The Seventh Manchesters by S. J. Wilson (inspirational novels .TXT) 📖

troops

still remained of the 40th and other divisions, when they found that the

42nd were in position, gradually dribbled through in search of a

long-delayed and well-earned rest. They had been fighting without

respite since the morning of the 21st. The 6th Manchesters were now on

the right of the division in the vicinity of Bihucourt, but they were

uncertain as to the state of affairs on their right. As a matter of

fact, although we were not aware of it at the time, Bapaume had been

taken and a large gap had been left in the line south of our right

flank, through which the Huns were pouring in victorious mass. The New

Zealand division and one brigade of Australians, with the 62nd division

on their left were hurried forward, and after very severe fighting

stopped the enemy rush about Hebuterne, some miles westward of the

position we held on March 25th.

 

Meanwhile we were in blissful ignorance of our hazardous position and

the Manchesters were preserving strict guard over an exposed right

flank. The 6th came in for a good deal of heavy fighting in the vicinity

of Bihucourt, but they held the village all day. The headquarters of the

7th was in an old shallow dug-out close to the light railway that had

been constructed from Achiet-le-Grand to run eastwards in the direction

of Bullecourt. This railway wound its way through a sort of valley to

the north of which lies Gomiecourt and to the northeast Mory. Due east

on higher ground are Behagnies and Sapignies where the L.F’s. were

making such a fine stand. This high ground continues southwards towards

Bihucourt and Bapaume, and it was along this ridge that most of the

day’s fighting took place.

 

During the previous night the 7th had been spread out fanwise in

outposts covering the shallow valley, and it was not long after

daylight before the enemy began to drop shells indiscriminately about

this ground. “C” and “D” companies were ordered forward to assist the

5th and “A” and “B” were left in support. Tanks came up and they

courageously crawled out over the ridge and did some very sound work

before being knocked out by guns which had been brought up to unwonted

proximity. It was whilst crawling out to rescue a wounded man of the

crew of a tank that Sergeant Heath, M.M., was mortally wounded. The

127th brigade could not be driven from their positions and they dug

themselves in, in small section posts, confidently awaiting nightfall

and the next day’s fight. The attacks died down and when darkness came,

digging parties went up to assist in the work of consolidation. Events

as described above, however, had decided otherwise, for about 10 p.m. a

divisional staff officer arrived with orders to fall back to a line of

defence between Logeast Wood and Courcelles.

 

Casualties had been fairly heavy in this day’s work. Capt. J. Baker and

2nd.-Lt. B. Taylor had gone down wounded, while Col. Bromfield, Capt.

Creagh and the M.O. had all been slightly wounded by a shell which

knocked in the entrance to the headquarter’s dug-out. They remained at

duty, although the C.O. suffered considerably from an internal bruise in

the stomach which made it impossible for him to walk without assistance.

The arrangements for clearing the wounded became confused when

Gomiecourt was evacuated, for there the Advanced Dressing Station had

been established. Then it was that the Padre displayed his vigour,

courage and resource. He commandeered a hut close to Achiet and had a

large number of wounded from various battalions collected there.

Eventually he was able to get an ambulance which carried many of them

back to the Casualty Clearing Station, but this process suddenly

stopped. All sorts of conveyances were then seized and men were

gradually carried back. When the order to withdraw became known matters

were critical, but the Padre continued his labours. Difficulties were

not diminished when the Hun commenced to drop 5.9’s near this spot.

Hoskyns was slightly wounded, but he was bound up and carried on his

self-appointed task until some time after the last of the brigade had

gone by, leaving him with no one in front but the Hun. Not until the

last man had been carried safely off did he leave this place, and then

he collected various stragglers and marched them up as a platoon to join

their own units! This, and his continuous plucky and considerate work in

tending bodily as well as spiritual needs during the next few days

obtained for him a well-earned M.C.

 

The night of the 25th-26th was even more strenuous than the previous

one. About 11.30 p.m. the withdrawal commenced, and was very skilfully

carried out, so skilfully, in fact, that the German battle outposts

could be heard firing intermittently for hours after our troops had

retired. After steady plugging, man-handling everything, we reached a

system of admirably prepared trenches north of Logeast Wood. The pioneer

battalion 7th Northumberland Fusiliers, who had come to the division in

February, had been working upon them all day, and, excellently sited as

they were, they inspired everyone with a great feeling of confidence.

Men took a lively interest in their posts, and after a considerable

amount of organisation sentries were mounted and the battalion settled

down for a rest until the enemy should arrive. It was now 3 a.m. At this

hour it so happened that the division had received another urgent order

to fall back still further. Staff officers made their way on foot

through the congested roads behind the front and searched dimly for the

various brigades, a most uncertain task in view of the rapidity of

events. We were found eventually and the brigade major aroused us from

slumber to transmit the news.

