CHAPTER V

WITH THE 5TH FRENCH ARMY

"_O torn out of thy trance, O deathless, O my France, O many wounded mother, O redeemed to reign._

_Out of the obscene eclipse Re-risen with burning lips, To witness for us if we looked for thee in vain._"

SWINBURNE.

[Sidenote: July 1918.]

Comfortable billets and beautiful summer weather, with sports, entertainments given by the excellent "Pelican Troupe," and other distractions, contributed to make the rest a very pleasant one, but it was not to last long. On about the 12th July the Division was ordered to prepare for a move to an unknown destination, and on the 15th the artillery entrained and was taken south through Paris. That all units had made good use of their time in a peaceful area is proved by this letter, which the G.O.C. received from the General commanding the R.A. of the 4th Corps:

"My dear General,--I saw your artillery entraining at two stations on the 15th. I saw portions of six batteries and the D.A.C.

"I told the Corps Commander that I have seldom seen horses in such magnificent condition, or a better turn-out of men, horses and vehicles. They might have been proceeding for a ceremonial show in London, instead of going to take part in a battle.

"I told the Battery Commanders how sorry we are in the Corps to part with your Division. We know the Division and the Division knows the Corps, and all our battle associations have been happy and successful.

"We sincerely hope that the gallant Pelicans will come back to us.

"I thought you would like to hear about your artillery. They certainly impressed all who saw them very much, and I am sure that they will impress our Allies....

"Yours very sincerely, "J. G. GEDDES."

On the 15th July the enemy began a big attack on a front of 50 miles, each side of Reims, and the Division, which was originally, I believe, to have gone to Verdun, was diverted while still in the troop trains towards the Reims front, and by the 18th had been detrained and billeted in an area between Arcis and Epernay, with headquarters at Tours Sur Marne. We now learned that we, with the 51st Highland Division, had been formed into the 22nd Corps, under command of Lieut.-General Sir A. Godley, and were for the time being a part of the 5th French Army. We heard, too, the cheering news that not only had the German offensive been definitely checked, but that the French had counter-attacked on a long front from Soissons southwards, and, in addition to advancing several kilometres, had captured about 17,000 prisoners.

Late at night on the 18th I was aroused by the news that we were to advance at once and take our place in the line of battle. Accordingly we moved our headquarters on the 19th to Germaine, in the forest of Reims, while the two brigades and the D.A.C. concentrated near Avenay and Fontaine. In the afternoon I rode out with the Brigade and Battery Commanders, and reconnoitred a position of assembly in the forest, out of view of aeroplane observation. Early next morning the batteries moved up into this position, while the Divisional Headquarters was established in the village of St. Imoges. The D.A.C. took up its position close to the Reims-Epernay road, about two miles east of Courtagnon.

At 8 a.m. the French artillery attached to the Division opened a barrage, under which our infantry attacked Marfaux and the Bois de Reims. While in their positions of readiness the artillery was unmolested except by a chance shell, which unfortunately burst on a sub-section of B/312, killing six men and wounding two officers (Lieuts. J. M. Whitworth and W. Burt) and five men. As the fight progressed the brigades were ordered into action, and by 6 p.m. all batteries were in position in the Patis d'Ecueil, with the exception of C/312, which came into action about 800 yards west of Courtagnon Farm. Lieut. P. K. Baillie-Reynolds was also wounded this day. Lieut. G. A. Ellis added a bar to the Military Cross which he had won in March: "He carried an officer, who was wounded in the battery O.P., back to safety through a heavy barrage, and then returned to his post to observe the progress of the attack, sending back valuable information. Later on, when the battery of which he was left in charge was heavily shelled, he promptly moved the men. His coolness and judgment prevented many casualties."

At 10 a.m. on Sunday the 21st we launched an attack against the wooded ridge running north-west from the north of Cuitron. The enemy offered a stubborn resistance, and neither we nor the 51st were able to make much progress. Firing was almost continuous during the day and night, sometimes at the request of our own infantry and sometimes of the French on our right.

