THE FINAL TRIUMPH
"_The Right Hand of the Lord hath the pre-eminence. The Right Hand of
the Lord bringeth mighty things to pass._"--PSALM CXVIII.
[Sidenote: Aug. 1918.]
On the 8th August the 4th Army launched a completely successful attack
west of Amiens, and an offensive on a large scale was then decided on
in which our Army, the third, was to participate. The 62nd Division was
in reserve, but its artillery was temporarily placed under the 37th
Division, and took up positions between Essarts and Bucquoy. The attack
began on the 21st with a substantial victory. Our troops advanced
through and beyond Bucquoy, Ablainzeville, and Moyenville, and later
on in the day captured Achiet le Petit and Courcelles. In this action
Lieut. A. G. Bennett was awarded the Military Cross:
"On the 21st August Lieut. Bennett was in charge of a section of trench
mortars, and took part in the barrage preceding the attack on Bucquoy.
In spite of the difficulties due to misfires, owing to dampness of
charges on account of the atmospheric conditions, he succeeded in
firing the whole of the hundred rounds in ten minutes, the shooting
being excellent. On completion of the barrage he went forward with
the infantry to reconnoitre, taking with him Gunner E. Wendrop, M.M.
In Bucquoy they met four of the enemy partly concealed, who had been
overlooked by the first wave, and who were then sniping our men from
the rear. With difficulty they got round them, and then rushed them,
taking them prisoners."
The artillery pushed on, and on the 23rd our batteries supported the
4th Corps in another great attack, which resulted in the capture
of Achiet le Grand, Bihucourt, and Irles. Our casualties were not
heavy, but unhappily we lost one officer killed, Lieut. J. C.
Massey-Beresford. That same evening the 62nd Divisional Artillery were
withdrawn to Bertrancourt, and thence marched to join the 38th Division
in an attack from the neighbourhood of Aveluy Wood. They remained with
this division until the 6th September, and took part in the arduous
advance from the Ancre to the Tortille river, being in action as the
fight progressed in and about the ruined remains of the historical
villages of Pozières, Bazentin, Flers, Morval, Mesnil, and Manancourt.
I myself, with my Headquarter Staff, was with the artillery supporting
the 62nd Division all this time, during its advance from Behagnies to
the neighbourhood of Morchies; unfortunately, therefore, I am unable to
describe the operations of the 62nd Divisional Artillery in detail, but
they entailed very heavy fighting and continuous hard work. Major R. C.
Foot has kindly furnished the following notes of the experiences of the
310th Brigade:
"Early on the 24th August we marched to Bouzincourt, where battery
commanders went forward. The 38th Division had crossed the Ancre and
made good Albert, but the enemy were still holding Tara and Usna Hills,
which overlook Albert from the east. Our orders were to take up
positions east of the river to cover the next morning's advance. The
three 18-pounder batteries went into action on the low ground east of
the river that night, and I went in by the goods station close to the
river. I remember we had to have 200 rounds per howitzer that night,
which meant that the horses were on the road all night after 48 hours
practically continuous marching.
"On the morning of the 25th we fired a barrage to cover the attack;
Tara and Usna Hills were taken with three 77 mm. guns and some
prisoners. That afternoon the 310th Brigade went into action near the
crest in front of La Boisselle. The infantry advanced this evening and
the next day, with little opposition after the morning's success.
"On the 26th the brigade was in action in the valley between
Contalmaison and Pozières. That evening B/310 and D/310 did a combined
shoot on a counter attack by two companies of the 3rd Grenadier
Regiment, made against the right brigade of the 38th Division; the
Germans came out of Trones Wood across the open, and Jim Currie
(commanding B/310) caught them beautifully; we counted about 40 dead
there next morning.
"On the 27th we were in action by Mametz Wood and Bazentin Wood.
