THE task which the 48th Battalion now found itself called on to perform resembled more that of a fighting patrol on a large scale than of a unit appointed to relieve another definite unit holding a definite line. For more than one unit was represented in the small body of troops relieved; whilst the particular line of defence which they occupied seemed not the result of any deliberate choice, but rather to have been adopted haphazard on the ground that it was as good as any other position. That morning the same troops had held the left bank of the river Ancre, nearly 1,000 yards further east. The oncoming enemy gave them little time to seek the best advantage in choosing a new position, and the railway embankment, which was very high for the greater part of the way, seemed at first sight favourable ground from which to block or retard further advance. Of the enemy's whereabouts nothing was known, and the relieving battalion's first duty was to discover those whereabouts and the points from which fresh attacks were to be expected.
Scouts were immediately sent forward who crossed a road which ran almost parallel with the railway line. They proceeded a considerable distance without encountering any of the enemy. Other patrols went towards the left flank of the battalion front, and finally got into touch with English troops. The left flank of the 48th swung back from the railway line at a point about 200 yards south of the Amiens Road, and linked up with the English. Only two companies of the battalion were in the front line, and were holding about 1,300 yards of front. The remaining companies were in close support. Thus finally adjusted they settled down to await further happenings.
Nothing of much importance happened during the night. The enemy was holding the railway line on the left of the battalion flank, and there had a machine-gun position established on a railway bridge. In front of the right wing of the battalion another machine-gun from the protection of a saw mill kept up a sweeping fire on the line. Except from these two points, however, there was little sign of enemy activity during the night. The district had recently been a quiet, peaceful place to which the refugees of 1916 had long since returned, and had again got together the makings of settled homes. Frightened hens made a homely noise in no-man's-land, and calves could be heard moaning plaintively as they wandered about in the darkness. One neat little home stood near the embankment, where some scouts found fresh-laid eggs and also secured a few fowls. It was neatly furnished and they spent the night there, and suffered no harm though its windows were smashed by machine-gun bullets. Next day the enemy used heavier material against it and the pretty home was soon an unsightly ruin.
In the morning a heavy fog obscured everything, but shortly after 5 o'clock began the first of a series of strange incidents. German soldiers carrying full packs and in most cases with their rifles slung over their shoulders, were seen coming through the fog across no-man's-land. All along the front from the south side of the railway and away to the right flank of the battalion they came on, great figures advancing confidently in quite close formation. Nothing more than the desultory artillery-fire that had been kept up during the night accompanied their advance. There was no preceding barrage to give warning of their approach. They did not attack, they simply advanced. Never before in the course of the war had Australian soldiers seemed to be treated with contempt by the enemy, and the diggers felt honestly puzzled as they swept the oncoming Germans with rifle and machine-gun. On the right flank of the battalion some 30 of the enemy actually got through the outposts of the neighbouring unit. They surprised two men whom they made prisoners and casually continued their onward march. The right company of the 48th saw what had happened, and an officer and party of men swinging round soon made prisoners of both captors and captives.
Those 30 German prisoners were well examined before they got back to the rear. The digger ever evinced a most intelligent curiosity regarding what might be called the Fritz mentality. He was not only interested to know what the Germans had thought of certain engagements, of the fighting qualities of certain troops, whether the enemy had a proper fear of Australian troops. He was also anxious to have explained certain German cruelties of which he had heard, to probe the enemy on the treatment he was supposed to mete out to our snipers he might capture or to our wounded. The Fritz often spoke English, and the digger spoke with frank curiosity concerning a mental and moral waywardness which he could not understand. He did so with no gratuitous intolerance, for the soldier of the fighting unit had little "Hun-hate," contemning that as the characteristic of the button-day patriot at home or the people in safe jobs abroad. He certainly "souvenired" his prisoners thoroughly and was little concerned about the etiquette or the ethics of the practice. But when he had taken a prisoner's watch, and penknife, and his buttons or badges, he would hand back with honest reverence a mother's photo, and present the robbed one with some biscuits and a cigarette. Then immediately the questions began, questions so obviously asked for the intellectual satisfaction of the questioner rather than in the hope of getting information of military value, that the digger probably succeeded in getting far more interesting material than the people of the Intelligence Service.
