RUITZ--LILLE--FROYENNES
On the evening of October 9th orders were received from Brigade that
the Division was to "pull out of the line" the next day for a rest.
This had been anticipated by all ranks, and the wildest speculations
had been rife. "Three weeks at Calais," "A fortnight in the South of
France," and other even more ridiculous prophecies had been uttered,
each, of course, based on "inside information." After all, when the war
really seemed to be nearing its end, any rumours, whether of a "rest"
or of a fallen Monarchy, met with ready acceptance.
At 10.30 a.m. on October 10th we commenced our move, so as to strike
the Brigade starting-point at Anneux Chapel at 11.15 a.m. Considerable
difficulty was experienced in collecting the companies, owing to the
barrier produced by the canal. The battalion, however, eventually was
joined together, and we tramped along the Bapaume--Cambrai road in high
spirits, albeit the recent battle was still in evidence by reason of
the dead Germans and slain horses seen lying about.
As we reached Fontaine we met a Scottish Division marching up, and
throughout its length the road was very congested. Our Divisional
Commander watched us pass, and we picked up our rear headquarters by
Bourlon Wood _en route_. As we marched along the switchback road H.R.H.
the Prince of Wales and General Byng passed us, motoring up to Cambrai.
The battle area, now that the struggle had gone ahead, looked forlorn
and desolate; and we were not sorry when, about two o'clock, we
reached the bare hillside at Boursies, where we were to spend the
night. Bivouacs were soon constructed, and though it threatened to
rain, and in fact did so at intervals, our spirits were in no way
damped.
Soon after our arrival we were conscious of a terrific detonation--it
would be untrue to say we "heard" it--and, looking back towards
Cambrai, we saw a tall pillar of smoke, with a large mushroom top,
rising from the town. We wondered whether our Army Commander and the
Prince of Wales had left the town in time to avoid the explosion.
The next day Brigadier-General Meynell, C.M.G., arrived to take over
command of our Brigade, and Colonel Gathorne-Hardy returned to our
Headquarters once more. The same day a proportion of our transport
moved off to Ruitz, near Bethune, our ultimate destination.
The morning of October 12th proved wet and chilly. As the balance
of the transport had to entrain at 7.30 a.m. at Fremicourt, early
breakfasts and earlier rising were essential; and by 7 a.m. we found
ourselves standing about with nothing to do and nowhere to sit and two
hours to pass before we could move. However, in due course the time
arrived, and the battalion moved off, the new Brigadier taking the
salute.
It took us two and a quarter hours to reach Slag Heap Station, Hermies,
and when we did arrive there was no apparent prospect of a train. We
sat down accordingly in a field and had some food, and about 12.30 p.m.
a train meandered into the station and we set off. There seemed to be
more than the usual doubt as to where and when we should arrive, but
by the time we had passed Bapaume, Arras, and St. Pol we had a fair
inkling that the journey would not be a very short one. Eventually at
4.30 a.m. on October 14th we arrived at Fouquereuil, where we were told
to get out. A tiring march of two and a half hours on wet and slippery
roads, and with empty stomachs, brought us at last to the little mining
town of Ruitz. "A," "C," and "D" Companies were in billets in the
village, while Headquarters and "B" Company had to climb a precipitous
hill to a small hutted camp in a wood. This spot had been a Corps
Headquarters, and consequently had an unusually pleasant aspect. The
rest of that day was spent mainly in sleep; the next day mainly in
washing.
[Illustration:
THE FINEST OF FINE TRENCH JOURNALS
CHEERIO! ½ᶠʳ·
NO 1 AUGUST 18TH 1918 12 PAGES
EDITED BY JOHN W WHEWAY
ILLUSTRATED BY A. R. INGHAM AND A RUNNER
THE JOURNAL OF "B" COY LIVERPOOL RIFLES
EDITORIAL ADDRESS "CHEERIO" 7 MINE SHAFT Aᵛᵉ FIFTEEN INCH LANE DUG
OUT CITY
A SOUVENIR FOR FRITZ]
Our idea of a long "rest" had become suddenly dispelled by the news
that in a day or two at the latest we were to go into the line
somewhere north of Bethune. To be frank, no one was particularly elated
by this intelligence. If we were to be in the line, we preferred the
clear, open country of the Cambrai area. It was impossible to be very
enthusiastic at the prospect of floundering once again through mud and
water in the dismal country of Northern France, with which we were
already only too familiar and had no wish to renew our acquaintance. A
conference for Commanding Officers at Barlin the next day revealed our
new destination as Fromelles, and on the morning of October 15th the
Quartermaster and other details proceeded thither at an early hour.
