On the 21st the XIX. Corps was attacked by the enemy in overwhelming force. Both divisions fought splendidly and although their forward posts were surrounded and eventually destroyed, the battle zone of the Corps was held throughout the day. The enemy made progress, however, round the left or north flank of the 66th, and the right or south flank of the 24th Division, which compelled a withdrawal.
In the telegraphic despatch of 26th March, 1918, Sir Douglas Haig said: “In the past six days of constant fighting our troops on all parts of the battle front have shown the utmost courage,” and among divisions which had shown “exceptional gallantry” he mentioned the 66th.
Sir Douglas Haig’s written despatch of 20th July, 1918, regarding the great German offensive, paragraph 20, the position of affairs on the 22nd March, stated: “At midday, after heavy fighting in the neighbourhood of Roisel, the 66th Division, under the command of Major-General N. Malcolm, D.S.O., still held their positions in this sector, having, for the time being, definitely stopped the enemy’s advance. To the south and north, however, the progress of the German infantry continued, ... Roisel being threatened from the rear. Accordingly our troops about Roisel were withdrawn during the afternoon under orders, the enemy making no attempt to interfere.” The fighting 21st-23rd March, 1918, is now the “Battle of St. Quentin.”
In paragraph 43, regarding the fight for the Rosières line on 27th March, now the “Battle of Rosières,” it was said by Sir Douglas Haig that “the situation south of the Somme was serious.” “A counter-attack by the 66th Division restored the situation about Framerville.”
In paragraph 47 as to the fighting in the Avre and Luce valleys, on 29th and 30th March, Sir Douglas Haig said, “North of the Luce also the enemy made some progress but in the afternoon was held up, and finally driven back into Aubercourt by counter-attacks carried out by troops of the 66th Division and the 3rd Australian Division.”
In his “Fifth Army in March, 1918,” Mr. Sparrow constantly refers to the splendid conduct of the 66th. At p. 101 he mentions that they fought continuously from the 21st to the 31st and that their losses were nearly 7000 “apart from sick and spent.” At p. 134 he says that their strength on the evening of the 30th was 104 officers and 2376 other ranks, excluding transport. “Thus to the last the 66th was in the fire,” and speaking of the counter-attack which they made on the 30th he said, “seldom have exhausted men made an equal effort.”
Their losses were so severe that the Division was reduced to a cadre basis, see note, paragraph 1, despatch of 21st December, 1918 (Messrs. Dent’s edition); but it was filled up in time to take part in the “Advance to Victory.”
The South African Brigade, which had gained very great distinction on many occasions, as part of the 9th Division, was incorporated in the reconstituted 66th, and it was also joined by the following battalions from the Mediterranean: the 6th Lancashire Fusiliers, 5th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, and 6th Royal Dublin Fusiliers, forming the 198th Brigade; the 18th Liverpool Regiment (formerly Lancashire Yeomanry), 9th Manchester Regiment and 5th Connaught Rangers, forming the 199th Brigade, with, as pioneers, the 9th Gloucestershire Regiment. (See The Story of the Fourth Army, p. 322.)
The despatch of 21st December, 1918, paragraph 42, “Second Battle of Le Cateau, 8th to 12th October,” now officially designated the “Battle of Cambrai, 1918, with pursuit to the Selle,” shows that the Division formed part of the troops attacking on 8th October, being then in the XIII. Corps, Fourth Army, when “on the British front infantry and tanks penetrated the enemy’s position to a depth of between three and four miles, passing rapidly over the incomplete trench lines.”
To the north of the 30th American Division which had “captured Brancourt and Prémont the 66th Division (Major-General H. K. Bethell), attacking beside the 25th Division (Major-General J. R. E. Charles), captured Serain.” The advance was continued on the 9th; “by nightfall our troops were within two miles of Le Cateau.” A further forward movement was made on the 10th and in The History of the 25th Division, p. 329, it is stated that by the evening of the 10th “the 66th Division, which had got well forward on the left, had a few advanced patrols in Le Cateau itself.” This is correct, but there was to be very heavy fighting before the town was captured. The Selle runs through the town, and the portion on the eastern side of the river was not taken till the 17th.