At 4 p.m. on the 4th December orders were received for the Battalion to move up to Sandbag Alley to reinforce the Reserves of the 165th Brigade. Companies moved off independently and all were safely in dugouts by 8 p.m. In anticipation of an imminent enemy attack we “stood to,” “C” and “D” Companies manning Queen’s Trench, and “A” and “B” Companies remaining in Sandbag Alley. All being quiet on the Brigade front Companies stood down at 7.30 a.m. At midnight on the 5th the 165th Brigade including the 4th King’s Own, were relieved by the 48th Infantry Brigade, 16th Division. On completion Companies marched independently to St. Emilie. Accommodation was exceedingly scarce, and the whole Battalion were crowded into one Adrian Hut. The weather was very cold, dry and frosty. At 5.30 a.m. on the 6th we were called on to man the Brown Line as Reserves to the 48th Infantry Brigade, in case of attack. After considerable difficulty this was completed, but the morning proved exceptionally quiet, and the Battalion was ordered by Division to return to billets in St. Emilie.
At 1 p.m. verbal orders were received from Colonel Eden, A.A. and Q.M.G., that the Battalion would be relieved that day, and were to proceed to Longavesnes. Accordingly at 2 p.m. we marched to the Transport Lines at Villers Faucon and had tea. At 5 p.m., accompanied by the Band, the Battalion marched into Longavesnes, and proceeded thence by bus to Peronne, which was reached at 7.15, and by 8 p.m. the whole Battalion had reached the Camp. The whole of the 7th was spent in resting and making preparations for continuing the move. The weather turned wet in the evening. At 10 a.m. on the 8th following the 8th Liverpool Irish and 5th Lancashire Fusiliers, we marched to Peronne-Flamicourt Station and entrained, leaving at 12 noon for Beaumetz-les-Loges. On arrival at 9.30 p.m. we formed up behind the 8th Liverpool Irish and marched into billets at Lattre St. Quentin at 2 a.m. on the 9th after a tiring march in the rain. The route travelled was via Simoncourt—Wanquentin—Hauteville—Lattre St. Quentin. The remainder of the day was spent in resting and cleaning up, rain falling almost the whole day. The Transport, which had marched all the way from Peronne, halting for the night of the 8th/9th at Courcelles, arriving at 6 p.m.
On the 10th at 9 a.m. the Battalion was again on the march, moving via Avesnes le Comte—Manin—Givenchy le Noble—Penin—Tinques, arriving in billets in Bailleul-aux-Cornailles at 2 p.m., the weather being fine but cold. The following day at 10.30 a.m. the march was resumed via Monchy—Breton (where we marched past the Brigadier-General Commanding 164th Infantry Brigade)—La Thieuloye—Valhuon Hestrus to Eps, where billets were reached at 3 p.m., the weather being fine. On the 12th at 10 a.m. the Battalion marched to Crepy via Petit Anvin, billets being reached at 12 noon. At 10.30 a.m. on the 13th, we made what was to be the last of this series of marches moving via Fruges—Monteville—Radhinghem—Wandonne and Dennebroccq to Reclinghem where we arrived in billets at 3.25 p.m. The weather continued warm and bright.
After the hard fighting and strenuous exercises of the past few months, the long period of rest in Reclinghem which followed was not unacceptable. Freed from trench worries for the time being, leisurely but thorough attention could be paid to reorganization, platoon and company training, and this was the general routine now followed. The Brigade Baths at Coyecque also received a full measure of patronage. The weather turned cold, with leaden skies threatening snow, and this duly arrived to give a traditional setting to Christmas Day. This was our third Christmas in France and Belgium, and as the previous two had been spent in the trenches at Authuille and Ypres respectively, special efforts were made on this occasion to mark this genial festival in a more fitting manner. A very pleasant day was spent, and one that lingers in the memory. There was a Voluntary Church Parade in the morning, which took place in the School at Reclinghem, and at 3.30 p.m. the Brigadier-General Commanding, accompanied by the Commanding Officer, visited all the Companies in turn at dinner. The Sergeants, after attending to the men’s needs, had their dinner at 5.30 p.m., and they also received a visit from the Commanding Officer, when the usual compliments of the season were exchanged. All Officers dined together in the Headquarters Mess at 7.30 p.m., when the Battalion Band was in attendance, and rendered an appropriate programme in a pleasing manner. Altogether a memorable day.
January, 1918
New Year’s Day, 1918, was observed, by order of the Brigadier, as a holiday from all parades, except for short inspection parades in the morning. Sports were indulged in during the day, but the weather conditions were too severe to admit of organized games. News was received that the Brigadier-General Commanding (General Stockwell) had been awarded the C.M.G., and a congratulatory message was sent from the Colonel and all Officers. In spite of the adverse weather, which necessitated much clearing of snow, training was persevered with, and on the 19th January the First Army Commander, General Sir H. S. Horne, inspected the 164th Infantry Brigade Group on the parade ground of the 5th Lancashire Fusiliers, at Coyecque. He took the opportunity of presenting medal ribands awarded to various members of the Battalion, Officers, N.C.O.s and men. The massed Brigade Buglers, under Corporal Parry of the 4th King’s Own, sounded the General Salute. The Battalion Band played during the Inspection, and, as the various units marched past, played the “March Past” of each Unit. The Army Commander, in his address, referred to the fight at Gueudecourt on September 27th, 1916, on which occasion the 164th Brigade was last under his Command—as Commander of the XIV Corps. He complimented the Brigade on its fine turnout, and steadiness on parade.
CHAPTER VIII.
Givenchy.
February, 1918
Time was passing, the enemy unconquered, and our pleasant stay in Reclinghem came to an end. Companies engaged in preparations for the Battalion move towards the Line. At 8.15 a.m. on the 7th February we proceeded by march route via Beaumetz-les-Aire, Laires, Febvin, Palfart to Ligny-les-Aires, where billets were reached at 12.30 p.m. Rain fell in torrents during this march. At 10 a.m. the following morning the march was resumed, and proceeding via St. Hilaire and Lillers, we halted in billets for the night at Busnettes. The Battalion was joined en route by 6 Officers and 194 other ranks of the 7th Bn. The King’s Own, who had been posted to us on the disbandment of that Battalion. On the 9th, at 9 a.m., we proceeded by march route via Chocques, Annezin, Béthune, Vaudricourt and Drouvin to Houchin, where Camp was reached at 1 p.m. We spent four days in Houchin, where training was resumed while the Commanding Officer, accompanied by the Intelligence Officer and Company Commanders, proceeded to reconnoitre the line, preparatory to the 164th Infantry Brigade taking over La Bassée Canal Sector.
On the 14th February the Battalion paraded, and moved up by Companies at 100 yards interval, to take over position in the Line, as Support Battalion to the Right Sector, and relieved the 6th Lancashire Fusiliers, 42nd Division. On the 20th we relieved the 4th Loyals in the left front Sub-Sector, and spent the time in repairing and improving the trenches. Trench life at this period was comparatively uneventful, quiet periods alternating with intermittent shelling on both sides, while patrols scoured No Man’s Land nightly. Pte. Pepper accounted for one of an enemy patrol, who was identified as belonging to “205 R.I.R.,” which useful item of information was duly conveyed to Brigade Headquarters. On the 2nd March the Battalion was relieved by the 5th Lancashire Fusiliers and moved back to Support in the Village Line. On the 5th March we were relieved by portions of the 6th North Staffs, and the 5th South Staffs. Regiment, and moved back by motor lorry to Hingette, where the Battalion was now in Divisional Reserve.