Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/226/1 - Folder - Part 6
47.
by C.
Stobie signalled back, but as it was too difficult to
attract attention, went back and got one platoon of D Coy. to
build up left of C. One platoon to build up right of C just as
the first platoon got there and opened fire (C C0y. meanwhile
firing for all it was worth). Then, when right platoon of D
Coy. reached front line, all got up together and rushed the wood
by which time the German fire had died away. In the open the
enfilade fore was ripping up the dust everywhere. The men
realised that the fire had died ahead of them and that the wood
would be safer.
While they had been lying up ahead, Lieut. Aubrey, of C Coy. ,
was slightly wounded.
The 5th Bn at the same time began to enter the wood on the
left.
NOTE . - As the attack got into the wood at A this
was higher than clearing. Germans were
trying to get across the clearing crawling
and all ways and many were shot there. In
trench at B there were 50 Germans - 15 were
killed and 35 captured
B Coy. was held in the open space between the wood and the
railway. It was now 8.20.
50 yards inside the wood was a trench (B on plan) in which
50 Germans were.
A slight change of direction now happened. 5 Bn on left
said that 3rd Bde. were in strength and cramped. So 5th Bn.
wa smaking more to it and C Coy. did so also and eventually each
of C and B were holding about 200 yds. Dozens of Germans were
seen retired from thick wood at S. through clearing and slight
rise at G to wood at P. Lewis gunners and riflemen were turned
on these and caused many casualties.
C Coy. was then just on the line of the road marked. Stobie
worked down the road with party into trench at xxx N Z the
dugouts were bombed but no one came out. Then worked up various
C.T.'s into N M, and at M was definitely held up by a nest of
M.G. from about X impossible to locate. Lieut. Gant's platoon
of C Coy. coming into corner of wood by open at Z was also
heavily fired and lost men from the post.
B Coy. on right had now worked up to C from M to railway
line in old trenches, working up this warren of old trenches.
(Some, but not many old grassed shellholes). Only Lieut. Arnold
wasleft in B Coy. Lieut. Thompson had been killed, Lieuts.
Rowett and Barker had been wounded.
At 10. a.m. 5 Bn said that they and 9th Bn on their left were
held up. The M.G. fire could not be silenced, so Stobie decided
to consolidate the ground gained.
About noon tanks came up on the right with the
48.
Canadians. All the tanks except one ("Mudsplasher") were on
S. side of railway. "Mudsplasher" silenced several M.G. near
C Coy. but did not advance more than 300 yds beyond our line.
It wasworking S. of the wood.
This apparently silenced the M.G.'s at S but it also shot
Arnold in the ankle with a M.G. The Canadians followed the
tanks and began to pass the line of our advance. At this stage
Stobie had 30 men of C Coy. and 2 platoons of D Coy.
At 1.30 p.m. 5.9 shelling began. At 2.45 p.m. the sector
ahead had quietened, and as the Canadians had gone some way ahead,
Stobie, with Capt. Johnston, M.C., adjutant, who had come up and
taken over B Coy., went up with three men as far as the road
between Lihons and the red brick Halte on railway. By 3.45
C Coy. (for whom he sent back) wasin position with right flank
on the quarry at F6 c 7.4 Centre at F 6c.8.6 left at F6c.6.6.
By 3.55 p.m. B Coy. was in a trench from F 6 c.7.4 to the
Halte. This was down without casualties, though a few snipers
and M.G.'s were active. The advance could not be continued as
the left flank ran back at right angles to the line of 6 Bns
advance.
At 6 p.m. Canadians 4.5's shelled C Coy. but ceased after a
short time. The position where C Coy was was an old French
Bde. H.Q. with deep, roomy dugouts. Germans had been lately in
it. They consolidated this line and held it for the night without
disturbance - no counterattack. Germans shelled a bit - not
much.
Casualties C Coy: Killed wounded
off. 1 2
O R. 5 35
Casualties of Aug. 9 O.R. 3 5
Strength at start on Aug. 8th, - 5 Officers, 100 Other ranks.
C Coy. came out with 2 officers and 50 O.R.
Of 18 officers with the Coys. who went in on xxx 9th, five
came out.
KILLED:
Aug. 9 - Lieut s. McShane, hit direct by shell on Aug. 9.
Aug. 10- Lieutz. Fisher; Lieut. Collinsm D.C.M. (both killed by
machinegun.
