THE WESTERN FRONT
(_November, 1916, to July, 1917_)
I. SUMMARY OF EVENTS
As has been seen, both Baghdad and Jerusalem fell to British arms
during the year 1917, but other mighty events of war were happening on
the various fronts, and, while England was knocking out the Turk with
her left hand, so to speak, she was still engaged in a furious fight
against Germany on the Western front with her right, in conjunction, of
course, with her faithful allies. Moreover, other things happened in
1917 which very materially influenced the course of the great struggle.
The two most important events were the coming in of the United States
of America and the dropping out of the Russians.
On the 1st February, 1917, Germany very foolishly declared unrestricted
submarine warfare: that is, she issued a notice that, within what
she was pleased to lay down as a War Zone, she intended to sink both
combatant and neutral shipping at sight. This directly brought her into
a state of war, which was declared on the 6th April, with America, and
the first American contingent landed in France on the 25th June, and
on the 27th October infantry and artillery belonging to that nation
were actually in action. Of course, the armies from across the Atlantic
were at first very small, like our own had been in 1914, but, like the
British forces, they swelled with rapidity.
On the 12th March of this year of 1917 a revolution started in Russia
and three days later the Czar abdicated. Notwithstanding this,
however, the Russians, under General Brusilov, commenced a determined
offensive in Galicia, which was at first successful, but which
soon died away. On the 21st October the new government practically
determined on peace, though there was a mutual agreement between the
three countries of England, France and Russia that no one of them would
make peace without the other two. These kinds of arrangements, however,
did not affect the new rulers very much, and, on the 22nd November,
Lenin authorized the troops at the front to negotiate for cessation
of hostilities, and next day he started to work to disband the army.
Preliminaries being signed with the enemy at Brest Litovsk on the 5th
December, it became actually necessary for Rumania to follow suit. On
the 21st June the Order of the British Empire was established.
At the end of October our friends the Italians were suffering disaster
at the hands of the Austrians, and early in November a British force
had to be sent to their assistance.
II. THE 7TH BATTALION--THE ANCRE
Meanwhile war went on steadily in France and Belgium, and the 1st, 6th,
7th and 8th Battalions of the Buffs were all there and taking part; so
we must now take up their history from the 18th November, 1916, which
is the date Sir Douglas Haig assigns as marking the close of that
lengthy struggle called the Battle of the Somme. Of the units mentioned
above, the 7th was the first to participate in a general action, for
it must be understood that fighting in the neighbourhood of the Somme
and the Ancre rivers by no means ended on the fixed date mentioned;
in fact, our 7th found itself in the thick of a fierce battle on the
18th November itself. Sir Douglas Haig, in describing his plans for
the winter, makes it clear that it was desirable to allow the enemy
no respite during the cold season, and he tells us why he resolved to
keep up as much offensive work in the neighbourhood of the River Ancre
as the weather and the state of the ground would allow. In fact, the
German was to have no rest until the new spring offensive was brought
into being, and further operations on the Ancre, as well as many minor
enterprises and raids, were organized to annoy him while, at the same
time, all troops that could be spared from actual touch with the enemy
were to undergo a period of training and refitting as well as the
rest they so much required; for after all rest is only a change of
occupation, just as in civil life a man who daily fatigues his body
rests in a long chair under a tree; so an office man, sedentarily
employed, rests himself on a holiday by a game of cricket or football.
To get back to the history of the 7th Battalion, then, it was on the
16th November that it received a message from its brigadier that
operations might recommence on the following day, and, together with
the 7th Queen’s, it went into trenches in relief of the Cheshire and
Welch Regiments, and on that date 2nd Lieut. I. H. Hess and two men
were killed and six wounded. Near Mouquet Farm and stretching eastwards
from the village of Grandcourt was a trench of the same name, and about
five hundred yards south of it, also stretching east from the southern
edge of Grandcourt, and covering the village of Miraumont, lay a long
trench line called Desiré; both these were occupied by Germans. Facing
Desiré trench, about six hundred yards from it and nearly parallel,
ran the English line called Regina, and in it had been for some few
days the East Surrey and West Kent Regiments. The line was prolonged
to the left by the Queen’s and Buffs on the 17th November, so it came
about that on the morning of the 18th, on which day Desiré was to be
assaulted, the ground was new to these two regiments. Behind Regina
was Hessian trench, and Zollern trench was behind that again. The
ground was very difficult to move over and it was snowing when the
attack began at 6.10 a.m. The enemy opened fire almost at once, and at
6.45 his barrage was intense. No news from the assaulting companies
could be got at the Buffs’ headquarters and several runners were killed
in trying to obtain information; but at last the officer commanding
the Queen’s sent news that the Buffs and Queen’s were in touch and
that they were consolidating. It was, however, only at 6.30 p.m. on
the 19th that the whole of the original objective of the Buffs was
secured by the help of D Company (Captain Wood). The ground over which
the original attack had passed was now examined and the secret of the
heavy casualties discovered: it was found that in front of A Company,
particularly opposite its right flank, a number of shell holes about
thirty yards the English side of Desiré had been improved by the enemy
into most excellent cover and connected backwards to their trenches by
well-constructed narrow slits or passages. The Germans had remained
covered in this place till our barrage lifted over it and then come to
life again, so to speak, and opened quite unexpected and very deadly
fire on every living man who approached. Captain Dyson was killed, and
there remained but one unwounded soldier of A Company. The 7th Buffs’
casualty list for this Battle of the Ancre amounted to 3 officers
killed, 4 wounded and 1 missing, and 23 other ranks killed, 76 wounded
and 124 missing.
A discovery was made by Captain Wood on the evening of the 19th which,
to the disgrace of our enemies be it written, was practically unique in
the history of the war. He found an officer, several men of A Company
and two of the West Kent all severely wounded in a dug-out in Desiré
trench; they had been carried in by the enemy and had been bound up
and treated well by them.
[Illustration:
_Imperial War Museum_ _Crown Copyright_
SCENE ON THE ANCRE]
III. 7TH BATTALION--_continued_
The next important general action in which the regiment was engaged
was the Battle of Arras, which commenced on the 9th April, 1917, and
in which it was represented by its 6th Battalion. The story of the
1st, 6th, 7th and 8th up to that date is consequently not so full
of incident as some other periods, though casualties continued to
occur. For the purposes of continuity, however, it will be as well to
consider a brief account of the doings of each, remembering that Haig
had decreed that the enemy was to have no rest prior to our spring
offensive, which offensive commenced with the said Battle of Arras.
