Chapter Nineteen
Saturday the 1st of July dawned bright and beautiful the colour of the sun in the sky and the warmth at this time of the morning probably meant that we would get a scorching hot day later on. The birds were singing in the sky and no one would have thought that there was any kind of conflict going on round here. It was 6:45 hrs and we were in the forward trench with the other waves behind us I was weighed down with a bandolier of ammunition and I carried another one in my small pack along with my spare socks rations and shaving gear. I was carrying a full canteen of water and had my rifle with the bayonet fixed to it. On the back of my small pack I had a rolled up ground sheet and a spade attached to it and then fixed onto the flap I had a buffed up triangle of tin. This was supposed to reflect the sun so that the R.F.C. pilots could see us from there vantage point above and plot our advance which would then be relayed to the Staff. I was also carrying a load of empty sandbags I had a pair of wire cutters attached to my belt plus I was carrying five mills bombs and a load of flares as well. Earlier on we had breakfast and we had tea served with rum init and believe you me that was a drink fit for heroes. The Officers stood checking their watches every five seconds Bert turned and said to me. “So this offensive is to take the pressure off the French at Verdun is it?” I just shrugged my shoulders but Nobby on my far side replied. “Fuck the Frogs who’s bothered about them this ‘Big Push’ is so we can finish the bloody Hun off once and for all. As we waited nerves started to play up and I saw men praying and doing all kinds of rituals that they thought would keep them safe. I pulled Helens locket out opened it and kissed her photo then put it back then I kissed the ring on my finger praying to god to keep me safe and deliver me back to my loved ones. Frank said. “I don’t mind telling you that I have a few butterflies in my stomach and I think they are wearing pit boots and doing a flaming jig.” A young soldier who I didn’t know shouted. “Don’t worry Corporal there will be nothing left of the Germans not after the pounding we have given them.”
There was a silence and I said to him. “So you know this with your vast knowledge of warfare and the few weeks training you have had. Well you listen to me they told us that on Gallipoli and half of our men were wiped out in the first half hour this was done by the troops we had been told would be finished by our artillery”, and I glared at him. He wound his neck back in and never said another word six months ago I would have probably felt sorry for him but not now. We in the first wave were up against the forward wall of the trench waiting to climb the ladders to the top. The second wave stood behind us and was leaning against the back wall waiting to take our place as soon as we went over the top the third wave would then take there place and so on. A shell crashed down about thirty yds to our right this unnerved everyone then news came down that a Lieutenant and three other ranks had been killed and another eleven seriously injured. Included in the injured was Captain Dawes who had just joined us he was carrying some orders to that part of the trench line when the shell exploded. This was the time now to gird the loins or tighten the old asshole before the brown stuff ran down your legs for all to see. CSM Domby was stood behind us smoking his pipe and as relaxed as ever the barrage from our side had intensified since 6:00hrs the CSM said. “Don’t forget that we will go over the top at 7:20hrs and wait for the final ten minutes of the barrage to finish in ‘No Man’s Land’ then at 7:30hrs we will move forward as the attack begins.” He stopped a moment to relight his pipe before he continued. “When we start off be careful as the sun will be shining right in our eyes and that is not to our advantage.” Nobby asked him. “Why 7:30hrs Sir why didn’t we go at first light?” The CSM pointed his pipe stem at him and replied. “The timing has something to do with the French at Verdun but don’t you worry about that with everything that has been going on over the last few months you can bet your life that the Huns are expecting us”, and he went off to talk to the next lot along leaving us stood there with that cheery thought.
