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diff --git a/79272-h/79272-h.htm b/79272-h/79272-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0af4da5 --- /dev/null +++ b/79272-h/79272-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,21615 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> +<head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> + <meta name="format-detection" content="telephone=no,date=no,address=no,email=no,url=no"> + <title> + The Tank in Action | Project Gutenberg + </title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .5em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .5em; +} + +.p2 {margin-top: 2em;} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: 33.5%; + margin-right: 33.5%; + clear: both; +} + +hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} +@media print { hr.chap {display: none; visibility: hidden;} } + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} +h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} + +ul.index { list-style-type: none; } +li.ifrst { + margin-top: 1em; + text-indent: -2em; + padding-left: 1em; +} +li.indx { + margin-top: .5em; + text-indent: -2em; + padding-left: 1em; +} +li.isub1 { + text-indent: -2em; + padding-left: 2em; +} +li.isub2 { + text-indent: -2em; + padding-left: 3em; +} +li.isub3 { + text-indent: -2em; + padding-left: 4em; +} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +.tdl {text-align: left;} +.tdr {text-align: right;} +.tdc {text-align: center;} + +.pagenum { + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: small; + text-align: right; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; + text-indent: 0; +} + +blockquote { + margin-top: 0; + margin-bottom: 0; + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.center {text-align: center; text-indent: 0;} + +.right {text-align: right;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.allsmcap {font-variant: small-caps; text-transform: lowercase;} + +figcaption {margin-bottom:1em;font-size:.8em} + + +img { + max-width: 100%; + height: auto; +} +img.w100 {width: 100%;} + + +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; + page-break-inside: avoid; + max-width: 100%; +} + + + +/* Footnotes */ +.footnotes {border: 1px dashed;} + +.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + +.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + +.fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: + none; +} + +.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; + color: black; + font-size:small; + padding:0.5em; + margin-bottom:5em; + font-family:sans-serif, serif; +} + + +.sm {font-size: .8em;} +.xsm {font-size: .7em;} + +a {text-decoration: none} + +.vtop {vertical-align: top;} +.vbottom {vertical-align: bottom;} + +.hang1 {text-align: justify; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;} + +.hang2 {text-align: justify; padding-left: 2em; text-indent: -2em;} + +.pagenum { + color: gray; +} + +table.autotable3 {border-collapse: collapse} +table.autotable3 td, +table.autotable3 th {padding: 0.25em;} +table.autotable3 .hang2 {text-align: justify; padding-left: 2em; text-indent: -2em;} + +.illowe40 {width: 40em;} +.illowe30 {width: 30em;} +.illowe24 {width: 24em;} + </style> +</head> + +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 79272 ***</div> + +<main> + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_i"></a><a id="Page_ii"></a>ii</span></p> + + +<figure class="figcenter illowe40" id="frontispiece"> + <img class="w100" src="images/frontispiece.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + Crossing the Steenbeek for the attack beyond St Julien (The Cockcroft), August 19, 1917. + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_iii">iii</span></p> + + +<h1> +The Tank in Action +</h1> + + +<p class="p2 center"><span class="xsm">BY</span><br> +<span class="smcap">Captain</span> D. G. BROWNE, M.C.</p> + +<p class="p2 center"><i><span class="sm">WITH ILLUSTRATIONS</span></i></p> + +<p class="p2 center">William Blackwood and Sons<br> +Edinburgh and London<br> +1920</p> + +<p class="center"><i><span class="xsm">ALL RIGHTS RESERVED</span></i></p> + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_iv"></a><a id="Page_v"></a>v</span></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p class="center"> +<i> +<span class="sm">TO THE</span><br> + OFFICERS, NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS, + AND MEN<br> + <span class="sm">OF THE</span><br> + <span class="allsmcap">7TH</span> & <span class="allsmcap">12TH</span> (G. & L.) TANK BATTALIONS. +</i> +</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_vi"></a><a id="Page_vii"></a>vii</span></p> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CONTENTS"> + CONTENTS. + </h2> +</div> + + + + + +<table class="autotable3"> +<tr> + +<td class="tdc" colspan="3"> +PART I.<br>THE FIRST PHASE: FROM THE SOMME TO YPRES. +</td> + +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vtop"> +I. +</td> +<td class="tdl hang2"> +INTRODUCTORY: THE GENESIS OF THE LANDSHIP +</td> +<td class="tdr vbottom"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_I">3</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vtop"> +II. +</td> +<td class="tdl hang2"> +THE MARK I. AND MARK IV. TANKS: THE FIRST COMPANIES +</td> +<td class="tdr vbottom"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_II">15</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vtop"> +III. +</td> +<td class="tdl hang2"> +THE SOMME BATTLES +</td> +<td class="tdr vbottom"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_III">28</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vtop"> +IV. +</td> +<td class="tdl hang2"> +EXPANSION: THE BATTLES IN FRONT OF ARRAS +</td> +<td class="tdr vbottom"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IV">47</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vtop"> +V. +</td> +<td class="tdl hang2"> +THE PALESTINE DETACHMENT +</td> +<td class="tdr vbottom"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_V">71</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vtop"> +VI. +</td> +<td class="tdl hang2"> +MESSINES +</td> +<td class="tdr vbottom"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VI">89</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vtop"> +VII. +</td> +<td class="tdl hang2"> +YPRES: THE PRELIMINARIES +</td> +<td class="tdr vbottom"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VII">98</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vtop"> +VIII. +</td> +<td class="tdl hang2"> +YPRES: THE 31ST JULY +</td> +<td class="tdr vbottom"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">125</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vtop"> +IX. +</td> +<td class="tdl hang2"> +YPRES: THE 31ST JULY (<i>continued</i>) +</td> +<td class="tdr vbottom"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IX">153</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vtop"> +X. +</td> +<td class="tdl hang2"> +THE “HUSH” OPERATION AND THE COCKCROFT +</td> +<td class="tdr vbottom"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_X">181</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vtop"> +XI. +</td> +<td class="tdl hang2"> +THE COCKCROFT (<i>continued</i>) +</td> +<td class="tdr vbottom"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XI">204</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vtop"> +XII. +</td> +<td class="tdl hang2"> +FROM THE COCKCROFT TO CAMBRAI +</td> +<td class="tdr vbottom"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XII">231</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> + +<td class="tdc" colspan="3"> +PART II.<br>THE SECOND PHASE: CAMBRAI AND AFTER. +</td> + +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vtop"> +XIII. +</td> +<td class="tdl hang2"> +CAMBRAI +</td> +<td class="tdr vbottom"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">257</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vtop"> +XIV. +</td> +<td class="tdl hang2"> +MISCELLANEOUS. THE GERMANS AND THE TANK: THE FRENCH ARTILLERIE D’ASSAUT +</td> +<td class="tdr vbottom"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">285</a><span class="pagenum" id="Page_viii">viii</span> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vtop"> +XV. +</td> +<td class="tdl hang2"> +THE GERMAN OFFENSIVE. MEAULTE, BOUVIGNY, AND BÉTHUNE +</td> +<td class="tdr vbottom"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XV">306</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vtop"> +XVI. +</td> +<td class="tdl hang2"> +THE GERMAN OFFENSIVE (<i>continued</i>). ANNEQUIN: AND THE TANK CORPS IN RETREAT +</td> +<td class="tdr vbottom"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">328</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vtop"> +XVII. +</td> +<td class="tdl hang2"> +HAMEL, MOREUIL, AND THE THIRD BATTLE OF THE SOMME +</td> +<td class="tdr vbottom"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">347</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vtop"> +XVIII. +</td> +<td class="tdl hang2"> +THE GREAT ADVANCE: FROM BUCQUOY TO BAPAUME +</td> +<td class="tdr vbottom"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">368</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vtop"> +XIX. +</td> +<td class="tdl hang2"> +THE FIGHTING FOR BEUGNY, AND THE ADVANCE TO THE CANAL DU NORD +</td> +<td class="tdr vbottom"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">400</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vtop"> +XX. +</td> +<td class="tdl hang2"> +THE CANAL DU NORD AND BOURLON +</td> +<td class="tdr vbottom"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XX">431</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vtop"> +XXI. +</td> +<td class="tdl hang2"> +THE FIGHTING ROUND CAMBRAI: SANCOURT +</td> +<td class="tdr vbottom"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">459</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vtop"> +XXII. +</td> +<td class="tdl hang2"> +FROM NIERGNIES TO THE ARMISTICE: CONCLUSION +</td> +<td class="tdr vbottom"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">486</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vbottom"> + +</td> +<td class="tdl hang2"> +INDEX +</td> +<td class="tdr vbottom"> +<a href="#INDEX">511</a> +</td> +</tr> +</table> + + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_ix">ix</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="ILLUSTRATIONS"> + ILLUSTRATIONS. + </h2> +</div> + + + +<table class="autotable3"> +<tr> +<td class="tdl hang2"> +CROSSING THE STEENBEEK FOR THE ATTACK BEYOND ST +JULIEN (THE COCKCROFT), AUGUST 19, 1917 +</td> +<td class="tdr vbottom"> +<i><a href="#frontispiece">Frontispiece</a></i> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl hang2"> +THE MARK V. TANK +</td> +<td class="tdr vbottom"> +<a href="#i_016fp_a">16</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl hang2"> +DISABLED MARK II. TANK, ARRAS, 1917 +</td> +<td class="tdr vbottom"> +<a href="#i_016fp_b">16</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl hang2"> +TANK ON OUTPOST HILL, GAZA +</td> +<td class="tdr vbottom"> +<a href="#i_078fp">78</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl hang2"> +KITCHENER’S WOOD AND GERMAN SECOND LINE. PHOTO +TAKEN JULY 3, 1917. SHOWING POSITION OF TANKS +G 45 AND 46 +</td> +<td class="tdr vbottom"> +<a href="#i_132fp">132</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl hang2"> +TANK G 46 AS I LEFT HER (EXCEPT FOR HIT ON TRACK), +AUGUST 1, 1917 +</td> +<td class="tdr vbottom"> +<a href="#i_162fp">162</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl hang2"> +D BATTALION TANK DITCHED ON REMAINS OF POELCAPELLE +CHURCH, OCTOBER 4, 1917 +</td> +<td class="tdr vbottom"> +<a href="#i_240fp_a">240</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl hang2"> +POELCAPELLE CHURCH BEFORE THE ADVANCE IN AUGUST, +SEPTEMBER, ETC., 1917. (GERMAN PHOTO) +</td> +<td class="tdr vbottom"> +<a href="#i_240fp_b">240</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl hang2"> +BATTLE OF CAMBRAI. BOURLON WOOD AND VILLAGE, WITH +BAPAUME-CAMBRAI ROAD IN FRONT +</td> +<td class="tdr vbottom"> +<a href="#i_276fp">276</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl hang2"> +DISABLED TANK IN FONTAINE-NOTRE-DAME, NOVEMBER +1917. (GERMAN PHOTO) +</td> +<td class="tdr vbottom"> +<a href="#i_282fp_a">282</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl hang2"> +G BATTALION TANKS AT THE SHOOTING-BOX, BOURLON +WOOD, NOVEMBER 1917. (GERMAN PHOTO) +</td> +<td class="tdr vbottom"> +<a href="#i_282fp_b">282</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl hang2"> +GERMAN TANK, “ADALBERT.” (GERMAN PHOTO) +</td> +<td class="tdr vbottom"> +<a href="#i_288fp_a">288</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl hang2"> +FRENCH HEAVY SCHNEIDER TANK, CARRYING 7.5 FIELD-GUN. +(GERMAN PHOTO) +</td> +<td class="tdr vbottom"> +<a href="#i_288fp_b">288</a><span class="pagenum" id="Page_x">x</span> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl hang2"> +ABLAINZEVELLE, LOGEAST WOOD, AND ACHIET-LE-GRAND +</td> +<td class="tdr vbottom"> +<a href="#i_376fp">376</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl hang2"> +BUCQUOY AND ACHIET-LE-PETIT +</td> +<td class="tdr vbottom"> +<a href="#i_382fp">382</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl hang2"> +BAPAUME BURNING. END OF AUGUST 1918 +</td> +<td class="tdr vbottom"> +<a href="#i_404fp">404</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl hang2"> +CANAL DU NORD AT LOCK 4 +</td> +<td class="tdr vbottom"> +<a href="#i_438fp">438</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl hang2"> +TANKS OF “A” COMPANY, 7TH BATTALION, PARKED IN +CANAL DU NORD AFTER CAPTURING BOURLON VILLAGE, +SEPTEMBER 27, 1918. (OFFICIAL PHOTO) +</td> +<td class="tdr vbottom"> +<a href="#i_452fp">452</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl hang2"> +SANCOURT, WITH CAMBRAI-DOUAI ROAD AND RAILWAY +</td> +<td class="tdr vbottom"> +<a href="#i_476fp">476</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl hang2"> +CAPTURED ENGLISH TANKS BEING USED DURING THE +REVOLUTION IN BERLIN +</td> +<td class="tdr vbottom"> +<a href="#i_500fp_a">500</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl hang2"> +MARK V. TANKS OF THE 12TH BATTALION AT COLOGNE +</td> +<td class="tdr vbottom"> +<a href="#i_500fp_b">500</a> +</td> +</tr> +</table> + + + + +<p class="p2 center">MAPS</p> + + +<table class="autotable3"> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +Sketch map to illustrate the 2nd & 3rd battles of Gaza. +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_077">77</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +Third Battle of Ypres, Aug.-Nov. 1917. +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_130">130</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +The Cockcroft, Aug. 19, 1917. +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_209">209</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +First Battle of Cambrai. +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_269">269</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +Third Battle of the Somme. +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_355">355</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +Attack on August 21, 1918. +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_381">381</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +The Advance beyond the Arras-Albert Railway, August 23-29. +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_391">391</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +Beugny. +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_407">407</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +The Canal du Nord and Bourlon. +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_435">435</a> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> +Sancourt. +</td> +<td class="tdr"> +<a href="#i_467">467</a> +</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true"> +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_1">1</span></p> +<h2> + PART I.<br> + <br> + THE FIRST PHASE:<br> + FROM THE SOMME TO YPRES +</h2> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_2"></a><a id="Page_3"></a>3</span></p> + + + <h3 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_I"> + CHAPTER I. + <br> + <span class="sm">INTRODUCTORY: THE GENESIS OF THE LANDSHIP.</span> + </h3> +</div> + + +<h4>I.</h4> + +<p>This book is not, in a formal sense, a history of the Tank +Corps. Such a history must necessarily be impersonal in +tone, and probably would aim at being judicial in manner—this +last an almost impossible feat in our present state of +knowledge. A more elastic form of narrative, based to some +degree on my own experiences as a subaltern in the corps, +appears to me to be preferable, as it will allow greater +freedom of method and opinion and a large scope for the +merely interesting and picturesque. Moreover, there already +is in preparation (and likely to be in print before this +appears) more than one semi-official history. It is my aim, +therefore, to avoid giving a monotonous tale of battles +which (to the lay mind) seem very familiar in type, and to +describe instead in general terms the actual work of the +tank in action at various stages of its career as an arm of +the service, with its problems, its tactics, and its influence +upon the war as a whole.</p> + +<p>At the same time, it is necessary to use chronological +facts as a scaffolding. The operations of the Tank Corps +in the field, up to the date of the Armistice, fall naturally +into two phases, marked very happily by a change in nomenclature. +During the first phase, as the Heavy Section of +the Machine Gun Corps, the new organisation was definitely +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">4</span>on trial, finding its feet, learning its job, conquering +obstruction, indifference, and other impediments: during +the second phase, as a separate arm with a name and +establishment of its own, the corps moved onward from +success to success, became indispensable and ubiquitous, +grew to an astounding size, suffered (from friend and +enemy) the sincerest form of flattery, and effected a complete +revolution in the tactics of battle. The turning-point +in its fortunes is marked approximately by two actions, of +widely different scope, fought in the autumn of 1917—the +little affair known as the Cockcroft, on August 19th, and +the first battle of Cambrai ten weeks later. Such milestones +as these, and certain of the final operations in which +the corps played a conspicuous part and with which I am +personally familiar, I shall treat at considerable length; +but for the rest a mere skeleton of history will amply serve.</p> + + +<h4 id="II"> + II. +</h4> + +<p>Introductions, if so labelled, are often left unread; and for +this reason I have introduced already into this chapter +matter belonging more properly to a preface. There remain +certain other points which should be borne continually in +mind by all who read this (or any other) account of the +birth, growth, and achievement of the corps. I am enumerating +them here, out of their real order in the narrative, +because, in the present general ignorance of the subject, it +is only by the help of some such basis for judgment that an +adequate estimate of performance can be attempted.</p> + +<p>The points are these:—</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>(1) The tank, even when the war ended, was still in an +experimental stage.</p> + +<p>(2) The Tank Corps was the only arm of the service +equipped with an entirely novel weapon which +was formed while the war actually was in progress. +Every one had to learn everything from +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">5</span>the beginning. There were no traditions, nor +any experience of any kind to draw on until the +first battle had been fought.</p> + +<p>(3) The corps suffered at the outset from a surfeit of +parents. For months it was governed in turn or +together by a number of departments; and often +the right hand did not know what the left hand +was about.</p> + +<p>(4) Perhaps at that time it was taken seriously by only +two classes of persons—firstly, the actual projectors, +a few naval and military officers and civil +engineers, who worked tirelessly, without reward +or even recognition, and to whom most of the +credit for the eventual triumph is due; and, +secondly, that commercial element which, in our +country, profits by every national crisis and sees +in every new and struggling enterprise for the +public benefit only another opportunity of making +money.</p> + +<p>(5) Until the first battle of Cambrai the corps was still +on probation. It had enemies among the conservatives +at the War Office and at G.H.Q. in +France; and its early fights, which in effect were +practical experiments on an ever-increasing scale, +abounding in lessons for those who cared to learn, +were taken as proof of its permanently limited +value. At Cambrai, for the first time, it was +given a chance under favourable conditions; and +after that, all was changed. No one could have +too many tanks. Infantry commanders clamoured +for them in and out of season.</p> + +<p>(6) The functions and limitations of the tank as a +weapon were very imperfectly apprehended in the +beginning by the other arms of the service. Again +it was Cambrai, that greatest of all military experiments, +which, by its magnitude and success, +drove home once for all the lesson that notwithstanding +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">6</span>wire, entrenchments, and machine-guns, +surprise frontal attacks on a large scale were +become practicable once more.</p> + +<p>(7) The tank was now taken up in earnest. Co-operation +with infantry, unheard of as a feature +of training until just before that battle, was practised +regularly behind certain army fronts, and +was not suspended even during the German +offensives in the following spring. It was realised +at last that when we regained the initiative we +should be in possession of a weapon which had +revolutionised the principles of attack. The evil +of the long preliminary bombardment, warning +the enemy days and weeks before an assault, and +destroying one set of obstacles only to set up +another of its own making, had reached excessive +proportions at Ypres in the past autumn. It was +now laid for ever. The sound of it, at least from +the British lines, was hardly heard again during +the remainder of the war. The tank was to lead +the infantry over instead.</p> + +<p>(8) If any one invention hastened the end, it was the +tank. The German Higher Command, who +ought to know, repeatedly coupled the new +weapon with the blockade as one of the ultimate +causes of their defeat. Captured German +orders during the final year were filled with warnings +and instructions concerning tanks. Telephonic +messages referring to them were to have +priority over all others. Troops were to be +trained or cajoled into learning to face them. +Special officers, to deal with anti-tank defence, +were attached to divisional headquarters. Traps +were to be dug. Mine-fields were to be laid. +Anti-tank stockades, in village streets or defiles, +were a common feature of the later battlefields. +If it sounds extravagant to claim that tanks won +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">7</span>the war, it is indisputable that they hastened its +end by six months or a year. The final advance +would have been an impossibility without them.</p> + +<p>(9) The corps was consistently disregarded in official +despatches. It was hampered at every turn by +the conservative outlook of senior officers. Out of +six army commanders, only three fought offensive +actions over ground where tanks could properly be +used, and they, at least, understood their value. +But for a just appreciation one must turn to the +official reports and grateful personal acknowledgments +of infantry brigade and battalion commanders, +and to the infantry rank and file themselves.</p> + +<p>(10) As some proof of the vital part which tanks played +in the final advance, it may be pointed out that, +from the 8th August 1918 to the 7th November—approximately +ninety days—the corps led the +infantry of two armies in seventy engagements, +ranging from full-dress battle, where two or three +hundred tanks were employed, to the daily local +attacks in which only half a dozen took part. +Simultaneously, the French were using their +light Rénaults in scores: the Americans took +Rénaults in at St Mihiel and our Mark V.’s +beyond Le Cateau; and one of the few German +counter-attacks which gained a temporary +success was led by tanks captured from us in +the March retreat. On this occasion a serious +reverse was only stayed by the arrival of some +of our own machines, which drove the Germans +off when our infantry was breaking.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>Enough has been said at this stage. It will be necessary, +at the risk of becoming tedious, to reiterate and amplify +these points from time to time as the narrative grows; but +it is well to get them tabulated here. We can proceed now +to a brief consideration of the modern tank, its genesis, its +growth, and its early days of experiment and training.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">8</span></p> + + +<h4 id="III"> + III. +</h4> + +<p>The curious might spend a profitable week or so at the +British Museum investigating the origins of the landship. +These are indeed obvious enough, for although there is a +school (in the halfpenny press) which traces them no further +back than to a story by Mr H. G. Wells, the tank is, in +fact, the lineal descendant of the knight in armour, the +“war carts” of the Scots, the Roman testudo, the elephants +of Hannibal, and the chariots of Boadicea. Among the innumerable +activities of Leonardo da Vinci was a scheme +for “secure and covered chariots,” carrying guns; and as +recently as 1888 (but still forestalling Mr Wells) a steam-driven +vehicle on the caterpillar principle was projected. +All of these manifestations were but varieties of shock +troops, calculated to overcome the defensive tactics of their +period. Perhaps the elephant was the least reliable, as he +showed a tendency to turn about in the heat of battle and +forthwith trample down his own friends. Within the last +twenty years the caterpillar tractor, the immediate ancestor +of the tank, was pulling 60-pounder guns over ditches on +Salisbury Plain; and this form of locomotive was still in use +for such haulage purposes when war broke out in 1914.</p> + +<p>It occurred to no one in the first stages of this conflict +that a continent would prove too small for the manœuvres +of modern armies. But the open fighting in the early +autumn of 1914 came to an end with the race for the +coast; and the opposing forces found themselves entrenched +along the whole of the immense front, their flanks resting +on Switzerland and the Channel, and therefore perfectly +secure, and with no apparent way out of this <i>impasse</i> but +the costly method of frontal assaults. Here, in fact, was +that German bugbear, the “parallel battle.” The enemy +proceeded to launch his series of attacks in Flanders, in +an endeavour to create a flank, and learnt again that a +stubborn and disciplined infantry, given time to dig itself +in, even “if only with a spoon,” could beat off greatly +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">9</span>superior numbers. The assailant had everything in his +favour, for on top of our numerical weakness we were +lamentably short of machine-guns, howitzers, and, in +particular, field artillery H.E. ammunition. (Batteries +about this time were limited—except during an enemy +attack—to five rounds per gun per day; and it is said +that on one occasion two of these precious rounds having +been expended in answer to some call from our +infantry, the gunners rang up the latter to ask if they +really needed the remaining three!) It was manifest, +therefore, that if opportunity for a serious counter-attack +had arisen, even supposing we had the men available, +we had no means of preparing the way for their +advance. And if and when we had both men and guns, +what were the chances of success against the precision +of modern weapons? The Germans, tackling the same +problem from their side, tried again with poison gas; but +to this, after its initial triumph, the chemists speedily +found an antidote, and it fell to be a mere adjunct of the +ordinary harassing tactics of artillery. The Flammenwerfer, +a far more futile invention, went the same road. +And when, after several months, our new divisions had +been trained, and guns and ammunition manufactured in +what then was thought to be sufficient quantity, we found +out in our turn at Neuve Chapelle and Loos that the resources +of the defence were still too manifold and powerful: +that concrete, barbed wire, and machine-guns, if sown +lavishly and backed by well-trained infantry and artillery, +could fend the assailants off from any but the most limited +objectives. It is astonishing and rather pitiful to recall +now the optimism of those days. Before the morning of +Loos there was much confident talk of our being in Douai +the next evening. The cavalry—the phrase was not then +as stale as it afterwards became—the cavalry was moving +up, ready (in the ingenuous euphemism of operation orders) +to be “passed through” the gap which the bombardment +and infantry assault would create. Every one, in fact, was +anticipating a big advance and a resumption of open warfare. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">10</span>And this in 1915! There was to be no “passing +through” for any arm until the tanks broke the Hindenburg +Line at Cambrai; and even then we had not the +courage of our convictions, and the cavalry was four +hours late.</p> + +<p>All this, of course, is the obvious wisdom after the event; +but there were many who had misgivings at the time. +Certainly there was then at work in England a small +committee, consisting of naval and military officers and +technical advisers, who, realising that no expenditure of +blood and shells, as then employed, would carry an attack +far enough against modern prepared positions, were seeking +for a means by which to overcome the difficulty. Trench +warfare, indeed, was hardly begun before they were ready +with a suggestion. As early as November 1914, the Committee +of Imperial Defence was approached by Colonel +Swinton with a proposal for the construction of so-called +landships for use on the Western Front.</p> + +<p>It will be fitting here to set down the names of these +innovators. They were, Colonel E. D. Swinton; Admiral +Sir R. H. S. Bacon; Captain T. J. Tulloch, manager of the +Chilworth Powder Factory; Mr Diplock, who had designed +an improved gun-tractor earlier in the year; and Major +Hetherington, of the R.N.A.S.</p> + +<p>The problem they were attempting to solve has been +indicated already, and, with its developments, will be considered +more fully later on; but it may be repeated that in +essentials it was this: How to break down the triple obstruction +of trenches, wire, and machine-guns to such an +extent as would allow the infantry to reach an objective +with sufficient numbers and spirit left to ensure its capture +and retention. This, roughly, was the limited aim of the +first landship. It was known or suspected that artillery +alone could not be counted on to do the work thoroughly. +After the most intense bombardment, patches of wire would +remain uncut, strongly emplaced machine-guns undestroyed, +if not in the first hostile line, then in the second or the +third; and, in any case, we had not then enough guns or +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">11</span>ammunition to make even the effort worth the while. But +if in addition to gun-fire some secondary means of crushing +wire and neutralising machine-guns could be devised, much +might be effected later on. The answer to this problem, in +the opinion of Colonel Swinton and his colleagues, was a +combination of two existing machines, the tractor and the +armoured car—in other words, the tank.</p> + +<p>Perhaps this idea smelt too much of Mr Wells and Jules +Verne for the Committee of Imperial Defence. Perhaps it +really was not their business after all. In any case, they +displayed no marked enthusiasm for it, but seem to have +forwarded it a little later, not, as might have been expected, +to the War Department, but to Mr Winston Churchill, then +First Lord of the Admiralty. They may have thought that +so chimerical a project, introduced, moreover, by an officer +who had been guilty of writing fiction, was something +peculiarly in Mr Churchill’s line. If they did reason in +this manner, they wrought better than they knew. They +rendered excellent service to the budding enterprise, which +secured in the First Lord a powerful and pertinacious advocate. +A man so restless and intelligent could not fail to +score a hit with some of his shots; and amid the long catalogue +of his disastrous experiments it should at least be laid +to his credit that he saw at once some of the possibilities of +this new weapon of offence. Whether he foresaw all the +developments of warfare which it entailed may be doubted; +but the thing itself was novel and startling: it appealed +instantly to his imagination; and he wrote forthwith a long +letter to the military authorities recommending its immediate +adoption, and incidentally rebuking them for having failed to +think of something of the sort themselves. He pointed out +that, modern battles being fought at short range, assaulting +troops were exposed to a storm of bullets from the moment +they left their cover, and that some kind of steel shelter, +running on caterpillar tracks and carrying guns, would be +invaluable for convoying them through wire and machine-gun +fire. Such an experiment would cost little: if it failed, +no harm was done; and if it was moderately successful, its +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">12</span>moral effect alone would be great. Going somewhat beyond +his brief, the First Lord then proposed the manufacture of +steel shields of various types—to be carried, to be worn as +body armour, and to be pushed on wheels. He recommended +also the use of smoke-screens in the attack, and +ended by remarking that if we did not take the lead at once +in this department of warfare we might find that the enemy +had forestalled us.</p> + +<p>This letter was written in January 1915. It produced no +immediate effect. Probably any suggestions from this source +were suspect at the War Office, and stood little chance of +consideration on their merits; and it is true that Mr +Churchill’s letter was not conciliatory in tone. About this +time Colonel Swinton endeavoured to obtain a hearing on +his own account, but with no better result. Shortly after, +he returned to his duties in France. Here, during the next +six months, he made repeated unofficial attempts to get the +landship idea considered, and these may have paved the +way; for when, on 4th June, he tried official channels again +and forwarded a memorandum on the subject to G.H.Q., he +received some encouragement at last. Sir John French, +with practical experience of the difficulties before him in +the field, thought well enough of the idea to submit it to +the War Office.⁠<a id="FNanchor_1_1" href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a>⁠</p> + +<p>In the meantime, however, things had been moving in +England, although in a manner impossible, one would +imagine, in any other country. While the War Office had +long forgotten all about this pestilent and unpractical proposal, +the Admiralty had been defraying the cost of various +experiments carried out with a Foster tractor by Admiral +Bacon and Major Hetherington, and with an adapted Holt +tractor by Captain Tulloch. The trials of the Holt machine +at Shoeburyness were highly successful. Immense cutters, +like lobster claws, had been fitted for shearing wire entanglements, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">13</span>but it was found that the tractor flattened out the +wire so effectually that these implements were not needed. +And now, while Colonel Swinton was drafting his memorandum +in France, a Landship Committee came into being at +the instance of Mr Churchill. The President was Mr (now +Sir Eustace) D’Eyncourt. The Consulting Engineer was +Lieutenant (now Major) W. G. Wilson; and Mr (now Sir +William) Tritton not only lent his great authority and +technical experience, but produced at once designs for an +armoured tractor, to be run either on wheels or caterpillar +tracks. The first two genuine landships evolved from these +and earlier designs, known respectively as “Mother” and +“Little Willie,” were discarded; but “Big Willie,” their +successor, the joint product of Mr Tritton and Lieutenant +Wilson, was to embody all the main features of the Mark +I. Tank.</p> + +<p>The situation, as regards the War Office, was now rather +ludicrous. For when that Department, stirred at length +into activity by Sir John French’s advocacy of Colonel +Swinton’s scheme, began to look around and make inquiries, +it discovered with astonishment that the Admiralty +had taken up the idea months before, and had been experimenting +quietly ever since. It was impossible, however, +that the work could be continued under a dual control; +and accordingly, toward the end of June a joint committee +was formed to manage the whole enterprise. Henceforth, +in effect, the tank became a child of the Army; but it is +doubtful if the public ever knew that it was adopted more +or less under compulsion, and to the Admiralty is due the +credit of having realised its possibilities long before the +War Office took a step in the matter. The work now +proceeded steadily toward fulfilment. Colonel Swinton, +returning in July to assume the post of Assistant-Secretary +to the Committee of Imperial Defence, was able to watch +over his scheme and help it on its way. “Little Willie,” +already on the stocks under the ægis of the original committee, +was tested at Lincoln and found wanting; but in +the meantime the new joint-control had ordered the building +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">14</span>of “Big Willie” on the lines laid down by Tritton and +Wilson. This experimental machine was tried at Wembley +and accepted as a basis for future construction; and Messrs +Foster of Lincoln, Agricultural Implement Makers, embarked +at once on the slightly modified copy which became +the Mark I. tank. This was indeed (to quote from Mr +Williams-Ellis’s book)⁠<a id="FNanchor_2_2" href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> a case of beating our ploughshares +into swords. At the close of the year Mr Churchill, still +true to his old love, sent to G.H.Q. in France a memorandum +on “Variants of the Offensive,” in which he recapitulated +his earlier suggestions for an attack by armour. +As a direct result of this, Lieut.-Colonel H. J. Elles, R.E., +was ordered to England in January 1916, to report on the +progress made; and on February 2nd the improved Wembley +machine carried out trials at Hatfield before representatives +of the Army Council and G.H.Q. in France. +The demonstration was successful. Within a week application +was made officially for the construction by Messrs +Foster of 150 similar machines in six months. By this +time the joint-control had ceased to exist, at least in name; +for the new Ministry of Munitions, seeking what it might +devour, had descended upon the Landships Committee, +swallowed it entire, defined its powers by charter, and then +reindued it with life as the Tank Committee. But it was +soon felt that here a great chance had been let slip: no +Government institution could thrive beneath so simple and +banal a designation; and in August, by yet one more feat +of legerdemain, the much-harassed control became the +Mechanical Warfare Supply Department. All was now +well; and under this euphonious title it continued to supply +the British Army with tanks until the end of the war.</p> + +<p>Hand in hand with these events, a military unit was +formed to fight the new machines. The Heavy Section +of the Machine Gun Corps came into being in March, with +Colonel Swinton in command.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">15</span></p> + + + <h3 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_II"> + CHAPTER II. + <br> + <span class="sm">THE MARK I. AND MARK IV. TANKS: THE FIRST COMPANIES.</span> + </h3> +</div> + + +<h4>I.</h4> + +<p>The tank was only just emerging from the primitive stage +when the war ended. The Mark V., which entered the +field in 1918 (in excellent time for the Amiens retreat), +was in the opinion of many people the first tank worthy +of the name. But the heat and burden of the day +had been borne by the earlier types, whose carcases +littered a dozen battlefields all down the line, from the +Salient to Cambrai, and whose successes and misfortunes +provided the foundation for the final triumph. It will be +convenient to deal here with those early types, Marks I. +and IV., together, for they differed only in comparatively +minor features. Marks II. and III. had no genuine existence. +The Mark II. was simply the Mark I. in a slightly +advanced stage of evolution without its tail, and the Mark +III. was experimental.</p> + +<p>Half a chapter on the idiosyncrasies of these machines +will not be exciting. It will be difficult even to make it +interesting. But such details have to be faced sooner or +later, and are better done with for good and all early in +the book.</p> + +<p>“Big Willie” and its one hundred and fifty Mark I. +successors were designed to cope with the conditions +encountered on what was then considered to be a typical +modern battlefield—namely, that of Loos. On account +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">16</span>of its very limited success and disproportionate casualties, +this battle won many converts to the theory of the “attack +by armour”; but it misled to some extent those who were +responsible for specifying the capabilities required of the +new weapon. It was not fully realised that by the date when +the tanks would be ready for the field, the conditions on +most battle-fronts must certainly have changed materially +for the worse. Owing to the enormous projected increase +in our artillery, the autumn of 1916 was likely to find the +terrain immediately behind the enemy’s front line pounded +to atoms. But no one foresaw the appallingly destructive +effect of such gun-fire as was to blast the Somme and +Ypres battlefields during the two ensuing years. It is +commonly supposed that the original tank was constructed +expressly to meet this difficulty. It was not: it was +designed to fight over the moderately shelled areas (as they +seem to us now) with which we were familiar at the end of +1915. Actually it made its entry upon ground which, for +miles ahead, was convulsed as if by an earthquake, or +water-logged like a quagmire; and not until Cambrai did +tanks operate under anything approaching favourable +conditions.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowe30" id="i_016fp_a"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_016fp_a.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + The Mark V. Tank. + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>It was desired to have a machine which, in the first +place, would cross a trench nine feet wide. The engineers’ +earliest solution embodied huge wheels with caterpillar +tracks. But as these wheels, to fulfil the specification, +must have had a diameter of fifteen feet, they were ruled +out as offering too big a target; and after several intermediate +stages, in which varieties of the ordinary tractor +model (such as “Mother” and “Little Willie”) were tried +and discarded, an ingenious compromise was discovered. +In the Mark I. tank (and all later types conformed to this +shape) the tracks passed completely round the body of the +machine. The underside of this body was in effect a +segment of a wheel, as will be apparent to any one who +looks at the outline; and the tracks, instead of continuing +round the whole periphery, turned back virtually at right +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">17</span>angles over the nose and so along the top of the body. +The width of trench which could be crossed by machines +of this design depended only on their length, or, in other +words, on the circumference of the wheel. The Mark I., +26 feet long, could in fact cross an 11-foot gap, climb a +vertical obstacle 5 feet high, and crawl up any slope of +1 in 2. Craters, however big, presented no difficulty provided +the ground was firm.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowe30" id="i_016fp_b"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_016fp_b.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + Disabled Mark II. Tank, Arras, 1917. + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>On the level the tank was resting on no more than 4 or +5 feet of its length (the wheel again), which gave it when +moving a slight fore-and-aft rocking motion. The point of +gravity was almost in the centre, and with this admirable +balance a skilful driver could lower his machine quite +gently down over any drop that was not absolutely sheer. +In the Mark I. this operation was facilitated by a cumbersome +atrocity known as the hydraulic stabiliser, or, more +simply, the tail,—a pivoted structure at the stern carrying +two large wheels which was controlled (in theory) by an +hydraulic ram. This tail was designed also to assist +steering, but when the tank was swung (of which more +later) the whole affair had to be raised. It was an abomination +from the start; it took anything from five minutes +to half an hour to lift; and in action it was the first thing +to be disabled or shot away. It was discarded after the +Somme battles, where it was found that its loss made +little or no difference to the efficiency of the machine, and +was, from every other point of view, a godsend.</p> + +<p>The tank mounted its main armament in sponsons—a +form of projecting gun-casemate borrowed from naval +architecture.⁠<a id="FNanchor_3_3" href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> The male tank carried two Hotchkiss +6-pounder Q.F. naval guns on recoil mountings, protected +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">18</span>by close-fitting revolving shields, which gave an arc of fire +of about 120 degrees. These are extremely handy little +weapons, especially when shortened as in the Mark IV., +and could be loaded and fired if necessary by one man. +With a calibre of 2¹⁄₄ inches, they fired percussion common +shell and case-shot; and although sighted up to 2600 yards, +were used normally at quite short ranges, when their +enormous flash and detonation, out of all proportion to +their size, had a great moral effect. In addition, there +was a port in each sponson for a Hotchkiss machine-gun +or automatic rifle. The tank commander also was provided +with one of these weapons, to be fired (with extreme +difficulty) through a port in the cab.</p> + +<p>The Mark I. female carried Vickers’ machine-guns, two +to a sponson, or four in all, behind revolving shields. The +water-jackets were protected by a kind of armoured sleeve, +and the gunners sat on bicycle-seats which moved with +the shields. The tank commander was again given a +Hotchkiss. The Vickers, a beautiful gun, was perfectly +satisfactory in a tank; but in the Mark IV., either on +account of a shortage of Vickers’ or of some commercial +influence, the Lewis gun was introduced as the light +weapon throughout both male and female types. As no +armoured casing was provided for the barrel, it was disabled +very easily by bullets alone, a defect which the +Germans did not fail to discover; and in the Mark V. +and later types the Hotchkiss (which is all but indestructible) +reappeared.</p> + +<p>The sponsons of the Mark I. tank were heavy affairs +bolted to the side of the machine. The latter then being +too wide over-all for carriage by rail, it was necessary +before entrainment to unbolt the sponsons and hoist them +by a laborious process with a girder and tackle on to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">19</span>specially constructed trolleys, which were towed by the +tank. In the Mark IV. an infinitely superior system was +substituted. The male sponson, reduced in size and +weight, could be pushed inwards, gun and all, after +unbolting. On the female tanks a double door, flush with +the body, replaced the lower half of the old sponson; the +remaining upper half, also more compact than in the +Mark I., was bolted down the middle and hinged to the +main structure at each end. It was necessary only to +unscrew these few bolts and swing the two portions back +on their hinges. Although not so simple as they sound, +these operations were child’s play in comparison with the +earlier abomination of girder and tackle. Moreover, this +new arrangement on the female tank had the great advantage +of facilitating the entrance or escape of the crew. +The manhole in the roof and a dreadful little aperture +beside the radiator in the stern were common to both +types; but for ordinary use the Mark I. female possessed +only a small door, some two feet high, in either sponson; +and if the tank were hit and set on fire, some of her +men were almost certain to be trapped. With the improved +sponson all could escape in a few seconds. Male +sponsons, it may be noted, always allow for quite reasonable +doors.</p> + +<p>So much for the shell and armament of the landship. +The motive power was a more difficult problem. There +was no time to design and construct special plant: some +petrol-driven engine already in use had to be selected. +The choice fell eventually on the Daimler 105 H.P. six-cylinder +sleeve-valve tractor unit. It must be left to the +mechanically-minded to decide whether a more suitable +engine could have been discovered. The greatest merit of +the Daimler was its comparative simplicity. It was very +nearly fool-proof. It took up an immense amount of space, +however, for in the Mark I. the differential gear, radiator, +and petrol-supply were all enclosed in the body of the tank. +There was left just sufficient room for a narrow gangway +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">20</span>on either side between the engine and the sponson, for +the two seats for the officer and driver in the cab in front, +and for further seats on the casing above the crank-shaft +and gear-box. Over this casing was the crank-handle for +starting up the engine—a process which required normally +the efforts of three or four men.</p> + +<p>A serious fault existed in the method of transmitting the +motive power from the engine to the tracks. Working off +the differential, and manipulated by levers, a primitive and +infuriating system of secondary gears, pinions, and Coventry +chains connected with the sprocket wheels which performed +the actual labour of propulsion. Two men were required +to work these gears; and no member of any tank crew +who took a Mark I. or Mark IV. into action is ever likely +to forget the sweat and tears and blasphemy expended over +this atrocious system. Apart from the labour and waste +of time (and consequent danger) which it involved, it has +been asserted by pessimists that 75 per cent of power was +lost in the secondary gears and transmission. In addition +to changes of speed, these gears played a prominent part +in the more frequent act of “swinging.” To alter direction +to any appreciable degree the tank had to be swung. The +differential was locked, the track on the side toward which +the turn was intended was disconnected by putting the +secondary gears on that side into neutral, and the other +track, with the whole drive behind it, then pulled the tank +round—if the soil was firm, virtually on its axis. Handbrakes, +working from the officer’s seat to the extension +shafts on the differential, assisted in the process, and could +be used alone for small changes of direction. Swinging +with this transmission was unsatisfactory in the extreme. +It required the work of four men, and often was very slow. +In the Mark V., epicyclic gears and a one-man control were +introduced.</p> + +<p>In the Mark I. the petrol-supply was carried in two tanks, +one on either side of the cab in front. With this arrangement, +whoever else might escape when the machine was set +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">21</span>on fire, the officer and driver stood an excellent chance of +being burnt alive; and in the Mark IV. an armoured tank +holding sixty gallons, placed outside in rear, was substituted. +In all types, every available inch of space within was utilised +for ammunition racks. The male tank was designed to +carry 160 rounds of 6-pounder shell, and 1500 rounds of +S.A.A.; the female to carry 7800 rounds of the latter; but, +in fact, these numbers were often exceeded, and as much as +27,000 rounds of S.A.A. have been taken into action in a +tank. Spare supplies of water, oil, and grease, together +with two days’ rations and the crew’s equipment, were +tucked away wherever room could be found. It will be +apparent, therefore, that there was little scope for movement +and no possibility of comfort in a fully-loaded tank. +Although ventilation was assisted by a rotary-fan, placed +in the stern and worked off the half-time shaft, the heat was +terrific: no one could stand upright; and the uproar of the +engine was so loud that orders had to be transmitted by +signs. Visibility was limited in the extreme. The officer +and driver had flaps which, when fully open, gave a fair +range of vision immediately in front; but when it was +necessary to close these there remained only a number of +double glass prisms⁠<a id="FNanchor_4_4" href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> let into the armour, and some inadequate +periscopes thrust up through the roof. After a while +naval compasses on gimbals were provided, but in such a +mass of steel and iron they proved of very small value.</p> + +<p>A few words must be said as to a tank’s method of progression. +The two caterpillar tracks, passing completely +round the body of the machine, consisted each of ninety +hard steel plates with lips for gripping the surface. These +tracks did not actually move over the ground; the tank in +effect laid its own track, clawed its way along it by means +of the two sprocket wheels in the rear, and then picked it +up behind and passed it over its head, as it were, before +laying it down in front again. During this process the +whole weight of the machine rested on a number of flanged +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">22</span>rollers, which wore out very rapidly, as did the early +sprocket wheels. Tracks and rollers required continual +lubrication—the latter by injections from grease-guns. The +less said of this ghastly operation the better.</p> + +<p>It will be fitting to include in so tedious a section a few +statistics. The length of the Mark I. tank was 26 feet +6 inches; its width (including sponsons) 12 feet 9 inches in +the male, 10 feet 5 inches in the female; and its height was +8 feet 1 inch. It weighed approximately 26 tons. The +armour throughout the body was 12 mm. thick, but on the +sponsons, for some obscure reason, only 10 mm. It was +proof against shrapnel and ordinary S.A.A., but failed to +keep out the “K” armour-piercing bullet which the Germans, +apparently on the strength of vague warnings received, +had just introduced.</p> + +<p>Combinations of the primary and secondary gears gave +four different speeds forward and one reverse, the highest +reaching something over four miles an hour on level ground. +Not more than 30 to 40 yards a minute was expected of a +tank across trench systems and heavily shelled areas. The +estimated radius of action without a refill was ten hours; +and it was not believed that a crew could endure for longer +the exhausting conditions amid which they must work and +fight. Finally, it was thought that the track-rollers and the +sprockets and pinions of the secondary gears would require +to be replaced after about fifty hours’ running. As a matter +of fact, most of these estimates were conservative. Tanks +ran for fifteen hours and more without a refill; their crews +withstood the heat and gases for even longer periods; and +with improved steel in the sprockets and pinions these were +found to survive such journeys as were not dreamed of in +the early days.</p> + +<p>The Mark IV. was virtually identical with the Mark I. in +shape, dimensions, and method of propulsion. Owing to +its modified sponsons it was of less width. Its armour was +slightly thicker and harder, and kept out the “K” bullets, +although the impact of the latter drove splinters from the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">23</span>inside wall.⁠<a id="FNanchor_5_5" href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> The exhaust, instead of opening direct on to +the roof, where its flames often betrayed the position of the +tank at night, was led down over the stern. A number of +Daimlers of 125 H.P. were mounted in this class, and, with +a better type of radiator, raised the speed to about five miles +an hour on the level.</p> + +<p>In conclusion, we will describe briefly the method of conveying +tanks by rail. A 50-ton truck of great length, known +officially as a “K.T.,” was designed especially for the purpose; +and after a few preliminary rites the tank was driven +direct on to this over a ramp. The normal train used in +France carried twelve tanks, so that the leader had to drive +over eleven trucks before it arrived at its own, the second +ten, and so on. The trucks were only four inches wider +than the span of the caterpillar tracks: the act of entraining +or detraining took place almost invariably at night: +occasionally, owing to the faults or exigencies of the railway +service, the tanks had to be driven off stern first; and if the +line up to the ramp was curved, as often it was, a very nice +judgment in driving and guidance was demanded. It often +happened that some machine suffering from mechanical +trouble required to be towed off by one of its fellows. +Finally, at times of great urgency (as for the big concentration +before Cambrai), it became necessary to make use of +French 30-ton trucks, which were never intended to carry +such a load, and were, moreover, actually narrower than a +tank. Yet all ranks became so expert in this work that +it was not uncommon for an entire company to be entrained +in the dark in less than thirty minutes, and detrained in +little more. The whole process, with its harrowing contingencies, +will fall to be described at a later period in the +book; but I may add here that, speaking from memory, +I can recall only one serious accident during a move by +rail. This happened just before Cambrai, when a tank fell +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">24</span>from a French truck as the train was taking a sharp curve. +And for that battle some 470 were detrained in a few days +in the same area.</p> + + +<h4 id="II_1"> + II. +</h4> + +<p>In Easter week, 1916, two new companies of the M.G.C., +known as the Heavy Section, and lettered “K” and “L,” +were formed at Bisley under Lieut.-Colonel Bradley. +Colonel Swinton remained at Headquarters in London. +The personnel was recruited principally from the A.S.C. +(M.T.) and from the classes attested under the Derby +scheme. For officers, volunteers for what was described +as a new armoured-car unit were gathered in from the +ranks of the 18th, 19th, and 21st Royal Fusiliers—the so-called +public-school battalions, then in France—and from +the Motor Machine Gun Corps. There being as yet no +tanks available for training purposes, the programme of +work at Bisley was limited virtually to drill and courses in +the Hotchkiss guns. It would be absurd to pretend that +any of this was taken very seriously. The other established +arms of the service, now expanding beyond belief, absorbed +all the best regular soldiers left in England; and the new +formation suffered inevitably from a lack of competent and +energetic senior officers. Many of us must be familiar with +the casual methods and discipline which obtained in such +embryo organisations in those days, and it is unnecessary +to fill in the details. Of the subaltern officers, probably 75 +per cent represented as good material as could be found +anywhere—a high proportion, in view of the extraordinary +and haphazard processes by which the commissioned ranks +of the New Army were filled, and one which compared very +favourably with that of most infantry units. From the outbreak +of war, while the uneducated and unintelligent were +obtaining commissions for the asking, there were fighting +and dying as private soldiers or N.C.O.’s thousands of men +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">25</span>accustomed to responsibility and leadership; and amid this +criminal wastage the new corps was lucky to obtain so +good a nucleus. As for the original rank and file, they +were admirable. A large number, of course, were skilled +mechanics; and the fighting qualities of all, under conditions +entirely novel and trying in the extreme to nerve and +body, were beyond praise.</p> + +<p>The prelude at Bisley did not continue long. Arrangements +had been made to take over Lord Iveagh’s estate at +Thetford, in Norfolk, for training purposes; and the Heavy +Section was translated thither in June to make the acquaintance +of its new machines. Within the estate the +R.E.’s had constructed a model battlefield, with trenches, +craters, and other obstacles. Since the enterprise, theoretically, +was shrouded in mystery, the whole area was swept +clear of inhabitants. Farms and cottages were evacuated. +Fences, barbed wire, and sentries kept the East Coast labourer +intrigued and amused. Aeroplanes which came too near +were fired at. These methods seem, on the whole, to have +been successful. It was impossible to conceal the fact that +something was doing: beautiful female spies and their less +attractive colleagues of the other sex are said to have transmitted +vague warnings to the enemy; but until the Mark I.’s +appeared on the Somme front the Germans had no definite +information to work on. Messrs Foster, building the first +150 at Lincoln, preferred simpler, yet perhaps more subtle, +deceptions. There was no secrecy in their yards. Any one +could see what they were doing. They were building mobile +water tanks for the Russians, those useful people, Russia +being notoriously a waterless country and badly served with +roads. There are still to be seen a few old training machines +which bear inscribed on their sides a legend in large white +Russian characters, setting forth their alleged purpose and +destination. This last was Petrograd. In such a manner +the word “tank” came into use as a convenient code +expression, and remained to stay. And as the completed +tanks arrived by rail at the training area after dark, it is +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">26</span>probable that few persons outside the corps were aware of +any connection between the simple Russian water-carriers +at Lincoln and the mysterious armoured cars which manœuvred +behind the walls of the huge enclosure at Thetford.</p> + +<p>On its arrival in the new area the Heavy Section began +work in earnest on the machines available. At first, unfortunately, +there were not many: there was some delay in +delivery, and already there were upwards of a thousand +officers and men to be trained. It had been decided to +form six fighting companies, of which four were to be ready +by the beginning of August. These companies were now +lettered from “A” to “F,” and were each to be composed +of four sections of six tanks (three male and three female), +with one reserve tank, making twenty-five in all. Each +section was divided again into three sub-sections of two +tanks. A tank crew consisted of a subaltern, three drivers, +and four gunners, including an N.C.O. The company was +commanded by a major, the sections by captains. The +total strength was thirty-one officers and about 200 other +ranks. To every two companies there was a quartermaster’s +establishment and a workshop’s section of three officers and +thirty men. By the 14th August the first four companies—A, +B, C, and D—were complete as regards personnel; and +the right half of C, with thirteen tanks, had already left for +France.</p> + +<p>We can prepare to follow. There is no need to enlarge +upon the training at Thetford. With the arrival of the +actual machines, decorated with Russian characters, interest +and zeal revived. It was difficult to remain enthusiastic +about the Hotchkiss gun for weeks on end; but to drive a +tank across trenches and in and out of craters, even in +July, was a novel and piquant form of work. It was felt +that things were moving at last: the atmosphere of secrecy +was attractive, and there were many indications of the importance +already attaching to the new arm. Generals and +staff officers came down to witness demonstrations, and the +necessary element of humour was provided when a tank-load +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">27</span>of them was upset in a trench. The men were both clever +and keen, and the most serious trouble was the insufficient +supply of machines in which to train them. Many drivers +had spent no more than an hour or two in a tank when they +left for France. It may well seem, indeed, that the first +companies were rushed out too soon; but there were good +arguments for the move. The difficulties encountered in +the Somme offensive led to a request for the early departure +of tanks; and although the training of both officers and men +was lamentably incomplete, it was thought that a month or +two of actual battle experience would outweigh all the +manifest disadvantages of a premature entry. The winter +could then be spent in profiting by the lessons learnt. A +startling success in the beginning was not anticipated by +any one who realised the difficulties to be overcome. The +danger rather was of a complete failure, and consequent +discouragement; and this possibility had to be faced. It +was hoped, however, that the new arm would at least play +so good a part as to justify its present claims and its demands +for future development.</p> + +<p>As we have seen, the right half of C Company left England +on the 13th August. The left half followed on the +22nd. D was the next to go, and then A and B. There +remained the two later companies, E and F, but these never +left the country as units. The other four did all that was +asked of them: the experiment was justified; and E and F +stayed to form the nucleus of the battalions raised at home +when the great expansion of the corps was authorised later +in the year.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">28</span></p> + + + <h3 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_III"> + CHAPTER III. + <br> + <span class="sm">THE SOMME BATTLES.</span> + </h3> +</div> + + +<h4>I.</h4> + +<p>As the companies of the Heavy Section arrived in France, +they were assembled with their tanks at Yvrench, near +Abbeville. This was before the days of the Channel Ferry. +The heavy machines had to be shipped like any other form +of ordnance; and they were but a part of the load which +required to be carried overseas. Several complete workshops, +dozens of sponson trolleys, light cars, lorries, and +motor-bicycles, together with tons upon tons of spare +parts, furnished the first instalments of that vast collection +of material which the Tank Corps came to accumulate in +France.</p> + +<p>A training centre was established at Yvrench, at first +under Lieut.-Colonel Brough, but early in September +Colonel Bradley came out to take over the command. It +was known that the unit would soon be called upon, and +there still was an immense amount of work to be done. +Drivers and gunners had to receive further training. The +tanks required to be overhauled and tuned up. Workshops +and depots must be established. Above all, a host +of novel problems concerning administration, supply, tactics—in +short, the whole method and manner of tank-work in +the field—fell to be solved without delay, and, what was +more, without assistance. The tank companies in France +were nobody’s children. Their nominal parent, the M.G.C. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">29</span>(itself a mushroom growth of doubtful antecedents and +future), had in fact no actual connection with them whatever; +and it would seem that a new technical unit, in so +experimental a stage, should more properly have been made +a branch of an established technical corps, such as the +Royal Engineers. As it was, the companies were self-contained +and unattached. The infantry, whom they had +come to help, knew nothing of them except by rumour. +The Generals and staff officers who came to see them perform +regarded them as a curious and rather dangerous +innovation, unlikely to be of much practical value. In so +far as this isolation was intentional, it is very doubtful +whether the measure of secrecy obtained by it outweighed +its disadvantages. The first battle was near at hand; and +a few minutes after zero the secret would be exploded for +ever. In the meantime, a fuller comprehension by other +arms, a more liberal interchange of views, in especial some +tuition of the infantry who were to co-operate in action, +might have saved much disappointment and many lives. +Nothing of the kind was attempted; and the companies +had to think out and master other people’s problems in +addition to their own, in the field and with small aid from +outside. Some contingencies inevitably were overlooked. +Not only was experience of this new warfare yet to seek, +but many of the officers and a larger proportion of the +men actually were in France for the first time, and knew +nothing of normal battle conditions. It is surprising how +much was foreseen and provided for in spite of these disadvantages. +The matter of supply, for example, seems to +have been dealt with adequately from the beginning, for +the tanks were seldom hampered for want of petrol or +ammunition, wherever they might be. As regards general +tactics, the new unit was fortunate in possessing a basis +to work on in a valuable memorandum issued by Colonel +Swinton early in the year. In this he outlined the probable +scope of tank warfare, dealt with infantry co-operation and +artillery support, and laid down a definite system of attack +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">30</span>which in essentials is in use to-day.⁠<a id="FNanchor_6_6" href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> On the other hand, +less thought was given to a Department that proved to be +of vital importance. This was Intelligence, or (as the +branch of that service in the Tank Corps is more accurately +styled) Reconnaissance. Circumstances peculiar to tank +operations call for the training of special officers in this +duty alone, as well as an unusually high standard of +proficiency in all tank commanders; but these needs +were not recognised fully at the outset, and one Intelligence +officer, Captain Hotblack, was responsible for +the welfare of all four companies. A little later, and +there were seven Reconnaissance Officers to each battalion; +and the corps soon won so high a reputation for thoroughness +in this work that every formation in the Army, from +Headquarters downward, came to it for assistance.</p> + + +<h4 id="II_2"> + II. +</h4> + +<p>In the beginning of September the situation along the +Somme Front was as follows:—</p> + +<p>After two months’ very sanguinary fighting two stages of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">31</span>the battle had been completed, more or less satisfactorily. +In the British sector, which alone concerns us, the enemy’s +first and second positions had been captured from a point +just west of Combles (where we touched the French +6th Army) to Pozières on the Albert-Bapaume road. +Farther northward, from Pozières to Gommecourt, we +had failed badly, and were still in our old front line. The +casualties had been extremely heavy. Before Beaumont +Hamel and Thiepval, whole brigades were destroyed on +the first day without gaining a yard of ground; and along +this moiety of our front the battle came virtually to a standstill +for months. In the southern portion our advance, +although slow and costly, had progressed fairly methodically, +side by side with that of the French. The result +was a flattish salient biting into the enemy’s old position +from the Albert-Bapaume road, southward across the +Somme, to the road from Amiens to Brie. Corresponding +to the curve of the salient was the German third line +of defence, completed since the battle began. On the +British front it ran along the reverse slope of the Pozières +Morval ridge (most of which was in our possession), some +five miles west of Bapaume. It was now intended to resume +our advance in an easterly and north-easterly direction toward +that town. The tunnelled positions of Thiepval and +Beaumont Hamel were to be left, for the present, still unassailed, +except for a few minor enterprises required to +improve the existing line.</p> + +<p>The main attack was fixed for the 15th of September. Both +the British armies now engaged in the general offensive were +taking part: the 4th, under General Rawlinson, whose front +extended from the point of junction with the French to west +of Martinpuich, and a part of Gough’s 5th or Reserve Army, +which continued the line northward. From right to left the +4th Army was to carry the villages of Morval, Les Bœufs, +Gueudecourt, and Flers; while Gough, after a preliminary +operation south-west of Thiepval on the 14th, had in hand +the capture of Martinpuich and Courcelette. The usual +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">32</span>orders were issued for a vigorous exploitation of any +opening—a poor hope on the Somme—and once more the +Cavalry Corps, with all its impedimenta, clattered noisily +up toward the battlefield to be at hand if needed.</p> + +<p>The tanks were to make their entry in this attack. C and +D Companies, commanded respectively by Major Holford +Walker and Major Summers, D.S.C., were allotted to the +two armies, and on the 10th moved up to the railway centre +called the Loop, near Bray. From there the tanks trekked +to their lying-up positions for the battle—C to the Briqueterie +near Trônes Wood, and D to the Green Dump behind +Delville Wood. The companies’ headquarters followed on +the 14th. For the actual attack the tanks were to be distributed +as follows:—</p> + +<p>Three sections of each company (17 tanks apiece) worked +on the right and right-centre with the 14th and 15th Corps. +One section of 8 tanks of D Company was attached to the +3rd Corps in the centre, while the remaining section of C +(7 tanks) came under the orders of the Reserve Army on the +left. This made a total of 49. It was intended for the +machines to be used in sub-sections of two or three against +specified strong-points. There was some discussion as to +whether they should precede or follow the infantry at zero. +If they led, it was feared that the noise of their approach to +the front line would bring down the enemy’s barrage upon +our assembly trenches; and eventually it was decided that +their arrival should be so timed that they could reach the +first objectives—roughly the line of villages—five minutes +before the infantry. For this purpose lanes were to be +left in our own barrage.</p> + +<p>I shall not attempt a detailed account of this or any +other early tank action. In the first place, it would be +difficult to do so, for the records of those days are meagre +and inaccurate. Again, the <i>rôle</i> of the tanks on the Somme +was so largely experimental and subsidiary that infantry +operation orders, even after the secret was blown, were +framed to be carried out irrespective of the action of what +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">33</span>was then regarded in most quarters as an unreliable innovation +of doubtful future. As regards the tactical methods +employed, an organisation in its infancy, with everything +to learn, had to take what chances it was offered, and +had little say in the direction of events. No attempt was +or could be made at this stage, or for long after, to introduce +those revolutionary tactics (already discussed and +advocated by Colonel Swinton and others) in which the +tank was to be the vital instrument, and wherein lies the +chief interest of its history. Finally, since all tank battles +as such bear very similar features, I prefer to concentrate +on later ones of which I have personal knowledge.</p> + +<p>The attack on the 15th September was highly successful +on the left and centre, but failed on the right, where the +strong-point known as the Quadrilateral held up our advance +against Morval and Les Bœufs. On the whole, it may be +said that the work of the tanks fully justified expectations. +No startling triumph could be recorded, but under the +circumstances none was anticipated. Enough was done to +demonstrate the inherent soundness of the design, the correctness +of the tactical axioms laid down, and the enormous +potential value of the machine when faults had been rectified +and the personnel more highly trained. The test to which +the Heavy Section had been put was a severe one. The +ground everywhere was so pulverised by the ferocious +shelling of the past two months, that out of 49 tanks +which left the Briqueterie and Green Dump that night, 17 +failed to reach their starting-points. These broke down or +were ditched on the way, the absence of any unditching +gear, such as was supplied later, proving a serious handicap. +Half an hour before zero, which fell at dawn, the other 32 +began to crawl forward to the front line. The three sections +of C Company, on the right, had been particularly unfortunate +during the approach-march, and the few tanks remaining +were able to effect little or nothing against the Quadrilateral +and Les Bœufs. In most cases they were ditched or +knocked out by shell-fire soon after they crossed the German +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">34</span>front line. D Company’s three sections, working with the +15th Corps farther north, were far more successful. Every +one who read the newspapers at the time knows how one +tank preceded the New Zealanders up the main street of +Flers, driving the terrified Germans down into the cellars, +where the infantry rounded them up. The tank then +moved on to a trench strongly held by the enemy, enfiladed +it, moved along behind it, and took 300 prisoners. Farther +north, the two sections assisting the 3rd Corps and the +Reserve Army reached Gueudecourt and the famous sugar +factory at Courcelette. In almost every case where a tank +succeeded in arriving at its objective, the mere sight of it +was enough. Save for some picked machine-gunners and a +few other desperate men, the enemy fled or surrendered on +the spot.</p> + +<p>The moral effect, all proverbs about familiarity to the +contrary, is still and will always remain the chief asset of +the tank as a weapon. No body of infantry, unless very +closely supported by guns, will stand for long in the open +before a properly concerted attack led by tanks. They +cannot: accidents apart, they are entirely helpless, and they +know it. The fire from the machine may be erratic, as +usually it is, for the gunners can see very little, and their +platform is continually in motion; but this does not abate +in any degree the moral effect of its onset. In the last five +months of the war, when the proper use of tanks had come +at last to be understood, it was only by the bold use and +sacrifice of field artillery, pushed far forward, that the +German armies were able to protract for as long as they +did the final struggle. And this moral influence works +both ways: it helps the attacker as much as it demoralises +the attacked. The tank is terrifying, or inspiring and +rather ludicrous, according to whether it is against you or +for you. It is not only a known antidote to the dreadful +trinity of trench, wire, and machine-gun. Its very appearance +is a comfort. Its shape, unlike that of any other +example of man’s handiwork, its deliberate but at times +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">35</span>curiously active and disconcerting movements, its obvious +weight and power, even the two ports, like lidded eyes, +which ornament the front of the cab, combine irresistibly +(as all journalists will testify) to suggest some huge prehistoric +animal—some giant sloth or toad. Indeed, to visit +a training-ground in the evening when some dozens of these +creatures are rolling home to their stalls or hangars is, for +all the world, like being at a Zoo during the Pleistocene +Age. The striking pattern of colours with which the +machines were painted in the early days only aided the +illusion. The British soldier, whose great merit it is to +see the comic side of everything, could not fail to be +exhilarated by these gorgeous monsters. It was long +before he came to rely on them as he could rely, let us +say, on an old-established and perfected arm like the +artillery; but this is not remarkable. Rather is it something +of a miracle, and an abiding testimony to the efforts +of the new corps, that a similar confidence between infantry +and tanks actually was created during the war’s lifetime. +And from the very first their mere appearance in the field +was a great moral factor in our favour.</p> + +<p>In this, their first battle, their casualties in personnel +were insignificant. One tank, after attacking a field +battery in Gueudecourt and destroying one gun, was +itself hit and burnt out, only two of the crew escaping. +Most of the others got off lightly. Altogether ten were +disabled by shell-fire, and seven more were hit, but returned +to the rallying-point.</p> + +<p>Reserving remarks and criticism for the end of the chapter, +we will run through the remaining actions fought by +the Heavy Section that autumn and winter. A comparative +lull of rather more than a week (marked by a successful +minor operation which gave us the Quadrilateral) followed +on the battle of the 15th; but during this period the tank +companies were feverishly busy. At first no fewer than +50 tanks were asked for to assist in the next attack. So +large a demand at that stage meant an immense amount +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">36</span>of work; and in the end nothing like this number was +required, the co-operation of the Heavy Section being +limited to the northern assault on Gueudecourt, Thiepval, +and the height overlooking the Ancre from the south. +Work on the tanks was hampered by the multitude of +visitors who came to see these novelties now that the secret +was disclosed. There was much uncertainty as to the +method of attack, the supply of maps was insufficient, +and operation orders, when they did arrive, were meagre +and ambiguous.</p> + +<p>The ground along the Thiepval ridge was in an appalling +condition. It had been shelled more or less continuously +for upwards of three months by guns of every calibre. On +top of this came two or three days of heavy rain just before +the attack. “The plan,” to quote Colonel Buchan, “was +for an attack by the 4th Army on Monday, the 25th, with—on +its left wing—small objectives; but, on the right and +centre, aiming at completing the captures which had been +the ultimate objectives of the advance of the 15th. The +following day the right wing of the 5th Army would come +into action, and it was hoped that from Thiepval to +Combles the enemy would be driven back to his fourth +line of defence, and our own front pushed up well within +assaulting distance.” The enemy’s fourth line of defence +ran just in front of Bapaume. Five tanks only were +detailed eventually to work with the 4th Army on the 25th, +and they were able to effect little or nothing. Unable to +leave their starting-point until zero, for the attack was +made at midday, they seem to have become ditched very +early. They were hardly needed, except at one point. +The assault was entirely successful everywhere but at +Gueudecourt, where uncut wire held up the 21st Division. +It had been a bitterly disappointing day for the tanks, but +the fault was hardly theirs. It was an error in the first +place to employ them at all in an operation starting in +broad daylight, for it was impossible to conceal them near +enough to the front line to enable them to go over with +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">37</span>the infantry. Corps and divisional commanders had not +yet learnt the elements of tank warfare. Secondly, the +ground was so riven and pulverised, so absolutely rotten +with shelling and rain, that without any unditching gear +or spuds (iron shoes afterwards provided to grip sodden +or crumbling soil) the odds were all against their getting +far.</p> + +<p>As it happened, an opportunity was soon offered of redeeming +these mishaps, and was seized in a very brilliant +manner. The 21st Division, we have seen, was brought to +a standstill in front of Gueudecourt. Here was a formidable +obstacle known as Gird Trench, and as a preliminary to a +further assault on the village it was essential that this +should be cleared. Orders were issued that night for an +attack at dawn, and the help of a tank was asked for. +With immense toil one was brought up in the dark across +the frightful waste of half-obliterated trenches and shell-holes +and water. For the ensuing action I will quote the +report of the 15th Corps.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>“On the 25th September, the 64th Brigade, 21st +Division’s attack on Gird Trench was hung up and +unable to make any progress. A footing had been +obtained in Gird Trench at N. 32 d 91, and our troops +held the trench from N. 26 c 45 northwards. Between +these two points there remained approximately 1500 +yards of trench very strongly held by the Germans and +well wired, the wire not having been cut. Arrangements +were made for a tank (female) to move up for +an attack next morning. The tank arrived at 6.30, +followed by bombers. It started moving south-eastward +along the Gird Trench, firing its machine-guns. +As the trench gradually fell into our hands, strong-points +were made in it by two companies of infantry +which were following in rear for that purpose. No +difficulty was experienced. The enemy surrendered +freely as the tank moved down the trench. They +were unable to escape, owing to our holding the trench +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">38</span>at the southern end at N. 32 d 91. By 8.30 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span> the +whole length of the trench had been cleared, and the +15th D.L.I. moved over the open and took over the +captured trench. The infantry then advanced to their +final objective (Gueudecourt), where the tank rendered +very valuable assistance. The tank finally ran short of +petrol south-east of Gueudecourt. In the capture of +Gird Trench 8 officers and 362 other ranks were made +prisoners, and a great many Germans were killed. +Our casualties only amounted to 5. Nearly 1500 yards +of trench were captured in less than an hour. What +would have proved a very difficult operation, involving +probably heavy losses, was taken with the greatest +ease entirely owing to the assistance rendered by the +tank.”</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>It should be added that an aeroplane also lent a hand, +flying low over the trench and machine-gunning the +defenders.</p> + +<p>This admirable little demonstration of what a tank could +do came at a most opportune moment. The months of +slaughter on the Somme were in fact having their inevitable +effect on the armies in France. Already the best of the +volunteers who enlisted in the first year of the war were +gone, and the new recruits were of a very different type. +Again and again battalions, brigades, whole divisions even, +came out of the line decimated and shaken from what was +trumpeted at home as a cheap and glorious success. A +mile or two of trenches, a wood or a village, had indeed +been won, and with much glory. But at what a cost! +Whether or no these Pyrrhic victories were worth the +sacrifice—and presumably they were—the men on the spot, +seeing only their small corner, remembered nothing but the +horror of it all. The Somme, together with Gallipoli, and +the third battle of Ypres, stand apart in the minds of those +who lived through them as long-drawn nightmares; and it +was the peculiar abomination of the first-named that it +seemed but the foretaste of an endless future. The war +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">39</span>might go on for ever in this fashion. There can be no +doubt that the Higher Command itself viewed with apprehension +a prolonged continuance of these conditions, and +was prepared at last to welcome any suggestion or innovation +which promised to alleviate them. Hence the demand +for the services of the Heavy Section before, in fact, it was +prepared to take the field. The tanks came; and the little +action just described, together with other similar if less +spectacular performances, went far to convert doubters to +the possibilities of the attack by armour. Gird Trench, +however insignificant in itself, was a singularly perfect +example of how the new weapon could help toward economy +of life and effort. At a conservative estimate the enemy +had lost not only a strong position, but also some 600 +officers and men killed, wounded, or taken. Our infantry +casualties totalled five, and the tank crew who were +directly responsible for the success numbered only eight. +Such figures in themselves were convincing.</p> + +<p>On the same morning eight tanks went over on the left +with the right wing of the 5th Army against Thiepval. +The ground was all but impossible, and most of them were +ditched on or about the German front line; but two got +into Thiepval and gave valuable help to the infantry at a +time when the artillery support for once had failed.</p> + + +<h4 id="III_1"> + III. +</h4> + +<p>The Heavy Section had no more fighting for nearly two +months. With October the bad weather set in: the rain +fell in torrents: when it did not rain a heavy mist gave +the sodden ground no chance of recovery; and the overburdened +roads went from bad to worse. While the armies +struggled in the mud and water on the slopes of the final +ridge before Bapaume, the tank companies were withdrawn +to Acheux to refit.</p> + +<p>By the end of October it was plain that a condition of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">40</span>stalemate had been reached on the main battlefield. To +relieve this it was decided to make a flank attack along +and north of the Ancre, where we had been repulsed in +July. The capture of the Thiepval height had improved +the prospect of a fresh attempt in this quarter. The +northern edge of the salient we had created now ran east +and west along high ground south of the river; and it was +possible for our artillery to enfilade and even take in +reverse the immensely strong positions of Beaucourt and +Beaumont Hamel.</p> + +<p>The attack was fixed for the 13th November. Originally, +twenty tanks were to have been used, but the weather was +so bad that this number was reduced to five—three to assist +at St Pierre Divion, south of the Ancre, while the other +two endeavoured to reach Beaumont Hamel. By this time +the absolute necessity of good reconnaissance had been +recognised; and before the action, tank commanders were +taken to observation-points from which they could see +something of the ground beyond the front line. Landmarks +were indicated to them, aeroplane photographs were studied, +and, on zero night, the tank routes were taped as far as +possible. But no foresight could avail against the weather. +Gales blew, the rain fell, and, on the night of the 12th-13th, +came snow. The three southern tanks were bogged in the +mud as they moved up. The northern pair found the tapes +obliterated by the snow, but Captain Hotblack, the Intelligence +Officer, led one forward under heavy fire, and then +going back, brought up the second to a point where the +infantry was hung up. Both these tanks did good work +before getting ditched, and Hotblack received the D.S.O. +Meanwhile the attack had succeeded beyond expectation. +St Pierre Divion and Beaumont Hamel were taken, although +once more an assault on Serre was repulsed. One battalion +of the Naval Division, led by Lieut.-Colonel Freyburg, +actually pushed right up the river valley to the outskirts +of Beaucourt. Here it hung on all day, far ahead of our +main advance. The failure to capture a powerful redoubt +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">41</span>between Beaucourt and Beaumont Hamel prevented any +adequate support reaching the battalion, but Freyburg, +who was wounded in all four times, refused to withdraw. +A Territorial unit contrived to get in touch with him, and +communication of a sort was maintained with the rear +along the river bank. But his position was as precarious +as it was valuable; and that night three tanks were brought +up for another attack on the redoubt. One was hit by a +shell and disabled. The others got within close range of +the strong-point before getting ditched. They were able +to bring their guns to bear, and in a short time the place +surrendered, no fewer than 400 prisoners falling to the +two tanks alone. The subsequent infantry advance closed +up the line and enabled Freyburg to crown his exploit by +capturing Beaucourt at the head of his men.</p> + +<p>A few days later the battles of the Somme came definitely +to an end. If the autumn advance had come up to expectations +there was an intention of continuing the offensive +throughout the winter, but the powers which modern +weapons give to the defence, combined with the October +rains, had limited our successes and brought the army to +a pitch of exhaustion; and now a complete break-up of +the weather put any idea of further operations out of the +question. The troops set about making themselves as +comfortable as possible in their new positions. Shattered +roads were remade and light railways laid down across +the waste behind the front line. Preparations began for a +renewed onslaught in the spring. With the rest, the companies +of the Heavy Section were to be very busy that +winter. The increasing difficulties of the attack, and their +own demonstration of how those difficulties might be overcome, +had established their position as a valuable, if not +yet an indispensable, auxiliary. But they had fought their +last battle as individual units. The corps was growing; +and they withdrew from the line only to form the nucleus +of the four battalions which were to be raised in France.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">42</span></p> + + +<h4 id="IV"> + IV. +</h4> + +<p>An immense amount of nonsense was talked and written +about the first appearance of the tanks in the field. The +newspapers, as perhaps was to be expected, excelled themselves +in absurdity. Any lie was good enough for them. +The war correspondents, in their safe and comfortable +château in the valley of the Ternoise, ransacked Scripture +and zoology for suitable similes. There is a story of those +halfpenny strategists, Messrs Gibbs and Beach Thomas,⁠<a id="FNanchor_7_7" href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> +tossing up a coin (no doubt a halfpenny) to decide who +should use the word Behemoth. All this ignorant flapdoodle +did an ill service to the new unit. Its exploits in +battle had been witnessed by few; but tens of thousands +had seen tanks lying derelict in the Somme mud or holding +up traffic through mechanical breakdowns on important +thoroughfares; and exaggerated encomiums in ill-informed +newspaper articles only brought ridicule upon men who had +done wonders in circumstances inconceivable to the writers. +The Heavy Section, in its early days, is said to have been +the victim of more chaff (and not always good-natured) than +any unit except the London Scottish. People at home, who +believe anything they read in print and have the Press +they deserve, naturally expected miracles of machines which +pushed down houses on battlefields, where, in fact, no +house had been standing for months.</p> + +<p>No one disliked this sort of thing more than the men +concerned. They knew well enough where they had succeeded +and where they had failed. The necessary experience +had been bought; and there were many lessons to be +learnt from it and carried into practice, so far as was possible, +before the next battle. It was proved that the Mark I. was +designed on sound lines, and needed only a few structural +alterations to make it equal to all reasonable demands until +such time as it could be superseded by an altogether +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">43</span>superior type. The “Hydraulic Stabiliser” or tail, for +example, must be got rid of. Its essential worthlessness +was discovered quite early, when a tank came under shell-fire +while waiting for zero behind our front line. The +whole crew being inside for shelter, with the engine just +ticking over, a projectile burst under the stern and blew the +tail away without doing any other damage: amid the general +uproar no one was aware of what had happened; and the +tank moved forward and was in action for some time before +the loss of this absurd appendage was discovered. Other +faults to be remedied were the position of the petrol-tanks, +the overhead exhaust-outlet, emitting conspicuous flame and +sparks, the needlessly broad sponsons (accessories in many +cases of ditching), and the lack of any gear by which a +ditched tank could free itself under its own power. +“Ditching,” an unpleasant commonplace of tank warfare, +can happen in many ways; but in essentials this misfortune +means one of two things. Either the machine has +got itself into such a position (<i>e.g.</i>, tail down in a wide and +very deep trench) that although the tracks will grip the +surface the engine-power is insufficient to pull it out; or +the belly, with a dead weight of nearly 30 tons on top +of it, is resting on comparatively hard ground, while the +tracks, happening on soft patches, cut through without +gripping at all. The tank, for example, is moving parallel +and close to the forward edge of a trench. The edge gives +way under the weight of the near track, which slides down +until the sponson on that side hits the rear wall of the +trench. The fallen track is now revolving uselessly in air +or crumbling earth, the belly of the tank is resting heavily +on the parapet, and the efforts of the outer track, still on +firm ground, to overcome the consequent friction, only +succeed in embedding the sponson in the parados until the +engine can no longer force the machine forward. What +was needed was something which would give one or both +tracks a more secure grip or leverage in such cases. After +the experiences on the Somme, two separate devices were +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">44</span>adopted. For permanent use over soft ground iron shoes +or “spuds” were clamped at intervals along the tracks; +while in addition each tank carried a pair of what were +known as torpedo-booms. These were cigar-shaped objects +of wood and iron, about six feet long, to be clamped to each +track by chains when the tank became ditched. As the +tracks revolved, these booms in theory were pulled round +underneath the tank until they became jammed in the +ground, when, the tracks being thus brought to a standstill, +the machine was able to climb out over them in the normal +way. In practice, although of great use on many occasions, +these booms were found to be too small and weak. In soft +ground they often were dragged under the whole length +of the tank and up to the surface again behind: in hard +ground, the chains were apt to part under the strain. A +greatly superior development of this idea (to be described +in its turn) was tested and adopted after the battle of +Messines.</p> + +<p>I offer no apology for this digression on unditching. +Throughout the battles of the Somme, Arras, Messines, and +Ypres, by day and by night, during approach-marches and +under fire in action, this unsavoury process might fall at any +moment to the lot of any crew. On at least one occasion +at Ypres a whole company of twelve tanks was ditched +hopelessly before it even reached the front line, and a few +days before, in the same dismal area, out of two companies +of the same battalion (my own) which went over at zero, +only one tank returned before the end of the day. One +other had been blown to pieces, the remaining twenty-one +were ditched, temporarily or for ever, here and there about +our little sector of that water-logged battlefield. Most of +them had struggled somehow into action, and some were +extricated from bogs or shell-holes half a dozen times before +their exhausted crews gave up the struggle. At least +another fifty from other battalions were in similar case that +evening. Ypres, of course, was exceptional, and tanks +should never have been used there; but until their proper +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">45</span>function was discovered at Cambrai, he was a fortunate +commander who could take his machine in and out of action +anywhere without a case of ditching on the way.</p> + +<p>Reverting finally to the lessons of the Somme, it was felt +by most officers and men of the new unit that, well as they +had done on many occasions, more might have been accomplished. +They suffered none of the delusions which the +Press was fostering at home. The lack of foresight in some +directions was obvious enough now. At the same time it +was realised that the tanks had been put to an unreasonable +test. They were constructed for fair ground and fair weather; +they had been granted neither. There had been insufficient +time to train the crews. On account of the secrecy maintained +at the start, it was impossible for infantry commanders +and their men to become acquainted with tank +tactics; but this want of co-operation was not remedied, as +it should have been, before the later actions. Springing +from the same source of ignorance was the mischievous +tendency to use tanks in driblets instead of in masses—a +tendency which the Tank Corps had to fight throughout its +existence.</p> + +<p>It was proved that the preparations for a battle required +an infinite amount of work and forethought. There were +contingencies to be considered such as affected no other +arm. Especially was this the case with reconnaissance; +for success or failure hung upon the tank commanders’ +familiarity, from thorough coaching beforehand, with the +ground they had to cover. Once in action, they could see +very little, while maps were almost useless in a devastated +country, and each officer instead had to carry in his mind +the look of almost every tree-stump and every mound of +rubble.</p> + +<p>If tanks lost their way, apart from other consequences, +the infantry were very apt to follow them and lose their own +direction. Another difficulty, springing in part from the +small size of the unit and in part from the bad practice of +employing tanks in driblets, was that subaltern tank officers +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">46</span>often found themselves working alone or in pairs with +divisions or even with corps, and conferring on tactical +points with G.S.O.I.’s and Generals. They had not the +experience or authority needed to combat ill-advised +demands, and as a result were often set to perform impossible +tasks.</p> + +<p>If the Heavy Section was to remain, still more if it was +to be expanded, everything went to show the urgent need of +reforming it as a fully equipped and independent organisation +like the Flying Corps, whose requirements in many +ways resembled its own. It must have its responsible staff +to decide finally all questions dealing purely with tank warfare, +its intelligence branch run on individual lines, its +technical officers, its signal service, its workshops and +depots, its transport and supply. Such a proposal was put +forward after the first Somme battles, and as a proof that +the mistakes and disappointments of that period were outweighed +greatly on the credit side, the suggestion was +adopted at once. Before the end of September the expansion +and new establishment were authorised. Lieut.-Colonel +Elles was given the command in France; and the +building of a thousand improved tanks was put in hand +without delay.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">47</span></p> + + + <h3 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IV"> + CHAPTER IV. + <br> + <span class="sm">EXPANSION: THE BATTLES IN FRONT OF ARRAS.</span> + </h3> +</div> + + +<h4>I.</h4> + +<p>A big step forward had been taken; but its initial symptoms +were very modest in character. The headquarters of the +Tank Corps (as the companies had now become in fact if +not in name) began life in a single hut in the village of +Beauquesne. The provisional establishment allowed only +for a Colonel Commanding (Colonel Elles), a Brigade Major, +a Staff Captain, a D.A.A. and Q.M.G., and an Intelligence +Officer. The corps was still known officially as the Heavy +Section or Heavy Branch, M.G.C., and continued to be so +styled for another nine months; but actually, the moment +it became a self-contained organisation, with its staff, its +brigades and battalions, and its administrative powers, it +severed for good and all the paper ties which had connected +it with its foster-parent.</p> + +<p>Unhappily, the official attitude toward this expansion +was marked throughout by that grudging spirit which the +pedants in every Government Department manifest when +they have to adopt an innovation against their will. There +seemed to be a tacit understanding in Whitehall that the +budding enterprise must be kept in its place and reminded +continually of its youth and insecure status. It was not +until May 1917 that the commanding officer was given the +rank of Brigadier, although by that time he was commanding +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">48</span>two tank brigades in the field, and the headquarters of +a third formed to receive the new battalions from England. +He had ten battalions under him when he became a Major-General. +Until he received that step his brigade commanders +were only colonels, so that, although in action +they worked directly with Army Corps, any infantry +Brigadier was senior to them. Apart from the slur on +the corps and its officers, this deliberate omission caused +serious inconvenience. In its early days the Tank Corps +needed every ounce of authority it could get to help it +through its inevitable difficulties. Notwithstanding these, +at the end of 1918 it had eighteen battalions in France and +seven more in England: it had created immense workshops, +schools, and depots in both countries: it had sent detachments +to Ireland and Egypt; and in the final months it +had not only led the infantry of three armies in almost every +attack, but had dictated in the most important respects how +those attacks should be conducted. Yet the officer directing +this enormous force in the field had the rank only of a +divisional commander. This plainly was wrong in principle. +Had the Royal Air Force (let us say), whose position +was in many ways comparable, found itself in a similar +predicament: had it been cast brand-new during the war +instead of developing from a pre-war regular establishment +with its machinery complete, it would have advertised its +disabilities in Parliament and in the Press, and would have +forced a terrified officialdom to invest its chief with some +fantastic title and costume invented by the ‘Daily Mail.’⁠<a id="FNanchor_8_8" href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> +The Tank Corps, however, for all its youth and inexperience, +has assimilated at least one of the better traditions of +the regular service: it does not advertise. I do not suppose +there are a thousand people outside the Army who know +anything about its work. As the tank itself has no money-making +future in peace-time, it can have no permanent +interest for newspaper proprietors. And for this relief, at +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">49</span>least, much thanks. The corps has done the better work +because of it.</p> + +<p>The antagonistic spirit to which I have adverted discovered +another fertile field for its intrigues in England. +Expansion was in progress there as well. There can be no +difference of opinion as to the unexpected common-sense +which placed Colonel Elles, an experienced soldier from a +technical corps, in command in France; nor, unhappily, +can there be any as to the injustice (to put it on the lowest +grounds) of shelving Colonel Swinton at home. He also +was an engineer, and therefore peculiarly suitable for the +command; but apart from that, if any one man was responsible +for the official adoption of the tank—the solitary +triumphant experiment which the war produced—it was he. +There was no so-called public pressure, engendered by the +agitation of cheap newspapers; for neither Press nor public +knew anything worth disclosing until the first machines were +already at Thetford. It was Colonel Swinton’s fertility of +thought, the inspiration of his belief, his influence and +persistent advocacy, which did more than all else to wear +down the maddening barrier of departmental indifference. +He won at last some measure of support for his ideas: he +organised the new unit, and saw his hopes of it justified in +the field; and then, just as the embryo was expanding into +full life and vigour, the old influences made themselves felt +once more. Somebody said (or so it will be most charitable +to suppose), “Hullo, here’s another of these infernal +sappers! This won’t do! The whole war is being run by +R.E.’s and gunners, as it is. We must get rid of him!” +He was got rid of. It was found (most opportunely) that +the Committee of Imperial Defence could do without his +services no longer, and he returned to his duties as Assistant-Secretary. +An infantry Brigadier, who had performed a +very notable feat of arms in the first months of the war, but +who knew nothing about tanks, came down to Thetford to +take over the command, and gave an encouraging tone +to the proceedings by declaring quite openly, the moment +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">50</span>he arrived, that he was come to put some discipline into the +corps, that he took no interest whatever in the tanks, and +that he did not want to see them.</p> + +<p>In view of these and other examples of our methods and +manners, the rapid and enormous growth of the corps may +seem surprising. To a great degree it wrought its own +salvation. But in fact the opposition came mostly from +those quarters at home where every reasonable being would +expect to find it, and could to that extent be disregarded as +merely symptomatic and inevitable; and the supporters of +the enterprise were far more influential. In France also +there was an ever-increasing body of opinion in its favour. +And once it was taken up in earnest, those qualities of +energy and thoroughness which our race seems always to +reserve for times of crisis came fully into play. It is +indeed refreshing to turn from these petty irritations to +the really astonishing work which now was carried through +in both countries. At home, the camp at Thetford was +abandoned. E and F Companies, or what was left of them, +with all their tanks and stores and baggage, were transferred +bodily to the other end of England. At Bovington, near +Wool in Dorsetshire, a hutted camp capable of holding as +it stood half a dozen infantry battalions had been taken +over toward the end of 1916. By the first weeks of the +new year five tank battalions and a reinforcement depot +were in process of formation there. On the great moors +which stretched away to the north there was ample room +for training; and once more rows of hangars and repair shops +were springing up, trenches were being dug and +craters blown, while the inhabitants of Wool were annoyed +rather than mystified by the melodramatic precautions +attending the arrival of every trainload of tanks. Instructors +appeared like mushrooms: there were courses in tank-driving, +maintenance, gunnery, signalling, reconnaissance, +bombing, and the care of pigeons. Near Lulworth Cove, +where trippers used to make pilgrimage before the war, a +battle-practice range came into being. A little later, while +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">51</span>Bovington itself was growing week by week, other camps +were taken over at Wareham and Swanage, until most of +the military accommodation in the Isle of Purbeck housed +what once had been the Heavy Section. And in the meantime, +developments even more striking had been taking +place in France. From four rather forlorn little companies, +living as it were from hand to mouth, the corps sprang at a +bound into a huge and complicated organisation, with its +own territory, works, and depots, and every apparatus for +carrying on its lethal industry. A large area, lying between +the river Ternoise and the direct Hesdin-St Pol road, +was allotted to it. To Bermicourt, a village almost in the +centre of this country, Colonel Elles removed his headquarters +from Beauquesne early in October ’16. Twenty-four +acres near the river were taken for central workshops +and stores. In a few weeks, as well as the ubiquitous +hangars, immense steel and iron sheds had arisen, and +continued to grow in numbers and size until they covered +six acres. Stalls for tanks, like the old elephant stables +of Carthage, lined one side of the testing-ground. There +were huts for a staff which grew to 1200 officers and men, +cinema theatres, a rest-camp and hospital, a compound +holding 500 Chinese labourers, and, for a time, a reinforcement +depot. From Erin Station, eleven lines of rail, with +10,500 feet of sidings, led into the main enclosure. A few +hundred yards away was a driving and mechanical school, +with its own training-ground. And long before the end +of 1917 the original twenty-four acres of stores and workshops +were getting overcrowded. In addition to the vast +accumulation of equipment, ranging from engines and +armour-plate down to split-pins and motor-bicycle parts, +there were always there two or three hundred tanks in +every stage of dismemberment or reconstruction. Every +machine sent out from England (perhaps 3000 in all) +came from Le Havre to Erin to be tested, equipped, and +issued to units; and every machine salved on the battlefield +was returned there for repair. More ground, therefore, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">52</span>was taken over in the area itself; a great driving school +was formed on the old front line at Wailly, near Arras; +the whole reinforcement depot moved out to Le Tréport; +and a school of gunnery, capable before long of taking three +battalions at a time, came into being among the sand-dunes +and gimcrack villas of Merlimont, on the coast near Etaples. +In the Bermicourt area there was not a village now which +did not house some detail of the corps—M.T. Workshops, +Salvage, Supply, and Signal Companies, &c.—or was not +reserved for billeting battalions as they arrived from England +or returned from the line to refit. It should be needless +to add that the headquarters in Bermicourt Château +kept pace with this expansion. In the beginning the staff +was palpably inadequate; before the end it was comparable +in size to that of an army.</p> + +<p>Taking it all in all, I doubt if there can be anything, even +in the exceptional records of this war, to equal for extent +and variety the growth of the technical, instructional, and +supply branches of the Tank Corps during the last two +years. It was the natural habit of the combatant units to +complain loudly of all three; but to visit Erin at any time, +to see there the scores of tanks, the acres of vast workshops +and store-sheds, the miles of sidings, and the tons upon tons +of gear and equipment, and to reflect that every pound of +this material had come from England since the winter of +’16, was enough to make one pause and wonder; and +looking back now at the whole industry, raised in so short +a time from nothing at all, it appears, with all its obvious +shortcomings, a highly remarkable achievement of forethought +and energy.</p> + +<p>I have gone a little far ahead. The growth was rapid, +but it was not all accomplished at a blow; and it was the +least known and advertised aspect of the expansion. Side +by side with the rise of Erin as a base, the combatant +branch was growing also. The old companies in France +had become battalions, and the latter were multiplying at +a rate of one a month.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">53</span></p> + +<p>About the time when E and F Companies were leaving +Thetford for Bovington, A, B, C, and D were withdrawn +from Acheux to Bermicourt. They were raised at once to +their new status, under the same alphabetical designations, +and volunteers were called for from other arms of the service. +Originally each of these new battalions was to have +had 72 tanks; but partly on account of the difficulties of +production, partly for simplicity of tactical handling, this +number was by degrees whittled down to one-half. The +eventual establishment for a battalion was fixed at three +companies of 12 tanks each, and a Workshops Company; +making a total of 36 tanks, and some 800 officers and men, +commanded by a Lieutenant-Colonel. Each combatant +company consisted of three fighting sections of 4 tanks, +and one spare or supply section. The Workshops Company, +like the others, was commanded by a Major, and was +responsible for the upkeep of the tanks and for all repairs +which could be executed in the field. At a later date these +battalion workshops were abolished and merged into +brigade organisations, Engineer Officers, with a small +staff, remaining with the units. The latter, in theory +(and to a large extent in fact), were now capable of effecting +their own minor repairs and maintenance.</p> + +<p>There was an Equipment Officer to each battalion, and +subsequently three assistants for the companies. No less +important was the Reconnaissance branch. In addition +to the Battalion R.O. (a Captain), there were three company +R.O.’s and three assistants, with a staff of draughtsmen. +In most of the battalions the standard of this +essential work, both in the office and in the field, was very +high. The Tank Corps was responsible for many innovations +in this branch of Intelligence, such as the more +general use of layered maps, and of the study of aeroplane +photographs. The Germans, whose map-making, oddly +enough, was usually poor, were led to adopt the device +of layering by examples which they found in captured +tanks.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">54</span></p> + +<p>Finally, each battalion started life with an imposing +array of every type of motor transport—light cars, box-cars, +lorries, mobile repair shops, motor-bicycles, &c. But this +Utopian equipment was too good to last. In France the +transport was pooled; and over this fatal step, and the +appeals and recriminations evoked by it ever since, it is +better to be silent. General Grant has said that military +history should be truthful; but no good purpose can be +served by dwelling on such tragedies. They are common +to the human race—or at any rate to the human army.</p> + +<p>With the nine battalions now in process of formation, +four in France and five at home, it was proposed to make +up three brigades. Two came at once into being: the 1st, +consisting of C and D Battalions, under Colonel C. D. A. +Baker-Carr, D.S.O.; and the 2nd, of A and B Battalions, +under Colonel A. Courage, M.C. The 3rd Brigade H.Q., +Colonel J. Hardress Lloyd, D.S.O., commanding, was +formed soon after to await the new arrivals. As the latter +assembled in France the units would be redistributed until +there were three battalions in each brigade.</p> + +<p>Before finishing with the subject of expansion, certain +auxiliary services fall to be mentioned. The Tank Corps +had its own signal branch, including wireless and pigeons. +The former was tried in tanks especially fitted for the +purpose, but was not strikingly successful. Cable-laying +machines were also used in the Ypres salient. Pigeons, +until the final advance, when the lofts could not keep up, +proved by far the most rapid and reliable means of communication +during an action. Two birds, when available, +were carried in each tank; and their behaviour in the most +trying circumstances imaginable was truly exemplary. I +shall never forget the placid and almost <i>blasé</i> air with which +a couple in my own tank continued to sip their water, and +take apparently an intelligent interest in the proceedings +while, in a sweating atmosphere of petrol fumes, high +explosive, and decomposing humanity, we were crashing +over fallen tree-trunks along the Poelcapelle road.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">55</span></p> + +<p>Supply-tanks were first used at the battle of Messines. +These were old Mark II.’s with their guns removed, and +special sponsons substituted—the equivalents, in fact, of +the eighteenth-century warships armed <i>en flûte</i> and filled +with stores. Each tank carried 300 gallons of petrol and +80 of water; track and engine-oil and grease in proportion; +and upwards of 10,000 rounds of S.A.A. and 6-pdr. shell. +This improvisation was found so invaluable, especially in +devastated areas where roads were few, that a little later +regular supply companies were formed, each of three sections, +and attached to brigades, the sections working with +battalions. A further development ensued when the infantry, +profiting indirectly by this service, asked for supply-tanks +of their own. A number of gun-carriers, as well as +Mark II.’s, were used for this purpose in the autumn of +1918.</p> + +<p>The gun-carriers deserve a word of notice. They were +tanks built on the tractor principle and designed to carry +60-pounder guns across country. The gun was lifted up +bodily, carriage and all, by long arms projecting from the +front of the machine, between the tracks; it was then carried +like a baby to its destination and there lowered to earth +again. These G.C. tanks, although driven by Tank Corps +mechanics, came under the orders of the Garrison Artillery. +They were used for the first time at Ypres on 31st July +1917. But that half-drowned battlefield, which all but +ruined the Tank Corps itself, was the beginning and the +end of the gun-carriers’ legitimate career. On fair ground +they might have proved valuable, but they were never tried +again; and after a period of desuetude they were consigned +to the hack-work of supply.</p> + +<p>The salvage companies formed yet another branch of the +corps, and a most hard-working and ill-requited one. It +was their tedious, and often perilous, duty to salve all tanks +left completely derelict, from whatever cause, behind our +front line. More than once the personnel were working for +days on end under shell-fire, and they suffered a high percentage +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">56</span>of casualties. This was especially the case in the +Ypres salient in the dreadful winter of 1917-18, when there +were close on 190 tanks lying rusting in the mud. Some +had disappeared almost completely, and round others coffer-dams +had to be built to raise them from the lagoons in +which they lay half-submerged. Yet ninety were salved +here in ten months; and from the battalions, fresh from the +fighting in this God-forsaken area, came volunteers to help +in the work! No words can do justice to the difficulties +which the salvers had to overcome in that morass, or to the +labour and ingenuity which overcame them. I can speak +with some authority on these amphibious conditions, for I +left my own tank there with two feet of water already above +the floor, and all the King’s coffer-dams and all the King’s +men failed to get her out. I have no figures to quote as to +the numbers salved on later and less inhuman battlefields, +but the total must have run into hundreds. And this +devoted work, unrecognised as it was, had its unexpected +reward. When strikes at home were delaying production, +it was the old rescued tanks lying in scores at Erin that +were furbished up and put into commission again to bring +battalions up to strength for Cambrai and the big battles of +August 1918.</p> + + +<h4 id="II_3"> + II. +</h4> + +<p>While expansion was in progress the lessons of the +Somme with regard to the capabilities of the tanks themselves +were considered and put to good purpose. In +November ’16, at a conference of the Mechanical Warfare +Supply Department, Lieut.-Colonel Stern, the chief +engineer, dealt with the programme of future construction. +There were then in France seventy Mark I. tanks. Fifty +Mark II.’s were to arrive by January, and a similar +number of Mark III.’s by the following month. (These +last, of course, never materialised.) From February to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">57</span>May Mark IV.’s were to be produced at the rate of +twenty a week; Mark V.’s would be available in August; +and a new light tank, the Medium A or “Whippet,” +by Christmas. We have already dealt with the Mark IV., +and the Mark V. and Whippets can be considered when +eventually they did make an appearance. For this programme +was too optimistic: no Mark IV.’s arrived until +after the battle of Arras, and the Mark V. was not ready in +any numbers for another year.</p> + +<p>In the spring of 1917, therefore, when the Tank Corps +went into battle for the first time in its new form, the situation +was as follows: At Bovington, Brigadier-General Gore +Anley, D.S.O., with Colonel M. B. Matthew Lannowe as +G.S.O.I., superintended the training of the five new +battalions, until in March he went to the Administrative +Headquarters of the Heavy Branch in London, where two +months later he was succeeded by Major-General Sir John +Capper, K.C.B., R.E. Brigadier-General W. Glasgow, +C.M.G., took over the command at Bovington. In +February or March the first Mark IV.’s arrived there for +training purposes, followed in April by an experimental +Whippet. Meanwhile in France Colonel Elles and his +brigade commanders were organising and training the new +establishment, and the great shops at Erin were growing +appreciably every day. A highly interesting development, +launched the previous autumn from Thetford—namely, the +Palestine detachment—was nearing the day of trial in that +inhospitable region, and will be dealt with in the next +chapter.</p> + +<p>The general situation in France and Flanders was altered +greatly by the German withdrawal in March. During the +winter minor operations had cleared the enemy out of the +positions north of the Ancre which he had held so tenaciously +and so long, and by the beginning of March we +were within 2000 yards of Bapaume on the Albert road. +Between Bapaume and Arras the Germans now occupied a +very pronounced salient. A proposal to drive in its northern +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">58</span>flank with the help of two battalions of tanks was cancelled +because it was found impossible to provide the latter at the +time. Before anything further could be done the enemy +forestalled this and other plans of attack by an extensive +and very skilful retreat, reaching at one point a depth of +twenty miles. The pursuing armies, following up from +Arras to Soissons, found themselves confronted by the +Hindenburg Line, whose existence was well known but whose +character had been hitherto a matter of conjecture. It is +the custom to depreciate this much-advertised defence +system. Colonel Buchan, allowing his natural hankering +after prophecy to outrun his usual discretion, observed +rather rashly (in the beginning of 1918) that “the marvellous +new Siegfried line was not a fortress from which he (the +enemy) could sally, but a prison.” In view of the “sallies” +which followed hard upon this assertion, it would appear, +with others of its kind, to be susceptible of modification. +In point of fact, the Hindenburg Line was neither a fortress +nor a prison: it simply was what it professed to be, an +extremely strong entrenched system designed for an especial +purpose which, on the whole, it adequately fulfilled.</p> + +<p>Sir Douglas Haig, writing of the intended stroke which +was frustrated in part by the withdrawal of the enemy, +says, “My object was to deal him a blow which would +force him to use up reserves.” South of the Ancre such +a blow was now out of the question: the pursuing armies +found themselves faced by this new defensive system, while +behind them there lay the whole devastated area of the +Somme to complicate their lines of supply. Much had to +be done before an advance was possible here. But the +northern half of the plan, to drive the enemy farther back +from Arras and from off the Vimy Ridge, remained unaffected; +and it was decided to carry it through. Its main +object was still to divert the mass of German reserves away +from the Soissons region, where the French were to make +the principal attack on the southern pivot of the Hindenburg +Line.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">59</span></p> + +<p>The battle of Arras, as it is called, was timed to open at +dawn on the 9th April. Three armies were taking part, +and Colonel Baker-Carr’s 1st Tank Brigade was to co-operate +with all three. Only 60 tanks, Marks I. and II., +were available, of which 8 were allotted to the 1st Army +in the attack on the Vimy Ridge, 40 to the 3rd Army +astride the Scarpe, and 12 to the 5th Army (which did +not come into the battle until the 11th) on the right. As +this operation had been long foreseen, the reconnaissance +officers of the 1st Brigade had begun their survey of the +area as early as January. Dumps were formed at Neuville +St Vaast, Roclincourt, Achicourt, and Beaurains. The +three groups of tanks were detrained respectively at Acq, +Montenescourt, and Achiet-le-Grand. These preliminary +movements were as trying as they always are: the trains +were forty-eight hours late, the sponson trolleys gave endless +trouble by breaking away or overturning, and much +extra work and anxiety resulted from the loss of 20,000 +gallons of petrol in a railway accident. Some days before +the battle, however, all the machines were lying up in +positions close to the front line, some of C Battalion +being concealed in the ditch of the citadel of Arras.</p> + +<p>For tank operations the ground north of the Scarpe +possessed every possible disadvantage. No one who has +seen the region of the old front line about Ecurie and +Neuville St Vaast in early spring can wonder that +Mark II. tanks, provided only with torpedo-booms for +unditching, failed to get far. The soil is heavy loam +above chalk, inclined to be wet in any season; and +as it had been fought over since 1914, it was one great +maze of half-obliterated trenches and craters whose walls +crumbled at a touch. South of Arras conditions were +slightly better. The ground was hardly less cut up, but +the surface was firmer. Much depended, however, upon +the weather. The early days of April were fine and clear, +and the soil, except in the marshy valley of the Scarpe, +dried rapidly. But on zero night, with that fatality which +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">60</span>seemed to pursue our efforts for so long, the wind shifted, +the sky clouded over, and rain began to fall. Before long +it was snowing.</p> + +<p>Zero was at 5.30 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span> With every big offensive our +artillery fire had increased in intensity; and on this morning, +after seven days’ preliminary bombardment, the opening +barrage was more tremendous than anything which had been +seen on the Somme. Under its protection the Canadians +and the 12th Corps reached the crest of the Vimy with +little trouble. But the tanks were unable to follow. While +the real struggle was beginning in the rain and sleet around +La Folie Farm and Hill 145, the eight tank crews were toiling +with their ineffective gear to extricate their machines from +the hopeless ground on the slope below. Not one of them +got into action. To the right, however, in the Scarpe +Valley, the section working with the 6th Corps had done +good work; and south of the river, C Battalion had given +another convincing example, to those who had eyes to see, +of the new methods which were subverting the ancient +principles of attack. The night had begun with a serious +disaster. The tanks started from the village of Achicourt. +The little river Crinchon, flowing into the Scarpe, had +created patches of bog which in places had become +covered with a crust of what appeared to be hard soil. +The reconnaissance of the route had been perfunctory: it +led straight over one of these concealed traps; and the +officer responsible had not even tested the ground with +his stick. The night was intensely dark, the wind was +gusty, and the rain falling heavily; while in Achicourt, +close by, a dump had been blown up, and was still burning +and drawing the enemy’s fire. Amid this uproar and +confusion six tanks drove one after the other into the bog, +and were engulfed beyond all immediate repair. This inexcusable +calamity would have entailed more serious consequences +than it did but for the admirable work of other +tanks engaged in the same region. The German position +here was one of great strength. South of the elaborate +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">61</span>system of trenches around Tilloy-les-Mofflaines extended +a formidable work, upwards of half a mile long, known +from its shape as the Harp. It marked the junction of +the northern end of the Hindenburg Line with the old +front system, and it rested partly on the height called +Telegraph Hill, also heavily fortified. “The Harp,” to +quote Colonel Buchan, “was such a place as in the early +days of the Somme would have baffled us for a month or +more. It was stronger than Contalmaison or Pozières or +Guillemont. It was rushed by a batch of tanks, some of +which stuck fast in its entanglements, while others forced +their way through to the plain beyond. In a very short +time there was no Harp, and the garrison were on their +way westward to the cages.” No one acquainted with the +deliberate progress of the Mark II. over bad ground would +speak of it as “rushing” anything; but, fast or slow, these +old machines on this occasion achieved a really notable +success on a large scale. While some had been dealing +faithfully with the Harp, others to north and south had +cleared Tilloy and crawled up and over Telegraph Hill; +and their exertions were largely responsible for the capture +by the 3rd Army of the whole German second position south +of the Scarpe, including two miles of the Hindenburg Line, +within four hours after zero.</p> + +<p>The 5th Army attack was not due to begin until the +11th. But an attempt, arranged at the last moment, was +made the same morning to break the line opposite Bullecourt +with a company of tanks of D Battalion. It suffered +the fate of most enterprises so hastily planned. A regular +blizzard broke soon after dark: the tanks, although they +never lost their way, could not arrive in time; and the +Australians, who had been lying out all night on the railway +embankment south of Bullecourt, were withdrawn before +daybreak. Had the attack materialised, it would have +possessed especial interest, for it was designed on the principles +advocated throughout by the Tank Corps itself and +now universally accepted. The tanks, massed on a narrow +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">62</span>front, were to have preceded the infantry with no artillery +preparation and no barrage until they actually reached the +German front line. In other words, a genuine surprise was +aimed at. But the fiasco caused by the snowstorm discouraged +the 5th Army Staff. When the attempt was repeated +on the original date, April 11th, they reverted to the +usual methods—with lamentable results. The enemy, +already on the alert by reason of the battle farther north, +was warned of the attack by the barrage coming down at +zero before the tanks had crossed No Man’s Land. Field-guns, +pushed far forward for anti-tank defence, were ready +to get on to their mark at once; while the tanks showed up +clearly on the snow the moment the dawn broke. The +sections of the company were scattered on a wide front, and +one, in the centre, was detailed to push through the Hindenburg +Line without any infantry support at all. There were +eleven tanks in all, most of which, handled with extreme +gallantry, crossed the dreaded Hindenburg trenches and got +well into the fight. One, with all on board wounded and +every round spent, was hit and disabled on its way back. +Another reached the edge of Bullecourt village, came to +a standstill there through gear trouble which could not be +remedied, and after holding out for some time without seeing +any of the infantry who should have been in support, +was only evacuated when the Germans brought a field-gun +into the houses and opened fire. A third, less fortunate, +received a shell in the petrol-tanks on the edge of the +enemy’s wire, and went up instantly in flames, only three of +the crew escaping. A fourth was hit twice within a minute, +the first shell coming in through the cab, decapitating the +driver and then bursting inside. In all, nine tanks were +known to have been disabled by shell-fire, although one +of them returned later with a hole in its roof. Of the fate +of the remaining two nothing was ever known with certainty. +They disappeared into the blue. Major W. H. L. +Watson, D.C.M., who commanded the company, gives the +following account of their loss: “Our aeroplanes had seen +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">63</span>two tanks crawling over the open country beyond the +Hindenburg trenches to Riencourt, followed by four or +five hundred cheering Australians. Through Riencourt they +swept, and on to the large village of Hendecourt, five +miles beyond the trenches. They entered the village, still +followed by the Australians....”⁠<a id="FNanchor_9_9" href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> No further definite news +of them was ever received. Tanks and infantry alike were +swallowed up and lost in the smoke of the battle. At the +end of the day the Germans still held Riencourt; and Hendecourt, +far behind, with all its gallant but unsupported +assailants, was retaken at once. But the feat was a startling +one, and by itself it makes the Australians’ complaint, +that they were “let down” by the tanks, seem, to say the +least of it, ungenerous. This charge, which Colonial troops +are but too ready to fling at every one except themselves, +was further confuted by the whole record and losses of +D Battalion in the attack. Almost the whole company +got into action: every one of the eleven tanks was disabled +or lost; and 50 per cent of the personnel were killed, +wounded, or missing. The attack was a costly failure, for +while hardly a yard of ground was won, the infantry casualties +totalled several thousand, and an entire company of +tanks was destroyed; but the responsibility rested, not with +the latter, but with whosoever insisted on their employment +in a manner continually condemned by every officer in the +Tank Corps itself. No one outside that corps understood +the proper functions of the machines, or had even taken +to heart the lessons of the Somme. The German position +at Bullecourt, protecting as it did the vital junction at +Quéant of the main Hindenburg Line with the Drocourt +Switch, was immensely strong. It had an outer belt of +wire 25 feet broad, machine-gun emplacements of ferro-concrete +125 yards apart along both the main and support +lines, a continuous tunnel, stretching for miles, beneath the +latter, and numerous semi-independent strong-points. The +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">64</span>tanks had proved that even this was no obstacle to them; +but if they were used at all, they should have been used in +greater numbers and in mass, with infantry trained beforehand, +and supported by a barrage designed not to warn, +but to aid in surprising, the enemy. Far more just than the +Australians’ complaints was Colonel Elles’s remark after +the battle: “This is the best thing tanks have done yet.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_10_10" href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a>⁠</p> + +<p>On the same morning, C Battalion was in action again +in front of Arras. Here the Germans still held the villages +of Fampoux and Monchy, with the Hindenburg trenches +south of Telegraph Hill. In the centre of this position, +south-east of Arras, between the Scarpe and the Cambrai +road, there rises a very conspicuous height known to fame +as Orange Hill. It commands a view behind the whole +length of the Vimy Ridge, and, in consequence, overlooked +our new battery positions and lines of approach +on that side. On the eastern end of the hill, beyond a +slight dip in the crest, stood the village of Monchy-le-Preux, +once a pleasant cluster of trees and red-tiled roofs, +but now, since our heavy howitzers had been at work +on it, no more than a mass of rubble and splintered +stumps. It is a famous village, not only for the fighting +which has centred about it, but also for the remarkable +myth which it perpetuates. The attack launched on the +3rd Army front on April 11th had Monchy for its main +objective; and before telling the true story of its capture, +it is interesting to note how the latter is usually represented. +In Sir Douglas Haig’s despatch the event is described +as follows: “Two English infantry brigades, acting in co-operation +with cavalry, attacked Monchy-le-Preux at 5 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>, +and after hard fighting, <i>in which tanks arrived at an opportune +moment</i>, carried the position.” The italics, of course, are +my own. Colonel Buchan, always too faithful to his brief, +goes one better. He does not mention tanks at all. He +does, however, mention the cavalry. “Next day, the 11th,” +he says, “Monchy was carried, with the assistance of a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">65</span>detachment of cavalry, but not without heavy losses.” +Now, in the first place, as thousands of people know what +really happened at Monchy, these repeated references to +the mounted arm almost compel one to paraphrase the +plaintiff in Whistler <i>v.</i> Ruskin, and ask, “Why drag in the +cavalry?” The skeletons of General Bulkeley-Johnson’s +men and horses still litter Orange Hill⁠<a id="FNanchor_11_11" href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> to testify that the +tactics of Balaclava, Salisbury Plain, and Amiens are in +no sense suitable to modern warfare. Secondly, this distortion +of the facts has done a grave injustice to a newer +and less socially popular corps. There is a still more pertinent +question which might be asked: “Why leave out the +tanks?” For what actually happened at Monchy-le-Preux, +put very briefly, was this.</p> + +<p>On the evening of 10th April there were in the neighbourhood +of Feuchy Chapel, on the Cambrai road at the +foot of Orange Hill, the headquarters of one of the infantry +brigades due to attack Monchy next morning, a brigade of +cavalry, and six tanks of C Battalion, who were to lead +the assault. Our line then ran beyond the crest of the +hill, within five hundred yards of Monchy itself. Zero had +been fixed for 5 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span> After dark four tanks (the other two +having developed mechanical trouble) moved forward. One +soon became badly ditched; but the remaining three +climbed the slope during the black early hours of the 11th, +and at the advertised time of zero passed through the line +of half-frozen outposts lying in shell-holes across the hill. +But no barrage came down, nor was there any sign of the +supporting infantry. Although no notification whatever +had reached the tank commanders or even their company +headquarters, which was close to that of the infantry +brigade at Feuchy Chapel, zero, after being altered twice, +had been postponed finally for two hours! In the meantime +dawn was breaking; and for the tanks to loiter about +the snow-covered ground of No Man’s Land, on the summit +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">66</span>of the hill, would have been to invite destruction. After +waiting a short time, the tank commanders therefore decided +to go on alone, trusting to the infantry to overtake +them. As day came, the trio, still entirely unsupported, +entered Monchy. They proceeded methodically to clear +the whole village, cruising about the ruins and driving out +before them, after some stiff fighting, all of the garrison +who had not gone to earth in dug-outs or cellars. Following +up the fugitives, the tanks presently emerged through +the last demolished houses on the far side. They were +now on the reverse slope of the hill; and their triumphant +crews could see, on the falling ground along the Scarpe +Valley, the enemy’s supports hurrying forward, and even +the smoke of the light trains bringing up his supplies.