Category Archives: 1918

NOTES ON RECENT FIGHTING – No. 15. 6 June 1918

K.J. Bunting Capt.

Issued down to Divisions

(for distribution down to Battalions)

T/9

NOTES ON RECENT FIGHTING – No. 15.

THE GERMAN ATTACK ON THE BRITISH FRONT ON THE AISNE ON THE

27th OF MAY.

  1. Indications of the Attack.
  2. The enemy was very successful in concealing his preparations for the attack. Hostile artillery was exceptionally quiet during the fortnight preceding the attack, and there was an almost entire absence of gas shelling. There was little aerial registration and very little aerial and wireless activity of any kind; aeroplane photographs, the latest of which were taken on the 23rd of May, disclosed few new ammunition dumps and no new gun positions. In this connection, however, it must be remembered that the whole front was covered with old gun positions and that about three weeks previous to the attack some of these were reoccupied by the enemy. Except for the reoccupation of these positions, there were no indications of the attack until the 24th and 25th of May, when abnormal lorry and train movement was noticed in the back areas behind the enemy’s lines. In the late afternoon of the 26th of May, whole battalions were seen on the march in the forward areas. The enemy made no attempt to conceal the movements of these troops and did not reply when they were shelled.
  3. Hostile Artillery Preparation.
  4. During the night of the 26th-27th of May, as it was evident that the enemy intended to attack, harassing fire was carried out by the heavy and field artillery on the enemy’s roads and approaches. The tracks, however, were numerous and the country very open, so that it is unlikely that the enemy experienced much interference in his approach. There was no artillery retaliation, and the enemy’s bombardment opened with a crash at 1 a.m. on the 27th of May without any previous preparation. The bombardment is described as the heaviest there has been during the recent offensive. Our front line system of trenches was bombarded mainly, if not entirely, by trench mortars. Instantaneous fuzes were used and the wire, which is described as particularly strong, was destroyed. The shelling of our batteries was very accurate. The bombarded zone included practically the whole of our battery positions. Gas was not used in the front system, but was freely employed for counter-battery work and in every suitable locality in rear. The gas employed was chiefly, if not solely, “blue cross”. Its effects were felt as far back as the Valley of the Vesle.
  5. The Attack.
  6. The infantry attack is believed to have begun at about 4.30 a.m. It was preceded by a very heavy barrage, extending to a depth of about 400 yards, which appears not to have been a regular creeping barrage, but to have been moved from zone to zone at some distance in front of the assaulting troops. The enemy throughout the fighting adopted his usual tactics of working round the flanks. On the British front, at any rate, the enemy appears to have little made use of tanks. It is reported that a few tanks worked along the valley of the Miette and thence up to La-Ville-au-Bois, but their co-operation was no real factor in the success of the attack in this sector. From the beginning of the battle the enemy had a great superiority in the air, and he was exceedingly quick in getting forward his balloons. A balloon was working from Juvincourt before 11 a.m.   Another feature of the advance was the rapidity with which the enemy succeeded in bringing up his light trench mortars. They were drawn by horses and got into action more quickly, and were of greater use, than the field artillery which also accompanied the infantry in the advance.
  7. Lessons.
  8. There was nothing new in the enemy’s tactics, but the success which he again obtained emphasizes more strongly than ever the following points:-
  1. The outpost system must be lightly held. It is useless to expose to the preliminary bombardment a single man more than is absolutely necessary.
  2. It is none the less essential to organize some form of forward or outpost system, otherwise the enemy will simply destroy the main defensive battle line by his preliminary bombardment, and will then overwhelm such elements as remain by the strength of his infantry attack.
  3. Reserves should not be sent up piecemeal as reinforcements to troops holding the line, but must be used as distinct units with definite tasks.
  4. It is essential that a mobile reserve of guns should be retained.
  5. Little registration was reported during the period immediately preceding the attack. In this connection, however, it must be remembered that registration can always be done unobtrusively when the light is unfavourable for ground or aerial observation, or when the wind makes sound ranging difficult. There is also a general tendency not to report a few apparently aimless rounds which do not cause any inconvenience. The importance of reporting all shelling, especially on quiet days, cannot, therefore, be too much emphasized.

6th of June, 1918.

 

 

Printed in France by Army Printing and Stationary Services.                                                                                          PRESS A-6/18.

Letter to Miss Dillon 6 June 1918

H.M. Government

Embossed notepaper

c/o British Embassy

Rome

6.6.18

 

My dearest Lillie & Anna,

I shall be up all night to-night, so this is a good opportunity to write to my dear folks at home. (Meine Lieben in der Heimat)

Well at present I am at Brindisi, right down near the heel of the boot.  It is a fascinating old place and takes one back to the early middle ages with all the primitiveness of those times. (it swarms with fleas, ants & mosquitoes.  The women walk about carrying huge jars of water, like Rachel & Rebecca used to take to the well.) It was a great *** leaving Rome, but I hope to return there any time to stay, and I shall appreciate more than ever then and never want to live any other place afterwards. Rome is at the same time primeval, medieval and modern, and sometimes one cannot help feeling it is more modern than anything else.  I loved every moment of the day there, and one of my greatest joys was to drive about in a Vettura and watch movements of the people.  The Sognoras are so graziose and the signores tanto cortesi.  I am already Italanissimo my self and cannot imagine I am a native of a more northern clime.  At Brindisi it is almost tropical, but I have not found the heat very intense yet.  For instance I only put on my drill uniform today for the first time.  I bathed in the blue blue Adriatic today and walked for miles along the shore admiring the flowers and plants.  There are enormous cactus trees everywhere and wild flowers of every kind and colour.  I wish you could see them.

There is a frightful shortage of water here, and one misses the facilities for washing, but that does not matter so long as one has the sea to bathe in.

Lord Monk-Breton has written to the Admiralty to ask them to have me promoted to Captain, so that’s that but it may be some time before it comes through.  I shall let you know at once as soon as I hear the result.  Until then I remain Lieutenant.

He is a splendid man to have as one’s C.O. and he would do anything to help one.  The question of pay &c has not been fixed yet.  It takes a long time to get a reply to one’s letters from here to England so we have just to wait patiently.

I had a great day in Paris on the way out, and the whole journey was simply wonderful.  I am thrilled with the joy of the whole thing.  My stay in Rome was of course simply enchanting, and it will be still better when I return.

