BUZANCY.
The 6th Battalion remained in the Arras sector till the beginning of
July, when we were at last taken out of the line. We moved back, and
it was believed that we were going to have that long rest which we so
much deserved, and to which we had been looking forward ever since we
arrived in France. We had been in the fighting area practically since
the end of the previous year, a period of about seven months, which
included heavy fighting. We were certain that we were in for a long
rest when we entrained. We steamed off south, and our hopes became
still higher as the report got about that we were going to one of the
big French training areas in the south of France. We heard it was an
ideal spot, and a health resort even before the war. However, after
steaming some distance past Amiens, the train suddenly stopped, and we
were ordered to get out and proceed to billets. Our faith began to be
shaken in the gentleman who talked about the seaside in the south. It
was still more shaken the next day when the Battalions were embussed
and proceeded in the direction of the front line.
On the 18th of July we found ourselves under the command of the 3rd
French Army. On the 19th we moved into the Montigny area, and on the
23rd we relieved the first American Division and held the left sector
of the 20th Corps. We took over the line on the night of the 22/23rd,
and received orders that we were to attack the next morning (23rd) on
the high ground on the west bank of the Criscuart at Misse. The C.O.
hurried forward in the afternoon, and had a look round the line. The
Americans had suffered heavy casualties, and the ground was strewn
with their dead. The Battalion came in that evening, and the relief
was carried out without much difficulty. There was some confusion as
to the exact location of our front line, which apparently did not
tally with that shewn by the maps taken over. However, there was no
time to make even a preliminary reconnaissance. The zero hour was
fixed for 5 a.m. The C.O. and Adjutant moved back to Brigade
Headquarters, as up to midnight no orders had been received for the
attack. The C.O.'s of the other units of the Brigade were also there.
The operation orders did not come in till about 3 a.m. There was just
time to issue the Battalion operation orders, but it was quite
impossible to instruct Company officers or others in person.
The attack commenced at 5 a.m. with the 6th Camerons on the right, the
Argylls on the left, and the Royal Scots in support. Everything went
well to begin with, although we came under very heavy machine gun
fire. Our barrage did not prove of much use, as the official front
line given to us was found to be considerably in advance of that
actually held. We advanced a considerable distance and took a sugar
factory. We had suffered severe casualties in consequence of the
barrage, leaving some German machine guns untouched. The attack took
place down a steep bluff, then across the valley (which was
intersected by a railway embankment), and the river, and up steep
rising ground on the other side. We managed to get forward fairly
well, although encountering strong opposition from the enemy. We took
the railway embankment and river, including "Sucrerie." Our left
flank, however, was in the air by this time, as we could not get into
touch with the Argylls on our left. We extended in order to try and
link up with them, but finally discovered they had come under heavy
fire and had not been able to advance. The result was that for a time
we had practically held the whole brigade front. About 6 p.m. the
enemy put down a heavy barrage and launched a strong counter-attack,
but this was successfully repulsed. We were to have attacked the
village of Buzancy on the morning of the 24th, but this was postponed.
Owing to the pronounced salient held by the Division at the
"Sucrerie," it was decided to withdraw and occupy the line of the
railway. The fighting was of an open order nature, through fields of
grain and small woods, with machine guns firing from behind hedges
instead of out of the usual trenches. On the 27th we received orders
for the Division to make an attack on Buzancy and the high ground to
the east of the village. The fighting was again severe, and ended with
our taking Buzancy. There was exceedingly bitter fighting round the
grenade works, and the enemy put up very strong counter-attacks. Owing
to the non-success of the 87th French Division on our right, we had
finally to withdraw to the line of the Chateau.
On the 30th or the 31st July it was decided that the 45th Brigade
would attack the main Soissons road from Villemontoire. About 10.45
a.m. we had more or less reached our objectives, although the others
had been slightly held up by heavy machine gun fire. Our right flank
was now in the air, as we could not get into touch with the
K.O.S.B.'s. Meantime we formed a defensive flank along the road from
the cemetery to the Soissons road. The S.O.S. went up from the 12th
Division about 2.45 p.m. and also from the original front line. A
pitiless machine gun fire was experienced from the wooded hills on the
right. Evidently the Germans had raided the 12th Division's lines, and
we heard later that they had taken some prisoners. About 10.35 a.m. on
the 2nd August strong patrols which had pushed out found that the
enemy was retiring, and we got orders to swing our right forward so as
to keep in touch with the 44th Brigade. About 3.30 p.m. the Brigade
reached the edge of the Concrois wood. At 7.50 the next objective was
given as the river Crise about Nilleblain. On the night of the 2/3rd
we were relieved by the 17th (French) Division, and on the 4th we
embussed for Leincourt.
So came to an end our tour with the French and American Armies. The
following is an interesting memo, issued by the First Field Artillery
Brigade of the American Expeditionary Force to the batteries of the
Brigade, and also special orders issued by the French Army Commanding
Officers:--
"HEADQUARTERS, FIRST FIELD ARTILLERY BRIGADE.
AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE,
U.S.A., July 22nd, 1918.
"_Memorandum._
"It is noted that, for the first time in history, French, British and
American Artillery are working together under the same Command. They
will support an attack to-morrow morning to be made by the 15th
(Scottish) Division in line as follows:--
45th Brigade.
1/8th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (kilts).
6th Cameron Highlanders (kilts).
13th Royal Scots (trousers).
46th Brigade.
10th Scottish Rifles (trousers).
7/8th K.O.S.B. (trousers).
9th Royal Scots (kilts).
