HULLUCH LOOS SECTOR.
On the 26th April the Battalion returned to the trenches under the
command of Major T. L. Cunningham, relieving the 7th Royal Sussex
Regiment in the Quarry Sector. By this time the mining operations had
made the front line into a series of craters, and the shelling of the
enemy had become increasingly severe. The following day the R.E. blew
up the right leg of "Hairpin." We lost several men in the bombardment
which followed, the usual practice after exploding a mine being that
the enemy would start firing trench mortars, which would be replied to
by our field guns, the enemy in return firing his whizzbangs and
howitzers on our front line system. The 4th of May saw 3 more mines
exploded in the Hairpin crater, after which our bombers advanced to
secure the lip of the crater. The enemy counter-attacked, and a very
severe fight took place between our bombers and the enemy, in which we
finally drove him back to his original position, while we held the
crater. After the attack the enemy gave our trenches a long and severe
bombardment, which caused many casualties.
The Battalion was relieved on the 11th May by the 7th K.O.S.B.'s, and
proceeded to La Bourse in Divisional Reserve. Here the men enjoyed
good baths, the time being filled up with odd parades and finding the
inevitable working parties for the front line of trenches. On the 13th
May Major C. H. Marsh, D.S.O., of the 18th Lancers, who had lately
commanded the 7th K.O.S.B.'s, took over command of the Battalion from
Major Cunningham, who had been in command since the departure of
Brigadier-General Sandilands.
[Illustration: Colonel J. W. SANDILANDS, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O.,
commanded from 22nd April, 1915, to 13th April, 1916.]
On the 14th May the Battalion was put under the orders of the 46th
Brigade, and on the 19th relieved the A. and S. H. in the left
sub-sector of the "Hohenzollern." Mining operations were still in full
swing, the enemy exploding a mine near "Argyll Sap," which filled in
the "Hogs Back" and part of "Northumberland Trench." It was a complete
surprise, and many men were buried and injured by the falling debris,
"C" Company suffering the worst, there being 3 killed and 45 wounded.
The Battalion was to have been relieved that night, but the relief had
to be postponed in order that the saps and trenches might be cleared
before handing over. About the 22nd May everyone began to expect a
Boche attack, as the Intelligence Reports constantly contained
references to large enemy working-parties and abnormal transport
movements. In one instance as many as 5,000 men were reported as being
seen moving in our direction. Two prisoners were also taken, who
confirmed the report that the enemy intended attacking and using gas.
Apparently our counter-action proved effective, as no attack ever took
place.
On the 28th June, in the right sub-sector of the "Hohenzollern," 4
patrols from "C" and "D" Companies, under the commands of
Second-Lieuts. Drew, Goudie, Currie and M'Crostie, attempted to raid
the enemy's lines after a discharge of gas. Three of the patrols found
the wire uncut and the trench strongly held by the enemy. "A Bangalore
Torpedo," which was to be used to cut the wire, was unfortunately hit
in the trench, and, exploding as the raiders were getting into
position, killed the men who were carrying it. The fourth patrol,
however, under Lieut. Goudie, succeeded in reaching the enemy's front
line. This they bombed, and then returned to our own lines. One of the
patrol being killed, Lieut. Goudie, Sergeant Small, and Private Heely
tried to bring back the body, but had to abandon the attempt owing to
the enemy's heavy machine gun fire. The total casualties were 9 men
killed and 19 other casualties.
On the 18th July our Engineers blew up "Border Redoubt" at the
junctions of "Riflemen's Alley" and "Alexandria Trench." Instructions
had been given that after the explosion the far lip of the crater was
to be consolidated. This proved a difficult job, but we were ordered
to persevere with it. The explosion formed two craters, which were
heavily bombarded with rifle grenades and aerial darts by the enemy,
who evidently had no intention of trying to consolidate the crater
himself. Three different attempts were made to get into the further
crater, and within a few seconds, on each occasion, every man was a
casualty, as the whole movement was under observation of the enemy.
However, after many hours arduous work, lying flat on the stomach and
scraping with an entrenching tool, a trench of sorts sufficient to
hold the far lip of the crater was formed. The work was arduous and
trying, as well as dangerous, but the officers and men stuck to it
bravely. The following afternoon a Staff Officer came up with
beautifully drawn plans for consolidating the near lip of the craters,
a scheme which, if originally carried out, would have saved many lives.
CASUALTIES.
Killed, 1 Officer and 16 other ranks.