WOUNDED:
Captain Smith (?Aug.9) ; Lieut. Archer, M.C. (Aug. 10?);
Lieut. Southey (?Aug. 10).
In the well at Haltz and in the wood they got good
water. The thirst was very great - a real trouble.
On Aug. 11 at 4 a.m. 8th Bn attacked over the posts of
C Coy. with troops on left. There were M.G. active on left but
opposition did not seem to be heavy. Opposition was reported
heavier later.
AS they passed over and left a M.G. which continued firing,
Stobie sent a patrol to silence it - patrol did not get the gun
but got one man from the post. Gun was silenced but got away.
at dawn there was heavy gas shelling - it lay about in the slight
fog. no casualties.
49.
All day the Germans shelled intermittently - all sorts of
shells (77's to 8-in.). (All the men were put in the dugouts
except the sentries).
Germans twice counterattacked 8th Bn. that day, and C Coy
and B were stood-to but nothing came, attack being repulsed.
At 11 p.m. relieved by Coy. of 1st Bn and moved by Rosieres
to Vauvillers, reaching there at 1 a.m. on Aug. 12.
This fight was likened by all the 2nd Bde. to the fighting
at Cape G Helles. It was undoubtedly a very heavy task for
infantry. The co-ordination between Canadians and Australian
Corps was bad, and there was little co-operation with artillery.
When8th Bn. attacked they took an unwounded German
prisoner. While he was waiting one of his own anti-aircraft
guns got him and shot him through the foot. He was born in
U.S.A. - his father and mother were Swedes. The father was a
naturalised German, so he had served in the German Army. He
was goingon leave on the previous Sunday but got ill and was
going to hospital. He returned about Aug. 9 to unit and was to
down in a dugout with a pal when the shelling started - the first
thing he knew was a bomb coming down. His mate started to run
and left him - he waited and was captured.
This man said that he would rather be wounded and a prisoner
in spite of the bad luck than on leave in Berlin to-day. He
said in March and April they thought everything was couleur de
rose - could not got wrong; now they throught they could not
win, but neither could we.
He knew we had 1½ million Americans in France.
He said there was tons of plain food in Germany, but for
luxuries such as chocolate you had to pay. He was surprised
at our white bread and dug into it all he could.
Stafford, platoon commander of D Coy., got a M.C. for his
work in this show when he reinforced C Coy. Stobie got his M.C.
there too.
C Coy. got 5 M.M. and 2 D.C.M. out of this fight - and
15 decorations out of the two fights (Herleville and Lihons).
50.
196
8th BATTALION - LIHONS AND HERLEVILLE.
5th BATTALION - LIHONS AND HERLEVILLES.
8 Battn.
11 Aug. There was a thick fog. 8 Bn. put in four Coys. and one
Coy. of 7th Bn. - covering whole front covered by 6 and 5th
Bns. previous day.
This mist was a very great advantage. Bn. moved through
5 and 6 with 4 Coys in line (in lines of skirmishers followed by
shallow columns of sections in file). There was a very good
barrage especially on Lihons village (where a number of 5.9 guns
were taken in Lihons).
The then front line ran through the west edge of the wood
in 6c from the quarry near the Halte through the W edge of Crepy
Wood. It did not cause much trouble. Themain trouble was that
they were out of touch with the Bn of 3rd Bde on left Crepy
Wood.
As Bn. went on there was a lot of fire from Bois d Auger,
which hung the left flank up - the ground behind Crepy being very
open and flat - gentle slope. The line went forward pivoting
on its left flank, and as the line widen it broke between the
two centre Coys. at the top of 6a. The right Coy. stuck to its
boundary, railway, and went straight on. A few M.G. were met
at intervals. But the chief trouble was at the start of the
advance. The Germans had a powerful line of M.G. right across
the front. Thebarrage had to be thrown far back because of the
line being uncertain. Thebarrage was well behind the Germans.
The mist was thick. TheGerman opened a very intense M.G. fire
but it was all high. Our men came at them through the mist in
which you could not see 50 yds. They Coys. all had compass
bearings - the right had the railway. They killed a lot of the
Germans - but not many prisoners were taken. Those that were
taken were in Lihons.
The left was hung up while the right went straight on.
The 7th Bn Coy. went into thecentre in the gap - their
advance led them there. They Coy. commander of this Coy. kept on
going even when he lost touch with troops ahead.
