146
THE YPRES TIMES
could be made and a line was established to secure the ground already won. The
well-protected enemy machine guns, firing from the flanks and at short range, resulted in
heavy losses to the battalion. Two days later the unit was relieved and moved back for
reinforcements and training.
The battalion started marching back to the line on September 15th, reaching
Voormezeele after four days on the road. On September 20th, 1917, the nth Queen's
took part in the attack, south of the Menin Road, directed against the Tower Hamlets
Ridge. For a week it was busily engaged in this area owing to the enemy's unwillingness
to leave the British in possession of their important gains.
The remainder of September and all October, 1917, were spent either on the Belgian
Coast defences or in the line near Nieuport. In November, with the rest of the 41st
Division, the nth Queen's were sent to Italy. Returning in March, 1918, the unit
was soon engaged in helping to stem the German attack on the Somme. After suffering
very heavy casualties in the defence of Bapaume, the battalion was reinforced with
drafts from various other unitsthe Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
and the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry supplying large contingents.
In the middle of April, 1918, we were put into the line in the Salient, after moving
north. The retirement from Passchendaele was taking place at this time when
completed we held a position running north from Hell Fire Corner. The trenches
were bad, consisting only of breastworks. It was not possible to dig as water was
found just a few inches below the surface.
During those days in front of Ypres, the enemy seemed to be closing in around us
on all sides. With the capture of Kemmel Hill he was able to overlook practically all
our activities in the Salient. Lieut.-Colonel Bowden was in command during this
periodthe back to the wall daysand it was due to his cheerful leadership that
there were no signs of discouragement in the battalion. Three months later, at the
age of 24 years, he was killed.
Towards the end of April the unit went back through Ypres into reserve, where
a few days of comparative comfort were spent among the ruins of Bedford Camp on
the Poperinghe Road. While we were in this locality we were joined by Lieut.-Colonel
W. L. Owen, M.C., who arrived to take command of the battalion.
May, 1918, provided fine weather which was not without its effect, both physical
and moral. Most of the month was spent in the vicinity of what was once Cork Cots
Camp, with Battalion Headquarters at Potijze. The rising ground in "No Man's
Land hindered observation between the two front lines, and during the day life was
tolerable. But at night both sides were actively patrolling to guard against surprise
and secure prisoners.
Early in June, to everybody's gratification, we learned that we were to go back to
Saint Omer for a rest. Eventually we were billeted in Tatinghem, a small village
a few kilometres out of the town, where we trained hard for a fortnight. At this time
we welcomed Brigadier-General M. Kemp Welch, D.S.O., M.C., who came from another
battalion of our regiment to take command of the brigade, the 123rd.
We returned to the line from Saint Omer by road, spending several days over the
journey. The end of the march found us relieving French troops under the shadow of
Kemmel Hill. For some two months we lived under German observation from this
prominent height of the Flanders plain. While in the front line we occupied isolated
posts in shell-holes, abandoning the old French trenches. This must have saved us
many casualties as the enemy could not possibly have known our exact positions.
Those were busy nights as the area was in a poor state of defence. The absence of
communication trenches was a feature of the place all reliefs and ration parties had
to move above ground.
While in support we were near the La ClytteWestoutre Road. The former
village was occupied by one company, but the attention it received from enemy artillery