1st Battalion in the Battle of Cambrai (1917): Difference between revisions
1st Battalion in the Battle of Cambrai (1917) (view source)
Revision as of 17:11, 28 March 2017
, 7 years agoText replacement - "sniping" to "sniping"
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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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