As 3rd Bde. worked into Anger Wood and got down the M.G.'s
there, the left Coy. (D) was able to get ahead again - after
about ½ to ¾ -hour holdup.
In the S corner of Anger Wood they got touch with the 3rd
Bde.
As they got into Lihons another gap occurred on the left of
the 7th Coy. Bn. This gap lasted till they got to the Blue line
D
C
.............. gap
7th →
B
A
At 6 a.m. owing to messages arriving from various sources
about a Coy. xxxx being cut off, etc., C.O. went up with I.P.
In the village at 7 a.m. met some of our wounded who said the
line was a long way ahead. It was very difficult to find the
way even then - mist very thick and country very broken. There
were a number of Germans wandering about not knowing what to do.
whom they turned off the road to the rear.
Col. Mitchell found the two Coys. each with its flank
refused:
*** Diagram - see original document
The Canadians had not moved xxxxxxx that morning and were about
500 yds. behind our right flank and 800 yds. to the right of the
51.
railway - not on the railway at that point.
*** Diagram - see original document
(Above is almost certainly what had happened).
At 11 a.m., when the mist had well lifted and C.O. was on
the high lend between Lihons and the railway about A3c3 2.2 the
beginning of an attack by the Canadians advancing, sections
rushing, a German gun in Bois Triangulaire shooting on our own
trenches and just skimming them. At this time 8th Bn. never
xxxx knew of the attack - had never heard of any attack - very
pretty but no co-ordination.
A platoon had been refused on our right flank to cover gap
to Canadian position.
The map were 40,000 maps; only one map was given to C.O.
originally for the whole Bn. on the 9th August, and this is now in
records with markings, etc. , on it.
Undoubtedly if 10 Bn ever got into Lihons this would be
while Mitchell was still beyond it out in the front line. There
were still Germans in Lihons - and even when Mitchell was going
out of the line that night on relief (all the parties had been
searching all day) 5 Germans darted out down a C.T. about 800
yds ahead of the "Halte" and scooted like frightened cats away
to the flank. C.O. had his pistol out but did not fire so
surprised he was. All troops had to be warned they they might
still meet Germans on the way, up to and back from the front
line - there were so many old dug-outs.
Only 30 men were lost in getting Lihons. Holding it cost
90. From about 1 p.m. on the Germans were constantly creeping
up to counterattack by bombing, and bombing was going on till
the actual relief was taking place that night.
Capt. Campbell, who was wounded during the advance with
left Coy., got a D.S.O. for Aug, 9. Lieut. Lowday was hit this
day also - on left D Coy.
8th Battn.
Aug. 9th. Start near Villers Bretonneux. C.O. had orders to march -
met 6th and 7th after getting through Villers Bretonneux. Had
no idea of what order Bns would be used - went towards Warfusee;
on the main road Ulrich met Mitchell and gave him a map (given
him Gen. Heane) with objective to attack marked on it, and told him
that they would be required to attack that morning with 7th Bn.
on left and 6th and 5th in support. The map had been marked
in divisional H.Q. - one for each Bn. Gen Heane was at
division at the time; he saw Ulrich and gave them to him.
Ulrich galloped on and gave them to C.O's.
Half waybetween Villes Bretonneux and War Fusee the Bn.
broke and marched in artillery formation of platoons across
country to south of Baybonvillers - did not stop once - straight
through to south of Harbonnieres to forming-up line in square
W.10 (7); W16 Z8th Bn). C.O. had just had a call for a
conference with General Hearne just before this while Bn. was
advancing. He told them they would have 14 tanks between the
two Bns. - 7 each; and a section of English guns. Forming up
position was behind the sunken road. 8th Bn. passed over this
in formation on starting.
The Bns were supposed to bein position by 1 but it was
1.40 p.m. before started. (Everything had to be done on the
52
move - a conference with company commanders had to be held on the
move, they walking beside the O.C.).
8 Bn troops were about half an hour resting at Assembly
position. O.C. arranged with tanks - they had the objective
marked. The tanks said they required a screen of scouts to tell
them about any opposition and the Bn in rear in shallow columns
in two lines of companies.
*** 2 MGS C D = -
= B A = -
= -
- -
Tanks Scouts
The artillery was supposed to meet the O.C. but missed him.
at the assembly position. Their observer, however, found him (on
the road where Murdoch and I met Mitchell - just before then).
