CHAPTER 9.

BUZANCY.

The 6th Battalion remained in the Arras sector till the beginning of July, when we were at last taken out of the line. We moved back, and it was believed that we were going to have that long rest which we so much deserved, and to which we had been looking forward ever since we arrived in France. We had been in the fighting area practically since the end of the previous year, a period of about seven months, which included heavy fighting. We were certain that we were in for a long rest when we entrained. We steamed off south, and our hopes became still higher as the report got about that we were going to one of the big French training areas in the south of France. We heard it was an ideal spot, and a health resort even before the war. However, after steaming some distance past Amiens, the train suddenly stopped, and we were ordered to get out and proceed to billets. Our faith began to be shaken in the gentleman who talked about the seaside in the south. It was still more shaken the next day when the Battalions were embussed and proceeded in the direction of the front line.

On the 18th of July we found ourselves under the command of the 3rd French Army. On the 19th we moved into the Montigny area, and on the 23rd we relieved the first American Division and held the left sector of the 20th Corps. We took over the line on the night of the 22/23rd, and received orders that we were to attack the next morning (23rd) on the high ground on the west bank of the Criscuart at Misse. The C.O. hurried forward in the afternoon, and had a look round the line. The Americans had suffered heavy casualties, and the ground was strewn with their dead. The Battalion came in that evening, and the relief was carried out without much difficulty. There was some confusion as to the exact location of our front line, which apparently did not tally with that shewn by the maps taken over. However, there was no time to make even a preliminary reconnaissance. The zero hour was fixed for 5 a.m. The C.O. and Adjutant moved back to Brigade Headquarters, as up to midnight no orders had been received for the attack. The C.O.'s of the other units of the Brigade were also there. The operation orders did not come in till about 3 a.m. There was just time to issue the Battalion operation orders, but it was quite impossible to instruct Company officers or others in person.

The attack commenced at 5 a.m. with the 6th Camerons on the right, the Argylls on the left, and the Royal Scots in support. Everything went well to begin with, although we came under very heavy machine gun fire. Our barrage did not prove of much use, as the official front line given to us was found to be considerably in advance of that actually held. We advanced a considerable distance and took a sugar factory. We had suffered severe casualties in consequence of the barrage, leaving some German machine guns untouched. The attack took place down a steep bluff, then across the valley (which was intersected by a railway embankment), and the river, and up steep rising ground on the other side. We managed to get forward fairly well, although encountering strong opposition from the enemy. We took the railway embankment and river, including "Sucrerie." Our left flank, however, was in the air by this time, as we could not get into touch with the Argylls on our left. We extended in order to try and link up with them, but finally discovered they had come under heavy fire and had not been able to advance. The result was that for a time we had practically held the whole brigade front. About 6 p.m. the enemy put down a heavy barrage and launched a strong counter-attack, but this was successfully repulsed. We were to have attacked the village of Buzancy on the morning of the 24th, but this was postponed.

Owing to the pronounced salient held by the Division at the "Sucrerie," it was decided to withdraw and occupy the line of the railway. The fighting was of an open order nature, through fields of grain and small woods, with machine guns firing from behind hedges instead of out of the usual trenches. On the 27th we received orders for the Division to make an attack on Buzancy and the high ground to the east of the village. The fighting was again severe, and ended with our taking Buzancy. There was exceedingly bitter fighting round the grenade works, and the enemy put up very strong counter-attacks. Owing to the non-success of the 87th French Division on our right, we had finally to withdraw to the line of the Chateau.

On the 30th or the 31st July it was decided that the 45th Brigade would attack the main Soissons road from Villemontoire. About 10.45 a.m. we had more or less reached our objectives, although the others had been slightly held up by heavy machine gun fire. Our right flank was now in the air, as we could not get into touch with the K.O.S.B.'s. Meantime we formed a defensive flank along the road from the cemetery to the Soissons road. The S.O.S. went up from the 12th Division about 2.45 p.m. and also from the original front line. A pitiless machine gun fire was experienced from the wooded hills on the right. Evidently the Germans had raided the 12th Division's lines, and we heard later that they had taken some prisoners. About 10.35 a.m. on the 2nd August strong patrols which had pushed out found that the enemy was retiring, and we got orders to swing our right forward so as to keep in touch with the 44th Brigade. About 3.30 p.m. the Brigade reached the edge of the Concrois wood. At 7.50 the next objective was given as the river Crise about Nilleblain. On the night of the 2/3rd we were relieved by the 17th (French) Division, and on the 4th we embussed for Leincourt.

So came to an end our tour with the French and American Armies. The following is an interesting memo, issued by the First Field Artillery Brigade of the American Expeditionary Force to the batteries of the Brigade, and also special orders issued by the French Army Commanding Officers:--

"HEADQUARTERS, FIRST FIELD ARTILLERY BRIGADE. AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE, U.S.A., July 22nd, 1918.

"_Memorandum._

"It is noted that, for the first time in history, French, British and American Artillery are working together under the same Command. They will support an attack to-morrow morning to be made by the 15th (Scottish) Division in line as follows:--

45th Brigade. 1/8th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (kilts). 6th Cameron Highlanders (kilts). 13th Royal Scots (trousers).

