Canada in Flanders, Volume III

f the German defence. This foe was the mud, the hated Somme mud, deep, slithering, tenacious as glue, foul with all the filth left behind by the enemy as he gave back yard by yard.

eat 9.2 howitzers lurking in and around the tossed ruins of Pozières and behind Courcelette, were well supplied, thanks to the indefatigable labours of the road-making companies along the great and crowded artery of the Bapaume Road. But the 18-pounders, in their shallow gun-pits far out across the shell-swept stretches of the mud, had to be fed by pack-mules, carrying shells in panniers slung across the back. Such a method of transport was torturingly slow, and perilous to the last degree, but it was the only one capable of coping with the situation. Under the numbing strain the spirit and humour of our men remained irrepressible, as instanced in the following retort to a sentry's challenge. Under the chill downpour o

Pys Road, was committed to the 11th Brigade, under Brigadier-General V. W. Odlum, who had two Battalions from the 12th Brigade, the 38th and the 78th, attached to his command. There were thus three Battalions engaged upon the right sector, and five upon the left. The 10th Brigade, with its restricted frontage and limited objective, attacked with two companies of the 50th Battalion (Calgary Regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel E. G. Mason) and one company and one platoon of the 46th (South Saskatchewan Regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel H. J. Dawson) in the assaulting waves, with one company of the 44th (Winnipeg, Lieutenant-Colonel E. K. Wayland) in support. General Odlum made his attack with four Battalions, each represented by two companies in the assaulting wave, and one Battalion, behind his centre, in support. The attacking Battali

assault following close behind it-so close, in their eagerness, that a sergeant swore he might have lighted his pipe at it. Presently this barrage merged into the standing barrage along the German trench. At fourteen minutes after the launching of the attack the combined barrage lifted from the doomed trench and rolled inexorably onward for another 250 yards, where it rested as a barrier against counter-attacks. The trench was seized, all opposition being swiftly overwhelmed, and our men rushed on behind the barrage to a distance of 150 yards

, and earned warm commendation for General Watson and his hard-fighting 4th Division. To get an idea of the f

jective lay open to concentrated artillery fire from the enemy's rear, and was murderously cross-raked by the fire from a number of machine-gun nests. It proved, in the

it got involved in our own smoke barrage, lost its direction (and consequently its touch with the troops on its left), swerved to the right, and left an open gap of about 200 yards between the two Brigades. Then the Germa

man trench, and the trench was occupied in full force. At the same time a torrent of machine-gun fire opened up on the left. The wave was broken. The survivors took refuge in shell-holes, where they had to lie all day under a ceaseless storm of shell and bullets, till darkness enabled them to crawl back to our lines. The second wave fared even worse. It was caught by the enemy's barrage as it was coming over the parapet. Torn and diminished, it nevertheless rushed on, in the face of intolerable punishment,

s in doubt the Germans launched a counter-attack from Coulée Trench against the 54th Battalion. They advanced with a great show of resolution several hundred yards, then suddenly, to our astonishment, flung down their bombs and rifles, threw up their hands, and rushed into our line as eager prisoners. About 8.50 came news that the 38th Battalion, n

this reason the Higher Command decided that it would be inadvisable to attempt to hold such an advanced position as the 38th and 87th had taken in Grandcourt Trench. In the course of the day, therefore, came orders that all advanced units were to come back to their original first objectives and consolidate there. The line of Desire Trench, thus gained and secured, was an admirable one, strong for defence, and advantageous to attack from when next the occasion should off

ll respects complete within itself, were removed to the north of Arras, to take into their competen

endous tasks should be set to these fiery and indomitable fighters of the North. To the Canadian Battalions the impregnable and the invincible had come to mean a challenge which they welcomed joyously. They knew that the utmost of which men were capable was n

PE

LOGICA

ST-NOVEMBER

an Corps o

embe

mpré. 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade takes over right section of line

embe

o Brickfields under orders o

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ouquet Farm to the north-west and round the farm to the south. Command of the Canadian Corps area in the Ypres salient pa

olling, reconnoitring, a

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ighting round Mouquet Farm commences and our men repulse an attack west of Mouquet.

embe

th reserves in Quarry and Tom's Cut, Centre Way and Union Trench. A very heavy hostile artillery fire hampers ou

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bardment over the whole front line and area. A large party of Germans a

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Kay Trench, and our artillery retaliates on Zollern Redoubt. The Royal Flying Corps reports enemy communications fu

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ck Mouquet Road and drive our men back. Later in the day a strong attack is defeated by our bombe

is to advance our line in co-operation with III Corps until we can obtain direct observ

