LENS AND AVION
_2nd April to 8th October 1918._
The Division at rest--Move to the Lens and Avion
sectors--Major-General Douglas Smith succeeded by Major-General
Carey--Raids--The last German attacks and opening of the Allied
offensive--Extension of the Divisional line--Attack of 7th
D.C.L.I. south-west of Acheville--Retirement of the enemy south
of Lens--Advance on the whole Divisional front.
(_Vide_ Sketch C.)
The ten days’ incessant fighting in March, and the extremely heavy
losses suffered during that time, left the Division no longer fit to
take the field. For the 20th, and for many other divisions, a rest was
imperative, and large reinforcements were needed before units could be
brought up to their former strength. At the same time it was unlikely
that the Germans would rest long before renewing their offensive, and
although by this time preparations for an attack north of La Bassée
were known to be nearly complete, the strong forces still concentrated
in the Somme battlefield directly threatened our positions east of
Amiens.
On the 9th of April the Germans attacked between La Bassée and
Armentières, driving back the British troops from positions that had
been held since the autumn of 1914. On the 10th they advanced as far
north as Wytschaete, and in the following days drove a deep wedge into
our position. Merville and Bailleul fell, and it became necessary on
the 15th to withdraw from the Ypres salient to a line nearer the town,
giving up the ground which had been gained at such heavy cost in the
summer and autumn of the year before.
After the 18th there was a lull in the fighting, broken on the 24th by
the battle of Villers Bretonneux in the Somme area and on the northern
battle front on the 25th by fierce German attacks which ended in the
capture of Kemmel Hill. This marked the end of the enemy’s successes
south of Ypres, and with the failure of all attempts to penetrate
further in the following days the second phase of the German offensive
came to an end.
The 20th Division, less the artillery, withdrew on the 2nd of April to
Quevauvillers, ten miles south-west of Amiens. In the week spent in
this area all units were busily employed re-organising and absorbing
large drafts.
On the 3rd of April the Division suffered a severe loss when
Major-General W. Douglas Smith, who had commanded the Division so ably
through all its most serious fighting, departed to take up a command in
England. He was succeeded by Major-General G. S. Carey, C.B., who had
been on his way from England to take up the command of the Division on
March 26th, when he was placed in command of the force of details that
became so well known as Carey’s Force.
About the same time Brig.-General Hyslop handed over command of the
59th Brigade to Brig.-General R. M. Ovens, C.M.G.
From Quevauvillers the Division went back to the country south-west
of Abbeville and there carried on the work of training and of taking
in reinforcements until the 17th, when it moved into the First Army
area with Divisional Headquarters at Villers Châtel about ten miles
north-west of Arras. The Division then came back again to the XVIIIth
Corps. In the last days of April units began to move forward again
towards the line, and between the 1st and 3rd of May the 20th took over
from the 3rd Canadian Division the Avion and Lens sectors of the front.
The outpost line (shown by the dotted line in Sketch C) extended from
1000 yards south of Avion to the north-west corner of Lens. Behind this
ran several other lines, covering altogether a depth of three miles.
The Souchez river and the canal which ran by its side formed a natural
boundary between the two sectors. Two spurs known as Hirondelle Ridge
and Hill 65, standing up on either side of the river, formed bastions
to the various defensive lines and gave observation over a large extent
of ground.
About two miles west-south-west of Avion rise the slopes of the
northern end of Vimy Ridge, giving a magnificent view over many miles
of the open country to the east. An O.P. on Vimy Ridge was always
occupied, for though it was too far back for observation of artillery
fire it was useful for obtaining information of movements behind the
enemy’s line, and for spotting flashes.
[Illustration:
LENS AND AVION, 1918. Sketch C.]
East of Avion the enemy occupied the high railway embankment which ran
in the form of an oval to the north of Méricourt and back. This was
known as the Bull Ring. For a long time the Canadians had tried to
get a prisoner from this place, but had never succeeded. The Division
carried out many raids here with the same object, but although
prisoners were taken from advanced posts on this front, it was only
rarely that the Bull Ring itself could be entered. It was indeed a very
formidable position especially at the Avion end, where the south-west
face of the embankment consisted of a high and solid wall of masonry.
Here the only point which gave any hope of success was a gap near the
north-east corner of Avion, where the railway bridge over the road had
been broken, leaving a gap in the embankment. The other railway lines
converging at this point also ran on embankments which were held by the
enemy as advanced positions.
Between Avion and Lens a large area of ground had been flooded
sufficiently deeply to prevent any advance by either side on that
front. This flooded area was completely overlooked by the Green
Crassier, a large slag heap, which formed part of the enemy’s defences.
North of the Souchez river the whole of the ground in front of the line
was a mass of ruins, the remains of the continuous succession of mining
villages which encircled Lens. Behind our line the mining town of
Lièvin was still standing, but every house had been damaged by shells.
South-east of Lens the horizon was bounded by the houses which stood on
the crest of the Sallaumines Ridge.
By the 3rd of May the 60th Brigade had taken over the Avion sector on
the right and the 61st the Lens sector on the left; the 59th Brigade
was in reserve at Souchez, four miles south-west of Lens. Divisional
Headquarters was at Villers au Bois until the 7th of May, when it was
removed a mile further north to Château de la Haie. Both these places
are about three and a half miles west of Souchez. The 24th Division
was on the left of the 20th, and by the 7th of May the 52nd had
relieved the 4th Canadian Division on the right.
