_Passchendaele--gallantry of attack--casualties--Hilltop
Farm--move to Landethun and Yeuse--Serre Sector--close of 1917._
At Adinkerke, on their way to the Ypres Salient, the men were embarked
on barges on October 6th, 1917, and journeyed by canal to near
Rosendael where they billeted and where Lieut. Colonel J. Inglis
rejoined the Battalion from leave and resumed command. They then
underwent intensive training at Uxem until the 24th, when they left en
route for the Eringham area in accordance with the forward move of the
Brigade Group. The next day saw them at Rubrouck and on the next again
they arrived at Broxcele where training was again entered upon and
continued until November 9th.
About this period Lieut. Colonel Inglis and the Adjutant, Captain F.E.
Dunsmuir, were away from the Battalion making a preliminary tour of
inspection of the line on the Ypres front.
On the 10th, the Battalion was once more in column of route on their
way to Wormhoudt, and on the following day, to Watou to "Road Camp" in
the St. Jan Ter Biezen area, where training was resumed, and this time
once more within sound of the rumble of the guns. But that didn't
upset the H.L.I., whose 16th and 17th Battalions met in the final of
the Brigade Football Tournament, which was won in easy style, 5 goals
to nil, by the Chamber of Commerce boys. Four days later they defeated
the 32nd Divisional Supply Column in the semi-final of the Divisional
Tournament, and then two days after that, meeting the 2nd Royal
Inniskillen Fusiliers in the final, the 17th H.L.I. carried off the
Championship, repeating their performance of the previous year against
the same finalists.
On the following day the Divisional Commander addressed the Brigade,
which was drawn up on the football field, and reminded the men of the
sterner duties that now lay before them, and expressed the hope that
they would maintain the honourable traditions associated with the name
of the 97th Infantry Brigade--which, indeed, they more than
maintained.
The Battalion left the camp on November 22nd for Poperinghe where they
entrained to continue the journey up the line, and arriving at St.
Jean Station, detrained and marched to "Irish Camp."
On the afternoon of the 23rd a start was made for the Passchendaele
front line system, the route taken by the Battalion being for the
greater part over the duck board walks "Mouse Trap Track," which
covered ground won in the recent big push at Passchendaele. The
take-over was not completed without casualties, but these were
comparatively few considering the dangerous nature of the going, which
was in the open over shell-pitted ground. The Battalion relieved by
the 17th was the 1st Northamptonshire Battalion. During the night the
17th captured its first prisoner in this area--a corporal of the 315th
Regiment. According to his statement he had been out on patrol when he
lost one of his boots in the mud and in trying to find it he had
strayed into our lines and been taken. During their initial tour of
the Passchendaele system much heavy work was done in converting the
shell-hole defence line into trenches, and patrolling. Several
casualties were reported each day and the mud was thick and sticky. On
the 26th the Battalion was relieved and proceeded to Dambre Camp in
the Vlamertinghe area where everybody rested and completed the
preparations for the forthcoming offensive at Passchendaele.
It may be said at the outset that the element of surprise intended in
the Passchendaele attack failed entirely, as the enemy were aware of
the British intentions and fully prepared. In addition, the fact that
the artillery barrage proper did not open until zero plus eight
minutes, allowed the enemy entire freedom of action in his front posts
with rifles and machine guns.
The Battalion moved into the line on the evening of December 1st in
conjunction with the other Battalions of the Brigade--2nd K.O.Y.L.I.;
16th H.L.I.; 11th Border Regiment; and the 15th Lancashire Fusiliers
(attached). The 16th Northumberland Fusiliers of the 96th Infantry
Brigade were attached to the 97th Infantry Brigade as counter-attacking
troops to be used in the event of a strong hostile counter-attack on
the Brigade front. The frontage taken over by the Brigade was one of
1,850 yards approximately along the Passchendaele Ridge. There were
two objectives to be taken, of which sections were detailed as the job
of the 17th--a slice which included two formidable "pill-boxes" known
as the "Vat and Veal Cottages."
The Battalion assembled on a frontage of 400 yards and at Zero Hour
(1.55 a.m.) moved forward to the attack. Companies deployed from a two
platoon frontage in snake formation--this method having been adopted
owing to the shell torn nature of the ground--and advanced in four
waves. "A" and "B" Companies were to capture the first objective,
mopping up all occupied points in the way, including the two pill
boxes, while "C" and "D" were to "leap-frog" through them, carry the
next objective and consolidate.
The initial stages of the attack were successfully carried through,
but the enemy--as was afterwards learned--knowing of what was on foot,
waited in readiness. Suddenly he opened heavy machine gun fire upon
the advancing Companies, inflicting heavy casualties which, in the
dark and over the difficult ground, had the effect of splitting up the
sections and creating some confusion. The officers and men of the
Battalion gallantly pressed on against these odds, however, and
succeeded in reaching their objective; but the enemy machine gun and
rifle fire became so intense that their advanced positions were
rendered humanly untenable. Our men, though forced to retire in
places, established themselves in shell-hole posts, where an attempt
was made to consolidate.
