Letters from John Hardie to his family, 1917-1918 - Part 6

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and the instant it lifted they were in.
They afterwards told me that they met with no opposition
whatever. I believe the barb wire was torn to ribbons and
the trenches could hardly be recognised. Of course
there was only dead and wounded to be seen until
they forced their way back to the supports.
We only had two men killed, two missing, and several
wounded out of two hundred, that went over. They captured
quite a number of prisoners, and killed over a hundred
so that was a great success.
Not satisfied with that we raided again next night
(4^th of March) The enemy must have expected us as he was
out in no mans land waiting. The barrage missed them
so the lads run right into a hornets nest, but still they
fought him off and entered his front line killing all they
came across. They then had to retire as he counterattacked
and our losses had been very heavy.
This raid was considered a complete failure and judging    
by our losses I think it was.
March the 5^th Old Fritz must be angry he is shelling
the whole line a great deal.
Next night March the 6^th things were very unhealthy
until after midnight. I was now on a ration party carrying
food to the front line. and was out of the front line back at the
supports. We got a perfect barrage of gas shells and H.E.
and there were some very narrow escapes most of the stuff
just skimmed the cookhouse and lodged the other side
one shell struck a dump of our flying pigs (that is our
heavy trench mortar shells) and the lot went up like a
huge mine. We were lucky to escape considering that it
was only a hundred yards away. I felt the draft of
the hot blast of the explosion on my back. 

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On March the 7^th he shelled us continually all day
long and when we were doing our last trip with the
rations that night the shells were just sailing over our heads
and shrapnell was falling everywhere.
Late that night we were relieved by the 23^rd Battalion
of the 2^nd A. I. F division, and we went back several
miles to our old camp not far from Armentiers
We were supposed to go back to a place near Boulogne
for a spell away from the firing line. You see although
we were away from the extreme front we were still well
within the range of the enemy guns.
Early on the morning of the 8^th of March I heard that
Wally Woods was in a camp quite close to us, and as
soon as I was free I dodged over, but he was on
parade. Anyway I had the pleasure of seeing
him, and he me.
Well, that afternoon we left for that long looked for
holiday. We entrained at Steenwerck railway station
and arrived at Desvres about midnight, and then
marched to billets five miles away, to a Village called
Cremarest. The transport got bogged and we had
no food for twenty four hours. and to make things
worse we couldn't buy anything from the Froggies as they
were rationed by the government.
I can assure you that we had a great blow out after
the rations did arrive. That was March the 9^th..
I liked the new place very much as the country was
beautiful after that shell torn desolate waste.
The country was very hilly, very green, and the sun
shone down so lovely and bright and made me think
of that dear place so far away. 

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Two company's of the Battalion were billit
place I mentioned and the other two at Bellebrune
two miles away. Battalion H.Q was also there
Everything passed off lovely, and we were hav 
great time until March the 21^st when at nine O cl
we received orders to be ready to march away any
The German army were furiously attacking the B
on the Western Front. I may tell you at that ti
never thought he had one chance in a hundred
breaking through. I knew how strong the line was
Paschendale to Armentieres and considered if it 
holding these positions only kept their eyes open. an
warning back to the Machine guns, and artillery
time the enemy couldn't advance one inch 

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wo O'clock in the morning we entrained at a place
miles away from our starting place.
bout 50 of us in a horse box, which are crowded with
ent always treated the way we ought to be
k about the way the Germans are treated but I
think they are much worse off than us. Of course
n't driven into battle the same way
trained at 9 O clock on the morning of the 23^rd of
at Abeele after a very cramped and most
fortable journey. We then marched up near
the to a place called What Wattean, where we
until the morning of the 24^th All night
s were comming in and we were getting fresh orders
minutes. Well we marched out very early that
 [[?]] were picked up by Motor lorries on the main

