CHAPTER XII.

CONCLUSION.

The Price of Victory—The Special Strength of the Brigade—An Example of True Race Integration—The Nation and the Individual.

There is no need to pursue the chronicle of the Brigade through the slow months of demobilization, till in the following June the bulk of its members embarked for home in a German liner handed over to Britain under the terms of peace. When on that grey November morning the guns fell silent, it had accomplished the task to which it had dedicated itself in the summer of 1915. It had travelled a long road in the three years. Brought suddenly, after its short campaign in Egypt, into the thick of the fiercest struggle in the West, it had performed every duty allotted to it with whole-hearted devotion and supreme competence. Never more than a few thousand in numbers, and perpetually short of drafts, it had won for its country of origin a name in the field as proud as that of far larger and more populous territories. There is no soldier living who would deny that in quality the South Africans ranked with the best troops of any army. Twice by its own self-sacrifice the Brigade had been reduced to a handful, and had lost all semblance of a unit, and on each occasion its loss had been the salvation of the British cause. At Delville Wood, at Marrières Wood, and at Messines it had proved to what heights of resolution a defence may rise: in attack at Arras, at Third Ypres, and at Le Cateau it had shown the world, in Napier’s famous words, “with what majesty the British soldier fights.” The little contingent, one among some hundred British brigades, occupied small space on the battle-map. But scale must not be confused with kind; the men of Leonidas were not the less Spartans because they were only three hundred.

In the long road to victory they had left many of their best by the wayside. The casualties in France were close on 15,000, nearly 300 per cent. of the original strength. Of these some 5,000 were dead. As evidence of the fury of the Western campaign, it may be noted that the South African contingent in East Africa was nearly twice the size of the forces in France from beginning to end, but its losses were not more than a quarter of theirs. How many, especially of the younger officers, whose names are recorded in the earlier actions, survived to advance on Le Cateau? Yet the amazing thing is that in a Brigade which was so often severely engaged, and in which the uttermost risks were cheerfully and habitually taken, any came through the three years’ struggle. There are men who fought from Agagia to Le Cateau and have now returned to the mine and the farm to be living witnesses to their miraculous Odyssey.

Wherein lay the peculiar strength of the Brigade? It has been a war of many marvels. We have seen pasty-faced youths from the slums of cities toughen into redoubtable soldiers, and boys new from office-stool and college classroom become on the instant leaders of men and Berserks in battle. The Brigade had the initial advantage of drawing upon men of a fine physique, and, in many cases, of practical experience in a rough and self-reliant life. Its recruits, too, as I have already said, showed a high average of education, and many who never left the ranks were well qualified for commissions. They developed rapidly a perfect _esprit de corps_, which, because they were so few and so far from home, was more than the solidarity of a fighting unit, and became something like the spirit of a race and a nation. I do not think a more perfect brotherhood-in-arms could have been found on any front. Lastly, they were commanded by officers who had their full confidence and affection. The successive brigadiers, the battalion and battery commanders, and every officer understood the meaning of “team-work,” and loved and respected the troops they led.

There is one quality of the South Africans which deserves especial mention—I mean their curious modesty. A less boastful body of men never appeared in arms. They had a horror of any kind of advertisement. No war correspondent attended them to chronicle their doings; no picturesque articles in the press enlightened the public at home. That may have been bad for the Allied cause; but assuredly it was what they wished themselves. They had in a high degree the traditional British love of understatement, and no old regular was ever a greater adept at pitching things in a low key. To talk to them after a hard-fought action was to hear a tale of quite ordinary and prosaic deeds, in which little credit was sought for themselves but much given to others. They had that gentle and inflexible pride which is too proud to make claims, and leaves the bare fact to be its trumpeter. I believe that to be a quality of South Africa. She is so ancient a land that she does not need to brag and hustle like newer peoples, but comports herself with the quiet good-breeding of long descent. She has been through so many furnaces that she has won dignity and simplicity. These were most notably the traits of her forces on the Western front. They feared very little on earth except the reputation of heroes; and if in this book I have done violence to that fine tradition, I can only make them my apology and plead the debt of the historian to truth.