Regular and continuous training for this offensive was, however, to
be the key-note for the winter work of our people. As regards the 7th
Battalion a rest was imperative; it was weak in numbers and much war
worn, and so it, with its brigade, moved away westwards, at first by
bus to Hartonville and then by march route to Candas Beaumetz and
Marcheville, which latter village it reached on the 27th December and
where it remained till the 14th January, 1917, receiving seven new 2nd
lieutenants and a draft of no less than 315 men. On the latter date
the unit moved to Hautevillers. About six weeks were very well spent
in training and refitting in this, the Abbeville district, and the
good work done at this time, together with the arrival of excellent
drafts and several capable officers, resulted in the reproduction of a
very fine battalion. It was on the 11th January that the brigade began
moving towards Albert again, billeting in the wayside villages each
night, reaching Hedauville, which is about three miles north-west of
Albert, on the 16th and remaining there for nearly a month, which was
mostly employed in road-making.
On the night of the 11th February the 55th Brigade relieved the 54th in
the trenches near Martinsart and for a few days were near Mouquet Farm
and the Zollern trench again. 2nd Lieut. Butler was wounded on the 22nd
February.
Although the winter was supposed to be mainly a preparation for a
spring campaign, both the enemy and our people had been fairly busy
ever since the close of the Somme fighting. The Germans, who still
held three lines of defence about the Ancre river, had been busy
establishing a strong fortified position called the Hindenburg Line,
which, starting from the old lines near Arras, ran south-eastward for
twelve miles to Queant and from there west of Cambrai towards St.
Quentin; and this line was connected up with various switches. By means
of continuous offensive work our armies had gradually gained certain
positions about Grandcourt, and the spur which runs northward from
Courcelette towards Miraumont, which gave complete command over the
enemy’s artillery in the upper valley of the Ancre and his defences
about Pys and Miraumont.
On the 23rd February the 7th Buffs took over the advanced line from the
7th Royal West Kent, C Company being on the right front with D on the
left; A right support, B left support; headquarters in Boom ravine.
This relief was carried out by daylight and in full view of the enemy
from the neighbourhood of Loupart Wood, the consequence being that our
men were shelled as they went up and twenty casualties resulted.
It was thought probable about this time that the enemy was withdrawing,
and when the West Kent were relieved they reported signs of a
retirement, so, when night fell, the Buffs were ordered to send out
patrols along the road leading north-east towards South Miraumont
Trench until touch was gained with the enemy, to find out whether
that work had been evacuated and, if so, to occupy it. The darkness
was intense and movement most difficult, but D Company found the
South Miraumont Trench deserted and, in conjunction with a company of
the Queen’s, established posts there. When daylight came C Company,
assisted by A, commenced a complete reconnaissance which was most
admirably carried out under Captain Clapperton of C Company, who, with
Lieut. Hayfield, 2nd Lieuts. Mathias and Church and Captain Row, did
some skilful and useful work. They found Petit Miraumont abandoned by
the enemy, and by evening it was ascertained that Pys and Miraumont had
also been evacuated. When night had again fallen (on the 24th February)
a line was established running along the East Miraumont road as far as
the railway where it passes the village, and this was held by A Company
(Captain Allen) on the right, and C (Captain Clapperton) on the left.
On the 25th news came that the 2nd and 63rd Divisions were about to
advance, one on either side of the 35th Brigade, who prepared to go
forward in their company with the Buffs in front. There was a very
thick fog, and the task of collecting the scattered companies was thus
rendered a most difficult one, but the work was well and comparatively
quickly accomplished and the advance successfully carried out. A
Company covered the advance with patrols while D moved on Pys with the
near edge of Irles as an objective. C Company moved with its left on
the railway, B being held in reserve on the East Miraumont road. The
fog was so dense that compasses had to be used, but, notwithstanding
all difficulties, the several parties all reached their objectives and
gained touch inwards. D had to throw back its right flank to join with
the 2nd Division, which came up much slower. This company was admirably
handled by Captain Wood, but this is also true of all the company and
platoon leaders. In the course of the afternoon the positions gained
were consolidated under a certain amount of shelling and machine-gun
fire from Irles and a position east of Pys. That evening the battalion
was relieved by the 7th Queen’s and went back to the Zollern Redoubt,
after placing to its credit a very fine piece of work.
The early part of March was spent in the same area, that is between
the Zollern Redoubt and Miraumont, but no event of great importance
to the Buffs occurred, though indications were at this time being
observed by the staff of a coming German withdrawal, and on the 14th
March any doubts as to the truth of this conjecture were dissolved and
three days later a general advance of our whole line from Roye in the
south to just south of Arras took place. The enemy had retreated to his
Hindenburg Line. Unfortunately he could not be properly pursued: our
people were travelling over devastated country and smashed and broken
roads, bridges and communications, while the German had of course kept
everything of that sort in his rear in perfect order.
The 55th Brigade, with the Buffs, moved away from the district
altogether, commencing the journey on the 21st March by marching ten
miles to the south-west and billeting at Harponville. On the 25th
they entrained at Saleux for the First Army area, detraining next
day at Steenbecque, south-west of Hazebrouck, and thence marching to
billets at Boeseghem, in which vicinity the battalion remained for a
considerable time, undergoing the usual course of training.
On the 8th April the brigade paraded for the presentation of medal
ribbons, on which occasion Lieut. Hayfield received a bar to his M.C.,
and Captain Wood, 2nd Lieuts. Church, Mathias and Cotching the ribbon
of that decoration. The special training period continued at Boeseghem
until the 20th of the month, on which day the brigade moved by route
march through Bethune to La Bourse; back to Bethune on the 26th, and
finally reached Neuville Vitasse and went into reserve trenches on the
28th. Neuville Vitasse is between four and five miles to the south of
Arras and nearly the same distance from the village of Cherisy.
On the 1st May the battalion took its place in the front-line and
support trenches: A and B Companies relieving the Queen’s, and the
other two companies the Royal West Kent.
IV. 1ST BATTALION
We left the 1st Battalion at Bethune and the trenches in that vicinity.
Though casualties were not uncommon, the 1st December, 1916, was rather
a worse day than most: on that date L.-Corpl. Willey was killed and
ten men wounded, while Pte. Tattersall and 2nd Lieut. Kingham went
down with shell-shock. On the 20th of the month the Buffs got back to
Bethune with a casualty list for the first twenty days of the month of
no less than 12 killed (including C.S.M. Freemen), 31 wounded and 2
shell-shock cases. On the 24th pleasant Christmas gifts in the shape
of decoration ribbons were handed at Bethune to Captain Brown, C.S.M.
Randall, L.-Corpls. Ashdown and Baines and Pte. Higgins.
