An Anzac on the Western Front by Harold Roy Williams

Author:Harold Roy Williams
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781783034017
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Published: 2013-05-21T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Officers’ Course, Cambridge

Withdrawn from the Somme – Training for a new campaign – Flanders again – Am selected for a commission – Cambridge – The New Zealanders – Officers in the making – Back to France. (May to December 1917)

On arrival at the battalion camp at Bécourt, near Albert, we found that only the nucleus was there, for the battalion had been hurried up to Bullecourt. During the latter end of my leave in London, the newspapers had published news of the fighting for the Hindenburg Line around Bullecourt. Following the abortive attack of the 4th Australian Division at that place on 11 April, later attempts had gained an important footing in the German defences. But the position made a marked salient in our line, and the sector (now held by the 5th Australian Division) was heavily enfiladed by enemy guns on both flanks.

A continuous artillery battle raged along the whole front. But the enemy’s artillery was concentrated night and day, particularly on the sector near Bullecourt. The 5th Division had been drawn into the fighting in May, and the 54th Battalion of our brigade had distinguished itself in overwhelming one severe German assault. During this fighting all battalions of the 14th Brigade had been under heavy bombardment, and in the 56th Battalion (in support) Lieutenant Morrison was severely wounded in the head, and my old friend, Peter Hughes, in the back.

Our division was now withdrawn into corps reserve and it was generally known that we were to be moved very shortly from the Somme sector. By 15 June we knew we were destined for Flanders, where the British Army staged the opening attack at Messines for a new campaign. The battalion left Bapaume that day by rail for a training area behind Albert. In this region we spent a hard-working six weeks, and then on 25 July we entrained for the north. We found our destination at Ebblinghem, outside St Omer. In farm billets in that region we promptly resumed intensive training.

For weeks we had heard the ‘furfies’1 that all the Australian divisions were to be made storm troops. Apparently the authorities were determined that for our next attack we were to be trained like athletes. An acid test of fitness was the frequent route-march. This was carried out by companies under full packs. A dismounted captain (carrying no equipment) would lead and he would set a solid pace.

We would march fifty minutes, rest eight, and at two minutes to the hour we would be standing in column of route at the slope to move off on the hour. At each halt the leading platoon retired to the rear of the company so as to give each a turn at the head of the column. Under the pace and the weight of our packs the perspiration streamed from our bodies. Most noticeable was the ability of the older hands to outmarch the new drafts trained in England, who had joined up since we left the line. But, above

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