THE YPRES TIMES
205
This was a memorable day, which practically ended our retreat, as on the
Sunday following, viz., September 5th, we were in pursuit of thé retreating
Germans, and having marched at 3 a.m. from Mayarin, overtook them near St. Cyr
on the 8th and had a hot fight with their rear-guard. Our artillery was shelled
from the other side of the Marne, with a lot of casualties, including Lieut. Gough
and Lieut. Parker killed and Major Gillson wounded, of DBattery, Royal
Horse Artilleryin fact, every officer in that battery was hit. Lieut, (afterwards
Lieut.-Col.) Hon. H. Alexander, with a troop of "D" Squadron, 5th Lancers,
crossed a bridge over the River Marne but had to retire, which was successfully
carried out by one trooper at a time.
The troop were under shelter of a high wall, and as each man's turn came he
started off at a gallop across the bridge, under heavy rifle fire, but marvellous to
relate, no one was hurt.
At 2.30 a.m. on the 10th, in heavy rain, we marched and got into the crown
of the Germans and captured about 400, also a good pick-up, including a cart-load
of Uhlan la,nce caps, which many of our men put on, including D Squadron
Sergt.-Major Daddy" Smith, who had a large head and the Uhlan cap just sat
on the top of it. On the following day, Saturday, September nth, after a sharp
engagement at Chassimy the remains of a German infantry battalion put up a white
flag. We were ordered to advance towards them and to charge if they fired, and
as a few shots were fired they were practically all killed or taken prisoner.
Sunday, the 12th, was a very wet day when we occupied the heights over
Chassimy and got well shelled, retiring each night to Quincy, with C Squadron
in the trenches. On the 15th the 6th Division arrived from England and trench
warfare occupied the following few days, until we started by night marches back
to Belgium, via Meast and Violaine, Villa Cotterie to Largny, St. Ines, Roubicourt,
and Hailles, reached on October 4th. We were here sent to help the French troops
beaten back from Roy, after which we resumed our night marches via St. Sauveur,
Erin, Ham, and reached Hazebrouck, just after the Germans had left it on
October nth.
So much has been written about the Mont des Cats that I will only gloss over
the taking of it the following day by the 3rd Cavalry Brigade.
On capturing the Monastery we were received with open arms by the Reverend
Fathers and our Medical Officers attended to the wounded, including a Prince of
Hesse, of the German cavalry, who died during the night.
The arrangements in the Monastery were somewhat gruesome, as we all
slept on straw in a big hall, while the adjoining one was made a mortuary. The
16th Lancer Trumpet-Major was detailed to call us an hour before daylight, but
went into the mortuary by mistake, where there was naturally no response to his
efforts. A sharp fight at Piebrook followed before we entered Messines, where
we remained until the 18th. On the night of the 19th orders came to occupy
Warneton, thought to be unoccupied, and C" Squadron was dispatched. They
dismounted and climbed over a barrier into the village, and had proceeded a good
way, before the top windows in the houses opened and volleys were poured into
our men, who, however, got back with comparatively few casualties. It was now
very dark and volunteers were asked for to bring out the wounded, and in a minute
nearly every man had his boots off ready. A lot were allowed to go and successfully
brought back many wounded, and it was afterwards stated the relief party had
tried the taps in all the estaminets on their retirement.
Our next billet was Oostaverne, then Houthem, after a fight all day, and after
wards we occupied the Chateau of Voormezeele, when the trench warfare may be
said to have permanently set in.
J. D. Barry,
Major Retired List).
