ACROSS THE RIVER SELLE
(_October 9-23, 1918_)
On the 9th of October the Division marched out of the rest area to take
over the left sector of the 4th Corps front, held by the New Zealand
Division. After the breaking of the Hindenburg Line the pursuit had been
carried on by the Third Army with such vigour that the enemy had been
unable to make any prolonged stand, and the front was now at least a
dozen miles east of the Couillet Valley. Throughout these operations the
Divisional Artillery had assisted the New Zealanders. Evidence of the
haste with which the enemy had retired was furnished on the second day’s
march, when the battalions passed through Lesdain, as most of the houses
here had been left standing, though interiors had been looted. While the
unending column of troops and transport moved eastward across the ridges
and valleys of the Somme country, past battered villages and farmsteads,
a stream of old men, women and children poured to the west. These were
the liberated civilians, freed at last from the Prussian yoke. Though
many of them seemed too stunned by ill-treatment and the loss of all they
had possessed to understand or feel interest in what was passing around
them, the greater number greeted the British soldiers enthusiastically,
and urged them to drive the _sales Boches_ out of their beloved France,
whose soil had been defiled. Ruined and bereft though they were, French
pride and passionate love of their country still burned brightly, and the
chief emotion was joy that the _cochons prussiens_ were being hustled
ignominiously out of France. The second night was passed in Pélu Wood
and Château Briseux, with D.H.Q. at Esnes. Away to the north Cambrai
was burning so fiercely that the spire of one of its churches stood out
black against the background of flame. A semicircle of fires in the
further distance told of the destruction of villages and homesteads, and
the Lancashire men understood something of the loathing and hatred that
animated the homeless French and perhaps saved them from the deadening
effect of utter despair. The third day’s march brought the Division to
Fontaine-au-Pir and Beauvois, where a halt was made while arrangements
were completed for the relief of the New Zealanders around Briastre, on
the western bank of the River Selle.
The River Selle winds through and about Solesmes, Briastre, Neuvilly,
Le Cateau and other villages east and south-east of Cambrai, and here
the Germans made one of the last desperate attempts to check the British
advance. The line of the Selle was strategically one of the most
important positions along the whole front, the key position to Maubeuge,
Mons, and above all Valenciennes, the centre of the enemy’s main lines of
communications for all the northern area. The German troops were ordered
to fight to the death in the very strong defences prepared east of the
Selle, and their best troops were put into the line here, including the
25th German Division, which claimed that it had fought through the war
with an unbroken record of victory. This famous, hard-fighting division
had been held in reserve that it might be thrust in at the vital moment,
fresh, fit and confident, to turn the scale, and it was now brought into
line against the 42nd Division. To increase their confidence the German
Higher Command issued the following statement: “All past experiences, all
prisoners’ statements, prove that the British infantry does not push on
as it meets with resolute resistance. Only by offering a tough defence
shall we achieve an honourable peace.” General Solly-Flood issued this
statement to his troops with the comment: “The Division, as it has always
done, will overcome the toughest defence the already shaken Hun can
offer, and teach him once more what the Divisional Motto means.”
The New Zealanders had already secured a precarious footing at one
or two points on the eastern bank of the Selle, opposite Briastre,
and on the night of October 12-13 their front was taken over by the
125th Brigade, two companies of the 8th L.F. crossing the river. The
enemy made violent attempts to dislodge them, and, by driving them
back across the Selle, prevent or delay the bridging of the river.
The first attempts were on the night of the relief, but these were
repulsed without much trouble. On the afternoon of the 13th the enemy
made much more desperate counter-attacks. At 4.15 p.m., after a heavy
bombardment, their infantry and machine-gunners counter-attacked in
force. Though the troops of the division on the right were forced to
withdraw their forward posts, the two companies of the 8th L.F. stood
firm, and inflicted very heavy losses, a Lewis-gun section contributing
largely to this. Fresh counter-attacks, no less violent, were made, and
enfilading machine-gun fire compelled the posts on the extreme right to
withdraw a short distance and take up a defensive flank, which checked
the enemy. At night-fall patrols again worked forward and established
posts close to the original line. In the course of the next few days the
brigade succeeded in establishing posts across the river along the whole
divisional front, between Briastre and the railway triangle just south of
Solesmes.