The artillery and machine gun barrage, though intense, had failed,
owing to the enemy's fore-knowledge of the attack, to effect its
purpose. His strong points were heavily garrisoned and wired and he
was also found to be established in strong lines of trenches also
effectively wired. The Battalion hung on all through that awful night
in its isolated positions, for orders were received that the attack
would be renewed in the morning, but these orders were afterwards
cancelled.
From dawn onwards artillery fire slackened somewhat, but the enemy
machine gunners and snipers kept up harassing fire from their well
established posts against the men in their exposed and isolated posts.
It was obvious that a hostile counter-attack might be expected, and
this took place about 4 p.m. on the afternoon of the 2nd, preceded
by an intense artillery barrage. Owing to the terrible difficulties of
their position, and the sweeping casualties inflicted, the line was
forced back, but the actual enemy attack which followed his barrage
was met by the rifle fire of the shattered 17th, and after the Bosches
had approached within a certain distance of the posts, they broke and
turned back in retreat.
[Illustration: TYPES OF SUPPORT LINE DUG-OUTS AND FIRST AID POST.
_To face page 68._]
Though the withdrawal of the Divisional line had been almost general,
some of the Battalion posts were still hanging on to the advanced
positions on the 3rd. Many wounded were lying out, suffering the most
appalling rigours of war and the Battalion stretcher-bearers displayed
great devotion to duty in ignoring the heavy fire while bringing them
in to comparative shelter. The work at first was extremely dangerous,
but later on in the day a lull occurred when it was possible to carry
on this labour of mercy under less trying conditions. And it must be
recorded, as far as this battle is concerned, that from this point
onward the German reversed his frequent policy and shewed respect for
the Red Cross Flag, only one instance of sniping taking place when one
of the Battalion stretcher-bearers was shot dead while bending over a
wounded comrade. Enemy stretcher-bearers were also at work and in some
instances they reciprocated attentions given to their wounded, by
dressing and carrying our casualties. In this way all the wounded were
got in before the Brigade was relieved that night. The Battalion
frontage was taken over by the 5/6th Royal Scots. The relief was
successfully completed and the remnants of the Battalion reached
"Hilltop Farm" in the early morning, entraining later for Hospital
Camp in the Vlamertinghe area. The casualties were particularly heavy
among Officers and N.C.O.s, and gives trenchant evidence of their
self-sacrificing gallantry in seeking by utter disregard for danger to
turn a forlorn hope into victory, and by personal example and
incentive to make still richer the honourable traditions of the 17th
in the face of such overwhelming odds, and amidst such overaweing
devastation. In this action seven officers were killed and five
wounded. Of other ranks 41 were killed, 130 wounded and 13 missing.
The Battalion was organised as far as possible in its depleted
condition and work and training carried on until December 10th, when
once more the unit moved up the line to Hilltop Farm, N.E. of Ypres.
During their stay here, Mr. Fred A. Farrell, the well-known Scottish
artist, visited the 17th on a commission from the Corporation of
Glasgow to execute drawings of the Glasgow Battalions and the places
in which they were operating.
On December 13th they were back in the trenches. Hard winter weather
had now set in, with fog, frost and water sogged ground. On the 20th
the Battalion was relieved and, as far as weather is concerned, spent
a typical Christmas Day when it came round, in Dambre Camp. Being in
Corps Reserve, nothing in the nature of Christmas festivities could be
permitted, but the gifts supplied by the Chamber of Commerce provided
seasonable fare and brought a measure of good cheer.
After a series of alarms and stand-to's, a Divisional Relief was
carried through, and on December 30th the Battalion trained to
Audruicq and set out on an arduous route march for the villages of
Landrethun and Yeuse, where the men were happily enabled to spend a
night's rest in comfortable billets, "A," "B," "C," and Headquarters
in the former village, and "D" in the latter.
The last day of the year which had probably been the hardest and, as
far as campaigning is concerned, the most eventful in the history of
the Battalion, was passed amidst the peaceful surroundings of these
villages untouched by war. The beginning of the year had seen the
Battalion in the line in the Serre Sector, then had followed the
memorable days of Beaumont Hamel, Honoroye, the battle of Savy and the
taking of Fayet in the St. Quentin area, a well deserved period of
rest at Canizy and thence by train and road into Belgium, being held
in reserve for the Battle of Messines, three hard months spent in the
line in the Nieuport Sector and the St. George's Sector, and then
after a spell of rest--forward into Passchendaele.