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, however, the dispossessed garrison of +Monchy, having been cursed, exhorted, and reinforced, and +realising that no infantry was following the tanks, began +to work back round the outskirts of the village to north +and south. It reoccupied the western edge, collected +odd parties who were cowering in dug-outs, and remanned +its abandoned machine-guns. This manœuvre, +besides interposing a considerable force between the +tanks and our still silent lines, helped also to bring +about the great cavalry fiasco. Bulkeley-Johnson’s brigade, +which had lost its commander the day before, was +standing by its horses near Feuchy Chapel, when it was +discovered by one of the German aeroplanes which usually +came over about daybreak. The aeroplane dropped a few +coloured lights and departed. Shortly after, shells began +to fall among the horsemen; whereupon, instead of withdrawing +to the rear or flank, they mounted and rode forward +up the hill. The returned German machine-gunners in the +enclosures west of Monchy were astonished and delighted, +a little later, to perceive the whole brigade appear on the +summit⁠<a id="FNanchor_12_12" href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> and trot down upon them in a formation impossible +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">67</span>to miss. The result was a mere massacre. Hundreds of men +and horses dropped in a few minutes; and the remainder, +turning about, fled for shelter again behind the crest.⁠<a id="FNanchor_13_13" href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a>⁠</p> + +<p>All this time the three tanks were still isolated in the +village. Discovering that the Germans had got round +behind them, they started back through the ruins to clear +the way once more and to look for their own infantry. It +was nearly seven o’clock; <i>for an hour and a half</i>, in broad daylight, +they had maintained their lone battle actually within +Monchy-le-Preux, needing only a couple of platoons to take +over what they had won. And now it was too late. At +seven, as they reached the near side of the village again +and began to disperse the enemy gathering there for the +second time, our delayed attack opened: the barrage +came down with a crash upon Monchy; and, one after +the other, all three tanks were hit and disabled by our own +shells!</p> + +<p>It is difficult to write patiently about the manner in +which this affair was wilfully misrepresented. It may literally +be true to say that our infantry carried Monchy “after +hard fighting”; for when at length they advanced, the +Germans had reoccupied the place in force, and the tanks, +through our own negligence, were disabled. Yet even this +statement is a mere juggling with words. And as for the +operation reports which misled the compilers of the official +despatch at G.H.Q. into describing the single-handed victory +of the tanks as an “arrival” at “an opportune +moment,” and which presumably burked all reference to +the blunders of the staffs concerned, no adequate comment +seems possible. The distortion of the facts may be left to +speak for itself.</p> + +<p>Circumstances rather similar, although not attended by +such unhappy results, marked a second operation undertaken +by C Battalion that morning. Four tanks started +with the infantry at the proper time from Neuville Vitasse +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">68</span>to attack that portion of the Hindenburg Line which the +enemy still held from below Telegraph Hill to the village of +Heninel, on the Cojeul river. Working down the trenches, +followed by bombing parties, the tanks killed many of the +enemy, drove the remainder underground, and helped to +secure the front system at a very moderate cost. Having +reached the lateral limit of their objective at Heninel itself, +the four, still together, turned north-east through the village, +and, moving up the north bank of the Cojeul, reached Wancourt, +a larger place about a mile in rear. But the infantry +was unable to follow. The tanks entered Wancourt alone, +and carried on there for a long time, amid intermittent falls +of snow, just such a rambling fight as their fellows had +waged a few hours before in Monchy. They signalled +repeatedly to the infantry to come on, but in vain; and by +themselves they could secure no permanent hold on the +village. At length, as their supplies of petrol were running +low, they effected a successful withdrawal. This was in the +afternoon, for they were in action altogether for eight or nine +hours. In such execrable weather the whole performance +was most creditable, and deserved better support than it +received.</p> + +<p>So far as the British armies were concerned, the battle of +Arras might now have been allowed to die a natural death. +With the capture of the Vimy Ridge, Orange Hill, and the +Siegfried Line to the south, our immediate limited objectives +had been secured, and it was plain that the larger success +hoped for was beyond our powers. It had been laid down, +as a condition antecedent to any serious attempt at breaking +through, that not only the Hindenburg or Siegfried Line, +but also the Drocourt-Quéant Switch beyond, should be +carried within forty-eight hours. That period had elapsed, +and we had not touched the Switch except at Bullecourt, +which was only an outwork to the junction at Quéant. +The enemy was getting up his reserves and beginning to +counter-attack. But it was necessary to hold these reserves +on our front, to aid the French offensive in Champagne; and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">69</span>in consequence the battle was continued far beyond the +limits necessary to round off our initial victory. It was +continued, in fact, for another month, and produced some +of the most sanguinary fighting of the whole war. The +tanks took part in several actions, notably at the Roeux +Chemical Works on the 23rd, when they received the +thanks of the corps and divisional commanders with whose +units they were working. Finally, they went in again at +Bullecourt on 8th May, when the infantry failed to support +them, and they suffered heavy losses to no purpose.</p> + +<p>The two battalions were now completely crippled. +They had fought in nearly a dozen separate actions in a +month. The losses in experienced personnel had been +severe, and could not easily be replaced. As for tanks, +which mattered less, since Mark II.’s would never again +be used as fighting machines, C Battalion had none left at +all, and D only two or three. The shattered brigade, therefore, +was withdrawn to the Bermicourt area in the middle +of May. There it rested and trained, received reinforcements, +drew Mark IV.’s from Erin, and underwent that +reshuffling of battalions which preceded its next appearance +in the field in the Ypres Salient.</p> + + +<h4 id="III_2"> + III. +</h4> + +<p>The Arras battles marked a great step forward in the +history of the Tanks Corps. Not only had it placed a +brigade of two battalions in the field, but its own tactical +ideas had begun insensibly to leaven the old-established +theories of attack. The capture of the Harp, the wasted +heroism at Hendecourt and Monchy, even the first Bullecourt +fiasco on 10th April—all pointed the same way. It +had been shown, more by local accidents than by design, +that the classical methods of artillery preparation could +be replaced by a more effective substitute; and, conversely, +that the long preliminary bombardment was highly prejudicial +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">70</span>to the use of tanks. It was proved once more that +trenches, unless of exceptional width, were no obstacle at +all. Another lesson to be drawn was the necessity of +devising a more effective unditching gear for use in badly +broken or boggy ground. The old moral of co-operation +with other arms was rubbed in again and again. The +senseless complaint that the tanks “let down” the infantry +would never have been uttered if the latter had taken the +obvious course of trying to learn something about the +former’s difficulties and methods, and had grasped the fact +that they never were intended for use in such conditions as +the guns and weather between them had produced on the +Arras front as well as on the Somme. This point was the +more important because a gratifying feature of the +operations had been the small percentage of mechanical +breakdowns—a proof that officers and men were profiting +rapidly by experience.</p> + +<p>By the loss of the two tanks at Hendecourt—the first +which the enemy had captured—a great fault in the Marks +I. and II. was disclosed to him. This was the penetration +of the armour by his “K” bullets. Many casualties had +been incurred in this way: in the attack on the Roeux +Chemical Works on 23rd May, five tanks out of eleven had +the majority of their crews disabled by armour-piercing +bullet wounds. The Germans now ordered every infantryman +to carry a clip of this ammunition, while several +hundreds of rounds were issued to each machine-gun team. +But happily this discovery came too late to do any harm. +The next tank action was fought by Mark IV.’s, whose +improved armour was proof against the “K” bullets, +which at very short range only splintered its inner +facings.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">71</span></p> + + + <h3 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_V"> + CHAPTER V. + <br> + <span class="sm">THE PALESTINE DETACHMENT.</span> + </h3> +</div> + + +<h4>I.</h4> + +<p>While the tanks of the 1st Brigade were fighting in mud +and snow at Arras, climatic problems of a very different +type confronted a little detachment of the Heavy Section +nearer the Equator. After the Somme it was decided to +send a company of twelve tanks to Egypt to assist in the +advance on Syria.⁠<a id="FNanchor_14_14" href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a> Major Nutt, of E Company, who had +been in Egypt before with the armoured cars, was given the +command. E Company also supplied most of the personnel. +The total combatant strength was 22 officers and +226 other ranks; while there was a workshop section +provided with two 120-h.p. Holt tractors, a number of +sponson trolleys and workshop trailers, two lorries, and the +necessary complement of spare parts. The detachment, in +spite of its diminutive size, would have to be self-supporting. +It left Thetford in December 1916, the personnel sailing +from Devonport, and the tanks and workshops from Avonmouth +a week later. An extraordinary and inexcusable +error signalised the embarkation. Instead of twelve Mark +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">72</span>II.’s, fresh from the makers, eight old training machines, +which had been in use for months and were due to proceed +to the new camp in Dorset, were shipped at Avonmouth, +while the Egyptian detachment’s tanks were on their way +to Bovington! Before the Admiralty could be informed of +the mistake, tons of cargo, including heavy guns, had been +lowered on top of the changelings in the ship, and then +permission to unload the latter was refused. The company, +therefore, on its arrival in Egypt in January, found itself +with only two-thirds of its establishment of tanks, and those +not even new. Some of them, indeed, were nearly worn out, +and all were dirty; and the Thetford mud, baked hard by a +month in a ship’s hold close to the engine-room, had to be +chipped out of the tracks with chisels. It was a week or +more before some of the machines could be moved at all.</p> + +<p>The secrecy which, in theory, shrouded their coming was +so fallacious that within six weeks photographs of them +were found on a captured Bedouin. This in itself was a +small matter; but it was a pity that the demonstrations +carried out on the desert at Gilban, which advertised to all +and sundry the fact of the tanks’ arrival, were not devoted +to a better purpose than the satisfaction of the natural +curiosity of General officers and their staffs. No infantry +took part in these displays. Only after the second battle of +Gaza were combined rehearsals by the two arms instituted +as a regular feature of training. Nevertheless, the army in +Egypt seems to have realised far sooner than the army in +France that without co-operation founded on mutual +familiarity with each others’ tactics and limitations, tanks +and infantry would never work together to the best advantage. +In Egypt also there was from the start less of +the jealousy and obstruction which hampered the heavy +branch nearer home. The isolation of the detachment put +it to some extent out of reach of meddling interference, and +enabled it to solve its peculiar problems in its own way.</p> + +<p>When the detachment arrived Sir Archibald Murray was +already across the Sinai desert and had reached the +Egyptian frontier. While the railway was being pushed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">73</span>up behind him along the coast to El Arish and Rafa, the +Turkish Army commanded by the German General von +Kressenstein withdrew to a prepared position in front of +Gaza. This position we attacked on 26th March, but a +dense sea-fog at dawn upset the time-table, and after +suffering 4000 casualties, such ground as we had gained +was abandoned under pressure of heavy counter-attacks +and a threat against our flank by reinforcements from +Beersheba. The tank detachment, rushed up at a few +hours’ notice on Egyptian 30-ton trucks to take part in +these operations, was delayed at El Arish, and it detrained +at Khan Yunus, fifteen miles south-west of Gaza, only to +find the battle over. At Khan Yunus it remained for ten +days. On 6th April the tanks trekked for eight miles +across soft sand to Deir-el-Belah, nearer to the line, +preparatory to the second assault on the Gaza position.</p> + +<p>Gaza, a city of great age, acquainted with numerous +battles and sieges, stands amid vast fig-groves about two +miles from the sea-shore, on the old coast-road from Egypt +to Syria. The Turkish position, defended now by five +infantry divisions, one cavalry division, and numerous +batteries—in all, perhaps 30,000 men—was one of great +natural strength, as we had discovered in March. Since +our first attack miles of new trenches had been dug and +the whole front was very heavily wired. It stretched from +Sheikh Hassan, among the sand-dunes on the coast, by +El Arish Redoubt and Samson’s Ridge, to the Cairo road +two miles south of Gaza, and thence south-east along a series +of hills to the Atawineh Ridge. Within this line was the +strongly fortified Ali Muntar Ridge, immediately in front of +Gaza. Detachments of cavalry and infantry at Hereira, +sixteen miles from the coast, protected the left flank. The +hills, seamed with gullies and old water-courses, where +infantry and machine-guns found perfect cover, were admirably +adapted to defence, and the trenches, under German +supervision, had been skilfully sited.</p> + +<p>Sir Archibald Murray had four Territorial infantry +divisions, the 52nd, 53rd, 54th, and 74th (dismounted +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">74</span>Yeomanry), two mounted divisions, and the Camel Corps. +His line of communications was a single railway track +running for 150 miles across the Sinai Desert. Everything +the army needed, even water, came by this line out +of Egypt.</p> + +<p>The plan of the second attack on Gaza fell into two +phases, divided by an interval of forty-eight hours. In +the first phase, while a desert column attended to the +Turkish left at Hereira, three infantry divisions and the +tank detachment were to carry the Sheikh Abbas and +Mansura Ridges, east of the Cairo road. The attack was +fixed for dawn on April 17th. After dusk on the 15th, the +eight tanks trekked northward again from Deir-el-Belah, +and before daybreak had reached their final lying-up positions +along a dry water-course called the Wadi Ghuzze, +which ran parallel to our front line. By this time, after +three months’ experience in Egypt and Syria, all steps +possible under the circumstances had been taken to cope +with the novel conditions attending tank operations over +sand. It was found, for example, that the ordinary process +of soaking the track links and rollers in oil produced in +the desert a perfect grinding mixture which wore out very +rapidly the driving sprockets. All such lubrication, therefore, +was abandoned. The tracks were run absolutely dry, +and with satisfactory results; for although the sprocket +wheels were of the early soft-steel type, they seem to have +endured longer under these arid conditions than in the mud +of European battlefields. While the mud stuck everywhere, +and brought with it grit and stones which induced friction, +sand merely ran out of the tracks like water. From every +point of view, indeed, once this and a few other modifications +of treatment and mechanism had been introduced, the +tanks showed a surprising aptitude for desert warfare. +Ditching was almost unknown: the sand ran away from +under the belly of the machine, while the tracks, with their +broad bearing surface, compressed it and got a grip; and +for similar reasons the steepest sand-dunes and hills were +climbed with ease and at any angle. The chief troubles +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">75</span>were the heat and the difficulty of obtaining water, and these +were felt by every other arm, although, at least as regards +the former, not so severely. On account of the heat no +movement of tanks, save in battle or some other exceptional +circumstance, took place after eight o’clock in the morning.</p> + +<p>Six tanks were detailed for the first phase of the battle. +Four, if required, were to assist the 52nd Division in the +capture of the Mansura Ridge. These advanced behind the +assaulting infantry up the Wadi el Nukhabir, a gully with +high banks affording perfect cover which ran, like a huge +communication trench, downward from the ridge to the +Wadi Ghuzze. The tanks were not needed, however, for +the enemy, taken by surprise owing to the absence of any +artillery preparation beyond the ordinary counter-battery +work, fled in confusion from the ridge, which was in possession +of the 157th Brigade soon after six o’clock. Meanwhile, +on the right, the other two tanks had led the troops +of the 54th Division toward Sheikh Abbas Ridge. Here +also the Turks were surprised, but they put up a stouter +resistance than their fellows on Mansura. The tanks, +lacking such a covered approach as the big gully on the +left provided, came under observation soon after dawn, +before they had reached the enemy’s trenches, and one soon +received a direct hit. Two of the crew were killed, and the +officer lost an eye from a splinter. The hostile guns now +concentrated on the derelict machine, which, after it had +been abandoned, was hit again and again, set on fire and +destroyed. The second tank, however, was able to carry +out its task of clearing the trenches to the north and north-west +of the ridge, giving the infantry valuable help. When +the position was consolidated the tank returned and rallied +in the Wadi el Nukhabir, having covered in all some 15,000 +yards from the time it crossed the Wadi Ghuzze to its +return. The crew, who had been in the tank for fourteen +hours, were completely exhausted. In such conditions of +heat as they suffered, their gallantry and endurance were +remarkable.</p> + +<p>The second phase of the battle, which opened at 5.30 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">76</span>on the 19th, was designed to capture the final positions +covering Gaza—namely, El Arish Redoubt and Samson’s +Ridge, between the sea and the Cairo road, and the Ali +Muntar Ridge with its foot-hills to the south and south-east +of the city. From left to right the divisions and tanks +employed were as follows: 53rd Division (two tanks), 52nd +(four tanks), 54th (one tank). To the right of the 54th, +mounted divisions were to carry out subsidiary operations +as before against the Turkish left. The French battleship +<i>Réquin</i> and two British monitors assisted from the sea.</p> + +<p>The forty-eight hours’ interval between our attacks, however +unavoidable, was unfortunate. The Turks, to some +extent demoralised on the 17th, had time to recover themselves +again, and their main position on Ali Muntar was +one of exceptional strength. This ridge, ten or more miles +in length, is an attenuated spine of sandy hills, covered +with cactus scrub, which runs parallel to the coast just +east of Gaza. It forms roughly a right angle with the +Mansura heights farther to the east. Its loftiest crest, +265 feet above the sea, looks down on the city from south +of the Beersheba road. From this point the spine falls +away southward, by successive narrow hillocks known to +us as Outpost Hill, Lees Hill, Queen’s Hill, Kurd Hill, and +so on, to the valley of the Wadi Ghuzze. Two thousand +yards west of the ridge, and also parallel to it, is the Cairo +road, beyond which Samson’s Ridge rises fairly steeply to +a height of 200 feet before descending to the low sea-cliffs +at Sheikh Ajlin. From Samson’s Ridge the Turkish +trenches ran north-east by El Arish Redoubt up the coast +to Sheikh Hassan. These seaward trenches were the objectives +of the 53rd Division on the left, with whose +operations we will deal first.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowe24" id="i_077"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_077.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + Sketch map to + illustrate the + 2nd & 3rd battles + of Gaza. + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>For the whole of this battle I will paraphrase or quote +textually the official report on operations drawn up by +Major O. A. Forsyth-Major, second in command of the +tank detachment, who writes as follows of the events on +the 53rd Division’s front. (Italics and interpolations in +brackets are my own.)</p> + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_77"></a><a id="Page_78"></a>78</span></p> +<blockquote> +<p>“Of the two tanks allotted to this division, one +broke a track soon after going into action and remained +<i>hors de combat</i> for the ensuing operations. The other +tank, the ‘Tiger,’ therefore undertook the advance +alone, and proceeded (in front of the infantry) across +the sand-dunes to Samson Ridge, where it captured +the redoubts, awaited the infantry’s arrival, and thence +advanced to attack El Arish Redoubt, being all this time +under concentrated enemy machine-gun fire. Having +reached this second objective, the tank was unable to +swing, and the officer in command, receiving no support +whatsoever from the infantry, which advanced +no farther, owing to the changed tactical situation +occurring in the centre of the general attack, returned +over the sand-dunes <i>in reverse</i> under shell and machine-gun +fire till it reached a point near Regent’s Park +(upwards of 5000 yards S.W. of El Arish), having +fired <i>27,000 rounds</i> of ammunition during this action. +All the crew, including the officer, were wounded, and +all, except the officer, who took the driver’s place, +were in a state of complete collapse as a result of +six hours’ continuous strain under heavy fire.”</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>Further advance on this flank had been postponed owing +to the failure in the centre, where the 52nd Division, with +four tanks, was to advance from Mansura Ridge against +Outpost Hill, the strong-point known as the Labyrinth, +and Ali Muntar itself. The tanks were ready, and their +routes taped to avoid the gullies which abounded, when, +at the last moment, the G.O.C. 52nd Division cancelled +their orders. They were now told to move from Mansura +Ridge to the foot of Kurd Hill, 3000 yards to the westward, +and there await further orders. “It was pointed out to the +G.S.O.I.,” says the report, “that such a move in complete +darkness over unknown country might result in the tanks +disappearing into the deep gullies which intersected the +suggested route, and that even if the tanks reached +Kurd Hill, it was highly impracticable to attack positions +which had never been observed in daylight and over ground +which had not been reconnoitred by the tank personnel.” +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">79</span>The G.S.O.I. was obdurate, however, and at 9 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> the four +tanks started. In the pitchy darkness which prevailed the +cross-country route was considered too risky, and accordingly +they moved by the Wadi Nukhabir and the Wadi +Ghuzze—in other words, round three sides of a square. +They did not reach Kurd Hill until 2 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>, zero being at +6.30. As the officers were entirely ignorant as to what +they were expected to do four hours later, they had the +temerity to arouse the G.O.C. 155th Brigade from his sleep, +but as he felt disinclined to discuss matters at that early +hour, they were told that all necessary instructions would +be issued at 5.30 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span> At six o’clock no instructions had +been received: a subaltern came from the brigade, however, +to point out the route to the infantry starting-point. Without +waiting any longer, the tanks moved forward to this +line, reaching it just as the barrage fell at zero and the +enemy began to reply. No further orders of any kind had +arrived, and the second in command of the detachment +spent the next hour galloping about under fire, collecting +information from the infantry, and by these haphazard +means determining what the tanks were expected to do. +Two of them, it appeared, were to remain in reserve at +Kurd Hill. Of the other pair, one was to help in the +assault on Lees and Outpost Hills. This tank, however, +fell into a gully whose sides collapsed, and did not get into +action. The remaining machine, having been assigned an +objective on Ali Muntar, was recalled to Outpost Hill +owing to the breakdown of the tank on its left. It climbed +the hill, killed a number of Turks in the trenches there, +and was still waiting for the infantry when it was disabled +by a direct hit. The infantry being unable to advance, one +of the reserve tanks was summoned; but although, after +repeated attempts and murderous losses, the crest at length +was gained, it could not be held; and our line eventually +fell back to its original position on Queen’s Hill. The first +tank, lying derelict in the Turkish trenches, had already +been abandoned by its crew. The second returned in safety +to its companion in reserve.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">80</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowe40" id="i_078fp"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_078fp.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> +<i>By permission of</i> Major <span class="smcap">O. A. Forsyth-Major</span>. +<br>Tank on Outpost Hill, Gaza. + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>The report gives the following account of the loss of the +remaining tank, in action with the 54th Division on the +right:—</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>“To the tank operating on this front had been +assigned the capture of the large redoubt north-west +of Khirbet Sihan (north of the Sheikh Abbas Ridge on +the Beersheba road). As instructions to this effect had +only reached the tank commander during the previous +night, he was likewise confronted with the task of +attacking an unfamiliar objective over unfamiliar ground. +However, this tank finally reached the redoubt in +question and captured its Turkish garrison. Our infantry +then arrived and consolidated the new position. +The tank had no sooner swung round to return to its +rallying-point at Abbas, when a shell struck one of its +tracks, whereupon it was subjected to a systematic +bombardment. The enemy then counter-attacked and +captured the British infantry and tank. The commander +and several members of the crew had meanwhile +been severely wounded. The officer and one +other rank subsequently died of wounds in a Turkish +hospital.”</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>Except for a modified success on the left, the attack, +although pressed with extreme gallantry, had definitely +failed. Sir Archibald Murray wished to renew it the following +morning, but was dissuaded from making the attempt. +With no superiority of numbers in the beginning, we had +lost 12,000 men: every one was exhausted: we were short +of water; and the Ali Muntar position, notwithstanding a +bombardment by heavy guns of every calibre, including +those of the <i>Réquin</i> and the 11-inch pieces on the monitors, +seemed little damaged, and plainly was impregnable to a +frontal assault with the means at our disposal. The army, +therefore, settled down on the ground it occupied at the +close of the fighting. For the next six months no further +attempt was made to capture Gaza.</p> + +<p>The tank detachment, after withdrawing across the +Wadi Ghuzze to some fig-groves west of Sheikh Nebhan, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">81</span>returned eventually to its old quarters near Deir-el-Belah +railhead. Its proportionate losses had been heavy. Twenty-eight +officers and men were killed, wounded, or missing—40 +per cent of the total engaged. Three tanks out of eight +were permanently disabled or lost. The report which I +have used so freely already concludes with some general +observations on the work of tanks in the battle. This +work was fully appreciated by the infantry, who “generously +attributed their own success to the opportunities +created by the tanks.” The three divisional commanders +also expressed their admiration. That some of the fleeting +openings made by the tanks were not promptly seized “was +less due to lack of initiative on the part of infantry leaders +than to the wholly unexpected intensity of the enemy’s well-directed +fire.” At the same time, further co-operative +training was shown to be very necessary. Reference, of +course, is made to the faulty staff work through which, on +19th April, the centre section was left without any instructions +after its original orders had been cancelled at the +eleventh hour. It is pointed out also (although this perhaps +was unavoidable) that the task allotted to the tanks was far +too ambitious for their numbers. The eight operated on +a five-mile front, where thirty or forty would not have been +too many. The successful assembly prior to zero was held +to prove that “tanks which are properly looked after by +competent crews need not necessarily be placed in forward +positions,” as they can be trusted (accidents apart) to +accomplish up to time final approach-marches of considerable +length. And this brings us to what were, perhaps, +the most notable features of the operations—the +actual distances covered by these obsolete and worn-out +machines and the absence of any mechanical breakdowns. +In both respects the work of the little detachment compares +very favourably indeed with that performed by the larger +units in France. Some of the tanks travelled forty miles +and fought two actions between the time they left Deir-el-Belah +on the 15th and their final withdrawal behind the +Wadi Ghuzze five days later; and every machine which left +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">82</span>England got into action, or was ready to do so, on zero +morning. Such efficiency is a high testimonial to the +labours of the commanding officer and his combatant and +engineering personnel.</p> + + +<h4 id="II_4"> + II. +</h4> + +<p>It will be convenient, at the expense of strict chronological +sequence, to carry the story of the Palestine +detachment to its conclusion in one chapter. Six months +supervened between the second and third battles of Gaza. +During this period our dispositions were readjusted, reinforcements +arrived (including French, Italian, Indian, and +West Indian details), and Sir Archibald Murray having +returned home, Sir Edmund Allenby came from the 3rd +Army in France to take over the command. The surviving +tanks, meanwhile, were overhauled and provided with some +especial roller-sprockets, constructed in the workshops of +the Egyptian State Railways. Requests for more and +newer tanks had been sent to England; but the only reinforcement +received consisted of three Mark IV.’s. One +or more others of this type, together with a supply of much-needed +spare parts for the original Mark I.’s, were lost in a +torpedoed transport.</p> + +<p>Towards the end of the autumn preparations for a renewed +attempt on Gaza had reached completion. Our line in +front of the city still ran where the second battle had left it—from +Sheikh Ajlin, on the coast, by Samson’s Ridge and +the Mansura and Abbas Ridges, down to the Wadi Ghuzze, +and thence to the new railhead at Shellal on the right. The +Turkish defences on Ali Muntar had been strengthened still +further; and now that our increased forces permitted us +to choose, it was decided to avoid the hazards of another +frontal assault. Instead, while the enemy’s centre was +kept employed with demonstrations, the main attacks were +to develop between Hereira and Beersheba and on the +western flank, from Gaza to the sea. The whole area +of operations extended over forty miles. “The Australian +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">83</span>Corps and desert column were responsible for the +operations from Beersheba north-westwards to Hereira. +Numerous mounted and dismounted divisions were +entrusted with the frontage from and around Hereira +towards Gaza, while a composite force of French, +Italian, and West Indian troops were assigned the task +of executing minor raids near Outpost Hill. The operations +around Gaza were entrusted to the 21st Army Corps, +which began to make the necessary preparations for a +general assault on the defences between Umbrella Hill +(north of Samson’s Ridge) and the sea.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_15_15" href="#Footnote_15_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a> This was to be +the main attack, with its left resting on the coast and its +right on the Cairo road. In the second phase of the last +battle our only permanent success had been won on this +flank; and our extreme left at Sheikh Ajlin was due west +of Gaza. The general line of the assault therefore was +north-eastward, with the idea of so far enveloping the city +as to threaten its communications from the north. The +distance from the Cairo road to the sea was less than 5000 +yards; and the initial penetration aimed at was moderate—two +miles up the coast on the extreme left, and elsewhere +an average of a mile. For this narrow frontage and depth +of attack four infantry brigades were available (the whole +54th Division and one brigade of the 52nd), assisted by +an Indian cavalry division, the 54th Divisional Artillery, +a machine-gun company, and the tank detachment of +eight machines. (The presence of a number of anti-tank +guns of 1¹⁄₂-inch calibre about Green and Outpost Hills led +to the tank operations being confined to the left sector.) +The Navy again was to co-operate from the sea. The whole +area over which this advance was to take place was a wilderness +of sand-dunes, covered here and there with coarse grass +and cactus, and rising in places to a height of 150 feet.</p> + +<p>There had been ample time on this occasion for reconnaissance +and other preliminaries. All tank commanders +and N.C.O.’s surveyed the enemy’s position both from +the land and from a drifter off the coast. In addition to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">84</span>combined rehearsals by tanks and infantry already carried +out during the summer, “officers and other ranks of the +tank detachment and the various infantry brigades with +whom they were to work were attached to each other for ten +days in order personally to get to know each other and +study the characteristics of the other’s particular arm.” +<i>O si sic omnes!</i> An adequate supply of large-scale maps and +aeroplane photographs was provided by the 21st Corps “I,” +together with a barrage table and map for every tank +commander. Each tank was to carry two pigeons, to be +released at pre-arranged points; and also a ton of R.E. +supplies and ammunition for the infantry. The whole +question of supply was a serious one, as the only roads +behind our line in this coastal area were constructed by +the simple process of laying down wire-netting on the sand, +which provided a surface suitable for marching infantry or +even light cars, but of no use for heavy vehicles. The +detachment workshops rendered a signal service by improvising +a number of tractor trucks out of old track-plates, +driving sprockets, and iron girders. The necessary dumps +of oil and ammunition were then formed near Sheikh Ajlin, +lorries and tractors conveying the material thither after +dark by way of the beach. Finally, as the attack itself was +due to start in the night-time, the tanks were variously +camouflaged to suit the conditions amid which they might +expect to find themselves at dawn. Two were daubed with +different colours, and another pair were painted white and +splashed with sand, while the remaining four were disguised +with imitation cactus.</p> + +<p>As little as possible had been left to chance; and I have +enumerated the main features of this preparatory work both +on account of its thoroughness and forethought, and because +it is a characteristic example of the preliminaries to a tank +action. Before such an action there are always a hundred +odd things of this kind to be seen to; and in this case, unlike +some others nearer home, they were seen to. The +labour expended over them was fully justified in the +results.</p> + +<p>The coming attack was divided into four phases, known +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">85</span>on the map as the Blue, Red, Green, and Yellow—a polychromatic +scale which was to proceed in succession from +the south. The first or Blue phase was concerned with the +capture of Umbrella Hill, and was to start an hour before +midnight on 1st November. This was a distinct operation, +to be accomplished by the 156th Brigade without the help +of tanks. At 3 o’clock in the morning a second zero would +launch the second and subsequent phases, constituting the +main attack, the final or Yellow phase pushing our left flank +two miles up the coast to Sheikh Hassan, north-west of +Gaza. The tanks were allotted as follows: one with the +156th Brigade on the right, one with the 163rd in the centre, +and four with the 161st and 162nd on the left. Two in +reserve were to follow up 1000 yards in rear and replace +any disabled machines.</p> + +<p>The detachment trekked from Deir-el-Belah to Sheikh +Ajlin on the night of 22nd October. On the last day of the +month routes were taped to the assembly positions selected +for the battle. The following evening, as the roar of the +first zero broke out on the right, the tanks moved forward +under a full moon and reached these positions at 1.30 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span> +At 2.15 the six detailed to lead crept away again, and, +passing through the infantry starting line, drew up a couple +of hundred yards ahead in No Man’s Land. All were in +position half an hour before the second zero. In the meantime, +under cover of a heavy barrage, Umbrella Hill had +been carried and the Blue phase was over. The enemy, +anticipating a general attack, at first retaliated by shelling +violently the whole of our front line; and the tanks experienced +an unpleasant half-hour while moving toward their +assembly posts. None, fortunately, were hit. As we made +no further movement, the Turkish gunners presently concentrated +their fire on the captured hill, and about 2 o’clock, +misled by the continued quiet, ceased altogether. An hour +later they were disillusioned when our main barrage crashed +down upon their whole line, and tanks and infantry went +forward under its cover.</p> + +<p>A thick mist had risen, which, with the smoke of the +barrage, completely obscured the moon, upon whose light +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">86</span>we had been counting. The tanks, however, advancing on +compass-bearings, successfully reached their first objectives +within three minutes, well ahead of the infantry. In the +prevailing gloom some of the latter lost direction almost at +once; and a tank officer, observing from a point called +Windy Post, on our front line, collected some hundreds of +men of one battalion and directed them to their objective. +The first Turkish line, nevertheless, was carried without +difficulty, the attack coming as a complete surprise. Behind +the creeping barrage the tanks and infantry pressed on; and +although the two brigades in the centre met with stiff opposition +on the second line, and lost ground before a succession +of counter-attacks, on both flanks, and especially on the all-important +left, everything went more or less according to +programme. By 6 o’clock the 162nd Brigade had consolidated +its final objective at Sheikh Hassan. On the right +El Arish Redoubt had at last been captured, and our troops +were on the edge of the fig-groves which shelter Gaza to the +south-west.</p> + +<p>The tanks had done all, and more than all, that was +expected of them. On the right two had helped in the +taking of El Arish. It was still dark when they pushed on +into the maze of trenches beyond, and both became ditched, +one eventually being disabled by a shell. The crews took +out their machine-guns and joined the infantry. Numbers +3 and 4, next on the left, working with the 161st Brigade, +attacked and carried with the latter the Rafa Redoubt and +the trenches to the north-west. Owing to the mist they had +great difficulty in reaching their further objectives, and finding +that the infantry had been unable to advance beyond the +redoubt, they returned to the rallying-point, having deposited +their spare ammunition and R.E. stores. Number 5 broke +a track at Beach Post, its first objective, and was unable to +assist in the next phase. On the extreme left Number 6 had +a varied and exciting career. To quote from the report, it +“captured Sea Post (close to the beach), moved along the +enemy’s trench line, crushing the wire as far as Beach Post, +turned north and attacked Cricket Redoubt, then proceeded +to Gun Hill and Tortoise Hill, both of which positions it +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">87</span>subjected to 6-pounder and machine-gun fire, and finally +reached Sheikh Hassan, where it deposited its load of R.E. +stores. Thence it descended to the beach and endeavoured +to attack A5 (a Turkish strong-point on the coast beyond +our farthest objective), but in scaling the cliff broke a track. +The crew removed all machine-guns, rendered the engine +useless, removed the 6-pounder wedges, and retired to +Sheikh Hassan, where they reported to the infantry commander.” +As the abandoned tank was several hundred +yards in advance of our front, the enemy was able during +the ensuing night to creep up and place a charge beneath +it, the explosion of which, in addition to effecting other +damage, bent the crank-shaft. When, after the retreat of +the Turkish Army a few days later, it was possible to move +the machine, it was found necessary to remove the engine +and tow the hull back to Deir-el-Belah.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the reserve tanks, Numbers 7 and 8, had +come into action. At 4 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span> they received orders to support +the infantry on the right, beyond El Arish redoubt. Both +tanks were loaded with R.E. material, and, unfortunately, +were carrying empty sandbags on the roof. Number 7 was +set on fire from this cause as it reached its first objective, +east of the captured redoubt. While it was attempting to +return to shelter, the tracks jumped and broke the switches, +and the tank was left ablaze between the lines. Number 8 +also caught fire. It was now broad daylight, and the tank +was in view of the enemy, who proceeded to shell it; but +being screened to some extent by vegetation, with which its +own camouflage blended, it was never hit.</p> + +<p>By 8 o’clock, three tanks had rallied at Sheikh Ajlin, and +a fourth returned three hours later. During the battle some +machines had been in action for five hours, and had covered +upwards of 10,000 yards; but the casualties in personnel +were extraordinarily light, only one man being killed and +two wounded. At this trifling cost the tank detachment +had helped materially to place our left flank in such a +position that the Turkish Army around Gaza was seriously +endangered. On the right, progress had been made also, +and the double threat was enough. Within a few days the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">88</span>enemy evacuated the city and the position he had held so +long, and retreated toward Jaffa and Jerusalem.</p> + +<p>With the third battle of Gaza the work of the tanks in +Palestine came to a fitting end. Although most of the machines +were soon prepared for action again, all were manifestly worn +out, and it was felt that they would be of little use in the +limestone hills of Judah, amid which the army was now +advancing. On the other hand, the need was felt for some +light and swift machine to help the mounted columns in the +desert area; and to this end Major Nutt and the second in +command were sent to France early in 1918 to ask for a +detachment of the new Medium A’s, or Whippets, which +were then lying idle. The arrival of this mission at +Bermicourt, however, coincided with the great German +offensive on 21st March. In the strain consequent upon +that blow, and the others which followed it, not a Whippet +could be spared. The two officers returned to Syria, and +after further consideration it was decided to disband the +detachment. The tanks were handed in to the ordnance +depot at Alexandria, where probably they still remain, +while the personnel returned to England.</p> + +<p>I have gone at some length into these oriental adventures +for various reasons. One of the chief, perhaps, was the +pleasure to be gained in working from a narrative so lucid +and well arranged as the official “Report on Operations,” +&c., which I have used with such freedom. This may +not be a good reason for discursiveness, but after exhausting +struggles with the loose jumble of irrelevancies and misstatements +which constitute the normal unit history, much +may be forgiven. And, indeed, the Palestine detachment +has other and far better claims to a resurrection from +the obscurity in which its accomplishments have lain +hidden. There is no need to labour those claims again +here. They speak for themselves in the energy and courage, +the foresight, adaptability, and fertility of invention +which overcame all the obstacles that a strange country +and climate could add to an initial poverty of means.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">89</span></p> + + + <h3 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VI"> + CHAPTER VI. + <br> + <span class="sm">MESSINES.</span> + </h3> +</div> + + +<p>During the second half of May there was much coming +and going of units in the Bermicourt area. The remnants +of C and D Battalions returned there to refit. A and B, +forming the 2nd Brigade, drew 76 Mark IV. tanks, and left +for the Belgian frontier and the forthcoming attack on the +Messines Ridge. Two new battalions, F and G, arrived +from England. The 3rd Brigade was now formed of C +and F, G replacing the former in the 1st Brigade. Preparatory +to this increase in the corp’s fighting strength, +Colonel Elles was raised to the exalted rank of Brigadier-General.</p> + +<p>The battle of Messines, and the part taken in it by the +2nd Brigade, can be dealt with very cursorily. It was the +opening stage of our attack in Flanders, which followed on +the collapse of the French effort in Champagne and our +own failure to break the Drocourt-Quéant line. The new +offensive, long premeditated, was planned on a large scale +and inspired by very sanguine ideas. It was hoped to +drive the enemy off the whole coast-line as far as the +Dutch frontier, and then, by forcing the evacuation of +Lille, to open the way for an advance on Brussels and +Antwerp. The preliminary operations fell into three +stages. The monotonous Flemish plain is diversified, +between St Omer and Menin, by a line of hills shaped +like a note of interrogation lying on its back. Starting +at Cassel, a very conspicuous isolated height, these hills +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">90</span>run due eastward to Kemmel, over the Belgian border, +and thence curve round Ypres to the north. The enemy +held the whole of this curve, which, from the village of +Wytschaete, 250 feet above the sea, falls gradually away +to nothing beyond the forest of Houthoulst. Our first +object was to dispossess him of the Wytschaete or Messines +Ridge, which overlooks the whole Ypres salient. The +second stage would be the capture after an interval of the +rest of the curve, known as the Passchendaele Ridge. +This, it was estimated, would be effected in three or four +days. The moment the ridge was ours, the third stage +was to open with the landing of a force of all arms, +including even tanks, at Middelkerke, between Nieuport +and Ostend, to get behind the enemy’s forces along the +Yser, and so facilitate an advance on that water-logged +front. No one can say how far this ambitious scheme +would have prospered if the weather had remained fair. +As it fell out, the first stage alone was carried through +successfully. Wytschaete and Messines were taken in a +few hours, but owing to the rain it took us three months +instead of three days to reach Passchendaele; and long +before that the amphibious enterprise at Middelkerke, the +most interesting and hazardous feature of the whole plan, +had perforce been cancelled. I shall give some account of +its elaborate machinery later on.</p> + +<p>Sir Herbert Plumer and the 2nd Army had been facing +the Messines Ridge for two years, and plans for its capture +had been developed at leisure. The surface soil in the +neighbourhood lay upon a substratum of clay, very suitable +for tunnelling; and for upwards of twelve months we had +been driving mine-shafts beneath the German trenches. The +ridge was enclosed in a small salient, with the chord of the +arc, about six miles long, represented by the enemy’s third +defence system, known as the Oostaverne Line. This was +to be our final objective. The battle was to be finished in +one day. Considering the lengthy and precise preparations +for it, the moral effect of the explosion of twenty huge +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">91</span>mines, and the powerful artillery fire which was to be concentrated +on the small area within the salient, it will be +apparent that there was no very urgent need for tanks. +The state of the ground, moreover, already bad, would not +be improved by the seven days’ preliminary bombardment; +and if rain fell it would soon become impassable. Messines, +in fact, was not a tank battle at all. It was one of those +rare occasions when a section or two, to deal with obstinate +strong-points, would have been as useful as the entire brigade +which ultimately went into action.</p> + +<p>Warning of possible operations in the Ypres salient had +been received at Bermicourt early in the year. The Intelligence +branch of the corps began a survey of the whole area +in March; and the following month, when the 2nd Brigade +was detailed to assist in the attack at Messines, the R.O.’s +of A and B Battalions went forward to reconnoitre the +southern sector. Ample information was available, for the +2nd Army knew all that there was to be known about +the German position. It had also constructed one of the +familiar large-scale models of the ridge and the country +beyond; but although such representations are always +worth a visit, it is doubtful if they are of much value from +a tank commander’s standpoint. They bear no real +resemblance to the actual ground to be traversed, and the +view from a tank is so limited that the larger details of a +landscape are of small use in getting bearings.</p> + +<p>Between the 23rd and 27th May the tanks of the two +battalions were detrained at Ouderdom and Clapham +Junction (near Dranoutre). They lay up before the battle +in the neighbourhood of the railheads—B Battalion’s +machines in a wood, and those of A in timber and canvas +shelters built to represent huts. These assembly positions +were within four miles of the line. The usual precautions +were taken to conceal the fact of the tanks’ arrival, the +tracks left by their movements (which show up very clearly +in aeroplane photographs) being obliterated by harrows. +This was the first appearance of Mark IV.’s in the field; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">92</span>and another novelty was the use of old Mark II.’s for supply +purposes. Twelve were attached to the brigade, carrying +between them one complete fill of petrol, oil, grease, and +ammunition for all the 76 fighting tanks.</p> + +<p>The attack was to take place at dawn on 7th June. Three +corps were taking part—from left to right, the 10th, 9th, +and 2nd. Eventually 64 tanks were allotted to them—40 to +attack the first objective, the German second line beyond +the crest of the ridge, and 24 more to help in the final rush +for the Oostaverne trenches. On 24th May the preliminary +bombardment opened. The weather was hot and dry: +there had been no rain for a fortnight; and now, day after +day, the ridge was smothered in dust-clouds thrown up by +the bursting shells. The gun-fire slackened on the last day, +6th May; but the enemy became nervous after dark and +began to shell the back areas. He used a large amount of +gas, which caused much discomfort to the tank crews on the +final approach-march to the front line, for that invaluable +device, the small box-respirator, is more than usually inconvenient +when worn inside a tank. Later in the night a +heavy thunderstorm broke; but by 2.30 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span> the sky was +clear once more.</p> + +<p>At 3.10, on the very edge of dawn, the German front line +between Hill 60 and Messines went up into the air with an +indescribable shock and noise, as the nineteen huge mines +exploded. Simultaneously the barrage fell through the dust-clouds +upon the still-moving earth. With so tremendous a +preparation, the first stage of the attack went like clockwork. +Messines was carried by 7 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>, and Wytschaete +before midday. The tanks were seldom needed, and indeed +were unable in most cases to keep up with the very rapid +advance. One, however, by a combination of luck and +skilful driving, was able to lead the Australian and New +Zealand troops of the 2nd Corps the whole way to the +second objective, a distance of two miles, in an hour and +forty minutes. Another, the “Wytschaete Express,” convoyed +the Ulster Division into that village; and a third +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">93</span>lent very timely help at Fanny’s Farm, beyond Messines, +where the infantry was held up for a time. In the meanwhile, +the 24 reserve tanks had moved up to our original +front line, and in the afternoon climbed the ridge to lead +the assault on the final objective. The Oostaverne Line was +little damaged, by comparison with the shattered first and +second systems, and might have caused us serious trouble. +The tanks, however, reached the trenches ahead of the infantry, +and so demoralised the defenders that the whole +position was taken at a light cost. During its consolidation, +the surviving machines patrolled beyond it; and this +dangerous operation, which often exposes tanks to direct +artillery fire which they can neither avoid nor counter, led +on this occasion to one very gallant and useful piece of +work. Well east of Oostaverne, between that village and +the Ypres-Menin railway, stood Joye Farm, at the head of +a marshy little valley down which crawled a stream called +the Wambeek. Late in the afternoon two of the patrolling +tanks (both males of A Battalion) became ditched near the +farm, actually in front of our outpost line. All efforts to +extricate them before night having failed, it was proposed +to withdraw the crews. The Wambeek valley, however, +offered the enemy cover in which to mass his troops for +a counter-attack; and as the tanks would be of material +assistance in such an event, the men eventually were ordered +to stand by them during the night and resume unditching at +dawn. At 4 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>, therefore, work was started again. One +tank was got out, and at once moved forward toward the +Ypres-Menin railway, where a counter-attack was in progress, +but broke a track while attempting to cross the +metals. At 6.30 the Germans were seen to be gathering +along the Wambeek. Each tank could bring one 6-pounder +to bear on the valley, and the majority of their crews took +the machine-guns outside into shell-holes. The infantry +near at hand were asked for support and supplied with +ammunition, of which their Lewis-gun teams were deficient. +The enemy’s attack was now developing; but although for +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">94</span>five hours he made repeated attempts to issue from the +valley, in every case he was repulsed with heavy losses, +inflicted largely by the 6-pounder and machine-gun fire +of the two tank crews. At 11.30 our barrage opened again +and finally dispersed the assailants.</p> + +<p>In this battle the two tank battalions lost 3 officers and +16 men killed or died of wounds, and 26 officers and 73 men +wounded or missing. Eleven tanks were disabled by direct +hits; 48 were ditched, and 2 were hit after ditching. There +were nineteen recorded cases in which they helped the infantry. +The Mark IV.’s, with their lighter sponsons and +other improvements, were shown to be far handier than +the old type of machine. Apart from the obvious conclusions +that tanks need not have been used at all in the +first phase of the attack, and that the ground was thoroughly +unsuitable for any combined effort on their part, the chief +lesson to be drawn from Messines was one already taken to +heart—the necessity, namely, of providing a more efficient +unditching apparatus for use in such pulverised <i>terrain</i>. +Many casualties would have been avoided, and many more +tanks would have got into action and returned that night, if +the long unditching spar issued shortly after had been in use +during the battle.</p> + +<p>The question of the advisability of using tanks at +Messines raises another which it may be of interest to +consider before we close this chapter. “The third battle +of Ypres,” says Colonel Buchan,⁠<a id="FNanchor_16_16" href="#Footnote_16_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a> “was the residuum left +to Sir Douglas Haig of the great plan of a Flanders +offensive which he had conceived the previous winter. +Events which he could not control had postponed it till +too late in the summer.” Here, as elsewhere, the writer +implies that the dilemma in which we found ourselves was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">95</span>caused wholly by the failure of the French advance on +Laon. Manifestly, the work of the Allied armies was +interdependent; but the principle of assuming at all costs +the perfection of our own dispositions can be carried too +far. There was in any case a bold alternative to the Ypres +offensive, which actually was proposed and might well have +been adopted, even before the postponement of the latter +compromised its prospects. This alternative was a tank +attack on a large scale against the central portion of the +Hindenburg Line—to take place after Messines. In other +words, the battle of Cambrai was to be fought in the early +summer, on the same lines as eventually were adopted in +the late autumn. In the Arras battles the Mark I. tanks +were used for the last time, and as none really were needed +at Messines, the improved Mark IV.’s and the experienced +personnel lost there might have been preserved for a greater +occasion. The enemy’s attention was drawn northward by +the 2nd Army’s victory. He began at once to transfer +reserves to meet the obvious corollary of an attack from +Ypres; and to foster this belief by various stratagems was +no more difficult in June than in November. Meanwhile, +let us suppose the four original tank battalions, reinforced +in May by F and G, to be preparing at Bermicourt and +Wailly for the secret blow far to the south. By the end of +June, when the three brigades began to assemble in the +Salient, it would have been possible to arm them with +100 tanks apiece—300 in all. (216 fighting machines were +actually in Belgium for the battle of July 31st.) Our communications +across the devastated Somme area were then so +far complete (or could have been made so) as to permit of a +rapid and secret concentration on that front, and the plan +of attack adopted with such startling results on November +20th might have been anticipated in almost every detail, +with this great additional advantage—twelve or fifteen fresh +divisions, instead of six tired ones, could have followed the +tanks. The ground was perfect, virtually untouched by war, +and not likely to be affected seriously by rain. The enemy +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">96</span>was unprepared. And of the possible obstacles, the fabulous +Hindenburg trenches, whose rear systems were not even +completed by midsummer, were the least to be feared.</p> + +<p>Such was the scheme put forward and strongly urged by +the supporters of the new weapon. If it did not seem to +offer so glittering a reward as a victorious advance along +the coast, its prospects of success were immeasurably +higher. It would possess the elements for which tanks +were designed—surprise and normal country. Apart from +the ordinary difficulties confronting an attack out of the +Salient, where the enemy was fully prepared for one, the +effect of bad weather and gun-fire upon the ruined soil +reduced every ambitious military operation there to the +nature of a gamble. It is interesting to note that quite +early in the year, after the reconnaissance made by the +Heavy Section of the whole area, the ground north of +Messines was declared utterly unfit for tanks; and far less +rain than actually fell in August would have ruined our +offensive. (As it happened, June and July, about when it +was proposed to fight the alternative tank battle, were +brilliantly fine.) Nor were the strategic prospects of a blow +at Cambrai to be under-estimated. A success, of which +there was every probability, would have threatened directly +the great line of supply, running southward through Maubeuge, +by which the German armies in Champagne were +fed and clothed and armed. Such a threat was the object +of the November attack, and of the second battle of +Cambrai ten months later, when at length it was carried +through to a practical conclusion.</p> + +<p>This excursion into strategy and speculation may seem +out of place in a book of this nature. But one of my main +objects in writing is to show how a belated appreciation of +the correct use of tanks in battle came to overset all the +theories stereotyped by years of stationary warfare, and how +the tactical beliefs held by the Tank Corps itself were ultimately +accepted as gospel by the Army as a whole. Already +there are signs of backsliding, and in a few years we shall +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">97</span>be told that the war was won by cavalry. But regarding +Cambrai as the great conversion (if only “for the duration”), +it is both interesting and pertinent to discuss the earlier +proposal, although it came to nothing at the time, and was +only exhumed later as a sort of counsel of desperation. In +the spring of 1917 there was little hope for it. The Belgian +coast-line worked like a magnet, and there were infantry +and guns in plenty to be drawn thither. The main argument +against the attack farther south was, however, that +too few tanks were available. Yet 300 at least could have +been found, and only 370 went in eventually at Cambrai. +No doubt there were other and better reasons. Whatever +they were, they prevailed: our activities continued to shift +northward, and soon men and guns and tanks were +floundering in the morasses of the Salient.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">98</span></p> + + + <h3 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VII"> + CHAPTER VII. + <br> + <span class="sm">YPRES: THE PRELIMINARIES.</span> + </h3> +</div> + + +<h4>I.</h4> + +<p>From now onward my own experiences with the Tank +Corps in France will take up a large part of the narrative. +I came out from England as a tank commander in G +Battalion toward the end of May 1917. Only the personnel +were on the boat, as by this time the tanks were shipped +across in batches as they were completed, new battalions on +their arrival drawing their quota from the park at Erin. +F Battalion had preceded G by a week, these two units +being the first to leave of those raised at home under the +new establishment.</p> + +<p>The month of June, notable for brilliant weather, we +spent partly in the Bermicourt area, where my own company +billeted in satisfactory isolation in the village of Pierremont, +and partly at Wailly, where each company went for a week’s +driving practice. The combatant companies in the Heavy +Branch were then numbered consecutively throughout the +corps, and not by their battalions; so that G, as the +seventh of the latter in alphabetical order, consisted of +19, 20, and 21 Companies—the last-named being my own. +At Pierremont we led a very placid existence for a few +weeks. We route-marched and drilled a little, toyed with +Lewis guns, and played cricket: we suffered, not over +gladly, the presence in our mess of two unshaven and +lugubrious members of the Y.M.C.A. (which occasionally +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">99</span>errs in selecting its personnel) whom we knew only as +“Watch” and “Pray”; and eventually, with the rest of +the battalion, we marched over to Erin, about four miles +distant, to draw thirty-six Mark IV. tanks. We drove our +own twelve back to a park already established in the village. +At this time, however, I had no tank to command. There +were in my section three rather senior lieutenants, hailing +from the prehistoric Thetford age, who naturally secured a +tank apiece. The majority of the subalterns in G, including +myself, had been commissioned from the ranks on the +same day some six months earlier, and joined the battalion +together, and their seniority necessarily was determined by +the alphabet. In consequence of this law the fourth tank +in the section fell to my friend and contemporary Brassington +(killed a year later by Monument Wood, outside +Bapaume), since “Bra” comes before “Bro.” On such +accidents of orthography, in the Army, may one’s future +depend! I was left for the time being in command of the +fifth or reserve crew.</p> + +<p>In the meanwhile Messines had been fought. We heard +the guns from Pierremont, and, a little later, learnt that we +should soon move up to the Salient ourselves to take part +in the forthcoming development of the offensive there. I +remember Torbett, the company commander, returning one +evening about this time from some conference, bringing +with him a large-scale map of the country over which the +battalion was expected to operate. Few or none of us had +seen the Salient then; and on this sheet, carefully layered +and thick with symmetrical villages and roads, it looked +quite attractive and very ordinary. I date from that event +an instinctive mistrust of maps depicting strange country +in war-time. I believe it would have helped us greatly in +this war to have had maps drawn especially to represent, +so far as was possible, the actual condition of the ground on +most battlefields. This should not have been difficult: +primarily it would mean inventing a series of entirely new +conventional signs for mud and shelled areas and obliterated +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">100</span>villages and roads, to take the place of the normal peace-time +symbols of the cartographer, supplemented only by +obscure legends which nobody reads. I have experimented +with such a map myself. The ordinary production, showing +every house and hedgerow and by-way in (let us say) +Poelcapelle or Pozières, which simply had ceased to exist, +was peculiarly misleading; and, so strong is habit, the more +accustomed one was to handling maps before the war (an +eccentricity not common, it is true, in the regular Army) +the more misleading it became. Looking now at any sheet +professing to represent the Pilkem Ridge and the Steenbeek +Valley, and recalling what that atrocious neighbourhood +really looked like, it is a marvel to me that we ever found +our way about it at all. I am quite certain that in many +cases loss of direction, or misstatements as to position in +action—errors which were only too common—were due not +to ordinary bad map-reading, although that also was prevalent +enough, but to excusable inability on the part of an +officer to reconcile the printed sheet with the actual appearance +of the country: a difficulty that might have been +mitigated in part by the use of some more appropriate +system of cartography.</p> + +<p>Toward the end of June the 1st Tank Brigade, consisting +now of G and D Battalions, received definite movement +orders; and a few days later an advance party of G, +which I accompanied, moved by lorry to the Salient to +prepare a camp. We reached our destination at Oosthoek +Wood, beyond Poperinghe, about 3 o’clock of a blazing +July afternoon, at the exact moment when a German aeroplane +was attacking one of our observation balloons which +hung immediately overhead. There was a hideous racket +of futile rifle and machine-gun fire: along the whole line +of balloons stretching northward observers were descending +in parachutes; and two dissolving spirals of black smoke +above the trees showed where a couple of the fragile gasbags +had already been destroyed. As we tumbled out of +our lorries, wondering what all the pandemonium was about, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">101</span>the German pilot was in the act of diving down upon his +third victim, right above us. The two observers were still +floating uncomfortably earthward, and the mechanics on +the trolley below, at the edge of the wood, were working +frenziedly to lower the balloon, when the latter burst into +flames, shrivelled up like tissue-paper, and sank gently in +a rain of charred fragments beneath its own streamer of +smoke. The aeroplane, satisfied with a creditable afternoon’s +work, circled round and climbed toward the lines, +pursued, long after it was out of range, by useless and +indiscriminate small-arm fire and the equally ineffective +“Archie.”</p> + +<p>This was not the only untoward occurrence which had +disturbed Oosthoek that day. It appeared that during the +morning the whole wood, which was full of troops, had +been shelled, notably in that part where the 1st and 3rd +Tank Brigades proposed to have their camps. As these +attentions were guessed correctly to be only the precursors +of more, it was decided on the spot to send the personnel +of both brigades to some area farther removed from the +line. The tanks, however, would have to remain at Oosthoek. +Our advance party, therefore, after spending the +night in the wood with the Reconnaissance Officers of the +battalion, who had been established there for a week, +moved back next morning to the vicinity of Lovie Château, +the headquarters of the 5th Army, where the camps of the +1st Brigade Headquarters and D Battalion already were in +process of erection.</p> + +<p>Some account of the neighbourhood and general situation +will aid the story at this point. Oosthoek Wood, the centre +of our activities for the next four months, is a large and +straggling assemblage of trees extending in all over several +hundred acres, and lying in the middle of a triangle whose +points are Poperinghe to the south-west, Vlamertinghe to +the south-east, and Elverdinghe to the north-east. The +centre of the wood was within four miles of the nearest +point of the line, at Boesinghe on the canal, and about the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">102</span>same distance from Ypres. It was bisected by a timbered +military road (a splendid piece of work, capable of taking +three lorries abreast) which ran from the direction of Lovie +Château across the triangle to Vlamertinghe. Beside this +road a double line of rails had been laid from Peselhoek +railhead to a new and very conspicuous detraining ramp +built at the entrance to the wood for the use of our brigade. +Half a mile farther north a second ramp served the 3rd +Brigade. (The 2nd Brigade was already in the area, having +remained at Ouderdom since the battle of Messines.) A +series of other woods diversified the country between +Oosthoek and Lovie Château. The latter building, standing +in beautiful grounds, was about seven miles from the +line—uncommonly far forward, nevertheless, for an army +headquarters. It was, indeed, in front of the 18th Corps +Headquarters, close by. The whole of this low-lying and +uninteresting region was under cultivation as far as Oosthoek +itself; and there were people living in the farms on +the western outskirts of that wood. The battered and +unpleasant town of Poperinghe, although shelled intermittently +and bombed at one time almost every night, +was of course full of squalid shops and extortionate shopkeepers, +most of them women. To carry on for three or +four years a retail business under fire, within five miles of +the enemy, implies a certain enthusiasm for gain; but perhaps +the ordeal justified the imposition of high prices; and +the ordinary Englishman’s passion for buying rubbish is +a direct invitation to it. The restaurants and tea-shops in +the town—“Skindle’s,” “Cyril’s,” and the rest—swarmed +all day with garrulous officers, and should have formed +useful media of information for the Germans. As for the +depressed and slatternly creatures in the farms nearer to +the line, it was generally taken for granted that they were +spies. The usual stories flew about of lamps flashing by +night and cattle manœuvring suspiciously by day; and +rumour was always shooting somebody. And if there was +espionage, as there must have been, it had a mass of miscellaneous +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">103</span>material to sift and report on. The whole +country was crowded with troops. In the Salient alone +there were two armies in one army area, Sir Hubert Gough +having brought four corps from in front of Cambrai to take +post on the 2nd Army’s left. To his left again the 1st +French Army had taken over from the Belgians the line +between Boesinghe and Noordschoote; while Rawlinson’s +4th Army had come in on the sea-coast in readiness for that +flanking operation which never materialised. There could +be no attempt to keep this huge concentration a secret, or +at any rate there was none. Such a thing was not thought +of in those days. Everything went forward deliberately on +old-established lines, in full view of the enemy, who were +in doubt only (and that not for long) as to the actual day +of attack.</p> + +<p>The decision to employ three brigades of tanks, or the +whole of the Heavy Branch, had been come to in May, +notwithstanding the adverse reports on the ground submitted +by the Corps Reconnaissance Staff. From the first +introduction of tanks in the field, the conditions with which +they had to contend had gone from bad to worse. Ypres +was the climax. The tanks were sent by scores, and then +by hundreds, to drown ineffectually in a morass, and the +very existence of the corps was imperilled by this misusage. +The whole countryside was water-logged: reclaimed from +the sea, for even Ypres once had been a port, its usefulness +and habitability depended in normal times upon an intricate +system of drainage, for whose upkeep the farmers +were responsible, and for the neglect of which they were +heavily fined. This drainage had now been destroyed, or +had fallen into desuetude and decay, over the whole area +about the front lines. During our reconnaissances in July +the deplorable results were not at first very apparent. The +weather was fine, and the surface soil dry and crumbling: +we walked, so far as it was safe, over what seemed to be +solid earth covered with the usual coarse grass and weeds; +and then, from observation-points in well-constructed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">104</span>trenches, peered out through our binoculars upon a barren +and dun-coloured landscape, void of any sign of human life, +its dreary skyline broken only by a few jagged stumps of +trees. From this desolation clouds of dust shot up where +our shells were falling. It was much the same as any other +battlefield, to all appearance. But even then the duckboards +under foot in the trenches were squelching upon +water; and a few hours’ rain dissolved the fallacious crust +into a bottomless and evil-smelling paste of liquid mud. +And rain was the least offender. It was our own bombardment +which finished the work of ruin, pulverised the ground +beyond repair, destroyed what drainage there was left, and +brought the water welling up within the shell-holes as fast +as they were formed. Long before any prolonged downpour +had fallen, indeed after the hottest spells of weather, +the little white discs on the aeroplane photographs were +multiplying daily from end to end of the field of operations.</p> + + +<h4 id="II_5"> + II. +</h4> + +<p>The actual detraining of the tanks of G Battalion at +Oosthoek Wood was accomplished without any serious +hitch. It took place, of course, after dark, and spread over +three successive nights, each company requiring a complete +train. The workshops had already travelled up by road. +My company was the first to arrive; and the Brigadier and +staff, the Colonel and the company commander, Gordon, +the company R.O., and myself, were at the ramp to meet +it. We stood about there in the dark in some anxiety, for +a night or two earlier a train of C Battalion’s had been +shelled as it drew in to the northern railhead. There had +been stories of signal rockets going up in the neighbourhood +as the train pulled in. The new white wooden ramps must +have shown up clearly on aeroplane photographs, and no +one had thought of camouflaging them. This night, +happily, was exceptionally quiet; only a few heavy shells +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">105</span>whistled far overhead on their way into Poperinghe. It +was very dark, but fine, with a brilliant display of stars. It +was also, I remember, uncommonly cold for July. The +train drew in about eleven o’clock, creeping up so quietly +that the dark bulk of the first tank, shrouded in tarpaulin +sheets, was towering above the ramp before I knew +anything about it. We had a party ready at hand for the +business of chocking up, and these men fell to work at +once while the tank crews unlashed and cleared away the +sheets and started their engines. “Chocking up,” by the +way, was a process in use to save the springs of the earlier +K.T. trucks, heavy T-shaped baulks of timber being wedged +under the ends of each truck to carry the weight of the tank +as it moved off. A later type of K.T. carried its own chocks +in the form of screw-jacks beneath the buffers.</p> + +<p>Everything went well until the eleventh tank refused to +start up. Eventually it had to be towed off. In the meantime, +Gordon and I had been leading the others to their +allotted hiding-places in the wood. Parking tanks (especially +Mark IV.’s) among timber at night is always a noisy +and trying operation, resembling in sound and destructiveness +the gambols of a herd of inebriated elephants. The +tank-driver, unaided, can see nothing whatever, and has to +be guided by the flashings of an electric torch, with which +refinements of signalling are difficult and generally misunderstood. +The trees, which appeared to be harmless and +nicely spaced in the daytime, become indued with a malignant +spirit and (apparently) have changed their positions +since last seen. It was as black as a coal-pocket in Oosthoek +Wood that night; and for an hour or so it rang with curses +and exhortations and the crash and rending of ill-treated +timber as tank after tank tried to swing this way or that +and pushed down a young tree or two in the act. However, +soon after one o’clock we had them all in, herded together +more or less in sections, and the first arrivals were already +camouflaged. Although the foliage was fairly thick, and +probably would have formed an adequate screen, we were +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">106</span>running no risks. The camouflage nets were suspended +from the trees a few feet above the tanks, the sides being +drawn down at a slant and pegged to the ground. All this +was exhausting work in the pitchy darkness, and very trying +to the temper. At the same time a party was obliterating +the tracks we had made between the ramp and the wood. +By three o’clock the work was done, and we lay down in +and under the tanks to sleep for a few hours. Lorries were +due to arrive at six to take all the personnel, except a guard, +back to the camp at Lovie Château.</p> + +<p>It was very cold, and personally I hardly slept at all. +About five o’clock every one was aroused very effectually +by the arrival of a high-velocity shell, which burst under +the nose of a tank, made a small hole in another, blew half +a camouflage net to tatters, and flung a haversack into a +tree. We were still collecting our wits, and a few dishevelled +figures were crawling out of sponson doors, when +a second shell burst twenty yards beyond the first; and +with that every tank disgorged its occupants in a hurry and +all of us dived for shelter. There were various old pits and +trenches in the wood, and within these we crouched for a +short time, while the shells continued to arrive punctually +at half-minute intervals. All of them except the first one +fortunately burst beyond the tanks, although near enough +for fragments to fly among the latter and over our heads. +As the wood manifestly was no place for repose at the +moment, we were ordered to leave it; and having collected +the scattered parties (a proceeding interrupted periodically +by the whistle of another approaching shell), we retired in +some disorder upon the military road, near the ramp, where +a party of negro labourers was watching the bombardment +with marked uneasiness. The methodical gun, however, +made no attempt to traverse or elevate: it continued to +plant its projectiles around the same spot for another ten +minutes, and then fell silent. Our only casualty was X. +(as we will call him), who ran into a tank in the pardonable +excitement of the moment, cut his forehead, and was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">107</span>removed within half an hour to the C.C.S. on the Elverdinghe +road. There was no further shelling of the wood +that morning. We had every opportunity of establishing +this fact, as, owing to some muddle over the lorries, they +were four hours late. Tired, hungry, and dirty, feeling +acutely that no one loved us, we sat by that accursed +military road until midday, when at length the transport +appeared and carried us back to the new camp at Lovie.</p> + +<p>During the two ensuing nights 19 and 20 Companies +detrained in peace and were followed shortly after by +D Battalion. F Battalion having also joined C, the 1st +and 3rd Brigades were now concentrated near to one +another, mustering between them (including supply and +signal machines) nearly 170 tanks. Every day the crews of +the four battalions marched down from Lovie Château to +their work in the wood, returning after tea. By this time +the Germans had acquired the habit of shelling Oosthoek +in a rather desultory fashion every day. In the centre of +the wood, where a number of camps and hutments clustered +about some cross-roads, casualties became so frequent that +the whole of the troops in the neighbourhood were withdrawn: +the baths, canteens, and Church Army huts were +closed down; and only a few details remained to dig themselves +in and hope for the best. At our end the nuisance +was less pronounced, although quite troublesome enough. +In addition to our old friend the high-velocity gun, which, +situated apparently somewhere near Langemarck, favoured +us with its attentions almost every day, other pieces of +ordnance took a hand occasionally; but in the 1st Brigade +neither men nor tanks were ever hit. As the latter were +packed together like herrings, one or two heavy projectiles +among them might have done a lot of damage. The 3rd +Brigade, less fortunate, suffered several casualties, five men +being killed and five wounded in one morning. We used +to debit this unpleasantness to the growing account of +Sergeant Phillips. This gentleman (whose actual regiment, +a Welsh one, I have forgotten), having been captured in a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">108</span>raid, proceeded to give to the enemy every atom of information +in his possession. Most of it was fairly accurate. +Among other things, he disclosed the presence and approximate +numbers of the tanks hidden in Oosthoek Wood. +This piece of treachery having come to the knowledge of +our Intelligence Corps, a summary of the disclosures, +together with a prophecy as to the offender’s probable +destiny if ever he returned to England, was ordered to be +read out every week on parade throughout the Army. Now +that the war is over, and the prisoners are returned, I have +often wondered what really has happened to Sergeant +Phillips. As he appeared to be a man of some intelligence, +he probably has remained in Germany.</p> + +<p>As soon as G Battalion was settled down at Lovie +Château, reconnaissance of the area by tank commanders +and N.C.O.’s was begun. Our part in the forthcoming +attack had been decided upon a month before. We +were working with General Maxse’s 18th Corps on the +left centre of the 5th Army front. General Elles was +opposed to the use of tanks anywhere north of the +Wieltje road; but the corps commander asked urgently +for two companies, and guaranteed that his engineers +would, if necessary, get them to the crossing of the +Steenbeek at St Julien. The action of the tanks, nevertheless, +was to be subsidiary to the infantry assault, as +the battle was being conducted on the stereotyped lines +which had failed so often before. 19 and 21 Companies +of my battalion were detailed to the 18th Corps, 20 +Company remaining in corps reserve. D Battalion, for +the time being, was in army reserve. The object of the +first day’s attack was the capture of the enemy’s first and +second systems on the Pilkem Ridge, and the securing of +the Steenbeek crossings. This was to be followed on the +second day by a push for the third system and the Passchendaele +Ridge beyond; after which it was hoped to +break through in the direction of Thourout simultaneously +with an offensive by the 4th Army on the coast and the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">109</span>landing at Middelkerke. Our advanced headquarters party +of Reconnaissance Officers had already worked out routes +to the front line, and collected much valuable information +about the ground beyond. The first serious obstacle to +tank operations north of Ypres was the famous canal. This +forbidding and ill-omened waterway, lined on both sides +by blasted and withered poplars, haunted by cemeteries, +and sunk within high banks honeycombed with terraces +of dug-outs, was crossed between Brielen and La Brique +by a series of earthen causeways. Over one of these, +known as Marengo, a few hundred yards north of the +dismal region called the Dead End of Ypres, the tanks were +to pass. The prospect was not inviting, as the whole +canal was shelled on and off every day and night, especially +in the neighbourhood of the causeways; and a single tank +disabled on Marengo would hold up all behind it. There +was no alternative crossing, all the others being engaged +for the passage of artillery and supplies. Beyond the +canal a maze of old and new trenches and wire climbed +a gentle slope to the only eminence, if such it can be +called, within the original salient, on the summit of +which, about 2000 yards from the front line, the ruins of +Frascati Farm lay hidden among some fine trees. From +the farther edge of this timber nothing but a line of high +camouflage netting, strung on poles, interrupted the view +across the slight depression where the front lines ran to +the Pilkem Ridge and the ragged outline of Kitchener’s +Wood behind the second German system. So long as +one’s body and legs are covered, one can look over a +parapet with comparative equanimity; but it seemed to +me always a strange thing to stand upright, and entirely +unprotected, behind this fictitious screen of netting, and +watch through its meshes the whole extent of the enemy’s +trenches over an area of several miles, with our shells +bursting in clouds of dust about them. The front lines +themselves, on the marshy ground of the hollow below, +were on an average three or four hundred yards apart. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">110</span>Along No Man’s Land, just in front of and parallel to our +trenches, ran an unhappy thoroughfare called Admiral’s +Road, down which, for two years and a half, neither +admirals nor common folk (except the nightly patrols) +had ever stepped. The German front-line trenches took +in a number of farms—Mousetrap, Hampshire, Canadian, +Krupp, and others; but these were only names upon the +map. Even the remnants of the buildings had vanished +utterly long before: there was not a brick remaining to +mark the sites; nothing was left but foul water and mud +and a few pollarded willows that somehow had survived +the annihilating pestilence of high explosives. These Flemish +farmsteads were surrounded almost invariably by moats +and pools, and the water had now overlapped its ruined +confines and inundated acres of ground on every side. And +behind this barrier, along the crest of the Pilkem Ridge, +another series of obliterated and water-logged farms—Juliet, +Oblong, Racecourse, Below—formed outposts to +the second German system. Nor was this the end of +these amphibious obstacles. Beyond the ridge lay what +once had been the Steenbeek—a sluggish stream crawling +between muddy banks, ten or fifteen feet in width and three +or four in depth; now a strip of quagmire, believed to be +impassable for tanks except at the ruined bridge of St +Julien—an obvious defile marked down and taped to a +yard by the German batteries. Nor, again, was this all. +It was indeed only the beginning. East of the Steenbeek, +Von Armin, commanding the 4th German Army, had extemporised +for defence in a different manner a third series +of farmhouses (in front of his third line), by filling their +ruins with reinforced concrete. Similar strong-points on +a smaller scale, known generically as “pill-boxes,” were +dotted thickly about the Pilkem Ridge; but it was in the +area behind, out of our observation, that this type of +pocket-fortress reached its climax of strength and ingenuity. +Here also were the main-battery positions. The +enemy had come to realise, after Arras and Messines, that +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">111</span>any front line could be made untenable by a heavy bombardment, +and that even the second line should be regarded +chiefly as a means of delaying and disorganising +the assault. The third line, covered by a forward system +of strong-points, was the main zone of resistance, behind +which, in comparative security, reserves could be massed +for a counter-attack. Adapted, by the “pill-box” system, +to the abnormal conditions of the Salient (where deep +dug-outs, and in some places adequate trenches even, +were out of the question), this was the first application of +the principle of an elastic “defence in depth,” as opposed +to the rigid obstacle of such fortifications as the Hindenburg +Line. Resistance hardened automatically as the +attack progressed. The field batteries were kept well +back. The scheme depended for success upon the quality +of the defending infantry and machine-gunners, who must +be equal to the task of holding isolated posts unsupported +for a period long enough to disorganise and weary the +assailants, and allow the counter-preparations to mature. +Upon this personal factor, under the influence of tanks, the +method broke down during our final offensive a year later; +but at the end of 1917 the German <i>moral</i> was still high, and +in the Salient the tanks had few chances of undermining it.</p> + +<p>Such, then, was the position the two companies of G +Battalion had to assist the infantry to capture. On our +left the 14th Corps and General Anthoine’s Frenchmen +were attacking without tanks up the Ypres-Staden railway, +and toward the dismal Forest of Houthoulst. South of our +sector the 2nd and 3rd Tank Brigades were operating with +the 2nd and 19th Corps respectively against Frezenberg and +the frightful region beyond Hooge. Here the conditions +were similar to those with which we should have to +contend: if possible, even worse. The approach-marches +of these brigades were complicated, not only by the canal, +but also by two streams, called the Kemmel Beek and the +Lombart Beek, over which five causeways had to be built. +This work, as well as the construction of splinter-proof +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">112</span>shelters, the filling in of smaller dykes and craters, the +bridging of innumerable trenches, and every other form +of engineering device necessary, was performed by the +184th Tunnelling Company, attached to the Heavy Branch +for the operations. One section of this company worked +with each brigade, and all rendered invaluable service.</p> + + +<h4 id="III_3"> + III. +</h4> + +<p>The third battle of Ypres was unique in the history of +the Tank Corps in the facilities afforded for preliminary +reconnaissance. A natural prejudice impels me to the +conclusion that in this department, as in all the rest, the +work of my own battalion was more thorough than that +of most others; and undoubtedly some of the older units +were inclined to think that because they had been in action +on the Somme they knew everything about tank warfare. +This was much as if the cavalry should believe Pinkie +Cleugh to be the last word on mounted tactics—as sometimes +it appears that they do. For much had been done +and more learnt since Flers and Courcelette. In any case, +all of us had exceptional opportunities for preparation in +the Salient. It was a pity they were squandered on so +unprofitable a battlefield. The 2nd Brigade had been in +the area since Messines, and the Reconnaissance Officers +of the other two had lived in Oosthoek Wood for a fortnight +before the personnel arrived. By the time section +and tank commanders were free to begin their individual +surveys, a great mass of information had already been +gathered and sorted out. Aeroplane photographs had +been collected, special maps prepared, landmarks identified, +and routes to the front line decided upon. And still +there was ample time for every crew to become familiar +(so far as was possible from a distance) with the deplorable +country over which it would have to fight. For three +weeks parties of officers, N.C.O.’s, and men of G Battalion +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">113</span>went daily up the line. To begin with, each tank commander +walked with his drivers two or three times over +the penultimate approach route from Oosthoek Wood to +Frascati Farm beyond the canal—a distance, by the +circuitous way chosen, of about 10,000 yards. It was +divided into two stages. It led by a narrow and winding +by-way from the military road to Hospital Farm, on the +northern edge of the wood, and thence along a track, +known to the whole British Army as Rum Road, to a +point north-west of Brielen village, where there was an +enclosure surrounded by trees and overgrown hedges, +which we called Halfway House. Here the tanks of 19 +and 21 Companies were to spend X-day, or the day but +one before the battle. During X-Y night they were to +move forward again along Rum Road, past Murat Farm, +across Marengo Causeway, and so to Frascati, lying up +throughout Y-day under the trees there. The remaining +stage of the approach-march to the front line at Forward +Cottage was a mile in length. As it was impossible to +walk over this in daylight, it was to be taped by the R.O.’s +on the final evening.</p> + +<p>The next preparatory step was the reconnaissance of the +ground beyond the German lines. Parties of us would go +by lorry to Reigersberg Château, a dismal modern building, +greatly shattered, standing behind a high wall among trees +a mile north-west of Ypres on the Brielen road. The whole +of this region was thick with heavy guns, and there was a +peculiarly obnoxious battery of 8-inch howitzers, hidden +behind a hedge on the roadside opposite the château, +which invariably fired with an ear-splitting blast of sound +at the moment when one was standing by the lorry a dozen +yards in front of the muzzles. As the Germans indulged in +a good deal of retaliation in the neighbourhood, Reigersberg +was no place to linger about. A section commander and an +R.O. of F Battalion were blown to pieces one morning by a +heavy shell which burst at their feet in the château grounds; +and the gunners who lived there suffered casualties every +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">114</span>day. Leaving this lugubrious mansion with some haste, +therefore, we used to push forward on foot to another +unhealthy spot, Bridge 4 over the canal. This was a +timber structure for infantry and field-guns, built over the +wreck of a sunken steamboat. It was constantly shelled, +and I suppose at that time was hit on an average at least +once a day; while if high explosive was not coming over, +one could always expect a few bursts of heavy shrapnel +above one’s head. Owing to the causeways which blocked +the canal lower down, the water here was stagnant and +choked with weeds; but in fine weather, if the German +guns were quiet, men usually were bathing in it; and, as +somebody remarked, “it really became more like the +Serpentine every day.” Beyond Bridge 4 we entered the +annihilated region of the real Salient. Along the high canal +bank, with its terraces of sand-bagged dug-outs, named and +numbered like suburban thoroughfares, stood the wreckage +of a line of magnificent trees, the counterpart of that on the +west bank. Half of these were mere splintered trunks or +lay entirely prostrate, and those still erect were gashed and +torn. They rose mournfully above the frightful welter of +shell-holes and trenches, the litter of timber and rubbish, +the rusted entanglements, and the patches of marsh lined +with unhappy pollards, which sloped up gently to Frascati +and the remains of La Brique. Our route from the bridge +usually took us in one of two directions across this wasted +land. Either we descended at once into trenches and +made our way to various points in the reserve or support +lines from which we could obtain a fair view of the Pilkem +Ridge, or we walked above ground with some disquietude of +spirit through Frascati and La Brique to Wilson’s Post, a +concrete observation-point on the forward slope beyond. +This journey never was an unmixed joy. We had to pass +through the garden of the last house (or, to be accurate, +what had been the garden of what had been the last house) +in La Brique. At one time the ruins of this building had +been used as a machine-gun post. The Germans, having +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">115</span>become aware of this, shelled it heavily, and the guns were +withdrawn. The derelict house, however, was still an +occasional target, and was yet another point where no +sensible man lingered. Wilson’s Post, a quarter of a mile +in front, was a small two-storied tower embedded literally +to its eyelids in the earth, its cranium concealed in willows +and other shrubs. It was approached from La Brique by +an unfinished trench about the depth of a roadside gutter. +In the bottom storey, illuminated by a candle, an orderly +sat over a telephone; in the upper chamber—about five +feet square and reached by a ladder—a telescope peered +through two shallow slits on the ground-level and swept +from an angle the whole front over which my battalion was +to attack. Sitting on a little bench with one’s feet dangling +over the trap-door, one could see the brown slope of the +Pilkem Ridge, seamed with lighter-coloured lines which +marked the enemy’s trenches, the foliage of Kitchener’s +Wood appearing over the crest, and, away to the left, the +debris of the estaminet called Boche Castle and a few +clumps of skeleton trees which, on that obliterated countryside, +served us for landmarks—English Trees, Marsouin +Trees, Hurst Park, and that solitary but useful vegetable +known to us as Lone Tree. (The fate of English Trees, +marking the site of a vanished farm, was followed by us +with peculiar interest, and odds were laid on or against +their survival. Originally they were eleven in number, +but our preliminary bombardment thinned their ranks, and +the eclipse of one or another was sedulously recorded, and +the vital information circulated throughout the battalion. +About half a dozen, I think, all considerably the worse for +wear, survived the ordeal, and may be standing yet.) Far +beyond these outposts we could see the hazy woods about +Pilkem and Langemarck and Poelcapelle. We were provided +with sketches professing to depict all these features, +and even such details as Langemarck Church and the +Institute (whatever that might be) at Passchendaele; but +no two of us could ever agree in identifying these remote +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">116</span>buildings. Of far greater merit was a panorama, taking in +our entire front, drawn from Wilson’s Post by an R.E. +officer named Brennan. This was of real service to us. +One singular object, I remember, situated prominently on +the ridge-top in front of Kitchener’s Wood, puzzled us till +the end. It was square in outline and of the size of a small +cottage, only no cottage could be standing there and none +was marked on the map. The map, on the contrary, misled +apparently by a light railway which aeroplane photographs +showed running out to it from the wood, marked it as an +ammunition dump! This palpably was absurd, and was +the result of some one making a guess without looking at +the ground. Only a lunatic would erect a dump ten or +twelve feet high a thousand yards from the front line and +in full view of the enemy. I saw this mystery at close +quarters for the first time on the afternoon of 1st August, +when I was trudging homeward through the mud and rain +with the remains of my crew, and then discovered it to be +a large concrete machine-gun fort, covered with sheets of +brown camouflage netting. It had been hit more than +once, probably by the 9.2 shells with which we bombarded +the enemy’s second line; but these huge projectiles had +only cracked the walls. The effect of the concussion inside, +however, must have been terrible. A dead German, with +wide-open blue eyes staring out of a grey face, was lying on +his back half out of the entrance, and no doubt there were +others within. I was in no mood for grisly investigations, +and even my crew were too scared and exhausted to indulge +the ruling passion for souvenirs.</p> + +<p>Among the other attractions of La Brique and its +salubrious neighbourhood were a couple of trees fitted +with iron rungs and used as occasional o.p.’s, and a third +dummy stump made of steel, inside which the observer +insinuated himself. I never ascended the tallest tree, +eighty feet high, and never had the least desire to do so; +but I clambered once up the shorter one, which stood at +the head of the ditch leading to Wilson’s Post. I did not +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">117</span>think that the view obtained therefrom was worth the +trouble and anxiety involved. On another occasion a +fellow tank commander, Merchant, and myself were reconnoitring +together from this point. He was up the tree and +I was sitting at the foot of it, asking, like the lady in the +poem, “Can you see anything, Sister Anne?” and wishing +he would make haste. He might have replied, after +Bairnsfather’s hero, “They must have seen <i>me</i>!” For +immediately after we both heard a familiar whistling +crescendo, a sound whose disturbing quality time cannot +stale nor custom wither—the shriek of an approaching +shell. Merchant came down that tree like an acrobat; and +our simultaneous arrival in the ditch coincided with that of +the shell a few yards away. In point of fact, the wretched +last house in La Brique, already adverted to, was again the +object of unmerited suspicion. A succession of projectiles +fell about it and about us, for the shooting was not very +good, while we crouched on all-fours in the unfinished +trench, and bobbed up like marionettes after each explosion +to see how big a margin had been granted us. As this did +not appear too generous, we withdrew presently to Wilson’s +Post, and there, a few minutes later, it began to rain gas-shells. +Heaven knows what the Germans saw or thought +they saw. Probably the whole business was mere caprice. +There was no one but ourselves moving above ground for +miles around, and we had been very circumspect, keeping +under cover and refraining from flapping large maps about +in the open after the fashion of some of these reconnoitring +parties. Happily, the demonstration was short-lived. +When it subsided we hurried back without undue ceremony +through La Brique to Bridge 4, Reigersberg, and the +waiting lorry.</p> + +<p>While Reigersberg itself was no sanatorium, the village +of Brielen, through which our transport had to pass on +these excursions, became toward the end of July even more +unpopular. Situate on one of the main thoroughfares into +Ypres, with cross-roads running through it from Vlamertinghe +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">118</span>to the canal, it was an obvious target, and under +the continual impact of high-explosive shell it decayed very +rapidly. In the autumn of 1916 it was still inhabited: by +the following spring it was a mere avenue of empty ruins; +and when I left the Salient in October ’17, most of the +debris even had been carted away as road ballast. And +during our reconnaissances it was no uncommon thing to +wait anxiously for an hour in the grounds of Reigersberg +Château, with one eye upon the sand-bagged cellars there, +watching the fragments of Brielen, two or three hundred +yards up the road, ascending gracefully, at regular and +frequent intervals, into the air.</p> + +<p>It may be said that this sort of thing was child’s play to +the conditions endured in the line itself. And so, in one +sense, undoubtedly it was. A walk to Frascati or St Jean +and back was, on the face of it, preferable to a week’s +residence in either of those places. Yet I think that every +one who knew the Salient in the summer of 1917 will agree +that its most disagreeable feature, during what would be +called inactive periods, was this persistent shelling of back +areas. On any other front one felt moderately safe two +miles behind the line, but never at Ypres. For troops in +support there was no real peace east of Poperinghe. While +the front trenches might be wrapped in quiet, shells would +be falling all day in Brielen or Vlamertinghe or even in +Oosthoek Wood. And the reason was obvious. The Salient +was very narrow as well as very pronounced. As a purely +military position it was absurd. A gun of quite moderate +calibre, emplaced on either flank, could have fired right +across the chord of the arc. At Boesinghe the enemy +actually was north-west of Ypres: in front of Wytschaete, +before the battle of Messines, he was south-west of it; and +between these two points the distance was only seven miles. +From the centre of a line drawn from one to the other, the +Salient projected about four miles. Even after Messines the +line of investment still ran through half a circle, and commanded, +from the concentric Pilkem Ridge, almost all the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">119</span>ground up to the canal. Within this enclosure, only half the +size of the city of Paris, the country was flat, marshy, and +intersected by minor streams and dykes; while the obstacle +of the canal caused all the main roads from the west, down +which our men and supplies must march, to converge on +the crossings at Ypres itself. On these roads, therefore, on +the points where they were cut by lateral thoroughfares, and +especially on the point of convergence, the hostile fire naturally +was directed. And there were a thousand other targets +for less concentrated effort. Troops swarmed everywhere +from Ypres to the Belgian frontier; and in the forward area, +in addition to the camps of infantry and gunners, there were +hosts of engineers and labour men digging gun-pits, laying +roads and railways, putting up horse lines and dumps and +water systems. Light and heavy trains moved up and +down all day. The Germans were perfectly aware of this +activity; and it was an unlucky battery that could not score +a hit or two in the course of twenty-four hours’ speculative +shooting over so congested a countryside.</p> + + +<h4 id="IV_1"> + IV. +</h4> + +<p>Our camp of bell-tents in the copse at Lovie Château, +where we spent our nights, was outside the normal area of +this unpleasantness. Poperinghe, of course, two miles to +the south, was shelled for half an hour or so every morning, +often in the evening, and occasionally at odd hours during +the day. The shells passed almost over our camp; and +while one was dressing or preparing to turn in for the night +one used to hear the whistle overhead and then the distant +crash and echo in the unfortunate town. And once we +were genuinely entertained by a crisis nearer at hand. An +enterprising 15-inch gun, probably travelling in luxury on a +train, took a few pot-shots at the 5th Army Headquarters +in the château itself. When one or two of these colossal +projectiles burst in the aerodrome across the road, the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">120</span>army became alarmed, assumed hurriedly the unfamiliar +steel helmet, and presently departed, bag and baggage, for +Proven. The Germans, well informed as usual, learnt +almost at once of this translation: the 15-inch gun was +turned on the new refuge; and the Higher Command, +choosing the most comfortable of two evils, came back to +Lovie again, greatly to the annoyance of the Flying Corps, +who in the meantime had occupied the château. The +humour of this episode will be apparent to every one who +has seen the vast paraphernalia accompanying a British +army headquarters in the field—the scores of offices, the +hosts of B.G.G.S.’s, G.S.O.’s, A.P.M.’s, clerks, orderlies, and +interpreters, the attached French missions and Belgian +missions, and missions from Liberia and Paraguay and the +Great Cham, the numberless boxes of maps and crockery +and returns and red-tape—all of which had to be conveyed +in an armada of cars and lorries from Lovie to Proven and +back from Proven to Lovie again within a fortnight. If +three domestic removals are as bad as a fire, two moves of +an army headquarters can be compared only to an earthquake. +After the second hegira, the enemy, feeling no +doubt that a continuance of this barbarous treatment (if it +ever came to light) would bring down upon him the just +execration of the civilised world, diverted his gun to more +appropriate targets, and fell back upon an accepted method +of irritating such exalted quarters—namely, bombing.</p> + +<p>Bombing, indeed, was a very serious plague throughout +the area that summer; and the subject raises an unpleasant +question on which a few words must be said, both on +general grounds and because it affected the tank units in a +peculiar degree. There can be no two opinions as to who +held command of the air (to use the cant phrase) in the +Ypres sector in 1917. Our photographic and gun-spotting +machines continued to perform their dangerous and thankless +tasks with unfailing skill and courage, as they have +throughout the war; but their work required experience, +its results could be checked, and it was therefore in the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">121</span>hands of the best type of officer. The so-called scouts +or fighting machines, unfortunately, came in a different +category. In this branch the Germans appeared to have +things very much their own way. During the Somme +battles the losses in the Flying Corps were extremely heavy, +and fell naturally upon the class of pilot which could least +be spared. Afterwards, with the continual growth of the +corps, there began that wholesale raking-in of officers from +the highways and byways, and from the very junior ranks +of garage and bicycle-shop assistants—a policy which has +steadily undermined the efficiency and credit of the force. +The pay was high, and the opportunities for shirking unpleasant +duties exceptional. It is not for nothing that the +present R.A.F. is called the Hot Air Force, and has acquired +a reputation in the Army sufficient to damn any organisation +that is not exploited continually for commercial reasons +by a wealthy newspaper syndicate. This is not a mere +question of envy or rumour: the facts of the decline are +patent and well known; and to clinch them one has only to +recall to mind the type of flying officer (dressed like an +attendant at a cinema theatre, and usually behaving as such) +who swarmed in the London bars and in the clubs in +France, and who afterwards swarmed in Germany. Half +the subalterns to be seen did not wear even the observer’s +single wing—and, to hazard a guess for once, had no desire +to wear it. All cannot have belonged to the equipment +branch. I am sorry if remarks of this kind seem to do +injustice to many gallant and capable pilots. At the close +of the war there were, I believe, something like 30,000 +officers in the R.A.F. A third of these may have been, and +probably were, thoroughly efficient; but there remained a +heavy balance of the untrustworthy; and it was for the +hard work and devoted sacrifices of the minority that this +discreditable residue received especial privileges and honours, +and was allowed a general licence of behaviour exceeded +only by that of colonial troops, who at least had the excuse +of brilliant service in the field. The evil itself was fully +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">122</span>recognised in the corps, and it is high time some protest +was uttered against the unscrupulous nonsense which has +flooded our newspapers for the past few years. The point, +however, that I wish to bring out at the moment is that the +results of employing bad material for tasks requiring a +peculiar degree of nerve and a strong sense of responsibility +were seriously felt for the first time at Ypres in 1917. The +old Somme fighters were dead or captured; and now the +back areas of the Salient were infested day and night by +German bombing squadrons. The Germans, presumably, +picked their aviators as they picked their machine-gunners. +They did not lose their heads after a costly battle and rush +to commission thousands of Berlin counter-jumpers, who +might be excellent in the ranks but were useless as officers. +The difficulties of countering night attacks by aeroplanes +were obvious; but it was humiliating as well as unpleasant +to have a dozen enemy machines sailing over the lines two +or three times a day, bombing camps and towns, destroying +balloons, driving off the slow and helpless gun-spotters and +photographers (and their escorts), and obtaining into the +bargain much valuable information. During four months +in the area, while this infliction was occurring almost every +day, I saw only one German aeroplane brought down behind +our own lines; and this was destroyed, above two of our +aerodromes, by a couple of French pilots. Possibly our +own squadrons were simultaneously bombing Roullers or +Menin. One hopes they were. But every aerodrome was +crowded with fighting machines, which used to perform +tricks overhead when all was quiet, but made no apparent +attempt to cut off the enemy’s raiders. One corps commander +informed the squadron attached to him that if he +did not see it do more useful work, he would make every +pilot fly for two additional hours a day.</p> + +<p>I have written enough, perhaps too much, on this unsavoury +topic. And it may be asked—What has all this +recrimination to do with tanks? It has, in point of fact, a +great deal to do with them. Tank warfare can be assisted +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">123</span>or hindered to a marked degree by aeroplane co-operation +or the lack of it. A man or a tank, or even a column of +troops, can often elude observation from above merely by +remaining still. It is movement which betrays. Infantry, +moreover, can always take cover rapidly; but it is impossible +to camouflage a tank in the open in a few seconds. In consequence +it is inadvisable to move tanks during daylight +near the front line, if any of the enemy’s aeroplanes are +likely to be about. In the Salient they were always about; +and things had got to this pitch—that although we were +hidden in a wood, with clearings close at hand where we +could have tested our machines secure from direct observation, +<i>during the whole month of July no tank was permitted to +move a yard except by night</i>. At any hour of the day some +German aeroplane, unmolested except by “Archies,” which +were more dangerous to us below than to the pilot, might +come flying low over Oosthoek. In my own case, a fortnight +before the battle I took over a new tank just arrived from +Erin by night, and driven into the wood by another crew. +I had no opportunity of testing it under way until we actually +moved off on our approach-march to Halfway House on +the evening of 29th July. As was to be expected of a brand-new +machine, one or two mechanical parts were then found +to require slight adjustments. A slipping clutch, which +would have been discovered and remedied in a few minutes +during a preliminary trial, gave considerable trouble, and +held up all the tanks behind me for some time.</p> + +<p>Secondly, contact aeroplanes can be of the greatest use +in battle by reporting the situation of tanks, of which +battalion and company commanders can have little or no +knowledge. Infantry send back runners; but tanks, except +for their pigeons, reserved (when available at all) for use at +definite objectives, have no means as yet of communicating +their whereabouts or condition once they have crossed the +front line. In view of this, arrangements were made with +the Flying Corps for tanks to carry certain permanent marks +which would attract the attention of contact-pilots. Every +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">124</span>machine had its number painted in large black characters +on a white ground on top of the cab, and carried in addition +a square of white cloth to be tied on the roof when ditched. +The duty of a contact-pilot, as everybody knows, is to fly at +a sufficiently low altitude to discover the position of his own +infantry, and a tank, even without any distinguishing marks, +is more conspicuous than a row of mud-plastered human +figures. But no reliable information, so far as my battalion +was concerned, ever came through from this source: in fact, +I do not think the position of a single tank was reported. +Most of them, of course, were ditched during a large part of +the day, and possibly the other tank commanders acted as +I did. When I found myself hopelessly bogged on the +Pilkem Ridge, the last thing I dreamt of doing was to hang +out my conspicuous square of cloth. I was at some pains +even to obliterate with mud the number on my cab. I was +convinced that if any aeroplanes flew low above me, in all +probability they would be Germans. And in fact many +ditched tanks, lying well behind our infantry, were attacked +by the enemy’s pilots, who machine-gunned the crews as +they struggled with booms and shovels to get under way +again.</p> + +<p>The foregoing may seem rather a lengthy and unnecessary +digression, but it is a poor book which one cannot +write in one’s own way. And war, after all, cannot be made +or described (as some think) in water-tight compartments. +Each arm is dependent upon the rest, and sees much of their +work. And a fairly long and varied experience has driven +home to most civilian soldiers like myself certain conclusions +regarding the various branches of the British Army in +Europe. The cavalry, since 1914-15 (when they fought +on foot) have been utterly useless, in part because they +will not see things as they are; the Flying Corps, +since 1916, has declined steadily in quality and value; +but throughout, for the infantry, the gunners, and the +engineers, on the whole no praise can be too high.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">125</span></p> + + + <h3 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VIII"> + CHAPTER VIII. + <br> + <span class="sm">YPRES: THE 31ST JULY.</span> + </h3> +</div> + + +<h4>I.</h4> + +<p>All spare officers and crews had taken part in the reconnaissance +of the Salient, for they might be called upon at +any moment. And, as it happened, one of the original tank +commanders in my section fell ill about the middle of July, +whereupon I stepped into the vacancy.</p> + +<p>His tank was also <i>hors de combat</i> with a broken-down +engine. It being impossible to repair it in the time available +a new machine, with two or three others required by the +brigade, was on its way from Erin to replace it, and this I +was to take over on its arrival. The night it detrained, +therefore, I accompanied Kessel, my section commander, to +the Oosthoek ramp. The event was marked by one startling +occurrence. Earlier in the evening the Germans had been +industriously shelling the far end of the wood with shrapnel; +but everything was quiet when the tank train pulled in soon +after ten o’clock. It was a very dark night. Before eleven, +however, my new tank was parked up and camouflaged in +the wood to the north of the military road. The rest of the +company’s tanks were a quarter of a mile away, on the +south side. Lorries had come up to take the men back to +Lovie Château, and we were standing by them, waiting for +a few laggards, when a very large ammunition dump near +Hospital Farm, half a mile to the northward, was hit and +exploded. It was, I suppose, one of the biggest dumps in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">126</span>the Salient—a towering accumulation of every size and type +of shell, together with thousands of cases of S.A.A., rockets, +grenades, Very lights, and other inflammatory stuff—and +even from where we stood the effect of its destruction was +prodigious and alarming. A great red glare blazed up +suddenly above the trees, broadened, and grew higher; +volumes of blood-shot smoke, streaked with rockets, +covered half the sky; and presently, through the pop-pop-pop +of exploding rifle ammunition and the louder detonations +of shells, we could hear the crackle of burning timber +as the neighbouring trees themselves caught fire. In this +lay a serious menace to the tanks, for the wood, although +straggling, was continuous. It was not long before we could +see the distant flames through the trees in front of us. In +the meantime, preceded by magnificent eruptions of fire +and sparks, there had burst two terrific explosions, whose +concussions shook the ground, hit us like blows, and flung +fragments of white-hot metal on to the military road. +Happily, what little wind there was blew away from us, +and the fire made no appreciable gain in our direction; and +after standing by until midnight, prepared to drive the +tanks out of the wood if necessary, we decided that we +might go home. It was surprising that the Germans (so +far at least as one could judge amid the prevailing uproar) +refrained from stimulating things in general by a little +judicious shelling. The glare of the great conflagration, +which lit up the whole Salient, must have been visible +from Courtrai. It was still blazing and exploding as +we left; and two hours later, at Lovie Château, four +miles away, I heard another series of crashing detonations.</p> + +<p>The following morning I marched my crew down to the +new tank. I decided naturally to take with me my own +men, with whom by now I was well acquainted, in preference +to the strange drivers and gunners whose officer +I had replaced. The latter, I think, were as disappointed +as my own crew was pleased by this translation; for +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">127</span>throughout the battalion the spirit in the ranks was admirable. +Most of the N.C.O.’s and a large proportion of the +men came from the original F Company of the Heavy +Branch, and very few of them (in my crew, for example, +none at all) had ever seen a shell burst until they came to +the Salient; and while it is true that soldiers often look +forward to their first battle with a confidence born simply +of ignorance, and deteriorate in <i>moral</i> as their experience +of horrors increases, the personnel of the Tank Corps maintained +to the end a conspicuously high standard. And to +go into action in a tank, as I hope to show, is not the bed +of roses some rash people used to think it. I put this consistent +excellence down in part to the class of man which +the corps attracted.</p> + +<p>There was plenty of work to be done when I took over +G 46, whose more intimate name—transferred from her disabled +predecessor, and none of my choosing—was “Gina.” +(The tanks and each battalion were christened with names +beginning with the initial letter of their unit. Thus we +were all “G’s.” “Gina,” appropriately enough, was a +female; but in fact it seems natural to speak of all tanks as +feminine, as if they were ships.) I have said already that +no movement was permitted in Oosthoek Wood, and that +in consequence it was impossible to test the transmission of +my new command. Engines could be run quietly, however; +and my first driver, a boy named Johnstone from the +Armstrong College at Newcastle, who was one of those +fortunate beings with a <i>flair</i> for anything mechanical, +tinkered away affectionately at the magneto and other +parts until the engine of G 46 ran like a dream. Throughout +her short military career it gave no trouble of any +kind until the water on the Pilkem Ridge got into the +clutch and put the whole thing out of action at once and +for ever.</p> + +<p>Most of the novelties in the Mark IV. have been described +already; but I have omitted so far any account of the new +unditching gear tested by us for the first time at Wailly, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">128</span>now to be used with a vengeance in the Salient. In place +of the two short torpedo spars, each tank was now fitted +with a single squared boom, about twelve feet long and +strengthened with steel. It was a most heart-breaking +affair to man-handle, for it weighed nine hundredweight; +but for its particular work it was highly efficient. A pair +of longitudinal rails lifted it clear of all obstructions on the +roof, and when not in use it lay at right angles across these +just above the spud-box fitted on the stern of the tank, its +ends projecting a couple of feet on each side of the latter. +Originally, the boom was lashed in place; but afterwards +clips were provided to secure it to the rails. When required +for unditching, it was attached to the track-plates +on either side in the same manner as the old spars, by a +pair of chains and clamps. This attachment could be +effected by a couple of men standing behind the tank, +usually the most sheltered spot. On its completion the +heavy boom was carried forward along the rails as the tracks +revolved, slid down on to them in front of the cab, and was +then pulled under the tank, where its great length and stiff +resistance transversely to the direction of the latter’s movement +enabled the machine to climb out of almost any +position. This boom was tested first in the sodden area +of Messines, after that battle; and it was in use with all +heavy tanks to the end of the war. Its only disadvantage—an +inevitable one—was its weight. Added to that +of thirty or forty iron spuds or shoes, it completed an +extra load of a couple of tons; and on occasions when +the heavier Mark IV. males became badly ditched it was +found that the engine was not powerful enough to overcome +this handicap. I have seen a boom on a tank lying at +a rather acute angle refuse to move at all. But for all normal +cases of ditching it was invaluable.</p> + +<p>In those days tank equipment was devised and issued on +a lavish scale. One took over with the machine a vast +assortment of instruments calculated to soften the asperities +of a very cramped and uncomfortable mode of warfare, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">129</span>calling to mind the fittings of H.M.S. <i>Mantelpiece</i>. If we +had no zoetropes, excellent carriage clocks, mounted in +heavy brass, were the perquisites in more senses than one +of every tank commander. The number of these clocks +destroyed by shell-fire was so abnormal in the Salient that +after that deplorable campaign the issue was stopped, it +being felt that the residue of timepieces in stock would +serve a more useful purpose and lead a safer life in the +numerous offices of Central Stores and Workshops at Erin. +A haversack full of splints, shell-dressings, iodine, and other +sinister medical comforts, quite passable binoculars, electric +hand-lamps, signalling shutters, six periscopes, and an +ingenious device like a pair of pantomime braces fitted +with batteries, switches, and red and green lights, to be +used in guiding tanks at night, were also among the treasures +thrust upon us in a very open-handed manner. But this +halcyon age did not endure for long. Vulgar considerations +of waste and expenditure supervened. Before the +end the whereabouts of every spanner and split-pin became +a cause of acute worry to us all. It should be unnecessary +to add that this era of suspicion brought with it a veritable +spate of new Army Forms—T.K. 5’s and T.Q. 17’s and so +on—continually superseding each other and never by any +chance filled in correctly. We were already in possession +of immense log-books, atrocities known as battle history +sheets, and pigeon-message forms. A fully-equipped tank, +in short, was a combination of a battleship, an ironmonger’s +shop, an optician’s, a chemist’s, a grocer’s, and a Government +office. We only wanted a typewriter to round off +the outfit.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowe30" id="i_130"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_130.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <i>Third Battle of Ypres, Aug.-Nov. 1917.</i> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>I do not remember the exact date on which I took over +G 46 and her belongings; but it must have been between +the 15th and 20th of July. The battle, fixed originally for +the 25th, had already been put back three days. The final +postponement, to the 31st, was made known only at the +last moment. In these circumstances there was not too +much time for all that had to be done. The whole tank +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">130</span>required to be washed down and scrubbed, for she came +straight from the workshops in a filthy condition. The +six Lewis guns had to be cleaned, and the 276 drums filled +with ammunition. Track-plates, spuds, camouflage nets, +petrol, oil, and grease had to be procured from the advanced +stores and dump beside the ramp. At the same time further +reconnaissance was carried out, and we all went to see the +large-scale model of our sector of the attack which the 18th +Corps had built out of sand and brick-rubble in the centre +of the wood. I cannot honestly say that this ingenious +curiosity was of much help to us. Here, however, some +sort of liaison was effected with the infantry with whom +we were to work. Meanwhile, back in camp at Lovie Château +there were conferences with Reconnaissance officers +and discussions with company commanders after dinner. +Aeroplane photographs were studied, and special tank charts +composed. (Every tank commander, so far as was possible, +made his own chart on a scale of ¹⁄₅₀₀₀.) Then there was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">131</span>the question of supply to be considered. All crews took +into action two days’ ordinary rations in addition to the +emergency ration; but this food was supplemented by a +few delicacies considered suitable to the festive occasion. +Thus most of us carried also oranges, lemons, chocolates, +and biscuits, one water-bottle filled with rum, and a bottle +of whisky. Personally, I took two bottles of whisky, and +was extremely thankful that I did.</p> + +<p>Turning to the operations themselves, the 18th Corps +was attacking on a front of two divisions: the 51st Division +on the left and the 39th on the right. The two companies +of G Battalion were allotted as follows: 19 Company, with +my own section—No. 10—of 21 Company (16 tanks in all) +was to advance in two waves with the 39th Division. The +two remaining sections of 21 Company (8 tanks) worked +in a single wave with the 51st Division. The task of these +troops was to carry the German first and second systems +on the Pilkem Ridge and then secure the crossings of the +Steenbeek. The positions of these crossings, at or near +St Julien on the 39th Divisional front, determined the distribution +of the tanks, it being the business of the second +wave on the right to endeavour to get over the stream and +help the infantry of the 118th Brigade to consolidate on the +far side. My section, in the first wave, received the following +orders:—</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>“After crossing the German front line, No. 10 Section +will split up. The left-hand pair, G 45 and G 46, +pass to the north of Kultur Farm and take the northern +end of Kitchener’s Wood, giving special attention to +Boche Castle and strong-point; then proceed round +the wood and mop up in conjunction with the infantry +until the barrage at line S lifts at zero plus 4.1, when +they will advance with the infantry, giving special +attention to Regina Cross. The right-hand pair, G 47 +and G 48, passing to the south of Kultur Farm, will +take the southern end of Kitchener’s Wood, and on +the lifting of the barrage on line S at zero plus 4.1, will +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">132</span>devote their attention to the strong-point at Alberta, +and push forward at the discretion of the commander +towards Hugel Hollow.</p> + +<p>“As soon as the infantry are consolidated on the +Steenbeek Line, tanks will rally at C 11 d 20.90 (north +of Alberta).”</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>I despair of making any one unfamiliar with the Salient +understand what lay behind these clear and apparently +simple instructions. Some of the difficulties before us will +be described in the context. I will remark here, however, +that every tank had to cross the enemy’s front line by a +single narrow gap between two flooded areas which marked +the sites of Hampshire and Canadian Farms—themselves +utterly demolished. We were warned that this front system +was likely to become a serious obstacle. Lying in a hollow, +always wet, it was to be subjected to a terrific barrage, +which would destroy it completely, break down the revetments +and all such firm surfaces as parapets and parados +provided, and, in short, reduce the whole line to a grisly +conglomeration of mounds of mud and pools of water. +And once across, things would become even worse. For +sixteen days before the attack the whole Pilkem Ridge was +blasted by heavy-calibre shells. The amount of artillery +we had concentrated in the Salient was unprecedented. +Three thousand guns, I believe, were in position on that +restricted front. Round about Brielen, Vlamertinghe, and +the château called Les Trois Tours, batteries of 6-inch, +8-inch, 9.2-inch howitzers, and 60-pounder guns lined every +hedge: down both sides of one narrow track that I remember +one passed them every few yards; and when the +preliminary bombardment was at its height it was sheer +torture to be in the neighbourhood. As a result, everywhere +behind the German line the water was welling up +and spreading until the whole surface was a mere crust +that would dissolve at a touch. The final barrage at zero, +which as usual was to fall at dawn, would finish the work. +The enemy’s second line, along the crest, was to be deluged +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">133</span>with 9.2’s; while 15-inch railway guns had been shelling +for some days the strong-point at Boche Castle, for which +my own tank was to make. Imagine a country like the +Lincolnshire flats, or the valley of the Kentish Stour, or +any other piece of reclaimed and water-logged land in +England, subjected, at the end of three years’ systematic +annihilation by high explosives, to this three weeks’ wild +crescendo of destruction, and some idea may be gathered +of what the area behind the hostile front had become even +before the downpour on the 31st, and after added the ultimate +touches of disintegration and horror and misery.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowe40" id="i_132fp"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_132fp.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + Kitchener’s Wood and German Second Line. Photo taken July 3, 1917, showing position of + Tanks G 45 and 46. + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>The probable conditions awaiting us were known to all; +but none of our conjectures equalled the reality. Before +the battle we were more concerned over what proved in the +event a comparatively minor evil—the difficulty we should +experience in finding our way to our various objectives. +The view from inside a tank, as one cannot repeat too often, +is restricted and misleading. Once we had crossed our +front line, the few miserable tree-clumps which we had +studied from a distance might appear very different near +at hand. They might have been destroyed, or we might +fail to see them at all. The one unmistakable landmark, +Kitchener’s Wood—a plantation, still in fair condition, +some 700 yards in length—was actually out of sight until +we had climbed out of some dead ground at the foot of +the ridge; and with the dust and smoke of the battle the +first hour after dawn was certain to be dark and confusing. +As our compasses were thoroughly unreliable, there was a +danger of losing direction at the very start. A few tanks, +indeed, quite excusably did so. And throughout the day, +all over a battlefield whose utter bewildering sameness no +words can express, there was much groping and guessing +and general uncertainty. One of G Battalion’s tanks +wandered right across two corps’ fronts. But on the whole +our lengthy and sedulous coaching was very triumphantly +vindicated: routes were maintained and objectives reached +with surprising accuracy and punctuality. Delays in most +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">134</span>cases were due to the appalling state of the ground, some +tanks having to be unditched two or three times before they +got into action at all.</p> + + +<h4 id="II_6"> + II. +</h4> + +<p>If the belief still lingers that the British soldier, keen +and willing as he is, always goes into battle (as the Ollivier +Cabinet once went to war) with a light heart, it must be +due to too much reading, in trashy books and journals, of +the productions of half-educated persons with a bias against +truth. For very few men, of whatever race, can even +approach the front line in these scientific days with any +real equanimity of spirit. The processes by which one +can be hurt are too many and various, and impend too +nearly to permit of it. No healthy being likes the idea +of being killed or mutilated. A common sense of subordination +and comradeship, the fear of being thought afraid, +and the power of habit, take one further than all the high-flown +cant about glory and the joy of battle. And indeed +if we all went into battle with a light heart there would +be no merit in the thing: such tokens as medals and +ribbons would lose what small significance they still possess; +and we should be more (or less) than human.</p> + +<p>It is during the days immediately before a long-expected +action that men show in their several ways that they are, +on the contrary, very human indeed. The strain which +perhaps for weeks has been there is suddenly increased. +Nerves begin to wear, tempers to rise, uncomfortable moods +to supervene. Only the very young and inexperienced +sometimes are superior to this failing. I know that most +of us in the camp by Lovie Château grew rather irritable +and contentious toward the end of our period of waiting. +The depressing influence which seemed always to brood +over the Salient, and the feeling that we were embarking +upon a novel and gigantic gamble, were enough to account +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">135</span>for it. The weather had been uncertain, and about the +24th rain fell heavily. The camp, pitched in a wood amid +choking undergrowth, became steamily moist, smelly, and +unhealthy. Every two or three hours during every night +the enemy’s aeroplanes came over and bombed the neighbourhood +thoroughly. There was the usual futile racket +and excitement, with searchlights wavering, shrapnel sparkling +and descending on our heads, and tracer bullets soaring +up in streams in every direction but the right one. This +became so much a habit that we grew accustomed to it; +and we used to lie in bed amid the uproar and wonder +sleepily if it were better to put our steel helmets over our +faces or our stomachs. The tank park in Oosthoek Wood +suffered from the same persecution, to which there seemed +to be no adequate reply. So far as I remember, we were +lucky enough to escape casualties from this cause; but +other people were not so fortunate. I recall one ghastly +incident of this period, because my crew was on guard fifty +yards away when it happened, and might well have been +involved in the disaster. A battalion of Northumberland +Fusiliers, coming out of the line one evening, bivouacked +beside the military road close to our tanks. They had +réveillé at three o’clock in the morning, preparatory to +marching off to rest billets, and at that dangerous hour +very foolishly lit candles and waved lanterns about in the +wood. The usual German aeroplane was at hand. It +dropped two heavy bombs very neatly into the bivouac, and +in an instant killed or wounded over a hundred men.</p> + +<p>The effect of these powerful bombs, provided with light +fuses which detonated at a touch, was terrible; and it would +be thought that any one who once had seen the victims of +a raid would be circumspect for ever after. Yet troops, +even after considerable experience, were often extraordinarily +stupid in this matter of hostile aircraft. Another +north-country battalion—Tynesiders, I believe—was in +camp near Elverdinghe about this time. Two or three +German aeroplanes flew low over the camp in broad daylight. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">136</span>Instead of keeping out of sight, the whole battalion +rushed out to see the raiders. The latter might have overlooked +the camouflaged tents and huts, but the sudden +appearance of a mass of white upturned faces caught their +attention at once, with the inevitable result. A few bombs +were released, and the crowd of spectators became a +shambles. The Tynesiders lost 140 men in as many +seconds.</p> + +<p>Toward the end of July the shelling of Oosthoek and +other likely places also increased in volume. The enemy +was perfectly aware of the imminence of the attack, and +also, as it appeared, of the original date and the first postponement; +and the back areas suffered in consequence. +The red dust floated over Ypres all day. Poperinghe +received increased attention, and was bombed heavily into +the bargain. The canal became more than ordinarily +unpleasant. But the German artillerists, in addition to +persecuting these obvious targets, had a system of plastering +with shells certain empty areas which appeared to +offer no attractions to a gunner. This wasteful method +gathered in no doubt a few stray victims, but at a disproportionate +cost in ammunition. The forward region, about +Frascati and La Brique, was perhaps more naturally a +favourite one for this blind “area” shooting, for field +batteries were hidden among the willows; and the enemy’s +increasing suspicion of this neighbourhood caused us a +good deal of annoyance during our final journeys on +reconnaissance. I remember how Kessel, Merchant, and +I, having been up the line one morning, were sitting under +a hedge near Frascati, eating bully sandwiches and discussing +(of all things) the fourth dimension, when we found +ourselves the unworthy centre of one of these displays of +hate. To us it seemed purposeless and uncalled for to a +degree. There was no working party in the neighbourhood; +no one, indeed, was in sight anywhere, and the +batteries, some distance away, were not firing. But high-velocity +shells arrived in streams, and when we were +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">137</span>back, very thankfully, at the canal, the dust-clouds were +still rising busily in the desert waste between us and the +farm.</p> + +<p>During these last days our preparations in Oosthoek +Wood were completed. The fighting tanks were ready +for action. The supply-tanks—two per company—were +filled up with petrol, oil, and ammunition; limbered +waggons drawn by mules were attached to us to work +between Frascati and the base, and we had also one +wireless and one cable-laying tank. Oranges, chocolates, +and whisky had been collected. We had received barrage +maps and time-tables, and had visited the headquarters of +the various infantry units with whom we were to work. +Merchant and myself, with G 45 and G 46, were co-operating +with a battalion of the Rifle Brigade. This had moved +up to a bivouac on the edge of Oosthoek, and I walked +over one morning to discuss the attack with the Colonel +and his officers. They were very anxious about some +alleged wire in front of the Steenbeek, which I undertook +to crush for them if I ever got so far. In the event I got +nowhere near it, and I was of little or no use to these +infantry. I am afraid that not many of the officers I met +that morning were left after the battle, for the 117th +Brigade, to which the battalion belonged, suffered cruelly +on the 31st.</p> + + +<h4 id="III_4"> + III. +</h4> + +<p>During the night of the 24th-25th July the tanks of +21 Company (less No. 10 Section) moved from Oosthoek +Wood to Halfway House. On the 24th I had been working +late with my men on G 46, making the final preparations +for our own departure the following evening, and as we left +the wood about seven o’clock we met the eight crews +marching in to their tanks. Their move was attended by +one disaster. The night was exceedingly dark, rain had +been falling, and the surface of the narrow winding track +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">138</span>which I have described as leading through the wood to +Hospital Farm had become greasy and treacherous. A +male tank, swinging too far to avoid a tree, slid off the +cambered road into the wide moat which surrounded the +farm. The water rose a foot above the floor boards, instantly +putting the engine out of action. As nothing could +be done that night, the tank (whose roof was barely level +with the road) was camouflaged and left, the crew bivouacking +close at hand. The remainder pushed on, and after +being harassed by some shelling which fortunately did no +harm, parked up under the bushes at Halfway House. +Owing to the postponement of the attack for another three +days, the sunken tank, having been towed ashore the next +night with infinite difficulty, was got running again in +time to rejoin the company before the latter moved on to +Frascati.</p> + +<p>About five o’clock on the afternoon of the 25th I was +having tea with Kessel, Merchant, and some others under +the lee of a tank. We were due to start our own move +at nine that evening. Having already consumed our own +tea ration, we were drinking an extraordinary mud-coloured +beverage infused from one of those compressed concoctions, +strongly resembling tobacco, which friends and relations +used to send out as being especially suitable for active +service. Possibly the sinister influence of this drug was +accountable in part for the fact that none of us were looking +forward to the forthcoming approach-march with the proper +military enthusiasm. It was true that the day was humid +and depressing; that the wood was squelchy underfoot and +smelt like a badly-kept mausoleum hurriedly washed in +petrol; and that some of 21 Company, having returned in +lorries from Halfway House for a few hours’ rest at Lovie, +had brought discouraging reports of the route and the +general conditions nearer to the line. Brisk shelling was in +progress. The tanks of another battalion, uncomfortably +embedded among heavy howitzers under the trees of Les +Trois Tours, had come in for the enemy’s counter-battery +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">139</span>work and had passed an extremely unpleasant night. I will +not speak for the rest of us, but I know that I, for one, was +greatly relieved when our tea was interrupted by the arrival +of a runner with the order cancelling our move. Owing to +the effects of the rain, the attack had been put off once +more until the last day of the month. In the long-run +it is obvious wisdom to get thankless duties over and done +with as soon as possible; and the Army’s inveterate habit +of issuing eleventh-hour instructions is better indulged in +advancing than in postponing battles; but at the time one +does not always reason so philosophically. Also one feels +a little more like the gay and careless warrior of the newspapers +at certain junctures than at others. Somehow we +had not felt either gay or careless that afternoon. And +now we could go back to bed like Christians or reprieved +criminals, and spend a further three days of grace revising +once more our testamentary dispositions (if any) in comparative +safety and comfort.</p> + +<p>A thoughtful act on the part of the Intelligence Branch +marked this interval and helped to amuse us. I have +spoken already of the sketches of church towers and other +remote landmarks with which we had been provided. There +was now issued to each tank commander, with every circumstance +of urgency, a minute drawing about the size of +a blue Mauritius postage-stamp, depicting the tower and +spire of Hooglede Church. No one knew where Hooglede +was, or had ever heard of it. It was generally believed to +be near Brussels. Research on the map eventually discovered +it to be a village north-west of Roullers, some nine +miles beyond our farthest objective for the first day. As +a sign of optimism in high quarters this valedictory gift +was appreciated; but, being under no delusions ourselves +as to the difficulties before us, we felt that there was small +hope of our visiting the place in the immediate future. +In the event, of course, after three months’ hard fighting +the British Army was still six miles away from Hooglede, +and did not reach it for another year.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">140</span></p> + +<p>Yet, curiously enough, as it happened, there seemed for +a few hours a possibility of Hooglede and many other +distant villages coming quickly into the scheme of things. +For one effect of the last postponement of our attack was to +mislead the enemy to a certain extent. Still anticipating +it on the 28th, he withdrew his troops the night before +from 3000 yards of his front line on the canal opposite +Boesinghe. The Guards and French immediately crossed +the canal, occupied the abandoned trenches, and during the +night constructed seventeen bridges. Subsequent attempts +to eject them were repulsed. This affair started a fine crop +of rumours about a more pronounced retreat along the +whole front. But the Germans had no intention whatever +of retreating. The evacuation of the canal trenches either +was a blunder or had been designed as a trap, and evidently +was regretted. Our movements, therefore, were carried +out as arranged; and on the evening of the 28th, about +dusk, the tanks of 19 Company and my own section began +their approach-march to Halfway House.</p> + +<p>No one ever troubles to inquire how tanks are brought +up to a battlefield. They are there, miraculously, at zero, +and that is enough. Approach-marches are usually described +in a few words, and their details taken for granted. Yet +they can be, and often are, the most exhausting and nerve-racking +feature of tank operations. They have to be undertaken +at night. Lights must be shown very sparingly, if at +all, even inside the tanks. The glow of a cigarette, or a +white handkerchief or map, are often all that an officer can +use to direct his driver. The early stages of a march are +made commonly over roads and tracks, both for help in +guidance and to avoid leaving spoors which hostile aeroplanes +could observe or photograph; and the breakdown +of one machine on a bridge or in some street or defile may +hold up all the others behind it, to say nothing of any +traffic on the route. Notwithstanding the greatest care in +constructing time-tables, no trek is complete that does not +involve meeting and consequent trouble with transport. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">141</span>Light railways, timber-tracks, bridges, ground-lines, pipe-lines, +air-lines—all these must suffer, in spite of precautions. +The rate of progress will be maddeningly slow. Although +even a Mark IV. could move at a fair speed under normal +conditions, it is impossible to maintain anything like this +when moving a dozen or two by night into battle. There +will be frequent halts to let those behind close up. It is +almost certain that somebody will become ditched, or break +a fan-belt, or get on fire, or fall into trouble of some kind. +Such accidents, trifling in a peaceful daylight trek, become +agonising amid the circumstances of an approach-march by +night, when repairs have to be effected in the dark, and +when prolonged delay may be fatal. In many cases all +ranks will have been working most of the preceding day. +They will be up all night. Probably they will work again +during part of the next day, and will be moving once more +throughout a second night. They are lucky if they can +obtain any genuine rest during the few hours allotted for +that purpose. Those hours are sure to be spent in the +forward battery area, liable to be shelled or gassed at any +time, and always intolerably noisy. And as the tanks +approach the front line there is an increasing likelihood of +their coming under shell-fire which they can neither dodge +nor counter. An infantry column so caught can at least +scatter or take cover; but the tank crews remain boxed up +in their crawling machines, committed to a definite route +which may lead into the heart of the trouble, seeing and +hearing little or nothing, but imagining much, and with +none of the stimulants of action to sustain them. Probably +their officers are compelled still to walk outside as guides. +Add finally to all this the inevitable strain and anxiety +involved in the general situation; the actual physical labour +attending all work connected with tanks; the extreme heat +endured for hours by the crews; and it will be apparent +that the latter are not exactly fresh when the time comes +to go into action.</p> + +<p>Justice has never been done to this side of tank warfare, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">142</span>or to the Corps’ achievements in respect of it. Before +every one of the hundred actions in which tanks have taken +part, some such ordeal as I have described, with variations +for better or worse according to circumstances, has been +undergone. Excluding the very early days, when everything +was against the new unit, the occasions on which the great +majority of every section or company detailed (often at the +last moment) for action did not arrive at the front line in +time were extremely rare. Far more often than not every +machine arrived in time. The climax of this efficiency was +reached in the last battle before Amiens, on the 8th August +1918, when out of 435 tanks collected hastily from all over +France, 430 started in front of the infantry at zero. But +even the infantry never fully appreciated, because they were +never made to understand, the amount of sheer labour and +persistence put forth on their behalf. They called for tanks +from somewhere at three or four hours’ notice—and the +tanks came. And that, after all, was what chiefly mattered.</p> + +<p>Our trek to Halfway House was accomplished with only +one serious hitch. On account of the accident to the tank +at Hospital Farm, we were to avoid that place by taking +a parallel track through the wood which increased slightly +the length of the route. My section was to lead. About +an hour before we started something went wrong with the +differential of Merchant’s tank, and he did not leave with +the rest. When, about nine o’clock in the evening, the +other two tanks of No. 10 pulled out from the trees south +of the military road and swung on to the timbered thoroughfare, +G 46 was waiting on the north side to fall in +behind. 19 Company followed after me. Spectators from +the infantry bivouacs now springing up again in the wood +lined the roadside to watch the long line of tanks moving +off in the dusk, but all wheeled traffic had been stopped or +diverted for an hour. Before that period was up all the +fifteen tanks had left the road, and were proceeding northward +along the lane under the trees. The night was misty +but clear, and lighted brilliantly with stars; but there was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">143</span>no moon, and in the wood it was very dark. To guide +my driver as I walked in front of G 46, I had a half-folded +map thrust under the belt and cross-strap on my back.</p> + +<p>It must have been nearly midnight when I cleared the +wood at the point called Dirty Bucket Corner, and swung +to the right along a road leading eventually to Vlamertinghe. +In the open one could see very clearly. The leading +tank (M’Elroy’s) of 19 Company should have been close +behind me, but there was no sign of it or any other. +Entirely unknown to me, a singular accident had happened. +A few hundred yards farther back in the wood we had +crossed a broad-gauge military railroad. As M’Elroy’s +machine was actually astride the metals a light engine +came down them at a fair speed, struck the tank broadside +on, pushed it into a hedge, and was itself derailed. The +tank was uninjured, except for a bent plate on the sponson, +but several of the crew were cut about, and all were badly +shaken. M’Elroy himself, being outside, was unhurt. A +considerable delay ensued, the light engine having to be +towed out of the way, or back on to the line; and the tank +was left by the roadside while a spare crew was sent for. +In the meantime, knowing nothing of all this, No. 10 Section +had carried on. It was not for another hour that +19 Company overtook me again. We had then left the +Vlamertinghe road, and were on Rum Road itself, nearing +our destination. The clutch on G 46, for reasons already +explained, had not been tested, and was slipping badly; +and I had to halt for ten minutes or so while it was +adjusted, thus letting several of the following tanks pass +me. This was our last delay. Alden and Brassington, in +front of me, already were parking up their tanks at Halfway +House, where the rest of 21 Company’s machines had been +lying for three days; and here I soon joined them. Everything +was quiet in the neighbourhood, except for the eternal +uproar of our own artillery; but we learnt from the guard +that Les Trois Tours, whose trees we could see dimly, had +been shelled again that evening. It was at this juncture +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">144</span>that we were astonished by the arrival of Merchant’s tank, +which we had left in Oosthoek Wood with its differential +casing removed. The repairs had been effected very +rapidly, and the tank had then covered the whole route +on fourth speed, actually overtaking us in little more than +an hour. The enclosure at Halfway House was rectangular, +and to enter it we had to cross a wide ditch, choked +with ferocious brambles, and break through a towering +hedge. My section was to lie up under some long neglected +fruit trees and another hedge on the far side; and +a good deal of manœuvring—infuriating work in the dark +with the Mark IV. secondary gears—was required before +we were satisfactorily hidden. Camouflage nets had then +to be strung up to the trees, pegged down, and supplemented +by foliage. All ranks, as fast as their tanks were +secured for the night, helped to efface our tracks through +the hedge and across the enclosure. The work was finished +about 2 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>, and, leaving two men per crew and one officer +per section with the tanks, the rest of us trailed thankfully +back to the beginning of Rum Road, where lorries were +waiting to carry us to Lovie for a final rest in camp. Such +arrangements for one’s comfort, it may be noted, were +peculiar in my experience to this operation alone. They +were made possible by the length of the route, and could +be applied only to this short initial stage. Usually they +are out of the question.</p> + +<p>The ensuing evening, that of the 29th, we returned by +lorry to Halfway House at dusk. The dangerous part of +the journey, including the crossing of the canal, had now +to be accomplished. Rain had fallen again, the sky was +clouded, and the night promised to be a black one. It +was indeed already very dark when 21 Company pulled +out of the enclosure. A section of 19 Company followed, +and then my own. My exasperating clutch, although it +had been tightened up during the day, proved to be still +refractory. I was obliged to halt again after a while to +make a further adjustment; and as the operation was not +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">145</span>a lengthy one, I asked the tank commander behind me +(Lynch, who was killed thirty-six hours later) to wait, as +I wished to maintain my position in the column. We +were off again, in fact, very shortly after. But at this +stage every one was becoming anxious and irritable, and +the stoppage brought exalted personages raving about +G 46, clamouring for it to proceed. As it happened, +haste would have helped nobody, for about this time +serious disaster overtook the section in front. Our route +left Rum Road a quarter of a mile from the canal, and +took thence a narrow track leading direct to Marengo +Causeway. This track was bounded by a dense hedge, +with trees, on one hand, and by a deep ditch on the other: +its surface was greasy after the rain, and the two leading +tanks of 19 Company slid off into the ditch. They still +blocked the track, and until they were got out no one +could advance. I soon caught up this paralysed advance-guard, +where crews were labouring with booms and shovels, +and officers were peering at their watches and whispering +anxiously. Henriques, the Reconnaissance Officer of 19 +Company, came to me muttering that “things were very +serious.” As indeed they were, for the nights at the end +of July are short: it was already nearly one o’clock; and +it was essential for us all to reach the shelter of the trees +at Frascati before morning. If dawn found any tanks in +the open east of the canal, all sorts of calamities would +have ensued. The whole offensive would have been +jeopardised, as our presence so far forward must have +advertised its immediate onfall to the enemy, to say +nothing of the consequences to ourselves. Added to these +apprehensions for the morrow, there fell the present fear +that at any moment the Germans might begin to shell +the canal and its approaches. Their gunners had been +very quiet so far that night; but if they chose to indulge +in their favourite pastime while our fifteen tanks were held +up in a line, a couple of hundred yards from the Causeway, +the results probably would be highly unpleasant. Very +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">146</span>fortunately, nothing happened, and the difficulty was overcome. +The ditched tanks got themselves out, and we +crawled one by one on to Marengo Causeway, which +21 Company had crossed safely half an hour before. Here +again our luck held: at this most critical point in the whole +route not a shell fell to disturb us, and the whole column, +passing over without mishap, entered the dismal wilderness +of old trenches, wire, smashed trees, and shell-holes on the +farther side. From here onwards our route had been taped +by the R.O.’s, and but for this assistance half of the tanks +must have ditched themselves or lost their way. The broken +ground, which had looked nasty enough by day, became appalling +in the pitchy darkness; and I recall this final stage of +the journey as a long black nightmare of fatigue and apprehension. +There was no track, and in many places even the +tape had vanished, displaced or buried by the leading tanks. +Over the communication trenches still in use narrow wooden +bridges had been built, and these required skilful negotiation. +As I walked in front of G 46, knowing that all my +driver could see of me was the faint white patch on my +back, I was continually falling into shell-holes, tripping +over debris, or getting hung up in wire; and with the +tank lumbering blindly along a few feet behind me, these +accidents put me in infinite terror of being run over. At +least one tank commander, Alden, had in fact a very +narrow escape from death or injury that night through +becoming entangled in a mass of wire. His tank cleared +him by inches while he was still struggling to get free, +and then the track caught the wire and pulled him helplessly +after. He was being carried on to the roof when +the driver somehow discovered what had happened and +pulled up.</p> + +<p>The enemy now began to interfere, to add to our discomfort, +by bombarding the whole neighbourhood fairly +heavily with gas-shells. There was a battery of 4.5 +howitzers firing in the open close to our route, and possibly +this was his target. Very fortunately we had been +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">147</span>issued with a special type of box-respirator, in which the +goggles and mouth-mask were separate, and thus were still +able, at a risk to our eyes, to see our way—more or less. +With the ordinary fixed eye-pieces it would have been +next to impossible to see anything at all. As it was, +we were merely extraordinarily uncomfortable and anxious. +The Germans threw over little or no lachrymatory gas and +no mustard-oil, which then was just coming into fashion; +but we could not be certain about the latter, as it has no +smell; and it was the reverse of pleasant to have to +stumble along in the dark with our eyes exposed to what +might have been doses of this atrocious decoction. All +around us, for about half an hour, there sounded the soft +detonations peculiar to gas-shells. And in the middle of +the bombardment, either through this or some other agency, +a pile of cordite charges by the howitzer battery caught fire +and flared brilliantly for a few minutes. I was passing in +front of the guns at the time, and I could see that one of +them had been hit, and was lying out of action with a +broken wheel; while at the others the gunners still toiled +in the glare like black automatons. Behind them the unhappy +shattered trees along the canal bank were illuminated +eerily, and in front of me a line of tanks was visible dipping +and rolling over the shell-holes. I was afraid that this brief +conflagration would draw some heavy retaliation from the +enemy, but he contented himself with gas; and while the +fire lasted it was of service to us in lighting up our route. +Even the gas-shelling presently ceased; and with no further +adventures beyond periodical stumbles and searches for the +tape, we found ourselves at length under the black shadow +of the Frascati trees. We were only just in time. Dawn +was breaking as the last tank drew in; and we had taken +nearly seven hours to cover 5000 yards.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">148</span></p> + + +<h4 id="IV_2"> + IV. +</h4> + +<p>Frascati Farm stood just east of the road which ran, +parallel to the canal, from Pilkem through La Brique to +Ypres. The trees about the farm, their scars then concealed +in part by heavy foliage, came down to the roadside; and to +the right of them, as one approached from the causeways, +a gap in a hedge gave entrance to a shell-pitted field. Our +tanks, having been led through this gap, now lay parked up, +nose to tail, against some immense overgrown bushes which +lined the southern edge of the timber. The camouflage nets, +joined together, stretched over the whole long line. As day +broke we could see some very new shell-holes in the field; +and we learnt that the place had been shelled that night +while 21 Company was moving in. One officer had been +hit in the leg, but insisted on staying with his tank and +taking it into action—a piece of plucky quixotry which kept +him in hospital afterwards for many months.</p> + +<p>We spent that day, the 30th, in attempts to get sleep or +at least rest under the tanks and camouflage netting. The +weather was nondescript and depressing—a lowering sky +threatened rain, but none fell. Throughout the day German +aeroplanes came and went with impunity above us, and +periodically shells whistled over the trees and burst in +black plumes of earth beyond the hedge along the far side +of our field, between us and Ypres. None, happily, fell +any nearer. Of Ypres itself, on the low ground about a +mile away, the higher ruins, dominated by the ragged +tower of the Cloth Hall, were just visible above the hedge +top. The town was being shelled continually, so that at +times quite a haze of the familiar red-brick dust floated +over it. The uproar of our own artillery seemed less +intense, perhaps because we were now in front of the most +advanced field-guns.</p> + +<p>During those hours of waiting the incident I remember +most clearly was a discussion we had at lunch-time on the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">149</span>subject of English country places we had known. It seems +now an odd thing to have been sitting there, in that forlorn +region, our backs against a tank, peering through the camouflage +netting at the shells bursting in Ypres, and comparing +the peaceful beauties of Sussex and Cornwall and the Eastern +shires. Of the little company of us gathered there, Kessel +was a Cornish man whose work was in the north; Merchant +was an East Anglian from India; Brassington came from +the valley of the Eden; and Alden and myself were by way +of being Cockneys of French extraction or interests. Between +us we had seen a fair part of England, and there +was a peculiar fascination, in the circumstances, in recalling +pleasant holidays and journeys achieved in those remote +days when soldiering was the last of all human professions +we ever expected to adopt. All of us, I think, as very normal +unheroic people, would have given a good deal then to be +back in our own country.</p> + +<p>A little later, toward tea-time, Major Fernie, then commanding +19 Company, appeared on the scene to wish us +good luck and issue final instructions. Company headquarters +during the battle were to be established in the dug-out +at Hill Top Farm, a pile of rubble and sandbags about +a fragment of wall which stood up like a huge tooth midway +between Frascati and the front line. Throughout the expansion +of the Tank Corps the company has remained the +unit of battle; the battalion is virtually a brigade, and +advanced battalion headquarters lives during operations +with the infantry division or army corps concerned. In +this case Colonel Hankey, a few hours before zero, established +himself at the 39th Divisional Headquarters in +Oosthoek Wood.</p> + +<p>As dusk fell we began to clear for action. We filled up +with petrol from the dump among the trees and piled there +all camouflage nets, tarpaulins, and spare kit. A tank prepared +for action, cluttered up as it is with necessary stores +and ammunition, has no room for other impedimenta. The +crew, wearing ordinary workshop overalls, take with them +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">150</span>only revolvers. In the middle of this work the enemy, who +had left us in comparative peace all day, started to shell the +neighbourhood with gas; and for some time we had to carry +on handicapped by box-respirators. The tedious business +of fixing spuds occupied the last hour before the move. +Spuds were always carried in the box on the roof until the +last possible moment, as any hard surface, such as that of a +road, crushed them and put a dangerous strain on the hard +steel track-plates. Each tank carried forty-four of these +iron shoes, of which we had to clamp on about thirty that +night at Frascati—a laborious process with stiff nuts and +bolts, and an inadequate supply of spanners. My crew and +I were able to fix only half of our quota in the time, and the +remainder we flung into a ditch under the bushes, where for +all I know they lie to this day, unless they have been discovered +by some puzzled Belgian labourer.</p> + +<p>At 10.45 engines were started up, and at 11 o’clock we +moved off. One tank of 19 Company developed some internal +trouble and was left behind. The trek for a long time was +devoid of any incident. The Reconnaissance officers led: +my section was now the last in the line; and I simply +followed the tank in front of me. I can remember nothing +that happened until we reached Hammond’s Corner, a road-junction +near Hill Top Farm and about a thousand yards +from the front line. We were so well ahead of time that +we halted for an hour at this point. The night was very +quiet, for there was a lull in the gun-fire. The sky was +clouded and dark; but unceasingly, around the curve of the +Salient—to our right and left and even in our rear—the Very +lights rose slowly and hung for a space and faded, their +diffused radiance reflected in the crater pools and imprinting +continually along the horizon ephemeral silhouettes of +naked and eerie trees. The Germans were using then a +very pretty variant of this illumination (or so I suppose it to +have been), a kind of slow rocket that soared up obliquely in +straight bars of brilliant light, one below the other. In fact +the Ypres salient, depressing in its utter ruin in the daytime +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">151</span>and infinitely dreary and forbidding toward dusk, +assumed an inhuman beauty when night had fallen and this +semicircle of wavering incandescence began its deliberate +and irregular rise and fall.</p> + +<p>I was still leading G 46 from outside when we halted; +and after a while I pulled myself up on to the towing +shackle in front of the tank to talk to my driver through his +flap. I was so tired that in this attitude, sitting on the unsympathetic +shackle with my head on one track and my feet +on the other, I fell asleep. I was told afterwards that +several shells burst about us and exploded a small dump +near at hand, but I slept through it all. Just before we +moved off again a machine-gun barrage was started to cover +the noise of our approach to the front line. I now got +inside the tank and took the brakes beside Johnstone, as +with the help of the continual stream of Very lights it was +become quite a simple matter to follow the machines in +front and even to see from the cab the tape which the R.O.’s +had laid down earlier that night. Having still ample time, +we crawled forward now at a snail’s pace, and eventually +pulled up once more a quarter of an hour before zero—which +was at 3.50 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>—at a point 300 yards from Forward +Cottage, where we were to cross the front line. As we were +not required to overtake the infantry before the second +German system was reached, we were to start at this +interval behind them. While we waited, the thought struck +me forcibly (and has recurred with every later tank action +in which I have taken part) that if the enemy had used a +few mobile searchlights at intervals throughout the night, +sweeping the area immediately behind our line for a minute +at a time, he could hardly have failed to discover us sooner +or later. Now, for example, the twenty-three tanks, covered +from view only by the darkness, were drawn up in line ahead +on a forward slope little more than a quarter of a mile from +his nearest trenches. The presence of these machines in the +Salient was well known to him, and the attack had been +awaited for days. A number of searchlights on motor-trucks, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">152</span>as used for anti-aircraft work, might have been +brought up to the summit of the Pilkem Ridge at many +points; and if employed with discretion for short periods +and moved continually, our gunners would have found it +very difficult to hit them; while once our tanks had been +seen and held in the rays they might have been knocked to +pieces in a few minutes. At Ypres, it is true, the Germans +(with some justice) were not greatly afraid of tanks; but in +later battles, particularly during the final autumn of the +war, when elaborate road systems in fair condition ran +behind the armies, the value of mobile searchlights for +countering expected tank attacks would appear to have +been so considerable as to justify any sacrifice involved. +But on no occasion, so far as I am aware, were they used +for this purpose. In the course of our last advance successive +assaults, which might have been disorganised and possibly +ruined by a premature discovery of tanks moving up, were +allowed to come as a surprise.</p> + +<p>The ultimate minutes before zero passed without event. +With the aid of the Very lights I endeavoured once more to +read the map which hung in front of me, and peered continually +at my clock. A tot of whisky was passed round +the crew. The engine, just ticking over, drowned by its +throbbing the noise of the machine-gun barrage, which still +continued. In front the long line of tanks stood motionless +on the gentle slope. And so, in a dim-lit silent world we +waited for the moment of attack.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">153</span></p> + + + <h3 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IX"> + CHAPTER IX. + <br> + <span class="sm">YPRES: THE 31ST JULY (<i>continued</i>).</span> + </h3> +</div> + + +<h4>I.</h4> + +<p>I have been told that the gigantic clap of sound produced +by the simultaneous discharge of two or three +thousand guns at zero that morning was a phenomenon +never to be forgotten by those who heard it. But I do +not remember hearing it at all. Enclosed in a vibrating +box of steel, the subdued throbbing of my engine drowned +even this apocalyptic crash. And this effect of silence—for +we were all so accustomed to the local noise of our +machinery that it may be said we were unconscious of it—made +yet more wonderful the really astounding display of +pyrotechnics which in a second blazed up around the whole +arc of the Salient. At 3.49 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>, when I looked at my +clock for the last time, the night was dark and misty and +very still. Heavier clouds had rolled up, and there was +no sign of the dawn. Only the pistol lights still soared +and died away about us. Precisely at 3.50 two or three +thousand shells of every calibre burst virtually together in +two great semicircles on or over the enemy’s first and +second lines—ten miles or so of sudden flame and horror. +A few hundred yards in front of our leading tank the +very earth seemed to erupt. It spouted fire and fragments +like a volcano. The mist which hung over the trenches in +the little valley was rent to tatters in a blaze of orange +light, while hundreds of shrapnel bursts sparkled above, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">154</span>and the drums of thermit poured down their molten oil +like burning rain. Far behind, where the 9.2 barrage fell +along the crown of the ridge, great tongues of flame leapt and +wavered in volumes of scarlet smoke. And from out of this +instantaneous inferno arose strings of green and crimson +rockets—the S.O.S. calls of the enemy. It was the +apotheosis of the artillery barrage, although no one suspected +it then: the greatest blast of gun-fire ever concentrated +at once on any battlefield, and, so far at least +as the British Army was concerned, the last of its kind. +The next offensive battle, at Cambrai, was to inaugurate +a new order of things.</p> + +<p>From Hill Top, or Frascati, this great curve of spouting +fire must have been a magnificent spectacle, and the sudden +shattering noise of it appalling; and I was so fascinated +by the small part of it which I could see that I forgot +entirely to start the tank. The whole of my crew was +crowded forward behind the driver and myself, craning +over our shoulders to watch through the flaps such a display +of fireworks as they had never dreamed of. Realising +suddenly that the interval between G 46 and the tank in +front was increasing, I touched Johnstone on the arm; +and the roar of the engine deepened as, with a slight +jerk, we also began to move. Already the glare of the +bursting shells, still raining down upon the zero line, was +dulled by a pall of smoke and dust. The spectacular glory +of the barrage was at an end. Within a few seconds it +was due to lift forward at a rate of a hundred yards every +four minutes. But it still showed as a flickering haze of +light across our front; and against this one could see the +long line of tanks moving downward to Forward Cottage, +about which point groups of dark figures were standing +on the parapets or walking carelessly forward across +Admiral’s Road toward the German trenches.</p> + +<p>It seemed a long time before G 46 reached these +trenches. There were, in fact, continual stoppages as +the tanks in front struggled to find a crossing in the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">155</span>narrow gap between Hampshire and Canadian Farms. +At length, after a particularly long halt, I swung out of +the line to the right to make, if possible, a passage for +myself. We were then somewhere in the middle of No +Man’s Land. Dawn had broken—a miserable grey twilight +behind heavy clouds; and the creeping barrage, with its +following infantry, was already far up the ridge. It was +when we drew up to the German front line that the cause +of these irritating delays became painfully obvious. We +had anticipated difficulties here, but the reality was worse +than anything that I, for one, had imagined. The front +line was not merely obliterated: it had been scorched and +pulverised as if by an earthquake, stamped flat and heaved +up again, caught as it fell and blown all ways; and when +the four minutes’ blast of destruction moved on, was left +dissolved into its elements, heaped in fantastic mounds of +mud, or excavated into crumbling pits already half full of +water. There cannot have been a live man left in it. At +our point of crossing there was nothing to be seen which +remotely resembled a trench: before us yawned a deep +muddy gulf, out of whose slimy sides obtruded fragments +of splintered timber, broken slabs of concrete, and several +human legs clothed in German half-boots. Immediately +beyond, a veritable lagoon, fringed by a few stripped and +blackened willow-stumps, marked the site of Hampshire +Farm. Infantry were strolling about here in a very casual +manner, smoking, eating, and ferreting for souvenirs. The +battle seemed a long way off. The morning was so dark, +and the murk of mist and smoke so thick upon the ridge, +that one could see only a few hundred yards in front. I +was determined not to get ditched so early in the day if +I could avoid it; and for five or ten minutes we hung over +this black chasm, backing, swinging, nosing about in vain +for a likely crossing. We were rather too much to the +right of our proper track, but the ground everywhere was +so broken and treacherous that there was little choice. We +had made several tentative efforts, but had shied each time +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">156</span>at the prospect of crumbling and slithery mud-heaps in +front of us; and I was about to leave the tank to search for +a crossing-place myself when Kessel unexpectedly appeared +outside. With his help we got over, at a point where some +revetting-stakes and wire still survived, holding the soil together +and providing a quasi-stable surface for the tracks +to grip.</p> + +<p>Once across, Kessel scrambled in through one of the +sponson doors, and as we lurched warily round the lagoon +he informed me by shouts that all this was “great fun” +(a point which had escaped me), and that poor Brassington +was bogged hopelessly somewhere near at hand. We were +now climbing out of the dead ground in which the front +line had run. The light was improving rapidly, but so +dense a screen of smoke and mist hung over the ridge +that no landmarks were visible. In front of me a line of +tanks—the leading section of 19 Company—was moving +obliquely to the right. Nearer at hand was one on fire, +and a second apparently ditched. No shells seemed to be +falling in our neighbourhood, but far ahead a flicker of light +in the fog showed where our barrage continued its annihilating +progress up the slope. Indistinct groups of figures moved +about in the gloom—signallers laying lines of wire, platoons +in support digging themselves in, stretcher-bearers, runners, +and walking wounded trailing back to the aid-posts. The +damp air reeked of the pungent gases of high explosives. +The ground, although one intricate net of shell-holes, grew +firmer as we left the infamous region about the front line; +and, with skilful driving, we were able to make fair progress +without running extravagant risks. Johnstone, indeed, +drove extraordinarily well. The great trouble at first was +to find our right direction, for all our famous groups of +trees were still invisible, and Kitchener’s Wood was veiled +completely by the smoke and dust of the barrage. The +German trenches which we had studied on the map were +blown to pieces and unrecognisable. One could see nothing +anywhere, in fact, but a brown waste of mud blasted +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">157</span>into ridges and hollows like a frozen sea, littered with +debris, and melting on all hands into the prevailing haze. +The gradient of the ridge was too slight to be a guide under +the circumstances; my compass was chasing its tail and +behaving generally as if it was drunk; and, after we had +swung a dozen times to avoid the more dangerous craters +that lay in our way, we might have been heading in almost +any direction. It was therefore with some relief that +Kessel and I detected presently, in the smoky distance, a +familiar object that both of us, like Captain Reece’s +washerwoman, long had loved from afar. This was Lone +Tree—a rotund bushy shrub near Kultur Farm, whose +exceeding merit it was to look the same from every point +of view. It was unmistakable; and now, happily preserved +amid the universal ruin, it still stood, a little battered and +entirely denuded of foliage, as a signpost on the way. Very +shortly after the ragged tree-tops of Kitchener’s Wood +came also into view.</p> + +<p>About this time Kessel scrambled out, leaving behind +him various impedimenta, including a haversack and the +section flag—this last an emblem of red and green, the +battalion colours, with a large white “10” sewn on to it. +I could now see Merchant’s tank, apparently in trouble, in +a sort of marshy gully to my right front; but a little while +later he passed me again, going in great style. Time was +slipping away: it was nearly five o’clock, and already we +were late, owing to the delays at the front line. We were +not far, however, from our first objectives—Boche Castle +and the German second system in front of Kitchener’s +Wood, where I still hoped to overtake the infantry. The +heavy howitzers had now lifted to the Steenbeek and +beyond, and the creeping barrage was crashing in the +wood itself, above which hung clouds of smoke. The +enemy’s counter-barrage, falling in the beginning on +our front and assembly trenches, had developed into a +heavy but promiscuous bombardment of the western +slope of the ridge; and for the first time since zero, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">158</span>I saw the sinister black fountains of earth spouting up in +front, and heard the occasional rattle of fragments on the +roof of G 46. It was, presumably, one of these pieces of +shell, or perhaps a shrapnel ball, that cut the lashings of +my unditching beam about this time. As we dipped our +nose into a shell-hole the beam slid down over the cab +on to the ground. Stopping at once, I got my whole +crew out to recover it; but to lift on to the roof again +9 cwt. of steel and wood in so unhandy a form was beyond +our powers; and the occasion being urgent, I decided to +abandon the thing rather than waste time in manœuvring +the tank and fixing the clamps or other tackle.</p> + +<p>We obtained a more comprehensive view of the outer +world during this excursion, but there was little to be +seen. The battlefield wore that melancholy and deserted +air characteristic of modern war. Acres of foul slime +below, dark and heavy clouds hanging low overhead, +odours of gases and corruption, a few tree-stumps, a few +bodies lying crumpled in the mud, half a dozen tanks +labouring awkwardly in the middle distance, and the +shell-bursts shooting upward like vast ephemeral mushrooms—and +that was all. There was hardly a sign of +life in all that mournful and chilling landscape. The +dark but busy interior of G 46, crowded with humanity, +was homely by comparison and infinitely quieter. War +has been translated into terms of sound, and the racket +of gun-fire was appalling. Coming from inside a tank, +where one heard nothing but the familiar roar of the +engine, this eternal throbbing blast of noise deafened +and bewildered. Overhead the shells were rushing in a +torrent with a continual cry like that of a gale among +trees—“whee-u, whee-u, whee-u, whee-u....” For +the first few minutes, until I can become used to it, any +loud and sudden noise (and this was worse than any +ever heard before) always renders me virtually imbecile, +almost incapable of coherent thought or action; and I +was heartily glad to clamber back again to the company +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">159</span>of decent mechanical reverberations to which I was +accustomed.</p> + +<p>We moved on once more. I can remember very little of +our normal progress beyond a general impression that the +ground everywhere was atrocious, and that Johnstone’s +driving was exceptional. We passed over a ruined trench, +which a line of men was labouring to convert with pick +and shovel; and once we came upon a wounded infantryman +lying at the bottom of a shell-hole which we were +about to cross. We stopped instantly and swung to avoid +him, but in the act of changing the secondary gears the +tank lurched forward a foot or two and hung over the +very lip of the crater; and I shall not easily forget the +terror in the man’s face as he watched the huge machine +rearing up fifteen feet above him, about (as he supposed) +to crash down upon him with all its thirty tons. It was +about 5.15 when we drew near to the site of the estaminet +called Boche Castle. On our right was the dark mass of +Kitchener’s Wood, its trees blackened and mangled and +almost bare of leaves. No living soul was to be seen, +and it was plain that the infantry had carried the strong-point +itself, and the whole of the German second line in +this neighbourhood, and had already pushed on toward +the Steenbeek. The trenches ran generally along the +western edge of the wood, but a few hundred yards from +the northern end of it they turned westward through Boche +Castle and Hurst Park toward Pilkem. I have spoken of +an estaminet at Boche Castle, but of course this building, +where a few years before the Walloons had drunk their +indifferent beer, had been reduced long since to a pile of +rubble. Amid this debris the Germans had constructed a +concrete tower, which commanded the whole face of the +ridge. I have mentioned also that this interesting innovation +had been shelled by our 15-inch guns. The effect +of this bombardment was extraordinary, for in that moist +and ruined soil the huge projectiles had penetrated to a +depth of fifteen or twenty feet before they exploded; and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">160</span>the result was a congeries of immense craters, which I +believed to be caused by mines, until I reflected that no +mine-shafts could have been driven so far. The mebus +itself had been uprooted bodily, like a plaything, and now +lay flat upon its side, cracked, but still more or less entire—an +advertisement of the resisting powers of reinforced +concrete.</p> + +<p>From this and other indications (<i>e.g.</i>, the absence of dead +or wounded on the ground except at one spot, to be noted +later), it was clear that there had been no very serious fighting +about this point; and indeed the first impact of 9.2’s at +zero, followed later by the lighter creeping barrage, had +virtually obliterated the whole system in front of the wood. +It was no easy task for a tank to thread its way among +these vast excavations about Boche Castle, and things +were complicated by the presence of a large patch of +boggy ground there which had also to be avoided. As +we proceeded, we discovered that Merchant’s tank, less +fortunate than our own, had become ditched in one of +the biggest craters, where it lay at a most uncomfortable +angle, looking very much like a drowned beetle in the +bottom of a wine-glass.</p> + +<p>Our own ultimate disaster was near at hand. There ran +out of the salient the dismal remains of a thoroughfare +known to us as Boundary Road, which, after crossing +Admiral’s Road in No Man’s Land and then the German +front line, zigzagged past the reserve trenches at Kempton +Park and Gatwick Cottage to Hurst Park and Boche Castle +itself, from where it hugged the north end of Kitchener’s +Wood before descending the reverse slope to a culvert over +the Steenbeek. Up this latter part of it was laid a light +railway, as disclosed by aeroplane photographs, and duly +recorded on the map. Information from prisoners led to +the belief that this road was mined; and Merchant and I +had been warned time and again on no account to move +along it. We were to cross it in the neighbourhood of +Boche Castle, proceed parallel to it on the north, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">161</span>recross it beyond the wood, thus reducing to a minimum +the risk of striking one of the mines. The road itself, when +I arrived at it, was indistinguishable from the surrounding +mud; but the twisted metals of the light railway betrayed +its site; and in accordance with my instructions, without +thinking twice about it, I drove straight over it at a point +midway between the wood and the prostrate mebus at +Boche Castle. I then swung to the right and moved +forward parallel to it. As written down, this manœuvre +sounds a simple one; but already another peculiarity of the +Salient was disturbingly manifest. Owing, as I suppose, +to some arrangement of strata—the same phenomenon is +to be found in parts of Dorsetshire, among other places—the +water with which Flanders is too abundantly provided +collects on top of the ridges as well as in the adjacent +valleys. The boggy patch on the other side of Boche +Castle before mentioned was a symptom of this eccentricity. +And across the vanished road the conditions became at +once appalling. The ground was one network of big shell-holes, +and every one was full of water. There was no +escaping it. On all hands lay these brimming pools, +divided only by a sort of mesh of semi-liquid mud. I +tried at once to get back to the road, preferring the possibility +of mines to the certainty of being ignominiously +engulfed, but in that amphibious world the engine was not +powerful enough to induce the tank to reverse or swing. +She would only plough her way slowly forward through +the mud. The end was inevitable. We covered (and this +in itself was something of a miracle) about two hundred +yards of this quagmire, forcing our way through it rather +than over it. It was during this final lap that I heard +my left-hand pair of gunners open fire with their Lewis +guns. Knowing that we were still behind our infantry, I +induced them to stop by hammering the nearest man on +the back; and it was not until some time later that I learnt +the cause of their firing. All this while we tried continually +to swing back toward the road, a hundred yards away, but +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">162</span>the tank was sunk in mud to her belly, and would move +only in the one direction. We arrived at length at a point +abreast of the far edge of Kitchener’s Wood: water lay +everywhere about us; and immediately in front were two +or three large shell-holes, full to the brim. It being impossible +to avoid them, G 46, like a reluctant suicide, +crawled straight into the first, which we could only hope +was shallower than it appeared to be. The water rushed +in through the tracks and sponson doors, covered the floorboards, +and flooded the sump: the fly-wheel thrashed +through it for a second or two, sending showers about the +interior; and then the tank, not having been constructed +for submarine warfare, gave up the struggle. The engine +raced with an increased but futile noise, for the wet clutch +had ceased to grip, and we did not move.</p> + +<p>It was nearly six o’clock, and the rain had begun to fall. +To take stock of the situation we had to climb out through +the manhole in the roof, the water having risen to such a +height above the floor that we could not use the sponson +doors. Once outside, it was manifest that there was nothing +to be done. The lost unditching beam would not have +helped us with the clutch half under water. The tail of the +tank just touched the muddy rim of the shell-hole, but on +every other side the great pool extended for several feet. +The accompanying photograph, although taken a couple +of months later, after the tank had been hit on one track +and elsewhere, shows her exactly as she lay at that moment, +and as we left her the following afternoon. A hundred +yards to our right was the northern corner of Kitchener’s +Wood. Three or four hundred yards to the left was a +ruined building, converted with concrete into a machine-gun +post, which was known as Von Werder House. This +was not visible until one stood on top of the tank, for the +latter was sunk deep in the shell-hole, and was screened +also on this side by the tattered remnants of a hedge. A +quarter of a mile in front of us the ridge fell away toward +the Steenbeek, and over the edge we could see the tops +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">163</span>of the trees which lined the banks of that stream; while +to our rear, beyond a row of wrecked sheds made of timber +and corrugated iron, rose the white pile of rubble and +concrete where Boche Castle had stood. Occasional shells +burst along the ridge. The shriek of our own projectiles +rushing overhead was continuous, and the actual throbbing +blast of gun-fire a torture to the nerves; but not a living +soul except ourselves was within eyesight. I did not know +how far our infantry had progressed, but supposed them to +be somewhere near the Steenbeek. A heavy rattle of rifle +and machine-gun fire sounded out of the valley. Nearer +at hand, but invisible, one or two Vickers’ guns were indulging +in overhead fire.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowe40" id="i_162fp"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_162fp.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + Tank G 46 as I left her (except for hit on track), August 1, 1917. + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Having satisfied myself that the tank was bogged beyond +immediate repair (a fact, indeed, so obvious that no consideration +was needed), I sent my crew inside again and +started to walk back to Merchant’s G 45, lying in the big +crater by Boche Castle, where I expected to find Kessel. +The distance was about five hundred yards. It was now +raining heavily, and walking was reduced to a maddening +process of dragging one’s feet through deliquescent mud, +sliding into shell-holes, and crawling, sometimes on all-fours, +laboriously out again. As I drew near to Boche +Castle I crossed what was left of the support trenches of +the German second line, and here, lying face downward +side by side over a fragment of parados, were the bodies of +six British infantrymen, all shot through the head—killed +together as they were in the act of climbing out of the +trench. I was to become only too familiar with these +unfortunates in the course of that day and the next. A +little farther beyond was the series of great craters about +the strong-point. On reaching the lip of the one in which +G 45 still lay engulfed, I saw Kessel, Merchant, and the +crew grouped far below me round the tank. They instantly +made violent signals to me to come into cover, and +I slid down the side of the crater with some precipitation. +Believing that all the enemy must have been driven off the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">164</span>ridge in our neighbourhood, since the infantry was out of +sight ahead, I had taken no precautions in walking across +beyond listening anxiously for the whistle of unfriendly +shells; but on arriving, muddy and breathless, among the +others in the crater bottom, I learnt that all this while there +was a German machine-gun still in action in Von Werder +House, then nearly half a mile behind our front. Its very +gallant gun-crew (I never knew if there was only one man +there or more), cut off by the annihilation or flight of the +defenders of the second line, apparently went to ground +until our attacking waves had passed by, only to reappear +afterwards and begin sniping conscientiously at any one +who came within range. This sort of conduct always +seems to me the height of heroism or fanaticism, for the +ultimate fate of such isolated rearguards is certain. In +all ignorance I had walked right across the front of this +gun within a few hundred yards of it, and I can only +suppose that at the time the gunners were occupied at a +loophole on the other side of the mebus. It appeared that +Merchant had left his true course, and so become ditched +in the crater, in an attempt to reach and silence this +nuisance; and when I returned later to my own tank I +learnt that it was the “tap-tap” of bullets on the armour, +no doubt from the same source, that had provoked my +gunners to open fire. And I imagine that the six dead +infantrymen whom I had just seen were also among the +victims of Von Werder House.</p> + +<p>Having reported to Kessel the hopeless situation of G 46, +I was told to evacuate her, leaving, however, two men as a +guard. This was in accordance with orders, and was in one +sense a very necessary provision; for it had been found +that any ditched or disabled tank left unguarded was sure +to be stripped within a few hours of every removable part. +But the duty, never popular, was likely to be peculiarly +dangerous in the Salient, on account of the persistent +shelling to be expected there. Near Mousetrap Farm, a +day or two later, four men were killed while guarding a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">165</span>couple of derelict tanks, after which the practice of leaving +such guards east of the canal was abandoned. And the +position of G 46 was exceptional. She lay so near to the +Steenbeek, our final objective for that day, as to be in +imminent danger from any counter-attack, and she was, +in fact, farther forward than any machine left within our +lines. She might be seen from the next ridge, and her +neighbourhood, whatever else happened, probably would +be shelled heavily. Under these circumstances, much as +I disliked the prospect of remaining in her myself, I felt +that I could not leave two of my crew alone there; and +I determined, therefore, to form one of the guard.</p> + +<p>Merchant’s tank was as immovable as my own. Its +engine had failed in an attempt to pull it out of the big +crater, and it now lay at a highly uncomfortable angle, its +nose pointing obliquely upward and its floor so tilted that +one could not stand inside. Fortunately for the crew, the +crater was comparatively dry for the Salient. It was +merely a mud-hole—that is to say, without much water in +the bottom. I remained here for about half an hour, talking +to the others, for I confess I was in no hurry to begin +my return journey. Most of us, I think, are great cowards +when we are alone and have no gallery to play to, and I +did not relish the idea of exposing myself again to the +occupant of Von Werder House, who might not overlook +me a second time. When at length I moved off, I took +rather elaborate precautions, keeping under cover when +possible, running across the open spaces, and making a +wide circuit through the moist and reeking undergrowth +of Kitchener’s Wood. It was an ignominious performance, +and I am not proud of it; but I could not forget those six +men lying in a row with bullets through their heads. And +as it happened, the machine-gun was now permanently +silenced. When I came out from the wood upon the ruined +road abreast of my tank, prepared to duck or run for it, I +saw a party of kilted infantry, belonging to the supporting +battalion of the 117th Brigade, gathered round Von Werder +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">166</span>House. Presumably the plucky German gunner had been +killed. Scrambling back into G 46, I told my crew (sitting +dismally immersed to the knees in water and oil) to draw +lots for the doubtful privilege of remaining behind with me. +The duty fell to my second driver, Swain, who successfully +dissembled his joy. The others began to collect their kit, +most of which was under water, for in a tank everything +gravitates eventually to the floor. These men would have +to carry with them also the six Lewis guns and the compass, +and their journey through the shells and rain and clinging +mud to Frascati, thus encumbered, promised few pleasures. +There was still a job of work for them to do before they +left. I wished to camouflage the tank to some extent with +mud and branches, and especially to obliterate the conspicuous +number painted on the roof of the cab. (I have +explained already my reasons for this diffidence.) At this +work we toiled for half an hour, slipping and splashing +in the surrounding pool; but the rain, now falling in sheets, +washed the mud away almost as fast as we shovelled it on, +and we had to depend upon the relics of the adjacent +hedge. It was nearly nine o’clock when my corporal, +Mitchell, and the other five prepared finally to leave the +tank. At this juncture another tank appeared, homeward +bound, round the corner of Kitchener’s Wood. It was one +of 19 Company’s, commanded by Maelor Jones. It had +been across the Steenbeek into St Julien, where it had been +attacked by infantry with hand grenades, and Maelor Jones +himself had shot a German N.C.O. with his revolver +through the flap. He was now struggling home with a +badly leaking radiator. I do not remember how he came +to be so far off his direct route, which was south of the +wood, a mile away. I gave him all my spare water, and +also put into his tank my six Lewis guns, to save my crew +this extra burden. When he moved off again he contrived +to navigate the lake district about us without disaster; but +eventually (as I discovered later) came to a standstill, with +an empty radiator, half a mile beyond Boche Castle, where +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">167</span>the tank was hit soon after. At the same time my six men +left me for Hill Top Farm and Frascati, with orders to +report to the company commander at the first-named place. +Swain and I remained alone in G 46, with a prospect (at +the best) of indefinite discomfort before us. The only thing +remaining for me to do was to despatch my two pigeons +with duplicate messages, giving my exact state and +situation.</p> + + +<h4 id="II_7"> + II. +</h4> + +<p>The tank, as I have said, was almost knee-deep in water. +The rain dripped in steadily through the imperfectly fitting +armour-plating of the roof. And about this time the +enemy’s shelling, scattered hitherto in a desultory fashion +over his lost positions, settled down to a sustained and +heavy bombardment of the whole crest of the ridge. It +fell with particular intensity on certain areas, of which +our own deserted and impracticable neighbourhood unfortunately +was one. Possibly the Germans thought we +were using or repairing the road; but except for one +platoon of infantry, ploughing along it in single file on +either side, to avoid (as I suppose) the legendary mines, I +never saw a living soul upon that obliterated highway, and +very few anywhere else about us. Whatever the reason, +from about ten o’clock on the morning of the 31st until I +left the place at four in the afternoon of the following day, +a period of thirty hours, 5.9 shells fell about us without +intermission at the rate of one every minute. The particular +gun or guns responsible for our little sector maintained +with Teutonic exactitude the same invariable line, represented +approximately by G 46 on top of the crest, Boche +Castle 300 yards in rear, and Merchant’s tank 200 yards +beyond that; and the feature of this apparently senseless +expenditure of metal was the fact that neither tank was hit +during this time.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">168</span></p> + +<p>It might appear the obvious remedy, in these circumstances, +to have left the half-drowned “Gina” for some +other shelter a few hundred yards away. But there was no +shelter to be found, or I could find none. Trenches had +been beaten to a muddy pulp; dug-outs, if they existed, +were undiscoverable in the prevailing devastation; water +lay everywhere; and shells were falling almost as thickly +in Kitchener’s Wood and about Von Werder House as in +our immediate neighbourhood. The tank at least offered +protection against splinters, and, apart from a few leaks, +against the ceaseless downpour of rain. It held our food +and other possessions, which were kept moderately dry. +And it is a well-known, if illogical, truth, that any overhead +cover is better than none. A parasol would give one infinite +comfort in battle. G 46, nevertheless, was not an ideal +home. She vibrated periodically from the concussions near +at hand: every fifteen minutes or so came an explosion so +close that lumps of mud pattered heavily upon the roof; +and once or twice the whole thirty tons of metal seemed +to jump bodily. With the engine silent, one heard the +crescendo of every approaching shell, and had ample time +to speculate on its point of arrival. It is one thing to be +shelled in this manner when you are actively engaged in +some work which helps to occupy your mind: it is altogether +another to have to sit through two days and a night of it +within a few feet of thirty or forty gallons of refined and +expensive petrol, with nothing whatever to do but wonder +what exactly will happen when you are hit. It was natural +to dwell upon the fact that a 5.9 projectile goes through a +tank’s armour as if it was paper, and then bursts inside. +Thirty hours of this life, in short, became in the end a +little wearing; and I hope sincerely never to repeat the +experience.</p> + +<p>Yet of all that long period, which seemed so interminable +at the time, I found afterwards I could remember very little. +When Swain and I were left alone in the tank, we proceeded +to make ourselves as comfortable as circumstances allowed. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">169</span>Swain curled himself up in the driver’s seat. I sat with my +shoulders against the front of the cab, using a tin box of +Lewis-gun ammunition as a back-rest. Half of the engine +cover, laid over a couple of oil-drums which rose well above +the water-level, served to keep my legs out of the flood. +Both of us, of course, were already soaked to the skin and +plastered with mud, so that the steady trickle of rain from +the roof mattered little to us. For the first hour or so I +think we were asleep, too tired to worry about the manifest +increase in the shelling about us. Toward midday we ate +a cold and uninspiring lunch of bully and sardines, supplemented +by whisky. These delicacies lived close at hand in +lockers on each side of the cab, room for which, and also +for a small drinking-water tank, had been made in the +Mark IV. by the removal aft of the petrol-supply. Our +drinking water, unfortunately, was rather mature, there +having been no opportunity of refilling the tank since the +postponement on the 24th. On all counts I congratulated +myself on the two bottles of whisky. We were now fully +alive to the fact that shells were bursting very near G 46 +with great regularity, and so far as I was concerned +further sleep proved to be out of the question. After each +periodic whistle and explosion, I peered around through the +revolver ports in the cab to see where the resultant cloud of +black smoke was hanging, and usually discovered it unpleasantly +close. It may have been about this time that +the infantry I have mentioned came up the road past the +edge of the wood. They deployed into open order and +halted for a few minutes; and having left the tank to learn +something about the general situation, I found the subaltern +in command sitting with his sergeant in a comparatively +dry shell-hole. They could tell me very little, +however. The firing line, which they were moving to +support, was believed to be along the Steenbeek, about +800 yards in front of us. The rattle of machine-guns in +the valley was more persistent than ever. The Vickers on +the ridge had fallen silent or gone forward, and from the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">170</span>loud throb of gun-fire behind us it was clear that field batteries +had, in some miraculous manner, been got over +the German front line and through the slough beyond. I +returned to the tank as the infantry platoon began its +stumbling progress forward again; and the last I saw of +it was a scattered line of figures disappearing beyond the +brow of the hill. This was the only formed body of troops +that came within sight during our stay on the ridge.</p> + +<p>The next incident I remember was the startling return, +about 4 o’clock, of Corporal Mitchell and three others of +my crew, who had left us six hours earlier. It appeared +that having reached the dug-out at Hill Top Farm, after +losing their way several times and enduring other unpleasant +vicissitudes, the original six had reported to the company +commander there, only to be told to return and stand by +the tank, a complete reversal of our original instructions. +Orders to this effect had been sent to Merchant by runner +immediately on receipt of a pigeon-message from him +announcing his hopeless situation; but the runner, having +intercepted this crew just as it was starting for home, had +returned without bringing on the order to me. In any +event, nothing was to be gained by leaving the two crews, +except a certainty of more casualties if either tank should be +hit; and trained tank personnel was never so easily come +by that it could be risked without a proper cause. The +crew of a tank left derelict on or near the front line can +often be of use by getting out and helping the infantry +with Lewis guns, but we were respectively half and three-quarters +of a mile behind. I had sent my guns back, perhaps +rather foolishly, by Maelor Jones, and both machines +were so placed that they would be of little or no help in +repelling a counter-attack. In short, this clearly was a case +where the section and tank commanders on the spot ought +to decide on the best course of action. As for my own men, +this development entailed for them the additional fatigue and +danger of the two-mile tramp back from Hill Top to the +tank. They started to return at once. Almost immediately +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">171</span>one of the gunners was hit in the head by a shrapnel bullet, +and a second man was left with him to help him to the +nearest dressing station. The other four eventually rejoined +me after six hours’ continuous struggle through slime, +rain, and shell-fire, and they were so famished and exhausted +that, although a certain amount of petrol was floating about +in the tank, I went to the risk of lighting a primus stove in +one of the sponsons in order to make them some tea. +Braced with a little rum, this drink, like godliness with +contentment, was great gain. It was no easy matter now +to pack six men inside G 46 above water-level, but with the +aid of engine-covers and petrol and oil-tins, the returned +wanderers contrived somehow to fit themselves in.</p> + +<p>Shortly after this I paid a visit to Merchant. Never an +attractive expedition, as it involved a good deal of wading +to begin with and subsequent periodic dives into the mud +to dodge shell fragments, this occasion provided me with +a quite superfluous thrill. Hearing suddenly the alarming +crescendo of a 5.9 coming apparently straight at my head, +I dropped in a hurry just as it landed within a very few +yards of me. Fortunately it plunged some ten feet down +into the semi-liquid ground before it burst, so that beyond +a bad shaking and a temporary immersion beneath a perfect +deluge of mud, I was none the worse. A little dashed by +the incident, however, I ran (or attempted to run) the rest +of the way, and of course almost fell over the six dead +infantrymen lying so neatly spaced in front of Boche Castle. +I was glad to get down into the fallacious shelter of +Merchant’s gigantic crater, where I found his crew brewing +tea on a primus in the rain. They had with them two +German prisoners commandeered to help in a last hopeless +effort to dig out the tank. One of these men was +dazed, speechless, and useless; and it was supposed that +he was suffering from shock until some one discovered that +the poor wretch had been hit in the stomach. Heaven +knows how he managed to stand upright. He vanished after +a while, probably to die miserably in some shell-hole; and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">172</span>his comrade, having been made to understand with difficulty +that his services were no longer required, hurried off toward +the rear with every symptom of relief. Merchant, I found, +had received no further orders, nor indeed any news whatever, +and he and his men were as weary of this mode of +life as I and mine, although spared our amphibious discomforts. +His N.C.O., Sergeant Meyrick, a splendid type +of long-service soldier from the R.F.A., had the beginnings +of an attack of fever, and was shaking like St Vitus, while +his first driver, Waller, was also ill. (Both these men came +to be associated with me, in circumstances peculiarly +creditable to them, in our next action, when I learnt +thoroughly to appreciate their merits.) While I was in +the crater at this time a number of shells burst so near to +us that we left the tank in an endeavour to find shelter +elsewhere, but we soon abandoned the search. As in my +own case, the derelict machine remained the most attractive +of the several unsatisfactory alternatives. I may point +out once more that this instinctive desire to leave a ditched +tank when shells are falling about it arises from the fact that +the protection the tank offers against splinters is heavily outweighed +by the knowledge of what almost certainly will +happen if it receives a direct hit, especially from such a +projectile as a 5.9. The terrific explosion in the restricted +space, the whirlwind of flying white-hot metal, and the +inevitable fire which follows, leave the crew with a poor +hope of escaping, as was proved in several tragic instances +that morning; whereas in the open, lying flat behind a +lump of mud, the probabilities are all the other way. I +think it was the rain and the general wretchedness of +things outside, as much as the total lack of any standing +cover, which induced us to remain throughout inside our +tanks.</p> + +<p>Having spent about half an hour with Merchant, I started +on my return. In spite of a fixed intention of avoiding the +six corpses on my route, I ran into them once more, but +arrived at my own watery home without further unpleasantness. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">173</span>Inside G 46 the tide appeared to have risen in my +absence.</p> + +<p>It would be tedious to inflict in detail my fragmentary +recollections of that evening or of the interminable night +which ensued. The conditions may be pictured as before. +The rain fell heavily, unceasingly, like fate. The water +within the tank rose slowly but perceptibly, and the shells +exploded about us with the punctuality of unwelcome +guests. After each shriek and detonation which sounded +more than usually close to us, I would see the dim faces +of my crew turned rather anxiously toward me to see how +I took it. It seemed then advisable to make some silly +joke, which, although it should have deceived no one, +helped apparently to ease the tension. And this experience, +recurring frequently through many hours, impressed me +forcibly with certain truisms lying, as I imagine, behind +all theories of military conduct and training, of which the +chief was the moral value of responsibility to others. If +I had been left alone in the tank, with nothing to think +of but my own predicament, I should have dwelt upon this +until it became unbearable. Probably I should then have +run away. As it was, however, my main business necessarily +was to set a fairly decent example to the men who +relied on me and for whom I was responsible. In other +words, it was their presence and obvious dependence upon +my behaviour which governed the latter, while conversely +this influence reacted upon them to the extent that my +artificial optimism and rather feeble jokes set up some sort +of standard which they felt obliged to imitate. We were +all equally afraid, but so long as we were all equally +ashamed to admit it we could carry on. The point of +interest in our case, otherwise very ordinary, was the fact +that a number of men who never in their lives before had +been in any serious danger were now called upon in their +first action to endure a test exceptionally trying to nerve +and courage: to sit, during a day and a half of persistent +heavy shelling, passive, idle, and helpless in a flooded steel +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">174</span>box on top of gallons of inflammable spirit, protected overhead +by nothing more than a thin plate which a substantial +sledge-hammer would have dented. I have said all this +before, and it may appear scarcely to warrant the previous +digression, but I will not labour to excuse the latter. It +represents the reflections which occurred to me afterwards. +No doubt they have occurred to millions of others since the +first prehistoric battle; and the whole thing may be summed +up in the axiom that, when in doubt or tribulation, it is +a very material help to be forced to act a part.</p> + +<p>That night was peculiarly unpleasant. Owing to our +position on the crest it was inadvisable to show any adequate +light. (It must be remembered also that we were entirely +ignorant of the day’s events. For all we knew the Germans +might have regained ground elsewhere on the ridge from +which the tank was in view at short range. One can learn +nothing from a mere inspection of a modern battlefield, for +there is nothing to be seen.) Normally, tanks are lighted +by small electric festoon lamps hung under the roof, but in +G 46 these were now out of action, the accumulators being +under water. In any case, I should not have used them, +as even with everything shut down the light escaped +through numerous small chinks around the gun-ports and +shields. The more powerful hand-lamps were tabooed for +the same reason. There remained only the pair of coloured +bulbs on the signalling belt, of which the green, besides +making us look as if we were in the last stages of decomposition, +was too brilliant to please me. The feeble glow +of the red bulb, however, could hardly have been seen by +some one standing close outside. I had to employ it sparingly, +as I did not know how long the small battery would +last, but when at intervals I switched it on the effect was +rather curious. The dull crimson light was reflected in the +water beneath us, the rain-drops collecting along the joints +of the roof shone like rubies, and the complication of +exhaust-pipes and ammunition-boxes above the engine +cast over half the interior a great wavering shadow, in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">175</span>which I could see dimly the faces of my crew, huddled in +the sponsons and about the differential. Between these +theatrical glimpses we lived in pitchy darkness, talking a +little, sleeping hardly at all, feeling acutely the bolt-heads +and angles in our backs, drinking a periodic tot of whisky +(for we were soaked and chilled), listening to the rain and +the shell-bursts and the occasional ominous patter of mud on +the roof, and praying for the dawn. When at length it +broke, dreary and weeping, and we could see once more the +too familiar landscape, the latter was as desert and uninviting +as before. There was more water about, and a large +shell-hole in front of us was brimming over into ours. We +lit the primus again, regardless of possible consequences, +and rummaged about for our somewhat sodden victuals. A +good deal of food, including several loaves, was submerged, +and our two days’ rations began to look small.</p> + +<p>The morning was a repetition of the previous day. The +rain fell as if it had never rained before, the shells whistled +and crashed, and, for all that we could see, we might have +been in the Ark on Ararat, whose situation indeed must have +borne many points of resemblance to our own. We had +even despatched our doves, or pigeons. But there were no +high explosives on Ararat. About 11 o’clock I ventured +forth again rather reluctantly, and stumbled over the mud +to call on Merchant. For the fourth time I encountered +on the way the six infantrymen, now showing unequivocal +signs of having been dead for a good many hours. In the +big crater I found neither orders nor news, although there +had arrived a very superfluous visitor in the person of a +salvage officer, come to lend us the assistance of his intellect +toward the business of extricating our tanks! To +Merchant he offered some hints on the use of sleepers, +hints whose value was impaired by the fact that no sleepers +were to hand. When I returned to G 46 I took him with +me, as I wanted an independent report on the tank which +hitherto no one had visited. He was not impressed favourably +with the neighbourhood, perhaps because we arrived +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">176</span>just in time to dodge a salvo of 5.9’s; and having advised +me to bale out my shell-hole with petrol-tins (!), he left in +a hurry. I never saw this useless individual again, and I +have forgotten his name, but I took an instinctive dislike +to him.</p> + +<p>Merchant and I agreed at this meeting that if no orders +had reached us by four that afternoon we would lock up the +tanks and march back to Frascati. Accordingly, after a +second visit to him in the afternoon, when I found him still +without any news, I returned once more to make my own +final arrangements, by which time I was coming very +thoroughly to hate this solitary journey with its inevitable +accompaniment of shells and rain. My crew collected +their kit (in most cases it was under water), and we filled +our haversacks and pockets with the unspoiled residue of +our rations and with the small equipment which had to be +salved—the clock, periscopes, lamps, &c.—and just before +four o’clock we climbed very thankfully out of the manhole +and padlocked it behind us. Only a beaver or an Indian +pearl-diver could have got at the sponson doors: any child, +on the other hand, could have broken the padlock. But +that was not our concern. It was impossible to pretend +sorrow at parting from G 46: our main apprehension, +indeed, was that sooner or later we should have to return +to her.</p> + +<p>Merchant and his men were ready to move when we +reached the crater, and we set off together on our dreary +trudge back to Frascati. We each took our turn at carrying +his four Lewis guns. Enough has been written of the +discomfort of marching anywhere in the Salient in bad +weather, and I will not dilate upon this hegira, of which, in +fact, I remember very little. One odd incident, however, +sticks in my memory as worth recording. As we struggled +past the front of Kitchener’s Wood, where the German +shells were still crashing, and approached the big camouflaged +mebus which I have mentioned in an earlier chapter, +a flock of little black-and-white birds flew out from the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">177</span>trees and followed us for some way, fluttering about our +legs and twittering and squeaking in a very agitated manner. +I can only suppose that they came to us, the sole living +creatures to be seen, for company and protection, their +natural fear of mankind overcome by the greater terror of +that reeking wood, resounding with the crashes of exploding +shells and falling trees. It was a singular circumstance, but +I was too tired at the time to give much thought to it or +even notice what birds they were. Possibly they were +swallows. After following us in this fashion for perhaps a +quarter of a mile, they disappeared.</p> + +<p>We were making our way obliquely across the front of +the wood toward the Wieltje-St Julien road, which was to +have been put in use immediately after the advance. It +was out of our direct route, but with the rain still falling +in torrents and the elemental mud something beyond the +power of language to describe, any sort of stable surface on +which to walk was an attraction. Tired and burdened as +we were, we could not face a struggle of two or three miles +through pure slime. And presently signs of human and +friendly activity were at length visible. We passed a few +18-pounders buried in shell-holes or hidden behind pollard +stumps. A little later a line of moving figures and vehicles, +marking the road, came into view through the rain. We +found the road congested, in fact, by opposing streams of +mule trains and ammunition limbers, bringing their loads +up to this new battery area and then returning for more. +Nearer the crest, about the mebus called Cheddar Villa and +the ruins of Vanheule Farm, it was being shelled heavily. +Its extemporised surface of brick-rubble and timber was +swimming in liquid mud which wheels and hoofs sprayed +liberally over us. Dead animals and abandoned limbers lay +clustered on either side. We struck it at a point where it +crossed the unrecognisable debris of California Reserve +trench, the third line of the German front system, and just +here another hastily renovated track, also choked with +traffic, forked westward over No Man’s Land to Hammond’s +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">178</span>Corner, where we had halted before the attack. This +branch, called Buffs Road, subsequently was timbered +almost throughout, and, with the continuation through St +Julien, came to be known only too well by all ranks of the +1st Tank Brigade. We stumbled and splashed along it, +involved in endless lines of mules and horses, toward +Frascati, which dilapidated haven, loathed by all two days +before, now beckoned to us like home. We reached it at +length, to find it transformed out of all knowledge. Its +shell-pitted fields, last seen deserted, swarmed with men and +animals; engineers and labour troops were digging and +building, rows of horse lines had sprung up, dumps were +accumulating, and a dressing station was established under +the trees. The small ruined lanes behind were packed with +ammunition trains and ambulance convoys, and always an +endless tide of soaked and muddied transport flowed by the +outskirts toward the front line. Around La Brique, where +we had been used to venture with such misgivings, 60-pounder +guns were firing noisily, while behind them rested +the novel gun-carrying tanks which had brought them into +action.</p> + + +<h4 id="III_5"> + III. +</h4> + +<p>In some iron and timber shacks in the middle of the +trees, by our own petrol dump, we found Kessel, Winters +(second in command of 19 Company), and various details, +including Deakin of my own crew, who had been left behind +at Hill Top with the wounded man. Every one looked +tired and dirty, and had a three-days’ growth of beard, but +they were perfect d’Orsays by comparison with our disreputable +party. Winters, who was in command on the +spot, had some dutiful misgivings as to the strict propriety +of our leaving our tanks without orders, and even suggested +that we might have to return to them; but Merchant and I +held forth so vigorously on the subject that this idea died +a very rapid death. Our men, in fact (to say nothing of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">179</span>ourselves), were dead-beat; while it was because our +remaining with the tanks was so palpably useless that we +had come away. The disadvantages of being attached +temporarily to another company were manifest throughout +this affair. No one in 19 Company took much interest in +No. 10 Section. It appeared that the company commander, +without worrying at all about us, had gone back to Lovie +to sleep on the previous evening with the rest of his own +people, although their tanks, with one exception, were also +ditched at various points about the battlefield. He had not +been seen since. Kessel, having been in charge at Frascati +during the greater part of the day, had been unable to come +out to us as he had intended. In short, if we had not taken +matters into our own hands, there appeared really to be no +reason why we should not have been left indefinitely on the +ridge without rations or orders.</p> + +<p>Having seen the men settled down with some hot food, +Merchant and I looked after ourselves. I remember very +vividly the excellence of a mess-tin full of scalding stew +which Kessel’s servant procured for me. During this meal +we learnt some of the details of the previous day’s fighting. +Considering the conditions, our two companies had done +uncommonly well at a light cost. Most of the tanks got +into action. The two sections of 21 Company on the left +had taken the 51st Division to its final objective on the +Steenbeek, losing one section commander, one tank commander, +and about half a dozen men wounded. Of my +section, attached to 19 Company, the misfortunes of three +tanks were known to us. The fourth, Alden’s, had a happier +career. It reached its objective at Alberta, beyond +Kitchener’s Wood, assisted the infantry to capture this, and +then, proceeding onward, passed inadvertently through our +stationary barrage and engaged in a unique duel across +the Steenbeek with a light railway train carrying a small +gun, which it drove away. Alden received the Military +Cross for that morning’s work. Meanwhile, on his right, +19 Company had attacked in two waves up the St Julien +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">180</span>road. Four or five tanks of the second wave got across +the half-ruined bridge and into the village. One, Jordan’s, +actually pushed on as far as Springfield, a fortified farm +on the Langemarck-Zonnebeke road, but the infantry could +not follow. This tank, with Maelor Jones’s, alone of those +which crossed the stream, returned to the west bank. The +others were all disabled by artillery fire or ditched. Poor +Lynch ran upon a 5.9 howitzer firing as a field-gun over +open sights, and he and his whole crew were killed by a +shell which came through the front of the cab and burst +inside. The following year, when I was near Béthune, I +met a chaplain who had seen this tank a couple of months +after it was hit. He had found the skeletons of the crew +still lying among the shattered machinery. This complete +destruction of a crew represented the majority of fatal +casualties in the battalion that morning. There were in +addition, in the two companies, four men killed and seven +officers and nineteen men wounded.</p> + +<p>Having acquired this information and consumed large +quantities of stew, Merchant and I assembled our crews +again and trudged off to Reigersberg, where a lorry from +the camp was due to arrive at six o’clock. In the dismal +château grounds a 15-inch howitzer was now firing from +a railway truck, the 8-inch weapons which had helped to +make the place so unhealthy having moved a mile or so +farther forward. The journey back in the lorry was a slow +business, for the roads were jammed with transport, and it +was after eight when we arrived at Lovie again.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">181</span></p> + + + <h3 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_X"> + CHAPTER X. + <br> + <span class="sm">THE “HUSH” OPERATION AND THE COCKCROFT.</span> + </h3> +</div> + + +<h4>I.</h4> + +<p>The result of the first day’s fighting at Ypres was on the +whole satisfactory. The left of the attack had been +quite successful. The French, Guards, and 51st Division +had carried their final objectives, and the French had even +gone beyond theirs. But from St Julien southwards things +had not gone so well. Repeated counter-attacks during the +afternoon and night drove our infantry out of St Julien +itself, and away at Hooge the net result of twenty-four hours’ +terrible fighting was a very small gain indeed. The 2nd +and 3rd Tank Brigades, operating in this southern sector, +suffered heavy casualties, although the average time during +which their machines were in action was comparatively +short—five hours in the case of the 2nd Brigade and seven +in that of the 3rd. The same average in G Battalion, the +only representative of the 1st Brigade, worked out at sixteen +hours. The two southern brigades sent in between +them 94 fighting and 13 supply, signalling, and cable-laying +tanks—a total of 107. Thirty-three were disabled by shell-fire, +a similar number remained ditched at the end of the +day, and 22 had mechanical breakdowns. This last figure +appears extraordinarily high. Nine officers and 27 men +were killed, 29 officers and 168 men were wounded, and 8 +men were reported missing—in all, 241 casualties out of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">182</span>some 800 of all ranks who went into action. In many +cases valuable help was given to the infantry, especially by +the 3rd Brigade (C and F Battalions), working with the +19th Corps against Spree and Bank Farms, Beck House and +Capricorn, and Frezenberg. The 2nd Brigade was hampered +by the appalling state of the ground in the Hooge +area. Most of its tanks were late in coming up, and the +infantry in the meanwhile having been checked, machine +after machine was hit in the narrow defiles by which they +endeavoured to get forward. Our counter-battery work, +thorough as it appeared to be, failed completely in this +region to keep down the German artillery fire. The two +tank battalions, A and B, lost more tanks and men than +the other two brigades together.</p> + +<p>Individual tank actions during this day presented, one +and all, similar features, and I shall not consider them here. +The machines dragged themselves laboriously through the +mud, became ditched and extricated themselves, and then +probably became ditched again. Crews, while in the open +during unditching operations, were much harassed by +machine-gun fire from low-flying aeroplanes. There were +fifty-one recorded cases in which tanks assisted the infantry. +Sixteen of these were credited to our two companies on the +left, and there can be no doubt that G Battalion, in its +first action, carried off such honours as the Heavy Branch +gained in that dismal battle. Whether this performance +was due to the ground in our sector being a trifle less +atrocious than elsewhere (although in all truth it was bad +enough), or whether, as one likes to think, it was due +rather to the excellent training and spirit of the battalion, +must remain a matter of personal opinion. It is certain, +however, that our discussions with the infantry beforehand +led to a standard of co-operation in the field which does +not seem to have been reached in other cases. On several +occasions the infantry directed our tanks on to objectives, +or called them up from a considerable distance; for we had +brought their officers to understand that the view from a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">183</span>tank is so restricted that without such help half its value +will be wasted.</p> + +<p>‘Weekly Tank Notes,’ a concise history of the corps +issued recently from the Headquarters in London, sets out +the main lessons to be drawn from this day’s fighting, as +follows: “The unsuitability of the Mark IV. tank to swamp +warfare; the danger of attempting to move tanks through +defiles which are swept by hostile artillery fire; the necessity +for immediate infantry co-operation whenever the +presence of a tank forces an opening, and the continued +moral effect of the tank on both the enemy and our own +troops.” This last was exemplified very strikingly in the +case of one of 21 Company’s tanks, which led the 51st +Division to the Steenbeek, and helped it to establish itself +there, without firing a shot. Successive German posts +surrendered as soon as the tank came within range. As +for “swamp warfare,” the unsuitability for this of an experimental +machine weighing thirty tons had been manifest to +every one in the corps itself long before. But to infantry +commanders, regular British officers with the conservative +outlook and the prejudices common to their type, this +consideration carried no weight. They had never liked +this newfangled weapon. It was absurd, in their eyes, to +attempt to introduce the tactics of naval warfare on land, +and they seized upon the inevitable failures at Ypres as a +happy confirmation of all their doubts. The three corps +commanders concerned supplied the 5th Army H.Q. with +their opinions on the work of tanks during the battle. +Major Williams-Ellis, in his book, deals with this incident so +effectively that I cannot do better than quote him.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>“The three summaries were agreed that the courage +and perseverance shown by tank personnel had been +admirable. One corps, however, had given way +thoroughly to the spirit of the time. They practically +reported that tanks had been of no use to any one, +and moreover that they were never likely to be. With +the 30th Division they had been unable to deal with +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">184</span>certain machine-gun emplacements; with the 24th +they had been late—they always drew enemy shell-fire; +and with the 8th Division one tank had even lost +direction and been reported as firing on our own men. +Another corps had found tanks helpful, and said all +they could for them. Tanks had greatly assisted the +Gordons and Black Watch at Frezenberg; they had +dealt effectively with concrete dug-outs; with the 55th +Division they had broken the wave of an enemy +counter-attack at Winnipeg, and everywhere their +moral effect on the enemy had been of great assistance. +Twenty-four tanks had been put out of action by bad +going or shell-fire.</p> + +<p>“A third corps, with fewer machines, had in many +cases reached their objective without being held up. +The tanks had in these cases merely followed the +infantry, but they reported that without tanks the +capture of the strongly-wired position of Alberta would +have cost the 39th Division dear, and that on the +Steenbeek near Ferdinand Farm the enemy, who had +bolted at the mere sight of a tank, had been ‘dealt with’ +at ease with a machine-gun by infantry of the 51st +Division. Upon these summaries and upon later failures +the commander of the 5th Army was subsequently to +base a generally unfavourable report upon tanks.</p> + +<p>“The report may be condensed into a simple +syllogism:—</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>1. Tanks were unable to negotiate bad ground.</p> + +<p>2. The ground on a battlefield will always be bad.</p> + +<p>3. Therefore tanks are no good on a battlefield.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>“He added to this, that being no longer a surprise to +the enemy, he considered that tanks had lost their +moral effect, and had no value used in masses. This +report was not officially presented for some weeks, but +the Higher Tank Command must early have perceived +the drift of affairs.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_17_17" href="#Footnote_17_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a>⁠</p> +</blockquote> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">185</span></p> + +<p>The prospects of the Tank Corps, in fact, were become +suddenly very gloomy. I cannot say how near the corps +came to extinction, or at least to drastic limitation, at this +period; but by all accounts it came very near. All the +prophets of evil were up and about and busy, saying everywhere, +“I told you so!” The labour of three years, the +sacrifice of many lives, seemed likely to come to nothing +after all. A weapon which, properly applied, could alter +the whole face of the war, was in imminent danger of +abandonment because it had been used, in defiance of all +authoritative opinion, amid conditions for which it was +wholly unfitted. By a parity of reasoning the cavalry +might have been threatened with abolition; for their patrols +were supposed to be at hand to cross the Steenbeek, and +not a trooper got even as far as the canal. And, when one +comes to think of it, a state of mind which can hope that +cavalry will be of any use whatever at such a stage of such +a battle must be capable of the most astounding misjudgments. +It was in this state of mind that too many senior +officers, even after three years of shattering surprises and +disillusionment, looked upon tanks or any other new thing. +Faced by so obstinate a prejudice, now fanned into activity +by the events of the 31st July, the position of the new arm +obviously was precarious. It is possible also that the +Treasury, always alarmed by the growth of a very expensive +organisation, and encouraged by the fact that the Tank +Corps, unlike the R.A.F., had few friends and no publicity +agents, was backing up any proposals made at home for +economical reform. In short, it looked very like becoming +a question whether the corps would have another chance of +justifying itself before its fate was taken out of its hands. +For, in the meantime, at Ypres the rain still fell, the whole +offensive came virtually to a standstill, and the mere idea +of further tank operations in that dissolving world seemed +ludicrous. One such attempt, indeed, was made, and ended +as an inglorious but inevitable fiasco.</p> + +<p>Before we come to this, however, and to the surprising +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">186</span>success which, following immediately after, re-endued the +Tank Corps with life and hope, another and unique enterprise +falls to be noticed.</p> + + +<h4 id="II_8"> + II. +</h4> + +<p>The most interesting phase of the third battle of Ypres, as +originally planned, was never fought. This was the landing +on the Flanders coast. Tanks were to have played an +important and indeed essential part in the undertaking.</p> + +<p>The landing was designed to take place in the neighbourhood +of Middelkerke, a little <i>plage</i> midway between Nieuport +and Ostend. The sea-front along the whole of this flat +coast is protected by a high concrete wall, on the top of +which runs the usual esplanade and roadway. On the +other side of the road are the villas and cafés and <i>pensions</i> +where, in happier days, visitors crowded during the summer +and autumn. The whole esplanade now was all but hidden +by barbed wire, and there was more wire along the beach; +batteries were emplaced at close intervals along the wall; +and the ground-floors and cellars of the lodging-houses +were become concrete machine-gun posts. A landing here +presented extraordinary difficulties, but the main problem +before the assailants (assuming that all else went well) was +how to haul field-guns and supplies rapidly over the concrete +wall under fire. Infantry might be got ashore under cover +of a smoke-screen and a bombardment from the sea; but infantry +alone, even if it could capture that fortified esplanade, +could not hope to hold it. Guns were essential, and, if +possible, some other factor which would upset the enemy’s +<i>moral</i> and prevent him recovering from the initial surprise. +For this purpose tanks, of all things, were to be +employed.</p> + +<p>The attacking force consisted of the 1st Division, several +batteries of field-guns and 4.5 howitzers, a company or two +of engineers, and nine Mark IV. tanks. To throw this +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">187</span>considerable force ashore three immense pontoons or barges +were constructed, each 700 feet long. These were taken +over to Dunkirk harbour toward the end of July. On +the night of the attack (which, as I have said before, was to +follow the capture of the Passchendaele Ridge, provided +that was effected within three or four days) these barges +were to be pushed on to the beach by pairs of monitors, +lashed together, one barge at Middelkerke itself and one on +either side of that place. Each barge carried a brigade of +infantry, several batteries, three tanks, and some motor-lorries. +The landing was to take place just before dawn, +covered by a dense smoke and ordinary bombardment from +warships supplied by the Dover Patrol, which was in charge +of the naval side of the enterprise.</p> + +<p>The wall itself was a very serious obstacle. It rose to +a height of some thirty feet, sloping up from the beach at +an easy angle, but ending at the top in a vertical coping +with a lip or overhang. A tank, fitted with special shoes +on the tracks, could climb the slope easily enough, but +the vertical coping was too high to be surmounted without +additional appliances. To each tank, therefore, was +fitted in front a massive detachable steel ramp, slightly +wider than the machine, supported on lattice-work girders +carrying a pair of wheels, and so constructed that it sloped +upward from the inclined part of the sea-wall to the top +of the overhang. When the tank reached the foot of the +incline, the ramp would be lowered by tackle until its +wheels rested on the concrete, pushed up against the +coping, and there detached. The tank could then climb +over it on to the esplanade. Afterwards this highly +ingenious contrivance was to be used for the haulage of +guns and motor-lorries over the obstacle, the tanks being +fitted with special cables and attachments for this purpose. +Another clever device was a system of wooden sledges +carrying ammunition-boxes, the sledges being simply jammed +on to a rope and hauled up by the tanks, releasing themselves +automatically as they cleared the top of the overhang. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">188</span>The actual disembarkation from the huge barges to the +beach was effected by strong hinged gangways, which fell +over the bows.</p> + +<p>The troops detailed for this hazardous attempt were +trained very thoroughly. The infantry, segregated for weeks +in a camp near Dunkirk, practised repeatedly the whole +attack with the aid of a concrete model of a section of the +sea-wall. A similar model was built at Merlimont, where +the special tank detachment, commanded by Major the +Hon. J. D. Y. Bingham, and made up of volunteers from +the original four battalions, climbed up and down with their +machines, towed up guns and lorries, and demonstrated +conclusively that this essential part of the enterprise was +perfectly feasible. The ramps worked admirably. Major +Bingham informs me that tanks made as many as 200 ascents +of the model at Merlimont.</p> + +<p>Had this attack taken place, it would have been profoundly +interesting. Obviously it was an immense gamble. +It bore many points of resemblance to the successful raid +at Zeebrugge, with this great difference: it was intended not +as a raid but as a permanent landing. Once troops and +tanks were ashore, it is difficult to see how they could have +been got off again if things went wrong. The great barges +would have been blown to matchwood if they remained on +the beach after daybreak, unless an extensive clearance of +the sea-front was effected at the very start. The roadway +above the sea-wall was none too wide, and there were doubts +as to whether the tanks would have room to tow the guns, +to say nothing of the lorries, up the narrow ramps. It was +found afterwards that the lower storeys of the houses across +the road were veritable fortresses of concrete. There were +a hundred other obstacles to success which might arise, such +as bad weather, premature discovery, or even a wind sufficient +to dissipate the smoke-screen. And it seems probable +that, well as the secret was kept in England, the Germans +had some uncertain information about it. I believe that +the camp near Dunkirk was bombed with quite exceptional +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">189</span>thoroughness. The chances, in short, seem to have been +very greatly against success, and failure would have meant +a ghastly slaughter on the beach and along that narrow +esplanade. On the other hand, whatever the Germans +suspected, it does not seem likely that they possessed any +exact information. Some sort of a landing somewhere on the +Flanders coast was always a bogey to them. And after so +prolonged a crying of “Wolf!” the prospects of a genuine +surprise, if one could be effected, were very hopeful. Above +all, if the German machine-gunners, buried in their concrete +basements and discouraged by news of a successful advance +at Passchendaele, threatening their whole coast-line, were to +be confronted suddenly with tanks where no rational +human being could expect tanks to be, a widespread +panic was possible. One can imagine these men, deluged +with gas and high explosive and blinded by smoke, peering +anxiously out of their loopholes for human targets, and +seeing instead, huge and distorted in the gloom, tanks which +seemed to have arisen from the sea....</p> + +<p>But this great experiment was never attempted. By our +sanguine calculations, it was due for the 3rd or 4th of +August. It was admittedly useless, however, to land a +force at Middelkerke unless the armies from Ypres were +in a position to do their share of the work; and at the +end of the month, and for many weary weeks after, the +armies from Ypres were still floundering in a morass a +bare mile or two from where they started. Passchendaele +and its insignificant ridge were not ours until November. +And with the ruin of its parent enterprise, the conception +of the Flanders landing, the great “Hush” operation, +necessarily came also to nothing. Long before we had +even a footing on the ridge, the amphibious attack had +been abandoned. The infantry dispersed to more normal +fields of action, the great barges lay derelict, like Napoleon’s, +in Dunkirk harbour, and the special tank detachment was +disbanded. The scheme remains one of those unfulfilled +but deeply interesting adventures over which any person +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">190</span>of a speculative mind could write pages of inconclusive +arguments.</p> + + +<h4 id="III_6"> + III. +</h4> + +<p>We will return from these cursory surveys of the whole +field of operations to the small world of Oosthoek Wood and +the camp by Lovie Château.</p> + +<p>The morning after I rejoined from Frascati, the tank +commanders left in our two companies—eight out of the +twenty-three had become casualties—were interviewed by +the brigade commander and his Intelligence officer, that +same Major (then Captain) Williams-Ellis whose book I +have quoted. For the next two or three days most of +us were suffering from the reaction after the strain and +fatigue of the approach-marches and the battle itself. For +all tank personnel (and this applied to every other arm) the +fighting at Ypres was by far the most exhausting and nerve-wracking +ordeal undergone throughout the war. The +dreadful conditions of ground and weather, on top of all +the ordinary trials of warfare, brought every one to the limit +of endurance very quickly. The hard labour involved in +taking and fighting tanks anywhere was multiplied tenfold +in the Salient; and after a severe action there, it was +a physical impossibility for any crew to go in again until it +had been given a complete rest. On other fronts the same +tanks and men often were fit enough for a renewed march +and attack after a few hours’ sleep. In our case there was +now little or nothing for some of us to do, for the two +companies were left for the moment virtually without tanks. +Of the twenty-three which went into action, one only returned +the same day to the neighbourhood of Frascati. +Four, which had received direct hits, were lying in the +new No Man’s Land around St Julien; others, like G 46, +were derelict in positions where salvage work at present +was out of the question; and the rest, half engulfed or +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">191</span>mechanically crippled, or both, lay scattered about the +west slope of the Pilkem Ridge. During the next fortnight +most of these nearer machines were brought back +to a spot known as Ghent Cottages, near Brielen, where +the battalion had established an advanced base.</p> + +<p>In the meantime it rained. The camp at Lovie, its +leaky tents immersed in dripping shrubs and undergrowth, +and surrounded by sodden parapets of sandbags as a protection +against the persistent bombing raids, grew always +more evil-smelling, steamy, and unhealthy, and those of +us who had little to do became more melancholy every +day. There was a time, some four days after the battle, +when the reaction was at its worst, and when, personally, +I felt I could cut my throat for twopence. An expedition +up the line to retrieve my six Lewis guns from Maelor +Jones’s tank was a diversion, but not a strikingly attractive +one. For once, it is true, it was not raining; I do not +know why. We went by lorry to Salvation Corner, a +miserable road-junction near the Dead End of Ypres, and +thence walked once more over the familiar route by +Bridge 4, Frascati, and La Brique. At Frascati, under +the trees where our tanks had lain during Y-Z day, 9.2 +howitzers were being “assembled”—if one may use this +expression with regard to such imposing weapons. A few +duckboard tracks had been laid over the tumbled waste +of mud and water beyond, by which we proceeded with +comparative ease for a part of the way. I was able for +the first time to examine at leisure the ground over which +we had advanced, and it appeared to me to be rather astonishing +that tanks had got over it at all. A good +number of dead were still lying about, among them a +whole batch of Highlanders, I remember, near Hurst +Park, and everywhere hung the horrible sweet odour of +decomposing animal matter. Away on the top of the +ridge the Germans, with a curious futile industry, were +shelling with heavy metal the big concrete mebus in front +of Kitchener’s Wood.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">192</span></p> + +<p>Our directions for finding the tank were not too explicit, +and even so large an object was easily missed in that distorted +wilderness, where everything was mud-coloured. +When at length we discovered it, we found it had been +hit on one track. The guns were lying rusting inside +amid a litter of tools, petrol-tins, and rubbish, and mud +was everywhere. I had intended to go on to G 46, if +the situation seemed propitious, to collect Kessel’s cherished +flag and my binoculars, which I had left somewhere +under water, but the auguries were not favourable. The +enemy began to burst heavy black shrapnel overhead. As +no one else was within sight, I concluded that my little +party probably was under observation, and the epidemic +of high explosive on the crest appearing to spread at the +same time, we made for home with all the speed of which +we were capable, hampered as we were by half a dozen +Lewis guns. Johnstone, who was not in good health, +presently became so ill that I took his burden from him. +It was while I was staggering along under this double load, +gingerly circumnavigating craters and cursing the very +name of the American Colonel who invented the weapons, +that I stepped literally into an inglorious predicament. I +tried foolishly to cross a well-churned artillery track, went +into the soft mud up to my knees, and there stuck, absolutely +helpless, with the wretched guns occupying both my +hands and weighing me down, and at the same time totally +unable to move my legs. It required the cautious assistance +of most of my crew, helped by some providential gunners +who brought bits of board, to get me out.</p> + +<p>There ensued another week of rain, squalor, and depression +at Lovie Camp. Our doctor was despatching +officers and men by twos and threes to a rest-camp at +Wormhoudt, just over the Belgian frontier, and I managed +to get Johnstone away with one of these parties. He was +not over strong, and he had never recovered from the +strain of our thirty-six hours’ vigil on the ridge following +on that of driving for the best part of three successive +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">193</span>nights and a part of the fourth day. Neither of my other +drivers had his knowledge or skill, and during the latter +stages of the approach-march, when he should have been +resting, I had been obliged to call upon him. As it happened, +he was still at Wormhoudt when the sudden call +came for the Cockcroft operation. In the meantime the +general outlook, from what we could deduce, was not +encouraging. The great offensive, launched with so vast +a preparation, had come to a sudden standstill at the very +start. Fighting continued every day: there were minor +attacks and counter-attacks all round the Salient, and we +had blown our way once more into St Julien and into +various other posts captured and then lost again on the +31st; but in essentials our line remained where it had +been on the evening of that day. Already more than a +week had passed since, by the original time-table, Passchendaele +should have fallen, and now it was tacitly confessed +that the whole ambitious plan (persistently described as a +“residue” of something even greater, although before the +end almost every division in the British Army was involved +and decimated in it) had dwindled to a struggle, amid +conditions indescribably ghastly, for that single ridge, which +at one time was to have been but the starting-point for +infinitely bigger things. Into this struggle the Tank Corps +was drawn virtually to the last tank and the last man. We +have seen what happened on the 31st, and how hopeless it +was, even then, to expect decisive results from these +machines in such a country. A fortnight later, when the +ground was a mere slimy pulp, 20 Company of G Battalion +moved up to take part, if possible, in a second serious +attempt to advance.</p> + +<p>This attack was fixed for the 16th August. 20 Company, +which had been in corps reserve on 31st July, had since +moved forward to our old park at Halfway House. On the +13th the twelve tanks started for Frascati. The ground +everywhere was now in so appalling a state that one +machine actually became bellied in Rum Road, a few +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">194</span>hundred yards from the start. As she could not be got out +that night, I was detailed on the following day to take my +crew down and see what I could do, while her own people +came back to camp for the short rest. We worked the +whole afternoon, digging round the tank, which was sunk +to the sponsons, and building a small causeway of timber +and brick-rubble in front; and when her crew returned in +the evening they were able, with the help of the unditching +beam, to pull her out at once. But if this sort of thing +happened on Rum Road, what would happen in the shelled +zone? In fact, the progress of the company across the old +trench systems and up the slope toward St Julien, during +the dark hours of the 14th and 15th, was one long nightmare +of ditching and unditching under shell-fire and gas. +Four only got anywhere near the front line, and at length +it was clear that even these could not arrive in time. +When the infantry attacked, these four were still a mile +behind. So far as the 1st Tank Brigade was concerned, +this was the last attempt made to move tanks across +country in the Salient.</p> + +<p>The infantry assault was, in results, very similar to that +of the 31st. The left, where Langemarck was carried by +eight o’clock in the morning, was successful, but from St +Julien southwards little or no progress was made. In this +part of the field we had now come up against the main +system of fortified farms and other strong field forts already +mentioned. A cluster of these forts, just beyond St Julien, +checked every attempt to debouch from the village up the +Poelcapelle road; and until they could be carried no further +general advance was possible, as our line now bulged out +into an awkward little salient in the north. General Maxse, +commanding the 18th Corps, was told that an attack on +these forts would cost him 600 to 1000 casualties, without +any guarantee that we should capture them in the end. +The Lieutenant-General, who had more faith in tanks than +some of his colleagues, for they had served him well on the +31st, consulted with the Brigadier of the 1st Tank Brigade. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">195</span>The position of the forts, disposed about a triangle of roads, +was such that tanks could get close to them, and in some +cases absolutely alongside, without necessarily venturing +into the slough of mud on either side of the <i>pavé</i>. Details +of the operation were accordingly hurriedly worked out. +One company of tanks was to be used, and G Battalion, +straitened for machines as it was, once more was called +upon. This, at least, was a notable compliment, for +D Battalion, one of the old originals, as it never failed +to remind us by word and behaviour, had not yet been +into action at all.</p> + + +<h4 id="IV_3"> + IV. +</h4> + +<p>About midday on 17th August, Kessel, I, and several +others were standing together in the marquee which served +us for a company mess at Lovie, drinking the usual sherry +and bitters, or something of the kind, before lunch. To +us entered Paisley, second in command of the company. +He held a sheet of paper, from which he proceeded to read. +“The following officers will take over tanks this afternoon, +fill up with petrol, oil, and ammunition, and be prepared +to move at six o’clock.” The officers named were Coutts, +Claughton, Chaddock, Bubb, and myself. It transpired +further that four tanks from 20 Company, and three from +19 also were to move: that we were to trek that night to +Bellevue, on the old German front line, and again the night +following to St Julien; and that we were going into action +on the morning of the 19th. The charge of this composite +detachment had been given to Major Broome, who had just +arrived from the depot at Erin to replace Torbett, invalided +home, in command of my own company. There were to +be three section commanders, Kessel, Guy of 20 Company, +and Wright of 19.</p> + +<p>Sudden orders of this kind, when one has been contemplating +a quiet afternoon with a book, are always somewhat +disturbing. There ensued now the inevitable bustle, for +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">196</span>there was no time to lose, as we were leaving by lorry at +1.30. My first task was to make up my crew. I had lost +one man on the 31st, and now Johnstone was away; and +it was essential to get a good first driver in place of the +latter. I went immediately to find Sergeant Meyrick, the +section sergeant (already mentioned as Merchant’s N.C.O.), +and told him what I wanted. He volunteered on the spot +to come himself as an ordinary gunner under my own +corporal. Meyrick was, I think, one of those rare people +who positively enjoy a battle, and, what was more valuable, +he was a peculiarly intelligent and competent regular +soldier, who had come out with his battery in the original +Expeditionary Force. For a first driver he recommended +Waller, of his own crew, who volunteered as promptly. I +was extremely fortunate in obtaining these two men. +Leaving Meyrick and Corporal Mitchell to arrange about +rations and other details, I reported, with the rest of the +tank commanders, to the Major for further instructions. +The first thing to be settled was the allotment of tanks +to one or two of us who had none. My own, of course, was +still lying by Kitchener’s Wood; but by this time some six +or eight of the others had been got back to Ghent Cottages, +where they were parked under a hedge in various stages +of unreadiness or actual disrepair. We could just about +manage to provide five dependable machines. John Alden +being away at the Wormhoudt rest-camp, I was told to +take over his tank, G 47, or “Gitana,” my second eponym +from the variety stage. The general idea and tactics of the +proposed attack were then discussed. At this time our +outpost line just skirted St Julien on the north and east. +A thousand yards beyond the village two important roads +cross one another—the St Julien-Poelcapelle road, pointing +almost due north at this point, and the Zonnebeke-Langemarck +road, running north-west. A triangle, of which these +thoroughfares form two sides, has for its base a third road, +running eastward from St Julien and cutting the Langemarck +road at Winnipeg. A fourth road, whose direction +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">197</span>is also roughly east and west, bisects the triangle 250 yards +from its apex. Around the sides, or within this symmetrical +boundary, lay all, save two, of our objectives. Of +the two exceptions, one, called the Maison du Hibou, was +situate west of the triangle, and some 300 yards along the +fourth or bisecting road; the other, the Cockcroft, was due +north of this, a quarter of a mile from the apex up the +Langemarck road. In the original scheme, four tanks were +to devote themselves to these two objectives, while the +remaining eight moved in line ahead along the roads right +round the triangle, dealing with the other strong-points as +they passed, and beginning and ending at St Julien. Very +unfortunately, as it turned out, this plan was afterwards +modified considerably, for what reason I do not know. +The eastern side and base of the triangle were left for +another day. Our work was confined to the two outlying +forts, the Poelcapelle road, and a couple of farms at the +apex. It was, in any case, an entirely novel operation in +every respect, much resembling a naval action where a +squadron of ships passes by and reduces a line of batteries. +The tanks, if possible, were to keep strictly to the roads, +as the neighbouring ground, watered by one or two small +tributaries of the Steenbeek, was now reduced by rain and +shell-fire to a swamp notable even in the Salient. The +infantry was to follow on either side of the roads, one +platoon to each tank 250 yards behind it, and was not to +attempt to occupy the objectives until the tanks signalled +that all was clear, or that they wanted help. The signal +in either case was a shovel waved out of the manhole in +the roof. There was to be no artillery preparation: the +affair was intended as a genuine surprise; but at zero, which +was 4.45 or dawn, an ordinary creeping barrage would come +down, together with a heavy smoke barrage on the German +third-line trenches, which lay behind the posts to be +attacked. This was devised to blind the enemy’s observation +of what was happening. A large number of extra +field batteries were brought up to supply this smoke-screen, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">198</span>much to the disgust of the weary gunners who manned +them, and who had just gone back to rest. The infantry +concerned were the 48th and 11th Divisions, the former +a Midland unit. Our own arrangements for the attack +and the particular objectives allotted to tanks will be +better left until I come to deal with the Divisional conference +held on the 18th, when we were told of the modification +already referred to, and when all final details +were decided.</p> + +<p>Having obtained this rough outline of the scheme, we +ate a hasty and uninspiring lunch; collected such articles +as we thought we might require; were loaded in addition +with maps, periscopes, compasses, and clocks; and departed +by lorry at 1.30. Very fortunately the weather was +fine, and remained so, by some miracle, over the next two +days. On arriving at Ghent Cottages—a row of melancholy +ruins on the Brielen road—I found that I had a +great deal of work to get through in a very short time. +G 47 having suffered from some mechanical trouble, it +had taken Alden and his crew several days and nights to +repair her temporarily and drive her back from Mousetrap +Farm, where he had left her on the 31st, to her present +quarters. Since then she had been in the hands of our +workshops personnel. Although very dirty, she appeared +now to be in good order mechanically, but she had to be +greased up and filled with water, oil, and petrol. She was +short of about a hundred Lewis drums (Alden must have +used a fair amount of ammunition in capturing Alberta +and engaging the German train), and many tools and spare +parts were missing. This last calamity we considered, perhaps +unjustly, to be inevitable when workshops had been +about. I raided a supply-tank and replaced most of the +deficiencies, while my crew cleared up inside, greased the +rollers and stauffers, and cleaned the six Lewis guns we +had brought with us from store. We had time for tea, and +were ready to start when the first tank moved off just after +six o’clock. I should have mentioned that there were only +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">199</span>eleven fit tanks at Ghent Cottages. Our twelfth machine—a +doubtful starter belonging to 19 Company—was on the +other side of the canal, where she had lain since the 31st +with a twisted extension-shaft and badly ditched into the +bargain. To such an impoverished state had the Salient +already reduced us!</p> + +<p>The first stage of the night’s journey was a short one. +As we did not wish to cross the canal before dusk, we +pulled up before seven o’clock at Murat Farm, close to +Marengo Causeway. I never saw any vestige of a farm +at this place; but there was a row of tall splintered trees +hung with camouflage netting, a few muddy enclosures +bounded by overgrown hedgerows, and the usual squalid +dug-outs and elephant-iron shelters. Behind one of the +hedges was a 9.2 naval gun on a railway mounting. The +brigade had formed a petrol dump here, and we took in +a final supply of the spirit. Although we had come such +a short distance the water in my radiator was boiling +furiously, and for some time we could not discover the +cause, until, with the help of Paramor, the engineer of +20 Company, who was ministering to the detachment, we +found that the workshops people had unscrewed a large +baffle-plate from one side of the copper envelopes and +omitted to replace it. The plate was lying on the floor +beneath an accumulation of oil-drums and water-tins. We +readjusted this by 7.30, when the eleven tanks moved off +again.</p> + +<p>We now began one of the most wearisome and maddening +treks I have ever undertaken with tanks. At first +everything went well. The evening was fine: the German +artillery was inoffensive, although our own was very noisy +and persistent; and we crossed the causeway and the bad +ground beyond without a hitch, for there was still light +to see by. We passed 19 Company’s ditched tank, still +immobile and plainly in no condition to attempt even to +catch us up later. It was just getting dark when we +swung out of the wire and shell-holes on to Boundary +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">200</span>Road, with the trees of Frascati to our left. Boundary +Road, as I have mentioned in the last chapter, eventually +crosses the old front lines, passes the north end of +Kitchener’s Wood, and then descends to the Steenbeek. +Our route now followed it as far as our old acquaintance +Hammond’s Corner, and thence by Buffs Road to the +main St Julien highway. Both Buffs and Boundary Roads, +presumably having been (at a prehistoric era) ordinary +country lanes, had gone utterly to pieces under the impact +of high explosive, and long stretches of them since +our advance had been timbered. A tank on a timbered +road can do a great deal of damage, especially if the +driver is inexpert and swings too often. During this trek +I had the misfortune to meet the R.E. officer responsible +for the upkeep of Buffs Road at the moment when G 47 +was swinging unavoidably round a bend, and when, to +the accompaniment of loud rending and crashing noises, +all the beautifully laid and clamped baulks of timber on +our off or turning side were opening upward and outward +like a fan. It was not my fault, as I hope he realised +after a period of reflection. At the moment his language +and despairing gestures seemed fully adequate to the +situation, and I was too much occupied with my own +troubles to spare much sympathy for his. For long before +this we had begun to experience some of the vicissitudes +which attend the movement of tanks by road at night +anywhere near the front line. Our first encounter after +getting on to Boundary Road was with one of our own +machines on its way home, in charge of a young officer, +Wayne, who had joined the battalion only the day before. +To acclimatise him without delay, Wayne had been detailed +immediately to bring in this tank from some unhealthy +spot near St Julien, where it had been lying in the mud +undergoing repairs since the last battle. By this time it +was growing dark rapidly, and we now began to encounter +the mules. I have never seen so many mules as we +met that night. I did not know there were so many in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">201</span>the world, or that any modern quadruped could be so +stupid. We had collided, of course, with the usual nightly +ammunition trains, going up loaded to the forward battery +positions and returning empty. Even a mule could not +travel at night across country in the Salient, and there +were only three or four roads for all this vast traffic. Buffs +Road and its continuations rearward formed one of the +most important lines of supply. It was well choked with +opposing streams of mules and limbers, when into it turned +our eleven tanks. The result, I hope, can be imagined: +it was something beyond the power of polite language +to describe. The night fell intensely black; one could +see only a hundred yards or so ahead, and the world +seemed to be full of mules. My tank was one of the +last, so that the beasts were thoroughly disorganised by +the time I reached them or they reached me. The latter +state of affairs seemed the more normal of the two, for I +was forced to stop continually for five or ten minutes at +a time while limbers or pack-mules were pulled and pushed +and cajoled past G 47. Occasionally there would supervene +a thoroughly satisfactory block, when the road in +front was filled from edge to edge, and, as far ahead as +one could see (which was not far), by a seemingly insoluble +congestion of animals and transport—the former +heading to every point of the compass, some standing +rooted as if stricken with paralysis, some bucking and +kicking, some deliberately getting entangled in their +own and others’ harness, and a number wandering casually +off into the mud on either side. I was sorry for their +drivers, who must have had a perfectly abominable evening, +but I was still more sorry for myself. I soon lost touch +with the tanks in front. They were swallowed up in the +nightmare ahead, wrestling with their own problems. I +was expecting every minute the whistle of a shell, and I +shall never understand why the German gunners, who were +very prodigal of ammunition at that time, and who possessed, +in the 5.9, the most accurate of created guns, did not devote +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">202</span>themselves every night and all night to such arteries as the +St Julien road. They would have found it far more profitable +than the blind “area” shooting to which they were so +addicted. I am speaking, of course, in the judicial spirit +that comes with comfortable surroundings where 5.9’s are +not. There were nights and to spare when the Germans +did shell the roads and turned them into shambles, and I +shall be the last to complain because they omitted to do so +that evening. Wedged for hours amid the stream of demoralised +animals, the expectancy was bad enough. We +were infinitely fortunate that it was not realised. For our +progress up that road was in itself like some fiendish torture +invented for animal haters by the S.P.C.A. Hour after +hour went by, the night grew blacker and blacker, dawn, +even, was drawing near, and still we were embedded in +mules. Under the circumstances, no better obstacle to +tanks could have been devised. We were entirely helpless. +We could not drive over the mules, if only because they +were controlled, in theory, by human beings, who (when +they were not falling off) were blaspheming and raving in +their saddles. We could not drive round them, because in +the dark we did not dare to leave the road. We could only +wait their pleasure. Like ships struggling against a violent +current, we forged slowly, very slowly, ahead. I do not +wish to appear to be exaggerating, and a trivial arithmetical +computation will prove in a few lines what has taken me +several pages to explain in words. From the point where +we turned on to Boundary Road to our destination at +Bellevue is roughly a mile and a half: it is actually 2500 +yards. (I have just measured it on a large-scale map with +a simple but ingenious instrument like a speedometer.) +Judging by the light, it cannot have been later than +8.30 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> when I struck the road. When I turned off the +road again at Bellevue, it was two o’clock in the morning. +It had taken me five and a half hours to cover those 2500 +yards—on a road. With no obstructions, the tank could +have done it in thirty minutes.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_203">203</span></p> + +<p>If I have written flippantly about this journey, it did not +strike me as being in the least amusing at the time. I +walked outside, of course, throughout, and nothing is in +itself more fatiguing than this sort of enforced crawl with +frequent stoppages. Added to it was a consuming anxiety +about shells and other things peculiar to an approach-march. +Waller, who drove most of the way, must have +been even wearier than I was. I do not remember how I +discovered Bellevue, which was nothing but a name on the +map, but I think I overtook the tank in front, thanks to +some unexpected hiatus in the torrent of mules. Kessel +was there, however, to guide me to a vacant space behind +an exiguous hedge. The place struck me as being extraordinarily +noisy. We were, in fact, surrounded by field +batteries, all of which were very busily in action. The +gun-flashes supplied our only illumination, and this was +insufficient, as I discovered when I had fallen three times +into a cesspool under the nose of my tank while helping +to rig up the camouflage net. After this we lighted primus +stoves, brewed ourselves some cocoa, wound up with a tot +of rum, and then crawled inside with an optimistic notion +of obtaining a little sleep. It was just on three o’clock.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">204</span></p> + + + <h3 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XI"> + CHAPTER XI. + <br> + <span class="sm">THE COCKCROFT (<i>continued</i>).</span> + </h3> +</div> + + +<h4>I.</h4> + +<p>Very few of us contrived to sleep before dawn. The +18-pounder, for its size, makes the most ear-splitting report +of any gun, and there were batteries so near to us that their +fire, which never ceased, kept the tanks in a continual state +of vibration. The only pillow available for most of us was +made of armour-plate, studded with bolt-heads, and now +being hit by these concussions as if by millions of muffled +but infuriated hammers. Under these circumstances any +sort of rest was out of the question. Toward dawn, however, +the bombardment slackened. I had just begun +thankfully to doze when I was aroused again by some one +shouting my name. It turned out to be the Major, who +very thoughtfully had walked across at that unconscionable +hour from Company H.Q. (established overnight on the +canal bank) to take some of us back for a wash, a rest, and +a meal before we attended a Divisional conference at midday. +It was now just after five, and a bright sunny +morning. When I joined the Major outside the tank, I +obtained my first daylight view of our quarters, which were +much as one might have expected. I do not know the +cynic who named the spot Bellevue, but no doubt he had +his reasons. It was the site, apparently, of a small farm—a +building, at least, was marked on the map, although long +since invisible to the naked eye; and it was happily situated +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">205</span>in the original No Man’s Land, close to the German front +line, the remains of whose first trench, California, bounded +this desirable property to the east. For the rest, there was +a square of bedraggled hedge, entirely imaginary in places, +behind parts of which the tanks, like so many ostriches, +believed themselves to be concealed: the usual ground +surface of mud, wire, and shell-holes; and in one corner +a patch of unmitigated bog where a pond had been. Buffs +Road, lined by sand-bagged shelters and dead mules, and +now void of any sign of life, passed by the north side +toward its junction with the main St Julien road at California +Reserve. Beyond it, and to the east and south-east, +rose the curve of the ridge, while behind us were the stump +of wall at Hill Top Farm, the trees of Frascati, and the +higher branches of the shattered avenue along the canal. +The whole landscape, if intrinsically depressing, was very +peaceful at that moment. No one seemed to be discharging +any sort of lethal weapon anywhere.