CHAPTER IX

RUITZ--LILLE--FROYENNES

On the evening of October 9th orders were received from Brigade that the Division was to "pull out of the line" the next day for a rest. This had been anticipated by all ranks, and the wildest speculations had been rife. "Three weeks at Calais," "A fortnight in the South of France," and other even more ridiculous prophecies had been uttered, each, of course, based on "inside information." After all, when the war really seemed to be nearing its end, any rumours, whether of a "rest" or of a fallen Monarchy, met with ready acceptance.

At 10.30 a.m. on October 10th we commenced our move, so as to strike the Brigade starting-point at Anneux Chapel at 11.15 a.m. Considerable difficulty was experienced in collecting the companies, owing to the barrier produced by the canal. The battalion, however, eventually was joined together, and we tramped along the Bapaume--Cambrai road in high spirits, albeit the recent battle was still in evidence by reason of the dead Germans and slain horses seen lying about.

As we reached Fontaine we met a Scottish Division marching up, and throughout its length the road was very congested. Our Divisional Commander watched us pass, and we picked up our rear headquarters by Bourlon Wood _en route_. As we marched along the switchback road H.R.H. the Prince of Wales and General Byng passed us, motoring up to Cambrai.

The battle area, now that the struggle had gone ahead, looked forlorn and desolate; and we were not sorry when, about two o'clock, we reached the bare hillside at Boursies, where we were to spend the night. Bivouacs were soon constructed, and though it threatened to rain, and in fact did so at intervals, our spirits were in no way damped.

Soon after our arrival we were conscious of a terrific detonation--it would be untrue to say we "heard" it--and, looking back towards Cambrai, we saw a tall pillar of smoke, with a large mushroom top, rising from the town. We wondered whether our Army Commander and the Prince of Wales had left the town in time to avoid the explosion. The next day Brigadier-General Meynell, C.M.G., arrived to take over command of our Brigade, and Colonel Gathorne-Hardy returned to our Headquarters once more. The same day a proportion of our transport moved off to Ruitz, near Bethune, our ultimate destination.

The morning of October 12th proved wet and chilly. As the balance of the transport had to entrain at 7.30 a.m. at Fremicourt, early breakfasts and earlier rising were essential; and by 7 a.m. we found ourselves standing about with nothing to do and nowhere to sit and two hours to pass before we could move. However, in due course the time arrived, and the battalion moved off, the new Brigadier taking the salute.

It took us two and a quarter hours to reach Slag Heap Station, Hermies, and when we did arrive there was no apparent prospect of a train. We sat down accordingly in a field and had some food, and about 12.30 p.m. a train meandered into the station and we set off. There seemed to be more than the usual doubt as to where and when we should arrive, but by the time we had passed Bapaume, Arras, and St. Pol we had a fair inkling that the journey would not be a very short one. Eventually at 4.30 a.m. on October 14th we arrived at Fouquereuil, where we were told to get out. A tiring march of two and a half hours on wet and slippery roads, and with empty stomachs, brought us at last to the little mining town of Ruitz. "A," "C," and "D" Companies were in billets in the village, while Headquarters and "B" Company had to climb a precipitous hill to a small hutted camp in a wood. This spot had been a Corps Headquarters, and consequently had an unusually pleasant aspect. The rest of that day was spent mainly in sleep; the next day mainly in washing.

Our idea of a long "rest" had become suddenly dispelled by the news that in a day or two at the latest we were to go into the line somewhere north of Bethune. To be frank, no one was particularly elated by this intelligence. If we were to be in the line, we preferred the clear, open country of the Cambrai area. It was impossible to be very enthusiastic at the prospect of floundering once again through mud and water in the dismal country of Northern France, with which we were already only too familiar and had no wish to renew our acquaintance. A conference for Commanding Officers at Barlin the next day revealed our new destination as Fromelles, and on the morning of October 15th the Quartermaster and other details proceeded thither at an early hour.

The battalion followed in busses at 6.45 a.m., and the transport set off at 10 a.m. Our route lay through the outskirts of Bethune and Locon--the former badly damaged, the latter, once a part of Corps Headquarters, the most completely demolished place it is possible to imagine. The mass of shell-holes in every direction testified to the severity of the shelling to which the country had been subjected during the recent push and counter-push.

