1st Battalion in the Battle of Cambrai (1917): Difference between revisions
1st Battalion in the Battle of Cambrai (1917) (view source)
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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, DCM, who, during an audacious reconnaissance managed to acquire useful information that would see a practical development in the battle plan, it was decided that a new forward line, originally a German cable trench that had already been dug to a depth of 18 inches, would give an increased field of view, far better than at their currently location. Upon reaching this line, the night was used to dig in deeper and improve the trench as best they could in the time allowed. This swiftly was completed by the [[23 November]]. Very little happened this day, except for some occasional [[sniping]]. However, it was heavier in comparison to the previous two nights. The evening saw the men prepare further a communications trench and ensuring their entire front was fully wired; at the same time, from information received by patrols, the enemy were also hard at work in strengthening their positions as Flot Farm and the Roumilly Line, German efficiency at its best to consolidate an already strong point into something that would certainly be difficult to capture.
The 1st Battalion were relieved on the evening of the [[25 November]] after having spent the last 24 hours in continuous work in preparation of the trenches they were holding. The total number of men in the trenches at this time amounted to just 400 yet they managed to dig the total length of the their portion of the line, some 1,500 yards, to a depth of 4 feet 6 inches; of this distance, some 900 yards were double-belted with knife-rest entanglements. The next day saw the Battalion in Marcoing where they were suitably comfortable, taking temporary shelter in concrete cellars. This particular village, which was somehow almost completely undamaged and showed very little signs that any hostilities had occurred in or nearby, had a cache of German weapons, clothing and rations; it comes as no surprise that the men enjoyed their stay. They remained here for two days when on the 28th the Battalion was again ordered to move out to their former section of the line with the usual formation of three companies up front and one in reserve.
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{{quote-left}}the situation was most precarious and indefinite this morning, heavy gun-fire could be heard on our immediate flanks but not very heavy on our own front. Received word from Brigade that the enemy broke through yesterday and captured Gouzeaucourt, also La Vacquerie and Les Rues Vertes, but larger reinforcements had come up to counter-attack and the Guards retook Gouzeaucourt. Received message that the 86th Brigade will probably evacuate Masnières this evening and the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers consequently refuse their right flank to conform to this. O.C. ‘B’ Company (Lieutenant Johnston) therefore was ordered to carry out a reconnaissance of a possible support defensive line behind the Fusiliers, and this he did with great success. At 4pm a message was received from the Brigadier that the enemy was in possession of the E. side of Les Rues Vertes and that he (the Brigadier) was holding the bridges, but was in a very bad way and would probably be driven back. Lieutenant Johnston was therefore directed to be ready to at once occupy his defensive flank through the Ammunition Pits. At 6.30 a message came through from the Brigade giving details of the arrangements for the withdrawal of the 86th Brigade from Masnières, and this withdrawal was successfully accomplished during the night, without interference by the enemy, to the trenches at Marcoing.{{quote-right}} <ref>{{Wylly|pageno=160-161}}</ref>
There was further enemy activity by way of aeroplanes, which amounted to as many as 37 during the [[30 November]] and 1st December alone. This was cause for concern as the figure was counted in one go, flying together as low as 150 feet; [[Allied]] guns having little luck in bringing them down. German excellence kept their flying machines in the air and managed to avoid what could have been a serious threat to their attacking force. The 1st Battalion were, on the [[3 December]], relieved from the front line where they marched to Ribécourt via Marcoing. It was here that the Hindenburg Support lines were located. By the time the men arrived they were physically exhausted. The previous two weeks brought on a gradual strain and tiredness that needed to be addressed. The continual efforts of fighting the enemy and fighting to stay alive simply because they did not have the proper winter clothing to keep them warmer on those bitter days and nights open to the elements were showing their signs and the men were fatigued to the point that they were no longer a fighting force. It would have been a slaughter to send them out again without the right provisions to sustain them so for the duration of the 4th they ‘stood to’ but were still on alert, ready to move out if needed. The men were in dire need of [[
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 Border Regiment moved out and retired to Grand Rullecourt, taking them via Sorrel, Etricourt and Mondicourt to accommodation that was comfortable and thoroughly appreciated. This is hardly surprising considering the conditions they had just endured and so the most was made of the [[billet|billets]] they had now found themselves in; warmer than outside and a great deal more comfortable than the cold and hard ground they had to defend.
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