Here we fired a barrage for an attack on the Longueval--Guillemont
area that morning. The 28th saw us in action at Ginchy covering the
advance on Morval, which proved rather a difficult place to take. Here
Latter behaved very gallantly under heavy shelling, for which he was
subsequently awarded the M.C. I had some very nice shooting from here
on some infantry dragging light trench mortars; I hit two teams and
counted 12 dead and all three mortars left there next day.
"We remained at Ginchy two days, and on the 30th went into action at
Morval. From this position we covered the advance on Sailly Saillisel
Ridge, which was taken on September 1st.
[Sidenote: Sept. 1918.]
"Reconnoitring the long forward slope down to the Canal du Nord at
Manancourt on the 2nd was a nasty job, and some 38th Division batteries
who were pushed on in front of us here had a bad time. Meanwhile my
battery moved up close behind Sailly Saillisel.
"On the evening of the 3rd we moved up close to the canal. I went in
rear of B/310, about 800 yards from the canal, which our infantry
were to cross in the morning. By bad luck I came under a German gas
concentration, which lasted from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. I had to stay there
to fire a barrage, and consequently got about 90 per cent. of the men
at my gun positions gassed. We were digging, and carrying ammunition
all night; the position was close to Manancourt. Nelson got an M.C. for
his work that night.
"The Brigade crossed the canal on the 5th, but on the 6th was withdrawn
from action. The advance had been 18 miles as the crow flies, in 13
days, over the old Somme battlefield."
The official records of the two Military Crosses mentioned in the above
account are as follows:
"When ordered to reconnoitre at Ginchy for a gun position for an
advance, Lieut. Latter found the enemy in possession of the area, and
sweeping all approaches with machine gun fire. He successfully marked
a position, although he was at times in the open within 300 yards of
the hostile machine guns. Later, in command of a detached section, he
displayed great gallantry and initiative, moving to and fro several
times from his section to the main battery position for orders, in
preference to sending runners from his men."
"Lieut. H. G. Nelson: when his battery came into action in a forward
position it was heavily shelled with gas, but with great courage and
determination he moved about encouraging his men. Later, when two of
his guns received direct hits, he kept them in action, removing the
casualties himself. His disregard for his own safety was a splendid
example to his men, and enabled them to maintain the fire of their guns
when this appeared impossible."
Four officers were wounded during these operations, Lieuts. F. R.
Stuart, W. J. Green, J. C. Harker, and H. G. Nelson. Eight Military
Medals were gained (v. Appendix). Lieut. N. Hess won a bar on the 1st
September to the M.C., which he gained in November 17, and Lieut. E. C.
Lintern was awarded the Military Cross for the following action on the
3rd September at Mesnil:
"When during night harassing fire one of the guns of D/312 burst,
killing two and wounding two of his detachment and setting fire to the
pit, he and a gunner at once went to the assistance of the wounded men.
They removed burning charges which had been blown into the ammunition
recess, and succeeded in preventing an explosion and keeping down the
fire, until other help was forthcoming and the fire was put out. His
prompt action prevented further loss of life."
The following letter was received by the Divisional Commander from the
G.O.C. 38th Division:
"I have experienced the great honour and privilege of having under my
command, from the 21st August to the 5th September, 1918, the artillery
of your Division.
"This Division has attacked on a 3000 yard front for 16 days
consecutively with a truly remarkable success. I attribute this success
to a great degree to the magnificent support I have received from
the Field Artillery. On many occasions batteries of your artillery
have literally moved parallel with my advancing infantry. Their dash,
determination, and staying power are above all praise.
"I wish especially to bring to your notice the gallant and
distinguished conduct of Lieut.-Colonel D. J. Sherlock, D.S.O., and
Lieut.-Colonel A. G. Eden."
This battle from the 21st to 31st August is now officially known as the
Battle of Bapaume, which, runs the official account, turning the flank
of the German positions on the Somme compelled the enemy to withdraw
to the east bank of the river. Here 23 divisions defeated 35 German
divisions, capturing 34,250 prisoners and 250 guns.
