MY ARMY LIFE
By
Pte. W. Pfeffer
A coy. 8th Battalion MGC

Commenced on July 9th 1921
Finished

Upon hearing a speech by a well-known orator in Hyde Park, I became filled with that hysterical impulse called patriotism.

So the following morning, I presented my little self (I say little because, at that time I was only seventeen and short of stature) at the recruiting office in Cockspur Street. I asked if I could join the Royal Engineers and the sergeant told me that I was to short. However, after a little persuasion, he eventually let me go before the Doctor and the result was- Rejected.

Nothing daunted I came out and commenced walking down Whitehall, there I was accosted by a recruiting (officer), one of those strapping fellows who wear a red, white and blue rosette in their cap and who parade Whitehall and the adjoining streets for the sole purpose of getting recruits for the army. Of course the first thing he started speaking about, was the army. He spoke of the honour and the prestige of the army. The privileges enjoyed, and the different countries one would see. When he had finished, I said to my sorrow, no. Subsequently, events proved that I would join. So in I went.

In the main hall there were several tables and at each of these there sat either a sergeant or a civilian taking particulars of those who were joining. I lined up in the queue and soon had mine taken.

A sergeant then told several of us to fall in, we did so and he marched us away to several small rooms. We were told to strip and wait for our names to be called out. After several names had been called mine came and I passed through the curtain and found myself before a medical board consisting of three doctors. They soon passed me through the different checks and I was told to go and dress myself but to wait outside.

I did so, and after a short wait, a sergeant came out with our papers. He ran down the names telling each whether they had been passed or rejected. At last he came to mine, and to my joy, informed me that I was passed fit. They then marched those that had passed to be sworn in.

After that interesting ceremony, we each received two shillings and ninepence, one shilling being a days pay, and the remainder ration allowance.

I was told to parade in the Horse Guards parade on Wednesday morning. I duly presented my self at the said place and found it crowded with men of all ages and descriptions. On a platform there was a person calling out the names of different regiments thereby getting all the men into different batches. He called out mine and I went with the batch that was going to Waterloo railway station. Soon he had called all the names, and everybody having been told their batch, were all ready.

Two scotch pipers marched us to the station and it did seem strange marching along the road to the tune of those instruments. Our destination was Winchester in Hampshire and it was the depot of the “Rifle Brigade” which regiment I had joined. The train soon whisked us down and there on the platform was the regimental band. We formed up in fours outside the station and then marched away, the band leading, to the barracks.

It was not a long way and we arrived just in time to miss dinner. However they soon found us something to eat for we were famishing and at this time could have eaten a Lion. There being so many troops at the barracks at this time, they did not know where to put us all and when nighttime came we found ourselves installed in the Library. They gave us straw mattresses and three blankets each to sleep on. Some made their beds down on the tables, and others on the floor. For myself I managed to get a table. About nine o’clock we all went to bed feeling very tired but I could not sleep owing to the rough blankets rubbing against my skin. At last I managed to fall asleep and woke up refreshed.

The following day we were issued with our khaki and kit. The sergeant told us to put it on as we were to be inspected by the commanding officer that same day. I got the tunic and trousers on all right, but when it came to the puttees, oh I was in a mess. By good fortune, an old soldier came into the room and he showed us all how to put them on correctly.

Eventually we were all dressed and went out on parade for the first time. The officers inspected us and then gave a little speech. He spoke about the traditions of the regiment and hoped that we would keep them up to their high standard when we get to France.

Well the following day we were moved to some huts just outside the town and there we started training. I will not go into detail but it will suffice to say we trained very hard and for the first week or so I felt the effects of it.

We remained in these huts about ten days and than we were told that we were being transferred to a Battalion. We left Winchester and proceeded by rail to Sheerness. There we joined E. Coy. of the 5th Batt., Commanded by Lieut. Moore, and stationed at Minster-on-sea, about two miles from Sheerness. I had not been with the Coy. three days, when I was asked to be servant to Mrs Moore. I assented and was transferred to Headquarters, which was in an infirmary just outside the town.
While at H.Q. I saw the Princess Irene explode in the harbour, it was a terrific explosion, the second of its kind to happen at Sheerness, the first being the Bulwark, When it exploded the concussion was terrific and it broke several of the windows in the infirmary and that is about two miles or so from the harbour.