The front was covered by the 20th Divisional Artillery, which rejoined
at this time. The 91st Field Artillery Brigade came into action behind
Hirondelle Ridge, covering the right sector; the 92nd Brigade moved to
Lièvin on the 13th to cover the left. Excellent observation could be
obtained from O.P.s on Hirondelle Ridge and Hill 65.
As soon as the artillery came into the line, battery commanders came
up to the front trenches to see the country and discuss with infantry
commanders the question of artillery support. All through the four
months spent in this area the co-operation between the two arms was
particularly close.
Among the many railway lines which ran between Lens, Lièvin, and the
various mining villages, several were found which some little distance
behind our front trenches ran towards the enemy. Both artillery
brigades used these lines to run single guns forward on specially
constructed trucks at night to fire on certain points at close range.
After firing a number of rounds the gun was withdrawn. The Germans soon
got to know pretty well from which bits of line our guns fired, and
then shelled the lines to prevent the guns from getting back. These
expeditions consequently became rather exciting, but as a matter of
fact no guns were lost and very few casualties were suffered in this
way. The 91st Brigade had one gun two miles away from all the others
among the houses north-west of Lens, where it did most useful work as
it was able to take in reverse the enemy’s dug-outs in the Bull Ring.
The 92nd Brigade had not been long in this sector before Major F.
Butcher, commanding A/92 Battery, was killed by a direct hit on the
O.P. on Hirondelle Ridge.
An excellent system of buried cable communications was in process of
being laid when the Division took over the sector. This was completed
by the 20th Division. Owing to the enormous difficulty of digging among
the ruined houses in Lièvin full use was made of the gas mains, whereby
several miles of practically indestructible cable were laid. By the
time the Division left this area, the system of communication was about
as perfect as it could be.
From the beginning of May to the first week in October, when the enemy
at last retired on this front, the battalions in the line carried
out a succession of raids with the principal object of obtaining
identifications to show what movements the enemy was carrying out
in order to reinforce other parts of his line. For the first month
our activity was not so marked, but as the operations in the south
developed these raids increased in scope and importance. Gas was
successfully discharged on the Divisional front twice during May, and
on many other days when all arrangements were complete the orders had
to be cancelled at the last moment because the wind was unfavourable.
Battle patrols from several of the battalions attempted to raid parts
of the enemy’s line, but at that time none of them succeeded in taking
a prisoner.
When the Division first took over this sector a German attack was
expected, so that for the first two or three months all efforts were
concentrated on maintaining an adequate defence. With a view to
meeting any attempt by the Germans to recapture Vimy Ridge, the troops
in reserve were practised in occupying defensive positions and in
delivering counter attacks, sometimes under the personal supervision
of the Corps Commander. Units were chiefly composed of new drafts,
fresh from England. These had to be trained. Great attention was
paid to patrolling, to the inculcation of the fighting spirit, and
to leadership by subordinate commanders, with the result that the
efficiency of the Division rapidly improved. By the middle of July the
conditions had completely changed; a moral ascendency had been obtained
over the Germans and our patrols were masters of No Man’s Land.
On the 4th of June two officers and 84 other ranks of the 12th R.B.
raided a point on the south-west face of the Bull Ring east of Avion
with the co-operation of the 20th and 52nd Divisional Artilleries and
the 20th Machine Gun Battalion. As the raiders approached the enemy
retired hurriedly from his advanced posts, but on reaching the Bull
Ring the party came under heavy fire from the north-east and suffered
severely, losing both officers and several of the N.C.O.s. Company
Sgt.-Major Whitmore took command and bombed the dug-outs on the
north-east side of the embankment. A German greatcoat was found and
brought back, but as the enemy had retired no prisoners were taken.
Early in June the command of two of the infantry brigades changed
hands. On the 5th, Brig.-General Duncan, who had been appointed
to command the 61st Division, handed over the 60th Brigade to
Brig.-General W. R. H. Dann, D.S.O., and on the 7th, Brig.-General
Ovens commanding the 59th Brigade was succeeded by Brig.-General A. C.
Baylay, D.S.O.
Up to the middle of June each brigade had held its sector with two
battalions in the line, the reserve battalions each sending one company
to hold the defences on Hill 65 and the Hirondelle Ridge. Between
the 18th and the 22nd the defensive scheme was modified so that from
that time onward each brigade held its front with three battalions
distributed in depth.
A raid on the Bull Ring just north-west of the outlying houses of
Méricourt was very well carried out by the 2nd Scottish Rifles,
commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Sandilands, in the early morning of the
23rd of June. At 3.5 A.M. the Divisional Artillery, with
the assistance of Stokes, medium, and heavy trench mortars, barraged
the enemy’s position. Two minutes later “A” and “B” Companies of
the Scottish Rifles advanced, and after crossing two belts of wire
concealed in long grass reached the embankment. Up to this time very
few of the enemy were seen. Out of four who tried to run away two were
shot and gave the identification required. Behind the embankment there
were many deep dug-outs, and it is clear that the Germans had retired
into these and were surprised by the raid. A few of them attempted to
come out and showed some fight, but bombs were thrown into the dug-outs
before they had time to do much. The raiding party included six men of
the 96th Field Company R.E. who carried mobile charges and blew up six
deep dug-outs. According to statements made later by prisoners, great
damage was done and many Germans were killed.
