THE GERMAN OFFENSIVE ON THE SOMME
_21st February to 25th March 1918_
Occupation of the rear zone defences--Retreat to the
Somme--Defence of the Libermont Canal--Actions of the 61st
Infantry Brigade and 91st Field Artillery Brigade under the 36th
Division.
(_Vide_ Map IV.)
On the 23rd of February 1918 Divisional Headquarters was opened at
Ercheu in the area of the Fifth Army. The 60th Brigade was billeted in
the Ham area; the 59th near Beaulieu, three miles south of Ercheu; the
61st near Freniches, three miles south-east of Ercheu; the 91st Field
Artillery Brigade at Esmery-Hallon; the 92nd Field Artillery Brigade at
Rouy-le-Grand, two and a half miles north-east of Nesle. The Division
was in G.H.Q. reserve but was to be placed at the disposal of the
XVIIIth Corps, commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Sir F. I. Maxse, in the event
of a German attack on the Corps front. During the rest of February
and the first three weeks of March all units worked from time to time
on the defences behind the battle zone and reconnoitred the positions
which they would have to occupy in accordance with various schemes
which had been prepared to meet a German offensive. All these schemes
entailed considerable work for the 20th Divisional Signal Company. The
Divisional Artillery, under Brig.-General Christie, took full advantage
of the unique experience of being out of the line for a whole month to
train batteries in open warfare, the ground lending itself admirably to
this kind of work.
At the end of February the four machine gun companies of the Division
were formed into the 20th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps, under
Lieut.-Colonel H. L. Riley, D.S.O. The 59th, 60th, 61st and 217th
Companies became “A,” “B,” “C,” and “D” Companies of the battalion
respectively. In the middle of March Brig.-General Banbury, commanding
the 61st Infantry Brigade, went home for six months’ rest. He was
succeeded by Brig.-General J. K. Cochrane, C.M.G.
It soon became clear that the expected German offensive would not be
long delayed. On arrival in this area troops had been ordered to be
ready to move at twenty-four hours’ notice; this was reduced to twelve
hours on the 10th of March, and on the 20th to one hour. Just after 5
A.M. on the 21st, XVIIIth Corps issued the order “Man Battle
Stations.”
The Fifth Army, under General Sir Hubert Gough, consisting of the
IIIrd, XVIIIth, XIXth and VIIth Corps, held an extended front of
some forty-two miles from the Oise to Gouzeaucourt, where the Third
Army, under General the Hon. Sir Julian Byng, continued the line to
the Scarpe. The XVIIIth Corps held a line facing St Quentin from
Urvillers to Gricourt, with the 36th Division on the right, the 30th
opposite St Quentin, and the 61st on the left. On the right of the
36th Division was the 14th Division of the IIIrd Corps. On the left of
the 61st Division was the XIXth Corps. The 20th Division, if called
upon to support this line, was to move forward ready to man the rear
zone defences between the Somme and the Omignon river from St Simon to
Trefcon, sending a brigade of artillery to each of the 36th and 30th
Divisions.
At 4.40 A.M. on the 21st of March the enemy opened an intense
bombardment along practically the whole front of the Fifth and Third
Armies, using a great quantity of gas shells. The infantry attack,
launched in a thick fog after several hours of this bombardment,
developed on the XVIIIth Corps front about 10.30 A.M.
By noon the line had been penetrated at various points, although on
all parts of the front isolated detachments held out most gallantly.
The infantry of the 20th Division was ordered at 1 P.M. to
concentrate behind the rear zone defences, and the artillery brigades
moved forward to their allotted divisions, the 91st (Lieut.-Colonel
Erskine) to the 36th Division and the 92nd (Lieut.-Colonel Balston) to
the 30th.
In the course of the day the enemy pushed forward, particularly on the
right of the Corps line, where by 3 P.M. the situation had
become critical. The 61st Brigade (Brig.-General Cochrane) was ordered
therefore to man the bridge-heads at St Simon and Tugny immediately
on arrival in that area. Pressed on the front and outflanked on the
right, the 36th Division retired during the night south of the Somme.
The 61st Infantry Brigade and the 91st Field Artillery Brigade covered
this retirement, and from that time came under the orders of the 36th
Division. Here we will leave them for the moment in order to trace the
movements of the rest of the 20th Division during the following four
days.
On the left the Germans had penetrated the line at the junction of the
XVIIIth and XIXth Corps and at Roupy, and had gained a footing in Grand
Seraucourt. The 60th Brigade (Brig.-General Duncan) therefore pushed
out covering troops on the defensive line from the Somme to Vaux, and
as troops of the 30th Division were retiring on the left, the 59th
Brigade (Brig.-General Hyslop) manned the defences between Vaux and the
Corps left boundary at Trefcon. The 92nd Field Artillery Brigade under
the 30th Division was in action south of Fluquières, covering a line
between Roupy and Savy.
All details were formed into a Divisional Reinforcement Battalion
under Major Storr, second in command of the 12th King’s, and moved to
a position between Matigny and Douilly. The 11th D.L.I. concentrated
at Golancourt and sent “D” Company to reinforce the 61st Brigade.
Divisional Headquarters came forward to Ham.
This was the situation on the night of the 21st, when the enemy had
advanced west and south-west of St Quentin for a distance of about
three miles. Although he had made an important advance along the whole
front, he had not yet broken through the battle zone.
Taking advantage of the thick mist which still hung over the country,
the enemy worked down the St Quentin Canal on the 22nd towards
Happencourt. This threatened the right flank of the 60th Brigade. The
59th was therefore withdrawn from the rear zone defences between Vaux
and Trefcon, leaving there only a skeleton force, and assembled in the
Germaine--Foreste area, ready to launch a counter attack, if necessary,
towards the south-east. But at 5.50 P.M. the enemy turned the
left flank of the Corps north of Holnon Wood, driving back the 61st
Division, which retired towards the Somme. To meet this new situation
the 59th Brigade occupied a previously sited rearguard position between
Douilly and Lanchy.
