Canadian Corps Soldier vs Royal Bavarian Soldier by Stephen Bull & Adam Hook

Author:Stephen Bull & Adam Hook
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781472819789
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2016-01-08T05:00:00+00:00

German troops take a rest from consolidating ‘stormed trenches’, Fresnoy Park, c.1915.

From 0300hrs on 7 May the Germans shelled ‘all lines heavily’, and again the bombardment went on all day, reinforced from time to time by trench mortars. Aircraft overhead apparently allowed the Germans to ‘know every trench’: 12th Gloucestershire’s A Coy trench was ‘obliterated’ and the men moved into shell holes behind. At nightfall 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade reported gas shells falling (WO 95/1580/1, 7 May). With safe movement east of Vimy Ridge deemed impossible by daylight, 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade was ordered to complete the relief of 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade north of Fresnoy during the night of 7/8 May. According to operational orders, each company sent ahead an officer, and each platoon an NCO, with exchange made unit for unit. The 19th Battalion (Central Ontario) – codenamed ‘Carrot’ for signal security – under Maj H.C. Hatch, numbering 19 officers and 668 other ranks, was to occupy forward positions adjoining the British garrison of Fresnoy with three companies: A Coy to the left, B Coy in the centre and Lt S.H. Johnston’s C Coy to the right. D Coy and the battalion headquarters were to provide support from the Arleux Loop. The companies moved at 15-minute intervals, but the relief was easier said than done: the weather was bad, and Lt-Col J.M. Ross, CO 29th Battalion (Vancouver), made refinements to the relief as originally planned.

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