The enemy now disclosed a greater artillery strength than he had shown
during recent weeks, and on the 13th and 14th Briastre was heavily
shelled and gassed. Captain H. Neame, R.A.M.C., accompanied by a French
officer, Lieutenant Pinto, and some N.C.O.s and men of the 2nd and
3rd Field Ambulances, twice entered the village during the worst of
the shelling, and helped to evacuate more than 150 civilians. Among
these were at least thirty infirm persons and children, who had to be
sought out, and then carried into safety. On the 15th Lance-Corporal W.
Armstrong, 5th L.F., being ordered to reconnoitre a suspected machine-gun
post in a house on the Solesmes—Belle Vue road, led his section so
skilfully that they not only found the post, with a loaded gun in
position, but also seized an opportunity to enter quietly and abstract
the gun before the garrison realized what was taking place. They were
then fired upon, but the withdrawal was managed with equal skill, and the
gun carried off without a casualty to the section.
[Sidenote: _Bridging the Selle, October 17-19_]
As the banks of the Selle drop rather sharply to the water it is not an
easy stream to bridge or cross, especially as the enemy held the higher
ground, with direct observation, not more than 400 yards away, and in
some places their machine-gun posts were only 100 and 150 yards from
the river. On the nights of the 17th and 18th the Divisional Engineers
erected four footbridges with handrails, and prepared material for
others, and also for two pontoon bridges to take wheeled traffic and
field-guns. About the centre of the sector was a weir; north of this the
width of the stream was from 15 to 20 feet, and here the bridges were
made of German telegraph posts, 30 feet in length, with boards nailed
across. South of the weir the width was greater, and the bridges were
made of trestles and duckboards. On the night of the 19th—the assembly
for attack taking place at midnight—four more footbridges and the pontoon
bridges were erected. The pontoon wagons were brought down soon after
dusk, their wheels padded with canvas filled with straw to deaden the
noise. There was a great deal of rain, the river north of the weir rose
nearly four feet, overflowed its banks, and inundated the surrounding
country, so that the bridges already constructed had to be raised and
extended. By the gallantry and good work of the Engineers all was
completed in time, in spite of violent machine-gun fire and shelling with
H.E. and gas. Respirators were worn for several hours, but there were
only six casualties among the sappers. The route to each bridge was taped
out to guide the assembling troops and ensure speed in getting into the
“kicking-off” positions east of the Selle; and a lantern was placed at
the head of each bridge, which was numbered. Thanks to the efficiency and
thoroughness of the sappers, the infantry were able to cross the river
and deploy for the attack without confusion or delay.[23]
The bridging being completed, the advance of the Third Army was resumed
on October 20, with zero hour at 2 a.m. The direction of the Division’s
advance, which from the opening of the Third Army’s offensive had been
practically due east, was now turned to the north-east, towards Maubeuge
and Mons. The attack was planned in three phases.
_First Phase._—The 126th Brigade, which had relieved the 125th in the
front line, would advance, with the 5th East Lancashires on the right and
the 10th Manchesters on the left, and a company of the 8th Manchesters
in support of each battalion, at zero plus three minutes, under a
barrage lifting at the rate of 100 yards every three minutes. The first
objective, termed the _Blue Line_, was the railway cutting running
southwards from Solesmes—a very strong defensive system, with deep
dug-outs in the cutting; the second objective, termed the _Green Line_,
was the high ground beyond a sunken road which ran roughly parallel to
the railway, about 1500 yards north-east of the “kicking-off” positions.
