The rain poured down in buckets, and everyone was drenched3 to the skin by the time we reached our destination; however, the cooks got busy and a hot meal was served, soon after which we received orders to move forward. It should be mentioned here that Major D. Carmichael, D.S.O., M.C., second in command of the 58th Battalion4, and one of the outstanding officers of the 9th Brigade, was transferred to us as Officer Commanding just after leaving “Y” huts.
The roads were packed with transport and guns coming up from every direction, and we picked our way by overland routes to Inchy, and from there to our new area, east of the Canal du Nord.
The kitchens were unable to move with us, and we[81] bivouacked in shell holes that night with no covering except waterproof5 sheets, and no hot dinner. About 3 a.m. the next morning the kitchens arrived, and the men gathered round them in small groups to try and get warm. It is surprising how good a thick bacon sandwich is with a ration6 of rum, about 5 o’clock in the morning!
About 7 a.m. the battalion moved forward, according to plan, closely following the 58th Battalion, through Bourlon Wood, which had been captured only a few hours previously7 by the 4th Division, and by 10 a.m. we were assembled behind a railway embankment to the east of Bourlon, and in full view of the city of Cambrai. Up to this time we had encountered nothing more than scattered8 shell fire, and we had had no casualties.
From our embankment we watched some tanks coming out of action, and at 6.30 p.m. we received verbal instructions that the 58th Battalion would attack the Marcoing Line, and that the 116th Battalion, passing through the 58th, would attack and capture the Village of St. Olle, which is a small suburb of Cambrai.
Zero hour was set for 7 p.m., and in consequence there was no time to discuss any plan of operation beyond the fact that “A” Company (Capt. Preston) and “B” Company (Capt. Orr) would lead the attack. By the time we had reached our positions it was dark.
The attack by the 58th was successful, and we moved through their lines in the direction of St. Olle. Judging by the machine gun fire the village was strongly held,[82] and as no reconnaissance of the ground could be made, and only a very general direction maintained, it was decided that we would not proceed with the attack until daylight. Battalion Headquarters was established, and rations9 were brought forward and distributed to the companies under the very nose of the Bosch, who could have wiped us out if he had only known; and so darkness has sometimes its advantages also. During the night it was possible to make some preparation, and at 6 a.m. the next morning “A” and “B” Companies, with “C” Company (Capt. Williams) and “D” Company (Capt. Patterson) in support, resumed the attack.
The leading platoons had scarcely started when they were caught between cross belts of machine gun fire, coming from a small trench10 in front of St. Olle and Petit Fontaine on the right, and after an hour’s fighting they had hardly made any headway at all, and had lost practically the whole of their effectives. News of this disaster was brought by Lieutenant11 Smith of “B” Company, who rolled over the parapet of the trench just outside Battalion Headquarters in an exhausted12 condition. From all he said, it appeared that “A” and “B” Companies had been annihilated13; that Captain Preston and Lieutenant Palmer were both wounded and prisoners, and that Lieutenant Norton had been killed. This information was corroborated14 by Private Stankewicz, who had been taken prisoner with Captain Preston, but who later escaped to our lines.
Under these distressing15 conditions it seemed almost[83] as if our gallant16 unit would fail, for the first time, to win its objective. A battery of our Field Artillery17 were in action about one thousand yards directly to our rear and a messenger was despatched at once to explain the situation to the Battery Commander, and, if possible, obtain his assistance.
Fire was immediately brought to bear on the machine gun positions in the St. Olle trench, and the work by this battery, in conjunction with our own Lewis guns, was so effective that it was possible to work two platoons from “C” and “D” Companies around the north-west of the village, and Lt. Bonner, who was placed in command of the operation, succeeded with consummate19 skill and bravery, in rushing the St. Olle trench, destroying a large number of the enemy and capturing one hundred prisoners with ten heavy machine guns.
“D” Company was then able to push through the village as far as the junction18 of the Arras-Cambrai and Bapaume-Cambrai roads, along which posts were immediately established, and the remnants of “A” and “B” Companies were withdrawn20 to Battalion Headquarters.
If Fritz had not been so concerned about his own safety at this time he might have found the retaking of St. Olle a very easy matter, for after practically three days and nights without sleep the resisting powers of the gallant “Umpty Umps” were fast waning21.
On account of the severe casualties the battalion was reduced to three companies, each one having an average[84] strength of ninety rifles, and orders were issued by the Brigadier to make use of the Battalion Band and Bugles22, as the attack was to be continued on the first of October.