The beginning of 1917 brought no change except slight ones in the way
of locality, such as a move into huts at Noyelles on the 9th January
and change of trenches. There came a list of mentions in despatches
near the middle of this month, and the names of Lt.-Colonel Green,
Captain Stone, 2nd Lieut. Ford, R.S.M. Harrington and C.Q.M.S. Poole
were included. On the 3rd February C.S.M. Brown, D.C.M., was appointed
Actg. R.S.M. vice Harrington, who went to a cadet school.[20] On the
12th February the battalion was inspected by Sir Douglas Haig. On
the 15th it retired into billets at Robecq, some seven miles further
back than Bethune. The fortnight spent there was passed in strict
professional training for four hours from 8.30 a.m., and equally strict
recreation in the form of cross-country running, boxing and football in
the afternoon.
March brought no relief from the almost daily tale of casualties. On
the 1st of the month headquarters were in the village of Loos, with the
men in the trenches; and by the 17th 2nd Lieut. S. Major and 10 others
had been killed and 35 wounded. On the 18th the enemy carried out a
raid on our trenches and succeeded in getting a footing in them, but
after a short time was ejected leaving 7 dead; but we lost 2nd Lieut.
H. M. Norsworthy and 10 men killed, 2nd Lieut. Hughes and 24 wounded,
besides 8 missing. This raid seemed to have had the effect of raising
and fostering a very firm determination on the part of the Buffs to get
“a bit of their own back,” and on the last day but one of March a party
consisting of Captain Strauss, 2nd Lieuts. Brown, Davis and Griffiths
and a hundred rank and file carried out a successful raid on the German
front and support works, blowing up several dug-outs and bringing back
a prisoner and many trophies. Four of our fellows, however, were killed
and four more died of wounds. 2nd Lieut. Griffith and 29 men were
wounded, and 2nd Lieut. P. W. T. Davis and 7 others originally reported
missing, were afterwards found to have been killed in the action. It
was estimated that about 200 of the enemy were slain during this little
expedition.
On the 1st April the battalion was in support in Loos village,
remaining there seven days, when a return to the trenches was made,
and here the 1st Battalion was still serving when the Battle of Arras
opened on the 9th.
V. 8TH BATTALION
For the most of this period our 8th Battalion were near neighbours of
the 1st, and indeed there were at times meetings between them. On the
18th November it was at Mazingarbe, only three miles west of Loos,
taking its usual trench tours in the “Bis” section. On the 21st Captain
Vaughan was evacuated sick after serving continuously since the unit
arrived in France, and leaving only Lieut. Herapath with this record.
It is interesting to note that, on the 24th and again on the 20th
December, the 1st and 8th Battalions met in combat on the football
ground, the former proving on each occasion too strong. As they were
due in the trenches again on the 22nd December the men kept Christmas
at Mazingarbe on the 20th of the month with great festivity, some of
the 1st Battalion officers dining with those of the 8th. The trenches
were much knocked about by the enemy during the Christmas tour of work,
so much so that the front line almost ceased to exist.
The new year found the 8th in what was called the Village Line, and the
German started the New Year with a heavy dose of gas and lachrimatory
shells, and on the 5th January an extensive raid. Fine work was done
by 2nd Lieut. Darling, who organized and led bombing squads with great
success; by Captain Morley, who, with three men, held a bombing post
although completely surrounded and cut off; and by Pte. Setterfield,
who, being company runner, killed three of the enemy and rescued one
of our own people, while carrying messages. Two days after this fight
the unit moved back to billets in Mazingarbe for training work, the
monotony of which was lightened by regular football.
After another turn at trench warfare a raiding party of 4 officers
and 120 other ranks on the 26th January, all clad in white smocks on
account of the snow, and acting in conjunction with the 12th Battalion
Royal Fusiliers, started at 6.30 a.m. for the German trenches. The
result of this expedition was very satisfactory and was the cause of
great elation to the men. Heavy casualties were inflicted and several
dug-outs were blown in. The wire had been well cut by the gunners and
the enemy’s resistance did not prove very considerable, but 2nd Lieut.
R. G. Phillips was killed and fourteen men were wounded. Unfortunately
most of the Germans were in dug-outs and could not be extracted.
The battalion was in the front-line trenches from the 30th till the
6th February. It was what might be termed a normal tour, but very
cold. In fact, the winter of 1916–1917 was almost a record for bitter
and continuous frosts. The next turn in the rest areas was from the
7th February to the 2nd March, first at Mazingarbe and then at Nœux
les Mines, a little further west. The time was, of course, devoted to
training, and in addition to that work, done under divisional auspices,
special practice was given to 125 picked men as a preliminary to
another raiding expedition. On the 14th February 2nd Lieuts. Sankey and
Darling were awarded M.C.’s for the recent successful little operation.
The battalion came up to the strength of 1056 about this time owing
to the arrival of a draft on the 21st and the fact that a number
of instructors who had been lent to a training battalion, recently
organized, returned now to their own unit. By the end of the month
everybody was well prepared and equipped and very ready for whatever
might befall.
The 2nd March saw the brigade in a new trench line called “Angres,”
taken over from Canadian troops; and a week later it was at Bully
Grenay, three miles west of Loos; but the inhabitants were still in
the place--children and all. It was wonderful how bravely the French
peasants throughout the war stuck to their homes near the firing line,
regardless of roofs broken by shells and the constant danger of being
blown to atoms.
Bully Grenay was, on the 5th April, so heavily shelled that three
companies had to leave the place and the fourth go into the cellars.
2nd Lieut. W. L. Donelan was killed in his billet. Gas shells also came
over and one or two N.C.O.’s were badly gassed. Concerts, however,
which had been arranged for certain dates early in the month, were not
interfered with or postponed. The alternating process of trench work
and so-called rest in billets, roughly week and week about, had been
going on for a considerable time and, in fact, described the life of
the unit during the early part of 1917.
On the 27th March a special party of 125 men of A Company got into
position at 3.30 a.m. Captain Morrell took post in the front line, and
2nd Lieut. Young and party moved across No Man’s Land opposite the
place known as “The Pope’s Nose.” The men moved forward under a perfect
barrage, just as dawn was breaking; but owing to the imperfect light
the two parties converged on entering the enemy’s lines and a certain
amount of confusion ensued. However, no enemy was encountered, though
the left party proceeded some way down the communication trench. A
dug-out was blown in. The Germans retaliated in a half-hearted sort of
way and we had a man killed and two wounded.
On the 8th April our artillery bombardment on Vimy Ridge was very
active and continuous, and reached its maximum about 5.30 a.m. the
following day, which was to the battalion a more exciting one than
can well be imagined by those who have never seen the like; for it
falls to the lot of few soldiers to observe any fighting--that is to
say, fighting not in their very immediate vicinity: the Canadians were
attacking, and our men could tell by the way our barrage was creeping
steadily forward that they were gaining their objective. The Battle
of Vimy Ridge was in progress and the Buffs were watching, as if at a
theatre, while the men of Canada gave a display.
