Seventh Manchesters index
Holding the Line.
EPEHY.
On April 27th, our period of fatigues ended, the 7th Manchesters marched out of
Peronne in the full panoply of war, not gaudy, but serviceable for modern
requirements and not lacking the element of weight, with the certain knowledge
that their next deeds would be accomplished "in the presence of the enemy." The
enemy of 1917 and after was not so elusive as the Turk of the Sinai, so there
was no possibility of marching on and on and never feeling his force! That night
was spent at Villers Faucon, and next day preparations were completed for
relieving the 4th East Lancs. in the front line trenches east of Epehy. An
advance party of an officer and a few N.C.O's. per company had been sent forward
to learn dispositions and other information about the line, and the thousand and
one minute details about rations, tools, Lewis guns, water, guides, intervals
between platoons and sections, etc., etc., had all been dealt with when we got
on the move once more in the early evening.
Everyone expected to take over trenches such as we had in Gallipoli or had read
about, but we were rather staggered to find that the battalion front was not
vastly different from the outpost positions we had made on the desert. This is
explained by the fact that the front was just in process of solidifying from the
liquid state as a result of the German recent retirement to a safe position. The
enemy therefore looked calmly down upon us from his elaborate Hindenburg system
of trenches beyond Vendhuile whilst we expanded our isolated outposts into
organised continuous lines. He himself, however, was also busy digging a sort of
outpost work in advance of the main line of defence, for he had held up any
further British advance principally from a bulwark of land mass called the Knoll
on the western side of the canal, while his main line was really on the eastern
side.
Because of the disjointed condition of the front there was always a danger, when
going from one company to another, of men wandering into the Boche lines. This
unfortunately did occur one night to a couple of men of the 7th who had to make
their way with L. G. ammunition from the Quarry to the Diamond (a forward
isolated redoubt) for they struck a wrong direction and walked into a hail of
enemy bullets. One was killed and the other wounded. Pte. (afterwards L.-Cpl.)
Summers and Pte. Johns distinguished themselves on this occasion, for, realising
what had happened, they volunteered to go out and recover the men. After being
away for more than two hours, constantly sniped by an obviously-startled enemy
they found them and were able to bring back the wounded man. Unfortunately this
deed was not recognised by the higher authorities or they would have been the
first to have won distinction for the battalion in France.
Little Priel Farm came in for a good deal of hatred by the Boche, and the
variations in its contour was a daily source of interest to the troops in the
vicinity. The battalion observers in the innocence of their hearts and the zeal
born of the new opportunities to put their training into practice, selected the
corner of the garden for an O.P. and just as things were growing interesting in
the field of view of the telescope, the Hun instituted a "certain liveliness" of
a different sort. Repetitions of this sort of thing convinced the observers that
no useful purpose could be served by staying there, so they left--fortunately
without mishap--and they were eager to inform the I.O. that their new position
was infinitely superior to Little Priel Farm! It was in this vicinity that Pte.
Wilbraham was killed by a shell. This news saddened the whole battalion, for he
was our champion lightweight boxer, and we had been entertained many a time on
the desert by his clever exhibitions.
There was naturally a good deal of digging to be done in this sector, and
although relieved eventually in the front positions by the 5th, the battalion
found itself up in the line each night making continuous trenches. It was in
connection with this work that we lost our brigadier, General Ormsby. On the
night of May 1st, he, with a number of R.E. officers, was examining the position
near Catelet Copse when the Boche suddenly started a short hurricane
bombardment. The trench he was in was only waist deep, and soldier and leader to
the end he disdained to take full advantage of the scanty shelter, preferring to
set an example of calmness and steadiness under fire to his men. A piece of
shell struck him in the head and he died almost immediately. This was a great
blow to the brigade, just at the commencement of their adventure in the new
warfare. It was sadly remarkable, too, that he himself was the first officer
casualty in his brigade. A few days later, during which time Lt.-Col. Darlington
of the 5th assumed command, the new brigadier arrived--General Henley,
D.S.O.--and we were fortunate to keep him as our Commander until the end of the
war. The brilliant record of the 127th brigade in France is testimony to his
qualities as a leader, and it was not very long before every man and officer in
the Manchesters was proud of him. General Ormsby always remained, however, as a
tender memory to those who had served under him.