Between the Blue and Green Lines the barrage would lift at the rate of
100 yards every five minutes. Handshakes would be established with the
5th Division on the right and the 62nd on the left on the divisional
boundary lines at each objective.
Each battalion would advance in four waves, as follows: On the right
the first wave (“B” Company, 5th E. Lancs.) to go forward with six
sections in arrow-head formation to the railway cutting, while one
platoon would seize Belle Vue Farm, near the cross-roads a few hundred
yards west of the railway, mop up the cross-roads, and then work from
left to right and form a defensive flank on the spur just beyond the
railway; the second wave (“C” and “D” Companies), advancing in extended
order, to carry on the advance to the _Green Line_, through the ravine
that stretched diagonally between the two objectives; the third wave
(“D” Company) to advance in line of sections in single file, and, after
mopping up the ravine, to extend either flank of the leading companies
and provide fighting patrols to clear the flanks and find touch with the
10th Manchesters and the 5th Division; the fourth wave (“D” Company, 8th
Manchesters) to form a defensive flank between the spur and the right of
the _Green Line_. On the left, the first wave of the 10th Manchesters
(“C” Company on the right, “A” Company on the left) to carry both
objectives; the second wave (“B” Company) to reinforce the first, and
mop up and occupy the cutting; the third wave (“D” Company) to leapfrog
over the second and clear the ravine; the fourth wave (“B” Company,
8th Manchesters) to assist in mopping up and to support the others as
required.
[Illustration: THE CEMETERY NEAR BILHEM FARM ON THE TRESCAULT—RIBECOURT
ROAD.]
[Illustration: R. SELLE FIGHTING. BELLE VUE.]
[Illustration: R. SELLE FIGHTING. FIRST OBJECTIVE, THE RAILWAY CUTTING.]
[Illustration: R. SELLE FIGHTING. THE RAVINE.]
_Second Phase._—The 127th Brigade to pass through the 126th and advance
from the _Green Line_ at 7 a.m., under a barrage at the rate of 100
yards in five minutes, to the _Red Line_ (of which the hamlet of Marou
formed the centre), about 1200 to 1500 yards further to the north-east.
After a pause of fifteen to thirty minutes, to continue the advance to
the _Brown Line_, which would secure the important tactical point of the
sunken cross-roads on the top of the hill between Marou and Romeries, at
the rate of 100 yards in four minutes, making the total advance for the
morning about 4000 yards on the left, and rather more than 3000 on the
right. Handshakes to be established with the flanking divisions where the
lines cross the divisional boundaries.
[Sidenote: _Plan of Attack, October 20_]
_Third Phase._—The advance beyond the _Brown Line_ to be carried on
by the 125th Brigade, objectives and date depending upon the general
situation on the front of the Corps.
Two companies of the M.G. Battalion were allotted to the 126th Brigade
and one to the 127th. The reserve company, with a company of the New
Zealand M.G. Battalion, would cover the advance from high ground west
of the Selle. The importance attached by the Commander-in-Chief to the
offensive east of Cambrai was shown by the vast array of artillery
concentrated there. As the artillery was let loose upon the enemy
positions the thunder of the heavy guns seemed to shake the ground, and
it was amazing that ammunition could be brought up in sufficient supplies
to feed the voracious monsters. The night of October 19-20 was very
dark, and to assist the infantry to keep direction, the artillery fired
bright “incendiary” shells to mark the flanks and also the centre of
their barrage, and these proved useful guides. The attacking battalions
had already rehearsed the assault on preceding days, and each moved off
through Briastre in the darkness, mist and rain, crossed the Selle, and
arrived at its “kicking-off” position between midnight and 1 a.m., the
5th East Lancashires without loss. The left flank, however, was heavily
shelled, and the 10th Manchesters suffered rather severely. It was
raining hard, but many men were so tired that they fell asleep as they
lay in a beet-field awaiting the signal.
