About this period a violent attack of mange among the R.E. horses carried off eighty per cent. of one field company’s animals. Stringent orders were given to prevent its spread, and the drivers were separated into two lots, one to look after the infected horses, the other to guard those which had not yet developed symptoms. All the clothing was stoved, and for one day drivers had to do their best to keep warm in their shirts and pretend that they were “Jocks.” The Divisional Commander was always pleased to see the transport men on terms of intimacy and affection with their animals, and he frequently asked the names of the horses. One day he heard a driver address his mare as “Phœbe,” and remembered that the man had recently assured him that its name was “Dolly.” He pointed this out, whereupon the driver explained that in the meantime he had changed his girl.
Though it is always gratifying to come across men thoroughly devoted to duty and conscientious in its performance, enthusiasm may be carried to extremes. Two worthy men on the pioneer staff of their battalion were detailed to superintend a foot-bath, and being very conscientious, they determined that no foot-bath in the B.E.F. should have a better record. Each day they proudly reported the number of men who had used the bath, and the average was high. But for some reason numbers began to dwindle, so the pioneers resorted to the expedient of seizing passers-by and compelling them to wash their feet. The average went up again until on one unhappy day they grabbed three of the adjutant’s runners.
The coming event was already casting its threatening shadow before it. The feeling was in the air that the Germans were preparing for the mightiest of all their amazing military efforts, and as one could only conjecture where the heaviest blows would fall, the whole army was on the alert. The 42nd Division was in a state of readiness to reinforce any part of the 1st Corps front should the necessity arise. In addition, one infantry brigade and machine-gun company were warned to move at short notice by motor-bus and route-march to reinforce the Portuguese[12] on the immediate left of the Corps. On the night of February 25-26 the Portuguese trenches were heavily bombarded, and in the early morning the 126th Brigade moved to its supporting positions in the area around Vieux Chapelle and La Couture, arriving at 10 a.m. However, nothing more serious than a raid was attempted, and in the afternoon the Brigade was withdrawn.
“Wits and Guts”
The Divisional Artillery came out of action for a period of training near Choques, and on March 1 the Division passed from Corps into G.H.Q. Reserve. The Divisional Commander availed himself of the opportunity to deliver to officers and N.C.O.s a lecture the purport of which is expressed with admirable terseness in its title, “Wits and Guts.” The General gave a vivid picture of the fighting of 1914, and foretold that it was highly probable that the Division before long might find itself similarly situated, and would then have the opportunity to emulate the deeds of the “Old Contemptibles.” The lecture was given to every officer and N.C.O. of each infantry and artillery brigade, and to other units in turn, and a précis was afterwards issued in the Foreword to the Divisional Pocket Book. It was in the course of this address that Major-General Solly-Flood gave the Division its motto, “Go One Better,” a motto adopted with enthusiasm by all ranks as a very real expression of the spirit that inspired the Division.
The training during February and March included some keenly contested and most useful competitions. The basis of training and sport was the platoon. The spirit of the attack was the platoon. There were platoon efficiency competitions, from guard mounting and clean turn-out to contests of skill with all weapons; platoon boxing, football, cricket, sing-songs, and similar rivalries, and also transport competitions. In this way every individual had to take part, and none looked on all the time. There were other interests, too. Larks were singing, and though the wanton lapwing was not in evidence, the fuller “crimson” was showing on the robin’s breast—in short, spring was in the air, and more than one young man’s fancy lightly turned to thoughts of love, and the French maidens were not coy. The rather hazy notions that had been entertained of the French as a light-hearted, frivolous race had been turned inside out. True, they had seen little or nothing of French males under fifty-five years of age, but they had discovered that French women and girls were the most practical, shrewd, clear-headed, and capable in the world. Young girls and middle-aged and elderly women were combining the heavy farm-work of men—and doing it well!—with the house-work of the capable house-wife, the art and craft of the trained milliner and dressmaker, and a mastery of finance worthy of a chartered accountant. The rapid and facile mental arithmetic displayed by girls in “totting up” the sum total of a complicated series of purchases in one lightning utterance, apparently composed entirely of sibillants that reminded the audience of “Sister Susie’s sewing shirts,” took the breath away and compelled admiration. Nor was the admiration wholly one-sided. The Lancashire lad was pronounced gentil and aimable. He would fetch and carry, amuse the children, mind the baby, and perform a hundred and one odd jobs to help the overworked women, and many friendships were formed. But training, sports, and dallying were rudely interrupted by the call received on March 21, when, at about 6 p.m., warning orders were received that the Division might be suddenly called upon to move southwards into action. The warning was emphasized on the night of the 21st by a terrific bombardment by German aircraft of all back areas, railheads and junctions.
The great German offensive had begun. On the morning of March 23 the Division started to join the 6th Corps, Third Army, in the Somme area, the infantry, R.E., and R.A.M.C. personnel proceeding in motor-lorry and ’bus, the artillery and transport by road.
Strength of Division, March 1, 1918
Total strength of 42nd Division, March 1, 1918—