210
THE YPRES TIMES
company over hill to take up positionImmediately shelled, dropping, however, in
rear of company, but on to B Company, which was badly handledShelled for
ii hoursMy horse killed and groom* woundedSerious losses amongst the
horsesRemained on outposts and dug inRemained there all night.
September 8.Relieved at 7 a.m. by CameroniansShelled (no casualties)
Halted company in rearLater joined by "A" and D Companies, which had
also been relievedEnemy apparently then retiredAfter very heavy shelling from
usBivouacked.
September 9.Up at 3.30 a.m.AdvancedBreakfasted en routeCrossed
River Marne by pontoon bridgeOther bridges blown up by GermansMarched
through La Ferté, which had been badly handled by Germans-Brigade acted as
flank guard to Third Army CorpsMoved considerable distance in preliminary
artillery formationDead horses (German) plentifulMany evidences of hurried
retreat of enemyBroken-down vehiclescarswagonslive shells thrown away
3,000 in one placeclothing, etc.
September 10.Continued pursuitC" Company leadingNews of cap
tured prisoners1,000guns, etc.
Passed through Vause Vasset Cerfroid-a-Chery Continual halts, as men
much doneBoiling weatherHeavy thunderstormAll got pretty well soaked
Billeted at MarizyHad a good rest and good mealMajor Ross appointed
Brigade Major nth Brigade.
September IX.Up at 5.30 a.m. and moved offthrough TighyRained
Cannonading all dayGermans retiringArrived at BuzancyBilleted in a barn
with the menNo lights.
September 12.Up at 4.45 a.m.Prepared to move onDeparture delayed
owing to situation.
Voluntary outdoor service by the Rev. Webb-PeploeGod Save the King
afterwards.
Note.I have been much tempted to pad this diary with recollections, but
think it better to let it stand.
Any such padding would necessarily have shown, by incidents recorded, the
spirit and devotion to duty of the subalterns, warrant officers and other ranks of
"C" Company.
C Company was, of course, only typical of the rest of the Battalion and of
the Army.
In common, I suppose, with many other officers, I never really knew my men
until the Retreat from Mons. I will give two instances only:
1. When the order came for us to retire from Le Cateau, I personally was
very pleased. I had had enough of Le Cateau.
My company was the last of the battalion to retire, and I gave the orders in
some form approximating to that laid down by regulation. Two men, whose names
I unfortunately forget, said to me, Why should we retire now, sir, when they are
just coming on?" They certainly were "just coming on," being massed in dense
formations on three sides of the hill.
2. Pte. MacDonald (subsequently killed at the First Battle of Ypres), my
batman, never, as far as I can remember, failed to bring me a mug of tea just
before the various moves, all of which were made at highly inconvenient hours.
His haversack seemed to be a veritable widow's cruse.
•Styles-one of the best soldiers and nicest men I have known. He did not recover.