We began to say our farewells to each other Frank turned to me saying. “Take care of yourself out there Billy Boy keep an eye on me and I will see you in the enemy trenches.” I replied. “You to Frank and the best of look lets just hope we can all stick together” and we shook hands. Next it was Bert who said. “Well old pal what can I say you have been through all this before and survived we are the ones who are out of our depths and could do with some luck but you make sure that you survive because you are my best mate”, and we too shook hands. Nobby Clarke shouted. “All the best Billy Boy this should be a piece of piss to old Gallipoli veterans like us so keep the faith.” I shouted back. “And you Nobby look after yourself and stay safe mate.” Then other shouted messages came to me from further along Tommy Macey and Dusty Miller amongst them and even S/Sgt Ted Wallace shouted a fond farewell to me. The minutes ticked slowly by and then out of nowhere I shouted. “God I wish Elijah Mack and George were with us then everything would go alright I’m sure” and those around me nodded even Bert. Then the order we had been dreading came as Lt Pearson said. “First wave move up to the start lines come on get up top and out to the tapes.” We all shouted good luck to each other for the final time and shook hands again with our friends and comrades who were the nearest thing to family we had. We went over the top climbing the ladders which was a herculean task in itself weighed down like we were with equipment. Moving into ‘No Man’s Land’ going about one hundred yds we looked for the white tapes that marked the start point but they had been blown away by the artillery barrage. So our Officers told us to lie down were we where and to wait for the whistles that would start the attack. I looked behind and saw that the second wave had emerged from the trench and was lying down behind us. I looked at my watch and saw that it had just gone 7:20hrs then a loud sound came to our ears from far away and the ground beneath us trembled as though in an earthquake this was a mine at Hawthorn Ridge that had been detonated. As we watched the whirlwind barrage crashed down onto the German front line throwing earth, chalk and flames into the air. Then it started lifting and moving on it was then that I heard Lt Pearson saying. “It’s moved on to early it isn’t time yet there’s still three minutes to go.” However it didn’t matter someone obviously thought it was 7:30hrs because the whistles started shrilling and our wave rose up and we walked on towards the German positions.
A major who I didn’t know had a white sack with him and he said to Frank. “Here you are Corporal just kick this in front of you and then follow it”, and he handed Frank a football. Then he shouted who ever reaches the ball first can kick it onwards but don’t chase after it always kick it and walk towards it” as the whistles kept shrilling Frank gave the ball a good kick we moved forward following its path and keeping our formation. Then I heard the rat tat rat tat of the German machine guns and I could hear the hail of bullets whip cracking as they scythed towards us through the grass. It was then they started tearing into our formation and I saw big gaps appear in our line I watched as Frank dropped face down his tin helmet rolling along the grass. Then I saw Nobby Clarke throw his hands up looking almost like a ballet dancer until he too dropped into the grass. The German machine guns scythed through our wave as though they were cutting hay and the swishing sound they made reminded me of this. As I looked along the line I saw two officers from Able Company killed in as many seconds and I knew that this was going to be another almighty cock-up. I watched as Lt Pearson stopped beside Arthur Tillie who had lost an eye and I passed him as he bent over Arthur and that was the last I ever saw of either of them.
I went to ground in a shell hole and watched as the Germans poured back into their trenches the barrage hardly seemed to have touched them and this went for the wire as well which was still intact. I looked back towards our start line and could see that the other waves had fared no better than ours and it was hard to comprehend the slaughter. But also I could see small groups of individuals moving forwards despite the odds and closing in on the German trenches. I shrugged out of my pack and got rid of a lot of the other weight I had been carrying. This was one of the biggest reasons we had been almost decimated that and the stupid order to walk. Because if we hadn’t had the extra weight and we could have run then we would have got into the forward German trenches before their machine gun crews and troops could pour back into them and then there would have been a different outcome. Someone came sliding into my shell hole with an avalanche of stone earth and grit I was just about to give them a mouthful when I saw who it was. Bert had a grim look on his face but when he saw me it changed instantly to a big grin and we hugged each other. I said to him. “Get your pack off and the rest of that shit it is easier to move and we must be able to do this if we are going to try to press forward or get back.” Bert shrugged his pack off and then he started shaking and I asked. “Are you alright mate you look a little unsteady?” He looked at me and in his eyes I saw a vision of hell as he replied. “I just never expected this to happen I should have listened to you and Nobby I believed them when they said this would be a walkover. Some fucking walkover this turned out to be it is like a bloody butchers shop out there.” I said to him. “Yes me and Nobby knew from Gallipoli what to expect but not as bad as this and as for Nobby he doesn’t know anything anymore he bought it shortly after we set off and I saw Frank go down as well.
