had -advanced. The machine-guns were, however, still active on either -flank of them, and on their immediate front lay the rubbish-heap -which had once been a village, a mass of ruins now. But amid those -ruins lay the Fusiliers {111} of the Prussian Guard--reputed to be -among the best soldiers in Europe, and every chink was an embrasure -for rifle or machine-gun. - -The advance was one which may have been matched in the glorious -annals of the British infantry, but can never have been excelled. -The front line consisted of the 8th and 9th Royal Fusiliers, one upon -each wing, the 7th Sussex in the centre, and the 11th Middlesex in -support--south-country battalions all. They had lain waiting for the -signal in trenches which were beaten to pieces by a terrific German -shelling. There were considerable casualties before the first man -sprang from fire step to parapet. As they crossed No Man's Land -bullets beat upon them from every side. The advance was rendered -more frightful by the heavy weather, which held down the fumes of the -poison shells, so that the craters in which men took refuge were -often found to be traps from which they never again emerged. Many of -the wounded met their death in this terrible fashion. Still the thin -lines went forward, for nothing would stop them save death or the -voice of their company officers. They were up and over the first -German line. A blast of fire staggered them for a moment, and then -with a splendid rally they were into the second trench, and had -seized the line of hedges and walls which skirt the western edge of -the village. Five hundred men were left out of those who had sprung -from the British trench; but the 500 still went forward. The two -Fusilier battalions had hardly the strength of a company between -them, and the leaders were all down--but every man was a leader that -day. Their spirit was invincible. An officer has recorded how a -desperately wounded man {112} called out, "Are the trenches taken, -sir?" On hearing that they were, he fell back and cried, "Thank God! -for nothing else matters." In the centre the Sussex men still -numbered nearly 300, and their colonel aided and directed while they -consolidated the ground. One hundred and fifty were hit as they did -so, but the handful who were left defied every effort of shell, bomb, -or bayonet to put them out. A lodgment had been made, and nothing -now could save the village. By a wise provision, seeing that no -supplies could reach them, every man had been loaded up with twenty -bombs, and had been instructed to use every captured German bomb or -cartridge before any of his own. As dusk fell, two companies of the -supporting Middlesex battalion were sent up, under heavy fire, to -thicken the line, which was further strengthened next day by two -battalions from the 37th Brigade, while the 75th Brigade prolonged it -to the south. In the morning of July 9 the Twelfth Division, sorely -stricken but triumphant, was drawn from the line, leaving the -northern half of the Ovillers front to the Thirty-second Division and -the southern half to the Twenty-fifth, the scattered brigades of -which were now reunited under one general. - -That commander had found himself during these operations in a -difficult position, as the 74th Brigade had been moved from him and -allotted to the Twelfth Division, and the Seventy-fifth by the -Thirty-second Division. None the less, he had carried on vigorously -with his remaining Brigade--the 7th, and had enlarged and -strengthened the British position in the Leipzig salient. During -July 5 and 6 the 1st Wilts and the 3rd Worcesters had both broadened -and {113} extended their fronts by means of surprise attacks very -well carried out. On the 7th they pushed forward, as part of the -general scheme of extension upon that day, advancing with such dash -and determination that they got ahead of the German barrage and -secured a valuable trench. - -When upon Sunday, July 9, the Thirty-second Division had entirely -taken over from the Twelfth on the west of Ovillers, the 14th Brigade -were in the post of honour on the edge of the village. The 2nd -Manchesters on the left and the 15th Highland Light Infantry on the -right, formed the advanced line with the 1st Dorsets in support, -while the 19th Lancashire Fusiliers were chiefly occupied in the -necessary and dangerous work of carrying forward munitions and -supplies. Meanwhile, the pioneer battalion, the 17th Northumberland -Fusiliers, worked hard to join up the old front trench with the new -trenches round Ovillers. It should be mentioned, as an example of -the spirit animating the British Army, that Colonel Pears of this -battalion had been invalided home for cancer, that he managed to -return to his men for this battle, and that shortly afterwards he -died of the disease. - -On July 10 at noon the 14th Brigade advanced upon Ovillers from the -west, carrying on the task which had been so well begun by the 36th -Brigade. The assailants could change their ranks, but this advantage -was denied to the defenders, for a persistent day and night barrage -cut them off from their companions in the north. None the less, -there was no perceptible weakening of the defence, and the Prussian -Guard lived up to their own high traditions. A number of them had -already been captured in the {114} trenches, mature soldiers of -exceptional physique. Their fire was as murderous as ever, and the -2nd Manchesters on the north or left of the line suffered severely. -The 15th Highlanders were more fortunate and made good progress. The -situation had been improved by an advance at 9 P.M. upon this date, -July 10, by the 2nd Inniskilling Fusiliers from the Sixth Division, -higher up the line, who made a lodgment north-west of Ovillers, which -enabled a Russian sap to be opened up from the British front line. -The Inniskillings lost 150 men out of two companies engaged, but they -created a new and promising line of attack. - -The British were now well into the village, both on the south and on -the west, but the fighting was closer and more sanguinary than ever. -Bombardments alternated with attacks, during which the British won -the outlying ruins, and fought on from one stone heap to another, or -down into the cellars below, where the desperate German Guardsmen -fought to the last until overwhelmed with bombs from above, or -stabbed by the bayonets of the furious stormers. The depleted 74th -Brigade of the Twenty-fifth Division had been brought back to its -work upon July 10, and on the 12th the 14th Brigade was relieved by -the 96th of the same Thirty-second Division. On the night of July 12 -fresh ground was gained by a surge forward of the 2nd South -Lancashires of the 75th Brigade, and of the 19th Lancashire -Fusiliers, these two battalions pushing the British line almost up to -Ovillers Church. Again, on the night of the 13th the 3rd Worcesters -and 8th Borders made advances, the latter capturing a strong point -which blocked the way to further progress. On {115} the 14th, -however, the 10th Cheshires had a set-back, losing a number of men. -Again, on the night of July 14 the 1st Dorsets cut still further into -the limited area into which the German resistance had been -compressed. On the night of the 15th the Thirty-second Division was -drawn out, after a fortnight of incessant loss, and was replaced by -the Forty-eighth Division of South Midland Territorials, the 143rd -Brigade consisting entirely of Warwick battalions, being placed under -the orders of the General of the Twenty-fifth Division. The village, -a splintered rubbish-heap, with the church raising a stumpy wall, a -few feet high, in the middle of it, was now very closely pressed upon -all sides. The German cellars and dug-outs were still inhabited, -however, and within them the Guardsmen were as dangerous as wolves at -bay. On the night of July 15-16 a final attack was arranged. It was -to be carried through by the 74th, 75th, and 143rd Brigades, and was -timed for 1 A.M. For a moment it threatened disaster, as the 5th -Warwicks got forward into such a position that they were cut off from -supplies, but a strong effort was made by their comrades, who closed -in all day until 6 P.M., when the remains of the garrison -surrendered. Two German officers and 125 men were all who remained -unhurt in this desperate business; and it is on record that one of -the officers expended his last bomb by hurling it at his own men on -seeing that they had surrendered. Eight machine-guns were taken. It -is said that the British soldiers saluted the haggard and grimy -survivors as they were led out among the ruins. It was certainly a -very fine defence. After the capture of the village, the northern -and eastern outskirts were cleared by the men of the {116} -Forty-eighth Territorial Division, which was partly accomplished by a -night attack of the 4th Gloucesters. From now onwards till July 29 -this Division was engaged in very arduous work, pushing north and -east, and covering the flank of the Australians in their advance upon -Pozières. - -So much for the first group of operations in the intermediate German -position. We shall now pass to the second, which is concerned with -the strong fortified line formed by the Quadrangle system of trenches -between Contalmaison upon our left and Mametz Wood upon our right. - -It has been mentioned under the operations of the Twenty-first -Division in the last chapter that the 51st Brigade passed through the -deserted village of Fricourt upon the morning of July 2, taking about -100 prisoners. - -On debouching at the eastern end they swung to the right, the 7th -Lincolns attacking Fricourt Wood, and the 8th South Staffords, -Fricourt Farm. The wood proved to be a tangle of smashed trees, -which was hardly penetrable, and a heavy fire stopped the Lincolns. -The colonel, however, surmounted the difficulty by detaching an -officer and a party of men to outflank the wood, which had the effect -of driving out the Germans. The South Staffords were also successful -in storming the farm, but could not for the moment get farther. -Several hundreds of prisoners from the 111th Regiment and three guns -were captured during this advance, but the men were very exhausted at -the end of it, having been three nights without rest. Early next day -(July 3) the advance was resumed, the 51st Brigade still to the fore, -working in co-operation with the 62nd {117} Brigade of the -Twenty-first Division upon their left. By hard fighting, the -Staffords, Lincolns, and Sherwoods pushed their way into Railway -Alley and Railway Copse, while the 7th Borders established themselves -in Bottom Wood. The operations came to a climax when in the -afternoon a battalion of the 186th Prussian Regiment, nearly 600 -strong, was caught between the two Brigades in Crucifix Trench and -had to surrender; altogether the 51st Brigade had done a very -strenuous and successful spell of duty. The ground gained was -consolidated by the 77th Field Company, Royal Engineers. - -The 62nd Brigade of the Twenty-first Division, supported by the 63rd, -had moved parallel to the 51st Brigade, the 1st Lincolns, 10th -Yorkshires, and two battalions of Northumberland Fusiliers advancing -upon Shelter Wood and carrying it by storm. It was a fine bit of -woodland fighting, and the first intimation to the Germans that their -fortified forests would no more stop British infantry than their -village strongholds could do. The enemy, both here and in front of -the Seventeenth Division, were of very different stuff from the -veterans of Ovillers, and surrendered in groups as soon as their -machine-guns had failed to stop the disciplined rush of their -assailants. After this advance, the Twenty-first Division was drawn -out of line for a rest, and the Seventeenth extending to the left was -in touch with the regular 24th Brigade, forming the right of -Babington's Twenty-third Division, who were closing in upon -Contalmaison. On the right the 17th were in touch with the 22nd -Brigade of the Seventh Division, which was pushing up towards the -dark and sinister clumps {118} of woodland which barred their way. -On the night of July 5 an advance was made, the Seventh Division upon -Mametz Wood, and the Seventeenth upon the of the Quadrangle Trench, -connecting the wood with Contalmaison. The attack upon the wood -itself had no success, though the 1st Royal Welsh Fusiliers reached -their objective, but the 52nd Brigade was entirely successful at -Quadrangle Trench, where two battalions--the 9th Northumberland -Fusiliers and 10th Lancashire Fusiliers--crept up within a hundred -yards unobserved and then carried the whole position with a splendid -rush. It was at once consolidated. The Twenty-third Division had -advanced upon the left and were close to Contalmaison. On the night -of July 5 the Seventh Division was drawn out and the Thirty-eighth -Welsh Division took over the line which faced Mametz Wood. - -The Seventeenth Division, after its capture of the Quadrangle Trench, -was faced by a second very dangerous and difficult line called the -Quadrangle Support, the relative position of which is shown upon the -diagram on the next page. - -------------------------------------------------------------------- - -{119} - -[Illustration: QUADRANGLE POSITION, July 5-11, 1916.] - -------------------------------------------------------------------- - -It is clear that if either Mametz Wood or Contalmaison were to fall, -this trench would become untenable for the Germans, but until those -two bastions, or at least one of them, was in our hands, there was -such a smashing fire beating down upon an open advance of 600 yards, -that no harder task could possibly be given to a Division. The -trench was slightly over the brow of a slope, so that when the guns -played upon it the garrison were able to slip quickly away and take -refuge in Mametz Wood, coming back again in time to meet an assault -which they were well aware could only be delivered by {120} troops -which had passed through an ordeal of fire which must shake and -weaken them. - -It seemed that the best chance to bring a striking force up to the -trench was to make the attempt at night, so at 2 A.M. of July 7 the -9th Northumberland Fusiliers and 10th Lancashire Fusiliers, the same -battalions which had already taken Quadrangle Trench, advanced -through the darkness of an inclement night upon their objective. The -enemy proved, however, to be in great force, and their trench was -stuffed with men who were themselves contemplating an attack. A -party of Lancashire Fusiliers got into Pearl Alley, which is on the -left near Contalmaison, but the village stands on a slight eminence, -and from it the trench and the approaches can be swept by fire. The -British attack was driven back with loss, and was followed up by the -9th Grenadiers of the Prussian Guard, who were in turn driven back by -the left of the British line, consisting of the 10th Lancashire -Fusiliers and some of the 1st Worcesters. In the morning another -attempt was made upon Quadrangle Support, this time by the 9th West -Ridings and the 12th Manchesters. Small parties got up to Acid Drop -Copse, close to Contalmaison, but they were too weak to hold on. At -the end of this attack the 52nd Brigade, which had been so badly -mauled, was drawn out and the 51st put back in its place. - -This severe fighting at the Quadrangle was part of a wider action, -which was to include an attack by the Twenty-third Division upon -Contalmaison and an attack by the Thirty-eighth upon Mametz Wood. -The Contalmaison attack won its way into the north-west side of the -village at 11 o'clock on the morning {121} of July 7, but by 12 -o'clock it had been held and eventually repulsed. By 4.30 the 24th -Brigade of the Twenty-third Division, which was on the immediate left -of the Seventeenth Division, had been driven back to its trenches, -the 1st Worcesters, 2nd East Lancashires, and 2nd Northamptons -suffering heavily. - -Whilst the Contalmaison attack had failed upon the left, that upon -Mametz Wood had no better success upon the right. It was to have -been carried out by the Thirty-eighth Welsh Division, but in its -approach such opposition was encountered to the wood that the 16th -Welsh (City of Cardiff) and 10th South Wales Borderers could not get -forward. Meanwhile, the 50th Brigade from the Seventeenth Division -had been told off to co-operate with this attack, and naturally found -themselves with their right flank in the air, the 7th East Yorks -suffering severely in consequence. None the less, some advance was -made upon this side. - -In the night of July 7 a third attack was made upon Quadrangle -Support, with no better result than the others. On this occasion the -51st Brigade had relieved the 52nd, and it was the 10th Sherwood -Foresters which endured the heavy losses, and persevered until they -were within bomb-throw of their objective, losing Major Hall Brown, a -gallant Ceylon planter, and many officers and men. At the same hour -the 50th Brigade had again tried to gain ground in the direction of -Mametz Wood, but had failed on account of uncut wire. The military -difficulties of the situation during this day were greatly enhanced -by the state of the ground, owing to most unseasonable heavy rain, -which left four feet of mud in some of the trenches. Altogether, -when one considers the want {122} of success at Ovillers, the repulse -at Contalmaison, the three checks in one day at the Quadrangle, and -the delay of the attack on Mametz Wood, the events of July 7 showed -that the task of the British, even inside a broken German line, was -still a very heavy one. General Horne upon the line and Sir Douglas -Haig behind it must both have felt the strain that night. - -At six in the morning of July 8 the undefeatable Seventeenth Division -was again hard at work encompassing the downfall of its old opponents -in Quadrangle Support. Since it could not be approached above -ground, it was planned that two brigades, the 51st and the 50th, -should endeavour to bomb their way from each side up those trenches -which were in their hands. It is wonderful that troops which had -already endured so much, and whose nerve might well be shattered and -their hearts broken by successive failures, should still be able to -carry out a form of attack which of all others call for dash and -reckless courage. It was done, none the less, and with some success, -the bombers blasting their way up Pearl Alley on the left to the -point where it joins on to the Quadrangle Support. The bombers of -the 7th Lincolns did particularly well. "Every attempted attack by -the Bosche was met by them with the most extraordinary Berserker -fury. They utterly cowed the enemy." So wrote an experienced -spectator. On the right the 50th Brigade made some progress also up -Quadrangle Alley. Artillery fire, however, put a term to the advance -in both instances, the guns of Contalmaison dominating the whole -position. In the evening a fresh bombing attack was made by the same -{123} troops, whose exertions seem really to have reached the limit -of human capacity. This time the 7th Borders actually reached -Quadrangle Support, but were unable to get farther. The same evening -some of the 50th Brigade bombed down Wood Trench towards Mametz Wood, -so as to facilitate the coming attack by the Thirty-eighth Division. -On July 9 both Brigades again tried to bomb their way into Quadrangle -Support, and were again held up by the enemy's fire. This was the -sixth separate attempt upon the same objective by the same -soldiers--an example surely of the wonderful material of which the -New Armies were composed. - -But their labours were not yet done. Though both brigades were worn -to shadows, it was still a point of honour to hold to their work. At -11.20 that night a surprise attack was made across the open under the -cover of night. The 8th South Staffords on the left--charging with a -yell of "Staffords!"--reached the point where Pearl Alley joins the -Quadrangle Support (see Diagram), and held on most desperately. The -50th Brigade on the right were checked and could give no assistance. -The men upon the left strove hard to win their way down Quadrangle -Support, but most of the officers were down, the losses were heavy, -and the most that they could do was to hold on to the junction with -Pearl Alley. The 50th were ready to go forward again to help them, -and the Yorkshire men were already on the move; but day was slowly -breaking and it was doubtful if the trench could be held under the -guns of Contalmaison. The attack upon the right was therefore -stopped, and the left held on as best it might, the South Staffords, -having lost {124} grievously, nearly all their officers, including -the Adjutant, Coleridge, being on the ground. - -We may now leave this heroic tragedy of the Quadrangle and turn our -attention to what had been going on at Mametz Wood upon the right, -which was really the key to the situation. It has already been -stated that the wood had been attacked in vain by a brigade of the -Seventh Division, and that the Thirty-eighth Welsh Division had found -some difficulty in even approaching it. It was indeed a formidable -obstacle upon the path of the army. An officer has described how he -used to gaze from afar upon the immense bulk, the vast denseness and -darkness of Mametz Wood, and wonder, knowing the manifold dangers -which lurked beneath its shadows, whether it was indeed within human -power to take it. Such was the first terrible task to which the -Welshmen of the New Army were called. It was done, but one out of -every three men who did it found the grave or the hospital before the -survivors saw the light shine between the further tree-trunks. - -As the Welshmen came into the line they had the Seventeenth Division -upon their left, facing Quadrangle Support, and the Eighteenth upon -their right at Caterpillar Wood. When at 4.15 on the morning of July -10 all was ready for the assault, the Third Division had relieved the -Eighteenth on the right, but the Seventeenth was, as we have seen, -still in its position, and was fighting on the western edge of the -wood. - -The attack of the Welshmen started from White Trench, which lies -south-east of the wood and meanders along the brow of a sharp ridge. -Since it was dug by the enemy it was of little use to the attack, -{125} for no rifle fire could be brought to bear from it upon the -edge of the wood, while troops coming over the hill and down the -slope were dreadfully exposed. Apart from the German riflemen and -machine-gunners, who lay thick among the shell-blasted stumps of -trees, there was such a tangle of thick undergrowth and fallen trunks -lying at every conceivable angle that it would take a strong and -active man to make his way through the wood with a fowling-piece for -his equipment and a pheasant for his objective. No troops could have -had a more desperate task--the more so as the German second line was -only a few hundred yards from the north end of the wood, whence they -could reinforce it at their pleasure. - -The wood is divided by a central ride running north and south. All -to the west of this was allotted to the 113th Brigade, a unit of -Welsh Fusilier battalions commanded by a young brigadier who is more -likely to win honour than decorations, since he started the War with -both the V.C. and the D.S.O. The 114th Brigade, comprising four -battalions of the Welsh Regiment, was to carry the eastern half of -the wood, the attack being from the south. The front line of attack, -counting from the right, consisted of the 13th Welsh (2nd Rhonddas), -14th Welsh (Swansea), with its left on the central ride, and 16th -Royal Welsh Fusiliers in the van of the 113th Brigade. About 4.30 in -the morning the barrage lifted from the shadowy edge of the wood, and -the infantry pushed forward with all the Cymric fire which burns in -that ancient race as fiercely as ever it has done, as every field of -manly sport will show. It was a magnificent spectacle, for wave -after wave of men could be seen advancing without hesitation and -without a break {126} over a distance which in some places was not -less than 500 yards. - -The Swansea men in the centre broke into the wood without a check, a -lieutenant of that battalion charging down two machine-guns and -capturing both at the cost of a wound to himself. The 13th on the -right won their way also into the wood, but were held for a time, and -were reinforced by the 15th (Carmarthens). Here for hours along the -whole breadth of the wood the Welsh infantry strove desperately to -crawl or burst through the tangle of tree-trunks in the face of the -deadly and invisible machine-guns. Some of the 15th got forward -through a gap, but found themselves isolated, and had great -difficulty in joining up with their own battle line once more. -Eventually, in the centre and right, the three battalions formed a -line just south of the most southern cross ride from its junction -with the main ride. - -On the left, the 16th Welsh Fusiliers had lost heavily before -reaching the trees, their colonel, Carden, falling at the head of his -men. The circumstances of his death should be recorded. His Welsh -Fusiliers, before entering action, sang a hymn in Welsh, upon which -the colonel addressed them, saying, "Boys, make your peace with God! -We are going to take that position, and some of us won't come back. -But we are going to take it." Tying his handkerchief to his stick he -added, "This will show you where I am." He was hit as he waved them -on with his impromptu flag; but he rose, advanced, was hit again, and -fell dead. - -------------------------------------------------------------------- - -{127} - -[Illustration: MAMETZ WOOD] - -------------------------------------------------------------------- - -Thickened by the support of the 15th Royal Welsh Fusiliers, the line -rushed on, and occupied the end {128} of the wood until they were -abreast of their comrades on the right. Once among the trees, all -cohesion was lost among the chaos of tangled branches and splintered -trunks, every man getting on as best he might, with officers rallying -and leading forward small groups, who tripped and scrambled onwards -against any knot of Germans whom they could see. On this edge of the -wood some of the Fusiliers bombed their way along Strip Trench, which -outlines the south-western edge, in an endeavour to join hands with -the 50th Brigade on their left. At about 6.30 the south end of the -wood had been cleared, and the Welshmen, flushed with success, were -swarming out at the central ride. A number of prisoners, some hale, -some wounded, had been taken. At 7 o'clock the 113th were in touch -with the 114th on the right, and with the 50th on the left. - -Further advance was made difficult by the fact that the fire from the -untaken Wood Support Trench upon the left swept across the ride. The -losses of the two Fusilier battalions had been so heavy that they -were halted while their comrades of the 13th Royal Welsh Fusiliers, -under Colonel Flower, who was killed by a shell, attacked Wood -Support--eventually capturing the gun which had wrought such damage, -and about 50 Germans. This small body had succeeded, as so often -before and since, in holding up a Brigade and disorganising an -advance. Until the machine-gun is checkmated by the bullet-proof -advance, the defensive will maintain an overpowering and -disproportionate advantage. - -The 10th Welsh had now come up to reinforce the left of the 114th -Brigade, losing their colonel, Rickets, as they advanced into the -wood. The 19th {129} Welsh Pioneer Battalion also came forward to -consolidate what had been won. There was a considerable pause in the -advance, during which two battalions--the 17th Welsh Fusiliers and -the 10th South Wales Borderers from the Reserve Brigade, 115th--came -up to thicken the line. At about four, the attack was renewed, until -at least two-thirds of the wood had been gained. The South Wales -Borderers worked up the eastern side, pushing the defenders into the -open, where they were shot down by British machine-guns in -Caterpillar Wood and Marlborough Wood. About 50 yards from the -northern end the khaki line was at last held up and remained there, -crouching in shell-holes or behind broken trunks. The main -resistance came from a trench outside the wood, and it was eventually -determined to bombard it, for which purpose the troops were withdrawn -some hundreds of yards. Late in the evening there was another -gallant attempt to get the edge of the wood, but the trench was as -venomous as ever, and the main German second line behind it was -sweeping the underwood with bullets, so the advance was halted for -the night. - -During the night the 115th Brigade had come to the front, and in the -morning of July 11 had relieved the 113th and 114th Brigades. The -relief in a thick wood, swept by bullets, and upon a dark night in -the close presence of a formidable enemy, was a most difficult -operation. The morning was spent in reconnaissance, and it was only -at 3.15 P.M. that the advance could be made upon the main German -defence, a trench just outside the north end of the wood. About 4 -o'clock the Brigade swept on, and after a sharp bayonet fight gained -the trench towards the north-east, but the {130} Germans still held -the centre and swept with their fire the portion in our possession. -The 11th South Wales Borderers (2nd Gwents) held on splendidly, in -spite of their heavy losses. The situation was now such, with only -300 yards to go to reach the German second line, that it was deemed -well to relieve the Thirty-eighth Division by the Twenty-first -Division, who had been selected for the coming battle. This change -was carried out by the morning of July 12. - -The action of the Thirty-eighth Division in capturing Mametz Wood had -been a very fine one, and the fruit of their victory was not only an -important advance, but 398 prisoners, one field gun, three heavy -guns, a howitzer and a number of smaller pieces. It was the largest -wood in the Somme district, and the importance attached to it by the -Germans may be gathered from the fact that men of five different -German regiments, the 3rd Lehr, 16th Bavarians, 77th, 83rd, and -122nd, were identified among our opponents. Among many instances of -individual valour should be mentioned that of a colonel of the -Divisional Staff, who twice, revolver in hand, led the troops on -where there was some temporary check or confusion. It is impossible -to imagine anything more difficult and involved than some of this -fighting, for apart from the abattis and other natural impediments of -a tangled wood, the place was a perfect rabbit-warren of trenches, -and had occasional land mines in it, which were exploded--some of -them prematurely, so that it was the retreating Germans who received -the full force of the blast. Burning petrol was also used -continually in the defence, and frequently proved to be a two-edged -weapon. Some of the garrison stood to their work {131} with -extraordinary courage, and nothing but the most devoted valour upon -the part of their assailants could have driven them out. "Every man -of them was killed where he stood," said a Welsh Fusilier, in -describing the resistance of one group. "They refused offers of -quarter right to the last, and died with cheers for the Kaiser or -words of defiance on their lips. They were brave men, and we were -very sorry indeed to have to kill them, for we could not but admire -them for their courage." Such words give honour both to victors and -vanquished. The German losses were undoubtedly very heavy--probably -not less than those of the Welsh Division. - -Though the Welsh Division had overrun Mametz Wood from south to -north, there was still one angle in the north-west which had lain out -of their course, and had not been taken by them. This part of the -wood was occupied upon the evening of July 11 by the 62nd Brigade of -the Twenty-first Division, which had already performed such notable -services upon the Somme. Eight field-guns were discovered in this -part of the wood and were captured by the Brigade. - -The situation had now greatly improved for the Seventeenth Division -in front of Quadrangle Support, for not only was Mametz Wood mostly -in the hands of the Welsh, but the Twenty-third Division on the left, -who after their temporary check at Contalmaison had fallen back upon -the line Peake Alley-Birch Tree Wood-Shelter Wood, now came forward -again and occupied Bailiff Wood upon the north of Contalmaison. -Under these circumstances, the 50th Brigade upon the right again -attempted to get forward in order to keep level with the Welsh in the -wood. {132} Connection had not yet been made at that point, however, -and the 7th East Yorks, who were the leading battalion, suffered -heavy losses before being compelled to abandon the attempt. - -Victory, however, was at last coming to reward the living and -vindicate the dead. At four in the afternoon of July 10, the -Twenty-third Division advanced from Bailiff Wood for its second -assault upon Contalmaison. This time everything went to perfection, -and the much-enduring infantry were able to take possession of the -village, while a counter-attack by the third Reserve Division of the -Prussian Guards came under concentrated artillery fire, and was -completely disorganised and destroyed. It was the wounded of the -Guard from this attack who were seen at Potsdam, and described by Mr. -Curtin, the American journalist, in one of the most brilliant -articles of the War. Carried into furniture vans, they were conveyed -to their hospitals with every secrecy, in order to conceal from the -populace the results of the encounter between the famous Corps and -those men of the New Army who for more than a year had been the -favourite butt of the _Witz-Blätter_ of Berlin. Old Father Time has -a humour of his own, and his laugh is usually the last. Besides the -Guard the 70th Jaeger and the 110th, 114th, and 119th Regiments were -included in this defeat. - -The two bastions having fallen, the problem of the Quadrangle Support -became a very different one, and the 51st Brigade, joining up with -the right of the Twenty-third Division in the evening, was able to -get hold of the left end of it. Even now, however, the Germans -fought hard to the right, and both the 7th East Yorks and the 6th -Dorsets had to push strongly {133} before they could win through. -They were encouraged in their efforts when, in the waning light, they -were able to see small bodies of the enemy retiring in the distance -out of the fringe of the wood. By ten o'clock that night the long -task had been accomplished, and the dead might sleep in peace, for -Quadrangle Support was in the hands of the Seventeenth Division. -They were relieved by the Twenty-first Division upon July 11. - -At or about the same time as the relief of the Seventeenth Division, -the Twenty-third upon their left were also relieved, their line being -taken over by the First Division. Since the capture of Contalmaison -and the heavy repulse of the German Guard Division the British had -made further progress, so that both Pearl Wood and Contalmaison Villa -to the north of the village were firmly in their hands. The -instructions to the First Division were to endeavour to improve this -advantage, and an advance was at once made which, occurring as it did -upon the night of July 15, may be best described under the heading -which treats of the breaking of the second German line. - -Having dealt with the operations upon the left and those in the -centre of the intermediate German position, we will now turn to those -upon the right, which are concerned with the Eighteenth and the -Thirtieth Divisions, supported by the Ninth. After the fall of -Montauban, these Divisions advanced, the one upon Caterpillar Wood, -and the other to Bernafoy Wood, both of which were occupied. For the -occupation of Bernafoy Wood the 27th Brigade of the Ninth Division -had been put at the disposal of the commander of the Thirtieth, and -this {134} force occupied the position without much loss, but were -exposed afterwards to a most deadly shell-fire, which caused heavy -losses to the two front battalions--the 6th King's Own Scottish -Borderers and the 6th Scots Rifles. The wood was held, however, -together with three guns, which were found within it. On July 5 the -Thirtieth Division handed over that line to the Ninth. On that date -they sustained the heavy loss of Colonels Trotter and Smith--both -killed by distant shell-fire. - -The rest of the Thirtieth Division only lasted for a very few days, -and upon July 7 they were facing the enemy position from Malzhorn -Farm upon the right to Trones Wood upon the left, and were about to -be initiated in that terrible wood fighting which cost us so dear. -There is no fighting in the world which is more awesome to the mind -and more exhausting to the body than such combats as these amid the -ghostly atmosphere of ruined woods, with Death lurking in the shadows -on every hand, and the thresh of the shells beating without cessation -by night and by day. Trones, Mametz, High Wood, Delville--never has -the quiet, steadfast courage of the British soldier been put to a -more searching test than in those haunts of gloom and horror. In the -case of Trones Wood some account must be given of the peculiar -tactical difficulties of the situation, and then we shall turn to the -sombre but glorious narrative of the successive attacks. - -The tactical problem was a remarkable one. The wood was connected up -on the German side by good lines of trenches with Malzhorn Farm on -the south, with Guillemont on the east, and with Waterlot Farm on the -north--each of these points being from 400 {135} to 700 yards away. -It was also commanded by a large number of heavy guns. The result -was that if the British stormers held the wood in strength, they were -shelled out with heavy losses. If, on the other hand, the wood were -lightly held, then the German infantry pouring in from the east and -north could drive them out. The British, on the other hand, had no -trenches leading up to the wood, though in other respects the Germans -found the same difficulties in holding the place that they did. It -was a terrible contest in tenacity between the infantry of the two -nations, and if in the end the British won it must at least be -admitted that there was no evidence of any demoralisation among the -Germans on account of the destruction of their main line. They -fought well, were well led, and were admirably supported by their -guns. - -The first attack upon Trones Wood was carried out from the south upon -July 8 by the 21st Brigade. There was no suspicion then of the -strength of the German position, and the attack was repulsed within a -couple of hours, the 2nd Yorks being the chief sufferers. - -There was more success upon the right of the line where the French -were attacking Malzhorn Farm. A company of the 2nd Wilts made their -way successfully to help our Allies, and gained a lodgment in the -German trenches which connect Malzhorn Farm with the south end of -Trones Wood. With the aid of some of the 19th Manchesters this -position was extended, and two German counter-attacks were crushed by -rifle-fire. The position in this southern trench was permanently -held, and it acted like a self-registering gauge for the combat in -{136} Trones Wood, for when the British held the wood the whole -Southern Trench was British, while a German success in the wood -always led to a contraction in the holding of the trench. - -At one o'clock upon July 8 the 21st Brigade renewed their attempt, -attacking with the 2nd Wiltshires in the lead from the side of -Bernafoy Wood. The advance was a fine one, but Colonel Gillson was -badly wounded, and his successor in command, Captain Mumford, was -killed. About three o'clock the 18th and 19th Manchesters came up in -support. German bombers were driving down from the north, and the -fighting was very severe. In the evening some of the Liverpools came -up to strengthen the line, and it was determined to draw out the -weakened 21st, and replace it by the 90th Brigade. At the same time -a party of the 2nd Scots Fusiliers of this Brigade took over Malzhorn -Trench, and rushed the farmhouse itself, capturing 67 prisoners. The -whole of the trench was afterwards cleared up with two machine-guns -and 100 more prisoners. It was a fine bit of work, worthy of that -splendid battalion. - -Upon July 9 at 6.40 A.M. began the third attack upon Trones Wood led -by the 17th Manchesters. They took over the footing already held, -and by eight o'clock they had extended it along the eastern edge, -practically clearing the wood of German infantry. There followed, -however, a terrific bombardment, which caused such losses that the -17th and their comrades of the 18th were ordered to fall back once -more, with the result that the Scots Fusiliers had to give up the -northern end of their Malzhorn Trench. An enemy counter-attack at -4.30 P.M. had no success. A fresh British attack (the fourth) was -{137} at once organised, and carried out by the 16th Manchesters, who -at 6.40 P.M. got into the south end of the wood once more, finding a -scattered fringe of their comrades who had held on there. Some South -African Highlanders from the Ninth Division came up to help them -during the night. This fine battalion lost many men, including their -colonel, Jones, while supporting the attack from Bernafoy Wood. In -the morning the position was better, but a gap had been left between -the Manchesters in the wood and the Scots in the trench, through -which the enemy made their way. After much confused fighting and -very heavy shelling, the evening of July 10 found the wood once more -with the Germans. - -In the early morning of July 11 the only remaining British Brigade, -the 89th, took up the running. At 3.50 the 2nd Bedfords advanced to -the attack. Aided by the 19th King's Liverpools, the wood was once -again carried and cleared of the enemy, but once again a terrific -shell-fall weakened the troops to a point where they could not resist -a strong attack. The Bedfords fought magnificently, and had lost 50 -per cent of their effectives before being compelled to withdraw their -line. The south-east corner of the wood was carried by the swarming -enemy, but the south-west corner was still in the hands of our -utterly weary and yet tenacious infantry. At 9.30 the same evening -the 17th King's Liverpools pushed the Germans back once more, and -consolidated the ground won at the southern end. So the matter stood -when the exhausted division was withdrawn for a short rest, while the -Eighteenth Division took up their difficult task. The Lancashire men -had left it {138} unfinished, but their conduct had been heroic, and -they had left their successors that one corner of consolidated ground -which was needed as a jumping-off place for a successful attack. - -It was the 55th Brigade of the Eighteenth Division which first came -up to take over the fighting line. A great responsibility was placed -upon the general officer commanding, for the general attack upon the -German line had been fixed for July 14, and it was impossible to -proceed with it until the British held securely the covering line -upon the flank. Both Trones Wood and the Malzhorn Trench were -therefore of much more than local importance, so that when Haig found -himself at so late a date as July 12 without command of this -position, it was a very serious matter which might have far-reaching -consequences. The orders now were that within a day, at all costs, -Trones Wood must be in British hands, and to the 55th, strengthened -by two battalions of the 54th Brigade, was given the desperate task. -The situation was rendered more difficult by the urgency of the call, -which gave the leaders no time in which to get acquainted with the -ground. - -The German defence had become a strong one. They had formed three -strong points, marked S1, S2, and S3 in the Diagram, p. 141. These, -together with several trenches, dotted here and there, broke up every -attack, and when once order was broken it was almost impossible in -the tangle and obscurity for the troops to preserve any cohesion or -direction. Those troops which penetrated between the strong points -found themselves with the enemy in their rear and were in a -disorganised condition, which was only {139} overcome by the -individual bravery of the men, who refused to be appalled by the -difficult situation in which they found themselves. - -The attack of the 55th Brigade was made from the sunken road -immediately south of the wood, and it ran at once into so heavy a -barrage that it lost heavily before it had reached even the edge of -its objective. The 7th West Kents, who formed the attacking force, -were not to be denied, however, and they pushed forward through a -deepening gloom, for it was seven in the evening before the signal -had been given. Whilst the Kents fought up from the south, the -Queen's Surreys attempted to win a lodgment on the north-west where -the Longueval Alley led up from Bernafoy Wood. They also suffered -heavily from the barrage, and only a few brave men reached the top of -the wood and held on there for some hours. The West Kents passed the -line of strong points and then lost touch with each other, until they -had resolved themselves into two or three separate groups holding -together as best they could in the darkness with the enemy all round -them, and with the communications cut behind them. The telephone -wires had all been broken by the barrage, and the anxious commanders -could only know that the attack had failed, that no word came back -from the front, and that a British battalion had been swallowed up by -the wood. - -The orders were peremptory, however, that the position should be -taken, and General Maxse, without hesitation, threw a second of his -brigades into the dangerous venture. It was the 54th Brigade which -moved to the attack. It was just past midnight when the soldiers -went forward. The actual assault {140} was carried out from south to -north, on the same line as the advance of the West Rents. The -storming battalions were the 6th Northamptons and 12th Middlesex, the -former to advance direct through the wood and the latter to clean up -behind them and to form a defensive flank on the right. - -------------------------------------------------------------------- - -{141} - -[Illustration: TRONES WOOD Attack of 54th Brigade July 13th, 1916.] - -------------------------------------------------------------------- - -The attack was a fine feat of arms. Though heavily hit by the -barrage, the Northamptons, closely followed by two companies of the -Middlesex, pushed their way into the wood and onwards. It was pitch -dark, and the men were stumbling continually over the fallen trees -and the numerous dead bodies which lay among the undergrowth. None -the less, they kept touch, and plodded steadily onwards. The gallant -Clark was shot, but another officer led the Northamptons against the -central strong point, for it had been wisely determined to leave no -enemy in the rear. Shortly after dawn on July 14 this point was -carried, and the Northamptons were able to get forward. By 8 o'clock -the wood was full of scattered groups of British infantry, but the -situation was so confused that the colonel went forward and rallied -them into a single line which formed across the wood. This line -advanced until it came level with the strong point S3, which was -captured. A number of the enemy then streamed out of the eastern -side of the wood, making for Guillemont. These men came under -British machine-gun fire and lost heavily. The remaining strong -point at S1 had been taken by a mixed group of Buffs and Middlesex -about 9 A.M. These three strong points having been occupied, the -whole wood was now swept clear and was permanently occupied, though -still subjected to very heavy shell {142} fire by the enemy. Thus, -the right flank of the army was covered, and the important operations -of July 14 were enabled to go forward without danger of molestation. -Of the two gallant battalions who mainly achieved this important -result, the losses of the Northamptons were about 300, and of the -Middlesex about half that amount. - -There was an epilogue which was as honourable to the troops concerned -as the main attack had been. This concerns the fate of the men of -West Kent, who, as will be remembered, had been cut off in the wood. -The main body of these, under the regimental adjutant, together with -a few men of the Queen's, formed a small defensive position and held -out in the hope of relief. They were about 200 all told, and their -position seemed so hopeless that every excuse might have been found -for surrender. They held out all night, however, and in the morning -they were successfully relieved by the advance of the 54th Brigade. -It is true that no severe attack was made upon them during the night, -but their undaunted front may have had something to do with their -immunity. Once, in the early dawn, a German officer actually came up -to them under the impression that they were his own men--his last -mistake upon earth. It is notable that the badges of six different -German regiments were found in the wood, which seemed to indicate -that it was held by picked men or volunteers from many units. "To -the death!" was their password for the night, and to their honour be -it said that they were mostly true to it. So also were the British -stormers, of whom Sir Henry Rawlinson said: "The night attack on and -final capture of Trones Wood were feats of arms {143} which will rank -high among the best achievements of the British Army." - -An account of this fortnight of desperate and almost continuous -fighting is necessarily concerned chiefly with the deeds of the -infantry, but it may fitly end with a word as to the grand work of -the artillery, without whom in modern warfare all the valour and -devotion of the foot-soldier are but a useless self-sacrifice. -Nothing could exceed the endurance and the technical efficiency of -the gunners. No finer tribute could be paid them than that published -at the time from one of their own officers, which speaks with heart -and with knowledge: "They worked their guns with great accuracy and -effect without a moment's cessation by day or by night for ten days, -and I don't believe any artillery have ever had a higher or a longer -test or have done it more splendidly. And these gunners, when the -order came that we must pull out and go with the infantry--do you -think they were glad or willing? Devil a bit! They were sick as -muck and only desired to stay on and continue killing Bosches. And -these men a year ago not even soldiers--much less gunners! Isn't it -magnificent--and is it not enough to make the commander of such men -uplifted?" No cold and measured judgment of the historian can ever -convey their greatness with the conviction produced by one who stood -by them in the thick of the battle and rejoiced in the manhood of -those whom he had himself trained and led. - - - - -{144} - -CHAPTER VI - -THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME - -The Breaking of the Second Line. July 14, 1916 - -The great night advance--The Leicester Brigade at Bazentin--Assault -by Seventh Division--Success of the Third Division--Desperate fight -of Ninth Division at Longueval--Operations of First Division on -flank--Cavalry advance. - - -With the fall of Mametz Wood, the impending capture of Trones Wood -upon the right, and the close investment of Ovillers upon the left -flank, the army could now face the second line of German defences. -The ground in front of them sloped gently upwards until it reached -the edge of a rolling plateau. Upon this edge were three villages: -Little Bazentin upon the left, Grand Bazentin upon the centre, and -Longueval upon the right, all nestling among orchards and flanked by -woods. Through these lay the enemy's position, extending to Pozières -upon the one side, and through Guillemont to the French junction on -the other. These two flanks were for the time to be disregarded, and -it was determined to strike a heavy frontal blow which would, as it -was hoped, crush in the whole middle of their line, leaving the sides -to be dealt with at our leisure. It was a most {145} formidable -obstacle, for all three villages were as strong as the German sappers -could make them, and were connected up with great lines of trenches, -the whole front which was to be attacked covering about 6000 yards. -A small wood screened Little Bazentin on the left, while behind -Longueval, facing the right attack, was a larger plantation which, -under the name of Delville Wood, has won for itself a terrible and -glorious name in British military history. - -[Illustration: The Second German Line, Bazentins, Delville Wood, etc.] - -The heavy guns had been advanced and the destruction of the German -wire and trenches had begun upon July 11. On the evening of the 13th -the troops mustered for the battle. They were all divisions which -had already been heavily engaged, and some of them had endured losses -in the last fortnight which might have seemed to be sufficient to put -them out of action. None the less they were not only eager for the -fight, but they were, as it proved, capable of performing the most -arduous and delicate of all operations, a night march in the face of -the enemy. More than a thousand yards of clear ground lay at many -points between the British outposts and the German trenches. To -cover it in daylight meant, as they had so often learned, a heavy -loss. It was ordered, therefore, that the troops should move up to -within striking distance in the darkness, and dash home with the -first glimmer of morning light. There was no confusion, no loss of -touch as 25,000 stormers took up their stations, and so little sound -that the Germans seem to have been unaware of the great gathering in -their immediate front. It was ticklish work, lying for hours within -point-blank range with no cover, but the men endured it as best they -might. With the first faint dawn the long line {146} sprang to their -feet and with a cheer dashed forward at the German trenches, while -the barrage rose and went roaring to eastward whence help might come -to the hard-pressed German defence. - -On the extreme left of the section attacked was the First Regular -Division, which took no part in the actual advance but held the flank -in the neighbourhood of Contalmaison Villa, and at one period of the -day sent forward its right-hand battalion, the 1st North Lancashires, -to aid their neighbours in the fight. - -The left of the line of actual attack was formed by the Twenty-first -Division opposite to Bazentin-le-Petit. This attack was carried out -upon a single brigade front, and the Brigade in question was the -110th from the Thirty-seventh Division. This division made no -appearance as a unit in the Battle of the Somme, but was several -times engaged in its separate brigades. On this occasion the 110th, -consisting entirely of men of Leicester, took the place of the 63rd -Brigade, much reduced by previous fighting. Their immediate -objective was the north end of Bazentin-le-Petit village and the -whole of the wood of that name. Led by the 8th and 9th Leicesters -the brigade showed, as has so often been shown before, that the -British soldier never fights better than in his first engagement. -Owing to the co-operation of the First Division and to a very -effective smoke screen upon their left, their advance was not -attended with heavy loss in the earlier stages, and they were able to -flow over the open and into the trenches opposite, capturing some 500 -prisoners. They continued to fight their way with splendid -steadiness through the wood {147} and held it for the remainder of -the day. Their greatest trouble came from a single German strong -point which was 200 yards away from the corner of the wood, and, -therefore, beyond their objective. The machine-guns in this redoubt -caused great loss whenever the edge of the wood was approached. This -strong point was destroyed next day, but meanwhile the position was -consolidated and was firmly held for the next four days, after which -the division was withdrawn for a rest. - -On the right of the Twenty-first Division lay the Seventh Division, -to which had been assigned the assault of the Bazentin-le-Petit -village. The leading brigade was the 20th, and the storming -battalions, the 8th Devons and 2nd Borders, crept up to their mark in -the darkness of a very obscure night. At 3.25 the barrage was -lifted, and so instantaneous was the attack that there was hardly an -interval between the last of the shrapnel and the first of the -stormers. The whole front line was captured in an instant, and the -splendid infantry rushed on without a pause to the second line, -springing into the trenches once more at the moment that the gunners -raised their pieces. In ten minutes both of these powerful lines had -fallen. Several dug-outs were found to be crammed with the enemy, -including the colonel of the Lehr Battalion, and with the -machine-guns which they had been unable to hoist into their places -before the wave had broken over them. When these were cleared, the -advance was carried on into Bazentin-le-Grand Wood, which was soon -occupied from end to end. A line in front of the wood was taken up -and consolidated. - -In the meanwhile the 22nd Brigade had taken {148} up the work, the -2nd Warwicks pushing forward and occupying, without any opposition -from the disorganised enemy, the Circus Trench, while the 2nd Royal -Irish advanced to the attack of the village of Bazentin-le-Petit. -Their leading company rushed the position with great dash, capturing -the colonel commanding the garrison, and about 100 of his men. By -7.30 the place was in their hands, and the leading company had pushed -into a trench on the far side of it, getting into touch with the -Leicesters on their left. - -The Germans were by no means done with, however, and they were -massing thickly to the north and north-east of the houses where some -scattered orchards shrouded their numbers and their dispositions. As -the right of the brigade seemed to be in the air, a brave sergeant of -the 2nd Warwicks set off to establish touch with the 1st -Northumberland Fusiliers, who formed the left unit of the Third -Division upon the right. As he returned he spotted a German -machine-gun in a cellar, entered it, killed the gunner, and captured -four guns. The wings of the two divisions were then able to -co-operate and to clear the ground in front of them. - -The Irishmen in the advance were still in the air, however, having -got well ahead of the line, and they were now assailed by a furious -fire from High Wood, followed by a determined infantry assault. This -enfilade fire caused heavy losses, and the few survivors of those who -garrisoned the exposed trench were withdrawn to the shelter afforded -by the outskirts of the village. There and elsewhere the Lewis guns -had proved invaluable, for every man of intelligence in the battalion -had been trained to their use, and in {149} spite of gunners being -knocked out, there was never any lack of men to take their place. -The German counter-attack pushed on, however, and entered the -village, which was desperately defended not only by the scattered -infantrymen who had been driven back to it, but also by the -consolidating party from the 54th Field Company Royal Engineers and -half the 24th Manchester Pioneer Battalion. At this period of the -action a crowd of men from various battalions had been driven down to -the south end of the village in temporary disorganisation due to the -rapidity of the advance and the sudden severity of the -counter-attack. These men were re-formed by the adjutant of the -Irish, and were led by him against the advancing Germans, whom they -drove back with the bayonet, finally establishing themselves on the -northern edge of Bazentin-le-Petit Wood, which they held until -relieved later by the 2nd Gordons of the 20th Brigade. At the same -time the village itself was cleared by the 2nd Warwicks, while the -1st Welsh Fusiliers drove the Germans out of the line between the -windmill and the cemetery. The trench held originally by the Irish -was retaken, and in it was found a British officer, who had been -badly wounded and left for a time in the hands of the enemy. He -reported that they would not dress him, and prodded at him with their -bayonets, but that an officer had stopped them from killing him. No -further attempt was made by the Germans to regain the position of -Bazentin. The losses, especially those of the Royal Irish, had been -very heavy during the latter part of the engagement. - -Much had been done, but the heavy task of the Seventh Division was -not yet at an end. At {150} 3.20 P.M. the reserve Brigade (91st) -were ordered to attack the formidable obstacle of High Wood, the -100th Brigade of the Thirty-third Division (Landon) co-operating from -the left side, while a handful of cavalry from the 7th Dragoon Guards -and 20th Deccan Horse made an exhilarating, if premature, appearance -upon the right flank, to which some allusion is made at the end of -this chapter. The front line of the 91st Brigade, consisting of the -2nd Queen's Surrey and 1st South Staffords, marched forward in the -traditional style of the British line, taking no notice of an -enfilade fire from the Switch Trench, and beating back a sortie from -the wood. At the same time the Brigadier of the 100th Brigade upon -the left pushed forward his two leading battalions, the 1st Queen's -Surrey and the 9th Highland Light Infantry, to seize and hold the -road which led from High Wood to Bazentin-le-Petit. This was done in -the late evening of July 14, while their comrades of the Seventh -Division successfully reached the south end of the wood, taking three -field-guns and 100 prisoners. The Queen's and part of the Highland -Light Infantry were firmly in possession of the connecting road, but -the right flank of the Highlanders was held up owing to the fact that -the north-west of the wood was still in the hands of the enemy and -commanded their advance. We will return to the situation which -developed in this part of the field during the succeeding days after -we have taken a fuller view of the doings upon the rest of the line -during the battle of July 14. It may be said here, however, that the -facility with which a footing was established in High Wood proved to -be as fallacious as the parallel case of Mametz Wood, and that many a -weary week was to pass, and many a {151} brave man give his heart's -blood, before it was finally to be included in the British lines. -For the present, it may be stated that the 91st Brigade could not -hold the wood because it was enfiladed by the uncaptured Switch -Trench, and that they therefore retired after dusk on the 15th. - -To return to the story of the main battle. The centre of the attack -was carried out by the Third Division, one of the most famous units -in the Army, though it now only retained three of the veteran -battalions which had held the line at Mons. The task of the Third -Division was to break the centre of the German line from Grand -Bazentin upon the left where it touched the Seventh to Longueval on -the right where it joined with the Ninth Division. The 8th Brigade -was on the right, the 9th upon the left, while the 76th was in -support. The attacking troops advanced in the darkness in fours, -with strong patrols in front, and deployed within 200 yards of the -German wire, capturing a German patrol which blundered into their -ranks. Upon the word being given at the first faint gleam of dawn, -the leading battalions trudged forward in the slow, determined -fashion which had been found to be more effective than the -spectacular charge. From the left the front line consisted of the -12th West Yorkshires, the 13th King's Liverpools, the 7th -Shropshires, and the 8th East Yorks. The wire upon the right was -found to be very partially cut, and the line of stormers was held up -under a murderous fire. There were gaps here and there, however, so -that the colonel at the head of his Shropshires was able to force a -passage at one point, while two gallant platoons of the East -Yorkshires got {152} through at another, and pushed boldly on into -the German line. The main body, however, were forced for a time to -take cover and keep up a fire upon the enemies' heads as they peered -occasionally from over the parapets. - -The left brigade had been more fortunate, finding the wire to be well -cut. The front trench was not strongly held, and was easily carried. -Both the King's Liverpools and the West Yorkshires got through, but -as they had separated in the advance the greater part of the 1st -Northumberland Fusiliers were thrust into the gap and restored the -line. These men, supported by Stokes guns, carried the village of -Grand Bazentin by 6.30 A.M. There was a deadly fire from the Grand -Bazentin Wood upon the left, but as the Seventh Division advanced -this died away, and the 12th West Yorkshires were able to get round -to the north edge of the village, but could get no farther on account -of the hold-up of the 8th Brigade upon the right. There was a -considerable delay, but at last by 1 P.M. a renewed bombardment had -cut the wires, and strong bombing parties from the supporting -battalions, the 2nd Royal Scots and 1st Scots Fusiliers, worked down -the front trench from each end. The whole brigade was then able to -advance across the German front line, which was at once consolidated. - -The losses in this attack had been heavy, the 12th West Yorkshires -alone having 15 officers, including their colonel, and 350 men out of -action. The results, however, were solid, as not only was the whole -front of the German position crushed in, but 36 officers with 650 men -were taken, together with four small howitzers, four field-guns, and -fourteen machine-guns. {153} A counter-attack was inevitable and -consolidation was pushed forward with furious energy. "Every one was -digging like madmen, all mixed up with the dead and the dying." One -counter-attack of some hundreds of brave men did charge towards them -in the afternoon, but were scattered to the winds by a concentration -of fire. The position was permanently held. - -The Ninth Division was on the immediate right of the Third, facing -Longueval, a straggling village which lay against the sinister -background of Delville Wood. The Division was, as will be -remembered, the first of the new armies, and had distinguished itself -greatly at Loos. It had been entirely a Highland Division, but it -had undergone a picturesque change by the substitution of the South -African Infantry Brigade in place of the 28th. The attack upon -Longueval was carried out by the 26th Brigade, the 8th Black Watch -and 10th Argyll and Sutherlands in the lead, with the 9th Seaforths -in support and the 5th Camerons in reserve. The advance was so fine -as to rouse the deepest admiration from an experienced French officer -who observed it. "Who would believe," he wrote, "that only a few -months ago not one of these men knew anything of the soldier's -profession? They carried themselves as superbly as the Old Guard. -Once I was near enough to see their faces as they deployed for attack -under the devastating fire rained on them.... Their teeth were set -and their eyes were fixed firmly on the goal towards which they were -advancing. They were determined to achieve their object, and nothing -but death would stop them.... Only those who were seriously hit -thought of dropping out. The others {154} pressed proudly on, -regardless of the pain they suffered, and took part in the final -charge in which the enemy were driven from the position." Such a -tribute from a soldier to soldiers is indeed a glory. - -The village and the trenches around it were taken with a splendid -rush, but the fighting among the houses was of a desperate character, -"more so," says the same observer, "than any I had seen before." The -Germans refused to give or take quarter. When the Highlanders broke -the line they cut off those who held the trench. The officer in -command offered quarter. The German commander refused. "I and my -men," he replied, "have orders to defend this ground with our lives. -German soldiers know how to obey orders. We thank you for your -offer, but we die where we stand." When the Highlanders finally took -possession of the trench, all but a mere handful of the defenders -were dead. It is episodes like this which would make us ready to -take a German by the hand if it were not that his country's hand is -red with innocent blood. - -The defence was not everywhere equally desperate. As the Highlanders -dashed past the trenches and into the scattered group of houses which -marked the village, grey figures darted round corners, or rushed out -with hands to heaven. Many prisoners were taken. Here and there -groups of brave men sold their lives dearly, especially in some ruins -at the east end of the village. The blast of fire from this place -was so hot that for a moment the advance was staggered; but a brave -piper ran to the front, and the joyous lilt of "The Campbells are -coming" sent the clansmen flooding onwards once more. Neither -bullets, bombs, nor liquid fire could stop {155} them, and the last -German was stabbed or shot amid the broken walls of his shattered -fort. - -The main part or west of Longueval was now in the hands of the -Scotsmen, but the place is peculiarly shaped, tailing away in a thin -line to the northwards, the scattered houses in that direction being -commanded by the wood, which runs right up to them on their southern -side. It was clear that no complete conquest could be made until -this wood also was in the hands of our stormers. The operation was a -difficult one, and far too large to be carried out upon that day. -The South African Brigade was therefore ordered up from Montauban, -with instructions that they should attack Delville Wood at dawn of -July 15. - -Here we may break off the narrative of the battle of July 14, though -it is difficult to do so, since these operations shade imperceptibly -into each other, and the fighting never really came to an end. The -main results, however, had become clear by that evening, and they -amounted to a very great success, unalloyed by any failure. Every -division had carried its point and added to its glories. Four -villages, three woods, 6000 yards of front, and 2000 of depth had -been added to our lines. Two thousand more prisoners had been taken, -bringing the total for the fortnight to the substantial figure of -10,000; while twelve heavy and forty-two field-guns had also been -taken during that time. Above all, the British had got their grip -firmly upon the edge of the plateau, though many a weary day of -fighting was to follow before the tenacious enemy had been driven -from it, and the whole position was in British hands. - -The reader is to understand clearly that though the operations of -July 14 crushed in the face of the {156} German line along the whole -central position, the flanks both to the right and to the left were -still inviolate. Upon the German right the whole range of powerful -fortifications which extended through Pozières to Thiepval were -untouched, while upon the German left the equally formidable line -stretching from Longueval through Waterlot Farm and Guillemont to -Falfemont Farm was also intact. It is correct, then, to say that the -German second line had been stormed and penetrated, but it had not -been captured throughout its full extent, and the greater part of the -autumn campaign was to pass before this had been accomplished. The -reduction of the German right wing will be recounted in the chapters -which deal with Gough's army, to whom the task was assigned. That of -the left wing is covered by the narrative, which gives some details -of the numerous, bloody, and protracted attacks which ended in the -capture of Guillemont. - -Meanwhile a word may be said as to the operations of the First -Division, who had been upon the left of the attack upon July 14, and -had covered that flank without attempting an advance. Upon the night -of July 15 they moved forward to attack the continuation of the -German second line system between the captured Bazentin and the -uncaptured Pozières. The attack was made by the 3rd Brigade, the 2nd -Munsters being to the left, the 1st South Wales Borderers to the -right, and the 1st Gloucesters in the centre with the 2nd Welsh in -reserve. No less than 1200 yards of No Man's Land had to be crossed, -but this was the more easy since both Pearl Wood and Contalmaison -Villa were occupied. A daring daylight reconnaissance by the colonel -of the {157} Gloucesters greatly helped the advance. The men were -marched silently in platoons along the road, and then re-formed into -line on the far side of the enemy's barrage, a manoeuvre which in the -darkness called for great steadiness and discipline, the line being -dressed on a shaded lamp in the wood. On the word the eager troops -pushed on with such speed that they crossed the German front trenches -and were into the second before their own barrage had properly -lifted. Pushing forward again, they were soon some hundreds of yards -past their objective, where they halted close to the formidable -Switch Line, having occupied all of the second line system in their -front. Their formation was now so dense, and they were so close to -the German machine-guns, that there was a possibility of disaster, -which was increased by the Welsh Borderers losing direction and -charging towards a body of men whom they dimly saw in front of them, -who proved to be the Gloucesters. Fine restraint upon both sides -prevented a catastrophe. Officers and men were now keen to push on -and to attack the Switch Line, from which flares were rising; but -prudence forbade the opening up of an entirely new objective, and the -men were drawn back to the captured German trenches. So ended a -successful and almost bloodless operation. - -It has been stated in the account of the action of July 14 that at -one stage of the battle the cavalry advanced, but it was impossible -to stop the description of a large movement to follow the fortunes of -this small tactical stroke. None the less the matter was important, -as being the first blood lost or drawn by cavalry, as cavalry, since -the early months of the War. The idea was, that by a sudden move -forward a small {158} body of horse might establish itself in advance -of the general line, and occupy a position which it could hold until -the slower infantry came forward to take it over. This was actually -done, and the movement may therefore be claimed as a successful -experiment. The two detachments from the Deccan Horse and 7th -Dragoon Guards galloped three miles from the rear, so as to be under -observation as short a time as possible, passed swiftly through the -lines of the astonished and jubilant infantry, and riding right into -the enemy's position upon our right centre, established themselves in -a strong point, and, aided by a friendly monoplane, beat off the -German attacks. The advance was at six in the evening, and it was -able to hold on until nightfall and to hand over in the early morning -to the infantry. Some 40 Germans fell to lance or sabre, and a few -were taken prisoners by the daring cavaliers, who suffered somewhat -heavily, as they might well expect to do in so novel and desperate a -venture. - - - - -{159} - -CHAPTER VII - -THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME - -July 14 to July 31 - -Gradual advance of First Division--Hard fighting of Thirty-third -Division at High Wood--The South Africans in Delville Wood--The great -German counter-attack--Splendid work of 26th Brigade--Capture of -Delville Wood by 99th Brigade--Indecisive fighting on the Guillemont -front. - - -The central fact of the situation after the battle of Bazentin was -that although the second German line had been broken, the gap made -was little more than three miles wide, and must be greatly extended -upon either flank before a general advance upon the third line could -take place. This meant that the left wing must push out in the -Pozières direction, and that the right wing must get Ginchy and -Guillemont. For the time the central British position was not an -advantageous one, as it formed a long salient bending from High Wood -through Delville Wood to Guillemont, so placed that it was open to -direct observation all along, and exposed to converging fire which -could be directed with all the more accuracy as it was upon points so -well known to the Germans, into which the guns, communications, and -reserves were now {160} crammed. Sir Douglas Haig's great -difficulties were increased by a long spell of wet and cloudy -weather, which neutralised his advantages in the air. Everything was -against the British General except the excellence of his artillery -and the spirit of his troops. The French upon the right, whose tally -of guns and prisoners were up to date higher than those of the -British, had an equally hard front to attack, including the four -strong villages of Maurepas, Le Forest, Raucourt, and Fregicourt, -with many woods and systems of trenches. Their whole work in the -battle had been worthy of their military history, and could not be -surpassed, either in the dispositions of General Foch or in the -valour of his men. Neither their infantry nor ours had ever -relinquished one square yard that they had wrenched from the tight -grip of the invader. - -In each area of the battle of July 14 some pressing task was left to -be accomplished, and the fighting was very severe at certain points -for some days later. We shall first turn to the north of the line, -where new divisions had come into action. One of these already -mentioned was the First Division. It was indeed pleasing and -reassuring to observe how many of the new divisional generals were -men whose names recalled good service as regimental officers. Many -who now wore the crossed swords upon their shoulders had been -battalion commanders in 1914. It is indeed well with an army when -neither seniority nor interest but good hard service upon the field -of battle puts officers in charge of the lives of men. - -The First Division had taken the place of the Twenty-third after the -fall of Contalmaison, and had pushed its way up until it was level -with the line of {161} their comrades on the right, whence in the -manner described at the end of the last chapter they drove their line -forward upon July 15. On the 20th they received a rebuff, however, -the 1st Northants being held up by a very formidable German trench -called Munster Alley. The ground already gained was consolidated, -however, and the division lay with its left touching the Australians -on the right of Gough's army, and its right connected with the -Thirty-third Division, whose doings at High Wood will presently be -considered. For the purpose of continuity of narrative it will be -best to continue with a short summary of the doings of the First -Division upon the left wing of the advance, their general task being -to hold that flank against German counter-attacks, and to push -forward wherever possible. It was continuous hard work which, like -so many of these operations, could gain little credit, since there -was no fixed point but only a maze of trenches in front of them. The -storming of a nameless ditch may well call for as high military -virtue as the taking of a historic village, and yet it seems a -slighter thing in the lines of a bulletin. Munster Alley and the -great Switch Line faced the First Division, two most formidable -obstacles. On July 23, in the early morning, the 2nd Brigade of the -First Division attacked the Switch Line, in conjunction with the -Australians, on the left, and the Nineteenth Division to the right. -The attack was held up, Colonel Bircham of the 2nd Rifles and many -officers and men being killed. Colonel Bircham was a particularly -gallant officer, who exposed himself fearlessly upon every occasion, -and it is on record that when remonstrated with by his adjutant for -his reckless disregard {162} of danger, he answered, "You know as -well as I do where a colonel of the 60th ought to be." Such lives -are an example and such deaths an inspiration. Altogether the 2nd -Rifles lost about 250 men in this night attack, and the other first -line battalions--the 2nd Sussex, 10th Gloucesters, and 1st Cameron -Highlanders--were all hard hit. The failure seems to have been -partly due to misdirection in the dark. - -Upon July 25 the 1st South Wales Borderers of the 3rd Brigade -attacked Munster Alley, but were again unable to get forward on -account of the machine-guns. Nothing daunted, the 2nd Welsh had -another fling at Munster Alley next day, and actually took it, but -had not weight enough to consolidate and to hold it. On the other -hand, the British line was held inviolate, and a strong German attack -upon July 25 towards Pozières was repulsed with loss. - -The Twenty-third Division relieved the First and were in turn -relieved by the Fifteenth in this sector, which faced the Switch -Trench and Martinpuich. The Switch Line was exposed to a very heavy -fire for several days, at the end of which it was attacked by this -famous division, the same in number at least as that which had left -nearly two-thirds of its rank and file upon the bloody slopes of Hill -70. On August 12 the advance was carried out with great dash: the -45th Brigade upon the left and the 46th upon the right. The attack -was only partially successful, and the 46th Brigade was held up -through the fact that the Germans had themselves been in the act of -attack, so that the trenches were very strongly held. The operations -continued, however, and the initial gains were enlarged, until {163} -upon August 20 the whole Switch Line fell and was permanently -consolidated. - -Leaving this left sector we must turn to the Thirty-third Division on -its right, two battalions of which had got forward on July 15, as far -as the line of the road connecting High Wood with Little Bazentin. -The right flank of the Highland Light Infantry had been held up by -fire from this wood, and in the evening the 91st Brigade of the -Seventh Division had evacuated the southern edge of the wood in order -to allow of bombardment. That was the position on the night of July -15. - -The line of the road was held all night, and early next morning the -advance was ordered upon the German Switch Trench in front. It was -hoped that the wood had been cleared during the night, but in the -morning the Highlanders found themselves still galled by the -continual fire upon their right. It was clear that the attack could -not go forward with such an impediment upon the flank--one more -instance of a brigade being held up by a handful of concealed men. -It was hoped that the enemy had been silenced, and the attack was -made, but no sooner had it developed than a murderous fire burst from -the wood, making it impossible for the Highlanders to get along -farther than the road. The 1st Queen's, however, being farther from -the wood were able to get on to the Switch Trench, but found it -heavily wired and stiff with men. Such a battalion does not take -"No" easily, and their colonel, with a large proportion of their -officers and men, was stretched in front of the fatal wire before it -became evident that further perseverance would mean destruction. The -16th Rifles and half the 2nd Worcesters, the remaining {164} -battalions of the 100th Brigade, were brought up, but no further -advance was possible until the wire could be cut by the guns. About -four in the afternoon of July 16 the remains of the brigade were back -in the road from which they had started. The attack had failed, -partly from the enfilade fire of High Wood, partly from the -impassable wire. - -The 98th Brigade was on the left of the 100th, filling up the gap to -Bazentin village. They had extended their right in order to help -their sorely-tried comrades, and they had themselves advanced upon -the line of the Switch Trench--the 1st Middlesex leading, with the -4th Suffolk in support. The 2nd Argyll and Sutherlands with the 4th -King's Liverpool were in reserve. They got well forward, but ceased -their advance when it was found that no progress could be made upon -the right. Thus, for the time, the division was brought to a stand. -That night the 19th Brigade relieved the 100th, which had been very -hard hit in this action. After the change the 1st Scottish Rifles -and the 20th Royal Fusiliers formed the front line of the 19th -Brigade, the Rifles in touch with the 22nd Brigade of the 7th upon -their right, while the Fusiliers were in touch with the 98th Brigade -upon their left. - -The general situation did not admit of an immediate attack, and the -Germans took advantage of the pause to strengthen and slightly to -advance their position. On July 17 the hard-worked Twenty-first -Division upon the left was drawn out, and both the Thirty-third and -Seventh had to extend their fronts. On the other hand, the First -Division came in upon the left and occupied a portion of the -Bazentin-le-Petit Wood. The position at that time was {165} roughly -that the Seventh Division covered the front from High Wood to -Bazentin Grand, the Thirty-third Division from Bazentin Grand to -Bazentin Petit, and the First was from their left to Pozières. - -Upon July 18 there was a very heavy German attack upon Delville Wood, -which is treated elsewhere. This was accompanied by a severe barrage -fire upon the Bazentins and upon Mametz Wood, which continued all -day. That night the Nineteenth Division came into line, taking over -Bazentin Petit, both village and wood. The Thirty-third Division -moved to the right and took some pressure off the Seventh, which had -done such long and arduous service. These incessant changes may seem -wearisome to the reader, but without a careful record of them the -operations would become chaos to any one who endeavoured to follow -them in detail. It is to be emphasised that though divisions -continually changed, the corps to which they temporarily belonged did -not change, or only at long intervals, so that when you are within -its area you can always rely upon it that in this particular case -Horne of the Fifteenth Corps is the actual brain which has the -immediate control of the battle. - -As the pressure upon Congreve's Thirteenth Corps on the right at -Delville Wood and elsewhere was considerable, it was now deemed -advisable to attack strongly by the Fifteenth Corps. The units for -attack were the Thirty-third Division upon the left, and the depleted -Seventh upon their right. There was to be no attack upon the left of -the Thirty-third Division, but the 56th Brigade of the Nineteenth -Division was handed over to the 33rd Division to strengthen the -force. The objectives to {166} be attacked were once again High Wood -(Bois des Foureaux), Switch Trench, and the connecting trench between -them. The Seventh Division attacked east of the wood on the line -between it and Delville Wood. - -The assault upon High Wood was assigned to the 19th Brigade. The 2nd -Worcesters of the 98th Brigade were pushed out so as to cover the -left flank of the assaulting column. At 2 A.M. of July 20 the two -advance battalions of stormers, the 5th Scottish Rifles on the right, -the 1st Scottish Rifles upon the left, were formed up in open ground -outside the British wire. Preceded by scouts, they went silently -forward through the gloom until they approached the south-western -edge of the wood. A terrific bombardment was going on, and even -those stout northern hearts might have quailed at the unknown dangers -of that darksome wood, lit from moment to moment by the red glare of -the shells. As the barrage lifted, the wave of infantry rushed -forward, the 5th Scottish Rifles making for the eastern edge, while -the 1st Regular Battalion pushed on in the endeavour to win through -and secure the northern edge. - -It was speedily found that the tenacious enemy had by no means -loosened his grip of the wood. A portion of the Switch Trench runs -through it, and this was strongly held, a line of spirting flames -amid the shadow of the shattered trees. Machine-guns and wire were -everywhere. None the less, the dour Scots stuck to their point, -though the wood was littered with their dead. Both to east and to -north they slowly pushed their way onwards to their objectives. It -was a contest of iron wills, and every yard won was paid for in -blood. By 9 o'clock the whole of the {167} southern half of the wood -had been cleared, the leading troops being helped by the 20th -Fusiliers, who followed behind them, clearing up the lurking Germans. -At that hour the northern end of the wood was still strongly held by -the enemy, while the stormers had become much disorganised through -loss of officers and through the utter confusion and disintegration -which a night attack through a wood must necessarily entail. - -The remaining battalion of the 19th Brigade, the 2nd Welsh Fusiliers, -was, at this critical moment, thrown into the fight. A heavy barrage -was falling, and considerable losses were met with before the wood -was entered; but the Fusiliers went forward with splendid steadiness -and dash, their colonel taking entire local command. In the early -afternoon, having got abreast of the exhausted Scottish Rifles, who -had been under the hottest fire for nearly twelve hours, the Welsh -attacked the north end of the wood, their advance being preceded by a -continuous fire from our Stokes mortars, that portable heavy -artillery which has served us so well. The enemy was still -unabashed, but the advance was irresistible, and by 7 P.M. the -British were for a time in possession of the whole of the -blood-sodden plantation. It was a splendid passage of arms, in which -every devilry which an obstinate and ingenious defence could command -was overcome by the inexorable British infantry. The grim -pertinacity of the Scots who stood that long night of terror, and the -dash of the Welsh who carried on the wave when it was at the ebb, -were equally fine; and solid, too, was the work of the public school -lads of the 20th Fusiliers, who gleaned behind the line. So terrific -was the shell-fire of the disappointed {168} Germans upon the north -end of the wood, that it was impossible to hold it; but the southern -part was consolidated by the 18th Middlesex Pioneer Battalion and by -the 11th Company Royal Engineers. - -Whilst the Thirty-third Division stormed High Wood, their neighbours -upon the right, the Seventh Division, depleted by heavy losses but -still full of spirit, had been given the arduous and important task -of capturing the roads running south-west from High Wood to -Longueval. The assaulting battalions, the 2nd Gordons on the left -and the 8th Devons on the right, Aberdeen and Plymouth in one battle -line, advanced and took their first objective through a heavy -barrage. Advancing farther, they attempted to dig in, but they had -got ahead of the attack upon the left, and all the machine-guns both -of Switch Trench and of High Wood were available to take them in -flank and rear. It was a deadly business--so deadly that out of the -two leading platoons of Gordons only one wounded officer and five men -ever got back. Finally, the whole line had to crawl back in small -groups to the first objective, which was being consolidated. That -evening, the Fifth Division took over the lines of the Seventh, who -were at last drawn out for a rest. The relief was marked by one -serious mishap, as Colonel Gordon, commanding a battalion of his -clansmen, was killed by a German shell. - -It has been stated that the 56th Brigade of the Nineteenth Division -had been placed under the orders of the Thirty-third Division during -these operations. Its role was to cover the left flank of the attack -and to keep the Germans busy in the Switch Line position. With this -object the {169} 56th Brigade, with the 57th Brigade upon its left, -advanced its front line upon the night of July 22, a movement in -which the 7th South Lancashires upon the right of the 56th Brigade -were in close touch with the 2nd Worcesters upon the left of the -100th Brigade. Going forward in the darkness with German trenches in -front of them and a raking fire from High Wood beating upon their -flank the Lancashire men lost heavily and were unable to gain a -footing in the enemy's position. This brigade had already suffered -heavily from shell-fire in its advance to the front trenches. Two -deaths which occurred during this short episode may be cited as -examples of the stuff which went to the building up of Britain's new -armies. Under the shell-fire fell brave old Lieutenant Webber, a -subaltern in the field, a Master of Foxhounds at home, father of -another dead subaltern, and 64 years old. In the night operation, -gallantly leading his company, and showing his comrades in the dark -how to keep direction by astronomy, fell Captain Gerard Garvin, -student, poet, essayist, and soldier, just 20 years of age. A book -might be written which would be a national inspiration dealing with -the lives of those glorious youths who united all that is beautiful -in the mind with all that is virile in the body, giving it -unreservedly in their country's cause. They are lives which are more -reminiscent of Sydney, Spencer, and the finer of the Elizabethans -than anything we could have hoped to evolve in these later days. -Raymond Asquith, Rupert Brooke, Charles Lister, Gerard Garvin, Julian -Grenfell, Donald Hankey, Francis Ledwidge, Neil Primrose, these are -some at least of this finest flower of British culture and valour, -men who sacrificed to the need of the {170} present their inheritance -as the natural leaders of the future. - -Though the Nineteenth Division was able to make no progress upon the -night of July 22, upon the next night one of their brigades, the -58th, reinforced by two other battalions, made a strong movement -forward, capturing the strong point upon the edge of the wood which -had wrought the mischief the night before, and also through the fine -work of the 10th Warwicks and 7th King's Own carrying the whole -British line permanently forward upon the right, though they could -make no headway upon the left. Some conception of the services of -the Nineteenth Division may be gathered from the fact that during the -month of July it had lost 6500 casualties. - -The Thirty-third Division was given a well-deserved rest after their -fine exploit in High Wood. During seven days' fighting it had lost -heavily in officers and men. Of individual battalions the heaviest -sufferers had been the two Scottish Rifle battalions, the 20th Royal -Fusiliers, the 1st Queen's Surrey, 9th Highland Light Infantry, and -very specially the 16th King's Royal Rifles. - -Whilst this very severe fighting had been going on upon the left -centre of the British advance, an even more arduous struggle had -engaged our troops upon the right, where the Germans had a -considerable advantage, since the whole of Delville Wood and -Longueval formed the apex of a salient which jutted out into their -position, and was open to a converging artillery fire from several -directions. This terrible fight, which reduced the Ninth Scottish -Division to about the strength of a brigade, and which caused heavy -losses also to the Third Division, who struck {171} in from the left -flank in order to help their comrades, was carried on from the time -when the Highland Brigade captured the greater part of the village of -Longueval, as already described in the general attack upon July 14. - -On the morning after the village was taken, the South African Brigade -had been ordered to attack Delville Wood. This fine brigade, under a -South African veteran, was composed of four battalions, the first -representing the Cape Colony, the second Natal and the Orange River, -the third the Transvaal, and the fourth the South African Scotsmen. -If South Africa could only give battalions where others gave brigades -or divisions, it is to be remembered that she had campaigns upon her -own frontiers in which her manhood was deeply engaged. The European -contingent was mostly British, but it contained an appreciable -proportion of Boers, who fought with all the stubborn gallantry which -we have good reason to associate with the name. Apart from the -infantry, it should be mentioned that South Africa had sent six heavy -batteries, a fine hospital, and many labour detachments and special -services, including a signalling company which had the reputation of -being the very best in the army, every man having been a civilian -expert. - -The South Africans advanced at dawn, and their broad line of -skirmishers pushed its way rapidly through the wood, sweeping all -opposition before it. By noon they occupied the whole tract with the -exception of the north-west corner. This was the corner which -abutted upon the houses north of Longueval, and the murderous -machine-guns in these buildings held the Africans off. By night, the -{172} whole perimeter of the wood had been occupied, and the brigade -was stretched round the edges of the trees and undergrowth. Already -they were suffering heavily, not only from the Longueval guns upon -their left, but from the heavy German artillery which had their range -to a nicety and against which there was no defence. With patient -valour they held their line, and endured the long horror of the -shell-fall during the night. - -Whilst the South Africans were occupying Delville Wood, the 27th -Brigade had a task which was as arduous, and met in as heroic a mood, -as that of their comrades on the day before. Their attack was upon -the orchards and houses to the north and east of Longueval, which had -been organised into formidable strong points and garrisoned by -desperate men. These strong points were especially dangerous on -account of the support which they could give to a counter-attack, and -it was thus that they did us great mischief. The Scottish Borderers, -Scots Fusiliers, and Royal Scots worked slowly forward during the -day, at considerable cost to themselves. Every house was a fortress -mutually supporting every other one, and each had to be taken by -assault. "I saw one party of half-a-dozen Royal Scots rush headlong -into a house with a yell, though there were Germans at every window. -Three minutes later one of the six came out again, but no more shots -ever came from that house." Such episodes, with ever-varying -results, made up that long day of desperate fighting, which was -rendered more difficult by the heavy German bombardment. The enemy -appeared to be resigned to the loss of the Bazentins, but all their -energy and guns were concentrated upon the reconquest {173} of -Longueval and Delville Wood. Through the whole of the 16th the -shelling was terribly severe, the missiles pitching from three -separate directions into the projecting salient. Furious assaults -and heavy shell-falls alternated for several days, while clouds of -bombers faced each other in a deadly and never-ending pelting match. -It was observed as typical of the methods of each nation that while -the Germans all threw together with mechanical and effective -precision, the British opened out and fought as each man judged best. -This fighting in the wood was very desperate and swayed back and -forwards. "It was desperate hand-to-hand work. The enemy had no -thought of giving in. Each man took advantage of the protection -offered by the trees, and fought until he was knocked out. The wood -seemed swarming with demons, who fought us tooth and nail." The -British and Africans were driven deeper into the wood. Then again -they would win their way forwards until they could see the open -country through the broken trunks of the lacerated trees. Then the -fulness of their tide would be reached, no fresh wave would come to -carry them forwards, and slowly the ebb drew them back once more into -the village and the forest. In this mixed fighting the Transvaal -battalion took 3 officers and 130 men prisoners, but their losses, -and those of the other African units, were very heavy. The senior -officer in the firing line behaved with great gallantry, rallying his -ever-dwindling forces again and again. A joint attack on the evening -of July 16 by the Cape men, the South African Scots, and the 11th -Royal Scots upon the north-west of the wood and the north of the -village was held up by wire and machine-guns, but the German {174} -counter-attacks had no better fate. During the whole of the 17th the -situation remained unchanged, but the strain upon the men was very -severe, and they were faced by fresh divisions coming up from -Bapaume. The Brigadier himself made his way into the wood, and -reported to the Divisional Commander the extremely critical state of -affairs. - -On the morning of July 18 the Third Division were able to give some -very valuable help to the hard-pressed Ninth. At the break of day -the 1st Gordons, supported by the 8th King's Liverpools, both from -the 76th Brigade, made a sudden and furious attack upon those German -strong points to the north of the village which were an ever-present -source of loss and of danger. "Now and again," says a remarkable -anonymous account of the incident, "during a lull in the roar of -battle, you could hear a strong Northern voice call out: 'On, -Gor-r-r-dons, on!' thrilling out the r's as only Scotsmen can. The -men seldom answered save by increasing their speed towards the goal. -Occasionally some of them called out the battle-cry heard so often -from the throats of the Gordons: 'Scotland for ever!' ... They were -out of sight over the parapet for a long time, but we could hear at -intervals that cry of 'On, Gor-r-r-dons, on!' varied with yells of -'Scotland for ever!' and the strains of the pipes. Then we saw -Highlanders reappear over the parapet. With them were groups of -German prisoners." - -The assault won a great deal of ground down the north-west edge of -Delville Wood and in the north of the village; but there were heavy -losses, and two of the strong points were still intact. All day the -bombardment was continuous and deadly, until {175} 4.30 in the -afternoon, when a great German infantry attack came sweeping from the -east, driving down through the wood and pushing before it with an -irresistible momentum the scattered bodies of Scottish and African -infantry, worn out by losses and fatigue. For a time it submerged -both wood and village, and the foremost grey waves emerged even to -the west of the village, where they were beaten down by the Lewis -guns of the defenders. The southern edge of the wood was still held -by the British, however, and here the gallant 26th Brigade threw -itself desperately upon the victorious enemy, and stormed forward -with all the impetuosity of their original attack. The Germans were -first checked and then thrown back, and the south end of the wood -remained in British hands. A finer or more successful local -counter-attack has seldom been delivered, and it was by a brigade -which had already endured losses which made it more fit for a -rest-camp than for a battle line. After this second exploit the four -splendid battalions were but remnants, the Black Watch having lost -very heavily, while the Argylls, the Seaforths, and the Camerons were -in no better case. Truly it can never be said that the grand records -of the historic regular regiments have had anything but renewed -lustre from the deeds of those civilian soldiers who, for a time, -were privileged to bear their names. - -Whilst this severe battle had been in progress, the losses of the -South Africans in Delville Wood had been terrible, and they had -fought with the energy of desperate men for every yard of ground. -Stands were made in the successive rides of the wood by the colonel -and his men. During the whole of the 19th these fine soldiers held -on against heavy pressure. {176} The colonel was the only officer of -his regiment to return. Even the Newfoundlanders had hardly a more -bloody baptism of fire than the South Africans, or emerged from it -with more glory. - -The situation now was that the south of the wood was held by the -British, but the north, including the greater part of the village, -was still held by the Germans. The worn-out Ninth Division, still -full of spirit, but lacking sadly in numbers, was brought out of line -upon July 19, and the Eighteenth English Division, fresh from its own -great ordeal in Trones Wood, came forward to take its place. At -seven in the morning of the 19th the 53rd Brigade attacked from the -south, the situation being so pressing that there was no time for -artillery preparation. The infantry went forward without it, and no -higher ordeal could be demanded of them. It was evident that there -was great danger of the strong German column breaking through to -westward and so outflanking the whole British line. Only a British -attack from north and from south could prevent its progress, so that -the Third Division were called upon for the one, and the Eighteenth -for the other. This wood of infamous memory is cut in two by one -broad ride, named Princes Street, dividing it into two halves, north -and south (_vide_ p. 181). The southern half was now attacked by the -8th Norfolks, who worked their way steadily forward in a long fringe -of bombers and riflemen. The Brigade-Major, Markes, and many -officers and men fell in the advance. After a pause, with the help -of their Lewis guns, the Norfolks pushed forward again, and by 2 -o'clock had made their way up to Princes Street along most of the -line, pushing the enemy down into the south-eastern corner. The -{177} remaining battalions of the brigade, the 10th Essex on the -right and the 6th Berkshires on the left, tried to fight their way -through the northern portion, while the 8th Suffolk attacked the -village. Half of the village up to the cross-roads in the centre was -taken by the Suffolk, but their comrades on the right were held up by -the heavy machine-gun fire, and at 5 P.M. were compelled to dig -themselves in. They maintained their new positions, under a terrific -shell-fire, for three weary and tragic days, at the end of which they -were relieved by the 4th Royal Fusiliers, a veteran battalion which -had fired some of the first shots of the War. - -These Fusiliers belonged to the Third Division which had, as already -said, been attacking from the north side of the wood, while the -Eighteenth were on the south side. On July 19 this attack had been -developed by the 2nd Suffolk and the 10th Welsh Fusiliers, the two -remaining battalions of the 76th Brigade. The advance was made at -early dawn, and the Welsh Fusiliers were at once attacked by German -infantry, whom they repulsed. The attack was unfortunate from the -start, and half of the Suffolks who penetrated the village were never -able to extricate themselves again. The Welsh Fusiliers carried on, -but its wing was now in the air, and the machine-guns were very -deadly. The advance was held up and had to be withdrawn. In this -affair fell one of the most promising of the younger officers of the -British army, a man who would have attained the very highest had he -lived, Brigade-Major Congreve, of the 76th Brigade, whose father -commanded the adjacent Thirteenth Corps. His death arose from one of -his many acts of rash and yet purposeful {178} valour, for he pushed -forward alone to find out what had become of the missing Suffolks, -and so met his end from some lurking sniper. - -On July 20 matters had come to a temporary equilibrium in Delville -Wood, where amid the litter of corpses which were strewn from end to -end of that dreadful grove, lines of British and German infantry held -each other in check, neither able to advance, because to do so was to -come under the murderous fire of the other. The Third Division, worn -as it was, was still hard at work, for to the south-west of Longueval -a long line of hostile trenches connected up with Guillemont, the -fortified farm of Waterlot in the middle of them. It was to these -lines that these battle-weary men were now turned. An attack was -pending upon Guillemont by the Thirtieth Division, and the object of -the Third Division was to cut the trench line to the east of the -village, and so help the attack. The advance was carried out with -great spirit upon July 22 by the 2nd Royal Scots, and though they -were unable to attain their full objective, they seized and -consolidated a post midway between Waterlot Farm and the railway, -driving back a German battalion which endeavoured to thrust them out. -On July 23 Guillemont was attacked by the 21st Brigade of the -Thirtieth Division. The right of the attack consisting of the 19th -Manchesters got into the village, but few got out again; and the left -made no progress, the 2nd Yorkshires losing direction to the east and -sweeping in upon the ground already held by the 2nd Royal Scots and -other battalions of the 8th Brigade. The resistance shown by -Guillemont proved that the siege of that village would be a serious -operation and that it was not to be carried {179} by the -_coup-de-main_ of a tired division, however valiantly urged. The -successive attempts to occupy it, culminating in complete success, -will be recorded at a later stage. - -On the same date, July 23, another attempt was made by mixed -battalions of the Third Division upon Longueval. This was carried -out with the co-operation of the 95th Brigade, Fifth Division, upon -the left. The attack on the village itself from the south was held -up, and the battalions engaged, including the 1st Northumberland -Fusiliers, 12th West Yorkshires, and 13th King's Liverpools, all -endured considerable losses. Two battalions of the Thirty-fifth -Division (Bantams), the 17th Royal Scots and 17th West Yorks, took -part in this attack. There had been some movement all along the line -during that day from High Wood in the north-east to Guillemont in the -south-west; but nowhere was there any substantial progress. It was -clear that the enemy was holding hard to his present line, and that -very careful observation and renewed bombardment would be required -before the infantry could be expected to move him. Thus, the advance -of July 14, brilliant as it had been, had given less durable results -than had been hoped, for no further ground had been gained in a -week's fighting, while Longueval, which had been ours, had for a time -passed back to the enemy. No one, however, who had studied General -Haig's methods during the 1914 fighting at Ypres could, for a moment, -believe that he would be balked of his aims, and the sequel was to -show that he had lost none of the audacious tenacity which he had -shown on those fateful days, nor had his well-tried instrument of war -lost its power of fighting its way through a difficult {180} -position. The struggle at Longueval had been a desperate one, and -the German return upon July 18 was undoubtedly the most severe -reaction encountered by us during the whole of the Somme fighting; -and yet after the fluctuations which have been described it finished -with the position entirely in the hands of the British. On the days -which followed the attack of July 23 the Thirteenth Brigade of the -Fifth Division pushed its way gradually through the north end of the -village, the 1st Norfolks bearing the brunt of the fighting. They -were relieved on the 27th by the 95th Brigade, who took the final -posts on the north and east of the houses, the 1st East Surreys -holding the northern front. The 12th Gloucesters particularly -distinguished themselves on this occasion, holding on to three -outlying captured posts under a very heavy fire. The three isolated -platoons maintained themselves with great constancy, and were all -retrieved, though two out of three officers and the greater part of -the men were casualties. This battalion lost 320 men in these -operations, which were made more costly and difficult by the fact -that Longueval was so exaggerated a salient that it might more -properly be called a corner, the Germans directing their very -accurate fire from the intact tower of Ginchy Church. - -------------------------------------------------------------------- - -{181} - -[Illustration: DELVILLE WOOD MAP] - -------------------------------------------------------------------- - -The Second Division had now been brought down to the Somme -battle-front, and upon July 26 they took over from the Third Division -in the area of Delville Wood. So complicated was the position at the -point occupied, that one officer has described his company as being -under fire from the north, south, east, and west, the latter being -presumably due to the fact that the distant fire of the {182} British -heavies fell occasionally among the front line infantry. At seven in -the morning of July 27 the 99th Brigade, now attached to the Second -Division, was ordered to improve our position in the wood, and made a -determined advance with the 1st Rifles upon the right, and the 23rd -Fusiliers upon the left, the 1st Berkshires and 22nd Royal Fusiliers -being in support. Moving forward behind a strong barrage, the two -battalions were able with moderate loss to force their way up to the -line of Princes Street, and to make good this advanced position. A -trench full of dead or wounded Germans with two splintered -machine-guns showed that the artillery had found its mark, and many -more were shot down as they retired to their further trenches. The -1st Berkshires held a defensive flank upon the right, but German -bombers swarmed in between them and the Rifles, developing a -dangerous counter-attack, which was finally beaten off after a sharp -fight, in which Captain Howell of the latter battalion was mortally -wounded after organising a splendid defence, in which he was greatly -helped by a sergeant. At 11 o'clock the left flank of the advance -was also very heavily attacked at short range, and the two companies -of the Rifles on that side were in sore straits until reinforced by -bombers from the 23rd Fusiliers, and also by the whole of the 22nd -Fusiliers. The German barrage fell thickly behind the British -advance, and it was a difficult and costly matter to send forward the -necessary supports, but before evening part of the 17th Fusiliers and -of the 17th Middlesex from the 5th Brigade had pushed forward and -relieved the exhausted front line. It was a most notable advance and -a heroic subsequent defence, with some of the {183} stiffest fighting -that even Delville Wood had ever witnessed. The East Anglian Field -Company Royal Engineers consolidated the line taken. The 1st Rifles, -upon whom the greater part of the pressure had fallen, lost 14 -officers, including their excellent adjutant, Captain Brocklehurst, -and more than 300 men. The immediate conduct of the local operations -depended upon the colonel of this battalion. The great result of the -fight was that Delville Wood was now in British hands, from which it -never again reverted. It is a name which will ever remain as a -symbol of tragic glory in the records of the Ninth, the Third, the -Eighteenth, and finally of the Second Divisions. Nowhere in all this -desperate war did the British bulldog and the German wolf-hound meet -in a more prolonged and fearful grapple. It should not be forgotten -in our military annals that though the 99th Brigade actually captured -the wood, their work would have been impossible had it not been for -the fine advance of the 95th Brigade of the Fifth Division already -recorded upon their Longueval flank. - - -We shall now turn our attention to what had been going on in the -extreme right-hand part of the line, where in conjunction with the -French three of our divisions, the 55th Lancashire Territorials, the -35th Bantams, and the hard-worked 30th, had been attacking with no -great success the strong German line which lay in front of us after -the capture of Trones Wood. The centre of this defence was the -village of Guillemont, which, as already mentioned, had been -unsuccessfully attacked by the 21st Brigade upon July 23. About this -date the Thirty-sixth Bantam Division had a repulse at the Malzhorn -Farm {184} to the south of Guillemont, both the 104th and 105th -Brigades being hard hit, and many of the brave little men being left -in front of the German machine-guns. A week later a much more -elaborate attack was made upon it by the rest of the Thirtieth -Division, strengthened by one brigade (the 106th) of the Thirty-fifth -Division. This attack was carried out in co-operation with an -advance of the Second Division upon Guillemont Station to the left of -the village, and an advance of the French upon the right at Falfemont -and Malzhorn. - -The frontal advance upon Guillemont from the Trones Wood direction -appears to have been about as difficult an operation as could be -conceived in modern warfare. Everything helped the defence and -nothing the attack. The approach was a glacis 700 yards in width, -which was absolutely commanded by the guns in the village, and also -by those placed obliquely to north and south. There was no cover of -any kind. Prudence would no doubt have suggested that we should make -good in the north at Longueval and thus outflank the whole German -line of defence. It was essential, however, to fit our plans in with -those of the French, and it was understood that those were such as to -demand a very special, and if needs be, a self-immolating effort upon -the right of the line. - -The attack had been arranged for the morning of July 30, and it was -carried out in spite of the fact that during the first few hours the -fog was so dense that it was hard to see more than a few yards. This -made the keeping of direction across so broad a space as 700 yards -very difficult; while on the right, where the advance was for more -than a mile and had to be co-ordinated with the troops of our Allies, -it was so {185} complex a matter that there was considerable danger -at one time that the fight in this quarter would resolve itself into -a duel between the right of the British Thirtieth and the left of the -French Thirty-ninth Division. - -The 89th Brigade advanced upon the right and the 90th upon the left, -the latter being directed straight for the village. The two leading -battalions, the 2nd Scots Fusiliers and the 18th Manchesters, reached -it and established themselves firmly in its western suburbs; but the -German barrage fell so thickly behind them that neither help nor -munitions could reach them. Lieutenant Murray, who was sent back to -report their critical situation, found Germans wandering about behind -the line, and was compelled to shoot several in making his way -through. He carried the news that the attack of the Second Division -upon the station had apparently failed, that the machine-gun fire -from the north was deadly, and that both battalions were in peril. -The Scots had captured 50 and the Manchesters 100 prisoners, but they -were penned in and unable to get on. Two companies of the 17th -Manchesters made their way with heavy loss through the fatal barrage, -but failed to alleviate the situation. It would appear that in the -fog the Scots were entirely surrounded, and that they fought, as is -their wont, while a cartridge lasted. Their last message was, that -their ranks and munition supply were both thin, their front line -broken, the shelling hard, and the situation critical. None of these -men ever returned, and the only survivors of this battalion of -splendid memories were the wounded in No Man's Land and the -Headquarter Staff. It was the second time that the 2nd Royal Scots -Fusiliers {186} had fought to the last man in this war. Of the 18th -Manchesters few returned, and two companies of the 16th Manchesters -were not more fortunate. They got into the village on the extreme -north, and found themselves in touch with the 17th Royal Fusiliers of -the Second Division; but neither battalion could make good its -position. It was one of the tragic episodes of the great Somme -battle. - -The 89th Brigade upon their right had troubles of their own, but they -were less formidable than those of their comrades. As already -described, they had the greatest difficulty in finding their true -position amid the fog. Their action began successfully by a company -of the 2nd Bedfords, together with a French company, rushing an -isolated German trench and killing 70 men who occupied it. This was -a small detached operation, for the front line of the advancing -brigade was formed by the 19th Manchesters on the left, and by the -20th on the right, the latter in touch with the French 153rd of the -line. The 19th reached the south-eastern corner of Guillemont, -failed to get in touch with the Scots Fusiliers, and found both its -flanks in the air. It had eventually to fall back, having lost Major -Rolls, its commander, and many officers and men. The 20th -Manchesters advanced upon the German Malzhorn Trenches and carried -the front one, killing many of the occupants. In going forward from -this point they lost 200 of their number while passing down a -bullet-swept slope. Three out of four company commanders had fallen. -Beyond the slope was a sunken road, and at this point a young -lieutenant, Musker, found himself in command with mixed men from -three battalions under his orders. Twelve runners sent back with -messages were all shot, {187} which will give some idea of the -severity of the barrage. Musker showed good powers of leadership, -and consolidated his position in the road, but was unfortunately -killed, the command then devolving upon a sub-lieutenant. The -Bedfords came up to reinforce, and some permanent advance was -established in this quarter--all that was gained by this very -sanguinary engagement, which cost about 3000 men. The Bantams lost -heavily also in this action though they only played the humble role -of carriers to the storming brigades. - -The whole of the fighting chronicled in this chapter may be taken as -an aftermath of the action of July 14, and as an endeavour upon our -part to enlarge our gains and upon the part of the Germans to push us -out from what we had won. The encroachment upon High Wood upon the -left, the desperate defence and final clearing of Delville Wood in -the centre, and the attempt to drive the Germans from Guillemont upon -the right--an attempt which was brought later to a successful -conclusion--are all part of one system of operations designed for the -one end. - -It should be remarked that during all this fighting upon the Somme -continual demonstrations, amounting in some cases to small battles, -occurred along the northern line to keep the Germans employed. The -most serious of these occurred in the Eleventh Corps district near -Fromelles, opposite the Aubers Ridge. Here the Second Australians -upon the left, and the Sixty-first British Division upon the right, a -unit of second-line Territorial battalions, largely from the West -country, made a most gallant attack and carried the German line for a -time, but were compelled, upon July 20, the day following the attack, -{188} to fall back once more, as the gun positions upon the Aubers -Ridge commanded the newly-taken trenches. It was particularly hard -upon the Australians, whose grip upon the German position was firm, -while the two brigades of the Sixty-first, though they behaved with -great gallantry, had been less successful in the assault. - - - - -{189} - -CHAPTER VIII - -THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME - - The Operations of Gough's Army upon the Northern - Flank up to September 15 - -Advance, Australia!