At 11.30 a.m. the column halted at Pont du Hem; the men debussed and the vehicles drove off. Hardly had they gone when the Corps Commander, General Haking, drove up in a car and informed us that we were now to make for Laventie. This was some way off, and meanwhile our Quartermaster and billeting party were at Fromelles with the "cookers," while the transport were somewhere on the road between there and Ruitz. Needless to say, our bicycles were with the transport--an error never committed again--and two luckless runners had to be dispatched on foot with maps and hosts of directions to collect our details. We in the meantime set off for Laventie, where we arrived at 12.15. Few houses, if any, we found had any roofs worth speaking of; billeting, therefore, was not easy. The Irish and 2/7th K.L.R. were each given streets, and ourselves another; and into the forlorn and draughty houses we settled as best we could, waiting hungrily for our dinners, while the rain steadily descended. At 4.15 p.m., when hope had nearly been abandoned, the "cookers" were sighted, and the prospect of a hot meal soon restored us to our normal spirits.

After a very damp night--the orderly-room staff, who were installed in an old caravan, were the only people who kept really dry--we set off soon after 9 a.m. to march to Le Maisnil. The road wound along through the usual scenery of these parts, the beauty of which was by no means enhanced by the fact that our route lay through the old British and German trenches and across No Man's Land. As we climbed the hill which led to our destination, the thoroughness of the enemy was made very apparent by the remains of great pill-boxes, which he had blown to pieces in a most efficient fashion before his departure.

Our Headquarters were some old wooden huts, standing adjacent to what must have been a magnificent pill-box, to judge by the huge masses of concrete that lay about, some of these hurled to a considerable distance from the original site. The companies were a few hundred yards away in some old trenches, which possessed one pill-box still intact. As we moved in, the Munsters moved out.

At 2 p.m. the Commanding Officer, Adjutant, and Company Commanders rode up to the Headquarters of the Brigade in the line at Le Chateau de la Flandre, near Radinghem. After a short discussion the party proceeded on foot, accompanied by the Major-General commanding 47th Division, the Brigadier, and an Intelligence Officer. The route lay across open fields to the railway line by Erquinghem le Sec Railway Station, till recently the front line, and thence up a road to a small group of houses at a place prophetically called (from the war of 1870) Le Fin de la Guerre. Here a conference took place in a somewhat crowded cellar, the Headquarters of the 22nd Londons, while the enemy shelled the place with gas. It was arranged that we should arrive the next day, so as to begin the advance from the present front line at 9.30 a.m., those on the spot to supply us with the local position by means of fighting patrols to be sent out just before dawn.

We then retraced our steps to the Chateau, but did not delay there, as the enemy was using 5·9's freely, one of which shortly afterwards came within an ace of annihilating the Commanding Officer and Adjutant, and their groom.

On our return the arrangements for the morrow were completed. "C" and "D" Companies were to lead the advance, with "A" in support and "B" in reserve. Captain Eccles rejoined this day and took over "B" Company from Captain Kissan, who now assumed the duties of Intelligence Officer. This post had been vacant since Lieutenant Hazell had been sent to hospital with dysentery during the last days of the Battle of Cambrai, though his place had been temporarily filled by Lieutenant Lever.

At 7.30 a.m. on October 17th the battalion began to move off by platoons at 100-yard intervals. The 22nd Londons had nothing of particular interest to tell us on our arrival, except that all was quiet. The 47th Division were expecting to go to Italy, and the thought of that fair country loomed large on their horizon.

