Diary of Brigadier General Harold Edward 'Pompey' Elliott, 15th Brigade August 1918-April 1919 Part 2

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Status:
Finalised
Accession number:
AWM2018.19.97
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 13

Tomm Stone thave you ren any of the L Brigade Shin yomre dead walucky wats the lastone hee just direll off the sd of calars Rier Youll ro lav or to the medal now (themon) More unnery coloe th prrise staiting t le of the Poor Leggeu Bood nnan We He were theroff char Your Barland o Leroe (4 Mopyng p rt Reonn gertud well you mst have Ib will put it tack then Spitapht is thn who met a dip (A. Ona en Capturedfired afore Dran danofed laptured fired & Ingones I the M A.F. weatan you Paddy Peanfa Grest Mradxt M bery ho Brurns guards of ps at the back What ane y0r Im fotued what an you Weurnealy ordired t guard the BailwayBridge Dernsthwen detron it durn th sight lopt Peacost 137 cromne tt Conl with a Patrol mppiled to pid a way across the many kin 31s Ay h 10.30 amcattended a Confirence with the si Commondert the H.E of the st Byde as Helcourt. During the day patrols attemptid to effect a croming wer the Rives but found every appeovet guarder lyth enemy & machive gu me cos operedr even morement. funry the night the 15t Field Coy did plendes workgetting the Bridgeradon the Conal. Dring the day the Dr Hust his attempted to take Mt St Quentes pailed although they reported that they had taken it & repused t let our Astillery ergage enging tayet on the rever stope of the wle a they wid themould but then men. At the conferece is had bee arranged that tho 24 Bgde
1 yrt Eronne pousts fymt. should crore the Reney at Omecrus and attalk or the right of the Dra Did Hhe pas at mee sat as molen but pointed out it would be vituly impossill for thi myalle & come ent able lepre dom at least or the neusday orn t the dispcult & exhantting int on soold Batthe seld whic mut reaccomplerted befuse gesterg int actio on my return from the conference the enemy placed a very heavy Barrage os the Road to Barlenn where se heavy guns gisting int pooction had sufpred serilly the day before oning the enemys perpet obent of tis Valley from the heights btuen Le mesmt & Brie. sind tomakea long detour almost like an S. Dawid the Barrage & had a couple of faily narrow excapes as the payments of the 6-9s &8 in husterg will instantance pzes pread ver a wide aree wealhed very fine. The 14 Bryade attacker on the other side of the Sone (north, in conjunetion with the 2nDewhs again altacted or Mt H Leienter the 14to Bryade had beavylorses but got aooy in peronne. The 2nd Dir at lingtt, ibdered all resistance or ot iff Lerention. Ats roon as Irar the propers of .N Bryade I.
pusted forward myself directed th og Ms th prepared tocorth river & explort the raccess by cleasng the port of the 57M. I then went fousid operooally reconnoite the area. I went furt to the Road Bridgeore the Conal. This had bee regusted complitity destroyed butwher I went ther permally I foind that the whle bridge ead collapsed foor the enplorin but that me of the still guden had came lodged across tho in met a way that it was companitirely lary for an active infortya beiors I did is I got upn a mond- an old earthon or tho further wderatonc a machimg you pined fire porth dueclin th parlway. I at once clambered wackt the edge of the canaly ta port of the B5M or the pmits ride tlome over which they did. I worted them in a good positing + ther stanten back in a great herry hurryin t38259Ms. Wmy batty I trod on a losoe lear o fee into the Coral & gotiret throughch th cannl was very day with stey side
at that yos I had conviderable difficulty veramtlgout as my love uqutes cot full of water & hampered me. However I got out Ion myway back my wainteins wifh more over of the 58 1. I instructed him tget ther mer across the ron tyu tout 54 (14 Bryade in the tomt erdearous to get the enemjout of Hammucourt Oexe my return $59M H.CSC decided that them mer directed M B.M. Scime Jorwas Col teaulor had gone formed & an getting hin B acrovo by the Nailway Bridge They had a fight at the Bridge oed the somne further along the line& drove out a macting you port, but sound pyrther purgiers very diffcult as hear machire gin tire uns met & Borted wre enlanglements acrors the live whilst it ms impoonble t leave the railway because of the marok which ws is decy + treachurn that men were likely the smottmes in the orzy ned. The 68 found tht th Mnide lad ben uabe to carin the dition end of the Rampart & the approach & te caunwayladen