I would not mind being here a month or two to collect my thoughts until every thing is made straight, but then I want to live in Rome for ere after.

Now I must stop as otherwise the letter would be too heavy.

Write soon please and tell me all about yourselves, your cars and everything that interests you.

Write c/o British Embassy Rome, always, and the letters will be forwarded to me no matter where I am.

Did you get my card from Turin and my letter from Rome?  There will be more to tell you in my next letter.  Write about once a week please just to tell me you are all right.

By the way you forgot to give me the Bystander you brought at the station.  If you care to send it I should be very glad to have it as we never see an English paper or journal here.

With best love to you two & Kathleen                      from  Willie

NOTES ON RECENT FIGHTING – No. 13. 4 June 1918

K.J. Bunting Capt.

Issued down to Divisions

(for distribution down to Battalions)

T/9

NOTES ON RECENT FIGHTING – No. 13.

GERMAN TACTICS IN THE ATTACK.

(Issued by the General Staff)

  1. The method of concentration of the attacking troops and their movement to the position of assembly in the recent operations on the Western Front were very similar to those employed by the Germans in the attack on Riga in September 1917. Several of the attacking and second line divisions were brought forward by night marches and by easy stages. In certain cases these marches were so regulated as to bring the divisions into their assembly positions at the end of their last march. This method of attacking after long marches was a feature of the training and manoeuvres carried out by the German divisions in the back areas during the early part of this year. In some cases, the starting point of the attacking divisions was at a considerable distance behind the enemy’s line. Prisoners who have been captured from divisions which adopted this practice state that their losses during the advance were comparatively light.
  2. The enemy has employed two or three different methods for deployment of his assaulting troops. There is evidence to shew that in some cases an assault division was brought up through a division already in the line. The 3rd Naval Division, for instance, is stated to have marched through another division to attack Contalmaison, and in the attack north of the Scarpe on the 28th of March the three attacking divisions passed through regiments of the two divisions which were holding the line. As a general rule, however, the enemy appears to have distributed his divisions in depth in groups of two or three, and the assaulting division attacked with two regiments in the front line and one regiment in reserve. Thus, the German IX Corps (St Quentin Group) for the attack on the 21st of March was organized with three divisions in the front line and three divisions in reserve. The Corps frontage was about three miles, so that each division attacked on a frontage of about 1,760 yards, with two regiments in the front line and one regiment in divisional reserve. The heads of the central reserve division were ordered to arrive at positions about 4,500 yards behind the German front line at the moment of assault. The leading regiments of the assaulting division had two battalions in front and one battalion in reserve. The leading battalions had two companies in front and two in close support.
  3. The general dispositions adopted by a company in the attack are shewn in the diagram below. This diagram is based upon a prisoner’s statement, and shews the formation adopted during training. It is probably typical of the formation generally employed by a company in the attack, but the strength of the various waves naturally depends upon the fighting strength of the company. It will be seen that a fourth platoon is temporarily formed, consisting of runners, signallers and carriers. The task of this platoon, in addition to maintaining communication, is to supply the forward infantry with ammunition and engineer material.| 50 yds.         |100 yds                     |100 yds.        |                                    | riflemen       |group                         |                       |                                    |                                                                                                                       |                       |                                   |                       |                                               |                                                                                                                       |                       |                                   |                       |L.M.G. Group            | group of       |“Granatwerfer”         |signallers      |                                    |                       |                                   |                       |
  5.                                     | riflemen       |group                         |                       |
  6.                                                Platoon Cmdr
  7. Assault group           |                       |                                   |                       |
  8. Platoon comdr.             L.M.G. Group |           Coy Comdr.      |                       |                                               |                        |           L.M.G Group     | Platoon Comdr                                                                                                           | Carriers         |
  9. Assault group          |                       |                                   |                       |
  10.                                                             |           Platoon Comdr.     |                       |
  11. L.M.G Group           | group of       |“Granatwerfer”         |runners         |
  13. The special assault detachments which form the first wave of an attack advance in extended order, but there is no definite information to shew the exact formation adopted by the succeeding waves of the leading battalions. It is probable that the usual method of advance is in line of groups in file until the battalions reach our trenches, when the men deploy into line. The reasons for this kind of formation are obvious. Casualties from artillery and machine gun fire are reduced to a minimum and the strength of the attack is liable to be underrated. The reserves follow the assaulting battalions in artillery formation, taking advantage of every form of natural cover.
  14. The enemy’s maxim that the light machine gun is not an auxiliary weapon, but just as much the chief weapon of the infantry as the rifle, has been acted upon throughout the recent offensive. Light machine guns have always been well forward with the assaulting troops. On one portion of the front it was noticed that the system adopted was for one big man to carry the gun until the attacking troops came within our rifle fire. The No. 1 then took the gun from the carrier and crept forward as far as possible before opening a machine gun barrage, under the protection of which the infantry attacked.
  15. The enemy’s light mortars have usually followed close behind the assaulting infantry. They have been used to support the attack if it appears to have been definitely checked and to reinforce machine guns in the defence of captured localities against our counter-attacks.
  16. In some cases, as in the attack carried out by the enemy on the 24th of April between the Somme and Hangard, attacks have been delivered by mixed groups of infantry and artillery, a minimum of one field gun battery accompanying an infantry regiment. Although this form of attack may not have been universally adopted by the enemy, it had been employed on all known occasions by various divisions during the recent operations on the Somme and Lys battle fronts. It should be noted that the constitution of mixed groups was laid down by the Germans for the engagement of intervening divisions during the fighting in Flanders in 1917.
  17. In the majority of cases, the objectives of the attack appear to have been unlimited and the orders to the troops have been to push on until an organized resistance was encountered. In this connection, it is of interest to note that many of the prisoners who have been captured have been in possession of maps, complete in every detail, of the country into which they might penetrate.
  18. In the development of his offensive operations the enemy has aimed at establishing continuous action. He has, therefore, allowed his unit commanders of all grades the fullest initiative, and has endeavoured immediately to exploit any success which he obtains. His tactical methods during the recent fighting constitute a complete return to the principles laid down in the training regulations of German infantry before the war.

4th of June, 1918.

 

 

 

 

Printed in France by Army Printing and Stationary Services.                                                                     PRESS A-6/18-6661S-4000.