Next day we attacked the Bois du Petit Champ just north of Cuitron, and by 4 p.m. we had taken the wood, making prisoners over 200 Huns and capturing 30 machine guns. Lieuts. H. E. Stephens and V. A. H. Draper were wounded, and about ten men were killed or wounded.

At 6 a.m. on the 23rd July the Division attacked under a barrage of our own artillery and French guns, and captured the villages of Marfaux and Cuitron, together with 130 prisoners and about 30 more machine guns. We also recovered a battery of French guns which had been lost in the opening offensive. Several batteries fired as many as 600 rounds per gun, and the infantry declared that the barrage was magnificent. The prisoners were in a great state of depression, and reported that their losses from our artillery fire had been enormous. This was no more than we expected, for large bodies of the enemy had frequently presented ideal targets to our guns throughout the day, and the batteries had taken full advantage of their opportunity. Divisional Headquarters moved to Hautvillers in the evening.

The 24th July was spent chiefly in consolidating the positions won. The artillery fire was mainly in support of the 77th French division on our right. Boche aeroplanes were very active during the night, and the D.A.C. were particularly unfortunate, losing 26 animals killed and 20 wounded from hostile bombs. In the two brigades about nine horses were killed, and there were several casualties among the men. Lieut. W. H. House, United States Army, who was attached to the D.A.C. as Medical Officer, was awarded the M.C. for gallantry on this occasion. A great many bombs fell in the vicinity of our headquarters, and a large ammunition dump, in the valley about a mile distant, was set on fire, and went on exploding all through the night with tremendous detonations. The spectacle as viewed from the roof of our billet was a very grand and awe-inspiring one; the loss of ammunition to the French must have been very serious.

The following letter referred to the work of these last few days:

"Le Général Serrigny, C.B., C.M.G., "Commandant la 77me Division d'lnfanterie. "à Monsieur le Général Commandant "La 62me Division Britannique. "le 26 Juillet, 1918.

"Mon Général,

"J'ai l'honneur de vous prier de vouloir bien transmettre au Commandant de l'Artillerie Britannique placèe sur vos ordres mes remerciements pour le concours efficace qu'elle a prété à ma Division au cours des attaques sur le bois de Reims et le château de Commetreuil.

"L'enlèvement difficile de cette région boisèe avait été préparé par les actions energiques menées par la 62me D. I. Britannique pendant les journées précédentes; l'appui de I'artillerie anglaise pour les opérations des 22 et 23 Juillet a facilité grandement la tâche de la 77me D. I. francaise.

"Je vous exprime, au nom des troupes sur mes ordres, toute leur gratitude, et vous prie d'agréer l'expression de ma considération la plus distinguèe.

"SERRIGNY."

On the 25th and 26th July preparations were made for a further attack, and dumps at battery positions were made up to 600 rounds per 18-pounder, and 500 rounds per howitzer. The 310th Headquarters at the Ferme d'Ecueil was heavily shelled on the 26th, and had to be moved a few hundred yards. Lieut.-Colonel Sherlock on this occasion showed great personal gallantry in removing wounded men under very heavy fire. It rained heavily in the evening, and a cloudy night kept the bombers from troubling us.

At 6 a.m. on the 27th the Corps launched a fresh attack. It was completely successful, and by 11.30 a.m. we had captured the villages of Espilly and Nappe. After the attack the batteries advanced one at a time, and were all in their new positions before dark, the 310th in the Bois du petit Champ, and the 312th close to and west of Pourcy. We moved our headquarters to Nanteuil in the evening. It was raining hard, and the move was rather a cheerless one, the more so as the enemy was shelling the village hard when we entered it. Lieut. E. S. Lloyd gained the Military Cross for gallant and distinguished conduct in this day's action.

By this time I had under my command, in addition to my own artillery, 12 batteries of French Field Artillery and six French heavy batteries.

