Outpost Encounters

Early in October 1918 the 74th Division took over from the 19th Division a sector of the front line in northern France nearly three miles in length with Neuve Chapelle, in the centre. By then the Germans were in retreat towards Lille, about 15 miles away to the north-east. On the evening of 3 October the 15th (Suffolk Yeomanry) Bn. Suffolk Regiment moved up on to the Aubers Ridge line, as the main line of resistance.

230th Infantry Brigade Order No. 72, dated 2 October 1918, required after arrival on the Aubers Line that patrols should be pushed out. It further required that “Patrol Leaders must show more enterprise. Once the objective is given cumbersome orders only complicate the task and delay operations.”

At 0500 on 4 October the Battalion moved out passing through the positions held by the 10th Buffs and 16th Sussex; two companies were in the front line and two in support, with the 10th Kings Shropshire Light Infantry (KSLI) on their left and Liverpool Scottish the right. The first objective was met by 0915. The advance continued, but was halted at 1030 due to shelling, which wounded six men. The lines were consolidated taking up a defensive position covering the villages of Lattre and Wavrin, with B, C and D Companies in the line and A Company in support. Through the afternoon the Battalion experienced heavy shelling, and patrols sent out encountered enemy machine gun posts about 400 yards ahead. Night patrols also met with considerable opposition from enemy machine guns.

On 5 October enemy movement was observed along the whole of the Battalion front, and there was intermittent shelling throughout the day. Daylight patrols located enemy outposts and a ‘Whizz Bang’* battery, although 3 men were wounded. Under cover of nightfall a daring raid was launched against one of the outposts. 2nd Lieutenant Thomas Minshall and his men took the defenders completely by surprise and they fled in disorder.

The next day, 6 October, was quiet and the Battalion was relieved in the outpost line in the evening by the 10th Buffs. The 15th Suffolks marched to billet west of Wavrin in old German hutments in woods surrounding the Château de Fournes en Weppes, with two companies nearby at Sainghin en Weppes.

Château de Fournes-en-Weppes, home of Comte d'Hespel, in 1915 (above), and the ruins post war (right).

Note

(*) Whizz Bang - Slang for a light high velocity shell fired from one of the smaller calibre field guns, referring to the sound as the shell came to explode.