Towards the end of May, my officer went to the front and they transferred me to the officer’s mess. Well I was dissatisfied with the job and told the sergeant so. We had a row, and the result was, I was returned to duty. I drew equipment and rifle from the stores and within a week I was firing my course. When I had finished firing I was sent on what is known as my first leave. This lasted four days and when I returned I was warned for a draught to France. I was glad in one way, yet sorry in others, because I had got to like Sheerness and did not want to leave it.

It was the twentieth of June 1915 that I left Queen-borough and proceeded to Southampton, this being the main route to France at the time. Well we arrived in the docks, and moored alongside the quay was a two funnelled khaki transport, named the Princess Victoria. Well we boarded it but did not move out of the harbour until eight o’clock at night because at the time there were plenty of submarines about. Well when night arrived we moved out and sailing down the stream the forts played their searchlights on us. Outside the harbour we were met by our escorts, and after an exchange of signals, proceeded on our way. After being about six hours out the lights of Le Harve were sighted and they looked very nice from out at sea. We stopped outside the harbour and waited for the daylight to come, meanwhile the escort had left us.

When at last the light came we steamed up the River Seine. I think now the scenery that I saw that day, was the prettiest I have ever seen in my life, it was splendid. The banks of the river, several feet high, were thick with trees, and at intervals, half hidden in the trees were several white chateaux.

About nine in the morning we arrived in Rouen and disembarked. Well we marched through the town to the cheering of the people. After passing the Indian hospital we came upon a huge camp, which I afterwards learnt was the “Fourth Division” re-inforcement camp. We marched in and was inspected by the camp commander straight away. After the inspection they distributed us into tents and we were accommodated for the night.

Two days afterwards they issued us with our field bandages and oil sheets and we were then ready for the line. They did not keep us waiting long however, for the following day found us in the train on our way.

On the twenty sixth of June my draught joined the First Batt. at a place called Brielen, which lies just outside Ypres. Whilst lying in the cellars at night I could hear the guns and rifles firing quite plainly, and I might add, I got the wind up for the first but not the last time.

Well on the 29th my regiment moved into the line, the company to which I belonged going into reserve on the canal bank near Pilkem Ridge. From what I have seen since I think the bank at this particular place is worse than the line itself. All day long we were worried and pestered with trench mortar and machine gun fire, in fact our company commander had a special guard put on. When the sentry saw a trench mortar coming he would blow a whistle and shout out “mortar left” or “mortar right” as the case maybe. Many a man has been blown into the canal and had a nice ducking. I never enjoyed that experience and think myself very lucky because the canal was filled with barbed wire and anybody who did go in was lucky to get out alive. Many is the chap I have helped to fish out.

On the 5th of July our company moved into the line relieving one of our own companies. During the night we were told we were to attack next morning at dawn. Well at the time I thought that was encouraging news to a man who had been in the army barely three months.

When dawn came of the 6th of July what little artillery we did have opened and bombarded the German front line. I forgot to mention that during the night some artillerymen under an officer brought an eighteen-pounder gun up into our front line and when the guns at the rear opened, this one started too and blazed way at a saphead a hundred yards distance. After out people had been shelling some time they lifted there fire and our Battalion made one combined rush at the trench Jerry held. He did not make much of a show and very soon the trench was ours. This trench by the way was called “International Trench” so named because it has been taken and lost and filled with dead so many times that nearly every country engaged in the war has at some time held it. In fact since the time of our taking it the original one has been abandoned and a fresh one dug just in front. Of course the first thing we did was to set the Germans we had captured repairing it because during the bombardment it had been sadly battered in.

While a few of our fellows kept sentry and some others watched Jerry working, the remainder started to search the dugouts. Very shortly the word was passed down that Jerry had just before the bombardment received his mail and breakfast. I am afraid he never had any of it, for it was found already to be issued in one of the large dugouts. The coffee and black bread was handed round to our chaps and the treat was thoroughly enjoyed because it is very rare that the British Tommy gets hot tea or coffee when he is in line.

All the time work was going on Jerry kept sniping but the only hits he got was on two of his own fellows, however we bandaged them and sent them down the line. When night fell we were relieved by the “Lancashire Fusiliers”. I afterwards learnt that this same Battalion lost 850 men in a counter attack, which Jerry made on them the next morning. Of course losing all those men made them very weak and the result was they lost the trench.

