THE ADVANCE.
On the 1st September, 1918, orders were received that Infantry Brigades
in the line must be prepared to follow up the enemy rapidly should
he commence to withdraw on the Divisional front, fighting patrols to
make good what ground they could; this was consequent upon reports of
fires and explosions behind the enemy’s line and information from enemy
prisoners.
On the 4th, patrols having reported the evacuation of the enemy’s front
line trenches, Battalion Headquarters moved up from WINDY CORNER to
GIVENCHY KEEP TUNNEL. D Company secured a prisoner. One of our night
patrols encountered enemy at ROCHE ALLEY, and a sharp fight ensued; we
left one man severely wounded, who was brought in by a daylight patrol.
Lieutenant King and 38 Other Ranks were gassed, one Other Rank killed,
and Second Lieutenant Davies and two Other Ranks wounded.
The following day, daylight patrols continued to push up ROCHE ALLEY
and CUPOLA ALLEY, and established outposts, our own line being in
advance of the right Battalion. The enthusiasm of all ranks to push
forward was much marked, and the respective Companies vied with each
other in their endeavour to establish posts farthest east of any in
the Battalion or in the Division. Four Other Ranks were wounded and 12
Other Ranks gassed.
On the 6th there was a little scattered shelling; we were relieved
in daylight by the 1/4th King’s Own, and went into support. The next
two days were occupied with carrying parties, which involved hard and
continuous work owing to the state of the trenches and the increasing
distance between the front line posts and the reserves. We had one
Other Rank killed, seven wounded, and three gassed.
On the 9th we relieved the King’s Own again, and patrols located the
enemy at APSE HOUSE. The following night a patrol attacked him, but
without success.
The 11th was very wet, and on the 12th we were relieved by the 2/5th
Lancashire Fusiliers and moved back to support. The casualties during
the tour were: 5 Other Ranks killed, Second Lieutenants Jones, Daniels,
Marsden and Thomas and 18 Other Ranks wounded, 1 Other Rank gassed.
The weather began to improve. The enemy carried out as usual the daily
strafe on the craters on the 13th. Two Other Ranks were killed, one
wounded, and two gassed.
On the 14th, four Platoons from A and C Companies were detailed for
carrying parties to the 2/5th Lancashire Fusiliers, who were attacking
CANTELEUX TRENCH at 1 30 p.m. The operation was classed as unsuccessful
owing to strong counter-attack and heavy shelling, but they secured 10
prisoners. Second Lieutenant L. B. Smith was killed whilst assisting
the attack of the Fusiliers, and six Other Ranks were wounded. The
1/7th King’s Liverpool Regiment relieved us, and we were taken back by
’buses to VAUDRICOURT, where we rested, trained, and carried out the
usual recreational programme.
On the 20th, Lieutenant-Colonel T. G. Williams, M.C., went on leave,
and the Battalion was then under the command of Major A. E. Entwistle.
On the 21st, the Divisional boundaries having been altered, we relieved
the 18th Gloucesters on the CANAL, A Company taking over the outpost
line north of the CANAL, B Company the outpost line south of the CANAL.
The relief passed off without incident.
On the 22nd, B Company pushed their forward posts out about 400 yards.
Much enemy harassing fire on this and the following days. The weather
broke on the 23rd. On the 25th, Companies changed over.
On the 28th, we were relieved by the 1/4th King’s Own, and went into
support at BARGE HOUSE. The casualties during the tour were: 5 Other
Ranks killed, Second Lieutenant Kirkby and 10 Other Ranks wounded.
On the 30th, B and D Companies attacked the DISTILLERY, capturing 58
prisoners, but were forced back to their original line later in the
day. Second Lieutenant Bryne and three Other Ranks were killed. Second
Lieutenant Cairns and 46 Other Ranks were wounded, and two Other Ranks
missing.