VI. 6TH BATTALION--ARRAS AND THE SCARPE
On the date chosen by Haig to define the end of the Battle of the Somme
the 6th Battalion of the Buffs were at Beaumetz in the Arras district,
and the rest of 1916 was spent in that vicinity and passed without
incident. Roughly speaking, one week the battalion was in trenches and
the next week out; but on the 17th December a move was made to Sombrin,
a few miles west of Beaumetz, for a quiet period of rest, if arduous
work at parades for a new method of attack, bombing, the use of rifle
grenades, musketry, bayonet fighting and physical training can be
called quiet rest. These military exercises were, however, interspersed
with the usual football and other manly relaxations, and, as usual,
Christmas occurred on the 25th December.
On the 9th January, 1917, the battalion being still at Sombrin, the
New Year honours list was read, and the following found themselves
mentioned in despatches: Captains Hunter, Page, M.C., and Ward and
Sgt. Brown. Lieut. and Qr.-Master Linwood was granted the higher
rate of pay. Two days afterwards came a most gratifying inspection
by the G.O.C. 12th Division, who highly complimented the battalion
on its smart and soldierly appearance. This was the occasion of the
presentation of the following awards: bar to Military Medal, Sgt.
Setterfield; Military Crosses to C.S.M.’s Harrison and Maxted; Military
Medals to Sgts. Callaghan, Knight and Ross, Corpls. Alexander and
Richards, L.-Corpls. Ielden and Millington and Pte. Miller. On the
13th January the battalion left for Arras in buses and went into the
trenches in the bitter cold weather which prevailed at this time in
France.
[Illustration:
_Imperial War Museum_ _Crown Copyright_
WINTER ON THE WESTERN FRONT]
Up till the end of March the normal routine obtained. The billets were
at different times in Montenescourt, Noyellette, Givenchy le Noble,
Agnez Duisans and Lattre St. Quentin, all of which places are close to
the westward of Arras except Givency le Noble, which is about fifteen
miles away and where some special instruction in practice trenches was
given.
On the 10th March 20 officers and 650 men, under Lt.-Colonel Cope, left
Agnez Duisans for Arras for work under the orders of the 35th Brigade,
the remainder of the battalion remaining at Agnez Duisans under Major
Smeltzer. Arras was very considerably shelled at this time and a great
deal of work was being done in the town constructing new caves and
greatly enlarging existing ones. These were to be the assembly places
for thousands of troops prior to the great contemplated attack, as well
as a refuge for those inhabitants who had not left the city. Electric
light was installed in these caves and cellars, which were linked
together by tunnels and the whole connected by long subways with our
trench system east of the town. On the 5th April, our 6th Battalion
being then in Arras, a heavy bombardment of the German trenches
commenced, as well as other preparations for Sir Douglas Haig’s spring
offensive. This was the most prolonged and most furious artillery that
had as yet been possible during the war.
On the 9th of the month the Battle of Arras commenced. The brigade was
all formed up in the reserve trenches by 3.30 a.m. The 6th Queen’s
were in first line on the right and the 7th East Surrey on the left.
The 13th Liverpool Regiment of the division was on the right of the
Queen’s, who had the Buffs in support; while the 6th Royal West Kent
supported the East Surreys. At 5.30, the zero hour, the guns opened
an intensive fire on the German lines and at the same time the whole
moved forward to the attack in artillery formation. The Buffs had C
Company on the right and D on the left, with A, plus one and a half
platoons of B, as right support, and the remainder of B left support.
After passing through the Queen’s the first objective (Black Line) was
reached and quickly captured by the Buffs, without much loss. A two
hours’ bombardment of the enemy’s second system of trenches (Blue Line)
followed, and then the barrage lifted and the advance was resumed. More
opposition was now encountered, snipers and machine guns being active
on both flanks. After some stiff hand-to-hand fighting D Company was
able to get round to the flank and, by overcoming concealed machine
guns, which the enemy had pushed forward into shell holes, reached and
captured the point on the Blue Line which was its objective. C Company
on the right was troubled by enfilade machine-gun fire operating on its
right flank from the ruins of Estaminet Corner. By means of Lewis-gun
fire and rifle grenading, however, these were eventually silenced and
the company enabled to proceed. Then the Blue Line was consolidated,
Lewis guns pushed forward and strong points dug. At 2.18 p.m. the 35th
Brigade came up, passed through the 37th and pushed on to the final
objective. The whole attack made on this day was entirely successful,
even more so than was expected. Great numbers of prisoners, machine
guns, field guns and material fell to the Buffs. All objectives
were seized and consolidated and advance parties sent forward. By
the afternoon no enemy was to be found except dead or prisoners in
the “cages” or wired-in enclosures erected for the captured. On the
10th the cavalry went through and reached Monchy le Preux, where the
battalion followed that night, having lost during the whole first
Battle of the Scarpe 2nd Lieuts. R. G. K. Money and T. W. Buss and 23
men killed; Captain Gordon, 2nd Lieuts. Wilks, Good, Figgis, Thornley,
Squire and Baldwin, and 149 men wounded, with 18 missing.
The Buffs were relieved on the 11th and went back into the old German
lines, spending the day in clearing up the battlefield, burying the
dead, forming dumps of tools and wire; after moving forward to the
Brown Line they were informed that the brigade would have to relieve
the 37th Division and part of the cavalry brigade before Monchy. Owing
to perfectly blinding snow and as no guides were available for the
Buffs or East Surrey, these two battalions had, however, to remain
where they were while the Queen’s and West Kent, who got guides given
them, went up into the new line. The next day the Buffs were standing
by in readiness to proceed to Monchy, a German counter-attack being
expected, but they were relieved at nightfall by the 29th Division and
marched back by the Cambrai road to the caves in Arras. On the 14th
they left that ruined city and marched for billets at Montenescourt
with the band playing the regimental march, which is an exhilarating
piece of music, especially on triumphant occasions.
The battalion was out of the line only a fortnight at Noyellette,
Duisan and so on, and was on the last day of April in the front at
Monchy once again, all four companies being under the command of
subalterns, though one of them held the acting rank of captain.
The village of Fresnoy is roughly eight miles north-east of Arras,
and Bullecourt, on the Hindenburg Line, is about the same distance
south-east of the city. Between these two villages, on a fairly
straight line and commencing from the north, are Rœux, Monchy le Preux,
Cherisy and Fontaine lez Croisilles. Monchy and Cherisy are a little
over three miles apart.