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Steenbecque just before daylight.
During all this time it had been raining like
anything. The boys grabbed hold of everything that
would burn and made fires to warm themselves while
waiting on the train. It was quite a sight to see those
strings of fires reaching as far as the eve could see
Just about sunrise the team arrived and after a bit

more messing about we got aboard 35 to a box

this time. Well about midday we arrived at a
town all battered about called Doullens. The
houses in many of the streets were nothing but a heap
of ruins, and the people were all in a bustle packing up
and clearing out. You just ought to have seen the
poor miserable things. Word had just came through before
we arrived that the enemys cavalray had broken through
and were closing in on the town. you can guess what
sort of a stir things were in. An Hospital train was in
the station with all the wounded on board and several
more trains were standing by in case they were needed
After we detrained and got everything in order we set
off out to engage the enemy as he was supposed to be
within four miles of the town. All along the road we met
nothing but the poor Frenchies running away with what they
could carry. There were all sorts on the road. Old and young
rich and poor, and they all had that frightened look.
Some were crying but very few. Very few can have any
idea how France has suffered in this great struggle
Well our march continued from midday until midnight
and during all that time we saw nothing but these
poor people and flying Tommies, who told kept telling
us that the enemy were just back there a bit 

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I don't think I ever saw anything crumple up like the)
5^th British Army did in this sector. The enemy were
miles away but somehow they got the wind up, and
threw all their equipment away and ran for their lives
They seemed astonished at us marching on with full packs
right into the very place they had left. The French
people that had stopped behind were so pleased to
see us especially, when they knew we were Aussies
Some of them ran along the ranks shaking hands with
the boys. No more will we be able to boast about
the pluck of the Tommy. They run away just as bad
as the Russians in this sector. Well at midnight we
arrived at a village called Pas de Artois about four
miles from the line that was after marching about
fourteen miles. We found the position was the very
opposite to what we expected. Old Fritz had

attacked that morning but the Jocks stuck to it
and drove him back again while the Tommies
Officers and all were flying for all they were worth
This was on the Arras road. Well we were billited in
old buildings as our services werent required and we
all went to sleep till four in the morning when we were
again roused out and told to be in full marching
order in half an hour. He had broken through
further down, we marched till daylight and then got on
motor lorries again, and arrived at some place near
Albert about dinner time. this was the 27^th. after we had
a bit of lunch we set off on foot again and finally sheltered
in a hollow near the new position to prepare for battle
You see we shed a lot of our gear when going into battle
Wew We marched into the line that night at Rivermonte
and releived the Tommies. We were all eager for a scrap
after so much messing about. We were as hungry as hunters 

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as soon as everything was settled a party of the boys set off
to hunt for food in the village behind us. First they came across
on old cantiere, and I got some bread, also a lot of sugar
and the others loaded up with salmon and many other tinned
foods. Well when they got back we had the most decent feed
we had, had for days. Somehow we could never get our regular
issue of rations. The Officers were in the same plight as we were
One of them broke into a deserted French shop and brought
us back quite a load of chocolate. That was the last time
we were ever short of food. as we were always close to these
deserted Villages, just fancy the enemy advanced so
suddenly that the most of the people didn't have time to get
away, with anything else but what they stood up in, especially
those ^close up to the line. Well we left Rivermont again at midnight
of the same day that we relieved the Tommies. without getting
into toutch with Fritz. We marched out about one O clock in the
morning of the 28^th and kept going until dinner time when we
arrived at Corbie a very large and beautiful town on the
River Somme I think it was. We were quite an hour in marching
through it. They Billited us on the outskirts in some little low
buildings and we were ordered twenty four hours rest.
But I may tell you we didn't get it. We had no sooner settled
down, and had a wash and shave, and cleaned up generally
than those iron foundries started to come over. During the
course of the afternoon several of our lads were killed and
wounded in the town. In the wee small hours we were again roused
out of bed and hurried out to take up a position on the hill in front
of the town. It had been raining and I can assure you it wasn't
very pleasant on those muddy fields. anyhow nothing happened
and after daylight we were withdrawn to another part of the town
We weren't taken back to our old billets as it was thought spies
had put our position away, and of course as we marched out in
the morning with all our gear, the Officers thought it would put
them off the scent. Anyhow we werent shelled in our new
billits during the whole of that day. 