At 10.45 a.m. the Commanding Officer, with the Brigade Major, visited the front line, where they found that the companies had successfully grasped the situation, and were in touch on their flanks. Scouts had been sent forward to ascertain how things were going in front. Nothing could be seen of the Germans, so the line proceeded cautiously forward in the direction of Lille. On went the scouts, and on went the battalion. It was a queer, uncanny sensation, and not a few expected a sudden crash of shells or the rattle of machine guns. Soon, however, the pace became so fast that, from extended order, the leading companies formed into lines of sections in column, while the support and reserve companies assumed ordinary column of fours. Battalion Headquarters kept incessantly moving, and had hardly time to report their new location before they were on the move again. All this while the Commanding Officer was marching ahead, steering the battalion with whistle and arm signals after the most approved form of open order drill, as laid down in "Infantry Training." La Petite Coutre was passed, and on the flanks could be seen Fort Englos and Premesques, once the strongholds of German heavy artillery in the old Houplines days. Le Marais, just short of Lille, was reached without incident, though the huge craters in the roads showed that the enemy were determined to make our advance as difficult as possible. Mines were still going up, and the efforts of some sappers to remove a "booby trap" from a house resulted in an explosion which only missed Battalion Headquarters by a few minutes.

Shortly before midday the battalion found itself marching along the tram lines in the suburbs of Lille. As the men tramped down the empty road to Pont de Canteleu, two children appeared, timid and round-eyed. "Where is everybody?" asked the Commanding Officer, in his best French. Apparently, our noble opponents had spread it abroad that we should kill everyone we saw, and all had been warned to remain in their cellars. The children retired, and shortly after one or two women and one or two old men appeared. Finding us friendly, their relations were summoned in shrill tones, and before long the street was thronged with people. Never was such a scene! Everyone cheered and sang, laughed and wept. Flags of the Allies, sold to the French by the Germans ere their departure, soon adorned every window. "Vivent les Anglais!" went up from hundreds of throats. Everyone embraced everyone else; officers and men alike were kissed and kissed again by the enthusiastic people; while horses and equipment were soon half smothered in flags and flowers. Progress became very difficult, so dense was the crowd and so anxious to express their joy and gratitude. Of all the sights of the war there were few, if any, half so moving as the picture of this almost miraculous awakening of these unhappy folk from their long and cruel nightmare. How they laughed and cried! With what intense feeling they sang "The Marseillaise"! Not a man was there who did not feel that here at last was a reward worth all the misery and dangers of our campaigning.

At last we reached the Pont de Canteleu, the entrance to the famous City of Lille. The bridge, like all other bridges, was, of course, in ruins; but there was sufficient of it left standing for civilians to cross one at a time. Guards were posted at all these bridges, and no one crossed into the town, the Corps Commander's orders being very strict on this point. About 5 p.m. the 172nd Brigade, which had been detailed to take charge of Lille, began to arrive, and the men were passed over one at a time. As soon as this long performance was completed our piquets were withdrawn. Billets were now selected for the battalion in the vicinity of the bridgehead, and very good they were. Battalion Headquarters secured a magnificent chateau, where everything looked so suspiciously arranged for our comfort that, in spite of the inspection carried out by the special R.Es., we were quite prepared to discover some large-sized "booby trap." An old French gentleman dug up from the garden two bottles of excellent claret and one of old brandy, which he gave to us, and it need hardly be said that the present was most acceptable.

At 6.30 p.m. the transport and rear headquarters arrived, and Lieutenant Drewsen was dispatched to reconnoitre the bridges to the north. He returned with a full description of the destructive thoroughness of the enemy. About three bridges out of some fourteen could be crossed by one man at a time with difficulty; the rest were beyond hope.

At 7.15 a.m. the next morning orders were issued for the Brigade to support the right and left flanks of the 74th and 59th Divisions, who had moved round Lille from the north and south respectively, and whose inner flanks were not yet in touch. It appeared that the enemy, who had evacuated Lille in the early hours of the previous morning, was retiring on the Scheldt, and fighting a rearguard action as he went.

The 8th K.L.R., who had followed behind the 2/7th K.L.R. and ourselves in our joint march on Lille, were now to lead the Brigade; and about 8 a.m. they crossed the remains of the Pont de Canteleu and set off round the southern outskirts of Lille. Fearing that it might be difficult to recross the moat on the other side of Lille, we moved down towards Haubourdin, where there was rumoured to be a pontoon bridge. The transport was to follow. The route, which lay through endless wrecked factories, derelict railway lines, and narrow back streets, was somewhat confusing, but in the end the bridge was found and the battalion passed over.

