“More like to be a year, sir. The Army isnot enthused by the idea of leave. Takes up space on transport that can bebetter used.”
It was almost cruel.
“War is not in the way of being easy, sir.At least, not as bad as being in South Africa or India. Leave was impossiblethere. China Station even worse, of course. Something like four battalions inHong Kong and along the coast and they will be at least five years away fromhome, possibly longer.”
“Trouble is, Flanders being just a day’stravel away from home, the men feel it ought to be possible, sir.”
There was nothing to be done, regrettably.
The replacement ammunition arrived togetherwith boxes of two hundred flares; it was pleasant to be the Brigadier’sfavourites. There was an immediate problem of storage, there being too littlespace in the dugouts for the mass of rounds.
“Issue an extra fifty thousand rounds toeach company, ‘Major. Where they put them is their problem.”
“Yes, sir. The duckboards have arrived,sir. So have six new water pumps.”
There was a strong chance that theBrigadier had written down the wrong figures when taking Richard’s telephonemessage.
“Right! Put them to use. Under no circumstancesare they to go back as surplus to requirement. Which company has the lowestsection of trench?”
“D and E together, sir. A clear two footlower than the remainder, sir. Always a problem with water running down onthem.”
“Right. Defaulters to dig new sumps. Bigones. Two pumps to each. The other pair to go to Mr Caton.”
There were always a few men who had committedminor crimes punishable by hours of labour. Now, instead of carrying from therear at night, they would be given shovels and wheelbarrows.
Richard was if anything glad of the extralabour demanded of the battalion. Too much of trench life was spent in idleness,the men with nothing to do other than sit and wait and drink tea and,inevitably, find mischief to get up to. Now they would at least be tired enoughto sleep well, provided the night was not too noisy.
He was called away to Brigade next morning,an orders meeting in addition to the ordinary weekly conference. He tookHawkeswill with him as there would undoubtedly be a mass of paperwork to dealwith.
“Baker! Good to see you again. Major Dorringtonfrom the Staff with orders for the next big push.”
There were four other infantry colonelspresent and two cavalrymen and a single gunner.
Dorrington took the stand in the largestroom of the small chateau Braithwaite had appropriated.
“Third Battle of Arras, gentlemen. Thisone to be more successful than the previous two. Our assault will be unexpectedfor its timing – late in the year as it is. The BEF is to aim towards Loos,will take the town and open the way forward for the cavalry. All simple andstraightforward. In this sector, there will be a bombardment of fifteen hoursduration by four batteries of sixty pounders and six of eighteen. A mixture ofHE and shrapnel to cut the wire. Guns will register on the day prior to theassault. Take the forward trench and do not delay, gentlemen, quickly into thesecond line and the communications trenches. Open the way for your supportinghorse and their batteries of RHA with their thirteen pounders. You will takeoff at 0700 hours and will be in the German rear trenches by 0725, the cavalrycoming through at that time. Full packs and eighty rounds, the men to maintaina proper order in the advance.”
That seemed to be the end of the briefing.
“Will there be machine gun support, Major?”
“No, Colonel Baker. The extra guns will bemassed towards the main assault. Yours is somewhat of a sideshow to tidy up andprevent German reserve troops from interfering from positions to the west.”
“An additional supply of Mills Bombs,perhaps?”
“No. The General does not approve ofgrenades. Cold steel is all that British troops require. Ensure that allbayonets are well sharpened.”
Braithwaite shook his head as Richardprepared his answer. He was right – there was no point to arguing.
“What reserves are there, Major?”
“None in this sector, Colonel Baker. Theywill not be needed. The cavalry will roll up anything the Germans have waiting.You are fortunate to have two regiments of heavy dragoons assigned, sir.”
“Very good, Major. How are they to crossthe trench, sir?”
“Deal with that when the time comes,Colonel. It will be obvious. They are used to hunting, don’t you know.”
Presumably they were to jump. Richardwished them luck.
Braithwaite took over.
“There will be additional rations, toallow for the first two or three days of open warfare that will follow on thebreach of the German lines. It is vital, of course, to push on as hard as canbe and mop up behind the cavalry before the broken remnants can reform. Arrangementsare being made for prisoner of war cages in the rear areas. Other than that,maintain close order and keep the men together.”
The written orders stipulated a march paceof three miles an hour, the men to hold in their lines, shoulder to shoulder, lieutenantsto mark the pace and hold the line, exactly as at Neuve Chapelle.
Dorrington left to carry his glad news toanother brigade and Richard turned to Braithwaite in dismay.
“Nothing has changed, sir. We will lose aquarter of the men if everything goes well. Fifteen hours of bombardment isinsufficient to flatten all of the wire and destroy the machine guns and fieldartillery. Only small guns available to us, as well.”
“The big howitzers are being kept back forthe main thrust in the centre, Baker. They are short of rounds for them so theywill join in the last two hours of the barrage there.”
“Even an hour with a pair of nine pointtwos would do us some good, sir. Landing on the wire apron, the big shellswould cut us a passage. Sixty pound shells won’t do the job.”
“That’s your naval background, Baker. Youknow about such things. Still, come and talk to the artillery.”
Richard was introduced to the major whohad attended the meeting.
“Ten batteries, Major, for fifteen hours?”
“Not quite, Colonel. The eighteen pounderswill maintain fire. We are short of shells for the sixties. They will fire forthe first two hours, targeted specifically at the wire. After that, their firewill