On the 3rd May, 1917, Haig attacked the enemy with the Third and First
Armies from Fresnoy to Fontaine lez Croisilles, while the Fifth Army
assaulted the Hindenburg Line about Bullecourt, and together these
forces fought what is known as the Third Battle of the Scarpe. To quote
the Commander-in-Chief’s despatches: “Along practically the whole
of this front our troops broke into the enemy’s position. Australian
troops carried the Hindenburg Line east of Bullecourt. Eastern County
battalions took Cherisy. Other English troops entered Rœux and captured
the German trenches south of Fresnoy. Canadian battalions found Fresnoy
full of German troops assembled for a hostile attack, which was to have
been delivered at a later hour. After hard fighting, in which the enemy
lost heavily, the Canadians carried the village, thereby completing an
unbroken series of successes.” It is necessary to remember that the 6th
Battalion the Buffs was on this date at Monchy, and the 7th opposite
Cherisy.
In this battle our 6th Battalion was very far from being fortunate, and
it is not easy to obtain a correct description of its doings, owing
to abnormal casualties and great difficulty, if not impossibility, of
those in the foremost fighting line communicating with their commanding
officer in the rear. The chief cause of this difficulty was the
darkness, for the zero hour was fixed at 3.45 a.m. The battalion was,
during the preceding night, in shell holes, A being on the right, B
on the left, C supporting A, and D being behind B. Punctually on time
our guns opened, and an intense barrage was timed to lift and advance
one hundred yards every three minutes, and as the guns fired our men
went off into the darkness, too many of them never to see the sun rise
again. Every effort was made to keep communication with them, and 2nd
Lieut. McAuley, the Signalling Officer, with two signallers and two
orderlies, went forward to establish an advanced headquarters in what
was known as Devil’s Trench, but returned at 4.30, no communication
being possible. Two prisoners were sent down and apparently the
battalion was advancing satisfactorily, but nothing definite could be
ascertained. Even later on, when daylight came, gunfire and snipers
made it hard to get any news of how matters were proceeding; but at
dusk it was discovered that the Buffs had suffered much and that the
line in their front was practically as before. It would seem a pity
that the ground was quite unknown to the battalion which had not held
the same position previously and that the orders to attack came so late
that there was no time available for systematic reconnaissance.
The continuous loss of officers at this time was so serious that 2nd
Lieuts. Seago and Sowter were sent for from the detail camp and,
arriving about 10 p.m., were sent forward to reorganize what was left
of the battalion. A bright episode occurred to lighten what must
otherwise be considered as a gloomy day for the regiment, although
it was a costly act of gallantry. Part of the objective allotted to
the Buffs in the morning had been a spot called Keeling Copse, and it
was found, after the battalion had taken stock of its losses, that
2nd Lieuts. Cockeram and Gunther with about forty men and a Lewis gun
had actually got there, only to discover that they were completely
isolated, the enemy having re-formed his line behind them, and both
sides being in their original trenches. Thus three lines of Germans
intervened between this handful of men and their comrades. Nothing
daunted, however, they held their own all day, accounted for many
of the enemy and then, when night fell and they had expended every
cartridge and bomb they possessed, they gallantly fought their way
back again, breaking through one line after another, until at last
the two subalterns and thirteen of their stout lads were enabled to
report themselves to battalion headquarters. Cockeram and Gunther both
received the M.C. for their gallant conduct on this occasion. It is sad
to have to add that Gunther was killed shortly afterwards within half
a mile of Keeling Copse gallantly defending a trench the German was
attacking. Cockeram lived to do good and gallant work later on in the
Flying Corps. The casualties in this terrible action were 2nd Lieuts.
J. H. Dinsmore and H. V. Hardey-Mason killed, and Captain J. B. Kitchin
died of wounds; Captain McDermott and 2nd Lieuts. Williams and Nesbitt
wounded; 2nd Lieuts. C. Warnington, A. Kirkpatrick, H. W. Evans and R.
L. F. Forster, Lieuts. K. L. James, Grant, King and Willis missing,
of whom the first five were found to have been killed; 25 other ranks
killed, 128 wounded and 207 missing.
About 2 a.m. on the 4th the remnant was relieved and got back and, next
day, was reorganized into two companies each of only two platoons, No.
1 Company, 2nd Lieut. Stevens in command, with Sowter, Seago and Sankey
under him; and No. 2 Company, under Captain Carter, with 2nd Lieuts.
Gunther and Cockeram. It was only rested in Arras for forty-eight
hours and then underwent another ten days in the trenches before being
relieved on the 17th, on which day it went to Duisans.
VII. 7TH BATTALION
While the 6th Battalion of the Buffs was suffering as briefly described
above, their brethren of the 7th, on the night of the 2nd/3rd May,
were opposite the village of Cherisy preparing for the attack: A and
B were the assaulting companies, C the supporting company, and D was
in reserve, in shell holes, in rear of the support trench. The Buffs
were on the right of their brigade with the 54th Infantry Brigade
on their right and the 8th East Surrey on the left. The Royal West
Kent supported both Buffs and East Surreys, and the 7th Queen’s were
brigade reserve. The orders given to our battalion were to advance in
conjunction with the 54th Brigade and to capture Keeling Copse.
It must be admitted at once that the attack was a failure, due, in
the opinion of all, to the intense darkness at 3.45. The attack of the
Buffs and East Surreys was successful in itself, however, and both
units showed great dash, but failure on the flanks led to a subsequent
retirement, and it is sad to think that, taking part in what Sir
Douglas Haig describes as a successful battle, both the brigades in
which battalions of the Buffs were serving failed in the part allotted
to them. There seems to be no doubt that the front waves reached their
objectives, but the 12th Middlesex and 11th Royal Fusiliers, both of
the 54th Brigade, failed to get past the wire covering the German front
line. Little opposition was experienced at first, but the second and
subsequent waves came under very heavy fire, causing their progress to
be slow, so that the men who started first were more or less cut off
for a time. The Germans, being unable to reinforce in masses owing to
our guns, dribbled up men from their rear in very small parties. As
regards details of the Buffs’ advance: all companies of the battalion
got clear of the front trench before the enemy’s barrage commenced,
but, owing to the darkness, sections, platoons and companies soon got
mingled up together and at one time part of the Middlesex belonging
to the 54th Brigade came across the Buffs’ front in the dark, but the
error was skilfully rectified.
At the first glimpse of dawn the village of Cherisy was reached and
passed through. As it was entered the right company had touch with
the Middlesex, but on reaching the bed of the Sensée river, which is
just beyond, its officer, Captain Black, discovered that this touch
was lost and that the flank was in the air, though the other was in
proper prolongation of its left-hand neighbouring company. He therefore
determined to halt and form a defensive flank along the road which
runs south-east from the village across the stream. Before this could
be done he was heavily attacked, and the message he sent back to that
effect failed to get through.