After crossing at Haubourdin we moved round towards Ronchin, viâ the Faubourg des Postes, receiving everywhere a most enthusiastic greeting from the populace. From the neighbourhood of Ronchin we proceeded to Hallemes, where we settled down on a German aerodrome for a good halt for dinner. The day was fine and warm, but the quantity of _pavé_ made marching hard work.

After a dinner halt we pushed on again towards Flers, there being a distressing lack of either orders or information. On another aerodrome just south of the village we found the Acting Commanding Officer of the Irish, also suffering from the same lack of instructions as ourselves. The Germans took this opportunity to send over some stray "whizz-bangs," but they did no damage, though as a precaution we spread out the battalion into artillery formation. A council of war was held, and the Irish decided to move on to Annappes, and we to billet in Flers, which after a march of thirteen miles we were quite ready to do. We noticed that the enemy shelled the former place quite stiffly as the Irish moved in, but the firing soon subsided. Runners were now sent to collect the transport, which in due course arrived, as also the Brigadier.

The inhabitants of Flers were most friendly, and regaled us with stories of their late masters; and one heard with some misgiving that the bed allotted to "Monsieur le Capitaine" had been occupied by a German as late as 7 a.m. that morning. However, a bed is a bed, when all is said and done, and not a thing to be sneezed at when you are campaigning.

It was here that we first discovered that the German soldiers had used all the beds for themselves and left the inhabitants to sleep on the floor. Our first efforts at billeting, therefore, became rather complicated till the difference in custom was cleared up. There is little doubt that by our novel methods of proceeding we distinctly lost caste among people accustomed to the haughty ways of the Prussian. The local inhabitants were inclined to think, as we did not order them about like dogs, that we were rather poor creatures.

The orders for the next day (October 19th) were a repetition of those of the day before, and at 9.15 a.m. we pushed on to Annappes. Here we found the Irish still in possession, and a joint Headquarters was formed, and the transport was instructed to follow us up. A thriving trade was done by the inhabitants by the sale of paper ten-centime pieces and other relics of the German occupation.

About midday the Irish got orders to move on, and ourselves to follow at 3 p.m., to Willems. The Irish were to throw out an outpost line in front of the place, and we were in support in billets in the town. It was dark and raining when we reached the town, and a brigade of the 74th Division had already got the best billets. The Mayor, we found, was the keeper of the principal public-house, and thither the Commanding Officer, Adjutant, Regimental-Sergeant-Major, and other French scholars repaired to try and arrange for billets. The estaminet was much like any other, and was already full of soldiers and civilians trying to swallow a pale yellow liquid, which had sufficient smell to suggest that it had been poured once (not oftener) into a recently emptied beer bottle. Into this mass of chattering people we pushed our way, and tried to get into conversation with the proprietor. As he appeared to find our French difficult to follow, and was busy serving out the so-called beer, our efforts were productive of very little result. Eventually the situation began to dawn on him, and the entirely fallacious services of a girl reputed to speak English were called into requisition. All the French in the place at once joined in, and not a few of the Tommies. The confusion and din soon became appalling, and all this time the battalion were seated, patiently or impatiently, by the roadside in the rain. The situation really seemed hopeless, but after quieting the friends and supporters of the Mayor, we eventually succeeded, and billets--which our Billeting Officer had wisely been searching for on his own account--were duly approved and the battalion moved in.

At 7.10 the following morning (October 20th) we received orders that the Brigade was to seize the bridgeheads over the Scheldt north of Froyennes--_i.e._, just above Tournai--the 8th K.L.R., as before, leading the way. We moved off at 9 a.m., and shortly after crossing the Belgian frontier received word from the 8th K.L.R. that they were completely held up in front of Blondain, where they had established their Headquarters. We were ordered not to advance any farther, and were billeted for the night in a little hamlet called Les Empires.

Blondain was shelled freely, and our own vicinity slightly, consequently our arrival in this part of the world was hardly welcome. The inhabitants had seen but little of the actualities of war, and, much as some of them disliked the Germans, they could hardly be expected to watch with much pleasure their houses being shattered. Some 18-pounders arrived about this time and settled down near our transport lines, which resulted in the latter being shelled out soon after.