Villers Faucon, which had been the rear H.Q. and transport lines was invaded by
battalion H.Q. and two companies when the battalion moved back into reserve, but
we did not stay long here, because the 126th brigade required assistance in the
completion of their trench system in front of Templeux, and to do this we had to
move into the quarries in that district. The other two companies carried out
similar work in the vicinity of Lempire and Ronssoy. There was very little of
interest during the succeeding days after which the brigade moved out to Roisel
prior to accompanying the division to the Havrincourt sector of the front.
HAVRINCOURT.
At the end of May the battalion marched out with the remainder of the brigade
from Roisel and in one day reached their destination behind the Havrincourt Wood
sector. We there remained for a short period in the region of Ytres and Fins.
Little time was lost in the necessary preliminaries and we relieved a battalion
of the Duke of Cornwall's L.I. of the 21st division in support in the wood. "D"
company were early unfortunate and suffered a number of casualties from heavy
shelling on the shallow trenches which they manned near the western edge of the
Wood. The enemy had noted the continued movement in this vicinity, and suddenly
decided to pay attention to it in the usual manner. This spot was always
remembered afterwards as "Where 'D' Company were shelled."
Conditions at Havrincourt were rather different from those at Epehy, although
the same characteristics due to recent consolidation still prevailed. It was
more interesting, however, and in many senses more "livable," a word of deep
meaning on the Western front! In the British lines--the canal, the slag-heap (or
more correctly slag-heaps) and the wood dominated all other landmarks. The
canal, a portion of the Canal du Nord, was in course of construction at the
outbreak of war, and its deep, well-laid bed is one of the engineering wonders
of this part of France. At Havrincourt it first runs west to east and then
sharply bends to the north towards Moeuvres past Hermies. The left of the 42nd
divisional front rested on the bend, after running over a huge chalk and
limestone slag-heap which stands at the corner. Going southwards the line
roughly skirted the eastern edge of the wood which lies upon a slope facing the
east.
Before their retirement, the Germans had cut down all trees on this forward
slope, some said in order to make use of the timber, others for tactical
reasons, so as to leave us exposed to view. I should say both reasons weighed
heavily with them, but principally the latter, for it was noticeable that the
woods in their own lines had not been so denuded. Havrincourt village lay behind
the enemy's front line on a ridge that dominated our own positions. Further
beyond were Flesquieres, Marcoing, Premy Chapel and Ribecourt, where the main
line of resistance of the Hindenburg system could be plainly seen, while further
over to the left on the highest ground was Bourlon Wood, which was to become so
famous in the history of the British army. Every day the battalion observers
watched parties of Germans, large and small, working on these rear trenches
apparently quite unconcerned about the fact that they could be plainly seen.
Periodically our air service issued aeroplane photographs showing the
extraordinary development of these trenches, their elaborate construction, the
concrete dug-outs, and solid rows of heavy barbed wire, until it almost came to
be recognised that an assault upon them would only be attempted by the maddest
of leaders, and the prospect of having to take part in it took one's breath
away.
The chief job of the battalion was to guard by day, and get command of by night,
the large extent of No Man's Land which varied from 400 to about 1,200 yards
across. The day work was easy, but at night it was fraught with quite
interesting possibilities. The Boche was not very inimical here, and seemed
anxious to lull us into a feeling of peace and security so that, I suppose, he
could get safely on with his digging, for he had still a good deal to do. His
outbursts of shelling, therefore, although at times disagreeable, gave one the
impression that its chief purpose was to remind us of his constant presence. At
times, especially in the evening, it seemed to afford him amusement to dust our
lines indiscriminately with gas shells. Our gunners, however, were not so
lenient and they frequently made excellent use of their good ration of
ammunition, so that we were able to make daily notes of the changes in the
scenery, particularly in Havrincourt village. Considerable interest was aroused
one morning, soon after our arrival, by the sudden disappearance of Havrincourt
Chateau in a cloud of red brick dust and smoke. This was always a mystery and a
frequent source of controversy. Did the Boche blow it up, and if so, why? Or did
it go off as a result of our shelling, and again, if so, why? Some said they saw
stretcher-bearers moving about amidst the debris afterwards, which rather
indicated the second theory.