22pr from Peronnet the Bly Natmacions tho Gloyn Rin Hannicourt asfondlates) the energlad, so shergthened the Peronne station with sted railst corcietd theti spitoof wany ducethet yor &e Howitzers & fit eightee poniden the garrioor seen wachive gunner could not k dislodged. This cesed me to consider tho with draval of the 5839 Bns with the exceptinof loy ead to this nide of the caral tavoulcasnall poor the enemys gaave as the cover & area was so limited + congerted, Had ct Spn I was rumimoned to confrene at 8 Py H.As at wmoi but tho car lost its way & after waiting tair for it tit is anappearance I started owalk to Herlicourt. It wasders & having mored the tracts tothe dars I had a very rough tim of it getting over thould Britlifet wth rendezoous but I got there about I am when the new Plavs actions give me. Iwas demed that omry to presuure fom the 2nd Duve Commander Rornthalt who apparantey nton runnig the show olyn like the very devil about it indentally bad got Copp & order in t mupport a
new attack by him tmake good the Hogh Fround lynd mt ff Qentirs. Th 14th Bde we tput on or the flank of this attact & we were to cross the river pass throug t knone and thereof so carry a thalack the 14mygade had reached the ajce amgned t et or if the 24th Bryade failed we were t carryor th attack. I felt obliged to lett the Dinl Commander tlatthd Tark laid doin was for too great for abready enhanted mes & ttati sestright they were courting Disaster. He replied that he had not wranted t as it buttre must protics the llank of torther serioen but ip ans conrnced mmer were tod enhansted for the Task i post of them we would put it before the Corps Commd I tonew that I could tarely reading Brs is time as it was. That if as was almos certainly the care the Coys Commader, who could know nothing of the Sevince or the pitnation ordered tho matter sproceed. I would never get theorders thioni in tim wotdny made my proters I decided I would carry on. My horrewrs ready & I gucloned back br&
& lanny got the Mr Commerders byter Gent 58acron prt barris H.O.B. ender mairtall t dear in Peronne & th 59 & 60t to you up ichid t160 Bgde Brd &actas through them. The 58th morcd of but as our opening Barragicanedon half an hom before sero the enemys retalisteo caught ther or the warch &inflicten heary carnalties. Mayor Ferry himself & his knews to Comvander Copt Sornthteiry included in the Comalties Meythers lost 4omer bepre ree thing the arremby position. The 59th 60 hiffered also but somewhat his finrely Arrvea is Keronne Ferris found tas Cve Marshall lad received as yet n instructios a t thoport Ferris was t play in thaltact as as noheadnry was being made majnterris carued i & ths 8 B pusted through Bronne & utterly difeated the picked enemy Garkiiny thnoither rawpan & establishe & themselves kynd the rour The Bos Inding the14 Blle held u purted uf into thei put
Duriry th night an old 2so M ma captused dusing speration aacknoa th 9 Detry &wh eaped for worte gotback into omlines X line but could gt in further oning to the Leavy machine gen five from the mt St auentRidge which the 2 De had failed tclea lot teautor uent forward Spemall reconnoitue the vituation since that the was no hope of progresng until the dDid advanced sa neo Barage wss put down or om prt to quieted the enemy mashing gan nert. As metime the enemy pined pre or him whit nomer of the for grouped near him therd come litttearsilable cover. The information he oblained was of the greaters possible valu tome & I am connnced sased us a diactes as we were laterrdued ppust or by the Valley with the heights alove us shill ocaies as I will premel relate. In thfighting Peroine & Br Comnarder the Raprece captised aloo 102 other ranles & Manymie killed. The ganimine specially rlected me who lad volentere for the duty of sopping th chert Advance & many lought with toulmon gollantry For thraphernoor I receved a copyouorder for th 14 Byade
