98 THE YPRES TIMES
Since the ground over which this attack was to be made was completely open, as far
as the slightly rising ground on which Bixchoote was perched, we realized that the task
we were about to undertake would be both difficult and costly.
At 10.45 having explained details of the plan to the men, the attack began.
The Company I belonged to was on the extreme right and we at once came under
long-distance rifle fire. Consequently I ordered the men to extend to four paces interval
and on we went without returning fire.
Supported by a field brigade of artillery, the advance went on steadily until the
German shooting became more accurate and several casualties occurred. I therefore
called a halt and looking through my field glasses was able to see the German trenches
in front of Bixchoote, although the occupants were invisible. To get closer and deal
with the garrison in the trenches I ordered the advance to continue but now only by
sections, widely extended, and covered by those awaiting their turn, whom I ordered
to fire at the German trenches and also at the houses, which were obviously occupied
by the enemy. On we went, gradually working forward by rushes, which decreased
in length as we got nearer and nearer. At every rush men fell and had to be left to
their fate until the fighting was over.
Disdaining the bullets which hurtled past ustack, run, swish, tschin, tschin,
tack, tack, tack, tschin on we went to gain our objective, which was to close with the
enemy. Soon we had worked up to within two hundred and fifty yards of the German
position, where we joined the survivors of the Cameron Highlanders. Full of fight and
much cheered up by our arrival they had been supporting our advance manfully. They
were sheltered by some partly dug trenches which they had been able to construct
during the night and we thankfully dumped ourselves down amongst them, glad to
gain a temporary respite from the enemy bullets. From this position we could now
occasionally catch sight of the Germans whose firing had become less accurate, owing,
I presumed, to their terror at seeing us approach nearer and nearer, in spite of their
efforts to stop us, and also to some of their bravest men being killed by our deadly
markmanship.
We were now so close to the German trenches that we paused to concentrate
all our energies on wearing down his nerves until he dared not show a hair.
Therefore we began to fire for all we were worth at selected portions of their position.
Little by little we got the upper hand, but the slightest attempt on our part to advance
was met by angry bursts of fire and several officers and men who bravely tried to gain
a little ground were shot down.
During this time I noticed the Germans dodging past a gap in the hedge, about
250 yards directly to our front. I ordered the men nearest to me to fire at them as they
attempted to slip past the gap. Remembering their snap shooting practice in peace
time on the range, the men entered into this task with zest, and many of the flitting
figures were seen to fall. We afterwards found twenty or thirty dead Germans lying
there. A red house in front also gave us a lot of trouble, as it contained several rifle
men who bravely continued to shoot at us, but eventually the garrison ceased fire, and
were afterwards found inside, dead or wounded to a man.
On looking to our rear I saw the Regimental stretcher bearers, under the Sergeant-
Drummer much in evidence, removing the wounded to the first-aid post, although they
were forced to carry out their task under a gruelling fire. As the Germans were no respectors
of the Red Cross, they were repeatedly fired at, but casualties did not deter them in
the least from carrying many wounded from the stricken field.
And so the fight went on until about one o'clock, when the firing from the enemy
trenches almost died down. The time had now come to put the finishing touch to the
engagement and we began to work forward in small groups until only some two hundred
yards separated us from the enemy. From this point of vantage the whole regiment
rose up, and with rousing cheers, which must have put fear into the hearts of the Germans,