Bert looked at me with large eyes and I could see the shock he had received at the news of Frank and Nobby. I knew exactly how Bert felt but there was no time to stop and tend the wounded not with the rate of fire that the Germans were laying down. Anyone would have liked to have stopped and comforted their friends and seen what they could do for them but it would have been suicide to even try. But now to make things even worse the Germans started firing shrapnel shells from their hidden batteries behind Serre. The shrapnel flayed the ground and pattered down on us like hailstone only this stuff that dropped from the sky was deadly. I took a couple of hits and so did Bert but they were not serious in fact I had been hit in the hand and could see the small shrapnel ball under the skin. The shell fire moved on to our trenches and the other waves and reserves that were crammed into them. I now looked back to where the German fire had been concentrated against our Battalion and the carnage was unbelievable and it broke my heart just to look. I peeked over the lip of the hole again and to my surprise I saw Colonel Terry, Major Melstone and RSM Greaves in a shell hole close to ours with a few more of the lads with them. Looking now towards the German trench line I noticed that the machine gun fire had stopped but I couldn’t understand why at first. It was then that I saw a burly German gunner with red bristly hair on his head and a face like a constipated pig trying to free a stoppage on the gun. He banged away furiously with what looked like a hammer but whatever had caused the gun to fail he couldn’t repair it and it was well and truly jammed. Colonel Terry had seen this and shouted. “Right lads lets get in there before he manages to get that gun working again” and he sprang up followed by the others in his hole. Me and Bert followed them and I saw a few more survivors leap up and run forward too and I could see that they had ditched their packs as well.
We hit the German trench yelling like banshees and rolled right over the top of them we threw mills bombs into the trench then stood on top pouring rifle fire into the survivors. The piggy looking German gunner lashed out at me with the hammer but I soon put a stop to him spitting him on my bayonet. I pushed it into his stomach and after some initial resistance it slid in like it was going through butter he looked at me with surprise and hurt on his face as he tried to stop the bayonet with his hands. By then it was too late and the whole length of the blade was inside his body and he fell backwards onto the trench floor while I held onto my rifle keeping the bayonet firmly lodged in his guts. He was still feebly trying to paw at the thing that was causing him so much pain and his heels drummed a tattoo on the floor. I tried to pull the bayonet out but it would not budge his flesh was holding it in what you might call a death grip. I was wrestling it and getting more frantic in my efforts to remove it then I remembered what we had been told in bayonet practice when I had first joined up. I pulled the trigger on my rifle and the recoil released the blade which came out with a sucking slurping sound. The pig faced German made a sound like one of those mama dolls the kids have a kind of high pitched squeaking as the air left his body. I kicked him as I went past and then dropped into the trench with the others we looked back towards our trench line but there were no other waves coming forward. I looked at my watch and it was now only 8:15hrs and it had taken less than three quarters of an hour to wipe out most of the Battalions in this sector and so effectively put paid to the attack. Then Colonel Terry said. “Come on lads lets consolidate this trench and then all we have to do is wait until the rest of the waves come forward and reach us.” I looked at his face and could tell he was lying he knew as well as we did that there would be no more waves or if there was they would get no farther forward than ours had.
In fact there was no sign of the reserves or anything else and that didn’t bode well for us you could look back towards our trench line and see where the waves had been massacred this morning. The trench we were in had suffered some shell damage so we set about doing what we could to repair it. Some of the lads found some old wire entanglements that had been snapped off in the shelling we dragged these around and placed them behind us facing the other German trenches. Then RSM Greaves asked. “Have any of you still got any mills bombs with you a few of us still had and so he said. “Right follow me then and on the count of three we will lob them down this bunker entrance alright one, two, three”, and we all trough threw our bombs down the entrance of the bunker. We all took cover and there was a series of muffled explosions as they detonated and grey white dust spewed up and out of the entrance. He went over to our Officers and said to them. “Its to deep to do any real damage but it will have blocked it enough to trap them down there and if they cant dig themselves out then so much the better”, an evil smile lit up his face as he told them this. I turned to Bert and asked. “Are you all right you do know that you are wounded don’t you?” He replied. “Yes but so are you anyway they don’t hurt much do yours?” I said. “No they are just scratches really nothing to write home about”, I looked at the blood that had run down my hand and had stained my uniform pants. Major Melstone and RSM Greaves came over to us and the RSM said, Right young Lamb you are now a Lance Corporal the Colonel has made you up in the field now hold out your arm.” He then drew a stripe on my arm with chalk saying this will be confirmed when things are a bit more sorted out but it is a genuine promotion. But right now get up on the back wall of the trench and watch for a German counter attack and I don’t want you sunbathing or daydreaming up there if you get the chance pick a few of their Officers off.