--Capture of Pozières--Fine work of Forty-eighth -Division--Relief of Australia by Canada--Steady advance of Gough's -Army--Capture of Courcelette. - - -All the fighting which has been described was carried out by -Rawlinson's Fourth Army, consisting of the Third, the Fifteenth, and -the Thirteenth Corps. A new element was now, however, introduced -upon the left flank. It will be remembered that Sir Hubert Gough had -been given a Fifth or reserve army, consisting of the Eighth and -Tenth Corps, with which to hold the flank. Of these, the Tenth, -including the Forty-ninth, Forty-eighth, and First Australian -Divisions, was now pushed forward into the fighting, with the -intention of attacking Pozières and widening the British front. - -This was the first serious appearance of the Australians upon a -European battle-field, and it may be said at once that the high -reputation which they had gained as dogged and dashing fighters in -the Gallipoli campaign was fully endorsed in France. {190} From -General Birdwood, their admirable leader, down through every unit of -their divisions, there ran an indomitable spirit, united to an -individuality and readiness of resource which made them soldiers of -the highest type. Their physique, too, was extraordinarily fine, and -even the stay-at-home Londoner who had seen the lithe figures and the -eager, clean-cut, aquiline faces under the broad-rimmed hats, -bringing a touch of romance into our drab streets, would need no -assurance that the men were splendid. A nation of sportsmen had -changed themselves very easily into a nation of soldiers. Of all the -strange turns of fate in this extraordinary war, surely there are few -more quaint than that the black-fellow call of "Cooee!" should many a -time have resounded at the crisis of a European battle. - -As the First Australian Division lay upon July 22, it had the -straggling and strongly entrenched village of Pozières in front of -it. Upon the right they were in touch with the First Division -filling the gap between Pozières and Bazentin, as described at the -beginning of Chapter VII. On their left was the Forty-eighth -Division of South Midland Territorials. The village had been reduced -to a mere rubbish-heap by the guns, but was none the less dangerous -on that account. - -On the early morning of July 23, before it was light, the Australians -made their first eruption into the Somme fighting. "The difficulty," -as their chronicler truly declares, "was not to get the men forward, -but to hold them." With an eager rush the men of New South Wales -overwhelmed the front trench across the face of the village. It was -dotted with German bodies, killed by the artillery. The {191} second -trench in the village itself was found to be obliterated in places. -It was occupied as far as possible after a sharp hand-to-hand fight, -and daylight found the Australians, chiefly Victorians, in full -possession of the southern and western end of the village. There was -no counter-attack during July 23, and the day was spent in -consolidating and in rounding-up prisoners from the dug-outs. For -three days there was very heavy German shelling, but the division had -served too long an apprenticeship to be shaken by such means. They -lay low and held on tightly. - -On Tuesday, July 25, came the first German attack, but it was broken -up so completely by the British barrage that the Australians had only -distant glimpses of the enemy infantry crawling from under the sleet -which beat upon them. The merciless pounding of the bombardment -continued, and then again in the late afternoon came another infantry -attack, which was again scattered by the dominant all-observing guns. -Up to now 150 prisoners, including two German colonels, had fallen -into our hands. - -Whilst the Australians had been attacking Pozières from the south, -the Forty-eighth Division had made a similar advance from the -south-west, and had made good the ground upon the left side of the -Albert-Bapaume Road, including the western outskirts of the village -and part of the Leipzig salient. In our admiration for our kinsmen -from across the seas we must not forget, nor will they, that these -lads from the very heart of rural England went step by step with them -up Pozières Hill, and shared the victory which awaited them upon it. - -The 143rd Brigade, consisting entirely of Warwick {192} battalions -(5, 6, 7, and 8), the 144th of Glosters (4 and 6) and Worcesters (7 -and 8), and the 145th from Gloucester (5), Buckingham, Oxford and -Buckingham (4), and Berkshire (4), took it in turns to surge up -against the formidable German line, showing the greatest valour and -perseverance, overcoming difficulty after difficulty, and always -getting slowly forward from the first movement upon July 22, until -upon July 26 they had overcome every obstacle and joined hands with -the Australians at the cemetery which marks the north end of the -village of Pozières. Many prisoners and a fine extension of the line -were the fruits of their exertions. The 5th Royal Sussex Pioneer -Battalion, amidst considerable difficulties and heavy shell-fire, -consolidated all that had been won. The 4th Gloucesters and 7th -Worcesters particularly distinguished themselves at this time by -their persistent day-by-day work against the German trench line. - -On the morning of July 26 the Australian advance was resumed. There -were two obstacles immediately in front--the one a strong redoubt, -the other a line of trench. The redoubt was most gallantly attacked -by the men of Queensland and of South Australia, and was overwhelmed -by their bombs. The Victorians, meanwhile, had won their way into -the trench, but as it communicated by many runways with the main -German system behind, an endless flow of reinforcements were able to -come into it, and the length of the trench enabled the Germans to -attack upon both flanks. It was a most bloody and desperate conflict -which swung and swayed down the long ditches, and sometimes over the -edges of them into the bullet-swept levels between. Men threw {193} -and threw until they were so arm-weary that not another bomb could be -lifted. If ever there were born natural bombers it must surely be -among the countrymen of Spofforth and Trumble--and so it proved at -that terrible international by Pozières village. A British aeroplane -swooped down out of the misty morning, and gave signals of help and -advice from above, so as to dam that ever-moving stream of -reinforcement. - -The trenches in dispute were of no vital importance themselves, but -they were the outposts of the great German second line which -stretched behind its broad apron of barbed wire within a few hundred -yards to the north-east of the village. The ground sloped upwards, -and the Germans were on the crest. This was the next objective of -the Australians, and was attacked by their Second Division on July -29. On the flank of the hill to the left the Victorians won a -lodgment, but the main position was still impregnable--and almost -unapproachable. Sullenly and slowly the infantry fell back to their -own trenches, leaving many of their best and bravest before or among -the fatal wires. - -The position had been improved upon the left, however, by an advance -of the Forty-eighth Division. The Warwick Brigade upon their right -made no great progress, but the 145th Brigade upon the left took the -trench in front of it and pushed that flank well forward. This -successful attack was at seven in the evening of July 27. The -leading battalions were the 4th Berks upon the right and the 6th -Gloucesters on the left, and these two sturdy battalions captured all -their objectives. A number of the 5th Regiment of the Prussian Guard -were killed or captured in this {194} affair. As the whole line had -to turn half left after leaving the taking-off trench, it was a fine -piece of disciplined fighting. General Gough was a personal witness -of this attack. - -On August 4, six days later, the Australians came back to the attack -with all the dour pertinacity of their breed. This time their -success was triumphant. A steady bombardment had laid the German -front open, and in the dark of the night the Australian infantry, -advancing over their own dead, rushed the position, surprising the -Germans at a moment when a relief was being carried out. Many of the -Germans who had been expecting a rest from their labours got one -indeed--but it was in England rather than in their own rear. With -the early morning the Australians were on the Pozières Ridge, and one -of the few remaining observation posts of the enemy had passed from -him for ever. In front of them was the land of promise--the long -slope seamed by German trenches, the distant German camps, the -churches and villages of that captive France which they had come so -far to redeem. - -Once again the left flank of the Australians was in close -co-operation with a British Division. The Forty-eighth had been -withdrawn and replaced by the Twelfth, a division which was rapidly -acquiring a very solid reputation in the army. The men of the 7th -Sussex upon the right and those of Surrey and of Kent upon the left -were in the front of the battle-line, which rolled slowly up the -slope of Pozières, continually driving the German resistance before -it. The ground gained early in August was some 2000 yards of -frontage with a depth of 400 yards, and though the whole ridge, and -the Windmill {195} which marks it, had not yet been cleared, the fact -that the British had a good foothold upon it was of the utmost -strategical importance, apart from the continual stream of prisoners -who fell into their hands. The Sussex battalion linked up with the -Australians, and nothing could have been closer than the co-operation -between the two, so much so that it is on record that with a glorious -recklessness a bunch of Australians pushed forward without orders in -order to keep the Sussex men company in one of their attacks. The -South Saxons have again and again shown that there is no more solid -military material in England. It is said that a rampant pig with "We -won't be druv!" as a motto was an old emblem of that ancient county. -Her sons assuredly lived up to the legend during the War. - -On the morning of the 6th and of the 7th two counter-attacks stormed -up to the new British line. The first was small and easily repelled, -a sporadic effort by some gallant hot-headed officer, who died in the -venture, clicking his Mauser to the last. The second was serious, -for three battalions came very gallantly forwards, and a sudden rush -of 1500 Germans, some of whom carried _flammenwerfer_, burst into the -trenches at two separate points, making prisoners of some 50 -Australians who were cut off from their comrades. The attack was -bravely delivered in broad daylight, the enemy coming on in good line -in the face of severe fire; but the Australians, with their usual -individuality, rallied, and not only repulsed the enemy, but captured -many of them, besides recapturing the prisoners whom they had taken. -This was the supreme German attempt to recapture the position, but -they were by no means able to {196} reconcile themselves to the loss -of it, and came on again and again in smaller assaults spread over -several days, which had no result save to increase their already very -heavy losses in this region. - -This _flammenwerfer_ attack had broken also upon the outposts of the -36th Brigade to the left, eight of these infernal machines coming -forward with a throng of bombers behind them. The captain of the 9th -Royal Fusiliers, instead of awaiting the attack in a crowded trench, -rushed his men forward in the open, where they shot down the -flame-bearers before they could bring their devilish squirts to bear. -The bombers, who had followed the advance, led the flight. On this -day 127 Germans who had been caught in a pocket between the British -trenches were forced to surrender, after a very creditable resistance. - -On August 12 the Twelfth Division attacked once more upon a broad -front, the 35th Brigade upon the right, the 37th upon the left. The -result of the attack was a satisfactory accession of ground, for -although the Surreys and West Kents were held up, the Norfolks and -Essex attained their objective and held it. Some 40 prisoners and a -useful line of trench were the results. That night the 48th South -Midlanders replaced the Twelfth Division once more, resuming their -old station upon the left of the Australians, whose various divisions -rang changes upon each other, men from every corner of the great -island continent, from the burning plains of the Northern Territories -to the wind-swept hills of Tasmania, relieving each other in the -ever-advancing line of trenches and strong points which slowly ate -into the German front. One day it was the West Australians who blew -back an attack with their rifle {197} fire. On the next it was the -Melbourne men who had rushed another position. On the summit of the -Ridge was the stump of an old windmill, which lay now between the two -lines, and it was towards this and along the slope of the crest that -the advance was gradually creeping. It is worth noting that in this -part of the line some sort of amenity was introduced concerning the -wounded, and that neither party sniped the other so long as a Red -Cross flag was shown. It is grievous to think that such a condition -needs to be recorded. - -August 10 and 11 witnessed two night attacks by the 4th and 6th -Gloucesters respectively, neither of which made much progress. The -Territorials of the Forty-eighth Division still kept step, however, -with the Australians in all that desperate advance up the long slope -of Pozières Hill, the two units striving in a generous rivalry of -valour, which ended in deep mutual confidence and esteem. - -On August 14 the enemy counter-attacked with some vigour, and -momentarily regained a trench near the windmill. On the 15th the -line had been restored. On the 17th there was a strong attack in six -successive lines upon the Forty-eighth British and the First -Australian Divisions, but it had no result. On the 18th, however, -the 5th and 6th Warwicks paid a return visit with great success, -carrying three lines of trenches and capturing 600 prisoners. This -was a very fine exploit, carried out at 5 P.M. of a summer evening. - -It was about this date that a new movement began upon the British -left, which extended their line of battle. Since the capture of -Ovillers, a month before, the flank of the army to the left of the -attack {198} upon Pozières had been guarded by the Forty-ninth -Division of Yorks Territorials, but no attack had been attempted in -this quarter. On August 18 the Twenty-fifth Division relieved the -Forty-ninth, and an advance upon a small scale which gradually -assumed more importance was started in the direction of Thiepval, the -German village fortress of sinister reputation, which lay upon the -left flank on the hither side of the River Ancre. Upon this General -Gough had now fixed a menacing gaze, and though his advance was -gradual, it was none the less inexorable until his aim had been -attained; and not only Thiepval itself but the important heights to -the north and east of it which dominate the valley of the Ancre were -in the hands of his persevering troops. The first obstacles in his -path were a stronghold named the Leipzig Redoubt, and to the east of -it a widespread farm, now spread even wider by British shells. This -nest of snipers and machine-guns was known as Mouquet Farm. Upon the -19th, as part of the general attack along the line, which will be -more fully dealt with elsewhere, not only was our Pozières front -pushed forward past the windmill for 300 yards, but the 1st -Wiltshires of the Twenty-fifth Division, operating upon the left of -the Forty-eighth, which in turn was on the left of the Australians, -made an important lodgment on the high ground to the south of -Thiepval. The Forty-eighth Division also made some advance, the 4th -Gloucesters upon the night of the 19th capturing 400 yards of trench -with 200 prisoners. Their comrades of the 6th Battalion had less -fortune, however, in an attack upon the German trenches on August 22, -when they had two companies partially destroyed by machine-gun fire, -while every officer {199} engaged was hit, including Major Coates, -who was killed. On this same day there was again an Australian -advance near Pozières, whilst at the other end of the line, which was -biting like acid into the German defences, the Twenty-fifth Division -began to encroach upon the Leipzig salient, and were within 1000 -yards of Thiepval. In this entirely successful attack a new -invention, the push pipe-line, was used for the first time with some -success, having the double effect of blowing up the enemy's strong -point, and of forming a rudimentary communication trench in the track -of its explosion. In this connection it may be stated generally that -while the Germans, with their objects clear in front of them, had -used before the War far greater ingenuity than the British in warlike -invention, as witness the poison gas, _minenwerfer_ and -flame-throwers, their methods became stereotyped after War broke out; -while the more individual Britons showed greater ingenuity and -constructive ability, so that by the end of 1916 they had attained a -superiority upon nearly every point. Their heavy artillery, light -machine-guns, aeroplanes, bombs, trench-mortars, and gas apparatus -were all of the very best; and in their tanks they were soon to take -an entirely new departure in warfare. It is as difficult in our -British system to fix the responsibility for good as for evil, but -there is ample evidence of a great discriminating intelligence in the -heart of our affairs. - -The Hindenburg Trench was the immediate object of these attacks, and -on August 24 a stretch of it, containing 150 occupants, was carried. -A pocket of Germans was left at one end of it, who held on manfully -and made a successful resistance against a {200} company of the 8th -North Lancashires, who tried to rush them. Ultimately, however, -these brave men were all taken or killed. - -Day by day the line crept on, and before the end of the month the -1000 yards had become 500, whilst every advance yielded some new -trench with a crop of prisoners. The enemy was fully alive, however, -to the great importance of the Thiepval position, which would give -the British guns an opportunity of raking Beaumont Hamel and their -other strongholds upon the north of the Ancre. A very strong -counter-attack was made, therefore, by some battalions of the -Prussian Guard on the evening of August 25, preceded by a shattering -bombardment. The attack--the edge of which was blunted by the -British barrage--fell mainly upon the 7th Brigade of the Twenty-fifth -Division. The result was a German defeat, and the menacing line drew -ever nearer to Thiepval, though an attack by the North Lancs upon the -Prussian Fusilier Guards upon August 28 was not successful. On the -day before, however, the Forty-eighth Division upon the right of the -Twenty-fifth made a successful advance, taking a good line of trench -with 100 of the redoubtable Guards. Between Thiepval and Pozières -the ruins of Mouquet Farm had been taken by the West Australians and -the Tasmanians, and was found to be a perfect warren of snipers, so -that it was some time before it was absolutely clear. On the -Pozières Ridge ground and prisoners were continually being gained, -and the trenches between the Ridge and Mouquet Farm were cleared by -Queensland on the right and by Tasmania on the left. It was a most -spirited fight, where Australian and Prussian stood up to each other -within short bomb-throw. But {201} nothing could stand against the -fire of the attack. The whole line of trench upon the right was -captured. There was a dangerous gap, however, upon the Tasmanian -left, and this the Tasmanians were compelled to endure for two days -and nights, during which they were hard pressed by never-ending -shelling and incessant German attacks. It is on record that their -constant reports of their parlous state sent on to headquarters -concluded always with the words: "But we will hold on." If Tasmania -needs a motto, she could find no better one, for her sons lived and -died up to it during those terrible hours. When at last they were -relieved, their numbers were sorely reduced, but their ground was -still intact. At the other side of the gap, however, the West -Australians, hard pressed by an overpowering bombardment, had been -pushed out from Mouquet Farm, which came back into German hands, -whence it was destined soon to pass. - -It was during this severe fighting that a little scene occurred -which, as described by Mr. Bean, the very able Australian chronicler, -must stir the blood of every Imperialist. A single officer "of -middle age, erect, tough as wire, with lines on his face such as hard -fighting and responsibility leave on every soldier," appeared in the -Australian communication trenches, asking to see the -officer-in-charge. He spoke the same tongue but with a different -intonation as he explained his mission. He was the forerunner of the -relieving force, and the First Division of Canada was taking over the -line from Australia--a line which was destined to bring glory to each -of them. Surely a great historical picture might be made in more -peaceful times of this first contact of the two great nations {202} -of the future, separated by half the world from each other, and yet -coming together amid blood and fire at the call of the race. An hour -later, Canadian Highlanders in a long buoyant line were pushing -swiftly forward to occupy the trenches which Australia had won and -held. "Australians and Canadians," says Mr. Bean, "fought for -thirty-six hours in those trenches inexorably mixed, working under -each other's officers. Their wounded helped each other from the -front. Their dead lie, and will lie, through all the centuries, -hastily buried, beside the tumbled trenches and shell-holes where, -fighting as mates, they died." So ended the Australian epic upon the -Somme. It is to be remembered that the New Zealanders formed an -entirely separate division, whose doings will presently be considered. - -Whilst the Overseas troops had been fighting hard before Pozières, -there had been a considerable movement upon their left to attack -northwards along the Thiepval Spur. This was carried out by the -Thirty-ninth Division north of the Ancre, the Forty-ninth and the -Twenty-fifth upon September 3. Some ground was gained, but the -losses were heavy, especially in the 75th Brigade, where the 2nd -South Lancashires suffered considerably. This battalion had been in -shallow trenches exposed to fire and weather for six days previous to -the attack, and was greatly worn. This attack was part of the -general battle of September 3, but from Mouquet Farm northwards it -cannot be said to have given any adequate return for our losses. - -Our narrative of the events upon the left wing of the army has now -got in front of the general account, but as the operations of General -Gough's force have {203} definite objectives of their own, the story -may now be continued up to September 15, after which we can leave -this flank altogether for a time and concentrate upon the happenings -in the centre, and especially upon the right flank where Delville -Wood, Ginchy and Guillemont had presented such impediments to the -advance. At or about the time, September 4, when the Canadians took -over the lines of the Australians at Pozières and Mouquet Farm, the -Eleventh British Division, the First English Division of the New -Army, which had come back from hard service in the East, relieved the -Twenty-fifth Division upon the Canadian left. For a week there was -quiet upon this part of the line, for a great forward move along the -whole eleven-mile front had been planned for September 15, and this -was the lull before the storm. On the evening before this great -assault, the Eleventh Division crept up to and carried the main -German stronghold, called the Wonderwork, which lay between them and -Thiepval. There was some sharp bayonet work, and the defeated -garrison flying towards Thiepval ran into the barrage so that the -enemy losses were heavy, while the British line crept up to within -350 yards of the village. This advance stopped for ever the flank -fire by which the Germans were able to make Mouquet Farm almost -untenable, and the Canadians were able to occupy it. The capture of -the Wonderwork was carried out by Price's 32nd Infantry Brigade of -Yorkshire troops. The most of the work and the heaviest losses fell -upon the 9th West Yorks, but the 8th West Ridings and the 6th Yorks -were both engaged, the latter losing their colonel, Forsyth. The -total casualties came to 26 officers and 742 men. - -On September 15 the Eleventh Division held the {204} flank in front -of Thiepval, but the Second and Third Canadian Divisions shared in -the general advance, and pushed forward their line over the Pozières -Ridge and down for 1000 yards of the slope in front, joining hands -with the Fifteenth Scottish Division in Martinpuich upon the right. -This fine advance crossed several German trenches, took the fortified -position of the Sugar Refinery, and eventually included in its scope -the village of Courcelette, which had not been included in the -original scheme. All Canada, from Halifax in the east to Vancouver -in the west, was represented in this victory; and it was particularly -pleasing that the crowning achievement--the capture of -Courcelette--was carried out largely by the 22nd Battalion of the 5th -Brigade French Canadians of the Second Division. French Canada, like -Ireland, has been diverted somewhat by petty internal influences from -taking a wide and worthy view of the great struggle against German -conquest, but it can truly be said in both cases that the fine -quality of those who came did much to atone for the apathy of those -who stayed. Thirteen hundred German prisoners were brought back by -the Canadians. During the Courcelette operations, the Third Canadian -Division was working upon the left flank of the Second as it attacked -the village, protecting it from enfilade attack. The work and the -losses in this useful movement fell chiefly upon the 8th Brigade. - -This considerable victory was, as will afterwards be shown, typical -of what had occurred along the whole line upon that great day of -battle and victory. It was followed, so far as the Canadians were -concerned, by a day of heavy sacrifice and imperfect success. The -Third Division, still operating upon the left of {205} the Second, -endeavoured to carry the formidable Zollern Trench and Zollern -Redoubt to the north of Courcelette. The 7th and 9th Brigades were -in the attacking line, but the former was held up from the beginning. -The latter got forward, but found itself confronted by the inevitable -barbed wire, which stayed its progress. No good was done, and two -gallant battalions, the 60th (Montreal) and the 52nd (New Ontario), -lost 800 men between them. The operation was suspended until it -could be renewed upon a larger scale and a broader front. - -At this point we may suspend our account of the operations of Gough's -Fifth Army, while we return to the Fourth Army upon the south, and -bring the record of its work up to this same date. Afterwards, we -shall return to the Fifth Army and describe the successful operations -by which it cleared the Thiepval Ridge, gained command of the Ancre -Valley, and finally created a situation which was directly -responsible for the great German retreat in the early spring of 1917. - - - - -{206} - -CHAPTER IX - -THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME - -August 1 to September 15 - -Continued attempts of Thirty-third Division on High -Wood--Co-operation of First Division--Operation of Fourteenth -Division on fringe of Delville Wood--Attack by Twenty-fourth Division -on Guillemont--Capture of Guillemont by 47th and 59th -Brigades--Capture of Ginchy by Sixteenth Irish Division. - - -After the very hard fighting which accompanied and followed the big -attack of July 14, continuing without a real break to the end of the -month, there was a lull of a couple of weeks, which were employed by -the German commentators in consoling articles to prove that the -allied offensive was at an end, and by the Allies in bringing forward -their guns and preparing for a renewed effort. The middle of August -heard the drum fire break out again and the operations were -continued, but on a local rather than a general scale. Many isolated -positions had to be mastered before a general surge forward could be -expected or attempted, and experience was to prove that it is -precisely those isolated operations which are most difficult and -costly, since they always mean that the whole concentration of the -German guns can be turned upon the point which is endangered. - -{207} - -It will simplify the following operations to the reader if he will -remember that the whole left wing of the army is excluded, being -treated separately as Gough's flank advance. We only deal therefore -with Rawlinson's Army. The front which faces us may be divided into -several well-defined areas, each of which is in turn subjected to -attack. There is High Wood on the extreme left, with the -Intermediate Trench and the Switch Trench within it, or to its north. -There is the line of trenches, Switch Trench, Wood Trench, Tea -Trench, etc., linking up High Wood with Delville Wood. There is the -north-eastern fringe of Delville Wood, there are the trenches between -Delville Wood and Ginchy, there is Ginchy itself, there are the -trenches between Ginchy and Guillemont, there is Guillemont itself, -and finally there is a stretch of trench between Guillemont and the -French left at Falfemont. This is the formidable barrier which was -attacked again and again at various points between August 1 and -September 15 as will now be told. - -August 16 witnessed another attack by the Thirty-third Division upon -High Wood, a position which had once already been almost entirely in -their hands, but which had proved to be untenable on account of the -concentration of fire which the German guns could bring to bear upon -its limited space. None the less, it was determined that it should -be once again attempted, for it was so situated that its machine-guns -raked any advance between it and Delville Wood. The attack upon this -occasion was carried out on the eastern side by the 98th Brigade, -strengthened for the work by the addition of the 20th Royal Fusiliers -and a wing of the 1st Middlesex. It might well seem depressing to -the soldiers to be {208} still facing an obstacle which they had -carried a month before, but if this portion of the British line was -stationary it had gained ground upon either wing, and it might also -be urged that in a combat destined to be ended by military exhaustion -it is the continued fighting rather than the local result that -counts. If High Wood had cost and was to cost us dearly to attack, -it assuredly was not cheap to defend; and if their artillery had made -it too deadly for our occupation our own guns must also have taken -high toll of the German garrison. Such broader views are easy for -the detached reasoner in dug-out or in study, but to the troops who -faced the ill-omened litter of broken tree-trunks and decaying bodies -it might well seem disheartening that this sinister grove should -still bar the way. - -At 2.45 in the afternoon the infantry advanced, the 4th King's -Liverpool upon the left and the 4th Suffolks on the right, keeping -well up to the friendly shelter of their own pelting barrage. The -enemy, however, had at once established a powerful counter-barrage, -which caused heavy losses, especially to the King's, most of whose -officers were hit early in the action. The two leading company -commanders were killed and the advance held up. The Suffolks had got -forward rather better, and part of them seized the German trench -called Wood Lane to the south-east of the wood, but unhappily the -only surviving officer with the party was killed in the trench, and -the men being exposed to bombing attacks and to heavy enfilade fire -from the eastern corner of High Wood were compelled to fall back -after holding the trench for fifty minutes. - -These two battalions had attacked upon the flank {209} of the wood. -The wood itself was entered by three companies of the Argyll and -Sutherlands, who found it laced with wire and full of machine-guns. -The Highlanders stuck gamely to their task, and some of them--little -groups of desperate men--actually crossed the wood, but their losses -were heavy and, as is usual in forest fighting, all cohesion and -direction became impossible. The whole attack was hung up. The 20th -Royal Fusiliers, one of the public school battalions, was sent -forward therefore to get the line moving once again. They shared in -the losses, but were unable to retrieve the situation. So worn were -the battalions that there was some question whether the 98th Brigade -could hold its own line if there should be a vigorous counter-attack. -The 19th Brigade was therefore brought up to support and eventually -to relieve their comrades. The losses of the 98th amounted to over -2000 men, showing how manfully they had attempted a task which the -result showed to be above their strength. The causes of the failure -were undoubtedly the uncut wire in the wood, and that our gunners had -been unsuccessful in beating down the machine-guns of the enemy. - -Whilst the Thirty-third Division had been making these vigorous -attacks upon High Wood, a corresponding movement had taken place upon -the north side of the wood, where the First Division had come into -line upon August 15, taking the place of the Thirty-fourth Division. -They plunged at once into action, for the 2nd Brigade upon August 16 -made a successful advance, the 1st Northants and 2nd Sussex pushing -the line on for some hundreds of yards at considerable cost to -themselves, and driving back a half-hearted {210} counter-attack, -which endeavoured to throw them out of their new gains. This attack -was renewed with much greater weight, however, upon August 17, and -both the 1st and 2nd Brigades were driven back for a few hours. In -the afternoon they rallied and regained most of the lost ground. -Immediately in front of them stretched a long German trench termed -the Intermediate Trench, being the chief one between the second and -third lines. Towards evening the 1st Brigade attacked this trench, -the 1st Black Watch being the most advanced battalion. There was a -hard fight, but the position was still too strong. Next morning, -August 18, the gallant Highlanders were back at it once more, but the -day was very misty, and the advance seems to have lost its exact -bearings. The left company stumbled upon a pocket of 30 Germans, -whom it took or killed, but could not find the trench. The right -company got into the trench, but were not numerous enough to resist a -very vigorous bombing attack, which re-established the German -garrison. The 8th Berkshires pushed forward to try their luck, but a -smoke cloud thrown out by a division on the left came drifting down -and the attack was enveloped in it, losing both cohesion and -direction. The Intermediate Trench was still German in the evening. - -Although the 1st Brigade had been held up at this point the 2nd -Brigade had made some progress upon their right, for a successful -attack was made by the 1st Northamptons and by the 1st North -Lancashires upon a German trench to the north-west of High Wood. -Colonel Longridge of the staff, a valuable officer, was killed in -this affair, but the place was taken, and a strong point established. -During the {211} night two platoons of the Northamptons made an -audacious attempt to steal an advance by creeping forwards 400 yards -and digging in under the very noses of the Germans, on a small ridge -which was of tactical importance. There was a considerable bickering -all day round this point, the Sussex endeavouring to help their old -battle-mates to hold the fort, but the supports were too distant, and -eventually the garrison had to regain their own line. - -Upon August 20 there was a severe German attack upon the line of the -First Division, which was held at the time by the 1st Northamptons -and the 2nd Rifles. The advance developed in great force, driving in -the outpost line and part of the Northamptons. The brave old -"Cobblers" were a very seasoned battalion, and took a great deal of -shifting from their shallow trench, hand-to-hand fighting taking -place along the line. With the help of two companies of the Rifles -the advance was stayed on the Northampton front; but a second attack -developed out of High Wood upon the right flank of the Rifles. Two -platoons under Lieutenant Stokes showed great gallantry in holding up -this sudden and dangerous incursion. The platoons were relieved by -the Gloucesters, but as there was no officer with the relief, Stokes -remained on with the new garrison, and helped to drive back two more -attacks, showing a splendid disregard for all danger, until he was -finally killed by a shell. Captain Johnstone, who had led the -Riflemen in their relief of the Northamptons, was also killed, while -Major Atkinson and 130 men of the Rifles were hit. The losses of the -Northamptons were even more heavy, but the German advance came to -nought. - -At the risk of carrying the account of the {212} operations near High -Wood and between High Wood and the west edge of Delville Wood to a -point which will compel a considerable return in order to bring up -the narrative of the rest of the line, we shall still continue them -to the date of the great advance of September 15, when the whole vast -array from Pozières upon the left to Leuze Wood upon the right heaved -itself forward, and local attacks gave place to a big concerted -movement. We shall therefore continue to follow the fortunes of the -First Division in their hard task in front of the Intermediate -Trench. After the failure of their attempt to get forward upon -August 19 the action died down, and for four days there was no fresh -advance. The 3rd Brigade had come up into the front line, and upon -August 24 the Munsters made an attempt upon the German trench without -success. Colonel Lyon lost his life in this affair. Upon August 25 -another battalion of the Brigade, the South Wales Borderers, made a -bombing attack, and again were in the trench and once again were -driven out. They were not to be denied, however, and upon August 26 -actually occupied 180 yards of it, taking one of the deadly guns -which had wrought such damage. On the 27th a German counter-attack -was heavily repulsed, but an attempt of the South Wales Borderers to -improve their success was also a failure. On the evening of this day -the Fifteenth Scottish Division took over the position in front of -the Intermediate Trench, the First Division moving to the right and -enabling the Thirty-third Division upon its flank to move also to the -right. The Fifteenth Division was able in very tempestuous weather -partly to outflank the Intermediate Trench, with the result that upon -the afternoon of August 30 {213} the remains of the garrison, finding -that they were in a trap, surrendered. Two machine-guns with 140 men -were taken. - -Upon August 12 the Fourteenth Light Division, which in spite of its -initial misfortune at Hooge had won the name of being one of the -finest divisions of the New Army, came up into line. Its first -station was in the Delville Wood area, which was still a most -difficult section, in spite of our occupation of the wood. Orchards -lay upon its fringes, and the German trenches around it swept the -edges with fire, while several German strong points lay just outside -it. An attempt was made by the Fourteenth Division to enlarge an -area outside Longueval upon August 18. At 2.45 that day the 41st -Brigade advanced upon the right of the Thirty-third Division with -Orchard Trench as an objective, while the 43rd Brigade kept pace with -them to the north and east of the wood. The German front trenches -were carried without much difficulty, but, as usual, the process of -consolidation was an expensive one. The men in small groups dug -themselves in as best they could under fire from both flanks. The -7th Rifle Brigade upon the extreme left of the line was in the air, -and their left company was almost entirely destroyed. The new line -was held, however, and knotted together with three strong points -which defied German attack. This was attempted upon the 19th, but -was a total failure. In these operations the Fourteenth Division -took 279 prisoners. - -For the sake of consecutive narrative, the doings in the High Wood -and Delville Wood district have been given without a break, but in -order to bring the rest of the chronicle level one has to turn back a -few {214} days and turn our attention to the long right flank of the -army, from Longueval in the north to Falfemont, where we joined on to -the French in the south. The northern angle of this position was, as -has already been explained, extremely disadvantageous to us, forming -an almost fantastic peninsula, which jutted out into the German -positions. Even if their infantry could not carry it, their guns -could at all times rake it from three sides, and could command the -whole Montauban valley, along which our supplies were bound to pass. -Therefore it became very necessary to get more elbow-room along this -line. - -South-east of Delville Wood was the strongly-fortified village of -Ginchy, and between the wood and the village were what may be called -the Alcoholic system of trenches, where the long and powerful Beer -Trench, stretching a few hundred yards north of the wood, was -connected up with Vat Alley, Hop Alley, and Ale Alley, the whole -forming a formidable labyrinth. To the south of Ginchy lay the very -strongly organised village of Guillemont, which could not be -approached save over a long quarter of a mile of open ground. Ginchy -and Guillemont were linked up in a strong line, of which Waterlot -Farm and Guillemont Station were two nodal points. South of -Guillemont came Wedge Wood and finally Falfemont Farm, where the -right of Rawlinson's Fourth Army joined on to the French. The whole -of this long line was most powerfully defended, both by material -appliances and by that constant human valour without which all -appliances are useless. How to push it back was the pressing and -difficult question which now faced the British commanders. -Guillemont had already been attacked upon {215} July 30 by the -Thirtieth Division as described in a previous chapter. This attack -had been most valiantly urged, but the losses had been heavy, and the -gains small. The Second Division had relieved the Thirtieth on this -point, and were in turn relieved upon August 10 by the Twenty-fourth, -a division which had seen a good deal of rough service in that famous -forcing-house for young soldiers--the Ypres salient. - -A few days later it closed in upon Guillemont with orders to -reconnoitre and then attack. A partial attack was made upon August -16 upon the outskirts of the village by the 72nd Brigade, which was -rather in the nature of a reconnaissance in force. The place was -found to be very strong and the advancing troops drew off after -incurring some losses, which were heaviest in the 9th East Surreys, -who came under a blast of machine-gun fire, and dropped nine officers -and over 200 men. The division drew off, broadened their front of -attack, and came on again upon August 18 in a wide advance which -covered the whole enemy line, striking not only at the village -itself, but at the station, quarry, and farm to the north of it, -covering a front of nearly a mile. - -The 73rd Brigade attacked the village and the quarry. The right -attack was led by the 13th Middlesex and supported by the 2nd -Leinster, but it had no success, and ended in heavy losses, -especially to the English regiment. The men who got across were -unable to penetrate, and after a hand-to-hand fight were driven back. -Upon the left of the brigade things went better. The attack upon -that side was led by the 7th Northants, supported by the 9th Sussex. -The Cobblers had lost their colonel from a {216} wound in the -morning. This colonel was the famous international three-quarter -Mobbs, who gave one more illustration of the fact that the fine -sportsman turns rapidly into the fine soldier. His successor had -only been a few hours in command. The direction of the fight was -none the less admirable. The Midlanders dashed with great fire -across the 300 yards of open which separated them from the Quarries, -while the Sussex crowded up into the advanced trenches, sending on -company after company in response to demands for help. The British -barrage had lifted, and it was no easy matter in face of the flank -fire to get the men across, so that only a percentage reached the -hard-pressed firing-line upon the other side. The colonel of the -Sussex held back therefore, and sent his third company over as dusk -fell, so that they came in on the flank of the Northamptons with -little loss, while the fourth followed later with supplies. The -lodgment made by the leading battalions was secured, and some ground -to the north of the village passed into British hands. - -Although Guillemont itself remained for the moment with the Germans, -the assault of the Twenty-fourth Division had a success along the -whole of the rest of the line and greatly improved the position of -the British upon this flank. The 17th Brigade had attacked the -station and after a severe fight had captured it, the 3rd Rifle -Brigade especially distinguishing itself in this affair. Farther -still to the north the line of trenches leading up to and in front of -Waterlot Farm had fallen also to the 17th Brigade, the 8th Buffs -having the heavier share of the work. These attacks, which cost the -division {217} more than 3000 men, were carried out in co-operation -with French attacks to the south and east of Guillemont, the net -result being partly to isolate that stubborn village and turn it into -a salient on the German line. - -The Twenty-fourth Division was now drawn out for a short period, and -the Twentieth replaced it and held firmly to the conquered line. - -The Germans were acutely uneasy as to the erosion of their line which -was going on from Longueval to Guillemont, and upon August 23 -endeavoured to win back the ground gained at Guillemont Station, but -their counter-attack, stronger as usual in its artillery preparation -than in its infantry advance, had no success, though it cost the -Twentieth Division some heavy losses. It was one clear sign of the -degeneration of the German soldier that the overture should so -continually be better than the performance. The machines were as -formidable as ever, but the human element was slowly wilting, and -that subtle sentiment was developing upon either side which means the -ascendancy of one and the decline of the other. The ease with which -the prisoners surrendered, the frequent failure to hold ground and -the constant failure to gain it, all pointed to the same conclusion. - -Upon August 24 a very widespread and determined attempt was made by -the British to enlarge their area on the right wing, and the attack -extended along the whole line to the north of Guillemont. It was -carried out by three divisions, the Thirty-third which had -side-stepped to the right, and now covered the ground to the -immediate left of Delville Wood, the Fourteenth Light Division which -covered the north of Delville Wood and the Alcohol system of -trenches, and finally {218} the Twentieth Division covering Ginchy -and the rest of the line down to Guillemont. - -Describing these operations from the left of our line the first unit -of attack was the 100th Brigade, which had for its objective Tea -Trench and other German defences which were to the north-west of -Delville Wood. The Longueval-Flers road separated their right flank -from the left flank of the 42nd Brigade of the Fourteenth Division. -In order to carry out the attack the three leading battalions of the -Brigade had to be crowded forward into a narrow front before daylight -upon August 24. - -All day they lay there, but towards evening the bombardment which -they endured changed into an immense barrage which fell like a steel -guillotine in front of our line, the British counter battery work -being unable to check it. Shortly before 7 o'clock in the evening -the leading companies of the attack belonging from the left to the -1st Queen's, 16th Rifles and 2nd Worcesters, crept forward until they -were on the edge of the barrage. At 7 o'clock they took the plunge, -advancing with brisk alacrity into that terrible pelt of missiles. -By 7.30 the Queen's had established themselves in the German position -and were bombing their way up Wood Lane Trench. The other two -battalions had also at that hour got well forward, and the 42nd -Brigade of the Fourteenth Division upon the right had been equally -successful. The new positions were at once consolidated by the 9th -Highland Light Infantry and by parties of the 222nd Field Company, -together with the 18th Middlesex pioneers, under a very heavy fire. -The Worcesters were in good touch with the 16th Rifles upon their -left, but a considerable and dangerous gap had formed {219} between -the left of the Rifles and the right of the Queen's--a gap which -might have let in a fatal counter-attack had it not been for the -admirable barrage of the artillery, which beat down each attempted -advance. A trench was at once put in hand to link up the new line, -the sappers labouring at it during the night, but the gap had not -been entirely closed by the morning. The assaulting battalions were -then relieved, and the 98th Brigade took the place of their comrades -of the 100th. Thus ended this very successful little advance, the -result being to push forward and strengthen our position between the -two woods. The casualties were not high, and this fact was due to -the fine co-operation of the guns, and to a very effective smoke -barrage thrown out between the left wing of the attack and the -machine-guns of High Wood. - -The Fourteenth Division had advanced upon the immediate right of the -Longueval-Flers road, the 42nd Brigade upon the left keeping in touch -with the 100th, while the 41st Brigade upon the right had not only to -reach its own objective, but to act as a protective flank against the -Germans in the village of Ginchy. The 43rd Brigade was in reserve, -but contributed one battalion, the 6th Yorkshire Light Infantry, to -strengthening the reserve of the 42nd Brigade, whose formidable task -was the carrying of the outlying fringe of Delville Wood. At last -that tragic grove, the scene of such a prolonged struggle, was to be -utterly cleared from our front. Three gallant battalions of the 42nd -Brigade--the 5th Oxford and Bucks on the left, the 5th Shropshires in -the centre, and the 9th Rifles upon the right--swept forward with the -bayonet in the good old {220} style and cleared it from end to end, -helped greatly by the accurate barrage behind which they advanced. -The German counter-barrage was heavy, but the troops tramped through -it with no more deflection than if it had been a rainstorm, though a -trail of dead and wounded marked their path. Every officer of the -Rifle battalion was hit. The first barrier was a trench cut 150 -yards from the north of the wood and called Inner Trench. This was -taken at the first rush, the enemy surrendering freely. Two gallant -N.C.O.'s of the Rifles, Sergeant Hamp and Corporal Ord, rushed up a -machine-gun at the cost of their own lives. One party of 50 men of -the enemy seem to have taken up arms again after three of the -storming lines had passed, and to have blazed into their backs with a -machine-gun, but a fourth line swept over them and all were engulfed. -The Oxford and Bucks on the left of the line moved forward -splendidly, picking up 200 prisoners as they passed, clearing the -edge of the wood and digging in about 200 yards to the north of it, -the 89th F Company Royal Engineers and the 11th King's Liverpool -consolidating the position. The enemy's opposition upon the right -flank had, however, been very much sterner and more successful, so -that the flank battalion of the 42nd Brigade and the Rifle battalions -of the 41st Brigade had all fallen short of their final objectives. - -Altogether the day was a great success, for the losses were not -excessive, and the gains though not sensational were general all -along the line and prepared the way for the successful assaults of -the next week. The fact that the right flank had not come on as far -as the left, caused each successive battalion to find itself with its -right flank exposed, but the line {221} was held by a clever -readjustment under heavy fire, by which the flank battalions faced -half right with the Oxfords still in the advanced position joining up -with the Thirty-third Division, while the line slanting, but -unbroken, sloped backwards to Inner Trench upon the right. - -The eastern corner of Delville Wood was still dominated by a strong -point, but upon the rain-swept evening of August 27 this was finally -cleared out by the 43rd Brigade of the Fourteenth Division, the 6th -Somerset, Yorkshire and Cornwall battalions of light infantry, -together with the 10th Durhams, all doing good service. - -The remains of the hard-worked Seventh Division had been thrust in -front of those Alcohol trenches which still remained intact, filling -up the gap separating Delville Wood from Ginchy. The 22nd Brigade -was on the left, and shared in the advance of the 43rd, the 1st Welsh -Fusiliers capturing Hop Alley, Beer Trench, and part of Vat Alley. -The impending attack upon Ginchy, which was to co-operate with the -attack upon Guillemont farther south, was forestalled and postponed -by a very strong advance of the German infantry upon the north and -north-east of Delville Wood. The 91st Brigade had relieved the 22nd, -and the brunt of this attack outside the wood fell upon the 1st South -Staffords, who repulsed the onslaught on three separate occasions, -enduring a heavy shelling between each German advance. Upon the -fourth attack the persevering German infantry succeeded in -penetrating the north-east corner of the wood and regaining Hop -Alley. The 2nd Queen's relieved the exhausted Staffords, and at noon -of September 2 made a vigorous bombing attack which had some {222} -success, though the assailants were considerably mystified by the -appearance of a party of Germans who had dressed themselves in the -khaki and helmets taken the night before. This powerful attack fell -also upon the Twentieth Division, and upon the Fourteenth to the -right of the Seventh, but although it inflicted heavy losses, -especially upon the 60th Brigade of the Twentieth Division, it failed -to gain any ground or to obtain any strategic advantage. - -On September 3 at noon the attack upon Ginchy was carried out by the -22nd Brigade, the 1st Welsh Fusiliers attacking to the north of the -village, the 20th Manchesters moving on to the village itself, and -the 2nd Warwicks on to the trenches to the west of the village. The -Manchesters succeeded about one o'clock in forcing their way into the -village, sending back 200 of the garrison as prisoners. The first -rush behind the barrage sustained few casualties, and it was not -until the Manchesters in their fiery eagerness began to push on -beyond their mark that they ran into a very severe fire from the -north, which mowed down their ranks, including nearly all their -officers. The Welsh Fusiliers upon the left had been unable to get -forward, and as a consequence the Manchester men were in so -precarious a position and so reduced in numbers that they had to fall -back through the village, while the 2nd Royal Irish, who had passed -on as far as Ginchy Telegraph, had now to retire, as their rear was -in danger. The 2nd Warwicks, however, held on to the south of the -village, and refused to be dislodged, keeping their position there -against all attacks until the night of September 5. In the -afternoon, two companies of the Irish attempted to retrieve the -situation by a renewed advance upon the {223} village, but their -losses were heavy, and they could not get farther than the western -outskirts. The casualties during the day were severe, and in the -night it was thought advisable to replace the 22nd by the 20th -Brigade. The latter made a fresh attack upon the village at eight in -the morning of September 4 by the 9th Devons, but again it was found -impossible, in the face of the inexorable machine-guns, to effect a -permanent lodgment. The 2nd Queen's, however, on the left of the -Brigade, improved our position at the north-eastern corner of -Delville Wood. There was a short lull in the fighting, and then at -5.30 A.M. upon the 6th the 2nd Gordons stormed into the orchards -round the village, but had to dig themselves in upon the western -edge. At 2 P.M. they again attacked, aided by two companies of the -9th Devons, getting as far as the middle of the village, and -capturing some prisoners, but the Germans came back with so heavy a -counter-attack that the evening found our troops back in their own -front line once more. On the night of September 7 the division was -taken out--the 16th (Irish) and 55th moving up to the Ginchy Front. - -This severe fighting by the Seventh Division from the 3rd onwards was -an excellent example of how a force may be called upon to sacrifice -itself without seeing the object of its sacrifice until it learns the -general plans of the Commander. The assaults upon Ginchy, -unsuccessful at the moment, were of the greatest value as leading to -the capture of Guillemont in the south. The task allotted to the -Seventh Division was a very difficult one, involving an advance from -a salient with the left flank exposed, and the magnitude of this task -was greatly increased by the truly execrable weather. If no -successful efforts were {224} made to counter-attack upon Guillemont, -the reason undoubtedly lay in the absorption of the German strength -at Ginchy. - -On this same day the battle raged from Ginchy along the whole right -of our line through Waterlot Farm, Guillemont and Falfemont Farm to -the left flank of the French. The annexed diagram will give some -idea of the forces engaged and their several objectives on September -3. - -------------------------------------------------------------------- - -{225} - -[Illustration: ATTACK ON GERMAN LEFT FLANK September 3, 1916.] - -------------------------------------------------------------------- - -As will be seen by this plan, the Fifth Division formed the unit next -to the French, and the 13th Brigade were ordered to help our gallant -allies in attacking the extreme southern point at Falfemont, while -the 95th Brigade covered the ground between their comrades of the -13th and the village of Guillemont. The advance was made shortly -after mid-day, and though the operations were long, bloody, and -difficult, the famous old division, inheritors of the glories of Mons -and Le Cateau, was not to be denied. The resistance was very -strenuous, and only the most devoted constancy could have eventually -overcome it. To follow the fortunes of the 13th Brigade first it may -be briefly stated that upon Sunday, September 3, they first gained -the Falfemont Farm, and then lost it again. That night they were -reinforced by three battalions of the 15th Brigade, and were able -next day to push in between the Farm and Guillemont, pressing the -defenders upon every side. It was a widespread building, with many -loopholed outhouses, and one of these fell after the other until only -the central ruin, still spouting fire like an anchored battleship, -remained in the hands of the defenders. Their position was hopeless, -however, and by the morning of September 5 the changes in the line to -the north {226} of them, and especially the loss of Guillemont, -caused them to evacuate the position. - -The advance of the 95th Brigade upon the left of the Fifth Division -had been a very gallant one, though the objectives which they so -bravely won were nameless lines of trenches and a sunken road. The -first line of the attack was formed by the 1st Duke of Cornwall's on -the left, and the 12th Gloucesters upon the right, closely followed -by the 1st Devons and 1st East Surreys. They were in close touch -with the 59th Brigades of the Twentieth Division, who were attacking -Guillemont upon their left. Within two hours of the first attack all -three objectives had been captured, and the remains of the victorious -battalions were digging in upon the line Ginchy-Wedge Wood. The -losses were heavy in each battalion, but particularly so in the 12th -Gloucesters. For a time they were under fire from both the British -and the German batteries. Yet they held on to their ultimate -objective, and the following extract from the impression which they -produced upon an experienced regular colonel is worth quoting, if -only to show the pitch of soldiership to which our amateur volunteers -had reached. "The battalion came on in their extended lines as -steadily as on parade, and, without wavering, though suffering heavy -losses, passed through a hot German barrage in the most gallant -manner. The lines were also much troubled by long-range machine-gun -fire from the direction of Falfemont, but although gaps appeared and -the lines were rapidly thinning out, I never saw the slightest sign -of wavering. No troops could have carried through such a difficult -task with more indifference to consequences." Gloucestershire was -once the favourite forcing-ground for the champions {227} of the -British ring. The old fighting breed still lives. Altogether the -95th Brigade advanced 3000 yards in this action, and was responsible -for the capture both of Wedge Wood and of Leuze Wood. - -Upon the left of the Fifth Division the difficult task of storming -Guillemont had been entrusted to the Rifle and Rifle Brigade -battalions of the 59th Brigade upon the right, and to the 47th -Brigade of the Sixteenth Irish Division. This brigade had come -temporarily under the command of General Douglas Smith upon the left, -taking the place of the 60th Brigade, which had lost heavily in -strength from cold, wet, and continual German gassing and -bombardment. The 61st was in divisional reserve. The attack was -ordered for noon. Profiting by previous experiences it was planned -that the whole village should not be rushed at once, but that the -attack should proceed with method in three definite stages. The guns -of the Sixth and of the Twenty-fourth Divisions joined in the -preliminary bombardment. At noon, the infantry leapt over their -parapets and charged home. The enemy was taken unawares. The 10th -and 11th Rifle Brigade with the 10th and 11th King's Royal Rifles, -supported by the 6th Oxford and Bucks, carried all before them on the -south and west of the village, while the Leinsters, Connaughts, and -Royal Irish did as much in the north. The Quarries, which was a nest -of machine-guns, was taken in their stride. No more valiant or -successful advance had been seen during the War, and it may take a -place beside the attack of the 36th Brigade at Ovillers as a -classical example of what British infantry can do with all the odds -against them. The Riflemen fought in grim silence, but the Irish -went through with a wild Celtic {228} yell which, blending with the -scream of their pipes, must have added one more to the horrors of the -shaken and hard-pressed garrison. Neck and neck the two brigades, -English and Irish, went through the German line. Hand-to-hand fights -took place in the village, but all resistance was soon beaten down. -By 12.30 the first objectives were solid, and at 1.20 the whole -village was taken and the survivors of the enemy streaming out to -eastward. The English losses were heavy and equally distributed. -The Irish were also heavy, especially in the case of the 6th -Connaughts, who also lost their colonel. At this time, through the -failure of recruiting in Ireland, these brave battalions were below -full strength, in spite of which within six days they stormed or -helped to storm two of the strongest villages upon the line. One -hardly knows which emotion is stronger--one's pride in those who -went, or one's contempt for those who bided at home. No one admired -the splendid dash of the Irish stormers more heartily than the -British Riflemen, who kept pace with them in their desperate venture. -Equally brave, they were more deliberate in their methods, with the -result that more than once pockets of fighting Germans who had been -overrun by the Irish, but were still venomous, were cleared up by the -Riflemen on the flank. So infectious, however, was the fiery dash of -the Irish, that Mr. Philip Gibbs has left it on record in one of his -admirable letters that an English sergeant of Rifles complained that -he had almost blown his teeth away in whistling his men back from -overrunning their objectives. The garrison, it may be remarked, were -chiefly Hanoverian, and once again our men were amused and amazed to -see "Gibraltar" printed upon their hats, a reminiscence {229} of the -days when they formed part of the British army. - -Whilst the attack had been in progress, two battalions of the 61st -Brigade, the 7th Somersets and 12th King's Liverpools, were in close -support, advancing steadily through the German barrage. The enemy -were, as already shown, strongly held at Ginchy on the left flank of -the Guillemont advance, but in spite of their preoccupations they -made strong attempts at a counter-attack from this direction, which -fell upon the Connaughts, who had been reinforced by two companies of -the 12th King's. This small flanking force pushed out posts which -behaved with great gallantry, holding off the enemy until evening, -though at considerable loss to themselves. One of these posts, under -Sergeant Jones of the 12th King's, was cut off by the Germans and -held out for two days without food or water--a deed for which the -sergeant received the Victoria Cross. On September 4 the positions -were put into a state of defence, and on the 5th the Twentieth -Division drew out of the line after their fine deed of arms. - -The Fourteenth Division had been in support upon the left during the -attack upon Guillemont, and the 43rd Brigade had moved up to the -northern edge of the village itself, losing a number of officers and -men, including the colonel of the 6th Somersets, who, though badly -wounded, remained with his battalion until it had consolidated its -new position. A German advance was attempted at this point about 8 -P.M., but the 43rd Brigade helped to drive it back. It may be said -that the whole of September 3 was a series of small victories, making -in {230} the aggregate a very considerable one, and breaking down the -whole of the flank German defences. - -The Irish Division was now brought up to face Ginchy, the one point -still untaken upon the German second line, whilst the Fifth Division -pursued its victorious way up to Leuze Wood and to the lower corner -of Bouleaux Wood, always in close touch with the French upon their -right. The 47th Brigade of the Irish had already lost near half its -numbers, and other units of the division, both infantry and sappers, -especially the 7th and 8th Irish Fusiliers, had lost heavily in -supporting the Fifth Division in its attack, but the battalions were -still full of fight. - -In the late afternoon of September 9 the final attack upon Ginchy by -the Irish tore that village from the close grip of its Bavarian and -Pomeranian garrison. The Fifty-fifth Division made a supporting -attack upon the left, but the main advance was left for the now -depleted but indomitable division. It dashed forward upon a -two-brigade front, the 47th upon the right and the 48th upon the -left, the brigades being strengthened by three battalions of the -49th, so that practically all the reserves were in the line from the -start, but the commander had the comforting assurance that the Guards -were moving up in his rear. On the right the first wave consisted of -the 6th Royal Irish and the 8th Munsters, who dashed forward with -great gallantry but were held up by machine-guns. The same fire held -up the 1st Munsters upon the right of the 48th Brigade, but some -natural cover was found which enabled them to continue to advance. -On their left the 7th Irish Rifles and 7th Irish Fusiliers had broken -into the German line in the first determined advance. {231} By six -in the evening the 8th and 9th Dublins had reinforced the attack and -had pushed on into the village, where the 156th Field Company Royal -Engineers at once consolidated--a swift measure which was fully -justified since two attacks stormed out of the darkness of the night -and were beaten back into it again. Next morning the Sixteenth -Division was relieved by the Guards and returned for the time from -the line which they had so materially helped to enlarge and -consolidate. Their losses had been heavy. Five battalion commanders -were among the casualties. They fell out of the line upon September -10. A few days earlier the Fifth Division had been relieved by the -Fifty-sixth. - -The total effect of these operations had been to extend the whole -British position for several thousand yards in frontage and nearly a -mile in depth. At least 2000 more prisoners had fallen into our -hands. The attack of July 14 had broken in the centre of the German -second line, but the two flanks had held firm. The fall of Pozières -upon our left before the Australians and the Forty-eighth Division, -and of Guillemont upon our right before the Twentieth and Fifth, -meant that the flanks also had gone, and that the whole front was now -clear. A third strong line ran through Warlencourt and Le Transloy, -but very numerous impediments--woods, villages, and trenches--lay in -front of the army before they could reach it. It proved, however, -that the worst impediment of all--vile weather and a premature -winter--was to be the only real obstacle to the complete success of -the army. - -In order to complete this description of these widespread operations, -which are difficult to {232} synchronise and bring into any settled -plan, one must return to what was going on upon the left of Delville -Wood. Towards the end of August the Thirty-third Division, which had -covered the line between Delville and High Woods, was relieved by the -Twenty-fourth. Upon the left of the Twenty-fourth the First Division -was still continuing that series of operations upon High Wood which -have been already described. On their left in turn was the Fifteenth -Scottish Division, the left unit of Rawlinson's Army. They were busy -from this time onwards in digging their assembly trenches for the -great assault. - -The first incident which calls for attention was a very sudden and -violent German attack upon August 31 upon the Twenty-fourth Division. -The German onslaught met with some success at first, as it burst -through the line of the 13th Middlesex, a battalion which had lost -heavily in the attack upon Guillemont ten days before, and was for -the moment more fit for a rest-camp than the forefront of the battle. -The 9th Sussex, who were on the right of the Middlesex, stood firm, -and the German advance, which had penetrated some distance down the -long communication trench which is known as Plum Street, was -eventually brought to a halt. This result was partly brought about -by the initiative and determination of a 2nd Lieutenant of the -Middlesex, "a little pale-faced fellow," who carried off a Lewis gun, -and worked it from different positions down the trench, continually -holding up the Germans and giving time for the Sussex men to gather -such a force at the end of Plum Street as prevented the Germans from -debouching into the larger trenches which led down towards Longueval. -The attack had been equally {233} severe upon the 72nd Brigade, who -held the right of the division, which included the northern end of -Delville Wood. They entirely repulsed the Germans with great loss, -the 8th Queen's Surrey being the battalion which bore the brunt of -the fight. - -On the next day, September 1, the 17th Brigade came up to restore the -situation on the left, and by evening the position had been almost -cleared. On the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th there were fresh German attacks, -but the line was now firmly held and no impression was made. None -the less, the fighting had been costly, and the depleted division had -2000 more names upon its roll of honour. It was drawn out shortly -afterwards, but its artillery, which was left in the line, had the -misfortune to lose its distinguished chief, General Phillpotts, upon -September 8. - -We shall now move a mile eastwards to follow the First Division in -its difficult and, as it proved, impossible task of improving our -position as regards High Wood, a spot which caused us more delay and -loss than any other upon the German line. - -On September 3 a strong attack by the whole of the 1st Brigade was -made upon the wood, which was gridironed with trenches and studded -with strong points. The immediate objectives were the main trench in -the wood and the trenches to the south-east of the wood. The 1st -Camerons, supported by the 8th Berks, advanced upon the right, the -Black Watch, supported by the 10th Gloucesters, on the left. The -attack had considerable success, which could not, however, be -maintained. The battalions on the right won home, but the -consolidating parties were delayed. On the left, the attack was only -partially successful, being held up at a large mine-crater. When -{234} eventually a strong German counter-attack swept forward from -the north-east of High Wood, the British had to fall back to their -own original line, taking, however, 80 German prisoners with them. -The ground had been won, but there had not been weight enough to hold -it. The losses of the two Highland battalions were severe. - -On September 8 the 3rd Brigade penetrated into the western part of -High Wood, but again it was found impossible to make more than a -temporary lodgment. The 2nd Welsh, 1st South Wales Borderers and 1st -Gloucesters were all involved in this affair, as was the 9th Black -Watch of the Fifteenth Division, who played a very gallant part. -Next day the attack was renewed with the 2nd Brigade upon the right, -the 3rd upon the left. In the centre the 1st Northants captured the -crater, but were driven out of it later in the day, after a hard -fight. On the left the Munsters and Gloucesters were held up by -machine-gun fire. On the right the advance of the 2nd Sussex and of -the 2nd Rifles met with gratifying success. The important trench -called Wood Lane was stormed, with a loss to the assailants of a -couple of hundred men, after the hostile machine-guns had been deftly -put out of action by our trench-mortars. The Rifles were in touch -not only with their comrades of Sussex upon the left, but with the -5th King's Liverpool upon the right, so that the line was complete. -It was consolidated that night by the 1st North Lancashires and was -permanently held, an attempt at counter-attack next day being crushed -by our barrage. After this little victory the First Division was -relieved upon the evening of September 10 by the New Zealanders. - - - - -{235} - -CHAPTER X - -THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME - -Breaking of the Third Line, September 15 - -Capture of Martinpuich by Fifteenth Division--Advance of Fiftieth -Division--Capture of High Wood by Forty-seventh Division--Splendid -advance of New Zealanders--Capture of Flers by Forty-first -Division--Advance of the Light Division--Arduous work of the Guards -and Sixth Divisions--Capture of Quadrilateral--Work of Fifty-sixth -Division on flank--Début of the tanks. - - -The Army had been temporarily exhausted by its extreme efforts and -the consequent losses, but was greatly buoyed up by the certainty -that with their excellent artillery and their predominant air service -they were inflicting more punishment than they were receiving. -Steadily from week to week the tale of prisoners and of captured guns -had been growing, the British and the French keeping curiously level -in the numbers of their trophies. Fresh divisions, ardent for -battle, were streaming down from the Northern line, while old -divisions, already badly hammered, filled up rapidly with eager -drafts, and were battle-worthy once again in a period which would -have been pronounced absolutely impossible by any military critic -before the War. All the rearward {236} villages were choked with the -supports. There was rumour also of some new agency to be used, and -wondrous stories were whispered as to its nature and its powers. The -men were in high heart, therefore, and by the middle of September -Rawlinson's Fourth Army, which now included three corps, was ready to -spring forward once again. The main German line was miles behind -them, and the headquarters of British brigades and divisions now -nested comfortably in those commodious dug-outs which two years of -unremitting German labour had constructed--monuments for many a year -to come of their industry and of their failure. It was realised that -the obstacles in front, however formidable, could not possibly be so -difficult as those which had already been surmounted; and yet our -aeroplanes were able to report that the whole country was still -slashed across and across in a fanciful lacework of intricate -patterns in which fire, support, and communication trenches formed -one great network of defence. - -The left flank of the Army was formed by Gough's Fifth Army, which -had pushed forward in the manner already described, the Second Corps -(Jacob) and the Canadians (Byng) being in the line upon September 15. -On their immediate right, and joining them in the trenches which face -Martinpuich, was Pulteney's Third Corps, which covered the whole line -down to High Wood. From the north-west of High Wood to the trenches -opposite Flers, Horne's long-suffering Fifteenth Corps still urged -the attack which it had commenced upon July 1. The units, it is -true, had changed, but it is difficult to exaggerate the long strain -which had been borne by this commander and his staff. An -appreciation of it was shown by his {237} elevation to the command of -the First Army at the conclusion of the operations. From the right -of Horne's Corps to the point of junction with the French the line -was filled by the Fourteenth Corps, under Lord Cavan of Ypres fame. -In the movement, then, which we are immediately considering, it is -the Third, Fifteenth, and Fourteenth Corps which are concerned. We -shall take them as usual from the left, and follow the fortunes of -each until their immediate operations reached some definite term. It -is a gigantic movement upon which we look, for from the Eleventh -Division in the Thiepval sector to the left, along ten miles of -crowded trenches to the Fifty-sixth Division near Combles upon the -right, twelve divisions, or about 120,000 infantry, were straining on -the leash as the minute hand crawled towards zero and the shell -streams swept ever swifter overhead. - -The three divisions which formed the Third Corps were, counting from -the left, the Fifteenth, the Fiftieth, and the Forty-seventh. Of -these, the Scots Division was faced by the strong line of defence in -front of Martinpuich and the village of that name. The north of -England territorials were opposite to the various German trenches -which linked Martinpuich to High Wood. The Londoners were faced by -the ghastly charnel-house of High Wood itself, taken and retaken so -often, but still mainly in German hands. At 6.20 A.M. the assault -went forward along the line. - -The Fifteenth Division, which had been strengthened by the 103rd -Brigade, advanced upon the line of trenches which separated them from -Martinpuich, the 46th Brigade being upon the left and the 45th upon -the right. The 10th Highland Light Infantry upon the left of the -46th Brigade were in close touch with {238} the Canadians upon their -left, forming the right-hand unit of Gough's Army. This brigade, -consisting of Highland Light Infantry, Scots Borderers, and Scottish -Rifles, swarmed over the German defences, while their comrades upon -the right, including Royal Scots, Scots Fusiliers, Camerons, and -Argylls, were no less successful. The fact that the whole line was -engaged removed the old bugbears of enfilade fire which had broken up -so many of our advances. The German barrage was heavy, but the -advance was so swift and the close fight of the trenches came so -quickly, that it was less effective than of old. A creeping barrage -from the British guns, going forward at a pace of fifty yards a -minute, kept in front of the infantry, whose eager feet were ever on -the edge of the shrapnel. With the 44th Highland Brigade in close -support the whole division swept roaring over the trenches, and with -hardly a pause flooded into Martinpuich, where they met the fringe of -the Canadians, whose main advance was to the north-west of the -village. It was a magnificent advance, and the more noteworthy as -the men of the 15th Division had already been for six unbroken weeks -in the line, digging, working, fighting, and continually under -shell-fire. Some groups of Germans in the village attempted a short -and hopeless resistance, but the greater number threw their arms down -and their hands up. It is said that a detachment of six Argylls got -into Martinpuich some little time before their comrades, owing to -some gap in the defences, and that they not only held their own -there, but were found when reinforced to be mounting guard over fifty -prisoners. Among many anecdotes of military virtue may be cited that -of a sergeant of this same battalion, which combined within one {240} -episode all the qualities which distinguish the very best type of -British soldier. He first attacked single-handed a number of German -dug-outs. From one of these a German officer was emerging with his -hands up. A soldier dashed forward in act to kill him, upon which -the sergeant threatened his comrade with the bomb which he held in -his hand. The German officer, as a sign of gratitude, presented -Cunningham on the spot with his Iron Cross, which the sergeant at -once despatched home to be sold for the benefit of the wounded. It -was a quaintly beautiful exhibition of a noble nature. - -------------------------------------------------------------------- - -{239} - -[Illustration: Taking of Martinpuich, September 15, 1916.] - -------------------------------------------------------------------- - -Immediate steps were taken to consolidate the village and to connect -up firmly with the Fiftieth Division on the line of Starfish Trench, -and with the Canadians on the line of Gunpit Trench, the general -final position being as shown in the diagram. The trophies upon this -occasion amounted to 13 machine-guns, 3 field-guns, 3 heavy -howitzers, and about 700 prisoners. There was a counter-attack upon -the morning of September 16, which was easily repulsed: and -afterwards, save for constant heavy shelling, the village was left in -the hands of the victors, until a few days later the Fifteenth was -relieved by the Twenty-third Division. - -Whilst this brilliant advance had been conducted upon their left, the -Fiftieth Division, the same north country Territorial Division which -had done such vital service during the gas battle at Ypres, had -carried the trenches opposed to them. They had no village or fixed -point at their front with which their success can be linked; but it -may be said generally that they kept the centre level with the two -victorious wings, and that in the evening of September 15 they {241} -extended from the Starfish trench on the left to the new position of -the Forty-seventh Division upon the right. This position was a -magnificent one, for High Wood had been finally taken, and the -British line had been carried forward by these splendid London -battalions, until in the evening the 140th Brigade upon the right had -been able to join up with the New Zealanders upon the Flers line. -Advancing upon a one-brigade front, with the 6th and 15th London in -the lead, the London territorials, after one slight check, rushed the -wood, and by 11 o'clock not only had it in their complete possession -but had won 150 yards beyond it, where they consolidated. Two tanks -which had been allotted to them were unfortunately unable to make -their way through that terrible chaos of fallen trees, irregular -trenches, deep shell-holes, and putrescent decay, which extended for -a third of a mile from south to north. The wood now passed -permanently into British hands, and the Forty-seventh Division has -the honour of the final capture; but in justice to the Thirty-third -and other brave divisions which had at different times taken and then -lost it, it must be remembered that it was a very much more difficult -proposition to hold it when there was no general attack, and when the -guns of the whole German line could concentrate upon the task of -making it uninhabitable. - -So much for the capture of High Wood by the Forty-seventh Division. -Speaking generally, it may be said that each of the three divisions -forming Pulteney's Third Corps was equally successful in reaching and -in retaining the objectives assigned for the attack. - -The dividing line between the Third Corps and {242} Horne's Fifteenth -Corps was to the south of High Wood in the neighbourhood of Drop -Trench. The order of the divisions in the latter corps from the left -was the New Zealanders, the Forty-first Division, and the Fourteenth -Light Division. We shall follow each in its turn. - -The New Zealand Division had confirmed in France the high reputation -which their predecessors had founded in South Africa, and which they -had themselves renewed on the Gallipoli peninsula. They were troops -with a splendid spirit, and no Londoner who has seen their tall lithe -figures with the crimson hat-bands which distinguish them from other -oversea troops, needs to be told how fine was their physique. They -were fortunate, too, in a divisional commander of great dash and -gallantry. It is not surprising, therefore, to find that in this, -their first serious battle, they carried themselves with great -distinction and made good the objective which had been assigned to -them. - -This objective was the famous Switch Trench between High Wood and -Delville Wood, a section which was held by the Fourth Bavarian -Division. Good as the Bavarians are, they had no chance when it came -to close quarters with the stalwart men of Auckland and Otago, who -formed the 2nd Brigade in the front line of the New Zealand battle. -The machine-gun fire which they had to face was heavy and deadly, -especially for the Otagos, who were on the left near High Wood. They -poured on, however, in an unbroken array, springing down into Switch -Trench, bayoneting part of the garrison, sending back the survivors -as prisoners, and rapidly forming up once more for a fresh advance. -The New Zealand Rifle {243} Brigade passed over the captured trench -and lay down under the barrage 300 yards beyond it, whence at 6.40 -they went forward upon a new advance with such impetuosity that they -could hardly be kept out of the friendly fire in front of them. The -next obstacle, Fat Trench, was easily surmounted, and by noon the -Flers Trench and Flers Support Trench had both fallen to this fine -advance. The village of Flers was not in the direct line of the -advance, but the fringe of the New Zealanders passed through the edge -of it, and connected up with the Forty-first Division who had -occupied it. - -When, as will presently be shown, the left-hand brigade of this -division was temporarily driven back by a sharp German -counter-attack, the New Zealanders were bare upon their right, while -a gap existed also upon their left. In spite of this they held on to -their advanced position to the north-west of the village, the line -being strengthened by battalions from Wellington, Hawke's Bay, and -West Coast, who pushed forward into the fight. - -In the morning of the 16th the reserve brigade had come up and the -advance was renewed as far as Grove Alley upon the left, the -Canterbury battalion clearing and holding the new ground, with the -Aucklanders and Otagos in immediate support. With this new advance -the New Zealanders had come forward 3000 yards in two days--a notable -performance--and were within short striking distance of the great -German systems of Gird Trench and Gird Support. Two German counters -that evening, one upon the Rifle Brigade and the other on the 1st -Wellington battalion, had no success. - -On the right of the New Zealanders was the Forty-first {244} Division -under one of the heroes of the original Seventh Division. His -objective after surmounting the German trench lines was the fortified -village of Flers. His artillery support was particularly strong, for -his C.R.A. had under him the very efficient guns of the Twenty-first -Division, as well as those of his own unit. The infantry advance was -carried out with the 122nd Brigade on the left, the 124th on the -right, and the 123rd in reserve. All the battalions save one were -South of England, and most of them from the home counties, a district -which has furnished some of the finest infantry of the War. As they -advanced they were in close touch with the 2nd New Zealanders upon -the left and with the 41st Brigade upon the right. The first -objective, Tea Support Trench, was rapidly overrun by the Royal -Riflemen, Hampshire, and Queen's Surrey battalions who formed the -front line. The garrison surrendered. The continuation of Switch -Trench stretched now in front of them, and both front brigades, with -a ten minutes' interval in favour of the left one, made good the -sections in front of them. The division was fortunate in its tanks, -for seven out of ten got over the first line, and some survived for -the whole day, spreading dismay in front of them and amused -appreciation behind. The resistance was by no means desperate save -by a few machine-gunners, who were finally scared or butted out of -their emplacements by the iron monsters. Two tanks did good service, -cutting the wire to the west of Flers Road, and the village was -opened up to the stormers, who rushed into it shortly after eight -o'clock. One tank went up the east side of the village and crushed -in two houses containing machine-guns, while another {245} one passed -down the main street; and yet another cleared up the west side. -Nowhere upon this day of battle did these engines of warfare justify -themselves so well as at Flers. - -By ten o'clock the village was cleared and consolidated, but the -German guns were very active, and there was a strong counter-attack -from fresh infantry, which fell heavily upon the already worn troops -who had now passed beyond the village and got as far as the Box and -Cox trenches. There had been a large number of officer casualties. -Shortly after ten o'clock an officer of the 18th King's Royal Rifles -had got far forward with a mixed party of 100 men with some Lewis -guns, and had established a strong point at Box and Cox, which he -held until about one. During those three hours the shell-fall was -very severe. The division had become somewhat scattered, partly -owing to the street fighting in Flers and partly because the 124th -Brigade upon the right, although it had kept touch with the 41st -Brigade, had lost touch with its own comrades upon the left. Finding -that its left flank was open, it fell back and took up the line of -the Sunken Road, a quarter of a mile south of Flers, where it -remained. - -Meanwhile the 122nd Brigade was in some trouble. The pressure of -counter-attack in front of it had become so heavy that there was a -general falling back of the more advanced units. This retrograde -movement was stopped by the Brigade-Major, who collected a section of -the 228th Field Company of Royal Engineers, together with little -groups of mixed battalions in Flers Trench, and sent them forward -again, working in conjunction with the New Zealand 3rd (Rifle) -Brigade to the north end of {246} the village. Avoiding the centre -of Flers, which was flaring and flaming with shells like the live -crater of a volcano, these troops skirted the flank of the houses and -by 2 P.M. had arrived once more at the north and north-west of the -hamlet. Five Vickers guns were brought up, and the position made -good by 2 P.M., the Brigadier-General being personally most active in -this reorganisation of his line. - -Whilst the 122nd Brigade had met and overcome this momentary -set-back, the 124th upon the right had endured a similar experience -and had come out of it with equal constancy. Shortly after one they -had fallen back to Flers Trench, where they were rallied by their -Brigadier, and moved forward again accompanied by some stray units of -the Fourteenth Division. About 3 P.M. they were reinforced by two -fresh companies of the 23rd Middlesex from the reserve brigade. By -half-past four the whole of the remains of the division were north of -Flers in a ragged but indomitable line, steadily winning ground once -more, and pushing back the German attack. By half-past six they had -got level with Flea Trench and Hogshead, and were close to the great -Gird Trench. Some of the 124th tried hard to establish themselves in -this important work, but lost heavily from a machine-gun established -in a cornfield upon their right. At seven o'clock the advanced line -was consolidated, and the scattered units reorganised so far as the -want of officers would permit. Very many of the latter, including -Colonel Ash of the 23rd Middlesex, had been killed or wounded. The -11th Queen's, from the reserve brigade, was sent up to strengthen the -front posts, while an officer of the same battalion was placed in -charge of the Flers defences. No {247} tank was left intact in the -evening, but they had amply justified themselves and done brilliant -work in this section of the battlefield. - -The morning of September 16 saw a forward movement in this quarter -upon the Gird Trench, which was shared in by the divisions upon both -wings. The 64th Brigade of the Twenty-first Division had been placed -under the orders of the General commanding the Forty-first for the -purpose of this attack, so that the subsequent losses fell upon the -North-countrymen. The advance got forward about 200 yards and -established itself close to the great trench, but the losses were -heavy, the machine-guns active, and farther progress was for the -moment impossible. The 9th Yorkshire Light Infantry and 15th Durham -Light Infantry were the chief sufferers in this affair. Upon -September 17 the Fifty-fifth Division relieved the Forty-first, whose -record for the battle was certainly a glorious one, as in one day -they had taken Tea Support, Switch Trench, Flers Trench, Flers -village, Box and Cox and Flea Trench, any one of which might be -considered an achievement. How great their efforts were may be -measured by the fact that nearly 50 per cent had fallen. The losses -of the 124th were almost as heavy, and those of the 123rd were -considerable. Altogether 149 officers out of 251 and 2994 out of -about 7500 were killed or wounded. The opponents both of the -Forty-first and of the Fourteenth Divisions were the Fifth Bavarian -Division, who held the German line from Flers to Ginchy, and must -have been well-nigh annihilated in the action. - -The story of the Fourteenth Light Division has been to some extent -told in recounting the experiences {248} of the Forty-first Division, -as the two advanced side by side upon prolongations of the same -trenches, with equal dangers and equal successes. No village fell -within the sphere of their actual operations, though a complete -victory would have brought them to Guedecourt, but it was part of -their task to sweep up the German trenches to the north of Delville -Wood, especially the Tea Support and the Switch Trench. This task -was committed to the 41st Brigade, consisting entirely of Rifle -Brigade or Royal Rifle Battalions. The advance was for 500 yards -downhill, and then up a long slope of 700 yards, which leads to a -plateau about 200 yards across, with the Switch Trench in the centre -of it. The Riflemen swept over this space with a splendid dash which -showed that they had inherited all those qualities of the old 60th -which were cultivated by Sir John Moore and celebrated by Napier, -qualities which were always shared by their comrades of the Rifle -Brigade. Regardless of the enemy's fire, and so eager that they -occasionally were struck on the backs by their own shrapnel, the long -thin lines pushed forward in perfect formation, the 8th Rifles and -8th Rifle Brigade in front, with the 7th Battalions of the same -regiments in close support. - -By ten o'clock they had cleared the network of trenches in front of -them and gone forward 2000 yards. The main attack was carried on by -the 42nd Brigade, composed also of Riflemen with the 5th Oxford and -Bucks and 5th Shropshires. This brigade pushed on, keeping in close -touch with the Forty-first Division upon the left, but gradually -losing touch with the Guards upon their right, so that a dangerous -gap was created. It was covered by the {249} 7th Divisional -Artillery as well as by its own guns. In its advance it passed -through the ranks of its fellow-brigade, which had cleared the first -trenches up to and including the line of the Switch Trench. The -front line from the left consisted of the 5th Shropshires and 9th -Rifle Brigade, with the 5th Oxford and Bucks and 9th Rifles behind. -From the beginning the brigade was under heavy fire, and the colonel -of the Oxfords was twice wounded, which did not prevent him from -still leading his battalion. The first obstacle, Gap Trench, was -safely carried, and the line swept onwards to Bulls Road where they -were cheered by the sight of a tank engaging and silencing a German -battery, though it was itself destroyed in the moment of victory. -The losses in the two rifle battalions were especially heavy as the -right flank was exposed owing to the gap which had formed. This -deadly fire held up the flank, with the result that the Shropshires -and Oxfords who were less exposed to it soon found themselves -considerably in advance of their comrades, where they formed a line -which was extended about mid-day by the arrival of the 9th Rifles. -At this period large reinforcements of the enemy were seen flocking -into Gird Trench and Gird Support Trench in front. So strong were -they that they attempted a counter-attack upon the right front of the -42nd Brigade, but this was brought to a stand, and finally broken up -by rifle and Lewis-gun fire. The supporting 43rd Brigade came up in -the evening and took over the ground gained, together with four -German guns which had been captured. The final result, therefore, -was that the division had won its way to the edge of that Gird Trench -which represented the next great task which should be attempted {250} -by the Army--a task which, as already shown, was attempted by three -divisions upon the morning of September 16, but proved to be too -formidable for their depleted and wearied ranks. - -This fine advance of the Fourteenth Division brought them over the -low ridge which had faced them. "It was a grand sight," says a -Rifleman, "to see the promised land lying green at one's feet, with -Germans moving across the open, and ammunition waggons going at a -trot to and from their batteries, but the grandest sight of the day -was seeing the battalions advance, the men dancing along only too -anxious to get to close grips with the enemy." - -Among many brave deeds recorded of the division there was none finer -than those of a captain and a corporal, both of the Medical Service, -who stayed in the open all day in spite of wounds, tending those who -were hardly worse than themselves. - -On the evening of September 16 there was an advance of the 43rd -Brigade, consisting of Somerset, Durham, Cornish, and Yorkshire Light -Infantry, which succeeded in establishing itself in the Gird Trench, -though they found it impossible to get as far as the Gird Support. -This successful advance was supported by the Shropshire and Oxford -battalions of the 42nd Brigade, who established flank protections and -got into touch with the Guards in Gap Trench upon the right. The -Fourteenth Division was withdrawn from the line after this, and their -place taken by the Twenty-first. - -We have now briefly considered the operations carried out during this -great battle by Horne's Fifteenth Corps. Upon their right, -stretching from the neighbourhood of Ginchy to the left of the French -{251} Army in the neighbourhood of Combles, was Cavan's Fourteenth -Corps, which contained in its battle line the Guards, the Sixth -Division, and the 56th London Territorial Division. Taking them, as -always, from the left, we will begin by tracing the progress of the -Guards. - -The Guards Division had taken over the Ginchy Section some days -previously from the Irish Division, and had at once found themselves -involved in very heavy fighting, which left them a good deal weakened -for the great advance. They were faced by a strong system of -trenches, and especially by one stronghold upon their right front, -called the Quadrilateral, which was a most formidable thorn, not only -in their side but also in that of the Sixth Division upon the right. -On September 13 and 14 these two divisions strove hard, and sustained -heavy losses in the endeavour to clear their front of, and to -outflank, this serious obstacle, and some account of these -preliminary operations may be here introduced, although, as -explained, they were antecedent to the general engagement. The -attack upon the German trenches on the evening of September 13 was -begun by the Sixth Division, which advanced with the 71st Brigade -upon the left, the Sixteenth upon the right, and the Eighteenth in -reserve. For 500 yards the advance was successful until it reached -the sunken road which leads from Ginchy to Leuze Wood. Here the -leading battalions of the 71st Brigade, the 2nd Sherwood Foresters -upon the left and the 9th Suffolk upon the right, were held up by a -furious fire which caused them heavy losses. The 8th Bedford, one of -the leading battalions of the 16th Brigade, was also heavily -punished. Many {252} officers fell, including Major Mack of the -Suffolks, a civilian-bred soldier over sixty years of age, who had -distinguished himself by his fiery courage. The 2nd Brigade of -Guards had advanced upon the left, near Ginchy Telegraph, and had -also forced their way as far as the road, where they were held up -partly by a terrific barrage from the north-east and partly by the -murderous fire from the Quadrangle. The whole line dug in upon the -ground they had won and waited for a farther push in the morning. In -this action No. 2 Company of the 2nd Irish Guards suffered heavy -casualties from close-range fire. - -On September 14 a second attempt was made to get forward, the action -being a purely local one, but extending over a considerable space -from Ginchy to near Leuze Wood, with its centre on the line of Ginchy -Telegraph. The 3rd Brigade of Guards came into action this morning -and made some progress in the orchard north of Ginchy. At the same -time, the 2nd Sherwoods got astride of the little railway which -intersected their position. The gains were inconsiderable, however, -which could not be said for the losses, mostly due to machine-gun -fire from the Quadrangle. The fact that this point was still untaken -gave the whole Fourteenth Corps a very difficult start for the -general action upon September 15 to which we now come. - -On the signal for the general advance the Guards Division advanced on -the front between Delville Wood and Ginchy. The 1st Guards Brigade -was on the left, the 2nd on the right, and the 3rd in reserve. The -front line of battalions counting from the left were the 3rd, 2nd, -and 1st Coldstreams with the 3rd Grenadiers as right flank. Behind, -in the second line {253} from the left, were the 1st Irish, 2nd -Grenadiers, 2nd Irish, and 1st Scots. Disregarding the Quadrilateral -upon their right, which was holding up the Sixth Division, the Guards -swept magnificently onwards, losing many officers and men, but never -their direction or formation. From 6.20 in the morning until 4 P.M. -they overcame one obstacle after another, and continually advanced, -though the progress was unequal at different points on the line. -There was a short sharp bout of hand-to-hand fighting in the front -line trench, but the rush of the heavy disciplined Guardsmen was -irresistible, and the defenders were soon overwhelmed. In this mêlée -the battalions got badly mixed up, part of the 2nd Irish getting -carried away by the 1st Brigade. The 1st Brigade found a more -formidable obstacle in front of them in Vat Alley, but this also was -cleared after a struggle, the left-hand units getting mixed with the -right-hand units of the Fourteenth Division. About one o'clock the -3rd Coldstreams on the extreme left were held up by a wired strong -point. They were weak in numbers and almost without officers, so -they dug in as best they could and waited. On the right the 2nd -Brigade made good progress, and about mid-day its leading line topped -the low ridge and saw the land of promise beyond, the green slope -leading up to Lesboeufs, and in the middle of the slope, not more -than a thousand yards away, a battery of field-guns raining shrapnel -upon them. They could get no farther, and they consolidated at this -point, digging in under heavy shell-fire. The German infantry was -seen at one time marching down in artillery formation for a -counter-attack, but the movement was soon dispersed. In the evening -the front line, terribly worn and consisting {254} of a jumble of -exhausted men, held on firmly to the last inch that they had won. -Too weak to advance and too proud to retire, they lay under the -torment of the shells and waited for dusk. The colonel of the 3rd -Coldstreams, in temporary command of his brigade, had sent back -during the afternoon for help, and the 2nd Scots were sent up from -the 3rd Brigade, but the German barrage was so terrific that they -sustained very heavy losses, including Colonel Tempest, Wynne-Finch, -the adjutant, and many other officers. The battalion, or what -remained of it, arrived in time to help to crush a dangerous -counter-attack, which was sweeping down from between Guedecourt and -Lesboeufs, a repulse which was entirely inflicted by rifle and -Lewis-gun fire. A lieutenant seems to have been the senior officer -present at this critical moment, and to have met it as our subalterns -have so often met large emergencies during the War. The advanced -line was held until upon the next day the 60th Brigade, and finally -the whole of the Twentieth Division, took over the new positions, -which may be regarded as a protective flank line in continuation of -that of the Fifty-sixth Division. It should be mentioned that the -61st Brigade of the Twentieth Division had been lent to the Guards -during the battle, and had done very sterling and essential work. -For a short time the Guards were rested after this splendid but -costly service. - -In the meantime the gallant Sixth Division was left face to face with -the hardest problem of all, the Quadrilateral trenches, which, as the -name would indicate, were as formidable in the flanks or rear as in -front. With a tenacity which was worthy of the traditions of this -great division it settled down to the {255} task of clearing its -front, meeting with check after check, but carrying on day and night -until the thing was done. On the first assault upon September 15, -the 1st Leicesters of the 71st Brigade were able to make some -progress, but the 8th Bedford of the 16th Brigade, who shared the -attack, were completely held up at the starting-point by the terrific -fire, while the 1st Buffs had heavy losses in endeavouring to come up -to their aid. By about mid-day a mixture of battalions, which -numbered about 200 of the York and Lancasters, 50 Buffs and 50 -Bedfords, had made their way into the advanced German line, but the -Quadrilateral was still intact. The General, seeing the certain -losses and uncertain results which must follow from a frontal attack, -determined to work round the obstacle, and before evening the 16th -Brigade, which had already lost 1200 men, was ready for the advance. -The 18th Brigade had gone forward past the Quadrilateral upon the -left, working up to the Ginchy-Morval Road, and in close touch with -the 1st Scots Guards on the extreme flank of the Guards Division. It -now worked down towards the north face of the German stronghold, and -in the course of September 16 the 2nd Durham Light Infantry, by a -bold advance laid hold of the northern trench of the Quadrilateral -down to within a hundred yards of the Ginchy-Morval Road. Here they -were relieved by the 1st West Yorks, who took over the task upon the -17th, keeping up constant pressure upon the garrison whose resistance -was admirable. These brave men belonged to the One hundred and -eighty-fifth German Division. By this time they were isolated, as -the British wave had rolled far past them on either side, but their -spirit {256} was as high as ever. A second trench to the north of -the work was rushed upon September 17 by the Leicesters, who -bayoneted fifty Germans in a hand-to-hand conflict. Early in the -morning of September 18 came the end, when the British battalions, -led by the 1st Shropshire Light Infantry, closed suddenly in and -stormed the position. Seven machine-guns (five of which fell to the -Shropshires) and a few hundred exhausted or wounded prisoners -represented the trophies of this very difficult operation. The Sixth -Division now connected up with the Twentieth upon their left, and -with the Fifty-sixth upon their right, after which, upon September -19, they handed over their front for a time to the Fifth Division. - -There now only remains the Fifty-sixth Division upon the extreme -right of the Army--the division which contained many of the crack -London Territorial Battalions, re-formed and reinforced since its -terrible losses at the Gommecourt Salient upon July 1. In following -the fortunes of this fine division upon September 15, it is necessary -to go back for some days, as a series of operations had been -undertaken before the great battle, which were as arduous as the -battle itself. On coming into the line on September 9, the division -had at once been given the task of advancing that wing of the Army. -Upon that date the 168th and 169th Brigades were attacking upon the -line of the road which connects Ginchy with Combles, the general -objects of the advance being gradually to outflank Combles on the one -side and the Quadrilateral upon the other. Some ground was -permanently gained by both brigades upon that day, the Victoria -Rifles and the 4th London doing most of the fighting. - -------------------------------------------------------------------- - -{257} - -[Illustration: ATTACK on QUADRILATERAL, September 15th, 1916.] - -------------------------------------------------------------------- - -{258} - -Upon September 10 the advance was continued, a scattered clump of -trees called Leuze Wood being the immediate obstacle in front of the -right-hand brigade, while the left-hand brigade was trying to get -into touch with the division upon their left, and were confronted by -the continuation of the same system of trenches. The 169th Brigade -upon the right was advancing through Leuze Wood, and suffered heavy -losses before reaching its objective. On the left the London -Scottish and the Rangers were extending east along the Ginchy Road, -endeavouring to link up with the Guards, for there was an awkward gap -at that date between the divisions. This was filled, however, by the -advent of the Fifth and subsequently of the Sixth Division. The -object of all the above operations was to get the right flank of the -Army into its allotted position for the battle to come. - -Upon September 15 the London Division went forward with the whole -line at 6.20 in the morning, the 167th Brigade on the left, the 169th -upon the right. The original direction of advance had been north and -south, but it soon became almost from west to east as the division, -pivoting upon Leuze Wood, swung round to attack Bouleaux Wood to the -north of it, and to hold a defensive flank for the whole army. Their -front was a very narrow one to allow for the fact that their -essential work was lateral. - -The 167th Brigade fought its way bravely into Bouleaux Wood, where -they endured the usual horrors of this forest fighting, which came -especially upon the 7th Middlesex battalion, who lost 400 men, -chiefly from the fire of unseen machine-guns. There was a very heavy -barrage between Ginchy and Bouleaux Wood, so that all reserves and -supports endured heavy {259} losses before they could get up. By -mid-day the 1st London and the 8th were involved in the wood and some -progress was being made, while the 2nd London of the 169th Brigade -had taken and consolidated a trench near the Sunken Road, but a -further attack upon a second trench to the east of Leuze Wood, two -days later, was a failure. On this same day, September 18, the 168th -Brigade relieved the 167th in Bouleaux Wood, while the whole -division, like one blade of a scissors, edged its way eastwards -towards Combles to meet the French Second Division, who were closing -in from the other side. Already rumours were current that the -Germans were evacuating this important little town, but many very -active German trenches and strong points still lay all round it, -through which the Allies, from either side, were endeavouring to -force their way. On the night of September 18-19, the 5th Cheshires, -pioneer battalion of the division, constructed a long trench parallel -to Bouleaux Wood, which formed a defensive flank for the operations. -The whole of this wood had now been cleared with the exception of the -extreme northern corner. Here we may leave the Fifty-sixth Division, -for the fall of Combles will fit in more properly to our next survey, -when we shall have once again to go down the whole line from left to -right and to show one more stage in the advance. - -This Battle of Flers may be said to mark an epoch in military history -on account of the use of the so-called tank, an instrument which had -no vital effect upon the course of the fight, but which was obviously -capable of being much enlarged, and of being made in every way more -formidable. It had been a common criticism up to this date that our -military equipment {260} had always been an imitation, very belated, -of that of our enemy. Now at last Great Britain, warming to the War, -was giving her inventive and manufacturing as well as her military -talents full scope--and the tank was the first-born of her fancy. It -is a matter of history that Britain has been the inventor of -processes and Germany the adapter of them, so that we had a valuable -asset in that direction could we break through our bonds of red tape -and get without hindrance from the thinker in his study to the -fighter in the trench. Those who have had the experience of -discussing any military problem in the Press, and have found by the -next post fifty letters from men of all ranks and professions, -presenting solutions for it, can best understand how active is the -inventive brain of the country. In this instance, Mr. Winston -Churchill is said, during his tenure of office, to have first -conceived the idea of the tanks, but the actual details were worked -out by a number of men. Especially they are owing to Colonel Stern, -a civilian before the War, who used his knowledge of motor -manufacture and his great organising ability to put the construction -through in the shortest time, to Commander d'Eyncourt of the Navy, -and to Colonel Swinton, R.E., who looked after the crews and -equipment. On an average six of these engines, strange modern -resuscitations of the war-chariots of our ancestors, were allotted to -each division. The whole affair was frankly experimental, and many -got into trouble through the breakdown of machinery, the limits of -carrying capacity, and the slipping of the caterpillar driving-bands -at the sides. Their pace, too, was against them, as they could only -go twenty yards per minute as against the fifty of the infantry. -Hence {261} they had to be sent ahead down lanes in the barrage, with -the result that the element of surprise was lessened. Their vision -also was very defective, and they were bad neighbours, as they drew -fire. The result was a very mixed report from various Divisional -Commanders, some of whom swore by, and others at them. The net -result, however, was summed up by the words of commendation from -General Haig in his despatch, and there were some cases, as at Flers -itself, where the work done was simply invaluable, and the -machine-guns were nosed out and rooted up before they could do any -damage. The adventures of individual tanks could, and no doubt will, -fill a volume to themselves, some of them, either in ignorance or -recklessness, wandering deep into the enemy's lines, and amazing -rearward batteries by their sudden uncouth appearance. Several were -destroyed, but none actually fell into the German hands. Enough was -done to show their possibilities, and also to prove that the Navy and -the Flying Service had not sufficed to exhaust our amazing supply of -high-spirited youths ready to undertake the most nerve-shaking tasks -so long as a touch of sport gave them a flavour. The very names of -these land cruisers, Crême de Menthe and the like, showed the joyous, -debonair spirit in which their crews faced the unknown dangers of -their new calling. - -Summing up the events of September 15, it was without any doubt the -greatest British victory, though not the most important, which had -been gained up to date in the War. July 1 was the most important, -and all subsequent ones arose from it, since it was then that the -Chinese Wall of Germany was breached. July 14 was also a -considerable victory, but it was only a {262} portion of the line -which was attacked, and that portion was partly regained for a time -by the German counter-attacks. The battle of September 15, however, -was on as huge a scale as that of July 1, but was devoid of those -long stretches of untaken trench which made us pay so heavy a price -for our victory. From the Pozières Ridge upon the left to Bouleaux -Wood upon the right twelve divisions moved forward to victory, and, -save in the small section of the Quadrilateral, everything gave way -at once to that majestic advance. The ultimate objectives had been -carefully defined, for the Battle of Loos had taught us that the -infantry must not outrun the guns, but this pre-ordained limit was -attained at almost every spot. Martinpuich, High Wood, Flers, -Delville, and Leuze Wood, all passed permanently within the British -lines, and the trophies of victory amounted to 5000 prisoners and a -dozen guns. At this stage no less than 21,000 prisoners had been -taken by the British and 34,000 by the French since the great series -of battles was commenced upon July 1. - - - - -{263} - -CHAPTER XI - -THE GAINING OF THE THIEPVAL RIDGE - -Assault on Thiepval by Eighteenth Division--Heavy -fighting--Co-operation of Eleventh Division--Fall of Thiepval--Fall -of Schwaben Redoubt--Taking of Stuff Redoubt--Important gains on the -Ridge. - - -Having treated the successful advance made by Rawlinson's Fourth Army -upon September 15, it would be well before continuing the narrative -of their further efforts to return to Gough's Army upon the north, -the right Canadian wing of which had captured Courcelette, but which -was occupied in the main with the advance upon the Thiepval Ridge. - -The actual capture of Thiepval was an operation of such importance -that it must be treated in some detail. The village, or rather the -position, was a thorn in the side of the British, as it lay with its -veteran garrison of Würtembergers, girdled round and flanked by -formidable systems of trenches upon the extreme left of their line. -Just above Thiepval was a long slope ending in a marked ridge, which -was topped by the Schwaben Redoubt. Both armies recognised the -extreme importance of this position, since its capture would mean a -fire-command over all the German positions to the north of the Ancre, -while {264} without it the British could never reap the full result -of their success in breaking the line upon July 1. For this reason, -instructions had been given to the picked German troops who held it -to resist at all costs, even to the death. They had massed at least -four hundred guns in order to beat down every assault. Yet the -attempt must be made, and it was assigned to Jacob's Second Corps, -the actual Divisions engaged being the Eighteenth and the Eleventh, -both of them units recruited in the South of England. The latter was -distinguished as the first English Division of the New Armies, while -the former had already gained great distinction in the early days of -the Somme battle when they captured Trones Wood. They were supported -in their difficult venture by a considerable concentration of -artillery, which included the guns of the Twenty-fifth and -Forty-ninth Divisions as well as their own. Jacob, their Corps -leader, was an officer who had risen from the command of an -Anglo-Indian Brigade to that of a Corps within two years. The whole -operation, like all others in this region, was under the direction of -Sir Hubert Gough. - -------------------------------------------------------------------- - -{265} - -[Illustration: PLAN illustrating the Capture of THIEPVAL, September -26th, October 5th, 1916.] - -------------------------------------------------------------------- - -Every possible preparation was made for the assault, and all the -requirements of prolonged warfare were used to minimise the losses -and ensure the success of the storm-troops. Four tanks were brought -up to co-operate, and one of them, as will be shown, was of vital use -at a critical moment. Instructions were given to the advancing -battalions to let their own shrapnel strike within a few yards of -their toes as they advanced, huddling in a thick line behind the -screen of falling bullets which beat down the machine-guns in front. -With fine judgment in some cases the supports were taken out of the -advanced trenches and {266} concealed here or there so that the -answering barrage of the enemy fell upon emptiness. So war-wise were -the British, and so cool their dispositions, that certain enemy -trenches were actually exempted from bombardment, so that they might -form an intact nucleus of defence when the place was taken. - -The Canadian Corps were to attack from Courcelette upon the right, -but their advance was only indirectly concerned with Thiepval -Village, being directed towards the ridge which runs north-west of -Courcelette to the Schwaben Redoubt. Next to the Canadians on the -left was the Eleventh Division, and on their left the Thirteenth, -which had been strengthened by the addition of the 146th Brigade of -the Forty-ninth Division. The latter brigade held the original -British front line during the action so as to release the whole of -the Eighteenth Division for the advance. The immediate objective of -this division was Thiepval Village, to be followed by the Schwaben -Redoubt. Those of the Eleventh Division on its right were Zollern -and Stuff Redoubts. - -The Eighteenth Division assaulted with two brigades, the 53rd on the -right, the 54th on the left, each being confronted by a network of -trenches backed by portions of the shattered village. The advance -was from south to north, and at right angles to the original British -trench line. The hour of fate was 12.35 in the afternoon of -September 26. - -The average breadth of No Man's Land was 250 yards, which was crossed -by these steady troops at a slow, plodding walk, the pace being -regulated by the searching barrage, which lingered over every -shell-hole in front of them. Through the hard work of the sappers -and Sussex pioneers, the assembly {267} trenches had been pushed well -out, otherwise the task would have been more formidable. - -Following the fortunes of the 53rd Brigade upon the right, its -movements were supposed to synchronise with those of the 33rd Brigade -upon the left flank of the Eleventh Division. The right advanced -battalion was the 8th Suffolk, with the 10th Essex upon the left, -each of them in six waves. Close at their heels came the 8th -Norfolk, whose task was to search dug-outs and generally to -consolidate the ground won. The front line of stormers rolled over -Joseph Trench, which was the German advanced position, but before -they had reached it there was a strange eruption of half-dressed -unarmed Germans yelling with terror and bolting through the barrage. -Many of them dashed through the stolid Suffolks, who took no notice -of them, but let them pass. Others lost their nerve like rabbits at -a battue, and darted here and there between the lines until the -shrapnel found them. It was an omen of victory that such clear signs -of shaken moral should be evident so early in the day. There was -sterner stuff behind, however, as our men were speedily to learn. - -The advance went steadily forward, cleaning up the trenches as it -went, and crossing Schwaben Trench, Zollern Trench, and Bulgar -Trench, in each of which there was sharp resistance, only quelled by -the immediate presence of our Lewis guns, or occasionally by the rush -of a few determined men with bayonets. It was 2.30 before the -advance was brought to a temporary stand by machine-gun fire from the -right. After that hour a small party of Suffolks under Lieutenant -Mason got forward some distance ahead, and made a strong point which -they held till evening, {268} this gallant young officer falling -under the enemy's fire. - -The success of the Suffolks upon the right was equalled by that of -the Essex on the left, passing through the eastern portion of -Thiepval without great loss, for the usual machine-gun fire seemed to -have been stamped out by the British guns. The whole of this fine -advance of the 53rd Brigade covered about 1000 yards in depth and -accounted for a great number of the enemy in killed, wounded, and -prisoners. The advance made and the cost paid both showed that our -officers and soldiers were learning the lessons of modern warfare -with that swift adaptability which Britain has shown in every phase -of this terrific and prolonged test. This old, old nation's blood -has flowed into so many younger ones that her own vitality might well -be exhausted; but she has, on the contrary, above all the combatants, -given evidence of the supple elasticity of youth, moulding herself in -an instant to every movement of the grim giant with whom she fought. - -Great as had been the success of the 53rd Brigade, it was not -possible for them to get on to the Schwaben Redoubt, their ultimate -objective, because, as will be shown, matters were more difficult -upon the left, and one corner of the village was still in German -possession. They ended the day, therefore, with two battalions -consolidating the Zollern Line, a third in support in the Schwaben -Trench, and a fourth, the 6th Berks, bringing up munitions and food -to their exhausted but victorious comrades. The front line was much -mixed, but the men were in good heart, and a visit from their -Brigadier in the early morning of the 27th did much to reassure them. -To carry on the story {269} of this brigade to the conclusion of the -attack it may be added that the whole of the 27th was spent on -consolidation and on a daring reconnaissance by a captain of the 53rd -Trench Mortar Battery, who crawled forward alone, and made it clear -by his report that a new concerted effort was necessary before the -Brigade could advance. - -We shall now return to 12.35 P.M. on September 26, and follow the -54th Brigade upon the left. The advance was carried out by the 12th -Middlesex, with instructions to attack the village, and by the 11th -Royal Fusiliers, whose task was to clear the maze of trenches and -dug-outs upon the west of the village, while the 6th Northamptons -were to be in close support. So difficult was the task, that a -frontage of only 300 yards was allotted to the Brigade, so as to -ensure weight of attack--the Fusiliers having a front line of one -platoon. - -The advance ran constantly into a network of trenches with nodal -strong points which were held with resolution and could only be -carried by fierce hand-to-hand fighting. Captain Thompson, -Lieutenants Miall-Smith and Cornaby, and many of their Fusiliers in -the leading company, were killed or wounded in this desperate -business. So stern was the fight that the Fusiliers on the left got -far behind their own barrage, and also behind their Middlesex -comrades on the right, who swept up as far as the château before they -were brought to a temporary halt. Here, at the very vital moment, -one of the tanks, the only one still available, came gliding forward -and put out of action the machine-guns of the chateau, breaking down -in the effort, and remaining on the scene of its success. Across the -whole front of the {270} advance there were now a series of small -conflicts at close quarters, so stubborn that the left wing of the -Fusiliers was held stationary in constant combat for the rest of the -day. Extraordinary initiative was shown by privates of both leading -battalions when left without officers in this scattered fighting, and -here, no doubt, we have a result depending upon the formed educated -stuff which went to the making of such troops as these London units -of the new armies. Private Edwards and Private Ryder each gained -their V.C. at this stage of the action by single-handed advances -which carried forward the line. Corporal Tovey lost his life in a -similar gallant venture, bayoneting single-handed the crew of a -machine-gun and silencing it. Fierce battles raged round garrisoned -dug-outs, where no quarter was given or taken on either side. One -considerable garrison refused to surrender and perished horribly in -the flames of their wood-lined refuge. Those who fled from their -refuges were cut down by Lewis guns, a lieutenant of the Fusiliers -getting 50 in this manner. This officer also distinguished himself -by his use of a captured map, which enabled him to lead his men to -the central telephone installation, where 20 operators were seized by -a corporal and two files of Fusiliers, who afterwards put the wires -out of gear. - -These great results had not been obtained without heavy losses. -Colonel Carr of the Fusiliers, Major Hudson, and the Adjutant had all -fallen. About three in the afternoon the village had all been -cleared save the north-west corner, but the battalions were very -mixed, the barrage deadly, the order of the attack out of gear, and -the position still insecure. The 54th Brigade was well up with the -53rd upon the {271} right, but upon the left it was held up as -already described. The German egg bombs were falling in this area as -thick as snowballs in a schoolboy battle, while the more formidable -stick bombs were often to be seen, twenty at a time, in the air. - -A great deal now depended upon the supports, as the front line was -evidently spent and held. The immediate support was the 6th -Northamptons. In moving forward it lost both Colonel Ripley and the -Adjutant, and many officers fell, two companies being left entirely -to the charge of the sergeants, who rose finely to their -responsibilities. When by four o'clock the battalion had got up -through the barrage, there were only two unwounded company officers -left standing, both second lieutenants. It was one more -demonstration of the fact that a modern barrage can create a zone -through which it is practically impossible for unarmoured troops to -move. The result was that the battalion was so weak by the time it -got up, that it was less a support to others than a unit which was in -need of support. The three depleted battalions simply held their -line, therefore, until night, and under the cover of darkness they -were all drawn off, and the remaining battalion, the 7th Bedfords, -took their place. That this could be done at night in strange -trenches within a few yards of the German line is a feat which -soldiers will best appreciate. The result was that as day broke on -the 27th the Germans were faced not by a fringe of exhausted men, but -by a perfectly fresh battalion which was ready and eager for -immediate attack. - -The whole of Thiepval had been taken upon the 26th, save only the -north-west corner, and it was upon this that two companies of the -Bedfords were now {272} directed, their objectives being defined for -them by a captain who had fought over the ground the day before. -Thanks to the gallant leadership of another captain and of Lieutenant -Adlam (the latter gaining his Victoria Cross), the place was carried -at small loss, and this last refuge of the Thiepval Germans was -cleared out. It was a glorious achievement, for by it this very -strong point, held against all attacks, French or British, for two -years, passed permanently into our hands. The losses were not -excessive for such a gain, amounting to about 1500 men. Those of the -Germans were very much heavier, and included 600 prisoners drawn from -four different regiments. Over 1000 dead were counted. - -We will now hark back to 12.35 P.M., the hour of assault, and follow -the fortunes of the Eleventh or first English Division of the New -Armies which was advancing upon the right of the Eighteenth Division. -Within half an hour of the assault the 33rd Brigade and the 34th had -crossed both the Joseph and the Schwaben Trenches, the 6th Borders, -9th Sherwood Foresters, 8th Northumberland Fusiliers, and 9th -Lancashire Fusiliers forming the front line. Keeping some sort of -touch with Maxse's men on the left they pushed on until their right -wing was held up by violent machine-gun fire from the Zollern Redoubt -and from Mouquet Farm, the losses falling especially upon the 5th -Dorsets. Between six and seven in the evening a mixed body of troops -from the division, assisted by the machine-guns of two stranded -tanks, attacked Mouquet and finally carried it. - -The Eighteenth Division had still a very formidable task before it to -be undertaken with the co-operation of the Eleventh upon its right. -This was the capture {273} of the formidable stronghold, made up of -many trenches and called the Schwaben Redoubt. It was a thousand -yards distant up a long broken slope. No time was lost in tackling -this new labour, and at 1 P.M. on September 28 the troops moved -forward once again, the same brigades being used, but the worn -battalions being replaced by fresh units drawn from the 55th Brigade. -The 53rd Brigade on the right had the undefeatable Suffolks and the -7th Queen's Surreys in the van with Norfolks and Essex behind. The -54th upon a narrower front had the 7th Bedfords in front, with the -5th West Yorks from the Forty-ninth Division in immediate support, -the Buffs and East Surrey being in Divisional Reserve. The Germans -had got a captive balloon into the air, but their gunnery was not -particularly improved thereby. - -At the first rush the Suffolk and Queen's on the right took Bulgar -and Martin Trenches, while the Eleventh Division took Hessian. By -2.30 Market Trench had also fallen. The troops were now well up to -Schwaben, and small groups of men pushed their way home in spite of a -furious resistance. The Eleventh Division had won home on the right, -and the Suffolks were in touch with them and with the Queen's, so -that the position before evening was thoroughly sound. Part of this -enormous stronghold was still in German hands, however, and all our -efforts could not give us complete control. - -Upon the left the 7th Bedfords, leading the 54th Brigade, had made a -very notable advance, crossing Market Trench and getting well up to -the western face of the great Redoubt. The Reserves, however, lost -direction amid the chaos of shell-holes and trenches, drifting away -to the left. The Schwaben was occupied {274} at several points, and -the first-fruits of that commanding position were at once picked, for -the light machine-guns were turned upon the German fugitives as they -rushed with bent backs down the sloping trenches which led to St. -Pierre Divion. The West Yorkshires were well up, and for a time -these two battalions and the Germans seem to have equally divided -this portion of the trench between them. There was stark fighting -everywhere with bomb and bayonet, neither side flinching, and both so -mixed up that neither German nor British commanders could tell how -the units lay. In such a case a General can only trust to his men, -and a British General seldom trusts in vain. - -As night fell in this confused scene where along the whole line the -Eighteenth Division had reached its objective but had not cleared it, -attempts were made to bring up new men, the Berkshires, a battalion -of young drafts, relieving the Suffolks on the right. In the morning -two local counter-attacks by the Germans succeeded in enlarging their -area. At the same time the 55th Brigade took over the front, the -four battalions being reunited under their own Brigadier. It was -clear that the German line was thickening, for it was a matter of -desperate urgency to them to recover the Redoubt. They still held -the northern end of the labyrinth. On September 30 the East Surreys, -moving up behind a massive barrage, took it by storm, but were driven -out again before they could get their roots down. The Germans, -encouraged by their success, surged south again, but could make no -headway. On October 1 the tide set northwards once more, and the -Buffs gained some ground. From then till October 5, when the -Eighteenth Division was relieved by the Thirty-ninth, there {275} -were incessant alarms and excursions, having the net result that at -the latter date the whole Redoubt with the exception of one small -section, afterwards taken