At 2 a.m. (October 20) the barrage came down 300 yards in front, and
the first waves went over as one man. The bandsmen of the 5th East
Lancashires, who were on duty as extra stretcher-bearers, had brought up
their instruments, and played the Regimental March under teeming rain
and heavy fire. Enemy machine-guns opened at once and caused about fifty
casualties among the 5th East Lancashires, and a thick belt of wire had
to be got through in the dark. But the sections were on the railway in
good time, and with a terrific yell the Burnley men entered the steep
cutting and went for the defenders with the bayonet, and in a very short
time a red Very light signalled back that the railway was captured.
Meanwhile the platoon detached to carry Belle Vue Farm—a formidable
position, strengthened by three cunningly devised machine-gun nests—had
achieved its object, though both its commander and sergeant had fallen
before the objective had been reached. The barrage slowed down to the
four-minute rate, and the second wave advanced in extended order and
captured the ravine. They were then enfiladed by machine-guns, but this
hardly checked the advance, and the Green Line was carried, the battalion
having passed through six defensive belts, at all of which opposition
was encountered. On reaching the final objective they were harassed
for a time by machine-gun fire from the left, and in the blackness of
the night a number of the men lost direction and wandered into the
10th Manchester’s territory. Touch was soon established, however, with
this battalion, and, later, with the 5th Division; and the ground was
thoroughly mopped up. The battalion had suffered more than a hundred
casualties, but had captured 300 prisoners, of better physique and
appearance than any previously taken.
The 10th Manchesters had met with equal success on the left. Encountering
wire west of the railway, Lance-Corporal Revell rushed forward, and
though the wire was still under our own barrage, he cut a gap through
which the section passed. A little later, Revell charged a machine-gun
post and bayoneted the crew. The railway cutting was a ravine, down the
steep banks of which the Oldham men stumbled and rolled in the dark.
It was strongly held and deadly machine-gun fire was brought to bear
upon them, but they were quickly masters of the situation, and at the
scheduled time a green flare signalled that the 10th Manchesters held
the railway line. The Green Line was also captured to time. There was
much bitter hand-to-hand fighting in the dark, and numerous instances of
the rushing and capture of machine-gun posts. So well was the direction
kept that the right company found itself exactly on the spot on the Green
Line at which it had aimed. The leading companies were now enfiladed by
two machine-guns in the sunken road, so Captain J. A. C. Taylor, D.S.O.,
M.C., took two men forward with a Lewis gun, which, however, he was
unable to fire, owing to the mud. He brought up a German machine-gun, but
this also jammed. He next went several hundred yards under continuous
machine-gun fire to obtain rifle-grenades, which he fired, and then
rushed forward, shot two of the enemy with his revolver, and made the
rest run. This prompt and courageous action—for which the bar to the M.C.
was awarded—cleared up the situation on the Green Line, and ensured a
capital starting-point for the 6th Manchesters.
[Sidenote: _Typical Incidents, October 20_]
During the early hours of the morning of October 20th, both in the
darkness and at dawn, there were numerous instances of daring, resource,
and initiative, every one of which is well worth recording if space
permitted. A few may be picked out at random, as typical of many others
performed by officers and men of all battalions engaged that day. On the
left Sergeant S. R. Lees, in command of a platoon of the 10th Manchesters
engaged in clearing the railway cutting, worked round to the rear of a
crater strongly held by machine-guns, which they attacked and captured.
He then pushed on to Solesmes, outside the divisional boundary, mopping
up the whole railway triangle, accounting for a number of the enemy on
the way and taking their machine-guns, and got into touch with the 62nd
Division. This platoon cleared more than 1000 yards of the railway.
Corporal W. Martin, with two men of the 10th Manchesters, came upon a
body of nearly fifty of the enemy. The three opened fire and shot several
Germans, then charged with the bayonet, killed and wounded others, and
put the remainder to flight. Sergeant T. O’Connel, leading his men with
great dash, rushed and captured five machine-guns in succession. Captain
J. C. S. Rowbotham rushed two machine-gun posts, shooting the crews,
taking the guns, and accounting for twenty-four of the enemy. Private J.