After being relieved we proceeded to Wattoir just outside Poperinghe and there reinforcements were waiting for us. The roll was called and the casualties were found to be small. The Batt. rested in the village for a week and then suddenly got the order to pack up. We did so and presently found ourselves marching into the station at Poperinghe. Well we boarded the train that was already waiting for us and was soon on our way.

After travelling all day our train stopped at Doullens and we were told to disembark. The Battalion then marched to Terramesnie where we rested for the night.

Next morning at dawn found us on the road again. We passed through several villages and at each the villagers came from their houses and stood and stared at us because we were the first English troops to visit this part of the line. When we arrived at our destination they did absolutely everything that we asked them to do.

Well our sojourn lasted only a day and night when we received the order to proceed into the line. We moved up and the troops already in proved to be French. During the relief they made quite a fuss and kept whispering to us to keep quite. We afterwards found that this was absolutely unnecessary because Jerry’s lines were a matter of fifteen hundred yards away and he could not possibly hear us talking. When the relief was completed the Froggies filed out of the front line and left us to ourselves. We did not know where the Bosche was or how far he was away simply because we could not understand the French language. But at “stand to” the following morning our platoon officer came round visiting and told us everything we wanted to know.

All through the night and the next day we heard neither shot nor shell and thought this extremely funny especially after being in a place like Ypres, which is all shelling. Well the quietness continued for perhaps a fortnight when our own artillery got into action and started to shell Jerry’s front line. Of course he resented this and shelled us in turn. This caused a lot of grumbling amongst the troops because if our people had not started Jerry never would.

In the centre of the two front lines was an old mill on the banks of a river (I just forget the name of it) and this mill was the scene of much fighting, which occurred nightly. As soon as it was dark, each side, both Jerry and ourselves would send a party of men about twenty in number to try and take possession of this mill.

Well whoever arrived first had the advantage over the others who had to bomb their way in. and every night as regular as clockwork this happened. At times I went with the party and I must say it was no joke because if one happened to get wounded the chance was he was taken prisoner. One night in particular I remember because I took part in it. The party proceeded out through the barbed wire as usual, and started to crawl towards the mill. When we arrived within about ten yards of it all of a sudden over came a shower of bombs and machine guns opened out from Jerry’s front line. The fire from the guns compelled us to be low and of course made a good target for bombs. Several of our chaps were wounded and we bandaged them up best we could under the circumstances. I myself was lying side by side with a fellow who was not wounded, throwing bombs. Suddenly he whispered to me to look around and there I saw a man of my regiment dragging a wounded comrade to our own trench. As soon as he had got the fellow in safely he immediately started back for another. He continued to do this until he had all the wounded chaps in, six in number. Afterwards he was awarded the D.C.M. All the while this was going on both sides were bombing each other and when all the wounded were safely in we started to retire. Well, the remainder arrived back safely and we were mighty glad, because it had been rather exciting during the last two hours. We remained in this position for about 6 months, of course that took us over Christmas.

On Christmas Eve we were relieved from the line and my company went on out post duty in a railway cutting just in the rear of the support trench. This was not the ideal Xmas day and to make matters worse no mail arrived, but on Boxing morning a company came from the Headquarters and relieved us and we went back to join the Batt. at Mesnie, there the mail was waiting for us. We had a splendid dinner and in the evening a concert party came down and gave us a show. We all thoroughly enjoyed it and went to bed that night contented.

We did not go into the line again until the last day of the year. This was to allow the other regiment that we worked with, “The Somersets”, the New Years Day at rest. Well we did not mind that.

On February the 22nd the whole division was relieved by the 36th division, comprised of Carson’s Army, and we went back to rest.

Each company was billeted in separate villages and my company went to Canaples. The place itself was quite a nice little affair with just room enough for us all. While here I had my address taken for leave but I was to be disappointed, I afterwards found out. It was the custom here every morning for the A.S.C. to ask for a fatigue party and after the first day there was never any lack of volunteers, the reason being that the supply depot was in the same place as the dairy, which used to supply the principal hospitals in Paris. After the milk was sterilised it ran into an open tank ready to be out into cans, of course as soon as this was found out the troops made it their business to taste it and I might add they thoroughly enjoyed it.