When the party had been seven minutes in the lines the enemy began to
barrage the embankment. Both companies then withdrew, having carried
out a very successful raid, killed many of the enemy, and obtained an
identification with a total loss of ten men. Capt. D. F. Campbell, who
commanded the raiding party, was awarded the M.C., and Cpl. E. Pow and
Lance-Cpl. W. Henderson the M.M.
On the 13th of July a gas beam attack was carried out on the First Army
front at 12.15 A.M. In the Divisional area gas was liberated
from four railheads on the light railway, two in each sector, and
altogether 4000 cylinders were used. A prisoner captured a few days
later stated that in one company forty casualties were caused by our
gas.
A new system of allotting the work of the R.E. field companies came
into force on the 14th. Instead of being attached to an infantry
brigade, and going into and out of the line with it, each field company
took over a definite part of the front and became responsible for the
work in its own area. The 83rd Field Company took over the right, the
96th the centre, and the 84th the left.
On the night of the 18th/19th, a thousand Stokes gas shells were fired
in the Avion sector. Two sections of twelve guns each were employed,
each section firing 250 rounds lethal and 250 rounds lachrymatory.
A marked characteristic of the Lens sector was the frequent and heavy
shelling with mustard gas which the enemy poured into Lièvin. On the
night of the 26th/27th of May between four and five thousand shells are
estimated to have fallen in the town, followed by some three thousand
more the next night. Several times in July Lièvin was heavily shelled,
chiefly with mustard gas. The men of the 92nd Field Artillery Brigade
then began to suffer rather badly from the effects of the gas, although
most of them remained at duty. In a heavy bombardment on the 29th of
July Major P. Belcher, commanding C/92 Battery, was mortally wounded.
[Illustration: LIÈVIN]
Meanwhile, on other parts of the front, battles of decisive importance
had been fought. Except during the first week of October the 20th
Division came hardly at all into any large operations after the
retreat in March, but by the end of August the battle area had spread
to within a few miles of the Divisional front, and even by the last
week in July raids were made in the Lens and Avion sectors with the
definite object of assisting operations in other parts of the line.
The rôle of the Allied armies up to the middle of July was to preserve
the front unbroken until fresh reinforcements and the increasing
strength of the American army should make it possible once more to
resume the offensive.
During this period the Germans continued to seek a decision by
delivering attacks in great strength on various parts of the southern
battle front. The first of these attacks was unexpectedly launched
on the 27th of May west of Rheims and across the Chemin des Dames,
involving not only the French but also several British divisions which
had been sent to that area to rest. The German forces penetrated to the
Marne, where after intense fighting they were held on the 6th of June.
Hardly had the offensive on this front been checked when on the 7th of
June the Germans attacked the French between Noyon and Montdidier, and
forced them to withdraw. On the 15th of July the Germans made a final
effort to break through, this time east and south-west of Rheims. After
making some progress at first this attack was soon held at all points,
and definitely failed.
Three days later, on the 18th of July, Marshal Foch delivered the
successful counter-attack between Château Thierry and Soissons which so
dramatically marked the turn of the tide. Thenceforward the history of
the war is an unbroken record of Allied successes.[19]
To assist the operations in the south by obtaining identifications and
killing as many of the enemy as possible, raids were carried out on the
night of the 22nd-23rd of July by a company of the 11th K.R.R.C. in the
Avion sector, and by all three battalions of the 61st Brigade opposite
Lens, one company of the 12th King’s on the right, two platoons of the
7th D.C.L.I. in the centre, and one platoon of the 7th Somerset L.I. on
the left.
The three raids of the 61st Brigade began at 11.30 P.M. under
a creeping barrage; parties of the 84th and 96th Field Companies R.E.,
carrying mobile charges, went forward with the infantry to blow up the
enemy’s dug-outs. The 11th K.R.R.C. with a party of the 83rd Field
Company R.E., started at 12.30 A.M., behind a smoke-screen put
up to simulate a gas cloud, and a barrage in rear of the objective.
The enemy’s trenches opposite the Lens sector were in many places
extremely difficult to raid. The ground between the lines was very much
cut up by shell-holes and was a mass of débris. East of the Lens--Arras
road not only did the ruined houses constitute a formidable obstacle in
themselves, but the gaps between the ruins and the spaces inside the
houses were filled with barbed wire. The enemy had a number of forward
machine guns in strong concrete emplacements which were difficult to
silence. During the operation a medium trench mortar bomb was seen to
drop directly on to one of these emplacements without apparently making
any impression on the firing of the gun. The fact that on the whole
the enemy’s trench mortars and machine guns gave comparatively little
trouble says a great deal for the excellent way in which our artillery
and trench mortar barrages were carried out.
The chief defensive work on the front to be raided by the 12th King’s
was known as the Fosse St Louis, just north-west of the Green Crassier.
The company of this battalion moved forward in four parties, without
coming under any machine-gun fire until four minutes after zero, when
the enemy opened fire from the direction of the Fosse and the Crassier.
Two platoons successfully worked through the houses north of the Fosse,
thoroughly bombing the cellars on their way. Their return was delayed
by a trench mortar barrage, which the enemy put down on the Lens--Arras
road, but they reached their own lines again at 12.15 A.M.