H. Chapman, No. 1 of a Lewis-gun, when passing through wire was fired
at by a machine-gun at close range. He brought his gun into action and
killed the crew. Being wounded, he handed his gun to No. 2 and continued
the advance to the final objective 1500 yards away, where he bayoneted a
number of the enemy, and only had his wounds dressed when the position
had been consolidated.
On the right, similar heroism was shown. Sergeant W. Fletcher and two men
of the 5th East Lancashires rushed a post containing twenty Germans and
two machine-guns, and killed or captured the lot. Lieutenant W. Cookson,
with six men, charged a machine-gun nest containing an officer and thirty
men, killed eight and took the rest prisoner. Privates Yegliss, M.M.,
and Chalkley were sent with a message to Battalion H.Q. On the way they
encountered three separate armed parties of the enemy, overcame their
resistance, and delivered the message and eight unwounded prisoners. A
section of the same battalion came under very deadly machine-gun fire
which caused a number of casualties. Seeing his comrades hesitate,
Private A. Waterhouse called out, “I’m hit, lads, but I’m going on!”
Inspired by this example, the survivors of the section promptly followed
the lead and captured the post. Another private, W. Kehoe, at a time of
confusion due to enfilading machine-gun fire and the obstacle of wire
in front, organized a party of platoon strength, including N.C.O.s, and
gave them the correct direction towards the final objective, going in
advance with a Lewis-gun—though not a Lewis-gunner himself—and checking
every twenty-five or thirty yards to fire a few rounds. In all this
hand-to-hand fighting Stokes-gunners, machine-gunners and Lewis-gunners
took their share and gained decorations. Sterling courage was shown in
bringing up the ammunition across ground swept by hostile machine-guns,
and also in collecting ammunition from the wounded. The stretcher-bearers
were no less heroic, and their devotion saved many lives.
At 7 a.m. the 127th Brigade passed through the 126th, the 5th Manchesters
on the right, the 6th on the left, and the 7th in support. At the outset
the 5th Manchesters were badly knocked about by enfilading machine-gun
fire from the right flank, which caught the advancing waves on the bare
high ground, south of Marou and west of Maison Rouge, which had to be
crossed. The deadliness of this enfilading fire was due to the fact
that very strong enemy counter-attacks had forced the division on the
right to withdraw temporarily, so the right flank of the Wigan men was
in the air. The enemy was offering a stubborn resistance, infantry and
machine-gunners fighting skilfully and well. But the 6th Manchesters
on the left overcame all obstacles. At the start the leading company
suffered many casualties from machine-guns, which held up the advance
for a short time. Lieutenant F. C. Benton successfully organized attacks
against these nests, and took fifty prisoners. The Red Line was secured,
and the hamlet of Marou cleared with machine-gun, rifle and bayonet.
Sergeant W. Tinsley led an attack against a strongly held position. His
section had to pass through fierce machine-gun fire and shell fire, but
the post was captured, and Tinsley himself killed five men with the
bayonet. Private A. Brewer, when his section commander was killed, took
charge of a section, and, attacking a machine-gun nest which was holding
up the advance, captured twelve prisoners and the gun. The 6th, though
anxious to press forward to the final objective, were ordered to remain
on the Red Line until the situation on the right had improved.