We enjoyed the advantages of a continuous front line here, but naturally a good
deal of time had to be spent in perfecting the system, both in digging and
wiring. The brigade was given an opportunity of leaving its mark on the
war-geography of France, two copses in No Man's Land being dubbed "Wigan Copse"
and "Dean Copse" by the 5th, while we were responsible for "Manchester Trench"
and "Cheetham Hill," "Henley Lane" serving to keep green the memory of the
brigadier. Two great chalk craters showed up in front, "Etna" and "Vesuvius"
respectively, and one of the jobs of the patrol commanders by night was to find
out if the former was occupied by the Hun. We very soon found that it was, and
that he appeared to use this and the two copses as starting points for his
patrols. Thus, when our parties went out at night, the possibility of an
encounter in No Man's Land was never remote, and indeed there were a few clashes
of this sort. It was all a great education for the battalion, for such work as
this had not often come our way in the Gallipoli days, and there had been no
opportunity of practising it since. It was considered advisable to get as many
officers and men as possible out on patrol at some time or other, for there was
a noticeable difference in a man's morale, and in his attitude towards trench
life, once he had returned from such an adventure. He was conscious of having in
a way asserted his manhood--more than his pal who had not been out--and the dim
uncertainty of what there might be in front of our wire had gone. He knew now
what was there--nothing. He was acquainted with the ground in such a way that if
the enemy did wish to attack he knew exactly where he could get him with Lewis
gun, rifle or bombs. A spirit of confidence was thus engendered in the whole
battalion, as was eventually shown when a few ventured out on patrol in broad
daylight, and obtained some very useful results.
Realistic gas drill was indulged in occasionally at night because the enemy had
an irritating habit of putting over a few rounds of gas, either shell or T.M.,
at irregular intervals. He caught out a few of the East Lancs. by this trick,
which naturally produced a state of "wind" in the division so that everyone was
more than ever "gas alert." After a few nights of gas alarm, in the middle of
one of which the transport officer had to commandeer a fatigue party (in gas
helmets) to extricate a full water-cart from a shell-hole, most of us became
"fed up." Another night someone imagined he felt the pineapple smell of the type
of gas the Hun then used, and the alarm was passed along the front trench. One
of the officers on duty was determined to make sure this time, and stopped the
passing of the message. He made his way along the trench where the men by this
time had assumed their gas helmets, until he came to one stolid, oldish man who
was on sentry, staring truculently out in front without his gas protection on.
"Jones," said the officer, "can you smell pineapples?" "What, sir," he grunted,
"I could if I had a tin of 'em under my nose!"
One night, while we were in support to the 5th, one of their officers, in charge
of a patrol sent out to investigate the ground around "Wigan Copse," got into
the Copse and discovered a Boche post there. The startled enemy had apparently
made off. The next night the 7th took over the front line at an unfortunate
moment, for the Hun had decided that "Wigan Copse" must be "retaken" at all
costs, and they began the business with a barrage all over the place but
particularly on our front line, just as we were beginning the relief. It was
decidedly unpleasant, and we had no idea what it was about until we heard the
brutes cheering as they rushed into the empty copse. From a report which we
captured later we found that this was another addition to their long list of
"victories," and I have no doubt that a few iron crosses were doled out to
commemorate the occasion.
After three and a half weeks' continuous duty in and around Havrincourt Wood the
battalion moved out for a week's rest to Ruyaulcourt in brigade reserve. It was
a pleasant diversion and we made the most of the glorious weather with football
matches and very successful sports, the latter largely taking the form of comic
dress contests.
The affair of "Wigan Copse," and the constant patrolling activity exercised by
ourselves and the 5th in that direction had induced a lively interest in this
spot, until finally it was decided to raid it, and the 7th were selected to do
the job. As this was the first effort of this nature attempted in the division
there was naturally a good deal of anxiety as to the result. The 8th were to
co-operate with a diversion on "Dean Copse," and if possible, of course, they
also were to obtain prisoners. "C" Company (Capt. Townson's) were honoured by
the C.O. in having to supply the raiding party of 40 men, and 2nd-Lt. Hodge was
put in charge. His qualities as a leader, and his expert knowledge in bayonet
fighting left him undisputed as the officer most fitted for the business. He
took his men off to Ruyaulcourt, when we had gone into the line again, and there
trained them vigorously "over the tapes" for the task in hand. Each time he took
them "over" they were inspired to a fiercer zest for the blood of Boche, so that
when they returned to the Slag Heap on the night of July 2nd every man was
primed up like a fighting cock.