Meanwhile the left assaulting company, reinforced by portions of C and
in touch with the East Surreys, gained the first objective, or Blue
Line. D Company had halted, according to order, in what was called the
“Cable” trench, which was perfectly straight and which was found to be
occupied at its right extremity by a considerable number of the enemy,
some of whom the company destroyed or captured, together with a machine
gun. However, the Germans still held one end and a bomb-stop had to be
constructed and an attempt made to progress down the trench; but it was
not until a Stokes gun was brought up that any progress was made, the
work being deep, narrow and difficult to bomb. Thus the situation at 9
a.m. was that Captain Black’s company (A) on the right was still open
to assault and unable to move, thus causing the left, which had gained
certain advantages, to lose ground for want of the support expected
from the Middlesex battalion, while the reserve company was still
struggling for possession of “Cable” trench, and B and C Companies had
both fought their way to the Sensée river.
A little afterwards came an order that the Buffs and East Surreys
were to advance to the Red Line, the West Kents to consolidate the
Blue Line. About 11 o’clock reports came that a general retirement
was taking place, and the enemy established an intense bombardment of
our front line and back area. “Cable” trench was now full of men in
addition to D Company, who had not yet been able to emerge from the
trench; but our own rescuing people were hopelessly intermingled with
the enemy, so that it was impossible to open fire. The Englishmen,
however, who passed over and beyond the trench in their retirement,
were soon rallied and brought back to the original lines, so that in
half an hour or so the situation was well in hand, though “Cable”
trench had been evacuated. An attempt was made at 7.15 p.m. to retake
this, the assaulting battalion being the Queen’s supported by the
Buffs, but the hostile machine-gun and rifle fire was too much and
the attack failed. The Queen’s fell back and the Buffs occupied the
original front-line trenches for the night, having suffered a casualty
list of 2 officers killed, 6 wounded and 4 missing; 25 other ranks
killed, 169 wounded and 174 missing.
VIII. 1ST BATTALION
As this chapter is intended to record the doings of the four battalions
on the Western front for the first half of the year 1917, the record
will now take each in turn from the Battle of Arras up till the 30th
June or thereabouts.
The great war storm that was raging south of that place caused ripples
and splashes to be noticed about Loos and its neighbourhood, and the
1st Battalion was in that village at the opening of the great spring
offensive, having taken its place in the front-line trenches on the
7th April. On the 9th the battalion on the left attempted a raid which
brought on a fierce hostile barrage on all trenches and back areas,
causing the death of four men of the regiment and the wounding of 2nd
Lieut. Harman and six others, and casualties continued at odd times
for several days, the enemy appearing very alert and naturally nervous
owing to the progress of our people to the southward. At 4 p.m. on the
13th the 2nd York and Lancaster Regiment, on the Buffs’ right, advanced
and found that the Germans had abandoned their front-line system. B
Company joined in this movement and occupied German trenches south of
the Loos Crassier, and although the enemy’s rear guard offered good
resistance the British advance was persisted in, and during the night
a new line running south from Harts Craters was established, though it
came under very considerable fire on the 14th. During the following
night strong patrols found no resistance west of the Loos Crassier
railway, and in the morning the York and Lancaster, aided by our B
Company, attacking again, gained the railway and, being then reinforced
by A Company, consolidated the new ground which had been gained and
which included Fosse 12. This was done in spite of two vigorous
counter-attacks.
On the 16th, commencing at noon, the right group artillery bombarded
the area in front, and at 2 o’clock the 8th Bedfords on the right
and the Buffs on the left commenced an advance and gained a sunken
road which was resolutely held by two companies which became involved
in very heavy fighting, so much so, indeed, that at last a short
retirement to the Double Crassier railway line had to be made, a
redistribution of the brigade being arranged after dark; by this
arrangement A and B Companies, which had held the sunken road, went
back into support at the enclosure and at B Keep, at the head of
the Loos Crassier, where they were later on joined by C Company, D
remaining in the front line. On the morning of the 17th, therefore, the
front line was held by the Bedfords on the right, Shropshires on the
left, York and Lancasters right support, Buffs left support. It became
evident now that the Germans had managed to get up more guns, and
the shelling became very severe. A strong reconnaissance towards the
sunken road, made by the Shropshire Light Infantry, met with powerful
resistance, and it was not until the 18th that that regiment, aided
by the Bedfords, were able to make that objective good. The following
casualties were suffered during this combat: Captains A. K. Harvey
James and T. A. Brown, 2nd Lieut. G. B. Saunder and 10 men killed; 2nd
Lieuts. Griffiths, Groom, Walters, Witty and 65 other ranks wounded,
one of whom died of his injuries.
On the 20th the Buffs retired to billets at Les Brebis for a couple
of days and when there received a complimentary letter from the
Commander-in-Chief which was addressed particularly to the 6th and 24th
Divisions, the latter having joined in the advance on the right of the
6th Division. Many honours came to the battalion during this month,
the list being: the Military Cross to 2nd Lieuts. Brown, Griffiths and
Hughes; the Distinguished Conduct Medal to C.S.M. Field; and Military
Medals to Sgts. Edwards, France and MacWalter, Corpls. Brownrigg, Port,
Richards and Stuart, L.-Corpls. Admans and Platts, and Ptes. Carey,
Downes, Eldridge, Martin and Moss.
On the 22nd April the Buffs went back into the front line of the Loos
trenches and there, in three days, lost 2nd Lieuts. L. E. A. S. Bilton
and T. E. G. Bullock and 3 men killed and 28 other ranks wounded.
The month of May was spent partly in huts at Mazingarbe, partly at La
Bourse and partly in the trenches, a toll of casualties being still
exacted by the fate of war. This month brought the M.C. to 2nd Lieuts.
Waters and Worster; the D.C.M. to C.S.M. Vincer; and a mention in
despatches for the Quartermaster, Lieut. Corney, as well as to Sgt.
Chatfield and L.-Corpl. Ayres.
The first eight days of June passed in the trenches at Hulluch and
brought casualties as usual, 2 being killed, 4 died of wounds and 22
getting wounded in that short period. On the 11th a turn came for
the comparative quiet of a week on divisional reserve at Fouguieres,
but C and D Companies went off to Allouagne to train for a raid; so
that when A and B returned to trench work on the 20th these two only
followed three days later. On the 24th a party composed of Captain
Jacob, Lieuts. Buss, Chester, Dyer, Harrington, Marshall, Moss, and
Wyatt, with C and D Companies, made a raid on the German trenches in
the Hulluch sector to obtain identification and inflict casualties,
to capture prisoners, to destroy dug-outs and emplacements, and to
draw the enemy’s attention from other parts of the divisional front.
The companies attacked in three waves. The first wave, under Lieut.