The other two platoons attacked the northern and southern flanks of
the Fosse. On the north the party was bombed from one of the houses
and came under heavy machine-gun fire at point-blank range. On the
south, 2nd Lieut. Hughes led his platoon most gallantly, and reached
the southern face of the Fosse, where he fell riddled with bullets.
Throughout the operation all ranks behaved with great courage. The
losses in this battalion were ten, including one man who was seen after
the party returned but was afterwards reported to be missing. It is
probable that he fell during one of the attempts that were made to
recover the body of 2nd Lieut. Hughes.
In the centre the 7th D.C.L.I. found great difficulty in advancing
through the mass of ruins and wire, especially east of the Lens--Arras
road. Only the two officers--2nd Lieut. Howe and 2nd Lieut. Wedge--and
six men finally succeeded in forcing a way through the houses. This
party pressed forward to an enemy machine-gun post consisting of four
men. In the fight that ensued three of the enemy were killed, and
the fourth was wounded and taken prisoner. The machine gun also was
captured, and bombs were thrown into a dug-out which could not be blown
up as the R.E. party had not been able to get through. By this time
the half-hour allotted to the raid had expired, so the party turned
back, being guided by the German prisoner through a gap in the wire on
the Lens--Arras road. A nest of machine guns fired a little during the
raid, but for the most part this fire was kept down by our artillery
and trench mortars.
The total casualties in the D.C.L.I. were ten men wounded. Four or
five of the enemy were actually killed, and judging from the number
of ambulances seen from our observation post on the following day our
artillery and trench mortars must have inflicted considerable loss.
The report on this raid states: “Too much cannot be said for the
splendid co-operation of the artillery, trench mortars, and M.G.C.,
which meant such a lot towards the success of the venture.”
There is no doubt that the raid was a complete surprise. The enemy’s
first S.O.S. did not go up until seven minutes after zero.
The platoon of the 7th Somerset L.I. on the left advanced in two
parties. These succeeded in penetrating the enemy’s defences, but
they were unable to secure an identification. Eventually the parties
returned with only three casualties.
The raid of the 11th K.R.R.C., timed to begin at 12.30 A.M.,
was carried out by “C” Company with one N.C.O. and six men of the 83rd
Field Company R.E. The objective was a trench between the north-east
corner of Avion and the Bull Ring.
It was intended that the sappers should advance first under the smoke
cloud with torpedoes and blow two gaps in the wire. As soon as the
torpedoes went off the infantry parties were to rush the gaps and do
what damage they could. Fifteen minutes after zero, the artillery was
to fire on certain selected targets. Unfortunately the wind dropped and
the smoke cloud, which was supposed to come over five minutes before
zero, never reached the objective. At zero, therefore, the sappers
had to crawl forward without it and place the torpedoes. Five minutes
later one torpedo was in position. The other could not be placed, as
an enemy patrol suddenly appeared on the opposite side of the wire.
Accordingly the one torpedo was fired fifteen minutes after zero,
whereupon the infantry dashed through the gap and successfully entered
the trench. No identification could be secured, as the enemy offered
little resistance, and after firing a few shots and throwing some bombs
ran back to the main line. The party stayed twenty-five minutes in
the German line and brought back a machine gun complete with all its
equipment. The casualties were six men wounded.
Further raids took place in both sectors on the night of the 30th/31st,
when the 7th Somerset L.I. entered the enemy’s posts on the western
edge of Lens and brought back a prisoner. Lieut. B. W. Hall, 12th R.B.,
received the M.C. for his prompt and fearless action on the night of
the 1st/2nd of August. He was out with a patrol which was bombed by
the enemy. Several unexploded bombs fell close to Lieut. Hall, who
immediately picked them up and threw them back at the enemy, so saving
many lives.
During this time Lieut.-Colonel Haskard, G.S.O.I., was succeeded by
Lieut.-Colonel M. O. Clarke, D.S.O.
The following week was very quiet, but on the night of the 9th/10th of
August a very successful little raid was undertaken on the front of the
59th Brigade, which at that time held the Lens sector. The raid was
carried out by No. 7 Platoon, “B” Company, of the 11th R.B., under
Lieut. Stonham, M.C. It was a difficult place to raid, as a heavily
wired railway embankment had to be crossed.
A “box” barrage was put down two hours before the raid took place to
simulate a raid, and a bugle was blown from the front trenches a few
minutes after the artillery fire had ceased, to make the Germans think
that the raiding party was being withdrawn. During the real attack only
smoke shells were used. Within half an hour two prisoners, both wearing
iron crosses, had been taken, the enemy’s dug-outs had been blown up by
two sappers, and the whole party had returned without a scratch.
By this time the British offensive had opened with an attack east of
Amiens, launched in the early morning of the 8th of August. Success was
rapid and complete. In five days the enemy was driven back to his old
Somme defences of 1916, with the loss of nearly 22,000 prisoners and
over 400 guns.
This was followed by a larger operation on the whole Somme front. The
main attack was delivered on the 23rd of August on a front of 33 miles
from our junction with the French near Chaulnes to Mercatel, four miles
south-east of Arras. Again our troops met with immediate success.
By the 1st of September they had driven the Germans with very heavy
loss across the old Somme battlefield to the line Peronne--east of
Bapaume--Bullecourt.