</p> + +<p>It appeared that 19 and 20 Companies had made their +own arrangements with their officers in the detachment, and +only four of us, therefore, accompanied the Major back to +headquarters. Bubb was left in charge of our tanks. As +the Major was in excellent condition, and had not been up +all night, we had an exhausting walk across country at the +rate of about five miles an hour. Before six o’clock we +arrived at that singular colony of sand-bagged dwellings +which had grown up in regular terraces along the inner face +of the eastern bank of the canal. The address of the two +shelters appropriated to our use, if I remember correctly, +was 9 and 10 Gordon Terrace. They commanded no view, +except (across a two-foot duckboard walk) of the back of a +similar terrace on a lower level, and their accommodation +was limited. They were, in fact, the familiar structures of +curved elephant iron, about eight feet high in the centre and +perhaps twice as long, half the length being dug out of the +canal bank, and the front part surmounted by a towering +mass of sandbags. There were a couple of wire-beds and a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_206">206</span>table or two in each, and everywhere there were flies. One +of these tenements was given over to our signallers, runners, +and other details. Into its fellow we crowded as thankfully +as if it had been the Ritz, and sat about on the beds and +floor while kindly people brought us tea and bacon and +bread. Kessel was there, and with him his invaluable +servant, Taylor, who always seemed to have a hot drink +ready at the psychological moment.</p> + +<p>We passed the morning at Gordon Terrace, washing, +shaving, and behaving generally like gentlemen of leisure, +worried only by the malignant flies and the telephone, +which conspired successfully to rob us of what we needed +most—two or three hours’ sleep. Shortly before midday, +Claughton, Chaddock, and I left with the Major for the +conference at the 48th Divisional Headquarters. Coutts +was working by himself with the 33rd Brigade of the 11th +Division, and had already gone off to hunt for his Brigadier, +who was living in some remote dug-out east of the canal. +Our destination was nearer at hand. There runs side by +side with the canal north of Ypres a sluggish stream called, +I think, the Yperlee. Overhanging this, there had been built +into the western canal bank a series of dug-outs and shelters +similar to those on the east side, and divisional headquarters +occupied a quite commodious suite in this part, +with a railed balcony projecting over the stream. Here +were a great number of immaculate persons wearing red +tabs; and scattered humbly among them, like poor relations, +a few more workmanlike figures in steel helmets and +privates’ tunics—the officers of the two infantry battalions +which, with ourselves, were going to do the fighting.</p> + +<p>At these conferences one is always kept waiting, the +delay usually being in strict ratio to the presiding General’s +dignity; and on this occasion it was nearly one o’clock +before any of the actual performers were called upon. We +spent the interval profitably in becoming acquainted with +our infantry colleagues. I discovered the platoon commander +of the 7th Warwicks who was to follow the fortunes +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_207">207</span>of G 47. The Major was then summoned to consultation +with the infantry battalion commanders, and we continued +to stand patiently about and wonder when we were going +to get any lunch. At length the conference was over: it +appeared that none of us, except the Major, had been +wanted at all; and we trooped thankfully back to Gordon +Terrace, where we found Merchant and some other faithful +souls who had come all the way from Lovie to bring us our +letters and wish us luck.</p> + +<p>The Divisional conference, all natural misgivings notwithstanding, +had at least accomplished something: the +scope and details of the attack were agreed upon—for how +long of course no one could prophesy. The operation had +been modified, as I have explained, until it took in only +the western side of the triangle of roads. It was limited, +that is, to the Poelcapelle road itself, the apex, and the +two formidable works to the west and north-west of the +latter. Nine tanks were to go in, the other two remaining +in reserve at Bellevue. Tanks were detailed for objectives +as follows, and were to move in this order:—</p> + +<p>Coutts, with Willard of 19 Company, for the Cockcroft, +the most distant fort to be attacked (it was a mile north of +St Julien). Charles Baker and Kane of 20 Company, for +Maison du Hibou; Morgan and Close of 20 Company, for +Triangle Farm and Vancouver, at the apex; Claughton of +21 Company, for Hillock Farm, at the side of the Poelcapelle +road, 400 yards south of Triangle Farm; myself +for a row of fortified gun-pits lying almost opposite Hillock +Farm, but well off the road, toward the middle of the +triangle. Chaddock, with the ninth tank, was to follow +me and make himself useful where possible. We were to +cross the Steenbeek, not by the ruined bridge at St Julien, +but at a point 100 yards to the left, where the engineers +that night were going to lay fascines in the bed of the +stream. As this necessitated our leaving the road for a +short distance, rejoining it in the village itself, Guy and +Kessel were detailed to tape the crossing after dark. Our +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_208">208</span>battle headquarters would be established before zero at +Cheddar Villa, a large concrete mebus by the roadside +on the crest of the ridge, from where a good view was +obtained over the whole area of the attack.</p> + +<p>It was unfortunate that there were only two male tanks +in the detachment—Willard’s and Baker’s. Six-pounder +guns are of great service against these field forts, especially +if the tank can get round to the rear of the latter, where +the concrete is always weaker and where the entrance is +situated. This weakness is intentional, as it facilitates a +lost post’s recapture with the aid of field-guns, whose shells +penetrate the thin rear wall. As the Cockcroft was believed +to be the most formidable of the St Julien forts, Willard +with his 6-pounder was detailed to assist Coutts’s female +machine, but in the event Willard did not get into action. +His tank was not running well, and from the first it was +thought likely that Coutts might have to tackle the Cockcroft +single-handed. Chaddock therefore, if required, and +if he could pass the other tanks in front of him on the +road, was to push on to Coutts’s help. The Maison du +Hibou, almost as powerful as the Cockcroft, was allotted +for the same tactical reasons to Baker’s remaining male +tank, assisted by Kane.</p> + +<p>Coutts returned from his interview with the 33rd Brigade +while we were having lunch at Gordon Terrace. He was +not in the best of spirits, as he had been impressed unfavourably +by what he had seen of the infantry who were +to work with him. As it fell out, his misgivings were justified. +About this time Brown, the assistant Reconnaissance +Officer of 21 Company, arrived with some aeroplane photographs +and additional maps; and a little later Colonel +Hankey and the Adjutant appeared with the battalion +R.O., Hatton Hall.</p> + +<p>We spent the afternoon lounging about near the dug-out, +a dreary interval of waiting without any genuine rest. A +slight shower fell, but toward evening the weather cleared +again and gave promise of a fine night. At eight o’clock the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_209">209</span>four of us started to walk back to our tanks by way of Buffs +Road. Evening was always the most melancholy time in +the Salient: the colours and mists of sunset serve only to +emphasise the utter ruin of the country. At that hour no +one was moving, for industry above ground began only +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_210">210</span>with the dark. The road wound on deserted in front of +us, and on either side were only mud, sandbags, dead +animals, and skeleton trees. Even the guns were silent. +Impressed as we were with the unpleasant possibilities of +the morning’s battle, we compared reflections of a generally +pessimistic tone as we tramped through the twilight, while +the wilderness about us awoke to its nocturnal life; and +looking back upon it, that walk appears as one of the least +exhilarating I can recall. We had some excuse for dubiety, +especially Coutts, who had the most difficult task of all and +who mistrusted the people who were to support him. The +whole operation before us confessedly was another gamble, +of a novel and more than ordinarily hazardous nature so +far as tanks were concerned. It had been an axiom in +the corps, until the latter was plunged into liquid mud at +Ypres, that in action tanks should avoid roads like the +plague, for obvious reasons. In the present case, the field +forts themselves did not worry us an atom; but if everything +went wrong—if the smoke barrage failed or if the enemy by +any means suspected in time what was happening—then our +tanks, strung out along a highroad which they dared not +leave, on which it was doubtful if two could pass each other, +and which the German batteries on the next rise knew to a +yard, stood every chance of being blown to pieces in a +few minutes. Although as it happened our attack proved +a complete surprise, and was successful in all essential +details, those of us who remained on the road to the end +escaped damage or destruction very narrowly; and subsequent +operations on similar lines were mostly disastrous +failures. And during that evening walk we could not foresee +events—we could only imagine them.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowe24" id="i_209"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_209.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <i>The Cockcroft, Aug. 19, 1917.</i> + </figcaption> +</figure> + + +<h4 id="II_9"> + II. +</h4> + +<p>It was quite dark when we arrived back at Bellevue. +Already some of the batteries in our neighbourhood had +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_211">211</span>begun their night firing, and all round the Salient the cold +white flares and Very lights were rising and glowing and +fading once more. The tank crews had passed a peaceful +day, sleeping during the morning and completing their +battle preparations in the afternoon. They had been visited +by the Chaplain, who brought them letters, newspapers, +and cigarettes. He also held a Communion service before +he left, a proceeding which provoked the Major to a characteristic +utterance. “That’s the worst of these <i>specialists</i>,” +he remarked a day or two later, “they’re always butting in +where they’ve no business to be!”⁠<a id="FNanchor_18_18" href="#Footnote_18_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a> The Chaplain, in fact, +had the temerity to wish to be of some real use on these +occasions. He had accompanied the tanks of 20 Company +on their dismal fiasco a few days before, and had done +admirable work preparing food and hot drinks under shell-fire +for crews whose machines were ditched, winding up by +assisting to bring home a tank whose officer had been gassed. +He was given the Military Cross for his work that day.</p> + +<p>I found there was little, or nothing, for me to do before +the time came for us to start. Meyrick and Corporal +Mitchell had thought of everything, and G 47 was as ready +to go into action as she ever was likely to be. The +pigeons, even, had arrived, and our pair was stowed away +in their basket beneath my seat in close proximity to the +left-hand track-oiler, a conjunction which they seemed to +find beneficial. I explained to my crew exactly what was +required of us, but tactically our part in the affair was so +simple that very little discussion was necessary. It merely +resolved itself into a question of going up a road and, with a +percentage of luck, coming down it again. In these final +conferences one does not enlarge upon unpleasant contingencies. +We examined the map and photographs inside +the tank by the light of an electric torch, and then after the +inevitable ritual of bully, cocoa, and rum, disposed ourselves +for sleep, if such was to be had. We had still two +hours and a half before we need be disturbed.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_212">212</span></p> + +<p>The tanks were to be formed up in the road, in their +fighting order, by 1 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span> Guy and Kessel having gone +on to tape the crossing over the Steenbeek, Wright +was in charge of this stage of the proceedings. I must +have fallen asleep, notwithstanding the noisy batteries and +my vibrating steel pillow, because I remember him waking +me prematurely to ask me some question which, at the +time, I considered superfluous. I did not get to sleep +again. At 12.30 I roused the crew, and we started the +engine. Soon after this, Coutts and Willard, the leading +pair, were moving on to the road, and before one o’clock +all the nine tanks were lined up, their engines ticking over +almost silently, ready to start.</p> + +<p>We were away on the stroke of one, with three hours and +three-quarters before us in which to get to St Julien, a +distance by the road of only 2500 yards, or less than a mile +and a half. The whole trek, however, was to be taken very +slowly, and the latter part, from Cheddar Villa onward, +must be covered at a mere crawl, for then we should +be descending the reverse slope of the ridge without any +covering noise except the normal night firing from our field +batteries. It may be as well to correct here any misapprehension +that shall have arisen from all this talk about ridges +and valleys. These terms have only a relative significance, +and the reader who is so fortunate as to know nothing of +the Salient must not picture us climbing and descending +a range of hills like the Pennines, or even like the Chilterns. +It is necessary, however humiliating, to confess that the +famous Pilkem Ridge, at the highest point attained by the +St Julien road, rises no more than 81 feet above sea-level. +The valley of the Steenbeek is only some 40 feet lower. In +the country of the blind, however, the one-eyed man is +king; and a geographical excrescence negligible anywhere +else becomes a prominent feature in Flanders. The Steenbeek +valley is a genuine depression, led down to by a level +slope over a mile in length, and it carries sound as well +as any similar if more pronounced depression elsewhere. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_213">213</span>Once we began to descend, moreover, we were without any +direct cover from view, for the night, although dark, was +starlit and free from mist, and a few sparks from the +exhaust of a tank would have been clearly visible from the +German posts on the rising ground beyond the stream. +Hence the various precautions entailed in our approach +over this portion of the route. Not only must we crawl, +but for tank commanders who, like myself, were walking +outside, cigarettes even (one’s chief comfort during an +approach-march) very properly were forbidden.</p> + +<p>Before we had been long on the road an irritating delay +ensued, due to trouble in Willard’s tank. The gases from his +exhaust were escaping through the breathers in the engine casing, +and threatening to asphyxiate the crew. This fault +having been remedied for the time being, we proceeded for +some way without further incident, and presently topped +the crest and began our cautious descent. The fall of the +ground was so gentle that one might hardly have observed +it but for other material evidence, unmistakable even in +the darkness, that we were on a forward and not on a +reverse slope. Up the western face of the ridge the road +was clear of all obstructions. Such objects as dead mules +and shattered limbers were pushed to one side. But once +over the crest one began to encounter dead animals lying +in the roadway, and also other shapeless forms that were +not those of animals—in the common usage of the term. +No one moved about on the road on this side during daylight, +or lingered at night to clear anything away but the +wounded; and as in the darkness some of these remains +were indistinguishable until too late from the black mud +on which they lay, while others, when seen in time, could +not be avoided, one could only hope that no single spark +of life still flickered anywhere among them. For after nine +tanks had passed over them....</p> + +<p>The sky being cloudless, the night, dark as it was, had +not the same impenetrable quality as that of the 31st July, +when I had last taken a tank down toward the German +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_214">214</span>lines. I could imagine now at times that I could see a +little mist over the Steenbeek below us, and even the vague +outline of the farther ridge; and presently, when far away +in the German rear a fire broke out, a short strip of skyline +in the direction of Langemarck was clearly visible against +the glow. In reality, however, one saw virtually nothing +but the stumps of trees on either side, the faint shine of +water in ruts and pools on the roadway, and the darker +shadow of the tank in front. After a while came another +halt, due to further trouble in Willard’s machine. In our +exposed position, any experiments with the exhaust were +impossible, and he had to proceed eventually as best he +could, with everything flung open to admit fresh air. +The next event I remember was the appearance on the +right of the road of a clump of ruined buildings—presumably +Vanheule Farm. Away to the left the trees in front +of Juliet Farm were just visible. Vanheule was only some +600 yards from the crest, but this distance seemed to have +taken us hours. The time, in fact, was 2.30. And at this +point the first really unpleasant interruption of our march +occurred, with the whine and crash of a shell which burst +somewhere behind the farm. Several more followed in +our neighbourhood, and somehow it was additionally disturbing +to perceive the flashes of the guns that were firing, +apparently not so very far away. If we could see these +flashes, one could not help the illogical suspicion that the +gunners could see us. In any case, I decided I should be +more happy inside the tank, as shell fragments have a way +of travelling unexpected distances. I scrambled in accordingly, +hoping devoutly that this sudden activity was a mere +caprice, having no connection with our presence on the +road. Once inside I could hear nothing, but I believe this +shelling was a spasmodic burst directed vaguely at some +suspected target near Vanheule Farm. We were not +troubled again during the rest of our journey.</p> + +<p>Owing to our deliberate pace and the several delays in +the front of the column, most of the tanks had little time +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_215">215</span>to spare, after all. Coutts, unhampered, pushed on well +ahead, and was in St Julien a quarter of an hour before +zero, at which time the rest of us were crossing, or waiting +to cross, the Steenbeek. This stream, when I arrived at +it, presented in the growing light (for dawn was just about +to break) so forbidding a spectacle that I got hurriedly out +of the tank to lead the way across myself. At one time an +insignificant trickle of water a couple of yards wide at the +most, but enclosed between banks 6 to 8 feet high, the +pounding of our own barrage, followed during the past +three weeks by that of the Germans, had multiplied its +difficulties tenfold. There was little water to be seen now, +only a sort of boggy surface, several yards across, beneath +which the fascines laid that night by the engineers had +already disappeared completely under the weight of the +leading tanks. Some of these tanks were now climbing +a perfect precipice of mud on the opposite side, the black +nose of one pointing almost vertically upward against the +rapidly brightening sky in the east. Two, however, out of +the seven in front of me, had not got so far. Close to my +left was Willard’s unfortunate machine, apparently ditched. +Behind this was a second tank, which I discovered afterwards +to be Kane’s. He had missed the tape, or attempted +to find a crossing for himself, and was ditched hopelessly +in consequence. I had little time for investigation, however, +for I was pounced on immediately by Guy, who was waiting +there to see all the tanks across—a most unattractive duty, +as the German barrage always fell on the stream. He +abused me roundly for being outside, pointed out the way, +and then pushed me in again. The fascines, it appeared, +were there, although invisible, and we crossed the stream +and mounted the farther bank without difficulty. A final +climb over the debris of a house, and we were in the main +street of St Julien on the stroke of zero. I did not even +pause there. As we swung left-handed on the brick-littered +<i>pavé</i> and saw the tail of Claughton’s tank, with its large-painted +number, G 44, moving forward a few yards in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_216">216</span>front, the yellow sky beyond was dotted suddenly with +shrapnel bursts, a dense cloud of white smoke billowed +upward from the far end of the village, and almost simultaneously +there soared above this the red and green rockets +from the startled German forts.</p> + + +<h4 id="III_7"> + III. +</h4> + +<p>I find that my memory plays me curious tricks on, or +after, occasions of this kind. I gained a distinct impression, +for example, that I moved down a street whose houses, +although battered, were for the most part standing to a +considerable height. It appears, however, that there was +nothing standing in St Julien at all. The place was merely +a series of rubbish-heaps. On the other hand, I remember +with unnecessary accuracy certain objects lying amid the +reddish brick-rubble and dust which covered the muddy +road—a dead German soldier on his face, two of our own +infantrymen, also dead (and not recently, to judge by +appearances), a neat roll of wire-netting, half an iron bedstead, +a decapitated mule, and, several yards distant, the +mule’s head. I do not know why I should have noted these +particular items among the assorted domestic, military, and +human debris which littered the street. St Julien had been +systematically destroyed only within the last few weeks. +Before that, being hidden from direct observation (unlike +St Jean, its equivalent on our side), probably it was in fair +preservation and in use for billeting troops on their way +into or out of the line. I have an idea that there were a +number of fragmentary articles of furniture lying about, +perhaps dragged from the cellars to make hasty obstacles +during the recent fighting in the place. It is curious how +often such trumpery things survive the effects of a bombardment. +You will see a house dissolved into its elements, and, +amid the wreckage, some old bird-cage or an almost perfect +chair.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_217">217</span></p> + +<p>The dawn seemed to have broken into full day with +startling rapidity. The morning was bright and cloudless, +and one other feature I somehow found time to notice and +even to enjoy—the extreme brilliance of the yellow-green +sky, streaked with green and crimson rockets, above the +cloud of the smoke barrage in front. The smoke, however, +was rising fast and drifting back down the street. A smoke-shell, +falling short, burst in front of the tank, blinding us so +completely that we nearly ran into Claughton’s machine; +and from that moment until I was in St Julien again on +my way home I was never able to see more than a few +hundred yards in any direction. There was no wind, and +the smoke lay heavily in the best way possible for our +purpose.</p> + +<p>Through the village the going for tanks was good, as the +greasy road was coated with brick-rubble and there were no +pitfalls on either side. But once beyond the last ruins our +troubles began. The Poelcapelle road is, or was, a characteristic, +straight, continental highway, rising very gently +uphill from St Julien, lined by fine trees, provided with a +deep ditch on both sides, and paved in the middle. It had +been shelled now very heavily for over a month by one army +or the other, or both at once; and its condition was this. +The central strip of <i>pavé</i> had withstood the shell-fire +moderately well, but was badly broken in places by jagged +holes. It was covered by a thick greasy scum, and as it +was cambered, careful driving was needed if one wished to +avoid slipping off. And to avoid this was essential, for the +macadamised portions on either side had, for all practical +purposes, vanished. They were blown away and merged in +the ditches, forming deep gulfs a yard or two wide, out of +which the stouter <i>pavé</i> stood up like a causeway. Of the +double line of trees, half were down, and a large proportion +of these victims lay across the road at all angles. Beyond +the trees the country was quite impassable for tanks, and +on the east side of the road, where my objective lay, was +simply a swamp. A small tributary of the Steenbeek rose +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_218">218</span>near my gun-pits, and since its bed had been destroyed by +the shelling, its waters had welled up and spread over a +wide area of ground from St Julien to Triangle Farm. This +inundation was shown clearly on aeroplane photographs, +and it put out of the question any attempt on my part, +had I wished to make one, to leave the road. My only +course of action was to remain on the <i>pavé</i> and engage +the strong-point across the intervening 150 yards of +quagmire.</p> + +<p>We had to get there first, however, and this was a delicate +matter. As we emerged from the village I saw Claughton’s +tank, 50 yards ahead, surmounting the first fallen tree. A +big tree is an unpleasant impediment to a tank, as it is +impossible to balance on the rounded trunk, and one comes +down inevitably on the other side with a jarring crash. On +the Poelcapelle road these trees became a dangerous +obstacle, because in crashing down over them, with the +nose of the tank falling from a great height and the whole +thing entirely out of the driver’s control, the machine was +very likely to slip straight off the greasy <i>pavé</i>, which was +none too wide, into one of the gulfs on either side. (This +happened eventually, I believe, to Morgan’s tank when he +was trying to draw closer to Triangle Farm.) There also +was a danger of breaking a track-plate on the stones. The +angle at which the trees could best be taken, lying as they +did in all directions, required to be judged, and when this +was done they might move suddenly under the tracks and +precipitate a crash at the wrong moment. Negligible, in +short, as they would have been on a good road, in the +circumstances they caused us all a great deal of anxiety. +Everything depended on the drivers; and the fact that all +seven tanks reached at least the close vicinity of their +objectives was a distinct feather in the cap of every one of +these admirable men. Waller drove G 47 over a succession +of trees without a semblance of trouble. Everything loose +inside, of course, including the crew, fell helplessly about +each time we crashed; but this was a part of the ordinary +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_219">219</span>day’s work. The pigeons, as I have remarked before, bore +this repeated experience, which must have seemed to them +like a series of earthquakes, with as much equanimity as +anybody, although their basket usually was dislodged and +upset.</p> + +<p>All this time I was peering out for some sign of my gun-pits. +The smoke was still very dense, and visibility a matter +of a couple of hundred yards. G 44 sometimes faded to a +mere blur in front. The first recognisable feature I saw +was a wide sheet of water to the right of the road, which I +took correctly to mark the actual course of the flooded +stream. Immediately after, my right-hand pair of gunners, +Sergeant Meyrick and Carter, opened fire. It appeared +that they had sighted not only the gun-pits but also some +figures moving out from them carrying a machine-gun. I +could still see nothing from the flap in front, but on craning +over Waller’s head and opening a revolver loophole on that +side of the cab, I discovered at once a row of high mounds, +looking enormous through the smoke, about 150 yards from +the road. It had been obvious from an inspection of aeroplane +photographs that these pits had been constructed +for heavy guns, but I had not expected to find them so +conspicuous. Further investigation was curtailed rather +summarily by a rapid “tat-tat-tat-tat” upon the side of the +cab, indicating two things: (<i>a</i>) that some one in or near +the gun-pits was firing at us with a machine-gun; and (<i>b</i>) +that if he could see, and was aiming at, my revolver loophole, +he was making remarkably good shooting, and must be +blessed with far better eyesight than I could claim. It is +true that by this time the German machine-gunner knew all +about tanks, while we must have presented a fairly clear-cut +target. I closed the loophole instantly, and telling Waller +to hold G 47 in her present position, broadside on to the +strong-point, proceeded to fish about in the locker for our +periscopes. It is impossible to see anything on a flank +through the front flaps, nor, if one can use them, is it +advisable to do so under machine-gun fire. We carried six +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_220">220</span>periscopes, drawn in a hurry from store before we left camp. +It was only when I had pushed all six through the hole in +the roof, and had failed utterly to see anything through any +one of them, that I remembered that we had lashed our +camouflage net on top of the cab. Normally the net is +carried on the spud-box in the rear, but it is then very apt +to be shaken on to the red-hot exhaust-pipe, when it catches +fire. I had a horror of fires on a tank, and was determined +on this occasion to put the net in some safer place, forgetting +that I might want to use the periscopes.</p> + +<p>During this time Meyrick and Carter had continued to +fire busily, and there was a periodic clatter of emptied Lewis +drums on the floor. The tattoo on the cab having ceased, I +resorted again to the revolver port. There was not a sign of +life about the gun-pits, but so long as the smoke continued +to hang over the ground they might have concealed a +battalion of infantry for all we could see. My gunners, in +addition to claiming the destruction of the party seen to +run out in the beginning, asserted that their fire was hotly +returned; and the lead splashes on G 47’s exposed flank +proved that there was some truth in this contention; but +my belief is that the garrison of the pits abandoned them +after the first few minutes—a fact which, if true, in no +sense detracts from the spirit and general excellence of +our performance. And as we had no means of telling +what had happened, we could only continue firing until +the situation (and the light) became clearer. After a while +I moved the tank a short distance up the road, with the +slight hope that I might find a patch of ground firm enough +to justify our attempting to get to closer quarters; but +between us and the enigmatic gun-pits the swamp lay +everywhere.</p> + +<p>In all, this curious duel lasted for about a quarter of an +hour. While it proceeded I could see Claughton’s tank, +a little way ahead, motionless alongside the ruins of Hillock +Farm, which abutted on to the road. His guns appeared to +be firing point-blank through what was left of the windows. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_221">221</span>Beyond him was nothing but smoke, in which the leading +tanks were swallowed up. While I watched G 44, and +while my own two guns were still in theory dealing out +death and destruction to the gun-pits, I saw Claughton’s +shovel, that grotesque symbol, waved triumphantly out of +his manhole. Hillock Farm, presumably, had fallen. Out +of my left-hand loophole an extended line of infantry was +visible crawling forward with extreme care through the mud +beside the road—evidently Claughton’s supporting platoon +moving up to take over the farm. And very shortly after +this, welcome portents became manifest about my gun-pits. +A great plume of smoke and mud shot suddenly upward +beside them, and then a second plume, and a third. Others +followed, appearing in some cases to rise out of the mounds +themselves. The Germans were shelling their lost property +(and with remarkable accuracy, as it must still have been +invisible to the gunners), a fact which could be taken as +evidence that it definitely was lost, for if any of the garrison +remained there, they would not give much trouble while +they were being bombarded by their friends. I indicated +the “cease fire” by the usual method of thumping my +nearest gunner on the back, and then clamoured loudly for +the shovel. The Germans were only shelling the pits at the +moment, but there was no knowing in what direction they +might not extend their activities; and as the smoke cloud +was thinning palpably, I did not wish to remain stationary +on the road longer than was necessary. I had a rooted +dislike to stationary tanks in action.</p> + +<p>We waved our shovel and peered out of every opening for +signs of our following infantry. Failing to detect them, I +told Waller to swing the tank round, in order that I could +get a better view backward, and also be in a position to +start for home. Although I had definite orders to return +the moment my objective was secured, I had thought of +pushing on to help Coutts in his single-handed attempt on +the Cockcroft, but a glance at the <i>pavé</i> negatived this idea. +It was too narrow to permit of my passing Claughton’s tank, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_222">222</span>now also in the act of swinging round. For the same reason, +Chaddock, who had a roving commission, and who wished +to go on to Coutts’s help, could not pass G 47. There was +nothing for it, therefore, but to return as soon as the infantry +were in the gun-pits. The business of swinging on the +narrow greasy camber of the <i>pavé</i> was not easy, but +Waller accomplished it with his usual skill, and I found +myself presently facing Chaddock’s tank and waving to +him out of my flap. He was about twenty yards behind +me, and his guns also had been firing at the gun-pits. A +line of infantry was now visible close at hand, the men +crouching in a sort of drain which ran outward from the +road. I beckoned to the nearest man, who was kneeling +behind a fragment of wall by the roadside, and on his +running cautiously to the front of the tank I learnt that +these people were the second wave of my supports. The +leading platoon had moved on to the gun-pits. Our work, +therefore, was done. Chaddock, in his turn, was edging +carefully round on the <i>pavé</i> to start for home; Claughton +was close astern of me; and in a few minutes the three +tanks were making for St Julien again at their best +speed. None of us knew what had happened to the +other four in front.</p> + +<p>The time was 5.45, the sun was up, the smoke and dust +about the village had vanished away, and as we crashed +once more over the fallen trees, I could see to the left, +between St Julien and Winnipeg, two of 19 Company’s +disabled tanks lying where they had been hit on the 31st +of July. At this time, although I did not know it, the +German batteries had at last turned their guns upon the +road. Possibly we were now in sight as we jolted down +it. Three or four shells burst clean on the <i>pavé</i>, between +G 44 and my own tank, so that Claughton thought we had +been hit, but we heard nothing of this until after. It +appears to have been a narrow escape for both of us. In +the street of St Julien we were able to push on at top +speed, until I remembered that I had not despatched the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_223">223</span>necessary pigeon-message. We slowed up while I wrote +it, thus letting in Claughton, who passed us at a great +pace. I have in front of me now my copy of Army Book +418 A, containing the carbon duplicate of that historic +document. It is all but illegible. Having released the +bird, we put on speed again and made for the Steenbeek +crossing.</p> + +<p>That unpleasant spot appeared less formidable in daylight, +but it was to provide us with a final nerve-wracking +incident before we finished with it. As we mounted the +ruined house again and looked down upon the muddy gulf +below, it was congested with tanks. Willard, with his +asphyxiating box of tricks, was still in much the same +position as when I had passed him before zero—hours +ago, as it seemed now. He had contrived, however, to +unditch himself partially, and crawl a few yards forward, +so that he almost blocked the narrow crossing. Close +beside him was G 44, clawing its way precariously round. +Behind was Kane’s tank, still in its old place, while +Chaddock, who had got across in safety, was close to +Kane. I had begun to descend toward this congregation +before I realised that it was going to be very difficult to get +past Willard. The passage where lay the buried fascines +was only just broad enough to take a tank, and on either +side was the bog which represented the true bed of the +Steenbeek. We slid down the bank rather more rapidly +than I intended, and brought up nose to nose against +Willard’s tank. We tried to swing, and failed. We tried +to reverse, and failed again. It was a repetition of our +experience at Kitchener’s Wood. We were sunk too deep +in mud to permit of any movement but a forward one, +which was rendered impossible by the tank in front. +External measures were necessary, and I led the way +outside. It was then that I discovered that the village +behind us, and also the Steenbeek itself, were being shelled +heavily. We had stopped, in fact, on the line of the German +counter-barrage, which fell automatically along the stream, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_224">224</span>particular attention being paid to the neighbourhood of St +Julien. This was an unfortunate circumstance, and I do +not think any of us can ever have worked harder, or more +apprehensively, than we did in the course of the next twenty +minutes. Chaddock and Claughton by this time had got +clear of the imbroglio, although the former, deciding for +some reason not to return to the road, got himself ditched +hopelessly farther on. Willard and some of his crew appeared +from his tank and asked for assistance in starting +up the engine. They all seemed rather dazed and helpless, +from the poisonous exhaust fumes, as I supposed; and finding +them still standing about in the open after I had sent +two of my men to help, I pointed out to Willard that they +would be very much safer inside, fumes or no fumes. +Heavy shells were exploding about us much closer and +more frequently than was pleasant, and fragments flew +whining overhead continually. Twice we were deluged +with brick-rubble from the remains of a house on the +bank above. Presently Deakin was hit in the back by +a flying piece of brick, which knocked him down; but +as it struck a buckle of his equipment, it did him no +harm. All this time we were labouring feverishly, digging +away the mud piled against one side of the tank, as it prevented +her swinging, collecting bits of timber, boughs of +trees, bricks, and other rubbish, to form a holding-surface +beneath her, clamping on the unditching beam, and removing +the camouflage net from the cab, where it interfered +with the beam’s action. These varied pursuits took up a +considerable amount of time, as any one who has engaged +in them will believe, and we were interrupted periodically +and impelled to shelter against the tank by the sudden +rush and explosion of some more imminent shell. Altogether, +this job must have taken us nearly half an hour, +for a premature attempt to swing G 47 failed, and we had +to back her again and continue our work. At length we +had prepared what seemed an adequate base for her +manœuvre, and I pushed most of the crew inside again +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_225">225</span>and beckoned to Waller to come on. As the heavy unditching beam +fell over the nose and jammed beneath the +tracks against our rubbish-heap, and the tank climbed over +it until she was almost on the point of balance, I signalled +to him to swing. She came round, to my intense relief, +dragging the beam with her, and cleared the nose of +Willard’s machine. All was now plain sailing. Three of +us unclamped the beam as it came up, like Caliban, filthy +and dripping, over the tracks behind, and made it fast; and +the tank climbed easily over the mud slope toward the road. +I could do nothing to help Willard or Kane. The former, +indeed, as his engine was running again, could effect his +own salvation now that I was out of the way. I scrambled +up the slippery slope after G 47, and hoisted myself on +board as she increased speed on the level ground between +the Steenbeek and the road.</p> + + +<h4 id="IV_4"> + IV. +</h4> + +<p>The remainder of our return journey went without a +hitch. No shells were falling west of St Julien, and we +rolled along the deserted road at a good pace and at peace +with all men. We had that sense of exhilaration (rare in +the Tank Corps at Ypres) that follows after the successful +achievement of a task, however small. As we neared the +top of the ridge, Meyrick and I got outside again and +looked back over the valley, but we could see nothing of +interest. Our own artillery was still busy, as was the +enemy’s, and a haze of smoke hid all the farther end of +the triangle and the ground beyond. There was no sign +of any of the other tanks. As we passed Cheddar Villa, +Kessel ran out to congratulate us and hear our news. He +was without any detailed information himself, beyond the +fact, conveyed by telephone, that the whole operation had +been a remarkable success. He and the other watchers at +Cheddar Villa had seen through their glasses the German +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_226">226</span>troops abandoning their third-line trenches (which nobody +had approached), and streaming away over the farther +crest. A little later we passed Bellevue, and found it +deserted, the two reserve tanks having been ordered +to return. From the battery positions in this region, +gunner officers came out to inquire anxiously about the +efficacy of their smoke barrage. Being able to assure +them, from ocular evidence, that it had been little short +of blinding, I became extremely popular, and was dragged +off to the nearest dug-out for a very welcome whisky-and-soda.</p> + +<p>Farther down, in Buffs Road, we met with one or two +delays. Traffic was on the move here, and my radiator +started to boil again. Somewhere about this time we +came across Chaddock, carrying a Lewis gun and helping +one of his crew, who had been hit by a shrapnel bullet in +the leg. His tank, it appeared, was ditched near Juliet +Farm. I took the wounded man and the gun on board, +and deposited the former at a dressing station lower down +the road. Owing to these and other brief stoppages, it +must have been nearly 10.30 when we drew near to the +canal. I halted the tank by Marengo Causeway while +I went to report at Gordon Terrace. At our headquarters +I found the Colonel and Adjutant with the Major, all in a +very Christian frame of mind and full of felicitations, +messages having arrived from both infantry and tanks +reporting the capture of all objectives at a ridiculously +low cost. The infantry casualties, up to the date of the +last message, totalled a dozen wounded. I was beginning +to realise by now that between us we had accomplished +something rather exceptional that morning. It transpired, +however, that our four leading tanks were ditched, and no +further news had come through as to the fortunes or whereabouts +of their people.</p> + +<p>I was told to proceed with G 47 to Murat Farm, where a +fresh crew would take over the tank. I rejoined the latter, +and we began the last stage of our journey. All my men +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_227">227</span>were thoroughly exhausted, and Waller in particular, as he +had been driving for seven or eight hours. But in view of +my experiences during the latter part of our homeward trek +from St Julien, where my second and third drivers had been +in charge alternately, I felt obliged to ask him to complete +the run. (It was a misfortune that at Ypres there were no +facilities for driving practice for second and third drivers. +Tanks hardly moved except when going into action. The +first drivers usually were highly skilled men, but between +them and the others there often was a great gulf fixed, which +we had no opportunity of reducing by a little regular training.) +I took the brakes, and with poor Waller almost falling asleep +in his seat, we crossed the causeway and parked up +eventually under a hedge at Murat Farm just after midday. +One minor <i>contretemps</i> rounded off the performance. We +proceeded as a matter of routine to camouflage the tank. +The little canvas tags sewn profusely over a camouflage +net are dyed in some highly inflammable green paint, the +cause of innumerable fires. Our engine having been running +continually for twelve hours, the whole machine was +like an oven, and the exhaust-pipe on the roof all but red-hot; +and the net instantly caught alight. We had to use +every pyrene extinguisher we carried to keep the flames +under before we had pushed the last smouldering fragments +over the side. I was standing on the roof stamping out a +few stray embers and blaspheming about war in general to +Allerton, of 20 Company, who had just appeared, when my +nerves received a final shock. The 9.2 naval gun on the +other side of the hedge, whose existence I had forgotten, +fired with a frightful detonation and nearly threw me off the +tank.</p> + +<p>Our tribulations were now, however, at an end. It is +true that I missed the lorry which took my crew back to +Lovie; but after waiting for some time at Essex Corner, on +the main road beside the canal, for any vehicle which would +take me on my way, I was picked up by Major Fernie in his +car and arrived at the camp, fast asleep, at tea-time.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_228">228</span></p> + + +<h4 id="V"> + V. +</h4> + +<p>Leaving for the next chapter a consideration of the +causes which gave to the Cockcroft operation a significance +out of all proportion to its scope, I will describe briefly the +general result and the fortunes of the other tanks. The +accounts hitherto published are inaccurate.</p> + +<p>Coutts, who gave the “star turn” of the performance, +was reduced as we have seen to tackling the Cockcroft itself +single-handed with a female tank. This fort was an +extremely powerful and massive affair of concrete, erected +in the ruins of some farm buildings. It held a garrison of +something like 100 men, with a number of machine-guns, +and was further protected by wire and outlying posts. The +concrete of the walls and roof would keep out any projectile +below a 9.2 howitzer shell, being in places eight feet thick. +A formidable stronghold of this nature bears as little resemblance +to the ordinary light “pill-box,” containing half a +dozen men, as does a first-class fortress to a semi-permanent +redoubt, and if held by a determined garrison in combination +with similar forts, could check a large force indefinitely, +as indeed the Cockcroft and its fellows had conclusively +demonstrated. A 6-pounder tank, provided it could place +itself against the weak rear face of such a fort, might +compel its surrender; but a female tank, moral effect apart, +was in fact as helpless against it as a platoon of infantry, +although less vulnerable itself. Nevertheless, when Coutts, +by leaving the road, managed to get within 50 yards of +the Cockcroft before becoming ditched, the large garrison +abandoned it after a brief defence. As an instance of a +tank’s moral effect this was the more remarkable in that the +infantry of the 33rd Brigade, confirming all the tank commander’s +previous misgivings, failed signally in their duty +of supporting him. No attention was paid to his signals +announcing the evacuation of the fort. His sergeant was +sent with a message to the same effect, but still the infantry +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_229">229</span>did not come on. Eventually Coutts himself went back +under machine-gun fire and through the German barrage, +found the officer commanding the supporting battalion, and +urged him to send his men forward: after which a move +was at length made and the Cockcroft occupied, with no +more than two or three light casualties. Coutts and his +crew, after failing to extricate the tank, formed Lewis-gun +posts at the request of the infantry, and only returned in the +late afternoon.</p> + +<p>The Maison du Hibou was scarcely less formidable than +the Cockcroft, and consisted of two storeys of solid concrete, +garrisoned by about sixty men. It was attacked by Charles +Baker with the only remaining 6-pounder tank. The fort +stood some way off the road, in the middle of a perfect +morass; but Baker, finding he could effect little from the +<i>pavé</i>, plunged into the mud and was able to crawl round +to the rear before, like Coutts, he also became bogged. +One 6-pounder, however, now bore on the entrance of the +Maison du Hibou at short range. Thirty or forty rounds +were fired into the door. Most of the garrison came running +out, and thirty were shot down or captured by the +infantry of the 48th Division, who followed up in excellent +style. The tank being immovable, Baker formed Lewis-gun +posts with the infantry until the afternoon. One of +his men was killed.</p> + +<p>Morgan and Close, engaging Triangle Farm and Vancouver +at the cross-roads in the apex, met with a good +deal of trouble. Morgan’s tank proved to have defective +plating, and the German armour-piercing bullets filled the +interior with flying splinters. With his help, however, the +infantry got into Triangle Farm, which was not so powerfully +constructed as some of the other forts, and shot or +bayoneted the garrison, who had been resisting stoutly. +Morgan then attempted to go to Baker’s assistance, but +became ditched through slipping off the greasy road. He +was in a position to fire into the back of the Maison du +Hibou, and his Lewis guns accounted for a number of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_230">230</span>escaping garrison of that place. Having unditched his +tank after a while, he returned to St Julien by midday.</p> + +<p>Close had a variety of adventures, including that of +being taken prisoner for a time. His tank also was +permanently ditched somewhere near Vancouver, but its +influence seems to have been responsible for the abandonment +of the strong-point. Close himself did not appear +again until the next day.</p> + +<p>Claughton, whose tank I had watched, had no trouble +with Hillock Farm, whose garrison fled the moment he +ranged up alongside and opened fire. My own experiences +with the gun-pits I have already described at unpardonable +length. I may add that my two right-hand guns fired +1200 rounds between them, but I never heard evidence +as to what damage, if any, they effected.</p> + +<p>All the four leading tanks came under excessively heavy +machine-gun fire from posts outside the strong-points. +Morgan’s machine, which was the only one we had the +opportunity of examining, had large areas of its armour +plastered a whitish-grey with lead splashes, and the armour-piercing +bullets were driven almost through the defective +plates. He and his crew suffered a number of tiny wounds +in their faces and hands from steel splinters. These +counted as casualties, and made up more than half of +our very trifling list, which totalled two men killed and +one officer and ten men wounded. The infantry casualties, +however, were even more remarkable for their insignificance. +The two Warwick battalions (of the 48th Division) which +were working with every tank except Coutts’s, followed up +in an admirable manner throughout; yet the whole operation, +in which the equivalent of a brigade took part, which +resulted in the capture within ninety minutes of six formidable +strong-points and a gain of 600 yards of ground on a +mile front, and in which the enemy must have lost several +hundred men killed, wounded, and prisoners, together with +some fifty machine-guns, was carried out at a cost to the +infantry engaged of fifteen men wounded!</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_231">231</span></p> + + + <h3 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XII"> + CHAPTER XII. + <br> + <span class="sm">FROM THE COCKCROFT TO CAMBRAI.</span> + </h3> +</div> + + +<h4>I.</h4> + +<p>It is no exaggeration to say that even those of us who had +played the most modest part on the 19th August awoke the +following morning to find ourselves famous—at least in the +not inconsiderable world controlled by the 5th Army. The +astonishment and interest evoked by this single little action +were a measure of the perplexities confronting the Higher +Command in the Salient. In any series of operations the +casualty list may become a governing feature, as it must +always be an important one. There are limits to the price +which may be paid for any gain, and there are limits to what +any troops will stand. The most highly-trained infantry, save +in exceptional circumstances, cannot be expected to maintain +their offensive spirit after sustaining a succession of +crippling losses for no very apparent result. In mid-August +our casualties at Ypres had not approached the frightful +total they were to reach before the end, nor perhaps were +they as high proportionately as in October or November; +but they were becoming very serious, if only because to the +subordinate ranks, who were suffering them, they seemed to +lead nowhere and promise no cessation. One murderous +attack against wire and concrete, if it gained a little ground, +meant only increased misery for those who were left, +followed, the next day or the next week, by another +murderous attack against more wire and more concrete. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_232">232</span>One had only to look at the faces of infantry going into the +line before an assault, or even for ordinary trench duties, to +realise how the strain was telling. At this time our most +precious assets, the journalists, after walking through a +cavalry camp thirty miles behind the front or watching a +brigade in rest going out with its bands for a route-march, +were writing to their newspapers about the cheery faces of +our fighting men, the grim delight they took in shells and +slaughter, and the pusillanimity and general idiocy of the +enemy. A phrase which appeared in some journal (it +referred to Cambrai, but will serve in this digression) was +bandied about our camp for a long time, as being characteristically +imbecile. The writer, speaking of a unit which +had received sudden orders to move, remarked that “the +men hurried from the baths, fearing that they might +miss the fight!” For weeks after, any one seen moving +hurriedly was accused of fearing to miss the fight. This sort +of rubbish may conceivably have served some useful purpose +in England; but it made extraordinary reading in Flanders, +where, after only a few weeks, there was growing upon +every one the feeling that this offensive, with its peculiar +horrors due to weather and terrain, was becoming another +and more dreadful Somme, remorseless and everlasting. +And if the Higher Command still cherished brighter hopes, +they cannot have contemplated the future without anxiety. +They must have realised that Von Armin, or whoever was +responsible for the interminable series of pill-boxes and +concreted farms, had devised a method of defence which in +such a country, and in combination with the barriers that +our own artillery was augmenting daily, deserved at least as +much credit for our discomfiture as that convenient public +scapegoat, the rain. Without any rain at all, there would +still have remained the problem of how to surmount quagmires +and reinforced concrete bristling with machine-guns. +And then had come what seemed a sudden and quite +startling gleam of light. Here was a group of these pestilent +fortifications which had held the 18th Corps in check for +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_233">233</span>three weeks. Attempts to get near them, even, had resulted +in sanguinary repulses. A serious attack on them, it was +estimated (and it may be noted that such estimates usually +are conservative), would cost from 600 to 1000 casualties, +and would be a doubtful speculation at that. And this was +only the beginning—a little preliminary clearing away. +There was the untouched German third line beyond, and +behind that again more forts.... But now, in an hour and +a half, all these initial bogies had tumbled down like ninepins, +at the ridiculous cost of fifteen wounded infantrymen +and a few Tank Corps personnel. To men habitually dealing +in returns and states and figures of every kind, arithmetic +makes the most potent appeal. The grander the scale, the +more they are swayed by it. It represents, at least to their +minds, a concrete fact from which there is no escape. +They cannot fail to understand it. It is inevitable in an +army that plain figures must often be the solvent of a +doubtful point. A thousand men are always a thousand +men. Here, then, was a simple comparison of numbers +which must have been very startling to some of the staffs +concerned. Here was a plain statement: in the one column +an estimate of 600 to 1000, in the other the actual expenditure—15. +Generals and G.S.O.’s who knew nothing about +tanks, who never had attempted to comprehend their +tactics, but who had seen them lying bogged in scores +about the Salient, must have felt that a miracle had happened. +It was unfortunate that some of them, still wider +from the mark, mistook it for a conjuring trick, which could +be repeated indefinitely.</p> + +<p>I have laboured this point because the Cockcroft action, +insignificant in itself and forgotten long ago, did actually at +the time arouse remarkable interest in the Army as a whole, +and because it affected permanently the future of the Tank +Corps. It was by far the most complete success achieved +by tanks up to that time. It proved conclusively their +potentialities as economisers of life—a point upon which +their advocates had been insisting from the beginning. It +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_234">234</span>was a striking example of their moral effect. And because +it was all this, it helped undoubtedly (although to what +exact degree I cannot say) to determine the whole future of +the corps, then hanging in the balance. Dozens and scores +of tanks were thrown away in the Salient after the Cockcroft +with no adequate return for the sacrifice, but there +was no more overt talk of abolition or even of reduction. +It was not a mere coincidence that on 6th October +an actual programme of expansion to 18 battalions, +already rejected in June, was confidently put forward +again. It was approved in a hurry immediately after +Cambrai in November; and indirectly the Cockcroft led +to Cambrai.</p> + + +<h4 id="II_10"> + II. +</h4> + +<p>While the first glad rapture lasted, G Battalion basked +in a rare blaze of popularity. To any one of a cynical +turn of mind—and I think that prolonged experience of +the Army induces that spirit in most people of moderate +acumen—the days immediately following the action must +have provided much quiet amusement. The very morning +after, while those of us who had been the innocent actors +in the scene were making up for lost time in bed, the +camp was thronged with exalted visitors. A deluge of +congratulatory telegrams descended upon the Colonel. +Most significant of all, perhaps, Mr Beach Thomas, of +the ‘Daily Mail,’ felt impelled to leave the seclusion of +the Ternoise Valley to gather copy among our tents at +Lovie. The actors, however, all being in bed when he +arrived, he was captured very fortunately by 19 Company, +who immured him in their mess until he had to leave. +Their only representative in the caste, through no fault of +his own, had never got into action at all; but this fact +was no bar to their imaginations, and they supplied the +journalist with what must have been a very highly-coloured +version of the facts. The result, to our great joy, appeared +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_235">235</span>a few days later in the ‘Times’ and the ‘Daily Mail,’ in +an account of a most extraordinary and Homeric conflict +in which the inevitable “leviathans” figured prominently, +but in which, oddly enough, those of us who had been +there were unable to recognise a single detail.</p> + +<p>The most gratifying tribute came in the form of a Special +Order by the 18th Corps commander, General Maxse, addressed +to G Battalion, in which he thanked all ranks for +their efforts, and frankly attributed the success his corps +had attained at such a trifling cost entirely to the tanks. +I regret having lost the copy I made of this letter, which +was quite exceptional in form and substance. Hardly had +we digested these unusual compliments when it was intimated +that the Army commander, General Gough, wished +to see some of the officers and men who had been in +action on the 19th. Five of us, therefore, paraded with +our crews the following morning near the old tank park +in Oosthoek Wood. A curious but characteristic incident +marked this ceremony. Coutts, with his crew fallen in +behind him, was on the right of our little line: I was +next to him. As the General approached, his Staff quite +obviously shepherded him past Coutts and diverted him +on to me. With his first question I realised the reason +for this manœuvre. He asked me if the infantry had +supported me properly. I was able to testify, quite +honestly, that they had; and Morgan, Close, and Baker, +who were the other three present, could give equally satisfactory +answers. Some rumour must have reached the Staff +about the trouble at the Cockcroft, and Coutts, who might +have made damaging revelations, was given no opportunity +to speak. It was a little thing, but instructive.</p> + +<p>As a final result of the action, so far as we were concerned, +Coutts, Baker, and Morgan received an immediate +award of the Military Cross. In the meantime an attempt +had been made to repeat our success, on the principle of +the conjuring trick. Of the strong-points in front of the +18th Corps there still remained intact those along the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_236">236</span>eastern side of the triangle, the Zonnebeke-Langemarck +road. There can be little doubt that we could have accounted +for these places on the 19th, especially if the two +reserve tanks had been brought in. The Germans were +then completely surprised, in ignorance of what actually +was happening (on account of the very effective smoke +barrage), and, for the time being, thoroughly demoralised. +They were even running from their third-line trenches, as +has been recorded. If the original plan of attack had +been allowed to stand, there was nothing, barring accidents, +to prevent Claughton, Chaddock, and me, with the reserve +tanks, from pushing on from Hillock Farm and the gun-pits +right round the triangle, and capturing also Springfield, +Winnipeg, and the other forts near them—all of +which lay on the road. The task, however, had been left +unfinished; and on the 22nd a company of D Battalion, +with the necessary infantry, went in to complete it. The +attack was designed on the lines of our operation. At the +same time tanks from the 2nd and 3rd Brigades advanced +with the 2nd and 19th Corps on the right against similar +forts and subsidiary works on their fronts. The result was +not very encouraging. The Germans this time were wide +awake, and the stratagems which had proved so successful +in effecting a surprise on the 19th could hardly be expected +to deceive again so soon after. In some cases also where +tanks reached their objectives, the infantry was unable to +follow. On the right, part of Glencorse Wood was carried +with the help of four tanks. On the 19th Corps front, +where even the roads had been almost wholly blown away, +the tanks of the 3rd Brigade could do little and the infantry +less. One very remarkable feat, however, was accomplished +by a tank of F Battalion. This machine, on board of which +was the section commander, Richardson, was detailed to attack +a field-fort called Gallipoli, south-east of St Julien. The +infantry were to follow behind in the now accepted fashion. +They did not follow; and the tank became ditched in what +virtually was No Man’s Land, although the phrase had lost +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_237">237</span>some of its definite connotation in the fighting for these +isolated forts. The tank was so far ahead of our line, in +fact, that it was believed to be captured, and a steady fire +was opened and maintained on it from rifles and machine-guns. +The Germans, of course, were firing on it from the +other side. The tank commander was wounded almost at +once, and Richardson took command. This was on the morning +of the 22nd. The situation continued the same throughout +the day, the crew being unable to evacuate the tank owing +to the fire from our lines. At the same time they were able +with their own guns to break up several German counter-attacks +which were gathering behind Gallipoli. At night-time +the Germans closed on the tank, and eventually +brought a machine-gun to within a few yards, and even +climbed on the roof. Our own people, imagining the tank +to have been converted into a hostile strong-point, continued +to fire briskly in its direction. It was still holding +out the next morning, however, and continued to defend itself +during the day—the 23rd. Signals to our own line were +attempted, but produced no result. A second night supervened, +and again the Germans closed in with machine-guns +and grenades, but failed entirely to subdue the defence. +These attacks, in fact, caused them considerable losses. +But when day broke on the 24th, the situation inside the +tank was becoming serious. One man had been killed, +every other member of the crew except Richardson himself +was wounded, and food and ammunition were running short. +The condition in that restricted space, with one dead man +and several badly wounded lying among the others’ feet in +blood and oil, must have been appalling. Yet for another +whole day the tank held out under the double fire. Any +attempt to signal to our people was made dangerous by +their misdirected zeal, and was never understood. This +could not continue. At any risk the infantry must be +made to realise the true state of affairs; and after dark a +man contrived to crawl back to our front line under a +constant fire from both sides. The situation was now +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_238">238</span>made clear to our troops, and their fire ceased. Richardson +was able to evacuate all his wounded men without mishap. +The tank had been held for seventy-two hours under these +extraordinary circumstances, had killed or wounded a great +number of the enemy, and had disorganised at the outset +several budding counter-attacks—a feat without parallel, +and one which well merited the special complimentary +order issued from Tank Corps Headquarters. Richardson +received the D.S.O., and the tank commander the M.C.</p> + +<p>Returning to the operations on the 22nd, we find D +Battalion’s tanks moving up by our old route through St +Julien. The road was no longer as quiet, however, as it +had been four days earlier. On the night of the 20th, in +particular, it was shelled heavily, and four of the tanks were +hit and disabled during the approach-march. Four of ours +from Ghent Cottages, being the nearest reserve, were sent +up to replace the casualties and handed over to D Battalion +crews. The action which followed was moderately successful, +Winnipeg and Springfield being carried; but the losses +in infantry and tank personnel were heavy, and a large proportion +of the tanks were ditched and abandoned. In all +the attacks on the 22nd, every tank which left the roads +became instantly bellied, some sinking into four or six feet of +water. Out of thirty-four machines employed on the three +corps’ fronts, eighteen were lost from this cause and six +were hit by shell-fire.</p> + +<p>It will be unnecessary to describe in any detail the further +operations in the Salient in which tanks took part. They +provide the same dreary experiences, were almost uniformly +unsuccessful, and possess no novel tactical features for consideration. +They should never have been attempted. By +this time E Battalion had come out from England and +joined the 1st Brigade, having its camp at Lovie and its +tanks in Oosthoek Wood, and before long it also was flung +into the hopeless struggle with the elements. After a series +of minor affairs on 23rd, 26th, and 27th August, in which a +few tanks of the 2nd Brigade were involved and inevitably +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_239">239</span>lost, without accomplishing anything at all, a pause lasting +for nearly a month ensued in the general operations. We +were still in front of the original German third line, and +guns had somehow to be got forward and arrangements +completed for another formal assault. The weather improved +in September, but this made little difference to the +state of the ground, which was broken up by shell-fire as +fast as it attempted to dry. The attack took place on 20th +September, extending from the extreme right of the Salient +(where the 2nd Army had now taken over a part of the 5th +Army front) to the north of Langemarck. Tanks were to +operate as on 31st July, following up the infantry to deal +with the fortified farms along the second and third +objectives. This was a reversion to the old bad manner, +and in the event was almost a complete failure, although +the tanks endeavoured to keep to the roads. Four machines +sent in by the 2nd Brigade went to swell the crowd of +derelicts in the quagmire by the Menin road, known as the +“tanks’ cemetery.” Of nineteen tanks from E Battalion, +thirteen were ditched and four hit; while only three out of +fifteen from D ever got near the fight at all. The Germans +had grasped very quickly some of the lessons of this road +fighting, and trees had been felled across the roads in such +a position as to offer the greatest obstruction to tanks. On +the night of the 22nd-23rd, D and E Battalions tried to get +one tank apiece into action by dawn and failed. A further +attempt on the 26th met with the same fate. In the meantime +the infantry attack had succeeded to the extent that +our line was advanced everywhere to an average depth of +1000 yards, and minor operations on the 18th Corps front +during the last days of the month brought us to the outskirts +of Poelcapelle. On October 4th this village was +captured. By heroic exertions some tanks of D Battalion +were at last able to render substantial help, forcing the +surrender of Gloucester and Terrier Farms and entering +Poelcapelle itself with the infantry. On the same day a +section from A Battalion was in action farther south, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_240">240</span>Captain Robertson, who was in command, died and was +awarded a posthumous V.C., after what has been well +described as “one of the most patiently courageous actions +of the war.” His tanks had to cross a bridge over a stream +called the Reutelbeek, and drive the enemy from positions +on the farther side. For three days and nights Robertson +and his servant (who won the D.C.M.) went to and fro +over the ground, reconnoitring and taping routes, always +under heavy fire. They returned from their last trip at +9.30 on the evening of the 3rd, and Robertson at once +began to lead the tanks forward. For seventy hours already +he had been almost continually under fire, without rest of +any kind. He led his section to the assembly point, and +the weather being misty and the ground execrably bad, went +on again with it at zero, still walking in front. Amid +increasingly heavy shelling he guided his tanks down to the +bridge, across it, and on toward a road which would take +them, beyond any chance of error, to their objectives. The +tanks, now visible to the enemy and far ahead of the following +infantry, drew a furious hail of rifle and machine-gun +fire; and Robertson, having brought them to the road and +launched them to the attack, was shot through the head. +“But the tanks went on, and succeeded in their mission. +The object for which Captain Robertson had so deliberately +sacrificed his life was achieved.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_19_19" href="#Footnote_19_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a>⁠</p> + +<p>The attacks at Poelcapelle and on the Reutelbeek, on +the same morning, were the only successful tank actions in +all the dreary weeks since mid-August. The 2nd and 3rd +Tank Brigades were now withdrawn to refit. The 1st +Brigade was to make one more attempt and to suffer the +most calamitous failure of all.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowe30" id="i_240fp_a"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_240fp_a.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + D Battalion Tank ditched on remains of Poelcapelle Church, + October 4, 1917. + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>On the 7th October, tanks of D Battalion were to have +attacked certain forts along the Poelcapelle road, beyond +the village. One became ditched, however, blocking the +road, and before a way could be made round the derelict it +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_241">241</span>was too late to go on. Two nights later eight tanks of the +same battalion left St Julien (where they had been lying +concealed by reddish-brown camouflage designed to blend +with the ruins) to repeat the attempt. Their starting-point +was the Retour cross-roads, south of Poelcapelle. The +main road itself, that tragic thoroughfare, was now in a +condition baffling description. It was shelled without +ceasing day and night, and its shattered surface, swimming +in liquid mud after thirty hours’ rain, was littered with a +frightful welter of dismembered men and animals and +broken limbers. Before the cross-roads were reached, one +tank slipped over the edge and was submerged instantly in +several feet of water. The remainder arrived at Retour, +and thence crawled on into Poelcapelle. The night was +as black as the Pit: it was raining in torrents; and upon +the destroyed village was crashing a more terrible rain of +shells. At the point beyond the cemetery where two roads +converge upon the main street, one from Langemarck and +one from the railway station on the Ypres-Staden line, the +leading tank became bellied in the mud and rubble, tried +to free herself with her unditching beam, broke that, and +remained immovable. Just behind her the second tank was +hit almost simultaneously by a shell and disabled. These +two completely blocked the road, and as there was no way +round, the others decided to return. But in the meantime +the last tank had fouled D 44, the machine abandoned on +the road two nights earlier, and in the collision became +ditched herself, thus closing the way home. The four tanks +in the middle were trapped. One or two attempted to find +a way round, but were bogged the instant they left the +<i>pavé</i>. Those left on the road were hit again and again, +and most of their people were killed or wounded.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowe30" id="i_240fp_b"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_240fp_b.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + Poelcapelle Church before the advance in August, September, &c., 1917. + (German Photo.) + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>In itself this was a lamentable disaster, and its results +were peculiarly unfortunate; for the six or seven burnt +and ruined tanks blocked completely the Poelcapelle road, +an artery upon which the troops in front depended for all +supplies, and which was essential to any further operations. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_242">242</span>It rested with the Tank Corps to remove these obstructions. +A party under the Chief Engineer of the 1st Brigade began +the work at once. It had to be done at night, and then +under conditions of extreme danger, for the Germans knew +perfectly well what was happening, and shelled the village +and the road ferociously. One by one the tanks, filled not +only with their own dead but with the bodies of wounded +infantrymen who had crawled in from that tormented street +to die, were blown up by heavy charges of gun-cotton. +Within a week the ghastly road was clear again, except +for the human debris which accumulated always there. +And in the noise and flame of these explosions the active +work of the Tank Corps in the Salient came also to an end. +Only the salvage branch returned after a season to gather +in that which remained.</p> + + +<h4 id="III_8"> + III. +</h4> + +<p>G Battalion, having borne the brunt in the early days, +was so fortunate as to escape the horrors of this later +period. It did not go into action again after the Cockcroft, +although at the end of October every preparation was made, +and the approach-march actually was begun for what +promised to be a grisly undertaking at Spriet, between +Poelcapelle and Westroosebeke. To the profound relief +of every one concerned, this affair was cancelled at the last +minute. I was away at the time at the Wormhoudt rest-camp +(actually a very pleasant house in the village), where +I had been sent after becoming a victim to a sort of mild +dysentery which swept through our unhealthy quarters at +Lovie. As I was supposed to be suffering also from a +slightly strained heart, due theoretically to exertions undergone +at a special course on tank repairs, I returned to camp +about 20th October with instructions to do only light duty +for a fortnight.</p> + +<p>I had been away nearly three weeks. Everything was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_243">243</span>very much as I had left it. The bustle and worry aroused +by the Spriet episode had subsided, and it was common +knowledge that tanks would not be used again in the +Salient. There was the usual talk of our withdrawing to +Blangy, or some other village in the Erin neighbourhood, +for winter training. As a battalion we were rather scattered +at this time. 20 and 21 Companies still lived in the camp +at Lovie, but 19 Company, always exclusive, had chosen +for some obscure reason to bury itself in Oosthoek Wood. +An assortment of tanks belonging to all three companies +still lived in the wood, and about as many more were at +Ghent Cottages. I do not think we had more than fifteen +machines altogether that were fit: the remainder were +under repair, or were still lying derelict between Admirals +Road and the Cockcroft. Nor, when it came to a pinch, +had we too many men available, notwithstanding our very +moderate casualties. It was the curse of all tank units +under the latest establishment that, with more extra duties +than any branch of the service, they had virtually no extra +duty men. Battalions now came out with the bare total +sufficient for the fighting crews and a few essential fatigues +and guards, and a proportion of this total might be written +off permanently for brigade duties and instructional courses +at Erin or elsewhere. At this time, for example, with our +strength reduced by these causes, and also by casualties +and illness, we had to find guards for the camp at Lovie, +the camp and tanks at Oosthoek, and the tanks at Ghent +Cottages; also for a brigade petrol and ammunition dump +at Vlamertinghe (whose <i>raison d’être</i> no one ever had discovered), +and for one of our own at Dirty Bucket Corner; +while for a time there was a dump also at St Julien, now +become comparatively a peaceful spot. A guard can always +be calculated at three times its actual strength, for in addition +to the men on duty there are those who are just +going on duty, and those who have just come off. Whenever +one wanted an N.C.O. or man in those days, he was +certain to fall within one of these three categories, and in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_244">244</span>consequence to be unavailable. The old headquarters sections, +which had existed for a time at Wool, would have +been invaluable in the field, to leave the fighting crews free +for their proper work. The result of this multiplication of +small duties with our inadequate personnel was that when +we received the usual sudden orders to leave the Salient, +bag and baggage, and the camp had to be struck and the +tanks prepared for entrainment on the same day, these +simultaneous tasks, four miles apart, had to be performed +in theory by the same men—which was absurd. In my +own case, I found I had not a single member of my crew +at liberty to help me with my tank. Half were on guard +somewhere, and half were striking tents and packing up at +Lovie. I was obliged to borrow a couple of workshops +men to drive the machine on to the train.</p> + +<p>Alden having reclaimed G 47 after the Cockcroft, I had +been given my third tank, by name “Goliath”—a very +proper translation from the variety stage to the Scriptures. +She had been recovered from the swamp where she had +been left on 31st July, and after being furbished up she +was as good, or better, than new, for she possessed the +best-running engine in the company, and was notoriously +a fast machine. She never left Oosthoek Wood, however, +after her return there, until we finally departed; and as +it fell out I had only one opportunity of seeing what she +could do.</p> + +<p>After the middle of October our advanced tanks were +moved back to Oosthoek from Ghent Cottages, preparatory +to what we supposed would be a withdrawal to refit, following +the example of the 2nd and 3rd Brigades. E and D +Battalions were also collected once more in the wood, with +what machines remained to them. Reinforcements, however, +began to arrive from Central Workshops, and as quite +a number of salved tanks were under repair, our nominal +establishments once more grew toward completion. This +seemed to point to the fact that the 1st Brigade would not +be withdrawn to refit, but was to be employed again before +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_245">245</span>very long. No whisper escaped, so far as I am aware, of +what actually was intended. It was realised that no further +work was expected of tanks in the Salient, where operations +had dwindled down to a final struggle for Passchendaele +village, all attempt to reach Westroosebeke, on the highest +part of the ridge, having been abandoned; but beyond that +we knew nothing. Nor, in our hand-to-mouth existence, +did we waste much time on speculation. I believe there +was some talk of a surprise attack in the Lens area, but +what interested us most was the question of leave, which +was scandalously overdue.</p> + +<p>Late in October came preliminary orders for a move to +our old driving-ground at Wailly, near Arras, for instructional +purposes and training with infantry—this last so +obviously called for and so long demanded that it served +as an excellent camouflage for the real object, and persuaded +most of us who thought at all about the matter that nothing +further was intended. We were in the penultimate month +of the year, and judging, as we naturally were inclined to +do, by the weather and ground at Ypres, training seemed +all that was left for tanks until the following spring. I have +forgotten the exact date when our final movement orders +arrived, but it must have been about the 1st or 2nd of +November. We were to move at once, but there was +nothing surprising in this, as all orders in the Army are +delivered on principle at the last moment, and sometimes +after it. There ensued, of course, a frightful scramble. +The Tank Corps, being a sedentary organisation which +requires huge facilities in transport and rolling-stock for +any serious removal, wherever it settles down gathers an +immense amount of stores, public and private. We had +been four months in the Salient; and apart altogether from +the spare tank equipment to which we were legitimately +entitled, and could not part from if we wished, the personal +baggage of G Battalion alone was little short of a +scandal. We were going to train for the winter in an +inhospitable region of chalk trenches and barbed wire, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_246">246</span>very naturally we took what comforts we could. Huts, +furniture, souvenirs, duckboards, and other rubbish had to +be carried by our long-suffering transport down to Oosthoek +and shipped on board tanks and trucks. 21 Company had +just erected an elaborate mess, beautifully made by our +carpenters of timber, wire-netting, and tarred felt, with +linen windows and a canvas lining. This also must be +pulled down and carried with us. It was little wonder, in +short, that there were few men available to look after such +trifles as the tanks themselves. Final orders had come +through on the morning of a pouring wet day. All three +companies were to leave from the Oosthoek ramp thirty-six +hours later. After a frenzied evening spent in packing +and jettisoning my personal belongings, I went down next +morning to the wood to prepare the tank for the move. +The weather was now fine, but by this time the interior +of Oosthoek was filthy beyond words. The continual +coming and going of tanks during the past months, and +the immense downfall of rain, aggravated by the dripping +trees, had reduced the ground to a swamp excelled only +in the heavily bombarded areas. On one occasion an entire +engine, weighing a ton or two, having been removed from +a tank, sank completely in the slough and was lost and +forgotten, being discovered weeks later by some one stubbing +his toe against it. All unnecessary movement of tanks +eventually was forbidden in the wood, as they actually +became ditched there. On three sides of “Goliath,” as it +happened, there was now a deep pool. Having no men +to help me, for reasons already given, I spent the morning +splashing about in this water, struggling single-handed +to fold and stow away huge and sodden tarpaulin sheets +and camouflage nets, unbolting the sponsons, and finally +driving the latter inboard with a sledge-hammer. Happily +“Goliath,” in spite of its name, was a female tank. Male +sponsons, even of the new type, required several men with +crowbars and other implements to push them in. After +lunch in a small mess which 20 Company had rigged up +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_247">247</span>in the wood, I collected two workshops’ men, borrowed +Johnstone from a guard where I had discovered him, and +in this way got the tank driven on to the ramp, where +several others were waiting for the first train.</p> + +<p>D and E Battalions had already left; and with our departure +only a few broken-down machines, dedicated to +salvage, would remain in Oosthoek Wood. Before dark, +which fell early now, 20 and 21 Companies, with all their +paraphernalia, were on the first two trains. 19 Company +was following next day. And then ensued one of those +interminable waits to which, in the Army, one becomes +accustomed without becoming reconciled. The night was +intensely cold, with a wicked north-east wind and a moon +and stars frostily brilliant; and hour after hour we stamped +about the military road or gathered round the primus stoves +on which the mess staff brewed cocoa and hot rum at +frequent intervals. In theory I was still on light duty, +and did not in fact feel aggressively robust; and as I had +been soaked to the knees half a dozen times during the +day, these freezing hours of waiting induced a foreboding +that before long I should be down again with a chill. It +was two o’clock in the morning before the first train got +away. By a rare stroke of fortune it included a first-class +coach for officers, in which we were comfortable enough +and even moderately warm. The journey took about fifteen +hours, as we went at the usual tank-train pace round the +usual periphery of Hazebrouck, Lillers, St Pol, and Doullens, +and we drew into Beaumetz, the station for Wailly, some +time after dark that evening. Every one in the Tank Corps +knows Beaumetz, with its long street of half-ruined and +generally abandoned houses on the Arras-Doullens road, +its roofless railway station, and its single clean and reputable +café, where a pig-tailed and precocious infant called +Émilie (or some such name) cheeked the patrons without +respect for rank or age. We had no time for the café that +night, however. The tanks had to be detrained and parked +near by, and then came the business of unloading all our +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_248">248</span>stores and lumber. The vast amount of the latter produced +a bitter and thoroughly justifiable outcry from the exhausted +R.T.O., who had been dealing with tank trains for the last +three or four nights and was heartily tired of the sight +of them. It was approaching midnight before we had +finished unloading this stuff and conveying most of it +across to the tanks, and then after a meal of hot stew +on the platform it became a question of finding somewhere +to sleep. It was still fine, but colder than ever. +The men were sleeping in the tanks or under the tarpaulin +covers, and to the officers fell the spacious but otherwise +negligible accommodation of the station itself. Kessel and +some others burrowed into a big stack of fodder by the side +of the line. Chaddock and I, feeling like Scott or Shackleton, +unstrapped our valises, laid them out on the Arctic +platform, and tied ourselves up inside with Balaclava helmets +over our heads. An icy hurricane whistled through +the station all night, and my expected chill, already developing, +was not definitely improved by this rather foolish +arrangement.</p> + +<p>The distance from Beaumetz to the training-ground at +Wailly is about five miles. We moved off in the course +of the morning, and my new machine showed her capabilities +by arriving three-quarters of an hour ahead of anybody +else. An advance party, travelling by lorry, had begun +already to erect a camp in the usual area, which actually +was just outside the village of Rivière. The whole countryside +swarmed with tanks, all three brigades being concentrated +here. H and I Battalions had followed E from +England, making a total of nine battalions, three to a +brigade. Altogether, with gun-carriers and supply-tanks, +upwards of 400 machines were gathered at Wailly during +those early November days. And, the moment one arrived, +one’s eye was caught by a suggestive novelty. Lying +everywhere about the ground, or lifted high on the cabs +of tanks, were the immense brushwood fascines designed +for the Hindenburg line.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_249">249</span></p> + +<p>My own stay at Wailly, however, was brief, uncomfortable, +and inglorious. On the second day after my arrival +I was in bed in my tent with one of the innumerable +maladies classed together by the Army under the symbol +P.U.O. In other words, I had a high temperature and +semi-crippled legs. As the temperature improved, the legs +got worse; and after four or five days I was despatched +under protest to the nearest field-ambulance at Ficheux.</p> + +<p>Owing to this unfortunate illness (a mild sort of “trench +leg” which crippled me for a month), I was not present +at the battle of Cambrai. Most of the ground over which +it was fought is unfamiliar to me, as, although I took part +in the operations which led incidentally to the fall of +Cambrai itself in the following autumn, our line of advance +then lay to the north of the old battlefield. Only Bourlon +and Bourlon Wood I know rather intimately. In any case, +however, the battle has been described so often that its +general outline should be familiar to most people; and I +wish to fill in that outline from the point of view of the +Tank Corps, and to correct the inaccuracies and wilful +omissions which abound in most published narratives, +rather than attempt in detail to relate the various phases +of the battle. The actual story will be better left to open +the second part of this book, because Cambrai stands for +that great turn in the fortunes of the Tank Corps to which +such an action as the Cockcroft gave only a small initial +impulse; but we can consider very briefly here the means +which brought about so startling an experiment.</p> + +<p>Ever since its inception, the Tank Corps had been +demanding a fair trial. It is one thing to demand, and +another to receive. It so happened that tanks entered +the field at a time when certain new tactical theories were +being elaborated in practice. There was the theory of the +limited objective, and the theory of the annihilating preliminary +bombardment. Both of these broke down in the +end: the first, because it often was the enemy, and not +ourselves, who decided the limit of the objective; and the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_250">250</span>second, because the preliminary bombardment was found +to defeat its own designs, as at Ypres. In an admirable and +most interesting book on the Gallipoli campaign, recently +published, General Callwell points out repeatedly that the +most obvious means to some military end must be no less +obvious to the enemy, unless the latter be afflicted by +the Gods with judicial blindness, and upon this it is not +safe to count. Given two armies of approximately equal +strength and resources, facing one another from lines of +trenches which cannot be turned, and excluding all miracles +and other improbable contingencies, the normal expedients +adopted by one side will have been foreseen by the other. +We thought it astonishing on the Somme that the German +machine-gun posts remained in action after the most terrific +bombardment. But they had been designed to that end, +with profound dug-outs that no bombardment could injure. +The army, in short, that hopes to win speedily under these +conditions, and does not count solely on that blessed but +two-edged word “attrition,” must have some abnormal +factor up its sleeve. We possessed such a factor in the +tanks. The initial surprise effected by tanks on the Somme +was nothing. Their exceeding value lay in the fact that, +properly used, they could always effect a surprise. They +could take the place of all that preliminary bombardment +which announced to the enemy the approaching attack +days and weeks before it was to materialise. There are, +of course, two sorts of surprises in war. There is the sort +employed at Ypres, where your opponent knows you are +going to attack him, but does not know when. There is +the less common sort, when he does not expect you to +attack at all, has made no preparations for an attack, and +probably is asleep. Tanks were valuable enough in the first +case, but tanks alone now could bring about the second. +Wire and machine-guns had forbidden a genuine surprise +to any combination of the other arms. The German use +of poison gas, designed originally to effect a surprise, was +successful up to a point because it had not been foreseen, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_251">251</span>but it was countered at once by the gas-mask. There was +no such thing possible, however, as a tank-mask. Provided +tanks were used on suitable ground, in sufficient +numbers, and with an infantry trained to support them, +no dependable antidote to them existed. We had discovered—and +this includes the French, whose <i>artillerie +d’assaut</i> were invented independently of our tanks—a very +powerful weapon which the Germans in their blindness had +for some reason put aside. The idea must have occurred +to them. Apparently, until it was too late, they pinned +their faith to heavy howitzers, masses of men, and the +excellence of their military machine. Afterwards they had +neither the plant nor the labour to spare. They were +building tanks before Cambrai, but these were obvious +makeshifts—glorified tractors of great size and considerable +speed, but clumsy and inconvenient to a degree.</p> + +<p>The abnormal factor, then, was in our hands. For a +year it had been wasted. Circumstances, presumably +unavoidable, had led our series of offensives to incline +always northward, where the conditions grew steadily +worse; and when, after the Somme, Arras, and Messines, +tanks found themselves at Ypres, it was felt that if the +Army decided to wage a campaign on the Goodwin Sands +the unfortunate machines would be called there too. And +during all this time their peculiar attribute of affecting +a genuine surprise, and, by so doing, revolutionising +modern war, had hardly been tested.</p> + +<p>On 17th September, while the Ypres battle was dragging +out its weary programme, General Elles (as he now was) +visited the commander of the Third Army, Sir Julian +Byng. This army now held the southern extremity of +the British line, opposite that part of the so-called Hindenburg +system which covered the important railway centre +of Cambrai. Following up the German retreat in the early +spring, we had come to a halt in front of these fabulous +earthworks, and had remained quiescent ever since. It was +notoriously the most peaceful section of the line, a place +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_252">252</span>where No Man’s Land often was 1000 yards across, with +the hostile trenches out of sight behind a hill, the Mecca +of every wearied and decimated unit withdrawn from the +Salient for a rest. Virtually untouched by war, except +that the fields, long untended, grew nothing but coarse +grass and weeds, it was an undulating, hedgeless, chalk +country, dotted with frequent villages, a few small copses +and one or two more pretentious woods, criss-crossed by +sunken roads, and watered by several insignificant streams +and two important canals. Athwart it, from north-west +to south-east, ran the irregular trace of the Hindenburg +Line, eight miles from Cambrai at the nearest point on the +Bapaume road. This line was known to be weakly held. +The immense belts of wire and the innumerable machine-guns +were trusted, and justifiably, to fend off any orthodox +attack by the very moderate forces under General Byng. +The Tank Corps, however, alone among the various +branches of the Service, had looked for months upon the +Hindenburg Line as a lawful and easy prey. The wire was +no obstacle at all, and the trenches, whispered of as though +they were Charon’s seven streams, were not worth even an +obolus. They had been crossed at Bullecourt, and human +ingenuity was equal to devising some means of bridging +those which might exceed a tank’s allotted span. The +country was all that could be desired—firm, unbroken by +shell-fire, and well drained. Every circumstance had long +pointed to this region for an offensive carried out, as the +Tank Corps maintained all offensives should be carried +out—led and determined by tanks, and launched, without +any overt preliminaries, as a genuine surprise. With these +ideas General Elles had no difficulty in infecting the 3rd +Army commander. A general plan of attack on this front +had been worked out some time before. It was altered and +trimmed to suit the particular conditions now in view, and +the completed scheme was submitted to the Commander-in-Chief.</p> + +<p>Three considerations, one may suppose, helped especially +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_253">253</span>to recommend it to Sir Douglas Haig. The Ypres offensive, +however it might be disguised in public, was a lamentable +failure, and needed some corrective; the Russian collapse +was setting free the best German troops from the East; and +within a few months it might be impossible to strike a blow +anywhere with a reasonable hope of success. It is likely +also that some rumours of the forthcoming stroke on the +Italian front helped to quicken a decision. In any case, +the scheme was approved on 20th October, and was fixed for +a date exactly one month later. Unfortunately, G.H.Q. +had not the courage of its convictions—or of the convictions +of others. Probably in this case it had no convictions of its +own. It did not believe that tanks, even when working +under their own chosen conditions, could perform all that +they claimed ability to perform. A highly interesting article +by M. Paul Painlevé, French Minister of War in March +1917, contains an account of a visit to our G.H.Q. in that +month, where, he records, the general opinion was in favour +of “having a smack” at the enemy. This characteristic +but rather primitive attitude undoubtedly governed the +decision to carry out the Cambrai attack. Having lost +upwards of a quarter of a million of men at Ypres, it was +as well to have as cheap “a smack” at the enemy as +possible. The conditions laid down manifested in every +article the spirit of compromise. If the Tank Corps liked +to sacrifice itself wholesale, well and good, but no additional +infantry could be provided. The 3rd Army must +make the most of its very slender resources in this respect. +(It was stated officially that any additional concentration +of troops would have betrayed the coming attack to the +enemy. But it is difficult to accept this reasoning. On +the 8th August 1918, to name only one instance, several +army corps were gathered behind the line in perfect +secrecy.) Finally, the whole operation was to be completed +within forty-eight hours at the most, this being the +time it was calculated the enemy would require to bring +up reinforcements.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_254">254</span></p> + +<p>Restricted as it was, the opportunity was welcomed by +all concerned—in especial by the Tank Corps, which saw +at last a prospect of proving in the field those theories +it had advocated in and out of season for the past twelve +months. Preparations, already begun, were expedited, +and the concentration of the three brigades at Wailly was +put in hand.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_255">255</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="PART_II"> + PART II. + <br> + THE SECOND PHASE: + <br> + CAMBRAI AND AFTER + + </h2> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_256"></a><a id="Page_257"></a>257</span> + + <h3 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIII"> + CHAPTER XIII. + <br> + <span class="sm">CAMBRAI.</span> + </h3> +</div> + + +<h4>I.</h4> + +<p>The Tank Corps had to accomplish an immense amount of +work in a very short time before the battle of Cambrai. +This preparation consisted of five main features:—</p> + +<blockquote class="hang2"> +<p>1. The arrangements for secrecy.</p> + +<p>2. The concentrating of three brigades of tanks at +Wailly, and their subsequent dispersal to detraining +centres behind the Cambrai front.</p> + +<p>3. Rehearsals with the infantry of the plan of attack.</p> + +<p>4. The construction of certain devices for crossing the +wider trenches of the Hindenburg Line, for bringing +up supplies, and for clearing the wire for the +cavalry.</p> + +<p>5. The establishment of petrol and ammunition dumps.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>We will take these features in order.</p> + +<p>The whole 3rd Army was involved in the question of +secrecy. The bringing up of numerous additional batteries +to positions close behind the front line, the assembling of +several cavalry divisions, and all the thousand and one +preparations for an advance on a wide front had to be +completed without a suspicion reaching the enemy. This +was accomplished successfully. The normal artillery activity +was maintained, while dozens of new batteries were +brought up and camouflaged. None of these were able to +register before the battle opened. The Tank Corps, meanwhile, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_258">258</span>had its own especial difficulties. The withdrawal +of one brigade from the Salient and another from the Lens +front could not be wholly concealed, but the myth of winter +training deceived the enemy, if he heard of it, as thoroughly +as it deceived the troops concerned; and the activities of +one or two wireless tanks, left at the front to send bogus +messages, easily intercepted, to imaginary brigade headquarters, +fostered the belief that the latter had not moved. +The forward H.Q. established with the 3rd Army at Albert +was disguised as the Tank Corps Training Office. In the +beginning only four members of General Elles’s staff knew +of the forthcoming attack. The information was next +revealed to battalion and company commanders and reconnaissance +officers; and last of all, only two or three days +before 20th November, zero day, section and tank commanders +were admitted to the secret. Reconnaissance was +carried out with every precaution, distinctive badges being +hidden or removed, and senior officers visited the front +disguised in steel helmets and trench-coats.</p> + +<p>Thirty-six tank trains were needed for the almost simultaneous +removal of the nine battalions. Our supply of +K.T. trucks being insufficient, it was necessary to borrow +a number of the smaller French type. A vast amount of +work was thrown on the railway staff, all the entraining +and detraining being carried out at night. In four or +five nights upwards of 450 machines were entrained at +Beaumetz. Twenty-seven train-loads were concentrated at +Plateau Station, near Albert, by the 14th November, and +dispersed to their final detraining points during the three +following days, the remaining nine trains reaching Plateau +on the 15th. Only the most careful management could have +succeeded in disposing of these slow and heavy trains, amid +all the normal traffic, in so short a time without a hitch. +The 1st Brigade detrained finally at Bertincourt and +Ruyaulcourt, behind Havrincourt Wood, the 2nd Brigade +at Sorel and Ytres, to the south, and the 3rd Brigade at +Heudicourt, near Epehy. At all these railheads new ramps +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_259">259</span>had to be built or old ones repaired. With one or two +minor accidents, 378 fighting tanks and 98 administrative +machines were assembled at points from two to four miles +behind the lines on zero minus two days—18th November.</p> + +<p>The plan of attack and its rehearsal with the infantry at +Wailly cannot be described more lucidly than in the account +given in ‘Weekly Tank Notes,’ the official publication +already referred to. I will quote this account entire.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>“Before the infantry assembled for training a new +tactics had to be devised, not only to meet the conditions +which would be encountered, but to fit the +limitations imposed upon the tank by it only being +able to carry one tank fascine. Once this fascine +was cast it could not be picked up again without +considerable difficulty.</p> + +<p>“Briefly the tactics decided on were worked out to +meet the following requirements: ‘To effect a penetration +of four systems of trenches in a few hours +without any type of artillery preparation.’ They were +as follows:—</p> + +<p>“Each objective was divided up into tank section +attack areas according to the number of tactical points +in the objective, and a separate echelon, or line, of +tanks was allotted to each objective. Each section +was to consist of three machines—one advance-guard +tank and two infantry tanks; this was agreed to on +account of there not being sufficient tanks in France +to bring sections up to four machines apiece.</p> + +<p>“The duty of the advance-guard tank was to keep +down the enemy’s fire and to protect the infantry tanks +as they led the infantry through the enemy’s wire and +over his trenches. The allotment of the infantry to +tanks depended on the strength of the objective to be +attacked and the nature of the approaches; their +formation was that of sections in single file with a +leader to each file. They were organised in three +forces: trench clearers to operate with the tanks; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_260">260</span>trench stops to block the trenches at various points; +and trench supports to garrison the captured trench +and form an advance-guard to the next echelon of +tanks and infantry passing through.</p> + +<p>“The whole operation was divided into three phases: +the assembly, the approach, and the attack. The first +was carried out at night-time and was a parade drill, +the infantry falling in behind the tanks on tape lines, +connected with their starting-points by taped routes. +The approach was slow and orderly, the infantry holding +themselves in readiness to act on their own initiative. +The attack was regulated so as to economise +tank fascines, and was carried out as follows:—</p> + +<p>“The advance-guard tank went straight forward +through the enemy’s wire, and turning to the left, without +crossing the trench in front of it, opened right +sponson broadsides; the infantry tanks then made for +the same spot, the left-hand one, crossing the wire, +approached the trench and cast its fascine, then crossed +over the fascine, turned to the left, and worked down +the fire trench; the second infantry tank crossed over +the fascine of the first and made for the enemy’s support +trench, cast its fascine, and crossing did likewise. +Meanwhile the advance-guard tank had swung round, +and crossing over the fascines of the two infantry tanks, +moved forward with its own fascine still in position +ready for the third trench line. When the two infantry +tanks met they assembled behind the advance-guard +tank and awaited orders. The leading wave of infantry +planted a red flag at the gaps in the wire.</p> + +<p>“In training the infantry the following exercises +were carried out:—</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>(1) Assembly of infantry behind tanks.</p> + +<p>(2) Advance to attack behind tanks.</p> + +<p>(3) Passing through wire crushed down by tanks.</p> + +<p>(4) Clearing up a trench sector under protection of +tanks.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_261">261</span></p> + +<p>“To enable them to work quickly in section single +files and to form these into section lines a simple +platoon drill was issued, and it is interesting to note +that this drill was based on a very similar one described +by Xenophon in his ‘Cyropædeia’ and attributed to +King Cyrus (<i>circa</i> 500 <span class="allsmcap">B.C.</span>).”</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>The fascines above mentioned were designed to assist the +tanks over the wider trenches of the Hindenburg system. +Some of these were known to be 12 feet wide and of great +depth, the actual width being increased by the inward +slopes of a parapet and parados 2 feet 6 inches high. A +Mark IV. tank could only cross a trench 10-11 feet wide, +a fact of which the Germans were well aware. The real +obstacle was the depth of the trench, as when the tank +was halfway over, but not yet balanced on the parados, +the tail left the parapet and dropped to the trench floor, +shifting the centre of gravity and leaving the machine at +an angle so near the vertical that the tracks could not +grip against all the deadweight below. The object of the +fascine, therefore, was not to fill the trench and form a +bridge, as seems commonly to be supposed, for this was +both impossible and unnecessary, but to keep the tail of +the tank from dropping so far that the machine was unable +to recover. These tank fascines were made by binding +together with chains, under great pressure, seventy-five +ordinary brushwood bundles 10 feet long. Each big fascine +was 4 feet 6 inches in diameter and weighed a ton and three-quarters. +This monstrosity was carried on the cab of the +tank, and was dropped into a trench over the nose by +means of a release mechanism from within. It was an +abomination to man-handle, fifteen to twenty Chinamen +being required to push each fascine through the mud at +Erin; and during a train journey it had to be lowered on +the truck and hoisted up again before detrainment. But in +action the fascines fulfilled their purpose admirably. The +widest and deepest Hindenburg trenches proved no obstacle +at all.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_262">262</span></p> + +<p>Four hundred of these fascines were made at Central +Workshops during the feverish three weeks before Cambrai. +This involved the trimming to the correct length of 30,000 +ordinary fascines, and the welding of 2000 fathoms of steel +chain. Eighteen tanks, working in pairs, pulled on the +chains in opposite directions after they had been wound +several times round the huge bundles. In the same period +were constructed 110 heavy timber sledges, to be towed +by tanks with loads of petrol and ammunition. 127 tanks +were repaired and issued, and a number were fitted with +large grapnels for wire-clearing. Owing to the necessity +of secrecy, the personnel at Erin were not informed of the +extreme urgency of these tasks; yet during these three +weeks the shops were working for 22¹⁄₂ hours out of every +24 without a break. Nor was this pressure confined to +the workshops. Between the 10th and 25th November, +28 lorries covered between them 19,000 miles, or 744 miles +per lorry, and some small box-cars averaged 1200 miles +apiece.</p> + +<p>Three main supply dumps were established at the lying-up +points of the three brigades—Havrincourt Wood, +Dessart Wood, and Villers-Guislain and Gouzeaucourt. +Among the stores collected here were 165,000 gallons of +petrol, 55,000 lbs. of grease, 5,000,000 rounds of S.A.A., +and 500,000 rounds of 6-pounder shell. The splendid +system of light railways behind the 3rd Army front alone +made this huge accumulation possible in so short a time. +In the field, stores were to be carried from these dumps by +supply-tanks and gun-carrying tanks towing sledges.</p> + +<p>This brief account will give some idea of the work +required before a full-dress tank battle, and of the sudden +problems with which the technical staff had to grapple at +short notice. It must be remembered that there was no +precedent whatever for this operation. Four times as many +tanks as went in on the first day at Ypres were to be +employed at Cambrai. There had been little time for +preparation and less for reconnaissance. The Hindenburg +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_263">263</span>trenches, until they were met and conquered, at least were +impressive impostors; and there was a great weight of +responsibility, as well as a sense of gratification, attached +to the fact that for the first time in the career of the corps, +tanks were to be the dominating factor in a big battle. +Their method of use determined the whole tactical scheme. +Confident though all ranks might be of gaining that +triumph to which they had looked forward through a +series of discouragements, lasting over many months, +the importance of the occasion brought infinite anxiety +and strain.</p> + +<p>On the other hand, everything, at long last, had been +done for them that could be done. They were to have their +own way on ground of their own choosing. For over a week +at Wailly tanks and infantry rehearsed over the old German +trenches the exact tactics they were to employ over the new +ones. To give the infantry additional confidence, they +were asked to construct their own defences and wire +entanglements, which the tanks then proceeded to obliterate. +The deep German front line at Wailly, enlarged to +a veritable gulf by the passage or ditching of innumerable +tanks during previous months of training, was an admirable +model on which to prove the efficiency of the fascines. +The masses of rusty wire provided practice for the special +machines whose grapnels were to clear the way for the +cavalry. Short though the time was, nothing was left +undone. Tank personnel and infantry practised together +and talked together, and for the first time was reached an +approximation to that mutual trust and understanding +which these two arms had so long and so especially +required.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_264">264</span></p> + + +<h4 id="II_11"> + II. +</h4> + +<p>An examination of a layered map shows very clearly the +conformation of the country between the Hindenburg Line +and Cambrai. The 3rd Army, lying south-west of that +town, was attacking north-east. The battlefield can be +divided into two parts, north and south of a line drawn +westward from Marcoing through Flesquières along the +Flesquières-Havrincourt Ridge. The southern part is a +triangle, bounded to the north by this ridge, to the east by +the Canal de L’Escaut, which zigzags southward from +Cambrai, and to the south-west by the Hindenburg Line, +which almost touches the canal near Banteux. In this +part of the field we should be fighting downhill to the +canal valley. The northern part, beyond the Flesquières +Ridge, is lowish ground dominated by one prominent landmark, +Bourlon Hill and Wood, and delimited to the west +by the Canal du Nord, which the Hindenburg trenches +crossed immediately north of Havrincourt Wood, thence +following its course northward to Mœuvres. The Flesquières +Ridge itself is an important tactical feature, running +from east to west against the general lie of the country and +overlooking the whole northern part of the battlefield; and +where it was crossed by the German line, west of Havrincourt, +the latter made a pronounced salient, taking in a +portion of Havrincourt Wood. This portion was held as +an advanced position in front of the trench system, and +farther south the hamlet of La Vacquerie and other posts +were strongly occupied in a like manner. The Hindenburg +Line itself, taking it correctly as the first line of trenches, +was sited on reverse slopes, hidden from our observation, +and covered in front by a dense belt of wire, nowhere less +than 50 yards deep. The Hindenburg wire was, in fact, a +remarkable sight. You saw it winding away over the ridges +in three broad belts, clean cut and separated by narrower +avenues of grass; miles upon miles of it, with great patches +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_265">265</span>red with rust after any rain, and looking in the distance +where it climbed some final crest to the horizon like zigzag +stripes of plough or trimmed and level vegetation. Behind +the front system of trenches were three others, the Hindenburg +Reserve, wired almost as thickly as the first line, and +two more. These last were not so formidable. The series +varied in depth from three and a half to four and a half +miles. The front line and reserve were pierced in every +bay by the shafts of deep dug-outs, although some of these +had not been finished. In places they were joined up to +form considerable tunnels, forty feet underground. The +chalk of which the higher land is formed, although hard to +work, is admirable for such subterranean use. The shafts +and dug-outs were timbered, walls and roof, and when, a +year later, I lived in several of them, were always dry. +The whole system was knitted together by a maze of +communication trenches.</p> + +<p>The third and fourth lines, which in fact formed one +system called variously the Marquion, Masnières, or Beaurevoir +Line, crossed the Canal de L’Escaut south of +Cambrai and covered another important tactical feature, +the Niergnies-Seranvillers Ridge, east of the canal. This +ridge, like that of Flesquières, overlooked all the northern +part of the battlefield as far as Bourlon, making any attack +on that height from the south a matter of great difficulty. +The Niergnies Ridge, therefore, was to be carried if possible +as soon as the canal crossings had been seized, but this +effort proved beyond our resources.</p> + +<p>The infantry at the disposal of Sir Julien Byng for his +main attack amounted only to six divisions, with two +cavalry divisions, and upwards of 1000 guns, for a front of +six miles from east of Gonnelieu to a point north of Havrincourt +Wood. Subsidiary attacks to secure the flanks were +to be carried as far as Bullecourt to the north, and from +Gonnelieu southward to Vendhuile. The whole operation, +as we have seen, was under a time limit of forty-eight +hours, while the Commander-in-Chief intended to call a halt +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_266">266</span>before that period had expired if sufficient progress was not +made. The first twenty-four hours was expected to show, +one way or another, how much might be expected. But +one rather startling factor resulted from the inadequate +means to be employed. Every tank and infantryman in +the six divisions was to go forward at zero. There were +no reserves other than local ones; nothing was left for the +second day—except the cavalry. The Guards and one or +two other divisions were within a few marches of the battlefield, +but not near enough to come up in time; nor were +they intended to be used. The plan, in fact, was stamped +plainly with that spirit of compromise due to ignorance and +consequent mistrust of the capabilities of tanks. It was not +really believed that the latter could do all that they claimed. +Six divisions, therefore, were enough to risk on the gamble. +On the other hand, in case the unexpected should happen, +a most ambitious programme was drawn up, for which six +divisions were hopelessly inadequate. The last German +positions, beyond the Canal de L’Escaut, were to be carried +in the first phase of the attack, after which cavalry was to +cross the canal, occupy Cambrai and villages to the north +and east, and move forward with its right on Valenciennes. +In the meantime, the 4th Corps, on the right, was to form +a defensive flank until the cavalry had cut the Valenciennes-Douai +line nine or ten miles north of Cambrai (an incredible +supposition), when the corps was to continue its advance in +a north-easterly direction. The second and third phases of +the battle were in the hands of the 3rd Corps on the left, +whose business it was to capture Bourlon and Inchy-en-Artois +(on the Canal du Nord), and then, by crossing the +Arras-Cambrai road toward the marshes of the Sensée, to +cut off the enemy’s troops in the angle which that river +formed with the Canal du Nord. All this, with six +divisions, reads like a dream, as in fact it was. Admitted +that it represents the utmost possible and includes all that +optimistic phase of “exploitation” which never throughout +the war was reached in any battle, it remains an astonishing +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_267">267</span>proposition. For if it was possible, three times six +divisions would barely be enough to fill the enormously +extended line we should have won; while as in the actual +attack the infantry were found to be exhausted after an +advance of four or five miles, it is difficult to see how, in +the same time, they could be expected to cover ten or +fifteen. Most extraordinary of all is the almost supernatural +rôle allotted to the cavalry. It takes one back to +the days of Marlborough and Prince Eugene, or to the +triumphs of Murat. This venerable fallacy about cavalry +would be pathetic if it were not so mischievous. For as +an offensive weapon a man on a horse is an anachronism +in any modern battle fought in an enclosed and cultivated +country where everybody else is under cover. He cannot +see his enemy, but can himself be seen a mile away, and, +what is more pertinent, can be shot at that distance. He +is tied to his horse, which he cannot hide. Even the +pursuit of a routed enemy, supposed to be his especial <i>métier</i>, +is governed now by conditions which render him useless. +In every rout of a disciplined army some stout fellows will +always be found as a rearguard, and two or three machine-guns +can hold up a whole brigade of cavalry among villages +and hedgerows. No ten feet high combination of man and +beast, in short, has any chance whatever against modern +small arms. It cannot be expected, however, that this ever +will be admitted in an army controlled largely by influential +cavalry soldiers; and as at Cambrai the mounted troops, +with few exceptions, proved incapable even of arriving in +time to attempt anything, the less said about them the +better.</p> + +<p>A further serious handicap to General Byng lay in the +fact that most of his six divisions had come from the +Salient, where they had been strained to the uttermost +and had suffered heavy casualties. Their ranks were filled +up with drafts who had no experience, while it had been +impossible in the short time available for more than a small +percentage to practice at Wailly with the tanks. But having +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_268">268</span>enumerated these various adverse considerations, there +remains much that was encouraging to be put against them. +The divisions included some of the best in the army. The +29th had won an almost fabulous reputation in Gallipoli, +although few of its original rank and file were left. The +6th was another formation with the traditions of regular +service behind it. The 51st Highland Territorial Division +(with which G Battalion had been associated in the Salient) +had the distinction of coming second on a German list of +those units most feared by the enemy. Among the troops +taking part in the subsidiary attacks to the north, and likely +to be involved in the main battle if all went well, were the +3rd Division, which headed the German list referred to, +and the 40th London and 36th Ulster Divisions. On the +right flank, where the 3rd Army linked up with the French, +a strong force of French infantry and cavalry was put at +our disposal. Then there was the known fact that the +enemy’s position, held by Von der Marwitz’s 2nd Army, +had been much depleted of troops, and especially of guns, +while our own people must have gained confidence from +the marked efficiency of our preliminary arrangements. +Everything had gone well; every man, so far as was possible, +knew what he had to do. Tanks and guns were in +position; and the Germans in their deep trenches half +a mile away, undisturbed by any breath of doubt or rumour, +still performed mechanically the routine duties of a quiet +sector, and reported that we were similarly employed.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowe24" id="i_269"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_269.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <i>First Battle of Cambrai.</i> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>The three Tank Brigades were disposed as follows: The +1st Brigade, of D, E, and G Battalions, with 42 tanks +apiece, lay hidden in the western end of Havrincourt Wood, +a large mass of timber of which the Germans actually held +the eastern extremity, 3000 yards away. Colonel Hankey, +of G Battalion, had under his command for the operation +tanks from both the other units, giving him a total of 60 +machines. The 2nd Brigade lay in Dessart Wood, two +miles south of Havrincourt Wood. It consisted for the +time of only two Battalions, B and H, A Battalion being +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_269">269</span>attached to the 3rd Brigade. The tanks of the latter (A, C, +F, and I Battalions), having no convenient wood in which +to hide, were concealed under brick-coloured camouflage +netting in and about Gouzeaucourt and Villers-Guislain. +The battalions of the 2nd and 3rd Brigades had also +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_270">270</span>42 tanks apiece. Each unit set aside a small number +as a reserve to replace mechanical breakdowns. In addition +to the whole total of 378 fighting machines, there +were 32 wire-clearing tanks with grapnels to open passages +for the guns and cavalry; 2 for carrying bridging material; +1 with a telephone cable for the 3rd Army signals; 54 +supply-tanks, some of them adapted gun-carriers; and 9 +with wireless apparatus.</p> + +<p>The 1st Brigade, on the left, was operating with the 62nd +and 51st Divisions, its first objectives being Havrincourt +village and Flesquières, with subsequent exploitation toward +Graincourt, Anneux, Fontaine-Notre-Dame, and +Bourlon.</p> + +<p>The 2nd Brigade in the centre, leading the 6th Division, +was to carry the Blue and Brown lines and Ribécourt, +thence making for Marcoing on the Canal de L’Escaut +and the Bois des Neufs further north.</p> + +<p>The 3rd Brigade on the right, its 4 battalions working +with the 29th, 20th, and 12th Divisions, had in hand the +capture of La Vacquerie and the Blue and Brown lines +beyond, then the bulging line of the canal from Marcoing +to Masnières and the crossings at those places, and finally +Crèvecoeur on the east bank at the foot of the Niergnies +ridge.</p> + +<p>Zero was fixed for 6.20 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span> on the 20th. After dusk +on the previous evening tank routes would be taped to the +assembly positions. Before 6 o’clock all the tanks were +to be ready in one long line from Trescault to Gonnelieu, +in front of our trenches and within 500-1000 yards of the +German outposts; the “advance-guard” tanks 150 yards +ahead, and the main body deployed at approximate intervals +of 100 yards. At 6.10 the whole mass would begin +to move forward, followed by infantry in section columns. +At zero, ten minutes later, a barrage of shrapnel, H.E. and +smoke shells from upwards of 1000 guns would fall on the +enemy’s outpost line, lifting after one minute, and moving +forward in jumps of 250 yards, but remaining on certain +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_271">271</span>objectives for stated periods. In addition, smoke-screens +were to fall on the Flesquières ridge and along the right +flank of the 4th Corps, together with the usual counter-battery +work and bombardment of roads and bridges.</p> + +<p>The weather had been fine, but so misty that little aeroplane +observation had been possible. This did not affect +us, as motives of secrecy had kept our aerial reconnaissance +within the normal routine, and it prevented awkward prying +on the enemy’s part. On the night of the 17th-18th November +the Germans made a small raid near Havrincourt +Wood and captured a few prisoners. These men were +carried to Army Headquarters for investigation, a delay +which had fortunate results for us, for some information +about the forthcoming attack eventually was extracted from +them. It came too late. A telegraphic warning reached +the German front line only a few minutes before zero on +the 20th, and was found half transcribed in a signaller’s +dug-out.</p> + + +<h4 id="III_9"> + III. +</h4> + +<p>General Elles, on the evening of 19th November, issued +his “Special Order No. 6,” in which he said: “To-morrow +the Tank Corps will have the chance for which it has been +waiting for many months—to operate on good going in the +van of battle.... I propose leading the attack of the +centre division.” Enough has been said by others about +the better-known newspaper version: “England expects +every tank to do its damndest”—but I cannot refrain from +pointing out once more that this impudent lie was only in +accordance with all the traditions of modern journalism, +which knows neither scruples, education, nor good taste. +Herodotus was in the habit of putting imaginary speeches +into the mouths of his historical characters; but we have +indeed sunk low when some illiterate scavenger of Fleet +Street is permitted, and even encouraged, to employ his +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_272">272</span>own characteristic phraseology for the same purpose in the +columns of a newspaper.</p> + +<p>Before midnight that evening, from Havrincourt Wood +and Dessart Wood, from Gouzeaucourt and Villers-Guislain, +scores of tanks had uncamouflaged and moved out and were +already on their way. It was such a gathering of these +singular machines as never had been seen before, and was +to be seen only once again—on 8th August of the following +year. Section after section, company after company (twenty-seven +companies were there, as against two on the Somme +a year earlier), they crawled forward in long columns that +split up after a while into smaller ones, and then again into +twos and threes, until toward five o’clock the whole were +deploying into a single line six miles long—a threatening, +silent, curving line that faced and corresponded to the +larger salients and re-entrants of the Hindenburg trenches. +So silently had this approach been carried out that many of +the infantry, assembling behind the gaps in our own wire, +heard no tanks at all, and inquired with some anxiety if +they had arrived. A few had broken down, and were +replaced at once from the mechanical reserve. Upwards +of 350 were in position. The night was very dark, with a +dense ground mist, but so complete were all arrangements +that this caused no inconvenience, while it helped to screen +the massing of this unparalleled armada. A sudden burst +of shelling and trench-mortar fire from the German lines +about 4.30 startled every one and provoked suspicions of a +premature discovery, but it died away in half an hour. From +five o’clock until zero the whole front was quiet. At ten +minutes past six tanks and infantry began to move; and at +6.20, with the sky lightening rapidly above the mist, the +barrage exploded with a shattering crash of sound along +the German outpost line, some 250 yards in front of the +“advance-guard” machines. In the centre of the six-mile +line, in a tank called the “Hilda” of H Battalion, General +Elles was leading into the most revolutionary battle of the +war the corps which had made it possible, and which he +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_273">273</span>had controlled almost from its infancy. It was not the +ordinary post for the commander of a large organisation, +but this was not an ordinary occasion. It was the consummation +of two years of struggle and disappointment. There +can have been little doubt in his mind, or in that of any +other man in the 350 tanks, as to what the result would be +now that the adventure was fairly launched.</p> + +<p>The immediate onset of the tanks inevitably was overwhelming. +The German outposts, dazed or annihilated by +the sudden deluge of shells, were overrun in an instant. +The triple belts of wire were crossed as if they had been +beds of nettles, and 350 pathways were sheared through +them for the infantry. The defenders of the front trench, +scrambling out of dug-outs and shelters to meet the crash +and flame of the barrage, saw the leading tanks almost upon +them, their appearance made the more grotesque and terrifying +by the huge black bundles they carried on their cabs. +As these tanks swung left-handed and fired down into the +trench, others, also surmounted by these appalling objects, +appeared in multitudes behind them out of the mist. It is +small wonder that the front Hindenburg Line, that fabulous +excavation which was to be the bulwark of Germany, gave +little trouble. The great fascines were loosed and rolled +over the parapet to the trench floor; and down the whole +line tanks were dipping and rearing up and clawing their +way across into the almost unravaged country beyond. The +defenders of the line were running panic-stricken, casting +away arms and equipment. The Hindenburg Reserve, with +its own massive entanglements, went the way of the first +trenches; and so far our following infantry had found little +to do beyond firing on the fugitives and rounding up gangs +of half-stupefied prisoners. It was now broad day, the mist +was thinning, and everywhere from Havrincourt to Banteux +on the canal was rout and consternation. The Grand Ravin, +a gully which runs from Havrincourt to Marcoing, was +choked with an unarmed mob streaming eastward. The +garrison of Havrincourt had put up a fight, but tanks closed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_274">274</span>on it from the north, and it was cleared by the 62nd +Division.⁠<a id="FNanchor_20_20" href="#Footnote_20_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a> La Vacquerie had gone in the first onset; and +now Ribécourt was carried, and tanks and infantry were +approaching the vital canal bridges at Marcoing and +Masnières. Over the whole southern half of the battlefield, +the triangle I have described, the defence had collapsed; +and this area was virtually cleared by midday. Only at +one or two points had there been any serious resistance, the +most notable being Lateau Wood, on a hill-top overlooking +the canal, where a number of batteries were posted. Fighting +continued here during most of the morning, and included an +encounter between a tank and a 5.9 howitzer, in which the +tank for once was the victor. The gun blew away the tank’s +right-hand sponson, but failed to injure the engine, and was +overrun before it could be reloaded. Eventually the wood +was cleared and the guns captured. By two o’clock Marcoing +was in our hands, and all but a portion of Masnières. At +the former place a tank of A Battalion arrived in time to +drive off the German engineers who were in the act of +destroying the bridge, which was on the far side of the +village. At Masnières, however, the bridge was partially +wrecked, and a tank of F Battalion, endeavouring to cross, +completed the destruction and fell with the wreckage into +the canal. This accident helped to delay our advance at +this point upon Rumilly and the Niergnies ridge. In the +meantime a hitch had occurred in the northern portion of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_275">275</span>the field. The 51st Division, advancing against Flesquières, +as soon as the fall of Havrincourt and Ribécourt secured +its flanks, had adopted a formation of attack which does not +seem to have combined successfully with the tanks. The +latter entered the village, but the infantry were too far +behind and were held up by machine-gun fire. Throughout +the day tanks were in and out of Flesquières, driving the +Germans into cellars from which they emerged again as +the danger passed; but the 51st could do no more than +obtain a grip on the outskirts of the place. The château, +surrounded by a stout wall and impregnable to tanks, was +the centre of resistance. Night fell with the village still +untaken.</p> + +<p>Largely on account of the inability of the 51st to give +adequate support, the tanks had very serious losses in and +about Flesquières. A number of batteries lay just over +the ridge, and tank after tank was hit and disabled as +it appeared on the crest, the easiest of targets at almost +point-blank range. One gun in the west end of the +village itself was believed to have knocked out no fewer +than sixteen machines of D and E Battalions. This was +the celebrated piece served single-handed by a very gallant +German officer after all his men had abandoned him. He +was killed beside his gun in the end by the infantry. Had +the latter been able to support the tanks more closely, most +of these mischievous batteries could have been silenced +before they had a chance of doing any damage. A few +riflemen pushed ahead would have driven off the gunners +while the tanks remained hidden by the crest. It is no +part of a tank’s duty to make itself a helpless target for +field-guns. As it was, while the wings of the army had +swept on triumphantly to their third objectives and beyond, +an unfortunate check had occurred in the centre. On the +left of the 51st Division the 62nd, having cleared Havrincourt +with the help of G Battalion’s tanks, pushed on +northward over the narrow neck of the Flesquières ridge +up the line of the Canal du Nord. Some of our tanks +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_276">276</span>were caught by the same batteries that were holding up +D and E. Muirhead, of 20 Company, was killed here, +and five or six machines were disabled. Chaddock, who +had his section commander, Fearnley, on board, had an +extraordinary escape. A shell came through the cab, took +off the driver’s head, and flung it on the knees of Fearnley +at the brakes, killed or wounded the two right-hand gunners, +and passed out at the stern without exploding. But the +majority of the tanks were covered by a spur from the +view of the batteries, and elsewhere there was no stopping +this combination of G and the 62nd. Both the Hindenburg +main and reserve lines were crossed in many places +without the use of fascines, and tanks and infantry rolled +swiftly down the slope to Graincourt, beyond which were +the double row of trees along the Route Nationale No. 29, +the Bapaume-Cambrai road, and the heavy mass of Bourlon +Wood. Eight 6-pounder tanks advanced in line direct upon +Graincourt, firing every gun they could bring to bear. Two +German field-pieces concealed near the village were happily +spotted by Charles Baker from the dust thrown up by the +blast of their first discharge, and a few 6-pounder rounds +drove away the gunners. By one o’clock Graincourt was +captured. Still pushing on, tanks and infantry entered +Anneux. This village was not wholly cleared that afternoon, +for the 62nd were now exhausted. They had made +the biggest advance of any division—4¹⁄₂ miles from their +original front; but they would be the first to acknowledge +that the tanks alone had made this possible, and had led +them throughout. Some of G Battalion even had not +finished yet. They crossed the Bapaume-Cambrai road +and entered Bourlon Wood. There was little or no opposition: +the great wood, which was to be the centre of +such desperate fighting during the next week, appeared to +be empty of defenders. It is certain that with a brigade of +fresh infantry it could have been occupied and consolidated +that evening. “The possession of Bourlon Ridge”—to +quote Sir Douglas Haig’s despatch—“would enable our +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_277">277</span>troops to obtain observation over the ground to the north, +which sloped gently down to the Sensée river. The +enemy’s defensive lines south of the Scarpe and Sensée +rivers would thereby be turned, his communications exposed +to the observed fire of our artillery, and his positions +in this section jeopardised. In short, so great was the importance +of the ridge to the enemy that its loss would +probably cause the abandonment by the Germans of their +carefully-prepared defence systems for a considerable distance +to the north of it.” Bourlon Wood itself, at the +southern end of the ridge, was also on the highest part, +and dominated the remainder. We could have captured +it with ease on the evening of the 20th, and continued +the advance next day, but there was no infantry capable +of this final effort. The tanks unsupported could not +penetrate far into the gloomy wood, still less attempt to +hold it; and after a while they withdrew.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowe40" id="i_276fp"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_276fp.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + Battle of Cambrai. Bourlon Wood and Village, with Bapaume-Cambrai road in front. + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>The first day’s battle, in fact, was now at an end. It +was after four o’clock, and the November twilight was +falling. In the eastern outskirts of Anneux and Masnières, +our furthest points of penetration, street-fighting was still +in progress; and at Flesquières, far behind, the stubborn +garrison continued to resist, although almost completely +surrounded; but all around this isolated conflict the routine +tasks of consolidation and clearance and preparation for the +morrow were already in full swing. The meagre infantry +reserves—some three or four brigades,—masses of belated +cavalry and endless columns of guns, were pushing forward +through the dusk; and everywhere the tanks were rolling +home to their rallying-points. Except for the unfortunate +check at Flesquières, the day had been one series of startling +triumphs. In ten hours three defence systems, believed +to be all but impregnable, had fallen like things of buckram: +an area of ground as large as the whole Ypres salient, containing +a dozen villages and hamlets, had been overrun; and +7000 or 8000 prisoners, with upwards of 100 guns, already +were in our hands. Great masses of material had been +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_278">278</span>captured; quartermasters’ stores, field post-offices, canteens, +cinema theatres, hospitals—all these were among the miscellaneous +acquisitions of that day. The surprise had been +overwhelmingly complete, and the German infantry, with +few exceptions, had been routed with an ease that had +no precedent in the war, because the correct use of the +determining factor had no precedent either. The panic +spread far to the rear, for in Cambrai and beyond all was +confusion and dismay.