On April 25 the 4th Australian Brigade was withdrawn and the New Zealand Division took over a portion of the divisional front. It was now decided to hold the reduced front with two brigades, each having one battalion in the front line, one in support and one in reserve. In turn each of the three brigades went into Divisional Reserve at Coigneux for a few days. The brigades in the front line constructed communication trenches and forward Company Headquarters, and generally consolidated and improved their positions. For work on the Purple Line—nominated as the main line of resistance—one battalion of the brigade in reserve was at the disposal of the C.R.E. A series of strong posts had been taped out by the engineers, and working parties were engaged upon these every night. The Purple Line rejoiced in the possession of Beer, Stout, and Rum Trenches, but whether the names had been given with the idea of raising false hopes in the breasts of thirsty Teutons and luring them on to destruction is not known. The enemy artillery was active, and great quantities of mustard-gas shells were sent over, but still the Germans refrained from attack. The period, April 16 to May 7 was noteworthy for the amount of work performed and the trials incidental to trench warfare rather than for any offensive operations on either side.
On April 30 the following gracious message from Her Majesty, the Queen, was issued to the troops—
“To the men of our Navy, Army, and Air Force, I send this message to tell every man how much we, the women of the British Empire at home, watch and pray for you during the long hours of these days of stress and endurance. Our pride in you is immeasurable, our hope unbounded, our trust absolute. You are fighting in the cause of righteousness and freedom, fighting to defend the children and women of our land from the horrors that have overtaken other countries, fighting for our very existence as a people at home and across the seas. You are offering your all. You hold nothing back, and day by day you show a love so great that no man can have greater. We, on our part, send forth with full hearts and unfaltering will the lives we hold most dear. We, too, are striving in all ways possible to make the war victorious. I know that I am expressing what is felt by thousands of wives and mothers when I say that we are determined to help one another in keeping your homes ready against your glad homecoming. In God’s name we bless you and by His help we, too, will do our best.”
A visit to Divisional Headquarters was made on May 4 by Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, who sent this message to all ranks of the Division—
“I know how magnificently they have fought, and thank them from me for their gallant performance. Tell them that I consider the situation is now far more satisfactory than at one time I expected it could be. If necessity arises I know that I can rely on the 42nd Division to do as well again as it did before.”
On May 7 the Division was relieved by the 57th Division, and the troops returned to the Pas district, where the greater part were now accommodated under canvas in the woods at Pas, Henu, and Couin, while some were in billets. Here they remained until the beginning of June. The Divisional Artillery, however, continued in action, occupying positions successively at Monchy-au-Bois, Hannescamps, Fonquevillers, and Gommecourt.
There was much work to be done on the defences of the Red Line and La Haie Switch, which would be manned by the division or divisions in Corps Reserve in the event of a strong enemy attack. It was essential that every company, every platoon, and indeed every man, should know the exact position to be taken up at any time of the day or night, however short the notice. The lines were thoroughly reconnoitred by all officers, and the manning of battle-positions was practised until all was perfect. The Divisional Commander laid stress on the importance of the prompt and correct transmission of messages and orders, and warned subordinate commanders against placing too much reliance upon the telephone. Visual signalling and other methods of transmission must be practised assiduously and made full use of. The action of the hateful mustard-gas was explained and practice ordered in the fitting of respirators and their daily use on ordinary parades and at musketry. The Major-General complimented the Divisional Artillery on their excellent discipline during gas concentration on battery positions on the night of the 12th of May.
The bad weather had now come to an end, and these delightful days of May, under canvas pitched in sylvan retreats far—yet not very far—from the madding turmoil of battle, gave one, in the short intervals of rest from strenuous work and training, almost the impression of a holiday camp, though all units had to be ready to move bag and baggage at an hour’s notice and man the Red Line. Nature, patiently but triumphantly reasserting herself in the face of the forces of destruction, had a soothing effect which helped men to put aside for the moment the memories of the grim happenings of recent days. Moreover, three afternoons of each week were given up to recreational training, games, boxing and other contests. Major S. G. Johnson, D.S.O.,[17] Divisional Signal Company, did much to encourage and to raise the standard of boxing in the Division, and also to inculcate the right spirit of good, clean fighting, with the result that the boxers of the Division won laurels in the Corps boxing competitions. Concerts were held in the hall at Pas, and the Divisional Concert Troupe and Band visited the troops in Coigneux and Bayencourt, and behind the line in Louvencourt, Vauchelles and Halloy. Concerts were held in the open by the talent of various units, and the 10th Manchesters secured a natural amphitheatre in Pas Woods. Colonel Peel, with the foresight and energy for which he was famous, had already asked the Mayor of Oldham to send out a piano, and this arrived just when it could be put to the best use.[18]
American Comrades
About the middle of May the 307th Infantry Regiment of the American Army (77th Division) was attached to the 42nd for instruction and training, and for three weeks the Americans took part in all schemes arranged for the Division. The training was divided into three stages. In the first, the U.S. platoons were attached to companies of the 42nd; in the second, U.S. companies were attached to battalions; and later the U.S. battalions formed the fourth battalions of infantry brigades. The U.S. Pioneer Section was attached to the Divisional R.E. The Americans were naturally rather green, and their conception of warfare was perhaps more crude than they had imagined, but they proved quick and willing learners, although it was alleged that in one company the platoon-sergeants had to give instruction in sixteen different languages. They contributed nobly to entertainments, and in return for tuition in football, boxing and warfare, they taught the Division to jazz, and a considerable portion of it, including its Commander, to play baseball. Officers and men of the two armies mixed together with cordiality, good-fellowship and mutual respect, these sentiments being further stimulated by a really good dinner, followed by a well-organized entertainment, given to the attached Americans by Colonel Clare and the 5th East Lancashires in the middle of a wood near Pas. When, on June 3, the Americans were ordered to entrain for the south, it was a common disappointment that they would not have the opportunity of fighting side by side with the men with whom they had helped to train.