by the Thirty-ninth, was in our hands. So -ended for the moment the splendid service of the Eighteenth Division. -Nearly 2000 officers and men had fallen in the Schwaben operations, -apart from the 1500 paid for Thiepval. It is certain, however, that -the Schwaben garrison had suffered as much, and they left 232 -prisoners in the hands of the victors. - -For the purpose of continuity of narrative, we have kept our -attention fixed upon the Eighteenth Division, but the Eleventh -Division, which we have left at Mouquet Farm some pages before, had -been doing equally good work upon the right. In the afternoon of -September 27 the 6th Borders, rushing suddenly from Zollern Trench, -made a lodgment in Hessian Trench, to which they resolutely clung. -On their left the 6th Yorks and 9th West Yorks had also advanced and -gained permanent ground, winning their way into the southern edge of -Stuff Redoubt. Here they had to face a desperate counter-attack, but -Captain White, with a mixed party of the battalions named, held on -against all odds, winning his V.C. by his extraordinary exertions. -During the whole of September 29 the pressure at this point was -extreme, but the divisional artillery showed itself to be extremely -efficient, and covered the exhausted infantry with a most comforting -barrage. - -The 32nd Brigade was now brought up, and on September 30 the advance -was resumed, the whole of this brigade and the 6th Lincolns and 7th -South Staffords of the 33rd being strongly engaged. The results were -admirable, as the whole of Hessian Trench {276} and the south of -Stuff Redoubt were occupied. That night the Eleventh Division was -relieved by the Twenty-fifth, and it will now be told how the -conquest of the Ridge was finally achieved. The Eleventh withdrew -after having done splendid work and sustained losses of 144 officers -and 3500 men. Their prisoners amounted to 30 officers and 1125 of -all ranks, with a great number of machine-guns and trench mortars. - -After the fall of Thiepval and the operations which immediately -followed it the front British line in this quarter ran approximately -east and west along the Thiepval-Courcelette ridge. As far as part -of the front was concerned we had observation over the Valley of the -Ancre, but in another part the Germans still held on to the Stuff -Redoubt, and thence for a stretch they were still on the crest and -had the observation. The Stuff Redoubt itself on the southern face -had been occupied by the Eleventh, when the Schwaben Redoubt was -taken by the Eighteenth Division, but the northern faces of both were -still in the hands of the enemy. These had now to be taken in order -to clear up the line. A further stronghold, called The Mounds, -immediately to the north, came also within the operation. - -------------------------------------------------------------------- - -{277} - -[Illustration: STUFF REDOUBT SYSTEM showing Hessian, Regina and -Stuff.] - -------------------------------------------------------------------- - -The Twenty-fifth Division had, as stated, relieved the Eleventh, and -this new task was handed over to it. Upon October 9 the first attack -was made by the 10th Cheshires, and although their full objective was -not reached, the result was satisfactory, a lodgment being made and -100 of the garrison captured, with slight casualties to the stormers, -thanks to the good barrage and the workmanlike way in which they took -advantage of it. A strong attempt {278} on the part of the Germans -to prevent consolidation and to throw out the intruders was quite -unsuccessful. - -The 8th North Lancs were now placed in the position of the Cheshires, -while the Thirty-ninth Division upon the left joined in the pressure. -Upon October 10 an attack was made by the 16th Sherwoods supported by -the 17th Rifles of the 117th Brigade; but it had no success. On the -12th there was a renewed attack by units of the 118th Brigade, -chiefly the 4th Black Watch. This succeeded in advancing the line -for a short distance, and upon October 15 it repulsed two local -counter-attacks. Upon the right the 8th North Lancs upon October 14 -had a very successful advance, in which they carried with moderate -loss the stretch of line opposite, as well as the position called The -Mounds. Two machine-guns and 125 prisoners were taken. - -The British now had observation along the whole ridge with a line of -observation posts pushed out beyond the crest. There were formidable -obstacles upon their right front, however, where the Regina Trench -and a heavily fortified quadrilateral system lay in front of the -troops already mentioned, and also of the Canadians on the -Courcelette line. In order to get ready for the next advance there -was some sidestepping of units, the hard-worked Eighteenth coming in -on the right next the Canadians, the Twenty-fifth moving along, and -the Thirty-ninth coming closer on the left. On October 8 the -Canadians had a sharp action, in which the Ontario, British Columbia, -Alberta, and Winnipeg Battalions showed their usual resolution, and -took a couple of hundred prisoners, but were unable to gain much -ground. A concerted movement of the whole line was now organised. - -{279} - -The great Stuff Trench, which was roughly a continuation of the -Regina, was opposite the centre of the attack, and was distant some -300 yards from the British front. The barrage arrangements -co-ordinated by the Second Corps (Jacob), to which these units now -belonged, worked most admirably. The attack was made all along the -line and was eminently successful. At 12.35 upon October 21 the -general advance began, and at 4.30 the whole objective, including -Stuff and Regina, was in the hands of the British and Canadians. It -was a fine victory, with 20 machine-guns and 1000 prisoners of the -5th Ersatz and Twenty-eighth Bavarian Divisions as trophies. So -rapid was the consolidation that before morning trenches were opened -out between the captured line and the old British position. A -curious incident in this most successful attack was that the 8th -Border Regiment advanced at least a thousand yards beyond its -objective, but was successful in getting back. By this brilliant -little action the enemy was finally driven down upon a three-mile -front north of Thiepval and Courcelette, until he had no foothold -left save the marshes to the south of the Ancre, where he cowered in -enfiladed trenches for that final clearing up which was only delayed -by the weather. It should be added that on this same date, October -21, the left of the British line, formed by the Thirty-ninth -Division, was attacked by storm-troops of the German Twenty-eighth -Reserve Division, armed with _flammenwerfer_ and supported by 60 -light batteries. The attack was formidable, and twice got into the -British line, but was twice driven out again, leaving many prisoners -and trophies behind. The Sussex and Hampshire troops of the 116th -Brigade, aided by the 17th Rifles, {280} stood splendidly to their -work, and ended by holding every inch of their ground, and adding a -new German trench which was carried by the 14th Hants. - -From this time onwards this northern section of the line was quiet -save for small readjustments, until the great effort upon November -13, which brought the autumn campaign to a close with the -considerable victory of Beaumont Hamel. From the point which the -Second Corps had now reached it could command with its guns the -Valley of the Ancre to the north of it, including some of those -positions which had repulsed our attack upon July 1 and were still in -German hands. So completely did we now outflank them from the south -that it must have been evident to any student of the map that Haig -was sure, sooner or later, to make a strong infantry advance over the -ground which was so completely controlled by his artillery. It was -the German appreciation of this fact which had caused their desperate -efforts at successive lines of defence to hold us back from gaining -complete command of the crest of the slope. It will be told in the -final chapter of this volume how this command was utilised, and a -bold step was taken towards rolling up the German positions from the -south--a step which was so successful that it was in all probability -the immediate cause of that general retirement of the whole German -front which was the first great event in the campaign of 1917. - - - - -{281} - -CHAPTER XII - -THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME - -From September 15 to the Battle of the Ancre - -Capture of Eaucourt--Varying character of German resistance--Hard -trench fighting along the line--Dreadful climatic conditions--The -meteorological trenches--Hazy Trench--Zenith Trench--General -observations--General von Arnim's report. - - -Having described the Battle of Flers, which began upon September 15 -and which extended over one, two, or three days according to the -completeness of the local victory, or the difficulty of reaching any -definite limit, we will now turn once more to the left of the line -(always excepting Gough's flanking army, which has been treated -elsewhere), and we shall follow the deeds of the successive divisions -in each sector up to the end of the operations. We will begin with -the Third Corps, who abutted upon the Canadians in the Martinpuich -sector, and covered the line up to Drop Alley, north-east of High -Wood, where they joined up with the Fifteenth Corps. - -The line on this western section was less active than on the right, -where the great villages of Combles, Lesboeufs, and Morval were -obvious marks for the advance. After the battle of September 15, the -{282} Twenty-third Division, relieving the Fifteenth, took its -station at the extreme left of the line, just north of Martinpuich. -To the right of the Twenty-third, occupying the Starfish and Prue -system of trenches, was the Fiftieth Division. On their right was -the First, who had relieved the Forty-seventh Division, the victors -of High Wood. These three divisions, Twenty-third, Fiftieth, and -First, now formed the Third Corps. Their fighting patrols were -thrown well out during the days after the battle, and their front -posts were as far north as Crescent Alley and Hook Trench. The -general attack of September 25, which amounted to a considerable -battle, did not seriously affect this portion of the line. The only -operation of note before the end of the month was an attack upon a -farm in the front of their line by the 70th Brigade of the -Twenty-third Division--a brigade which had greatly distinguished -itself during the time it had fought with the Eighth Division upon -July 1. This attack failed the first time, but it was repeated with -success at dawn upon September 29, and the line moved forward to that -limited extent. Another small advance was made by the First Division -on the night of September 25, east of Eaucourt, when a piece of -trench was carried by the gallantry of a platoon of the 2nd Rifles, -consisting almost entirely of Rhodesian volunteers, samples of those -wandering Britons who have played a part in this War which can never -be chronicled. The way in which the distant sons, prodigal or -otherwise, came back to the help of their hard-pressed mother is one -of the most beautiful chapters in the history of the Empire. - -The Flers front-line trench bends away from the British position as -it trends towards the north-west, {283} so that although it had been -made good over a large portion in the Battle of Flers, it was still -intact opposite the Third Corps. Upon October 1, however, it was -attacked, and was taken without any great difficulty, though the -Fiftieth in the centre had to fight hard for their section. The -storming battalions, after re-forming, continued their advance, and -occupied the line between Le Sars and Flers. The village of Eaucourt -lay in their path, and was well guarded upon the west by uncut wire, -but a tank rolled its majestic path across it and the shouting -infantry crowded close behind. The 141st Brigade of the -Forty-seventh Division, which had come back once again into the line, -was the first to enter this village, which was the sixteenth torn by -the British from the grip of the invaders since the breaking of the -line, while the French captures stood at an even higher figure. -There was a strong counter-attack upon Eaucourt during the night, -accompanied by a shortage of bombs owing to the fact that the store -had been destroyed by an unlucky shell. The Germans for the time -regained the village, and the ruins were partly occupied by both -armies until October 3, when the British line, once more gathering -volume and momentum, rolled over it for the last time. It had been -stoutly defended by men of a German reserve division, and its capture -had cost us dear. One of the mysteries of the fighting at this stage -was the very varied quality of the resistance, so that the advancing -British were never sure whether they would find themselves faced by -demoralised poltroons, capable of throwing up their hands by the -hundred, or by splendid infantry, who would fight to the death with -the courage of despair. - -{284} - -Having won Eaucourt, the next village which faced the British line in -this sector was Le Sars, immediately to the north-west. The advance -upon this was carried out amid rain and slush which made military -operations almost impossible. It was again found that the resistance -was very spirited, but the place was none the less carried and -consolidated upon October 7. - -In the week preceding the final assault there was hard fighting, -during which the 70th Brigade won its way forward into a favourable -position for the attack. The 8th York and Lancasters particularly -distinguished themselves by their gallantry in clearing by bombing -the outlying German defences, Major Sawyer and Lieutenant de Burgh of -that battalion winning the Cross for their fine leadership upon that -occasion. The decisive attack was carried out by the other two -brigades of the Twenty-third Division, which advanced upon the -village, whilst the Forty-seventh Division made an attempt upon the -formidable Butte of Warlencourt. The latter venture met with no -success, but the former was brilliantly carried out. The advance was -made by the 68th Brigade upon the right and the 69th upon the left, -the Martinpuich-Warlencourt Road being the dividing line between the -two divisions. The attack was at 1.45 P.M., and in broad daylight -the battalions concerned, notably the 12th and 13th Durhams and the -9th Yorks, clambered over their sodden sandbags and waded through the -mud which separated them from the Germans. The numbers were so -reduced that the companies formed only two weak platoons, but none -the less they advanced very steadily. Captain Blake, leading the -first company of Durhams, was shot dead; {285} but another captain -took over both companies and led them straight at the village, both -the 12th Durhams and 9th Yorks reaching the sunken road in front of -the houses at about the same moment. They worked their way down this -and bombed many Germans in their dug-outs. Here, as elsewhere, -experience proved that this system of taking refuge from shell-fire -in deep burrows has very serious military disadvantages, not merely -on account of the difficulty of getting out, but from the more -serious objection that the men, being trained to avoid danger, -continued to shrink from it when it was essential that they should -rush out and face it. The yellow faces and flaccid appearance of our -prisoners showed also the physical results of a troglodytic life. - -A single tank which had accompanied the advance was set on fire by a -shell, but the infantry pressed on undismayed, and well backed up by -the 10th and 11th Northumberland Fusiliers and 8th Seaforths, they -soon seized the whole village and firmly consolidated their position. -The success was partly due to the fine handling of machine-guns, -which turned the favourite weapon of the Germans against themselves. -Five of these guns, 8 officers, and 450 men were taken during the -operation. - -The Forty-seventh Division, meanwhile, in attempting to make similar -progress upon the right was held up by very heavy rifle and -machine-gun fire. Immediately afterwards, this division, much worn -by its splendid service, was taken out of the line, being replaced by -the Ninth Scottish Division. Their companion Division, the -Fifteenth, had come back upon their left. The weather now became so -abominable and the mud so abysmal, that all prospect {286} of farther -progress in this section had to be abandoned. The old prehistoric -mark called the Butte of Warlencourt, which had long stood up as a -goal in front of the British trenches, proved really to be the final -mark of their advance until a new season should dawn. Upon October -12 there was an attempt to get forward, but the conditions were -impossible, and the results unsatisfactory. In this affair the -gallant Ninth Division had considerable losses, their advance being -conducted with the 26th Brigade upon the right and the South Africans -upon the left. Some small gain was achieved by the former, but the -latter were held up by a deadly machine-gun fire. The Thirtieth -Division was upon the right of the Ninth at this period, and twice -endeavoured to get forwards--once upon the 12th and once upon the -18th; but neither of these attempts had good success, partly owing to -the very bad weather, and partly to the excellent resistance of the -Sixth Bavarian Reserve Division, which is described by those who have -fought against it as one of the very best divisions in the German -army. On the 20th a fresh attack was made by the 27th Brigade with -no success and heavy losses to the 6th Scottish Borderers. Early in -November a renewed attempt was made by the Fiftieth Division to -advance in this quarter, but the country was a morass and no progress -was possible. The Canadians, Forty-eighth and Fiftieth Divisions, -who held the Le Sars front, were condemned to inactivity. From that -time onwards the line of the Third Corps was undisturbed, save for a -strong counter-attack upon November 6, which neutralised a small -advance made upon the 5th. Le Sars and Eaucourt were consolidated -and continued to be the British advanced posts in this quarter. The -{287} conditions of mud and discomfort can only be described as -appalling. - -Having briefly traced the work of the Third Corps from the action of -September 15 to the coming of the winter, we shall now turn to the -Fifteenth Corps upon the right and follow their operations from the -same date. It will be remembered that the New Zealanders formed the -left-hand division, and that they had advanced so finely that by the -evening of September 16 they were up to, but not in, Goose Alley and -Factory Corner, from which they were within striking distance of the -Gird System. - -Before attacking this, however, it was necessary to get a firmer hold -of Flers Trench, which in its western reaches was still in the hands -of the Germans. It was a desperate business of bombing from traverse -to traverse and overcoming successive barricades upon a very narrow -front where a few determined men could hold up a company. This -difficult business was taken in hand at 8.30 on the night of -September 21 by the 2nd Canterbury Battalion, who advanced down the -trench. It was a Homeric conflict, which lasted for the whole night, -where men stood up to each other at close quarters, clearing away the -dead and dying in order to make room for fresh combatants in the -front line. Down Flers Trench and Drop Alley raged the long -struggle, with crash and flare of bombs, snarl of machine-guns, -shrill whistles from rallying officers, and shouts from the furious -men. The New Zealand Black Watch had gained a portion of the trench, -but the German reinforcements streamed down a communication trench -which opened behind them, and found themselves between the two bodies -of New Zealanders. It was a great fight, but by morning {288} it had -been definitely decided in favour of the men from oversea. The long -section of Flers Trench was cleared and part of Goose Alley, opening -out of it, was held. No less than 350 German dead were picked up, -and a handful of prisoners were left with the victors. The New -Zealand losses were about 150 of all ranks. - -On September 25 the New Zealanders tightened their grip upon Goose -Alley, which connects up the Flers and the Gird Systems of trenches. -In the meantime the divisions upon their right were moving to the -north-east of Flers towards the village of Guedecourt, which lay upon -the farther side of the Gird Trenches. The actual attack upon the -village was committed to the Twenty-first Division, who advanced on a -two-brigade front, the 110th Leicester Brigade making straight for -the village itself, while the 64th Brigade upon its right, -strengthened by the inclusion of the 1st Lincolns, was ordered to -occupy 1000 yards of front to the right. The two brigades were not -equally fortunate. The Leicester brigade, by a fine advance, pierced -the Gird Trench, and made their way beyond it. The 64th Brigade was -held up by uncut wire, which they could not penetrate. The result -was that the Leicesters, being heavily counter-attacked, and having -their flanks open, were forced back as far as the Gird Trench, to -which they clung. The position in the evening was a curious one, for -we held the Gird Trench at two different points, but between them lay -a stretch of 1000 yards still occupied by the Germans and faced with -uncut wire. Orders reached the Divisional General during the night -that at all costs the position must be carried. By a happy -inspiration he sent for a tank from Flers, {289} and ordered the -Leicesters to bomb down Gird Trench in co-operation with the tank, -which crawled along the parapet. A strong point had been erected at -the far end of the trench, and the Germans as they rushed away from -the danger ran into a deadly machine-gun fire. The upshot was that a -great number were killed, while 8 officers and 362 men were taken, -with a loss to the attackers of 5 wounded. To add to the quaintness -of the operation, an aeroplane flew low over the trench during its -progress, helping with its bombs to make the victory complete. The -result was far more than the capture of the trench, for the 64th -Brigade, led by the Durhams, at once swept forward and captured their -objective, while the 110th Brigade upon the left reached Guedecourt -under happier auspices and remained in possession of the village. - -Although the Gird line had been pierced at this point, it was held in -its western length, and this was attacked upon September 27 by the -New Zealanders and the Fifty-fifth Lancashire Territorial Division, -both of which gained their objectives, so that the whole end of this -great trench system from a point north of Flers passed definitely -into the British possession. - -On October 1 there was a fresh general advance which led to no great -change in this part of the line, save that both the New Zealanders -and the Twenty-first Division improved their position, the latter -getting as far as Bayonet Trench. Shortly afterwards the New -Zealanders were drawn out, having been 23 consecutive days in the -line, and earned themselves a great reputation. "The division has -won universal confidence and admiration," said Sir Douglas Haig. "No -praise can be too high for such troops." - -We now turn to the Fourteenth Corps, which filled {290} the remainder -of the British line up to the point of its junction with the French. -During the battle the division of Guards had, as will be remembered, -held the left of this line, but on the day after it was replaced for -a short time by the Twentieth Division, whose 61st Brigade, -especially the 7th Cornwalls and 12th King's, were heavily engaged. -The 60th Brigade had pushed up into the fighting line, and received a -strong German counter-attack in the morning of the 17th, which broke -down before the rifles of the 6th Shropshire Light Infantry. In the -afternoon the 59th Brigade advanced upon the left and the 60th upon -the right, closing in upon the Morval position. The 12th King's -Royal Rifles of the latter brigade was held up by a strong point and -lost heavily, but the general effect was to bring the British line -nearer to the doomed village. Twice upon the 18th, German -counter-attacks swarmed down upon the exposed right flank of the 60th -Brigade, but each time they were blown back by the fire of the 12th -Rifle Brigade and the 12th Rifles. The 59th Brigade had made no -progress, the two Rifle Brigade battalions (10th and 11th) having -particularly heavy losses upon the 17th, but they were holding their -line strongly. It was impossible to do more for the moment, for the -Sixth Division upon their right was still hung up, as already -described, by the Quadrilateral. Shortly after that obstacle had -been overcome, the Guards took over once more from the Twentieth, and -were ready in conjunction with the Sixth and Fifth Divisions for a -serious advance upon Morval and Lesboeufs. - -On September 22 the 3rd Guards Brigade was in touch with the -Twenty-first Division upon the left, which was now holding Gird -Trench and Gird Support {291} as far north as Watling Street. On -this day the 4th Grenadiers, reverting after centuries to the weapon -which their name implies, were bombing their way up Gas Alley, which -leads towards Lesboeufs. On the 23rd the Twenty-first on the left, -the Guards in the centre, and the Sixth Division were advancing and -steadily gaining ground to the north-east, capturing Needle Trench, -which is an off-shoot from the Gird System. On the 24th the Germans -counter-attacked upon the 16th Brigade, the blow falling upon the 1st -Buffs, who lost four bays of their trench for a short period, but -speedily drove the intruders out once more. The 14th Durham Light -Infantry also drove off an attack. The Fifth Division was now coming -up on the right of the Sixth, and played a considerable part in the -decisive attack upon September 25. - -On this date an advance of the four divisions on this section of the -line carried all before it, the Twenty-first being north of Delville -Wood, the 3rd Brigade of the Guards operating on the German trenches -between Guedecourt and Lesboeufs, the 1st Brigade of Guards upon the -left of the village of Lesboeufs, the Sixth Division upon the right -of Lesboeufs, and the Fifth Division on Morval. - -In this attack the 4th Grenadiers upon the extreme left of the Guards -were badly punished, for the Twenty-first upon their left had been -held up, but the rest came along well, the 1st Welsh forming a -defensive flank upon the left while the other battalions reached -their full objective and dug in, unmolested save by our own barrage. -The 1st Irish and 3rd Coldstream, who were on the left of the 1st -Brigade, also got through without heavy loss and occupied the -trenches to the immediate north and north-east of Lesboeufs. {292} -The 2nd Grenadiers, who led the right of the Brigade, with their -supporting battalion the 2nd Coldstream, headed straight for the -village, and were held up for a time by uncut wire, but the general -attack upon the right was progressing at a rate which soon took the -pressure off them. - -The British infantry were swarming round Lesboeufs in the early -afternoon, and about 3.15 the 1st West Yorks of the 18th Brigade -penetrated into it, establishing touch with the Guards upon their -left. They were closely followed by their old battle companions, the -2nd Durham Light Infantry. The German resistance was weaker than -usual, and the casualties were not severe. On the Morval front the -15th Brigade of the Fifth Division, with the 95th Brigade upon their -right, were making a steady and irresistible advance upon Morval. -The 1st Norfolks and 1st Cheshires were in the front, and the latter -battalion was the first to break into the village with the 1st -Bedfords, 2nd Scots Borderers, and 16th Royal Welsh Fusiliers in -close support. The 1st Cheshires particularly distinguished itself; -and it was in this action that Private Jones performed his almost -incredible feat of capturing single-handed and bringing in four -officers and 102 men of the 146th Würtemberg Regiment, including four -wearers of the famous Iron Cross. The details of this extraordinary -affair, where one determined and heavily-armed man terrorised a large -company taken at a disadvantage, read more like the romantic exploit -of some Western desperado who cries "Hands up!" to a drove of -tourists, than any operation of war. Jones was awarded the V.C., and -it can have been seldom won in such sensational fashion. - -{293} - -Whilst the 15th Brigade of the Fifth Division attacked the village of -Morval the 95th Brigade of the same division carried the German -trenches to the west of it. This dashing piece of work was -accomplished by the 1st Devons and the 1st East Surreys. When they -had reached their objective, the 12th Gloucesters were sent through -them to occupy and consolidate the south side of the village. This -they carried out with a loss of 80 men. In the evening a company of -the 6th Argylls, together with the 2nd Home Company Royal Engineers, -pushed on past the village and made a strong point against the -expected counter-attack; while the 15th Brigade extended and got into -touch with the 2nd York and Lancasters of the Sixth Division upon -their left. It was a great day of complete victory with no regrets -to cloud it, for the prisoners were many, the casualties were -comparatively few, and two more village sites were included by one -forward spring within the British area. The Town Major of Morval -stood by his charge to the last and formed one of the trophies. On -the 26th the Germans came back upon the Guards at about one o'clock, -but their effort was a fiasco, for the advancing lines came under the -concentrated fire of six batteries of the 7th Divisional Artillery. -Seldom have Germans stampeded more thoroughly. "Hundreds of the -enemy can be seen retiring in disorder over the whole front. They -are rushing towards Beaulencourt in the wildest disorder." Such was -the report from a forward observer. At the same time a tank cleared -the obstacles in front of the Twenty-first Division and the whole -line was straight again. The British consolidated their positions -firmly, for it was already evident {294} that they were likely to be -permanent ones. The Guards and Fifth Division were taken out of the -line shortly afterwards, the Twentieth Division coming in once more -upon September 26, while upon September 27 the French took over part -of the line, pushing the Twentieth Division to the left, where they -took over the ground formerly held by the Twenty-first. Upon October -1 the 61st Brigade was ordered to push forward advanced posts and -occupy a line preparatory to future operations. This was well -carried out and proved of great importance when a week later attacks -were made upon Cloudy and Rainbow Trenches. - -Leaving this victorious section of the line for the moment, we must -turn our attention to the hard-worked and splendid Fifty-sixth -Division upon their right, whose operations were really more -connected with those of the French on their right than with their -comrades of the Fourteenth Corps upon the left. By a happy chance it -was the French division of the same number with which they were -associated during much of the time. It will be remembered that at -the close of the Flers action (September 15 and on), the Fifty-sixth -Division was holding a defensive flank to the south, in the region of -Bouleaux Wood, part of which was still held by the Germans. They -were also closing in to the southwards, so as to co-operate with the -French, who were approaching Combles from the other side. On -September 25, while the Fifth were advancing upon Morval, the -Fifty-sixth played an important part, for the 168th, their left -brigade, carried the remainder of Bouleaux Wood, and so screened the -flank of the Fifth Division. One hundred men and four machine-guns -were captured in this movement. On the 26th, as the woods {295} were -at last clear, the division turned all its attention to Combles, and -at 3.15 in the afternoon of that day fighting patrols of the 169th -Brigade met patrols of the French in the central square of the town. -The Germans had cleverly evacuated it, and the booty was far less -than had been hoped for, but none the less its capture was of great -importance, for it was the largest place that had yet been wrenched -out of the iron grasp of Germany. After the fall of Combles the -French, as already stated, threw out their left wing upon that side -so as to take over the ground which had been covered by the -Fifty-sixth Division, and afterwards by the Fifth Division. - -On September 30 the Fifty-sixth Division took over from the Guards, -and again found itself upon the right of the British line, and in -touch with the new dispositions of the French. On its left was the -Twentieth Division, and on their left the Sixth. These three -divisions now found themselves opposite to a long line of trenches, -to which various meteorological names had been given, though the -actual meteorological conditions at the time formed a greater -obstacle than the defences in front of them. A simple diagram (p. -296) will show more clearly than any words how these formidable -trenches lay with regard to the British advance. - -It may well seem to the reader that the defenders are bound to have -the best of the argument when they can thus exchange one line for -another, and as quickly as they are beaten out of one set of -strongholds confront their enemy with another one. No doubt so long -as the lines are stoutly held this is true as regards the rate of -advance. But as far as it concerns the losses which mark that vital -attrition which was {297} wearing Germany to the bone it was very -different. These trenches were not like the old permanent -fortifications where German officers in a 30-foot dug-out could smile -over the caricatures in _Ulk_ and smoke an indolent cigarette, while -the impotent British shells pitted the earth-surface far above them. -There was no such shelter in these hastily-constructed burrows, while -the guns which raked and pounded them grew stronger and more numerous -from day to day. Let the machine-gun do its worst, the heavy gun is -still the master of the field, for the machine-gun can only levy its -toll when circumstances favour it, while day or night the heavy gun -is a constant dread. We have had to mourn the swathes of our dead in -the open, but the Germans lay as thick amid the clay and chalk of the -Picardy ditches. With fine manhood they clung to them and beat back -our infantry where they could, but the tales of deserters, the -letters found on the wounded, and the condition of the trenches when -taken, all told the same story of terrible loss. - -------------------------------------------------------------------- - -{296} - -[Illustration: METEOROLOGICAL TRENCHES, September 30-November 6, -1916.] - -------------------------------------------------------------------- - -On October 7 there was an infantry attack upon this trench system in -which the Forty-first, Twelfth, Twentieth, and Fifty-sixth Divisions, -together with the French, all took part in the order named from the -left. The weather was most execrable, and its vileness told entirely -against the Allies, since it was they who had to move, and since the -superior gun-power needed for a modern attack was largely neutralised -by the difficulty in using aircraft observation. The attack was at -1.45 P.M., when the troops advanced under a heavy barrage along the -whole sodden and slippery front. The results were unequal, though -the infantry behaved everywhere with their wonted valour and -perseverance. - -{298} - -The 122nd Brigade upon the extreme left of the attack could only get -on about a hundred yards, so heavy was the fire; while the 124th to -the right of them could do little better, and eventually dug in at a -point 200 yards short of the Bayonet Trench, which was their -immediate objective. Seventy officers and nearly 1300 men fell -during this attack of the Forty-first Division, which was handicapped -in many ways, for the men were weary, it was too cloudy for -reconnaissance, the battalions were already depleted, and the enemy -was fresh and unshaken. The success of the Twelfth Division upon the -right of the Forty-first was little better. The 36th and 37th -Brigades endured heavy losses, especially in the case of the two -Royal Fusilier battalions and of the 6th Buffs, whose colonel greatly -distinguished himself. In spite of every effort and considerable -loss there were no permanent gains of importance at this point. - -Things went better, however, with the Twentieth Division upon the -right. The two brigades in the front line were the 61st upon the -left and the 60th on the right. The leading battalions, counting -from the left, were the 7th Yorks Light Infantry, 12th King's -Liverpool, 6th Oxford and Bucks, and 12th Rifle Brigade. The troops -had to endure a considerable shelling before leaving their trenches, -but it seemed only to add additional fire to their advance, which -swept over the low ridge in front of them, and took a long stretch of -Rainbow Trench. The right attack was slower than the left, as it ran -into a dip of the ground in which the Germans had some cleverly-sited -wire entanglement, unseen and untouched by our guns. Nothing -daunted, the Oxford {299} and Bucks proceeded to cut lanes through -the wire under heavy fire, and one officer of the battalion had -actually succeeded in crawling under it when he was shot at -point-blank range from the German trench, The front line had now done -its work and rested in Rainbow, while the second line--consisting, -from the left, of the 7th Somersets, 7th Cornwalls, 6th Shropshires, -and 12th Rifles--swept onwards in splendid form, capturing both -Cloudy and Misty Trenches. There the victorious infantry dug -themselves in on the forward slope of the ridge. The brigades were -ahead of their comrades, with the result that their flanks were -exposed, they suffered from enfilade fire, and it was necessary to -form defensive flanks. Two counter-attacks were made during the day, -but both were beaten off. The prisoners captured in this fine -advance were 5 officers and 187 men, with 5 machine-guns and 2 -trench-mortars. By the morning of the 8th strong points had been -made and the whole line was defiant of recapture. - -The Fifty-sixth Division had advanced with equal valour upon the -right and had made good progress, though its gains had not been so -substantial as those of the Twentieth. The 167th Brigade had -attacked upon the left and the 168th upon the right. They ended with -the 7th Middlesex, their flank battalion upon the left in touch with -the Twentieth Division in Rainbow, while the London Scots on the -extreme right were in touch with the French in Hazy Trench. The -fighting was bitter, however, the men wearied, and the conditions -abominable. All the battalions lost heavily, the 4th London being -the chief sufferer, for it was on the left flank of the 168th Brigade -and was held up by a particularly murderous {300} machine-gun. In -the evening a strong German counter-attack, rushing in upon Hazy -Trench behind a thick shower of bombs, drove back both the 168th -Brigade and the French to their own original line. For the time the -advance had failed upon the right. - -The 167th Brigade had held on to Rainbow and were now bombing their -way down Spectrum. They held their ground there during the night, -and on October 8 were still advancing, though the 3rd London coming -up to reinforce ran into a heavy barrage and were sadly cut up. The -British barrage was found to be practically useless because the guns -had been brought up too near. The 169th Brigade had come up on the -right and was hotly engaged, the London Rifle Brigade getting up -close to Hazy and digging in parallel to it, with their left in touch -with the Victorias. The Germans, however, were still holding Hazy, -nor could it be said in the evening that the British were holding -either of the more advanced trenches, Dewdrop or Rainy. In the -evening the London Rifle Brigade were forced to leave their new -trench because it was enfiladed from Hazy, and to make their way back -to their old departure trenches as best they could, dragging with -them a captured machine-gun as a souvenir of a long and bloody day's -work. On October 9 the British held none of the points in dispute in -this section on the right, save only a portion of Spectrum. There -was a pause in this long and desperate fight which was conducted by -tired infantry fighting in front of tired guns, and which left the -survivors of both sides plastered with mud from head to heel. When -it was resumed, the two British divisions, the Twentieth and -Fifty-sixth, which had {301} done such long service in the line, and -were greatly reduced, had been withdrawn. The Fourth Division had -taken the place of the Londoners, while the Sixth, itself very worn, -had relieved the Twentieth. - -On October 12 both these divisions delivered an attack together with -the French and with the Fifteenth Corps upon their left. The 14th -Durham Light Infantry were in Rainbow on the left and were in touch -with the 1st West Yorks of the 18th Brigade upon their right, but -could find no one upon their left, while the German pressure was very -strong. The 18th Brigade worked along Rainbow, therefore, until it -got into touch with the Twelfth Division upon their left. The -Twelfth Division had been lent the 88th Brigade of the Twenty-ninth -Division, and this gallant body, so terribly cut up on July 1, had an -instalment of revenge. They won their objective, and it is pleasant -to add that the Newfoundlanders especially distinguished themselves. -The 16th Brigade upon the right attacked Zenith Trench, the 2nd York -and Lancaster leading the rush. The position could not be held, -however, by battalions which were depleted by weeks of constant -strain and loss. A report from a company officer says: "The few -unwounded sheltered in trench holes and returned in the dusk. The -fire was too strong to allow them to dig in. The Brigade line is -therefore the same as before the attack." - -Whilst the Sixth Division had been making this difficult and -fruitless attack the Fourth Division upon their right had been -equally heavily engaged in this horrible maze of mud-sodden trenches, -without obtaining any more favourable result. The 12th Brigade -fought on the immediate right of the 16th, some of {302} them -reaching Spectrum, and some of them Zenith. The 2nd West Ridings and -2nd Lancashire Fusiliers were the heaviest sufferers, the latter -holding a line of shell-holes in front of Spectrum where they were -exposed to a terrible barrage. The 10th Brigade were on their right, -and one battalion, the 1st Warwick, reached Foggy, but was unable to -hold it under the crushing fire. By the evening of October 13, -however, the whole of Spectrum had at last been seized, and the -enemy, who attempted to bomb along it from Dewdrop, were repulsed. -On October 18, the 88th Brigade again had a success, the 2nd Hants -and 4th Worcesters doing particularly well. For a time the fighting -died down, the British licking their wounds and sharpening their -claws for a fresh grapple with these redoubtable trenches. - -This came upon October 23, when there was an advance at 2.45 in the -afternoon by the Fourth Division upon the right and the Eighth -Division upon the left. The three-brigade front covered by the -Eighth Division is indicated by the fact that the 2nd East -Lancashires, the left battalion of the left brigade (24th), was -directed upon the junction between Mild and Cloudy, while the right -brigade (23rd) had Zenith for its objective. The first attack of the -left brigade failed, but the second brought them into Cloudy. By -4.15 the 2nd Scots Rifles of the 23rd Brigade had penetrated the -right of Zenith, and some small parties had even moved on to Orion -beyond. The central brigade (25th) had won its way up to Misty, the -2nd Lincolns, 2nd Berks, and 2nd Rifle Brigade in the lead. In the -meantime the East Lancashires on the left were endeavouring to bomb -their way down the maze of trenches, filled {303} with yard-deep mud, -which separated them from their comrades. The fighting was -desperate, however, and the losses considerable. The 2nd Lincolns -had got detached in the labyrinth, and were out of touch with their -companions. At 6.45 the Germans came again in strength and those of -the Scots Rifles who had gained Orion were driven back. The -casualties in this splendid battalion, which had suffered so often -and so much, were once again very severe. - -The Fourth Division had also had a hard fight upon the right and had -made no great progress. The French upon their right had been held up -after an initial advance. The 12th Brigade attacked Dewdrop, but -were unable to hold it. The 11th had seized Hazy, but their grip of -it was still precarious. Every position was raked with machine-guns -and clogged with the all-pervading and often impassable morass. In -mud and blood and driving rain, amid dirt and death, through day and -night, the long death-grapple never ceased until exhaustion and -winter brought a short surcease. - -Upon the 24th the hard-earned gains in these trenches were -consolidated. In the sector of the Eighth Division they were -substantial and justified the hope that this obdurate line would go -the way of all the others which had barred the army. Had it been -earlier in the season it would have been easy to wait for clear -weather, beat them into pulp with heavy guns, and then under a good -barrage capture them by assault. But this could not be done, for Sir -Douglas Haig could not afford to wait, with winter coming on and only -a few weeks or days left in which to bring his men forward to their -final line. The general position upon October 24 was that the 2nd -{304} Middlesex of the 24th Brigade held Zenith in part, that the -25th Brigade was in Gusty and held part of Misty, while the 23rd -Brigade had made no advance upon the right but their left was in -Cloudy and Mild. - -Upon this date the Thirty-third Division came up to relieve the -Fourth, and upon September 28 it made a brilliant advance which -altered the whole situation in this section. At 7 A.M. on that date -the 4th King's Liverpool of the 98th Brigade by a sudden dash carried -the whole of Dewdrop, taking 100 prisoners. The 19th Brigade upon -the right kept up with the advance, and before evening Frosty, -Gunpits, and Dewdrop had all been included in the British line. -There was a pause after this advance, and then upon November 5 there -was another advance of the Thirty-third, together with the French. -Again there was a good gain, which was effected by the 100th Brigade -on the right, and the 19th upon the left. Mirage, Boritzka, and Hazy -were all reported as being at last in our hands. The 5th Scottish -Rifles, 16th King's Royal Rifles, and 20th Fusiliers all -distinguished themselves, and all--especially the last-named--met -with considerable losses in this attack. The Seventeenth Division, -which had for a few days taken the place of the Eighth, joined in -this advance and extended the ground upon their front, the fighting -falling chiefly to the 50th Brigade, in which the 7th York and 7th -East York were the principal sufferers. Great work was also done by -the 51st Brigade, the 7th Borders and the 7th Lincolns particularly -distinguishing themselves. These battalions not only cleared up -Zenith Trench, but upon the Germans countering they reserved their -fire until the stormers were within 40 yards of them, and {305} then -mowed down several hundreds of them. "The men marched back seven -miles last night," wrote one of the officers, "after fighting for -forty-eight hours without sleep, singing at the tops of their voices -all the way. Priceless fellows!" - -On November 7 the Eighth Division was at work again, taking 1100 -yards of front, 5 machine-guns, and 80 prisoners. The season was now -far advanced and prematurely wet and cold, so that winter lines were -formed by the British in this quarter with the village of Le Transloy -in their immediate front. Over the rest of the line facing north -there had been no serious attempt at advance during this period, and -the only fighting to be recorded was on the part of the Anzac Corps, -who came in at the end of October, and took over the whole front of -the Fifteenth Corps in the centre of the line. These troops joined -the attack already recorded upon November 5, and captured that -portion of Gird Support Trench which was not yet in our possession. -For a time they held Bayonet Trench, but were driven out by a strong -bombing attack by the 5th Regiment of the Fourth Prussian Guards -Division. The Australians and the 50th Brigade worked in close -co-operation during these hard days, and it is pleasing to find the -high opinion which they entertained of each other. "On several -occasions," says an Australian, "we had to rely on Yorkshire grit to -support our division at critical moments, and the Tikes never failed -us once. We owe a big debt to the East Yorkshires in particular. We -found them the most loyal of comrades." This sentiment was heartily -reciprocated by the Imperial troops. - -The fighting now died down in this quarter and {306} the winter lull -had set in, leaving the front British trenches some hundreds of yards -from Le Transloy and the Bapaume Road. It would be an ungenerous -Briton who would not admit that in holding us off from it so long, -even if we make every allowance for the weather and its disastrous -consequences to the attack, the Germans performed a fine feat of -arms. It was done by fresh units which had not suffered from the -gruelling which their comrades had received upon the Somme, and which -would no doubt have been worn down in time, as the others had been, -but they fought with great tenacity and certainly prevented our -winter line from being as far forward as we had hoped. - -Whilst giving the German army every credit for its tenacious -resistance and for the hard digging by which it constructed so many -lines of defence that five months of hard fighting and a dozen -separate victories had been unable to carry the attackers through -them, we must still insist upon the stupendous achievement of the -British. Nearly every division had passed through the fiery ordeal -of the Somme, many of them twice and thrice, and each had retired -with fresh honour and new records of victory. Apart from great days -of battle like July 1, July 14, September 15, and September 26, when -many miles of German trench were carried with a corresponding number -of prisoners and guns, there was a separate epic round each village -and wood, so that the names of many of them will find immortality in -military history. High Wood, Trones Wood, Mametz Wood, and Delville -Wood each represents a very terrible local battle. So, too, do such -village names as Ovillers, Contalmaison, Pozières, Thiepval, -Longueval, Ginchy, and especially Guillemont. {307} Every one of -these stern contests ended with the British infantry in its -objective, and in no single case were they ever driven out again. So -much for the tactical results of the actions. As to the strategic -effect, that was only clearly seen when the threat of renewed -operations in the spring caused the German army to abandon all the -positions which the Somme advance had made untenable, and to fall -back upon a new line many miles to the rear. The Battle of the Marne -was the turning-point of the first great German levy, the Battle of -the Somme that of the second. In each case the retirement was only -partial, but each clearly marked a fresh step in the struggle, upward -for the Allies, downward for the Central Powers. - -In the credit for this result the first place must be given to the -efficiency of British leadership, which was admirable in its -perseverance and in its general conception, but had, it must be -admitted, not yet attained that skill in the avoidance of losses -which was gradually taught by our terrible experiences and made -possible by our growing strength in artillery. The severe -preliminary bombardment controlled by the direct observation which is -only possible after air supremacy has been attained, the -counter-battery work to reduce the enemy's fire, the creeping barrage -to cover the infantry, the discipline and courage which enable -infantry to advance with shrapnel upon their very toes, the use of -smoke clouds against flank fire, the swift advance of the barrage -when a trench has fallen so as to head off fugitives and stifle the -counter-attack, all these devices were constantly improving with -practice, until in the arts of attack the British Army stood ahead -even of their comrades of France. An intercepted communication in -the shape of a {308} report from General von Arnim, commanding the -Fourth German Army, giving his experience of the prolonged battle, -speaks of British military efficiency in every arm in a manner which -must have surprised the General Staff if they were really of opinion -that General Haig's army was capable of defence but not of attack. -This report, with its account of the dash and tenacity of the British -infantry and of the efficiency of its munitions, is as handsome a -testimonial as one adversary ever paid to another, and might be -called magnanimous were it not that it was meant for no eye save that -of his superiors. - -But all our leadership would have been vain had it not been supported -by the high efficiency of every branch of the services, and by the -general excellence of the _materiel_. As to the actual value of the -troops, it can only be said with the most absolute truth that the -infantry, artillery, and sappers all lived up to the highest -traditions of the Old Army, and that the Flying Corps set up a fresh -record of tradition, which their successors may emulate but can never -surpass. The materiel was, perhaps, the greatest surprise both to -friend and foe. We are accustomed in British history to find the -soldier retrieving by his stubborn valour the difficulties caused by -the sluggish methods of those who should supply his needs. Thanks to -the labours of the Ministry of Munitions, of Sir William Robertson, -and of countless devoted workers of both sexes, toiling with brain -and with hand, this was no longer so. That great German army which -two years before held every possible advantage that its prolonged -preparation and busy factories could give it, had now, as General von -Arnim's report admits, fallen into the inferior place. It was a -magnificent {309} achievement upon which the British nation may well -pride itself, if one may ever pride oneself on anything in a drama so -mighty that human powers seem but the instruments of the huge -contending spiritual forces behind them. The fact remains that after -two years of national effort the British artillery was undoubtedly -superior to that of the Germans, the British Stokes trench-mortars -and light Lewis machine-guns were the best in Europe, the British -aeroplanes were unsurpassed, the British Mills bomb was superior to -any other, and the British tanks were an entirely new departure in -the art of War. It was the British brain as well as the British -heart and arm which was fashioning the future history of mankind. - - - - -{310} - -CHAPTER XIII - -THE BATTLE OF THE ANCRE - -November 13, 1916 - -The last effort--Failure in the north--Fine work of the Thirty-ninth, -Fifty-first, and Sixty-third Divisions--Surrounding of German -Fort--Capture of Beaumont Hamel--Commander Freyberg--Last operations -of the season--General survey--"The unwarlike Islanders." - - -This considerable British victory may well have a name of its own, -though it was merely an extension of the gigantic effort upon the -Somme. The fact, however, that it was fought upon the banks of a -small subsidiary stream, and also that it was separated by a month or -more from any other serious engagement, give it a place of its own in -the narrative of the War. It has already been shown at the -conclusion of the chapter which deals with the flank operations by -the Fifth Army, commanded by Sir Hubert Gough, that the British -position after the capture of the Schwaben and other redoubts which -defended the high ground to the north of Thiepval was such that the -guns were able to take the German front line to the north of the -Ancre in enfilade and almost in rear. Under such circumstances it -might well seem that their trenches {311} were untenable, but their -position, although difficult, was alleviated by the fact that they -had been able partly to find and partly to make a series of -excavations in the chalk and clay soil of the district which gave -them almost complete protection against the heaviest shell-fire. -Whole battalions led a troglodytic life in subterranean caverns from -which they were trained to rush forth upon the alarm of an infantry -advance. It was clear, however, that if the alarm should be too -short their refuges might very easily become traps, as has so often -been the case in the German lines of defence. The safety from shells -is dearly paid for when a squad of furious stormers with Mills bombs -in their hands and death in their faces glare in from the door. -Their minds were kept easy, however, by the knowledge that broad -fields of barbed wire, so rusty and so thick that they resembled -ploughland from a distance, lay between them and the British. A very -large garrison drawn from seven divisions, one of them being the 2nd -Guards Reserve, held this dangerous salient in the German line. - -For the attack General Gough had mustered two Army Corps of six -divisions, three of which, forming the Second Corps, were to advance -from the south under General Jacob, having the almost impassable mud -slopes of the Ancre in front of them. Three others of the Fifth -Corps, under General E. A. Fanshawe, were to storm the German line -north of the Ancre. This latter movement was to be directed not only -from the new British positions, but also from the old lines as far -north as Serre. The advance from the west divided the enemy's -gun-power, and distracted his attention from the south, so that its -failure and the loss which that {312} failure involved, were part of -the price paid for the victory. - -After a two days' bombardment, which started upon November 11, and -which uprooted the greater part of the German wire, the actual attack -was made at six in the foggy, misty morning of November 13. It is -inconceivable that the Germans were not standing to arms, since dawn -had long been the hour of doom, and the furious drum-fire was -certainly the overture to a battle. The thick weather, however, -shrouded the British movements, and the actual rush of the infantry -seems at the end to have been a surprise. Both in the western and -southern advance, which covered respectively 5000 and 3000 yards, -every refinement of artillery barrage which years of experience could -suggest was used to form such a downpour as would protect the -assailants, and beat the German riflemen and gunners back into their -burrows. - -Of the three divisions which attacked the old German line from the -west, the most northern was the Thirty-first, with as objective the -second and third German line, and to form a defensive flank between -Gommecourt and Serre. This division, which contained some splendid -North-country battalions from great Yorkshire towns, advanced with -great intrepidity. So skilful was the barrage arranged that the 12th -East Yorkshires on the left and 13th East Yorkshires on the right -(10th and 11th East Yorkshires in reserve), belonging to the 92nd -Brigade, had little difficulty in reaching the German front line, -which was quickly mopped up. The going between the first and second -line was so heavy, and the German snipers so numerous, that the -barrage got ahead of the advancing waves, but after a sharp rifle -fight the {313} second line was captured, which was the final -objective of the left (12th East Yorkshires) battalion. The 13th -East Yorkshires, whose final objective was the third German line, had -a very severe fight before reaching that position. Owing to the -failure of the division on the right of the 13th East Yorkshires to -get forward, the Germans later on put in several heavy bombing -counter-attacks against their right flank, which eventually drove -them back to the second line, where they took up their position -alongside the 12th, and for the remainder of the day repulsed -numerous counter-attacks. As soon as the 12th East Yorkshires on the -left had reached their objectives they consolidated it, and with the -aid of the 93rd Brigade, to whom was attached the Machine-Gun -Sections of the Lucknow and Sialkote Cavalry Brigades, beat off a -very strong counter-attack which developed about 9.30 A.M., -practically wiping it out and several minor ones during the day. - -At 2.30 P.M. the German bombardment against the 92nd became very -intense, and was kept up till 5.30 P.M., in spite of which the 12th -and 13th East Yorkshires stuck to their gains. It was only at 9 P.M. -when the Divisional General saw that there was no prospect of the -division on the right advancing that the 12th and 13th were ordered -to fall back to their original line. - -The experience of the Third Division upon the right or south of the -Thirty-first was a very trying one. There is a strip of Picardy -between those lines from Serre to the Ancre, where more Britons have -given their lives for their country and for the cause of humanity -than in any area in this or any other war. Twice it has been the -scene of tragic {314} losses, on July 1, and yet again on November -13, though, as already said, it is well in each case to regard the -general result rather than the local tragedy. Once again the Third -Division gave itself freely and unselfishly for the common cause. In -this case, also, the cause of the scanty results lay in the heavy -ground and the uncut wire. In the case of the 76th Brigade, which -may be taken as typical of its neighbours, it advanced to the -immediate south of the 93rd, and experienced even more difficult -conditions. The 2nd Suffolks and the 10th Welsh Fusiliers were in -the van, but the 8th Royal Lancasters and 1st Gordons came up in -support, the whole thick line of men clustering in front of the wire -and endeavouring to hack a way. Sergeants and officers were seen in -front of the obstacle endeavouring to find some way through. Here -and there a few pushful men, both from the 76th Brigade and from the -9th upon its right, did succeed in passing, but none of these ever -returned. Finally, a retreat was ordered through a pelting barrage, -and even in their own front-line trenches the troops were exposed to -a furious shell-fall. It was an unfortunate business and the losses -were heavy. - -Immediately upon the right of the Third Division was the Second -Division, which attacked with the 5th and 6th Brigades in the van, -the latter being on the immediate flank of the Third Division, and -sharing in the obstacles which faced that division and the check -which resulted from them. The immediate objective was the great -Munich Trench lurking within its far-flung spider-web of wire. -Although all of the 6th Brigade save the right-hand battalion were -brought to a stand, and wound up in their own trenches, the 5th -Brigade got well forward {315} and might have got farther had it not -meant the exposure of their left flank. In the evening the 99th -Brigade, the victors of Delville Wood, were brought up with orders to -form a defensive flank to the north, while they furnished two -battalions for a farther advance to continue the success gained by -the 5th Brigade. In the early morning of November 14 these two -units, the 1st Rifles and 1st Berkshires, advanced in a proper -November fog, which caused some misdirection, and eventually the -failure of the attack, for two smaller trenches were carried under -the impression that each was the Munich. Some ground and prisoners -were, however, gained, but not the main objective. - -Meanwhile, to return to the narrative of the previous day, a very -different tale was to be told of those divisions which were operating -farther to the south, where the ridge between Serre and Beaumont -Hamel sheltered the attack from the formidable German gun-power at -Pusieux and Bucquoy in the north. - -Of the three divisions attacking from the south the Thirty-ninth was -to the south of the Ancre, the Sixty-Third Naval Division upon its -left on the north bank of the Ancre, and the Fifty-first Highland -Division still farther to the left opposite Beaumont Hamel. The task -of the Thirty-ninth Division was to clear out the Germans who held on -to the Hansa line, the last German trench system between the British -front and the river. Their chief protection was the almost -incredible condition of the ground, which consisted of tenacious mud -of varying and occasionally of dangerous depth. Munitions could only -be got across it upon pack-horses, on special {316} paths. In spite -of these difficulties, the Thirty-ninth Division carried the lines of -trenches and the village of St. Pierre Divion as well, the resistance -being far from heroic. The attack was made by the 117th Brigade, -which advanced with such speed that the front waves, consisting of -the 16th Rifle Brigade upon the right and the 17th Sherwood Foresters -upon the left, were into the German trenches before the barrage could -fall. It did fall, however, and did great harm to the supports, both -the 17th Rifles and 16th Sherwoods losing heavily, especially the -former. The British line was pushed right up to the river, and the -survivors of the garrison--some 1400 in number--were compelled to lay -down their arms. This attack to the south of the river was an -isolated, self-contained operation, apart from the larger and more -serious movement on the north bank. - -The right of the main assault was carried out by the gallant -Sixty-third Royal Naval Division, whose emergency baptism of fire at -Antwerp has been mentioned in this narrative, though its subsequent -splendid services at Gallipoli have not come within its scope. After -the evacuation of Gallipoli and the subsequent redistribution of the -eastern army, at least three fine divisions, the Eleventh, the -Forty-second, and the Naval, besides the splendid Australian and New -Zealand infantry, were transferred to the French front. This action -of the Ancre was the first opportunity which these volunteer sailors -had had of showing upon a large European stage those qualities which -had won them fame elsewhere. - -The Naval Division attacked to the immediate north of the Ancre, -having the river upon their right. The lines of assault were formed -under cover of darkness, {317} for the assembly trenches were -inadequate and the ground occupied was under direct observation from -the German lines. The division in this formation was a thick mass of -10,000 infantry on a front of about 1600 yards with a depth of 300. -Fortunately, the screen of the weather covered them completely, and -there was little and random shelling during the night, but the men -were stiff and chilled by their long vigil, during which they might -neither speak nor smoke. At last, just before dawn, the crash of the -barrage told that the hour had come, and the lines moved forward, -keeping well up to the shower of shrapnel which crept on at the rate -of 100 yards in five minutes, searching every hollow and crevice of -the ground. - -The first objective was the enemy's front-line system of triple -trenches. The second was a road in the hollow behind called Station -Road, with trenches on either side of it. The third was the trenches -which fringed the village of Beaucourt. The fourth, which was only -to be attempted after the third was consolidated, was the village -itself, which lies among trees upon the north side of the river. - -The advance of the 189th Brigade on the right of the Naval Division, -consisting of the Hood, Hawke, Nelson, and Drake battalions, was -comparatively easy, as they were partly protected from flank fire by -the dead ground formed by the low-lying northern slope down to the -river. With great dash and vigour they carried the successive lines -of trenches, and before mid-day they were consolidating the third -objective with the village in their immediate front. - -A much more difficult task confronted the centre of the advance, -consisting of the left half of the right brigade, and the right half -of the 188th Brigade, {318} which contained the 1st and 2nd -Battalions of Marines, the Ansons and the Howes. In the very track -of their course lay a formidable German redoubt, bristling with -machine-guns, and so concealed that neither the observers nor the -bombardment had spotted it. This serious obstacle caused heavy -losses to the central attack, and as it completely commanded their -advance it held them to such cover as they could find. The left of -the advance got past the redoubt, however, and reached the sunken -road, where they were in close touch with the Scotsmen upon their -left. Thus at this period of the advance the Naval Division formed a -deep curve with its right wing well forward, its centre held back, -and its left wing nearly as far advanced as its right. The mist was -so thick that it was very difficult to tell from the rear what was -going on in the battle, but the 190th Brigade held in reserve was -aware that some hitch had occurred, and pushing forward in the hope -of retrieving it, found itself involved in the fierce fighting round -the redoubt, where it also was exposed to heavy loss. This brigade, -it may be mentioned, was not naval, but contained the 1st Honourable -Artillery Company, the 4th Bedfords, 7th Royal Fusiliers, and 10th -Dublins. The German fort could not be reduced, nor could progress be -made in the centre in face of its machine-guns; but the infantry, -which had passed it on either side, extended along the Sunken Road -behind it, and joined hands so as to cut it off. The whole German -second line was then in their possession, and the right third of -their third line as well. The enemy still held firm, however, in the -centre of the first-line system, and showed no signs of weakening, -although they must have known that British troops {319} were in their -rear. An attempt was made to rebombard this portion of the line, but -it was difficult for the gunners without aerial observation to locate -the exact portion of the line which still remained with the enemy, -and there was great danger of the shells falling among our own -infantry. About three in the afternoon the conclusion was reached -that it was better for the time to leave this great pocket of Germans -alone, cutting them off from either escape or reinforcement. - -The 111th Brigade from the Thirty-seventh Division was therefore sent -up, battalion by battalion, along the river-bank until it passed the -central obstacle and reached the Sunken Road. Thence the 13th Rifles -were sent forward with orders to reach the advanced line, where the -Hoods and Drakes, somewhat reduced in numbers but not in spirit, were -lying in front of Beaucourt. It was dark before these changes could -be made. The Riflemen, when they had attained their position, rested -their right upon the Ancre, and prolonged their left, clearing the -Germans out in that direction. This movement to the left was -strengthened in the early morning when the 13th Rifle Brigade and the -13th Royal Fusiliers of the same brigade came up to join in, whilst -the H.A.C. also advanced and took up a position on the right of the -naval men. - -About seven o'clock the assault upon the village was ordered, under -the direction and leadership of Commander Freyberg of the Hoods, -already twice wounded, and wounded once again before his task was -finished. Sailors and Riflemen rushed forward at the signal, and -dashed with fierce impetuosity over the German line and down the -streets of the hamlet. The Honourable Artillery Company upon the -right {320} joined in the charge. It was completely successful, the -houses were rapidly cleared, the dug-outs taken, and many hundreds of -prisoners secured. The Riflemen emerging on the farther side of the -village immediately dug in under the direction of their only -remaining company officer. A footbridge was at the same time thrown -across the Ancre, so as to connect up with the Thirty-ninth Division -on the south. - -The German redoubt had held out manfully until its line of retreat -was entirely cut off, and even then showed signs of continued -resistance. The tanks had already won such a position in the army -that they had become one of the last resources of the commander who -was in difficulties. During the night of November 13 three of these -engines were sent for to help in reducing the intractable German -centre. Their performance was typical both of their weakness and of -their value in this early stage of their evolution. One was hit and -disabled before ever it crossed the lines. A second stuck in the mud -and refused to budge. The third won its way over the German front -line and so terrorised the obstinate garrison that they were finally -induced to lay down their arms. Eight hundred prisoners came from -this one pocket, and the whole capture of the Naval Division amounted -to nearly 2000 men. - -The advance of the Fifty-first Highland Territorial Division upon the -immediate left of the Naval Division had been equally successful, and -had ended in the capture of the important village of Beaumont Hamel -with all its network of caverns, a great store of machine-guns, and -1500 of the garrison. The objectives of the division may be said to -have been the continuation of those of the Naval Division, -substituting Beaumont Hamel for Beaucourt, but the position {321} was -complicated by a deep ravine, called after its shape the Y Ravine, -which ran down from the village to the German trenches. The ground -over which the advance was made was still littered with the skeletons -clad in rags which represented the men who had fallen in the attack -of July 1. Now, after five months, they were gloriously avenged. -The rush of the division was headed by the 153rd Brigade, with the -4th and 7th Gordons in the lead. These two fine battalions carried -the front German lines, but on reaching the Sunken Road they gave -place to the 6th and 7th Black Watch behind them, who carried the -attack up the Y Ravine and on to Beaumont, while the Seaforths and -Argylls of the other brigades, with their staunch Lowland comrades of -the 9th Royal Scots, thickened the line of attack, and gave it the -weight to carry each successive obstacle. Only in the Y Ravine was -there any momentary check to the fiery advance. There for a short -time the Germans stood stoutly to their task, and there was some of -that man-to-man work which the Scotsman loves. Then the last signs -of resistance died out, and before the late afternoon the whole -position was in the hands of the assailants, who pushed on and -occupied the low ridge to the north which separates it from Serre. -One curious incident connected with the close of the action was, that -a mopping-up party of Gordons in one of the front lines of trenches -were suddenly surprised and captured by a considerable body of -Germans, who emerged suddenly from an underground tunnel. In the -evening, however, the positions were reversed, and the prisoners were -rescued, while the Germans had to surrender to the victors. Fifteen -hundred prisoners and 54 machine-guns were the {322} spoils of the -Fifty-first Division; but these were considerably increased when the -dug-outs were more carefully examined next day. Altogether nearly -7000 officers and men were captured in the course of the action. - -Whilst the considerable action of Beaumont Hamel was fought upon the -left, the various divisions upon the south of the river forming the -remainder of Gough's Fifth Army all made a forward movement and -gained ground. Of these divisions, the Thirty-ninth, whose doings -have already been described, was nearest to the main battle, and was -most heavily engaged, winning a complete success. Upon its right in -the order given were the Nineteenth and the Eighteenth, connecting up -with Rawlinson's Fourth Army upon the right. These various divisions -all moved their lines forward in the direction of the river-bank, -with the villages of Grandcourt and Petit Miraumont in their front. -These movements were rather in the nature of a feint and a -demonstration, so that they were not accompanied by any severe -fighting. It had been planned, however, that as these divisions -advanced to the north the space which would be left between Gough's -right and Rawlinson's left should be filled up by the Thirty-second -Division, which should push on in the direction of Pys. This -movement gave rise to some severe fighting in which the historical -14th Brigade sustained some heavy losses. The immediate obstacle in -front of the division was a powerful system of trenches lying amid -morasses caused by the recent heavy rains, and known as the Munich -Line, with the Frankfort line behind it. Upon November 17 the -division took over the advanced trenches, while the {323} Eighteenth -Division side-stepped to the left. The Thirty-second Division had -formed its line for attack, with the 14th Brigade upon the left and -the 97th upon the right, the leading battalions from left to right -being the 15th Highland Light Infantry, the 2nd Manchesters, the 2nd -Yorkshire Light Infantry, and another battalion of H.L.I. The -advance was to have been upon the 17th, but from the beginning a -series of misfortunes occurred, arising largely from the weather, the -condition of the trenches, and the severe German barrage behind the -line, which made all preparations difficult and costly. The attack -was postponed till the 18th, and even then the advancing battalions -were short of bombs, without which trench fighting becomes -impossible. The ground behind the troops was so awful that one mile -in an hour was considered remarkable progress for an unladen -messenger; while the enemy's fire was so severe that of six runners -sent with a despatch only the last arrived unwounded. The Germans in -front appeared to be both numerous and full of fight, and upon the -17th they made a vain attack upon the advanced line of the 14th -Brigade. Two companies of the Manchesters sustained upon this day -the losses of half their number as they lay, an object lesson in -silent patient discipline in the muddy bottom of a shell-swept ditch. - -At 6.10 in the morning of the 18th an advance was made, but the bomb -supplies had not yet come up and the disadvantages were great. None -the less, the first line of German trenches was successfully carried -by the Manchesters, but the 15th Highland Light Infantry were held up -by wire and were unable to get forward, while the Yorkshire Light -Infantry {324} upon the right got through at some points and were -held at others. The Manchesters even penetrated to the second line -of trenches and sprang into them, but the fatal want of bombs tied -their hands, and a counter-attack of the Germans retook the position. -The Highland Light Infantry had fallen back upon Serre Trench, and -were pressed by a party of the enemy, but fortunately some of the 1st -Dorsets came up from the rear with some bombs, and the situation was -saved. In the meantime the position of those Manchesters and -Yorkshiremen who had got forward as far as the second trench, and -were exposed without bombs to a bombing attack, was very serious. -They had taken a number of prisoners and some of these they managed -to send back, but the greater part of the British were bombed to -pieces, and all died where they fought or were taken by the enemy. A -single survivor who returned from the final stand made by these -gallant men stated that he was the last man who had crawled out of -the trench, and that his comrades lay dead or dying in a group in -front of a blazing dug-out, the woodwork of which had taken fire. A -patrol next day came upon the bodies of an officer and forty men who -had died fighting to the last in a single group. - -On the left of the Thirty-second Division some movement forward had -been necessary upon the part both of the Eighteenth Division and of -the Nineteenth, in order to keep the left flank of Jacob's Second -Corps on the south of the river level with the right flank of -Fanshawe's Fifth Corps upon the northern bank. This operation did -not involve much work upon the part of the Eighteenth, but the -movement of the Nineteenth was difficult and complex, with Grandcourt -as {325} a possible objective. It meant an attack upon a maze of -trenches under the worst possible terrestrial conditions, while the -advance had really to be in three different directions--due north, -north-east, and almost due east. The 57th Brigade, strengthened by -the 7th South Lancashires of the 56th Brigade, was chosen for the -difficult task. At 6 A.M. upon November 18 in a sharp snow-storm the -advance began. - -It was the last concerted operation of the year, but it was not -unfortunately destined for success. The garrison of the trenches -appear to have been as numerous as the stormers and far more -advantageously placed. The ground was such that an advance over it -without opposition would have been no easy matter. Upon the left two -battalions, the 7th South Lancs and the 8th Gloucesters, old battle -companions of La Boiselle, pushed vigorously forward and seized the -western outskirt of Grandcourt, where they held on against every -attempt to dislodge them. Stick bombs, egg bombs, rifle-grenades, -and every sort of evil missile crashed and splintered around them, -but they had in command two leaders who might be trusted to hold what -they had taken. Only next evening when the rest of the attack had -definitely failed did these two battalions withdraw to a new line on -the immediate west of the village, taking 150 prisoners with them. - -The other three battalions had fared ill owing to numerical weakness, -lack of knowledge of the ground, loss of direction, bad weather, and -deadly machine-guns. Half of the 8th North Staffords won their way -through to the objective, but their comrades could not support them, -and they were so isolated that, after a {326} gallant resistance, -they were nearly all destroyed or captured, under very much the same -circumstances as the 2nd Manchesters upon the preceding day. The -commander of the North Staffords, Colonel Anderson, a gallant South -African, and several other officers were wounded and taken. Colonel -Torrie of the 7th East Lancashires was also killed in this -engagement. An attempt upon the part of the 9th Cheshires later in -the evening to get into touch with their lost comrades only served to -swell the casualty lists, for it was dark before it was initiated, -and all direction was impossible amid the labyrinth of mud-channels -which faced them. Two days later the Nineteenth Division was -relieved by the Eleventh. It is difficult to exaggerate the extreme -hardships which had been endured by the whole of Jacob's corps during -these operations amid the viscid mud slopes of the Ancre. Napoleon -in Poland had never better cause to curse the fourth element. The -front trenches were mere gutters, and every attempt to deepen them -only deepened the stagnant pool within. The communications were -little better. The mud was on the men's bodies, in their food, and -for ever clogging both their feet and their weapons. The hostile -shelling was continuous. It was a nightmare chapter of the campaign. -Winter had now settled down once more cheerless and prolonged. There -was much to be done in those months of gloom--divisions to be -refilled, fresh divisions to be brought out, munitions of every sort -to be stored for the days of wrath to come. But apart from the -preparations for the future, the army was never quiet, for one long -succession of trench raids, exploratory attacks, and bombardments -helped to retain that ascendancy which had been gained in {327} the -long Battle of the Somme. Before the narrative passes to the German -retreat of 1917, and the dramatic battles which followed it, it would -be well to take a brief survey of the other events which had occurred -during the last half of the year, all of which reacted more or less -directly upon the campaign in the west. - -The chief of these is undoubtedly the magnificent French recovery at -Verdun. As already stated, the German pressure was very severe in -June, but it was rapidly lessened by the counter-pressure of the -Allied advance upon the Somme. In their attempt to hold back the -Franco-British advance the Germans denuded their Verdun line to an -extent which weakened it so much that, far from advancing, it could -not hold its own. In two splendid assaults upon October 24 and -December 15, the first yielding 5000 prisoners and the second 11,000 -with 115 guns, the French drove the Germans back until a considerable -portion of their former hard-won gains had disappeared. Considering -the efforts which France was making upon the Somme it was a splendid -achievement, and it may fairly be added to the credit of the Somme -Battle, since without it, it could hardly have been possible. - -The second considerable factor was one of those great Russian -advances which, alternating with equally great Russian retreats, each -of them coming with a constant rhythm, made the war of the Eastern -Front resemble some sort of majestic and terrible tide, with an ebb -and flow which left death and destruction strewn over those unhappy -border countries. On this occasion the advance was in the Brody and -Stanislau direction, and was pushed with such energy and success by -the fiery Brusiloff that nearly 400,000 prisoners--or perhaps -Slavonic refugees would be a {328} more accurate description--were -taken by our Allies. The movement extended from June to September, -and might have been a vital one, had it not been for political -disorganisation and treachery in the rear. - -The Italian armies had in the meanwhile given a splendid account of -themselves, as every one who had seen them in the field, predicted -that they would. Though hard pressed by a severe Austrian attack in -the Trentino in May, they rallied and held the enemy before he could -debouch upon the plains. Then with three hard blows delivered upon -August 6 to August 9, where they took the town of Gorizia and 12,000 -prisoners, on October 10, and on November 1 they broke the Austrian -lines and inflicted heavy losses upon them. The coming of winter saw -them well upon their way to Trieste. - -On August 4 the British forces in Egypt defeated a fresh Turco-German -attack upon that country. The battle was near Romani, east of the -Suez Canal, and it ended in a creditable victory and the capture of -2500 prisoners. This was the end of the serious menace for Egypt, -and the operations in this quarter, which were carried on by General -Murray, were confined from this time forwards to clearing up the -Sinai peninsula, where various Turkish posts were dispersed or taken, -and in advancing our line to the Palestine Frontier. - -On August 8 our brave little ally, Portugal, threw her sword into the -scale of freedom, and so gave military continuity to the traditions -of the two nations. It would have rejoiced the austere soul of the -great Duke to see the descendants of his much-valued Caçadores, -fighting once more beside the great-grandsons of the Riflemen and -Guardsmen of the Peninsula. {329} Two divisions appeared in France, -where they soon made a reputation for steadiness and valour. - -In the East another valiant little nation had also ranged herself -with the Allies, and was destined, alas, to meet her ruin through -circumstances which were largely beyond her own control. Upon August -27 Roumania declared war, and with a full reliance upon help which -never reached her, advanced at once into the south of Hungary. Her -initial successes changed to defeat, and her brave soldiers, who were -poorly provided with modern appliances of war, were driven back -before the pressure of Falkenhayn's army in the west and Mackensen's, -which eventually crossed the Danube, from the south. On December 6 -Bucharest fell, and by the end of the year the Roumanians had been -driven to the Russian border, where, an army without a country, they -hung on, exactly as the Belgians had done, to the extreme edge of -their ravaged fatherland. To their Western allies, who were -powerless to help them, it was one of the most painful incidents of -the War. - -The Salonica expedition had been much hampered by the sinister -attitude of the Greeks, whose position upon the left rear of -Sarrail's forces made an advance dangerous, and a retreat -destructive. King Constantine, following the example of his -brother-in-law of Berlin, had freed himself from all constitutional -ties, refused to summon a parliament, and followed his own private -predilections and interests by helping our enemies, even to the point -of surrendering a considerable portion of his own kingdom, including -a whole army corps and the port of Kavala, to the hereditary enemy, -the Bulgarian. Never in history has a nation been so betrayed by its -king, and never, {330} it may be added, did a nation which had been -free allow itself so tamely to be robbed of its freedom. Venezelos, -however, showed himself to be a great patriot, shook the dust of -Athens from his feet, and departed to Salonica, where he raised the -flag of a fighting national party, to which the whole nation was -eventually rallied. Meanwhile, however, the task of General Sarrail -was rendered more difficult, in spite of which he succeeded in -regaining Monastir and establishing himself firmly within the old -Serbian frontier--a result which was largely due to the splendid -military qualities of the remains of the Serbian army. - -On December 12 the German Empire proposed negotiations for peace, but -as these were apparently to be founded upon the war-map as it then -stood, and as they were accompanied by congratulatory messages about -victory from the Kaiser to his troops, they were naturally not -regarded as serious by the Allies. Our only guarantee that a nation -will not make war whenever it likes is its knowledge that it cannot -make peace when it likes, and this was the lesson which Germany was -now to learn. By the unanimous decision of all the Allied nations no -peace was possible which did not include terms which the Germans were -still very far from considering--restitution of invaded countries, -reparation for harm done, and adequate guarantees against similar -unprovoked aggression in the future. Without these three conditions -the War would indeed have been fought in vain. - -This same month of December saw two of the great protagonists who had -commenced the War retire from that stage upon which each had played a -worthy part. The one was Mr. Asquith, who, {331} weary from long -labours, gave place to the fresh energy of Mr. Lloyd George. The -other was "Father" Joffre, who bore upon his thick shoulders the -whole weight of the early campaigns. Both names will live honourably -in history. - -And now as the year drew to its close, Germany, wounded and weary, -saw as she glared round her at her enemies, a portent which must have -struck a chill to her heart. Russian strength had been discounted -and that of France was no new thing. But whence came this apparition -upon her Western flank--a host raised, as it seemed, from nowhere, -and yet already bidding fair to be equal to her own? Her public were -still ignorant and blind, bemused by the journals which had told them -so long, and with such humorous detail, that the British army was a -paper army, the creature of a dream. Treitschke's foolish phrase, -"The unwarlike Islanders," still lingered pleasantly in their memory. -But the rulers, the men who knew, what must have been their feelings -as they gazed upon that stupendous array, that vision of doom, a -hundred miles from wing to wing, gleaming with two million bayonets, -canopied with aeroplanes, fringed with iron-clad motor monsters, and -backed by an artillery which numbered its guns by the thousand? -Kitchener lay deep in the Orkney waves, but truly his spirit was -thundering at their gates. His brain it was who first planted these -seeds, but how could they have grown had the tolerant, long-suffering -British nation not been made ready for it by all those long years of -Teutonic insult, the ravings of crazy professors, and the insults of -unbalanced publicists? All of these had a part in raising that great -host, but others, too, can claim their share: the baby-killers of -Scarborough, the {332} Zeppelin murderers, the submarine pirates, all -the agents of ruthlessness. Among them they had put life and spirit -into this avenging apparition, where even now it could be said that -every man in the battle line had come there of his own free will. -Years of folly and of crime were crying for a just retribution. The -instrument was here and the hour was drawing on. - - - - -{333} - -INDEX - - -Adlam, Lieutenant, V.C., 272 - -Air Service, 38, 39 - -Albert, 66 - -Alderson, General Sir Edwin, 21 - -Allenby, General Sir Edmund, 11, 34 - -Alsace, 3 - -Ancre, battle of the: work of the Naval Division, 315-321; capture of -Beaumont Hamel, 320-322; attack on Grandcourt, 324-326 - -Anderson, Colonel, 326 - -Arbuthnot, Rear-Admiral Sir Robert, 31 - -Armenia, invasion of, by Russians, 3 - -Arnim, General von, report on the battle of the Somme, 308 - -Ash, Colonel, 246 - -Asquith, Lieutenant Raymond, 169 - -Asquith, Mr., 330 - -Atkinson, Major, 211 - - - -Babington, General, 117 - -Bapaume, 66 - -Bazentin-le-Grand, 144, 151-152 - -Bazentin-le-Petit, 144, 145, 146-149 - -Bean, Mr., Australian chronicler, quoted, 201, 202 - -Beaucourt-sur-Ancre, 59, 60 - -Beaumont Hamel, 46, 47, 52-56, 58, 86, 200, 280, 315, 320-322 - -Bécourt, 67, 76 - -Becquincourt, 100 - -Bernard, Colonel, 62 - -Bircham, Colonel, 161 - -Bird wood, General Sir William, 190 - -Blake, Captain, 284 - -British front in France extended, 4, 11 - -Brocklehurst, Captain, 183 - -Brooke, Rupert, 169 - -Brown, Major Hall, 121 - -Brusiloff, General, 327 - -Bucharest, fall of, 329 - -Bukovina, 2, 3 - -Bulgaria, joins the Central Powers, 2; Greece surrenders the port of -Kavala to, 329 - -Burgh, Lieutenant de, V.C., 284 - -Bussu, 100 - -Byng, General Sir Julian, 21, 236 - - - -Campbell, Captain (R.F.A.), 108 - -Carden, Colonel, 126 - -Carr, Colonel, 270 - -Cavan, General Lord, 237, 251 - -Churchill, Right Hon. W. S., 260 - -Clark, Major, 140 - -Coates, Major, 199 - -Coleridge, Adjutant, 124 - -Combles, 237, 256, 259, 281, 294, 295 - -Congreve, General, V.C., 34, 86, 165 - -Congreve, Brigade-Major, 177 - -Constantine, King of Greece, 329 - -Contalmaison, 72, 73, 80, 105, 116-124, 131-133 - -Cornaby, Lieutenant, 269 - -Courcelette, 204 - -Craig, Colonel James, M.P., 62 - -Curlu, 100 - -Curtin, Mr., American journalist, quoted, 132 - - - -Davidson, Captain, 62 - -Dawson, Captain, 69 - -Delvilie Wood, 145, 153, 155, 159, 165, 171-178, 180-183, 187, 207, -211-214, 218-223, 232, 233, 262 - -Derby, Lord, 5, 95 - -D'Eyncourt, Commander, R.N., 260 - -Diggle, Major, 64 - -Dompierre, 100 - -Duck's Post, attack on, 11, 12 - - - -East Africa, 3 - -Eaucourt, 282, 283, 286 - -Edwards, Private, V.C., 270 - -Ellis, Colonel, 56 - -Erzeroum captured by Russians, 3 - - - -Falfemont, 207, 214, 224 - -Falkenhayn, General, 329 - -Fanshawe, General E. A., 311, 324 - -Fay, 100 - -Fayolle, General, 100 - -Finch, Colonel, 110 - -Flers, 236, 241, 243-247, 259, 261, 262, 282, 283 - -Flower, Colonel, 128 - -Foch, General, 11, 33, 84, 98, 99, 160 - -Forsyth, Colonel, 203 - -Franklin, Colonel, 53 - -French, Lord, 5 - -Freyberg, Commander, 319 - -Fricourt, 76, 77-84, 85, 86, 99, 101, 104 - -Frise, 100, 101 - - - -Gaffikin, Captain, 62 - -Galicia, 2 - -Gallipoli, withdrawal of British troops from, 2 - -Garvin, Captain Gerard, 169 - -General survey, of affairs in winter 1915-16, 1-7; of events in 1916, -326-332 - -Gibbs, Mr. Philip, quoted, 228 - -Gillson, Colonel, 136 - -Ginchy, 159, 207, 214, 218, 221, 222-223, 224, 226, 230-231, 250, -251, 252 - -Glasgow, Brigadier-General, 83 - -Glatz Redoubt, the, 96 - -Gommecourt, 39-45, 71, 86, 99 - -Gordon, Colonel (Gordons), 168 - -Gordon, Lieutenant (Borders), 64 - -Gorizia, Italians take, 328 - -Gough, General Sir Hubert, 106, 156, 161, 189, 194, 198, 202, 205, -207, 236, 238, 263, 264, 281, 310, 311, 322 - -Grandcourt, 322, 324, 325 - -Green, Colonel, 53 - -Grenfell, Julian, 169 - -Guedecourt, 288, 289 - -Guillemont, 144, 156, 159, 178, 183-187, 207, 214-218, 223, 224, 226, -227-228, 231 - - - -Haig, General Sir Douglas, 33, 36, 122, 160, 179, 261, 280, 289, 303, -308 - -Hamp, Sergeant, 220 - -Hankey, Captain Donald, 169 - -Hardecourt, 100 - -Hay, Colonel, 25 - -Heath, Colonel, 108 - -Hébuterne, 34, 46 - -High Wood, 148, 150, 159, 163, 166-168, 170, 187, 207-213, 232-234, -236, 237, 240-241, 262 - -Hohenzollern Redoubt, engagement near, 19 - -Hole, Lieutenant, 73 - -Hood, Rear-Admiral Hon. Horace, 31 - -Hopkinson, Colonel, 53 - -Horne, General Sir H., 34, 76, 122, 165, 236, 237, 242, 250 - -Howell, Captain, 182 - -Hudson, Major, 270 - -Hunter-Weston, General Sir Aylmer, 34, 46, 55, 68 - - - -Innes, Colonel, 53 - -Ireland, rebellion in, 19 - - - -Jacob, General, 236, 264, 279, 311, 324, 326 - -Joffre, General, 33, 331 - -Johnson, Colonel (Manchesters), 96 - -Johnstone, Captain (Rifles), 211 - -Johnstone, Lieutenant (Shropshires), 17 - -Jones, Colonel, 137 - -Jones, Sergeant, V.C. (King's Liverpool), 229 - -Jones, Private, V.C. (Cheshires), 292 - -Jutland, battle of, 31 - - - -Kavala, Greek surrender of, to Bulgaria, 329 - -Kiggell, General Sir L., 36 - -Kitchener, Lord, 5, 331 - -Kut, British force surrenders to Turks at, 2 - - - -La Boiselle, 69-75, 76, 77, 86, 104, 105, 107-109 - -Laidlaw, Colonel, 65 - -Lambton, General, 53 - -Landon, General, 150 - -Ledwidge, Francis, 169 - -Leipzig Redoubt, the, 63, 64, 65, 198 - -Le Sars, 284, 285, 286 - -Lesboeufs, 281, 291, 292 - -Lister, Charles, 169 - -Lloyd George, Mr., 331 - -Longridge, Colonel, 210 - -Longueval, 144, 145, 151, 153-155, 171-180, 213, 217 - -Loos, 4, 17-19, 30 - -Luard, Colonel, 17 - -Lynch, Colonel, 78 - -Lyon, Colonel, 212 - - - -Machell, Colonel, 64 - -Mack, Major, 252 - -Mackensen, General, 329 - -McNair, Lieutenant, V.C., 8 - -Maddison, Colonel, 69 - -Mametz, 76, 84-86, 88, 93, 96, 104 - -Mametz Wood, 116, 118, 120, 121, 124-132, 134 - -Maricourt, 95, 99 - -Markes, Brigade-Major, 176 - -Martinpuich, 204, 236, 237-240, 269 - -Mason, Lieutenant, 267 - -Maxse, General, 139, 272 - -Mercer, General, 24 - -Mesopotamia, British Expedition in, 2, 3 - -Miall-Smith, Lieutenant (Royal Fusiliers), 269 - -Military Service Bill, the, 6 - -Mobbs, Colonel, 216 - -Monastir reoccupied by the Serbian Army, 330 - -Monro, General Sir Charles, 11 - -Montauban, 84, 86-98, 99, 104 - -Montenegro overrun by Central Powers, 2 - -Moreaucourt, 100 - -Morland, General Sir T., 34, 58 - -Morval, 281, 291, 292, 293, 294 - -Mumford, Captain, 136 - -Murray, General Sir A., 328 - -Murray, Lieutenant, 185 - -Musker, Lieutenant, 186, 187 - - - -Neville, Captain, 92 - - - -Ord, Corporal, 220 - -Ovillers, 58, 66, 105, 106, 107, 110-116, 197 - - - -Palk, Colonel the Hon. C. W., 53 - -Pears, Colonel, 113 - -Phillpotts, General, 233 - -Pierce, Colonel, 56 - -Piggott, Colonel Royston, 108 - -Plumer, General Sir Herbert, 11, 14 - -Poland occupied by Central Powers, 2 - -Pommiers Redoubt, the, 89, 90 - -Portugal declares war against the Central Powers, 328 - -Pozières, 144, 156, 159, 189-204, 231 - -Price, Brigadier-General, 203 - -Primrose, Captain Neil, 169 - -Prowse, Brigadier-General, 52, 53 - -Pulteney, General Sir W., 34, 58, 66, 74, 76, 236, 241 - - - -Rawlinson, General Sir Henry, 11, 34, 106, 142, 189, 207, 214, 232, -236, 263, 322 - -Regiments: - -_Artillery--_ - -Royal Field Artillery, 93, 108 - -Trench Mortar Battery, 269 - -Honourable Artillery Company, 318, 319 - -_Cavalry--_ - -7th Dragoon Guards, 150, 158 - -20th Deccan Horse, 150, 158 - -Lucknow and Sialkote Cavalry Brigades, 313 - -_Guards--_ - -Coldstream, 252, 253, 254, 291, 292 - -Grenadier, 252, 253, 291, 292 - -Irish, 252, 253, 291 - -Scots, 253, 254, 255 - -Welsh, 291 - -_Infantry--_ - -Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 153, 164, 175, 209, 238, 293, 321 - -Bedford, 88, 89, 95, 137, 186, 187, 251, 255, 271, 273, 292, 318 - -Berkshire, 70, 71, 89, 90, 109, 177, 182, 192, 193, 210, 233, 268, -274, 302, 315 - -Black Watch, 153, 175, 210, 233, 234, 287, 321 - -Border, 8, 64, 85, 106, 114, 117, 123, 147, 272, 275, 279 - -Buffs (East Kent), 91, 92, 140, 216, 255, 273, 274, 291, 298 - -Cameron Highlanders, 153, 162, 175, 233, 238 - -Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), 70, 134, 164, 166, 167, 170, 238, 302, -303, 304 - -Cheshire, 106, 107, 110, 115, 259, 276, 278, 292, 326 - -Connaught Rangers, 227, 228, 229 - -Devon, 70, 85, 147, 168, 223, 226, 293 - -Dorset, 64, 83, 113, 115, 132, 272, 324 - -Dublin Fusiliers, 19, 52, 231, 318 - -Duke of Cornwall's, 221, 226, 250, 290, 299 - -Durham Light Infantry, 49, 51, 77, 78, 80, 81, 221, 247, 250, 255, -284, 285, 289, 291, 292, 301 - -East Lancashire, 49, 50, 51, 53, 74, 121, 302, 326 - -East Surrey, 11, 12, 91, 92, 180, 215, 226, 273, 274, 293 - -East Yorkshire, 77, 83, 121, 132, 151, 304, 305, 312, 313 - -Essex, 52, 54, 89, 90, 109, 177, 196, 267, 268, 273 - -Gloucester, 28, 108, 116, 156, 157, 162, 180, 192, 193, 197, 198, -211, 226, 233, 293, 325 - -Gordon Highlanders, 10, 14, 84, 85, 149, 168, 174, 223, 314, 321 - -Hampshire, 51, 53, 55, 244, 279, 280, 302 - -Highland Light Infantry, 30, 63, 64, 65, 68, 113, 114, 150, 163, 170, -218, 237, 238, 323, 324 - -Inniskilling Fusiliers, 18, 53, 56, 61, 64, 114 - -King's Liverpool, 95, 96, 97, 98, 137, 151, 152, 164, 174, 179, 208, -220, 229, 234, 298, 304 - -King's Own Royal Lancaster, 52 - -King's Own Scottish Borderers, 134, 172, 238, 286, 292 - -King's Royal Rifles, 170, 227, 244, 245, 248, 249, 290, 304 - -Lancashire Fusiliers, 7, 8, 20, 53, 63, 64, 110, 113, 114, 118, 120, -272, 302 - -Leicester, 146, 148, 255, 256, 288, 289 - -Leinster, 215, 227 - -Lincoln, 8, 10, 42, 70, 72, 77, 81, 82, 116, 117, 122, 275, 288, 302, -303, 304 - -Liverpool, 136 - -London Rifle Brigade, 43, 300 - -London Scottish, 43, 44, 258, 299 - -1st London, 259 - -2nd London, 43, 259 - -3rd London, 44, 300 - -4th London, 43, 256, 299 - -6th London, 241 - -8th London, 259 - -9th London (Queen Victoria Rifles), 43, 256, 300 - -12th London (Rangers), 43, 258 - -13th London (Kensington), 43 - -15th London (Civil Service), 241 - -15th London (Queen's Westminsters), 43 - -Manchester, 65, 84, 85, 95, 96, 97, 113, 114, 120, 136, 137, 149, -178, 185, 186, 222, 323, 324 326 - -Middlesex, 43, 70, 77, 82, 88, 111, 112, 140, 142, 164, 168, 182, -207, 215, 218, 232, 246, 258, 269, 299, 304 - -Munster Fusiliers, 156, 212, 230, 234 - -Norfolk, 89, 90, 176, 180, 196, 267, 273, 292 - -Northampton, 88, 89, 121, 140, 142, 161, 209, 210, 211, 215, 234, -269, 271 - -North Lancashire, 20, 110, 146, 200, 210, 234, 278 - -North Staffordshire, 41, 108, 325, 326 - -Northumberland Fusiliers, 13, 63, 70, 72, 73, 74, 75, 113, 117, 118, -120, 148, 152, 179, 272, 285 - -Oxford and Bucks, 192, 219, 220, 221, 227, 248, 249, 250, 298, 299 - -Queen's (West Surrey), 84, 91, 93, 109, 139, 142, 150, 163, 170, 196, -218, 219, 221, 223, 233, 244, 246, 273 - -Rifle Brigade, 8, 51, 52, 53, 213, 216, 227, 228, 248, 249, 290, 298, -302, 316, 319 - -Rifles, 30, 162, 163, 182, 211, 218, 219, 220, 227, 228, 234, 248, -278, 279, 282, 290, 299, 315, 319, 320 - -Royal Fusiliers, 13, 53, 54, 88, 89, 111, 164, 167, 170, 177, 182, -186, 196, 207, 209, 269, 270, 298, 304, 318, 319 - -Royal Irish, 18, 86, 148, 149, 222, 227, 230 - -Royal Irish Fusiliers, 53, 60, 230 - -Royal Irish Rifles, 60, 61, 62, 71, 110, 230 - -Royal Lancaster, 10, 14, 314 - -Royal Scots, 72, 73, 74, 77, 80, 152, 172, 173, 178, 179, 238, 321 - -Royal Scots Fusiliers, 13, 97, 136, 152, 172, 185, 186, 238 - -Royal West Kent, 91, 92, 109, 139, 140, 142, 196 - -Seaforth Highlanders, 52, 53, 153, 175, 285, 321 - -Sherwood Foresters, 7, 8, 40, 42, 68, 117, 121, 251, 272, 278, 316 - -Shropshire, 17, 151, 219, 248, 249, 250, 256, 290, 299 - -Somerset Light Infantry, 51, 52, 53, 82, 221, 229, 250, 299 - -South Lancashire, 106, 108, 114, 169, 202, 325 - -South Staffordshire, 7, 8, 41, 84, 85, 116, 117, 123, 150, 221, 275 - -South Wales Borderers, 53, 56, 121, 129, 130, 156, 157, 162, 212, 234 - -Suffolk, 9, 10, 72, 74, 89, 92, 109, 164, 177, 178, 208, 252, 267, -268, 273, 274, 314 - -Sussex, 8, 28, 30, 93, 111, 112, 162, 192, 194, 195, 209, 211, 215, -216, 232, 234, 266, 279 - -Tyneside Irish (Northumberland Fusiliers), 72, 75 - -Tyneside Scottish (Northumberland Fusiliers), 70, 72, 73, 75 - -Warwick, 46, 49, 51, 52, 53, 85, 108, 115, 148, 149, 170, 192, 193, -197, 222, 302 - -Welsh, 121, 124, 125, 126, 128, 129, 156, 162, 234 - -Welsh Fusiliers, 10, 30, 86, 108, 118, 125, 126, 128, 129, 149, 167, -177, 221, 222, 292, 314 - -West Riding, 10, 120, 203, 302 - -West Yorkshire, 10, 13, 49, 50, 51, 70, 77, 83, 96, 151, 152, 179, -203, 255, 273, 274, 275, 292, 301 - -Wiltshire, 108, 112, 136, 198 - -Worcester, 55, 108, 112, 114, 120, 121, 163, 166, 169, 192, 218, 302 - -York and Lancaster, 49, 50, 51, 68, 82, 255, 284, 293, 301 - -Yorkshire, 81, 83, 117, 135, 178, 203, 275, 284, 285, 304 - -Yorkshire Light Infantry, 68, 77, 78, 81, 82, 219, 221, 247, 250, -298, 323 - - -Royal Engineers, 92, 117, 149, 168, 183, 218, 220, 231, 245, 293 - -Royal Naval Division, 315, 316, 317, 318, 319, 320 - -_Overseas Forces--_ - -Australians, 116, 161, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, -196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203, 231, 305 - -New Zealanders, 202, 234, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 287, 288, 289 - -1st Canadians (Ontario), 278 - -2nd Canadians, 14 - -3rd Canadians (Toronto), 27 - -7th Canadians (British Columbia), 26, 27, 278 - -10th Canadians, 26 - -13th Canadians (Royal Highlanders), 16, 27, 202 - -14th Canadians (Montreal), 25 - -15th Canadians (48th Highlanders), 25, 202 - -16th Canadian Scottish, 16, 27 - -22nd Canadians, 15, 204 - -27th Canadians (Winnipeg), 15, 278 - -29th Canadians (Vancouver), 15 - -31st Canadians (Alberta), 15, 278 - -49th Canadians, 22 - -52nd Canadians (New Ontario), 25, 205 - -60th Canadians (Montreal), 205 - -60th Canadians (New Brunswick), 16 - -60th Canadians (Nova Scotia), 16 - -Princess Patricia's, 22, 24 - -Royal Canadian Regiment, 22 - -Canadian Mounted Rifles, 23 - -Newfoundland Regiment, 46, 54, 55, 301 - -South Africans, 137, 153, 155, 171, 172, 173, 175, 176, 286 - -Richebourg, 28-30 - -Rickets, Colonel, 128 - -Ripley, Colonel, 271 - -Robertson, General Sir William, 5, 308 - -Rolls, Major, 186 - -Romani, battle near, 328 - -Roumania declares war against the Central Powers, 329 - -Rushton, Lieutenant, 90 - -Ryder, Private, V.C., 270 - - - -St. Eloi, 12-16 - -St. Pierre Divion, 316 - -Salonica, 3; operations round, 329 - -Sarrail, General, 329, 330 - -Sawyer, Major, V.C., 284 - -Saye, Lieutenant, 90 - -Schwaben Redoubt, the, 61, 263, 266, 268, 272-275, 276 - -Serbia overrun by Central Powers, 2 - -Serre, 46, 49-53, 86, 311, 313 - -Shute, Major, 64 - -Sinai peninsula, operations in, 328 - -Smith, General Douglas, 227 - -Smith, Colonel, 134 - -Smuts, General Right Hon. Jan, 3 - -Snow, General Sir T., 34, 39, 45 - -Somerset, Lieutenant, 110 - -Somme, battle of the: disposition of the British Armies, 34-36; -preparations preceding the battle, 36, 37; German anticipation of -Allied attack, 37; work of the Royal Flying Corps, 38, 39; attack of -the Seventh and Eighth Corps at Gommecourt, Serre, and Beaumont -Hamel, 39-56; general failure of attack, 56; attack of the Tenth and -Third Corps at Beaucourt, Thiepval, Ovillers, and La Boiselle, fails, -58-75; attack of the Fifteenth and Thirteenth Corps at Fricourt, -Mametz, and Montauban, 76-101; capture of Fricourt, 77-84; of Mametz -village, 84-86; of Montauban, 86-98; operations of the French Army, -98-100; review of the first day's fighting, 100, 101; its decisive -importance, 101; capture of La Boiselle, 107-109; siege and reduction -of Ovillers, 109-116; operations at Contalmaison, 116-124, 131-133; -capture of Mametz Wood, 124-131; capture of Trones Wood, 134-143; -assault on and capture of villages of Bazentin-le-Petit, 145-149; and -Bazentin-le-Grand, 151-153; operations at Longueval, 153-155; cavalry -advance, 150, 157; fighting at High Wood, 166-168; South Africans in -Delville Wood, 171-176; capture of Delville Wood, 180-183; capture of -Longueval, 171-180; operations before Guillemont, 183-187; capture of -Pozières village and ridge, 189-202; advance towards Thiepval, -197-201; capture of Courcelette, 204; further fighting at High Wood, -207-213, 231-234; operations on fringe of Delville Wood, 212-213, -218-223, 231-234; attack on and capture of Guillemont, 214, 217, -227-231; attack on Ginchy, 222-223; storming of Ginchy by Irish -Division, 230-231; assault on and capture of Martinpuich village, -237-240; capture of High Wood, 240-241; advance of the New -Zealanders, 242-243; capture of the village of Flers, 243-247; debut -of the Tanks, 241, 244, 245, 247, 249, 259-261; assault on and -capture of Thiepval, 264-272; fall of Schwaben Redoubt, 272-275; -taking of Stuff Redoubt, 275-279; Germans driven finally from -Thiepval Ridge, 279; capture of the villages of Eaucourt and Le Sars, -282-285; capture of Guedecourt, 288, 289; capture of Morval and -Lesboeufs, 291-294; fall of Combles, 295; general observations on the -fighting in the Somme valley, 306-309 - -Stern, Colonel, 260 - -Stokes, Lieutenant, 211 - -Stuff Redoubt, the fighting for, 275-279 - -Swinton, Colonel, 260 - - - -Tanks, the, first appearance of, 241, 244, 245, 247, 249; -commendation by Sir Douglas Haig, 261; 264, 269, 272, 283, 285, 288, -293, 320 - -Tempest, Colonel, 254 - -Thicknesse, Colonel, 53 - -Thiepval, 58-68, 86, 156, 197-201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 237, 263, -264-272, 276 - -Thompson, Captain, 269 - -Torrie, Colonel, 326 - -Tovey, Corporal, 270 - -Townshend, General Sir Charles, 2 - -Trenchard, General, 38 - -Trentino, Austrian attack in, 328 - -Trones Wood, 135-143 - -Trotter, Colonel, 134 - - - -Usher, Colonel, 24 - - - -Venezelos, 330 - -Verdun, 1, 3, 11, 23, 33, 37, 99, 327 - -Vimy Ridge, 19 - - - -Webber, Lieutenant, 169 - -Wedgwood, Colonel, 108 - -White, Captain, V.C., 275 - -Williams, Brigadier-General Victor, 24 - -Wood, Colonel, 53 - -Wulverghem, 20 - -Wynne-Finch, Adjutant, 254 - - - -Ypres, 4, 7-11, 16-17, 21-28 - - - - -THE END - - - -_Printed in Great Britain_ by R. & R. CLARK, LIMITED, _Edinburgh._ - - - - - - - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BRITISH CAMPAIGN IN FRANCE AND -FLANDERS 1916 *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following -the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use -of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for -copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very -easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation -of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project -Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away--you may -do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected -by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark -license, especially commercial redistribution. - -START: FULL LICENSE - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full -Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at -www.gutenberg.org/license. - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or -destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your -possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a -Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound -by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the -person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph -1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this -agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the -Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection -of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual -works in the collection are in the public domain in the United -States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the -United States and you are located in the United States, we do not -claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, -displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as -all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope -that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting -free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm -works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the -Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily -comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the -same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when -you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are -in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, -check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this -agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, -distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any -other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no -representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any -country other than the United States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work -on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: - - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and - most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no - restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it - under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this - eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. 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. - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is -derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not -contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the -copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in -the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are -redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply -either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or -obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any -additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works -posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the -beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including -any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access -to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format -other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official -version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm website -(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense -to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means -of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain -Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the -full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -provided that: - -* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation." - -* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm - works. - -* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - -* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of -the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the Foundation as set -forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project -Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may -contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate -or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other -intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or -other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or -cannot be read by your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium -with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you -with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in -lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person -or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second -opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If -the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing -without further opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO -OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT -LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of -damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement -violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the -agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or -limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or -unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the -remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in -accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the -production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, -including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of -the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this -or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or -additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any -Defect you cause. - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of -computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It -exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations -from people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future -generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see -Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at -www.gutenberg.org - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by -U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, -Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up -to date contact information can be found at the Foundation's website -and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without -widespread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular -state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To -donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project -Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be -freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and -distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of -volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in -the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not -necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper -edition. - -Most people start at our website which has the main PG search -facility: www.gutenberg.org - -This website includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/old/65044-0.zip b/old/65044-0.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 342ee6e..0000000 --- a/old/65044-0.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/65044-h.zip b/old/65044-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 8d03389..0000000 --- a/old/65044-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/65044-h/65044-h.htm b/old/65044-h/65044-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index db7c1c1..0000000 --- a/old/65044-h/65044-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,15872 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.1//EN" - "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml11/DTD/xhtml11.dtd"> - -<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en"> - -<head> - -<link rel="coverpage" href="images/img-cover.jpg" /> - -<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /> - -<title> -The Project Gutenberg eBook of The British Campaign in France and Flanders 1916, -by Arthur Conan Doyle -</title> - -<style type="text/css"> -body { color: black; - background: white; - margin-right: 10%; - margin-left: 10%; - font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; - text-align: justify } - -p {text-indent: 4% } - -p.noindent {text-indent: 0% } - -p.t1 {text-indent: 0% ; - font-size: 200%; - text-align: center } - -p.t2 {text-indent: 0% ; - font-size: 150%; - text-align: center } - -p.t2b {text-indent: 0% ; - font-size: 150%; - font-weight: bold; - text-align: center } - -p.t3 {text-indent: 0% ; - font-size: 100%; - text-align: center } - -p.t3b {text-indent: 0% ; - font-size: 100%; - font-weight: bold; - text-align: center } - -p.t4 {text-indent: 0% ; - font-size: 80%; - text-align: center } - -p.t4b {text-indent: 0% ; - font-size: 80%; - font-weight: bold; - text-align: center } - -p.t5 {text-indent: 0% ; - font-size: 60%; - text-align: center } - -h1 { text-align: center } -h2 { text-align: center } -h3 { text-align: center } -h4 { text-align: center } -h5 { text-align: center } - -p.poem {text-indent: 0%; - margin-left: 10%; } - -hr { height: 2px; - background-color: black; - color: black; } - -p.thought {text-indent: 0% ; - letter-spacing: 4em ; - text-align: center } - -p.letter {text-indent: 0%; - margin-left: 10% ; - margin-right: 10% } - -p.salutation {text-indent: 0%; - margin-left: 10% ; - margin-right: 10% } - -p.closing {text-indent: 0%; - margin-left: 10% ; - margin-right: 10% } - -p.contents {text-indent: -5% ; - font-size: 85%; - margin-left: 5% ; - margin-right: 0% } - -p.footnote {text-indent: 0% ; - font-size: 80%; - margin-left: 10% ; - margin-right: 10% } - -.smcap { font-variant: small-caps } - -p.transnote {text-indent: 0% ; - margin-left: 10% ; - margin-right: 10% } - -p.index {text-indent: -5% ; - margin-left: 5% ; - margin-top: 0% ; - margin-bottom: 0% ; - margin-right: 0% } - -p.index2 {text-indent: -5% ; - margin-left: 10% ; - margin-top: 0% ; - margin-bottom: 0% ; - margin-right: 0% } - -p.intro {font-size: 85% ; - text-indent: -5% ; - margin-left: 5% ; - margin-right: 0% } - -p.quote {text-indent: 4% ; - margin-left: 0% ; - margin-right: 0% } - -p.report {text-indent: 4% ; - margin-left: 0% ; - margin-right: 0% } - -p.report2 {text-indent: 4% ; - margin-left: 10% ; - margin-right: 10% } - -p.finis { font-size: larger ; - text-align: center ; - text-indent: 0% ; - margin-left: 0% ; - margin-right: 0% } - -p.capcenter { margin-left: 0; - margin-right: 0 ; - margin-bottom: .5% ; - margin-top: 0; - font-weight: bold; - float: none ; - clear: both ; - text-indent: 0%; - text-align: center } - -img.imgcenter { margin-left: auto; - margin-bottom: 0; - margin-top: 1%; - margin-right: auto; } - -.pagenum { position: absolute; - left: 1%; - font-size: 95%; - text-align: left; - text-indent: 0; - font-style: normal; - font-weight: normal; - font-variant: normal; } - -.sidenote { left: 0%; - right: 0%; - font-size: 90%; - text-align: left; - text-indent: 0%; - width: 17%; - float: left; - clear: left; - padding-left: 1%; - padding-right: 1%; - padding-top: 1%; - padding-bottom: 1%; - font-style: normal; - font-weight: normal; - border: solid; - border-width: 1px; - margin-right: 1%; - background: aqua; - font-variant: normal; } - -</style> - -</head> - -<body> - -<div style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The British Campaign in France and Flanders 1916, by Arthur Conan Doyle</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online -at <a href="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 1916</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 #65044]</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 1916 ***</div> - -<h1> -<br /><br /> - THE BRITISH CAMPAIGN<br /> -<br /> - IN FRANCE AND FLANDERS<br /> -<br /> - 1916<br /> -</h1> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> - BY<br /> -</p> - -<p class="t2"> - ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE<br /> -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t4"> - AUTHOR OF<br /> - 'THE GREAT BOER WAR,' ETC.<br /> -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3"> - HODDER AND STOUGHTON<br /> - LONDON NEW YORK TORONTO<br /> - MCMXVIII<br /> -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="noindent"> - SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE'S<br /> - HISTORY OF THE WAR<br /> -</p> - -<p class="noindent"> - Uniform with this Volume.<br /> -</p> - -<p class="noindent"> - THE BRITISH CAMPAIGN IN FRANCE AND FLANDERS<br /> -</p> - -<p class="noindent"> - 1914<br /> -</p> - -<p class="noindent"> - THE BREAKING OF THE PEACE.<br /> - THE OPENING OF THE WAR.<br /> - THE BATTLE OF MONS.<br /> - THE BATTLE OF LE CATEAU.<br /> - THE BATTLE OF THE MARNE.<br /> - THE BATTLE OF THE AISNE.<br /> - THE LA BASSÉE-ARMENTIÈRES OPERATIONS.<br /> - THE FIRST BATTLE OF YPRES.<br /> - A RETROSPECT AND GENERAL SUMMARY.<br /> - THE WINTER LULL OF 1914.<br /> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="noindent"> - THE BRITISH CAMPAIGN IN FRANCE AND FLANDERS<br /> -</p> - -<p class="noindent"> - 1915<br /> -</p> - -<p class="noindent"> - THE OPENING MONTHS OF 1915.<br /> - NEUVE CHAPELLE AND HILL 60.<br /> - THE SECOND BATTLE OF YPRES.<br /> - THE BATTLE OF RICHEBOURG-FESTUBERT.<br /> - THE TRENCHES OF HOOGE.<br /> - THE BATTLE OF LOOS.<br /> -</p> - -<p class="noindent"> - With Maps, Plans, and Diagrams,<br /> - 6s. net each Volume.<br /> -</p> - -<p class="noindent"> - HODDER AND STOUGHTON<br /> - LONDON, NEW YORK, AND TORONTO<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 two previous volumes of this work a narrative has -been given of those events which occurred upon the -British Western Front during 1914, the year of recoil, -and 1915, the year of equilibrium. In this volume -will be found the detailed story of 1916, the first of -the years of attack and advance. -</p> - -<p> -Time is a great toner down of superlatives, and -the episodes which seem world-shaking in our day -may, when looked upon by the placid eyes of historical -philosophers in days to come, fit more easily into the -general scheme of human experience. None the less -it can be said without fear of ultimate contradiction -that nothing approaching to the Battle of the Somme, -with which this volume is mainly concerned, has ever -been known in military history, and that it is -exceedingly improbable that it will ever be equalled in its -length and in its severity. It may be said to have -raged with short intermissions, caused by the breaking -of the weather, from July 1 to November 14, and -during this prolonged period the picked forces of -three great nations were locked in close battle. The -number of combatants from first to last was between -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="Pvi"></a>vi}</span> -two and three millions, and their united casualties -came to the appalling total of at least three-quarters -of a million. These are minimum figures, but they -will give some idea of the unparalleled scale of the -operations. -</p> - -<p> -With the increasing number and size of the units -employed the scale of the narrative becomes larger. -It is more difficult to focus the battalion, while the -individual has almost dropped out of sight. Sins -of omission are many, and the chronicler can but -plead the great difficulty of his task and regret that -his limited knowledge may occasionally cause -disappointment. -</p> - -<p> -The author should explain that this volume has -had to pass through three lines of censors, suffering -heavily in the process. It has come out with the -loss of all personal names save those of casualties -or of high Generals. Some passages also have been -excised. On the other hand it is the first which has -been permitted to reveal the exact identity of the -units engaged. The missing passages and names will -be restored when the days of peace return. -</p> - -<p class="noindent"> -ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE. -</p> - -<p class="noindent"> -<i>February</i> 3, 1918. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="Pvii"></a>vii}</span> -</p> - -<p class="t3b"> -CONTENTS -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="t3"> -<a href="#chap01">CHAPTER I</a> -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -JANUARY TO JULY 1916 -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -General situation—The fight for the Bluff—The Mound of -St. Eloi—Fine performance of Third Division and Canadians—Feat of the -1st Shropshires—Attack on the Irish Division—Fight at Vimy -Ridge—Canadian Battle of Ypres—Death of General -Mercer—Recovery of lost position—Attack of Thirty-ninth -Division—Eve of the Somme -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="t3"> -<a href="#chap02">CHAPTER II</a> -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME -</p> - -<p class="t3"> - Attack of the Seventh and Eighth Corps on Gommecourt,<br /> - Serre, and Beaumont Hamel<br /> -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -Line of battle in the Somme sector—Great preparations—Advance of -Forty-sixth North Midland Division—Advance of Fifty-sixth -Territorials (London)—Great valour and heavy losses—Advance -of Thirty-first Division—Advance of Fourth Division—Advance -of Twenty-ninth Division—Complete failure of the assault -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="t3"> -<a href="#chap03">CHAPTER III</a> -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -Attack of the Tenth and Third Corps, July 1, 1916 -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -Magnificent conduct of the Ulster Division—Local success but general -failure—Advance of Thirty-second Division—Advance of Eighth -Division—Advance of Thirty-fourth Division—The turning-point -of the line -</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 BATTLE OF THE SOMME -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -The Attack of the Fifteenth and Thirteenth Corps, July 1, 1916 -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -The advance of the Twenty-first Division—Of the 64th -Brigade—First permanent gains—50th Brigade at Fricourt—Advance of -Seventh Division—Capture of Mametz—Fine work by Eighteenth -Division—Capture of Montauban by the Thirtieth -Division—General view of the battle—Its decisive importance -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="t3"> -<a href="#chap05">CHAPTER V</a> -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -From July 2 to July 14, 1916 -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -General situation—Capture of La Boiselle by Nineteenth -Division—Splendid attack by 36th Brigade upon Ovillers—Siege and -reduction of Ovillers—Operations at Contalmaison—Desperate -fighting at the Quadrangle by Seventeenth Division—Capture of -Mametz Wood by Thirty-eighth Welsh Division—Capture of -Trones Wood by Eighteenth Division -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="t3"> -<a href="#chap06">CHAPTER VI</a> -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -The Breaking of the Second Line. July 14, 1916 -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -The great night advance—The Leicester Brigade at -Bazentin—Assault by Seventh Division—Success of the Third -Division—Desperate fight of Ninth Division at -Longueval—Operations of -First Division on flank—Cavalry advance -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="t3"> -<a href="#chap07">CHAPTER VII</a> -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -July 14 to July 31 -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -Gradual advance of First Division—Hard fighting of Thirty-third -Division at High Wood—The South Africans in Delville -Wood—The great German counter-attack—Splendid work of 26th -Brigade—Capture of Delville Wood by 98th Brigade—Indecisive -fighting on the Guillemont front -</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 THE SOMME -</p> - -<p class="t3"> - The Operations of Gough's Army upon the Northern Flank<br /> - up to September 15<br /> -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -Advance, Australia!