Valenciennes Falls

Saturday 2nd November 1918

As your correspondent predicted, yesterday's attack by Third Army and the Canadian Corps of First Army continued today and has been a triumphant success. The enemy evacuated the town of Valenciennes and has abandoned the line of the Schelde. This complete success comes despite the setbacks of yesterday and, I hear, has cause meticulous planning for an assault in a few days time to be wasted as the enemy have already abandoned the positions which were to be attacked! As a junior officer quipped to me earlier today - "Tally ho!"

We hear today of another Franco-American attack on the Meuse-Argonne Front which began yesterday. The Americans, we are told were completely successful, far out-distancing their French allies and advancing six miles.

Encircling Valenciennes

Friday 1st November 1918

After the attack yesterday by 2nd Army, today has seen an attack by Third Army and the Canadian Corps of First Army with the intention of encircling the town of Valenciennes and of outflanking the Schelde. The boxer on the ropes threw a few tired punches and one of them landed, halting the advance after initial success. Nevertheless to quote the song popular with the army "Are we downhearted? No!" The attack will resume tomorrow.

Beaurain Taken

Wednesday 23rd October 1918

The enemy are reported to have their last defensive line a little to the east of where our armies are currently grouped, close to the border of France and Belgium(1). Accordingly, today, a major assault has been underway. First, Third and Fourth Armies have been at work, though the main effort has been by the Third Army. 

The attack began at 1.20 this morning, with a bright moon but also with ground mist. The 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment went over the top at 3.20. They were initially  held up by machine gun fire from their right flank but, after the judicious use of mortars, managed to capture the village of Beaurain, two officers and fourteen other ranks were killed and a total of 112 men, including the padre, Rev J B Mayal, were wounded; five men are missing.

The Bedfords were not alone. Fighting was hard in places and at times but this evening it is clear that advances of up to five miles have been made and ,most objectives seem to have been taken.

Source:
X550/2/5


(1) The so-called Hermann positions, based, not on constructed defences but on natural obstacles such as the Sambre-Oise Canal, Schelde Canal and River Selle. 

Crossing the Selle

Sunday 20th Octbober

Today Third Army has crossed the River Selle in force, captured the village of Solesmes and taken all its objectives. One of the battalions in involved in this operation was 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, whose advance took place without incident. Elsewhere there was heavy fighting but all along the line the enemy has given way. An attack by First Army on the left flank of Third Army has also met with success, though the Canadians, in taking Denain, met with considerable resistance. 

The pattern of strong defence in some parts of the line and a readiness to fall back without a struggle in others, which has been apparent for some weeks, thus continues. It is simply another factor of chance in war, whether the individual soldier will have an easy day or a hard one, will live another day, or lose his life. War seems to be an activity in which luck plays a greater part than in  almost any other.

Source: X550/2/5

Lining the River

Saturday 12th October 1918

There has been some fighting around the River Selle today, but it seems to be of a type which might be described as "tidying up the battlefield"(1). The British armies wish to line the River Selle prior to another advance. Third Army has had the hardest fighting but has now reached the river.

(1) A concept central to Field Marshal Montgomery's thinking in World War Two.

Cambrai Falls

Wednesday 9th October 1918

The city of Cambrai, so nearly liberated in November last year has finally been yielded up by the enemy after just over four years of occupation. The German troops left managed to sneak out during the night though almost entirely surrounded. At least, this way, a potentially very costly fight has been avoided. Sadly the centre of the city and much of the suburbs has been almost totally destroyed but, as one local has been reported as saying, sadly shaking his head, "At least they are our ruins now".

The capture of Cambrai has not caused any pause in the advance.  Resistance was fierce at times yesterday, with a number of enemy counter-attacks utilising tanks they had captured from our armies in weeks and months past. All these were beaten off and today there have been none to speak of. Cavalrymen have even been in action on the army's left, or northern, flank where no barbed wire has impeded their progress. The Canadian Cavalry Brigade mounted a successful charge south of Cambrai and took the village of Reumont only four miles or so from le Cateau.

First Army also advanced today and all three British and Imperial armies have achieved stunning advances. Few can now doubt that the end of German resistance is near. This evening it has been announced that the Prime Minister, Mr Lloyd-George has sent a length congratulatory telegram to Field Marshal Haig: "I have just heard from Marshal Foch of the brilliant victory won buy the First, Third and Fourth Armies and I wish to express to yourself, Generals Horne, Byng and Rawlinson and all the officers and men under your command my sincerest congratulations on the great and significant success which the British Armies, with their American brothers in arms have gained during the two past days. The courage and tenacity with which the troops of the Empire, after withstanding the terrific enemy onslaught of the spring of this year, have again resumed the offensive with such decisive results is the greatest chapter in our island history. The smashing of the great defensive system erected by the enemy in the west and claimed by him to be impregnable is a feat of which we are justly proud and for which the Empire will always be grateful".

Successes All Along the Line

Tuesday 8th October 1918

Today Fourth Army launched attacks in conjunction with Third Army to the north and the French and Americans to the south. The initial attack was by Third Army, which overran the last elements of the Beaurevoir Line in the enemy's hands and achieved an advance of three miles. For the first time since 1914 British troops are within twenty miles of le Cateau, scene of Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien's heroic stand against the triumphant enemy on 26th August of that year.

Fourth Army launches its attack forty minutes after Third Army and all along the line there was early success except that the French failed to take a strongpoint at their junction with our own 6th Division, however, British troops took the position allowing the French to get forward. By this evening there have been advances of up to four miles, with American 30th Division, perhaps, advancing further than anyone else.

4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, part of 63rd (Royal Naval) Division was in support to 188th Brigade which attacked and took the village of Niergnies. It is felt that this will have proved vital in causing the final fall of Cambrai, which is now encircled, Niergnies being south-east of the city. The Division was counter-attacked twice by the enemy with captured British tanks but this was in vain for the Bosches. This evening the division is being relieved and will return to Cantaing.

Source: X550/5/3

What Next?

Friday 11th October 1918

There has been a pause in the great advance today. There enemy seems to have come to a halt in a new defensive line. It is reported that Field Marshal Haig met with the commanders of First, Third and Fourth Armies today  (Generals Horne, Byng and Rawlinson) to discuss future operations. Clearly it is the army's job to push the enemy out of France and Belgium but timing and location of the main thrusts must still be decided.