</p> + +<p>These great results had been gained at a relatively +trifling cost to ourselves; and it is impossible to reflect +upon this beginning without deploring the inadequate resources +which caused it, in the end, to remain no more +than a brilliant but disappointing fragment. There is no +need, however, to go into this subject again. We have +seen already that there were no fresh reserves available, +or none to speak of. Sir Julien Byng had in hand a few +brigades of infantry, tired but hitherto not engaged, a +couple of hundred tanks, whose stipulated work was more +than accomplished, and whose crews and supplies alike +were exhausted, and an entire cavalry corps which practically +had done nothing at all. There should also perhaps +be included the French troops on his right, and the +divisions engaged in the subsidiary attack at Bullecourt, +which had been highly successful; but none of these were +in a position to reinforce him to a degree comparable to his +opportunities. With another three or four divisions, instead +of three or four brigades, behind his main battle front, there +would have been some chance even of the optimistic +schemes of exploitation being realised without any miracles +by the cavalry. There were still thirty-six hours before the +enemy could hope to collect his own reinforcements.</p> + +<p>What, in the meantime, of the cavalry, who were to be +galloping for the Sensée? The great proportion of these +troops, whose talk (in Amiens or Boulogne) was always +of speed and dash and initiative, and for whose benefit, +that these qualities might be utilised, the special tanks +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_279">279</span>had cleared wide passages in the wire, had arrived upon +the field four hours late. Any one who has seen cavalry +on the march trying to find their way anywhere by the +use of a map will understand readily how this occurred; +and it is probable that these laggards, even in such a +<i>débâcle</i>, would very soon have ceased to be of use as +mounted troops; but they could have fought very usefully +on foot, as they were forced to do when they did arrive. +One small unit, a squadron of the Canadian Fort Garry +Horse, less pedantic or more skilled in map-reading than +its regular colleagues, pushed early to the front, managed +to cross the Canal de L’Escaut by an extemporised bridge, +rushed the half-finished Beaurevoir-Masnières line on the +slope beyond, and dispersed some infantry and captured a +battery behind it. This quite exceptional feat may be held +to prove that cavalry are still the great winners of battles +that they were in the time of Turenne. It remains, however, +an isolated performance; and the Canadians in the +end met their inevitable fate. All their horses were killed +or wounded, and they were reduced to fighting, like any +infantrymen, behind the bank of a sunken road. Their +gallantry, skill, and good fortune only served to emphasise +the case of the numerous regular regiments who were unable +to achieve anything at all.</p> + +<p>It is necessary to descend now from the sublime to the +ridiculous, and to consider briefly the condition of the nine +tank battalions at the end of this first day’s fighting, to the +success of which they had mainly contributed. “By 4 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> +on the 20th November,” to quote ‘Weekly Tank Notes,’ +“one of the most astonishing battles in all history had +been won, and as far as the Tank Corps was concerned, +tactically finished, for no reserves existing, it was not possible +to do more than rally the now very weary and exhausted +crews, select the fittest, and patch up composite +companies to continue the attack on the morrow.” I have +pointed out before the actual physical exhaustion, due to +extreme heat, cramped quarters, jolting, and other causes, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_280">280</span>entailed in any prolonged operation in a tank. Of the +machines which rallied on the evening of November 20th +nearly all had been running for at least sixteen hours. +Some had covered distances undreamt of in any previous +tank action. All were out of petrol, water, and ammunition, +and many had mechanical troubles that needed +attention. The crews to a man were dog-tired, but before +they could think of rest every remediable want had to be +satisfied. Petrol and water tanks must be refilled, expended +ammunition replaced, and minor repairs effected. For the +brigade and battalion staffs there was the task of calculating +losses and effectives, and of arranging for the +formation of composite companies for the continuation +of the battle next day. There was not an additional man +or tank to be had: all had been in action; and, as the +quotation above points out, the battle of Cambrai tactically +was at an end for the Tank Corps. It had done all and +more than it had promised to do, but there remained the +necessity of continuing to help the no less exhausted infantry +to round off, if possible, the first day’s victory. The +losses in personnel had been considerable, and in tanks, +from various causes, very serious. The 1st Brigade alone +had nearly 40 tanks hit and disabled, mostly on the Flesquières +ridge. It is doubtful if half of the original 378 fighting +machines were now available, and for immediate use +the proportion was far smaller. Nevertheless, early on the +morning of the 21st, detachments from all three brigades +were in action again. On the right, tanks of F Battalion +moved out from Marcoing against the Beaurevoir-Masnières +line, but the infantry, a fresh brigade unaccustomed to +tanks, failed to co-operate, and the attack was a failure. +Twenty-five tanks of B and H Battalions of the 2nd +Brigade, with infantry of the 51st Division, rushed Cantaing, +Noyelles, and Fontaine-Notre-Dame. Cantaing was +carried by tanks alone, and handed over to the infantry +by noon. Fontaine, which is virtually an outlying suburb +of Cambrai, was occupied after severe fighting later in the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_281">281</span>day. In the meantime detachments from D and G completed +the capture of Anneux, and carried a trench line +to the north of it. Tanks once more pushed up the grass +drives in Bourlon Wood, and once more had to return +through lack of support. The wood was now occupied in +force by the enemy, and was full of machine-guns. With +the close of the day the original time limit of forty-eight +hours expired; but the Commander-in-Chief, for reasons +which he explains in his despatch, decided to allow the +operation to continue. Great progress had been made, the +enemy was badly shaken, and the situation in Italy, where +the disaster of Caporetto had occurred, required further +efforts to pin down the German reserves. Some additional +divisions, including the Guards and two detailed for the +Italian front, were at this late hour given to General Byng, +and he was ordered to proceed with the attack. The 22nd, +therefore, was spent mostly in reorganisation, and in preparing +for a renewal of the battle. This involved a reshuffling +of tank units among others. The centre of +interest having shifted to Bourlon Ridge and its neighbourhood, +the 3rd Tank Brigade was attached to the 3rd +Corps, and proceeded to trek northward from Villers-Plouich, +where all available tanks had concentrated. +Further evidence of the importance of the northern area +was forthcoming in the afternoon, when the Germans, +whose own reserves were coming up, drove the 51st +Division out of Fontaine-Notre-Dame. Nearly 60 tanks +of the 1st and 2nd Brigades were collected for the attack +on the 23rd. A furious struggle took place in Fontaine, +lasting throughout the day. Eight times the tanks of the +2nd Brigade pushed through the village under an intense +hail of bullets and grenades from the upper stories of the +houses. As soon as they withdrew, the infantry, who had +followed, were driven out again, and at length were unable +to give any support at all. Field-guns had been brought +into the village, and 11 tanks were hit and left there when +the assault finally was abandoned. The 1st Brigade, however, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_282">282</span>admirably followed by the 40th Division, succeeded +at last in clearing Bourlon Wood and village, in spite of +the fact that G Battalion’s tanks were delayed till noon +by bad traffic control holding up their supplies. There was +very severe fighting in the wood and village, the tanks +expending every round of 6-pdr. shell and most of their +S.A.A. The village itself could not be held, but the great +wood remained in our possession. Further to the west, +about Mœuvres, on the Canal du Nord, progress was also +made.</p> + +<p>The Tank Corps was now fought virtually to a standstill. +Rest and recuperation were imperative for officers, men, and +machines, or for what was left. “On the 25th and 27th +November further attacks were made by tanks and infantry +on Bourlon and Fontaine-Notre-Dame with varying successes, +but eventually both these villages remained in the +hands of the enemy. During the attacks which had taken +place since the 21st November, tank units had become +terribly disorganised, and by the 27th had been reduced +to such a state of exhaustion that it was determined to +withdraw the 1st and 2nd Brigades. This withdrawal +was nearing completion when the great German counter-attack +was launched early on the morning of the 30th +November.... It is an interesting point to remember +that in this battle the attacking infantry were assisted by +690 officers and 3500 other ranks of the Tank Corps, a little +over 4000 men or the strength of a strong brigade, and that +these men replaced artillery wire-cutting, and rendered unnecessary +the old preliminary bombardment. More than +this, by keeping close to the infantry they effected a much +higher co-operation than had ever before been attainable +with artillery. When on the 21st November the bells of +London pealed forth in celebration of the victory of +Cambrai, consciously or unconsciously to their listeners +they tolled out an old tactics and rang in a new—Cambrai +had become the Valmy of a new epoch in war, the epoch +of the mechanical engineer.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_21_21" href="#Footnote_21_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a>⁠</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowe30" id="i_282fp_a"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_282fp_a.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + Disabled Tank in Fontaine-Notre-Dame, November 1917. + + (German Photo.) + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure class="figcenter illowe30" id="i_282fp_b"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_282fp_b.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + G Battalion Tanks at the Shooting-Box, Bourlon Wood, November 1917. + + (German Photo.) + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_283">283</span></p> + + +<h4 id="IV_5"> + IV. +</h4> + +<p>On 30th November, as everybody knows, the Germans +launched two tremendous attacks on the north and south-east +flanks of the pronounced salient which we now held +in front of Cambrai. On the north, from Bourlon to +Mœuvres, where the main blow was delivered, it ended in +a sanguinary repulse. Far away to the south at Gouzeaucourt, +however, where the line was very attenuated in +consequence of our preoccupation with the Bourlon area, +a very serious breakdown occurred. Assisted by a great +number of low-flying aeroplanes and preceded by a short +but intense bombardment, the attack for a time carried +everything before it. Villers-Guislain and Gonnelieu were +carried at the first rush, and by 9 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span> Gouzeaucourt itself, +the Headquarters of the 29th Division, was captured. It +was a repetition on a smaller scale of our surprise ten days +before. Hospitals, stores, and dumps of every kind of +material, together with a great number of guns, were lost +in the first three or four hours, and the roads westward +were choked with stragglers and escaping transport. The +nearest Tank Brigade to the danger point was the 2nd, +concentrated about Fins railhead. A Battalion had rejoined, +and the whole brigade was preparing to entrain for +Plateau station and the winter quarters at Bray. Rumours +of the attack arrived early, but it was not until 9.55 that a +telephone message came through from the 3rd Corps. +Although all the machines were more or less dismantled +and totally unfit for action, within three hours 36 from A +and B Battalions were moving toward Gouzeaucourt, +followed two hours later by a reserve of 20 from H +Battalion. The Guards having recaptured Gouzeaucourt, +the tanks patrolled beyond as a screen. On the following +morning a composite detachment from A and B helped +the dismounted troopers of the 5th Cavalry Division to +clear Gauche Wood, but attempts on Villers-Guislain and +Gonnelieu—the latter by the Guards and tanks from H +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_284">284</span>Battalion—were eventually held up. The tanks, however, +did tremendous execution among the enemy, who was in +great force, and this spirited rejoinder stopped effectively +any further attempts by the Germans to advance. The +rapidity with which these tank counter-attacks were organised +and carried out with stripped and unready machines, +and in circumstances of peculiar difficulty, was in itself +highly creditable. It provided also decisive evidence on +a point hitherto doubted by sceptics—the value of tanks +in such an emergency.</p> + +<p>As a result of the German surprise, the Cambrai Salient +was contracted and Bourlon Wood abandoned. There +was no further fighting for the Tank Corps. The 1st +Brigade remained for a dreary fortnight in a defensive +position at Dessart Wood, passing the nights in towing +heavy guns back from Villers-Plouich. The other two +brigades had withdrawn to Bray, and the 1st followed to +Meaulte in the latter half of December.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p><span class="smcap">Note.</span>—Two authoritative German comments on the battle of Cambrai show how +fully the enemy realised that he had been saved from a great disaster by our lack of +faith in tanks. Hindenburg, in his ‘Memoirs,’ writes as follows: “By neglecting +to exploit a brilliant initial success they had let victory be snatched from them, +and indeed by troops which were far inferior to their own both in numbers and +quality.... Moreover, his High Command seemed to have failed to concentrate +the resources required to secure the execution of their plans and their exploitation +in case of success. Strong bodies of cavalry assembled behind the triumphant +leading infantry divisions failed, even on this occasion, to overcome the last line +of resistance, weak though it was, which barred the way to the flank and rear of +their opponents. The English cavalry squadrons were not able to conquer the +German defence, even with the help of their tanks, and proved unequal to decorating +their standards with that victory for which they had striven so honourably +and so often.”</p> + +<p>General Otto von Moser, commanding the 14th Reserve Corps during the +battle, points out that the British “failed because they luckily had not the dozen +or two dozen divisions at hand to exploit the undeniable success of the 20th +November.”</p> +</blockquote> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_285">285</span></p> + + + <h3 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIV"> + CHAPTER XIV. + <br> + <span class="sm">MISCELLANEOUS. THE GERMANS AND THE TANK:<BR> + THE FRENCH ARTILLERIE D’ASSAUT.</span> + </h3> +</div> + + +<h4>I.</h4> + +<p>The battle of Cambrai having converted not only ourselves +but also the enemy to a belief in the tactical and moral +value of the new arm, it will be convenient at this point +to deal with the German attitude toward tanks and the +measures adopted to cope with the latter.</p> + +<p>It often is assumed that the German conversion was yet +more grudging than our own; that until Cambrai they +refused to admit that tanks had any value whatever; and +that even after that battle they remained for some time +very sceptical about the new doctrines. But I think these +are only half-truths. I think the Germans realised far +sooner than we did the moral influence of the attack by +armour, while failing perhaps to appreciate until it was +too late the complete tactical revolution it was bringing +about. In the end they became more bigoted converts +than any British soldier outside the Tank Corps +itself. I spent six months with the Army of Occupation +in Cologne, and I found everywhere the same bitter feelings +about tanks. “Deutsches’ Tod” they were called—the +Death of Germany. In private conversation, as well as in +public print, they were coupled with the blockade as one of +the two chief factors in the downfall of the country. With +that extraordinary but quite sincere inability to understand +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_286">286</span>any point of view but their own, the authors of the Belgian +atrocities, the inventors of chlorine gas, the first people to +poison wells, one and all are inclined to regard the use of +tanks as a brutal and unjustifiable measure, worthy only of +savages. A nation so illogical should be capable, through +sheer thick-headedness, of going very far.</p> + +<p>The early appreciation by the Germans of the moral effect +of tanks is manifest in their repeated efforts to belittle them. +The brave Michael was always being assured in published +orders that these machines were worse than useless. “The +infantry must not let itself be frightened by tanks. The +fighting capacity of the tank is small owing to the bad +visibility, and the shooting powers of the machine-guns +and guns cramped and inaccurate as the result of the +motion. It has been proved that tank crews are nervous +and are inclined to turn back or leave the tank.... The +hostile infantry follows tanks only half-heartedly....” +(Order issued to the 7th Cavalry Division, 26th September +1917.) The Mark II. tanks captured at Arras, and the +Mark IV.’s left behind after the Cambrai withdrawal, were +used to demonstrate the inherent weaknesses of the invention +and the extreme discomfort endured by the crews. +It was found, however, that with all this the Higher +Command was unable to infect the German soldier with +its own lofty contempt for tanks. The brave Michael persisted +in his delusions, and was so wrong-headed even as to +ask why the enemy was allowed a monopoly of these +engines of war. It must be remembered that by the +autumn of 1917 the French St Chamond and Schneider +machines had been used in some numbers and with considerable +success in Champagne, so that the German +infantryman saw himself threatened everywhere by the new +weapon; and he knew perfectly well that as an individual +he was entirely helpless against it, whatever might be the +general outcome of a battle in which it was employed. He +could not acquire the detached outlook of the Great General +Staff at Spa. And it was in consequence of this feeling in +the subordinate ranks that, before the battle of Cambrai, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_287">287</span>the Great General Staff stultified all its own published convictions +by authorising the construction of German tanks. +There can be no doubt that this measure, half-hearted as it +was, arose out of some sort of pressure from below. The +Higher Command was still unconvinced, but it was necessary +for the encouragement of the less intelligent to make a +pretence of conversion. A good deal of talk, a little work, +and the eventual appearance of a few German tanks behind +the line would counteract these mischievous apprehensions—or +so it was hoped.</p> + +<p>The German Tank Corps bore all the marks of an indifferent, +if not inimical parentage. In the beginning it +was quite a small affair, and any subsequent attempts to +enlarge it to adequate proportions came too late or were +hampered by lack of means. An official German document +states that only 15 machines were ever completed. Ten +more apparently were under order in the autumn of 1918, +by which date 25 captured British Mark IV. tanks had also +been included in the new unit. The total of effectives (40) +was divided into eight sections—or, as the Germans happily +named them, <i>Sturmpanzerkraftwagenabteilungen</i>. (One would +think this mouthful alone sufficient to deter recruits.) +There were three sections of German tanks and five of +British, each section consisting of five machines. An M.T. +Testing Company stationed near Berlin instructed the crews +and tested all tanks before issue.</p> + +<p>The original German <i>Panzerkraftwagen</i> was a clumsy +machine, based, it is said, on stolen drawings of the French +St Chamond type. It weighed approximately 40 tons, +was 24 feet long, 11 feet high, and 10 feet 6 inches wide. +On good ground it could travel for a short distance at a +speed of 8-10 miles an hour. It was propelled by two 100-h.p. +German Daimler engines, each driving a single track, +which permitted of a one-man control, as in our Mark V.’s. +The interior was divided into front and rear compartments +joined by narrow gangways on either side of the central +engine casing. In front were one 5.7 cm. Q.F. gun (equivalent +to our 6-pounder) and two heavy machine-guns, and in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_288">288</span>the rear four more machine-guns. The crew consisted of an +officer and no fewer than fifteen or sixteen men, who must +have crowded the narrow quarters intolerably; and as three +branches of the service—artillery, infantry, and technical—were +represented, each ignorant of the other’s duties, +there was much friction between them. The tank was +heavily armoured, especially in front, where the plating +was 1³⁄₁₆ inches in thickness, and would keep out common +shell from a field-gun at a moderate range; but the roof +was very thin, and the whole machine was so roughly put +together that wide crevices around the gun-ports made it +unpleasantly vulnerable to the splash from machine-gun +bullets. There was room in places for the bullets themselves +to enter. Being built on the ordinary tractor +principle, with a very low clearance from the ground and a +long flat tread, the tank could neither cross a considerable +trench nor surmount any serious obstacle. There was no +unditching apparatus. The only improvement on our +design was the sprung track, which reduced wear and shock, +and in so ponderous a machine was a notable innovation. +Observation was exceptionally bad. The officer and driver +sat above the engine, their heads and shoulders in a central +cab which rose two feet above the roof, and as the latter +projected forward for ten feet, it hid from them all the +ground immediately in front.</p> + +<p>In every respect, in fact, excepting the sprung tracks, +the <i>Panzerkraftwagen</i> was clumsy and inefficient to a +degree. Notwithstanding its one-man control, the officers +of the new unit preferred to handle the British Mark IV.’s, +even during trials on level ground; and for all practical +purposes there was no comparison between the two in +general utility and handiness. And while the machine itself +was mistrusted, and with justice, another and unforeseen +difficulty was soon apparent. The higher command had +talked more cleverly than it knew. It had belittled all tanks +so persistently, had made so strong an argument out of the +perils and discomforts of all tank warfare, that the brave +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_289">289</span>Michael, now that he had his own engine of destruction, +showed no enthusiasm for using it. The German tank +crews, in fact, were thoroughly afraid of their Frankensteins; +and their rare appearances in action were marked +almost uniformly by that discretion which seemed naturally +to them by far the better part of valour. In some cases +they ditched their machines deliberately before any further +harm could overtake them. Only at Villers-Bretonneux did +the German-made tanks achieve any success—the counter-attack +at Niergnies six months later was carried out by +captured British Mark IV.’s.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowe30" id="i_288fp_a"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_288fp_a.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + German Tank, “Adalbert.” (German Photo.) + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure class="figcenter illowe30" id="i_288fp_b"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_288fp_b.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + French Heavy Schneider Tank, carrying 7.5 field-gun. (German Photo.) + </figcaption> +</figure> + + +<h4 id="II_12"> + II. +</h4> + +<p>German anti-tank measures in the early days followed +obvious lines, such as the use of armour-piercing bullets +and direct field-artillery fire. There was also employed on +a few occasions a 1-pounder automatic gun of the “Pom-pom” +type. One of these weapons was found in Kitchener’s +Wood, in the Salient. It is possible that the wider Hindenburg +trenches were constructed with a view to discomfiting +tanks. The battle of Cambrai, however, besides demonstrating +what tanks could accomplish in a general way, +given good conditions, demolished also the Hindenburg +fetish, and the shock of this discovery produced a crop of +reports and suggestions on the subject. Units were asked +for statements as to their experiences in the battle. One +division (believed to be the 119th, holding the Fontaine-Notre-Dame +sector from the 23rd November onwards) +reported as follows:—</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>“The division came into the Cambrai battle on the +22nd November, and since that date has fought on +several occasions, and always successfully, against +British tanks. Its experiences are borne out by the +statements of several British tank crews, including the +captain of a company of tanks.”</p> +</blockquote> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_290">290</span></p> + +<p>These prisoners, by the way, appear to have been unnecessarily +communicative. The report, after describing +the method of attack and the size and armament of tanks, +continues:—</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>“German defence and defensive measures were weak. +Losses on both sides scarcely worth mentioning.... +Pace (of tanks) three or four miles per hour. They +may surmount practically all obstacles. One tank in +Fontaine climbed up a steep orchard, broke the trees, +crossed two well-built 5-foot high garden-walls, and, in +turning, knocked down the corner of a house.... +Serious obstacles are constituted by trenches at least +13-16 feet wide and 10 feet deep. Also by marshy +ground. Ploughed land is easily negotiated; also +barricades. <i>The building of obstacles does not pay. It is +better to attack tanks energetically</i>.... Tanks must be +heavily fired at (by artillery) during their advance, even +if there is no likelihood of hitting them. The main +thing is to prevent the infantry from following the +tanks. The infantry must be made to fear the area +where the tanks are. In point of fact, the British +infantry was soon one to two miles behind the tanks, +and at Fontaine did not follow them at all.”</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>This is an interesting confirmation of a point already +referred to. The report goes on to remark that—</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>“... as actual anti-tank defence, only special guns +situated in the forward zone, which put the tanks out of +action by fire over open sights, are suitable. Each +direct hit kills part of the crew, and often sets the tank +on fire. Detachments situated further to the rear have +no knowledge of the situation, and often arrive too +late.</p> + +<p>“Such guns must, on principle, be situated well +forward; then the enemy will not succeed in a surprise +attack.</p> + +<p>“The O. i/c Defence Troops must be made responsible +for the siting of the anti-tank guns.</p> + + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_291">291</span></p> +<p>“Guns mounted on lorries do excellent work if the +roads are good.</p> + +<p>“<i>Infantry.</i> The front line must only make a gap to +let through tanks not put out of action, and take cover; +they must not retire. Tanks must be dealt with <i>behind</i> +the front. The chief object is the <i>repulse of the enemy +infantry</i>. The tank captain said, ‘<i>Tanks can gain ground, +but can never hold it alone.</i>’ This is a great point to +remember when discussing them.</p> + +<p>“Isolated commands in rear should be detailed for +anti-tank defence.</p> + +<p>“<i>Means of Defence.</i> The chief one is the armour-piercing +bullet. It is feared by the tank crews because +it goes clean through the armour-plating, causing a long +flame, and often setting fire to the petrol-tank.</p> + +<p>“The tank is best attacked from the rear. House-to-house +fighting against tanks is very favourable to +infantry. The men take cover in the houses, let the +tank pass, and then fire at it from the rear at close range +with rifles and M.G.’s.</p> + +<p>“The 46th I.R. accounted for four tanks in Fontaine +in this way.</p> + +<p>“<i>Hand Grenades.</i> Are useless singly; they only have +effect if several are tied together and thrown under the +tank, but this is very difficult.</p> + +<p>“<i>T.M.’s.</i> Light T.M.’s can be made effective with flat +trajectory fire. Used singly they have good results.</p> + +<p>“Anti-tank defence must be discussed and practised, +when the tanks lose their terror. Men fought +for four hours violently against eight tanks which +penetrated into Fontaine, and of which only two were +able to return (four were accounted for by infantry and +two by artillery); moreover, eleven derelict tanks are +lying just outside our lines.</p> + +<p class="right"> + “<span class="smcap">Muller-Loebnitz</span>, Maj.,<br> + <span style="margin-right: 2.5em;">for C.G.S.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_22_22" href="#Footnote_22_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a>⁠</span> +</p> +</blockquote> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_292">292</span></p> + +<p>It will be seen that the Germans continued to magnify +the powers of the armour-piercing bullets—a curious error, +as the captured tanks must have shown its comparative +inefficacy against the plating on the Mark IV.’s. Probably +the captured personnel exaggerated the effect of splinters +and the ordinary bullet-splash round the gun-ports. It is +interesting also to note the remarks about the petrol-tank. +This was always considered by the enemy to be the tank’s +weak spot, although in fact no more vulnerable in itself +than any other.</p> + +<p>Soon after Cambrai the Germans were devoting their +whole energies to preparations for their own great offensive, +which was launched in the following spring, and defensive +measures of all kinds were secondary considerations for the +time being. But when the three successive blows on the +Somme, the Lys, and the Aisne had come at length to an +end, and were countered, with startling rapidity and effect, +by the French and British attacks on 18th July and 8th +August 1918, the enemy was aroused very roughly to a +realisation of his peril and of the power of the weapon +he had affected to despise. The 8th August, in particular, +was entirely a tank victory—a greater and more brilliant +Cambrai; and the astonishing collapse of the defence +threw the Great General Staff into a panic from which it +never was allowed to recover. From this date to the end +a persistent refrain, rising at length to a frantic crescendo +of warning and exhortation, runs through all the orders +issued to the German armies, and the burden of it is tanks, +tanks, and again tanks.</p> + +<p>A few extracts, taken at random, from captured German +orders, prisoners’ statements, and similar channels of information, +will show very clearly the disillusionment and +alarm which spread through the armies after the rout of +Von Hutier and Von der Marwitz in front of Amiens. +During the Arras operations at the end of August, for +example, documents were secured which showed that +divisional anti-tank officers had been created. A similar +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_293">293</span>regimental appointment was recommended. The divisional +anti-tank officer was not to be employed for any other +purpose, and was to be given the utmost assistance by all +ranks and units. Further, a G.H.Q. Routine Order laid +down that officers and other ranks who had done good work +in repelling tanks were to be mentioned in Army Orders, +and that specially meritorious acts were to be rewarded by +decorations. About the same time an order was issued +from the headquarters of the Crown Prince’s group of +armies which ran as follows:—</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>“According to reports received from G.H.Q. during +the recent fighting on the Second and Eighteenth Army +fronts, large numbers of tanks broke through on narrow +fronts, and, pushing straight forward, immediately +attacked the battery positions and headquarters of +divisions. In many places no defence could be made +in time owing to the fact that batteries which had +their guns dug in were insufficiently mobile and were +only ready to open fire too late to defend themselves +against the tanks, which attacked them from all sides. +Anti-tank defence must be developed on the lines of +those experiences.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_23_23" href="#Footnote_23_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a>⁠</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>Among prisoners’ statements, again, we find that various +N.C.O.’s all agreed that “tanks always create a moral effect +on infantry, however often they have seen tanks, or have +been told by officers that they will be quite safe if they take +cover and let the tanks pass on. <i>It is recognised that infantry +can do nothing against tanks.</i>”⁠<a id="FNanchor_24_24" href="#Footnote_24_24" class="fnanchor">[24]</a> On 25th August the 38th +German Division was adjured to pull itself together and +show a better front to tank attacks. “The troops themselves +will await a tank attack with calmness. The first +essential for the infantry is that they should keep their +heads.” A month later we find General Von Wrisberg +endeavouring to encourage the civilians at home. Speaking +for the Minister of War in the Reichstag, he remarked, +“the American armies also should not terrify us. We shall +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_294">294</span>also settle with them. More momentous for us is the question +of tanks. We are adequately armed against them. +Anti-tank defence is nowadays more a question of nerves +than of material.” Soon after General Von Wrisberg had +spoken, the second battle of Cambrai began. The tanks +once more proved too much for the nerves of the German +infantry, and prisoners provided the usual illuminating confirmation +of this. It appeared that in spite of all exhortations +“the German infantry still considers that as soon as +the tanks have broken through their line, further resistance +is useless.... The officers gave as their opinion that tanks +were a ‘brilliant invention,’ and wished that the Germans +had more of them. Lack of material, however, stood in the +way.... A number of intelligent N.C.O.’s (Sergeant-Majors +and Sergeants) ... stated that tanks invariably had a +considerable moral effect on infantry, however often they +might be told that they had only to let them through and +the artillery would deal with them.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_25_25" href="#Footnote_25_25" class="fnanchor">[25]</a> In the same month +a German Corps Order lays down that “<i>Messages concerning +tanks have preference over all other telephone calls, including +messages regarding aeroplanes.</i>”⁠<a id="FNanchor_26_26" href="#Footnote_26_26" class="fnanchor">[26]</a>⁠</p> + +<p>For some time past Ludendorff had been growing more +and more concerned over this new warfare. In a report +on the battle of 8th August, he gave as the first reason +for the defeat, “the fact that the troops were surprised by +the massed attack of tanks, and lost their heads when the +tanks suddenly appeared behind them under cover of natural +and artificial fog.” This, of course, was no more than the +truth; but it was a novel confession for the Great General +Staff to make, and indicated the grave apprehensions which +the disaster had aroused, for there could be no guarantee +against the troops losing their heads a second time, or a +third. “Nerves” play an increasing part in official German +cajolings and extenuations from now to the end, but this +obnoxious and unsoldier-like word was never used before +the tanks caused it to become a normal feature in every +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_295">295</span>apologia. Ludendorff, once awake to the new danger, took +vigorous although quite useless steps to combat it by practical +measures in the field. These we will consider next, +but before concluding this sketchy selection of documentary +evidence, one final and authoritative witness remains to be +heard—the Great General Staff itself. A short time ago, +Colonel Bauer, who had been head of the Artillery Department +at headquarters, and who is credited by German public +opinion with having been the special confidant and political +inspirer of Ludendorff, issued a pamphlet professing to give +the General Staff’s version of the events which led up to +the Armistice. Throughout September and October, it +appears, Ludendorff made repeated demands for peace +while the armies were still intact, pointing out that it was +necessary to reckon on an increasing deterioration of the +military situation. At the end of September Von Hindenburg +agreed to lay before the new Government just formed +under Prince Max of Baden a true statement of affairs. On +2nd October the representatives from General Headquarters +met the party leaders of the Reichstag, and presented to +them the report. It began with this striking passage:—</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>“The chief army command has been compelled to +take a terribly grave decision, and declare that, according +to human probabilities, there is no longer any +prospect of forcing peace on the enemy. Above all, +two facts have been decisive for this issue. First, the +tanks. The enemy has employed them in unexpectedly +large numbers. Where, after a very liberal clouding of +our positions with artificial mist, they effected a surprise, +our men’s nerves were often unequal to them. +Here they broke through our first line, opened a way +for their infantry, appeared in the rear, created local +panics, and threw the control of the fighting into confusion. +When they had once been identified our tank +defence weapons and our artillery quickly settled with +them. Then, however, the misfortune had already +happened, and solely the successes of the tanks +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_296">296</span>explain the large numbers of prisoners which so +painfully reduced our strengths, and brought about a +more rapid consumption of reserves than we had +hitherto been accustomed to.</p> + +<p>“We were not in a position to oppose to the enemy +equal masses of German tanks. Their construction +would have exceeded the resources of our industry, +which was strained to the uttermost, or other more +important things would have had to be neglected.”—‘Daily +Telegraph,’ 21st July 1919.⁠<a id="FNanchor_27_27" href="#Footnote_27_27" class="fnanchor">[27]</a>⁠</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>This confession, coming from such a quarter, needs little +comment. It seems to justify all the arguments by which I +have tried to show how tanks, when at length properly +employed, determined not only the duration, but also to a +large extent the actual result, of the war. Yet, as I write, +there appears to be every probability that no tank corps +will be included in the post-bellum army! The cavalry, +useless and inefficient, is of course to remain at full +strength; infantry and artillery are to be cut down to a +minimum to provide money for ameliorating the lives of +coal miners; and the Tank Corps, as an unnecessary +extravagance, is in danger of total abolition. Truly we +are a remarkable people.</p> + + +<h4 id="III_10"> + III. +</h4> + +<p>After the 8th August the Germans began feverishly to +devise anti-tank measures of every kind. It is doubtful if +the immense fronts which modern armies occupy can ever +be protected satisfactorily by artificial means against whole-hearted +tank attacks; and in any case the Germans were +allowed no time to perfect such stationary defences. Field +artillery remained to the end the best anti-tank weapon. +Special guns were now brought forward near the front line, +to remain silent until the moment of attack, when they +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_297">297</span>were to concentrate on tanks. Our barrage, however, usually +accounted for most of these advanced pieces before they +could do much harm, while the remainder were overrun by +the tanks in the first rush, which always took place at +dawn. More dangerous were reserve guns which moved +up to selected positions further back as soon as the attack +started. “Finally, all German batteries, including howitzers, +had general instructions to plan their positions in such a +way that advancing tanks would be subject to a direct fire +at about 500 or 600 yards’ range. In the event of a tank +attack the engagement of our machines was now to be the +first call upon the artillery, to the exclusion of counter-battery +or any other work.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_28_28" href="#Footnote_28_28" class="fnanchor">[28]</a>⁠</p> + +<p>The only novel weapon of offence introduced was the +anti-tank rifle. This was a huge affair, 5¹⁄₂ feet long, and +provided with biped legs and an ordinary wooden stock. +It fired armour-piercing bullets of .530 calibre and had no +magazine. “It was obviously too conspicuous and too slow +a weapon to be really effective against tanks, though the +steel core could penetrate the armour of British tanks at +several hundred yards’ range. The chief disadvantage of +the anti-tank rifle, however, was that the German soldier +would not use it. He was untrained in its use, afraid of +its kick, and still more afraid of the tanks themselves. It +is doubtful if more than one per cent of the A.T. rifles +captured in our tank attacks had ever been fired.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_29_29" href="#Footnote_29_29" class="fnanchor">[29]</a>⁠</p> + +<p>A great variety of fixed obstructions were set up in village +streets, on roads, and at other suitable points. None of +these gave us any serious trouble. Usually they could be +avoided. The road obstacles, in fact, comprising craters, +barricades of carts filled with bricks, and concrete blocks, +allowing only a narrow passage which could be closed with +railway iron, seem primarily to have been intended to hold +up whippets and armoured cars. Land mines, on the other +hand, which were used rather extensively, while generally +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_298">298</span>ineffective, served to impose caution on any tank commander +who knew of, or suspected, their existence. They +generally took the form of high-explosive shells with light +fuses, buried in rows a few inches below the surface of a +road or across some other likely defile, and fitted with a +simple wooden device which the weight of a tank pressed +down upon the nose-cap, so detonating the fuse. One or +two large mine-fields were laid, in which a more elaborate +apparatus was used. Oddly enough, it was one of our own +mine-fields, prepared before the March retreat and afterwards +forgotten, which caused the only serious disaster tanks ever +suffered from this form of defence.</p> + +<p>Two more unusual types of obstacle came within my own +experience. Along the valley which runs between the first +and second Hindenburg Lines from Pronville to Inchy-en-Artois, +on the Canal du Nord, was the dried-up bed of a +stream called the Hirondelle. Its banks were lined with +stout willows, and where the gaps between these were wide +enough for a tank to pass through, the Germans had planted +lengths of railway line, upright but inclining forward, the +ends embedded in concrete blocks sunk in the ground. As +this part of the line was taken in reverse by the capture of +Quéant, tanks had no opportunity of testing this obstacle. +I think the rails would have been pushed over with ease, +but the process might have held up the tanks for a few +dangerous minutes in full view of the second Hindenburg +Line. In the main street of Inchy itself were two massive +blocks of concrete 6 feet high, with the usual narrow passage +between, and each furnished with half a dozen of these +inclined iron rails, which rose to the house-tops. This +barricade would have stopped any tank. More interesting +than this defence scheme, however, was the elaborate but +unfinished stockade at Achiet-le-Grand. The Arras-Bapaume +railway curves across most of this region on a high embankment. +This in itself was not generally unsurmountable, +but tanks in the act of climbing over it would stand out +as magnificent targets for the German batteries, which then +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_299">299</span>were posted on the other side. At one point, just north +of Achiet-le-Grand station, a rise of ground caused the embankment +to fall away to nothing for two or three hundred +yards, and attacking tanks, it was thought, naturally would +make for this crossing. In front of it, therefore, parallel +to the line, the Germans began a really formidable anti-tank +stockade. It was made of lengths of railway line and +stout telegraph poles, three rails or two poles being lashed +together, fixed in cement bases, and buried in the ground, +above which they rose to a height of 4 feet. Inclining +forward, these stakes were planted 7 feet apart in several +rows, each row covering the spaces of the one in front. It +was found that tanks could force a passage through this +<i>abattis</i> only by approaching it obliquely and crushing down +one row of stakes at a time, a slow process which would +have exposed them helplessly to the batteries close beyond. +In the attack on this position on 21st August 1918, when +a great number of tanks were knocked out along the railway, +the stockade was not attempted. There was a similar +form of obstacle on the Bapaume-Cambrai road, and there +may have been others.</p> + +<p>Taken as a whole, these various artificial impediments +inevitably proved a failure. There was no time for the +Germans to cover every vulnerable point in such a fashion, +and isolated obstacles were useless against a tank attack +on a wide front. In any case, the principle of passive +defence was bound to be fatal in the end; and the Germans, +realising this, were at work when the war finished upon an +instrument which they hoped would replace all these makeshifts. +This instrument was the “Tuf” or <i>Tank und Flieger</i> +machine-gun, a huge Maxim firing armour-piercing bullets +of 13 mm. diameter. This formidable weapon must have +been deadly against our Mark IV.’s and V.’s, for its stream +of heavy bullets would have gone clean through the armour. +Profound importance was attached to its speedy production, +in which sixty factories were engaged, and it was given +priority over submarines and aeroplanes (another testimony +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_300">300</span>to the German fear of tanks). Major Williams-Ellis, in +‘The Tank Corps,’ gives the following interesting details +of the fate of this invention:—</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>“No less than 6000 of these guns were to be in the +field by April 1919, and delivery was to begin early in +the previous December—just a month too late. However, +when the armistice was signed the firms were +already in possession of the greater part of the stores +and raw material for the manufacture of the guns, a +quantity of which were by then well on the way to +completion. Immediately after the signing of the +armistice all the factories, without exception, were +instructed by telephone to continue manufacturing the +‘Tuf,’ and about 20th November they received confirmation +in writing of this order, and were instructed +to keep on their workmen at all costs. Our occupation +of the left bank of the Rhine proved a serious +drawback to a continuation of the manufacture, as it +completely interrupted communication between several +of the factories. The Piaff Works of Kaiserslautern +(Palatinate), and the great Becker Steel Works of +Crefeld, which played an important part in the manufacture +of the guns, had to close down, both being +on the left bank of the Rhine.</p> + +<p>“The Minister of War, throughout the period of its +manufacture, asked for daily and minute reports as to +the progress of the ‘Tuf.’ But once more, as ever +in all that concerned tanks, the Germans were several +months too late. We were never destined to face this +particular weapon with the Mark V. The modern +tank fears it not at all.”</p> +</blockquote> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_301">301</span></p> + + +<h4 id="IV_6"> + IV. +</h4> + +<p>It may seem ill-mannered to relegate an account of +the French Tank Corps to the tail-end of a discursive +chapter devoted mainly to the Germans and their doings. +But the subject of the <i>Artillerie d’Assaut</i>, if treated adequately, +would require a book to itself, and is, in fact, outside the +scope of this narrative. Considerations of space, already +becoming urgent, would alone forbid any detailed history. +I wish merely to outline very briefly here the inception and +growth of the new arm in the French service.</p> + +<p>The French tank was evolved independently of our own. +Its author may be said to have been Colonel Estienne, of +the Artillery. This officer, observing in 1915 the Holt +tractors used by the British Army, was inspired by the +same idea which Colonel Swinton and his colleagues already +were perfecting in England. At the end of the year Colonel +Estienne put his views before General Joffre. After an +interview with the latter, he approached the Schneider +Engineering Company on the subject, and drew up with +them the design of the machine he had in mind. In +February 1916, Schneiders received a definite order to +construct 400 machines, and a little later a second firm +was told to build another 400 of a heavier type. These last +were the St Chamond tanks, driven by petrol-electric +motors. An instructional ground was established at Marly-le-Roi, +and Colonel Estienne was recalled from Verdun to +command the new unit.</p> + +<p>The design of these French tanks differed in an important +feature from our own. It is better, perhaps, to say +that they remained in a more primitive stage of evolution. +The idea of the wheel, and the subsequent modification +which produced the unique shape and capabilities of the +British tank, does not seem to have occurred to the constructors +of the Schneiders and St Chamonds. Both these +types were modelled on the ordinary tractor, and in consequence +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_302">302</span>worked under severe limitations. Obstacles that +were negligible to a British tank they found impassable. +On the other hand, they carried a far heavier gun than our +machines, the 75 mm. field-piece of famous memory. In +appearance they were small editions of the German copy, +the <i>Panzerkraftwagens</i>. Their light weapon was the +Hotchkiss automatic rifle, carried on our Whippets and +Mark V.’s.</p> + +<p>Ten companies, of 16 tanks each, were formed in April +1917, one company only consisting of St Chamonds. In +various actions during the year, the Schneiders did excellent +work, but the St Chamonds proved to be a failure. +In the meantime, still working on very similar lines to our +own, Colonel Estienne was evolving an idea for a light +tank. The result was the remarkable little Rénault +machine, of which no fewer than 3500 were ordered in +June 1917. If we had designed the better heavy tank, +the French made a leap ahead with the Rénault; and it is +highly interesting to see how national habits of thought +appear manifestly in this connection. Our bias, in any +sort of constructional work, leans towards the heavy, +durable, and expensive article. We have a horror of anything +cheap and fragile. This inclination, together with +the ingenious design of the large tank, worked for good in +the case of the latter; but when we came to build what we +called light machines, our limitations were very apparent. +The Whippet was nearly as conspicuous and as costly as +the Mark IV. or V., was far more vulnerable and intricate, +was incapable of surmounting any serious obstacle, and +possessed only one merit—superior speed. It was absurd +to describe it as a light tank.⁠<a id="FNanchor_30_30" href="#Footnote_30_30" class="fnanchor">[30]</a> Colonel Estienne and his +colleagues, on the other hand, determined to produce a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_303">303</span>little, simple, inconspicuous machine which could be +manufactured rapidly at a small cost, and which was to be +capable of performing, under modern conditions, the task +of the French <i>Fantassin</i>, or skirmisher. The Rénaults, in +fact, were to be used in clouds in front of the infantry, like +armoured light troops. If 20, or 50, or 100 were destroyed, +they could easily be replaced. They were not expected to +cross wide trenches or climb vertical obstacles; this was the +preliminary task of the heavy tank. While the Whippet +was a weak compromise between the two types, the +Rénault was definitely limited in its functions. It was +experimental in the sense that all tanks during the war +were experimental. There was no time in which to play +about with various designs, and in consequence the accepted +model had many faults, but it was a strikingly +successful experiment on novel lines. In appearance, with +its hunched-up shoulders topped by a bell-shaped cupola, +and its curving iron tail introduced to prevent it from turning +on its back, it looked like some fabulous cross between +a grasshopper and a scorpion. Compared with all previous +tanks it was ridiculously small—a mere toy, even, beside a +Whippet. It carried two men, a driver who sat on the +floor, and a gunner who swung half-upright behind him in +a sort of leather sling and fired a Hotchkiss from the cupola, +which revolved. It had a Rénault engine of only 17 h.p., +narrow sprung tracks, passing over a big idle wheel in +front and a small driving sprocket behind, and could travel +on good ground at a speed of six to seven miles an hour. +It was extraordinarily handy, and by means of two levers +which threw the tracks out of gear it could be spun about +like a top. Owing, however, to its light weight and springy +motion, it must have been extremely awkward to aim from +while on the move.</p> + +<p>Astonishing rapidity of production was one of the chief +merits of the Rénault. After the victorious counterstroke +against the Château-Thierry Salient, in which these little +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_304">304</span>machines played a decisive part, whole battalions, each of +75 tanks, became available at the rate of one a week! +This permitted of tired units being replaced speedily by +fresh ones. The French Tank Corps was established on +the normal continental infantry basis, in regiments of three +battalions; and it was proposed to form, in addition to the +regiments of Schneider and St Chamond heavies, thirty +battalions (ten regiments) of Rénaults. By August 1918 +the personnel of the Corps numbered already 14,600 of all +ranks. During 1918, 3988 individual tank engagements +were fought, to which number the diminutive Rénaults +contributed 3140.</p> + +<p>It is impossible here to give details of any of these tank +actions. What is called the Battle of Soissons—the +brilliant series of operations from 18th July onward which +inaugurated the combined allied offensive—was the Cambrai +of the French Tank Corps. After that date tanks were +employed wherever possible, not only on the main front, +but at St Mihiel and even in Flanders, where the 6th +French Army was sent to strengthen General Plumer and +the Belgians; and a company of Rénaults went as far afield +as Salonika. “Finally,” to quote ‘Weekly Tank Notes,’ +“it may be stated that as there can be no doubt that the +18th July was the second greatest turning-point in the war, +the first being the Battle of the Marne in 1914, so can there +be no doubt that the Battle of Soissons would never have +been won had not the French possessed a powerful force of +tanks whereby to initiate success. The German General +Staff, which should be the best judge of this question, +candidly admit that the French victory was due to the +use of ‘masses of tanks’; neither was the General Commanding-in-Chief +of the French Armies reticent, for on +the 30th July he issued the following special order of the +day to the French Tank Corps—</p> + +<p class="center"> + ‘<i>Vouz avez bien merité de la Patrie</i>,’ +</p> + + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_305">305</span></p> +<p>whilst General Estienne, to whom so much was due, +received the Cravat of the Legion d’Honneur and was +promoted to the rank of General of Division for the great +services he had rendered to his country.”</p> + +<p>In England, it seems, we do not know how to do these +things—or at least to whom to do them.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_306">306</span></p> + + + <h3 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XV"> + CHAPTER XV. + <br> + <span class="sm">THE GERMAN OFFENSIVE. MEAULTE, BOUVIGNY, + AND BÉTHUNE.</span> + </h3> +</div> + + +<h4>I.</h4> + +<p>A further expansion of the Tank Corps, as indicated +already, was the natural result of the Battle of Cambrai. +The rejected proposal for an 18-battalion establishment +was now almost obsequiously adopted. A little later, +indeed, the War Office (dragging with it a reluctant +Treasury) rushed recklessly in where it had feared to +tread before, and sanctioned a still larger increase. Before +all this had happened, however, an outward and visible +sign had testified to the dawn of a new era. The tanks +were formally manumitted from the paper control of the +Machine Gun Corps, and became in name what they had +always been in fact, a separate organisation. For reasons +of simplicity and common-sense I have written throughout +of the “Tank Corps,” where a pedantic conscience would +have impelled me to speak of the H.B.M.G.C., for this +change of nomenclature, with all that it implied, was not +in force until late in 1917.</p> + +<p>Two new tank brigades, the 4th and 5th, were now to +be formed immediately in France. Pending the completion +of these arrangements, as well as of those for the disposal +of the various units in the coming year, the three old +brigades, or what was left of them, were concentrated for +the winter between Albert and Bray, on the edge of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_307">307</span>Somme battlefield. There was much to be done before +any of the battalions would be fit for another offensive +battle, and it was suspected already that defensive rather +than offensive measures would be our portion for the next +few months. In the meantime, Tank Corps Headquarters, +faced with the dazzling prospect of a great and possibly +indefinite expansion, made a simple calculation and found +that it was in danger of exhausting the resources of the +alphabet. Eighteen battalions, denominated alphabetically, +would leave only eight letters for future emergencies; while +to continue the illogical practice of numbering the companies +consecutively throughout a growing corps promised +in the end a surfeit of figures as well. And so another +revolutionary translation came about. Letters and figures +changed places. Our old battalion designations, which had +acquired a sentimental significance, were abolished at a +stroke, so that A Battalion, Tank Corps, became the 1st +Tank Battalion, and, what was more harrowing, G became +the 7th. This reform, however necessary, was painful to +the victims. It might mean nothing to the new battalions +forming in England, but we, in France, felt that we had +lost our individuality. It was as if the law, without obtaining +my consent, had decreed that I was to be called +Smith or Jones. The old names, however, are not dead. +In any gathering of officers or men from the first three +brigades, you will find the battalions still spoken of as A +or B, F or G, and so on, as the case may be.</p> + +<p>At the same time that this nominal change took place, +the numerical order of companies was abolished also. The +three companies of a battalion were known in future as +A, B, and C.</p> + +<p>I have explained how I came to be absent at Cambrai. +Just before Christmas I was released from convalescent +quarters (cynically so-called) at Barly, near Avesnes-le-Comte, +where I had been living with other unfortunates +in the coldest château in France—an outwardly imposing +but actually gimcrack house like “Hardwick Hall, more +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_308">308</span>glass than wall,” and short of coal into the bargain. With +some difficulty (for R.T.O.’s and other dignitaries whose +business it was to know such things invariably were +ignorant of the whereabouts of tank units) I ran the 1st +Brigade to earth in a camp of huts outside Meaulte, two +miles from Albert. I will not dilate upon the arctic winter +we spent at this unholy spot, beyond remarking that the +camp, like all similar military establishments, was built on +the bleak northern slope of a hill. There was no intervening +shelter, so far as I could judge, between us and +the North Pole. We contrived, however, to exist cheerfully, +and indeed for a fortnight after Christmas almost too +cheerfully. The celebrations common to that season and +to the New Year were involved with others consequent +upon the announcement of the Cambrai honours, and the +promotions and partings brought about by the expansion +of the corps. These last affected the 7th Battalion—as I +hate to call it—very materially. Colonel Hankey, to every +one’s profound regret (a feeling not so common as the +conventional accounts of such departures might lead the +unsophisticated to suppose), left us to take over the new +4th Brigade, carrying with him several others. Major +Fernie became Battalion Commander, and was succeeded +in A (late 19) Company by Winters. Major Broome left +C Company to command another battalion. There were +a number of minor promotions, due to these changes and +to casualties; and Henriquez, of A Company, having become +battalion reconnaissance officer, his vacant post as company +R.O. was offered to me. The work had always +appealed to me, and I was the more pleased with the +opportunity at the time because I believed then that most +of my old friends in C Company were leaving the battalion +for more exalted posts elsewhere.</p> + +<p>Few incidents worth recording marked our stay at +Meaulte. Heavy snow fell, which added, in my opinion, +to the general discomfort, and the road up to the camp +remained for weeks a corrugated and painful slope of ice, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_309">309</span>down which one slid helplessly into the village. Fuel, +in more senses than one, was always a burning question, +and next in importance came that of leave, now six or +seven months overdue. A driving school, supplied with +the few fit tanks the three battalions could muster, was +started at Bécordel, on the old front line near Mametz. +Drafts of officers and men came from the depot to replace +casualties. And in January began the reshuffling of units +necessitated by the formation of two new brigades. +Of the old 1st Brigade the 7th Battalion only was left. +The 4th and 5th (late D and E) went to join the 1st +Battalion in the new 4th Brigade, under General Hankey, +as he was now, and in their place we received, with hot +rum-punch and such other amenities as the arctic conditions +indicated, two fledglings from England—the 11th and +12th (K and L) Battalions. The former suffered from a +surfeit of Rifle Brigade officers, was rent always in consequence +by internal dissensions, and, thus handicapped, +struggled rather obscurely through its short active career. +The 12th Battalion, to which I was posted shortly before +the Armistice, was more normal and human; and, after a +series of successful actions, wound up in a blaze of glory +as the only one of the five surviving tank units selected +to represent the corps in Cologne itself.</p> + +<p>In February, amid half-incredulous rejoicings, the first +leave allotments reached the 7th Battalion. I came to +England in the middle of the month, returning in the first +days of March to find our huts stripped and deserted, a +rear party packing up a residue of stores and kit, and the +main body of the battalion, with all the tanks, already +departed northward for the 1st Army area. I followed by +lorry the same afternoon. This was the last I saw of +Meaulte, which then was full of inhabitants and little injured +by war. A month later it was in ruins and occupied by the +Germans.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_310">310</span></p> + + +<h4 id="II_13"> + II. +</h4> + +<p>It was known by now that a German offensive on a +large scale was imminent, and might be directed at any +one point, or at several simultaneously, on the long front +from Béthune to the Aisne. The move northward of the +1st Tank Brigade was part of a defensive scheme for the +protection of the Bruay coal-fields, should the enemy make +a direct attack upon them from the Lens-La Bassée sector. +The front allotted to the Brigade extended from the La +Bassée Canal to the Scarpe, and was divided into three +parts—one to each battalion. These battalion fronts +overlapped, while each unit was supposed to have some +knowledge of the whole brigade area. The 12th Battalion +was responsible for that part lying between the La Bassée +Canal and Loos, the 7th Battalion for that between Vermelles +and Vimy, the 11th for the remainder of the sector +to a point south of Arras, where the 2nd Tank Brigade +carried on the defensive line. It was assumed from the +first that if tanks were employed at all it would be in a +counter-attack, the probable directions of the enemy’s +offensive being (1) against the Hill 70 sector, (2) a frontal +attack against the Vimy Ridge, and (3) a flanking movement +from the south. He occupied already so large a part of the +coal district that the repulse of any further attempt was +essential; and in the event of his capturing some vital point +in the defence line (such as Hill 70 itself), the tanks would +be employed at once to assist in driving him out. This +being the general idea, little or no time was to be spent +at first in collecting information about the ground beyond +our front line. Reconnaissance was confined to the region +between the tank-parks and the main zone of resistance, +known as the Black Line. By the middle of the month +this reconnaissance was in full swing. Taken as a whole, +the country was not bad for tank operations; but the wide +belt of shelled ground and crumbling trenches which marked +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_311">311</span>the old front line before Lens, the numerous large mining +villages which radiated out from that town, and the Vimy +Ridge itself, so convulsed by high explosive that only three +possible tank crossings could be found, presented difficult +and dissimilar problems. A tank counter-attack in this +unique region must have been extremely interesting.</p> + +<p>Had such an attack taken place, almost the whole battlefield +would have been spread like a map below our camp. I +do not think there can have been in France any point of +view quite so remarkable, in the circumstances, as the +everyday outlook from the 7th Battalion’s huts above +Bouvigny-Boyeffles. This camp—it was a single row of +Nissens, occupied only by the officers—was situated halfway +up the bold ridge which ends to the southward in the +famous spur of Notre Dame de Lorette, overhanging the +rubbish-heap that used to be Souchez. In front of us +there was nothing but the immense flat plain of Lens and +Douai. On a clear day we had only to step out of our +huts and look over a hedge garnished with a screen of +camouflage netting; and before us, across a stubble-field +and the roofs of Boyeffles village, there rolled away to +north and east and south-east the fruitless battlefields of +three and a half years—Vimy and Liévin, Loos and +Hulluch, La Bassée and Neuve Chapelle. And, for a +background, this astonishing panorama took in Mont +Rouge and Mont Noir and Kemmel Hill, thirty miles +distant, near Ypres, the low ridge that covered Lille from +view, the towns of Bailleul, Armentières, and Béthune, the +score of wretched suburbs about Lens, with more rising +ground ten miles behind, the numberless <i>crassiers</i> and +towers of the coal-fields, the smoke of trains on the Lille-Douai +railway, the huge bulk of Drocourt Fosse behind +which Douai itself was hidden. With my glasses, on +many fine evenings before sunset, while standing at the +back of my own hut, I have distinguished the church and +the individual houses of Mons-en-Pevèle, a little village on +a hill twenty-three miles from where I stood, and at least +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_312">312</span>fifteen beyond the nearest point of the German lines. +Nearer at hand in this crowded scene were other familiar +landmarks—the churches of Harnes and Carvin, behind +Lens, the fallen “Tower Bridge” of Loos, the white water +towers of Fosse 21 and 22, the huge red-brick building with +its three steel spires which had been the works of the +Metallurgique Company. And everywhere, far and near, +rose the black <i>crassiers</i>—the slag-heaps—of the coal-mines. +Some of these were long and dwarfish, as you may see them +in Lancashire, but those which took the eye were pyramidal, +like colossal sable sugar-cones. Beside them were the +skeletons of iron buildings, each with its tower and wheels. +The foreground of all this was a jumble of white and red—white +where patches of incongruous chalk were turned up +along the miles of trenches, old and new, from Liévin to +Loos, and red with a million shattered houses in the +miners’ <i>cités</i> which clustered about Lens—St Pierre, St +Auguste and St Laurent, Calonne and Maroc, Angres and +Avion. Lens itself, lying on low ground by the Souchez +river, was hidden from our camp.</p> + +<p>The men of the 7th Battalion were billeted in Bouvigny +village, close to the officers’ huts. Battalion H.Q. took +over the principal house in Boyeffles, a few hundred yards +away at the foot of the ridge. The tanks were elaborately +concealed on the very summit, amid the trees of the Bois +de Bouvigny, a straggling wood which ran along the crest +almost to the site of the demolished chapel of Notre Dame +de Lorette, where the French line had run in the early days +of the war, and where one still came across skeletons and +rusted rifles three years old. North of us, in the Bois +d’Olhain, were the 1st Brigade headquarters and the 12th +Battalion, both in huts. The 11th Battalion was at Mont +St Eloi, on our right. The troops holding this front were +the Canadian Corps. During the past year they had captured +Hill 70, Liévin, and a number of other suburbs of +Lens, and their front line now ran through the outskirts +of that dreadful town, reeking of poison gas and corruption. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_313">313</span>It was held only by German outposts, in many +places occupying the half of a ruined house of which the +other moiety was held by the Canadians; but it could not +be taken permanently until Sallaumines, a suburb on a +hillock immediately behind, was in our hands. The +Canadians, always energetic, and especially anxious to +round off their work by the capture of Lens, were full of +schemes by which Sallaumines was to be carried with the +help of tanks, but none of these materialised. While the +German offensives burst upon us and drove past us to +north and south, the Lens sector was privileged to remain +the quietest part of the whole British front.</p> + +<p>My new work as Reconnaissance Officer made me only too +familiar with this region. For two months I did nothing +but explore it. To begin with, I took part in a preliminary +survey with Henriquez, Beale of B Company, and Jack +Brown of C. (Gordon had left us to start a Reconnaissance +School at Le Tréport.) This business presupposed ability +to ride a motor-bicycle—all R.O.’s being provided with +these abominable machines. I learnt eventually to ride +mine with a certain amount of confidence and spirit; but +to the end I knew nothing about its internal mechanism, +and did not want to. I was so fortunate as to possess a +draughtsman who understood petrol-engines, and I left the +upkeep of my bicycle in his capable hands. Having with +its help acquired a general knowledge of our area and of the +routes we decided to follow if called upon to move, I proceeded +to initiate the officers, N.C.O.’s, and drivers of A +Company into these mysteries. In this work I had the +aid, and, what was better, the congenial companionship, +of Maelor Jones, who was the assistant R.O. of the +company. Day after day he and I tramped about the +melancholy region behind our line, exploring roads, examining +bridges, selecting lying-up points, repeating every +journey half a dozen times with our parties of learners, like +a pair of Cook’s couriers. “On your left you now see +Fosse 16, <i>dit de Lens</i>; beyond is Fosse 7, <i>de Béthune</i>. That +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_314">314</span>handsome edifice far in front—it is not advisable to try to +reach it—is the Metallurgique factory at Wingles....” I +have never been so heartily wearied of any piece of country +as I became of the Lens coal-fields. I came to know by +name and to loathe at sight every pithead, every road, +every clump of derelict red-brick houses. And yet, with +all this repetition and monotony, the work and the place +had unusual points of interest. It is the worst of a book +on any set subject, that the writer cannot be as irrelevant +as he would wish, for I should like to write now at some +length about those two months. I should like to write of +Bully-Grenay, where one could buy almost anything, and +where children played about in streets that stank of poison gas; +of Les Alouettes, where a woman (apparently the sole +remaining inhabitant) took in washing and kept a chicken-run +amid a battery of 8-inch howitzers; of the family of +Aix Noulette, in whose house (rebuilt largely of biscuit-tins +and brown paper) I ate so many omelettes; and of +that exposed portion of the Souchez road where Jack +Brown and I were sniped by a 5.9 at a moment when +my wretched bicycle refused to climb a gentle slope on +anything higher than bottom speed. But as these various +adventures led to nothing in the end, space does not permit +of any further discursions. The tanks, for whom all tribulations +were undergone, were never called upon in this +sector, although, before we had finished, we had extended +our reconnaissance southward until we knew Souchez and +the whole Vimy Ridge, with its craters and its tunnels, as +well as we knew Piccadilly or Hyde Park—in the case of +some of us, a good deal better.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, startling events were happening elsewhere, +and from our sort of peninsula we watched with +increasing bewilderment and anxiety the great tide of the +German offensives sweeping past on both flanks. On the +morning of March 21, every one heard the roar of a +heavy bombardment. It was known next day that the +enemy was making rapid progress south of the Somme. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_315">315</span>For nearly a week the news became daily more disheartening. +The four other Tank Brigades involved in the general +debacle had lost nearly all their tanks, and were fighting +as machine-gun units. And then, on the 29th, the +Germans launched their expected attack against the Vimy +Ridge and the northern part of the 3rd Army front. It +was a costly failure—so costly north of the Scarpe that +no further attempt was made against the ridge. But while +the result was in doubt, detachments of the 7th and 12th +Tank Battalions were hurried down to Roclincourt, in +front of Arras, with Lewis guns, and took up a defensive +position there. This party was known to us as the Oppy +Expeditionary Force. Full of warlike zeal, but ignorant +of the situation and even of its own whereabouts—for it +arrived in the middle of the night, and was pushed immediately +into holes and corners along the Roclincourt +Ridge—it passed several anxious hours of darkness in the +mistaken belief that a bloodthirsty and victorious enemy +was close at hand. As a matter of fact, he was still four +miles away, and never approached any nearer. The strain +was broken with the dawn, amid shouts of laughter, by +the appearance of a Decauville railway train which puffed +deliberately across the front which the Lewis gunners were +holding so tenaciously. The attack having definitely collapsed, +the detachment returned on the 29th.</p> + +<p>Throughout this exciting week, filled with appalling +rumours, our reconnaissance continued more busily than +ever. The activities of the 7th Battalion were now concentrated +on the Vimy Ridge, which we explored from +end to end. The 11th Battalion, some of whose tanks +were now in Roclincourt, was extending its own reconnaissance +far to the south of Arras. As the 3rd Army, +conforming to the retreat of the 5th, withdrew its right +and centre, there seemed an increased likelihood that +the enemy would attempt the third alternative mentioned +earlier in this chapter—a flanking attack through Arras +against the rear of the Vimy Ridge. His reoccupation +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_316">316</span>of Monchy-le-Preux and Orange Hill, in consequence of +our withdrawal, enabled him once more to overlook the +reverse slope of the ridge. Arras was shelled daily, and +nearly all its inhabitants were removed; and villages far +behind suffered from the German artillery. On account +of this threat, and of the crippled state of the 2nd and +3rd Tank Brigades with General Byng, the 12th Battalion +was transferred early in April from Olhain Wood to +Simencourt, north of the Arras-Doullens road. The tanks +trekked the whole way, by roads and across country—a +distance of nearly twenty miles. Concentration at +Simencourt was completed by the 10th April. The 11th +Battalion, with its Headquarters and some tanks still at +Mont St Eloi, was now in the centre of our increased +brigade frontage. The 7th Battalion, having become the +most northerly tank unit, would be the first involved +in any developments in the La Bassée area; and such +developments, of a startling character, were at hand.</p> + +<p>During the reconnaissance of the Vimy Ridge one had +been able to follow to some extent the progress of the +German advance north of the Somme. From points about +the southern end of the ridge, near where the road from +Arras to Lens passes the crest and drops abruptly toward +Vimy village, I watched through my glasses on successive +mornings the dappled clouds of smoke pushing westward +like the trail of some great conflagration. Viewed thus +from a flank, the new salient appeared even more pronounced +and ominous than it was in reality, especially as +the Germans were shelling busily many places far in our +rear. And when one climbed to the summit of the ridge +and looked eastward over the wide flat plain south of Lens, +everything was normal; a few brown puffs of dust where +our occasional shells were bursting, the distant smoke of +German trains, the black company of slag-heaps, and, far +away but often very clear, the three spires of Douai. It +was a singular contrast, and one felt like a privileged spectator +watching, from a high gallery, the two halves of some +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_317">317</span>gigantic tableau representing the extremes of modern war. +But, as it happened, the tableau was incomplete. There +was a third scene about to open, and one which our +unrivalled situation at Bouvigny allowed us to witness +without stirring from our camp, until we were drawn +into the fringe of it ourselves.</p> + + +<h4 id="III_11"> + III. +</h4> + +<p>In the first days of April we were busy with what was +known in the Tank Corps, from a remark by General Elles, +as the “Savage Rabbit” scheme. The military outlook +was gloomy, and the communications from those in +authority were unusually pessimistic; and among other +omens was a secret précis of instructions to be followed +in various possible emergencies, including a prolonged +retreat, and even a rout. The “Savage Rabbit” act was +an application of tank warfare to such unpleasant circumstances. +Tanks, instead of being held in hand for counter-attacks +or concerted rearguard actions, were to be scattered +in a long line and hidden—remaining hidden, in the +event of a disaster, until our infantry had retreated through +them and the enemy was close at hand, when the machines +would appear from their holes, like “savage rabbits,” and +sacrifice themselves to hold up the pursuit. This was a +nice encouraging proposition; it was also a very faulty +and wasteful method of using tanks, and could only be done +once. I do not know who was responsible for it. Very +fortunately there never was any need to carry it into practice, +although the 12th Battalion and others actually took +up their positions of concealment. In our case, it meant +stringing our tanks out along the base of the Lorette Ridge, +from Bouvigny to Souchez. Especial attention was to be +paid to the latter place. A feature of the new tactics +employed so successfully by the Germans in their offensive +was the skilful use of valleys, or any sort of low ground, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_318">318</span>for the purpose of infiltration. It was thought now that +if they advanced from the direction of Loos and Hill 70 +(the first alternative previously mentioned), and succeeded +in reaching the foot of the Lorette and Vimy Ridges, they +would endeavour to turn both these obstacles by penetrating +between them up the Souchez Valley. Souchez, +where the French suffered so terribly in 1915, blocks the +quite narrow gap that separates the Lorette spur from the +northern and highest end of the Vimy Ridge; and through +it ran several vital roads to Ablain St Nazaire, Carency, +and Arras. Two sections of A Company (6 tanks) were +therefore detailed to hold it at all costs. The tanks were +to be hidden close to the roads, so that, in the event of the +place being lost, they could swing across them and be blown +up to form obstructions. For several days I was exploring +the country behind the Lorette Ridge for routes by which +the tanks could be taken into Souchez. Hiding-places were +selected about the village (which had been destroyed with +quite exceptional completeness), and also others for the +remaining two sections along the road from Souchez to Aix +Noulette, on the eastern face of the ridge. But on the day +when these preparations were finished, and nothing remained +but to move the tanks to their posts of sacrifice, +another scene of our local tableau opened with a shattering +crash; and our eyes and thoughts were diverted instantly +in the opposite direction.</p> + +<p>The 12th Battalion, as we have seen, moved south from +the Bois d’Olhain about this time. Its last company +trekked on the 8th April, and the following day came the +new German blow along the Lys. The attack was expected, +and seems to have been launched in moderate force, +and with no very ambitious designs; but that fatality (or +fatuity) which on several occasions during this period +marked our dispositions, had dictated that a Portuguese +division should still be holding our line in front of Estaires. +The Portuguese infantry, utterly worthless troops, fled at +once, casting away their arms—except a few who retained +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_319">319</span>theirs long enough to shoot down some of our own people +who tried to stop them. The artillery, on the other hand, +behaved better, in some cases keeping their guns in action +to the last. The Germans, in the meantime, found in front +of them a wide gap, and pushed through it. One battalion +penetrated—most of the way in column of route—for three +or four miles without firing a shot, when its commanding +officer, suspicious of this extraordinary luck, went on ahead +to reconnoitre and was captured by the 51st Division, +which was hurrying up from support. It was said that +we had been so rash as to rely on the Portuguese holding +out for an hour; but they did not hold out for five minutes. +And from this period also dates the rumour that the famous +Army Order about our “gallant allies” had been formally +cancelled. In any case the mistake was made, and brought +on its heels a most disastrous retribution. In ten hours +Von Quast’s 6th Army had punched a hole 12 miles +wide and 5 deep in our defences; and in front of him +consternation and chaos were rolling onward like a +flood.</p> + +<p>From our huts on the slope above Bouvigny this new +battlefield lay visible in its entirety. It was twelve miles +away, but from our elevated site it was easy with good +binoculars to follow the course of the advance. The +country north of the La Bassée Canal is utterly flat, drained +by innumerable small streams and ditches, and covered +with orchards and villages, then full of prosperous people +and hardly touched by war. It had been a quiet front since +Neuve Chapelle. Even Armentières, two miles behind the +line, was an inhabited town, with shops and cafés open, +until the Germans began to shell it in earnest shortly before +21st March. And now, evening after evening, we used to +gather with our maps and field-glasses behind our row of +huts and watch the great wedge of burning villages pushing +farther and farther westward behind Béthune. Those evenings +were exceptionally clear, so that far across the smoking +plain the church tower of Bailleul was visible against the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_320">320</span>grey background of Mont Rouge. Bailleul was a charming +little town, with a wonderful red-brick belfry to its Hotel +de Ville, and one of the best officers’ clubs in France. +Within a fortnight it was in ruins.</p> + +<p>Certain dates I cannot remember, and I have no diary or +other aid to memory, but it must have been on the 11th or +12th that an urgent message came through demanding +Lewis-gun detachments. All the gunners in the battalion, +with a proportion of officers and 70 Lewis guns, the whole +under Major Norton, the second in command, with whom +was Winters of A Company, left that same evening by +lorry. By dawn next day they were in the line at Robecq, +in front of St Venant. There were rumours that the rest +of us, with the tanks, would be moving somewhere by train. +On the evening of the 13th or 14th, those of us who were +left in A Company held a sort of guest night, interrupted +by a bombing raid—the last guest night I attended until +the war was over; and the following morning we received +orders to trek after dark to Hersin station, to entrain for +the north. The tanks at this time were in Noulette Wood, +at the foot of the ridge, having moved down from the Bois +de Bouvigny on the crest in order to take part in various +training schemes with the Canadians. All that afternoon +Jack Brown and I were marking out with small metal flags, +painted white, a route from Noulette Wood to Hersin. It +was after six when we returned to camp, and already growing +dark. I was met by the news that only B and C +Companies were entraining—the former for Lillers and +the latter for Aire. I had got to lead A Company by +road to a wood near Vaudricourt, south of Béthune. A +route was indicated roughly on the map, but none of us +knew the country. We were, of course, very short-handed, +having about half a dozen subalterns and our three drivers +per tank; and all the tanks had their sponsons unbolted and +pushed in, preparatory to entraining. The Major being +away at Robecq with the Lewis-gun detachment, the +conduct of affairs fell to Moore, the second in command +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_321">321</span>of the company, Rudd, the only remaining section commander, +and myself.</p> + +<p>I packed a few things in a haversack, ate a cold supper, +filled a flask, and reached Noulette Wood in a box-car +about nine o’clock. I knew there was no immediate hurry, +as the depleted tank crews had to pull out and bolt all the +sponsons again. As a matter of fact, it was after ten when +we moved off. The night was clouded and pitchy dark, as +it usually is on these occasions, and our supply of electric +torches was miserably small. The distance to be covered—about +nine miles—was not excessive; but I knew the +difficulties that attend a company of twelve tanks moving +along an unknown route on a black night, and I was prepared +for a very tedious journey. And in fact no other trek +that I can remember, except our mule fight on the St +Julien road, left me so thoroughly exhausted and foot-weary. +We made only one mistake, missing in the darkness +a short-cut out of Sains-en-Gohelle, which cost us +half a mile; but until dawn we could see practically +nothing, all the electric torches gave out, and the leading +tanks, as necessarily happens in a column of a dozen, had +to be halted continually to let the rear ones close up. +What with scouting ahead in inky blackness for cross-roads +and turnings, imperfectly studied on the map by +the light of a match or an expiring torch, and trotting up +and down the column to give warning of misleading +features or to find out the reason for some delay, I must +have covered nearly double our nine miles that night; and +as I had been all the day on my feet, the latter may be +excused for giving unequivocal signs of wear. We did not, +however, cover our full distance. Dawn broke while we had +still some way to go, and at eight o’clock, when we came +to an excellent sunken road near Houchin, a mile short of +Vaudricourt, we decided to call a halt. The country was +open, and we were getting rather too near the line by +Béthune to make it advisable to move tanks about in daylight. +We camouflaged the machines in the sunken road, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_322">322</span>took off our boots, and had some breakfast. Our ultimate +destination we knew to be Fouquières, a village on the outskirts +of Béthune, and it seemed the obvious thing now to +make one bite of the remaining cherry that evening, and +pass Vaudricourt without stopping there. It had been +given us only as an approximate halting-place. After +breakfast, therefore, Rudd and I walked—or staggered, to +be correct—on to Fouquières, to find a lying-up point for +the tanks, and if possible billets for ourselves. There were +a number of small woods and plantations about the village, +but all were occupied in force by transport and ammunition +trains of the 1st Corps, which held this part of the +line. Billets seemed unobtainable, for the whole neighbourhood +was crowded with troops. We found a fair piece of +cover for the tanks under the trees of a road which led +down to a tributary of the Lawe river, and then we +searched the village for food, coming to rest eventually +in a cottage where they gave us omelettes and cheap +champagne. We subsisted very largely upon this diet for +the next three or four days.</p> + +<p>The tanks moved on to Fouquières that evening, except +one which broke down in the main street of Douvrin and +remained there for some time, to the endless joy of the +inhabitants, who had never seen these machines before. +At the foot of the road where the others parked up was a +large white house belonging to the <i>Maire</i> of Fouquières. +It was full of officers, including the headquarters of a +company of the 11th Tank Battalion which was in the line +at Givenchy with Lewis guns. We managed to find floorspace +here for the night in a sort of hall on the top floor, +into which opened innumerable doors. These were opening +and shutting all night, as the occupants of the rooms into +which they led came and went (and trod heavily upon us in +transit) on mysterious errands of their own. However, we +slept, after a fashion, and, as it fell out, we remained in this +house for a fortnight.</p> + +<p>The Major turned up next day with our gunners from +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_323">323</span>Robecq. Thrust into an attenuated and almost solvent +line, whose elements included every sort of man who could +hold a rifle, with little artillery, no trenches, and the +vaguest idea of the general situation, the detachment had +passed a very unpleasant three days and nights, and had +suffered a good many casualties, mostly in B and C Companies, +who lost three or four officers killed or missing. +The three companies were now concentrated again, but +strung out on a very wide front, with C far away at Aire, +B at Lillers, and ourselves at Béthune. Battalion headquarters, +being very comfortable at Boyeffles, remained +there, far from us all. The reason of our sudden move to +these three towns was the celebrated “Delta” scheme, as, +for purposes of concealment, it was called. I would not +inflict upon any reader the details of this exasperating +project, for they were never the same for two days together, +and it came to nothing in the end. The general idea (if +the words can be applied to so amorphous a conception) +was to ease the communications of the troops in the +Givenchy sector and relieve the pressure on Béthune, from +which the Germans were distant only a few kilometres to +the north and north-west. In the very beginning we got +as far as Y-day: everything was ready: we had reconnoitred +hurriedly that strange, almost untouched country +beyond the La Bassée Canal, where a few stray cattle still +wandered in orchards thick with blossom, where the empty +houses still showed the litter and confusion of their owners’ +sudden flight, and where no one knew where the front line +lay: tank routes were worked out, bridges examined, and +conferences held with corps and divisional pundits who +seemed to know nothing about anything; and then the +whole thing was cancelled (perhaps very wisely), and, in all +its subsequent fluctuations, was never so advanced again. +For another month we wrestled with its kaleidoscopic +changes. The proportion of tanks to be employed rose +from one battalion to the whole brigade, and frontages +and objectives were shuffled like counters. After a while +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_324">324</span>we felt that the whole thing had become a sort of confused +and academic dream, and we ceased to take any interest +in it.</p> + +<p>This period in many respects was very novel and interesting. +It was our first experience of what, in fact, was a +phase of open warfare, with all its alarms and hopes and +general uncertainty. The Germans were busy farther +north, about Kemmel and Bailleul, but at any moment +some new blow might be struck at Béthune. A few days +after we reached Fouquières, indeed, an attempt was made +to cross the canal on rafts opposite Hinges, and was repulsed. +Béthune by now, of course, was a dead town, its +shops closed, its inhabitants fled, its houses crumbling +daily under shell-fire. At Choques, the big railhead just +behind, two tanks of the 12th Battalion, with three of the +new Whippets, had been posted to hold the roads against +a raid by armoured cars. Hinges, north of Béthune, on +the only hill in that level country, in whose pleasant château +the 11th Corps headquarters had rested somnolently for +upwards of two years, was a mere collection of empty ruins +on our front line by the canal. The corps had fled hurriedly +to Roquetoire, behind Aire. Our own post, Fouquières, +was left more or less at peace for a while. Only a few high-velocity +shells fell about it at intervals. It swarmed with +people, for scores of refugees from the lost area were still +living with the inhabitants. And presently its turn came +also. As the shelling grew more persistent, its people were +evacuated; and these unfortunates, with their box-mattresses +and other cherished goods piled on waggons or +hand-carts, went to swell the great flood of fugitives that +streamed westward.</p> + +<p>Everything we wished to learn about this country we +had to find out for ourselves. The maps were bad, and +no one knew anything. I remember trying to obtain some +information and some better maps from the 1st Corps +Intelligence Officer. He could give me neither. He +admitted quite frankly that while he had masses of data +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_325">325</span>concerning the country between our old line and the +German frontier, of the Béthune district, at his very door +(the Corps headquarters had been at Hesdigneul, a mile +and a half from Béthune itself for many months), he knew +nothing at all. Another curious sidelight upon army +methods, at least during this confused period, was thrown +by some inquiry I made about the “Delta” scheme at the +1st Division headquarters at Gosnay. We were attached +to the 1st Division for operations, and for a fortnight past +had been drawing rations from it, yet the G.S.O. 1, whom +I interviewed, did not even know that there were any tanks +in the neighbourhood...! I have noticed so often in +France that while brigade staffs, who lived near the line, +in considerable danger and in touch with the fighting, +always seemed to have their wits about them, the staffs +of divisions and corps, long accustomed (at a distance) to +trench warfare, became atrophied and absorbed in mere +details of routine. It used to be said that prolonged trench +duties would render infantry unfit for the sudden emergencies +of attack or open warfare; but I think in many +cases it was the higher formations who were in danger of +succumbing to the spell.</p> + +<p>A feature of this time which impressed me very strongly +was the magnificent behaviour of the French population. +To many Englishmen the French are still incomprehensible, +vain, greedy, untidy (that fatal sin!), and altogether rather +absurd. We are, of course, ourselves very like our spiritual +kinsfolk the Germans in some ways, and especially in our +inability to understand, or wish to understand, any Latin +race. A common complaint in France was the extortionate +prices put on everything for our benefit. Apart from the +fact that this largely was our own fault, it is true that the +French, for centuries a very poor people, have learnt habits +of thrift that sometimes merit an uglier name; but we +should have stopped, before crying out about it, to ask what +our own behaviour would have been toward a French army +settled in England for upwards of four years. Can any one +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_326">326</span>imagine our shopkeepers carrying gratitude so far, after the +first altruistic burst of thankfulness, as to restrict their +profits or even limit them to reasonable bounds? I cannot +picture this myself. And, on the other hand, can any one +imagine our people working as diligently and suffering as +patiently as the French peasantry in the war zone? Again +I, for one, cannot. And these peasants, or shopkeepers, in +the country districts were almost all women. There were +young boys with them, and a few old men; but men +between eighteen and fifty years of age you never saw at +all. There were none of those sturdy and indispensable +farm hands who were exempted in droves in the English +counties. And when some great disaster came, such as +this German advance of which I am writing, you saw these +homeless and ruined folk at their very best—patient, +courageous, and courteous even in their despair. While +in England prosperous tradesmen were selling goods at +100 per cent profit, saying only in extenuation, “It is the +war,” the same phrase was being uttered in an infinitely +finer spirit by the refugees of France, long broken to such +tragedies. You met some woman leaving her home, pushing +before her a hand-barrow loaded with her poor possessions; +and if you commiserated, there came the inevitable +answer, accepting an inevitable occurrence with a resignation +that was far removed from apathy—“C’est la guerre, +monsieur....” I remember a little incident of this time +which illustrates, more clearly than pages of generalities, +the spirit that one found in these people. When Fouquières +was shelled and the inhabitants removed, our own quarters +in the <i>Maire’s</i> house became so unpleasant that we departed +also, tanks and all, to Hesdigneul. A day or two later I +rode over to the house to settle some business of a billeting +certificate. It had been raining heavily, and the road +where our tanks had been lying, churned up by their tracks, +was deep in mud. As I was coming away, the mud clogged +my rear wheel, between the tyre and the mud-guard, +stopping the bicycle just as I passed a little party of women +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_327">327</span>and children who were escaping from the <i>Maire’s</i> farm with +a few household treasures on their backs. (The <i>Maire</i> +himself, by the way, unlike most of his admirable class, had +abandoned his flock long before.) Of the women in this +party one was very old, and all were tired, heavily laden, +and in tears. But as soon as they saw me poking about +under the mud-guard with a stick they dropped their +bundles, seized each a piece of wood, and ran up to help. +Even the old woman was brandishing a twig and instructing +the rest with a torrent of words. Before the little job +was finished, the tears were forgotten and we were all +chattering and laughing; and when I thanked them and +rode away, they were still smiling and crying out as they +shouldered their pathetic bundles, as if there were no such +things as war and ruined homes.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_328">328</span></p> + + + <h3 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVI"> + CHAPTER XVI. + <br> + <span class="sm">THE GERMAN OFFENSIVE (<i>continued</i>).</span> + <br> + <span class="sm">ANNEQUIN: AND THE TANK CORPS IN RETREAT.</span> + </h3> +</div> + + +<h4>I.</h4> + +<p>Having left Fouquières for Hesdigneul, where our tanks +were parked up against the wall of the churchyard, A +Company headquarters now occupied part of an immense +farm—a great quadrangle of barns, stables, and living-rooms, +with an attractive garden and one of the most +magnificent kitchens I have ever seen. Two old ladies, +with their niece (who had been educated in England), +managed the establishment, the men of the family being +as a matter of course in the Army. One of them, in fact, +had been killed. They were cousins of the people who +owned our battalion headquarters at Boyeffles; and the +niece was provoked to one of her rare speeches when some +one, in the usual English manner, referred to her relatives’ +house as a “château.” “Ce n’est pas un château!” she +said indignantly. “C’est une maison seulement ...!” +Before we came these kind people had suffered the infliction +of an R.A.F. mess, whose members as usual got drunk every +night and broke the furniture; and it took us some days to +persuade them that there were Englishmen who knew how +to behave. After that we were very good friends.</p> + +<p>During our stay here, which lasted for about three +weeks, a variety of nebulous schemes ran through their +brief careers. One, due to a sudden panic, involved the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_329">329</span>defence of Béthune against some expected onslaught. The +tanks were to take up positions on the canal quay, guarding +the precious bridges. Our enthusiasm for this was a little +damped by the discovery one day that our proposed lying-up +point, a parade-ground on the outskirts of the town, had +been uprooted by a deluge of 8-inch shells. Behind these +projects, like some tiresome genie, there hung always the +egregious “Delta” operation, in one or another of its +endless shapes. And then, of all things, came a fresh scare +about the distant sector south of Arras, more than twenty +miles away; and I spent three days with Henriquez, Beale, +and Jack Brown on motor-bicycles or in a box-car, hunting +for tank routes between our old Bouvigny area and such +remote places as Bailleulmont and Pas, beyond the Arras-Doullens +road. On one of these happy jaunts Henriquez +led us inadvertently in the Ford car to within a few hundred +yards of Hébuterne, where the front line then ran. The +road was pitted with large shell-holes, but I have never seen +any one perform such miracles with a Ford, or any other +car, as did our driver when he discovered our mistake. We +rushed into Monchy-au-Bois at about thirty miles an hour, +and having climbed out there to adjust our dislocated limbs, +were welcomed by a sudden deluge of high-velocity shells. +There were a number of French troops in this neighbourhood, +and also the remains of the 2nd Tank Brigade, whose +few surviving machines were still scattered thinly behind +the left of the 3rd Army, in accordance with the “Savage +Rabbit” policy. Practically speaking, the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, +and 5th Brigades were now organised as Lewis-gun units, +with a small backing of Whippets and worn-out Mark IV.’s, +for 200 of the latter had been lost in the retreat. It was +because the 1st Brigade, alone unaffected by the disaster, +and mustering nearly 100 tanks, was the only striking force +left to the Tanks Corps, that our reconnaissances covered +at this period an area extending from La Bassée to Auchonvillers, +near the Ancre. We might be needed anywhere at +any moment.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_330">330</span></p> + +<p>The first phase of the German offensive, however, had +come virtually to an end. The battle of movement below +Arras was solidifying, as it were, in front of Amiens. The +third phase, about to open upon the <i>Chemin des Dames</i>, +would affect the mass of the British forces only indirectly. +But the second phase, begun on the Lys as a distraction +and since exploited with vigour, was not (to our knowledge) +definitely finished. It had extended northward to the +Salient, where we had lost all the ground won at such a +terrible cost in the previous autumn; the Germans were on +Kemmel Hill, in the ruins of Bailleul, and along the outskirts +of the great wood of Nieppe; and now developments +were expected immediately south of the La Bassée Canal. +At this time—about the middle of May—when the 7th +Tank Battalion had been for five weeks extended from +Aire to Béthune, the 12th Battalion was still in the neighbourhood +of Simencourt, and the 11th, so far as I remember, +in its old quarters at Roclincourt and Mont St Eloi. ‘Weekly +Tank Notes,’ which erroneously places the 7th at Molinghem, +makes out the 11th to have been between Busnes and +Robecq, but I think only the Reconnaissance Officers, +working on the “Delta” scheme, came up to this area.</p> + +<p>The final stage of the Amiens battle had brought German +tanks into the field for the first time. There were only three +of them, but they did so much damage before they were +driven off that a thorough tank scare ran through the Army, +and imaginary machines were detected in scores at every +point of danger. It was now believed that the Germans +intended to use them in an attack along the La Bassée +road with the idea of reaching Béthune by turning the +obstinate point of Givenchy from the south. An increased +shelling of our back areas seemed to indicate that something +was in the air; and the 7th Battalion, already in the neighbourhood, +was ordered suddenly to concentrate farther east, +between Cambrin and Vermelles, in readiness to repel any +attempt.</p> + +<p>The day before these orders reached A Company at +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_331">331</span>Hesdigneul, the German artillery provided us with a new +sensation. The village had not been shelled since our +arrival; but it housed, in its enormous château, the 1st +Corps Headquarters, and this, I think, must have been the +attraction for the appropriately colossal gun which suddenly +disturbed our rustic peace. We were having tea in the +farm when the whole place was shaken by a shattering +crash from outside. No one paid much attention at first, +as it sounded like the detonation of one of our own heavy +guns, of which there were two or three on railway mountings +in the neighbourhood; but the excitement in the village +soon brought us out to see what had happened. It was +then apparent that we were being shelled, and by something +of uncommon size. A great pall of black smoke was drifting +away from a field close at hand, where an observation +balloon had its quarters, and I found immediately afterwards +a steel splinter, some eight inches long, in our courtyard. +Several more of these alarming explosions followed during +that evening, and the discovery of the complete base of a +shell proved the offending weapon to be of 17-inch calibre—the +heaviest long-range gun then in use by any army.</p> + +<p>The following morning there came the orders for our +move. We were to proceed that night to Sailly-Labourse, +on the Béthune-Lens road, near Annequin. I hurried off +on the bicycle, over the very worst cobbles I have ever +encountered, to find the 3rd Infantry Brigade Headquarters +at the Château des Prés, outside the village. This journey +was notable for two incidents: the roads were so atrocious +that my engine shook loose, causing the chain to fall off; +and, as a consolation, I discovered some tins of Sullivan’s +cigarettes in a Church Army canteen in Verquigneul—corn +in Egypt, indeed, with a vengeance. The brigade staff in +the Château des Prés had heard nothing about any tanks, +but this was only to be expected. There was a wide dry +moat round the château garden, where the machines could +be hidden during the night, and on my way there and back +I mapped out the latter half of the approach route, which +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_332">332</span>Maelor Jones was reconnoitring from the Hesdigneul end. +Before sunset the tanks were backing out from the churchyard +wall, and having seen them started I pushed off once +more for the château, to meet there some lorry loads of +petrol and other stores. Rather than face again the +medieval cobbles of the more direct route, I went round +by Béthune and so through Beuvry on the Lens road. +Béthune in those days was always rather eerie, with its +deserted streets and ruinous shuttered houses and shops: +it called to mind the empty town of Semur in that charming +story of Mrs. Oliphant’s, ‘A Beleaguered City’; and there +were times—during a bombardment, for example—when it +was worse than eerie. It was being bombarded spasmodically +that evening, and I did not linger to sentimentalise. +At the Château des Prés I found that the brigade had at +length been formally notified of our coming. This château, +until the month before, had been one of the most eligible +headquarters, for its advanced position, in all France. It +was never shelled, it had all its furniture, and even all its +window glass. But now this Utopian age was no more; +the grounds were pitted with shell-holes, the trees were +lopped and splintered, and all the windows were broken. +The cellars had been sand-bagged, and every other preparation +made for an enforced reversion to underground life. +And that evening I received an unpleasant reminder of +these altered circumstances, for as I walked down the +terrace steps about eight o’clock on my way to meet the +tanks, a shell came whistling over the roof and burst half +a dozen yards in front of me on the gravel path. Very +fortunately for me it burst forward and away from me, +scoring a sort of fan of smoking grooves in the grass border. +It was, in fact, an incendiary shell, presumably intended for +the village, for a second burst some distance away, and the +third fell among the houses. As I ran for shelter out of the +smoke of the first explosion, heads appeared at the château +windows, and a voice inquired inevitably, “Where did that +one go to?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_333">333</span></p> + +<p>This interruption was short-lived; and after a precautionary +wait I walked off through Sailly-Labourse to find the +tanks. They were fairly well up to time, but to get the +twelve of them into the château moat was a tedious process. +The moat was lined thickly with trees and bushes, which +gave admirable cover in the daytime, but added to the +difficulties of introducing tanks on a dark night. No lights, +of course, could be used. It was after one o’clock before +everything was settled satisfactorily, and Maelor Jones and +I could accompany the Major to the comparatively luxurious +shelter of a cellar in the château lodge.</p> + +<p>After five or six hours’ sleep we were washing and shaving, +with the usual inadequate resources, when the Colonel’s car +drew up outside. At the same time there arrived, in an evil +hour for himself, poor fellow, a Reconnaissance Officer named +Saul from the 12th Battalion. Having been familiar with +the Annequin area as a private in the infantry, he had been +sent to put his knowledge at our disposal. While I finished +my perfunctory toilet in the lodge, Saul and Maelor Jones +strolled on together to the garden at the back of the house, +where the servants we had brought with us were preparing +some sort of breakfast. As I followed a couple of minutes +later, a shell burst in the garden, which was full of brigade +details and our own people. We all ran like hares for +cover, and I remember seeing a dozen pairs of heels flashing +upwards as their owners, including the Colonel and other +dignitaries, leaped into the moat. I was in time to slide +down after them, on top of a kettle and a primus stove, +just as the second shell arrived somewhere in the neglected +flower-beds behind me. This visitation, like that of the +previous evening, was intended for Sailly-Labourse, to +which it passed on as soon as the German gunners had +corrected their range; but the initial miscalculation cost us +both Maelor Jones and Saul, who were wounded by the +first shell—the former in the hand, and the latter more +seriously in the leg and arm. Poor Saul had not been in +the place five minutes. Fortunately, as a brigade headquarters, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_334">334</span>the château contained a telephone and a doctor; +and in a quarter of an hour the two victims were in an ambulance +on their way to the nearest dressing station.</p> + +<p>Sailly-Labourse was a little over three miles from the +front line. A mile nearer to the latter, across an open +stretch of untended fields, was Annequin village and fosse, +the former a straggling collection of houses joining on to +Cambrin on the La Bassée road. Annequin Fosse, beneath +which the Major and I were to live like troglodytes for the +next three weeks, resembled nothing so much as a chessboard +and a disproportionately large pawn, side by side. +The chessboard was a walled square filled with miners’ +cottages in symmetrical rows, the streets crossing at right +angles. Beside it, on a flat base of slag, was the pawn—one +of those pyramidal crassiers I have spoken of, perhaps +150 feet high. It was the nearest one of its type to our +front trenches; and from the summit where signallers, flash-spotters, +and other details lived in holes dug out of the black +slag and reinforced with iron and sandbags, one obtained +an admirable bird’s-eye view, not only over the German lines +directly in front, but also right across the rear of the new +salient north of the canal. This exceptional observation-point, +so far forward, must have been invaluable to us and +a serious hindrance to the enemy. At the base of the +pyramid, practically invulnerable beneath twenty feet of +ground, and another twenty of coal refuse, were the dug-outs +which housed the brigade holding the line. The latter, +for a breadth of two or three miles opposite Annequin, had +not changed since it crystallised there at the end of 1914—the +only sector of our whole front possessing this distinction; +and both Annequin and Cambrin had been inhabited throughout, +until the increased shelling before the German offensives +drove the people away. As late as the middle of +March, when our field-guns were firing (and drawing fire) +from behind the wall which enclosed the miners’ cottages, +children were playing in the streets a few yards away.</p> + +<p>The 1st Division, then holding this sector, had the 2nd +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_335">335</span>Infantry Brigade north of the canal at Givenchy-les-La-Bassée +(not to be confused with the Givenchy south of Lens), +and the 1st Brigade south of the canal at Cambrin and +Annequin. The 3rd Brigade was in support about Sailly-Labourse. +Having seen Maelor Jones and Saul despatched +in the ambulance from the Château des Prés, the Major and +I walked over to the Fosse to arrange with the 1st Brigade +Staff the disposition of our tanks, two sections of which were +to move to their final points of concealment that night. We +found the brigade very sceptical about the suspected German +tanks, and quite confident of repelling any ordinary +attack. The 2nd Brigade had just dealt in an adequate +fashion with a renewed German attempt on Givenchy. It +was agreed, however, that one of our sections should be +hidden among the houses of Annequin, and the other +among those of Cambrin. Two sections remained in +reserve at the Château des Prés. On our right B and C +Companies, coming by train from Lillers and Aire to the +railhead near Fouquières, were to take up positions between +the Fosse and Vermelles. The Major and I were invited +to live with the Brigade Staff in the dug-out beneath the +slag-heap.</p> + +<p>That night the two sections moved quietly into their +new positions. Of the three tanks in Cambrin, one was +screened elaborately with branches in the garden of the +house used as the Support Battalion headquarters, while +the other two lay up in the yard of the schoolhouse. All +were in a position to move out at a moment’s notice and +block the La Bassée road, which ran straight through the +village. In Annequin, the other three tanks were hidden +behind the miners’ cottages. A little later a third section +was brought up in front of Annequin, and camouflaged +against the embankment of a railway which served the +mine.</p> + +<p>We remained here for three weeks, until the beginning +of June. Our life was very idle, not uncomfortable, and +in many ways unusually interesting. Every morning the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_336">336</span>Major and I used to walk through Annequin to Cambrin +to visit the tanks, and with that our duties usually were +finished for the day. The brigade mess, in a baby Nissen +hut, protected by layers of slag at the base of the crassier, +was an uncommonly good one, and its members were +charming. In similar huts lived some of the officers, including +the Colonel commanding an artillery brigade; the General +and the rest of the Staff, with ourselves, having our quarters +underground, where the various offices also were situated. +The weather turned exceptionally fine, with a blazing sun; +and the shadeless neighbourhood of the great slag-heap, +which radiated heat like the rocks of Aden, became so +intolerable at times that we were driven below to the +cramped dug-out, which was always cool. Lack of reading +matter was a serious trial, as the nearest inhabited towns, +such as Nœux-les-Mines and Barlin, were only squalid +mining centres; and as a shopping resort Bruay was little +better. The last time I rode into Bruay the Germans were +shelling it, the shops were closing down, and harassed +A.P.M.’s and military police were endeavouring to expedite +the departure of some of the surplus inhabitants.</p> + +<p>Our chief diversions at Annequin were climbing the slag-heap +(on top of which two old 15-pounder guns had now +been hoisted), visiting the tanks and billets of B and C +Companies, running over occasionally to Hesdigneul, where +we kept up a rear headquarters at the farm, and eating and +sleeping a great deal. It was so unusually hot for May that +we spent most of our time in shirt sleeves. A less attractive +feature was the rather persistent shelling to which the +neighbourhood was subjected. The expected attack never +materialised; but the German artillery had frequent bursts +of zeal. A field battery, in camouflaged pits in the open, a +couple of hundred yards from the Fosse, came in for a +great deal of attention, as did another battery in Annequin +village; while the railway embankment beyond was shelled +so heavily on one or two nights that some tanks of B Company, +which were hidden there, were withdrawn. The +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_337">337</span>G.S.O. 1 of the Division had a narrow escape on this same +railway one morning, a shell knocking him down and killing +his orderly. Cambrin was gassed every night, and an +obnoxious German balloon which looked straight down the +La Bassée road was apt to turn the gunners on to the village +if people walked too openly about the street. At this time +the inhabitants used to come back to fetch some of their +belongings. One man had the temerity to drive up in a +cart, and I saw him afterwards careering back towards +Beuvry at a gallop, pursued by angry puffs of smoke and +dust. After we had been living in the Fosse for about ten +days, the 1st Brigade was relieved by the 3rd, and on the +following morning, as I was returning with the Major from +the usual round of inspection, high-velocity shells began to +fall thickly about Annequin. We hurried in considerable +disorder to the dug-out in the Fosse, where we found every +one in a state of consternation. The new Brigadier, also +on his way back from his first tour of the trenches, had +been caught in the bombardment and wounded, with one of +his staff—the latter seriously.</p> + +<p>During all this time the unfortunate town of Béthune, +which was only three miles away and in full view from the +Fosse, was being shelled persistently. I happened to be +watching it through my glasses when the church tower, +which had been hit many times, was finally demolished. A +great cloud of white dust billowed up over the houses, and +when it cleared away the familiar landmark was gone. +After a while, the Germans began to use incendiary shells, +and the half-ruined town caught fire. All day the smoke +hung over it, and every night, until we left, there was the +glare of burning.</p> + +<p>Toward the end of our stay a minor disaster, averted +only by a miracle from becoming very serious, befell B +Company, always unfortunate. The battalion was visited +one afternoon by General Elles, who accompanied our +Brigadier and the Colonel round the tank positions. The +day was brilliantly fine, and the three cars which brought +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_338">338</span>the cortège raised great clouds of dust along the roads. +One cannot help attributing what followed to this rather +characteristic neglect of precaution, for the whole country, +being absolutely flat, was under observation from hostile +balloons, which as usual were up. B Company’s headquarters +were established in a solitary and conspicuous +house on the main Béthune-Lens road, near Noyelles, +immediately opposite the buildings of a small pithead +called Puits No. 12, where two reserve sections of tanks +were concealed. The visitors’ cars drew up at this house, +and when the inspection was over, drove off again at a +great speed, trailing behind them clouds of dust which must +have been visible for miles. One cannot have all one’s +hostages to fortune returned intact—especially when one +has offered other people’s. The august party left at 4.30; +and before five o’clock Puits No. 12, deluged suddenly with +8-inch howitzer shells, was blazing merrily. Two tanks +were hit at once, set on fire, and burnt out. The other +four, by a combination of extraordinary pluck and still +more extraordinary good fortune, were started up and +driven away from the flaming buildings and the rain of +shells without injury to a single officer or man. When the +affair started I was down in that apartment of our dug-out +which the Major and I shared with the Brigade Gas Officer. +Intercepting a frenzied telephone message from B Company, +I ran up on deck (as one may call it) with my glasses, +and for the next half-hour watched the shelling and the +conflagration, which was only 1000 yards away. Within +an hour the pithead buildings were mere smoking cinders, +the iron wheel-gantry had collapsed, and I could distinguish +amid the glowing wreckage the blackened shapes of the +two burnt-out tanks.</p> + +<p>The last incident worth noting of this interlude at Annequin +was connected with the third German offensive, on the +Aisne, launched on 27th May. The following evening, +during dinner, we were startled by a sudden terrific racket +of machine-gun and rifle fire. Running out to see what +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_339">339</span>had happened, we found a German aeroplane circling +impudently round the peak of the crassier, like some eagle +round Ben Nevis, while its pilot, paying no attention +whatever to our bullets, was casting overboard sheafs of +pamphlets! These productions announced, in perfect +English, the capture of thousands of prisoners and hundreds +of guns on the Chemin des Dames, and were signed by +Ludendorff. Having delivered his load, the German waved +his hand, circled away, and drove swiftly upward across the +lines and out of our sight. He was a very plucky fellow, +and deserved our bad shooting.</p> + +<p>We were now nearing the end of these rather humiliating +adventures. The first week in June marked for us the +beginning of that period of transition from constant alarms +and ever-changing schemes of defence to the opposite +tactics of attack, which were to end only with the war. +Summoned suddenly one evening to battalion headquarters, +still at Boyeffles, I was told to reconnoitre next day a route +by road to Enguinegatte, a village behind Aire, whither +it appeared A Company was to trek at once to commence +training with the Canadian Corps. I spent that night in +our old quarters at Hesdigneul, where the 17-inch gun, still +spasmodically active, did its best to speed a parting guest +by dropping one of its huge shells so near that the glass of +my window was shattered and fell upon me as I lay in bed. +When I left next morning, after an imperfect rest, the two +old ladies and their niece were also packing up. The +17-inch gun, and several gas-shells in their garden, had +persuaded them of the propriety of a temporary removal.</p> + +<p>Enguinegatte, the scene (at a less complicated period of +warfare) of the famous battle of the Spurs, lies almost at the +end of the longest and straightest Roman road to be found +even in France. From Arras to Thérouanne, just beyond +our destination, there are nearly forty miles of this abominable +highway, straight as a die, except for two modern and +insignificant detours to negotiate precipitous hills. By the +route the tanks had to travel from Annequin, striking this +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_340">340</span>road near Bruay, the distance was thirty miles, and this, +entirely over roads, was ruinous to the machines. Somebody +estimated that the journey cost £7000 in damaged +tracks and rollers alone, for our one company. (B and C +Companies were returning to Bouvigny to train with other +Canadians there.) However, we arrived at Enguinegatte +eventually, although not until I was heartily tired of the +Roman road, up and down which I was riding, on my +bicycle or in the Major’s car, for the best part of three +days and nights. The village itself was charming, unspoiled +by troops, quiet and unsophisticated, and set amid a really +beautiful country of rolling hills, woods, and corn-fields. I +had the most comfortable billet I ever secured in France. +The weather throughout was gorgeous; and if the rehearsals +with successive battalions of Canadians became for us somewhat +tedious in the end, we suffered in a wholly admirable +cause, which bore good fruit two months later. We were +far away from any interference, and could do very much as +we pleased. A ten days’ interlude at Le Tréport, camouflaged +as a rest cure <i>cum</i> reconnaissance course under +Gordon, where Jack Brown, Ritchie of B Company, and +I sat about on the cliffs above Mirs and read trashy literature, +was a sort of gilding to the lily. Le Tréport was +rather amusing at this time, because the camp was full of +“Bolos” dislodged at last from their limpet-like grip at +Bovington, and now fighting tooth and nail to secure fresh +posts as instructors at the depot and elsewhere. The rest +of us, of course, were hoping to see them posted to fighting +units, so long as the latter were not our own. This, +indeed, was the whole object of the belated clearance at +Bovington; but in most cases, I regret to say, it was not +achieved. Only after the Armistice did the majority of +these people rush valiantly forward, demanding to be sent +to Cologne.</p> + +<p>Altogether, in spite of a few slight internal dissensions in +our company at Enguinegatte, I look back upon that June +as the most restful and pleasant month I spent in France. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_341">341</span>I returned from Le Tréport to find the tanks gone by road +to Erin, a few details packing up at Enguinegatte, and +the rest of the company already back in our old quarters +at Bouvigny.</p> + + +<h4 id="II_14"> + II. +</h4> + +<p>Before we come to begin the last phase of the war, as +it was influenced by the Tank Corps, something must be +said as to the four southern brigades in the March retreat +and after.</p> + +<p>The 1st Brigade, as we have seen, worked with the 1st +Army, covered Arras, and was so fortunate as to escape all +direct implication in the disasters of March and April. Next +to the south came the 2nd Brigade, in the neighbourhood +of Bapaume. Farther south again was the new 4th +Brigade, working with the 5th Army around Peronne. The +3rd Brigade was in G.H.Q. Reserve at Wailly and Bray, +and was in process of equipment with Whippet machines, +but only one battalion, the 3rd, had received these novelties. +The 5th Brigade consisted as yet only of a nucleus, one +company of the 13th Battalion, without tanks, also at Bray. +The losses in tanks at Cambrai had not yet been made +good, as no more Mark IV.’s were being built, and the new +Mark V.’s were not available till later; and the three +equipped brigades mustered between them only about 220 +heavy tanks and 50 Whippets fit for action. A number of +training machines were at Wailly, Bray, and Aveluy Wood, +near Albert.</p> + +<p>The cyclonic advance of the Germans on the 5th Army +front resulted in the 4th Brigade being sacrificed wholesale +on the first two or three days, at the end of which time it +had virtually no tanks left. In the frightful confusion of +the rout, tank battalions, companies, and sections were +pushed in anyhow to do as best they could, lost touch with +each other and with the brigade headquarters, and fought +independently a series of actions, which it is all but impossible +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_342">342</span>now to disentangle from the general obscurity. The +5th Battalion, having fought at Hervilly Wood, Roisel, and +Epehy, among other places, on the 22nd March, rallied +seventeen tanks at Cartigny that night, and tried to withdraw +across the Somme by the bridge at Brie. The bridge was +destroyed prematurely, and fourteen machines, being almost +out of petrol and unable to escape, were blown up by their +crews. The remaining three got across at other points, and +were lost in action next day. The 5th Battalion, now +without tanks, was hastily reorganised into Lewis-gun +detachments. The 4th Battalion, after managing to retain +some tanks a little longer, was in the same state before the +end of the month, and the 1st Battalion was reduced to half +a dozen worn-out machines and some converted supply-tenders. +By the 28th the brigade had 185 crews (including +the 13th Battalion nucleus) fighting in the line with Lewis +guns. Everything else had been lost—tanks, stores, and +even the kit of the officers and men; and the casualties in +personnel had been heavy.</p> + +<p>On the 3rd Army front the 2nd Tank Brigade was in +action on the afternoon of the 21st, when tanks from the +8th Battalion took part in a counter-attack which recaptured +Diognies, but failed to hold it. Twenty-four hours later, +farther to the left, twenty-five tanks of the 2nd Battalion +counter-attacked without infantry to check the German +advance on Beugny and the Bapaume-Cambrai road. The +tanks came under concentrated artillery fire as soon as they +crossed the road, and several were knocked out at once. +The remainder put a field battery out of action, surprised +the German infantry massing for an assault, and drove +them back in confusion beyond Vaulx-Vraucourt and +Morchies, which our troops reoccupied. Only five tanks +rallied, however, and 128 officers and men were lost. The +rest of the battalion personnel was formed as Lewis-gun +detachments, and fell back upon Bray on the 24th. In the +meantime, the 8th Battalion, losing nearly all its tanks in +attempts to cover the infantry withdrawal about Bus and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_343">343</span>Barastre, was also converted into a machine-gun unit. +The remaining battalion, the 10th, fought a series of rearguard +actions through Sapignies and Achiet-le-Grand to +Bucquoy, sacrificing most of its tanks.</p> + +<p>The 3rd Tank Brigade, in G.H.Q. Reserve at Bray and +Wailly, was soon involved in the general mêlée. Out of the +two battalions at Bray, the 3rd and the 9th, one composite +battalion was formed and equipped with forty-eight Whippets, +the remainder of the personnel becoming yet another Lewis-gun +unit. The 6th Battalion at Wailly seems to have had +an easier time than most of the others, and to have preserved +a large proportion of its tanks, which may be +explained by the fact that it remained behind the left wing +of the 3rd Army, which was never seriously shaken, and +retreated only so far as was necessary to conform with the +centre and right. On the morning of 21st March the 6th +Battalion’s camp was shelled heavily, and the whole of its +orderly-room staff was killed. The battalion withdrew to +La Cauchie on the 25th, and was transferred to the 2nd +Brigade a week later. The 3rd Battalion’s Whippets, in +the meantime, had made their first appearance in action on +the 26th about Serre and Hébuterne, routing considerable +numbers of the enemy without suffering any loss themselves; +and they were fighting again at Bouzincourt on the 31st. +They were found particularly useful for that kind of patrol +work which the peculiarities of the situation had thrust +upon such tanks as were left—closing temporary gaps in the +line, holding up attacks, and gaining information,—doing, +in fact, those duties which in the old days were performed +by cavalry.</p> + +<p>The result of ten days’ continued fighting and retreat +was that the Tank Corps practically was without tanks, +always excepting, of course, the 1st Brigade. Of the personnel +of the other brigades 75 per cent had been in the line +as Lewis-gun detachments. About 200 tanks had been lost. +The big camp at Bray had been destroyed before evacuation, +and a number of Whippets lying there under repair had +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_344">344</span>to be blown up. Brigades and battalions, like all other +units in the Army, were in a state of complete disorganisation, +and the casualties, especially those incurred in the +Lewis-gun units, were an added source of anxiety to Tank +Corps Headquarters, owing to the few reinforcements +available. The first steps taken toward reorganisation +were hampered by the German attack on the Lys, as the +4th Brigade, which had just been withdrawn to the Bermicourt +area to refit, was sent north to the 2nd Army front +with Lewis guns, and remained fighting about Meteren and +Wytschaete until the end of April. Then came the startling +news that owing to the difficulty of finding sufficient infantry +drafts in England, the Tank Corps was to be cut down from +six brigades to four, which would mean the disbanding of +the incomplete 5th Brigade in France and of the 15th, 16th, +17th, and 18th Battalions at home. Happily, this disastrous +proposal was never carried out in its entirety. Two +battalions at Bovington were reduced for a time to cadres, +and a third was equipped with armoured cars; but the successes +in July and August once more converted the harassed +weathercocks in authority. All was changed again. The +six-brigade establishment was not only revived but augmented; +and while the cadres were made up to strength +and rushed out to France, another six battalions were authorised +to be formed.</p> + +<p>The immediate task of reorganisation after the retreat +was further complicated by the uncertainty as to whether +the retreat itself was finished. The force of the initial +German blow, which had driven us thirty miles backward +in a week, expended itself in the first days of April, but only +from temporary exhaustion and difficulties of supply. With +Amiens almost in his grasp, the enemy was certain to +make another effort as soon as he had found his second +wind. It was necessary, in consequence, to maintain as +large a force of tanks as possible with our battered armies; +and a hurried reshuffling of units left skeletons of the 2nd, +3rd, and 5th Brigades, re-equipped with old machines sent +up from Erin, within call of the threatened point. The +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_345">345</span>expected blow fell on 23rd April, along the whole line south +of the Somme, but was not very vigorously delivered, and +was successful only at Villers-Bretonneux. Here the +Germans employed for the first time their own tanks, and +the latter’s performance, limited and half-hearted as it was, +proved what might have been done with more faith and +perseverance. The appearance of the three clumsy machines +was enough for most of the garrison of Villers-Bretonneux. +Nearly the whole of the large village was carried, 2000 +prisoners were taken, and tanks and infantry pushed on +toward Cachy and the Bois de l’Abbé. In the latter place +was lying a section of the 1st Tank Battalion. Moving out +at 8.30 in the morning, to help some infantry in the trenches +about Cachy, two female tanks of this section sighted a +German tank about an hour later, and at once engaged it. +Exposed to the enemy’s 6-pounder guns, to which they +could make no effective reply, they were both knocked out; +but the third tank of the section, a male, now appeared, +and there ensued the first genuine contest between these +machines. The German seems to have been outmanœuvred, +although his one-man control should have given him an +advantage over the awkward secondary gears of the Mark +IV. The latter attacked him on his blind side, so to speak, +where his single gun would not bear, hit him three times +with 6-pounder shells, and drove him into a sandpit, where +the clumsy tank became ditched. The two other German +machines were now coming up, but after a very perfunctory +pretence of engaging our solitary male, turned about and +escaped. The victor, while in pursuit, was hit and disabled +by a chance shell from a field-gun. Villers-Bretonneux was +brilliantly recaptured by the Australians the same night.</p> + +<p>The same morning a composite company of Whippets +started out at 10.30 to clear up the situation east of +Cachy. “Whilst proceeding round the north-east of this +village, they suddenly came upon two or three battalions +of Germans massing in a hollow preparatory to making +an attack. Without a moment’s hesitation the seven +Whippets formed line and charged down the slope right +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_346">346</span>on to the closely-formed infantry. Indescribable confusion +ensued as the Whippets tore through the German ranks. +The enemy scattered in all directions. Some threw themselves +on their knees before the machines, shrieking for +mercy, only to be run over and crushed to death. In a +few minutes no less than 400 Germans were killed or +wounded. The Whippets having now completed their +task—viz., “Clearing up the situation,” returned, one +machine being put out of action by artillery fire on the +journey home. In all only five casualties amongst the +crews were suffered during this action. The two most +remarkable features of this little engagement are: firstly, +the helplessness of some 1200 to 1500 infantry against 7 +tanks manned by 7 officers and 14 other ranks; and, +secondly, that the tanks left their starting-point, which +was three and a half miles from the scene of action, at +10.30 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>, covered ten miles of ground, fought a battle, +and were back home again at 2.30 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span>⁠<a id="FNanchor_31_31" href="#Footnote_31_31" class="fnanchor">[31]</a>⁠</p> + +<p>It was reported at the time that when the Whippets +returned their sides and tracks were dripping with the +blood of the Germans who had been run over—a pleasant +touch, but not authenticated.</p> + +<p>There were two other tank actions on this front on the +25th and 28th, the latter with the French Moroccan +Division at Hangard Wood. This last was a failure, +largely because the barrage came down <i>beyond</i> the German +line instead of in front of it. A final minor engagement +on May 2nd marked the end of this semi-defensive phase +of the campaign. The Amiens front settled down more +or less to what used to be described as “peace-time” +warfare: the Germans turned their men and guns southward +to the Aisne; and the Tank Corps was engaged in +no further operations, with one exception, until July, when +the whole spirit of our tactics was happily changed, and +a series of small offensives preceded the great attack on +8th August.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_347">347</span></p> + + + <h3 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVII"> + CHAPTER XVII. + <br> + <span class="sm">HAMEL, MOREUIL, AND THE THIRD BATTLE OF + THE SOMME.</span> + </h3> +</div> + + +<h4>I.</h4> + +<p>On the night of the 22nd-23rd June, a night raid of peculiar +interest was carried out against the village of Bucquoy, +north of the Ancre. Five platoons of infantry and five +female tanks of the 10th Battalion were employed. The +notable features were the use of tanks at night, and the +remarkable skill and success with which they were hidden +for a fortnight within a few hundred yards of the German +outposts. One section of four tanks was camouflaged right +in the open, the machines side by side and covered by their +nets, in a slight depression not half a mile from the village. +Another four tanks were driven into old gun-pits by the side +of the Bucquoy-Hennescamp road, even nearer to the enemy. +Here the two sections remained for nearly fourteen days, +waiting for a favourable opportunity with the full moon. +Various causes postponed the enterprise, but at length the +conditions were considered propitious, and the five tanks +required moved yet farther forward after dark into a sunken +road skirting the eastern gardens of Bucquoy, of whose main +street one side was held by our outposts and the other by +those of the enemy. But now the moon failed, and again +the raid was cancelled. Those responsible for it do not +seem even to have thought of the danger of leaving tanks +indefinitely on the edge of No Man’s Land. For two more +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_348">348</span>days and nights the five machines actually remained in this +preposterous position without being discovered. Movement +by day was almost impossible, and extreme care had to be +exercised at night. Finally, on the night of the 22nd, the +raid was carried out. The infantry, after all this hesitation +and consulting of omens, were held up almost at once by +trench-mortar and machine-gun fire, and although reinforced, +got no farther; but the five tanks pushed on +right through the village, passed their objectives, killed a +number of the enemy and started a serious panic, and returned +undamaged. The darkness gave them little trouble, +and, on the other hand, afforded them valuable protection +from the trench mortars. Their experience, and the careful +preliminary work carried out by the Reconnaissance officers, +were of great service to the 7th Battalion when we attacked +over the same ground two months later.