42
The Ypres Times.
frontage and was in position by 6 a.m. on the 29th May. Shortly afterwards, the Germans
were seen advancing down to the river line, but they did not attempt to cross it. Their
guns were established in the positions held by us the previous evening, but one or two
light guns were brought to the river banks and used against the most trivial targets.
It was a beautiful summer day and as the rations were served in the early morning all
were in good spirits. During the morning, small groups of French troops pushed through
the cultivation to the river line and our posts thus relieved were withdrawn to the line
of the road. An urgent message was received at Battalion H.Q. at 1 p.m. from 64th
Brigade H.Q. to the effect that the 62nd Brigade near Rosnay, 2 miles to our left rear,
were severely pressed and expecting a heavy attack, and that the Battalion was to pro
ceed as quickly as possibly to the heights south of that place in reserve to that Brigade.
The French troops were now responsible for our frontage. The Battalion was concentrated
in the copse near Battalion H.Q. and moved under cover of the trees a short distance
and then sent off in small parties across the open to a wood east of Rosnay. Although
they were strung out with big intervals, the enemy artillery caused us many casualties.
The assembly was completed and a position in reserve to the 62nd (Bincoln) Brigade
was taken up south of Rosnay. The Battalion was established in the outskirts of a wood
on the heights south of Rosnay on the west side of the Rosnay-Faverolles Road. Apart
from furnishing alarm posts for the Battalion bivouac, the men rested until nightfall.
Early in the morning of the 30th May, before daybreak, the battalion was withdrawn
from the operations to Méry-Prémecy, where Brig.-Gen. Headlam gave his instructions
for our march to Marfaux, which was reached about 1 p.m. The men were very tired,
but the tension of the previous few days was relieved, and after the issue of rations and
a few hours rest, the Battalion took its place in the 21st Divisional Column leaving Mar
faux at 3.30 p.m. The rapid progress of the enemy on the left made it imperative that
the transport and remnants of the Division should be withdrawn south of the River
Marne whilst the few bridges remained intact. The rest had refreshed the men, and
the march was not so tiring as one would have imagined. Leaving Marfaux, one had
an impressive view of the road down the Brunei valley to Damery as far as one could
see the road was filled to capacity with transport and troops. The roads were hot and
dusty, and enemy aeroplanes harassed the columns with machine gun fire. During the
evening the Battalion crossed the River Marne at Damery, and moved with the rest
of the Divisional Column to the Forest d' Epernay to a clearing 11 miles south of Vauciennes
where the night was spent. The march was continued the next day, the 31st May, to
Chaltrait, about n miles away to the south. On the 1st June a 64th Composite Battalion
was formed from the remnants of the 64th Brigade, which moved up to join the French,
but it did not become involved in the fighting, and was relieved after a few days. Bat
talion H.Q. of the 1st East Yorkshire Regt. and the transport remained at Chaltrait
when the composite battalion returned to the line. Thus, the 1st East Yorkshire Regt.
completed its share in the Battle of the Aisne, 1918.
S. W. HOWARD, M.C., Cert. Assoc. Inst. Bkrs., F.R.Econ. S., Formerly of the East
Yorkshire Reg.
PAGEANT.
(A Band In the World War.)
By Virginia Stait.
Drum! that beats to farthest flaming
Of the fire of love and death,
High, to sieges that in naming
Beggar me of their own faith
Bugle! clear with notes of burning,
Gladdest welcome, solemn gray
Torn from music for returning.
Torn from music for delay.
Fife! retailing through the years
Cornet, trombone, bassoon bearing
Of black hour and brazen flags,
All low-words that are entreating
Yesteryears and historied grief
Told to-day to soldiers faring
Till the ensigns are the rags!
To the clanship of belief!
