The Last of the Ebb: The Battle of the Aisne, 1918 by Sidney Rogerson

Author:Sidney Rogerson [Rogerson, Sidney]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Battles, World War I
ISBN: 9781853677380
Goodreads: 1408996
Publisher: Frontline Books
Published: 2007-08-15T04:00:00+00:00

THE MARNE

VI

THE MARNE

THIS relief marks the end of the part officially played in the battle by the 8th Division and also the 23rd Brigade. The emphasis must be on the word “officially” for, as so frequently happened, there was a wide discrepancy between the terms of the order and the way these were interpreted. It was a relief of staffs only, a change-over in command. During the night of May 29–30 the 8th Division handed over the front to the 19th Division and on the next morning retired comfortably across the Marne to Villers-au-Bois. The 23rd Brigade likewise handed over to 56th Brigade, and this may have affected the troops in line, for Grogan was irreplaceable. Otherwise neither the change of command nor the arrival of the fresh troops of the 19th Division made any difference to the gallant band of survivors of the 8th, 25th, and 50th Divisions’on the Bouleuse ridge. These remnants were not relieved, though their less sorely tried fellows of the 21st Division were withdrawn that night.

The 19th Division—whose sign was somewhat fancifully, perhaps, a butterfly—had been rushed up so quickly that its transport had been unable to keep pace, and arrangements had accordingly been made that we should help them out with rations and ammunition until their own supplies could arrive. Our A.A. and Q.M.G., Lord Feilding, short, red-faced, and black-moustached, asked me if I would like another job, and this was how it was that, after three or four hours’ sleep snatched in a deserted cottage, I found myself at dawn on the 30th in charge of all the limbers of the Division which were in the forward area. It was not an imposing command as there were only about twenty-five of them, but it was an independent one. My orders were to report to the 56th Brigade, and then, as a further withdrawal was obviously impending, to make my way rearwards, laying, as I went, dumps of rations and S.A.A. at places to be arranged with the Brigade.

My first call on rising was at their Headquarters, which were in a house on the outskirts of Sarcy. The Brigadier and two of his staff had just come down to breakfast and, after our experiences of the past three days, it was a surprise to see a table properly laid out with tea and bread and marmalade. I had not broken my fast, but the officers appeared so concerned that their usual eggs and bacon were not forthcoming that they omitted to offer me any refreshment. Nor was their attitude particularly congenial, although I realise that against their neat uniforms and polished belts and buttons I must have looked dirty, ragged, and unsoldierly, and no very agreeable decoration for a breakfast-room. At the time I was furious; furious because I was hungry; furious because they should presume to have a breakfast-room; and furious to think that those who were to take over our responsibilities should be so out of touch with reality as to complain because a hot meal was not punctual.

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