15 Bde. was through 19B and C diagonally to the railway
*** Diagram - see original document
After passing through them 8 Bn began to come under very
long range M.G. fire There had been no trouble to there from
guns firing direct. The tanks were keeping direct and all going
well. About on the (first) road S.W. from Vauvillers (not
Vauvillers-Rosieres) they came under direct fire from guns at Bois
de Crepy and M.G. fire from Rosieres station.
Two tanks were hit at once just before reaching this road
N, of railway.
Infantry broke into small columns of sections and continued
the advance. Another tank which crossed to deal with the M.G. 's
the scouts direct them with their rifles to the M.G. near
Rosieres Station - was hit near the railway about half way to the
German M.G. post. The shell burst inside and probably killed all
the crew. This tank burnt.
Four tanks were left. Infantry rapidly broke up into lines
of skirmishers on regular frontage, advancing by small rushes
and individuals pushing ahead wherever they had cover. The fire
of the guns at Bois de Crepy never slackened till gunners
were actually shot down.
The ebeny on the ridge in 22 b and d were holding 7 Bn up.
Captain Campbell of D Coy. (left Coy.) worked round the
German hospital and got his Coy. around to the left into 22c and
enfilade these xxxx Germans and enabled 7 Bn. to get ahead.
Campbell got a D.S.O for this work.
The Germans were using the old trenches in this part and had
splendid cover - there was little cover in the plain S.W. of it -
the trench system seemed to be on and over the hill.
The 8th Bn reached a line X 28 Cebtral, F4 A central.
At the beginning of the attack the Germans had a battery in
the quarry in 28B. There were firing direct - but about the time
when the hospital was taken they pulled out with their teams and
got away - they were 4.2's those on the hill were 77's.
About 27 Central there was a tank burning - this was a
whippet - this was the furthest-up tank which C.O. 8th Bn saw.
About 5 p.m. one Coy. of 6 Bn.) which Bn was in close support
near the tank in 27 Central) move out on its own initiative and
began to continue the advance towards the redline. This was made
be section rushes almost from the start. At the same time the
Coys of 8th Bn in the front line worked up the old communication
trenches in which they were. Campbell, on the left, worked up
53.
hill to the S.E. of the quarry right up under the guns which were
at about 29B 0.4. just beyond the road and the red line. They
shot down the gunners from there and the teams. The Germans
managed to get one gun away but 8 Bn got 5 of them shooting the
gunners ad the teams. The guns were still fiting when our men
got onto them with M.G.'s and rifles. The line went forward
right to the red line and into the Arbre Coin du Bois, being
refused on the right to meet the Canadians about 4 Central.
About dusk, while our men were consolidating, the Germans
counterattacked just at the Arbre Coin du Bois . This attack
came over the open in lines - about 300 or 400 of them, Our guns
got onto them and they melted away and ran back through trenches.
This was the only counterattack.
About 10 p.m. the Germans tried to sneak men down the trenches
to xxx his guns and to get them away by hand. These men were seen
close to the guns and were driven off. We then had to put a
detached post out by the guns.
The next morning the 5th and 6th Bn, went through the 8th Bn
front, and 3rd Bde through the 7th Bn front, by plain daylight
(8 a.m.).
8th Bn. expected to see the 15th Bde on the green line.
OFFICERS KILLEDN:
2/Lieut. Larkin -
Was wounded early in the fight and was hit
by a shell about 15 Bde line going back and
killed.
Lieut. Dyer, M.M.-
Was hit near the tank in 27 Central and
killed there - lying on the road.
Lieut. Vial -
Was killed on the Red line just as they
got to it, near the guns. He was sniped
through the head. (D Coy.)
Campbell was the only officer left.
Whenever an officer move on that day he was shot.
OFFICERS WOUNDED: A COY.
xxxxx. of right Coy.-
Lieut. L. A. Blackman (Coy. Commander) -/A Coy - was hit in
four places by a shell - during the finish
of the fight. Blackman carried on till
next day, but is still away wounded.
Lieut. Power (same Coy.) - Was hit at the same stage.
Lieut. Macfadyen (same Coy.) - Was hit at the same stage.
D Coy.
Lieut. Vail - (Killed)
Lieut. Bourke - Wounded during 5 -6 p.m. stage of fight.
Lieut. Wicks - Wounded about passing the hospital.