The 60th Brigade was attacked after heavy shelling at 3.50
P.M. Although their front line was driven back for a short
distance, all battalions withstood the attack until they were ordered
to withdraw. The 6th K.S.L.I. (Lieut.-Colonel Welch) on the right made
a fine stand west of Happencourt with the enemy on both flanks; two
companies of the 12th R.B. (Lieut.-Colonel MacLachlan) in the centre
were surrounded, but fought their way back; and the 12th K.R.R.C.
(Lieut.-Colonel Moore) on the left were heavily engaged with the enemy,
who penetrated through Vaux and Fluquières. “A” Company of the 12th
K.R.R.C. was practically cut off, but gallantly held on. In front of
this company there was a gap in the wire through which the Germans
tried to force their way four times, but two Lewis guns so successfully
covered the gap that all efforts failed. Eventually, when all officers
and many N.C.O.’s had been wounded or killed, the company was forced to
fall back.
The pressure on the Corps front continued, and in view of the general
situation the forward divisions were ordered to retire across the
Somme during the night through the 59th and 60th Brigades, which after
covering the withdrawal were to move back, fighting rearguard actions,
to a position between Canizy and Béthencourt, and blow up all bridges
on their front. At 8 P.M., before this movement was timed to
take place, the enemy was reported to have broken through Vaux with a
force of all arms, and the 20th Division was ordered to prolong the
rearguard position held by the 59th Brigade to the right. The 60th
Brigade accordingly occupied the line Bray--Douilly. Just before the
troops moved back the Germans were heard advancing down a sunken road
from Happencourt, singing for all they were worth. They had probably
seen men of other divisions retiring and thought that the whole line
had gone, and they were very much surprised and completely scattered
when they suddenly came under Lewis gun fire from the 6th K.S.L.I.
During the night the 20th covered the withdrawal of the 30th and
61st Divisions, and then fell back in close contact with the enemy
across the Somme Canal. Most of the fighting occurred on the front of
the 60th Brigade. Brig.-General Duncan received the orders for this
retirement at 10.45 P.M., and made repeated efforts to send
them on to battalions, but, owing to the heavy fighting which was going
on, none of the orderlies got through. All units, however, had been
told what the plans were, and they successfully carried them out. At
11 P.M. the Germans, who had crept up close to the position
under cover of a dense mist, drove a wedge between two companies of
the 12th K.R.R.C. and got into the line of the 6th K.S.L.I., cutting
off practically the whole of one company. Lieut.-Colonel Welch,
commanding the 6th K.S.L.I., led the battalion headquarters forward
to counter attack, but the enemy was found to be too strong. The
companies of the K.S.L.I. were driven back in various directions,
and the headquarters and most of the men became separated from the
brigade until the afternoon of the 24th. The 12th R.B. particularly
distinguished themselves; they inflicted very heavy casualties on the
enemy and caused a stampede among his transport, which was moving down
the main St Quentin--Ham road, but they lost their commanding officer,
Lieut.-Colonel MacLachlan, who was killed while gallantly leading his
men.
“D” Company of the 11th D.L.I. (Lieut.-Colonel Hayes) had been sent to
reinforce the 61st Brigade. The rest of the battalion had come under
the orders of the 60th during the afternoon, and by 8 P.M.
had taken up a position between Tugny and Bray to fill a gap between
the 61st and 60th Brigades. Soon afterwards the 12th King’s, on the
left of the 61st Brigade, were forced back, leaving the right flank
of the D.L.I. exposed. The enemy could be heard in Tugny shouting
in English and making a lot of noise, and patrols sent out by the
battalion found that he had worked round the right flank in the fog.
About midnight “B” Company on the left was rushed from the right
rear. A strong party of “A” Company on the right, under Capt. Endean,
however, held out until the battalion was ordered to retire through
Ham and hold the bridge-head at Offoy. By this time the enemy had
broken through the line and the casualties were heavy; but leaving
twenty men under 2nd Lieut. English as a rearguard with two Vickers
guns on the main road, the remains of the battalion withdrew. Capt.
Endean, two other officers, and forty men of “A” Company, although
surrounded, fought their way through, and a small party of “B” Company,
under C.S.M. Craggs, who was afterwards awarded the D.C.M., got back
with the 12th R.B. and took part in the rearguard actions fought by
that battalion. In the early hours of the 23rd, 97 men of “A” and
“B” Companies were formed into one company under Lieut. Bushell and
occupied the Offoy bridge-head.
The bridges over the Somme Canal were reported to have been prepared
for demolition. The 83rd Field Company R.E. (Major Massie) and the 96th
Field Company R.E. (Major Story), on arrival at the canal found that
this work had been most inadequately done. In many cases the charges
were far too small, the main girder at one bridge had been ignored, and
some bridges had not been prepared at all. This, of course, threw a
great deal of extra work on the field companies, as many new charges
had to be laid. Where the existing charges were fired they failed
to make complete gaps in the bridges; extra charges had to be laid
afterwards, and by this means the work was satisfactorily completed.
By dawn on the 23rd the Division had successfully crossed the canal,
the 83rd and 96th Field Companies R.E. had blown up the bridges, and
the 60th Brigade on the right and the 59th on the left had occupied
the line from Canizy to Béthencourt. At the same time the 92nd Field
Artillery Brigade, which had helped to beat off heavy attacks on
Roupy on the 22nd, rejoined the Division temporarily and came into
action about one and a half miles south-east of Nesle, covering the
crossings of the Somme opposite the front of the 60th Infantry Brigade.
