At the beginning of June the 49th Division once again staked out its
claim to the proud title of “Garrison of Ypres” by returning to the
line in front of that city. The trenches had now drawn very close to
the town and battalion headquarters were often in the ancient ramparts.
An attack was confidently expected and the order was that Ypres was
to be “held at all costs.” However for some reason the attack never
came off. Delayed by an epidemic of influenza, it was probably finally
abandoned owing to the need of troops to meet Marshal Foch in the
south. Here the battalion remained for the summer. Heavily shelled with
gas on its first arrival, its stay on the whole was not an unpleasant
one, in spite of shelling both on the front line and back areas, and
constant visits from bombing aeroplanes.
The Belgians were on the left and their soldiers created a very
favourable impression. Later the 1st American Division arrived and came
into the trenches with the ⅙th Battalion for instruction, before taking
over the line themselves in the latter half of August. They appeared to
be excellent material, and were very eager to learn all they could.
The outstanding feature of the stay was a very successful raid
undertaken one morning by a party of A company under Lieut. C. Lowther,
M.C. and Lieut. Farrer. Many Germans were killed and four captured.
The following day Company Sergt.-Major Wiseman, D.C.M., led another
successful foray, inflicting casualties on the enemy.
The ⅙th Duke’s left Ypres for the last time on August 19th, and with
the rest of the Division had gone back to a delightful rest area
between Calais and St. Omer. They had just settled down to training in
charming surroundings when they were suddenly ordered to move south.
The First Army had begun its final offensive and the 49th was required
to take a part.