During the Franco-British offensive from August to October 1917, our staff thought, at a certain moment to be able to extend on our front the progression of the Allies. It was at the time of the long artillery preparations. Our batteries, re-enforced by numerous guns of heavy calibre of the allied armies, executed a systematic hammering on the enemy’s front, which after a few days enabled us to believe that the works of the enemy had been absolutely and thoroughly annihilated.
It was decided to ascertain and see the state of the upheaval. Consequently raids were undertaken on all the beaten front. They were a great success, except at the flour-mill.
On the nights of the 28th to 29th of October, on the 3d and 4th of November 1917, detachments of the 5th and 6th of the line regiment crossed the Yser with magnificent spirit. The South and North trenches of the flour-mill were cleaned out without great difficulty, but when the detailed group attacked the flour-mill, there was a reaction, and a painful one which cost the life to many a brave man, a reaction which proved once more, the power of inactive and inert substance against which courage is nothing. Through their invisible loop holes and under the thick armour of their shelters immersed in concrete, the few occupants of the flour-mill soon overpowered the will and determination of our troops, who were forced to retreat taking away with them their dead and wounded.
The Franco-British offensive could not be continued for several reasons, and our army resumed the life of the trenches which still lasted another year.
At last there was the liberating offensive.
The rapid progress of our troops forced the enemy to abandon Dixmude. Our soldiers entered there the 29th of September 1918 and settled there till the 15th of October, date of the second rush forward.
The town was nothing but a heap of ruins and the flour-mill a grey shapeless mass, which will perpetuate the remembrance of this long war and the numerous heroes fallen there under its blows.