Divisional Headquarters was opened at Nesle, and the 20th Divisional
Signal Company (Major Brace), whose signal lorry had been the last
vehicle to cross at Ham, quickly established communications with
brigades.
The 12th K.R.R.C. took over the defences opposite Offoy from the
D.L.I., who then prolonged the line to the right as far as Canizy,
where they were joined by 34 more men of “A” Company, under Capt.
Endean. About 26 men of the K.S.L.I. and parties from various divisions
joined the 60th Brigade on this flank. On the left were the 12th R.B.
Brig.-General Duncan found a large number of men of the 30th Division
holding the canal, and these he took under his command and placed in
support on the railway. On the 59th Brigade front the 11th K.R.R.C.
(Lieut.-Colonel Priaulx) held the line about Voyennes, with the
Scottish Rifles (Lieut.-Colonel H. C. H. Smith) in the centre and the
11th R.B. (Lieut.-Colonel Cotton) on the left at Béthencourt.
The work of the R.E. was made particularly difficult at this time, as
someone had set fire to the R.E. park at Chaulnes long before the enemy
got anywhere near it. In consequence, for two or three days hardly any
shovels or R.E. stores could be obtained. Parties went to the park
with lorries but were unable to do very much good, owing to the great
heat and to the impossibility of getting at much of the most necessary
material. The 83rd and 96th Field Companies now joined their respective
brigades, to which they had already sent two sections each, the 83rd
going to the 60th Brigade and the 96th to the 59th Brigade.
The 60th, 61st and 62nd Field Ambulances had been attached respectively
to the 59th, 60th and 61st Brigades, but during the successive
retirements they had to deal with the casualties of many different
units. Their work was splendid. Many times when communication was
difficult and the situation uncertain, advanced dressing stations were
established close to the front line and the wounded carried back, often
under heavy fire, with great perseverance and courage.
On the 22nd, between 2000 and 3000 cases passed through a temporary aid
post of the 60th Field Ambulance established at Matigny by Major C. A.
Boyd before the post was abandoned at the last possible moment that
night when the enemy was entering the village. Major Boyd and his party
crossed at Voyennes just before the bridges were destroyed.
At 8 A.M. on the 23rd the enemy was reported to have broken
through at Ham and to be advancing on Esmery Hallon, through which the
30th Division was retiring towards the Libermont Canal. Brig.-General
Duncan was ordered to counter attack, and elements of the 182nd Brigade
(61st Division) were placed at his disposal to assist this operation.
Lieut.-Colonel Bilton, of the 61st Division, was placed in command of
the counter attack, and was assisted by Major A. E. Sanderson, the
Brigade Major of the 60th Brigade. Lieut.-Colonel Bilton moved off
with about 800 men and at 4 P.M. launched the attack from the
main Ham--Nesle road, about 1500 yards west of Eppeville. The attack,
delivered with great dash, drove back the enemy, captured Verlaines,
and restored the situation.
The Division held the canal crossings throughout the day in spite of
many attempts by the enemy to force them. Fighting was heavy at Offoy
on the front of the 12th K.R.R.C.; at Béthencourt the 11th R.B. drove
back with considerable loss several parties which tried to cross the
canal.
In the evening the 182nd Brigade (61st Division), which had been under
the orders of Major-General Douglas Smith since the morning, was
transferred to the 30th Division, and the 183rd and 184th Brigades
(61st Division) came under the 20th Division for counter-attack
purposes and moved to Nesle. The Division was further reinforced by
two batteries of a Canadian Motor Machine Gun Battalion under Capt.
Merling. “In all subsequent operations,” the official report states,
“up to the 31st March, these batteries performed yeoman service, and on
account of their mobility were of inestimable service in holding the
extended fronts allotted to the Division.”
As soon as night came on, a great noise of traffic and shouting was
heard in Offoy, where “C” Company of the 12th K.R.R.C. guarded the
crossing. Under the fire of Vickers and Lewis guns the Germans became
quieter, but at various points along the canal they could be heard
driving in stakes, moving planks, and making evident preparations to
throw out bridges. They planked what remained of the Offoy bridge
during the night and made several attempts to cross it, but the 12th
K.R.R.C. held on with great courage and complete success.
All through the 24th the Division was repeatedly attacked, particularly
on the flanks, and the whole line was severely shelled. At 5
A.M. it was reported that the enemy had crossed the canal
at Pargny, forcing a gap between the 20th and 8th Divisions, and was
moving south along the west bank. Dispositions to meet this were made
by the 11th R.B. and by battalions of the East Lancashire Regiment and
the Royal Berkshire Regiment, who prolonged the flank to the left.
Under cover of a thick mist the Germans shortly afterwards worked
their way into Béthencourt, where their machine guns caused many
casualties among the headquarters of the 11th R.B. At 8 A.M.
an attempt to cross the canal on the front of the 11th R.B. was
frustrated. “C” Company counter attacked the enemy in Béthencourt about
10 A.M., but was hopelessly outnumbered, and only a few men
returned.
In spite of the flanks being in the air, the line held until 11.30
A.M., when a heavy trench mortar bombardment, directed by
low-flying aeroplanes, forced the left flank to withdraw to a ridge 200
yards in rear. In making a further counter attack another company of
the 11th R.B. was almost wiped out by artillery and machine-gun fire.
Shortly after mid-day the 183rd Brigade, reinforced by eight motor
machine guns, counter attacked, and temporarily relieved the pressure.
Later, as the enemy was getting further and further round the left
flank, these three battalions retired to a better position in rear.
Here Lieut.-Colonel Cotton was wounded, and was succeeded by Major
the Hon. A. M. Bertie, D.S.O., M.C. By 4 P.M. “A” Company
consisted of 1 officer and 25 men; “D” Company had 1 officer, and “B”
and “C” Companies none at all.
