Area of proposed raid, March, 1918.German Front and Support LinesOpposite Hudson Bay-Boutillerie Sector.March 23rd18.2/6 The King's (Liverpool Regt) To face page170.
Area of proposed raid, March, 1918.German Front and Support LinesOpposite Hudson Bay-Boutillerie Sector.March 23rd18.2/6 The King's (Liverpool Regt) To face page170.
Area of proposed raid, March, 1918.
German Front and Support Lines
Opposite Hudson Bay-Boutillerie Sector.
March 23rd18.
2/6 The King's (Liverpool Regt) To face page170.
On March 29th the Irish took over from us, and our battalion moved out—Headquarters and "B" Company to Fleurbaix, "D" Company to Canteen Farm in reserve to the front line, and "A" and "C" to Sailly to continue their training. A special telephone was laid to the latter in case of emergency.
Battalion Headquarters and "B" Company were all congregated in a set of farm buildings, which, had the enemy attacked, would certainly have been blown to pieces at the very outset. In the absence, on leave, of Major Charles Wilson, Captain Eccles, the next senior excepting the Adjutant, was appointed O.C. Fleurbaix Defences, and included in his command certain machine guns and trench mortars.
On March 29th the raiding party was reduced from two companies to one, and the date was advanced to the 31st; and the next evening the remaining company were also told they would not be required. Two fighting patrols, under Lieutenant Burton and Corporal Corkill respectively, were sent out to try and obtain identification, but the enemy was evidently expecting a raid, as his front line was quite unoccupied. It was probably, therefore, as well that the raid had been cancelled, though we should have liked to carry it out.
Meantime all surplus stores were ordered to be sent to Estaires, and we found ourselves ready to move without the great mass of transport usually required on such occasions.
On March 31st the Second-in-Command of the 20th Middlesex Regiment arrived to look round, and told us great stories of the retreat. The next day (April 1st) they relieved us, and the battalion moved out at 10.30 p.m. on a long and weary march to Neuf Berquin. There we were joined by the men who had formed the Brigade Pioneer Company, and the battalion presented an appearance of unusual strength.