The battalion followed in busses at 6.45 a.m., and the transport set
off at 10 a.m. Our route lay through the outskirts of Bethune and
Locon--the former badly damaged, the latter, once a part of Corps
Headquarters, the most completely demolished place it is possible to
imagine. The mass of shell-holes in every direction testified to the
severity of the shelling to which the country had been subjected during
the recent push and counter-push.
At 11.30 a.m. the column halted at Pont du Hem; the men debussed and
the vehicles drove off. Hardly had they gone when the Corps Commander,
General Haking, drove up in a car and informed us that we were now
to make for Laventie. This was some way off, and meanwhile our
Quartermaster and billeting party were at Fromelles with the "cookers,"
while the transport were somewhere on the road between there and Ruitz.
Needless to say, our bicycles were with the transport--an error never
committed again--and two luckless runners had to be dispatched on foot
with maps and hosts of directions to collect our details. We in the
meantime set off for Laventie, where we arrived at 12.15. Few houses,
if any, we found had any roofs worth speaking of; billeting, therefore,
was not easy. The Irish and 2/7th K.L.R. were each given streets, and
ourselves another; and into the forlorn and draughty houses we settled
as best we could, waiting hungrily for our dinners, while the rain
steadily descended. At 4.15 p.m., when hope had nearly been abandoned,
the "cookers" were sighted, and the prospect of a hot meal soon
restored us to our normal spirits.
After a very damp night--the orderly-room staff, who were installed in
an old caravan, were the only people who kept really dry--we set off
soon after 9 a.m. to march to Le Maisnil. The road wound along through
the usual scenery of these parts, the beauty of which was by no means
enhanced by the fact that our route lay through the old British and
German trenches and across No Man's Land. As we climbed the hill which
led to our destination, the thoroughness of the enemy was made very
apparent by the remains of great pill-boxes, which he had blown to
pieces in a most efficient fashion before his departure.
Our Headquarters were some old wooden huts, standing adjacent to what
must have been a magnificent pill-box, to judge by the huge masses
of concrete that lay about, some of these hurled to a considerable
distance from the original site. The companies were a few hundred yards
away in some old trenches, which possessed one pill-box still intact.
As we moved in, the Munsters moved out.
At 2 p.m. the Commanding Officer, Adjutant, and Company Commanders rode
up to the Headquarters of the Brigade in the line at Le Chateau de la
Flandre, near Radinghem. After a short discussion the party proceeded
on foot, accompanied by the Major-General commanding 47th Division,
the Brigadier, and an Intelligence Officer. The route lay across open
fields to the railway line by Erquinghem le Sec Railway Station,
till recently the front line, and thence up a road to a small group
of houses at a place prophetically called (from the war of 1870) Le
Fin de la Guerre. Here a conference took place in a somewhat crowded
cellar, the Headquarters of the 22nd Londons, while the enemy shelled
the place with gas. It was arranged that we should arrive the next day,
so as to begin the advance from the present front line at 9.30 a.m.,
those on the spot to supply us with the local position by means of
fighting patrols to be sent out just before dawn.
We then retraced our steps to the Chateau, but did not delay there, as
the enemy was using 5·9's freely, one of which shortly afterwards came
within an ace of annihilating the Commanding Officer and Adjutant, and
their groom.
On our return the arrangements for the morrow were completed. "C"
and "D" Companies were to lead the advance, with "A" in support and
"B" in reserve. Captain Eccles rejoined this day and took over "B"
Company from Captain Kissan, who now assumed the duties of Intelligence
Officer. This post had been vacant since Lieutenant Hazell had been
sent to hospital with dysentery during the last days of the Battle of
Cambrai, though his place had been temporarily filled by Lieutenant
Lever.
At 7.30 a.m. on October 17th the battalion began to move off by
platoons at 100-yard intervals. The 22nd Londons had nothing of
particular interest to tell us on our arrival, except that all was
quiet. The 47th Division were expecting to go to Italy, and the thought
of that fair country loomed large on their horizon.
At 10.45 a.m. the Commanding Officer, with the Brigade Major, visited
the front line, where they found that the companies had successfully
grasped the situation, and were in touch on their flanks. Scouts
had been sent forward to ascertain how things were going in front.
Nothing could be seen of the Germans, so the line proceeded cautiously
forward in the direction of Lille. On went the scouts, and on went
the battalion. It was a queer, uncanny sensation, and not a few
expected a sudden crash of shells or the rattle of machine guns.