About 2 P.M. the 11th K.R.R.C. at Voyennes lost their commanding
officer, Lieut.-Colonel Prialux, who was killed by a shell, with most
of the battalion headquarters. He was succeeded by Major M. S. Ormrod.
Soon afterwards the enemy crossed the canal and turned the line,
forcing the battalion back to the high ground west of the village.
The Scottish Rifles were then attacked from the rear. “B” Company,
under Capt. Steward, made a fine stand, and eventually withdrew from a
difficult position only 24 men strong.
Meanwhile a critical situation had developed on the right. At 8
A.M. the enemy, advancing from Ham, forced our troops out of
Canizy and back to the railway. Lieut.-Colonel Moore, commanding the
12th K.R.R.C., immediately led “B” and “D” Companies of his battalion
forward to counter attack. It was a great charge, and the bayonet
was used with wonderful effect, but when it was over, Lieut.-Colonel
Moore was missing. The Germans were driven back into the village, but
later they came on again in greater numbers than before, and under
very strong pressure the right of the 12th K.R.R.C. swung back to the
railway again. In the course of this fighting our aeroplanes gave
invaluable help. At one time, when “C” Company of the 12th K.R.R.C. was
holding on to its position with great difficulty under heavy trench
mortar fire, they nose-dived to a height of 200 feet and dropped
bomb after bomb on to the German trench mortars until they put them
completely out of action.
At 9.30 A.M. Major Massie, commanding the 83rd Field Company
R.E., with about thirty of his men, reported to Brig.-General Duncan,
who ordered him to take up a position south of Canizy on the main Ham
road. Moving forward behind cyclist scouts and an advanced guard Major
Massie took up the allotted position, keeping one section in reserve.
He collected a considerable number of stragglers of various units and
took them under his command. He was in touch with the 12th K.R.R.C. on
his left, but had no troops on his right.
During the morning, repeated attempts of the enemy to advance were
held up by the rifle fire of this party, with the help of one Lewis
gun of the 30th Division. At 1.15 P.M. the pressure on the
right increased, and half an hour later the reserve section was sent
up to reinforce this flank with about thirty men of other divisions
and some two or three hundred rounds of ammunition which had been
collected. By 3 P.M. the right flank was being very heavily
pressed and ammunition was running out, and at 3.30 the enemy made a
heavy and determined attack against the whole company front. The losses
from enfilade machine-gun fire were severe, but although the right
was forced back the company held on until the troops on the left had
retired. Then, having made a very gallant stand, Major Massie gradually
withdrew his party while heavily engaged with the enemy, and eventually
reported to the 60th Brigade at 7 o’clock that evening.
By 1.20 P.M. the 30th Division had been forced back to the
line of the Libermont Canal, leaving the right flank of the 60th
Brigade exposed. At Pargny the enemy had increased the gap between the
20th and the 8th Divisions, while he maintained great pressure along
the whole Divisional front. There was no course, then, but to fall
back to the line Buverchy--Mesnil-St Nicaise.
Major Boyd, 60th Field Ambulance, made two attempts on the 23rd to
establish an A.D.S. at Béthencourt, but in the afternoon the shelling
was so heavy that the party could not get through, and at night the
danger of the enemy turning the flank was too great to make this a
suitable place. An A.D.S. was therefore formed between Béthencourt
and Mesnil-St Nicaise, where many casualties were brought in. Severe
shelling forced Major Boyd and his party to evacuate this dressing
station on the 24th and to take shelter wherever possible. The
stretcher cases were collected in a cowshed, but as the shelling showed
no signs of abating and the enemy was pressing forward, this A.D.S.
was definitely abandoned and the wounded carried back by repeated
journeys through the barrage to a place on the side of the road. Here,
fortunately, a motor lorry came up, steering an erratic course between
the shell-holes. All cases were crowded into it and got away, while
the party moved off to Nesle, picking up and carrying back many more
wounded men on the way.
Lieut.-General Sir F. I. Maxse, the Corps Commander, states in his
report on these operations: “Throughout the 23rd March and until the
afternoon of the 24th the 20th Division not only held their own new
line, but also counter attacked with the 60th Brigade to restore the
situation south of Ham. The 12th Battalion K.R.R.C. particularly
distinguished themselves on this date, as did also the 11th Battalion
of the Rifle Brigade at Béthencourt in the area of an adjoining Corps.”
The following extract from Sir Douglas Haig’s despatches[13] deals with
the situation on the 24th:
“At nightfall the line of the river north of Epenancourt was still held
by us, but the gap opposite Pargny had been enlarged, and the enemy
had reached Morchain. South of that point the 20th Division, with its
left flank in the air and having exhausted all reserves in a series of
gallant and successful counter attacks, fell back during the afternoon
to the line of the Libermont Canal, to which position the great weight
of the enemy’s attacks from Ham had already pressed back the troops on
its right.”
On the Libermont Canal, on the afternoon of the 24th, the right of the
60th Brigade rested about Buverchy; the 83rd Field Company R.E., the
11th D.L.I., and the 6th K.S.L.I., who had rejoined the brigade, held
this flank; the 12th K.R.R.C. were opposite Bacquencourt, and the 12th
R.B. continued the line to Quicquery. The troops of the 59th Brigade
had become rather mixed, but generally the Scottish Rifles held the
right from Quicquery to the railway, and the 11th R.B., with elements
of the 61st and 8th Divisions, the left as far as Mesnil-St Nicaise.
The 11th K.R.R.C. had not received the orders to retire, but having
been forced out of their line at Voyennes, had fallen back to Quicquery
and had taken up a position on the high ground west of the village
under the 184th Brigade. The 183rd Brigade formed a defensive flank
to the north, as touch with the 8th Division had not been gained.
Divisional Headquarters moved to Réthonvillers.
