But where all units and Commanders did so well, it is invidious to select one Arm. We may more fitly close this section of the Second Battle of the Marne with some extracts from the congratulatory messages earned by General Braithwaite’s Division. There was, of course, the new fact of a close liaison between British and French Troops, which caused more than common punctiliousness in the preparation and dispatch of these epistles; but the tone is exceptionally cordial, the sentiments are extraordinarily sincere, and the praises were very thoroughly deserved. General Bertholot, Commanding the Fifth French Army, published an Order of the Day, dated July 30th, of which the following is a translation:
‘Now that the XXIInd British Corps has received orders to leave the Fifth Army, the Army Commander expresses to all the thanks and admiration which its great deeds, just accomplished, deserve.
‘On the very day of its arrival, the XXIInd Corps, feeling in honour bound to take part in the victorious counter-attack, which had just stopped the enemy’s furious onslaught on the Marne, and which had begun to hurl him back in disorder towards the north, by forced marches and with minimum opportunity for reconnaissance, threw itself with ardour into the battle.
‘By constant efforts, by harrying and driving back the enemy for ten successive days, it has made itself master of the Valley of the Ardre, which it has so freely watered with its blood.
‘Thanks to the heroic courage and proverbial tenacity of the British, the continued efforts of this brave Army Corps have not been in vain.
‘Twenty-one Officers and more than one thousand three hundred other ranks taken prisoners, one hundred and forty machine-guns and forty guns captured from an enemy, four of whose Divisions were successively broken and repulsed; the upper Valley of the Ardre, with its surrounding heights to the north and south reconquered; such is the record of the British share in the operations of the Fifth Army.
‘Highlanders, under the Command of General Carter-Campbell, Commanding the 51st Division; Yorkshire lads, under the Command of General Braithwaite, Commanding the 62nd Division; Australian and New Zealand Mounted Troops; all Officers and men of the XXIInd Army Corps, so brilliantly commanded by General Sir A. Godley—you have added a glorious page to your history.
‘Marfaux, Chaumuzy, Montagne de Bligny—these famous names may be inscribed in letters of gold in the annals of your Regiments.
‘Your French comrades will always remember with emotion your splendid valour and perfect fellowship as fighters.’
It was well and generously said.