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ITINERARY. WEEK-END TOUR.
Leave London 11 p.m. Friday.
Arrive Cambrai 9 a.m. Saturday.
Embus on Tour 10.30 a.m.
Return Hotel 6.30 p.m.
Embus on Tour 8.30 a.m. Sunday.
Return Hotel 6.p.m. Sunday.
Entrain for London 10 p.m. Sunday.
Arrive London 7 a.m. Monday.
To work in the City as usual 9.10. a.m.
The Tour may be an excellent change of aira sea voyage and a trip across France
thrown inbut a "JOY RIDE", NO
To continue
This year, our studies have been varied and all extremely interesting and instruc
tive. Here they are
"A Action of the Cheshires and Norfolks at ELOUGES, 23rd August, 1914.
"B." Rearguard action of the Royal Munster Fusiliers at ETREUX, 27th August,1914.
"C." Battle of CAMBRAI 1917.
(i) The attack on the village of Fontaine Notre Dame and Bourlon Wood by the 2nd Guards
Brigade Nov. 27th.
(II) Counter-attack by the 1st Guards Brigade on Gouzeaucourt Nov. 30th.
(III) Attack by the Guards Division (1st and 3rd Guards Brigades) on the St. Quentin Ridge
Gonnelieu Dec. 1st.
"D". Battle of the SELLE, and the crossing of the Oise Canal, 1918.
(I) The attack of the SOUTH AFRICAN BRIGADE, 66 th Division north of LE CATEAU
October 16th 1918.
(II) The crossing of the SAMBRE and OISE CANAL at Lock No. 1 by the 2nd Bn. Royal
Sussex Regiment (2nd Brigade 1st Division.)
A few words on some of these actions may be of interest. The Official History
deals with all at length, but few of us have either the time or the inclination to delve
into history. "Sufficient unto the day", is a motto common to many.
In most of these actions, we were fortunate enough to have one or more officers who
had actually been present during the fighting, it was possible, therefore, to trace almost
every footstep taken.
Elouges.
Little did we realise, in these early days of 1914, what a deluge of strength the Ger
mans were about to let loose.
Elouges was one of the early experiencestwo days after Mons. The tidal wave
was sweeping upon usdifficult enough to stop in ordinary circumstances, but this was
was a case of the 5th British Division being over-lapped by two German divisions on
the left flank.
The 1st Cheshires, 1st Norfolks and the 119th Bty. R.F.A. were in reserve, and at
11 a.m. were ordered to stem the tide.
An excellent fire position had been taken up, normally strong enough to hold up
three times their strength, but alas not strong enough to hold the world.
The Germans came on regardless of casualtiescame on again and again, but not
until late in the day did they succeed in winning the position.
The Norfolks, less exposed and having a better line of retreat managed to extricate
themselves, but the Cheshires were decimated and the remnants taken prisoners.
The following are extracts from an account of the battle by the O.C. Norfolks -
"Just as I was dictating a message lor our Brigadier that we were in a strong position and
everything seemed quiet on this flank, suddenly an officer shouted,'Great Heavens, Colonel,
look over there' Through glasses we could see a mass of Germans moving in dense columns
over open ground just North of QUIEVRAN. We could see at least four or five thousand and
knew that there must be many others out of sight."
"And what targets our men had seen The worst shot in the Regiment, who never hit a
bulls-eye in his life, believed he had killed a thousand Huns."