On the 1st October, Major H. J. G. Duggan returned from the Senior
Officers’ Course, Aldershot, and took over command from Major
Entwistle. On the same day, at 6 15 a.m., B and D Companies, each
reinforced by two Platoons of C Company, attacked and captured
the DISTILLERY and machine gun posts on the right and left of it;
23 prisoners and four machine guns were taken; Second Lieutenant
Griffiths, Parkinson, Haworth, and Bowler and six Other Ranks were
wounded and 13 Other Ranks killed. At night we were relieved by six
Platoons of the King’s Own, and moved back into support.
On the 2nd, early morning patrols having reported that the enemy was
retiring along his whole front, we moved forward, Headquarters being in
MARIE KEEP. The movement was continued on the following day, 2 Other
Ranks being killed and 5 Other Ranks wounded and missing.
On the 4th, we went back to positions of assembly in LA BASSEE, going
into reserve billets on the 5th.
On the 5th, Lieutenant-Colonel T. G. Williams returned from leave and
resumed his command.
On the 8th, we marched to billets at BETHUNE, and were comfortably
billeted by 4 p.m. Here Second Lieutenant W. E. Crossley, M.C., M.M.,
Captain R. J. Cross (Chaplain), and Second Lieutenants Blount, Towers,
and Kennett joined for duty.
On the 12th, we went up in lurries and relieved the 1/5th King’s Own
as outpost Battalion on the left Brigade front, Battalion Headquarters
being at LATTRE.
On the 13th, our patrols at dawn found the enemy very alert, and
located several machine gun posts west of the HAUTE DEULE CANAL. Some
harassing fire on our forward posts during the day. Two Other Ranks
were killed, Second Lieutenant Taylor and nine Other Ranks missing, and
Second Lieutenant Crossley and one Other Rank wounded.
On the 14th, the enemy artillery became more active, and our patrols
were heavily engaged by machine guns. The marshes were found almost
impassable, the water being eight feet deep in places. Our sentry
posts located in the marshes were unremitting in their attempts to
push forward, and the spirit of all ranks, despite the conditions, was
excellent. Seven Other Ranks were killed and 11 Other Ranks wounded.
Second Lieutenant R. G. Latham joined for duty.
On the 15th the harassing fire continued. Our patrols were very active,
but did not advance. Captain W. L. Price and five Other Ranks were
wounded. Second Lieutenant H. C. Saville joined for duty.
On the 16th, patrols reported some of the enemy posts unoccupied. At
12 noon D Company and two Platoons of B Company crossed the HAUTE
DEULE CANAL at LES ANSCRUILLES, and proceeded to attack from the flank
the strongly-held bridgehead at BAC DE WAVRIN, A and C Companies
attacking frontally at the same time. The attack was under the personal
supervision of Major H. J. G. Duggan, M.C. The bridgehead was taken at
9 p.m., and patrols pushed on to the SECLIN CANAL. Pontoon bridges were
thrown across the Canals. Lieutenant Bury and Second Lieutenant Taylor
and one Other Rank were wounded.
On the 17th, the 2/5th Lancashire Fusiliers and the 1/4th King’s Own
passed through our outposts at 5 a.m. The Battalion reorganised and
assembled at WAVRIN. At 4 p.m. we moved to NOYELLES, and were billeted
by 11 p.m. Second Lieutenant Taylor died of wounds. Second Lieutenant
Hailwood and two Other Ranks were killed and seven Other Ranks were
wounded.
On the 18th, at 3 a.m., we moved into the main outpost line of
resistance east of D’ENCHEMONT.
On the 19th, at 7 a.m., the Battalion passed through the outpost line
held by the King’s Own on the LAMARQ RIVER, and advanced--A and C
Companies in front and B and D in support. The enemy resistance was
practically nil, and the villages of CYSOING, BOURGHELLES and WANNEHAIN
and ESPLECHIN were captured. At night we took up outpost positions,
with B and D Companies along the line of resistance, on the high ground
east of WANNEHAIN; A Company found the outposts to the east. One Other
Rank was wounded.
