Friday 4th October 1918
More attacks have been made on the Beaurevoir Line today but little progress has been made. french promises of support failed to materialise. After all the success this has created a mood of frustration, as may be imagined.
As the year turns through Autumn we have noticed a good deal of illness amongst the troops. A good many men seem to have a kind of infuenza, lacking strength, feeling hot and cold by degrees and, as the disease takes hold their breath becomes increasingly short and their breathing increasingly laboured. It has to be said that there have been fatalities. It would be cruel indeed if final victory were to be denied by illness but I have heard tell, whether truly or not, that some enemy prisoners seem to have it to(1).
(1) The Spanish Flu epidemic, as it was known, lasted for two years, from January 1918 to December 1920. By the start of October it was beginning to affect the armies in striking numbers. Its effect was particularly devastating on the young, fit and active as the disease turned their immune systems against them. It is estimated that between 50 and 100 million (2 to 3 per cent of the World's population) would died from the flu and that nowhere was unaffected.
Thursday 3rd October 1918
Today Fourth Army resumed operations. They have been attacking the reserve trenches of the Hindenburg Line known as the Beaurevoir Line. It is clearly hoped that after the right jab on the Saint-Quentin Canal a left jab in the area to the north will keep the enemy off balance and take pressure off Third Army divisions attacking the canal. 46th (North Midland) Division, 2nd Australian Division and 50th Division have all been in action. Early gains were lost to fierce counter-attacks, nevertheless the Beaurevoir Line has been penetrated along its entire length and so, whilst not all objectives have been taken sufficient progress has been made.
Tuesday 1st October 1918
Today the 1st battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment has moved back to huts at Neuville. They are still close to the action, however. The transport was heavily shelled resulting in the deaths of three horses, with three others being wounded, as well as one man in each category.
Operations at Vendhuile have continued for 2nd Battalion but they are due a relief tonight and a move back to Ronssoy. 4th Battalion duly took their strongpoint, Faubourg-de-Paris which they consolidated before moving back to Cantaing to become battalion in divisional reserve.
Elsewhere the splendid New Zealanders have taken the village of Crevecoeur and other davisions have taken Rumilly. Four other villages have fallen, but at some cost, particularly to the Canadians. The men from the prairies and mountains now have a clear view into Cambrai where it looks as if the enemy are preparing for a fight.
Sources: X550/2/5; X550/3/wd; X550/5/3