Wounded, 4 Officers and 12 other ranks.
Amongst the wounded was Major Cunningham, who had been with the
Battalion since it came to France in 1915, and who had commanded the
Battalion from the time General Sandilands left until Colonel Marsh
was appointed. He was a good officer, a fearless man, and liked by all.
On 22nd July the Battalion was relieved by the Royal Berkshire
Regiment, and proceeded to Houchin. It was not realised at the time
that we were leaving this area for good, but as it turned out we were
not to return again to Hulluch-Loos sector until practically the end
of the war. The men were glad to get away from a sector where all the
worst modern appliances of war were used in abundance. Here they had
spent their first winter, and fought their first great battle, and the
names of Hulluch Alley, Gordon Alley, etc., will be imprinted in their
memories for many a day. These long communication trenches were nearly
always half-full of muddy water, but, luckily, as we were wearing
kilts, it was an easy matter to either lift them up or to take them
off, hang them round the shoulders, and by this means arrive
comparatively dry in the front line, which was not the fate of the
trousered Battalions. When going into the line these Battalions were
soaking wet before they arrived there, and if coming out, not only
arrived wet at their billets, but had to carry all the extra weight of
the mud, etc., which had saturated into their puttees and trousers--a
thing that told considerably on tired troops marching for several
miles.
It was certainly a very trying sector. There was never a tour without
several casualties from mines, "Flying Pigs," and, especially, aerial
darts, which infernal machines, many were convinced, were covered with
a poisonous paint. We shall hazard no opinion on this point, but it is
curious to note that many a man who only received the slightest wounds
from them died from the effects. The work was exceedingly hard, as the
trenches were constantly being blown in or filled up with debris of
mines and explosives. Working parties had to be found to repair this
damage, as well as to carry the spoil out of the mines. Mine carrying
parties were detailed in 8-hours shifts, every man working one shift
in 24 hours. The work consisted of going down the mine shaft and
carrying up bags of spoil which were then emptied. The carrying of
lumps of chalk in the sand-bags up the stairs became not only sore on
the back, but exceedingly wearisome to the legs. In addition to this
the same men had to be used for trench repairs, carrying parties for
trench stores, rations, etc., so that it can be easily understood that
there was little time for sleep or rest.
In spite of all this, many men were sorry to leave the district where
they had made a number of good friends among the mining villagers in
their billets. Especially did they enjoy a rest in Bethune, where some
of the attractions of the town could be indulged in. They would sooner
have taken the risks and hard work of this area, and get back to
billets which were occupied by women and children, than have enjoyed
the safeness of some of the quieter areas where life was much more
monotonous.
One has often heard grumbles at the French peasant for such things as
making a charge for the use of buckets to draw water with. But when
one learned the number of buckets which were lost a certain sympathy
grew towards the owner. It was surprising how domesticated most of the
men became, helping in the houses and playing with the children, for
Jock is a kind-hearted fellow.
The possibilities for bathing in this area were also good. Many of the
large coal mines had a splendid system of baths at the minehead. The
French miner keeps his clothes at the mine, and when he has done his
day's work there is a good spray bath heated by the exhaust steam
waiting for him. After that he puts on his ordinary clothes, leaving
his working clothes to be dried for the next day. There were also
large wooden towers used for cooling and condensing purposes, the
water dropping from the top into a tank 40 or 50 feet long and about 6
feet deep. These made splendid bathing ponds, where the men were able
to enjoy a swim, even when the weather was inclined to be cold, as the
water was always more or less warm.
"Hutments," such as existed towards the end of the war, had not yet
come into use, so that men were billeted in houses and farms, some
occupied and some not. There were few sadder sights, or one which
brought home the horrors of war, than some of those deserted mining
villages. The once pretty little gardens now buried under the bricks,
mortar, and beams of the shattered houses, through which an odd flower
would force its way, the roses still clinging to the broken garden
railings. Inside the house was strewn with women's clothing,
children's toys, perambulators, etc., pointing out how hurriedly the
once happy home had been sacrificed in order to escape the enemy's
shells, or even greater cruelties, for the Hun was no respecter of
women or children. What anguish of heart these poor women must have
suffered. Hay lofts made good billets, but trouble lay for the unwary,
as there was no floor, the hay being supported on the top of beams. If
the layer of hay was thin through you went. A stout sergeant, while
taking roll call one night, thus suddenly disappeared. Luckily his
fall was broken by landing on the back of a cow sleeping below, much
to its surprise and annoyance.