Careful reconnaissance during the preceding nights, and long scrutiny by day
through telescopes and field glasses left no doubt as to the weak spot in the
Hun armour. He had placed low wire in front of the copse but had no protection
on the flanks. A track leading from the front line showed how his men moved up
to occupy this outpost position and also the probable route taken by patrols. As
it also seemed evident that the copse was held at night only, the plan of the
raid was obviously to give the enemy ample time to settle down in the outpost,
and then dispose the raiding party so as to strike in on an exposed flank. The
western side was selected, because there was little or no danger from the canal,
and it left the 8th a free hand to deal with "Dean Copse." At the appointed time
our men filed quietly along and got into position across the track without any
alarm being raised. Lewis guns were posted at one or two points to cut off
retreating Huns. At 1.8 a.m. exactly, our guns opened fire, not upon the copse
of course, but upon the enemy main lines. A remarkably good and accurate barrage
was put down on the German front line, which formed a crescent within which lay
the two copses, especially on known M.G. positions; while, by request, the
Australian heavy guns from the next divisional sector northwards joined in with
crumps on strong points behind the front line. Simultaneously the raiding party
leaped up and rushed into the copse like howling dervishes. Some hours of a
deathly, eerie silence, the nerve-racking quality of which is only known to
those who have experienced it, and made all the more impressive by the fact that
it occurred on a front which is not usually quiet, was followed by a sudden din
and an unexplained mad charge of the hated English. It must have put the fear of
God into the Germans of "Wigan Copse," for they made no effort to resist and
tried to "run for it." In fact one poor devil--a youngster--who had been lying
out in the grass on sentry (but must have been doing his work rather badly) got
up and ran with our men. Hodge noticing his unusual headgear, seized him by the
scruff of the neck and flung him bodily, rifle and everything, back to his men.
No one wanted him at the moment, for the "fun" in the copse had to be
encountered yet, and he went from hand to hand until one of the covering parties
took him in charge.
Two more prisoners were secured on the edge of the copse. Several other Germans
who offered resistance were bayonetted while Hodge shot one or two with his
revolver. Then it was discovered that the Hun had not left himself so badly
protected as we had thought. Interlaced among the branches and shrubs at about
five feet from the ground were strands of barbed wire which caused a few nasty
cuts and scratches on the faces of some of our men. It was found to be
impossible to go through the copse because of this, but Hodge had good reason to
be satisfied with the night's work. He had secured his toll of prisoners as
ordered, without sustaining a single casualty, and had inflicted other
casualties on the enemy, for his men had emptied rifles and Lewis guns at the
few flying Boche and into the copse, so he gave the word to withdraw. The men
had crawled out at the beginning like fighting cocks, but they came back like
roaring lions. They were naturally in a great state of excitement, because it
was their first venture of this sort, and it had been crowned, after a glorious
five minutes' rough and tumble, with unqualified success.
2nd-Lt. Hodge was decorated with the Military Cross for this feat--the first
M.C. in the division in France--and this was really the beginning of a brilliant
career for him as a soldier. He was eventually transferred as a Company
Commander to the 5th East Lancs. with whom he obtained the D.S.O. From there he
progressed to Major with the L.F's., and finally finished the war as Commanding
Officer of the 8th Manchesters, leading back the cadre of that battalion to
Ardwick Green in March, 1919. He is unreservedly one of the officers whom the
Fleur de Lys are proud to claim.
Sgt. McHugh and Ptes. McLean and Braithwaite received Military Medals on this
occasion, and they also were glad to know that they opened the long list of
decorations that the battalion was to obtain in France.
I have spent some little time on this "Wigan Copse" raid because it is an
important event in the history of the battalion. The 7th Manchesters never
looked back after that show, and they held up their heads in the proud
consciousness that they had attempted a good thing and had achieved it. It gave
them confidence--for there was a reputation to live up to, and all felt that
they could not possibly fail once a job was begun. And so it was. Nothing the
battalion ever touched in future went wrong, and there has been no incident in
the war which the 7th need look back upon with remorse or regret.
Another important event in our life at Havrincourt was the digging of a new
front line about 500 yards in advance of the old one along almost the whole of
the divisional front. The 5th, being the collier battalion, achieved their part
of the business on the Slag Heap, while the 7th and 6th worked on their right.
