Friday June 7th, 1918
Dismounted guard 8am. Motor ride in car to and from Balloon camp. Slept morning. Went bathing in river and washed clothes. Wrote home and sent postcards. Rained heavy. No guard tonight.
Divisional Horse Show
There doesn’t seem to be much going on today. Frank gets a ride in a car and the opportunity to bathe and wash his clothes. The 13th Battalion found success in the Divisional Horse Shoe and won first prize for its Limber.
News at Home
Meanwhile the British desire for more and more soldiers to fight in France is being reinforced. Today The Guardian reports, ‘The German papers, while entreating their readers not to cherish ‘exaggerated hopes’ as to a speedy decision, and explaining that the German High Command is above all anxious to spare its soldiers’ lives, announce in loud tones that the big offensive is to be resumed very soon. Of this there is no reason to doubt, since Germany has nothing to gain and much to lose by waiting.’
It then continues, ‘We are told , indeed, by a war correspondent that….. the Germans are not digging themselves in on a great scale, as is their method on newly-conquered ground. This is taken to mean that they intend soon to resume the attack here …. it seems certain that Ludendorff, although he has engaged over fifty divisions in the operations just ended, still disposes of a large striking force.’
While the correspondent goes on to say that the number of fresh troops that Ludendorff can call upon is difficult to calculate, he continues, ‘…whether fresh or tired, the German divisions will be used as the needs of the moment dictate.’ ¹
This atmosphere continues to stimulate the seemingly insatiable demand for more Allied troops for France. It will, in the coming days, have a profound impact upon Frank, the 13th Manchesters and the 66th Brigade.
13th (Service) Battalion War Diary – 7th June 1918 – La Marraine
First day of 22nd Divisional Horse Show. The Battalion’s Limber was first in its class. The day was wet and unpleasant at first but improved later.
References & Further Reading
¹ The Guardian, June 7th, 1918, page 4, article ‘The Next German Blow’
* image of General Erich Ludendorff. Image may be subject to copyright.