The 7th Manchesters were now brought up, “D” Company forming a defensive
flank on the right of the 5th. The line was advanced, but the enfilading
fire was still too destructive to permit the capture of the objective
until the division on the right could make good. It was during the
hottest of the fighting on this flank that Private Alfred Wilkinson, 5th
Manchesters, gained the Victoria Cross by the most noteworthy of many
individual acts of heroism on this day. His company was held up in an
exposed position by very heavy machine-gun fire from the front and right
flank. All other means of communication having failed, four runners were
sent out in succession with messages asking for assistance, and all four
were killed before many yards had been covered. Though Wilkinson had seen
the four shot down, and therefore knew how slight his chance of escape
would be, he volunteered to carry the message. The distance was more
than 600 yards, but somehow, though scores of bullets only missed him by
inches, he got through, and assistance was sent. Throughout the remainder
of the day Wilkinson continued to do splendid work. Private J. Bowers, of
the same battalion, carried his wounded officer through very heavy shell
fire to a place of safety. Though himself twice wounded while doing this,
he refused to give in until he had got the officer under cover and had
found stretcher-bearers, and undoubtedly saved the officer’s life. Great
gallantry had been displayed by the 7th Manchesters, under Captain James
Baker. The company had lost heavily from enemy shelling and machine-guns,
both during the assembly and when attacking, but though its strength had
been reduced to thirty-five when Captain Baker formed a defensive flank
on the right of the 5th Manchesters, it repelled strong counter-attacks,
held on for eight hours, and eventually made the position secure.
[Illustration: R. SELLE FIGHTING. A SUNKEN ROAD. SOLESMES IN THE
DISTANCE.]
[Illustration: R. SELLE FIGHTING. MAROU.]
[Illustration: CAPTURED TANKS NEAR LE QUESNOY.]
[Illustration: LC.-CORP. A. WILKINSON, V.C., 1/5 BN. MANCHESTER REGT.]
Soon after midday the enemy massed for a counter-attack, but the assembly
was broken up by the artillery and outstanding work by the machine-guns.
About 4 p.m. the 5th Division attacked under a heavy barrage, the 5th
and 7th Manchesters, with companies of the 8th which had been brought
forward, co-operating. This advance was successful and the Red Line
was secured. A machine-gun nest on the right, which had been very
troublesome all morning, was captured by “C” Company, 7th Manchesters.
The 6th Manchesters were now able to resume their attack, which had been
postponed, as the artillery had been required to switch the barrage to
other objectives; and the final objective, the Brown Line—more than 1000
yards beyond Marou—was captured about 9 p.m., some hundreds of the enemy
being driven from the last position, in the sunken cross-roads half-way
between Marou and Vertigneul, with heavy loss. Privates H. W. Jarvis,
M.M., and M. Fearn, 6th Manchester stretcher-bearers, had displayed great
devotion in attending to the wounded and bringing them into safety at a
time when the violence of the machine-gun fire made it almost certain
death to move about. Throughout the rest of the day and in the evening
these two men worked incessantly in constant peril, and saved many more
lives.
The enemy artillery had been active since early morning, their fire being
especially concentrated upon our guns. Battery D/211 was put out of
action gun by gun, until one gun remained, with only Sergeant W. Ritchie
and Gunners J. Willis and H. Watts to work it. After a time Ritchie was
too badly wounded to be able to give any assistance, but the two gunners
continued to fight their gun until at last it was put out of action by a
direct hit. All three received the D.C.M.
[Sidenote: _All Objectives Gained_]
The night of October 20th closed with all the Division’s objectives
secured. The Prussians of the “Invincible” 25th Division had plenty to
think about—both those in the divisional cage and those still at large.
They had been very thoroughly beaten and very roughly handled; and when
it had come to “in-fighting” they had been soundly thrashed again and
again by half their numbers. They had met two of the East Lancashire
brigades to their sorrow, and were soon to experience similar treatment
from the third.
The newly-won positions were consolidated next day, October 21st. In
the afternoon there was heavy enemy shelling with H.E. and gas; and
low-flying aeroplanes were active over the front. The Germans were by no
means done for; they meant to resist stubbornly any further advance, and
had brought artillery from other sectors into position. During the night
of the 21st-22nd the 125th Brigade relieved the 127th, and the enemy
shelling continued at intervals during the day and night of the 22nd.
It was unusually heavy at midnight, and the assembly of the brigade for
the attack was made under most unfavourable conditions, the number of
casualties among the Fusiliers being serious.
