Chapter XVII.
On the Marne—Marfaux.

On Friday, the 19th, while the Battalion rested, Major Evans was away all day in the direction of Reims on a reconnaissance of the forward positions, and returned with the information that the French troops and our Corps were attacking next morning, and that we were to move up to support the attackers if required. So on Saturday morning we moved out at 4 a.m. to AY, near Epernay, on the Marne River, arriving at our destination at 6 a.m. We stacked cycles on the roadside and waited there all day, ready to move forward if required. In Epernay, about two miles away, a large fire was burning, started by a bombardment from enemy long range guns. At 6 p.m. orders were received to bivouac for the night, so we moved to the canal bank at AY and settled down, all ranks enjoying a swim in the canal after a hot and dusty day.

On Sunday we stood to all day expecting orders, and at 6 p.m. they arrived with instructions for the Battalion to report to the 62nd Division at St. Imoges, on the top of the Montagne De Reims. At 9 p.m. we moved out, the C.O. going ahead to Divisional Headquarters, where he received orders to report to G.O.C. 186th Infantry Brigade at Fme de Ecueil. The Unit was met on the road and directed to its altered location. The destination was reached by midnight after a difficult ride along miles of indifferent roads through dense forests where the roads were full of troops, transport, motor lorries, etc. One of the boys had his leg broken through being run over.

Arriving at our destination we bivouacked in a small wood close to an Italian Heavy Battery and some Devon troops. Next morning we could see in the distance that once beautiful city of Reims, now utterly page break

Areo Photo of Marfaux. Marne,23/7/18.

page break page 71destroyed by the enemy's bombardment, and a mile or so to the east of us the battle was raging in earnest. During the forenoon Major Evans and the Senior Officers went out with the G.O.C. of the 186th Brigade (Brig. Gen. Burnett) to look over some ground where the Battalion was to operate next day, and returned later with the news that the Battalion would move up to the assembly trenches that night and attack and capture the village of Marfaux at 6 a.m. next morning During the interval preparations were made. Cycles could not be used so were parked under cover from view, and at 11 p.m. that night the Battalion (less transport) moved off, arriving at and occupying the assembly trenches at 2 a.m.

Battalion Headquarters were established at a village named Pourcy, some 600 yards in rear, where Major Evans directed operations.

Marfaux, the Battalion's objective, is a small village on the right bank of the River Ardre, and marks the limit of the enemy's advance on the 3rd of June, 1918. The capture of this village was attempted on the previous Saturday, but the troops on reaching the village had to retire under heavy fire, as it was untenable. A distance of 800 to 1,000 yards separated the assembly trenches from the village. Our force for the attack consisted of the Battalion and a small company of the 24th Hampshires, making a total of 340 all ranks.

During the remainder of the morning until zero hour there was intermittent shelling by the enemy and gas towards daybreak.

At 6 a.m. a creeping barrage was put down by the British, French and Italian Batteries, and the advance started in two waves. Our boys advanced under cover of the barrage and the first objective was reached on time but not before several casualties had occurred. The ground 300 yards in front of the objective sloped down from a crest which afforded no cover whatever. Enemy page 72machine gunners took advantage of this and swept the ground with bullets until they were finally overtaken by the barrage and either dislodged or killed.

The village was "mopped up" and a number of prisoners, including a German doctor and Captain, were found in dugouts, who surrendered freely. In the dressing station were found two wounded British, who had been there since Saturday, and several wounded Germans.

In the meanwhile the second wave of the advance passed through the first and arrived at their objective line 300 yards in front of the village and consolidated in record time. A visual signal station was established at a point from which "all objectives taken" was sent back to Battalion Headquarters. The first wave, after mopping up the village, "dug in" 100 yards in rear of the first line in support.

So ended the battle of Marfaux. Our boys had done their job well, showing that dash and determination so well known of Colonial troops.

During the operation we captured 9 enemy Machine Guns and re-captured several French and our own Lewis Guns, a battery of 75's, and numerous souvenirs.

Our casualties were high. Among the officers were:

Killed:

• 2nd Lieut. Griffith, D.C.
• 2nd Lieut. Rowland, A.E.M.

Wounded:

• Captain Richards, A.H.
• 2nd Lieut. Greville, R.H.
• 2nd Lieut. Wylie, L.T.

The stretcher bearers and medical orderlies deserve the greatest praise for the way they carried out their job. They worked unceasingly, though the day was exceptionally hot, and the carry back a long distance.

