CAMBRAI, 25th September, 1917 to 6th December, 1917.
At WATOU we began once more to pull the Battalion together and bring it
up to strength, and reinforcements began to come in. Captain Duggan,
M.C., from the 10th Battalion, joined us here, also Second Lieutenants
J. O. Firth, J. H. Livesey, H. Ramsbottom, and P. Adamson, and 18 Other
Ranks.
On the 26th we marched to HOPOUTRE, where we entrained and moved
out at 9 30 a.m., travelling in cattle trucks via ARRAS to BAPAUME,
where we arrived about 7 p.m. Thence we marched through desolate and
ruined country to a pile of ruins labelled YTRES, where we shared a
canvas camp with a Battalion of the Buffs for the night; they left the
following morning.
Major Crump rejoined us from England on the 30th.
We stayed at YTRES resting, bathing, reorganising, and training, till
3rd October, when we left the 4th Corps area and marched to a canvas
camp at AIZECOURT-LE-BAS in the 3rd Corps area; the camp was on a hill
top, and it was bitterly cold. From here reconnaissances of the new
forward area were carried out, the 164th Brigade being in Divisional
Reserve.
Second Lieutenant Easterby came back on the 5th, and on the 10th
Second Lieutenants J. L., W. H. F., and F. C. Smith, D. Carmichael, J.
E. F. Nicholson, R. B. Wilkinson, and C. Taylor joined us as Officer
reinforcements, followed by Second Lieutenants L. Frost, F. G. Green,
and C. Milne on the 13th.
On the 12th we marched to VILLERS FAUCON into billets; the following
day Companies moved forward to LEMPIRE, where we became support
Battalion to the right Brigade.
The country in which we now found ourselves was a pleasant change from
FLANDERS; the soil was chalk like the south-east of England, and the
scenery was, or had been, similar; but the Germans in their retirement
had systematically destroyed everything--cut down every tree, blown
up every house and structure down to the very telegraph poles, and
poisoned the wells--it was a desolate and dead country. Curiously
enough, he had left the cellars intact, and as these, even under
wattle-and-daub houses, were solidly built of brick, with arched brick
roofs, they made excellent, if rather dark, hiding-places and billets.
We never quite understood these cellars, so much better than the houses
to which they belonged; some said they were specially built as wine
cellars, that being once a wine country; others favoured the theory
that they were specially designed as refuges in war time.
From LEMPIRE, which corresponded to YPRES in this sector, we sent
working parties up the line every night. A Company had four posts,
known as LEMPIRE CENTRAL, LEMPIRE EAST, YAK and ZEBRA POSTS, which were
manned day and night, the garrisons showing no movement during the
daytime.
On the 18th we relieved the 1/4th KING’S OWN in the right Battalion
sub-sector of the Brigade front. The line was in truth no line, but a
string of posts connected by trenches apparently freshly dug in the
stiff clay which here overlay the chalk; each post provided with a
mined dugout for the garrison--rather a pleasant place, we thought, on
first acquaintance, as we were told that horses could be ridden (and
were, just at first) right up to the front line!
On this occasion Companies were disposed as follows:--
GILLEMONT POST, the only place which showed signs of wear, was held
by D Company, with one Platoon of A, as Left Front Company; CAT POST
by C as Right Front Company; DUNCAN and DOLEFUL POSTS by A as Support
Company; and KEN LANE, a sunken road lined with dugouts, by B, the
Reserve Company, and Battalion Headquarters.
Of course, previous to our taking over the sector, the Divisional
artillery had begun to wake up the Hun by concentration shoots, which
were continued at intervals--the retaliation was mostly in the shape of
Minenwerfer on GILLEMONT POST, which reminded us, on that account, of
RAILWAY WOOD.
During the five days we had plenty to do in becoming acclimatised and
establishing the old trench routine again with a new set of Officers
and men; very few were left now of the June lot, and many of the
N.C.O.’s had never seen a trench before. Here Second Lieutenants W.
G. E. Taylor, C. A. Rush, Hornby, and 12 Other Ranks reinforced us.
A perpetual source of joy to the old ones these drafts were; first
they had to be taken down and “put through it,” and then taught how
to behave, if they didn’t know, but somehow or other at the end of a
fortnight, they seemed to have settled down and become part of us.
