On the 19th October, the whole Outpost Line pushed out, and by the early morning our line was established on the railway line east of Bouvines, and patrols had entered Cysoing. The 4th Loyals now passed through us, and our Battalion concentrated in Bouvines for a rest. During the early morning “B” Company had captured 23 prisoners and 3 machine guns. Headquarters were established in a Château, and everyone was very comfortable. The villagers were overjoyed at their deliverance, and did all they could to make the troops comfortable. The bridge across the river had been blown up, and the villagers helped the Royal Engineers to build a new one, which was completed by 11.30 a.m.
The Battalion left Bouvines at 8.30 a.m. on the 20th to take over the role of “B” Battalion. We passed through Cysoing at 10 a.m. and marched to Creplain, where we halted. The Battalion then moved on again to the area around the Ferme du Baron, north of Froidmont, where we again halted and awaited orders. The next move was to a field about 800 yards north of Esplechin, where we formed up into Artillery formation. “D” Company was sent to support the left flank of the 5th Lancashire Fusiliers, and one Platoon to obtain touch with the 74th Division on our left. At 6 p.m. Battalion Headquarters moved to a farm in Esplechin, and “A” and “B” Companies moved to support the right flank of the 5th Lancashire Fusiliers. The remaining three Platoons of “C” Company moved to the left, and joined “D” Company, thus the whole Battalion was now in the Support Line. Battalion Headquarters moved to the Asylum in Froidmont, and were cordially greeted by the jovial Brothers of Charity.
On the 21st October, the Battalion passed through the 5th Lancashire Fusiliers, but found progress well contested by the enemy. Severe patrol fighting took place. The high ground on the road from Froidmont to Tournai was captured by “B” Company at 3.15 p.m., but was re-taken by the enemy at 10 p.m. On the right, considerable opposition was met with in Ere, and a machine gun was located, firing from the Church. The Church itself was mined. The enemy were finally pushed beyond Ere, and we took up a line about 500 yards beyond the village. Ere was heavily shelled during the day and night. At 7 p.m. Headquarters moved to the Château near Ere, and an advanced Headquarters was established in Ere. The enemy appeared to be making a stand on the north side of the river Scheldt. The shelling was severe, and all the sunken roads were marked down for harassing fire. During the morning of the 22nd, the 5th Loyals took over our line, and the Battalion took over a battle line in support. “D” Company had some casualties when coming out of the Outpost Line. The Battalion rested during the day. “A” Company were gassed rather heavily at 6 p.m., but suffered no casualties.
On the 23rd October the Battalion was holding the Battle Line, the men being as far as possible in farm houses, within easy reach of posts to be manned in case of S.O.S. At 4.45 p.m., in conjunction with the 14th Black Watch (late Fife and Forfar Yeomanry), one platoon of “D” Company attacked a sunken road, but without success. Enemy machine gun fire was very intense, and the men could only advance to within 100 yards of the trench, when the Officer and 5 men were wounded. The men were collected together by the Platoon Sergeant, and formed posts on the eastern edge of a wood, about 150 yards from the objective. The remainder of the Battalion were making posts. On the 24th Companies were engaged in digging V-shaped trenches, about 40 yards long, and these were inspected by the Commanding Officer during the morning. This work was carried out until 2 a.m. on the 25th, when 15 such trenches had been completed. Battalion Headquarters were moved to the farm house Du Baron during the afternoon, and Companies were billeted in farms in the vicinity.
During the morning of the 25th October, “D” Company (Reserve Company) carried on with the construction of the trenches. The Battalion was relieved in the main line of resistance about 5 p.m. by the 4th Loyals, and, on relief, moved forward and relieved the 5th Lancashire Fusiliers in the Outpost Line. Battalion Headquarters were established in the Tannery. “B” and “C” Companies held the front line, with “A” and “D” Companies in support. Second-Lieut. A. Rigg was here wounded in the leg by a machine gun bullet. The Battalion and the 4th Loyals now became attached to the 165th Infantry Brigade. On the 26th October the Battalion had the misfortune to lose the further services of the Commanding Officer, Lieut.-Colonel G. B. Balfour, D.S.O., who, along with Lieut. H. Tucker, went to hospital, sick. Colonel Balfour had the distinguished honour of serving with the Battalion throughout the War, from the time when he mobilised as a Lieutenant in August, 1914. The Command of the Battalion devolved upon Major R. Gardner, M.C., who was promoted Acting Lieut.-Colonel, and who himself had proceeded to France with the Battalion and had rendered most valuable service.