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About ten O clock in the morning a party went out under
an Officer to try and salvage some poultry, and pigs
and I'm able to say they were fairly successful, as they
returned with two bags full of fowls. We were busy until
about two o clock getting them ready for the cooks.
Well we had a great feed of fowls that night for tea
although they weren't too well cooked. That is the trouble
in the army. the food is ^xxx very roughly done it is a wonder
there isn't more sickness than there is.
At dark we moved out again and took up a fresh position
just on the brow of the hill, but had hardly got settled
when we were hurriedly recalled and were marched away
further south, or rather Southeast. This was the 28^th of March
Good Friday. About midnight we struck a village called
Cachy in which we were billited. We were quite close to the
line here as we could see the vary lights very plain and
the positions that our guns had been a withdrawn from
could also be seen quite plain. As soon as the enemy got close
some of the Royal Artillery told me that they moved the guns
back as they had no faith in their infantry.
In the morning just as we were having breakfast some
Hun planes came over, and one of ours was driven down.
but he recovered before reaching the ground.
It was about the prittiest bit of work I ever saw. He tumbled
over and over and round and round, and when about
fifty feet off the ground he straightened out and plaged planed
down. About ten minutes ^afterwards Fritzie started to shell us.
some of them striking the building I was in, some more landed
in the back yard. The Officers gave the order to take to
the open fields. Now that was the worst thing they could
have done. He sent over H. E. to put us out in the open
and of course intended to give us shrapnell there.
Well we were all hurrying out when sure enough
over came the shrap. One shell burst just above me
and fairly tore the ground up all around me
but luckily I didn't get a scratch.
 

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Several of the lads were wounded  and one or two killed
We were taken away from there to a wood on the left of
the Village and were kept there for the greater part of the
day in pouring rain. About dinner time we were told
we were going to have a slap at Fritz at last and most
of the boys were quite pleased. You see none of the
Infantry had put up a decent fight against the
Tommy in this sector. If it I the eastuary hadn't
been there he would just have ^had a walk over.
Well about One O clock we set of to march to the
line. the rain was pouring down in torrents as usual
still all were quite cheerful. We had four hundred
lancers attached to us. It was a lovely sight
Our great long columns of Infantry, in battle order
and the Lancers riding alongside in their squares with
greaming lances and swords. It was just like some
of the scenes I have read about of troops going into
battle. We had no artillery this time, or rather none worth
speaking about. We moved up in this formation for
about four miles, and then got into battle formation
which is extended order. The Cavalry were to stop
behind until we broke through, which I'm sorry to say
we didn't do until late that night by which time
they had been withdrawn. Well we got away and the
enemy sighted us from the first although he was
fifteen thirteen hundred yards away. The boys started to
drop all around, slowly at first but quicker as we got
closer. Our Company Commander was killed just after
we hopped over. His name was Pockley, and he comes from the
North Coast. I was speaking to him one day and I believe xx he
knew Lieut. Southwell in the camp in Aussie.
Lieut Pockley came over on the Anchises the same trip that I did
He was Provost Marshal on board, but was only second
Lieut there.

Well we kept advancing by short rushes and of course
 

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losing men every yard. I kept watching the little puffs
of steam the red hot bullets made in the sodden fields
sometimes they were all round me other times they were in front
the boys fell on either side of me and I fully expected
to be the next. but somehow I escaped. One thing I'd
sooner face machine guns any day than artillery
Well we arrived in some sunken ground about
three hundred yards in front of the enemys main
position, with about a dozen men left out of our Company
Our losses had been dreadful athough there were only
six killed outright. That was exceptionaly light, considering
about a hundred men were hit. By this time we had
advanced a thousand yards and the Boche fell back
to the main trench I told you about
Well we layed stopped in that position in the sodden
wheatfields until dark, and then sent back word to H.Q,
telling then what sort of a plight we were in.
It appears the Tommies were to come up behind us to
reinforce but never got any closer than in ridge behind us
Once I saw them appear behind and passed the word
along that help was coming, but a, few Fritz
Bullets sent them back again. About eight O clock
the 34th Battalion A.I.F came up. I don't think there ^ ever was
ever a more pleasing right. They were in close formation
and in the dark light there seemed to be no end to them
Well they crept ahead through the remnants of the poor old
33^rd and were right on top of Fritz before he saw them
The enemy screamed and howled for mercy but all
he got was the bayonet, that is those that didn't run away,
Our lads didn't fire a shot but used the bayonet something
something awful. You see they passed over our wounded
and dying coming up to us and it roused their blood
They chased the Hun for half a mile beyond his
second line. and then fell back to where we were
as it was a better position to defend. You see that
was the time that the cavalry ought to have been
on the scene. If they had caught the enemy just as