War Diary of 9th CANADIAN ARTILLERY BRIGADE May 1918

CONFIDENTIAL

 

WAR DIARY of 9th CANADIAN ARTILLERY BRIGADE

 

From May 1st 1918 – To May 31st 1918

 

 

A.27.c.90.45

LIEVIN

1.5.18           Visibility today has been poor.  Throughout the day the enemy artillery harassed our forward areas with all calibre of guns.  About noon today, an enemy “Whizz-bang” battery was engaged and silenced by one of our batteries.  Very little enemy movement was observed today on account of the low visibility.

 

2.5.18           Visibility today has been fair.  During the morning his artillery was very quiet.  Our forward areas received a light scattered shelling during the afternoon.  A certain amount of movement was observed today in enemy country all of which was fired on by our batteries.  Our planes were very active throughout the afternoon, frequently crossing the enemy lines.  Only one enemy plane was observed today.

 

3.5.18            Visibility continues fair.  With the exception of a light scattered shelling of our forward area, enemy’s artillery has been very quiet.  A considerable amount of movement was observed today, mostly individual.  Our batteries carried out their usual harassing fire during the night.  A large explosion was caused in SALLAUMINES by our Heavies at 5.15 P.M.

Operational Order No 145 was issued today detailing the relief of the 3rd Canadian Division by the XVIII Corps (Imperial); relief to take place on the 3/4th and 4/5th.  The 9th Brigade C.F.A. will be relieved by the 91st Brigade R.F.A.  Relief is to be of personnel only, and all guns will be handed over to relieving batteries.

 

4.5.18           O.O.145-3 was issued today giving instructions regarding the move of the Brigade to AMETTES.  The brigade is to march at night, leaving the Wagon Lines about 7.30 P.M.

 

5.5.18            The Brigade arrived at AMETTES about 4.30 A.M. after an uneventful march.  The day was spent by the batteries in fixing up their horse lines and billets.

 

6.5.18 to 31.5.18       A considerable amount of open warfare manoeuvres in conjunction with the Infantry has taken place during the past three weeks, in the AUCHEL and BOMY Areas.  All Batteries made a very creditable performance, gaining valuable experience in the art of open warfare.  From the 10th to the 17th all the guns of the Brigade were calibrated on the Artillery Range at WESTREHEM.  A special shoot took place, during the calibration of the guns, in which the 33rd and 36th Batteries took part.  A demonstration of firing at short ranges took place which was witnessed by both Corps and Army Staffs.  On 21st, instant all the guns in the brigade were taken by motor lorry to ALBAIN ST NAZAIRE where they were calibrated on the new electric ranges.  A number of trips were taken to the XI and XIII Corps Area and reconnaissance made of the Reserve Trenches and battery area.

On the 30th and 31st the Brigade preliminary Dumbell Contest took place, which was won by the 31st Battery C.F.A.

 

 

Lieut-Colonel

Comd’g 9th Canadian Artillery Brigade

War Diary of 2/6th Sherwood Foresters for May 1918

WAR DIARY of 2/6th Sherwood Foresters for May 1918

 

 

Place       Date    Hour                                                Summary of Events and Information

 

Fighting Strength  31 Offs 836 O.R.s

 

Sheet 27

HOUTKERQUE 1/5/18        Battalion training carried out.

E.20.b.25.75   2/5/18              Battalion moved by march route to Camp at K.17.a.3.3. (Nr. Watou).

K.17.a.3.3.   3/5/18  2.0 pm.   Battalion digging on Watou Caestre Front & Reserve Lines.

4/5/18

5/5/18  9.0 am.            Battalion embossed at E.28.d.6.6 and proceeded to Barracks at St. Omer.

  1. OMER     6/5/18

7/5/18               16 Offs & 665 O.R.s despatched to ‘K’ Infantry Base Depot and Battalion formed into Battalion Training Cadre.   Establishment 10 Offs & 44 O.R.s.

HAZE 5a.95.40

BLESSY             9/5/18  8.0. am.       Training Cadre marched to Blessy.

SHEET 36B

BOURS           10/5/18  8.0 am.          Training Cadre marched to BOURS.

BOURS     11/5/18 to 31/5/18                        Training of Staff carried out.

F.S. Offs 10  O.R.s 43

 

War Diary of 20 Siege Battery for May 1918

WAR DIARY of 20 Siege Battery for May 1918

Place       Date    Hour                                                Summary of Events and Information

 

MAY

1st 1918                                   Officers on strength of Battery

Capt (A/Major) L.G.R.F.H. BELL (Reg) (to Hospital, sick 29.4.18)

Lt. (A/Capt) JC THOMPSON (SR)

Lt. H.L. PAUL (TF)

Lt. E.B. LOACH (SR)

Lt. R.G. PERCIVAL (SR)

2/Lt. F.W. DAVIS (SR)

2/Lt.C.H. BATEMAN (SR)

2/Lt. W.H. CHAPMAN (SR)

2/Lt. A.E. COCKFIELD (SR)

2/Lt. E.O. DAVIES (SR) (Attd 125 SB till 18.5.18)

1st                    3 guns at OBLINGHEM.  2 guns near ANNEZIN. 1 gun in workshops.

6th                    2 guns for ANNEZIN moved to position near BETHUNE BEUVRY Road, E.18.b.3.0. (Sheet 36 B N.E.).  Also 1 gun for OBLINGHEM.  Guns not allowed to fire from this position owing to proximity of Inf Bde & Div H.Q.

8th                    2 guns for position in OBLINGHEM moved into new position in BETHUNE E.11.c.5.3 (Sheet 36 B N.E.) 3rd gun for workshops.

9th                    3 guns for position on BETHUNE-BEUVRY Road to new position on BETHUNE-NOEUX-LES-MINES Road E.17.d.3.2 (Sheet 36 B N.E.)

10th -31st          Both sections almost entirely engaged in destructive counter battery shoots with aeroplane observation, 3450 rounds being fired on these targets & 7 OKs & 37 Ys obtained during **ing

No Battle Casualties during month of May.

