The dawn came cold along the battle front.
Our tanks began to move towards the foe.
‘Let their assault first bear the brunt’, said one,
‘Then we must strike a blow for victory!’
So spake the Colonel to inspire the troops,
The parapet then scaled in leap and vault.
Black Watch and Gordon Highlanders respond,
Expectant, swift, and bold in their assault!
Cheering, they storm the wide Hindenburg Line,
Downcast Austrians show no will to fight.
Hold up their hands, cry ‘Kam’rad, Kam’rad mine!’
Lay down their arms, surrend’ring left and right.
Triumphant tank crews eastward ride at speed,
Brushwood facades into wide trench drop.
They drive their cruising monsters over these,
Shouting with glee as they o’ertop the lot!
‘Site and erect four gun emplacements now’,
Ordered the keen machine-gun Officer.
‘A field of fire for each you must allow,
To cover all the ground on our left flank.’
Four guns in their positions now are set.
Gun sights are pointed east towards the Hun.
‘Now we are ready’ called the Officer,
‘To ward off any Bosche counter attack!’
Looms up the second wave of our advance.
Their objective is Flesquiers village, nigh,
A Sergeant with four gun crews now appears,
Salutes the Officer, and so enquires.
‘Lieutenant Seager has been wounded, Sir,
What are your orders for me and my men?’
‘My Sergeant will the gun crews here command,
Forward together we’ll to Flesquiers then!’
The subaltern his fresh young comrades led
Along a deep ravine, amazed to find
Butchers and bakers shops, well camouflaged.
‘Bosche here for the duration’, all agreed.
Now into open country all emerged,
With cries of consternation from the rear.
An armour-piercing shell from German lines
Burst, badly wounding sev’ral men we fear.
‘Take cover lads, while we the wounded tend.
Wrap bandages to check much bleeding, then
Those that can walk assist your crippled friends,
To advanced dressind-station you must wend.
The Sergeant quick his Officer to aid,
Efficient in use of the tourniquet,
‘God help these wounded men’, he sadly said,
‘No able-bodied gunners can we spare.’
We reach a deep communication trench.
Fifty yards west of Flesquiers it ran.
Attacking forces all are halted here.
Entrenched behind yon’ wall the Germans stand.
Gaps here and there along the bound’ry wall
Conceal the nests of Maxim machine guns,
From each a hail of devastating fire.
‘Keep down your heads!’ the N.C.O.’s command.
There out along the front, disabled tanks
Give cover for the deadly snipers. Now
A message from ‘Headquarters’ orders gave,
‘Consolidate in depth, machine-gun men!’
One lone machine-gun Officer is left.
We’ve followed him from the Hindenburg Line,
‘The left flank’s safe’, he said, ‘our Sergeant here,
Four guns will space along the Brigade front.’
To the right flank the Officer then sped,
A self-reliant Sergeant here he found.
‘Gone are our Officers’, the latter said,
‘And Sergeant Fraser holds Hindenburg Line.’
‘Fine work from both you Sergeants, I agree,
Now post your guns along Brigade right flank.
We have consolidation from the rear,
And can hold off any counter attack.’
‘Twas then there came good news from the Q.M.,
Carriers arriving with quantums of rum.
Each gallant lad was served a welcome ‘tot’.
Spirits were raised, and cold and rain forgot.
Now nightfall came to blanket all the land.
Sentries were placed along the battle front.
Exploding cartridges from blasted tanks,
Crackled and glowed in tongues of lurid light!
These tanks had met a most inglorious end.
An Officer had halted them point-blank.
His crew, deserted, wounded, some lay dead.
Alone he loaded, fired, and served his gun.
Decapitated, he at last succumbed,
A sad departure for so brave a man.
Let Austrian patriots of his glory tell,
There lay the body, his winged soul had fled!
So, closely huddled to conserve the warmth,
Our soldiers in their greatcoats dozed or slept.
There was no movement from the Hun front line.
The enemy, we felt, would not attack.
Now could be heard men stirring in our rear,
Big guns were being sited in their pits.
‘What light is now appearing from the east?
‘Tis dawn, a call to action loud and clear!’
We scarce had time to drum a mug of tea,
Or open ‘Iron Rations’ for a bite,
‘Ere shells were bursting over Flesquiers wall,
Erasing it completely from our sight!
The road to Cambrai now was all unbarred,
Our enemies were dead, or eastward fled,
To ‘Fontaine Notre Dame’ we made our way,
Aptly rest and refreshment here to find.
The Vickers Light machine-gun Officer
Assembled all his men to be relieved.
They waited patiently, the Guards Brigade,
While high explosive shells burst overhead.
Alas! Our brisk young Officer is hit!
Shrapnel from bursting shells has found it’s mark.
Pack Saddlery from a mule is swiftly cast,
The wounded man is hoisted on it’s back!
The last we saw of our disabled friend,
To Flesquiers he rode, astride a mule.
‘Farewell!’ he called, waving his free left hand,
‘See you in ‘Blighty’ soon, that will be grand!’