At this time French troops began to arrive on the British front. Four
companies from the 22nd French Division and a mitrailleuse company were
sent to reinforce the Divisional right flank, and were placed under the
60th Brigade.
By the evening of the 24th the situation on the left flank had become
serious. The gap between the 20th and the 8th Divisions had still
further increased, as the 8th had retired due west. The enemy was
in Morchain. It soon became evident that the 59th Brigade, already
weakened by heavy attacks during the day, would be called upon for
further resistance during the night. The brigade was therefore
reinforced by four motor machine guns, the 25th Entrenching Battalion,
which had been placed under the orders of Major-General Douglas Smith,
and the Divisional Reinforcement Battalion. The 183rd Brigade extended
the left flank as far as Potte, but could not obtain touch with the 8th
Division.
At night, on the left of the 59th Brigade, the 11th R.B., the
Divisional Reinforcement Battalion and the 25th Entrenching Battalion
were forced back by strong attacks to positions about half-way between
Mesnil and Nesle, facing north-east. This new position was then held by
a most mixed force composed of the above three battalions and elements
of the 61st and 8th Divisions.
During the morning of the 25th, while the right of the line between
Buverchy and Quicquery stood firm, the left was continually outflanked
and was gradually pressed back.
Soon after dawn on the 25th the Germans, attacking down the
Mesnil--Nesle road, drove in the front line at this point. Later they
got round the flank, and these troops were forced to fall back to a
line south of Nesle, where the Lewis gunners of the 11th R.B. did
excellent work and captured three German machine guns.
The Scottish Rifles on the right of the 59th Brigade found the
enemy working round their left early in the morning, and formed a
defensive flank with “A” Company, under 2nd Lieut. H. Grant. About 11
A.M. the French mitrailleuse company came up, and firing
over the heads of the infantry on to the Nesle road, gave invaluable
help. By mid-day “A” Company, after a very gallant fight, was driven
back to a sunken road which ran at a distance of 150 yards behind the
front line, and the whole battalion came under intense machine-gun fire
from the left flank. The Nesle road was swarming with Germans, who by
2 P.M. were firing straight down the sunken road, making the
position untenable. The only way of escape lay along a marshy stream
with thickly wooded banks, which ran through the line towards Nesle.
By this way small parties were sent back, and by 2.30 P.M.
the last man was out of the sunken road. Many were caught by shell and
machine-gun fire on their way, and most of those who survived appear to
have gone into Nesle, where they must have fallen into the hands of the
enemy. After making a fine stand, only 7 officers and 55 men got back
to the brigade.
The line of the 59th Brigade then ran from Quicquery back to the high
ground north of Billancourt.
At Quicquery the 12th R.B. beat off a determined attack, and on
the whole front south of this the troops of the 60th Brigade held
their line with very little artillery support and under fire from
German field guns which had been brought up close to the front line.
Once more, however, they were left with their right flank in the
air, for by 6 o’clock the 30th Division was back at Moyencourt.
At the same time the outflanking movement on the left of the 59th
Brigade became more dangerous, and the two brigades were therefore
ordered to retire to the line Cressy (two miles north-west of
Ercheu)--Billancourt--Réthonvillers.
Just as the 12th K.R.R.C. were moving out of their position the enemy
broke across the canal, led by an officer dressed in British uniform,
who called on the K.R.R.C. to halt. The officer was bayoneted at once,
but his men pushed on and captured the battalion headquarters. On the
whole of the 60th Brigade front, in spite of a good deal of fighting,
the retirement was successfully carried out. Divisional Headquarters
moved at 9.45 P.M. to Roye.
The 92nd Field Artillery Brigade had been fighting meanwhile with the
30th Division, coming under the orders of the 20th only for a short
time on the 23rd of March. At 11 A.M. on that day the brigade
marched south to positions of observation to cover the crossings at
Libermont and at Ramecourt, a mile and a half further north. Between
3 and 4 P.M. it was decided that guns were wanted just north
of Esmery Hallon, so four 18-pdrs. and four howitzers, from A/92 and
D/92 Batteries respectively, were pushed forward. By the time these had
come into action it was getting dark, and, beyond the fact that the
enemy was shelling Esmery Hallon, the situation was obscure. It was a
bad bit of country, low-lying, marshy, and full of irrigation cuts, and
observation was made difficult by small scattered osier beds.
The early morning of the 24th was misty. Under cover of darkness the
enemy had worked his way almost up to the rising ground immediately
east of Esmery Hallon and on the flank of the guns. With the enemy
established on this vantage point, the guns would be cut off.
Fortunately Lieut. Patten, M.C., who had been sent to warn the
batteries of the situation, fell in with the limbers already on their
way up, and pushing on at the gallop succeeded in withdrawing the guns
under the nose of the enemy.
The guns then crossed the canal and took up their former positions.
By this time Esmery Hallon was partially enveloped by the enemy,
whose infantry, just north of the village, was engaged by C/92. The
French, who had come up during the night, were making a gallant stand
opposite the western exits of the village. In order to help them the
92nd Field Artillery Brigade maintained constant fire throughout the
day, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. Further south the
situation was somewhat quieter; Libermont had been occupied by the
French and liaison had been established between them and B/92 and D/92
Batteries. At the request of the battalion commander in Libermont
these two batteries searched and swept the Bois de l’Hôpital. This
wood, lying east and south of Libermont and extending right up to the
canal, hid all the movements of the enemy at this point. By dawn on
the 25th the enemy had drawn up to the bridge-heads, but all attacks
that morning were beaten off with heavy loss. The French had no guns
east of Ognolles (one mile south-west of Ercheu), so the 92nd Brigade
found itself responsible for the immediate support of the French
infantry. B/92 and D/92 were in and near Ercheu, covering Libermont and
the crossings in its neighbourhood; A/92 and C/92 were further north,
covering the bridge at Ramecourt and the roads from Esmery Hallon.