</p> + +<p>A more important action was fought on 4th July on the +old Villers-Bretonneux battle-ground. It was the first +definite offensive on our part since the German blow in +March, and it also introduced the Mark V. tank. This +machine, identical in shape and armament with the +Mark IV. (except that the Hotchkiss light gun replaced +the Lewis), possessed great mechanical improvements, +primarily in the adoption of epicyclic gears, which enabled +one man to drive and steer the tank, and abolished the +dilatory business of gearsmen and secondary levers. Three +men, in fact, were released for other work, while the tank’s +power of manœuvre was greatly improved. Fitted with a +180 h.-p. Ricardo engine, in place of the Daimler, the +Mark V. had increased speed, five to six miles an hour, +and could be turned as easily as the Whippet. Other +modifications included a second cab for observation on +the roof, where the manhole was situated in the earlier +types. The only serious fault was bad ventilation, which, +with the more powerful engine, raised the heat inside to +a pitch that at times became unbearable.</p> + +<p>The object of the attack on 4th July was the recapture +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_349">349</span>“as a necessary preliminary to any operation to disengage +Amiens,”⁠<a id="FNanchor_32_32" href="#Footnote_32_32" class="fnanchor">[32]</a> of the spur which runs northward from the +Villers-Bretonneux plateau toward the junction of the +Somme and the Ancre at Corbie. The objectives included +Hamel village and wood and Vaire Wood, and were strictly +limited. The infantry to be employed was the 4th Australian +Division, and a subsidiary object of the operation was to +restore the confidence of the Colonials in tanks—a confidence +which had been quite unnecessarily shaken by the +failure at Bullecourt in the early spring of 1917, when, as +a matter of fact, it was the tanks that had a grievance. +That there should be no failure through lack of means +on this occasion, the whole of the 8th Tank Battalion +and two companies of the 13th (sixty machines in all) were +allotted to the Australians. As soon as the attack was +decided upon, training with the infantry was put in hand +at Vaux-en-Amienois, the 5th Tank Brigade Headquarters, +and a good mutual understanding was cultivated. The +Australians, clinging still to old prejudices, insisted on +the tanks following the first wave of attack instead of +preceding it; but this adherence to a bad system did not +in effect matter at all, as the Mark V.’s took the lead +almost at once on the day of action, and remained ahead +of the infantry throughout.</p> + +<p>Zero was at 3.10, just after dawn. The final rather +intricate approach-marches of the five tank companies, +from Hamelet and Fouilloy to the starting-points behind +the infantry, were covered by the noise of low-flying +aeroplanes. At eight minutes before zero the tanks moved +forward again, crossed the remaining 1000 yards in twelve +minutes, and at zero, plus four minutes, the barrage +lifted and they advanced with the infantry. The attack +was a complete success. In an hour and a half the whole +affair was over: Hamel village and the woods were carried, +an advance of 2500 yards on a front of 7000 had been +made, and 1500 prisoners, with 2 field-guns and 171 machine-guns, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_350">350</span>were in our hands. Our casualties were under 700, +most of them walking wounded, and 5 tanks hit and disabled; +57 tanks reached their final objectives, and 55 had +rallied by 11 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span> All the disabled machines were salved +during the two following nights, some of them being towed +9000 yards, so that the enemy was without any knowledge +of the new type beyond what he had discovered +in action; and this must have been the reverse of encouraging. +The increased manœuvring powers of the +Mark V. astonished the Germans as much as they delighted +the Australians. A feature of the action was the number +of machine-gun emplacements overrun and flattened out +by tanks at the request of the infantry—an entirely +satisfactory process of elimination. The German machine-gunners +fought in many cases with extreme bravery, continuing +to fire until the very moment before their guns—and +perhaps themselves—were crushed into the earth by +the tanks; but the unexpected rapidity of movement shown +by the latter, as compared with the deliberate actions of +the Mark IV., continually took them by surprise. The +results of the attack, in short, were that the Australians +were satisfied with the tanks, that the tank crews were +satisfied with the Australians, which was quite as important, +and that a sure foundation had been laid for the +greater partnership of the 8th of August.</p> + +<p>A fortnight later the 9th Tank Battalion, temporarily +attached to the 5th Brigade for the purpose, took part at +very short notice in an operation south of Amiens with +the French 9th Corps. The third great German blow, +between Soissons and Rheims, had in its turn exhausted its +momentum; but to all the world it seemed still in the +full tide of victory when, on 18th July, with a rapidity +founded on exact calculation, Foch’s counter-attack, led +by hundreds of Rénault tanks, fell on the flank of the +new Salient from the Aisne to Château-Thierry, and the +last phase of the war had begun. The second battle of +the Marne, or the battle of Soissons, whichever it is +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_351">351</span>called, was the first of that series of Allied offensives which +for the next four months were to succeed one another +without a pause up and down the whole immense front +from the Woevre to the sea. Five days after it began, +Debeney’s 1st French Army carried out a small attack +north of Montdidier, with the double object of occupying +the German reserves in that region and of capturing the +heights which overlook the river Avre at Aubvillers and +Mailly-Raineval. It was for this operation that the 9th +Tank Battalion was lent. It proved a complete success, +although the casualties in tanks and personnel were rather +heavy, and it was of interest chiefly on two accounts: +firstly, the excellent way in which the French infantry +combined with the tanks, although only two or three days +of sketchy training, handicapped by difficulties of language, +were possible beforehand; and secondly, for the speed with +which the tanks’ share in the battle was arranged and +carried out. The project was discussed for the first time +on 16th July at the 4th Army Headquarters. An hour and +a half later, General Elles and General Courage (commanding +the 5th Brigade) interviewed the French Army +commander, General Debeney, and arranged with his Staff +the general outlines of the move and the action. The next +day the 9th Tank Battalion, far away near Bus-les-Artois, +received orders to trek on the 18th to Rosel, a distance +of nearly ten miles across country. Entraining at Rosel, +it detrained at Contay on the 19th, and that evening trekked +another two and a half miles. During the three following +nights a farther distance of twelve miles was covered in +stages, the final lap, on the night of the 22nd-23rd, bringing +the battalion into action with thirty-five machines out of +forty-two, most of the absentees being old Mark IV. +supply-tanks. During this period troops of the 3rd French +Division, which was to supply the infantry for the attack, +underwent a brief course of training with tanks at Vaux-en-Amienois, +while the Reconnaissance Officers of the 9th +Battalion hurriedly surveyed the battlefield.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_352">352</span></p> + +<p>After the action, in which 15 tanks were disabled by +artillery fire and 54 officers and men were killed or +wounded, General Debeney visited the battalion and expressed +in very warm terms his appreciation of its services. +The 3rd French Division conferred upon it a rare distinction +in the form of its own divisional badge, which every officer +and man of the 9th Battalion now wears on the left sleeve.⁠<a id="FNanchor_33_33" href="#Footnote_33_33" class="fnanchor">[33]</a>⁠</p> + + +<h4 id="II_15"> + II. +</h4> + +<p>Even before the French counterstroke of 18th July, the +first plans for an attack by the restored 4th British Army +south of the Somme were under discussion. Limited +originally to the recapture of the old Amiens defence line, +the scheme expanded until it assumed the dimensions of +a full-dress battle—involving at least a dozen infantry +divisions, a cavalry corps, and four brigades of tanks on +our part, and, on our right, the 1st French Army and +part of the 3rd. Our objective, roughly, was the important +railway which ran southward from Peronne through +Chaulnes and Roye, which meant an advance in places of +from twelve to fifteen miles.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding the reinforcements which had been +poured into France in the past two months, so ambitious +a programme, to be completed within three or four +days, could mean only one thing—another tank operation +on a large scale, or, in other words, a second Cambrai. +Tanks were the only arm which could hope to produce +such a result in so short a time. And yet, if we hunt +through the official account of the battle and its antecedents, +we find the determining factor hardly mentioned. +We read of “the brilliant and predominating part taken by +the Canadian and Australian Corps in this battle....” +And again, of “the fine performance of the cavalry, ... +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_353">353</span>the dash and vigour of their action....” Far away, at +the very end of a despatch which takes us to the Armistice, +we find this significant sentence, which seems to have +slipped in by mistake: “<i>The whole scheme of the attack of +the 8th August was dependent upon tanks....</i>”⁠<a id="FNanchor_34_34" href="#Footnote_34_34" class="fnanchor">[34]</a>⁠</p> + +<p>The italics are my own, and I will not labour again, in +face of this belated confession, over the old arguments and +manifest facts which I have reiterated so often already. I +will add only one remark, that the very fact of the omission +by name of the Tank Corps in accounts of all the attacks +which it led and determined from 8th August to the end +of the war, is a tacit (and, I am sure, quite unintentional) +admission of its influence. It had become, although no +one would confess it openly, so essential a factor that its +recognition was reserved for those concluding paragraphs +in a despatch which praise conventionally every branch +of the service, from the Artillery and Engineers to R.T.O.’s +and Sanitary Squads.</p> + +<p>Zero day, fixed in the first place for 10th August, was +put forward two days at the end of July. The Canadian +Corps, borrowed from the 1st Army, and in the best possible +condition after the first genuine rest it had known +since its original contingents landed in France, was on the +right of our line, from a point opposite Moreuil to above +Hangard. With it was the 4th Tank Brigade, consisting +of the 1st, 4th, 5th, and 14th Battalions, the latter newly +arrived from England. On the left of the Canadians, extending +past Villers-Bretonneux to the Somme, was the +Australian Corps, with its old friend the 5th Tank Brigade, +now made up of the 2nd, 8th, 13th, and 15th Battalions, +the last being also a new arrival. On the left of the Australians, +again, was the 3rd Corps, to which was attached +the 10th Tank Battalion by itself. The 9th Battalion was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_354">354</span>still refitting after its action with the French, and would +not be available for several days. This made a total of +nine tank battalions, with a tenth in reserve, all except +two being equipped with Mark V. machines. The two +exceptions, the 1st and 15th, had for their sins a still later +novelty known as the Mark V. One Star. This was a +thoroughly bad invention, being merely a Mark V. lengthened +by about six feet, and designed to carry infantry or +machine-gunners as well as its crew, these passengers being +deposited at suitable points in the enemy’s country. It +offered an enormous target, and if its supernumeraries +survived the journey, and were not shot in getting out, +they were usually incapable, through sickness or coma +brought on by their prolonged confinement inside, of +doing any useful work.</p> + +<p>In addition to this total, there remained the 3rd and 6th +Battalions of the 3rd Tank Brigade. Both these units were +now equipped with Whippets, and were attached to the +Cavalry Corps, which was charged with the usual magnificent +schemes of exploitation, as though machine-guns +and magazine rifles had never been heard of. There was +also the 17th Battalion of Armoured Cars, attached to the +5th Tank Brigade, but intended to work with the Whippets +and cavalry.</p> + +<p>It will be seen that for the purposes of this operation +the 2nd Brigade had ceased temporarily to exist, its units +being distributed among the others. The 1st Brigade was +still absent from the main theatre of war. Its three battalions +were at Merlimont, practising gunnery, hoping to +draw Mark V.’s, and preparing for the next offensive between +Arras and the Ancre, in which they were to have +their fill of fighting.</p> + +<p>The number of tanks to be employed on the 8th August +was 435, including 96 Whippets, but excluding the armoured +cars. Again, as at Cambrai, there was virtually no reserve +of tanks. On the second and subsequent days composite +detachments had to be organised in the field. The country +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_355">355</span>immediately in front was good, and still covered in part +with growing corn, but east of the line from Roye to Frise, +on the Somme, if they ever got so far, was the old shelled +area. This, however, was easily negotiable by heavy tanks +in dry weather. The preliminary arrangements were +modelled on those of Cambrai—profound secrecy, reconnaissance +carried out with every possible precaution, and +no artillery preparation or activity beyond the normal until +the barrage fell at zero. The Australians had been training +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_356">356</span>with tanks at Vaux-en-Amienois, and the Canadians, after +their work with the 1st Brigade at Bouvigny and Enguinegatte, +at Cavillon with the 9th Battalion.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowe24" id="i_355"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_355.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <i>Third Battle of the Somme.</i> + </figcaption> +</figure> + + +<h4 id="III_12"> + III. +</h4> + +<p>Considerable anxiety was caused by the capture, on the +night of 4th August, of an Australian outpost near the Roye +road, as not only would this reveal to the enemy the +extension of the Australian front over ground hitherto +occupied by the French, but there also was a possibility +of damaging information being extracted from the prisoners. +The latter, however, refused to disclose anything beyond +their names and units, their demeanour being held up as +an example of soldierly behaviour in the German reports +on their examinations. On the afternoon of the 7th, Y-day, +another alarm occurred. Eighteen supply-tanks, allotted +to the 4th and 5th Australian Divisions, were hidden in a +small plantation north of Villers-Bretonneux. A chance +shell burst in the middle of these machines, which were +fully loaded with food, petrol, and ammunition; a fire was +started, which drew upon the plantation a heavy bombardment; +and 15 of the tanks, with all their stores, were +destroyed. This calamity led naturally to a suspicion +that the tanks had been discovered, but happily it proved +unfounded. The Germans believed that only an ordinary +dump had been exploded. The coming attack remained +entirely unsuspected: the enemy, indeed was so misled +by various artifices behind the 1st and 2nd Army fronts, +including an early and conspicuous concentration of tanks +near St Pol, that he made every preparation against a +counter-offensive in Flanders and on the Lys.</p> + +<p>During the night of the 7-8th, a heavy ground mist rose +over the Somme battlefield, and became so dense by daybreak +that tanks and infantry completed their assemblage +and moved into action by compass. It aided the surprise, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_357">357</span>however, and was attributed in part by the discomfited +Germans to a non-existent device which they described +as an “artificial fog.” The only artificial element was the +usual smoke barrage included in the artillery programme, +which no doubt helped to increase the early obscurity and +confusion. When, at 4.20 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span> on the 8th, there appeared +suddenly out of this veil more than 330 heavy tanks, +followed closely by lines of skirmishers and then by the +main waves of assault, the German front for twelve miles, +from the Somme to Moreuil, was rent like a cobweb. A four-minute +deluge of shells was the only warning, for, as the +barrage lifted, the tanks and infantry were close at its heels. +The advance went with a greater swing even than that +of Cambrai, for the two Colonial Corps were neither tired +nor weak in numbers, and the Mark V.’s were swifter and +more handy than the leaders in the earlier battle. Von +Hutier’s 18th Army, composed in part of rather indifferent +troops, made no fight at all during the morning. So rapid +was the advance that within two or three hours the +majority of the German field batteries were overrun and +captured; the Albert-Montdidier road, beyond Marcelcave +and Demuin, was crossed before noon; officers and men +were made prisoners in their messes and billets; and one +entire divisional staff was taken. While the heavy tanks +were crushing such sporadic resistance as was offered during +this first phase by isolated posts and villages (Marcelcave, +it may be noted, was captured by a tank single-handed, +whose commander obtained a receipt for it from the +Australian infantry), the armoured cars had rushed ahead +down the two straight Roman roads which diverge from +Amiens upon Noyon and St Quentin. Mark V.’s hauled +the cars over No Man’s Land and cleared away some trees +and other obstacles on the roads immediately beyond, after +which the machines had a clear run before them. As they +were a unit of the Tank Corps and manned by tank personnel, +their exceptional opportunities and exploits deserve +notice. General Sir John Monash, commanding the Australian +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_358">358</span>Corps, gives the following account of the cars’ +experiences on the St Quentin road:—</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>“It has already been foreshadowed that the experiences +on that day of the contingent of fifteen armoured +motor-cars under Lieut.-Colonel Carter would form +sensational reading, and the story of 8th August would +not be complete without at least a brief reference to +their exploits.</p> + +<p>“It was nearly midnight when Carter, with a staff +officer, got back to Corps headquarters to render their +report. They were scarcely recognisable, covered as +they were from head to foot with grime and grease. +They had had a busy time. The substance of what +they had to tell was taken down at the time almost +verbatim, and reads as follows:—</p> + +<p>“‘Got armoured cars through to Warfusée-Abancourt. +When we reached the other side of No Man’s Land we +found that the road was good, but a number of trees +(large and small) had been shot down, and lay right +across it in places. Obstacles removed by chopping +up the smaller trees and hauling off the big ones by +means of a tank. Pioneers helped us to clear the road +all the way down. We did not come up to our +advancing troops until they were almost near the Red +Line.</p> + +<p>“‘When we got to Blue Line we detached three +sections to run down to Framerville. When they got +there they found all the Boche horse-transport and many +lorries drawn up in the main road ready to move off. +Head of column tried to bolt in one direction and other +vehicles in another. Complete confusion. Our men +killed the lot (using 3000 rounds), and left them there; +four staff officers on horseback shot also. The cars +then ran down to the east side of Harbonnières, on the +S.E. road to Vauvillers, and met there a number of +steam waggons; fired into their boilers, causing an +impassable block....</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_359">359</span></p> + +<p>“‘Two other cars went to Proyart and found a lot +of troops billeted there, having lunch in the houses. +Our cars shot through the windows into the houses, +killing quite a lot of the enemy. Another section went +towards Chuignolles and found it full of German +soldiers. Our cars shot them. Found rest billets and +old trenches, also with troops in them. Engaged them. +Had quite a battle there. Extent of damage not +known, but considerable. Cars then came back to +main road. We were then well in advance of Blue +Line.’</p> + +<p>“The consternation and disorganisation caused by +the sudden onslaught of these cars, at places fully ten +miles behind the enemy’s front line of that morning, +may be left to the imagination. It was a feat of +daring and resolute performance which deserves to be +remembered.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_35_35" href="#Footnote_35_35" class="fnanchor">[35]</a>⁠</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>The Whippets were greatly handicapped by being attached +to the Cavalry Corps. The latter, moving rapidly forward +in the early morning toward the line, complained that the +tanks could not keep up. As soon as it came to fighting, +however, the situation was reversed: it was the cavalry +that could not keep up with the Whippets, or indeed do +anything at all. “By noon on the 8th August, great confusion +was developing behind the enemy’s lines, and by this +time the Whippets should have been operating five to ten +miles in advance of the infantry, accentuating this demoralisation. +As it was, being tied down to support the cavalry, +they were a long way behind the infantry advance, the +reason being that, as cavalry cannot make themselves +invisible on the battlefield by throwing themselves flat on +the ground as infantry can, they had to retire either to a +flank or to the rear to avoid being exterminated by machine-gun +fire.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_36_36" href="#Footnote_36_36" class="fnanchor">[36]</a> One sentence in this quotation sums up the +whole case against cavalry. If the Whippets were idle +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_360">360</span>because “being tied down to support the cavalry they were +a long way behind the infantry advance,” what, in Heaven’s +name, was the use of the mounted arm? The latter in +theory, and if it was to justify its existence at all, should +have been a long way in front, instead of a long way behind. +Cavalry behind an infantry attack are merely an annoying +encumbrance, blocking up roads, losing their way, and +behaving, at the same time, as if they alone are winning +the battle. Colonel Buchan, tactful at the expense of +accuracy, permits himself to say that “the whole British +cavalry performed miracles, advancing twenty-three miles +from their points of concentration.” This is merely silly, +for the points of concentration were far away to the west +of Amiens. Sir John Monash, on the spot, and speaking +from bitter experience of the uselessness and presumption +of these archaic cohorts, tries to find excuses for them and +writes with great moderation, but his conclusions tally with +those of every other unprejudiced observer. He says:—</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>“The Cavalry Corps would appear in the battle +area also, with all preparations made for a rapid +exploitation of any success achieved. The utility of +the cavalry in modern war, at any rate in a European +theatre, has been the subject of endless controversy. +It is one into which I do not propose to enter. There +is no doubt that, given suitable ground and an absence +of wire entanglements, cavalry can move rapidly, and +undertake important turning or enveloping movements. +Yet it has been argued that the rarity of such suitable +conditions negatives any justification for superimposing +so unwieldy a burden as a large body of cavalry, on +the bare chance that it <i>might</i> be useful, upon already +over-populated areas, billets, watering-places, and roads.</p> + +<p>“I may, however, anticipate the event by saying +that the First Cavalry Brigade was duly allotted to +me, and did its best to prove its utility; but I am +bound to say that the results achieved, in what proved +to be very unsuitable country beyond the range of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_361">361</span>infantry advance, did not justify the effort expended, +either by this gallant brigade or by the other arms and +services upon whom the very presence of the cavalry +proved an added burden.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_37_37" href="#Footnote_37_37" class="fnanchor">[37]</a>⁠</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>The Whippets were peculiarly unfortunate in being so +shackled on this particular day. Such opportunities lay +before these machines as never fell to them again. Within +two or three hours of zero the enemy, on a wide front, was +thoroughly demoralised and in flight, with most of his field +batteries captured; and there lay ahead, occupied by his +headquarters, transport and stores, a great stretch of good +undulating country served by numerous roads in fair condition. +It was the day of days for Whippets. The armoured +cars, few in number and confined to roads, did great things; +but for a light fast tank the opportunities were endless. +Colonel Buchan is in error when he says that the tanks +employed that day were “mostly of the Whippet type,” for, +as we have seen, there were only ninety-six of the latter. +Yet if these had been let loose on roving commissions, the +haul of prisoners and guns, and the general demoralisation +of the enemy, would have been far greater even than was the +case. With extraordinary ineptitude, the two battalions +were dragged about at the heels of Cavalry Brigade headquarters, +a position which alone shows an abysmal misunderstanding +of their functions. Elaborate tactics for +their co-operation with horsemen had been drawn up, but +as the horsemen, when they attempted to advance in any +numbers, were checked almost at once by a few machine-guns, +the bulk of the Whippets merely cruised about them +in exposed situations without being able to strike an effective +blow. A few, more fortunate, were set free for their proper +tasks, and showed what might have been accomplished had +all been handled in so bold a manner. Some came into hot +fighting about Cayeux Wood, Le Quesnel, Guilleaucourt, +and Harbonnières, along the Amiens-Chaulnes railway, and, +by cutting telegraph and telephone wires, increased the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_362">362</span>enemy’s confusion. One, “Musical Box,” of the 6th +Battalion, had an extraordinary career. Passing through +the advanced infantry line and a few cavalry patrols two +or three hours after zero, it engaged a field battery which +had already knocked out two Mark V. tanks. Sweeping +round behind the guns, it drove off the crews and pursued +them, killing or wounding nearly all. Turning north toward +the railway near Guilleaucourt, the tank then busied itself +with various parties of fugitives, moved on again after a +short halt, entered a German hutted camp where troops +were hurriedly packing up their kits, and accounted for +about sixty of these; continued in chase of fresh bodies of +infantry retiring eastward, shot the drivers of several motor +and horse vehicles, and finally got among some horse and +transport lines near Rosières, where an immense amount of +damage was done. The little tank, being entirely alone, +far ahead of its fellows and of the infantry, was subjected +to continual machine-gun fire, and petrol was pouring down +the sides and into the interior from riddled tins carried on +the roof. The petrol fumes, together with the intense heat, +obliged the crew to breathe through the mouthpieces of their +box-respirators. Eventually, about three o’clock in the +afternoon—for the “Musical Box” was in action continuously +for nine or ten hours—the tank was hit by a field-gun +and set on fire on the eastern side of the Harbonnières-Rosières +road, beyond our farthest objective for that day. +The officer, Lieutenant Arnold, managed to drag out his +two men, who were overcome with the smoke and fumes. +The clothing of all three was on fire. Endeavouring to +escape, after rolling in the grass to extinguish the flames, +the driver was killed, and Arnold and the second man were +captured and brutally ill-used. The full story of this +remarkable exploit was only known after Arnold’s release +at the end of the war.</p> + +<p>The heavy tanks had met with most trouble on the two +wings. On the left the enemy’s stubborn defence of the +Chipilly Spur, overlooking a loop of the Somme, held up +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_363">363</span>the 3rd Corps until the next day, and the 5th Tank Brigade +had forty machines knocked out, mostly by enfilade artillery +fire from this flank. Those which passed this danger point, +however, did remarkable work, which included the capture +of the 51st German Corps headquarters, with most of the +staff, near Framerville, where the armoured cars helped. +The Mark V. Stars of the 15th Battalion in many cases +delivered their unhappy loads of machine-gunners on the +final objectives, but the great size of these machines made +them such excellent targets that a disproportionate number +were knocked out, their crews and passengers being too +often burnt to death inside them. The survivors of the +infantry who were carried in them were emphatic in their +determination to have nothing further to do with this +method of transport in action.</p> + +<p>The 4th Tank Brigade, working with the Canadians on +the right, also suffered considerable losses in the early part +of the day, owing to Debeney’s Frenchmen being held up +for a time along the Avre valley. The little stream of the +Luce, close behind our front line, had to be crossed without +the enemy’s knowledge, and had caused much anxiety, as +on account of its position and the necessity for secrecy, +adequate reconnaissance of it was impossible. All the +tanks, except two, crossed in a dense mist without a hitch +and undiscovered by the Germans. Everything went with +a rush at first, and there were few casualties; but in the +second phase of the attack, until the French broke through +the resistance about Moreuil and were able to bring their +left level with the Canadians, tanks and infantry had a hard +time at Beaucourt and Le Quesnel, where the enemy brought +field-guns into close action with great boldness and success. +One company of the 1st Tank Battalion, caught by a battery +in enfilade near Le Quesnel, lost in a few minutes nine out +of eleven Mark V. Stars, all of which were burnt out with +heavy casualties to their crews and to the hapless infantry +volunteers on board. One tank commander swung his +machine round and steered straight for the battery, but this +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_364">364</span>desperate and gallant act was useless. He was killed, with +most of his crew and passengers.</p> + +<p>Such incidents, however, were only local set-backs in +what, as a whole, was a victory without parallel. On a +twelve-mile front we had advanced at one point to a depth +of seven miles. Twenty-four hours after zero 16,000 +prisoners and over 200 captured guns had been counted. +Amiens and its railways were freed, and the enemy’s chief +means of lateral communication in this sector, the Chaulnes-Roye +line, already was within range of our field-guns. Only +at Chipilly, on the left, had there been any permanent check; +and that flank was in its proper alignment the next day. The +greatest result of all, however, coming as it did upon the +battle of Soissons and Von Boehn’s retreat, was the profound +moral effect wrought upon the German soldier. In +this respect the 8th August stands pre-eminent. Ludendorff +himself testifies that “August 8th was the black day of the +German Army in the history of the war. This was the +worst experience I had to go through....” And immediately, +in public and secret documents, he proceeded to +point the moral. The tanks alone had done this thing; and +to combat tanks every nerve must be strained and every +effort directed. On 11th August, while the battle was still +in progress, he issued an urgent and secret order:—</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>“Troops allowed themselves to be surprised by a +mass attack of tanks, and lost all cohesion when the +tanks suddenly appeared behind them, having broken +through under cover of a mist, natural and artificial. +The defensive organisation, both of the first line and in +the rear, was insufficient to permit of a systematic +defence.... As a weapon against tanks the prepared +defence of the ground must play a larger part than ever, +and the aversion of the men to the pick and shovel +must be overcome at all hazards.... Especially, +there must be defences against tanks. It was absolutely +inadmissible that the tanks, having penetrated +into our advance line without meeting with obstacles +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_365">365</span>or anything, should be able to push on along the roads +or beside them for miles.... The principle that a +body of troops, even when surrounded, must defend +their ground, unless otherwise ordered, to the last man +and the last cartridge, seems to have fallen into oblivion +... a large proportion of our ranks fight unskilfully +against tanks. A tank is an easy prey for artillery of +all calibres....”</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>Then followed a summary of the various anti-tank +measures which I have already described. All this was +too late, however; it was shutting the door after the steed—in +this case the German soldier’s nerve and heart—was +irrevocably gone. And Ludendorff must have known, +ever since Cambrai, that against a massed tank attack, +supported by good infantry, no army in the world could +stand.</p> + +<p>Five days later, on 16th August, Sir Henry Rawlinson +added his testimony in a Special Order to the Tank Corps.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>“The success of the operations of 8th August and +succeeding days was largely due to the conspicuous +part played by the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Brigades of the +Tank Corps, and I desire to place on record my sincere +appreciation of the invaluable services rendered both +by the Mark V. and the Mark V. Star and the Whippets.</p> + +<p>“The task of secretly assembling so large a number +of tanks entailed very hard and continuous work by all +concerned for four or five nights previous to the battle.</p> + +<p>“The tactical handling of the tanks in action made +calls on the skill and physical endurance of the detachments +which were met with by a gallantry and devotion +beyond all praise.</p> + +<p>“I desire to place on record my appreciation of the +splendid success that they achieved, and heartily to +congratulate the Tank Corps as a whole on the completeness +of their arrangements, and the admirable +prowess exhibited by all ranks actually engaged on this +occasion.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_366">366</span></p> + +<p>“There are many vitally important lessons to be +learned from their experiences. These will, I trust, be +taken to heart by all concerned, and made full use +of when next the Tank Corps is called upon to go +into battle.</p> + +<p>“The part played by the tanks and Whippets in the +battle of 8th August was in all respects a very fine +performance.”</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>About 100 tanks had been knocked out or otherwise +disabled in the first day’s fighting. In the next day’s +advance 145 took part, mostly formed as composite companies, +the evil effects of the absence of any reserves being +felt once more. The 10th Battalion helped the 3rd Corps +to clear the Chipilly Spur and the difficult gullies which +abounded in that region, while the 4th and 5th Brigades +fought in Framerville and Rosières and Bouchoir. A few +Whippets cut loose from their leading-strings and penetrated +as far as the devastated area of the old Somme +battlefield; but most of these machines remained tied to +the ineffective wanderings of the cavalry, who displayed +their usual <i>penchant</i> for collecting in valleys where they were +certain to be shelled. Another 39 tanks were hit on this +day. In the meantime Humbert’s 3rd French Army had +attacked south of Montdidier. On the 10th Montdidier +fell, and we were on the edge of Lihons and within 3000 +yards of the railway station of Chaulnes. Sixty-seven +tanks were engaged in this fighting, of which 30 were +disabled by shell-fire. Another 40 machines were in again +on the 11th, when Lihons was captured in part and +Humbert was on the edge of the much-talked-of Lassigny +<i>massif</i>, familiar to Mr Belloc’s numerous readers; and with +this the share of the Tank Corps in the battle of Amiens +came to an end. The battle itself was virtually over. The +old tactical ideas of hammering for weeks at one point +had vanished with the acceptance of the new doctrines of +tank warfare. The devastated area had now been reached: +the objectives aimed at had been won; and with the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_367">367</span>enemy thoroughly awakened and obsessed with the danger +south of the Somme, the time had come for another blow +in the new style in a different quarter.</p> + +<p>Some idea of the wastage in tanks involved in a battle +of this description, and of the infinite advantages we might +have gained if we had possessed an adequate supply of +these machines, may be gathered from the following figures +and dates. In the four days’ fighting, a total of 688 tanks +had been engaged. No fewer than 480, including supply-tanks, +had been handed over to salvage. The few remaining +fighting machines needed a thorough overhaul before +they would be fit for another battle. There were left the +9th Battalion, with 27 tanks, which had rejoined the 4th +Brigade; the 11th Battalion, with 42, which had been +rushed down from the 1st Brigade to the Somme area, +but had not been used; the 7th and 12th Battalions, still +with Mark IV.’s (42 apiece), and the 16th Battalion, with +another 42 Mark V.’s, just out from England. With the +9th Battalion brought up to strength, this would give 210 +tanks as an untired reserve on 12th August. The next +offensive, for which three whole brigades were needed at +the very start, was due for the 21st of the month, or in +little more than a week!</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_368">368</span></p> + + + <h3 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"> + CHAPTER XVIII. + <br> + <span class="sm">THE GREAT ADVANCE: FROM BUCQUOY TO BAPAUME.</span> + </h3> +</div> + + +<h4>I.</h4> + +<p>I can now take up again my own thread in the story and +follow it through to the end.</p> + +<p>In the first week of July I returned from Le Tréport to +Enguinegatte, where, as I have said, I found all the company +but a few headquarters’ details already gone back to +our old camp and billets at Bouvigny. I followed the next +day. Our tanks had trekked across country to Central +Workshops at Erin to be handed in. B and C Companies, +in Noulette Wood, were waiting to entrain for the same +purpose; and then the whole personnel of the battalion was +going to Merlimont for Hotchkiss and driving courses preparatory +to drawing its quota of Mark V.’s. The 11th +Battalion was already there, and the 12th, which was to +follow, was to become a light battalion with Whippets. +Such, at least, were the arrangements. In practice, however, +things fell out very differently.</p> + +<p>On 18th July I came home on leave. Returning on 1st +August, I caught the influenza and a particularly unpleasant +bombing raid at Boulogne, and from there proceeded to +Merlimont, where I expected to find the battalion. I found +however, only A Company. B and C had drawn their old +tanks again, and returned to Noulette Wood, where they +were engaged in some mysterious business which turned out +to be part of a scheme to delude the enemy into the expectation +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_369">369</span>of an attack on the Lens front. At Merlimont I went +straight to bed in a hut where I was deluged with sand +every time the door opened, and remaining there three days +saw little or nothing of the place—in which I do not think +I lost much. The day after I began to totter about again +in that gentle melancholy which influenza induces, there came +the usual twenty-four hours’ notice to move. All our hopes, +it appeared, had come to nothing. Owing to Labour +troubles at home—the old story—and in view of the certain +need of heavy replacements after the battle of Amiens (then +just beginning), the supply of Mark V.’s and Whippets was +insufficient to equip the whole Tank Corps. In our brigade, +therefore, while the 11th Battalion was to draw its forty-two +machines of the new type and be rushed forthwith to the +Somme on the fruitless errand I have mentioned, the 12th +Battalion and ourselves were to be re-equipped with our +old Mark IV.’s before leaving for some unknown destination. +The 12th, which had been training as a Whippet battalion, +was particularly annoyed. In our case, I think we came in +the end to regard this misfortune as at least a compliment. +If any battalion could make the Mark IV. capable in the +field of rivalling its more powerful and handy successor it +was “G”; and in the end, both the 12th and ourselves, +I think, not only rivalled but excelled the performances of +most of the Mark V. battalions. The amount of work we +got out of our obsolete machines was astonishing. Some of +them, almost falling to pieces for want of repair, were still +pressing on with the 4th Army, at the especial request of the +Guards and other infantry, until just before the Armistice, +when they had covered, including battles and all the gambits +involved by treks and approach-marches during the greatest +advance since 1914, well upwards of 100 miles.</p> + +<p>We left Merlimont for the Bermicourt area by lorry on +7th August, and were billeted in Blangy, next door to Erin, +on the Ternoise. The officers of the company occupied a +couple of dormitories in the most depressing institution +imaginable—a huge dilapidated religious hostel for the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_370">370</span>feeble-minded. Very mercifully there were only a few of +these unfortunates left at the time, mostly old men and +women, with two or three nuns who looked after the establishment; +but I know of no place more chilling and uncomfortable +as a residence. We were here for a week. While +the Tank commanders and crews were away at Erin every +day, receiving their Mark IV.’s and equipment, there was +little for me to do. I took a few runners in map-reading +classes, drew from the M.T. workshops at Auchy a new +combination Douglas and side-car to replace my old one, +which somebody had smashed up in my absence, and paid +the usual visits to Hesdin, a charming little town temporarily +spoilt by the British Army in general and the Tank Corps +in particular. I also visited once or twice the field of Agincourt, +which lies on the hills above the Ternoise. The +country has changed very little, so far as one can judge, since +Henry V.’s insignificant army crossed the river near Erin, +climbed the steep ridge beyond, and stood at bay on the tiny +battlefield. The villages of Azincourt (as it is spelt) and +Tramecourt, between which the French knights were killed +in thousands, and that of Maisoncelles, where Henry established +his headquarters on the night before the battle, still +lie invisible in their trees just as they were hidden 500 years +ago. The few fields which separate them are tilled now as +they were tilled then; and only a road, some iron palings, +and a signpost need to be obliterated to re-endue that fragment +of landscape with the air and spirit of the fifteenth +century. It was an odd contrast (if one may acknowledge +such obvious reflections) to the vast tormented battlefields +to which we were returning.</p> + +<p>The workshops at Erin (which would have startled Henry +V.) were now working full blast in consequence of the +Somme battle. Stray crews of almost every unit in the +Tank Corps were there, drawing new or repaired machines. +A party of the 15th Battalion, just blooded at Proyart +and Framerville, and slightly above themselves in consequence, +descended upon our effete heads in the madhouse +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_371">371</span>one evening. Our own orders to move, couched in the +usual cryptic form reminiscent of a dime novel, reached +us on the afternoon of 14th August. The message began +in words like these—“14 crows entrain Birmingham 2 +<span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> 15th detrain Dublin 10 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> ...” Decoded into +sense, this meant that the company would leave Erin next +day for Saulty Station, on the Arras-Doullens road. I +had to find the 1st Brigade advanced headquarters at +Sarton, near Doullens, and learn there the destination of +the tanks. Having seen the latter on their trucks at Erin, +I pushed off on my bicycle on the afternoon of the 15th +with Lishman, the company equipment officer, in the side-car. +We ran the brigade to earth in a dilapidated house +at Sarton about five o’clock, discovered that the tanks +were to lie that night in Bazèque Wood, two miles from +Saulty, and went on immediately to survey the route +between the two places. We found the wood full of dug-outs, +which promised some shelter for the night, and found +also a branch of the invaluable 6th Corps Club in marquees +at Bavincourt, near by, where I ordered dinner. Owing +to various accidents, however, we were not free to attend +this very necessary function until 9.30, and with the tank +train due in at ten we did not dare to leave the station +for so long. The train, of course, chose to be abominably +late. We sat and dozed and hungered in the R.T.O.’s office +until long after midnight; and it was daylight before we had +all the tanks camouflaged in the wood and could begin to +think of sleep.</p> + +<p>B and C Companies had already arrived at similar +hiding-places in the neighbourhood. The following night, +that of the 16th, the whole battalion, with 42 tanks, moved +on to Bienvillers-au-Bois, where there was a company of +the 3rd Battalion’s Whippets. Battalion headquarters +joined us next day and took over our most comfortable +billets—which were very primitive at the best. Bienvillers +was a half-ruined and wholly deserted village about +four miles from our front line at Bucquoy, with which place +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_372">372</span>it was connected by a direct road through Hannescamps +and Essarts. It was surrounded by orchards in full leaf, +in which the tanks were hidden, and where there were also +a number of 60-pounder guns installed for the coming +offensive. The country to the eastward was good, rolling, +chalk land, forming a series of low ridges between Bienvillers +and Bapaume. Before the German withdrawal to +the Hindenburg Line in the spring of 1917, the front +trenches had run between Hannescamps and Essarts, both +of which were entirely ruined. The present front line, so +far as it concerned us, now ran from north to south as +follows: east of Ayette, west of Ablainzevelle, through +Bucquoy, east of Puisieux-au-Mont, and so to Miraumont +on the Ancre, the enemy having just abandoned (on 15th +August) the small salient he had held in front of Puisieux +and Serre. Viewed from the high ground at Essarts, the +landscape before us was divided with a curious exactness +into two kinds. North of a line drawn between Bucquoy +and Puisieux, although wasted, desert, and seamed with +trenches, it still bore some resemblance to a state of nature. +Fragmentary houses were erect in the villages, and the trees +which invariably surround the latter in north-east France +seemed at a distance to be in fair preservation. But south +of the line the track of a hurricane—the first battle of the +Somme—had sheared everything away. Trees, houses, the +very sites of villages and farms, had vanished in a wholesale +annihilation; and the country westward to Bapaume and +southward to the Somme was one vast nondescript expanse +of ruin, broken only by a few stumps or a cloud of dust. +This obliterated area determined, so far as tanks were concerned, +the front of the new attack, interposing a wide gap +between the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Tank Brigades, working with +the 3rd Army to the north, and the 4th and 5th Brigades +which were to come into action again with the 4th Army a +day or two later. The time was past when tanks were +thrust in, willy-nilly, over any kind of <i>terrain</i>.</p> + +<p>The 3rd Army’s attack, to be launched on 21st August, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_373">373</span>was to extend from Moyenneville to the Ancre—a frontage +of 17,000 yards. The first objective was the line of the +Arras-Albert railway, which ran from Moyenneville through +Achiet-le-Grand to Miraumont. On the 22nd the left of the +4th Army was to come into line between the Ancre and +the Somme, while on the 23rd, south of the latter, the +Australians would renew their advance, so that the offensive +would become continuous from Boyelles to the Amiens-St +Quentin road. The battle of Bapaume, as it is convenient +to call the northern part of the combined operation, was of +particular interest in that it brought us against a new +system of defence adopted by the Germans—or rather an +old system, tried with success at Ypres, now revived in +greatly altered circumstances. The idea was defence in +depth, the enemy’s front positions as far back as the Arras-Albert +railway being held very thinly, chiefly by machine-gunners +with a number of scattered and camouflaged field-guns +for anti-tank purposes. Behind the railway were his +battery positions and his main line of resistance. The +main object of this arrangement was to hamper the tank +attack, the first phase of which would be delivered as it +were in the air, while the German batteries, instead of +being overrun at the start, as happened on the 8th August, +would be waiting 5000 yards in rear to deal with the second +phase, which must always be less coherent owing to loss of +tanks, accidents to infantry, and the general confusion that +ensues once a battle has begun. On 21st August this +defence in depth caused us undoubtedly a good deal of +anxiety and loss; but such a method can never be popular +with that minority of the defending troops which has to be +sacrificed as a matter of course in the advanced positions, +and this disadvantage in the end outweighed its merits. It +was found before long that the German soldier, whose +<i>moral</i> was deteriorating week by week, surrendered so +freely when left without artillery support far in front of the +main defence line that the whole purpose of the scheme was +vitiated.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_374">374</span></p> + +<p>The Tank Brigades had been thoroughly reshuffled before +the battle. The 2nd Brigade, on the left of the 3rd Army, +consisted now of the 12th and 15th Heavy Battalions and +the 6th Light Battalion (Whippets). The 3rd Brigade, in +reserve, had the 9th, 11th, and 14th Heavy Battalions. +The 1st Brigade in the centre was made up of the 7th and +10th Heavy Battalions, the 3rd Light Battalion, and the +17th Armoured Car Battalion. “In consequence of the +enemy’s new system of defence and the varying powers of +the three marks of machines used by the 1st and 2nd +Tank Brigades, tanks were disposed in echelons as +follows:—</p> + +<blockquote class="hang1"> +<p>1. Two battalions of Mark IV. tanks (7th and 12th) to +operate as far as the second objective.</p> + +<p>2. One battalion of Mark V. and one of Mark V. Star +machines (10th and 15th) to operate against the +second objective and proceed as far as the Albert-Arras +railways.</p> + +<p>3. Two battalions of Whippets and one of armoured +cars to operate beyond the railway.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_38_38" href="#Footnote_38_38" class="fnanchor">[38]</a>⁠</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>As no such advance as that of 8th August was contemplated, +the railway being the final objective for the first +day, this employment of the Whippets and armoured cars +seems to have been a mistake. There was little point in +their disorganising the enemy’s forces in an area over +which we had no intention of advancing until the 23rd; +and, on the other hand, their appearance, unsupported, +beyond the railway, would put them at the mercy of the +German batteries, by that time fully prepared. And, in fact, +a company of the 3rd Battalion lost most of its tanks +around Achiet-le-Petit (together with a number of armoured +cars) before even the railway was reached.</p> + +<p>There was very little time for reconnaissance before the +attack. It was, of course, to be another surprise, based +on tanks, but the battalion commanders of the latter were +only informed of the details on the 18th. The 6th Corps +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_375">375</span>on the left, with the 2nd Tank Brigade, was to capture +Moyenneville and Courcelles and the line of the railway +beyond. The 4th Corps, in the centre, with the 1st Tank +Brigade, had to carry first the villages of Ablainzevelle and +Bucquoy, then Logeast Wood and the German second line +to Achiet-le-Petit, and thirdly, Achiet-le-Grand and the +railway. The 5th Corps, on the right, was advancing +without tanks along the edge of the obliterated area against +the Dove Cot at Beauregard and the village of Beaucourt. +The 7th Battalion was primarily interested in Bucquoy +and Ablainzevelle. B and C Companies were to capture +the former, A Company the latter, after which one section +from each company was to push on with the Mark V.’s +of the 10th Battalion as far as Logeast Wood and Achiet-le-Petit. +Bucquoy was a large village shaped like a badly +drawn cross, one stroke of which ran up the Ayette road, +parallel to our front, while the other crossed it at right +angles along the road from Bienvillers and Hannescamps +to Achiet-le-Petit. The opposing outposts were both in the +village. Ablainzevelle, a more compact and much smaller +place, lay 1000 yards to the north-east, just beyond the +Ayette road. The infantry with whom we were co-operating +in this first phase were two brigades of the 37th +Division, in which I had served in the ranks in the +early days of the war. By a coincidence, my old unit, the +10th Royal Fusiliers, which I had not seen since June +1915, was to take Ablainzevelle with A Company’s tanks. +In spite of the fact that the new German tactics of defence +in depth presupposed the holding of both these +villages very lightly, the infantry were extremely nervous +about them. The 111th Brigade would have it that +Ablainzevelle was a warren of dug-outs and tunnels and +full of men. Personally, I do not believe there were fifty +Germans in the place. In case, however, it proved to be a +second Flesquières, six tanks (all we could get into it +comfortably) were to rush it from three sides, the other +eight machines of the company devoting themselves to the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_376">376</span>trenches and alleged strong-points to the north and south. +I spent a part of the 18th and 19th reconnoitring Ablainzevelle +from our forward lines along the Ayette road, and on +the first day the Major and I, having passed in front of our +outposts by mistake, found ourselves in the ditch beside +the road which led into the village from Bucquoy, and +within 100 yards of the nearest house. We could see +straight up the road into the middle of the village, which +appeared to be as deserted and peaceful as any one could +wish. There were Germans hidden somewhere in the ruins, +but I am sure that if it had been desirable our people could +have walked over any time after dark and taken the place +with very little trouble. The same applied to Bucquoy and +all similar advanced posts under the new German scheme +of defence.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowe40" id="i_376fp"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_376fp.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + Ablainzevelle, Logeast Wood, and Achiet-le-Grand. + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>During the days before the attack the weather held +gloriously fine with hot sunny days and moonlit nights, +and the front was very quiet indeed. On the evening of +the 19th, about dusk, we began to get the tanks of A Company +out of their orchard. By midnight all were well on +their way to the lying-up points we had selected. These +were in the shallow valley which runs north and south +between Bucquoy and the high ground about Essarts, and +on the average were less than 2000 yards behind the front +line. Wright’s section, the farthest forward of all, was +to lie up in a sunken road which ran into the northern end +of Bucquoy, M’Chlery’s behind a bank alongside the road +from Essarts to Ayette, and Custance’s under a row of +trees near Quesnoy Farm, behind M’Chlery. Except for +Custance’s row of trees there was no real cover whatever +in this neighbourhood beyond a few banks and sunken +roads. From Essarts to Bucquoy the ground was a trough +of grass-land where once fields had been. Besides our +company, B and C were also to collect in the valley, so +that forty-two tanks would be lying in the open a mile +from the German outposts throughout Y-day. Behind us, +over the Essarts Ridge, was the 10th Battalion, whose +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_377">377</span>Mark V.’s would move up at zero. The 12th and 15th +Battalions on our left had the extensive shade of Adinfer +Wood for concealment. Tanks, however, if hidden from +direct observation and properly camouflaged, are as safe, +or safer, in the open than in some conspicuous mass of +timber. They are invisible from the air and extraordinarily +difficult to locate even from close quarters on the ground, +as was proved when the brigade Intelligence Officer, who +knew the approximate positions of all our sections, could +only find eight tanks out of the forty-two. By 2 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span> +our three sections were disposed of in their hiding-places +without any disturbance from the enemy or trouble from +the tanks. Having seen them camouflaged and the crews +preparing to turn in for the rest of the night, the Major and +I walked back to his car, which was waiting behind Essarts, +and returned to Bienvillers for our own few hours’ sleep. +The rest of that day, the 20th, we were busy about many +things. We went out to the tanks again after breakfast, +and found everything well and the German artillery as +quiet as before. The section and tank commanders were +going out for a final reconnaissance that afternoon. I +spent it in studying maps and photographs in the R.O.’s +office at Bienvillers, drawing up operation orders with the +Major, and making a few preparations for my personal +comfort during the battle. After an early dinner we set off +again about 7.30 for Essarts. As darkness fell, the whole +countryside, which had been so empty of life the night +before, became filled with quiet noises—the tramp of hoofs, +the rattle of wheels, the voices of men passing orders or +warnings. Dozens of field batteries were moving forward +to take up their positions in front of Hannescamps for the +opening barrage, and the assaulting infantry were on the +way to their assembly trenches. The moon, which was +almost full, rose intensely bright—too bright for my liking.</p> + +<p>Zero was at 4.55 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>, and before midnight all the tanks +of the battalion were uncamouflaged and ready to move. +The three sections of A Company were to be formed up +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_378">378</span>in line beyond our front trench—Very Trench—at 4.40. +To be on the safe side the route of each section was to +be taped to this point, a task which normally falls to the +Reconnaissance Officer; but as I could not be in three +places at once, it was decided that the taping should be left +to the section commanders and to Jukes, my assistant R.O., +who had taken Maelor Jones’s place. I wandered round +with the Major, visiting each section in turn. One startling +incident disturbed these preliminaries. We were with +Wright’s section in the sunken road about midnight. He had +no more than 1500 yards to cover, and there was no point +in his starting at that hour; but some limbers appeared in +the road with ammunition which had to be taken farther +forward, and as the tanks blocked the way we started to +get them up the bank to one side. The first tank reached +the top, with some difficulty, for there was no room to +swing in the road, and the bank was 12 feet high and very +steep. The moon was now blazing like an arc-light upon +everything, and the tank was silhouetted on a rise half a +mile from Bucquoy, the trees of which village, as well as +those along the Ayette road, were clearly visible. Everything +was so brilliant, in fact, that we ordered men to hold +up the canvas horn covers to hide the flashing of the tracks +in the moonlight as the machine moved along above the +cutting. I was down the road again watching the second +tank endeavouring to climb out, when there came the +whistle of a shell, and the leading one on top was hidden +in smoke. Several more shells followed, all of which burst +round the tank, and the crew came flying out and down +into the road. The shooting was so extraordinarily +close that we felt certain that the tank had been seen. +Yet, after about a dozen rounds, none of which actually hit +her, the gun or guns stopped firing. Apparently the shelling +was meant for the road, which the Germans must have +known to be used for transport at night, for after this a +machine-gun opened on it at long range, and bullets came +zip-zipping into the grass of the bank. With this epilogue, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_379">379</span>however, the incident closed, and the night resumed its +normal quietude. We backed the leading tank behind the +crest, and got the rest out of the way of the limbers by +reversing them to the end of the sunken road. We were +taking no more risks in full view. As it happened, a mist +began to rise soon after and thickened so fast that all fear +of our being seen was at an end. Before morning it was +a veritable fog, which, lasting until ten o’clock, was to +hamper seriously the first phase of the attack. I spent an +hour on an errand to C Company later on, and as I was +returning saw the Mark V.’s of the 10th Battalion drawn +up in the valley our tanks had just left. The mist was very +dense when I rejoined the Major at the 111th Brigade +headquarters in a dug-out in Top Trench, the support line. +I remember getting some sleep here. Shortly before zero +runners came in from all three sections to report the tanks +lined up in No Man’s Land. We climbed up into the +trench, to find we could not see a hundred yards in front +of us; and a few minutes later the massed batteries behind +broke the silence with an appalling crash of sound, a torrent +of shells whined overhead, and the attack had begun.</p> + + +<h4 id="II_16"> + II. +</h4> + +<p>For all we could see, we might have remained in the +dug-out. The fiendish uproar of the guns seemed to +increase, if that were possible—a modern barrage is one +continuous throbbing blast of noise beyond description—but, +looking back, there was not even a flicker of light +to be seen from all those smoking muzzles. Dawn had +broken, and we could see one another, but that was all. +Even Misty Trench (appropriately named), only two or +three hundred yards in front, was invisible. No hostile +shells seemed to be coming our way, but it was true they +might have been bursting quite near without our knowing +it. I cannot recall anything outside a London fog as dense +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_380">380</span>as that capricious mist which covered the whole battlefield +during the early morning of the 21st. The road in which +Wright’s tanks had been concealed cut through Top +Trench close to where we were standing, and presently +the last section of C Company, detailed for the second +objective, came rolling along it out of the gloom. It was +now full day, and we could see perhaps a quarter of a +mile at the most. Bucquoy was still entirely hidden. A +brigade staff of the 63rd Naval Division, which was to +pass through the 37th to attack the railway, had come +up to the neighbourhood of Top Trench, and its members +were standing about flapping maps, sending and receiving +telephone messages, and cursing the fog. Runners and +despatch-riders were coming and going busily in our vague +radius of vision. There was a constant bustle about the +mouth of the dug-out, where the 111th Brigade was +receiving reports every minute by telephone from the +headquarters of its battalions; and inquiries here confirmed +the impression that the first objectives had been +carried with ease, in spite of the mist. The latter was +at last thinning as the sun rose, and at length the trees +of Bucquoy, 1000 yards away, became faintly visible, like +ghostly and tattered scarecrows. It was now, I suppose, +about seven o’clock, and the Major and I began to make +our way toward Ablainzevelle. A few walking wounded +were straggling rearwards, and the endless torrent of +shells was wailing overhead; but there was nothing else +to be seen or heard of the battle. The northern end of +Bucquoy, through which we passed, reeked of gases and +corruption, but the one or two dead bodies visible had +only too palpably been lying there for days. The Ayette +road was more forlorn than ever, and littered with a new +layer of bricks and branches. The appearance behind us +of some cavalry, who rode into the village with a great +clatter and parade, indicated that the attack so far had +progressed satisfactorily. A little way up the Ablainzevelle +road we met the first tank returning, followed by +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_381">381</span>several more. As I had suspected would be the case, +there had been little or no fighting in the village. The +fog had caused far more trouble than the Germans, of +whom hardly any had been seen. One machine-gun had +kept firing from a ruined house until a tank drove over +it, one or two others had loosed a few bursts before their +crews fled, and then proceedings had degenerated into a +hunt for souvenirs. There were plenty of these, for the +attack had come as a complete surprise.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowe30" id="i_381"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_381.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <i>Attack on August 21, 1918.</i> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>We returned with these tanks to the rallying-point near +Durham Trench, behind the northern gardens of Bucquoy. +All the machines detailed for Ablainzevelle were accounted +for. One had broken a track near the village, and its +commander, slightly wounded in an unromantic part of +his person by a stray bullet, was the only casualty to +date. During the morning all the remaining tanks rolled +in except the three of Wright’s section, which had pushed +on to Achiet-le-Petit. No one, so far, had met with any +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_382">382</span>serious opposition, but all had difficulties on account of +the mist. One tank commander, at the request of the +Naval Division, had entered Logeast Wood and demolished +some machine-gun posts there.</p> + +<p>There was a little shelling of our neighbourhood, and of +Bucquoy in general, toward midday, and Jukes and I very +nearly had our promising careers cut short by a large projectile +which landed in a road along which we were walking +in search of news or food—I forget which. Jukes’s water-bottle +was the only victim. After a scrappy lunch, having +learnt that Wright’s section had returned from Achiet-le-Petit +and rallied in a small copse between that place and +Bucquoy, I set out to find Battalion headquarters, which +was to have established itself by this hour in a trench +east of the latter village. The mist had now cleared, at +an awkward moment as it turned out, for the 10th Battalion +and the Whippets. The day was brilliantly fine +and even uncomfortably hot, and as I reached the far side +of Bucquoy, I could see very plainly the battle in progress +along the line of the railway. Achiet-le-Petit, hidden in +trees, had been taken by tanks and was firmly held, but +to the left smoke was billowing in clouds about Achiet-le-Grand +and the eastern end of Logeast Wood. I found +the Colonel, Henriquez, and Smith, the Adjutant, sheltering +from the sun under some corrugated iron at the appointed +spot, where their trench—which was in fact the German +front line, there having been only advanced posts in +Bucquoy—was cut by the road from that village to +Achiet-le-Petit. I got a little news from them. B and C +Companies, it appeared, had taken Bucquoy as easily as +we had taken Ablainzevelle; but the second German line, +and in particular Logeast Wood and Achiet-le-Petit, had +given more trouble. The Mark V.’s and Whippets, passing +through our tanks, had been caught bunched together near +the railway as the fog lifted at ten o’clock, and had been +knocked about badly by the German guns. The Naval +Division, losing its direction, had wandered too far to the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_383">383</span>right, even across the Achiet-le-Petit road, with the result +that Achiet-le-Grand, which it should have carried, was still +holding out. Apart from this accident, everything so far +had gone well. I was told now to bring A Company’s +tanks through Bucquoy to some point east of the village. +One of our old camps of Nissen huts, mostly in ruins, lay immediately +in front, and having noted this as a suitable place +to camouflage the machines, I returned to lead them to it.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowe40" id="i_382fp"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_382fp.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + Bucquoy and Achiet-le-Petit. + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Before three o’clock we had the two sections hidden in +the huts, which we knocked down and then built up again +over the tanks. We established ourselves in the trench +behind. The accompanying photograph, taken five days +before the attack, shows very clearly this region behind +Bucquoy. Our trench ran from the five-sided enclosure +on the left to the first elbow in the main road, where the +trees are. Beyond are the Nissen huts. Beyond them +again is a small copse, beside the road, where Wright’s +section had rallied after taking Achiet-le-Petit. The latter +village is seen at the end of the road, having on its left the +line of trees along the road to Achiet-le-Grand. In the +foreground is Bucquoy, the distance between the two +villages being about a mile and a half. C Company had +concentrated their tanks in the five-sided enclosure on our +left, while those of B Company were under some trees at +the south end of the village.</p> + +<p>We were left here in peace during the rest of the day, +only a few heavy shells whining overhead at intervals into +Bucquoy. Battalion headquarters had returned to Bienvillers. +It was blazing hot, and we were plagued by +innumerable flies. Our only protection from the sun was +a few small shelters in the trench wall—the dug-outs, of +which there were a good number, being filled to suffocation +by the infantry of the 37th Division, now holding +this line as a support to the general advance. When we were +not trying to sleep, our chief occupation was watching the +struggle still raging in front of Achiet-le-Grand. We looked +straight up a shallow depression to Achiet Junction, which +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_384">384</span>stood on rising ground, so that, although it was two miles +distant, we witnessed the whole attack like spectators at +a play. The infantry had carried the line of the railway +to north and south, but the Germans still held out tenaciously +in a little salient that jutted out westward around +the station, the brickworks, and a number of huts erected +there. Throughout the afternoon I saw at intervals with +my glasses lines of minute figures pressing forward up the +slope into the smoke-clouds that rose and eddied over +Achiet; but they always came back, and in smaller numbers. +The station was still uncaptured at nightfall.</p> + +<p>It was extremely cold that night for August. Jukes and +I were huddled together in a bay of the trench when the +Major roused us at 3 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span> He had become anxious about +Wright’s forward section in the copse beside the road, and +wished Jukes to walk across and bring the tanks in to the +Nissen huts, with the others, before dawn. As I was too +cold to sleep, I accompanied Jukes across to the copse. +It was brilliant moonlight again, with none of the mist of +the previous night. There was very little artillery fire in +progress, and only the occasional mutter of a machine-gun +along the railway. The copse, when we got to it, proved +to be no more than a triangle of tattered hedge enclosing +half a dozen small trees. There were now in it six tanks: +three of A Company’s (Wadeson’s, Clegg’s, and another), +one each from B and C, and a supply tender. We found +B and C’s machines already under orders to withdraw, and +in the act of uncamouflaging; and having woken up our own +people, we hurried them on with the same business, for the +eastern sky was brightening, and it takes some time to +uncamouflage a tank, stow everything away, and start up +a cold engine. The crews were sleepy and chilled, and +half an hour had passed before the first tank was under +way. This was C Company’s machine. Then two of ours, +Clegg’s, and one commanded by an N.C.O., went off with +Jukes, followed by Borrisow of B Company. The tender +was remaining behind, and our last tank (Wadeson’s) refused +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_385">385</span>at first to start up. While I was standing beside it, +looking toward the railway, where the trees along the +road between the two Achiets were now visible in the +rapidly growing light of a clear morning, a close line of +black shell-bursts sprang up about 500 yards away—apparently +a very well-spaced barrage along what had been the +German second line. The tank was just moving, to my +sincere gratification; but before even it was clear of the +copse the barrage had jumped forward and was falling all +round us. The two tanks which Jukes was leading vanished +in a cloud of smoke, and I was certain that one at least +had been hit. I saw Borrisow crossing the road and +making at full speed for the shelter of Bucquoy. I led +Wadeson after him, as the shells at the moment were +falling only on our side of the highway; but as soon as we +were across, with that malignity which so often seems to +inspire indirect artillery fire, the infernal things began to +fly up in front of us. In the twilight one could see the +flash in the heart of each black plume of earth and smoke. +One shell cleared the cab of our tank by inches and burst +twelve yards ahead of us. Wadeson and I were walking +in front to direct the driver, and in the perturbation of the +moment it never occurred to either of us to get inside the +tank, which we might safely have done, there being enough +light for us to pick out our way through the flaps. We +swung back presently on to the road, as the ground to the left +became obstructed with large craters and other excavations +of some sort, which reduced seriously our very moderate +rate of progress. The tank, in fact, from some mechanical +fault, would only crawl along on second speed. From the +copse to our huts was no more than a thousand yards, +but this distance seems interminable when one is condemned +to walk at about one mile an hour through a heavy +deluge of 5.9’s. The shells followed us with the same +uncanny accuracy, and were crashing among the huts +when we reached the latter. As we turned in from the +road I met Wright, the section commander, stumbling +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_386">386</span>about, half-blinded by blood from a wound in his head. I +took his arm and ran him down the road to the trench, +and judged from the brisk way he stepped out that he was +not very badly hurt. Hurrying back, I called in the crews. +It was not the moment to keep them out in the open +camouflaging the tanks, which could be done later. As it +was, I was too late. Poor Clegg, having after all come +safely through the journey, was the first in, and was standing +behind his tank helping his crew to cover it with +corrugated iron from a hut, when a shell burst at his feet +and killed him instantly.</p> + +<p>The whole thing was a striking example of bad luck. +The tanks could not have been seen in that half-light, and +the bombardment was a mere speculation, aimed, I imagine, +at the trenches we occupied east of Bucquoy. It cost the +7th Battalion a heavier casualty list in officers than any +action it ever fought. For while in A Company Clegg was +killed and Wright wounded, almost at the same time a +shell landed among B Company’s tanks in Bucquoy itself, +killing a tank commander, M’Lean, and a gunner, and +wounding another officer and several men. M’Lean, a +Canadian, was one of the best fellows I have ever met, and +one who hated war almost as much as I did. Throughout +the series of operations which began at Bucquoy and ended +beyond Cambrai, the 7th Battalion, always comparatively +fortunate in casualties to personnel, had four officers killed, +of whom two lost their lives in this brief and purposeless +shelling on the morning of 22nd August.</p> + + +<h4 id="III_13"> + III. +</h4> + +<p>A Company’s trench was not actually hit during the +bombardment, but all who were in it were much perturbed +by our predicament as well as by their own. As the three +returning tanks were hidden entirely for a while by the +smoke, most of us were given up for lost. The shelling +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_387">387</span>died down after about half an hour, when parties went out +to bring in Clegg’s body and to complete the concealment +of the tanks.</p> + +<p>The rest of the day passed quietly enough, so far as we +were concerned, until the evening. The 3rd Army was +pausing, while the 4th Army came into line between the +Ancre and the Somme. On our front Achiet-le-Grand was +carried in the course of the morning, and the infantry was +then established along the whole line of the railway. A +little information reached us concerning the previous day’s +events on our left. The 12th Tank Battalion in their first +battle had done all and more than was asked of them, +capturing Moyenneville and pushing on to the railway. +The Mark V. Stars of the 15th Battalion, which should +have passed through the 12th, lost all direction in the mist, +and for the most part wandered aimlessly about north of +Logeast Wood without achieving anything. As, however, +the battalion (by one of those dispensations peculiar to the +Army) collected something like a dozen military crosses for +an ineffective performance which did not merit one, it had +every reason to be satisfied with its day’s work. It was fortunate, +perhaps, in that its tanks did not contrive to get very +far forward, for the 10th Battalion, which played the same +<i>rôle</i> on the right, passing through our Mark IV.’s to attack +the railway about Achiet-le-Grand, met with wholesale +disaster. Of the company which went in, every tank except +one, I believe, was knocked out on or near the railway by +the German batteries beyond, eleven out of twelve officers +being killed or wounded. The 3rd Battalion’s Whippets, +endeavouring to pass through the Mark V.’s, were caught in +line ahead on the Achiet-le-Petit road when the mist lifted +suddenly about ten o’clock in the morning, and most of +them suffered the same fate. Two got through Achiet-le-Petit +and were hit and burnt out beyond. The armoured +cars had also paid the penalty of other people’s convictions +in the same neighbourhood. An area a mile square around +the two Achiets and the curve of railway between them was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_388">388</span>in fact littered with derelict Mark V.’s, Whippets, and +armoured cars; and the result of this, as the 10th Battalion +was very short of tanks to begin with, was that the 7th now +remained the only heavy unit approximately up to strength +in the 1st Brigade.</p> + +<p>Some of our machines, however, were in need of an +overhaul, and as it was impossible to work on those of A +Company in their exposed position east of Bucquoy, we +were ordered to withdraw after dark to our original rallying-point +near Durham Trench, west of the village. These +orders had just come through, at about seven o’clock in +the evening of the 22nd, when the enemy chose to repeat +his display of the early morning by bombarding our trench +with 5.9’s. He was very accurate on this occasion, the first +shell landing full in the trench, and all the others being +unpleasantly near. As the dug-outs were full of infantrymen, +we had to sit hopefully on the trench floor and trust to luck. +For a quarter of an hour this shelling was very heavy, and +caused a number of casualties among those of the infantry +who were crowded out of the dug-outs, and also in C +Company in their hedged enclosure to our left. The trench +was beaten flat in several places. After a while, as this +infliction might herald a counter-attack, the Major and I +sprinted vigorously up the trench to a dug-out where a +brigade headquarters of the Naval Division was established, +hoping to get some news there. We were met on the way +by a panic-stricken rabble of signallers and other oddments, +who declared, with what little breath they had left, that the +Germans were in fact advancing and had recaptured Logeast +Wood. This did not sound probable; and on penetrating at +length to the brigade headquarters, wrapped in ideal calm and +silence twenty feet below the ground, we found the General +having dinner amid an assortment of telephones, and every +one perfectly happy. Guy and Chaddock, of C Company, +were also there on the same errand of inquiry as ourselves. +We sat on the dug-out stairs for some time, drinking +whiskies and sodas, while telephone reports came through +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_389">389</span>from the battalions in the front line to the effect that +everything there was normal; and being thus assured that +our tanks would not be needed to repair any disaster, we +climbed out again to find the shelling ceased and a blazing +moon rising once more above Bucquoy. Something else +was blazing also—the unfortunate supply-tank we had left +in the copse that morning, which had been hit and set on +fire during the bombardment. Without any further delay +we got our tanks out of their shells of corrugated iron, and +in an hour or two were back near Durham Trench, where +we made bivouacs out of tarpaulin sheets for the night. +C Company, having received similar orders to withdraw to +the west of Bucquoy, were also concentrated at their old +rallying-point.</p> + +<p>While we were sleeping, the resumption of the general +offensive, due for the morning of the 23rd, was initiated by +a brilliant night attack made by the 12th Tank Battalion, +with the 3rd Division and the Guards, on Gommecourt and +Hamelincourt, north of Achiet-le-Grand. The two operations +were quite distinct affairs, the villages, which lay 1000 +yards beyond the railway, being nearly two miles apart. +Both were captured, with a number of prisoners and guns, +the tanks doing extraordinarily good work in the darkness. +Three Military Crosses, one D.C.M., and three Military +Medals were gained by the 12th Battalion in these actions, +in which thirteen tanks were actually engaged. With this +successful prelude, the whole battle awoke again at dawn +along a front of thirty-three miles from Lihons, in the south, +to Mercatel, beyond the Cojeul; and while in a sunken road +near Durham Trench we shaved and washed in a leisurely +manner beside our tanks, the guns were roaring once more, +and strings of German prisoners were already passing by on +their way to the cages. On this morning, in our sector, +the remaining tanks of the 10th Battalion helped the 37th +Division to clear Bihucourt, beyond Achiet-le-Grand: the +9th and 11th Battalions of the 3rd Brigade co-operated in a +successful attack toward Heninel; and about midday fifteen +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_390">390</span>Whippets of the 6th Battalion were engaged in very severe +fighting around Sapignies, Behagnies, and Ervillers on the +Arras-Bapaume road. Ervillers was carried, but the two +other villages held out until the 25th, when the 7th +Battalion assisted at their capture.</p> + +<p>About five o’clock in the afternoon orders arrived at +Durham Trench for a move by the whole battalion at dusk +to the railway embankment east of Achiet-le-Petit. A +Company led, C following on behind as we passed again +through Bucquoy. B Company took their own route from +the south end of the village. Owing to various breakdowns, +due to the age and general disrepair of some of our Mark +IV.’s, the battalion now mustered little more than thirty +tanks. It proceeded along the east side of the Achiet-le-Petit +road. The Major and I went on ahead in the car to +a conference at the headquarters of a New Zealand Brigade +near Achiet, which we reached just before dark. The New +Zealanders were attacking Biefvillers, Grévillers, and Loupart +Wood the next morning, and wanted two sections of +heavy tanks and some Whippets. Custance’s section of +A Company, with one from B, were detailed from our +battalion, the whole being under the orders of Rossi-Ashton, +commanding B Company, for the operation. As +there was nothing for the Major and myself to do, we were +ordered to return to Bienvillers to get a good night’s rest +while we had the chance; and having seen the tanks on +their way round the north side of Achiet-le-Petit, we +returned to the car and drove away. We passed the +Whippets coming up, and, behind Bucquoy, along the road +which two days before had been deserted, ran into masses +of transport, finally ditching the car in a shell-hole near +Hannescamps, so that it was after midnight when we +reached Bienvillers.</p> + +<p>A night in a camp-bed, followed by a bath and a comfortable +breakfast in our tarpaulin-covered mess, worked +wonders, and we were on our way back by eleven o’clock +next morning. One could see very plainly by day the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_391">391</span>changes wrought in these back areas by our advance. The +Bucquoy road was choked with cars, lorries, ambulances, +and horse-transport, moving under a cloud of dust. There +was a Y.M.C.A. canteen established in the ruins of Essart, +and we saw actually an A.P.M. endeavouring to control +the traffic in that place. We were able to take the car +through Achiet-le-Petit itself, over indescribable roads, +and so down into the valley beyond, where our tanks +were lying alongside the railway embankment. Around +Achiet were many relics of the tank attack of the 21st, in +the shape of burnt-out Whippets, armoured cars, and +Mark V.’s. South-east of the village the ground falls very +steeply and then rises to the railway, while the embankment +over which the latter runs is at this point quite thirty +feet high and clothed with bushes; and in the regular +gulley thus formed there was now accumulated an astonishing +mass of men, animals, and material. Against the +bushes of the embankment were camouflaged the thirty-odd +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_392">392</span>tanks of our battalion, a few Mark V.’s from the +10th, and several Whippets. A battery of 4.5 howitzers +was firing with an intolerable noise straight over our +machines from a distance of twenty yards, while on the +slope behind, which rose like a <i>glacis</i> up to Achiet, were three +or four field batteries in action. Long lines of limbers and +horses filled the lower end of the valley, and the men of +an infantry battalion in reserve were lying in the grass +higher up beside our tanks. Two infantry brigade headquarters +were established in the open here, so that there +was a great coming and going of despatch-riders and +orderlies. All this activity was crowded into a hollow 1000 +yards long by 200 or 300 yards wide—a magnificent +opportunity for the German artillery. The day was fine, +and a hostile aeroplane could have seen everything from a +great height. The possibilities of the place seem, however, +to have been overlooked during the earlier part of the +day, when the enemy was busy with the level crossing a +mile higher up at Achiet-le-Grand, which was violently +shelled.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowe30" id="i_391"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_391.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <i>The Advance beyond the Arras-Albert Railway, August 23-29.</i> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>That morning’s attack had been entirely successful—Biefvillers, +Grévillers, and Loupart Wood being taken +after severe fighting, in which three of our tanks and a +Whippet were knocked out. Armoured cars had endeavoured +to exploit the success by pushing along the +road from Biefvillers into Bapaume, but had found the +shell-fire too heavy. Our casualties had been slight, and +Custance and most of his people were back again with +the company, covered with dirt and glory. The battalion +was supplying another three sections (twelve tanks) the +following morning—the 25th—for two separate operations. +M’Chlery’s section of A Company was to help the 37th +Division complete its unfinished task at Sapignies and +Behagnies; while two sections of C, with seven Mark V.’s +(all that the 10th Battalion had left), were working with +the 63rd Division immediately to the south against Favreuil, +Avesnes-les-Bapaume, and Ligny-Thilloy. Avesnes was a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_393">393</span>suburb of Bapaume, and Thilloy was south of that town, on +which we were now closing on three sides. M’Chlery’s +section came under the orders of C Company for these operations. +The battalion being no longer at full strength, +sections were borrowed in this way to make up composite +companies with the normal number of tanks, and the three +company commanders took it in turn to direct successive +attacks. A Company having two tanks at Durham +Trench which should now be ready again for action, I +was sent off after lunch to order them up. My combination +Douglas had broken in half during our move +from Saulty to Bienvillers—the combined weight of the +Major and myself, coupled with the corrugations of a +ploughed field which we were crossing, proving too much +for a war-time framework; and for this journey I borrowed +Henriquez’s 4-h.p. machine, from which the side-car had +been detached. Ridden as a solo, it was unfamiliar, +powerful, and rather alarming; but after the usual anxious +moments in the dense traffic that now, beneath a fog of +dust, congested the Achiet-le-Petit road, I reached our old +rallying-point behind Bucquoy, delivered my message, and +returned. It was shortly after this, there being at the +moment nothing for me to do, that I climbed the railway +embankment and strolled up to the crest of the hill beyond, +and so came to witness a singular little comedy. From the +crest one looked down a gradual slope of grass, broken by +a few trenches and gun-pits, to Loupart Wood, 1000 yards +away, with Grévillers just beyond to the left on a farther +ridge which hid Bapaume. The Wood, as I have told, +had been captured that morning by B Company and the +New Zealanders. Subsequently the Germans counter-attacked +and retook the eastern part, whereupon two tanks +of C Company had been hurriedly summoned to drive +them out again. This was accomplished; but both tanks +were then put temporarily <i>hors de combat</i> while still in the +Wood—one with a broken track and the other with engine +trouble. At the time, about 5 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span>, when I walked up +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_394">394</span>from the railway, these machines were still there, with +their crews working on them. Nevertheless, for reasons +which I never discovered, the New Zealanders had withdrawn +again from the entire Wood, and were calling for +yet more tanks to deal with some alleged (and I believe +wholly imaginary) German machine-guns re-established +there. Standing on the crest of the hill above the railway, +I looked down at this juncture upon all the dispositions +for a pitched battle—with nobody. Loupart Wood lay +dark and quiet on the Grévillers spur, while within it +our two tank crews worked on quite peacefully, entirely +ignorant of their desertion and of all this pother. In +front of the Wood, in extended order on the ground, were +some New Zealand infantry and a battalion of the +K.O.S.B.’s, borrowed from the 5th Division to help in +this crisis. Behind the infantry a field battery had come +into position, its limbers in rear, and a squadron of dismounted +cavalry were standing by their horses in a hollow +close by, while from a crossing over the railway to my left +two more tanks of C Company were advancing to the +rescue. It was a very pretty and gallant sight, and +reminded one, in its formality and completeness, of those +mimic battles one used to enjoy at the Military Tournament. +Only the stock pontoon bridge was missing. Not a shot +was being fired, except by one rifle which cracked occasionally +far away to the right of the Wood. This belonged, I +heard afterwards, to a solitary German sniper who seems +to have represented in his own person the entire enemy +against which this force of all arms was arrayed. What +made the whole affair even more absurd and unreal was +the fact that, 1000 yards to the left, infantry were marching +in fours along the road into Grévillers...! As I looked +on, in some astonishment, developments ensued along the +orthodox lines laid down at Olympia and the Agricultural +Hall. A cavalry patrol of about a dozen men, greatly +daring, mounted their horses and trotted off toward the +Wood. A few hundred yards from it the men dismounted +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_395">395</span>again, left two or three in charge of the animals, and +walked forward in extended order. Every other individual +present (I hope) held his breath as these gallant fellows disappeared +among the trees. Even on my hill-top I seemed +to feel the atmosphere of suspense which emanated from +that silent battlefield, disturbed only by the single shots of +the indefatigable sniper in the distance.... In the Wood, +of course, nothing happened, for there was nothing to +happen. But I should like to have witnessed the meeting +between the anxious patrol, scouting warily among the +trees, and our two perspiring and irritable tank crews toiling +at their tracks and engines. After a while the infantry, +reassured, got upon their feet, and in their turn began +cautiously to advance: the Wood was reoccupied; and the +bloodless battle was handsomely won.</p> + +<p>My study of its concluding phase was disturbed by the +appearance of a squadron of German aeroplanes. There +were about a dozen of them, and they drove down suddenly +from a great height upon the valley behind me, +coming so low as they cleared the crest on which I +was standing that the nearest machine was not 200 +feet overhead. I saw quite clearly its observer stand +up in his cockpit and begin to fiddle about with his +machine-gun; and realising suddenly that I was a solitary +and fairly conspicuous figure on the hill-top, I ran rather +hurriedly to a trench close at hand. From here I saw the +aeroplanes swoop down across the railway and rise steeply +beyond, and heard the rattle of their machine-guns. The +bullets, as I heard afterwards, flew all round our tanks, +although no one was hit. The Germans must have +realised what a magnificent target the crowded little +valley offered to their heavy guns, and all of us expected +the place to be shelled furiously within half an hour; but +nothing of the sort happened, as the enemy’s artillery +was already in the act of withdrawing to positions farther +back.</p> + +<p>While I was in the trench I was joined by a doctor +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_396">396</span>belonging to the 5th Division. The latter was just back +from Italy, and the M.O. was very caustic on the subject +of the Italian Army. After talking to him for a while I +walked down to our valley again by way of the nearer railway +crossing, and there overtook the two tanks of C Company +on their way home from the 3rd battle of Loupart +Wood. Coutts and Chaddock were with them, both very +angry at having been called out on such a fool’s errand. +It was seven o’clock when I rejoined the company by the +embankment, and our servants there were preparing some +dinner, the <i>menu</i> including three tinned chickens which I +had brought from Bienvillers that morning. I had to eat +my share cold, however, on a hunk of bread, for as I arrived +the company received orders to move after dark to a point +indicated on the map as a German camp and hospital at +G 23, b 56; and Jukes and I had to set off at once to investigate +the place. It was 3000 yards away, on the high +ground near Bihucourt. We found it to consist of a couple +of immense sheds, presumably the hospital wards, a neat +double row of Nissens, either sunk in the ground or protected +by breastworks against aeroplane bombing, and a +scattered collection of other huts all round, the whole extending +on either side of the Bihucourt-Grévillers road. +Immediately to the north of the camp ran the third German +trench line, thickly wired; 300 yards beyond that was +the railway from Achiet-le-Grand Junction to Bapaume; +and across the railway were Bihucourt and Biefvillers, a +mile apart, and almost equidistant from the huts. Bapaume +itself, less than two miles away, was still hidden by the +final ridge, on top of which a derelict Whippet made a +conspicuous landmark. The whole of this country was +elevated and rolling grass-land, very little shelled, and +covered with old camps which we had lost in the March +retreat.</p> + +<p>As we returned to the valley there were ominous signs +of a change in the weather. Clouds were rolling up, and +a premature twilight was fading rapidly. We found the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_397">397</span>tanks pulling out from the embankment, with the exception +of M’Chlery’s section, which was moving later with C Company +for the attack next morning. Before we were halfway +to our new quarters it began to rain heavily, and the +night fell as black as pitch. The Major and I had eventually +to find a New Zealand Brigade whose whereabouts +was very vaguely indicated, there being some talk of a +couple more tanks going into action near Bapaume in the +morning; and having accompanied our machines as far as +the camp, we left them to settle themselves in, and plunged +off into the darkness on our own voyage of discovery. I +cannot imagine a more appalling night for such an expedition. +The blackness was extraordinary, and the rain +fell in torrents. We had only the haziest idea of the location +of this brigade headquarters, and for nearly two hours +we stumbled about in long grass and mud, tripping over +invisible wire, dead bodies, and other debris, falling into +shell-holes and sunken roads, and getting always more +drenched and exasperated. The few people we met were +either lost themselves, or else gave us contradictory directions +involving the recognition of landmarks which we +could not possibly see. After a while a thunderstorm burst, +and the lightning afforded occasional eerie visions of a +black and sodden world. One of these flashes found us +slithering down into a road filled with large dark objects, +which turned out to be the guns, men, and horses of a +German battery which had evidently been caught by shell +or machine-gun fire while limbering up.⁠<a id="FNanchor_39_39" href="#Footnote_39_39" class="fnanchor">[39]</a> Over this welter +of bodies there came crashing and rocking several of our +own field-guns, which nearly rode us down. This incident, +brief and startling in the lightning flashes, filled me with +a profound respect for our artillery. The guns went rattling +by in the pitchy dark over all these grisly obstructions on +the road with as much apparent ease and surety as if it +had been broad day. Very soon after this, near a cross-roads, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_398">398</span>we were cheered by the discovery of some lights that +seemed to be shining out of the ground, and found that, +more by luck than judgment, we had very literally stumbled +upon our destination. The brigade headquarters was +established in some huts sunk in what appeared to be a +quarry, and practically invisible even in daytime until one +fell over the edge. Having groped our way into the +Brigade Major’s office and introduced ourselves, the +Brigadier presently appeared from some subterranean +quarters and explained what he wanted us to do. He +proposed to capture some huts and railway sidings between +Bapaume and Favreuil in the course of the following morning, +and wished for two tanks to mop up after his infantry. +The time of the operation had not been fixed, but it would +take place in daylight, as a subsidiary development of the +main attack which the 63rd Division with C Company’s +tanks was carrying out at dawn from Favreuil to Thilloy. +The scheme did not commend itself to us in the very least. +It showed the common misapprehension of the correct use +of tanks, and violated all our tactical principles, based on +bitter experience. There were only two tanks to be used, +which left no margin for accidents; they were to be employed +wrongly to mop up after the infantry, instead of +preceding the latter; the attack was to begin in broad +daylight; and the approach-march necessarily led over the +bare and prominent ridge in front of Bapaume, where the +machines would certainly be detected before they got into +action at all. It was this last consideration which impressed +the Brigadier most forcibly. I do not think he +cared over much about what happened to the tanks, but +he was very anxious that his attack should not be discovered +prematurely. In the end, nothing was settled +definitely. We agreed to have the two tanks ready to move +if required. The brigade headquarters itself was moving +forward in the early morning to some dug-outs in the +German trenches in front of our huts, and we were to +report there at nine o’clock for further orders.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_399">399</span></p> + +<p>This proposed attack, which came to nothing so far as +we were concerned, illustrates one of the difficulties tank +units continually met with during this final stage of the +war. The infantry naturally wanted tanks whenever they +could get them, and brigade and divisional commanders +were always demanding two here or three there for use +in some wasteful and impracticable manner in minor operations. +Apart from the faulty tactics (from the point of +view of tank warfare) which these hurried little schemes +usually involved, tanks were getting very scarce in France, +and such as were available needed to be conserved as much +as possible for attacks on a large scale.</p> + +<p>Having left things in this nebulous state, the Major and +I plunged once more into the darkness and rain, and contrived +to find our way back to our new camp, where we +settled down in a hut about 2 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span></p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_400">400</span></p> + + + <h3 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIX"> + CHAPTER XIX. + <br> + <span class="sm">THE FIGHTING FOR BEUGNY, AND THE ADVANCE TO + THE CANAL DU NORD.</span> + </h3> +</div> + + +<h4>I.</h4> + +<p>The storm blew itself out in the night, and the morning of +25th August was again sunny and clear, with that bracing +freshness that follows after heavy summer rain. At nine +o’clock I walked over with the Major to see the New +Zealanders. We found them now immured in an uncomfortable +and, as I thought, highly dangerous dug-out near +the crest of the ridge where the derelict Whippet was +standing. The dug-out was merely a cramped, unfinished, +and untimbered gallery cut in a crumbling soil which +appeared to be in imminent peril of falling in. One +entrance, indeed, was half-choked with detritus shaken +down by concussion. Our interview settled the question +about the tanks. After some discussion, the Brigadier +decided against their use, to our considerable relief, and +I was no less pleased to get out of that untrustworthy +tunnel into the fresh air.</p> + +<p>I walked down to the railway embankment after this to +hear how M’Chlery’s section and C Company had prospered +in that morning’s attack. A Company’s four tanks, +it appeared, had led the infantry into Sapignies and +Behagnies, but these villages were only cleared after severe +fighting. One tank was knocked out by shell-fire in +Behagnies, its commander, Charnock, being wounded. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_401">401</span>C Company and the Mark V.’s, attacking Favreuil, Avesnes-les-Bapaume, +and Thilloy with the 63rd Division, met with +an even more tenacious resistance and suffered heavily. +Neither Thilloy nor Avesnes could be held, although both +were partially cleared. Favreuil was captured; but the +section of C Company which took the village met with +disaster later on. The tanks were returning south of +Favreuil, between Monument Wood and Bapaume, when +a field-gun in the outskirts of the town knocked out three +of them. Brassington and his driver, O’Mahony, in the +first tank, were killed together by a shell which came +through the side of the cab and set the machine ablaze. +A gunner was killed while getting out, and there were +several other fatal casualties among the N.C.O.’s and men +in the two disabled tanks behind. Poor Brassington’s +death came as a great shock to me. We had been in the +same hut as cadets at Bisley and in the same section in +G Battalion, had shared quarters at Bovington, and had +been much together in France. Before joining the Tank +Corps, Brassington had been a sergeant in the Duke of +Wellington’s. Like so many North-country men, he was +genuinely musical, with a good voice and a knowledge of +how to use it; and he shared another local characteristic—that +sort of independence (as it is called) which, often +aggressive and unpleasing, in his case took only the form +of a determination to go his own way. He would never +bother to cultivate friendly relations with influential people +if he did not like them, an attitude fatal to progress in the +Army. A really capable soldier, with long experience in the +war, he always said he would end as a tank commander.</p> + +<p>After these actions on the 25th, the 7th Battalion enjoyed +a rest for three days, being taken into Corps Reserve. +B Company’s tanks moved up to a little valley behind our +huts. We made ourselves fairly comfortable in the latter, +and were disturbed very little by shelling, although a +battery of our 60-pounders, posted a few hundred yards +in rear, rendered the nights hideous. We had driven some +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_402">402</span>of our tanks into one of the big hospital sheds, and camouflaged +the others behind it, there being now eight fit +machines left in the company. A certain amount of reorganisation +was necessary throughout the battalion; but +everything was turned upside down by a most extraordinary +development on the 28th. It had been known for some +time that a proportion of the officers and men of the Tank +Corps in France were to be sent home to provide an experienced +nucleus for new units forming at Bovington, the +establishment of the corps having been raised again from +eighteen to twenty-five battalions. Now that we were +involved in a general offensive, however, it naturally was +supposed that these changes would be postponed for a time. +That the offensive would end only with the war was not +then suspected, of course, by any one, least of all by Tank +Corps H.Q. in London, which now took an entirely unexpected +step. The personnel selected for England was +called for at a few hours’ notice. In the middle of a battle, +some units, including the 7th Battalion, found themselves +deprived at a blow of 30 per cent of their already reduced +complements. The first intimation we of A Company +received at Bihucourt was a message which arrived during +the afternoon of the 28th ordering all officers and men +detailed for Bovington to prepare to leave that evening. +This sudden and wholesale removal affected our company +more seriously than either B or C, for the party to go included +the Major, the second in command, two section +commanders out of three, Jukes, the Assistant R.O., several +tank commanders, the orderly-room corporal, and a +number of our best N.C.O.’s and men. The company, +in fact, lost all its senior officers. M’Chlery, the junior +section commander, as the only remaining Captain, found +himself in charge pending the arrival of a new O.C. +to be posted to us from the 11th Battalion. B and C +Companies, while less hard hit, sent away two section +commanders apiece (Merchant being among them), with a +proportion of subalterns and men. As for battalion headquarters, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_403">403</span>it virtually disappeared. The Colonel left, to +command a new unit, and took with him the Adjutant, +Henriquez the R.O., and most of the orderly-room staff, +who, rumour had it, were all promoted sergeants in the +train. All this happened, as I say, in two or three hours. +Lorries arrived at Bihucourt to take away our contingent +immediately after we received the order. The Colonel +rushed up in his car to say good-bye and to introduce his +successor, Major Thorp, to the bewildered residue of A +Company; and then M’Chlery, M’Elroy, and I, the only +survivors present of the original officers, and in consequence +responsible between us for the immediate prosecution of the +Great War, retired in a dazed condition to our hut to +have a much-needed drink before grappling with the new +situation.</p> + + +<h4 id="II_17"> + II. +</h4> + +<p>In the meantime, while the 3rd Army paused in front of +Bapaume, the general offensive was extended northward, +where the 1st Army struck out from Arras. The 3rd Tank +Brigade, some of whose units trekked twenty miles during +the 24th and 25th August, advanced with the Canadians +against Wancourt, Guémappe, and Monchy-le-Preux, on the +26th. These places were taken, and on the 27th Roeux +and Gavrelle, north of the Scarpe, fell also. Far to the +south the 4th Army and the French were advancing again, +and on our front the Germans evacuated Bapaume on the +28th. Our line in the 3rd Army sector now ran, from north +to south, east of St Leger, east of Mory, east of Beugnâtre +(beyond Favreuil), across the Cambrai road between +Bapaume and Fremicourt, and east of Thilloy.</p> + +<p>The German armies, bewildered by this series of blows, +were preparing to retreat to the Siegfried Line and the +Canal du Nord. But to give time for their heavy guns and +supplies to escape, they held out stiffly during the last days +of the month along the whole front. The 3rd Army, attempting +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_404">404</span>to advance from Bapaume up the Cambrai road, +was checked before Fremicourt and Beugny; and a series of +assaults on the latter village ended in sanguinary failures. +In two of these the 7th Tank Battalion took part.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the 29th, while the battalion was in +the throes of reorganisation after the startling disappearance +of a third of its officers, it was ordered to provide eight +tanks for an attack with the 5th Division on Beugny the +following morning. One section of A Company and one of +B were detailed accordingly, Major Rossi-Ashton of B +Company being in command. M’Elroy and I were now +running affairs in the camp near Bihucourt, M’Chlery +having left us to wrestle with returns and other horrible +matters at Bienvillers, where our rear headquarters was +still situated. Early in the afternoon we received instructions +to move four tanks to the valley beyond Biefvillers. +This valley was a wide and shallow depression running +north and south between the village and the Arras-Bapaume +road. We got our tanks here by about four o’clock, parking +them up under a bank beside a battery of 4.5 howitzers, +whose people were very annoyed at our arrival. Behind +us the whole of C Company’s tanks appeared from the +railway at Achiet-le-Petit and hid themselves among some +huts on the west side of the valley. An hour later we +moved again, following the valley northward and then +north-east across the Arras-Bapaume road to a point almost +north of Favreuil, where, under another high bank, we +joined the four tanks of B Company which were to co-operate +with ours in the attack. I will try to make clear +the features of the country that now lay before us. +Bapaume, 3000 yards due south of our lying-up point, +stands on a moderate elevation about 450 feet above sea-level. +The ground falls away from it in a series of spurs +to the north and north-east. There radiate out from the +town, like the fingers of a hand and alternately along the +spurs and in the valleys between, four roads, the most +westerly the main highway to Arras, running west of north; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_405">405</span>next a road through Favreuil, running north; next again +one through Beugnâtre, running north-east; and finally, +the highway through Fremicourt and Beugny to Cambrai, +running north of east. All these diverging roads except +the last-named were now behind our front, which had +reached a point two or three hundred yards east of +Beugnâtre, whence it trended a little west of south, crossed +the Cambrai road between Bapaume and Fremicourt, and +then continued east of Thilloy. The whole of this country +was bare rolling grass-land, of a uniform appearance, all +traces of cultivation and even of the boundaries of fields +having vanished. It was dotted with a large number of +hutted camps, mostly old ones of our own, and the only +cover, apart from these, was to be found in the trees +around the various villages. The roads were sunken in +places, and there was a general resemblance to parts of +Salisbury Plain, except that the undulations were less +pronounced.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowe40" id="i_404fp"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_404fp.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + Bapaume burning. End of August 1918. + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Our two sections of tanks were to lead the 13th Infantry +Brigade into Beugny. This village lay on the Bapaume-Cambrai +road a mile east of Fremicourt. It was surrounded +by wire and entrenchments, and was further +protected by one of our old defence systems converted by +the Germans, two lines of trenches and entanglements +running obliquely into our front north of Beugnâtre. On +our left the 2nd Tank Brigade, with infantry of the 3rd +Division, was to carry Ecoust, Longatte, and the Noreuil +Switch, while on our right the New Zealanders, with a few +Mark V.’s, were to move straight forward from Bapaume +upon Fremicourt and Bancourt. Zero was at 5 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span> on +the 30th.</p> + +<p>The valley in which we were lying preparatory to the +attack was a thoroughly unpleasant place. It curled round +to the north of the spur on which stood Favreuil and +Monument Wood. There had been a good deal of fighting +here, and a number of dead men and horses, in varying +degrees of decomposition, were lying about. Our tanks +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_406">406</span>were drawn up under a high bank topped by a row of trees +on the south side of the valley. On the north side a little +gully, lined with rough hutments that were full of old straw, +dirt, smells, and flies, led up to the main Arras road at +Sapignies. Eastward, at the foot of the valley, field +batteries were in action; and beyond them one could see +the line of trees along the road from Beugnâtre to Ecoust-St +Mein, which marked approximately our front. Having +found Beale, the Reconnaissance Officer of B Company, +with his tanks, I walked forward with him past Favreuil to +some rising ground near Beugnâtre. We wished to see +something of the country before us while the light held, but +although the evening was fine a mist had risen, and the +smoke of shells bursting around the village helped further +to hide the landscape beyond. We sat for some time in a +trench, memorising as much as we could verify on the map. +Camps of Nissen huts were clustered about Beugnâtre, and +others seemed to extend far over the monotonous plain +behind toward Beugny. It was agreed between us that our +sections should move together by the track we had just +followed to within a few hundred yards of Beugnâtre, when +Beale would lead his tanks south of the village while I took +mine round by the north. Once over the front line, where +our duties would end, the two sections would have each an +unmistakable guide to direct them on to Beugny. M’Elroy’s +tanks would strike sooner or later the old converted trench +system of which I have spoken, and which it was their +first task to clear. It would lead them down to the village +from the north. B Company’s tanks, on the right, had for +a guide the Bapaume-Cambrai railway, running north of +the main Cambrai road and roughly parallel to the latter +until it crossed it between Fremicourt and Beugny. In +an attack over such monotonous country, shrouded in +smoke and the mists of early morning, it is very easy to +lose one’s direction in a tank, and as even a temporary +delay may provoke serious trouble, any obvious means of +guidance is an inestimable boon. In this case we were +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_407">407</span>very fortunate. The trenches and the railway, like two +hand-rails, converged together and crossed immediately in +front of Beugny; and the tanks, moving up this angle, could +not possibly lose their way. The chief feature of the +country they had to fear was a gentle rounded spur +behind which the village itself was hidden, and on whose +absolutely bare crest they would stand out as admirable +targets as they approached.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowe30" id="i_407"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_407.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <i>Beugny.</i> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>I had some dinner that night with B Company’s people +beside their tanks, and then went for a few hours’ rest in +one of the wooden shacks in the gully opposite, which +had been cleared of litter. At midnight the tanks were +unsheeted and the engines started up. By one o’clock +seven of them were in line above the bank, ready to move. +The eighth, one of A Company’s, developed engine trouble +at the last moment and had to be left behind. There was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_408">408</span>no moon now, and the night was very dark, with a slight +mist. The distance to our front line beyond Beugnâtre +was only 3000 yards, but part of the route was unknown +to us, and we had to move at the slowest speed to prevent +noise. The two sections separated at the point Beale and +I had chosen, and he led his four tanks away to the south +of Beugnâtre, while M’Elroy and I held straight on to pass +the north end of the village. So far there had been no +hitch; but now I could not find the track I had noted +earlier in the evening, and was forced to feel my way +without this slight help. There was no danger of our +losing our way here, for the trees of Beugnâtre and the +huts about it were quite visible, but there was always the +chance of coming upon some obstacle which the track naturally +would have avoided. We ploughed forward through +long grass, M’Elroy and I in front feeling about with sticks +for wire or holes, and were passing to the north of the +village, which made a vague mass of trees and ruins on +our right, when shells began to burst in front of us. There +ensued a very disturbing quarter of an hour. A regular +barrage fell directly in our path, between us and the +Beugnâtre-Ecoust road, the flashes of the shells coming +and going in rapid succession. We had no time to waste +in halting until this was over, and indeed we were almost +in it at the start; and having ordered our runners and every +one else who was walking to get into the tanks, we moved +on through the barrage. M’Elroy and I continued to walk +in front, as it was necessary for me to act as a guide, and +he insisted on staying with me. For a few minutes we +were hopping nimbly about to take shelter on one side or +the other of the leading tank, as the shells were crashing +and sparkling unpleasantly near. With that good fortune +which always seems so extraordinary in the retrospect, we +passed through without damage to the tanks or ourselves. +The barrage was still falling behind us when the trees along +the Beugnâtre road appeared out of the darkness. We were +now among the huts of a camp, and having missed the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_409">409</span>track I had aimed for, we struck the road at a point +where it was deeply sunken. The first tank crossed without +difficulty, but the other two experienced some trouble in +mounting the farther bank. I pushed on with the leader, +leaving M’Elroy to bring on the others. We had come so +slowly that the few minutes’ delay caused by the barrage +and our wanderings among the huts threatened to make +us late. Beyond the Ecoust road, a second one runs out +of Beugnâtre to the north, leading to Vaulx-Vraucourt, and +immediately beyond this was our front line. The tank I was +leading, commanded by Sergeant Duddridge (we were so +short of officers that two out of the three machines were +in charge of N.C.O.’s), was now several hundred yards +ahead of the others. The sky was already brightening in +the east, zero was due in a few minutes, and as soon as +we crossed the second road I began to peer about for the +front line. So far I had not seen a single infantryman +since we started. In the semi-open warfare in which we +were engaged, front lines were always indeterminate features +difficult to recognise and liable to frequent fluctuations; and +on this occasion all I ever discovered was a group of three +men crouching in a shell-hole, who told me they were in +support. A hundred yards farther on a blaze and a crash +behind me signified the opening of our barrage at zero. +I hauled myself up on to the front of the tank, yelled to +Sergeant Duddridge to get into fourth speed and push ahead, +and then ran back to look for the others. I remember +nothing more until I found myself sitting on the ground, +with my head spinning like the proverbial top and a general +feeling of having been hit all over with some violence, +watching the two rear tanks going by. As they were a +long way behind the leader, several minutes must have +elapsed. There was a hideous noise everywhere, and heavy +shells were thudding all round. The Germans, expecting +an attack, had dropped their barrage a few seconds after +ours along our front line, and I must have been knocked +over (and temporarily out) by the explosion of a shell close +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_410">410</span>astern of Duddridge’s tank. I got on to my feet with some +difficulty, and looked for M’Elroy, but he was nowhere to +be seen. The two tanks were already past me, and rolling +on in great style, and as my head still appeared to be doing +several hundred revolutions a minute, I decided to get out +of this inferno for a while, if I could find some sheltered +spot in which to recuperate. It was growing light, although +the mist and smoke were very thick, and just behind me +was a row of old Nissen huts, protected by earthen banks +against bombing raids. There were no trenches in sight, +and I ran, therefore, rather unsteadily, into one of these +huts and found at the end of it a sort of miniature dug-out, +where I sat for some time trying to induce my head to +behave in a normal manner. It was perfectly evident that +the German counter-barrage was uncommonly heavy as +well as very prompt, for the whole gimcrack place shook +continuously with concussions close outside.</p> + +<p>I must have remained here for half an hour, for it was +quite light when I came out again. Nothing could be seen +for smoke, and the shells were falling as thickly as ever. I +had now to make my way back to the headquarters of the +13th Infantry Brigade, near Beugnâtre, to report that the +tanks had started at zero. Still somewhat fogged, as I suppose, +I pushed off in the wrong direction altogether, toward +the battle instead of away from it. I met a wounded +infantryman looking for a dressing station, and with the +best intentions took him with me. After wandering about +for some time among huts, dodging shells, I realised that +we were going wrong by the lie of the ground, which was +steadily downhill, and we turned about and groped our +way back again through the smoke. The brigade headquarters, +where I guessed there would also be a dressing +station, occupied some dug-outs in our part of the old +defence trenches, just west of the Ecoust road. We reached +it at length, after various vicissitudes, to find every one +driven underground by the shelling. The latter, in fact, +was something quite out of the ordinary. The enemy, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_411">411</span>determined to cling for another few days to his last position +west of the Canal du Nord, had put down, not a normal +barrage, but a heavy bombardment by 5.9’s over a large +area. I have never, before or since, seen such consistently +severe shell-fire so widely spread. It extended for a mile +back from our front line. At the brigade headquarters, +where ordinarily one would have found most of the staff +and details standing about as interested spectators with +maps and field-glasses, there was not a soul above the +surface; and shells were falling as far back as Favreuil.</p> + +<p>I got very little news from the staff, as nearly all the +telephone wires had been cut, and after waiting in the dug-out, +in a temperature of about 190 degrees, for half an +hour or so, I decided to try to make my way to the rallying-place +chosen for the tanks. This was a valley which ran +northward from Fremicourt. It was now about eight +o’clock, and another brilliant day, but the shelling was as +fierce as ever, and smoke and dust hung thickly over the +country between Beugnâtre and Beugny. I made my way +down the trench, as the only sort of covered approach, +past our original front line, over a number of bodies, British +and German, to the point where it crossed the valley from +Fremicourt. But I could not see the rallying-point for +smoke. The place was being shelled mercilessly, and it +was obvious that no tanks could stay there. If they had +rallied by this time, they must have come farther back. I +tramped back up the hill to the brigade headquarters, +seeing on the way a party of prisoners and their escort +blown to pieces by a shell, and having several narrow +escapes myself. Obtaining no information from the brigade +beyond the fact that things were not going at all well, I +walked down the Beugnâtre road to see if the tanks had +rallied somewhere near the village, found no sign of them, +nor indeed of any infantry or anybody else, and then made +a second attempt to get to the original rallying-point in +the Fremicourt Valley. But things there were as bad +as before. A number of huts were on fire, and the whole +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_412">412</span>place was smoking like a furnace. It was impossible to +see anything, and it would have been suicidal to have gone +groping about in the murk for problematical tanks. It +was quite possible that all had been knocked out long +before this. The whole battlefield was extraordinarily deserted. +In my two journeys I had met only a couple of +artillery officers reconnoitring for battery positions, two +or three walking wounded, and the prisoners whom I saw +destroyed. Every one who could find some cover from +the ferocious shelling had taken it.</p> + +<p>After a final hunt about Beugnâtre, I decided to walk +back to our starting-point behind Favreuil. And there, +about midday, I found some of the officers and men of the +two sections, who had been in an hour or two already. +Close, of B Company, was having a number of small wounds +attended to. Beale, hit slightly in the leg by the same +shell, was there also. Two out of the three tanks of +A Company, it appeared, had been knocked out, and two +out of the four from B, all on the dangerous ridge looking +down into Beugny. The surviving tanks, returning to the +rallying-point after it was plain that the infantry could +not get near the village, had found the Fremicourt Valley, +as I suspected, too hot to hold them—so hot, indeed, that +it was considered inadvisable even to attempt to get them +back through it into safety. They were driven against the +railway embankment at the head of the valley, which +afforded some slight protection, and there temporarily +abandoned until the unprecedented shelling should have +slackened. The crews had taken refuge in culverts and +other holes and corners, where they still remained.</p> + +<p>Almost everywhere the attack had been a failure. A +slight advance had been made, and the New Zealanders +and Mark V.’s on the right had captured Fremicourt and +Bancourt; but the backbone of the position was untouched. +On our left, four tanks of the 12th Battalion, misled by an +infantry guide, arrived late, and the 3rd Division, attacking +Ecoust and Longatte without them, could make no progress. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_413">413</span>Two other tanks which advanced against the +trenches called the Noreuil Switch became ditched before +they could effect anything. The assault on Beugny itself, +as I have indicated, was hardly more successful. Of +M’Elroy’s three tanks, which had cleared without much +trouble the old trench line as far as the spur in front of the +village, two were knocked out by gun-fire the moment they +appeared over the high ground. The third tank reached +Beugny, but found that the infantry could not follow. +B Company’s section, moving along the railway, had a +similar experience—two tanks disabled and the others unable +to make any permanent impression on the village for +lack of infantry support. In addition to Close, whose injuries +sent him to hospital, we had two officers wounded. +Sergeant Duddridge, whose tank was one of those hit on +the ridge, performed extraordinarily fine work. Getting +out his Lewis guns, he took his crew forward to join the +infantry, and rallied parties of the latter who had lost their +officers and were retiring. Having used all the ammunition +of his own gun, he returned alone to his tank for more, and +remained inside for some time firing 6-pounder shells into +Beugny. He sent his crew back eventually, but stayed in +the firing line himself throughout the day, turning up at +Favreuil, as placid and cheerful as ever, late in the evening. +He won the D.C.M. for this performance.</p> + +<p>The 3rd and 5th Divisions seemed badly shaken by this +affair, in which they suffered heavily from the terrific +shelling. The latter continued on into the afternoon, so +that it was two o’clock before the crews of our three surviving +tanks (which, by a miracle, were untouched) could +issue from their hiding-places and drive the machines back +to Favreuil. A semi-humorous element in an otherwise +nerve-wracking morning was provided by an officer of the +American Tank Corps, one of three attached to us for a +few days’ experience. He had only been in France a week, +and had hardly seen a gun fired until he rashly volunteered +to go forward with Beale and the Major to the rallying-point, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_414">414</span>where he found himself in the middle of as ferocious +a bombardment as any one there had ever experienced. I +met him afterwards, when I returned to Favreuil from my +wanderings in search of the tanks. He was an extremely +nice fellow, and quite ingenuous in his obvious delight and +surprise at finding himself still alive. I think his ideas of +modern war had been drawn from the surprising journals +of his native land, on which our own newspapers are so +successfully modelled; and undoubtedly that morning’s +ordeal had been one of the shocks of his life. He was +burning to use his new-found knowledge in confuting some +of his fire-eating colleagues, who had been proclaiming +(from a distance) their fondness for battles and gore.</p> + + +<h4 id="III_14"> + III. +</h4> + +<p>The fighting on the 3rd Army front from 30th August +to 3rd September was practically a rearguard action on a +very large scale. Von Below’s 17th German Army, its right +threatened by the advance from Arras, still clung desperately +to its position from Ecoust southward. Our first +attempt to hustle it into a premature retreat having failed, +the attack was renewed the next morning, 31st August. +The hard hit and somewhat shaken 3rd Division was reinforced +by units from the 56th and 62nd Divisions, and nine +tanks of the 12th Battalion led this infantry in another +attack on Ecoust, Longatte, and the Noreuil Switch, which +were carried in spite of a very stubborn defence. The pair +of tanks responsible for the switch and other trenches +between Longatte and Vaulx-Vraucourt provided two of +the most notable incidents of the morning, described as +follows in the ‘12th Battalion History’:—</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>“‘Lorraine’ (Lieut. Staub), after working down +Vraucourt trench to within a thousand yards of Vraucourt +itself, turned north again at the request of the +infantry to deal with some machine-guns near Vraucourt +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_415">415</span>Copse. While heading to take these guns in +the rear, the tank was disabled by a bullet from an +anti-tank rifle hitting the magneto. Intense machine-gun +fire was now concentrated on the tank, and four +of the crew were wounded by A.P. bullets. Our nearest +infantry were in a trench 150 yards away, and unable +to advance, so Lieut. Staub, with great gallantry, +got his badly-wounded men out of the tank and pulled +or carried them under a severe fire to the trench. For +this action he was recommended by the infantry for +a decoration, and received the Military Cross. Meanwhile +‘Lupin,’ the other tank, had disappeared into the +blue. Its commander, Lieut. Acroyd, was the only +officer to cross the front line the previous morning, and +on this occasion he seems to have carried on until well +in front of our foremost infantry, when his tank stopped +through magneto trouble. While in this situation some +of the enemy managed to climb unseen on to the roof, +and having from there shot the N.C.O., either through +the manhole being unbolted or by means of an open revolver +port, compelled the rest of the crew to surrender. +The N.C.O., who was shot through the stomach, was +left behind in a cellar when the enemy retreated, and +<i>after three days</i> was able to make his way out and +summon assistance.”</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>The 7th Battalion was not engaged on the 31st. The +5th Division was licking its wounds in front of Beugny, +and no further attempt was made upon that place until the +general offensive was resumed on the 2nd. By the evening +of the 30th, M’Elroy and I, with most of the crews that +were in action that morning, had been conveyed in cars +and lorries back to Bienvillers, where we indulged in hot +baths and clean clothes, and met our new company commander, +Merriam, just arrived from the 11th Battalion. +Inhabitants were already returning to Bienvillers, and we +were threatened with eviction from our fly-blown and +dilapidated billets. The 6th Corps Club, an institution +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_416">416</span>which followed up the army on the heels of the heavy guns, +had now moved its branch from Bavincourt to our village, +and one was able to enjoy some of the sweets of civilisation +in the form of comfortable chairs and passable wine. +Within a day or two this enterprising club had opened +another branch at Gommecourt, and a third actually in +Behagnies, while the latter was still odorous with dead +horses and other uncleared refuse of the battle.</p> + +<p>Returning to Bihucourt on the afternoon of the 31st, we +heard the first rumours of a possible German counter-attack +with tanks. Two of A Company’s few remaining machines +were ordered to stand by to assist the New Zealanders in +the event of these rumours materialising into facts. No one +believed in them; but on the following day the enemy did +counter-attack at Thilloy with a couple of his massive +<i>Panzerkraftwagen</i>, and six tanks from our three companies +moved toward Bapaume to be at hand if wanted. They +were not wanted, although the right-hand pair, from B +Company, did a little voluntary work among some huts +south of the town. The counter-attack was a failure, and +the German tanks did not get into action at all. Their +half-hearted crews drove them (apparently on purpose) into +a sunken road and abandoned them there. They were +afterwards towed into Bapaume, where they lay in the +station yard for many weeks.</p> + +<p>Preparations were in hand for a heavy blow to be struck +by both the 1st and 3rd Armies on 2nd September. The +Canadians of the 1st Army astride the Arras-Cambrai road, +and in touch, north of Ecoust, with the left of our 17th +Corps, were now in front of the famous Drocourt-Quéant +switch-line, supposed to be stronger than the main Hindenburg +system. All the available tanks of the 3rd Brigade +(9th, 11th, and 14th Battalions) were to lead the 4th +Division and the 1st and 4th Canadians against these +formidable trenches. To the remnants of the 2nd Tank +Brigade, the 12th and 6th (Light) Battalions, was allotted +the capture of Lagnicourt and Morchies, north-east of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_417">417</span>Beugny, with the infantry of the 6th Corps. For our part, +we were to supply twelve tanks for a renewed attempt with +the 5th Division on Beugny, and for a further operation south +of Bapaume against Villers-au-Flos, beyond Thilloy. Four +tanks of C Company were detailed for each of these +objectives, a section of B Company following up in +reserve.</p> + +<p>As everybody knows, the attack of the 1st Army on the +Drocourt-Quéant Switch was a brilliant success. To quote +Colonel Buchan, “It went clean through all the line of one +of the strongest positions in the West, and took six miles +of the switch, the villages of Etaing, Dury (with the +important Hill of Dury), Villers-les-Cagnicourt and Noreuil, +and 8000 prisoners.” The Switch, in effect, had fallen as +the Hindenburg Line fell at Cambrai, instantly, and this +time irrevocably. But Colonel Buchan does not explain +how it was carried so swiftly and easily. He does not +mention tanks, and leaves it to be assumed that the infantry +unaided fought their way in an hour or so through triple +trenches and belts of wire. It will be well, therefore, to +point out that once more the assault was led by tanks, of +which fifty-seven (all the 3rd Brigade could muster) were +employed. Fifty-three got into action. Only the most +strenuous exertions got the depleted and disorganised tank +units ready and in position for the battle. The 11th +Battalion, which had recaptured the debris of Monchy-le-Preux +on the 25th, had to trek across the whole front of the +Canadian Corps, often within 1000 yards of the line, to +reach the 4th Division, with which it was attacking Etaing, +in the marshes of the Sensée. It is possible that the enemy +heard this approach, as he sent up S.O.S. signals three +minutes before zero. The tanks carried the massive trenches +of the Switch, but had to make so wide a detour farther on +to avoid the marshes that they could not reach Etaing with +the infantry. In the centre, twenty-three out of twenty-four +machines of the 9th Battalion reached their final objectives, +which included Dury, where the Town Major was taken +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_418">418</span>prisoner. The 14th Battalion, on the right, was no less +successful, but had seven tanks knocked out beyond the +Switch. “It is estimated that in this attack one company +of tanks alone destroyed over seventy hostile machine-guns, +the German gunners surrendering to the tanks as they +approached.