The History of the 2/6th (Rifle) Battalion, "the King's" (Liverpool Regiment) 1914-1919Wurtzburg, C. E. (Charles Edward)
History
The History of the 2/6th (Rifle) Battalion, "the King's" (Liverpool Regiment) 1914-1919
Wurtzburg, C. E. (Charles Edward)
Great Britain. Army. King's Liverpool Regiment; World War, 1914-1918 -- Regimental histories -- Great Britain
On the evening of October 9th orders were received from Brigade that
the Division was to "pull out of the line" the next day for a rest.
This had been anticipated by all ranks, and the wildest speculations
had been rife. "Three weeks at Calais," "A fortnight in the South of
France," and other even more ridiculous prophecies had been uttered,
each, of course, based on "inside information." After all, when the war
really seemed to be nearing its end, any rumours, whether of a "rest"
or of a fallen Monarchy, met with ready acceptance.
At 10.30 a.m. on October 10th we commenced our move, so as to strike
the Brigade starting-point at Anneux Chapel at 11.15 a.m. Considerable
difficulty was experienced in collecting the companies, owing to the
barrier produced by the canal. The battalion, however, eventually was
joined together, and we tramped along the Bapaume--Cambrai road in high
spirits, albeit the recent battle was still in evidence by reason of
the dead Germans and slain horses seen lying about.
As we reached Fontaine we met a Scottish Division marching up, and
throughout its length the road was very congested. Our Divisional
Commander watched us pass, and we picked up our rear headquarters by
Bourlon Wood _en route_. As we marched along the switchback road H.R.H.
the Prince of Wales and General Byng passed us, motoring up to Cambrai.
The battle area, now that the struggle had gone ahead, looked forlorn
and desolate; and we were not sorry when, about two o'clock, we
reached the bare hillside at Boursies, where we were to spend the
night. Bivouacs were soon constructed, and though it threatened to
rain, and in fact did so at intervals, our spirits were in no way
damped.
Soon after our arrival we were conscious of a terrific detonation--it
would be untrue to say we "heard" it--and, looking back towards
Cambrai, we saw a tall pillar of smoke, with a large mushroom top,
rising from the town. We wondered whether our Army Commander and the
Prince of Wales had left the town in time to avoid the explosion.
The next day Brigadier-General Meynell, C.M.G., arrived to take over
command of our Brigade, and Colonel Gathorne-Hardy returned to our
Headquarters once more. The same day a proportion of our transport
moved off to Ruitz, near Bethune, our ultimate destination.
The morning of October 12th proved wet and chilly. As the balance
of the transport had to entrain at 7.30 a.m. at Fremicourt, early
breakfasts and earlier rising were essential; and by 7 a.m. we found
ourselves standing about with nothing to do and nowhere to sit and two
hours to pass before we could move. However, in due course the time
arrived, and the battalion moved off, the new Brigadier taking the
salute.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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