On the 20th, the 2/5th Lancashire Fusiliers marched through our outpost
lines and we moved into Brigade reserve. One Other Rank was wounded.
On the 21st, in the afternoon, we moved into billets at FROIDMONT. At
2 a.m. on the 22nd, we relieved the 1/4th King’s Own in the outpost
line--C Company on the right, D on the left, A and B Companies in
support. We attempted to advance, but were unable to do so owing to
heavy machine gun and artillery fire, five Other Ranks being killed,
14 wounded, and one missing. Our daylight patrols found the enemy was
holding a strong line with many machine guns. At the time of relief it
was understood that the enemy had been cleared out of the wood in O 33
b and d, but when the Officer Commanding D Company (Captain Montague
Smith) attempted to enter the wood he was met by strong machine gun
fire.
The Officer Commanding D Company planned two attacks on the wood, but
the enemy were so strong as to make these unsuccessful. Artillery
assistance was asked for, and at 4 30 p.m., under an artillery barrage,
D Company attacked and was completely successful in capturing the wood,
taking 18 prisoners and four machine guns. Outposts were pushed up in
front of the wood, and at dusk the Company was relieved by B Company
(Captain R. H. Smith, M.C.).
At 2 a.m. on the 23rd, we drove off an enemy counter-attack, but at
4 30 a.m. a strong counter-attack delivered from the flank with the
strength of about two Companies forced our posts to withdraw from
the wood. There was a thick fog at the time of the attack, and,
communications having broken down, no assistance was forthcoming from
our artillery. The Officer Commanding B Company, however, immediately
organised Company Headquarters and a Platoon of A Company and delivered
a quick counter-attack, which, whilst it was not successful in
regaining the wood, effectually managed to establish us some little
distance our side of the wood. We were relieved by the 2/5th Lancashire
Fusiliers about midnight. Second Lieutenants Chambers and Blount and
33 Other Ranks were missing, one Other Rank killed, and 25 Other
Ranks wounded. We moved into billets at FROIDMONT, where Battalion
Headquarters had to change their location, being shelled with mustard
gas. Seven Other Ranks were wounded.
On the 25th, we relieved the 1/4th King’s Own in the main line of
resistance, Battalion Headquarters being at FERME DU BARON, C Company
on the right, D Company in the centre, A Company on the left, and B
Company in support. Lieutenant King rejoined us here. The next two days
were occupied in working parties.
On the 28th, we were relieved by the 1/7th King’s Liverpool Regiment,
and moved to billets at WANNEHAIN, where we bathed and rested.
Two Officers and 59 Other Ranks had gone sick during the month. A
Divisional Paper Chase was attended by the mounted Officers on the 1st
November.
On the 9th, the enemy having retired further, we moved on to ESPLECHIN,
and on the 10th to BARRY, marching to VILLIERS ST. AMAND on the 11th.
The Armistice at 11 o’clock on that day put a stop to further
operations. Whilst nobody could be sorry that the War had come to an
end, it was annoying to be stopped when we had at last really got going
and the fox was in sight.
Many of us thought at the time, and still think, that we might have
gone on a little further, and that it was a mistake not to push the
advance and really rout the enemy.
At eight o’clock on Armistice night the Battalion Band attended a dance
given by the Brigadier, General C. B. Stockwell, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O.,
and the first social function after the Armistice at which the Officers
of the Battalion were represented was a great success.
Captain M. Smith was awarded the Military Cross for his gallantry and
initiative displayed in the successful attack on the wood O 33 b and
d. Captain R. H. Smith was awarded a Bar to his Military Cross for his
personal bravery and initiative in organising a prompt counter-attack
after we had lost the wood O 33 b and d. Major H. J. G. Duggan, M.C.,
was awarded the D.S.O. for personal bravery and leadership displayed at
BAC DE WAVRIN and the attack on the wood O 33 b and d.
[Illustration: The Colours Marching Past the King of the Belgians,
Brussels, 3rd January, 1919.]