Monday August 5th, 1918
Reveille 6:30. Inspection by General Bethell, 66th Division, 199 Brigade (General Williams), Brigade-Major Whyat, Staff-Captain Fox. Firing in afternoon a washout – raining hard.
Fifth Year of War
Yesterday, on August 4th, 1918, Britain entered its fifth year of war. So much for a war that would be over by Christmas 1914.
Presumably to mark this occasion, the Battalion is inspected by the top brass of the 66th Division, led by Major-General Bethel and the 199th Brigade’s Brigadier-General Williams.
The BWD today also mentions a Special Order of the day from Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the war.
Haig’s best known Special Order was issued a few months ago at the height of Germany’s Spring Offensive, on April 11th, 1918. In that document, he famously stated ‘With our backs to the wall and believing in the justice of our cause each one of us must fight on to the end.’¹
In this latest Special Order, issued today, Field Marshal Haig notes that this anniversary marks ‘the passing of a crisis‘. I am sure the troops and the country are pleased that Germany’s Spring Offensive is now considered over.
Good news from the Front
Certainly the British newspapers carry more encouraging tales from the Western Front. Under the headline ‘Victory Opens the Fifth Year…. Fifty Villages Liberated’, an article in The Observer notes that ‘A German retreat to the Aisle is probable, which would be a return to the situation as it was in September 1914‘.²
Already, the Allies have managed to re-capture most of the German salient between Soissons and Rheims that had been its prize during the Blücher-Yorck offensive at the end of May.
Contrarily, a few columns along, the same newspaper includes German commentary on the battles. ‘Ludendorff openly admitted this time that their strategic plan had not succeeded. He asserted, however, that the Germans were masters of the situation, and that the territories given up to the enemy were according to plan…. The progress of the Allies on the Marne was without importance and would not affect the result of the world-war.’³
To Allied’ eyes, the tide does seem to be turning. However after four long years of war, there is still much work to be done to bring it to an end.
13th (Service) Battalion War Diary – 5th August 1918 – Haudricourt
Training etc. as per programme. 1 OR taken on from 48-18 having rejoined. 1 OR struck off effective strength with effect from 4-8-18 on evacuation to 25th Stationary Hospital Rouen. Special Order of the day from Field Marshal Sir D Haig KTGCB, GCVO, KCIE to the troops on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the war, published with orders. Capt ET Taylor MC returned from leave to UK.
References & Further Reading
¹ The image is of a commemorative poster that was issued by the Trustees of the Douglas Haig Memorial Homes. May be subject to copyright.
² ³ Articles in The Observer, August 4th, 1918, page 5.