On this occasion curiosity was at a high pitch for an explanation of the strange method of attack, and the explanation forthcoming was indeed strange. Asked what their objective was, the answer came that they had no objective. They were simply to march towards Amiens, when they were tired other troops following on motor lorries should take their place and continue the march. They themselves had been brought to the vicinity of Albert on the preceding night by motor lorries, they had a drink of coffee in Albert at 3 o'clock that morning and at 5 o'clock started on their forward march. Yes, it was at Albert that they got the English cigarettes and the socks with the Australian Comfort Fund mark on them. This gave rise to some angry discussion among the diggers as to why their socks should be kept in Albert when the Australians were fighting in the north. But a chance remark by a German prisoner that he thought the Australian divisions were in the north of France diverted their short-lived anger. With much laughter they assured him that he and his comrades had "come a gutzer," "had slipped a kilo." Then they rescued the Australian socks from the German packs and impounded the English cigarettes, and solemnly told the prisoners to go back to the rear and consider themselves very lucky men.
Again the enemy advanced and again rifle and machine-gun took their toll of his ranks, and sent them scurrying back to the wood and to any cover afforded by the buildings that lay on the outskirts of Albert. Nine times during the day did he thus attempt to advance. Each time his approach became more cautious, and each time he received better support from his trench-mortars and machine-guns. But he had little chance of success with the tactics he was adopting. The Ancre, which ran in front of the railway line, had been spanned by narrow foot-bridges. Across these his soldiers had to file and then assemble in the wood to renew the attempt. From an observation-post in the rear of our front line this assembling could be easily seen. The infantry communicated the location to the Australian artillery that was supporting them, and the 18-pounders swept the road on the right bank of the Ancre where the Germans were congested whilst waiting till those in advance had slowly filed across the foot-bridge. The Germans who got across found their assembly-point in the wood raked by the same murderous fire.
The battalion was now thoroughly alive to the situation, and no movement of the enemy escaped the observers stationed at different posts. Artillery and infantry were working in perfect liaison, the latter finding targets for the former who promptly brought their heavy fire to bear on them whilst the infantry finished the work with their lighter weapons. Thus about 200 of the enemy rushed forward into buildings on the left flank of the battalion front. It was a most vulnerable part. The railway line was low there and already in the hands of the enemy. It would have required but another quick sally to outflank the Battalion on that wing. But again the artillery was requisitioned, and as the Germans hurriedly evacuated the buildings our rifles and machine-guns had them at close range. By evening things were fairly quiet. Further attempt at advance seemed to have ceased, and the ever-watchful observers saw great congestion of transport retiring in the direction of Pozieres on the main road from Albert. Apparently the enemy had decided to change his tactics, but little opportunity of escape was given him. The heavy artillery were communicated with, and soon the observers could see the horses of the enemy's transport galloping frantically across the open country.
That night passed quietly, and during the next two days the battalion was little troubled by the enemy except for one abortive attack on its vulnerable left post. But the enemy's machine-guns forward of the right and left wings of the battalion front were as active as ever. His shelling was not too severe but his trench-mortars were gradually adding to our list of casualties. Nevertheless, but two companies held the 48th Battalion front. More than one relief took place between them and the other two companies in immediate support, for it was a trying vigil. The troops, however, were never reinforced although their numbers were gradually diminishing. Twice a Lewis gun and its team were blown out by shell-fire, and two new guns went forward with fresh teams from the supporting companies. That was all. The 48th had long ago learnt its lesson against the tactics of congestion that cost lives, and since that time had systematically and successfully gambled with many a situation.