I did as he told me hardly daring to believe that I had been promoted and looking every now and again at the chalk stripe on my arm. I scrambled up onto the apron on the back wall of the trench where I could see the other German trenches and keep an eye on them. Meanwhile Major Melstone was trying to get the broken machine gun going with some of the other lads this would give us some much needed firepower in case the Huns counterattacked. I could see that in the other German trenches men were now stood out on the parapets cheering and shouting and they had even moved their machine guns out on top of them to have abetter field of fire. I looked through my sight and saw a huge fat German Officer stood next to a machine gun cheering I took careful aim and shot him through the chest and he fell back into the trench as the gunners looked round in amazement at what had just occurred. I think they must have been either very confused or very stupid as they never moved before I shot them one at a time. The rest were not as slow though and dived back into the trench to get away from the sudden death that had visited them and I never saw so much as a hair on their head again while I was on watch.
The morning moved on and the sun climbed higher into the clear blue sky and beat down like a hammer on an anvil we had drained our water bottles and thirst was now beginning to get to us. Colonel Terry thought that the situation was so serious that he sent some of the lads crawling out to see if they could pick up any water bottles from the dead Germans or from our dead as well then we rolled the dead Germans onto the parapet and out of the trench to lessen the smell and flies we knew that would soon come in this heat. We could hear the cries of the wounded from ‘No Man’s Land’ as they suffered from their wounds and the heat that beat down on them as they led in the open. We watched but no more waves or reserves emerged from our trench lines the horror of the debacle that had just happened must still have been sinking in to those still in the trenches. The Germans however seemed content to let their artillery deal with any further attacks that might be forming up. Instead they concentrated on pouring fire into the unlucky wounded lying out to their front and they would fire at anything that moved or moaned. As I watched I felt an anger that I had never known before and I swore to myself that any German I saw from now on wounded or alive would receive the same treatment that they were now dishing out to our lads. Bert said to me. “They are shooting our wounded out there Billy Boy the fucking bastards.” I replied. “I know Bert but our turn will come and we will avenge them.”
It was now that the Colonel turned to us as we finished blocking off each end of the trench so we could defend it better he said. “We seem to be somewhat in a bind here lads and to tell you the truth I don’t really see another attack being sent forward at this time.” He removed his cap and mopped his forehead with his hanky before he continued. “We seem to be stuck here isolated and in my opinion we haven’t a chance in stopping a German counterattack which they will launch sooner or later. Just to emphasise this point a ‘Flying Pig’ landed further down the trench in an explosion of flying earth and chalk with bits of dead German thrown in. The Colonel looked to where the smoke still lingered and then said. “We will try to hold out for as long as possible in the hope that the attack may proceed later but we must be ready to make our way back to our own lines should it be impossible to hold on here.” I didn’t think this would be long as the Germans had now turned their attention to us and the trench we occupied and rifle and machine gun fire poured into our small enclave. There was one good thing though the lads that had been sent out to retrieve water bottles returned laden with some and carrying bottles of German soda water as well. The soda water had gone a bit flat but we mixed everything together with the other stuff and drank our fill then we filled our water bottles and there was still plenty left. Colonel Terry announced that he was pleased with the water situation and that it would allow us to stay here that bit longer. He told us that there was nothing worse for sapping a man’s strength and moral than thirst especially in conditions like this.