The advance of the Third Army was resumed in the early hours of the 23rd
October, the Fourth and First Armies co-operating. The 42nd Division held
the left of the 4th Corps front, with the 5th Division on the right, and
the 3rd Division, 6th Corps, on the left. At 3.20 a.m. the Divisional and
New Zealand Artillery put down a barrage which lifted at the rate of 100
yards in six minutes. The Division’s final objective was, roughly, the
line of the River Harpies from the north of Beaurain on the right to
Vertigneul in the centre, and to the outskirts of Romeries, north-east of
Vertigneul, on the left. The advance was to be made in three bounds, and
the New Zealanders would then pass through the 125th Brigade at 8.40 a.m.
and continue the advance, supported by the divisional artillery and two
companies of the 42nd M.G. Battalion.
[Sidenote: _Capture of Vertigneul, October 23_]
At 3.26 a.m. the Fusilier Brigade, with “C” Company, M.G. Battalion,
moved off, the 7th Battalion on the right, the 8th on the left, and the
5th in support. Once again the right flank had the greater difficulty,
and the progress of the 7th was slow. They were enfiladed from
machine-gun posts on the high ground west of Beaurain, from Beaurain
itself, and, later, from the quarries north of Beaurain. These poured
destructive fire upon them as they strove gallantly to go forward. A
couple of tanks were sent to their assistance, and these eased the
situation by destroying the nearer machine-gun nests. But the enemy,
holding Beaurain very strongly, had checked the advance of the 5th
Division, so the flank of the 7th L.F. was in the air, and its right
company had been much weakened by heavy losses. The left company,
however, made progress in the centre by the Marou—Beaurain road. There
were numerous instances of devotion to duty and disregard of personal
safety on the part of all ranks. Lieutenant W. J. O’Bryen gained a second
bar to his M.C. by leading his men round by a flank against a machine-gun
nest which had held them up at 100 yards’ range, and capturing the
position; and C.S.M. Thos. Roe, M.M., dealt similarly with another nest.
Corporal F. Hesford kept his men together under deadly shell fire, and
though knocked down by a shell which killed the man next to him, Hesford
worked his section steadily through the fire to the flanks of the
machine-guns, and captured all three.
Conditions on the left were much more satisfactory. The 8th L.F. had
advanced steadily, and as the 3rd Division was making corresponding
progress on the left, their flank was not unduly exposed. Still, they had
to fight their way step by step, held up time after time by the numerous
machine-gun nests, but always overcoming the resistance, and turning
the enemy out of his holes at the bayonet’s point. Soon after the start
Captain D. G. Bird’s company came under fierce fire from machine-gun
nests. Led by their officer, the company rushed the posts and bayoneted
the entire garrison. Pushing on, Bird led his men to the final objective,
north of Beaurain, and held it under very heavy fire. C.S.M. Riley, whose
courage and coolness in the assembly had been conspicuous, made personal
reconnaissances under heavy fire during the attack, and brought valuable
information regarding the situation on the flanks. He was the first man
on the final objective. Sergeant C. Carter, seeing that the troops on
his right were held up, rushed the enemy post with two men, and captured
the gun. He then took nine prisoners from a dug-out close to the post.
Lance-Corporal W. Walmsley, though wounded in the side by a bayonet, led
his section against a machine-gun nest which had been holding up the
advance, and captured it, all the enemy being killed with the bayonet.
Privates C. H. Perkins and F. Peace worked a Lewis-gun under heavy
artillery and machine-gun fire, and though Perkins was severely wounded
in the knee, the two men continued to fight the gun until they had killed
or captured the whole of the opposing machine-gun crew. Privates H. A.