Soon, however, the pace became so fast that, from extended order,
the leading companies formed into lines of sections in column, while
the support and reserve companies assumed ordinary column of fours.
Battalion Headquarters kept incessantly moving, and had hardly time
to report their new location before they were on the move again. All
this while the Commanding Officer was marching ahead, steering the
battalion with whistle and arm signals after the most approved form
of open order drill, as laid down in "Infantry Training." La Petite
Coutre was passed, and on the flanks could be seen Fort Englos and
Premesques, once the strongholds of German heavy artillery in the old
Houplines days. Le Marais, just short of Lille, was reached without
incident, though the huge craters in the roads showed that the enemy
were determined to make our advance as difficult as possible. Mines
were still going up, and the efforts of some sappers to remove a "booby
trap" from a house resulted in an explosion which only missed Battalion
Headquarters by a few minutes.
Shortly before midday the battalion found itself marching along the
tram lines in the suburbs of Lille. As the men tramped down the empty
road to Pont de Canteleu, two children appeared, timid and round-eyed.
"Where is everybody?" asked the Commanding Officer, in his best French.
Apparently, our noble opponents had spread it abroad that we should
kill everyone we saw, and all had been warned to remain in their
cellars. The children retired, and shortly after one or two women and
one or two old men appeared. Finding us friendly, their relations were
summoned in shrill tones, and before long the street was thronged with
people. Never was such a scene! Everyone cheered and sang, laughed and
wept. Flags of the Allies, sold to the French by the Germans ere their
departure, soon adorned every window. "Vivent les Anglais!" went up
from hundreds of throats. Everyone embraced everyone else; officers and
men alike were kissed and kissed again by the enthusiastic people;
while horses and equipment were soon half smothered in flags and
flowers. Progress became very difficult, so dense was the crowd and
so anxious to express their joy and gratitude. Of all the sights of
the war there were few, if any, half so moving as the picture of this
almost miraculous awakening of these unhappy folk from their long and
cruel nightmare. How they laughed and cried! With what intense feeling
they sang "The Marseillaise"! Not a man was there who did not feel
that here at last was a reward worth all the misery and dangers of our
campaigning.
At last we reached the Pont de Canteleu, the entrance to the famous
City of Lille. The bridge, like all other bridges, was, of course,
in ruins; but there was sufficient of it left standing for civilians
to cross one at a time. Guards were posted at all these bridges, and
no one crossed into the town, the Corps Commander's orders being
very strict on this point. About 5 p.m. the 172nd Brigade, which had
been detailed to take charge of Lille, began to arrive, and the men
were passed over one at a time. As soon as this long performance was
completed our piquets were withdrawn. Billets were now selected for the
battalion in the vicinity of the bridgehead, and very good they were.
Battalion Headquarters secured a magnificent chateau, where everything
looked so suspiciously arranged for our comfort that, in spite of the
inspection carried out by the special R.Es., we were quite prepared to
discover some large-sized "booby trap." An old French gentleman dug up
from the garden two bottles of excellent claret and one of old brandy,
which he gave to us, and it need hardly be said that the present was
most acceptable.
At 6.30 p.m. the transport and rear headquarters arrived, and
Lieutenant Drewsen was dispatched to reconnoitre the bridges to
the north. He returned with a full description of the destructive
thoroughness of the enemy. About three bridges out of some fourteen
could be crossed by one man at a time with difficulty; the rest were
beyond hope.
At 7.15 a.m. the next morning orders were issued for the Brigade to
support the right and left flanks of the 74th and 59th Divisions, who
had moved round Lille from the north and south respectively, and whose
inner flanks were not yet in touch. It appeared that the enemy, who
had evacuated Lille in the early hours of the previous morning, was
retiring on the Scheldt, and fighting a rearguard action as he went.
The 8th K.L.R., who had followed behind the 2/7th K.L.R. and ourselves
in our joint march on Lille, were now to lead the Brigade; and about
8 a.m. they crossed the remains of the Pont de Canteleu and set off
round the southern outskirts of Lille. Fearing that it might be
difficult to recross the moat on the other side of Lille, we moved down
towards Haubourdin, where there was rumoured to be a pontoon bridge.
The transport was to follow. The route, which lay through endless
wrecked factories, derelict railway lines, and narrow back streets,
was somewhat confusing, but in the end the bridge was found and the
battalion passed over.