On the 28th the 312th Brigade moved forward at dawn to positions west of Marfaux, and supported a successful attack by the 185th Infantry Brigade on the Montagne de Bligny. The D.A.C. advanced to the vicinity of Courtagnon.

On the 29th we consolidated and pushed patrols forward, and there was some very hard fighting. The 310th Brigade moved at dawn to positions north of Cuitron, and engaged many moving targets with direct observation firing about 1500 rounds per battery during the day. D/310 engaged three hostile batteries with great success. Shortly after mid-day A/310 and C/310 advanced in full view of the enemy to positions near the Moulin de Chaumuzy and engaged machine guns which were annoying the infantry. The 312th also advanced two batteries in close support; B/312 trotted into a position near Chaumuzy under heavy fire, and suffered a few casualties.

Orders came in the afternoon for the British Corps to be withdrawn from the line and entrained to another destination, and after supporting a small operation from 7.45 to 8.45 p.m. the 310th withdrew to their wagon lines.

The 312th Brigade fired, in the early morning of the 30th, in support of a French advance, and then withdrew at 10 a.m. to St. Imoges and thence to Aigny. Divisional Headquarters moved back to Hautvillers.

The Divisional Artillery then marched to Chalons and Coolus, where they entrained on the 1st and 2nd August, and returned to our old neighbourhood. Headquarters were in Pas, the 310th Brigade in Couin, the 312th in Bus, and the D.A.C. in Authie St. Leger.

So ended a very interesting and exciting experience. I think we all felt it a great privilege to have been selected as part of the force sent to help our French comrades against a formidable offensive, and we found them so cordial and pleasant, and so easy to get on with, that we all carried away very agreeable memories of our connection with their 5th Army, in spite of the strenuous nature of the fighting and the many hardships and dangers which we had to face. The fighting was of quite a new and unaccustomed type. It was moving, as opposed to trench warfare, and batteries were continually changing position, and had no more protection than they could dig for themselves in the intervals of firing; they took to it as readily as if they had done nothing else all through the war, and, in spite of all the difficulties of ammunition supply and keeping up communications in the thickly wooded country, they were always ready to open fire up to time, and to support the infantry in their rapid advances. This could only be achieved, however, by the unremitting exertion of every officer, N.C.O., and man, who were fighting and toiling night and day without shelter of any sort, and with never more than a chance hour or two of sleep at a time, from the 20th to the 30th July. Although the infantry suffered very severely, our casualties were not heavy, owing to the indifferent counter-battery work of the enemy, and to the excellent habit, which had become a second nature in all the batteries, of digging themselves in directly a position was occupied. The total losses in the Divisional Artillery in the ten days' fighting were only five officers wounded, nine other ranks killed, and about 60 other ranks wounded.

As some indication of the extent of artillery activity while with the 5th French army, I note here the number of rounds handled during the period by the D.A.C.:

From railhead to reserve dump, 18-pr. How. by lorry 55,705 18,450

Delivered to the guns from the reserve dump by limbers 52,321 17,476

Eight Military Medals were awarded in connection with the operations, and also one Legion of Honour and nine Croix de Guerre (v. Appendix).

The following special order of the day was issued on the 31st July by Maj.-General Braithwaite:

"The operations which commenced on the 20th July were brought to a successful termination at midnight on the 30th July.

"During the whole of this period the 62nd Division has had continuous fighting, manoeuvring, and marching in new and hitherto unknown country of a character entirely different from anything in which it has operated before during this campaign. Especially have the densely wooded slopes of the Bois de Reims been a difficulty for troops unaccustomed to wood fighting.

"But neither the difficulty of the country, nor the determined and bitter resistance of the enemy, have militated against the victorious operations of the Division.

"The Division made a great name for itself at the battle of Cambrai. It enhanced that reputation at Bucquoy, where it withstood the attacks of some of the best of the German troops, up to that time flushed with success. It has in this great battle set the seal on its already established reputation as a fighting force of the first quality.