Well we still held out and we had been joined by a few more blokes who had managed to make it this far which was just as well because we had casualties from the steady German fire that still came our way. Dusty Miller had made it in and S/Sgt Ted Wallace had turned up as well he made his way over to where we stood and shouted. “Well Ill be blowed its Corporal Lamb now is it what escapee from a lunatic asylum made you up?” A voice from behind him replied. “That would have been Colonel Terry S/Sgt and I don’t think he would like being called a lunatic”, stood there was RSM Greaves. Ted’s face went bright red and he stuttered out. “No offence Sir just a joke between us and I have the greatest respect for the Colonel and his decisions.” The RSM stared at him suspiciously and then said. “Right Ted let us know what happened to you we are trying to piece together everyone’s stories to get a larger picture of what’s happening.” Ted went on to say. “After the initial attack I found myself in a shell hole with Pte Miller the machine guns were still spraying the area and so we laid low for a while.” The RSM said to Ted. “There have been a few of us hiding in shell holes this morning and there is no shame in that the assault was finished after the first hundred yards.” Ted continued saying. “We were over on the far right and we saw when you and the rest ran forward to take this trench so we were determined to join up with you and see what happened from then. But it took us longer than I thought to make our way over here but eventually we made it.” The RSM slapped him on the back saying. “The main thing is that you got here in one piece because lord knows we need all the men we can get.” Ted said. “There is one more thing Sir on our way across ‘No Man’s Land’ we found a lot of examples of the looting of our dead.” The RSMs face went purple as he shouted. “What vermin as been looting our boys if it’s those German bastards they have made their worst enemy and I will not show any of them any mercy whatsoever”, and a vein started throbbing on the side of his temple. Ted replied. “It wasn’t the Germans Sir from what we could make out it was our troops Sir wasn’t it Miller?” Dusty said. “Yes Sir they looked like stretcher bearers but I couldn’t see who they were for they were quite a distance from us and by the time me and the S/Sgt tried to get to them they had disappeared.”
The RSM had gone quite now but then he pointed to all of us saying. “I want those bastards found if it’s possible and don’t be taking them prisoner death is the sentence for what there doing and I want it carried out.” We all nodded and I knew that there wasn’t one man here who wouldn’t gladly carry out that order. The RSM Mover off towards the Officers no doubt to tell them about what had happened but Dusty and Ted stayed with us we sat down for a moment and I passed the smokes round we lit up then Ted said. “I didn’t say anything to the RSM but I will tell you one thing I could swear that one of those corpse robbers was Stanley and the other one was that short Oppo he hangs around with.” I pricked my ears up at this knowing that the other bastard with him could only be Smith and I was itching to get hold of the pair of them. Ted handed me a long blanket wrapped parcel tied with twine and that had a twine strap on it for carrying I opened it knowing by the feel what it was as he said. “There’s a little present for you I picked it up before we went over the top because I knew you would be needing it out here.” I loved it for it was my Mauser snipers rifle I hefted it in my hand as Ted laughed saying. “Well at least there’s plenty of ammo out here for it”, and he was right the trench floor was littered with the stuff. I emptied some of my ammunition pouches and filled them with German bullets then I made sure the magazine was full before I looked through the sights to make sure they were all right. Once again I took up the watch on the German trenches as their rate of fire increased and our losses started mounting. I picked off a few German Officers now that I had my trusty rifle with me one a tall slender man with a Prussian haircut I shot right through the forehead has he peeped over the edge of their trench. I watched them through the sight and I saw a fair amount of troops gathering over in there trenches so I shouted to Ted Wallace. “You had better get the RSM and Officers it looks like the Huns are about to launch a counterattack.” Ted brought them and the Colonel and the rest came up to my position the Colonel looked up at me and asked. “What is it you can see Cpl Lamb?” As he got his field glasses out I told him. “The enemy have men concentrated in the trench opposite us and I think they are about to launch an attack on us Sir.” He scanned the trench with his glasses and replied. “Yes I think you are right it looks like they are about to come at us in force.”
He turned to Major Melstone and asked. “How are we doing with that Hun machine gun have you got it working yet?” The Major replied. “No Sir I’m afraid its kaput a cartridge jammed in the breech and the German gunner smashed the cocking handle trying to free it nothing short of an armourers workshop will get that working again.” S/Sgt Wallace said. “There’s a Lewis gun two shell holes over and if I get another volunteer we could fetch it back with its ammo.” Colonel Terry replied. “That’s splendid news Staff you get your man and get going because I don’t think time is on our side.” Before Ted could say anything I piped up. “Ready when you are Staff lets go and get it.” He grinned at me saying. “Well thank you Corporal Lamb it saves me having to press gang someone.” We set off from the right hand side of the trench running as soon as we hit ‘No man’s Land’ we had nothing with us but the Majors and Colonels pistols so we were really travelling light I had left my rifle with Bert and told him to look after it. As soon as we got out of the trench we attracted gunfire and bullets flew everywhere buzzing around like bees in a honey pot. We went to ground in the first shell hole and we kept our heads down until we could make a dash to the crater with the Lewis gun in it. Ted picked the gun up and I grabbed the haversack full of its drum shaped magazines from the body of one of the gun crew and then we started on our perilous journey back to the trench. We made it as far as the first shell hole but now the Germans were really zeroes in on us and it was almost impossible to raise your head without having it shot off. Ted Wallace said to me. “It’s a bit hairy out there at the moment I bet there are a few brown stains in the back of your pants?” I replied. “I bet I’m not the only one and if this keeps up the stains won’t be brown but red with blood.” He grinned at me saying. “Well no rest for the wicked and we must have been fucking evil to be in this kind of mess.” We waited while our lads pored out covering fire and then we bonded out of the shell hole and threw ourselves into the trench. Bullets sought us out and pattered and rattled behind us as we slid down the wall of the trench into what was comparative safety.