Whilst at rest the Bosche attacked at Verdun and Canaples being a junction on the main line was the scene of much confusion. Trains loaded up with guns, troops and ammunition passed through day and night. Whilst on fatigue at the station I saw General Joffre. This was the one and only time I ever saw him. Of course this new stint caused all leave to be cancelled and we moved up the line, not to the same place however, but to a position further north.

After marching three days we eventually found ourselves at Pommern, which was the rest billet. We rested for the night and then went into the line relieving the 37th Division, my regiment exchanging positions with the “Warwicks”. This was a quite position, the lines in one part being 1200 yards apart. Of course this meant patrols having to be sent out and this was the worst job.

Occasionally both patrols would meet and then a few bombs were exchanged. We had sapheads running out at intervals from our front line, and a comprising three bombers would picquet these each night. On one occasion a patrol of Jerry’s raided one of these and I witnessed one of the bravest deeds I ever saw done and by a German at that.

A German patrol crawled up to the saphead and commenced throwing bombs. Our fellows retired to the front line, which is what they are supposed to do, and Jerry took possession. A party was got together immediately and started down the sap, rather cautiously. They came upon three Jerry’s at the saphead and soon bombs began to fly about. After a few had been thrown two Germans dropped dead and the other leaned against the trench with a bad wound in the leg. However, he continued to sling bombs over thereby keeping our fellows at bay. At last his supply ran out and our fellows captured him. It had taken them about twenty minutes and I consider that a fine feat of Jerry’s, don’t you?

We only stopped in this position six weeks and then the “Warwicks” came in and relieved us. We came out and went to Halwy, which turned out to be rather a dull place.

There training commenced for what was to be one of the biggest and most important events of the war. Our training lasted a month and we marched back to Mailly. They did not billet us in the village though but took us to a little shrubbery just outside and told us to build bivouacs. As luck would have it, it poured with rain and we had to stop two days.

On the night or rather morning of the 28th of June (my birthday) we moved into the line opposite Serre. Our people were to have attacked the next morning only a sergeant had been captured further south and Fritz had pumped him.

However on the morning of the first of July our people opened a bombardment, the biggest up to that time that had ever been. There were lines of guns all blazing away at Jerry and he must have had a very uncomfortable time.

When at last the dawn arrived our lads went over. My regiment in the first wave was stretched out in one long line, flanked on the right by the “Hampshires” and on the left by the “Ox & Bucks”. When we arrived at the German wire it had not been cut as it should have been and the consequence was that we had to file through what gaps there were. Jerry soon saw this and laid all his machine guns into these gaps, mowing our fellows down like wheat before a scythe. After much fighting and throwing of bombs we captured their front line and the next regiment the “Somersets” passed through us and went for the second. Meanwhile the “Hampshires” had got their objective and the “East Lancs.” had gone on. The remainder of my Brigade captured their part and the Tenth Brigade went through to get theirs. By this time Jerry had the better of it, partly because of superior numbers and partly because we were enfiladed. I will explain.

On our right was the 29th Division of Dardenelles fame and they could not capture Jerry’s front line. The result was that after a time when he had a chance to look round he found our flanks open and immediately turned what guns he could spare on to us. And of course we had nothing to do but retire. My regiment was rearguard and when the remainder had got back Jerry opened a bombardment and we could not move. The result was we had to lie out in the open or in shell holes. The wounded were in an awful predicament. They could not get back because the enemy was sniping at every thing that moved an inch. Several fellows lost their lives in the attempt to get back, whilst others died of exposure, myself not being wounded I laid in a shell hole until dusk arrived and then I commenced to crawl to our lines. I got back safely and found my regiment being relieved.
We marched back in some fashion to Bentoncourt. There a roll was called next morning and it was found we had lost about 800 men all told. I don’t know how many men the other regiments lost but they must have been very heavy from the dead I saw strewn all over the place. They let us rest while reinforcements came and then we went into the line again.

The front line we went into was not the same as the one we left though, the original having been abandoned because it was all blown in and beyond repair.

So you see that although our Division had been almost lost we had not gained even a yard, but rather had lost some ground.