 

Once again the 7th rose up, shouldered their burdens, and strode

backwards. “What are we going back for? What does it all mean? We held

up Jerry yesterday—why retire?” It all seemed very unsatisfactory and

we were very tired. Food had naturally been scanty and only obtained in

snatches, but much energy was being consumed. It was a disappointed

battalion that straggled wearily through Logeast Wood. We were only just

in time, however, for advance parties of the enemy were already entering

the east side of the Wood as we emerged from the south-west side. Here

we found some explanation of things. Col. Wedgewood, of the 6th,

reported bodies of the enemy moving forward to strike in on our southern

flank, and this news had the effect of an electric shock amongst us.

Col. Bromfield at once ordered positions to be taken up to face the

enemy who were advancing from the south and south-east. “A” and “D”

companies moved out quickly to seize the high ground and one or two

Lewis guns opened fire at the bodies of grey figures in the distance.

Meanwhile, however, the brigadier had decided to cover the

Bucquoy-Ablainzevelle road, and so touch up with the 62nd division, who

had some hours previously occupied a position from Hebuterne to Bucquoy,

and were at that moment resisting violent efforts on the part of the Hun

to turn our right flank. It was, therefore, in the latter village where

we met the gallant Yorkshiremen of the 2nd line West Riding

Territorials. Gen. Henley personally assisted in getting the platoons of

“B” and “C” companies into position, and then “A” and “D” companies were

ordered to withdraw to their line.

 

When the withdrawal had been completed the 7th were on the right of the

division, with the flank resting on the edge of Bucquoy village. The

road from Bucquoy to Ayette, which was almost south to north, is an

important one and is marked by a row of trees on each side. As one walks

from Bucquoy along this road, another road branching off to the right

from the edge of the village is seen leading down to Ablainzevelle. The

road junction marks the highest portion of ground in the vicinity, and

there is a long sweep eastwards towards Logeast Wood and

Achiet-le-Petit. It was when we noticed the latter place that the whole

irony of the situation broke upon us. Eight month’s ago we had been

enjoying a blissful period of rest on this self-same spot, and such

features as we now gazed upon had merely been used for the purpose of

containing a supposed enemy in the working out of a tactical exercise—a

sham fight. Now—the enemy could not be more real or more alive. He was

here with the sole intent of destroying us by any possible method if we

would not vacate our position. What happened?

 

The 7th was assured that this was at last the spot where resistance

would be offered. There were no trenches, and the men lay out in the

open on the sloping ground east and south of the Ablainzevelle road,

with intent to dig in as soon as possible. “C” company were on the

right, and they were rather fortunate in being on the site of an old

camp, because in these days of modern war it is necessary to dig a hole

in a tent even, as a safe-guard against bombing. “C” company then

disposed themselves amongst these circular holes, and later found them

useful protection when the heavy shelling commenced. “B” company, in the

centre, were totally exposed, while “A” company on the left, in touch

with the 6th, were almost as bad, although two platoons were able to

make use of the sunk road. “D” company were behind in support and could

occupy portions of an old Boche trench running east and west.

Headquarters lay out in the Ayette road at first until an old Boche

dug-out, not completed, was found farther up the road, and then they got

into it. Platoons had barely been allotted their areas when clumps of

Huns began to appear on the ridge we had just vacated. They proved to be

teams of light machine gunners, and without preliminaries in the matter

of searching for cover, they promptly opened fire, and soon there was a

perfect hail of grazing bullets swishing over the battalion area. German

officers calmly walked about directing operations and the whole scene

resembled a “stunt on the pictures” rather than modern war. They had

made a mistake, though, and if they were seeking dramatic effect it was

only short lived. Our men were delighted at the perfect target they

presented on the skyline, and rat-tat-tatted merrily in reply to the Hun

swish. By this time also “D” company of the Machine Gun battalion had

taken up a position and they also joined in the conversation. The enemy

then considered the advisability of concealment, and he disappeared from

view. Small parties of his infantry meanwhile had dribbled forward,

considerably helped by old systems of trenches which extended down into

the low ground. Our men were ready, however, and met them with a heavy

fusillade whenever they showed themselves.

 

Between Logeast Wood and Ablainzevelle was a camp of Nisson huts, which

had been protected against bombing, in the usual manner, by thick walls

of earth round each hut. The enemy was now making the fullest possible

use of these, for they afforded him most excellent protection. Luckily

they were on a piece of ground fully exposed to us, and we were able to

get some idea as to his movements in that direction. It was soon evident

that they were to be utilised as a stepping stone to a further advance.

First, light M.G’s. and snipers were brought up, and these dribbled out

of the huts into Ablainzevelle, where they established themselves to the

discomfort of our men, for they were well on our left flank and could

take some of our position in enfilade. The battalion suffered a number

of casualties from this cause. Unfortunately also, our guns had not got

a clear