 

 

JUNE 1918

 JUNE 1918

Spring Offensive – Operation Gneisenau

The fourth German offensive launched in 1918 was known by the German code-name of Operation Gneisenau. In May 1918, the fighting lines had reached the west of Château-Thierry at Vaux and Belleau Wood. The Battle of Belleau Wood was fought from the 1st to 26th June 1918, and was the first major battle the Americans were involved in fighting against the German army. At the end of the German Aisne Offensive, the American Second Division moved in to replace a French corps in the sector. The German advance was stopped on the 4th June 1918. Two days later this American division made a successful counter-attack against four German Divisions, and recaptured Vaux and Belleau Wood which the Germans had previously over-run as part of Operation Blücher-Yorck. The Americans were operating under French Corps command during the earlier battles, but the American Expeditionary Force commander General John Pershing was working towards the deployment of an independent U.S. Field Army. The rest of the American forces followed at an accelerating pace during the spring and summer of 1918. By June American troops were arriving in Europe at the rate of 10,000 a day and most of them were trained by British, Canadian and Australian battle-experienced officers and senior non-commissioned ranks. The training took a minimum of six weeks due to the inexperience of the servicemen.

The Battle of Matz was fought from the 9th to 12th June 1918 and the German plan was to push the German Front Line westward in the sector between two salients. The northern salient had been formed from the fighting towards Amiens and the southern salient was to be from the previous German offensive in the Aisne sector. In attempting to straighten out the bulge between the two salients the Germans made progress on the first day, but the French organised a counter-attack on the 11th June 1918. Three French and two American divisions were supported by tanks and two days later the Germans halted their offensive.

————————————–

Other Theatres

In the Middle East, British forces defended the Jordan Valley. The Action of Arsuf was the second Battle of Jordan, and was fought between the British and Turkish Empires, on the 8th June 1918. The British Empire forces involved were the  21st Brigade comprising the 2nd Battalion the Black Watch, the 1st Guides Infantry, the 29th Punjabis and the 1/8th Gurkha Rifles. The 21st Brigade, was tasked with the capture of two hills, 1 mile (1.6 km) from the Mediterranean Sea known as the two sisters. The hills were defended by elements of the Turkish 7th Division. The hills were being used as observation posts and the intention was to deprive the Turks of their use. The successful assault was carried out by the Black Watch and the Guides. The Turks responded with two counter-attacks of their own. The first succeeded in recapturing a section of their previous position before being driven back. The second counter-attack was defeated before they managed to reach the British position. The Turkish forces suffered considerable losses and had four officers and 101 other ranks taken prisoner. The capture of the two hills greatly improved the British position. Their loss deprived the Turks of an observation post that overlooked British lines and rear areas. They also gave the British their own observation post that could see the Turkish rear areas. The British forces occupied this high ground up to the Battle of Megiddo in mid-September.

In the Caucasus, with the Russians out of the war, following the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in March 1918, the growing German-Turkish rivalry for Caucasian influence and resources began. The resources were notably the oilfields near Baku, the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan, and the associated rail and pipeline connection to Batum on the Black Sea. Early in June 1918 the Turkish 3rd Army renewed its offensive on the main road to Tiflis and confronted a joint German-Georgian force. On the 10th June 1918, the Turks attacked Vorontsovka and took many prisoners, leading to an official threat from Berlin to withdraw its support and troops from the Turkish Empire. The Turkish government had to concede to German pressure and halted its drive and further advance into Georgia for the Batum-Tiflis-Baku railway and associated pipeline. The Turks changed their strategic thrust towards Azerbaijan with a blocking action against British forces in north-west Persia.

On the Italian front, the Second Battle of the Piave River, fought between the 15th and 23rd June 1918, was a decisive victory for the Italian Army against the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Following the defeat at the Battle of Caporetto in the autumn of 1917, the Italians retreated to the Piave River and were reinforced by French and British infantry divisions. The Austro-Hungarian’s had ambitions of forcing the Italians into an armistice. Divided opinions within the Austro-Hungarian command resulted in a decision to attack the Italians at the Piave River. The Italian commander had learned the exact timing of the Austrian attack: 3.00 a.m. on the 15th June 1918. At 2.30 a.m. the Italian artillery opened fire on the crowded enemy trenches, inflicting heavy casualties.  In some sectors the barrage had the effect of delaying or stopping the attack, and the Austrians began the retreat to their defensive positions, but in the greater part of the front the Austrians still attacked. The Austrians were able to cross the Piave and gained a bridgehead in the face of Italian heavy resistance, before the Austro-Hungarians were finally halted. One joint Austrian group commander, Svetozar Boroevié von Bojna was forced to order a retreat. On the following days the assaults were renewed, but the Italian artillery barrage had destroyed many of the river’s bridges. Subsequently the Austrians were unable to receive reinforcements and supplies. An estimated 20,000 Austro-Hungarian soldiers drowned while trying to reach the east bank. On the 19th June 1918 the Italians counter-attacked into Boroevié’s flank, inflicting heavy casualties. In the meantime, on 15th June 1918, the other joint group commander, Conrad von Höttzedorf (the former Austrian Chief of Staff) attacked along the Italian lines west of Boroevié on the Asiago Plateau. His forces gained some ground, but came upon stiff resistance by Italians units, 40,000 casualties were added to the Austrian total. Lacking supplies and facing attacks the Austro-Hungarians were ordered to retreat by the Austrian Emperor Karl on the 20th June 1918. By the 23rd June 1918, the Italians recaptured all the territory on the southern bank of the Piave and the battle was over. The battle signalled the end of the Austro-Hungarian army as a fighting force and the beginning of the collapse of the Empire.

On the 15th June 1918, Captain Edward Brittain was shot in the head and killed during an early morning counter-attack against an Austrian offensive, on the Asiago Plateau, part of the Battle of the Piave River. Following his wounding at the Battle of the Somme in 1916, for which he was awarded the Military Cross (MC), he spent nearly a year recuperating in England. He returned to the western front in 1917 and was immediately sent into battle, before being sent to the Italian Front with the 11th Sherwood Foresters in November 1917. Edward Brittain was close to his sister Vera and was one of the “Three Musketeers”. He, Roland Leighton and Victor Richardson formed a four-way friendship with Vera. Geoffrey Thurlow was to become part of that friendship. However, the Great War took the lives of the four male participants, who meant the most to Vera Brittain, and was one of the many reasons why she became a pacifist. Edward Brittain is buried in Granezza British Cemetery in Italy, and in September 1921 Vera visited the cemetery, but never fully got over the death of her brother, Edward. After her death in 1970 her will requested that her ashes be scattered on Edward’s grave on the Asiago Plateau in Italy: – “for nearly 50 years much of my heart has been in that Italian village cemetery” and her daughter Shirley Williams honoured her request in September 1970.