The first night was a great success, there was not a whisper of protest from the
Boche, and we had cut through an almost continuous line, adequately protected by
concertina barbed wire, and particularly strengthened at various points where
posts had to be held during the next day. The enemy must have rubbed his eyes
rather vigorously next morning when he saw what had been accomplished during one
night. However, he soon began to register on the new trench, and unfortunately
an isolated tree (Cauliflower Tree) helped him in this work. We were not
surprised therefore to have our labours frequently interrupted on the next
night's digging by violent displays of wrath accompanied by pyrotechnics. One of
these was particularly spectacular, eliciting from a digger the remark:
"Wouldn't Jennison be damned jealous if he was here now!"
Rumours increased about going out for Divisional rest, until elements of the
58th (2nd line London Territorial) division began to appear and make
reconnaissances of the front, from which we augured good. One of their C.O's. on
being told that we had arrived in France in March, was quite delighted, and said
he had been searching the British Army for troops who had come out after they
did. They arrived a month before us--but from England! Nothing pleased Col.
Cronshaw better, and he carefully led him through the exploits of the 42nd from
the day they sailed from England in September, 1914. The London C.O. left the
dug-out with a more or less chastened countenance, and I presume he still
continued his search.
July 8th was our last day at Havrincourt, and although we were glad at the time
for the promise of a respite from trench duties, we have since frequently looked
back on those sunny days with great pleasure, for by comparison it was a "bon
front," and picturesque withal, which can hardly be said about any other sector
we learned to know. The light railway was utilised again to take the battalion
to Ytres, and after a night there we marched first to Barastre, and then to
Achiet le Petit, beyond Bapaume.
ACHIET.
The 127th brigade resided under canvas about the battered village of Achiet le
Petit on patches of ground not too incommoded by shell holes. The war had passed
comparatively lightly over this portion of France, but a short walk westward
took one to the battle-scarred fields of the fierce Somme fighting, and this was
useful to us for we could pay visits to these districts to learn something of
modes of battle in those days. One day, the Brigadier took a number of officers
to Thiepval and recorded his own personal experiences of the fighting around
there. On another occasion a brigade scheme took place on the famous Gommecourt
trenches. We little guessed in those days that we should actually be fighting
for our lives in those same trenches in less than twelve months. It seemed as
though the tide of war had rolled over this ground for ever, and that the very
earth would cry out if it were to hear again the shrieking and tearing of shells
that came to wound it.
Intensive training was the order of the day, and realising that we had still
much to learn the work was seriously taken up. The men came from Lancashire, the
division had been sorely tested by fire in Gallipoli, and by endurance in the
Sinai, so that hard work under able leadership was all that was required to
uphold the flag of achievement which had yet received no stain. As the days wore
on, and we had almost forgotten our trench activities at Havrincourt, rumours
began to float once more about an early move, and this move was to be connected
with a big stunt coming off soon "up north." At any rate no one disputed the
suggestion that our next contact with the enemy would probably be of a more
serious nature than the last.
Let it not be supposed, however, that these rather sordid thoughts occupied our
minds completely whilst we remained at Achiet. Officers and men took full
advantage of the period of rest, and the weather fortunately was exactly suited
to enjoyable life under canvas. The thing of the moment only concerned us, and
this was more often than not an important football match with another battalion,
a game of cricket, a sports day, a visit to the divisional concert troupe--"Th'
Lads"--who gave some very good shows about this time. Boxing was a great thing,
and Pte. Finch, who was, poor chap, killed and buried in this spot the following
March, knocked out all comers in the divisional heavyweight. Some of these
events took place in a huge crater, which had been transformed into a sort of
Roman amphitheatre, produced by the blowing up of a large and deep German heavy
ammunition dump. In the divisional sports also, the officers proved that they
were at least the most able-bodied in the 42nd by winning the Tug-o'-War cup.
On the whole, we look back to the weeks at Achiet as a period of solid training,
plenty of "Spit and Polish," but "lots of fun." On the 1st of August we got word
of the big offensive at Ypres amidst all that disastrous rain, and we expected
to move up there any day. It was not until three weeks later, however, that we
did move, and then it was known definitely that we were for Flanders. The
battalion marched down to Aveluy, near Albert, on an enervatingly hot day and
remained one night in huts there. The next night they entrained and proceeded to
Poperinghe in Belgium, and so added another country to the list of those they
visited during the war.