The 1/4th KING’S OWN relieved us on the 23rd, and we went back to ST.
EMILIE, whence, during the next few days, we provided working parties
for the front line, going into the line again on the 29th, when we
relieved the 1/5th South Lancashires in the BIRDCAGE sector--the relief
was completed without casualties by 8 30 p.m. The Medical Officer, who
had had a pretty stiff time on 20th September, went sick that night,
and Captain E. Watson Williams, R.A.M.C., took over his duties.
On the 30th October the enemy trench-mortared our front line, killing
three and wounding nine men; otherwise the tour was quiet, and on 1st
December we were relieved by the 1/9th King’s Liverpool Regiment and
went by light railway to HAMEL or TINCOURT--it was a double village,
and usually known by this latter name. It was stated above that every
village in the area had been destroyed--this place was an exception, as
some of the civil population had been left there by the Hun, so that we
found it almost intact. The Companies’ billets had wire beds in them,
and we added to these while we were there. Our total strength at this
time was 39 Officers and 777 Other Ranks--the fighting strength
being 24 Officers and 546 Other Ranks, so that in numbers, at any rate,
we had partly recovered from our losses in the SALIENT.
[Illustration: Map No. 4
GILLEMONT FARM SECTOR
November, 1917]
We had a very pleasant time at HAMEL till the 16th, when we returned to
ST. EMILIE; during the period Captain Buckmaster assumed command of B
Company and Second Lieutenant Pruden became Adjutant of the Battalion,
a position he retained till the Armistice. Lieutenant-Colonel Hindle
had been at Brigade since the 13th, commanding the 164th Brigade during
the absence of Brigadier-General Stockwell on leave, afterwards going
on leave himself, and Major Crump had been in command of the Battalion.
On the 16th we moved back to ST. EMILIE, and on the 17th we relieved
the 1/5th King’s Liverpool Regiment in the GILLEMONT sector.
On the morning of the 18th November, the Battalion was disposed as
follows (see map):--
Front line--D Company, under Lieutenant Shippobottom, in CAT POST.
C Company, under Lieutenant Lonsdale, in GILLEMONT FARM
sector.
Supports B Company, under Captain Buckmaster, in DUNCAN and
DOLEFUL POSTS.
Reserve A Company, under Captain Houghton, in KEN LANE with
Battalion Headquarters.
Major Crump was in command of the Battalion, and attached to A Company
was a raiding party of 19 in training for a raid, under Lieutenant
Adamson. At 5 30 a.m. the Boche opened a hurricane bombardment on
the GILLEMONT FARM sector with trench mortars, including 80 heavy
minenwerfer brought up the night before, and reduced the front trench
to a shapeless mass of craters: out of 12 posts[I] only Sergeants
Hartley and Hogg and half-a-dozen men were left alive; all the rest,
with the Officer (Lieutenant Firth) and Sergeant on duty, who were
found at the head of the communication trench under two feet of earth,
were killed and buried.
About 200 Huns entered our line in three places, equipped with spades
and rations, and worked forward bombing, and things looked serious; but
Lieutenant Lonsdale, though badly shaken, kept his head, organised his
Headquarters details into a firing line who held up the enemy advance,
and managed to telephone to Battalion Headquarters, and A Company was
ordered to counter-attack.
The barrage which had been put down on KEN LANE was by this time
falling off, and, as the men were standing to, Lieutenant Adamson
was able to push off at once with his raiders and one Platoon of
A, followed by the rest of A under Captain Houghton, with very few
casualties. As soon as the enemy saw the first wave come over the hill
he began to retreat rapidly, but not before the counter-attackers and
the gallant remnant of C had bayonetted a score or so. Some of the Huns
had entered D Company’s line and caused a few casualties there, among
others Lieutenant Shippobottom, a very promising young Officer, who was
caught by a bomb as he came out of Company Headquarters.