3 directing their further advance in the Valley Comrdo Brson its Irms convinced that I almne knew the situateon over then I sank in the dirl Commander & laid it doin that I would no longer serre a tho pieesy men cceuontaly sacripied without poper reconmanion or knowledge of the situation. The resalt of the nas that the Did Commonder dleased tocome fouraid + viewth riluation throught the other two rngadeess by too. We ther arsertancd that as a resultof th S4Mdy unng a wrong may (his unditatn) they had got a lotatl wingempiern of the utanon. The werult of the whole theno the cancellation of the pnoposed operation & instead the 1 B Bgde ce withdron thering the night for reorganization & the 15t Bde were t latoover the while pont. Relief as alove was affected duing th night. The 5th Bn crvored over & relieved the 580 d 540 Bar in fermne Houtokerts. The 55 Moringtack across the River. The 54 under arrangment belieee Col Sanla & my ten took overall the imoline
port & this opremanee an support Whemer were todeatansted do an patrolting & rested when they loy enlanstedn most cons to go for thei good. As it wos thought that the Bose he might evaenst FLA MICOURt dur thnight th32d Bn under St Col Davies was placed at my disposal for euplosting purposes but found that the enemy were shitt holdengou is dtrengtt & thesproject is abordired At 8 am I made a permnal recommanise alongthe Rly line a it appeared toe that it miht t explosied. It raid Lo manser 57 o then & instructed him to mid forward patiots slong the Klyline He losgme out himself made good several hurdred yard of those line & discovered some enewy post Frengh Later he endeavouren to get to mon gnortar foryard tdeal wilt the port but had balardor th atterp Whilst shill further ottempting to advance his posts this gallant yougoffien was mortally wounder & died mortly. I fett has death very much & iit was a grenttors to Ph Migad
day furing the afternon we bowlarded the Beronne staten with 6 in Howslzes & the Flamicourt with 42s & with 6edt newtos norlors. The 60 B arrayed to rend two coye through tho 59th Bn & make good H Dennes village & about ooyards beyind the line of the road leading to varlu The 2d Dis also mored un & edaltited a poston the Pose to Wurly about 500 yards or our left bet the gof was will covred by macheve guns This greatly eass the situation the left as tho ard tro had now cleared the Ridgs of the enemy ro that at least th lad nothye any wverse fire & the obligne preals was stdned. During thought we shelled Flamiort at entervals & the blaze + crust of lunting shells amongst the honses made a bulliont ppeclacte. At intervals arranged bporehard the whilling ceared & our patioes crept forard to pob. the riluation continually. toarcular of the enemy bad retired.
d tept. Huring the day bitte progren was made but we shielled Flammicourt conviseently. Jot was arranged that the 8th Brigade should take over from i our left fector of the ine tonight believing the 85t68t During the day dense columns of mmoke were been anony from thVillag straight in pyours of us & Dou right. News came throughfou the Frent or om right that the enemy were falling back. the Bns ie a ccordingly warned the ready to purone. Towards evening the 3t purked out petiots which rade considerable propen & the 58th M were instructed tgot in lonet with them & thread to enplort Flamnourt if the every crent back. About fu Ierent freward to the 5460M Hearuaster t kecy is buch with the situation. The even even shelling the town rather ygoiourly as Terens through. Dapt Doller made an unfortuate erro hers. Aordin fo a reliefhi
ben given ofor th 390 when relieved tmore th now he did not consider the sdication of the enemys altreat suppicall more to narrant a cancllation of this reamand morement 5/9/18 Consequently when thromorement nec derecoped it bega nextmon , more the 89t fowoard int blore support of the 53 B" Br Coyof the 59th Mr paraded & repired to more slating that they were etterly enhanoted. I rew them & got them to obey orders but ther ino doubt that they were purted to the very limito of their endurance 2 dury th nght 4/5 The 58th Bn crossed the Ring & prd pusted Flammicours duing tt night & contused neat morning out t the right, where som oachine giv fire was experienced they interentually joined u with the 13th H.L.L. part of the Bregade on our right whi onow legar beron at Le Mesp the River The 58 r pushed on inDRCot & kept truet with thy meny who hoever still held the ouaid sopes of the bey fills somrds Dough in consideratl