For the next day (October 21st) we received orders that we were to pass through the 8th K.L.R. at 8.30 a.m., seize the bridgeheads, and, passing the Scheldt, capture the high ground on the other side. To assist us in this somewhat ambitious scheme, we received one battery R.F.A., two sections M.G.C., one mobile medium trench mortar battery, and two bridging sections, R.E.

The action which followed will be described in some detail, as it proved a very interesting operation, and the only one of its kind in which the battalion took part. It was real open warfare, as distinct from the miscellaneous fighting which followed a "set piece" attack during the recent battles.

The country between us and the River Scheldt was flat in the main, dotted with houses and small woods, and rising slightly towards Froyennes, whence it fell away to an open stretch of grassland up to the near bank of the river. It was an excellent position for a rearguard to hold; and in addition, on the Tournai--Courtrai road, about one mile north of Froyennes, the enemy enjoyed magnificent observation from the Convent, and also for his guns from Mont St. Aubers, a conspicuous eminence on the far side of the river. He had a considerable number of guns, and evidently an ample supply of ammunition.

We, on the other hand, suffered the usual disadvantages of an attacking force in open warfare. We had no knowledge of the strength or location of the enemy, while our own movements could not be concealed. Moreover, the hasty advance and the interruption of communications due to the complete demolition of all bridges, the damage to roads by mines, and the absolute destruction of all railways--every single metal on the lines having had a piece blown out--had effectually prevented the advance of any heavy artillery, and the 18-pounders which we had were but scantily provided with ammunition.

We moved off at 8 a.m. to take over from the Irish--"A" Company on the right, "B" on the left, "C" in support, and "D" in reserve. The front line, which was some 2,000 yards in extent, ran north and south about 1,500 yards east of the hamlet of Honnevain. This was taken over by 10 a.m., the 8th K.L.R. being collected into groups near that place, with "C" Company and Battalion Headquarters just in front. The two front line companies now endeavoured to advance.

In this and subsequent similar attempts we were heavily handicapped by being the only battalion of the Division in the line. On our left was the 59th Division, and on our right the 74th Division, which belonged to another Corps. The isolated attempts that resulted from this position of affairs enabled the enemy to concentrate his attention on our unfortunate companies, there being no time for our request for flanking support to reach all the authorities concerned.

"A" Company, moving forward on a four platoon frontage, came at once under intense machine-gun and trench-mortar fire from woods and houses opposite their front, and sustained various casualties. The Lewis gun team of No. 2 Platoon spotted one of the enemy machine-gun posts, and dealt with it successfully. The advance was thereby able to proceed a little farther, but at no point was the amount of ground gained very considerable--about 500 yards in all. About 1 p.m. the advance was compelled to cease, owing to the determined and accurate fire of the enemy and the heavy shelling which had also commenced. The situation was further complicated by the death of the Company Commander, Captain Carr, who was shot through the head while moving forward to make a personal reconnaissance. The death of this able and gallant young officer was felt as a great loss, and the delay in getting hold of Lieutenant Blake, the next senior officer, who, owing to the grave shortage of officers, was with a platoon, for some time made it hard for this company to operate collectively.

In the meantime, on the left, Captain Eccles sent forward patrols to ascertain the position. No. 7 Platoon, hearing from their patrol of certain hostile positions, including a machine gun firing from a window in the Convent, advanced at 11.30 a.m., but after proceeding a short distance came under intense machine-gun fire, 2nd-Lieutenant Waln and one man, unhappily, being killed and eight men wounded. The remainder of the platoon were forced to fall back. Riflemen O'Sullivan and R. O. Jones, who were with the platoon as stretcher-bearers, endeavoured to go forward to bring in the wounded. The enemy, however, opened fire on them, and they were compelled to lie down. As they lay watching they observed some of the wounded sitting up applying field dressings. Seeing that the enemy took no notice of this, they proceeded to bandage each other for imaginary wounds. They then rose to their feet and limped towards the wounded, whom they were able materially to assist in tying up their wounds and eventually crawling to the rear. For their gallantry and initiative they were both awarded the Military Medal.

The loss of 2nd-Lieutenant Waln was very great. He had won the Divisional Commander's Card for his gallantry in the Battle of Cambrai, and on this occasion he proved himself no less regardless of danger. He had gained the respect and admiration of all ranks.