Jackson and G. H. Robson attacked a machine-gun nest with a Lewis-gun,
killed four men and captured or dispersed the rest. As similar instances
of pluck and confidence were being shown in all parts of the fighting
area between Marou, Beaurain and Vertigneul, and the trench-mortar
crews and machine-gunners fought with rifle, bayonet and revolver; and
stretcher-bearers, R.A.M.C. and signallers, though not taking part in
hand-to-hand combats with the bayonet, were doing their duty with equal
disregard of their own safety, the final objective was reached, at first
on the left, where Vertigneul was captured by the 8th L.F., and later
on the right flank, where Captain Kirsopp, G.S.O. 3, of the 42nd, gave
valuable assistance by a reconnaissance outside the divisional boundary,
north-west of Beaurain. Here he came across a company of the Cheshires
and led them to their objective, where they linked up with the 7th L.F.,
and the front was securely established. The 8th L.F. had captured more
than 100 prisoners, two field-guns, thirty-four machine-guns, and some
trench-mortars. The 7th and 5th had also made good captures.
This attack of the 125th Brigade was as brilliant an exploit as any
during the war. The difficulty of assembly in the dark had been augmented
by the complicated tactics required by the need to align the barrage
to suit divisions on the flanks. An outward wheel on one flank of the
Brigade and an inward wheel on the other flank had to be made in pitch
darkness, and while in actual conflict with the enemy, before the
whole line could advance. The area was saturated with enemy gas, and
machine-gun nests abounded. Orders had been frequently changed, and it
was only possible to issue final orders to the Brigade at 2 p.m. at Belle
Vue Farm. Company commanders then had to crawl considerable distances to
attend a hastily summoned conference. This left little time to get the
orders down to platoon commanders, and objectives could not be pointed
out in daylight. But the Fusiliers went over the top as though on parade
and took all objectives. The laurels gained here are worthy of a place
beside those won at Minden.
At the scheduled time, 8.40 a.m., the New Zealanders passed through the
125th Brigade, and continued the advance beyond the line of the Harpies,
two companies of the 42nd M.G. Battalion going with them. This was the
second flying start given them by the Division.
Prisoners taken by the 42nd Division during the operations of October
20-23 numbered 927, and the booty included three field-guns, 102
machine-guns, nine trench-mortars, and twenty-two anti-tank rifles. A
number of enemy batteries were put out of action by our artillery. Five
hundred and fifteen enemy dead were counted on the battlefield—men of
the shattered and demoralized 25th German Division, and to a lesser
extent of the 18th Division. The 42nd, which had lost 138 killed and
707 wounded, withdrew west of the Selle, and on October 24 concentrated
in Beauvois, a pleasant little town, only slightly damaged by the war,
where really good billets were enjoyed for the first time since March.
The inhabitants of Beauvois and Caudry had been in German hands for
four years, and their delight at having Englishmen as guests, instead
of Germans as tyrants, was displayed in a manner rather disconcerting
to many lads, who found it embarrassing to be kissed and fussed over,
and to be called “deliverers” and “saviours.” However, they appreciated
the many evidences of kindliness and goodwill, and helped in their own
way to cement the friendship and understanding between the nations; and
they were truly glad to be once more in an inhabited country. Everything
possible was done to make the men happy and comfortable. The canteens
were well supplied; massed bands gave enjoyable concerts; and the
Divisional Concert Party gave daily performances of _Sweet Fanny Adams_
and _April Fools_ in a factory that had been converted into a theatre.
The enemy had been pressed so hard that they had left, almost intact,
an excellent bathing establishment where hot baths could be obtained.
The Divisional Reception Camp was moved up to Aulicourt Farm, and, while
training was by no means neglected, plenty of opportunity was given for
recreation. The Divisional Boxing Tournament was won by the 8th L.F.,
as was also the Band Contest. Most popular of all was the Football
Competition, in the final of which the 7th N.F. (Pioneers) beat the
R.A.M.C. by two goals to nil. Ten pleasant days were spent at Beauvois,
and on the night of November 3 the Division began its move forward to
relieve the N.Z. Division in the Forêt de Mormal.