Stories 
1)  Tommy Is "Have you seen any of the Z Brigade,
chum?
Youre dead unlucky mate this
last one has just dived off the end
of Calais Pier
 ______________________

2) "You'll soon have a bar to that medal
now (The Mons) " More running colors?". 
______________________

3) Oh you're starting to loot this 
poor beggars boots now are  
you?
"No.  He wore them off chasing
you Bastards!"  
 ______________________

4)  Mopping up Peronne 
Why we took Peronne yesterday 
Well you must have bl.......   well put 
it back then 
 ______________________

(5)  Epitaph to 
'Two Huns who met a digger'
 ______________________

(6)  On a Gen. - Captured fired against Germans & damaged
Captured fired & buggared by the Bn AIF  
______________________

What are you
Paddy Scanlon's great [[Griradest?]]

Von Leryh' Prussian guards are
just at the back 
What are you
I'm fn tired what are you
______________________

 

We are also ordered to guard the 
Railway Bridge & prevent the enemy  
destroying it 
During the night Capt Peacock of 
the 57th Br crossed the Canal with 
a Patrol but failed to find a way 
across the slipway & river
31st Aug   At 10.30 a.m. I attended a Conference 
with the Div Commander at the 
H.Q. of the 8th Bgde at Herbecourt. 
During the day patrols attempted 
to effect a crossing over the River 
but found every approach guarded 
by the enemy & machine gun
fire was opened on every
movement. During the night
the 15th Field Coy did splendid
work getting the Bridges across
the Canal. During the day the
2nd Aust Div attempted to take  
Mt St Quentin failed although 
they reported that they had taken
it & refused to let our
Artillery engage enemy targets 
on the reverse slope of the 
hill as they said this would 
hit their men. At the conference 
it had been arranged that the 14th Bgde 

 

should cross the River at Omicourt
and attack on the right of the 2nd Div. 
The 14th was at once set in motion but I 
pointed out it would be utterly impossible 
for this Brigade to come into action 
before dawn at least on the next day 
owing to the difficult & exhausting march 
over the old Battle field which must 
be accomplished before getting into action 
On my return from the Conference the enemy 
placed a very heavy Barrage on the Road 
to Barleux where some heavy guns getting 
into position had suffered severely the 
day before owing to the enemy's perfect observation 
of this Valley from the heights between 
Le Mesnil & Brie. I had to make a 
long detour almost like an S. to avoid 
the Barrage & had a couple of fairly 
narrow escapes as the fragments of the  
5-9s & 8 in bursting with instantaneous 
fuses spread over a wide area. 
1st Sept,  Weather very fine. The 14th Brigade attacked 
[*Peronne South tngmt.*] 
on the other side of the Somme (north) in 
conjunction with the 2nd Div who 
again attacked on Mt St Quentin. 
The 14th Brigade had heavy losses but 
got a footing in Peronne. The 2nd Div 
at length subdued all resistance 
on Mt St Quentin. As soon as 
I saw the progress of the 14th Brigade I

 

pushed forward myself & directed 
the 58th & 59th Bns to be prepared to cross the 
river &  exploit the success by clearing 
the front of the 57th Bn. I then went 
forward & personally reconnoitre the 
area. I went first to the Road Bridge on 
the Canal. This had been reported completely 
destroyed but when I went there 
personally I found that the whole  
bridge had collapsed from the explosion 
but that one of the steel girders had 
lodged across the river Canal in such a way 
that it was comparatively easy for an 
active infantryman to cross & did so.  I 
got up on a mound - an old earthwork 
on the further side & at once a machine 
gun opened fire from the direction of 
the railway. I at once clambered 
back to the edge of the canal & signalled 
to a post of the 58th Bn on the opposite 
side to come over, which they did. I 
posted them in a good position & 
then started back in a great hurry to 
hurry up the 58th & 59th Bns. In my 
haste I trod on a loose beam & fell 
into the Canal & got wet through. As 
the canal was very deep with steep sides

 

at that spot I had considerable difficulty 
scrambling out, as my box respirator got 
full of water & hampered me. However 
I got out & on my way back saw Major Ferris
with some men of the 58th Bn. I instructed 
him to get these men across the river to get 
touch with the 54th Bn (14th Brigade) in the 
know & endeavour to get the 
enemy out of Flammincourt. On 
my return to 59th Bn H.Q's I 
decided to take their men & 
directed the BM to come forward. 
Col Scanlon had gone forward & was 
getting his Bn across by the Railway 
Bridge. They had a fight at the Bridge 
over the Somme further along the line & 
drove out a machine gun post, but found 
further progress very difficult as 
heavy machine gun fire was met. & 
Barbed wire entanglements across 
the line whilst it was impossible to  
leave the railway because of the 
marsh which was so deep & treacherous 
that men were likely to be smothered 
in the oozy mud. The 58th found that 
the 14th Brigade had been unable to carry
the northern end of the Ramparts 
& the approach to the causeway leading