—————————————–

Timetable June 1918

 Timetable June 1918

German Spring Offensive – Operation Gneisenau

1st to 26th June          Battle of Belleau Wood

9th to 12th June          Battle of Matz

—————————–

Other Theatres

8th June                     Action at Arsuf

8th June-October       Germany interferes in the Caucasus

13th to 23rd June        Second Battle of the Piave River

15th June                   Edward Brittain killed at the Battle of the Piave

—————————–

Private Diary of J.K. Dick Cunyngham Br Gen May 1918

Private Diary of J.K. Dick Cunyngham Br Gen

PoW

MAINZ Germany

 

 

Wednesday May 1st.  Commandant took exception to my walking round the parade of No 1 Block with German Officer Lt. Benbe.  In future if I want to inspect officers am to go round before or after German officer.  D & B.F. busy with alphabetical nominal rolls for walks & for Red Cross.  308 officers & 1 Sgt Major now in camp.  Walked for 45 minutes 4.30 to 5.15 p.m. Worthington seems a bright youth – was steward on Merchant Service & knows something of cooking.

List of officers 1 Br Gen, 5 Lt. Cols., 3 Majors, 66 Captains, 57 Lieuts, 171 2nd Lt, R.N.V.R. 1 Lt, 4 Sub Lts.  Walked for ½ hour with Drummond after dinner.

 

Thursday May 2nd.  Got hot bath after Roll Call.  Received pay & my money M 168.30.  Bright fine day.  General Committee Meeting at 5 p.m.  Letter received from Red Cross Frankfurt saying they had wired to Copenhagen.

About 30 more officers arrived including Lt. Col Gosling K.R.R. Walked after evening meal with Drummond.

 

Friday May 3rd.  Another fine sunny day.  Russian mended boots in morning with aid of some bits of leather & nails bought in Canteen.  Paid Belgian General 400 Marks for Theatre Concert at 4 p.m. 156 turned up a good beginning – latest regime more comic.  Belgian General & Bembe came.

 

Saturday May 4th.  Poobah, Cumming & McLean, Mackenzie Douglas & 2 6/GS1 arrived with some 50 other officers, including 2 Fd Officers.  Paid Belgian General 400 Marks.  Went round No 2 Block, it is quite the nicest block in the Camp, more air & brighter rooms.  Fine sunny day.  Did about 1 hours walking during day.

 

Sunday May 5th.  Service with Communion 10 a.m. – 11.30 a.m.  German Minister attended Lycett preached.  Back again *******.  Addressed officers in Theatre 1/30 p.m. usual points, including some remarks about discipline.  Belgian General paid farewell visit, he leaves for Switzerland in the morning.

Evening meal 7.30 p.m. Something wrong with cook house – Bembe most attentive & apologetic.  As more field officers have come, have decided to have my meals in my room in future.  Slight rain at 7 p.m. onwards.

 

Monday May 6th.  Usual fortnightly interview with German General (Commandant) usual answers to questions.  Flags flying on Government Buildings, Bembe says on account of Crown Prince’s Birthday.  Hot bath at 10.30 a.m., result feel slack & no inclination to walk.

Had meals in my sitting room.

Another fine day with warm sun.

Belgian General left at 5.30 p.m., lucky man to get away to Switzerland.

 

Tuesday May 7th.  Inoculated for cholera at 10 a.m.  Walked with Williams for 40 minutes.  Number of officers now in Camp 1 Br. Gen., 7 Lt. Cols., 4 Majors, 79 Capts, 80 Lieuts, 220 2nd Lts, R.N.V.R. 2 Lts 4 Sub Lt. 1 Mercantile Marine (Capt) total 398 –  Telegram from Daisy, posted from Karlsruhe, arrived 5.30 p.m. FRISCHAUF PACKETE und KLEDER BESTELLT.  Daisy Dick Cunyngham which Birch translates as “Cheer up, parcels and clothing being put in order sent!!  ** evidently arrived at Karlsruhe or 4 May from Geneva.

Had shorthand lesson 4.30 p.m. preliminary & alphabet.

 

Wednesday May 8th.  Thunderstorms & rain.  Did not appear on parade.  Saw  Bembe about latrines.  20 more British orderlies arrived in the morning – quite a good lunch today – thick Barley Soup – potatoes & spinach & pudding.  General Committee Meeting 2 p.m. question of distribution of orderlies.  Lecture by Moore on Nigeria 4 p.m. very good.  Lutheran Minister came & arranged about Service tomorrow.  Alterations in method of parade settled.

Worked shorthand for ½ hour morning & afternoon.

 

Thursday May 9th.  Roll Call 9.45 a.m.  Church with Celebration 10 a.m. – 11.30 a.m.  Amcoat preached.  Saw Bembe at 11.35 a.m. & put forward scheme for organization & duties of British Orderlies.  5 p.m. 6 p.m. General Committee Meeting.  Red Cross at Copenhagen notify they have sent 250 parcels bread etc; letter took only 3 days to come, remains to be seen how long parcels will take.

Today Ascension Day General German holiday. Had acute indigestion at supper & had to lie down for an hour.  Cold morning, warm & sunny at 4.30 p.m.  Numbers in Camp now increased to 438 officers.

 

Friday May 10th.  Scheme for Orderlies returned.  No notice taken of it; appears Germans don’t like us to organize anything. – But shall now see Block Commanders and try again.  Present state of things is hopeless.  Letter from Red Cross, Geneva saying they had sent my wine on the 25 April, calculate it got home about 28th; heavy thunder showers 4.30 – 6 p.m.  Walked with B.M. after supper for 30 minutes.

 

Saturday May 11th.  Told off young officer after Roll Call for misbehaviour.

Field Officers & Block 3 went for walk through Western Suburbs & gardens round Citadel, about 5 Kilo; and most of us found it quite far enough & quite glad to sit down on return. An excellent concert at 4 p.m. by ‘The MAINZPRINGS’ run by Milton Hayes & Besley.  The whole performance original.  Glorious day & sat out most of it.  Total number officers in Camp 483.

 

Sunday May 12th.  Service with Celebration 10 – 11.15 p.m. Light rain all morning.  Interview with Bembe 11.30 a.m.  Various points chiefly sanitary.