Lieut. Sowell - Wounded after passing 15 Bde.
This was all the officers of D Coy. except Campbell.
(supporting D)
C COY.
(O.C.) Captain Fox - Severely wounded at the hospital.
Lieut. Dyer - Killed
B COY.
Lieut. Witterden - Wounded on the Red line.
54.
B COY (Continued)
Lieut. Edmonds - Wounded about half way.
Lieut. Larkin - Killed
Two Company Commanders were lost that day.
8th Battn.
HERLEVILLE.
8th Bn was in support to 6th Bn mostly on right of road.
It was not allowed to form ahead of the road south of
the factory. They were afraid of German barrage - (the line of
it had been frequently noticed) - which was between the road and
front line. It was anticipated barrage might fall quickly and
catch the support massed there.
At zero 8 Bn. advanced as directed very shallow columns.
The German barrage did come down and was intense. In passing
through it Capt. Johnston, onr of the original men of the Bn,
was killed, and so was Lieut. L.C., White, M.M., who was another
original commissioned the day before. About 30 casualties were
suffered in this barrage. It was a line of shells - about 300
yds. deep only.
The doctor of 8 Bn - Capt. O'Shea (now D.S.O. for this) with
Sig. Officer and Lewis Gun Officer, went up before the fight to our
old front line where troops had to be withdrawn a quarter of an
hour before Zero to let our barrage fall behind it. They went
there so as to be ready for the advance. The moment our line
passed they were in position.
By 9 a.m. D Coy. of 8th Bn was fighting on left of 6th Bn.
They had been doing so pretty well all the way. D. Coy. began to
get into the fight when the bend of the main road into the gully
was reached. There was a lot of opposition and the 6th Bn
flank had a gap in it and was threatened from St Martin's Wood.
(A tank gun was in the sunken road just north of the main road
before entering the gully. Every wood had a tank gun in it,
pretty well).
*** Diagram - see original document
Going across the tongue-shaped plateau between the two
forks of the gully D Coy. had a very stiff time. TheE E. bank
of the far gully is higher and commands its, and the barrage was
much faster than the troops though the tanks were still working
with them. The Coy. Commander, Lieut. Findlay, was killed as
they came over the top of the tongue and attempted to cross the
road. This left Lieuts. Joynt and McGinn with this Coy.
Plateau Wood on thefar slope was holding up 5th Bn and left of
6th Bn. McGinn worked his platoon up the old trench system on the
far side of the 2nd gully, and surrounded this wood and got 70
prisoners there.
On the right side after the 6th Bn had cross St Denis Wood and
were in the ravine ahead of it, A & B Coys. 8th Bn with a tank
(which worked splendidly) got 50 prisoners out of the wood. There
was an anti-tank gun in that wood, but though all the ammunition
55.
was there it never fired a shot at the tank. It was found quite
clean. The tank was sprayed with M.G. bullets but would heave
up each side alternately and blaze into them - greatly pleasing
our men - keeping outside of the wood which was very dense - and
went back pockmarked with the little bright bullet marks.
Several M.G. also were taken here.
The support line was on the tongue and N. down the main
valley on E., edge of St Martin's Wood. The 6 Bn was on the
crest of the further slope. Until night there were still
Germans between these two firing onto both the line ahead of them
and the line in the rear. The German even had a granatenwerfer
firing from the E. gully back onto the tongue of high land.
So far the right Coy. of 8th Bn had been mopping up in
support. Now it was ordered up in order to link up the right
of 6th Bn with left of Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. At
that time C.O. of 8th Bn (Col. Mitchell) had no idea where
A. & S. Highlanders were, nor even exactly where 6 Bn were,
though their general objective was known. Mitchell had an idea
that there were on their objective - you could only tell by the
noise of M.G.'s and rifles (especially Lewis Guns) gave a general
direction. Mitchell (and Temple) had gone up to see where his
own line was and see that it was in the right position (which was a
mainly in the old trenches - you could not have lived on the
top, digging in - could only link up) and found that the 6th Bn
was not in touch. The only communication would be round the
gully north of the fork and the German was still in pockets there.
Mitchell's orders were to push in in support of 6th Bn
wherever and whenever he considered it advisable; so before the
order to link up on the right arrived, he had ordered right Coy.
to gain connection between the 6th Bn and the Scotties on the
right. This Coy. wassent round by the gully into the far fork
*** Diagram - see original document
and first met Germans in Herleville Wood and in Nos. 4 and 5
Woods beyond it. They had to clear each of these woods (as
they were getting fire from the right). In one wood (No. 5)
they got 45 Germans.