Second-Lieutenant Bardgett and the reserve platoon were sent up and formed a post, the remnant of No. 7 Platoon being sent into reserve. No. 6 Platoon, after waiting for some while for their patrol to return, sent out a further party, which was followed by the platoon itself. Crossing the railway, they forced their way into one of a small group of houses, of one of which the door was barricaded, and were almost immediately fired on from the doorway of an adjoining house. The fire was returned, and two of the enemy were seen to fall; but further hostile activity developing, they withdrew to the railway and established a post there. Their original patrol joined them at dusk, having been held up by hostile fire and unable to move. No. 5 Platoon could make no move owing to the open nature of the ground in front of them, each attempt being met with heavy fire.

At midday two platoons of "C" Company were sent up to each of the front line companies, as their advance, short as it was, was leaving their flanks in an exposed position. One half company under 2nd-Lieutenant Simpson took up a position in the right rear of "A" Company; the other half company was located near "B" Company Headquarters as reserve.

At 1.30 p.m. "D" Company was ordered forward from reserve to work down the railway line, which ran through the centre of "B" Company's front, and endeavour to get round the east side of the wood on the south of the railway line. In spite of heavy fire, the company moved up without casualties, cleared the wood, and by 5 p.m. had established posts on the far edge.

About 7 p.m. the advance of both companies was once more attempted. "A" Company, on the right, advanced some 200 yards, which brought it more into line with "B" Company, but could make no farther headway. Captain Eccles then issued orders for the advance to the Tournai--Cambrai road, and No. 8 Platoon managed to get within about 400 yards of the Convent, where they were absolutely stopped. No. 6 Platoon could make no headway at all; and No. 8 Platoon, which was isolated, was consequently withdrawn for a short distance to preserve the general front. Company Headquarters, which had moved forward, and incidentally were all but demolished by a shell of very large dimensions, withdrew to their previous location, and all posts prepared for the night. "D" Company in the meantime, having been passed by "B" Company, were concentrated at Mont Garnis in reserve. Machine guns were posted at important tactical posts for the night.

Throughout the day, in addition to intense machine-gun fire, the enemy had kept up a heavy and more or less continuous bombardment with every class of shell up to 8-inch. The slightest movement produced great hostile activity, and it was simply owing to the small number of men engaged on a comparatively large front that saved us from heavy casualties. Trench-mortar and artillery support was available, and was employed as far as the conditions of moving warfare and lack of observation permitted.

At 4.30 a.m., October 22nd, patrols from "A" Company reported Froyennes clear of the enemy, but that they were fired on from the east bank of the river after passing through the village. "A" Company accordingly moved forward, occupied the village, and established posts along the Tournai--Cambrai road.

"B" Company's patrols were fired on from the Convent, but after a few rounds the enemy withdrew. The company followed, and continued the line of posts on the Tournai--Cambrai road. Patrols were at once sent forward, in spite of a brisk fire from the far bank of the river, to try and discover a bridge, but without success. Meanwhile touch was gained with the 74th Division on the right and the 170th Brigade (who had relieved the right brigade of the 59th Division) on the left. No enemy were located on our side of the river except on the extreme right, where contact was gained and two enemy prisoners (91st I.R., 2nd Prussian Division) were captured.

The G.S.O.2 of the Corps visited Captain Eccles during the course of the morning, and agreed that any attempt to cross the river would be absurd. The Commanding Officer, after reconnoitring the line, came to the same conclusion, and the general line of the road was consolidated. "B" Company established their headquarters in the Convent, but made a speedy evacuation on being informed that it was mined. "D" Company were moved up to Trieu de Loquet; and Battalion Headquarters would have moved up to Froyennes but for the information that we were to be relieved early next morning. The enemy kept up a continual harassing fire all day, distributed generally over the front, but causing few casualties.

The weather, after being wet and disagreeable, had now cleared, but it was distinctly cold. It was somewhat strange to be living in houses during active operations; and, indeed, the civilians got rather mixed up with the firing line, as they kept coming along with coffee for the men in the posts. This well-meant but mistaken kindness was very inconvenient, and, in addition, refugees kept coming in from the German line. There were many minor spy scares, some of the civilians, out of friendliness to us or enmity towards their neighbours, being rather inclined to point out people as acting in that capacity. Battalion Headquarters, which was a small isolated house not shown on the map, was in fact destroyed by shell fire the very day after we left it, which rather looked as if the enemy had received information as to its position.