THE position being held was a peculiar one. Immediately south and to the rear of the battalion lay Dernancourt, securely held by the enemy whose line ran still further west of that village. Again to the north our line swung back so that the unit's front formed a petty salient. The position would probably never have been held but that, as has already been indicated, the 48th went into action rather as a strong fighting patrol looking for the enemy and with little information as to his whereabouts. The war of movement that was to be so applauded a few months afterwards, was already being enacted in a most thorough manner. In this case, however, the enemy was dictating its character. It was that war of movement which enabled the position to be held so long as it was held. It was already anticipated by those on the spot, that when the war in that part should have become sufficiently stationary to allow of the enemy making a proper appraisement of the situation, the consequent revision of tactics might cause a sudden end to the salient. Meanwhile the 48th was determined to lose as few lives on it as possible. So on the night of March 30 when it left the trenches for a spell its casualties during the three days bore a happy comparison with the strenuous work performed. On the first day two officers and 11 of other ranks had been killed, whilst one officer and 45 of other ranks were wounded. On the following two days there were no fatal casualties, but 21 of other ranks were wounded.
The battalion moved back to Millencourt some two miles to the rear, where it was subjected to heavy shelling from the enemy and several casualties were inflicted. It remained there for three days and on the evening of April 3 again set out for the railway embankment. The unit was in its old position about 11 o'clock. This time it had extended its front on the left to the Amiens Road, and there established a formidable strongpost. In this part of the front the enemy could approach more easily under cover of trees and buildings, and his anxiety to clear a passage along the main highway was very evident. So the necessity of securing the defence of this vulnerable part as well as the extension of frontage, required the employment of three companies in the line with one company in support.
On the following day the enemy's shells were travelling continuously over the men's heads away to the back area. The enemy was evidently searching for our heavy-gun positions. Then his range shortened and he began systematically searching for the light batteries. He had plenty of artillery, his own artillery reinforced by good English guns and English ammunition captured in the recent advance.
What has been written of the German adherence to programme in military tactics is not all of it fiction. Those who held the line against him and whose lives so often depended on what they could guess of his future movements had usually very accurate premonitions. All felt that something great was intended, and this became conviction when the enemy began to register all along their front with trench mortars. During the night scouts went forward cautiously to see if more could be learned. A road which ran some 200 yards in front of our lines was found to be held by the enemy, whilst preparation seemed to be in hand for a fresh attack.
Nothing happened until about six o'clock on the following morning, when some 50 of the enemy advanced towards the left post of the battalion and were easily driven off. An hour later he concentrated the heaviest artillery fire on the battalion support and reserve area. The bombardment was intense, the heaviest that the unit had suffered since its experience at Pozieres nearly two years previously. Then about eight o'clock his barrage fell on the front line where his artillery and trench-mortars began to do great damage. Gas-shells were numerous, and the men had to don their gas-helmets and peer through the dim glasses to watch for the enemy's coming. More than a hour had elapsed before he appeared, and then he was seen to be advancing in large numbers. The 48th clung to the railway embankment and after stiff fighting the Germans were driven back. That portion of the railway line immediately south of the Amiens Road was already held by a strong enemy post, and in this already vulnerable corner he endeavoured to develop his advantage. His troops pushed over the railroad at this place, and advanced in great numbers through a ravine towards that part of the battalion's front which swung from the railway back to the main road.
In the little corner formed by the railroad and the highway to Amiens, there now ensued a short period of strange warfare. It was for the time being cut off from the rest of the battle and both contending parties were free to fight undisturbed for mastery. Time after time the enemy attacked towards the opposing line and was driven back by rifle and machine-gun fire to such cover as the ground afforded, only to reorganise for a fresh attempt. Then individual bravery began to show itself in the assailants. One of them rushed forward with their heavy type of machine-gun, but was shot down before he had proceeded far with his burden. His place was readily taken by another who soon met the same fate. Yet a third German picked up the gun and was essaying the task with some chances of success as the Australians admired him and shot him. After that the Germans dug themselves into a bank and the sniping began. Where a head showed itself on either side a shot immediately rang out. The enemy suffered heavily in this position being constantly subject to crossfire, and for the time being had no chance of making further headway.