 We stopped in for about nine days and each night was spent repairing our own trenches and putting out barbed wire. On the Thirteenth of July we were relieved by the “Royal Fusiliers” and went to Busse. The next day we marched to Beauval and I might say that plenty of fellows fell out on the way being completely fagged out by this time. We rested at Beauval and then boarded a train at Doullens and proceeded north. All went well until we reached Hazebrouck, there a German plane came over us and while we were waiting in the station dropped a load of bombs. As luck would have it he did no damage to the train, neither did he hit any of our fellows. The only damage he did was to completely demolish a Farmhouse about fifty yards from the station. When Jerry had finished we proceeded on our way and nothing more occurred. After arriving at Poperinghe we derailed and marched to some huts in Elverdinghe Wood. It was whilst in this wood that I saw the Prince of Wales chatting with some men in the “Scots Guards” who were in the same camp as us.

After resting 21 days, we went into the line and relieved the “2nd Grenadier Guards”. The position was quiet at this time owing to the battle raging down south and as both our troops and Jerry’s had been there we allowed each other quietness for the first few days. After doing seven days in the line we came out and went in reserve in the canal banks.

On the morning of the 8thAug. a false alarm was given by the gas hooter and we were told that the wind was favourable to Jerry. Of course all that day we were on the alert but about six in the evening the word was passed down that the wind had veered round to our side.

At eight o’clock we got dressed ready to proceed up to the line and filed on to the lower bank. After everything had been handed over correct we started on our way, my platoon leading. In due course we arrived at our destination without anything happening.

After taking my pack off I was posted as sentry, the time now being passed nine o’clock. At this time double sentries was in operation and the fellow who was with me was a very good soldier. We had not been on long when he asked me if I could hear a hissing sound, I replied that I could and strained my eyes over the parapet and saw what appeared to be a white cloud rolling towards us. I immediately cried to my mate “GAS” and he commenced to ring the gong furiously. The alarm was taken up on both left and right and soon rapid fire broke out along the whole front. At this time the regiment we had just relieved (The Somersets) had not left the frontline but were dressed ready, and it appears that in their eagerness to get out of the line some of them had put their gas helmets under the equipment. The result was that when the alarm went they could not get their masks out in time. When the gas reached our front line confusion reigned and some tried running over the top without their masks on. Most of these men were hit the bombardment and if not killed were wounded. Of course being wounded meant lying out there and perishing either from being gassed or gas getting into the wound and gangrene setting in. Others struggled to get down the communication trench to the canal bank. Whilst all this was going on my regiment had stood to the fire step and were firing as fast as they could.

It was afterwards I found out that this was the first time that Phosgene and Chlorine gas were combined. The combination had a marked effect on our masks because they had been treated with chemicals to resist Chlorine only. Well the Phosgene burnt and those that were not actually gassed were burnt all round the neck. Gradually men left the line gassed or wounded and soon the situation became desperate.

Lewis guns were all out of action and the rifles were becoming useless by the gas corroding round the bolts and preventing a free action. However the rifle and artillery fire kept down any possible attack and at 12 o’clock the gas ceased, but we did not take our masks off because gas still lay in the trench and would continue to do so for some time. We got no sleep that night and at last daylight came and those of us that were left were extremely thankful that we had been allowed to go through the night unarmed. After stand down we had a good look around and the sight we saw does not bear description. In fact it is beyond my powers of expression.

The trench was all battered in and almost level. Dead men lay all over the place, some with masks on and some without and when a man dies as a result of gas he is a horrible sight. He changes to a purple colour and foam fills his mouth and nostrils, the result of violent vomiting. Most of the men were partly buried by the blown in trench and after we had had something to eat we proceeded to get these men out and clear the trench, but at 11 o’clock my company were relieved by the “East Lancashires” and went down to the canal banks again.

After a good sleep, the roll was called and it was found that my company had lost about 180 men. This left us with about 30 men, no officers and only one non-commissioned officer. The other companies had suffered too but ours was the worst.

Well the Battalion stopped in for a week and then the “Seaforth Highlanders” came in and relieved us. We went back to Elverdinghe Camp, after being out of the line two days the sergeant major asked me if I would like a course of the machine gun. I said yes and joined the 11th Coy. M.G.C. on the 14th Aug. 1916 in a hutment just outside Poperinghe. We stayed there a while and I had just started to learn the gun.

Well the company moved into the line and the gun team to which I belonged went to a position in the China wall. This was a wall built entirely of sandbags. It was built because around Zillebeke it is impossible to dig trenches owing to water, and the wall protected those moving in and out of the line, besides preventing Jerry from seeing them. Our position was in a traverse and the gun fired through the wall. We remained here 18 days and each day I had a lesson on the gun so when we came out I was a decent gunner. I must have learnt a good deal because as soon as I was tested they transferred me into the M.G.C. and made me a number two on the gun.