Ere Church and vicinity were continually harassed during the day with gas shells and whizbangs. An aeroplane, belonging to “C” Flight, was shot down, but was salvaged intact from No Man’s Land by “A” Company. During the morning another of our aeroplanes was forced to land, with a bullet through the tank, near Pic-au-Vent, the pilot and observer being uninjured. On the whole, the Battalion had a quiet day.
At 5.30 a.m. on the 27th the Royal Air Force took away in a lorry the first aeroplane we salvaged the previous day. During the morning there was a slight gas shelling of Pic-au-Vent, Croix-de-Pierre, and Ere Church, but the Battalion had a quiet day in the Line. On the 29th an enemy aeroplane was brought down on the right of the Battalion front. The observer was seen to descend by means of a parachute, and was taken prisoner by the 10th Liverpool Scottish on the right. The Battalion had a quiet day in the Line, and was relieved at 7.30 p.m. by the 6th King’s Liverpool Regt. On relief, the Battalion proceeded to billets in Bourchelles. Here the opportunity was taken of cleaning up, paying the men, and bathing at Cysoing. Succeeding days were devoted to training in open warfare, and Colonel Gardner addressed the Battalion on the parade ground. Capt. A. E. Morton, M.C., Lieuts. H. Lauder and Steeple, and Second-Lieut. I. G. Anderson rejoined the Battalion here, whilst by way of recreation, a dance was given in the village school, with the Battalion Band in attendance, and which proved very popular. There were also some fine Cinema shows given in the same building from time to time. The weather was not too kind at this time, rain being rather persistent.
November, 1918
On the 8th November, the Battalion received orders to be prepared to move at short notice, and everything was prepared in readiness for this, the remainder of the day being devoted to training in billets, the day being very wet. At 1 a.m. on the 9th we received orders to move to Esplechin, and at 9.50 a.m. the Battalion proceeded to that village by march route, arriving at 11.30 a.m., and now came under the orders of the 166th Infantry Brigade. On the 10th November, at 5.30 a.m., we received orders to move forward towards Leuze, and proceeded by march route at 6.45 a.m. The route taken was via Froidmont—Ere—Pontrieu—Vaulx—Les Tournai, along the main Tournai—Ath Road to Leuze, where the Battalion arrived at 7 p.m. Progress on the march was considerably delayed, owing to the main road being blown up by mines in many places. We found good billets in Leuze, and were very comfortable for the night, the inhabitants giving the Battalion a most cordial reception. We received orders from the 166th Infantry Brigade to move forward next morning at 11 a.m.
At 10.45 a.m. on the 11th November, the Battalion formed up in mass on the Square at Leuze, preparatory to moving forward. A few minutes before 11 o’clock the Commanding Officer, Lieut.-Colonel R. Gardner, M.C., read out on parade, a telegram, received from the 166th Infantry Brigade, stating that an Armistice had been signed by Germany, and that hostilities would cease at 11 a.m. A Squadron of the 1st Royal Dragoons, being then in Leuze, on their way forward, also formed up in the Square, and at 11 o’clock sounded the Cavalry “Cease Fire.” The Battalion then gave a Royal Salute, and the Band played the National Anthems of England, Belgium, and France. We then moved forward, amid great cheering from the civilian population, and proceeded along the main road to Ligne, where a halt was made, and the Battalion had lunch. Orders were received here from the 164th Infantry Brigade to proceed to Villers St. Amand, where we duly arrived about 2.45 p.m. Billets were obtained, and the Battalion rested here for the night, coming again under the orders of the 164th Infantry Brigade.