"During the period, it has been fighting with its comrades of the French army, and side by side with the 51st (Highland) Division, the 62nd (West Riding) Division has utterly defeated the 123rd German Division, which had to be withdrawn on the 22nd inst., and the 50th German Division (an assault division of the first rank) shared a similar fate a few days later.

"The fortitude, steadfastness, and valour of all ranks has been beyond praise.

"Marfaux, Cuitron, Bouilly the clearing of the Bois du Petit Champ, attest your gallantry, while Espilly, Nappes, the advance up the Ardre Valley, and the capture of Bligny and the Montagne de Bligny are evidence of your sustained valour.

"To every officer, warrant officer, non-commissioned officer and private soldier I tender my grateful thanks, and express my unstinted admiration of their victorious efforts. They have gloriously upheld the highest traditions of the British Army.

"It is with intense pride that, once again after a great victory I have the honour to sign myself as Commander of the 62nd (West Riding) Division.

"WALTER BRAITHWAITE, "Major-General."

The Corps had also the honour of receiving a complimentary order from General Berthelot in the following terms:

"Ordre Général No. 63 le 30 Juillet, 1918.

"Au moment ou le XXII. C. A. Britannique est appelé à quitter la Vme Armée, le Général Commandant l'Armée lui exprime toute la reconnaissance et toute l'admiration qu'ont merité les hauts faits qu'il vient d'accomplir.

"A peine débarqué, tenant à l'honneur de participer à la contre offensive victorieuse qui venait d'arrêter la furieuse ruée de l'ennemi sur la Marne, et commencait à le rejeter en desordre vers le Nords, précipitant ses mouvements, réduisant à l'extreme la durée de ses reconnaissances, le XXII. C. A. s'est jeté avec ardeur dans la melée.

"Poussant sans répit ses efforts, harcellant, talonnant l'ennemi, il a, pendant 10 jours successifs d'âpres combats, fait sienne cette vallée de l'Ardre largement arrosée de son sang.

"Grace au courage héroique, et à la tenacité proverbiale des fils de la Grande Bretagne, les efforts continus et répétés de ce brave Corps d'Armée n'ont pas étés vains;

"21 officiers, plus de 1300 soldats prisonniers, 140 mitrailleuses, 40 canons, enlevés à l'ennemi, dont 4 divisions ont été successivement malmenées et refoulées,

"la haute vallée de l'Ardre réconquise avec les hauteurs qui la dominent au Nord et au Sud.

"tel est le bilan de la participation Britannique à l'effort de la Vme Armée.

"Ecossais de la Montagne, sous le commandement du Général Carter-Campbell, Commandant la 51me Division!

"Enfants de Yorkshire, sous le commandement du Général Braithwaite, commandant la 62nd Division!

"Cavaliers Neo-Zelandais et Australiens!

"Vous tous, officers et soldats du 22me C.A., si brillament commandé par le Général Sir A. Godley, vous venez d'ajoutir une page glorieuse à votre histoire.

"Marfaux, Chaumuzy, Montagne de Bligny, ces noms prestigieux pourront être écrits en lettres d'or dans les annales de vos regiments.

"Vos amis Francais se souviendront avec émotion de votre brillant bravoure, et de votre parfaite cameraderie de combat.

"Le Général Commandant la Vme Armée, "BERTHELOT."

The G.O.C. also received the following letter from Sir A. Godley:

"I am very sorry not to have been able to see any of your artillery on coming out of the battle. I had hoped to do so, but could not manage it. I should be very glad if you would convey to them my most grateful thanks and high appreciation of all the good work that they have done during the last ten days. The way in which batteries worked with battalions, and brigades with brigades of infantry, in open warfare, must have been a source of enormous satisfaction to all officers, non-commissioned officers, and men, and the way in which it was done is worthy of the best traditions of the Royal Regiment. Will you please convey my heartiest congratulations to all ranks."