On the 28th August Major-General W. P. Braithwaite left us on promotion
to the command of a corps. Glad as we all were that he should receive
the recognition due to his distinguished services, each one of us felt
his departure as a personal loss. He had always taken the keenest
interest in his artillery, and had been a constant visitor at the
battery positions, and we felt that we were losing in him a leader
who inspired confidence and could understand our needs. Whatever the
difficulty and danger of the situation, he always preserved the same
cheery, courteous, and debonnaire demeanour, and he never passed
through a battery without leaving the officers and men the happier for
his visit. Less than this I cannot say, and I would gladly say more;
but it would be unbecoming in me to speak of the soldierly qualities of
a superior officer, while he and I are still on the active list, and I
must content myself with saying that Sir Walter Braithwaite will long
be remembered with admiration and affection by his old artillery.
He was succeeded in command of the Division by Major-General Sir Robert
Whigham.
[Sidenote: Sept. 1918.]
My own artillery joined the Division again on the 8th September.
Divisional Headquarters were then at the Triangle Copse near
Gomiecourt, and the Division was enjoying a short rest some distance
in rear of the front line, which ran roughly along the Canal du Nord.
I had hoped that our gunners would have a rest too after their fine
work with the 38th Division, but it was not to be, for on the day of
their arrival we received orders to be prepared to attack and capture
Havrincourt, the scene of our former triumph in a few days. The
brigades and D.A.C. accordingly moved on the 9th to the area round
Beugny, and the work of reconnoitring positions for the coming battle
began at once. The positions selected lay chiefly between Havrincourt
Wood and the Canal, a little to the left of those occupied in the
battle of the 20th November, 1917. The 3rd Divisional Artillery,
together with the 5th, 76th, 93rd, and 232nd brigades, were temporarily
added to my command, making a total of twenty-four 18-pounder batteries
and eight 4.5 howitzer batteries to support the Division in its attack.
Batteries set to work forthwith to prepare their positions, and to
dump thereon 450 rounds per gun. While engaged in this work Lieut. B.
Alderton won the Military Cross "for great gallantry at Havrincourt
Wood on September 10th, 1918, in leading ammunition wagons which were
being heavily shelled to a place of safety. He dealt with the situation
with great pluck and skill, assisted the five drivers who had been
wounded, and undoubtedly saved further damage being done."
The following Divisional Order was issued on the 10th:
"The 62nd (West Riding) Division has been called on to make a
big effort to capture the high ground on which the village of
Havrincourt stands.
"The early capture of this important tactical feature is regarded
as essential to the success of larger operations in the near
future. Every day given to the enemy to strengthen his positions
there is a day gained for him.
"There are no tanks available for this attack at Havrincourt, which
will be carried out under intense artillery barrage and bombardment.
"The 62nd Division has borne a brilliant share in the operations
on the Marne in July, and more recently in nine days hard fighting
round Mory and Vaulx. It captured Havrincourt on the 20th November
last year, and a second capture of this strong position in the
Hindenburg line will add fresh lustre to the splendid record of the
Division.
"R. D. WHIGHAM,
"Major-General."
All the batteries went into action during the night of the 11th
September, and in the early hours of the 12th Divisional Headquarters
moved to the canal bank south-west of Hermies. At 5.25 a.m. the barrage
opened, and continued for about three hours, sweeping north-east
through the village of Havrincourt at the rate of 100 yards in three
minutes. The infantry pressed on irresistibly behind the line of
bursting shell, and once more this almost impregnable position fell
before the unconquerable onslaught of our wonderful battalions. The
prisoners numbered 12 officers and over 600 other ranks. We had one
officer wounded in the Divisional Artillery, Lieut. J. B. C. Hewitt.
