31
The Ypres Times.
St. Eloi, Hill 60, Dickebusch, our beloved Messines-Wytschaete Ridge. We were all
prepared to give up the sun of Northern Italy for the mud of Flanders. W'e little thought
what was in store for us.
I think it was on 14th March, 1918, that we got back. W'e were as pleased as children.
Our good friends, the Fourth Army, had kept our beds warm. In all good fellowship we
seemed to delight in altering every notice from Fourth to Second Army." Anyhow
we were back. Would it ever be daylight so that we could get off to see old friends and
faces again The Corps Commanders and senior Staff Officers were coming in to see us.
The same ones from whom we had parted only four months before.
We should soon pick up the threads again from them. They were the men with
whom we had worked through all our operations of the previous year.
I can see them now telling us what troops they had and how situateda total of
14 magnificent Divisions as far as I remember, including four Australian Divisions holding
our beloved Messines-Wytschaete Ridge. The worst part of the line was the Passchendaele
Salient held by VIII Corps under Lieut.-General Hunter Weston.
W'e were quite happy as regards our situation and happy to be back.
Little did we imagine what the situation that daj- week would be. The blow fell a
few days later, as we all remember, on 3rd and 5th Armies21st March.
I will not dwell on that great offensive here. One remembers the great strength of
the German Forces which were hurled against the comparatively weak British Forces on
an all too-extended front. The odds were too great. The situation soon became serious.
Here was the great wedge we had heard so much about trying to force itself between the
French and British Forces. An incident comes back to my memory as I write. I recollect
accompanying my Chief to Lord Haig's Headquarters at Montreuil in answer to a
summons. We knew or guessed for what purpose we had been summoned. To hear the
situation and to say what reinforcements could be provided from the Second Army in
case of necessity. I think the most interesting study I know is to watch a Commander
in a crisis. I have watched many. Some get worried, some get cross, some are quite
calm, some just breathe confidence amongst those around them. It is on these occasions
when all that is best in a great Commander comes out. He rises head and shoulders
above all around him. It is then he realises that his subordinate Commanders are there
to help him and with their loyal help he can face any situation. I was, though a junior
officer, to be a witness of just such a scene. We knew what terrible responsibility was
resting on Lord Haig and what he must be feeling as we entered his room. He greeted
us exactly as if nothing had happened. He was just calm, cheerful and courageous. I
marvelled as he took us over to his big map and unfolded to us the latest situation. It
was a heartrending story as one thought of our poor Divisions fighting for their lives to
stem the tide of overwhelming numbers of Germans. He told us the story in as calm
and clear a manner as if he had been describing a situation at a war game. When he
finished he said Well, Plumer, what can you and your Second Army do for me?
I was now to witness a scene between two great men in a crisis. First of all my Chief,
with 14 Divisions holding 33 miles of front including the Passchendaele Salient, without
a moment's hesitation, said I'll give you eight Divisions at once." Lord Haig then
said That means you must give up Passchendaele." Not I! answered the stout
hearted Commander of the Second Army in a tone I shall never forget. It was a wonderful
moment. These two great men with their arms linked in front of that mapthe one faced
with awful responsibility and with the heart of a lion, the other just offering to give his
Chief everything he had and more, but with a fixed determination not to give up one inch
of ground to the Germans in the process. The heart of another lion. Within a few
minutes of that scene we were on our way back to Cassel full of hope and courage. I have
visions of railway time tables by night and day. Division after division left us at lightning
speed for days. We did not stop at eight. Of our original 14 Divisions which we found