During the night, which was extremely cold, though very fine and with a full moon, an R.E. officer made a complete reconnaissance of the river, but failed to locate any kind of bridge. As a matter of fact, the line on our section of the front remained just as we had established it until the Armistice.

At 8.30 a.m. on October 23rd the 2/7th K.L.R. arrived, and proceeded to take over our line, establishing their headquarters in the house selected by us in Froyennes for the purpose. The battalion moved out to Le Cornet, where an unfortunate incident occurred, owing to the efforts of another Commanding Officer, whose battalion had not been in action, to take forcible possession of our billets, in spite of the presence of our Billeting Officer, who had with full authority taken over from the 2/7th K.L.R. As a result our men had to sit by the roadside, tired and weary after two days' hard fighting, till Divisional Headquarters could be communicated with. The reply from there was as prompt as it was satisfactory, and the offending battalion, who themselves appeared none too pleased with the action of their Commanding Officer, at once withdrew.

The billets were good all round, Headquarters itself being established in a lovely old farm called Hardy Planq, evidently the ancestral residence of some old French family. All were glad of a good rest and a "clean up," as the strain and, for most people, the discomfort of the last two days had been considerable. Our casualties during that time, besides Captain Carr and 2nd-Lieutenant Waln, were seven men killed and twenty-five wounded. In connection with these operations Captain Eccles was shortly after awarded the Military Cross.

Just before we came out of the line Major C. W. Wilson left us for England at his own request. He had not been in good health for some time, and the wound in his foot--a relic of the South African War--bothered him. He was a great loss to the battalion, with which he had served since its formation. His grit and determination, his enthusiasm and energy, were an inspiration to all ranks. His position as Second-in-Command was filled by the Adjutant, Captain Bowring reassuming the latter's duties.

At 2.30 p.m. on October 24th we moved off from our pleasant quarters at Le Cornet and marched back to Willems into Divisional Reserve. We found Willems quite a pleasant little town, and our billets were on the whole good. Battalion Headquarters were situated nearly opposite Divisional Headquarters, and we were thus enabled to renew our acquaintance with the Divisional Staff.

We stayed at Willems till October 30th, and very pleasant it was. We had been on the move almost without a stop since we left Ruitz, and the stay at that place had been no more than a brief pause in our continuous movements which commenced when we left the Scarpe on August 17th, more than two months before. During the two advances--the one on Cambrai, the other on Tournai--dumps had been left at all kinds of places, and we now had to set to work to collect our material and our guards from widely separated spots. This was successfully accomplished in the end, nor was anything of any consequence lost or overlooked in the process.

We spent the first part of our time at Willems resting and cleaning up; the latter part in training and reorganizing, as it was clear that before long we should be required to follow up the retiring enemy once more. Considerable attention was paid to the bugle band, which practised from morning to night, and sounded the recognized calls throughout the day. It was during the days in reserve on the Somme that attention became centred on our bugles. Extra cornets were purchased, and a pair of cymbals was presented by Lieutenant Huntley. Whenever conditions were favourable the bugles were given every opportunity of practising, and, under the skilful handling of Sergeant Cadman and Lance-Corporal Frost, the cornet soloist, they proved a most efficient and excellent addition to the battalion.

The difficulty of keeping pace with the bewildering rapidity of the Allied advance suggested the advantage of a battle map, and accordingly the necessary sheets of the 1: 250,000 map were fastened on a board and the situation shown by cotton on pins. This was placed in a prominent position outside Battalion Headquarters; and here, too, were pinned the telegrams announcing the different stages of the advance. The arrangement proved very satisfactory, enabling as it did not only the troops, but also the civilians, to see at a glance how the war was progressing. The crowd around the board at once testified to its popularity.

For (as it proved) the last time in our history we were now ordered to reconnoitre defensive positions and emergency routes in the event of a German counter-attack. This was a most unlikely event, as we were on one side and they on the other of a wide river. It was, however, quite fitting that our active service should end, as it had begun, with this necessary but illusive form of military exercise.