All through the 13th there was fierce fighting round the village. The
Boche counter-attacked vigorously, and at one time got a foothold in a
corner of Havrincourt, but by the evening he was again thrust out. The
guns were hard at work all day, and we learned from prisoners that the
counter-attacking troops lost heavily from our artillery fire.
On the 14th the infantry again attacked under a barrage, and captured a
trench about a thousand yards east of Havrincourt, together with five
officers and 204 other ranks. The 15th was spent in consolidating the
positions gained. The enemy's aeroplanes were very active and brought
down three of our observation balloons in flames. That afternoon,
when visiting the headquarters of the 185th Infantry Brigade with
the G.O.C., I heard a curious story from Lord Hampden, the Infantry
Brigadier. During the attack of the previous day some of his men
entered a dug-out and found four Boches playing cards; they simply held
up their hands for a moment, remarked "Kamerad," and then went on with
their game! It was rather an amusing proof that the Huns were beginning
to regard defeat and capture as a thing naturally to be expected.
On the 16th September the infantry of the Division withdrew for a rest,
the guns remaining in the line, as usual, under the 3rd Division.
Lieut. S. A. Rissik was wounded this day. No further advance was made
for some days, but preparations were set in hand for another great
attack to be begun by the 3rd Division, and carried on afterwards by
the 62nd.
On the 18th the enemy counter-attacked heavily. For about two and a
half hours he kept up a bombardment of extraordinary intensity, and
shells of all sizes, about half of them gas, were falling in and around
our batteries; over a hundred shell craters were afterwards counted
in B/312's position alone. All communication lines were cut, but the
batteries fired hard on their S.O.S. lines, and the attack finally
broke down. In this action Lieuts. H. J. Dowden and C. F. M. Douet won
their Military Crosses:
"In response to an S.O.S., Lieut. Dowden at once got all the guns
into action, and maintained a quick rate of fire in spite of a heavy
barrage. He fired one gun himself until the detachment was collected,
and then assisted to bind up a wounded officer."
Lieut. Douet was "in charge of a forward section of his battery
when it was firing S.O.S. under heavy bombardment, previous to a
hostile counter attack. One of his guns was put out of action and the
detachment incapacitated, the detachment of the other gun were killed
or wounded. He, with an N.C.O., worked the gun until the order to cease
fire was received."
On the 25th Capt. K. B. Nicholson, M.C., was wounded.
We moved our headquarters on the 26th to a dug-out just north of
Hermies, and at 5.20 a.m. on the 27th the battle began. The 3rd
Division advanced under an artillery barrage and captured the strong
defensive positions of Flesquières and Ribecourt. The artillery command
then passed to me, and the 62nd Division, pushing on through the 3rd,
pressed forward towards Marcoing and captured a strong line of defence
between that village and Flesquières, taking prisoner 15 officers and
about 300 other ranks. The victory was complete all along the line,
Bourlon Wood having fallen to the Canadians and Graincourt to the 17th
Corps.
Next day we continued our advance, captured Marcoing, and secured
the crossings of the St. Quentin Canal. The 186th Infantry Brigade
pushed on the same night and secured an important line of trench
east of the Canal. We moved Divisional Headquarters to a dug-out on
the Graincourt road just north of Havrincourt. In these two days'
fighting our Division had captured about 60 officers and 1600 rank and
file, together with 49 guns and howitzers. On the 29th the action was
continued, and the Division took Masnières. Our headquarters shifted
to a dug-out east of Flesquières, the battery positions being now for
the most part in the area south of Marcoing. We were much gratified
at receiving the following telegram to the Division from our former
Commander, Lieut.-General Sir W. P. Braithwaite:
"To General Whigham, 62nd Division. Just heard of your great success at
Ribecourt and Marcoing. It is all splendid and just like 62. Will you
allow me to congratulate you and the Division and to say how very proud
I am to have once commanded so splendid a Division."
[Sidenote: Oct. 1918.]
The 3rd Division relieved our infantry during the night of the 30th
September and captured Rumilly under an artillery barrage on the 1st
October.
