Shortly after 1 o’clock, Lieut. Rudall (“A” Company) had entered without opposition, La Bassée line S. of the Canal, and was pushing S. down the trench to gain touch with patrols which were working their way along Vert Alley. At 2.30 we were in occupation of La Bassée line, from the Canal to Vert Alley, and had gained touch with the 16th Division. Instructions were then received from the Brigadier-General Commanding 164th Infantry Brigade to hold La Bassée Line with two Platoons, and push into Le Faubourg to Canal Basin and Crassiers. Meantime patrols of “B” Company had pushed through La Bassée, and reached at 4.30 p.m., a point 800 yards East of it. Major R. Gardner, M.C., under whose command this advance guard was operating, then left Battalion Headquarters at Spoil Bank, and at 5 p.m. established Headquarters of the Right Advance Guard at the Distillery. He was accompanied by Lieut. Tucker (Intelligence Officer), and by a few Signallers and Runners. Communications with Spoil Bank were at first maintained by telephone, via one of the other Company Headquarters. On the establishment of Battalion Headquarters at Canteleux at 7 p.m., communications became very precarious, as the wire over the Canal became “dissed” by the blowing up of a barge. A “loop set,” however, was fixed up at the Distillery, with which efforts were made to get into touch with a similar instalment in Red Dragon Crater. Telephone communication, however, with the Company Headquarters already referred to, was maintained.
Patrols had by 5 o’clock, reached Crassiers, and located the enemy. Patrols elsewhere were also pushing on, in touch with the 16th Division. Two Platoons from “B” Company then crossed the Canal, and were disposed in La Bassée Line, which was temporarily held as the main line of resistance. By 8 p.m. outposts were established along an advanced line, and Vanguard Headquarters were in La Bassée, in a concrete cellar. From a reconnaissance of the Canal it was observed that the bridges had been totally destroyed. It was, however, just possible to scramble over near the remains of the old railway bridge. There was no sign of any footbridge along the Canal. Road reconnaissance showed that the main Annequin—La Bassée road was fit for horse and motor traffic as far as Le Faubourg. Roads towards Canal Basin from Le Faubourg were also good for horse traffic; that running south towards Cité de Douvrin was not so good.
The only opposition to our Patrols came from a machine gun. This, however, ceased before dusk, and a party of 20 of the enemy were seen marching thence towards Salomé in full marching order. Before midnight a post was established in the Old Brewery on the Salomé Road, and another south of the Canal. Detachments of Machine Gunners (55th Division Machine Gun Battalion, 4 Guns; 16th Division Machine Gun Battalion, 2 Guns), Stokes Mortars, Lewis Gunners, and Investigation Parties had all reported at Advanced Guard Headquarters at the Distillery by 8 p.m. About midnight two patrols were sent out to push forward into Salomé, one along the N. and the other along the S. side of the Canal, and establish a post in Salomé, in touch with each other. These posts were established by 2 a.m. on the 3rd October. A patrol also went down the road to gain touch with the Division on the right.
Salomé was found deserted—the enemy had completely disappeared—and touch was gained with a patrol of the 5th Lancashire Fusiliers in Salomé. At 7 a.m. the line of resistance of the Advance Guard was moved forward to a general line, with forward posts and two supporting platoons. A patrol reached the Canal angle, and further patrols were sent to reconnoitre Berclau. Billy Berclau was found to have been reached by the 16th Division, and touch was established with their left post. At 10.55 a.m. Billy Berclau was lightly shelled by the enemy, and at the same time Machine Gun and Anti-Aircraft Artillery fire was observed from Berclau. Advance Guard Headquarters was established near the Canal Basin, whither the “loop set” from the Distillery was removed. This was picked up by the “loop set” of the forward Brigade, and communication with our Brigade was thus obtained. In other directions visual signalling was resorted to.
Four machine guns were disposed in the main line of resistance, 2 were maintained in reserve at Headquarters. One Stokes Mortar was also conveyed by mule to the Vanguard Headquarters. A forward dump of 57 boxes of small arm ammunition was established in rear of the main line of resistance. Cooking was done in La Bassée, and the men supplied with hot food during the day. Cross-country communications from La Bassée to the outpost line of resistance was easy, the tracks being undamaged. At 1 p.m. a post was reported established in Berclau, but later an enemy rearguard was located in another part of the village. Fighting took place, and our post was compelled to withdraw. The N. and N.E. outskirts of Berclau were found strongly held by machine guns and snipers. We established a Lewis Gun Post which commanded Berclau.