The battle front extended northwards on the 26th of August, when the
right of the First Army attacked the German positions astride the
Scarpe, east of Arras. By the 27th these troops had approached to
within assaulting distance of the strong trench system which ran from
the Hindenburg Line at Quéant to Drocourt, five miles south-east of
Lens. Once this line was broken the whole of the enemy’s organised
positions on a wide front southwards would be turned.
On the northern front the enemy began to withdraw from the Lys salient
on the 18th of August, closely pressed by our troops. By the 6th of
September he had fallen back to a line just west of Armentières.[20]
The 20th Divisional front meanwhile had been considerably extended. On
the 14th of August the 60th Brigade, which had then just moved into
reserve, came up into the line again, taking over the Méricourt sector
on the right from the 8th Division. This front was covered by the 242nd
(Army) Field Artillery Brigade. The 59th Brigade was then in the centre
holding the Avion sector, with the 61st in the Lens sector on the left.
Five days later the 24th Division on the left took over one battalion
front from the 61st Brigade, and the brigade boundaries were readjusted.
Owing to the operations east and south of Arras the Division
side-slipped to the right on the 27th, taking over from the 8th
Division the Acheville sector. The Lens sector on the left then passed
to the 24th Division.
The result of these changes was to bring the Divisional left flank
down to the Souchez river, thus giving up about 2000 yards of the old
line, and to extend the right to a point over 4000 yards south of the
original boundary. By the evening of the 28th, when the necessary
re-distribution of troops had been made, the 61st Brigade held the
Acheville sector, the 60th the Méricourt sector, and the 59th the Avion
sector on the left.
The 59th Brigade was then under the command of Brig.-General H. D.
O. Ward, C.B., C.M.G., during the temporary absence of Brig.-General
Baylay. At the same time the 92nd Field Artillery Brigade moved from
the Lens to the Acheville sector to cover the 61st Infantry Brigade.
The 242nd (Army) Field Artillery Brigade and the 91st Field Artillery
Brigade remained, covering the 60th and 59th Infantry Brigades
respectively.
Early in September the enemy began to show greater activity. Our
patrols were constantly out, and frequently came into contact with
those of the enemy, but for nearly a month longer the Germans held
on to most of their positions opposite the Division, although they
withdrew in the Lens sector on the 1st, when the 24th Division occupied
the Green Crassier.
As patrols had reported that the enemy was evacuating his forward
positions, the 2nd Scottish Rifles sent out a daylight patrol of two
men, under Lieut. A. S. Martin, on the 1st of September. Having reached
the railway embankment, Lieut. Martin crept round by a ruined bridge
and found a German N.C.O. sitting in a dug-out. He brought up his two
men, and as the German tried to fight, he shot him. Identification was
obtained, and the patrol returned without drawing fire. Lieut. Martin
was awarded the M.C.
On the 2nd of September the Drocourt--Quéant line south-east of Arras
was broken, and the enemy was thrown into precipitate retreat on the
whole front south of it. By the 8th he had fallen back to the defences
of the Hindenburg Line.
Battalions of the 20th Division attempted to establish posts on
the railway embankment on the 1st and 2nd of September, but on the
1st the enemy was too alert, and on the 2nd, although the posts
were temporarily established, hostile shelling and a trench mortar
bombardment made their positions untenable.
During the first week of September the enemy shelled the Divisional
area very heavily with gas. On the night of the 4th/5th 4000 shells are
estimated to have fallen on the front of the 12th K.R.R.C., at that
time the right battalion of the 60th Brigade. Our artillery fired in
retaliation the following day, but the enemy put down a very heavy gas
bombardment in the Avion sector that night, and on the 7th shelled the
area around La Coulotte, again with gas.
On our side constant activity was maintained; gas was successfully
discharged several times during the month, and fighting patrols
continued to raid the German lines.
A very useful raid was carried out near Méricourt on the 20th by two
platoons of the 12th K.R.R.C. under 2nd Lieut. C. E. Austin and 2nd
Lieut. F. R. Cleeves. One section of the Light Trench Mortar Battery
carried Stokes bombs to destroy the dug-outs, and two sappers carried a
torpedo to blow a gap in the enemy’s wire.
At zero, 2.30 A.M., “F” Special Company R.E. discharged smoke with
unqualified success, and the machine-gun barrage opened. The torpedo
was fired, and both platoons got through the wire without difficulty.
On the right no Germans were met, but on the left they offered a good
deal of opposition, and here Cpl. Arscott, Lance-Cpl. Taylor, and
Rfm. Young did very good work. Several Germans are believed to have
been killed, one was taken prisoner, and at 4 A.M. the whole party
returned to the line without loss. The Divisional Commander sent his
congratulations to the battalion for securing an identification which
was very badly needed.
On the 19th of September Lieut.-Colonel F. W. Gosset, C.M.G.,
D.S.O., arrived to take over temporarily the duties of G.S.O.I.
from Lieut.-Colonel Clarke. Later in the month he was succeeded by
Lieut.-Colonel A. W. Stericker, D.S.O.