This affair was reported in “THE TIMES” as follows:--
9 30 p.m.--At dawn this morning a strong hostile raiding party
attacked our trenches in the neighbourhood of GUILLEMONT FARM,
south-east of Epehy [north-west of St. Quentin], and effected
an entry at certain points. Our troops counter-attacked across
the open, and after sharp fighting, in which we captured a few
prisoners, ejected the enemy.
Lieutenant Adamson received the M.C. for his excellent leadership--the
way he worked round the flanks of the hill was pretty to watch, and
Sergeants Hartley and Hogg also received the M.M. for their stout fight
with a few men against overwhelming odds.
It fell to A Company to clear up the mess, and they took over the
sector that night; the men were dead beat, the front line blown to
bits, and lateral communication interrupted to such an extent that four
Officers were on duty simultaneously the whole night through.
The following day was spent in making further clearance, and special
parties from Battalion Headquarters and Pioneers carried on through the
night.
The raiders who went to CAT POST did not enter our trenches, but bombed
them from the parapet, doing some damage and causing a few casualties.
They then returned to their own lines.
The enemy left two unwounded prisoners in our hands, two wounded
prisoners, and about ten dead were left in our trenches.
Our casualties were:--Second Lieutenant J. A. Firth, killed; Second
Lieutenant F. Shippobottom, wounded, died of wounds in hospital; Second
Lieutenant R. Hornby, slightly wounded, remained at duty; 11 Other
Ranks killed, 21 Other Ranks wounded, 48 Other Ranks missing--many of
these being buried in the destruction of the trench.
The following extracts from the War Diary refer to our share in the
CAMBRAI attack:--
19th November. The work of reorganisation was completed, and the
repairing of the trenches went on. At 1 p.m. orders were received that
it was Y day, and the preparation for the attack to be made on Z day
started at once. Our artillery and trench mortars completed their wire
cutting programme. Enemy shelled our supports with 5.9’s and 4.2’s
during the day.
D Company, who were holding CAT POST sector, were ordered to remain
there and to push posts into the GILLEMONT sector when the assaulting
troops moved forward.
At 2 30 p.m. A Company sent 50 Other Ranks to the 164th Trench Mortar
Battery as carrying parties for guns moving forward, and 20 Other
Ranks to the 164th Machine Gun Company as carriers to their guns
moving forward. Between 11 p.m. and 12 midnight the remainder of A and
C Companies, who were holding the GILLEMONT sector, were relieved by
the 1/4th Royal Lancaster Regiment, who were to assault the GILLEMONT
defences of the enemy in the morning. On relief these Companies
proceeded to KEN LANE and were held in Battalion reserve.
B Company, who were in support at DUNCAN and DOLEFUL posts, took up
dispositions as follows during the night:--
One Platoon as permanent garrison FLEECEALL POST.
One Platoon as permanent garrison GRAFTON POST.
One Platoon as permanent garrison ISLAND TRAVERSE.
Owing to our losses in Lewis gun personnel, sustained in the raid on
the 18th, we were unable to carry out a programme of Lewis gun fire for
barrage purposes that had been allotted to us. This was taken over by
the 1/5th King’s Liverpool Regiment, with the assistance of two Lewis
gunners from the Platoon of B Company in FLEECEALL POST.
The evening and night was very quiet; there was no enemy activity
whatever.
Two Other Ranks to Field Ambulance sick.
20th November. Z day. At 2 a.m. the Battalion was disposed as follows:--
Headquarters KEN LANE.
D Company CAT POST SECTOR.
B Company Headquarters and one Platoon, FLEECEALL
POST; one Platoon, GRAFTON POST;
one Platoon, ISLAND TRAVERSE.
A and C Companies 70 Other Ranks detached as carrying parties;
remainder at KEN LANE, with one Platoon
organised to occupy DOLEFUL POST if
required.
Aid Post DUNCAN POST.
ZERO hour was at 6 20 a.m.
The duty allotted to us was permanently to hold the Brigade front and
on no account to move forward in support of the assaulting Battalions.
The attack on GILLEMONT was at first successful, but by 1 p.m. all our
troops were driven back to our original front line. The attack on the
KNOLL was unsuccessful owing to the wire not having been cut.
Our garrison in the original line stood fast all through.
The enemy heavily shelled our front and support lines, especially
DUNCAN POST, throughout the day and succeeding night.
