1st Battalion in the Battle of Cambrai (1917): Difference between revisions
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As briefly explained in the last chapter, the [[1st Battalion]] of the [[Border Regiment]], after the Third Battle of Ypres, spent a few weeks at a rest area where they could recover from the rigors of battle and continued their training, which took place in the area around Bailleumont, for forthcoming operations. Here they stayed until the middle of November where they, and the [[7th Battalion]] of the [[Regiment]], were to gain the Battle honour of Cambrai in difficult and continuous operations that commenced on the
▲As briefly explained in the last chapter, the 1st Battalion Border Regiment, after the Third Battle of Ypres, spent a few weeks at a rest area where they could recover from the rigors of battle and continued their training, which took place in the area around Bailleumont, for forthcoming operations. Here they stayed until the middle of November where they, and the 7th Battalion of the Regiment, were to gain the Battle honour of Cambrai in difficult and continuous operations that commenced on the 20th November until 12th December 1917. General Byng, Commanding Officer of the operations, had at his disposal the following corps: IIIrd, IVth, VIth and VIIIth.
At the training area of Bailleumont Captain Sutcliffe, M.C. was in temporary command. On the
The timing critical, as with any combination of barrage and infantry attack, the [[barrage]] fell at the exact time appointed and at 7am the 1st Battalion Border Regiment moved out, taking up a rear position behind the K.O.S.B. at the jumping-off place. They remained there awaiting further orders but these did not arrive until shortly after 10am with the news that the Hindenburg Support Line had fallen. There were several casualties as a result of waiting for these orders, mainly of men on the south portion of the line, sustaining mostly shrapnel injuries. The medical officer, Captain J.C. Clarke, having sustained an injury himself, would not leave the present situation believing that he was still perfectly capable of performing his duties and so remained resolute in his word stating that he would only go to hospital on account that there was someone to take over his in his absence.
The companies continued the advance, this time in a diamond formation with A Company taking the lead, followed by C on the left flank and B on the right, whilst Battalion Headquarters and D Company took the rear in support. The Companies were thus commanded by the following:
* '''A Company:''' Captain Chambers, M.C.;
* '''B Company:''' Second-Lieutenant Johnston,
* '''C Company:''' Captain Johnson;
* '''D Company:''' Captain Butler;
* '''Battalion HQ:''' Lieutenant-Colonel Ellis,
The companies of the Battalion, without any opposition from the enemy, reached and passed the first and second objectives; then after a brief halt
As the companies continued their advance, A Company finally came into some heavy opposition while a platoon of C Company, under the command of Second-Lieutenant Denereaz, managed to successfully capture a further 2 guns en route. A Company were heading towards ammunition pits when the attacking fire came their way, which stopped them dead in their tracks before reaching them. What faced them was something of a challenge, but the 1st Battalion Border Regiment had been in many positions similar to this and had gained a vast amount of experience in battle to deal with such situations. The obstacle before them was a strongly-held section of 2 machine guns and a half battalion of infantry. For the time being A Company remained at their present location owing to the fact that their right flank, B Company, had not yet reach them to form a continuous line of advance. Meanwhile, D Company, who had been in the rear moved around to form a defensive flank to reinforce the line. Later, B Company caught up but stayed in Battalion Reserve on the embankments of the railway station. In a combined effort, A Company of the Battalion and some in number of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers attempted an attack on the ammunition pits and were in their endeavours, successful. The pits were cleared and the line brought forward; the men waiting for further instruction on the next plan of action.
It had been decided that another attack would take place in the afternoon of the same day, however, due to information received at Battalion Headquarters by two of the officers commanding Companies A and D, it was then decided that in light of this new information, the attack that had original been set for 4pm was to be postponed. News of this decision, for whatever reason, did not reach C Company in time and so Captain Johnson, C.O. of the Company, continued with his attack. There had been 4 tanks issued to the 87th Brigade, Captain Johnson and his men advancing in rear of one of them. They were successful in reaching and ultimately taking their objective, resulting in the capture of 19 prisoners and 2 machine guns, however, this meant that their positions were effectively ‘open’ to flanking attacks, particularly from the right. The enemy was seen working their way around to flank his position but as Battalion Headquarters were aware of the situation, he was subsequently and swiftly order back to his original line before an enemy flank could be fully organised. C Company was still able to bring back the prisoners they captured as well as the two machine guns, a worthy and successful attempt considering the dangers. As the proposed attack was still on hold, the line was consolidated during the evening of the
There was little in the way of action during the night, with the exception of some occasional bursts of machine gun and sniper fire. This meant that many men would have been able to get a few hours sleep, making the most of the reasonable quiet. Midday, by now, was fast approaching and an attack of two battalions that was supposed to have started at 11am, had not because the opposition was far too strongly held at Masnières and Flot Farm. As soon as they came into view, a deadly fire from German positions cut across mercilessly which meant that the proposed plan could not be executed that day for fear of too much loss of life, a waste that could be prevented with further planning. Of the tanks used so far in the battle, one was stranded near Flot Farm. The others managed to return but were badly damaged, mostly by armour-piercing rounds, which caused many casualties amongst the crews. Another night had befallen the 1st Battalion and during this time several patrols were sent out into the quiet of the night.
The following morning tides were about to turn. Acting on information received by Lieutenant J.W. Johnston,
The 1st Battalion were relieved on the evening of the
The following day saw an increase in enemy activity, mainly in artillery. This day passed the men by with reasonable peace and quiet, something that they would have surely looked forward to at times of concentrated battle, chaos and continual noise. On the
The month of November had passed by. By the
There was further enemy activity by way of aeroplanes, which amounted to as many as 37 during the
It was possible that at any time the men could have been called for to move out at a moments notice and defend whatever part of the stretched-thin British front line they would have been sent to. Fortunately, the same night the entire 29th Division was relieved by the 36th, which meant, as it was usually hoped, that better surroundings would be upon them shortly. The men of the 1st
The Battle of Cambrai was coming to an end yet the casualties still came in. During the last phase of the battle, Captain J.W. Ewbank, M.C. and one other rank had been killed. Second-Lieutenant W.D.C. Thompson and 18 other ranks were wounded and a further three men were missing. As always, these men were casualties of war. Maybe their lives could have been spared if things were played out differently; maybe not. Loss of life was a cold hard fact and with so many men dying on a daily basis it was, and still is, sometimes difficult to believe that these battles, when won, were considered victories, sometimes for such small tangible gains. Yet congratulatory messages started to come through, firstly from the General Officer Commanding the 29th Division, then from Sir Douglas Haig downwards for the ‘services rendered’. Cambrai was just another notch in a long line of operations and battles both won and lost by the Allies to date. The 1st Battalion Border Regiment’s next major battle took them via the French-Belgian border before taking part in the forthcoming [[1st Battalion in the Battle of the Lys (1918)|Battle of the Lys]].
[[File:Cambrai 1919.jpg|thumb|center|1000px|The devastation of Cambria two years after the battle of 1917.]]
== References / notes ==
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[[Category:1st Battalion]]
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