The Colonel was there to welcome us and said. “Well done you pair that was a fine job and I see that you have brought some extra ammunition as well that’s even better.” We pulled the bandoliers off our bodies that we had collected and gave them out to the lads. RSM Greaves said to me. “You have been on a Lewis gun course Corporal Lamb so get it set up where it will do the most damage and pick yourself a loader.” I grabbed Bert who gave me my snipers rifle back I hung this off my shoulder gave him the haversack of magazines and picked up the Lewis gun saying. “Come on Bert lad lets go and get this little beauty set up and give the Huns a taste of their own medicine.” We set the gun up in its own little post in a small sap that led out the back of the trench facing the German trenches. The RSM came along a short time later and said. “This is a good place you’ve chosen here Corporal Lamb you should be able to rake them from here.” He had a rifle and bayonet with him and he was festooned with mills bombs that he had gotten from somewhere and he seemed to epitomise all the fine points of the British soldier. He stared at where I was looking down the sight of the Lewis gun and told me. “Just what the doctor ordered a dose of number nines that should sort them out and no mistake.” He had just finished saying this when the Germans launched their first charge we watched them come over the top and run towards us. I began to fire short bursts into the oncoming ranks and I was beginning to rack up quite a score as Bert changed the magazines for me. The RSM stayed at our post and pretty soon he had swapped his rifle and was throwing Mills bombs with gusto at the enemy. He threw one and it went over at about gut height just as a large German Captain ran along towards it well we knew there could only be one conclusion. They collided at belt buckle height and the grenade exploded ripping and shredding his entrails and flesh and erupting all over the men beside him. The Officer had a hole where his stomach used to be and he hit the ground like a felled tree as the RSM said. “He won’t be eating anymore sauerkraut or sausages.” We kept up a withering fire and eventually the Huns gave up but we knew it would only be for a short time as they retreated to their trench licking their wounds.
Rather than attack again they were quite content to let the artillery have a go at us and they went at it with a vengeance as shrapnel hailed down onto us. Then it was the turn of the ‘Jack Johnson’s’ and the ‘Flying Pigs’ and these soon had our trench running with blood. We decided that we should shelter in the entrance to the bunker that we had blown up and it was quite good only a few injuries were caused by flying pieces of rock and other projectiles and none of these was serious. Our position though was now becoming untenable and I could see that Colonel Terry was quite worried about this. We emerged from the entranceway and took stock of our position and the personnel we had left when we looked there were very few of us left of us. Dusty Miller had been killed by a shell as he tried to retrieve some ammo for us and the rest of the lads had either fallen to machine gun shrapnel or shell fire. I was sorry for Dusty he had been a good friend and a Gallipoli veteran as well and we were now getting thin on the ground with not many of us left. The Colonel spoke to us survivors. “Although I don’t like saying this I feel that I must our position here now is hopeless with no hope of relief it is now time to try to get back to our own front line trenches.” His face looked haggard and I knew he was disappointed that we would have to leave this German trench that had cost so many of his men’s lives. He said. “Corporal Lamb I hope that you can understand but we must leave someone behind to cover our retreat. I’m sorry it has to be you because of your age but I really have no option and you have been on a Lewis gun course.” I replied. “I know Sir and I will provide the covering fire while you make your way back.” The Colonel smiled saying. “Good lad just you keep pouring fire into the Germans but as soon as you see we have reached a pos