The front had been very quiet and the possibility of trouble seemed to most of us very remote, but all precautions were taken, and before we turned in on the night of the 29th, Colonel Hindle’s orders as to the issue of bombs, extra bandoliers, haversack rations, and filling of water-bottles were carried out to the letter. At the same time Company boxes, gramophones, etc., were with us, and we spent a cheery evening, with little thought for the morrow.
At dawn the next day heavy firing was heard to the north, but at first we put this down to the aftermath of the CAMBRAI push and paid little attention to it; by degrees it increased in violence, and the Commanding Officer gave the order to stand-to, but carry on with breakfasts, which were just ready—this was at 7 50 a.m. Soon after he sent Lieutenant Fazackerley (Intelligence Officer) forward to find out what was going on, and Lieutenant Johnson to 166th Brigade for orders, our own Brigade Headquarters and three Battalions being still back at HAMEL resting.
About 8 30 a.m. information was brought by Lieutenant Fazackerley that the enemy was advancing all along our immediate front, and the Commanding Officer at once sent for Company Commanders at the double; one of us, who knew him well, afterwards said it was the first time the Commanding Officer had ever been in a hurry. In a few words he made his dispositions: A Company to hold the left under Captain Houghton; B Company, under Captain Buckmaster, the centre in front of the farm; and D Company, under Captain Matthew, to the right at the head of the LINNET VALLEY. By this time straggling remnants of the Division on our left were to be seen crossing the railway; a few were collected and taken forward by A Company.
The Companies standing in readiness were at once led forward by their Commanders, and took up positions as shown on the map, gaining the crest at the moment when a party of Huns was in the act of crossing the railway just south of CHAPEL CROSSING; A Company caught them before they reached dead ground and wiped them out, while a Lewis gun mounted on the railway and a Platoon beyond it secured the approach up the valley. It is difficult to estimate the number of Huns shot down by this Company alone in the first five minutes—the countryside was alive with them, advancing in small patrols with light machine guns.
The enemy had also stationed heavy machine guns in various buildings, especially a Beet Factory to our front, and during the whole action our troops were subjected to continuous and accurate traversing fire from these, and to a certain amount of shelling.
From this point our War Diary will speak for itself:—
30th November, 7 40 a.m. “Stand-to” order received from 166th Infantry Brigade. Intelligence Officer and scouts sent forward to reconnoitre.
9 a.m. Our infantry and artillery observed retiring on our left in the direction of HEUDECOURT. Artillery reported they had abandoned guns in VILLERS GUISLAIN. Battalion Headquarters, under R.S.M., sent forward to form line on north-east side of VAUCELLETTE FARM, where they immediately came under machine gun fire from the enemy advancing from VILLERS GUISLAIN.
A Company were ordered up on their left, and had to fight hard to reach their position; the enemy had already seized Chapel Crossing. All the Officers of this Company eventually became casualties.
B and D Companies were ordered to continue the line on the right of Headquarters on the east side of VAUCELLETTE FARM. All Companies were quickly in position; fire was opened, and the enemy ceased to advance and took up a position on a line running from the BEET FACTORY to CHAPEL CROSSING. At the time there were no troops in position on our right or left flanks. This state of things prevailed until dusk, when the Canadian Mounted Brigade arrived.