War Book Review
89
He found his position unhealthy and left it, but we traced him again and
repeated the treatment with similar effect. I went home on five days' leave about
this time, and my captain continued the chase. He told me when I returned that
he had hunted this battery out of six different positions. Eventually it dis
appeared altogether, and our sport in that direction ceased.
The enemy took a great dislike to my single forward gun, and used to keep
an aeroplance cruising up and down behind the lines. The moment my subalterns'
gun opened fire the aeroplane used to make a bee line for it. Eventually they
thought they had found its position, and they nearly hadbut not quite.
They opened fire on it one day from almost directly to our right and slightly
to the rear with a 5.9 and 4.2 battery. They searched up and down 200 or 300
yards for several hours. Their longest shots were range exactly, but about 20
yards off the line. One 4.2 shell took a different line from the rest and just hit
the corner of the gun emplacement, but did not damage the gun, although it
satisfied the Germans who left it severely alone in the future.
The detachment sat by all this time in a cellar of a ruined house watching the
strafe," and, I have no doubt, praying that no shell would hit the gun.
Shortly after this I left the battery to do a job at Corps Headquarters in
connection with locating the enemy's batteries with a view to counter-battery work.
Just before I left the battery one of my subalterns came tearing down from the
O.P. in a great state of excitement and announced that he had shot a railway
engine in Zonnebeke station. I laughed and said, Good man, how did you do
it? He said that he had seen a train come into Zonnebeke, cocked up the single
gun to its extreme range, about 10,000 yard, and let fly a high explosive shell.
He said the engine went up in a cloud of steam and puffed slowly out of the
station. No doubt what had happened was that the shell had burst near the
engine and a splinter had gone through the boiler.
I developed quite an affection for this single gun. We used to change the
detachments weekly, and I think the men enjoyed their tours of duty with this
forward gun. Anyway it produced a sense of rivalry between the different detach
ments as to who should do the most good work with it.
G.H.J.
From Mons to the First Battle of Ypres."By J. G. W. Hyndson, M.C.
This straightforward account of the personal experience of a regimental officer during the opening
stages of the Great War is well worth reading. Captain Hyndson has made good use of the original
British Expeditionary Force. He went out in August, 1914, as a platoon commander of the 1st Loyal
North Lancashire Regiment (2nd Brigade, 1st Division) and served through the retreat from Mons,
the battles of the Marne and the Aisne, and the terrific struggle before Ypres during October and
November. He describes faithfully the reaction of the professional soldier to the first sights and sounds
of modern war, but the best portion of the narrative is his simple, vivid account of First Ypres."
Here the Loyals were part of the great sacrifice made by the Regular Army. Captain Hyndson, who
soon found himself commanding a company, and for a short space the remnants of his battalion, tells
us that it lost in all 30 officers and 1,000 men. The attack near Bixchoote, the 23rd of October, and
the struggle near Gheluvelt on the last day of the month, are remembered by the Regiment with
particular pride. General Sir Edward Bulfin, who commanded the 2nd Brigade at the time, contributes
an appreciative introduction.
The Army Quarterly."
The above-mentioned war book can be obtained from the Secretary, Ypres League, 20, Orchard
Street, London, W.l. Price 5s., post free 5s. 3d.