Our casualties were:--One Other Rank killed, eight Other Ranks wounded,
three Other Ranks missing.
At 8 p.m. the posts at FLEECEALL, GRAFTON, and ISLAND TRAVERSE were
relieved by the 1/8th King’s Liverpool Regiment and 2/5th Lancashire
Fusiliers, and on relief proceeded to DUNCAN POST. At midnight the
entire Company (B) was organised into a wiring party, and commenced
wiring in front of the GILLEMONT sector.
The carrying parties attached to the Trench Mortars and Machine Guns
were returned to A Company at KEN LANE by 10 p.m., except one party of
20 Other Ranks which did not arrive till the 22nd. At 10 p.m. A and C
Companies commenced to relieve the 1/4th Royal Lancaster Regiment in
the GILLEMONT sector.
Two Other Ranks to Field Ambulance sick.
21st November. At 1 p.m. the relief of the 1/4th Royal Lancaster
Regiment was completed. The 1/4th Royal Lancaster Regiment proceeded
to KEN LANE and SART FARM. The day was quiet; the work of clearing
the trenches and reorganising was continued. At 2 p.m. one Platoon B
Company relieved a Company of the 1/5th King’s Liverpool Regiment in
DOLEFUL POST.
22nd November. The day was abnormally quiet. Three daylight patrols
were sent out to discover any signs of an enemy retirement. Enemy
front line was found to be held in force. At 8 p.m. the Battalion
was relieved by the 1/7th King’s Liverpool Regiment, and on relief
proceeded to VAUCELLETTE Camp X 13 c, and came under command of the
B.G.C. 166th Infantry Brigade. C Company did not go to VAUCELLETTE, but
proceeded to billets in ST. EMILIE.
The Battalion was present in billets at VAUCELLETTE Camp by 11 p.m.
Three Other Ranks to Field Ambulance sick.
The next few days were spent in repairing billets and replacing
equipment lost in the recent battle, and on the 28th we marched back to
billets at VILLERS FAUCON; Major Crump left the Battalion to take over
command of the 1/10th King’s Liverpool Regiment.
On the 29th, after a Warning Order, which was afterwards cancelled, we
marched to VAUCELLETTE Camp, just behind the ruins of a farm of that
name. Apparently the Divisional Commander had noticed, while making a
tour of the forward area on the 28th, that the enemy was reconnoitring
with low-flying aircraft as well as registering targets with his
artillery, and knowing that movement behind the enemy’s lines was above
normal, he suspected an attack on our front, hence our move.
In order to make clear the events that followed, which were by no means
clear to us at the time, it is necessary to quote in extenso from the
“History of the 55th Division”:--
“The Division was at this time holding a front of 13,000 yards,
supported only by two Brigades of Field artillery!
“This wide frontage could not of course be continuously held; it
consisted of Platoon posts, connected by travel trenches, and
distributed in depth so far as circumstances allowed. But with such a
wide front an effective distribution in depth was impossible with the
troops available. On the morning of the attack, the portion of the
line extending from BANTEAUX RAVINE to WOOD ROAD was held by the 1/5th
South Lancashires. South of them in the HONNECOURT sector were the
1/5th North Lancashire Regiment, and in the OSSUS sector the 1/10th
King’s Liverpool Regiment. The 1/5th King’s Own were in support. The
165th Infantry Brigade on the right was disposed as follows:--1/6th
King’s Liverpool Regiment from OSSUS WOOD to HEYTHROP POST; 1/5th
King’s Liverpool Regiment from GRAFTON POST to EGO POST; and 1/7th
King’s Liverpool Regiment southwards from this point to CAT POST and
NEW POST. The 1/9th King’s Liverpool Regiment were in support. The
164th Infantry Brigade were in Divisional reserve.