By the end of September the development of the general situation began
directly to affect the position on the Divisional front. The operations
of the British Army formed part of a comprehensive scheme by which
four converging offensives were launched by the Allies on the whole
front from the Meuse to Flanders. On the 26th of September French and
American forces attacked on both sides of the Argonne; on the 27th
troops of the First and Third British Armies captured the outlying
German defences west of Cambrai, as a prelude to a British attack on
the whole Hindenburg Line; on the 28th the Second Army and the Belgians
attacked in Flanders, where the success gained forced the enemy to
retire on the 2nd of October on the whole front from Armentières south
to Lens. The British assault on the Hindenburg Line, begun on the 29th,
resulted in the capture of the whole of this formidable position from
St Quentin, which was taken by French troops operating on our right,
to Cambrai. By the 5th of October the enemy’s defence in the last and
strongest of his prepared positions had been shattered, and the way was
opened to the vital railway centre at Maubeuge.[21]
At the time when those battles opened the enemy still held his line
opposite the 20th Division, and during the whole of this period, up
to the 6th of October, although pressed by fighting patrols from each
brigade, he gave up comparatively little ground except immediately
south of Lens.
On the night of the 26th/27th of September the 7th D.C.L.I., the right
battalion of the 61st Brigade, attacked the enemy’s trenches south-west
of Acheville in conjunction with the 8th Division on the right. At the
same time the 59th and 60th Brigades assisted with trench mortar and
machine-gun fire, and gas was projected in the Avion sector.
The front attacked by the 7th D.C.L.I. extended for some 1200 yards
and contained seven posts strongly held by light machine guns and
trench mortars, effectively wired in. For over ten days patrols of this
battalion had shown considerable enterprise and boldness in making
constant reconnaissances of the objective, gaining definite knowledge
of the obstacles to be encountered, and of the enemy’s dispositions.
The information obtained was passed on to all ranks, so that every man
knew what to do.
The night was dark and overcast, and for some time heavy rain fell,
making movement more difficult but helping to conceal the assembly.
In order to prevent enemy patrols from obtaining information of the
preparations, and also to make the night’s proceedings appear normal, a
platoon of “D” Company patrolled the front until shortly before zero.
The assaulting troops, “A” Company, under Captain Waters, and “B”
Company, under 2nd Lieut. Lobb, assembled along a road known as
Winnipeg Road, which ran parallel to the objective and about 300 yards
west of it. At midnight the Divisional Artillery, with some other
batteries attached for the purpose, opened a particularly well-timed
and effective barrage, and continued to fire for three-quarters of an
hour. The 61st L.T.M.B. fired about 1500 rounds with good effect during
the operations, and a skilfully arranged and well-executed programme
was carried out by the 20th Battalion M.G.C. The co-operation of the
artillery, trench mortars and machine guns in this operation was
splendid.
Close under the barrage--in places within thirty yards of it--the
infantry advanced, “A” Company on the right, “B” Company on the left.
“A” Company, in close touch with the assaulting troops of the 8th
Division, attacked the enemy in front. One platoon of “B” Company
advanced on the left of “A.”
The enemy was undoubtedly surprised by the rapidity with which these
troops reached the line, and left his trench, making a stand on the far
side. The fight was brief. Under very effective fire from rifles, Lewis
guns and rifle grenades, many of the enemy fell. Posts were quickly
established in the captured trench and consolidation was begun at once.
The three remaining platoons of “B” Company turned the trench from the
north, and by this manœuvre effectively took the garrison by surprise.
After a short fight at close quarters all opposition was overcome, and
leaving many dead in the trench and several prisoners and a machine gun
in our hands, the rest of the enemy retreated under rifle and Lewis gun
fire.
As soon as the objective had been captured, “C” Company sent up trench
parties, accompanied by R.E. These parties removed the enemy’s blocks
in the communication trenches leading into the captured line, and with
the material which they carried forward established blocks in the
communication trenches leading from the new line towards the enemy.
“D” Company was in support of the attack, but was not needed, and when
the protective barrage ended, three platoons of this company moved up
to act as battle patrols, carrying with them R.E. material and tools,
which they dropped in the new line as they passed through.
In this very successful operation “A” and “B” Companies, with slight
loss to themselves, captured a machine gun and 12 prisoners, thereby
gaining valuable identifications, and inflicted many casualties on
the enemy. The Corps, Divisional and Brigade Commanders sent their
congratulations.
The Corps Commander’s letter ran as follows:
“MY DEAR CAREY,--Please express to the Brigade and
Battalion concerned my appreciation of the excellent work
done by your Division during the recent operations, which, in
conjunction with the 8th Division, have led to the capture of
Arleux and the trenches to the north of it on the important Bois
Bernard spur. They were well conceived, carefully prepared, and
boldly and gallantly executed.
“I congratulate each one and all. The operation reflects credit
not only on the individuals concerned but on the Division as a
whole.
“All good luck to you and to your fine Division.--Yours
sincerely,
“AYLMER HUNTER-WESTON.”
On the following night the enemy attempted to regain his lost line.
A strong reconnoitring patrol was driven off at 9.15 P.M.
At 1.15 A.M., under cover of a heavy bombardment, the enemy
delivered two attacks, one frontal and one on the left flank, each of
an estimated strength of two companies. On the front, parties of the
enemy worked their way up the communication trenches and tried to force
the posts of the D.C.L.I. by rifle fire and bombing, while the main
attack came across the open. Owing to the splendid effect of the Lewis
gun and rifle fire of this battalion none of the enemy reached the
trenches. On the left the attack was directed against the exposed flank
of the D.C.L.I., but here also the enemy was driven back by Lewis gun
and rifle fire.
The S.O.S. signal was fired by the right company when the attack began,
and the effective barrage, which was put down very promptly, especially
by the Machine Gun Battalion, must have caused the enemy great loss.
