Saturday August 10th, 1918
Work again.
News of the Battle of Amiens
The 13th Battalion and the rest of the 199th Brigade are still in the orchards of Haudricourt. It seems a bucolic existence, blighted only by the unending programme of training and work.
However the front that has been pressed over the past couple of days in the Battle of Amiens is only a short distance away. On August 7th, before the battle commenced, this stretch of the Allied front, shaped like an arc, ran from Arras in the north to Reims in the south-east. Amiens itself, just to the west of the line, is only 55kms from Haudricourt.
Regardless, both the Battalion and Frank have been silent on the subject. The British newspapers have not been so circumspect:
‘The preliminary bombardment consisted only of three minutes’ whirlwind fire on the enemy front positions. Then the field guns and trench mortars lengthened in creeping range, while the heavy groups continued pounding away at spots that seemed likely to prove troublesome. Hundreds of tanks moved forward with the infantry waves and many of these got across the Avre with gratifying ease. A large number of low-flying aeroplanes took part in the attack, shedding a terrible hail of bombs and machine-gun fire when the light had broadened sufficiently.’¹
On Tanks
‘Many wonderful stories of the exploits of our tanks are gaining currency. One of the most amusing of these is the chasing of a German general by a tank which machine-gunned him as he fled, all Teutonic arrogance and dignity having been cast to the wind.‘¹
More seriously, ‘Our whippets did admirable work in wiping out machine gun nests‘.¹
On Prisoners
‘The prisoners are for the most part of a good type, but are very depressed at the news of all that has been happening during the past three weeks. They had heard ominous rumours and feared that things were not all well, but were certainly not prepared for the startling truth.’¹
13th (Service) Battalion War Diary – 10th August 1918 – Haudricourt
Training etc.as per programme. 5 OR struck off effective strength after 7 days in hospital with effect from 10-8-18. Lt QM Giles returned from leave to UK.
References & Further Reading
¹ map and quotes from The Guardian, August 9th, 1918, page 5