 

from Peronne to the Rly Station across 
the Cologne River in Flammincourt  
the enemy had (as we found later) so strengthened the Peronne
Station with steel rail & concrete that in 
spite of many direct hits from 4.2 Howitzers 
& fif eighteen pounders the garrison of 
enemy machine gunners could 
not be dislodged. This caused me 
to consider the withdrawal of the 58th & 59th 
Bns with the exception of 1 Coy each 
to this side of the canal to avoid casualties 
from the enemy's guns as the cover & area 
was so limited & congested. 
At 8pm I was summoned to a Dvnl conference 
at Division at 8th Brigg H.Qs. but the car lost its 
way & after waiting in vain for it 
to put in an appearance I started 
to walk to Herbecourt. It was dark 
& having missed the track in the 
dark I had a very rough time 
of it - getting over the old Battlefield 
[*2nd Sept*] to the rendezvous but I got there 
about 2 a.m. when the new Plan of 
action was given me. It was desired 
that owing to pressure from the 2nd Divnl 
Commander Rosenthall who apparently 
insisted on running the show and lying 
like the very devil about it incidentally 
had got Corp. & order us to support a

 

new attack by him & make 
good the High Ground beyond Mt 
St Quentin. The 14th Bde was to push 
on on the flank of this attack & we 
were to cross the river pass through Peronne 
and thereafter carry on the attack when the 
14th Brigade had reached the objectives 
assigned to it or if the 14th Brigade failed 
we were to carry on the attack. I 
felt obliged to tell the Divnl Commander 
that the Task laid down was far 
too great for already exhausted men 
and that in setting it that they were courting 
Disaster. He replied that he had not 
wanted to do it but we must protect 
the flank of this & there Division but if I 
was convinced my men were too 
exhausted for the Task in front of them 
he would put it before the Corps Commdr. 
I knew that I could barely reach my 
Bns in time as it was. That if as 
was almost certainly be the case the 
Corps Commander, who could know  
nothing  of the Ground or the situation 
ordered the matter to proceed. I would 
never get the orders through in time 
so having made my protest I decided 
I would carry on. My horse was 
ready & I galloped back to my HQ

 

& having got the Bn Commanders together 
Sent 58th across first to assist the 57 Bn 
under Marshall to clean up 
Peronne & the 59 & 60th Bns to form 
up behind the 14th Bgde Bns & attack 
through them. The 58th moved off 
but as our opening Barrage came down 
half an hour before zero the enemy's 
retaliation caught them on the march  
& inflicted heavy casualties. Major 
Ferris himself & his Senior Coy 
Commander Capt Forsyth being 
included in the Casualties. They then
lost 40 men before reaching their 
assembly position. The 59th & 60th suffered 
also but somewhat less severely. 
Arrived in Peronne, Ferris found  
that Col Marshall had received 
as yet no instructions as to the part 
Ferris was to play in the attack 
as as no headway was being 
made. Major Ferris carried on & 
the 58th Bn pushed through Peronne  
& utterly defeated the picked 
enemy Garrison of the northern ramparts
& established themselves beyond the town. 
The 59th Bn finding the 14th Bde  
held up, pushed up into their front

 

During the night an old 7th Bn man 
captured during operations 
at Lihons on the 9th Aug & who  
escaped from Nesle got back into 
our lines

 

line but could get no further 
owing to the heavy machine gun 
fire from the Mt St Quentin Ridge 
which the 2nd Div had failed to clear.
Col Scanlon went forward to personally 
reconnoitre the situation & found 
that the was no hope of progressing 
until the 2nd Div advanced & a new 
Barrage was put down on our point 
to quieten the enemy machine gun 
nests.  At one time the enemy opened 
fire on him & hit six men of the 
Bn grouped near him behind some 
little available cover. The information he  
obtained was of the greatest possible value 
to me & I am convinced saved us a disaster 
as we were later ordered to push on up this 
Valley with the heights above us still occupied
as I will presently relate. In the fighting in 
Peronne & Bn Commander and his Staff were
captured also 104 other rankers & 
many were killed. The garrison were  
specially selected men who had volunteered 
for the duty of stopping the fresh Advance 
& many fought with the utmost 
gallantry. In the aftermath I received 
a copy of an order for the 14th Brigade