The story which I have endeavoured to tell is to be regarded in the first place as the achievement of a people—that South African people in which the union of two race-stocks is in process of consummation. The war record of South Africa, from whatever angle it is regarded, is one to be proud of. To the different fronts she contributed over 136,000 white troops—nearly 10 per cent. of her total white population, and some 20 per cent. of her male white population. But, great as was her work in other battle-grounds, to my mind her chief glory is her achievement in France. The campaigns in German East and South-West Africa might be regarded as frontier wars, fought for the immediate defence of her borders and her local interests. But to come into line in the main struggle far away in Europe meant an understanding of the deeper issues of the Great War. Her sons in France did not fight in the narrow sense for Britain; they fought for that liberal civilization of which the British Commonwealth is the humble guardian; they fought for that South African nation which could not hope to live till Germany’s challenge to liberty was answered. There were many in the Brigade who had still quick in their hearts an affection for the northern islands from which they had sprung; but there were many to whom Britain was only a faint memory, and many in whom her name woke no enthusiasm. There were men of Dutch blood who had fought stoutly against us in the old South African War, and now fought like crusaders, not for our Empire, but for the greater faith by which alone that Empire can be justified. All honour to those who were not beguiled by the chatter of a shallow racialism, which, let it be remembered, is the eternal foe of nationality; who, without the homely sentiment and intimate loyalties which inspired the British-born, battled for an austere faith and an honourable ideal of their country’s future.

Ever since eighteen years ago I had first the privilege to know South Africa, I have cherished the belief that the Dutch stock there is one of the finest in the world, and the most akin in fundamentals to our own; and that the future must bring to the two races some such union in spirit and in truth as links to-day the “auld enemies” of England and Scotland. The War has enlarged that hope. Never during its three years was there a spark of racial feeling in the ranks of the Brigade. No Dutchman ever cavilled at the appointment of an Englishman; no Englishman or Scot but gave his full confidence to a Dutch superior. All were South Africans and citizens of no mean country. The Brigade was a microcosm of what South Africa may yet become if the fates are kind. It was a living example of true race integration.

The story may be regarded also as a record of plain human achievement, of what heights are possible in the “difficult but not desperate” life of man. To individuals, as to nations, comes at rare intervals the supreme test of manhood. It is often an open choice: there are excellent arguments why the smooth rather than the rough road should be taken. The men of the Brigade enlisted voluntarily, under no conscription of law—not even under the social coercion of universal recruiting; their pay was the slender wage of the British regular; they abandoned, most of them, good prospects in their different callings; there was no reward before them save honour and a quiet conscience. They made, in another sense than Dante’s Pope, the _gran rifiuto_, and preferred a rendezvous with death to comfort and ease. And having chosen, they were wholly resolved to endure to the end. Such a sacrifice is not made in vain, and against it the gates of death cannot prevail. The survivors face life with a new mastery over themselves and their fates, and the remembrance of the fallen will be a glory and inspiration to the generations to come.

Man cannot live always on the heights. It would not be well if he did, for the work of the world must be carried on among the flats beneath. But it is good to know that the hills are there, and it is better to have once sojourned among them.... In the bushveld under the scarp of the Berg one may move for days in a parched and thorny land, where the dust hangs in clouds over the road, and dank thickets fringe unwholesome rivers. But to the west above the foothills rise green lines of upland, which by day seem no more than the bare top of a mountain, but at sunset glow like jewels in the heavens. Such a sight is welcome to the traveller, for it tells him that somewhere, and not too distant, there is a land of cool meadows and shining streams; and from that secret country descend the waters which make fruitful the workaday plains.

APPENDICES

APPENDIX I.

THE HEAVY ARTILLERY.

An apology is due for the relegation of so distinguished a service as the South African Heavy Artillery to an appendix, and for a sketch of a most honourable record which must necessarily be short and inadequate. To tell the story fully would involve the rewriting of the history of the campaign in the West from a special angle; and the point of view of a siege battery, which in action is stationary though not immobile, and is on all occasions ancillary to the infantry work, is not the best from which to follow the main movements of war. The story of a battery, too, should include many technical matters which cannot properly find their place in a general history. But it is greatly to be hoped that detailed records will be published of the different South African artillery units, such as has already been most admirably prepared for the 71st Battery. Some of them were engaged in battles in which the Infantry Brigade had no part, and when the artillery story is added, the South African records cover almost the whole career of the British Army in France and Flanders. In particular, the doings of the 73rd Battery at the southern gatepost during the Battle of the Lys is a fitting accompaniment to the exploits of the Infantry Brigade at Messines in the north.