Addressed all officers in Theatre 1.30 p.m. put forward financial schemes of 5 mks per head unanimously agreed to; also scheme paying orderlies, few words on discipline etc. Wrote letter Daisy afternoon.

 

Monday May 13th.  Cold morning.  Hot shower bath 9.45 a.m.  Washing day.  Wrote official letters most of morning – ironed and mended socks, shirts etc during afternoon.  Censor asked meaning of ‘pukka’ and ‘indidiggers’ in my letter & told me letter goes to fumigation Room for 24 hours before despatch.

 

Tuesday May 14th.  Interview with Bembe and Schroeder re orderly scheme – but realise our points.  Williams reported Canteen had refused us to use Tennis Courts without paying 50 M – hire per month, hire of government ground!  Question immediately referred to General through Bembe.  Walked for ½ hour in morning.  Read ‘Last days of Pompeii’ afternoon.  Shorthand class 4.30 5.30 p.m.  Walked till 6 p.m. & again 8 to 8.40.  Bad day for meals, had extra slice bread & jam from 9.30 p.m. with some wine!

 

Wednesday May 15th.  Fine warm day.  Went for a walk with 50 of No 1 Block & Bembe, through gardens on South and along Rhine.  Garden well laid out trees & shrubs in full bloom looking very pretty.  Got home 11.30 a.m.  Worked at shorthand afternoon; Milton Hayes gave lecture on ‘Memory’, 4.15 p.m.  Toothache started & kept me awake all night.  Did not get to sleep till after 5 a.m.

 

Thursday May 16.  Toothache still bad.  Got some iodine put on gums but no chance of seeing Dentist till tomorrow morning.  Lodged complaint with Gen about pilfering & restriction of Red Cross parcels.  Bembe asked if I would like to change my room to where Belgian General was, but prefer to stay here for summer months at any rate, much cooler & view is something.  B thought I might be allowed to have some of the better furniture from Belgian Gen’s quarters.

Got sleeping draught of Vermal to counter act tooth.

 

Friday May 17.  Got up early after another sleepless night & saw Dentist at 8 a.m. opened out tooth & put in disinfectant ready for stopping next Tuesday.  Toothache gone by noon.  Fine & warm day.  Am told there are 3 letters for me from London posted May 5th & shall get them on Sunday after they have been 24 hrs in the fumigating machine.  Slept for an hour 11-12 on sofa.  Head buzzy due to Vermal I presume.

 

Saturday May 18th.  Very hot day.  Walked with about 50 others from No 1 Block along Rhine northwards through edge of Town.  Saw 2 passenger steamers going to Bingan & Rotterdam.  Milton Hayes fainted during walk & German woman gave him glass of milk.  Quite tired after walk – slight rain in the afternoon.  Drummond completed 20 years service today.  Bad day for food.  Rations getting shorter; about 60 more arrived.

 

Sunday May 19th.  Early service 7.45 a.m.  Slept well.  Morning Service 10 a.m.  Usual address 1.30 p.m. which I proposed to discontinue now unless specially ordered – a good thunder & hail storm about 4.15 p.m.  No letters forthcoming.  Williams got 2 letters.  Small walk after super but was very hot & close.

 

Monday May 20th.  Whit Monday.  General Holiday.  Very hot.  Worked at Shorthand morning.  At lunch Lycett brought me 2 letters both from Daisy dated April 28th & May 1st.  Such joy to get first news of home & my wire reached her on the 28th. Our lucky number again.

Wrote & posted post card in the afternoon.

Had good walk after supper.

 

Tuesday May 21st.  Got up early to see Dentist but he did not come.  Letter from old Bouverie Clark dated London May 2nd.  Had long interview with German General 10-11.30 a.m. on various points.  Number now in Camp 1 Br Gen., 8 Lt. Cols., 7 Majors, 121 Captains, 125 Lieuts., 341 2/Lieuts, R.N.V.R. 2 Lieuts, 8 Sub Lts 1 Mercantile Marine Capt.  Total 614.  Had good walk with B.M. after supper for 5o minutes.

 

Wednesday May 22nd. Dentist 8 a.m. he appears to be trying to kill the nerve & I am to go back on Friday if any more pain, otherwise wait till Monday.

Small walk to gardens 10 a.m. & had a good rest there. Very hot again.  Bembe sent for me about forbidding Continental Times & Gazette des Ardennes; German General wanted to know if true, so stated my reasons for doing so.  Lecture on Salt Trade by Capt Brown, unable to attend.  Too hot & depressing to walk after dinner, result I did not get to sleep till after 1 a.m.  Must keep up evening walk, think it helps sleep.

 

Thursday May 23rd.  Block II went for walk at 8 a.m.  Roll Call 11 a.m. from today.  Inspected bread from Copenhagen which was very mildew, Germans thought it would be better if handed over to them & made into Pudding! But when cleaned & baked everyone says it is all right.  Block III got issue in afternoon.  Worked shorthand morning.  Class 4-5 p.m.  Gen Committee Meeting 5-6.15 p.m. fear I got very angry with Block officers on question of payment of Orderlies which was settled at Meeting before – It appears some officers think they have a right to dispute our decisions, & shall have to take some drastic measures shortly.  Some officers have no idea of Military Discipline, how they ever became officers is a wonder.  Walked for ½ hour after supper, much cooler & some clouds.  Look like rain.

Friday May 24th.  Quite a cold morning & did some good walking.  Shorthand in morning.  German General from Frankfurt inspected Camp in the afternoon.  Everyone fussing around, & jam issue held up.  Quite a good tea in consequence. Copenhagen bread brushed & baked & then toasted, but portions remain mildew, fear it isn’t much good in mouldy condition, better to have biscuit.  Rain 4 p.m.  Walked during day for nearly 2 hours altogether.  Dentist gave more disinfectant.  Go for stopping on Wednesday.

 

Saturday May 25th.  Quite a cool day.  Walked a good deal before & after Roll Call.  More bread parcels for individuals issued, but fear most of it very mouldy.  Worked for 1 ½ hours at Shorthand.  Had a bread & jam pudding made of mouldy bread for supper, think it is best way of using it, as boiling takes out mould.  4 letters arrived about 7 p.m.  1 from DD, 2 from Alice, 1 from B.  B.F. & D have not had any yet.  So am very lucky having had 7 this week.