On the 2nd Major-General Sir R. Whigham visited the D.A.C. and brigades
with me. The former was in the Ribecourt Valley, and the brigades were
still in the neighbourhood of Marcoing, where they were enjoying a
short rest before being pushed forward again. They had lost a large
number of horses during the few preceding days from shell fire and
bombs. I remember that Lieut. G. A. Murray, the Signalling Officer of
the 310th Brigade, showed us round the positions; he had only been with
us for a few weeks, and I was much taken by his smiling, cheery manner,
and his evident grasp of his duties. It was therefore a great shock to
me when I heard next day that he had been killed while laying a line
across a bridge in Masnières; it was a great sorrow to us all, and a
serious loss to the brigade.
The Boche now made a peace offer in the vain hope of staying our
progress--the humblest thing that had yet emanated from Berlin. There
could, however, be no parleying with a foe who was destitute of honour
or humanity, and the answer, on our part of the front, was a fresh
attack made on the 8th October, in which the 2nd and 3rd Divisions
captured the high ground running through Seranvillers, and pushed on
through that village towards Wambaix. Our guns took part in the action,
and Lieut. E. Smart won his Military Cross for the following act of
bravery: "On October 8th he was observing officer; when the infantry
advanced over the crest he was unable to observe the situation, and so
went forward and kept in close touch with the infantry, then held up in
a trench. He established an O.P. in the trench and there observed the
enemy counter attacking, supported by three tanks. Our infantry were
compelled to retire, but Lieut. Smart remained at his post for some
considerable time, and sent back valuable information. Throughout the
whole of the period he was under constant shell fire from the enemy
barrage."
Cambrai was captured on the 9th by troops on our left, and on the
10th October we moved headquarters to Masnières. The position on that
day was as follows: on our front the Guards were in Bevilly, the 4th
Corps had captured Beauvois and Caudry, and the 5th Corps was closing
up on le Cateau. The 310th Brigade was in action covering the Guards'
Division, but the 312th were resting at and around Estourmel, and
came back under my command. This day brought to a close the Battle of
Cambrai--St. Quentin, 27th September to 10th October, which in ten days
of victorious fighting broke through the last and strongest of the
enemy's fully prepared positions, opening the way to a war of movement
and an advance on the German main lines of communication. Thirty-five
Infantry, 3 Cavalry, and 2 American Divisions defeated 45 German
Divisions, taking 48,500 prisoners and 630 guns.
On the 10th I walked up to Estourmel with Elston, my Staff Captain, to
see the 312th Brigade, which was then temporarily under Major Arnold
Forster's command, vice Lieut.-Colonel Eden, who had gone home on a
course a short time previously. Lieut.-Colonel R. H. Johnson, D.S.O.,
took over the command a few days later. I remember that we were much
struck by the rapid change in the appearance of the country. Masnières,
the village from which we started, was a mere heap of ruins; the next
village on the road, Seranvillers, had been badly knocked about, and
then came Wambaix, which was in not quite so bad a state. After that
the country presented an almost normal appearance, and church spires
and compact little villages were to be seen dotted about the landscape,
practically unharmed by the brutal Boche, who was now retiring in such
haste that he had little time to carry out the wanton destruction
in which his soul delighted. In Estourmel most of the houses were in
pretty good condition, and even contained furniture. The gardens were
cultivated, and Elston, as good and thorough a Staff Captain in the
lighter as he was in the sterner duties of warfare, was able to collect
a useful load of vegetables for the refreshment of our mess. We moved
our headquarters into this village on the 11th.
