THE RENEWAL OF TRENCH WARFARE
The great attempts to break through in April had definitely failed
from a variety of causes. The Russian Revolution had rendered
impossible the blow in the East, for which British munitions had for
the first time adequately armed the Russian Armies. The German retreat
had partially disorganised the combined British and French plan. The
failure of Nivelle's great blow at the Chemin des Dames on the 16th
April with enormous losses, made the French Armies incapable of any
offensive operation on a large scale for several months. Hence the
Battle of Arras, which had begun so happily, degenerated towards the
end of April into a series of furious struggles, each of which showed
less promise of decisive importance than the last. The centre of
gravity shifted to the north, where preparations on a vast scale were
pushed forward for the main attack in Flanders, which opened on 31st
July. Accordingly, the southern sector in which the Battalion
remained, settled down into a normal period of what is called
inactivity.
The Battalion spent the beginning of May in the ruins of the village
of Doignt, now greatly improved since they passed over the blasted
roads on the 22nd March. Here the time passed in the usual training
and recreations, and a Challenge Cup, presented by the C.O., was
competed for in inter-Platoon Football Matches. Here, too, an
invaluable thresher installed at Peronne disinfected the blankets,
which were in a filthy condition. On the 12th the Battalion, now
under Major Aldworth's command, as the C.O. was Acting Brigadier,
moved to Combles, and entered the 15th Corps area. The old Corps
Commander rode up to the Brigade on the way and expressed his regret
at leaving such a gallant and well-behaved Brigade. The old Somme
battlefields were still entirely desolate, the ground was full of
corruption and noxious fumes and littered with the debris of battle.
Far away, on the eastern horizon, a green strip appeared, showing the
limits of the devastation. Next day the march was continued through
the centre of the waste past Le Transloy to a capacious camp at
Beulencourt on the Peronne road, 2 miles south of Bapaume. Next day
the Battalion re-entered the line in front of Hermies, relieving the
9th Sherwoods, whose C.O., Colonel Thornton, came from our 1st
Battalion. Until the end of June our lot was cast in this
neighbourhood with normal periods of trench duty and relief. The line
held by the Brigade stretched south from the great Bapaume-Cambrai
road. It was from these trenches that the northern part of the
surprise attack against Cambrai was launched on 20th November. The
enemy was ensconced in his Hindenburg Line, which took advantage of
every undulation in the bare tableland. The villages in our
occupation, Hermies, Doignies and Beaumetz, had all shared in the
systematic devastation of the spring. The foremost British line was
still a matter of partially connected outposts, each Platoon forming
as a rule a self-contained strong point, while inter-communication
with other posts was always difficult and sometimes impossible by day.
The Battalion frontage was strung out to a width of about 2,300 yards,
and on our arrival was protected only by discontinuous belts of wire,
but before the first tour had been completed they had all been linked
together. No Man's Land was wide and ill-defined, amounting sometimes
to 1,000 yards, with such debateable features as ruined farms or
clumps of trees situated in the midst, which required constant
patrolling, but were found regularly unoccupied. The aspect of the
country with its tangled growth of grass and weeds revived memories of
Hébuterne two summers ago.
Thus six weeks were spent in comparative stagnation. Again the enemy's
artillery were almost silent for days on end, though now and again
violent bursts of 5.9-inch would be directed at the Support Companies.
The Battalion made no raids; the only one which was attempted against
them was on a small scale, and was completely crushed by Sergeant
Garrett, of Wokingham, whose good leadership of the post attacked
earned him the Military Medal. We suffered no loss, and took one
prisoner entangled in the wire. The total casualties for the period
were no more than 15, but included Captain Down, who died of wounds on
22nd May. He had been with the Battalion since the spring of 1916, and
was deeply regretted as a capable officer, who showed always the
greatest consideration for his men. On 30th June the Battalion turned
their backs on this quiet spot and marched by stages through Velu and
Bihucourt northwards to Bailleulval, a village about 6 miles
south-west of Arras, now 10 miles behind the line to which it had been
in close proximity until that spring.
Here every sign suggested that the Battalion was soon to take part in
an offensive. Drafts arrived in such numbers that the total strength
was raised to 930, a higher figure than at any period since we first
crossed to France. Training went on feverishly through the sultry
days. The old system of trenches in front of the village were the
scene of many practice attacks, nor did the musketry, bombing, and
gas specialists neglect their opportunities. The Brigadier appeared,
to give lectures and to inspect the capacity of each officer to use
his compass. The Divisional General carried off all the senior
officers for staff rides. Thus the three weeks were spent in most
arduous preparation, which left no doubt that a severe ordeal was
imminent. That a general offensive was intended in the north was no
secret either to our Army or to the enemy, and was indeed the natural
sequel to the Battle of Messines. All doubts were resolved when the
Battalion entrained on 21st July at Mondicourt and moved north into
Flanders. They passed along the same route by which exactly two years
before they had come down to Hébuterne, and the survivors of those
days cheered as they passed the well-remembered little towns of Marles
and Lapugnoy. As the evening drew in the train wandered slowly through
Lillers and Hazebrouck, vast centres of activity, finally drawing up
at Godewaersvelde at 10.45 p.m., whence a weary march ended at dawn at
Houtkerque, which, curiously enough, was next door to our first
resting place in Flanders,--Winnezeele. The entire move had occupied
20 hours; it is interesting to note that while the direct distance
between the two points was 43 miles, the Battalion had traversed by
road and rail at least 70.