Zero Hour by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781788632287
Publisher: Canelo Books
Published: 2020-02-17T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

Saturday, 1 July 1916

02:00 to 05:00

Sir George McCrae was sitting at one side of a square table in what had been the dining room of the Château de Bécourt and was now his battalion HQ.

Around him sat his HQ and company officers: the adjutant William Robertson, his 2IC Herbert Warden and 3IC Richard Lauder, along with Peter Ross, Napier Armit, Lionel Coles and Andrew Whyte. McCrae had called one final Order Group before Zero Hour. It was two a.m. on the morning of 1 July.

There was a particular reason why this meeting was vitally important. At 1:05 a.m. he had received a most annoying telegram from Brigade, instructing him that all battalion HQs were to be withdrawn from the line prior to the attack. It was signed by the acting brigadier of the 101st, Robert Gore, an Argyll and Sutherland Highlander, and McCrae thought that he should have known better. It did not appear to be a divisional order, so why just his Brigade? What was Gore thinking?

Whatever the answer, the plan of attack needed some tweaking.

‘Gentlemen, as you are now no doubt all aware, I am sadly no longer coming with you. It is not as I should have wished, but as of an hour ago, those are now my orders.’

McCrae looked around the table and alighted on Peter Ross.

‘Peter, A Company will now lead the attack.’

Ross nodded. ‘Sir.’

McCrae looked at Lionel Coles and the new commander of D Company, his former quartermaster Andrew Whyte.

‘Lionel, you and Andrew, C and D companies, you’re the second wave.’

Both men nodded and muttered confirmation. Lastly, McCrae looked at Napier Armit.

‘Napier, your B Company will act as carriers. Consolidate the enemy line when we’ve taken it. You know the drill.’

He paused, not entirely sure how to continue.

‘I believe that Lieutenant Munro, that ever-resourceful man, has found bacon and eggs for the entire battalion. Damn good thing too. And I believe there might even be some chocolate. You had all better go and let your men know their good fortune.’

McCrae stood up and they all sprang to follow suit. Then, one by one, he shook their hands, formally and with some degree of solemnity, and as he did so he looked each one of them in the eyes.

‘Thank you, gentlemen. I think that will be all, and the very best of luck to each and every one of you. Make sure that every man gets his share of Mr Munro’s bacon and eggs. We shall need them fit to fight today.’

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