The 310th Brigade advanced on this day to St. Hilaire, still in support
of the Guards. The enemy was now holding a strong position along the
Selle river, and an attack was arranged for the 20th October in which
the whole of the 3rd and 4th Armies were to be engaged. The task of
the 62nd Division was to force the passage of the river to capture
the town of Solesmes and the village of St. Python, and then to
establish itself on a line about 3000 yards north-east of them. The 3rd
Divisional Artillery was put under my orders for the battle, and these
two brigades, together with the 310th and 312th, began to take up their
positions on the 16th, south of the Cambrai--Solesmes road, and about
2000 yards to the west of the river. We established headquarters at
Bevillers on the 18th. The barrage was rather a complicated one to make
out, not only because it had to be accurately co-ordinated with the
barrages of the Guards Division and the 42nd Division on each side of
us, but also owing to the fact that large numbers of French civilians
were known to be still living in both the town and the village, and we
were naturally anxious to put them into as little danger as possible.
It was finally decided not to direct any artillery on Solesmes itself,
but only on its suburbs on our side of the river, and on the village
of St. Python. It was assumed that the civilians would take refuge in
the cellars, and as no high explosive shell were to be fired at the
buildings, but only shrapnel, the risk to them would not be a serious
one. These suburbs and St. Python were at the time in "No Man's Land,"
and for a few nights before the battle our infantry patrols used
actually to enter them under cover of darkness and take coffee with the
unfortunate but stout-hearted inhabitants.
The attack was launched in bright moonlight at 2 a.m. on the 20th
October. The barrage was kept up for 23 minutes on the village and
suburbs mentioned above, while the infantry forced their way across
the river; it then crept up on each side of Solesmes at the rate of
100 yards in four minutes. The infantry followed it up closely and
secured the ground on each side of the town, while specially detailed
battalions turned in to the right and left and entered Solesmes, which
they took possession of after some hard fighting. While the town was
being "mopped up," the guns kept up a standing barrage beyond it for
over an hour. At 4.20 a.m. the artillery ceased firing for a time, and
some of the more distant batteries moved up to closer range. At 7.40
a.m. the creeping barrage began again, and moved north-east at the same
rate as before, followed by a fresh infantry brigade up to a line about
500 yards short of Romeries. The victory was complete, not only on our
immediate front, but along the whole army line. The 62nd Division took
prisoner 12 officers and 539 men, and also three field guns, several
trench mortars, and a large number of machine guns; its own casualties
were under three hundred. The infantry were loud in their praise of the
shooting of the guns, and I was proud to get the following note from
Brig.-General J. L. G. Burnett, D.S.O., Commanding the 186th Infantry
Brigade:
"As I know that you people like to know what the infantry who
attacked thought of the barrage: both the left attacking battalion
and the one which took the railway station wish me to say that it
was the most accurate barrage which they have yet advanced under.
Would you please convey our thanks to the men behind the guns who
so largely contributed towards the success.
"Yours sincerely,
"J. G. BURNETT."
The batteries advanced across the river as soon as crossings could be
prepared for them, a work which was carried out by the sappers in a
marvellously short time, and I found them already in action north of
Solesmes when I visited that place next day, the 21st. Two or three
thousand civilians were still in the town, and though a lot of shell
were already beginning to fall there, they were parading the streets
in great numbers, and there was a great doffing of hats and waving
of handkerchiefs as we passed through. I saw a party of prisoners
being marched along the main street; women and children were running
alongside shaking their fists at them, and crying out, "Sales Boches!
Sales Boches!" with all the strength of their lungs. When I thought of
all their sufferings at the hands of the barbarous savages, I could
hardly find it in my heart to blame them for this triumph over their
humbled enemy. The civilians would all have gladly stayed where they
were, but it was thought necessary in their own interests to get the
women and children, and the old men, out of the place as long as the
Boche guns remained within range. It was a very pathetic sight to see
them arriving in Bevilly that afternoon. Groups of soldiers met the
lorries as they arrived at the buildings reserved for the refugees,
and it was pleasant to see the tenderness with which the men lifted
out the children--and sometimes the old grand-mothers--and carried
them across the sea of mud that lay between the roadway and the
house. It was painful to think of the hell that these poor people had
been through, crouching in their cellars while our shell crashed and
screamed overhead, and later while our infantry hunted out the Boche
from house to house and street to street. However, they looked happy,
most of them, in spite of their discomforts; they were free at last and
out of danger, and had the prospect before them of a speedy return to
their own homes.