In Reserve, 44th Brigade.
4/5th Black Watch Highlanders (kilts).
5th Seaforth Highlanders (kilts).
5th Gordon Highlanders (kilts)."
Extract of telephone message from General Mangin, Commanding X French
Army, to G.O.C. 15th Division.
"Le General Mangin vous charge de lire au General Reed que le succes
d'aujourd'hui a été acheté par la conduite de tous et
particulierement par le sarcifice des Ecossais."
Special order by General Mangin, Commanding X Army, 20 Corps d' Armee.
Etat-Major, 3 Bureau.
ORDER du General Mangin.
"No 1375/3.
"A communiquer aux troupes per tous les moyens;
"En avant! la victoire du 1er Août achève celle du 18 Juillet et
se termina en poursuite. Les chemins sont affreux, mais il pleut auss
pour les Boches--Tallonnez-les, bousculez-les en dépassant les
faibles centres de résistance où ils essaient de ralentir notre
marche victorieuse.
"Ce soir il faut que la Xe Armée soit sur la Vesle."
Copy of letter from G.O.C. 17th (French) Division to G.O.C. to 15th
Scottish Division.
_Translation._
"17th Infantry Division. 27th August, 1918.
"Mon General,
"After relieving your Division in the pursuit on the Vesle, I
established my Headquarters at Buzancy. I found there the traces
still fresh of the exploits of your Scottish soldiers, and the
officers of my staff were able to see clearly what hard fighting you
had had to gain possession of the village, and, above all, of the
park.
"Wishing to leave on the spot some lasting tribute to the bravery of
your soldiers, I entrusted to one of my officers, Lieut. Rene Puaux,
the task of erecting there, with the material at hand, a small
monument emblematic of the homage and admiration of my Division for
yours.
"This monument has on it 'a medallion' on which are inscribed
thistles and roses, and beneath, the words:--
'_Here the noble thistle of Scotland will flourish forever among the
roses of France._'
and beneath:
'_17th French Division_
to
'_15th_ (_Scottish_) _Division_.'
"This monument was erected on the highest point of the plateau, where
we found the body of the Scottish soldier who advanced the farthest
(on 28th July, 1918--Buzancy).
"The photograph of this monument has appeared in the last number of
the journal _L'Illustration_. I thought you would be glad to have a
few copies of the photograph, which I send you herewith. They convey
to you, together with the memories which I have kept of our short
meeting at Vierzy, the expression of my esteem and my admiration for
your valiant Division.
"Will you please accept, dear General, the expression of my
sincere regards.
"C. CASSOINS,
"General de Division, C. CASSOINS, Commanding
"17th (French) Division."
[Illustration: "HERE THE GLORIOUS THISTLE OF SCOTLAND WILL FLOURISH
FOR EVER AMID THE ROSES OF FRANCE."
Monument erected by the 17th French Division to
15th Scottish Division, near Buzancy, July, 1918.]
Special order by General Mangin, Commanding
10th French Army.
Au Q. G. A.,
5th August, 1918.
_ORDRE GENERAL No. 343._
_Officers, Non-Commissioned, Officers and Men of the 15th and 34th
British Divisions._
"You entered the battle at its fiercest moment. The enemy, already
once vanquished, again brought up against us his best Divisions,
considerably outnumbering our own.
"You continued to advance step by step, in spite of his desperate
resistance, and you held the ground won in spite of his violent
counter-attacks.
"Then during the whole day of the 1st of August, side by side with
your French comrades, you stormed the ridge dominating the whole
country between the Aisne and the Ourcq, which the defenders had
received orders to hold at all costs.
"Having failed in his attempt to retake the ridge with his last
reserves, the enemy had to beat a retreat pursued and harassed for 12
kilometres.
"All of you, English and Scottish, young soldiers and veterans of
Flanders and Palestine, you have shewn the magnificent qualities of
your race: courage and imperturbable tenacity.
"You have won the admiration of your companions in arms. Your country
will be proud of you, for to your chiefs and to you is due a large
share in the victory that we have gained over the barbarous enemies
of the free.
"I am happy to have fought at your head, and I thank you.
"MANGIN."
The monument at Buzancy is, we believe, unique as being the only
monument raised by the French Army to British troops during the war.
We must refer to the excellent staff arrangements for bussing troops
which the French had made. Our usual experience had been that when one
was ordered to embus at a certain hour, the busses never turned up for
a considerable time afterwards. In fact, on our way down the bussing
and training arrangements were several hours behind the scheduled
time-table. With the French, however, on each occasion the busses
turned up a few minutes before the hour they were due, so that we had
no delay. We also had an officer in a motor car taking charge of the
convoy of busses. This enabled him to move about and see that no
distance was lost, also to go ahead and regulate traffic at important
cross roads. Another good arrangement they had was having one or two
empty busses at the end of each column, so that if a bus broke down it
was drawn to one side, and the men speedily transferred to an empty
bus. So the whole column was kept together.
We now moved north to the Loos sector, and it was very interesting
once more going over the old ground. We took part in the final general
advance from this area. After the Armistice we were informed that we
were one of the Divisions that had been chosen for the Army of
Occupation, and we busily prepared indents for new clothing, etc., in
order to make a good impression. It was decided, however, that the
young Battalions who had come out from home should take over this
duty. We were finally billeted in Braine le Comte. Here we instituted
a Battalion Mess. We had always been in the habit of doing this
wherever possible. No doubt many officers preferred the small Company
messes, but from a disciplinary and many other points of view the
Battalion mess had many advantages. Certainly our mess proved a great
success.