One incident occurred about this time that was the subject of much amusement afterwards. The 48th Battalion and the Germans holding positions on the same railway line, that part which lay between the enemy's extreme post on the railroad and ours constituted a kind of lateral no-man's-land. This narrow strip of territory was a hunting-ground for snipers of both sides, who used to steal cautiously by the side of the railway embankment and under cover of the trees. One 48th sniper was thus making his way towards the enemy when he saw a German soldier not far from him advancing in his direction and evidently bent on the same errand. Recognition was mutual and simultaneous, and each being at that moment near a friendly telegraph-pole darted towards it and stiffened himself against it. Then the Australian whipped round and had a quick shot; the German was equally quick, but both shots missed. Immediately they again tried to adapt themselves to the diameter of the inadequate poles. The operation was repeated and two shots again rang out and once more inflicted no harm. That was enough, and Fritz and digger each ran headlong for his own lines and his own life.
The enemy compelled a withdrawal of the line on the remote right of the battalion front. At that part the line had already swung back considerably, and it required but a slight retirement to make untenable the position of the unit on the right of the 48th. That unit now retired, with the result that the battalion's right flank was in the air. For another hour the 48th Battalion held on to its position on the railway embankment, whilst subject to fire from its rear where the enemy had already made some prisoners.
The situation required careful handling to prevent the two companies holding the railway embankment from being cut off. It was here that Captain Cumming's ability so conspicuously displayed itself. He was in command of that company which for the time being had adjusted its own quarrel satisfactorily on the extreme left of the battalion front. An officer who loved a puzzling situation for its own sake, this one gave him the novel experience of being able to protect both flanks of the retreating companies. Whilst part of his men engaged the enemy threatening the left flank, others kept up a continuous machine-gun barrage on Germans attempting to approach the right flank from Dernancourt. In this way the two companies were safely withdrawn some 1,200 yards back, where they established a line of outposts running north and south of the Amiens road and also took up a position in a well-dug trench further to the rear.
In the angle formed by the railway line and the main road, Captain Cumming's company still remained. Its ranks had already been thinned by casualties, and the enemy now further threatened it by occupying immediately the positions evacuated on the right. Its retirement was ordered, but before this could be accomplished the troops on the left, north of the road, had to be apprised of the situation. Efforts to communicate with them by visual signalling failed, and young Tregoweth, a signaller, undertook to run the gauntlet across the Amiens-road with a message. He fell badly wounded when about 100 yards from a post on the other side of the road, and after he had crawled for some distance men were seen to rush out and carry him to safety. Apparently he was able to deliver some part of his message, for the unit holding that part of the front immediately signalled asking for information. It was made acquainted with the position on the right and forthwith retired to the new line further back, whilst all that was left of Cumming's company withdrew in line with the remainder of the battalion after enduring three hours of splendid isolation.
The battalion's front now extended right across the Amiens-road north and south of it. The diminutive salient had ceased to exist, and nobody regretted it. The new line ran over high ground which commanded a good field of fire in front. During the night and on the following day the enemy gave little trouble, and on the night of the 6th the battalion was relieved by other Australian troops and marched back to trenches north of Bresle. Next day it went to Bussy-les-Daours, about eight miles further to the rear.
The unit's casualties during the fighting from the end of March till the morning of April 7 showed a total of three officers and 30 of other ranks killed; three officers and 118 of other ranks were wounded, whilst 40 of other ranks were missing. When regard is had to the character of the fighting and to the daily average of a unit's casualties even when holding a quiet front, this total does not seem so formidable. The battalion had played its part well in a great work.