[Illustration: Map No. 5
The
VAUCELLETTE FARM AREA
Nov. 30th, 1917]
“At seven o’clock on the morning of the 30th, in thick fog, a very
heavy bombardment broke out upon the whole Divisional front, and all
tracks and roads were heavily shelled. Almost simultaneously a message
was received at the Headquarters of the 166th Brigade in EPEHY, from
the 35th Brigade, which was on our immediate left, stating that the
1/5th South Lancashires were being heavily trench-mortared and that
the S.O.S. had gone up. Communication with this Battalion was at once
attempted, but without result, and save for a visual signal message
received at 7 43 a.m. stating, ‘We know nothing yet, O.K.,’ nothing
further was heard from the 1/5th SOUTH LANCASHIRES, nor did a man of
that Battalion return.
“It was presently, however, to be made clear that the enemy had broken
through somewhere on the left of the 1/5th South Lancashires, and was
pushing forward in large numbers and with great rapidity on VILLERS
GUISLAIN. Between 7 38 a.m. and 7 45 a.m., Germans in considerable
force were seen on VILLERS RIDGE, and a few moments later large numbers
of British troops, not of our Division, were seen to be falling
back from the direction of GONNELIEU ... just north-west of VILLERS
GUISLAIN. Very shortly after eight o’clock enemy machine guns were
firing on our batteries from the high ground south of GAUCHE WOOD, and
enemy aeroplanes, flying as low as 100 feet, were subjecting VILLERS
GUISLAIN and the ground in its vicinity to heavy machine gun fire.
“At 8 15 a.m. the enemy were seen to be advancing in strong force
southwards from the north of the cemetery--i.e., on the western side of
VILLERS GUISLAIN. The position of the village was precarious.
“Meantime, as late as 7 57 a.m., the 1/5th North Lancashire Regiment
had reported: ‘No Infantry action,’ but at 8 15 a.m. a message was
received from the Liverpool Scottish on their right, stating that the
enemy was advancing from his trenches at OSSUS 2. A quarter of an hour
later an indistinct message from the 1/5th North Lancashire Regiment
was received at the Headquarters of the 166th Brigade, to the effect
that the enemy was through on the left--the line was then cut.
“By 8 20 a.m. the enemy were reported to have penetrated our lines at
HOLT’S BANK, and a few moments after large bodies of the enemy were
seen in PIGEON QUARRY--north of the Liverpool Scottish and between
them and the 1/5th North Lancashire Regiment. Almost simultaneously
the enemy were reported to be coming over in extended order and in
large numbers, wave after wave, to EAGLE QUARRY, on the 165th Brigade
front, and also to be advancing on FLEECEALL POST on the south. By 9
15 a.m. the enemy had penetrated the Divisional front from the BIRDCAGE
northwards for about 800 yards, and were even reported to have been
seen in GLOUCESTER ROAD. VILLERS GUISLAIN, turned from the north
and eventually surrounded, was reported at 9 30 a.m. to be in enemy
hands, and a little over half an hour later the enemy had succeeded in
progressing to within a few hundred yards of VAUCELLETTE FARM. He got
no further, for there he met the 1/4th Loyal North Lancashires.”
All Press accounts are strangely silent about the work the Battalion
did at VAUCELLETTE FARM on the 30th November, 1917.
The scene of the action was the col or ridge at the head of the valley
which runs along the northern edge of VILLERS GUISLAIN and up towards
the south-east (see map); this ridge commanded the railway for a
considerable distance, and by holding on to it we were able to keep the
Hun off CHAPEL HILL; had he occupied this feature and mounted machine
guns there, most of the area of open grass land between HEUDECOURT and
PEIZIERE would have been under direct fire, with obvious consequences,
whereas its retention by us kept this covered, and also covered the
flank of the Guards when they counter-attacked and drove the Boche back
out of GOUZEAUCOURT.
The front had been very quiet and the possibility of trouble seemed to
most of us very remote, but all precautions were taken, and before we
turned in on the night of the 29th, Colonel Hindle’s orders as to the
issue of bombs, extra bandoliers, haversack rations, and filling of
water-bottles were carried out to the letter. At the same time Company
boxes, gramophones, etc., were with us, and we spent a cheery evening,
with little thought for the morrow.