In the first week of October all three brigades were able to advance,
at least as far as the enemy’s front line, before the Division was
relieved between the 5th and 7th of the month. Only on the left,
however, could the advance be pushed to any great depth, for south of
Avion the enemy defended with determination the only part of his line
from which he had not yet withdrawn.
Before these operations were carried out the Divisional line was
extended still further to the right, where the Willerval sector was
taken over from the 8th Division.
In anticipation of the enemy’s withdrawal, fighting patrols went out by
day and night to obtain certain information of his dispositions. As a
rule the enemy withdrew from his forward positions on the approach of
our patrols, relying on machine guns to defend his line.
On the 2nd, several explosions and fires were noticed behind the German
lines, and our aeroplanes flew over Sallaumines and Méricourt without
drawing any fire. On the morning of the 3rd, the 59th Brigade found
the enemy’s positions in the Avion sector unoccupied, and immediately
advanced. At 3.30 P.M. Divisional Headquarters sent out the
order for an advance by battle patrols on the whole front to be begun
at 5.30. Schemes had been prepared for some time, so that all units
moved on receipt of the code word “Berlin.”
[Illustration: AVION SECTOR
The Green Crassier and Flooded Area]
At this time the dispositions were as follows. The 61st Brigade on
the right held the line opposite the German positions between Fresnoy
and Acheville, the 60th Brigade in the centre faced the trenches
between Acheville and Méricourt, and the 59th Brigade on the left
carried on the line to the Souchez river. The front line was held from
right to left by the 7th D.C.L.I., the 12th King’s, the 12th K.R.R.C.,
the 6th K.S.L.I., the 2nd Scottish Rifles, and the 11th K.R.R.C. In
reserve were the 7th Somerset L.I., the 12th R.B., and the 11th R.B.
The 8th Division was on the right of the 20th and the 58th on the left.
The operations began on the left, where on the morning of the 3rd the
enemy was found to have withdrawn. “A” and “B” Companies of the 11th
K.R.R.C. advanced at 9 A.M. An hour later, although fired on
by snipers and isolated machine guns, these two companies established
an outpost line north of the Bull Ring and a thousand yards in front
of their former line. On the following day “D” Company moved forward
through “A” and “B,” and occupied the Sallaumines Ridge. Patrols
penetrated as far as Noyelles, 2500 yards east of Lens, but coming
under heavy shell-fire they were forced to withdraw. The line gained on
this day was held until the 6th, when the battalion was relieved.
On the right of the 11th K.R.R.C., “C” Company of the 2nd Scottish
Rifles occupied the near embankment of the Bull Ring on the morning of
the 3rd, while patrols of “D” Company passed through. These patrols
came under heavy machine-gun fire from the south, but they rapidly
gained the far side of the Bull Ring and the village of Sallaumines.
The only point at which they were held up was on the right, where the
enemy opened very heavy fire from machine guns in Méricourt and at the
south-east end of the Bull Ring.
To support the advance of these two battalions, the batteries of the
91st Field Artillery Brigade moved forward on the 3rd to positions
along the Lens--Arras road.
In order to improve the unsatisfactory position on the right flank of
“D” Company, 2nd Scottish Rifles, it was decided on the 4th to attack
a triangle of railway lines at the south-east end of the Bull Ring and
to clear out the machine guns there which had delayed the advance.
This operation was most successfully carried out by “B” Company of
the 2nd Scottish Rifles, under Capt. D. F. Campbell, with artillery
co-operation. “B” Company took the Germans by surprise, gained the
objective and a trench on the north side of Méricourt, and captured
two prisoners, a machine gun, four carrier pigeons and a considerable
quantity of arms and equipment. Touch was gained with “D” Company on
the left, and later with the 6th K.S.L.I. west of Méricourt. At this
time, although the 2nd Scottish Rifles were on the north of Méricourt,
the village was still in the hands of the enemy.
Accordingly, on the 6th an attempt to clear Méricourt was made. The
artillery shelled the village at dawn. It was arranged that as soon as
the shelling ceased strong patrols of the 2nd Scottish Rifles should be
pushed forward. A patrol of “C” Company penetrated the village from the
west, but was heavily fired on by machine guns and snipers. A patrol
of “B” Company, under 2nd Lieut. W. R. Jack, moved along the northern
outskirts to the north-east corner and then suddenly came under fire
from three directions. The position of this patrol was very difficult,
as the only line of retreat crossed some 200 yards of open ground swept
by rifle and machine-gun fire. When the other patrols had been driven
back it became essential that 2nd Lieut. Jack should be informed of the
situation and that his patrol should be withdrawn.
Five runners attempted to deliver this important message, but they were
all killed or wounded.
It was then that Pte. J. Towers, 2nd Scottish Rifles, won the V.C. Well
aware of the fate of the previous runners, he at once volunteered to
make a sixth attempt. As soon as he showed himself heavy machine-gun
fire was opened on him, but running from cover to cover he went
straight through and eventually delivered the message. He remained with
2nd Lieut. Jack until dusk, when he guided the patrol back to the line.
He showed the greatest courage and determination and an utter disregard
for his personal safety, and set a magnificent example to his comrades.
Second-Lieut. Jack was awarded the M.C., Private W. McGinty received a
bar to his M.M., and Pte. J. Allan and Lance-Cpl. S. Smith the M.M. for
their gallant conduct during these operations. That night the battalion
was relieved.