These two latter batteries accounted for a large number of the enemy,
who in this area was forced to attack down an exposed slope. Opposite
Libermont the problem was very different. It had become increasingly
evident that there was no defensive line on the right, where officers’
patrols had failed to gain touch with anybody except scattered parties
of French infantry. It was also reported that the enemy was working his
way through the Bois de l’Hôpital. At 12.30 P.M. the enemy was
known to be across the canal south-west of Libermont.
At 1 P.M. French infantry began to take up an outpost line
south-west of Ercheu, and to dig in along the railway further to the
rear, in front of Ognolles.
The position of B/92 and D/92 was becoming critical, as the ground on
their right flank not only commanded their positions, but with its
scattered copses, orchards and straggling hedgerows gave excellent
cover to small parties of the enemy and machine guns which might now
be momentarily expected. Libermont, too, had been turned, and French
infantry, after putting up a most gallant defence, began to retire.
Both batteries were then ordered to withdraw to Ognolles, leaving one
gun of B/92 and three howitzers of D/92 in close support to oppose any
machine guns which might try to establish themselves on the slight
ridge which commanded Ercheu from the south.
These guns dispersed the first machine-gun detachment which appeared
and, firing at close range, most successfully held the enemy at bay
until the remainder of the brigade had withdrawn and the enemy, working
through the enclosed country further south, had completely turned the
position. They then rejoined the rest of the brigade, which at dusk
moved to Roiglise.
We must now go back to the 61st Brigade and the 91st Field Artillery
Brigade, which we left on the 21st of March near St Simon and Tugny
under the 36th Division, and follow the actions of these troops until
on the 25th the 61st Brigade returned to the Division and the 91st
Field Artillery Brigade came under the French. By dark on the 21st of
March the 61st Brigade was east of the St Quentin Canal, covering the
perimeter of the St Simon and Tugny bridge-heads, the 7th D.C.L.I.
(Lieut.-Colonel Burges-Short) on the right, east of Avesne (one mile
east of St Simon), the 12th King’s (Lieut.-Colonel Vince) on the
left as far as Pont de Tugny. The 7th Somerset L.I. (Lieut.-Colonel
Troyte-Bullock) were in reserve on a line north-east of St Simon. The
German advance on this day forced the 36th Division to retire during
the night to the line Tugny--Happencourt--Fontaine. The 61st Brigade
covered this retirement, and at 11.30 P.M. received orders
from the 36th Division to withdraw to the west bank of the canal. By
the morning of the 22nd the Somersets had taken up a position on the
south-west bank of the St Quentin Canal from a point about one and a
half miles north-west of Jussy to the canal junction west of St Simon.
On their right the only troops of the 14th Division whom they met were
odd patrols. The 12th King’s continued the line northwards to a point
half a mile north-east of Tugny, where they joined the right of the
36th Division and gained touch also with the 60th Brigade. These two
battalions thus held a front of 6000 yards.
From mid-day on the 22nd the 7th D.C.L.I. (less one company) held the
south bank of the Somme Canal from the left of the Somersets at the
canal junction to half a mile west of the Dury--Ollezy road. They were
in touch on their left with a brigade of the 36th Division. By 11
P.M. this division had another brigade at Cugny and another
at Brouchy. One company of the D.C.L.I. had been sent shortly before
mid-day to fill the gap between the right of the 7th Somerset L.I. and
the 14th Division. This company got into touch with the 6th Somerset
L.I. (14th Division) and helped to stem the heavy attacks on Jussy
before rejoining the battalion on the morning of the 23rd.
“C” Company, 20th Machine Gun Battalion, was distributed so as to
cover the front of the 7th Somerset L.I. and the 7th D.C.L.I., and “D”
Company 11th D.L.I., under the 12th King’s, dug trenches near Dury and
Tugny. The 61st T.M.B. and Brigade Headquarters were at Ollezy.
The retirement on the 21st necessitated a reorganisation of the
artillery covering the 36th Division. Three groups were formed. The
Right Group under Lieut.-Colonel Erskine, consisting of A/91 and C/91
Batteries and the 232nd Heavy Battery, was detailed to cover the 61st
Brigade. B/91 was attached to the Centre Group, under Lieut.-Colonel
Potter, and D/91 to the Left Group, under Lieut.-Colonel Eley, both
covering the 36th Division. On the night 21st/22nd Lieut.-Colonel
Erskine established his headquarters at Ollezy, and placed his
batteries west and north-west of the village to cover the crossings
near St Simon.
During the 22nd the 61st Brigade maintained its position along the
canal. Enemy patrols crossed near Artemps in the morning and entered
St Simon at 1.40 P.M., when the Somersets came under gun
and trench mortar fire. During the evening the 91st Field Artillery
Brigade, now reinforced by D/173 (Howitzer) Battery, was withdrawn to
positions near Eaucourt, where the crossings of the canal could be as
easily covered while the guns were less exposed.
That night a company of the 12th King’s was driven out of Tugny, and
soon afterwards, owing to the retirement of the 36th Division, the
battalion, with “D” Company 11th D.L.I., fell back through the 7th
D.C.L.I. to the railway, leaving one company to reinforce the D.C.L.I.
at the Ollezy--Dury crossing.
At 7.45 A.M. on the 23rd the 12th King’s were sent back to
positions guarding Cugny. At 11.30 A.M. came the serious news
that the Germans were advancing on both flanks. On the right they were
reported to be approaching Cugny from the east, on the left they had
broken through at Ham and were advancing south on Brouchy. Here they
were held up by the 36th Division, which formed a defensive flank on
the line Brouchy--Golancourt, and also sent up troops to fill the gap
between that line and the left of the 61st Brigade on the Somme Canal.