After crossing at Haubourdin we moved round towards Ronchin, viâ the
Faubourg des Postes, receiving everywhere a most enthusiastic greeting
from the populace. From the neighbourhood of Ronchin we proceeded to
Hallemes, where we settled down on a German aerodrome for a good halt
for dinner. The day was fine and warm, but the quantity of _pavé_ made
marching hard work.
After a dinner halt we pushed on again towards Flers, there being a
distressing lack of either orders or information. On another aerodrome
just south of the village we found the Acting Commanding Officer
of the Irish, also suffering from the same lack of instructions as
ourselves. The Germans took this opportunity to send over some stray
"whizz-bangs," but they did no damage, though as a precaution we spread
out the battalion into artillery formation. A council of war was held,
and the Irish decided to move on to Annappes, and we to billet in
Flers, which after a march of thirteen miles we were quite ready to
do. We noticed that the enemy shelled the former place quite stiffly
as the Irish moved in, but the firing soon subsided. Runners were now
sent to collect the transport, which in due course arrived, as also the
Brigadier.
The inhabitants of Flers were most friendly, and regaled us with
stories of their late masters; and one heard with some misgiving that
the bed allotted to "Monsieur le Capitaine" had been occupied by a
German as late as 7 a.m. that morning. However, a bed is a bed, when
all is said and done, and not a thing to be sneezed at when you are
campaigning.
It was here that we first discovered that the German soldiers had
used all the beds for themselves and left the inhabitants to sleep on
the floor. Our first efforts at billeting, therefore, became rather
complicated till the difference in custom was cleared up. There is
little doubt that by our novel methods of proceeding we distinctly lost
caste among people accustomed to the haughty ways of the Prussian. The
local inhabitants were inclined to think, as we did not order them
about like dogs, that we were rather poor creatures.
The orders for the next day (October 19th) were a repetition of those
of the day before, and at 9.15 a.m. we pushed on to Annappes. Here
we found the Irish still in possession, and a joint Headquarters was
formed, and the transport was instructed to follow us up. A thriving
trade was done by the inhabitants by the sale of paper ten-centime
pieces and other relics of the German occupation.
About midday the Irish got orders to move on, and ourselves to follow
at 3 p.m., to Willems. The Irish were to throw out an outpost line in
front of the place, and we were in support in billets in the town.
It was dark and raining when we reached the town, and a brigade of
the 74th Division had already got the best billets. The Mayor, we
found, was the keeper of the principal public-house, and thither the
Commanding Officer, Adjutant, Regimental-Sergeant-Major, and other
French scholars repaired to try and arrange for billets. The estaminet
was much like any other, and was already full of soldiers and
civilians trying to swallow a pale yellow liquid, which had sufficient
smell to suggest that it had been poured once (not oftener) into a
recently emptied beer bottle. Into this mass of chattering people we
pushed our way, and tried to get into conversation with the proprietor.
As he appeared to find our French difficult to follow, and was busy
serving out the so-called beer, our efforts were productive of very
little result. Eventually the situation began to dawn on him, and the
entirely fallacious services of a girl reputed to speak English were
called into requisition. All the French in the place at once joined
in, and not a few of the Tommies. The confusion and din soon became
appalling, and all this time the battalion were seated, patiently or
impatiently, by the roadside in the rain. The situation really seemed
hopeless, but after quieting the friends and supporters of the Mayor,
we eventually succeeded, and billets--which our Billeting Officer had
wisely been searching for on his own account--were duly approved and
the battalion moved in.
At 7.10 the following morning (October 20th) we received orders that
the Brigade was to seize the bridgeheads over the Scheldt north of
Froyennes--_i.e._, just above Tournai--the 8th K.L.R., as before,
leading the way. We moved off at 9 a.m., and shortly after crossing
the Belgian frontier received word from the 8th K.L.R. that they were
completely held up in front of Blondain, where they had established
their Headquarters. We were ordered not to advance any farther, and
were billeted for the night in a little hamlet called Les Empires.
Blondain was shelled freely, and our own vicinity slightly,
consequently our arrival in this part of the world was hardly welcome.
The inhabitants had seen but little of the actualities of war, and,
much as some of them disliked the Germans, they could hardly be
expected to watch with much pleasure their houses being shattered. Some
18-pounders arrived about this time and settled down near our transport
lines, which resulted in the latter being shelled out soon after.
[Illustration: Official Photographs by permission of The Imperial War
Museum and Canadian War Memorial Fund.
THE CANAL DU NORD.
