March, 1918
The time was occupied in cleaning up, bathing parades to Béthune, and training under Company arrangements. “Summer” time was adopted at 11 p.m. on the 9th, the clock being put forward an hour. This period was anything but restful; there was much tension in the air, and the Battalion was under “Stand To” orders in readiness to move to the forward area in case of the expected enemy attack. At 6.10 a.m. on the 11th March, the Battalion received orders to move to the Concentration Area near Gorre, and moved off in fighting order within half an hour of receiving the order. The Battalion, with the remainder of the Brigade, remained in the Concentration Area until 12 noon, when orders were received to move back to Hignette, the orders as to standing-to still remaining in force. A party of Officers and men reconnoitred the ground behind the Portuguese Division on the left, in anticipation of a call to move to the support of that Division. Reveille was now at 4.30 a.m. daily. On the 12th the order to move to the Concentration Area, near Gorre, was received at 6.10 a.m., and within ten minutes the Battalion had moved off. At 10 a.m. we moved back, Headquarters and 2 Companies going into billets at Essars, and 2 Companies to Choqvaux. This state of acute preparation continued, and further reconnoitring of the defences in rear of the Portuguese Division on our left took place. This was a precautionary measure, in the event of orders being received to form a defensive flank if the enemy penetrated the front of that Division.
At 7 a.m. on the 17th, the Battalion moved off by Companies to relieve the 5th King’s Liverpool Regt. in the line at Givenchy. The dispositions were as follows: “C” Company left front; “D” Company right front; “A” Company in support in Tunnels; “B” Company in reserve, occupying Givenchy Keep, Mairie Redoubt, and Moat Farm Redoubt. Battalion Headquarters were at South Moor Villas in Hitchen Road. The day was very clear, and nine enemy observation balloons were up, consequently much of our movement was observed, and the whole system was shelled intermittently during the day. Quiet periods alternated with heavy shelling by the enemy, gas shells being largely used, and these mostly of the mustard gas variety. Wolfe Road, King’s Road and Windy Corner, in the communication area, in addition to the above mentioned posts, all received these unwelcome attentions. At midnight on the 24th March our Artillery opened a heavy barrage of all calibres, including trench mortars, machine guns, rifle grenades and thermite, on the enemy trenches, and a successful raid was carried out by the 5th King’s Liverpool Regt. on our left, and nine prisoners were taken. Enemy retaliation was practically nil. On examination, these prisoners stated that an attack was imminent. In view of this statement the 5th Lancashire Fusiliers were ordered up to the Village Line to strengthen the defences, one Company being attached to our Battalion. Additional Machine Guns were also brought into the Sector, but no attack developed for the time being. On the 27th our snipers had a very successful day, accounting for six of the enemy, including an Officer.
The night was remarkably quiet, and we were relieved by the 5th Lancashire Fusiliers, moving into Brigade Reserve in Gorre. “C” Company occupied the Tuning Fork Line, immediately North of La Bassée Canal. “D” Company took over the Village Line with two Platoons at Pont Fixe, and two Platoons at Windy Corner. Battalion Headquarters and “A” and “B” Companies being in Brigade Reserve in Gorre. The Companies engaged in cleaning up and refitting, also visiting the Divisional Baths at Beuvry. After over a week’s perfect weather rain began to fall. At 11.15 a.m. on the 31st March, Church Parade was held at the Château Gorre.
April, 1918
On the 1st April, Companies moved up independently, via the northern bank of La Bassée Canal to Pont Fixe, to relieve the 4th Loyals in the right sector of the Brigade Front on La Bassée Canal. The relief was completed at 11.15 p.m. without incident, the weather being fine, and the night quiet. Dispositions were: Right Front “A” Company; Centre “B” Company; Left Front “C” Company; with “D” Company in support in Givenchy Keeps. Battalion Headquarters were in the Village Line. On the night of the 4th April our Patrols entered the enemy front line and communication trenches without any opposition. Good work on this patrol was done by Second-Lieuts. Raeside, Lyon and Holmes. These patrols again entered the enemy lines on the nights of the 5th and 6th. They penetrated as far as the support line, and found the system unoccupied from the Canal to a point N.E. of Warlingham Crater. A raid which should have been undertaken by the 4th Loyals was cancelled, owing to information gained by our Patrols. The 8th was a very quiet day. Not a shell fell on the Brigade front. “D” Company in the Keeps relieved “C” Company on the left front.
On the morning of the 9th April there was a heavy fog. The enemy opened a bombardment with gas shells, and a few 4.2’s and 5.9’s, behind our front line. Gradually gas shelling decreased, and the volume of heavier shells increased, the front line receiving some attention. The following brief summary of events, altogether inadequate to the occasion, must unhappily suffice to give some indication of the historic stand now made by the 55th (West Lancashire) Division, against what was to be the last main despairing effort of a formidable enemy to overwhelm his opponent:—
7.30 a.m.—Our front line was destroyed by Minenwerfers, and shelling was very heavy on Oxford Terrace and Bayswater.
8.5 a.m.—Battalion Headquarters was very heavily shelled, and caused serious casualties to Headquarters, Runners and Pioneers.
9.30 a.m.—An “S.O.S.” was received by Runner from Canal North, despatched at 9.15 by Captain Ellwood. This was transmitted by power buzzer, and also by Runner, to the forward guns, and to Brigade.