At 10 a.m. on October 30th we left Willems for the Hallemes area, passing our relieving battalion, the 19th Londons, _en route_. The hopes of a trip to Italy, so strongly entertained by the 47th Division, had apparently been dashed to the ground once more.

Owing to a sudden attack of influenza, an ambulance had to be requisitioned to remove Captain Fell, the Quartermaster, Lieutenant F. E. Evans, Captain Noon, now in command of "A" Company, and 2nd-Lieutenant D. R. Williams. The Commanding Officer was on a course, and the Headquarters Staff now consisted of the Adjutant, the Intelligence Officer, and the Transport Officer. After a short march along the side-roads we came on to the great highway between Lille and Tournai, and at 1.30 p.m. arrived at the Faubourg de Fives, one of the suburbs of Lille, where billets were awaiting us. Battalion Headquarters, including all the details, were accommodated in a house and a series of factory buildings on the main road, Rue Pierre le Grand. The companies were in two or three roads to the rear of Headquarters, and were billeted after the fashion of 1914--two or three men to a house. For the sick officers another house in the main street was taken over, and here they were kept isolated, except Fell and Williams, who had to go to hospital.

Several new officers now began to arrive. Lieutenant Belk had joined us in Willems, and 2nd-Lieutenants Bethell and Forshaw, A.S.C., arrived at Fives on our second day. Captain Bowring returned that day also from United Kingdom leave, and took over the duties of Adjutant, the latter acting as Second-in-Command. The following day 2nd-Lieutenants Cufflin and Woodworth, M.M., reported for duty.

From our arrival at Fives till the Armistice we were busy enough. First of all there were the billets to be seen to, which, good as they were, still required much attention. Then the general question of refitting and training had to be considered. It was still quite uncertain whether the enemy would come to terms or not; and it was understood that if he did not we should certainly be required before long. Meanwhile a sudden passion for lecturing took possession of the Higher Command, including General Haking, our Corps Commander, who addressed us at some length.

On November 5th we had the first of a series of battalion concerts. There was a most convenient little hall not far from our billets, and here "The Cheerios" gave their performance--and an excellent one it was. It was at Barly, during the rest in the Cambrai Battle, that the concert party were first got together, and now they were to exhibit their powers once more. They worked very hard, under the kindly eye of the Padre, and the resulting success more than justified their efforts. Without wishing to make invidious distinctions, it may be said that Corporal Henderson was the heart and soul of the party, while his singing of Chevalier's songs was absolutely first-rate. The introduction of local talent, in the form of an _enfant prodigue_ who played the violin, and a French girl who sang with great vigour proved highly popular.

On November 6th our American Medical Officer, Lieutenant Reed, left us, to our infinite regret. Dour and silent as he was, he had won a very warm place in our hearts; and it is pleasant to think that he was sorry enough to leave us after more than six months' active campaigning together. Captain Bullock took his place, and proved in his turn a most popular Medical Officer.

Football now began to figure prominently in our lives. The great aerodrome, where we halted outside Flers the day after Lille was taken, had been converted into one vast football field, with some seven or eight pitches. Incidentally, it was also our training ground, and a little friction was occasionally caused when other battalions used to allow their battalion teams to practise all the morning in our vicinity while we were drilling.

The last few days before the Armistice were somewhat trying. It was impossible to keep your thoughts away from the possible termination of hostilities and all that that involved. The authorities, with what seemed a rather unnecessary lack of confidence in their troops, deluged us with advice to maintain our morale. In point of fact, there appeared no shred of evidence that anyone was in danger of losing his morale, or, for the matter of that, any particular reason why he should, even though one might be glad if the war was really over.

When the telegram reached us on November 11th there was no excitement, no wild cheering or parading of the streets. It was too big a thing to treat in that fashion. Men became silent and thoughtful--thankful for their own escape, reminiscent of those less fortunate. Lille itself, unlike London, did not become a scene of rowdy rejoicings. Thankfulness for deliverance from the infernal horrors of the war, with its all too recent and sad memories, was too deep for a form of celebration more properly associated with Boat Race night in Leicester Square or a "rag" in a 'Varsity town.