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March 20th.Rumours are wildly confusing. Speedy mobilization at fictitious rail-heads is a
frequent form of joke." The remarks of the troops on these occasions can scarcely be called mild.
There is not much fun in having to leave your dinner, pack up all your belongings and assemble at
Sus-St.-Leger Church, two miles distant. To return to cold stew after two hours loitering in the rain
is hardly conducive to amiability.
March 21st.—The secret is out, the distant cannonade betokens the commencement of the Great
Battle. Rumour travels amain. Now the Guards have been wiped outnow we hear they haven't,
but are holding on at Arras. By 2 p.m. the real move begins and we march to Saulty to entrain. A
precautionary move to Albért," was the Staff explanation. So officers went in their best clothes,
revolvers and warring equipment went with the baggage. At Albért a worried R.T.O. ordered us to
remain in the train and proceed to Achiet-le-Grand, if the line is still intact," he added. The engine
made hard work of the climb, the drivers groped carefully in the darksome odd shells sailed safely
over. We detrained safely at our destination. There were feverish conferences of higher officers,
whilst the troops watched the long trail of westward bound traffic coming from Bapaume. Huge guns,
transport waggons, ambulances and smaller vehicles crawled slowly past, all eager to flee from the
advancing enemy. Wounded tried desperately to find walking room on the crowded roads. Every
conceivable kind of unit seemed to be packing up to join the westward stream only we infantrymen,
now sorting out our fighting kit, seemed to be preparing to go east.
March 22nd.Now for it," was the unanimous feeling amongst our fellows. We threaded our
way, single file, through the traffic. Two hours' sleep in a deserted hutment camp, a snatch of breakfast,
and at daybreak we marched to Vaulx. We relieved the ragged remains of N Division, who had
gallantly resisted the onslaught for twenty-four hours.
March 24th.Last night's circle of lights and gun-flashes was very discomforting. We seem to
be at the apex of a sharp salientthe line falls back more particularly on our right. Still we are holding
on, not an inch of ground lost. One Company has fired a million rounds of S.A.A. and still wants more
ammunition. Our field artillery are wonderful, firing in open meadowland over open sights. At 2 p.m.
there was a feverish conference at Brigade Headquarters. Orders for a retirement had been given.
Within two hours it had begun. What a sight They came back in parade ground fashioneach
Company covered by the fire of another. At 5 p.m. a runner reported to Brigade that the Germans
were only 250 yards away and were being held by our men.
The Brigadier and his staff went calmly to their new quarters. By evening a new line had been
hurriedly dug behind a wood. But the enemy gave us no resthe was nearly behind us again on the
right.
March 25th.Confusion worse confounded. Most of us have retreated off the maps we went into
action with. Battalions and Brigades have made new headquarters almost every two hours. Regi
ments are hopelessly mixed up. A shell hit Brigade Headquarters soon after they had settled down in
a hut. Three slight casualties, not to mention the Brigadier who got some shrapnel through the baggy
part of his breeches, where there wasn't any leg. All staff officers were ordered to help re-organize the
troops. Having myself got a slight wound I went to find a dressing station. Just round the corner
was always the reply X got in reply to my question. The plain fact was that the R.A.M.C. fellows
had been obliged to move so quickly that they had not time to place the usual direction signs in
position. How many miles I walked, goodness knows. When I did find one at last, I had many hours'
walking before I was able to re-join my unit, which had by this time reached Gommecourt.
March 26th.The Brigade was now in close support. A re-sorting of units was begun. Roll calls
were being attempted when news came that German cavalry had broken through. Hurried re-assem
bling took place Brigade Headquarters was ordered to move back to Bienvillers. There was just time
for a meal. One old Madame, though packing up, volunteered for the Brigadier's sake to do the best
she could. Seven officers sat down in her sitting-room to seven cups of black sugarless coffee, some
bread fragments, and seven bloaters. Seven strips of brown paper acted for plates, and as there was
only one fork it was allotted to the General. Soon we joined the crowds in the road. What a target
we were for enemy planes None came over, fortunately enough, though an observation balloon must
have had a splendid view of the traffic jam. The cavalry rumour proved false what had been seen was
a heroic battery of British field guns riding out of action. So we returned to Gommecourt.
March 29th Good Friday).Back to the front line again. Bucquoy this time. Douglas Haig's
famous message came through. Weary hearts and bodies pulled themselves together not another
inch of ground was given to the enemy.
April 2nd.The Division was relieved at last. The men literally crawled outfor at every road
halt they fell asleep as soon as they sat down. It seemed a long march to the buses which took them to
Holloy. There were good billets, a wonderful dinner of stew, the first real meal for a fortnight, and the
men went torest no, to play football.
Only some thirty per cent, of our Battalion remained to play football mayhap some of those
can still play football.
By kind permission of the Editor, Durham Light Infantry Regimental Review.