From there two very definite and deep old French trenches
ran due E. up the E. side of the gully. The Coy. worked up
these till they saw xxxx 6th Bn. about 31 B 0.5 and could see the
Scots on the same general line xxxxxx further south. They
afterwards connected up along the trenches on the top on the E.
side with the Scots. C.O. and Temple walked along and had a
talk with the Scottish Officer there. These Scottish were
great people to wander over our lines, and very willing fighters.
8th Bn thus had two Coys. in front line - one about 400 yds.
over Bn. boundary on N. - just in the trenches in front of
Plateau Wood; the other to about 200 yds. over boundary on the
southern end of the Bde.
No counterattack.
There was a small advance on night of Au. 24 in conjunction
with Scots to make exact line of the objective.
Both on 24 and 25th August this was the heaviest barrage C.O.
had ever seen. It lasted some hours - German was probably
unloading every shell he had - and every H.E. shell had gas in
it. No shrapnel; all H.E. and gas.
The Germans at the end of this shelling were throwing
everything into the forward ravine. The whole of the 8 Bn
except what was in the line was there, and Bn H.Q., every
signaller except one operator, was gassed. Two horses were
56
gassed bringing up rations. If German had attacked on top
of this it would have bee next to impossible to resist him. The /t
total losses were 7 officers and 249 O.R. for whole tour, of
which more than half were gassed.
Night of 25/26 8th Bn took over line from 6th Bn; and on
afternoon of 26th August, the right Coy. of Scots advanced to the
Green line - a little opposite - One post only worried A Coy.
The night following (Aug 26) 8th Bn was relieved by 5th
Division (30th Bn). (It had been undecided whether 56th or 30th
should relieve them).
5th Battn. Detrained Aug. 7 at Hangest and other Stns. Billeted
Bertencourt 7/8th. Aug. 8th marched to Aubigny. Aug. 8/9th
LIHONS. stayed at Aubigny in buildings. A little odd information from
passing officers. Had no idea they were going to attack.
9th August, at 9 a.m. moved from Aubigny - moved to
Bayonvillers - no other order Near Bayonvillers C.O. stopped
Bn for lunch: rode to Bde H.Q. C.O. got back with hurried
orders to finish lunch. 7th and 8th would attack, 5th supporting
7th; 6th supporting 8th.
5th Bn. moved well right of Vauvillers and trying to get
touch with 7th Bn. which had got their orders earlier and were
out of touch ahead.
In trying to get up in touch with them 5th Bn had some pretty
heavy casualties at the cross roads just south of Vauvillers -
from shell fire. Uncertain if this was direct shell fire.
Pushed on with two front Coys. wo a position about 200-300
yds. in rear of 7th objective. The right Coy. under Major
Hastie met no direct opposition but some indirect M.G. fire from
left. It had no casualties in reaching the old German trench.
xxxxx. Left Coy. which was under Lieut. M. Morrison found
that there was a gap on the left of the 7th Bn. and troops
supposed to be on their left. They made a fine charge in there
by section rushes and got in on left flank of 7th Bn. One
platoon under Lieut. Volum could see right ahead of them German
reinforcements arrived in motor lorries at n o great distance
from the front line.
C Coy. was thrown in and had to fight for its position in a
small copse on the extreme left. D Coy. went in as there was
still a gap - under orders of Captain Burke to counterattack
through this copse.
While going up to this position 9 Germans surrendered to
Lieut. Parker's platoon. They charged this post - which was
about half-way to the crest of the hill. When they got to the
two M.G. in this trench they found that the Germans there had
killed their own N.C.O. immediately before by hitting him on
the back of the head and cracked his skull. Parker then went on
and took up position between left of 7th Bn and right of C Coy.
They were then right on the edge of the little wood above -
mentioned which was full of old stables, etc. Counterattacks
did not take place as the order evidently was not to c/attack
but to stop a gap and prevent counterattack. As they were
going up they could see the German de-bussing on a roadway
about 400-500 yds,. away. They wandered in by accident and
otherwise during the night. One of these Germans, educated
at Oxford, who had been trying to be captured for 9 months,
told Sergt.
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