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_40_40" href="#Footnote_40_40" class="fnanchor">[40]</a> South of the Canadians, the 17th Corps of +the 3rd Army closed on the great knuckle of fortifications +about Quéant, where the Switch joined the main Hindenburg +Line. Quéant was almost surrounded by nightfall. +The 6th Corps, in the meantime, had not fared so well; and +two companies of the 12th Tank Battalion were sacrificed +by the failure of the infantry to arrive at the time they +themselves had arranged, and by their inability to get forward +when at length they did reach the point of attack. +Zero, for some reason, was fixed for 5.30, half an hour later +than was the case with the corps on the left, so that the +enemy’s retaliation there, overlapping the 6th Corps’ front, +fell about the tanks of one company of the 12th, and they +were moved forward into No Man’s Land to escape it. Our +barrage came down at 5.30, but the assaulting infantry had +not arrived; and it being considered equally dangerous to +keep the tanks stationary or to attempt to withdraw them, +they were sent forward alone, in the hope that they could +keep down the German machine-gun fire while the belated +infantry got into position and advanced. The latter were +forty minutes late, and then made no advance at all. The +tanks cruised about, destroying machine-gun posts around +Noreuil until they came under the fire of field batteries, +when most of them were knocked out. Only two out of +nine returned. The company on the right, with eight +tanks, received little better support in its attack on Vaulx +Wood and Morchies, and suffered almost as heavily. The +battalion left twelve machines out of seventeen on the field, +and lost eight officers and fifty-six other ranks. The 3rd +Division, which was responsible for the disastrous fiasco +on the left, had shown a progressive deterioration in quality +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_419">419</span>since the attack on 30th August, and its staff work had gone +from bad to worse. Such cases are not uncommon; but it +is unjust that the sacrifices of one arm should remain hidden +in order that the blunders of another may be hushed up. +There was very little reticence in the old days, when tanks +were uncertain and untrusted novelties, if they did not +perform some impossibility expected of them. Now that +the boot was on the other foot, a discreet silence shrouded +every small misadventure. From the first capture of +Monchy-le-Preux in 1917 to the end of the war there was a +multiplication of cases where inefficient staff work on the +part of infantry brigades and divisions caused tanks to be +sacrificed unnecessarily. In the strain and hurry of the last +advance these incidents became very frequent. The new +tactics, in which every attack was led by tank units, made +the latter absolutely dependent upon proper co-operation by +the infantry staffs concerned. Tanks are large objects +which cannot easily be hidden, and any misdirection, any +omission to notify changes of plan, any hitch in the +assembly of the assaulting troops (all common faults), meant +in nine cases out of ten that the particular tanks involved +would find themselves sooner or later caught in the open +without support in face of an enemy who could devote his +whole attention to destroying them. I will give chapter and +verse later on for an instance within my own experience; +but what I wish to point out now is that the general ignorance +of the part played by tanks in the last year of the war +is due to an official reticence based very often simply on a +determination to avoid unpleasant disclosures. The tanks +were not the only victims of this tendency. Their case +happens to be peculiar, but every arm suffered in turn for +the susceptibilities of the others.</p> + +<p>While the 12th Battalion, through no fault of its own, +was losing tanks in vain about Morchies and Noreuil, we +were suffering again at Beugny and winning a welcome +success at Villers-au-Flos. The latter village was carried +by the 42nd Division with the help of one section from C +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_420">420</span>Company, three of whose tanks subsequently broke down +east of the village while on their way home, and had temporarily +to be abandoned. The fighting was severe, the +German machine-gunners holding out to the last with that +conspicuous bravery which they displayed in almost all +these actions; and the fourth tank, commanded by Sergeant +Penny, having done splendid work in the village, returned +plastered grey with lead and stuck all over with armour-piercing +bullets. The other section, in the meantime, +working again with the 5th Division, had again found +Beugny unconquerable. The place was a veritable fortress, +entrenched and wired and held by a large garrison with field-guns; +and although our infantry, as a result of the first attack, +were close to the outskirts, they were checked at the start +by intense machine-gun fire, and failed to make any progress +beyond a slight advance to the north of the village. The +tanks could do nothing alone, and the affair was another +expensive failure. It cost us the life, among others, of +Adney, a boy who joined the battalion before Cambrai, +where he got the Military Cross, and who was now killed +in rather extraordinary and still obscure circumstances. He +had with him two of my old crew, Corporal Mitchell and +Taylor. His tank, having pushed on alone in default of +infantry support, cruised along the north side of Beugny, +firing into it, and then started to return. It was hit, apparently, +somewhere in front, by a shell which wounded +Taylor (who was driving) and filled the inside with smoke. +Adney and the rest of the crew, believing the machine to +be disabled, as it had stopped, scrambled out, but finding +themselves isolated among groups of Germans, ran back +and got inside again, with the exception of Corporal +Mitchell, who was captured. The tank, on examination, +proved to be still in running order. She was therefore +started up and driven toward our lines. She was now hit +a second time, in the petrol-tank, and finally disabled, and +simultaneously, it appears, Adney was killed by a bullet +which came through his open flap. Presumably it was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_421">421</span>fired by one of our own infantry. The latter making a +slight advance at this point, the rest of the crew escaped, +carrying Taylor with them, and shortly after Corporal +Mitchell was rescued from a dug-out where his captors +had left him. I happened to be in C Company’s huts in +the Favreuil Valley, talking to Coutts and Alden, who had +just returned from the action, when Mitchell, who was +supposed to be killed, made a dramatic reappearance. He +had lost his watch and everything else in his pockets, +but otherwise was none the worse for his fifteen-minutes’ +captivity.</p> + + +<h4 id="IV_7"> + IV. +</h4> + +<p>We had not yet finished with Beugny. Toward dusk on +2nd September I was waiting about in our camp at Bihucourt +for the Major, who was taking me back to Bienvillers +in his car. Word had come through that the 1st Tank +Brigade was to be withdrawn into Army Reserve to refit, and +those of us who had nothing particular to do were returning +to our old headquarters that night. I was especially +glad of this release, as the symptoms of another attack of +influenza (or some kindred variant of P.U.O.) were beginning +to affect me, and I was longing for bed. At this time +battalion headquarters had established an advanced base +at Bihucourt in one of the huts, and the Major was now +conferring there with the Colonel, who had just arrived. +Unconscious of my doom, like one of the infants in the +poem, I was standing about outside when the Major appeared +to summon me, as I supposed, to the car. His +first words dissipated this natural delusion.</p> + +<p>“There’s another dog-fight on to-night,” he said. “They +want two of our tanks for Beugny again....”</p> + +<p>Beugny was becoming a perfect curse to the battalion, a +sort of King Charles’s head, or Old Man of the Sea. This +was the third time in five days that we had been called upon +to tackle it, and it was A Company’s second turn in the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_422">422</span>pleasant round. We were, I think, inclined to feel that +the 5th Division might have done their own work on this +occasion without dragging us into it again, as we had +given them two opportunities which they had failed to seize. +However, the thing had to be done. We were working +once more with our old acquaintances the 13th Infantry +Brigade, who had attacked the place with us on the 30th. +Our only fit tanks, three or four, and none of them in good +condition, were still in the valley by Favreuil. We had no +officers available as tank commanders, and two sergeants +were sent off to prepare the most likely machines for action. +M’Elroy, who was once more to share with me the responsibilities +of office, was already away at Bienvillers, no doubt +luxuriating in a bath and the prospect of several days of +peace; and a car was despatched to bring him back to these +unpleasant realities. After a hurried meal with the Colonel, +the Major and I departed in his Vauxhall for the 13th +Brigade Headquarters, still in the dug-out near Beugnâtre. +As it was now quite dark, we were able to drive +most of the way to the village. We found the Brigadier +and his Brigade Major in the dug-out, and obtained from +them the plan of attack and the <i>rôle</i> the two tanks were +expected to play. Beugny, it appeared, was to be dealt +with faithfully at last. Six field batteries and one battery +of 6-inch howitzers were to pound it for half an hour +before the infantry advanced. The tanks were required +only to clear a trench which ran immediately behind the +village. It appeared rather obvious that if the latter was +carried, the fall of the trench would be only a matter of +time, and that if the artillery preparation was sufficiently +thorough and accurate, both village and trench (together +a small and compact target) would be rendered so untenable +that tanks would not be needed for their capture. +One cannot argue with brigadiers, however. We promised +that the tanks should arrive, if we could get them there. I +remember this interview, held in a candle-lit compartment +of the dug-out, with peculiar clearness. I had seen the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_423">423</span>Brigadier and his Brigade Major before, and was to meet +them again some weeks later when I was with the 12th +Battalion at Solesmes, and I was struck by the marked +contrast between them. The General, whose name I forget, +was a powerful bulky man, with an odd resemblance to a +boar. Stewart, the Brigade Major, was very young, very +fair, slim, and rather exquisite. He seemed to find speech +an exhausting process, and wore a permanent expression of +boredom and fatigue, neither of which, I dare say, was an +affectation at that time.</p> + +<p>When we returned to the tanks at Favreuil, the two +machines detailed for the attack were filled up and ready +to move, and M’Elroy had arrived from Bienvillers. I +spent half an hour explaining the details to the crews and +plotting out compass-bearings on the map. We should be +approaching Beugny in the dark over ground that was +unknown to me except for the few glimpses I had obtained +through the smoke on the 30th, and I determined to strike +the railway, of which I have spoken, as soon as possible, +and use it as a guide to the village. Soon after midnight +we started, following the road north of Monument Wood, +through Favreuil, and so through the deserted camps south +of Beugnâtre. The two tanks, although the best we could +provide at this stage, were in great need of an overhaul, +and we soon began to have trouble with them. One stuck +in the sunken road beyond Beugnâtre. After waiting for +some time, M’Elroy and I went on with the remaining +machine, as we had still a long way to go. We were now +launched upon the open grass-land, devoid of landmarks, +and I began to use the compass. Far ahead of us, in a +direct line with the bearing I had taken to the railway, a +fire was burning behind the German front, and this served +us as a useful guide. I supposed it to be a village or a +dump set alight by our shells, but presently a second fire +was visible, and then a third, and I began to wonder if these +conflagrations did not signify that the enemy was burning +his stores before retreating. Our guns were very quiet, as +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_424">424</span>they had been throughout the evening, and it was difficult +to account otherwise for these sudden glares on the horizon. +In the meantime, the tank we had left in the sunken road +had not overtaken us, and our remaining machine was +giving trouble. One or two delays, due to engine defects, +wasted a lot of valuable time. Zero was at 5.40, and it was +four o’clock before at length we struck the railway at a +point marked by two stacks of fodder and an overturned +Whippet. This machine, incidentally, had been the cause +of a very gallant action a few days before. One of a +section of the 3rd Battalion sent in to “clear up the situation” +(whatever that euphemistic phrase may mean) on +29th August, the Whippet had turned completely over in a +shell-hole, catching fire at the same time. The door of the +cab was jammed in the earth, and the crew of three was +imprisoned upside down in burning oil. The commander of +another Whippet, Lieutenant Sewell, got out under intense +machine-gun fire at close range, and with a shovel dug out +and forced open the door of the inverted tank. He liberated +the crew, but was shot in several places and killed, together +with his driver, while endeavouring to return to his own +machine. A posthumous V.C. was awarded him.</p> + +<p>Having found the railway, we pushed along beside it at +a good speed. The fires in the east were growing brighter, +and the extreme quietness of the night confirmed me in my +belief that the expected retreat of the enemy actually was +begun. When we reached the head of the valley which had +been our inauspicious selection as a rallying-point for the +30th, the tank developed further eccentricities, and eventually +refused to move at all. The engine stopped, and no +coaxing would start it up again. There was no sign of the +second tank. At a quarter past five, as we were still 1000 +yards from our front line, M’Elroy and I decided that +nothing more could be done. We told the crew to take +refuge in a culvert, which ran through the railway embankment +close at hand, if the tank was discovered and shelled +at dawn, and then we began to make our way back to the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_425">425</span>13th Brigade Headquarters to report our failure. We were +nearing the Beugnâtre road as the barrage fell upon Beugny +at zero. Dawn was breaking, and as, deafened by the +throbbing clamour of the batteries all round us, we looked +back eastward from the rising ground, we saw fresh fires +blazing and clouds of white smoke rolling away from a +dozen points far beyond the range of our shells. There +could be hardly any doubt about it now: the German +retreat had begun. At the brigade headquarters we found +nobody but a few signal officers and other details staring +at these distant conflagrations, and they had no news to +give us; but tramping on to Biefvillers we met the Major +in his car, and learnt from him that the enemy had indeed +vanished in the night. Beugny, pulverised for half an hour +by high explosives, was empty of all living things. Only +a few machine-gunners were left amid the debris of the +retreat between us and the Canal du Nord.</p> + + +<h4 id="V_1"> + V. +</h4> + +<p>On 4th September the whole Tank Corps was withdrawn +into G.H.Q. Reserve to refit and reorganise. Since the +21st August, 511 tanks had been in action, and had been +largely responsible for a succession of victories in which we +had captured 53,000 prisoners and 470 guns. The 1st, 2nd, +and 3rd Tank Brigades were now so crippled that they +could not have mustered fifty fit machines between them. +The 4th and 5th Brigades, having suffered heavily on +8th August and after, had less work to do in the course of +the 4th Army’s subsequent advance south of the Somme, for +which reason I have not attempted, amid so much other +matter, to follow their actions during this fortnight; but +they were hardly less reduced and in need of rest than the +three northern brigades.</p> + +<p>Strikes, and the vacillating policy of the authorities in +respect of tanks, had left the corps with no reserve from +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_426">426</span>which casualties and worn-out machines could be replaced. +The ratio of wastage in any series of tank actions, from +mechanical causes alone, was very large, increasing proportionately +as machines were used again and again with +no opportunity between times for a thorough overhaul. On +the other hand, the majority of repairs needed were only of +a minor character; and after a week’s rest a battalion which +had been reduced perhaps to half a dozen serviceable tanks +could put twenty or thirty into the field again. Cases of +disablement by gun-fire, of course, fell into a different +category. Such machines as could be salved on the spot +and were worth repairing were despatched to Central Workshops, +whose personnel at this time was working day and +night, but the replacement of shattered armour-plate was +a longer job than a change of track-plates or rollers. In +any case, nothing could make up for the lack of an adequate +reserve of new tanks. The batches of Mark V.’s which +came out from England replaced only a small portion of +the casualties in the dozen battalions which used that type, +and the 12th Battalion and ourselves carried on to the end +with Mark IV.’s, most of which were nearly two years old.</p> + +<p>The period of reorganisation after 4th September included +the inevitable reshuffling of battalions among the +five brigades. It will be enough to state here that the +1st Brigade was made up once more of its old units, the +7th, 11th, and 12th Battalions. The 301st American Tank +Battalion was attached for a short time and came with +some Mark V.’s to Bihucourt, where the 7th remained.</p> + +<p>The fever, which I had felt to be impending before our +last abortive attempt to reach Beugny, took a good grip of +me immediately afterwards, and I spent three or four days +in bed at Bienvillers, at first in my tumble-down billet, in +a room that swarmed with flies and reeked of chloride of +lime, and then, when I could stand this no longer, under +a tarpaulin in an orchard. When I visited the camp at +Bihucourt again, after a lapse of a week, it was a scene of +violent activity, due largely to the Americans. Why these +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_427">427</span>people called themselves the 301st Tank Battalion I never +understood, as they were in fact the 1st, but it was of a +piece with their other eccentric customs. They took over +all the huts in the camp which A Company did not occupy, +and they provided us for days with interest and amusement. +They seemed to spend most of their time pulling their tanks +to pieces. There was usually a Mark V. in some stage of +disintegration in the space between the two main rows of +huts, where it had no business to be, and over it and around +it swarmed crowds of Americans filled with what (to us) was +incomprehensible zeal. Perhaps by this time we were somewhat +satiated with tanks and with the war in general. Our +Allies were inspired with all the enthusiasm of belated +proselytes. They were like children with a new toy, and +very like children, too, in other ways. Some of their +methods were stupefying even to casual persons like myself, +who am no stickler for pedantic ritual in anything. +One did not expect to find an American tank unit (or any +other) behaving like the Guards; but mere intelligent order +and discipline, which common-sense should indicate as +essential to any military body, seemed to be unknown to +these people. Their orderly-room they themselves described +very aptly as “the mad-house.” The junior officers, +a set of excellent fellows, lived in a state of wholly unnecessary +discomfort, partly from obscure notions of democratic +behaviour, and partly (I imagine) because they had obtained +from books some odd conviction that warriors should at all +times be Spartans. They appeared to have no batmen +(presumably the free-born American citizen would not +serve openly in that capacity), and they certainly had no +mess, as we understand the term. Those of them who +visited our headquarters at Bienvillers were quite overwhelmed +by the primitive luxuries of A Company’s tarpaulin +shelter, with its rickety forms, dirty table-cloths, and imperfect +crockery. An American officer drew his meals in +his tin pannikin from the men’s cook-house, sometimes +fetching the food himself, and sometimes being obliged in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_428">428</span>this little matter by a condescending and casual-mannered +N.C.O. or private, full of familiar talk and audibly chewing +gum. The meal was then consumed, from the pannikin, +wherever the officer happened to be. This was not in +some trench before an attack, but in camp at Bihucourt, +now eight or ten miles behind the line. The whole +American Army, of course, was “dry” in theory, and +seemed to subsist largely on beans and bacon. Poor +Jack Brown, who was attached to the 301st for a few +days when that battalion left us for the Havrincourt +region, complained bitterly that he was half-starved while +he was with them, as the officers, dependent upon the men’s +cook-house, had no meal after tea, and nothing alcoholic to +drink at any time. These peculiarities, trifling in themselves, +were symptomatic of that puerile element in the +American character which seems so incongruous in an +otherwise preternaturally acute people. The whole force +was a strange compound of zeal, intelligence, fads, and +conceit. The men fought well enough, as did every one +else except the Portuguese. Being the first contingents +drawn from a vast population, they were physically and +mentally of the best type. They were keen to a degree, +and honestly anxious, in their own peculiar way, to learn +everything. But they had learnt no more than the rudiments +of their job when the war ended. Their staff work +broke down hopelessly under any strain. The army, in +short, wanted another year or so of hard experience. After +the Armistice, in America, I understand, people wore in +their button-holes little discs, on which were inscribed +the words, “We went to do it, and we’ve done it.” In +the same spirit the Prussians and the Belgians claimed +to have won the battle of Waterloo.</p> + +<p>This peaceful interlude at Bihucourt lasted for a fortnight. +The battalion was busy overhauling tanks, resting, +washing, and re-equipping personnel, and preparing in +general for the forthcoming attack on the reputably formidable +position to which the Germans had retired. The +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_429">429</span>weather, changing with the fortunes of the war, after a +few rain-storms in the beginning of the month, had settled +down to another spell of sunny days, which made even +the obliterated landscape around Bapaume seem comparatively +attractive. For amusements, we had a veritable +museum of battle relics at Achiet-le-Grand, where, in addition +to a host of disabled tanks awaiting trains for Erin, +there was the anti-tank stockade and a miscellaneous +assortment of captured German guns, which a week or +two earlier had made our lives a burden; while we were +surrounded by a congeries of officers’ clubs that reminded +one of St James’s Street after a social upheaval and an +earthquake. The E.F.C., after many months’ enforced +absence from the Promised Land, had erected once more +its huge marquees at Achiet-le-Grand itself, the 6th Corps +had its clubs at Gommecourt and Behagnies, and in Bihucourt +there was a New Zealand Officers’ Club with a first-rate +library—manna from heaven in such a wilderness. +For one who lives on books it is difficult to speak with +calmness of the spirit and enterprise which inspired this +literary mission. No British club or institution that I +ever discovered in France troubled about books at all, if +we except the dog’s-eared cheap editions in the Y.M.C.A. +canteens. The Canadians had a small library of instructional +works (horrible things) which followed them about; +but it was left to the New Zealand Division to establish, +in a ruined house in Bihucourt, among other places, a +genuine library of volumes in good editions—shelves of +verse, history, geography, books of reference, fiction, and +so on, labelled and well kept, and obviously in demand. +Among the many miracles of this war, I count this discovery +among the most noteworthy. Unfortunately for +me, I came upon it too late, although it was at my very +door. One does not look for pearls among the refuse of +a battle, and I only heard of the library by accident. Two +days later we had left the place, and did not meet the New +Zealand Division again. But if any one from that Dominion +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_430">430</span>should read this book, I hope he will accept the thanks of +one (I have no doubt among many) who received benefits +from this exceptional enterprise.</p> + +<p>On the morning of 18th September the battalion received +orders to trek to Morchies, north-east of Beugny, of evil +memory. The Colonel and the company commanders went +ahead in cars to prospect for a camp, and returned enthusiastic +about some mysteriously empty huts (another German +hospital) which they had discovered. Early in the afternoon, +in brilliant sunshine, the eight tanks that A Company +had now got fit again for action were trekking across the +rolling grass-land of our old battlefield; B Company, from +the valley behind us, and C, from Favreuil, had joined in the +procession; and before dusk we were unpacking and settling +ourselves down in our new quarters.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_431">431</span></p> + + + <h3 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XX"> + CHAPTER XX. + <br> + <span class="sm">THE CANAL DU NORD AND BOURLON.</span> + </h3> +</div> + + +<h4>I.</h4> + +<p>The ruins of Morchies lay a mile and a half north-east +of Beugny, at the head of a valley which descended past +Lagnicourt to Quéant. On the summit of the high ground +to the east of the village stood a conspicuous group of large +hospital huts containing a number of beds and some rough +furniture. Our men were accommodated in these, while +the officers occupied a group of smaller huts a quarter of +a mile away at the edge of the village. The tanks of the +battalion (now twenty-four in number) were camouflaged in +the ruins. About this time battalion headquarters moved to +Bullecourt, to be in touch with the H.Q. of the Canadian +Corps, with whom we were to work in the next advance.</p> + +<p>The valleys around Morchies were filled with horse lines +and transport, and there were many troops living in the +village itself; and it struck me at once as singular that we +should have found this capacious hospital empty, and not +even ear-marked for any newcomers, especially as it was +the only camp of huts in the neighbourhood. When one +sees a cheap and otherwise desirable house untenanted in +a popular district one suspects bad drains: a solitary and +empty camp in an area four miles behind the line and +crowded with troops made one think of shells. Soon after +our arrival I was looking round the country with my glasses, +and I discovered that we were overlooked, from a distance +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_432">432</span>of seven miles, by the trees of Bourlon Wood. I began to +feel sure that these apparently eligible quarters had their +disadvantages, which had proved too much for previous +tenants; and in fact on the following morning, just after +the crews had marched away to their tanks, heavy shells +began to fall among the huts. A cook and a water-cart +driver were killed, and several other men badly wounded, +and it became painfully obvious that the hospital was no +place for us. Bivouacs were formed at once in the valley, +and the men transferred to them that night. The officers +remained for another day in their own huts nearer the +village, but eventually were driven out by persistent shelling, +and only one large building was retained as a Reconnaissance +Office. Beale (who was now Battalion R.O. in +place of Henriquez), Jack Brown, and I were fortunate in +discovering the only empty dug-out in the neighbourhood—a +cosy little place of two rooms partly excavated from the +side of a sunken road, where we lived in great comfort for +the remainder of our stay. Every one else moved into +tents in the valley. Intermittent shelling of the high +ground continued every day.</p> + +<p>We were very busy during this time with preliminaries +for the forthcoming renewal of the general offensive. The +Germans had fallen back to their last prepared position in +the West, and this was to be attacked by the 1st, 3rd, and +4th Armies on a front of over thirty miles from the Sensée +to St Quentin. The 1st and 3rd Armies were to deliver the +initial blow toward Bourlon and Cambrai on 27th September. +Operations in this sector were complicated, and to +some extent awkwardly cramped by a water obstacle which +completely protected Cambrai to the north and north-west. +The marshes of the Sensée, running from east to west, cross +the line of the Agache and the Canal du Nord, running from +north to south, near Ecourt St Quentin, the two systems +forming an impassable angle of water and marsh which +limited the share of the 1st Army in the attack to its right +wing, the Canadian Corps, south of the Arras-Cambrai +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_433">433</span>road. In addition to the marshes of the Agache, the Canal +du Nord, although unfinished, was full of water as far as +Sains-les-Marquion, five miles south of its crossing of the +Sensée. For another four miles to a point south of the +Bapaume-Cambrai road, where we were now east of the +canal at Havrincourt Wood, it was dry, forming an immense +ditch 50 feet wide and 15 feet deep, with steep banks +of brick. At the village of Mœuvres, 3000 yards below +Sains-les-Marquion, it was crossed by the original Hindenburg +or Siegfried Line, which trended away to the south-east +until it reached the Canal de L’Escaut at Bantouzelle. +West of Mœuvres this line was in our possession; and operations +since the German withdrawal, and known as the +battles of Havrincourt and Epehy, had carried the 3rd and +4th Armies across the canal south of Mœuvres to within +striking distance of the eastern or German section of the +famous trenches. Tanks of the 4th and 5th Brigades had +helped the 4th Army in these operations on the 18th, 21st, +and 24th September. From north to south our line on the +26th ran from Ecourt St. Quentin near the Sensée, west +of the Canal du Nord to below Mœuvres, thence across the +canal and through Havrincourt, Gouzeaucourt, and Epehy +in face of the Siegfried Line. The main battle was to open +on the 27th, when the Canadians and the 3rd Army were +to carry the line of the canal and the Hindenburg trenches⁠<a id="FNanchor_41_41" href="#Footnote_41_41" class="fnanchor">[41]</a> +as far as Gouzeaucourt, the 4th Army carrying on the +offensive to the south on the 29th.</p> + +<p>The impossibility of crossing the Canal du Nord above +Marquion had led to a redistribution of the 1st Tank +Brigade. The 7th Battalion having become well acquainted +with the Canadians in the course of several weeks’ training, +was attached to them for their attack between Marquion +and Mœuvres. The 15th Battalion, with Mark V.’s, was +borrowed from the 2nd Brigade to help the 17th Corps of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_434">434</span>the 3rd Army south of Mœuvres. The 11th Battalion, also +with Mark V.’s, having moved down from our left, was +allotted to the 4th Corps for the front between Trescault and +Gouzeaucourt. The 12th Battalion remained in reserve.</p> + +<p>It is necessary to give here a more detailed description of +the canal and the country on either side of it. I have +spoken of a valley trending north-eastward from Morchies +to Quéant. If one walked along the high ground from our +camp to the right of this valley one came presently to another +depression which fell away to Pronville, a mile east +of Quéant. From Pronville a third valley led at an obtuse +angle due east to Inchy-en-Artois and the canal. Down its +centre curled the dry bed of the Hirondelle stream, lined by +willows, poplars, and the anti-tank <i>abattis</i> of railway iron; +and along the ridges which enclosed it to north and south +were sited the deep trenches and triple belts of wire of those +portions of the Hindenburg Front and Support Lines already +in our possession. The southern ridge rose to a considerable +height—some 350 feet—and on approaching the canal +inclined northward in a final spur which sank to the levels +of the Agache near Sains-les-Marquion. The village of Inchy +stood on the tip of this spur, raised slightly above the levels +and within 1000 yards of the canal. Mœuvres, a mile to the +south and almost on the canal bank, was at the foot of the +higher end of the spur. The eastern slope of the latter fell +gently like a <i>glacis</i> to our front line, and through scattered +trees beyond one could see the white chalk embankment of +the canal about Lock 4. Our line took in both the villages, +but there was fighting in Mœuvres a day or two before the +big attack, and the front here was rather vague and was +given incorrectly on our maps. On one occasion, when Jack +Brown had driven me almost into Inchy in his side-car, +we walked casually along behind the village until we found +ourselves in a ditch full of Stokes guns and people crawling +about in furtive attitudes, and learnt to our astonishment +that we were in our outpost line. Our subsequent attempts +to see something from the outer houses of Inchy itself, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_435">435</span>where not a soul was moving, were marked by extreme +caution. We could see little in any case, for the canal was +masked from this direction by intervening trees. From the +hill above Mœuvres, however, one looked over the whole +area behind the German front as far back as Bourlon Wood; +and one particular point in the Hindenburg trenches near +Tadpole Copse (where there had been severe fighting during +the first Cambrai battle) gave us a bird’s-eye view of the +whole section of the canal which especially interested A +Company—the section about Lock 4. C Company was to +cross north of Inchy, where a fairly close reconnaissance +was possible. Our chief perplexity over this celebrated +obstacle was caused by our lack of reliable knowledge concerning +it. Fragmentary information was obtained from +civilians engaged on its construction before the war, and +was supplemented by engineers’ drawings of various sections; +but there were intermediate patches about which we +could find out nothing definite. The sections were found +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_436">436</span>to differ considerably in detail, and the drawings themselves +were of uncertain value. Time and shell-fire had +changed the profile of the canal banks in many places, +while the Germans were reported to have been at work on +the unfinished portions for some purpose of their own.⁠<a id="FNanchor_42_42" href="#Footnote_42_42" class="fnanchor">[42]</a> A +number of indications pointed to the fact that they considered +the canal to be an insuperable obstacle to tanks, +except at the causeways they had cut through its banks. +These it was almost certain would be mined. The sum +of our discoveries, obtained from these sources and from +aeroplane photographs and more or less distant observation +through binoculars, can be set out as follows. It +refers only to that portion which the 7th Tank Battalion +had to negotiate.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowe30" id="i_435"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_435.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <i>The Canal du Nord and Bourlon.</i> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>North-east of Inchy was a broken iron girder bridge. +From this point to another bridge, also destroyed, at +Mœuvres, the canal ran in a dead straight line pointing +a little to the east of south. The embankments on their +outer sides were 6 to 10 feet in height. They were 20 +feet broad. The inner faces fell to the canal bed in two +stages: first, there was an almost sheer drop, partially +bricked, of about 9 feet, then a step or platform 8 feet +wide, and finally a slope of 1 in 2 which descended for +another 5 feet to the canal bed. The latter was 36 feet +across. Midway between Inchy and Mœuvres there was +an unfinished concrete lock, numbered 4. Immediately +south of the Inchy bridge the banks had been cut and a +causeway constructed out of the debris across the canal +bed. Two similar causeways existed between Lock 4 and +Mœuvres. All these were required for our artillery. It +was suspected that they were mined; and as they would be +completely blocked by any tanks which happened to be disabled +while crossing, we were allowed to use only one, that +nearest to Mœuvres.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_437">437</span></p> + +<p>A and C Companies, each with eight tanks in two sections, +were detailed for the operation, B Company remaining +in reserve. C, crossing near the Inchy bridge, had a +comparatively easy task. The canal at this point was only +half-finished, and the banks were low and dilapidated. A +Company on the right was faced by a far more serious problem. +We had, it is true, the use of a causeway, but this +was a doubtful privilege. If, as every one believed (and as +the event proved) it was mined, the leading tank probably +would be disabled and would block the passage. One +section, however, was detailed to attempt this hazard. It +remained to find some crossing-place for the other section +over the embankment itself. The latter was known to be +almost finished in this portion, and appeared to be little +damaged; and while it might prove easy enough for tanks to +slide down on to the canal bed (although the first drop of +9 feet was not an attractive feature), to climb the other side +was a very different matter. As the brickwork was incomplete +we could only hope that the earth on top, after four +years’ exposure to rain and a recent pounding by shell-fire, +had crumbled and fallen over the steep upper lip to form a +possible slope. The difficulties were thought to be so great, +however, that a very wild expedient to overcome them was +proposed and actually adopted. Three unfit Mark IV. +tanks were to be brought up, driven into the canal at zero, +and there manœuvred into position side by side across the +bed to form a bridge for the others. This was all very +characteristic of theoretical staff officers who had never +driven a tank themselves and had no conception of the +difficulties involved in such a scheme. With unfit Mark +IV.’s, at least half an hour would have been taken in +getting them into position, if everything else went well. +If one was hit by the barrage which was almost certain to +fall on the canal, the whole enterprise would be ruined at +the start. Finally, assuming the bridge to be made, it is +very doubtful if it would have stood the weight of the fighting +machines as they crossed over. Tanks are not constructed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_438">438</span>to support thirty tons in movement on their roofs.⁠<a id="FNanchor_43_43" href="#Footnote_43_43" class="fnanchor">[43]</a> +In the end, however, the experiment never reached the +point of test. The only machines available were some of +the 7th Battalion’s derelicts, still lying under repair far +behind at Bucquoy in the hands of salvage crews. Three +were put more or less in order and started on their long +trek several days before the battle, but the effort was too +much for them. They broke down repeatedly, and on the +evening of the 26th were still some miles from Pronville. +The only result of this fantastic scheme was to put an +added strain upon already overworked salvage personnel.</p> + +<p>In the meantime we had not troubled much about it. +We continued to work on more normal and practical +lines, seeking some point on the canal bank where tanks +might cross unaided. From the Hindenburg trenches near +Tadpole Copse, after a careful scrutiny through my glasses, +I discovered what seemed to be a likely place immediately +south of Lock 4. Both banks were somewhat dilapidated +and fallen in through shell-fire at this point, and the nearer +one was pierced by a communication trench called Hobart +Street, which ran down from the front lines. Here, if anywhere, +a tank could climb out from the bed. It was decided +that the left-hand section (M’Elroy’s) should follow Hobart +Street and attempt this crossing. The right-hand section +(Paul’s) was to use the causeway 700 yards to the south.</p> + +<p>Beyond the canal the ground rose gently again to Bourlon +Ridge. A trench system, heavily wired, known as the +Canal du Nord Line, ran parallel to the farther bank. +Behind this, 1200 yards from Lock 4, was Quarry Wood, a +T-shaped enclosure of meagre timber. From the Canal +du Nord Line communication trenches zigzagged up the +slope on either side of the wood to the Marquion Line, the +last defensive work in front of Bourlon. This line was still +unfinished, and, as we found when we reached it, was very +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_439">439</span>imperfectly wired, there being wide gaps where only the +stakes had been planted. Bourlon village and wood, +upwards of 3000 yards east of the canal, were protected +by a final series of trenches and entanglements, nowhere +very formidable. The Canadians’ ultimate objectives for +the first day included Bourlon and Haynecourt to the +north, with the usual arrangements for further exploitation +if circumstances permitted.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowe40" id="i_438fp"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_438fp.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + Canal du Nord at Lock 4. A Company, 7th Battalion, crossed where the lettering is, by end of Hobart Street. + Quarry Wood beyond. + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>A Company’s eight tanks were to leave the front line at +zero with the infantry in the normal manner. The 4th +Canadian Division, however, with whom we were working, +expected the tanks to be delayed considerably by the canal, +and framed its plan of attack on the supposition that they +would not overtake the infantry again until the latter was +approaching its second objective, the Marquion Line. This +supposition, as it happened, proved erroneous. As soon as +the Marquion Line was carried and the barrage lifted again, +the two sections were to converge on Bourlon village. The +great wood was reserved for a novel treatment. We had +proved by bitter experience in the first Cambrai battle that +gas hung sluggishly about its hollows and undergrowth. +On this occasion it was to be deluged with gas-shells for +two days and nights before the attack. No frontal assault +against it was to be made on the 27th, but such of its +defenders as survived the poison were to be captured or +driven out by envelopment from the north and south.</p> + +<p>C Company, working on our left with the 1st Canadian +Division, had in hand the capture of Sains-les-Marquion, +with a subsequent advance against the northern part of the +Marquion Line. The Divisional Staff was unnecessarily +anxious about the tanks being heard if they approached +the front line before zero, and accordingly insisted on their +starting 1000 yards behind the infantry. The attack on this +flank was cramped in its early stage by the water obstacle +of the Agache and the canal, the latter being flooded as +far south as Lock 3, above Inchy. Sains-les-Marquion and +Marquion itself would therefore have to be carried by a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_440">440</span>pivotal movement from the south and east, after the canal +had been crossed lower down; and this swing to the left on +the part of the tanks and infantry produced, among other +things, a highly complicated barrage table, the barrage +turning back upon itself through half a circle. In practice +this difficult evolution was performed without a hitch, as +indeed were all the other arrangements made by the +Canadians, whose preliminary work was thorough and +intelligent to a degree which, unfortunately, was none too +common. It was a pleasure to be associated with most of +the divisional and brigade staffs. They were anxious to do +all they could for us, they understood our difficulties, and +they appreciated our help. The Canadian infantry was at +this time in the best of condition. The whole corps had +been withdrawn for the first prolonged rest it had known +some time before the general offensive began; and by the +breaking up of the new 5th Division in England the four +old ones in France were brought up to a strength which no +British unit could ever approach. The brigades we trained +with at Enguinegatte had forty-five officers and eleven +hundred men per battalion. Having broken triumphantly +through the Drocourt-Quéant Line in the first days of September, +the corps was still fresh and but little reduced in +numbers. I never met the South Africans, whom many +people declare to have been the best of the Colonial troops; +but of the others, speaking from my own experience and on +general grounds, I should put the New Zealand Division +first and the Canadians a close second. The Australians, +gifted with one essential military quality—an aptitude for +fighting—were in many other respects an unmitigated +nuisance.</p> + + +<h4 id="II_18"> + II. +</h4> + +<p>On the evening of the 25th we moved all three companies +of tanks from Morchies to the neighbourhood of +Pronville. Each tank was now provided with the latest +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_441">441</span>development of the old Cambrai fascine—an immense +hexagonal crate of timber and steel, carried as before on top +of the cab. These things were intended for the Hindenburg +trenches, but as the 7th Battalion worked to the north +of that line, we never had occasion to use them. Most of +our tanks shed them at the first opportunity after zero. I +do not know that they were any improvement on the +primitive fascine bundle. They were little, if at all, lighter, +and required a lorry apiece to bring them on their fruitless +journey to Morchies. On one or two occasions when they +were used by other battalions, I believe they buckled up +under the tank’s weight—an accident which could not +happen with the fascine. When carried into action they +undoubtedly terrified the enemy, who took them for some +new engine of destruction. Some of ours were riddled by +machine-gun bullets.</p> + +<p>The fine weather had held throughout our stay at +Morchies, and the night of the 25th was brilliant with a +full moon. The trek to Pronville, a distance of three miles, +was accomplished in peace and with only one or two slight +breakdowns, which were soon rectified. The little valley +leading down to the village was full of 6-inch howitzers, +which fired intermittently with a blaze of flame and a +shattering noise. Across the mouth of the valley, where it +widened and became one with the larger depression leading +eastward to Inchy, extended the black barrier of the Hindenburg +wire, looking in the moonlight like a vast bed of some +evil weed; and just in front of this, on the hillside to the +right, were two long banks, against which the tanks of A +and C Companies were parked up and camouflaged. The +prodigious cribs which they carried rose high above the +top of the banks, and we stretched camouflage nets outward +from them to the slope of the hill beyond. B Company’s +machines had pushed on by the road which led +through the wire and trenches, to lie up under the willows +lining the bed of the Hirondelle in the bigger valley. We +had found previously and marked as our own (for what this +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_442">442</span>was worth) a few small unoccupied dug-outs in the front +Hindenburg trench. They were still empty, and in one of +them, an L-shaped untimbered excavation about the size +of a large cupboard, accessible by the usual breakneck +flight of steps, the Major, M’Chlery, M’Elroy, and I settled +ourselves down about 1 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>, ate a little food, drank a little +whisky and chlorinated water, and composed ourselves for +a little folding of the hands in sleep.</p> + +<p>The following morning (the 26th or Y-day) was again +brilliantly fine. I walked out once more to the high ground +above Mœuvres and made a final examination of the distant +canal and the bare slope toward Bourlon. In the afternoon +I intended to take M’Elroy and Paul, the two section commanders, +over the route to Inchy and as far beyond as +seemed advisable. It was very simple going for tanks along +the floor of the valley, however dark the night might be, for +the trees of the Hirondelle formed a guide which it was +impossible to miss; but no one except myself had walked +over this final stretch, and in case of accidents it was +advisable for the section commanders to know it. Unpleasant +developments, however, supervened to spoil our +excursion. As we were having lunch the German guns +became active, and we could hear and see the shells crashing +in the valley toward Inchy. When we set out, about two +o’clock, we were obliged to keep to the high ground along +the front Hindenburg trench, so as to have a shelter +to jump into in emergency. We could follow the route +of our approach-march almost equally well from here, but +when we got to the spur between Inchy and Tadpole +Copse, with the intention of seeing what we could of the +forward slope down to the canal, it began to rain shells. +We spent an anxious hour dodging among half-finished +trenches and sheltering in dug-outs about the head of +Hobart Street, already mentioned, where there was a nasty +little gulley which for no apparent reason was receiving +marked attention. A small dump of 18-pounder shells was +hit and exploded, and the camouflage net which covered +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_443">443</span>it having caught fire, the smoke drew a heavier burst of +shelling; and as the very indifferent trenches in this neighbourhood +were packed with infantry and gunners, now +tumbling over one another to get away from the dangerous +area, there were a good many casualties. When we managed +to get clear and return to Pronville about five o’clock, +we were exceedingly hot and thirsty, and very little wiser +for our pains.</p> + +<p>The Pronville valley was now filling up, in a discreet +way, with troops and guns. The Hindenburg trenches +were crowded with men of the 63rd (Naval) Division, which +was attacking on the right of the 4th Canadians. In every +little gulley which offered concealment there were heavy +howitzers, four huge 9-inch weapons being packed together +by a cemetery close to B Company’s tanks. Zero was at +5.20 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span> the next morning, and we decided to pull out our +tanks half an hour after midnight. As luck would have it, +heavy clouds drove up after dusk, and the night fell extraordinarily +black until the moon rose. I had some difficulty +in this intense darkness in finding even the road through +the Hindenburg wire, only 200 yards from where our tanks +were parked up. By one o’clock, however, we had them +in line at the head of the Inchy valley, with the useful +trees of the Hirondelle on our left. C company was ahead +of us. The only untoward incident in this early stage was +the fall of one of the huge cribs from the cab of a tank, +which crushed a man’s leg. Soon after we started a drizzle +of rain set in, increasing after a while to a heavy downpour; +but the full moon having risen, enough light filtered +through the clouds to enable us to see our way. A few +shells whistled over and burst in the valley, but on the +whole the German artillery, after its activity earlier in the +day, was commendably quiet.</p> + +<p>Crawling along at a snail’s pace, it was three o’clock +when we reached Inchy. C Company had already turned +off to the left across the Hirondelle to follow the valley +round the back of the village. We had still so much time +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_444">444</span>to spare, being now within 1500 yards of the front line, +that we halted the tanks for nearly an hour, on a sort of +terrace cut out of the spur within a stone’s-throw of the +ruined wall and trees of Inchy Château. Before we moved +on again the Major left us to return to the 10th Canadian +Brigade H.Q. in the Hindenburg Support Line across the +valley. The Colonel had insisted on this very sensible +arrangement, whereby company and section commanders, +instead of wandering rather aimlessly about after their +tanks had gone into action, were under definite orders to +attach themselves respectively to the headquarters of the +infantry brigades and battalions concerned, where they +were better able to keep in touch with events, and where +they could easily be found.</p> + +<p>Shortly before four o’clock, while M’Elroy and Paul got +the tanks started up again, I went ahead with a runner, +one Corporal Deucars, to examine the forward slope of +the spur, it having been impossible to reconnoitre this +thoroughly in daylight. A road, lined by tattered trees, +ran from Inchy up the spur and over the main ridge to +the Bapaume-Cambrai highway near Doignies. The trees, +and a conspicuous ruined factory by the roadside, a quarter +of a mile from the village, stood up very prominently on the +crest, and it was inadvisable to show one’s self on this +road in the daytime, as it was in full view from the German +lines. A second road, or rather lane, left the eastern side +of Inchy, descended the slope, and split in two almost on +our front line, one fork leading southward to Mœuvres and +the other holding straight on to the canal bank by Lock 4. +It was my intention to lead the tanks round the village +until we struck this lane, which would take the left-hand +section direct to its crossing-place. The right-hand section +would have to head south-east after zero to make the causeway, +but there were several small landmarks, including a +ditch lined by willows, to serve as guides. Dawn, moreover, +would be breaking as the tanks moved off. Our front +line for once was clearly defined between Mœuvres and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_445">445</span>Inchy, where it ran along a light railway which would +make an excellent jumping-off point for the two sections.</p> + +<p>I had taken some rolls of tape with me, as I knew that +there were several wired machine-gun posts on the forward +slope, which it might be necessary to avoid, while the +ground here had been badly shelled at one time and +another. I found, however, that the Canadians themselves, +thorough in everything, had laid down that evening a +number of tapes to guide their infantry and field batteries +to the front line; and, following up one of these, it led me +straight across the angle of the village to the lane I wished +to reach. On leaving the main street of Inchy, this lane +was lined for a short distance by houses and gardens. As +these were now being shelled, I did not push my investigations +right up to them, but having satisfied myself that the +tape would serve us, I returned with Deucars to meet the +tanks. They had climbed up out of the terrace by a limber +track, and were approaching the road on the crest when I +found them, and found also that there were only seven. +One of Paul’s section had broken down—the trouble, I +think, was a twisted extension-shaft—and was left behind +under the trees of Inchy. I led the others across the road +between the village and the factory, and then along the +tape. The rain had now ceased, but the night was still very +dark. Once on the forward slope we moved with extreme +care. At five o’clock, twenty minutes before zero, we were +close to the side of the lane and within 300 yards of the front +line. A few shells were still crashing and sparkling in the +gardens behind us. Halting the tanks for a few minutes, I +collected the tank commanders in a shell-hole and reviewed +rapidly for the last time the various points that they had to +bear in mind in approaching the canal. I have forgotten +to mention that owing to our extraordinary shortage of +officers at this period, due to casualties, leave, and the departures +to England, six out of our remaining seven tanks +were commanded by N.C.O.’s. These, however, were all +extremely capable men—the pick of the admirable personnel +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_446">446</span>we had brought originally from Bovington. During the +past week, in addition to reconnaissance, I had coached +them as thoroughly as possible on the map, helped by some +of the best aeroplane photographs I have ever seen; and I +had little doubt of their ability, if they were able to cross +the canal without undue delay, to accomplish all that was +expected of them.</p> + +<p>After five minutes’ talk they returned to their tanks, and +we watched the line of dark machines file very slowly down +the slope beside the trees of the lane. There was nothing +more that M’Elroy, Paul, or I could do. The tanks would +follow the lane until they came to the light railway, where +they would wait during the few final minutes before zero. +Having watched them disappear in the shadows, we turned +back accordingly to a communication trench called Wartburg, +which led uphill to the main Hindenburg Line near +Tadpole Copse, as we had now to find the battle headquarters +of the two Canadian battalions forming the first +infantry wave in this sector of the attack. The morning +was still very dark, its utter quietness broken only by the +rare whine and crash of a German shell. There is something +very impressive and eerie in this silent hour before an +attack at dawn. Troops and guns are crowded everywhere, +in trenches and pits and hollows, behind the front line, but +one can see and hear nothing; and one wonders how much +the enemy, listening nervously (as he has listened perhaps +for a week or more) only a few hundred yards away, fears +or suspects. As we stumbled uphill along the convolutions +of the trench, picking our way among the waiting infantry +whose equipment rattled faintly as they moved, the east +began to lighten rather suddenly. The clouds which had +blackened the night were clearing away. And ten minutes, +perhaps, after we had left the tanks, the whole crest of the +spur behind us blazed instantaneously with stabbing flames, +and we were deafened and stunned by the intolerable crash +of the opening barrage....</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_447">447</span></p> + + +<h4 id="III_15"> + III. +</h4> + +<p>Wartburg trench curled up through the little gulley +where we had been caught by the German bombardment +the previous afternoon. This gulley was now a nest of +field batteries, all firing furiously. Scores of other batteries +were in action higher up the slope and along the crest, and +from the Pronville valley came a howling torrent of shells +from the heavier howitzers. In the cup of ground up which +we were climbing the noise was abominable, and my whole +head throbbed and ached with it. It is always worse to +hear concentrated gun-fire from close in front than from +close behind. The Canadians had brought their field-guns +very far forward in the night, and as the light increased I +witnessed a spectacle which spoke both for their supreme +confidence and for the altered aspect of the war. One or +two batteries in the hollow did not fire at all, but limbered +up at zero, and went rolling and jolting down the slope after +the advancing infantry. I heard afterwards of an artillery +Major who rode forward on his horse with the first wave +of the attack to select new gun positions under the canal +bank.</p> + +<p>After much climbing about tortuous and misleading +trenches on the big hill, we found the headquarters of one +of our infantry battalions. From here we pushed on to the +second headquarters. These were established in a fairly +capacious dug-out on the summit, 100 feet above Mœuvres. +It was now about six o’clock; but the whole country below +was so shrouded in mist and smoke that we could see +nothing. Having informed the battalion commander that +the tanks had started, we sat about in the welcome peace +of the dug-out for some time, listening to reports as they +came through on the telephone, and having a comforting +breakfast of bacon and tea. (Incidentally, at whatever hour +of the day or night you interviewed Canadians, they were +always drinking tea—without prejudice to the ordinary +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_448">448</span>alcoholic beverages which, of course, were there as well.) +From the fragmentary news which reached us the attack +seemed to be going like clockwork, but we could get no +information about the tanks. The bogey of the canal was +always in our minds, and I began to be afraid that they had +failed to cross it. At seven o’clock we scrambled to the +surface again, to find the morning bright and sunny and +the trenches on the hill-top lined with interested spectators +of the battle. Groups of signallers were working heliographs +from the parapets, and a few heavy German shells +thudded on the slope below; but when I joined the +audience I found that there was still little or nothing to be +seen. Sheets of white vapour, out of which rose the dark +trees of Bourlon Wood, covered the whole battlefield. +M’Elroy and Paul decided to remain here until it was time +for them to go forward to the sunken road, between the +canal and Quarry Wood, which had been selected as a +rallying-point for the tanks; and I left them soon after to +make my own way back to the Major at the infantry brigade +headquarters on the opposite ridge above Inchy.</p> + +<p>By the time I had got down into the valley, now full of +roaring guns and moving infantry and transport, and had +climbed the farther slope to the Hindenburg Support +trenches, the sun was growing powerful and I was becoming +uncomfortably hot. I was wearing a trench-coat and +other warm garments which had been welcome enough in the +cold and rain of the night, and I was of course hung all +over with the ghastly impedimenta that civilised officers are +impelled to carry with them into battle (or near it)—glasses, +water-bottle, box-respirator, revolver, map-case, compasses, +and so on, all depending from an infuriating harness of +separate little straps. I cannot imagine why officers are +not provided with a uniform combination equipment for +these articles. It would be easy to design one. The Sam +Browne belt is a useless anachronism in action, and the +private soldier’s webbing or leather equipment, while excellent +for his own requirements, was worthless for ours. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_449">449</span>We were compelled to walk about like badly-arranged +Christmas-trees suffocated by straps....</p> + +<p>All this, however, is rather by the way. To return to our +text, I found at the infantry headquarters the Brigadier and +staff of the 1st Tank Brigade peering through their glasses +at the battle, and also the Major, full of good news. Plenty +of information had been coming through on the telephone, +and all our apprehensions were proved needless. Our +tanks, indeed, had won a really notable little triumph by +crossing the problematical canal as easily as if it had been +an ordinary trench, and actually leading the Canadians the +whole way from start to finish, through the Canal du Nord +Line, Quarry Wood, and the Marquion Line into Bourlon. +The left-hand section apparently (for, of course, no details +were to hand) had climbed in and out of the canal without +a pause. The first tank of Paul’s section on the right had +been disabled by a mine in the causeway, whereupon the +other two had found their way over the walls with equal +agility. The Canadians, who had not counted on any help +from the machines short of the Marquion Line, were as +astonished as they were pleased by this performance, and +were generously flattering in their commendations.</p> + +<p>From this crest by the brigade dug-outs one obtained +an excellent view, over the roofs of Inchy, of the whole +undulating escarpment which rose to Bourlon, and also of +the country to the south around Anneux and Graincourt, +other old acquaintances of the first Cambrai battle. Much +of the smoke and mist had lifted, for already the tide of +advance was through Bourlon and Anneux and beyond the +Wood. Graincourt, just visible behind the spur above +Mœuvres, was still holding out, and continued to resist, +like a second Flesquières, until late in the day. I sat for +some time watching this scene through my glasses. +Columns of thick white smoke were rising out of Bourlon +Wood, where the enveloping attack was clearing out the +defenders under a screen of smoke grenades. To the right, +between Anneux and Graincourt, the bare upland was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_450">450</span>diversified by the forms of four or five disabled tanks, presumably +Mark V.’s of the 15th Battalion. One of them was +on fire, and a second was emitting volumes of white smoke +from a patent contrivance fitted for this purpose on the +roof. (A tank in M’Elroy’s section was equipped with this +novelty, and used it very effectively in front of Bourlon.) +And presently, out of the thin haze which still hung in +drifts over the slope beyond the canal, appeared one of our +own machines homeward bound; and at that the Major +and I began to walk down into the valley on our way to +the rallying-point. The time must have been about ten +o’clock in the morning, five hours since the battle opened. +We followed the route the tanks had taken, round the +southern gardens of Inchy, and so on to the lane which led +to Lock 4. There is always a peculiar interest attached +to one’s first entry into ground occupied only a few hours +previously by the enemy. It is like a journey into a foreign +country—which, after all, is exactly what it is. A hundred +little contrasts, even amid the levelling conditions of modern +war, differentiate one side of the line from the other. +Either combatant betrays his personality in such common +tasks as digging trenches or building cook-houses, and there +seems to supervene a different atmosphere, a sort of alien +local colour, as one passes from No Man’s Land into newly-captured +territory. This may be largely my personal fancy: +certainly the grass is the same colour and the shell-holes +are very similar; and it is true that superficially there was +little to show which side of the light railway at Inchy-en-Artois +had been British and which German ground. +Between the rusty metals and the canal bank were a few +groups of our dead—mostly, I think, casualties suffered by +the later waves of infantry under the counter-barrage. I +did not see any Germans among them, and it was evident +that this first stage had been carried at a rush with little +or no trouble. Probably the scattered outposts had surrendered +on the spot. The canal itself, the first solid +obstacle capable of defence, did not appear to have been +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_451">451</span>held with any approach to determination. One German +infantryman, lying dead on his back and already stripped +of every article that would make a portable souvenir, was +the only piece of jetsam in the wake of the attack near +Lock 4. Yet, as a singular example of the contrasts and +uncertainties of war, at the very time I was scrambling +down into the canal bed with the Major, six hours after +the opening of the battle, a group of plucky German +machine-gunners was still holding out near Mœuvres, three +miles behind our new front.</p> + +<p>The canal, which we examined with the keenest interest, +bore very little resemblance to the engineers’ drawings. +The sides were far steeper than represented, and the +“step,” where it existed, was higher up. The photograph +reproduced in this book will show more clearly than any +description what sort of an obstacle it was that our worn-out +and obsolete Mark IV. tanks had surmounted with +such ease and speed. The farther wall near Lock 4, where +M’Elroy’s four machines had crossed, was so nearly vertical +that only the layer of fallen earth, combined with exceptionally +skilful driving, made its ascension possible. The two +surviving tanks of Paul’s section, baulked at the causeway, +scrambled in some miraculous manner over the brickwork +close by. His leading tank, as we have seen, was disabled +by a mine on the causeway itself. The explosion broke the +tracks, blew in the floor, and shattered a man’s legs. The +N.C.O. in command very sensibly ran at once down the +canal to Mœuvres, where some of the 15th Battalion’s tanks +were crossing, and managed to induce one of them to turn +back and tow the derelict off the causeway, where it was +holding up our artillery. The first drivers of all the six +tanks which crossed were very properly recommended for +the Military Medal for this feat alone, and one or two of +them received it.</p> + +<p>As we walked on from the canal we met our first tanks +returning to it. They had been shelled persistently on their +way back from Bourlon to the rallying-point, the German +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_452">452</span>guns apparently being kept on to the moving targets by an +observation balloon which still hung insolently behind the +wood, unmolested by our aeroplanes. (It was an instructive +fact that when we ran up a balloon the next day from a +similar position on our side of the wood, a German aeroplane +had it down within an hour.) The ground at the +rallying-point being entirely open, it was no place for the +tanks under this malignant scrutiny, and they were returning +accordingly to the canal itself for shelter. We led them +through the middle causeway and parked them up against +the eastern wall. The photograph shows the first three +immediately after their arrival. The figure in the trench-coat +fluttering a map is, I believe, myself.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowe40" id="i_452fp"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_452fp.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + Tanks of A Company, 7th Battalion, parked in Canal du Nord after capturing Bourlon Village, September 27, 1918. + <br>(Official Photo.) + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>In almost every case the tasks allotted to the tanks had +been easily and rapidly accomplished. They were out of +the canal as soon as the infantry, and in consequence were +able to lend the latter unexpected help at the Canal du +Nord Line and Quarry Wood, where they led the attack, +crushed the wire, and disposed of numerous machine-gun +posts. Still leading, the whole six charged the Marquion +Line, which was carried very quickly. One tank broke +down here and was not ready to move again until the others +were returning for good. These, in the meantime, patrolled +beyond the Marquion Line while it was being consolidated +under cover of a stationary barrage, and as soon as the +latter lifted once more, pushed on for Bourlon. Two +entered by the main street and a third from the north, +the remaining pair working along the trenches round the +village. The resistance was spasmodic, and as soon as the +tanks had crushed down the barricades in the streets and +silenced a few machine-guns which held out in the houses, +the place was rapidly overrun and cleared by the following +infantry. One tank, fired on by field-guns in the outskirts, +screened itself very skilfully in smoke from the experimental +apparatus fixed on the roof, and passed into the village +unhurt behind this curtain. Another machine, after Bourlon +had been carried, pushed on at the request of the Canadians +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_453">453</span>to the railway which ran past the eastern end of Bourlon +Wood to Sauchy-Lestrée, silenced some machine-guns on +the embankment, and enabled the infantry to seize and +consolidate the latter. In four or five hours the whole +action was over, so far as the tanks were concerned. +There were no casualties to personnel or machines, except +in the case of the mined tank on the causeway. All the +other six rallied. The attack had been a model of completeness +and efficiency, and was backed up throughout +in the most intelligent and whole-hearted manner by the +infantry.</p> + +<p>C Company had been equally successful, although it had +not escaped so lightly. Sains-les-Marquion was carried +with very little effort, and the tanks spent the rest of the +morning cruising about beyond the Marquion Line, mopping +up machine-gun nests and enjoying some good shooting at +parties of fugitive Germans. Two tanks, however, were hit +and burnt out by field-guns near Deligny Mill, on the spur +north of Quarry Wood. After the action the Company +rallied behind the canal in the gulley below Tadpole +Copse.</p> + + +<h4 id="IV_8"> + IV. +</h4> + +<p>While our tanks were parking up in the canal bed I met +the brigade commander and the Colonel with Beale and one +or two other people, and after a little talk was sent back to +Pronville to arrange for some lorries to be in readiness to +carry all the tank crews of both companies, less the necessary +guards, to Bullecourt, where a camp had been erected. +On my way I met the tanks of B Company moving up to +the canal. At Pronville, where I arrived very hot and dusty +and incredibly thirsty, about one o’clock, I was stopped +within 100 yards of our headquarters in the trench by a +bucolic and extremely unintelligent private of the Battle +Police, who poked his bayonet at me and demanded to +know where I was going. As it never occurred to me that +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_454">454</span>I could be mistaken for a deserter, I thought the man was +drunk, and was on the point of putting him under arrest. +Realising in time that he was only densely stupid and performing +what he conceived to be his duty, I burst out +laughing at his absurd face and manner, and left him there +gaping after me, and wondering, possibly, if he should have +fallen upon me or run me through.</p> + +<p>By four o’clock that afternoon the tired crews had marched +back to Pronville and were packing themselves in lorries, +while M’Elroy, Paul, and I, glowing with a sense of virtue +rewarded, were bumping over the vile roads to Bullecourt in +the car. Every road and track was roaring with a flood of +transport rolling eastward. All the guns about Pronville +had gone forward except the 9.2 howitzers, and Holt tractors +were standing by these unwieldy weapons in readiness to +tow them also away. A long naval gun had come up on the +railway near Quéant, and was firing from its truck. There +was always something fresh and exhilarating to me in this +universal surge onward which came in the wake of any big +advance—perhaps because we were not yet habituated to +big advances. The tide had now set in with a vengeance, +and we were to become well accustomed to this healthy +symptom of its progress before the end.</p> + +<p>At Bullecourt, where our tents had been set up amid the +annihilation of one of the most murderous and contested +battlefields of the war, we spent that night and most of +the next day. We were, I suppose, very fortunate to +possess the transport which alone made these brief interludes +of rest and recuperation possible. They were +certainly well worth the trouble they involved. After +twenty-four hours spent in moderate comfort, with rational +meals, baths of a sort, and a change of clothes, officers and +men returned to the forward area refreshed and ready for +another spell of work that, in our case, became increasingly +arduous the longer our old machines were denied their own +turn of renovation.</p> + +<p>M’Elroy left us in the morning to go on leave. He had +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_455">455</span>been due to go a week before, but had stayed on to take +part in the attack. When he returned a fortnight later, +the battalion had finished its work, and was waiting to be +withdrawn to refit. I was about to leave it to join the +12th Battalion. And a short time after I had gone, he +was dead—killed, when the war virtually was over, by an +epidemic of influenza and pneumonia which swept through +the unhealthy camp in the Ternoise valley, and cost the +battalion in addition the lives of some of its best N.C.O.’s +and men, who also had come through all its battles, from +Ypres to the second Cambrai, only to meet this miserable +end. M’Elroy and I had been much together in the later +stages, having been largely responsible between us for the +company’s work in most of the final actions, and I had +come to know him very well. He was a tall, dark Irishman, +usually quiet and casual, but with that rare combination +of a level head and careless courage which earns +so many of the decorations that are worth anything, +and which gained him his D.S.O. as a subaltern at +Cambrai. One has always a grudge against Providence +for the waste of such lives when all need for sacrifice +is past.</p> + +<p>During the interlude at Bullecourt we gathered some +information about the progress of the attack in general, +and in particular about the fortunes of the 15th and 11th +Tank Battalions which had been in action on our right. +Both of these units had suffered heavily in a rather +desperate morning’s fighting. The tanks of the 15th, +having negotiated the canal at Mœuvres with some difficulty, +reached their final objectives beyond Anneux and +Flesquières, but lost eleven machines out of twenty-six, +many of them around Graincourt. The 11th Battalion, +usually unfortunate, fared very badly. A dozen tanks were +sent in between Trescault and Gouzeaucourt, of which eight +received direct hits and two were ditched. Their casualties +were heavy, and the attack in this sector was only partially +successful. Elsewhere, however, everything had gone extraordinarily +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_456">456</span>well. Ten thousand prisoners and 200 guns had +been captured by the two armies; and on the evening of the +27th our line, from north to south, had been advanced to +east of Oisy-le-Verger (in the angle between the Sensée and +the canal), east of Epinoy, Haynecourt, and Bourlon Wood, +through Fontaine-Notre-Dame, and east of Ribécourt and +Beaucamp. Another five miles of the Siegfried Line, from +Mœuvres to Ribécourt, had been carried; and from Bourlon +Ridge we looked down upon the roofs and spires of Cambrai, +less than three miles away.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the 28th, eight tanks of B Company, +which we saw moving up to the canal, led the infantry of +the 3rd Canadian Division in an attack on Raillencourt and +St Olle, on the Arras-Cambrai road. Both these villages +were carried after severe fighting, several of the German +machine-gun crews continuing to resist until they were +crushed to death by the tanks. All the latter rallied. +St Olle was a suburb of Cambrai, and the Canadians +were now on the outskirts of that town, but still faced +by the formidable obstacle of the Canal de L’Escaut.</p> + +<p>That evening the personnel of A and C Companies, +having spent exactly twenty-four hours at Bullecourt, +returned by lorry to their tanks in or near the Canal du +Nord. Both companies were to trek forward that night to +the neighbourhood of Bourlon, and the Major and I went +straight to that village in the car to decide where we +would put our machines. As we passed through Inchy we +found that the indefatigable Y.M.C.A. had already established +a canteen there, and were using one of our abandoned +cribs as a background for their triangular sign. The day +had been fine and hot, and the country everywhere was +full of pungent smells. The Canadians had a bad habit +of leaving their dead horses and mules for weeks without +burial, even alongside the roads, and some of these carcases +had by now attained an appalling stage of decomposition. +At Bourlon we fixed on the huge château wall, riddled with +immense holes but still erect, as a good shelter for the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_457">457</span>tanks; and having sent the car off, walked back across +country to the canal to survey an approximate route. The +Major then left to interview the 4th Canadian Division. I +waited about for two or three hours while a number of +small irritating defects were put to rights; and toward +ten o’clock, the night being starlit but very dark, we +managed to get away. We had now six tanks left out +of the fourteen with which we had started from Bienvillers +five weeks before. Wadeson, just back from leave, was in +charge in M’Elroy’s absence.</p> + +<p>The beginning of the journey was unpropitious. Our +exit from the canal bed, by way of the middle causeway, +coincided with the arrival immediately above us of a +bombing squadron of German aeroplanes, which proceeded +to drop their cargoes liberally all round. I +pushed everybody inside the tanks and walked on hopefully +in front. The bombs were thudding and flashing in +large numbers in the direction of Mœuvres, and some fell +much nearer than was pleasant; and presently one of the +raiders released a magnesium flare attached to a small +parachute or balloon, which hung for a long time a few +hundred feet overhead, and seemed to light up the whole +country for miles. The illumination was so bright that I +thought of halting the tanks until it expired, but reflected +that these lights are always much less efficient, from the +point of view of the observer up above, than they appear +from the ground. The flare dwindled out after a while, +the humming of the aeroplane engines and the crash of +the bombs receded behind us as the raiders swept over +the canal, and we pursued our journey without further +interruption.</p> + +<p>On arriving, after some struggles in trenches and wire, +at Bourlon Château, we found that our wall bounded a +narrow lane in which was situated an artillery brigade +headquarters. As our tanks would have blocked the lane +and interfered with traffic that might include the cars of +infuriated Generals, we decided to push the machines +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_458">458</span>through the holes in the wall into the tangled garden +beyond. The fact that this was possible will convey some +idea of the size of the holes (which did not reach even to +the top of the wall in most cases), and of the immense +height and solidity of the structure. After much backing +and swinging and dislodging of bricks, the manœuvre +was accomplished, and all six tanks were safely inserted +under the trees inside. It was now midnight, or after, +and we proceeded to make ourselves comfortable under +a couple of tarpaulins stretched over a trench, where, +packed like sardines, we had some sort of a meal and +went to sleep.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_459">459</span></p> + + + <h3 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXI"> + CHAPTER XXI. + <br> + <span class="sm">THE FIGHTING ROUND CAMBRAI: SANCOURT.</span> + </h3> +</div> + + +<h4>I.</h4> + +<p>When the 1st and 3rd Armies attacked on 27th September, +the general bombardment was extended southward to the +extremity of the British Line, although only preliminary +operations were undertaken by the 4th Army on that day +and the next. The 28th was notable for two simultaneous +blows delivered upwards of 100 miles apart—by the 2nd +British and 3rd French Armies and the Belgians from the +coast to Ypres, and by the 5th and 10th French Armies on +the Aisne. On the 29th, after two days’ continuous shelling, +the 4th Army and the right wing of the 3rd took up the +attack against the last and strongest remnant of the enemy’s +final organised position in the West, the Canal de L’Escaut +and the Siegfried Line from Marcoing to Bellenglise. +This reversion to something like the old type of offensive, +with a preliminary bombardment, was necessitated by the +obstacle of the Canal de St Quentin (a continuation of the +Canal de L’Escaut), which could be crossed by tanks only +at the gap, 6000 yards wide, where it passed under the +famous tunnel between Vendhuile and Bellicourt. The 3rd, +4th, and 5th Tank Brigades with about 170 machines took +part on the first day of this decisive battle, and had some +desperate fighting, losing a great number of tanks and men. +The 301st Americans in their first action met with tragic +disaster, apparently through no fault of their own. Moving +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_460">460</span>forward from Ronsoy, they ran into a mine-field which we +had laid down before the March retreat. It consisted of +rows of buried trench-mortar bombs, each loaded with +50 lb. of ammonal. In a few minutes ten tanks were +blown up, their bottoms being torn out and most of their +crews killed by the terrific explosions. The remainder of +the battalion, shaken though it must have been by this +appalling stroke of misfortune, got into action and suffered +heavily there, only 11 tanks rallying out of 34. On +subsequent days units of all three brigades were helping +to widen the initial penetration of the Siegfried trenches +at various points, as many as 40 tanks going in on 3rd +October, when we broke through the northern part of +the Beaurevoir-Fonsomme Line five miles beyond the +canal tunnel, and saw in front of us at last open and +cultivated country. These events led up to the final phase +of the battle, which began on 8th October.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, the Canadians, with the 22nd and 17th +Corps respectively on their left and right, had a week of +very severe and costly fighting around Cambrai, in the +course of which the 7th Tank Battalion fought its last +action. After the surprise and collapse on 27th September, +the German resistance stiffened appreciably every day +as it had stiffened a month earlier at Bapaume; and Sancourt, +Abancourt, and other villages played the same <i>rôle</i> +which had fallen before to Ecoust and Beugny. Our +advance was still hampered by the obstacle of the Sensée +Marshes and the floods to the north of them. This vast +area of water cut across our front at right angles, with the +result that as we penetrated eastward toward Cambrai we +developed a long flank facing due north; and the German +guns south of Douai, enfilading this salient, caused much +annoyance. The re-formed and very weak 5th Army facing +Lens and Douai was unable to help actively until the +operations on its flanks were further advanced.</p> + +<p>The morning of 29th September found the three Companies +of the 7th Tank Battalion disposed as follows: +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_461">461</span>A Company, as we have seen, was at Bourlon. C Company +had moved overnight from its rallying-point near Tadpole +Copse to the top of Bourlon Ridge north of the village, +where its tanks were camouflaged in the open in a shallow +basin of ground. B Company, after its fighting in Raillencourt +and St Olle, had rallied at the former village and still +remained there, its machines hidden under the trees of the +Arras-Cambrai road within 3000 yards of the front line. +Early in the morning a despatch-rider reached us at +Bourlon with orders for the company to join C on the +ridge; and after breakfast we backed the tanks out of the +château garden through the holes in the wall and trekked +northward round the village. We made a considerable +gambit to avoid appearing on the crest, where a few shells +were falling as we approached, and climbed eventually to +our destination under a bridge, still intact, which carried +the railway from Cambrai to Sauchy-Lestrée. We camouflaged +our tanks in the open a few hundred yards from those +of C Company, one of whose officers had just been wounded +by the shelling. We were screened here from direct observation +by the final rise, the ground ascending very +gradually from our basin to the Arras-Cambrai road, only +500 yards away. The double line of trees along the road +ran obliquely across our front and dropped down the ridge +behind us to Marquion and the Agache flats. Standing on +the highway, one saw straight ahead the cluster of villages +on the spurs which fell to the Sensée north and north-west +of Cambrai—Haynecourt and Epinoy, west of the Douai +road, and now in our possession, and, beyond, the trees about +Sancourt, Blécourt, Abancourt, and others still held by the +Germans. To the north extended the long hostile flank +beyond the Sensée, with such places as Bugnicourt and +Fressain easily distinguishable. The morning being misty, +although brilliantly fine, visibility was limited, but it was +easy to see how vitally important was this ridge, and how +on a clear day one could have overlooked Douai and all the +enemy’s communications across the plain. Cambrai, three +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_462">462</span>miles to the south-east, and lying low, was hidden from this +point by the trees of Raillencourt and Sailly. The shallow +depression in which we lay, like all the rest of the country +around, was bare grass-land, crossed by a multitude of dusty +tracks, a lane leading from Bourlon to the main road, and a +line or two of half-finished trench. There was a big dug-out, +an old German headquarters of some kind, close to the +railway bridge at our back. To our right stood a solitary +half-ruined building called Pilgrim’s Rest, which poked +a blackened gable above some shrubs; and a few small +copses beyond led the eye up to Bourlon Wood, towering +above a sudden little hill which was superimposed, as it +were, on top of the ridge itself. It was this steep acclivity +which caused the wood to be visible from so great a distance +(from the towers of Mont St Eloi, behind Arras, for +example), and to dominate so effectively all the valleys +leading toward it from the west. During our reconnaissances +before the 27th this sinister mass of trees seemed to +overlook every movement. But now its ladders and its +lofty observation platforms had had their final day, and +curious wanderers were peering and poking among the +glades and thickets bleached with gas and scarred by shells, +where some of its later victims still lay rotting in the undergrowth, +and where there rested, smashed and stripped and +rust-eaten, the shells of tanks we had lost there nearly a +year before. Two-faced, like Janus, the wood had now +turned a menacing visage eastward, and lowered over +Cambrai. A new activity flowed beneath its shadow. +Khaki had replaced field-grey in the dismembered village; +and over the dusty plain to the canal, along the reverse +slope of the ridge, and even in the little hollow by Pilgrim’s +Rest, were scattered infantry bivouacs and endless horse +lines and the massed limbers of ammunition trains. The +countryside was alive with movement, and near Bourlon a +Canadian band was playing, its instruments glittering in +the sun....</p> + +<p>When we had camouflaged the tanks in pairs, we set +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_463">463</span>about finding some shelter for company headquarters, and +the few other officers we had with us. A half-finished +trench ran across the basin, and over a part of this we +rigged up a tarpaulin roof. C Company, the first in the +field, had found a large excavation in a bank near the railway, +where they made themselves moderately comfortable. +It was always well to take these precautions, for one might +be stranded in such a place for a week. As it happened, +this little gutter of ours was in use as a base for several +days. Close to us here, curiously enough, were some odd +by-products of the tank idea, a number of open lorries +carrying Vickers guns and Stokes mortars, part of a singular +unit which included motor machine-guns and armoured +cars, and was known as Brutinel’s Brigade. It had been +organised by the Canadians for the battle on 8th August, +with a view to rapid exploitation in company with our +Whippets and cars along the Amiens-Roye road. I believe +it met with a certain measure of success on that exceptional +occasion, but its subsequent opportunities were few. All +Canadian operation orders at this time ended with an +optimistic paragraph asserting that “Brutinel’s Brigade +will seize every opening for a vigorous exploitation and +pursuit of the enemy,” and the heterogeneous medley of +vehicles did its best to find such openings; but with the +Germans very wide awake, and fighting for every inch of +ground, nothing on wheels had any prospect of penetrating +far. The brigade was badly cut up more than once, and +the armed lorries, in particular, were described by their +unfortunate crews as death-traps.</p> + +<p>After lunch Wadeson and I walked to the high ground +by Bourlon Wood, where there were a number of abandoned +German guns and many dead of both armies, and looked +down upon the roofs and spires of Cambrai. The canal +and all the approaches to the town were hidden in trees, +and there was nothing to be seen but an ambulance or two +passing below us into St Olle. It was more interesting to +turn our glasses to the south-west and follow the immaculate +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_464">464</span>line of the Le Cateau road, its double row of trees +in full leaf rising and dipping over a succession of ridges +increasing in height as they receded, and topped by villages +and small towns untouched by actual hostilities since the +first month of the war—Awoingt, just outside Cambrai, +Beauvois, Caudry, Bethencourt, and yet another Inchy. I +had no suspicion then that I was to know all these places +well enough a few weeks later. Le Cateau itself, lying in +a deep valley, was hidden from us; but we could follow +many of the roads leading eastward from the main highway, +and these were black with German transport pouring to +the rear before the blast of the 4th Army’s attack along +the Canal de St Quentin that morning. Another cheering +portent was the fact that the enemy’s line of observation +balloons was withdrawn well to the east of the Le Cateau +road. It was while we were standing here that one of our +balloons, run up an hour before by the side of Bourlon +Wood, was shot down by a German aeroplane which +escaped with the usual ease. Neither at this time nor +before nor after during the whole advance did I see a +German balloon brought down.</p> + +<p>A very disgusting feature of this neighbourhood was the +number of ghoulish pilferers of the dead who infested it. +These noxious creatures are common enough in the wake +of any battle: indeed the ordinary decent soldier is callous +to a degree in the way he will handle some mangled body +in his search for what he calls souvenirs; but the Colonial +troops always supplied an excessive proportion of the deliberate +looters. A case which filled me with peculiar +horror, because I had known and liked the man whose +corpse was so mercilessly stripped and rifled, had occurred +in the Canadian Corps a short time before this. An officer +in our battalion who joined it as a Captain in the Salient, +and afterwards shared a cubicle with me at Meaulte, went +to the 11th Battalion as a company commander. He was +killed by a shell during an approach-march in the course +of the attack on the Drocourt-Quéant Line. His body was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_465">465</span>left for a quarter of an hour while two men ran to a dressing +station close at hand for a stretcher. When they returned +they found that the Canadians, in this short interval, +had stripped the body of everything worth taking—tunic, +belt, glasses, and even field-boots. I do not know if I +am peculiar, but this practice, which was reduced to +a science, filled me with loathing. And around Bourlon +Wood, where in places the dead lay thickly, there were +a number of men prowling furtively about, turning +over bodies, peering into holes and trenches, carrying out +systematically their search for money or such pitiful small +valuables as a man will carry even into action. These +scoundrels sheered off when any officer approached, and +if summoned and interrogated, explained of course that +they were looking for the body of a friend....</p> + + +<h4 id="II_19"> + II. +</h4> + +<p>At five o’clock that evening (the 29th) the usual harbinger +of evil arrived at our trench in the shape of a despatch-rider, +with an urgent message to the Major to report at once +to the headquarters of the 12th Canadian Infantry Brigade. +This headquarters was quite near us, in some dug-outs just +off the Arras-Bapaume road, by a building called Lilac +Farm. I accompanied the Major in his car, which we took +to save time. As we arrived on the highroad several +heavy shells crashed about Lilac Farm, and we left it for +the dug-outs with some haste. We had a brief interview +with the Canadian Brigadier, in which he propounded a +rather ambitious scheme for the next morning, and asked +for three tanks. C Company was working on our right +with another brigade. The situation on the front of the +12th Brigade was as follows:—</p> + +<p>Beyond the Arras-Cambrai road was the road to Douai, +which trended a little to the west of north toward Aubencheul-au-Bac, +where it crossed the Sensée. On a line +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_466">466</span>drawn north-east from the Pilgrim’s Rest these roads were +about 4000 yards apart, and midway between them was the +village of Haynecourt. Beyond the Douai road, again, was +the main Cambrai-Douai railway. Road and railway ran +side by side out of Cambrai for two miles, when the line +curved eastward before returning to a parallel crossing at +Aubencheul-au-Bac. Where it turned away from the road +it passed between the villages of Sancourt and Blécourt, +the former being half a mile east of the road and a few +hundred yards short of the railway, on which at this +point there was a <i>halte</i> or small station. A road from +Sancourt crossed the railway in a north-easterly direction, +and descended a narrow and steepish valley called the +<i>Ravin de Bantigny</i>, through Blécourt and Bantigny itself, 800 +and 2500 yards respectively from the level crossing. A mile +and a half south of Blécourt, just beyond the railway, was +Tilloy.</p> + +<p>The Canadian line, as given to us, ran almost due north +from the Arras road at St Olle, crossed the Douai road +3000 yards out of Cambrai, and continued just to the west +of the railway, passing between Sancourt and the <i>halte</i>. +The railway was a serious obstacle, and already had held +up the advance for two days. It ran alternately over +embankments and through deep cuttings, which were lined +thickly with machine-guns; and the Germans were fighting +desperately to retain it, and so prevent Cambrai being outflanked +from the north. There is no need to go at length +into the plan of attack proposed by the Canadians for the +30th, because half of it was a signal failure. It will be +enough to say that one brigade on the right, with three +tanks of C Company, was to carry the railway west of +Tilloy and then seize that village, while the 12th Brigade, +with our three tanks, on the left, was to cross the line on +either side of the Sancourt <i>halte</i>, capture the high ground +enclosing the <i>Ravin de Bantigny</i>, and then perform a complicated +swing to the left, which was intended to cut off the +German forces holding the curve of the railway northward. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_467">467</span>Our tanks, having assisted to clear and consolidate the +railway at Sancourt, were to move along to north and south +of the <i>Ravin</i>, avoiding Blécourt and Bantigny in its depths, +as these villages were to be smothered and isolated by +artillery fire and occupied at leisure.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowe30" id="i_467"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_467.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <i>Sancourt.</i> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>The General explained this plan of attack in a dashing +and confident sort of manner, which seemed to take a good +deal for granted. It took more for granted than we guessed +at the time; but one could not help reflecting even then +upon the speculative qualities of the scheme. The Canadians +had been fighting now for three days, during the last +two of which they had battered their heads against the Douai +road and railway, and had lost very heavily in the process, +without making any material advance. The task set for +the 12th Brigade was highly ambitious, in face of the very +obstinate resistance which the enemy, as usual reacting +strongly against the consequences of his initial defeat, was +offering along the whole Cambrai front. Fresh divisions had +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_468">468</span>come into the German line, fresh batteries had accumulated +behind it, and machine-guns were sown everywhere like +dragon’s teeth. The situation was similar to that which had +developed around Bapaume at the end of August, with the +additional incentive to the enemy that he was now fighting +in his last organised position; and Sancourt, as it turned +out, was to prove for A Company a second and more tragic +Beugny. The Major and I came away from the brigade +headquarters feeling already rather dubious about the whole +affair. We did not suspect, however, after our recent experience +of the usual efficiency of Canadian methods, that the +attack was to be doomed to failure before it began through +inexcusable blunders by the brigade staff. Zero hour had +not been fixed at this conference. We were to return later +for detailed orders. The General had stated, however, that +he wished our tanks to be lined up before dawn in a sunken +road which ran southward from Haynecourt, where he proposed +also to establish his headquarters for the action. By +this time we had only four machines out of our six fit for +action at short notice. C Company was even worse off. It +could supply only two tanks, and borrowed our fourth to +make up the deficiency. It was about six o’clock when we +returned to Pilgrim’s Rest, and already growing dusk, as the +sky had clouded over. While the tanks were uncamouflaged +and overhauled, I studied the map and took compass-bearings +to help us in the approach-march. Toward seven, the +Major and I started off to walk over this route, and on our +way called at the brigade headquarters for our further orders; +but there were none forthcoming. Zero, we were told, +probably would be at 10 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span> The General and his staff +would be at the sunken road at five, when everything was +to be arranged and the belated orders issued to us. In the +meantime we were to get our tanks there. We set off +accordingly on our walk, feeling more dubious than ever. +The daylight attack alone was against all our instincts and +precepts, and was the more puzzling because Jack Brown +had told me that the zero hour for C Company and its +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_469">469</span>infantry was six o’clock, just after dawn. There might +be method, however, in this apparent madness: attacks +were sometimes carried out in this fashion, in echelon, at +different hours. In any case, we were definitely under the +orders of the 12th Brigade, and had to do as we were told. +The trouble was that so far we had been told so little.</p> + +<p>We found the sunken road without much difficulty, although +it was now very dark indeed. A perfect maze of +light railways, radiating out from Cambrai and linking up +a number of big dumps with the original German positions +behind the Canal du Nord, covered all this country, and +being marked on our excellent maps, were invaluable guides +at night. The road, midway between the diverging Arras +and Douai highways, connected Haynecourt with the outskirts +of Raillencourt and St Olle to the south. It ran +parallel to the Douai road at an average distance of 1200 +yards. Toward its northern end at Haynecourt its banks +were 10 to 12 feet high, forming perfect cover for the tanks, +and we selected a hiding-place for the latter 1000 yards +from the village, near where the road was crossed by one +of the light railways which would lead us directly to it. +In the western bank were the black shafts of several dug-outs +in which the brigade headquarters was to take up its +abode. A few dead lay in the roadway, and infantry in +support were moving about in the shelter of the banks. +The front was very quiet at this time, but Very lights were +rising and flaring from the outpost line. It struck me at +once that they were much nearer to us than they should +have been if that line coincided with the one given us by +the brigade staff. They seemed to rise from the Douai road +itself, whose mangled avenue of trees was visible intermittently +in the cold illumination. According to the brigade +(whose information I had set down at the time on a map +that lies before me now) our line at Sancourt, toward which +we were looking, took in the village and ran close to the +railway, nearly 1000 yards beyond the road. It was impossible +to decide this point either way with certainty, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_470">470</span>some infantrymen whom I questioned were characteristically +vague. An outpost line in semi-open warfare is always +nebulous and variable, but if appearances were correct and +our information wrong, it might make a serious difference, +as it would mean that Sancourt was not, as stated, in our +possession. I never understood the real facts of the case. +As late as eight o’clock next morning Sancourt undoubtedly +was full of German machine-guns, but whether this was due +to a temporary fluctuation of the line, or whether we had +never really held it, I do not know. Our original information +proved in all respects so erroneous that I incline to the +latter opinion. The Canadians gained it definitely in the +course of this attack, but, as we shall see, this was all they +were able to accomplish on the 12th Brigade front.</p> + +<p>The Major and I were a little careless on our return +journey, and overrunning the particular branch of the +light railway which we should have followed, wandered +for some time around Haynecourt. It was nearly midnight +when we reached the Arras road again, both of us +rather leg-weary, as we had been stumbling about in the +dark for five hours; but there was no rest for us yet. +We found the three tanks, with Wadeson, who was in +command, waiting at the side of the road by a farm +called Mont Neuve, westward from Lilac Farm. All +three were commanded by N.C.O.’s, among them Sergeant +Duddridge, whom we have met at Beugny, and who was to +be one of the victims of the deplorable muddle the 12th +Canadian Brigade made of this attack. We started off +again at once, leading the tanks past Mont Neuve to the +little railway line which led straight to our sunken road. +The distance, following this railway, was just two miles, but +we had ample time, and took it very slowly. Soon after we +started I saw C Company’s tanks, three black shapes outlined +momentarily against a distant glare, crawling away to +our right. The journey was accomplished without incident, +except that toward the end I became seriously alarmed by +the noises proceeding from our worn-out machines. They +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_471">471</span>were on their last legs, or, to be literally accurate, their last +rollers. These had not been replaced since we drew the +tanks from Erin two months before, and now, ground down +and misshapen by overwork, they began suddenly to complain +only too audibly. It seemed impossible at times that +this shrill squeaking should not be heard by the enemy, +especially if his outposts were as near as the pistol lights +still indicated that they were. We struck our road at a +point where the banks had fallen away to nothing, so that +only a level field stretched before us to the trees along the +Douai highway. The occasional flares which soared and +died above them silhouetted every branch, and once a yellow +glow appeared at the ground-level and grew swiftly to a +bright tall flame which seemed to lick the trunks before it +dwindled and expired. A few shells whined and burst far +to our right, but apparently no one heard the noise of the +tanks, for nothing more urgent happened to disturb us. By +2.30 we had the three machines under cover of the bank and +the crews busy with the camouflage nets. I felt the usual +intense relief that comes after the strain of conducting any +approach-march, however short or simple. The responsibility +(which I loathe in any form) and the sense of being +tied to the tanks if anything went wrong or if we were discovered, +always made these journeys my especial bugbear. +Time could not stale nor custom wither their infinite +anxiety. Or so I always found it. To go into action in +a tank was, in a way, a lesser evil.</p> + +<p>Having seen the machines camouflaged and the crews +settled down for as long a rest as Providence, the Germans, +or the Canadian Corps permitted, I accompanied the Major +and Wadeson to the Brigade dug-out, a couple of hundred +yards up the road. We found there, representing for the +moment the staff, the brigade Intelligence Officer. He +appeared to be the reverse of intelligent, and had no +orders for us and no news. He had heard nothing about +tanks until we arrived. We made ourselves as comfortable +as possible among the feet of the innumerable orderlies, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_472">472</span>signallers, and other vagrants of no apparent occupation +who always infest headquarter dug-outs, and endeavoured +to sleep. It was very cold outside, and the warmth below, +if a trifle poisonous, was comforting. Wadeson found it +excessive after a while, and climbed upstairs again. The +Major and I dozed off during the intervals when no one +was treading on us. I was aroused finally by a great deal +of trampling and excitement, and heard at once, muffled by +twenty feet of earth, the unmistakable throbbing of concentrated +gun-fire overhead. It was six o’clock; and although +I thought for a moment that this might be merely covering-fire +for the attack on the right, we soon discovered that our +own infantry had gone forward—or attempted to do so. +There were no orders for us, and no signs of the General +and his staff, who should have arrived an hour before. The +Intelligence Officer remained the sole representative of the +brigade headquarters. He was hanging on to the telephone, +receiving messages from the battalions in the line, +and seemed very harassed by his responsibilities; and he +could give us no satisfactory advice. Our position was +extraordinary and very unpleasant. We had been told by +the Brigadier himself that zero would be at ten o’clock or +thereabout, and that we should receive our orders from him +on the spot. Beyond this, and an incomplete outline of +the proposed attack, we had been given no instructions, +verbal or otherwise. The attack had now started <i>four +hours before the specified time</i>. Our tanks, camouflaged and +unready for immediate action, were still in the sunken +road, some 1500 yards behind the original front; and the +infantry, if successful, must already be on the railway or +beyond. The Major and I scrambled up the stairs of the +dug-out, now packed to suffocation with earnest helpers +who very naturally preferred life below ground to life +above at this juncture; and when we had fought our way +through them and emerged again in the road, we found a +dreary dawn just breaking. Close behind us massed batteries +of 18-pounders were bellowing. The Germans were +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_473">473</span>replying with vigour and with heavier metal. The inevitable +5.9’s were bursting freely on both sides of the road, +in which there was now a crowd of infantry, all packed +against the farther bank, digging themselves holes in it with +entrenching tools. Wadeson and his crews were standing +by their tanks, as perplexed as ourselves by the situation +arisen out of this precipitate muddle. It was still too +dark to see much when we climbed the bank and looked +over the top. The mournful trees along the Douai road +stood up like spectres out of the smoke and mist, the dark +shape of the little wood at Sancourt was just visible beyond, +and here and there in the level foreground the heavy +shell-bursts sprayed upward their fountains of black soil. +One shell missed our tanks by a few feet and exploded in +the opposite bank of the road.</p> + +<p>We got the machines uncamouflaged as a preliminary +measure, and, after waiting by them for a little while, +descended again to the dug-out to attempt to communicate +with the Brigadier by telephone. Nothing came of +this: the cable, I believe, was cut. Telegraphic messages, +however, were still coming through from the headquarters +of the battalions in front, and these provided another inexplicable +instance of that morning’s confusion. I was +standing by the instrument with the Major and the +Intelligence Officer, and I followed on the map the +apparent progress of the attack as the signaller at the +board decoded the irregular bursts of Morse. The hostile +machine-gun fire was very heavy.... Colonel So-and-so +had been killed ... Major So-and-so was wounded ... +Many casualties ... Advance held up in places, but elsewhere +progressing. And then came a quite definite statement +from one of the battalions. Our infantry had reached +the road in Square S 9 c. Now S 9 c was on the high +ground south of Blécourt, and the road indicated was 1000 +yards beyond the Sancourt <i>halte</i>. This meant good progress. +Some little time had passed while we had been +listening to these messages, but it was not yet seven; and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_474">474</span>after a further fruitless attempt to get in touch with the +brigade, the Major decided to send the tanks forward. +They might have to cover anything from one to two +miles before they overtook the infantry, assuming this +recent information to be correct; but there was a chance +of their being useful, if only for mopping-up purposes. It +was about 7.15 when they climbed the bank and headed +across the level field toward Sancourt. Wadeson walked +with them, intending to see them as far as the Douai +road. The morning was dull, and beyond the trees of +Sancourt itself one could see nothing for smoke. Shells +were still crashing fast on both sides of the sunken road, +but it was never actually hit—a fortunate circumstance, +as by now it was crowded with the best part of a +battalion of infantry, the R.A.M.C. personnel of two +dressing stations, a number of walking wounded and a +few stretcher cases, and an assortment of machine-gunners, +engineers, and other people. A shell or two +square between the banks would have made a fearful +shambles of it. At its northern end, in a lane which +ran across to the Douai road from Haynecourt, I saw +some of the armed lorries of Brutinel’s Brigade waiting +“to seize an opening for vigorous exploitation.” They +did not wait long. A German aeroplane came over, flying +low, circled above the batteries behind us, machine-gunning +them, and discovered the lorries. Soon afterwards +the Haynecourt lane was plastered with shells, and +Brutinel’s Brigade withdrew in a hurry. Of our own +aeroplanes, two squadrons of which (the 8th and 73rd) +were supposed to be co-operating in the attack, I did not +see a single one throughout the morning. They may have +been somewhere on the scene doing good by stealth; or, as +is quite probable, the breakdown of the Canadian staff work +may have affected their movements as it affected ours.</p> + +<p>We waited for nearly two hours before any news of our +tanks reached us. In our ignorance we pictured them +striving to overtake the advancing infantry. Wadeson +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_475">475</span>came back, having seen them across the Douai road, which +he found covered with fallen trees and dead Canadians, +and we divided our time between the dug-out and the +surface, watching the shells fall above and trying occasionally +to get a little rest below. It was at nine o’clock that +I came up into the road after an attempt at sleep and saw +two tanks returning. It was a very fragmentary story +that we got from their crews, but one at absolute variance +with everything we had been led to believe. They had +encountered machine-gun fire from Sancourt itself, at the +very start, when they had supposed themselves still to be +a long way behind the infantry. (They should have been +at least a mile behind, according to the telegraphic message +we had heard.) Crossing the railway at the <i>halte</i>, where +a road led down through a gap in the walls of a cutting, +they had been simply plastered with bullets. So fierce was +the fire that they had to close all flaps and resort to periscopes. +There was not a sign of our infantry, and indeed +this reception made it clear that if the latter had ever +crossed the railway at all, they had gone back very soon. +The tank commanders, however, decided to carry out their +orders, at least in part, and headed north-east toward +Blécourt, always under intense machine-gun fire. Two of +the machines reached the neighbourhood of the village. +One was pulling so badly that it would not take some +small obstacle in the front, and the N.C.O. in charge had +no choice but to enter Blécourt and risk the bombardment +which that place was supposed to be undergoing. This +bombardment proved to be another myth: hardly a shell +was falling in the village, which was, however, full of +Germans. As it was now manifest that the infantry attack +had failed, the half-crippled tank started to return, still +pelted with bullets. Near the railway it was met by +Sergeant Duddridge, who was in command of the third +tank. This, it appeared, had fallen on its side in a large +pit just east of the <i>halte</i>, neither the sergeant nor his +driver being able to see the obstacle through their periscopes. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_476">476</span>Duddridge, having scrambled out of the only +sponson door which could be used, found himself under +machine-gun fire at close range, and dropped into the pit +for shelter. Two men who tried to follow him were shot +instantly, and the others remained inside the overturned +tank. After crouching in the pit beside it for a while, +Duddridge saw the other tank returning from Blécourt, +and contrived to crawl on his stomach through a heavy +fire until he could hail it, when he was taken on board. +He wished to divert this tank to the rescue of his crew, +but it was in no condition for any extra work, being in +fact on the verge of a complete breakdown, and only induced +to move by continued hand-feeding with petrol. +Every man inside was injured about the face and hands +by splinters and bullet-splash. It contrived to crawl back +across the railway to the sunken road, pursued by the hail +of bullets to the last. Duddridge’s crew was left imprisoned +in the pit. In the meantime, the second of the surviving +tanks had pushed up on to the ridge south of Blécourt, meeting +everywhere the same terrific fire; and having established +the fact that there were no Canadians east of the railway, +still less in Square S 9 c, where they had reported themselves +to be an hour before, it turned back also and arrived +at the sunken road close behind the others. The N.C.O. +and several of the crew were injured by bullet-splash. +Both tanks were simply coated in places with a deposit of +lead as a memento of the ordeal they had been through.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowe40" id="i_476fp"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_476fp.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + Sancourt, with Cambrai-Douai Road and Railway. The line of pits, in one of which Sergeant + Duddridge’s tank was overturned, are the last row of white dots beyond the railway. + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>The urgent need remaining was to rescue the men imprisoned +in the overturned tank, if it were possible. Duddridge, +who was desperately concerned for them, begged to +be allowed to go back himself to see what he could do. +But we had still one tank capable of moving, and its crew, +wounded and exhausted as they were, at once volunteered +to return in it to the <i>halte</i>. It seemed possible that by +now the infantry would at least have got a hold on the +railway, from where they could command the level ground +around the pit (which was only 300 yards farther on), and, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_477">477</span>by keeping down the hostile machine-gun fire, facilitate the +rescue. Our remaining tank, accordingly, was sent forward +again, accompanied by Wadeson, Duddridge, and a runner, +Hilton. The little expedition disappeared among the smoke +of shells bursting between us and the Douai road, and we +settled ourselves to wait.</p> + +<p>It was not long, however, before the tank returned, at a crawl. +It had developed engine trouble almost at once, and Wadeson +had sent it back. He had gone on himself with Duddridge +and Hilton to try to reach the capsized tank on foot. The +story of this conspicuously gallant attempt makes a tragic +footnote to the chronicle of that morning’s misfortunes.</p> + +<p>It was, I suppose, nearly an hour later, and the Major +and I were below in the dug-out, when Wadeson reappeared, +the only survivor of the little party. He looked frightfully +ill, and was in fact hysterical and on the verge of a collapse, +having been badly gassed. Afterwards, while I was trying +to get him to rest near one of the dressing stations in the +road, where a Canadian doctor had attended to him, I heard +his account of the forlorn hope.</p> + +<p>Having sent back the tank, the three rescuers crossed the +Douai road and cautiously approached the railway. They +passed the level crossing without incident, although they +could see nothing of our infantry and had no idea of where +the front line ran. Having come so far in safety, they +assumed that it must now be beyond the railway. Creeping +forward, they were allowed to reach the tank. It lay +completely on its side (I saw it a few days later) in the end +one of a row of four or five large pits, each about 30 feet by +12 and 5 feet deep. One track had slipped over the edge, +and the machine (a female) had then fallen on its left +sponson, filling the pit. Whatever these excavations were, +they were not deliberate tank traps, as alleged. Some had +steps cut in the walls, and probably they were dug out to +accommodate sunk huts in connection with a large +engineers’ dump of timber, wire, &c., which was formed +at the <i>halte</i>. The rescuers found Lewis guns lying outside +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_478">478</span>the tank, and its right sponson doors wide open to the sky. +They had just looked inside, and realised that the crew was +gone, when a number of machine-guns opened on them at +close range. Except for the pit itself, in which they would +merely have been trapped, the nearest sort of cover was a +small mound of earth fifty yards away toward the railway, +the ground everywhere else in this neighbourhood being +absolutely flat. They ran for the mound, pursued by converging +streams of bullets. Hilton was killed almost at +once. Duddridge was shot, apparently through the body, +within a few yards of the exiguous shelter. Wadeson alone +reached the latter unhurt and flung himself down behind it. +He made repeated attempts to crawl out again to Duddridge, +who was dying before his eyes and almost within reach, +but every time he showed his head the bullets whipped up +the earth all round it. He must have lain here for some +time. At length, seeing that poor Duddridge was dead, he +began the hazardous task of creeping back to the railway. +He accomplished this successfully, although under heavy +fire; but on the way a gas-shell burst immediately in front +of him, and he inhaled the fumes before he realised what +had happened.</p> + + +<h4 id="III_16"> + III. +</h4> + +<p>So ended, as far as the 7th Tank Battalion was concerned, +not only this miserable and inexcusable fiasco at +Sancourt, but also all direct participation in the war. The +battalion was not again employed in action, although we +sent a few tanks to Escadœuvres a week later; for, excepting +one or two in B Company, it no longer had any +machines fit to fight. While we had been suffering for +other people’s blunders on the morning of the 30th, C Company +had met with better fortune, but had lost two-thirds +of their little section. The tank borrowed from us broke +its tracks while crossing the railway between Sancourt and +Tilloy. The crew of a second machine had a positively +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_479">479</span>miraculous escape. A 5.9 came through the roof and burst +inside, and yet no one was touched except the tank commander, +Collins, who sustained a scratched finger. The +third tank reached Tilloy, helped the Canadians to establish +themselves there, and then rallied.</p> + +<p>I have said enough, perhaps, about the staff work of the +12th Canadian Brigade. As, however, the Canadian Corps +took up the cudgels on behalf of their unit, and complained +of our alleged misdeeds, I will recapitulate the evidence. +Apart from the circumstances that we received no definite +operation orders whatever, verbal or written, and that zero +was fixed (and put forward four hours) without any notification +being sent to us, the Brigadier, having told us to +meet him in the sunken road at 5 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>, did not in fact +arrive there until 11. Nor did any responsible member +of his staff: during this period, with the action already in +progress, the only brigade representative at advanced headquarters +was the Intelligence Officer, a subaltern, who did +not even know that tanks were co-operating. The initial +error about the position of the front line (which was never +more than a few yards beyond the Douai road, and almost +certainly did not include Sancourt) may have been excusable +in the uncertain conditions of semi-open warfare; but +the fables which came through on the field-telegraph after +the action had begun are more than I can explain. Bad +map-reading may have had something to do with them. +Even the artillery was afflicted by the general malady, to +judge from the fact that Blécourt was found by our tank +to be almost untouched, at a time when it was supposed to +be smothered by concentrated shell-fire. This accumulation +of blunders convicts the 12th Brigade of mismanagement, +not, unfortunately, too uncommon in our huge army +as a whole, but quite exceptional in the Canadian Corps. +Before this date tanks had often suffered, from other +quarters, in a similar manner. The attack on Monchy-le-Preux, +on 11th April 1917, is a case in point.</p> + +<p>The general situation at the end of the morning, in so far +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_480">480</span>as it was susceptible of definition, appears to have been that +the 12th Brigade had at length a permanent grip of Sancourt +and a more uncertain one of the railway beyond. +Nothing more had been accomplished. The ambitious +plan of exploitation on the left never, of course, got so far +as a beginning. The brigade suffered very heavy casualties. +The other brigade on the right seems to have made +adequate arrangements, and in consequence carried most +of its objectives, including Tilloy, an important outwork +of Cambrai, although only a single tank was in at the +finish. Before Cambrai itself fell, however, the Canadians +were to have several hard days of fighting in front of them.</p> + +<p>In this, our final action, one officer (Wadeson) and +twenty-five N.C.O.’s and men of A Company were engaged. +Of this little total, two at least were killed, seven were +captured, of whom two were known to be seriously wounded, +and twelve were slightly injured in various ways—twenty-one +in all. On the following day we received notification +of the award of a D.C.M. to poor Duddridge for his exploit +at Beugny. For his two attempts to rescue his crew at +Sancourt a recommendation for a posthumous V.C. was +sent in, but I do not think anything more was heard of it. +Wadeson received the Military Cross.</p> + + +<h4 id="IV_9"> + IV. +</h4> + +<p>The affair at Sancourt, besides closing the active career +of the 7th Tank Battalion, happens to provide also an +appropriate peg on which to hang a few general remarks +which I have been storing up against such an opportunity. +They may not appear to be essential to the subject of this +book, but they will be all the better for an airing.</p> + +<p>Local operations of the Sancourt type, recurring daily, +naturally attracted little attention amid the larger features +of the general offensive. They were insignificant episodes +in the whole, even when they employed as many troops +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_481">481</span>and cost as many lives as ever fought and died at Talavera +or Inkerman. On the other hand, a modern battle, after +the set programme of the first day, becomes merely a series +of these episodes. They react upon one another, and by +their success or failure influence in a varying degree +the main strategy. They form, in short, the greater part +of an offensive, which the public conceives only as a succession +of spectacular, full-dress attacks on well-defined +positions. And to those who take part in them they +assume inevitably a dimension out of all ratio to their true +scale. The modern army commander sits in a house many +miles behind the line, and is able to take a detached view +of all that happens: perhaps he goes fishing, like Kuroki +or the General of the story in the ‘Green Curve’; but the +platoon or company commander who sees his men slaughtered +in front of some trench or village, and can yet reflect +philosophically that they are only inconsiderable atoms in +a huge and complex mechanism, will never, happily for +mankind, be discovered. It is partly for this reason that +contemporary newspaper accounts of battles are now so +diluted as scarcely to make even sense, all individual impressions +of the fighting, if unfavourable in tone, being +suppressed. For these impressions, while perfectly honest, +may together give a totally false idea of the situation as +a whole. A case in point is that of the informants who +supplied the data for the famous Sunday telegram describing +the retreat from Mons. They told the truth so far +as they knew it, and an unscrupulous or very gullible +journalist, feeling himself a second Russell, did the rest. +In any case, there is no excuse for the opposite extreme +of ignorant optimism and buffoonery to which our newspapers +became wedded, and in which, presumably, they +were encouraged. The point I am approaching laboriously +in this digression, however, is that a similar state of things +seems to obtain, with no justification whatever, now that +we are getting professedly sober and accurate histories of +the war. Instead of a faithful picture, made up like all +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_482">482</span>things of good and bad, we find the details keyed up to +a universal and artificial tone, and so altered beyond recognition, +to suit the blazing colours of the general design. +All is for the best in the best of all possible armies. +Unmerited misfortune occasionally intrudes, but it is never +admitted that any one has made a mistake. All Generals +are infallible and all soldiers heroic. I am not speaking, +of course, of that class of history which deals only with +large strategical and tactical features, and from which the +personal equation and the small undercurrents of battle, +pulling this way and that, necessarily are omitted. Histories +of this kind usually are written by soldiers, and the general +public does not read them: it likes stronger and simpler +fare; and we have in consequence volumes which attempt +to give a detailed picture of events as they affected units +and even individuals. These, apparently, are to be written +by novelists. The ordinary novelist is at his worst when +he tries to keep to facts. He mistakes a profuse harvest +of names and numbers for an accurate statement. He +depends for the most part on official documents which are +sure to be more or less unconscious perversions of the +truth. And so it is that we are threatened with elaborate +histories which are not histories at all, books in which an +appearance of almost pedantic veracity is built up out of +a mass of inaccurate and misleading details.</p> + +<p>I have been provoked especially to this discursion by an +accident. While I was writing my account of the action +at Sancourt, as I saw it, I found in a library the final +volume of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s ‘British Campaigns +in France and Flanders.’ With some difficulty, owing to +the peculiar arrangement of the narrative, I discovered his +brief reference to the fiasco on 30th September. It is a +typical example of the facile journalistic style which conceals +while it affects candour. “By 9.45 in the morning,” +he writes, “the 12th Canadian Brigade had taken Sancourt +and had entered Blécourt, where some fierce bludgeon work +was going on.... For a moment the 12th Canadian +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_483">483</span>Brigade was staggered by a heavy counter which broke +upon it, but the ranks soon rallied and the ground was +regained.” There appears to be no particular point here +to which one can take exception, apart from that characteristic +touch about “bludgeon work” at Blécourt; and +yet the general impression deliberately given to the reader +is entirely opposed to the facts. There lies the mischief +of this ill-informed type of narrative, especially when it is +inspired by a determination to find no fault with any one. +Even as a statement of events, the account is typically +vague. Ground, we are told, “was regained.” What +ground? No place is specified. The reader very wisely +is left in doubt as to what happened in Blécourt after the +“bludgeon work,” but he is at liberty to assume, on his own +responsibility, that it was that village which was “regained.” +Nothing, of course, is said about any breakdown in the +arrangements, because Sir Arthur, having depended upon +official Canadian sources of information, probably was quite +ignorant that such a breakdown ever occurred. These +incidents are not mentioned in official documents. He +seems to realise, however, that everything had not gone +according to plan, and, true to his brief, conceals the +suspicion in vague phraseology. It must never be admitted +that things go wrong if it can possibly be avoided. My +chief contention is that in the circumstances it would have +been far better if he had left the matter (and the book) +altogether alone.</p> + +<p>This will seem an impertinent fuss about nothing, and in +any case an unfair method of criticism. An isolated and +trivial instance of inaccuracy is no proof that the disease is +chronic. But, unfortunately, we have a multitude of proofs +that it is. I could quote a dozen or a score of similar +instances, within my own experience, out of this one +volume, to say nothing of the earlier ones which I have read +and forgotten. Now this book probably has a very large +circulation. It was trumpeted everywhere as the first +authentic history of our share in the war. Yet, as a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_484">484</span>history, while desperately conscientious in its own way, +it is thoroughly bad. Some unhappy person or persons +must have spent months, which might have been far better +employed, in collecting and verifying the names of battalions +and individuals which clog its pages. Not only is it impossible +to see the wood for the trees; one cannot see even +the trees because of the undergrowth. Verisimilitude, which +is infinitely more important than literal accuracy, is not to +be obtained by reciting a string of nouns and numerals, still +less by concealing every fact which does not agree with +the thesis of perfection conquering adversity. There is no +attempt at any broad treatment of events, nor any comprehensible +explanation of the sudden reversal of fortune +which ensued after the three great German offensives had +shot their bolt in 1918. The most revolutionary feature of +the war (to reintroduce our King Charles’s head) is hardly +noticed. The author seems to be unaware of the complete +change of tactics initiated at Cambrai and determining +every subsequent operation we undertook; or, at least, if he +is aware of it, he has not troubled to convey it intelligibly +to his readers. It is enough to point out that in a volume +dealing with the whole of our final offensive, from Hamel +and the great tank victory on 8th August up to the Armistice, +and professing especially to deal with the fortunes of +every division, brigade, and battalion, the word “tank” does +not even appear in the index! From the few cursory references +to tanks in the text, the reader might imagine that +these machines controlled themselves, rather indifferently +and in a comic manner, and fired automatically their own +guns. He is left to discover, by the light of nature, that +there existed such an organisation as the Tank Corps, with +six brigades, vast workshops, a numerous personnel distributed +in eighteen battalions, novel tactics and problems +of its own, and a predominant influence upon the fate of the +war. We read of “dour” Yorkshiremen, of “hatchet-faced” +Colonials, of the inevitable “grim, determined” faces +of every one, of “iron” divisions, and even of infantry who +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_485">485</span>go “blithely” into battle (which no sane creature ever did); +but in this last volume I can remember only one perfunctory +reference to the men who fought and stifled and were burnt +alive in tanks while leading these others to the ultimate +victory....</p> + +<p>It is a great pity (if one may say so without further offence) +that the creator of Sherlock Holmes did not stick to his +very excellent last, instead of creating a bad precedent. One +devil does not make a hell; but the trouble of it is, we shall +get more of these books, more tactful omissions, more +<i>clichés</i> and claptrap and crown octavo journalese. The +average Englishman would far sooner read a history of the +war by, let us say, Mr Hall Caine or Miss Ethel M. Dell, +especially if published in cheap parts with cheaper illustrations, +than one by a competent authority. He is built that +way, unfortunately, and he will get what he wants and +deserves. There is no statute of limitations for literature; +and, what is at the heart of the mischief, there seems to be +no longer such a thing as a literary or artistic conscience, +call it which you will.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" aria-hidden="true"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_486">486</span></p> + + + <h3 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXII"> + CHAPTER XXII. + <br> + <span class="sm">FROM NIERGNIES TO THE ARMISTICE: CONCLUSION.</span> + </h3> +</div> + + +<h4>I.</h4> + +<p>In his recent book, ‘The Last Four Months, the End of the +War in the West,’ General Sir Frederick Maurice describes +how Marshal Foch, when asked by the statesmen at Versailles +for his plan of countering the final German offensive, +“answered by striking out three rapid blows with his right, +with his left, and again with his right, following these by +launching out a vigorous kick.”</p> + +<p>The preliminary punches, begun on 18th July on the +Ourcq, and ending with the American capture of the St +Mihiel Salient in mid-September, were uniformly successful—successful, +indeed, to a degree which even the Marshal +himself can hardly have anticipated. The British armies, +having lost 300,000 men and 1000 guns, with immense +accumulations of material, within four or five weeks, accomplished +the most extraordinary recovery in history, and +played the leading <i>rôle</i> in this counter-offensive. I do not +know what effect the tremendous disasters of March and +April had upon opinion in England, but I know that they +abated in no way the illogical conviction of the ordinary +Englishman in France, that we were bound to win the war +in the long-run; and this self-confidence, based neither on +reason nor on knowledge, innate, matter-of-fact, and often +very irritating in prosperity, was an unrecognised inspiration +of our resistance and reaction. It took extraordinary +form at times. I remember how, when three British armies +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_487">487</span>out of four were in full retreat or fighting for their lives, and +when people in Calais and Boulogne were packing up for +flight, one rushed to the newspapers to follow, not the +progress of the war, but the case of Mr Pemberton Billing +and the 47,000. Our belief in ourselves is so unconscious +and irrational that it must always be incomprehensible to +such a people as the Germans, who hate the casual and +have a conscious sort of arrogance which is a very different +thing; and no doubt it has its dangers. But it served its +purpose once more in 1918. We went forward again, as +a matter of course, when the tide turned, without any +particular exaltation or parade, still less any surprise at +our own powers, and with hardly a thought (so far as the +great mass of us was concerned) of the genius which was +directing all our movements, as well as those of three other +national armies. But I think that toward the end of the +preliminary stage, when Foch’s successive punches, carried +just so far as was necessary and no farther, had exhausted +and demoralised the enemy and driven him once more to +the fallacious shelter of the Hindenburg Line, we began to +understand that something more than luck and confidence +lay behind this transformation. For the first time since the +war began every man in the Army felt an interest and a pride +in the combined strategy in which so obviously he was playing +a part. The peculiarly English analogy of the skilled +boxer was patent, and appealed to all. And from now to +the end, in spite of losses and exhaustion, a new spirit of +enthusiasm urged us on, and was manifest in many ways.</p> + +<p>With its growth, not only in our ranks but in those of +the French, Belgians, and Americans, coincided a notable +decline in the German <i>moral</i>. The resistance to our advance +became spasmodic and liable to sudden collapses. +And before the end of September—far earlier than at one +time any one can have hoped—the hour was ripe for the +big kick. This was launched on a scale, and on broad +principles of calculated opportunism, beside which the +isolated German blows earlier in the year seemed mechanical +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_488">488</span>and clumsy. On 26th September the American 1st and +French 4th Armies opened the ball on a front of forty miles +astride the Argonne: on the 27th came our assault on the +Canal du Nord: on the 28th, Belgians, French, and British +were sweeping over the lost desolation of Flanders, and the +5th and 10th French Armies were climbing once more the +slopes beyond the Aisne; and on the 29th the remaining +fraction of the battered German front, the Siegfried Line +from Vendhuile to St Quentin, began to slide into ruin +before General Rawlinson’s 4th Army. A compound operation +of this magnitude, reaching its climax in four days, +extending over 250 miles of country and involving twenty-four +separate armies, or from four to five million men, with +30,000 guns, is almost beyond the capacity of the human +brain to imagine as a whole. It is like contemplating +infinity. Some one has called it, I believe, the Battle +of Europe, and this seems indeed the only name by which +it can be described.</p> + +<p>Everywhere along this immense front tanks were helping +to complete the overthrow they had done so much to bring +about. The French used their light Rénaults in clouds +before every attack. Our own Tank Corps, with no reserves, +had lost in two months’ continuous offensive action +three-fourths of its machines and a third of its personnel, +but it played a conspicuous part, as I have tried to show, +on 27th September and after. Sixty-six tanks were in +action on the first day, and another 170 on the 29th. +Everlasting reorganisation and reshuffling of units was one +of the trials of this period, and indeed the manner in which +battalions were shifted from one brigade to another before +almost every attack caused more worry and labour than +the attacks themselves. “The rapidity with which these +changes were made would have bewildered both the Tank +Corps Headquarters Staff and the brigade and battalion +commanders themselves a few months back: now the knack +of rapid movement had been mastered, and though great +energy had to be exerted during such reorganisations, they +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_489">489</span>were generally accomplished in time and efficiently.