This section of the Long, Long Trail will be helpful for anyone wishing to find out about the day to day activities of the army.

Coverage

This extract covers 10-13 April 1918, when the battalion was deeply involved in defensive fighting around teh village of Merris in the Battle of the Lys.

Extract

11th April . At about 11 a.m. on the 11th April 1918 this Battalion received orders to move from bivouacs about Haute Maison to support the 50th Division and to take up a line from L 4 central to F 28 b 2.8. The 11th Bn, E.York.R. were on our left and the 11th Bn. E.Lanc.R, on our right. This Battalion was taken up and entrenched with three Coys in the front line and one in support in F 28 c. In the evening orders were received from Col. Hickman to move the Support Company to occupy the line held by the 11th Bn, E.Lanc.R. and this was done.At about 11 p.m. orders were received to readjust the line with the left of the Battalion resting on the road junction at PONT WEMEUIL F 23 a 50 the right remaining at L 4 central. The support Company resumed its original position. The night was quiet.

12th April. The 40th Division withdrew through us at about 7 a.m. At about 7.30 a.m. hostile shelling began, accompanied by rifle and M.G. fire, especially from the direction DOULIEU. There was much hostile aerial activity and at least 6 enemy balloons were up, some of them very close. Enemy movement in strength was observed along the roads in L 6 A and C and in front of the left Company - Artillery support was asked for. At 9 a.m. the fire had become intense on the right. Enemy troops had got into the houses East of DOULIEU and a field gun from somewhere on the road in L 3 c was blowing in the posts on the right. All the Officers except one of the right Company and a large number of O.Ranks were killed and wounded and touch with the Battalion on our right (2nd Royal Fusiliers) was lost. At the same time information was received that the 93rd Brigade on our left were retiring. At about 10 a.m. orders were received from Col. Rickman to withdraw and take up a position from the road junction F 14 0 3 4 to the railway at F 8 c central. The withdrawal was extremely difficult owing to the deep dykes and hedges, the simultaneous retirement of troops on our flanks, and heavy hostile shelling and M.G. fire. It was covered by the support Company. Shortly after reaching Haute Maison and getting some of the Battalion into position I met the Brigadier and received orders to alter the line and to hold a position from Haute Maison to road junction in F 21 a 77 linking up with the 11th E.York.R on our left and 11th Bn. E.Lancs.R. on our right, This position was taken up and touch obtained on our right but the 11th Bn. E.York.R. did not appear and our left was in the air. The enemy began to work round our left and I received orders from Col. Rickman to swing round our left and to hold the line from Haute Maison to the railway in F 8 d central. This move was carried out successfully, great help being received from 3 M.Guns of the 29th Division. Just as this position had been taken up orders were received from the Brigade to prolong our left along the railway and join up with the composite Battalion at about F 8 d 8.5. This move was attempted but the enemy were met instead of the composite Battalion so I withdrew the left to its original position. After this, working in conjunction with the 11th Bn. E.Lanc.R we withdrew by successive retirements to E 12 b 4.2 under orders from Col. Rickman to extend the line north of the rai1way, the left of the 11th Bn. E.Lanc.R. being at the point mentioned. On reaching this place I met an Officer of the Brigade who pointed out where the composite battalion were digging in. A position was then taken up from the railway to link up with the composite battalion, and consolidated.The night was quiet.

13th April . During the whole day at intervals there was considerable enemy shelling of our positions and towards evening a certain amount of M.G. fire and sniping. No hostile attack in force was attempted though about 200 of the enemy attempted to attack the right Company in the afternoon. They were dispersed. In the evening the Battalion on our right was heavily attacked and our right company assisted them with M.G. and rifle fire. About 4 a.m., on the 14th the Battalion withdrew through the First Australian Division. This move was carried out quietly and without interference.

Remarks

(1). The original withdrawal on the morning of the 12th was very difficult. The enemy were able to get close up under cover of the houses, hedges etc on our right, without interference, owing to the absence of artillery support and all our movements were visible to the enemy aircraft which were in large numbers. The right company suffered very heavily indeed and stood a very severe bombardment both by artillery, rifle and M.G. fire. Orders as to the positions on which to withdraw and the route to be taken in case it became necessary had been issued by Col. Rickman on the night of the 11th and communicated to OC Companies. When orders for withdrawal however, were issued it was found very difficult to keep to these routes. The enemy’s advance was very rapid and along the whole front, the Division on our right were retiring at the same moment by the same roads and the Brigade on our left had withdrawn. The country was intersected by deep and broad dykes and not a few men were drowned in attempting to cross them. These facts forced certain parties off the proper route and they did not rejoin until after we had got to our final position. They then rejoined from the details.

(2). On taking up the position near Haute Maison I was informed that the 11th Battalion was on my left. This was not the case and from then my left was in the air. The situation was difficult as observation was practically impossible owing to the close nature or the country. Patrols were sent out to the left and posts established along the railway embankment to protect the flank. Close touch was kept practically the whole time with the 11th E.Lanc.R, on our right and no withdrawal was made except to conform to orders received from Col. Hickman.