Vendegies
Vendegies – Nov 1st 1918: At 01.30 hrs the Battn marched out of Vendegies and moved via La Justice to the forming up positions N of the Rhonelle River in K.29.d preparatory to the attack on Maresches. Heavy rain during afternoon which continued throughout the march to the line made the cross-country tracks muddy and slippery.
In crossing the forward face of the slope leading down to the railway running between Sepmeries and Artes the Battn had to pass through a barrage of H.E. and gas shells and were again shelled when crossing the Rhonelle by footbridges placed in location by R.E’s. [Royal Engineer’s] earlier in the night.
Artes
Artes: Coys formed up in the bridge head held by the 1st Bn East Lancs on the steeply rising ground immediately north of the Rhonelle in K.29.d. Dispositions were as follows:
D Coy left front A Coy right front
C Coy left support B Coy right support
Bn HQ in SW side of railway bank at K.34.g.7.3
At zero hour (0515hrs) an intense barrage was put down on the German positions A & D Coys advanced steadily close up to the barrage, B and C Coys following in close support. Early in the advance a gap opened between the left of D Coy and the right flank of the 2/7th Warwicks, C Coy moved forward into the gap and continued the advance in line with A and D Coys
At the start the Germans surrendered freely and no serious opposition was encountered until the road running NW from Maresches to Preseau was crossed. From this line forward heavy MG fire from St. Hubert rendered the advance for C & D Coys both slow and difficult.
Maresches
Maresches: Except that the extreme left of the line was bent back facing NE all objectives had by 0830 hrs been taken and reorganisation and consolidation commenced.
At 1000 hrs the German Infantry supported by captured British tanks counter attacked. The 4th Division were driven out Preseau. The 2/7th Bn Warwicks were forced back and the left flank of the Battn turned, C and D Coys occupying the open ground E and NE of Maresches had no means of fighting the Tanks and were obliged to withdraw. The left half of A Coy also came back but the remainder of the Coy moving to the right crossed into the loop of the Rhonelle river S of the Mill. In this position they could not be followed by the tanks but were exposed to their fire.
An advanced section of 18 pdrs in position at L.25.a.9.7, handled with great gallantry, fired at the Tanks over open sights and put two out of action. The guns were then used to fire on the German infantry with shrapnel. The Germans employed the Tanks in front of the Infantry. The latter quite failed to push home the initial advantage gained for them by the Tanks and stopped when they came under fire from our rifles and Lewis Guns.
Small parties of Germans established themselves in the Eastern part of Maresches but were soon ejected by patrols of A & C Coys. It was found necessary to put B Coy in the front line on the left of A as, owing to casualties, the other Coys were considerably weakened. A line of posts was dug through the Eastern and Northern outskirts of Maresches including the whole of the village but excluded the Cemetery.
Casualties and Relief
Strength of the Coys in the line before the attack
A Coy : 4 Officers and 126 OR B Coy: 4 Officers and 121 OR
C Coy: 4 Officers and 110 OR D Coy: 4 Officers and 101 OR
HQ Coy: 5 Officers and 50 OR
Casualties: Killed 1 Officer and 14 other ranks
Wounded 4 Officers and 97 other ranks
Gassed 1 Officer and 20 other ranks
Captures: 650 prisoners, 1 field gun, 1 anti-tank gun, 1 trench mortar, 105 machine guns.
During the afternoon the 184th Infantry Brigade moved up and the 2/5th Gloucester Regt shortly after dusk moved through our posts and attacked. About midnight, the line having been taken over by the 2nd/5th Gloucesters, the Battn withdrew and occupied a line of posts on the high ground N of the Rhonelle in K.29.b & d.