Fighting patrols of the 60th Brigade had to overcome determined
opposition before they could gain a footing in the enemy’s line between
Acheville and Méricourt.
Two platoons of “A” Company of the 6th K.S.L.I. moved forward against
the German line south of Méricourt on the 3rd of October. They came
under heavy fire while crossing “No Man’s Land,” and were unable to get
further than the German front line before dark. There they remained,
more or less scattered, in isolated positions during the night.
On the morning of the 4th the company commander took over his two
remaining platoons, accompanied by a section of the Light Trench Mortar
Battery, and having lost a certain number of men from machine-gun fire,
joined the first two platoons. Posts were established in the captured
front line trench and repeated efforts were made throughout the day
to gain the support trench some four hundred yards further on. The
enemy, however, showed great activity with machine guns and bombs, and
although parties of the K.S.L.I. pushed forward along the communication
trenches no posts could be established in the support trench. No. 4
platoon met strong opposition from an enemy bombing post. In the course
of the fighting one of the enemy was shot, and later Sgt. Naylor, at
great personal risk, went over and secured the identification. The
enemy attempted a counter attack and was held back only with great
difficulty, as by then the supply of bombs had run out. Efforts to
get forward were made until darkness came on and all trench mortar
ammunition had been spent.
On the morning of the 5th a platoon was sent to work down the front
line, while two platoons of “C” Company reinforced “A” Company. Both
met considerable opposition. The Light Trench Mortar Section having
received more ammunition, knocked out an enemy machine gun, and at
least two Germans were shot as they ran away from the position.
Excellent work was done throughout the operations by this trench mortar
section, whose shooting was very accurate. A platoon of “B” Company was
also sent up to secure the left flank. The enemy then opened a very
heavy bombardment on our position and resisted strongly everywhere. One
platoon of “C” Company lost nearly every man. The enemy again attempted
a counter attack, but was unsuccessful.
Eventually a patrol of the 6th K.S.L.I. succeeded in entering the
support trench and pushing up northwards, gaining touch with the
Scottish Rifles near Méricourt.
The positions gained were held until the night of the 5th/6th, when the
battalion was relieved.
The 12th K.R.R.C. on the 3rd sent forward a platoon of “A” Company,
under 2nd Lieut. J. C. Mackenzie, and a platoon of “B” Company,
under 2nd Lieut. J. S. Langworth. In spite of strong resistance
the platoon of “A” Company established a post in the enemy’s front
line. Second-Lieut. Langworth was wounded, and after heavy fighting
his platoon was surrounded and only two men got back. Second-Lieut.
Mackenzie, although hard pressed, held on to his position throughout
the following day, and on the 5th “D” Company established two more
posts in the German line south of Acheville. Heavy machine-gun fire
prevented any further advance.
On the front of the 61st Brigade, on the 3rd, parties of the 12th
King’s bombed their way up several communication trenches but met with
strong opposition, and the battalion made no progress that day. On
the right the 7th D.C.L.I. advanced on a two company front, with “D”
Company, under Lieut. Chegwin, on the right, “B” Company, under Capt.
Davis, on the left. Both made good progress and occupied the German
front line between Fresnoy and Acheville, where they captured twelve
prisoners and a machine gun, and a number of documents, aeroplane
photographs and maps, which gave very valuable information. The
D.C.L.I. then found themselves in advance of both the units on their
flanks, as the troops on their immediate right had also been unable to
gain their objective.
On the following day the 12th King’s, attacking behind an artillery
barrage, entered the German trenches, thus advancing their line 500
yards. On the front of the D.C.L.I. “D” Company was relieved by “A”
Company, under Lieut. Parkes. Well supported by artillery, by machine
guns and by the 61st Light Trench Mortar Battery, the leading companies
gained Fresnoy Wood; they pushed from there to the village, but being
unsupported on the flanks withdrew to the wood again.
On the 5th the line of both battalions was established in the German
trench system between Fresnoy and Acheville. The King’s established
themselves in the trenches north of Fresnoy, and in the evening pushed
two platoons of the right company forward to the west end of Fresnoy
Park. Patrols which entered the park met a good deal of opposition,
entirely from machine guns. During the day touch was gained with the
11th K.R.R.C. on the left, and the battalion was relieved on the night
of the 6/7th.
A patrol of the 7th D.C.L.I., under 2nd Lieut. Spargo, located an
enemy trench mortar on the morning of the 5th. A Stokes gun of the
61st L.T.M.B. opened fire on it, scattered the team and knocked out
the trench mortar, which was then captured by the patrol. Soon after
mid-day the enemy, approaching under cover of Fresnoy Wood, launched
a strong counter attack on “B” Company of the D.C.L.I. The company
suffered a certain number of casualties, but successfully repulsed
the attack. Most useful work was done throughout the operations by
the second in command, Capt. J. W. Rawle, who remained with the front
companies, helping to organise the defence of the captured trenches,
and keeping battalion headquarters informed of the situation.
On the night of the 5/6th the 7th D.C.L.I. were relieved by the 7th
Somerset L.I., who on the following day pushed forward battle patrols
of “B” and “D” Companies. These patrols were engaged all day with the
enemy rearguards, and the line of the battalion had been advanced to
400 yards in front of Fresnoy when the battalion was relieved that
night.
By the 8th the relief of the 20th Division by the 12th Division was
complete.