—Capture of Pozières—Fine work of Forty-eighth -Division—Relief of Australia by Canada—Steady advance of -Gough's Army—Capture of Courcelette -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="t3"> -<a href="#chap09">CHAPTER IX</a> -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -August 1 to September 15 -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -Continued attempts of Thirty-third Division on High -Wood—Co-operation of First Division—Operation of Fourteenth Division -on fringe of Delville Wood—Attack by Twenty-fourth Division -on Guillemont—Capture of Guillemont by 47th and 59th -Brigades—Capture of Ginchy by Sixteenth Irish Division -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="t3"> -<a href="#chap10">CHAPTER X</a> -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -Breaking of the Third Line, September 15 -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -Capture of Martinpuich by Fifteenth Division—Advance of Fiftieth -Division—Capture of High Wood by Forty-seventh Division—Splendid -advance of New Zealanders—Capture of Flers by -Forty-first Division—Advance of the Light Division—Arduous -work of the Guards and Sixth Divisions—Capture of -Quadrilateral—Work of Fifty-sixth Division -on flank—Debut of the tanks -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="t3"> -<a href="#chap11">CHAPTER XI</a> -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -THE GAINING OF THE THIEPVAL RIDGE -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -Assault on Thiepval by Eighteenth Division—Heavy -fighting—Co-operation of Eleventh Division—Fall -of Thiepval—Fall of -Schwaben Redoubt—Taking of Stuff Redoubt—Important gains -on the Ridge -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="Px"></a>x}</span> -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -<a href="#chap12">CHAPTER XII</a> -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -From September 15 to the Battle of the Ancre -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -Capture of Eaucourt—Varying character of German resistance—Hard -trench fighting along the line—Dreadful climatic -conditions—The meteorological trenches—Hazy Trench—Zenith -Trench—General observations—General von Arnim's report -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="t3"> -<a href="#chap13">CHAPTER XIII</a> -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -THE BATTLE OF THE ANCRE -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -November 13, 1916 -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -The last effort—Failure in the north—Fine work of the Thirty-ninth, -Fifty-first, and Sixty-third Divisions—Surrounding of German -Fort—Capture of Beaumont Hamel—Commander Freyberg—Last -operations of the season—General survey—"The unwarlike -Islanders" -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="noindent"> -<a href="#chap14">INDEX</a> -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="Pxi"></a>xi}</span> -</p> - -<p class="t3b"> -MAPS AND PLANS -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -<a href="#img-xii">Approximate Positions of British Line at the Battle of the Somme</a> -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -<a href="#img-035">British Battle Line, July 1, 1916</a> -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -<a href="#img-119">Quadrangle Position, July 5-11, 1916</a> -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -<a href="#img-127">Mametz Wood</a> -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -<a href="#img-141">Trones Wood: Attack of 54th Brigade, July 13, 1916</a> -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -<a href="#img-144">The Second German Line, Bazentins, Delville Wood, etc.</a> -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -<a href="#img-181">Map of Delville Wood</a> -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -<a href="#img-225">Attack on German Left Flank, September 3, 1916</a> -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -<a href="#img-239">Final Position at Capture of Martinpuich</a> -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -<a href="#img-257">Attack on Quadrilateral, September 15, 1916</a> -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -<a href="#img-265">Plan illustrating the Capture of Thiepval, September 26, -October 5, 1916</a> -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -<a href="#img-277">Stuff Redoubt System, showing Hessian, Regina, and Stuff</a> -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -<a href="#img-296">Meteorological Trenches, September 30-November 6, 1916</a> -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -Map to illustrate the British Campaign in France and -Flanders [Transcriber's note: this map was omitted from -the etext because its size and fragility made it -impractical to scan.] -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-xii"></a> -<br /> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-xii.jpg" alt="APPROXIMATE POSITIONS OF BRITISH LINE AT THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME" /> -<br /> -APPROXIMATE POSITIONS OF BRITISH <br /> -LINE AT THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME -</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 /><br /> -JANUARY TO JULY 1916 -</h3> - -<p class="intro"> -General situation—The fight for the Bluff—The Mound of -St. Eloi—Fine performance of Third Division and Canadians—Feat of the -1st Shropshires—Attack on the Irish Division—Fight at Vimy -Ridge—Canadian Battle of Ypres—Death of General -Mercer—Recovery of lost position—Attack of Thirty-ninth -Division—Eve of the Somme. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -The Great War had now come into its second winter—a -winter which was marked by an absolute cessation -of all serious fighting upon the Western front. -Enormous armies were facing each other, but until -the German attack upon the French lines of Verdun -at the end of February, the infantry of neither side -was seriously engaged. There were many raids and -skirmishes, with sudden midnight invasions of hostile -trenches and rapid returns with booty or prisoners. -Both sides indulged in such tactics upon the British -front. Gas attacks, too, were occasionally attempted, -some on a large scale and with considerable result. -The condition of the troops, though it could not fail -to be trying, was not so utterly miserable as during -the first cold season in the trenches. The British -had ceased to be a mere fighting fringe with nothing -behind it. The troops were numerous and eager, so -that reliefs were frequent. All sorts of devices were -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P2"></a>2}</span> -adopted for increasing the comfort and conserving -the health of the men. Steadily as the winter -advanced and the spring ripened into summer, fresh -divisions were passed over the narrow seas, and the -shell-piles at the bases marked the increased energy -and output of the workers in the factories. The -early summer found everything ready for a renewed -attempt upon the German line. -</p> - -<p> -The winter of 1915-16 saw the affairs of the Allies -in a condition which could not be called satisfactory, -and which would have been intolerable had there not -been evident promise of an amendment in the near -future. The weakness of the Russians in munitions -had caused their gallant but half-armed armies to be -driven back until the whole of Poland had fallen into -the hands of the Germanic Powers, who had also -reconquered Galicia and Bukovina. The British -attempt upon Gallipoli, boldly conceived and gallantly -urged, but wanting in the essential quality of surprise, -had failed with heavy losses, and the army had to be -withdrawn. Serbia and Montenegro had both been -overrun and occupied, while the efficient Bulgarian -army had ranged itself with our enemies. The -Mesopotamian Expedition had been held up by the -Turks, and the brave Townshend, with his depleted -division, was hemmed in at Kut, where, after a siege -of five months, he was eventually compelled, upon -April 26, to lay down his arms, together with 9000 -troops, chiefly Indian. When one remembers that -on the top of this Germany already held Belgium and -a considerable slice of the north of France, which -included all the iron and coal producing centres, it -must be admitted that the Berlin Press had some -reason upon its side when it insisted that it had -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P3"></a>3}</span> -already won the War upon paper. To realise that -paper, was, however, an operation which was beyond -their powers. -</p> - -<p> -What could the Allies put against these formidable -successes? There was the Colonial Empire of -Germany. Only one colony, the largest and most -powerful, still remained. This was East Africa. -General Smuts, a worthy colleague of the noble -Botha, had undertaken its reduction, and by the -summer the end was in sight. The capture of the -colonies would then be complete. The oceans of the -world were another asset of the Allies. These also -were completely held, to the absolute destruction of -all German oversea commerce. These two conquests, -and the power of blockade which steadily -grew more stringent, were all that the Allies could -throw into the other scale, save for the small corner -of Alsace still held by the French, the southern end -of Mesopotamia, and the port of Salonica, which was -a strategic checkmate to the southern advance of the -Germans. The balance seemed all against them. There -was no discouragement, however, for all these -difficulties had been discounted and the Allies had always -recognised that their strength lay in those reserves -which had not yet had time to develop. The opening -of the summer campaign of 1916, with the capture -of Erzeroum, the invasion of Armenia, and the -reconquest of Bukovina, showed that the Russian -army had at last found its second wind. The French -had already done splendid work in their classical -resistance at Verdun, which had extended from the last -weeks of February onwards, and had cost the Germans -over a quarter of a million of casualties. The -opening of the British campaign in July found the whole -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P4"></a>4}</span> -army most eager to emulate the deeds of its Allies, -and especially to take some of the weight from the -splendid defenders of Verdun. Their fight against very -heavy odds in men, munitions, and transport, was one -of the greatest deeds of arms, possibly the greatest -deed of arms of the war. It was known, however, -before July that a diversion was absolutely necessary, -and although the British had taken over a fresh stretch -of trenches so as to release French reinforcements, -some more active help was imperatively called for. -</p> - -<p> -Before describing the summer campaign it is -necessary to glance back at the proceedings of the -winter and spring upon the British line, and to -comment upon one or two matters behind that line which -had a direct influence upon the campaign. Of the -minor operations to which allusion has already been -made, there are none between the Battle of Loos and -the middle of February 1916 which call for -particular treatment. Those skirmishes and mutual -raidings which took place during that time centred -largely round the old salient at Ypres and the new -one at Loos, though the lines at Armentières were also -the scene of a good deal of activity. One considerable -attack seems to have been planned by the Germans -on the north-east of Ypres in the Christmas week of -1915—an attack which was preceded by a formidable -gas attack. The British artillery was so powerful, -however, that it crushed the advance in the trenches, -where the gathered bayonets of the stormers could be -seen going down before the scourging shrapnel like -rushes before a gale. The infantry never emerged, -and the losses must have been very heavy. This -was the only considerable attempt made by either -side during the winter. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P5"></a>5}</span> -</p> - -<p> -At the time of Lord French's return another -change was made at home which had a very immediate -bearing upon the direction of the War. Britain had -suffered greatly from the fact that at the beginning -of hostilities the distinguished officers who -composed the central staff had all been called away for -service in the field. Lord Kitchener had done -wonders in filling their place, but it was impossible -for any man, however great his abilities or energy, -to carry such a burden upon his shoulders. The more -conscientious the man the more he desires to supervise -everything himself and the more danger there is that -all the field cannot be covered. Already the recruiting -service, which had absorbed a great deal of Lord -Kitchener's energies with most splendid results, had -been relegated to Lord Derby, whose tact and wisdom -produced fresh armies of volunteers. Now the -immediate direction of the War and the supervision -of all that pertained to the armies in the field was -handed over to Sir William Robertson, a man of -great organising ability and of proved energy. -From this time onwards his character and judgment -bulked larger and larger as one of the factors which -made for the success of the Allies. -</p> - -<p> -In January 1916 Britain gave her last proof -of the resolution with which she was waging war. -Already she had shown that no question of money -could diminish her ardour, for she was imposing -direct taxation upon her citizens with a vigour which -formed the only solid basis for the credit of the Allies. -Neither our foes nor our friends have shown such -absolute readiness to pay in hard present cash, that -posterity might walk with a straighter back, and -many a man was paying a good half of his income -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P6"></a>6}</span> -to the State. But now a sacrifice more intimate -than that of money had to be made. It was of that -personal liberty which is as the very breath of our -nostrils. This also was thrown with a sigh into the -common cause, and a Military Service Bill was passed -by which every citizen from 19 to 41 was liable to -be called up. It is questionable whether it was -necessary as yet as a military measure, since the -enormous number of 5,000,000 volunteers had come -forward, but as an act of justice by which the burden -should be equally distributed, and the shirker -compelled to his duty, it was possible to justify this -radical departure from the customs of our fathers and -the instincts of our race. Many who acquiesced in -its necessity did so with a heavy heart, feeling how -glorious would have been our record had it been -possible to bring forward by the stress of duty alone -the manhood of the nation. As a matter of fact, -the margin left over was neither numerous nor -important, but the energies of the authorities were -now released from the incessant strain which the -recruiting service had caused. -</p> - -<p> -The work of the trenches was made easier for the -British by the fact that they had at last reached an -equality with, and in many cases a superiority to, -their enemy, in the number of their guns, the quantity -of their munitions, and the provision of those smaller -weapons such as trench mortars and machine-guns -which count for so much in this description of warfare. -Their air supremacy which had existed for a long -time was threatened during some months by the -Fokker machines of the Germans, and by the skill -with which their aviators used them, but faster -models from England soon restored the balance. -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P7"></a>7}</span> -There had been a time also when the system and the -telescopic sights of the German snipers had given -them an ascendancy. Thanks to the labours of -various enthusiasts for the rifle, this matter was set -right and there were long stretches of the line where -no German head could for an instant be shown above -the parapet. The Canadian sector was particularly -free from any snipers save their own. -</p> - -<p> -The first serious operation of the spring of 1916 -upon the British line was a determined German attack -upon that section which lies between the Ypres-Comines -Canal and the Ypres-Comines railway on the -extreme south of the Ypres salient; Hill 60 lies to -the north of it. In the line of trenches there was -one small artificial elevation, not more than thirty -feet above the plain. This was called the Bluff, -and was the centre of the attack. It was of very -great importance as a point of artillery observation. -During the whole of February 13 the bombardment -was very severe, and losses were heavy along a front -of several miles, the right of which was held by the -Seventeenth Division, the centre by the Fiftieth, -and the left by the Twenty-fourth. Finally, -after many of the trenches had been reduced to -dirt heaps five mines were simultaneously sprung -under the British front line, each of them of -great power. The explosions were instantly -followed by a rush of the German infantry. In -the neighbourhood of the Bluff, the garrison, -consisting at that point of the 10th Lancashire -Fusiliers, were nearly all buried or killed. To -the north lay the 10th Sherwood Foresters and -north of them the 8th South Staffords, whose -Colonel, though four times wounded, continued -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P8"></a>8}</span> -to direct the defence. It was impossible, however, -to hold the whole line, as the Germans had -seized the Bluff and were able to enfilade all the -trenches of the Sherwoods, who lost twelve officers -and several hundred men before they would admit -that their position was untenable. The South -Staffords being farther off were able to hold on, but -the whole front from their right to the canal south -of the Bluff was in the hands of the Germans, who had -very rapidly and skilfully consolidated it. A strong -counter-attack by the 7th Lincolns and 7th Borders, -in which the survivors of the Lancashire Fusiliers -took part, had some success, but was unable to -permanently regain the lost sector, six hundred -yards of which remained with the enemy. A -lieutenant, with 40 bombers of the Lincolns, 38 of -whom fell, did heroic work. -</p> - -<p> -The attack had extended to the north, where it -had fallen upon the Fiftieth Division, and to the -Twenty-fourth Division upon the left of it. Here it -was held and eventually repulsed. Of the company -of the 9th Sussex who held the extreme left of the -line, a large portion were blown up by a mine and -forty were actually buried in the crater. Young -Lieutenant McNair, however, the officer in charge, -showed great energy and presence of mind. He held -the Germans from the crater and with the help of -another officer, who had rushed up some supports, -drove them back to their trenches. For this McNair -received his Victoria Cross. The 3rd Rifle Brigade, -a veteran regular battalion, upon the right of the -Sussex, had also put up a vigorous resistance, as had -the central Fiftieth Division, so that in spite of the -sudden severity of the attack it was only at the one -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P9"></a>9}</span> -point of the Bluff that the enemy had made a -lodgment—that point being the real centre of their effort. -They held on strongly to their new possession, and a -vigorous fire with several partial attacks during the -next fortnight failed to dislodge them. -</p> - -<p> -Early in March the matter was taken seriously in -hand, for the position was a most important one, and -a farther advance at this point would have involved -the safety of Ypres. The Seventeenth Division still -held the supporting trenches, and these now became -the starting-point for the attack. A considerable -artillery concentration was effected, two brigades of -guns and two companies of sappers were brought up -from the Third Division, and the 76th Brigade of -the same Division came up from St. Omer, where it -had been resting, in order to carry out the assault. -The general commanding this brigade was in -immediate command of the operations. -</p> - -<p> -The problem was a most difficult one, as the canal -to the south and a marsh upon the north screened -the flanks of the new German position, while its front -was covered by shell-holes which the tempestuous -weather had filled with water. There was nothing -for it, however, but a frontal attack, and this was -carried out with very great gallantry upon March 2, -at 4.30 in the morning. The infantry left their -trenches in the dark and crept forward undiscovered, -dashing into the enemy's line with the first grey -glimmer of the dawn. The right of the attack -formed by the 2nd Suffolks had their revenge for Le -Cateau, for they carried the Bluff itself with a rush. -So far forward did they get that a number of Germans -emerged from dug-outs in their rear, and were -organising a dangerous attack when they were pelted back -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P10"></a>10}</span> -into their holes by a bombing party. Beyond the -Bluff the Suffolks were faced by six deep shelters -for machine-guns, which held them for a time -but were eventually captured. The centre battalion -consisted of the 8th Royal Lancasters, who lost -heavily from rifle fire but charged home with great -determination, flooding over the old German front -line and their support trenches as well as their -immediate objective. The left battalion in the -attack were the 1st Gordon Highlanders, who had a -most difficult task, being exposed to the heaviest -fire of all. For a moment they were hung up, and -then with splendid spirit threw themselves at the -hostile trenches again and carried everything before -them. They were much helped in this second attack -by the supporting battalion, the 7th Lincolns, whose -bombers rushed to the front. The 10th Welsh -Fusiliers, who were supporting on the right, also did -invaluable service by helping to consolidate the -Bluff, while the 9th West Ridings on the left held -the British front line and repulsed an attempt at a -flanking counter-attack. -</p> - -<p> -In spite of several counter-attacks and a very -severe bombardment the line now held firm, and -the Germans seem to have abandoned all future -designs upon this section. They had lost very -heavily in the assault, and 250 men with 5 officers -remained in the hands of the victors. Some of the -German trench taken was found to be untenable, -but the 12th West Yorkshires of the 8th Brigade -connected up the new position with the old and the -salient was held. So ended a well-managed and -most successful little fight. Great credit was due to -a certain officer, who passed through the terrible -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P11"></a>11}</span> -German barrage again and again to link up the troops -with headquarters. Extreme gallantry was shown -also by the brigade-runners, many of whom lost their -lives in the all-important work of preserving -communications. -</p> - -<p> -Students of armour in the future may be interested -to note that this was the first engagement in which -British infantry reverted after a hiatus of more than -two centuries to the use of helmets. Dints of shrapnel -upon their surfaces proved in many cases that they -had been the salvation of their wearers. Several -observers have argued that trench warfare implies -a special trench equipment, entirely different from -that for surface operations. -</p> - -<p> -In the middle of March the pressure upon the -French at Verdun had become severe, and it was -determined to take over a fresh section of line so -as to relieve troops for the north-eastern frontier. -General Foch's Tenth Army, which had held the -sector opposite to Souchez and Lorette, was accordingly -drawn out, and twelve miles were added to the -British front. From this time forward there were -four British armies, the Second (Plumer) in the Ypres -district, the First (Monro) opposite to Neuve Chapelle, -the Third (Allenby) covering the new French sector -down to Arras, the Fourth (Rawlinson) from Albert -to the Somme. -</p> - -<p> -A brisk skirmish which occurred in the south -about this period is worthy of mention—typical of -many smaller affairs the due record of which would -swell this chapter to a portentous length. In this -particular instance, a very sudden and severe night -attack was directed by the Germans against a post -held by the 8th East Surreys of the Eighteenth -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P12"></a>12}</span> -Division at the points where the British and French -lines meet just north of the Somme. This small -stronghold, known as Ducks' Post, was at the head -of a causeway across a considerable marsh, and -possessed a strategic importance out of all proportion -to its size. A violent bombardment in the darkness -of the early morning of March 20 was followed by an -infantry advance, pushed well home. It was an -unnerving experience. "As the Huns charged," -says one who was present, "they made the most -hellish screaming row I ever heard." The Surrey -men under the lead of a young subaltern stood fast, -and were reinforced by two platoons. Not only did -they hold up the attack, but with the early dawn -they advanced in turn, driving the Germans back -into their trenches and capturing a number of -prisoners. The post was strengthened and was firmly -held. -</p> - -<p> -The next episode which claims attention is the -prolonged and severe fighting which took place from -March 27 onwards at St. Eloi, the scene of so fierce -a contest just one year before. A small salient had -been formed by the German line at this point ever -since its capture, and on this salient was the rising -known as the Mound (not to be confounded with the -Bluff), insignificant in itself since it was only twenty -or thirty feet high, but of importance in a war where -artillery observation is the very essence of all -operations. It stood just east of the little village of -St. Eloi. This place was known to be very strongly -held, so the task of attacking it was handed over to -the Third Division, which had already shown at -the Bluff that they were adepts at such an attack. -After several weeks of energetic preparation, five -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P13"></a>13}</span> -mines were ready with charges which were so heavy -that in one instance 30,000 pounds of ammonal were -employed. The assault was ordered for 4.15 in the -morning of March 27. It was known to be a desperate -enterprise and was entrusted to two veteran battalions -of regular troops, the 4th Royal Fusiliers and the -1st Northumberland Fusiliers. A frontal attack was -impossible, so it was arranged that the Royals should -sweep round the left flank and the Northumberlands -the right, while the remaining battalions of the -9th Brigade, the 12th West Yorks and 1st Scots -Fusiliers, should be in close support in the centre. -At the appointed hour the mines were exploded with -deadly effect, and in the pitch darkness of a cloudy -rainy morning the two battalions sprang resolutely -forward upon their dangerous venture. The trenches -on each flank were carried, and 5 officers with 193 -men of the 18th Reserve Jaeger fell into our hands. -As usual, however, it was the retention of the captured -position which was the more difficult and costly part -of the operation. The Northumberlands had won -their way round on the right, but the Fusiliers -had been partially held up on the left, so that the -position was in some ways difficult and irregular. -The guns of the Third Division threw forward -so fine a barrage that no German counter-attack -could get forward, but all day their fire was very -heavy and deadly upon the captured trenches, and -also upon the two battalions in support. On the -night of the 27th the 9th Brigade was drawn out -and the 8th took over the new line, all access -to it being impossible save in the darkness, as no -communication trenches existed. The situation was -complicated by the fact that although the British -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P14"></a>14}</span> -troops had on the right won their way to the rear of -the craters, one of these still contained a German -detachment, who held on in a most heroic fashion -and could not be dislodged. On March 30 the -situation was still unchanged, and the 76th Brigade -was put in to relieve the 8th. The 1st Gordons -were now in the line, very wet and weary, but -declaring that they would hold the ground at all -costs. It was clear that the British line must be -extended and that the gallant Germans in the crater -must be overwhelmed. For this purpose, upon the -night of April 2, the 8th Royal Lancasters swept -across the whole debatable ground, with the result -that 4 officers and 80 men surrendered at daylight to -the Brigade-Major and a few men who summoned -them from the lip of the crater. The Divisional -General had himself gone forward to see that the -captured ground was made good. "We saw our -Divisional General mid-thigh in water and splashing -down the trenches," says an observer. "I can tell -you it put heart into our weary men." So ended the -arduous labours of the Third Division, who upon -April 4 handed over the ground to the 2nd Canadians. -The episode of the St. Eloi craters was, however, -far from being at an end. The position was looked -upon as of great importance by the Germans, apart -from the artillery observation, for their whole aim -was the contraction, as that of the British was the -expansion, of the space contained in the Ypres -salient. "Elbow room! More elbow room!" was -the hearts' cry of Plumer's Second Army. But the -enemy grudged every yard, and with great tenacity -began a series of counter-attacks which lasted with -varying fortunes for several weeks. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P15"></a>15}</span> -</p> - -<p> -Hardly had the Third Division filed out of the -trenches when the German bombers were buzzing -and stinging all down the new line, and there were -evident signs of an impending counter-attack. Upon -April 6 it broke with great violence, beginning with -a blasting storm of shells followed by a rush of infantry -in that darkest hour which precedes the dawn. It -was a very terrible ordeal for troops which had up to -then seen no severe service, and for the moment they -were overborne. The attack chanced to come at -the very moment when the 27th Winnipeg Regiment -was being relieved by the 29th Vancouvers, which -increased the losses and the confusion. The craters -were taken by the German stormers with 180 prisoners, -but the trench line was still held. The 31st Alberta -Battalion upon the left of the position was involved -in the fight and drove back several assaults, while -a small French Canadian machine-gun detachment -from the 22nd Regiment distinguished itself by an -heroic resistance in which it was almost destroyed. -About noon the bombardment was so terrific that -the front trench was temporarily abandoned, the -handful of survivors falling back upon the supports. -The 31st upon the left were still able to maintain -themselves, however, and after dusk they were -able to reoccupy three out of the five craters in -front of the line. From this time onwards the -battle resolved itself into a desperate struggle -between the opposing craters. During the whole -of April 7 it was carried on with heavy losses -to both parties. On one occasion a platoon of 40 -Germans in close formation were shot down to a man -as they rushed forward in a gallant forlorn hope. -For three days the struggle went on, at the end of -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P16"></a>16}</span> -which time four of the craters were still held by -the Canadians. Two medical men particularly -distinguished themselves by their constant passage -across the open space which divided the craters from -the trench. The consolidation of the difficult position -was admirably carried out by the C.R.E. of the Second -Canadian Division. -</p> - -<p> -The Canadians were left in comparative peace for -ten days, but on April 19 there was a renewed burst -of activity. Upon this day the Germans bombarded -heavily, and then attacked with their infantry at -four different points of the Ypres salient. At two -they were entirely repulsed. On the Ypres-Langemarck -road on the extreme north of the British -position they remained in possession of about a -hundred yards of trench. Finally, in the crater -region they won back two, including the more important -one which was on the Mound. Night after night -there were bombing attacks in this region, by which -the Germans endeavoured to enlarge their gains. -New Brunswick and Nova Scotia were now opposed -to them and showed the same determination as the -men of the West. The sector held by the veteran -First Canadian Division was also attacked, the 13th -Battalion having 100 casualties and the Canadian -Scots 50. Altogether this fighting had been so -incessant and severe, although as a rule confined to a -very small front, that on an average 1000 casualties -a week were recorded in the corps. The fighting -was carried on frequently in heavy rain, and the -disputed craters became deep pools of mud in which -men fought waist deep, and where it was impossible -to keep rifle or machine-gun from being fouled and -clogged. Several of the smaller craters were found -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P17"></a>17}</span> -to be untenable by either side, and were abandoned -to the corpses which lay in the mire. -</p> - -<p> -The Germans did not long remain in possession of -the trench which they had captured upon the 19th -in the Langemarck direction. Though it was almost -unapproachable on account of the deep mud, a -storming column of the 1st Shropshires waded out to -it in the dark up to their waists in slush, and turned -the enemy out with the point of the bayonet. Upon -April the 21st the line was completely re-established, -though a sapper is reported to have declared that -it was impossible to consolidate porridge. In this -brilliant affair the Shropshires lost a number of officers -and men, including their gallant Colonel, Luard, and -Lieutenant Johnstone, who was shot by a sniper -while boldly directing the consolidation from outside -the parapet without cover of any kind. The whole -incident was an extraordinarily fine feat of arms -which could only have been carried out by a highly -disciplined and determined body of men. The mud -was so deep that men were engulfed and suffocated, -and the main body had to throw themselves down -and distribute their weight to prevent being sucked -down into the quagmire. The rifles were so covered -and clogged that all shooting was out of the question, -and only bombs and bayonets were available for the -assault. The old 53rd never did a better day's -work. -</p> - -<p> -During the whole winter the Loos salient had -been simmering, as it had never ceased to do since -the first tremendous convulsion which had established -it. In the early part of the year it was held by -cavalry brigades, taking turns in succession, and -during this time there was a deceptive quiet, which -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P18"></a>18}</span> -was due to the fact that the Germans were busy in -running a number of mines under the position. At -the end of February the Twelfth Division took over -the north of the section, and for ten weeks they -found themselves engaged in a struggle which can only -be described as hellish. How constant and severe it -was may be gauged from the fact that without any -real action they lost 4000 men during that period. -As soon as they understood the state of affairs, which -was only conveyed to them by several devastating -explosions, they began to run their own mines and -to raid those of their enemy. It was a nightmare -conflict, half above ground, half below, and sometimes -both simultaneously, so that men may be said to have -fought in layers. The upshot of the matter, after -ten weeks of fighting, was that the British positions -were held at all points, though reduced to an -extraordinary medley of craters and fissures, which some -observer has compared to a landscape in the moon. -The First Division shared with the Twelfth the winter -honours of the dangerous Loos salient. -</p> - -<p> -On April 27 a considerable surface attack developed -on this part of the line, now held by the Sixteenth -Irish Division. Early upon that day the Germans, -taking advantage of the wind, which was now -becoming almost as important in a land as it had once -been in a sea battle, loosed a cloud of poison upon -the trenches just south of Hulluch and followed -it up by a rush of infantry which got possession of -part of the front and support lines in the old region of -the chalk-pit wood. The 49th Brigade was in the -trenches. This Brigade consisted of the 7th and 8th -Inniskillings, with the 7th and 8th Royal Irish. It -was upon the first two battalions that the cloud of -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P19"></a>19}</span> -gas descended, which seems to have been of a -particularly deadly brew, since it poisoned horses -upon the roads far to the rear. Many of the men -were stupefied and few were in a condition for -resistance when the enemy rushed to the trenches. -Two battalions of Dublin Fusiliers, however, from -the 48th Brigade were in the adjoining trenches and -were not affected by the poison. These, together with -the 8th Inniskillings, who were in the rear of the 7th, -attacked the captured trench and speedily won it -back. This was the more easy as there had been -a sudden shift of wind which had blown the vile -stuff back into the faces of the German infantry. A -Bavarian letter taken some days later complained -bitterly of their losses, which were stated to have -reached 1300 from poison alone. The casualties of -the Irish Division were about 1500, nearly all from -gas, or shell-fire. Coming as it did at the moment -when the tragic and futile rebellion in Dublin had -seemed to place the imagined interests of Ireland in -front of those of European civilisation, this success -was most happily timed. The brunt of the fighting -was borne equally by troops from the north and from -the south of Ireland—a happy omen, we will hope, -for the future. -</p> - -<p> -Amongst the other local engagements which -broke the monotony of trench life may be mentioned -one upon May 11 near the Hohenzollern Redoubt -where the Germans held for a short time a British -trench, taking 127 of the occupants prisoners. More -serious was the fighting upon the Vimy Ridge south -of Souchez on May 15. About 7.30 on the evening -of that day the British exploded a series of mines -which, either by accident or design, were short of -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P20"></a>20}</span> -the German trenches. The sector was occupied by -the Twenty-fifth Division, and the infantry attack -was entrusted to the 11th Lancashire Fusiliers -and the 9th North Lancashires, both of the 74th -Brigade. They rushed forward with great dash and -occupied the newly-formed craters, where they -established themselves firmly, joining them up with -each other and cutting communications backwards -so as to make a new observation trench. -</p> - -<p> -The Twenty-fifth Division lay at this time with -the Forty-seventh London Division as its northern -neighbour, the one forming the left-hand unit of the -Third Army, and the other the extreme right of the -First. Upon the 19th the Londoners took over the -new position from the 74th, and found it to be an evil -inheritance, for upon May 21, when they were in the -very act of relieving the 7th and 75th Brigades, which -formed the front of the Twenty-fifth Division, they -were driven in by a terrific bombardment and assault -from the German lines. On the front of a brigade -the Germans captured not only the new ground won -but our own front line and part of our supporting -line. Old soldiers declared that the fire upon this -occasion was among the most concentrated and -deadly of the whole War. With the new weapons -artillery is not needed at such short range, for with -aerial torpedoes the same effect can be produced as -with guns of a great calibre. -</p> - -<p> -In the early morning of April 30, there was a strong -attack by the Germans at Wulverghem, which was -the village to the west of Messines, to which our line -had been shifted after the attack of November 2, -1914. There is no doubt that all this bustling upon -the part of the Germans was partly for the purpose -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P21"></a>21}</span> -of holding us to our ground while they dealt with the -French at Verdun, and partly to provoke a premature -offensive, since they well knew that some great -movement was in contemplation. As a matter of -fact, all the attacks, including the final severe one -upon the Canadian lines, were dealt with by local -defenders and had no strategic effect at all. In the -case of the Wulverghem attack it was preceded by -an emission of gas of such intensity that it produced -much sickness as far off as Bailleul, at least six miles -to the west. Horses in the distant horse lines fell -senseless under the noxious vapour. It came on -with such rapidity that about a hundred men of the -Twenty-fourth Division were overcome before they -could get on their helmets. The rest were armed -against it, and repelled the subsequent infantry attacks -carried out by numerous small bodies of exploring -infantry, without any difficulty. The whole casualties -of the Fifth Corps, whose front was attacked, -amounted to 400, half by gas and half by the shells. -</p> - -<p> -In May, General Alderson, who had commanded -the Canadians with such success from the beginning, -took over new duties and gave place to General Sir -Julian Byng, the gallant commander of the Third -Cavalry Division. -</p> - -<p> -Upon June 2 there began an action upon the -Canadian front at Ypres which led to severe fighting -extending over several weeks, and put a very heavy -strain upon a corps the First Division of which had -done magnificent work during more than a year, -whilst the other two divisions had only just eased up -after the fighting of the craters. Knowing well that -the Allies were about to attack, the Germans were -exceedingly anxious to gain some success which would -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P22"></a>22}</span> -compel them to disarrange their plans and to suspend -that concentration of troops and guns which must -precede any great effort. In searching for such a -success it was natural that they should revert to the -Ypres salient, which had always been the weakest -portion of the line—so weak, indeed, that when it -is seen outlined by the star shells at night, it seems -to the spectator to be almost untenable, since the -curve of the German line was such that it could -command the rear of all the British trenches. It -was a region of ruined cottages, shallow trenches -commanded by the enemy's guns, and shell-swept -woods so shattered and scarred that they no longer -furnished any cover. These woods, Zouave Wood, -Sanctuary Wood, and others lie some hundred yards -behind the front trenches and form a rallying-point -for those who retire, and a place of assembly for -those who advance. -</p> - -<p> -The Canadian front was from four to five miles -long, following the line of the trenches. The extreme -left lay upon the ruined village of Hooge. This -part of the line was held by the Royal Canadian -Regiment. For a mile to their right, in front of -Zouave and Sanctuary Woods, the Princess Patricia's -held the line over low-lying ground. In immediate -support was the 49th Regiment. These all belonged -to the 7th Canadian Brigade. This formed the left -or northern sector of the position. -</p> - -<p> -In the centre was a low hill called Mount Sorel, in -which the front trenches were located. Immediately -in its rear is another elevation, somewhat higher, -and used as an observing station. This was -Observatory Hill. A wood, Armagh Wood, covered the -slope of this hill. There is about two hundred yards -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P23"></a>23}</span> -of valley between Mount Sorel and Observatory Hill, -with a small stream running down it. This section -of the line was essential for the British, since in the -hands of the enemy it would command all the rest. -It was garrisoned by the 8th Brigade, consisting of -Canadian Mounted Rifles. -</p> - -<p> -The right of the Canadian line, including St. Eloi -upon the extreme limit of their sector, was held by -troops of the Second Canadian Division. This part of -the line was not involved in the coming attack. It -broke upon the centre and the left, the Mount Sorel -and the Hooge positions. -</p> - -<p> -The whole operation was very much more important -than was appreciated by the British public at -the time, and formed a notable example of anticipatory -tactics upon the part of the German General -Staff. Just as they had delayed the advance upon -the west by their furious assault upon Verdun on the -east, so they now calculated that by a fierce attack -upon the north of the British line they might disperse -the gathering storm which was visibly banking up -in the Somme Valley. It was a bold move, boldly -carried out, and within appreciable distance of -success. -</p> - -<p> -Their first care was to collect and concentrate -a great number of guns and mine-throwers on the -sector to be attacked. This concentration occurred -at the very moment when our own heavy artillery -was in a transition stage, some of it going south to -the Somme. Hardly a gun had sounded all morning. -Then in an instant with a crash and a roar several -mines were sprung under the trenches, and a terrific -avalanche of shells came smashing down among the -astounded men. It is doubtful if a more hellish -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P24"></a>24}</span> -storm of projectiles of every sort had ever up to that -time been concentrated upon so limited a front. -There was death from the mines below, death from -the shells above, chaos and destruction all around. -The men were dazed and the trenches both in front -and those of communication were torn to pieces and -left as heaps of rubble. -</p> - -<p> -One great mine destroyed the loop of line held by -the Princess Patricia's and buried a company in the -ruins. A second exploded at Mount Sorel and did -great damage. At the first outburst Generals Mercer -and Williams had been hurried into a small tunnel -out of the front line, but the mine explosion -obliterated the mouth of the tunnel and they were only -extricated with difficulty. General Mercer was last -seen encouraging the men, but he had disappeared -after the action and his fate was unknown to friend -or foe until ten days later his body was found with -both legs broken in one of the side trenches. He -died as he had lived, a very gallant soldier. For -four hours the men cowered down in what was left -of the trenches, awaiting the inevitable infantry -attack which would come from the German lines -fifty yards away. When at last it came it met with -little resistance, for there were few to resist. Those -few were beaten down by the rush of the Würtembergers -who formed the attacking division. They -carried the British line for a length of nearly a mile, -from Mount Sorel to the south of Hooge, and they -captured about 500 men, a large proportion of whom -were wounded. General Williams, Colonel Usher, and -twelve other officers were taken. -</p> - -<p> -When the German stormers saw the havoc in the -trenches they may well have thought that they had -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P25"></a>25}</span> -only to push forward to pierce the line and close -their hands at last upon the coveted Ypres. If any -such expectation was theirs, they must have been -new troops who had no knowledge of the dour tenacity -of the Canadians. The men who first faced poison -gas without masks were not so lightly driven. The -German attack was brought to a standstill by the -withering rifle-fire from the woods, and though the -assailants were still able to hold the ground occupied -they were unable to increase their gains, while in -spite of a terrific barrage of shrapnel fresh Canadian -battalions, the 14th and 15th from the 3rd Canadian -Brigade, were coming up from the rear to help their -exhausted companions. -</p> - -<p> -The evening of June 2 was spent in confused -skirmishing, the advanced patrols of the Germans -getting into the woods and being held up by the -Canadian infantry moving up to the front. Some -German patrols are said to have got as far as Zillebeke -village, three-quarters of a mile in advance of their old -line. By the morning of June 3 these intruders had -been pushed back, but a counter-attack before dawn -by the 9th Brigade was held up by artillery fire, -Colonel Hay of the 52nd (New Ontario) Regiment -and many officers and men being put out of action. -The British guns were now hard at work, and the -Würtembergers in the captured trenches were -enduring something of what the Canadians had -undergone the day before. About 7 o'clock the 2nd and -3rd Canadian Brigades, veterans of Ypres, began to -advance, making their way through the woods and -over the bodies of the German skirmishers. When -the advance got in touch with the captured trenches -it was held up, for the Würtembergers stood to it -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P26"></a>26}</span> -like men, and were well supported by their gunners. -On the right the 7th and 10th Canadians got well -forward, but had not enough weight for a serious -attack. It became clear that a premature counter-attack -might lead to increased losses, and that the -true method was to possess one's soul in patience until -the preparation could be made for a decisive operation. -The impatience and ardour of the men were very -great, and their courage had a fine edge put upon it -by a churlish German official communiqué, adding -one more disgrace to their military annals, which -asserted that more Canadian prisoners had not been -taken because they had fled so fast. Canadians -could smile at the insult, but it was the sort of smile -that is more menacing than a frown. The infantry -waited grimly while some of the missing guns were -recalled into their position. Up to this time the -losses had been about 80 officers and 2000 men. -</p> - -<p> -The weather was vile, with incessant rain which -turned the fields into bogs and the trenches into canals. -For a few days things were at a standstill, for the -clouds prevented aeroplane reconnaissance and the -registration of the guns. The Corps lay in front of -its lost trenches like a wounded bear looking across -with red eyes at its stolen cub. The Germans had -taken advantage of the lull to extend their line, and -on June 6 they had occupied the ruins of Hooge, which -were impossible to hold after all the trenches to the -south had been lost. In their new line the Germans -awaited the attack which they afterwards admitted -that they knew to be inevitable. The British gunfire -was so severe that it was very difficult for them to -improve their new position. -</p> - -<p> -On the 13th the weather had moderated and all -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P27"></a>27}</span> -was ready for the counter-attack. It was carried -out at two in the morning by two composite brigades. -The 3rd (Toronto) and 7th Battalions led upon the -right, while the 13th (Royal Highlanders) and 16th -(Canadian Scots) were in the van of the left, with -their pipers skirling in front of them. Machine-guns -supported the whole advance. The right flank of -the advance, being exposed to the German machine-guns, -was shrouded by the smoke of 200 bombs. The -night was a very dark one and the Canadian Scots had -taken advantage of it to get beyond the front line, -and, as it proved, inside the German barrage zone, so -that heavy as it was it did them no scathe. The new -German line was carried with a magnificent rush, and a -second heave lifted the wave of stormers into the old -British trenches—or the place where they had been. -Nine machine-guns and 150 prisoners from the 119th, -120th, 125th, and 127th Würtemberg Regiments -were captured. To their great joy the Canadians -discovered that such munitions as they had -abandoned upon June 2 were still in the trenches and -reverted into their hands. It is pleasant to add that -evidence was found that the Würtembergers had -behaved with humanity towards the wounded. From -this time onwards the whole Canadian area from -close to Hooge (the village still remained with the -enemy) across the front of the woods, over Mount -Sorel, and on to Hill 60, was consolidated and -maintained. Save the heavy reciprocal losses neither -side had anything to show for all their desperate -fighting, save that the ruins of Hooge were now -German. The Canadian losses in the total operations -came to about 7000 men—a figure which is eloquent -as to the severity of the fighting. They emerged -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P28"></a>28}</span> -from the ordeal with their military reputation more -firmly established than ever. Ypres will surely be a -place of pilgrimage for Canadians in days to come, -for the ground upon the north of the city and also upon -the south-east is imperishably associated with the -martial traditions of their country. The battle just -described is the most severe action between the epic -of Loos upon the one side, and that tremendous -episode in the south, upon the edge of which we are -now standing. -</p> - -<p> -There is one other happening of note which may -in truth be taken as an overture of that gigantic -performance. This was the action of the Seventeenth -Corps upon June 30, the eve of the Somme battle, -in which the Thirty-ninth Division, supported -by guns from the Thirty-fifth and Fifty-first -Divisions upon each side of it, attacked the German -trenches near Richebourg at a spot known as the -Boar's Head. The attack was so limited in the -troops employed and so local in area that it can only -be regarded as a feint to take the German attention -from the spot where the real danger was brewing. -</p> - -<p> -After an artillery preparation of considerable -intensity, the infantry assault was delivered by the -12th and 13th Royal Sussex of the 116th Brigade. -The scheme was that they should advance in three -waves and win their way to the enemy support -line, which they were to convert into the British -front line, while the divisional pioneer battalion, the -13th Gloster, was to join it up to the existing system -by new communication trenches. For some reason, -however, a period of eleven hours seems to have -elapsed between the first bombardment and the -actual attack. The latter was delivered at three -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P29"></a>29}</span> -in the morning after a fresh bombardment of only -ten minutes. So ready were the Germans that an -observer has remarked that had a string been -tied from the British batteries to the German the -opening could not have been more simultaneous, and -they had brought together a great weight of metal. -Every kind of high explosive, shrapnel, and trench -mortar bombs rained on the front and support line, -the communication trenches and No Man's Land, in -addition to a most hellish fire of machine-guns. The -infantry none the less advanced with magnificent -ardour, though with heavy losses. On occupying -the German front line trenches there was ample -evidence that the guns had done their work well, for -the occupants were lying in heaps. The survivors -threw bombs to the last moment, and then cried, -"Kamerad!" Few of them were taken back. Two -successive lines were captured, but the losses were too -heavy to allow them to be held, and the troops had -eventually under heavy shell-fire to fall back on their -own front lines. Only three officers came back unhurt -out of the two battalions, and the losses of rank and -file came to a full two-thirds of the number engaged. -"The men were magnificent," says one who led them, -but they learned the lesson which was awaiting so -many of their comrades in the south, that all human -bravery cannot overcome conditions which are -essentially impossible. A heavy German bombardment -continued for some time, flattening out the trenches -and inflicting losses, not only upon the 39th but upon -the 51st Highland Territorial Division. This show -of heavy artillery may be taken as the most pleasant -feature in the whole episode, since it shows that its -object was attained at least to the very important -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P30"></a>30}</span> -extent of holding up the German guns. Those heavy -batteries upon the Somme might well have modified -our successes of the morrow. -</p> - -<p> -A second attack made with the same object of -distracting the attention of the Germans and holding up -their guns was made at an earlier date at a point called -the triangle opposite to the Double Grassier near Loos. -This attack was started at 9.10 upon the evening of -June 10, and was carried out in a most valiant fashion -by the 2nd Rifles and part of the 2nd Royal Sussex, -both of the 2nd Brigade. There can be no greater trial -for troops, and no greater sacrifice can be demanded -of a soldier, than to risk and probably lose his life in -an attempt which can obviously have no permanent -result, and is merely intended to ease pressure -elsewhere. The gallant stormers reached and in several -places carried the enemy's line, but no lasting -occupation could be effected, and they had eventually to -return to their own line. The Riflemen, who were -the chief sufferers, lost 11 officers and 200 men. -</p> - -<p> -A word should be said as to the raids along the -line of the German trenches by which it was hoped -to distract their attention from the point of attack, -and also to obtain precise information as to the -disposition of their units. It is difficult to say whether -the British were the gainers, or the losers on balance -in these raids, for some were successful, while some -were repelled. Among a great number of gallant -attempts, the details of which hardly come within -the scale of this chronicle, the most successful perhaps -were two made by the 9th Highland Light Infantry -and by the 2nd Welsh Fusiliers, both of the Thirty-third -Division. In both of these cases very extensive -damage was done and numerous prisoners were taken. -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P31"></a>31}</span> -When one reads the intimate accounts of these affairs, -the stealthy approaches, the blackened faces, the -clubs and revolvers which formed the weapons, the -ox-goads for urging Germans out of dug-outs, the -dark lanterns and the knuckle-dusters—one feels -that the age of adventure is not yet past and that -the spirit of romance was not entirely buried in the -trenches of modern war. There were 70 such raids -in the week which preceded the great attack. -</p> - -<p> -Before plunging into the huge task of following -and describing the various phases of the mighty -Battle of the Somme a word must be said upon the -naval history of the period which can all be summed -up in the Battle of Jutland, since the situation after -that battle was exactly as it had always been before it. -This fact in itself shows upon which side the victory -lay, since the whole object of the movements of the -German Fleet was to produce a relaxation in these -conditions. Through the modesty of the British -bulletins, which was pushed somewhat to excess, the -position for some days was that the British, who had -won everything, claimed nothing, while the Germans, -who had won nothing, claimed everything. It is -true that a number of our ships were sunk and of our -sailors drowned, including Hood and Arbuthnot, two -of the ablest of our younger admirals. Even by the -German accounts, however, their own losses in -proportion to their total strength were equally heavy, -and we have every reason to doubt their accounts -since they not only do not correspond with reliable -observations upon our side, but because their second -official account was compelled to admit that their -first one had been false. The whole affair may be -summed up by saying that after making an excellent -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P32"></a>32}</span> -fight they were saved from total destruction by the -haze of evening, and fled back in broken array to -their ports, leaving the North Sea now as always in -British keeping. At the same time it cannot be denied -that here as at Coronel and the Falklands the German -ships were well fought, the gunnery was good, and -the handling of the fleet, both during the battle and -especially under the difficult circumstances of the -flight in the darkness to avoid a superior fleet between -themselves and home, was of a high order. It was a -good clean fight, and in the general disgust at the -flatulent claims of the Kaiser and his press the actual -merit of the German performance did not perhaps -receive all the appreciation which it deserved. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p><a id="chap02"></a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P33"></a>33}</span></p> - -<h3> -CHAPTER II -<br /><br /> -THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME -</h3> - -<p class="t3"> - Attack of the Seventh and Eighth Corps on<br /> - Gommecourt, Serre, and Beaumont Hamel<br /> -</p> - -<p class="intro"> -Line of battle in the Somme sector—Great preparations—Advance of -Forty-sixth North Midland Division—Advance of Fifty-sixth -Territorials (London)—Great valour and heavy losses—Advance -of Thirty-first Division—Advance of Fourth Division—Advance -of Twenty-ninth Division—Complete failure of the assault. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -The continued German pressure at Verdun which -had reached a high point in June called insistently -for an immediate allied attack at the western end of -the line. With a fine spirit of comradeship General -Haig had placed himself and his armies at the absolute -disposal of General Joffre, and was prepared to march -them to Verdun, or anywhere else where he could best -render assistance. The solid Joffre, strong and -deliberate, was not disposed to allow the western -offensive to be either weakened or launched prematurely on -account of German attacks at the eastern frontier. -He believed that Verdun could for the time look after -herself, and the result showed the clearness of his -vision. Meanwhile, he amassed a considerable French -army, containing many of his best active troops, on -either side of the Somme. General Foch was in -command. They formed the right wing of the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P34"></a>34}</span> -great allied force about to make a big effort to -break or shift the iron German line, which had been -built up with two years of labour, until it -represented a tangled vista of trenches, parapets, and -redoubts mutually supporting and bristling with -machine-guns and cannon, for many miles of depth. -Never in the whole course of history have soldiers -been confronted with such an obstacle. Yet from -general to private, both in the French and in the -British armies, there was universal joy that the long -stagnant trench life should be at an end, and that -the days of action, even if they should prove to be -days of death, should at last have come. Our concern -is with the British forces, and so they are here -set forth as they stretched upon the left or north of -their good allies. -</p> - -<p> -The southern end of the whole British line was -held by the Fourth Army, commanded by General -Rawlinson, an officer who has always been called -upon when desperate work was afoot. His army -consisted of five corps, each of which included from -three to four divisions, so that his infantry numbered -about 200,000 men, many of whom were veterans, so -far as a man may live to be a veteran amid the -slaughter of such a campaign. The Corps, counting -from the junction with the French, were, the Thirteenth -(Congreve), Fifteenth (Horne), Third (Pulteney), -Tenth (Morland), and Eighth (Hunter-Weston). -Their divisions, frontage, and the objectives will be -discussed in the description of the battle itself. -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P35"></a>35}</span> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-035"></a> -<br /> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-035.jpg" alt="BRITISH BATTLE LINE July 1st 1916" /> -<br /> -BRITISH BATTLE LINE July 1st 1916 -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -North of Rawlinson's Fourth Army, and touching -it at the village of Hébuterne, was Allenby's -Third Army, of which one single corps, the Seventh -(Snow), was engaged in the battle. This added three -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P36"></a>36}</span> -divisions, or about 30,000 infantry, to the numbers -quoted above. -</p> - -<p> -It had taken months to get the troops into position, -to accumulate the guns, and to make the enormous -preparations which such a battle must entail. How -gigantic and how minute these are can only be -appreciated by those who are acquainted with the work of -the staffs. As to the Chief Staff of all, if a civilian -may express an opinion upon so technical a matter, no -praise seems to be too high for General Kiggell and the -others under the immediate direction of Sir Douglas -Haig, who had successively shown himself to be a great -Corps General, a great Army leader, and now a great -General-in-Chief. The preparations were enormous -and meticulous, yet everything ran like a well-oiled -piston-rod. Every operation of the attack was -practised on similar ground behind the lines. New -railheads were made, huge sidings constructed, -and great dumps accumulated. The corps and -divisional staffs were also excellent, but above all it -was upon those hard-worked and usually overlooked -men, the sappers, that the strain fell. Assembly -trenches had to be dug, double communication -trenches had to be placed in parallel lines, one taking -the up-traffic and one the down, water supplies, bomb -shelters, staff dug-outs, poison-gas arrangements, -tunnels and mines—there was no end to the work of -the sappers. The gunners behind laboured night -after night in hauling up and concealing their pieces, -while day after day they deliberately and carefully -registered upon their marks. The question of -ammunition supply had assumed incredible proportions. -For the needs of one single corps forty-six -miles of motor-lorries were engaged in bringing up -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P37"></a>37}</span> -the shells. However, by the end of June all was in -place and ready. The bombardment began about -June 23, and was at once answered by a German one -of lesser intensity. The fact that the attack was -imminent was everywhere known, for it was absolutely -impossible to make such preparations and -concentrations in a secret fashion. "Come on, we are -ready for you," was hoisted upon placards on several -of the German trenches. The result was to show that -they spoke no more than the truth. -</p> - -<p> -There were limits, however, to the German appreciation -of the plans of the Allies. They were apparently -convinced that the attack would come somewhat -farther to the north, and their plans, which covered -more than half of the ground on which the attack -actually did occur, had made that region impregnable, -as we were to learn to our cost. Their heaviest guns -and their best troops were there. They had made a -far less elaborate preparation, however, at the front -which corresponded with the southern end of the -British line, and also on that which faced the French. -The reasons for this may be surmised. The British -front at that point is very badly supplied with roads -(or was before the matter was taken in hand), and -the Germans may well have thought that no advance -upon a great scale was possible. So far as the French -were concerned they had probably over-estimated -the pre-occupation of Verdun and had not given our -Allies credit for the immense reserve vitality which -they were to show. The French front to the south -of the Somme was also faced by a great bend of the -river which must impede any advance. Then again -it is wooded, broken country down there, and gives -good concealment for masking an operation. These -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P38"></a>38}</span> -were probably the reasons which induced the Germans -to make a miscalculation which proved to be an -exceedingly serious one, converting what might have -been a German victory into a great, though costly, -success for the Allies, a prelude to most vital results -in the future. -</p> - -<p> -It is, as already stated, difficult to effect a -surprise upon the large scale in modern warfare. -There are still, however, certain departments in -which with energy and ingenuity effects may be -produced as unforeseen as they are disconcerting. The -Air Service of the Allies, about which a book which -would be one long epic of heroism could be written, -had been growing stronger, and had dominated the -situation during the last few weeks, but it had not -shown its full strength nor its intentions until the -evening before the bombardment. Then it disclosed -both in most dramatic fashion. Either side had lines -of stationary airships from which shell-fire is observed. -To the stranger approaching the lines they are the -first intimation that he is in the danger area, and he -sees them in a double row, extending in a gradually -dwindling vista to either horizon. Now by a single -raid and in a single night, every observation airship -of the Germans was brought in flames to the earth. -It was a splendid coup, splendidly carried out. -Where the setting sun had shone on a long German -array the dawn showed an empty eastern sky. -From that day for many a month the Allies had -command of the air with all that it means to modern -artillery. It was a good omen for the coming fight, -and a sign of the great efficiency to which the British -Air Service under General Trenchard had attained. -The various types for scouting, for artillery work, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P39"></a>39}</span> -for raiding, and for fighting were all very highly -developed and splendidly handled by as gallant and -chivalrous a band of heroic youths as Britain has -ever enrolled among her guardians. The new -F.E. machine and the de Haviland Biplane fighting -machine were at this time equal to anything the -Germans had in the air. -</p> - -<p> -The attack had been planned for June 28, but the -weather was so tempestuous that it was put off until -it should moderate, a change which was a great strain -upon every one concerned. July 1 broke calm and -warm with a gentle south-western breeze. The day -had come. All morning from early dawn there was -intense fire, intensely answered, with smoke barrages -thrown during the last half-hour to such points as -could with advantage be screened. At 7.30 the guns -lifted, the whistles blew, and the eager infantry were -over the parapets. The great Battle of the Somme, -the fierce crisis of Armageddon, had come. In following -the fate of the various British forces during this -eventful and most bloody day we will begin at the -northern end of the line, where the Seventh Corps -(Snow) faced the salient of Gommecourt. -</p> - -<p> -This corps consisted of the Thirty-seventh, Forty-sixth, -and Fifty-sixth Divisions. The former was not -engaged and lay to the north. The others were told -off to attack the bulge on the German line, the -Forty-sixth upon the north, and the Fifty-sixth upon the -south, with the village of Gommecourt as their -immediate objective. Both were well-tried and famous -territorial units, the Forty-sixth North Midland being -the division which carried the Hohenzollern Redoubt -upon October 13, 1915, while the Fifty-sixth was -made up of the old London territorial battalions, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P40"></a>40}</span> -which had seen so much fighting in earlier days while -scattered among the regular brigades. Taking our -description of the battle always from the north end of -the line we shall begin with the attack of the Forty-sixth -Division. -</p> - -<p> -The assault was carried out by two brigades, each -upon a two-battalion front. Of these the 137th -Brigade of Stafford men were upon the right, -while the 139th Brigade of Sherwood Foresters -were on the left, each accompanied by a unit of -sappers. The 138th Brigade, less one battalion, -which was attached to the 137th, was in reserve. -The attack was covered so far as possible with -smoke, which was turned on five minutes before -the hour. The general instructions to both brigades -were that after crossing No Man's Land and taking -the first German line they should bomb their way up -the communication trenches, and so force a passage -into Gommecourt Wood. Each brigade was to -advance in four waves at fifty yards interval, with -six feet between each man. Warned by our past -experience of the wastage of precious material, not -more than 20 officers of each battalion were sent -forward with the attack, and a proportional number -of N.C.O.'s were also withheld. The average equipment -of the stormers, here and elsewhere, consisted -of steel helmet, haversack, water-bottle, rations for -two days, two gas helmets, tear-goggles, 220 -cartridges, two bombs, two sandbags, entrenching tool, -wire-cutters, field dressings, and signal-flare. With -this weight upon them, and with trenches which -were half full of water, and the ground between a -morass of sticky mud, some idea can be formed of -the strain upon the infantry. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P41"></a>41}</span> -</p> - -<p> -Both the attacking brigades got away with -splendid steadiness upon the tick of time. In the -case of the 137th Brigade the 6th South Staffords -and 6th North Staffords were in the van, the former -being on the right flank where it joined up with the -left of the Fifty-sixth Division. The South Staffords -came into a fatal blast of machine-gun fire as they -dashed forward, and their track was marked by a -thick litter of dead and wounded. None the less, -they poured into the trenches opposite to them but -found them strongly held by infantry of the -Fifty-second German Division. There was some fierce -bludgeon work in the trenches, but the losses in -crossing had been too heavy and the survivors were -unable to make good. The trench was held by the -Germans and the assault repulsed. The North -Staffords had also won their way into the front -trenches, but in their case also they had lost so -heavily that they were unable to clear the trench, -which was well and stoutly defended. At the instant -of attack, here as elsewhere, the Germans had put so -terrific a barrage between the lines that it was -impossible for the supports to get up and no fresh momentum -could be added to the failing attack. -</p> - -<p> -The fate of the right attack had been bad, but -that of the left was even worse, for at this point we -had experience of a German procedure which was -tried at several places along the line with most deadly -effect, and accounted for some of our very high losses. -This device was to stuff their front line dug-outs -with machine-guns and men, who would emerge when -the wave of stormers had passed, attacking them -from the rear, confident that their own rear was safe -on account of the terrific barrage between the lines. -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P42"></a>42}</span> -In this case the stormers were completely trapped. -The 5th and 7th Sherwood Foresters dashed through -the open ground, carried the trenches and pushed -forward on their fiery career. Instantly the barrage -fell, the concealed infantry rose behind them, and -their fate was sealed. With grand valour the leading -four waves stormed their way up the communication -trenches and beat down all opposition until their own -dwindling numbers and the failure of their bombs -left them helpless among their enemies. Thus -perished the first companies of two fine battalions, -and few survivors of them ever won their way back -to the British lines. Brave attempts were made -during the day to get across to their aid, but all were -beaten down by the terrible barrage. In the evening -the 5th Lincolns made a most gallant final effort to -reach their lost comrades, and got across to the -German front line which they found to be strongly -held. So ended a tragic episode. The cause which -produced it was, as will be seen, common to the whole -northern end of the line, and depended upon factors -which neither officers nor men could control, the chief -of which were that the work of our artillery, both in -getting at the trench garrisons and in its counter-battery -effects had been far less deadly than we had -expected. The losses of the division came to about -2700 men. -</p> - -<p> -The attack upon the southern side of the -Gommecourt peninsula, though urged with the utmost -devotion and corresponding losses, had no more -success than that in the north. There is no doubt -that the unfortunate repulse of the 137th Brigade -upon their left, occurring as it did while the -Fifty-sixth Division was still advancing, enabled the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P43"></a>43}</span> -Germans to concentrate their guns and reserves upon -the Londoners, but knowing what we know, it can -hardly be imagined that under any circumstances, -with failure upon either side of them, the division -could have held the captured ground. The preparations -for the attack had been made with great energy, -and for two successive nights as many as 3000 men -were out digging between the lines, which was -done with such disciplined silence that there were -not more than 50 casualties all told. The 167th -Brigade was left in reserve, having already suffered -heavily while holding the water-logged trenches -during the constant shell-fall of the last week. The -7th Middlesex alone had lost 12 officers and 300 men -from this cause—a proportion which may give some -idea of what the heavy British bombardment may -have meant to the Germans. The advance was, -therefore, upon a two-brigade front, the 168th -being on the right and the 169th upon the left. -The London Scottish and the 12th London Rangers -were the leading battalions of the 168th, while the -Westminsters and Victorias led the 169th with the -4th London, 13th Kensingtons, 2nd London and -London Rifle Brigade in support. The advance was -made with all the fiery dash with which the Cockney -soldiers have been associated. The first, second, and -third German lines of trench were successively carried, -and it was not until they, or those of them who were -left, had reached the fourth line that they were held. -It was powerfully manned, bravely defended, and -well provided with bombs—a terrible obstacle for a -scattered line of weary and often wounded men. The -struggle was a heroic one. Even now had their rear -been clear, or had there been a shadow of support -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P44"></a>44}</span> -these determined men would have burst the only -barrier which held them from Gommecourt. But -the steel curtain of the barrage had closed down -behind them, and every overrun trench was sending -out its lurking occupants to fire into their defenceless -backs. Bombs, too, are essential in such a combat, -and bombs must ever be renewed, since few can be -carried at a time. For long hours the struggle went -on, but it was the pitiful attempt of heroic men to -postpone that retreat which was inevitable. Few of -the advanced line ever got back. The 3rd London, -particularly, sent forward several hundred men with -bombs, but hardly any got across. Sixty London Scots -started on the same terrible errand. In the late -afternoon the remains of the two brigades were back in -the British front line, having done all, and more than -all, that brave soldiers could be expected to do. The -losses were very heavy. Never has the manhood -of London in one single day sustained so grievous a -loss. It is such hours which test the very soul of the -soldier. War is not all careless slang and jokes and -cigarettes, though such superficial sides of it may -amuse the public and catch the eye of the descriptive -writer. It is the most desperately earnest thing -to which man ever sets his hand or his mind. Many -a hot oath and many a frenzied prayer go up from -the battle line. Strong men are shaken to the soul -with the hysteria of weaklings, and balanced brains -are dulled into vacancy or worse by the dreadful -sustained shock of it. The more honour then to those -who, broken and wearied, still hold fast in the face -of all that human flesh abhors, bracing their spirits -by a sense of soldierly duty and personal honour which -is strong enough to prevail over death itself. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P45"></a>45}</span> -</p> - -<p> -It is pleasing to be able to record an instance of -good feeling upon the part of the enemy. Some -remains of the old German spirit would now and again, -though with sad rarity, shake itself free from the acrid -and poisonous Prussian taint. On this occasion a -German prisoner was sent back from our lines after -nightfall with a note to the officer in command asking -for details as to the fate of the British missing. An -answer was found tied on to the barbed wire in the -morning which gave the desired information. It is -fair to state also that the wounded taken by the -enemy appear to have met with good treatment. -</p> - -<p> -So much for the gallant and tragic attack of the -Seventh Corps. General Snow, addressing his men -after the battle, pointed out that their losses and their -efforts had not been all in vain. "I can assure you," -he said, "that by your determined attack you -managed to keep large forces of the enemy at your -front, thereby materially assisting in the operations -which were proceeding farther south with such -marked success." No doubt the claim is a just one, -and even while we mourn over the fate of four grand -Army corps upon the left wing of the Allied Army, -we may feel that they sacrificed themselves in -order to assure the advance of those corps of their -comrades to the south who had profited by the -accumulation of guns and men to the north of them -in order to burst their way through the German line. -It is possible that here as on some other occasions the -bitter hatred which the Germans had for the British, -nurtured as it was by every lie which could appeal -to their passions, had distorted their vision and -twisted their counsels to an extent which proved to -be their ruin. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P46"></a>46}</span> -</p> - -<p> -The Eighth Corps, a magnificent body of troops, -was under the command of General Sir Aylmer -Hunter-Weston. It consisted of the Forty-eighth -South Midland Territorial Division, the Fourth -Regular Division, the Twenty-ninth Regular Division, -and the Thirty-first Division of the New Army. -Their front extended from Hébuterne in the north, -where they joined on to the Fifty-sixth Division, down -to a point just north of the Ancre, and it faced the -very strong German positions of Serre in the north, and -of Beaumont Hamel in the centre. The latter was an -exceptionally difficult place, for it contained enormous -quarries and excavations in which masses of Germans -could remain concealed, almost immune to shell-fire -and ready to sally out when needed. In spite of the -terrific bombardment the actual damage done to -the enemy was not excessive, and neither his numbers, -his <i>moral</i>, nor his guns had been seriously diminished. -</p> - -<p> -The order of battle was as follows: the Forty-eighth -Division was in reserve, save for the 143rd -Warwick Brigade. Of this brigade two battalions, -the 5th and 6th Warwicks, were placed on a defensive -line with orders to hold the trenches for about a mile -south of Hebuterne. The 7th and 8th Warwicks were -attached to the Fourth Division for the assault. -</p> - -<p> -Immediately south of the defensive line held by -the two Warwick battalions was the Thirty-first -Division, having Serre for its objective. South of this, -and opposite to Beaumont Hamel, was the Fourth, and -south of this again was the Twenty-ninth Division, -which had returned from the magnificent failure of -the Dardanelles, bearing with it a high reputation -for efficiency and valour. Incorporated with it was -a regiment of Newfoundlanders, men recruited from -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P47"></a>47}</span> -among the fishers and farmers of that northern land, -the oldest colony of Britain. Such was the force, -comprising nearly 50,000 excellent infantry, who set -forth upon the formidable adventure of forcing the -lines of Beaumont Hamel. They were destined to -show the absolute impossibility of such a task in the -face of a steadfast unshaken enemy, supported by a -tremendous artillery, but their story is a most glorious -one, and many a great British victory contains no -such record of tenacity and military virtue. -</p> - -<p> -At a quarter past five the assaulting lines were in -the assembly trenches, and shortly afterwards the -smoke and artillery barrages were released. At 7.20 -an enormous mine, which had been run under Hawthorn -Redoubt in front of the Fourth Division, was -exploded, and a monstrous column of debris, with -the accompanying shock of an earthquake, warned -friend and foe that the hour of doom, the crisis of such -mighty preparations, was at hand. At 7.30 the -whistles blew, and the men, springing with eager -alacrity over the parapet, advanced in successive -lines of assault against the German trenches. -</p> - -<p> -Before giving in detail the circumstances which -determined the result in each division, it may be well -to avoid wearisome iteration by giving certain facts -which are common to each. In every case the troops -advanced in an extended formation of companies in -successive waves. In nearly every case the German -front line was seized and penetrated, in no case was -there any hesitation or disorder among the advancing -troops, but the highest possible degree of discipline -and courage was shown by regulars, territorials, and -men of the New Army, nor could it be said that there -was any difference between them. In each case also -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P48"></a>48}</span> -the Germans met the assault with determined valour; -in each case the successive lines of trenches were more -strongly held, and the assailants were attacked from -the rear by those who emerged from the dug-outs -behind them, and above all in each case a most -murderous artillery fire was opened from a semi-circle -all round the German position, but especially -from one huge accumulation of heavy guns, said to -number a hundred batteries, stationed on the high -ground near Bucquoy and commanding the British -position. These guns formed successive lines of -barrage with shrapnel and high explosives, one of -them about 200 yards behind the British line, to cut -off the supports; another 50 yards behind; another -50 yards in front; and a fourth of shrapnel which -was under observed control, and followed the troops -in their movements. The advanced lines of assault -were able in most cases to get through before these -barrages were effectively established, but they made -it difficult, deadly, and often impossible for the lines -who followed. -</p> - -<p> -None the less it is the opinion of skilled observers -that the shell-fire alone, however heavy, could not -have taken the edge from the inexorable insistence -of the British attack. It is to the skill and to the -personal gallantry of the German machine-gunners -that the result is to be traced. The bombardment -of the German line had been so severe that it was -hoped that most of the machine-guns had been rooted -out. So indeed they had, but they had been withdrawn -to the safety of excavations in the immediate -rear. Suspecting this, the British artillery sprayed -the ground behind the trenches with showers of -shrapnel to prevent their being brought forward -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P49"></a>49}</span> -again. This barrage was not sufficient to subdue -the gunners, who dashed forward and established -their pieces at the moment of the assault upon the -various parapets and points of vantage, from which, -regardless of their own losses, they poured a withering -fire upon the infantry in the open. These brave -Würtembergers were seen, with riflemen at their -side, exposed waist-deep and dropping fast, but -mowing the open slope as with a scythe of steel. -"I cannot," said a general officer, who surveyed the -whole scene, "adequately express my admiration -for the British who advanced, or for the Germans -who stood up under such a heavy barrage to oppose -them." It was indeed that contest between the -chosen children of Odin in which Professor Cramb -has declared that the high gods of virility might -well rejoice. -</p> - -<p> -We will now turn to the left of the line and carry -on the detailed description of the general assault -from that of the 56th Territorials in the north, who -were linked up by the defensive line of the Warwicks. -The Thirty-first Division was on the left of the -Eighth Corps. Of this division, two brigades, the -93rd and the 94th, were in the line, with the 92nd -in reserve. The 93rd, which consisted of the 15th, -16th, 18th West Yorks, and the 18th Durhams, -was on the right, the 94th, including the 11th East -Lancashires, and the 12th, 13th, and 14th York -and Lancasters, was on the left. The advance was -made upon a front of two companies, each company -on a front of two platoons, the men extended -to three paces interval. On the left the leading -battalions were the 11th East Lancashires and 12th -York and Lancasters, the latter on the extreme left -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P50"></a>50}</span> -flank of the whole division. That this position with -its exposed flank was the place of honour and of -danger, may be best indicated by the fact that the -colonel and six orderlies were the only men who could -be collected of this heroic Sheffield battalion upon -the next morning. On the right the leading troops -were the 15th and 16th West Yorks. These grand -North-countrymen swept across No Man's Land, -dressed as if on parade, followed in succession by the -remaining battalions, two of which, the 13th and -14th York and Lancasters, were the special town -units of Barnsley and Leeds. "I have never seen -and could not have imagined such a magnificent -display of gallantry, discipline, and determination," -said the observer who was been already quoted. The -men fell in lines, but the survivors with backs bent, -heads bowed, and rifles at the port, neither quickened -nor slackened their advance, but went forward as -though it was rain and not lead which lashed them. -Here and elsewhere the German machine-gunners -not only lined the parapet, but actually rushed -forward into the open, partly to get a flank fire, and -partly to come in front of the British barrage. Before -the blasts of bullets the lines melted away, and the -ever-decreasing waves only reached the parapet here -and there, lapping over the spot where the German -front lines had been, and sinking for ever upon the -farther side. About a hundred gallant men of the -East Lancashires, favoured perhaps by some curve in -the ground, got past more than one line of trenches, -and a few desperate individuals even burst their way -as far as Serre, giving a false impression that the village -was in our hands. But the losses had been so heavy -that the weight and momentum had gone out of the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P51"></a>51}</span> -attack, while the density of the resistance thickened -with every yard of advance. By the middle of the -afternoon the survivors of the two attacking brigades -were back in their own front line trenches, having -lost the greater part of their effectives. The 15th -West Yorks had lost heavily in officers, and the 16th -and 18th were little better off. The 18th Durhams -suffered less, being partly in reserve. Of the 94th -Brigade the two splendid leading battalions, the 11th -East Lancashires and 12th York and Lancasters, had -very many killed within the enemy line. The -heaviest loss in any single unit was in the 11th East -Lancashires. The strength of the position is indicated -by the fact that when attacked by two divisions in -November, with a very powerful backing of artillery, -it was still able to hold its own. -</p> - -<p> -The experiences of all the troops engaged upon -the left of the British attack were so similar and their -gallantry was so uniform, that any variety in description -depends rather upon the units engaged than upon -what befell them. Thus in passing from the Thirty-first -Division to the Fourth upon their right, the -general sequence of cause and effect is still the same. -In this instance the infantry who rushed, or rather -strode, to the assault were, counting from the right, -the 1st East Lancs, the 1st Rifle Brigade, and the -8th Warwicks, who were immediately followed by -the 1st Hants, the 1st Somersets, and the 6th -Warwicks, advancing with three companies in front and -one in support. The objective here as elsewhere -upon the left was the capture of the Serre-Grandcourt -Ridge, with the further design of furnishing a defensive -flank for the operations lower down. The troops -enumerated belonged to the 11th Brigade, led by -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P52"></a>52}</span> -the gallant Prowse, who fell hit by a shell early in the -assault, calling after his troops that they should -remember that they were the Stonewall Brigade. -The attack was pressed with incredible resolution, -and met with severe losses. Again the front line -was carried and again the thin fringe of survivors -had no weight to drive the assault forward, whilst -they had no cover to shelter them in the ruined -lines which they had taken. The Somerset men had -the honour of reaching the farthest point attained -by the division. "If anything wants shifting the -Somersets will do it." So said their General before -the action. But both their flanks were in the air, -and their position was an impossible one, while -the right of the attack north of Beaumont Hamel -had been entirely held up. Two units of the 10th -Brigade advanced about 9 o'clock on the right, -and two of the 12th on the left. These were in -their order, the 2nd Dublins, 2nd Seaforths, 2nd -Essex, and 1st King's Own Lancasters. All went -forward with a will, but some could not get beyond -their own front trenches, and few got over the German -line. All the weight of their blood so lavishly and -cheerfully given could not tilt the scale towards -victory. Slowly the survivors of the Somersets and -Rifle Brigade were beaten back with clouds of bombers -at their heels. The 8th Warwicks, who, with some -of the 6th Warwicks, had got as far forward as any of -the supporting line, could not turn the tide. Late -in the afternoon the assault had definitely failed, and -the remainder were back in their own front trenches, -which had now to be organised against the very -possible counter-attack. Only two battalions of the -division remained intact, and the losses included -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P53"></a>53}</span> -General Prowse, Colonel the Hon. C. W. Palk of the -Hampshires, Colonel Thicknesse of the Somersets, -Colonel Wood of the Rifle Brigade, and Colonel -Franklin of the 6th Warwicks, all killed; while -Colonels Innes of the 8th Warwicks, Hopkinson of -the Seaforths, and Green of the East Lancashires -were wounded. For a long time a portion of the -enemy's trench was held by mixed units, but it was -of no value when detached from the rest and was -abandoned in the evening. From the afternoon onwards -no possible course save defence was open to General -Lambton. There was considerable anxiety about one -company of Irish Fusiliers who were in a detached -portion of the German trench, but they succeeded in -getting back next morning, bringing with them not -only their wounded but some prisoners. -</p> - -<p> -Immediately to the right of the Fourth Division -was the Twenty-ninth Division[<a id="chap02fn1text"></a><a href="#chap02fn1">1</a>] from Gallipoli, -which rivalled in its constancy and exceeded in its -losses its comrades upon the left. The 86th Brigade -and the 87th formed the first line, with the 88th in -support. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="footnote"> -<a id="chap02fn1"></a> -[<a href="#chap02fn1text">1</a>] Since the constituents of this famous regular Division have not been -given in full (as has been done with their comrades in preceding volumes) -they are here enumerated as they were on July 1, 1916: -</p> - -<p class="footnote"> -86<i>th Brigade</i>.—2nd Royal Fusiliers, 1st Lancashire Fusiliers, 1st Dublin -Fusiliers, 16th Middlesex. -</p> - -<p class="footnote"> -87<i>th Brigade</i>.—1st Inniskilling Fusiliers, 1st South Wales Borderers, -1st Scottish Borderers, 1st Border Regiment. -</p> - -<p class="footnote"> -88<i>th Brigade</i>.—1st Essex, 2nd Hants, 4th Worcesters, Newfoundland -Regiment. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -The van of the attack upon the right of the division -was formed by the 1st Inniskilling Fusiliers and the -Welsh Borderers, while the van upon the left was -formed by the 2nd Royal Fusiliers and the 1st -Lancashire Fusiliers. The other battalions of the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P54"></a>54}</span> -brigades formed the supporting line, and two battalions -of the 88th Brigade, the Essex and the Newfoundlanders, -were also drawn into the fight, so that, as in -the Fourth Division, only two battalions remained -intact at the close, the nucleus upon which in each -case a new division had to be formed. -</p> - -<p> -Upon the explosion of the great mine already -mentioned two platoons of the 2nd Royal Fusiliers -with machine-guns and Stokes mortars rushed forward -to seize the crater. They got the near lip, but the -enemy were already in possession of the far side, and -no farther advance could be made. At this point, -and indeed at nearly all points down the line, the -wire was found to have been very thoroughly cut by -the artillery fire, but for some reason our own wire -had not been cut to the same extent and was a serious -obstacle to our own advance. -</p> - -<p> -Parties of the leading regiments were speedily up -to the German front-line trench, but their advance -beyond it was delayed by the fact that the dug-outs -were found to be full of lurking soldiers who had -intended no doubt to rush out and attack the stormers -in the rear, as in the case of the Forty-sixth and -Fifty-sixth Divisions in the north, but who were discovered -in time and had to fight for their lives. These men -were cleared out upon the right, and the advance then -made some progress, but on the left by 9 o'clock the -86th Brigade had been completely held up by a -murderous machine-gun fire in front of Beaumont -Hamel, a position which, as already explained, -presented peculiar difficulties. The Essex and -Newfoundland men of the 88th Brigade were ordered -forward and charged with such splendid resolution -that the advance was carried forward again, and the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P55"></a>55}</span> -whole situation changed for the better. By 10.15 the -casualties had become so great, however, through -the fire of flanking machine-guns, that it was clear -that the attack could not possibly reach its objective. -The huge crater left by the explosion of the Beaumont -Hamel mine was held for hours as a redoubt, but it -also was enfiladed by fire and became untenable. By -half-past ten the action had resolved itself into a -bombardment of the German front line once more, -and the assault had definitely failed. There was an -attempt to renew it, but when it was found that the -86th Brigade and the 87th Brigade were equally -reduced in numbers, it was recognised that only a -defensive line could be held. It is true that the -Divisional General had the Worcesters and the Hants -still in hand, and was prepared to attack with them, -but a further loss might have imperilled the Divisional -line, so no advance was allowed. -</p> - -<p> -All the troops of the Twenty-ninth Division had -lived up to their fame, but a special word should -be said of the Newfoundlanders, who, in their first -action, kept pace with the veterans beside them. -This battalion of fishermen, lumbermen, and farmers -proved once more the grand stuff which is bred over -the sea—the stuff which Bernhardi dismissed in a -contemptuous paragraph. "They attacked regardless -of loss, moving forward in extended order, wave -behind wave. It was a magnificent exhibition of -disciplined courage." Well might General Hunter-Weston -say next day after visiting the survivors: -"To hear men cheering as they did, after undergoing -such an experience, and in the midst of such mud -and rain, made one proud to have the command of -such a battalion." The losses of the Newfoundlanders -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P56"></a>56}</span> -were severe. Losses are always the index of the -sorrow elsewhere, but when they fall so heavily upon a -small community, where every man plays a vital part -and knows his neighbour, they are particularly -distressing. From Cape Race to the coast of Labrador -there was pride and mourning over that day. The -total losses of the division were heavy, and included -Colonels Pierce and Ellis of the Inniskillings and -Borderers. -</p> - -<p> -It must have been with a heavy heart that General -Hunter-Weston realised, with the approach of night, -that each of his divisions had met with such losses -that the renewal of the attack was impossible. He, -his Divisional Commanders, his officers and his men -had done both in their dispositions and in their -subsequent actions everything which wise leaders and brave -soldiers could possibly accomplish. If a criticism -could be advanced it would be that the attack was -urged with such determined valour that it would not -take No until long after No was the inevitable answer. -But grim persistence has won many a fight, and no -leader who is worthy to lead can ever have an excess -of it. They were up against the impossible, as were -their companions to right and left. It is easy to -recognise it now, but it could not be proved until -it had been tested to the uttermost. Could other -tactics, other equipment, other methods of guarding -the soldiers have brought them across the fatal open -levels? It may be so, and can again only be tried -by testing. But this at least was proved for all time, -that, given clear ground, unshaken troops, prepared -positions, and ample artillery, no human fire and no -human hardihood can ever hope to break such a -defensive line. It should be added that here as -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P57"></a>57}</span> -elsewhere the British artillery, though less numerous -than it became at a later date, was admirable both -in its heavy and in its lighter pieces. Observers have -recorded that under its hammer blows the German -trenches kept momentarily changing their shape, -while the barrage was as thick and accurate and -the lifting as well-timed as could have been wished. -There was no slackness anywhere, either in preparation -or in performance, and nothing but the absolute -impossibility of the task under existing conditions -stood in the way of success. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p><a id="chap03"></a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P58"></a>58}</span></p> - -<h3> -CHAPTER III -<br /><br /> -THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME -</h3> - -<p class="t3"> -Attack of the Tenth and Third Corps, July 1, 1916 -</p> - -<p class="intro"> -Magnificent conduct of the Ulster Division—Local success but general -failure—Advance of Thirty-second Division—Advance of Eighth -Division—Advance of Thirty-fourth Division—The -turning-point of the line. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -Morland's Tenth Corps consisted of the Thirty-sixth, -Forty-ninth, and Thirty-second Divisions. It lay -between Hunter-Weston's Eighth Corps upon the left -and Pulteney's Third Corps upon the right. It -covered a front from a mile north of Hamel to a -mile north of Ovillers. At its northern end it was -cut by the river Ancre, a sluggish canalised stream, -running between two artificial dykes which the -Germans periodically cut by their artillery fire and -the British mended as best they might. This sector -of attack, together with the one farther south which -faced the Third Corps, presented peculiar difficulties -to the assailants, as the ground sloped upward to the -strong village of Thiepval with the ridge behind -it, from which German guns could sweep the whole -long glacis of approach. Nowhere were there more -gallant efforts for a decision and nowhere were they -more hopeless. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P59"></a>59}</span> -</p> - -<p> -The division to the north of the Tenth Corps -was the Thirty-sixth Ulster Division. This division -was composed of magnificent material, for the -blend of Scot and Celt to be found in the North -of Ireland produces a soldier who combines the fire -of the one with the solidity of the other. These -qualities have been brought to a finer temper by the -atmosphere of opposition in which they have lived, -and the difficult economical circumstances which -they have overcome in so remarkable a way. Long -ago in unhappy civil strife they had shown their -martial qualities, and now upon a nobler and wider -stage they were destined to confirm them. It might -well seem invidious to give the palm to any one of the -bands of heroes who shed their blood like water on -the slopes of Picardy, but at least, all soldiers would -agree that among them all there was not one which -could at its highest claim more than equality of -achievement that day with the men of Ulster. -</p> - -<p> -The objective of this division was the German -position from Beaucourt-sur-Ancre on the north to -the northern edge of Thiepval. When the signal -was given the two leading brigades, the 108th and -the 107th, came away at a deliberate pace which -quickened into the rush of a released torrent, and -went roaring over the German trenches. "They -were like bloodhounds off the leash." Like every -one else they were horribly scourged by shrapnel -and machine-fire as they rushed across, but whether -it was that some curve in the ground favoured part -of their line, or whatever the cause, they suffered less -than the other divisions, and struck on to the German -front line with their full shattering momentum, going -through it as though it were paper. The 108th -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P60"></a>60}</span> -Brigade, consisting of the 9th Irish Fusiliers and the -11th, 12th, and 13th Irish Rifles, was on the left. -Two of these, the Fusiliers and one of the Irish Rifle -battalions, were on the north side of the Ancre, and -were acting rather with the Twenty-ninth Division -upon their left than with their own comrades on the -right. This detachment fought all day side by side -with the regulars, made their way at one time right -up to Beaucourt Station, and had finally to retire to -their own trenches together with the rest of the line -north of the Ancre. Next morning the survivors -crossed the Ancre, and from then onwards the Eighth -Corps extended so as to take over this ground. -</p> - -<p> -South of the Ancre the two remaining battalions -of the 108th Brigade, and the whole of the 107th -Brigade, consisting of the 8th, 9th, 10th, and 15th -Irish Rifles, advanced upon a front of 3000 yards. -The men had lost very heavily in the assembly -trenches, and two companies of the 10th Irish Rifles -had dwindled to two platoons before ever they got -clear of the shattered wood in which they gathered. -None the less, the fire and fury of their onset was -terrific and sustained. "The place was covered with -smoke and the explosion of heavy shells," says one -who saw the scene from a front observation post. -"I felt that no attack was possible, when suddenly -out of the clouds I saw men advancing as if on parade, -quite slowly. It seemed impossible, and yet they -went on, stormed at on the left by high explosive and -shrapnel, and on the right by enfilade machine-gun -fire. Suddenly they charged, and when I could next -see through the clouds on the slope (less than a mile -away) I saw that they had taken the front trench, -and in another minute the trench behind was taken, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P61"></a>61}</span> -as our fellows shouting, 'No surrender!' got through—God -knows how! As they advanced the fire of -the guns became more and more enfilade, but nothing -could stop their steady progress." -</p> - -<p> -The long line of Irish Riflemen had rolled over -every obstacle, and although their dead and wounded -lay thick behind them they still stormed forwards -with the same fury with which they started. Bunching -up into platoons in artillery formation they -pushed on and carried the third line. Ahead of them, -across a considerable interval, was a fourth line, with -a large redoubt upon the flank. They steadied -themselves for a few minutes, and then dashing onwards -once again they captured both the fourth line and -the redoubt. So far forward were they now that they -had reached regions north of Thiepval which were -never trodden by a British foot again until three -months of constant fighting had cleared a way to -them. It was the great Schwaben Redoubt which -was now before them. The reserve brigade, the -109th, consisting of the 9th, 10th, and 11th -Inniskilling Fusiliers, with the 14th Irish Rifles, had -dashed forward at 10.40, leaving only the pioneer -battalion, the 16th Irish Rifles, to guard the trenches. -With the additional weight of the survivors of this -reinforcing line the fringe of stormers, for they were -now a fringe and nothing more, again rushed forward -and threw themselves into the Schwaben trenches. -This was their limit, and for most of them their grave. -They had no further supports, no ammunition could -reach them, and they were embedded in the depths -of the German line at a point far deeper than any unit -upon the left of the line had attained. The village -of Thiepval commanded them from their right rear. -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P62"></a>62}</span> -Some remained in little groups, huddling in some -coign of vantage, and fighting to the last cartridge, -absolutely refusing to take one step to the rear. To -the Germans they were as dangerous as so many -cornered wolves. Others fell back in orderly fashion, -but not an inch farther than was needful, for they -held on all day to the frontage taken by them. The -first two lines were kept in their fierce grip till nightfall -of the next day, when they handed them over to the -relieving division. -</p> - -<p> -In this splendid deed of arms the Thirty-sixth -Division left half its number upon the battlefield. -The instances of gallantry were innumerable, and -so equally distributed that their General, when asked -to name a special battalion, could only answer -that the whole twelve had done equally well. -Had the divisions to right and left been able to -get as far, the whole gain would have been -permanent. As it was, 540 prisoners were brought in, -and few were lost save the wounded, chief of whom -was Colonel Craig, who directed the movements of -his men long after he was unable to direct his own. -Colonel Bernard of the 10th Rifles, Captain Davidson, -who worked his machine-gun after his leg was -shattered, Captain Gaffikin, who died while leading -his company with an orange handkerchief waving in -his hand, are but a few of the outstanding names. -The pressure upon the different brigades is indicated -by the losses in officers of the 107th, the 108th, and -the 109th. -</p> - -<p> -A very detailed account would be necessary to -bring home to the reader the full gallantry of this -deed of arms. Experienced soldiers who saw it were -moved to the limit of human speech. "I wish I had -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P63"></a>63}</span> -been born an Ulsterman," cried one of them. "But -I am proud to have been associated with these -wonderful men." To have penetrated all alone for two -miles into the German line, and to withdraw from such -a salient in military order, holding fast to all that -could be retained, was indeed a great feat for any -troops to have performed. The requiem for their -fallen was best expressed by one of the survivors, who -wrote that "they died for the cause of Liberty, -Honour, and Freedom, for the Old Flag, the emblem -of Britain, died for Ireland, died for Ulster!" -</p> - -<p> -The Thirty-second Division was on the immediate -right of the men of Ulster. Their advance was carried -out with the 96th Brigade on the left, the 97th upon -the right, and the 14th in support. The reader may -be warned that from this time onwards he will often -find, as in this case, that old brigades have been added -to new formations, so that the former simplicity of -numbering is often disturbed. The storming lines -went forward in each case with two battalions abreast -in front and two in succession in support. The front -line of attack taken from the north, or left, consisted -of the 15th Lancashire Fusiliers, 16th Northumberland -Fusiliers, and the 16th and 17th Highland Light -Infantry. Of these four battalions the 16th -Northumberland Fusiliers came under very heavy fire, and -were unable to press their attack home. On the -right the Highlanders had crawled up to within a -hundred yards of the Leipzig salient and were into -it with a rush the moment that the barrage lifted. -The 15th Lancashire Fusiliers upon the left made a -particularly brilliant advance. The right company -was held up in front of Thiepval village, but the left -company swept on with the Thirty-sixth Division, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P64"></a>64}</span> -keeping pace with their magnificent advance. It -appears to have reached the east end of Thiepval, -but there it was buried deeply in the enemy's -position and was never heard of again. The supporting -battalions of the 96th Brigade, the 16th Lancashire -Fusiliers and the 2nd Inniskilling Fusiliers, tried hard -to regain touch with their lost comrades, but in vain. -These various gallant bodies who, at different points -of our line, pushed forward into impossible positions, -were no doubt for the greater part killed or wounded, -but from among them came the 850 prisoners whom -the Germans claimed to have taken on the northern -part of the line on that day. The left of the divisional -line was so weakened by these losses that they were -compelled to withdraw to their own front trenches. -</p> - -<p> -On the right, however, the Highlanders were able -to hold on to a part of the Leipzig salient. The losses, -however, upon this flank had been very heavy, not -only in the front wave, but among the 1st Dorsets -and the 11th Borders as they came out from a -wood in support. Coming under a concentrated -fire of machine-guns, these two battalions suffered -heavily. Colonel Machell, gallantly leading his -Borders, was shot dead, his adjutant, Lieutenant -Gordon, was badly wounded as he stooped over his -body, Major Diggle was wounded, and the greater -number of the officers were on the ground. Colonel -Machell, it may be remarked, was a high civil official -of the Egyptian Government, Under Secretary for the -Interior, whose patriotism had led him to join the New -Armies and thus to meet his death upon the field of -battle. The 1st Dorsets lost nearly as heavily as the -men of the Border; their leader, Major Shute, was -disabled, and their ranks thrown into temporary -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P65"></a>65}</span> -confusion. They were splendidly rallied, however, -by the adjutant, who led them on and succeeded -with the survivors in reaching the Leipzig Redoubt. -Colonel Laidlaw, of the 16th Highland Light Infantry, -had also been wounded, the third commanding officer -killed or injured on this wing of the attack. -</p> - -<p> -There had been no flinching anywhere, and the -military virtue shown had been of the highest possible -quality; but the losses from the machine-guns and -from the barrage were so heavy that they deprived the -attack of the weight and momentum necessary to win -their way through the enemy's position. Under the -desperate circumstances, it might well be considered -a remarkable result that a stretch of the Leipzig -Redoubt should be won and permanently held by the -Highlanders, especially by the 17th Highland Light -Infantry. The sappers had prepared a Russian sap -running up to the enemy line, and this was invaluable -as a communication trench. On the 2nd and 3rd the -enemy endeavoured to turn out the intruders, but -the 2nd Manchesters and 15th Highland Light -Infantry not only held their ground, but enlarged it. -On the night of the 3rd the division was relieved by -the Twenty-fifth Division and withdrew to refit after -its tragic but splendid exertions. -</p> - -<p> -Out of the novel conditions of what may be called -Bloch warfare certain rules and axioms are slowly -evolving. That it is impossible without artificial -protection to attack over the open against an -unshaken enemy provided with machine-guns is the -most certain. But there is another which might be -formulated thus: If there are sharp salients in the -enemy line, either these salients must be taken first -or the attack must be made out of range of them, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P66"></a>66}</span> -otherwise their guns must flank the whole advance. -Very many examples might be quoted where the -disregard of this axiom has brought disaster to either -side. A conspicuous case would be that of the Third -Corps now to be described, where the sinister salient -of Thiepval protruded to the north, and a smaller -but very efficient one to the south, so that the whole -advance was conducted under the fire of two lines of -guns which raked it from end to end. In addition -the opposing infantry included a division of the -Prussian Guard. In the whole long position there -would appear to be no sector where there was less -prospect of success, and yet there was no sector where -it was more essential to hold the enemy fast, since -victory might await us to the immediate south. -</p> - -<p> -The Third Corps, under General Pulteney, occupied -the front immediately to the east of Albert. This -large town was almost exactly in the centre of its -rear, and the important road from Albert to Bapaume -bisected the British position. Ovillers to the north, -within the German lines, and Bécourt to the south, in -the British, marked roughly the two ends of the -sector. It was a comparatively narrow stretch, so -that only two divisions were in the firing line, and -one in reserve. These were respectively the Eighth -Regular Division to the north, the Thirty-fourth of -the New Army to the south, and the Nineteenth, also -of the New Army, in support. -</p> - -<p> -Had the Thirty-second Division succeeded in -holding its grip upon Thiepval upon the north, there -might have been some chance of success, but as it -was, the machine-guns from that quarter shaved -the whole of No Man's Land as a mower may -shave a lawn, and after the first rush, which -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P67"></a>67}</span> -carried the brave fellows of the Eighth Division -over the trenches, it proved to be absolutely -impossible to send them either supports or supplies. -The main body of this magnificent division disappeared -into the smoke and haze of the battle, and -their comrades in the trenches waited with aching -hearts, their eyes fixed upon their front where the -roar of battle rose from the other side of the pelting -sleet of bullets. All day they waited, dashing out -occasionally and being beaten back with -ever-dwindling numbers. After dusk, they searched the -shell-holes and brought in some 400 wounded. A -few bewildered men came staggering in during the -night, half-delirious with fatigue and strain, and unable -themselves to say how they had got back across the -enemy's front line from the depths to which they -had penetrated. -</p> - -<p> -This tragic but heroic attack in which the whole -force who went forward fought literally to the death, -was carried out in the following order: -</p> - -<p> -On the right was the 23rd Brigade; in the -centre the 25th; and on the left the 70th. The -23rd and 25th were the old hard-working units of -Neuve Chapelle and many another fray. The 70th -was a particularly fine brigade of the New Army. -This division had up to the last moment been -without a pioneer battalion, but the infantry had dug -themselves particularly good assembly and communication -trenches, which helped them much upon the -day of battle. They had also, under the direction of -the Commander of Divisional sappers, run two covered -ways up to the enemy's trenches which might have -been a vital factor in the day's work, had it not been -that the stormers pushed on, leaving it to others to -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P68"></a>68}</span> -secure their gains. The result was that the -advancing infantry passed rather than occupied the front -trenches, the barrage cut off supports, the enemy -emerged from their dug-outs, and the line still -remained under their control, forbidding the use or -even the disclosure of the covered ways, since men -could not emerge in single file in an enemy trench. -</p> - -<p> -Following the plan of describing operations always -from the north, we will first picture from such reliable -material as is available the attack of the 70th Brigade, -which contained some of the finest North-country -stuff that ever fought the battles of the country. -This brigade was separated on the north by a clear -space of about 300 yards from the Highland Light -Infantry of the 97th Brigade, who formed the extreme -right of the Thirty-second Division. The 8th York -and Lancaster was the flank battalion, with the 8th -Yorkshire Light Infantry upon its right. The 9th -York and Lancaster were behind their comrades, -and the 11th Sherwood Foresters behind the Light -Infantry. -</p> - -<p> -As it is impossible to give with any fulness the -story of any one regiment, and as each may be taken -as typical of the others, we may follow the front -flank battalion on its advance. This, the 8th York -and Lancaster, consisted almost entirely of miners, -a class of men who have furnished grand military -material to the New Armies. This unit came chiefly -from the Rotherham district. The frontage of the -battalion was 750 yards. -</p> - -<p> -As the hour of attack approached, the enemy's -counter-bombardment became so violent that there -was the utmost difficulty in getting the men into the -front-line trenches. Many were killed and even -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P69"></a>69}</span> -buried before the advance had begun. When the -whistles blew the stormers went forward in four waves -with 50 yards between, the supporting battalions -following instantly. The machine-guns were sweeping -the ground and about 350 yards had to be covered -between the lines. Officers and men went down in -heaps under the enfilade fire from four lines of guns, -one behind the other, in the Thiepval district. The -approach was over a billiard-table glacis with no -cover of any kind. The ranks kept formation and -trudged steadily forward, throwing themselves -head-long into the front German trenches. There they -steadied themselves for a few minutes, and then -advancing once more sprang down into the second -German line which was strongly held. Colonel -Maddison had been shot down early in the attack. -Captain Dawson, the adjutant, had been wounded, -but staggered on with the men until he was killed at -the second line of trenches. "Come on, boys! let's -get at 'em and clear 'em out!" were his last words. -On this second line the battalion, together with its -support, beat itself to pieces. A few survivors unable -to get back were taken prisoners, and a German report -has stated that they were very proud and defiant -when marched away. At night a number of wounded -were carried in along the whole divisional front from -No Man's Land, but many lives were lost in the -gallant work, and many of the wounded also lost -their lives in trying to crawl back, for the Germans -turned their machine-guns during the daytime upon -everything that moved in front of their lines. -</p> - -<p> -To show how uniform was the experience, one may -quote the doings of a battalion of the 23rd Brigade. -This brigade was on the right of the Eighth Division -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P70"></a>70}</span> -line, and the 2nd Middlesex, the battalion in question, -formed the right battalion joining on with the Tyneside -Scottish of the Thirty-fourth Division to the south. -Upon its left was the 2nd Devons. The supporting -troops, two companies of the 2nd West Yorkshires -and the 2nd Scottish Rifles, seem to have been held -back when it was seen how fatal was the advance, -and so in part escaped from the catastrophe. The -Middlesex advanced almost opposite to La Boiselle. -There was a slight dip in the ground to the immediate -front which formed a partial protection from the -machine-guns, so that although the losses were very -heavy, about 300 men with six Lewis guns made -good their footing in the German front-line trench. -Their gallant commander was wounded twice, but -still kept at their head while they swept onwards to -the second line. It was stuffed with Germans, but the -handful of British stormers flung themselves in among -them and cleared a standing place in the trench. The -German guns, however, had the exact range, and -four out of the six Lewis guns were blown into the -air. Finally, only five men and a sergeant were left -unwounded in this trench. This handful made its -way back. One hundred and thirty of the Middlesex -men seem to have got through or round on to the -Pozières Road, but their fate was never cleared up. -Finally, only 30 men of this grand battalion answered -the roll-call that night. -</p> - -<p> -The space between the two attacks described -from the point of view of the two wing battalions of -the division was occupied by the 25th Brigade, whose -advance and losses were exactly similar to those -which have been narrated. The 2nd Lincolns and -2nd Berkshires were the leading battalions, and their -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P71"></a>71}</span> -devotion in attempting the impossible was as great -as that of their comrades to right and left. -</p> - -<p> -Both regiments suffered heavily, and it is probable -that the Berkshires went deeper than any other. -The 1st Irish Rifles had occupied the trenches for -six days in dreadful weather, and had suffered -heavily from the retaliatory bombardment of the -Germans. They were therefore held in reserve, but -none the less made repeated efforts and with great -loss to cross the barrage and help their comrades, -for which they afterwards received a special message -of thanks from the Divisional Commander. -</p> - -<p> -Up to this point the writer has been faced by -the painful and monotonous task of one long record -of failure from Gommecourt in the north to La -Boiselle in the south. It cannot be doubted that we -had over-estimated the effects of our bombardment, -and that the German guns were intact to a degree -which was unexpected. Our one consolation must -be that the German reserves were held in their -position, and that improved prospects were assured -for the remainder of the British line and for the -whole of the French line. Had the front of the -battle covered only the region which has been treated -up to now, the episode would have been a tragic one -in British military history. Thousands of men had -fallen, nor could it be truthfully said that anything -of permanence had been achieved. Next day the -remains of the Eighth Division were withdrawn, -the 70th Brigade was restored to the Twenty-third -Division, to which it rightfully belonged, and the -Twelfth Division came forward to fill the gap in the -line, helped by the gunners and sappers of the Eighth, -who remained at their posts until July 4. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P72"></a>72}</span> -</p> - -<p> -On the right of the Eighth Division was the -Thirty-fourth, a unit which consisted of one mixed -English and Scotch Brigade; while the other two were -raised respectively from the Tyneside Irish and from -the Tyneside Scots, hardy and martial material from -the coalpits and foundries of the North. They -attacked upon the front between the Albert-Bapaume -Road on the north and the village of Bécourt on the -south. The idea was to storm La Boiselle village, -and to push the attack home both north and south of -it upon Contalmaison, which lay behind it. Immediately -before the assault two great mines were blown, -one of which, containing the unprecedented amount of -60,000 lbs. of gun-cotton, threw hundreds of tons of -chalk into the air. Within a few minutes of the -explosion the Thirty-fourth Division were out of their -trenches and advancing in perfect order upon the -German trenches. The 101st Brigade, consisting of -the 15th and 16th Royal Scots, the 10th Lincolns, -and 11th Suffolks, were on the right, the Tyneside -Scots upon the left, and the Tyneside Irish in -support behind the right brigade. In the immediate -rear lay the Nineteenth Division with instructions to -hold and consolidate the ground gained. -</p> - -<p> -In no part of the line was the advance more gallant, -and it marks the point at which unalloyed failure -began first to change to partial success, ripening -into complete victory in the southern section. Some -slight cover seems to have helped the troops for the -first few hundred yards, and it would appear also -that though the small-arm fire was very severe, the -actual shell-fire was not so heavy as that which -devastated the divisions in the north. None the less, -the obstacles were sufficient to test to the highest any -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P73"></a>73}</span> -troops in the world, and they were gloriously -surmounted by men, none of whom had been in -action before. "I, their commander," wrote the -Divisional General, "will never forget their advance -through the German curtain of fire. It was simply -wonderful, and they behaved like veterans." The -scream of the war-pipes, playing "The Campbells -are coming," warmed the blood of the soldiers. -Upon the left, the Tyneside Scots penetrated two -lines of trenches and found themselves to the north -of the village of La Boiselle, where further progress -was made impossible by a murderous fire from front -and flank. Of the four battalions of the 101st -Brigade, the two English units were nearly opposite -the village, and though they advanced with great -resolution, they were unable to get a permanent -lodgment. The two Royal Scots battalions upon the -flank got splendidly forward, and some of them made -their way deeper into the German line than any -organised body of troops, save only the Ulster men, -had succeeded in doing, getting even as far as the -outskirts of Contalmaison. The valiant leader of the -advanced party of the 15th Royal Scots was wounded, -but continued to encourage his men and to try to -consolidate his desperate position, which was nearly -a mile within the German lines. He was again severely -wounded, and Lieutenant Hole was killed, upon which -the only remaining officer fell back to a point some -hundreds of yards westward, called Round Wood or -Round Alley. Here the Scots stuck fast, and nothing -could budge them. Germans were in front of them, -were in La Boiselle upon their left rear, and were -behind them in the trenches, which led from the -village. By all the laws of war, the detachment was -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P74"></a>74}</span> -destroyed; but in practice the Germans found that -they could not achieve it. A small reinforcement of -the 27th Northumberland Fusiliers (from the 103rd -of the Brigade), under an experienced soldier, had joined -them, and their situation was less forlorn because -they were in slight touch with the skirts of the 64th -Brigade of the Twenty-first Division, who had also, -as will presently be shown, won a very forward -position. By means of this division communication -was restored with the isolated detachment, and -the colonel of the 16th Royal Scots, a very -well-known volunteer officer of Edinburgh, succeeded -in reaching his men. His advent gave them fresh -spirit, and under his leadership they proceeded -next morning not only to hold the position, but -to enlarge it considerably, sending bombers down -every sap and endeavouring to give the impression -of great numbers. Two companies of the East -Lancashire Regiment from the Nineteenth Division -made their way forward, and joined with effect in -these attacks. This small body of men held their -own until the afternoon of July 3, when the advance -of the Nineteenth Division upon La Boiselle enabled -them to be relieved. It was time, for the water was -exhausted and munitions were running low. It was -a glad moment when, with their numerous German -captives, they joined up with their cheering comrades. -It should be said that in this fine feat of arms a small -party of the 11th Suffolks played a valiant part. -General Pulteney issued a special order thanking -these troops for their stout defence, and the matter -was in truth of wider importance than any local -issue, for it had the effect of screening the left flank -of the Twenty-first Division, enabling them to make -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P75"></a>75}</span> -good their hold upon Crucifix Trench and the Sunken -Road, as will now be told. -</p> - -<p> -Before leaving the Thirty-fourth Division it should -be said that although La Boiselle remained untaken, -the Tyneside Scots and Irish carried a number of -trenches and returned with many prisoners. It has -been the universal experience of our soldiers that the -Germans, though excellent with their guns, and very -handy with their bombs, are wanting in that spice -of devilry called for in bayonet work—a quality -which their ally the Turk possesses to a marked -degree. In this instance, as in many others, when -the Tyneside men swept roaring into the trenches -the Germans either fled or threw up their hands. -The condition of the prisoners was unexpectedly good. -"They have new uniforms, new brown boots, leggings, -and are as fat as butter," said one spectator, which is -at great variance with descriptions from other parts -of the line. -</p> - -<p> -We have now completed our survey of that long -stretch of line in which our gallant advance was broken -against an equally gallant resistance. The account -has necessarily had to concern itself with incessant -details of units and orders of battle, since these are -the very essence of such an account, and without them -it might read, as contemporary descriptions did read, -like some vague combat in the moon. But, casting -such details aside, the reader can now glance up that -long line and see the wreckage of that heroic disaster—the -greatest and also the most glorious that ever -befell our arms. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p><a id="chap04"></a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P76"></a>76}</span></p> - -<h3> -CHAPTER IV -<br /><br /> -THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME -</h3> - -<p class="t3"> - The Attack of the Fifteenth and Thirteenth Corps,<br /> - July 1, 1916<br /> -</p> - -<p class="intro"> -The advance of the Twenty-first Division—64th Brigade—First -permanent gains—50th Brigade at Fricourt—Advance of -Seventh Division—Capture of Mametz—Fine work by -Eighteenth Division—Capture of Montauban by the Thirtieth -Division—General view of the battle—Its decisive importance. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -Immediately to the south of Pulteney's Third Corps, -and extending from Bécourt in the north to a point -opposite Fricourt village, lay Horne's Fifteenth -Corps. The general task of this Corps was to attack -Mametz on the right, contain Fricourt in the centre, -and attack between there and La Boiselle towards -Mametz Wood. It consisted of the Twenty-first, the -Seventh, and the Seventeenth Divisions. Of these, -the most northerly was the Twenty-first, that fine -North-country division which had so terrible an -ordeal when it came up in support upon the second -day of Loos. Those who held that in spite of defeat -its conduct upon that occasion was soldierly, were -borne out by its achievement on the Somme, where it -made a lodgment in the enemy's line upon the first -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P77"></a>77}</span> -day, and did good service at later stages of the battle. -Let us now turn our attention to its advance. It -may first be mentioned that the units were the same -as those enumerated in the description of Loos, save -that in each brigade one regular battalion had been -substituted. Thus the 1st Lincolns, 4th Middlesex, -and 1st East Yorks took the place of the 8th East -Yorks, 12th West Yorks, and 14th Durhams respectively. -The 50th Brigade of the Seventeenth Division -was attached to the Twenty-first Division for the -purpose of the attack, and will be included with it in -this summary of the operations. The rest of the -Seventeenth Division was in reserve. -</p> - -<p> -The attack was on a three-brigade front, the 64th -Brigade upon the north, just south of La Boiselle, -and in close touch with the Thirty-fourth Division. -To the right of the 64th was the 63rd Brigade, and -to the right of that the 50th, which advanced straight -upon Fricourt. The 62nd Brigade was in reserve. -It will be best to deal with the attack of the 64th -Brigade with some detail, as its exploits had a very -direct bearing upon the issue of the battle. -</p> - -<p> -This brigade advanced upon the signal with -the 10th Yorkshire Light Infantry upon the left -in touch with the Royal Scots of the 101st Brigade. -On their right was their 9th namesake battalion. -Behind them in immediate support were the 1st -East Yorks (left) and 15th Durhams (right). The -advance was greatly helped by the formation of a -Russian sap between the lines on which the front -companies could assemble. It was found, however, -upon the men advancing that the fire was so severe -that they could only get forward by crawling from -hole to hole, with the result that the barrage lifted -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P78"></a>78}</span> -before they could reach the front trenches, and the -Germans were able to mount the parapet and slate -them with rifle-fire. Colonel Lynch of the 9th -Yorkshire Light Infantry was killed by a shell between -trenches, as were all four captains, but the men stuck -to their work and finally the leading battalions swept -over the German lines, which had been greatly -disorganised by the artillery, and they killed or captured -the occupants with no very severe resistance. Two -fixed points lay in front of the brigade, which were -part of the definite objectives of the division. The -first was a sunken road 1100 yards from the British -front, the second was a trench 400 yards farther, on -which, by the irony of Fate, a large wayside crucifix -looked down, so that it was called Crucifix Trench. -Beyond these on the left front were several shattered -woods, Shelter Wood and Birch-tree Wood, which -gave the enemy good cover, and to the right was a -large ruined building, Fricourt Farm, which raked -the advance with its snipers and machine-guns. -</p> - -<p> -On passing the front German line the successive -British waves lost their formation and clubbed -together, so that a long loose line of Yorkshire and -Durham men scrambled onwards into, out of and -over the successive impediments, beating down all -resistance as they went. When the fire became too -hot, the men crawled forwards upon their stomachs -or made short sharp rushes from one shell-hole to -another, but the advance was steady and unbroken. -The smoke from the shells was as dense as a Scotch -mist. Every now and then through the haze the -flashes of a machine-gun would be spied and possibly -the vague figures of the German gunners as they -swept it across in their deadly traverse, but a rush of -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P79"></a>79}</span> -furious infantry put each in turn out of action. The -evidence seems to be conclusive that some at least of -these gunners were found to be chained to their guns, -which may well have happened at their own request, as -a visible proof that they would never desert their post. -They fired up to the last instant, and naturally they -received no quarter from the stormers. Now and again -the ragged line of men would stumble suddenly upon -a section of proper trench, would spring down into it, -clear up the occupants, and then sit in flushed, -hard-breathing groups until a whistle from the officer and a -cheer from their comrades would call them on once more. -</p> - -<p> -In this sector there appears, however, to have -been a systematic, if superficial, examination of the -dug-outs before a trench was passed. One does not -hear of those surprise attacks from the rear which -were so common and so fatal to the north. The -examination usually took the form of a sharp -summons at the mouth of the burrow, quickly -followed—if there were no response—by a Mills bomb. -Then, as often as not, there would crawl out of the -black orifice eight or ten terrified and bleeding men, -who would join the numerous small convoys trailing -backwards to the rear. These prisoners were nearly -all from the 110th and 111th Reserve Bavarian -Regiments, and the alacrity with which they made -for the rear with their hands above their heads, formed -the only comic touch in a tragic day. One made a -grab for a rifle. "He lived about five seconds," says -the narrator. "They were thin, unshaven, and -terrified," says an officer, talking of the particular -batch he handled. "Most had dark hair—a very -different type from the Prussians." -</p> - -<p> -Having overrun the German trenches, the infantry -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P80"></a>80}</span> -were now faced with a considerable stretch of open -which lay between them and the Sunken Road, leading -from Fricourt to Contalmaison. Many were hit -upon this perilous passage. A subsidiary line of -German trenches lay in front of this road, and into -this the British tumbled. The colonel of the 15th -Durhams was the senior officer who had got up, -and he took command at this point, rallying the -weary men of all four battalions for a fresh advance. -A few of the Royal Scots of the Thirty-fourth Division -were found already in possession, the fringe of that -body who have previously been described as making -so invaluable a stand at Round Wood. -</p> - -<p> -At this point the 64th Brigade was found to be -some distance in front of the main body of the -Thirty-fourth Division on the left, and of their comrades on -the right, so that they could get no farther for the -moment without their flanks being badly exposed. -In front through the haze they could dimly see the -Crucifix which was their ultimate objective. The -men had to cower low, for the bullets were coming -in a continuous stream from Fricourt Farm on the -right and from the woods on the left. The Sunken -Road was ten or twelve feet deep at the spot, and -though it was exposed at the sides, by rapid digging -the men got some cover, though many dropped before -they could make a shelter. Here the survivors of the -advance waited for some hours, spending some of the -time in ransacking the enormous thirty-foot deep -dug-outs which the Germans had excavated at certain -points along the side of the road. Into these the -wounded were conveyed, and refreshed by the good -things of life, from Seltzer-water to gold-tipped -cigarettes, which were found within. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P81"></a>81}</span> -</p> - -<p> -In the afternoon the General Officer Commanding -had come up as far as the Sunken Road, and had -examined the position for himself. The 63rd Brigade -was now well forward upon the right and the advance -could be resumed. It was pushed swiftly onwards and -Crucifix Trench was occupied, nearly a mile from the -British front line. A lieutenant of the 9th -Yorkshires, though wounded by shrapnel, seems to have -been the first to lead a party into this advanced -trench, but soon it was strongly occupied. The -pressing need was to consolidate it, for it was swept -by gusts of fire from both flanks. Another lieutenant -of the Yorkshires, also a wounded man, took over -the direction, and the men, with very little cover, -worked splendidly to strengthen the position. Their -numbers were so reduced that a counter-attack would -have been most serious, but the splendid support -given by the artillery held the German infantry at a -distance. A few of the British tried to advance upon -Shelter Wood, but the machine-guns were too active -and they had to fall back or lie in shell-holes until -after dark, only seventeen out of sixty getting back. -</p> - -<p> -A captain of the 10th Yorkshires took over the -advanced command and sent back to the colonel of -the Durhams, who had meantime been wounded -at the Sunken Road, to ask for instructions. The -answer was to hold on and that help was at hand. -This help was in the form of the 62nd Reserve -Brigade, the leading battalions of which, the 1st -Lincolns and 10th Yorkshire Regiment, came -swinging splendidly across the open and flung -themselves into Crucifix Trench. From that time the -maintenance of the ground was assured. The men -of the 64th Brigade who had done so finely were -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P82"></a>82}</span> -drawn back into the Sunken Road, having fully -secured their objective. One cannot but marvel -here, as so often elsewhere, at the fine work done -by young subalterns when the senior officers have -been disabled. A lieutenant of the 9th Yorkshire -Light Infantry found himself in command of the -whole battalion at the most critical moment of -the engagement, and on leaving could only hand it -over to a brother subaltern, who carried on with -equal courage and ability. The brigade was drawn -back to the German first line, where it lay for -forty-eight hours, and finally acted as reserve brigade to -the successful advance undertaken by the 62nd -Brigade, by which Shelter Wood was captured on -July 3. -</p> - -<p> -Such, in some detail, were the adventures of the -64th Brigade, which may be taken as parallel to those -of the 63rd upon the right, who were faced by much -the same obstacles, having the Sunken Road ahead -and the Fricourt houses upon their right. The 8th -Somersets were on the left in touch with the 9th -Yorkshire Light Infantry, and supported by the -8th Lincolns. On the right were the 4th Middlesex -and the 10th York and Lancasters. They were able -to get well up to Fricourt Farm upon the left of the -village, but the ground was unfavourable and they -never got as far forward as their comrades on the left. -Of the German resistance on this front, it can be -said that it was worthy of the reputation which -the Bavarians have won in the War. The men were -of splendid physique and full of courage. They -fought their machine-guns to the last. All was ready -for a vigorous advance next morning. The artillery -of the Twenty-first Division, which has won a name -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P83"></a>83}</span> -for exceptional efficiency, was up nearly level with -the infantry at 10 P.M. that night, a road having been -laid in that time from the original gun position to a -point half a mile inside the German front line. -</p> - -<p> -On the immediate right of the 63rd Brigade, in -front of Fricourt, was the 50th Brigade (Glasgow), to -which was assigned the task of attacking the village -while the Twenty-first Division got part of it upon -the north. The brigade advanced gallantly, the -front line consisting of two fine Yorkshire battalions, -the 10th West Yorks and the 7th East Yorks, with -part of the 7th Yorkshires. The attack reached and -partly occupied the front trenches, but the fire and -the losses were both very heavy, the 10th West -Yorkshires being specially hard hit. The survivors -behaved with great gallantry, and some of them held -on all day, though surrounded by enemies. In the -afternoon a second advance was made by Yorkshires -and East Yorkshires, with 6th Dorsets in support, -but again the losses were heavy and no solid foothold -could be got in the village. When dusk fell some of -the troops who had held their own all day were able -to get back to the British trenches bringing prisoners -with them. A notable example is that of a lieutenant -of the West Yorks, who managed to stagger back with -three wounds upon him and three Germans in front -of him. The 51st Brigade was brought up in the -evening to continue the assault, but with the morning -of the 2nd it was found that the work had been done, -and that the advance upon both flanks had caused -the evacuation of the village. -</p> - -<p> -The line of trenches takes a very peculiar turn -just south of Fricourt, which is shown in the diagram -of the battle, so that the attack of the Seventh -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P84"></a>84}</span> -Division, which was the next in the line, was from -almost due south, whilst all the others had been from -due west. The project was that a holding attack -to engage the defenders should be made upon Mametz, -whilst the remaining divisions in the line, the Seventh -of the Fifteenth Corps, with the Eighteenth and -Thirtieth of the Thirteenth Corps, should advance -upon the line Mametz-Montauban. Their success -would obviously make the position both of Fricourt -and of Mametz impossible, the more so if the Twenty-first -Division could maintain its position at the Sunken -Road to the north of Fricourt. This was the calculation, -and it worked to perfection, so that both these -villages fell eventually into our hands with a minimum -loss of life to the assailants. Every honour is due -to the leaders who devised and to the soldiers who -carried out the scheme, but it should at the same -time be understood that in the case of these southern -divisions, and also of the French Army of General -Foch upon the right, they were attacking a portion -of the line which was far less organised, and manned -by very inferior troops to those in the north. All -this section of attack seems to have been a complete -surprise to the Germans. -</p> - -<p> -The famous Seventh Division was now commanded -by one of the three Brigadiers who had led it during -its heroic days at Ypres. Its units, however, had -changed considerably, and the 91st Brigade had taken -the place of the 21st. This Brigade, consisting partly -of Manchester battalions and partly of old units -of the Seventh Division (2nd Queen's Surrey, 1st -South Staffords, 21st and 22nd Manchesters), attacked -upon the right, while the 20th Brigade advanced -upon the left, having the 2nd Gordons and 9th -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P85"></a>85}</span> -Devons in the van, with the 8th Devons and 2nd -Borders in support. The front trenches were -overrun without much difficulty. The order of battle -was the 22nd Manchesters upon the right with the -1st South Staffords in close support. In the centre -were the 2nd Gordons and upon their left the 9th -Devons. The right got forward with comparatively -small losses and overran the front German line. The -Gordons had their left company held up by uncut -wire, but got forward none the less with considerable -losses. The 9th Devons were the most exposed and -suffered very severely, but in spite of a casualty list -which included half the officers and men, they never -winced or wavered for an instant, showing what had -been often shown before, that the spirit of old days -still lives in the country of Drake and of Raleigh. The -survivors seized and held Tirpitz Trench. The 2nd -Borders had also seized Danube Support, and the -whole front line was in British hands. -</p> - -<p> -The 91st Brigade were now closing in upon the -right of Mametz village and had entered Danzig Alley, -from which they were for a time driven by a brisk -counter-attack. The 1st South Staffords had won -their way into the outskirts of Mametz, but the losses -were heavy, and half of the 21st Manchesters came -racing up to reinforce. At one o'clock the Danzig -Alley had again been occupied by the Manchesters. -Half the 2nd Warwicks were sent up to reinforce -the Gordons and the line of infantry dashed forward -upon the village, 600 of the enemy throwing up their -hands in front of them. The 20th Manchesters also -advanced, losing heavily by the fire from Fricourt, -but pushing on as far as the Sunken Road on the -extreme left of the advance. There is a tangle of -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P86"></a>86}</span> -trenches at this point, the chief of which is the -Rectangle, but with the aid of the 1st Welsh Fusiliers -they were all cleared and the flank of the Division -made good, and consolidated, since it had advanced -farther than the troops to the left. In the morning -however, when it was found that Fricourt had been -evacuated, the whole division was able to get forward -and by July 3 had occupied Bottom Wood, while the -2nd Royal Irish had actually penetrated Mametz -Wood, taking 2 guns and 50 prisoners. Some days -later, Mametz Wood had become a different proposition, -but the general orders at the time were that it -should not be seriously attacked. -</p> - -<p> -Altogether in these Mametz operations the Seventh -Division took 1500 prisoners, seven field-guns, and -much booty of different kinds. -</p> - -<p> -We have now recorded in succession the repulse -of the Seventh Corps at Gommecourt, that of the -Eighth Corps at Serre and Beaumont Hamel, and -that of the Tenth Corps at Thiepval. The record of -heroic disaster was then alleviated by the partial -success of the Third Corps at La Boiselle, the -considerable success of the Fifteenth Corps at Mametz, -and now by the complete success of the Thirteenth -Corps at Montauban. South of this point along the -whole French line the victory was never in doubt. -These latter operations do not come within the direct -scope of this narrative, though some short account -must be given of them later, in order to co-ordinate -the results of the two wings of the Allied Armies. -</p> - -<p> -The Thirteenth Corps was commanded by General -Congreve, who, it will be remembered, gained his -V.C. in the affair of the guns where young Roberts -met his death at Colenso. It consisted of the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P87"></a>87}</span> -Eighteenth, the Thirtieth, and the Ninth Divisions -of the New Army. Of these the Eighteenth was on -the left in touch with the victorious Seventh, the -Thirtieth was on the right in touch with the French, -and the Ninth, the Scottish Division which had done -such great work at Loos, was in reserve. -</p> - -<p> -The Eighteenth Division, which had done no serious -fighting before, established a remarkable record for -good service during the whole course of the Somme -battle, into which it was thrust again and again, never -without leaving its mark. It was entirely an English -division. Some complex and successful trench-digging -had been done on this part of the front. Eight covered -saps had been driven forward and reached a point -within twenty yards of the German trenches without -their knowledge. Upon the advance being ordered -the ends of these were opened up, machine-guns and -flame-throwers were thrust through, and the saps -behind were quickly unroofed and turned into -communication trenches. It was a variant of the device -adopted in the Eighth Division, and was superior to -it in that its success did not depend upon the actual -capture of the trench. -</p> - -<p> -The front of the attack was about 2500 yards, -and it was carried out by three brigades abreast, -each covering about 700 yards. Each brigade had -two battalions in front, one in support and one in -reserve. Each was also allotted its own particular -artillery apart from the general divisional artillery. -There are many good arguments for such a formation -of divisional attack, as compared with the -two-brigades-in-front and one-in-the-rear formation. -Upon this occasion, at any rate, it worked very -smoothly. The objectives were from the immediate -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P88"></a>88}</span> -western end of Montauban upon the right, along -Montauban Alley to a point east of Mametz where -they should touch the right units of the Seventh -Division. -</p> - -<p> -Of the three brigades the 55th was on the right, -the 53rd in the centre, and the 54th on the left. In -accordance with the general scheme of description -we will begin with the latter. -</p> - -<p> -The 54th Brigade had the 7th Bedford on the -right, the 11th Royal Fusiliers on the left, the -6th Northants in support, and the 12th Middlesex -in reserve. As they rushed forward they faced a -feeble barrage, but a heavy machine-gun fire. -It was found, however, here, and along the whole -divisional front, that the German wire was utterly -destroyed, thanks largely to the work of the trench -mortars which had supplanted field-guns for this -particular purpose. The first trenches were taken -without a pause, and parties remained behind to -clear out the dug-outs. -</p> - -<p> -"Cowering in the trench," says one of the -stormers, "clad in the pale grey uniforms we had -longed for twelve months to see, unarmed and minus -equipment, with fear written on their faces, were a -few of those valiant warriors of the Kaiser whose -prowess we were out to dispute. Here let me say -that the exact moment selected for our attack had -taken the Huns by surprise. This view was -subsequently confirmed by prisoners, who said that they -had expected us earlier in the day and had since -stood down." This idea of a surprise only refers of -course to the front trench. Soon the fighting grew -very severe. -</p> - -<p> -The first serious check was in front of a strong -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P89"></a>89}</span> -point called the Pommiers Redoubt. The wire here -had been invisible from long grass so that its presence -was a surprise. Again and again the machine-guns -swept away the leading files of the attack. The -redoubt could be outflanked, however, and an officer -of the Fusiliers brought his bombers round and -eventually to the rear of it. Snipers held him for a -time, but they were rushed by an officer and a few -men. The Germans still held bravely to their point, -but Bedfords and Fusiliers swarmed in upon them -until their arms went down and their hands up. -From this strong point bombing parties were sent -down the communication trenches, the infantry -following closely and occupying the new ground. -</p> - -<p> -The brigade was now in some danger from its -own success, for it had outrun the 91st Brigade of the -Seventh Division upon its left, and its own comrades -of the 53rd Brigade upon its right. The 6th Northants -held the defensive flank on the left. Later in the -day the 53rd came into line upon the right, and before -dark the 54th was able to move on again with little -resistance until it had reached its full objective at -Montauban Alley. -</p> - -<p> -The 53rd Brigade was on the right of the 54th. -Its assaulting line was formed by the 8th Norfolk -upon the right, and the 6th Berkshires upon the -left, with the 10th Essex in support and the 8th -Suffolk in reserve. The first two lines were taken -in their stride with little loss. A strong point behind -these lines held them up for a short time, but was -rushed, and its garrison of the 109th Regiment was -captured. Further progress of the Norfolks was made -difficult, however, by a flanking fire and by a second -redoubt in front. As in the case of the 53rd Brigade -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P90"></a>90}</span> -it was found that the way round is often the shorter. -Two bombing parties under gallant subalterns worked -up the trenches on the flank, while that murderous -weapon, a Stokes gun, was brought up and opened -fire. The combined effect was decisive and 150 -Germans threw down their arms. Sixty more were -taken in another redoubt to the left. -</p> - -<p> -Whilst the Norfolks had been fighting their way -forward in this fashion the Berkshires upon their left, -following very closely upon their own barrage, had -attained their objective in twenty minutes, and had -to hold it for some hours until the Norfolks had made -good. During this time their right flank was necessarily -exposed. This flank was defended successfully -by means of bombing parties and a Lewis gun, while -the left company instead of resting lent a hand to -their neighbours of the 54th Brigade in carrying -Pommiers Redoubt. -</p> - -<p> -Meanwhile the Norfolks had come ahead again, -but the advance of the Berkshires was held up by a -small but determined band of bombers and snipers -in a strong position. A Stokes mortar drove back -the bombers, but the snipers still held fast, and killed -in succession Lieutenant Rushton and Lieutenant -Saye who gallantly attacked them. A sergeant-major -of the Berkshires was more fortunate, however, -and killed the chief sniper whose automatic rifle had -played the part of a machine-gun. In doing so he was -severely wounded himself. The Essex had come up -into the firing line, but progress was still slow until -an invaluable Stokes mortar was again brought to -bear and with its shower of heavy bombs blasted the -strong point out of existence. When night fell the -whole line of Montauban Alley had been successfully -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P91"></a>91}</span> -won and the various units were in close touch and -were busily organising their position. -</p> - -<p> -Great obstinacy was shown by the Germans in -their defence, which was a gallant one, and might -well have been successful against a less skilful attack. -Among other instances of their tenacity was one in -which a sniper in a trench behind the stormers continued -to fire from some subterranean retreat and defied -all efforts to get at him, until it was found necessary -to blow in the whole face of the dug-out and so to -bury him within his own stronghold. -</p> - -<p> -The hardest fighting of any fell to the lot of the -55th Brigade upon the right. The advance was -made with the 8th East Surrey and 7th Queen's -Surrey in front, the latter to the left. The 7th Buffs -were in support and the 7th West Kents in reserve. -No sooner had the troops come out from cover than -they were met by a staggering fire which held them -up in the Breslau Trench. The supports had soon -to be pushed up to thicken the ranks of the East -Surrey—a battalion which, with the ineradicable -sporting instinct and light-heartedness of the Londoner -had dribbled footballs, one for each platoon, across -No Man's Land and shot their goal in the front-line -trench. A crater had been formed by a mine -explosion, forming a gap in the German front, and round -this crater a fierce fight raged for some time, the -Germans rushing down a side sap which brought -them up to the fray. Into this side sap sprang -an officer and a sergeant of the Buffs, and killed 12 of -the Germans, cutting off their flow of reinforcements, -while half a company of the same battalion cleared -up the crater and captured a machine-gun which had -fought to the last cartridge. It is worth recording -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P92"></a>92}</span> -that in the case of one of these machine-guns the -gunner was actually found with a four-foot chain -attaching him to the tripod. Being badly wounded -and unable to disengage himself, the wretched man -had dragged himself, his wound, and his tripod for -some distance before being captured by the British. -The fact was duly established by a sworn inquiry. -</p> - -<p> -The brigade was winning its way forward, but the -hard resistance of the Germans had delayed it to such -a point that there was a danger that it would not be -in its place so as to cover the left flank of the 90th -Brigade, who were due to attack Montauban at 10 A.M. -Such a failure might make the difference between -victory and defeat. At this critical moment the -officer commanding the East Surreys dashed to the -front, re-formed his own men with all whom he could -collect and led them onwards. Captain Neville was -killed in gallantly leading the rush, but the wave -went forward. There was check after check, but -the point had to be won, and the Suffolks of -the 53rd Brigade were brought round to strengthen -the attack, while the West Kents were pushed -forward to the fighting line. By mid-day two -platoons of West Kents were into Montauban -Alley, and had seized two houses at the western -end of Montauban, which were rapidly fortified by a -section of the 92nd Field Company. The flank of -the 90th was assured. A South African officer led -the first group of Surrey men who seized Montauban. -He is said during the action to have slain seventeen -of the enemy. -</p> - -<p> -The rest of the brigade, however, had desperate -work to get into line with the village. The East -Surreys and Buffs were coming along well, but the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P93"></a>93}</span> -Queen's Surreys had lost heavily and were held up -by a strong point called Back Trench. A major -of the Queen's gathered his men together, called up -a bombing party from the 8th Sussex, the pioneer -battalion of the brigade, and then by a united -front and flank attack carried the position. One -hundred and seventy Germans remained alive in the -trench. The infantry then surged forward to the -line of the Mametz-Montauban Road, where they lay -under machine-gun fire with their left in the air, for -a considerable gap had developed between them and -the 53rd Brigade. The main line of Montauban Alley -in front of them was still strongly held by the enemy. -Once again the Stokes guns saved what looked like -a dangerous situation. They blasted a hole in -Montauban Alley, and through the hole rushed a furious -storming party of the Queen's. As evening fell, -after that long day of fighting, the weary Eighteenth -Division, splendid soldiers, splendidly led, held the -whole line from Montauban to the junction with the -Seventh Division near Mametz. One does not know -which to admire most—the able dispositions, the inflexible -resolution of the troops, or the elastic adaptability -which enabled the initiative of the officers upon -the spot to use ever-varying means for getting over -the successive difficulties. The losses were very heavy, -amounting to about 3000 officers and men, something -under 1000 being fatal. Of the Germans 700 were -captured, 1200 were buried after the action, and the -total loss could not possibly have been less than those -incurred by the British. It should be added that a great -deal of the success of the attack was due to the 82nd, -83rd, 84th, and 85th Brigades, Royal Field Artillery, -forming the divisional artillery, who earned the deepest -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P94"></a>94}</span> -gratitude of the infantry, the highest reward to which -the gunner can attain. Some of the artillery of the -Ninth Division was also engaged. -</p> - -<p> -A few words may be said of the immediate future -of the Eighteenth Division before the narrative of -July 1 is completed by a consideration of the work of -the Thirtieth Division. The ground captured included -part of what may be called the Montauban Ridge, -and the possession of this point proved to be of -great service for observation in connection with the -immediate operations at Bottom, Shelter, and Mametz -Woods by the Fifteenth Corps. The guns were at -once advanced and patrols were thrown out in front -which penetrated and eventually occupied Caterpillar -Wood, a long winding plantation on the immediate -front of the Division. These various patrols -picked up no less than twelve German field-guns -abandoned by the enemy. The front was held until -July 8, when the Eighteenth was relieved by the Third -Division. -</p> - -<p> -As to the fighting of the Germans upon this -front, it was excellent as usual—but it is needful to -accentuate it, as there is a tendency to depreciate -the enemy at a point where he is beaten, which is an -injustice to the victors. The latter had no doubts -about the matter. "There is one thing we have all -learned and that is that the Hun is a jolly good -soldier and engineer, so don't listen to any other -nonsense. If you get hand-to-hand with him he -gives in at once, but he practically never lets you get -so close. As long as Fritz has a trench and a gun he -will stick there till he is made crows' rations. We -know we are just slightly better than he is, but there's -nothing much in it—nothing to justify contempt or -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P95"></a>95}</span> -liberties." Such was the considered opinion of an -experienced soldier. -</p> - -<p> -If the advance of the Eighteenth Division was -successful, that of the Thirtieth upon its right -was not less so. This division had been raised -originally from Liverpool and Manchester, the -battalions being all of the King's Liverpool or of the -Manchester Regiments. The greater part of these -battalions, which owe their origin largely to that -great patriot, Lord Derby, were recruited on the -"pal" system, by which friends in peace should be -comrades in war. So close was Lord Derby's -connection with the division that his brother commanded -one brigade, and three of his family served with the -guns, one of them commanding an artillery unit. -This was the first appearance of this fine force in -actual battle, and it can truly be said that no division -could have been more fortunate or have given a -better account of itself. It may be explained that -it had exchanged its 91st Brigade for the 21st of the -Seventh Division, and that several of the veteran -battalions of the old Seventh now served with the -Thirtieth. -</p> - -<p> -The objective of this division was the important -village of Montauban deep within the enemy's line. -It seemed an ambitious mark in a war where every -yard means an effort, but it was accomplished with -surprising ease, for the advance was as determined -as the defence was slack. On the right opposite -Maricourt the attack fell to the 89th Brigade, consisting -of the 2nd Bedfords and the 17th, 19th, and 20th -King's Liverpool battalions. On their left was the -21st Brigade, while the 90th Brigade was in immediate -support with orders to go through and seize the village -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P96"></a>96}</span> -itself. From the start the attack went like clockwork. -The artillery was admirable, the infantry inexorable, -and the leading all that could be desired. The -ever-ready machine-guns put up a fierce defence, -especially on the left flank, where the 18th King's -Liverpools, led by their popular colonel, lost three-quarters -of their effectives but carried their objective -none the less. The 2nd West Yorks behind them -were also terribly scourged, but gained the line of the -Glatz Redoubt all the same. Here, as with the -Eighteenth Division, there was every sign that the -garrison of the front trenches had been surprised. -"The Germans gave us plenty of machine-gun fire -while we were advancing upon them; when we -reached the trench only a few showed fight. The rest -flung up their arms and cried: 'Mercy, Kamerad!'" It -was clear they had been taken by surprise, for many -of them were barefooted, none of them had any -equipment. When there was no attack at 4 A.M. they -were then told that they could lie down and have a -rest, "as the British would not now come out till -four in the afternoon." It is abundantly clear that -the famous German intelligence department was -absolutely at fault in the southern sector of the great -battle. -</p> - -<p> -Although the first three trenches were carried -without a hitch, the garrison of the fourth had time -to stand to arms, and were greatly assisted in their -defence by a flank fire from the still untaken village -of Mametz, and from machine-guns in the southern -corner of Mametz Wood which lies to the north of -Montauban. The resistance caused considerable -losses, including that of Colonel Johnson of the 17th -Manchesters, but the advance was irresistible, and -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P97"></a>97}</span> -swept over every obstacle until they had reached -their objective. On the right, the Liverpool brigade, -the 17th and 18th King's Liverpools in the lead, -fought their way up to the brick-fields, which lie -nearly level with Montauban, but to the south -of it. A company seized these and a good bunch -of prisoners. There it consolidated in close touch -with the famous "iron corps" of the French army -upon their right, while on the left the blue and -yellow advance-flags of the Thirtieth formed a -continuous line with the red and yellow of the -Eighteenth Division. On the left of the Liverpools -the Manchesters with the Scots Fusiliers of the 90th -Brigade had stormed their way into Montauban, the -first of that long list of village fortresses which were -destined in the succeeding months to fall into the -hands of the British. It was carried with a rush in -spite of the determined resistance of small groups of -Germans in various houses, which had already been -greatly mauled by our artillery. The British fought -their way from room to room, drove their enemies -down into the cellars, and hurled bombs on to them -from above. The German losses were heavy, and -several hundreds of prisoners were sent to the rear. -By the early afternoon the whole village was in the -hands of the 90th Brigade, who had also occupied -Montauban Alley, the trench 200 yards upon the -farther side of it, whence by their rifle-fire they -crushed several attempts at counter-attack. These -were feeble during the day, but a very heavy one came -during the night, aided by a powerful shrapnel fire. -The Germans, advancing in the closest order, -for a time won a lodgment in the new British front -trench, killing a party of the 17th Manchesters, but -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P98"></a>98}</span> -they were unable to hold it, and with daylight they -were ejected once more. The reader who is weary of -hearing of British losses will be interested to know, -on the authority of Colonel Bedell of the 16th -Bavarians, that out of a garrison of 3500 men from -the 6th Bavarian Reserve Regiments only 500 escaped -from the Montauban front. All these operations -were carried out in close touch with the French upon -the right, so close indeed that the colonel of the -17th King's Liverpools, seeing that the French -colonel of the flank battalion was advancing beside -his men, sprang out and joined him, so that the two -colonels shook hands in the captured position. -</p> - -<p> -Some stress has in this narrative been laid upon -the fact that the difficulties to be overcome in the -south were less than those in the north. Such an -assertion is only fair to the gallant men who failed. -At the same time nothing should detract from the -credit due to those splendid southerly divisions who -really won the battle and made the hole through -which the whole army eventually passed. -</p> - -<p> -Though the French operations do not primarily -come within the scope of this record, it is necessary -to give some superficial account of them, since they -form an integral and essential part of the battle. -So important were they, and so successful, that it is -not too much to say that it was the complete victory -upon their line which atoned for our own want of -success in the north, and assured that the balance of -this most bloody day should be in our favour. It is -true, as they would be the first to admit, that the -troops of General Foch had none of those impassable -barrages, concentrations of machine-guns, and -desperately defended inner lines of trenches which -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P99"></a>99}</span> -inflicted such losses upon our stormers. Both the -positions and the men who held them were less -formidable. On the other hand, it is for us to bear -in mind that the French had already made their great -effort in the common cause at Verdun, and that this -attack upon the West was primarily a British offensive -in which they were playing a subsidiary part. It is -the more remarkable that their success should have -been so great and that they should have been able for -months to come to play so notable a part in the battle -that the tale of their prisoners and booty was not less -than our own. -</p> - -<p> -The attack of the British was roughly upon a -twenty-mile front, from the Gommecourt salient to -Maricourt. On this stretch they broke the German -lines for 7 miles from the north of Fricourt to -Montauban. The French front was about 8 miles long, -and moved forward for its whole extent. Thus it -may be said that the whole battle line was 28 miles, -and that more than one-half, or 15 miles, represented -the area of victory. During the whole operations -for many months the French army was cut in two -by the marshy valley of the Somme, the detachment -to the north of it acting in close unison with the -British Thirteenth Corps upon their left. We will -call these the northern and the southern French -armies, both being under the direction of General -Foch. -</p> - -<p> -It may briefly be stated that the advance of the -French army was carried out with great dash and -valour on both banks of the river. After carrying -several lines of trenches at very little loss to -themselves, the northern army found itself, on the evening -of July 1, holding the outskirts of the villages of -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P100"></a>100}</span> -Curlu and of Hardecourt. On July 2 Curlu was -entirely occupied, and shortly afterwards Hardecourt -also fell. The southern army, which consisted of -the fiery Colonial Division upon the left and the -Twentieth upon the right, under the immediate -leadership of General Fayolle, had even greater -success. Not only all the lines of trenches but the -villages of Dompierre, Becquincourt, Bussu, and Fay -were stormed upon July 1. On the 2nd Frise and -the Moreaucourt Wood had also been taken, and -several counter-attacks repelled. On that evening -the French were able to report that they had taken -6000 prisoners, while the British operations had yielded -3500—or 9500 in all. -</p> - -<p> -When the sun set upon that bloody day—probably -the most stirring of any single day in the whole record -of the world—the higher command of the Allies must -have looked upon the result with a strange mixture -of feelings, in which dismay at the losses in the -north and pride at the successes in the south -contended for the mastery. The united losses of all -the combatants, British, French, and Germans, must -have been well over 100,000 between the rising -and the setting of one summer sun. It is a rout -which usually swells the casualties of a stricken army, -but here there was no question of such a thing, and -these huge losses were incurred in actual battle. As -the attackers our own casualties were undoubtedly -heavier than those of the enemy, and it is natural -that as we turn from that list we ask ourselves the -question whether our gains were worth it. Such a -question might be an open one at Neuve Chapelle -or at Loos, but here the answer must be a thousand -times Yes. Together we had done the greatest day's -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P101"></a>101}</span> -work in the War up to that time—a day's work -which led to many developments in the future, and -eventually to a general German retreat over 70 miles -of front. It was not a line of trenches which we -broke, it was in truth the fortified frontier of Germany -built up by a year and a half of unremitting labour. -By breaking it at one point we had outflanked it -from the Somme to the sea, and however slow the -process might be of getting room for our forces to -deploy, and pushing the Germans off our flank, it -was certain that sooner or later that line must be -rolled up from end to end. It was hoped, too, that -under our gunfire no other frontier of similar strength -could grow up in front of us. That was the great new -departure which may be dated from July 1, and is an -ample recompense for our losses. These young lives -were gladly laid down as a price for final -victory—and history may show that it was really on those -Picardy slopes that final victory was in truth ensured. -Even as the day of Gettysburg was the turning-point -of the American Civil War, and as that of Paardeberg -was the real death-blow to the Boers, so the -breaking of the line between Fricourt and Frise may -well prove to have been the decisive victory in the -terrible conflict which the swollen dreams of Prussia -had brought upon the world. -</p> - -<p> -When one considers the enormous scale of the -action, the desperate valour of the troops engaged, -and the fact that the German line was fairly and -permanently broken for the first time, one feels that -this date should be for ever marked in British military -annals as the glorious First of July. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p><a id="chap05"></a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P102"></a>102}</span></p> - -<h3> -CHAPTER V -<br /><br /> -THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME -</h3> - -<p class="t3"> -From July 2 to July 14, 1916 -</p> - -<p class="intro"> -General situation—Capture of La Boiselle by Nineteenth -Division—Splendid attack by 36th Brigade upon Ovillers—Siege and -reduction of Ovillers—Operations at Contalmaison—Desperate -fighting at the Quadrangle by Seventeenth Division—Capture of -Mametz Wood by Thirty-eighth Welsh Division—Capture of -Trones Wood by Eighteenth Division. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -The terrible fighting just described, during which the -German line was broken at its southern end, was but -the opening of a most desperate battle, which extended -over many months. This, while it cost very heavy -losses to both sides, exacted such a toll from the -Germans in prisoners and lost material, as well as in -casualties, that it is probable that their army would -have been largely disorganised had not the wet -weather of October come to hamper the operations. -As it was, the letters of the soldiers and the intercepted -messages of the Generals show an amount of -demoralisation which proves the mighty pressure applied -by the allied armies. It was a battle which was -seldom general throughout the curve into which the -attackers had encroached, but which confined itself to -this or that limited objective—to the north, to the east, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P103"></a>103}</span> -or to the south, the blow falling the more suddenly, -since during the whole of this time the Allies preserved -the command of the air to an extent which actually -enabled them to push their guns forward across the -open. Sometimes it was a fortified village which was -carried. Sometimes it was the trenches between -villages, so that the garrisons might feel in danger of -being cut off. Sometimes—the worst obstacle of all—it -was one of the patches of wood dotted over the countryside, -which had to be cleared of the enemy's stubborn -infantry and machine-gunners. But whatever the -task might be, it may be stated generally that it was -always carried out, if not at the first, then at the -second, third, or some subsequent attempt. It may -also be said that never once during all that time -did a yard of ground which had been taken by -the Allies pass permanently back to the enemy. -Before the winter had fallen more than forty villages -had been carried and held by the attack—but not -one by the counter-attack. The losses were heavy, -sometimes very heavy, but so perfect now was the -co-ordination between infantry and guns, and so -masterful the allied artillery, that it is highly probable -that at last the defence was losing as many as the -attack. Those deep ravines which had enabled the -Germans to escape the effects of the early bombardments -no longer existed in the new lines, and the -superficial ditches which now formed the successive -lines of defence offered little protection from a fire -directed by a most efficient air service. On the other -hand, since the German air service had been beaten -out of the sky, the sight of the German gunners was -dim, and became entirely blind when by their successive -advances the Allies had pushed them over the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P104"></a>104}</span> -low ridges which formed their rearward positions. -The map, however skilfully used, is a poor substitute -for the observation officer and the aeroplane. -</p> - -<p> -Standing on the edge of this welter, and gazing -at this long haze into which vigorous divisions -continually plunge, relieving exhausted units, only to -stagger out in their turn, rent and torn, while yet -others press to the front, one feels appalled at the -difficulty of following such complex operations and -of conveying them clearly and in their due order to -the mind of the reader. Some fixed system must -evidently be followed if the narrative is to remain -intelligible and the relation of the various actions to -each other to be made evident. Therefore the course -of events will still, so far as possible, be traced from -the north, and each incident be brought to some sort -of natural pause before we pass onwards down the -line. We can at once eliminate the whole northern -portion of the British line from the Gommecourt -salient down to Albert, since for that long stretch -attack had changed definitely to defence, and we start -our narrative from the south of the Albert-Bapaume -road. From that point four villages immediately -faced the old British line, and each was now a centre -of fighting. From the north they were La Boiselle, -Fricourt, Mametz, and Montauban. The latter had -been held against a strong counter-attack on the -early morning of July 2, and it was firmly in the -possession of the Thirtieth Division. Mametz was -held by the Seventh Division, who were pushing on -to the north, driving a weak resistance before them. -Fricourt had been deserted by the morning of July 2, -and had been occupied by the Seventeenth Division, -who also at once pushed on towards the woodlands -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P105"></a>105}</span> -behind. La Boiselle was closely assailed with part -of the Thirty-fourth Division to the south of it, and -the Twelfth and Nineteenth Divisions with other -troops all round it. These four villages and the gaps -between them represented the break in the German -front line. -</p> - -<p> -The second German main line ran through the -Bazentins and Longueval, and it was reached and -carried by the British Army upon July 14. The -intervening fortnight between the battle of the front -and of the second line was occupied in clearing the -many obstacles, consisting for the most part of -woods and subsidiary trenches which filled the space -between the two lines, and also in attacking the two -villages of Ovillers and Contalmaison, which hampered -operations upon the left wing. It will help the -reader very much to understand these apparently -complex movements if he will realise that they divide -themselves into three distinct groups of activity, -counting from the north of the line. The first group -is concerned with the capture of Ovillers, and in it -the Twelfth, Nineteenth, Thirty-second, and Twenty-fifth -Divisions are concerned. The second group is -connected with the capture of the strong position -which is bastioned by Contalmaison upon one side -and Mametz Wood at the other, with the Quadrangle -system of trenches between. In this very -severe conflict the Twenty-third, Seventeenth, Seventh, -and Thirty-eighth Divisions were engaged. Finally -there is the group of operations by which the right -wing was advanced through Bernafoy Wood and up -to Trones Wood. In these, the Ninth, Thirtieth, and -Eighteenth Divisions were chiefly concerned. We shall -now take each of these in turn, beginning with the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P106"></a>106}</span> -northern one, the taking of Ovillers, and carrying -each narrative to a definite term. Before embarking -upon this account it should be mentioned that the -two northern corps of Rawlinson's army—the Eighth -and Tenth—were from now onwards detached as a -separate Fifth Army under Sir Hubert Gough, one -of the most rising commanders in the Service. The -functions of this Army were to hold the line from -La Boiselle to Serre, and to form a defensive flank -and pivot for the Third, Fifteenth, and Thirteenth -Corps to the south. -</p> - -<p> -We shall first follow the further fortunes of the -troops which operated in the north. Upon July 3 -there was a short but severe action upon that -part of the old British line immediately to the -left of the gap which had been broken. In this -action, which began at 6 A.M., the Thirty-second -Division, already greatly weakened by its exertions -two days before, together with the 75th Brigade, -lent them by the Twenty-fifth Division, tried to -widen the rent in the German line by tearing open -that portion of it which had been so fatal to the -Eighth Division. The attack failed, however, though -most bravely delivered, and the difficulties proved -once more to be unsurmountable. The attempt -cost us heavy casualties, a considerable proportion -of which fell upon the 75th Brigade, especially -upon the 11th Cheshires, whose colonel was killed, -and upon the 2nd South Lancashires, who ran into -wire and were held up there. The 8th Borders -reached their objective, but after one-and-a-half -hours were forced to let go of it. The operation proved -that whatever misfortunes had befallen the Germans -to the south, they were still rooted as firmly as ever -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P107"></a>107}</span> -in their old positions. The same lesson was to be -taught us on the same morning at an adjacent portion -of the line. -</p> - -<p> -This episode was at the immediate south of -the unsuccessful attack just described. It has -already been stated that the Twelfth, the English -division which had seen so much hard fighting at -Loos, had taken over part of the trenches of the -Eighth Division, and so found themselves facing -Ovillers. Their chances of a successful advance -upon the village were increased by the fact that the -Nineteenth Division, after hard fighting, had got into -La Boiselle to the south, and so occupied a flank to -their advance. -</p> - -<p> -Some further definition is required as to the situation -at La Boiselle, how it was brought about, and its -extreme importance to the general plan of operations. -When the left of the Thirty-fourth Division had failed -to hold the village, while some mixed units of the -right brigade had established themselves within the -German lines as already narrated, it became very vital -to help them by a renewed attempt upon the village -itself. For this purpose the Nineteenth Division had -moved forward, a unit which had not yet been seriously -engaged. It was under the command of a fighting Irish -dragoon, whose whimsical expedient for moving forwards -the stragglers at St. Quentin has been recorded -in a previous volume. On the evening of July 1, one -battalion of this division, the 9th Cheshires, had got -into the German front line trench near the village, -but they were isolated there and hard put to it -to hold their own during a long and desperate night. -On the following afternoon, about 4 o'clock, two of -their fellow-battalions of the 58th Brigade, the 9th -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P108"></a>108}</span> -Royal Welsh Fusiliers and the 6th Wilts, charged -suddenly straight across the open at the village, -while by a clever device the British barrage was -turned elsewhere with the effect of misleading -the German barrage which played upon the wrong -area. By 9 P.M. on July 2 the south end of the -village had been captured, but the resistance was -still very fierce. Early next morning the whole -of the division was drawn into this street fighting, -and gradually the Germans were pushed back. -There was one desperate counter-attack during which -the British line was hard put to it to hold its -own, and the house-to-house fighting continued -throughout the whole day and night. Two British -colonels, one of the 7th South Lancashires and -the other of the 8th Gloucesters, particularly -distinguished themselves in this close fighting. The -latter, a dragoon like his commander, was a hard -soldier who had left an eye in Somaliland and a hand -at Ypres, but the sight of him in this day of battle, -tearing out the safety-pin of bombs with his teeth and -hurling them with his remaining hand, was one which -gave heart to his men. Slowly the Germans were -worn down, but the fighting was fierce and the British -losses heavy, including three commanding officers, -Wedgwood of the North Staffords, Royston Piggott of -the 10th Worcesters, and Heath of the 10th Warwicks, -the first two killed, the latter wounded. In the midst -of the infantry fighting a single gun of the 19th Battery -galloped with extraordinary gallantry right into the -village and engaged the enemy point-blank with -splendid effect. For this fine performance Captain -Campbell and ten men of the gun's crew received -decorations. By the evening of the 6th the whole -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P109"></a>109}</span> -village was solidly consolidated by the Nineteenth -Division, they had broken up a strong counter-attack -from the direction of Pozières, and they had extended -their conquest so as to include the redoubt called -Heligoland. We must turn, however, to the attack -which had in the meanwhile been prepared upon the -line to the immediate north of La Boiselle by the -Twelfth Division. -</p> - -<p> -This attack was carried out at three in the -morning of July 7 by the 35th and the 37th -Brigades. The fighting line from the right -consisted of the 5th Berks, 7th Suffolks, 6th Queen's -Surrey, and 6th West Kent, with the other battalions -in close support. Unhappily, there was a group of -machine-guns in some broken ground to the north of -La Boiselle, which had not yet been reached by the -Nineteenth Division, and the fire of these guns was -so deadly that the battalions who got across were -too weak to withstand a counter-attack of German -bombers. They were compelled, after a hard struggle, -to fall back to the British line. One curious benefit -arose in an unexpected way from the operation, for -part of the 9th Essex, losing its way in the dark, -stumbled upon the rear of the German defenders of -the northern edge of La Boiselle, by which happy -chance they took 200 prisoners, helped the Nineteenth -in their task, and participated in a victory instead of -a check. -</p> - -<p> -It was evident that before the assault was renewed -some dispositions should be made to silence the guns -which made the passage perilous. With this in -view, another brigade, the 74th from the Twenty-fifth -Division, was allotted to the commander of the -Twelfth Division, by whom it was placed between his -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P110"></a>110}</span> -own position and that held by the Nineteenth at -La Boiselle. It was arranged that these fresh troops -should attack at eight o'clock in the morning of -July 7, approaching Ovillers from the south, and -overrunning the noxious machine-guns, while at -8.30 the 36th Brigade, hitherto in reserve, should -advance upon Ovillers from the west. By this -difference of half an hour in the attack it was hoped -that the 74th would have got the guns before the -36th had started. -</p> - -<p> -After an hour's bombardment the signal was -given and the 74th Brigade came away with a -rush, headed by the 13th Cheshires and 9th North -Lancashires, with the 2nd Irish Rifles and 11th -Lancashire Fusiliers in support. The advance found -the Germans both in front and on either flank of them, -but in spite of a withering fire they pushed on for their -mark. Nearly every officer of the 13th Cheshires -from Colonel Finch down to Somerset, the junior -subaltern, was hit. Half-way between La Boiselle -and Ovillers the attack was brought to a halt, and the -men found such cover as they could among the -shell-holes. Their supporting lines had come up, but -beyond some bombing parties there was no further -advance during the day. Fifty yards away the -untaken machine-gun emplacements lay in front of -them, while Ovillers itself was about 500 yards -distant upon their left front. -</p> - -<p> -In the meantime, after waiting half an hour, -the 36th Brigade had advanced. The machine-guns -were, however, still active on either flank -of them, and on their immediate front lay the -rubbish-heap which had once been a village, a mass -of ruins now. But amid those ruins lay the Fusiliers -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P111"></a>111}</span> -of the Prussian Guard—reputed to be among the -best soldiers in Europe, and every chink was an -embrasure for rifle or machine-gun. -</p> - -<p> -The advance was one which may have been -matched in the glorious annals of the British infantry, -but can never have been excelled. The front line -consisted of the 8th and 9th Royal Fusiliers, one upon -each wing, the 7th Sussex in the centre, and the 11th -Middlesex in support—south-country battalions all. -They had lain waiting for the signal in trenches -which were beaten to pieces by a terrific German -shelling. There were considerable casualties before -the first man sprang from fire step to parapet. As -they crossed No Man's Land bullets beat upon them -from every side. The advance was rendered more -frightful by the heavy weather, which held down -the fumes of the poison shells, so that the craters in -which men took refuge were often found to be traps -from which they never again emerged. Many of the -wounded met their death in this terrible fashion. -Still the thin lines went forward, for nothing would -stop them save death or the voice of their company -officers. They were up and over the first German -line. A blast of fire staggered them for a moment, -and then with a splendid rally they were into the -second trench, and had seized the line of hedges and -walls which skirt the western edge of the village. -Five hundred men were left out of those who -had sprung from the British trench; but the 500 -still went forward. The two Fusilier battalions had -hardly the strength of a company between them, and -the leaders were all down—but every man was a -leader that day. Their spirit was invincible. An -officer has recorded how a desperately wounded man -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P112"></a>112}</span> -called out, "Are the trenches taken, sir?" On -hearing that they were, he fell back and cried, -"Thank God! for nothing else matters." In the -centre the Sussex men still numbered nearly 300, -and their colonel aided and directed while they -consolidated the ground. One hundred and fifty -were hit as they did so, but the handful who were -left defied every effort of shell, bomb, or bayonet -to put them out. A lodgment had been made, and -nothing now could save the village. By a wise -provision, seeing that no supplies could reach them, -every man had been loaded up with twenty bombs, -and had been instructed to use every captured -German bomb or cartridge before any of his own. -As dusk fell, two companies of the supporting -Middlesex battalion were sent up, under heavy fire, to -thicken the line, which was further strengthened -next day by two battalions from the 37th Brigade, -while the 75th Brigade prolonged it to the south. -In the morning of July 9 the Twelfth Division, sorely -stricken but triumphant, was drawn from the line, -leaving the northern half of the Ovillers front to the -Thirty-second Division and the southern half to the -Twenty-fifth, the scattered brigades of which were -now reunited under one general. -</p> - -<p> -That commander had found himself during these -operations in a difficult position, as the 74th Brigade -had been moved from him and allotted to the Twelfth -Division, and the Seventy-fifth by the Thirty-second -Division. None the less, he had carried on vigorously -with his remaining Brigade—the 7th, and had -enlarged and strengthened the British position in the -Leipzig salient. During July 5 and 6 the 1st Wilts -and the 3rd Worcesters had both broadened and -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P113"></a>113}</span> -extended their fronts by means of surprise attacks -very well carried out. On the 7th they pushed -forward, as part of the general scheme of extension -upon that day, advancing with such dash and -determination that they got ahead of the German barrage -and secured a valuable trench. -</p> - -<p> -When upon Sunday, July 9, the Thirty-second -Division had entirely taken over from the Twelfth -on the west of Ovillers, the 14th Brigade were in the -post of honour on the edge of the village. The 2nd -Manchesters on the left and the 15th Highland Light -Infantry on the right, formed the advanced line with -the 1st Dorsets in support, while the 19th Lancashire -Fusiliers were chiefly occupied in the necessary and -dangerous work of carrying forward munitions and -supplies. Meanwhile, the pioneer battalion, the 17th -Northumberland Fusiliers, worked hard to join up -the old front trench with the new trenches round -Ovillers. It should be mentioned, as an example of -the spirit animating the British Army, that Colonel -Pears of this battalion had been invalided home for -cancer, that he managed to return to his men for this -battle, and that shortly afterwards he died of the -disease. -</p> - -<p> -On July 10 at noon the 14th Brigade advanced -upon Ovillers from the west, carrying on the task -which had been so well begun by the 36th Brigade. -The assailants could change their ranks, but this -advantage was denied to the defenders, for a persistent -day and night barrage cut them off from their -companions in the north. None the less, there was -no perceptible weakening of the defence, and the -Prussian Guard lived up to their own high traditions. -A number of them had already been captured in the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P114"></a>114}</span> -trenches, mature soldiers of exceptional physique. -Their fire was as murderous as ever, and the 2nd -Manchesters on the north or left of the line suffered -severely. The 15th Highlanders were more fortunate -and made good progress. The situation had been -improved by an advance at 9 P.M. upon this date, -July 10, by the 2nd Inniskilling Fusiliers from the -Sixth Division, higher up the line, who made a -lodgment north-west of Ovillers, which enabled a Russian -sap to be opened up from the British front line. The -Inniskillings lost 150 men out of two companies -engaged, but they created a new and promising line -of attack. -</p> - -<p> -The British were now well into the village, both -on the south and on the west, but the fighting was -closer and more sanguinary than ever. Bombardments -alternated with attacks, during which the -British won the outlying ruins, and fought on from -one stone heap to another, or down into the cellars -below, where the desperate German Guardsmen -fought to the last until overwhelmed with bombs -from above, or stabbed by the bayonets of the furious -stormers. The depleted 74th Brigade of the -Twenty-fifth Division had been brought back to its work -upon July 10, and on the 12th the 14th Brigade was -relieved by the 96th of the same Thirty-second -Division. On the night of July 12 fresh ground was -gained by a surge forward of the 2nd South -Lancashires of the 75th Brigade, and of the 19th -Lancashire Fusiliers, these two battalions pushing -the British line almost up to Ovillers Church. Again, -on the night of the 13th the 3rd Worcesters and 8th -Borders made advances, the latter capturing a strong -point which blocked the way to further progress. On -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P115"></a>115}</span> -the 14th, however, the 10th Cheshires had a set-back, -losing a number of men. Again, on the night of -July 14 the 1st Dorsets cut still further into the -limited area into which the German resistance had -been compressed. On the night of the 15th the -Thirty-second Division was drawn out, after a -fortnight of incessant loss, and was replaced by the -Forty-eighth Division of South Midland Territorials, -the 143rd Brigade consisting entirely of -Warwick battalions, being placed under the orders -of the General of the Twenty-fifth Division. The -village, a splintered rubbish-heap, with the church -raising a stumpy wall, a few feet high, in the middle -of it, was now very closely pressed upon all sides. -The German cellars and dug-outs were still inhabited, -however, and within them the Guardsmen were as -dangerous as wolves at bay. On the night of July -15-16 a final attack was arranged. It was to be -carried through by the 74th, 75th, and 143rd Brigades, -and was timed for 1 A.M. For a moment it threatened -disaster, as the 5th Warwicks got forward into such -a position that they were cut off from supplies, but a -strong effort was made by their comrades, who closed -in all day until 6 P.M., when the remains of the -garrison surrendered. Two German officers and 125 men -were all who remained unhurt in this desperate -business; and it is on record that one of the officers -expended his last bomb by hurling it at his own men -on seeing that they had surrendered. Eight machine-guns -were taken. It is said that the British soldiers -saluted the haggard and grimy survivors as they were -led out among the ruins. It was certainly a very fine -defence. After the capture of the village, the northern -and eastern outskirts were cleared by the men of the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P116"></a>116}</span> -Forty-eighth Territorial Division, which was partly -accomplished by a night attack of the 4th Gloucesters. -From now onwards till July 29 this Division was -engaged in very arduous work, pushing north and -east, and covering the flank of the Australians in -their advance upon Pozières. -</p> - -<p> -So much for the first group of operations in the -intermediate German position. We shall now pass -to the second, which is concerned with the strong -fortified line formed by the Quadrangle system of -trenches between Contalmaison upon our left and -Mametz Wood upon our right. -</p> - -<p> -It has been mentioned under the operations of -the Twenty-first Division in the last chapter that -the 51st Brigade passed through the deserted village -of Fricourt upon the morning of July 2, taking about -100 prisoners. -</p> - -<p> -On debouching at the eastern end they swung to -the right, the 7th Lincolns attacking Fricourt Wood, -and the 8th South Staffords, Fricourt Farm. The -wood proved to be a tangle of smashed trees, which -was hardly penetrable, and a heavy fire stopped the -Lincolns. The colonel, however, surmounted the -difficulty by detaching an officer and a party of -men to outflank the wood, which had the effect of -driving out the Germans. The South Staffords were -also successful in storming the farm, but could not -for the moment get farther. Several hundreds of -prisoners from the 111th Regiment and three guns -were captured during this advance, but the men -were very exhausted at the end of it, having been -three nights without rest. Early next day (July 3) -the advance was resumed, the 51st Brigade still to -the fore, working in co-operation with the 62nd -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P117"></a>117}</span> -Brigade of the Twenty-first Division upon their left. -By hard fighting, the Staffords, Lincolns, and -Sherwoods pushed their way into Railway Alley and -Railway Copse, while the 7th Borders established -themselves in Bottom Wood. The operations came -to a climax when in the afternoon a battalion of -the 186th Prussian Regiment, nearly 600 strong, -was caught between the two Brigades in Crucifix -Trench and had to surrender; altogether the -51st Brigade had done a very strenuous and -successful spell of duty. The ground gained was -consolidated by the 77th Field Company, Royal -Engineers. -</p> - -<p> -The 62nd Brigade of the Twenty-first Division, -supported by the 63rd, had moved parallel to the -51st Brigade, the 1st Lincolns, 10th Yorkshires, and -two battalions of Northumberland Fusiliers advancing -upon Shelter Wood and carrying it by storm. It was -a fine bit of woodland fighting, and the first intimation -to the Germans that their fortified forests would -no more stop British infantry than their village -strongholds could do. The enemy, both here and -in front of the Seventeenth Division, were of very -different stuff from the veterans of Ovillers, and -surrendered in groups as soon as their machine-guns -had failed to stop the disciplined rush of their -assailants. After this advance, the Twenty-first Division -was drawn out of line for a rest, and the Seventeenth -extending to the left was in touch with the regular -24th Brigade, forming the right of Babington's -Twenty-third Division, who were closing in upon -Contalmaison. On the right the 17th were in touch -with the 22nd Brigade of the Seventh Division, which -was pushing up towards the dark and sinister clumps -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P118"></a>118}</span> -of woodland which barred their way. On the night -of July 5 an advance was made, the Seventh Division -upon Mametz Wood, and the Seventeenth upon the -of the Quadrangle Trench, connecting the wood with -Contalmaison. The attack upon the wood itself -had no success, though the 1st Royal Welsh Fusiliers -reached their objective, but the 52nd Brigade was -entirely successful at Quadrangle Trench, where two -battalions—the 9th Northumberland Fusiliers and -10th Lancashire Fusiliers—crept up within a hundred -yards unobserved and then carried the whole position -with a splendid rush. It was at once consolidated. -The Twenty-third Division had advanced upon the -left and were close to Contalmaison. On the night -of July 5 the Seventh Division was drawn out and the -Thirty-eighth Welsh Division took over the line which -faced Mametz Wood. -</p> - -<p> -The Seventeenth Division, after its capture of -the Quadrangle Trench, was faced by a second very -dangerous and difficult line called the Quadrangle -Support, the relative position of which is shown -upon the diagram on the next page. -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P119"></a>119}</span> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-119"></a> -<br /> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-119.jpg" alt="QUADRANGLE POSITION, July 5-11, 1916." /> -<br /> -QUADRANGLE POSITION, July 5-11, 1916. -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -It is clear that if either Mametz Wood or Contalmaison -were to fall, this trench would become untenable -for the Germans, but until those two bastions, -or at least one of them, was in our hands, there was -such a smashing fire beating down upon an open -advance of 600 yards, that no harder task could -possibly be given to a Division. The trench was -slightly over the brow of a slope, so that when the -guns played upon it the garrison were able to slip -quickly away and take refuge in Mametz Wood, -coming back again in time to meet an assault which -they were well aware could only be delivered by -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P120"></a>120}</span> -troops which had passed through an ordeal of fire -which must shake and weaken them. -</p> - -<p> -It seemed that the best chance to bring a striking -force up to the trench was to make the attempt at -night, so at 2 A.M. of July 7 the 9th Northumberland -Fusiliers and 10th Lancashire Fusiliers, the same -battalions which had already taken Quadrangle -Trench, advanced through the darkness of an inclement -night upon their objective. The enemy proved, -however, to be in great force, and their trench was -stuffed with men who were themselves contemplating -an attack. A party of Lancashire Fusiliers got -into Pearl Alley, which is on the left near -Contalmaison, but the village stands on a slight eminence, -and from it the trench and the approaches can be -swept by fire. The British attack was driven back -with loss, and was followed up by the 9th Grenadiers -of the Prussian Guard, who were in turn driven back -by the left of the British line, consisting of the 10th -Lancashire Fusiliers and some of the 1st Worcesters. -In the morning another attempt was made upon -Quadrangle Support, this time by the 9th West -Ridings and the 12th Manchesters. Small parties -got up to Acid Drop Copse, close to Contalmaison, -but they were too weak to hold on. At the end of -this attack the 52nd Brigade, which had been so -badly mauled, was drawn out and the 51st put back -in its place. -</p> - -<p> -This severe fighting at the Quadrangle was part -of a wider action, which was to include an attack by -the Twenty-third Division upon Contalmaison and an -attack by the Thirty-eighth upon Mametz Wood. -The Contalmaison attack won its way into the north-west -side of the village at 11 o'clock on the morning -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P121"></a>121}</span> -of July 7, but by 12 o'clock it had been held and -eventually repulsed. By 4.30 the 24th Brigade of -the Twenty-third Division, which was on the immediate -left of the Seventeenth Division, had been driven -back to its trenches, the 1st Worcesters, 2nd East -Lancashires, and 2nd Northamptons suffering heavily. -</p> - -<p> -Whilst the Contalmaison attack had failed upon -the left, that upon Mametz Wood had no better success -upon the right. It was to have been carried out by -the Thirty-eighth Welsh Division, but in its approach -such opposition was encountered to the wood that -the 16th Welsh (City of Cardiff) and 10th South -Wales Borderers could not get forward. Meanwhile, -the 50th Brigade from the Seventeenth Division had -been told off to co-operate with this attack, and -naturally found themselves with their right flank in -the air, the 7th East Yorks suffering severely in -consequence. None the less, some advance was made -upon this side. -</p> - -<p> -In the night of July 7 a third attack was made -upon Quadrangle Support, with no better result than -the others. On this occasion the 51st Brigade had -relieved the 52nd, and it was the 10th Sherwood -Foresters which endured the heavy losses, and -persevered until they were within bomb-throw of their -objective, losing Major Hall Brown, a gallant Ceylon -planter, and many officers and men. At the same -hour the 50th Brigade had again tried to gain ground -in the direction of Mametz Wood, but had failed -on account of uncut wire. The military difficulties -of the situation during this day were greatly enhanced -by the state of the ground, owing to most unseasonable -heavy rain, which left four feet of mud in some of the -trenches. Altogether, when one considers the want -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P122"></a>122}</span> -of success at Ovillers, the repulse at Contalmaison, -the three checks in one day at the Quadrangle, and -the delay of the attack on Mametz Wood, the events -of July 7 showed that the task of the British, even -inside a broken German line, was still a very heavy -one. General Horne upon the line and Sir Douglas -Haig behind it must both have felt the strain that -night. -</p> - -<p> -At six in the morning of July 8 the undefeatable -Seventeenth Division was again hard at work -encompassing the downfall of its old opponents in -Quadrangle Support. Since it could not be approached -above ground, it was planned that two brigades, -the 51st and the 50th, should endeavour to bomb -their way from each side up those trenches which -were in their hands. It is wonderful that troops -which had already endured so much, and whose nerve -might well be shattered and their hearts broken by -successive failures, should still be able to carry out a -form of attack which of all others call for dash and -reckless courage. It was done, none the less, and -with some success, the bombers blasting their way -up Pearl Alley on the left to the point where it -joins on to the Quadrangle Support. The bombers -of the 7th Lincolns did particularly well. "Every -attempted attack by the Bosche was met by -them with the most extraordinary Berserker -fury. They utterly cowed the enemy." So wrote -an experienced spectator. On the right the 50th -Brigade made some progress also up Quadrangle -Alley. Artillery fire, however, put a term to the -advance in both instances, the guns of Contalmaison -dominating the whole position. In the evening -a fresh bombing attack was made by the same -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P123"></a>123}</span> -troops, whose exertions seem really to have reached -the limit of human capacity. This time the 7th -Borders actually reached Quadrangle Support, but -were unable to get farther. The same evening some -of the 50th Brigade bombed down Wood Trench -towards Mametz Wood, so as to facilitate the coming -attack by the Thirty-eighth Division. On July 9 -both Brigades again tried to bomb their way into -Quadrangle Support, and were again held up by the -enemy's fire. This was the sixth separate attempt -upon the same objective by the same soldiers—an -example surely of the wonderful material of which -the New Armies were composed. -</p> - -<p> -But their labours were not yet done. Though -both brigades were worn to shadows, it was still a -point of honour to hold to their work. At 11.20 that -night a surprise attack was made across the open -under the cover of night. The 8th South Staffords -on the left—charging with a yell of "Staffords!"—reached -the point where Pearl Alley joins the -Quadrangle Support (see Diagram), and held on -most desperately. The 50th Brigade on the right -were checked and could give no assistance. The -men upon the left strove hard to win their way down -Quadrangle Support, but most of the officers were -down, the losses were heavy, and the most that -they could do was to hold on to the junction with -Pearl Alley. The 50th were ready to go forward -again to help them, and the Yorkshire men were -already on the move; but day was slowly breaking -and it was doubtful if the trench could be held under -the guns of Contalmaison. The attack upon the -right was therefore stopped, and the left held on -as best it might, the South Staffords, having lost -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P124"></a>124}</span> -grievously, nearly all their officers, including the -Adjutant, Coleridge, being on the ground. -</p> - -<p> -We may now leave this heroic tragedy of the -Quadrangle and turn our attention to what had been -going on at Mametz Wood upon the right, which was -really the key to the situation. It has already been -stated that the wood had been attacked in vain by a -brigade of the Seventh Division, and that the -Thirty-eighth Welsh Division had found some difficulty in -even approaching it. It was indeed a formidable -obstacle upon the path of the army. An officer -has described how he used to gaze from afar upon the -immense bulk, the vast denseness and darkness of -Mametz Wood, and wonder, knowing the manifold -dangers which lurked beneath its shadows, whether -it was indeed within human power to take it. Such -was the first terrible task to which the Welshmen of -the New Army were called. It was done, but one -out of every three men who did it found the grave -or the hospital before the survivors saw the light -shine between the further tree-trunks. -</p> - -<p> -As the Welshmen came into the line they had the -Seventeenth Division upon their left, facing -Quadrangle Support, and the Eighteenth upon their right -at Caterpillar Wood. When at 4.15 on the morning -of July 10 all was ready for the assault, the Third -Division had relieved the Eighteenth on the right, -but the Seventeenth was, as we have seen, still in its -position, and was fighting on the western edge of the -wood. -</p> - -<p> -The attack of the Welshmen started from White -Trench, which lies south-east of the wood and -meanders along the brow of a sharp ridge. Since it -was dug by the enemy it was of little use to the attack, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P125"></a>125}</span> -for no rifle fire could be brought to bear from it upon -the edge of the wood, while troops coming over the -hill and down the slope were dreadfully exposed. -Apart from the German riflemen and machine-gunners, -who lay thick among the shell-blasted stumps of -trees, there was such a tangle of thick undergrowth -and fallen trunks lying at every conceivable angle -that it would take a strong and active man to make -his way through the wood with a fowling-piece for his -equipment and a pheasant for his objective. No -troops could have had a more desperate task—the -more so as the German second line was only a few -hundred yards from the north end of the wood, whence -they could reinforce it at their pleasure. -</p> - -<p> -The wood is divided by a central ride running -north and south. All to the west of this was allotted -to the 113th Brigade, a unit of Welsh Fusilier -battalions commanded by a young brigadier who is more -likely to win honour than decorations, since he started -the War with both the V.C. and the D.S.O. The -114th Brigade, comprising four battalions of the -Welsh Regiment, was to carry the eastern half of the -wood, the attack being from the south. The front -line of attack, counting from the right, consisted of the -13th Welsh (2nd Rhonddas), 14th Welsh (Swansea), -with its left on the central ride, and 16th Royal -Welsh Fusiliers in the van of the 113th Brigade. -About 4.30 in the morning the barrage lifted from the -shadowy edge of the wood, and the infantry pushed -forward with all the Cymric fire which burns in that -ancient race as fiercely as ever it has done, as every -field of manly sport will show. It was a magnificent -spectacle, for wave after wave of men could be seen -advancing without hesitation and without a break -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P126"></a>126}</span> -over a distance which in some places was not less -than 500 yards. -</p> - -<p> -The Swansea men in the centre broke into the -wood without a check, a lieutenant of that battalion -charging down two machine-guns and capturing -both at the cost of a wound to himself. The 13th -on the right won their way also into the wood, -but were held for a time, and were reinforced -by the 15th (Carmarthens). Here for hours along -the whole breadth of the wood the Welsh infantry -strove desperately to crawl or burst through the -tangle of tree-trunks in the face of the deadly and -invisible machine-guns. Some of the 15th got -forward through a gap, but found themselves isolated, -and had great difficulty in joining up with their own -battle line once more. Eventually, in the centre and -right, the three battalions formed a line just south -of the most southern cross ride from its junction with -the main ride. -</p> - -<p> -On the left, the 16th Welsh Fusiliers had lost -heavily before reaching the trees, their colonel, -Carden, falling at the head of his men. The -circumstances of his death should be recorded. His Welsh -Fusiliers, before entering action, sang a hymn in -Welsh, upon which the colonel addressed them, -saying, "Boys, make your peace with God! We -are going to take that position, and some of us won't -come back. But we are going to take it." Tying -his handkerchief to his stick he added, "This will -show you where I am." He was hit as he waved -them on with his impromptu flag; but he rose, -advanced, was hit again, and fell dead. -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P127"></a>127}</span> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-127"></a> -<br /> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-127.jpg" alt="MAMETZ WOOD" /> -<br /> -MAMETZ WOOD -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -Thickened by the support of the 15th Royal Welsh -Fusiliers, the line rushed on, and occupied the end -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P128"></a>128}</span> -of the wood until they were abreast of their comrades -on the right. Once among the trees, all cohesion -was lost among the chaos of tangled branches and -splintered trunks, every man getting on as best he -might, with officers rallying and leading forward small -groups, who tripped and scrambled onwards against -any knot of Germans whom they could see. On -this edge of the wood some of the Fusiliers bombed -their way along Strip Trench, which outlines the -south-western edge, in an endeavour to join hands -with the 50th Brigade on their left. At about 6.30 -the south end of the wood had been cleared, and the -Welshmen, flushed with success, were swarming out -at the central ride. A number of prisoners, some -hale, some wounded, had been taken. At 7 o'clock -the 113th were in touch with the 114th on the right, -and with the 50th on the left. -</p> - -<p> -Further advance was made difficult by the fact -that the fire from the untaken Wood Support Trench -upon the left swept across the ride. The losses of -the two Fusilier battalions had been so heavy that -they were halted while their comrades of the 13th -Royal Welsh Fusiliers, under Colonel Flower, who -was killed by a shell, attacked Wood Support—eventually -capturing the gun which had wrought such -damage, and about 50 Germans. This small body -had succeeded, as so often before and since, in holding -up a Brigade and disorganising an advance. Until -the machine-gun is checkmated by the bullet-proof -advance, the defensive will maintain an overpowering -and disproportionate advantage. -</p> - -<p> -The 10th Welsh had now come up to reinforce -the left of the 114th Brigade, losing their colonel, -Rickets, as they advanced into the wood. The 19th -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P129"></a>129}</span> -Welsh Pioneer Battalion also came forward to -consolidate what had been won. There was a -considerable pause in the advance, during which two -battalions—the 17th Welsh Fusiliers and the 10th -South Wales Borderers from the Reserve Brigade, -115th—came up to thicken the line. At about four, -the attack was renewed, until at least two-thirds -of the wood had been gained. The South Wales -Borderers worked up the eastern side, pushing the -defenders into the open, where they were shot down by -British machine-guns in Caterpillar Wood and -Marlborough Wood. About 50 yards from the northern -end the khaki line was at last held up and remained -there, crouching in shell-holes or behind broken -trunks. The main resistance came from a trench -outside the wood, and it was eventually determined -to bombard it, for which purpose the troops were -withdrawn some hundreds of yards. Late in the -evening there was another gallant attempt to get the -edge of the wood, but the trench was as venomous -as ever, and the main German second line behind it -was sweeping the underwood with bullets, so the -advance was halted for the night. -</p> - -<p> -During the night the 115th Brigade had come to -the front, and in the morning of July 11 had relieved -the 113th and 114th Brigades. The relief in a thick -wood, swept by bullets, and upon a dark night in the -close presence of a formidable enemy, was a most difficult -operation. The morning was spent in reconnaissance, -and it was only at 3.15 P.M. that the advance could -be made upon the main German defence, a trench just -outside the north end of the wood. About 4 o'clock -the Brigade swept on, and after a sharp bayonet -fight gained the trench towards the north-east, but the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P130"></a>130}</span> -Germans still held the centre and swept with their fire -the portion in our possession. The 11th South Wales -Borderers (2nd Gwents) held on splendidly, in spite -of their heavy losses. The situation was now such, -with only 300 yards to go to reach the German second -line, that it was deemed well to relieve the Thirty-eighth -Division by the Twenty-first Division, who had -been selected for the coming battle. This change -was carried out by the morning of July 12. -</p> - -<p> -The action of the Thirty-eighth Division in capturing -Mametz Wood had been a very fine one, and the -fruit of their victory was not only an important -advance, but 398 prisoners, one field gun, three heavy -guns, a howitzer and a number of smaller pieces. -It was the largest wood in the Somme district, and -the importance attached to it by the Germans may -be gathered from the fact that men of five different -German regiments, the 3rd Lehr, 16th Bavarians, -77th, 83rd, and 122nd, were identified among our -opponents. Among many instances of individual -valour should be mentioned that of a colonel of -the Divisional Staff, who twice, revolver in hand, -led the troops on where there was some temporary -check or confusion. It is impossible to imagine -anything more difficult and involved than some of -this fighting, for apart from the abattis and other -natural impediments of a tangled wood, the place -was a perfect rabbit-warren of trenches, and had -occasional land mines in it, which were exploded—some -of them prematurely, so that it was the retreating -Germans who received the full force of the blast. -Burning petrol was also used continually in the -defence, and frequently proved to be a two-edged -weapon. Some of the garrison stood to their work -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P131"></a>131}</span> -with extraordinary courage, and nothing but the -most devoted valour upon the part of their assailants -could have driven them out. "Every man of them -was killed where he stood," said a Welsh Fusilier, in -describing the resistance of one group. "They -refused offers of quarter right to the last, and died -with cheers for the Kaiser or words of defiance on -their lips. They were brave men, and we were very -sorry indeed to have to kill them, for we could not -but admire them for their courage." Such words -give honour both to victors and vanquished. The -German losses were undoubtedly very heavy—probably -not less than those of the Welsh Division. -</p> - -<p> -Though the Welsh Division had overrun Mametz -Wood from south to north, there was still one angle -in the north-west which had lain out of their course, -and had not been taken by them. This part of the -wood was occupied upon the evening of July 11 by -the 62nd Brigade of the Twenty-first Division, which -had already performed such notable services upon -the Somme. Eight field-guns were discovered in -this part of the wood and were captured by the -Brigade. -</p> - -<p> -The situation had now greatly improved for the -Seventeenth Division in front of Quadrangle Support, -for not only was Mametz Wood mostly in the hands -of the Welsh, but the Twenty-third Division on the -left, who after their temporary check at Contalmaison -had fallen back upon the line Peake Alley-Birch Tree -Wood-Shelter Wood, now came forward again and -occupied Bailiff Wood upon the north of Contalmaison. -Under these circumstances, the 50th Brigade -upon the right again attempted to get forward in -order to keep level with the Welsh in the wood. -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P132"></a>132}</span> -Connection had not yet been made at that point, -however, and the 7th East Yorks, who were the leading -battalion, suffered heavy losses before being -compelled to abandon the attempt. -</p> - -<p> -Victory, however, was at last coming to reward -the living and vindicate the dead. At four in the -afternoon of July 10, the Twenty-third Division -advanced from Bailiff Wood for its second assault -upon Contalmaison. This time everything went -to perfection, and the much-enduring infantry -were able to take possession of the village, while -a counter-attack by the third Reserve Division -of the Prussian Guards came under concentrated -artillery fire, and was completely disorganised and -destroyed. It was the wounded of the Guard from -this attack who were seen at Potsdam, and described -by Mr. Curtin, the American journalist, in one of the -most brilliant articles of the War. Carried into -furniture vans, they were conveyed to their hospitals with -every secrecy, in order to conceal from the populace -the results of the encounter between the famous Corps -and those men of the New Army who for more than -a year had been the favourite butt of the <i>Witz-Blätter</i> -of Berlin. Old Father Time has a humour of his own, -and his laugh is usually the last. Besides the Guard -the 70th Jaeger and the 110th, 114th, and 119th -Regiments were included in this defeat. -</p> - -<p> -The two bastions having fallen, the problem of -the Quadrangle Support became a very different one, -and the 51st Brigade, joining up with the right of the -Twenty-third Division in the evening, was able to get -hold of the left end of it. Even now, however, the -Germans fought hard to the right, and both the 7th -East Yorks and the 6th Dorsets had to push strongly -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P133"></a>133}</span> -before they could win through. They were encouraged -in their efforts when, in the waning light, -they were able to see small bodies of the enemy -retiring in the distance out of the fringe of the wood. -By ten o'clock that night the long task had been -accomplished, and the dead might sleep in peace, for -Quadrangle Support was in the hands of the -Seventeenth Division. They were relieved by the -Twenty-first Division upon July 11. -</p> - -<p> -At or about the same time as the relief of the -Seventeenth Division, the Twenty-third upon their -left were also relieved, their line being taken over by -the First Division. Since the capture of Contalmaison -and the heavy repulse of the German Guard -Division the British had made further progress, so -that both Pearl Wood and Contalmaison Villa to -the north of the village were firmly in their hands. -The instructions to the First Division were to -endeavour to improve this advantage, and an advance -was at once made which, occurring as it did upon the -night of July 15, may be best described under the -heading which treats of the breaking of the second -German line. -</p> - -<p> -Having dealt with the operations upon the left -and those in the centre of the intermediate German -position, we will now turn to those upon the right, -which are concerned with the Eighteenth and the -Thirtieth Divisions, supported by the Ninth. After -the fall of Montauban, these Divisions advanced, -the one upon Caterpillar Wood, and the other to -Bernafoy Wood, both of which were occupied. -For the occupation of Bernafoy Wood the 27th -Brigade of the Ninth Division had been put at the -disposal of the commander of the Thirtieth, and this -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P134"></a>134}</span> -force occupied the position without much loss, but -were exposed afterwards to a most deadly shell-fire, -which caused heavy losses to the two front -battalions—the 6th King's Own Scottish Borderers and the -6th Scots Rifles. The wood was held, however, -together with three guns, which were found within -it. On July 5 the Thirtieth Division handed over -that line to the Ninth. On that date they sustained -the heavy loss of Colonels Trotter and Smith—both -killed by distant shell-fire. -</p> - -<p> -The rest of the Thirtieth Division only lasted for -a very few days, and upon July 7 they were facing -the enemy position from Malzhorn Farm upon the -right to Trones Wood upon the left, and were about -to be initiated in that terrible wood fighting which -cost us so dear. There is no fighting in the world -which is more awesome to the mind and more -exhausting to the body than such combats as these -amid the ghostly atmosphere of ruined woods, with -Death lurking in the shadows on every hand, and -the thresh of the shells beating without cessation -by night and by day. Trones, Mametz, High Wood, -Delville—never has the quiet, steadfast courage of -the British soldier been put to a more searching test -than in those haunts of gloom and horror. In the -case of Trones Wood some account must be given of -the peculiar tactical difficulties of the situation, and -then we shall turn to the sombre but glorious -narrative of the successive attacks. -</p> - -<p> -The tactical problem was a remarkable one. The -wood was connected up on the German side by good -lines of trenches with Malzhorn Farm on the south, -with Guillemont on the east, and with Waterlot Farm -on the north—each of these points being from 400 -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P135"></a>135}</span> -to 700 yards away. It was also commanded by a -large number of heavy guns. The result was that if -the British stormers held the wood in strength, they -were shelled out with heavy losses. If, on the other -hand, the wood were lightly held, then the German -infantry pouring in from the east and north could -drive them out. The British, on the other hand, had -no trenches leading up to the wood, though in other -respects the Germans found the same difficulties in -holding the place that they did. It was a terrible -contest in tenacity between the infantry of the two -nations, and if in the end the British won it must -at least be admitted that there was no evidence of -any demoralisation among the Germans on account -of the destruction of their main line. They fought -well, were well led, and were admirably supported by -their guns. -</p> - -<p> -The first attack upon Trones Wood was carried -out from the south upon July 8 by the 21st Brigade. -There was no suspicion then of the strength of the -German position, and the attack was repulsed within -a couple of hours, the 2nd Yorks being the chief -sufferers. -</p> - -<p> -There was more success upon the right of the line -where the French were attacking Malzhorn Farm. -A company of the 2nd Wilts made their way successfully -to help our Allies, and gained a lodgment -in the German trenches which connect Malzhorn -Farm with the south end of Trones Wood. With -the aid of some of the 19th Manchesters this -position was extended, and two German counter-attacks -were crushed by rifle-fire. The position in -this southern trench was permanently held, and it -acted like a self-registering gauge for the combat in -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P136"></a>136}</span> -Trones Wood, for when the British held the wood the -whole Southern Trench was British, while a German -success in the wood always led to a contraction in the -holding of the trench. -</p> - -<p> -At one o'clock upon July 8 the 21st Brigade -renewed their attempt, attacking with the 2nd -Wiltshires in the lead from the side of Bernafoy Wood. -The advance was a fine one, but Colonel Gillson was -badly wounded, and his successor in command, -Captain Mumford, was killed. About three o'clock -the 18th and 19th Manchesters came up in support. -German bombers were driving down from the north, -and the fighting was very severe. In the evening -some of the Liverpools came up to strengthen the -line, and it was determined to draw out the weakened -21st, and replace it by the 90th Brigade. At the same -time a party of the 2nd Scots Fusiliers of this Brigade -took over Malzhorn Trench, and rushed the farmhouse -itself, capturing 67 prisoners. The whole of -the trench was afterwards cleared up with two -machine-guns and 100 more prisoners. It was a fine -bit of work, worthy of that splendid battalion. -</p> - -<p> -Upon July 9 at 6.40 A.M. began the third attack -upon Trones Wood led by the 17th Manchesters. -They took over the footing already held, and by eight -o'clock they had extended it along the eastern edge, -practically clearing the wood of German infantry. -There followed, however, a terrific bombardment, -which caused such losses that the 17th and their -comrades of the 18th were ordered to fall back -once more, with the result that the Scots Fusiliers -had to give up the northern end of their Malzhorn -Trench. An enemy counter-attack at 4.30 P.M. had -no success. A fresh British attack (the fourth) was -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P137"></a>137}</span> -at once organised, and carried out by the 16th -Manchesters, who at 6.40 P.M. got into the south -end of the wood once more, finding a scattered -fringe of their comrades who had held on there. -Some South African Highlanders from the Ninth -Division came up to help them during the night. -This fine battalion lost many men, including their -colonel, Jones, while supporting the attack from -Bernafoy Wood. In the morning the position was -better, but a gap had been left between the -Manchesters in the wood and the Scots in the trench, -through which the enemy made their way. After -much confused fighting and very heavy shelling, the -evening of July 10 found the wood once more with -the Germans. -</p> - -<p> -In the early morning of July 11 the only remaining -British Brigade, the 89th, took up the running. At -3.50 the 2nd Bedfords advanced to the attack. Aided -by the 19th King's Liverpools, the wood was once -again carried and cleared of the enemy, but once -again a terrific shell-fall weakened the troops to a -point where they could not resist a strong attack. -The Bedfords fought magnificently, and had lost -50 per cent of their effectives before being compelled -to withdraw their line. The south-east corner -of the wood was carried by the swarming enemy, but -the south-west corner was still in the hands of our -utterly weary and yet tenacious infantry. At 9.30 -the same evening the 17th King's Liverpools pushed -the Germans back once more, and consolidated the -ground won at the southern end. So the matter stood -when the exhausted division was withdrawn for a -short rest, while the Eighteenth Division took up -their difficult task. The Lancashire men had left it -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P138"></a>138}</span> -unfinished, but their conduct had been heroic, and -they had left their successors that one corner of -consolidated ground which was needed as a jumping-off -place for a successful attack. -</p> - -<p> -It was the 55th Brigade of the Eighteenth Division -which first came up to take over the fighting line. -A great responsibility was placed upon the general -officer commanding, for the general attack upon the -German line had been fixed for July 14, and it was -impossible to proceed with it until the British held -securely the covering line upon the flank. Both -Trones Wood and the Malzhorn Trench were therefore -of much more than local importance, so that -when Haig found himself at so late a date as July -12 without command of this position, it was a -very serious matter which might have far-reaching -consequences. The orders now were that within a -day, at all costs, Trones Wood must be in British -hands, and to the 55th, strengthened by two -battalions of the 54th Brigade, was given the -desperate task. The situation was rendered more -difficult by the urgency of the call, which gave the -leaders no time in which to get acquainted with the -ground. -</p> - -<p> -The German defence had become a strong one. -They had formed three strong points, marked S1, S2, -and S3 in the Diagram, p. 141. These, together with -several trenches, dotted here and there, broke up -every attack, and when once order was broken it was -almost impossible in the tangle and obscurity for -the troops to preserve any cohesion or direction. -Those troops which penetrated between the strong -points found themselves with the enemy in their rear -and were in a disorganised condition, which was only -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P139"></a>139}</span> -overcome by the individual bravery of the men, who -refused to be appalled by the difficult situation in -which they found themselves. -</p> - -<p> -The attack of the 55th Brigade was made from -the sunken road immediately south of the wood, -and it ran at once into so heavy a barrage that it -lost heavily before it had reached even the edge -of its objective. The 7th West Kents, who formed -the attacking force, were not to be denied, however, -and they pushed forward through a deepening gloom, -for it was seven in the evening before the signal had -been given. Whilst the Kents fought up from the -south, the Queen's Surreys attempted to win a lodgment -on the north-west where the Longueval Alley led -up from Bernafoy Wood. They also suffered heavily -from the barrage, and only a few brave men reached -the top of the wood and held on there for some hours. -The West Kents passed the line of strong points and -then lost touch with each other, until they had -resolved themselves into two or three separate groups -holding together as best they could in the darkness -with the enemy all round them, and with the -communications cut behind them. The telephone wires -had all been broken by the barrage, and the anxious -commanders could only know that the attack had -failed, that no word came back from the front, and -that a British battalion had been swallowed up by -the wood. -</p> - -<p> -The orders were peremptory, however, that the -position should be taken, and General Maxse, without -hesitation, threw a second of his brigades into the -dangerous venture. It was the 54th Brigade which -moved to the attack. It was just past midnight -when the soldiers went forward. The actual assault -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P140"></a>140}</span> -was carried out from south to north, on the same -line as the advance of the West Rents. The storming -battalions were the 6th Northamptons and 12th -Middlesex, the former to advance direct through the -wood and the latter to clean up behind them and to -form a defensive flank on the right. -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P141"></a>141}</span> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-141"></a> -<br /> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-141.jpg" alt="TRONES WOOD Attack of 54th Brigade July 13th, 1916." /> -<br /> -TRONES WOOD <br /> -Attack of 54th Brigade <br /> -July 13th, 1916. -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -The attack was a fine feat of arms. Though -heavily hit by the barrage, the Northamptons, -closely followed by two companies of the Middlesex, -pushed their way into the wood and onwards. It -was pitch dark, and the men were stumbling -continually over the fallen trees and the -numerous dead bodies which lay among the undergrowth. -None the less, they kept touch, and plodded -steadily onwards. The gallant Clark was shot, but -another officer led the Northamptons against the -central strong point, for it had been wisely determined -to leave no enemy in the rear. Shortly after dawn -on July 14 this point was carried, and the -Northamptons were able to get forward. By 8 o'clock -the wood was full of scattered groups of British -infantry, but the situation was so confused that -the colonel went forward and rallied them into -a single line which formed across the wood. This line -advanced until it came level with the strong point -S3, which was captured. A number of the enemy -then streamed out of the eastern side of the wood, -making for Guillemont. These men came under -British machine-gun fire and lost heavily. The -remaining strong point at S1 had been taken by a mixed -group of Buffs and Middlesex about 9 A.M. These -three strong points having been occupied, the whole -wood was now swept clear and was permanently -occupied, though still subjected to very heavy shell -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P142"></a>142}</span> -fire by the enemy. Thus, the right flank of the -army was covered, and the important operations of -July 14 were enabled to go forward without danger -of molestation. Of the two gallant battalions who -mainly achieved this important result, the losses of -the Northamptons were about 300, and of the -Middlesex about half that amount. -</p> - -<p> -There was an epilogue which was as honourable -to the troops concerned as the main attack had been. -This concerns the fate of the men of West Kent, -who, as will be remembered, had been cut off in -the wood. The main body of these, under the -regimental adjutant, together with a few men of the -Queen's, formed a small defensive position and held -out in the hope of relief. They were about 200 all -told, and their position seemed so hopeless that every -excuse might have been found for surrender. They -held out all night, however, and in the morning they -were successfully relieved by the advance of the 54th -Brigade. It is true that no severe attack was made -upon them during the night, but their undaunted -front may have had something to do with their -immunity. Once, in the early dawn, a German -officer actually came up to them under the -impression that they were his own men—his last mistake -upon earth. It is notable that the badges of six -different German regiments were found in the wood, -which seemed to indicate that it was held by picked -men or volunteers from many units. "To the -death!" was their password for the night, and to -their honour be it said that they were mostly true to -it. So also were the British stormers, of whom Sir -Henry Rawlinson said: "The night attack on and -final capture of Trones Wood were feats of arms -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P143"></a>143}</span> -which will rank high among the best achievements -of the British Army." -</p> - -<p> -An account of this fortnight of desperate and -almost continuous fighting is necessarily concerned -chiefly with the deeds of the infantry, but it may -fitly end with a word as to the grand work of the -artillery, without whom in modern warfare all the -valour and devotion of the foot-soldier are but a -useless self-sacrifice. Nothing could exceed the -endurance and the technical efficiency of the gunners. -No finer tribute could be paid them than that -published at the time from one of their own officers, -which speaks with heart and with knowledge: "They -worked their guns with great accuracy and effect -without a moment's cessation by day or by night for -ten days, and I don't believe any artillery have ever -had a higher or a longer test or have done it more -splendidly. And these gunners, when the order came -that we must pull out and go with the infantry—do -you think they were glad or willing? Devil a -bit! They were sick as muck and only desired to -stay on and continue killing Bosches. And these -men a year ago not even soldiers—much less gunners! -Isn't it magnificent—and is it not enough to make the -commander of such men uplifted?" No cold and -measured judgment of the historian can ever convey -their greatness with the conviction produced by one -who stood by them in the thick of the battle and -rejoiced in the manhood of those whom he had -himself trained and led. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p><a id="chap06"></a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P144"></a>144}</span></p> - -<h3> -CHAPTER VI -<br /><br /> -THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME -</h3> - -<p class="t3"> -The Breaking of the Second Line. July 14, 1916 -</p> - -<p class="intro"> -The great night advance—The Leicester Brigade at -Bazentin—Assault by Seventh Division—Success of the Third -Division—Desperate fight of Ninth Division at -Longueval—Operations of -First Division on flank—Cavalry advance. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -With the fall of Mametz Wood, the impending -capture of Trones Wood upon the right, and the close -investment of Ovillers upon the left flank, the army -could now face the second line of German defences. -The ground in front of them sloped gently upwards -until it reached the edge of a rolling plateau. Upon -this edge were three villages: Little Bazentin upon -the left, Grand Bazentin upon the centre, and -Longueval upon the right, all nestling among orchards -and flanked by woods. Through these lay the -enemy's position, extending to Pozières upon the one -side, and through Guillemont to the French junction -on the other. These two flanks were for the time to -be disregarded, and it was determined to strike a -heavy frontal blow which would, as it was hoped, -crush in the whole middle of their line, leaving the -sides to be dealt with at our leisure. It was a most -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P145"></a>145}</span> -formidable obstacle, for all three villages were as -strong as the German sappers could make them, and -were connected up with great lines of trenches, the -whole front which was to be attacked covering about -6000 yards. A small wood screened Little Bazentin -on the left, while behind Longueval, facing the right -attack, was a larger plantation which, under the -name of Delville Wood, has won for itself a terrible -and glorious name in British military history. -</p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-144"></a> -<br /> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-144.jpg" alt="Map" /> -<br /> -The Second German Line, Bazentins, Delville Wood, etc. -</p> - -<p> -The heavy guns had been advanced and the -destruction of the German wire and trenches had -begun upon July 11. On the evening of the 13th -the troops mustered for the battle. They were all -divisions which had already been heavily engaged, -and some of them had endured losses in the last -fortnight which might have seemed to be sufficient -to put them out of action. None the less they were -not only eager for the fight, but they were, as it proved, -capable of performing the most arduous and delicate -of all operations, a night march in the face of the -enemy. More than a thousand yards of clear ground -lay at many points between the British outposts -and the German trenches. To cover it in daylight -meant, as they had so often learned, a heavy loss. -It was ordered, therefore, that the troops should move -up to within striking distance in the darkness, and -dash home with the first glimmer of morning light. -There was no confusion, no loss of touch as 25,000 -stormers took up their stations, and so little sound -that the Germans seem to have been unaware of the -great gathering in their immediate front. It was -ticklish work, lying for hours within point-blank -range with no cover, but the men endured it as best -they might. With the first faint dawn the long line -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P146"></a>146}</span> -sprang to their feet and with a cheer dashed forward -at the German trenches, while the barrage rose and -went roaring to eastward whence help might come to -the hard-pressed German defence. -</p> - -<p> -On the extreme left of the section attacked was -the First Regular Division, which took no part in -the actual advance but held the flank in the -neighbourhood of Contalmaison Villa, and at one period -of the day sent forward its right-hand battalion, -the 1st North Lancashires, to aid their neighbours -in the fight. -</p> - -<p> -The left of the line of actual attack was formed -by the Twenty-first Division opposite to -Bazentin-le-Petit. This attack was carried out upon a -single brigade front, and the Brigade in question -was the 110th from the Thirty-seventh Division. -This division made no appearance as a unit in -the Battle of the Somme, but was several times -engaged in its separate brigades. On this occasion -the 110th, consisting entirely of men of Leicester, -took the place of the 63rd Brigade, much reduced -by previous fighting. Their immediate objective -was the north end of Bazentin-le-Petit village and -the whole of the wood of that name. Led by the -8th and 9th Leicesters the brigade showed, as has -so often been shown before, that the British soldier -never fights better than in his first engagement. -Owing to the co-operation of the First Division and -to a very effective smoke screen upon their left, their -advance was not attended with heavy loss in the -earlier stages, and they were able to flow over the -open and into the trenches opposite, capturing -some 500 prisoners. They continued to fight their -way with splendid steadiness through the wood -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P147"></a>147}</span> -and held it for the remainder of the day. Their -greatest trouble came from a single German strong -point which was 200 yards away from the -corner of the wood, and, therefore, beyond their -objective. The machine-guns in this redoubt caused -great loss whenever the edge of the wood was -approached. This strong point was destroyed next day, -but meanwhile the position was consolidated and -was firmly held for the next four days, after which -the division was withdrawn for a rest. -</p> - -<p> -On the right of the Twenty-first Division lay the -Seventh Division, to which had been assigned the -assault of the Bazentin-le-Petit village. The leading -brigade was the 20th, and the storming battalions, -the 8th Devons and 2nd Borders, crept up to -their mark in the darkness of a very obscure -night. At 3.25 the barrage was lifted, and so -instantaneous was the attack that there was hardly an -interval between the last of the shrapnel and the -first of the stormers. The whole front line was -captured in an instant, and the splendid infantry -rushed on without a pause to the second line, -springing into the trenches once more at the moment that -the gunners raised their pieces. In ten minutes -both of these powerful lines had fallen. Several -dug-outs were found to be crammed with the enemy, -including the colonel of the Lehr Battalion, and with -the machine-guns which they had been unable to -hoist into their places before the wave had broken -over them. When these were cleared, the advance -was carried on into Bazentin-le-Grand Wood, which -was soon occupied from end to end. A line in front -of the wood was taken up and consolidated. -</p> - -<p> -In the meanwhile the 22nd Brigade had taken -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P148"></a>148}</span> -up the work, the 2nd Warwicks pushing forward -and occupying, without any opposition from the -disorganised enemy, the Circus Trench, while the 2nd -Royal Irish advanced to the attack of the village -of Bazentin-le-Petit. Their leading company rushed -the position with great dash, capturing the colonel -commanding the garrison, and about 100 of his men. -By 7.30 the place was in their hands, and the leading -company had pushed into a trench on the far side of -it, getting into touch with the Leicesters on their -left. -</p> - -<p> -The Germans were by no means done with, however, -and they were massing thickly to the north -and north-east of the houses where some scattered -orchards shrouded their numbers and their -dispositions. As the right of the brigade seemed to be -in the air, a brave sergeant of the 2nd Warwicks -set off to establish touch with the 1st Northumberland -Fusiliers, who formed the left unit of the -Third Division upon the right. As he returned he -spotted a German machine-gun in a cellar, entered -it, killed the gunner, and captured four guns. The -wings of the two divisions were then able to co-operate -and to clear the ground in front of them. -</p> - -<p> -The Irishmen in the advance were still in the air, -however, having got well ahead of the line, and they -were now assailed by a furious fire from High Wood, -followed by a determined infantry assault. This -enfilade fire caused heavy losses, and the few survivors -of those who garrisoned the exposed trench were -withdrawn to the shelter afforded by the outskirts -of the village. There and elsewhere the Lewis guns -had proved invaluable, for every man of intelligence -in the battalion had been trained to their use, and in -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P149"></a>149}</span> -spite of gunners being knocked out, there was never -any lack of men to take their place. The German -counter-attack pushed on, however, and entered the -village, which was desperately defended not only by -the scattered infantrymen who had been driven back -to it, but also by the consolidating party from the -54th Field Company Royal Engineers and half the -24th Manchester Pioneer Battalion. At this period -of the action a crowd of men from various battalions -had been driven down to the south end of the village -in temporary disorganisation due to the rapidity of -the advance and the sudden severity of the -counter-attack. These men were re-formed by the adjutant -of the Irish, and were led by him against the -advancing Germans, whom they drove back with -the bayonet, finally establishing themselves on the -northern edge of Bazentin-le-Petit Wood, which they -held until relieved later by the 2nd Gordons of the -20th Brigade. At the same time the village itself was -cleared by the 2nd Warwicks, while the 1st Welsh -Fusiliers drove the Germans out of the line between -the windmill and the cemetery. The trench held -originally by the Irish was retaken, and in it -was found a British officer, who had been badly -wounded and left for a time in the hands of the -enemy. He reported that they would not dress him, -and prodded at him with their bayonets, but that -an officer had stopped them from killing him. No -further attempt was made by the Germans to regain -the position of Bazentin. The losses, especially those -of the Royal Irish, had been very heavy during the -latter part of the engagement. -</p> - -<p> -Much had been done, but the heavy task of -the Seventh Division was not yet at an end. At -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P150"></a>150}</span> -3.20 P.M. the reserve Brigade (91st) were ordered to -attack the formidable obstacle of High Wood, the -100th Brigade of the Thirty-third Division (Landon) -co-operating from the left side, while a handful of -cavalry from the 7th Dragoon Guards and 20th Deccan -Horse made an exhilarating, if premature, appearance -upon the right flank, to which some allusion is made at -the end of this chapter. The front line of the 91st -Brigade, consisting of the 2nd Queen's Surrey and 1st -South Staffords, marched forward in the traditional -style of the British line, taking no notice of an enfilade -fire from the Switch Trench, and beating back a sortie -from the wood. At the same time the Brigadier of -the 100th Brigade upon the left pushed forward his -two leading battalions, the 1st Queen's Surrey and -the 9th Highland Light Infantry, to seize and hold the -road which led from High Wood to Bazentin-le-Petit. -This was done in the late evening of July 14, while -their comrades of the Seventh Division successfully -reached the south end of the wood, taking three -field-guns and 100 prisoners. The Queen's and part of -the Highland Light Infantry were firmly in possession -of the connecting road, but the right flank of the -Highlanders was held up owing to the fact that the -north-west of the wood was still in the hands of the -enemy and commanded their advance. We will -return to the situation which developed in this part -of the field during the succeeding days after we have -taken a fuller view of the doings upon the rest of the -line during the battle of July 14. It may be said -here, however, that the facility with which a footing -was established in High Wood proved to be as -fallacious as the parallel case of Mametz Wood, and -that many a weary week was to pass, and many a -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P151"></a>151}</span> -brave man give his heart's blood, before it was finally -to be included in the British lines. For the present, -it may be stated that the 91st Brigade could not hold -the wood because it was enfiladed by the uncaptured -Switch Trench, and that they therefore retired after -dusk on the 15th. -</p> - -<p> -To return to the story of the main battle. -The centre of the attack was carried out by -the Third Division, one of the most famous units -in the Army, though it now only retained three -of the veteran battalions which had held the line at -Mons. The task of the Third Division was to break -the centre of the German line from Grand Bazentin -upon the left where it touched the Seventh to -Longueval on the right where it joined with the -Ninth Division. The 8th Brigade was on the -right, the 9th upon the left, while the 76th -was in support. The attacking troops advanced -in the darkness in fours, with strong patrols in -front, and deployed within 200 yards of the German -wire, capturing a German patrol which blundered into -their ranks. Upon the word being given at the first -faint gleam of dawn, the leading battalions trudged -forward in the slow, determined fashion which had -been found to be more effective than the spectacular -charge. From the left the front line consisted of the -12th West Yorkshires, the 13th King's Liverpools, -the 7th Shropshires, and the 8th East Yorks. The -wire upon the right was found to be very partially -cut, and the line of stormers was held up under a -murderous fire. There were gaps here and there, -however, so that the colonel at the head of his -Shropshires was able to force a passage at one point, -while two gallant platoons of the East Yorkshires got -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P152"></a>152}</span> -through at another, and pushed boldly on into the -German line. The main body, however, were forced -for a time to take cover and keep up a fire upon the -enemies' heads as they peered occasionally from over -the parapets. -</p> - -<p> -The left brigade had been more fortunate, finding -the wire to be well cut. The front trench was not -strongly held, and was easily carried. Both the -King's Liverpools and the West Yorkshires got -through, but as they had separated in the advance -the greater part of the 1st Northumberland Fusiliers -were thrust into the gap and restored the line. These -men, supported by Stokes guns, carried the village -of Grand Bazentin by 6.30 A.M. There was a deadly -fire from the Grand Bazentin Wood upon the left, -but as the Seventh Division advanced this died away, -and the 12th West Yorkshires were able to get round -to the north edge of the village, but could get no -farther on account of the hold-up of the 8th -Brigade upon the right. There was a considerable -delay, but at last by 1 P.M. a renewed bombardment -had cut the wires, and strong bombing parties from -the supporting battalions, the 2nd Royal Scots and -1st Scots Fusiliers, worked down the front trench -from each end. The whole brigade was then able to -advance across the German front line, which was at -once consolidated. -</p> - -<p> -The losses in this attack had been heavy, the 12th -West Yorkshires alone having 15 officers, including -their colonel, and 350 men out of action. The results, -however, were solid, as not only was the whole front -of the German position crushed in, but 36 officers -with 650 men were taken, together with four small -howitzers, four field-guns, and fourteen machine-guns. -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P153"></a>153}</span> -A counter-attack was inevitable and consolidation -was pushed forward with furious energy. "Every -one was digging like madmen, all mixed up with the -dead and the dying." One counter-attack of some -hundreds of brave men did charge towards them in -the afternoon, but were scattered to the winds by a -concentration of fire. The position was permanently -held. -</p> - -<p> -The Ninth Division was on the immediate -right of the Third, facing Longueval, a straggling -village which lay against the sinister background of -Delville Wood. The Division was, as will be -remembered, the first of the new armies, and had -distinguished itself greatly at Loos. It had been -entirely a Highland Division, but it had undergone a -picturesque change by the substitution of the South -African Infantry Brigade in place of the 28th. The -attack upon Longueval was carried out by the 26th -Brigade, the 8th Black Watch and 10th Argyll and -Sutherlands in the lead, with the 9th Seaforths in -support and the 5th Camerons in reserve. The -advance was so fine as to rouse the deepest admiration -from an experienced French officer who observed it. -"Who would believe," he wrote, "that only a few -months ago not one of these men knew anything of -the soldier's profession? They carried themselves -as superbly as the Old Guard. Once I was near -enough to see their faces as they deployed for attack -under the devastating fire rained on them.... Their -teeth were set and their eyes were fixed firmly on the -goal towards which they were advancing. They were -determined to achieve their object, and nothing but -death would stop them.... Only those who were -seriously hit thought of dropping out. The others -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P154"></a>154}</span> -pressed proudly on, regardless of the pain they -suffered, and took part in the final charge in which -the enemy were driven from the position." Such a -tribute from a soldier to soldiers is indeed a glory. -</p> - -<p> -The village and the trenches around it were taken -with a splendid rush, but the fighting among the -houses was of a desperate character, "more so," says -the same observer, "than any I had seen before." The -Germans refused to give or take quarter. When -the Highlanders broke the line they cut off those who -held the trench. The officer in command offered -quarter. The German commander refused. "I and -my men," he replied, "have orders to defend this -ground with our lives. German soldiers know how -to obey orders. We thank you for your offer, but we -die where we stand." When the Highlanders finally -took possession of the trench, all but a mere handful -of the defenders were dead. It is episodes like this -which would make us ready to take a German by the -hand if it were not that his country's hand is red with -innocent blood. -</p> - -<p> -The defence was not everywhere equally desperate. -As the Highlanders dashed past the trenches and into -the scattered group of houses which marked the -village, grey figures darted round corners, or rushed -out with hands to heaven. Many prisoners were -taken. Here and there groups of brave men sold -their lives dearly, especially in some ruins at the east -end of the village. The blast of fire from this place -was so hot that for a moment the advance was -staggered; but a brave piper ran to the front, and -the joyous lilt of "The Campbells are coming" -sent the clansmen flooding onwards once more. -Neither bullets, bombs, nor liquid fire could stop -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P155"></a>155}</span> -them, and the last German was stabbed or shot amid -the broken walls of his shattered fort. -</p> - -<p> -The main part or west of Longueval was now in -the hands of the Scotsmen, but the place is peculiarly -shaped, tailing away in a thin line to the northwards, -the scattered houses in that direction being -commanded by the wood, which runs right up to them -on their southern side. It was clear that no complete -conquest could be made until this wood also was -in the hands of our stormers. The operation was a -difficult one, and far too large to be carried out upon -that day. The South African Brigade was therefore -ordered up from Montauban, with instructions that -they should attack Delville Wood at dawn of July 15. -</p> - -<p> -Here we may break off the narrative of the battle -of July 14, though it is difficult to do so, since these -operations shade imperceptibly into each other, and -the fighting never really came to an end. The main -results, however, had become clear by that evening, -and they amounted to a very great success, unalloyed -by any failure. Every division had carried its point -and added to its glories. Four villages, three woods, -6000 yards of front, and 2000 of depth had been -added to our lines. Two thousand more prisoners -had been taken, bringing the total for the fortnight -to the substantial figure of 10,000; while twelve heavy -and forty-two field-guns had also been taken during -that time. Above all, the British had got their grip -firmly upon the edge of the plateau, though many a -weary day of fighting was to follow before the -tenacious enemy had been driven from it, and the -whole position was in British hands. -</p> - -<p> -The reader is to understand clearly that though -the operations of July 14 crushed in the face of the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P156"></a>156}</span> -German line along the whole central position, the -flanks both to the right and to the left were still -inviolate. Upon the German right the whole range -of powerful fortifications which extended through -Pozières to Thiepval were untouched, while upon the -German left the equally formidable line stretching -from Longueval through Waterlot Farm and Guillemont -to Falfemont Farm was also intact. It is -correct, then, to say that the German second line had -been stormed and penetrated, but it had not been -captured throughout its full extent, and the greater -part of the autumn campaign was to pass before this -had been accomplished. The reduction of the German -right wing will be recounted in the chapters which -deal with Gough's army, to whom the task was -assigned. That of the left wing is covered by the -narrative, which gives some details of the numerous, -bloody, and protracted attacks which ended in the -capture of Guillemont. -</p> - -<p> -Meanwhile a word may be said as to the operations -of the First Division, who had been upon the -left of the attack upon July 14, and had covered that -flank without attempting an advance. Upon the -night of July 15 they moved forward to attack the -continuation of the German second line system -between the captured Bazentin and the uncaptured -Pozières. The attack was made by the 3rd Brigade, -the 2nd Munsters being to the left, the 1st South -Wales Borderers to the right, and the 1st Gloucesters -in the centre with the 2nd Welsh in reserve. No -less than 1200 yards of No Man's Land had to be -crossed, but this was the more easy since both Pearl -Wood and Contalmaison Villa were occupied. A -daring daylight reconnaissance by the colonel of the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P157"></a>157}</span> -Gloucesters greatly helped the advance. The men -were marched silently in platoons along the road, -and then re-formed into line on the far side of the -enemy's barrage, a manoeuvre which in the darkness -called for great steadiness and discipline, the line -being dressed on a shaded lamp in the wood. On -the word the eager troops pushed on with such speed -that they crossed the German front trenches and were -into the second before their own barrage had properly -lifted. Pushing forward again, they were soon some -hundreds of yards past their objective, where they -halted close to the formidable Switch Line, having -occupied all of the second line system in their front. -Their formation was now so dense, and they were so -close to the German machine-guns, that there was a -possibility of disaster, which was increased by the -Welsh Borderers losing direction and charging -towards a body of men whom they dimly saw in -front of them, who proved to be the Gloucesters. -Fine restraint upon both sides prevented a -catastrophe. Officers and men were now keen to push -on and to attack the Switch Line, from which flares -were rising; but prudence forbade the opening up -of an entirely new objective, and the men were drawn -back to the captured German trenches. So ended a -successful and almost bloodless operation. -</p> - -<p> -It has been stated in the account of the action of -July 14 that at one stage of the battle the cavalry -advanced, but it was impossible to stop the description -of a large movement to follow the fortunes of this -small tactical stroke. None the less the matter was -important, as being the first blood lost or drawn by -cavalry, as cavalry, since the early months of the War. -The idea was, that by a sudden move forward a small -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P158"></a>158}</span> -body of horse might establish itself in advance of the -general line, and occupy a position which it could hold -until the slower infantry came forward to take it -over. This was actually done, and the movement -may therefore be claimed as a successful experiment. -The two detachments from the Deccan Horse and -7th Dragoon Guards galloped three miles from the -rear, so as to be under observation as short a time -as possible, passed swiftly through the lines of the -astonished and jubilant infantry, and riding right into -the enemy's position upon our right centre, established -themselves in a strong point, and, aided by a -friendly monoplane, beat off the German attacks. -The advance was at six in the evening, and it was -able to hold on until nightfall and to hand over in -the early morning to the infantry. Some 40 Germans -fell to lance or sabre, and a few were taken prisoners -by the daring cavaliers, who suffered somewhat -heavily, as they might well expect to do in so novel -and desperate a venture. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p><a id="chap07"></a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P159"></a>159}</span></p> - -<h3> -CHAPTER VII -<br /><br /> -THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME -</h3> - -<p class="t3"> -July 14 to July 31 -</p> - -<p class="intro"> -Gradual advance of First Division—Hard fighting of Thirty-third -Division at High Wood—The South Africans in Delville Wood—The -great German counter-attack—Splendid work of 26th -Brigade—Capture of Delville Wood by 99th Brigade—Indecisive -fighting on the Guillemont front. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -The central fact of the situation after the battle of -Bazentin was that although the second German line -had been broken, the gap made was little more than -three miles wide, and must be greatly extended upon -either flank before a general advance upon the third -line could take place. This meant that the left wing -must push out in the Pozières direction, and that the -right wing must get Ginchy and Guillemont. For -the time the central British position was not an -advantageous one, as it formed a long salient bending -from High Wood through Delville Wood to Guillemont, -so placed that it was open to direct observation -all along, and exposed to converging fire which could -be directed with all the more accuracy as it was upon -points so well known to the Germans, into which -the guns, communications, and reserves were now -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P160"></a>160}</span> -crammed. Sir Douglas Haig's great difficulties were -increased by a long spell of wet and cloudy weather, -which neutralised his advantages in the air. -Everything was against the British General except the -excellence of his artillery and the spirit of his troops. -The French upon the right, whose tally of guns and -prisoners were up to date higher than those of the -British, had an equally hard front to attack, including -the four strong villages of Maurepas, Le Forest, -Raucourt, and Fregicourt, with many woods and -systems of trenches. Their whole work in the battle -had been worthy of their military history, and could -not be surpassed, either in the dispositions of General -Foch or in the valour of his men. Neither their -infantry nor ours had ever relinquished one square -yard that they had wrenched from the tight grip of -the invader. -</p> - -<p> -In each area of the battle of July 14 some pressing -task was left to be accomplished, and the fighting -was very severe at certain points for some days later. -We shall first turn to the north of the line, where new -divisions had come into action. One of these already -mentioned was the First Division. It was indeed -pleasing and reassuring to observe how many of the -new divisional generals were men whose names recalled -good service as regimental officers. Many who now -wore the crossed swords upon their shoulders had -been battalion commanders in 1914. It is indeed -well with an army when neither seniority nor interest -but good hard service upon the field of battle puts -officers in charge of the lives of men. -</p> - -<p> -The First Division had taken the place of the -Twenty-third after the fall of Contalmaison, and had -pushed its way up until it was level with the line of -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P161"></a>161}</span> -their comrades on the right, whence in the manner -described at the end of the last chapter they drove -their line forward upon July 15. On the 20th -they received a rebuff, however, the 1st Northants -being held up by a very formidable German trench -called Munster Alley. The ground already gained -was consolidated, however, and the division lay with -its left touching the Australians on the right of -Gough's army, and its right connected with the -Thirty-third Division, whose doings at High Wood -will presently be considered. For the purpose of -continuity of narrative it will be best to continue -with a short summary of the doings of the First -Division upon the left wing of the advance, their -general task being to hold that flank against German -counter-attacks, and to push forward wherever -possible. It was continuous hard work which, like -so many of these operations, could gain little credit, -since there was no fixed point but only a maze of -trenches in front of them. The storming of a nameless -ditch may well call for as high military virtue as -the taking of a historic village, and yet it seems a -slighter thing in the lines of a bulletin. Munster -Alley and the great Switch Line faced the First -Division, two most formidable obstacles. On July 23, -in the early morning, the 2nd Brigade of the First -Division attacked the Switch Line, in conjunction -with the Australians, on the left, and the Nineteenth -Division to the right. The attack was held -up, Colonel Bircham of the 2nd Rifles and many officers -and men being killed. Colonel Bircham was a particularly -gallant officer, who exposed himself fearlessly upon -every occasion, and it is on record that when remonstrated -with by his adjutant for his reckless disregard -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P162"></a>162}</span> -of danger, he answered, "You know as well as -I do where a colonel of the 60th ought to be." Such -lives are an example and such deaths an inspiration. -Altogether the 2nd Rifles lost about 250 men -in this night attack, and the other first line -battalions—the 2nd Sussex, 10th Gloucesters, and 1st Cameron -Highlanders—were all hard hit. The failure seems -to have been partly due to misdirection in the dark. -</p> - -<p> -Upon July 25 the 1st South Wales Borderers of -the 3rd Brigade attacked Munster Alley, but were -again unable to get forward on account of the -machine-guns. Nothing daunted, the 2nd Welsh -had another fling at Munster Alley next day, and -actually took it, but had not weight enough to -consolidate and to hold it. On the other hand, the British -line was held inviolate, and a strong German attack -upon July 25 towards Pozières was repulsed with -loss. -</p> - -<p> -The Twenty-third Division relieved the First -and were in turn relieved by the Fifteenth in this -sector, which faced the Switch Trench and -Martinpuich. The Switch Line was exposed to a very -heavy fire for several days, at the end of which it was -attacked by this famous division, the same in number -at least as that which had left nearly two-thirds of -its rank and file upon the bloody slopes of Hill 70. -On August 12 the advance was carried out with -great dash: the 45th Brigade upon the left and -the 46th upon the right. The attack was only -partially successful, and the 46th Brigade was held -up through the fact that the Germans had themselves -been in the act of attack, so that the trenches -were very strongly held. The operations continued, -however, and the initial gains were enlarged, until -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P163"></a>163}</span> -upon August 20 the whole Switch Line fell and was -permanently consolidated. -</p> - -<p> -Leaving this left sector we must turn to the -Thirty-third Division on its right, two battalions of -which had got forward on July 15, as far as the line -of the road connecting High Wood with Little -Bazentin. The right flank of the Highland Light -Infantry had been held up by fire from this wood, -and in the evening the 91st Brigade of the Seventh -Division had evacuated the southern edge of the -wood in order to allow of bombardment. That was -the position on the night of July 15. -</p> - -<p> -The line of the road was held all night, and early -next morning the advance was ordered upon the -German Switch Trench in front. It was hoped that -the wood had been cleared during the night, but in -the morning the Highlanders found themselves still -galled by the continual fire upon their right. It was -clear that the attack could not go forward with such -an impediment upon the flank—one more instance -of a brigade being held up by a handful of concealed -men. It was hoped that the enemy had been silenced, -and the attack was made, but no sooner had it -developed than a murderous fire burst from the wood, -making it impossible for the Highlanders to get along -farther than the road. The 1st Queen's, however, -being farther from the wood were able to get on to the -Switch Trench, but found it heavily wired and stiff -with men. Such a battalion does not take "No" -easily, and their colonel, with a large proportion of -their officers and men, was stretched in front of the -fatal wire before it became evident that further -perseverance would mean destruction. The 16th -Rifles and half the 2nd Worcesters, the remaining -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P164"></a>164}</span> -battalions of the 100th Brigade, were brought up, -but no further advance was possible until the wire -could be cut by the guns. About four in the afternoon -of July 16 the remains of the brigade were back -in the road from which they had started. The attack -had failed, partly from the enfilade fire of High Wood, -partly from the impassable wire. -</p> - -<p> -The 98th Brigade was on the left of the 100th, -filling up the gap to Bazentin village. They had -extended their right in order to help their -sorely-tried comrades, and they had themselves advanced -upon the line of the Switch Trench—the 1st Middlesex -leading, with the 4th Suffolk in support. The -2nd Argyll and Sutherlands with the 4th King's -Liverpool were in reserve. They got well forward, -but ceased their advance when it was found that no -progress could be made upon the right. Thus, for -the time, the division was brought to a stand. -That night the 19th Brigade relieved the 100th, -which had been very hard hit in this action. After -the change the 1st Scottish Rifles and the 20th Royal -Fusiliers formed the front line of the 19th Brigade, -the Rifles in touch with the 22nd Brigade of the 7th -upon their right, while the Fusiliers were in touch -with the 98th Brigade upon their left. -</p> - -<p> -The general situation did not admit of an immediate -attack, and the Germans took advantage of the -pause to strengthen and slightly to advance their -position. On July 17 the hard-worked Twenty-first -Division upon the left was drawn out, and both -the Thirty-third and Seventh had to extend their -fronts. On the other hand, the First Division came -in upon the left and occupied a portion of the -Bazentin-le-Petit Wood. The position at that time was -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P165"></a>165}</span> -roughly that the Seventh Division covered the front -from High Wood to Bazentin Grand, the Thirty-third -Division from Bazentin Grand to Bazentin Petit, -and the First was from their left to Pozières. -</p> - -<p> -Upon July 18 there was a very heavy German -attack upon Delville Wood, which is treated -elsewhere. This was accompanied by a severe barrage -fire upon the Bazentins and upon Mametz Wood, -which continued all day. That night the Nineteenth -Division came into line, taking over Bazentin Petit, -both village and wood. The Thirty-third Division -moved to the right and took some pressure off the -Seventh, which had done such long and arduous -service. These incessant changes may seem wearisome -to the reader, but without a careful record of -them the operations would become chaos to any one -who endeavoured to follow them in detail. It is to -be emphasised that though divisions continually -changed, the corps to which they temporarily -belonged did not change, or only at long intervals, so -that when you are within its area you can always rely -upon it that in this particular case Horne of the -Fifteenth Corps is the actual brain which has the -immediate control of the battle. -</p> - -<p> -As the pressure upon Congreve's Thirteenth Corps -on the right at Delville Wood and elsewhere was -considerable, it was now deemed advisable to attack -strongly by the Fifteenth Corps. The units for -attack were the Thirty-third Division upon the -left, and the depleted Seventh upon their right. -There was to be no attack upon the left of the -Thirty-third Division, but the 56th Brigade of the -Nineteenth Division was handed over to the 33rd -Division to strengthen the force. The objectives to -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P166"></a>166}</span> -be attacked were once again High Wood (Bois des -Foureaux), Switch Trench, and the connecting trench -between them. The Seventh Division attacked east -of the wood on the line between it and Delville Wood. -</p> - -<p> -The assault upon High Wood was assigned to the -19th Brigade. The 2nd Worcesters of the 98th -Brigade were pushed out so as to cover the left flank -of the assaulting column. At 2 A.M. of July 20 the -two advance battalions of stormers, the 5th Scottish -Rifles on the right, the 1st Scottish Rifles upon the -left, were formed up in open ground outside the -British wire. Preceded by scouts, they went silently -forward through the gloom until they approached -the south-western edge of the wood. A terrific -bombardment was going on, and even those stout -northern hearts might have quailed at the unknown -dangers of that darksome wood, lit from moment -to moment by the red glare of the shells. As the -barrage lifted, the wave of infantry rushed forward, -the 5th Scottish Rifles making for the eastern edge, -while the 1st Regular Battalion pushed on in the -endeavour to win through and secure the northern -edge. -</p> - -<p> -It was speedily found that the tenacious enemy -had by no means loosened his grip of the wood. A -portion of the Switch Trench runs through it, and this -was strongly held, a line of spirting flames amid the -shadow of the shattered trees. Machine-guns and -wire were everywhere. None the less, the dour Scots -stuck to their point, though the wood was littered -with their dead. Both to east and to north they -slowly pushed their way onwards to their objectives. -It was a contest of iron wills, and every yard won was -paid for in blood. By 9 o'clock the whole of the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P167"></a>167}</span> -southern half of the wood had been cleared, the leading -troops being helped by the 20th Fusiliers, who -followed behind them, clearing up the lurking Germans. -At that hour the northern end of the wood was still -strongly held by the enemy, while the stormers had -become much disorganised through loss of officers -and through the utter confusion and disintegration -which a night attack through a wood must necessarily -entail. -</p> - -<p> -The remaining battalion of the 19th Brigade, the 2nd -Welsh Fusiliers, was, at this critical moment, thrown -into the fight. A heavy barrage was falling, and -considerable losses were met with before the wood -was entered; but the Fusiliers went forward with -splendid steadiness and dash, their colonel taking -entire local command. In the early afternoon, having -got abreast of the exhausted Scottish Rifles, who had -been under the hottest fire for nearly twelve hours, -the Welsh attacked the north end of the wood, their -advance being preceded by a continuous fire from our -Stokes mortars, that portable heavy artillery which -has served us so well. The enemy was still unabashed, -but the advance was irresistible, and by 7 P.M. the -British were for a time in possession of the whole of -the blood-sodden plantation. It was a splendid -passage of arms, in which every devilry which an -obstinate and ingenious defence could command -was overcome by the inexorable British infantry. -The grim pertinacity of the Scots who stood that long -night of terror, and the dash of the Welsh who carried -on the wave when it was at the ebb, were equally -fine; and solid, too, was the work of the public school -lads of the 20th Fusiliers, who gleaned behind the -line. So terrific was the shell-fire of the disappointed -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P168"></a>168}</span> -Germans upon the north end of the wood, that it was -impossible to hold it; but the southern part was -consolidated by the 18th Middlesex Pioneer Battalion -and by the 11th Company Royal Engineers. -</p> - -<p> -Whilst the Thirty-third Division stormed High -Wood, their neighbours upon the right, the Seventh -Division, depleted by heavy losses but still full of -spirit, had been given the arduous and important -task of capturing the roads running south-west from -High Wood to Longueval. The assaulting battalions, -the 2nd Gordons on the left and the 8th Devons on -the right, Aberdeen and Plymouth in one battle line, -advanced and took their first objective through a -heavy barrage. Advancing farther, they attempted -to dig in, but they had got ahead of the attack upon -the left, and all the machine-guns both of Switch -Trench and of High Wood were available to take -them in flank and rear. It was a deadly business—so -deadly that out of the two leading platoons of -Gordons only one wounded officer and five men -ever got back. Finally, the whole line had to crawl -back in small groups to the first objective, which was -being consolidated. That evening, the Fifth Division -took over the lines of the Seventh, who were at -last drawn out for a rest. The relief was marked -by one serious mishap, as Colonel Gordon, commanding -a battalion of his clansmen, was killed by -a German shell. -</p> - -<p> -It has been stated that the 56th Brigade of the -Nineteenth Division had been placed under the -orders of the Thirty-third Division during these -operations. Its role was to cover the left flank -of the attack and to keep the Germans busy in -the Switch Line position. With this object the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P169"></a>169}</span> -56th Brigade, with the 57th Brigade upon its left, -advanced its front line upon the night of July 22, -a movement in which the 7th South Lancashires upon -the right of the 56th Brigade were in close touch with -the 2nd Worcesters upon the left of the 100th Brigade. -Going forward in the darkness with German trenches -in front of them and a raking fire from High Wood -beating upon their flank the Lancashire men lost -heavily and were unable to gain a footing in the -enemy's position. This brigade had already suffered -heavily from shell-fire in its advance to the front -trenches. Two deaths which occurred during this -short episode may be cited as examples of the stuff -which went to the building up of Britain's new armies. -Under the shell-fire fell brave old Lieutenant Webber, -a subaltern in the field, a Master of Foxhounds at -home, father of another dead subaltern, and 64 years -old. In the night operation, gallantly leading his -company, and showing his comrades in the dark -how to keep direction by astronomy, fell Captain -Gerard Garvin, student, poet, essayist, and soldier, -just 20 years of age. A book might be written -which would be a national inspiration dealing with -the lives of those glorious youths who united all -that is beautiful in the mind with all that is virile -in the body, giving it unreservedly in their country's -cause. They are lives which are more reminiscent -of Sydney, Spencer, and the finer of the Elizabethans -than anything we could have hoped to evolve in these -later days. Raymond Asquith, Rupert Brooke, -Charles Lister, Gerard Garvin, Julian Grenfell, Donald -Hankey, Francis Ledwidge, Neil Primrose, these are -some at least of this finest flower of British culture -and valour, men who sacrificed to the need of the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P170"></a>170}</span> -present their inheritance as the natural leaders of -the future. -</p> - -<p> -Though the Nineteenth Division was able to make -no progress upon the night of July 22, upon the -next night one of their brigades, the 58th, reinforced -by two other battalions, made a strong movement -forward, capturing the strong point upon the edge of -the wood which had wrought the mischief the night -before, and also through the fine work of the 10th -Warwicks and 7th King's Own carrying the whole -British line permanently forward upon the right, -though they could make no headway upon the left. -Some conception of the services of the Nineteenth -Division may be gathered from the fact that during -the month of July it had lost 6500 casualties. -</p> - -<p> -The Thirty-third Division was given a well-deserved -rest after their fine exploit in High Wood. -During seven days' fighting it had lost heavily in -officers and men. Of individual battalions the heaviest -sufferers had been the two Scottish Rifle battalions, -the 20th Royal Fusiliers, the 1st Queen's Surrey, -9th Highland Light Infantry, and very specially the -16th King's Royal Rifles. -</p> - -<p> -Whilst this very severe fighting had been going -on upon the left centre of the British advance, an -even more arduous struggle had engaged our troops -upon the right, where the Germans had a considerable -advantage, since the whole of Delville Wood and -Longueval formed the apex of a salient which jutted -out into their position, and was open to a converging -artillery fire from several directions. This terrible -fight, which reduced the Ninth Scottish Division to -about the strength of a brigade, and which caused -heavy losses also to the Third Division, who struck -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P171"></a>171}</span> -in from the left flank in order to help their comrades, -was carried on from the time when the Highland -Brigade captured the greater part of the village of -Longueval, as already described in the general attack -upon July 14. -</p> - -<p> -On the morning after the village was taken, the -South African Brigade had been ordered to attack -Delville Wood. This fine brigade, under a South -African veteran, was composed of four battalions, -the first representing the Cape Colony, the second -Natal and the Orange River, the third the Transvaal, -and the fourth the South African Scotsmen. If -South Africa could only give battalions where others -gave brigades or divisions, it is to be remembered -that she had campaigns upon her own frontiers -in which her manhood was deeply engaged. The -European contingent was mostly British, but it -contained an appreciable proportion of Boers, who -fought with all the stubborn gallantry which we have -good reason to associate with the name. Apart from -the infantry, it should be mentioned that South -Africa had sent six heavy batteries, a fine hospital, -and many labour detachments and special services, -including a signalling company which had the reputation -of being the very best in the army, every man -having been a civilian expert. -</p> - -<p> -The South Africans advanced at dawn, and their -broad line of skirmishers pushed its way rapidly -through the wood, sweeping all opposition before it. -By noon they occupied the whole tract with the -exception of the north-west corner. This was the -corner which abutted upon the houses north of -Longueval, and the murderous machine-guns in -these buildings held the Africans off. By night, the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P172"></a>172}</span> -whole perimeter of the wood had been occupied, and -the brigade was stretched round the edges of the -trees and undergrowth. Already they were suffering -heavily, not only from the Longueval guns upon their -left, but from the heavy German artillery which had -their range to a nicety and against which there was no -defence. With patient valour they held their line, -and endured the long horror of the shell-fall during -the night. -</p> - -<p> -Whilst the South Africans were occupying Delville -Wood, the 27th Brigade had a task which was as -arduous, and met in as heroic a mood, as that of -their comrades on the day before. Their attack -was upon the orchards and houses to the north and -east of Longueval, which had been organised into -formidable strong points and garrisoned by desperate -men. These strong points were especially dangerous -on account of the support which they could give to a -counter-attack, and it was thus that they did us great -mischief. The Scottish Borderers, Scots Fusiliers, -and Royal Scots worked slowly forward during the -day, at considerable cost to themselves. Every -house was a fortress mutually supporting every other -one, and each had to be taken by assault. "I saw -one party of half-a-dozen Royal Scots rush headlong -into a house with a yell, though there were Germans -at every window. Three minutes later one of the -six came out again, but no more shots ever came from -that house." Such episodes, with ever-varying -results, made up that long day of desperate fighting, -which was rendered more difficult by the heavy -German bombardment. The enemy appeared to be -resigned to the loss of the Bazentins, but all their -energy and guns were concentrated upon the reconquest -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P173"></a>173}</span> -of Longueval and Delville Wood. Through the -whole of the 16th the shelling was terribly severe, -the missiles pitching from three separate directions -into the projecting salient. Furious assaults and -heavy shell-falls alternated for several days, while -clouds of bombers faced each other in a deadly -and never-ending pelting match. It was observed -as typical of the methods of each nation that while -the Germans all threw together with mechanical and -effective precision, the British opened out and fought -as each man judged best. This fighting in the wood -was very desperate and swayed back and forwards. -"It was desperate hand-to-hand work. The enemy -had no thought of giving in. Each man took advantage -of the protection offered by the trees, and fought -until he was knocked out. The wood seemed swarming -with demons, who fought us tooth and nail." The -British and Africans were driven deeper into the -wood. Then again they would win their way forwards -until they could see the open country through the -broken trunks of the lacerated trees. Then the fulness -of their tide would be reached, no fresh wave would -come to carry them forwards, and slowly the ebb drew -them back once more into the village and the forest. -In this mixed fighting the Transvaal battalion took -3 officers and 130 men prisoners, but their losses, and -those of the other African units, were very heavy. -The senior officer in the firing line behaved with -great gallantry, rallying his ever-dwindling forces -again and again. A joint attack on the evening of -July 16 by the Cape men, the South African Scots, -and the 11th Royal Scots upon the north-west of -the wood and the north of the village was held up -by wire and machine-guns, but the German -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P174"></a>174}</span> -counter-attacks had no better fate. During the whole of the -17th the situation remained unchanged, but the -strain upon the men was very severe, and they were -faced by fresh divisions coming up from Bapaume. -The Brigadier himself made his way into the wood, -and reported to the Divisional Commander the -extremely critical state of affairs. -</p> - -<p> -On the morning of July 18 the Third Division -were able to give some very valuable help to the -hard-pressed Ninth. At the break of day the 1st -Gordons, supported by the 8th King's Liverpools, -both from the 76th Brigade, made a sudden and -furious attack upon those German strong points to -the north of the village which were an ever-present -source of loss and of danger. "Now and again," says -a remarkable anonymous account of the incident, -"during a lull in the roar of battle, you could hear a -strong Northern voice call out: 'On, Gor-r-r-dons, -on!' thrilling out the r's as only Scotsmen can. The -men seldom answered save by increasing their speed -towards the goal. Occasionally some of them called -out the battle-cry heard so often from the throats of -the Gordons: 'Scotland for ever!' ... They were -out of sight over the parapet for a long time, but we -could hear at intervals that cry of 'On, Gor-r-r-dons, -on!' varied with yells of 'Scotland for ever!' and -the strains of the pipes. Then we saw Highlanders -reappear over the parapet. With them were groups -of German prisoners." -</p> - -<p> -The assault won a great deal of ground down the -north-west edge of Delville Wood and in the north -of the village; but there were heavy losses, and two -of the strong points were still intact. All day the -bombardment was continuous and deadly, until -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P175"></a>175}</span> -4.30 in the afternoon, when a great German infantry -attack came sweeping from the east, driving down -through the wood and pushing before it with an -irresistible momentum the scattered bodies of Scottish -and African infantry, worn out by losses and fatigue. -For a time it submerged both wood and village, and -the foremost grey waves emerged even to the west of -the village, where they were beaten down by the Lewis -guns of the defenders. The southern edge of the wood -was still held by the British, however, and here the -gallant 26th Brigade threw itself desperately upon -the victorious enemy, and stormed forward with all -the impetuosity of their original attack. The Germans -were first checked and then thrown back, and the -south end of the wood remained in British hands. A -finer or more successful local counter-attack has -seldom been delivered, and it was by a brigade which -had already endured losses which made it more fit -for a rest-camp than for a battle line. After this -second exploit the four splendid battalions were but -remnants, the Black Watch having lost very heavily, -while the Argylls, the Seaforths, and the Camerons -were in no better case. Truly it can never be said -that the grand records of the historic regular -regiments have had anything but renewed lustre from the -deeds of those civilian soldiers who, for a time, were -privileged to bear their names. -</p> - -<p> -Whilst this severe battle had been in progress, the -losses of the South Africans in Delville Wood had been -terrible, and they had fought with the energy of -desperate men for every yard of ground. Stands -were made in the successive rides of the wood by the -colonel and his men. During the whole of the 19th -these fine soldiers held on against heavy pressure. -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P176"></a>176}</span> -The colonel was the only officer of his regiment to -return. Even the Newfoundlanders had hardly a -more bloody baptism of fire than the South Africans, -or emerged from it with more glory. -</p> - -<p> -The situation now was that the south of the wood -was held by the British, but the north, including the -greater part of the village, was still held by the -Germans. The worn-out Ninth Division, still full of spirit, -but lacking sadly in numbers, was brought out of line -upon July 19, and the Eighteenth English Division, -fresh from its own great ordeal in Trones Wood, -came forward to take its place. At seven in the -morning of the 19th the 53rd Brigade attacked -from the south, the situation being so pressing -that there was no time for artillery preparation. -The infantry went forward without it, and no -higher ordeal could be demanded of them. It was -evident that there was great danger of the strong -German column breaking through to westward and -so outflanking the whole British line. Only a British -attack from north and from south could prevent its -progress, so that the Third Division were called upon -for the one, and the Eighteenth for the other. This -wood of infamous memory is cut in two by one broad -ride, named Princes Street, dividing it into two halves, -north and south (<i>vide</i> p. 181). The southern half was -now attacked by the 8th Norfolks, who worked their -way steadily forward in a long fringe of bombers and -riflemen. The Brigade-Major, Markes, and many -officers and men fell in the advance. After a pause, -with the help of their Lewis guns, the Norfolks pushed -forward again, and by 2 o'clock had made their way -up to Princes Street along most of the line, pushing -the enemy down into the south-eastern corner. The -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P177"></a>177}</span> -remaining battalions of the brigade, the 10th Essex -on the right and the 6th Berkshires on the left, tried -to fight their way through the northern portion, while -the 8th Suffolk attacked the village. Half of the -village up to the cross-roads in the centre was taken -by the Suffolk, but their comrades on the right were -held up by the heavy machine-gun fire, and at 5 P.M. were -compelled to dig themselves in. They maintained -their new positions, under a terrific shell-fire, -for three weary and tragic days, at the end of which -they were relieved by the 4th Royal Fusiliers, a -veteran battalion which had fired some of the first -shots of the War. -</p> - -<p> -These Fusiliers belonged to the Third Division -which had, as already said, been attacking from the -north side of the wood, while the Eighteenth were on -the south side. On July 19 this attack had been -developed by the 2nd Suffolk and the 10th Welsh -Fusiliers, the two remaining battalions of the 76th -Brigade. The advance was made at early dawn, -and the Welsh Fusiliers were at once attacked by -German infantry, whom they repulsed. The attack -was unfortunate from the start, and half of the -Suffolks who penetrated the village were never able -to extricate themselves again. The Welsh Fusiliers -carried on, but its wing was now in the air, and the -machine-guns were very deadly. The advance was -held up and had to be withdrawn. In this affair fell -one of the most promising of the younger officers of -the British army, a man who would have attained -the very highest had he lived, Brigade-Major Congreve, -of the 76th Brigade, whose father commanded the -adjacent Thirteenth Corps. His death arose from -one of his many acts of rash and yet purposeful -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P178"></a>178}</span> -valour, for he pushed forward alone to find out what -had become of the missing Suffolks, and so met his -end from some lurking sniper. -</p> - -<p> -On July 20 matters had come to a temporary -equilibrium in Delville Wood, where amid the litter -of corpses which were strewn from end to end of that -dreadful grove, lines of British and German infantry -held each other in check, neither able to advance, -because to do so was to come under the murderous -fire of the other. The Third Division, worn as it was, -was still hard at work, for to the south-west of -Longueval a long line of hostile trenches connected -up with Guillemont, the fortified farm of Waterlot -in the middle of them. It was to these lines that -these battle-weary men were now turned. An attack -was pending upon Guillemont by the Thirtieth Division, -and the object of the Third Division was to cut -the trench line to the east of the village, and so help -the attack. The advance was carried out with great -spirit upon July 22 by the 2nd Royal Scots, and -though they were unable to attain their full objective, -they seized and consolidated a post midway between -Waterlot Farm and the railway, driving back a German -battalion which endeavoured to thrust them out. -On July 23 Guillemont was attacked by the 21st -Brigade of the Thirtieth Division. The right of the -attack consisting of the 19th Manchesters got into -the village, but few got out again; and the left made -no progress, the 2nd Yorkshires losing direction to -the east and sweeping in upon the ground already -held by the 2nd Royal Scots and other battalions -of the 8th Brigade. The resistance shown by Guillemont -proved that the siege of that village would be -a serious operation and that it was not to be carried -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P179"></a>179}</span> -by the <i>coup-de-main</i> of a tired division, however -valiantly urged. The successive attempts to occupy -it, culminating in complete success, will be recorded -at a later stage. -</p> - -<p> -On the same date, July 23, another attempt was -made by mixed battalions of the Third Division -upon Longueval. This was carried out with the -co-operation of the 95th Brigade, Fifth Division, -upon the left. The attack on the village itself from -the south was held up, and the battalions engaged, -including the 1st Northumberland Fusiliers, 12th -West Yorkshires, and 13th King's Liverpools, all -endured considerable losses. Two battalions of the -Thirty-fifth Division (Bantams), the 17th Royal Scots -and 17th West Yorks, took part in this attack. -There had been some movement all along the line -during that day from High Wood in the north-east to -Guillemont in the south-west; but nowhere was there -any substantial progress. It was clear that the enemy -was holding hard to his present line, and that very -careful observation and renewed bombardment would -be required before the infantry could be expected to -move him. Thus, the advance of July 14, brilliant -as it had been, had given less durable results than had -been hoped, for no further ground had been gained -in a week's fighting, while Longueval, which had been -ours, had for a time passed back to the enemy. No -one, however, who had studied General Haig's methods -during the 1914 fighting at Ypres could, for a moment, -believe that he would be balked of his aims, and the -sequel was to show that he had lost none of the -audacious tenacity which he had shown on those -fateful days, nor had his well-tried instrument of war -lost its power of fighting its way through a difficult -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P180"></a>180}</span> -position. The struggle at Longueval had been a -desperate one, and the German return upon July 18 -was undoubtedly the most severe reaction encountered -by us during the whole of the Somme fighting; and -yet after the fluctuations which have been described -it finished with the position entirely in the hands of the -British. On the days which followed the attack of -July 23 the Thirteenth Brigade of the Fifth Division -pushed its way gradually through the north end of -the village, the 1st Norfolks bearing the brunt of the -fighting. They were relieved on the 27th by the -95th Brigade, who took the final posts on the north -and east of the houses, the 1st East Surreys holding -the northern front. The 12th Gloucesters particularly -distinguished themselves on this occasion, holding -on to three outlying captured posts under a -very heavy fire. The three isolated platoons -maintained themselves with great constancy, and were -all retrieved, though two out of three officers and the -greater part of the men were casualties. This battalion -lost 320 men in these operations, which were made -more costly and difficult by the fact that Longueval -was so exaggerated a salient that it might more -properly be called a corner, the Germans directing -their very accurate fire from the intact tower of -Ginchy Church. -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P181"></a>181}</span> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-181"></a> -<br /> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-181.jpg" alt="DELVILLE WOOD MAP" /> -<br /> -DELVILLE WOOD MAP -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -The Second Division had now been brought -down to the Somme battle-front, and upon July 26 -they took over from the Third Division in the -area of Delville Wood. So complicated was the -position at the point occupied, that one officer has -described his company as being under fire from the -north, south, east, and west, the latter being -presumably due to the fact that the distant fire of the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P182"></a>182}</span> -British heavies fell occasionally among the front line -infantry. At seven in the morning of July 27 the -99th Brigade, now attached to the Second Division, -was ordered to improve our position in the wood, -and made a determined advance with the 1st Rifles -upon the right, and the 23rd Fusiliers upon the left, -the 1st Berkshires and 22nd Royal Fusiliers being in -support. Moving forward behind a strong barrage, -the two battalions were able with moderate loss to -force their way up to the line of Princes Street, and -to make good this advanced position. A trench full -of dead or wounded Germans with two splintered -machine-guns showed that the artillery had found its -mark, and many more were shot down as they retired -to their further trenches. The 1st Berkshires held a -defensive flank upon the right, but German bombers -swarmed in between them and the Rifles, developing -a dangerous counter-attack, which was finally -beaten off after a sharp fight, in which Captain -Howell of the latter battalion was mortally wounded -after organising a splendid defence, in which he was -greatly helped by a sergeant. At 11 o'clock the left -flank of the advance was also very heavily attacked -at short range, and the two companies of the Rifles -on that side were in sore straits until reinforced by -bombers from the 23rd Fusiliers, and also by the -whole of the 22nd Fusiliers. The German barrage -fell thickly behind the British advance, and it was a -difficult and costly matter to send forward the -necessary supports, but before evening part of the -17th Fusiliers and of the 17th Middlesex from the -5th Brigade had pushed forward and relieved the -exhausted front line. It was a most notable advance -and a heroic subsequent defence, with some of the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P183"></a>183}</span> -stiffest fighting that even Delville Wood had ever -witnessed. The East Anglian Field Company Royal -Engineers consolidated the line taken. The 1st Rifles, -upon whom the greater part of the pressure had fallen, -lost 14 officers, including their excellent adjutant, -Captain Brocklehurst, and more than 300 men. The -immediate conduct of the local operations depended -upon the colonel of this battalion. The great result -of the fight was that Delville Wood was now in -British hands, from which it never again reverted. -It is a name which will ever remain as a symbol of -tragic glory in the records of the Ninth, the Third, the -Eighteenth, and finally of the Second Divisions. -Nowhere in all this desperate war did the British bulldog -and the German wolf-hound meet in a more prolonged -and fearful grapple. It should not be forgotten in our -military annals that though the 99th Brigade actually -captured the wood, their work would have been -impossible had it not been for the fine advance of the -95th Brigade of the Fifth Division already recorded -upon their Longueval flank. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -We shall now turn our attention to what had -been going on in the extreme right-hand part of -the line, where in conjunction with the French three -of our divisions, the 55th Lancashire Territorials, -the 35th Bantams, and the hard-worked 30th, had -been attacking with no great success the strong -German line which lay in front of us after the capture -of Trones Wood. The centre of this defence was the -village of Guillemont, which, as already mentioned, -had been unsuccessfully attacked by the 21st Brigade -upon July 23. About this date the Thirty-sixth -Bantam Division had a repulse at the Malzhorn Farm -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P184"></a>184}</span> -to the south of Guillemont, both the 104th and 105th -Brigades being hard hit, and many of the brave little -men being left in front of the German machine-guns. -A week later a much more elaborate attack was made -upon it by the rest of the Thirtieth Division, -strengthened by one brigade (the 106th) of the -Thirty-fifth Division. This attack was carried out in -co-operation with an advance of the Second Division upon -Guillemont Station to the left of the village, and an -advance of the French upon the right at Falfemont -and Malzhorn. -</p> - -<p> -The frontal advance upon Guillemont from the -Trones Wood direction appears to have been about -as difficult an operation as could be conceived in -modern warfare. Everything helped the defence and -nothing the attack. The approach was a glacis 700 -yards in width, which was absolutely commanded by -the guns in the village, and also by those placed -obliquely to north and south. There was no cover of -any kind. Prudence would no doubt have suggested -that we should make good in the north at Longueval -and thus outflank the whole German line of defence. -It was essential, however, to fit our plans in with those -of the French, and it was understood that those were -such as to demand a very special, and if needs be, a -self-immolating effort upon the right of the line. -</p> - -<p> -The attack had been arranged for the morning of -July 30, and it was carried out in spite of the fact that -during the first few hours the fog was so dense that -it was hard to see more than a few yards. This made -the keeping of direction across so broad a space as -700 yards very difficult; while on the right, where the -advance was for more than a mile and had to be -co-ordinated with the troops of our Allies, it was so -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P185"></a>185}</span> -complex a matter that there was considerable danger -at one time that the fight in this quarter would resolve -itself into a duel between the right of the British -Thirtieth and the left of the French Thirty-ninth -Division. -</p> - -<p> -The 89th Brigade advanced upon the right and -the 90th upon the left, the latter being directed -straight for the village. The two leading battalions, -the 2nd Scots Fusiliers and the 18th Manchesters, -reached it and established themselves firmly in its -western suburbs; but the German barrage fell so -thickly behind them that neither help nor munitions -could reach them. Lieutenant Murray, who was sent -back to report their critical situation, found Germans -wandering about behind the line, and was compelled -to shoot several in making his way through. He -carried the news that the attack of the Second -Division upon the station had apparently failed, that -the machine-gun fire from the north was deadly, and -that both battalions were in peril. The Scots had -captured 50 and the Manchesters 100 prisoners, but -they were penned in and unable to get on. Two -companies of the 17th Manchesters made their way -with heavy loss through the fatal barrage, but failed -to alleviate the situation. It would appear that in -the fog the Scots were entirely surrounded, and that -they fought, as is their wont, while a cartridge lasted. -Their last message was, that their ranks and munition -supply were both thin, their front line broken, the -shelling hard, and the situation critical. None of -these men ever returned, and the only survivors of -this battalion of splendid memories were the wounded -in No Man's Land and the Headquarter Staff. It -was the second time that the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P186"></a>186}</span> -had fought to the last man in this war. Of the 18th -Manchesters few returned, and two companies of the -16th Manchesters were not more fortunate. They -got into the village on the extreme north, and found -themselves in touch with the 17th Royal Fusiliers of -the Second Division; but neither battalion could -make good its position. It was one of the tragic -episodes of the great Somme battle. -</p> - -<p> -The 89th Brigade upon their right had troubles of -their own, but they were less formidable than those -of their comrades. As already described, they had -the greatest difficulty in finding their true position -amid the fog. Their action began successfully by a -company of the 2nd Bedfords, together with a French -company, rushing an isolated German trench and -killing 70 men who occupied it. This was a small -detached operation, for the front line of the advancing -brigade was formed by the 19th Manchesters on the -left, and by the 20th on the right, the latter in touch -with the French 153rd of the line. The 19th reached -the south-eastern corner of Guillemont, failed to get -in touch with the Scots Fusiliers, and found both -its flanks in the air. It had eventually to fall back, -having lost Major Rolls, its commander, and many -officers and men. The 20th Manchesters advanced -upon the German Malzhorn Trenches and carried the -front one, killing many of the occupants. In going -forward from this point they lost 200 of their number -while passing down a bullet-swept slope. Three out -of four company commanders had fallen. Beyond -the slope was a sunken road, and at this point a young -lieutenant, Musker, found himself in command with -mixed men from three battalions under his orders. -Twelve runners sent back with messages were all shot, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P187"></a>187}</span> -which will give some idea of the severity of the -barrage. Musker showed good powers of leadership, -and consolidated his position in the road, but was -unfortunately killed, the command then devolving -upon a sub-lieutenant. The Bedfords came up -to reinforce, and some permanent advance was -established in this quarter—all that was gained -by this very sanguinary engagement, which cost -about 3000 men. The Bantams lost heavily also in -this action though they only played the humble role -of carriers to the storming brigades. -</p> - -<p> -The whole of the fighting chronicled in this chapter -may be taken as an aftermath of the action of July 14, -and as an endeavour upon our part to enlarge our -gains and upon the part of the Germans to push us -out from what we had won. The encroachment upon -High Wood upon the left, the desperate defence and -final clearing of Delville Wood in the centre, and the -attempt to drive the Germans from Guillemont upon -the right—an attempt which was brought later to a -successful conclusion—are all part of one system of -operations designed for the one end. -</p> - -<p> -It should be remarked that during all this -fighting upon the Somme continual demonstrations, -amounting in some cases to small battles, occurred -along the northern line to keep the Germans employed. -The most serious of these occurred in the Eleventh -Corps district near Fromelles, opposite the Aubers -Ridge. Here the Second Australians upon the left, -and the Sixty-first British Division upon the right, a -unit of second-line Territorial battalions, largely from -the West country, made a most gallant attack and -carried the German line for a time, but were -compelled, upon July 20, the day following the attack, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P188"></a>188}</span> -to fall back once more, as the gun positions upon -the Aubers Ridge commanded the newly-taken -trenches. It was particularly hard upon the -Australians, whose grip upon the German position -was firm, while the two brigades of the Sixty-first, -though they behaved with great gallantry, had been -less successful in the assault. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p><a id="chap08"></a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P189"></a>189}</span></p> - -<h3> -CHAPTER VIII -<br /><br /> -THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME -</h3> - -<p class="t3"> - The Operations of Gough's Army upon the Northern<br /> - Flank up to September 15<br /> -</p> - -<p class="intro"> -Advance, Australia!—Capture of Pozières—Fine work of Forty-eighth -Division—Relief of Australia by Canada—Steady advance of -Gough's Army—Capture of Courcelette. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -All the fighting which has been described was carried -out by Rawlinson's Fourth Army, consisting of the -Third, the Fifteenth, and the Thirteenth Corps. A -new element was now, however, introduced upon the -left flank. It will be remembered that Sir Hubert -Gough had been given a Fifth or reserve army, -consisting of the Eighth and Tenth Corps, with which -to hold the flank. Of these, the Tenth, including -the Forty-ninth, Forty-eighth, and First Australian -Divisions, was now pushed forward into the fighting, -with the intention of attacking Pozières and widening -the British front. -</p> - -<p> -This was the first serious appearance of the -Australians upon a European battle-field, and it may -be said at once that the high reputation which they -had gained as dogged and dashing fighters in the -Gallipoli campaign was fully endorsed in France. -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P190"></a>190}</span> -From General Birdwood, their admirable leader, -down through every unit of their divisions, there -ran an indomitable spirit, united to an individuality -and readiness of resource which made them -soldiers of the highest type. Their physique, too, -was extraordinarily fine, and even the stay-at-home -Londoner who had seen the lithe figures and the eager, -clean-cut, aquiline faces under the broad-rimmed -hats, bringing a touch of romance into our drab -streets, would need no assurance that the men were -splendid. A nation of sportsmen had changed themselves -very easily into a nation of soldiers. Of all the -strange turns of fate in this extraordinary war, surely -there are few more quaint than that the black-fellow -call of "Cooee!" should many a time have resounded -at the crisis of a European battle. -</p> - -<p> -As the First Australian Division lay upon July -22, it had the straggling and strongly entrenched -village of Pozières in front of it. Upon the right -they were in touch with the First Division filling the -gap between Pozières and Bazentin, as described at -the beginning of Chapter VII. On their left was the -Forty-eighth Division of South Midland Territorials. -The village had been reduced to a mere rubbish-heap -by the guns, but was none the less dangerous on that -account. -</p> - -<p> -On the early morning of July 23, before it was -light, the Australians made their first eruption into -the Somme fighting. "The difficulty," as their -chronicler truly declares, "was not to get the men -forward, but to hold them." With an eager rush -the men of New South Wales overwhelmed the front -trench across the face of the village. It was dotted -with German bodies, killed by the artillery. The -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P191"></a>191}</span> -second trench in the village itself was found to be -obliterated in places. It was occupied as far as -possible after a sharp hand-to-hand fight, and daylight -found the Australians, chiefly Victorians, in full -possession of the southern and western end of the -village. There was no counter-attack during July -23, and the day was spent in consolidating and in -rounding-up prisoners from the dug-outs. For three -days there was very heavy German shelling, but the -division had served too long an apprenticeship to be -shaken by such means. They lay low and held on -tightly. -</p> - -<p> -On Tuesday, July 25, came the first German -attack, but it was broken up so completely by the -British barrage that the Australians had only distant -glimpses of the enemy infantry crawling from under -the sleet which beat upon them. The merciless -pounding of the bombardment continued, and then -again in the late afternoon came another infantry -attack, which was again scattered by the dominant -all-observing guns. Up to now 150 prisoners, including -two German colonels, had fallen into our hands. -</p> - -<p> -Whilst the Australians had been attacking -Pozières from the south, the Forty-eighth Division -had made a similar advance from the south-west, -and had made good the ground upon the left side of -the Albert-Bapaume Road, including the western -outskirts of the village and part of the Leipzig salient. -In our admiration for our kinsmen from across the -seas we must not forget, nor will they, that these -lads from the very heart of rural England went step -by step with them up Pozières Hill, and shared the -victory which awaited them upon it. -</p> - -<p> -The 143rd Brigade, consisting entirely of Warwick -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P192"></a>192}</span> -battalions (5, 6, 7, and 8), the 144th of Glosters (4 and -6) and Worcesters (7 and 8), and the 145th from -Gloucester (5), Buckingham, Oxford and Buckingham -(4), and Berkshire (4), took it in turns to surge -up against the formidable German line, showing the -greatest valour and perseverance, overcoming difficulty -after difficulty, and always getting slowly forward -from the first movement upon July 22, until upon -July 26 they had overcome every obstacle and joined -hands with the Australians at the cemetery which -marks the north end of the village of Pozières. Many -prisoners and a fine extension of the line were the -fruits of their exertions. The 5th Royal Sussex -Pioneer Battalion, amidst considerable difficulties -and heavy shell-fire, consolidated all that had been -won. The 4th Gloucesters and 7th Worcesters particularly -distinguished themselves at this time by their -persistent day-by-day work against the German trench -line. -</p> - -<p> -On the morning of July 26 the Australian advance -was resumed. There were two obstacles immediately -in front—the one a strong redoubt, the other a line -of trench. The redoubt was most gallantly attacked -by the men of Queensland and of South Australia, -and was overwhelmed by their bombs. The -Victorians, meanwhile, had won their way into the -trench, but as it communicated by many runways -with the main German system behind, an endless -flow of reinforcements were able to come into it, and -the length of the trench enabled the Germans to -attack upon both flanks. It was a most bloody and -desperate conflict which swung and swayed down the -long ditches, and sometimes over the edges of them -into the bullet-swept levels between. Men threw -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P193"></a>193}</span> -and threw until they were so arm-weary that not -another bomb could be lifted. If ever there were -born natural bombers it must surely be among the -countrymen of Spofforth and Trumble—and so it -proved at that terrible international by Pozières -village. A British aeroplane swooped down out of -the misty morning, and gave signals of help and -advice from above, so as to dam that ever-moving -stream of reinforcement. -</p> - -<p> -The trenches in dispute were of no vital importance -themselves, but they were the outposts of the -great German second line which stretched behind its -broad apron of barbed wire within a few hundred -yards to the north-east of the village. The ground -sloped upwards, and the Germans were on the crest. -This was the next objective of the Australians, and -was attacked by their Second Division on July 29. -On the flank of the hill to the left the Victorians won a -lodgment, but the main position was still impregnable—and -almost unapproachable. Sullenly and slowly -the infantry fell back to their own trenches, leaving -many of their best and bravest before or among the -fatal wires. -</p> - -<p> -The position had been improved upon the left, -however, by an advance of the Forty-eighth Division. -The Warwick Brigade upon their right made no great -progress, but the 145th Brigade upon the left took the -trench in front of it and pushed that flank well -forward. This successful attack was at seven in the -evening of July 27. The leading battalions were the -4th Berks upon the right and the 6th Gloucesters on -the left, and these two sturdy battalions captured all -their objectives. A number of the 5th Regiment of -the Prussian Guard were killed or captured in this -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P194"></a>194}</span> -affair. As the whole line had to turn half left after -leaving the taking-off trench, it was a fine piece of -disciplined fighting. General Gough was a personal -witness of this attack. -</p> - -<p> -On August 4, six days later, the Australians came -back to the attack with all the dour pertinacity of -their breed. This time their success was triumphant. -A steady bombardment had laid the German -front open, and in the dark of the night the Australian -infantry, advancing over their own dead, rushed the -position, surprising the Germans at a moment when -a relief was being carried out. Many of the Germans -who had been expecting a rest from their labours -got one indeed—but it was in England rather than -in their own rear. With the early morning the -Australians were on the Pozières Ridge, and one of -the few remaining observation posts of the enemy -had passed from him for ever. In front of them was -the land of promise—the long slope seamed by German -trenches, the distant German camps, the churches -and villages of that captive France which they had -come so far to redeem. -</p> - -<p> -Once again the left flank of the Australians was -in close co-operation with a British Division. The -Forty-eighth had been withdrawn and replaced by -the Twelfth, a division which was rapidly acquiring -a very solid reputation in the army. The men of -the 7th Sussex upon the right and those of Surrey -and of Kent upon the left were in the front of the -battle-line, which rolled slowly up the slope of -Pozières, continually driving the German resistance -before it. The ground gained early in August was -some 2000 yards of frontage with a depth of 400 -yards, and though the whole ridge, and the Windmill -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P195"></a>195}</span> -which marks it, had not yet been cleared, the fact -that the British had a good foothold upon it was of -the utmost strategical importance, apart from the -continual stream of prisoners who fell into their -hands. The Sussex battalion linked up with the -Australians, and nothing could have been closer than -the co-operation between the two, so much so that -it is on record that with a glorious recklessness -a bunch of Australians pushed forward without -orders in order to keep the Sussex men company in -one of their attacks. The South Saxons have again -and again shown that there is no more solid military -material in England. It is said that a rampant pig -with "We won't be druv!" as a motto was an old -emblem of that ancient county. Her sons assuredly -lived up to the legend during the War. -</p> - -<p> -On the morning of the 6th and of the 7th two -counter-attacks stormed up to the new British line. -The first was small and easily repelled, a sporadic -effort by some gallant hot-headed officer, who died -in the venture, clicking his Mauser to the last. The -second was serious, for three battalions came very -gallantly forwards, and a sudden rush of 1500 Germans, -some of whom carried <i>flammenwerfer</i>, burst into the -trenches at two separate points, making prisoners -of some 50 Australians who were cut off from their -comrades. The attack was bravely delivered in -broad daylight, the enemy coming on in good line in -the face of severe fire; but the Australians, with their -usual individuality, rallied, and not only repulsed -the enemy, but captured many of them, besides -recapturing the prisoners whom they had taken. -This was the supreme German attempt to recapture -the position, but they were by no means able to -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P196"></a>196}</span> -reconcile themselves to the loss of it, and came on -again and again in smaller assaults spread over several -days, which had no result save to increase their already -very heavy losses in this region. -</p> - -<p> -This <i>flammenwerfer</i> attack had broken also upon -the outposts of the 36th Brigade to the left, eight of -these infernal machines coming forward with a throng -of bombers behind them. The captain of the 9th -Royal Fusiliers, instead of awaiting the attack in a -crowded trench, rushed his men forward in the open, -where they shot down the flame-bearers before they -could bring their devilish squirts to bear. The -bombers, who had followed the advance, led the -flight. On this day 127 Germans who had been -caught in a pocket between the British trenches were -forced to surrender, after a very creditable resistance. -</p> - -<p> -On August 12 the Twelfth Division attacked -once more upon a broad front, the 35th Brigade -upon the right, the 37th upon the left. The -result of the attack was a satisfactory accession of -ground, for although the Surreys and West Kents -were held up, the Norfolks and Essex attained their -objective and held it. Some 40 prisoners and a useful -line of trench were the results. That night the 48th -South Midlanders replaced the Twelfth Division once -more, resuming their old station upon the left of the -Australians, whose various divisions rang changes -upon each other, men from every corner of the great -island continent, from the burning plains of the -Northern Territories to the wind-swept hills of -Tasmania, relieving each other in the ever-advancing -line of trenches and strong points which slowly ate -into the German front. One day it was the West -Australians who blew back an attack with their rifle -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P197"></a>197}</span> -fire. On the next it was the Melbourne men who -had rushed another position. On the summit of the -Ridge was the stump of an old windmill, which lay -now between the two lines, and it was towards this -and along the slope of the crest that the advance was -gradually creeping. It is worth noting that in this -part of the line some sort of amenity was introduced -concerning the wounded, and that neither party -sniped the other so long as a Red Cross flag was -shown. It is grievous to think that such a condition -needs to be recorded. -</p> - -<p> -August 10 and 11 witnessed two night attacks by -the 4th and 6th Gloucesters respectively, neither of -which made much progress. The Territorials of the -Forty-eighth Division still kept step, however, with -the Australians in all that desperate advance up the -long slope of Pozières Hill, the two units striving in -a generous rivalry of valour, which ended in deep -mutual confidence and esteem. -</p> - -<p> -On August 14 the enemy counter-attacked with -some vigour, and momentarily regained a trench -near the windmill. On the 15th the line had been -restored. On the 17th there was a strong attack in -six successive lines upon the Forty-eighth British -and the First Australian Divisions, but it had no -result. On the 18th, however, the 5th and 6th -Warwicks paid a return visit with great success, -carrying three lines of trenches and capturing 600 -prisoners. This was a very fine exploit, carried out -at 5 P.M. of a summer evening. -</p> - -<p> -It was about this date that a new movement -began upon the British left, which extended their -line of battle. Since the capture of Ovillers, a month -before, the flank of the army to the left of the attack -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P198"></a>198}</span> -upon Pozières had been guarded by the Forty-ninth -Division of Yorks Territorials, but no attack had -been attempted in this quarter. On August 18 -the Twenty-fifth Division relieved the Forty-ninth, -and an advance upon a small scale which gradually -assumed more importance was started in the -direction of Thiepval, the German village fortress -of sinister reputation, which lay upon the left flank -on the hither side of the River Ancre. Upon this -General Gough had now fixed a menacing gaze, and -though his advance was gradual, it was none the less -inexorable until his aim had been attained; and not -only Thiepval itself but the important heights to -the north and east of it which dominate the valley of -the Ancre were in the hands of his persevering troops. -The first obstacles in his path were a stronghold -named the Leipzig Redoubt, and to the east of it a -widespread farm, now spread even wider by British -shells. This nest of snipers and machine-guns was -known as Mouquet Farm. Upon the 19th, as part of -the general attack along the line, which will be more -fully dealt with elsewhere, not only was our Pozières -front pushed forward past the windmill for 300 yards, -but the 1st Wiltshires of the Twenty-fifth Division, -operating upon the left of the Forty-eighth, which -in turn was on the left of the Australians, made an -important lodgment on the high ground to the south -of Thiepval. The Forty-eighth Division also made -some advance, the 4th Gloucesters upon the night of the -19th capturing 400 yards of trench with 200 prisoners. -Their comrades of the 6th Battalion had less fortune, -however, in an attack upon the German trenches on -August 22, when they had two companies partially -destroyed by machine-gun fire, while every officer -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P199"></a>199}</span> -engaged was hit, including Major Coates, who was -killed. On this same day there was again an -Australian advance near Pozières, whilst at the other -end of the line, which was biting like acid into the -German defences, the Twenty-fifth Division began -to encroach upon the Leipzig salient, and were within -1000 yards of Thiepval. In this entirely successful -attack a new invention, the push pipe-line, was used -for the first time with some success, having the double -effect of blowing up the enemy's strong point, and of -forming a rudimentary communication trench in the -track of its explosion. In this connection it may be -stated generally that while the Germans, with their -objects clear in front of them, had used before the -War far greater ingenuity than the British in warlike -invention, as witness the poison gas, <i>minenwerfer</i> -and flame-throwers, their methods became stereotyped -after War broke out; while the more individual -Britons showed greater ingenuity and constructive -ability, so that by the end of 1916 they had attained -a superiority upon nearly every point. Their heavy -artillery, light machine-guns, aeroplanes, bombs, -trench-mortars, and gas apparatus were all of the -very best; and in their tanks they were soon to take -an entirely new departure in warfare. It is as difficult -in our British system to fix the responsibility -for good as for evil, but there is ample evidence of a -great discriminating intelligence in the heart of our -affairs. -</p> - -<p> -The Hindenburg Trench was the immediate object -of these attacks, and on August 24 a stretch of it, -containing 150 occupants, was carried. A pocket of -Germans was left at one end of it, who held on -manfully and made a successful resistance against a -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P200"></a>200}</span> -company of the 8th North Lancashires, who tried to -rush them. Ultimately, however, these brave men -were all taken or killed. -</p> - -<p> -Day by day the line crept on, and before the end -of the month the 1000 yards had become 500, whilst -every advance yielded some new trench with a crop -of prisoners. The enemy was fully alive, however, -to the great importance of the Thiepval position, -which would give the British guns an opportunity of -raking Beaumont Hamel and their other strongholds -upon the north of the Ancre. A very strong counter-attack -was made, therefore, by some battalions of the -Prussian Guard on the evening of August 25, preceded -by a shattering bombardment. The attack—the edge -of which was blunted by the British barrage—fell -mainly upon the 7th Brigade of the Twenty-fifth -Division. The result was a German defeat, and the -menacing line drew ever nearer to Thiepval, though -an attack by the North Lancs upon the Prussian -Fusilier Guards upon August 28 was not successful. -On the day before, however, the Forty-eighth Division -upon the right of the Twenty-fifth made a successful -advance, taking a good line of trench with 100 of the -redoubtable Guards. Between Thiepval and Pozières -the ruins of Mouquet Farm had been taken by the -West Australians and the Tasmanians, and was found -to be a perfect warren of snipers, so that it was some -time before it was absolutely clear. On the Pozières -Ridge ground and prisoners were continually being -gained, and the trenches between the Ridge and -Mouquet Farm were cleared by Queensland on the -right and by Tasmania on the left. It was a most -spirited fight, where Australian and Prussian stood -up to each other within short bomb-throw. But -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P201"></a>201}</span> -nothing could stand against the fire of the attack. -The whole line of trench upon the right was captured. -There was a dangerous gap, however, upon the -Tasmanian left, and this the Tasmanians were compelled -to endure for two days and nights, during which -they were hard pressed by never-ending shelling and -incessant German attacks. It is on record that their -constant reports of their parlous state sent on to -headquarters concluded always with the words: -"But we will hold on." If Tasmania needs a motto, -she could find no better one, for her sons lived and -died up to it during those terrible hours. When at -last they were relieved, their numbers were sorely -reduced, but their ground was still intact. At the -other side of the gap, however, the West Australians, -hard pressed by an overpowering bombardment, had -been pushed out from Mouquet Farm, which came -back into German hands, whence it was destined soon -to pass. -</p> - -<p> -It was during this severe fighting that a little scene -occurred which, as described by Mr. Bean, the very -able Australian chronicler, must stir the blood of -every Imperialist. A single officer "of middle age, -erect, tough as wire, with lines on his face such as hard -fighting and responsibility leave on every soldier," -appeared in the Australian communication trenches, -asking to see the officer-in-charge. He spoke the same -tongue but with a different intonation as he explained -his mission. He was the forerunner of the relieving -force, and the First Division of Canada was taking -over the line from Australia—a line which was -destined to bring glory to each of them. Surely a -great historical picture might be made in more peaceful -times of this first contact of the two great nations -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P202"></a>202}</span> -of the future, separated by half the world from each -other, and yet coming together amid blood and fire -at the call of the race. An hour later, Canadian -Highlanders in a long buoyant line were pushing -swiftly forward to occupy the trenches which Australia -had won and held. "Australians and Canadians," -says Mr. Bean, "fought for thirty-six hours in those -trenches inexorably mixed, working under each other's -officers. Their wounded helped each other from the -front. Their dead lie, and will lie, through all the -centuries, hastily buried, beside the tumbled trenches -and shell-holes where, fighting as mates, they died." So -ended the Australian epic upon the Somme. It is -to be remembered that the New Zealanders formed an -entirely separate division, whose doings will presently -be considered. -</p> - -<p> -Whilst the Overseas troops had been fighting hard -before Pozières, there had been a considerable -movement upon their left to attack northwards along the -Thiepval Spur. This was carried out by the Thirty-ninth -Division north of the Ancre, the Forty-ninth -and the Twenty-fifth upon September 3. Some -ground was gained, but the losses were heavy, -especially in the 75th Brigade, where the 2nd South -Lancashires suffered considerably. This battalion -had been in shallow trenches exposed to fire and -weather for six days previous to the attack, and was -greatly worn. This attack was part of the general -battle of September 3, but from Mouquet Farm northwards -it cannot be said to have given any adequate -return for our losses. -</p> - -<p> -Our narrative of the events upon the left wing of -the army has now got in front of the general account, -but as the operations of General Gough's force have -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P203"></a>203}</span> -definite objectives of their own, the story may now be -continued up to September 15, after which we can -leave this flank altogether for a time and concentrate -upon the happenings in the centre, and especially -upon the right flank where Delville Wood, Ginchy and -Guillemont had presented such impediments to the -advance. At or about the time, September 4, when -the Canadians took over the lines of the Australians -at Pozières and Mouquet Farm, the Eleventh British -Division, the First English Division of the New Army, -which had come back from hard service in the East, -relieved the Twenty-fifth Division upon the Canadian -left. For a week there was quiet upon this part of -the line, for a great forward move along the whole -eleven-mile front had been planned for September 15, -and this was the lull before the storm. On the evening -before this great assault, the Eleventh Division crept -up to and carried the main German stronghold, called -the Wonderwork, which lay between them and -Thiepval. There was some sharp bayonet work, and -the defeated garrison flying towards Thiepval ran into -the barrage so that the enemy losses were heavy, while -the British line crept up to within 350 yards of the -village. This advance stopped for ever the flank fire -by which the Germans were able to make Mouquet -Farm almost untenable, and the Canadians were able -to occupy it. The capture of the Wonderwork was -carried out by Price's 32nd Infantry Brigade of -Yorkshire troops. The most of the work and the heaviest -losses fell upon the 9th West Yorks, but the 8th West -Ridings and the 6th Yorks were both engaged, the -latter losing their colonel, Forsyth. The total -casualties came to 26 officers and 742 men. -</p> - -<p> -On September 15 the Eleventh Division held the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P204"></a>204}</span> -flank in front of Thiepval, but the Second and Third -Canadian Divisions shared in the general advance, -and pushed forward their line over the Pozières Ridge -and down for 1000 yards of the slope in front, joining -hands with the Fifteenth Scottish Division in -Martinpuich upon the right. This fine advance crossed -several German trenches, took the fortified position -of the Sugar Refinery, and eventually included in -its scope the village of Courcelette, which had not -been included in the original scheme. All Canada, -from Halifax in the east to Vancouver in the west, -was represented in this victory; and it was -particularly pleasing that the crowning achievement—the -capture of Courcelette—was carried out largely -by the 22nd Battalion of the 5th Brigade French -Canadians of the Second Division. French Canada, -like Ireland, has been diverted somewhat by petty -internal influences from taking a wide and worthy -view of the great struggle against German conquest, -but it can truly be said in both cases that the fine -quality of those who came did much to atone for the -apathy of those who stayed. Thirteen hundred -German prisoners were brought back by the Canadians. -During the Courcelette operations, the Third Canadian -Division was working upon the left flank of the -Second as it attacked the village, protecting it from -enfilade attack. The work and the losses in this useful -movement fell chiefly upon the 8th Brigade. -</p> - -<p> -This considerable victory was, as will afterwards -be shown, typical of what had occurred along the whole -line upon that great day of battle and victory. It -was followed, so far as the Canadians were concerned, -by a day of heavy sacrifice and imperfect success. -The Third Division, still operating upon the left of -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P205"></a>205}</span> -the Second, endeavoured to carry the formidable -Zollern Trench and Zollern Redoubt to the north of -Courcelette. The 7th and 9th Brigades were in the -attacking line, but the former was held up from the -beginning. The latter got forward, but found itself -confronted by the inevitable barbed wire, which -stayed its progress. No good was done, and two -gallant battalions, the 60th (Montreal) and the 52nd -(New Ontario), lost 800 men between them. The -operation was suspended until it could be renewed -upon a larger scale and a broader front. -</p> - -<p> -At this point we may suspend our account of the -operations of Gough's Fifth Army, while we return -to the Fourth Army upon the south, and bring the -record of its work up to this same date. Afterwards, -we shall return to the Fifth Army and describe the -successful operations by which it cleared the Thiepval -Ridge, gained command of the Ancre Valley, and -finally created a situation which was directly -responsible for the great German retreat in the early -spring of 1917. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p><a id="chap09"></a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P206"></a>206}</span></p> - -<h3> -CHAPTER IX -<br /><br /> -THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME -</h3> - -<p class="t3"> -August 1 to September 15 -</p> - -<p class="intro"> -Continued attempts of Thirty-third Division on High -Wood—Co-operation of First Division—Operation of Fourteenth Division -on fringe of Delville Wood—Attack by Twenty-fourth Division -on Guillemont—Capture of Guillemont by 47th and 59th -Brigades—Capture of Ginchy by Sixteenth Irish Division. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -After the very hard fighting which accompanied -and followed the big attack of July 14, continuing -without a real break to the end of the month, there -was a lull of a couple of weeks, which were employed -by the German commentators in consoling articles -to prove that the allied offensive was at an end, and -by the Allies in bringing forward their guns and -preparing for a renewed effort. The middle of August -heard the drum fire break out again and the operations -were continued, but on a local rather than a -general scale. Many isolated positions had to be -mastered before a general surge forward could be -expected or attempted, and experience was to prove -that it is precisely those isolated operations which -are most difficult and costly, since they always mean -that the whole concentration of the German guns -can be turned upon the point which is endangered. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P207"></a>207}</span> -</p> - -<p> -It will simplify the following operations to the -reader if he will remember that the whole left wing -of the army is excluded, being treated separately as -Gough's flank advance. We only deal therefore with -Rawlinson's Army. The front which faces us may be -divided into several well-defined areas, each of which -is in turn subjected to attack. There is High Wood -on the extreme left, with the Intermediate Trench -and the Switch Trench within it, or to its north. -There is the line of trenches, Switch Trench, Wood -Trench, Tea Trench, etc., linking up High Wood with -Delville Wood. There is the north-eastern fringe of -Delville Wood, there are the trenches between Delville -Wood and Ginchy, there is Ginchy itself, there are -the trenches between Ginchy and Guillemont, there is -Guillemont itself, and finally there is a stretch of trench -between Guillemont and the French left at Falfemont. -This is the formidable barrier which was attacked -again and again at various points between August 1 -and September 15 as will now be told. -</p> - -<p> -August 16 witnessed another attack by the -Thirty-third Division upon High Wood, a position -which had once already been almost entirely in their -hands, but which had proved to be untenable on account -of the concentration of fire which the German guns -could bring to bear upon its limited space. None the -less, it was determined that it should be once again -attempted, for it was so situated that its machine-guns -raked any advance between it and Delville -Wood. The attack upon this occasion was carried -out on the eastern side by the 98th Brigade, -strengthened for the work by the addition of the -20th Royal Fusiliers and a wing of the 1st Middlesex. -It might well seem depressing to the soldiers to be -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P208"></a>208}</span> -still facing an obstacle which they had carried a month -before, but if this portion of the British line was -stationary it had gained ground upon either wing, -and it might also be urged that in a combat destined -to be ended by military exhaustion it is the continued -fighting rather than the local result that counts. If -High Wood had cost and was to cost us dearly to -attack, it assuredly was not cheap to defend; and if -their artillery had made it too deadly for our occupation -our own guns must also have taken high toll of -the German garrison. Such broader views are easy for -the detached reasoner in dug-out or in study, but to -the troops who faced the ill-omened litter of broken -tree-trunks and decaying bodies it might well seem -disheartening that this sinister grove should still bar -the way. -</p> - -<p> -At 2.45 in the afternoon the infantry advanced, -the 4th King's Liverpool upon the left and the 4th -Suffolks on the right, keeping well up to the friendly -shelter of their own pelting barrage. The enemy, -however, had at once established a powerful counter-barrage, -which caused heavy losses, especially to the -King's, most of whose officers were hit early in the -action. The two leading company commanders were -killed and the advance held up. The Suffolks had got -forward rather better, and part of them seized the -German trench called Wood Lane to the south-east -of the wood, but unhappily the only surviving officer -with the party was killed in the trench, and the men -being exposed to bombing attacks and to heavy -enfilade fire from the eastern corner of High Wood -were compelled to fall back after holding the trench -for fifty minutes. -</p> - -<p> -These two battalions had attacked upon the flank -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P209"></a>209}</span> -of the wood. The wood itself was entered by three -companies of the Argyll and Sutherlands, who found -it laced with wire and full of machine-guns. The -Highlanders stuck gamely to their task, and some -of them—little groups of desperate men—actually -crossed the wood, but their losses were heavy and, -as is usual in forest fighting, all cohesion and -direction became impossible. The whole attack was hung -up. The 20th Royal Fusiliers, one of the public -school battalions, was sent forward therefore to get -the line moving once again. They shared in the -losses, but were unable to retrieve the situation. So -worn were the battalions that there was some question -whether the 98th Brigade could hold its own line -if there should be a vigorous counter-attack. The -19th Brigade was therefore brought up to support -and eventually to relieve their comrades. The -losses of the 98th amounted to over 2000 men, -showing how manfully they had attempted a task -which the result showed to be above their strength. -The causes of the failure were undoubtedly the uncut -wire in the wood, and that our gunners had been -unsuccessful in beating down the machine-guns of the -enemy. -</p> - -<p> -Whilst the Thirty-third Division had been making -these vigorous attacks upon High Wood, a corresponding -movement had taken place upon the north side of -the wood, where the First Division had come into line -upon August 15, taking the place of the Thirty-fourth -Division. They plunged at once into action, for the -2nd Brigade upon August 16 made a successful -advance, the 1st Northants and 2nd Sussex pushing -the line on for some hundreds of yards at considerable -cost to themselves, and driving back a half-hearted -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P210"></a>210}</span> -counter-attack, which endeavoured to throw them -out of their new gains. This attack was renewed -with much greater weight, however, upon August 17, -and both the 1st and 2nd Brigades were driven -back for a few hours. In the afternoon they rallied -and regained most of the lost ground. Immediately -in front of them stretched a long German trench -termed the Intermediate Trench, being the chief -one between the second and third lines. Towards -evening the 1st Brigade attacked this trench, the -1st Black Watch being the most advanced battalion. -There was a hard fight, but the position was still too -strong. Next morning, August 18, the gallant -Highlanders were back at it once more, but the day was -very misty, and the advance seems to have lost its -exact bearings. The left company stumbled upon a -pocket of 30 Germans, whom it took or killed, but -could not find the trench. The right company got -into the trench, but were not numerous enough to -resist a very vigorous bombing attack, which -re-established the German garrison. The 8th Berkshires -pushed forward to try their luck, but a smoke -cloud thrown out by a division on the left came -drifting down and the attack was enveloped in it, -losing both cohesion and direction. The Intermediate -Trench was still German in the evening. -</p> - -<p> -Although the 1st Brigade had been held up at this -point the 2nd Brigade had made some progress upon -their right, for a successful attack was made by the -1st Northamptons and by the 1st North Lancashires -upon a German trench to the north-west of High -Wood. Colonel Longridge of the staff, a valuable -officer, was killed in this affair, but the place was -taken, and a strong point established. During the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P211"></a>211}</span> -night two platoons of the Northamptons made an -audacious attempt to steal an advance by creeping -forwards 400 yards and digging in under the very -noses of the Germans, on a small ridge which was -of tactical importance. There was a considerable -bickering all day round this point, the Sussex endeavouring -to help their old battle-mates to hold the fort, -but the supports were too distant, and eventually -the garrison had to regain their own line. -</p> - -<p> -Upon August 20 there was a severe German attack -upon the line of the First Division, which was held at -the time by the 1st Northamptons and the 2nd Rifles. -The advance developed in great force, driving in the -outpost line and part of the Northamptons. The -brave old "Cobblers" were a very seasoned battalion, -and took a great deal of shifting from their shallow -trench, hand-to-hand fighting taking place along the -line. With the help of two companies of the Rifles -the advance was stayed on the Northampton front; -but a second attack developed out of High Wood -upon the right flank of the Rifles. Two platoons -under Lieutenant Stokes showed great gallantry in -holding up this sudden and dangerous incursion. -The platoons were relieved by the Gloucesters, but -as there was no officer with the relief, Stokes remained -on with the new garrison, and helped to drive back -two more attacks, showing a splendid disregard for -all danger, until he was finally killed by a shell. -Captain Johnstone, who had led the Riflemen in their -relief of the Northamptons, was also killed, while -Major Atkinson and 130 men of the Rifles were hit. -The losses of the Northamptons were even more -heavy, but the German advance came to nought. -</p> - -<p> -At the risk of carrying the account of the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P212"></a>212}</span> -operations near High Wood and between High Wood and -the west edge of Delville Wood to a point which will -compel a considerable return in order to bring up -the narrative of the rest of the line, we shall still -continue them to the date of the great advance of -September 15, when the whole vast array from -Pozières upon the left to Leuze Wood upon the right -heaved itself forward, and local attacks gave place to -a big concerted movement. We shall therefore continue -to follow the fortunes of the First Division in -their hard task in front of the Intermediate Trench. -After the failure of their attempt to get forward upon -August 19 the action died down, and for four days -there was no fresh advance. The 3rd Brigade had -come up into the front line, and upon August 24 the -Munsters made an attempt upon the German trench -without success. Colonel Lyon lost his life in this -affair. Upon August 25 another battalion of the -Brigade, the South Wales Borderers, made a bombing -attack, and again were in the trench and once again -were driven out. They were not to be denied, -however, and upon August 26 actually occupied 180 yards -of it, taking one of the deadly guns which had wrought -such damage. On the 27th a German counter-attack -was heavily repulsed, but an attempt of the South -Wales Borderers to improve their success was also a -failure. On the evening of this day the Fifteenth -Scottish Division took over the position in front -of the Intermediate Trench, the First Division -moving to the right and enabling the Thirty-third -Division upon its flank to move also to the right. -The Fifteenth Division was able in very tempestuous -weather partly to outflank the Intermediate Trench, -with the result that upon the afternoon of August 30 -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P213"></a>213}</span> -the remains of the garrison, finding that they were in a -trap, surrendered. Two machine-guns with 140 men -were taken. -</p> - -<p> -Upon August 12 the Fourteenth Light Division, -which in spite of its initial misfortune at Hooge -had won the name of being one of the finest -divisions of the New Army, came up into line. Its -first station was in the Delville Wood area, which was -still a most difficult section, in spite of our occupation -of the wood. Orchards lay upon its fringes, and -the German trenches around it swept the edges with -fire, while several German strong points lay just -outside it. An attempt was made by the Fourteenth -Division to enlarge an area outside Longueval upon -August 18. At 2.45 that day the 41st Brigade -advanced upon the right of the Thirty-third Division -with Orchard Trench as an objective, while the 43rd -Brigade kept pace with them to the north and east of -the wood. The German front trenches were carried -without much difficulty, but, as usual, the process of -consolidation was an expensive one. The men in small -groups dug themselves in as best they could under -fire from both flanks. The 7th Rifle Brigade upon -the extreme left of the line was in the air, and their -left company was almost entirely destroyed. The -new line was held, however, and knotted together -with three strong points which defied German attack. -This was attempted upon the 19th, but was a total -failure. In these operations the Fourteenth Division -took 279 prisoners. -</p> - -<p> -For the sake of consecutive narrative, the doings -in the High Wood and Delville Wood district have -been given without a break, but in order to bring the -rest of the chronicle level one has to turn back a few -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P214"></a>214}</span> -days and turn our attention to the long right flank -of the army, from Longueval in the north to Falfemont, -where we joined on to the French in the south. -The northern angle of this position was, as has already -been explained, extremely disadvantageous to us, -forming an almost fantastic peninsula, which jutted -out into the German positions. Even if their infantry -could not carry it, their guns could at all times rake -it from three sides, and could command the whole -Montauban valley, along which our supplies were -bound to pass. Therefore it became very necessary -to get more elbow-room along this line. -</p> - -<p> -South-east of Delville Wood was the strongly-fortified -village of Ginchy, and between the wood -and the village were what may be called the Alcoholic -system of trenches, where the long and powerful -Beer Trench, stretching a few hundred yards north -of the wood, was connected up with Vat Alley, Hop -Alley, and Ale Alley, the whole forming a formidable -labyrinth. To the south of Ginchy lay the very -strongly organised village of Guillemont, which could -not be approached save over a long quarter of a mile -of open ground. Ginchy and Guillemont were linked -up in a strong line, of which Waterlot Farm and -Guillemont Station were two nodal points. South -of Guillemont came Wedge Wood and finally Falfemont -Farm, where the right of Rawlinson's Fourth -Army joined on to the French. The whole of this -long line was most powerfully defended, both by -material appliances and by that constant human -valour without which all appliances are useless. -How to push it back was the pressing and difficult -question which now faced the British commanders. -Guillemont had already been attacked upon -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P215"></a>215}</span> -July 30 by the Thirtieth Division as described in -a previous chapter. This attack had been most -valiantly urged, but the losses had been heavy, and -the gains small. The Second Division had relieved -the Thirtieth on this point, and were in turn relieved -upon August 10 by the Twenty-fourth, a division -which had seen a good deal of rough service in that -famous forcing-house for young soldiers—the Ypres -salient. -</p> - -<p> -A few days later it closed in upon Guillemont with -orders to reconnoitre and then attack. A partial -attack was made upon August 16 upon the outskirts of -the village by the 72nd Brigade, which was rather -in the nature of a reconnaissance in force. The -place was found to be very strong and the advancing -troops drew off after incurring some losses, which -were heaviest in the 9th East Surreys, who came under -a blast of machine-gun fire, and dropped nine officers -and over 200 men. The division drew off, broadened -their front of attack, and came on again upon August -18 in a wide advance which covered the whole enemy -line, striking not only at the village itself, but at the -station, quarry, and farm to the north of it, covering -a front of nearly a mile. -</p> - -<p> -The 73rd Brigade attacked the village and the -quarry. The right attack was led by the 13th -Middlesex and supported by the 2nd Leinster, but it -had no success, and ended in heavy losses, especially -to the English regiment. The men who got across -were unable to penetrate, and after a hand-to-hand -fight were driven back. Upon the left of the brigade -things went better. The attack upon that side was -led by the 7th Northants, supported by the 9th -Sussex. The Cobblers had lost their colonel from a -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P216"></a>216}</span> -wound in the morning. This colonel was the famous -international three-quarter Mobbs, who gave one -more illustration of the fact that the fine sportsman -turns rapidly into the fine soldier. His successor -had only been a few hours in command. The -direction of the fight was none the less admirable. -The Midlanders dashed with great fire across the -300 yards of open which separated them from the -Quarries, while the Sussex crowded up into the -advanced trenches, sending on company after company -in response to demands for help. The British -barrage had lifted, and it was no easy matter in face -of the flank fire to get the men across, so that only a -percentage reached the hard-pressed firing-line upon -the other side. The colonel of the Sussex held back -therefore, and sent his third company over as dusk -fell, so that they came in on the flank of the -Northamptons with little loss, while the fourth followed -later with supplies. The lodgment made by the -leading battalions was secured, and some ground -to the north of the village passed into British -hands. -</p> - -<p> -Although Guillemont itself remained for the -moment with the Germans, the assault of the Twenty-fourth -Division had a success along the whole of the -rest of the line and greatly improved the position of -the British upon this flank. The 17th Brigade -had attacked the station and after a severe fight -had captured it, the 3rd Rifle Brigade especially -distinguishing itself in this affair. Farther still to -the north the line of trenches leading up to and in -front of Waterlot Farm had fallen also to the 17th -Brigade, the 8th Buffs having the heavier share of -the work. These attacks, which cost the division -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P217"></a>217}</span> -more than 3000 men, were carried out in co-operation -with French attacks to the south and east of Guillemont, -the net result being partly to isolate that -stubborn village and turn it into a salient on the -German line. -</p> - -<p> -The Twenty-fourth Division was now drawn out -for a short period, and the Twentieth replaced it and -held firmly to the conquered line. -</p> - -<p> -The Germans were acutely uneasy as to the erosion -of their line which was going on from Longueval to -Guillemont, and upon August 23 endeavoured to win -back the ground gained at Guillemont Station, but -their counter-attack, stronger as usual in its artillery -preparation than in its infantry advance, had no -success, though it cost the Twentieth Division some -heavy losses. It was one clear sign of the degeneration -of the German soldier that the overture should -so continually be better than the performance. The -machines were as formidable as ever, but the human -element was slowly wilting, and that subtle sentiment -was developing upon either side which means the -ascendancy of one and the decline of the other. The -ease with which the prisoners surrendered, the frequent -failure to hold ground and the constant failure to -gain it, all pointed to the same conclusion. -</p> - -<p> -Upon August 24 a very widespread and determined -attempt was made by the British to enlarge their area -on the right wing, and the attack extended along the -whole line to the north of Guillemont. It was carried -out by three divisions, the Thirty-third which had -side-stepped to the right, and now covered the ground -to the immediate left of Delville Wood, the Fourteenth -Light Division which covered the north of Delville -Wood and the Alcohol system of trenches, and finally -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P218"></a>218}</span> -the Twentieth Division covering Ginchy and the rest -of the line down to Guillemont. -</p> - -<p> -Describing these operations from the left of our -line the first unit of attack was the 100th Brigade, -which had for its objective Tea Trench and other -German defences which were to the north-west of -Delville Wood. The Longueval-Flers road separated -their right flank from the left flank of the 42nd -Brigade of the Fourteenth Division. In order to -carry out the attack the three leading battalions of -the Brigade had to be crowded forward into a narrow -front before daylight upon August 24. -</p> - -<p> -All day they lay there, but towards evening the -bombardment which they endured changed into an -immense barrage which fell like a steel guillotine in -front of our line, the British counter battery work -being unable to check it. Shortly before 7 o'clock -in the evening the leading companies of the attack -belonging from the left to the 1st Queen's, 16th Rifles -and 2nd Worcesters, crept forward until they were on -the edge of the barrage. At 7 o'clock they took -the plunge, advancing with brisk alacrity into that -terrible pelt of missiles. By 7.30 the Queen's had -established themselves in the German position and -were bombing their way up Wood Lane Trench. The -other two battalions had also at that hour got well -forward, and the 42nd Brigade of the Fourteenth -Division upon the right had been equally successful. -The new positions were at once consolidated by the -9th Highland Light Infantry and by parties of the -222nd Field Company, together with the 18th Middlesex -pioneers, under a very heavy fire. The Worcesters -were in good touch with the 16th Rifles upon their -left, but a considerable and dangerous gap had formed -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P219"></a>219}</span> -between the left of the Rifles and the right of the -Queen's—a gap which might have let in a fatal -counter-attack had it not been for the admirable -barrage of the artillery, which beat down each -attempted advance. A trench was at once put in -hand to link up the new line, the sappers labouring -at it during the night, but the gap had not been -entirely closed by the morning. The assaulting -battalions were then relieved, and the 98th Brigade -took the place of their comrades of the 100th. -Thus ended this very successful little advance, the -result being to push forward and strengthen our -position between the two woods. The casualties were -not high, and this fact was due to the fine co-operation -of the guns, and to a very effective smoke barrage -thrown out between the left wing of the attack and -the machine-guns of High Wood. -</p> - -<p> -The Fourteenth Division had advanced upon the -immediate right of the Longueval-Flers road, the -42nd Brigade upon the left keeping in touch with the -100th, while the 41st Brigade upon the right had not -only to reach its own objective, but to act as a -protective flank against the Germans in the village of -Ginchy. The 43rd Brigade was in reserve, but -contributed one battalion, the 6th Yorkshire Light -Infantry, to strengthening the reserve of the 42nd -Brigade, whose formidable task was the carrying -of the outlying fringe of Delville Wood. At last -that tragic grove, the scene of such a prolonged -struggle, was to be utterly cleared from our front. -Three gallant battalions of the 42nd Brigade—the -5th Oxford and Bucks on the left, the 5th Shropshires -in the centre, and the 9th Rifles upon the -right—swept forward with the bayonet in the good old -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P220"></a>220}</span> -style and cleared it from end to end, helped greatly -by the accurate barrage behind which they advanced. -The German counter-barrage was heavy, but the -troops tramped through it with no more deflection -than if it had been a rainstorm, though a trail of dead -and wounded marked their path. Every officer of -the Rifle battalion was hit. The first barrier was a -trench cut 150 yards from the north of the wood and -called Inner Trench. This was taken at the first -rush, the enemy surrendering freely. Two gallant -N.C.O.'s of the Rifles, Sergeant Hamp and Corporal -Ord, rushed up a machine-gun at the cost of their own -lives. One party of 50 men of the enemy seem to -have taken up arms again after three of the storming -lines had passed, and to have blazed into their backs -with a machine-gun, but a fourth line swept over -them and all were engulfed. The Oxford and Bucks -on the left of the line moved forward splendidly, -picking up 200 prisoners as they passed, clearing the edge -of the wood and digging in about 200 yards to the -north of it, the 89th F Company Royal Engineers -and the 11th King's Liverpool consolidating the -position. The enemy's opposition upon the right -flank had, however, been very much sterner and more -successful, so that the flank battalion of the 42nd -Brigade and the Rifle battalions of the 41st Brigade -had all fallen short of their final objectives. -</p> - -<p> -Altogether the day was a great success, for the -losses were not excessive, and the gains though not -sensational were general all along the line and -prepared the way for the successful assaults of the next -week. The fact that the right flank had not come on -as far as the left, caused each successive battalion to -find itself with its right flank exposed, but the line -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P221"></a>221}</span> -was held by a clever readjustment under heavy fire, -by which the flank battalions faced half right with -the Oxfords still in the advanced position joining -up with the Thirty-third Division, while the line -slanting, but unbroken, sloped backwards to Inner -Trench upon the right. -</p> - -<p> -The eastern corner of Delville Wood was still -dominated by a strong point, but upon the rain-swept -evening of August 27 this was finally cleared -out by the 43rd Brigade of the Fourteenth Division, -the 6th Somerset, Yorkshire and Cornwall battalions -of light infantry, together with the 10th Durhams, all -doing good service. -</p> - -<p> -The remains of the hard-worked Seventh Division -had been thrust in front of those Alcohol trenches -which still remained intact, filling up the gap -separating Delville Wood from Ginchy. The 22nd Brigade -was on the left, and shared in the advance of the 43rd, -the 1st Welsh Fusiliers capturing Hop Alley, Beer -Trench, and part of Vat Alley. The impending attack -upon Ginchy, which was to co-operate with the attack -upon Guillemont farther south, was forestalled and -postponed by a very strong advance of the German -infantry upon the north and north-east of Delville -Wood. The 91st Brigade had relieved the 22nd, and -the brunt of this attack outside the wood fell upon the -1st South Staffords, who repulsed the onslaught on -three separate occasions, enduring a heavy shelling -between each German advance. Upon the fourth -attack the persevering German infantry succeeded in -penetrating the north-east corner of the wood and -regaining Hop Alley. The 2nd Queen's relieved the -exhausted Staffords, and at noon of September 2 -made a vigorous bombing attack which had some -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P222"></a>222}</span> -success, though the assailants were considerably -mystified by the appearance of a party of Germans -who had dressed themselves in the khaki and helmets -taken the night before. This powerful attack fell -also upon the Twentieth Division, and upon the -Fourteenth to the right of the Seventh, but although -it inflicted heavy losses, especially upon the 60th -Brigade of the Twentieth Division, it failed to gain -any ground or to obtain any strategic advantage. -</p> - -<p> -On September 3 at noon the attack upon Ginchy -was carried out by the 22nd Brigade, the 1st Welsh -Fusiliers attacking to the north of the village, the -20th Manchesters moving on to the village itself, and -the 2nd Warwicks on to the trenches to the west of -the village. The Manchesters succeeded about one -o'clock in forcing their way into the village, sending -back 200 of the garrison as prisoners. The first rush -behind the barrage sustained few casualties, and it -was not until the Manchesters in their fiery eagerness -began to push on beyond their mark that they ran -into a very severe fire from the north, which mowed -down their ranks, including nearly all their officers. -The Welsh Fusiliers upon the left had been unable to -get forward, and as a consequence the Manchester -men were in so precarious a position and so reduced -in numbers that they had to fall back through the -village, while the 2nd Royal Irish, who had passed on -as far as Ginchy Telegraph, had now to retire, as their -rear was in danger. The 2nd Warwicks, however, -held on to the south of the village, and refused to be -dislodged, keeping their position there against all -attacks until the night of September 5. In the -afternoon, two companies of the Irish attempted to -retrieve the situation by a renewed advance upon the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P223"></a>223}</span> -village, but their losses were heavy, and they could -not get farther than the western outskirts. The -casualties during the day were severe, and in the -night it was thought advisable to replace the 22nd by -the 20th Brigade. The latter made a fresh attack upon -the village at eight in the morning of September 4 -by the 9th Devons, but again it was found impossible, -in the face of the inexorable machine-guns, to effect a -permanent lodgment. The 2nd Queen's, however, on -the left of the Brigade, improved our position at the -north-eastern corner of Delville Wood. There was a -short lull in the fighting, and then at 5.30 A.M. upon -the 6th the 2nd Gordons stormed into the orchards -round the village, but had to dig themselves in upon -the western edge. At 2 P.M. they again attacked, -aided by two companies of the 9th Devons, getting -as far as the middle of the village, and capturing some -prisoners, but the Germans came back with so heavy -a counter-attack that the evening found our troops -back in their own front line once more. On the night -of September 7 the division was taken out—the 16th -(Irish) and 55th moving up to the Ginchy Front. -</p> - -<p> -This severe fighting by the Seventh Division from -the 3rd onwards was an excellent example of how a -force may be called upon to sacrifice itself without -seeing the object of its sacrifice until it learns the -general plans of the Commander. The assaults upon -Ginchy, unsuccessful at the moment, were of the -greatest value as leading to the capture of Guillemont -in the south. The task allotted to the Seventh -Division was a very difficult one, involving an advance -from a salient with the left flank exposed, and the -magnitude of this task was greatly increased by the -truly execrable weather. If no successful efforts were -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P224"></a>224}</span> -made to counter-attack upon Guillemont, the reason -undoubtedly lay in the absorption of the German -strength at Ginchy. -</p> - -<p> -On this same day the battle raged from Ginchy -along the whole right of our line through Waterlot -Farm, Guillemont and Falfemont Farm to the left -flank of the French. The annexed diagram will give -some idea of the forces engaged and their several -objectives on September 3. -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P225"></a>225}</span> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-225"></a> -<br /> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-225.jpg" alt="ATTACK ON GERMAN LEFT FLANK September 3, 1916." /> -<br /> -ATTACK ON GERMAN LEFT FLANK <br /> -September 3, 1916. -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -As will be seen by this plan, the Fifth Division -formed the unit next to the French, and the 13th -Brigade were ordered to help our gallant allies in -attacking the extreme southern point at Falfemont, -while the 95th Brigade covered the ground between -their comrades of the 13th and the village of -Guillemont. The advance was made shortly after mid-day, -and though the operations were long, bloody, and -difficult, the famous old division, inheritors of the -glories of Mons and Le Cateau, was not to be denied. -The resistance was very strenuous, and only the most -devoted constancy could have eventually overcome -it. To follow the fortunes of the 13th Brigade first it -may be briefly stated that upon Sunday, September 3, -they first gained the Falfemont Farm, and then lost -it again. That night they were reinforced by three -battalions of the 15th Brigade, and were able next -day to push in between the Farm and Guillemont, -pressing the defenders upon every side. It was a -widespread building, with many loopholed outhouses, -and one of these fell after the other until only the -central ruin, still spouting fire like an anchored -battleship, remained in the hands of the defenders. Their -position was hopeless, however, and by the morning -of September 5 the changes in the line to the north -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P226"></a>226}</span> -of them, and especially the loss of Guillemont, caused -them to evacuate the position. -</p> - -<p> -The advance of the 95th Brigade upon the left of -the Fifth Division had been a very gallant one, though -the objectives which they so bravely won were nameless -lines of trenches and a sunken road. The first -line of the attack was formed by the 1st Duke of -Cornwall's on the left, and the 12th Gloucesters upon -the right, closely followed by the 1st Devons and 1st -East Surreys. They were in close touch with the -59th Brigades of the Twentieth Division, who were -attacking Guillemont upon their left. Within two -hours of the first attack all three objectives had been -captured, and the remains of the victorious battalions -were digging in upon the line Ginchy-Wedge Wood. -The losses were heavy in each battalion, but particularly -so in the 12th Gloucesters. For a time they were -under fire from both the British and the German -batteries. Yet they held on to their ultimate objective, -and the following extract from the impression which -they produced upon an experienced regular colonel is -worth quoting, if only to show the pitch of soldiership -to which our amateur volunteers had reached. -"The battalion came on in their extended lines as -steadily as on parade, and, without wavering, though -suffering heavy losses, passed through a hot German -barrage in the most gallant manner. The lines were -also much troubled by long-range machine-gun fire -from the direction of Falfemont, but although gaps -appeared and the lines were rapidly thinning out, I -never saw the slightest sign of wavering. No troops -could have carried through such a difficult task with -more indifference to consequences." Gloucestershire -was once the favourite forcing-ground for the champions -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P227"></a>227}</span> -of the British ring. The old fighting breed still -lives. Altogether the 95th Brigade advanced 3000 -yards in this action, and was responsible for the -capture both of Wedge Wood and of Leuze Wood. -</p> - -<p> -Upon the left of the Fifth Division the difficult -task of storming Guillemont had been entrusted to -the Rifle and Rifle Brigade battalions of the 59th -Brigade upon the right, and to the 47th Brigade of -the Sixteenth Irish Division. This brigade had come -temporarily under the command of General Douglas -Smith upon the left, taking the place of the 60th -Brigade, which had lost heavily in strength from cold, -wet, and continual German gassing and bombardment. -The 61st was in divisional reserve. The attack was -ordered for noon. Profiting by previous experiences -it was planned that the whole village should not be -rushed at once, but that the attack should proceed -with method in three definite stages. The guns of the -Sixth and of the Twenty-fourth Divisions joined in -the preliminary bombardment. At noon, the infantry -leapt over their parapets and charged home. The -enemy was taken unawares. The 10th and 11th Rifle -Brigade with the 10th and 11th King's Royal Rifles, -supported by the 6th Oxford and Bucks, carried all -before them on the south and west of the village, -while the Leinsters, Connaughts, and Royal Irish did -as much in the north. The Quarries, which was a -nest of machine-guns, was taken in their stride. No -more valiant or successful advance had been seen -during the War, and it may take a place beside the -attack of the 36th Brigade at Ovillers as a classical -example of what British infantry can do with all the -odds against them. The Riflemen fought in grim -silence, but the Irish went through with a wild Celtic -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P228"></a>228}</span> -yell which, blending with the scream of their pipes, -must have added one more to the horrors of the -shaken and hard-pressed garrison. Neck and neck -the two brigades, English and Irish, went through -the German line. Hand-to-hand fights took place -in the village, but all resistance was soon beaten down. -By 12.30 the first objectives were solid, and at 1.20 -the whole village was taken and the survivors of the -enemy streaming out to eastward. The English -losses were heavy and equally distributed. The Irish -were also heavy, especially in the case of the 6th -Connaughts, who also lost their colonel. At this time, -through the failure of recruiting in Ireland, these -brave battalions were below full strength, in spite of -which within six days they stormed or helped to storm -two of the strongest villages upon the line. One -hardly knows which emotion is stronger—one's pride -in those who went, or one's contempt for those who -bided at home. No one admired the splendid dash -of the Irish stormers more heartily than the British -Riflemen, who kept pace with them in their desperate -venture. Equally brave, they were more deliberate -in their methods, with the result that more than once -pockets of fighting Germans who had been overrun -by the Irish, but were still venomous, were cleared up -by the Riflemen on the flank. So infectious, however, -was the fiery dash of the Irish, that Mr. Philip Gibbs -has left it on record in one of his admirable letters -that an English sergeant of Rifles complained that he -had almost blown his teeth away in whistling his men -back from overrunning their objectives. The garrison, -it may be remarked, were chiefly Hanoverian, and -once again our men were amused and amazed to see -"Gibraltar" printed upon their hats, a reminiscence -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P229"></a>229}</span> -of the days when they formed part of the British -army. -</p> - -<p> -Whilst the attack had been in progress, two -battalions of the 61st Brigade, the 7th Somersets -and 12th King's Liverpools, were in close support, -advancing steadily through the German barrage. -The enemy were, as already shown, strongly held at -Ginchy on the left flank of the Guillemont advance, -but in spite of their preoccupations they made strong -attempts at a counter-attack from this direction, -which fell upon the Connaughts, who had been -reinforced by two companies of the 12th King's. -This small flanking force pushed out posts which -behaved with great gallantry, holding off the enemy -until evening, though at considerable loss to -themselves. One of these posts, under Sergeant Jones -of the 12th King's, was cut off by the Germans -and held out for two days without food or water—a -deed for which the sergeant received the Victoria -Cross. On September 4 the positions were put into -a state of defence, and on the 5th the Twentieth -Division drew out of the line after their fine deed -of arms. -</p> - -<p> -The Fourteenth Division had been in support upon -the left during the attack upon Guillemont, and the -43rd Brigade had moved up to the northern edge -of the village itself, losing a number of officers -and men, including the colonel of the 6th -Somersets, who, though badly wounded, remained with -his battalion until it had consolidated its new -position. A German advance was attempted at this -point about 8 P.M., but the 43rd Brigade helped to -drive it back. It may be said that the whole of -September 3 was a series of small victories, making in -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P230"></a>230}</span> -the aggregate a very considerable one, and breaking -down the whole of the flank German defences. -</p> - -<p> -The Irish Division was now brought up to -face Ginchy, the one point still untaken upon the -German second line, whilst the Fifth Division pursued -its victorious way up to Leuze Wood and to the lower -corner of Bouleaux Wood, always in close touch with -the French upon their right. The 47th Brigade of -the Irish had already lost near half its numbers, and -other units of the division, both infantry and sappers, -especially the 7th and 8th Irish Fusiliers, had lost -heavily in supporting the Fifth Division in its attack, -but the battalions were still full of fight. -</p> - -<p> -In the late afternoon of September 9 the final -attack upon Ginchy by the Irish tore that village -from the close grip of its Bavarian and Pomeranian -garrison. The Fifty-fifth Division made a supporting -attack upon the left, but the main advance was left -for the now depleted but indomitable division. It -dashed forward upon a two-brigade front, the 47th -upon the right and the 48th upon the left, the -brigades being strengthened by three battalions of -the 49th, so that practically all the reserves were -in the line from the start, but the commander -had the comforting assurance that the Guards -were moving up in his rear. On the right the first -wave consisted of the 6th Royal Irish and the 8th -Munsters, who dashed forward with great gallantry -but were held up by machine-guns. The same fire -held up the 1st Munsters upon the right of the 48th -Brigade, but some natural cover was found which -enabled them to continue to advance. On their left -the 7th Irish Rifles and 7th Irish Fusiliers had broken -into the German line in the first determined advance. -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P231"></a>231}</span> -By six in the evening the 8th and 9th Dublins had -reinforced the attack and had pushed on into the -village, where the 156th Field Company Royal -Engineers at once consolidated—a swift measure which -was fully justified since two attacks stormed out of the -darkness of the night and were beaten back into -it again. Next morning the Sixteenth Division was -relieved by the Guards and returned for the time -from the line which they had so materially helped -to enlarge and consolidate. Their losses had been -heavy. Five battalion commanders were among the -casualties. They fell out of the line upon September -10. A few days earlier the Fifth Division had been -relieved by the Fifty-sixth. -</p> - -<p> -The total effect of these operations had been to -extend the whole British position for several thousand -yards in frontage and nearly a mile in depth. At -least 2000 more prisoners had fallen into our hands. -The attack of July 14 had broken in the centre of -the German second line, but the two flanks had held -firm. The fall of Pozières upon our left before the -Australians and the Forty-eighth Division, and of -Guillemont upon our right before the Twentieth and -Fifth, meant that the flanks also had gone, and that -the whole front was now clear. A third strong line -ran through Warlencourt and Le Transloy, but very -numerous impediments—woods, villages, and trenches—lay -in front of the army before they could reach it. -It proved, however, that the worst impediment of -all—vile weather and a premature winter—was to be -the only real obstacle to the complete success of the -army. -</p> - -<p> -In order to complete this description of these -widespread operations, which are difficult to -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P232"></a>232}</span> -synchronise and bring into any settled plan, one must -return to what was going on upon the left of Delville -Wood. Towards the end of August the Thirty-third -Division, which had covered the line between Delville -and High Woods, was relieved by the Twenty-fourth. -Upon the left of the Twenty-fourth the First Division -was still continuing that series of operations upon -High Wood which have been already described. -On their left in turn was the Fifteenth Scottish -Division, the left unit of Rawlinson's Army. They -were busy from this time onwards in digging their -assembly trenches for the great assault. -</p> - -<p> -The first incident which calls for attention was a -very sudden and violent German attack upon August -31 upon the Twenty-fourth Division. The German -onslaught met with some success at first, as it burst -through the line of the 13th Middlesex, a battalion -which had lost heavily in the attack upon Guillemont -ten days before, and was for the moment more fit for -a rest-camp than the forefront of the battle. The -9th Sussex, who were on the right of the Middlesex, -stood firm, and the German advance, which had -penetrated some distance down the long communication -trench which is known as Plum Street, was eventually -brought to a halt. This result was partly brought -about by the initiative and determination of a -2nd Lieutenant of the Middlesex, "a little -pale-faced fellow," who carried off a Lewis gun, and -worked it from different positions down the trench, -continually holding up the Germans and giving time -for the Sussex men to gather such a force at the end -of Plum Street as prevented the Germans from -debouching into the larger trenches which led down -towards Longueval. The attack had been equally -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P233"></a>233}</span> -severe upon the 72nd Brigade, who held the right -of the division, which included the northern end of -Delville Wood. They entirely repulsed the Germans -with great loss, the 8th Queen's Surrey being the -battalion which bore the brunt of the fight. -</p> - -<p> -On the next day, September 1, the 17th Brigade -came up to restore the situation on the left, and by -evening the position had been almost cleared. On the -2nd, 3rd, and 4th there were fresh German attacks, -but the line was now firmly held and no impression -was made. None the less, the fighting had been -costly, and the depleted division had 2000 more -names upon its roll of honour. It was drawn out -shortly afterwards, but its artillery, which was left -in the line, had the misfortune to lose its distinguished -chief, General Phillpotts, upon September 8. -</p> - -<p> -We shall now move a mile eastwards to follow the -First Division in its difficult and, as it proved, -impossible task of improving our position as regards High -Wood, a spot which caused us more delay and loss -than any other upon the German line. -</p> - -<p> -On September 3 a strong attack by the whole of -the 1st Brigade was made upon the wood, which was -gridironed with trenches and studded with strong -points. The immediate objectives were the main -trench in the wood and the trenches to the south-east -of the wood. The 1st Camerons, supported by -the 8th Berks, advanced upon the right, the Black -Watch, supported by the 10th Gloucesters, on the left. -The attack had considerable success, which could -not, however, be maintained. The battalions on the -right won home, but the consolidating parties were -delayed. On the left, the attack was only partially -successful, being held up at a large mine-crater. When -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P234"></a>234}</span> -eventually a strong German counter-attack swept -forward from the north-east of High Wood, the British -had to fall back to their own original line, taking, -however, 80 German prisoners with them. The ground -had been won, but there had not been weight enough -to hold it. The losses of the two Highland battalions -were severe. -</p> - -<p> -On September 8 the 3rd Brigade penetrated into -the western part of High Wood, but again it was -found impossible to make more than a temporary -lodgment. The 2nd Welsh, 1st South Wales Borderers -and 1st Gloucesters were all involved in this affair, as -was the 9th Black Watch of the Fifteenth Division, -who played a very gallant part. Next day the attack -was renewed with the 2nd Brigade upon the right, -the 3rd upon the left. In the centre the 1st Northants -captured the crater, but were driven out of it later -in the day, after a hard fight. On the left the -Munsters and Gloucesters were held up by machine-gun -fire. On the right the advance of the 2nd Sussex -and of the 2nd Rifles met with gratifying success. -The important trench called Wood Lane was stormed, -with a loss to the assailants of a couple of hundred men, -after the hostile machine-guns had been deftly put -out of action by our trench-mortars. The Rifles -were in touch not only with their comrades of Sussex -upon the left, but with the 5th King's Liverpool upon -the right, so that the line was complete. It was -consolidated that night by the 1st North Lancashires -and was permanently held, an attempt at counter-attack -next day being crushed by our barrage. After -this little victory the First Division was relieved upon -the evening of September 10 by the New Zealanders. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p><a id="chap10"></a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P235"></a>235}</span></p> - -<h3> -CHAPTER X -<br /><br /> -THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME -</h3> - -<p class="t3"> -Breaking of the Third Line, September 15 -</p> - -<p class="noindent"> -Capture of Martinpuich by Fifteenth Division—Advance of Fiftieth -Division—Capture of High Wood by Forty-seventh Division—Splendid -advance of New Zealanders—Capture of Flers by -Forty-first Division—Advance of the Light Division—Arduous -work of the Guards and Sixth Divisions—Capture of -Quadrilateral—Work of Fifty-sixth Division on flank—Début of the -tanks. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -The Army had been temporarily exhausted by its -extreme efforts and the consequent losses, but was -greatly buoyed up by the certainty that with their -excellent artillery and their predominant air service -they were inflicting more punishment than they were -receiving. Steadily from week to week the tale of -prisoners and of captured guns had been growing, -the British and the French keeping curiously level -in the numbers of their trophies. Fresh divisions, -ardent for battle, were streaming down from the -Northern line, while old divisions, already badly -hammered, filled up rapidly with eager drafts, and -were battle-worthy once again in a period which would -have been pronounced absolutely impossible by any -military critic before the War. All the rearward -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P236"></a>236}</span> -villages were choked with the supports. There was -rumour also of some new agency to be used, and -wondrous stories were whispered as to its nature and -its powers. The men were in high heart, therefore, -and by the middle of September Rawlinson's Fourth -Army, which now included three corps, was ready to -spring forward once again. The main German line -was miles behind them, and the headquarters of -British brigades and divisions now nested comfortably -in those commodious dug-outs which two years -of unremitting German labour had constructed—monuments -for many a year to come of their industry -and of their failure. It was realised that the obstacles -in front, however formidable, could not possibly be so -difficult as those which had already been surmounted; -and yet our aeroplanes were able to report that the -whole country was still slashed across and across in -a fanciful lacework of intricate patterns in which fire, -support, and communication trenches formed one -great network of defence. -</p> - -<p> -The left flank of the Army was formed by Gough's -Fifth Army, which had pushed forward in the manner -already described, the Second Corps (Jacob) and the -Canadians (Byng) being in the line upon September -15. On their immediate right, and joining them in -the trenches which face Martinpuich, was Pulteney's -Third Corps, which covered the whole line down to -High Wood. From the north-west of High Wood to -the trenches opposite Flers, Horne's long-suffering -Fifteenth Corps still urged the attack which it had -commenced upon July 1. The units, it is true, had -changed, but it is difficult to exaggerate the long -strain which had been borne by this commander and -his staff. An appreciation of it was shown by his -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P237"></a>237}</span> -elevation to the command of the First Army at the -conclusion of the operations. From the right of -Horne's Corps to the point of junction with the -French the line was filled by the Fourteenth Corps, -under Lord Cavan of Ypres fame. In the movement, -then, which we are immediately considering, it is the -Third, Fifteenth, and Fourteenth Corps which are -concerned. We shall take them as usual from the left, -and follow the fortunes of each until their immediate -operations reached some definite term. It is a -gigantic movement upon which we look, for from the -Eleventh Division in the Thiepval sector to the left, -along ten miles of crowded trenches to the Fifty-sixth -Division near Combles upon the right, twelve divisions, -or about 120,000 infantry, were straining on the -leash as the minute hand crawled towards zero and -the shell streams swept ever swifter overhead. -</p> - -<p> -The three divisions which formed the Third Corps -were, counting from the left, the Fifteenth, the -Fiftieth, and the Forty-seventh. Of these, the Scots -Division was faced by the strong line of defence in -front of Martinpuich and the village of that name. -The north of England territorials were opposite to the -various German trenches which linked Martinpuich -to High Wood. The Londoners were faced by the -ghastly charnel-house of High Wood itself, taken and -retaken so often, but still mainly in German hands. -At 6.20 A.M. the assault went forward along the line. -</p> - -<p> -The Fifteenth Division, which had been strengthened -by the 103rd Brigade, advanced upon the line of -trenches which separated them from Martinpuich, the -46th Brigade being upon the left and the 45th upon the -right. The 10th Highland Light Infantry upon the -left of the 46th Brigade were in close touch with -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P238"></a>238}</span> -the Canadians upon their left, forming the right-hand -unit of Gough's Army. This brigade, consisting -of Highland Light Infantry, Scots Borderers, -and Scottish Rifles, swarmed over the German defences, -while their comrades upon the right, including -Royal Scots, Scots Fusiliers, Camerons, and Argylls, -were no less successful. The fact that the whole -line was engaged removed the old bugbears of -enfilade fire which had broken up so many of our -advances. The German barrage was heavy, but the -advance was so swift and the close fight of the trenches -came so quickly, that it was less effective than of old. -A creeping barrage from the British guns, going forward -at a pace of fifty yards a minute, kept in front -of the infantry, whose eager feet were ever on the edge -of the shrapnel. With the 44th Highland Brigade in -close support the whole division swept roaring over the -trenches, and with hardly a pause flooded into -Martinpuich, where they met the fringe of the Canadians, -whose main advance was to the north-west of the -village. It was a magnificent advance, and the more -noteworthy as the men of the 15th Division had already -been for six unbroken weeks in the line, digging, -working, fighting, and continually under shell-fire. Some -groups of Germans in the village attempted a short -and hopeless resistance, but the greater number threw -their arms down and their hands up. It is said that -a detachment of six Argylls got into Martinpuich some -little time before their comrades, owing to some gap -in the defences, and that they not only held their own -there, but were found when reinforced to be mounting -guard over fifty prisoners. Among many anecdotes -of military virtue may be cited that of a sergeant -of this same battalion, which combined within one -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P240"></a>240}</span> -episode all the qualities which distinguish the very -best type of British soldier. He first attacked -single-handed a number of German dug-outs. From one -of these a German officer was emerging with his hands -up. A soldier dashed forward in act to kill him, upon -which the sergeant threatened his comrade with -the bomb which he held in his hand. The German -officer, as a sign of gratitude, presented Cunningham -on the spot with his Iron Cross, which the sergeant -at once despatched home to be sold for the benefit of -the wounded. It was a quaintly beautiful exhibition -of a noble nature. -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P239"></a>239}</span> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-239"></a> -<br /> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-239.jpg" alt="Taking of Martinpuich, September 15, 1916." /> -<br /> -Taking of Martinpuich, September 15, 1916. -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -Immediate steps were taken to consolidate the -village and to connect up firmly with the Fiftieth -Division on the line of Starfish Trench, and with -the Canadians on the line of Gunpit Trench, the -general final position being as shown in the diagram. -The trophies upon this occasion amounted to 13 -machine-guns, 3 field-guns, 3 heavy howitzers, and -about 700 prisoners. There was a counter-attack -upon the morning of September 16, which was easily -repulsed: and afterwards, save for constant heavy -shelling, the village was left in the hands of the -victors, until a few days later the Fifteenth was -relieved by the Twenty-third Division. -</p> - -<p> -Whilst this brilliant advance had been conducted -upon their left, the Fiftieth Division, the same north -country Territorial Division which had done such -vital service during the gas battle at Ypres, had -carried the trenches opposed to them. They had no -village or fixed point at their front with which their -success can be linked; but it may be said generally -that they kept the centre level with the two victorious -wings, and that in the evening of September 15 they -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P241"></a>241}</span> -extended from the Starfish trench on the left to the -new position of the Forty-seventh Division upon the -right. This position was a magnificent one, for High -Wood had been finally taken, and the British line -had been carried forward by these splendid London -battalions, until in the evening the 140th Brigade -upon the right had been able to join up with the -New Zealanders upon the Flers line. Advancing -upon a one-brigade front, with the 6th and 15th -London in the lead, the London territorials, after -one slight check, rushed the wood, and by 11 o'clock -not only had it in their complete possession but had -won 150 yards beyond it, where they consolidated. -Two tanks which had been allotted to them were -unfortunately unable to make their way through that -terrible chaos of fallen trees, irregular trenches, deep -shell-holes, and putrescent decay, which extended for -a third of a mile from south to north. The wood -now passed permanently into British hands, and the -Forty-seventh Division has the honour of the final -capture; but in justice to the Thirty-third and other -brave divisions which had at different times taken -and then lost it, it must be remembered that it was -a very much more difficult proposition to hold it when -there was no general attack, and when the guns of -the whole German line could concentrate upon the -task of making it uninhabitable. -</p> - -<p> -So much for the capture of High Wood by the -Forty-seventh Division. Speaking generally, it may -be said that each of the three divisions forming -Pulteney's Third Corps was equally successful in -reaching and in retaining the objectives assigned for -the attack. -</p> - -<p> -The dividing line between the Third Corps and -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P242"></a>242}</span> -Horne's Fifteenth Corps was to the south of High -Wood in the neighbourhood of Drop Trench. The -order of the divisions in the latter corps from the left -was the New Zealanders, the Forty-first Division, and -the Fourteenth Light Division. We shall follow each -in its turn. -</p> - -<p> -The New Zealand Division had confirmed in France -the high reputation which their predecessors had -founded in South Africa, and which they had themselves -renewed on the Gallipoli peninsula. They were -troops with a splendid spirit, and no Londoner who -has seen their tall lithe figures with the crimson -hat-bands which distinguish them from other oversea -troops, needs to be told how fine was their physique. -They were fortunate, too, in a divisional commander -of great dash and gallantry. It is not surprising, -therefore, to find that in this, their first serious battle, -they carried themselves with great distinction and -made good the objective which had been assigned -to them. -</p> - -<p> -This objective was the famous Switch Trench -between High Wood and Delville Wood, a section -which was held by the Fourth Bavarian Division. -Good as the Bavarians are, they had no chance when -it came to close quarters with the stalwart men of -Auckland and Otago, who formed the 2nd Brigade in -the front line of the New Zealand battle. The machine-gun -fire which they had to face was heavy and deadly, -especially for the Otagos, who were on the left near -High Wood. They poured on, however, in an -unbroken array, springing down into Switch Trench, -bayoneting part of the garrison, sending back the -survivors as prisoners, and rapidly forming up once -more for a fresh advance. The New Zealand Rifle -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P243"></a>243}</span> -Brigade passed over the captured trench and lay down -under the barrage 300 yards beyond it, whence at -6.40 they went forward upon a new advance with -such impetuosity that they could hardly be kept out -of the friendly fire in front of them. The next obstacle, -Fat Trench, was easily surmounted, and by noon the -Flers Trench and Flers Support Trench had both -fallen to this fine advance. The village of Flers was -not in the direct line of the advance, but the fringe of -the New Zealanders passed through the edge of it, and -connected up with the Forty-first Division who had -occupied it. -</p> - -<p> -When, as will presently be shown, the left-hand -brigade of this division was temporarily driven back -by a sharp German counter-attack, the New Zealanders -were bare upon their right, while a gap existed also -upon their left. In spite of this they held on to their -advanced position to the north-west of the village, -the line being strengthened by battalions from -Wellington, Hawke's Bay, and West Coast, who -pushed forward into the fight. -</p> - -<p> -In the morning of the 16th the reserve brigade had -come up and the advance was renewed as far as Grove -Alley upon the left, the Canterbury battalion clearing -and holding the new ground, with the Aucklanders -and Otagos in immediate support. With this new -advance the New Zealanders had come forward 3000 -yards in two days—a notable performance—and were -within short striking distance of the great German -systems of Gird Trench and Gird Support. Two -German counters that evening, one upon the Rifle -Brigade and the other on the 1st Wellington battalion, -had no success. -</p> - -<p> -On the right of the New Zealanders was the Forty-first -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P244"></a>244}</span> -Division under one of the heroes of the original -Seventh Division. His objective after surmounting -the German trench lines was the fortified village -of Flers. His artillery support was particularly -strong, for his C.R.A. had under him the very -efficient guns of the Twenty-first Division, as well -as those of his own unit. The infantry advance was -carried out with the 122nd Brigade on the left, the -124th on the right, and the 123rd in reserve. All -the battalions save one were South of England, and -most of them from the home counties, a district -which has furnished some of the finest infantry of -the War. As they advanced they were in close touch -with the 2nd New Zealanders upon the left and with -the 41st Brigade upon the right. The first objective, -Tea Support Trench, was rapidly overrun by the -Royal Riflemen, Hampshire, and Queen's Surrey -battalions who formed the front line. The garrison -surrendered. The continuation of Switch Trench -stretched now in front of them, and both front -brigades, with a ten minutes' interval in favour of -the left one, made good the sections in front of them. -The division was fortunate in its tanks, for seven out -of ten got over the first line, and some survived for -the whole day, spreading dismay in front of them -and amused appreciation behind. The resistance was -by no means desperate save by a few machine-gunners, -who were finally scared or butted out of their -emplacements by the iron monsters. Two tanks did good -service, cutting the wire to the west of Flers Road, -and the village was opened up to the stormers, who -rushed into it shortly after eight o'clock. One tank -went up the east side of the village and crushed in -two houses containing machine-guns, while another -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P245"></a>245}</span> -one passed down the main street; and yet another -cleared up the west side. Nowhere upon this day of -battle did these engines of warfare justify themselves -so well as at Flers. -</p> - -<p> -By ten o'clock the village was cleared and -consolidated, but the German guns were very active, and -there was a strong counter-attack from fresh infantry, -which fell heavily upon the already worn troops who -had now passed beyond the village and got as far as -the Box and Cox trenches. There had been a large -number of officer casualties. Shortly after ten o'clock -an officer of the 18th King's Royal Rifles had got -far forward with a mixed party of 100 men with -some Lewis guns, and had established a strong point -at Box and Cox, which he held until about one. -During those three hours the shell-fall was very -severe. The division had become somewhat scattered, -partly owing to the street fighting in Flers and partly -because the 124th Brigade upon the right, although -it had kept touch with the 41st Brigade, had lost -touch with its own comrades upon the left. Finding -that its left flank was open, it fell back and took up -the line of the Sunken Road, a quarter of a mile -south of Flers, where it remained. -</p> - -<p> -Meanwhile the 122nd Brigade was in some trouble. -The pressure of counter-attack in front of it had -become so heavy that there was a general falling -back of the more advanced units. This retrograde -movement was stopped by the Brigade-Major, -who collected a section of the 228th Field Company -of Royal Engineers, together with little groups of -mixed battalions in Flers Trench, and sent them -forward again, working in conjunction with the -New Zealand 3rd (Rifle) Brigade to the north end of -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P246"></a>246}</span> -the village. Avoiding the centre of Flers, which was -flaring and flaming with shells like the live crater of -a volcano, these troops skirted the flank of the houses -and by 2 P.M. had arrived once more at the north and -north-west of the hamlet. Five Vickers guns were -brought up, and the position made good by 2 P.M., -the Brigadier-General being personally most active in -this reorganisation of his line. -</p> - -<p> -Whilst the 122nd Brigade had met and overcome -this momentary set-back, the 124th upon the right had -endured a similar experience and had come out of it -with equal constancy. Shortly after one they had -fallen back to Flers Trench, where they were rallied -by their Brigadier, and moved forward again accompanied -by some stray units of the Fourteenth Division. -About 3 P.M. they were reinforced by two fresh -companies of the 23rd Middlesex from the reserve brigade. -By half-past four the whole of the remains of the -division were north of Flers in a ragged but -indomitable line, steadily winning ground once more, and -pushing back the German attack. By half-past six -they had got level with Flea Trench and Hogshead, -and were close to the great Gird Trench. Some of -the 124th tried hard to establish themselves in this -important work, but lost heavily from a machine-gun -established in a cornfield upon their right. At -seven o'clock the advanced line was consolidated, -and the scattered units reorganised so far as the -want of officers would permit. Very many of the -latter, including Colonel Ash of the 23rd Middlesex, -had been killed or wounded. The 11th Queen's, -from the reserve brigade, was sent up to strengthen -the front posts, while an officer of the same battalion -was placed in charge of the Flers defences. No -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P247"></a>247}</span> -tank was left intact in the evening, but they had -amply justified themselves and done brilliant work -in this section of the battlefield. -</p> - -<p> -The morning of September 16 saw a forward movement -in this quarter upon the Gird Trench, which was -shared in by the divisions upon both wings. The -64th Brigade of the Twenty-first Division had been -placed under the orders of the General commanding -the Forty-first for the purpose of this attack, so that -the subsequent losses fell upon the North-countrymen. -The advance got forward about 200 yards and established -itself close to the great trench, but the losses -were heavy, the machine-guns active, and farther -progress was for the moment impossible. The 9th -Yorkshire Light Infantry and 15th Durham Light -Infantry were the chief sufferers in this affair. Upon -September 17 the Fifty-fifth Division relieved the -Forty-first, whose record for the battle was certainly -a glorious one, as in one day they had taken -Tea Support, Switch Trench, Flers Trench, Flers -village, Box and Cox and Flea Trench, any one of -which might be considered an achievement. How -great their efforts were may be measured by the -fact that nearly 50 per cent had fallen. The losses -of the 124th were almost as heavy, and those of -the 123rd were considerable. Altogether 149 officers -out of 251 and 2994 out of about 7500 were killed -or wounded. The opponents both of the Forty-first -and of the Fourteenth Divisions were the Fifth -Bavarian Division, who held the German line from -Flers to Ginchy, and must have been well-nigh -annihilated in the action. -</p> - -<p> -The story of the Fourteenth Light Division has -been to some extent told in recounting the experiences -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P248"></a>248}</span> -of the Forty-first Division, as the two advanced side -by side upon prolongations of the same trenches, with -equal dangers and equal successes. No village fell -within the sphere of their actual operations, though a -complete victory would have brought them to Guedecourt, -but it was part of their task to sweep up the -German trenches to the north of Delville Wood, -especially the Tea Support and the Switch Trench. -This task was committed to the 41st Brigade, -consisting entirely of Rifle Brigade or Royal Rifle -Battalions. The advance was for 500 yards downhill, -and then up a long slope of 700 yards, which leads to -a plateau about 200 yards across, with the Switch -Trench in the centre of it. The Riflemen swept over -this space with a splendid dash which showed that -they had inherited all those qualities of the old 60th -which were cultivated by Sir John Moore and celebrated -by Napier, qualities which were always shared -by their comrades of the Rifle Brigade. Regardless -of the enemy's fire, and so eager that they occasionally -were struck on the backs by their own shrapnel, -the long thin lines pushed forward in perfect formation, -the 8th Rifles and 8th Rifle Brigade in front, -with the 7th Battalions of the same regiments in close -support. -</p> - -<p> -By ten o'clock they had cleared the network of -trenches in front of them and gone forward 2000 -yards. The main attack was carried on by the 42nd -Brigade, composed also of Riflemen with the 5th -Oxford and Bucks and 5th Shropshires. This -brigade pushed on, keeping in close touch with the -Forty-first Division upon the left, but gradually -losing touch with the Guards upon their right, so that -a dangerous gap was created. It was covered by the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P249"></a>249}</span> -7th Divisional Artillery as well as by its own guns. -In its advance it passed through the ranks of its -fellow-brigade, which had cleared the first trenches -up to and including the line of the Switch Trench. -The front line from the left consisted of the 5th -Shropshires and 9th Rifle Brigade, with the 5th Oxford -and Bucks and 9th Rifles behind. From the -beginning the brigade was under heavy fire, and the -colonel of the Oxfords was twice wounded, which -did not prevent him from still leading his battalion. -The first obstacle, Gap Trench, was safely carried, and -the line swept onwards to Bulls Road where they were -cheered by the sight of a tank engaging and silencing -a German battery, though it was itself destroyed in -the moment of victory. The losses in the two rifle -battalions were especially heavy as the right flank -was exposed owing to the gap which had formed. -This deadly fire held up the flank, with the result that -the Shropshires and Oxfords who were less exposed -to it soon found themselves considerably in advance -of their comrades, where they formed a line which -was extended about mid-day by the arrival of the 9th -Rifles. At this period large reinforcements of the -enemy were seen flocking into Gird Trench and Gird -Support Trench in front. So strong were they that -they attempted a counter-attack upon the right front -of the 42nd Brigade, but this was brought to a stand, -and finally broken up by rifle and Lewis-gun fire. -The supporting 43rd Brigade came up in the evening -and took over the ground gained, together with four -German guns which had been captured. The final -result, therefore, was that the division had won its -way to the edge of that Gird Trench which represented -the next great task which should be attempted -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P250"></a>250}</span> -by the Army—a task which, as already shown, was -attempted by three divisions upon the morning of -September 16, but proved to be too formidable for -their depleted and wearied ranks. -</p> - -<p> -This fine advance of the Fourteenth Division -brought them over the low ridge which had faced -them. "It was a grand sight," says a Rifleman, -"to see the promised land lying green at one's feet, -with Germans moving across the open, and ammunition -waggons going at a trot to and from their batteries, -but the grandest sight of the day was seeing the -battalions advance, the men dancing along only too -anxious to get to close grips with the enemy." -</p> - -<p> -Among many brave deeds recorded of the division -there was none finer than those of a captain and a -corporal, both of the Medical Service, who stayed in -the open all day in spite of wounds, tending those -who were hardly worse than themselves. -</p> - -<p> -On the evening of September 16 there was an -advance of the 43rd Brigade, consisting of Somerset, -Durham, Cornish, and Yorkshire Light Infantry, -which succeeded in establishing itself in the Gird -Trench, though they found it impossible to get as far -as the Gird Support. This successful advance was -supported by the Shropshire and Oxford battalions -of the 42nd Brigade, who established flank protections -and got into touch with the Guards in Gap Trench -upon the right. The Fourteenth Division was withdrawn -from the line after this, and their place taken -by the Twenty-first. -</p> - -<p> -We have now briefly considered the operations -carried out during this great battle by Horne's -Fifteenth Corps. Upon their right, stretching from -the neighbourhood of Ginchy to the left of the French -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P251"></a>251}</span> -Army in the neighbourhood of Combles, was Cavan's -Fourteenth Corps, which contained in its battle line -the Guards, the Sixth Division, and the 56th London -Territorial Division. Taking them, as always, from -the left, we will begin by tracing the progress of the -Guards. -</p> - -<p> -The Guards Division had taken over the Ginchy -Section some days previously from the Irish Division, -and had at once found themselves involved in very -heavy fighting, which left them a good deal weakened -for the great advance. They were faced by a strong -system of trenches, and especially by one stronghold -upon their right front, called the Quadrilateral, which -was a most formidable thorn, not only in their side -but also in that of the Sixth Division upon the right. -On September 13 and 14 these two divisions strove -hard, and sustained heavy losses in the endeavour -to clear their front of, and to outflank, this serious -obstacle, and some account of these preliminary -operations may be here introduced, although, as -explained, they were antecedent to the general -engagement. The attack upon the German trenches -on the evening of September 13 was begun by -the Sixth Division, which advanced with the 71st -Brigade upon the left, the Sixteenth upon the -right, and the Eighteenth in reserve. For 500 -yards the advance was successful until it reached -the sunken road which leads from Ginchy to Leuze -Wood. Here the leading battalions of the 71st -Brigade, the 2nd Sherwood Foresters upon the left -and the 9th Suffolk upon the right, were held up -by a furious fire which caused them heavy losses. -The 8th Bedford, one of the leading battalions of -the 16th Brigade, was also heavily punished. Many -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P252"></a>252}</span> -officers fell, including Major Mack of the Suffolks, a -civilian-bred soldier over sixty years of age, who had -distinguished himself by his fiery courage. The 2nd -Brigade of Guards had advanced upon the left, near -Ginchy Telegraph, and had also forced their way as -far as the road, where they were held up partly by -a terrific barrage from the north-east and partly by -the murderous fire from the Quadrangle. The whole -line dug in upon the ground they had won and waited -for a farther push in the morning. In this action -No. 2 Company of the 2nd Irish Guards suffered -heavy casualties from close-range fire. -</p> - -<p> -On September 14 a second attempt was made to -get forward, the action being a purely local one, but -extending over a considerable space from Ginchy to -near Leuze Wood, with its centre on the line of Ginchy -Telegraph. The 3rd Brigade of Guards came into -action this morning and made some progress in the -orchard north of Ginchy. At the same time, the 2nd -Sherwoods got astride of the little railway which -intersected their position. The gains were inconsiderable, -however, which could not be said for the losses, -mostly due to machine-gun fire from the Quadrangle. -The fact that this point was still untaken gave the -whole Fourteenth Corps a very difficult start for the -general action upon September 15 to which we now -come. -</p> - -<p> -On the signal for the general advance the Guards -Division advanced on the front between Delville -Wood and Ginchy. The 1st Guards Brigade was on -the left, the 2nd on the right, and the 3rd in reserve. -The front line of battalions counting from the left -were the 3rd, 2nd, and 1st Coldstreams with the 3rd -Grenadiers as right flank. Behind, in the second line -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P253"></a>253}</span> -from the left, were the 1st Irish, 2nd Grenadiers, 2nd -Irish, and 1st Scots. Disregarding the Quadrilateral -upon their right, which was holding up the Sixth -Division, the Guards swept magnificently onwards, -losing many officers and men, but never their direction -or formation. From 6.20 in the morning until 4 P.M. they -overcame one obstacle after another, and continually -advanced, though the progress was unequal -at different points on the line. There was a short -sharp bout of hand-to-hand fighting in the front line -trench, but the rush of the heavy disciplined Guardsmen -was irresistible, and the defenders were soon -overwhelmed. In this mêlée the battalions got badly -mixed up, part of the 2nd Irish getting carried away -by the 1st Brigade. The 1st Brigade found a more -formidable obstacle in front of them in Vat Alley, but -this also was cleared after a struggle, the left-hand -units getting mixed with the right-hand units of the -Fourteenth Division. About one o'clock the 3rd -Coldstreams on the extreme left were held up by a -wired strong point. They were weak in numbers and -almost without officers, so they dug in as best they -could and waited. On the right the 2nd Brigade -made good progress, and about mid-day its leading line -topped the low ridge and saw the land of promise -beyond, the green slope leading up to Lesboeufs, and -in the middle of the slope, not more than a thousand -yards away, a battery of field-guns raining shrapnel -upon them. They could get no farther, and they -consolidated at this point, digging in under heavy -shell-fire. The German infantry was seen at one time -marching down in artillery formation for a -counter-attack, but the movement was soon dispersed. In -the evening the front line, terribly worn and consisting -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P254"></a>254}</span> -of a jumble of exhausted men, held on firmly to the -last inch that they had won. Too weak to advance -and too proud to retire, they lay under the torment -of the shells and waited for dusk. The colonel of -the 3rd Coldstreams, in temporary command of his -brigade, had sent back during the afternoon for help, -and the 2nd Scots were sent up from the 3rd Brigade, -but the German barrage was so terrific that they -sustained very heavy losses, including Colonel Tempest, -Wynne-Finch, the adjutant, and many other officers. -The battalion, or what remained of it, arrived in time -to help to crush a dangerous counter-attack, which -was sweeping down from between Guedecourt and -Lesboeufs, a repulse which was entirely inflicted by -rifle and Lewis-gun fire. A lieutenant seems to -have been the senior officer present at this critical -moment, and to have met it as our subalterns have so -often met large emergencies during the War. The -advanced line was held until upon the next day -the 60th Brigade, and finally the whole of the -Twentieth Division, took over the new positions, -which may be regarded as a protective flank line in -continuation of that of the Fifty-sixth Division. It -should be mentioned that the 61st Brigade of the -Twentieth Division had been lent to the Guards -during the battle, and had done very sterling and -essential work. For a short time the Guards were -rested after this splendid but costly service. -</p> - -<p> -In the meantime the gallant Sixth Division was -left face to face with the hardest problem of all, the -Quadrilateral trenches, which, as the name would -indicate, were as formidable in the flanks or rear as -in front. With a tenacity which was worthy of the -traditions of this great division it settled down to the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P255"></a>255}</span> -task of clearing its front, meeting with check after -check, but carrying on day and night until the thing -was done. On the first assault upon September 15, -the 1st Leicesters of the 71st Brigade were able to -make some progress, but the 8th Bedford of the 16th -Brigade, who shared the attack, were completely held -up at the starting-point by the terrific fire, while the -1st Buffs had heavy losses in endeavouring to come -up to their aid. By about mid-day a mixture of -battalions, which numbered about 200 of the York -and Lancasters, 50 Buffs and 50 Bedfords, had made -their way into the advanced German line, but the -Quadrilateral was still intact. The General, seeing -the certain losses and uncertain results which must -follow from a frontal attack, determined to work -round the obstacle, and before evening the 16th -Brigade, which had already lost 1200 men, was ready -for the advance. The 18th Brigade had gone forward -past the Quadrilateral upon the left, working up to -the Ginchy-Morval Road, and in close touch with the -1st Scots Guards on the extreme flank of the Guards -Division. It now worked down towards the north -face of the German stronghold, and in the course -of September 16 the 2nd Durham Light Infantry, -by a bold advance laid hold of the northern -trench of the Quadrilateral down to within a -hundred yards of the Ginchy-Morval Road. Here -they were relieved by the 1st West Yorks, who took -over the task upon the 17th, keeping up constant -pressure upon the garrison whose resistance was -admirable. These brave men belonged to the -One hundred and eighty-fifth German Division. By -this time they were isolated, as the British wave had -rolled far past them on either side, but their spirit -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P256"></a>256}</span> -was as high as ever. A second trench to the north -of the work was rushed upon September 17 by the -Leicesters, who bayoneted fifty Germans in a hand-to-hand -conflict. Early in the morning of September 18 -came the end, when the British battalions, led by the -1st Shropshire Light Infantry, closed suddenly in and -stormed the position. Seven machine-guns (five of -which fell to the Shropshires) and a few hundred -exhausted or wounded prisoners represented the -trophies of this very difficult operation. The Sixth -Division now connected up with the Twentieth upon -their left, and with the Fifty-sixth upon their right, -after which, upon September 19, they handed over -their front for a time to the Fifth Division. -</p> - -<p> -There now only remains the Fifty-sixth Division -upon the extreme right of the Army—the division -which contained many of the crack London Territorial -Battalions, re-formed and reinforced since its -terrible losses at the Gommecourt Salient upon July 1. -In following the fortunes of this fine division upon -September 15, it is necessary to go back for some days, -as a series of operations had been undertaken before -the great battle, which were as arduous as the battle -itself. On coming into the line on September 9, -the division had at once been given the task of -advancing that wing of the Army. Upon that date -the 168th and 169th Brigades were attacking upon -the line of the road which connects Ginchy with -Combles, the general objects of the advance being -gradually to outflank Combles on the one side and the -Quadrilateral upon the other. Some ground was -permanently gained by both brigades upon that day, -the Victoria Rifles and the 4th London doing most -of the fighting. -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P257"></a>257}</span> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-257"></a> -<br /> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-257.jpg" alt="ATTACK on QUADRILATERAL, September 15th, 1916." /> -<br /> -ATTACK on QUADRILATERAL, September 15th, 1916. -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P258"></a>258}</span> -</p> - -<p> -Upon September 10 the advance was continued, -a scattered clump of trees called Leuze Wood being -the immediate obstacle in front of the right-hand -brigade, while the left-hand brigade was trying to -get into touch with the division upon their left, and -were confronted by the continuation of the same -system of trenches. The 169th Brigade upon the -right was advancing through Leuze Wood, and suffered -heavy losses before reaching its objective. On the -left the London Scottish and the Rangers were -extending east along the Ginchy Road, endeavouring -to link up with the Guards, for there was an awkward -gap at that date between the divisions. This was -filled, however, by the advent of the Fifth and -subsequently of the Sixth Division. The object of all the -above operations was to get the right flank of the -Army into its allotted position for the battle to come. -</p> - -<p> -Upon September 15 the London Division went -forward with the whole line at 6.20 in the morning, -the 167th Brigade on the left, the 169th upon the -right. The original direction of advance had been -north and south, but it soon became almost from west -to east as the division, pivoting upon Leuze Wood, -swung round to attack Bouleaux Wood to the north -of it, and to hold a defensive flank for the whole -army. Their front was a very narrow one to allow -for the fact that their essential work was lateral. -</p> - -<p> -The 167th Brigade fought its way bravely into -Bouleaux Wood, where they endured the usual horrors -of this forest fighting, which came especially upon the -7th Middlesex battalion, who lost 400 men, chiefly -from the fire of unseen machine-guns. There was a -very heavy barrage between Ginchy and Bouleaux -Wood, so that all reserves and supports endured heavy -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P259"></a>259}</span> -losses before they could get up. By mid-day the 1st -London and the 8th were involved in the wood and -some progress was being made, while the 2nd London -of the 169th Brigade had taken and consolidated a -trench near the Sunken Road, but a further attack -upon a second trench to the east of Leuze Wood, two -days later, was a failure. On this same day, September -18, the 168th Brigade relieved the 167th in Bouleaux -Wood, while the whole division, like one blade of a -scissors, edged its way eastwards towards Combles to -meet the French Second Division, who were closing -in from the other side. Already rumours were current -that the Germans were evacuating this important -little town, but many very active German trenches -and strong points still lay all round it, through which -the Allies, from either side, were endeavouring to -force their way. On the night of September 18-19, -the 5th Cheshires, pioneer battalion of the division, -constructed a long trench parallel to Bouleaux Wood, -which formed a defensive flank for the operations. The -whole of this wood had now been cleared with the -exception of the extreme northern corner. Here we -may leave the Fifty-sixth Division, for the fall of -Combles will fit in more properly to our next survey, -when we shall have once again to go down the whole -line from left to right and to show one more stage in -the advance. -</p> - -<p> -This Battle of Flers may be said to mark an epoch -in military history on account of the use of the -so-called tank, an instrument which had no vital effect -upon the course of the fight, but which was obviously -capable of being much enlarged, and of being made -in every way more formidable. It had been a common -criticism up to this date that our military equipment -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P260"></a>260}</span> -had always been an imitation, very belated, of that -of our enemy. Now at last Great Britain, warming -to the War, was giving her inventive and manufacturing -as well as her military talents full scope—and -the tank was the first-born of her fancy. It is a -matter of history that Britain has been the inventor -of processes and Germany the adapter of them, so -that we had a valuable asset in that direction could -we break through our bonds of red tape and get -without hindrance from the thinker in his study to the -fighter in the trench. Those who have had the experience -of discussing any military problem in the Press, -and have found by the next post fifty letters from -men of all ranks and professions, presenting solutions -for it, can best understand how active is the inventive -brain of the country. In this instance, Mr. Winston -Churchill is said, during his tenure of office, to have -first conceived the idea of the tanks, but the actual -details were worked out by a number of men. Especially -they are owing to Colonel Stern, a civilian before -the War, who used his knowledge of motor manufacture -and his great organising ability to put the -construction through in the shortest time, to Commander -d'Eyncourt of the Navy, and to Colonel Swinton, -R.E., who looked after the crews and equipment. On -an average six of these engines, strange modern -resuscitations of the war-chariots of our ancestors, -were allotted to each division. The whole affair was -frankly experimental, and many got into trouble -through the breakdown of machinery, the limits of -carrying capacity, and the slipping of the caterpillar -driving-bands at the sides. Their pace, too, was -against them, as they could only go twenty yards per -minute as against the fifty of the infantry. Hence -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P261"></a>261}</span> -they had to be sent ahead down lanes in the barrage, -with the result that the element of surprise was -lessened. Their vision also was very defective, and -they were bad neighbours, as they drew fire. The -result was a very mixed report from various Divisional -Commanders, some of whom swore by, and others -at them. The net result, however, was summed up -by the words of commendation from General Haig -in his despatch, and there were some cases, as at Flers -itself, where the work done was simply invaluable, and -the machine-guns were nosed out and rooted up before -they could do any damage. The adventures of -individual tanks could, and no doubt will, fill a volume -to themselves, some of them, either in ignorance or -recklessness, wandering deep into the enemy's lines, -and amazing rearward batteries by their sudden -uncouth appearance. Several were destroyed, but -none actually fell into the German hands. Enough -was done to show their possibilities, and also to prove -that the Navy and the Flying Service had not sufficed -to exhaust our amazing supply of high-spirited youths -ready to undertake the most nerve-shaking tasks -so long as a touch of sport gave them a flavour. The -very names of these land cruisers, Crême de Menthe -and the like, showed the joyous, debonair spirit in -which their crews faced the unknown dangers of their -new calling. -</p> - -<p> -Summing up the events of September 15, it was -without any doubt the greatest British victory, though -not the most important, which had been gained up to -date in the War. July 1 was the most important, and -all subsequent ones arose from it, since it was then that -the Chinese Wall of Germany was breached. July 14 -was also a considerable victory, but it was only a -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P262"></a>262}</span> -portion of the line which was attacked, and that -portion was partly regained for a time by the German -counter-attacks. The battle of September 15, -however, was on as huge a scale as that of July 1, but -was devoid of those long stretches of untaken trench -which made us pay so heavy a price for our victory. -From the Pozières Ridge upon the left to Bouleaux -Wood upon the right twelve divisions moved forward -to victory, and, save in the small section of the -Quadrilateral, everything gave way at once to that -majestic advance. The ultimate objectives had been -carefully defined, for the Battle of Loos had taught -us that the infantry must not outrun the guns, but -this pre-ordained limit was attained at almost every -spot. Martinpuich, High Wood, Flers, Delville, and -Leuze Wood, all passed permanently within the -British lines, and the trophies of victory amounted -to 5000 prisoners and a dozen guns. At this stage -no less than 21,000 prisoners had been taken by the -British and 34,000 by the French since the great -series of battles was commenced upon July 1. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p><a id="chap11"></a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P263"></a>263}</span></p> - -<h3> -CHAPTER XI -<br /><br /> -THE GAINING OF THE THIEPVAL RIDGE -</h3> - -<p class="intro"> -Assault on Thiepval by Eighteenth Division—Heavy -fighting—Co-operation of Eleventh Division—Fall of Thiepval—Fall of -Schwaben Redoubt—Taking of Stuff Redoubt—Important gains -on the Ridge. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -Having treated the successful advance made by -Rawlinson's Fourth Army upon September 15, it -would be well before continuing the narrative of their -further efforts to return to Gough's Army upon the -north, the right Canadian wing of which had captured -Courcelette, but which was occupied in the main with -the advance upon the Thiepval Ridge. -</p> - -<p> -The actual capture of Thiepval was an operation -of such importance that it must be treated in some -detail. The village, or rather the position, was a -thorn in the side of the British, as it lay with its -veteran garrison of Würtembergers, girdled round -and flanked by formidable systems of trenches upon -the extreme left of their line. Just above Thiepval -was a long slope ending in a marked ridge, which -was topped by the Schwaben Redoubt. Both armies -recognised the extreme importance of this position, -since its capture would mean a fire-command over all -the German positions to the north of the Ancre, while -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P264"></a>264}</span> -without it the British could never reap the full result -of their success in breaking the line upon July 1. For -this reason, instructions had been given to the picked -German troops who held it to resist at all costs, even -to the death. They had massed at least four hundred -guns in order to beat down every assault. Yet the -attempt must be made, and it was assigned to -Jacob's Second Corps, the actual Divisions engaged -being the Eighteenth and the Eleventh, both of -them units recruited in the South of England. The -latter was distinguished as the first English Division -of the New Armies, while the former had already -gained great distinction in the early days of the Somme -battle when they captured Trones Wood. They were -supported in their difficult venture by a considerable -concentration of artillery, which included the guns -of the Twenty-fifth and Forty-ninth Divisions as well -as their own. Jacob, their Corps leader, was an -officer who had risen from the command of an Anglo-Indian -Brigade to that of a Corps within two years. -The whole operation, like all others in this region, was -under the direction of Sir Hubert Gough. -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P265"></a>265}</span> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-265"></a> -<br /> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-265.jpg" alt="PLAN illustrating the Capture of THIEPVAL, September 26th, October 5th, 1916." /> -<br /> -PLAN illustrating the Capture of THIEPVAL, <br /> -September 26th, October 5th, 1916. -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -Every possible preparation was made for the -assault, and all the requirements of prolonged warfare -were used to minimise the losses and ensure the success -of the storm-troops. Four tanks were brought up to -co-operate, and one of them, as will be shown, was of -vital use at a critical moment. Instructions were -given to the advancing battalions to let their own -shrapnel strike within a few yards of their toes as they -advanced, huddling in a thick line behind the screen -of falling bullets which beat down the machine-guns -in front. With fine judgment in some cases the -supports were taken out of the advanced trenches and -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P266"></a>266}</span> -concealed here or there so that the answering barrage -of the enemy fell upon emptiness. So war-wise were -the British, and so cool their dispositions, that certain -enemy trenches were actually exempted from -bombardment, so that they might form an intact nucleus -of defence when the place was taken. -</p> - -<p> -The Canadian Corps were to attack from Courcelette -upon the right, but their advance was only -indirectly concerned with Thiepval Village, being -directed towards the ridge which runs north-west -of Courcelette to the Schwaben Redoubt. Next to -the Canadians on the left was the Eleventh Division, -and on their left the Thirteenth, which had been -strengthened by the addition of the 146th Brigade -of the Forty-ninth Division. The latter brigade held -the original British front line during the action so -as to release the whole of the Eighteenth Division -for the advance. The immediate objective of this -division was Thiepval Village, to be followed by the -Schwaben Redoubt. Those of the Eleventh Division -on its right were Zollern and Stuff Redoubts. -</p> - -<p> -The Eighteenth Division assaulted with two -brigades, the 53rd on the right, the 54th on the left, -each being confronted by a network of trenches -backed by portions of the shattered village. The -advance was from south to north, and at right angles -to the original British trench line. The hour of fate -was 12.35 in the afternoon of September 26. -</p> - -<p> -The average breadth of No Man's Land was 250 -yards, which was crossed by these steady troops at -a slow, plodding walk, the pace being regulated by -the searching barrage, which lingered over every -shell-hole in front of them. Through the hard work of -the sappers and Sussex pioneers, the assembly -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P267"></a>267}</span> -trenches had been pushed well out, otherwise the -task would have been more formidable. -</p> - -<p> -Following the fortunes of the 53rd Brigade -upon the right, its movements were supposed to -synchronise with those of the 33rd Brigade upon the -left flank of the Eleventh Division. The right -advanced battalion was the 8th Suffolk, with the 10th -Essex upon the left, each of them in six waves. Close -at their heels came the 8th Norfolk, whose task was -to search dug-outs and generally to consolidate the -ground won. The front line of stormers rolled over -Joseph Trench, which was the German advanced -position, but before they had reached it there was a -strange eruption of half-dressed unarmed Germans -yelling with terror and bolting through the barrage. -Many of them dashed through the stolid Suffolks, who -took no notice of them, but let them pass. Others -lost their nerve like rabbits at a battue, and darted -here and there between the lines until the shrapnel -found them. It was an omen of victory that such -clear signs of shaken moral should be evident so -early in the day. There was sterner stuff behind, -however, as our men were speedily to learn. -</p> - -<p> -The advance went steadily forward, cleaning up -the trenches as it went, and crossing Schwaben Trench, -Zollern Trench, and Bulgar Trench, in each of which -there was sharp resistance, only quelled by the -immediate presence of our Lewis guns, or occasionally -by the rush of a few determined men with bayonets. -It was 2.30 before the advance was brought to a -temporary stand by machine-gun fire from the right. -After that hour a small party of Suffolks under -Lieutenant Mason got forward some distance ahead, -and made a strong point which they held till evening, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P268"></a>268}</span> -this gallant young officer falling under the enemy's -fire. -</p> - -<p> -The success of the Suffolks upon the right was -equalled by that of the Essex on the left, passing -through the eastern portion of Thiepval without -great loss, for the usual machine-gun fire seemed to -have been stamped out by the British guns. The -whole of this fine advance of the 53rd Brigade covered -about 1000 yards in depth and accounted for a great -number of the enemy in killed, wounded, and prisoners. -The advance made and the cost paid both showed that -our officers and soldiers were learning the lessons of -modern warfare with that swift adaptability which -Britain has shown in every phase of this terrific and -prolonged test. This old, old nation's blood has -flowed into so many younger ones that her own -vitality might well be exhausted; but she has, on -the contrary, above all the combatants, given evidence -of the supple elasticity of youth, moulding herself in -an instant to every movement of the grim giant with -whom she fought. -</p> - -<p> -Great as had been the success of the 53rd Brigade, -it was not possible for them to get on to the Schwaben -Redoubt, their ultimate objective, because, as will be -shown, matters were more difficult upon the left, and -one corner of the village was still in German possession. -They ended the day, therefore, with two battalions -consolidating the Zollern Line, a third in support in -the Schwaben Trench, and a fourth, the 6th Berks, -bringing up munitions and food to their exhausted -but victorious comrades. The front line was much -mixed, but the men were in good heart, and a visit -from their Brigadier in the early morning of the 27th -did much to reassure them. To carry on the story -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P269"></a>269}</span> -of this brigade to the conclusion of the attack it may -be added that the whole of the 27th was spent on -consolidation and on a daring reconnaissance by -a captain of the 53rd Trench Mortar Battery, who -crawled forward alone, and made it clear by his report -that a new concerted effort was necessary before the -Brigade could advance. -</p> - -<p> -We shall now return to 12.35 P.M. on September -26, and follow the 54th Brigade upon the left. -The advance was carried out by the 12th Middlesex, -with instructions to attack the village, and by the -11th Royal Fusiliers, whose task was to clear the -maze of trenches and dug-outs upon the west of the -village, while the 6th Northamptons were to be in close -support. So difficult was the task, that a frontage -of only 300 yards was allotted to the Brigade, so as -to ensure weight of attack—the Fusiliers having a -front line of one platoon. -</p> - -<p> -The advance ran constantly into a network of -trenches with nodal strong points which were held -with resolution and could only be carried by fierce -hand-to-hand fighting. Captain Thompson, Lieutenants -Miall-Smith and Cornaby, and many of their -Fusiliers in the leading company, were killed or -wounded in this desperate business. So stern was -the fight that the Fusiliers on the left got far behind -their own barrage, and also behind their Middlesex -comrades on the right, who swept up as far as the -château before they were brought to a temporary -halt. Here, at the very vital moment, one of the tanks, -the only one still available, came gliding forward -and put out of action the machine-guns of the chateau, -breaking down in the effort, and remaining on the -scene of its success. Across the whole front of the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P270"></a>270}</span> -advance there were now a series of small conflicts at -close quarters, so stubborn that the left wing of the -Fusiliers was held stationary in constant combat for -the rest of the day. Extraordinary initiative was -shown by privates of both leading battalions when -left without officers in this scattered fighting, and here, -no doubt, we have a result depending upon the formed -educated stuff which went to the making of such -troops as these London units of the new armies. -Private Edwards and Private Ryder each gained -their V.C. at this stage of the action by single-handed -advances which carried forward the line. Corporal -Tovey lost his life in a similar gallant venture, -bayoneting single-handed the crew of a machine-gun and -silencing it. Fierce battles raged round garrisoned -dug-outs, where no quarter was given or taken on -either side. One considerable garrison refused to -surrender and perished horribly in the flames of -their wood-lined refuge. Those who fled from their -refuges were cut down by Lewis guns, a lieutenant of -the Fusiliers getting 50 in this manner. This officer -also distinguished himself by his use of a captured -map, which enabled him to lead his men to the central -telephone installation, where 20 operators were seized -by a corporal and two files of Fusiliers, who afterwards -put the wires out of gear. -</p> - -<p> -These great results had not been obtained without -heavy losses. Colonel Carr of the Fusiliers, Major -Hudson, and the Adjutant had all fallen. About -three in the afternoon the village had all been -cleared save the north-west corner, but the battalions -were very mixed, the barrage deadly, the order of -the attack out of gear, and the position still insecure. -The 54th Brigade was well up with the 53rd upon the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P271"></a>271}</span> -right, but upon the left it was held up as already -described. The German egg bombs were falling in -this area as thick as snowballs in a schoolboy battle, -while the more formidable stick bombs were often to -be seen, twenty at a time, in the air. -</p> - -<p> -A great deal now depended upon the supports, as -the front line was evidently spent and held. The -immediate support was the 6th Northamptons. In -moving forward it lost both Colonel Ripley and the -Adjutant, and many officers fell, two companies -being left entirely to the charge of the sergeants, -who rose finely to their responsibilities. When by -four o'clock the battalion had got up through the -barrage, there were only two unwounded company -officers left standing, both second lieutenants. It was -one more demonstration of the fact that a modern -barrage can create a zone through which it is practically -impossible for unarmoured troops to move. The -result was that the battalion was so weak by the time -it got up, that it was less a support to others than a -unit which was in need of support. The three depleted -battalions simply held their line, therefore, until -night, and under the cover of darkness they were all -drawn off, and the remaining battalion, the 7th -Bedfords, took their place. That this could be done -at night in strange trenches within a few yards of the -German line is a feat which soldiers will best appreciate. -The result was that as day broke on the 27th the -Germans were faced not by a fringe of exhausted men, -but by a perfectly fresh battalion which was ready -and eager for immediate attack. -</p> - -<p> -The whole of Thiepval had been taken upon the -26th, save only the north-west corner, and it was upon -this that two companies of the Bedfords were now -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P272"></a>272}</span> -directed, their objectives being defined for them by -a captain who had fought over the ground the day -before. Thanks to the gallant leadership of another -captain and of Lieutenant Adlam (the latter gaining -his Victoria Cross), the place was carried at small loss, -and this last refuge of the Thiepval Germans was -cleared out. It was a glorious achievement, for by it -this very strong point, held against all attacks, French -or British, for two years, passed permanently into our -hands. The losses were not excessive for such a gain, -amounting to about 1500 men. Those of the Germans -were very much heavier, and included 600 prisoners -drawn from four different regiments. Over 1000 dead -were counted. -</p> - -<p> -We will now hark back to 12.35 P.M., the hour of -assault, and follow the fortunes of the Eleventh or -first English Division of the New Armies which was -advancing upon the right of the Eighteenth Division. -Within half an hour of the assault the 33rd Brigade -and the 34th had crossed both the Joseph and the -Schwaben Trenches, the 6th Borders, 9th Sherwood -Foresters, 8th Northumberland Fusiliers, and 9th -Lancashire Fusiliers forming the front line. Keeping -some sort of touch with Maxse's men on the left they -pushed on until their right wing was held up by violent -machine-gun fire from the Zollern Redoubt and from -Mouquet Farm, the losses falling especially upon the -5th Dorsets. Between six and seven in the evening a -mixed body of troops from the division, assisted by -the machine-guns of two stranded tanks, attacked -Mouquet and finally carried it. -</p> - -<p> -The Eighteenth Division had still a very formidable -task before it to be undertaken with the co-operation -of the Eleventh upon its right. This was the capture -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P273"></a>273}</span> -of the formidable stronghold, made up of many -trenches and called the Schwaben Redoubt. It was a -thousand yards distant up a long broken slope. No -time was lost in tackling this new labour, and at -1 P.M. on September 28 the troops moved forward once -again, the same brigades being used, but the worn -battalions being replaced by fresh units drawn from -the 55th Brigade. The 53rd Brigade on the right -had the undefeatable Suffolks and the 7th Queen's -Surreys in the van with Norfolks and Essex behind. -The 54th upon a narrower front had the 7th Bedfords -in front, with the 5th West Yorks from the Forty-ninth -Division in immediate support, the Buffs and -East Surrey being in Divisional Reserve. The Germans -had got a captive balloon into the air, but their -gunnery was not particularly improved thereby. -</p> - -<p> -At the first rush the Suffolk and Queen's on the -right took Bulgar and Martin Trenches, while the -Eleventh Division took Hessian. By 2.30 Market -Trench had also fallen. The troops were now well -up to Schwaben, and small groups of men pushed -their way home in spite of a furious resistance. -The Eleventh Division had won home on the right, -and the Suffolks were in touch with them and with -the Queen's, so that the position before evening was -thoroughly sound. Part of this enormous stronghold -was still in German hands, however, and all our efforts -could not give us complete control. -</p> - -<p> -Upon the left the 7th Bedfords, leading the 54th -Brigade, had made a very notable advance, crossing -Market Trench and getting well up to the western face -of the great Redoubt. The Reserves, however, lost -direction amid the chaos of shell-holes and trenches, -drifting away to the left. The Schwaben was occupied -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P274"></a>274}</span> -at several points, and the first-fruits of that commanding -position were at once picked, for the light machine-guns -were turned upon the German fugitives as they -rushed with bent backs down the sloping trenches -which led to St. Pierre Divion. The West Yorkshires -were well up, and for a time these two battalions and -the Germans seem to have equally divided this portion -of the trench between them. There was stark fighting -everywhere with bomb and bayonet, neither side -flinching, and both so mixed up that neither German -nor British commanders could tell how the units lay. -In such a case a General can only trust to his men, -and a British General seldom trusts in vain. -</p> - -<p> -As night fell in this confused scene where along the -whole line the Eighteenth Division had reached its -objective but had not cleared it, attempts were made -to bring up new men, the Berkshires, a battalion of -young drafts, relieving the Suffolks on the right. -In the morning two local counter-attacks by the -Germans succeeded in enlarging their area. At the -same time the 55th Brigade took over the front, -the four battalions being reunited under their own -Brigadier. It was clear that the German line was -thickening, for it was a matter of desperate urgency -to them to recover the Redoubt. They still held the -northern end of the labyrinth. On September 30 -the East Surreys, moving up behind a massive barrage, -took it by storm, but were driven out again before -they could get their roots down. The Germans, -encouraged by their success, surged south again, but -could make no headway. On October 1 the tide set -northwards once more, and the Buffs gained some -ground. From then till October 5, when the Eighteenth -Division was relieved by the Thirty-ninth, there -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P275"></a>275}</span> -were incessant alarms and excursions, having the net -result that at the latter date the whole Redoubt with -the exception of one small section, afterwards taken -by the Thirty-ninth, was in our hands. So ended for -the moment the splendid service of the Eighteenth -Division. Nearly 2000 officers and men had fallen -in the Schwaben operations, apart from the 1500 -paid for Thiepval. It is certain, however, that the -Schwaben garrison had suffered as much, and they -left 232 prisoners in the hands of the victors. -</p> - -<p> -For the purpose of continuity of narrative, we have -kept our attention fixed upon the Eighteenth Division, -but the Eleventh Division, which we have left at -Mouquet Farm some pages before, had been doing -equally good work upon the right. In the afternoon -of September 27 the 6th Borders, rushing suddenly from -Zollern Trench, made a lodgment in Hessian Trench, -to which they resolutely clung. On their left the 6th -Yorks and 9th West Yorks had also advanced and -gained permanent ground, winning their way into the -southern edge of Stuff Redoubt. Here they had to -face a desperate counter-attack, but Captain White, -with a mixed party of the battalions named, held on -against all odds, winning his V.C. by his extraordinary -exertions. During the whole of September 29 the -pressure at this point was extreme, but the divisional -artillery showed itself to be extremely efficient, and -covered the exhausted infantry with a most comforting -barrage. -</p> - -<p> -The 32nd Brigade was now brought up, and on -September 30 the advance was resumed, the whole -of this brigade and the 6th Lincolns and 7th South -Staffords of the 33rd being strongly engaged. The -results were admirable, as the whole of Hessian Trench -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P276"></a>276}</span> -and the south of Stuff Redoubt were occupied. That -night the Eleventh Division was relieved by the -Twenty-fifth, and it will now be told how the -conquest of the Ridge was finally achieved. The -Eleventh withdrew after having done splendid work -and sustained losses of 144 officers and 3500 men. -Their prisoners amounted to 30 officers and 1125 of -all ranks, with a great number of machine-guns and -trench mortars. -</p> - -<p> -After the fall of Thiepval and the operations which -immediately followed it the front British line in this -quarter ran approximately east and west along the -Thiepval-Courcelette ridge. As far as part of the -front was concerned we had observation over the -Valley of the Ancre, but in another part the Germans -still held on to the Stuff Redoubt, and thence for -a stretch they were still on the crest and had the -observation. The Stuff Redoubt itself on the southern -face had been occupied by the Eleventh, when the -Schwaben Redoubt was taken by the Eighteenth -Division, but the northern faces of both were still -in the hands of the enemy. These had now to be -taken in order to clear up the line. A further -stronghold, called The Mounds, immediately to the north, -came also within the operation. -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P277"></a>277}</span> -</p> - -<p><br /> -</p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-277"></a> -<br /> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-277.jpg" alt="STUFF REDOUBT SYSTEM showing Hessian, Regina and Stuff." /> -<br /> -STUFF REDOUBT SYSTEM showing Hessian, Regina and Stuff. -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -The Twenty-fifth Division had, as stated, relieved -the Eleventh, and this new task was handed over -to it. Upon October 9 the first attack was made -by the 10th Cheshires, and although their full -objective was not reached, the result was satisfactory, -a lodgment being made and 100 of the garrison -captured, with slight casualties to the stormers, thanks -to the good barrage and the workmanlike way in -which they took advantage of it. A strong attempt -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P278"></a>278}</span> -on the part of the Germans to prevent consolidation -and to throw out the intruders was quite unsuccessful. -</p> - -<p> -The 8th North Lancs were now placed in the position -of the Cheshires, while the Thirty-ninth Division -upon the left joined in the pressure. Upon October 10 -an attack was made by the 16th Sherwoods supported -by the 17th Rifles of the 117th Brigade; but it -had no success. On the 12th there was a renewed -attack by units of the 118th Brigade, chiefly the -4th Black Watch. This succeeded in advancing -the line for a short distance, and upon October 15 -it repulsed two local counter-attacks. Upon the -right the 8th North Lancs upon October 14 had a -very successful advance, in which they carried with -moderate loss the stretch of line opposite, as well as -the position called The Mounds. Two machine-guns -and 125 prisoners were taken. -</p> - -<p> -The British now had observation along the whole -ridge with a line of observation posts pushed out -beyond the crest. There were formidable obstacles upon -their right front, however, where the Regina Trench -and a heavily fortified quadrilateral system lay in -front of the troops already mentioned, and also of the -Canadians on the Courcelette line. In order to get -ready for the next advance there was some sidestepping -of units, the hard-worked Eighteenth coming -in on the right next the Canadians, the Twenty-fifth -moving along, and the Thirty-ninth coming closer on -the left. On October 8 the Canadians had a sharp -action, in which the Ontario, British Columbia, -Alberta, and Winnipeg Battalions showed their usual -resolution, and took a couple of hundred prisoners, -but were unable to gain much ground. A concerted -movement of the whole line was now organised. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P279"></a>279}</span> -</p> - -<p> -The great Stuff Trench, which was roughly a -continuation of the Regina, was opposite the centre of -the attack, and was distant some 300 yards from -the British front. The barrage arrangements -co-ordinated by the Second Corps (Jacob), to which -these units now belonged, worked most admirably. -The attack was made all along the line and was -eminently successful. At 12.35 upon October 21 -the general advance began, and at 4.30 the whole -objective, including Stuff and Regina, was in the hands -of the British and Canadians. It was a fine victory, -with 20 machine-guns and 1000 prisoners of the 5th -Ersatz and Twenty-eighth Bavarian Divisions as -trophies. So rapid was the consolidation that before -morning trenches were opened out between the -captured line and the old British position. A curious -incident in this most successful attack was that the -8th Border Regiment advanced at least a thousand -yards beyond its objective, but was successful in -getting back. By this brilliant little action the enemy -was finally driven down upon a three-mile front north -of Thiepval and Courcelette, until he had no foothold -left save the marshes to the south of the Ancre, where -he cowered in enfiladed trenches for that final clearing -up which was only delayed by the weather. It should -be added that on this same date, October 21, the left of -the British line, formed by the Thirty-ninth Division, -was attacked by storm-troops of the German Twenty-eighth -Reserve Division, armed with <i>flammenwerfer</i> -and supported by 60 light batteries. The attack was -formidable, and twice got into the British line, but -was twice driven out again, leaving many prisoners -and trophies behind. The Sussex and Hampshire -troops of the 116th Brigade, aided by the 17th Rifles, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P280"></a>280}</span> -stood splendidly to their work, and ended by holding -every inch of their ground, and adding a new German -trench which was carried by the 14th Hants. -</p> - -<p> -From this time onwards this northern section of -the line was quiet save for small readjustments, until -the great effort upon November 13, which brought -the autumn campaign to a close with the considerable -victory of Beaumont Hamel. From the point which -the Second Corps had now reached it could command -with its guns the Valley of the Ancre to the north of it, -including some of those positions which had repulsed -our attack upon July 1 and were still in German -hands. So completely did we now outflank them from -the south that it must have been evident to any -student of the map that Haig was sure, sooner or later, -to make a strong infantry advance over the ground -which was so completely controlled by his artillery. -It was the German appreciation of this fact which had -caused their desperate efforts at successive lines of -defence to hold us back from gaining complete command -of the crest of the slope. It will be told in the -final chapter of this volume how this command was -utilised, and a bold step was taken towards rolling -up the German positions from the south—a step -which was so successful that it was in all probability -the immediate cause of that general retirement of the -whole German front which was the first great event -in the campaign of 1917. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p><a id="chap12"></a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P281"></a>281}</span></p> - -<h3> -CHAPTER XII -<br /><br /> -THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME -</h3> - -<p class="t3"> -From September 15 to the Battle of the Ancre -</p> - -<p class="intro"> -Capture of Eaucourt—Varying character of German resistance—Hard -trench fighting along the line—Dreadful climatic conditions—The -meteorological trenches—Hazy Trench—Zenith Trench—General -observations—General von Arnim's report. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -Having described the Battle of Flers, which began -upon September 15 and which extended over one, two, -or three days according to the completeness of the -local victory, or the difficulty of reaching any definite -limit, we will now turn once more to the left of the line -(always excepting Gough's flanking army, which has -been treated elsewhere), and we shall follow the deeds -of the successive divisions in each sector up to the -end of the operations. We will begin with the -Third Corps, who abutted upon the Canadians in the -Martinpuich sector, and covered the line up to Drop -Alley, north-east of High Wood, where they joined -up with the Fifteenth Corps. -</p> - -<p> -The line on this western section was less active -than on the right, where the great villages of Combles, -Lesboeufs, and Morval were obvious marks for the -advance. After the battle of September 15, the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P282"></a>282}</span> -Twenty-third Division, relieving the Fifteenth, took -its station at the extreme left of the line, just north -of Martinpuich. To the right of the Twenty-third, -occupying the Starfish and Prue system of trenches, -was the Fiftieth Division. On their right was the -First, who had relieved the Forty-seventh Division, -the victors of High Wood. These three divisions, -Twenty-third, Fiftieth, and First, now formed the -Third Corps. Their fighting patrols were thrown well -out during the days after the battle, and their front -posts were as far north as Crescent Alley and Hook -Trench. The general attack of September 25, which -amounted to a considerable battle, did not seriously -affect this portion of the line. The only operation of -note before the end of the month was an attack upon -a farm in the front of their line by the 70th Brigade -of the Twenty-third Division—a brigade which had -greatly distinguished itself during the time it had -fought with the Eighth Division upon July 1. This -attack failed the first time, but it was repeated with -success at dawn upon September 29, and the line -moved forward to that limited extent. Another small -advance was made by the First Division on the night -of September 25, east of Eaucourt, when a piece of -trench was carried by the gallantry of a platoon of the -2nd Rifles, consisting almost entirely of Rhodesian -volunteers, samples of those wandering Britons who -have played a part in this War which can never be -chronicled. The way in which the distant sons, -prodigal or otherwise, came back to the help of their -hard-pressed mother is one of the most beautiful -chapters in the history of the Empire. -</p> - -<p> -The Flers front-line trench bends away from the -British position as it trends towards the north-west, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P283"></a>283}</span> -so that although it had been made good over a large -portion in the Battle of Flers, it was still intact -opposite the Third Corps. Upon October 1, however, -it was attacked, and was taken without any great -difficulty, though the Fiftieth in the centre had to -fight hard for their section. The storming battalions, -after re-forming, continued their advance, and occupied -the line between Le Sars and Flers. The village of -Eaucourt lay in their path, and was well guarded upon -the west by uncut wire, but a tank rolled its majestic -path across it and the shouting infantry crowded -close behind. The 141st Brigade of the Forty-seventh -Division, which had come back once again into the -line, was the first to enter this village, which was -the sixteenth torn by the British from the grip of -the invaders since the breaking of the line, while -the French captures stood at an even higher figure. -There was a strong counter-attack upon Eaucourt -during the night, accompanied by a shortage of bombs -owing to the fact that the store had been destroyed -by an unlucky shell. The Germans for the time -regained the village, and the ruins were partly occupied -by both armies until October 3, when the British line, -once more gathering volume and momentum, rolled -over it for the last time. It had been stoutly defended -by men of a German reserve division, and its capture -had cost us dear. One of the mysteries of the fighting -at this stage was the very varied quality of the -resistance, so that the advancing British were never -sure whether they would find themselves faced by -demoralised poltroons, capable of throwing up their -hands by the hundred, or by splendid infantry, -who would fight to the death with the courage of -despair. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P284"></a>284}</span> -</p> - -<p> -Having won Eaucourt, the next village which faced -the British line in this sector was Le Sars, immediately -to the north-west. The advance upon this was -carried out amid rain and slush which made military -operations almost impossible. It was again found -that the resistance was very spirited, but the place -was none the less carried and consolidated upon -October 7. -</p> - -<p> -In the week preceding the final assault there was -hard fighting, during which the 70th Brigade won its -way forward into a favourable position for the attack. -The 8th York and Lancasters particularly distinguished -themselves by their gallantry in clearing -by bombing the outlying German defences, Major -Sawyer and Lieutenant de Burgh of that battalion -winning the Cross for their fine leadership upon that -occasion. The decisive attack was carried out by the -other two brigades of the Twenty-third Division, -which advanced upon the village, whilst the Forty-seventh -Division made an attempt upon the formidable -Butte of Warlencourt. The latter venture met with -no success, but the former was brilliantly carried out. -The advance was made by the 68th Brigade upon the -right and the 69th upon the left, the -Martinpuich-Warlencourt Road being the dividing line between -the two divisions. The attack was at 1.45 P.M., and -in broad daylight the battalions concerned, notably -the 12th and 13th Durhams and the 9th Yorks, -clambered over their sodden sandbags and waded -through the mud which separated them from the -Germans. The numbers were so reduced that the -companies formed only two weak platoons, but none -the less they advanced very steadily. Captain Blake, -leading the first company of Durhams, was shot dead; -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P285"></a>285}</span> -but another captain took over both companies and led -them straight at the village, both the 12th Durhams -and 9th Yorks reaching the sunken road in front of -the houses at about the same moment. They worked -their way down this and bombed many Germans -in their dug-outs. Here, as elsewhere, experience -proved that this system of taking refuge from shell-fire -in deep burrows has very serious military disadvantages, -not merely on account of the difficulty of getting -out, but from the more serious objection that the men, -being trained to avoid danger, continued to shrink -from it when it was essential that they should rush out -and face it. The yellow faces and flaccid appearance -of our prisoners showed also the physical results of a -troglodytic life. -</p> - -<p> -A single tank which had accompanied the advance -was set on fire by a shell, but the infantry pressed on -undismayed, and well backed up by the 10th and 11th -Northumberland Fusiliers and 8th Seaforths, they soon -seized the whole village and firmly consolidated their -position. The success was partly due to the fine -handling of machine-guns, which turned the favourite -weapon of the Germans against themselves. Five of -these guns, 8 officers, and 450 men were taken during -the operation. -</p> - -<p> -The Forty-seventh Division, meanwhile, in attempting -to make similar progress upon the right was held -up by very heavy rifle and machine-gun fire. -Immediately afterwards, this division, much worn by its -splendid service, was taken out of the line, being -replaced by the Ninth Scottish Division. Their -companion Division, the Fifteenth, had come back -upon their left. The weather now became so -abominable and the mud so abysmal, that all prospect -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P286"></a>286}</span> -of farther progress in this section had to be abandoned. -The old prehistoric mark called the Butte of Warlencourt, -which had long stood up as a goal in front of -the British trenches, proved really to be the final mark -of their advance until a new season should dawn. -Upon October 12 there was an attempt to get forward, -but the conditions were impossible, and the results -unsatisfactory. In this affair the gallant Ninth -Division had considerable losses, their advance being -conducted with the 26th Brigade upon the right and -the South Africans upon the left. Some small gain -was achieved by the former, but the latter were held -up by a deadly machine-gun fire. The Thirtieth -Division was upon the right of the Ninth at this -period, and twice endeavoured to get forwards—once -upon the 12th and once upon the 18th; but neither -of these attempts had good success, partly owing to -the very bad weather, and partly to the excellent -resistance of the Sixth Bavarian Reserve Division, -which is described by those who have fought against -it as one of the very best divisions in the German -army. On the 20th a fresh attack was made by the -27th Brigade with no success and heavy losses to -the 6th Scottish Borderers. Early in November a -renewed attempt was made by the Fiftieth Division to -advance in this quarter, but the country was a morass -and no progress was possible. The Canadians, Forty-eighth -and Fiftieth Divisions, who held the Le Sars -front, were condemned to inactivity. From that time -onwards the line of the Third Corps was undisturbed, -save for a strong counter-attack upon November 6, -which neutralised a small advance made upon the 5th. -Le Sars and Eaucourt were consolidated and continued -to be the British advanced posts in this quarter. The -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P287"></a>287}</span> -conditions of mud and discomfort can only be -described as appalling. -</p> - -<p> -Having briefly traced the work of the Third Corps -from the action of September 15 to the coming of the -winter, we shall now turn to the Fifteenth Corps upon -the right and follow their operations from the same -date. It will be remembered that the New Zealanders -formed the left-hand division, and that they had -advanced so finely that by the evening of September 16 -they were up to, but not in, Goose Alley and Factory -Corner, from which they were within striking distance -of the Gird System. -</p> - -<p> -Before attacking this, however, it was necessary to -get a firmer hold of Flers Trench, which in its western -reaches was still in the hands of the Germans. It was -a desperate business of bombing from traverse to -traverse and overcoming successive barricades upon -a very narrow front where a few determined men -could hold up a company. This difficult business was -taken in hand at 8.30 on the night of September 21 -by the 2nd Canterbury Battalion, who advanced down -the trench. It was a Homeric conflict, which lasted -for the whole night, where men stood up to each other -at close quarters, clearing away the dead and dying -in order to make room for fresh combatants in the -front line. Down Flers Trench and Drop Alley raged -the long struggle, with crash and flare of bombs, -snarl of machine-guns, shrill whistles from rallying -officers, and shouts from the furious men. The New -Zealand Black Watch had gained a portion of the -trench, but the German reinforcements streamed -down a communication trench which opened behind -them, and found themselves between the two bodies of -New Zealanders. It was a great fight, but by morning -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P288"></a>288}</span> -it had been definitely decided in favour of the men -from oversea. The long section of Flers Trench was -cleared and part of Goose Alley, opening out of it, -was held. No less than 350 German dead were picked -up, and a handful of prisoners were left with the -victors. The New Zealand losses were about 150 of -all ranks. -</p> - -<p> -On September 25 the New Zealanders tightened -their grip upon Goose Alley, which connects up the -Flers and the Gird Systems of trenches. In the -meantime the divisions upon their right were moving to -the north-east of Flers towards the village of -Guedecourt, which lay upon the farther side of the Gird -Trenches. The actual attack upon the village was -committed to the Twenty-first Division, who advanced -on a two-brigade front, the 110th Leicester Brigade -making straight for the village itself, while the 64th -Brigade upon its right, strengthened by the inclusion -of the 1st Lincolns, was ordered to occupy 1000 yards -of front to the right. The two brigades were not -equally fortunate. The Leicester brigade, by a fine -advance, pierced the Gird Trench, and made their -way beyond it. The 64th Brigade was held up -by uncut wire, which they could not penetrate. -The result was that the Leicesters, being heavily -counter-attacked, and having their flanks open, were -forced back as far as the Gird Trench, to which they -clung. The position in the evening was a curious one, -for we held the Gird Trench at two different points, -but between them lay a stretch of 1000 yards still -occupied by the Germans and faced with uncut wire. -Orders reached the Divisional General during the -night that at all costs the position must be carried. -By a happy inspiration he sent for a tank from Flers, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P289"></a>289}</span> -and ordered the Leicesters to bomb down Gird Trench -in co-operation with the tank, which crawled along the -parapet. A strong point had been erected at the far -end of the trench, and the Germans as they rushed -away from the danger ran into a deadly machine-gun -fire. The upshot was that a great number were -killed, while 8 officers and 362 men were taken, with -a loss to the attackers of 5 wounded. To add to the -quaintness of the operation, an aeroplane flew low -over the trench during its progress, helping with its -bombs to make the victory complete. The result was -far more than the capture of the trench, for the 64th -Brigade, led by the Durhams, at once swept forward -and captured their objective, while the 110th Brigade -upon the left reached Guedecourt under happier -auspices and remained in possession of the village. -</p> - -<p> -Although the Gird line had been pierced at this -point, it was held in its western length, and this was -attacked upon September 27 by the New Zealanders -and the Fifty-fifth Lancashire Territorial Division, -both of which gained their objectives, so that the whole -end of this great trench system from a point north -of Flers passed definitely into the British possession. -</p> - -<p> -On October 1 there was a fresh general advance -which led to no great change in this part of the line, -save that both the New Zealanders and the Twenty-first -Division improved their position, the latter getting -as far as Bayonet Trench. Shortly afterwards the -New Zealanders were drawn out, having been 23 -consecutive days in the line, and earned themselves a -great reputation. "The division has won universal -confidence and admiration," said Sir Douglas Haig. -"No praise can be too high for such troops." -</p> - -<p> -We now turn to the Fourteenth Corps, which filled -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P290"></a>290}</span> -the remainder of the British line up to the point of -its junction with the French. During the battle the -division of Guards had, as will be remembered, held -the left of this line, but on the day after it was replaced -for a short time by the Twentieth Division, whose -61st Brigade, especially the 7th Cornwalls and 12th -King's, were heavily engaged. The 60th Brigade had -pushed up into the fighting line, and received a strong -German counter-attack in the morning of the 17th, -which broke down before the rifles of the 6th -Shropshire Light Infantry. In the afternoon the 59th -Brigade advanced upon the left and the 60th upon the -right, closing in upon the Morval position. The 12th -King's Royal Rifles of the latter brigade was held up -by a strong point and lost heavily, but the general -effect was to bring the British line nearer to the -doomed village. Twice upon the 18th, German -counter-attacks swarmed down upon the exposed -right flank of the 60th Brigade, but each time they -were blown back by the fire of the 12th Rifle Brigade -and the 12th Rifles. The 59th Brigade had made no -progress, the two Rifle Brigade battalions (10th and -11th) having particularly heavy losses upon the 17th, -but they were holding their line strongly. It was -impossible to do more for the moment, for the Sixth -Division upon their right was still hung up, as already -described, by the Quadrilateral. Shortly after that -obstacle had been overcome, the Guards took over -once more from the Twentieth, and were ready in -conjunction with the Sixth and Fifth Divisions for a -serious advance upon Morval and Lesboeufs. -</p> - -<p> -On September 22 the 3rd Guards Brigade was in -touch with the Twenty-first Division upon the left, -which was now holding Gird Trench and Gird Support -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P291"></a>291}</span> -as far north as Watling Street. On this day the 4th -Grenadiers, reverting after centuries to the weapon -which their name implies, were bombing their way -up Gas Alley, which leads towards Lesboeufs. On -the 23rd the Twenty-first on the left, the Guards -in the centre, and the Sixth Division were advancing -and steadily gaining ground to the north-east, capturing -Needle Trench, which is an off-shoot from the -Gird System. On the 24th the Germans counter-attacked -upon the 16th Brigade, the blow falling upon -the 1st Buffs, who lost four bays of their trench for a -short period, but speedily drove the intruders out once -more. The 14th Durham Light Infantry also drove -off an attack. The Fifth Division was now coming up -on the right of the Sixth, and played a considerable -part in the decisive attack upon September 25. -</p> - -<p> -On this date an advance of the four divisions on -this section of the line carried all before it, the -Twenty-first being north of Delville Wood, the 3rd Brigade -of the Guards operating on the German trenches -between Guedecourt and Lesboeufs, the 1st Brigade -of Guards upon the left of the village of Lesboeufs, -the Sixth Division upon the right of Lesboeufs, and -the Fifth Division on Morval. -</p> - -<p> -In this attack the 4th Grenadiers upon the extreme -left of the Guards were badly punished, for the -Twenty-first upon their left had been held up, but the rest -came along well, the 1st Welsh forming a defensive -flank upon the left while the other battalions reached -their full objective and dug in, unmolested save by -our own barrage. The 1st Irish and 3rd Coldstream, -who were on the left of the 1st Brigade, also got -through without heavy loss and occupied the trenches -to the immediate north and north-east of Lesboeufs. -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P292"></a>292}</span> -The 2nd Grenadiers, who led the right of the Brigade, -with their supporting battalion the 2nd Coldstream, -headed straight for the village, and were held up -for a time by uncut wire, but the general attack upon -the right was progressing at a rate which soon took -the pressure off them. -</p> - -<p> -The British infantry were swarming round Lesboeufs -in the early afternoon, and about 3.15 the 1st -West Yorks of the 18th Brigade penetrated into it, -establishing touch with the Guards upon their left. -They were closely followed by their old battle -companions, the 2nd Durham Light Infantry. The -German resistance was weaker than usual, and the -casualties were not severe. On the Morval front the -15th Brigade of the Fifth Division, with the 95th -Brigade upon their right, were making a steady and -irresistible advance upon Morval. The 1st Norfolks -and 1st Cheshires were in the front, and the latter -battalion was the first to break into the village with -the 1st Bedfords, 2nd Scots Borderers, and 16th Royal -Welsh Fusiliers in close support. The 1st Cheshires -particularly distinguished itself; and it was in this -action that Private Jones performed his almost -incredible feat of capturing single-handed and bringing -in four officers and 102 men of the 146th Würtemberg -Regiment, including four wearers of the famous Iron -Cross. The details of this extraordinary affair, where -one determined and heavily-armed man terrorised -a large company taken at a disadvantage, read more -like the romantic exploit of some Western desperado -who cries "Hands up!" to a drove of tourists, than -any operation of war. Jones was awarded the V.C., -and it can have been seldom won in such -sensational fashion. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P293"></a>293}</span> -</p> - -<p> -Whilst the 15th Brigade of the Fifth Division -attacked the village of Morval the 95th Brigade of -the same division carried the German trenches to the -west of it. This dashing piece of work was -accomplished by the 1st Devons and the 1st East Surreys. -When they had reached their objective, the 12th -Gloucesters were sent through them to occupy -and consolidate the south side of the village. -This they carried out with a loss of 80 men. In -the evening a company of the 6th Argylls, together -with the 2nd Home Company Royal Engineers, -pushed on past the village and made a strong -point against the expected counter-attack; while -the 15th Brigade extended and got into touch -with the 2nd York and Lancasters of the Sixth -Division upon their left. It was a great day of -complete victory with no regrets to cloud it, for the -prisoners were many, the casualties were comparatively -few, and two more village sites were included -by one forward spring within the British area. The -Town Major of Morval stood by his charge to the last -and formed one of the trophies. On the 26th the -Germans came back upon the Guards at about one -o'clock, but their effort was a fiasco, for the advancing -lines came under the concentrated fire of six batteries -of the 7th Divisional Artillery. Seldom have Germans -stampeded more thoroughly. "Hundreds of the enemy -can be seen retiring in disorder over the whole front. -They are rushing towards Beaulencourt in the wildest -disorder." Such was the report from a forward -observer. At the same time a tank cleared the -obstacles in front of the Twenty-first Division and the -whole line was straight again. The British consolidated -their positions firmly, for it was already evident -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P294"></a>294}</span> -that they were likely to be permanent ones. The -Guards and Fifth Division were taken out of the line -shortly afterwards, the Twentieth Division coming in -once more upon September 26, while upon September -27 the French took over part of the line, pushing the -Twentieth Division to the left, where they took over -the ground formerly held by the Twenty-first. Upon -October 1 the 61st Brigade was ordered to push -forward advanced posts and occupy a line preparatory -to future operations. This was well carried out and -proved of great importance when a week later attacks -were made upon Cloudy and Rainbow Trenches. -</p> - -<p> -Leaving this victorious section of the line for the -moment, we must turn our attention to the hard-worked -and splendid Fifty-sixth Division upon their -right, whose operations were really more connected -with those of the French on their right than with -their comrades of the Fourteenth Corps upon the left. -By a happy chance it was the French division of the -same number with which they were associated during -much of the time. It will be remembered that at the -close of the Flers action (September 15 and on), -the Fifty-sixth Division was holding a defensive -flank to the south, in the region of Bouleaux Wood, -part of which was still held by the Germans. They -were also closing in to the southwards, so as to -co-operate with the French, who were approaching -Combles from the other side. On September 25, -while the Fifth were advancing upon Morval, the -Fifty-sixth played an important part, for the 168th, -their left brigade, carried the remainder of Bouleaux -Wood, and so screened the flank of the Fifth Division. -One hundred men and four machine-guns were captured -in this movement. On the 26th, as the woods -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P295"></a>295}</span> -were at last clear, the division turned all its attention -to Combles, and at 3.15 in the afternoon of that day -fighting patrols of the 169th Brigade met patrols of -the French in the central square of the town. The -Germans had cleverly evacuated it, and the booty was -far less than had been hoped for, but none the less its -capture was of great importance, for it was the largest -place that had yet been wrenched out of the iron grasp -of Germany. After the fall of Combles the French, -as already stated, threw out their left wing upon that -side so as to take over the ground which had been -covered by the Fifty-sixth Division, and afterwards -by the Fifth Division. -</p> - -<p> -On September 30 the Fifty-sixth Division took -over from the Guards, and again found itself upon -the right of the British line, and in touch with the -new dispositions of the French. On its left was the -Twentieth Division, and on their left the Sixth. -These three divisions now found themselves opposite -to a long line of trenches, to which various -meteorological names had been given, though the actual -meteorological conditions at the time formed a greater -obstacle than the defences in front of them. A simple -diagram (p. 296) will show more clearly than any -words how these formidable trenches lay with regard -to the British advance. -</p> - -<p> -It may well seem to the reader that the defenders -are bound to have the best of the argument when they -can thus exchange one line for another, and as quickly -as they are beaten out of one set of strongholds -confront their enemy with another one. No doubt -so long as the lines are stoutly held this is true as -regards the rate of advance. But as far as it concerns -the losses which mark that vital attrition which was -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P297"></a>297}</span> -wearing Germany to the bone it was very different. -These trenches were not like the old permanent -fortifications where German officers in a 30-foot -dug-out could smile over the caricatures in <i>Ulk</i> and smoke -an indolent cigarette, while the impotent British shells -pitted the earth-surface far above them. There was -no such shelter in these hastily-constructed burrows, -while the guns which raked and pounded them grew -stronger and more numerous from day to day. Let -the machine-gun do its worst, the heavy gun is still -the master of the field, for the machine-gun can only -levy its toll when circumstances favour it, while day -or night the heavy gun is a constant dread. We have -had to mourn the swathes of our dead in the open, but -the Germans lay as thick amid the clay and chalk of -the Picardy ditches. With fine manhood they clung -to them and beat back our infantry where they could, -but the tales of deserters, the letters found on the -wounded, and the condition of the trenches when -taken, all told the same story of terrible loss. -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P296"></a>296}</span> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-296"></a> -<br /> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-296.jpg" alt="METEOROLOGICAL TRENCHES, September 30-November 6, 1916." /> -<br /> -METEOROLOGICAL TRENCHES, <br /> -September 30-November 6, 1916. -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -On October 7 there was an infantry attack upon -this trench system in which the Forty-first, Twelfth, -Twentieth, and Fifty-sixth Divisions, together with the -French, all took part in the order named from the left. -The weather was most execrable, and its vileness told -entirely against the Allies, since it was they who had -to move, and since the superior gun-power needed -for a modern attack was largely neutralised by the -difficulty in using aircraft observation. The attack -was at 1.45 P.M., when the troops advanced under a -heavy barrage along the whole sodden and slippery -front. The results were unequal, though the infantry -behaved everywhere with their wonted valour and -perseverance. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P298"></a>298}</span> -</p> - -<p> -The 122nd Brigade upon the extreme left of -the attack could only get on about a hundred -yards, so heavy was the fire; while the 124th to the -right of them could do little better, and eventually -dug in at a point 200 yards short of the Bayonet -Trench, which was their immediate objective. -Seventy officers and nearly 1300 men fell during this -attack of the Forty-first Division, which was -handicapped in many ways, for the men were weary, it was -too cloudy for reconnaissance, the battalions were -already depleted, and the enemy was fresh and -unshaken. The success of the Twelfth Division upon -the right of the Forty-first was little better. The -36th and 37th Brigades endured heavy losses, especially -in the case of the two Royal Fusilier battalions -and of the 6th Buffs, whose colonel greatly -distinguished himself. In spite of every effort and -considerable loss there were no permanent gains of -importance at this point. -</p> - -<p> -Things went better, however, with the Twentieth -Division upon the right. The two brigades in -the front line were the 61st upon the left and -the 60th on the right. The leading battalions, -counting from the left, were the 7th Yorks Light -Infantry, 12th King's Liverpool, 6th Oxford and -Bucks, and 12th Rifle Brigade. The troops had to -endure a considerable shelling before leaving their -trenches, but it seemed only to add additional fire to -their advance, which swept over the low ridge in front -of them, and took a long stretch of Rainbow Trench. -The right attack was slower than the left, as it ran -into a dip of the ground in which the Germans had -some cleverly-sited wire entanglement, unseen and -untouched by our guns. Nothing daunted, the Oxford -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P299"></a>299}</span> -and Bucks proceeded to cut lanes through the wire -under heavy fire, and one officer of the battalion had -actually succeeded in crawling under it when he was -shot at point-blank range from the German trench, -The front line had now done its work and rested in -Rainbow, while the second line—consisting, from the -left, of the 7th Somersets, 7th Cornwalls, 6th -Shropshires, and 12th Rifles—swept onwards in splendid -form, capturing both Cloudy and Misty Trenches. -There the victorious infantry dug themselves in on the -forward slope of the ridge. The brigades were ahead -of their comrades, with the result that their flanks -were exposed, they suffered from enfilade fire, and it -was necessary to form defensive flanks. Two -counter-attacks were made during the day, but both were -beaten off. The prisoners captured in this fine -advance were 5 officers and 187 men, with 5 machine-guns -and 2 trench-mortars. By the morning of the -8th strong points had been made and the whole line -was defiant of recapture. -</p> - -<p> -The Fifty-sixth Division had advanced with -equal valour upon the right and had made good -progress, though its gains had not been so substantial -as those of the Twentieth. The 167th Brigade had -attacked upon the left and the 168th upon the right. -They ended with the 7th Middlesex, their flank -battalion upon the left in touch with the Twentieth -Division in Rainbow, while the London Scots on the -extreme right were in touch with the French in Hazy -Trench. The fighting was bitter, however, the men -wearied, and the conditions abominable. All the -battalions lost heavily, the 4th London being the -chief sufferer, for it was on the left flank of the 168th -Brigade and was held up by a particularly murderous -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P300"></a>300}</span> -machine-gun. In the evening a strong German -counter-attack, rushing in upon Hazy Trench behind -a thick shower of bombs, drove back both the 168th -Brigade and the French to their own original line. -For the time the advance had failed upon the right. -</p> - -<p> -The 167th Brigade had held on to Rainbow and -were now bombing their way down Spectrum. They -held their ground there during the night, and on -October 8 were still advancing, though the 3rd London -coming up to reinforce ran into a heavy barrage and -were sadly cut up. The British barrage was found to -be practically useless because the guns had been -brought up too near. The 169th Brigade had come -up on the right and was hotly engaged, the London -Rifle Brigade getting up close to Hazy and digging -in parallel to it, with their left in touch with the -Victorias. The Germans, however, were still holding -Hazy, nor could it be said in the evening that the -British were holding either of the more advanced -trenches, Dewdrop or Rainy. In the evening the -London Rifle Brigade were forced to leave their -new trench because it was enfiladed from Hazy, -and to make their way back to their old departure -trenches as best they could, dragging with them -a captured machine-gun as a souvenir of a long -and bloody day's work. On October 9 the -British held none of the points in dispute in -this section on the right, save only a portion of -Spectrum. There was a pause in this long and -desperate fight which was conducted by tired infantry -fighting in front of tired guns, and which left the -survivors of both sides plastered with mud from head -to heel. When it was resumed, the two British -divisions, the Twentieth and Fifty-sixth, which had -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P301"></a>301}</span> -done such long service in the line, and were greatly -reduced, had been withdrawn. The Fourth Division -had taken the place of the Londoners, while the -Sixth, itself very worn, had relieved the Twentieth. -</p> - -<p> -On October 12 both these divisions delivered an -attack together with the French and with the -Fifteenth Corps upon their left. The 14th Durham -Light Infantry were in Rainbow on the left and were -in touch with the 1st West Yorks of the 18th Brigade -upon their right, but could find no one upon their -left, while the German pressure was very strong. -The 18th Brigade worked along Rainbow, therefore, -until it got into touch with the Twelfth Division -upon their left. The Twelfth Division had been lent -the 88th Brigade of the Twenty-ninth Division, -and this gallant body, so terribly cut up on July 1, -had an instalment of revenge. They won their objective, -and it is pleasant to add that the Newfoundlanders -especially distinguished themselves. The -16th Brigade upon the right attacked Zenith Trench, -the 2nd York and Lancaster leading the rush. The -position could not be held, however, by battalions -which were depleted by weeks of constant strain and -loss. A report from a company officer says: "The -few unwounded sheltered in trench holes and returned -in the dusk. The fire was too strong to allow them -to dig in. The Brigade line is therefore the same as -before the attack." -</p> - -<p> -Whilst the Sixth Division had been making this -difficult and fruitless attack the Fourth Division upon -their right had been equally heavily engaged in this -horrible maze of mud-sodden trenches, without -obtaining any more favourable result. The 12th Brigade -fought on the immediate right of the 16th, some of -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P302"></a>302}</span> -them reaching Spectrum, and some of them Zenith. -The 2nd West Ridings and 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers -were the heaviest sufferers, the latter holding a line -of shell-holes in front of Spectrum where they were -exposed to a terrible barrage. The 10th Brigade were -on their right, and one battalion, the 1st Warwick, -reached Foggy, but was unable to hold it under the -crushing fire. By the evening of October 13, however, -the whole of Spectrum had at last been seized, and -the enemy, who attempted to bomb along it from -Dewdrop, were repulsed. On October 18, the 88th -Brigade again had a success, the 2nd Hants and 4th -Worcesters doing particularly well. For a time the -fighting died down, the British licking their wounds -and sharpening their claws for a fresh grapple with -these redoubtable trenches. -</p> - -<p> -This came upon October 23, when there was an -advance at 2.45 in the afternoon by the Fourth -Division upon the right and the Eighth Division -upon the left. The three-brigade front covered -by the Eighth Division is indicated by the fact -that the 2nd East Lancashires, the left battalion -of the left brigade (24th), was directed upon the -junction between Mild and Cloudy, while the right -brigade (23rd) had Zenith for its objective. The -first attack of the left brigade failed, but the second -brought them into Cloudy. By 4.15 the 2nd Scots -Rifles of the 23rd Brigade had penetrated the right -of Zenith, and some small parties had even moved on -to Orion beyond. The central brigade (25th) had -won its way up to Misty, the 2nd Lincolns, 2nd Berks, -and 2nd Rifle Brigade in the lead. In the meantime -the East Lancashires on the left were endeavouring -to bomb their way down the maze of trenches, filled -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P303"></a>303}</span> -with yard-deep mud, which separated them from their -comrades. The fighting was desperate, however, and -the losses considerable. The 2nd Lincolns had got -detached in the labyrinth, and were out of touch -with their companions. At 6.45 the Germans came -again in strength and those of the Scots Rifles who -had gained Orion were driven back. The casualties -in this splendid battalion, which had suffered so -often and so much, were once again very severe. -</p> - -<p> -The Fourth Division had also had a hard fight upon -the right and had made no great progress. The -French upon their right had been held up after an -initial advance. The 12th Brigade attacked Dewdrop, -but were unable to hold it. The 11th had seized -Hazy, but their grip of it was still precarious. Every -position was raked with machine-guns and clogged -with the all-pervading and often impassable morass. -In mud and blood and driving rain, amid dirt and -death, through day and night, the long death-grapple -never ceased until exhaustion and winter brought a -short surcease. -</p> - -<p> -Upon the 24th the hard-earned gains in these -trenches were consolidated. In the sector of the -Eighth Division they were substantial and justified -the hope that this obdurate line would go the way -of all the others which had barred the army. Had -it been earlier in the season it would have been easy -to wait for clear weather, beat them into pulp with -heavy guns, and then under a good barrage capture -them by assault. But this could not be done, for Sir -Douglas Haig could not afford to wait, with winter -coming on and only a few weeks or days left in which -to bring his men forward to their final line. The -general position upon October 24 was that the 2nd -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P304"></a>304}</span> -Middlesex of the 24th Brigade held Zenith in part, -that the 25th Brigade was in Gusty and held part of -Misty, while the 23rd Brigade had made no advance -upon the right but their left was in Cloudy and Mild. -</p> - -<p> -Upon this date the Thirty-third Division came -up to relieve the Fourth, and upon September 28 -it made a brilliant advance which altered the whole -situation in this section. At 7 A.M. on that date the -4th King's Liverpool of the 98th Brigade by a sudden -dash carried the whole of Dewdrop, taking 100 -prisoners. The 19th Brigade upon the right kept up -with the advance, and before evening Frosty, Gunpits, -and Dewdrop had all been included in the British line. -There was a pause after this advance, and then -upon November 5 there was another advance of the -Thirty-third, together with the French. Again there -was a good gain, which was effected by the 100th -Brigade on the right, and the 19th upon the left. -Mirage, Boritzka, and Hazy were all reported as being -at last in our hands. The 5th Scottish Rifles, 16th -King's Royal Rifles, and 20th Fusiliers all distinguished -themselves, and all—especially the last-named—met -with considerable losses in this attack. -The Seventeenth Division, which had for a few days -taken the place of the Eighth, joined in this advance -and extended the ground upon their front, the -fighting falling chiefly to the 50th Brigade, in which -the 7th York and 7th East York were the principal -sufferers. Great work was also done by the 51st -Brigade, the 7th Borders and the 7th Lincolns particularly -distinguishing themselves. These battalions -not only cleared up Zenith Trench, but upon the -Germans countering they reserved their fire until -the stormers were within 40 yards of them, and -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P305"></a>305}</span> -then mowed down several hundreds of them. -"The men marched back seven miles last night," -wrote one of the officers, "after fighting for forty-eight -hours without sleep, singing at the tops of their -voices all the way. Priceless fellows!" -</p> - -<p> -On November 7 the Eighth Division was at -work again, taking 1100 yards of front, 5 machine-guns, -and 80 prisoners. The season was now far -advanced and prematurely wet and cold, so that -winter lines were formed by the British in this -quarter with the village of Le Transloy in their -immediate front. Over the rest of the line facing -north there had been no serious attempt at advance -during this period, and the only fighting to be recorded -was on the part of the Anzac Corps, who came in at -the end of October, and took over the whole front of -the Fifteenth Corps in the centre of the line. These -troops joined the attack already recorded upon -November 5, and captured that portion of Gird -Support Trench which was not yet in our possession. -For a time they held Bayonet Trench, but were -driven out by a strong bombing attack by the 5th -Regiment of the Fourth Prussian Guards Division. -The Australians and the 50th Brigade worked in close -co-operation during these hard days, and it is -pleasing to find the high opinion which they entertained -of each other. "On several occasions," says an -Australian, "we had to rely on Yorkshire grit to -support our division at critical moments, and the -Tikes never failed us once. We owe a big debt to -the East Yorkshires in particular. We found them -the most loyal of comrades." This sentiment was -heartily reciprocated by the Imperial troops. -</p> - -<p> -The fighting now died down in this quarter and -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P306"></a>306}</span> -the winter lull had set in, leaving the front British -trenches some hundreds of yards from Le Transloy -and the Bapaume Road. It would be an ungenerous -Briton who would not admit that in holding us off -from it so long, even if we make every allowance for -the weather and its disastrous consequences to the -attack, the Germans performed a fine feat of arms. -It was done by fresh units which had not suffered -from the gruelling which their comrades had received -upon the Somme, and which would no doubt have -been worn down in time, as the others had been, but -they fought with great tenacity and certainly -prevented our winter line from being as far forward as -we had hoped. -</p> - -<p> -Whilst giving the German army every credit for -its tenacious resistance and for the hard digging by -which it constructed so many lines of defence that five -months of hard fighting and a dozen separate victories -had been unable to carry the attackers through them, -we must still insist upon the stupendous achievement of -the British. Nearly every division had passed through -the fiery ordeal of the Somme, many of them twice -and thrice, and each had retired with fresh honour -and new records of victory. Apart from great days -of battle like July 1, July 14, September 15, and -September 26, when many miles of German trench were -carried with a corresponding number of prisoners and -guns, there was a separate epic round each village and -wood, so that the names of many of them will find -immortality in military history. High Wood, Trones -Wood, Mametz Wood, and Delville Wood each represents -a very terrible local battle. So, too, do such -village names as Ovillers, Contalmaison, Pozières, -Thiepval, Longueval, Ginchy, and especially Guillemont. -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P307"></a>307}</span> -Every one of these stern contests ended with -the British infantry in its objective, and in no single -case were they ever driven out again. So much for -the tactical results of the actions. As to the strategic -effect, that was only clearly seen when the threat of -renewed operations in the spring caused the German -army to abandon all the positions which the Somme -advance had made untenable, and to fall back upon -a new line many miles to the rear. The Battle of the -Marne was the turning-point of the first great German -levy, the Battle of the Somme that of the second. -In each case the retirement was only partial, but each -clearly marked a fresh step in the struggle, upward -for the Allies, downward for the Central Powers. -</p> - -<p> -In the credit for this result the first place must be -given to the efficiency of British leadership, which -was admirable in its perseverance and in its general -conception, but had, it must be admitted, not yet -attained that skill in the avoidance of losses which -was gradually taught by our terrible experiences and -made possible by our growing strength in artillery. -The severe preliminary bombardment controlled by -the direct observation which is only possible after air -supremacy has been attained, the counter-battery -work to reduce the enemy's fire, the creeping barrage -to cover the infantry, the discipline and courage which -enable infantry to advance with shrapnel upon their -very toes, the use of smoke clouds against flank fire, -the swift advance of the barrage when a trench has -fallen so as to head off fugitives and stifle the -counter-attack, all these devices were constantly improving -with practice, until in the arts of attack the British -Army stood ahead even of their comrades of France. -An intercepted communication in the shape of a -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P308"></a>308}</span> -report from General von Arnim, commanding the -Fourth German Army, giving his experience of the -prolonged battle, speaks of British military efficiency -in every arm in a manner which must have surprised -the General Staff if they were really of opinion that -General Haig's army was capable of defence but not -of attack. This report, with its account of the dash -and tenacity of the British infantry and of the -efficiency of its munitions, is as handsome a -testimonial as one adversary ever paid to another, and -might be called magnanimous were it not that it -was meant for no eye save that of his superiors. -</p> - -<p> -But all our leadership would have been vain had it -not been supported by the high efficiency of every -branch of the services, and by the general excellence -of the <i>materiel</i>. As to the actual value of the troops, -it can only be said with the most absolute truth that -the infantry, artillery, and sappers all lived up to the -highest traditions of the Old Army, and that the -Flying Corps set up a fresh record of tradition, which -their successors may emulate but can never surpass. -The materiel was, perhaps, the greatest surprise both -to friend and foe. We are accustomed in British -history to find the soldier retrieving by his stubborn -valour the difficulties caused by the sluggish methods -of those who should supply his needs. Thanks to -the labours of the Ministry of Munitions, of Sir -William Robertson, and of countless devoted workers -of both sexes, toiling with brain and with hand, this -was no longer so. That great German army which -two years before held every possible advantage that -its prolonged preparation and busy factories could -give it, had now, as General von Arnim's report admits, -fallen into the inferior place. It was a magnificent -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P309"></a>309}</span> -achievement upon which the British nation may well -pride itself, if one may ever pride oneself on anything -in a drama so mighty that human powers seem but -the instruments of the huge contending spiritual -forces behind them. The fact remains that after two -years of national effort the British artillery was -undoubtedly superior to that of the Germans, the -British Stokes trench-mortars and light Lewis -machine-guns were the best in Europe, the British -aeroplanes were unsurpassed, the British Mills bomb -was superior to any other, and the British tanks -were an entirely new departure in the art of War. -It was the British brain as well as the British heart -and arm which was fashioning the future history of -mankind. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p><a id="chap13"></a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P310"></a>310}</span></p> - -<h3> -CHAPTER XIII -<br /><br /> -THE BATTLE OF THE ANCRE -</h3> - -<p class="t3"> -November 13, 1916 -</p> - -<p class="intro"> -The last effort—Failure in the north—Fine work of the Thirty-ninth, -Fifty-first, and Sixty-third Divisions—Surrounding of German -Fort—Capture of Beaumont Hamel—Commander Freyberg—Last -operations of the season—General survey—"The unwarlike -Islanders." -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -This considerable British victory may well have a -name of its own, though it was merely an extension of -the gigantic effort upon the Somme. The fact, -however, that it was fought upon the banks of a small -subsidiary stream, and also that it was separated by a -month or more from any other serious engagement, -give it a place of its own in the narrative of the War. -It has already been shown at the conclusion of the -chapter which deals with the flank operations by the -Fifth Army, commanded by Sir Hubert Gough, that -the British position after the capture of the Schwaben -and other redoubts which defended the high ground -to the north of Thiepval was such that the guns were -able to take the German front line to the north of the -Ancre in enfilade and almost in rear. Under such -circumstances it might well seem that their trenches -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P311"></a>311}</span> -were untenable, but their position, although difficult, -was alleviated by the fact that they had been able -partly to find and partly to make a series of excavations -in the chalk and clay soil of the district which -gave them almost complete protection against the -heaviest shell-fire. Whole battalions led a troglodytic -life in subterranean caverns from which they were -trained to rush forth upon the alarm of an infantry -advance. It was clear, however, that if the alarm -should be too short their refuges might very easily -become traps, as has so often been the case in the -German lines of defence. The safety from shells is -dearly paid for when a squad of furious stormers -with Mills bombs in their hands and death in their -faces glare in from the door. Their minds were kept -easy, however, by the knowledge that broad fields of -barbed wire, so rusty and so thick that they resembled -ploughland from a distance, lay between them and -the British. A very large garrison drawn from seven -divisions, one of them being the 2nd Guards Reserve, -held this dangerous salient in the German line. -</p> - -<p> -For the attack General Gough had mustered two -Army Corps of six divisions, three of which, forming -the Second Corps, were to advance from the south -under General Jacob, having the almost impassable -mud slopes of the Ancre in front of them. Three -others of the Fifth Corps, under General -E. A. Fanshawe, were to storm the German line north -of the Ancre. This latter movement was to be -directed not only from the new British positions, -but also from the old lines as far north as Serre. -The advance from the west divided the enemy's -gun-power, and distracted his attention from the -south, so that its failure and the loss which that -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P312"></a>312}</span> -failure involved, were part of the price paid for the -victory. -</p> - -<p> -After a two days' bombardment, which started -upon November 11, and which uprooted the greater -part of the German wire, the actual attack was made -at six in the foggy, misty morning of November 13. It -is inconceivable that the Germans were not standing -to arms, since dawn had long been the hour of doom, -and the furious drum-fire was certainly the overture -to a battle. The thick weather, however, shrouded -the British movements, and the actual rush of the -infantry seems at the end to have been a surprise. -Both in the western and southern advance, which -covered respectively 5000 and 3000 yards, every -refinement of artillery barrage which years of -experience could suggest was used to form such a downpour -as would protect the assailants, and beat the German -riflemen and gunners back into their burrows. -</p> - -<p> -Of the three divisions which attacked the old -German line from the west, the most northern was -the Thirty-first, with as objective the second and -third German line, and to form a defensive flank -between Gommecourt and Serre. This division, -which contained some splendid North-country -battalions from great Yorkshire towns, advanced with -great intrepidity. So skilful was the barrage arranged -that the 12th East Yorkshires on the left and 13th -East Yorkshires on the right (10th and 11th East -Yorkshires in reserve), belonging to the 92nd Brigade, had -little difficulty in reaching the German front line, -which was quickly mopped up. The going between the -first and second line was so heavy, and the German -snipers so numerous, that the barrage got ahead of -the advancing waves, but after a sharp rifle fight the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P313"></a>313}</span> -second line was captured, which was the final objective -of the left (12th East Yorkshires) battalion. The -13th East Yorkshires, whose final objective was the -third German line, had a very severe fight before -reaching that position. Owing to the failure of the -division on the right of the 13th East Yorkshires to -get forward, the Germans later on put in several heavy -bombing counter-attacks against their right flank, -which eventually drove them back to the second line, -where they took up their position alongside the 12th, -and for the remainder of the day repulsed numerous -counter-attacks. As soon as the 12th East Yorkshires -on the left had reached their objectives they -consolidated it, and with the aid of the 93rd Brigade, -to whom was attached the Machine-Gun Sections -of the Lucknow and Sialkote Cavalry Brigades, beat -off a very strong counter-attack which developed -about 9.30 A.M., practically wiping it out and several -minor ones during the day. -</p> - -<p> -At 2.30 P.M. the German bombardment against -the 92nd became very intense, and was kept up till -5.30 P.M., in spite of which the 12th and 13th East -Yorkshires stuck to their gains. It was only at 9 -P.M. when the Divisional General saw that there was no -prospect of the division on the right advancing that -the 12th and 13th were ordered to fall back to their -original line. -</p> - -<p> -The experience of the Third Division upon the -right or south of the Thirty-first was a very trying -one. There is a strip of Picardy between those -lines from Serre to the Ancre, where more Britons -have given their lives for their country and for the -cause of humanity than in any area in this or any -other war. Twice it has been the scene of tragic -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P314"></a>314}</span> -losses, on July 1, and yet again on November 13, -though, as already said, it is well in each case to regard -the general result rather than the local tragedy. -Once again the Third Division gave itself freely and -unselfishly for the common cause. In this case, also, -the cause of the scanty results lay in the heavy ground -and the uncut wire. In the case of the 76th Brigade, -which may be taken as typical of its neighbours, it -advanced to the immediate south of the 93rd, and -experienced even more difficult conditions. The 2nd -Suffolks and the 10th Welsh Fusiliers were in the van, -but the 8th Royal Lancasters and 1st Gordons came -up in support, the whole thick line of men clustering -in front of the wire and endeavouring to hack a way. -Sergeants and officers were seen in front of the obstacle -endeavouring to find some way through. Here and -there a few pushful men, both from the 76th Brigade -and from the 9th upon its right, did succeed in passing, -but none of these ever returned. Finally, a retreat -was ordered through a pelting barrage, and even in -their own front-line trenches the troops were exposed -to a furious shell-fall. It was an unfortunate business -and the losses were heavy. -</p> - -<p> -Immediately upon the right of the Third Division -was the Second Division, which attacked with the -5th and 6th Brigades in the van, the latter being -on the immediate flank of the Third Division, and -sharing in the obstacles which faced that division -and the check which resulted from them. The -immediate objective was the great Munich Trench -lurking within its far-flung spider-web of wire. -Although all of the 6th Brigade save the right-hand -battalion were brought to a stand, and wound up in -their own trenches, the 5th Brigade got well forward -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P315"></a>315}</span> -and might have got farther had it not meant the -exposure of their left flank. In the evening the 99th -Brigade, the victors of Delville Wood, were brought -up with orders to form a defensive flank to the north, -while they furnished two battalions for a farther -advance to continue the success gained by the 5th -Brigade. In the early morning of November 14 these -two units, the 1st Rifles and 1st Berkshires, advanced -in a proper November fog, which caused some -misdirection, and eventually the failure of the attack, -for two smaller trenches were carried under the -impression that each was the Munich. Some ground -and prisoners were, however, gained, but not the main -objective. -</p> - -<p> -Meanwhile, to return to the narrative of the -previous day, a very different tale was to be told of -those divisions which were operating farther to the -south, where the ridge between Serre and Beaumont -Hamel sheltered the attack from the formidable -German gun-power at Pusieux and Bucquoy in the -north. -</p> - -<p> -Of the three divisions attacking from the south -the Thirty-ninth was to the south of the Ancre, -the Sixty-Third Naval Division upon its left on -the north bank of the Ancre, and the Fifty-first -Highland Division still farther to the left opposite -Beaumont Hamel. The task of the Thirty-ninth -Division was to clear out the Germans who held on -to the Hansa line, the last German trench system -between the British front and the river. Their chief -protection was the almost incredible condition of -the ground, which consisted of tenacious mud of varying -and occasionally of dangerous depth. Munitions -could only be got across it upon pack-horses, on special -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P316"></a>316}</span> -paths. In spite of these difficulties, the Thirty-ninth -Division carried the lines of trenches and the village -of St. Pierre Divion as well, the resistance being far -from heroic. The attack was made by the 117th -Brigade, which advanced with such speed that the -front waves, consisting of the 16th Rifle Brigade upon -the right and the 17th Sherwood Foresters upon the -left, were into the German trenches before the barrage -could fall. It did fall, however, and did great harm to -the supports, both the 17th Rifles and 16th Sherwoods -losing heavily, especially the former. The British -line was pushed right up to the river, and the survivors -of the garrison—some 1400 in number—were compelled -to lay down their arms. This attack to the -south of the river was an isolated, self-contained -operation, apart from the larger and more serious -movement on the north bank. -</p> - -<p> -The right of the main assault was carried out by -the gallant Sixty-third Royal Naval Division, whose -emergency baptism of fire at Antwerp has been mentioned -in this narrative, though its subsequent splendid -services at Gallipoli have not come within its scope. -After the evacuation of Gallipoli and the subsequent -redistribution of the eastern army, at least three fine -divisions, the Eleventh, the Forty-second, and the -Naval, besides the splendid Australian and New -Zealand infantry, were transferred to the French -front. This action of the Ancre was the first -opportunity which these volunteer sailors had had of -showing upon a large European stage those qualities -which had won them fame elsewhere. -</p> - -<p> -The Naval Division attacked to the immediate -north of the Ancre, having the river upon their right. -The lines of assault were formed under cover of darkness, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P317"></a>317}</span> -for the assembly trenches were inadequate and -the ground occupied was under direct observation -from the German lines. The division in this formation -was a thick mass of 10,000 infantry on a front of about -1600 yards with a depth of 300. Fortunately, the -screen of the weather covered them completely, and -there was little and random shelling during the night, -but the men were stiff and chilled by their long vigil, -during which they might neither speak nor smoke. -At last, just before dawn, the crash of the barrage -told that the hour had come, and the lines moved -forward, keeping well up to the shower of shrapnel -which crept on at the rate of 100 yards in five minutes, -searching every hollow and crevice of the ground. -</p> - -<p> -The first objective was the enemy's front-line -system of triple trenches. The second was a road in -the hollow behind called Station Road, with trenches -on either side of it. The third was the trenches -which fringed the village of Beaucourt. The fourth, -which was only to be attempted after the third was -consolidated, was the village itself, which lies among -trees upon the north side of the river. -</p> - -<p> -The advance of the 189th Brigade on the right -of the Naval Division, consisting of the Hood, -Hawke, Nelson, and Drake battalions, was comparatively -easy, as they were partly protected from flank -fire by the dead ground formed by the low-lying -northern slope down to the river. With great dash -and vigour they carried the successive lines of trenches, -and before mid-day they were consolidating the third -objective with the village in their immediate front. -</p> - -<p> -A much more difficult task confronted the centre -of the advance, consisting of the left half of the right -brigade, and the right half of the 188th Brigade, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P318"></a>318}</span> -which contained the 1st and 2nd Battalions of -Marines, the Ansons and the Howes. In the very -track of their course lay a formidable German redoubt, -bristling with machine-guns, and so concealed that -neither the observers nor the bombardment had -spotted it. This serious obstacle caused heavy losses -to the central attack, and as it completely commanded -their advance it held them to such cover as they -could find. The left of the advance got past the -redoubt, however, and reached the sunken road, -where they were in close touch with the Scotsmen -upon their left. Thus at this period of the advance -the Naval Division formed a deep curve with its right -wing well forward, its centre held back, and its left -wing nearly as far advanced as its right. The mist -was so thick that it was very difficult to tell from the -rear what was going on in the battle, but the 190th -Brigade held in reserve was aware that some hitch -had occurred, and pushing forward in the hope of -retrieving it, found itself involved in the fierce fighting -round the redoubt, where it also was exposed to heavy -loss. This brigade, it may be mentioned, was not -naval, but contained the 1st Honourable Artillery -Company, the 4th Bedfords, 7th Royal Fusiliers, and -10th Dublins. The German fort could not be reduced, -nor could progress be made in the centre in face of its -machine-guns; but the infantry, which had passed -it on either side, extended along the Sunken Road -behind it, and joined hands so as to cut it off. The -whole German second line was then in their possession, -and the right third of their third line as well. The -enemy still held firm, however, in the centre of the -first-line system, and showed no signs of weakening, -although they must have known that British troops -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P319"></a>319}</span> -were in their rear. An attempt was made to rebombard -this portion of the line, but it was difficult -for the gunners without aerial observation to locate -the exact portion of the line which still remained with -the enemy, and there was great danger of the shells -falling among our own infantry. About three in the -afternoon the conclusion was reached that it was -better for the time to leave this great pocket of -Germans alone, cutting them off from either escape -or reinforcement. -</p> - -<p> -The 111th Brigade from the Thirty-seventh Division -was therefore sent up, battalion by battalion, along the -river-bank until it passed the central obstacle and -reached the Sunken Road. Thence the 13th Rifles were -sent forward with orders to reach the advanced line, -where the Hoods and Drakes, somewhat reduced in -numbers but not in spirit, were lying in front of -Beaucourt. It was dark before these changes could be made. -The Riflemen, when they had attained their position, -rested their right upon the Ancre, and prolonged their -left, clearing the Germans out in that direction. This -movement to the left was strengthened in the early -morning when the 13th Rifle Brigade and the 13th -Royal Fusiliers of the same brigade came up to join -in, whilst the H.A.C. also advanced and took up a -position on the right of the naval men. -</p> - -<p> -About seven o'clock the assault upon the village -was ordered, under the direction and leadership of -Commander Freyberg of the Hoods, already twice -wounded, and wounded once again before his task -was finished. Sailors and Riflemen rushed forward -at the signal, and dashed with fierce impetuosity over -the German line and down the streets of the hamlet. -The Honourable Artillery Company upon the right -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P320"></a>320}</span> -joined in the charge. It was completely successful, -the houses were rapidly cleared, the dug-outs taken, -and many hundreds of prisoners secured. The Riflemen -emerging on the farther side of the village -immediately dug in under the direction of their only -remaining company officer. A footbridge was at the -same time thrown across the Ancre, so as to connect -up with the Thirty-ninth Division on the south. -</p> - -<p> -The German redoubt had held out manfully until -its line of retreat was entirely cut off, and even then -showed signs of continued resistance. The tanks had -already won such a position in the army that they had -become one of the last resources of the commander who -was in difficulties. During the night of November 13 -three of these engines were sent for to help in reducing -the intractable German centre. Their performance -was typical both of their weakness and of their value -in this early stage of their evolution. One was hit -and disabled before ever it crossed the lines. A second -stuck in the mud and refused to budge. The third won -its way over the German front line and so terrorised -the obstinate garrison that they were finally induced -to lay down their arms. Eight hundred prisoners -came from this one pocket, and the whole capture of -the Naval Division amounted to nearly 2000 men. -</p> - -<p> -The advance of the Fifty-first Highland Territorial -Division upon the immediate left of the Naval Division -had been equally successful, and had ended in the -capture of the important village of Beaumont Hamel -with all its network of caverns, a great store of -machine-guns, and 1500 of the garrison. The objectives -of the division may be said to have been the -continuation of those of the Naval Division, substituting -Beaumont Hamel for Beaucourt, but the position -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P321"></a>321}</span> -was complicated by a deep ravine, called after its -shape the Y Ravine, which ran down from the village -to the German trenches. The ground over which -the advance was made was still littered with the -skeletons clad in rags which represented the men who -had fallen in the attack of July 1. Now, after five -months, they were gloriously avenged. The rush of -the division was headed by the 153rd Brigade, with -the 4th and 7th Gordons in the lead. These two -fine battalions carried the front German lines, but on -reaching the Sunken Road they gave place to the 6th -and 7th Black Watch behind them, who carried the -attack up the Y Ravine and on to Beaumont, while -the Seaforths and Argylls of the other brigades, with -their staunch Lowland comrades of the 9th Royal -Scots, thickened the line of attack, and gave it the -weight to carry each successive obstacle. Only in -the Y Ravine was there any momentary check to the -fiery advance. There for a short time the Germans -stood stoutly to their task, and there was some of that -man-to-man work which the Scotsman loves. Then -the last signs of resistance died out, and before the -late afternoon the whole position was in the hands -of the assailants, who pushed on and occupied the low -ridge to the north which separates it from Serre. -One curious incident connected with the close of the -action was, that a mopping-up party of Gordons in -one of the front lines of trenches were suddenly -surprised and captured by a considerable body of -Germans, who emerged suddenly from an underground -tunnel. In the evening, however, the positions were -reversed, and the prisoners were rescued, while the -Germans had to surrender to the victors. Fifteen -hundred prisoners and 54 machine-guns were the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P322"></a>322}</span> -spoils of the Fifty-first Division; but these were -considerably increased when the dug-outs were more -carefully examined next day. Altogether nearly -7000 officers and men were captured in the course of -the action. -</p> - -<p> -Whilst the considerable action of Beaumont Hamel -was fought upon the left, the various divisions upon -the south of the river forming the remainder of Gough's -Fifth Army all made a forward movement and gained -ground. Of these divisions, the Thirty-ninth, whose -doings have already been described, was nearest to the -main battle, and was most heavily engaged, winning -a complete success. Upon its right in the order -given were the Nineteenth and the Eighteenth, -connecting up with Rawlinson's Fourth Army upon -the right. These various divisions all moved their -lines forward in the direction of the river-bank, -with the villages of Grandcourt and Petit Miraumont -in their front. These movements were rather -in the nature of a feint and a demonstration, -so that they were not accompanied by any severe -fighting. It had been planned, however, that as -these divisions advanced to the north the space -which would be left between Gough's right and -Rawlinson's left should be filled up by the Thirty-second -Division, which should push on in the direction -of Pys. This movement gave rise to some severe -fighting in which the historical 14th Brigade -sustained some heavy losses. The immediate obstacle -in front of the division was a powerful system of -trenches lying amid morasses caused by the recent -heavy rains, and known as the Munich Line, with the -Frankfort line behind it. Upon November 17 the -division took over the advanced trenches, while the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P323"></a>323}</span> -Eighteenth Division side-stepped to the left. The -Thirty-second Division had formed its line for attack, -with the 14th Brigade upon the left and the 97th upon -the right, the leading battalions from left to right -being the 15th Highland Light Infantry, the 2nd -Manchesters, the 2nd Yorkshire Light Infantry, and -another battalion of H.L.I. The advance was to have -been upon the 17th, but from the beginning a series -of misfortunes occurred, arising largely from the -weather, the condition of the trenches, and the severe -German barrage behind the line, which made all -preparations difficult and costly. The attack was -postponed till the 18th, and even then the advancing -battalions were short of bombs, without which trench -fighting becomes impossible. The ground behind the -troops was so awful that one mile in an hour was -considered remarkable progress for an unladen -messenger; while the enemy's fire was so severe that -of six runners sent with a despatch only the last -arrived unwounded. The Germans in front appeared -to be both numerous and full of fight, and upon the -17th they made a vain attack upon the advanced line -of the 14th Brigade. Two companies of the Manchesters -sustained upon this day the losses of half -their number as they lay, an object lesson in silent -patient discipline in the muddy bottom of a -shell-swept ditch. -</p> - -<p> -At 6.10 in the morning of the 18th an advance was -made, but the bomb supplies had not yet come up -and the disadvantages were great. None the less, -the first line of German trenches was successfully -carried by the Manchesters, but the 15th Highland -Light Infantry were held up by wire and were unable -to get forward, while the Yorkshire Light Infantry -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P324"></a>324}</span> -upon the right got through at some points and were -held at others. The Manchesters even penetrated -to the second line of trenches and sprang into them, -but the fatal want of bombs tied their hands, and a -counter-attack of the Germans retook the position. -The Highland Light Infantry had fallen back upon -Serre Trench, and were pressed by a party of the -enemy, but fortunately some of the 1st Dorsets came -up from the rear with some bombs, and the situation -was saved. In the meantime the position of those -Manchesters and Yorkshiremen who had got forward -as far as the second trench, and were exposed without -bombs to a bombing attack, was very serious. They -had taken a number of prisoners and some of these -they managed to send back, but the greater part of -the British were bombed to pieces, and all died where -they fought or were taken by the enemy. A single -survivor who returned from the final stand made by -these gallant men stated that he was the last man -who had crawled out of the trench, and that his -comrades lay dead or dying in a group in front of a -blazing dug-out, the woodwork of which had taken -fire. A patrol next day came upon the bodies of an -officer and forty men who had died fighting to the -last in a single group. -</p> - -<p> -On the left of the Thirty-second Division some -movement forward had been necessary upon the part -both of the Eighteenth Division and of the Nineteenth, -in order to keep the left flank of Jacob's Second Corps -on the south of the river level with the right flank of -Fanshawe's Fifth Corps upon the northern bank. This -operation did not involve much work upon the part -of the Eighteenth, but the movement of the Nineteenth -was difficult and complex, with Grandcourt as -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P325"></a>325}</span> -a possible objective. It meant an attack upon a maze -of trenches under the worst possible terrestrial -conditions, while the advance had really to be in three -different directions—due north, north-east, and -almost due east. The 57th Brigade, strengthened -by the 7th South Lancashires of the 56th Brigade, -was chosen for the difficult task. At 6 A.M. upon -November 18 in a sharp snow-storm the advance -began. -</p> - -<p> -It was the last concerted operation of the year, but -it was not unfortunately destined for success. The -garrison of the trenches appear to have been as -numerous as the stormers and far more advantageously -placed. The ground was such that an advance -over it without opposition would have been no easy -matter. Upon the left two battalions, the 7th South -Lancs and the 8th Gloucesters, old battle companions -of La Boiselle, pushed vigorously forward and seized -the western outskirt of Grandcourt, where they held -on against every attempt to dislodge them. Stick -bombs, egg bombs, rifle-grenades, and every sort of -evil missile crashed and splintered around them, -but they had in command two leaders who might -be trusted to hold what they had taken. Only -next evening when the rest of the attack had -definitely failed did these two battalions withdraw -to a new line on the immediate west of the village, -taking 150 prisoners with them. -</p> - -<p> -The other three battalions had fared ill owing to -numerical weakness, lack of knowledge of the ground, -loss of direction, bad weather, and deadly machine-guns. -Half of the 8th North Staffords won their way -through to the objective, but their comrades could not -support them, and they were so isolated that, after a -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P326"></a>326}</span> -gallant resistance, they were nearly all destroyed or -captured, under very much the same circumstances -as the 2nd Manchesters upon the preceding day. The -commander of the North Staffords, Colonel Anderson, -a gallant South African, and several other officers -were wounded and taken. Colonel Torrie of the 7th -East Lancashires was also killed in this engagement. -An attempt upon the part of the 9th Cheshires later -in the evening to get into touch with their lost -comrades only served to swell the casualty lists, for -it was dark before it was initiated, and all direction -was impossible amid the labyrinth of mud-channels -which faced them. Two days later the Nineteenth -Division was relieved by the Eleventh. It is difficult -to exaggerate the extreme hardships which had been -endured by the whole of Jacob's corps during these -operations amid the viscid mud slopes of the Ancre. -Napoleon in Poland had never better cause to curse -the fourth element. The front trenches were mere -gutters, and every attempt to deepen them only -deepened the stagnant pool within. The communications -were little better. The mud was on the men's -bodies, in their food, and for ever clogging both their -feet and their weapons. The hostile shelling was -continuous. It was a nightmare chapter of the campaign. -Winter had now settled down once more cheerless -and prolonged. There was much to be done in -those months of gloom—divisions to be refilled, fresh -divisions to be brought out, munitions of every sort -to be stored for the days of wrath to come. But -apart from the preparations for the future, the army -was never quiet, for one long succession of trench -raids, exploratory attacks, and bombardments helped -to retain that ascendancy which had been gained in -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P327"></a>327}</span> -the long Battle of the Somme. Before the narrative -passes to the German retreat of 1917, and the dramatic -battles which followed it, it would be well to take a -brief survey of the other events which had occurred -during the last half of the year, all of which reacted -more or less directly upon the campaign in the west. -</p> - -<p> -The chief of these is undoubtedly the magnificent -French recovery at Verdun. As already stated, the -German pressure was very severe in June, but it -was rapidly lessened by the counter-pressure of the -Allied advance upon the Somme. In their attempt -to hold back the Franco-British advance the Germans -denuded their Verdun line to an extent which weakened -it so much that, far from advancing, it could not hold -its own. In two splendid assaults upon October 24 -and December 15, the first yielding 5000 prisoners and -the second 11,000 with 115 guns, the French drove -the Germans back until a considerable portion of their -former hard-won gains had disappeared. Considering -the efforts which France was making upon the Somme -it was a splendid achievement, and it may fairly be -added to the credit of the Somme Battle, since without -it, it could hardly have been possible. -</p> - -<p> -The second considerable factor was one of those -great Russian advances which, alternating with -equally great Russian retreats, each of them coming -with a constant rhythm, made the war of the Eastern -Front resemble some sort of majestic and terrible tide, -with an ebb and flow which left death and destruction -strewn over those unhappy border countries. -On this occasion the advance was in the Brody and -Stanislau direction, and was pushed with such energy -and success by the fiery Brusiloff that nearly 400,000 -prisoners—or perhaps Slavonic refugees would be a -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P328"></a>328}</span> -more accurate description—were taken by our Allies. -The movement extended from June to September, -and might have been a vital one, had it not been for -political disorganisation and treachery in the rear. -</p> - -<p> -The Italian armies had in the meanwhile given a -splendid account of themselves, as every one who had -seen them in the field, predicted that they would. -Though hard pressed by a severe Austrian attack in -the Trentino in May, they rallied and held the enemy -before he could debouch upon the plains. Then with -three hard blows delivered upon August 6 to August -9, where they took the town of Gorizia and 12,000 -prisoners, on October 10, and on November 1 they -broke the Austrian lines and inflicted heavy losses -upon them. The coming of winter saw them well -upon their way to Trieste. -</p> - -<p> -On August 4 the British forces in Egypt defeated -a fresh Turco-German attack upon that country. The -battle was near Romani, east of the Suez Canal, and -it ended in a creditable victory and the capture of -2500 prisoners. This was the end of the serious -menace for Egypt, and the operations in this quarter, -which were carried on by General Murray, were -confined from this time forwards to clearing up the -Sinai peninsula, where various Turkish posts were -dispersed or taken, and in advancing our line to the -Palestine Frontier. -</p> - -<p> -On August 8 our brave little ally, Portugal, threw -her sword into the scale of freedom, and so gave -military continuity to the traditions of the two nations. -It would have rejoiced the austere soul of the great -Duke to see the descendants of his much-valued -Caçadores, fighting once more beside the great-grandsons -of the Riflemen and Guardsmen of the Peninsula. -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P329"></a>329}</span> -Two divisions appeared in France, where they soon -made a reputation for steadiness and valour. -</p> - -<p> -In the East another valiant little nation had also -ranged herself with the Allies, and was destined, alas, -to meet her ruin through circumstances which were -largely beyond her own control. Upon August 27 -Roumania declared war, and with a full reliance upon -help which never reached her, advanced at once into -the south of Hungary. Her initial successes changed -to defeat, and her brave soldiers, who were poorly -provided with modern appliances of war, were driven -back before the pressure of Falkenhayn's army in the -west and Mackensen's, which eventually crossed the -Danube, from the south. On December 6 Bucharest -fell, and by the end of the year the Roumanians had -been driven to the Russian border, where, an army -without a country, they hung on, exactly as the -Belgians had done, to the extreme edge of their ravaged -fatherland. To their Western allies, who were powerless -to help them, it was one of the most painful -incidents of the War. -</p> - -<p> -The Salonica expedition had been much hampered -by the sinister attitude of the Greeks, whose position -upon the left rear of Sarrail's forces made an -advance dangerous, and a retreat destructive. King -Constantine, following the example of his brother-in-law -of Berlin, had freed himself from all constitutional -ties, refused to summon a parliament, and followed -his own private predilections and interests by helping -our enemies, even to the point of surrendering a -considerable portion of his own kingdom, including a -whole army corps and the port of Kavala, to the -hereditary enemy, the Bulgarian. Never in history -has a nation been so betrayed by its king, and never, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P330"></a>330}</span> -it may be added, did a nation which had been free -allow itself so tamely to be robbed of its freedom. -Venezelos, however, showed himself to be a great -patriot, shook the dust of Athens from his feet, and -departed to Salonica, where he raised the flag of a -fighting national party, to which the whole nation -was eventually rallied. Meanwhile, however, the task -of General Sarrail was rendered more difficult, in spite -of which he succeeded in regaining Monastir and -establishing himself firmly within the old Serbian -frontier—a result which was largely due to the -splendid military qualities of the remains of the -Serbian army. -</p> - -<p> -On December 12 the German Empire proposed -negotiations for peace, but as these were apparently -to be founded upon the war-map as it then stood, and -as they were accompanied by congratulatory messages -about victory from the Kaiser to his troops, they were -naturally not regarded as serious by the Allies. Our -only guarantee that a nation will not make war whenever -it likes is its knowledge that it cannot make peace -when it likes, and this was the lesson which Germany -was now to learn. By the unanimous decision of all -the Allied nations no peace was possible which did -not include terms which the Germans were still very -far from considering—restitution of invaded countries, -reparation for harm done, and adequate guarantees -against similar unprovoked aggression in the future. -Without these three conditions the War would indeed -have been fought in vain. -</p> - -<p> -This same month of December saw two of the -great protagonists who had commenced the War -retire from that stage upon which each had played -a worthy part. The one was Mr. Asquith, who, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P331"></a>331}</span> -weary from long labours, gave place to the fresh -energy of Mr. Lloyd George. The other was -"Father" Joffre, who bore upon his thick shoulders -the whole weight of the early campaigns. Both -names will live honourably in history. -</p> - -<p> -And now as the year drew to its close, Germany, -wounded and weary, saw as she glared round her at -her enemies, a portent which must have struck a chill -to her heart. Russian strength had been discounted -and that of France was no new thing. But whence -came this apparition upon her Western flank—a host -raised, as it seemed, from nowhere, and yet already -bidding fair to be equal to her own? Her public were -still ignorant and blind, bemused by the journals which -had told them so long, and with such humorous detail, -that the British army was a paper army, the creature -of a dream. Treitschke's foolish phrase, "The unwarlike -Islanders," still lingered pleasantly in their -memory. But the rulers, the men who knew, what -must have been their feelings as they gazed upon that -stupendous array, that vision of doom, a hundred miles -from wing to wing, gleaming with two million bayonets, -canopied with aeroplanes, fringed with iron-clad motor -monsters, and backed by an artillery which numbered -its guns by the thousand? Kitchener lay deep in the -Orkney waves, but truly his spirit was thundering at -their gates. His brain it was who first planted these -seeds, but how could they have grown had the tolerant, -long-suffering British nation not been made ready -for it by all those long years of Teutonic insult, the -ravings of crazy professors, and the insults of -unbalanced publicists? All of these had a part in -raising that great host, but others, too, can claim -their share: the baby-killers of Scarborough, the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P332"></a>332}</span> -Zeppelin murderers, the submarine pirates, all the -agents of ruthlessness. Among them they had put -life and spirit into this avenging apparition, where -even now it could be said that every man in the -battle line had come there of his own free will. Years -of folly and of crime were crying for a just retribution. -The instrument was here and the hour was -drawing on. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p><a id="chap14"></a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P333"></a>333}</span></p> - -<h3> -INDEX -</h3> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Adlam, Lieutenant, V.C., <a href="#P272">272</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Air Service, <a href="#P38">38</a>, <a href="#P39">39</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Albert, <a href="#P66">66</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Alderson, General Sir Edwin, <a href="#P21">21</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Allenby, General Sir Edmund, <a href="#P11">11</a>, -<a href="#P34">34</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Alsace, <a href="#P3">3</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Ancre, battle of the: work of the -Naval Division, <a href="#P315">315-321</a>; -capture of Beaumont Hamel, -<a href="#P320">320-322</a>; attack on Grandcourt, -<a href="#P324">324-326</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Anderson, Colonel, <a href="#P326">326</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Arbuthnot, Rear-Admiral Sir -Robert, <a href="#P31">31</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Armenia, invasion of, by Russians, <a href="#P3">3</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Arnim, General von, report on the -battle of the Somme, <a href="#P308">308</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Ash, Colonel, <a href="#P246">246</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Asquith, Lieutenant Raymond, <a href="#P169">169</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Asquith, Mr., <a href="#P330">330</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Atkinson, Major, <a href="#P211">211</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Babington, General, <a href="#P117">117</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Bapaume, <a href="#P66">66</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Bazentin-le-Grand, <a href="#P144">144</a>, <a href="#P151">151-152</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Bazentin-le-Petit, <a href="#P144">144</a>, <a href="#P145">145</a>, <a href="#P146">146-149</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Bean, Mr., Australian chronicler, -quoted, <a href="#P201">201</a>, <a href="#P202">202</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Beaucourt-sur-Ancre, <a href="#P59">59</a>, <a href="#P60">60</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Beaumont Hamel, <a href="#P46">46</a>, <a href="#P47">47</a>, <a href="#P52">52-56</a>, <a href="#P58">58</a>, -<a href="#P86">86</a>, <a href="#P200">200</a>, <a href="#P280">280</a>, <a href="#P315">315</a>, <a href="#P320">320-322</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Bécourt, <a href="#P67">67</a>, <a href="#P76">76</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Becquincourt, <a href="#P100">100</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Bernard, Colonel, <a href="#P62">62</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Bircham, Colonel, <a href="#P161">161</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Bird wood, General Sir William, <a href="#P190">190</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Blake, Captain, <a href="#P284">284</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -British front in France extended, -<a href="#P4">4</a>, <a href="#P11">11</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Brocklehurst, Captain, <a href="#P183">183</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Brooke, Rupert, <a href="#P169">169</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Brown, Major Hall, <a href="#P121">121</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Brusiloff, General, <a href="#P327">327</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Bucharest, fall of, <a href="#P329">329</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Bukovina, <a href="#P2">2</a>, <a href="#P3">3</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Bulgaria, joins the Central Powers, -<a href="#P2">2</a>; Greece surrenders the port -of Kavala to, <a href="#P329">329</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Burgh, Lieutenant de, V.C., <a href="#P284">284</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Bussu, <a href="#P100">100</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Byng, General Sir Julian, <a href="#P21">21</a>, <a href="#P236">236</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Campbell, Captain (R.F.A.), <a href="#P108">108</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Carden, Colonel, <a href="#P126">126</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Carr, Colonel, <a href="#P270">270</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Cavan, General Lord, <a href="#P237">237</a>, <a href="#P251">251</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Churchill, Right Hon. W. S., <a href="#P260">260</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Clark, Major, <a href="#P140">140</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Coates, Major, <a href="#P199">199</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Coleridge, Adjutant, <a href="#P124">124</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Combles, <a href="#P237">237</a>, <a href="#P256">256</a>, <a href="#P259">259</a>, <a href="#P281">281</a>, <a href="#P294">294</a>, <a href="#P295">295</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Congreve, General, V.C., <a href="#P34">34</a>, <a href="#P86">86</a>, <a href="#P165">165</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Congreve, Brigade-Major, <a href="#P177">177</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Constantine, King of Greece, <a href="#P329">329</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Contalmaison, <a href="#P72">72</a>, <a href="#P73">73</a>, <a href="#P80">80</a>, <a href="#P105">105</a>, <a href="#P116">116-124</a>, <a href="#P131">131-133</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Cornaby, Lieutenant, <a href="#P269">269</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Courcelette, <a href="#P204">204</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Craig, Colonel James, M.P., <a href="#P62">62</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Curlu, <a href="#P100">100</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Curtin, Mr., American journalist, -quoted, <a href="#P132">132</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Davidson, Captain, <a href="#P62">62</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Dawson, Captain, <a href="#P69">69</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Delvilie Wood, <a href="#P145">145</a>, <a href="#P153">153</a>, <a href="#P155">155</a>, <a href="#P159">159</a>, -<a href="#P165">165</a>, <a href="#P171">171-178</a>, <a href="#P180">180-183</a>, <a href="#P187">187</a>, <a href="#P207">207</a>, -<a href="#P211">211-214</a>, <a href="#P218">218-223</a>, <a href="#P232">232</a>, <a href="#P233">233</a>, <a href="#P262">262</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Derby, Lord, <a href="#P5">5</a>, <a href="#P95">95</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -D'Eyncourt, Commander, R.N., <a href="#P260">260</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Diggle, Major, <a href="#P64">64</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Dompierre, <a href="#P100">100</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Duck's Post, attack on, <a href="#P11">11</a>, <a href="#P12">12</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -East Africa, <a href="#P3">3</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Eaucourt, <a href="#P282">282</a>, <a href="#P283">283</a>, <a href="#P286">286</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Edwards, Private, V.C., <a href="#P270">270</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Ellis, Colonel, <a href="#P56">56</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Erzeroum captured by Russians, <a href="#P3">3</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Falfemont, <a href="#P207">207</a>, <a href="#P214">214</a>, <a href="#P224">224</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Falkenhayn, General, <a href="#P329">329</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Fanshawe, General E. A., <a href="#P311">311</a>, <a href="#P324">324</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Fay, <a href="#P100">100</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Fayolle, General, <a href="#P100">100</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Finch, Colonel, <a href="#P110">110</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Flers, <a href="#P236">236</a>, <a href="#P241">241</a>, <a href="#P243">243-247</a>, <a href="#P259">259</a>, <a href="#P261">261</a>, -<a href="#P262">262</a>, <a href="#P282">282</a>, <a href="#P283">283</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Flower, Colonel, <a href="#P128">128</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Foch, General, <a href="#P11">11</a>, <a href="#P33">33</a>, <a href="#P84">84</a>, <a href="#P98">98</a>, <a href="#P99">99</a>, -<a href="#P160">160</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Forsyth, Colonel, <a href="#P203">203</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Franklin, Colonel, <a href="#P53">53</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -French, Lord, <a href="#P5">5</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Freyberg, Commander, <a href="#P319">319</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Fricourt, <a href="#P76">76</a>, <a href="#P77">77-84</a>, <a href="#P85">85</a>, <a href="#P86">86</a>, <a href="#P99">99</a>, <a href="#P101">101</a>, -<a href="#P104">104</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Frise, <a href="#P100">100</a>, <a href="#P101">101</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Gaffikin, Captain, <a href="#P62">62</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Galicia, <a href="#P2">2</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Gallipoli, withdrawal of British -troops from, <a href="#P2">2</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Garvin, Captain Gerard, <a href="#P169">169</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -General survey, of affairs in winter -1915, <a href="#P1">1-7</a>; of events in 1916, -<a href="#P326">326-332</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Gibbs, Mr. Philip, quoted, <a href="#P228">228</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Gillson, Colonel, <a href="#P136">136</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Ginchy, <a href="#P159">159</a>, <a href="#P207">207</a>, <a href="#P214">214</a>, <a href="#P218">218</a>, <a href="#P221">221</a>, -<a href="#P222">222-223</a>, <a href="#P224">224</a>, <a href="#P226">226</a>, <a href="#P230">230-231</a>, <a href="#P250">250</a>, -<a href="#P251">251</a>, <a href="#P252">252</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Glasgow, Brigadier-General, <a href="#P83">83</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Glatz Redoubt, the, <a href="#P96">96</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Gommecourt, <a href="#P39">39-45</a>, <a href="#P71">71</a>, <a href="#P86">86</a>, <a href="#P99">99</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Gordon, Colonel (Gordons), <a href="#P168">168</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Gordon, Lieutenant (Borders), <a href="#P64">64</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Gorizia, Italians take, <a href="#P328">328</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Gough, General Sir Hubert, <a href="#P106">106</a>, <a href="#P156">156</a>, -<a href="#P161">161</a>, <a href="#P189">189</a>, <a href="#P194">194</a>, <a href="#P198">198</a>, <a href="#P202">202</a>, <a href="#P205">205</a>, -<a href="#P207">207</a>, <a href="#P236">236</a>, <a href="#P238">238</a>, <a href="#P263">263</a>, <a href="#P264">264</a>, <a href="#P281">281</a>, -<a href="#P310">310</a>, <a href="#P311">311</a>, <a href="#P322">322</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Grandcourt, <a href="#P322">322</a>, <a href="#P324">324</a>, <a href="#P325">325</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Green, Colonel, <a href="#P53">53</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Grenfell, Julian, <a href="#P169">169</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Guedecourt, <a href="#P288">288</a>, <a href="#P289">289</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Guillemont, <a href="#P144">144</a>, <a href="#P156">156</a>, <a href="#P159">159</a>, <a href="#P178">178</a>, -<a href="#P183">183-187</a>, <a href="#P207">207</a>, <a href="#P214">214-218</a>, <a href="#P223">223</a>, <a href="#P224">224</a>, -<a href="#P226">226</a>, <a href="#P227">227-228</a>, <a href="#P231">231</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Haig, General Sir Douglas, <a href="#P33">33</a>, <a href="#P36">36</a>, -<a href="#P122">122</a>, <a href="#P160">160</a>, <a href="#P179">179</a>, <a href="#P261">261</a>, <a href="#P280">280</a>, <a href="#P289">289</a>, -<a href="#P303">303</a>, <a href="#P308">308</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Hamp, Sergeant, <a href="#P220">220</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Hankey, Captain Donald, <a href="#P169">169</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Hardecourt, <a href="#P100">100</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Hay, Colonel, <a href="#P25">25</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Heath, Colonel, <a href="#P108">108</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Hébuterne, <a href="#P34">34</a>, <a href="#P46">46</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -High Wood, <a href="#P148">148</a>, <a href="#P150">150</a>, <a href="#P159">159</a>, <a href="#P163">163</a>, -<a href="#P166">166-168</a>, <a href="#P170">170</a>, <a href="#P187">187</a>, <a href="#P207">207-213</a>, -<a href="#P232">232-234</a>, <a href="#P236">236</a>, <a href="#P237">237</a>, <a href="#P240">240-241</a>, <a href="#P262">262</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Hohenzollern Redoubt, engagement -near, <a href="#P19">19</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Hole, Lieutenant, <a href="#P73">73</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Hood, Rear-Admiral Hon. Horace, <a href="#P31">31</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Hopkinson, Colonel, <a href="#P53">53</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Horne, General Sir H., <a href="#P34">34</a>, <a href="#P76">76</a>, <a href="#P122">122</a>, -<a href="#P165">165</a>, <a href="#P236">236</a>, <a href="#P237">237</a>, <a href="#P242">242</a>, <a href="#P250">250</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Howell, Captain, <a href="#P182">182</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Hudson, Major, <a href="#P270">270</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Hunter-Weston, General Sir Aylmer, -<a href="#P34">34</a>, <a href="#P46">46</a>, <a href="#P55">55</a>, <a href="#P68">68</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Innes, Colonel, <a href="#P53">53</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Ireland, rebellion in, <a href="#P19">19</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Jacob, General, <a href="#P236">236</a>, <a href="#P264">264</a>, <a href="#P279">279</a>, <a href="#P311">311</a>, -<a href="#P324">324</a>, <a href="#P326">326</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Joffre, General, <a href="#P33">33</a>, <a href="#P331">331</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Johnson, Colonel (Manchesters), <a href="#P96">96</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Johnstone, Captain (Rifles), <a href="#P211">211</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Johnstone, Lieutenant (Shropshires), -<a href="#P17">17</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Jones, Colonel, <a href="#P137">137</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Jones, Sergeant, V.C. (King's Liverpool), <a href="#P229">229</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Jones, Private, V.C. (Cheshires), <a href="#P292">292</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Jutland, battle of, <a href="#P31">31</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Kavala, Greek surrender of, to -Bulgaria, <a href="#P329">329</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Kiggell, General Sir L., <a href="#P36">36</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Kitchener, Lord, <a href="#P5">5</a>, <a href="#P331">331</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Kut, British force surrenders to -Turks at, <a href="#P2">2</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -La Boiselle, <a href="#P69">69-75</a>, <a href="#P76">76</a>, <a href="#P77">77</a>, <a href="#P86">86</a>, <a href="#P104">104</a>, -<a href="#P105">105</a>, <a href="#P107">107-109</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Laidlaw, Colonel, <a href="#P65">65</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Lambton, General, <a href="#P53">53</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Landon, General, <a href="#P150">150</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Ledwidge, Francis, <a href="#P169">169</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Leipzig Redoubt, the, <a href="#P63">63</a>, <a href="#P64">64</a>, <a href="#P65">65</a>, <a href="#P198">198</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Le Sars, <a href="#P284">284</a>, <a href="#P285">285</a>, <a href="#P286">286</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Lesboeufs, <a href="#P281">281</a>, <a href="#P291">291</a>, <a href="#P292">292</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Lister, Charles, <a href="#P169">169</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Lloyd George, Mr., <a href="#P331">331</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Longridge, Colonel, <a href="#P210">210</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Longueval, <a href="#P144">144</a>, <a href="#P145">145</a>, <a href="#P151">151</a>, <a href="#P153">153-155</a>, -<a href="#P171">171-180</a>, <a href="#P213">213</a>, <a href="#P217">217</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Loos, <a href="#P4">4</a>, <a href="#P17">17-19</a>, <a href="#P30">30</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Luard, Colonel, <a href="#P17">17</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Lynch, Colonel, <a href="#P78">78</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Lyon, Colonel, <a href="#P212">212</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Machell, Colonel, <a href="#P64">64</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Mack, Major, <a href="#P252">252</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Mackensen, General, <a href="#P329">329</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -McNair, Lieutenant, V.C., <a href="#P8">8</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Maddison, Colonel, <a href="#P69">69</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Mametz, <a href="#P76">76</a>, <a href="#P84">84-86</a>, <a href="#P88">88</a>, <a href="#P93">93</a>, <a href="#P96">96</a>, <a href="#P104">104</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Mametz Wood, <a href="#P116">116</a>, <a href="#P118">118</a>, <a href="#P120">120</a>, <a href="#P121">121</a>, -<a href="#P124">124-132</a>, <a href="#P134">134</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Maricourt, <a href="#P95">95</a>, <a href="#P99">99</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Markes, Brigade-Major, <a href="#P176">176</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Martinpuich, <a href="#P204">204</a>, <a href="#P236">236</a>, <a href="#P237">237-240</a>, <a href="#P269">269</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Mason, Lieutenant, <a href="#P267">267</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Maxse, General, <a href="#P139">139</a>, <a href="#P272">272</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Mercer, General, <a href="#P24">24</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Mesopotamia, British Expedition in, -<a href="#P2">2</a>, <a href="#P3">3</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Miall-Smith, Lieutenant (Royal -Fusiliers), <a href="#P269">269</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Military Service Bill, the, <a href="#P6">6</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Mobbs, Colonel, <a href="#P216">216</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Monastir reoccupied by the Serbian -Army, <a href="#P330">330</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Monro, General Sir Charles, <a href="#P11">11</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Montauban, <a href="#P84">84</a>, <a href="#P86">86-98</a>, <a href="#P99">99</a>, <a href="#P104">104</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Montenegro overrun by Central -Powers, <a href="#P2">2</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Moreaucourt, <a href="#P100">100</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Morland, General Sir T., <a href="#P34">34</a>, <a href="#P58">58</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Morval, <a href="#P281">281</a>, <a href="#P291">291</a>, <a href="#P292">292</a>, <a href="#P293">293</a>, <a href="#P294">294</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Mumford, Captain, <a href="#P136">136</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Murray, General Sir A., <a href="#P328">328</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Murray, Lieutenant, <a href="#P185">185</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Musker, Lieutenant, <a href="#P186">186</a>, <a href="#P187">187</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Neville, Captain, <a href="#P92">92</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Ord, Corporal, <a href="#P220">220</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Ovillers, <a href="#P58">58</a>, <a href="#P66">66</a>, <a href="#P105">105</a>, <a href="#P106">106</a>, <a href="#P107">107</a>, <a href="#P110">110-116</a>, <a href="#P197">197</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Palk, Colonel the Hon. C. W., <a href="#P53">53</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Pears, Colonel, <a href="#P113">113</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Phillpotts, General, <a href="#P233">233</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Pierce, Colonel, <a href="#P56">56</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Piggott, Colonel Royston, <a href="#P108">108</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Plumer, General Sir Herbert, <a href="#P11">11</a>, <a href="#P14">14</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Poland occupied by Central Powers, <a href="#P2">2</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Pommiers Redoubt, the, <a href="#P89">89</a>, <a href="#P90">90</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Portugal declares war against the -Central Powers, <a href="#P328">328</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Pozières, <a href="#P144">144</a>, <a href="#P156">156</a>, <a href="#P159">159</a>, <a href="#P189">189-204</a>, -<a href="#P231">231</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Price, Brigadier-General, <a href="#P203">203</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Primrose, Captain Neil, <a href="#P169">169</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Prowse, Brigadier-General, <a href="#P52">52</a>, <a href="#P53">53</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Pulteney, General Sir W., <a href="#P34">34</a>, <a href="#P58">58</a>, -<a href="#P66">66</a>, <a href="#P74">74</a>, <a href="#P76">76</a>, <a href="#P236">236</a>, <a href="#P241">241</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Rawlinson, General Sir Henry, <a href="#P11">11</a>, -<a href="#P34">34</a>, <a href="#P106">106</a>, <a href="#P142">142</a>, <a href="#P189">189</a>, <a href="#P207">207</a>, <a href="#P214">214</a>, <a href="#P232">232</a>, -<a href="#P236">236</a>, <a href="#P263">263</a>, <a href="#P322">322</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Regiments: -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -<br /> -<i>Artillery—</i> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Royal Field Artillery, <a href="#P93">93</a>, <a href="#P108">108</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Trench Mortar Battery, <a href="#P269">269</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Honourable Artillery Company, -<a href="#P318">318</a>, <a href="#P319">319</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -<br /> -<i>Cavalry—</i> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -7th Dragoon Guards, <a href="#P150">150</a>, <a href="#P158">158</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -20th Deccan Horse, <a href="#P150">150</a>, <a href="#P158">158</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Lucknow and Sialkote Cavalry -Brigades, <a href="#P313">313</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -<br /> -<i>Guards—</i> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Coldstream, <a href="#P252">252</a>, <a href="#P253">253</a>, <a href="#P254">254</a>, <a href="#P291">291</a>, -<a href="#P292">292</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Grenadier, <a href="#P252">252</a>, <a href="#P253">253</a>, <a href="#P291">291</a>, <a href="#P292">292</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Irish, <a href="#P252">252</a>, <a href="#P253">253</a>, <a href="#P291">291</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Scots, <a href="#P253">253</a>, <a href="#P254">254</a>, <a href="#P255">255</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Welsh, <a href="#P291">291</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -<br /> -<i>Infantry—</i> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, -<a href="#P153">153</a>, <a href="#P164">164</a>, <a href="#P175">175</a>, <a href="#P209">209</a>, <a href="#P238">238</a>, -<a href="#P293">293</a>, <a href="#P321">321</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Bedford, <a href="#P88">88</a>, <a href="#P89">89</a>, <a href="#P95">95</a>, <a href="#P137">137</a>, <a href="#P186">186</a>, <a href="#P187">187</a>, -<a href="#P251">251</a>, <a href="#P255">255</a>, <a href="#P271">271</a>, <a href="#P273">273</a>, <a href="#P292">292</a>, <a href="#P318">318</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Berkshire, <a href="#P70">70</a>, <a href="#P71">71</a>, <a href="#P89">89</a>, <a href="#P90">90</a>, <a href="#P109">109</a>, -<a href="#P177">177</a>, <a href="#P182">182</a>, <a href="#P192">192</a>, <a href="#P193">193</a>, <a href="#P210">210</a>, <a href="#P233">233</a>, -<a href="#P268">268</a>, <a href="#P274">274</a>, <a href="#P302">302</a>, <a href="#P315">315</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Black Watch, <a href="#P153">153</a>, <a href="#P175">175</a>, <a href="#P210">210</a>, <a href="#P233">233</a>, -<a href="#P234">234</a>, <a href="#P287">287</a>, <a href="#P321">321</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Border, <a href="#P8">8</a>, <a href="#P64">64</a>, <a href="#P85">85</a>, <a href="#P106">106</a>, <a href="#P114">114</a>, <a href="#P117">117</a>, -<a href="#P123">123</a>, <a href="#P147">147</a>, <a href="#P272">272</a>, <a href="#P275">275</a>, <a href="#P279">279</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Buffs (East Kent), <a href="#P91">91</a>, <a href="#P92">92</a>, <a href="#P140">140</a>, <a href="#P216">216</a>, -<a href="#P255">255</a>, <a href="#P273">273</a>, <a href="#P274">274</a>, <a href="#P291">291</a>, <a href="#P298">298</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Cameron Highlanders, <a href="#P153">153</a>, <a href="#P162">162</a>, -<a href="#P175">175</a>, <a href="#P233">233</a>, <a href="#P238">238</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), <a href="#P70">70</a>, -<a href="#P134">134</a>, <a href="#P164">164</a>, <a href="#P166">166</a>, <a href="#P167">167</a>, <a href="#P170">170</a>, <a href="#P238">238</a>, -<a href="#P302">302</a>, <a href="#P303">303</a>, <a href="#P304">304</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Cheshire, <a href="#P106">106</a>, <a href="#P107">107</a>, <a href="#P110">110</a>, <a href="#P115">115</a>, <a href="#P259">259</a>, -<a href="#P276">276</a>, <a href="#P278">278</a>, <a href="#P292">292</a>, <a href="#P326">326</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Connaught Rangers, <a href="#P227">227</a>, <a href="#P228">228</a>, <a href="#P229">229</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Devon, <a href="#P70">70</a>, <a href="#P85">85</a>, <a href="#P147">147</a>, <a href="#P168">168</a>, <a href="#P223">223</a>, <a href="#P226">226</a>, -<a href="#P293">293</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Dorset, <a href="#P64">64</a>, <a href="#P83">83</a>, <a href="#P113">113</a>, <a href="#P115">115</a>, <a href="#P132">132</a>, <a href="#P272">272</a>, -<a href="#P324">324</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Dublin Fusiliers, <a href="#P19">19</a>, <a href="#P52">52</a>, <a href="#P231">231</a>, <a href="#P318">318</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Duke of Cornwall's, <a href="#P221">221</a>, <a href="#P226">226</a>, -<a href="#P250">250</a>, <a href="#P290">290</a>, <a href="#P299">299</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Durham Light Infantry, <a href="#P49">49</a>, <a href="#P51">51</a>, -<a href="#P77">77</a>, <a href="#P78">78</a>, <a href="#P80">80</a>, <a href="#P81">81</a>, <a href="#P221">221</a>, <a href="#P247">247</a>, <a href="#P250">250</a>, -<a href="#P255">255</a>, <a href="#P284">284</a>, <a href="#P285">285</a>, <a href="#P289">289</a>, <a href="#P291">291</a>, <a href="#P292">292</a>, -<a href="#P301">301</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -East Lancashire, <a href="#P49">49</a>, <a href="#P50">50</a>, <a href="#P51">51</a>, <a href="#P53">53</a>, -<a href="#P74">74</a>, <a href="#P121">121</a>, <a href="#P302">302</a>, <a href="#P326">326</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -East Surrey, <a href="#P11">11</a>, <a href="#P12">12</a>, <a href="#P91">91</a>, <a href="#P92">92</a>, <a href="#P180">180</a>, -<a href="#P215">215</a>, <a href="#P226">226</a>, <a href="#P273">273</a>, <a href="#P274">274</a>, <a href="#P293">293</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -East Yorkshire, <a href="#P77">77</a>, <a href="#P83">83</a>, <a href="#P121">121</a>, <a href="#P132">132</a>, -<a href="#P151">151</a>, <a href="#P304">304</a>, <a href="#P305">305</a>, <a href="#P312">312</a>, <a href="#P313">313</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Essex, <a href="#P52">52</a>, <a href="#P54">54</a>, <a href="#P89">89</a>, <a href="#P90">90</a>, <a href="#P109">109</a>, <a href="#P177">177</a>, -<a href="#P196">196</a>, <a href="#P267">267</a>, <a href="#P268">268</a>, <a href="#P273">273</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Gloucester, <a href="#P28">28</a>, <a href="#P108">108</a>, <a href="#P116">116</a>, <a href="#P156">156</a>, <a href="#P157">157</a>, -<a href="#P162">162</a>, <a href="#P180">180</a>, <a href="#P192">192</a>, <a href="#P193">193</a>, <a href="#P197">197</a>, <a href="#P198">198</a>, <a href="#P211">211</a>, -<a href="#P226">226</a>, <a href="#P233">233</a>, <a href="#P293">293</a>, <a href="#P325">325</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Gordon Highlanders, <a href="#P10">10</a>, <a href="#P14">14</a>, <a href="#P84">84</a>, -<a href="#P85">85</a>, <a href="#P149">149</a>, <a href="#P168">168</a>, <a href="#P174">174</a>, <a href="#P223">223</a>, <a href="#P314">314</a>, -<a href="#P321">321</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Hampshire, <a href="#P51">51</a>, <a href="#P53">53</a>, <a href="#P55">55</a>, <a href="#P244">244</a>, <a href="#P279">279</a>, -<a href="#P280">280</a>, <a href="#P302">302</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Highland Light Infantry, <a href="#P30">30</a>, <a href="#P63">63</a>, -<a href="#P64">64</a>, <a href="#P65">65</a>, <a href="#P68">68</a>, <a href="#P113">113</a>, <a href="#P114">114</a>, <a href="#P150">150</a>, <a href="#P163">163</a>, -<a href="#P170">170</a>, <a href="#P218">218</a>, <a href="#P237">237</a>, <a href="#P238">238</a>, <a href="#P323">323</a>, <a href="#P324">324</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Inniskilling Fusiliers, <a href="#P18">18</a>, <a href="#P53">53</a>, <a href="#P56">56</a>, -<a href="#P61">61</a>, <a href="#P64">64</a>, <a href="#P114">114</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -King's Liverpool, <a href="#P95">95</a>, <a href="#P96">96</a>, <a href="#P97">97</a>, <a href="#P98">98</a>, -<a href="#P137">137</a>, <a href="#P151">151</a>, <a href="#P152">152</a>, <a href="#P164">164</a>, <a href="#P174">174</a>, <a href="#P179">179</a>, -<a href="#P208">208</a>, <a href="#P220">220</a>, <a href="#P229">229</a>, <a href="#P234">234</a>, <a href="#P298">298</a>, <a href="#P304">304</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -King's Own Royal Lancaster, <a href="#P52">52</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -King's Own Scottish Borderers, -<a href="#P134">134</a>, <a href="#P172">172</a>, <a href="#P238">238</a>, <a href="#P286">286</a>, <a href="#P292">292</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -King's Royal Rifles, <a href="#P170">170</a>, <a href="#P227">227</a>, -<a href="#P244">244</a>, <a href="#P245">245</a>, <a href="#P248">248</a>, <a href="#P249">249</a>, <a href="#P290">290</a>, <a href="#P304">304</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Lancashire Fusiliers, <a href="#P7">7</a>, <a href="#P8">8</a>, <a href="#P20">20</a>, <a href="#P53">53</a>, -<a href="#P63">63</a>, <a href="#P64">64</a>, <a href="#P110">110</a>, <a href="#P113">113</a>, <a href="#P114">114</a>, <a href="#P118">118</a>, <a href="#P120">120</a>, -<a href="#P272">272</a>, <a href="#P302">302</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Leicester, <a href="#P146">146</a>, <a href="#P148">148</a>, <a href="#P255">255</a>, <a href="#P256">256</a>, <a href="#P288">288</a>, -<a href="#P289">289</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Leinster, <a href="#P215">215</a>, <a href="#P227">227</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Lincoln, <a href="#P8">8</a>, <a href="#P10">10</a>, <a href="#P42">42</a>, <a href="#P70">70</a>, <a href="#P72">72</a>, <a href="#P77">77</a>, <a href="#P81">81</a>, -<a href="#P82">82</a>, <a href="#P116">116</a>, <a href="#P117">117</a>, <a href="#P122">122</a>, <a href="#P275">275</a>, <a href="#P288">288</a>, <a href="#P302">302</a>, -<a href="#P303">303</a>, <a href="#P304">304</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Liverpool, <a href="#P136">136</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -London Rifle Brigade, <a href="#P43">43</a>, <a href="#P300">300</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -London Scottish, <a href="#P43">43</a>, <a href="#P44">44</a>, <a href="#P258">258</a>, <a href="#P299">299</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -1st London, <a href="#P259">259</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -2nd London, <a href="#P43">43</a>, <a href="#P259">259</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -3rd London, <a href="#P44">44</a>, <a href="#P300">300</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -4th London, <a href="#P43">43</a>, <a href="#P256">256</a>, <a href="#P299">299</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -6th London, <a href="#P241">241</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -8th London, <a href="#P259">259</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -9th London (Queen Victoria -Rifles), <a href="#P43">43</a>, <a href="#P256">256</a>, <a href="#P300">300</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -12th London (Rangers), <a href="#P43">43</a>, <a href="#P258">258</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -13th London (Kensington), <a href="#P43">43</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -15th London (Civil Service), <a href="#P241">241</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -15th London (Queen's Westminsters), <a href="#P43">43</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Manchester, <a href="#P65">65</a>, <a href="#P84">84</a>, <a href="#P85">85</a>, <a href="#P95">95</a>, <a href="#P96">96</a>, -<a href="#P97">97</a>, <a href="#P113">113</a>, <a href="#P114">114</a>, <a href="#P120">120</a>, <a href="#P136">136</a>, <a href="#P137">137</a>, -<a href="#P149">149</a>, <a href="#P178">178</a>, <a href="#P185">185</a>, <a href="#P186">186</a>, <a href="#P222">222</a>, <a href="#P323">323</a>, -<a href="#P324">324</a> <a href="#P326">326</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Middlesex, <a href="#P43">43</a>, <a href="#P70">70</a>, <a href="#P77">77</a>, <a href="#P82">82</a>, <a href="#P88">88</a>, <a href="#P111">111</a>, -<a href="#P112">112</a>, <a href="#P140">140</a>, <a href="#P142">142</a>, <a href="#P164">164</a>, <a href="#P168">168</a>, <a href="#P182">182</a>, -<a href="#P207">207</a>, <a href="#P215">215</a>, <a href="#P218">218</a>, <a href="#P232">232</a>, <a href="#P246">246</a>, <a href="#P258">258</a>, -<a href="#P269">269</a>, <a href="#P299">299</a>, <a href="#P304">304</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Munster Fusiliers, <a href="#P156">156</a>, <a href="#P212">212</a>, <a href="#P230">230</a>, -<a href="#P234">234</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Norfolk, <a href="#P89">89</a>, <a href="#P90">90</a>, <a href="#P176">176</a>, <a href="#P180">180</a>, <a href="#P196">196</a>, -<a href="#P267">267</a>, <a href="#P273">273</a>, <a href="#P292">292</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Northampton, <a href="#P88">88</a>, <a href="#P89">89</a>, <a href="#P121">121</a>, <a href="#P140">140</a>, -<a href="#P142">142</a>, <a href="#P161">161</a>, <a href="#P209">209</a>, <a href="#P210">210</a>, <a href="#P211">211</a>, <a href="#P215">215</a>, -<a href="#P234">234</a>, <a href="#P269">269</a>, <a href="#P271">271</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -North Lancashire, <a href="#P20">20</a>, <a href="#P110">110</a>, <a href="#P146">146</a>, -<a href="#P200">200</a>, <a href="#P210">210</a>, <a href="#P234">234</a>, <a href="#P278">278</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -North Staffordshire, <a href="#P41">41</a>, <a href="#P108">108</a>, <a href="#P325">325</a>, -<a href="#P326">326</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Northumberland Fusiliers, <a href="#P13">13</a>, <a href="#P63">63</a>, -<a href="#P70">70</a>, <a href="#P72">72</a>, <a href="#P73">73</a>, <a href="#P74">74</a>, <a href="#P75">75</a>, <a href="#P113">113</a>, <a href="#P117">117</a>, -<a href="#P118">118</a>, <a href="#P120">120</a>, <a href="#P148">148</a>, <a href="#P152">152</a>, <a href="#P179">179</a>, <a href="#P272">272</a>, <a href="#P285">285</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Oxford and Bucks, <a href="#P192">192</a>, <a href="#P219">219</a>, <a href="#P220">220</a>, -<a href="#P221">221</a>, <a href="#P227">227</a>, <a href="#P248">248</a>, <a href="#P249">249</a>, <a href="#P250">250</a>, <a href="#P298">298</a>, -<a href="#P299">299</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Queen's (West Surrey), <a href="#P84">84</a>, <a href="#P91">91</a>, -<a href="#P93">93</a>, <a href="#P109">109</a>, <a href="#P139">139</a>, <a href="#P142">142</a>, <a href="#P150">150</a>, <a href="#P163">163</a>, <a href="#P170">170</a>, -<a href="#P196">196</a>, <a href="#P218">218</a>, <a href="#P219">219</a>, <a href="#P221">221</a>, <a href="#P223">223</a>, <a href="#P233">233</a>, -<a href="#P244">244</a>, <a href="#P246">246</a>, <a href="#P273">273</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Rifle Brigade, <a href="#P8">8</a>, <a href="#P51">51</a>, <a href="#P52">52</a>, <a href="#P53">53</a>, <a href="#P213">213</a>, -<a href="#P216">216</a>, <a href="#P227">227</a>, <a href="#P228">228</a>, <a href="#P248">248</a>, <a href="#P249">249</a>, <a href="#P290">290</a>, -<a href="#P298">298</a>, <a href="#P302">302</a>, <a href="#P316">316</a>, <a href="#P319">319</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Rifles, <a href="#P30">30</a>, <a href="#P162">162</a>, <a href="#P163">163</a>, <a href="#P182">182</a>, <a href="#P211">211</a>, <a href="#P218">218</a>, -<a href="#P219">219</a>, <a href="#P220">220</a>, <a href="#P227">227</a>, <a href="#P228">228</a>, <a href="#P234">234</a>, <a href="#P248">248</a>, -<a href="#P278">278</a>, <a href="#P279">279</a>, <a href="#P282">282</a>, <a href="#P290">290</a>, <a href="#P299">299</a>, <a href="#P315">315</a>, -<a href="#P319">319</a>, <a href="#P320">320</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Royal Fusiliers, <a href="#P13">13</a>, <a href="#P53">53</a>, <a href="#P54">54</a>, <a href="#P88">88</a>, -<a href="#P89">89</a>, <a href="#P111">111</a>, <a href="#P164">164</a>, <a href="#P167">167</a>, <a href="#P170">170</a>, <a href="#P177">177</a>, -<a href="#P182">182</a>, <a href="#P186">186</a>, <a href="#P196">196</a>, <a href="#P207">207</a>, <a href="#P209">209</a>, <a href="#P269">269</a>, -<a href="#P270">270</a>, <a href="#P298">298</a>, <a href="#P304">304</a>, <a href="#P318">318</a>, <a href="#P319">319</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Royal Irish, <a href="#P18">18</a>, <a href="#P86">86</a>, <a href="#P148">148</a>, <a href="#P149">149</a>, <a href="#P222">222</a>, -<a href="#P227">227</a>, <a href="#P230">230</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Royal Irish Fusiliers, <a href="#P53">53</a>, <a href="#P60">60</a>, <a href="#P230">230</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Royal Irish Rifles, <a href="#P60">60</a>, <a href="#P61">61</a>, <a href="#P62">62</a>, <a href="#P71">71</a>, -<a href="#P110">110</a>, <a href="#P230">230</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Royal Lancaster, <a href="#P10">10</a>, <a href="#P14">14</a>, <a href="#P314">314</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Royal Scots, <a href="#P72">72</a>, <a href="#P73">73</a>, <a href="#P74">74</a>, <a href="#P77">77</a>, <a href="#P80">80</a>, -<a href="#P152">152</a>, <a href="#P172">172</a>, <a href="#P173">173</a>, <a href="#P178">178</a>, <a href="#P179">179</a>, <a href="#P238">238</a>, <a href="#P321">321</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Royal Scots Fusiliers, <a href="#P13">13</a>, <a href="#P97">97</a>, -<a href="#P136">136</a>, <a href="#P152">152</a>, <a href="#P172">172</a>, <a href="#P185">185</a>, <a href="#P186">186</a>, <a href="#P238">238</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Royal West Kent, <a href="#P91">91</a>, <a href="#P92">92</a>, <a href="#P109">109</a>, -<a href="#P139">139</a>, <a href="#P140">140</a>, <a href="#P142">142</a>, <a href="#P196">196</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Seaforth Highlanders, <a href="#P52">52</a>, <a href="#P53">53</a>, <a href="#P153">153</a>, -<a href="#P175">175</a>, <a href="#P285">285</a>, <a href="#P321">321</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Sherwood Foresters, <a href="#P7">7</a>, <a href="#P8">8</a>, <a href="#P40">40</a>, <a href="#P42">42</a>, -<a href="#P68">68</a>, <a href="#P117">117</a>, <a href="#P121">121</a>, <a href="#P251">251</a>, <a href="#P272">272</a>, <a href="#P278">278</a>, -<a href="#P316">316</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Shropshire, <a href="#P17">17</a>, <a href="#P151">151</a>, <a href="#P219">219</a>, <a href="#P248">248</a>, <a href="#P249">249</a>, -<a href="#P250">250</a>, <a href="#P256">256</a>, <a href="#P290">290</a>, <a href="#P299">299</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Somerset Light Infantry, <a href="#P51">51</a>, <a href="#P52">52</a>, -<a href="#P53">53</a>, <a href="#P82">82</a>, <a href="#P221">221</a>, <a href="#P229">229</a>, <a href="#P250">250</a>, <a href="#P299">299</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -South Lancashire, <a href="#P106">106</a>, <a href="#P108">108</a>, <a href="#P114">114</a>, -<a href="#P169">169</a>, <a href="#P202">202</a>, <a href="#P325">325</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -South Staffordshire, <a href="#P7">7</a>, <a href="#P8">8</a>, <a href="#P41">41</a>, <a href="#P84">84</a>, -<a href="#P85">85</a>, <a href="#P116">116</a>, <a href="#P117">117</a>, <a href="#P123">123</a>, <a href="#P150">150</a>, <a href="#P221">221</a>, -<a href="#P275">275</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -South Wales Borderers, <a href="#P53">53</a>, <a href="#P56">56</a>, -<a href="#P121">121</a>, <a href="#P129">129</a>, <a href="#P130">130</a>, <a href="#P156">156</a>, <a href="#P157">157</a>, <a href="#P162">162</a>, -<a href="#P212">212</a>, <a href="#P234">234</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Suffolk, <a href="#P9">9</a>, <a href="#P10">10</a>, <a href="#P72">72</a>, <a href="#P74">74</a>, <a href="#P89">89</a>, <a href="#P92">92</a>, <a href="#P109">109</a>, -<a href="#P164">164</a>, <a href="#P177">177</a>, <a href="#P178">178</a>, <a href="#P208">208</a>, <a href="#P252">252</a>, <a href="#P267">267</a>, -<a href="#P268">268</a>, <a href="#P273">273</a>, <a href="#P274">274</a>, <a href="#P314">314</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Sussex, <a href="#P8">8</a>, <a href="#P28">28</a>, <a href="#P30">30</a>, <a href="#P93">93</a>, <a href="#P111">111</a>, <a href="#P112">112</a>, -<a href="#P162">162</a>, <a href="#P192">192</a>, <a href="#P194">194</a>, <a href="#P195">195</a>, <a href="#P209">209</a>, <a href="#P211">211</a>, -<a href="#P215">215</a>, <a href="#P216">216</a>, <a href="#P232">232</a>, <a href="#P234">234</a>, <a href="#P266">266</a>, <a href="#P279">279</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Tyneside Irish (Northumberland -Fusiliers), <a href="#P72">72</a>, <a href="#P75">75</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Tyneside Scottish (Northumberland -Fusiliers), <a href="#P70">70</a>, <a href="#P72">72</a>, <a href="#P73">73</a>, <a href="#P75">75</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Warwick, <a href="#P46">46</a>, <a href="#P49">49</a>, <a href="#P51">51</a>, <a href="#P52">52</a>, <a href="#P53">53</a>, <a href="#P85">85</a>, -<a href="#P108">108</a>, <a href="#P115">115</a>, <a href="#P148">148</a>, <a href="#P149">149</a>, <a href="#P170">170</a>, <a href="#P192">192</a>, -<a href="#P193">193</a>, <a href="#P197">197</a>, <a href="#P222">222</a>, <a href="#P302">302</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Welsh, <a href="#P121">121</a>, <a href="#P124">124</a>, <a href="#P125">125</a>, <a href="#P126">126</a>, <a href="#P128">128</a>, -<a href="#P129">129</a>, <a href="#P156">156</a>, <a href="#P162">162</a>, <a href="#P234">234</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Welsh Fusiliers, <a href="#P10">10</a>, <a href="#P30">30</a>, <a href="#P86">86</a>, <a href="#P108">108</a>, -<a href="#P118">118</a>, <a href="#P125">125</a>, <a href="#P126">126</a>, <a href="#P128">128</a>, <a href="#P129">129</a>, <a href="#P149">149</a>, -<a href="#P167">167</a>, <a href="#P177">177</a>, <a href="#P221">221</a>, <a href="#P222">222</a>, <a href="#P292">292</a>, <a href="#P314">314</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -West Riding, <a href="#P10">10</a>, <a href="#P120">120</a>, <a href="#P203">203</a>, <a href="#P302">302</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -West Yorkshire, <a href="#P10">10</a>, <a href="#P13">13</a>, <a href="#P49">49</a>, <a href="#P50">50</a>, -<a href="#P51">51</a>, <a href="#P70">70</a>, <a href="#P77">77</a>, <a href="#P83">83</a>, <a href="#P96">96</a>, <a href="#P151">151</a>, <a href="#P152">152</a>, -<a href="#P179">179</a>, <a href="#P203">203</a>, <a href="#P255">255</a>, <a href="#P273">273</a>, <a href="#P274">274</a>, <a href="#P275">275</a>, -<a href="#P292">292</a>, <a href="#P301">301</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Wiltshire, <a href="#P108">108</a>, <a href="#P112">112</a>, <a href="#P136">136</a>, <a href="#P198">198</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Worcester, <a href="#P55">55</a>, <a href="#P108">108</a>, <a href="#P112">112</a>, <a href="#P114">114</a>, <a href="#P120">120</a>, -<a href="#P121">121</a>, <a href="#P163">163</a>, <a href="#P166">166</a>, <a href="#P169">169</a>, <a href="#P192">192</a>, <a href="#P218">218</a>, -<a href="#P302">302</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -York and Lancaster, <a href="#P49">49</a>, <a href="#P50">50</a>, <a href="#P51">51</a>, -<a href="#P68">68</a>, <a href="#P82">82</a>, <a href="#P255">255</a>, <a href="#P284">284</a>, <a href="#P293">293</a>, <a href="#P301">301</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Yorkshire, <a href="#P81">81</a>, <a href="#P83">83</a>, <a href="#P117">117</a>, <a href="#P135">135</a>, <a href="#P178">178</a>, -<a href="#P203">203</a>, <a href="#P275">275</a>, <a href="#P284">284</a>, <a href="#P285">285</a>, <a href="#P304">304</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Yorkshire Light Infantry, <a href="#P68">68</a>, <a href="#P77">77</a>, -<a href="#P78">78</a>, <a href="#P81">81</a>, <a href="#P82">82</a>, <a href="#P219">219</a>, <a href="#P221">221</a>, <a href="#P247">247</a>, <a href="#P250">250</a>, -<a href="#P298">298</a>, <a href="#P323">323</a> -<br /><br /> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Royal Engineers, <a href="#P92">92</a>, <a href="#P117">117</a>, <a href="#P149">149</a>, <a href="#P168">168</a>, -<a href="#P183">183</a>, <a href="#P218">218</a>, <a href="#P220">220</a>, <a href="#P231">231</a>, <a href="#P245">245</a>, <a href="#P293">293</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Royal Naval Division, <a href="#P315">315</a>, <a href="#P316">316</a>, -<a href="#P317">317</a>, <a href="#P318">318</a>, <a href="#P319">319</a>, <a href="#P320">320</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -<br /> -<i>Overseas Forces—</i> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Australians, <a href="#P116">116</a>, <a href="#P161">161</a>, <a href="#P187">187</a>, <a href="#P188">188</a>, -<a href="#P189">189</a>, <a href="#P190">190</a>, <a href="#P191">191</a>, <a href="#P192">192</a>, <a href="#P193">193</a>, <a href="#P194">194</a>, -<a href="#P195">195</a>, <a href="#P196">196</a>, <a href="#P197">197</a>, <a href="#P198">198</a>, <a href="#P199">199</a>, <a href="#P200">200</a>, -<a href="#P201">201</a>, <a href="#P202">202</a>, <a href="#P203">203</a>, <a href="#P231">231</a>, <a href="#P305">305</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -New Zealanders, <a href="#P202">202</a>, <a href="#P234">234</a>, <a href="#P241">241</a>, -<a href="#P242">242</a>, <a href="#P243">243</a>, <a href="#P244">244</a>, <a href="#P245">245</a>, <a href="#P287">287</a>, <a href="#P288">288</a>, -<a href="#P289">289</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -1st Canadians (Ontario), <a href="#P278">278</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -2nd Canadians, <a href="#P14">14</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -3rd Canadians (Toronto), <a href="#P27">27</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -7th Canadians (British Columbia), -<a href="#P26">26</a>, <a href="#P27">27</a>, <a href="#P278">278</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -10th Canadians, <a href="#P26">26</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -13th Canadians (Royal Highlanders), -<a href="#P16">16</a>, <a href="#P27">27</a>, <a href="#P202">202</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -14th Canadians (Montreal), <a href="#P25">25</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -15th Canadians (48th Highlanders), -<a href="#P25">25</a>, <a href="#P202">202</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -16th Canadian Scottish, <a href="#P16">16</a>, <a href="#P27">27</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -22nd Canadians, <a href="#P15">15</a>, <a href="#P204">204</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -27th Canadians (Winnipeg), <a href="#P15">15</a>, -<a href="#P278">278</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -29th Canadians (Vancouver), <a href="#P15">15</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -31st Canadians (Alberta), <a href="#P15">15</a>, <a href="#P278">278</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -49th Canadians, <a href="#P22">22</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -52nd Canadians (New Ontario), -<a href="#P25">25</a>, <a href="#P205">205</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -60th Canadians (Montreal), <a href="#P205">205</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -60th Canadians (New Brunswick), <a href="#P16">16</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -60th Canadians (Nova Scotia), <a href="#P16">16</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Princess Patricia's, <a href="#P22">22</a>, <a href="#P24">24</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Royal Canadian Regiment, <a href="#P22">22</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Canadian Mounted Rifles, <a href="#P23">23</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Newfoundland Regiment, <a href="#P46">46</a>, <a href="#P54">54</a>, -<a href="#P55">55</a>, <a href="#P301">301</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -South Africans, <a href="#P137">137</a>, <a href="#P153">153</a>, <a href="#P155">155</a>, -<a href="#P171">171</a>, <a href="#P172">172</a>, <a href="#P173">173</a>, <a href="#P175">175</a>, <a href="#P176">176</a>, <a href="#P286">286</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Richebourg, <a href="#P28">28-30</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Rickets, Colonel, <a href="#P128">128</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Ripley, Colonel, <a href="#P271">271</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Robertson, General Sir William, <a href="#P5">5</a>, -<a href="#P308">308</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Rolls, Major, <a href="#P186">186</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Romani, battle near, <a href="#P328">328</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Roumania declares war against the -Central Powers, <a href="#P329">329</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Rushton, Lieutenant, <a href="#P90">90</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Ryder, Private, V.C., <a href="#P270">270</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -St. Eloi, <a href="#P12">12-16</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -St. Pierre Divion, <a href="#P316">316</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Salonica, <a href="#P3">3</a>; operations round, <a href="#P329">329</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Sarrail, General, <a href="#P329">329</a>, <a href="#P330">330</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Sawyer, Major, V.C., <a href="#P284">284</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Saye, Lieutenant, <a href="#P90">90</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Schwaben Redoubt, the, <a href="#P61">61</a>, <a href="#P263">263</a>, -<a href="#P266">266</a>, <a href="#P268">268</a>, <a href="#P272">272-275</a>, <a href="#P276">276</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Serbia overrun by Central Powers, <a href="#P2">2</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Serre, <a href="#P46">46</a>, <a href="#P49">49-53</a>, <a href="#P86">86</a>, <a href="#P311">311</a>, <a href="#P313">313</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Shute, Major, <a href="#P64">64</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Sinai peninsula, operations in, <a href="#P328">328</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Smith, General Douglas, <a href="#P227">227</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Smith, Colonel, <a href="#P134">134</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Smuts, General Right Hon. Jan, <a href="#P3">3</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Snow, General Sir T., <a href="#P34">34</a>, <a href="#P39">39</a>, <a href="#P45">45</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Somerset, Lieutenant, <a href="#P110">110</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Somme, battle of the: disposition -of the British Armies, <a href="#P34">34-36</a>; -preparations preceding the -battle, <a href="#P36">36</a>, <a href="#P37">37</a>; German anticipation -of Allied attack, <a href="#P37">37</a>; -work of the Royal Flying Corps, -<a href="#P38">38</a>, <a href="#P39">39</a>; attack of the Seventh -and Eighth Corps at Gommecourt, -Serre, and Beaumont -Hamel, <a href="#P39">39-56</a>; general failure -of attack, <a href="#P56">56</a>; attack of the -Tenth and Third Corps at -Beaucourt, Thiepval, Ovillers, -and La Boiselle, fails, <a href="#P58">58-75</a>; -attack of the Fifteenth and -Thirteenth Corps at Fricourt, -Mametz, and Montauban, <a href="#P76">76-101</a>; -capture of Fricourt, <a href="#P77">77-84</a>; -of Mametz village, <a href="#P84">84-86</a>; -of Montauban, <a href="#P86">86-98</a>; operations -of the French Army, <a href="#P98">98-100</a>; -review of the first day's fighting, -<a href="#P100">100</a>, <a href="#P101">101</a>; its decisive importance, -<a href="#P101">101</a>; capture of La -Boiselle, <a href="#P107">107-109</a>; siege and -reduction of Ovillers, <a href="#P109">109-116</a>; -operations at Contalmaison, -<a href="#P116">116-124</a>, <a href="#P131">131-133</a>; capture of -Mametz Wood, <a href="#P124">124-131</a>; -capture of Trones Wood, <a href="#P134">134-143</a>; -assault on and capture of -villages of Bazentin-le-Petit, -<a href="#P145">145-149</a>; and Bazentin-le-Grand, -<a href="#P151">151-153</a>; operations at -Longueval, <a href="#P153">153-155</a>; cavalry -advance, <a href="#P150">150</a>, <a href="#P157">157</a>; fighting at -High Wood, <a href="#P166">166-168</a>; South -Africans in Delville Wood, -<a href="#P171">171-176</a>; capture of Delville Wood, -<a href="#P180">180-183</a>; capture of Longueval, -<a href="#P171">171-180</a>; operations before -Guillemont, <a href="#P183">183-187</a>; capture -of Pozières village and ridge, -<a href="#P189">189-202</a>; advance towards -Thiepval, <a href="#P197">197-201</a>; capture of -Courcelette, <a href="#P204">204</a>; further -fighting at High Wood, <a href="#P207">207-213</a>, -<a href="#P231">231-234</a>; operations on fringe -of Delville Wood, <a href="#P212">212-213</a>, -<a href="#P218">218-223</a>, <a href="#P231">231-234</a>; attack on and -capture of Guillemont, <a href="#P214">214</a>, -<a href="#P217">217</a>, <a href="#P227">227-231</a>; attack on Ginchy, -<a href="#P222">222-223</a>; storming of Ginchy -by Irish Division, <a href="#P230">230-231</a>; -assault on and capture of -Martinpuich village, <a href="#P237">237-240</a>; -capture of High Wood, <a href="#P240">240-241</a>; -advance of the New -Zealanders, <a href="#P242">242-243</a>; capture of -the village of Flers, <a href="#P243">243-247</a>; -debut of the Tanks, <a href="#P241">241</a>, <a href="#P244">244</a>, -<a href="#P245">245</a>, <a href="#P247">247</a>, <a href="#P249">249</a>, <a href="#P259">259-261</a>; assault -on and capture of Thiepval, -<a href="#P264">264-272</a>; fall of Schwaben -Redoubt, <a href="#P272">272-275</a>; taking of -Stuff Redoubt, <a href="#P275">275-279</a>; -Germans driven finally from -Thiepval Ridge, <a href="#P279">279</a>; capture of the -villages of Eaucourt and Le -Sars, <a href="#P282">282-285</a>; capture of -Guedecourt, <a href="#P288">288</a>, <a href="#P289">289</a>; capture -of Morval and Lesboeufs, -<a href="#P291">291-294</a>; fall of Combles, <a href="#P295">295</a>; -general observations on the -fighting in the Somme valley, -<a href="#P306">306-309</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Stern, Colonel, <a href="#P260">260</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Stokes, Lieutenant, <a href="#P211">211</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Stuff Redoubt, the fighting for, -<a href="#P275">275-279</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Swinton, Colonel, <a href="#P260">260</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Tanks, the, first appearance of, <a href="#P241">241</a>, -<a href="#P244">244</a>, <a href="#P245">245</a>, <a href="#P247">247</a>, <a href="#P249">249</a>; commendation -by Sir Douglas Haig, <a href="#P261">261</a>; -<a href="#P264">264</a>, <a href="#P269">269</a>, <a href="#P272">272</a>, <a href="#P283">283</a>, <a href="#P285">285</a>, <a href="#P288">288</a>, -<a href="#P293">293</a>, <a href="#P320">320</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Tempest, Colonel, <a href="#P254">254</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Thicknesse, Colonel, <a href="#P53">53</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Thiepval, <a href="#P58">58-68</a>, <a href="#P86">86</a>, <a href="#P156">156</a>, <a href="#P197">197-201</a>, -<a href="#P202">202</a>, <a href="#P203">203</a>, <a href="#P204">204</a>, <a href="#P205">205</a>, <a href="#P237">237</a>, <a href="#P263">263</a>, -<a href="#P264">264-272</a>, <a href="#P276">276</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Thompson, Captain, <a href="#P269">269</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Torrie, Colonel, <a href="#P326">326</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Tovey, Corporal, <a href="#P270">270</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Townshend, General Sir Charles, <a href="#P2">2</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Trenchard, General, <a href="#P38">38</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Trentino, Austrian attack in, <a href="#P328">328</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Trones Wood, <a href="#P135">135-143</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Trotter, Colonel, <a href="#P134">134</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Usher, Colonel, <a href="#P24">24</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Venezelos, <a href="#P330">330</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Verdun, <a href="#P1">1</a>, <a href="#P3">3</a>, <a href="#P11">11</a>, <a href="#P23">23</a>, <a href="#P33">33</a>, <a href="#P37">37</a>, <a href="#P99">99</a>, <a href="#P327">327</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Vimy Ridge, <a href="#P19">19</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Webber, Lieutenant, <a href="#P169">169</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Wedgwood, Colonel, <a href="#P108">108</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -White, Captain, V.C., <a href="#P275">275</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Williams, Brigadier-General Victor, -<a href="#P24">24</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Wood, Colonel, <a href="#P53">53</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Wulverghem, <a href="#P20">20</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Wynne-Finch, Adjutant, <a href="#P254">254</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Ypres, <a href="#P4">4</a>, <a href="#P7">7-11</a>, <a href="#P16">16-17</a>, <a href="#P21">21-28</a> -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3"> -THE END -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t4"> -<i>Printed in Great Britain</i> by R. & R. CLARK, LIMITED, <i>Edinburgh.</i> -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BRITISH CAMPAIGN IN FRANCE AND FLANDERS 1916 ***</div> -<div style='text-align:left'> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will -be renamed. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™ -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following -the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use -of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for -copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very -easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation -of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project -Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away--you may -do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected -by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark -license, especially commercial redistribution. -</div> - -<div style='margin:0.83em 0; font-size:1.1em; text-align:center'>START: FULL LICENSE<br /> -<span style='font-size:smaller'>THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE<br /> -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK</span> -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -To protect the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project -Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full -Project Gutenberg™ License available with this file or online at -www.gutenberg.org/license. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg™ -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or -destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in your -possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a -Project Gutenberg™ electronic work and you do not agree to be bound -by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person -or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.B. “Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg™ electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg™ electronic works if you follow the terms of this -agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg™ -electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the -Foundation” or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection -of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. Nearly all the individual -works in the collection are in the public domain in the United -States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the -United States and you are located in the United States, we do not -claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, -displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as -all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope -that you will support the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting -free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg™ -works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the -Project Gutenberg™ name associated with the work. You can easily -comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the -same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg™ License when -you share it without charge with others. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are -in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, -check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this -agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, -distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any -other Project Gutenberg™ work. The Foundation makes no -representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any -country other than the United States. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg™ License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg™ work (any work -on which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the -phrase “Project Gutenberg” is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: -</div> - -<blockquote> - <div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most - other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions - whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms - of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online - at <a href="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> -</blockquote> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is -derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not -contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the -copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in -the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are -redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase “Project -Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply -either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or -obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg™ -trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any -additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg™ License for all works -posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the -beginning of this work. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg™ -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg™. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg™ License. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including -any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access -to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg™ work in a format -other than “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official -version posted on the official Project Gutenberg™ website -(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense -to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means -of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original “Plain -Vanilla ASCII” or other form. Any alternate format must include the -full Project Gutenberg™ License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg™ works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works -provided that: -</div> - -<div style='margin-left:0.7em;'> - <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> - • You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg™ works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, “Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation.” - </div> - - <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> - • You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg™ - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg™ - works. - </div> - - <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> - • You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - </div> - - <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> - • You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg™ works. - </div> -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg™ electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of -the Project Gutenberg™ trademark. Contact the Foundation as set -forth in Section 3 below. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.F. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project -Gutenberg™ collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg™ -electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may -contain “Defects,” such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate -or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other -intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or -other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or -cannot be read by your equipment. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the “Right -of Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg™ trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg™ electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium -with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you -with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in -lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person -or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second -opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If -the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing -without further opportunities to fix the problem. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ‘AS-IS’, WITH NO -OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT -LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of -damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement -violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the -agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or -limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or -unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the -remaining provisions. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in -accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the -production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg™ -electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, -including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of -the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this -or any Project Gutenberg™ work, (b) alteration, modification, or -additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg™ work, and (c) any -Defect you cause. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg™ -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Project Gutenberg™ is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of -computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It -exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations -from people in all walks of life. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg™’s -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg™ collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg™ and future -generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see -Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by -U.S. federal laws and your state’s laws. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -The Foundation’s business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, -Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up -to date contact information can be found at the Foundation’s website -and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact -</div> - -<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Project Gutenberg™ depends upon and cannot survive without widespread -public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state -visit <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/donate/">www.gutenberg.org/donate</a>. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To -donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate -</div> - -<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg™ electronic works -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project -Gutenberg™ concept of a library of electronic works that could be -freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and -distributed Project Gutenberg™ eBooks with only a loose network of -volunteer support. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Project Gutenberg™ eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in -the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not -necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper -edition. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Most people start at our website which has the main PG search -facility: <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -This website includes information about Project Gutenberg™, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. -</div> - -</div> - -</body> -</html> diff --git a/old/65044-h/images/img-035.jpg b/old/65044-h/images/img-035.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 20118b8..0000000 --- a/old/65044-h/images/img-035.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/65044-h/images/img-119.jpg b/old/65044-h/images/img-119.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index bd2eecf..0000000 --- a/old/65044-h/images/img-119.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/65044-h/images/img-127.jpg b/old/65044-h/images/img-127.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 5b01969..0000000 --- a/old/65044-h/images/img-127.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/65044-h/images/img-141.jpg b/old/65044-h/images/img-141.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index a3fa926..0000000 --- a/old/65044-h/images/img-141.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/65044-h/images/img-144.jpg b/old/65044-h/images/img-144.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index f9eee8d..0000000 --- a/old/65044-h/images/img-144.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/65044-h/images/img-181.jpg b/old/65044-h/images/img-181.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 722a7be..0000000 --- a/old/65044-h/images/img-181.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/65044-h/images/img-225.jpg b/old/65044-h/images/img-225.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 36e559b..0000000 --- a/old/65044-h/images/img-225.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/65044-h/images/img-239.jpg b/old/65044-h/images/img-239.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index cb222e7..0000000 --- a/old/65044-h/images/img-239.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/65044-h/images/img-257.jpg b/old/65044-h/images/img-257.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 0a3ee13..0000000 --- a/old/65044-h/images/img-257.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/65044-h/images/img-265.jpg b/old/65044-h/images/img-265.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 8d0dc34..0000000 --- a/old/65044-h/images/img-265.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/65044-h/images/img-277.jpg b/old/65044-h/images/img-277.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index d8ef1fe..0000000 --- a/old/65044-h/images/img-277.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/65044-h/images/img-296.jpg b/old/65044-h/images/img-296.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 1dcd2ca..0000000 --- a/old/65044-h/images/img-296.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/65044-h/images/img-cover.jpg b/old/65044-h/images/img-cover.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index d88b3fe..0000000 --- a/old/65044-h/images/img-cover.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/65044-h/images/img-xii.jpg b/old/65044-h/images/img-xii.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index c8c966c..0000000 --- a/old/65044-h/images/img-xii.jpg +++ /dev/null |