At 4.45 p.m. orders were received from Brigade to arrange for the 16th Division to take over the dispositions of the Right Advance Guard, owing to a change of boundaries. The southern boundary of our Brigade was fixed on the line of the Canal—Canal Angle—Canal Tee. The Advance Guard, and all attached troops were to move to assembly positions in Salomé, N. of the Canal, and await the remainder of the 4th King’s Own, which was coming up from La Bassée, to relieve the 5th Lancashire Fusiliers in the Brigade Outpost line, on the night of the 3rd/4th October, and to continue the advance on the morning of the 4th. At 7.30 p.m. Advance Guard Headquarters closed and crossed the Canal. Major R. Gardner, M.C., the Commander, reported at Battalion Headquarters in Salomé at 9 p.m. The outpost platoons and attached troops crossed the Canal, and spent the night in billets in Salomé. The whole Battalion, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel G. B. Balfour, D.S.O., now acted as Advance Guard to the Brigade.
On the morning of the 4th October, patrols pushed forward at dawn from Hantay, and drove the enemy back to the Canal. A good deal of patrol fighting took place. “D” Company attacked and took Prevore Farm. The enemy held the western bank of the Canal and bridgeheads with machine guns. The 18-pr. Battery attached to the Advance Guard, shelled the bridgeheads and the Laundry. On the 5th October, patrols continued to drive the enemy back, but could not get across the Haute Deule Canal, which he was holding strongly. The enemy flooded the area in front of the Canal, and caused our patrols and posts to withdraw a short distance. The Battalion was relieved during the night by the 6th King’s Liverpools and marched back to Divisional Reserve in the vicinity of Pont Fixe and Givenchy, with Battalion Headquarters at Barge House. Here we rested, bathed and refitted. The weather was wet, and there were no working parties. Companies were not very comfortable in dugouts, and on the 7th the Battalion moved back to billets in Beuvry. Here training in Advance Guards was carried out, and kits and stores were again reduced to the lowest minimum, so as to conform to the transport available.
On the 11th October one Officer per Company reconnoitred the left Brigade front (166th Brigade), with a view to taking over the following day. A demonstration in rapid pontoon bridging was given in the afternoon. This followed a lecture in the morning by the Divisional Educational Officer on the scheme for education on the cessation of hostilities. This encouraged impressions not to be ignored, and if the general spirit of the troops was exuberant, it was based on solid foundation and not mere flimsy excuse. Much remained to be done, however, and on the 12th October the Battalion left Beuvry in trains at 8.30 a.m. to relieve the 10th Liverpool Scottish in the forward area. There were two collisions on the way but no one was hurt. We detrained at Cambrin, and marched to the neighbourhood of Marquillies, where Battalion Headquarters were established. “A” Company in Marquillies; “B” Company in Sainghin; “C” Company in Le Willy, and “D” Company in the Sugar Factory. Relief was completed at 5 p.m. without any special incident.
On the following day posts were dug and wired all round. There was a good deal of shelling but no casualties were sustained. On the 14th, Battalion Headquarters moved to a house near the Sugar Factory. Two Companies were in the main line of resistance, and two in support. We supplied one working party, and Officers reconnoitred the forward area.
On the 17th the Battalion left Sainghin, moving off at 9 a.m., and marched by Companies through Wavrin to Lattre. There was some delay in crossing the Canal at Seclin, owing to the bridges being blown up. We then moved on to Ancoisne, where a mid-day meal was served. Here we met the first released civilians, and our reception was most cordial. About 2 p.m. the Battalion moved on to Houplines, and were still under orders to advance. At 6.30 p.m. we arrived at Templemars, remaining there for the night. Our reception here was even more cordial than before. Battalion Headquarters were established at the Mayor’s house. At 6 a.m. on the 18th, the Battalion moved off to pass through the 5th Lancashire Fusiliers. “C” and “D” were Outpost Companies, with “A” and “B” Companies in support. The patrols pushed on and entered Peronne. The enemy were holding the bank of the river La Marque in considerable strength, and there was a good deal of shelling, the fort at Sainghin, and Peronne, being the chief targets. Bas Sainghin caused “D” Company a good deal of trouble, and it was not until the afternoon that it was cleared. A heavy mist hung over the area of operations, and greatly assisted us in moving forward. The night was very light, with a brilliant moon. By means of a ladder, “D” Company patrol was able to cross La Marque, and enter Bouvines. At 10.30 p.m. we put down a machine gun barrage, also our 18-pr. Batteries fired on woods where the enemy were located. This seems to have forced the enemy to retire before he intended, and he finally left the village at 11.15 p.m. Our reception by the villagers was most cordial.