CANAL DE L'ÉSCAUT NEAR CAMBRAI
THE CAMBRAI--BAPAUME ROAD, NEAR FONTAINE NOTRE DÂME.]
For the next day (October 21st) we received orders that we were to
pass through the 8th K.L.R. at 8.30 a.m., seize the bridgeheads, and,
passing the Scheldt, capture the high ground on the other side. To
assist us in this somewhat ambitious scheme, we received one battery
R.F.A., two sections M.G.C., one mobile medium trench mortar battery,
and two bridging sections, R.E.
The action which followed will be described in some detail, as it
proved a very interesting operation, and the only one of its kind in
which the battalion took part. It was real open warfare, as distinct
from the miscellaneous fighting which followed a "set piece" attack
during the recent battles.
The country between us and the River Scheldt was flat in the main,
dotted with houses and small woods, and rising slightly towards
Froyennes, whence it fell away to an open stretch of grassland up
to the near bank of the river. It was an excellent position for a
rearguard to hold; and in addition, on the Tournai--Courtrai road,
about one mile north of Froyennes, the enemy enjoyed magnificent
observation from the Convent, and also for his guns from Mont St.
Aubers, a conspicuous eminence on the far side of the river. He had
a considerable number of guns, and evidently an ample supply of
ammunition.
We, on the other hand, suffered the usual disadvantages of an attacking
force in open warfare. We had no knowledge of the strength or location
of the enemy, while our own movements could not be concealed. Moreover,
the hasty advance and the interruption of communications due to the
complete demolition of all bridges, the damage to roads by mines, and
the absolute destruction of all railways--every single metal on the
lines having had a piece blown out--had effectually prevented the
advance of any heavy artillery, and the 18-pounders which we had were
but scantily provided with ammunition.
We moved off at 8 a.m. to take over from the Irish--"A" Company on the
right, "B" on the left, "C" in support, and "D" in reserve. The front
line, which was some 2,000 yards in extent, ran north and south about
1,500 yards east of the hamlet of Honnevain. This was taken over by 10
a.m., the 8th K.L.R. being collected into groups near that place, with
"C" Company and Battalion Headquarters just in front. The two front
line companies now endeavoured to advance.
In this and subsequent similar attempts we were heavily handicapped
by being the only battalion of the Division in the line. On our left
was the 59th Division, and on our right the 74th Division, which
belonged to another Corps. The isolated attempts that resulted from
this position of affairs enabled the enemy to concentrate his attention
on our unfortunate companies, there being no time for our request for
flanking support to reach all the authorities concerned.
"A" Company, moving forward on a four platoon frontage, came at once
under intense machine-gun and trench-mortar fire from woods and houses
opposite their front, and sustained various casualties. The Lewis gun
team of No. 2 Platoon spotted one of the enemy machine-gun posts, and
dealt with it successfully. The advance was thereby able to proceed a
little farther, but at no point was the amount of ground gained very
considerable--about 500 yards in all. About 1 p.m. the advance was
compelled to cease, owing to the determined and accurate fire of the
enemy and the heavy shelling which had also commenced. The situation
was further complicated by the death of the Company Commander, Captain
Carr, who was shot through the head while moving forward to make a
personal reconnaissance. The death of this able and gallant young
officer was felt as a great loss, and the delay in getting hold of
Lieutenant Blake, the next senior officer, who, owing to the grave
shortage of officers, was with a platoon, for some time made it hard
for this company to operate collectively.
[Illustration: OPERATIONS 21/23 OCT. 1918. N. OF TOURNAI.]
In the meantime, on the left, Captain Eccles sent forward patrols to
ascertain the position. No. 7 Platoon, hearing from their patrol of
certain hostile positions, including a machine gun firing from a window
in the Convent, advanced at 11.30 a.m., but after proceeding a short
distance came under intense machine-gun fire, 2nd-Lieutenant Waln and
one man, unhappily, being killed and eight men wounded. The remainder
of the platoon were forced to fall back. Riflemen O'Sullivan and R. O.
Jones, who were with the platoon as stretcher-bearers, endeavoured to
go forward to bring in the wounded. The enemy, however, opened fire
on them, and they were compelled to lie down. As they lay watching
they observed some of the wounded sitting up applying field dressings.
Seeing that the enemy took no notice of this, they proceeded to bandage
each other for imaginary wounds. They then rose to their feet and
limped towards the wounded, whom they were able materially to assist in
tying up their wounds and eventually crawling to the rear. For their
gallantry and initiative they were both awarded the Military Medal.