The 3rd Division took over our front during the night of the 22nd
and attacked at 3.20 a.m. the next day. Our guns helped to support
the attack, which resulted in the capture of Romeries and Vertain.
Continuing their victorious progress on the 24th, the 3rd Division
captured Escarmain, and reached the railway line north of Ruesnes.
So ended our share in the Battle of the Selle River, which forced the
enemy from the line of that river and drove a big salient into his
defences, and in which 26 Divisions defeated 31 German Divisions, with
21,000 prisoners and 450 guns.
A great many mines had been going up during our advance along the
railway lines, and the delay thus caused in the bringing up of
ammunition and supplies was becoming very serious. It was decided
therefore to call a halt for a few days until the communications
could be made more secure. This decision made it possible to give
the artillery the rest which they so sorely needed, and my brigades
withdrew to Quiévy on the 26th October while the D.A.C. remained at St.
Python, to which place they had gone after the capture of Solesmes. We
moved our headquarters to the latter town on the 30th. On this day we
heard the cheering news of the conclusion of an armistice with Turkey.
[Sidenote: Nov. 1918.]
We were now warned that we were to take part in a great attack on the
4th November, our immediate objectives being the villages of Orsinval
and Frasnoy. The 40th, 42nd, and 76th Brigades R.F.A. and the 84th
Brigade R.G.A. were put under my command for the battle in addition to
the 62nd Divisional Artillery. Positions were selected near Ruesnes for
the batteries, and across the railway close up to the front infantry
line for the trench mortars. The 310th and 312th moved up to Escarmain
on the 2nd; the village was heavily shelled that night and B/312
lost 44 horses. Next day the batteries occupied their positions, and
Divisional Headquarters went to Escarmain.
The barrage opened at 5.30 a.m. on the 4th November, and our infantry
made a victorious advance of 7000 yards, capturing their two villages
and taking over 600 prisoners and a large number of guns. The Guards,
on our left, met with equal success, and north and south along the
whole far flung battle line the enemy was completely defeated. Early
in the battle we advanced our headquarters into a ruined chateau in
Ruesnes; it had been badly knocked about, and a great deal of wanton
destruction had been done to a large and valuable library. In the
afternoon the New Zealand Division, on our right flank, captured
the fortified town of Le Quesnoy, together with its garrison of a
thousand men. Our casualties were not heavy, but two of the Battery
Sergeant-Majors were killed, and Lieut. J. A. Brown was wounded (for
the second time). Our satisfaction in the result of the day's fighting
was increased by the news we received that night that an armistice with
Austria had come into effect at 3 p.m.
On the 5th we pushed on and extended our gains. It was pouring with
rain, and the mud and slush made progress extraordinarily difficult.
We moved our headquarters to Frasnoy, where we were greeted with the
greatest enthusiasm by the 200 civilians who still remained in the
village--wild with joy at their deliverance after four years' suffering
at the hands of the hated Boche.
On the 6th and 7th the advance was continued without much opposition.
The roads were in a shocking state, and the forward movement was so
rapid that it was a matter of the greatest difficulty to comply with
the ammunition demands. The D.A.C. did wonders, but no sooner was a
dump of ammunition formed in one place than the tide of battle rolled
far beyond it, and another one had to be started further on. Never
during the whole war were the men and horses of the brigades and D.A.C.
worked to a greater state of exhaustion than in these closing days.
Headquarters went to Le Trechon on the 7th, the advanced infantry
having on that day reached a line about 5000 yards east of Obies. D/310
came under heavy shell fire during one of its advances, and Lieuts. W.