The officers who went forward with the advance and arrived at their objectives, Lieuts. Knubley, Blomfield and Yorke (the latter wounded but carried on) worked very hard, and were most energetic in caring for the wants of the men, caring little for themselves in their desire to see the job through.

C.S.M. Baker, M.M., was also conspicuous in his fine leadership after all his company officers became casualties.

For the next three days we held our line. The enemy did not "counter attack," though he sent over some strong patrols who met with a very warm reception.

On Friday night we came out into the Reserve line, the old assembly trenches. Captain McHugh, M.C., who returned from leave that day, taking over command of the line.

Next day a general advance was commenced towards Blingy, by the Scottish and Yorkshire troops. We were withdrawn and sent back to our cycles to operate with the Corps Mounted Regiment in the advance.

Having obtained our cycles we returned to Presle Farm where we camped for the night, moving forward to to Marfaux at daylight on Sunday morning. It page 74had rained heavily during the night and the roads, with the traffic of guns, transport, etc., forward, were in an awful mess, making our progress very difficult.

We remained at Marfaux all day, the Cavalry being out in front on patrols and reconnaissances.

On Monday night what was left of the Battalion was sent out under Captain McHugh, M.C., on a reconnaissance in force to the slopes of Montagne de Blingy. This patrol advanced 1,000 yards to a wood in front of our forward positions, captured a prisoner and gained a lot of valuable information.

On Wednesday the British troops in the sector were relieved by the French and we moved out, bivouacking in Bois de Talina for the night. Next morning we moved on to Dizy-Magenta, where we marched past Gen. A. Berthelot, Commander of the Fifth French Army, under whose command our Corps had been during the operation on the Marne. He issued a special army order of the day in reference to our work and gave all ranks in the Corps great praise.

The review over, we moved to the canal at AY, and in record time the canal was full of soldiers minus khaki, enjoying the first wash that many had had for ten days or so. We rested there for two hours and then on to Moussy, near Eperney, where billets were secured. We spent Friday and Saturday, the 2nd and 3rd August, at Moussy, resting and reorganising, for the Unit was reduced to small numbers.

On Sunday, 4th August, we received orders to return with the Corps to the north again and to entrain that night, men and cycles at Oiry and the transport at Vertus. The transport left at 2 p.m. under Lieut. W. E. Randall, D.C.M., and the Battalion at 6 p.m.

Trains were late, and it was nearly morning before we left Oiry. We arrived at Marles, E. of Paris at 10 a.m., where a halt was made for breakfast; then on to Pantin, N.E. of Paris, passing that city on the page break

The Road to Marfaux.

The British Cemetery at Marfaux
Contains 800 graves, British, Australian and New Zealand soldiers,
killed in the Valley of the Arde.

page break page 75eastern side. Whilst at Pantin we could hear the big shells from the German "Big Bertha" bursting near St. Denis.

We continued our journey to the north and at 6 a.m. next morning arrived just N. of Abbeville, near the mouth of the Somme River. Our final destination by train was Bryas, near St. Pol, where we detrained, and marched to billets at Conteville.

So ended our visit to Champagne. The whole trip was an experience of value to us all, and if not for the fact of leaving so many of our dear comrades behind us, it would remain as a pleasant memory.

As a result of the good work done by officers and men, the following decorations were earned and awarded:

The following French decorations were awarded:—

Wire].

O.C. 22. Corps Cyclists BTN/.
c/o 62nd Division.

Following from 22nd Corps begins aaa. The Corps Commander wishes to express his appreciation of the good work done by the N.Z. Cyclists Btn. during the present operations, and desires you to convey his congratulations to Major Evans and all ranks of his command on their gallantry and success in the attack aaa ends aaa For necessary action. Recd. 26/7/18.,

6 p.m. C.D.E.

22nd Corps Mounted Troops.

Special Order

By

Lieutenant-General SirA. J. Godley, K.C.B., K.C.M.G. Commanding XXII. Corps.

The following order of the day by General Bertholot commanding Fifth (French) Army, together with the Corps Commanders' reply to it, are published for the information of all ranks.

The Corps Commander wishes this Order to be distributed as widely as possible, and to be read out on parade, and takes this opportunity of expressing to the Commanders, Staffs and All Ranks of the 51st (Highland) and the 62nd (West Riding) Divisions, and all the Corps Troops, his thanks for the loyal assistance and support that he has had from them during the recent arduous operations.

page 77

He takes this opportunity of again expressing his admiration of the conspicuous valour and endurance of the troops, and trusts that it may be his good fortune to have them again under his command in any future operations.