Marshall, crossed over and went straight for its objective, the enemy’s
third line. The second, under Lieut. Moss, followed twenty-five
paces behind the first; and then came the third, under Lieut. Buss,
thirty paces in rear again, accompanied by the Lewis guns. This party
remained in the enemy’s trenches for three and a half hours, doing very
considerable damage and collecting fifteen prisoners and two trench
mortars. Some trouble was experienced in getting the German out of
his dug-outs, but this was effected by means of tear-bombs and mobile
charges. The enemy during this raid was very unsettled. His barrage
was weak and quite general. In fact, he did not seem to know from what
point he was being attacked. Our barrage was excellent. Lieuts. P. C.
Buss and Harrington behaved with the greatest gallantry; the former was
most unfortunately killed and Harrington was wounded twice, but still
continued to lead his men. Besides Lieut. Buss, 8 men were killed;
Lieut. Harrington and 1 man were wounded and missing; Lieuts. Chester
and Wyatt and 62 other ranks wounded; Lieut. Moss and 2 men wounded,
but remained at duty; 17 other ranks missing, and 2 more missing,
believed killed.
The battalion as a whole remained in the trenches till the 29th,
suffering occasional casualties. After that date it returned to
Mazingarbe, but left A Company with the K.S.L.I. and B with the York
and Lancasters.
IX. 6TH BATTALION
After its terrible experiences up to the first week in May there is
but little to relate regarding the 6th Battalion for the remainder
of the first half of 1917. It remained in the trenches for ten days,
during which time careful reconnaissance work was carried out; and
it was relieved on the 17th/18th, withdrawing to Duisans for baths,
refitting and reorganization into four companies again. On the 19th
it went further back to Montenescourt, from which place, on the 24th,
it was removed by bus to Ivergny, twelve miles to the south-west, for
a term of drill, exercises and musketry training. On the 27th 2nd
Lieut. Morley and C.S.M. Pritchard got the M.C., and Sgt. Real, Corpl.
Scott, L.-Corpl. Cooling, Ptes. Middleton and Skinner were mentioned in
despatches. On the 8th June Lt.-Colonel Cope,[21] who had been so long
in command of the battalion, was promoted to command the 115th Brigade,
and a day or two later was awarded the Legion of Honour. On the 16th
June there was a parade to receive medals, when the Military Medal was
handed to Ptes. Atkinson, Brooks, Hardie, Mack, McDonald and Philpott;
to Sgts. Brunger and Wood and to L.-Corpl. Hook. The 19th of the month
found the battalion back in Arras, where it remained for the rest of
the time now under consideration.
X. 7TH BATTALION
The day after its great fight at Cherisy the 7th Buffs, or what was
left of it, was relieved from its place in the trenches and moved to
Beaurains, close to Arras; it remained there and at Boisleux, to the
south of it, for sixteen days, reorganizing and training; it was in
the trenches again on the 21st May and in such close proximity to the
enemy that the Germans could be heard talking. There was a good deal
of patrolling work to do and this was most successfully accomplished,
the line being considerably advanced; but on the 27th 2nd Lieut. S. B.
Johnston and one man went forward from their post to reconnoitre and
were not heard of again.
Up till the 15th June the routine was much as usual; a turn in the
trenches and a turn in reserve; but on this day the brigade retired
some miles into the back area and took up its headquarters at Couin,
the Buffs being at Coigneux.
On the 20th Captain Black was awarded the M.C. for Cherisy, and the
Corps Commander handed M.M. ribbands to C.S.M. Nevard; Sgt. Nash;
Corpl. Hyde; L.-Corpls. Berry and Castleton; Ptes. Davis, Purkiss,
Reynolds, Thirkettle, White and Wise.
The only other point of interest worth mentioning in the history of the
7th up to the end of June is that it won the ten-mile cross-country
relay race for the 26th Division and that its old friends, the Queen’s,
were second.
XI. 8TH BATTALION--BATTLE OF MESSINES
As the 8th Battalion of the Buffs was not in action on the 3rd May its
story must now be taken up from the 9th April, on which date the men
were spectators, from the trenches at Angres, of the victorious advance
of the Canadians, punctuated, as it was, by the steady lifting of the
barrage.
There was much aerial activity at this time on both sides and some
ground fighting in the vicinity, and, on the 14th April, it was found
that the enemy had left his trenches, so at 4 p.m. the brigade moved
forward unopposed and a new position was taken up and patrols pushed
forward. On the following day, the Rifle Brigade pushing through, the
Buffs followed and bivouacked that night at Lievin, which is on the
road to Lens.
The Germans, however, had not retired very far and an attack on
their position was arranged for the 17th. It appears to have been a
poor business, but this was not the fault of the 17th Brigade. The
artillery preparation was a feeble one, because sufficient guns could
not be brought up in time. The enemy at once opened heavy machine-gun
fire from strong points in his line and from Hill 65 outside Lens.
He also shelled the advancing troops heavily, with the result that
both the brigades on the right and on the left were stayed by 10.30,
and, this being the case, it was obvious that the 17th would only be
courting disaster if it advanced alone exposing both its flanks, so
there was nothing to do but to hold the position in which our troops
stood and consolidate as far as possible during the night. The Buffs
had one officer and thirty other ranks put out of action. The relief
came during the night, and the battalion marched away to the westward
into a quieter area. Indeed, this marching, being a more or less new
experience, caused a good deal of inconvenience in the way of sore
feet and fatigue. However, the 21st of the month found the brigade at
Bourecq and a few days later at Erny St. Julien, and at both these
places serious training was undertaken; but the stern business of war
gave place each evening to football, very much to the astonishment of
the Portuguese troops in the district.
On the 28th the men were back in La Bourse and from there to Robecq,
Hazebrouck and Steenvoorde, all in turn. Steenvoorde was a special
training area and most corps took a turn of work there when they could
be spared. This visit of the Buffs lasted a fortnight, and on the 26th
May they were close to Poperinghe. On this day 2nd Lieut. Lilley was
awarded the Military Cross. On the 4th June the wandering troops were
at Heksken, south of Poperinghe, and at midnight on the 5th/6th they
moved from there to a camp situated in a wood where special stores and
ammunition were issued.
The Battle of Messines commenced on the morning of the 7th June and
was fought by General Plumer’s army to capture a ridge from which the
Germans overlooked our lines and much of the area behind them. The
preparations for this offensive action on Plumer’s part had been going
on for a very long time and were thought out with the greatest care
and trouble. The most remarkable point in connection with the battle
was the fact that it opened by a tremendous explosion of nineteen deep
mines, the noise of which was distinctly heard in parts of England. As
far as the Buffs were concerned, the 8th Battalion paraded in fighting
kit at 11.30 p.m. on the 6th June, proceeded to assembly positions
via Dickebusch and spent the middle portion of the night in two great
dug-outs, one of which held four hundred men. At 3.10 a.m. the soldiers
were awakened by the most tremendous explosion they had ever heard in
their lives, and this was immediately followed by the opening of the
barrage. The 17th Brigade was in support near St. Eloi, and at 11.30
a.m. it moved forward to occupy the line already taken up by the 41st
Division, from whence, at 3 p.m., a further attack was launched, during
which the battalion reached its objective, known as the Green Line,
with but few casualties.