The loss of 2nd-Lieutenant Waln was very great. He had won the
Divisional Commander's Card for his gallantry in the Battle of Cambrai,
and on this occasion he proved himself no less regardless of danger. He
had gained the respect and admiration of all ranks.
Second-Lieutenant Bardgett and the reserve platoon were sent up and
formed a post, the remnant of No. 7 Platoon being sent into reserve.
No. 6 Platoon, after waiting for some while for their patrol to return,
sent out a further party, which was followed by the platoon itself.
Crossing the railway, they forced their way into one of a small
group of houses, of one of which the door was barricaded, and were
almost immediately fired on from the doorway of an adjoining house.
The fire was returned, and two of the enemy were seen to fall; but
further hostile activity developing, they withdrew to the railway and
established a post there. Their original patrol joined them at dusk,
having been held up by hostile fire and unable to move. No. 5 Platoon
could make no move owing to the open nature of the ground in front of
them, each attempt being met with heavy fire.
At midday two platoons of "C" Company were sent up to each of the front
line companies, as their advance, short as it was, was leaving their
flanks in an exposed position. One half company under 2nd-Lieutenant
Simpson took up a position in the right rear of "A" Company; the other
half company was located near "B" Company Headquarters as reserve.
At 1.30 p.m. "D" Company was ordered forward from reserve to work down
the railway line, which ran through the centre of "B" Company's front,
and endeavour to get round the east side of the wood on the south of
the railway line. In spite of heavy fire, the company moved up without
casualties, cleared the wood, and by 5 p.m. had established posts on
the far edge.
About 7 p.m. the advance of both companies was once more attempted. "A"
Company, on the right, advanced some 200 yards, which brought it more
into line with "B" Company, but could make no farther headway. Captain
Eccles then issued orders for the advance to the Tournai--Cambrai road,
and No. 8 Platoon managed to get within about 400 yards of the Convent,
where they were absolutely stopped. No. 6 Platoon could make no headway
at all; and No. 8 Platoon, which was isolated, was consequently
withdrawn for a short distance to preserve the general front. Company
Headquarters, which had moved forward, and incidentally were all but
demolished by a shell of very large dimensions, withdrew to their
previous location, and all posts prepared for the night. "D" Company in
the meantime, having been passed by "B" Company, were concentrated at
Mont Garnis in reserve. Machine guns were posted at important tactical
posts for the night.
Throughout the day, in addition to intense machine-gun fire, the enemy
had kept up a heavy and more or less continuous bombardment with every
class of shell up to 8-inch. The slightest movement produced great
hostile activity, and it was simply owing to the small number of
men engaged on a comparatively large front that saved us from heavy
casualties. Trench-mortar and artillery support was available, and
was employed as far as the conditions of moving warfare and lack of
observation permitted.
At 4.30 a.m., October 22nd, patrols from "A" Company reported Froyennes
clear of the enemy, but that they were fired on from the east bank of
the river after passing through the village. "A" Company accordingly
moved forward, occupied the village, and established posts along the
Tournai--Cambrai road.
"B" Company's patrols were fired on from the Convent, but after a few
rounds the enemy withdrew. The company followed, and continued the
line of posts on the Tournai--Cambrai road. Patrols were at once sent
forward, in spite of a brisk fire from the far bank of the river, to
try and discover a bridge, but without success. Meanwhile touch was
gained with the 74th Division on the right and the 170th Brigade (who
had relieved the right brigade of the 59th Division) on the left. No
enemy were located on our side of the river except on the extreme
right, where contact was gained and two enemy prisoners (91st I.R., 2nd
Prussian Division) were captured.
The G.S.O.2 of the Corps visited Captain Eccles during the course of
the morning, and agreed that any attempt to cross the river would be
absurd. The Commanding Officer, after reconnoitring the line, came to
the same conclusion, and the general line of the road was consolidated.
"B" Company established their headquarters in the Convent, but made
a speedy evacuation on being informed that it was mined. "D" Company
were moved up to Trieu de Loquet; and Battalion Headquarters would
have moved up to Froyennes but for the information that we were to be
relieved early next morning. The enemy kept up a continual harassing
fire all day, distributed generally over the front, but causing few
casualties.