At dawn the next day heavy firing was heard to the north, but at
first we put this down to the aftermath of the CAMBRAI push and paid
little attention to it; by degrees it increased in violence, and the
Commanding Officer gave the order to stand-to, but carry on with
breakfasts, which were just ready--this was at 7 50 a.m. Soon after he
sent Lieutenant Fazackerley (Intelligence Officer) forward to find out
what was going on, and Lieutenant Johnson to 166th Brigade for orders,
our own Brigade Headquarters and three Battalions being still back at
HAMEL resting.
About 8 30 a.m. information was brought by Lieutenant Fazackerley
that the enemy was advancing all along our immediate front, and the
Commanding Officer at once sent for Company Commanders at the double;
one of us, who knew him well, afterwards said it was the first time the
Commanding Officer had ever been in a hurry. In a few words he made
his dispositions: A Company to hold the left under Captain Houghton;
B Company, under Captain Buckmaster, the centre in front of the farm;
and D Company, under Captain Matthew, to the right at the head of the
LINNET VALLEY. By this time straggling remnants of the Division on our
left were to be seen crossing the railway; a few were collected and
taken forward by A Company.
The Companies standing in readiness were at once led forward by their
Commanders, and took up positions as shown on the map, gaining the
crest at the moment when a party of Huns was in the act of crossing
the railway just south of CHAPEL CROSSING; A Company caught them before
they reached dead ground and wiped them out, while a Lewis gun mounted
on the railway and a Platoon beyond it secured the approach up the
valley. It is difficult to estimate the number of Huns shot down by
this Company alone in the first five minutes--the countryside was alive
with them, advancing in small patrols with light machine guns.
The enemy had also stationed heavy machine guns in various buildings,
especially a Beet Factory to our front, and during the whole action our
troops were subjected to continuous and accurate traversing fire from
these, and to a certain amount of shelling.
From this point our War Diary will speak for itself:--
30th November, 7 40 a.m. “Stand-to” order received from 166th Infantry
Brigade. Intelligence Officer and scouts sent forward to reconnoitre.
9 a.m. Our infantry and artillery observed retiring on our left in
the direction of HEUDECOURT. Artillery reported they had abandoned
guns in VILLERS GUISLAIN. Battalion Headquarters, under R.S.M., sent
forward to form line on north-east side of VAUCELLETTE FARM, where they
immediately came under machine gun fire from the enemy advancing from
VILLERS GUISLAIN.
A Company were ordered up on their left, and had to fight hard to reach
their position; the enemy had already seized Chapel Crossing. All the
Officers of this Company eventually became casualties.
B and D Companies were ordered to continue the line on the right of
Headquarters on the east side of VAUCELLETTE FARM. All Companies were
quickly in position; fire was opened, and the enemy ceased to advance
and took up a position on a line running from the BEET FACTORY to
CHAPEL CROSSING. At the time there were no troops in position on our
right or left flanks. This state of things prevailed until dusk, when
the Canadian Mounted Brigade arrived.
11 a.m. Orders were received from the 166th Infantry Brigade to clear
enemy from VILLERS GUISLAIN. Battalion ordered to advance in extended
order to clear enemy from VILLERS HILL. This they proceeded to do, led
by Lieutenant-Colonel R. Hindle, D.S.O.
The men were firing from the hip as they advanced, and the foremost
line of the enemy began to retire. The advance was successful until the
centre of the line reached a point about 200 yards from the crest of
the hill, when ammunition ran short. At this time fresh enemy troops
advanced over the hill in considerable strength.
The Colonel was killed, and all three Company Commanders became
casualties. The Adjutant took command of the Battalion and ordered a
withdrawal to VAUCELLETTE FARM. This was carried out slowly, under
covering fire from the left flank.
A defensive line was established on the east side of VAUCELLETTE FARM,
and the men commenced to dig themselves in with their entrenching
tools, under cover of Lewis gun fire. A supply of ammunition was
brought up by stretcher-bearers returning from the Aid Post.
11 30 a.m. At this time Major Crump, who was reconnoitring under orders
from the G.O.C. (166th Infantry Brigade) established a post on the
EPEHY--VILLERS--GUISLAIN ROAD, consisting of one Vickers gun and team,
one Officer and 30 Other Ranks of various units. The gun in this post
did great execution amongst the enemy in LEITH WALK, and effectually
prevented him from advancing further.
