Narrative of No. 3 Company, 13/10/18-11/11/18

On the 13th October the Company under command of Captain G. L. Comer, moved from Ramillies to Iwuy, and reported to G.O.C. 51st Division. Not being required, billets were secured for the night. Next day moved to Naves. Lieut. Knubley, M.C., took over command from Captain Comer, who returned to Battalion Headquarters sick.

The Company was not used except as working parties until the 18th, when patrols were sent forward to Asvenes Le Sac.

On the 19th moved to Iwuy again, and at 5.0 p.m. a platoon was sent forward along the Valenciennes Road as scouts for the Brigade (153rd) which was advancing.

On the 20th moved to Pave de Valenciennes, one platoon being sent to each of Infantry Battalions in the line as Scouts. Their work merited a message of appreciation from the Brigadier, who was very pleased with the resource and dash displayed by the Scouts.

On the 21st the Company moved to Douchy, and at 8.30 a.m. three patrols were sent out in the direction of Valenciennes to locate enemy. The patrols were respectively under Lieut. Highet and Corporals I. W. Weston, M.M., and C. Gerrard, and all did good work, resulting in the Brigadier expressing himself very pleased with the reports.

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On the 22nd one platoon (Lieut. H. A. Highet) was sent to Novelles and the remainder of the Company moved to Asvenes Le Sec where a brief rest was obtained.

On the 24th the Company moved to Novelles (to 153rd Infantry Brigade) and afterwards to Douchy again. 2nd Lieut. C. C. Southey, M.M., reported with a platoon to 6th Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders at Thiant for patrol duty but not being required returned to the Company.

On the 28th No. 1 Company, which was in reserve at Ramillies, moved in relief of No. 3 Company, which returned to Ramillies for a rest.

The Company remained with Battalion Headquarters, moving on the 3rd November to Haspres and from there on to Artres for attachment to 33rd Infantry Brigade. On the 4th November, moved on again to Curgies via Preseau. Next day on again to Le Triez, where billets were secured with difficulty. The roads en route were simply awful, and progress was slow and difficult owing largely to the continual stream of traffic.

On the morning of the 6th November the Infantry continued their advance and our men were used in small patrols ahead of the Infantry, after objectives were gained, to ascertain enemy positions. The Bois de Dandois was reconnoitred (E. of Autreppe and our own dispositions, as well as those of the enemy, marked and reported to Brigadier, who sent for the Company Commander and thanked him for the clear and useful reports.

On the 7th moved to Roisin, and next day to vicinity of Bois d'Angre where patrols were sent out to locate enemy who was found at Eugnies and engaged, the Infantry (9th South Staffs) then advanced and relieved our patrols.

On the 9th the Company moved to Aulnois, and being the first troops in this village received a great reception from the inhabitants.

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On the 10th moved on to Quevy Le Grand and patrols were sent out in direction of Ihy and S. of Harvengt to ascertain positions of enemy and gain possession of high ground in that vicinity. This was accomplished with very little opposition, and on Infantry arriving our patrols returned to Quevy Le Grand.

Next morning, the 11th, news was received at 10.0 a.m. hat hostilities were to cease at 11.0 a.m. and that the Company was transferred from 11th Division to 63rd (R.N.) Division.

The G.O.C. 33rd Brigade (11th Division) sent to the Company Commander (T. Capt. H. C. Knubley, M.C.) a letter of appreciation of the consistent good services given by all ranks.

Next day the Company rejoined the Battalion at Aulnois.

Battalion Headquarters remained at Ramillies and carried on its administrative duties to Companies from there until the 3rd November, when orders to move forward were received The destination was Haspres which was reached by noon. No. 2 Company was in that village and they with No. 3 were sent on to Artres that afternoon.

The Battalion Headquarters only stayed the night in Haspres and next morning marched out with Querenaing for destination. Arrived at 11.0 a.m. and there received orders from 11th Division (to whom we were attached) to go on to Preseau which village was reached at 4.0 p.m. and billets secured with difficulty as the village was very badly damaged and there was hardly a sound house left. However, with our customary luck, we managed to get fairly good quarters.

The roads from Haspres were in bad order—the enemy did not keep his roads in nearly as good order as we did—and the traffic was tremendous—lorries, wagons, guns, cars, etc., and made a continuous stream for the whole of the way from Haspres.

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The inhabitants of Valenciennes, wishing to mark the occasion of the release of the town from German domination, invited the Army Commander to receive an address in company with representatives of all troops concerned in the capture. Accordingly, on the 8th November, representatives of the Army assembled at the Grand Place and an address was presented to Sir H. Home. H.R.H. the Prince of Wales was present. This unit was represented by one officer and twelve other ranks.

At Preseau Battalion Headquarters remained for several days and on the 9th November moved on to Roisin, where it only stayed for the night, trekking further forward to Aulnois next day, where good quarters were secured, and it was in this village that we were when the news of the Armistice being signed reached us.

The day following all the three Companies which had been out with Divisions rejoined, and were accommodated in a large unfinished factory.

At 11.0 o'clock on the 11th November, 1918, when hostilities were suspended, the Battalion was distributed as follows:—

Battalion Headquarters at Aulnois attached 11th Division.

• No. 1 Company (Captain H. D. McHugh. M.C.) at Athis attached 56th Division.
• No. 2 Company (T. Capt. Blomfield, M.C.) at Girvy attached 63rd (R.N.) Division.
• No. 3 Company (T. Capt. Knubley, M.C.) at Quevy Le Grand attached 11th Division.

The Corps occupied a front extending from half-a-mile W. of Estinne au Mont northwards to a point about a mile north of Villers-Saint-Chiclain, and this line formed the outpost line at the Armistice hour.

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The news of the signing of the Armistice and cessation of hostilities was received with great joy by all ranks. The thought that our object after fighting for over four years, had been gained, and our enemy, the enemy of all civilization, had been forced to his knees, gave a sense of great relief to us all, and the joy of every soldier and the inhabitants of the village was manifested by cheering, flag waving, music, etc. Aulnois Village hailed our men as its saviours because our No. 3 Company was the first of the British troops to enter in pursuit of the flying enemy a few days earlier, and our boys got a great reception.

The operations of the various Companies of the Battalion throughout the advances from Cambrai to Mons during the period 10th October to 11th November were carried out under unfavourable conditions of weather and roads, long hours and marches, indifferent billets, often short rations, but the unfailing energy and resource of all ranks, characteristic of our army, prevailed, and never once was a job, however difficult and trying, left undone or half done. Each successive Divisional or Brigade General we were under (and we served 5 Divisions during the advance) expressed himself very pleased with the troops. To the N.C.O.'s and men concerned in the supply of rations a special mention is due—their work entailed long journeys at all hours over bad roads, frequently shelled, and their devotion to their duty earned for them the hearty thanks of all ranks.

As a reward for the work done the following decora tions were awarded:—