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| author | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-01-23 03:51:46 -0800 |
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| committer | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-01-23 03:51:46 -0800 |
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diff --git a/old/65045-h/65045-h.htm b/old/65045-h/65045-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 316c896..0000000 --- a/old/65045-h/65045-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,14747 +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, 1917, -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.contents {text-indent: -5% ; - font-size: 85%; - margin-left: 5% ; - margin-right: 0% } - -p.letter {text-indent: 0%; - margin-left: 10% ; - margin-right: 10% } - -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.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 1917, 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 1917</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 #65045]</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 1917 ***</div> - -<h1> -<br /><br /> - THE BRITISH CAMPAIGN<br /> -<br /> - IN FRANCE AND FLANDERS<br /> -<br /> - 1917<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 /> - MCMXIX<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<br /> - AND FLANDERS<br /> - 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<br /> - AND FLANDERS<br /> - 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><br /></p> - -<p class="noindent"> - THE BRITISH CAMPAIGN IN FRANCE<br /> - AND FLANDERS<br /> - 1916<br /> -</p> - -<p class="noindent"> - JANUARY TO JULY 1916.<br /> - THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME.<br /> - THE GAINING OF THE THIEPVAL RIDGE.<br /> - THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME.<br /> - THE BATTLE OF THE ANCRE.<br /> -</p> - -<p class="noindent"> - With Maps, Plans, and Diagrams.<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> -This, the fourth volume of <i>The British Campaign in -France and Flanders</i>, carries the story through the -long and arduous fighting of 1917, which culminated -in the dramatic twofold battle of Cambrai. These -events are cut deep into the permanent history of -the world, and we are still too near it to read the -whole of that massive and tremendous inscription. -It is certain, however, that this year marked the -period in which the Allies gained a definite military -ascendancy over the German forces, in spite of the -one great subsequent rally which had its source in -events which were beyond the control of the Western -powers. So long as ink darkens and paper holds, -our descendants, whose freedom has been won by -these exertions, will dwell earnestly and with reverence -upon the stories of Arras, Messines, Ypres, Cambrai, -and other phases of this epic period. -</p> - -<p> -I may be permitted to record with some thankfulness -and relief, that in the course of three thick -volumes, in which for the first time the detailed battle-line -of these great encounters has been set out, it has -not yet been shown that a brigade has ever been -out of its place, and even a battalion has seldom -gone amiss. Such good fortune cannot last for ever. -<i>Absit omen!</i> But the fact is worth recording, as it -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="Pvi"></a>vi}</span> -may reassure the reader who has natural doubts -whether history which is so recent can also lay claim -to be of any permanent value. -</p> - -<p> -The Censorship has left me untrammelled in the -matter of units, for which I am sufficiently grateful. -The ruling, however, upon the question of names -must be explained, lest it should seem that their -appearance or suppression is due to lack of knowledge -or to individual favour or caprice. I would explain, -then, that I am permitted to use the names of Army -and Corps Commanders, but only of such divisional -Generals as are mentioned in the Headquarters -narrative. All other ranks below divisional Generals -are still suppressed, save only casualties, in connection -with the action where they received the injury, and -those who won honours, with the same limitation. -This regulation has little effect upon the accuracy of -the narrative, but it appears in many cases to involve -some personal injustice. To record the heroic deeds -of a division and yet be compelled to leave out the -name of the man who made it so efficient, is painful -to the feelings of the writer, for if any one fact is -clearer than another in this war it is that the good -leader makes the good unit. -</p> - -<p> -The tremendous epic of 1918 will call for two -volumes in its treatment. One of these, bringing the -story up to June 30, 1918, is already completed, and -should appear by the summer. The other may be -ready at the end of the year. -</p> - -<p class="noindent"> -ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE. -</p> - -<p class="noindent"> - CROWBOROUGH,<br /> - <i>January</i> 20, 1919.<br /> -</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"> -THE GERMAN RETREAT UPON THE ARRAS-SOISSONS FRONT -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -Hindenburg's retreat—The advance of the Fifth and Fourth -Armies—Capture of Bapaume and Peronne—Atrocious devastation by the -Germans—Capture of guns at Selency—Definition of the -Hindenburg Line—General survey -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="t3"> -<a href="#chap02">CHAPTER II</a> -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -THE BATTLE OF ARRAS -</p> - -<p> -April 9 to April 23, 1917. -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -Vast preparations—Attack of Snow's Seventh Corps—The Ibex -Trench—Attack of Haldane's Sixth Corps—Attack of Fergusson's -Seventeenth Corps—A Scottish Front—The splendid Canadians—Capture -of Mouchy—Essex and Newfoundland—A glorious episode—The -Chemical Works—Extension of the battle to the north—Desperate -fight of the Australians at Bullecourt -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="t3"> -<a href="#chap03">CHAPTER III</a> -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -OPERATIONS IN THE ARRAS SECTOR FROM APRIL 23 ONWARDS -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -Advance of April 23—Middlesex and Argyll—Grand fighting of the -Fifteenth Division—H.A.C. at Gavrelle—Operations of May 3—The -Gavrelle Windmill—Loss of Fresnoy—Capture of Rœux—The -long fight at Bullecourt -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="t3"> -<a href="#chap04">CHAPTER IV</a> -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -THE BATTLE OF MESSINES -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -Plumer's long vigil—The great mines—Advance of Australians—Of New -Zealanders—Of the Twenty-fifth Division—Of the Irish -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="Pviii"></a>viii}</span> -Divisions—Death of Major Redmond—Advance of Nineteenth Division—Of -the Forty-first Division—Of the Forty-seventh Division—Of the -Twenty-fourth Division—General results -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="t3"> -<a href="#chap05">CHAPTER V</a> -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -OPERATIONS FROM JUNE 10 TO JULY 31 -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -Fighting round Lens—Good work of Canadians and Forty-sixth -Division—Action on the Yser canal—Great fight and eventual annihilation -of 2nd K.R.R. and 1st Northampton—An awful ordeal—Exit Russia -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="t3"> -<a href="#chap06">CHAPTER VI</a> -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -THE THIRD BATTLE OF YPRES -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -July 31, 1917 -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -Attack of July 31—Advance of the Guards—Of the Welsh—Capture of -Pilkem—Capture of St. Julien by Thirty-ninth Division—Advance -of Fifty-fifth Division—Advance of Jacob's Second Corps—General -results -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="t3"> -<a href="#chap07">CHAPTER VII</a> -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -THE THIRD BATTLE OF YPRES -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -August 1 to September 6 -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -Dreadful weather—German reaction—Attack of August 16—Advance of -Cavan's Corps—Capture of Langemarck—Dreadful losses of the two -Irish Divisions—Failure in the south—Splendid field-gunners—The -Forty-second Division upon September 6 -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="t3"> -<a href="#chap08">CHAPTER VIII</a> -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -THE THIRD BATTLE OF YPRES -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -September 6 to October 3, 1917 -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -Engagement of Plumer's Second Army—Attack of September 20—Fine -advance of Fifty-fifth Division—Advance of the Ninth -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="Pix"></a>ix}</span> -Division—Of the Australians—Strong counter-attack upon the Thirty-third -Division—Renewed advance on September 20—Continued -rain—Desperate fighting -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="t3"> -<a href="#chap09">CHAPTER IX</a> -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -THE THIRD BATTLE OF YPRES -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -October 4 to November 10, 1917 -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -Attack of October 4—Further advance of the British line—Splendid -advance of second-line Territorials—Good work of H.A.C. at -Reutel—Abortive action of October 12—Action of October 26—Heavy -losses at the south end of the line—Fine fighting by the Canadian -Corps—Capture of Paschendaale—General results of third battle -of Ypres -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="t3"> -<a href="#chap10">CHAPTER X</a> -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -THE BATTLE OF CAMBRAI -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -First phase, November 20—Tanks <i>en masse</i>—Attack on the Tunnel -Trench—Byng's great advance—Fine work of the Sixty-second -Division—Hard fighting of Pulteney's Third Corps—Exploit of Fort -Garry Horse—Second day of battle—Rally of Germans—Capture -of Bourlon Wood by Fortieth Division—Attack by the Guards -on La Fontaine -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="t3"> -<a href="#chap11">CHAPTER XI</a> -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -THE BATTLE OF CAMBRAI. -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -Second phase of battle on November 30—Great German attack—Disaster -to three divisions—Desperate fight of Twenty-ninth Division—Fine -advance by the Guards—Capture and recapture of Gouzeaucourt—Hard -battle in the Bourlon Sector—Heavy losses of the -Germans—Retraction of the British line -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="noindent"> -<a href="#chap12">INDEX</a> -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="Pxi"></a>xi}</span> -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -MAPS AND PLANS -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="contents"> -<a href="#img-008">Fighting Line, February 24, 1917, and Fighting Line, -March 1, 1917</a> -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -<a href="#img-039">The Arras Front</a> -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -<a href="#img-063">Chart of Order of Battle, Arras, April 9, 1917</a> -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -<a href="#img-111">Order of Battle, Messines, June 7, 1917</a> -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -<a href="#img-165">Line of Battle, August 16, 1917</a> -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -<a href="#img-178">The Ypres Front</a> -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -<a href="#img-201">Third Ypres Battle, September 26</a> -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -<a href="#img-207">Order of Battle, October 4, 1917</a> -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -<a href="#img-239">Fighting Line, November 20, 1917</a> -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -<a href="#img-259">Battle Line of Third Army, November 20, 1917</a> -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -<a href="#img-269">Fighting Line, November 30, 1917</a> -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -<a href="#img-281">Battle Order of Third Army, November 30, 1917</a> -</p> - -<p class="contents"> -Map to illustrate the British Campaign in France and Flanders<br /> -[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><a id="chap01"></a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P1"></a>1}</span></p> - -<h3> -CHAPTER I -<br /><br /> -THE GERMAN RETREAT UPON THE ARRAS-SOISSONS FRONT -</h3> - -<p class="intro"> -Hindenburg's retreat—The advance of the Fifth and Fourth -Armies—Capture of Bapaume and Peronne—Atrocious devastation by the -Germans—Capture of guns at Selency—Definition of the -Hindenburg Line—General survey. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -In the latter days of 1916 and the beginning of 1917, -the British Army, which had in little more than two -years expanded from seven divisions to over fifty, -took over an increased line. The movement began -about Christmas time, and early in the New Year -Rawlinson's Fourth Army, side-stepping always to -the south, had covered the whole of the French -position occupied during the Somme fighting, had -crossed the Somme, and had established its right -flank at a point near Roye. The total front was -increased to 120 miles, which may seem a small -proportion as compared to the whole. In making -such a comparison, however, one must bear in mind -the difference in the effort of sustaining an army in -one's own country and in a foreign land with all -communications by water. The task of the British -was continually made more difficult by the precarious -nature of their connection with their base. Dulness -of vision may be as dangerous to a nation as treason, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P2"></a>2}</span> -and no enemies could have harmed the country more -than those perfectly sincere and patriotic individuals -who had for so long opposed the construction of -a Channel tunnel. -</p> - -<p> -The general disposition of the British forces after -this prolongation to the south was as follows. Plumer's -Second Army still held that post of danger and of -honour which centred round the Ypres salient. -South of Plumer, in the Armentières district, was the -First Army, now commanded by General Horne, whose -long service with the Fifteenth Corps during the -Somme Battle had earned him this high promotion. -Allenby's Third Army carried the line onwards to the -south of Arras. From the point upon which the -British line had hinged during the Somme operations -Gough's Fifth Army took over the front, and -this joined on to Rawlinson's Fourth Army near -the old French position. From the north then -the order of the armies was two, one, three, five, -and four. -</p> - -<p> -The winter was spent by both sides in licking their -wounds after the recent severe fighting and in -preparing for the greater fighting to come. These -preparations upon the part of the British consisted -in the addition to the army of a number of fresh -divisions, and the rebuilding of those divisions, -fifty-two in number, which had taken part in the Somme -fighting, most of them more than once. As the -average loss in these divisions was very heavy indeed, -the task of reconstructing them was no light one. -None the less before the campaign re-opened, though -the interval was a short three months, the greater -part of the battalions were once again at full strength, -while the guns and munitions were very greatly -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P3"></a>3}</span> -increased. A considerable addition to the strength of the -army was effected by the civilian railway advisers, -under Sir Eric Geddes, who by the simple expedient -of pulling up their own lines at home, and relaying -them in France, enormously improved the -communications of the army. -</p> - -<p> -In the case of the Germans their army changes -took the form of a considerable new levy from those -classes which had been previously judged to be unfit, -and a general comb-out of every source from which -men could be extracted. A new law rendered every -citizen liable to national service in a civilian capacity, -and so released a number of men from the mines and -the factories. They also increased the numbers of -their divisions by the doubtful expedient of reducing -the brigades, so that the divisions were shorn of a -third of their strength. The battalions thus obtained -were formed into new divisions. In this way it was -calculated that a reserve force had been created -which would be suddenly thrown in on one or the -other front with dramatic effect. Some such plan -may have been in contemplation, but as a matter -of fact the course of events was such that the -German generals required every man and more for -their own immediate needs during the whole of -the year. -</p> - -<p> -It has been shown in the narrative of 1916 how -the British had ended the campaign of that year by -the brilliant little victory of Beaumont Hamel, which -gave them not merely 7000 prisoners, but command -of both sides of the Valley of the Ancre. This victory -had been the sequel to the capture of the Thiepval -Ridge, and this again had depended upon the general -success of the Somme operations, so that the turn of -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P4"></a>4}</span> -events which led to such considerable results always -traces back to the tragic and glorious 1st of July. -It was clear that whenever the weather permitted -the resumption of hostilities, Sir Douglas Haig was -in so commanding a position at this point that he -was perfectly certain to drive the enemy out of the -salient which they held to the north of Beaumont -Hamel. The result showed that this expectation was -well founded, but no one could have foreseen how -considerable was the retreat which would be forced -upon the enemy—a retreat which gave away for -nothing the ground which cost Hindenburg so much -to regain in the following year. -</p> - -<p> -Although the whole line from the sea to the -Somme was a scene of activity during the winter, -and though hardly a day, or rather a night, went by -that some stealthy party did not cross No-Man's-Land -to capture and to destroy, still for the purposes -of this narrative the three northern armies may be -entirely ignored in the succeeding operations since -they had no occasion to alter their lines. We shall -fix our attention in the first instance upon Gough's -Army in the district of the Ancre, and afterwards -upon Rawlinson's which was drawn into the operations. -Gough's Army consisted, at the beginning of the -year, of three corps, the Fifth (E. A. Fanshawe) to -the left covering the ground to the north of the -Ancre, the Second Corps (Jacob) immediately south -of the river, and the First Australian Corps (Birdwood) -extending to the junction with Rawlinson's Army, -and covering the greater part of the old British line -upon the Somme. It was upon the Fifth and the -Second Corps that the immediate operations which -opened the campaign were to devolve. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P5"></a>5}</span> -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -January -</span> -</p> - -<p> -The Fifth Corps was formed at this period -of three divisions, the Eleventh, Thirty-first, and -Seventh. Each of these divisions by constant pressure -and minor operations, backed by a powerful -artillery fire, played a part in the wearing process of -constant attrition which ended in making the position -of the Germans impossible. On January 10, the -32nd Yorkshire Brigade of the Eleventh Division -carried an important trench due east of Beaumont -Hamel, taking 140 prisoners. On the next day the -movement extended farther north, where three-quarters -of a mile of trench with 200 prisoners was -the prize. On January 17, another 600 yards north -of Beaumont fell into British hands. Of the 1228 -prisoners who were taken in January a considerable -proportion came from this small section of the line, -though the largest single haul consisted of 350 men -who were captured by a brilliant advance of the -Australians in the Le Transloy sector upon January 29. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -February -</span> -</p> - -<p> -The movement along the valley of the Ancre was -continued in February, but at an accelerated pace, -the Second Corps, which consisted of the Sixty-third, -Eighteenth, and Second Divisions, moving in -conformity with Fanshawe's men upon the northern -bank. The chief initiative still rested with the -latter, and upon February 3 another push forward -of 500 yards upon a mile front yielded a hundred -more prisoners, while two sharp counter attacks by -the Germans only served to increase their losses. -A number of small spurs run down to the river -upon the northern bank, and each of these -successive advances represented some fresh ridge -surmounted. Upon February 6 the Second Corps was -moving upon Beaucourt, which is to the immediate -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P6"></a>6}</span> -south of the river, and upon the 7th the village was -evacuated—the first of that goodly list which was to -adorn the official communiqués during the next -two months. On the 9th the advance crept -onwards upon both banks, gathering up a hundred -prisoners, while eighty more were taken in -Baillescourt Farm upon the north bank. These -men were Hamburgers of the 85th Regiment. -Upon February 10 the left of the Fifth Corps began -to feel out towards Serre, that village of sinister -memories, and 215 prisoners were taken from the -trenches to the south of the hamlet. This provoked -a new counter from the enemy which was beaten back -upon February 12. A period of impossible weather -suspended the advance, but again upon February 17 -the British tide swelled suddenly into a wave which -swept forward on either bank, engulfing some crowded -trenches north of Baillescourt Farm, which yielded -12 officers and 761 men of the 65th, 75th, and 395th -Prussians. The main success was gained by the -Sixty-third Division upon the left of the Second -Corps, but it was aided by the work of the Eighteenth -and Second Divisions to the south of the Ancre. -The latter met with strong resistance and had -considerable losses. The burden of this work fell chiefly -upon the 99th and 54th Brigades, both of which -reached their objectives in the face of mist, darkness, -uncut wire, heavy fire, and vigorous resistance. This -blow stung the enemy into a sharp reaction, and -three waves of infantry stormed up to the lost -position, which for a time they entered, but were -again beaten out of. During their temporary success -they claim to have taken 130 prisoners. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -February -</span> -</p> - -<p> -All these advances, with their accompanying and -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P7"></a>7}</span> -ever-extending bombardments, had been like those -multiplied causes, each small in itself, which eventually -loosen and start a great landslide. The effect must -undoubtedly have been begun some weeks before -when the Germans perceived that they could no -longer hold on, and favoured by wind, rain, and fog, -started their rearward movement to the great -permanent second line, the exact position of which was -still vague to the Allies. Upon February 25 the -whole German front caved in for a depth of three -miles both north and south of the Ancre. Wading -through seas of mud Gough's infantry occupied Serre, -Pys, Miraumont, Eaucourt, Warlencourt, and all the -ground for eleven miles from Gomiecourt in the -north to Gueudecourt in the south. On February 28 -Gomiecourt itself had been occupied by the North -Country troops of the Thirty-first Division, while -Puisieux and Thilloy had also been added to the -British line. The advance was not unopposed. The -battle-patrols continually extended to attack some -trench of snipers or nest of machine-guns. Mined -roads and all manner of obstructions impeded the -onward flow of the army. The retreat was orderly -and skilful, and the pursuit was necessarily slow and -wary. By a pleasing coincidence the Thirty-first -Division, which occupied Serre, was the same brave -North Country Division which had lost so heavily -upon July 1 and November 13 on the same front. -On entering the village they actually found the -bodies of some of their own brave comrades who had -got as far forward seven months before. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -March -</span> -</p> - -<p> -On March 4 the advance which had steadily -continued in the north spread suddenly southwards to -Bouchavesnes north of Peronne, the sector held -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P8"></a>8}</span> -by the Twentieth and Forty-eighth Divisions of -Rawlinson's Army, which from this time onward was -more and more engaged in the forward movement. -Three machine-guns and 172 prisoners were taken. -There was some interruption of the operations at this -stage owing to severe snowstorms, but upon March 10 -Tries, west of Bapaume, was taken by assault by the -Eighteenth Division. This was a formidable point, -well wired and trenched, so that the artillery in full -force was needed for preparation. The infantry went -forward before sunrise, and within an hour the village -with 15 machine-guns and 290 prisoners was in British -hands. The losses were light and the gain substantial. -Grevillers also fell next day. This advance in front -of Bapaume was of importance as it turned Loupart -Wood, forming part of a strong defensive line -which might have marked the limit of the German -retreat. It was clear from that day onwards that -the movement was not local but far reaching. The -enemy was still too strong to be hustled, however, -especially upon the northern sector of the operations, -where Jacob's Second Corps was feeling the German -line along its whole front. An attempt at an advance -at Bucquoy upon the night of March 13, carried -out by the 137th Brigade of the Forty-sixth -North Midland Division, met with a check, though -most bravely attempted. The two battalions -concerned, the 5th South Staffords and 5th North -Staffords, found themselves entangled in the darkness -amid uncut wire and suffered considerable loss before -they could extricate themselves from an impossible -position. -</p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-008"></a> -<br /> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-008.jpg" alt="Fighting Line, February 24, 1917, and Fighting Line, March 1, 1917" /> -<br /> -Fighting Line, February 24, 1917, and Fighting Line, March 1, 1917 -</p> - -<p> -On March 19 and 20 the whole movement had -become much more pronounced, and the French as -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P9"></a>9}</span> -well as the British were moving over a seventy-mile -front, extending from Arras in the north to Soissons -in the south. Each day now was a day of joy in -France as some new strip of the fatherland was for a -time recovered, but the joy was tempered by sorrow -and anger as it was learned with what barbarity the -Germans had conducted their retreat. To lay a -country waste is no new thing in warfare. It has -always been held to be an occasional military necessity -though the best commander was he who used it least. -In all Napoleon's career it is difficult to recall -an instance when he devastated a district. At the -same time it must be admitted that it comes within -the recognised chances of war, and that when Sherman's -army, for example, left a black weal across the -South the pity of mankind was stirred but not its -conscience. It was very different here. These devils—or -to be more just—these devil-driven slaves, with a -malignity for which it would be hard to find a parallel, -endeavoured by every means at their command to -ruin the country for the future as well as for the -present. Buildings were universally destroyed, -including in many cases the parish churches. Historical -monuments, such as the venerable Castle of Coucy, -were blown to pieces. Family vaults were violated -and the graves profaned. The furniture of the most -humble peasants was systematically broken. The -wells were poisoned and polluted. Worst of all, the -young fruit-trees were ringed so as to destroy them for -future seasons. It was considered the last possibility -of savagery when the Mahdi's men cut down the -slow-growing palm-trees in the district of Dongola, but -every record upon earth has been swept away by the -barbarians of Europe. As usual these outrages -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P10"></a>10}</span> -reacted upon the criminals, for they confirmed those -grim resolutions of the Allies which made that peace -by compromise for which the Germans were eternally -working an absolute impossibility. Their Clausewitz -had taught them that it is of supreme importance to -make peace before there comes a turn of the tide, but -he had not reckoned upon his descendants being so -brutalised that a peace with them was a self-evident -impossibility. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -March -</span> -</p> - -<p> -Turning from the deeds of savages to those of -soldiers, we have now to trace the progress and scope -of the great German retreat, the first pronounced -movement upon either side on the Western Front -since September 1914. From Arras to Roye the -British Army was advancing while the movement was -carried on to Soissons by the French. On the curve -of the trenches the front measured more than a -hundred miles. So close was the touch between the -two Allied armies that the patrols of French and -British cavalry rode together into Nesle. On March -18 the Australians had occupied Bapaume, with the -Seventh Division moving upon their left and the -Twentieth upon their right, the cavalry fringe being -formed of the Indian Lucknow Cavalry Brigade of -the Fourth Division. To the south the Warwick -Brigade of the Forty-eighth South Midland Division -passed through Peromie. At each end of the long -curve the Germans held fast, Arras in the north and -Soissons in the south being the two fixed points, but -the country between, to a depth of ten miles in the -British sector and of thirty miles in the French, was -rapidly overrun by the Allies, the cavalry patrols -feeling their way everywhere while the infantry -followed hard upon the heels of the horses. Guns and -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P11"></a>11}</span> -munitions had been successfully removed by the -Germans but incredible quantities of barbed wire and -other defensive material had been abandoned in their -positions. Towards the end of March the left of the -French and the right of the British were in touch in -the immediate front of St. Quentin. There had been -scattered fighting all along the line, and the resistance -thickened each day, so that it was evident that the -final German position had been nearly reached. On -March 24 the Australians had a sharp fight at -Beaumetz between Bapaume and Cambrai. The village -was taken, lost, and retaken with considerable loss -upon both sides. It was clear that in this quarter a -definite German line had been approached. Similar -reports soon came in from Croisilles, from Lagnicourt, -from Ronssoy, from Jeancourt, and all along from -Arras to St. Quentin. So gradually the famous -Hindenburg line defined itself, and the Allied Generals -became more clearly aware of the exact nature and -extent of this new German position. Early in April, -by pushing up to it and brushing aside the advanced -forces which screened it, its outlines were more -clearly mapped. This process of definition led to -more serious fighting, the worst of which, as will -presently be shown, fell upon the Australians at -Bullecourt, some ten miles from the Arras end of the -new line. Some foretaste, however, of the considerable -resistance which they were about to meet with -in their section was encountered by the Australians -at Noreuil on April 2. The brunt of the attack upon -the village was borne by the South Australians, who -behaved with great gallantry, having to rush a difficult -position intersected by sunken roads. A small body -of the stormers, some sixty in number, were cut off -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P12"></a>12}</span> -and overwhelmed, but the main body captured the -village, taking 137 German prisoners. Among other -brisk skirmishes occurring at the beginning of April -was one at Epehy, fifteen miles north of St. Quentin, -where the 144th Brigade of the Forty-eighth South -Midland Division cleared the hamlet and sugar -factory of St. Emilie. In this operation, which was -carried out chiefly by the 4th Gloucesters, 5 officers -and 80 men fell, but the German loss was considerable. -A few days later the 145th Brigade of the -same division distinguished itself by the capture after -sharp fighting of Ronssoy and of Lempire, the -first village being carried by the 4th Berks and the -latter by the 5th Gloucesters. This brought the -British line in that quarter up to the final German -position. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -April -</span> -</p> - -<p> -Some sharp fighting had also taken place at Savy -and Selency to the immediate west and north-west of -St. Quentin, upon the front of the Thirty-second -Division, which, together with the Thirty-fifth and -Sixty-first, had been pressing the German line. On -the morning of April 2 the 14th Brigade of this -division was ordered to attack Selency. On the -two previous days the village of Savy had been -taken, and a strong attack made upon the Bois de -Savy by the 96th and 97th Brigades. The advance -of April 2 was at early dawn and the veteran -2nd Manchester Battalion was in the lead. The -whole operation was conducted under heavy -machine-gun fire, but by swift movement and a -judicious use of the ground the losses were -minimised. Whilst the Lancashire men made direct -for the village the 15th Highland Light Infantry -kept pace with them upon their right flank. A -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P13"></a>13}</span> -battery of six German field-guns opened fire in -the very faces of the stormers, but C Company -of the Manchesters, with admirable steadiness and -presence of mind, swerved to each side and rushed the -guns from the flank, capturing them all. The attack -was at 5 A.M., and by 6.30 the whole objective had been -captured. No further advance was possible as the -front line was already close to St. Quentin, which was -a German stronghold. The position at the end of the -action was that the village was in the hands of the -British but that the six guns with their caissons were -in the open where the Germans could cover them with -their fire. The victors were determined to have their -trophies, and their enemy was no less eager to make it -impossible. The moment that darkness had fallen -a party of Manchesters, under the lead of Lieut. Thomas, -the adjutant, and Lieut. Ward of the 161st -R.F.A., endeavoured to man-handle the guns into -the British lines, but directly they began to haul so -sharp a fire of shrapnel was opened at a range of -800 yards that they were compelled to desist. A -covering party of the 15th Highland Light Infantry -lay round the guns till dawn, and during the day they -remained safe under the rifles of the infantry. At -eight o'clock on April 3 a further attempt to bring -them in was made by Major Lumsden of the Staff, with -Lieutenants Ward and Lomax of the gunners. Horse -teams were brought down, and amid a terrific barrage -the gun wheels began at last to revolve. Maddened -by the sight seen under the glare of their star shells, -the German infantry surged forward and for a time -were all round the Highlanders who still guarded the -guns. One small party of Germans dashed in upon -the guns with a charge of dynamite and managed to -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P14"></a>14}</span> -blow in the breech of one of them. They were driven -off, however, and the six guns were all brought in, -while upon April 4 the six artillery caissons were also -salved. So ended a most satisfactory little operation -for which Major Lumsden received a Victoria Cross -and later the command of a brigade, while the other -officers were decorated. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -April -</span> -</p> - -<p> -On April 2 in the north of the new line, near -the spot where very great things were pending, -Snow's Seventh Corps had taken Henin and Croisilles, -with the aid of the Fifth Army upon their right. -It was a small operation in itself, but it was preparing -the jumping-off place for the great battle of April 9. -There was continued bickering along the line where the -British were pushing in the German outliers. In -this work the Thirty-fifth Division in the Epehy -district distinguished itself greatly during the early -summer. One attack upon a hill held by the Germans -and carried by the 15th Chesters and 15th Sherwoods -of the 105th Brigade was particularly brilliant. In -addition, upon April 4, the village of Metz with -the adjoining position was taken after a sharp fight -by the 59th Brigade of the Twentieth Division. The -10th and 11th K.R.R. were the battalions chiefly -engaged in this fight, which at one time had an -ugly aspect, as the Germans slipped into a gap -between the Twentieth on the left and the Eighth -Division on the right. They were cleared out, however, -and the line was advanced beyond the village to -the right of the Australians. -</p> - -<p> -A more serious action was that which began upon -April 13, when the Thirty-second Division was -ordered to support the left of the French in their -unsuccessful attack upon St. Quentin. The task -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P15"></a>15}</span> -assigned to the British division, with the Thirty-fifth -Division co-operating upon its left, was to attack -the village of Fayet. This was carried out very -gallantly by the 97th Brigade, with the 2nd York -Light Infantry and the 16th Highland Light Infantry -in the lead. The village with 100 prisoners was -taken at the first rush, but it was found to be more -difficult to get possession of a wood called the Twin -Copses, beyond the village. So severe was the -fighting that the General of the 97th Brigade had -seven battalions under his command before it was -finished. Finally, the Twin Copses were splendidly -carried by the 11th Borders. The total of prisoners -came to 5 officers and 334 men in this very spirited -operation. -</p> - -<p> -With the conclusion of the German retreat and -the solidification of the new line, some more general -view may be taken of the whole operation. It cannot -be denied that it was cleverly planned and deftly -carried out, though it can hardly be said to have -deserved the ecstasies of admiration which were -bestowed upon it by the German Press. It was not, -for example, as formidable an operation as the British -withdrawal from Gallipoli, an extraordinarily clever -manoeuvre which received less than its fair share of -recognition at home, because it was associated with -the sad ending of high hopes. It was also universally -taken for granted in Germany that Hindenburg was -going to "reculer pour mieux sauter" as he had -done once before at Tannenberg, and that some -extraordinary burst of energy at some other point -would soon change the exultation of the Allies into -despair. Nothing of the sort occurred during that -year, and it speedily became evident that the old -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P16"></a>16}</span> -Marshal had simply moved because his lines were -untenable, and because by shortening them he could -make some compensation for the terrific losses of -men at the Somme. That he ever regained the ground -was due only to the subsequent Russian debacle. -</p> - -<p> -We have it upon the authority of Sir Douglas -Haig that the great local retreat of the Germans had -no very great effect in modifying the Allied plans. -Those plans, so far as the British were concerned, -were to make a combined assault from the north and -from the south upon the Ancre salient, Gough -attacking from the south and Allenby from the north. -As the salient had now ceased to exist, the rôle of -Gough was confined to following up the German -retreat until he came to the new Hindenburg line, -which was an obstacle of so formidable a character -that it checked anything short of a very powerful -attack. Allenby's part of the programme was still -feasible, however, and resolved itself into an attack -upon the high ground held by the Germans and their -whole line down to the point where the new positions -began. How Allenby carried out this task, and the -great success which attended his efforts, will be -described in the coming chapters. -</p> - -<p> -Before passing to this and the other great battles -which will make the year 1917 for ever memorable -in our history, it would be well to briefly enumerate -those world events which occurred during these three -months and which directly or indirectly influenced -the operations in France. The French line had -remained stationary save for the forward movement -already described. In Russia the lines had also -remained firm, and there was no outward indication -of the convulsions into which that unhappy country -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P17"></a>17}</span> -was about to be thrown by the revolution which broke -out on March 12 of this year. From Italy also there -was nothing momentous to report. The most cheering -news which reached the Allies was from the British -Eastern lines of battle, where both in the Sinai -Peninsula to the east of Egypt, and in Mesopotamia, good -progress was being made. The Sinai desert had been -practically cleared of that enemy who had advanced -so boastfully to the capture of Egypt, and the British -lines were now upon the green terrain which faces -Gaza upon the frontier of Palestine. The chief -success, however, lay in Mesopotamia. A great -soldier had apparently appeared in the person of -General Maude, whose name may be recalled by the -reader as the Commander of the 14th Brigade upon -the Western front. Leaving his limited activities in -the prosaic trenches of Flanders, he had suddenly -reappeared, moving swiftly along the track of so many -of the old conquerors, and leading his picturesque -force of Britons and Indians against the ancient -capital of Haroun-el-Raschid. In February he had -avenged Townshend by recapturing Kut with more -than 2000 prisoners. Following up his victory with -great speed, he entered Bagdad upon March 11 at -the heels of the defeated Turks, and chased them -north along the line of the German railway, the -constructors of which had never dreamed what -strange stationmaster might instal himself at their -terminus. The approach of a Russian force seemed -to hold out hopes for further combined operations, -but meanwhile the whole of southern Mesopotamia -remained in the hands of the British, and no Turk -was left within forty miles of the ancient capital. -</p> - -<p> -The chief event in Great Britain was the successful -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P18"></a>18}</span> -flotation of the great war loan, which attained -proportions never heard of before, and ended by bringing -in the huge total of one thousand million pounds. -</p> - -<p> -Beyond the usual skirmishes of light craft and -isolated sinkings of warships by mine or submarine, -there was nothing of importance in naval warfare, -but an immense influence was brought to bear -upon the course of the war by the German decision -in February to declare a war zone round the allied -countries, and to torpedo every merchant ship, -whether neutral or hostile, which entered it. The -measure was a counsel either of ignorance or of -despair, for no one who knows the high spirit of the -American people could imagine for a moment that -they would permit their vessels to be destroyed and -their fellow-citizens to be killed in such a manner. -Within two days of the declaration of unlimited -submarine warfare the President of the United States -broke off diplomatic relations with Germany, an act -which was the precursor of war, though this was not -formally declared until April 5. Great as were the -loss, discomfort, and privation caused to Great -Britain, and in a less degree to the other Allies, the -accession of the United States with its enormous -reserves of men and money to the cause of Democracy -was far more than a sufficient make-weight. As -events progressed, and as it became evident that -Russia, swinging from the extreme of autocracy to -the extreme of individualism, had ceased for a long -time to come to be a useful ally, it grew more -and more clear that the help of America was likely -to save the Western Powers, not indeed from defeat, -but from that pernicious stalemate and inconclusive -peace which could only be the precursor of other -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P19"></a>19}</span> -wars to follow. Apart from the vast material help, -the mere thought that the great race which has -inherited our speech and so many of our traditions -was lined up with us upon the day of Armageddon -was a joy and an inspiration to every Briton. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p><a id="chap02"></a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P20"></a>20}</span></p> - -<h3> -CHAPTER II -<br /><br /> -THE BATTLE OF ARRAS -</h3> - -<p class="t3"> -April 9 to April 23, 1917 -</p> - -<p class="intro"> -Vast preparations—Attack of Snow's Seventh Corps—The Ibex -Trench—Attack of Haldane's Sixth Corps—Attack of Fergusson's -Seventeenth Corps—A Scottish Front—The splendid -Canadians—Capture of Monchy—Essex and Newfoundland—A glorious -episode—The Chemical Works—Extension of the battle to the -north—Desperate fight of the Australians at Bullecourt. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -Whilst the German line was falling back to its new -positions, and the Allies were eagerly following it -across the ravished countryside until the increased -resistance and the familiar lines of barbed wire warned -them that the immediate retreat had come to an end, -Sir Douglas Haig had managed, without relaxing his -pursuit, to collect a strong striking force at the point -of junction between the new German line and the -old. The blow which he contemplated was no small -local advance, but was a wide movement extending -from the neighbourhood of Lens in the north -to Arras in the south, a front of more than twelve -miles. Upon this sector a tremendous concentration -of artillery had been effected, and four corps were -waiting the signal for the assault, the three southern -ones forming Allenby's Third Army, while the fourth -or northern one was the right-hand corps of Horne's -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P21"></a>21}</span> -First Army. The southern corps were the Seventh -(Snow), which operated to the south of Arras, having -Croisilles for its southern boundary; the Sixth -(Haldane), which advanced due east from Arras with the -Scarpe for its northern boundary; the Seventeenth -(Fergusson), which had its right on the Scarpe and -its left on Thelus, with its front facing the three spurs -which form this end of the Vimy Ridge; and finally -the Canadian Corps (Byng), which faced this long and -sinister slope, the scene of so much bloodshed in the -past. Each corps was marshalled with three divisions -in front and one in reserve, so that there were roughly -120,000 men in the storming line with 40,000 -advancing behind them. Maxse's Eighteenth Corps -was in reserve in the rear of the Third Army, -while M'Cracken's Thirteenth Corps was behind the -First Army. The Germans had six divisions, the -Eleventh Prussian, Fourteenth Bavarian, First -Bavarian Reserve, and the Seventeenth, Eighteenth, -and Seventy-ninth reserve in the line. Their guns -also were numerous, as subsequent captures were to -prove, but it is probable that an extension of the -Hindenburg retreat was in contemplation, and that -some of the heavy artillery was already on the move. -A second strong line from Drocourt to Queant was -known to exist, and its occupation would form a -natural sequel to the retirement in the south. -</p> - -<p> -The German strategists had imagined that by -withdrawing their troops over a long front they -would throw out of gear all the preparations of the -Allies for the spring offensive. What they actually -did was to save their force in the Gommecourt -peninsula from being cut off, which would surely -have been their fate had they waited. But in the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P22"></a>22}</span> -larger issue they proved to be singularly ill-informed, -for they had stayed their retreat at the very points -of the line on which the offensive had been prepared, -so that the plans of attack were neither modified nor -delayed. That this is true is evident, since such -tremendous blows as Arras in the north and Rheims -in the south could not possibly have been delivered -had the preparations only begun after the Hindenburg -retreat. -</p> - -<p> -One of the most difficult problems of this attack -was how to arrange it upon that section which was -covered by the town of Arras. It is true that the -German line was 1700 yards east of the market-place, -but the suburbs extended right up to it, and -it was fringed with houses. The town itself, in which -the storming troops must assemble and through which -all supports and supplies must pass, was full of narrow -streets within easy range of the German guns, and -previous French experience had proved that each -exit was so carefully and accurately barraged by the -German fire that it was most difficult for the troops -to debouch from it. This problem was solved by a -fine piece of military engineering. The large cellars -and other subterranean excavations with which the -place abounded were connected up and fresh tunnels -constructed, so that it was eventually found to be -possible to put three whole divisions underground, -with permanent headquarters and every necessary -detail, including water, electric light, and a -three-foot tramway. This fine work was carried out by -the New Zealand, the 179th, and the 184th Tunnelling -Companies. A huge dressing-station with 700 -beds was also constructed. In this great underground -place of assembly the greater part of the Sixth -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P23"></a>23}</span> -Corps was assembled, while many of the tunnels -on the south side of the town were allotted to the -use of the Seventh Corps. All this had been carried -out during the winter in the anticipation of a big -attack being made at this point. For purposes of -communication, over 1000 miles of twin cable was -buried in six-foot trenches or secured to the sides of -tunnels. Besides these special preparations, the usual -immense labour of preparing for a modern attack -had been thoroughly carried out along the whole line, -including the construction of very many gun positions, -trench mortar emplacements, dressing-stations, and -innumerable dumps of munitions and engineering -stores. Some dislocation had been caused in the -plans by a partial withdrawal in the enemies' front -trenches upon March 18, opposite the right end of the -British lines. The abandoned works were occupied -and linked up with the old system, so that upon -April 9 all was in order for the assault. The extreme -difficulties caused by the formidable defensive -preparations of the enemy were fully realised, but -everything which human forethought could suggest had -been done to meet them. Above all, two great -lessons taught by the Somme experience had been -thoroughly assimilated; the one that the broader the -attack the more successful it is likely to be, as it -prevents a concentration of the German guns upon -a single area; the other that it is wiser, even in the -heat of battle and the glow of victory, to limit your -objective to an area which is well within the range -of your guns. That last blue line so far forward upon -the map has been the cause of many a rebuff. -</p> - -<p> -The British bombardment, which came in gusts -during the days preceding the attack, did enormous -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P24"></a>24}</span> -damage to the German defences. The evidence of -prisoners showed that for several days they had been -reduced to their emergency rations. The wire, which -in places was a hundred yards thick, was mostly -destroyed in the first line, and greatly damaged in -the second, though in the third it was found to be -largely intact, save upon the left of the line. The -space between the first and second German lines was -roughly 500 yards. Between the second and third it -was about 3000. The usual forms of bombardment -were varied upon April 4 by the use of a large number -of Liven's gas projectors, throwing drums of -compressed gas, which were seen to burst in the second -German line. Fifteen hundred of these were -discharged upon the front of a single corps, and they -were said to have considerable effect, the reports of -prisoners stating that in the suburb of Blangy alone -there were 460 casualties from this cause. On April 8 -there was a severe gas bombardment from 4-inch -trench mortars. Finally, in the early morning of -April 9, came the fearful whirlwind of fire which -was the prelude to the attack. Some idea of its -intensity may be gathered from the fact that the -number of guns was so great that they could have -rubbed wheels from end to end of the line had they -been so placed. At 5.30 the word was given, and in -the first dim grey of a rainy, windy, and sleety -morning, the infantry dashed forward to the -attack—"wave after wave of grimy, mud-covered, determined -men, with hearts as hard as steel and as light as -feathers," to use the words of one of them. The -events may best be described from the south of the -line as being the nearest to Arras from which the -battle derives its name. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P25"></a>25}</span> -</p> - -<p> -Snow's Seventh Corps had the Twenty-first North -Country Division upon the extreme right, the -Thirtieth Lancashire Division in the centre, the -Fifty-sixth London on their left, and the Fourteenth -Light Division upon the extreme northern wing. -The soldiers, soaked to the skin, with the rain beating -upon their backs, and their feet ankle-deep in the mud, -set about their task in a calm, businesslike fashion -which would take no denial. No village or notable -fixed points lay in their path, but they plodded -without a check or halt over the first two lines of -entrenchments, finding no very strong resistance, save at -one point upon the left of their line, and suffering -little loss from the German artillery. Considerable -numbers of the enemy were found scattered in their -shattered trenches or cowering in the dug-outs. Over -a thousand of these were sent to the rear. The -advance was at the point where the new German line -branched away from the old one, the Twenty-first -Division on the right joining the left of Gough's Army -in the neighbourhood of the Cojeul River, while the -Fourteenth Division was in touch with the Third -Division on the north. -</p> - -<p> -The immediate objectives of the various divisions -of this Seventh Corps were Telegraph Hill in the north -opposite to the Fourteenth Division, Neuville Vitasse -opposite to the Fifty-sixth Division, St. Martin-sur-Cojeul -opposite the Thirtieth Division, and the -Hindenburg line opposite the Twenty-first Division. -Taking them in turn from the south, we shall first -follow the fortunes of the north countrymen of -Campbell's Division. This division upon the first -day was not expected to do more than make a strong -demonstration, because both it, and to a less extent -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P26"></a>26}</span> -the division upon its left, had in front of it sheets of -uncut wire and all the devilries of the fixed German -line. The object, therefore, was that they should -make a holding attack in the hope that the northern -divisions of the corps should get well forward to the -east, and then swing to the south in such a way as -to make the German position untenable. This was -eventually done, and a way was cleared so that the -two divisions in the south should be able to advance -with the remainder of the line. The whole operation -of the Seventh Corps has to be continually judged -by the fact that they were on the edge of the -abandoned area, and that therefore their southern -front bulged out to the east in a way which brought -the successive divisions almost into an echelon -formation. -</p> - -<p> -On the left of the Twenty-first Division were the -Lancashire pals of the Thirtieth Division. Upon -April 8 they had made a good start, as the 2nd Bedfords -carried the village of St. Martin, an outlier of -the Hindenburg line, but on the same date the 21st -Brigade was held up in an attempt to advance upon -the left. They advanced on April 9 with the 21st -Brigade upon the left and the 90th upon the right. -The first dash behind a splendid barrage was most -successful, but the 21st Brigade, after passing the front -German lines, ran into uncut wire and was held, the -18th Liverpools suffering severely. The brigade upon -the right managed, however, to get forward for some -distance, but it also was faced by uncut wire, and -was compelled to dig in as best it could. The attack -was renewed two days later with the aid of four tanks, -but the wire still held, though the devoted infantry -tried again and again. Finally, however, the Fifty-sixth -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P27"></a>27}</span> -Division having cleared its own front sent the -Victoria Rifles bombing down the front of the Thirtieth -Division, who in turn cleared the front of the Twenty-first -Division on their right, and so by the evening -April 11 the line was finally advanced. The clearing -of the front of the Twenty-first was done by the -18th Manchesters, who, unsupported, bombed their -way down 1700 yards of Hindenburg line, a very -notable achievement. -</p> - -<p> -To Hull's Fifty-sixth Division, the next upon the -north, was assigned the capture of Neuville Vitasse -and the strong works which surrounded it. The -advance was carried out at 7.45—the zero time was -earlier as it travelled up the line—and was led by -the 167th Brigade upon the right and by the 168th -Brigade upon the left, while the 169th were in -support. "The bombardment and the covering fire -were magnificent," says one who marched in the ranks; -"I almost felt sorry for the poor old Hun, only, after -all, he is such a Hun." The chief fighting was on -the right, where the 3rd London and 8th Middlesex -stormed the main portion of the village. At 10.30 -all the eastern edge had been secured, and the -1st London moved forward to take the Cojeul Switch -line. Unfortunately, they struck up against uncut -wire and a very heavy belt of fire. Colonel Smith, the -commanding officer, and the great majority of the -other officers were killed or wounded, and the advance -was brought to a stand. The 18th Liverpools of the -21st Brigade upon the right had also been halted by -the uncut wire. The colonel of the 7th Middlesex -took command of this difficult situation so far as it -affected the advance of his brigade, and threw his -battalion in to strengthen the 1st Londons, so that -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P28"></a>28}</span> -together they captured the Cojeul Switch Trench. -The Londoners were then well ahead of the Liverpool -men upon their right, so the 1st London threw back -a defensive flank while the 7th Middlesex stormed -forward against the powerful Ibex Trench. Three -separate attempts were made, much impeded by the -deep mud, and all ending in failure, so that darkness -fell before the task had been accomplished, but with -true British tenacity, at 3 A.M., in the darkest hour -before dawn, the Middlesex men tried once more and -carried Ibex, taking a number of prisoners. The -168th Brigade had with varying fortunes kept pace -upon the left, and in the early morning the London -Scottish on its right were in touch with Ibex Trench. -The position of the 167th was still dangerous upon -the flank, as it was always ahead of its southern -neighbours, so that instead of advancing eastwards, -the colonel of the Middlesex now turned south, his -depleted ranks being strengthened by the 9th London -(Victorias) from the reserve brigade. The enemy were -only forty yards off upon the flank, with a perfect -warren of trenches, and the mud was so dreadful that -some men who got in could hardly be dragged out -again alive. In spite of every difficulty the Londoners, -after an initial check, swept triumphantly down Ibex -and Zoo trenches, clearing in one wild, glorious rush -the whole position, capturing 197 more prisoners of -the 31st Prussian Regiment with several machine-guns. -Captain Cousens, who led this charge, after -being badly wounded, was unhappily killed by a -sniper in the moment of victory. The Victorias -were too late to join in the victorious charge which -stands to the credit of the 7th Middlesex, but they -helped to hold and to extend what had been won. -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P29"></a>29}</span> -The general effect of the advance of this division was -to turn the flank of the southern German defences -and to open up a road for the Thirtieth and Twenty-first -Divisions upon the right. -</p> - -<p> -The Fourteenth Light Division to the north of the -Londoners was faced by the slight slope and formidable -defences of Telegraph Hill. They went forward in -close conformity with the Sixth Corps upon their -left, the 42nd Brigade being upon the left and the -43rd upon the right. Their movement during the -day was a particularly fine one, and they not only -took the strong position of Telegraph Hill, but they -carried the British line to a point far to the east of it. -Their whole advance was largely regulated by the -situation upon their northern flank, and they were -exposed to such an enfilade fire whenever they got at -all ahead, that they found it impossible to act entirely -upon their own. -</p> - -<p> -Upon the left of the front was a strong German -position called "The Harp," which was very gallantly -carried by the 42nd Brigade. Sixteen tanks which -were to have lent them a hand in this difficult operation -failed for some reason to arrive in time, and the -infantry had to advance with no help save their own -stout hearts. The attack was carried out by the -9th K.R.R. with the 4th Royal Fusiliers of the Third -Division acting upon their left, and their comrades of -the 6th Oxford and Bucks upon their right. Their -only serious opponents here as elsewhere were snipers -and machine-gunners, but these were all of the best, -and caused heavy losses before the whole objective -with its garrison had been captured. By 9.15 in the -morning it was entirely in British hands, and as the -day wore on the division kept steadily improving -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P30"></a>30}</span> -their position, though still short of their final objective, -that elusive line, which is so easy to draw and so -hard to attain. In the evening, an attempt was made -by the Fourteenth Division to struggle still further -eastwards. This advance had no success, and so the -forward units of the whole Seventh Corps dug in on -the general line from Feuchy Chapel Road in the north -to near Croisilles in the south, having after a desperate -day's fighting achieved a gain which averaged two -or three miles, and a total of nearly 2000 prisoners -with a number of guns. Concerning these prisoners, -it may be unsafe to generalise, but it is certain that -many of them surrendered very readily. As to their -general type the opinion of a commanding officer who -handled many of them may be quoted: "The officers -were mild persons, none of the bullet-headed, -bristly-moustached, truculent Prussian type. The prisoners -generally do not inspire one with respect. Braggarts -and bullies in prosperity, in adversity they cringe." -</p> - -<p> -Haldane's Sixth Corps was to the immediate left -of the Seventh, and its operations were directed due -east of Arras. The three front divisions, counting -from the south, were the Third, the Twelfth -South of England, and the Fifteenth Scottish, with -the Thirty-seventh English in reserve. The troops -of the assaulting divisions had been assembled -for three days in the caves under Arras, but on -the night of April 8 they were silently passed into -the assembly trenches, an operation which was carried -through with little interference or loss. The vile -weather may have been a blessing in disguise, as -it covered all the preparations from the German -observation. -</p> - -<p> -The right of the attacking line was formed by the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P31"></a>31}</span> -76th Brigade of the Third Division, a unit which had -distinguished itself greatly in previous fighting. The -8th and 9th Brigades were in close support. Its front -was south of the Arras-Cambrai Road. To the left -of the 76th Brigade the line was carried on by the -37th and 36th Brigades of the Twelfth Division. -Their right rested on the Arras-Cambrai Road. To -their left were the 44th and 45th of the Fifteenth -Division. Their left rested upon the Scarpe. Nothing -could have gone more smoothly than the advance, -which kept well up with the barrage. Only at -Observation Hill was vigorous resistance encountered, -and the German barrage was so belated that it fell -upon empty trenches after the stormers had left -them. The line of infantry as it swept forward in its -irresistible advance was formed, counting from the -south, by the 10th Welsh Fusiliers, the 1st Gordons, -the 6th Queen's, the 7th East Surreys, the 11th -Middlesex, the 7th Sussex, the 8/10th[<a id="chap02fn1text"></a><a href="#chap02fn1">1</a>] Gordons, the 9th -Black Watch, the 6/7th Scots Fusiliers, and the 11th -Argyll and Sutherlands. To the courage which had -always been their birthright, the infantry now added -all the cool war wisdom which experience of many -battles must bring with it, and all those devices for -overcoming the scattered forts of the enemy and -avoiding their machine-guns, which had been learned -on the Somme and the Ancre, were now practised to -keep down the losses of the assault. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="footnote"> -<a id="chap02fn1"></a> -[<a href="#chap02fn1text">1</a>] Where two numbers are given for one battalion, it means that two -battalions with these numbers have been telescoped into one. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -The advance of the 76th Brigade had been to the -south of the great high road which leads from Arras -to Cambrai—a road which was destined to be second -only to the Menin Road as a centre of hard fighting. -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P32"></a>32}</span> -The Gordons led the attack and took the front line -with a number of the Prussian 38th Regiment. The -10th Welsh Fusiliers then passed through the ranks -of the Highlanders and captured Devil's Wood. So -swift were these movements that the German barrage -was always in the rear. Having thus secured the -first objective, the 9th Brigade, strengthened by the -2nd Suffolks, stormed forward to the next line of -defence. The 4th Royal Fusiliers on the right took -Nomeny, Spring, and Lynx Trenches, when the -Suffolks passed through them and took Neuilly Trench. -The 12th West Yorkshires took Tilloy village. The -13th Liverpool, after being held up on the left, -carried the line forward and, by getting its machine-gun -on to the roof of Tilloy Château, dominated the -country to the extreme discomfort of the German -snipers. Besides these numerous trenches and strong -points, the 9th Brigade helped to take the fortified -position known as The Harp, an exploit in which they -were much assisted by a couple of tanks. Here a -considerable number of prisoners were made, including -most of a battalion of the 162nd Regiment, together -with its commander. -</p> - -<p> -It will save confusion if we follow the fortunes of -each division for the day, regardless of what is going -on upon its flank, as it is impossible to understand a -narrative which switches continually from one portion -of the line to another. The whole operation of the -Sixth Corps was somewhat behind the time appointed, -as each division had met with some delays, but the -advance towards the third objective was begun about -one o'clock in this southern area. The 8th Brigade -had now taken up the running, and the 9th had -fallen into support. Reinforced by the two reserve -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P33"></a>33}</span> -battalions of the 76th Brigade, the victorious advance -was resumed, the 2nd Royal Scots and 7th Shropshires -carrying the Bois des Boeufs to the south of the -Cambrai Road, together with five guns which had been -concealed in it. To those who had experienced what -the capture of a wood meant in the Somme fighting, -it was indeed a promise for the future that this -considerable plantation should offer so slight a resistance. -The 8th Brigade fought its way onwards for another -mile or more until it had attained the line of Feuchy -Chapel. Here the German resistance had thickened -and the artillery fire had increased in the same ratio -as the British had weakened. A halt was called, -therefore, and the infantry consolidated their advanced -position. An attempt by the Gordons and the 8th -Royal Lancasters to reach the extreme final objective -was checked in the evening by a very heavy fire upon -both flanks. -</p> - -<p> -In the centre, the Twelfth Division had met with -strong resistance at several points, which caused the -assault to fall behind the barrage. These centres of -German resistance were usually isolated houses or -small redoubts, so that it was possible in many cases -to mask them and to push onwards. No village or -large fixed defence lay in their path, and in spite of a -check for some time at the estaminet upon the -Cambrai Road, they were able to line up with their -comrades to the south upon the second objective -about half-past twelve o'clock. At this point the -35th Brigade passed through the advanced lines -and moved to the front. A number of difficult -positions were taken, including Observation Hill, and the -ground was so thoroughly cleared that the assailants -were able to go forward with the assurance that their -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P34"></a>34}</span> -wounds would not be in the back. It was found, -however, as they neared the line of the third German -position, that considerable stretches of wire had been -imperfectly cut, and that the machine-gun fire was so -severe as to make the final assault impossible. The -infantry dug in, therefore, and waited for further -support from the guns, many of which were already -on the move. The 9th Essex upon the right actually -reached the Feuchy Chapel Work and held their grip -of it, keeping in line with the 8th Brigade upon the -south. -</p> - -<p> -The Fifteenth Division to the north of the corps' -front had before them the very strong position called -the Railway Triangle, where the line to Lens branches -away from the line to Douai. This formidable place -was attacked by the Scotch infantry, and after a -severe struggle it was captured about 11.30 save for -its eastern side, which was finally taken later in the -morning, the artillery aiding the assailants by some -extraordinarily good shooting. The advance was -then resumed, and the division found itself shortly -after noon in the line of the second objective. Six -brigades of field artillery had followed closely upon -the heels of the infantry and managed, in spite of the -unfavourable state of the ground, to take up a position -to cover the further attack. When one recalls the -dreadful weather and the shell-pocked state of the -countryside, it was a remarkable feat upon the part of -the gun-teams to get their pieces so rapidly forward. -Several tanks came forward also, and did good work -not only upon this front, but at Tilloy and The Harp. -</p> - -<p> -The Fifteenth Division was now somewhat behind -the others, but shortly after two o'clock the 46th -Lowland Brigade advanced upon the third objective. -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P35"></a>35}</span> -These splendid soldiers brushed aside every obstacle, -and when fired upon at short range by German -guns rushed onwards with a yell and captured the -battery. By 4 P.M. they had fully reached their -final line and had pushed out their patrols some -hundreds of yards to the eastwards. This fine -advance, which was the only one to reach the extreme -limit upon this front, was carried out by the 7th Scots -Borderers, 10th Scots Rifles, and 12th Highland Light -Infantry, with the 10/11th Highland Light Infantry -mopping up behind them. -</p> - -<p> -At 7 P.M. an attempt was made by the two southern -divisions to get forward from the Feuchy Chapel Line -and gain a position level with the 46th Brigade. -Evening was setting in, however, the men were -weary and the difficulties manifold, so that no -progress was made, both the Third and the Fourteenth -Divisions suffering additional losses in the -attempt. -</p> - -<p> -The Thirty-seventh Division, composed entirely of -English troops, North, South, and Midland, had moved -up in the rear of the fighting line, and in the middle -of the afternoon it found itself in the German second -line system, while the corps' mounted troops had -followed behind the Fifteenth Division, as far as -the Railway Triangle. As evening fell, the -Thirty-seventh Division pushed forward with the intention -of reaching the extreme point attained by the Fifteenth -Division and then swinging to the right in the hope -of capturing Monchy. The advance seems, however, -to have taken a direction rather too much -to the south, with the result that instead of finding -the opening made by the 46th Brigade they came -upon the more contracted Feuchy line held by the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P36"></a>36}</span> -Twelfth and Third Divisions. Here they were held up -by a field of wire as their comrades had already been, -and the two brigades concerned—the 111th upon the -left and the 112th upon the right—remained in line -with the 35th and the 8th Brigades, the units being -considerably intermingled. The 63rd Brigade, -however, which was now a brigade of the Thirty-seventh -Division, though the reader will associate it with the -Twenty-first Division in the past, was able to keep its -true direction, and before night had finally established -itself at the north end of Orange Hill well up to the -third objective and in touch with the 46th Brigade. -The corps' cavalry also pushed forward along the -south bank of the Scarpe, capturing three 8-inch -howitzers upon the way, and halting opposite -Fampoux, where they were in touch with the Fourth -Division upon the northern bank of the river. -</p> - -<p> -Such was the splendid day's work of Haldane's -Corps. It is true that in the south the uncut wire -had made it impossible for them to reach their ultimate -objective, but they had in the space of the one Easter -day captured the villages of Feuchy and of Tilloy, -the strong redoubts of The Harp and the Railway -Triangle, gained some thirty-six square miles of -ground, and taken 2000 prisoners with 60 guns. It -was a most notable achievement. We shall now -pause on the evening of this first day of battle and we -shall go back to reconstruct the operations upon the -northern bank of the Scarpe. -</p> - -<p> -The Seventeenth Corps (Fergusson) was upon the -left of the Sixth. Its right-hand unit, Lukin's Ninth -Division, consisting of two Scottish and one South -African brigade, was operating upon the immediate -north of the Scarpe. This division was to attack with -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P37"></a>37}</span> -three brigades in line, the 26th on the right, 27th on -the left, and South Africans between. Upon the left -of the Ninth was Nicholson's Thirty-fourth Division, -drawn largely from Scotland and Tyneside, the same -fine division which had been the very pivot upon which -the battle of July 1 had turned. Upon the left of -the corps was the Fifty-first Highland Territorial -Division which had distinguished itself so greatly at -Beaumont Hamel five months before. It may be said, -therefore, that the fighting line of the Seventeenth -Corps upon this great day was predominantly Scottish, -but Lambton's veteran Fourth Division was in -immediate support. The whole battle-front was from the -right bank of the Scarpe near Arras up to the post -known as the Commandant's House, just south of -Thelus. There were no villages over the greater part of -this front, but there were great numbers of fortified -farms and strong posts of every description, besides -the usual lines of wired trenches. The ground was in -successive ridges and a big tactical obstacle existed in -the Lens-Arras railroad in its alternate cuttings and -embankments. The long eager line of Highlanders, -Tynesiders, and South Africans rolled over every -obstacle, and by ten o'clock had mastered all the -first objectives, which were the three lines of German -trenches. In the south the Ninth Division, led by -a well-known South African Imperial soldier, had -carried first Blangy and then Athies by storm. -There was a time when the 26th Brigade upon the -right was hung up, but with fine initiative the -right flank of the Transvaal Regiment worked down -along the railway cutting and helped to clear the -front of its neighbours. In the centre, the -Thirty-fourth Division, after a short check at a network -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P38"></a>38}</span> -of trenches called "The Pump," had reached its -allotted positions. In the north the clansmen, who -as Territorials were sprung from the very soil of the -Highlands, had swiftly advanced to the south of -Thelus and had covered the right wing of the First -Canadians while they captured that village. It -was victory all along the line, and victory without -those excessive losses which have made many of our -greatest successes as tragic as they are glorious. The -artillery barrage had been found to be a powerful -antidote against the deadly machine-guns. "When -our barrage lifted off the railway cutting, the machine-guns -had been silenced and all the gunners were found -to be dead." Such was the report of a South African -officer. -</p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-039"></a> -<br /> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-039.jpg" alt="THE ARRAS FRONT" /> -<br /> -THE ARRAS FRONT -</p> - -<p> -Allusion has been made to the check caused by -the strong point called "The Pump" and the trenches -called the Kleemanstellung just east of it. Some -detail should be added in this matter, for it retarded -the attack of the flanks of two divisions, and the delay -caused by it had the effect that the Canadians on -the left and the Ninth upon the right were further -forward in the late afternoon than part of the Fifty-first -and the Thirty-fourth, which might have caused -a dangerous situation. The Thirty-fourth Division -had advanced upon a three-brigade front, which -consisted from the south of the 101st, the 102nd, -and the 103rd. On the north of the 103rd -was the 152nd Brigade of the Fifty-first Division -with the Seaforths as the flank battalion. This -pestilent strong point, armed with well-served and -well-concealed machine-guns, lay between the two -brigades and held up the flanks of both, inflicting -considerable losses not only on the Seaforths, but -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P39"></a>39}</span> -on the 25th Northumberland Fusiliers, who were on -the left of the Thirty-fourth Division. For a -considerable time the advance was held. The 27th -reserve battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers were -sent up, and one of its companies, led with a fine -mixture of valour and cunning, carried the place -by storm. The whole line then got forward, but -the losses had been heavy, including Colonel Hermon -of the 24th Northumberland Fusiliers. In the -evening it was found that the final objective had -not yet been fully attained at this quarter of the -field, for it had been marked at a farm called Maison -de la Côte, from which the front line was still a -thousand yards distant. A brilliant little attack, -however, by the 103rd Brigade, in the early morning -of April 10, captured the whole position. Besides -the check at The Pump, there had been another -on the Fifty-first divisional front at a post called -the "Deutsche Haus." The consequence of this -was a loss of the barrage and a delay which led -to the isolated left of the Fifty-first losing direction -entirely and wandering round in a half-circle. The -circumstances were so complex that it was not until -next morning that they could be cleared up. Had the -Germans had the spirit for a counter-attack, they -would certainly have found a considerable gap in -the line. -</p> - -<p> -These events were in the northern area of the -Seventeenth Corps. In the southern portion, at about -eleven o'clock, the reserve division came forward, -and, passing through the weary ranks of the Ninth, -pushed on along the northern bank of the river. The -advance had already been a splendid one, the Ninth -Division having 2000 prisoners to its credit, but this -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P40"></a>40}</span> -movement of the Fourth Division against an enemy -who was already badly shaken was a very fruitful -one. The 12th Brigade was nearest the Scarpe, with -the 11th upon the left, while the 10th moved forward -in close support. Two obstacles faced the division, -the straggling village of Fampoux upon the bank of -the river, and the Hyderabad Redoubt, a considerable -fort to the north of the village. The 12th Brigade -moved swiftly forward in the nearest approach to -open warfare that had been seen for years. The -1st Royal Lancasters were on the right of the swift -flexible line, the 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers in the centre, -and the 2nd Essex upon the left. The brigade fought -its way in the teeth of a very hot fire to the outskirts -of Fampoux, where the reserve battalion, the 2nd -West Ridings, passed through the King's Own and -carried the village in splendid style late in the evening -at the point of the bayonet. It is a remarkable fact -that the wire in front of the village had not been cut -by the artillery, and the infantry passed in single -file through the gaps in it, after disposing of the only -German machine-gunner who offered resistance. At -the same time the 11th Brigade kept pace upon their -left flank—the Hampshires to the left and Somersets -to the right, while the 1st Rifle Brigade, passing -through them, rushed the strong position of the -Hyderabad Redoubt, and the East Lancashires -formed a defensive flank. Communication was at -once opened across the Scarpe with Haldane's Corps -upon the south side. By this fine advance of the -Fourth Division the right of the Seventeenth Corps -had got considerably further forward than the centre, -so that a defensive line had to be formed sloping -back from this advanced point. This was the position -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P41"></a>41}</span> -upon the evening of the first day of battle, and it was -destined to remain so in the south for many a day to -come, for the formidable Chemical Works lay -immediately to the east on either side of the Arras-Douai -railway track, and these were to prove a very -grave obstacle to a further advance on this line. -Meanwhile, 3500 prisoners with 50 captured guns testified -to the success of the Seventeenth Corps. -</p> - -<p> -Following upon this brief sketch of the work done -by the Seventh, Sixth, and the Seventeenth Corps -upon the first day of the Battle of Arras, we must now -turn to the splendid achievement of the Canadian -Corps upon the left. The reputation of the Canadians -as brilliant soldiers, as dashing in attack as they were -steady in defence, had already been solidly established -by a long series of military feats beginning -with the ever-memorable second battle of Ypres and -continuing on to the capture of Courcelette and the -fine fighting of the Somme. Hitherto, they had -acted in comparatively small bodies, but now the -whole might of Canada was drawn together in the -four fine divisions which lay facing the historic Vimy -Ridge—a long gradual slope which reaches a height -of more than 450 feet at the summit. They were -arranged in their numerical order from the south, the -First (Currie) being in touch with the Fifty-first British -Division, while the Fourth (Watson) had upon its left -Holland's First Corps, which was not engaged in the -first day's operations. The front covered by the -Canadians was from the south end of the Ridge to -the Souchez River, close to Lens. Nothing could -have been more magnificent or more successful -than their advance, the Second and Third Divisions -(Burstall and Lipsett) attaining their full objectives -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P42"></a>42}</span> -at every point, and the First doing the same after -a short check. There was no rebuff save in the -extreme north of the line. Sweeping onwards -with irresistible fury, they overran three lines of -German trenches, including the famous La Folie -Farm, captured the village of Farbus, and secured the -splendid total of 70 officers and 3500 men as prisoners, -the same number as were taken by their British -comrades to the immediate south. They not only -crowned the redoubtable ridge, but they made their -way down the eastern slope and established their -line beyond it. Many of the German infantry were -captured in the great chalk excavations in which -they had taken refuge, two large tunnels in particular—the -Volker and the Prinz Arnault Tunnels—being -crammed with men. Incredible incidents happened -in these subterranean burrows, where small bodies -of Canadian moppers-up were faced suddenly by -large numbers of armed Germans in hiding. In one -well-authenticated case four Canadians bluffed and -captured 2 officers and 70 men from a Bavarian -unit who were found in such a pocket, an incident -which meant a V.C. for Major Macdowell. When the -Kaiser in prophetic mood had spoken about what -would happen when his Bavarians met the British, -such an incident was far from his thoughts. It -should be mentioned that the Fifth British -Division was in close support of the Canadians, and -that the 13th Brigade of this division was -incorporated with the Second Canadians upon that day. -It was used in conjunction with the 6th Canadian -Brigade on its right to take the final objectives, the -eastern slopes of the Ridge, just north of Farbus -Wood, which they did successfully with slight losses. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P43"></a>43}</span> -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -April 10 -</span> -</p> - -<p> -During the night of the 9/10th April there was -fighting at several points, notably at the north end of -the Vimy Ridge. Here the Fourth Canadian Division -had some difficulty in holding its ground against -several strong counter-attacks of the Germans. It is -probable that no body of troops in the whole battle -had a harder task, or stuck to it more tenaciously, -than this Fourth Canadian Division. Hill 145, which -was an outlier of the Ridge, was very strongly held -and desperately defended, so that it would have -turned any but first-class troops. The final clearing -of this point was effected upon April 10, and led to -further operations in conjunction with British troops -to the north, which will be afterwards described. -</p> - -<p> -The second day of the Battle of Arras, April 10, -was spent partly in the consolidation of the ground -gained and partly in increasing the area now occupied. -The troops were in high heart, for although the full -extent of the victory had not yet been realised, it -was already known that at least 10,000 prisoners and -100 guns had fallen into their hands, figures which -showed that the battle had been the most serious -military disaster which had yet befallen the enemy. -A fuller enumeration taken some days later gave -13,000 men, 3 howitzers, 28 heavy guns, 130 field-guns, -84 trench-mortars, and 250 machine-guns as the -total capture. It may be mentioned that over 1000 -prisoners were taken from each of the six different -German divisions already enumerated, which disposes -of their mendacious assertion that only two divisions -occupied their front. It was certainly the greatest -blow delivered by the British Army up to that date, -and the only other day's fighting at all comparable in -its results was the French attack upon the Champagne -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P44"></a>44}</span> -front on September 25, 1915, where the number of -prisoners was greater but the capture of guns was -less. -</p> - -<p> -The Battle of Arras may be considered as having -been in truth a one-day battle in the same sense as -the succeeding Battle of Messines, for in each case -the attack was delivered in order to gain a definite -objective, which was the ridge from which observation -could be obtained. The extreme limit of advance -had not, however, been reached either in the south -or in the north, and so in both these areas hard fighting -continued, due partly to the efforts of the British to -enlarge their gains and partly to the rally of the -Germans and their attempts at counter-attack. There -was no concentration of troops or guns, however, -upon the side of the British, and no attempt at any -considerable advance. We shall first follow these -operations in the south where they centred chiefly -round the village of Monchy and Wancourt in the -areas of the Sixth and Seventh Corps. These we -shall weave into a connected narrative, after which -we shall return to the Vimy region and trace the -movements which led to hard fighting in that -quarter. -</p> - -<p> -In the Seventh Corps to the south the Fifty-sixth -Division of London Territorials had, as already -described, enlarged the area which it had taken the -day before in the Neuville Vitasse sector. The general -curve of the line was such that it was not possible for -the units of the Seventh Corps to get forward until -the Sixth Corps to the north had won some ground, -but upon the afternoon of the 12th a very fine advance -was made, by which the 169th Brigade stormed -Heninel. The Cojeul River was crossed by the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P45"></a>45}</span> -Fourteenth Light Division, and the heights upon the -eastern bank were occupied. The 41st Brigade of -this unit had now come into the line. The first -attempt upon the heights failed with heavy losses. -Next morning it was found that Hill 90 had been -evacuated, and they were able to advance and seize -Wancourt. This brought the left flank of the Seventh -Corps up to the right flank of the Sixth Corps, and -ensured close co-operation in those operations to the -north which will presently be more fully described. -This storming of the German position in this section -was the more important as the troops were faced by -the new Hindenburg Line. It was well known that -an alternative line from Drocourt to Queant existed -some miles to the eastward, but none the less the fall of -the front section at a period when much of its wire -was still intact proved to the Germans how impossible -it was to hold off British troops by mere passive -obstacles. The tanks were of great assistance to the -assailants in this difficult operation. Upon April 13 -and 14 the Twenty-first Division, with the aid of -the 19th Brigade from the Thirty-third Division, -carried forward the line to the high ground about 1000 -yards east of the stream at Henin, astride of that -portion of the Hindenburg Line. Here all further -attempts to advance were stopped by fresh German -troops, until the operations were renewed upon -April 23. This advance of the Twenty-first Division -upon April 13 and 14 was in connection with a general -movement of Snow's Corps, but neither the Fifty-sixth -London Territorials in the centre nor the Fiftieth -North Countrymen on the left, both of them enfiladed -from the north, could make much progress beyond -the line of Wancourt Tower, and there was little to -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P46"></a>46}</span> -show for a hard day's work. The Thirty-third -Division (Pinney) now took over the front from the -Twenty-first. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -April 10 -</span> -</p> - -<p> -The immediate task which lay before the Sixth -Corps upon April 10 was to get the Third and Twelfth -Divisions forward to the same line which the Fifteenth -Division had reached. It will be remembered that -the 46th Brigade of the latter division, together with -the 63rd Brigade from the supporting Thirty-seventh -Division, had pushed on as far as Orange Hill, half a -mile farther eastward than the Feuchy Line which -formed the front of the two southern Divisions. Six -brigades of field artillery had been hurried up, and -with the help of these guns, aided by trench-mortars, -the wire which held up the advance was partly blown -away. The Third and Twelfth Divisions were then -able to move forward and to make one line with the -Fifteenth—an operation which was completed by -mid-day, the 8th Brigade doing some brilliant work. The -strongly fortified village of Monchy, elevated above -the plain, lay immediately in front of the Sixth -Corps, and its capture was their next task. With this -object in view, the 63rd Brigade was swung round -from the north and worked its way south and east, -getting into touch with the other brigades of the -Thirty-seventh Division, which passed through the -newly captured third objective and occupied the -ground upon the west of the village. A general -advance was then made on each side of the village, -the 112th Brigade occupying La Bergère upon the -Cambrai road due south of Monchy, while the 1/11th -Brigade, with the 9th and 10th Royal Fusiliers in -the lead, in the face of a considerable opposition, -pushed onwards until it gained a footing on the outskirts -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P47"></a>47}</span> -of the village and on the high ground to the -north of it, where the 154th Company R.E. dug a -temporary line. This was the position on the evening -of April 10, while the British line had been strengthened -by the presence of the 7th Brigade of Cavalry -from the Third Cavalry Division, who were following -closely behind the Thirty-seventh Division. In all -these operations the weather greatly impeded progress, -as it prevented the advance of the guns needed to -break down wire and other obstacles. -</p> - -<p> -During the night of April 10 the Twelfth Division -was withdrawn into reserve, and the advance was -resumed in the early morning by the remaining -divisions and the cavalry. At 5 A.M. the infantry was -closing in upon Monchy under a heavy fire. The line -of advance extended right across the Cambrai road, -the 76th Brigade finding itself opposite to the village -of Guémappe. Here they were exposed to a very -heavy fire of machine-guns, and this famous brigade -sustained heavy losses, which were increased by a -second attempt to get forward in the afternoon. The -76th Brigade finally entrenched itself some half a -mile to the west of Guémappe and waited for developments. -The 8th Royal Lancasters were particularly -hard hit in their attack. -</p> - -<p> -In the meantime the 111th Brigade of the Thirty-seventh -Division had advanced directly upon Monchy, -and after severe fighting, in which the splendid infantry -struggled onwards in the face of every possible -difficulty of German resistance and of driving -snowstorms, the place was carried by assault. The three -regiments of cavalry from the 8th Brigade, the Royal -Horse Guards, 10th Hussars, and Essex Yeomanry, -advanced at a gallop and did splendid service by taking -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P48"></a>48}</span> -part in the attack, following closely upon the infantry, -and helping to consolidate the village. By nine -o'clock in the morning the 13th K.R.R. and 13th -Rifle Brigade, greatly aided by a very active and -efficient tank, had driven their way to the farthest -houses upon the eastern side. About 150 of the -garrison remained in their hands, while very many lay -dead among the ruins of the shattered buildings. -The cavalry, who lost their brave leader, General -Bulkeley Johnson, emerged on the eastern side of the -village and lost heavily at that point, especially in -horses, some 500 of which were hit. They had the -satisfaction, however, of getting their light guns fairly -on to the Germans, as they streamed across the open. -One who was present says: "The cavalry filled the -gap between us and the 112th Brigade. They lost -heavily, and their conduct was magnificent." The -new gain was instantly consolidated by the Colonel -of the Rifles. -</p> - -<p> -The Fifteenth Division upon the left of the -Thirty-seventh had been fighting its way forward upon the -north, endeavouring to keep in line with the -Thirty-seventh. It had got somewhat ahead of the Fourth -Division, however, which was to the north of the -Scarpe, and in consequence had to face the whole fire -from the strong village of Rœux, which held them up. -The general line of the corps that night was La -Bergère, Monchy, and then the line of the Monchy-Fampoux -road as far as the Scarpe. To the north of -the Scarpe there had been no forward movement, as -the Chemical Works to the east of Fampoux presented -an obstacle which was beyond the immediate scope -of Sir Charles Fergusson's operations. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -April 11 -</span> -</p> - -<p> -On the night of April 11 the Thirty-seventh -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P49"></a>49}</span> -Division, which had suffered considerably in the -capture of Monchy, and the Fifteenth which had -lived up to its reputation during fifty-six hours of -incessant fighting under most inclement conditions, -were withdrawn for a short rest, while the Twelfth -Division returned into the line, and the Seventeenth -took the place of the Thirty-seventh. April 12 -was spent in consolidation and in bringing up heavy -howitzer batteries along the Cambrai road, and placing -them in positions between Feuchy and Tilloy where -they could support the coming operations. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -April 12 -</span> -</p> - -<p> -From the time that the British had captured the -village, both it and the whole front line in that area -had been subjected to a most severe German bombardment, -which tried the troops extremely, but did -not prevent them from repulsing several attempts at -counter-attack, none of which reached the front -trenches. On the night of April 12 the Twelfth -Division, which was considerably worn from its -exertions, was drawn out and was replaced by the -famous Twenty-ninth Regular Division, which had -gained such honour and suffered such losses at -Gallipoli and on the Somme. There was no forward -movement upon April 13 in the region of Monchy, but -farther south the 9th Brigade, which had taken the -place of the 76th in front of Guémappe, endeavoured -to reach that village, but were met and checked by -the same murderous machine-gun fire which had held -up their comrades, a fire which came both from the -hamlet itself and from the high ground to the south -which lay within the area of the Seventh Corps. The -1st Northumberland Fusiliers and 12th West Yorks, -which led the attack, both suffered severely. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -April 14 -</span> -</p> - -<p> -As no large movement was contemplated upon -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P50"></a>50}</span> -this front it was now held by only two divisions, the -Twenty-ninth to the south and the Seventeenth to -the north, covering the whole broad area from the -north of the Cojeul River to the south of the Scarpe. -At 5.30 upon April 14 both divisions advanced in -order to test the German strength and, if possible, -to push them farther back from Monchy. It was an -unsuccessful day, and yet it was one of those failures -which will be remembered where facile successes have -been forgotten, for it brought with it one episode -which elicited in the highest degree the historical -qualities of British infantry. It had been arranged -that the 88th Brigade, consisting of the 2nd -Hants, 4th Worcesters, 1st Essex, and the Newfoundland -Regiment, should attack due east of Monchy, -while another brigade of the Twenty-ninth Division -should advance to their right, and the Seventeenth -Division guard their flank upon the left. Both of the -flank attacks failed, however, and the result was that -the storming line of the 88th Brigade, consisting of -the Essex men on the left and the Newfoundlanders -on the right, found themselves in possession of the -German trenches on Infantry Hill, east of Monchy, -but with both wings exposed and with so terrific a -barrage behind them that they were practically cut -off from assistance. This might have mattered little -under ordinary circumstances, since two such -battalions might be counted upon to hold their ground, -but by an evil chance their advance had coincided -with a considerable German counter-attack from the -Bois du Sart, made by a whole Bavarian division with -the intention of retaking Monchy. The result was -a Homeric contest in which two battalions held up a -whole division, shattered a considerable attack, and -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P51"></a>51}</span> -were practically annihilated in doing so. Of some -companies not a single man returned and yet few -were ever reported as prisoners in Germany. No -more gallant feat of arms has been performed in the -war. The 2nd Hants and 4th Worcesters in support -did their best to help their comrades, and sustained -considerable losses themselves in the attempt, but they -were never able to reach the real front line, and it is -undoubtedly true that the two battalions alone received -and broke the full strength of the Bavarian -Division, which was entirely fresh, having taken no part -in any previous fighting. It was difficult in the barrage -and confusion—the ground being unreconnoitred—to -direct reinforcements to the points where they were -so urgently needed, but a lieutenant of the Essex -passed through the German barrage and managed to -bring up one company of the 2nd Hants, who came -too late to retrieve the fight, but were able to take up -the defence of the northern flank and to prevent the -Germans from getting round in that quarter. Small -parties of the enemy got up to the fringes of the village, -but the edge had been taken completely from their -assault, and in spite of the heavy barrage, the staff -of the brigade headquarters, who were the only troops -available, were sufficient to hold them off; Colonel -Forbes Robertson doing particularly good work with -a Lewis gun. No German set foot in Monchy. Of -the headquarter staff there were only nine survivors, -each of whom was decorated. -</p> - -<p> -Apart from the attack so heroically repelled, a -second had developed to the south-east of Monchy -which was driven back by rifles and machine-guns. -The total German losses during the day must have -been very heavy, and they had nothing to show for -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P52"></a>52}</span> -it, though the British casualties amounted to some -4000, chiefly in the Twenty-ninth Division. -</p> - -<p> -It must be admitted that the Germans, who had -been strongly reinforced in men and in guns, were -fighting with great resolution on this front, and their -defence and counter-attacks were equally gallant. -</p> - -<p> -From this date onwards until April 22, there was -no particular forward movement, and every effort -was concentrated upon the improvement of defences -and communications. There were no fresh German -counter-attacks, but there was constant and heavy -bombardment upon both sides, the Germans pouring -shells into Monchy and raking every road which led to -the front, while the British overwhelmed Guémappe, -Rœux, and Pelves with their fire. The only change -of troops was that upon the night of April 19 the -Fifteenth Scottish Division, after its short rest, pushed -in upon the right of the Twenty-ninth Division, taking -over the ground between La Bergère on the north and -the Cojeul River on the south. The order of battle -of the Sixth Corps was therefore from the north the -Seventeenth, Twenty-ninth, and Fifteenth Divisions. -</p> - -<p> -We shall now retrace our steps to glance at what -had been going on since the first day of the battle -upon the front of the Seventeenth Corps to the -immediate north of the Scarpe. It has already been -recorded how the flank unit, the Fourth Division, -after relieving the Ninth Division found itself faced -with the strongly-fortified Chemical Works and the -village of Rœux. The position was a very formidable -one, as future tragic experiences were to prove. Two -brigades of the Ninth Division, the 27th Lowlanders -upon the left and the South Africans upon the right, -were ordered to pass the line of the Fourth Division -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P53"></a>53}</span> -and to endeavour to carry the place by assault. The -attempt was not successful, though it was urged with -great valour. The wastage of the division had -already been such that neither brigade numbered -2000 bayonets. The average strength of the South -African regiments was about 400 men. As a result, -the attack was wanting in weight, and was repulsed -with considerable loss, which fell chiefly upon the -1st Cape and 2nd Natal battalions in the front line of -the South Africans. The attackers endured heavy -losses in debouching from the narrow exits of -Fampoux under fire, and they were afterwards faced with -700 yards of open ground swept by bullets. In spite -of this, some of the stormers did actually penetrate -the German lines, as was proved later by the discovery -of their bodies. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -April 10 -</span> -</p> - -<p> -To the north of this section of fierce fighting the -line, which had sagged upon the evening of April 9, -had been brought level upon April 10 by the readjustment -of the Fifty-first Division, and by the attack of -the 103rd Brigade of Tyneside Scottish upon the -Maison de la Côte position. From that time the -British front was firm in this region, and a strong -counter-attack of four German battalions, who could -be seen streaming westwards in lines of motor 'buses, -was broken to pieces upon the night of April 11 by -the steady rifle-fire of the 27th Northumberland -Fusiliers who occupied the front trenches. -</p> - -<p> -Facing this section of the line was the village of -Bailleul which was abandoned by the Germans, and -was taken over by Pereira's Second Division, who -had relieved the Highland Territorials upon April 13. -Shortly afterwards the Sixty-third Naval Division -took over from the Thirty-fourth. These two -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P54"></a>54}</span> -divisions belonged to the Thirteenth Corps (M'Cracken), -which from now onward occupied a space in the -line between the Seventeenth to the south and the -Canadians to the north. The strong villages of Oppy -and of Gavrelle lay now in front of the British in this -quarter, but the German line was destined to remain -unbroken for a considerable period. An attack was -made upon Gavrelle by the 190th Brigade, the -landsman unit of the Naval Division, but this was only -partially successful. Farther to the north the Second -Division had no better fortune against Oppy, which -was attempted more than once. The further advance -against these places will be found recorded further -on, where it will fit into its place among the other -incidents of the renewed general attack upon April 23. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -April 13 -</span> -</p> - -<p> -The Canadians in the Vimy Ridge area were -occupied during three days of dreadful weather in -consolidating their new positions, and in pushing the -Germans out of that northern portion which they -still held. The Fourth Canadian Division had suffered -much from machine-gun fire from Hill 145 in the -Souchez district, but this was taken upon April 10. -There was still a good deal of work to be done, -however, at that end of the line, and upon April 12 a -joint attack of Canadians and British cleared the -ground in this quarter. Attacking at dawn in a -snowstorm, the resolute Canadian infantry drove their -way over the northern limits of Vimy Ridge, capturing -among other positions an outlier of the Vimy Ridge, the -venomous little hill called The Pimple, which had been -a thorn in their side. At the same time the -Twenty-fourth British Division moved forward nearly -opposite to Lens, the river Souchez separating them -from the Canadians. The immediate obstacle which -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P55"></a>55}</span> -faced the British troops was a scattered wood, the -Bois-en-Haches, which was most gallantly attacked -by the 73rd Brigade. The front line in this fine -advance was formed by the 9th Sussex on the left -and the 2nd Leinsters upon the right, supported by -the 13th Middlesex and 7th Northamptons. Both the -Sussex and the Irish battalions, especially the latter, -had heavy losses, but they never faltered until their -objective was won. Upon April 13 there was a general -forward movement along the whole Canadian line, in -the course of which they occupied Willerval in the -south and both Vimy and Givenchy-en-Gohelle in the -north. On the same date the 15th and 95th Brigades -of the British Fifth Division took over from the -Fourth Canadian Division from the Souchez River to -south of Givenchy-en-Gohelle. These two brigades -actually took over on the move forward, and did not -stop until they had reached a line Cité-des-Petits-Bois -to the Vimy-Lens Road just short of La Coulotte. -</p> - -<p> -The Twenty-fourth Division in the north joined -in this attack as, to a limited extent, did the -Sixth Division upon its left. It may be explained -that both of these divisions, together with the -Forty-sixth in support of them, formed Holland's -First Corps. The Twenty-fourth Division advanced -upon a three-brigade front, the 72nd, 17th, and 73rd -Brigades in that order from the left, sweeping forward -in one line. Complete success attended their efforts. -Angres, Lievin, and Cité St. Pierre were all stormed -and occupied. The 17th Brigade, which had been -strengthened by the inclusion of the 1st Marine -Battalion, did particularly well, for it was faced by -two dangerous strong points called Crook and Crazy, -both of which were carried, the 3rd Rifle Brigade -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P56"></a>56}</span> -being conspicuous in each operation. Some days -later, the Forty-sixth Division took over from the -Twenty-fourth and the new line was firmly held, the -area of the Forty-sixth being from the Souchez River -in the south to Fosse 12 de Lens in the north. Farther -to the north the Sixth Division had made some -progress, but had not been able to surmount the old -enemy, Hill 70, the long, clear glacis of which had -cost the British such losses at Loos. The Twenty-fourth -Division had lost 3000 men in these operations, -but their services had been of great value, for the grip -upon Lens was appreciably tighter, and according to -Sir Douglas Haig's despatch it was the capture of this -position which prevented the Germans from attempting -the retaking of the positions which they had lost. -The British Army was close to the great mining centre, -one of the springs of wealth in France. Ominous -explosions and dense plumes of dark smoke seemed to -show that it was a spring which would be sealed for -many a day. So precipitate had been the German -retreat in this area that candles were found burning -in the dug-outs, meals were half consumed, and large -stores of engineering materials and grenades were left -behind. -</p> - -<p> -Pausing for a moment at this instant, with the line -advanced from three to six miles along the whole -front, one may take a glance at the practical results -of this great battle. As a mere military triumph it -was a considerable one, since the total booty in the -immediate battle came by this date to some 14,000 -men and 180 guns. Its strategical result was to win -the high ground along the whole of a front which had -been considered impregnable, and so to give both -better observation and drier foothold to the army. -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P57"></a>57}</span> -It was clear that it must entail a prolongation of the -same operation to the north, and this was manifested -two months later at the victory of Messines. That -again pointed to a fresh prolongation towards the -higher ground round Ypres, which led to the severe -but successful fighting in the autumn. Thus the -Arras Battle was the prologue to the whole campaign -of 1917. -</p> - -<p> -It is impossible, even in so brief an account as -this, to turn away from this great victory without a -word as to the splendid service of the airmen, and the -glorious efforts by which they secured the supremacy -over their brave adversaries. The air, the guns, the -infantry—those are the three stages which lead from -one to the other in a modern battle. Starting with -every possible disadvantage, our knight-errants of -the air, as without hyberbole they may well be called, -by a wonderful mixture of reckless dare-devil bravery -and technical skill brought their side to victory. The -mixture of the Berserk fighter and of the cool engineer, -as ready with the spanner and oil-can as with the -pistol and machine-gun, is indeed a strange product -of modern tactics. No mention of these grand men, -most of them hardly more than boys in their years, -could be complete which did not specially name one -who is likely to remain as a great memory and -inspiration in the Service, Captain Albert Ball, a gallant -youth whose bravery and modesty were equally -beautiful. He brought down not less than forty-three -German planes in single combat before meeting his -own glorious end. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -April 9-12 -</span> -</p> - -<p> -Whilst this battle had been raging along the -Arras front, the great southern curve which marked -the eventual halting-place of the German retreat was -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P58"></a>58}</span> -the scene of continual fighting, which attained no -great intensity save at Bullecourt, but smouldered all -along the line, as the British drove in the outlying -German posts and impinged upon the main Hindenburg -position from Croisilles to St. Quentin. Detail -of these smaller operations hardly comes within the -scale of this narrative, but some indication of their -nature and sequence may be given. On April 2 had -been the successful advance upon Ecoust, Noreuil, -Louverval, and Doignies, which was carried out to -the immediate south of the Seventh Corps area by -the left of Gough's Fifth Army. The troops engaged -were the British Divisions—the Seventh, Fifty-eighth, -and Sixty-second upon the left near -Croisilles, the Fourth Australians at Noreuil, and -the Fifth Australians at Doignies and Hermies. -This brought the army in this section up to -the front Hindenburg Line, which the Australians -with little support behind them proceeded at -once to break, a most valiant but rather rash -undertaking, as it was clear that the task was -one which required the massed batteries of several -army corps to bring it to success. The idea was to -connect up with the flank of the Third Army in its -new positions and the Sixty-second British Division -advance on the left for the same purpose. The attack, -which began upon April 12, was directed against the -line at a point between Bullecourt village upon the -left and Lagnicourt upon the right. A broad apron -of barbed wire covered the whole German front, and -the only means of piercing it, in the absence of heavy -gun power, was by the crushing force of tanks. The -attack was delivered across the snow in the early -morning by men many of whom had never seen snow -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P59"></a>59}</span> -in their lives until they entered the war zone. In -some places the tanks broke the wire, but for the -greater part the infantry—West Australians and New -South Welshmen on right, Victorians on left—with -extraordinary gallantry and with considerable loss -worked its way through it, taking the village of -Riencourt. On the farther side, however, they were -met with repeated bombing attacks which continued -through the morning and afternoon with such -pertinacity that the Australian supply of bombs was -exhausted. There were only three tanks, and though -they behaved with the greatest audacity they were -all put out of action. The artillery support being -inadequate, the infantry had to fall back, and one -considerable party, some 700 in number, were unable -to get through the wire, so that after doing all that -men could do they were compelled to surrender. -Several of these men escaped later with fresh tales of -that German brutality to prisoners which has been -their constant policy, with a few honourable exceptions, -since the first days of the war. When the large -national issues have been settled or forgotten, these -smaller villainies will leave Germans as outcasts -among the civilised nations of the earth, with no living -men save the murderers of Armenia with whom they -can hold equal converse. This temporary repulse -upon the Hindenburg Line by no means disheartened -the Australians, who argued that if with so little -support they could effect so much, a more deliberate -assault could hardly fail of success. Within three -weeks, as will be shown, they were to prove the truth -of their contention. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -April 15 -</span> -</p> - -<p> -In the meantime, a considerable German attack -had been prepared which fell upon the Australian line -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P60"></a>60}</span> -in the early morning of April 15. Two Guards -Divisions and two ordinary divisions took part in it, -so that it was no small matter. The outposts were -weak and a number of the field-guns had been brought -well forward into the front line, so that the first onset -crashed through the defences and brought about a -situation which might have been dangerous. The front -line rallied, and with the aid of supports advanced so -swiftly upon the Germans that they had little time -to injure the guns which had come for the moment -into their power. The front of the attack was nearly -six miles, from Hermies to Noreuil, with its centre at -Lagnicourt, and all along this extended position the -stormers had rushed forward in heavy masses into -the Australian line. It was easier to break than to -destroy, for every scattered post spat out bullets -from rifles and Lewis guns, fighting viciously until -it was either submerged or rescued. In some posts, -notably that of Subaltern Pope, an old warrant-officer -of the Navy from West Australia, the men fired away -every cartridge and then all died together, stabbing -and thrusting with their bayonets into the grey clouds -which hemmed them in. Seventy German dead were -found round his position. In front of Lagnicourt, -the Germans had the advanced guns in their hands -for nearly two hours, but they had been dismantled -by the gunners before they were abandoned, and the -Prussian Guardsmen had apparently no means of -either moving or of destroying them. All of them, -save five, were absolutely intact when retaken. A -rush of Queenslanders and New South Welshmen -drove back the intruders, retrieved the guns, and -followed the fugitives into Lagnicourt. Large numbers -of the Germans were shot down in their retreat, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P61"></a>61}</span> -especially in their efforts to get back through the -gaps in their own wire. Both sides took several -hundred prisoners in this action, but the German -losses were heavy, and nothing at all was gained. -</p> - -<p> -The units which have been mentioned, the Seventh, -Fifty-eighth, and Sixty-second Divisions, with the -Fourth and Fifth Australian Divisions, constituted -for the moment the whole of Gough's Fifth Army. -To its south, extending from the right of the -Australians at Hermies down to the junction with -the French at St. Quentin, lay Rawlinson's Fourth -Army, which consisted at this period of the Fifteenth -Corps (Du Cane) upon the left, with the Twentieth, -Eighth, and Forty-eighth Divisions in the line. -To the south of this was the Third Corps with -the Fifty-ninth, Thirty-fifth, and Thirty-second -Divisions in the line. Their general instructions -were to push the enemy back so as to gain -complete observation of the Hindenburg system. -The Twentieth Division pushed up into Havrincourt -Wood, and gradually by many skirmishes -cleared it of the enemy, an operation which -extended over some time, but was not accompanied -by any hard fighting. -</p> - -<p> -A sharp little action, already described, was fought -at the extreme south of the British line upon April -13, in which the Thirty-second Division was engaged. -This unit captured Fayet, which is only one mile -north of St. Quentin. At the same time, the two -divisions upon the left, the Thirty-fifth and the -Fifty-ninth, advanced and captured the ground -in front of them. After some fighting, these two -divisions occupied the Gricourt-Pontruet line. This -section of the line ceased after April to concern the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P62"></a>62}</span> -British commanders, for the St. Quentin end of it -was taken over by the French, while the trenches -north of that were occupied by Canadian and Indian -cavalry, so as to release fresh divisions for the -operations in the north. -</p> - -<p> -The full objects of the Arras battle, so far as they -could be attained, had been reached after a week of -fighting. Had he only himself to consult, Sir Douglas -would have assumed a strict defensive from that time -onwards and begun at once to transfer his forces for -those operations which he had planned in Flanders. -It was essential, however, that he should hold and -use up as many German divisions as possible in order -to help the French offensive which was about to start -in the south. How successful the British General -had been already in this design is shown by his own -statement that after this week of fighting the Germans -had twice as many divisions opposite to him as they -had at the beginning, and were driven into constant -counter-attacks which cost them heavy losses. The -whole aftermath of the Battle of Arras, extending -until the end of May, is to be judged from this point -of view, and though we may be inclined to wince at -the heavy losses and the limited results, we have to -bear in mind continually the wider strategic meaning -of the operations. -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P63"></a>63}</span> -</p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-063"></a> -<br /> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-063.jpg" alt="Chart of ORDER OF BATTLE--ARRAS April 9, 1917" /> -<br /> -Chart of ORDER OF BATTLE—ARRAS April 9, 1917 -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p><a id="chap03"></a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P64"></a>64}</span></p> - -<h3> -CHAPTER III -<br /><br /> - OPERATIONS IN THE ARRAS SECTOR FROM<br /> - APRIL 23 ONWARDS<br /> -</h3> - -<p class="intro"> -Advance of April 23—Middlesex and Argyll—Grand fighting of the -Fifteenth Division—H.A.C. at Gavrelle—Operations of May 3—The -Gavrelle Windmill—Loss of Fresnoy—Capture of Rœux—The -long fight at Bullecourt. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -Upon April 16 the great French offensive had broken -out upon the Aisne, directed against the line of Chalk -Downs which the British had learned to know so well -in 1914, and aiming at that ancient road, the Chemin -des Dames, which some of the First Division had -actually reached in that year. The attack was very -successful in the outset, a haul of prisoners and guns -being secured which brought their victory to a level -with that at Arras. After a time, however, the -defence became too strong for the attack, and the -French losses became very serious. Whilst they were -gathering their strength for a fresh blow, which was -brilliantly delivered later in the year, it was necessary -for Sir Douglas to keep up his pressure to the north, -and to engage guns and troops which should, according -to his original plan, have been diverted long ago to -the Flemish front. This had the effect of delaying -the operations there, and this in turn brought us -into the premature rainy season which began upon -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P65"></a>65}</span> -August 1 and lasted with very few breaks for the rest -of the autumn. Thus the circumstances at this date, -unavoidable as they were, had a malign effect upon -the year's campaign, which was greatly increased by -the wild proceedings of the new Russian rulers, if -the organisers of anarchy can be known by such a -name. These preposterous people, who began their -career of democracy by betraying all the democracies -of the world, and exemplified their morality by -repudiating the loans which had been made to Russia -in her need, reduced the armies to such a state of -impotence that they were useless as allies, so that -the Latin and Anglo-Saxon races had to fight with -the full weight of the military autocracies. This fact -made the situation both upon the Italian and upon -the Western fronts infinitely more serious than it -would otherwise have been, since not only the men, -but the munitions of the Germans, could be -concentrated upon their undoing. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -April 23 -</span> -</p> - -<p> -Upon April 23 there was a renewal of the advance -all along the British line, which took for its objectives, -counting from the south, Bois du Vert, Bois du Sart, -Pelves, Rœux, Gavrelle, Oppy, Acheville, etc. -</p> - -<p> -Upon this date, Snow's Seventh Corps in the -south had the Thirty-third Division upon its right, -the Thirtieth in the centre, and the Fiftieth upon -the left. It was a day of hard fighting and of very -limited gains, for General Snow experienced all -the disadvantages which the attack has against the -defence, when there is no overwhelming artillery -to blast a road for the infantry. All three divisions -made some progress in the early hours of dawn, -but the whole of the two northern divisions and -the centre of the Thirty-third Division were soon -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P66"></a>66}</span> -held up and were finally driven back to their -starting-point by very heavy machine-gun fire. About 11 -A.M. a heavy German counter-attack, preceded by a terrific -shower of shells, came rolling down the Cojeul Valley, -driving back the Fiftieth Division after their very -fine initial advance. The obstacle in front of the -troops was nothing less than the Hindenburg front -line, so that they might well find it a difficult nut to -crack. The Thirtieth Division fell back in touch -with the Fiftieth, but the Thirty-third managed to -hold on to its gain of ground on the flank which had -brought it into the German front line south of the -Sensée River. -</p> - -<p> -The position at this part of the line had become -serious, and was ever more so as the evening passed -into night, for the forward position of the Thirty-third -Division had exposed its whole left flank, its advanced -units were cut off, and the Germans, pushing back -the Lancashire men of the Thirtieth Division, had -worked forward to an extent which threatened the -guns. If the advance continued, the Thirty-third -Division must either fall back under most difficult -conditions or be overwhelmed. General Pinney held -his ground, and was comforted in doing so by the -sounds all night of a brisk rifle-fire upon his front, -though it was impossible to ascertain what troops -were in so isolated a position. With the first light -of morning, two battalions of the 19th Brigade, -the 20th Royal Fusiliers and 2nd Welsh Fusiliers, -were pushed forward to clear up the situation. They -came after advancing 1200 yards upon the remains of -two grim, battle-stained companies, one of the 1st -Middlesex and one of the 2nd Argyll and Sutherland -Highlanders, who had spent some fifteen hours in -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P67"></a>67}</span> -the heart of the enemy's advance, seeing their attacks -sweeping past them, but keeping as steady as two -rocks in a stream. Apart from the other hardships -of their position, they had endured the whole of the -British barrage put down to stop the German advance. -This stout defence not only screened the face of the -Thirty-third Division, but to some extent covered -the flank of the Thirtieth—a striking example of -what may be accomplished by a small body of -determined men who refuse to despair, be the situation -ever so desperate. In their shell-holes were found a -score or so of German prisoners whom they had held -in their clutch. Lieutenant Henderson of the -Highlanders received the V.C. over the fine stand made -by his troops, and Lieut. Archibald of the same -battalion, together with Captain Belsham and -Lieut. Rutter of the Middlesex, received decorations for -valour, as did many of their brave followers. It was -a deed which was worthy of the famous 91st and -of the old Die-Hards of Albuera. Altogether upon -this day the Thirty-third Division gained great -distinction, and, as a visible sign of its prowess, -750 prisoners from the German Sixty-first Division. -</p> - -<p> -The attack, so far as the Sixth Corps was concerned, -was launched in the early morning of April 23, with -the 44th and 45th well-tried Scottish Brigades upon -the right; on their left were the 88th and 87th Brigades -of Regulars, and farther north still was the 51st -Brigade with one battalion of the 50th. The remaining -brigades were in reserve, with the Third Division -in support behind them. -</p> - -<p> -The advance was met by an extremely heavy -machine-gun fire and by a desperately destructive -barrage of heavy artillery. In spite of this, the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P68"></a>68}</span> -infantry made good progress at several points. The -Highlanders of the 44th and the Lowlanders of -the 45th Brigades faced the deadly fire with equal -bravery, and had soon established themselves to -the north and partly to the east of Guémappe. -The Twenty-ninth Division had also made a fine -advance, being screened from the flank fire which -told heavily upon their comrades to north and south. -By nine o'clock they had reached the line which had -been marked out as their objective, and though the -Germans came swarming down from Pelves, they -could not budge them from their new positions. On -the British left, however, the advance had failed, -for the guns in Rœux on the north side of the Scarpe -commanded their flank, and the 51st Brigade was -unable to get forward in the north, and only slightly -in the south. The German counter-attacks developed -so strongly in the course of the morning that the -Fifteenth Division had to fall back from their -advanced positions, taking up a line due north of -Guémappe, where it was in very close touch with the -Germans in front and with the 88th Brigade upon -the left. Both brigades of the Twenty-ninth Division, -thrown out in a large semi-circle, held fast to their -ground all day. At six in the evening the support -brigade of the Fifteenth Division, the 46th Brigade, -advanced and again won the forward line, including -the village of Guémappe; but the Seventeenth -Division upon the left was unable to get forward. -The 46th Brigade, as night fell, found its isolated -position so precarious that it fell back a little so as to -get into closer touch with the right of the Twenty-ninth -Division, but still held on to the village. It -was a long and hard day's fighting, in which both -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P69"></a>69}</span> -parties gave and took severe blows. The German -resistance was very strong from the first, and though -a fair amount of ground was gained, it was at a -considerable cost, which was only justified by the -fact that the enemy in their counter-attacks suffered -even more heavily. At nightfall, a portion only of -the first objective had been won. Bavarian and Scot -had fought till they were weary round Guémappe, -and never had the dour tenacity of our northern -troops been more rudely tested. It was a fine -exhibition of valour on both sides, but the village -stayed with the Scots. -</p> - -<p> -The Seventeenth Corps on the other side of the -Scarpe had very similar experiences upon this day of -battle as their neighbours in the south. The -Thirty-seventh Division was on their left and the -Fifty-first upon the right. The Thirty-seventh pushed -their line forward to their final objective, which did -not contain any particular village. This advanced -line they were able to hold. The Fifty-first Division, -charging forward with the old Celtic fire, carried the -Chemical Works by assault, and the Corona Trench -beyond them; but after a desperate day of alternate -advance and retreat, their final line was to the west -of the Chemical Works. It was a very hard day's -work upon this sector, and the losses upon both sides -were very heavy. -</p> - -<p> -The Thirteenth Corps upon the same day had -attacked Oppy and Gavrelle to the north, with the -result that the Sixty-third Division captured the -latter. Oppy had proved to be, for the time, inviolable; -but the assault upon Gavrelle was brilliantly -successful, the village being stormed with a splendid -rush, in spite of the most deadly fire, by the 189th and -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P70"></a>70}</span> -190th Brigades of the Sixty-third Naval Division. -The German losses were greatly increased upon this -occasion by their unsuccessful counter-attacks, which -spread over several successive days, and never made -an impression. It is on record that one gathering of -2000 men, collected in a hollow, was observed and -signalled to the guns, with the result that they were -simply shot to pieces by a sudden concentration of -fire. An officer who observed this incident has made -a statement as to the complete nature of the -catastrophe. More than 1000 prisoners were taken on -this front, and nearly 3000 in all. To the north of -the line the Fifth Division also advanced on the -German position, the chief attack being carried out -by the 95th Brigade, having the Electric Generating -Station as its objective. In this operation the 1st -Cornwalls particularly distinguished themselves. The -result of the advance was a mere readjustment of -the line, for the 15th Brigade upon the right was -stopped by uncut wire, though the Germans were -actually seen holding up their hands in the trenches. -Seeing the attack at a standstill, the Germans brought -up their machine-guns and drove it back. Upon -the immediate north of the Fifth Division, the -Sherwood Forester Brigade of the Forty-sixth -Division was brought to a stand in front of Hill 65 -and Fosse 3, two strong positions bristling with -machine-guns. The 6th and 8th Foresters suffered -heavily in this attack, 9 officers and 200 men being -killed, wounded, or taken. Farther still to the north, -the Sixth Division had moved towards the Dynamite -Magazine and Nash Alley, but here also the -attack was held by the defence. On the whole, in -spite of the prisoners and in spite of Guémappe and -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P71"></a>71}</span> -Gavrelle, it was doubtful if the gains made up for -the losses upon the day's balance. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -April 24 -</span> -</p> - -<p> -A second day of hard fighting was destined to -follow that of April 23, though the advance began -later in the day. In the area of the Seventh Corps -some advance was made in the centre and two -field-guns were captured. The Sixth Corps also went -forward again. The front attacked was strong, the -fire heavy, and the attacking troops had again and -again been through the furnace, which had only -tempered their courage, but had woefully consumed -their numbers. The Fifteenth Division in the south -got forward some distance and dug themselves in on -the new line. The Twenty-ninth also made some -gains, but were unable to retain them, and fell back -upon their old line. In the movement some of the -parties to flank and rear were overwhelmed, and 250 -men, including 3 officers, were taken. In the north, -the Seventeenth Division held its old line, and did -not join in the advance. After nightfall the Twelfth -Division came into line again, relieving the weary -Twenty-ninth. Farther north the Seventeenth Corps -and the First Army were driving back counter-attacks. -</p> - -<p> -The next day (April 25) saw the long struggle still -renewed. In the early morning the 50th and 52nd -Brigades of the Seventeenth Division went forward -and made some progress, as did the indomitable -Fifteenth Division in the south. It was clear, -however, that the forces available for attack were not -strong enough to attain any considerable result in -this portion of the line. The Fifteenth, however, -were not to be denied, and with extraordinary tenacity -they made a sudden night attack upon April 26, and -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P72"></a>72}</span> -for a time got possession of a strong German post, -called Cavalry Farm, which barred the way. The -<span class="sidenote"> -April 27 -</span> -enemy counter-attacked in the early morning of -April 27 and re-occupied the Farm, but the Scotsmen -held firmly to the trenches immediately south -of it. At this date the Seventeenth drew out of the -line and the Third came in again in the centre of the -Corps front, while the Twelfth moved to the left. -They were just in time to meet a strong German -night attack upon April 27, which broke before the -rifle and machine-gun fire of the infantry at the point -of contact between the two divisions. The German -losses were heavy, and they left a few prisoners -behind them. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -April 28 -</span> -</p> - -<p> -April 28 had been fixed for a forward movement -of Fergusson's Seventeenth Corps on the north of the -Scarpe, so the Twelfth Division on the south bank -advanced in sympathy with it. This attack gained -possession of part of Bayonet Trench, a formidable -line which crossed the front, but a further attack -was unable to clear the whole of it, on account of the -very severe machine-gun fire down the Scarpe Valley. -It was a day of hard fighting to the north of the -Scarpe, which only affected the line of the Sixth -Corps to the extent that the Thirty-fourth Division -failed to carry the Chemical Works on the north -bank of the river. It was the possession by the -enemy of this position and of the village of Rœux -to the east of it which was so fatal to all advances -south of the Scarpe, as the guns from these places -enfiladed the southern line. But for this the Twelfth -Division might have reached their whole objective. -The Thirty-fourth Division made another attempt -upon Rœux in the middle of the night, but again -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P73"></a>73}</span> -without success, and the Second Division farther -north had no better luck in front of Oppy. -</p> - -<p> -Although the progress had been very limited at -the southern end of the line, there were better results -to the north. The Canadians, whose staying power -in this long-drawn fighting was as remarkable as -their valour, had taken Arleux, together with a -considerable section of trench upon either side of it. -This fine assault was opposed by wire, by sunken -roads, and by a desperate hand-to-hand encounter -amid the ruins, all of which failed to hold the -Canadian infantry. On their right the 5th and 6th -Brigades of the Second Division were heavily engaged -in front of Oppy and Oppy Wood with some success -at first, but this was neutralised by a strong German -counter-attack. Some progress had been made also -by the Thirty-seventh Division upon the left, and -by the Thirty-fourth Division to the right of the -Seventeenth Corps to the north of Gavrelle, and on -the slopes of the long incline known as Greenland -Hill between Gavrelle and Rœux. In these two -days of defensive fighting the German bulletins -claimed a victory, but the fact that they had lost -ground and nearly 1000 prisoners was sufficient to -show how hollow was the pretence. Their losses -were greatly increased by the continual unsuccessful -counter-attacks which they threw against the new -positions in the Oppy line, which had now reached -the edge of the village. Gavrelle village was attacked -no less than seven times, and each time the stormers -were completely repulsed. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -April 23 -</span> -</p> - -<p> -One particular deed of valour connected with -these operations demands some fuller exposition. -The front of the German line which had been breached -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P74"></a>74}</span> -between Gavrelle on the south and the Bailleul-Gavrelle -railway upon the north, was a narrow one, -and the Naval Division had penetrated here to a -depth of nearly 1000 yards, thus creating a narrow -salient into the German defences with its apex at a -fortified windmill. The 4th Bedfords, supported by -the 7th Royal Fusiliers, were responsible for this -advance. The attacks at the north had failed. Thus -the troops in the salient had a most difficult task in -holding the position in view of the determined -counter-attacks, which had continued with hardly a check -from April 23, when the salient was formed. The -pressure fell upon the 190th Brigade, and very -especially upon the 7th Royal Fusiliers and the 1st -Honourable Artillery Company. -</p> - -<p> -The orders had been given to endeavour to widen -the base of the salient by bombing up the German -trenches to the northward, and this work was -committed to Major Osmond of the H.A.C. The attack -was to be carried on in two parallel lines—the one -up the original front trench and the other up the -original support trench. Three young lieutenants—Pollard, -O'Brien, and Haine—led the bombers, and -they came away with a rush which would have -gladdened the hearts of the many generations of -soldiers who have served in this ancient corps. The -railway to the north was their limit, and they had -almost reached it when Haine's party found itself -held up by a fortress containing 200 of the Fusilier -Guards. He sat down before it, repulsed a severe -counter-attack, sent back for trench mortars, and -upon April 28, after a rest during which the 1st Marine -Battalion maintained and enlarged the line, he -attacked it in due form. After a short but vigorous -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P75"></a>75}</span> -bombardment, he captured it with two machine-guns -and fifty of the garrison. He was ordered to leave a -platoon in the captured post, but they, in turn, were -besieged by an attacking force of the German Guards -coming down-trench, and driving in the extreme -right of the Second Division in the north. The -platoon, or what was left of it, blew up the guns -and retreated upon the main body of their Company, -who were assembled, under Haine, just south of the -railway. There they established a block and -remained fast, while Pollard threw out his bombers on -the left to form a defensive flank. -</p> - -<p> -Whilst the Royal Marines had held the line they -had endeavoured to push the Germans to the north -and had lost heavily in the venture. They—or the -scanty remains of them—were now relieved by the -4th Bedfords and 7th Royal Fusiliers. Encouraged -by this strengthening of the general line, the -indefatigable Haine, whose company now numbered only -thirty-five men, assembled his miniature siege-train, -beleaguered the fort once more, and captured it for -the second time with its garrison. Pollard with his -men then pushed past, and took the northern objective -which had already cost so dearly. Having seized it, -he called to his aid men of the Bedfords, the 7th -Fusiliers, and of the 22nd Royal Fusiliers of the -Second Division to hold the new line. The battle -swung and swayed for a time as the Germans made -successive efforts, but the whole Naval Division front -and part of the Second Division front was cleared. -The total trench line taken by Pollard was about a -mile, and 1000 yards of this he cleared with the help -of four bombers, while Haine repelled no fewer than -fourteen attacks. Altogether it was a remarkable -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P76"></a>76}</span> -example of what audacity and initiative can do, and -both these young officers obtained the V.C. for their -determined valour, while Major Osmond, in local -charge of the operation, won his D.S.O. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -May 3 -</span> -</p> - -<p> -May 3 was a day of general battle upon the British -front, the attack being arranged to help the coming -French advance due upon May 5. The main action -raged from Vimy in the north to the Scarpe, while to -the south of the Scarpe the Sixth Corps and Seventh -Corps still continued their indefatigable struggles to -get forward past the Monchy-Guémappe line on to -Pelves and Cherisy. The upshot of the long day's -fighting was the capture of Fresnoy by the Canadians -at one end of the line, and of a part of the new German -line by the Australians at the other end. The Oppy -position was also enlarged and strengthened, and -progress was made all along the front as far south as -Croisilles. Nearly a thousand additional prisoners -were taken by the Seventh Corps. -</p> - -<p> -The operations in the southern area upon May 3 -were carried out by the hard-worked Twenty-first -Division upon the right, the Eighteenth in the -centre, and the Fourteenth on the left. Good progress -was made all along the line, which extended in the -evening roughly from the St. Rohart Factory through -a point 1000 yards west of Cherisy to the west edges -of Fontaine. All three divisions had hard fighting, -and all three lived up to their high reputations. At -one time, the 53rd Eastern County Brigade of the -Eighteenth Division had actually entered and passed -Cherisy, but the pressure of the counter-attacks -and of the guns was too strong, and they had to -relax their grip. In commenting upon this -achievement, General Snow remarked: "I have never met -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P77"></a>77}</span> -a division which so persistently pushed its way forward -during the intervals between heavy fighting, and the -ground (over 1000 yards) won in this manner stands -to its credit." The 8th Norfolk and 10th Essex did -particularly well. In the Fourteenth Division the -42nd Brigade was in close touch with the Londoners -on their left, while the 44th were on the right. The -first 1500 yards' advance of this division was easy -going, but here as elsewhere the darkness caused loss -of touch and some confusion, which was not improved -by the severe fire into which the troops came with the -breaking of the dawn. It is a dismal experience at -any time to trudge through that leaden sleet, but most -dismal surely in that cold ghostly hour of early -morning. The 8th Rifle Brigade and 7th K.R.R. did -all that men could do, and held a flank for the -Eighteenth Division when they advanced upon -Cherisy, but when at last the latter was forced back -the Fourteenth Division retired also, and found -themselves by 10.30 in the morning little advanced from -where they started. -</p> - -<p> -The exertions and losses of the 42nd Brigade upon -the left of the divisional front were not less than -those upon the right, nor had they anything solid to -show for them. Their advance was led by the -5th Oxford and Bucks upon the right, with the -9th Rifle Brigade upon the left. The Oxfords with -great gallantry captured a position called New -Trench, and endeavoured to consolidate it, but after -sustaining a shattering fire from every sort of missile, -and after having lost 300 men, they were charged -by six or seven waves of infantry, each wave being -about 150 strong. Their numbers and the volume -of their fire were not sufficient to stop such an advance, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P78"></a>78}</span> -and the remnants fell back after having taken heavy -toll of their assailants. -</p> - -<p> -The advance to the immediate south of the Scarpe -was started at an hour before dawn, and was carried -out by the Fifty-sixth, Third, and Twelfth Divisions -of the Sixth Corps in the order named from south to -north. This attack from the onset met with the same -terrific machine-gun fire which had limited all our -gains and made them so costly upon this front. On -the extreme right the 69th Brigade made a most -dashing advance, passing through Cavalry Farm -in the darkness, and making good their footing in -the German system of trenches to the east of it. -In this quarter the gain of ground was permanent, -but the 167th Brigade upon the left was not so -successful, and was held up by wire and machine-guns, -as was the 8th Brigade upon its left. All the leading -battalions in this quarter sustained crushing losses, -especially the 1st London, the 7th Middlesex, and the -2nd Royal Scots. For some reason the British -artillery preparation seems to have been entirely -inadequate. "As soon as the first wave topped the -ridge between our front line and the German trench, -it was obvious that the latter had never been -adequately dealt with, and had apparently escaped the -barrage, as it was full of infantry standing shoulder -to shoulder, and waiting for our men to come on. In -consequence, while isolated groups got forward, the -great bulk of our men were attacked by a withering -fire, and pinned down into shell holes from which they -were unable to emerge until after darkness." -</p> - -<p> -The hostile shelling in all this St. Rohart area was -almost incessant during the day, and of so heavy a -volume that it was such as had hardly ever been -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P79"></a>79}</span> -witnessed by any one present. "If we had another -day of it I verily believe we should have been reduced -to idiocy." So wrote a brave veteran who endured -it. It was therefore clear that the British counter-battery -work had been at fault. Add to this that the -start before dawn had the same effect as in other parts -of the line, causing clubbing of units with loss of -direction, and it must be admitted that the experience -of the soldiers upon May 3 was not a happy one. -Deverell's Third Division upon the left of the -Fifty-sixth found much the same conditions and could make -little progress. On the extreme left, however, the -36th Brigade of the Twelfth Division, the same -unit which had done so well at Ovillers, made a fine -advance, gaining the position known as Scabbard -Trench. They lost it temporarily to a counter-attack, -but it was again taken and permanently held -by the 7th Sussex. The fact that the corresponding -point on the north bank of the Scarpe had not yet -been taken by the flank unit of the Seventeenth Corps -made it impossible to get farther forward in this -quarter. The difficulty of the Twelfth Division, -which had made the farthest advance in the morning, -was that they had gone forward in the darkness, and -had lost direction and touch with each other, while -leaving behind them scattered parties of German -infantry. The result was that when the Germans -began their counter-attacks the front British lines -were practically surrounded, and several small parties -of the 37th Brigade were cut off. One little post of -the 6th Buffs was entirely isolated a thousand yards -ahead of the British line, but held off the enemy all -day, and 15 men, the survivors out of 40, made -their way back in the evening, scrambling through -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P80"></a>80}</span> -German trenches and shooting down all opposition. -By that time the whole right of the Twelfth Division -had been forced back to its original line, but the left -still held firm in Scabbard Trench. The division had -2000 casualties in this day's fighting. -</p> - -<p> -The 169th Brigade had in the meanwhile maintained -a difficult position with very great gallantry. -This position had been always isolated upon the left, -but it was covered upon the right by the successful -advance of the Fourteenth Light Division to the south -of the Cojeul River. About mid-day, however, a -strong German advance forced the Fourteenth Division -back to their original line, with the result that the -right flank of the 169th Brigade became exposed. It -was only when there seemed an imminent possibility -of being cut off that this gallant brigade, which -contained the 2nd London, Victorias, Westminsters, and -London Rifle Brigade, was compelled to drop back to -their original line. It was a barren and bloody day -in this section of the line, save for the limited gain upon -the south of the Scarpe. Two machine-guns and 100 -prisoners were the meagre trophies of a long day's -fighting. Yet in estimating results, one must never -lose sight of that necessity for constant action which -is the only method by which the side which has the -stronger reserves can assert its eventual superiority -in a war of attrition. -</p> - -<p> -To the north, the Fourth Division gained ground -east of the Chemical Works and penetrated into -Rœux, but were driven out once more, the 10th and -11th Brigades, especially the 1st Somersets and 2nd -Seaforths, having very heavy losses. The Ninth -Division got well forward upon their left, some of -them over-shooting their objective—Uit Trench—and -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P81"></a>81}</span> -being cut off. Very heavy counter-attacks in the -afternoon broke upon this and upon the other sections -of the Third Army. In the evening, both the Fourth -and Ninth Divisions with gallant pertinacity tried to -get forward again in the hope that their advanced -posts might still be rescued, but they had no success. -A hundred prisoners were taken, but at least as many -were lost, including Highlanders, West Ridings, and -Lancashire Fusiliers, victims of their own push and -valour. -</p> - -<p> -To the north of the Ninth Division, two divisions -of the Thirteenth Corps, the Thirty-first to the south -and the Fifth to the north, had beaten furiously -against the German line upon the Oppy-Gavrelle -sector. The efforts of these divisions were greatly -handicapped, as in the case of others, by the very -early hour at which the action had begun, and by -moonlight in the earlier hours, which exposed the -assembly of the troops. Starting in pitch darkness -the brigades lost touch and direction, so that they -were unable to reach their objectives with the speed -and precision which is so necessary if barrages and -machine-guns are to be avoided. The 92nd East -Yorkshire Brigade of the Thirty-first Division -advanced upon Oppy Wood, and found itself among -trees in the darkness with criss-cross lacings of -barbed wire from the branches in every direction, -and a heavy fire beating on their ranks. The -obstacles would have been difficult in day-time, but -were impossible at night. The battalions got -completely mixed up, and finally a strong German attack -drove them back to their trenches, in spite of a most -strenuous resistance, notable for many deeds of valour, -for one of which, the single-handed attack upon a -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P82"></a>82}</span> -machine-gun, Lieutenant Harrison of the 11th East -Yorks received a posthumous Victoria Cross. -</p> - -<p> -The 93rd West Yorkshire Brigade had got off -well and had reached its objective, but this -successful German attack exposed the 16th West -Yorkshires, who were the flank battalion, to pressure upon -its left rear, so that they had eventually to fall back. -This exposed the 15th and part of the 18th West -Yorkshires, who were now holding Gavrelle village -and the trenches to the immediate north of it. For a -time things were very critical, and the windmill which -commanded the village was retaken by the enemy. -The Colonel of the 15th West Yorks collected sixty -men of his battalion and held splendidly to the east -side of the village for the whole day. One company -of the 18th Durhams under Lieutenant Hitchings was -sent to retake the windmill, which they did, but were -driven out again by the shattering fire of the enemy. -They re-formed at the foot of the slope and attacked -and recaptured the mill once more, only to be driven -out for the third time. Again they took the mill, -and this time they drove back the German counter-attack -and held on to the position. Sixty out of a -hundred in the British ranks had fallen, but when the -battle painter of the future is in search for a subject, -he will find none better than that of the forty survivors -under their boy leader, wearied, blood-stained, but -victorious in their shot-torn mill. The whole Gavrelle -position was now held, the 93rd being strengthened by -two battalions from the 94th York and Lancaster -Brigade. -</p> - -<p> -The one outstanding success of the day was the -capture of Fresnoy by the First Division of Canadians, -which was carried out with the usual dash and gallantry -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P83"></a>83}</span> -of this veteran unit, whose worth had now been proved -upon so many battlefields. The fighting was the -more severe as the village was full of German troops -mustered for an attack. Fresnoy was, however, most -difficult to hold, as the enemy had retained trench -systems both to the north and to the south of it. -Shortly after its capture the First Canadians were -drawn out of the line for a rest, and the Thirteenth -Corps extended to the left, so as to take over its front -and to connect with the Second Canadians. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -May 8 -</span> -</p> - -<p> -In the early dawn of May 8 the garrison of the -village was driven out by a powerful attack from -three German divisions. This attack fell at the point -of contact between the left of the British and the right -of the Canadians, and was so severe that both were -pushed back. The 95th Brigade of the Fifth Division, -which had moved down from the Lens area, was the -particular one which bore the brunt upon the British -line, and the two front battalions, the 1st East Surreys -and 12th Gloucesters, lost heavily under the terrible -concentrated shellfire which a survivor who had tested -both described as being "as bad as Longueval." For -some reason the artillery support was deficient, and -the S.O.S. signals were unanswered. The infantry -were driven out by the German rush, and a -gallant counter-attack led by a Major of the -Gloucesters, with some of their men and some of -the 1st Cornwalls, failed to recover the position. -The Canadians made no less desperate efforts, but it -was impossible to stand against the concentrated -bombardment. "You could not see for mud in the -air," says an observer. Fresnoy became once more a -part of the German line. The price paid, however, -was a very heavy one, for it was only the second -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P84"></a>84}</span> -attacking division, who were the famous 5th Bavarians, -which effected a lodgment after the leading division -had been broken and driven back with very heavy -losses by the rapid fire of the defenders. Upon the -British side a large proportion of the small garrison -was killed or wounded, while 300 were taken. The -1st Devons came up in the evening and the line was -reconstructed about 600 yards to the rear of the old -one. It was determined, however, to push it forward -at once, and in the early morning of May 9 the Fourth -Canadians upon the left, the Devons in the centre, -and the 15th Brigade upon the right, pushed on once -more, and established the line close to the village, -which still remained in the hands of the enemy. -</p> - -<p> -Up to this point the new British offensive which -had started upon April 9, and had now come practically -to an end, had yielded the splendid results of -400 officers and 19,100 men prisoners, 98 heavy guns, -and 159 field-pieces captured, together with 227 -trench mortars, 464 machine-guns, and other material. -</p> - -<p> -The battle of May 3, which had ended by some -gain of ground, and by the capture of nearly 1000 -prisoners (as against some 300 which were lost upon -that day), was the last general action along the new -line, though it was followed by numerous local -engagements. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -May 10 -</span> -</p> - -<p> -On May 10, in the dusk of the evening, the lull -upon the Scarpe was broken by a most successful -attack by the Fourth Division upon Rœux Station, -the Cemetery, the Chemical Works, and finally the -village itself, every one of these points being taken -by storm. The value of this success may be judged -by the fact that this was the ninth assault upon the -position, a fact which gives an index both of the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P85"></a>85}</span> -pertinacity of British infantry and of the steadfast -courage of the successive German garrisons. The -10th Brigade, led by that man of many wounds and -honours, de Wiart, took the village itself, the Dublin -Fusiliers and the newly formed battalion, made from -dismounted Household Cavalry, doing good service. -Berners' 11th Brigade had advanced upon the left -and captured all their objectives, the 1st Hants -taking the Château, whilst the 1st East Lancashires -and the 1st Rifle Brigade got the Chemical Works, -the scene of so many combats. The place was -defended by the 362nd Brandenburgers, who were -nearly all killed or taken, the prisoners being over -500 in number. The Fourth Division handed over -Rœux to the 51st Highland Territorials, who successfully -held it during a very desperate counter-attack -upon the night of May 13. The incessant and costly -counter-attacks of the Germans in all these regions -proved how vital they considered these lost positions. -On May 11 there was another sharp little action -which improved the British position. Upon that -date the 168th Brigade of the Fifty-sixth Division -made a sudden attack at nightfall upon Tool Trench, -an awkward position which ran along a small spur -and had been a cause of loss in the previous attack. -It was captured with a rush, together with a handful -of prisoners and six machine-guns. This position -was consolidated and permanently held. On the -same night the 169th Brigade on the right advanced -its line between Cavalry Farm and the Cojeul River. -Next day an attempt was made to carry forward this -success along the northern portion of the corps line, -but was met with so heavy a barrage that it was not -possible to carry it out. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P86"></a>86}</span> -</p> - -<p> -The strain upon the divisions during this continuous -fighting had been so great that it was found -necessary to give them all the rest and relief possible. -With this object in view, the Sixth Corps front was -held now by only two divisions, the Fifty-sixth upon -the right and the Twenty-ninth on the left. In order -to cover the whole line, the Corps mounted troops -were advanced and were placed in the trenches upon -the south of the Scarpe, which were less vulnerable -since the capture of Rœux by the Fourth Division. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -May 16 -</span> -</p> - -<p> -In the dim light of the very early morning of -May 16, after a heavy shell-fall, a new division of the -enemy was thrust forward just north of the Scarpe. -In a long day's fighting it was practically destroyed, -for though in its first ardent advance it flowed over -the shot-shattered advance posts, it was finally held, -and then after a long tussle was shot out of its new -positions by the rifles and Lewis guns, until before -evening it was back whence it started. In this brisk -action thousands of the assailants were killed or -wounded with nothing to show for it save the substantial -losses which they inflicted. This very severe -attack fell mainly upon the Fifty-first Division, who -showed once more that British formations, even if -penetrated, are very far from being defeated. -</p> - -<p> -On May 18 there was a spirited local operation -by the 8th Middlesex of the 167th Brigade, in which -they made a very gallant bombing attack upon that -portion of Tool Trench which was not yet in British -hands. The opposition, however, was so strong that -no permanent good could be effected. On the next -day there was a further attempt to get forward, both -by the 167th and by its neighbour, the 87th Brigade. -The fire was too deadly, however, and the advance -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P87"></a>87}</span> -was not successful. This failure seems to have been -due to a knowledge on the part of the enemy as to -the coming assault, for the machine-gun fire and the -barrage opened in full force at the very moment -when the leading line of infantry sprang over the -lips of their assembly trenches. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -May 20 -</span> -</p> - -<p> -May 20 marked a successful advance of the Thirty-third -Division on the right of the Seventh Corps, -against the Hindenburg Line in the Sensée Valley -and southwards towards Bullecourt. On this occasion -there was no preliminary bombardment and no -creeping barrage. A mist helped the 98th Brigade -to deploy unobserved under the bulge of the chalk -hills that rise to the south of the Sensée Valley. -When this mist rose the Germans had a fine, though -transitory, view of British tactics, for the battalions -were advancing as upon an Aldershot field day. -The 100th Brigade worked down the Hindenburg -Line north of the river, crossed it, and joined -hands with their comrades on the south. It was a -complete surprise, and counter-attack was checked -by the volume of the British gun-fire which tore up -the whole rear of the German defences. The result -was the capture of more than a mile of the front line -on either side of the Sensée River, with half a mile -of the support line, and 170 prisoners, with many -machine-guns. The losses in this well-managed affair -were well under a thousand. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -May 30 -</span> -</p> - -<p> -For ten days after this the southern front -was quiet, and the only change consisted in the -withdrawal of the Fifty-sixth and the substitution -of the Thirty-seventh Division. On May 30 -a minor operation was carried out upon a small -section of German trench by the 88th Brigade, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P88"></a>88}</span> -assisted by the 8th East Lancashires from the 112th -Brigade. This attack had some partial success, but -was eventually driven out of the captured -by a strong counter-attack, with the result that a -small body of the 3rd Middlesex Regiment, some -thirty in number, were isolated and taken or slain. -Greater success, however, attended the next operation, -which was an attack upon June 14 upon Infantry -Hill, which included Hook Trench and Long Trench. -This very successful advance was carried out by the -1st Gordons and 2nd Suffolks, the two regular -battalions of the 76th Brigade. The whole position was -stormed by a surprise attack and 180 prisoners were -taken. A counter-attack was broken up by the -British artillery. The losses of the storming battalions -were well under 400 men. Two days later the -Germans again made a strong effort to thrust back -the British advance, but again they failed with -considerable loss, save at the more advanced posts -which they occupied. A British attempt next morning -to regain these lost posts was not successful. -Upon June 18, the anniversary of the great day -when Germany and Britain fought together for -freedom, there was a fresh attack to retake Hook -and Long Trench. It surged up to and into the -trenches, but could not disperse the sturdy men of -Suffolk, who held them. The German wave lost its -momentum and broke up into pools, which soon -were swept back with the ebbing tide. Nearly 200 -prisoners were taken in this spirited affair. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -June 5 -</span> -</p> - -<p> -The Seventeenth Corps had a brisk day upon -June 5, which extended into three days of fighting. -On this date the Ninth Division upon the right and -the Thirty-fourth upon the left moved forward -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P89"></a>89}</span> -suddenly in the evening, covering the space between -Rœux and Gavrelle. The attack was directed against -a dangerous network of trenches called Curly, Charlie, -and Cuthbert, which guarded the rising slope known -as Greenland Hill. The brunt of the fighting was -borne by the 27th or Lowland Brigade in the south, -and by the 102nd Tyneside Brigade in the north. In -the latter brigade the 20th and 21st Northumberland -Fusiliers carried the trenches opposite to them, while -the Scottish infantry kept pace with them upon the -right. After hard fighting the whole front German -position fell into the hands of the stormers, who had -to defend it against a long series of desultory -counter-attacks, which lasted until June 7, when the enemy -finally gave up the attempt to regain the ground -which he had lost. Six officers and 217 men were -captured, and the German losses in killed were very -heavy, each front battalion reckoning that there were -between three and four hundred enemy dead scattered -in front of it. It was a spirited local action attended -by complete success. -</p> - -<p> -It is necessary now to go back in point of time -and pick up the narrative at the northern end of the -line. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -May 24 -</span> -</p> - -<p> -On Thursday, May 24, the operations at Lens, -in abeyance since April 23, broke out once more, -when the Forty-sixth Division, which had extended -its left so as to occupy much of the ground -formerly held by the Sixth Division, made an attempt -upon Nash Alley and other trenches in front of -it. The attack was made by the 137th Stafford -Brigade, and was launched at seven in the evening. -The objectives with twenty-eight prisoners were -easily secured. It was found impossible, however, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P90"></a>90}</span> -to hold the captured ground, as every German gun -within range was turned upon it, and a furious -succession of assaults wore down the defenders. -Captain McGowan beat off five of these onslaughts -before he was himself blown to pieces by a bomb. -Every officer being down, Major MacNamara came -forward from Headquarters to take command, and -in the morning withdrew the detachment, an operation -which was performed with great steadiness, the men -facing back and firing as they retired. Major -MacNamara was himself killed in conducting the -movement. There were incessant skirmishes, but no -other outstanding action for some time in the north -of the line, so we must again return to the extreme -south and follow the fortunes of the Australians and -their British comrades upon the Bullecourt sector. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="sidenote"> -May 3 -</span> -</p> - -<p> -The operations of the Australians and of the -British divisions were renewed upon May 3 in front -of Bullecourt and Lagnicourt, the scene of the brave -but unsuccessful attack of April 11, when the -Australian infantry with little support penetrated -the Hindenburg Line. On this second occasion -the British gun-power was very much heavier and -cleared a path for the attack, while laying down an -excellent barrage. The original advance was in the -first glimmer of daylight, and by 6.30 it had penetrated -well into the Hindenburg Line, the wire having been -blown to pieces. The advance made its way by -successive rushes to the right of Bullecourt village, -where it clung for the rest of the day, the infantry -engaged being almost entirely men from Victoria. -Laterally by their bombing parties they extended -their hold upon the two front lines of German trenches -to the right, in which quarter the attack had originally -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P91"></a>91}</span> -been held up. In the meantime the 62nd Yorkshire -Territorial Division had fought their way up to the -village and were engaged in desperate hand-to-hand -fighting among the shattered brick houses. An Arras -English aviator, flying at a height of only 100 feet -or so, passed up and down the Australian battle-line -helping with his machine-gun, and finally dropping -a message, "Bravo, Australia!" a few moments -before a bullet through the petrol tank brought him -at last to earth. The greeting of this brave lad might -well have been the voice of the Empire, for the -Australian infantry wrought wonders that day. The -British division having been held at Bullecourt, the -result was that the Australians projected as a salient -into the Hindenburg Line, and that they were attacked -on both flanks as well as in front, but they still held -on not only for May 3, but for two days that followed, -never losing their grip of the trenches which they -had won. On the right the Germans made counter-attacks -which have been described by the admirable -Australian Official Chronicler as being done in "School -of Seals" formation, where a hundred grey-backs all -dived together from one shell crater to another, -none of these attacks got up, owing to the rapid and -accurate rifle fire which met them. The German -bombing attacks down the trenches were met by -showers of trench-mortar bombs, which broke them -up. The Germans had trench-mortars also, however, -and by their aid they made some of the right-hand -positions untenable, but West Australian bombers -restored the fight, and the New South Welshmen -added further to the gains. In vain a battalion of -Prussian Guards and a column of picked storm-troops -beat up against that solid defence. The -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P92"></a>92}</span> -position once taken was always held. The Seventh -Division had relieved the Sixty-second, and had -tightened its grip upon the outskirts of Bullecourt -and from this time onwards its daily task was on the -one hand to push farther into the ruins and to -eradicate more of the scattered German posts, and -on the other to move out upon the right and get close -touch with the Australians so as to cover one side -of their dangerous salient. Each object was effected -in the midst of fighting which was local and -intermittent, but none the less very desperate and -exhausting. During a week continual counter-attacks -moving up from Riencourt broke themselves upon -either the British or Australian lines. The 9th and -10th Devon battalions of the 20th Brigade, and their -comrades of the 2nd Borders and 2nd Black Watch, -were especially hard pressed in these encounters, -With inexorable pressure they enlarged their lines -however, and by May 17 the British Fifty-eighth -Division of London Territorials (Cator), which had -taken over the work, could claim to have the whole -of Bullecourt in their keeping, while their brave -Oversea comrades had fairly settled into the gap -which they had made in the Hindenburg front line. -Though the operations were upon a small scale as -compared with great battles like Arras, no finer exploit -was performed upon the Western front during the -year than this successful advance, in which the three -British divisions and the Australians shattered no -less than fifteen attacks delivered by some of the best -troops of Germany. Sir Douglas Haig, who is not -prodigal of praise, says in his final despatch: "The -defence of this 1000 yards of double trench line, -exposed to attack on every side, through two weeks -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P93"></a>93}</span> -of constant fighting, deserves to be remembered as a -most gallant feat of arms." The losses were naturally -heavy, those of the three British divisions—the -Seventh, Fifty-eighth, and Sixty-second—being -approximately the same. They had been opposed by -Guards Regiments and Brandenburg Grenadiers, the -very cream of the Prussian Army, and had rooted -them out of their carefully prepared position. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p><a id="chap04"></a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P94"></a>94}</span></p> - -<h3> -CHAPTER IV -<br /><br /> -THE BATTLE OF MESSINES -</h3> - -<p class="t3"> -June 7, 1917 -</p> - -<p class="intro"> -Plumer's long vigil—The great mines—Advance of Australians—Of -New Zealanders—Of the Twenty-fifth Division—Of the Irish -Divisions—Death of Major Redmond—Advance of Nineteenth -Division—Of the Forty-first Division—Of the Forty-seventh -Division—Of the Twenty-fourth Division—General results. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -The operations upon the Somme in the autumn of -1916 had given the British command of the high -ground in the Somme district. The next move was -to obtain a similar command in the continuation of -the same high ground to the north. This was -accomplished from Arras to Lens in the great battle which -began upon April 9, 1917. After the complete conquest -of this Vimy position, the next step was obviously -to attack the prolongation of the same ridge in the -Ypres direction. This was carried out with great -success upon June 7 in the Battle of Messines, when -nine miles of commanding country were carried and -permanently held, from the neighbourhood of Ploegstrate -in the south to Hill 60 and Mount Sorel in the -north. Thus many spots which will for ever be -associated with the glorious dead—Hill 60 itself, with -its memories of the old 13th and 15th Brigades, -Wytschaete, where the dismounted troopers fought -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P95"></a>95}</span> -so desperately in the fall of 1914; Messines, sacred -also to the memory of the cavalry and of the British -and Indian infantry who tried hard to hold it; finally -the long, gently sloping ridge which was reddened -by the blood of the gallant London Scots when they -bore up all night amid fire and flame against the -ever-increasing pressure of the Bavarians—all these -historic places came back once more into British -keeping. It is this action, so splendid both in its -execution and in its results, which we have now to -examine, an action which was a quick sequel to the -order of the German command that "the enemy must -not get Messines Ridge at any price." -</p> - -<p> -For two thankless years Sir Herbert Plumer, the -officer who in his younger days had held on in such -bulldog fashion to the country north of Mafeking, -had been the warden of the Ypres salient. His task -had been a peculiarly difficult and responsible one—indeed, -many a military critic might have said <i>a priori</i> -that it was an impossible one. The general outline -of the British trenches formed a loop rather than a -salient, and there was no point in it which could not -be shot into from behind. Add to this that all the -rising ground, and therefore all the observation, lay -with the enemy, and that the defending troops were -very often skeleton divisions which had come up -exhausted from the south. Taking all these circumstances -together, one can understand the facts which -turned General Plumer's hair white during these two -years, but never for an instant weakened the -determination of his defence. There was no one in the -Army who did not rejoice, therefore, when it was -learned that the Second Army had been chosen for -the next attack, and that the long-suffering Plumer -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P96"></a>96}</span> -was at last to have a chance of showing that he could -storm a line as well as hold one. -</p> - -<p> -Preparatory to the attack, some twenty great -mines had been driven into the long, low hill, which -is really little more than a slope, attaining a height -of 250 feet at the summit. These mines contained -600 tons of explosives, and had been the work of -constant relays of miners during many months. These -tunnelling companies of miners, drawn from all sorts -of material and officered by mining engineers and -foremen, did some splendid work in the war, and the -British finally outfought the Germans under the -earth as completely as they did both on it and above -it. The accumulation of guns was even greater than -at Arras, and they were packed into about half the -length of front, so that the effect of the massed fire -when it broke out in the morning of June 7 was crushing -to an extent never before known in warfare. What -with the explosions of the mines and the downpour -of shells, the German front line, with its garrison, -may be said to have utterly disappeared, so that -when at 3.20 in the first faint flush of a summer -morning the infantry dashed forward to the attack, -the path of victory had already been laid out before -them. Let us examine the general composition of -the British line before we follow the fortunes of the -various units. -</p> - -<p> -General Plumer's Army had been moved down the -line so as to cover all its objectives, and Gough's -Fifth Army from the south had been put in to the -north of it, occupying the actual salient. This Army -was not in the first instance engaged. The Second -Army consisted of three Corps. The northern of -these was Morland's Tenth Corps, which was in the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P97"></a>97}</span> -region of St. Eloi. This Corps consisted, counting -from the north, of the Twenty-third, Forty-seventh -and Forty-first Divisions with the Twenty-fourth in -reserve. Upon its right, facing Wytschaete, was -Hamilton Gordon's Ninth Corps, containing from the -north the Nineteenth, Sixteenth, and Thirty-sixth -Divisions, with the Eleventh in reserve. Still farther -to the right was the Second Anzac Corps (Godley) -facing Messines with the Twenty-fifth British Division, -the New Zealanders, and the Third Australians in -line from the north, and the Fourth Australians in -reserve. This was the British battle-line upon the -eventful dawn of June 7, 1917. -</p> - -<p> -To take the work of individual units, we shall begin -with the Third Australian Division (Monash) upon the -extreme right. The men, like their comrades all along -the line, had endured very heavy shelling in their -assembly trenches, and sprang eagerly forward when -the word to advance was given. The First and -Second Australian Divisions had given so splendid an -account of themselves already in the Hindenburg -Line, that it was no surprise to find that their mates -were as battleworthy as any troops in the Army. -The whole country in front of them was drenched with -gas, which hung heavy with the mists of morning, but -the weird lines of masked men went swiftly onwards -in open order through the poison region, dashed over -the remains of the German trenches, crossing the -small river Douve upon the way, and then pushing -on from one shot-shattered building to another, -keeping well up to the roaring cloud of the barrage, -occupied without a hitch the whole of their allotted -position. With a single pause, while Messines was -being occupied upon their left, the leading line of -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P98"></a>98}</span> -Victorians and Tasmanians drove straight on for -their ultimate goal, sending back a stream of captured -prisoners behind them. Only at one trench was there -a sharp hand-to-hand fight, but in general so splendid -was the artillery and so prompt the infantry that the -enemy had never a chance to rally. It was a perfect -advance and absolutely successful. Some indications -of counter-attacks came up from the Warneton -direction during the afternoon and evening, but they -were beaten out so quickly by the shrapnel that they -never came to a head. Half-a-dozen field-guns, as -well as several hundred prisoners, fell to the lot of the -Australians. -</p> - -<p> -Upon the immediate left of the Australians was -the New Zealand Division (Russell), which had done -so splendidly at the Somme. Their Rifle Brigade had -been given the place of honour exactly opposite to -Messines, and by eight o'clock they had occupied the -village and were digging in upon the farther side. -Thirty-eight machine-guns and a number of prisoners -were the trophies of their advance. There was no -severe fighting, so well had the mines and the guns -together done their work; but the men who stormed -the village found numerous cellars and dug-outs still -occupied, into which they swiftly penetrated with -bayonet or bomb. In one of these regimental -headquarters was found a message from General von -Laffert ordering the 17th Bavarian Regiment to hold -the village at all costs. It is certainly extraordinary -how these unfortunate and gallant Bavarians were -thrust into every hot corner, and if the reason lies in -the fact that their Prince Rupprecht had the honour -of commanding the German Army of Flanders, then -it is an honour which will leave its grievous trace upon -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P99"></a>99}</span> -his country for a century to come. It is an extraordinary -historical fact that the Bavarians, who were -themselves overrun and crushed by the conquering -Prussians in 1866, should have paid without demur -the enormous blood tribute to their conquerors in a -cause in which they had no direct interest, since no -annexation of Briey metals or Belgian lands would -bring prosperity to Bavaria. -</p> - -<p> -The losses of the New Zealanders in their fine -advance were not heavy, but they had a number of -casualties that evening and next morning in their -newly, consolidated position, which included -unfortunately Brigadier-General Brown, one of the finest -officers in the force, who was killed by a burst of -shrapnel. -</p> - -<p> -Upon the immediate left of the New Zealanders -was the Twenty-fifth (Bainbridge), a sound, hard-working -British Division, which had a fine and a very -long record of service upon the Somme. The task -allotted to this division was a formidable one, -consisting of an attack upon a 1200-yard front, which -should penetrate 3000 yards and cross nine lines of -German trenches, the concealed Steenebeek Valley, -and crush the resistance of a number of fortified farms. -In spite of these numerous obstacles, the advance, -which was well-covered by General Kincaid-Smith's -guns, was splendidly successful. The 74th Brigade -was on the right, the 7th upon the left, with the -75th in reserve. Observers have recorded how at -the very instant that the men surged forward -under their canopy of shells, six miles of -S.O.S. rockets rose in one long cry for help from the -German line. From the right the British wave of -stormers consisted of the 2nd Irish Rifles, the 13th -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P100"></a>100}</span> -Cheshire, the 3rd Worcesters, and the 8th North -Lancashires, veterans of Ovillers and the Leipzig Redoubt. -Keeping close behind a barrage of sixty guns, they -flooded over the enemy trenches, just missing the -answering barrage which came pattering down behind -them. These troops advanced without a check to -the line of the Steenebeek, where the work was taken -up by the second wave, consisting of the 9th Lancs, -11th Lancashire Fusiliers, 10th Cheshires, and 1st -Wilts, the order being taken from the right. For a -time there was a dangerous gap between the Wiltshires -and the flank of the Ulstermen to the left, but this -was bridged over, and the advance rolled on, with a -constant capture of prisoners and machine-guns. -Only at one point, named Middle Farm, was there a -notable resistance, but the Lancashire Fusiliers and -Irish Rifles combined to crush it. All this attack had -been carried out in a dim light, half mist and half -dust-laden from explosions, where obstacles were -hardly seen until they were reached, and where it took -fine leading and discipline to preserve direction, so -that numbers of men lost touch with their own -battalions and went forward as best they might. These -are the times when shirkers have their chance and -when the true individual quality of troops is most -highly tested. Out of touch with officers on either -side, the British advanced and the Germans surrendered. -</p> - -<p> -On the capture of all the first objectives the 8th -South Lancashires and 11th Cheshires of the 75th -Brigade passed through the victorious ranks of their -fellow brigades and pushed on against the strong -October system of trenches beyond. The 8th Borders -followed closely behind, consolidating the ground won -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P101"></a>101}</span> -by the forward line. It was still only four in the -morning. As the 75th Brigade swept forward, it -found the 1st New Zealand Brigade upon its right, -and the 107th Ulster Brigade upon its left, all moving -swiftly in one great line. By eight o'clock all -immediate opposition had been beaten down, and the -full objectives were being consolidated by the 106th -Field Company Royal Engineers, five field-guns having -been added to the other trophies. These might have -been got away by the enemy had not the machine-guns -knocked out the gun teams. The 110th and -112th Brigades of British artillery had been pushed up -after the infantry, and though some delay was caused -by the unfortunate destruction of Major Campbell -and his whole battery staff by a single shell, the -batteries were in action within the German lines by -11 A.M. -</p> - -<p> -About midday a counter-attack began to develop, -along the front of the Second Anzac Corps, involving -both British, New Zealanders, and Australians, but -the blow already received had been too severe, and -there was no resilience left in the enemy. The -attempt died away under a withering fire from rifles -and machine-guns. By 2 P.M. all was quiet once -more. -</p> - -<p> -The British effort was not yet at an end, however. -The long summer day was still before them, and there -was a good reserve division in hand. This was the -Fourth Australian Division (Holmes), two brigades of -which passed through the ranks of the Twenty-fifth -and New Zealand Divisions, about 3.15 P.M. Their -objective was a further system of trenches 500 yards to -the east and well down the other slope of the Messines -Hill. The advance of each brigade was admirable, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P102"></a>102}</span> -but unfortunately they diverged, leaving a dangerous -gap between, in which for two days a party of the -enemy, with machine-guns, remained entrenched. -At the end of that time two battalions of the 13th -Australian Brigade, the 50th and 52nd, carried the -place most gallantly by storm and solidified the line. -</p> - -<p> -Passing from the area of the Anzac Corps to that -of the Ninth Corps, we come first upon Nugent's -Thirty-sixth Ulster Division, which had not reappeared -in any battle since its day of glory, and of tragic loss -in front of Thiepval. It was now, by a happy chance -or by a beneficent arrangement, fighting upon the -right flank of the Sixteenth Southern Irish Division -(Hickie) and the two may be treated as one, since they -advanced, step by step, in the same alignment up the -bullet-swept slope, and neither halted until they had -reached their full objectives. The Ulstermen went -forward with the 107th Brigade of Irish Rifles upon -the right in close touch with the Twenty-fifth Division, -while the 108th was on the left, keeping line with their -fellow-countrymen, both Irish divisions dashing -forward with great fire and resolution. -</p> - -<p> -The Sixteenth Irish Division for the purpose of -the attack consisted of four brigades, having been -strengthened by the addition of the 33rd Brigade -from the Eleventh Division. In the attack, the 47th -Brigade was upon the right and the 49th upon the left. -If some further detail may be permitted in the case of -men who were playing so loyal a part at a time when -part of Ireland had appeared to be so disaffected, it -may be recorded that the Irish line counting from -the right consisted of the 6th Royal Irish, the 7th -Leinsters, the 7/8th Royal Irish Fusiliers, and the 7th -Inniskilling Fusiliers. These battalions sprang up -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P103"></a>103}</span> -the Wytschaete slope, closely followed by their -second line, which was formed by the 1st Munster -Fusiliers, 6th Connaught Rangers, 2nd Royal Irish -and 8th Inniskillings. In this order, in close touch -with the Ulstermen upon their right and the English -Nineteenth Division upon their left, they swept up -the hill, their Celtic yell sounding high above the -deep thunder of the guns. The explosion of the huge -mines had a disconcerting effect at the first instant, -for great masses of debris came showering down upon -the men in the advanced positions, so that the dense -smoke and the rain of falling earth and stones caused -confusion and loss of direction. The effect was only -momentary, however, and the eager soldiers dashed -on. They swarmed over Wytschaete village and wood, -beating down all resistance, which had already been -badly shaken by the accurate fire of General Charlton's -guns. It was in the assault of the village that that -great Irishman, Major Willie Redmond, fell at the -head of his men. "He went in advance when there -was a check. He was shot down at once. As he fell, -he turned towards his men and tried to say something. -No words came, but he made an eloquent gesture -with his right arm towards the German line, and the -Irish swept forward." The profound gratitude of -every patriot is due to him, to Professor Kettle, to -Mr. Stephen Gwynn, M.P., and to all those Nationalists -who had sufficient insight to understand that Ireland's -true cause was the cause of the Empire, and that it -was the duty of every Irishman of all shades of -opinion to uphold it in arms. <i>O si sic omnes!</i> An -Irishman could then hold his head higher to-day! -</p> - -<p> -By 3.45 A.M. the first objective had been taken, -and by five the second, save in front of the Leinsters, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P104"></a>104}</span> -where there was a stout resistance at a German -machine-gun post, which was at last overcome. It -was at this period that a dangerous gap developed -between the retarded wing of the right-hand brigade -and the swiftly advancing flank of the left, but this -opening was closed once more by seven o'clock. By -7.30 the third objective had been cleared by the 1st -Munsters on the right and the 2nd Irish Rifles on the -left, for the second line had now leap-frogged into the -actual battle. By eight o'clock everything had fallen, -and the field-guns of the 59th and 113th Brigades -R.F.A. had been rushed up to the front, well-screened -by the slope of the newly conquered hill. The new -position was swiftly wired by the 11th Hants and -Royal Engineers. -</p> - -<p> -There now only remained an extreme line which -was, according to the original plan, to be the objective -of an entirely new advance. This was the Oostaverne -Line, so called from the hamlet of that name which -lay in the middle of it. Its capture meant a further -advance of 2000 yards, and it was successfully -assaulted in the afternoon by the 33rd Brigade, -consisting of the 7th South Staffords, 9th Sherwoods, -6th Lincolns, and 6th Borders. It has been frequently -remarked, and Guillemont might be quoted as a -recent example, that both Englishmen and Irishmen -never fight better than when they are acting together -and all national difference is transmuted suddenly -into generous emulation. So it was upon the field -of Messines, for the advance of the 33rd Brigade was -a worthy continuation of a splendid achievement. -Keeping pace with the 57th Brigade of the Nineteenth -Division to their north, they dashed aside all obstacles, -and by 5.45 were in complete possession of the farthest -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P105"></a>105}</span> -point which had ever been contemplated in the -fullest ambition of the Generals. -</p> - -<p> -The enemy had been dazed by the terrific blow, -but late in the evening signs of a reaction set in, for -the German is a dour fighter, who does not sit down -easily under defeat. It is only by recollecting his -constant high qualities that one can appreciate the -true achievement of the soldiers who, in all this -series of battles—Arras, Messines, and the Flanders -Ridges—were pitch-forking out of terribly fortified -positions the men who had so long been regarded as -the military teachers and masters of Europe. Nerved -by their consciousness of a truly national cause, our -soldiers fought with a determined do-or-die spirit -which has surely never been matched in all our -military annals, while the sagacity and adaptability -of the leaders was in the main worthy of the -magnificence of the men. As an example of the insolent -confidence of the Army, it may be noted that on this, -as on other occasions, all arrangements had been made -in advance for using the German dumps. "This -should invariably be done," says an imperturbable -official document, "as the task of rapidly getting -forward engineer stores is most difficult." -</p> - -<p> -A line of mined farms formed part of the new -British line, and upon this there came a series of -German bombing attacks on June 8, none of which -met with success. The 68th Field Company of the -Engineers had inverted the position, turning the -defences from west to east, and the buildings were held -by the Lincolns and Sherwoods, who shot down the -bombers before they could get within range even of -the far-flying egg-bomb which can outfly the Mills by -thirty paces, though its effect is puny in comparison -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P106"></a>106}</span> -with the terrific detonation of the larger missile. -From this time onwards, the line became permanent. -In this long day of fighting, the captures amounted to -8 officers and 700 men with 4 field-guns and 4 howitzers. -The losses were moderate for such results, being 1100 -men for the Irish and 500 for the 33rd Brigade. -Those of the Ulster Division were also about 1000. -</p> - -<p> -Upon the left of the Irishmen the advance had -been carried out by Shute's Nineteenth Division. Of -this hard fighting division, the same which had carried -La Boiselle upon the Somme, the 56th Lancashire -Brigade and the 58th, mainly Welsh, were in the line. -The advance was a difficult one, conducted through -a region of shattered woods, but the infantry cleared -all obstacles and kept pace with the advance of the -Irish upon the right, finally sending forward the -reserve Midland Brigade as already stated to secure -and to hold the Oostaverne Line. The ground -to be traversed by this division, starting as it did -from near Wulverghem, was both longer and more -exposed than that of any other, and was particularly -open to machine-gun fire. Without the masterful -artillery the attack would have been an impossibility. -None the less, the infantry was magnificently -cool and efficient, widening the front occasionally to -take in fortified posts, which were just outside its own -proper area. The 9th Cheshires particularly -distinguished itself, gaining part of its second objective -before schedule time and having to undergo a British -barrage in consequence. This fine battalion ended -its day's work by blowing to shreds by its rifle-fire a -formidable counter-attack. The Welsh battalions of -the same 58th Brigade, the 9th Welsh Fusiliers, 9th -Welsh, and 5th South Wales Borderers fought their -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P107"></a>107}</span> -way up through Grand Bois to the Oostaverne Line -with great dash and gallantry. The village of that -name was itself taken by the Nineteenth Division, -who consolidated their line so rapidly and well that -the German counter-attack in the evening failed to -make any impression. Particular credit is due to -the 57th Brigade, who carried on the attack after -their own proper task was completed. -</p> - -<p> -We have now roughly sketched the advance of -the Ninth Corps, and will turn to Morland's Tenth -Corps upon its left. The flank Division of this -was the Forty-first under the heroic leader of the -old 22nd Brigade at Ypres. This unit, which was -entirely English, and drawn mostly from the south -country, had, as the reader may remember, distinguished -itself at the Somme by the capture of Flers. -It attacked with the 122nd and 124th Brigades in the -line. They had several formidable obstacles in their -immediate front, including the famous Dammstrasse, -a long causeway which was either trench or -embankment according to the lie of the ground. An -estaminet upon this road was a lively centre of -contention, and beyond this was Ravine Wood with its -lurking guns and criss-cross of wire. All these -successive obstacles went down before the steady flow of -the determined infantry, who halted at their farthest -line in such excellent condition that they might well -have carried the attack forward had it not been -prearranged that the Twenty-fourth, the reserve -division, should pass through their ranks, as will -presently be described. -</p> - -<p> -To the left of the Forty-first was the Forty-seventh -London Territorial Division containing the -victors of Loos and of High Wood. The effect of -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P108"></a>108}</span> -the mines had been particularly deadly on this front, -and one near Hill 60 is stated by the Germans to -have taken up with it a whole Company of -Wurtembergers. The position attacked by the Londoners -was on each side of the Ypres-Comines Canal, and -included some formidable obstacles, such as a -considerable wood and a ruined country-house named -"The White Château." Again and again the troops -were held up, but every time they managed to -overcome the obstacle. Around the ruined grandeur of -the great villa, with all its luxuries and amenities -looking strangely out of place amid the grim -trimmings of rusty wire and battered cement, the -Londoners came to hand-grips with the Prussians -and Wurtembergers who faced them. In all 600 -prisoners were sent to the rear. -</p> - -<p> -To the left of the Forty-seventh London division, -and forming the extreme flank of the attack, was the -Twenty-third Division (Babington) of Contalmaison -fame, a unit which was entirely composed of tough -North of England material. It was in touch with -the regular Eighth Division upon the left, this being -the flank division of the Fifth Army. The latter took -no part in the present advance, and the Twenty-third -had the task of forming a defensive flank in the Hooge -direction, while at the same time it attacked and -conquered the low ridges from which the Germans -had so long observed our lines, and from which they -had launched their terrible attack upon the Canadians -a year before. No long advance was expected from -this division, since the object of the whole day's -operations was to flatten out an enemy salient, not -to make one upon our own side. Sufficient ground -was occupied, however, to cover the advance farther -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P109"></a>109}</span> -south, and without this advance it would have been -impossible for the supporting division to carry on, -without exposing its flank, the work which had been -done by the two divisions upon the right. At 3.10 -in the afternoon, the Twenty-fourth Division under -General Bols, an officer whose dramatic experience -in the La Bassée fighting of 1914 has been recounted -in a previous volume, advanced through the ranks -of the Forty-first and Forty-seventh Divisions at a -point due east of St. Eloi, its attack being synchronised -with that upon the Oostaverne line farther south. -The operation was splendidly successful, for the -73rd Brigade upon the left and the 17th upon the -right, at the cost of about 400 casualties, carried -that section of the Dammstrasse and the whole of -the historic, blood-sodden ground upon either side -of it, so rounding off the complete victory of the -Second Army. So close to the barrage was the -advance of the infantry, that the men of the 1st -Royal Fusiliers and 3rd Rifle Brigade, who led the -17th Brigade, declared that they had the dust of it -in their faces all the way. -</p> - -<p> -It only remains to be added that on the extreme -left of the line the Germans attempted a counter-attack -while the main battle was going on. It was -gallantly urged by a few hundred men, but it was -destined to complete failure before the rifles of the -89th Brigade of the Thirtieth Division (Williams). -Few of these Germans ever returned. -</p> - -<p> -It was a one day's battle, a single hammer-blow -upon the German line, with no ulterior operations -save such as held the ground gained, but the battle -has been acclaimed by all critics as a model and -masterpiece of modern tactics, which show the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P110"></a>110}</span> -highest power of planning and of execution upon -the part of Sir Herbert Plumer and his able -Chief-of-Staff. The main trophy of course was the -invaluable Ridge, but in the gaining it some 7200 -prisoners fell into British hands, including 145 officers, -which gives about the same proportion to the length -of front attacked as the Battle of Arras. The -Germans had learned wisdom, however, as to the -disposition of their guns in the face of "the unwarlike -Islanders," so that few were found within reach. -Sixty-seven pieces, however, some of them of large -calibre, remained in possession of the victors, as well -as 294 machine-guns and 94 trench mortars. The -British losses were about 16,000. The military -lesson of the battle has been thus summed up in -the words of an officer who took a distinguished -part in it: "The sight of the battle-field with its -utter and universal desolation stretching interminably -on all sides, its trenches battered out of recognition, -its wilderness of shell-holes, <i>débris</i>, tangled wire, -broken rifles, and abandoned equipment, confirms the -opinion that no troops, whatever their morale or -training, can stand the fire of such overwhelming and -concentrated masses of artillery. With a definite -and limited objective and with sufficient artillery, -complete success may be reasonably guaranteed." It -is the big gun then, and not, as the Germans -claimed, the machine-gun which is the Mistress of the -Battle-field. The axiom laid down above is well -proved, but it works for either side, as will be shown -presently where upon a limited area the weight of -metal was with the Germans and the defence with the -British. -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P111"></a>111}</span> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-111"></a> -<br /> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-111.jpg" alt="Order of Battle, MESSINES, June 7, 1917" /> -<br /> -Order of Battle, MESSINES, June 7, 1917 -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -So fell Messines Ridge. Only when the British -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P112"></a>112}</span> -stood upon its low summit and looked back upon the -fields to westward did they realise how completely -every trench and post had been under German -observation during these years. No wonder that so much -of the best blood of Britain has moistened that fatal -plain between Ypres in the north and Ploegstrate in -the south. "My God!" said an officer as he looked -down, "it is a wonder that they let us live there at -all." "It is great to look eastwards," said another, -"and see the land falling away, to know that we -have this last height and have wrested it from them -in three hours." It was a nightmare which was -lifted from the Army upon June 7, 1917. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p><a id="chap05"></a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P113"></a>113}</span></p> - -<h3> -CHAPTER V -<br /><br /> -OPERATIONS FROM JUNE 10 TO JULY 31 -</h3> - -<p class="intro"> -Fighting round Lens—Good work of Canadians and Forty-sixth -Division—Action on the Yser Canal—Great fight and eventual -annihilation of 2nd K.R.R. and 1st Northamptons—An awful -ordeal—Exit Russia. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -The Battle of Messines was so complete and clean-cut -within its pre-ordained limitations that it left few -readjustments to be effected afterwards. Of these, -the most important were upon the left flank of -the Anzac Corps, where, as already narrated, some -Germans had held out for some days in the gap left -between the two forward brigades of the Fourth -Australians. These were eventually cleared out, and -upon the night of June 10 the 32nd Brigade of the -Eleventh Division extended the front of the Ninth -Corps to the south, and occupied all this sector, -which had become more defensible since, by the -energy and self-sacrifice of the 6th South Wales -Borderers, a good road had been driven right up -to it by which stores and guns could proceed. -</p> - -<p> -It was determined to move the line forward at -this point, and for this purpose the Twenty-fifth -Division was again put in to attack, with the 8th -Borders on the left and the 2nd South Lancs on the -right, both of the 75th Brigade. The objective was -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P114"></a>114}</span> -a line of farmhouses and strong posts immediately -to the east. The men were assembled for the attack -in small driblets, which skirmished forward and -coalesced into a line of stormers almost unseen by the -enemy, crouching behind hedges and in the hollows -of the ground. At 7.30 in the evening, before the -Germans realised that there had been an assembly, -the advance began, while the New Zealanders, who -had executed the same manoeuvre with equal success, -kept pace upon the right. The result was a complete -success within the limited area attacked. The whole -line of posts, cut off from help by the barrage, fell -into the hands of the British in less than half-an-hour. -The enemy was found lying in shell-holes and -improvised trenches, which were quickly cleared and -consolidated for defence. After this second success, -the Twenty-fifth Division was drawn out, having -sustained a total loss of about 3000 during the -operations. Their prisoners came to over 1000, the greater -number being Bavarians. -</p> - -<p> -For a time there was no considerable action along -the British line, but there were large movements of -troops which brought about an entirely new -arrangement of the forces, as became evident when the -operations were renewed. Up to the date of the -Battle of Messines the Belgians had held the ground -near the coast, and the five British Armies had lain -over their hundred-mile front in the order from the -north of Two, One, Three, Five, and Four. Under the -new arrangement, which involved a huge reorganisation, -it was the British Fourth Army (Rawlinson) -which came next to the coast, with the Belgians upon -their immediate right, and an interpolated French -army upon the right of them. Then came Gough's -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P115"></a>115}</span> -Fifth Army in the Ypres area, Plumer's Second Army -extending to the south of Armentières, Horne's First -Army to the south end of the Vimy Ridge, and Byng's -Third Army covering the Cambrai front, with -dismounted cavalry upon their right up to the junction -with the French near St. Quentin. Such was the -general arrangement of the forces for the remainder -of the year. -</p> - -<p> -Save for unimportant readjustments, there were -no changes for some time along the Messines front, -and little activity save at the extreme north of that -section on the Ypres-Comines Canal. Here the -British gradually extended the ground which had -been captured by the Forty-seventh Division, taking -some considerable spoil-heaps which had been turned -into machine-gun emplacements by the Germans. -This supplementary operation was brought off upon -June 14 and was answered upon June 15 by a German -counter-attack which was completely repulsed. Some -brisk fighting had broken out, however, farther down -the line in the Lens sector which Holland's First -Corps, consisting of the Sixth, Twenty-fourth, and -Forty-sixth Divisions, had faced during the Battle of -Arras. This sector was rather to the north of the -battle, and the German line had not been broken as in -the south. These divisions had nibbled their way -forward, however, working up each side of the Souchez -River until they began to threaten Lens itself. The -Germans, recognising the imminent menace, had -already blown up a number of their depots and -practically destroyed everything upon the surface, -but the real prize of victory lay in the coal seams -underground. Huge columns of black smoke which -rose over the shattered chimneys and winding gears -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P116"></a>116}</span> -showed that even this, so far as possible, had been -ruined by the enemy. -</p> - -<p> -On June 8, the Forty-sixth Division carried out -a raid upon so vast a scale that both the results -and the losses were greater than in many more -serious operations. The whole of the 138th Brigade -was concerned in the venture, but the brunt was -borne by the 4th Lincolns and 5th Leicesters. On -this occasion, use was made upon a large scale of -dummy figures, a new device of the British. Some -400 of these, rising and falling by means of wires, -seemed to be making a most heroic attack upon an -adjacent portion of the German line, and attracted a -strong barrage. In the meanwhile, the front trenches -were rushed with considerable losses upon both sides. -When at last the assailants returned, they brought -with them twenty prisoners and a number of machine-guns, -and had killed or wounded some hundreds of -the enemy, while their own losses came to more than -300. A smaller attack carried out in conjunction -with the 11th Canadian Brigade upon the right also -gave good results. -</p> - -<p> -On June 19, the 138th Brigade, moving in -conjunction with the Canadians, took and -consolidated some of the trenches opposite them. -Unhappily, their position did not seem to be clearly -appreciated, as some of our own gas projectors fell -in their new trench, almost exterminating a company -of the 5th Leicesters. The sad tragedy is only -alleviated by so convincing if painful a proof of the -powerful nature of these weapons, and their probable -effect upon the Germans. -</p> - -<p> -The combined pressure of the Forty-sixth Division -and of the Fourth Canadians began now to close in -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P117"></a>117}</span> -upon Lens. Upon June 25 the 6th South Staffords, -with the brave men of the Dominion operating to -the south of them, pushed the Germans off Hill 65. -Upon June 28 there was a further advance of the -137th and 138th Brigades, which was much facilitated -by the fact that the Canadians upon the day before -had got up to the village of Leuvette upon the south. -A number of casualties were caused by the German -snipers after the advance, and among the killed was -M. Serge Basset, the eminent French journalist, who -had followed the troops up Hill 65. -</p> - -<p> -A successful advance was made by the Forty-sixth -Division and by the Canadians upon the evening of -June 28, which carried them into the village of Avion -and ended in the capture of some hundred prisoners. -This operation was undertaken in conjunction with -the Fifth Division near Oppy, upon the right of the -Canadians. Their advance was also attended with -complete success, the 95th and 15th Brigades clearing -by a sudden rush more than a mile of German line -and killing or taking the occupants. To the north -of them both the 4th Canadians and the 46th Midlanders -carried the success up the line. The advance -was an extraordinary spectacle to the many who -looked down upon it from the Vimy heights, for a -violent thunderstorm roared with the guns, and a -lashing downpour of rain beat into the faces of the -Germans. They were tired troops, men of the -Eleventh Reserve division, who had already been -overlong in the line, and they could be seen rushing -wildly to the rear before the stormers were clear of -their own trenches. An unfired and brand-new -machine-gun was found which had been abandoned -by its demoralised crew. The flooded fields impeded -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P118"></a>118}</span> -the advance of the Canadians, but the resistance of -the enemy had little to do with the limits of the -movement. -</p> - -<p> -Upon June 30 the 6th North Staffords and 7th -Sherwood Foresters made a fresh advance and gained -their objectives, though with some loss, especially in -the case of the latter battalion. This operation was -preparatory to a considerable attack upon July 1. -This was carried out upon a three-brigade front, -the order being 139th, 137th, 138th from the north. -The 139th were in close touch with the Sixth -Division, who had lent two battalions of the 71st -Brigade to strengthen the assailants. The objective -was from the Souchez River in the south, through -Aconite and Aloof Trenches, to the junction point of -the Sixth Division, north-west of Lens. The day's -fighting was a long and varied one, some ground and -prisoners being gained, though the full objective was -not attained. The dice are still badly loaded against -the attack save when the guns throw their full weight -into the game. The Lincoln and Leicester Brigade -in the south had the suburb of Cité du Moulin as -their objective, and the 4th Lincolns next to the -Canadians got well up; but the 5th Lincolns on their -left were held up by wire and machine-guns. Through -the gallantry of Sergeant Leadbeater one party -penetrated into the suburb and made a lodgment -in outlying houses, although their flank was entirely -in the air. As the day wore on, the line of the 138th -Brigade was driven in several times by the heavy -and accurate shell-fire, but was each time reoccupied -by the enduring troops, who were relieved in the -morning by the 4th and 5th Leicesters, who spread -their posts over a considerable area. One of these -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P119"></a>119}</span> -small posts, commanded by Lieutenant Bowell, was -forgotten, and held on without relief, food, or water until -July 5, when finding himself in danger of being -surrounded this young officer effected a clever -withdrawal—a performance for which he received the D.S.O. -</p> - -<p> -Whilst the 138th Brigade had established itself -in the fringes of Cité du Moulin, the Stafford men -upon their left (137th Brigade) had captured Aconite -Trench and also got among the houses. A number -of the enemy were taken in the cellars, or shot down -as they escaped from them, the Lewis guns doing -admirable work. About one o'clock, however, a -strong attack drove the Stafford men back as far as -Ague Trench. The support companies at once -advanced, led by Major Graham of the 5th North -Staffords, who was either killed or taken during the -attack, which made no progress in face of the strong -masses of German infantry. The result of this failure -was that the remnants of two companies of the 5th -North Staffords, who had been left behind in Aconite -Trench, were cut off and surrounded, all who were not -killed being taken. In spite of this untoward result, -the fighting on the part of the battalions engaged -had been most spirited, and the conflict, after the fall -of most of the officers and sergeants, had been carried -on with great ardour and intelligence by the junior -non-commissioned officers. -</p> - -<p> -On the left, the Sherwood Forest Brigade -(strengthened by the 2nd Regular battalion of their -own regiment) advanced upon the Lens-Lievin Road -and the network of trenches in front of them. It was -all ideal ground for defence, with houses, slag-heaps, -railway embankments, and everything which the -Germans could desire or the British abhor. The -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P120"></a>120}</span> -brigade had advanced upon a three-battalion front, -but as the zero hour was before dawn, and the ground -was unknown to the Regular battalion upon the right, -the result was loss of direction and confusion. -Separated parties engaged Germans in isolated houses, -and some very desperate fighting ensued. In the -course of one of these minor sieges, Captain Chidlow-Roberts -is said to have shot fifteen of the defenders, -but occasionally it was the attackers who were -overpowered by the number and valour of the enemy. -The Germans tried to drive back the British line by -a series of counter-attacks from the Lens-Bethune -Road, but these were brought to a halt during the -morning, though later in the afternoon parties of -German bombers broke through the scattered line, -which presented numerous gaps. The losses of the -Sherwood Forester Brigade were considerable, and -included 5 officers and 186 men, whose fate was never -cleared up. Most of these were casualties, but some -remained in the hands of the enemy. The total -casualties of the division in this action came to 50 -officers and about 1000 men. -</p> - -<p> -This hard-fought action concluded the services of -the North Midland Division in this portion of the -front. It had been in the line for ten weeks, and -under constant fire for the greater part of that time. -The strength of the battalions had been so reduced -by constant losses, that none of them could muster -more than 300 men. Upon July 2 the Forty-sixth -Division handed over their line to the Second -Canadians and retired for a well-earned rest. Save -for two very fruitful raids in the Hulluch district in -the late autumn, this Division was not engaged -again in 1917. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P121"></a>121}</span> -</p> - -<p> -The Germans had strengthened the defence of Lens -by flooding the flats to the south of the town, -submerging the Cité St. Augustin, so that the Fourth -Canadians on the right of the Forty-sixth Division -could not push northwards, but they had advanced -with steady perseverance along the south bank of the -Souchez, and got forward, first to La Coulotte and -then as far as the village of Avion, which was occupied -by them upon June 28—a date which marked a -general move forward on a front of 2000 yards from -the river to Oppy. Meanwhile, the Sixth Division -had also pushed in upon the north and north-west -of Lens, which was closely invested. The First -Canadian Division relieved the Sixth Division early -in July, so that now the pressure upon Lens was -carried out by three Canadian Divisions, one to the -north, one to the west, and one to the south of the -town. No actual attack was made until the middle of -August, but for the sake of continuity of narrative -we may reach forward and give some short account of -the operations upon that occasion. After constant -pressure, and the drifting of a good deal of gas over -the huge house-covered area which faced them, the -Canadians made an attack upon August 15, which -brought them into the very suburbs of the town, -while advancing their line both to the north and to the -south of it. Two Canadian divisions, the First upon -the left and the Second upon the right, made the main -attack, while the Fourth Division guaranteed their -southern flank. The First Division found itself in -what was practically the old British line, as it was -defined at the end of the Battle of Loos in September -1915, nearly two years before. This veteran division -had not far to go to find its enemy, for the German -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P122"></a>122}</span> -trenches were not more than 120 yards away. Flooding -over them after a heavy discharge of flaming oil -drums, the Canadians swept with little loss up that -deadly slope of Hill 70, sacred to the memory of the -Scots of the Fifteenth Division and of many other -brave men who found their last rest upon it. The -3rd Brigade upon the left and the 2nd upon the right -topped the low hill and charged roaring down into the -Cité St. Auguste beyond. There was a fierce fight at -Cinnebar Trench and the other points which made up -the German second line. The enemy infantry stood -up stoutly to the push of bayonet, and there was -some bloody work before the line was finally taken -and consolidated by the Canadians. The Second -Division in the meanwhile, advancing with the 5th -Brigade upon the left and the 4th upon the right, had -carried their charge right up to the edge of the city -itself, and had established themselves among the -shattered houses. As the 5th Brigade rushed forward, -they encountered a body of German infantry advancing -as if to an attack, so that for a few glorious -minutes there was close bludgeon work in No-Man's-Land -before the German formation was shattered and -the stormers rushed on. A counter-attack developed -about mid-day in front of the First Division, and the -grey-clad troops could be clearly seen marching up in -fours, breaking into artillery formation and finally -deploying in line, all after the most approved British -fashion—a fact which was explained later by the -discovery in the dug-outs of official copies of a translation -of the latest Aldershot regulations—surely a most -unexpected result of the clash of the two nations, and -one which is a compliment to our military instructors. -The British methods of defence, however, proved -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P123"></a>123}</span> -upon this occasion to be more efficient than those -for attack, and the Germans were shot back into -the rubble-heaps behind them. The losses of the -Canadians in this advance were not heavy, save in -the 5th Brigade, which had in front of it a network -of trenches in front of Cité St. Emile, and carried a -hard task through with great valour and perseverance. -From this time forward the advanced line was held, -and it was only the deflection of the Canadian Corps to -the north which prevented them from increasing their -gains at Lens. -</p> - -<p> -The seven weeks of comparative peace between -the conclusion of the Battle of Messines and the -beginning of those long-drawn operations which may -be called the Battle of the Ridges, was broken by one -tragic incident, which ended in the practical annihilation -of two veteran battalions which held a record -second to none in the Army. As misfortunes of this -sort have been exceedingly rare in the progress of the -war, it may be well to narrate this affair in greater -detail than the general scale of this chronicle would -justify. -</p> - -<p> -Strickland's First Division had taken over the -sector which was next the sea, close to the small -town of Nieuport. The frontage covered was 1400 -yards and extended to Lombardzyde, where Shute's -Thirty-second Division carried the line along. The -positions had not been determined by the British -commander, but were the same as those formerly -occupied by the French. It was evident that they -were exceedingly vulnerable and that any serious -attempt upon the part of the Germans might lead -to disaster, for the front line was some six hundred -yards beyond the Yser River, and lay among sand -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P124"></a>124}</span> -dunes where the soil was too light to construct proper -trenches or dug-outs. The river was crossed by -three or four floating bridges, which, as the result -showed, were only there so long as the enemy guns -might choose. The supporting battalions were east -of the river, but the two battalions in the trenches -were to the west, and liable to be cut off should -anything befall the bridges behind them. It was indeed -a very difficult situation both for Strickland and -Shute, for the Germans had complete local supremacy -both in guns and in the air. -</p> - -<p> -Upon July 10, the day of the tragedy, the two -battalions in front were the 2nd King's Royal Rifles, -next the sea, and the 1st Northamptons, upon their -right. The Brigadier of the 2nd Brigade had been -wounded only a few days before, and a new man -was in local command. The story of what actually -occurred may be told from the point of view of the -Riflemen, who numbered about 550 on the day in -question. Three companies, A, D, and B, in the order -given from the left, were in the actual trenches, while -C Company was in immediate support. The night of -July 9-10 was marked by unusually heavy fire, which -caused a loss of seventy men to the battalion. It was -clear to Colonel Abadie and his officers that serious -trouble was brewing. An equal shellfall was endured -by the Northamptons on the right, and their casualties -were nearly as heavy. So weakened was A -Company in its post along the sand dunes that it was -drawn into reserve in the morning of July 10, and -C Company took its place. During this night an -officer and twenty men, all Rhodesians, from B -Company, were pushed forward upon a raid, but lost -nine of their number on their return. From 8.50 -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P125"></a>125}</span> -in the morning until 1 P.M. the fire was exceedingly -heavy along the whole line of both battalions, coming -chiefly from heavy guns, which threw shells capable -of flattening out any dug-out or shelter which could be -constructed in such loose soil. For hour after hour -the men lay motionless in the midst of these terrific -ear-shattering explosions, which sent huge geysers of -sand into the air and pitted with deep craters the -whole circumscribed area of the position. It was a -horrible ordeal, borne by both battalions with the -silent fortitude of veterans. Many were dead or -shattered, but the rest lay nursing the breech-blocks -of their rifles and endeavouring to keep them free from -the drifting sand which formed a thick haze over the -whole position. The two supporting battalions across -the canal, the 2nd Sussex and 1st North Lancashire, -were also heavily shelled, but their position was more -favourable to taking cover. There was no telephone -connection between the Rifles' Headquarters and the -advanced trenches, but Lieutenant Gott made several -journeys to connect them up, receiving dangerous -wounds in the attempt. About twelve, the dug-out -of B Company was blown in, and a couple of hours -later that of C Company met the same fate, the -greater part of the officers in each case being destroyed. -An orderly brought news also that he had found the -dug-out of D Company with its inmates dead, and a -dead Rifleman sentry lying at its door. As the man -was staggering and dazed with shell-shock, it was -hoped that his message was an exaggeration. The -telephone wire to the rear had long been cut, and the -doomed battalions had no means of signalling their -extreme need, though the ever-rising clouds of sand -were enough to show what they were enduring. No -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P126"></a>126}</span> -message of any sort seems to have reached them from -the rear. The fire was far too hot for visual signaling, -and several pigeons which were released did not -appear to reach their destination. With sinking -hearts the shaken and dazed survivors waited for the -infantry attack which they knew to be at hand. -There were really no means of resistance, for, in spite -of all care, it was found that the all-pervading sand, -which nearly choked them, had put out of gear the -mechanism of all the machine-guns and most of the -rifles. The divisional artillery was doing what it -could from the other side of the Yser, but the volume -of fire from the heavies was nothing as compared with -the German bombardment. To add to the misery of -the situation, a number of German aeroplanes were -hawking backwards and forwards, skimming at less -than 100 feet over the position, and pouring machine-gun -fire upon every darker khaki patch upon the -yellow sand. -</p> - -<p> -Both the battalion commanders behaved with the -utmost intrepidity and coolness. Of Colonel Abadie -of the Rifles, it was said by one of the few survivors: -"He inspired all with the utmost confidence. He did -everything in his power and was splendid the whole -time." Great hopes were entertained that some -diversion would be effected by the gunboats upon the -flank, but for some reason there was no assistance -from this quarter. Hour after hour passed, and the -casualties increased until the dead and wounded along -the line of both battalions were more numerous than -the survivors. At 3 P.M. the regimental dug-out of -the Rifles showed signs of collapse under the impact -of two direct hits. Those who could move betook -themselves to an unfinished tunnel in the sand in -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P127"></a>127}</span> -which a handful of Australian miners were actually -working. These men had changed their picks for -their rifles, and were ready and eager to help in the -defence of the position. In little groups, unable to -communicate with each other, each imagining itself -to be the sole survivor, the men waited for the final -German rush. At 7.15 it came. A division of -German marines made the attack, some skirting the -British line along the seashore and approaching from -the flank or even from the rear. As many Riflemen -as could be collected had joined the Australians in the -tunnel, but before they could emerge the Germans -were dropping bombs down the three ventilation -shafts, while they sprayed liquid fire down the -entrance. The men who endured this accumulation of -horrors had been under heavy fire for twenty-four -hours with little to eat or drink, and it would not have -been wonderful if their nerve had now utterly deserted -them. Instead of this, every one seems to have -acted with the greatest coolness. "The Colonel -called to the Riflemen to sit down, and they did so -with perfect discipline." By this means the spray -of fire passed over them. The entrances were blown -in, and the last seen of Colonel Abadie was when, -revolver in hand, he dashed out to sell his life as -dearly as possible. From this time the handful of -survivors, cut off from their Colonel by the fall of -part of the roof, saw or heard no more of him. The -few groups of men, Rifles or Northamptons, who -were scattered about in the sandy hollows, were -overwhelmed by the enemy, the survivors being -taken. Four officers, who had been half-buried -in the tunnel, dug their way out, and finding -that it was now nearly dark and that the Germans -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P128"></a>128}</span> -were all round them, proceeded to make their -way as best they could back to the bank of the -river. An artillery liaison officer made a gallant -reconnaissance and reported to the others that -there was a feasible gap in the new line which the -enemy was already digging. The adjutant of -the battalion, with the second-in-command, and -his few comrades, who included an Australian -corporal, crept forward in the dusk, picking their way -among the Germans. Altogether, there were 4 -officers, 20 Australians, and 15 Riflemen. One of the -Australians, named McGrady, was particularly cool -and helpful, but was unfortunately killed before the -party reached safety. Even at this crisis the military -code was strictly observed, and the confidential -documents of the battalion carefully destroyed by -the adjutant. As the British emerged into the -gloom from one end of the tunnel, a party of -Germans began to enter at the other, but were -so skilfully delayed by two Riflemen, acting as -rearguard, that they were unable to stop the retreat. -The men streamed out at the farther end under the -very noses of their enemies, and crept swiftly in -small parties down to the river, which at this point -is from 70 to 100 yards broad. Across their path -lay a camouflage screen some twelve feet high, -which had been set on fire by the shells. It was -a formidable obstacle, and held them up for some -time, but was eventually crossed. Here they were -faced by the problem of the broken bridges, and -several were shot while endeavouring to find some -way across. Finally, however, the swimmers helping -the others, the greater number, including the -four Rifle officers, got safely across, being nearly -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P129"></a>129}</span> -poisoned by gas shells as they landed upon the farther -side. Of the Northamptons, it would appear that only -one officer, Captain Martin, made his escape, though -badly wounded. Colonel Tollemache was heard -calling out to his men: "It may be the last time, but -fight like Englishmen!" He and all his staff became -casualties or prisoners. The Northampton front was -not more than forty yards from that of the Germans, -and the rifle-fire of the latter swept the parapet to -such an extent that it was impossible to stop the rush. -A private who was No. 1 of a machine-gun, with -two other men, who knew nothing of the mechanism, -rushed a gun out upon the flank and held up the grey -wave for a minute or so before being submerged, -while a sergeant also distinguished himself by -a determined resistance and by finally crossing the -Canal to explain the situation to those in command -there. -</p> - -<p> -So ended an experience which can have had few -parallels even in this era of deadly adventure. Of the -Riflemen, it was found next day that 3 officers and -52 men had rejoined their brigade. If so many got -away it was largely due to the action of Rifleman -Wambach, who swam the canal with a rope in his -mouth, and fixed it for his more helpless comrades. -Even fewer of the Northamptons ever regained the -eastern bank. "Like the Spartans at Thermopylae -the men of Northampton and the Riflemen had died -where they had been posted. Heroism could do no -more." Out of about 1200 men, nearly all, save the -casualties, fell into the hands of the victors. Every -officer seems to have behaved with the utmost possible -gallantry, and not least the battalion surgeon, Captain -Ward, who stood by his wounded until both he and -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P130"></a>130}</span> -they fell into the hands of the Germans. Such was -the deplorable affair of Nieuport, a small incident in -so great a war, and yet one which had an individuality -of its own which may excuse this more extended -account. The total German advance was 600 yards -in depth, upon a front of three-quarters of a mile. -</p> - -<p> -The attack had extended to the eastward upon -the farther side of the Geleide Creek, but here the -positions were more favourable for defence, as -there were supports available and the communications -had not been broken. It is a most significant -sign of the enormous respect which the German -authorities entertained for the British Army, that -this limited action in which only two weak British -battalions were overwhelmed was solemnly announced -by them in their official bulletin to be "a great and -magnificent victory." When one remembers how the -British in turn would have dismissed so small an -action as a mere incident in the campaign, had they -been the victors, it is indeed a most memorable -tribute. The main cause of the defeat, apart from the -faulty position, appears to have been that the infantry -took over the new line more quickly than the artillery, -and that the French heavies had withdrawn before -the British heavies were ready for action. A British -officer, afterwards released, was informed by the -Germans that they had 182 batteries concentrated -upon the position, while there were only 13 ready for -the defence. -</p> - -<p> -It was hoped in Germany and feared in Britain -that the new position gained by the Germans at the -north of the Yser River would enable them to outflank -the British defences at Lombardzyde, and to destroy -the 97th Brigade, which lay to the north of -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P131"></a>131}</span> -the river. The situation certainly looked most -alarming in the map, and no military critic could -have imagined that the position could be held. The -British soldier has a way of doing, however, what -the lecture-rooms would denounce, and after some -very desperate fighting the lines were maintained. -The attack was not on so overwhelming a scale as on -the left, but it was severe and long continued, from -7.30 P.M. till the evening of July 11. The enemy -had at one time won three lines of defence, but they -were eventually thrust back, General Shute feeding -his fighting line from his reserves until he had the -upper hand. The main strain fell upon the 11th -Borders and 16th H.L.I., but as the action went -on the 17th Highland Light Infantry, 15th Lancashire -Fusiliers, and 16th Northumberland Fusiliers -were all in turn involved. It was a real infantry -fight, often in the dark and sometimes at close grips, -and it ended with the line as it was before the attack -commenced. The severity of the action may be -judged by the fact that the brigade had nearly a -thousand casualties. From this time the line -remained unchanged until the great Battle for the -Flanders Ridges turned the thoughts of both parties -to larger issues. -</p> - -<p> -Before we enter upon an account of that terrific -and protracted engagement, one should mention a -brisk action which was fought by those stark fighters -the New Zealand Division, upon the Warneton front, -to the immediate south of the Messines area. There -is a small ruined village, hardly rising to the dignity -of a mention upon the maps, called La Basseville, -which was held by the Germans under the very noses -of the men with the red hatbands. Upon the night -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P132"></a>132}</span> -of July 27 the Wellington battalion, a name of good -military omen, captured this place with some of -its Bavarian garrison. In the early morning the -Germans came again with a rush, however, and -regained the place. The New Zealanders attacked -once more in the night of July 31, so that their -venture may appear to have been in connection -with the larger operations in the north. Once more -the village was captured by the Wellington and -Auckland infantry with some fifty more prisoners and -seven machine-guns. The Germans lost heavily in -killed, and the losses were doubled or trebled by their -gallant but unsuccessful counter-attacks, which were -undertaken often by such limited groups of men that -they seemed the results less of reasoned tactics than -of desperation. From this time La Basseville passed -into the British system. -</p> - -<p> -This month of July was signalised by the last -efforts of the Russian Army so long as it remained a -serious force. Under Brusiloff and Korniloff they -made an attack upon the Austro-German lines, but -after initial successes they were paralysed by the -growing disaffection and disorganisation of the -soldiery, who had all the want of discipline of the old -French republicans without the fiery valour and -patriotism. From this time onward Russia played -no real military part in the great war, save as the -betrayer of Roumania, the deserter of Serbia, and -the absorber of such ill-spared supplies as she could -get from her former allies. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p><a id="chap06"></a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P133"></a>133}</span></p> - -<h3> -CHAPTER VI -<br /><br /> -THE THIRD BATTLE OF YPRES -</h3> - -<p class="t3"> -July 31, 1917 -</p> - -<p class="intro"> -Attack of July 31—Advance of the Guards—Of the Welsh—Capture of -Pilkem—Capture of St. Julien by Thirty-ninth Division—Advance -of Fifty-fifth Division—Advance of Jacob's Second Corps—General -results. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -It had been accepted as an axiom at this stage of the -war that no great operation could be in the nature -of a surprise—an axiom which, like most other -axioms, was shown later in the year to have some -startling exceptions. To pack the base of the historic -Ypres salient with guns, and to assemble within and -behind its trenches the storming troops for a great -advance was, however, an operation which could not -possibly be concealed. British aircraft might have an -ascendency in observation, but that did not prevent -the German fliers from being both daring and skilful. -All camouflage, therefore, was thrown aside, and -throughout the month of July Sir Douglas Haig -openly assembled his forces for the widening or -destruction of the iron bands which had so long -constricted us in this northern area. The Fifth Army -gathered for the venture, still commanded by Sir -Hubert Gough, the victor of Thiepval. On his left, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P134"></a>134}</span> -opposite Bixschoote, on the edge of the inundations, -was a French army under General Antoine, a genial -giant who impresses those who meet him as a mixture -of Porthos and d'Artagnan. The general rôle of the -French Army was to cover the British from -counter-attack from the north, especially from Houthulst -Forest, in the depths of which great reserves might -lurk, for it covers no less than 600 acres. Upon the -right, and engaged in a subsidiary degree in the -operations, was the Second Army, under Sir Herbert -Plumer, fresh from the triumph of Messines. -</p> - -<p> -The direction of this new attack against the ridges -of Flanders was the logical sequence from the -preceding operations of the year. The high ground of -the Ancre had been taken late in 1916. The high -ground of Vimy fell into British hands in April. In -June the Germans had been driven in one strenuous -day from the high ground of Messines. The whole -line of ridges from end to end was in British hands -save only those which girt in Ypres and dominated -it from the north and north-east. It is true that -these so-called ridges were often little more than -undulations, but they meant firmer ground, artillery -observation, self-concealment, and everything which -makes for military advantage. For these reasons -Sir Douglas Haig turned his strength now in that -direction. After his successive advances he might -say with Wellington: "Knowing well that if we laid -our bloody hands upon a town it was fated to -fall." The men who took Ciudad Rodrigo or stormed the -dreadful breach of Badajos could teach nothing in -hardihood and contempt of death to those who -carried Guillemont or Ovillers. -</p> - -<p> -In attacking a salient like that of Ypres and in -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P135"></a>135}</span> -endeavouring to flatten it out, it is obvious that the -efforts must be made at the sides rather than in the -centre, since success in the latter case would simply -mean a larger salient. Of the two sides of the -salient the success of Messines had already relieved -the pressure in the south, and this area was clearly -less important than the north, since it was farther -from the sea. It was evident that any considerable -success upon the northern side would advance the -British line towards Bruges, and an occupation of -Bruges would surely mean the abandonment by -Germany of the Flemish coast. For these reasons -the effort of the British was chiefly directed towards -the north-east, a tract of ground which was difficult -when dry, but which became grotesque in its difficulties -when it rained and the small low-lying streams -or "beeks" which meandered through it spread out -into broad marshy bottoms. These all-pervading -morasses, when ploughed up with innumerable shell-holes, -were destined to form an almost insuperable -military obstacle. In attacking at such a point Sir -Douglas could only hope that the weather would -abide as a neutral, but as a fact, now as so often before, -its action was bitterly hostile. Up to the very day -of the advance it smiled deceitfully only to break into -a month of rain from the very hour of the attack. If -Berlin needs one more monument in her meretricious -"Sieges-Alee," she may well erect one to the weather, -which has saved her cause as surely as the geese -of old saved Rome. -</p> - -<p> -So notorious were the British preparations, culminating -in the usual terrific bombardment, that the -approaching conflict was discussed in the German -papers weeks before it occurred. Their preparations -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P136"></a>136}</span> -had been gigantic, and took a new form which called -for corresponding ingenuity upon the side of the -stormers if it was to be successfully countered. The -continuous trench had, save in the old system, been -discarded as offering too evident a mark for the -shattering guns. The ground was held by numerous -disconnected trenches, and strong points arranged in -depth rather than in breadth, so that the whole front -should form one shock-absorber which would yield -at first, but must at the last bring any pressure to -a stand. Scattered thickly among these small posts -there were concrete forts, not unlike the Martello -towers of our ancestors, but sunk deeply into the -ground, so as to present a small mark to gun-fire. -These forts were made of cement and iron with walls -so enormously thick that a direct hit from anything -less than a six-inch gun could not possibly harm -them. The garrisons of each were composed of -twenty or thirty men, with two or three machine-guns. -There was usually no visible opening, the -entrance being approached by a tunnel, and the -windows mere slits which gave a broad traverse for -a machine-gun. They were contrivances which might -well hold up an army, and it was a fine example of -British adaptability as well as courage that they were -able to make progress against them. The days of the -gallant bull-headed rush were over, and the soldiers -had learned in a cruel school that the fighting man -must be wary as well as brave. -</p> - -<p> -At four o'clock in the morning, in the first grey -light of a rainy morning, under a canopy of grey -sweeping clouds, and in a fog-girt landscape of -bedraggled fields and brown patches of mire, the French -and British infantry sprang forward with splendid -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P137"></a>137}</span> -alacrity upon this dangerous venture which should -culminate in taking the last dominant ridge upon the -British front from those who had held them so long. -</p> - -<p> -The French attacked upon the extreme left of the -line, and had an extremely difficult task, which they -accomplished with a dash and spirit which won the -unstinted admiration of their British comrades. In -front of them was the canal, but they had succeeded -in throwing across some troops in the days before the -battle. It was fitting that they should advance the -line in this sector, for they were starting from the very -spot to which their comrades had been pushed in the -poison-gas battle of April 22, 1915, more than two -years before. The ground in front of them was very -marshy, and as a background to the German position -loomed the great forest of Houthulst, which was -known to be a strong gun position and place of arms. -It was subjected, however, to such a shattering -bombardment that it was nearly silent when the attack -advanced, and the French poilus, pushing rapidly on -from point to point, seized the village of Steenstraate, -and finally the larger village of Bixschoote, establishing -their line well to the north of that point. It was -a most valorous advance, and if no detail can be given -of it save this passing mention, it is because it belongs -to that weighty and wonderful volume which shall -record the glorious military deeds of France, a volume -which can only be written with proper appreciation -and knowledge by a French pen. -</p> - -<p> -The British line of battle was formed by five -corps, the Fourteenth (Cavan) to the north, the -Eighteenth (Maxse) upon its right, the Nineteenth -(Watts) upon the right of that, the Second (Jacob) -came next, and then upon the southern edge of the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P138"></a>138}</span> -area, and hardly engaged in the main fighting, was -the Tenth (Morland). Each corps had two divisions -in the line and two in reserve. We will take each in -turn, starting from the north. It should be noted -that the four first corps made up Gough's Fifth Army, -and that the Tenth Corps was the only part of Plumer's -Army to be engaged. -</p> - -<p> -Cavan's Fourteenth Corps was next to the French, -with the Guards in immediate touch with our -allies, and the Thirty-eighth Welsh Division upon -its right. The Twentieth and the Twenty-ninth -Divisions were in support. We shall now follow the -splendid advance of the Guards, a division which -more and more as the war progressed reasserted -its position as the very cream of the Army. -</p> - -<p> -On the days preceding the action a number of -bridges had been thrown across the canal, and the -attacking brigades had been passed over this impediment, -so that they were able to deploy rapidly and -escape the German barrage which fell, for the most -part, behind them. This most useful work was -carried out by the 1st Guards Brigade, especially -by the 3rd Coldstream and 1st Irish, who got -across the first. This brigade was relieved, and -on the day of battle the 3rd Brigade was upon -the left in close liaison with the French, while -the 2nd Brigade was on the right with their -flank touching the Welshmen. Two "Hate Companies," -as they were called, were thrown out on the -divisional front, whose task it was to make special -discharges of oil drums, thermite, and other missiles -which might smooth the way for the advance of the -infantry. At 4.24 the whistles of fate were heard -shrilly all along the line, and the Guards rose up from -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P139"></a>139}</span> -their wet assembly ditches, and went forward in their -usual sedate and inexorable fashion. The front line -of battle of the two brigades, counting from the -French flank, were the 1st Welsh, 1st Grenadiers, -2nd Irish, and 1st Scots, while behind them in the -second line were their comrades of the 2nd Scots, -4th Grenadiers, 1st Coldstream, and 3rd Grenadiers. -Each platoon of the Irish carried a green flag adorned -with the Irish harp. -</p> - -<p> -The attack at first was so strong or the opposition -so weak that in ten minutes the first-line objective -had been gained. From this point the shock-absorber -system began to act, a system which must prevail -save where the attackers know when to suspend their -effort so that the spring of resistance is never pressed -back to the uttermost. The British generals had -learned this lesson and the aims of any one day's -battle were strictly limited. Thus, although the -losses grew and the difficulties increased, the Guards -were well within their powers, in gradually pushing -forwards to the Steenbeek stream, which was the -extreme limit assigned to them. As they advanced -sections were told off to deal with the various concrete -forts and other strong points, a method of attack -which gave great scope for the initiative of individual -junior officers or non-commissioned officers, and which -was fruitful in acts of valour. About six o'clock the -German machine-guns in Hey Wood held up the line -for a time, and the 2nd Brigade had the chagrin of -seeing some German guns limbering up and withdrawing -in front of them, while their own barrage fell -as an invisible steel curtain which covered them from -seizure. It was remarked generally of the British -barrage that though extremely accurate as a rule, it -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P140"></a>140}</span> -still consisted too much of shrapnel and not enough -of high explosives, so that it had not the shattering -and uprooting effect which was needful. The Germans -had read the lessons differently, for at this period of -the war their barrage consisted almost entirely of -5.9 "crumps" with a small admixture of shrapnel. -</p> - -<p> -By the early afternoon the front lines of the -Guards had fulfilled their programme, and a number -of prisoners, including the commanding officer and -adjutant of the 73rd Hanoverians, had been conducted -to the rear. The losses of the Guards had -not been excessive, save in the right flank battalions, -especially the 1st Scots, but they included many -valuable officers killed or wounded, including Colonel -Greer of the 2nd Irish, Colonel Romilly of the 1st Scots, -and Colonel Lord Gort of the 4th Grenadiers. Among -many deeds of valour which were added to the records -of the division upon that morning there may be -mentioned that of the heroic surgeon David Lees, who -was decorated for passing five times through the -barrage carrying wounded, and of the brave Irish -priest, Father Knapp, who absolutely refused to take -shelter when his men were exposed, and met his death -rather than leave them. It is invidious, however, -to mention brave men where all were brave. About -three o'clock the 1st Guards Brigade passed through -the ranks of their comrades and carried the advance -forward to its limit. The order of their advance -from the left was the 2nd Coldstream, with the -2nd Grenadiers on the right, while the 3rd Coldstream -and 1st Irish took the corresponding places in the -second line. The 2nd Grenadiers lost heavily from -a flank fire, its difficulties and those of all the right -flank being increased by the fact that the railway line, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P141"></a>141}</span> -dotted with German strong points, ran as the boundary -between divisions. Captain Ritchie, of Loos fame, -was among the casualties. The Grenadiers got so -far ahead that the protective barrage became thin -and erratic, hardly existing in many places. The -whole brigade moved forward in close touch with -the 113th Brigade of Welshmen upon their right. -The latter after the final objective was reached were -shelled for a time out of their position, so that the -Irish and Grenadiers had to throw back a defensive -flank, but the Welsh with dogged spirit came back -to their work and re-established their line late in the -evening. Their work will presently be described, -but so far as the Guards are concerned it may be -added that, with the help of the 55th and 76th Field -Company R.E., all they took they kept, although the -physical surroundings were appalling, for they found -themselves for three days lying on the forward slope -of a low ridge under heavy rain in deep puddles of -water, exposed to German shelling and to the constant -stinging of invisible German snipers. No conditions -could have been more trying, but the Guards stuck -it out with a quiet patient discipline which was as -fine as the valour of their assault. "We are just -lying in a snipe bog in the rain," wrote an Irish -officer. Due dispositions were made for relief among -the three brigades, and the line was held until a -farther advance should become possible—an event -which was continually postponed by the incredible -weather. -</p> - -<p> -Passing to the 38th Welsh Division upon the -right of the Guards, their battle line consisted -of the 113th Brigade upon the left, consisting -entirely of battalions of Welsh Fusiliers, while the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P142"></a>142}</span> -114th Brigade, formed from the Welsh Regiment, -was on the right. The order of the foremost -battalions taken from the left was the 16th and -13th Welsh Fusiliers, with the 13th and 10th Welsh. -The experiences of the division upon its advance -were, as might be expected, not unlike those of the -Guards. "It was still dark," says one graphic -correspondent, "and all we had to guide us was our -barrage moving forward like a living line of fire, -from left to right as far as the eye could see." The -first objective was captured with little loss, a fair -number of prisoners being taken in the Caesar Support -Trench. In attacking the second objectives the -reserve line came through the front one, so that the -order of the troops, taken again from the left in the -114th Brigade, was the 15th and 14th Welsh, while in -the 113th Brigade, which had a less difficult task, -there was a mere change of companies in the units -already engaged. The opposition now became fiercer -and the losses more severe. Marsouin Farm, and -Stray Farm on the right, and the village of Pilkem -upon the left poured bullets upon the advancing -infantry, who slipped from shell-hole to shell-hole, -taking such cover as they could, but resolutely pushing -onwards. Again and again the machine-gun forts -were isolated, surrounded, and compelled to surrender. -The Welshmen had reached their second objective in -the scheduled time. The 15th Welsh Fusiliers were -now pushed into the firing-line upon the left, and the -advance went forward. A gap had formed between -the Welshmen and the Highlanders of the Fifty-first -Division upon their right. In this gap lay Rudolph -Farm, spitting fire from every cranny and window. -A platoon of the 15th Welsh turned aside from their -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P143"></a>143}</span> -path and captured or killed all who were in the -German post. To the immediate left of this point -lay another stronghold called Iron Cross. This was -rushed by the 14th Welsh, at considerable loss -to themselves, but twenty of the garrison were -bayoneted, forty captured, and three machine-guns -secured. Just beyond the Iron Cross was a German -dressing-station which yielded forty more prisoners. -</p> - -<p> -The 15th Welsh Fusiliers on the left had in the -meanwhile a severe ordeal, for so heavy a fire poured -upon them from the clump of trees known as Battery -Copse that they were left with hardly an officer and -with their protective barrage rapidly receding into -the distance. The men were staggered for a time, -but struggled forward again with fine resolution, and -at last established themselves upon the same line as -Iron Cross. -</p> - -<p> -Whilst the fighting line had been getting forward -as described, the 113th carrying among other obstacles -the village of Pilkem, and both brigades, but -especially the 114th, bursting through three separate -battalions of the famous Käferlein regiment of the -Guards, the reserve brigade had been keeping in close -attendance in spite of the German barrage. Now two -battalions of the 115th Brigade were slipped into -the front, the 11th S.W. Borderers and the 17th -Welsh Fusiliers. These fine fresh troops took up -the running and made for the final objective, which -was the Steenbeek stream. This was successfully -reached, in spite of the ever-growing resistance, -and the final line was formed with posts upon the -farther side of the Steenbeek. Shortly after three -o'clock a strong counter-attack broke upon this -Welsh line, and for a time the Borderers were forced -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P144"></a>144}</span> -from the post at "Au bon gîte" which they had -occupied and were thrown across the river. Aided by -a good barrage of artillery and machine-guns the -attack was finally beaten off, about a hundred Germans -who had charged through the barrage being shot down -by rifle fire. After this there was no attempt upon this -day to disturb the new front of the Welsh Division, -though upon August 1 in the afternoon there was some -sign of a counter-attack, which was broken up by the -British artillery before it could materialise. From -then onwards the weather made further operations -impossible. On August 6 the Twentieth Division -took over this new line. -</p> - -<p> -The advance of the Welsh Division, including as -it did the two exploits of capturing the strongly -fortified village of Pilkem, and of utterly scattering -three battalions of one of the most famous regiments -in the Prussian service, was worthy of the great -reputation which they had won at Mametz Wood. The way -in which the men followed up the barrage and tackled -the concrete forts was especially worthy of mention. -The Cockchafers mentioned above were the dandy -regiment of Berlin, and their utter defeat at the hands -of a brigade of the New Army must indeed have been -bitter to those who remembered the cheap jests which -had been made at that Army's expense. Four hundred -prisoners from this regiment found their way -to the cages. Altogether 700 prisoners were taken, -nearly all Guardsmen from the Third Division. -The Welsh had about 1300 casualties, including -Colonels Radice, Norman, and Taylor. Among the -dead was one, Private Ellis H. Evans of the 15th -Welsh Fusiliers, whose position and importance -were peculiarly Cymric, since he was the winner -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P145"></a>145}</span> -of the Bardic chair, the highest honour of the -Eisteddfod. An empty Bardic chair was afterwards erected -over his grave. It is only in Wales that the traditions -of Athens are preserved, and contests of the body and -of the mind are conducted in public with equal honour -to the victors. -</p> - -<p> -To the south of Cavan's Fourteenth Corps lay -Maxse's Eighteenth Corps, extending from the right -of the Thirty-eighth Division to a point opposite to -the village of St. Julien. Maxse's Eighteenth Corps -consisted of four divisions, the Fifty-first supported by -the Eleventh being upon the left, and the Thirty-ninth -supported by the Forty-eighth upon the right. South -of the St. Julien front they connected up with Watts' -Nineteenth Corps to the south. It should be mentioned -that the whole corps' front was occupied for -some weeks before the battle by the 33rd Brigade, -who at great strain and loss to themselves held this -long stretch in the face of constant gassings and -shellings, in order that the attacking divisions might -be able to practise for the day of battle. -</p> - -<p> -Taking the narrative once more from the north, -the Fifty-first Highland Territorial Division (Harper), -a unit which has seen an extraordinary amount of -service during the war, advanced with the usual -dash of these magnificent clansmen. Everything went -down before their disciplined rush. There was no -particular geographical point in the area which they -conquered, but their whole front was covered by -fortified posts, some of which fell with ease, while -others put up a considerable resistance. Prominent -among the latter was Rudolph Farm, which was on the -line between the Thirty-eighth and Fifty-first -Divisions, pouring a flanking fire upon each and holding -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P146"></a>146}</span> -up the left of the Fifty-first. This post was eventually -stormed by the Welsh. Finally the Highlanders, -clearing the ground carefully behind them, reached -their full day's objective, which was the line of the -Steenbeek. Here they dug themselves in and beat -off an enemy counter-attack. -</p> - -<p> -On the right of the Highland Territorial Division -was the Thirty-ninth Division, consisting of the -116th Sussex Brigade, the 117th Rifle and Sherwood -Foresters Brigade, and the 118th mixed Territorial -Brigade. The attack was undertaken by the 117th -Brigade upon the north in touch with the -Highlanders, and the 116th upon the south. Both of -these brigades got forward in excellent style, but -the position was strong and the losses were heavy. -Canadian Farm was taken by the 117th Brigade, -and the 116th also attained its full objective. -Finally, the spare brigade, the 118th, passed -through the ranks of the others, and fought their -way into St. Julien, where no British foot had -been placed since April 24, 1915, when the heroic -remnant of the Canadians had been cut off and -overpowered in its streets. -</p> - -<p> -The operation would have been entirely successful -had it not been for the attempt to advance beyond -the village. This was carried out by the same brigade, -the 118th, with the 6th Cheshires upon the right, the -1st Herts in the centre, and the 4/5th Black Watch upon -the left. The Cambridge Battalion was in support. -The attack was extraordinarily gallant, but was held -up by uncut wire and very severely punished. No -permanent gain was effected, but greater constancy -has seldom been seen. The Hertfordshire men were -particularly fine. Their Colonel Page and their -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P147"></a>147}</span> -adjutant were both killed, and every combatant -officer was on the casualty list, so that it was the -serjeant-major who withdrew the 120 men who had -gone forth as a strong battalion. The doctor was -wounded, and only the chaplain was left, who -distinguished himself by being the last man to recross -the Steenbeek with a wounded man slung over his -shoulder. Such was the experience of the Herts, and -that of the Cheshires and of the Highlanders differed -only in detail. -</p> - -<p> -A counter-attack along the whole corps' front was -beaten back upon the evening of July 31, but the -concentration of German artillery upon St. Julien was -so terrific that it was found necessary next day to -withdraw the 1st Cambs who garrisoned the village, -the adjacent bridge over the Steenbeek being retained. -Next day the village was reoccupied. -</p> - -<p> -The Thirty-ninth Division, very hard hit by its -victorious but strenuous service, was relieved upon -August 4, after a terrible four days of constant rainfall -and shell-fall, by the Forty-eighth South Midland -Territorial Division, while a few days later their -Highland comrades were relieved by the Eleventh -Division. So battered was the Thirty-ninth Division -that it was taken forthwith out of the line and its -place in the corps was filled by the Fifty-eighth. -</p> - -<p> -To return to the order of the advance, Watts' -Nineteenth Corps, which was the next one to the south, -consisted of the Fifty-fifth West Lancashire Territorials -with the Thirty-sixth Ulsters upon the left, -while the Fifteenth Scottish Division supported by -the Fourteenth Light Division were on the right. -Of these we will deal first with the attack of the men -of Lancashire. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P148"></a>148}</span> -</p> - -<p> -The advance was made by the 166th Brigade -upon the left, and by the 165th upon the right. -The first German line was rapidly carried, and -the only serious fighting was at the strong point -known as Pommern Redoubt, which held out for -some time but was eventually captured about 10 A.M. -The 166th Brigade, which covered the space between -St. Julien in the north and the Wieltje-Gravenstafel -Road in the south, was led by the 5th King's Royal -Lancasters and the 5th North Lancashires, while the -165th Brigade, with their left upon the road and their -right in touch with the Fifteenth Division, were -composed entirely of battalions of the King's Liverpool -Regiment, the 5th and 6th in front, the 7th and 9th -in the second line. This brigade upon being -counter-attacked used its liquid fire apparatus with good -results. "From under the mantle of fire ran blazing -Huns with heartrending cries, but I cannot say we had -any sympathy for them. We remembered John -Lynn and the other Lancashire lads who had been -gassed and roasted round Ypres in the battles of -other days, and we felt that the Huns were only being -paid back in their own coin." The losses in the first -stages of the advance were not severe and came -chiefly from the machine-gun fire of the three -strongholds of Bank Farm, Spree Farm, and Pommern -Castle. The latter was very formidable, spouting -bullets on three sides, so that the 165th Brigade was -held up by it for a time. In the second stage of the -attack the 164th Brigade with the 4th North -Lancashires on their right and the 5th Lancs -Fusiliers upon their left pushed through the ranks of -their comrades and carried the advance on, taking -Hindu Cott and Gallipoli, and finally reaching the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P149"></a>149}</span> -most advanced objective, whence they pushed out -patrols to Toronto and Aviatik Farms. They were -exposed to strong counter-attacks as will be shown. -</p> - -<p> -This fine advance had been matched by Reed's -Fifteenth Scots Division on the right. Of their -conduct that day it can only be said that it was -worthy of the reputation which they had gained at -Loos and at the Somme. The Scottish bands who -fought under Gustavus Adolphus in the Thirty Years' -War left a renown in Germany which lingers yet, and -it is certain that some memory of the terrible -"Hell-hags," as they were called by the German soldiers, -will preserve the record of Scotch military prowess so -long as any of their adversaries are alive to speak -of it. Two brigades led the advance, the 44th -upon the right and the 46th upon the left. As -in the case of the Lancashire men upon their left -the first stages of the attack were easy. On getting -past the German line, however, the full blast of fire -struck the infantry from Douglas Villa, Frezenberg -Redoubt, Pommern Castle, Low Farm, Frost House, -and Hill 37. By ten o'clock, however, the second -objectives had been taken. The 45th Brigade -now pushed through, and though held up on the -right by Bremen Redoubt, they attained the -full objective upon the left, and kept in close touch -with the 164th Brigade. The position, however, was -perilous and, as it proved, impossible, for Watts' -Corps was now well ahead of either of its neighbours. -About two o'clock a violent German drive struck up -against the exposed flank of the Fifty-fifth Division, -causing great losses, especially to the 4th Royal -Lancasters, some of whom were cut off. Another -counter-attack beat against the left of the enfeebled -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P150"></a>150}</span> -45th Brigade. As a result the remains of the four -front line battalions were pushed back some hundreds -of yards, but at 5 P.M. the edge was taken off the -attack and the German infantry were seen to be -retiring. About 1 P.M. next day this attack was renewed -down the line of the Ypres-Roulers Railway, and -again the Fifteenth Division bore a heavy strain which -forced it back once to the Frezenberg Ridge, but again -it flooded forward and reoccupied its line. So severe -had been the exertions and the losses of these two -divisions that they were drawn out of the line as soon -as possible, their places being taken by the 36th -Ulsters upon the left and the 16th Irish upon the -right. -</p> - -<p> -We now come to Jacob's Second Corps lying to the -south of the Nineteenth with its left resting upon the -Ypres-Roulers Railway. It contained no less than -five divisions, three of which were in the line and two -in support. Those in the line, counting from the -north, were the Eighth Regular Division with its -left on the railway and its right at Sanctuary Wood, -the Thirtieth Lancashire Division in the centre, and -the Twenty-fourth Division opposite Shrewsbury -Forest with its right resting upon the -Zillebeke-Zandvoorde Road. In support was the Twenty-fifth -Division upon the left, and the Eighteenth Division -upon the right. -</p> - -<p> -The Eighth Division advanced upon a two-brigade -front, the 23rd upon the left and the 24th -upon the right. Many strong posts including several -woods faced the assailants, and from the beginning -the resistance was very obstinate. None the -less, in spite of numerous checks and delays, the -advance was carried forward for half a mile and -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P151"></a>151}</span> -captured the whole of the front line trenches without -much loss, for the German barrage was slow and late -whereas the British artillery support was excellent. -Indeed it may be remarked that one of the features -of the battle was the remarkable preparation by which -General Jacob, with the aid of his two artillery -leaders, managed to place nearly a thousand -pieces into a line which was fully exposed to -enemy observation. It was done at a considerable -loss of men and guns, but it was absolutely essential -to the advance. -</p> - -<p> -The low rising called the Bellewaarde Ridge was -the first objective of the division and was easily taken. -The two magnificent Regular brigades swept onwards -with a perfect order which excited the admiration of -spectators. As they passed over the curve of the -ground they came into heavy fire from the farther -rise near Westhoek, but it neither slowed nor quickened -their gait. Hooge, Bellewaarde Lake, The White -Château, all the old landmarks were passed. When -the full objective had been reached after more than -half a mile of steady advance the 25th Brigade -passed through the ranks of their comrades and -carried on until, as they neared Westhoek, they ran -into a very heavy flank fire from Glencorse Wood in -the south. This was in the area of the southern -division, so that the 25th Brigade were aware that -their flank was open and that the Thirtieth Division -had not come abreast of them. They halted therefore -just to the west of Westhoek, and as their flank -remained open all day they had to content themselves -with consolidating the ground that they had won -and beating back two counter-attacks. The left of -the division kept their station well forward upon the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P152"></a>152}</span> -Ypres-Roulers Railway, with their left in close touch -with the Scotsmen to the north. The division was -relieved next day by the Twenty-fifth Division. -All the battalions had done great things in the -action, but some specially fine work was put in by the -1st Sherwood Foresters upon the left of the advance -of the 24th Brigade. At one point it was necessary -to cut through wire which held up the advance, and -the gallantry of the wire-cutting detachment was such -that the dying continued to snip at the strands, while -even the dead contrived to fall forward in an attempt -to screen with their bodies their living comrades. -The losses were very heavy, but the historic old 45th -Foot, the "old Stubborns" of the Peninsula, never -in its long career carried through more gallantly in -so fierce a fight. The 2nd Northamptons also -increased their high reputation upon this arduous day, -during which they took many prisoners. -</p> - -<p> -The Thirtieth Division, which consisted, as will be -remembered, to a large extent of "Pal" battalions -from Liverpool and Manchester, advanced to the -south of the Eighth. Sanctuary Wood and other -strong points lay in front of the 90th and 21st -Brigades which provided the first lines of stormers. -The resistance was strong, the fire was heavy, and -the losses were considerable, so that the assailants -were held up and were unable to do more than -carry the front trenches, whence they repulsed -repeated counter-attacks during the rest of the day. -In the initial advance the 2nd Scots Fusiliers, that -phoenix of a battalion, so often destroyed and so often -renewed, wandered in the dusk of the morning away -from its allotted path and got as far north as Château -Wood in the path of the 24th Brigade. This caused -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P153"></a>153}</span> -some dislocation of the front line, but the Manchester -men on the right of the Scots pushed on and struck -the Menin Road as far forward as Clapham Junction. -The 21st Brigade in the meantime had to pass a -great deal of difficult woody ground and met so much -opposition that they lost the barrage, that best friend -of the stormer. Bodmin Copse was reached, but few -penetrated to the eastern side of it. The strong point -of Stirling Castle was, however, taken by the -Manchesters of the 90th. It was the line of Dumbarton -Lakes which proved fatal to the advance, and -though two battalions of the 89th and finally -the East Anglians of the 53rd Brigade from -the supporting Eighteenth Division were thrown -into the fight, the latter winning forward for some -distance, they found that it was finally rather a -question of holding ground than gaining it. The -ultimate line, therefore, was across from Clapham -Junction. Since neither of the divisions on either -side was in any way held up, save perhaps at one -point, it is probable that the southern advance would -have been more successful but for the limited advance -of the Thirtieth Division. -</p> - -<p> -Upon August 2, much exhausted, they were -drawn out of the line and the Eighteenth Division -took their place, and held the Clapham Junction and -Glencorse Wood, which their own 53rd Brigade -had largely been instrumental in winning, against -repeated attacks. -</p> - -<p> -Upon the right of the Thirtieth Division was the -Twenty-fourth, a famous fighting unit which was -the only division able to boast that it had been -present at Vimy Ridge, Messines, and Ypres—three -great battles in the one year. The ground in front -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P154"></a>154}</span> -of this division was broken and woody, including -Shrewsbury Forest and other natural obstacles. None -the less good progress was made, especially upon the -right, while the left was only retarded by the fact -of the limited advance in the north. The advance -was made upon a three-brigade front, the 17th -upon the left, the 73rd in the centre, and the -72nd upon the right. The 17th, advancing with -that fine battalion the 3rd Rifle Brigade alone -in the front line, carried all before it at first, -but found both flanks exposed and was compelled -to halt. The 73rd, led by the 2nd Leicesters and the -7th Northamptons, were held up by a strong point -called Lower Star Post in front of them. On the -right the 72nd, with the 8th Queen's and the North -Staffords in the lead, gained the house called the -Grunenburg Farm, which marked the line of their -immediate objective. There they dug in and held -firmly, connecting up with the left of Plumer's Army -to the south. Several unsuccessful counter-attacks -were made in the succeeding days upon this point, -in one of which on August 5 Colonel de la Fontaine -of the 9th East Surreys was killed. -</p> - -<p> -If the attack of the Second Corps upon this and -other occasions met with limited success, it is to be -remembered that the long clear slope leading to -Glencorse and Inverness Woods upon either side of -the Menin Road represented as impossible a terrain -for an advancing force as could be imagined. When -finally these woods were won, officers who stood -among the tree-stumps and looked back were amazed -to think that such ground could have been taken, -and were filled with surprise that the Ypres salient -could have been held so long under an observation -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P155"></a>155}</span> -from which nothing could be concealed. When such -positions are held by troops which have a world-wide -reputation, in concrete fortifications, one should be -surprised, not that the assailants should have failures -but that they should have the dour resolution which -brought them at last to success. -</p> - -<p> -All the four corps already mentioned, covering the -front from the junction with the French in the north -to Shrewsbury Forest in the south, belonged to -Gough's Fifth Army. Of Plumer's Second Army only -a portion of the extreme left, consisting of Morland's -Tenth Corps, was engaged upon July 31. The flank -unit, the Forty-first English Division, was in -the front line opposite Basseville, with the New -Zealanders upon their right. There was no intention -to advance the line to any distance in this locality, -but the whole task assigned to the troops was -completely carried out, and the front was pushed -forward until it was level with the right of the -Twenty-fourth Division. It has been explained -by Sir Douglas Haig, however, that the attack in -this quarter had never any serious intentions, and -that it was in the nature of a feint in order to -distribute the German reserve of men and guns. None -the less the ground captured by the 123rd Brigade -of the Forty-first Division represented a substantial -gain, including the village of Hollebeke and all the -broken and difficult country to the north of the bend -of the Ypres-Comines Canal and east of Battle Wood. -The advance along this portion of the front varied -from 200 to 300 yards, while the New Zealanders at -the right of the line covered the short area assigned -to them in their usual workmanlike fashion, taking -after a short fight the hamlet of La Basseville. On -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P156"></a>156}</span> -the right of the New Zealanders were the Australians, -whose movement, in accordance with the general -plan was a small one, including the capture of a -ruined windmill opposite their position. This was -captured, retaken, and captured once again in a -spirited little fight, and August 1 saw more fighting -in this sector under very trying conditions of weather -and ground. -</p> - -<p> -We have now briefly reviewed the work of each -of the twelve divisions which were in line upon the -31st of July. In some places success was absolute, -in some it was partial, in none was there failure. -Speaking generally it may be said that the Thirty-ninth, -Fifty-first, Welsh, and Guards, had captured -their full objectives, including the villages of -St. Julien, Pilkem, and the Pilkem Ridge; that the -Fifty-fifth and Fifteenth had carried the first and second -lines, with the villages of Verlorenhoek and Frezenberg -and the all-important ridge; finally that the units -upon their right had captured the German first lines, -including Hooge, Hollebeke, Stirling Castle, and a -line of woods. Apart from the gain of important -and dominant positions, 6000 prisoners and 133 -officers were taken, together with 25 guns, exclusive -of those which had been captured by General Antoine -to the north. The progress of the French had -been admirable, and they had not only reached -their full objectives but had gone beyond them -and seized the village of Bixschoote, driving back -one severe German counter-attack which surged -up to the point of junction between them and the -Guards. With such results the first day of the third -Battle of Ypres was undoubtedly a British victory, -but it was a victory which was absolutely complete -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P157"></a>157}</span> -in the north, and incomplete in the south. Only one -British disaster occurred during the day, and that -was in the appearance of that constant and formidable -ally of the Central Powers, the autumn rain. That -night it began, and for many weeks it continued in -a dreary downpour upon a land which at the best of -times is water-laden and soft. For two months to -come it may be said that operations were really -impossible, and that if they were occasionally driven -forward by the fiery determination of the British -leaders, they were undertaken at such a desperate -disadvantage that large results were out of the -question. Impassable mud and unfordable craters -covered the whole German front, and a swimming -collar might well have been added to those many -appliances with which the patient British soldier was -already burdened. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p><a id="chap07"></a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P158"></a>158}</span></p> - -<h3> -CHAPTER VII -<br /><br /> -THE THIRD BATTLE OF YPRES -</h3> - -<p class="t3"> -August 1 to September 6 -</p> - -<p> -Dreadful weather—German reaction—Attack of August 16—Advance -of Cavan's Corps—Capture of Langemarck—Dreadful losses of -the two Irish Divisions—Failure in the south—Splendid -field-gunners—The Forty-second Division upon September 6. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -From the evening of July 31 till that of August 1, -there were intermittent and sporadic German attacks -along the whole of the new line, which were the more -dangerous as the wretched weather made it impossible -for the aircraft to operate and the artillery -support was therefore unreliable. None the less, the -wet and weary infantry huddling in the puddles and -ditches were not to be forced back. Only at -St. Julien, as already described, was there a temporary -loss of ground. In this quarter, the Thirty-ninth -Division, especially the 118th Brigade, sustained very -heavy losses, some of the battalions being almost -annihilated for military purposes. For days in -succession they lay in improvised trenches sodden and -cold in the pitiless rain, and when the rising waters -drove them out they were shot down by the enemy. -None the less, the ground was held and the abandoned -village was regained. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P159"></a>159}</span> -</p> - -<p> -Another point at which the German reaction was -particularly severe upon August 1 was near Bremen -Redoubt and the Roulers Railway. Here at 3.30 P.M. the -enemy attacked with great valour, the blow -falling chiefly upon the 24th Brigade on the left of -the Eighth and the 44th on the right of the Fifteenth -Divisions. The 10th Gordons, 2nd Northamptons, -and 1st Sherwood Foresters were for a time fighting -for their lives, the regimental staff of the Gordons -having to defend the burrow which served as -Headquarters. The 7th Camerons were also engaged in -this desperate conflict which was fought ankle-deep -in mud and under driving rain-clouds. Finally a -body of Highlanders under Captain Geddes of the -Gordons made so fierce a charge that the Germans -were driven back and abandoned the attempt in -despair. Their advance, however, had been so sudden -and so fierce that there was a time when the line was -in grave danger. Captain Symon of the Camerons -did great work also in the charge which turned the -tide. Both Geddes and Symon were decorated for -their valour. -</p> - -<p> -From the first day of the battle the front had -been quiet in the sector of the Second Corps, save -for constant reciprocal bombardments, the Germans -endeavouring to hinder consolidation, while the -British prepared for an advance upon Glencorse and -Inverness Woods. Upon August 10 an attempt was -made to carry the line forward, the Twenty-fifth -Division advancing upon the left opposite to Westhoek -and the Eighteenth Division coming forward upon -the right. The operation was a local one, but was -attended with some success, the Twenty-fifth reaching -their full objective and occupying the village of -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P160"></a>160}</span> -Westhoek. This attack was carried out by the -74th Brigade, and was a model operation of the -kind. Westhoek itself was rushed by the 2nd Irish -Rifles, but the 11th Lancashire Fusiliers on the -north did equally well, fighting their way to the -advanced line and capturing several houses with -their garrisons. The 9th North Lancashires had also -a very fine day's work, but the 13th Cheshires, coming -up in support, lost heavily from the barrage which -had been too slow to catch the main attack. None -the less the survivors made their way to the extreme -line, where they joined up with some 7th Bedfords -from the 54th Brigade to the south, and held a -covering flank so as to block any attack upon -Westhoek. The Cheshires did particularly well in this -strenuous day's work, they and the Fusiliers having -repeated hand-to-hand fights with the German -counter-attacks. At one time a body of the Cheshires -were quite cut off, but they held their own with -determined bravery until their comrades rescued -them. The Eighteenth Division were held up by the -heavy flanking fire from Inverness Copse. The left -of the advance got into the south-western edge of -Glencorse Wood, touching the 74th Brigade south -of Westhoek, but the right brigade could not get -farther than the road east of Stirling Castle. On the -whole, however, it was a good advance, and in the -meantime the Twenty-fourth Division had drawn -closer to Lower Star Post, the obstinate strong point -which had held up the 73rd Brigade upon July 31. -The Germans showed their resentment at these new -advances by five counter-attacks on the evening of -August 10, all of which, especially the last, were -strongly pressed. These attacks were most strongly -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P161"></a>161}</span> -made against the 76th Brigade upon the left, but by -the exertions of the 106th and 130th Field Companies -Royal Engineers, and their pioneers, the 6th South -Wales Borderers, they had consolidated to such an -extent that they held out against extreme pressure. -The 7th Bedfords and 7th Queens in the front of the -Eighteenth Division had also much to endure, and -were pushed to the very edge of Glencorse Wood. -All day the Irish Riflemen in Westhoek could see the -Germans in small bodies dribbling over into the -Hannebeek valley in front of them until in the evening -a large force had accumulated. From ten in the -morning the drift had been going on. The 10th -Cheshires and 3rd Worcesters of the 7th Brigade -had come up to thicken the attenuated line, -but the danger was threatening, and rockets and -pigeons were sent up to warn the guns. A very -heavy barrage was laid down by them and stopped -the attack. The enemy could be seen running for -safety in every direction. At the same time an -attack broke upon the 11th Lancashire Fusiliers to -the north. An isolated house, which was occupied -by a small party of this battalion, was so closely -attacked that three Germans were shot as they -clambered through the windows, but the North -Countrymen stood fast, and forty-eight dead were -picked up round this post in the morning. This -ended the enemy's attempts to recover the lost ground. -The fighting had been severe, and the British losses -were heavy. For a second time within a year the -13th Cheshires had their commanding officer and -every other officer of the battalion upon the casualty -list. When one reads such figures one can ask with -confidence whether all the exclusiveness of a special -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P162"></a>162}</span> -caste with its codes of honour and appeals to violence -can exceed the quiet courage of those civilian gentlemen -who undertook the leading of our new armies. -</p> - -<p> -Six field-guns with 8 officers and 300 men were -taken in this Westhoek operation. The enemy -consisted of the German Fifty-fourth Reserve -Division, and all accounts agree that both in -defence and in counter-attack their conduct was -admirable. -</p> - -<p> -The ground was still very wet and the conditions -deplorable, but the advance must be continued at all -costs if the preparations were not to be thrown away -and winter to find us still within the old pent-house -of Ypres. By the end of the second week in August -the higher ground was beginning to dry, though the -bogs in between were already hardly passable. -One more fortnight would be invaluable, but Sir -Douglas could not afford to waste another day. -Upon August 16 the advance was renewed. -</p> - -<p> -As the original attack had been from a concavity -which was almost a semicircle, and as it had -encroached upon the German area round the whole -circumference, the result was that the front was now -too large for simultaneous attack, and the whole of the -units of Plumer's Army which had formerly taken part -in the battle were now to the south of the storm-area. -The line of battle extended from the French positions -in the north down to the north-west corner of -Inverness Wood. Along this line the four corps of Cavan -(Fourteenth), Maxse (Eighteenth), Watts (Nineteenth), -and Jacob (Second), were extended in their former -order. In each case the divisions which had borne -the brunt of July 31 were now in support, while the -old supporting divisions were in the line. As before, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P163"></a>163}</span> -we will take the corps in their order from the north, -premising that after the usual heavy bombardment -the attack began at 4.45 in the morning. -</p> - -<p> -Of the French upon the extreme left of the line -it can only be said that they did all and more than -they were asked to do. With the grand, swift dash -which is the characteristic of their infantry they -stormed the various fortified farms along the line of -the Steenbeek, though some of them held out long -after the main lines of our Allies had passed them. -The two ends of the Bridge which crosses the stream -at the village of Drie-Grachten were secured, and the -whole of the peninsula made good. -</p> - -<p> -The front of Cavan's Fourteenth Corps was -formed by the grand old Twenty-ninth Division -upon the left, and the Twentieth Light Division, -the heroes of many fights, upon the right. Both -divisions lived up to their highest that day, which -means that many a brave man died at his -highest to carry on the record. On the whole, -the Mebus or pill-boxes, the new German concrete -forts, were less effective in the north than in the -south, which may have depended upon the general -lie of the country which gave them a shorter area -of fire. Small bodies of brave men—sometimes a -single brave man—managed to get up to them and -to silence them by hurling a sudden bomb through -the porthole from which the gun protruded. -</p> - -<p> -The advance of the Twenty-ninth Division was -begun by crossing in the early dawn the bridges -thrown over the Steenbeek. Starting from the line -of the stream, the advanced mud-beplastered lines, -extending as they crossed country, coalescing as they -concentrated upon any obstacle, moved swiftly -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P164"></a>164}</span> -forwards to their objectives, which were taken in their -entirety. Passerelle Farm was carried by the veterans -of the Twenty-ninth, and so was Martin's Mill upon -the right, many prisoners being sent to the rear. -Another heave took them across the grass-grown lines -of the abandoned railway and on into the hamlet of -Wijdendrift, the line being established well to the -north-east of that place. -</p> - -<p> -Whilst the Twenty-ninth Division had made this -fine advance upon the left, the Twentieth had done -equally well upon the right, and had ended their -brilliant attack by storming after a short but sharp -contest the village of Langemarck, that old battle -centre of 1914. -</p> - -<p> -The start of the attack was as fine as its execution, -for the two brigades were marshalled into their -positions in pitch darkness upon ground which was -bewildering in its badness, close under the untaken -redoubt of Au Bon Gite, whose garrison at any -moment might give the alarm. So silent was the -operation that the enemy was utterly ignorant of it, -though they kept up a continual machine-gun fire -all night which made the assemblage even more -difficult. In the early dawn the German fort was -rushed by two companies of the 11th Rifle Brigade -under Captain Slade. -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P165"></a>165}</span> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-165"></a> -<br /> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-165.jpg" alt="LINE OF BATTLE, August 16, 1917" /> -<br /> -LINE OF BATTLE, August 16, 1917 -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -Then keeping within thirty yards of the barrage -the attack moved forward as best it might through -the swamps. The 60th Brigade was on the right -and the 61st upon the left. The latter had never -yet failed to carry its objective, and now it surged -through the village of Langemarck and out at -the farther side. The 12th King's Liverpool with -the 7th Battalion of the Sussex, Durham, and -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P166"></a>166}</span> -Yorkshire Light Infantry were the heroes of this -exploit. The German colonel commanding the 3rd -Battalion 261st Regiment, and a crowd of very -shaken prisoners from the 79th Prussian Reserve -Division were picked out of the ruins. On the right -the 60th Brigade had made an equally fine advance, -the King's Royal Rifles being on the flank in touch -with the 12th King's Liverpool, with the 6th Shropshires -on their right, while the 6th Oxford and Bucks, -cleared up the numerous pill-boxes at Au Bon Gite -on the banks of the Steenbeek. There were many -casualties in the advance, including Colonel Prioleau -of the Rifle Brigade, caused chiefly by the fire of the -murderous Mebus which studded the ground. These -were engaged by small groups of men, specially -trained for the work, who frequently, by their cool, -purposeful courage, succeeded in silencing what would -seem to be an impenetrable stronghold. Sergeant -Cooper of the Rifles attacked one of these places -with twelve men, and had his whole party shot down. -None the less, he closed with it, and firing through -the loop-hole with a borrowed revolver, he caused the -surrender of the garrison of forty men with seven -guns, winning his V.C. Such deeds were done all -along the line, and without them the advance must -have been held up. Finally the 60th Brigade -established themselves upon the line of Langemarck, in -touch with the captors of the village, but in the late -afternoon a heavy German attack broke in between -the King's Liverpools and the Rifles, annihilating the -left flank Company of the latter battalion, which -fought desperately to the end under Captain Dove, -who was among those who fell. So critical was the -situation at one time that a defensive flank 200 yards -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P167"></a>167}</span> -in length was held by an officer and fifteen men, with -hardly any cartridges in their pouches. Touch was -kept, however, between the two Brigades, and before -evening they had dug in and consolidated the new -position. There had been victory along all this front, -and by sunset the whole of the objectives of the -Fourteenth Corps, with the exception of a small -length of trench to the north-east of Langemarck, -were in the hands of Cavan's infantry. -</p> - -<p> -Maxse's Eighteenth Corps was formed by the -Eleventh Division upon the left, and the Forty-eighth -South Midland Territorials upon the right. -The advance was over the Langemarck-Zonnebeke -Road, and on over broken Mebus-studded -country with no village nor even any farm-house -to give a name and dignity to the considerable -gain of ground. The advance was, though not -complete, of great tactical importance, as it screened -the flank of the successful corps in the North. -</p> - -<p> -Brilliant success had marked the operations of the -Fourteenth Corps, and modified success those of the -Eighteenth. In the case of the four gallant divisions -which formed the front of the Nineteenth and Second -Corps, it can hardly be said that they had any gains, -while their losses were always heavy, and in some -cases simply disastrous. Yet, conditions of weather, -and ground and position being what they were, it was -impossible to impute a shadow of blame to officers or -men, who faced a difficult and often an impossible -task with the spirit of heroes. To show how desperate -that task was, and the extraordinary punishment -which was endured by the infantry, the narrative -of the Sixteenth and Thirty-sixth Divisions which -formed Watts' Corps may be told at greater length. -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P168"></a>168}</span> -The Sixteenth which is treated first was on the right -of the Corps in the Frezenberg sector of the attack. -</p> - -<p> -This division, which had occupied under torrential -rain and heavy fire the Frezenberg Ridge since -August 4, was much exhausted before the advance -began. The losses had fallen mainly upon the 47th -Brigade, which had held the line, but the attacking -brigades which now took its place were by no means -immune. On the day before the battle, Brigadier-General -Leveson-Gower of the 49th Brigade and -practically all his staff became casualties from gas -poisoning, and the command had to be taken over -by the C.O. of the Irish Fusiliers. So heavy was -the pressure upon the division that 107 officers and -1900 men were on the casualty lists before the advance -had begun. None the less, the spirit of the troops -was high, and all were eager for the clash. On August -16 the attack was made at 4.45 in the morning, the -Thirty-sixth North of Ireland Division being on the -left and the Eighth upon the right of the Sixteenth -Division. It was upon a two-brigade front, the 48th -being on the right and the 49th upon the left. So -difficult were the conditions that it was only a quarter -of an hour before zero that the concentration was -complete, most of the troops being more fit for a rest -than for a battle. -</p> - -<p> -The line of advance was formed by the 7th Irish -Rifles and 9th Dublin Fusiliers upon the right, while -the 7th and 8th Inniskilling Fusiliers were on the left. -At the signal they went forward over very heavy -ground, the barrage slowing down to five minutes -per hundred yards. We shall first follow the right -attack. -</p> - -<p> -Both the Irish Rifles and the Dublin Fusiliers -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P169"></a>169}</span> -found themselves at once within the sweep of numerous -machine-guns which caused very heavy casualties. -The Rifles for a time were in touch with the 2nd -Middlesex of the Eighth Division upon their right, -but the latter got caught in their own barrage with the -result that it had to fall back. The Rifles, who had -lost practically every officer, moved down the railway -and across the Hannebeek, but were so reduced in -number that it was not possible for the few survivors -to hold the German counter-attack advancing about -4 P.M. from Zonnebeke. The Dublin Fusiliers, who -had wilted under a heavy enfilade fire from Vampire -Farm and Bremen Redoubt, were in equally bad case, -and all officers and orderlies who tried to get forward -to the assaulting companies were killed or wounded. -Two companies of the 2nd Dublin Fusiliers which -came up in support shared in the catastrophe and were -practically annihilated. Of one company two officers -and three men survived unscathed. Of another one -non-commissioned officer and ten men. Such figures -will show the absolute devotion with which the Irishmen -stuck to their work and are not, so far as can be -known, exceeded by any losses endured by considerable -units during the war. Some of these scattered -remains lay out until the evening of August 17, -endeavouring to hold a new line, until after dusk -they fell back to the trenches from which they had -started. -</p> - -<p> -On the left the Inniskilling Fusiliers got away in -fine style with the 7/8th Irish Fusiliers in close -support moving so swiftly that they avoided the -German barrage. Beck House and other strong -points were rapidly taken. A fort named Borry -Farm upon the right could not be reduced, however, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P170"></a>170}</span> -and its five machine-guns raked the advancing lines. -Three separate attacks upon the concrete emplacements -of this position all ended in failure. Part of -the attacking force remained in front of the untaken -position, while another portion passed it on the north -side working on to the neighbourhood of Zevenkote. -At this side there had been more success as the 7th -Inniskillings had taken Iberian Trench and -consolidated it. Thence they moved forward to the -eminence called Hill 37, but met with heavy blasts -of fire from that position and from Zonnebeke. The -enemy now counter-attacked from Hill 37, and as -the left flank of the Inniskillings was entirely exposed, -since they had outrun the Ulster men upon their left, -they were forced to retire to a position at Delva Farm. -This was untenable, however, since both flanks were -now exposed, so the whole line fell back to Iberian -Trench. This, however, proved to be also impossible -to hold on account of the truly terrible losses. In the -whole force in that quarter of the field only one -officer seems to have been left standing. Both the -8th Fusiliers upon the right and the Ulster men upon -the left had retired, and by 9.30 A.M. there was no -alternative for the shattered remnants of the 49th -Brigade but to seek the shelter of their own line, -while the 6th Connaughts and 7th Leinsters were -brought up to support them. Of the 7th Inniskillings -there were left one wounded officer and no formed -body of men at all, while no other battalion of the -brigade was of greater strength than half a company. -It was indeed a dreadful day in all this Southern -section of the line. The losses had been so heavy -that no further attack could be organised, and in -spite of the fact that scattered men were still lying -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P171"></a>171}</span> -out, it was impossible to form a new line. Upon the -night of August 17 the Fifteenth Division came -forward again to relieve the exhausted but heroic -infantry, who had done all that men could do, -and more than men could be expected to do, but -all in vain. -</p> - -<p> -Nor had their brother Irishmen of the Thirty-sixth -Division upon their left any better fortune. The -failure of one division may always be due to some -inherent weakness of its own, but when four divisions -in line, of the calibre of the Thirty-sixth, Sixteenth, -Eighth, and Fifty-sixth all fail, then it can clearly -be said, as on the first day of the Somme Battle, that -they were faced by the impossible. This impossible -obstacle took the immediate form of many concrete -gun emplacements arranged chequer-wise across the -front, each holding five guns. But the contributory -causes in the case of all the divisions except the -Fifty-sixth was their long exposure in dreadful -weather to a sustained bombardment which would -have shaken the nerves of any troops in the world, -apart from thinning their ranks. In the Sixteenth -Division alone 1200 men were under treatment for -trench fever and swollen feet, besides the heavy -losses from shell fire. -</p> - -<p> -The fortunes of the Thirty-sixth Ulster Division -were in all ways similar to those of the Sixteenth. -There was the same initial advance, the same -experience of devastating fire from concrete strong -points, the same slaughter, and the same retreat -of a few survivors over ground which was dotted -with the bodies of their comrades. Upon the -right the attack was urged by the 108th Brigade -with the 9th Irish Fusiliers upon the right and -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P172"></a>172}</span> -the Irish Rifles upon the left, with two other -battalions of the same regiment in support. The -attack starting from the line of Pommern Castle got -forward as far as Gallipoli Farm, but there it was -faced by a machine-gun fire, coming chiefly from -Hill 35, which was simply annihilating in its effect. -Only the remains of the 9th Irish Fusiliers ever got -back to their original line. For many hours the Irish -Rifles held on to the rising ground to the north-east -of Pommern Castle, but by four in the afternoon the -shattered 108th Brigade was back in its own trenches. -</p> - -<p> -The attack of Jacob's Second Corps was carried -out upon August 16 by two divisions, the Eighth (which -had relieved the Twenty-fifth) in the Ypres-Roulers -Railway-Westhoek line, and the Fifty-sixth London -Territorials which had relieved the Eighteenth -Division in the Glencorse Wood-Stirling Castle line. -</p> - -<p> -The Eighth Division advanced with the 23rd -Brigade upon the left and the 25th upon the right. -The barrage was excellent, the infantry were on the -top of their form, and all went well. Starting at -4.45 A.M., within an hour they had taken Zonnebeke -Redoubt, Iron Cross Redoubt, and Anzac. This -marked their limit, however, for heavy machine-gun -fire was sweeping across from machine-gun emplacements -of concrete in Nonneboschen Wood in the -south. The right flank of the 25th Brigade fell back -therefore to the line of the Hannebeek, and the -stormers of Zonnebeke Redoubt, men of the 2nd West -Yorkshire, were compelled to fall back also to the same -line. The Germans were now in an aggressive mood, -and were seen several times advancing in large numbers -down the wooded slopes in front of the British -positions, but were always stopped by the heavy barrage. -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P173"></a>173}</span> -About 2.30 P.M. their pressure caused a short -retirement, and the situation was made more difficult by -the failure of the 23rd Brigade to find touch with the -division upon their left. The pressure of the -counter-attacks still continued, and the German losses were -heavy, but the machine-gun fire was so deadly in the -exposed Hannebeek Valley that a further withdrawal -was ordered until the troops were almost in the line -from which they had started. -</p> - -<p> -The advance of the Fifty-sixth Division upon the -right could not be said to be more successful. The -167th Brigade were on the left, the 169th in the centre -with the desperate task of carrying Nonnebosch and -Glencorse, while the hard-worked 53rd Brigade of -the Eighteenth Division was detailed to form a -defensive flank upon the south. It was really the -failure of this attack which contributed greatly to the -failure of the whole, for there was a strong point at -the north-west corner of Inverness Copse with strong -machine-gun emplacements which could sweep the -area to the north over a wide arc. Thus all the troops -north of this point were faced from the start by a -devastating fire. The 167th Brigade got well forward -to Nonne Boschen, but was stopped by bogs and so -fell behind the barrage. On the left they reached -Albert Redoubt, but were driven in by a strong -counter-attack. The 169th reached the east end of Glencorse -Wood where they killed many Germans and captured -sixty gunners, but the counter-attacks gradually -drove the line back to whence it started. A German -officer captured a few days later has described how -he saw the London men, mostly without officers, -walking slowly back in front of his advance. It was -a day of hard slogging upon this sector with very -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P174"></a>174}</span> -little to show for it. So serious were the losses -of the Fifty-sixth Division that the Fourteenth -Division took its place next day, while the other -London Territorial unit, the Forty-seventh Division -(Gorringe) took over the line of the hard-worked -Eighth. -</p> - -<p> -Thus we have passed down the whole line upon -August 16, and have noted the victory of the north, -the stalemate of the centre, and the failure on the -south. There can be no doubt that the losses of the -British were very much in excess of those of the -Germans, for the line of the latter could be held cheaply -owing to the Mebus system which presented a new -and formidable problem for the British generals. -On the other hand the actual trophies of victory lay -with the attack, since in the north they had possessed -themselves of the German third line, and had captured -30 guns with more than 2000 prisoners. -</p> - -<p> -During the wet and miserable fortnight which -followed this engagement the British line was advanced -at many points by local operations, each small in -itself but yielding in the aggregate some hundreds of -prisoners, and representing a gain of ground of about -800 yards for two miles upon the St. Julien front. -The Eleventh and Forty-eighth Divisions which still -held this sector were responsible for the greater part -of this advance which was carried out by three efforts, -upon August 19, 22, and 27. Upon the earlier date -the advance of the South Midlanders was particularly -fine, when the 145th Brigade was heavily engaged, the -Gloucesters and Buckinghams leading a fine assault -which gained an appreciable section of ground. The -bombing parties of the 4th Berkshires, a battalion -recruited from Reading, did particularly good service, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P175"></a>175}</span> -following up the first line and reducing a number of -strong points which had been left untaken. The -losses among the stormers were heavy, but the results -were substantial and there were some hundreds of -prisoners. Especially fine during this and subsequent -actions was the conduct of the field-gunners, British, -Canadian, and Australian, who habitually worked their -guns in the open with their horses in attendance, -changing positions, advancing and unlimbering in the -good old fashion with no attempt at camouflage, and -defiant of the German shells or aeroplanes. The -team-drivers had little to do in the war up to now, but when -their chance came they and their gallant horses went -through the barrage and the poison clouds as if they -were no more than London fogs. The admiration of -the gunners for each other was mutual. Mr. Bean, -the Australian chronicler, narrates how a British -artillery Major complimented the neighbouring -Australian battery saying: "We could not believe -you could carry on in such a fire": to which the -Australian Major replied: "Well, do you know, we -were thinking exactly the same thing about you." Of -such are the ties of Empire. -</p> - -<p> -On August 22 the Fourteenth Division carried out -an attack upon Glencorse and Inverness Woods, -going over the top at 7 A.M. The 42nd Brigade -was on the left facing Glencorse, the 43rd upon -the right facing Inverness. The light infantry -battalions went forward in fine style, the 5th -Shropshires and 6th Cornwalls upon the left carrying -all before them and attaining their full objective, -which was strictly limited in its extent. This -was held and consolidated. The 6th Somersets -and 10th Durhams went forward on the right, but the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P176"></a>176}</span> -fighting was severe and the progress slow. None the -less it was sure, and before evening the greater part -of Inverness Copse was in the hands of these four -battalions, together with nearly 200 prisoners. An -to attempt next morning, August 23, to capture -Fitz-Clarence Farm, just north of Inverness Copse, though -supported by three tanks, was not a success, two of -the tanks being hit by gun-fire and the third reaching -the Farm without any infantry at its heels. At the -same time a counter-attack upon the 5th Shropshires -was beaten back by rifle fire. On the next day there -was still heavy fighting in this sector, for the Germans -could not bear to give up this wood, and made many -attempts to regain it. The 42nd Brigade held every -inch of their line in Glencorse, but the 43rd were -pushed back to the western edge of Inverness where -they held on. -</p> - -<p> -There had been a slight forward movement upon -each side of the Fourteenth Division during these -three days of battle, the Forty-seventh Division taking -an advanced line in the north, while the steadfast -Twenty-fourth, still in the line of battle, came forward -in the south. The 17th Brigade upon the right of the -Fourteenth Division guarded its flank during the -advance, and a dashing exploit was performed by -one of its officers, Lieutenant Stonebanks of the 1st -Royal Fusiliers, who took a strong point with its -garrison by a sudden attack, so gaining his cross. -</p> - -<p> -Among the other operations which were carried -out between the larger engagements in the hope of -improving the local position were a series which -covered the ground from Fortuin in the north to the -south of the Roulers Railway. This point, which -was still occupied by the Nineteenth Corps, was -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P177"></a>177}</span> -covered upon the left by the Sixty-first Division, -a second line English Territorial unit, which faced -Hill 35, while on the right the Fifteenth Division had -come back into the battle once more. These two -divisions made two advances upon August 22 and -upon August 27 in an endeavour to enlarge their -front, but neither was successful. Early in September -the Forty-second Division, which had returned -with a considerable reputation from Gallipoli, took -the place of the hard-worked Fifteenth. Upon -September 6 they again endeavoured to get forward, -but the fact that Hill 37 on their left flank had not -been taken proved fatal to their advance. The ground -was swept from this position of vantage so that -when the Forty-second Division went forward upon -September 6 to try and storm the line of farms, -Iberian, Beck, and Borry, which lay in front of them, -they were smitten on their left flank by this deadly -fire and suffered heavy losses—the more heavy -because with heroic tenacity they held to their task -long after its failure was inevitable. The 125th -Brigade showed an intrepidity in this attack which -in any former war would have been historical, but -in this prolonged exhibition of human and military -virtue does but take its place among many as good. -The 5th and 6th Lancashire Fusiliers who led the -stormers had practically ceased to exist after the -action, while the 7th and 8th in support had heavy -losses. The general lesson of such attacks would -seem to be here, as on the Somme, that it is better to -wait for a general advance in order to rectify -inequalities of the line, rather than to approach them -by local attacks—also that an untaken strong point -upon the flank is absolutely fatal to any isolated -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P178"></a>178}</span> -effort. From this time onwards the line was quiet, -making preparation for the great coming attack. -</p> - -<p> -On the rest of the Allied battle-line the principal -event of August was a successful Italian attack -to upon the Isonzo Front beginning upon August 19, -which not only gained ground but brought in no less -than 20,000 prisoners. On the Verdun Front upon -August 20 the French had a fine little victory, -winning back the last remains of what they had lost -in the great struggle, and taking over 5000 prisoners. -Since April 9 the Allied gains in prisoners had been -British 45,000, French 43,000, Italians 40,000, -Russians 33,000. The British at this date held 102,000 -Germans as against 43,000 British prisoners held by -the Germans. -</p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-178"></a> -<br /> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-178.jpg" alt="THE YPRES FRONT" /> -<br /> -THE YPRES FRONT -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p><a id="chap08"></a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P179"></a>179}</span></p> - -<h3> -CHAPTER VIII -<br /><br /> -THE THIRD BATTLE OF YPRES -</h3> - -<p class="t3"> -September 6 to October 3, 1917 -</p> - -<p class="intro"> -Engagement of Plumer's Second Army—Attack of September 20—Fine -advance of Fifty-fifth Division—Advance of the Ninth -Division—Of the Australians—Strong counter-attack upon the -Thirty-third Division—Renewed advance on September -26—Continued rain—Desperate fighting. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -The attack of August 16, with its varying and not -wholly satisfactory results, had been carried out -entirely by the armies of Antoine and of Gough. It -was clear now to Sir Douglas Haig that the resistance -of the Germans was most formidable along the line -of the Menin Road, where the long upward slope and -the shattered groves which crowned it made an ideal -position for defence. To overcome this obstacle a -new force was needed, and accordingly the Second -Army was closed up to the north, and the command -in this portion of the field was handed over to General -Plumer. This little white-haired leader with his silky -manner, his eye-glass, and his grim, inflexible resolution, -had always won the confidence of his soldiers, but the -complete victory of Messines, with the restraint which -had prevented any aftermath of loss, had confirmed -the whole army in its high appreciation of his powers. -</p> - -<p> -These changes in the line, together with the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P180"></a>180}</span> -continued rain, which went from bad to worse, had -the effect of suspending operations during the -remainder of the month save for the smaller actions -already recorded. Fresh dispositions had to be made -also in order to meet the new German method of -defence, which had abandoned the old trench system, -and depended now upon scattered strong points, -lightly held front lines, and heavy reserves with -which to make immediate counter-attacks upon the -exhausted stormers. The concrete works called also -for a different artillery treatment, since they were so -strong that an eighteen-pounder or even a 5.9 gun -made little impression. These new problems all -pressed for solution, and the time, like the days, -was growing shorter. -</p> - -<p> -The front of the new attack upon September 20 -was about eight miles in length, and corresponded -closely with the front attacked upon July 31, save that -it was contracted in the north so that Langemarck -was its limit upon this side. Upon the south the flank -was still fixed by the Ypres-Comines Canal, just north -of Hollebeke. The scheme of the limited objective -was closely adhered to, so that no advance of more -than a mile was contemplated at any point, while a -thousand yards represented the average depth of -penetration which was intended. The weather, which had -given a treacherous promise of amendment, broke -again upon the very night of the assembly, and the -troops were drenched as they lay waiting for the signal -to advance. Towards morning the rain stopped, but -drifting clouds and a dank mist from the saturated -soil deprived the attackers of the help of their -aircraft—so serious a handicap to the guns. But the spirits -of the men rose with the difficulties, after the good -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P181"></a>181}</span> -old British fashion, and at 5.40 on this most inclement -morning, wet and stiff and cold, they went forward -with cheerful alacrity into the battle. -</p> - -<p> -The field of operations was now covered by two -British armies, that of Gough in the north extending -from beyond Langemarck to the Zonnebeke front, -while Plumer's Army covered the rest of the line -down to Hollebeke. It may be said generally that -the task of the men in the south was the more difficult, -since they had farther to advance over country which -had seemed to be almost impregnable. None the -less the advance in the north was admirably executed -and reached its full objectives. Cavan's Fourteenth -Corps still held the extreme north of the British line, -but neither they nor the French upon their left were -really engaged in the advance. They covered the -front as far south as Schreiboom, where the right of -the Twentieth Division joined on to the left of the -Fifty-first Highlanders. This latter division formed -the left flank of the main advance, though the -59th Brigade, the 60th Brigade, and the 2nd Brigade -of Guards did push their line some short distance -to the front, on either side of the Ypres-Staden -Railway, the 59th Brigade capturing Eagle Trench -and the 60th Eagle House. This was a very -formidable position, crammed with machine-guns, and -it took four days for its conquest, which was a -brilliant feat of arms carried out by men who would -be discouraged by no obstacle. The garrison were -picked troops, who fought desperately, and everything -was against the attack, but their pertinacity wore -down the defence and eventually, upon Sept. 23, the -10th Rifle Brigade and the 12th Royal Rifles cleared -up the last corner of the widespread stronghold. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P182"></a>182}</span> -</p> - -<p> -The hard-worked Highland Territorials of the -Fifty-first Division were worn with service but -still full of fire. Their advance was also an -admirable one, and by nine o'clock they had overcome -all obstacles and dug in upon their extreme -objective. Quebec Farm was a special stronghold which -held the Highlanders up for a time, but finally -fell to their determined assault. Rose Farm, Delva -Farm, and Pheasant Farm were also strongly defended. -About 10 A.M. many strong counter-attacks were -made in this area, one of which for a time drove back -the line of the Highlanders, but only for a short -period. This particular attack was a very gallant -one effected by Poles and Prussians of the -Thirty-sixth and Two hundred and eighth Divisions. It -was noted upon this day that the Prussians fought -markedly better than the Bavarians, which has not -always been the case. The method adopted both by -the Highland Division and in some other parts of -the line in order to overcome strong points, such as -farms, was a concentration of portable trench-mortars -firing heavy charges with a shattering effect. Pheasant -Farm was a particularly difficult proposition, and yet -it was so smothered by a cloud of these missiles that -the distracted garrison was compelled to surrender. -This use of what may be called a miniature and -mobile heavy artillery became a feature of the last -year of the War. -</p> - -<p> -Next to the Fifty-first Division, and covering the -ground to the north and east of St. Julien was the -Fifty-eighth Division, a new unit of second line -London Territorials which had done a good deal -of rough service in the line, but had not yet been -engaged in an important advance. Upon this occasion -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P183"></a>183}</span> -it bore out the old saying that British troops are -often on their top form in a first engagement. Their -advance was a brilliant one and attained its full -objective, taking upon the way the strongly-fortified -position of Wurst Farm. Nowhere in the line was -the ground more sodden and more intersected with -water jumps. The 173rd Brigade was on the right, -the 174th upon the left, the former being led -by the young hero of the Ancre Battle and -the youngest Brigadier, save perhaps one, in the -whole army. It was a magnificent battle <i>début</i> for -the Londoners and their coolness under fire was -particularly remarkable, for in facing the difficult -proposition of Wurst Farm they avoided making a -frontal attack upon it by swinging first left and then -right with all the workmanlike precision of veterans, -The capture of Hubner Farm by the 2/6th and 2/8th -London was also a particularly fine performance, as -was the whole work of Higgins' 174th Brigade. -</p> - -<p> -The two divisions last mentioned, the Fifty-first -and the Fifty-eighth, formed the fighting line of -Maxse's Eighteenth Corps upon this day. On their -right was Fanshawe's Fifth Corps, which had taken -the place of the Nineteenth Corps. The most -northern division was that sterling West Lancashire -Territorial Division, the Fifty-fifth, which -had now been in and out of the fighting line but -never out of shell fire since the evening of July 31, -or seven weeks in all. In spite of its long ordeal, -and of the vile ground which lay at its front, it -advanced with all its usual determination, the 164th -Brigade upon the left, and the 165th upon the right, -each of them being stiffened by one battalion from -the Reserve Brigade. The 8th Liverpool Irish were -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P184"></a>184}</span> -upon the extreme left, which moved down the left -bank of the Hannebeek and struck up against the -difficult obstacle of Schuber Farm, which they -succeeded, with the co-operation of the 2/4th London -and of two Tanks, in carrying by assault. Farther -south a second farm-house, strongly held, called the -Green House, was carried by the 2/5th Lancashire -Fusiliers, while the 4th North Lancashire took Fokker -Farm upon the right. When one considers that each -of these was a veritable fortress, stuffed with -machine-guns and defended by 2nd Guards Reserve regiment, -one cannot but marvel at the efficiency to which these -Territorial soldiers had attained. The 4th Royal -Lancasters kept pace upon the right. The advance -of the 165th Brigade was equally successful in gaining -ground, and there also were formidable obstacles -in their path. After crossing the Steenbeek they had -to pass a very heavy barrage of high explosives and -shrapnel which, however, burst upon percussion and -was neutralised to some extent by the softness of the -ground. The line of advance was down the Gravenstafel -Road. A formidable line of trenches were -carried and Kavnorth Post was captured, as were -Iberian and Gallipoli, strong points upon the right. -A counter-attack in the afternoon which moved down -against the two brigades, was broken by their -rifle-fire, aided by the advent of the two supporting -battalions, the 5th South Lancashires and 5th North -Lancashires. The ground thus taken was strongly -held until next evening, September 21, when under -cover of a very heavy fire the enemy penetrated once -more into the positions in the area of the 164th -Brigade. Just as darkness fell, however, there was a -fine advance to regain the ground, in which the whole -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P185"></a>185}</span> -of the headquarters staff, with bearers, signallers, -runners, and men-servants, swept up to the position -which was captured once more. Among other -positions taken upon September 20 was Hill 37, -which had been so formidable a stronghold for the -Germans in the murderous fighting of August 16. -This commanding point was taken and held by -the 5th, 6th, and 9th King's Liverpools, with part -of the 5th South Lancashires, all under the same -officer who led the 36th Brigade in their fine attack -upon Ovillers. The position was strongly organised, -and upon the next day it beat back a very determined -German counter-attack. -</p> - -<p> -The Ninth Division was on the right of the -Fifty-fifth with the South Africans upon the left -flank. At the opening of the attack the 3rd -(Transvaal) and 4th (Scottish) South African regiments -advanced upon the German line. Within an hour -the latter had carried Borry Farm, which had defied -several previous assaults. At eight o'clock both these -regiments had reached their full objectives and the -supporting units, the 1st (Cape) and 2nd (Natal) -regiments went through their ranks, the men of the -Transvaal cheering the men of Natal and the Cape -as they passed. By 9.30 the second objectives, -including Beck House, had also fallen. There was -a considerable concentration of Germans beyond, -and the 5th Camerons came up in support, as an -attack appeared to be imminent. The artillery -fire dispersed the gathering, however, and the 2nd -Regiment spreading out on the left to Waterend -House established touch with the Lancashire men to -their north. Bremen Redoubt had been captured, -and this was made a nodal point against any -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P186"></a>186}</span> -counter-attack, as was Vampire Redoubt. By -mid-day the 1st Regiment on the right had lost -heavily and was forced to dig in and act upon the -defensive as German concentrations were visible in -the Hannebeke Woods. A second battalion of the -26th Brigade, the 7th Seaforths, were at this time -sent up in support. The left flank was also checked -and a defensive post organised at Mitchell's Farm. -The shelling from the direction of Hill 37 was very -heavy, the more so as the Africans were ahead of the -165th Brigade upon their left. A number of German -aeroplanes flying low and using their machine-guns -complicated a situation which was already sufficiently -serious, for the small-arm ammunition was running -low and only a few hundred exhausted men with a -thin sprinkling of officers remained in the fighting -line. The artillery played up splendidly, however, -and though the enemy massed together at Bostin -Farm he could never get a sufficient head of troops -to carry him through the pelting British barrage. -Thus the day drew to a close with heavy losses cheerfully -borne, and also with a fine gain of ground which -included several of the most sinister strong points -upon the whole line. The South Africans have been -few in number, but it cannot be disputed that their -record in the field has been a superb one. -</p> - -<p> -In the meantime the 27th Brigade, upon the -right of the South Africans, had also done a splendid -day's work. In the first dash the battalion upon -the left front, the 12th Royal Scots, had taken -Potsdam Redoubt with its garrison. Thence the line -rolled on, the Scots Fusiliers and Highland Light -Infantry joining in turn in the advance, until evening -found them with the same difficulties and also with -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P187"></a>187}</span> -the same success as their African comrades. As night -fell this right wing was in touch with the Australians -near Anzac, and thence passed through the wood and -along the railway bank to the junction with the left -brigade, which in turn stretched across to Gallipoli -and to Hill 37, which was now in the hands of their -Lancashire neighbours and bristling with their -machine-guns. That night the Ninth Division lay -upon the ground that they had won, but the men -had been without sleep or warm food for three days -and nights under continual fire, so that, hardy as -they were, they had nearly reached the limit of -human endurance. It is worthy of remark that the -wounded in this part of the field were attended to in -many cases by captured German surgeons, and that -one of these had an experience of Prussian amenities, -for his brains were scattered by a sniper's bullet. -</p> - -<p> -The First and Second Australian Divisions joined -the left unit of Plumer's Army, but worked in -close co-operation with the Ninth Division upon -their right. In a day of brilliant exploits and -unqualified successes there was nothing to beat their -performance, for they were faced by that which tries -the nerves of the stoutest troops—an area which has -already been tested and found to be impregnable. -With all the greater fire did the brave Australian -infantry throw itself into the fray, and they had the -advantage over their predecessors in that the line -was well up on either side of them, and that enemy -guns upon their flanks were too busy upon their own -front to have a thought of enfilading. The result -of the Australian advance was instant and complete, -for the remainder of Glencorse Wood and Nonne -Boschen were over-run and by ten o'clock the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P188"></a>188}</span> -"Diggers" were through the hamlet of Polygonveld -and into the original German third line beyond it. -The western part of Polygon Wood was also cleared, -and so, after a sharp fight, was the strong point called -"Black Watch Corner," which is at the south-western -extremity of the wood. At this point the advance -of the Australians was not less than a mile in depth -over ground which presented every possible obstacle. -Over at least one of their captured redoubts their -own Australian flag with the Southern Cross upon it -was floating proudly in the evening. The losses of -the division were serious, the greater part being due -to an enfilade fire from the right, coming probably -from the high ground in the south near Tower -Hamlets, which struck their flank as they approached -the south of Polygon Wood. Anzac upon the left -marked their northern limit. Nothing could have -been finer than the whole Australian attack. "They -went into battle," says their scribe, "not singing -and laughing like many British regiments, but very -grim, very silent, with their officers marching quietly -at the head of each small string of men." They are -dour, determined fighters, flame-like in attack, iron -in defence, and they have woven a fresh and brilliant -strand into the traditions of the Imperial armies. -It should be mentioned that it was the 2nd, 3rd, -5th, and 7th Brigades which carried forward the line -to victory. -</p> - -<p> -Good as the Australian advance had been it could -not be said to have been better than Babington's -Twenty-third Division upon their right. They, too, -had to cross ground which had been littered by the -bodies of their comrades, and to pass points which -brave men had found impassable. But all went well -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P189"></a>189}</span> -upon this day, and every objective was seized and -held. Inverness Copse, of evil memory, was occupied -at the first rush, and the advance went forward -without a check to Dumbarton Lakes and on past -them until the Veldhoek Ridge had fallen. A -counter-attack which broke upon them was driven -back in ruin. The advance was across the marshy -Basseville Beek and through the dangerous woods -beyond, but from first to last there was never a -serious check. It was on the Yorkshires, the West -Yorkshires, and the Northumberland Fusiliers of the -68th and 69th Brigades that the brunt of the early -fighting fell, and as usual the North-country grit -proved equal to the hardest task which could be set -before it. The final stage which carried the Veldheek -Ridge was also a North-country exploit in this section -of the line, as it was the 10th West Ridings and the -12th Durhams, who with fixed bayonets cleared the -ultimate positions, reaching the western slopes of the -upper Steenbeek Valley where they dug in the new -temporary lines. -</p> - -<p> -On the extreme south of the line the advance had -been as successful as elsewhere, and at nearly every -point the full objective was reached. Upon the right -of the Twenty-third Division was the Forty-first, -a sound English Division which had distinguished -itself at the Somme by the capture of Flers. -The leading brigades, the 122nd and 124th, with -Royal Fusiliers, King's Royal Rifles, and Hampshires -in the lead, lost heavily in the advance. The -snipers and machine-guns were very active upon this -front, but each obstacle was in turn surmounted, and -about 8.30 the Reserve Brigade, the 123rd, came -through and completed the morning's work, crossing -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P190"></a>190}</span> -the valley of the Basseville Beek and storming up -the slope of the Tower Hamlets, a strong position -just south of the Menin Road. Among the points -which gave them trouble was the Papooje Farm, -which was found to be a hard nut to crack—but -cracked it was, all the same. This same brigade -suffered much from machine-guns east of Bodmin -Copse, both it and the 124th Brigade being held -up at the Tower Hamlet Plateau, which exposed -the wing of the 122nd who had reached all their -objectives. So great was the pressure that the -Brigadier of the 124th Brigade came up personally -to reorganise the attack. The 11th West Kent, the -southern unit of the 122nd, had their right flank -entirely exposed to German fire. Two young -subalterns, Freeman and Woolley, held this -dangerous position for some time with their men, but -Freeman was shot by a sniper, the losses were -heavy, and the line had to be drawn in. Colonel -Corfe of the 11th West Kent and Colonel Jarvis of -the 21st K.R.R. were among the casualties. In spite -of all counter-attacks the evening found the left of -the Forty-first Division well established in its new -line, and only short of its full objective in this difficult -region of the Tower Hamlets, where for the following -two days it had to fight hard to hold a line. The -losses were heavy in all three brigades. -</p> - -<p> -On the right of the 41st and joining the flank unit -of Morland's Tenth Corps was the Thirty-ninth -Division. This Division attacked upon a single -brigade front, the 117th having the post of honour. -The 16th and 17th Sherwood Foresters, the 17th -Rifles, and the 16th Rifle Brigade were each in -turn engaged in a long morning's conflict in which -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P191"></a>191}</span> -they attained their line, which was a more limited -one than that of the divisions to the north. -</p> - -<p> -South of this point, and forming the flank of -the whole attack, was the Nineteenth Division, -which advanced with the West-country men of the -57th Brigade upon the right, and the Welshmen of -the 58th Brigade upon the left. Their course was -down the spur east of Zillebeke and then into the -small woods north of the Ypres-Comines Canal. -The 8th Gloucesters, 10th Worcesters, 8th North -Staffords, 6th Wiltshires, 9th Welsh, and 9th Cheshires -each bore their share of a heavy burden and carried -it on to its ultimate goal. The objectives were -shorter than at other points, but had special difficulties -of their own, as every flank attack is sure to -find. By nine o'clock the work was thoroughly done, -and the advance secured upon the south, the whole -Klein Zillebeke sector having been made good. The -captors of La Boisselle had shown that they had not -lost their power of thrust. -</p> - -<p> -This first day of the renewed advance represented -as clean-cut a victory upon a limited objective as -could be conceived. The logical answer to the -German determination to re-arrange his defences by -depth was to refuse to follow to depth, but to cut off -his whole front which was thinly held, and then by -subsequent advances take successive slices off his -line. The plan worked admirably, for every point -aimed at was gained, the general position was greatly -improved, the losses were moderate, and some three -thousand more prisoners were taken. The Germans -have been ingenious in their various methods of -defence, but history will record that the Allies showed -equal skill in their quick modifications of attack, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P192"></a>192}</span> -and that the British during this year's campaign had -a most remarkable record in never being once held -by any position which they attacked, save only at -Cambrai. It is true that on some sections, as in the -south of the line on August 16, there might be a -complete check, but in every action one or other part -of the attack had a success. In this instance it was -universal along the line. -</p> - -<p> -The Germans did not sit down quietly under their -defeat, but the reserve counter-attack troops came -forward at once. Instead, however, of finding the -assailants blown and exhausted, as they would have -been had they attempted a deep advance, they found -them in excellent fettle, and endured all the losses -which an unsuccessful advance must bring. There -were no less than eleven of these attempts upon the -afternoon and evening of September 20, some of them -serious and some perfunctory, but making among -them a great total of loss. They extended over into -September 21, but still with no substantial success. -As has already been recorded, the front of the 55th -Division, at Schuler Farm, east of St. Julien, was for -a time driven in, but soon straightened itself out -again. In this advance, which embraced the whole -front near St. Julien, the German columns came with -the fall of evening driving down from Gravenstafel -and following the line of the Roulers Railway. They -deployed under cover of a good barrage, but the -British guns got their exact range and covered them -with shrapnel. They were new unshaken troops and -came on with great steadiness, but the losses were -too heavy and the British line too stiff. Their total -lodgment was not more than 300 yards, and that they -soon lost again. By nine o'clock all was clear. -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P193"></a>193}</span> -Among the British defences the ex-German pill-boxes -were used with great effect as a safe depository -for men and munitions. This considerable German -attack in the north was succeeded next day by an -even larger and more concentrated effort which -surged forward on the line of the Menin Road, the -fresh Sixteenth Bavarian Division beating up against -the Thirty-third and the Australian Divisions. There -was some fierce give-and-take fighting with profuse -shelling upon either side, but save for some local -indentations the positions were all held. The Victorians -upon the right flank of the Australians' position at -Polygon Wood were very strongly attacked and held -their ground all day. Pinney's Thirty-third Division -had come into line, and the German attack upon -the morning of September 25 broke with especial -fury upon the front of the 98th Brigade, which -fought with a splendid valour which marks the -incident as one of the outstanding feats of arms in this -great battle. Small groups of men from the two -regular battalions, the 1st Middlesex and the 2nd -Argyll and Sutherlands, were left embedded within -the German lines after their first successful rush, -but they held out with the greatest determination, -and either fought their way back or held on in -little desperate groups until they were borne -forward again next day upon the wave of the advancing -army. -</p> - -<p> -The weight of the attack was so great, however, -that the front of the 98th Brigade was pushed back, -and there might have been a serious set-back had -it not been for the iron resistance of the 100th -Brigade, who stretched south to the Menin Road, -joining hands with the 11th Sussex of the Thirty-ninth -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P194"></a>194}</span> -Division upon the farther side. The 100th Brigade -was exposed to a severe assault all day most gallantly -urged by the German Fiftieth Reserve Division and -supported by a terrific bombardment. It was a -terrible ordeal, but the staunch battalions who met -it, the 4th Liverpools who linked up with their -comrades of the 98th Brigade, the 2nd Worcesters, -9th Highland Light Infantry, and 1st Queens, were -storm-proof that day. On the Menin Road side the -two latter battalions were pushed in for a time by the -weight of the blow, and lost touch with the Thirty-Ninth -Division, but the Colonel of the Queens, -reinforced by some of the 16th K.R.R., pushed -forward again with great determination, and by 9 A.M. had -fully re-occupied the support line, as had the -9th Highland Light Infantry upon their left. So the -situation remained upon the night of the 25th, and -the further development of the British counter-attack -became part of the general attack of September 26. -It had been a hard tussle all day, in the course of -which some hundreds in the advanced line had fallen -into the hands of the enemy. It should be mentioned -that the troops in the firing-line were occasionally -short of ammunition during the prolonged contest, -and that this might well have caused disaster had it -not been for the devoted work of the 18th Middlesex -Pioneer Battalion who, under heavy fire and across -impossible ground, brought up the much-needed boxes -and bandoliers. The resistance of the Thirty-third -Division was greatly helped by the strong support -of the Australians on their flank. It was a remarkable -fact, and one typical of the inflexibility of Sir -Douglas Haig's leadership and the competence of -his various staffs, that the fact that this severe action -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P195"></a>195}</span> -was raging did not make the least difference in his -plans for the general attack upon September 26. -</p> - -<p> -At 5.50 in the morning of that date, in darkness -and mist, the wonderful infantry was going forward -as doggedly as ever over a front of six miles, extending -from the north-east of St. Julien to the Tower Hamlets -south of the Menin Road. The latter advance was -planned to be a short one, and the real object of the -whole day's fighting was to establish a good jumping-off -place for an advance upon the important Broodseinde -Ridge. Some of the war-worn divisions had -been drawn out and fresh troops were in the battle -line. The Northern Corps was not engaged, and the -flank of the advance was formed by the Eleventh -Division (Ritchie) with the 58th Londoners upon -their right, the two forming the fighting front of -Maxse's Eighteenth Corps. Their advance, which was -entirely successful and rapidly gained its full objectives, -was along the line of St. Julien-Poelcapelle Road. -The total gain here, and in most other points of the -line, was about 1000 yards. -</p> - -<p> -Upon the right of Maxse's Corps was the Fifty-eighth -Division, which also secured its full objective. -The German line upon this front was held by the -Twenty-third Saxon Division (Reserve), which yielded -a number of prisoners. The Londoners fought their -way down the line of the Wieltje-Gravenstafel Road, -overcoming a series of obstacles and reaching the -greater portion of their objectives. There were no -notable geographical points to be captured, but the -advance was a fine performance which showed that -the Fifty-eighth was a worthy compeer of those other -fine London territorial divisions which had placed the -reputation of the mother city at the very front of all -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P196"></a>196}</span> -the Imperial Armies. The Forty-seventh, the Fifty-sixth, -the Fifty-eighth, and the Sixtieth in Palestine -had all shown how the citizen-soldier of the Metropolis -could fight. -</p> - -<p> -Fanshawe's Corps consisted upon this date of the -Fifty-ninth Division upon the left, and the Third -upon the right. The Fifty-ninth Division, which -consisted of second-line battalions of North Midland -Territorials, made a fine advance upon the right -of the Gravenstafel Road, keeping touch with the -Londoners upon the left. Here also almost the -whole objective was reached. The German positions, -though free from fortified villages, were very -thick with every sort of mechanical obstruction, -in spite of which the attack went smoothly from start -to finish. It is clear that the British advance was -fully expected at the south end of the line, but that -for some reason, probably the wretched state of the -ground, it was not looked for in the north. -</p> - -<p> -The Third Division had kept pace with the -Australians to the south and with the Midlanders to -the north, and had captured the village and church -of Zonnebeke, which formed their objective. Very -strong counter-attacks upon all the part of the land -to the immediate north of Polygon Wood were -beaten down by the masterful fire of the British -artillery. -</p> - -<p> -To the right of the Fifth Corps the Australians -pursued their victorious career, going to their -full limit, which entailed the possession of the -whole of Polygon Wood. The Fourth and Fifth -Divisions were now in the battle line. Pushing -onwards they crossed the road which connects -Bacelaer with Zonnebeke, and established themselves -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P197"></a>197}</span> -firmly on the farther side south of Zonnebeke. Some -300 prisoners with a number of machine-guns were -taken in this fine advance. The pressure upon the -Australians was especially heavy upon the right flank -of the Fifth Australian Division, since the left of the -Thirty-third Division had been driven in, as already -described, by the very heavy German attacks upon -September 25, so that the Victorians of the 15th -Australian Brigade at the south end of the line -started with their flank exposed. They were in -close touch throughout with the 19th Brigade of the -British Division, and the 2nd Welsh Fusiliers found -themselves intermingled with the Victorians in the -advance, with whom they co-operated in the capture -of Jut Farm. It was a fine feat for the Victorians -to advance at all under such circumstances, for as -they went forward they had continually to throw out -a defensive flank, since the Germans had re-occupied -many of the trenches and Mebus, from which they -had been ejected upon the 20th. This strip of ground -remained for a time with the Germans, but the Thirty-third -Division had also advanced upon the right of it, -so that it was left as a wedge protruding into the -British position. Cameron House was taken at the -joining point of the two divisions, and gradually the -whole of the lost ground was re-absorbed. -</p> - -<p> -To the right of the Australians the Thirty-third -Division went forward also to its extreme objective, -gathering up as it went those scattered groups of -brave men who had held out against the German -assault of the preceding day. This gallant division -had a particularly hard time, as its struggle against -the German attack upon the day before had been -a very severe one, which entailed heavy losses. -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P198"></a>198}</span> -Some ground had been lost at the Veldhoek Trench -north of the Menin Road, where the 100th Brigade -was holding the line, but this had been partially -regained, as already described, by an immediate attack -by the 1st Queen's West Surrey and 9th Highland -Light Infantry. The 2nd Argyll and Sutherlands -were still in the front line, but for the second time -this year this splendid battalion was rescued from -the desperate situation which only such tried and -veteran soldiers could have carried through without -disaster. Immediately before the attack of -September 26, just after the assembly of the troops, -the barrage which the Germans had laid down in -order to cover their own advance beat full upon the -left of the divisional line, near Glencorse Wood, and -inflicted such losses that it could not get forward at -zero, thus exposing the Victorians, as already -recorded. Hence, although the 100th Brigade -succeeded in regaining the whole of the Veldhoek Trench -upon the right, there was an unavoidable gap upon -the left between Northampton Farm and Black -Watch Corner. The division was not to be denied, -however, and by a splendid effort before noon the -weak spot had been cleared up by the Scottish Rifles, -the 4th King's Liverpools, and the 4th Suffolks, so -that the line was drawn firm between Veldhoek -Trench in the south and Cameron House in the north. -A counter-attack by the Fourth Guards Division was -crushed by artillery fire, and a comic sight was -presented, if anything can be comic in such a tragedy, -by a large party of the Guards endeavouring to pack -themselves into a pill-box which was much too small -to receive them. Many of them were left lying outside -the entrance. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P199"></a>199}</span> -</p> - -<p> -Farther still to the right, and joining the flank of -the advance, the Thirty-ninth Division, like its -comrades upon the left, found a hard task in front of it, -the country both north and south of the Menin Road -being thickly studded with strong points and fortified -farms. It was not until the evening of September 27, -after incurring heavy losses, that they attained their -allotted line. This included the whole of the Tower -Hamlets spur with the German works upon the farther -side of it. The extreme right flank was held up -owing to German strong points on the east of Bitter -Wood, but with this exception all the objectives were -taken and held by the 116th and 118th, the two -brigades in the line. The fighting fell with special -severity upon the 4th Black Watch and the 1st -Cambridge of the latter brigade, and upon the 14th -Hants and the Sussex battalions of the former, who -moved up to the immediate south of the Menin Road. -The losses of all the battalions engaged were very -heavy, and the 111th Brigade of the Thirty-seventh -Division had to be sent up at once in order to aid -the survivors to form a connected line. -</p> - -<p> -The total result of the action of September 26 was -a gain of over half a mile along the whole front, the -capture of 1600 prisoners with 48 officers, and one -more proof that the method of the broad, shallow -objective was an effective answer to the new German -system of defence by depth. It was part of that -system to have shock troops in immediate reserve -to counter-attack the assailants before they could -get their roots down, and therefore it was not -unexpected that a series of violent assaults should -immediately break upon the British positions along -the whole newly-won line. These raged during the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P200"></a>200}</span> -evening of September 26, but they only served to add -greatly to the German losses, showing them that their -ingenious conception had been countered by a deeper -ingenuity which conferred upon them all the -disadvantages of the attack. For four days there was -a comparative quiet upon the line, and then again -the attacks carried out by the Nineteenth Reserve -Division came driving down to the south of Polygon -Wood, but save for ephemeral and temporary gains -they had no success. The Londoners of the Fifty-eighth -Division had also a severe attack to face upon -September 28 and lost two posts, one of which they -recovered the same evening. -</p> - -<p> -Up to now the weather had held, and the bad -fortune which had attended the British for so long -after August 1 seemed to have turned. But the most -fickle of all the gods once more averted her face, and -upon October 3 the rain began once more to fall -heavily in a way which announced the final coming -of winter. None the less the work was but half done, -and the Army could not be left under the menace of -the commanding ridge of Paschendaale. At all costs -the advance must proceed. -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P201"></a>201}</span> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-201"></a> -<br /> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-201.jpg" alt="THIRD YPRES BATTLE, September 26" /> -<br /> -THIRD YPRES BATTLE, September 26 -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p><a id="chap09"></a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P202"></a>202}</span></p> - -<h3> -CHAPTER IX -<br /><br /> -THE THIRD BATTLE OF YPRES -</h3> - -<p class="t3"> -October 4 to November 10, 1917 -</p> - -<p class="intro"> -Attack of October 4—Further advance of the British line—Splendid -advance of second-line Territorials—Good work of H.A.C. at -Reutel—Abortive action of October 12—Action of October -26—Heavy losses at the south end of the line—Fine fighting by the -Canadian Corps—Capture of Paschendaale—General results of -third Battle of Ypres. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -At early dawn upon October 4, under every possible -disadvantage of ground and weather, the attack was -renewed, the infantry advancing against the main -line of the ridge east of Zonnebeke. The front of -the movement measured about seven miles, as the -sector south of the Menin Road was hardly affected. -The Ypres-Staden railway in the north was the left -flank of the Army, so that the Fourteenth Corps was -once more upon the move. We will trace the course -of the attack from this northern end of the line. -</p> - -<p> -Cavan's Corps had two divisions in front—the -Twenty-ninth upon the left and the Fourth upon the -right, two fine old regular units which had seen as -much fighting as any in the Army. The Guards held -a defensive flank together with the French between -Houthulst Forest and the Staden railway. The -advance of the Twenty-ninth was along the line of the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P203"></a>203}</span> -railway, and it covered its moderate objectives without -great loss or difficulty. Vesten Farm represented -the limit of the advance. -</p> - -<p> -The Fourth Division (Matheson) started from a -point east of Langemarck and ended from 1000 to -1500 yards farther on. They advanced upon a -two-brigade front with the 11th Brigade upon the -right, with the northern edge of Poelcapelle as its -objective, while the 10th Brigade upon the left -moved upon the line of 19-Metre Hill. The fire -from this strong point was very severe, and it drove -back the 2nd Seaforths, who were the right battalion -of the 10th Brigade, thus exposing the flank of the -1st Hants, who were on the left of the 11th. The -veteran Highlanders soon rallied, however, and the -line was strengthened at the gap by the advance into -it of the 1st East Lancashires. Both the Seaforths -and the Lancashire men lost very heavily, however, -by a devastating fire from machine-guns. The 1st -Somersets upon the right had a misadventure through -coming under the fire of British artillery, which caused -them for a time to fall back. They came on again, -however, and established touch with the 33rd Brigade, -who had occupied Poelcapelle. There the Fourth -Division lay on their appointed line, strung out over -a wide front, crouching in heavy rain amid the mud -of the shell-holes, each group of men unable during -the day to see or hold intercourse with the other, -and always under fire from the enemy. It was an -experience which, extended from day to day in this -and other parts of the line, makes one marvel at the -powers of endurance latent in the human frame. An -officer who sallied forth to explore has described the -strange effect of that desolate, shell-ploughed -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P204"></a>204}</span> -landscape, half-liquid in consistence, brown as a -fresh-turned field, with no movement upon its hideous -expanse, although every crevice and pit was swarming -with life, and the constant snap of the sniper's bullet -told of watchful, unseen eyes. Such a chaos was it -that for three days there was no connection between -the left of the Fourth and the right of the Twenty-ninth, -and it was not until October 8 that Captain -Harston of the 11th Brigade, afterwards slain, together -with another officer ran the gauntlet of the sharpshooters, -and after much searching and shouting saw -a rifle waved from a pit, which gave him the position -of the right flank of the 16th Middlesex. It was -fortunate he did so, as the barrage of the succeeding -morning would either have overwhelmed the Fourth -Division or been too far forward for the Twenty-ninth. -</p> - -<p> -Upon the right of the Fourth Division was the -Eleventh. Led by several tanks, the 33rd Brigade -upon the left broke down all obstacles and -captured the whole of the western half of the long -straggling street which forms the village of -Poelcapelle. Their comrades upon the right had no such -definite mark before them, but they made their way -successfully to their objective. -</p> - -<p> -Upon the right of the Eleventh Division, the -48th South Midland Territorials had a most difficult -advance over the marshy valley of the Stroombeek, -but the water-sodden morasses of Flanders were -as unsuccessful as the chalk uplands of Pozières -in stopping these determined troops. Warwicks, -Gloucesters, and Worcesters, they found their way -to the allotted line. Winchester Farm was the chief -centre of resistance conquered in this advance. -</p> - -<p> -To the right of the Midland men the New Zealanders—that -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P205"></a>205}</span> -splendid division which had never yet found -its master, either on battlefield or football -ground—advanced upon the Gravenstafel spur. Once more -the record of success was unbroken and the full -objective gained. The two front brigades, drawn -equally from the North and South Islands, men -of Canterbury, Wellington, Otago, and Auckland, -splashed across the morass of the Hannebeek and -stormed their way forward through Aviatik Farm -and Boetleer, their left co-operating with the -Midlanders in the fall of the Winzic strong point. The -ground was thick with pill-boxes, here as elsewhere, -but the soldiers showed great resource and -individuality in their methods of stalking them, getting -from shell-hole to shell-hole until they were past the -possible traverse of the gun, and then dashing, bomb -in hand, for the back door, whence the garrison, -if they were lucky, soon issued in a dejected line. -On the right, the low ridge magniloquently called -"Abraham's Heights" was carried without a check, -and many prisoners taken. Evening found the whole -of the Gravenstafel Ridge in the strong hands of the -New Zealanders, with the high ruin of Paschendaale -Church right ahead of them as the final goal of the -Army. -</p> - -<p> -These New Zealanders formed the left unit of -Godley's Second Anzac Corps, the right unit of -which was the Third Australian Division. Thus -October 4 was a most notable day in the young, but -glorious, military annals of the Antipodean Britons, -for, with the First Anzac Corps fighting upon the right, -the whole phalanx made up a splendid assemblage of -manhood, whether judged by its quality or its quantity. -Some 40,000 infantry drawn from the islands of the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P206"></a>206}</span> -Pacific fronted the German and advanced the British -line upon October 4. Of the Third Australians it can -only be said that they showed themselves to be as -good as their comrades upon either flank, and that -they attained the full objective which had been -marked as their day's work. By 1.15 the final -positions had been occupied and held. -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P207"></a>207}</span> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-207"></a> -<br /> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-207.jpg" alt="ORDER OF BATTLE, October 4, 1917" /> -<br /> -ORDER OF BATTLE, October 4, 1917 -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -Gravenstafel represents one end of a low eminence -which stretches for some distance. The First and -Second Australian Divisions, attacking upon the -immediate right of the Second Anzac Corps, fought -their way step by step up the slope alongside of them -and established themselves along a wide stretch of -the crest, occupying the hamlet of Broodseinde. -This advance took them across the road which leads -from Bacelaer to Paschendaale, and it did not cease -until they had made good their grip by throwing out -posts upon the far side of the crest. The fighting was -in places very sharp, and the Germans stood to it like -men. The official record says: "A small party would -not surrender. It consisted entirely of officers and -N.C.O.'s with one medical private. Finally grenades -drove them out to the surface, when the Captain was -bayoneted and the rest killed, wounded, or captured. -One machine-gunner was bayoneted with his finger -still pressing his trigger." Against such determined -fighters and on such ground it was indeed a glory to -have advanced 2000 yards and taken as many prisoners. -In one of the captured Mebus a wounded British -officer was found who had been there for three days. -His captors had treated him with humanity, and he -was released by the Australians, none the worse for his -adventure. There is no doubt that in all this portion -of the line the Germans were themselves in the very -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P208"></a>208}</span> -act of advancing for an assault when the storm broke -loose, and the British lines trampled down and passed -over the storm troops as they made for their allotted -objectives. -</p> - -<p> -On the immediate right of the Australians was -Morland's Tenth Corps, with the Seventh, Twenty-first, -and Fifth Divisions in the battle line. The -Seventh Division had stormed their way past a -number of strongholds up the incline and had topped -the ridge, seizing the hamlet of Noordhemhoek upon -the other side of it. This entirely successful advance, -which maintained the highest traditions of this great -division, was carried out by the Devons, Borderers, and -Gordons of the 20th Brigade upon the left, and by the -South Staffords and West Surreys of the 91st Brigade -upon the right. The full objectives were reached, but -it was found towards evening that the fierce counter-attacks -to the south had contracted the British line -in that quarter, so that the right flank of the 91st -Brigade was in the air. Instead of falling back the -brigade threw out a defensive line, but none the -less the salient was so marked that it was clear -that it could not be permanent, and that there -must either be a retirement or that some future -operation would be needed to bring up the division on -the right. -</p> - -<p> -To the right of Noordhemhoek the Twenty-first -Division had cleared the difficult enclosed country to -the east of Polygon Wood, and had occupied the -village of Reutel, but encountered such resolute -opposition and such fierce counter-attacks that both -the advancing brigades, the 62nd and the 64th, -wound up the day to the westward of their full -objectives, which had the effect already described -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P209"></a>209}</span> -upon the right wing of the Seventh Division. Both -front brigades had lost heavily, and they were relieved -in the front line by the 110th Leicester Brigade of -their own division. During the severe fighting of the -day the losses in the first advance, which gained its full -objectives, fell chiefly upon the 9th Yorkshire Light -Infantry. In the second phase of the fight, which -brought them into Reutel, the battalions engaged -were the 8th East Yorks and 12th Northumberland -Fusiliers, which had to meet a strong resistance in -difficult country, and were hard put to it to hold their -own. The German counter-attacks stormed all day -against the left of the line at this point around Reutel, -making the flanks of the Fifth and Seventh Divisions -more and more difficult, as the defenders between -them were compelled to draw in their positions. A -strong push by the Germans in the late afternoon got -possession of Judge Copse, Reutel, and Polderhoek -Château. The two former places were recovered in -a subsequent operation. -</p> - -<p> -On the flank of the main attack the old Fifth -Division, going as strongly as ever after its clear -three years of uninterrupted service, fought its way -against heavy opposition up Polderhoek Château. -The Germans were