(Sgd.) A. M. de la Voye, D.A. and Q.M.G.

Headquarters,
31/7/1918.

Translation.

Vme Armée

Q.G., July 30th, 1918.

Etat Major

3me Bureau Order of the Day No. 63.
No. 1863/3.

Now that the XXII. British Corps has received orders to leave the Fifth (French) Army, the Army Commander expresses to all the thanks and admiration which the great deeds, that it has just accomplished, deserve.

The very day of its arrival, feeling in honour bound to take part in the victorious counter-attack which had just stopped the enemy's furious onslaught on the Marne, and had begun to hurl him back in disorder to the North, the XXII. Corps, by forced marches and with minimum opportunity for reconnaissance, threw itself with ardour into the battle.

By constant efforts, by harrying and by driving back the enemy for ten successive days, it has made itself master of the Valley of the Ardre, which it has so freely watered with its blood.

Thanks to the heroic courage and proverbial tenacity of the British, the continued efforts of this brave Army Corps have not been in vain.

21 officers and 1,300 other ranks taken prisoner, 140 Machine Guns, and 40 Guns captured from an enemy, four of whose Divisions have been successively page 78broken and repulsed; the Upper Valley of the Ardre, with its surrounding heights to the north and south, reconquered; such is the record of the British share in the operations of the Fifth Army.

Highlanders under the orders of General Carter-Campbell, commanding the 55th Division; Yorkshire lads under the orders of General Braithwaite, commanding the 62nd Division; Australian and New Zealand Mounted Troops; all officers and men of the XXII. Army Corps, so ably commanded by General Sir A. Godley, you have added a glorious page to your history.

Marfaux, Chaumuzy, Montagne De Bligny—all these famous names will be written in letters of gold in the annals of your regiments.

Your French comrades will always remember with emotion your splendid gallantry and your perfect fellowship in the fight.

"Berthelot,"

le General Commandant,
la Vme Armée.

Special Order

by

Lieutenant General SirA. J. Godley, K.C.B., K.C.M.G. Commanding XXII. Corps.

The Corps Commander has been desired by the General-Officer-Commanding Fifth (French) Army to express his great satisafction at the appearance and bearing of the troops which he reviewed this morning. The Corps Commander wishes to add his appreciation of the excellent turn-out, good march discipline and smartness of the representative detachments of the Corps Mounted Troops, 51st (Highland) Division and 62nd (West Riding) Division, and to thank them for the evident page break

The Corps Guides, supplied by the Battalion.

Review of 51st. Division XXII. Corps
By General Berthelot, 5th Armie Francaise, 1/8/18.
Dizy, Maggenta, Marne.

page break page 79pains which they they had taken, though only just out of the battle, to so worthily uphold the credit of the British Army before the French Generals and Staffs.

(sd.) A.M. de la Voye,
D.A. and Q.M.G.,
XXII. Corps.

Headquarters
1/8/18.

62nd (W.R.) Divn. 31st July, 1918.

XXII. Corps "G."

I have the honour to bring to the notice of the Corps Commander the services of the Cyclist Battalion, Corps Troops XXII. Army Corps, under the command of Major C. H. Evans, D.S.O., which have been attached to the Division under my command during the recent operations. Nothing could have been better than the fighting qualities displayed by, or the valour and endurance of, all ranks not only during the action of 23rd July, but throughout the subsequent fighting.

I desire also to bring to the notice of the Corps Commander, the services of the Corps Mounted Troops, under Lieut.-Colonel Hindhaugh, who did valuable service throughout the time they were attached to the Division under my command. The men shewed enterprise and bravery while working in a country difficult for Cavalry. The patrols were boldly handled and sent back useful and accurate information.

(sgd.) W. P. Braithwaite,
Major-General

Commanding 62nd (West Riding) Division.

Headquarters,
31/7/18.

G.O.C. 62nd. (W.R.)

Dear Evans,—Now that you have left my Brigade I should like to thank both you and your men for the splendid work you did at Marfaux. You had a nasty job to do and could not have done it better. Would you please let your officers and men know how much we appreciated all the help you gave us at a very trying time.

Yours sincerely,

(sgd.) J. S. Bennett,
Brig.-General.

(For orders).
185th Brigade.