Tuesday 14th
August 1917
Today has
been quite insufferable with temperatures approaching eighty degrees(1) and
intermittent rain. Everyone at the front has been sweating profusely all day,
whether engaged in moving to new positions, bringing up guns and supplies,
manning the front line or lounging around behind it as a war correspondent.
There has
been some action today, we have been told. 20th (Light) Division crossed the
Steenbeek north-east of Ypres and managed to consolidate the far bank under
fire. The whole battlefield is a morass of standing water and mud but at least
they were assisted in crossing the channel of the stream by makeshift bridges
they brought up with them. Four enemy strong-points at a place called Mill Mound (top right corner on the map above) have been taken.
The adjutant
of 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, spoke to me a little while ago. Early
in the morning they received orders to relieve the 10th Battalion, Essex
Regiment, of 53rd Brigade, at Stirling Castle near the front line. Guides were
at once sent up to arrange the relief. Orders were then received to make an
attack in two days’ time on Inverness Copse where the Royal Fusiliers and 53rd Brigade failed on 10th August.
The adjutant
said to me, in some bitterness: “We were surprised after what the general had
said only two days before”. He referred to the divisional commander General Lee
stating that the battalion would not be used in offensive actions unless
absolutely necessary. Then, remembering himself, the adjutant went on: “but all
are cheery and ready to do all they can”.
As you can
imagine, I think twice about relaying this information as I have no wish to
bring troubles on the officer concerned or give comfort to the enemy. Remember,
however, that this battalion has been reduced to three hundred or so by severe
fighting less than a week ago. If a unit with so good a reputation for
attacking spirit as this has begun to grumble I feel it must send a signal to
higher command.
Source: X550/8/1
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