We entrained at Poperinghe and went down to Amiens, where we detrained, marched to Corbie and was camped in tents alongside the River Somme. We did not stop here long however but went father up towards the line. After marching all day and night we eventually found ourselves in a trench full of dugouts near Montauban. Montauban at this time was ours but nevertheless near the line. After a good nights sleep they had us out salvaging shell cases. We kept this job for 4 days and then went into the line.

The position was just between Lesbouefs (which the Guards had captured prior to our reaching the line) and Le Transloy. We could look down on Jerry and see everything including Bapaume, which lay on our left front at a not very great distance.

At dawn on the 18th Oct. our lines attacked Le Transloy but failed to take it. Of course being in the M.G.C. I took no part in the battle except getting shelled. After the regiments that made the attack had reached our lines safely the word was passed down to keep a sharp lookout because a counter attack was expected. Well it came in broad daylight and I fired the gun in action for the fist time and it was good to be able to pump lead into them. After a short sharp struggle Jerry was repulsed and things quietened down and remained quiet except for an occasional shelling until the morning of the 23rd. our artillery put up a bombardment and the lads went over again but were repulsed once again. After these two stunts the regiments were reduced to mere handfuls and the Tenth Brigade was sent up to relieve us and we were right glad to get out of the hole.

This time we were sent back to rest and rest we found in St. Maxaut, a little village near Olsemont. There we plenty of enjoyment and sports galore. The divisional concert party were in the same village and they changed their programme fairly frequently. At this village the “Household Batt.” of Horse-Guardsmen joined our division.

When the rest was finished we moved up again and went into the line at Combles but my stay here was brief for after doing two days in I was brought out and sent on leave.

I will not write of what transpired on my leave but suffice to say I enjoyed myself. I was lucky in as much as I had the whole of Christmas at home.

I rejoined my Coy. on New Years Day 1917 and they were out of the line but not for long. We moved up again but this time went into the line at Beauchavesnes. This was the place from which Jerry started his retirement in March 1917. Giving up the communications trench a shell landed on the parapet and killed and wounded 7 of my section. This put the damper on our spirits for the time being. The number one of my team being wounded I had to fill his place and I have never filled any other since except when I have been a N.C.O. My gun team went into a firing position from which we fired every night.

We had a lot of trouble however because at this time snow had fell and the gun, if left for a short time, froze. Our position being in support we did not fire during the day consequently my gun froze. One evening Jerry, dressed all in white and faces the same, made a raid on our front line, crawling through the snow, when the SOS went up we opened fire and killed most of them, but my gun was seen and next day we were shelled out and had to change positions. We were relieved eventually by the 8th Division and went out.

Next morning we commenced a five days march arriving on the 17th day (March) at Bienvillers. There we went into strict training what for nobody knew, but we guessed that a stunt was coming. We remained here until the 4th of April and then moved up, stopping at Busse for one night. Next day we finished up at some hutments alongside the Arras-St. Pol road. On the second day we moved up still further to Dainville, where we prepared the guns for the front.

Three o’clock on the morning of the ninth of April we were all out on the road ready and with the mules packed. An hour before dawn the artillery opened fire and continued firing until dawn when our lads went over the top. When it broke daylight my company moved up into the line.

The ninth Division had captured all of their objectives and it only wanted us to get ours to make the whole scheme a success, that is of course, as far as our immediate front was concerned. At about 1 o’clock the infantry of my division attacked and we followed in rear at a distance of a hundred yards or so. All went well until we reached what was called “Effie Trench”. Here Jerry laid down his barrage, and we had no other course but to go right through it. This we did and the infantry had some casualties. My section however rushed through without losing a man, but the rest of the company was not so fortunate, no.3 section having 3 of their 4 guns put out of action, besides the gun teams being either killed or wounded.

After we had advanced a Kilometre (5/8’s of a mile) a German aeroplane came over us flying very low and commenced dropping bombs on us. When he had dropped some dozen or more my section commander gave us action on the plane. We mounted the guns and opened fire on him, driving him off back to his own lines. At last we reached our objective having advanced 6 Kilo’s and taking Jerry’s last line of defence. Right at the finish was the noted “Hohenzollern Redoubt” but this was soon taken and we were through. We got our guns mounted and opened fire on some Jerry’s who were trying to dig themselves in. After firing a belt they dispersed and ran in all directions.