46th Brigade. 10th Scottish Rifles (trousers). 7/8th K.O.S.B. (trousers). 9th Royal Scots (kilts).

In Reserve, 44th Brigade. 4/5th Black Watch Highlanders (kilts). 5th Seaforth Highlanders (kilts). 5th Gordon Highlanders (kilts)."

Extract of telephone message from General Mangin, Commanding X French Army, to G.O.C. 15th Division.

"Le General Mangin vous charge de lire au General Reed que le succes d'aujourd'hui a été acheté par la conduite de tous et particulierement par le sarcifice des Ecossais."

Special order by General Mangin, Commanding X Army, 20 Corps d' Armee.

Etat-Major, 3 Bureau.

ORDER du General Mangin.

"No 1375/3.

"A communiquer aux troupes per tous les moyens;

"En avant! la victoire du 1er Août achève celle du 18 Juillet et se termina en poursuite. Les chemins sont affreux, mais il pleut auss pour les Boches--Tallonnez-les, bousculez-les en dépassant les faibles centres de résistance où ils essaient de ralentir notre marche victorieuse.

"Ce soir il faut que la Xe Armée soit sur la Vesle."

Copy of letter from G.O.C. 17th (French) Division to G.O.C. to 15th Scottish Division.

_Translation._

"17th Infantry Division. 27th August, 1918.

"Mon General,

"After relieving your Division in the pursuit on the Vesle, I established my Headquarters at Buzancy. I found there the traces still fresh of the exploits of your Scottish soldiers, and the officers of my staff were able to see clearly what hard fighting you had had to gain possession of the village, and, above all, of the park.

"Wishing to leave on the spot some lasting tribute to the bravery of your soldiers, I entrusted to one of my officers, Lieut. Rene Puaux, the task of erecting there, with the material at hand, a small monument emblematic of the homage and admiration of my Division for yours.

"This monument has on it 'a medallion' on which are inscribed thistles and roses, and beneath, the words:--

'_Here the noble thistle of Scotland will flourish forever among the roses of France._'

and beneath:

'_17th French Division_ to '_15th_ (_Scottish_) _Division_.'

"This monument was erected on the highest point of the plateau, where we found the body of the Scottish soldier who advanced the farthest (on 28th July, 1918--Buzancy).

"The photograph of this monument has appeared in the last number of the journal _L'Illustration_. I thought you would be glad to have a few copies of the photograph, which I send you herewith. They convey to you, together with the memories which I have kept of our short meeting at Vierzy, the expression of my esteem and my admiration for your valiant Division.

"Will you please accept, dear General, the expression of my sincere regards.

"C. CASSOINS, "General de Division, C. CASSOINS, Commanding "17th (French) Division."

Special order by General Mangin, Commanding 10th French Army.

Au Q. G. A., 5th August, 1918.

_ORDRE GENERAL No. 343._

_Officers, Non-Commissioned, Officers and Men of the 15th and 34th British Divisions._

"You entered the battle at its fiercest moment. The enemy, already once vanquished, again brought up against us his best Divisions, considerably outnumbering our own.

"You continued to advance step by step, in spite of his desperate resistance, and you held the ground won in spite of his violent counter-attacks.

"Then during the whole day of the 1st of August, side by side with your French comrades, you stormed the ridge dominating the whole country between the Aisne and the Ourcq, which the defenders had received orders to hold at all costs.

"Having failed in his attempt to retake the ridge with his last reserves, the enemy had to beat a retreat pursued and harassed for 12 kilometres.

"All of you, English and Scottish, young soldiers and veterans of Flanders and Palestine, you have shewn the magnificent qualities of your race: courage and imperturbable tenacity.

"You have won the admiration of your companions in arms. Your country will be proud of you, for to your chiefs and to you is due a large share in the victory that we have gained over the barbarous enemies of the free.

"I am happy to have fought at your head, and I thank you.

"MANGIN."

The monument at Buzancy is, we believe, unique as being the only monument raised by the French Army to British troops during the war.

We must refer to the excellent staff arrangements for bussing troops which the French had made. Our usual experience had been that when one was ordered to embus at a certain hour, the busses never turned up for a considerable time afterwards. In fact, on our way down the bussing and training arrangements were several hours behind the scheduled time-table. With the French, however, on each occasion the busses turned up a few minutes before the hour they were due, so that we had no delay. We also had an officer in a motor car taking charge of the convoy of busses. This enabled him to move about and see that no distance was lost, also to go ahead and regulate traffic at important cross roads. Another good arrangement they had was having one or two empty busses at the end of each column, so that if a bus broke down it was drawn to one side, and the men speedily transferred to an empty bus. So the whole column was kept together.

We now moved north to the Loos sector, and it was very interesting once more going over the old ground. We took part in the final general advance from this area. After the Armistice we were informed that we were one of the Divisions that had been chosen for the Army of Occupation, and we busily prepared indents for new clothing, etc., in order to make a good impression. It was decided, however, that the young Battalions who had come out from home should take over this duty. We were finally billeted in Braine le Comte. Here we instituted a Battalion Mess. We had always been in the habit of doing this wherever possible. No doubt many officers preferred the small Company messes, but from a disciplinary and many other points of view the Battalion mess had many advantages. Certainly our mess proved a great success.