The weather, after being wet and disagreeable, had now cleared, but it
was distinctly cold. It was somewhat strange to be living in houses
during active operations; and, indeed, the civilians got rather mixed
up with the firing line, as they kept coming along with coffee for
the men in the posts. This well-meant but mistaken kindness was very
inconvenient, and, in addition, refugees kept coming in from the German
line. There were many minor spy scares, some of the civilians, out of
friendliness to us or enmity towards their neighbours, being rather
inclined to point out people as acting in that capacity. Battalion
Headquarters, which was a small isolated house not shown on the map,
was in fact destroyed by shell fire the very day after we left it,
which rather looked as if the enemy had received information as to its
position.
During the night, which was extremely cold, though very fine and with a
full moon, an R.E. officer made a complete reconnaissance of the river,
but failed to locate any kind of bridge. As a matter of fact, the line
on our section of the front remained just as we had established it
until the Armistice.
At 8.30 a.m. on October 23rd the 2/7th K.L.R. arrived, and proceeded
to take over our line, establishing their headquarters in the house
selected by us in Froyennes for the purpose. The battalion moved out to
Le Cornet, where an unfortunate incident occurred, owing to the efforts
of another Commanding Officer, whose battalion had not been in action,
to take forcible possession of our billets, in spite of the presence
of our Billeting Officer, who had with full authority taken over from
the 2/7th K.L.R. As a result our men had to sit by the roadside, tired
and weary after two days' hard fighting, till Divisional Headquarters
could be communicated with. The reply from there was as prompt as it
was satisfactory, and the offending battalion, who themselves appeared
none too pleased with the action of their Commanding Officer, at once
withdrew.
The billets were good all round, Headquarters itself being established
in a lovely old farm called Hardy Planq, evidently the ancestral
residence of some old French family. All were glad of a good rest and a
"clean up," as the strain and, for most people, the discomfort of the
last two days had been considerable. Our casualties during that time,
besides Captain Carr and 2nd-Lieutenant Waln, were seven men killed and
twenty-five wounded. In connection with these operations Captain Eccles
was shortly after awarded the Military Cross.
Just before we came out of the line Major C. W. Wilson left us for
England at his own request. He had not been in good health for
some time, and the wound in his foot--a relic of the South African
War--bothered him. He was a great loss to the battalion, with which
he had served since its formation. His grit and determination, his
enthusiasm and energy, were an inspiration to all ranks. His position
as Second-in-Command was filled by the Adjutant, Captain Bowring
reassuming the latter's duties.
At 2.30 p.m. on October 24th we moved off from our pleasant quarters at
Le Cornet and marched back to Willems into Divisional Reserve. We found
Willems quite a pleasant little town, and our billets were on the whole
good. Battalion Headquarters were situated nearly opposite Divisional
Headquarters, and we were thus enabled to renew our acquaintance with
the Divisional Staff.
We stayed at Willems till October 30th, and very pleasant it was. We
had been on the move almost without a stop since we left Ruitz, and
the stay at that place had been no more than a brief pause in our
continuous movements which commenced when we left the Scarpe on August
17th, more than two months before. During the two advances--the one
on Cambrai, the other on Tournai--dumps had been left at all kinds of
places, and we now had to set to work to collect our material and our
guards from widely separated spots. This was successfully accomplished
in the end, nor was anything of any consequence lost or overlooked in
the process.
We spent the first part of our time at Willems resting and cleaning
up; the latter part in training and reorganizing, as it was clear that
before long we should be required to follow up the retiring enemy
once more. Considerable attention was paid to the bugle band, which
practised from morning to night, and sounded the recognized calls
throughout the day. It was during the days in reserve on the Somme that
attention became centred on our bugles. Extra cornets were purchased,
and a pair of cymbals was presented by Lieutenant Huntley. Whenever
conditions were favourable the bugles were given every opportunity of
practising, and, under the skilful handling of Sergeant Cadman and
Lance-Corporal Frost, the cornet soloist, they proved a most efficient
and excellent addition to the battalion.
The difficulty of keeping pace with the bewildering rapidity of the
Allied advance suggested the advantage of a battle map, and accordingly
the necessary sheets of the 1: 250,000 map were fastened on a board and
the situation shown by cotton on pins. This was placed in a prominent
position outside Battalion Headquarters; and here, too, were pinned
the telegrams announcing the different stages of the advance. The
arrangement proved very satisfactory, enabling as it did not only
the troops, but also the civilians, to see at a glance how the war
was progressing. The crowd around the board at once testified to its
popularity.
For (as it proved) the last time in our history we were now ordered to
reconnoitre defensive positions and emergency routes in the event of a
German counter-attack. This was a most unlikely event, as we were on
one side and they on the other of a wide river. It was, however, quite
fitting that our active service should end, as it had begun, with this
necessary but illusive form of military exercise.
