THE YPRES TIMES
July 37th, 1917
regiments in Toronto, Melbourne and Capetown. In fact, the Gordon Highlanders—
a vast familygrow stronger the older they become. But then that only is living up to
its motto, Bydand," which means steadfast.
By A. H. Ashcroft, D.S.O., M.A.
RICH as the Ypres Salient is in thrilling stories, there is something particularly
dramatic, and possibly unique, in the tale of what happened on July 27th, 1917.
How many battalions shared the experience of my own, I do not know to this day
in the line one rarely had the opportunity of learning what was happening on any but
one's own immediate front. I can thus only write of a small Brigade sub-sector, which
included amongst other familiar landmarks, Lancashire, Fusilier, and Turco Farms.
We were holding and improving the line in preparation for the 51st Division, who were
to take part in a large scale attack on the 29th.
For the Salient, the gun-fire was astonishingly subdued, but, as often happened in
the War, we were congratulating ourselves in utter ignorance of what was in store. Early
in the afternoon we received a message to the effect that air observation suggested that
the Germans were evacuating their front system, declining, that is to say, the battle
which they knew to be imminent. We were therefore to be in readiness to push out
fighting patrols and maintain contact. An hour later more detailed instructions were
received, and the three company commanders holding the front line were summoned
to receive their orders.
Not until after four in the afternoon did we get the word go," anda common
experiencethe telegram gave little time for further preparation, zero hour having been
put at five o'clock. This was not so serious, as somewhat ominously the telegram stated
that there would be no artillery barrage for this advance. What was serious was the
sentence "If patrols are heavily fired on they will not persevere, but will return to our
lines." The event proved that the units on our flanks read this to mean that a number of
casualties from snipers was not justified, and they quickly returned to their own trenches.
My own C.O. assumed that snipers and machine guns were bound to be left behind as a
screen for the enemy, and ordered a withdrawal only in face of greatly superior numbers
and a stable defence.
But to come to the narrative of the action. Five patrols, each of an officer and
twenty-five other ranks, left our lines shortly after five, and all except one, which was
held up by machine gun fire from Canadian Farm, worked their way into the enemy
front linea distance in this sector of about two hundred yards. The first patrol to cover
this unsupported journey in broad daylight had hardly got into Calendar Trench, when
a body of fifty Germans was seen moving forward in an endeavour to get in on its right
flank. These were dispersed by controlled fire, but having thus obtained sufficient proof
that the enemy was present in force, the officer in charge decided not to attempt a deeper
thrust, but to work his way back and report. Meanwhile No. 2 Patrol under 2nd Lieut. R.,
had managed to get into Calendar Support, when he found himself threatened by the
same enveloping tactics. At the same time he received No. I's message that he was about
to withdraw. Lieut. R. therefore decided to conform, but not before he had captured
a prisoner who confirmed the impression, which the events had forced upon the patrols,
that the enemy had hoped to entice us forward by lying low, and to obtain from prisoners