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_44_44" href="#Footnote_44_44" class="fnanchor">[44]</a> The +necessity for some of them, it must be said, was not apparent. +The 1st Brigade was very fortunate in this respect, +as, except for the battle of Bapaume, it retained throughout +at least its three original battalions; but some of the others +suffered such constant permutations that their staffs must +have been driven almost crazy. The 3rd Brigade, consisting +on 8th August of the two Whippet battalions, the 3rd and +6th, was completely reconstituted on the 18th, when it was +made up of the 9th, 11th, and 14th Heavy Battalions, while +early in September its units were the 3rd, 6th, and 9th. +The 4th Brigade, which started its career in December 1917, +with the 1st, 4th, and 5th Battalions, found itself with the +4th, 5th, and 13th in May, the 5th and 10th in June, the +1st, 4th, 5th, and 14th early in August (the 9th being added +a little later), dropped back to its original constituents +before September, received the 301st Americans on the 19th +of that month, the 16th Battalion on 5th October, and the +10th a day after, and fought its last battle with the 1st, 6th, +10th, 16th, and 301st. The 5th Brigade, which had no +corporate existence until April, had the following battalions +at one time or another on its strength: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 6th, +8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 13th, 15th, 16th, 17th, and 301st! +These bewildering transfers were not always on paper only. +They involved very often long additional treks for various +units immediately before an action, and they were complicated +by the wide dispersion which each individual battalion +suffered in the course of an advance, disabled tanks, dumps, +and rear headquarters being scattered for miles behind the +line. When, for example, we moved from Bihucourt to +Morchies in the middle of September, the battalion and +companies’ rear headquarters, with a mass of stores, were +still at Bienvillers, at least twelve miles away, while there +were three or four tanks under repair at Bucquoy and a +couple left at Bihucourt itself. This was quite a normal +situation; and when it is remembered that every one of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_490">490</span>seventeen battalions with the armies had left a similar trail +behind, swallowing up men for guards and other duties, it +will be realised that the co-ordination of these scattered +fragments in the event of any reshuffling, and the ordinary +routine of keeping in touch with them and feeding them, +were complicated problems which entailed an immense +amount of work for the staff and the transport. Nor was +this all. There were in the field as well seven tank +supply companies (two of which worked with infantry and +artillery), each with twenty-four machines, a number of +field (or salvage) companies, and an advanced stores +attached to each brigade. All these various units, whether +combatant or administrative, moved forward with the +armies, and all drew their maintenance supplies in the +last resort from the Central Workshops at Erin. It was +a tremendous organisation that had sprung from the two +companies which fought on the Somme in 1916; and not +the least of its achievements was the adaptability and energy +displayed in keeping the battalions supplied with their +manifold requirements during the final rapid advance. The +deplorable shortage of tanks themselves was the fault of +no one in the Tank Corps. In the fighting units during +these days perhaps the busiest men were the battalion and +company engineers and equipment officers, who toiled +like slaves to keep the dwindling residue of machines fit +for service.</p> + + +<h4 id="II_20"> + II. +</h4> + +<p>I have carried the story of the 7th Battalion up to its +last fight on 30th September. I will run very briefly +through the remainder of its history, and through that of +the Corps as a whole up to the Armistice.</p> + +<p>On the day after Sancourt I returned from Pilgrim’s +Rest to Pronville, where battalion headquarters had arrived +from Bullecourt and where our tents were now erected. +Our few remaining tanks (there were no more than six fit +for action in the three companies) were still at Pilgrim’s +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_491">491</span>Rest and Raillencourt. For over a week we were left in +peace. On our front the Canadians were pushing slowly +forward, in the teeth of a most determined resistance by +fresh German divisions, toward the line of the Canal de +L’Escaut north of Cambrai, being hampered by that town +on their right and by the Sensée marshes on their left. +But farther south the Germans were being pressed back +upon the Beaurevoir-Fonsomme Line, and the big kick, +with more room for its swing, was preparing to demolish +these last defences. St Quentin had fallen, and everywhere +south of Cambrai we were across the canal by 6th +October, while the Canadians were approaching Ramillies +and Eswars. On 8th October the storm burst. The +Beaurevoir-Fonsomme Line, Malincourt, Esnes, and Niergnies, +with all the high ground south of Cambrai, were in our +hands by the evening. Cambrai was entered that night, and +the Germans were retreating to the Selle in great confusion, +having lost 10,000 prisoners, 200 guns, and much <i>matériel</i>.⁠<a id="FNanchor_45_45" href="#Footnote_45_45" class="fnanchor">[45]</a>⁠</p> + +<p>The 1st, 3rd, and 4th Tank Brigades had a conspicuous +share in this victory, although the six battalions engaged +mustered between them only 82 tanks. Of these, 20 were +furnished by the 12th Battalion, which had not been in +action since 3rd September. It signalised its re-entry by +becoming involved in the second tank <i>v.</i> tank battle of the +war. It was working single-handed with the left and centre +of the 3rd Army, its companies being attached to the +4th, 6th, and 17th Corps. B Company, on the right, with +seven tanks, having helped our old friends the New Zealanders +and the 37th Division about Lesdain and Esnes, +rallied without further incident. One machine had been +disabled by a shell which killed four of the crew. C and A +Companies, attacking Seranvillers and Niergnies with the +infantry of the 6th and 17th Corps, saw the latter established +on the high ground east of the villages, and were +returning to the rallying-point, when the Germans made a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_492">492</span>counter-attack led by seven captured Mark IV. tanks. The +Germans had fitted their own 5.7 cm. guns, with very +clumsy mountings, into the male machines, but retained +the Lewis guns in the others. For the interesting episode +which ensued, I will quote the 12th Battalion ‘History,’ beginning +with A Company’s experiences:—</p> + +<p>“Owing to the smoke and imperfect light, these (the +German tanks) were at first taken to be some of our own, +both by our infantry and tank crews, the latter supposing +the strangers to belong to C Company. L 16, Captain +Roe, was near the farm of Mont Neuve, east of Niergnies, +when these tanks appeared in sight, and the foremost was +within fifty yards before that officer realised that it was an +enemy. One 6-pounder round was then fired at it, apparently +disabling it, but almost simultaneously L 16 received +two direct hits, one of which came through the cab, +wounded Captain Roe, and killed his driver. Roe, believing +his tank to be disabled, as the engine had stopped, got +his crew out, went to L 9, which was near at hand, and led +it back toward the German tanks. L 9 had already had five +men wounded, had been on fire, and, having no gunners left, +could not use its 6-pounders; but its commander, 2nd Lieut. +Warsap, engaged the enemy with his Lewis gun until his +tank received a direct hit, setting it on fire a second time. +He was now forced to evacuate it, and as the counter-attack +appeared to be successful, he blew the machine up +to prevent it falling into the enemy’s hands. L 12, another +6-pounder tank, was hit twice and disabled before its +commander had discovered that the strange tanks did not +belong to C Company. There remained L 8, 2nd Lieut. +A. R. Martell, but this tank had a leaking radiator and was +almost out of water. Lieut. Martell therefore sent his +crew back and went himself with an artillery officer to a +captured German field-gun, which the two turned round +and used against the enemy’s tanks, knocking one out. +The tank which L 16 had engaged was crippled, either by +the 6-pounder shell or by a captured anti-tank rifle, and the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_493">493</span>remaining two having been driven away by a female tank +from C Company, the situation was restored.”</p> + +<p>So much for A Company. C Company, in the meantime, +had fared better. It started with seven tanks, of which one +was hit and set on fire. “The others, having seen the infantry +consolidated on the final objective across the Cambrai-Esnes +road, were returning to the rallying-point when the +German counter-attack began. On the extreme left, L 54, +a female tank commanded by 2nd Lieut. T. B. Walters, +encountered the enemy’s tanks which already had been +engaged with A Company’s section. Lieut. Walters at +once attacked two female tanks, fired several thousand +rounds at them, silenced their guns, and drove them off +the field. One was subsequently knocked out by shell-fire. +While this brisk little battle was in progress, a couple of +male tanks, L 45 (2nd Lieut. Clark) and L 49 (2nd Lieut. +Sherratt), had the good fortune to meet, near a sunken road +east of Seranvillers, two hostile female tanks firing on our infantry, +who had been driven back from the second objective. +The 6-pounders made short work of this pair, hitting them +repeatedly and setting them on fire. As the survivors of +their crews scrambled out, the Lewis guns were turned +on them....”</p> + +<p>These hostile tanks formed the backbone of the counter-attack, +being very badly supported by their infantry. +Nevertheless, only the presence of our own machines +averted a serious local disaster, for the men of the +63rd Division had broken completely and were running +back, until the tank battle gave them time to rally; +while the Germans had reoccupied the high ground beyond +Niergnies, and were pushing on into that village. +After the repulse of their tanks they were easily driven +off. A Company, owing to the natural misunderstanding +when the German machines appeared out of the smoke, +lost three tanks out of four; but after the action, General +Blacklock, commanding the 63rd Division, expressed to all +ranks his appreciation of their services, which had saved +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_494">494</span>his infantry heavy losses. The intense gratitude of the +infantry themselves (for what, but for the smoke, would +have been a simple business, as we had several more male +tanks than the Germans) was an earnest of the severe fright +they had suffered, and should have brought home to their +superiors in a trenchant fashion the moral value of the +weapon which they were so fortunate as to have almost +exclusively at their disposal. A few hundred German +tanks, instead of a dozen or so, would have made our +progress, even at this late hour, a much slower and more +difficult matter. So far as the Tank Corps was concerned, +the only lesson to be drawn from the encounter at Niergnies +was one already learnt at Villers-Bretonneux—namely, the +advisability, in view of further similar meetings, of fitting +every tank with a 6-pounder gun. It was as a result of +these two actions that a number of Mark V. and V. Star +females were converted into composite or “hermaphrodite” +machines, with a 6-pounder sponson on one side. The +occasion for which they were designed, however, did not +recur. Although the Germans used one or two tanks in +subsequent counter-attacks, our machines did not meet +them again.</p> + + +<h4 id="III_17"> + III. +</h4> + +<p>On October 10th, when the Canadian line was several +miles beyond Cambrai, the 7th Battalion sent a composite +detachment of four fighting tanks and a wireless machine, +which I accompanied, to Escadœuvres, a suburb of the +town to the north-east, on the road to Iwuy. This +involved crossing the Canal de L’Escaut and two parallel +streams by a series of narrow bridges (two of them temporary +structures) between Morenchies and Ramillies. +Escadœuvres was a working-class suburb, and its small +houses, many of which were shattered, were littered with +the poor belongings of its inhabitants, who had not been +evacuated many days. The Germans, before they left, had +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_495">495</span>flung everything about in a final hunt for loot, or in sheer +destructiveness, and, thorough to the last in small details, +had put a bullet through every mirror, clock, and piano +which was not already broken. The tanks were here for +two days and nights, the officers occupying a tiny house +of one room and a cellar which had been used by the +German <i>Ortskommandant</i>. As the enemy was still holding +on to the Douai front, the 1st Army now had a left +flank twelve or fifteen miles long, extending from Thun-Levêque +on the canal to somewhere near Etaing, at a +right angle to the rest of the line; and in Escadœuvres +we were shelled persistently by a high-velocity gun which +fired from a point well behind us across the Sensée. This +was an annoyance, but a greater tragedy to me was the loss +of my valise, which was cut off from the back of the Major’s +car as he was bringing it at night through the packed traffic +in Cambrai. My servant had of course filled it with things +I did not want at Escadœuvres and could not replace—old +cherished garments and other oddments such as one feels a +positive affection for.</p> + +<p>The detachment was withdrawn from Escadœuvres on the +12th, as the country in front, seamed with small rivers, was +unsuitable for serious tank operations, and a few days later +the battalion was placed in G.H.Q. Reserve and concentrated +at Fontaine-Notre-Dame. This was preparatory to a return, +when railway exigencies permitted, to the Bermicourt area, +for a complete refit with Mark V.’s. Another party of +officers and men had left to stiffen the new battalions in +England, and I was expecting to follow in a few days. On +16th October, however, I learnt that I had been posted as +Battalion Reconnaissance Officer to the 12th Battalion. The +next day I said good-bye to the 7th, with which I had worked +and fought for two years, and joined my new unit at Cattenières, +south of the Cambrai-Le Cateau road.</p> + +<p>On this front the enemy had fallen back everywhere to +the Selle river. Douai at last had been abandoned, and +the 5th Army was approaching Lille. We had now entered +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_496">496</span>a new type of country, which to those accustomed to four +years of fighting backwards and forwards over the devastated +area seemed almost unnatural. During one’s visits to +England on leave, the first sight from the train of the +Kentish orchards and hop-fields always left a strange +illusion, as of something lacking, which was caused in +fact by the absence of shell-holes; and the country +beyond Cambrai affected one at first in a similar manner. +It was so unlike war as we had known it. Every inch of +the land was under cultivation. Immense fields of cabbage +and beet, unbroken by any hedgerows, rolled onward for +miles; the villages and farms were of great size and often +untouched, and, with the little towns, such as Caudry, Le +Cateau, and Solesmes, completed a picture that proclaimed +in every article a previous state of comfort and prosperity. +Before the war this region must have been one of the most +flourishing in France. And, except that for the moment it +was deserted, it was flourishing still. The Germans had +seen to that, and had taken the profits. It was indeed +a novelty to enter house after house where roofs, windows, +and furniture remained untouched, and where, only a day +or two before, civilians had been living. A little later, and +we had moved forward again to places where half-starved +women, dressed tidily in black, who had lived without +meat for upwards of four years and without hope for +almost as long, still cowered in cellars while the fighting +passed by overhead, and who, when they were rescued and +moved out of the gas and shelling to safer quarters, could +yet find time (as I saw myself) to lay flowers on those of +our dead that were lying in their streets. This was in St +Python, a little suburb of Solesmes; and Solesmes itself, by +way of contrast, provided a stupefying sidelight upon the +minds of the most extraordinary people that ever inhabited +this earth, for it was gay with new tricolour flags, +manufactured, imported, and sold to the inhabitants by +the Germans themselves in readiness for their defeat....</p> + +<p>In many respects these last weeks were the most interesting +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_497">497</span>of all, but I will not attempt to describe them +here. There is a limit to the irrelevant matter permissible +in any book, and I have more than a suspicion that I have +exceeded it already. So far as tank operations are concerned, +there is very little more to be said. When I joined +the 12th Battalion at Cattenières, it was still working with +three corps of the 3rd Army, its companies being at +Avesnes-les-Aubert, Quiévy, and Viesly, all to the north +of the Le Cateau road; and preparations were in hand +for the forcing of the Selle river on 20th October. By this +time the battalion, in spite of a reinforcement of 4 old +Mark IV.’s from Erin, had only 12 tanks fit for action; +and as 78 officers and men had just left for England, it +was no less short of personnel, particularly of experienced +drivers. As it happened, there was little chance of tanks +being used in this region. A succession of rivers, running +northward into the Scheldt—the Selle, the Harpies, the St +Georges, the Ecaillon, and the Rhonelle—lay parallel to our +front, and (except the St Georges, a mere brook) could only +be crossed by tanks when the engineers had built bridges +to replace those which the enemy was certain to destroy. +Farther up these streams, where the 11th and other tank +battalions were co-operating with the right of the 3rd Army +and the whole of the 4th, they ceased to be insuperable +obstacles; and on 17th October, tanks of the 4th Brigade +crossed the Selle with the help of cribs. In the big attack +of the 20th, four machines of the 11th Battalion got over near +Neuvilly by means of an ingenious bridge made of sleepers, +which was sunk in the river by the engineers the night +before. Being under water, this bridge was not discovered +by the Germans during the day, although the Selle approximated +to No Man’s Land. But for our part, being faced +by these various waterways where they were broader and +deeper, we had a cheerless prospect of endless trekking +with very little probability of arriving anywhere in time +for action. Only once, in fact, were our tanks engaged. +The attack on the 20th was entirely successful, except at +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_498">498</span>Beaurain, a small village on very high ground a couple of +miles due east of Solesmes, where the Germans continued +to hold out for two days after the rest of their line had +been forced back to the Harpies. Our tanks having been +got across the Selle at St Python and Briastre, B Company +was detailed to assist the 5th Division in the capture of +Beaurain on the 23rd. Owing to accidents, only two tanks +were available, and neither of these was mechanically fit. +One had a cracked sleeve, and could only travel at low +speed. The little action which ensued possesses one or +two points of interest.</p> + +<p>From the Selle Valley at Briastre the ground rose steeply +in a series of ridges, each slightly higher than the last, to +Beaurain, which was on the summit. Our outpost line was +just east of the farm and road-junction at Marou, 2000 +yards in front of the village. Between the two places was +a spur of ground called the Grand Champ Ridge, where the +Germans had a great number of machine-guns in pits. +The two tanks were to clear this ridge, which was the +enemy’s main line of resistance, and then proceed to mop +up in Beaurain if required. They reached the valley in +front of Marou at 10 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> on the 22nd, zero being at 3.20 +in the morning. At 1 o’clock the enemy put down a heavy +barrage along our front line, and the assaulting infantry +suffered several hundred casualties and were thrown into +great confusion. Expecting an attack, they sent up S.O.S. +signals, while the tanks prepared for action. Nothing +came of this bombardment, however, and it died down after +half an hour to the normal intermittent shelling; but the +infantry was so shaken that only the presence of the tanks +induced them to go forward at zero. The Germans fought +with desperate courage on the Grand Champ Ridge, where +the machine-gunners fired until they were run over, and +where the engine of L 13 (the tank with the cracked sleeve) +stopped and could not be restarted for forty-five minutes. +Our infantry being some way behind, the enemy swarmed +round the tank, one officer bringing a machine-gun into the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_499">499</span>road within a few yards of it. The other tank, L 23, was +having an equally hard task on the ridge, finding it very +difficult in the mist and twilight to locate the hostile +machine-guns; and the two were fighting alone for a +quarter of an hour before the infantry at length came +up, having collected on the way some fifty prisoners who +had surrendered to the tanks. The latter had broken the +back of the enemy’s resistance on the ridge, and the advance +now went forward rapidly. Beaurain was cleared +with little trouble, neither of the tanks being required, +which was just as well, as one was broken down and the +second pulling very badly. The officer and one man in +L 23 were wounded, and the crew of L 13 was badly +gassed, so that the company commander, walking forward +from the rallying-point to meet the machines, found it +crawling homeward out of control, the tank commander +and driver being unconscious. Considering that both tanks +went into action labouring under mechanical defects, their +performance would have been highly creditable in any +circumstances; and it fell out that in addition they alone +carried the operation through, as the infantry concerned +fully recognised. The latter, disorganised and badly +shaken by the barrage which caught them before zero, +and by a second which fell among them in the first minutes +of the advance, would have made no progress against the +nests of machine-guns on the Grand Champ Ridge if the +tanks had not been there to take the lead and draw the +enemy’s attention to themselves.</p> + +<p>B Company was now left without any tanks fit to move. +A Company, with four machines, was at Haussy, on the Selle +north of Solesmes, and remained there. C Company alone, +with three tanks, continued for two or three days to follow +the Guards Division in its advance. It had been pointed +out that the decrepit condition of these tanks, added to +the series of obstructions formed by the rivers, made their +chances of affording practical help very remote; but the +Guards insisted on their following up as far as possible, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_500">500</span>on account of the great moral effect the mere knowledge +of their presence had on the men! On the 24th, therefore, +C Company had reached Capelle, at the junction of the +Ecaillon and St Georges, our line being then within a mile +of Le Quesnoy. On the following day orders came through +from Tank Corps Headquarters for the withdrawal of the +battalion. All companies, having patched up their machines, +began the long trek back to the entraining railhead +at Marcoing on the Canal de L’Escaut, a tedious +process, as some of the tanks had to be towed most of +the way. On 1st November I went on ahead to take over +our winter quarters, a hutted camp in the devastated area +at Ecurie, near Arras. Here we remained for six months, +in extreme discomfort; and then, made up to strength from +disbanded units of the corps, and provided with 24 Mark +V.’s, entrained for Cologne.</p> + +<p>The last tank battles of the war were fought on the 4th, +5th, 6th, and 7th November, just before the Armistice, around +the Forest of Mormal. An idea of the lamentable state to +which the corps was reduced will be gathered from the +number of tanks and units employed on the first day. The +6th, 9th, 10th, and 14th Battalions were engaged. At full +strength they would have mustered between them 168 tanks, +they could now raise only 37. An interesting feature of the +day’s fighting was that three supply-tanks, armed with one +Hotchkiss gun apiece and carrying bridging material for the +25th Division, came into action near Landrecies. Our +infantry was held up on the west bank of the Sambre Canal, +and the officer in charge of the supply-tenders decided to +see what he could do to help them. One tank was knocked +out. The other two, followed by the infantry as if they +had been fighting tanks, forced the German machine-gunners +to surrender. During the next day eight Whippets +of the 6th Battalion helped the 3rd Guards Brigade in the +difficult enclosed country north of the Forest; and with two +further actions on the Maroilles-Avesnes road, the Tank +Corps’ active share in the war came to an end.</p> + + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_501">501</span></p> +<p>“Ninety-six days of almost continuous battle had now +taken place since the great tank attack at Amiens was +launched by the 4th Army on the 8th August, since when +many officers and men of the Tank Corps had been in +action as many as 15 and 16 times. During this period +no less than 1993 tanks and tank armoured-cars had +been engaged on 39 days in all, 887 machines had been +handed over to salvage, 313 of these being sent to the +Central Workshops, and 204 having been repaired and +reissued to battalions. Of the above 887 tanks, only 15 +had been struck off the strength as unsalvable. Casualties +against establishment had been heavy, 598 officers and +2826 other ranks being counted amongst killed, wounded, +missing, and prisoners; but when it is considered that the +total strength of the Tank Corps on the 7th August (9500 +of all ranks in France) was considerably under that of an +infantry division, and that in the old days of the artillery +battles, such as the first battle of the Somme, an infantry +division frequently sustained 4000 casualties in twelve +hours’ fighting, the tank casualties were extraordinarily +light. From this we may deduce our final and outstanding +lesson from all these battles—namely, that iron mechanically +moved is an economiser of blood, that the tank is +an economiser of life....”⁠<a id="FNanchor_46_46" href="#Footnote_46_46" class="fnanchor">[46]</a>⁠</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowe30" id="i_500fp_a"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_500fp_a.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + Captured English Tanks being used during the Revolution in Berlin. + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure class="figcenter illowe30" id="i_500fp_b"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_500fp_b.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + Mark V. Tanks of the 12th Battalion at Cologne. + </figcaption> +</figure> + + +<h4 id="IV_10"> + IV. +</h4> + +<p>In the first days of November, when the Tank Corps was +endeavouring to withdraw all its crippled battalions for a +reorganisation and refit, pressure was put upon it to maintain +some units in the field. The Army, in fact, discovered +that it could not go on without tanks, in spite of the demoralisation +which plainly was spreading among the enemy. +The cavalry, provided at last with all the conditions most +favourable to their use, were as helpless as ever, and the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_502">502</span>infantry still needed the moral support which the presence +of tanks afforded, even if the latter were hardly ever used. +It was decided, therefore, that each tank brigade should +send forward one composite battalion. Orders to this effect +had just reached us at Ecurie (the whole of the 1st Brigade +being now concentrated in this area), when the Armistice +was signed.</p> + +<p>For some time after 11th November, however, the Tank +Corps, in common with every other branch of the service, +was still busy preparing for further eventualities. The +composite battalions were no longer immediately required, +and only the armoured-cars went forward into Germany; +but at Bermicourt and Erin there was no relaxation of +effort until the occupation of the Rhine bridge-heads, and +the enemy’s surrender of his fleet and artillery rendered +any serious resumption of hostilities impossible. At the +same time, the criminal outcry for instant demobilisation +which disgraced still further (if that was possible) our unscrupulous +press, hit the corps in France especially hard. +No sooner had the battalions been brought again to something +like full strength by drafts of conscripted miners, +strikers, and professional footballers, who might in time +have been knocked into shape, than all these arrivals, who +had been only a few months in the Army, were released +again—a business which caused very natural discontent +among the original rank and file who had done all the +fighting and who were still retained.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, during the last month of the war, +further developments in the composition of the corps had +been authorised and carried into effect. The 6th Tank +Brigade was formed in October, consisting nominally of +the 16th, 18th, and 301st (American) Battalions. The 18th +Battalion had just come out from England. This brigade +was never in action as a whole. There were now forming +at Bovington the 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, and +25th Battalions, but none of these would be available before +the early spring of 1919. By that date, however, eight +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_503">503</span>tank brigades, with a total strength (if up to establishment) +of upwards of 15,000 officers and men and 1000 tanks, +should be ready for immediate action. At least two new +types of tank, known as the Medium C and Mark IX., +were under construction; but the former was not very +satisfactory, although fast, and the latter was an infantry-carrying +machine; and most of the battalions would be +armed with the Mark V. or an improved Whippet. It was +hoped, however, provided personnel was available and +labour conditions satisfactory, to so expand the battalions +as to put a great many more than 1000 machines into the +field at once. The dream of the Tank Corps, and one +which probably would have materialised if the war had +continued, was a vast smashing attack by 4000 or 5000 +tanks. With this prospect in view, the organisation of the +corps, which threatened to become unwieldy, was also to +be expanded, and two days before the Armistice three new +formations came into existence, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd +Groups, each consisting of two brigades under a Major-General. +Whether this multiplication of large staffs was +the best solution of the problem is a matter of opinion. It +smacks rather too much of the usual Army method of +making any excuse serve for inventing new sinecures, and +there was no ambiguity about the manner in which it was +rushed through just before the Armistice, so that every +staff officer in the Tank Corps got a step in rank (and +sometimes two) while yet these pleasant fruits of office +were going begging. Bermicourt now began to look like +a poppy-field for red hats. At the same time, a more indefensible +scheme of centralisation was applied to the +technical side, by the formation of what were called Group +Inspectorates. This high-sounding title merely concealed +the fact that battalions were deprived of their engineer +staffs, which were lumped together in itinerant and irresponsible +posses, whose business was to supervise all +mechanical work in the field. In other words, a fresh set +of semi-independent staffs was created.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_504">504</span></p> + +<p>In the matter of the groups, it is possible of course that +it was not intended to increase the number of brigades, but +merely to add battalions to them. I have no information +about this, but it does not appear very probable. In any +case, as the tank fighting unit is still the company, tank +battalions being the administrative equivalents of infantry +brigades, it would seem that the object aimed at would +have been better attained by increasing the strength of +battalions and abolishing altogether the intermediate tank +brigades. The French system of forming their tank units +into regiments of three battalions, on the Continental +infantry basis, is yet more practical. All these plans may +appear to be but variations of the same theory; but in fact +there is a great gulf fixed between the regimental outlook +and that of a higher formation, and one of the curses of +the British Army is the way in which staffs tend to spring +up like mushrooms on the slightest provocation.</p> + +<p>This discussion, however, is now become academic. +Groups and brigades alike have vanished for the present +into the limbo of lost hopes, and what is left of the Tank +Corps hangs in a state of suspended animation, conscious of +a great past and a very uncertain future. After innumerable +tentative schemes for a post-bellum establishment as part +of the regular Army, the corps was fixed definitely a few +months ago at one brigade of five regular battalions. +General Elles remained as Brigadier, and five lieutenant-colonels +were selected by seniority from the original group +and brigade commanders. Although five battalions was +an inadequate force, it appeared as if the war had taught +us something, if not overmuch. Remembering what had +happened during hostilities, one really had expected to find +officers from the Camel Corps or the Life Guards appointed +to command tank units in a peace establishment. But +when it came to the junior commissioned ranks, the old +Adam reappeared with a vengeance. A large number of +subalterns temporarily commissioned into the old Tank +Corps wished to stay on in the new one, as professional +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_505">505</span>soldiers; and as many of them had one or two years’ +experience of tank warfare, the retention of the most +suitable would seem to be, to a reasonable being, a matter +of course, setting aside all arguments of decency or propriety. +But this would have been carrying common-sense +too far. The War Office, as usual, had a trump up its +sleeve. It had granted regular commissions in the infantry +and other arms (but never in the Tank Corps itself) on such +a prodigal scale during the war that the reduction of the +Army left something like 7000 of these officers surplus to +establishment. Billets must be found for them, and it +occurred to some one that the new Tank Corps would +accommodate several hundred. The old tank officers, +therefore, having at first been encouraged to apply for +regular commissions, were now told that they were not +wanted. Sandhurst and the surplus must be considered +before suitability.</p> + +<p>This was the state of affairs at the end of 1919. What +has happened since, or what the end of it will be, I do not +know at the time of writing. There was a rumour, just when +I was leaving the Army, that everything was to be changed +once more, that all tank battalions were to be abolished, +and that only a small training and experimental depot +was to be maintained at Bovington or Wareham. Every +infantry officer, on the other hand, was to pass through a +tank course ...! Whatever the basis of truth in this +circumstantial report (and it has received confirmation in +recent newspaper paragraphs), so pernicious a scheme is +beyond comment. In the meantime, the new regular +brigade has come into being, and so far continues to exist; +and since the authorities have discovered the value of tanks +during industrial disturbances and in Ireland, they may +harden their hearts against the Treasury, and the Tank +Corps may tide over this bad hour with the help of Trade +Unions and Sinn Fein! It will be the first time that either +institution has served a useful purpose.</p> + +<p>In the long-run, of course, we shall have to equip ourselves +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_506">506</span>with a large Tank Corps again. Everything depends +upon whether we do so before the next war or in the middle +of it. Other nations will have tanks, and in large numbers. +The French are providing for a corps of 30,000 men, and +the Americans (who designed a tank of their own during +the war) have also, I believe, taken up the question in +earnest. Just as the origins of modern warfare at sea, and +of all the scientific methods by which it is carried on, are to +be found in the <i>Gloire</i> and the little <i>Monitor</i> of the early +’sixties, so it is no less certain that future warfare on land +will be dominated by the successors of the Mark I. tank +which struggled through the mud of the Somme battlefields. +For once this country has taken the lead in military +invention; and it has now at its disposal a preponderant +body of experience in this new method. It remains to be +seen whether the advantage will be maintained, or whether +it will be lost by the diversion to political schemes of even +the comparatively small annual outlay of money which is +essential for adequate experiment.⁠<a id="FNanchor_47_47" href="#Footnote_47_47" class="fnanchor">[47]</a>⁠</p> + +<p>What form tank development will take is a subject +beyond the scope of this book, and one on which I am not +competent to speak. We are still on the threshold of the +new enterprise, and there seem to be no limits at present to +what may be achieved. We have already a tank which will +float, and speeds of twenty and twenty-five miles an hour +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_507">507</span>have been attained long ago with experimental machines. +Colonel Fuller, who was G.S.O. 1 Tank Corps in France, +points out in his new book⁠<a id="FNanchor_48_48" href="#Footnote_48_48" class="fnanchor">[48]</a> that, in future wars, land will +become “a solid sea, as easily traversable in all directions +as ice is by a skater; the battles in these wars will therefore +more and more approximate to naval actions.” And +he goes on to remark that “from the present-day tank to +one which can plunge in the Channel at Calais at four in +the morning, land at Dover at six o’clock, and be outside +Buckingham Palace for an early lunch, will not probably +require as many as the fifty-two years which have separated +the <i>Merrimac</i> from the <i>Tiger</i> or the <i>Queen Elizabeth</i>.”</p> + + +<h4 id="V_2"> + V. +</h4> + +<p>When one has written a book of this kind, frankly partisan +in character, it is peculiarly gratifying to find one’s +arguments supported to the letter by independent testimony +from another and far more authoritative quarter. I have +kept this evidence to the last, in the manner (I believe) +of the practised advocate; but, to be honest, the arrangement +is due more to luck than judgment. It was only +when this book was almost finished that I read General +Sir Frederick Maurice’s short volume called ‘The Last +Four Months: the End of the War in the West.’ It is +so complete a confirmation of the case I have attempted +to put forward that I cannot make a better end than by +quoting some of its conclusions.</p> + +<p>General Maurice, after discussing the various tactical +expedients adopted by either side in their offensives, and +the ultimate failure of all these methods to achieve the +desired “break-through,” describes briefly the invention +and early employment of tanks and the opinion held of +them by the enemy. “It does not appear,” he says, “that +Ludendorff was particularly impressed with the value of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_508">508</span>tanks before the events of 1918 taught him wisdom in this +respect.” We then come to a consideration of the means +the Allies had at their disposal for their counter-offensive +in the summer of that year. Speaking of Sir Douglas +Haig’s plans and resources, General Maurice points out +that “in particular the great improvements which had been +made in the tanks since their first appearance in battle and +the quantities of them available, gave him just the means +he needed for carrying through his scheme. Cambrai had +proved that tanks could replace the long bombardment and +obviate all the slow preparation which it involved.”</p> + +<p>The action at Hamel is then described: “With this fortunate +experiment faith in the tanks spread. The commanders +already believed in them, and now that belief in +their power to ‘make good’ spread to the ranks.” (Some +of the commanders, it must be added, dissembled their +belief very successfully until after Hamel!) General +Maurice continues: “Tanks made surprise, that greatest +weapon of generalship, much easier than it had been: they +saved life and economised troops, and, therefore, that +quick succession of punches for which Foch was seeking his +opportunity became possible. The artist had his materials +to hand. Honour to him that he knew how to use them.”</p> + +<p>Of the great tank attack on 8th August, we read that +“the tanks did invaluable service in cutting the German +telegraph and telephone communications.... The work +begun at Hamel was completed, and the moral ascendancy +established by tanks, artillery, and infantry, working in +combination, affected both private and General in the +German Army.”</p> + +<p>Later in the book General Maurice sums up the influences +which together broke down the German <i>moral</i>, +and again he insists upon the predominant part played by +the tanks.</p> + +<p>“The tanks had proved their efficacy in the preparations +for Armageddon, now they were to take their part in the +culmination toward which Foch had been working, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_509">509</span>few things helped us more in the decisive struggle than the +moral ascendancy which the success of the tanks in the +preliminary battles had given us over the Germans. +Captured German orders and other documents bear testimony +to the dread with which the enemy regarded tanks +at this time....” Here follows an extract from one such +order, already quoted in an earlier chapter of this book. +General Maurice continues: “This is the type of order +which is the refuge of authority when caught napping. +The German leaders had delayed too long to study the +possibilities of tanks and the most effective means of meeting +them. The ‘counter-measures’ presented in this order +might have availed against tanks alone. They were useless +against tanks, artillery, and infantry working in combination. +They were, in fact, worse than useless, they +were harmful, for they served to demonstrate to the German +soldier, who was already in mortal fear of tanks and prepared +to make their appearance an excuse for surrender, +that his chiefs were as frightened of them as he was, and +that they had no effective reply ready.”</p> + +<p>And finally, the author makes this definite assertion: +“It is certain that neither Foch’s skilful preparation for the +great battle, nor the valour of the infantry, would have +brought us victory if we had had to rely upon bombardment +alone in order to batter down the German +defences.”</p> + +<p>These extracts read like a literal, if more sober, repetition +of the theses at which I have been hammering, in and +out of season, throughout this history; and they are uttered +with an authority to which I have no pretence. It would +have been difficult to find confirmatory evidence more apt +and decisive than chance threw in my way, a fortnight +before these lines were written, when I picked up General +Maurice’s little volume. I would commend it to Sir Arthur +Conan Doyle, among other people. The tank, in one +sense, needs no advertisement now, any more than the first +successful steam-engine or aeroplane needed one: ever +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_510">510</span>since Cambrai, at the latest, all who had adequate acquaintance +with the facts realised that it had come, not only to +stay, but to predominate. It is one thing, however, to be +convinced, and quite another to admit it, even to oneself. +In a professional army, which (like any other close corporation) +is a body made up of cliques, conservatism, and +personal jealousy, held together by interest, no gratitude +is felt for innovations once the immediate occasion for their +usefulness is past. General officers who called for tanks at +all hours in the field, because they could not rely upon their +infantry going forward unless tanks were there to lead them, +lost all interest in these auxiliaries the moment the Armistice +was signed. And further, recognition which cannot be +denied to some instrument is often withheld from the hand +which directs it. It is for these reasons that unbiassed +acknowledgment of the services rendered by the Tank +Corps is peculiarly valuable at this time. People talk +about tanks, and read more or less worthless books in +which these machines figure occasionally as comic and +semi-animate monsters moving capriciously here and there +without method or principle; but while it is dimly recognised +that they influenced powerfully the course of the war, +it is hardly suspected that they are governed, like any +other military arm, by tactical considerations, that they +are not irresponsible units but parts of an organised whole, +and that every action they have fought has been planned +as carefully as any infantry assault or artillery barrage. +Still less attention is paid to the men who fought in them, +and whose skill and gallantry, displayed often amid circumstances +of horror peculiar even in this conflict, forged in +three years, from insignificant and disheartening beginnings, +so vast and efficient a weapon as the Tank Corps eventually +became. It is these aspects of the case, among others, +that I have tried especially to set out in this book.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_511">511</span></p> + + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3 id="FOOTNOTES"> + FOOTNOTES: +</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_1_1" href="#FNanchor_1_1" class="label">[1]</a> The first reply to this memorandum from the Engineer-in-Chief was characteristic. +After a few preliminary objections, General Fowke concluded as follows: +“I therefore think that before considering this proposal we should descend from +the realms of imagination to solid facts.”</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_2_2" href="#FNanchor_2_2" class="label">[2]</a> ‘The Tank Corps.’ C. A. Williams-Ellis.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_3_3" href="#FNanchor_3_3" class="label">[3]</a> Although the Navy has specialised in the science of mechanical warfare, and +although the very idea of the “landship” involves the application on land of +some of the principles of war at sea, the Army, as soon as it assumed control of +the tanks, refused to profit by the expert knowledge at its disposal. Had it been +possible, no doubt every trace of the tanks’ original parentage would have been +sedulously erased. As it was, the sponson and the 6-pounder gun, for which no +feasible military equivalents could be proposed, necessarily were retained; but on +such technical questions as ventilation, the use of telegraphs, and the various +mechanical contrivances in respect of which the tank, in its small way, resembles +the engine-room of a ship, all the suggestions put forward by experienced nautical +engineers were contemptuously rejected.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_4_4" href="#FNanchor_4_4" class="label">[4]</a> Steel plates, with pinhole perforations, replaced the prisms in the Mark IV.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_5_5" href="#FNanchor_5_5" class="label">[5]</a> For protection against these splinters, and against the “splash” from ordinary +bullets hitting crevices round the gun shields, crews were provided with small +vizors of steel and chain mail.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_6_6" href="#FNanchor_6_6" class="label">[6]</a> The tactical recommendations set out in this document were disregarded completely +by the general staff until the compulsion of events enforced their adoption. +Colonel Swinton insisted on the necessity of tanks leading the attack in masses, +and pointed out that, to ensure the rapid exploitation of any opening they should +make, a very large force of infantry must be launched at once behind them. +“Not only,” he says, “does it seem that the tanks will confer the power to force +successive complete and unbattered defence lines, but, as has been explained, the +more speedy and uninterrupted their advance, the greater the chance of their +surviving sufficiently long to do this. <i>It is possible, therefore, that an effort to +break right through the enemy’s defensive zone in one day may now be contemplated +as a feasible proposition.</i>” Cambrai, notwithstanding the half-hearted support +afforded, proved absolutely the justice of these contentions; and in 1918 they +were accepted as a matter of course—without, however, any acknowledgment of +their origin. Colonel Swinton also pointed out that field artillery was the tank’s +chief danger, and one which could be countered only by the help of other arms. +Numerous minor recommendations, such as the use of case-shot, smoke, and +wireless, the necessity of intelligent co-operation by infantry and artillery, and +questions of administration, supply, and transport in the field, were either turned +down at once by the general staff or were disregarded; yet every one of them +subsequently had to be adopted.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_7_7" href="#FNanchor_7_7" class="label">[7]</a> Now, I believe, Sir Philip Gibbs and Sir Beach Thomas.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_8_8" href="#FNanchor_8_8" class="label">[8]</a> The spirit of prophecy must have inspired this remark, as it was written some +months before the creation of Air Marshals and other heavenly bodies.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_9_9" href="#FNanchor_9_9" class="label">[9]</a> ‘A Company of Tanks,’ by Major W. H. L. Watson, D.C.M., chapter iv., +‘Blackwood’s Magazine’ for June 1919.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_10_10" href="#FNanchor_10_10" class="label">[10]</a> ‘A Company of Tanks,’ by Major Watson.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_11_11" href="#FNanchor_11_11" class="label">[11]</a> This was written in the spring of 1919, when the bones of horses and a great +accumulation of rotting cavalry equipment still lay thick in front of Monchy.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_12_12" href="#FNanchor_12_12" class="label">[12]</a> Orange Hill, strictly speaking, is only a spur of the height on which Monchy +stands, and is separated from the latter by a slight depression.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_13_13" href="#FNanchor_13_13" class="label">[13]</a> The cavalry also ran into the hostile barrage which fell on our front line as +soon as the tanks advanced.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_14_14" href="#FNanchor_14_14" class="label">[14]</a> The idea of employing tanks in Egypt and Syria originated with Colonel +Swinton, who proposed that they should be used in the advance on El Arish, +early in the campaign. The authorities laughed at the idea of tanks operating +over sand; and it was only after the fall of El Arish that the suggestion was +grudgingly adopted. In this connection I would like to point out that in the +“Report on the Advance of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force,” an official +publication edited by Lieut.-Colonel Pirie Gordon, which professes to give the +name and details of every unit connected, however remotely, with the Third +Battle of Gaza, and which actually includes in the list A.S.C. depots at Alexandria, +the Tank Department is not so much as mentioned!</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_15_15" href="#FNanchor_15_15" class="label">[15]</a> Report on Tank Operations in Egypt and Palestine, &c.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_16_16" href="#FNanchor_16_16" class="label">[16]</a> Apologies perhaps are due for the continual use of this book (‘Nelson’s History +of the War’) as a stalking-horse; but in spite of the difficulties attending its production, +and its claim to be no more than a popular history, Colonel Buchan had +exceptional opportunities of gaining information, and the work is in fact the only +full and reliable account of the war as yet in print.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_17_17" href="#FNanchor_17_17" class="label">[17]</a> ‘The Tank Corps.’ C. A. Williams-Ellis.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_18_18" href="#FNanchor_18_18" class="label">[18]</a> See William III. and Bishop Walker at the Boyne.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_19_19" href="#FNanchor_19_19" class="label">[19]</a> ‘The Tank Corps’ (Williams-Ellis), from which the whole incident is paraphrased.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_20_20" href="#FNanchor_20_20" class="label">[20]</a> M’Elroy, of 19 Company, won the D.S.O. at Havrincourt in remarkable +circumstances. The leading tanks and infantry had passed through the village, +which was believed to be cleared of the enemy. M’Elroy’s machine, following +behind, caught fire just as about 100 Germans appeared round it from +various hiding-places. Two of the crew, jumping out of one door to escape the +flames, were killed instantly. The remainder, except the tank commander, +scrambled out of the other door into a shell-hole. The Germans bombed them +and killed one man, and then came and looked down into the shell-hole, where +the survivors pretended also to be dead. M’Elroy, in the meantime, had remained +in the tank and extinguished the fire. He then drove off the Germans +with machine-gun fire and kept them at bay for nearly an hour until some infantry +arrived. All this time other tank crews, a few hundred yards away, were walking +about outside their machines, unconscious of the little battle going on behind +them.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_21_21" href="#FNanchor_21_21" class="label">[21]</a> ‘Weekly Tank Notes.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_22_22" href="#FNanchor_22_22" class="label">[22]</a> ‘Tank Corps Intelligence Summary.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_23_23" href="#FNanchor_23_23" class="label">[23]</a> ‘Tank Corps Intelligence Summary.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_24_24" href="#FNanchor_24_24" class="label">[24]</a> Ibid.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_25_25" href="#FNanchor_25_25" class="label">[25]</a> ‘Intelligence Summary.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_26_26" href="#FNanchor_26_26" class="label">[26]</a> Ibid.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_27_27" href="#FNanchor_27_27" class="label">[27]</a> Also quoted by General Maurice, ‘The Last Four Months.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_28_28" href="#FNanchor_28_28" class="label">[28]</a> ‘The Tank Corps’ (Williams-Ellis).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_29_29" href="#FNanchor_29_29" class="label">[29]</a> ‘Weekly Tank Notes.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_30_30" href="#FNanchor_30_30" class="label">[30]</a> The Whippet was nearly as long as the heavy tank. The engine was in front, +under an armoured bonnet. A small cab perched in rear held three men and +two Hotchkiss machine-guns. The speed of the Whippet was seven miles an +hour.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_31_31" href="#FNanchor_31_31" class="label">[31]</a> ‘Weekly Tank Notes.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_32_32" href="#FNanchor_32_32" class="label">[32]</a> Sir Douglas Haig’s Despatch.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_33_33" href="#FNanchor_33_33" class="label">[33]</a> This action appears to be known officially by us as that of Moreuil. That +village, however, was not even one of the objectives.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_34_34" href="#FNanchor_34_34" class="label">[34]</a> Sir D. Haig’s Despatch. For a trustworthy estimate of the value of tanks +in this and all subsequent attacks, and of their influence upon the course of the +war, see ‘The Last Four Months,’ by General Sir Frederick Maurice, quoted +in the last chapter of this book.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_35_35" href="#FNanchor_35_35" class="label">[35]</a> Sir J. Monash, ‘The Australian Victories in 1918.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_36_36" href="#FNanchor_36_36" class="label">[36]</a> ‘Weekly Tank Notes.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_37_37" href="#FNanchor_37_37" class="label">[37]</a> Sir J. Monash, ‘The Australian Victories in 1918.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_38_38" href="#FNanchor_38_38" class="label">[38]</a> ‘Weekly Tank Notes.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_39_39" href="#FNanchor_39_39" class="label">[39]</a> This may have been the battery which a Whippet caught and destroyed on +the 23rd.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_40_40" href="#FNanchor_40_40" class="label">[40]</a> ‘Weekly Tank Notes.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_41_41" href="#FNanchor_41_41" class="label">[41]</a> The Hindenburg Line, it may be noted, was a generic term used by us to +cover the whole series of defence systems called by the Germans the Siegfried, +Hunding, Wotan Lines, &c.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_42_42" href="#FNanchor_42_42" class="label">[42]</a> It was found that, for several hundred yards between Mœuvres and Inchy, the +Germans had cut in the eastern bank a vertical wall nine feet deep, evidently as +an anti-tank obstacle. Tanks of the 15th Battalion succeeded in climbing this.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_43_43" href="#FNanchor_43_43" class="label">[43]</a> Trials at Erin and elsewhere had proved that a tank will support another on +its roof; but these experiments were made in conditions differing greatly from +those which obtain in action.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_44_44" href="#FNanchor_44_44" class="label">[44]</a> ‘Weekly Tank Notes.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_45_45" href="#FNanchor_45_45" class="label">[45]</a> On the whole, however, the German retreat was conducted with great skill +to the very end. There was no general demoralisation, and one saw very few +prisoners except after set attacks on a large scale.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_46_46" href="#FNanchor_46_46" class="label">[46]</a> ‘Weekly Tank Notes.’</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_47_47" href="#FNanchor_47_47" class="label">[47]</a> Since writing the above, a Memorandum has been issued (23rd Feb. 1920) by +the Secretary of State for War dealing with the Army Estimates. It contains the +following reference to the Tank Corps, which shows that our worst apprehensions +are confirmed: “It has been decided that there will be no separate Tank Corps +for the present, and that, though non-commissioned officers and men will be +posted permanently to tank units as a nucleus, officers will be seconded instead of +being transferred to these units for stated periods. The main difficulty which +confronts reorganisation is the dearth of regular officers with knowledge of tanks. +To some extent this may be overcome by granting regular commissions to +temporary officers. Considerable progress has been made with the design of +tanks during 1919, a new machine having been produced with a speed of over +twenty miles an hour, and which has mechanically a long life. In a trial run of +1000 miles practically no wear has resulted. This type is being further developed. +Two other machines have been despatched to India for the purpose of experiment +under tropical conditions.”</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_48_48" href="#FNanchor_48_48" class="label">[48]</a> ‘Tanks in the Great War,’ Lieut.-Colonel J. F. C. Fuller. (Murray.)</p></div> +</div> + + +<h3 id="INDEX"> + INDEX. +</h3> + + +<nav> +<ul class="index"> + <li class="ifrst">A5, Turkish post at, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Ablainzevelle, <a href="#Page_372">372</a>, <a href="#Page_375">375</a>, <a href="#Page_376">376</a>, <a href="#Page_380">380-381</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Acheux, <a href="#Page_39">39</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Achiet-le-Grand, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>, <a href="#Page_343">343</a>, <a href="#Page_373">373</a>, <a href="#Page_375">375</a>, <a href="#Page_382">382-384</a>, + <a href="#Page_429">429</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">stockade at, <a href="#Page_299">299</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Achiet-le-Petit, <a href="#Page_374">374</a>, <a href="#Page_375">375</a>, <a href="#Page_382">382-383</a>, <a href="#Page_390">390</a>, <a href="#Page_391">391</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Adinfer Wood, <a href="#Page_377">377</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Admiral’s Road, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>, <a href="#Page_160">160</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Admiralty, experiments by, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Agache river, <a href="#Page_432">432</a>, <a href="#Page_434">434</a>, <a href="#Page_439">439</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Aire, <a href="#Page_320">320</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Air Force, Royal, <a href="#Page_120">120-124</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Albert, <a href="#Page_258">258</a>, <a href="#Page_308">308</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Alberta, <a href="#Page_132">132</a>, <a href="#Page_179">179</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Ali Muntar ridge, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Allenby, General Sir E., <a href="#Page_82">82</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Amiens, battle of. See Somme, 3rd battle of.</li> + + <li class="indx">Anley, General G., <a href="#Page_57">57</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Anthoine, General, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Annequin, <a href="#Page_334">334</a>, <a href="#Page_335">335</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Anneux, <a href="#Page_270">270</a>, <a href="#Page_276">276</a>, <a href="#Page_277">277</a>, <a href="#Page_281">281</a>, <a href="#Page_449">449</a>, + <a href="#Page_455">455</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Anti-tank machine-gun, <a href="#Page_299">299-300</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Anti-tank measures, general, <a href="#Page_289">289-300</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Anti-tank rifle, <a href="#Page_297">297</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Approach-marches, difficulties of, <a href="#Page_140">140-142</a>, <a href="#Page_199">199-203</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Armin, General von, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">“Armour, attack by,” <a href="#Page_11">11</a>, <a href="#Page_16">16</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Armour-piercing bullets, <a href="#Page_22">22</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Army, American, <a href="#Page_428">428</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">1st, <a href="#Page_488">488</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Army, Belgian, <a href="#Page_103">103</a>, <a href="#Page_488">488</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Army, British—</li> + <li class="isub1">1st, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>, <a href="#Page_353">353</a>, <a href="#Page_356">356</a>, <a href="#Page_403">403</a>, <a href="#Page_416">416</a>, + <a href="#Page_432">432</a>, <a href="#Page_459">459</a>, <a href="#Page_495">495</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">2nd, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>, <a href="#Page_103">103</a>, <a href="#Page_344">344</a>, <a href="#Page_356">356</a>, <a href="#Page_459">459</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">3rd, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>, <a href="#Page_251">251</a>, <a href="#Page_257">257</a>, <a href="#Page_265">265-268</a>, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>, <a href="#Page_342">342</a>, + <a href="#Page_372">372-375</a>, <a href="#Page_387">387</a>, <a href="#Page_403">403</a>, <a href="#Page_414">414</a>, <a href="#Page_416">416</a>, <a href="#Page_432">432</a>, + <a href="#Page_459">459</a>, <a href="#Page_491">491</a>, <a href="#Page_497">497</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">4th, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>, <a href="#Page_103">103</a>, <a href="#Page_352">352</a>, <a href="#Page_372">372</a>, <a href="#Page_387">387</a>, <a href="#Page_403">403</a>, + <a href="#Page_432">432</a>, <a href="#Page_459">459</a>, <a href="#Page_488">488</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">5th, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>, <a href="#Page_61">61-62</a>, <a href="#Page_103">103</a>, <a href="#Page_183">183-184</a>, <a href="#Page_341">341</a>, + <a href="#Page_460">460</a>, <a href="#Page_495">495</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Army, French—</li> + <li class="isub1">1st, <a href="#Page_103">103</a>, <a href="#Page_351">351</a>, <a href="#Page_352">352</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">3rd, <a href="#Page_352">352</a>, <a href="#Page_366">366</a>, <a href="#Page_459">459</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">4th, <a href="#Page_488">488</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">5th, <a href="#Page_459">459</a>, <a href="#Page_488">488</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">6th, <a href="#Page_304">304</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">10th, <a href="#Page_459">459</a>, <a href="#Page_488">488</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Army, German—</li> + <li class="isub1">2nd, <a href="#Page_268">268</a>, <a href="#Page_293">293</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">4th, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">6th, <a href="#Page_319">319</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">17th, <a href="#Page_414">414</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">18th, <a href="#Page_293">293</a>, <a href="#Page_357">357</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Army Council, trials before, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Arras, battle of, <a href="#Page_58">58-69</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Aubvillers, <a href="#Page_351">351</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Australian Corps, <a href="#Page_61">61-64</a>, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>, <a href="#Page_349">349</a>, <a href="#Page_350">350</a>, <a href="#Page_352">352</a>, + <a href="#Page_353">353</a>, <a href="#Page_356">356</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Avesnes-les-Aubert, <a href="#Page_497">497</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Avesnes-les-Bapaume, <a href="#Page_393">393</a>, <a href="#Page_401">401</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Ayette, <a href="#Page_372">372</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Azincourt, <a href="#Page_370">370</a>.</li> + + + <li class="ifrst">Bacon, Admiral Sir R. H. S., <a href="#Page_10">10</a>, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Baker-Carr, Colonel, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Bancourt, <a href="#Page_405">405</a>, <a href="#Page_412">412</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Banteux, <a href="#Page_264">264</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Bantigny, <a href="#Page_466">466</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Bapaume, battle of, <a href="#Page_373">373</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">capture of, <a href="#Page_403">403</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Barastre, <a href="#Page_343">343</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Bauer, Colonel, <a href="#Page_295">295</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Bazèque Wood, <a href="#Page_371">371</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Beach Post, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Beaucourt-en-Santerre, <a href="#Page_363">363</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Beaucourt-sur-Ancre, <a href="#Page_40">40-41</a>, <a href="#Page_375">375</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Beaumetz-les-Loges, <a href="#Page_247">247-248</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Beaumont Hamel, <a href="#Page_40">40-41</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Beauquesne, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Beaurain, action at, <a href="#Page_498">498-499</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Bécordel, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Beersheba, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Behagnies, <a href="#Page_390">390</a>, <a href="#Page_400">400</a>, <a href="#Page_429">429</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Bellevue, <a href="#Page_195">195</a>, <a href="#Page_204">204</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_512">512</span>Bellicourt tunnel, <a href="#Page_459">459</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Below, General von, <a href="#Page_414">414</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Bermicourt, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Bertincourt, <a href="#Page_258">258</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Béthune, <a href="#Page_319">319</a>, <a href="#Page_322">322</a>, <a href="#Page_324">324</a>, <a href="#Page_330">330</a>, <a href="#Page_337">337</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Beugnâtre, <a href="#Page_403">403</a>, <a href="#Page_405">405</a>, <a href="#Page_406">406</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Beugny, <a href="#Page_342">342</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">first attack on, <a href="#Page_404">404-413</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">second attack, <a href="#Page_417">417</a>, <a href="#Page_420">420-421</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">third attack, <a href="#Page_421">421-425</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Biefvillers, <a href="#Page_390">390</a>, <a href="#Page_392">392</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Bienvillers-au-Bois, <a href="#Page_371">371</a>, <a href="#Page_372">372</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">“Big Willie,” <a href="#Page_13">13</a>, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Bihucourt, <a href="#Page_389">389</a>, <a href="#Page_396">396</a>, <a href="#Page_429">429</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Bingham, Major the Hon. J. D. Y., <a href="#Page_188">188</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Bisley, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>, <a href="#Page_25">25</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Blangy-sur-Ternoise, <a href="#Page_369">369</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Blécourt, <a href="#Page_466">466</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Boche Castle, <a href="#Page_115">115</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_159">159</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Boesinghe, <a href="#Page_101">101</a>, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Bois de Bouvigny, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Bois de l’Abbé, <a href="#Page_345">345</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Bois d’Olhain, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Bois des Neufs, <a href="#Page_270">270</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Bombardment, preliminary, effects of, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>, <a href="#Page_16">16</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">on the Somme, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">at Arras, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">at Ypres, <a href="#Page_103">103</a>, <a href="#Page_132">132-133</a>, <a href="#Page_155">155</a>, <a href="#Page_159">159-160</a>, <a href="#Page_217">217-218</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Bombing, hostile, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>, <a href="#Page_135">135-136</a>, <a href="#Page_457">457</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Bouchoir, <a href="#Page_366">366</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Boundary Road, <a href="#Page_160">160</a>, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Bourlon, <a href="#Page_282">282</a>, <a href="#Page_438">438-439</a>, <a href="#Page_449">449</a>, <a href="#Page_452">452</a>, <a href="#Page_456">456</a>, + <a href="#Page_457">457</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Bourlon Wood, <a href="#Page_264">264</a>, <a href="#Page_276">276</a>, <a href="#Page_277">277</a>, <a href="#Page_282">282</a>, <a href="#Page_439">439</a>, + <a href="#Page_449">449</a>, <a href="#Page_462">462</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Bouvigny-Boyeffles, <a href="#Page_311">311</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Bovington, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Bradley, Colonel, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>, <a href="#Page_28">28</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Bray, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>, <a href="#Page_343">343</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Briastre, <a href="#Page_498">498</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Bridge Four, <a href="#Page_114">114</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Brielen, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Briqueterie, the, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Broome, Major, <a href="#Page_195">195</a>, <a href="#Page_308">308</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Brough, Colonel, <a href="#Page_28">28</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Bruay coal-fields, defence of, <a href="#Page_310">310</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Brutinel’s Brigade, <a href="#Page_463">463</a>, <a href="#Page_474">474</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Buchan, Colonel J., <a href="#Page_36">36</a>, <a href="#Page_58">58</a>, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>, <a href="#Page_64">64</a>, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>, <a href="#Page_360">360</a>, + <a href="#Page_361">361</a>, <a href="#Page_417">417</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Bucquoy, <a href="#Page_343">343</a>, <a href="#Page_347">347-348</a>, <a href="#Page_371">371</a>, <a href="#Page_372">372</a>, <a href="#Page_375">375</a>, + <a href="#Page_383">383</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Buffs Road, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Bullecourt, <a href="#Page_61">61-64</a>, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>, <a href="#Page_265">265</a>, <a href="#Page_278">278</a>, <a href="#Page_431">431</a>, + <a href="#Page_454">454</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Bulkeley-Johnson, General, <a href="#Page_65">65</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Bus-les-Artois, <a href="#Page_342">342</a>, <a href="#Page_351">351</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Byng, General Sir J., <a href="#Page_251">251</a>, <a href="#Page_265">265</a>, <a href="#Page_278">278</a>.</li> + + + <li class="ifrst">Cachy, the Whippets at, <a href="#Page_345">345-346</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Callwell, General, <a href="#Page_250">250</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Cambrai, proposed attack on, <a href="#Page_95">95-97</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">first battle of, <a href="#Page_249">249-284</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">second battle, <a href="#Page_432">432-491</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Cambrin, <a href="#Page_334">334</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Canadian Corps, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>, <a href="#Page_312">312-313</a>, <a href="#Page_352">352</a>, <a href="#Page_353">353</a>, <a href="#Page_356">356</a>, + <a href="#Page_363">363</a>, <a href="#Page_403">403</a>, <a href="#Page_416">416</a>, <a href="#Page_432">432</a>, <a href="#Page_433">433</a>, <a href="#Page_440">440</a>, + <a href="#Page_452">452-453</a> (and see Divisions).</li> + + <li class="indx">Canadian Farm, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>, <a href="#Page_132">132</a>, <a href="#Page_155">155</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Canal de L’Escaut, <a href="#Page_264">264</a>, <a href="#Page_274">274</a>, <a href="#Page_433">433</a>, <a href="#Page_459">459</a>, <a href="#Page_491">491</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Canal du Nord, <a href="#Page_264">264</a>, <a href="#Page_403">403</a>, <a href="#Page_432">432-433</a>, <a href="#Page_434">434-438</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">crossing of, <a href="#Page_451">451</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Capelle, <a href="#Page_500">500</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Capper, General Sir J., <a href="#Page_57">57</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Cars, armoured. See 17th Tank Battalion.</li> + + <li class="indx">Carter, Colonel, <a href="#Page_358">358</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Cartigny, <a href="#Page_342">342</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Cattenières, <a href="#Page_495">495</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Cavalry, at Monchy-le-Preux, <a href="#Page_64">64-67</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">at Cambrai, <a href="#Page_266">266</a>, <a href="#Page_267">267</a>, <a href="#Page_278">278-279</a>, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">on 8th August, <a href="#Page_354">354</a>, <a href="#Page_359">359-361</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Cavillon, <a href="#Page_356">356</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Cayeux Wood, <a href="#Page_361">361</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Château des Prés, <a href="#Page_331">331-332</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Chaulnes, <a href="#Page_352">352</a>, <a href="#Page_366">366</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Cheddar Villa, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Chipilly, <a href="#Page_362">362</a>, <a href="#Page_364">364</a>, <a href="#Page_366">366</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Choques, <a href="#Page_324">324</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Chuignolles, <a href="#Page_359">359</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Churchill, Winston S., the Right Hon., letter to the War Office, <a href="#Page_11">11-12</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">forms Landship Committee, <a href="#Page_13">13</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">memorandum on “Variants of the Offensive,” <a href="#Page_14">14</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Clapham Junction, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Cockcroft, the, <a href="#Page_197">197</a>, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>, <a href="#Page_228">228-229</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">significance of action, <a href="#Page_231">231</a>, <a href="#Page_234">234</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Cojeul river, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Contay, <a href="#Page_351">351</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Courage, Colonel, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">Brigadier-General, <a href="#Page_351">351</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Courcelette, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Courcelles, <a href="#Page_375">375</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Crèvecoeur, <a href="#Page_270">270</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Cricket Redoubt, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Crinchon river, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>.</li> + + + <li class="ifrst">Debeney, General, <a href="#Page_351">351</a>, <a href="#Page_352">352</a>, <a href="#Page_363">363</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Deir-el-Belah, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Deligny Mill, <a href="#Page_453">453</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">“Delta scheme, the,” <a href="#Page_323">323</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Delville Wood, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Demuin, <a href="#Page_357">357</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Dessart Wood, <a href="#Page_262">262</a>, <a href="#Page_268">268</a>, <a href="#Page_284">284</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">D’Eyncourt, Sir E. T., <a href="#Page_13">13</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Diplock, Mr, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">“Ditching,” frequency of, <a href="#Page_43">43-45</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_513">513</span>Divisions, British Infantry—</li> + <li class="isub1">Guards, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>, <a href="#Page_266">266</a>, <a href="#Page_281">281</a>, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>, <a href="#Page_389">389</a>, <a href="#Page_499">499</a>, + <a href="#Page_500">500</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">1st, <a href="#Page_186">186</a>, <a href="#Page_325">325</a>, <a href="#Page_334">334</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">3rd, <a href="#Page_268">268</a>, <a href="#Page_389">389</a>, <a href="#Page_405">405</a>, <a href="#Page_412">412</a>, <a href="#Page_413">413</a>, <a href="#Page_414">414</a>, + <a href="#Page_418">418-419</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">4th, <a href="#Page_416">416</a>, <a href="#Page_417">417</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">5th, <a href="#Page_394">394</a>, <a href="#Page_404">404</a>, <a href="#Page_405">405</a>, <a href="#Page_413">413</a>, <a href="#Page_415">415</a>, <a href="#Page_417">417</a>, + <a href="#Page_420">420</a>, <a href="#Page_422">422</a>, <a href="#Page_498">498</a>, <a href="#Page_499">499</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">6th, <a href="#Page_268">268</a>, <a href="#Page_270">270</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">11th, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>, <a href="#Page_206">206</a>, <a href="#Page_228">228</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">12th, <a href="#Page_270">270</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">20th, <a href="#Page_270">270</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">21st, <a href="#Page_36">36-38</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">25th, <a href="#Page_500">500</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">29th, <a href="#Page_268">268</a>, <a href="#Page_270">270</a>, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">36th, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>, <a href="#Page_268">268</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">37th, <a href="#Page_375">375</a>, <a href="#Page_380">380</a>, <a href="#Page_383">383</a>, <a href="#Page_389">389</a>, <a href="#Page_392">392</a>, + <a href="#Page_491">491</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">39th, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">40th, <a href="#Page_268">268</a>, <a href="#Page_282">282</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">42nd, <a href="#Page_419">419</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">48th, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>, <a href="#Page_206">206</a>, <a href="#Page_230">230</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">51st, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_268">268</a>, <a href="#Page_270">270</a>, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>, <a href="#Page_280">280</a>, + <a href="#Page_281">281</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">52nd, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>, <a href="#Page_76">76-79</a>, <a href="#Page_83">83-87</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">53rd, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>, <a href="#Page_76">76-78</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">54th, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>, <a href="#Page_83">83-87</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">56th, <a href="#Page_414">414</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">62nd, <a href="#Page_270">270</a>, <a href="#Page_274">274</a>, <a href="#Page_275">275-276</a>, <a href="#Page_414">414</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">63rd, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>, <a href="#Page_380">380</a>, <a href="#Page_382">382-383</a>, <a href="#Page_393">393</a>, <a href="#Page_401">401</a>, <a href="#Page_443">443</a>, + <a href="#Page_493">493</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">74th, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Divisions, Australian. See Australian Corps.</li> + + <li class="indx">Divisions, Canadian—</li> + <li class="isub1">1st, <a href="#Page_416">416</a>, <a href="#Page_439">439</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">3rd, <a href="#Page_456">456</a></li> + <li class="isub1">4th, <a href="#Page_416">416</a>, <a href="#Page_439">439</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">5th, <a href="#Page_440">440</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">And see Canadian Corps.</li> + + <li class="indx">Divisions, New Zealand, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>, <a href="#Page_390">390</a>, <a href="#Page_394">394</a>, <a href="#Page_398">398</a>, + <a href="#Page_405">405</a>, <a href="#Page_412">412</a>, <a href="#Page_429">429</a>, <a href="#Page_491">491</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Doignies, <a href="#Page_342">342</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Doyle, Sir A. Conan, <a href="#Page_482">482-485</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Dranoutre, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Drocourt-Quéant Switch, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>, <a href="#Page_416">416</a>, <a href="#Page_417">417-418</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Duddridge, Sergeant, gallantry of, <a href="#Page_413">413</a>, <a href="#Page_475">475-478</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Dury, <a href="#Page_417">417</a>.</li> + + + <li class="ifrst">Ecaillon river, <a href="#Page_497">497</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Ecoust, <a href="#Page_405">405</a>, <a href="#Page_412">412</a>, <a href="#Page_414">414</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Ecurie, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>, <a href="#Page_500">500</a>, <a href="#Page_502">502</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">El Arish, <a href="#Page_71">71</a> (<a href="#Footnote_14_14">note 14</a>), <a href="#Page_73">73</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">El Arish Redoubt, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>, <a href="#Page_76">76-78</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Elles, Colonel H. J., <a href="#Page_14">14</a>, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>, <a href="#Page_47">47-48</a>, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">Brigadier-General, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>, <a href="#Page_108">108</a>, <a href="#Page_251">251</a>, <a href="#Page_271">271</a>, <a href="#Page_272">272-273</a>, + <a href="#Page_351">351</a>, <a href="#Page_504">504</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">Major-General, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">English Trees, <a href="#Page_115">115</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Enguinegatte, <a href="#Page_339">339-340</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Epehy, <a href="#Page_258">258</a>, <a href="#Page_342">342</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">battle of, <a href="#Page_433">433</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Erin, central stores and workshops at, <a href="#Page_51">51-52</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Ervillers, <a href="#Page_390">390</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Escadœuvres, <a href="#Page_494">494-495</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Essarts, <a href="#Page_372">372</a>, <a href="#Page_376">376</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Esnes, <a href="#Page_491">491</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Estienne, Colonel, <a href="#Page_301">301</a>, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Etaing, <a href="#Page_417">417</a>.</li> + + + <li class="ifrst">Fanny’s Farm, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Favreuil, <a href="#Page_393">393</a>, <a href="#Page_401">401</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Feuchy Chapel, <a href="#Page_65">65</a>, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Fins, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Flammenwerfer, <a href="#Page_9">9</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Flers, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Flesquières, <a href="#Page_264">264</a>, <a href="#Page_270">270</a>, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>, <a href="#Page_277">277</a>, <a href="#Page_455">455</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Fontaine-Notre-Dame, <a href="#Page_270">270</a>, <a href="#Page_280">280</a>, <a href="#Page_281">281</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Forsyth-Major, Major O. A., <a href="#Page_76">76</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Fort Garry Horse, <a href="#Page_279">279</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Forward Cottage, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>, <a href="#Page_151">151</a>, <a href="#Page_154">154</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Fouquières, <a href="#Page_322">322-327</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Foster, Messrs, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>, <a href="#Page_25">25</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Foster tractor, trials by, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Framerville, <a href="#Page_358">358</a>, <a href="#Page_363">363</a>, <a href="#Page_366">366</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Fremicourt, <a href="#Page_404">404</a>, <a href="#Page_405">405</a>, <a href="#Page_412">412</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Frascati Farm, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>, <a href="#Page_136">136</a>, <a href="#Page_147">147-149</a>, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>, + <a href="#Page_179">179</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">French, General Sir J., <a href="#Page_12">12</a>, <a href="#Page_13">13</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Freyburg, Colonel, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Frezenberg, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>, <a href="#Page_182">182</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Fuller, Colonel J. C. F., <a href="#Page_507">507</a>.</li> + + + <li class="ifrst">Gas, poison, <a href="#Page_9">9</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Gavrelle, <a href="#Page_403">403</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Gaza, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">first battle of, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">second battle of, <a href="#Page_74">74-80</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">third battle of, <a href="#Page_82">82-88</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Gueudecourt, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>, <a href="#Page_36">36-38</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Ghent Cottages, <a href="#Page_191">191</a>, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Gilban, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Gird Trench, <a href="#Page_36">36-38</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Givenchy-les-La-Bassée, <a href="#Page_322">322</a>, <a href="#Page_330">330</a>, <a href="#Page_335">335</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Glasgow, General W., <a href="#Page_57">57</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Glencorse Wood, <a href="#Page_236">236</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Gommecourt, <a href="#Page_389">389</a>, <a href="#Page_429">429</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Gonnelieu, <a href="#Page_265">265</a>, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Gough, General Sir H., <a href="#Page_31">31</a>, <a href="#Page_103">103</a>, <a href="#Page_235">235</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Gouzeaucourt, <a href="#Page_262">262</a>, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>, <a href="#Page_433">433</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Graincourt, <a href="#Page_270">270</a>, <a href="#Page_276">276</a>, <a href="#Page_449">449</a>, <a href="#Page_455">455</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Grévillers, <a href="#Page_390">390</a>, <a href="#Page_392">392</a>, <a href="#Page_393">393</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Guémappe, <a href="#Page_403">403</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Guilleaucourt, <a href="#Page_361">361</a>, <a href="#Page_362">362</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">“Gun-pits, The,” <a href="#Page_207">207</a>, <a href="#Page_218">218-221</a>.</li> + + + <li class="ifrst">Haig, Field-Marshal Sir D., <a href="#Page_253">253</a>, <a href="#Page_281">281</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Halfway House, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>, <a href="#Page_137">137</a>, <a href="#Page_143">143-144</a>, <a href="#Page_193">193</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Hamel, action at, <a href="#Page_349">349-350</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_514">514</span>Hamelincourt, <a href="#Page_389">389</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Hammond’s Corner, <a href="#Page_150">150</a>, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Hampshire Farm, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>, <a href="#Page_132">132</a>, <a href="#Page_155">155</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Hangard Wood, <a href="#Page_346">346</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Hankey, Colonel E. B., <a href="#Page_149">149</a>, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>, <a href="#Page_268">268</a>, <a href="#Page_308">308</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">Brigadier-General, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Hannescamps, <a href="#Page_347">347</a>, <a href="#Page_372">372</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Harbonnières, <a href="#Page_358">358</a>, <a href="#Page_361">361</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Harp, the, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Harpies river, <a href="#Page_497">497</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Hatfield, trials at, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Haussy, <a href="#Page_499">499</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Havrincourt, <a href="#Page_270">270</a>, <a href="#Page_273">273</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">battle of, <a href="#Page_433">433</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Havrincourt Wood, <a href="#Page_264">264</a>, <a href="#Page_268">268</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Haynecourt, <a href="#Page_439">439</a>, <a href="#Page_466">466</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Heninel, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>, <a href="#Page_389">389</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Hereira, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Hersin, <a href="#Page_320">320</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Hervilly Wood, <a href="#Page_342">342</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Hesdigneul, <a href="#Page_325">325</a>, <a href="#Page_328">328</a>, <a href="#Page_331">331</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Hesdin, <a href="#Page_370">370</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Hetherington, Major, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Hendecourt, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Hill 70, <a href="#Page_310">310</a>, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Hill 145, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Hillock Farm, <a href="#Page_207">207</a>, <a href="#Page_220">220</a>, <a href="#Page_230">230</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Hill Top Farm, <a href="#Page_149">149</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Hindenburg Line, <a href="#Page_58">58</a>, <a href="#Page_61">61-63</a>, <a href="#Page_251">251-252</a>, <a href="#Page_261">261</a>, <a href="#Page_264">264-265</a>, + <a href="#Page_433">433</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Hindenburg, Marshal von, <a href="#Page_295">295</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Hinges, <a href="#Page_324">324</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Hirondelle river, <a href="#Page_298">298</a>, <a href="#Page_434">434</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Holt tractor, trials of, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Hooge, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Hooglede, <a href="#Page_139">139</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Houthoulst Forest, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Hospital Farm, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>, <a href="#Page_138">138</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Hotblack, Captain, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Hutier, General von, <a href="#Page_292">292</a>, <a href="#Page_357">357</a>.</li> + + + <li class="ifrst">Imperial Defence, Committee of, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Inchy-en-Artois, <a href="#Page_298">298</a>, <a href="#Page_434">434</a>, <a href="#Page_443">443</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Infantry co-operation, lack of, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Infantry, training with, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">in Palestine, <a href="#Page_84">84</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">before Cambrai, <a href="#Page_259">259-261</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">with Canadians, <a href="#Page_320">320</a>, <a href="#Page_339">339</a>, <a href="#Page_340">340</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">with Australians, <a href="#Page_349">349</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">with French, <a href="#Page_351">351</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Iveagh, Lord, <a href="#Page_25">25</a>.</li> + + + <li class="ifrst">Joint Committee, <a href="#Page_13">13</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Journalists, misrepresentations by, <a href="#Page_42">42</a>, <a href="#Page_232">232</a>, <a href="#Page_271">271</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Joye Farm, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>.</li> + + + <li class="ifrst">Kemmel, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>, <a href="#Page_330">330</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Kahn Yunus, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Khirbet Sihan, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Kitchener’s Wood, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>, <a href="#Page_115">115</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_133">133</a>, <a href="#Page_157">157</a>, + <a href="#Page_159">159</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Kressenstein, General von, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Kultur Farm, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_157">157</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Kurd Hill, <a href="#Page_76">76-79</a>.</li> + + + <li class="ifrst">La Bassée Canal, <a href="#Page_330">330</a>, <a href="#Page_335">335</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">La Brique, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>, <a href="#Page_114">114</a>, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">La Cauchie, <a href="#Page_343">343</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">La Folie Farm, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">La Vacquerie, <a href="#Page_264">264</a>, <a href="#Page_274">274</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Lagnicourt, <a href="#Page_416">416</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Landrecies, <a href="#Page_500">500</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Landships Committee, <a href="#Page_13">13</a>, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Langemarck, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>, <a href="#Page_115">115</a>, <a href="#Page_194">194</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Lateau Wood, <a href="#Page_274">274</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Le Quesnel, <a href="#Page_361">361</a>, <a href="#Page_363">363</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Le Quesnoy, <a href="#Page_500">500</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Le Tréport, Tank Corps Depot at, <a href="#Page_52">52</a>, <a href="#Page_340">340</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Les Bœufs, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Les Trois Tours, <a href="#Page_132">132</a>, <a href="#Page_138">138</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Lees Hill, <a href="#Page_76">76-79</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Lens, <a href="#Page_311">311-313</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Lihons, <a href="#Page_366">366</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Lillers, <a href="#Page_320">320</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">“Little Willie,” <a href="#Page_13">13</a>, <a href="#Page_16">16</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Lloyd, Colonel Hardress, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Logeast Wood, <a href="#Page_375">375</a>, <a href="#Page_382">382</a>, <a href="#Page_388">388</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Longatte, <a href="#Page_405">405</a>, <a href="#Page_412">412</a>, <a href="#Page_414">414-415</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Lone Tree, <a href="#Page_115">115</a>, <a href="#Page_157">157</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Loop, the, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Loos, battle of, <a href="#Page_9">9</a>, <a href="#Page_15">15</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Loupart Wood, <a href="#Page_390">390</a>, <a href="#Page_392">392</a>, <a href="#Page_393">393-395</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Lovie Château, <a href="#Page_101">101</a>, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>, <a href="#Page_119">119-120</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Luce river, <a href="#Page_363">363</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Ludendorff, Marshal von, <a href="#Page_294">294-295</a>, <a href="#Page_364">364</a>, <a href="#Page_365">365</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Lulworth, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Lys, the, battle of, <a href="#Page_318">318-319</a>.</li> + + + <li class="ifrst">Machine Gun Corps, Heavy Section, formation of, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">departure for France, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">for Palestine, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">expansion, <a href="#Page_47">47-57</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">reconstituted as Tank Corps, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">original companies—A and B, <a href="#Page_26">26</a>, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>, <a href="#Page_53">53</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">C and D, <a href="#Page_26">26</a>, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>, <a href="#Page_53">53</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">E, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>, <a href="#Page_53">53</a>, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">F, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>, <a href="#Page_53">53</a>, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Maison du Hibou, <a href="#Page_197">197</a>, <a href="#Page_207">207</a>, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>, <a href="#Page_229">229</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Mansura Ridge, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Marcelcave, <a href="#Page_357">357</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Marcoing, <a href="#Page_264">264</a>, <a href="#Page_270">270</a>, <a href="#Page_274">274</a>, <a href="#Page_500">500</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Marengo Causeway, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>, <a href="#Page_145">145-146</a>, <a href="#Page_199">199</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Marquion, <a href="#Page_433">433</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Marquion, Sains-les-, <a href="#Page_433">433</a>, <a href="#Page_439">439</a>, <a href="#Page_453">453</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Martinpuich, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Marwitz, General von der, <a href="#Page_268">268</a>, <a href="#Page_292">292</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_515">515</span>Masnières, <a href="#Page_270">270</a>, <a href="#Page_274">274</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Maurice, General Sir F., <a href="#Page_486">486</a>, <a href="#Page_507">507-509</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Maxse, General Sir I., <a href="#Page_108">108</a>, <a href="#Page_194">194</a>, <a href="#Page_235">235</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Meaulte, <a href="#Page_308">308-309</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Mechanical Warfare Supply Department, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Merlimont, <a href="#Page_52">52</a>, <a href="#Page_368">368</a>, <a href="#Page_369">369</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Messines, battle of, <a href="#Page_90">90-94</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Meteren, <a href="#Page_344">344</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Middelkerke, proposed landing at, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>, <a href="#Page_186">186-190</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Miraumont, <a href="#Page_372">372</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Mœuvres, <a href="#Page_282">282</a>, <a href="#Page_433">433</a>, <a href="#Page_434">434</a>, <a href="#Page_455">455</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Monash, General Sir J., <a href="#Page_357">357-359</a>, <a href="#Page_360">360-361</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Monchy-le-Preux, capture of, <a href="#Page_64">64-67</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">abandoned, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">recaptured, <a href="#Page_403">403</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Montdidier, <a href="#Page_366">366</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Mont St Eloi, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Monument Wood, <a href="#Page_401">401</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Morchies, <a href="#Page_342">342</a>, <a href="#Page_416">416</a>, <a href="#Page_418">418</a>, <a href="#Page_430">430</a>, <a href="#Page_431">431-432</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Moreuil, <a href="#Page_352">352</a> (<a href="#Footnote_33_33">note 33</a>).</li> + + <li class="indx">Mormal Forest, <a href="#Page_500">500</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">“Mother,” <a href="#Page_13">13</a>, <a href="#Page_16">16</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Moyenneville, <a href="#Page_373">373</a>, <a href="#Page_375">375</a>, <a href="#Page_387">387</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Munitions, Ministry of, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Murat Farm, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>, <a href="#Page_199">199</a>.</li> + + + <li class="ifrst">Nelson’s History of the War, <a href="#Page_94">94</a> (<a href="#Footnote_16_16">note 16</a>).</li> + <li class="isub1">See also Buchan, Colonel.</li> + + <li class="indx">Neuve Chapelle, battle of, <a href="#Page_9">9</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Neuville St Vaast, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Neuville Vitasse, <a href="#Page_67">67</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Neuvilly, <a href="#Page_497">497</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Niergnies, Tank v. Tank action at, <a href="#Page_492">492-494</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Noreuil, <a href="#Page_418">418</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Noreuil Switch, the, <a href="#Page_405">405</a>, <a href="#Page_413">413</a>, <a href="#Page_414">414-415</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Notre Dame de Lorette, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Noulette Wood, <a href="#Page_320">320</a>, <a href="#Page_368">368</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Noyelles-sur-l’Escaut, <a href="#Page_280">280</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Nutt, Major, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>.</li> + + + <li class="ifrst">Oostaverne Line, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Oosthoek Wood, <a href="#Page_100">100-102</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">tanks detrained at, <a href="#Page_104">104-107</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">explosion in, <a href="#Page_125">125-126</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">bombing raids, <a href="#Page_135">135-136</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Orange Hill, <a href="#Page_64">64-67</a>, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Ouderdom, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Outpost Hill, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>, <a href="#Page_78">78-79</a>, <a href="#Page_83">83</a>.</li> + + + <li class="ifrst">Painlevé, M. Paul, <a href="#Page_253">253</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Palestine Detachment, composition of, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">suitability of tanks for desert warfare, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">liaison and training, <a href="#Page_84">84</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">disbandment, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Passchendaele Ridge, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>, <a href="#Page_108">108</a>, <a href="#Page_193">193</a>, <a href="#Page_245">245</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Peselhoek, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Phillips, Sergeant, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>, <a href="#Page_108">108</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Pierremont, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Pigeons, use of, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>, <a href="#Page_167">167</a>, <a href="#Page_222">222</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Pilgrim’s Rest, the, <a href="#Page_462">462</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Pilkem Ridge, <a href="#Page_108">108</a>, <a href="#Page_109">109-111</a>, <a href="#Page_115">115</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131-134</a>, <a href="#Page_212">212</a>, + <a href="#Page_213">213</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">“Pill-Boxes,” <a href="#Page_110">110</a>, <a href="#Page_228">228</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Plateau, <a href="#Page_258">258</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Plumer, General Sir H., <a href="#Page_90">90</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Poelcapelle, <a href="#Page_115">115</a>, <a href="#Page_239">239</a>, <a href="#Page_240">240-242</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Poelcapelle Road, <a href="#Page_196">196</a>, <a href="#Page_207">207</a>, <a href="#Page_217">217</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Poperinghe, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>, <a href="#Page_136">136</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Pozières, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Pronville, <a href="#Page_298">298</a>, <a href="#Page_434">434</a>, <a href="#Page_441">441</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Proven, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Proyart, <a href="#Page_359">359</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Puits No. 12, <a href="#Page_338">338</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Puisieux-au-Mont, <a href="#Page_372">372</a>.</li> + + + <li class="ifrst">Quadrilateral, the, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Quarry Wood, <a href="#Page_438">438</a>, <a href="#Page_452">452</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Quast, General von, <a href="#Page_319">319</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Quéant, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>, <a href="#Page_418">418</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Queen’s Hill, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Quiévy, <a href="#Page_497">497</a>.</li> + + + <li class="ifrst">Rafa, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Rafa Redoubt, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Raillencourt, <a href="#Page_456">456</a>, <a href="#Page_461">461</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Rawlinson, General Sir H., <a href="#Page_31">31</a>, <a href="#Page_103">103</a>, <a href="#Page_488">488</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">Special Order to Tank Corps, <a href="#Page_365">365-366</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Regent’s Park, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Regina Cross, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Reigersberg Château, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Reutelbeek, the, <a href="#Page_240">240</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Rhonelle river, <a href="#Page_497">497</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Ribécourt, <a href="#Page_270">270</a>, <a href="#Page_274">274</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Richardson, Captain, exploit of, <a href="#Page_236">236-238</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Riencourt, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Rivière, <a href="#Page_248">248</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Robecq, <a href="#Page_320">320</a>, <a href="#Page_323">323</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Robertson, Captain, gallantry of, <a href="#Page_240">240</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Roclincourt, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Roeux Chemical Works, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Roisel, <a href="#Page_342">342</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Ronsoy, <a href="#Page_460">460</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Rosel, <a href="#Page_351">351</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Rosières, <a href="#Page_362">362</a>, <a href="#Page_366">366</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Rum Road, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>, <a href="#Page_193">193</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Ruyaulcourt, <a href="#Page_258">258</a>.</li> + + + <li class="ifrst">Sailly-Labourse, <a href="#Page_331">331</a>, <a href="#Page_335">335</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Sallaumines, <a href="#Page_313">313</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Samson’s Ridge, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>, <a href="#Page_76">76-78</a>, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Sancourt, <a href="#Page_460">460</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">action at, <a href="#Page_466">466-480</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Sapignies, <a href="#Page_343">343</a>, <a href="#Page_390">390</a>, <a href="#Page_400">400</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_516">516</span>Sarton, <a href="#Page_371">371</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Saulty, <a href="#Page_371">371</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">“Savage Rabbit,” <a href="#Page_317">317</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Searchlights, mobile, opportunities for, <a href="#Page_151">151-152</a></li> + + <li class="indx">Selle river, <a href="#Page_491">491</a>, <a href="#Page_495">495</a>, <a href="#Page_497">497</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Sensée river, <a href="#Page_277">277</a>, <a href="#Page_432">432</a>, <a href="#Page_460">460</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Seranvillers, <a href="#Page_491">491</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Serre, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>, <a href="#Page_343">343</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Sewell, Lieutenant, gallantry of, <a href="#Page_424">424</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Sheikh Abbas, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Sheikh Ajlin, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>, <a href="#Page_83">83</a>, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Sheikh Hassan, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>, <a href="#Page_85">85-87</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Sheikh Nebhan, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Shellal, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Siegfried Line, <a href="#Page_403">403</a>, <a href="#Page_433">433</a> (<a href="#Footnote_41_41">note 41</a>).</li> + + <li class="indx">Simencourt, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Soissons, battle of, <a href="#Page_304">304</a>, <a href="#Page_350">350</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Solesmes, <a href="#Page_496">496</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Somme, the, first battle of, <a href="#Page_30">30-41</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">lessons of, <a href="#Page_42">42</a>, <a href="#Page_45">45-56</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">second battle of, <a href="#Page_341">341-344</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">third battle of, <a href="#Page_352">352-367</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Sorel, <a href="#Page_258">258</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Spriet, <a href="#Page_242">242</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Springfield, <a href="#Page_180">180</a>, <a href="#Page_238">238</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">St Georges river, <a href="#Page_497">497</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">St Jean, <a href="#Page_216">216</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">St Julien, <a href="#Page_108">108</a>, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_181">181</a>, <a href="#Page_193">193</a>, <a href="#Page_195">195</a>, + <a href="#Page_215">215-216</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">St Mihiel, <a href="#Page_7">7</a>, <a href="#Page_304">304</a>, <a href="#Page_486">486</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">St Olle, <a href="#Page_456">456</a>, <a href="#Page_466">466</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">St Pierre Divion, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">St Python, <a href="#Page_496">496</a>, <a href="#Page_498">498</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Steenbeek, the, <a href="#Page_108">108</a>, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_207">207</a>, <a href="#Page_215">215</a>, + <a href="#Page_223">223-225</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Stern, Colonel Sir A., <a href="#Page_56">56</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Summers, Major, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Swanage, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Swinton, Colonel E. D., <a href="#Page_10">10</a>, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>, <a href="#Page_13">13</a>, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">Memorandum on Tactics, <a href="#Page_29">29-30</a> (<a href="#Footnote_6_6">note 6</a>);</li> + <li class="isub1">his removal, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">suggests use of tanks in Egypt, <a href="#Page_71">71</a> (<a href="#Footnote_14_14">note 14</a>).</li> + + + <li class="ifrst">Tadpole Copse, <a href="#Page_435">435</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Tanks, British—</li> + <li class="isub1">Adverse criticism of, <a href="#Page_183">183-184</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">Early experiments, <a href="#Page_12">12-14</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">Equipment, general, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>;</li> + <li class="isub2">fascines and cribs, <a href="#Page_261">261</a>, <a href="#Page_440">440-441</a>;</li> + <li class="isub2">sponson trolleys, <a href="#Page_18">18-19</a>;</li> + <li class="isub2">trucks, <a href="#Page_23">23</a>;</li> + <li class="isub2">unditching booms, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>, <a href="#Page_127">127-128</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">German opinion of, <a href="#Page_285">285-287</a>, <a href="#Page_292">292-296</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">Marks I-IV, armament, capabilities, design, dimensions, motive power, speed, &c., <a href="#Page_15">15-23</a>;</li> + <li class="isub2">Mark V, <a href="#Page_15">15</a>, <a href="#Page_348">348</a>;</li> + <li class="isub2">Mark V Star, <a href="#Page_354">354</a>;</li> + <li class="isub2">Whippet, <a href="#Page_302">302</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">Moral effect of, <a href="#Page_34">34-35</a>, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>, <a href="#Page_233">233-234</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">Origin of, <a href="#Page_8">8-11</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Tanks, French, <a href="#Page_301">301-303</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Tanks, German, <a href="#Page_287">287-289</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Tank Committee, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Tank Corps, American, <a href="#Page_427">427</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Tank Corps, British (see also Machine Gun Corps, Heavy Section)—</li> + <li class="isub2">Administration, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>, <a href="#Page_503">503-504</a>.</li> + <li class="isub2">Antagonism to, <a href="#Page_47">47-50</a>, <a href="#Page_185">185</a>, <a href="#Page_352">352-353</a>.</li> + <li class="isub2">Auxiliary branches:</li> + <li class="isub3">Advance Stores, <a href="#Page_490">490</a>;</li> + <li class="isub3">Engineer and Equipment, <a href="#Page_53">53</a>;</li> + <li class="isub3">Central Stores and Workshops, <a href="#Page_51">51-52</a>, <a href="#Page_262">262</a>;</li> + <li class="isub3">Gun-Carrying Tanks, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>;</li> + <li class="isub3">Reconnaissance Branch, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>, <a href="#Page_53">53</a>;</li> + <li class="isub3">Salvage, Signalling, and Supply Companies, <a href="#Page_54">54-56</a>, <a href="#Page_490">490</a>;</li> + <li class="isub3">Workshop Companies, <a href="#Page_53">53</a>.</li> + <li class="isub2">Early difficulties of, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>, <a href="#Page_45">45-46</a>.</li> + <li class="isub2">Expansion of, <a href="#Page_50">50-54</a>, <a href="#Page_234">234</a>, <a href="#Page_306">306-307</a>, <a href="#Page_344">344</a>, <a href="#Page_402">402</a>, + <a href="#Page_502">502-503</a>.</li> + <li class="isub2">Official formation of, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>.</li> + <li class="isub2">Personnel, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>.</li> + <li class="isub2">Training, <a href="#Page_24">24-28</a>, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">Brigades—</li> + <li class="isub2">1st, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>, <a href="#Page_100">100</a>, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>, <a href="#Page_194">194</a>, + <a href="#Page_238">238</a>, <a href="#Page_240">240</a>, <a href="#Page_258">258</a>, <a href="#Page_268">268</a>, <a href="#Page_270">270</a>, <a href="#Page_280">280</a>, + <a href="#Page_281">281</a>, <a href="#Page_284">284</a>, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>, <a href="#Page_310">310</a>, <a href="#Page_329">329</a>, <a href="#Page_341">341</a>, + <a href="#Page_354">354</a>, <a href="#Page_367">367</a>, <a href="#Page_369">369</a>, <a href="#Page_372">372</a>, <a href="#Page_374">374</a>, <a href="#Page_375">375</a>, + <a href="#Page_388">388</a>, <a href="#Page_425">425</a>, <a href="#Page_426">426</a>, <a href="#Page_433">433</a>, <a href="#Page_489">489</a>, <a href="#Page_491">491</a>, + <a href="#Page_502">502</a>.</li> + <li class="isub2">2nd, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>, <a href="#Page_181">181</a>, <a href="#Page_236">236</a>, + <a href="#Page_238">238</a>, <a href="#Page_239">239</a>, <a href="#Page_240">240</a>, <a href="#Page_258">258</a>, <a href="#Page_268">268</a>, <a href="#Page_270">270</a>, + <a href="#Page_280">280</a>, <a href="#Page_281">281</a>, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>, <a href="#Page_310">310</a>, <a href="#Page_329">329</a>, <a href="#Page_341">341</a>, + <a href="#Page_342">342</a>, <a href="#Page_344">344</a>, <a href="#Page_354">354</a>, <a href="#Page_372">372</a>, <a href="#Page_374">374</a>, <a href="#Page_375">375</a>, + <a href="#Page_405">405</a>, <a href="#Page_416">416</a>, <a href="#Page_425">425</a>.</li> + <li class="isub2">3rd, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>, <a href="#Page_181">181</a>, <a href="#Page_236">236</a>, + <a href="#Page_240">240</a>, <a href="#Page_258">258</a>, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>, <a href="#Page_270">270</a>, <a href="#Page_280">280</a>, <a href="#Page_281">281</a>, + <a href="#Page_329">329</a>, <a href="#Page_341">341</a>, <a href="#Page_343">343</a>, <a href="#Page_344">344</a>, <a href="#Page_354">354</a>, <a href="#Page_365">365</a>, + <a href="#Page_372">372</a>, <a href="#Page_374">374</a>, <a href="#Page_389">389</a>, <a href="#Page_403">403</a>, <a href="#Page_416">416</a>, <a href="#Page_417">417</a>, + <a href="#Page_425">425</a>, <a href="#Page_459">459</a>, <a href="#Page_489">489</a>, <a href="#Page_491">491</a>.</li> + <li class="isub2">4th, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>, <a href="#Page_308">308</a>, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>, <a href="#Page_329">329</a>, <a href="#Page_341">341</a>, <a href="#Page_342">342</a>, + <a href="#Page_344">344</a>, <a href="#Page_353">353</a>, <a href="#Page_363">363</a>, <a href="#Page_365">365</a>, <a href="#Page_366">366</a>, <a href="#Page_367">367</a>, + <a href="#Page_372">372</a>, <a href="#Page_425">425</a>, <a href="#Page_433">433</a>, <a href="#Page_459">459</a>, <a href="#Page_460">460</a>, <a href="#Page_489">489</a>, + <a href="#Page_491">491</a>, <a href="#Page_497">497</a>.</li> + <li class="isub2">5th, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>, <a href="#Page_329">329</a>, <a href="#Page_341">341</a>, <a href="#Page_344">344</a>, <a href="#Page_349">349</a>, <a href="#Page_350">350</a>, + <a href="#Page_353">353</a>, <a href="#Page_363">363</a>, <a href="#Page_365">365</a>, <a href="#Page_366">366</a>, <a href="#Page_372">372</a>, <a href="#Page_425">425</a>, + <a href="#Page_433">433</a>, <a href="#Page_459">459</a>, <a href="#Page_489">489</a>.</li> + <li class="isub2">6th, <a href="#Page_502">502</a>.</li> + <li class="isub1">Battalions—</li> + <li class="isub2">1st (A), <a href="#Page_53">53</a>, <a href="#Page_91">91-94</a>, <a href="#Page_182">182</a>, <a href="#Page_239">239</a>, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>, <a href="#Page_274">274</a>, + <a href="#Page_283">283</a>, <a href="#Page_342">342</a>, <a href="#Page_345">345</a>, <a href="#Page_354">354</a>, <a href="#Page_363">363</a>, <a href="#Page_489">489</a>.</li> + <li class="isub2">2nd (B), <a href="#Page_53">53</a>, <a href="#Page_91">91-94</a>, <a href="#Page_182">182</a>, <a href="#Page_268">268</a>, <a href="#Page_280">280</a>, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>, + <a href="#Page_342">342</a>, <a href="#Page_353">353</a>, <a href="#Page_489">489</a>.</li> + <li class="isub2">3rd (C), <a href="#Page_53">53</a>, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>, <a href="#Page_64">64-68</a>, <a href="#Page_104">104</a>, <a href="#Page_182">182</a>, + <a href="#Page_269">269</a>, <a href="#Page_343">343</a>, <a href="#Page_345">345</a>, <a href="#Page_354">354</a>, <a href="#Page_359">359-361</a>, <a href="#Page_374">374</a>, + <a href="#Page_387">387</a>, <a href="#Page_424">424</a>, <a href="#Page_489">489</a>.</li> + <li class="isub2"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_517">517</span>4th (D), <a href="#Page_53">53</a>, <a href="#Page_61">61-64</a>, <a href="#Page_100">100</a>, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>, + <a href="#Page_108">108</a>, <a href="#Page_236">236</a>, <a href="#Page_238">238</a>, <a href="#Page_239">239</a>, <a href="#Page_240">240</a>, <a href="#Page_244">244</a>, + <a href="#Page_247">247</a>, <a href="#Page_268">268</a>, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>, <a href="#Page_281">281</a>, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>, <a href="#Page_342">342</a>, + <a href="#Page_353">353</a>, <a href="#Page_489">489</a>.</li> + <li class="isub2">5th (E), <a href="#Page_238">238</a>, <a href="#Page_239">239</a>, <a href="#Page_244">244</a>, <a href="#Page_247">247</a>, <a href="#Page_268">268</a>, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>, + 3O9, <a href="#Page_342">342</a>, <a href="#Page_353">353</a>, <a href="#Page_489">489</a>.</li> + <li class="isub2">6th (F), <a href="#Page_89">89</a>, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>, <a href="#Page_182">182</a>, <a href="#Page_236">236</a>, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>, + <a href="#Page_274">274</a>, <a href="#Page_280">280</a>, <a href="#Page_343">343</a>, <a href="#Page_354">354</a>, <a href="#Page_359">359-362</a>, <a href="#Page_374">374</a>, + <a href="#Page_390">390</a>, <a href="#Page_416">416</a>, <a href="#Page_489">489</a>, <a href="#Page_500">500</a>.</li> + <li class="isub2">7th (G), <a href="#Page_89">89</a>, <a href="#Page_98">98-99</a>, <a href="#Page_100">100</a>, <a href="#Page_104">104-108</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, + <a href="#Page_137">137-139</a>, <a href="#Page_142">142-180</a>, <a href="#Page_181">181</a>, <a href="#Page_193">193</a>, <a href="#Page_195">195-230</a>, <a href="#Page_234">234</a>, + <a href="#Page_235">235</a>, <a href="#Page_242">242-248</a>, <a href="#Page_268">268</a>, <a href="#Page_275">275-276</a>, <a href="#Page_281">281</a>, <a href="#Page_282">282</a>, + <a href="#Page_308">308</a>, <a href="#Page_311">311-341</a>, <a href="#Page_367">367</a>, <a href="#Page_368">368-371</a>, <a href="#Page_374">374-403</a>, <a href="#Page_404">404-413</a>, + <a href="#Page_417">417</a>, <a href="#Page_419">419-425</a>, <a href="#Page_430">430-453</a>, <a href="#Page_456">456-458</a>, <a href="#Page_460">460-463</a>, <a href="#Page_465">465-494</a>, + <a href="#Page_494">494</a>, <a href="#Page_495">495</a>.</li> + <li class="isub2">8th (H), <a href="#Page_248">248</a>, <a href="#Page_268">268</a>, <a href="#Page_272">272</a>, <a href="#Page_280">280</a>, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>, <a href="#Page_342">342</a>, + <a href="#Page_349">349</a>, <a href="#Page_353">353</a>, <a href="#Page_489">489</a>.</li> + <li class="isub2">9th (I), <a href="#Page_248">248</a>, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>, <a href="#Page_343">343</a>, <a href="#Page_350">350</a>, <a href="#Page_353">353</a>, <a href="#Page_367">367</a>, + <a href="#Page_374">374</a>, <a href="#Page_389">389</a>, <a href="#Page_416">416</a>, <a href="#Page_417">417</a>, <a href="#Page_489">489</a>, <a href="#Page_500">500</a>.</li> + <li class="isub2">10th (J), <a href="#Page_343">343</a>, <a href="#Page_347">347</a>, <a href="#Page_353">353</a>, <a href="#Page_366">366</a>, <a href="#Page_374">374</a>, <a href="#Page_376">376</a>, + <a href="#Page_387">387</a>, <a href="#Page_389">389</a>, <a href="#Page_393">393</a>, <a href="#Page_489">489</a>, <a href="#Page_500">500</a>.</li> + <li class="isub2">11th (K), <a href="#Page_309">309</a>, <a href="#Page_310">310</a>, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>, <a href="#Page_322">322</a>, + <a href="#Page_330">330</a>, <a href="#Page_367">367</a>, <a href="#Page_374">374</a>, <a href="#Page_389">389</a>, <a href="#Page_416">416</a>, <a href="#Page_417">417</a>, + <a href="#Page_426">426</a>, <a href="#Page_434">434</a>, <a href="#Page_455">455</a>, <a href="#Page_489">489</a>, <a href="#Page_497">497</a>.</li> + <li class="isub2">12th (L), <a href="#Page_309">309</a>, <a href="#Page_310">310</a>, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>, <a href="#Page_330">330</a>, + <a href="#Page_367">367</a>, <a href="#Page_369">369</a>, <a href="#Page_374">374</a>, <a href="#Page_377">377</a>, <a href="#Page_389">389</a>, <a href="#Page_412">412</a>, + <a href="#Page_414">414-415</a>, <a href="#Page_416">416</a>, <a href="#Page_418">418</a>, <a href="#Page_426">426</a>, <a href="#Page_434">434</a>, <a href="#Page_491">491-493</a>, + <a href="#Page_495">495</a>, <a href="#Page_497">497-500</a>.</li> + <li class="isub2">13th, <a href="#Page_341">341</a>, <a href="#Page_349">349</a>, <a href="#Page_353">353</a>, <a href="#Page_489">489</a>.</li> + <li class="isub2">14th, <a href="#Page_353">353</a>, <a href="#Page_374">374</a>, <a href="#Page_416">416</a>, <a href="#Page_418">418</a>, <a href="#Page_489">489</a>, + <a href="#Page_500">500</a>.</li> + <li class="isub2">15th, <a href="#Page_344">344</a>, <a href="#Page_353">353</a>, <a href="#Page_354">354</a>, <a href="#Page_363">363</a>, <a href="#Page_374">374</a>, <a href="#Page_377">377</a>, + <a href="#Page_387">387</a>, <a href="#Page_433">433</a>, <a href="#Page_455">455</a>, <a href="#Page_489">489</a>.</li> + <li class="isub2">16th, <a href="#Page_344">344</a>, <a href="#Page_367">367</a>, <a href="#Page_489">489</a>, <a href="#Page_502">502</a>.</li> + <li class="isub2">17th, <a href="#Page_344">344</a>, <a href="#Page_354">354</a>, <a href="#Page_357">357-359</a>, <a href="#Page_374">374</a>, <a href="#Page_387">387</a>, + <a href="#Page_489">489</a>.</li> + <li class="isub2">18th, <a href="#Page_344">344</a>, <a href="#Page_502">502</a>.</li> + <li class="isub2">19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th, <a href="#Page_502">502</a>.</li> + <li class="isub2">301st (American), <a href="#Page_426">426-428</a>, <a href="#Page_459">459-460</a>, <a href="#Page_489">489</a>, <a href="#Page_502">502</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Tank Corps, French, <a href="#Page_301">301-305</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Tank Corps, German, <a href="#Page_287">287</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Tank Groups, <a href="#Page_503">503</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Telegraph Hill, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>, <a href="#Page_64">64</a>, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Ternoise river, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Thetford, training at, <a href="#Page_25">25-27</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Thilloy, Ligny-, <a href="#Page_393">393</a>, <a href="#Page_401">401</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">German tanks at, <a href="#Page_416">416</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Tilloy, <a href="#Page_466">466</a>, <a href="#Page_479">479</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Tilloy-les-Mofflaines, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Tortoise Hill, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Trescault, <a href="#Page_270">270</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Triangle Farm, <a href="#Page_207">207</a>, <a href="#Page_229">229</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Tritton, Sir W., <a href="#Page_13">13</a>, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Trônes Wood, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Tulloch, Capt. T. J., <a href="#Page_10">10</a>, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>.</li> + + + <li class="ifrst">Umbrella Hill, <a href="#Page_83">83-85</a>.</li> + + + <li class="ifrst">Vaire Wood, <a href="#Page_349">349</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Vancouver, <a href="#Page_207">207</a>, <a href="#Page_229">229</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Vanheule Farm, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>, <a href="#Page_214">214</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Vaudricourt, <a href="#Page_320">320</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Vaulx-Vraucourt, <a href="#Page_342">342</a>, <a href="#Page_414">414</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Vauvillers, <a href="#Page_358">358</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Vaux-en-Amienois, <a href="#Page_349">349</a>, <a href="#Page_356">356</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Vendhuile, <a href="#Page_265">265</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Viesly, <a href="#Page_497">497</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Villers-au-Flos, <a href="#Page_417">417</a>, <a href="#Page_419">419-420</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Villers-Bretonneux, German tanks at, <a href="#Page_289">289</a>, <a href="#Page_345">345</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Villers-Guislain, <a href="#Page_262">262</a>, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Villers-Plouich, <a href="#Page_284">284</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Vimy Ridge, <a href="#Page_58">58-60</a>, <a href="#Page_310">310</a>, <a href="#Page_315">315-317</a>, <a href="#Page_318">318</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Vlamertinghe, <a href="#Page_101">101</a>, <a href="#Page_132">132</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Von Werder House, <a href="#Page_162">162</a>, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>.</li> + + + <li class="ifrst">Wadi el Nukhabir, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Wadi Ghuzze, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Wailly, <a href="#Page_52">52</a>, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>, <a href="#Page_245">245</a>, <a href="#Page_248">248</a>, <a href="#Page_263">263</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Wambeek, the, <a href="#Page_93">93-94</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Wancourt, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>, <a href="#Page_403">403</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Wareham, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Warfusée-Abancourt, <a href="#Page_358">358</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Watson, Major W. H. L., <a href="#Page_62">62</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Westroosebeke, <a href="#Page_245">245</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Wilson, Major W. G., <a href="#Page_13">13</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Wilson’s Post, <a href="#Page_114">114-115</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Williams-Ellis, Major C., <a href="#Page_14">14</a>, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>, <a href="#Page_190">190</a>, <a href="#Page_240">240</a>, <a href="#Page_297">297</a>, + <a href="#Page_300">300</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Winnipeg, <a href="#Page_196">196</a>, <a href="#Page_238">238</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Wool, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Wormhoudt, <a href="#Page_192">192</a>, <a href="#Page_242">242</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Wrisberg, General von, <a href="#Page_293">293-294</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Wytschaete, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>, <a href="#Page_344">344</a>.</li> + + + <li class="ifrst">Yperlee, <a href="#Page_206">206</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Ypres Salient, description of, <a href="#Page_101">101-104</a>, <a href="#Page_118">118-119</a>;</li> + <li class="isub1">unfitness for tank warfare, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>, <a href="#Page_103">103-104</a>, <a href="#Page_132">132-133</a>, <a href="#Page_161">161</a>, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>, + <a href="#Page_193">193-195</a>, <a href="#Page_238">238-239</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Ytres, <a href="#Page_258">258</a>.</li> + + <li class="indx">Yvrench, <a href="#Page_28">28</a>.</li> +</ul> +</nav> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_518">518</span></p> + + +<p class="center"> + <span class="sm">PRINTED BY WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS.</span> +</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter transnote"> +<p class="center"> Transcriber’s Notes.</p> + +<p> Evident typographical and punctuation errors have been corrected +silently. Inconsistent spelling/hyphenation has been normalised. </p> + + +<p> A half-title page has been discarded. </p> + +<p> End of page footnotes have been sequentially numbered and gathered +at the end of the text. </p> + +<p> To improve text flow, illustrations have been relocated between +paragraphs. Page numbers in the List of Illustrations may no +longer be relevant, but will link to the image location. </p> <p> A +list of maps has been appended by the transcriber.</p> + +<p> Cover art created for this eBook is granted to the public domain. +</p> + +</div> + + +</main> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 79272 ***</div> +</body> +</html> |