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y of Windmill to Munster Alley, gaining objectives and capturing two machine-guns and some

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tively breaks up hostile formation against 1st Brigade. On the left sector the 2nd Brigade drives back several Ge

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g the 4th Brigade defeats an attempt to rush our posts established in f

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the Ovillers-Courcelette Road and t

uquet sectors the 2nd Brigade is relieved by the 8th Brigade, 3rd Division, including the 2n

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be very nervous and many deserters come into our lines at night. The 4

ork. The enemy advance in numbers against the sector held by the 1st and 5th Ca

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t was hoped that the cavalry might penetrate the German lines east of Courcelette and disable communications and guns ro

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fternoon, resulting in a line being established from the point of the original salient east of Mouquet via Fabeck Trench to west end of Courcelette then around north

Chief congratulat

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d establish posts in advance trenches north-north-east of Courcelette. The 3rd Division to be prepared to capture the line of the Zollern Graben to Festen Zollern-and Mouquet Farm. The Germans massing troops and hostile

s over the Gunpit Trench line to the B

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5th Brigade attacks east of Courcelette, at the same time sending a bombing raid up Sunken Road. Small successful offensives help to clear up our positions, though the hostile ar

nd north-west of Courcelette and gain observation over the Ancre Valley and especially over the enemy tren

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ng bombing and machine-gun posts north of Courcelette under

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in our trenches. A counter-attack organised by the 4th Battalion and the li

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Division attack the Zollern Graben Line and after severe fighting succeed in entering the trench. Fighting stubbornly, our men repulse four counter-attacks, unti

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ad and the right front line, though a German battery su

rigades holdi

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secured and some prisoners taken. Patrols from the 9th Brigade establish posts in High Trench West. The Canadians holding a line from a point near M

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ds Le Sars line and 1st Division is instructed to work up the trench north of Bapaum

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o Fabeck Graben. (R.28.c.3.6.) Continued severe bombardment of our lines. A strong enemy patrol attacks our new post

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ourcelette to the Schwaben Redoubt. The 2nd Division objective a new German trench north of Courcelette-the 1st Division to take the Kenora and Regi

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f Courcelette, but after several determined attacks succeed in gaining their objective. The enemy resist stubbornly, and during the night bombard Courcelette and the whole front line. The left of the 2nd Brigade is

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1 p.m. A fresh attack was made in the afternoon and the whole regained and held. At 6.30 p.m. it was reported that the Germans had withdrawn from their line between the Bapaume Road and the Co

and driven the 14th Battalion from Kenora Trenc

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es a determined attack against our Hessian Trench and our posts about Kenora Trench. Our line in process of construction from Bapaume Road to Dyke Road to East Miraumont Road to a point 150 yards up Courcelette Trench and south to

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ade on the Canadian left, attack and capture the German communication from Hessian Trench to Courcelette Road. A strong post established. Very heavy hostile artill

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uilding defences. 8th Brigade takes over 5th Brigade lines to

9/16.-"The operations of the Reserve Arm

is attack will rest on the Bois Loupart (inclusive). The left of the attack wi

tack by the V. an

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line from Destremont Farm to the junction of the Courcelette and Regina Trenches, thence the line o

d, but a heavily-reinforced counter-attack drives them back to Hessian Trench about 6 p.m. However, our troops succeed in establishing a new line from the Courcelette Trench across the Pys Road, thence running north and

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red of Regina Trench from the East Miraumont Road to the Le Sars line. Our troops very busy establishing the new line and Regina Trench is shell

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A night reconnaissance of Regina Trench produced little result owing to the intense darkness. Reserve Army decides to postpone operations planned for Oc

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The Royal Canadian Rifles occupy Kendall Trench and establish posts within

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Regina Trench heavily. Our men busy digging new jumping-off trenches in

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e. 3rd Division sends out patrols

on assumes command of the Destremont Farm front. T

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lery arrives at the Somme and

mpleting preparations for the attack. Patrols work along Twenty-three Road from the j

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gina Trench to the Kenora communication between the Grandcourt and Twenty-three Roads. The two right battalions reach their objectives and on the left the 7th and 9th Brigades gained a footing in the Ger

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ad to Below Trench, at which point junction is made with the British Brigade on

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rth Practice Trenches, but our troops actively continue the construction and consolidation of the

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Near the East Miraumont Road the Germans attempt an attack from Regina Trench, but the barrage of the 2nd Divisional Artillery prevents them from leaving their own parapet. Parties of Germans driven by our ar

3rd Division lines, with the 8th Brigade

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a heavy bombardment. Our artillery active in wire cutting and a deliberate shelling o

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the proposed offensive. The enemy bombard Martinpuich, and our f