12 15 p.m. A composite Battalion of the 12th Division arrived as
reinforcements, one Company being sent to strengthen our garrison in
front of the farm, two Companies continued our line northwards, and one
Company was kept in the camp as local reserve. Touch was obtained on
the left with the 9th Essex Regiment.
12 55 p.m. Major Crump having completed reconnaissance and reported to
166th Infantry Brigade, was ordered by the G.O.C. to assume command
of the Battalion and to take with him two Vickers guns and teams and
supply of ammunition for LONE TREE POST (EPEHY--VILLERS--GUISLAIN
ROAD). One gun was sent to right flank of the post to command the
LINNET VALLEY, the other to VAUCELLETTE FARM. Soon afterwards touch was
obtained with 1/4th Royal Lancaster Regiment on our right.
1 30 p.m. C Company arrived as reinforcements and were sent into
the trench south of the farm, in front of the railway. After this
the consolidation of the line was carried on by the men with the
entrenching tool, only a few picks and shovels being available. This
was eventually remedied by the arrival of the Battalion mobile reserve
of S.A.A. and tools, so that, with the help of the composite Battalion
(12th Division), a fire trench was dug across the whole front of the
farm, and a considerable amount of wire put out soon after dark.
5 p.m. The Canadian Cavalry Brigade, under Brigadier-General Seeley,
arrived at rear line of VAUCELLETTE Camp. One regiment dismounted
and reinforced our line. One Regiment dug a support line west of the
farm. C Company were relieved at 11 p.m. by the 1/8th King’s Liverpool
Regiment, and went into the line east of the farm to assist in the
consolidation of the position.
Our casualties were:--Killed: Lieutenant-Colonel R. Hindle,
D.S.O.; Second Lieutenant J. H. Livesey.
Wounded and Missing (afterwards reported
killed): Captain R. N. L. Buckmaster.
Wounded: Captain A. T. Houghton, M.C.; Captain
F. K. Matthew, Second Lieutenant E. M.
Easterby, Second Lieutenant R. B.
Wilkinson,
Second Lieutenant P. Adamson, Second
Lieutenant F. G. Green, Second Lieutenant
J. E. P. Nicholson.
Other Ranks: Killed 11, Wounded 84, Missing
15.
Writing to express his sympathy with Alderman R. Hindle, Chorley,
on the loss of his son, the late Lieutenant-Colonel Hindle, D.S.O.,
Major-General H. S. Jeudwine said:--
“Lieutenant-Colonel Hindle’s death was a great blow to all of us. To
his Battalion it seemed irreparable. His never-failing keenness, his
courage and determination, were of inestimable value, and had made his
Battalion one of the finest, if not the finest, in the Division. His
cheerfulness and modesty endeared him to everybody. His Battalion did
splendid work under his leadership in the attack in front of Ypres.
There he came safely through great dangers, though he never spared
himself.
“The last action was quite unforeseen,” the letter continues. “When
the German attack appeared probable it fell to him and his Battalion
to occupy a position of great importance. I saw him on the day
preceding the attack and gave him orders which he carried out most
loyally, as I had the utmost confidence he would. He was killed almost
instantaneously at the head of his men, where he always was when there
was danger.... It will, I am sure, be some consolation to you to
know that the fine fight he made with his Battalion was the means of
definitely checking the German advance in that part of the field, and
of preventing their reaching a position which would have endangered
large forces.”
VAUCELLETTE CAMP.
1st December. At 1 a.m. the Battalion was relieved by the composite
Battalion of the 12th Division, and on relief went into Brigade
reserve at the railway dugouts (W 23 b) 57 c S E. The day was spent in
reorganising the Battalion. At 11 p.m. the Battalion was relieved by
the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, and proceeded by route march
to billets at HAMEL, arriving at 3 a.m.
Second Lieutenant J. Johnson wounded. One Other Rank to Field Ambulance
sick.
Extract from a letter received by the G.O.C. 164th Infantry Brigade
from the G.O.C. 55th Division:--“I saw the Corps Commander to-day, and
he said that they (i.e., the 1/4th Loyal North Lancashire Regiment) had
saved the situation. He had seen the Commander-in-Chief, and he had
agreed.”