WITH THE MACHINE GUN CORPS.
ORANTHAM TO COLOGNE.
94
The Ypres Times,
Since the War a steady supply of Regimental Histories has been issued, each dealing
with the collective service of a number of Battalions comprising that Regiment, and each
adding its quota to the general fund, till in the end the whole being compiled together,
leaves a record of much interest and pride to those who participated in the events set
down. During the War, with its constantly changing requirements, new arms of the Service
were formed having no famous exploits of their predecessors to look back upon with pride,
and from which to gain inspiration and esprit de corps. Such an arm, formed at Grantham
•at the latter end of 1915, was the Machine Gun Corps. Recruited from every regiment
and every place, the Corps came into being to provide that preponderance of fire with the
use of the least possible human agency that was found to be imperative in dealing with the
hordes against which we had to contend it also provided a certain amount of consolation
and a feeling of security to the man in the line Members of the Machine Gun Corps,
in places known as The Suicide Club, had no famous exploits to look back upon, but
nevertheless they carried out their duty in a manner which leaves no doubt as to their
value, and the great service they rendered to their country.
We have not heard that any History of the M.G.C. has been issued by anyone in
a position to co-ordinate the deeds of the great number of companies that were at one time
attached to Infantry Brigades, and later formed into battalions one to each division.
We have, however, read with much pleasure a book now published, With the Machine
Gun Corps, Grantham to Cologne, by Arthur Russell (Dranes, 6s.).
Mr Russell, who joined the East Yorkshire Regiment in November, 1915, as a recruit,
and was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps a little later, gives an account of his
experiences as a Tommy with the machine gunners up to the time of his demobilisation
in April, 1919.
Being posted to the 98th Coy and shortly after joining the 13th Coy., which served
with the 13th Infantry Brigade, 5th Division, Mr Russell takes us up and down and in
and out of the line. The trenches with the mud, rats and that great friendrum, G.S.
bottles oneare all brought to our notice again.
The companies with which Mr. Russell served are to be congratulated on having had
such an able diarist to record their movements, and while this account certainly gives
them a pride of place in having their movements recorded, yet other members of the
Corps will find no less pleasure in following them about, for at one time or another they
all passed over much the same ground and their daily routine was also the same.
The sectors of the line into which Mr. Russell takes us bring back many memories
Givenchy, with its sand-bagged trenches, breastworks all above the ground level, as we
could not dig down here owing to the water which was found at very little depth below
the surface the Somme, 1916, when, in the course of the 1st Battle, the unit fought
at Bazantin by Mametz Wood. Many of us remember what took place there, the fighting
being as bitter as, and the odds against us more overwhelming than, at any other time,
although the conditions and shell fire to which we were subjected during the third battle
of Ypres were more severe. It was at this time that the artillery started the creeping
barrage, during which troops were to advance at a laid down rate pro rata with the barrage.
Many things went wrong here with terrible consequences. The density of the undergrowth
in the copses and woods very nearly prevented any progress at all, and the flanks were