We continued to get targets however because they were forced to dig in, in some sort of fashion and make a line and I might say we knocked a few down whilst they were doing it. One target I well remember. Three Jerry’s were following a cooker down a road, I gave them a short burst and they ran. I didn’t follow them with the gun but simply sprayed the cooker with bullets, puncturing all the Dixie’s. We ceased fire and they came back after a time for the cooker. I bet they sad a few words when they saw it. This may all sound so simple but you must remember we had advanced so far that all of Jerry’s artillery was on the move. In fact we hardly had a shell come over until the next day.

At midday the cavalry were to have gone through us, but they were late. This proved fatal, for the next day when they advanced Jerry was in position waiting for them. They were literally mown down and did not advance above a Kilometre, but they did one very important thing and that was to capture Monchy le Preux. This village stood on the top of a hill and on each side of it the ground sloped down, away from it; consequently a good view could be obtained for miles. To the South, Arras could be seen quite plainly, while to the Northwest in Jerry’s lines could be seen Doucie. From the banks of the Scarpe the ground sloped up to Vimy Ridge and from the Chateau in Monchy every movement could be seen.

I have since read that Monchy le Preux is in fact the highest piece of ground between Arras and the German Border. This village being of such strategic importance a fierce fight was made for it and at the close of day it was ours and never left our hands until nearly a year later.

The fighting around her lasted for some days, the chief cause being a chemical works which lay just behind Jerry’s front line.

On the twelfth of April the 9th Division attacked it but were repulsed not even getting near it. The 34th Division were sent against it but they failed also. Then a Brigade of my Division attacked it but they were beaten back, it appeared that Jerry had made stronghold of this factory and it was a veritable nest of machine guns all in concrete emplacements. Of course our people could shell all day and never hurt anything.

After being in the line a fortnight we were relieved by the 9th Division and went back to Bienvillers for a rest and a right good rest we had too. We did next to nothing and I thought that they had not done this for nothing.

When we went in again it was about the 18th of May. Well on the 22nd the “Rifle Brigade” (my old Regiment) without any barrage or shelling whatever, rushed the chemical works and took it by surprise. Jerry never fired a shot and they were all caught in their dugouts. Now that the works were captured the way was clear and our people advanced and took Greenland Hill. There we dug in and settled ourselves down. There was no more advancing down in this sector owing to being held up on the right at Bullecourt. All this had happened on the North side of the Scarpe and we stayed here until August when we were relieved and sent back to Arras.

We only stayed out a week and then went into the line again, this time on the South side of the river. Everything was quiet and except for an occasional shelling and a few bombing raids nothing happened. In fact whilst we were in this sector I had the chance one afternoon of walking through the village of Monchy. There I saw plenty of horses, men and equipment including swords lying all over the place.

At this time there was a battle raging around the Ypres sector and thither we went at the end of September. It was not however, until the first in October that we went into the line and our position was just in front of Langemarke or perhaps I might say what was left of that village.

When the company was warned that they were going to attack, my gun team along with one other from another section was sent down to Brigade Headquarters. Naturally we thought that we were alright there and that we would not go into the line this time. But we were disappointed as subsequent events proved. Well the Division attacked and everything was O.K. We saw the bombardment from where we were and I was glad I wasn’t in it.

At about eight in the morning reinforcements were being sent up and the officer in charge of our two gun teams went into Headquarters and asked the General what was going to happen to us. Of course the General gave him the order to proceed up to the line and take up positions.

We got packed up and started but what a journey. The ground in this part was one mass of shell holes and there were duckboards running up to the line. Well we got on to “B” track and Jerry must have had that in line for he did shell us. When we reached what was known as “Military Bridge” we ran into the barrage proper and we had a couple of our chaps wounded. Just at this time to make matters worse it started to rain so we took cover for a while behind a pillbox. We moved from block-house to block-house until we reached one called “Luiz” Farm. The officer gave “Halt” and started to look for positions. Whilst he was away, Jerry opened out and counter attacked.

The infantry were only a hundred yards in front so we shouted to them to keep low, but they could not hear us……………….