Near Cugny a company of the 12th King’s, supported by three platoons
of the 11th D.L.I., beat off an attack and drove the enemy back into
the woods east of the village. The remaining platoon of the 11th D.L.I.
was last seen advancing to support another company of the 12th King’s.
During this fighting, Lieut.-Colonel Vince, commanding the 12th King’s,
was killed.
During the morning the enemy forced the passage of the canal at Jussy,
on the front of the 14th Division. This completely turned the flank of
the three companies of the 7th Somerset L.I. on the canal bank. “A”
Company was in reserve and was then the only company in touch with
battalion headquarters, which had moved back, by order of the Brigade
Commander, to the railway west of Annois, so as to be in more direct
communication with Brigade Headquarters at Eaucourt. “A” Company
endeavoured to form a defensive flank between battalion headquarters
and the companies on the canal, but owing to the fog and marshy ground
this was found to be impossible.
The three companies on the canal were eventually surrounded, but
they fought on until all ammunition and bombs were spent before the
survivors fell into the hands of the enemy. Battalion headquarters and
“A” Company fell back fighting, with both flanks turned, and joined
the headquarters and one company of the 7th D.C.L.I., who by this time
were on the railway embankment south of Ollezy. During this fighting,
Lieut.-Colonel Troyte-Bullock, their commanding officer, had been badly
wounded.
At the time when the enemy broke through at Jussy the 7th D.C.L.I. were
disposed as follows: one company, with the attached company of the
12th King’s, was holding the Somme Canal north of Ollezy; one company
was east of Ollezy, supporting the left company of the Somersets; one
company and battalion headquarters were on the railway embankment south
of Ollezy; the company which had returned from fighting with the 14th
Division was posted south-east of Ollezy, south of the railway.
Shortly after mid-day Lieut.-Colonel Troyte-Bullock arrived at the
headquarters of the 7th D.C.L.I. Although he was very exhausted as
the result of his severe wound, he managed to give Lieut.-Colonel
Burges-Short most valuable information. The attack on the 7th D.C.L.I.
developed in great strength against the company east of Ollezy, but
was repulsed about 6 P.M., largely by enfilade fire from
the company south of the railway. On the evening of the 23rd, owing
to the enemy’s advance at Annois and to the retirement of the 36th
Division from the canal to a position north of Eaucourt, Lieut.-Colonel
Burges-Short withdrew the forward companies of the 7th D.C.L.I. and the
attached company of the 12th King’s to the railway embankment.
The front then held extended from the stream running north from Cugny
to the Eaucourt--Ollezy road. The remnants of the 7th Somerset L.I.,
about 120 men, were disposed between Eaucourt and the railway facing
north-west.
All batteries of the 91st Brigade barraged the canal bank during the
morning, and later, when the attack on Brouchy developed, were ordered
back, A/91 to a position one mile south-east of Brouchy, C/91 to
north of Beaumont, and D/173 to Villeselve, where the headquarters of
the 61st Brigade and of the 91st Field Artillery Brigade were then
established. The 232nd (Heavy) Battery was transferred at this period
to another command.
Soon after 6 P.M. the enemy took Brouchy, forcing back the
troops of the 36th Division on to the gun position of A/91 Battery
south-east of the village, where the gunners helped the worn-out
infantry to dig trenches alongside the guns.
At the same time the position about Eaucourt was obscure. It was
decided that Brouchy should be retaken by the 36th Division, and that
the 61st Brigade should clear up the situation at Eaucourt. The attack
on Brouchy did not take place, but about 11 P.M. 100 men of
the 284th A.T. Company R.E., under Lieut. Jones (7th Somerset L.I.),
the intelligence officer of the 61st Brigade, and 2nd Lieut. Arnold
(12th King’s), the brigade gas officer, advanced to Eaucourt. The party
consolidated a position on the north side of the village, joining up
with the D.C.L.I. on the railway.
The 62nd Field Ambulance had been established at Dury on the 21st. On
the morning of the 22nd, leaving squads of bearers in Dury and Ollezy,
and sending a party to Eaucourt to form an A.D.S., the unit moved back
to Brouchy. From the A.D.S. at Eaucourt the only way to get the wounded
to Brouchy was by horse ambulance over high ground and across open
country. Time after time this journey was made under shell-fire in full
view of the enemy.
The bearers who had been left at Dury were cut off on the morning of
the 23rd on the far side of the canal. By that time the bridges had
been blown up and all crossing points were being shelled by our guns,
so that with no way of escape left open the party fell into the enemy’s
hands. The field ambulance moved back from Brouchy to Guiscard and in
the evening opened an A.D.S. at Villeselve.
In the early hours of the 24th the 7th D.C.L.I. on the railway became
almost isolated; they nevertheless held on until they were ordered to
withdraw at 11 P.M. to Villeselve. By that time the enemy was
in Golancourt and Brouchy on the left, and on the right was advancing
on Cugny, out of which he drove our troops at 1.30 P.M. No
attack on the D.C.L.I. developed from Ollezy, but the company on
the right had to fight a hard rearguard action to gain time for the
remainder to withdraw. This was successfully accomplished, and the
battalion reached Villeselve at about 12.30 P.M.
The 91st Field Artillery Brigade, to which B/91 Battery had returned,
took up positions of readiness in the morning in a thick fog south-west
of Villeselve. At 1.10 P.M. 61st Brigade Headquarters left
Villeselve for Beines.
When the troops at Cugny were driven back at 1.30 P.M. they
also retired on Villeselve. By the time the remnants of the 7th
D.C.L.I. and 12th King’s reached that place a number of French troops
with various details of other divisions were occupying a line east and
north-east of the village. To cover the right flank of these troops
three companies of the D.C.L.I. took up a position on a ridge about 500
yards south-west of Beaumont; the remaining company of this battalion
was in Villeselve, and a company of the 12th King’s supported the
French.