P. Holt and K. A. Latter were badly wounded. Lieut. R. G. Morgan gained
the Military Cross "for conspicuous gallantry and perseverance on the
6th and 7th November at Le Trechon and near Harguies. He kept in close
touch with the attacking infantry, advancing his guns in the face of
intense fire so as to afford them the utmost support. The following day
he carried out a similar task, advancing his section on very bad tracks
through heavy shell fire. He made several reconnaissances throughout
the day, which enabled him to afford effectual support to the infantry."
In Le Trechon I came across an authentic case of Boche barbarity. One
of our cavalry on patrol entered the village on the 6th, and seeing
four Germans preparing to destroy a bridge fired on them, killing
one. They returned the fire and he fell wounded. The Germans then
fled, thinking that there were more of our men close behind. The
French inhabitants of the nearest house, one of whom was my informant,
came out and made the wounded man as comfortable as they could. As
he was too badly hurt to be moved they laid a blanket over him so
that any passing Boche might think him dead. After a short time the
three Germans returned, seeing that no British were yet in sight, and
deliberately murdered the wounded man with their bayonets. An officer
of the 20th London Regiment told me that he had seen the corpse, and
that there were several bayonet wounds in it in addition to the mark of
the bullet.
On the 8th our infantry took the village of Neuf Mesnil, but, what with
the vile weather and a temporary stiffening of the enemy's resistance,
the day's advance was only about three kilometres. We heard that the
German emissaries had crossed our lines to sue for an armistice.
The 9th was a beautiful sunny day. There was little resistance to our
advance, and the Guards entered Maubeuge, while our infantry took
possession of the large suburb of Sous le Bois, and pushed through and
beyond it. Divisional Headquarters moved to Neuf Mesnil.
On the 10th we remained where we were. The enemy had retired about
six miles east of Maubeuge, and a short delay was necessary to get up
ammunition and supplies for a further forward movement. News came that
the Kaiser had abdicated, and that his ignoble son had renounced his
claim to the succession. A revolution in Berlin was also reported, and
the end seemed so close in sight that it was scarcely a surprise when,
at 9 a.m. on the 11th November, I received the wire, "Hostilities cease
at 11 a.m. to-day."
So ended the Battle of Maubeuge, which, lasting from the 1st to the
11th November, struck at and broke the enemy's last important lateral
communications, turned his position on the Scheldt, and forced him
to retreat rapidly from Courtrai. This victory completed the great
strategical aim of the whole series of battles by dividing the enemy's
forces into two parts, one on each side of the great natural barrier
of the Ardennes. The pursuit of the beaten enemy all along the Allied
line was only stopped by the Armistice. Twenty-six Divisions defeated
32 German Divisions, taking 19,000 prisoners and 450 guns.
The total casualties in the 62nd Divisional Artillery since landing in
France had been
10 officers and 160 other ranks killed.
71 officers and 714 other ranks wounded.
The following special order of the day was issued on the 11th:
_TO ALL RANKS OF THE THIRD ARMY._
The operations of the last three months have forced the enemy to
sue for an armistice as a prelude to peace.
Your share in the consummation of this achievement is one that
fills me with pride and admiration.
Since August 21st you have won eighteen decisive battles, you have
driven the enemy back over sixty miles of country and you have
captured 67,000 prisoners and 800 guns.
That is your record, gained by your ceaseless enterprise, your
indomitable courage and your loyal support to your leaders.
Eleven Divisions in the four Corps (Guards 2nd 3rd and 62nd,
5th 37th 42nd and New Zealand, 17th 21st and 38th), have been
continuously in action since the beginning of the advance and have
borne the brunt of the operations. Other Divisions have joined and
left, each one adding fresh lustre to its history.
To all ranks, to all Corps and formations, to all administrative
and transport units, I tender my thanks. May your pride in your
achievements be as great as mine is in the recollection of having
commanded the Army in which you served.
J. BYNG, General,
Commanding Third Army.