 

directing their further advance up the  
valley towards Bussu. As I was convinced 
that I alone knew the situation over 
there I rank up the Dvnl Commander 
& laid it down that I would no longer 
serve in the force if men were wantonly 
sacrificed without proper reconnaissance  
or knowledge of the situation. The result  
of this was that the Div Commander decided 
to come forward & view the situation 
& brought the other two Brigadiers up 
too. We then ascertained that as 
a result of the 14th Bdg using a wrong 
map (Div used it also) they had got  
a totally wrong impression of the 
situation. The result of the whole 
thing was the cancellation of the  
proposed operation & instead the 
14th Bgde were to be withdrawn during 
the night for reorganization 
& the 15th Bde were to take over the 
whole front.
3rd.  Relief as above was effected during the 
night. The 57th Bn crossed over & 
relieved the 58th & 54th Bn in Peronne 
& outskirts. The 58th moving back 
across the River. The 59th under  
arrangement to leave Col Scanlon & 
Major Ken took over all the frontline

 

posts & the 60th remained in support. 
The men were too exhausted to do any 
patrolling & rested where they lay too  
exhausted in most cases to go for their 
food. As it was thought that the Bosche  
might evacuate FLAMICOURT during 
the night, the 32nd Bn under Lt Col Davies 
was placed at my disposal for explortory 
purposes but this was found that the 
enemy were still holding on in 
strength & this project was abandoned. 
At 8am I made a personal reconnaissance 
along the Rly line & it appeared to me that 
it might be exploited. I saw Lt Marsden
57th Bn there & instructed him to send 
forward patrols along the Rly line. 
He took one out himself & made good 
several hundred yards of the Rly  
line & discovered some enemy posts. 
Later he endeavoured to get a machine Trench 
Mortar forward to deal with this 
post but had to abandon the attempt. 
Whilst still further attempting  
to advance his post this gallant 
young officer was mortally wounded
& died shortly. I felt his death 
very much & it was a great loss 
to the Brigade.

 

During the afternoon day we bombarded
the Peronne station with 6 in Howitzers
& the Flamicourt with 4.2's & with
6 inch newton mortars. The 60th Bn
arranged to send two Coys through
the 59th Bn & make good the St Dennis
Village & about 50 yards beyond the
line of the road leading to Nurlu
The 2nd Div also moved in & established
a post on the Road to Nurlu about
500 yards on our left but the gap
was well covered by machine guns.
This greatly eased the situation on 
the left as the 2nd Div had now
cleared the Ridge of the enemy
so that at least they had no longer
any reverse fire & the oblique fire also
was subdued. During the night we
shelled Flamicourt at intervals
& the blaze & crash of bursting shells
amongst the houses made a brilliant
spectacle. At intervals arranged
beforehand the shelling ceased &
our patrols crept forward to probe
the situation continually
to ascertain if the enemy had
retired.

 

4th Sept.  During the day little progress was
made but we shelled Flammicourt
consistently. It was arranged that the
8th Brigade should take over from us
our left Sector of the line tonight
relieving the 59th & 60th.  During the
day dense columns of smoke were
seen arising from the Village
straight in front of us & to our
right. News came through from
the French on our right that
the enemy were falling back. The
Bns were accordingly warned
to be ready to pursue. Towards
evening the 57th pushed out patrols
which made considerable progress
& the 58th Bn were instructed to get
in touch with them & to be ready
to exploit Flamicourt if the
enemy went back. About 2pm 
I went forward to the 57th Bn
HeadQuarters to keep in touch
with the situation. The enemy
were shelling the town rather
vigorously as I went through.
Capt Trelor made an unfortunate
error here. As orders for a relief had

 

been given for the 59th & 60th Bns when
relieved to move to the rear he 
did not consider the indications 
of the enemys retreat sufficiently 
strong to warrant a cancellation 
of this rearward movement. 
5/9/18 Consequently when this movement 
developed it became necessary to  
move the 59th forward next morning the 5th Sept, into close 
support of the 57th Bn "B" Coy of 
the 59th Bn paraded & refused to  
move stating that they were utterly 
exhausted. I saw them & got 
them to obey orders but there is no 
doubt that they were pushed to the 
very limits of their endurance. 
[*Nights 4/5*] The 58th Bn crossed the River during the night & finding 
Flammicourt vacant, pushed 
out to the right during the night & continued next morning when some 
machine gun fire was experienced 
but they eventually joined up with 
the 13th H.L.I. part of the Brigade 
on our right who now began to cross 
the River at Le Mesnil. The 57th Bn pushed 
on with the 60th & kept touch with 
the enemy who however still 
held the forward slopes of the 
Hills towards beyond Doingt in considerable 
 

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