The whole of the two following days were spent in the newly taken
positions, being shelled and suffering a few casualties: mostly men of
A Company, which with C was in the front line; Lieut. Sherwill was hit
on the 8th. On the 10th the Buffs were relieved by the 9th Warwicks
with great difficulty: the hostile gunfire being very heavy and causing
several casualties, including Captain A. F. Gulland and Lieut. H. C.
Arnold, who both died of their injuries, and also Lieuts. Curtis and
Hilary, who were wounded but not quite so severely. After a day’s
much needed rest, which was mostly spent in sleep, the battalion at
nightfall relieved the 18th London Regiment at the “triangular dump”
and the 3rd Rifle Brigade in Battle Wood.
An attack on the enemy’s position was arranged for and carried out on
the 14th. The Buffs were told off to take one side of the railway while
the Royal Fusiliers took the other. Battalion Headquarters were in
Larch Wood. 7.30 p.m. was chosen as the zero hour; before this hour a
certain amount of sniping was experienced in getting to the assembly
position, but luckily the enemy’s artillery did not discover our
moving companies. A and C Companies led the advance, each having two
platoons in front line. Our barrage was good though perhaps a little
short at first, and our men kept well up under it, casualties being
small; the guns lifted their range a hundred yards every four minutes.
Six minutes after our opening shot the enemy began his heavy fire on
our assembly positions, but by then our men were clear, or indeed they
would have suffered severely. A Company had for its objective Spoil
Bank, which was about thirty feet high and three hundred yards long
and running parallel to the Ypres-Comines Canal. The bank had been
the object of an attack by some of the 47th Division a week earlier,
but was still in German hands. There was a fine view of the country
beyond the canal from its summit. It was afterwards officially known
as The Buffs’ Bank, out of compliment to the 6th Battalion. A good
deal of savage hand-to-hand fighting took place here, and the success
of the company was very largely due to the extraordinary courage and
initiative of two private soldiers, Dunning and Cornell, who together
rushed a German machine gun in a concrete emplacement, killed the
team, captured the gun, and thus saved the lives and limbs of many of
their comrades of A Company; they were both awarded the M.M. for this
exploit. The other leading company, C, was directed on the tramline and
suffered considerably on the way. The company commander (Captain E. F.
Hall) and all the rest of the officers were hit before the objective
was reached, but 2nd Lieut. Wilkinson was able to remain with his men
until it was taken and consolidated; and it was not till all work was
done and midnight had come that this gallant officer withdrew to have
his wounds dressed, when he had to leave his company under the command
of Sgt. Pells. As soon as C Company had reached its objective, Sgt.
Shute took his platoon about sixty yards ahead of the newly won line
and there cleared a system of dug-outs, killed a great number of the
enemy and brought back four prisoners. Touch was soon obtained with the
battalion on the Buffs’ left, but the other flank was not so easy, and
it was not until morning that the troops on the right were discovered.
While the two leading companies had thus been busy their comrades had
not been idle. D Company had come up behind the Spoil Bank and at the
zero hour two platoons, less one bombing section, had advanced towards
its western edge and cleared up the southern side in conjunction with
A Company, while the bombing squad attended to the dug-outs on top of
the bank, most of which were occupied, there being ten to twelve men in
each. Several of the enemy attempted to escape across the canal at Lock
6, but these were dealt with by men of C Company and no one escaped
that way. Further down Spoil Bank the enemy made a more considerable
resistance, and 2nd Lieut. Paige was killed leading an attack at this
point--in fact he was chasing a platoon of Germans across the canal all
by himself. Many of the enemy then tried to get away round the eastern
edge of Spoil Bank, but these were also shot and a German feldwebel[22]
captured after a really heroic resistance. D Company then dug itself in
on the southern slope of the Spoil Bank, with A Company in support on
the northern slope. Digging in was no very easy matter on account of
the continuous shelling, which the enemy kept up all night; however,
morning found the job satisfactorily completed and the work cleverly
camouflaged from aerial observation, which was a very necessary
precaution, for the hostile aeroplanes showed in the morning very
considerable interest in the exact position of our people. Many times
they swooped right down and fired their machine guns into our trenches.
About 5 p.m. on the 15th the enemy started a heavy barrage and were
seen to be massing on our right, but our guns were at once turned on
these and dispersed the assembly. The Buffs were relieved the same
night by the 2nd Leinsters, and three days later moved to Burgomaster’s
Farm at Dickebusch under Major Vaughan, the commanding officer,
Lt.-Colonel F. C. R. Studd, D.S.O., having been wounded the previous
day. The casualties from the 7th to the 10th inclusive were Captain A.
F. Gulland, who died on the 16th, 2nd Lieuts. Sherwill, H. C. Arnold
(died on the 12th), Hilary and Curtis and 28 men wounded and 4 killed;
but during the 14th, 15th and 16th the loss was more considerable,
2nd Lieuts. Paige, Carlos and Edwards, with 14 men, were killed;
Captain Hall and 2nd Lieuts. Darling, Wilkinson, Young, Lilley, Greig
and Lt.-Colonel Studd, with 89 other ranks, were wounded, though the
commanding officer remained at duty for some time. There were also 4
men missing.
Times in this neighbourhood and at this period were, however, too
strenuous to allow of much rest to anyone, and when the 23rd June
came round again it found the Buffs once more in the trenches and,
forty-eight hours afterwards, under an abnormally heavy fire, which
did little damage to the front line, but found several victims amongst
working parties in rear. 2nd Lieut. J. B. Millard was killed and Major
Vaughan and Lieut. Hancock narrowly escaped from the same shell, and
it is curious that both these officers were slightly hurt by another
one only a few minutes later. 2nd Lieut. A. H. Webb was also killed.
It was decided to push forward certain posts during the night of the
26th/27th, and B Company on the left actually did so and got to the
edge of a wood which was on its front and there consolidated, but
A Company, on the right, found that any advance would be impossible
without heavy artillery assistance. The 23rd of the month brought a
Military Cross for 2nd Lieut. Sherwill. On the 28th relief came in the
shape of the 8th Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment, but the change
over was a nasty job. The enemy appeared to have got wind of what was
going forward and opened a heavy fire, wounding Lieut. Newcomb and
three other men. The 29th took the battalion away. It travelled by
train to Reninghelst for the training area round Lumbres, and on the
last day of the month it marched fourteen kilometres to Escocuilles.
[Illustration: THE LOOS CRASSIERS]
[Illustration: SPOIL (OR THE BUFFS’) BANK]