 

Sunday May 26th.  Early Service 7.45 a.m.  Matins 10 a.m.  Raining & quite cold.  Wrote letter to DD after lunch.  Finch & Bousfield came to see me over question of orderlies, & more trouble with officers in No 2 Block.  Had good walk before supper & again 9-930 p.m.  Fine evening.  Excellent bread & jam pudding made by Worthington for supper.  Another issue of Copenhagen bread which was scarcely mouldy at all inside.

 

Monday May 27th.  Cool day.  Worked shorthand morning.  General Committee meeting 1.30 p.m. re question payment of orderlies.  Settled on 5 mks per week all round, with probably 2 extra at end of month making in all 23 mks per month.  Arrangements for issue of Library Books still difficult but more books are gradually coming.  Bousfield has matter in hand.

Walked a good deal after supper.

 

Tuesday May 28th.  This day 20 years ago I was gazetted to 92nd, a sad way to spend Anniversary.  Worked at shorthand morning; saw orderlies after Roll Call.  The 1914 men most truculent & appear to have lost all sense of old Army discipline.  Fact is they have been too long away from officers.  Had the impudence to demand more pay than 5 mks per week, but I refused.  They are evidently the ring leaders in this agitation.  Shorthand Class 4-5 p.m.  Told off young officer (Btn) for behaviour in room & placed him in charge of room.  45 minutes walk after supper, which was augmented by cauliflower, asparagus, spring carrots.

Letters arrived today from Gina & Daisy dated London 7 May.

 

Wednesday May 29th.  Dentist 8 a.m. tooth finally stopped, done very quickly & don’t think it will last altho Dentist says it will for ever!  Others have complained teeth ache after his stoppings!  Vaccinated & inoculated 2nd time for cholera at 9.30 a.m.  Drummond got bread parcel, very mouldy, made it into pudding for supper, but no jam to eat with it, not a success.  Lecture on Diamond trade 3.45.  Wrote post card DD.  French Conversation Grammar arrived at last.  Was ordered on May 1st.  A cold N.E. wind but fine.

 

Thursday May 30th.  Another Bank Holiday & in consequence no parcels issued & canteen closed.  Worked shorthand morning, getting rather complicated & a good deal to commit to memory.  Shorthand Class 4-5.  General Committee Meeting 5-6 p.m.  Saw 3 officers who appear to have got extra food by illegal means.  They say it is what is left over after meals; but there should not be any if everyone is to get full rations.

Orderlies paid up to date. Some are going away again as they are A1 men. Worthington not yet warned.  Hope we keep him.  Was informed today that inquiries for Houghton have been sent to Berlin.  Letter from Betty dated May 7th.  Warmer day.  Not feeling up to walking much, probably due to inoculation.

 

Friday May 31st.  Walk from 8.10 a.m. to 9.45 a.m. along Rhine, then through Town (Kaiserstrasse) past main Station & back by gardens.  Quite a good walk, but was very tired after it.  Shows what one is fit for on present diet.  Drummond got parcel from American Y.M.C.A. cigarettes, tobacco, tea, rice, biscuits, butter, milk chocolate & soap.  We had biscuits & butter for tea & supper.  First butter since April 11th.  about 50 orderlies went away to work from another lager & 50 new ones came in their place.  Mostly 1914 men.

Canteen closed for Stock taking.

 

War Diary of AA Laporte Payne May 1918

War Diary of AA Laporte Payne May 1918

 

EXTRACTED FROM.

 

Brigade Diary, Personal Diary, Operation Orders, Note Books, Memoranda

Correspondence

—————–

R.P. May 4 1918.

 

Two Boche planes came down yesterday, one in flames. We have great fun shooting at planes with machine guns when they come over the battery, but the bullets are apt to come down again, and the would be biter gets bitten, or our own men in adjacent battery positions.

 

I have a cosy little dug-out all to myself. It was made by our wheeler.  The roof is of German corrugated iron, which is thicker than ours.  In time I may get some sand-bags and timber to go on top.  There is actually a wooden floor, but as it is situated in an old and narrow Boche trench, the approach is not ideal in wet weather.  I generally land on the floor of the entrance together with an avalanche of slimy mud.  As I use gum boots a great deal I am rarely on my feet as the mud is much worse that ice.  The mess is stronger.  It is made of rails and sleepers from the railway near by, corrugated iron, and mud.  The kitchen is a work of architecture, and the fittings of art.  I should like some of England’s fastidious cooks to see our improved clay oven, which turns out quite good roast meat.

 

May 4, 1918

France.

 

We have just been shooting at unwelcome aeroplanes with rifles and machine guns, but the bullets and pieces of A.A. shell have an aptitude of returning to earth again, and our laudable intentions very often cause unexpected results, or, I should say unfortunate results. And we do not seem to do much good either, for we never get anywhere near the planes.  I tested with tracer bullets one day.

 

I see Sydney Swann has been wounded. He only came out here in November last, so he has not been long.  I am afraid Vyvyan Pearse has been having a bad time.

 

Life is as usual. We carry on the everlasting bombardment.  It must take an enormous amount of firing to kill one Boche.  What a lot of expensive ammunition is wasted.  I am quite convinced that our firing programme is not made with sufficient intelligence and knowledge.  They are made for us by the staff who never go forward to see the ground.  I am amazed at some of the targets we are given to fire at.  One day I had to fire into an open field in broad daylight, where no trenches or other field works were at all, just a blank field.  That did no earthly good.

 

For us night firing is the most troublesome and annoying. From what the prisoners say the Boche suffer in the same way.

 

My dug out is as cosy as possible under the circumstances. The wheeler made it for me.  The roof is of German corrugated iron, much thicker than ours, and I hope to get timber and sandbags to put on top so at least to keep out splinters and the pestilential gas shell.  There is even a wooden floor and a window, though small.  It is about 8 feet by 6 feet, and is situated in an old Boche trench.  The entrance is not too good, as I am usually precipitated headlong to land on the floor in an avalanche of slimy mud which circles round the door.  However it is fairly dry inside.  Our mess is made of railway sleepers from the line nearby, old iron and mud.  The kitchen is a masterpiece.  I should like some of our fastidious servants at home to see it, and the mud oven, which can only emit smoke at night.  Yet the mess cook can turn out quite a fair meal, even good roast meat, so far as ration meat can be good.  It is a triumph of skill over matter and mud.  Mud in not matter.  It is endued with an evil spirit.