massed thickly in this quarter and -the fighting was very severe. The advance was -carried out by those warlike twins, the comrades of -many battles, the 1st West Kents and 2nd Scots -Borderers upon the right, while the 1st Devons and -1st Cornwalls of the 95th Brigade were on the left, -the latter coinciding with the edge of Polygon Wood -and the former resting upon the Menin Road. The -13th actually occupied Polderhoek Château, but lost -it again. The 95th was much incommoded by finding -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P210"></a>210}</span> -that the Reutelbeek was now an impassable swamp, -but they swarmed round it and captured their -objectives, while its left sot beyond Reutel, and had -to throw back a defensive flank on its left, and -withdraw its front to the west of the village. The chief -counter-attacks of the day were on the front of the -Fifth and Twenty-first Divisions, and they were both -numerous and violent, seven in succession coming in -front of Polderhoek Château and Reutel. This fierce -resistance restricted the advance of Morland's Tenth -Corps and limited their gains, but enabled them to -wear out more of the enemy than any of the divisions -to the north. -</p> - -<p> -Upon the flank of the attack, the advance of -the Thirty-seventh Division had been a limited one, -and had not been attended with complete success, -as two of the German strongholds—Berry Cottages -and Lewis House—still held out and spread a zone -of destruction round them. The 8th Somersets, -8th Lincolns, and a Middlesex battalion of the -63rd Brigade all suffered heavily upon this flank. -On the northern wing the 13th Rifles, 13th Rifle -Brigade, and Royal Fusiliers of the 111th Brigade -drove straight ahead, and keeping well up to the -barrage were led safely by that stern guide to their -ultimate positions, into which they settled with a -comparative immunity from loss, but the battalions -were already greatly exhausted by long service and -scanty drafts, so that the 13th Rifles emerged from the -fight with a total strength of little over a hundred. -It must be admitted that all these successive fights at -the south of the Menin Road vindicated the new -German systems of defence and caused exceedingly -heavy losses which were only repaid by scanty -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P211"></a>211}</span> -and unimportant gains of desolate, shell-ploughed -land. -</p> - -<p> -The total result of this Broodseinde action was -a victory gained under conditions of position and -weather which made it a most notable accomplishment. -Apart from the very important gain of ground, -which took the Army a long way towards its final -objective, the Paschendaale Ridge, no less than 138 -officers and 5200 men were taken as prisoners. The -reason for this considerable increase in captures, as -compared to recent similar advances, seems to have -been that the Germans had themselves contemplated a -strong attack upon the British line, especially the right -sector, so that no less than five of their divisions had -been brought well up to the front line at the moment -when the storm burst. According to the account of -prisoners, only ten minutes intervened between the -zero times allotted for the two attacks. The result -was not only the increase in prisoners, but also a very -high mortality among the Germans, who met the full -force of the barrage as well as the bayonets of the -infantry. In spite of the heavy punishment already -received, the Germans made several strong counter-attacks -in the evening, chiefly, as stated, against the -lines of the Fifth and Twenty-first Divisions north of -the Menin Road, but with limited results. An attack -upon the New Zealanders north of the Ypres-Roulers -railway had even less success. Victorious, and yet -in the last extremity of human misery and discomfort, -the troops held firmly to their advanced line amid the -continued pelting of the relentless rain. -</p> - -<p> -The bravery and the losses of the British artillery -were among the outstanding incidents of this and -subsequent fighting. It was not possible on that -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P212"></a>212}</span> -water-sodden soil to push forward the great guns. -Therefore it became necessary to make the very most -of the smaller ones, and for this object the 18-pounder -batteries were galloped up all along the line and then -unlimbered and went into action in the open within -a mile of the enemy. By this spirited action the -infantry secured a barrage which could not otherwise -have been accurately laid down. It should be -emphasised that in this and other advances the -numbers of the German were very little inferior to -those of the British, which makes the success of the -attacks the more surprising. Thus, in this instance, -Plumer had eight divisions in line in the southern area -of the battle, while opposed to him he had the Tenth -Ersatz, Twentieth Division, Fourth Guards, part of -Forty-fifth, part of Sixteenth, the Nineteenth Reserve, -and the Eighth Division. -</p> - -<p> -In Sir Douglas Haig's long and yet concise despatch, -which will always serve the historian as the -one firm causeway across a quagmire of possibilities -and suppositions, we are told frankly the considerations -which weighed with the British Higher Command -in not bringing the Flanders Campaign to an end for -the year with the capture of the Gravenstafel-Broodseinde -Ridge. The season was advanced, the -troops were tired, the weather was vile, and, worst of -all, the ground was hardly passable. All these were -weighty reasons why the campaign should cease now -that a good defensible position had been secured. -There were however some excellent reasons to the -contrary. The operations had been successful, but -they had not attained full success, and the position, -especially in the north, was by no means favourable -for the passing of the winter, since the low-lying ground -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P213"></a>213}</span> -at Poelcapelle and around it was exposed to fire both -from the Paschendaale Ridge and from the great -forest upon the left flank and rear. If our troops -were weary, there was good evidence that the Germans -were not less so; and their minds and morale could -not be unaffected by the fact that every British -attack had been attended by loss of ground and of -prisoners. Then again, it was known that the French -meditated a fresh attack in the Malmaison quarter, -and good team play called for a sustained effort upon -the left wing to help the success of the right centre. -Again, the rainfall had already been abnormally high, -so that on a balance of averages there was reason to -hope for better weather, though at the best it could -hardly be hoped that the watery October sunshine -would ever dry the fearsome bogs which lay between -the armies. Of two courses it has always been Sir -Douglas Haig's custom to choose the more spirited, -as his whole career would show, and therefore his -decision was now given for the continuance of the -advance. In the result the weather failed him badly, -and his losses were heavy, and yet the verdict of -posterity may say that he was right. Looking back -with the wisdom that comes after the event, one -can clearly see that had the whole operation stopped -when the rains fell after the first day, it would -have been the wisest course, but when once such a -movement is well under way it is difficult to -compromise. -</p> - -<p> -Since the line had already been established upon -high ground to the south, it was evidently in the north -that the new effort must be made, as the front of -advance was contracted to six miles from the extreme -left wing, where the French were still posted, to a -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P214"></a>214}</span> -point east of Zonnebeke. The wind was high, the -rain intermittent, and the night cloudy and dark; -but in spite of all these hindrances the storming troops -were by some miracle of disciplined organisation ready -in their assembly trenches, and the advance went -forward at 5.20 on the morning of October 9. -</p> - -<p> -Upon the left an extremely successful advance was -carried out by the French and by the Guards. Of our -gallant Allies it need only be said that on this day as -on all others they carried out to the full what was -given them to do, and established their advanced -posts a mile or so to the eastward on the skirts of -Houthulst Forest, taking St. Janshoek and pushing -on, up to their waists sometimes in water, to the -swamps of Corverbeck. -</p> - -<p> -Cavan's Corps consisted of the Guards upon the -left, the Twenty-ninth in the centre, and the Fourth -Division upon the right. The advance of the Guards -was as usual a magnificent one, and the 1st Brigade -upon the right, the 2nd on the left, pushed forward -the line on their sector for more than a mile, beginning -by the difficult fording of the deep flooded Brombeek -and then taking in their stride a number of farmhouses -and strong points, as well as the villages of -Koekuit and Veldhoek—the second hamlet of that -name which had the ill-fortune to figure upon the -war-map. Four hundred prisoners were left in their -hands, mostly of the 417th Regiment, who had only -taken over the line at four that morning. The 2nd -Brigade of Guards worked all day in close touch with -the French, amid the dangerous swamps in the north, -while the 1st Brigade kept their alignment with the -4th Worcesters, who formed the left unit of the 88th -Brigade upon their right. Even under the awful -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P215"></a>215}</span> -conditions of ground and weather the work of the -Guards was as clean and precise as ever. -</p> - -<p> -The ground in front of the Guards was sown very -thickly with the German concrete forts, but it was the -general opinion of experienced soldiers that, formidable -as were these defences, they were less so than the old -trench systems, which in some cases could not be -passed by any wit or valour of man. At this stage of -its development the Mebus could usually be overcome -by good infantry, for if its loopholes were kept -buzzing with the rifle bullets of the stormers, and if -under cover of such fire other parties crawled round and -girt it in, its garrison had little chance. The infantry -attained considerable proficiency in these operations, -and "to do in a pill-box" became one of the recognised -exercises of minor tactics. The losses of the Guards -in this brilliant affair were not very heavy, though -towards the latter stage the 1st Irish upon the right -got ahead of the Newfoundlanders and were exposed -to a severe flank fire in the neighbourhood of Egypt -House. The 1st Coldstreams upon the extreme left -flank were also held up by a strong point near Louvois -Farm. It was eventually taken with its forty inmates. -The gallant German officer absolutely refused to -surrender, and it was necessary to bayonet him. -Altogether the two brigades lost 53 officers and 1300 -men. In connection with their advance and with the -subsequent operations it should be mentioned that -the Guards artillery was worthy of the infantry, and -that the way they followed up in order to give -protective barrages, slithering anywhere over the wet -ground so long as they could only keep within good -slating distance of the counter-attacks, was a fine bit -of work. The pioneer battalion, the 4th Coldstreams, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P216"></a>216}</span> -and the three R.E. Companies, 55, 75, and 76, put in a -great deal of thankless and unostentatious work in the -elaborate and difficult preparations for the advance. -</p> - -<p> -The Twenty-ninth Division upon the right of -the Guards had the 88th Brigade in front, with -the Newfoundlanders behind the Worcesters on the -left flank. Their task was to push along the -Langemarck-Staden railway and reach the forest. They -carried the line forward to Cinq Chemins Farm, where -they established their new line. The 1st Essex and -2nd Hants were also heavily engaged, and all four -battalions lived up to their high reputation. -</p> - -<p> -To the right of the Twenty-ninth was the 12th -Brigade of the Fourth Division, who had taken -over the front line from their comrades in that -fearsome wilderness already described. The line of -advance was along the Ypres-Staden railway, and -the front was kept level with that of the Guards. -Reinforced by the 1st Rifle Brigade, the advance -went swiftly forward over dreadful ground until it -reached its limits at Landing Farm, about half a -mile north-east of Poelcapelle. -</p> - -<p> -Maxse's Corps upon the right still consisted of the -Eleventh and Forty-eighth Divisions. The Eleventh -Division had already captured the half of the long -village of Poelcapelle, and now after some very hard -fighting the second half up to the Eastern skirts fell -into the hands of the 32nd Brigade. As they -advanced, the Forty-sixth Midland men kept pace with -them upon the right. These troops had the very -worst of the low-lying ground, though they had the -advantage of being in position and not having to -assemble in the dark and rain, as was the fate of -the more southern troops. The gallant Yorkshire -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P217"></a>217}</span> -battalions of the 32nd Brigade made several attempts -to carry the strong point at the Brewery, east of the -village, and the Midlanders had the same difficulties -at a machine-gun centre called Adler Farm and -Burn's House. These two points, both still untaken, -marked the furthest limits of the advance in either -case, and in the evening the ground gained was -contracted not so much on account of German action -as because it was impossible to get supplies up to the -extreme line under the observation from the ridge. -</p> - -<p> -Upon the right of Maxse's Corps and forming -the left of the Second Anzac Corps was another -Territorial Division, the Forty-ninth, drawn from the -County of Broad Acres. This division, although it -has seldom appeared up to now in the central limelight -of battle, had done a great amount of solid work -near the Ancre during the Somme battle, and on other -occasions. All that will be said about the difficulties -of the Sixty-sixth Division apply also to the -Forty-ninth, and it may be added that in the case of both -units the barrage was too fast, so that it was -impossible for the infantry to keep up with it. None -the less, they struggled forward with splendid courage, -and if they did not win their utmost objective, at -least they gained a broad belt of new ground. A -limit was put to their advance by Bellevue, a -stronghold on one of the spurs under Paschendaale, which -was so tough a nut to crack that the weary fighting -line was brought at last to a halt. The Sixteenth -Rhineland Division, who held this part of the line, -won the respect of their adversaries by their tenacity. -The West Yorkshires of the 146th Brigade and the -York and Lancasters and Yorkshire Light Infantry -of the 148th bore the brunt of the battle. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P218"></a>218}</span> -</p> - -<p> -On the immediate right of the Yorkshire men was -the Sixty-sixth Division, a second-line unit of East -Lancashire Territorials only recently arrived upon -the seat of war, and destined, like many other -new arrivals, to do conspicuously good work on -their first venture. The General who commanded -the Division would be the first to admit his -obligations to the officers who had sent over these -battalions in so battle-worthy a condition. Indeed -the country owes more than it ever knows to -these retired officers, veterans of the Old Imperial -wars, who, far from the honours and excitements -of the line, devoted their time and strength -to the training of the raw material at home. -They lead no charges and capture no villages, and -their names are read in few gazettes: and yet it is -their solid work, based upon their own great -experience, which has really led many a charge to -victory and proved the downfall of many a village. -"If there be a procession through London, the -'dug-outs' should lead the van," said a soldier who -had that broader vision which sees both the cause -and the effect. -</p> - -<p> -In the case of all these divisions the conditions -before the attack were almost inconceivable. For -four days and nights the men were in shell-holes -without shelter from the rain and the biting cold -winds, and without protection from the German fire. -At 6 P.M. on the evening of October 13 the Sixty-sixth -and also the Forty-ninth fell in to move up the line -and make the attack at dawn. So dark was the night -and so heavy the rain that it took them eleven hours -of groping and wading to reach the tapes which -marked the lines of assembly. Then, worn out with -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P219"></a>219}</span> -fatigue, wet to the skin, terribly cold, hungry, and -with weapons which were often choked with mud, -they went with hardly a pause into the open to face -Infantry who were supposed to be second to none in -Europe, with every form of defence to help them -which their capable sappers could devise. And yet -these men of Yorkshire and Lancashire drove the -Prussians before them and attained the full limit -which had been given them to win. -</p> - -<p> -The Sixty-sixth Division advanced with the -197th Brigade on the right of the Ypres-Roulers -railway. It consisted entirely of battalions of the -Lancashire Fusiliers, a regiment which from Minden -onwards has been in the van of England's battles. -Upon their left was the 198th Brigade, consisting -half of East Lancs and half of Manchester -battalions. So covered with mud were the troops -after their long night march that the enemy may -well have wondered whether our native soldiers were -not once more in the line. Savagely they stuck to -their task with that dour spirit which adverse -conditions bring out in our soldiers; every obstacle went -down before them; they reached their utmost limit, -and then, half buried in the mud and stiff with cold, -their blue and cramped fingers still held steady to -their triggers and blew back every counter-attack -which the Germans could launch. It was a fine -performance, and the conditions of the attack cannot -be defined better than by the following extract from -the account of an officer engaged: "After advancing -through the mud for a further three hours, I halted -the Company in shell-holes to enable me to discover -our exact whereabouts; this was a bad mistake, -because when I found the direction we had to go in -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P220"></a>220}</span> -I could not awake the poor fellows, who had fallen -asleep as soon as they had sat down. I had to -slave-drive, and somehow got them a little further forward -before getting blown up myself." It should be added -that at a later date some Australians who got up -close to Paschendaale reported that they found "not -far from the village some of the dead of the second-line -Lancashire Territorials, who had fought beside us -in an earlier battle." -</p> - -<p> -Upon the south of the Second Anzac Corps were -the Australian divisions, who carried forward the -movement they had so splendidly initiated. The -advance set before them on this day was not a deep -one, but such as it was it was carried 600 yards over -the ground north of Broodseinde. Owing to the -difficult lie of the ground, the attacking troops were -particularly exposed to machine-gun fire, especially -at the cutting of the Roulers railway which at -this point comes through the low ridge. The result -was a considerable loss of men. The Australians had -been a week in the line without rest in continual -fighting, and they were very weary, but still full of -dash and zeal and sympathy for others. "We met -one British officer," says Mr. Bean, "stumbling back -with both his puttees long since lost in the mud. -'Bitterly disappointed we were late,' he said. -'Hard luck, too, upon the Australians.' One -thought to oneself when one heard of the conditions, -that it was only due to their undiluted heroism that -they ever got there at all." It was the Second -Australian Division which was chiefly engaged in this -difficult battle, and it was they who carried Daisy -Wood, the chief obstacle in that area. The First -Australian Division were hardly included in the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P221"></a>221}</span> -original scheme, being too far to the right; but being -unable to witness a fight without joining in it they -advanced upon Celtic Wood, passed through it, and -had some excellent fighting with a strong German -trench upon the further side of it. The operation -was a raid rather than an advance, but it was very -useful, none the less, as a distraction to the Germans. -</p> - -<p> -On the extreme south of the line Reutel, which -had been left in German hands upon October 4, was -now carried by storm in a very brilliant operation -which removed the salient of the Seventh Division -to which allusion has already been made. This -advance was carried out by two battalions, the 2nd -Warwicks upon the left and the 2nd Honourable -Artillery Company upon the right. The former took, -after hard fighting, the outlying woods and trenches -to the north of the village, but the Londoners achieved -the more difficult task of carrying the village itself. -It was a desperate enterprise, carried out under -heavy fire, which was so deadly that when the -depleted ranks reached their further objective not an -officer was left standing. The high quality of the -rank and file is shown in the prompt way in which -they took the necessary steps upon their own initiative, -by which the new line should be held. As to their -losses, they can be best indicated by the dry official -comment: "The remnants of A, C and D Companies -were withdrawn to Jolting Trench and organised -into two platoons under Sergeant Jenkinson." The -Colonel might well be proud of his men, and London -of her sons. -</p> - -<p> -The extreme right of the British attacking line -upon October 9 was formed by the 15th Brigade -of the Fifth Division. Once again they got into the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P222"></a>222}</span> -Polderhoek Château, and once again they had to -retire from it and resume the position in front of it. -There have been few single points in the War which -have been the object of such fierce and fluctuating -strife. -</p> - -<p> -The net effect of this battle in the mud was to -fling the whole line forward, the advance being much -more shallow in the south than in the north. The -line had rolled down from the Broodseinde Ridge, -crossed the shallow valley, and now established itself -upon the slope of Paschendaale. Two thousand one -hundred prisoners had been taken in this advance. -It was clear, however, that matters could not remain -so, and that, be the weather what it might (and worse -it could not be!) Sir Douglas was bound to plant his -men upon the higher ground of Paschendaale before -he called his halt for the winter. -</p> - -<p> -Upon October 12, under conditions which tended -to grow worse rather than better, Sir Douglas Haig -made a fresh attempt to get forward. As the -Paschendaale Height became more clearly the final -objective, the attack narrowed at the base, so that -instead of extending from the Menin Road in the -south, it was now flanked by the Ypres-Roulers -railway, and so had a front of not more than five -miles. The new attack was carried out largely by -the same troops as before in the north, save that the -51st Brigade of the Seventeenth Division was pushed -in between the Guards upon the left and the 12th -Brigade of the Fourth Division upon the right. -Advancing along the line of the Ypres-Sladen railway, -the 3rd Brigade of Guards and their comrades of the -Fourteenth Corps got forward to their limited -objectives, where they sank once more into the sea of -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P223"></a>223}</span> -mud through which they had waded. On both sides -the making of trenches had entirely ceased, as it had -been found that a few shell-holes united by a small -cutting were sufficient for every purpose as long as -the head of the soldier could be kept out of the water. -So useful were these holes as shelters and rifle-pits -that it became a question with the British artillery -whether they should not confine their fire entirely -to shrapnel, rather than run the risk of digging a line -of entrenchments for the enemy. -</p> - -<p> -In this advance the 51st Brigade did remarkably -well, advancing 1200 yards and securing two -objectives. It is amongst the curiosities of the -campaign that Major Peddie of the 7th Lincolns, with -another officer and four men, took 148 prisoners from -a farm—a feat for which he received the D.S.O. -</p> - -<p> -On Maxse's front the Eighteenth and Ninth -Divisions had taken over the front line. The -Eighteenth made some progress, but the Ninth, of -which it can truly be said that they never leave a -front as they found it, took the village of Wallemolen, -making a good advance. -</p> - -<p> -The New Zealanders were on the right of the Ninth -Division, covering a front of 1600 yards from Adler -House on the left to the Ravebeek upon the right, -where they joined the Australian Division. They -were faced partly by uncut wire in the Bellevue -position and partly by marsh. The conditions for -the Australians upon their right were no better. The -matter was made worse by the impossibility of getting -the heavier guns forward, while the light ones slid -their trails about in the mud after every discharge in -a manner which made accurate shooting well-nigh -impossible. The losses were heavy in the attack, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P224"></a>224}</span> -two Colonels of New Zealand battalions being among -the dead. The New Zealand Rifle Brigade were -particularly hard hit. It was found that progress was -impossible under such conditions, and the attack was -called off. So far as the Germans went, 1000 more -were added to the occupants of the cages—so far as -the mud and weather went, they gained a clear victory -over the British Army, for the losses were heavy, and -there was very little gain of ground in exchange. -</p> - -<p> -Upon October 22, the ground having dried a little, -there was some movement at the northern end of the -line, the position being improved and 200 prisoners -taken. The two operations which effected these -results were carried out in the north by Franks' -Thirty-fifth Division co-operating with the French, -and in the Poelcapelle region by the 53rd Brigade of -the Eighteenth Division, which carried the point -known as Meunier Hill, the Essex, Suffolks, and -Norfolks of this splendid unit covering themselves -once more with glory. The Thirty-fourth Division, -which had taken the place of the Fourth upon the -right of Cavan's corps, also moved forward in -correspondence with the flanking units, the Northumberland -Fusiliers of the 103rd Brigade keeping touch -with the 8th Norfolks of the 53rd. -</p> - -<p> -Some hard fighting was associated with the attack -of the Thirty-fifth Division in the north. It may -be remarked that the Bantam idea had not proved -to be a successful one. It had been abandoned, -and the Thirty-fifth was now undistinguishable -from any division either in its physique or in its -spirit. Upon this occasion both the 105th Brigade -upon the left and the 104th upon the right -fought with magnificent courage. The advance of -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P225"></a>225}</span> -the former Brigade was particularly fine in the region -of Panama House. The 14th Glosters and 16th -Cheshires attained their fullest objective, and though -the latter were finally bent back by the strong German -attacks in the afternoon, the Glosters' fighting line, -reinforced by some of the 16th Sherwood Foresters, -held fast under the most desperate circumstances. -Their Colonel might well be proud of the fact that -in an attack carried out by one French and two -British divisions his battalion of Glosters was the -only one which remained rooted and unshaken -upon the ultimate line. The Lancashire Fusiliers -shone greatly also in the attack, though they were -unable to maintain their most advanced positions. -The German shell-fire, and especially the German -snipers from the wood on the left, and from a covered -road, were the cause of heavy losses, but the troops -were in excellent fettle, and the 104th Brigade actually -executed a little raid on its own during the night, -bringing back a machine-gun and five more prisoners. -</p> - -<p> -On October 26, the rain still pouring down as -heavily as ever, and the earth about as liquid as the -heavens, the advance was once again renewed upon -a narrow front which was mostly on the slope of the -hill and therefore offered some foothold for the -struggling infantry. Paschendaale was but a few -hundreds of yards away, and it was imperative that -it should be held before the season ended. Haig's -troops were weary, and several fresh divisions which -he could have called upon were already earmarked -for the surprise attack which he was planning in the -south. It was imperative, however, to have some -fresh thrusting force which could be trusted to break -down the remaining obstacles and not only seize the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P226"></a>226}</span> -dominant village, but hold it after seizure. For this -object the close Canadian beleaguerment of Lens, -which was to have ended in an assault, was abandoned, -and the Canadian Corps was brought round to the -Ypres front, taking the place of the Anzac Corps. -In the new advance it occupied, therefore, the -central position of the line. -</p> - -<p> -There had been several divisional changes in the -north. The front of General Cavan's line consisted -now of the Fiftieth Division next the French, the -Thirty-fifth Division, and the Fifty-seventh Division. -Maxse's battle line was the Fifty-eighth London -Division and the Sixty-third Naval. In spite of every -possible disadvantage, fresh ground was gained by -these units, and Varlet Farm, Bray Farm, and Banff -House were added to the British area. -</p> - -<p> -The conditions of these low-lying valleys to the -north, which had long been difficult, had now become -really impossible, and this was the last attempt to -advance in the Houlthulst Forest area. It takes -personal and detailed narrative to enable the reader -to realise the situation which the troops had to -face. An officer of the 170th Brigade, a Lancashire -unit which displayed great valour and lost half its -numbers upon this date, writes: "I have never seen -such a sight as that country was in the valley of the -Broombeek and Watervlietbeek just south of -Houthulst Forest. Nothing on earth but the wonderful -courage of the Lancashire lads enabled them to get so -far as they did. We went over with our rifles and -Lewis guns bound up with flannel so as to keep the -mud out, and with special cleaning apparatus in our -pockets, but you can't clean a rifle when your own -hands are covered an inch thick! We killed a great -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P227"></a>227}</span> -number—one of the Sergeants in the 'Loyals' laid -out 13 with his bayonet; altogether we actually -killed over 600 with the bayonet: but, as I say, the -ground was too heavy to allow us to out-manoeuvre -the pill-boxes, and though we took three or four, the -rest did us in. In one box we got 38 Boche, killed -them all with a Lewis gun through the porthole." After -that day no more advance was tried in the -low-lying valleys named. The impossibility was seen. -</p> - -<p> -The Canadian Corps went forward with one -brigade of the Fourth Division upon the right -and two brigades of the Third Division upon the -left. A brigade of the First Australian Division -supported their left upon the Ypres-Roulers -railway, and the Sixty-third Naval Division -continued the attack. Each of these units gained -ground under the most desperate conditions. The -Australians captured Decline Wood, so securing the -flank of the attack. The Canadians pushed forward -on each side of the Revebeek, one of the innumerable -streams which meander through this country. The -Third Canadian Division advanced finely, but their -right-hand brigade was held up by the machine-gun -fire from Bellevue Spur, which had wrought such -damage in the former attack, and was compelled to -fall back upon its original line. The Canadians -rallied for a second spring, and in the afternoon by a -splendid effort, when all their Northern grit and -energy were needed, they flooded over the obstacle -and lined up with their comrades. They were now -right astride of the main ridge and close up to the -edge of the village. To the north, the Sixty-third -Naval Division, which formed the right unit of -Maxse's Corps, pushed forward to the line of the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P228"></a>228}</span> -Paddebeek, while the Londoners of the Fifty-eighth -Division kept their place upon the left. The German -artillery had greatly increased in strength, thanks to -the Russian collapse, and every fresh idiocy of -Petrograd was transmuted into showers of steel and iron in -the plains of Flanders. Their infantry also became -more aggressive with this stronger support, and two -heavy counters broke upon the Canadians in the -afternoon of October 26. In spite of every obstacle, it -was an important day in this section of the line for -Paschendaale was almost reached, and the Germans -must have viewed with despair the ever-advancing -line, which neither they nor Nature had been able to -stop. -</p> - -<p> -In the south the operations during the day were -not so successful, and the subsidiary aims were not -attained. In the morning, the Fifth Division attacked -and once again captured the Wood and Château of -Polderhoek. The 1st West Kents and 13th Warwicks -of the 13th Brigade carried out this dashing and -arduous operation, and took some 200 men, who -formed the garrison. The Seventh Division -meanwhile had advanced upon Gheluvelt, the 2nd West -Surrey, 1st South Staffords and Manchesters of the -91st Brigade advancing to the south of the Menin -Road in order to guard the flank of their comrades -who followed the line of the road which would lead -them to this famous village. The flanking brigade -was held up, however, at the old stumbling-block -near Lewis House and Berry Cotts, where the German -fire was very deadly. This failure enabled the -enemy to bring a very heavy cross-fire upon the -2nd Borderers and 2nd Gordons of the 20th Brigade, -forming the column of attack. In spite of this fire, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P229"></a>229}</span> -the stormers forced their way into Gheluvelt, but -found themselves involved in very hard fighting, -while their guns were choked with mud, and useless -save as pikes or clubs. Under these circumstances -they were forced back to their own line. Encouraged -by this success, the Germans then advanced in very -heavy masses and attacked the new positions of -the Fifth Division with such fury that they also had -to loose their grip of the precious twice-conquered -Château and fall back on the line whence they started. -It cannot be denied, therefore, that though the -British gained ground in the north upon October 26, -they sustained nothing but losses after their great -exertions in the south upon that date. The two -outstanding features of the fighting seem to have been -the extreme difficulty of keeping the weapons in a -serviceable condition, a factor which naturally told -in favour of the stationary defence, and also the -innocuousness of percussion shells, since in such a -swamp they bury themselves so deeply that their -explosion does little harm. Some 500 prisoners were -made in the southern area, but many more in the -north. -</p> - -<p> -Upon October 30, in cold and windy weather, the -attack was renewed upon a comparatively narrow -front, with the First Australian Division upon the -extreme right, then the Fourth Canadians, then the -Third Canadians, and finally the Sixty-third Division -upon the left. The Canadians advancing along the -ridge towards the doomed village were faced by a -terrific concentration of German guns upon that -limited space and by strong infantry attacks, none of -which turned them from their purpose. The -direction of the attack was from west and south-west. -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P230"></a>230}</span> -The Fourth Canadians soon had all their objectives -and held them firmly, taking Crest Farm on the edge -of the village. The Third Canadians had heavy -resistance to overcome, but captured the spur in -front of them and joined up with their comrades at -Graf. The Sixty-third Division found it very difficult -to get forward, however, and this held back the left -wing of the Canadians. Five severe attacks were -made upon the Canadians, but were all beaten off by -their steady fire. In some cases, notably at Crest -Farm, the machine-guns captured from the Germans -were turned upon their late owners as they debouched -from the village. There was considerable evidence -of demoralisation among the German infantry upon -this occasion whenever the British could get to grips -with it, and some sections actually ran away at the -outbreak of the fight, which is a very unusual -occurrence in so disciplined and brave an army. The -latter part of the action was fought in driving rain, -which hardly allowed vision of more than a couple of -hundred yards. -</p> - -<p> -All these heroic exertions were consummated -at six on the morning of November 6, when the -Canadian infantry, advancing with heroic dash, flung -themselves upon the village and carried the British -line right through it, emerging upon the naked ridge -beyond. The advance on the left was made by -the 1st Brigade, while the 5th Brigade took the -village. Many strong points lay just north of the -hamlet, but each of them was rushed in turn. It was -a splendid success, and wrought by splendid men. -The chronicler cannot easily forget how by a wayside -Kentish station he saw the wounded from this attack -lying silent and patient after their weary journey, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P231"></a>231}</span> -and how their motionless, clay-spattered figures, -their set, firm faces and their undaunted eyes, gave -him an impression of military efficiency and virtue -such as none of the glitter and pride and pomp of war -have ever conveyed. So fell Paschendaale, and so, -save for some minor readjustments upon the Ridge, -ended the great battle which can only be all included -in the title "The Third Battle of Ypres." -</p> - -<p> -Several attempts were made to clear the whole of -the ridge but the rain was still continuous, the ground -a nightmare, and the fire of the German guns was -concentrated upon so limited a space that the advance -was hardly possible. Jacob's Second Corps had -come back into the line, and one of its units, the -First Division, came up upon November 9 on -the left of the Canadians, and endeavoured in -co-operation with them to extend the position. The -Germans had cleverly removed their heavy guns to -such a position that they could reach the ridge, while -the British guns, immobile in the mud, could not -attempt any counter-battery work. In this way a -very intense fire, against which no reply could be -made, was kept up on the ridge. On November 10 -the 2nd Canadian Brigade upon the right and the -3rd British Brigade upon the left endeavoured -to work forward; but the losses were heavy -and the gains slight. The two leading British -battalions, the 1st South Wales Borderers and the -2nd Munsters, were the chief sufferers. It was -clear that the season was too far advanced to attempt -any useful work. On November 12 the Thirty-second -Division relieved the First, and the line was -again slightly advanced; but no more could be done -and the troops settled down into the quagmire to -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P232"></a>232}</span> -spend the winter as best they might. The Eighth -Corps took over the lines of the Canadians, who -returned, after their splendid and arduous work, to -their old sector at Lens. -</p> - -<p> -On the other sectors of the northern front there -had been a lull while this last stage of the Paschendaale -fighting was in progress. It was broken only by a -sharp, sudden attack by the Fifth Division upon its -old enemy, the Poldershoek Château, upon November -6. After some severe fighting the attack failed and -the British line remained as before. -</p> - -<p> -Thus, after a continuance of three months, the -long struggle came to an end. Only the titanic -Battle of the Somme had exceeded it in length and -severity. The three great Battles of Ypres are -destined to become classical in British history, and -it will be a nice question for the judgment of posterity -which of the three was the most remarkable military -performance. Though the scene was the same, the -drama was of a very different quality in each act, -but always equally intense. In the first, inferior -numbers of British troops with a vastly inferior -artillery held up the German Army in its first rush -for the coast, and, by virtue of the high training and -close cohesion of the old regulars, barred their path -even at the cost of their own practical annihilation. -In the second, a less homogeneous and less trained -British force, still with a very inferior artillery, held -back a German line which was formidable, less for -its numbers than for the sudden use of new methods -of warfare against which their opponents could neither -guard nor reply. The line receded under the pressure, -but the way was still barred. In the third, the British -advanced and steadily pushed back a German Army -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P233"></a>233}</span> -which was probably inferior in numbers—and certainly -was so in gun power—but which held a series of -predominating positions stiffened by every method which -experience could suggest or ingenuity devise. Their -resistance was helped by the most adverse weather -conditions which could be conceived. The net result -of the fighting was not only the capture of the crest -of the final ridge, but the taking of 24,000 prisoners -and 72 guns. When one remembers that the Germans -in the days of their ascendancy could not in the two -battles of Ypres put together have taken more than -5000 men, one can measure the comparative success of -each army in this conflict of giants. It would be vain -to pretend that we did not hope for a greater gain of -ground in this great autumn movement, but the reach -of a General must often exceed his grasp, and here it was -no small prize which still remained with the victor. -</p> - -<p> -One can only sum up the matter by quoting the -measured words of the Field-Marshal in Command: -"This offensive, maintained for three-and-a-half -months under the most adverse conditions of weather, -had entailed almost superhuman exertions on the -part of the troops of all arms and services. The -enemy had done his utmost to hold his ground, and -in his endeavours to do so had used up no less than -seventy-eight divisions, of which eighteen had been -engaged a second or third time in the battle, after -being withdrawn to rest and refit. Despite the -magnitude of his efforts, it was the immense natural -difficulties, accentuated manifold by the abnormally -wet weather, rather than the enemy's resistance, -which limited our progress and prevented the complete -capture of the ridge." -</p> - -<p> -Whilst this long and arduous struggle had been -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P234"></a>234}</span> -raging the chief events upon the other seats of war -had been a fine French victory on the Aisne which -yielded nearly 10,000 prisoners. This was upon -September 23, but the rejoicings of the Allies were -turned to sorrow by the news next day of the set -back of the second Italian army at Caporetto, where -the soldiers, demoralised by insidious propaganda, -offered at the most critical sector hardly any -resistance to the enemy who had been reinforced by some -German divisions. The result was that the other -Italian armies upon right and left were compelled to -fall back and could find no standing ground until they -had crossed the Piave. Udine and the whole Friulian -Plain were lost and all the results of so many heroic -months were undone. It was one of the saddest -tragedies of the war, though destined in the future -to be most gloriously avenged. -</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 CAMBRAI -</h3> - -<p class="intro"> -First phase, November 20—Tanks <i>en masse</i>—Attack on the Tunnel -Trench—Byng's great advance—Fine work of Braithwaite's -Sixty-second Division—Hard fighting of Pulteney's Third -Corps—Exploit of Fort Garry Horse—Second day of battle—Rally of -Germans—Capture of Bourlon Wood by Fortieth Division—Attack -by the Guards on La Fontaine. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -The year 1917 had begun with high hopes for the -Allies since they had planned a common offensive -which could hardly have failed to break the German -resistance. Both France and England had honourably -carried out their share in the common contract. -It was the sudden and absolute break down of Russia -which caused the year to set in gloom rather than -in glory. The phenomenon of that great fermenting -putrefying country was more like some huge -cataclysm of nature, some monstrous convulsion of the -elements, than any ordinary political movement, so -that anger and contempt were softened into pure -amazement as the gradual dissolution of the vast -organism took place from week to week before a -wondering world. It was as though a robust man -had suddenly softened into liquid putrescence before -one's eyes. But from a military standpoint it was -a disaster of the first order for the Allies and checked -their victorious career in the West, where the failing -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P236"></a>236}</span> -German line could always be buttressed up by fresh -guns and fresh divisions from the East. Now on the -top of this misfortune another unforeseen and almost -incredible occurrence placed them at a further -disadvantage. The Italian army had done so splendidly -well and had won such unfailing ascendancy over -the Austrians that their stability seemed as firm as -the mountains amid which they fought. It seems, -however, that insidious and treasonable propaganda -of the familiar type had spread disaffection in the -ranks, and the Second Army, which held the very -centre of the Gorizian line, collapsed suddenly. The -result was a very great success for the Austrian and -German forces, who pushed through the breach, and -with little loss to themselves captured more than -200,000 prisoners and nearly 2000 guns. It was a -very severe blow for the Allies, and never was their -fine spirit better shown than by the instant steps -which they took to hold Italy up in the moment of -her extreme need. By road and by rail reinforcements -poured through the passes of the Alps and along -the shores of the Mediterranean. Whilst the flanking -armies of the Italians fell back upon new lines French -and British divisions were hastening forward to share -their pressing danger. The Isonzo and the Tagliamento -had been in succession abandoned, for a severe -flanking attack from the north threatened to break -through the passes and debouch upon the Friulian -Plain. Finally the line of the Piave was reached -which still covered Venice. Here the steadier troops -were halted. In the First Army upon the right there -had been little disorganisation, and their retreat -along the coast under constant pressure was a fine -bit of work. Ten batteries of British heavies were -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P237"></a>237}</span> -among the artillery of this army, and every one of -them was man-handled to the new positions. By -mid-winter two French and two British Corps, veterans -of many battles, were lined up on or near the Piave, -waiting eagerly to try conclusions with these new -adversaries. This detached British army was -commanded by General Plumer, with Generals Lord -Cavan and Haking as his Corps commanders. The -two Corps, the Thirteenth and Fourteenth, were made -up of the Fifth, Seventh, Twenty-third, Forty-first, -and Forty-eighth Divisions, grand units all. It was -a sore loss to the battle-line of Flanders—a loss which -in the case of two of them was but temporary. -</p> - -<p> -We shall now descend the line to the section which -extends from Bullecourt in the north to Villers-Ghislain -in the south, opposite to the important town -of Cambrai, some seven miles behind the Hindenburg -Line. It was here that the Field-Marshal had determined -to strike his surprise blow, an enterprise which -he has described in so lucid and detailed a despatch -that the weary chronicler has the rare experience of -finding history adequately recorded by the same -brain which planned it. The plan was a very daring -one, for the spot attacked was barred by the full -unbroken strength of the Hindenburg main and -support lines, a work so huge and solid that it seems -to take us back from these superficial days to the -era of the Cyclopean builder or the founder of the -great monuments of antiquity. These enormous -excavations of prodigious length, depth, and finish -are object lessons both of the strength of the Germans, -the skill of their engineers, and the ruthlessness with -which they exploited the slave and captive labour -with which so much of it was built. Besides this -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P238"></a>238}</span> -terrific barricade there was the further difficulty that -the whole method of attack was experimental, and -that to advance without artillery fire against such a -position would appear to be a most desperate venture. -On the other hand it was known that the German line -was thin and that their man-power had been attracted -northwards by the long epic of the Paschendaale -attack. There was a well-founded belief that the -tanks would prove equal to the task of breaking the -front, and sufficient infantry had been assembled to -take advantage of any opening which might be made. -The prize, too, was worth a risk, for apart from the -possibility of capturing the important centre of -Cambrai, the possession of the high ground at Bourlon -would be of great strategic value. The enterprise -was placed in the hands of General Byng, the famous -leader of the Third Cavalry Division and afterwards -of the Canadian Corps, who had taken Allenby's -place at the head of the Third Army. Under him were -from the north, the Sixth, Fourth, Third, and Seventh -Corps under Haldane, Woolcombe, Pulteney, and -Snow, containing some of the most seasoned fighting -material in the army. The troops were brought up -stealthily by night, and the tanks which were crawling -from every direction towards the trysting-place were -carefully camouflaged. The French had been apprised -of the attack, and had made arrangements by which, -if there were an opening made to the south some of -their divisions should be available to take advantage -of it. -</p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-239"></a> -<br /> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-239.jpg" alt="Fighting Line, November 20, 1917" /> -<br /> -Fighting Line, November 20, 1917 -</p> - -<p> -The tanks were about four hundred in number -and were under the separate command of General -Elles, a dashing soldier who inspired the utmost -enthusiasm in his command. It had always been -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P239"></a>239}</span> -the contention of the tank designers in England that -their special weapon needed, what it had never yet -found, virgin ground which was neither a morass nor -wilderness of shell-holes. The leading lines of -tanks had been furnished with enormous faggots of -wood which they carried across their bows and which -would be released so as to fall forward into any ditch -or trench and to form a rude bridge. These ready-made -weight-bearers were found to act admirably. -</p> - -<p> -One difficulty with which the operations were -confronted was that it was impossible for the guns -to register properly without arousing suspicion. It -was left to the gunners, therefore, to pick up their -range as best they might after the action began, and -this they did with a speed and accuracy which showed -their high technical efficiency. -</p> - -<p> -Taking the description of the operations upon -November 20th from the north end of the line we -shall first deal with the subsidiary but very important -and successful attacks carried out by Haldaae's Sixth -Corps in the neighbourhood of Bullecourt. The -Hindenburg Line at this point consisted of a front -trench with a second or support trench 300 yards -behind it, and many scattered Mebus or concrete -machine-gun forts. The British had already a lodgement -in part of the front trench, and the main objective -now was the support trench which was called "Tunnel -Trench" because it had a tunnel 30 or 40 feet down -along its whole length with staircase entrances every -25 yards. The units to whom the attack was -entrusted were the Third Division upon the right, and -the Sixteenth Irish Division upon the left. -</p> - -<p> -The morning of November 20 was overcast but -not actually raining, with low visibility, which may -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P240"></a>240}</span> -account for the fact that the German barrage was -feeble, slow, and inaccurate. -</p> - -<p> -The advance of the Sixteenth Division was by -three brigades, the 47th on the right, the 48th in the -centre, and the 49th upon the left. Every up-to-date -infantry-saving device, the artillery barrage, the -machine-gun barrage, and the Stokes-mortar -smoke-screen was used to the full. The guns had been -reinforced by a portion of the artillery of the -Thirty-fourth Division, and the support which they gave -was admirably effective. We will trace the attack -from the right. -</p> - -<p> -The flank battalion was the 6th Connaughts with -the 1st Munsters upon their left. Their objective -was taken with a spring. The Munsters were able -to consolidate at once. The Connaughts had more -trouble as a rush of German bombers came down -upon their right, driving the flank company in and -forcing it back down the sap. For several hours -there was hard fighting at this point, which was often -hand-to-hand when the Irish bayonet men rushed at -the German bomb-throwers. Finally a block and a -defensive flank were formed, and two big Mebus, -Mars and Jove, were left in the hands of the -stormers. -</p> - -<p> -In the centre the advance of the 10th Dublin -Fusiliers and of the 2nd Dublin Fusiliers was entirely -successful. So sudden was the attack that many of -the enemy were found wearing their gas masks. Two -large Mebus, Juno and Minerva, with a good stretch -of tunnel trench remained, together with many -prisoners, in the hands of the stormers. The position -was rapidly wired with concertina wire and new -trenches dug for defence and communication by the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P241"></a>241}</span> -155th Field Co. R.E. and the 11th Hants Pioneer -battalion. -</p> - -<p> -On the left the storming battalions were the 2nd -Royal Irish and the 7/8th Irish Fusiliers. The Royal -Irish carried both tunnel and support trenches with -the Flora Mebus, taking 200 prisoners. Many Germans -retreated into the tunnel, but were pelted out again -by Mills grenades. The Fusiliers were equally -successful, but had one short hold-up owing to the -determined resistance of a single officer and ten men. -This little party made a brave fight, and were so -situated that they commanded two lines of trench. -Eventually they were all killed. The support trench -was occupied, the tunnel cleared by the 174th Tunnelling -Company, and the whole position made good in -a most workmanlike way. A series of counter-attacks -were stamped out by the barrage before they could -get properly going. -</p> - -<p> -The tunnel, as explained, was a continuous gallery -opening into the trench and extending eastwards. -It had numerous chambers leading off, fitted with -wire bunks, tables, etc. This section was elaborately -mined, but the position of the leads had been -accurately disclosed by a deserter, and they were -soon cut by the sappers. -</p> - -<p> -In this swift and successful operation some 635 -prisoners of the 470th and 471st Regiments were taken, -with many minor trophies. Many Germans had been -killed, 330 bodies being counted in the trenches -alone. Altogether it was a remarkably -smooth-running operation, and the model of an attack -with limited objective, upon which General Haldane -and all concerned might be congratulated. It was -the more remarkable as it was carried out without -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P242"></a>242}</span> -preliminary bombardment, and no help from the -tanks. -</p> - -<p> -While the Irish had attacked upon the left a single -brigade of the Third Division, the 9th, advanced -upon their right, and keeping pace with their comrades -carried out a most successful attack, securing a further -length of the tunnel trench. There was no further -fighting of consequence in this area of the battle, save -for some movement forward on the part of the Irish -division and one short counter-attack by the Germans. -</p> - -<p> -It will be understood that this attack was some -miles to the north of the main battle, and that a long -section of unbroken Hindenburg Line intervened -between the two. Along this line the Fifty-sixth -Division kept up a spirited Chinese attack all day. -The real advance was upon a frontage of six miles -which covered the front from Hermies in the north -to Gonnelieu in the south. Every company of the -advancing units had been instructed to fall in behind -its own marked tank. At 6.20, just after dawn, in a -favouring haze, General Elles gave the signal, his -iron-clad fleet flowed forward, the field of wire went down -with a long splintering rending crash, the huge faggots -were rolled forward into the gaping ditches, and the -eager infantry crowded forward down the clear swathes -which the monsters had cut. At the same moment -the guns roared out, and an effective smoke-barrage -screened the whole strange spectacle from the German -observers. -</p> - -<p> -The long line of tanks, magnified to monstrous size -in the dim light of early dawn, the columns of infantry -with fixed bayonets who followed them, all advancing -in silent order, formed a spectacle which none who -took part in it could ever forget. Everything went -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P243"></a>243}</span> -without a hitch, and in a few minutes the whole -Hindenburg Line with its amazed occupants was -in the hands of the assailants. Still following their -iron guides they pushed on to their further objectives. -As these differed, and as the fortunes of the units -varied, it will be well to take them in turn, always -working from the left of the line. -</p> - -<p> -The British front was cut across diagonally by a -considerable canal with deep sides, the Canal du -Nord. Upon the north side of this was one division. -This flank unit was the famous Thirty-sixth -Ulsters, who behaved this day with their usual -magnificent gallantry. Advancing with deliberate -determination, they carried all before them, though -exposed to that extra strain to which a flank unit -must always submit. Their left was always enfiladed -by the enemy and they had continually to build up a -defensive line, which naturally subtracted from their -numbers and made a long advance impossible. None -the less, after rushing a high bank bristling with -machine-guns they secured the second Hindenburg -Line, where they were firmly established by 10.30 after -a sharp contest with the garrison. They then swept -forward, keeping the canal upon their right, until by -evening they had established themselves upon the -Bapaume-Cambrai Road. It was the brigade -moving parallel to the Sixty-second Division upon -which the heavier work fell. -</p> - -<p> -Upon the immediate right of the Irishmen was -Braithwaite's Sixty-second Division of West Riding -Yorkshire Territorials—one of those second line units -whose solid excellence has been one of the surprises -of the war. Six of them had already come to the -front, and not one of the six which had not made its -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P244"></a>244}</span> -mark. On this occasion the men of the West Riding -made an advance which was the admiration of the -army, and which the Field-Marshal, who weighs his -words carefully, described as "a brilliant achievement." The -first obstacle in front of the 185th West Yorkshire -Brigade upon the right was the village of Havrincourt, -which, with the aid of the tanks, they carried in -dashing style, though the resistance from the Château -was very fierce. Behind it lay the reserve German -line, which also was taken at the point of the bayonet. -Upon the left the 187th Brigade, containing two -Yorks and Lancaster and two Yorkshire Light Infantry -battalions, swept gloriously forward and got every -objective, including the northern half of Havrincourt. -The 2/5th Yorkshire Light Infantry was particularly -fine, as it charged without tanks and yet kept up -with the line. The 186th Brigade, consisting of four -battalions of the West Riding Regiment, then passed -through in a splendid rush which carried them up to -and through the village of Graincourt, regardless of -the fact that Flesquières on the right was untaken. -Surging on the 188th Reserve Brigade reached and -captured the important village of Graincourt, much -aided by two audacious tanks. With an energy which -was still unabated they pushed on to Anneux, where -they reached the fringe of the houses. It was a truly -splendid day's work, in which four and a half miles -of every devilry which German sappers could build or -German infantry defend was inexorably beaten down. -In all these operations they were aided and supported, -not only by the tanks, but by the 11th Hussars, and -also by a body of King Edward's Horse. Thirty-seven -guns and 2000 prisoners were the fine trophies -of this one division. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P245"></a>245}</span> -</p> - -<p> -Upon the right of Braithwaite's Yorkshiremen -was the Fifty-first Highland Territorial Division. -They also made a fine advance, but were held up -by the strongly organised village of Flesquières. -The approach to it was a long slope swept -by machine-gun fire, and the co-operation of -the tanks was made difficult by a number -of advanced field-guns which destroyed the -slow-moving machines as they approached up -the hill. If the passage of the Hindenburg Line -showed the strength of these machines, the check at -Flesquières showed their weakness, for in their present -state of development they were helpless before a -well-served field-gun, and a shell striking them meant -the destruction of the tank, and often the death of -the crew. It is said that a single Prussian artillery -officer, who stood by his gun to the death and is -chivalrously immortalised in the British bulletin, -destroyed no less than sixteen tanks by direct hits. -At the same time the long and solid wall of the -Château formed an obstacle to the infantry, as did -the tangle of wire which surrounded the village. The -fighting was very severe and the losses considerable, -but before evening the Highlanders had secured the -ground round the village and were close up to the -village itself. The delay had, however, a sinister -effect upon the British plans, as the defiant village, -spitting out flames and lead from every cranny and -window, swept the ground around and created a -broad zone on either side, across which progress was -difficult and dangerous. It was the resistance of this -village, and the subsequent breaking of the bridges -upon the canal, which prevented the cavalry from -fulfilling their full rôle upon this first day of battle. -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P246"></a>246}</span> -None the less as dismounted units they did sterling -work, and one small mounted body of Canadian -Cavalry, the Fort Garry Horse from Winnipeg, -particularly distinguished itself, getting over every -obstacle, taking a German battery, dispersing a -considerable body of infantry, and returning after a day -of desperate adventure without their horses, but with -a sample of the forces which they had encountered. -It was a splendid deed of arms, for which Lieutenant -Henry Strachan, who led the charge after the -early fall of the squadron leader, received the -coveted Cross. -</p> - -<p> -Upon the right of the Fifty-first Division was the -Sixth, which was faced by the village of Ribecourt. -Into this it stormed, and after some heavy -street and house fighting it cleared it of its German -garrison. The advance was carried out with the -71st Brigade upon the right and the 18th upon the -left. The village was carried by storm by the 9th -Norfolks of the 71st Brigade passing through the -1st Leicesters, who, together with the 2nd -Sherwood Foresters, had stormed the Hindenburg Line, -following close upon the tanks, upon whose iron -flanks they could hear the rifle bullets patter like -hailstones. The losses of the division were light, as -their instructions were to dig in upon the further -side of the village and act as a connecting link. The -Foresters, however, had at least one sharp tussle -before they gained their full objective. A shock -battalion charged them, and there was a period of -desperate fighting during which the Germans -displayed a valour which sometimes was almost that -of fanatics. "One of their companies was cut off. -We offered them quarter, but they would not hear of -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P247"></a>247}</span> -it. The last to go was a young sub. When he saw -that all was up he drew his revolver and shot himself. -As he fell I ran forward in the hope to save him, for he -was a brave lad. When I got to his side he looked -at me with a look of intense hate and tried to take -aim with his pistol. It fell from his hand and he -fell dead with that look of hate still on his face." -</p> - -<p> -In connection with this advance of the Sixth -Division it should be stated that the 2nd Durham -Light Infantry upon the left charged a battery and -captured the guns, a fine feat of arms. -</p> - -<p> -Upon the right of the Sixth Division was the -Twenty-ninth Regular Division which was held back -from the advance until its flank was secured upon the -right. When this had been accomplished by the -Twelfth Division it dashed swiftly forward upon a -three-brigade front; the 87th and 86th Brigades -seizing respectively Marcoing and Neuf Wood which -is immediately beyond it. Here they found -themselves in very close collaboration with the Sixth -Division, through whom they passed in their advance. -On the right the 88th Brigade, after hard fighting in -the Hindenburg support line, captured Les Rues -Vertes and part of Mesnières. The taking of these -two villages was really of great importance in the -general scheme of operations, and the advances of -the divisions upon either flank may be looked upon -as simply a screen to cover the Twenty-ninth while -it sped forward upon its venture. The reason of this -was that the Canal de l'Escaut, a very formidable -obstacle, covered the whole German front south of -Cambrai, and that unless it were taken all advance -in this direction was impossible. There were bridges -at Mesnières and Marcoing, and these were the nearest -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P248"></a>248}</span> -points to the British line. Hence it was that the -flanks of the Twenty-ninth were carefully covered -and a clear opening made for it, that with one -tiger-spring it might seize this vital position. The bridge -at Marcoing was captured intact, the leading tank -shooting down the party who were engaged in its -demolition. At Mesnières, which is the more -important point, the advancing troops were less -fortunate, as the bridge had already been injured and -an attempt by a tank to cross it led to both bridge -and tank crashing down into the canal. This proved -to be a serious misfortune, and coupled with the -hold-up at Flesquières, was the one untoward event -in a grand day's work. Both the tanks and the -cavalry were stopped by the broken bridge, and -though the infantry still pushed on their advance -was slower, as it was necessary to clear that part of -the village which lay north of the canal and then -to go forward without support over open country. -Thus the Germans had time to organise resistance -upon the low hills from Rumilly to Crevecoeur and -to prevent the advance reaching its full limits. A -footbridge was secured by the Newfoundlanders at -Mesnières, and it may be mentioned as a curious -example of the wide sweep of the British Empire -that the first man to get across it, and to lose his -life in the gallant deed, was an Esquimaux from -Labrador. The centre brigade got about 1500 yards -beyond Marcoing, but there the Germans from -Cambrai had formed a new line which could not be -forced. The enemy recognised this advance as being -for the moment the most menacing part of the British -line, and at once adopted the very strongest measures -to push it back and secure the bridgeheads of the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P249"></a>249}</span> -canal. Several times upon November 21 they raged -against this point of the line and made desperate -attempts to gain the two villages. Noyelle, which -was held by the 1st Lancashire Fusiliers, was also -strongly attacked upon that day, but with the aid -of the 2nd Royal Fusiliers and 16th Middlesex the -village was held against a series of onslaughts, one -position changing hands seven times. Some of these -counter-attacks were delivered by Prussian Guards, -hastily brought from Lens, and the fighting was as -severe as it usually is when the Kaiser's own men put -in an appearance. These events, however, were on -the 21st, and we must return to the first day of the -battle. -</p> - -<p> -On the right of the Twenty-ninth was the Twentieth -Division. In front of them, upon the farther -side of the line, had lain the powerfully fortified -farm of La Vacquerie, and this they had taken -with their first rush. Beyond lay a long slope, -strongly held by the Germans, called the Welsh -Ridge. This also was stormed by the Twentieth, -who kept pace with the right flank of the Twenty-ninth, -and pushed their advance forward as far as -the canal. At the same time the 59th Brigade was -thrown out upon the right to make a prolongation -of the defensive flank built up by the Twelfth Division -and so screen the main attack. All went well with -the right of this advance, but the left, consisting of -the 10th K.R.R., was held for a time by a strong -point which eventually surrendered and yielded 200 -prisoners. Some of this battalion saw the enemy -running towards Mesnières and pursued them to the -main bridge. The troops received a most affectionate -welcome from the inhabitants of the houses along -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P250"></a>250}</span> -the Cambrai Road. The attack upon the left was -carried out by the 12th K.R.R. and 6th Oxfords of -the 60th Brigade, which swept with little resistance -over the Hindenburg Line, but had some trouble with -strong points beyond. One of these points of resistance -which was carried by the 12th K.R.R. accounted -for all the officers of the party and 62 out of 96 men, -before it was put out of action by the survivors. -Captain Hoare, a veteran Rifleman who had risen -from the ranks, was killed at this point, and his -orderly, a lad of twenty named Shepherd, took over -the direction of the party and carried the operation -through with such dash and valour that he was -awarded the Victoria Cross. -</p> - -<p> -We now come to the Twelfth Division upon -the flank, the first English division of the New -Army, a unit which had greatly distinguished itself -at Ovillers and elsewhere. Its task was in some ways -the most difficult of any, as it had not only to advance -upon important objectives but to build up a flank -line of resistance as it went, since the whole attack -might have been checked and brought to ruin by an -enemy assault from the south. The 36th Brigade -upon the left advanced with the 9th Royal Fusiliers -and 7th Sussex in their front line, while two -companies of the 8th Fusiliers were thrown out upon the -left to aid in the attack upon La Vacquerie. On the -right by the Banteaux Spur was the 35th Brigade -with the 9th Essex and 5th Berkshires in the front. -The latter battalion lost heavily from the fire of guns -on their right. When on the line of Bleak House the -supporting battalions, two companies of Fusiliers -and the 11th Middlesex upon the left, the 7th Suffolks -and part of the 7th Norfolks upon the right, passed -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P251"></a>251}</span> -on to the objective. The 37th Brigade then passed -through upon the right and settled in an echelon of -battalions along the flank, the 7th East Surreys and -6th Buffs starting the line, while the 6th West Kent -and 6th West Surrey prolonged it. While executing -this delicate and complicated movement the battalions -were under heavy fire and had to clear Lateau Wood -of the enemy, so that it was a fine bit of work on the -part both of the leaders and of the men. The two -chief points of German resistance outside the wood -were the forts of Pam-Pam and Bonavis, both of -which were attacked by tanks and then carried by -storm by the Kentish infantry. By 11 o'clock the -whole advance, covering a front of 2000 with a depth -of 5500 yards, had reached its full objectives at every -point. The total losses of the division were about -1300 men. Major Alderman, commanding the West -Kents, was among those who fell. It may be added -that from this day until the fateful 30th the division -was out of the battle and made no move, save that on -November 24 the 35th and 36th Brigades pushed a -short way down the slope eastwards to the St. Quentin -Canal. -</p> - -<p> -Some allusion has already been made to the -dispositions of the cavalry. The original plan was -that the First and Fifth Cavalry Divisions, closely -supported by the Second, should, the instant that the -way was clear, push forward to surround and isolate -Cambrai, and also to isolate and threaten Bourlon -Wood from the north and east. The situation was -never such, however, as to allow any large body of -cavalry to get through. At dawn on the morning of -the 21st a patrol of 5th Lancers ascertained that the -Germans still held the Marcoing-Beaurevoir line in -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P252"></a>252}</span> -force. On the left, however, the success of the -fifty-first Division had made more open space, and -on this side the Bays and the 4th Dragoon Guards -penetrated upon the 21st as far as Fontaine and did -some useful work. -</p> - -<p> -The Twelfth Division formed the flank of Pulteney's -Third Corps. Upon its right was Snow's Seventh -Corps, the left-hand unit of which was the Fifty-fifth -Division of Lancashire Territorials, which had -not been involved in the advance, and indeed -was nominally resting after its supreme exertions at -Ypres where it had taken a notable part in battle -after battle. It had been planned, however, that -some demonstration should be made upon this front -in order to divert the enemy's forces and to correspond -with the attack at Bullecourt upon the north. This -was carried out by the 164th Brigade and may have -had the desired effect although it gave no permanent -gain. A point called the Knoll, with an adjacent -farm, was carried by the stormers and was held for -most of the day, but they were forced back to their -own old lines in the evening, after a long day of battle -in which they incurred such heavy losses that the -brigade was seriously crippled at a later date when -the full strength of the division was urgently needed. -</p> - -<p> -This ended the first day of the battle, which -represented a considerable victory, and one which -vindicated the enterprise and brain-power of the -British inventor and engineer as much as the valour -of the soldier. The German line was deeply indented -over a front of 6 miles and to a depth of 4½ miles. -More than 5000 prisoners with many guns had been -taken. The famous Hindenburg Line had been -severed. The villages of Havrincourt, Graincourt, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P253"></a>253}</span> -Ribecourt, Marcoing, Noyelle, and Mesnières were -all in British hands. It was a good beginning, so -good that it was determined not to suspend the -operations, but to try the results of a second day and -see what could be attained before the arrival of the -full German supports. Even with their excellent -rear organisation and their great junction at Cambrai, -it was hoped that a clear forty-eight hours must pass -from the opening of the battle before they could -build up a really formidable line. -</p> - -<p> -There were no operations of any importance during -the night of the 20th, but early upon November 21 the -British line began to move forward once more, the -same divisions being engaged in the advance. In the -north the Ulstermen, who had attained the line of -the Cambrai-Bapaume Road, crossed that boundary -and pushed onwards up the slope for about a mile -until they reached the outskirts of the village of -Mœuvres which they were unable to retain. It was -soon apparent, both here and at other points along -the line, that the Germans with their usual military -efficiency had brought up their reserves even more -rapidly than had been expected, and the resistance at -Mœuvres was so determined that the tired division -was unable to overcome it. The 169th Brigade of the -Fifty-sixth Division pushed up on the left of the -Ulstermen and occupied the German outpost line, from which -they were able later to attack the main Hindenburg -Line. -</p> - -<p> -The Sixty-second Division upon the right of the -Ulstermen had got to the edge of Anneux upon the -night before, and now the 2/4th West Ridings were -able to complete their conquest. The 186th Brigade -then drove across the Cambrai Road and reached the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P254"></a>254}</span> -edge of the considerable plantation called Bourlon -Wood which rises upon a swelling hill, the summit -being so marked in that gently undulating country -that it becomes a landmark in the distance. Here -there was very strong opposition, with so murderous -a machine-gun fire that all progress was arrested, -though a number of tanks drove their way in among -the trees in an effort to break down the resistance. -In the meantime the flank of the Yorkshiremen had -been protected by the capture of the village of Cantaing -with several hundred more prisoners. -</p> - -<p> -Early in the day the Fifty-first had got round the -northern edge of Flesquières, the village which had -held up the centre of the advance upon the first day. -As a consequence it fell and the front was cleared for -a further advance. The Scotch infantry was then -able to make a rapid advance of nearly three miles, -taking Cantaing with 500 prisoners upon the way, -and winding up in front of the village of -Fontaine-Notre-Dame, which they stormed in a very brilliant -fashion with the aid of tanks and of some squadrons -of the First Cavalry Division as already noted. -</p> - -<p> -Farther south the Sixth and Twenty-ninth Divisions -acting in close co-operation had pushed their -way through Mesnières, where they met and defeated -a counter-attack from the direction of Rumilly. It -was clear that every hour the German line was thickening -in this quarter. Whilst the Sixth cleared the -ground upon the left, the Twenty-ninth pushed forward -and reached Noyelle, where with the aid of those -useful allies, the dismounted troopers of the First -and Fifth Cavalry Divisions, including the Umballa -Brigade of Indians, they made good the village as -already described. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P255"></a>255}</span> -</p> - -<p> -In the meantime the 10th Rifle Brigade of the -Twentieth Division upon the right had first taken and -then lost Les Rues des Vignes, an important position -upon the British side of the canal. In the afternoon -the 11th Rifle Brigade managed to cross the canal -and endeavoured to push up towards Crevecoeur, -but at this point the river Scheldt ran on the farther -side and offered an impediment which could not be -crossed. Orders were issued by General Byng that a -fresh attempt should be made next morning, but the -troops were weary and the losses heavy so the instructions -were cancelled and the line remained unaltered -at this point. -</p> - -<p> -The end of the second day of battle found the -British Command faced with a difficult problem, and -we have the Field-Marshal's own lucid analysis of the -alternative courses open, and as to the reasons which -prompted his decision. The capture of Cambrai had -never been the goal of the operations, though a cavalry -raid which would have disorganised the communications -through that town had at one time seemed -possible. A turning of the line to the south with the -co-operation of some French divisions which were -ready upon the spot, was part of the original conception, -and was baulked by the insufficient hold established -upon the farther side of the Canal de l'Escaut. -But the central idea had been the capture of the high -ground of Bourlon Hill and Wood for with this in -British possession a considerable stretch of the -defensive German line would lie open to observed -artillery fire, and its retention would probably mean -a fresh withdrawal to the east. It had been hoped -that the goal would have been attained within -forty-eight hours, but this time had elapsed and the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P256"></a>256}</span> -assailants were at the bottom instead of the summit of -the hill, with a resistance in front which was continually -growing more obstinate. What was to be done? -The troops could not remain where they were, for the -Bourlon Hill overlooked their position. They must -carry it or retire. There was something to be said -for the latter policy, as the Flesquières Ridge could be -held and the capture of 10,000 prisoners and over -100 guns had already made the victory a notable one, -while the casualties in two days were only 9000. -On the other hand, while there is a chance of achieving -a full decision it is hard to abandon an effort; -reinforcements were coming up, and the situation in Italy -demanded a supreme effort upon the Western front. -With all these considerations in his mind the -Field-Marshal determined to carry on. -</p> - -<p> -November 22 was spent in consolidating the ground -gained, in bringing up reinforcements, and in resting -the battle-weary divisions. There was no advance -upon the part of the British during the day, but about -one o'clock in the afternoon the Germans, by a sudden -impetuous attack, regained the village of Fontaine -and pushed back the Fifty-first Division in this quarter. -No immediate effort was made to regain it, as this -would be part of the general operations when the new -line of attack was ready to advance. Earlier in the -day the Germans had thrown themselves upon the -front of the Sixty-second, driving back its front line, -the 2/6th and 2/8th West Yorkshires, to the -Bapaume-Cambrai Road, but the Yorkshiremen shook themselves -together, advanced once more, and regained -the lost ground with the help of the 2/4th York and -Lancasters. The Germans spent this day in building -up their line, and with their better railway facilities -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P257"></a>257}</span> -had probably the best of the bargain, although the -British air service worked with their usual utter -self-abnegation to make the operation difficult. -</p> - -<p> -The new advance began upon the night -November 22, when the 56th Londoners reinforced -the Ulsters upon the left of the line on the -out-skirts of the village of Mœuvres. To the west -of the village, between it and the Hindenburg Line, -was an important position, Tadpole Copse, which -formed a flank for any further advance. This was -carried by a surprise attack in splendid style by -the 1st Westminsters of the 169th Brigade. During -the day both the Londoners and the Ulstermen -tried hard, though with limited success, to enlarge -the gains in this part of the field. -</p> - -<p> -The attack was now pointing more and more to -the north, where the wooded height of Bourlon marked -the objective. In the southern part the movements -of the troops were rather holding demonstrations -than serious attacks. The real front of battle was -marked by the reverse side of the Hindenburg Line -upon the left, the hill, wood, and village of Bourlon -in the centre, and the flanking village of Fontaine -upon the right. All of these were more or less -interdependent, for if one did not take Bourlon it was -impossible to hold Fontaine which lay beneath it, -while on the other hand any attack upon Bourlon -was difficult while the flanking fire of Fontaine was -unquenched. From Mœuvres to Fontaine was a -good six miles of most difficult ground, so that it was -no easy task which a thin line of divisions was asked. -to undertake—indeed only four divisions were really -engaged, the Thirty-sixth and Fifty-sixth on the left, the -Fortieth in the centre, and the Fifty-first on the right. -</p> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P258"></a>258}</span> -</p> - -<p> -The operations of November 23 began by an -attack by the enduring Fifty-first Division, who had -now been four days in the fighting line against -Fontaine Village—an attempt in which they were -aided by a squadron of tanks. Defeated in the first -effort, they none the less renewed their attack in the -afternoon with twelve more tanks, and established -themselves close to the village but had not sufficient -momentum to break their way through it. There -they hung on in most desperate and difficult fighting, -screening their comrades in the main Bourlon attack, -but at most grievous cost to themselves. -</p> - -<p> -Meanwhile the Thirty-sixth Division had again -attacked Mœuvres, and at one time had captured it -all, save the north-west corner, but heavy pressure -from the enemy prevented them retaining their grasp -of it. The two brigades of this division upon the -east of the canal were unable, unfortunately, to make -progress, and this fact greatly isolated and exposed -the Fortieth Division during and after its attack. -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P259"></a>259}</span> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-259"></a> -<br /> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-259.jpg" alt="BATTLE LINE OF THE THIRD ARMY, November 20, 1917" /> -<br /> -BATTLE LINE OF THE THIRD ARMY, November 20, 1917 -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -This main attack was entrusted to the Fortieth -Division, a unit which had never yet found itself -in the full lurid light of this great stage, but -which played its first part very admirably none the -less. It was a terrible obstacle which lay in front -of it, for the sloping wood was no less than 600 -acres in extent, a thick forest with autumn foliage, -hardly touched by shell-fire, while the village upon -its north-western flank came also within the area of -their attack. The men, however, had been specially -exercised in wood fighting, a precaution which all -agree to have been of the greatest possible value in -the day of battle. When at 10.30 A.M. the signal -was given to advance the 121st Brigade went -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P260"></a>260}</span> -forward with alacrity upon the left, while on the -right the 119th Brigade plunged into the wood, the -brigadier, a dare-devil little warrior, setting an -example to his men which none who followed him -will forget. About thirty tanks lumbered forward -in front of the advancing lines. The west edge of -the wood formed the dividing line between the right -and left attack. -</p> - -<p> -It was arranged that the tanks should, so far as -possible, go down those rides which are so conspicuous -a feature of every French forest, while the infantry -should move up between them. The 119th Brigade -moved forward with the 19th Welsh Fusiliers upon -the right, the 12th South Wales Borderers on the -left, while the 17th Welsh were in close reserve. It -was the second occasion in the war when a splendid -piece of woodland fighting was carried through by -the men of the Principality, and even Mametz was -not a finer performance than Bourlon. They rapidly -broke through the German front line, capturing -numerous prisoners and machine-guns. The Colonel -of the Fusiliers pushed his way forward to the -north edge where he established posts, while the -flank of the Welsh Borderers brushed the village -of Bourlon and got north of that point. The 17th -Welsh meanwhile formed defensive flanks upon either -side, while the 18th Welsh came up to reinforce, and -pushed ahead of their comrades with the result that -they were driven in by a violent counter-attack. -The line was re-established, however, and before one -o'clock the 119th Brigade were dug in along the -whole northern edge of the forest. It was a fine -attack and was not marred by excessive losses, though -Colonel Kennedy of the 17th Welsh was killed. Among -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P261"></a>261}</span> -many notable deeds of valour was that of Sergeant-Major -Davies of the 18th Welsh, who knelt down in -the open and allowed his shoulder to be used as the -rest for a Lewis gun, until a bullet struck him down. -</p> - -<p> -It was clear that the Germans would make every -effort to regain the wood, and immediate steps were -taken to strengthen the defence, which was already -firmly established. The 14th Argyll and Sutherlands -were sent up to thicken the line, as were the 15th -Hussars, who were doing great service as a mobile foot -battalion. More machine-guns were also pushed to the -front. The result of these measures, all taken before -nightfall, was that the inevitable counter-attacks, -which materialised before dawn, were shot back by a -blaze of fire from the fringe of brushwood. Early in -the morning of November 24, a resolute endeavour of -the German stormers gained a lodgment for them to -the right of the British line, where they captured some -of the machine-guns. During the whole of this day -the enemy pressed hardly upon the weakening line, -and at three in the afternoon had pushed them back -from the whole of the right half of the wood, but -Welshmen, Highlanders, and Hussars gathered themselves -for a supreme effort, and dashing at the Germans -swept them back once more to their old position. -We shall leave the 119th Brigade still holding fast -upon the evening of the 24th to their advanced -position, while we follow the fortunes of the 121st -Brigade from the time of the original attack upon -November 23. -</p> - -<p> -This Brigade had, as already stated, advanced -upon the village of Bourlon with the 20th Middlesex -upon the right and the 13th Yorkshires upon the -left, the latter in close touch with the 107th Brigade -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P262"></a>262}</span> -of Ulstermen upon the west of their front, the whole -line to swing round and attack the western edge of -the village. The 21st Middlesex were in close support -to give weight to the left of the line, while the 12th -Suffolks were in reserve. The Ulstermen had been -held up by heavy machine-gun fire which exposed -the left flank of the Yorkshires, who in turn could -not get forward. This in turn brought the two -Middlesex battalions to a halt, who were already well -up to the village. Three out of six tanks upon this -flank were put out of action by armour-piercing -bullets. After a pause both the Yorkshires and some -of the Middlesex got into the village, but their flank -was always bare, and the best they could do was to -hold on to the southern edge. None the less the line -was firm and formidable, as was found by a German -attack carried out by the 9th Grenadier Regiment -in the late afternoon, which was swept back by the -British fire. All day the enemy strove hard to clear -the village, and all day the 121st Brigade held -splendidly to its gains. Where all were fine the -non-commissioned officers were particularly splendid. -Sergeant-Major Hall of the 21st Middlesex, three -times wounded and still rallying his company, was -but one of many. Some critic has finely said that -if the Day of Judgment were to come a British -non-commissioned officer would still be found imploring -his neighbours not to get the wind up. It is an -interesting fact that the attack by the 121st Brigade -had been countermanded, but the wires were broken -and the message miscarried, so that the whole fine -episode was strictly unofficial. -</p> - -<p> -During the night the hard-pressed line was -thickened by the arrival of the 19th Hussars and -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P263"></a>263}</span> -Bedford Yeomanry, who took over the left of the -position. The 14th H.L.I, were also brought up from -the reserve brigade, and twelve more tanks came into -line. The 12th Suffolks had formed upon the left -of the Highlanders, and these two battalions with -the cavalry and tanks made a united attack upon -the remaining portion of the village of Bourlon on -the morning of the 24th, which was countered by -the Germans in the afternoon. In the confusion -of house-to-house combat the two battalions were -separated, the Suffolks getting penned in at the -south corner of the village, while the Highlanders, -who had made a splendid advance, were isolated in -the north-east. The situation was serious, and two -reserve battalions, the 13th Surreys and 12th Royal -Lancasters, were brought up after dusk. A body of -dismounted cavalry drawn from the 2nd and 5th -Dragoon Guards and the 11th Hussars were also -pushed into the fight. With these troops the -Brigadier made a strong attempt upon the morning -of November 25 to force his way through the village, -which was now mostly in German hands, but the -tanks which he had expected did not arrive, and his -infantry were not strong enough for the task. Colonel -Battye of the Highlanders had been killed, and -Colonel Warden of the East Surreys, who had assumed -local command, did all that a man could do, but the -losses were too heavy, and the Highlanders were -seen no more. Up to the 26th Colonel Warden, with his -headquarters in the firing line, was able to send up -rations to the survivors of the three isolated companies -who had made a wonderful resistance for nearly two -days. In the end it was only by great skill that his -own battalion, the East Surreys, were rescued from -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P264"></a>264}</span> -their dangerous position, for the forces of the Germans -were in overwhelming strength, and overlapped the -village upon both sides. Some of the East Surreys -were cut off for two days in the south-eastern part -of the village before the survivors could be got -clear. Colonel Warden received the D.S.O. for his -splendid work. -</p> - -<p> -In the meantime, from the morning of the 25th, -the 119th Brigade had made a splendid fight -in the wood against fierce attacks which beat up -against their right flank. The Guards had come up -to relieve the 51st Highlanders, and on this date -three battalions of the 3rd Guards Brigade, the 2nd -Scots Guards, 1st and 4th Grenadier Guards, were -thrown in to help the Fortieth Division in its heavy -task. Two companies of the 11th Royal Lancasters -were also brought forward, and succeeded in doing -some very brilliant work. The flank was held -during the day. Upon that night the weary -division was drawn out, being relieved by the -Sixty-second Yorkshire Division, which by some miracle -after only two days of rest was judged to be -battle worthy once more. It was indeed a case of -the tired relieving those who were only a little less -tired than themselves, but the line had to be held -and not another man was available. The artillery of -the Fortieth Division, which had shown remarkable -efficiency and co-operated very closely with the -infantry, remained in action. During its brilliant -spell of service the Fortieth Division had taken 750 -prisoners, but its casualties were very heavy, -amounting to 172 officers and more than 3000 men. -</p> - -<p> -The British position was now a difficult one, for -the enemy held the ridge above Fontaine and also the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P265"></a>265}</span> -high ground between Bourlon and the Hindenburg -Line, so that they had commanding observation upon -both sides. With great persistence, however, in spite -of the continual thickening of the German line the -British commanders determined, after a pause for -breath, to make one more effort to capture both -Fontaine, which had relapsed into enemy hands, and -the village of Bourlon with the whole of the Ridge. -The Guards, the Forty-seventh London Territorials, -and the Second Division had all appeared upon the -scene, so that the striking force was stronger than -before. Upon November 27 the Guards made a -strong effort upon Fontaine, having relieved the -Fifty-first Division in that sector. The 3rd Guards -Brigade had already become involved, as described -in the defence by the Fortieth Division of Bourlon -Wood. It was the 2nd Brigade which was now -marshalled to attack upon a very wide front from -Fontaine village on the right to Bourlon village on -the left, this latter advance being in support of the -attack by the Sixty-second Division upon the position -which had been lost. This attack made at 6.20 in -the morning of November 27, after a night of snow -and tempest, was carried out by the 186th and -187th Brigades, the object being to get back Bourlon -wood and village. The latter brigade got half-way -through the village at one time, but could not make -good the ground. The 186th, working through the -woods to the north-west of Fontaine, gained their -objectives, but had both flanks in the air, and were -eventually in the evening compelled to fall back, all -the West Riding battalions having lost heavily. -Meanwhile the 2nd Brigade of Guards had been -fighting hard in support of the Sixty-second. This -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P266"></a>266}</span> -attack was carried out by the 2nd Irish, while the -3rd Grenadiers, 1st Coldstream, and 1st Scots were -respectively upon the left, centre, and right of the -advance upon the village, which came down the line -of the Cambrai Road. -</p> - -<p> -The attack started at 6.20 in the morning after -a night of snow and tempest. The flank battalion -of Scots Guards by the use of a sunken road got well -up to the village without heavy loss, but a blast of -machine-gun fire from a small house about 200 yards -away played havoc with the 3rd Grenadiers, who -none the less rushed forward, stormed the house, and -secured their first objective. The Coldstreams also -suffered heavily from machine-gun fire from a post -north of the railway, and half their numbers were -on the ground before they also reached their objective. -The remains of these two gallant battalions cleared -the whole village and captured about a thousand -prisoners, but were unable to get more than six -hundred to the rear. By ten o'clock the whole -position had been taken, but the victors had suffered -so severely that they were unable to cover so large a -perimeter, and about eleven o'clock the Germans, -passing through the numerous gaps in the defence, -bade fair to cut off the whole British force. The -4th Grenadiers of the 3rd Brigade was sent up under -Lord Gort to reinforce, and the remains of the 2nd -Brigade was drawn clear of the village and settled -into trenches in front of it. The attack was in many -ways a very difficult one, for the village was strongly -fortified, there was much wire intact south of the -Cambrai road, and the machine-gun fire from La -Folie Wood swept all the approaches. Eventually -the force of the enemy was so strong, and it had -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P267"></a>267}</span> -penetrated so far round the flanks of the battalions -that Lord Fielding, who commanded the Guards -division, gave orders that they retire to their original -line. The brigade lost heavily in the venture. -</p> - -<p> -Meanwhile the gallant Yorkshiremen of the Sixty-second, -together with the 2nd Irish Guards, drove -their way through Bourlon Wood in spite of a -desperate resistance from a German line which -included several battalions of the Guards. Many -prisoners were taken, but many others escaped in -the confused fighting among the brushwood and -tree-trunks. Once again the counter-attacks were too -strong for the thin ranks who had reached their goal, -and the British, after reaching both the village and -the north end of the wood, were pushed out once -more. At the same time the British held a strong -position on the hill and in the wood, so that there -were still hopes of a successful issue if the German -resistance could be outworn. It should be remarked -that through all the fighting the battle line was -greatly strengthened by the fact that a dismounted -battalion was formed from each brigade of cavalry, -or nine in all, who relieved and supported the very -weary infantry. The trophies of the battle up to -date had been over 100 German guns, 10,500 prisoners, -350 machine-guns, and, above all, the valuable stretch -of Hindenburg's Line. -</p> - -<p> -It was in this last phase of the advance, and indeed -after the fighting had ended, that General Bradford -was killed by a chance shell. This young soldier, -who at the age of twenty-five commanded one of the -brigades of the Sixty-second Division, was one of the -great natural leaders disclosed by the war. It was -indeed a cruel fate which took him away between full -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P268"></a>268}</span> -promise and full performance. "He had the dash -and enthusiasm of youth tempered by the knowledge -and experience which comes to most men only with -later years." So wrote his immediate commander. -England could ill spare such a man at such a time. -</p> - -<p> -All was quiet for the next few days, during which -the Fifty-ninth Division relieved the Guards, while -the Forty-seventh Division relieved the Sixty-second -Yorkshiremen. -</p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-269"></a> -<br /> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-269.jpg" alt="FIGHTING LINE NOV. 30th 1917" /> -<br /> -FIGHTING LINE NOV. 30th 1917 -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p><a id="chap11"></a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P269"></a>269}</span></p> - -<h3> -CHAPTER XI -<br /><br /> -THE BATTLE OF CAMBRAI (<i>continued</i>) -</h3> - -<p class="intro"> -Second phase of battle on November 30—Great German -attack—Disaster to three divisions—Desperate fight of Twenty-ninth -Division—Fine advance by the Guards—Capture and recapture -of Gouzeaucourt—Hard battle in the Bourlon Sector—Heavy -losses of the Germans—Retraction of the British line. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -It was clear to the British Commanders before the -end of November that the enemy had grown so -strong that the initiative had passed to him, and that -instead of following up attacks it was a question now -of defending positions against a determined endeavour -to shove back the intruders and splice the broken line. -The multifarious signs of activity behind the German -lines, the massing of troops, the planting of batteries, -and the registration of ranges, all warned the -experienced observers that a great counter-offensive was -about to begin. There was no question of a surprise -at any point of the line, but Bourlon was naturally -the place where the enemy might be expected to be -at his full strength, since it was vital that he should -regain that position. At the same time it was clearly -seen that the storm would break also at the south -end of the line, and General Snow had given every -instruction to General Jeudwine of the Fifty-fifth -Division which held the position next to the scene -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P270"></a>270}</span> -of action. This experienced leader took every step -which could be thought of, but he was sadly handicapped -by the state of his division which had been so -severely hammered at Ypres, and had in the last few -days had one brigade knocked to pieces at Knoll. -With only two brigades, full of young troops who had -taken the place of the casualties incurred in the north, -he had to cover at least 10,000 yards of ground. His -line was stretched until it was little more than a string -of sentries with an occasional strong point dotted up -and down. We will begin by endeavouring to follow -what occurred in this southern sector, and then turn -to the equally important, though less dramatic, -doings in the north. -</p> - -<p> -The attack in the south was delivered upon a front -of ten miles from Vendhuille in the south to Mesnières -in the north. To take a single comprehensive view -of it, it hardly affected the Twenty-fourth Division -upon the right of Snow's Seventh Corps, it crashed -with full force upon the Fifty-fifth Division, especially -the left brigade, it swept impetuously upon the -Twelfth and Twentieth Divisions, driving in part of -the line of each of these units, and finally it raged with -equal fury but less success against the Twenty-ninth -Division, in the region of Mesnières. The weight and -swiftness of the blow, coming with the shortest -possible artillery preparation, and strongly supported -by low-flying aeroplanes, must add to the reputation -of General von Marwitz who planned it. It was a -success, and it is difficult to see how it could have been -prevented from being a success by any means which -the defenders had it in their power to adopt. The -undulating country in which troops could assemble, -and the morning mist which screened them from -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P271"></a>271}</span> -observation were two factors which contributed to the -result. -</p> - -<p> -Shortly after seven in the morning the tempest -suddenly broke loose. The surprise was so well -carried out that though the British General was -expecting an attack, and though he had his wire patrols -pushed up to the German trenches only a hundred -yards off, still their reports at dawn gave no warning -of any sound to herald the coming rush. It came like -a clap of thunder. An experienced officer in the front -British trench said: "My first impression was that -of an earthquake. Then it seemed to me that an -endless procession of aeroplanes were grazing my head -with their wheels. On recovering from the first shock -of my surprise the Germans were far behind me." There -was no question of protective barrage, for the -quickest answer to the most urgent S.O.S. would have -been too late to help. -</p> - -<p> -This account refers particularly to the 166th -Brigade, upon the left of the Fifty-fifth Division, which -got the full blast of the storm. It and the guns -behind it were overrun in an instant by the weight -and speed of the advance. The General in command -did all that could be done in such an emergency, but -it was impossible to form a fixed line. The alternative -was to swing back hingeing upon the right of the -division, and this was done so that there was always a -flank formed upon the left of the stormers. There -was a ravine, called Ravine 22 upon the maps, which -ran down between the Fifty-fifth and Twelfth Divisions. -With the terrific force of a flood the Germans -poured down this natural runway, destroying the -British formations upon each side of it. The Fifty-fifth -Division was shattered to pieces at this point by -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P272"></a>272}</span> -so terrific an impact upon their feeble line, but the -small groups into which they were broken put up as -good a fight as they could, while the line formed -anew between the village of Villers-Guislain and -the farm Vaucelette which was a strong pivot of -resistance. In this part of the field units of the -165th Brigade of Liverpool battalions, together with -the 5th Royal Lancasters and the 10th Liverpool -Scottish of the 166th Brigade, stood stoutly to their -work, and though the enemy after penetrating the -lines were able to get the village of Villers-Guislain, -which they had turned and surrounded, they were -never able to extend their advance to the south on -account of this new line of defence through Vaucelette, -though it was composed entirely of infantry with no -artillery support. However, even with this limitation -the situation was bad enough, since the 166th Brigade -was almost cut to pieces, and so complete was the -destruction upon the extreme left that one battalion, -the 5th South Lancashires, was entirely destroyed, -and nothing heard of it until its leader, Colonel James, -was reported as a badly wounded prisoner in Germany. -Of the division generally it was said by a higher General -that "they fought like tigers," as might be expected -of men who had left a great name on the battle of -Ypres, and who were destined for even greater fame -when four months later they held Givenchy at the -critical moment of the terrible battle of Armentières. -Here, as always, it is constancy in moments of -adversity and dour refusal to accept defeat which -distinguish both the British soldier and his leaders. -</p> - -<p> -We shall now see what happened to the Twelfth -Division upon the left of the Fifty-fifth. When the -German stormers poured down Ravine 22 their left-handed -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P273"></a>273}</span> -blow knocked out the 166th Brigade, while -their right-handed crushed in the side of the -Twelfth Division. From the ravine in the south to -Quarry Farm in the north, the German infantry -surged round the position like a mountain spate round -some rock-hearted islet, where the edges might -crumble and be washed out by the torrent, but the -solid core would always beat back the waters. The -line of the division was a curved one, with the 35th -Brigade upon the right, the 36th in the centre, and -the 37th upon the left. It was upon the right-hand -brigade that the storm burst with its full shattering -force. The 7th Suffolks next to the fatal ravine -shared the fate of the 5th South Lancashires upon the -southern edge of it. By a coincidence the Colonel had -been invalided for appendicitis the day before, but -Major Henty who was in command was killed. The -5th Berks and 9th Essex, broken up into small parties -and enveloped in a smoke cloud through which they -could only catch dim glimpses of rushing Germans, -were pushed back to the north and west, still keeping -some sort of cohesion, until they reached the -neighbourhood of Bleak House where they rallied once -more and gathered for a counter-attack. Everywhere -over this area small parties were holding on, each -unconscious of all that was passing outside its own little -smoke-girt circle. Close to Villers-Guislain upon the -south side of the ravine Sapper Company 70, together -with the 5th Northampton Pioneers, held on bravely -for many hours, shooting into the flank of the German -advance who poured over the British gun positions -which were well forward at this point in order to -support the troops in Mesnières and Marcoing. Some -of the incidents round the guns were epic in character, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P274"></a>274}</span> -for the British gunner does not lightly take leave of -his piece. Many were fought to the last instant with -their crews hacking at them with pickaxes and trenching -tools to disable them even while the Germans -swarmed in. Lieut. Wallace, of the 363rd Battery, -with five men served three guns point-blank, their -trails crossing as they covered three separate fields of -fire. Each of this band of heroes received a decoration, -their leader getting the V.C. The 92nd R.F.A. near -La Vacquerie also repulsed four separate attacks, -firing with open sights at a range of 200 yards, before -they were forced to dismantle their guns and retire. -</p> - -<p> -The 7th Norfolks on the left edge of the 35th -Brigade were farthest from the storm-centre, and -stoutly beat off all attacks. Only one lieutenant was -left upon his feet at the end of the day. Separated -from their comrades the Norfolks were rather part of -the 36th Brigade upon their left, who were also fiercely -attacked, but were more happily situated as regarded -their flank. The 9th Royal Fusiliers were pushed back -to the Cambrai Road on the north, but with some of -the Norfolks built up a solid line of resistance there. -Next to them upon the left the two companies of the -8th Royal Fusiliers which were in the line, were -practically annihilated in spite of a splendid attempt -to rescue them made by the other two companies led -by their heroic Colonel Elliott Cooper. In this brave -effort the leader gained his Victoria Cross, but also -unhappily a wound from which he eventually died. -This counter-attack drove the Germans back for the -first time in this terrible morning, but their lines -were reinforced and they came on once more. -</p> - -<p> -The 37th Brigade upon the left had their own -set of troubles to contend with. The Germans had -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P275"></a>275}</span> -beaten hard upon the neighbouring Twentieth Division, -breaking into their line upon the right of their -flank 59th Brigade. In this way they got into Lateau -Wood and on to the Bonavis Ridge, which placed them -upon the left rear of the 37th Brigade. The unit was -in imminent danger of being cut off, but held strongly -to its line, the pressure falling particularly heavily -upon the 7th East Surreys and upon the 6th Buffs. -Pam-Pam Farm was the centre of some very desperate -fighting on the part of these two units. The Brigade -was sorely tried and forced backwards but still held -its own, facing upon two and even three different -fronts, as the enemy drifted in from the north and -east. -</p> - -<p> -In the meantime a train of independent circumstances -had built up a reserve line which was destined -to be of great importance in limiting the German -advance until reinforcements could arrive. Their -stormers had within an hour or two reached not only -Villers-Guislain and Gonnelieu, but had even entered -Gouzeaucourt, three miles deep in the British line. -This village, or rather a quarry upon its eastern edge, -was the Headquarters of the Twenty-ninth Division, -and the Germans were within an ace of capturing -General de Lisle, its famous commander. The amazed -Commandant of the local hospital found a German -sentry at his door instead of a British one, and with -the usual British good-humour sent him out a cup -of tea. No doubt he did the same to the Irish -Guardsman who in turn relieved the German in the -afternoon. The C.R.A. of the Twenty-ninth Division -was wounded and taken, and Captain Crow of the -Staff was killed. General de Lisle with quick decision -organised a temporary defence for the south end of the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P276"></a>276}</span> -village, and then hurried up to join his hard-pressed -men at Marcoing. The General of the Twelfth Division -had energetically hurried up the two battalions which he -held in reserve. They were the 6th West Surreys and -the 11th Middlesex. Some hundred of odds and ends -near Headquarters were also formed into a unit and -pushed to the front. These went forward towards the -firing with the vaguest notion of the situation, meeting -broken groups of men and catching occasional glimpses -of advancing Germans. The Brigadier of the 35th -Brigade had been nearly caught in Gonnelieu, and -found the enemy between him and his men. As he -came back with his staff, still very lightly clad, pausing -occasionally to fire at the advancing Germans, he -passed Ganche Wood and there met the advancing -battalions, which he helped to marshal along a low -ridge, the Revelon Ridge. The Northumberland -Hussars lined up on the right of these troops and two -brigades of cavalry coming up from the south formed -on the left of them at a later hour. The whole held -firm against all enemy attacks and made a bulwark -until the time when the Guards advanced in the -afternoon. As will afterwards be described, when that -event occurred this Revelon line formed roughly a -prolongation of the new line established by the Guards -and Cavalry, so that a long dam was formed. -Commanding officers in this critical part of the field -gave a sigh of relief in the early afternoon as they -realised that the worst was over. -</p> - -<p> -The Twentieth Light Division was on the left of -the Twelfth, and its experience was equally trying. -It was upon the Riflemen of the 59th Brigade that the -main shock fell, and it came with such sudden violence -that the Germans were through the right unit and in -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P277"></a>277}</span> -the rear of the rest before the situation was fully -realised. The 61st Brigade upon the left had also -a most desperate time, their flank being penetrated -and turned so that for a time they were cut off from -their comrades of the Twenty-ninth Division at -Mesnières. By this determined German attack the -south bank of the canal was partially cleared for their -advance, which put them in the position that they -could possibly push along that bank and get hold of -Les Rues Vertes and the southern ends of the bridges -so as to cut off those British troops who were across -the canal. In this dangerous movement they nearly -had success, and it was only the desperate fighting of -some of the 86th Brigade which saved the situation. -The prospects were even worse upon the right of the -Division for the Germans broke through Lateau Wood, -and so got completely behind the 10th K.R.R., who -were the flank battalion. From the desperate struggle -which ensued only 4 officers and 16 Riflemen ever -emerged, for the battalion was attacked on three sides -and was overwhelmed after a long and splendid -defence, which twice repulsed heavy frontal attacks -before the flank advance rolled up the line. The -battalion got separated from its own headquarters in -Lateau Wood, and Colonel Sheepshanks with the -twenty odd men who composed the Staff fought a -little battle of its own against the stormers coming -down towards the Bonavis-Mesnières Road. The -survivors of the brigade rallied upon the reserve -battalion, the 11th R.B. on the Hindenburg Line. -The 11th K.R.R. on the left of the brigade front had -endured a similar experience but their losses were not -so terribly severe. The aeroplane attack worried the -troops almost as much as the infantry, so that it is no -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P278"></a>278}</span> -exaggeration to say that there were times when they -were assailed from four sides, the front, each flank -and above at the same instant. These aeroplanes -gave the impression of being armour-clad and -invulnerable to rifle-fire. -</p> - -<p> -Upon the left of the Twentieth Division, with its -centre at the village of Mesnières, was the Twenty-ninth -Division, a good unit to have in the heart of -such a crisis. The Twenty-ninth and Sixth Divisions -held the centre of the British line that day, and -were the solid nucleus upon which the whole battle -hinged both to left and right of them. Both divisions -were seriously compromised by the push-back to the -south of them, and their battery positions were taken -in reverse, but they held the whole of their ground -without giving an inch and completely beat off every -German attack. A Guernsey battalion made its -mark in the fighting that day and rendered most -excellent service, as did the Newfoundlanders; but -the main strength of the divisions lay of course in -their disciplined British veterans, men whose -war-hardened faces, whether in Gallipoli or Flanders, had -never been turned from an enemy. It is no light -matter to drive such a force, and the four German -divisions who drove in from Mesnières to Bauteaux -were unable to make even a dint in that formidable -line. For two days the villages, both Marcoing and -Mesnières, were firmly held, and when at last a -readjustment of the line was ordered it was carried -out voluntarily and deliberately in accordance with -the new plans made necessary by the events in north -and south. -</p> - -<p> -In this great fight the 86th Brigade was on the -right at Mesnières with the 16th Middlesex upon the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P279"></a>279}</span> -right, the 1st Lancashire Fusiliers upon the left, and -the 2nd Royal Fusiliers by the sugar factory east of -the village—details which have been rescued by the -industry of Mr. Percival Phillips. The 87th Brigade -extended to the left, covering a wide front as far as -the Cambrai Road. The 1st Inniskillings were on -their right, the 1st Borders on their left, and the -2nd South Wales Borderers in support. The 88th -Brigade was in reserve at the time of the attack, but -quickly moved up and was in the heart of the -subsequent fighting. -</p> - -<p> -Masses of German infantry were reported at -Crevecoeur, and within a very short time a rush of -grey infantry was swirling down past the flank of the -Middlesex men, and breaking the connection with -the Twentieth Division on the right. Some of the -assailants got along the south bank, and actually -seized Les Rues Vertes at the same moment that a -counter-attack by the Guernsey men swept into the -village and drove them out again. This was a really -vital point, as the capture and retention of the -village would have been most serious. Many soldierly -actions were performed in this clash of arms, showing -that the mechanical side of modern warfare can never -quite eliminate the brave pushing heart and the -strong arm. Captain Gee of the Staff, among others, -rescued an ammunition dump armed with a revolver -and a heavy stick, with which he beat down all -opposition at the cost of a serious wound to -himself—a fair price to pay for a subsequent V.C. The -Germans were foiled for the moment, but they had -found the weak spot in the line, and all day they -hammered at it with characteristic tenacity, while -all day the men of the Twenty-ninth stood up to one -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P280"></a>280}</span> -attack after another, their dwindling line fraying to -the last degree, but never breaking before the enemy. -Les Rues Vertes became a Golgotha of Germans, but -it was still in the evening safe in the hands of the -British defenders. One of the classical examples of -British courage and discipline during the war, fit to -rank with Colonel Pears and his cancer at Ovillers, -was furnished by Colonel Forbes Robertson of the -16th Middlesex, now a V.C., who, stricken in both -eyes and temporarily blind, was still led by his orderly -up and down the line in order to steady it. Let such -a story help our descendants to realise the kind of -men who stood between Germany and the conquest -of the world. -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P281"></a>281}</span> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-281"></a> -<br /> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-281.jpg" alt="BATTLE ORDER OF THIRD ARMY November 30, 1917" /> -<br /> -BATTLE ORDER OF THIRD ARMY November 30, 1917 -</p> - -<hr /> - -<p> -Next morning saw no surcease of the fighting in -this quarter of the field. If anything, the ranks of -the assailants were thicker and their rushes more -insistent upon the morning of the 21st. But the -Twenty-ninth had called up its reserves, and stood -with every bristle on end across the German path. -The trouble behind the line had greatly weakened -the artillery support, but the trench-mortars gave all -the help possible to the hard-worked infantry. The -villages were knocked to pieces by the enemy guns, -but the British stuck like leeches to the ruins. The -General of the 86th Brigade was among his men in -the front of the battle, encouraging them to dwell -upon their aim and steadying their weary ranks. The -87th Brigade in the north, though itself attacked, -spared some reinforcements for the hard-pressed men -in the south. Once Les Rues Vertes was lost, but -a counter-attack led by the Brigade-Major won it -back again. This was still the position when on the -night of December 1 the orders were given for the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P282"></a>282}</span> -general readjustment of the line by the evacuation -of the Mesnières salient. Well might Sir Douglas -Haig send a special order to General de Lisle thanking -him for the magnificent services rendered during two -days and a night by the Twenty-ninth Division. -</p> - -<p> -It has been stated that the Mesnières salient was -evacuated, but two battalions of the Twenty-ninth -Division, the Newfoundlanders and the South Wales -Borderers, had been left upon the north bank of the -canal—with them was the 16th Brigade of the Sixth -Division who had been sent up to aid and relieve the -Twenty-ninth. These troops had a cruel experience, -as the enemy upon December 3 concentrated so heavy -a fire upon them that they were driven back across -the canal, the 16th Brigade being partly broken by -the severity of the attack. This incident led to a -retraction of the line in this quarter. -</p> - -<p> -For the sake of continuity of narrative we shall -now, before turning to the very important episodes -in the north, show how the Guards came up in the -south and how the new line was firmly established -in this critical quarter of the field. The reader will -therefore carry back his mind to that fateful hour -when the left of the Fifty-fifth had been swept away, -the Twelfth and Twentieth shattered, and the Twenty-ninth -was holding on with all its strength in the first -spate of the German flood. -</p> - -<p> -The Guards, who had been drawn out after their -hard spell of service in the Bourlon attack, were moving -into a rest camp behind the lines when they were -stopped by the amazing tidings that the British line -was broken and that the Germans were scattered -anywhere over the undulating country in front of -them. It was 11.15 and they were marching from -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P283"></a>283}</span> -the hamlet of Metz when the first news of disaster -reached them—news which was very quickly followed -by signs as gunners were met coming back with the -sights and sometimes the broken breech-blocks of -their abandoned guns in their hands. Over the ridge -between Metz and the Gouzeaucourt Wood a number -of gunners, sappers, and infantry came in driblets, -none of them hurrying, but all with a bewildered air -as though uncertain what to do. To these worried -and broken people the sight of the taut lines of the -Guards must indeed have been a great stay in their -trouble. "There were a good many men," says one -officer, "coming towards us without arms or -equipment, but these I presumed to belong to some unit -resting in the vicinity." It is only fair to state that -several labour companies had been caught in the -sudden storm and that many of the broken formations -seem to have been from their ranks, though others -behaved with extraordinary valour, and exchanged -their spades for rifles with the greatest alacrity. The -Guards moved forward in the direction of the turmoil, -but their progress was slow, as there were gun-teams -upon the narrow road. The 1st Brigade under -General de Crespigny was leading, being the unit which -had suffered least in the Bourlon fighting. The young -Brigadier, a famous sportsman as well as a dashing -but cool-headed soldier, galloped ahead in an effort -to clear up the situation, and after doing a mile or so -across country he suddenly saw the grey coats of -German infantry among the trees around him. Riding -back he halted his brigade in a hollow by Gouzeaucourt -Wood, fixed bayonets, and then, deploying -them into the line, advanced them in extended order -across the fields. There was no artillery support at -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P284"></a>284}</span> -all, but from the front there came an occasional shell, -with the constant cracking of machine-guns, which -increased as they topped the low ridge before them. -"We advanced into the blue in perfect lines," says -one who was present. Once under fire the brigade -went forward in short rushes of alternate companies. -"Our fellows were not shouting," says the same -witness, "but chatting among themselves, and smiling -in a manner that boded ill for the Huns." The -2nd Coldstreams were on the right, the 2nd in the -centre, and the 1st Irish upon the left, with the 2nd -Grenadiers in close support. As de Crespigny's -brigade came upon the fringes of the German advance -they swept them up before them, keeping the -Metz-Gouzeaucourt Road as their right boundary, while a -force of dismounted cavalry moved up upon the -farther side. The Irish upon the left passed through -the wood and broke with a yell about 2 P.M. into -Gouzeaucourt village, which was not strongly held. -The Germans bolted from the eastern exits and the -Guardsmen passing through made a line beyond, -getting in touch upon the left with the 4th Grenadier -Guards of the 3rd Brigade, which formed up and -advanced upon that side. They were aided in this -advance by a small detached body representing the -Headquarters' Guard of the Twenty-ninth Division -and by a company of North Midland R.E. who held -their post inviolate all day, and were now very glad -to join in an offensive. As the line advanced beyond -the village they came into a very heavy fire, for the -St. Quentin Ridge faced them, and it bristled with -machine-guns. Field-guns and 5.9's were also playing -upon them, but nothing could check that fine advance, -which was in time to save a number of heavy guns -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P285"></a>285}</span> -which could by no possibility be removed. It was itself -aided in the later stages by the 20th Hussars upon -the right and by a brigade of guns of the Forty-seventh -London Division which swung into action straight -from the line of march and did good service in -supporting the attack. By nightfall the total ground -gained was over two miles in depth, and a definite -line of Guardsmen and cavalry of the Second and -Fifth Divisions covered all this section of the field, -limiting and defining the German advance. General -Byng must surely have breathed more freely when -the good news reached his Headquarters for, but for -this energetic operation, there was nothing to prevent -the Germans flooding into the country behind and -getting to the rear of the whole northern portion of -the Third Army. -</p> - -<p> -The real work of the Guards had been done when -once they had dammed the stream, and their strength -after their recent labours was hardly sufficient to -carry them through a long battle, but in spite of this -they were advancing once more upon the morning of -December 1. The same two brigades were in front, -but the 2nd Grenadiers and 3rd Coldstreams formed -the fighting line of the 1st Brigade, joining up on the -left with the Welsh Guards of the 3rd Brigade. -Cavalry was moving on the right of them, while on -the left they were in touch with the Rifle battalions -of the 60th Brigade covering the village of La -Vacquerie. The two brigades had different objectives, -the left brigade being directed upon Gonnelieu, -while the right moved upon Ganche Wood, the -divisional tanks supporting the advance. The first -brigade advanced with the battalions already named, -and they swept in magnificent order up to the -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P286"></a>286}</span> -fringe of the wood where they were met by two -successive counter-attacks which they repelled. The -wood was cleared but there were many snipers -in the trees, and the losses of officers and N.C.O.'s -were proportionately high. The tanks were held up -by the denseness of the forest. Cavalry came up -upon the right, and with their assistance the wood -was finally secured, together with some guns and -several hundred prisoners. It was a fine feat of -arms. -</p> - -<p> -The 2nd Brigade had a difficult task at Gonnelieu -and the Quentin Ridge. The 1st Welsh on the right -and the 4th Grenadiers on the left headed the advance, -but they were held up at once by machine-guns on the -right until a tank lumbered up and saved the situation. -Isolated parties of the 2nd Grenadiers forced their -way into the village, but it bristled with machine-guns -and could not be held. Finally the line was formed -200 yards from the western edge. -</p> - -<p> -That night the Guards were drawn out after their -onerous and splendid service, being relieved by the -Ninth Division. In the week they had lost 125 -officers and 3000 men, but they had turned the tide -of battle upon the critical instant of a critical day, -when, amid commencing disorganisation, the presence -of the most highly disciplined and steadiest force -in the British Army was particularly needed. Few -of our units can be fairly said to have added to their -laurels in this sector of the second phase of Cambrai, -but at least the Twenty-ninth Division and the -Guards can look back to it with every satisfaction. -</p> - -<p> -At La Vacquerie village and its environs, to the -left of the Guards' advance, some very fierce fighting -had broken out upon the morning of December 1. -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P287"></a>287}</span> -The enemy began by endeavouring to out-flank the -village upon the right, pressing down from Gonnelieu -and attacking the sunken road known as Forster Lane -which is north of Gonnelieu. A company of the 9th -Essex, somewhat shaken by its previous experience, -and the 12th Rifles held this position. The Colonel -and the Headquarters Staff of the Rifle battalion -found itself engaged in a very lively free fight with -the heavy masses of enemy infantry who were pouring -down Fusilier Ridge. By trickling forward small -parties they managed to capture Forster Lane, but -all their attempts to get beyond it were beaten back. -Captain Lloyd of the Rifles, who was prominent in -the defence, fell mortally wounded, but the line, -though heavily shelled and hard pressed, still held its -ground. All this occurred to the south of the village -which had itself been heavily attacked after a very -heavy shell-fall. The German bombers, who came -on very bravely, drove their way into the village -but were ejected once more, the Riflemen leaving -their trenches to pelt them with bombs. A second -attack was even more fiercely pressed. "The -Germans who attacked La Vacquerie," says one who -was present, "were brave and determined men and -their bombers were well trained, but our men had -been told to hold the village at all costs, and -gallantly led by their officers and N.C. officers -they carried out their orders." In the evening the -Riflemen still held the shattered ruins of the village, -but they were utterly exhausted by their splendid -exertions, and never was a relief more welcome than -when the 183rd Brigade of the Sixty-first South -Midland Division came up after nightfall and took -over the hazardous charge. In the final readjustment -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P288"></a>288}</span> -of the British line the village of La Vacquerie -remained with the Germans. -</p> - -<p> -The enemy had suffered heavily, and as will be -shown gained absolutely nothing in the north, but -in the south it must be admitted that he had -substantial trophies, including a strip of British line, -some thousands of prisoners, and about 100 guns. -</p> - -<p> -It was the first truly successful offensive on a -large scale which he had made since the gas attack -upon April 22, 1915, nearly two and a half years -before, and it would be a sign of a poor spirit if we -did not admit it, and applaud the deftness and courage -of the attack. -</p> - -<p> -After several days of quiet the Germans tried one -other taste of the quality of the Guards by a sudden -assault upon their new line on December 5. They -advanced bravely in two lines from Gonnelieu, but -were beaten off by close rifle-fire. As they turned -their flight was greeted with a volley of bombs from -their own people behind them. It was observed that -the stormers upon this occasion carried their packs -as though they meant to stay. A good many of them -did so. Next day the Guards were relieved by the -Ninth Division. -</p> - -<p> -We shall now turn to Woolcombe's Fourth Corps -in the northern sector which extends from Tadpole -Copse upon the left to that solid centre of resistance -furnished by the two veteran divisions at Marcoing -and at Mesnières. It was upon the left of this curve -that the German attack broke upon November 30 -from the Hindenburg Line to the village of Fontaine, -a front of about six miles, the object being to cut off -the whole Bourlon salient. The attack, which began -about nine o'clock, differed from that on the south, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P289"></a>289}</span> -because the element of surprise was wanting and -because the ground was such that the attacking -troops could be plainly seen. The final result was -to push back the British line, but this was mainly as -a readjustment to correspond to the change in the -south. To effect this small result all accounts are -agreed in stating that the Germans incurred such -murderous losses that it is improbable that any have -been more severe since the early days of the war. -If, on the balance, the British lost the day in the -south, they gained it in the north, for with limited -loss to themselves they inflicted most severe -punishment upon the enemy. -</p> - -<p> -The arrangement of the troops upon the northern -curve of the battle line was as follows. Forming a -defensive flank between the old British line and -Tadpole Copse was the 168th Brigade, and to its right, -facing Mœuvres, the 169th Brigade, both of them of -the Fifty-sixth London Territorial Division, which -had been a week in the fighting line and was very worn. -Next to them upon the right was the Second Regular -Division under General Pereira, from Mœuvres to -Bourlon, with elements of the 5th, 6th, and 99th -Brigades in front. Upon their right was the -Forty-seventh London Territorial Division occupying the -line drawn through Bourlon Wood. Upon their -right again was the Fifty-ninth South Midland -Territorials near Fontaine, who in turn linked up -with the left of the Sixth Division, thus completing -the semicircle of battle. -</p> - -<p> -After a short but very severe bombardment the -German infantry advanced upon the line from Tadpole -Copse to Bourlon Wood, a front of about four miles. -There were four fresh German divisions, with three -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P290"></a>290}</span> -others in reserve, and the attack was driven on with -the utmost resolution, falling upon the outlying -British outposts with a force which often destroyed -them, although the furious resistance of these scattered -bodies of men took all the edge off the onslaught. It -was also beaten into the earth by the British artillery, -which had wonderfully fine targets as the stormers in -successive lines came pouring over the open ground -between Mœuvres and Bourlon. The artillery of the -Fortieth Division had been left in the line, and a gunner -officer of this unit described how his guns swung round -and enfiladed the German attack upon the right as it -stormed up to the line of the Forty-seventh Division. -"It was one howitzer battery, D 178, that first -tumbled to the fact that the Booties were attacking -and had driven in some of the Second Division posts. -This battery swung its guns round at right angles, -getting on to the advancing enemy in enfilade and over -open sights. Every other battery in the country -opened within five minutes." Every observer agrees -that the targets were wonderful, and that it was only -in places where the ground gave him protection that -the German storm troops could reach the expectant -British infantry, who received him with such a -murderous fire of rifles and Lewis-guns that his dead -were heaped thickly along the whole front. Seven -brigades of British artillery were enjoying themselves. -Taking the action from the left the outposts of the -169th Brigade were driven in, but put up a series of -desperate fights. From Mœuvres to Tadpole Copse -the action raged, and then the enemy poured out from -the back of that portion of the Hindenburg Line which -ran upon the flank of the 168th Brigade so that both -units were involved in heavy fighting with a limited -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P291"></a>291}</span> -field of fire which gave fewer advantages to the defence -than were found on the rest of the line. The -Westminsters, the London Scottish, the Post Office Rifles, -and the 2nd Londons all bore themselves with special -bravery in a long day of desperate fighting during -which Commanding Officers were in at least one -instance compelled to stand, bomb in hand, defending -their own headquarters. It was a grim battle, and -the losses were heavy, coming upon troops which -had already lost enough to shake the morale of any -ordinary infantry, but the thin ranks held firm and the -positions were retained. At one time the Germans -were round the right flank of the 169th Brigade, and -so cut off a company of the 13th Essex. There is a -wonderfully dour military spirit amongst these East -Saxons. It was an anxious situation, and it was -saved by the utter self-abnegation of the company in -question, who held a hurried council of war in which -they swore to fight to the death. This grim gathering, -which might furnish a theme for a great artist, -consisted of Captain Robinson, Lieut. Corps, -Sergeant-Major Edwards, Platoon-Sergeants Phillips, Parsons, -Fairbrass, Lodge, and Legg. With a hand-clasp they -returned to their work, and during the whole night -their rifle-fire could be heard, though no help could -reach them. In the morning they lay with their -faces to the sky and their men around them, all true -to their vow to death. It is a story to remember. -</p> - -<p> -The left flank of the Second Division was held by -this same 13th Essex, the 2nd South Stafford, and -17th Middlesex battalions of the 6th Brigade. This -brigade was cut into two parts by the Canal du Nord, -a huge trough of brick-work without any water, -eighty feet across, with steep sloping sides. The -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P292"></a>292}</span> -bridges across were swept by German fire, and the only -transit was by ropes to help the climber. All day the -fight raged furiously here, the Germans within bombing -distance of the defence, which was never penetrated -for an instant. Save for one small isolated trench -with about seventy men this whole line held firm -against every form of attack. Snipers and bombers -fired across from bank to bank, while down in the -dried bed of the canal there was constant close-range -fighting. All night the difficult post was held, as was -the line on the extreme left where the 17th Middlesex -were blowing back every attack with their -well-sustained fire. There was no more wonderful -individual record in the battle than that of Captain -MacReady-Diarmid of the 17th Middlesex, who fought -like a d'Artagnan of romance, and is said to have -killed some eighty of the enemy in two days of fighting -before he at last himself met that fate from which -he had never shrunk. A V.C. was assigned to his -family. -</p> - -<p> -On the right of the 6th Brigade was the 99th -Brigade, the victors of Delville Wood, who were also -furiously engaged, meeting such waves of German -infantry as were able to get past the zone of the -British barrage. German field-guns unlimbered -suddenly on the crest looking down on the British lines -only a few hundred yards off. The crews were shot -down so swiftly that only one gun got in three -rounds. Then there came a rush of two battalions in -full marching order, debouching in fours from Bourlon -village, and deploying in the open. These also were -shot to bits. The whole front of the brigade was -dotted with broken guns and huddled grey figures, -while many, despairing of getting back, threw up their -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P293"></a>293}</span> -hands and sought refuge in the British lines. Battalion -after battalion was thrown in at this point, until the -best part of a division was spread bleeding over some -twenty acres of ground. The three battalions chiefly -engaged, the 1st Berkshires, 17th Royal Fusiliers, and -1st Rifles from right to left, had such a day as trench -warfare could never afford. -</p> - -<p> -At the outset the force of the attack pressed back -the 1st Berkshires upon the right, together with the -left wing of the Forty-seventh Division. For a few -moments the situation was alarming. However, after -three hours of ding-dong fighting the volume of fire -was too much for the stormers and they fell back. -At the same time the 17th Royal Fusiliers, who had -rallied under cover of their outposts, shot down -everything in front of them. The 1st K.R. Rifles had -a day of wonderful fighting—snipers, rifle grenadiers, -Lewis gunners, and machine-gunners were all -equally glutted with slaughter. "The Germans in -mass formation came on in waves offering a splendid -target at a range from 1500 to point-blank. In -addition they were enfiladed by the machine-gunners -and subjected to very heavy fire from our guns -for two and a half hours. The second attempt -never looked like succeeding and was smothered -in a very short time." -</p> - -<p> -The 17th Royal Fusiliers have been mentioned as -being in the line at this point though they really -belonged to the 5th Brigade. The fact was that in a -previous operation they had won a long trench advancing -at right angles to the British position and leading -up to the Germans. This was called the "Rat's Tail" -on account of its shape, and it was still occupied -by the Royals when the attack broke out, so that they -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P294"></a>294}</span> -were placed in a most difficult position and were -pressed back down this long trench, fighting a desperate -rearguard as will be told later. Their presence in the -"Rat's Tail" was the more unfortunate as it helped -to screen the Germans, and to contract the fire-field -of the main line behind them. After clearing the -"Rat's Tail" the remains of the battalion found -themselves upon the right of the 1st K.R.R. -</p> - -<p> -The remaining brigade of the division, the 5th, had -some of its men also in the front line and as busy as -its comrades. It is stated in the account already -quoted that even the wounded men of the 2nd H.L.I. were -propped up, so that they might continue to fire -upon the Germans. It was a brigade which had -suffered many an evil quarter of an hour in the past, -and it is no wonder that the men took a fierce joy in -such a fight when at last they could meet their hated -enemy face to face. Side by side with the Highlanders -were those veterans of 1914, the 2nd Oxford and Bucks, -the battalion that broke the Prussian Guard. They -also had many an arrear to wipe off, nor were their -less experienced comrades of the Royal Fusiliers less -intent upon the work in hand. It was a costly -experience for the War-lord and his legions. -</p> - -<p> -In the evening, save for the one loss at the Canal -lock which has been already recorded, the whole 3500-yard -front of the Second Division stood inviolate, and -was clearly defined when the British force withdrew -by the thick pile of German dead which marked it. -Indeed it is claimed that at the end of the day the -posts which were thrown forward by the defenders -were more advanced than before the attack had -broken. Those posts which had been overwhelmed -in the morning were found to have perished most -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P295"></a>295}</span> -gloriously, for in almost every case the British dead -were ringed round with the bodies of their assailants. -Among the many epics of these isolated posts none -is more glorious than that of a platoon of the 17th -Fusiliers under the two Company Officers, Captain -Stone and Lieut. Benzeery, both mentioned in -despatches, who fought absolutely to the last man in -order to give time for the main body behind them to -get ready for the assault. The official report of the -officer commanding says: "The rearguard was seen -fighting with bayonet, bullet, and bomb to the last. -There was no survivor." The annals of war can give -few finer examples of military virtue. -</p> - -<p> -Another splendid epic had been furnished by the -posts of the 1st Berkshire battalion upon the right of -the Second Division. They were all drawn from one -Company under the command of Lieut. Valentin, also -mentioned for his gallantry. The Germans surged in -upon them in the afternoon, and there was a most -grim and terrible fight. Three of the posts were -destroyed, but when the ground was regained it was -difficult to find the British bodies on account of the -piles of German dead which were heaped round and -over them. Six other posts remained intact after six -hours of close fighting, in which they were continually -attacked by superior numbers who fell in heaps before -the steady fire of these experienced soldiers. Rapid -fire had been brought to perfection by the training -system of the Second Division, and General Pereira was -justified of his wisdom. The six weary posts which -remained intact after the storm had passed are said -to have killed not less than five hundred of their -assailants. -</p> - -<p> -Gorringe's Forty-seventh London Territorial -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P296"></a>296}</span> -Division upon the right had endured a similar -experience to that of their comrades of the Second -Division, and Kennedy's 140th Brigade upon the left -had been particularly strongly engaged. The 6th -London Rifles and the 10th Civil Service Rifles held -post of honour, and the conditions were much the -same as those already described, save that the field of -fire was more restricted. In the afternoon attack, a -gap was formed between these two battalions, but was -quickly closed by one of those heterogeneous musters -of signallers, orderlies, and general utility men who -have so often done good and unobtrusive service—silent -supers who suddenly spring into the limelight, -play the part of the hero, and then fade away to the -wings once more. This attack of the afternoon fell -with great force upon the right unit of the division, -the 141st Brigade who lay in their gas-masks half -poisoned with mephitic vapours among the brushwood -of Bourlon Forest. These fine troops, the -London Irish, Poplar, St. Pancras, and Blackheath -battalions, endured all that gun or gas could do, and -held their whole line intact until the evening. -</p> - -<p> -In the early morning Woolcombe's Fourth Corps, -exhausted in body but triumphant in the knowledge -of the terrible losses which they had inflicted upon the -enemy, withdrew unmolested and in absolute order -to the smaller perimeter which had been marked out -for them by General Byng when he had time to -realise the exact effect of the German gains upon the -south end of his line. Everything portable was -carried off by the retiring troops, who made it a point -of honour to leave nothing at all to the enemy. Three -days later, in conformity with the general plans, the -lines were laid down afresh along the Flesquières -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P297"></a>297}</span> -Ridge, so that the whole salient was smoothed out, and -yet Byng's troops held all the solid advantages gained -upon November 20 in the shape of a long stretch of -the Hindenburg Line. This continued to be the -permanent position of the Third Army during the -winter, and up to the fateful 21st of March 1918, -when the great German thunderbolt was hurled. -In the movements entailed by this withdrawal there -was no molestation from the enemy save that the -rearguards of the Forty-seventh Division were strongly -engaged. Two companies of the 15th Civil Service -Rifles were for a time cut off, but broke their way -through all resistance and rejoined the main body. -</p> - -<p> -On the north of that new portion of the line which -had been established by the Guards and taken over -by the Ninth Division there was a long ridge called -Welsh Ridge, running up from La Vacquerie Farm. -The enemy was still strong in this quarter where the -British artillery was particularly weak—a defect -which was partly compensated for by the loyalty of -the neighbouring French Commander. The Sixty-first -South Midland Territorial Division had taken -over from the Twelfth in this area and found -themselves involved in several days of hard fighting, -in the course of which La Vacquerie Farm was -lost to the Badeners, but the general line of the ridge -was maintained, consolidated, and turned into the -permanent front of the Army. -</p> - -<p> -So ended the swaying fortunes of this hard-fought -and dramatic battle, beginning with a surprise attack -of the British upon the Germans, and ending by an -attack of the Germans upon the British which, if not a -surprise to the commanders, at least produced some -surprising and untoward results. The balance of these -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P298"></a>298}</span> -varied actions was greatly in favour of the British, and -yet it could not be denied that something of the glory -and satisfaction of Byng's splendid original victory -were dimmed by this unsatisfactory epilogue which -was only made less disastrous to the British cause by -the very heavy losses which their enemy incurred upon -the northern sector. On the balance in ground gained -the British had a solid grip of 11,000 yards of the -famous Hindenburg Line, as against an unimportant -British section between Vendhuille and Gonnelieu. -In prisoners the British had 11,000 as against 6000 -claimed by the Germans. In guns the British took or -destroyed 145 against 100 taken or destroyed by their -enemies. In the larger field of strategy the whole -episode was fruitful as it stopped all reinforcement of -the Germans in Italy during the critical weeks while -the Italians were settling down upon the line of the -Piave. One result of the action was a reorganisation -of the British machine-gun system which was found -to have acted in an unequal fashion during the operations, -some formations giving excellent results while -others were less satisfactory. -</p> - -<p> -The Battle of Cambrai virtually brought the fighting -of 1917 to an end, although there were several -sharp local actions at different points along the -line—actions which would have filled special editions in -former wars, and now can hardly be afforded a -paragraph if any just proportion be observed. Chief -among them was a spirited German attack upon the -Sixty-third Naval Division upon December 29 in the -sector of the Canal du Nord, which began by the loss -of some trench elements, but ended with little change. -There was a sharp fight also early in December at that -blood-stained country-house, Polderhoek Château, -<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P299"></a>299}</span> -where the New Zealanders attacking upon a narrow -front made an attempt upon one of the most difficult -points in the Flanders line. The men of Otago and of -Canterbury proved once more what extraordinarily -good military material is bred in the great Pacific -island, but after a sharp tussle in which both sides -lost heavily, there was no substantial change in the -position. -</p> - -<p> -Another local fight which was sufficiently serious -to demand mention here was upon December 2, when -the 26th Brigade of the Eighth Division with part -of the Thirty-second Division stirred up the German -line in the Flanders area. After two days of fighting -matters remained here much as they started. -</p> - -<p> -The year 1917 had been a very glorious one both -to the French and to the British Armies, which, -pursuing their system of the limited objective, had -hardly met with a single repulse in a long campaign. -The victories of Arras, Messines, Langemarck, -Paschendaale, and Cambrai were added to the great -record of Sir Douglas Haig and his men, while the -French, save for the losses incurred in their great April -attack, had an unbroken record of success. And -yet in spite of these results in the West the year -was a disappointing one for the Allies, since the -Russian defection which involved Rumania in ruin, -greatly weakened their position and clearly showed -that the year 1918 would find them confronted with -the whole force of Germany aided by contingents of -her Allies. Storm clouds piled high in the East. -Only from over the far Western rim of the Atlantic -came a slowly waxing light. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p><a id="chap12"></a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P301"></a>301}</span></p> - -<h3> -INDEX -</h3> - -<p class="index"> -Abadie, Colonel, <a href="#P124">124</a>, <a href="#P126">126</a>, <a href="#P127">127</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Aisne, French attack upon the, <a href="#P64">64</a>; -victory, <a href="#P234">234</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Alderman, Major, <a href="#P251">251</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Allenby, General Sir Edmund, <a href="#P2">2</a>, <a href="#P16">16</a>, -<a href="#P20">20</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -America breaks off diplomatic -relations with Germany, <a href="#P18">18</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Ancre, British advance on the, <a href="#P5">5-8</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Antoine, General, <a href="#P134">134</a>, <a href="#P156">156</a>, <a href="#P179">179</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Archibald, Lieutenant, <a href="#P67">67</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Arras, <a href="#P9">9</a>, <a href="#P10">10</a>, <a href="#P11">11</a>, <a href="#P22">22</a>, <a href="#P30">30</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Arras, battle of: preparations -preceding the battle, <a href="#P20">20-24</a>; -attack of the Seventh Corps, -<a href="#P25">25-30</a>; capture of Neuville -Vitasse, <a href="#P27">27</a>; and of the Ibex -Trench, <a href="#P28">28</a>; general advance -of the Sixth Corps, <a href="#P30">30-36</a>; -attack of the Seventeenth Corps, -<a href="#P36">36-41</a>; Canadian success at -Vimy Ridge, <a href="#P41">41-43</a>; review of -first day's fighting, <a href="#P43">43-44</a>; -capture of Monchy, <a href="#P46">46-48</a>; -practical results of battle, <a href="#P56">56</a>; -work of the airmen, <a href="#P57">57</a>; fight -of the Australians at Bullecourt -and Lagnicourt, <a href="#P58">58-61</a>; -object of battle attained, <a href="#P62">62</a>; -stand by the Middlesex and -Argylls, <a href="#P66">66-67</a>; Fifteenth -Division capture Guémappe, <a href="#P68">68-69</a>; -storming of Gavrelle, <a href="#P69">69-70</a>; -H.A.C. at Gavrelle, <a href="#P74">74-76</a>; -loss of Fresnoy, <a href="#P83">83-84</a>; capture -of Rœux, <a href="#P84">84-85</a>; capture of -Bullecourt, <a href="#P90">90-92</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Arras-Soissons front, German -retreat on, <a href="#P8">8-16</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Avion, <a href="#P117">117</a>, <a href="#P121">121</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Babington, General Sir J., <a href="#P108">108</a>, <a href="#P188">188</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Bagdad, British enter, <a href="#P17">17</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Baillescourt Farm, action at, <a href="#P6">6</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Bainbridge, General Sir E., <a href="#P99">99</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Ball, Captain Albert, <a href="#P57">57</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Bapaume occupied, <a href="#P10">10</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Basset, M. Serge, <a href="#P117">117</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Battye, Colonel, <a href="#P263">263</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Bavaria, Prince Rupprecht of, <a href="#P98">98</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Bean, Mr., Australian chronicler, -quoted, <a href="#P91">91</a>, <a href="#P175">175</a>, <a href="#P220">220</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Beaumont Hamel, <a href="#P3">3</a>, <a href="#P5">5</a>, <a href="#P37">37</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Bellewarde Ridge, <a href="#P151">151</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Belsham, Captain, <a href="#P67">67</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Benzeery, Lieutenant, <a href="#P295">295</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Berners, Brigadier-General, <a href="#P85">85</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Bird wood, General Sir William, <a href="#P4">4</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Bixschoote, <a href="#P137">137</a>, <a href="#P156">156</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Bols, General Sir L., <a href="#P109">109</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Bourlon, <a href="#P238">238</a>, <a href="#P257">257</a>, <a href="#P258">258</a>, <a href="#P261">261</a>, <a href="#P262">262</a>, -<a href="#P263">263</a>, <a href="#P264">264</a>, <a href="#P265">265</a>, <a href="#P269">269</a>, <a href="#P282">282</a>, <a href="#P283">283</a>, -<a href="#P289">289</a>, <a href="#P290">290</a>, <a href="#P292">292</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Bourlon Wood, <a href="#P251">251</a>, <a href="#P254">254</a>, <a href="#P255">255</a>, <a href="#P256">256</a>, -<a href="#P257">257</a>, <a href="#P258">258</a>, <a href="#P259">259</a>, <a href="#P260">260</a>, <a href="#P264">264</a>, <a href="#P267">267</a>, -<a href="#P289">289</a>, <a href="#P296">296</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Bowell, Lieutenant, D.S.O., <a href="#P119">119</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Bradford, General, <a href="#P267">267</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Braithwaite, General, <a href="#P243">243</a>, <a href="#P245">245</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -British extend their front in France, <a href="#P1">1</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -British Armies, general disposition -of, in beginning of 1917, <a href="#P2">2</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Broodseinde, <a href="#P195">195</a>, <a href="#P206">206</a>, <a href="#P211">211</a>, <a href="#P212">212</a>, <a href="#P222">222</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Brown, Brigadier-General, <a href="#P99">99</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Brusiloff, General, <a href="#P132">132</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Bullecourt, <a href="#P11">11</a>, <a href="#P58">58</a>, <a href="#P87">87</a>, <a href="#P90">90-92</a>, <a href="#P237">237</a>, -<a href="#P239">239</a>, <a href="#P252">252</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Burstall, General, <a href="#P41">41</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Byng, General Sir Julian, <a href="#P21">21</a>, <a href="#P115">115</a>, -<a href="#P238">238</a>, <a href="#P255">255</a>, <a href="#P285">285</a>, <a href="#P296">296</a>, <a href="#P297">297</a>, <a href="#P298">298</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Cambrai, <a href="#P192">192</a>, <a href="#P237">237</a>, <a href="#P238">238</a>, <a href="#P247">247</a>, <a href="#P248">248</a>, -<a href="#P251">251</a>, <a href="#P253">253</a>, <a href="#P255">255</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Cambrai, battle of: Tanks <i>en -masse</i>, <a href="#P238">238</a>, <a href="#P242">242</a>; attack on -Tunnel Trench, <a href="#P239">239-242</a>; great -advance, <a href="#P242">242-243</a>; work of -Sixty-second Division, <a href="#P243">243-244</a>; -advance of Fifty-first Division, -<a href="#P245">245-246</a>; Fort Garry Horse, -<a href="#P246">246</a>; attack of the Twenty-ninth -Division on Marcoing -and Mesnières, <a href="#P247">247-249</a>; -advance of Twentieth and Twelfth -Divisions, <a href="#P249">249-251</a>; German -rally, <a href="#P253">253-256</a>; attack on and -capture of Bourlon Wood, -<a href="#P257">257-260</a>; fight for Bourlon village, -<a href="#P261">261-264:</a> attack on La Fontaine, -<a href="#P265">265-267</a>; great German -attack, <a href="#P269">269</a>; the Fifty-fifth, -Twelfth, and Twentieth Divisions, -<a href="#P270">270-275</a>, <a href="#P276">276-278</a>; great -fight of the Twenty-ninth -Division, <a href="#P275">275-276</a>, <a href="#P278">278-282</a>; -advance of the Guards, <a href="#P282">282-286</a>; -capture of Gouzeaucourt, <a href="#P284">284</a>; -battle in Bourlon sector, -<a href="#P288">288-297</a>; retraction of British line, -<a href="#P297">297</a>; observations on Cambrai -battle, <a href="#P297">297-298</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Campbell, General, <a href="#P25">25</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Campbell, Major, <a href="#P101">101</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Canal de l'Escaut, <a href="#P247">247</a>, <a href="#P255">255</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Canal du Nord, <a href="#P243">243</a>, <a href="#P291">291</a>, <a href="#P298">298</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Caporetto, Italian disaster at, <a href="#P234">234</a>, -<a href="#P236">236</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Cator, General, <a href="#P92">92</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Cavan, General Lord, <a href="#P137">137</a>, <a href="#P138">138</a>, <a href="#P145">145</a>, -<a href="#P162">162</a>, <a href="#P163">163</a>, <a href="#P167">167</a>, <a href="#P181">181</a>, <a href="#P202">202</a>, <a href="#P214">214</a>, -<a href="#P224">224</a>, <a href="#P237">237</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Charlton, General, <a href="#P103">103</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Chemin des Dames, <a href="#P64">64</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Cherisy, <a href="#P76">76</a>, <a href="#P77">77</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Chidlow-Roberts, Captain, <a href="#P120">120</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Cojeul River, <a href="#P25">25</a>, <a href="#P45">45</a>, <a href="#P50">50</a>, <a href="#P52">52</a>, <a href="#P66">66</a>, <a href="#P80">80</a>, -<a href="#P85">85</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Cooper, Colonel Elliott, V.C., <a href="#P274">274</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Cooper, Sergeant, V.C., <a href="#P166">166</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Corfe, Colonel, <a href="#P190">190</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Corps, Lieutenant, <a href="#P291">291</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Cousens, Captain, <a href="#P28">28</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Crevecourt, <a href="#P248">248</a>, <a href="#P255">255</a>, <a href="#P279">279</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Crow, Captain, <a href="#P275">275</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Currie, General Sir A., <a href="#P41">41</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Davies, Sergeant-Major, <a href="#P261">261</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -De Crespigny, General, <a href="#P283">283</a>, <a href="#P284">284</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -De Lisle, General, <a href="#P275">275</a>, <a href="#P282">282</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Deverell, General, <a href="#P79">79</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Dove, Captain, <a href="#P166">166</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Du Cane, General, <a href="#P61">61</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Edwards, Sergeant-Major, <a href="#P291">291</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Elles, General, <a href="#P238">238</a>, <a href="#P242">242</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Evans, Private Ellis H., <a href="#P144">144</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Fairbrass, Sergeant, <a href="#P291">291</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Fanshawe, General Sir E. A., <a href="#P4">4</a>, <a href="#P5">5</a>, -<a href="#P183">183</a>, <a href="#P196">196</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Fayet, capture of, <a href="#P15">15</a>, <a href="#P62">62</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Fergusson, General Sir Charles, <a href="#P21">21</a>, -<a href="#P36">36</a>, <a href="#P48">48</a>, <a href="#P72">72</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Fielding, General Lord, <a href="#P267">267</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Flesquières, <a href="#P244">244</a>, <a href="#P245">245</a>, <a href="#P248">248</a>, <a href="#P254">254</a>, <a href="#P256">256</a>, <a href="#P296">296</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Fontaine, Colonel de la, <a href="#P154">154</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Fontaine, <a href="#P256">256</a>, <a href="#P257">257</a>, <a href="#P258">258</a>, <a href="#P265">265</a>, <a href="#P266">266</a>, -<a href="#P288">288</a>, <a href="#P289">289</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -France: co-operation with British -at third battle of Ypres, <a href="#P134">134</a>, -<a href="#P137">137</a>, <a href="#P156">156</a>; attack and victory -on the Aisne, <a href="#P64">64</a>, <a href="#P234">234</a>; victory -at Verdun, <a href="#P178">178</a>; sends troops -to help Italy, <a href="#P236">236</a>, <a href="#P237">237</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Freeman, Lieutenant, <a href="#P190">190</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Fresnoy, <a href="#P76">76</a>, <a href="#P82">82</a>, <a href="#P83">83-84</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Gavrelle, <a href="#P54">54</a>, <a href="#P65">65</a>, <a href="#P69">69</a>, <a href="#P70">70</a>, <a href="#P73">73</a>, <a href="#P81">81</a>, <a href="#P82">82</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Geddes, Sir Eric, <a href="#P3">3</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Geddes, Captain, <a href="#P159">159</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Gee, Captain, V.C., <a href="#P279">279</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -General survey of early months of -1917, <a href="#P16">16-19</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Germany's declaration of -unrestricted submarine warfare, <a href="#P18">18</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Gheluvelt, <a href="#P228">228</a>, <a href="#P229">229</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Glencorse Wood, <a href="#P151">151</a>, <a href="#P153">153</a>, <a href="#P154">154</a>, <a href="#P159">159</a>, -<a href="#P161">161</a>, <a href="#P173">173</a>, <a href="#P175">175</a>, <a href="#P176">176</a>, <a href="#P187">187</a>, <a href="#P198">198</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Godley, General Sir A., <a href="#P97">97</a>, <a href="#P205">205</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Gonnelieu, <a href="#P242">242</a>, <a href="#P275">275</a>, <a href="#P276">276</a>, <a href="#P285">285</a>, <a href="#P286">286</a>, -<a href="#P287">287</a>, <a href="#P298">298</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Gordon, General Sir Alex. Hamilton, -<a href="#P97">97</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Gorringe, General, <a href="#P174">174</a>, <a href="#P295">295</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Gort, Colonel Lord, <a href="#P140">140</a>, <a href="#P226">226</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Gott, Lieutenant, <a href="#P125">125</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Gough, General Sir Hubert, <a href="#P2">2</a>, <a href="#P4">4</a>, <a href="#P7">7</a>, -<a href="#P16">16</a>, <a href="#P25">25</a>, <a href="#P58">58</a>, <a href="#P61">61</a>, <a href="#P96">96</a>, <a href="#P114">114</a>, <a href="#P133">133</a>, <a href="#P138">138</a>, -<a href="#P155">155</a>, <a href="#P179">179</a>, <a href="#P181">181</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Gouzeaucourt, <a href="#P275">275</a>, <a href="#P283">283</a>, <a href="#P284">284</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Graham, Major, <a href="#P119">119</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Graincourt, <a href="#P244">244</a>, <a href="#P252">252</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Greer, Colonel, <a href="#P140">140</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Guémappe, <a href="#P47">47</a>, <a href="#P49">49</a>, <a href="#P52">52</a>, <a href="#P68">68</a>, <a href="#P70">70</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Gwynn, Mr. Stephen, M.P., <a href="#P103">103</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Haig, Field-Marshal Sir Douglas, <a href="#P4">4</a>, -<a href="#P16">16</a>, <a href="#P20">20</a>, <a href="#P56">56</a>, <a href="#P62">62</a>, <a href="#P64">64</a>, <a href="#P92">92</a>, <a href="#P133">133</a>, <a href="#P134">134</a>, -<a href="#P135">135</a>, <a href="#P155">155</a>, <a href="#P162">162</a>, <a href="#P179">179</a>, <a href="#P194">194</a>, <a href="#P212">212</a>, <a href="#P213">213</a>, -<a href="#P222">222</a>, <a href="#P225">225</a>, <a href="#P233">233</a>, <a href="#P237">237</a>, <a href="#P244">244</a>, <a href="#P255">255</a>, <a href="#P256">256</a>, -<a href="#P282">282</a>, <a href="#P299">299</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Haine, Lieutenant, V.C., <a href="#P74">74</a>, <a href="#P75">75</a>, <a href="#P76">76</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Haking, General Sir R., <a href="#P237">237</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Haldane, General Sir J., <a href="#P21">21</a>, <a href="#P30">30</a>, <a href="#P36">36</a>, -<a href="#P40">40</a>, <a href="#P238">238</a>, <a href="#P239">239</a>, <a href="#P241">241</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Hall, Sergeant-Major, <a href="#P262">262</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Harper, General, <a href="#P145">145</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Harrison, Lieutenant, V.C., <a href="#P82">82</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Harston, Captain, <a href="#P204">204</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Havrincourt, <a href="#P244">244</a>, <a href="#P252">252</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Henderson, Lieutenant, V.C., <a href="#P67">67</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Henty, Major, <a href="#P273">273</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Hermies, <a href="#P242">242</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Hermon, Colonel, <a href="#P39">39</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Hickie, General Sir W., <a href="#P102">102</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Higgins, Brigadier-General, <a href="#P183">183</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Hindenburg, Marshal von, <a href="#P15">15</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Hindenburg Line, the, <a href="#P45">45</a>, <a href="#P56">56</a>, <a href="#P59">59</a>, <a href="#P66">66</a>, -<a href="#P87">87</a>, <a href="#P90">90</a>, <a href="#P91">91</a>, <a href="#P92">92</a>, <a href="#P237">237</a>, <a href="#P239">239</a>, <a href="#P242">242</a>, <a href="#P243">243</a>, -<a href="#P245">245</a>, <a href="#P246">246</a>, <a href="#P247">247</a>, <a href="#P250">250</a>, <a href="#P253">253</a>, <a href="#P257">257</a>, <a href="#P265">265</a>, -<a href="#P267">267</a>, <a href="#P277">277</a>, <a href="#P288">288</a>, <a href="#P290">290</a>, <a href="#P297">297</a>, <a href="#P298">298</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Hindenburg Line, the, defined, <a href="#P11">11</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Hitchings, Lieutenant, <a href="#P82">82</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Hoare, Captain, <a href="#P250">250</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Holland, General, <a href="#P41">41</a>, <a href="#P55">55</a>, <a href="#P115">115</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Holmes, General, <a href="#P101">101</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Horne, General Sir H., <a href="#P2">2</a>, <a href="#P20">20</a>, <a href="#P115">115</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Houthulst Forest, <a href="#P134">134</a>, <a href="#P137">137</a>, <a href="#P202">202</a>, <a href="#P214">214</a>, -<a href="#P226">226</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Hull, General, <a href="#P27">27</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Inverness Wood, <a href="#P154">154</a>, <a href="#P159">159</a>, <a href="#P160">160</a>, <a href="#P162">162</a>, -<a href="#P173">173</a>, <a href="#P175">175</a>, <a href="#P176">176</a>, <a href="#P189">189</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Isonzo front, successful attack on, -by the Italians, <a href="#P178">178</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Italy: successful attack on the -Isonzo front, <a href="#P178">178</a>; disaster at -Caporetto, <a href="#P234">234</a>, <a href="#P236">236</a>; effect of -collapse on Western offensive, -<a href="#P236">236</a>; French and British send -help, <a href="#P236">236</a>, <a href="#P237">237</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Jacob, General Sir C., <a href="#P4">4</a>, <a href="#P8">8</a>, <a href="#P137">137</a>, <a href="#P150">150</a>, -<a href="#P151">151</a>, <a href="#P162">162</a>, <a href="#P172">172</a>, <a href="#P231">231</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -James, Colonel, <a href="#P272">272</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Jarvis, Colonel, <a href="#P190">190</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Jenkinson, Sergeant, <a href="#P221">221</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Jeudwine, General Sir Hugh, <a href="#P269">269</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Johnson, General Bulkeley, <a href="#P48">48</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Kennedy, Brigadier-General, <a href="#P296">296</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Kennedy, Colonel, <a href="#P260">260</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Kettle, Professor, <a href="#P103">103</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Kincaid-Smith, General, <a href="#P99">99</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Knapp, Father, <a href="#P140">140</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Korniloff, General, <a href="#P132">132</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Kut, recapture of, <a href="#P17">17</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -La Basseville, <a href="#P131">131</a>, <a href="#P132">132</a>, <a href="#P155">155</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Laffert, General von, <a href="#P98">98</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Lagnicourt, <a href="#P58">58</a>, <a href="#P60">60</a>, <a href="#P90">90</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Lambton, General, <a href="#P37">37</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Langemarck, <a href="#P164">164</a>, <a href="#P166">166</a>, <a href="#P167">167</a>, <a href="#P181">181</a>, <a href="#P203">203</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -La Vacquerie, <a href="#P249">249</a>, <a href="#P250">250</a>, <a href="#P274">274</a>, <a href="#P285">285</a>, -<a href="#P283">283</a>, <a href="#P287">287</a>, <a href="#P288">288</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Leadbeater, Sergeant, <a href="#P118">118</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Lees, Captain David, <a href="#P140">140</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Legg, Sergeant, <a href="#P291">291</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Lens, <a href="#P20">20</a>, <a href="#P54">54</a>, <a href="#P56">56</a>, <a href="#P89">89</a>, <a href="#P226">226</a>, <a href="#P232">232</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Lens, operations round, <a href="#P115">115-123</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Les Rues Vertes, <a href="#P247">247</a>, <a href="#P277">277</a>, <a href="#P279">279</a>, <a href="#P280">280</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Leveson-Gower, Brigadier-General, -<a href="#P168">168</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Lipsett, General, <a href="#P41">41</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Lloyd, Captain, <a href="#P287">287</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Lodge, Sergeant, <a href="#P291">291</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Lomax, Lieutenant, <a href="#P13">13</a>, <a href="#P14">14</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Lukin, General, <a href="#P36">36</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Lumsden, Major, V.C., <a href="#P13">13</a>, <a href="#P14">14</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -McCracken, General Sir F., <a href="#P21">21</a>, <a href="#P54">54</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Macdowell, Major, V.C., <a href="#P42">42</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -McGowan, Captain, <a href="#P90">90</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -McGrady, Private, <a href="#P128">128</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -MacNamara, Major, <a href="#P90">90</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -MacReady-Diarmid, Captain, V.C., -<a href="#P292">292</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Marcoing, <a href="#P247">247</a>, <a href="#P248">248</a>, <a href="#P253">253</a>, <a href="#P273">273</a>, <a href="#P276">276</a>, -<a href="#P278">278</a>, <a href="#P288">288</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Martin, Captain, <a href="#P129">129</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Marwitz, General von, <a href="#P270">270</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Matheson, General, <a href="#P203">203</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Maude, General Sir F. S., <a href="#P17">17</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Maxse, General Sir Ivor, <a href="#P21">21</a>, <a href="#P137">137</a>, <a href="#P145">145</a>, -<a href="#P162">162</a>, <a href="#P167">167</a>, <a href="#P183">183</a>, <a href="#P195">195</a>, <a href="#P216">216</a>, <a href="#P217">217</a>, -<a href="#P223">223</a>, <a href="#P226">226</a>, <a href="#P227">227</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Menin Road, <a href="#P153">153</a>, <a href="#P179">179</a>, <a href="#P190">190</a>, <a href="#P193">193</a>, <a href="#P194">194</a>, -<a href="#P195">195</a>, <a href="#P198">198</a>, <a href="#P199">199</a>, <a href="#P202">202</a>, <a href="#P209">209</a>, <a href="#P210">210</a>, <a href="#P211">211</a>, -<a href="#P222">222</a>, <a href="#P228">228</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Mesnières, <a href="#P247">247</a>, <a href="#P248">248</a>, <a href="#P249">249</a>, <a href="#P253">253</a>, <a href="#P254">254</a>, -<a href="#P270">270</a>, <a href="#P273">273</a>, <a href="#P277">277</a>, <a href="#P278">278</a>, <a href="#P282">282</a>, <a href="#P288">288</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Mesopotamia, operations in: -recapture of Kut, <a href="#P17">17</a>; capture of -Bagdad, <a href="#P17">17</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Messines, <a href="#P44">44</a>, <a href="#P57">57</a>, <a href="#P95">95</a>, <a href="#P97">97</a>, <a href="#P98">98</a>, <a href="#P115">115</a>, <a href="#P134">134</a>, -<a href="#P135">135</a>, <a href="#P179">179</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Messines, battle of: preparations -for the battle, <a href="#P96">96</a>; composition -of British line, <a href="#P96">96-97</a>; advance -of Australians and New -Zealanders, <a href="#P97">97-99</a>; capture of -Messines village, <a href="#P98">98</a>; -Wytschaete captured by the Irish -Divisions, <a href="#P102">102-104</a>; general -advance and capture of Messines -Ridge, <a href="#P106">106-110</a>; results of -battle, <a href="#P110">110-112</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Monash, General Sir John, <a href="#P97">97</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Monchy, <a href="#P35">35</a>, <a href="#P44">44</a>, <a href="#P46">46-48</a>, <a href="#P49">49</a>, <a href="#P50">50</a>, <a href="#P51">51</a>, -<a href="#P52">52</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Morland, General Sir T., <a href="#P96">96</a>, <a href="#P107">107</a>, <a href="#P138">138</a>, -<a href="#P155">155</a>, <a href="#P190">190</a>, <a href="#P208">208</a>, <a href="#P210">210</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Mœuvres, <a href="#P257">257</a>, <a href="#P258">258</a>, <a href="#P289">289</a>, <a href="#P290">290</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Nicholson, General, <a href="#P37">37</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Nieuport, <a href="#P123">123</a>, <a href="#P130">130</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Norman, Colonel, <a href="#P144">144</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Nugent, General, <a href="#P102">102</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -O'Brien, Lieutenant, <a href="#P74">74</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Oppy, <a href="#P54">54</a>, <a href="#P65">65</a>, <a href="#P73">73</a>, <a href="#P76">76</a>, <a href="#P81">81</a>, <a href="#P117">117</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Osmond, Major, <a href="#P74">74</a>, <a href="#P76">76</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Page, Colonel, <a href="#P146">146</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Parsons, Sergeant, <a href="#P291">291</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Paschendaale, <a href="#P200">200</a>, <a href="#P211">211</a>, <a href="#P213">213</a>, <a href="#P217">217</a>, -<a href="#P220">220</a>, <a href="#P222">222</a>, <a href="#P225">225</a>, <a href="#P230">230</a>, <a href="#P231">231</a>, <a href="#P238">238</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Pears, Colonel, <a href="#P280">280</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Peddie, Major, <a href="#P223">223</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Pereira, General, <a href="#P53">53</a>, <a href="#P289">289</a>, <a href="#P295">295</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Peronne, capture of, <a href="#P10">10</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Phillips, Mr. Percival, quoted, <a href="#P279">279</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Phillips, Sergeant, <a href="#P291">291</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Pilkem, <a href="#P142">142</a>, <a href="#P143">143</a>, <a href="#P144">144</a>, <a href="#P156">156</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Pinney, General, <a href="#P46">46</a>, <a href="#P66">66</a>, <a href="#P193">193</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Ploegstrate, <a href="#P94">94</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Plumer, General Sir Herbert, <a href="#P2">2</a>, <a href="#P95">95</a>, -<a href="#P96">96</a>, <a href="#P110">110</a>, <a href="#P115">115</a>, <a href="#P134">134</a>, <a href="#P138">138</a>, <a href="#P154">154</a>, <a href="#P155">155</a>, -<a href="#P162">162</a>, <a href="#P179">179</a>, <a href="#P181">181</a>, <a href="#P187">187</a>, <a href="#P212">212</a>, <a href="#P237">237</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Poelcapelle, <a href="#P203">203</a>, <a href="#P204">204</a>, <a href="#P213">213</a>, <a href="#P216">216</a>, <a href="#P224">224</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Polderhoek, <a href="#P209">209</a>, <a href="#P210">210</a>, <a href="#P222">222</a>, <a href="#P228">228</a>, <a href="#P232">232</a>, -<a href="#P298">298</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Pollard, Lieutenant, V.C., <a href="#P74">74</a>, <a href="#P75">75</a>, <a href="#P76">76</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Polygon Wood, <a href="#P188">188</a>, <a href="#P193">193</a>, <a href="#P196">196</a>, <a href="#P200">200</a>, -<a href="#P208">208</a>, <a href="#P209">209</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Pope, Lieutenant, <a href="#P60">60</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Prioleau, Colonel, <a href="#P166">166</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Pulteney, General Sir W., <a href="#P238">238</a>, <a href="#P252">252</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Radice, Colonel, <a href="#P144">144</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Rawlinson, General Sir Henry, <a href="#P1">1</a>, <a href="#P2">2</a>, -<a href="#P4">4</a>, <a href="#P8">8</a>, <a href="#P61">61</a>, <a href="#P114">114</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Redmond, Major W., M.P., <a href="#P103">103</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Reed, General, <a href="#P149">149</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Regiments: -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -<br /> -<i>Artillery—</i> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -R.F.A., <a href="#P13">13</a>, <a href="#P104">104</a>, <a href="#P274">274</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Honourable Artillery Company, -<a href="#P74">74</a>, <a href="#P221">221</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -<br /> -<i>Cavalry—</i> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Royal Horse Guards, <a href="#P47">47</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -2nd Dragoon Guards, <a href="#P252">252</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -4th Dragoon Guards, <a href="#P252">252</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -2nd Dragoons, <a href="#P263">263</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -5th Dragoons, <a href="#P263">263</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -5th Lancers, <a href="#P251">251</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -10th Hussars, <a href="#P47">47</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -11th Hussars, <a href="#P244">244</a>, <a href="#P263">263</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -15th Hussars, <a href="#P261">261</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -19th Hussars, <a href="#P262">262</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -20th Hussars, <a href="#P285">285</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Bedford Yeomanry, <a href="#P263">263</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Essex Yeomanry, <a href="#P47">47</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Fort Garry Horse, <a href="#P246">246</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -King Edward's Horse, <a href="#P244">244</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Lucknow Cavalry Brigade, <a href="#P10">10</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Northumberland Hussars, <a href="#P276">276</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Umballa Brigade, <a href="#P254">254</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -<br /> -<i>Guards—</i> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Coldstream, <a href="#P138">138</a>, <a href="#P139">139</a>, <a href="#P140">140</a>, <a href="#P215">215</a>, -<a href="#P266">266</a>, <a href="#P284">284</a>, <a href="#P285">285</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Grenadier, <a href="#P139">139</a>, <a href="#P140">140</a>, <a href="#P141">141</a>, <a href="#P264">264</a>, <a href="#P266">266</a>, -<a href="#P284">284</a>, <a href="#P285">285</a>, <a href="#P286">286</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Irish, <a href="#P138">138</a>, <a href="#P139">139</a>, <a href="#P140">140</a>, <a href="#P141">141</a>, <a href="#P215">215</a>, <a href="#P260">260</a>, -<a href="#P267">267</a>, <a href="#P284">284</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Scots, <a href="#P139">139</a>, <a href="#P140">140</a>, <a href="#P264">264</a>, <a href="#P266">266</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Welsh, <a href="#P139">139</a>, <a href="#P285">285</a>, <a href="#P286">286</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -<br /> -<i>Infantry—</i> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, -<a href="#P31">31</a>, <a href="#P66">66</a>, <a href="#P67">67</a>, <a href="#P193">193</a>, <a href="#P198">198</a>, <a href="#P261">261</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Bedford, <a href="#P26">26</a>, <a href="#P74">74</a>, <a href="#P75">75</a>, <a href="#P160">160</a>, <a href="#P161">161</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Berkshire, <a href="#P12">12</a>, <a href="#P146">146</a>, <a href="#P147">147</a>, <a href="#P174">174</a>, <a href="#P250">250</a>, -<a href="#P273">273</a>, <a href="#P293">293</a>, <a href="#P295">295</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Black Watch, <a href="#P31">31</a>, <a href="#P92">92</a>, <a href="#P146">146</a>, <a href="#P147">147</a>, -<a href="#P199">199</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Border, <a href="#P15">15</a>, <a href="#P92">92</a>, <a href="#P100">100</a>, <a href="#P104">104</a>, <a href="#P113">113</a>, <a href="#P131">131</a>, -<a href="#P208">208</a>, <a href="#P228">228</a>, <a href="#P279">279</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Buffs (East Kent), <a href="#P79">79</a>, <a href="#P251">251</a>, <a href="#P275">275</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Cambridge, <a href="#P146">146</a>, <a href="#P147">147</a>, <a href="#P199">199</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Cameron Highlanders, <a href="#P159">159</a>, <a href="#P185">185</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), <a href="#P35">35</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Cheshire, <a href="#P14">14</a>, <a href="#P100">100</a>, <a href="#P106">106</a>, <a href="#P146">146</a>, <a href="#P147">147</a>, -<a href="#P160">160</a>, <a href="#P161">161</a>, <a href="#P191">191</a>, <a href="#P225">225</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Connaught Rangers, <a href="#P103">103</a>, <a href="#P170">170</a>, -<a href="#P240">240</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Devon, <a href="#P84">84</a>, <a href="#P92">92</a>, <a href="#P208">208</a>, <a href="#P209">209</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Dublin Fusiliers, <a href="#P85">85</a>, <a href="#P168">168</a>, <a href="#P169">169</a>, <a href="#P240">240</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Duke of Cornwall's, <a href="#P70">70</a>, <a href="#P83">83</a>, <a href="#P175">175</a>, -<a href="#P209">209</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Durham Light Infantry, <a href="#P82">82</a>, <a href="#P164">164</a>, -<a href="#P175">175</a>, <a href="#P189">189</a>, <a href="#P247">247</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -East Lancashire, <a href="#P40">40</a>, <a href="#P85">85</a>, <a href="#P88">88</a>, <a href="#P203">203</a>, -<a href="#P219">219</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -East Surrey, <a href="#P31">31</a>, <a href="#P83">83</a>, <a href="#P154">154</a>, <a href="#P251">251</a>, <a href="#P263">263</a>, -<a href="#P264">264</a>, <a href="#P275">275</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -East Yorkshire, <a href="#P82">82</a>, <a href="#P209">209</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Essex, <a href="#P34">34</a>, <a href="#P40">40</a>, <a href="#P50">50</a>, <a href="#P51">51</a>, <a href="#P77">77</a>, <a href="#P216">216</a>, <a href="#P224">224</a>, -<a href="#P250">250</a>, <a href="#P273">273</a>, <a href="#P287">287</a>, <a href="#P291">291</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Gloucester, <a href="#P12">12</a>, <a href="#P83">83</a>, <a href="#P174">174</a>, <a href="#P191">191</a>, <a href="#P204">204</a>, -<a href="#P225">225</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Gordon Highlanders, <a href="#P31">31</a>, <a href="#P32">32</a>, <a href="#P33">33</a>, -<a href="#P88">88</a>, <a href="#P159">159</a>, <a href="#P208">208</a>, <a href="#P228">228</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Hampshire, <a href="#P40">40</a>, <a href="#P50">50</a>, <a href="#P51">51</a>, <a href="#P85">85</a>, <a href="#P104">104</a>, -<a href="#P189">189</a>, <a href="#P199">199</a>, <a href="#P203">203</a>, <a href="#P216">216</a>, <a href="#P241">241</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Highland Light Infantry, <a href="#P12">12</a>, <a href="#P13">13</a>, -<a href="#P15">15</a>, <a href="#P35">35</a>, <a href="#P131">131</a>, <a href="#P186">186</a>, <a href="#P194">194</a>, <a href="#P198">198</a>, <a href="#P263">263</a>, -<a href="#P294">294</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Inniskilling Fusiliers, <a href="#P102">102</a>, <a href="#P103">103</a>, -<a href="#P168">168</a>, <a href="#P169">169</a>, <a href="#P170">170</a>, <a href="#P279">279</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -King's Liverpool, <a href="#P148">148</a>, <a href="#P164">164</a>, <a href="#P166">166</a>, -<a href="#P185">185</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -King's Own Royal Lancaster, <a href="#P33">33</a>, -<a href="#P40">40</a>, <a href="#P47">47</a>, <a href="#P148">148</a>, <a href="#P149">149</a>, <a href="#P184">184</a>, <a href="#P263">263</a>, <a href="#P264">264</a>, -<a href="#P272">272</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -King's Own Scottish Borderers, -<a href="#P35">35</a>, <a href="#P209">209</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -King's Royal Rifles, <a href="#P14">14</a>, <a href="#P29">29</a>, <a href="#P48">48</a>, <a href="#P77">77</a>, -<a href="#P124">124</a>, <a href="#P125">125</a>, <a href="#P126">126</a>, <a href="#P127">127</a>, <a href="#P128">128</a>, <a href="#P129">129</a>, <a href="#P166">166</a>, -<a href="#P181">181</a>, <a href="#P189">189</a>, <a href="#P190">190</a>, <a href="#P194">194</a>, <a href="#P210">210</a>, <a href="#P249">249</a>, -<a href="#P250">250</a>, <a href="#P277">277</a>, <a href="#P285">285</a>, <a href="#P287">287</a>, <a href="#P293">293</a>, <a href="#P294">294</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Lancashire Fusiliers, <a href="#P40">40</a>, <a href="#P81">81</a>, <a href="#P100">100</a>, -<a href="#P131">131</a>, <a href="#P148">148</a>, <a href="#P160">160</a>, <a href="#P161">161</a>, <a href="#P177">177</a>, <a href="#P184">184</a>, -<a href="#P219">219</a>, <a href="#P225">225</a>, <a href="#P249">249</a>, <a href="#P279">279</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Leicester, <a href="#P116">116</a>, <a href="#P118">118</a>, <a href="#P154">154</a>, <a href="#P246">246</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Leinster, <a href="#P55">55</a>, <a href="#P102">102</a>, <a href="#P103">103</a>, <a href="#P170">170</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Lincoln, <a href="#P104">104</a>, <a href="#P105">105</a>, <a href="#P116">116</a>, <a href="#P118">118</a>, <a href="#P210">210</a>, -<a href="#P223">223</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Liverpool, <a href="#P26">26</a>, <a href="#P27">27</a>, <a href="#P32">32</a>, <a href="#P152">152</a>, <a href="#P183">183</a>, -<a href="#P194">194</a>, <a href="#P198">198</a>, <a href="#P272">272</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Liverpool Scottish, <a href="#P272">272</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -London Rifle Brigade, <a href="#P80">80</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -London Scottish, <a href="#P28">28</a>, <a href="#P291">291</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -London Irish, <a href="#P296">296</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -1st London, <a href="#P27">27</a>, <a href="#P28">28</a>, <a href="#P78">78</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -2nd London, <a href="#P80">80</a>, <a href="#P183">183</a>, <a href="#P184">184</a>, <a href="#P291">291</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -3rd London, <a href="#P27">27</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -4th London, <a href="#P184">184</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -6th London, <a href="#P183">183</a>, <a href="#P296">296</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -8th London, <a href="#P183">183</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -9th London (Queen Victoria -Rifles), <a href="#P27">27</a>, <a href="#P28">28</a>, <a href="#P80">80</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -15th London (Civil Service), <a href="#P296">296</a>, -<a href="#P297">297</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -15th London (Queen's Westminsters), -<a href="#P80">80</a>, <a href="#P257">257</a>, <a href="#P291">291</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -15th London (Blackheath), <a href="#P296">296</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -15th London (Poplar), <a href="#P296">296</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -15th London (Post Office Rifles), <a href="#P291">291</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -15th London (St. Pancras), <a href="#P296">296</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Manchester, <a href="#P12">12</a>, <a href="#P13">13</a>, <a href="#P27">27</a>, <a href="#P152">152</a>, <a href="#P153">153</a>, -<a href="#P219">219</a>, <a href="#P228">228</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Middlesex, <a href="#P27">27</a>, <a href="#P28">28</a>, <a href="#P31">31</a>, <a href="#P55">55</a>, <a href="#P66">66</a>, <a href="#P67">67</a>, -<a href="#P78">78</a>, <a href="#P86">86</a>, <a href="#P88">88</a>, <a href="#P169">169</a>, <a href="#P193">193</a>, <a href="#P194">194</a>, <a href="#P204">204</a>, -<a href="#P210">210</a>, <a href="#P249">249</a>, <a href="#P250">250</a>, <a href="#P261">261</a>, <a href="#P262">262</a>, <a href="#P276">276</a>, <a href="#P278">278</a>, -<a href="#P279">279</a>, <a href="#P280">280</a>, <a href="#P291">291</a>, <a href="#P292">292</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Munster Fusiliers, <a href="#P103">103</a>, <a href="#P104">104</a>, <a href="#P231">231</a>, -<a href="#P240">240</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Norfolk, <a href="#P77">77</a>, <a href="#P224">224</a>, <a href="#P246">246</a>, <a href="#P250">250</a>, <a href="#P274">274</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Northampton, <a href="#P55">55</a>, <a href="#P124">124</a>, <a href="#P127">127</a>, <a href="#P129">129</a>, -<a href="#P152">152</a>, <a href="#P154">154</a>, <a href="#P159">159</a>, <a href="#P273">273</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -North Lancashire, <a href="#P100">100</a>, <a href="#P125">125</a>, <a href="#P148">148</a>, -<a href="#P160">160</a>, <a href="#P184">184</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -North Staffordshire, <a href="#P8">8</a>, <a href="#P118">118</a>, <a href="#P119">119</a>, -<a href="#P154">154</a>, <a href="#P191">191</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Northumberland Fusiliers, <a href="#P39">39</a>, <a href="#P49">49</a>, -<a href="#P53">53</a>, <a href="#P89">89</a>, <a href="#P131">131</a>, <a href="#P189">189</a>, <a href="#P209">209</a>, <a href="#P224">224</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Oxford and Bucks, <a href="#P29">29</a>, <a href="#P77">77</a>, <a href="#P166">166</a>, -<a href="#P174">174</a>, <a href="#P250">250</a>, <a href="#P294">294</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Queen's (West Surrey), <a href="#P31">31</a>, <a href="#P154">154</a>, -<a href="#P161">161</a>, <a href="#P194">194</a>, <a href="#P198">198</a>, <a href="#P208">208</a>, <a href="#P228">228</a>, <a href="#P251">251</a>, <a href="#P276">276</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Rifle Brigade, <a href="#P40">40</a>, <a href="#P48">48</a>, <a href="#P55">55</a>, <a href="#P77">77</a>, <a href="#P85">85</a>, -<a href="#P109">109</a>, <a href="#P154">154</a>, <a href="#P166">166</a>, <a href="#P181">181</a>, <a href="#P189">189</a>, <a href="#P210">210</a>, <a href="#P216">216</a>, -<a href="#P255">255</a>, <a href="#P277">277</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Royal Fusiliers, <a href="#P29">29</a>, <a href="#P32">32</a>, <a href="#P46">46</a>, <a href="#P66">66</a>, <a href="#P74">74</a>, -<a href="#P75">75</a>, <a href="#P109">109</a>, <a href="#P176">176</a>, <a href="#P189">189</a>, <a href="#P210">210</a>, <a href="#P249">249</a>, <a href="#P250">250</a>, -<a href="#P274">274</a>, <a href="#P279">279</a>, <a href="#P293">293</a>, <a href="#P294">294</a>, <a href="#P295">295</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Royal Irish, <a href="#P102">102</a>, <a href="#P241">241</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Royal Irish Fusiliers, <a href="#P102">102</a>, <a href="#P103">103</a>, -<a href="#P168">168</a>, <a href="#P169">169</a>, <a href="#P170">170</a>, <a href="#P171">171</a>, <a href="#P172">172</a>, <a href="#P241">241</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Royal Irish Rifles, <a href="#P99">99</a>, <a href="#P100">100</a>, <a href="#P102">102</a>, -<a href="#P104">104</a>, <a href="#P160">160</a>, <a href="#P161">161</a>, <a href="#P168">168</a>, <a href="#P169">169</a>, <a href="#P172">172</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Royal Scots, <a href="#P33">33</a>, <a href="#P78">78</a>, <a href="#P186">186</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Royal Scots Fusiliers, <a href="#P31">31</a>, <a href="#P152">152</a>, <a href="#P186">186</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Royal West Kent, <a href="#P190">190</a>, <a href="#P209">209</a>, <a href="#P228">228</a>, -<a href="#P251">251</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Seaforth Highlanders, <a href="#P38">38</a>, <a href="#P39">39</a>, <a href="#P80">80</a>, -<a href="#P81">81</a>, <a href="#P186">186</a>, <a href="#P203">203</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Sherwood Foresters, <a href="#P14">14</a>, <a href="#P70">70</a>, <a href="#P104">104</a>, -<a href="#P105">105</a>, <a href="#P118">118</a>, <a href="#P119">119</a>, <a href="#P152">152</a>, <a href="#P159">159</a>, <a href="#P190">190</a>, <a href="#P225">225</a>, -<a href="#P246">246</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Shropshire, <a href="#P33">33</a>, <a href="#P166">166</a>, <a href="#P175">175</a>, <a href="#P176">176</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Somerset Light Infantry, <a href="#P40">40</a>, <a href="#P80">80</a>, -<a href="#P175">175</a>, <a href="#P203">203</a>, <a href="#P210">210</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -South Lancashire, <a href="#P100">100</a>, <a href="#P113">113</a>, <a href="#P184">184</a>, -<a href="#P185">185</a>, <a href="#P272">272</a>, <a href="#P273">273</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -South Staffordshire, <a href="#P8">8</a>, <a href="#P104">104</a>, <a href="#P117">117</a>, -<a href="#P208">208</a>, <a href="#P228">228</a>, <a href="#P291">291</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -South Wales Borderers, <a href="#P106">106</a>, <a href="#P113">113</a>, -<a href="#P143">143</a>, <a href="#P161">161</a>, <a href="#P231">231</a>, <a href="#P260">260</a>, <a href="#P279">279</a>, <a href="#P282">282</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Suffolk, <a href="#P32">32</a>, <a href="#P88">88</a>, <a href="#P198">198</a>, <a href="#P224">224</a>, <a href="#P250">250</a>, <a href="#P262">262</a>, -<a href="#P263">263</a>, <a href="#P273">273</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Sussex, <a href="#P31">31</a>, <a href="#P55">55</a>, <a href="#P79">79</a>, <a href="#P125">125</a>, <a href="#P164">164</a>, <a href="#P193">193</a>, -<a href="#P199">199</a>, <a href="#P250">250</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Tyneside Scottish, <a href="#P53">53</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Warwick, <a href="#P204">204</a>, <a href="#P221">221</a>, <a href="#P228">228</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Welsh, <a href="#P106">106</a>, <a href="#P142">142</a>, <a href="#P143">143</a>, <a href="#P191">191</a>, <a href="#P260">260</a>, <a href="#P261">261</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Welsh Fusiliers, <a href="#P31">31</a>, <a href="#P32">32</a>, <a href="#P66">66</a>, <a href="#P106">106</a>, -<a href="#P141">141</a>, <a href="#P142">142</a>, <a href="#P143">143</a>, <a href="#P144">144</a>, <a href="#P197">197</a>, <a href="#P260">260</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -West Riding, <a href="#P40">40</a>, <a href="#P81">81</a>, <a href="#P189">189</a>, <a href="#P244">244</a>, <a href="#P253">253</a>, -<a href="#P254">254</a>, <a href="#P265">265</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -West Yorkshire, <a href="#P32">32</a>, <a href="#P49">49</a>, <a href="#P82">82</a>, <a href="#P172">172</a>, -<a href="#P189">189</a>, <a href="#P217">217</a>, <a href="#P256">256</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Wiltshire, <a href="#P100">100</a>, <a href="#P191">191</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Worcester, <a href="#P50">50</a>, <a href="#P51">51</a>, <a href="#P100">100</a>, <a href="#P161">161</a>, <a href="#P191">191</a>, -<a href="#P194">194</a>, <a href="#P204">204</a>, <a href="#P214">214</a>, <a href="#P216">216</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -York and Lancaster, <a href="#P82">82</a>, <a href="#P217">217</a>, <a href="#P244">244</a>, -<a href="#P256">256</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Yorkshire, <a href="#P189">189</a>, <a href="#P261">261</a>, <a href="#P262">262</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Yorkshire Light Infantry, <a href="#P15">15</a>, <a href="#P166">166</a>, -<a href="#P209">209</a>, <a href="#P217">217</a>, <a href="#P244">244</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -——— -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Royal Engineers, <a href="#P47">47</a>, <a href="#P101">101</a>, <a href="#P104">104</a>, -<a href="#P105">105</a>, <a href="#P141">141</a>, <a href="#P161">161</a>, <a href="#P216">216</a>, <a href="#P241">241</a>, <a href="#P284">284</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Tunnelling Companies, <a href="#P22">22</a>, <a href="#P241">241</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Royal Naval Division, <a href="#P53">53</a>, <a href="#P54">54</a>, <a href="#P70">70</a>, -<a href="#P74">74</a>, <a href="#P226">226</a>, <a href="#P227">227</a>, <a href="#P298">298</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -1st Marines, <a href="#P55">55</a>, <a href="#P74">74</a>, <a href="#P75">75</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -<br /> -<i>Overseas Forces—</i> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Australians, <a href="#P5">5</a>, <a href="#P10">10</a>, <a href="#P11">11</a>, <a href="#P14">14</a>, <a href="#P58">58</a>, <a href="#P59">59</a>, -<a href="#P60">60</a>, <a href="#P61">61</a>, <a href="#P76">76</a>, <a href="#P90">90</a>, <a href="#P91">91</a>, <a href="#P92">92</a>, <a href="#P97">97</a>, <a href="#P98">98</a>, <a href="#P101">101</a>, -<a href="#P127">127</a>, <a href="#P128">128</a>, <a href="#P156">156</a>, <a href="#P187">187</a>, <a href="#P188">188</a>, <a href="#P193">193</a>, <a href="#P194">194</a>, -<a href="#P196">196</a>, <a href="#P197">197</a>, <a href="#P198">198</a>, <a href="#P205">205</a>, <a href="#P206">206</a>, <a href="#P220">220</a>, <a href="#P223">223</a>, -<a href="#P227">227</a>, <a href="#P229">229</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -New Zealanders, <a href="#P97">97</a>, <a href="#P98">98</a>, <a href="#P99">99</a>, <a href="#P101">101</a>, -<a href="#P114">114</a>, <a href="#P131">131</a>, <a href="#P132">132</a>, <a href="#P155">155</a>, <a href="#P156">156</a>, <a href="#P205">205</a>, <a href="#P211">211</a>, -<a href="#P223">223</a>, <a href="#P224">224</a>, <a href="#P299">299</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Canadians, <a href="#P21">21</a>, <a href="#P38">38</a>, <a href="#P41">41</a>, <a href="#P42">42</a>, <a href="#P43">43</a>, <a href="#P54">54</a>, -<a href="#P55">55</a>, <a href="#P73">73</a>, <a href="#P82">82</a>, <a href="#P83">83</a>, <a href="#P84">84</a>, <a href="#P116">116</a>, <a href="#P117">117</a>, <a href="#P121">121</a>, -<a href="#P122">122</a>, <a href="#P123">123</a>, <a href="#P226">226</a>, <a href="#P227">227</a>, <a href="#P228">228</a>, <a href="#P229">229</a>, <a href="#P230">230</a>, -<a href="#P231">231</a>, <a href="#P232">232</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -Newfoundland Regiment, <a href="#P50">50</a>, <a href="#P215">215</a>, -<a href="#P216">216</a>, <a href="#P248">248</a>, <a href="#P278">278</a>, <a href="#P282">282</a> -</p> - -<p class="index2"> -South Africans, <a href="#P37">37</a>, <a href="#P52">52</a>, <a href="#P53">53</a>, <a href="#P185">185</a>, -<a href="#P186">186</a>, <a href="#P187">187</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Reutel, <a href="#P208">208</a>, <a href="#P209">209</a>, <a href="#P210">210</a>, <a href="#P221">221</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Ritchie, General, <a href="#P195">195</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Ritchie, Captain, <a href="#P141">141</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Robertson, Colonel Forbes, V.C., -<a href="#P51">51</a>, <a href="#P280">280</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Robinson, Captain, <a href="#P291">291</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Rœux, <a href="#P48">48</a>, <a href="#P52">52</a>, <a href="#P65">65</a>, <a href="#P68">68</a>, <a href="#P72">72</a>, <a href="#P73">73</a>, <a href="#P80">80</a>, <a href="#P84">84</a>, <a href="#P85">85</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Romilly, Colonel, <a href="#P140">140</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Russell, General Sir A., <a href="#P98">98</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Russia: revolution in, <a href="#P17">17</a>, <a href="#P65">65</a>; -collapse of, before Central -Powers, <a href="#P132">132</a>; effect of revolution -in, on Allied offensive in -the West, <a href="#P235">235</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Rutter, Lieutenant, <a href="#P67">67</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -St. Eloi, <a href="#P97">97</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -St. Julien, <a href="#P145">145</a>, <a href="#P146">146</a>, <a href="#P147">147</a>, <a href="#P156">156</a>, <a href="#P158">158</a>, -<a href="#P174">174</a>, <a href="#P182">182</a>, <a href="#P192">192</a>, <a href="#P195">195</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -St. Rohart, <a href="#P76">76</a>, <a href="#P78">78</a>, <a href="#P79">79</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Sanctuary Wood, <a href="#P150">150</a>, <a href="#P152">152</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Scarpe River, <a href="#P31">31</a>, <a href="#P36">36</a>, <a href="#P37">37</a>, <a href="#P40">40</a>, <a href="#P50">50</a>, <a href="#P52">52</a>, -<a href="#P68">68</a>, <a href="#P69">69</a>, <a href="#P72">72</a>, <a href="#P76">76</a>, <a href="#P78">78</a>, <a href="#P79">79</a>, <a href="#P84">84</a>, <a href="#P86">86</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Selency, capture of guns at, <a href="#P12">12-14</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Sensée River, <a href="#P66">66</a>, <a href="#P87">87</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Serre, <a href="#P6">6</a>, <a href="#P7">7</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Sheepshanks, Colonel, <a href="#P277">277</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Shepherd, Private, V.C., <a href="#P250">250</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Shute, General, <a href="#P106">106</a>, <a href="#P124">124</a>, <a href="#P131">131</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Sinai Peninsula, progress in, <a href="#P17">17</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Slade, Captain, <a href="#P164">164</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Smith, Colonel, <a href="#P27">27</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Snow, General Sir T., <a href="#P21">21</a>, <a href="#P25">25</a>, <a href="#P45">45</a>, <a href="#P65">65</a>, -<a href="#P76">76</a>, <a href="#P238">238</a>, <a href="#P252">252</a>, <a href="#P269">269</a>, <a href="#P270">270</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Soissons, <a href="#P9">9</a>, <a href="#P10">10</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Souchez River, <a href="#P115">115</a>, <a href="#P121">121</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Steenbeek, the, <a href="#P143">143</a>, <a href="#P146">146</a>, <a href="#P147">147</a>, <a href="#P163">163</a>, -<a href="#P166">166</a>, <a href="#P184">184</a>, <a href="#P189">189</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Stone, Captain, <a href="#P295">295</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Stonebanks, Lieutenant, <a href="#P176">176</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Strachan, Lieutenant Henry, V.C., -<a href="#P246">246</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Strickland, General, <a href="#P123">123</a>, <a href="#P124">124</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Symon, Captain, <a href="#P159">159</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Taylor, Colonel, <a href="#P144">144</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Tollemache, Colonel, <a href="#P129">129</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Valentin, Lieutenant, <a href="#P295">295</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Vendhuille, <a href="#P270">270</a>, <a href="#P298">298</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Verdun, French victory at, <a href="#P178">178</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Villers-Guislain, <a href="#P237">237</a>, <a href="#P272">272</a>, <a href="#P273">273</a>, <a href="#P275">275</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Vimy Ridge, <a href="#P21">21</a>, <a href="#P41">41-43</a>, <a href="#P54">54</a>, <a href="#P94">94</a>, <a href="#P134">134</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Wallace, Lieutenant, V.C., <a href="#P274">274</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Wambach, Private, <a href="#P129">129</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Ward, Captain, <a href="#P129">129</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Ward, Lieutenant, <a href="#P13">13</a>, <a href="#P14">14</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Warden, Colonel, D.S.O., <a href="#P263">263</a>, <a href="#P264">264</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Watson, General, <a href="#P41">41</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Watts, General Sir H., <a href="#P137">137</a>, <a href="#P145">145</a>, <a href="#P147">147</a>, -<a href="#P149">149</a>, <a href="#P162">162</a>, <a href="#P167">167</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Westhoek, <a href="#P151">151</a>, <a href="#P159">159</a>, <a href="#P160">160</a>, <a href="#P161">161</a>, <a href="#P162">162</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Wiart, Colonel Carton de, <a href="#P85">85</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Williams, General, <a href="#P109">109</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Wilson, President, <a href="#P18">18</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Woolcombe, General, <a href="#P238">238</a>, <a href="#P288">288</a>, <a href="#P296">296</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Woolley, Lieutenant, <a href="#P190">190</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Wytschaete, <a href="#P94">94</a>, <a href="#P97">97</a>, <a href="#P103">103</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Ypres, <a href="#P57">57</a>, <a href="#P94">94</a>, <a href="#P95">95</a>, <a href="#P133">133</a>, <a href="#P134">134</a>, <a href="#P154">154</a>, <a href="#P162">162</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Ypres, third battle of: British -and German preparation before -the battle detailed, <a href="#P133">133-136</a>; -French co-operation, <a href="#P134">134</a>, <a href="#P137">137</a>, -<a href="#P156">156</a>; advance of the Guards, -<a href="#P138">138-141</a>; advance of the Welsh -Division and capture of Pilkem -village, <a href="#P141">141-145</a>; capture of -St. Julien, <a href="#P146">146</a>, <a href="#P147">147</a>; advance of -Fifty-fifth and Fifteenth -Divisions, <a href="#P147">147-150</a>; of Second -Army Corps, <a href="#P150">150-155</a>; first -day's operations reviewed, -<a href="#P156">156-157</a>; German counter-attacks, -<a href="#P158">158-159</a>, <a href="#P160">160-161</a>; attack of -Fourteenth Corps, <a href="#P163">163-167</a>; -capture of Langemarck, <a href="#P164">164</a>; -losses of the Irish Divisions, -<a href="#P168">168-172</a>; work of the Field -Artillery, <a href="#P175">175</a>; engagement of -the Second Army, <a href="#P179">179</a>; -September <a href="#P20">20</a>, <a href="#P180">180-192</a>; advance -of the Fifty-fifth Division, -<a href="#P183">183-185</a>; advance of the Ninth -Division, <a href="#P185">185-187</a>; of the -Australians, <a href="#P187">187-188</a>; German -counter-attack, <a href="#P192">192-195</a>; -advance renewed on September -<a href="#P26">26</a>, <a href="#P195">195-200</a>; attack of October -<a href="#P4">4</a>, <a href="#P202">202-212</a>; further British -advance, <a href="#P213">213-222</a>; advance of -Territorials, <a href="#P218">218-220</a>; -H.A.C. at Reutel, <a href="#P221">221</a>; action of -October <a href="#P12">12</a>, <a href="#P222">222-224</a>; action -of October <a href="#P26">26</a>, <a href="#P225">225</a>; fine -fighting by the Canadians, <a href="#P226">226-231</a>; -capture of Paschendaale, <a href="#P230">230</a>; -general results of the third -battle of Ypres, <a href="#P232">232-233</a> -</p> - -<p class="index"> -Yser River, fight of the King's -Royal Rifles and the Northamptons -at, <a href="#P123">123-130</a> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="index"> -Zonnebeke, <a href="#P169">169</a>, <a href="#P170">170</a>, <a href="#P172">172</a>, <a href="#P181">181</a>, <a href="#P202">202</a>, -<a href="#P214">214</a> -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3"> -THE END -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t4"> -<i>Printed in Great Britain by</i> R. & R. 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