The 91st Field Artillery Brigade had meanwhile been ordered to take
up a position at Beines to cover the approaches to Villeselve. The
troops of the 14th Division were falling back through Beines at 2.30
P.M. French troops also were coming back, and there was considerable
confusion. What was left of the 61st Brigade was almost isolated, and
the enemy was threatening Beaumont and was advancing from Brouchy and
Golancourt.
Realising that immediate action was necessary to save the brigade from
being surrounded, and being unable to communicate with the headquarters
of the 36th Division, Brig.-General Cochrane explained the situation
to Brig.-General Harman, 3rd Cavalry Division, who also was most
anxious to do anything he could to check the retreat. Under the orders
of Brig.-General Harman a composite squadron of cavalry, commanded by
Major E. H. Watkins Williams, 10th Hussars, made a most gallant charge
on the Germans north-west of Villeselve, killing a great many and
taking 107 prisoners. This action of the cavalry considerably eased the
situation on that flank.
From their position south-west of Beaumont the three companies of
the D.C.L.I were able to prevent the Germans from entering Beaumont
until 4.30 P.M. when, under cover of an intense trench mortar
barrage, parties of the enemy began to filter through the village. At
the same time the enemy was seen moving south-westwards across the
Brouchy-Villeselve road. At 5 P.M. Lieut-Colonel Burges-Short
was severely wounded, and shortly afterwards was taken prisoner as the
enemy advanced.
“D” Company of the 11th D.L.I. had become separated from the 12th
King’s in the fighting north of Cugny on the 23rd and retired on the
village, carrying back two wounded officers of the King’s with them. No
troops could be found except a company belonging to the 36th Division,
whose line the D.L.I. prolonged until at 6.45 P.M. the enemy
was reported to be working round their right. It was then decided to
withdraw. Second-Lieut. Banks went to the assistance of the company of
the 36th Division. Touch with this company was lost in the darkness,
and 2nd Lieut. Banks was not seen again. “D” Company of the D.L.I.
retired to Villeselve, meeting no organised body of troops before
coming within three-quarters of a mile of the village. Having reported
to Brigade Headquarters and procured three boxes of ammunition and a
few badly-needed rations, the company commander led his company forward
at 6 A.M. on the 24th, to try and get into touch with the rest
of the brigade. In the thick mist he was unable to do so and dug in
about a mile north-east of Villeselve, facing north, with a section of
the machine gun company and a company of the 36th Division on his left,
and some troops of the 14th Division facing east on his right. At noon
the mist cleared, and the company, coming under heavy shell-fire from
the east and south, had to swing round to the east. Although about this
time the remnants of the 61st Brigade fell back, covering Villeselve
further to the right, “D” Company was not in touch with them.
The troops on the left retired at 3 P.M., and after holding
on for another half hour “D” Company fell back to a sunken road on the
eastern outskirts of Villeselve. There a little later it gained touch
with the reserve company of the 7th D.C.L.I. The Germans gradually
worked their machine guns forward and swept the bank of the sunken road
with fire; their field guns came into action about 6 P.M. at a
range of 1500 yards, firing shrapnel which burst most effectively right
on to the line. Half an hour later the troops were shelled out of the
position, and retired along the road to Villeselve, which for the first
200 yards was swept by the enemy’s machine guns.
The batteries of the 91st Field Artillery Brigade held on in their
position near Beines until 5.30 P.M., when orders were received to
retire the brigade to Guiscard with a view to joining the 9th French
Division. All batteries were accordingly withdrawn to Guiscard except
C/91, which remained in position until dark, and was able to give most
valuable support to the French on the right and to the cavalry on the
north of the Villeselve--Guiscard road. C/91 managed to get back by the
last available road after the enemy had captured Berlancourt and was
close to Buchoire, about a mile south-east of Guiscard.
By 7 P.M. the remnants of the 61st Brigade, now very much
mixed and scattered, had retired to a line covering Guiscard and
Buchoire; Brigade Headquarters was 2000 yards south-west of Guiscard on
the main road to Noyon. Large numbers of troops and stragglers retiring
from Guiscard were stopped by a party of 100 men of various units of
the brigade, who were formed up at 9 P.M. on a defensive line
across the main road 400 yards in front of Brigade Headquarters. At 10
P.M. the right of the 61st Brigade line was found to be in the
hands of the enemy.
The A.D.S. at Villeselve was abandoned shortly before the enemy entered
the village. In consequence of the rapid advance of the Germans,
all transport and surplus personnel of the 62nd Field Ambulance in
Guiscard were sent back. A small party under Lieut.-Colonel Stack,
the commanding officer, remained in the village collecting, dressing
and evacuating crowds of wounded, British and French. Shells fell
into the garden of the house which served as a dressing station, but
Lieut.-Colonel Stack refused to go until all cases had been cleared.
The 91st Field Artillery Brigade came in the evening under the G.O.C.
9th French Division, from whom orders were received at 10 P.M.
to move to Crisolles. Guiscard was being heavily shelled at this time,
and soon afterwards was captured by the enemy. Having lost a certain
number of men during the shelling of the town the brigade successfully
withdrew at 11 P.M., although the enemy had advanced by then
to within a few hundred yards of the guns.
What remained of the 61st Brigade was withdrawn to Neuvilly, where it
was reorganised on the morning of the 25th into a composite battalion
of four companies, one from each battalion in the brigade, with a
headquarters company in addition. The total strength was then nine
junior officers and 440 other ranks. At 1.45 P.M. the brigade
marched to Avricourt and then moved by ’bus to Gruny to rejoin the 20th
Division, under which in the course of two days’ intense fighting the
three battalions together were destined to be reduced to under 100 men.