 

We are well camouflaged, and you could not tell that six guns and sixty men had their habitation there unless you were very close, or unless you possessed an aeroplane photograph, which shews up in a ghastly way the tracks made by the feet of men, and the six dark and regular blobs which proclaims the position of guns. We shout ourselves hoarse trying to keep people away from making a bee line to the place.  I fear it is all useless as it is almost impossible to hide the guns from the air.  No doubt the Boche know all about us.

 

The weather is improving. It is about time.  The mud has invaded everything.

 

May 10 1918

France

 

So far we have only had one fine day, and that was yesterday. One fine day does not seem much for spring to produce.  As war eats time summer will be here soon, and we ought then to have a bit of sunshine…

 

The mail came up under sad circumstances…

 

Last night we fired a large number of shells, and it must have annoyed the Boche, for he replied vigorously each time we opened fire, luckily not on us.

 

At present I am in a deep damp dug-out with two entrances which cause a nasty draught. A heavy gun just behind us fires continuously, and each time it does so it blows the candle out, or the acetylene lamp.  It has been relit countless times by a patient subaltern.  As he is just out from England he is trying to be considerate, poor devil.

 

May 19 1918

France.

 

I am at present on night duty, and have to fire the battery every half hour with some extras thrown in. In these latter days an officer has to be on the telephone all night, and I am relieving two weary subalterns who have been on night duty most nights.

 

I believe today is Whit Sunday, but I am not sure. The wilderness here is covered with dandelions run to seed, so it shews that spring is somewhere about, and fevered imagination conjures up visions of England in spring.

 

But the weather is at present perfectly lovely, and I am going about in my shirt sleeves. The sun had been with us for at least three days, and rain is overdue.   It is a bit misty, which hinders observation somewhat, but that is not a great evil.

 

Leave is further off than ever, and certainly not before the next great Boche attack takes place, which is expected daily. He should hurry up, or he will be too late.  It is sure to rain hard in June.

 

Our dug-out drips dirty water, and is infested with black beetles and rats. They are only what Shipley might call “The Minor Horrors of War”.

 

For the past fortnight I have been in command of “C” Battery, whose Major has been away ill, but he has returned now. So I am back at “A” Battery again.  It was rather a nuisance as I do not like picking up the threads of another man’s job.  However I had no choice, as orders are orders.

 

The day before yesterday I spent with the Infantry as Liaison Officer, and yesterday I spent the day up in the clouds, literally, up in a sausage balloon for observation work. It is quite interesting and the country side looks most curious from four thousand feet up in a basket.  My companion was a Flying Corps Officer, who frightened me with horrible details, e.g. if the gauge reads 70 the balloon would burst, and if a Boche plane came over I was to throw myself over the side head first attached to a closed parachute!  However we landed safely about 6.30 p.m. and stayed for a cheery dinner with the Wing Officers, and went for a mad drive in a tender afterwards.

 

To day I have been observing from our O.P., registering the guns for various shows, which do not appear in the official communiqués, which usually state “All quiet on the Western Front”. That is of course not so.

 

There have been some changes in the Brigade lately. Poor old Bell has been badly wounded.  I am distressed at losing him.  Amour has his job, and is a captain at last, and about time too.  Our senior has been made a captain in another battery, and we have two new subalterns.

 

I have just finished firing until 2 a.m. There are a large number of Very lights and Flaming Onions about tonight.  The latter are a species of Boche incendiary anti-aircraft quick firing shells.  Both sides are very restless tonight, especially the Boche.  I wonder why.  Although it is very dark there are several planes up.  A boche machine gun is making a dismal rattle ahead, while behind a 6 inch Mark VII gun, quite close, fairly takes one’s breath away when it fires, which it does very frequently.  Here besides me there are such instruments of torture as field telephones and such evil spirits as telephonists who disturb even a moment’s slumber with a whispered “You are wanted  on the phone, Sir.”

 

However as Marcus Aurelius says “Where a man can live, there he can live well”; but it is a hard saying.

 

R.P. May 26, 1918.

 

It is dull and heavy here as regards the weather, but the war is more lively. We still await the Hun.  I do wish he would buck up and get it over.  It is like waiting in a dentist’s room to have a tooth out, only more so.  We always anticipate the worst.  Realisation may not be so bad.  I wonder what Ludendorff will do this time.  We shall see soon no doubt.  I expect he will have a shock.

 

The Major is at present at the wagon line sick, so I am at present in command at the guns again. He always goes sick when there is any work to be done.  I do not get the honour and glory, if there is any, which there never is.  But I like the work with the guns much better, as it is much more exciting than at the wagon lines, where one only gets shelled and can never retaliate.  Besides there is no time here to think and worry and get glum and downhearted.

 

Au revoir. Things will be settled soon, one way or another.

 

May 26 1918.

British Expeditionary Force.

France.

 

The raid in London did not disturb you much, I hope.  It seems to have caused a great sensation according, to the papers.

 

The weather is heavy and dull here, but there is plenty of excitement. We continue to fire nearly all day and night, and becomes monotonous.  So far we have been lucky.

 

We still await the expected Boche attack. I do wish he would buck up, and get it over.  It is something like waiting in the dentist’s room to have a tooth out.  Such things are always worse in anticipation.  It will be interesting to see what he can do this time.  By the time you get this we shall probably know.

 

Telephone calls again, and bang goes another two hundred rounds.

 

At present I an in charge at the gun line. The Major is at the wagon line sick.  Three subalterns are away, one sick and two on other jobs.  So I am having a jolly time!

 

It gets light very early now. We have to “stand to” for about an hour at dawn each morning.  It is often boring, but at times the sunrise is a compensation.

 

This is a curious existence. We have with us practically nothing except what we wear.  There are no little luxuries, to which we are usually accustomed in the line.  No kit, gramophone or mess furniture; there are no frills now.  We may have to move at a second’s notice.  We do without in case our possessions should fall into the hands of the Philistines.  We wait expectantly for the attack.  The uncertainty is rather trying.  It is similar to the feeling before a race at Henley, but not in degree.  However life is tolerable, and we are enjoying it as much as we can, especially as the spring is now here.

 

FIELD SERVICE POST CARD.

I have been admitted into hospital and am going on well.

Wounded and hope to be discharged soon.

I am being sent down to the base.

Letter follows at first opportunity.

May 29th 1918.