Sept. 1918.
My own artillery joined the Division again on the 8th September. Divisional Headquarters were then at the Triangle Copse near Gomiecourt, and the Division was enjoying a short rest some distance in rear of the front line, which ran roughly along the Canal du Nord. I had hoped that our gunners would have a rest too after their fine work with the 38th Division, but it was not to be, for on the day of their arrival we received orders to be prepared to attack and capture Havrincourt, the scene of our former triumph in a few days. The brigades and D.A.C. accordingly moved on the 9th to the area round Beugny, and the work of reconnoitring positions for the coming battle began at once. The positions selected lay chiefly between Havrincourt Wood and the Canal, a little to the left of those occupied in the battle of the 20th November, 1917. The 3rd Divisional Artillery, together with the 5th, 76th, 93rd, and 232nd brigades, were temporarily added to my command, making a total of twenty-four 18-pounder batteries and eight 4.5 howitzer batteries to support the Division in its attack. Batteries set to work forthwith to prepare their positions, and to dump thereon 450 rounds per gun. While engaged in this work Lieut. B. Alderton won the Military Cross "for great gallantry at Havrincourt Wood on September 10th, 1918, in leading ammunition wagons which were being heavily shelled to a place of safety. He dealt with the situation with great pluck and skill, assisted the five drivers who had been wounded, and undoubtedly saved further damage being done."
The following Divisional Order was issued on the 10th:
"The 62nd (West Riding) Division has been called on to make a big effort to capture the high ground on which the village of Havrincourt stands.
"The early capture of this important tactical feature is regarded as essential to the success of larger operations in the near future. Every day given to the enemy to strengthen his positions there is a day gained for him.
"There are no tanks available for this attack at Havrincourt, which will be carried out under intense artillery barrage and bombardment.
"The 62nd Division has borne a brilliant share in the operations on the Marne in July, and more recently in nine days hard fighting round Mory and Vaulx. It captured Havrincourt on the 20th November last year, and a second capture of this strong position in the Hindenburg line will add fresh lustre to the splendid record of the Division.
"R. D. Whigham,
"Major-General."
All the batteries went into action during the night of the 11th September, and in the early hours of the 12th Divisional Headquarters moved to the canal bank south-west of Hermies. At 5.25 a.m. the barrage opened, and continued for about three hours, sweeping north-east through the village of Havrincourt at the rate of 100 yards in three minutes. The infantry pressed on irresistibly behind the line of bursting shell, and once more this almost impregnable position fell before the unconquerable onslaught of our wonderful battalions. The prisoners numbered 12 officers and over 600 other ranks. We had one officer wounded in the Divisional Artillery, Lieut. J. B. C. Hewitt. All through the 13th there was fierce fighting round the village. The Boche counter-attacked vigorously, and at one time got a foothold in a corner of Havrincourt, but by the evening he was again thrust out. The guns were hard at work all day, and we learned from prisoners that the counter-attacking troops lost heavily from our artillery fire.
On the 14th the infantry again attacked under a barrage, and captured a trench about a thousand yards east of Havrincourt, together with five officers and 204 other ranks. The 15th was spent in consolidating the positions gained. The enemy's aeroplanes were very active and brought down three of our observation balloons in flames. That afternoon, when visiting the headquarters of the 185th Infantry Brigade with the G.O.C., I heard a curious story from Lord Hampden, the Infantry Brigadier. During the attack of the previous day some of his men entered a dug-out and found four Boches playing cards; they simply held up their hands for a moment, remarked "Kamerad," and then went on with their game! It was rather an amusing proof that the Huns were beginning to regard defeat and capture as a thing naturally to be expected.