At 10 a.m. on October 30th we left Willems for the Hallemes area,
passing our relieving battalion, the 19th Londons, _en route_. The
hopes of a trip to Italy, so strongly entertained by the 47th Division,
had apparently been dashed to the ground once more.
[Illustration: APPROACH TO CAMBRAI. RIFLE RANGE IN FOREGROUND.
Photographed by Aeroplane, 1st October, 1918.]
Owing to a sudden attack of influenza, an ambulance had to be
requisitioned to remove Captain Fell, the Quartermaster, Lieutenant
F. E. Evans, Captain Noon, now in command of "A" Company, and
2nd-Lieutenant D. R. Williams. The Commanding Officer was on a
course, and the Headquarters Staff now consisted of the Adjutant, the
Intelligence Officer, and the Transport Officer. After a short march
along the side-roads we came on to the great highway between Lille
and Tournai, and at 1.30 p.m. arrived at the Faubourg de Fives, one
of the suburbs of Lille, where billets were awaiting us. Battalion
Headquarters, including all the details, were accommodated in a
house and a series of factory buildings on the main road, Rue Pierre
le Grand. The companies were in two or three roads to the rear of
Headquarters, and were billeted after the fashion of 1914--two or three
men to a house. For the sick officers another house in the main street
was taken over, and here they were kept isolated, except Fell and
Williams, who had to go to hospital.
Several new officers now began to arrive. Lieutenant Belk had joined us
in Willems, and 2nd-Lieutenants Bethell and Forshaw, A.S.C., arrived at
Fives on our second day. Captain Bowring returned that day also from
United Kingdom leave, and took over the duties of Adjutant, the latter
acting as Second-in-Command. The following day 2nd-Lieutenants Cufflin
and Woodworth, M.M., reported for duty.
From our arrival at Fives till the Armistice we were busy enough. First
of all there were the billets to be seen to, which, good as they were,
still required much attention. Then the general question of refitting
and training had to be considered. It was still quite uncertain whether
the enemy would come to terms or not; and it was understood that if he
did not we should certainly be required before long. Meanwhile a sudden
passion for lecturing took possession of the Higher Command, including
General Haking, our Corps Commander, who addressed us at some length.
On November 5th we had the first of a series of battalion concerts.
There was a most convenient little hall not far from our billets, and
here "The Cheerios" gave their performance--and an excellent one it
was. It was at Barly, during the rest in the Cambrai Battle, that the
concert party were first got together, and now they were to exhibit
their powers once more. They worked very hard, under the kindly eye
of the Padre, and the resulting success more than justified their
efforts. Without wishing to make invidious distinctions, it may be
said that Corporal Henderson was the heart and soul of the party,
while his singing of Chevalier's songs was absolutely first-rate. The
introduction of local talent, in the form of an _enfant prodigue_ who
played the violin, and a French girl who sang with great vigour proved
highly popular.
On November 6th our American Medical Officer, Lieutenant Reed, left
us, to our infinite regret. Dour and silent as he was, he had won a
very warm place in our hearts; and it is pleasant to think that he was
sorry enough to leave us after more than six months' active campaigning
together. Captain Bullock took his place, and proved in his turn a most
popular Medical Officer.
Football now began to figure prominently in our lives. The great
aerodrome, where we halted outside Flers the day after Lille was taken,
had been converted into one vast football field, with some seven or
eight pitches. Incidentally, it was also our training ground, and a
little friction was occasionally caused when other battalions used to
allow their battalion teams to practise all the morning in our vicinity
while we were drilling.
The last few days before the Armistice were somewhat trying. It was
impossible to keep your thoughts away from the possible termination
of hostilities and all that that involved. The authorities, with what
seemed a rather unnecessary lack of confidence in their troops, deluged
us with advice to maintain our morale. In point of fact, there appeared
no shred of evidence that anyone was in danger of losing his morale,
or, for the matter of that, any particular reason why he should, even
though one might be glad if the war was really over.
When the telegram reached us on November 11th there was no excitement,
no wild cheering or parading of the streets. It was too big a thing to
treat in that fashion. Men became silent and thoughtful--thankful for
their own escape, reminiscent of those less fortunate. Lille itself,
unlike London, did not become a scene of rowdy rejoicings. Thankfulness
for deliverance from the infernal horrors of the war, with its all too
recent and sad memories, was too deep for a form of celebration more
properly associated with Boat Race night in Leicester Square or a "rag"
in a 'Varsity town.