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th Brigade lines. Left Brigade trenches damaged and communications cut by an intense

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g a great deal of damage to the hostile defences and causing many casualties. The village of Pys bombarded also, and many enemy observation posts demolished. A large party of Germa

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but our artillery silences several hostile batteries and causes many casualties in a body of infantry observed north of

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ina Trench from Courcelette Trench to a point just before the junction with the Pys Road, then easterly to the sapheads built by the 10th Brigade. Strong blocks to be pushed out along the East Miraumont Road and the German trenches r

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nced headquarters in the North Practice Trenches, and has a great deal of trouble establishing satisfactory

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twenty-four hours. The 10th and 11th Brigades working hard driving saps towards Regina Trench and establishing jumping-o

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mplete the demolition of the enemy's wire. A quiet day for the infantry, but the trenches are full of wate

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m. our men are busy consolidating the captured area. Enemy massing near the Coulée Trench dispersed by our artillery fire. Further information received that

Division leaves

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asily repulsed. The 10th Brigade to complete the capture of Regina Trench. The state of the front lines

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right to the Chalk Pit south of Warlencourt, and the preliminary attack arranged for the 24th. 11th

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a, is very much exhausted by the severe conditions, and the minor operation is postponed for t

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hine-gun fire from the Quadrilateral the men are quite unable to reach their objective. The 11th Brigade have bombed eastwards from the block in Regina but as the 44th Battalion do not arrive the Germans are

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llery active south of the Albert- Bapaume Road. German troops observed in larg

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w defensive works between the Regina and Grandcourt Trenches, but makin

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h Battalion sends out patrols to locate new enemy lines. The roads are very bad

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llery and machine-gun barrages effectually preven

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until November 5th. Heavy rain renders the condition of the fro

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while our guns are busy wire-cutting and destroying German defences. Satisfactor

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s and communication trenches. The 10th Brigade sends out patrols to intercept and cut up ho

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yards. Weather clears and aircraft and artillery correspondingly bus

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ve on both sides. Observation patrol reaches a point north of the Destremont Road and

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umont Road. 10th and 11th Brigade patrols work up East Miraumont Road and to the east, some of our men reaching Gall

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. Patrol report that the Germans have thrown out new wire in front of their new trench north of the Quadrilateral, running east from Bel

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ted that enemy aircraft have blown up an ammunition dump near Meaulte. A scouting party from the Right Brigade work down Farmer Road to Dyke Road, patrolling as fa

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enches. German wire appears very thick and strong along the Below Trench between the Quadrilateral an

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ecting Desire Trench with East Miraumont Road. Arrangements made for attack by 10t

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he Pys Road, to Farmer Road and to establish strong blocks at the junctions and beyond, north

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ed and preparations made for the attack. Hostile

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ough the 102nd Battalion, in the northern attack, unable to maintain a post as far north of Regina as had been hoped. A very successful attack-the

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enches. Our heavy guns bombard Desire Support Trench successfully with little hostile shelling

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place a barrage on our right Battalion lines and Dyke Road. Ou

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lls into our lines. Enemy aircraft raid our camps and bases during the n

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n of Below Trench. It is proposed to extend our line in that direct

or an offensiv

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e until checked by the retaliation of our artillery. The 11th Br

e German new trench with Desire Support. The 11th Brigade to take over the front now held by the 54th Brigade, 18th Division and advance

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e new trench north of Regina, the southern p

l wire cutting

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r men have great trouble, meeting with heavy artillery and machine-gun fire, and are ultimately driven back to Regina Trench. Parties from the 38th and 87th Battalions advance into Grandcourt Trench and take many priso

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ench and Desire Trench-to clear out the Germans who held up the right of our attack on the 18th. In the meantime Coulée Trench is bombarded with excellent results. The 12th Brigade holding the left of the line from

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the enemy attack our working party, capturing several of the men. Our patrols retaliate

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proposed relief of our guns, and the general artillery activity less than usual, though a hostile bombardment of

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e 12th Brigade. Hostile bombardment of our front line, while our artillery retaliates on a trench runnin

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New Street, but ca

the new enemy trench between Below and Desire Trenches, and disper

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German infantry observed on the Miraumont Road, and badly cut up by our artillery

Corps for the relief and

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igade relieved in the line by the 12th Brigade, who will hold the entire front line until final relief by the 51st Divis

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achine-gun Battery, to clear out hostile patrols and working parties.

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factory. Enemy artillery quiet, though movement of troo

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he 4th Division le

adian Corps with the 1st A

HOWING OPERATIONS BY

BRITAIN BY R. C

AMFORD STREET, S.E.