Such things had happened to other units we knew, but we certainly did not relish23 the thought of losing our “music,” although the “music” itself, with the true battalion spirit, was game to the core. During the day Major Carmichael, with Major Pratt and Lieutenant Bonner, made a reconnaissance of the ground immediately between us and Cambrai, and were very nearly put out of business by our own heavy artillery, which had started to register without warning, on the junction of the Arras-Cambrai and Bapaume-Cambrai roads.
All that night it poured with rain, but towards dawn the weather commenced to clear, and companies moved off from their positions around St. Olle, “D” Company leading, followed by “C”, “B” and Headquarters. An intense artillery barrage24 was encountered whilst crossing the Douai-Cambrai Road, and the battalion suffered quite a number of casualties. Major Carmichael was badly wounded in the face, and gave instructions to Captain Allen, the next senior officer, to take over the remnants of the battalion.
On our left we could see the 4th Division advancing in artillery formation, lines of men in single file going steadily25 forward as if nothing could stop them; it was most inspiring, and everyone started cheering.
It seemed somehow that the Germans were at last[85] beaten, and that the war would soon be over, but our feelings of jubilation26 were a little previous, for after progressing about a mile our leading companies were stopped by a withering27 fire coming from the right flank.
On observation we discovered a battery of field guns, and quickly changing front, we engaged them with Lewis gun and rifle fire. By this means we managed to work up within close range, and most of the crews being killed or wounded the remainder disappeared over the brow of the hill. Following up closely it was found that they had taken up a position in a small triangular28 wood, which we eventually surrounded and captured, together with about eighty prisoners, four machine guns, and the battery of field guns mentioned above.
“D” Company and some sections of “C” Company then advanced slightly, taking up positions in front of the wood and facing Ramillies. Whilst holding this line they came under very heavy fire, and a battery of “whizz-bangs” opened on them at point blank range. For an hour or two the situation was most uncomfortable. The battalion on our right had been held up, and the 4th Division on our left had been forced to retire, leaving both our flanks in the air.
Reorganization in our present precarious29 position was out of the question, and after hanging on for two hours we decided to withdraw behind the western slope of the hill, where we established ourselves in a line of rifle pits, and got in touch with our right and left flanks. By this time the men were thoroughly30 exhausted, and[86] news was gladly received that the 24th Battalion would relieve us that evening.
Our total casualties for the last four days’ fighting around Cambrai were four hundred all ranks killed, wounded and missing.
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1
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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2
situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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3
drenched
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| adj.湿透的；充满的v.使湿透( drench的过去式和过去分词 )；在某人（某物）上大量使用（某液体） | |
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4
battalion
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| n.营；部队；大队(的人) | |
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5
waterproof
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| n.防水材料；adj.防水的；v.使...能防水 | |
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6
ration
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| n.定量(pl.)给养，口粮；vt.定量供应 | |
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7
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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8
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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9
rations
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| 定量( ration的名词复数 )； 配给量； 正常量； 合理的量 | |
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10
trench
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| n./v.(挖)沟，(挖)战壕 | |
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11
lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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12
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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13
annihilated
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| v.（彻底）消灭( annihilate的过去式和过去分词 )；使无效；废止；彻底击溃 | |
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14
corroborated
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| v.证实，支持（某种说法、信仰、理论等）( corroborate的过去式 ) | |
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15
distressing
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| a.使人痛苦的 | |
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16
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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17
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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18
junction
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| n.连接，接合；交叉点，接合处，枢纽站 | |
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19
consummate
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| adj.完美的；v.成婚；使完美 [反]baffle | |
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20
withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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21
waning
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| adj.（月亮）渐亏的，逐渐减弱或变小的n.月亏v.衰落( wane的现在分词 )；（月）亏；变小；变暗淡 | |
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22
bugles
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| 妙脆角，一种类似薯片但做成尖角或喇叭状的零食； 号角( bugle的名词复数 )； 喇叭； 匍匐筋骨草； （装饰女服用的）柱状玻璃（或塑料）小珠 | |
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23
relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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24
barrage
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| n.火力网，弹幕 | |
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25
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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26
jubilation
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| n.欢庆，喜悦 | |
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27
withering
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| 使人畏缩的，使人害羞的，使人难堪的 | |
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28
triangular
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| adj.三角（形）的，三者间的 | |
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29
precarious
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| adj.不安定的，靠不住的；根据不足的 | |
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30
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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