大象传媒

The Landing

The regiment landed at Le Havre, France sometime in February. It was bitterly cold and our full kit allowed one blanket and ground sheet for bedding down resulting in putting on clothes to go to bed. After several moves we settled in a small village Ervilliers near Arras of interest for two things only: it had suffered the devastation of the 14/18 war and the ditches and hedgerows were full of relics of that period, bullets, rifles, bayonets, shell cases, equipment - a souvenir collectors dream! The other interest was a pleasant estaminet we found where we could get two eggs, chips, coffee and cognac for ten francs. My pay then was 100 francs a week, the exchange rate I cannot remember. Madame was happy to take our money but the general attitude towards us was summed up in one remark, 鈥渓es Anglais, les Boches, c鈥檈st la guerre鈥�

The Belgium Border

We then moved up to the Belgium border, near Lille, and there we dug gun pits and established a fortified position as an extension to the Maginot Line. The weather was now spring like and one afternoon, surveying an alternative position, planes approached with black crosses and bombed us. That night our gun position was bombed and in the morning we left our fortified site and advanced over the border through Tournai to Louvain east of Brussels.

Into Battle

That advance was thrilling and exciting, at last we were going into battle, the Belgians lined the route and waved and cheered us on and we were full of confidence that we could do our job and stop the Germans. Our first night in action was hectic, the guns blazed away until the muzzle ends glowed red and in the morning we were informed we had stopped the German advance. The next night was a repeat performance except that we had a gas attack warning and had to wear gas masks until somebody observed the birds were still singing, they seemed to love gun fire, why weren鈥檛 they dead? Test for gas, no gas, remove masks. The next day all quiet again and some mail and parcels caught up with us, the last we were ever to receive, and again we were told the concentrated fire had halted the German advance.

Retreat

That evening orders received to prepare to move quickly and quietly and so started the slow retreat. No cheering people now, just slow pathetic lines of dejected people trying to escape the advancing enemy. Picking our way through burning and burnt out villages, passing long columns of fleeing refugees we eventually bivouacked in a small wood. Now started the pattern of continually moving and firing. Targets in all directions, north, east, south but never west.

Food at Last

To our last but one position on an abandoned farm still with livestock. We had been without a regular supply of rations for many days and now food aplenty. Hidden talent to the fore and before too long we had a choice of chicken or pork with potatoes and bread, eggs in abundance and as the infantry retired through our lines we were able to offer them food and drink. We had been firing at ranges of 15,000 to 20,000 yards when without warning targets were being called at 5,000. Yet again 鈥榗ease fire, prepare to move鈥� this time not before nightfall and then quietly, no lights, no smoking. We crept along small lanes and then halted for ages, switch off engines, no lights and no noise. At long last move. We were told later, true or not I do not know, that a Panzer column was crossing our route and our 2nd in command had stood in the middle of the junction directing and waving the Panzers through. Into another hide and then yet another night move routed through Lille. Whilst halted in Lille we learned that the NAAFI depot just around the corner was disposing of all its stock. We quickly organised a search party and a contact link should the regiment move and we managed to get a whole case of cigarettes, 10,000 I believe. These were like gold dust as food was almost non existent and we were almost living on cigarettes. Sharing out our spoils with friends, including our officers, we then moved to what was to be our last firing position, Ploegstreet Wood.

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