We have already seen (Chapter I.) that the five batteries of the old South African Heavy Artillery Brigade were armed, on arriving in England, with 6-inch howitzers and affiliated to the Royal Garrison Artillery, becoming the 73rd, 74th, 71st, 72nd, and 75th Siege Batteries, R.G.A. In April 1916 a sixth battery, the 125th, was formed. Early in 1918 a seventh battery, the 542nd, and an eighth, the 496th, were created, but when they arrived in France they were broken up, and their guns and _personnel_ distributed, the first between the 75th and the 125th, and the second between the 72nd and 74th. A ninth battery, the 552nd, armed with 8-inch guns, was formed in the autumn of 1918, but the War ended before it could be brought into action. We have therefore to deal with six siege batteries, which were engaged in France from the summer of 1916 to the date of the armistice. At first the batteries were independent units, being allotted to widely separated corps and heavy artillery groups. It was not till the beginning of 1918 that they were brought together, and two South African Brigades formed, the 44th and the 50th—the 44th including the 73rd (S.A.), 71st (S.A.), 125th (S.A.), and 20th Batteries; and the 50th, the 74th (S.A.), 72nd (S.A.), 75th (S.A.), and 275th. It will be convenient to take the doings of each battery separately up to January 1918, and thereafter to deal with the record of the two brigades.

THE 73RD SIEGE BATTERY, R.G.A.

This Battery, after its period of training in England, landed at Havre on May 1, 1916, under the command of Major Walter Brydon. On 9th May it reached Bienvillers-au-Bois, in the Somme area, where it took up a battle position under the command of the 19th Artillery Group. On 15th May it fired its first round for sighting purposes. On 1st July, when the First Battle of the Somme began, it covered the infantry advance on Gommecourt, attaining the record of thirty-two rounds in eight minutes with each gun. On 17th July it moved to the village of Berles-au-Bois, and was engaged in smashing enemy trenches and counter-battery work in the neighbourhood of Monchy-au-Bois and Ransart. On 25th August it moved back to Doullens, and thence to Albert, where it took up position in the ruins of La Boisselle. Here it supported the attack on Pozières, Courcelette, and Thiepval; and Major Brydon was wounded while observing for the Battery in the front trenches. In October it advanced its position to Pozières, where it suffered considerably from enemy fire, and had its fill of discomforts from the weather of that appalling winter. In February 1917 Major Brydon returned to duty; and on the 15th of that month two officers of the Battery, Lieutenant Campion and Second-Lieutenant J. Currie, advancing with the infantry to the capture of Boom ravine, rallied two companies whose officers had all been killed, and captured two strong machine-gun posts. Lieutenant Campion fell in this gallant exploit, and Second-Lieutenant Currie received the D.S.O.

In March, in a heavy snowfall, the Battery left the Somme and went north to the Arras area, where, in the Battle of Arras on 9th April, it supported the attack of the Canadians on Vimy Ridge. By noon the advance had progressed so far that the Battery was out of range, and moved forward first to Écurie and then to Thélus. Thélus proved a hot corner, and the Battery had many casualties, notably on 1st May, Major Brydon being wounded for the second time. Soon after it was relieved and retired to Houdain, its first spell out of the line since its arrival in France. It returned to Thélus on 28th May, Captain P. A. M. Hands being temporarily in command, and remained there till the last day of June, when it was transferred to Flanders. Its new position was in the Ypres salient, at the village of Zillebeke, close to Hill 60, where it was much exposed to the enemy’s fire, and within 1,000 yards of his front lines. Owing to this, working parties had to be sent up overnight, going in single file for over three miles, past such places of proved unhealthiness as “Hell Fire Corner” and “Shrapnel Corner.” The guns were in position by the 17th July, and on the 25th Major Brydon came back from hospital. The Battery was bombed night and day by enemy aircraft, and had no means of making shell-proof cover, for the water was only two feet below the surface of the ground. On 29th August it was relieved for a short space, but it was not till 1st November that it finally left Zillebeke and the Second Battle of Ypres. During the four months there it had nine guns put out of action by hostile fire. On 7th October Major Brydon was gassed, and went to hospital for the third time.

The Battery returned to its old ground at Thélus, which had now become a quiet area, and on 11th November moved to Liévin, west of Lens. Here it had comfortable quarters, and was busy preparing positions in anticipation of an attack. It pulled out for Christmas to Béthune, and on January 5, 1918, took up position at Loisne, where it received news of its inclusion in the new 44th (S.A.) Brigade, R.G.A.

THE 71ST SIEGE BATTERY, R.G.A.

The 71st Battery arrived at Havre on April 16, 1916, under the command of Major H. C. Harrison. It was destined for the impending operations on the Somme, and its first position was at Mailly-Maillet in the VIII. Corps area. On 2nd June, however, it was ordered north to Ypres, where the Canadians at the moment were heavily engaged. On the 18th it returned to Mailly-Maillet, where it participated in the opening days of the First Battle of the Somme. On 5th July it moved to Bécordel, and supported the attack on Mametz Wood, Ovillers, and Contalmaison, and the September attack on Martinpuich and Flers. On 20th September it moved forward to Bazentin, where till the close of the year it was engaged in battling with the problem of the Somme mud. After a short period of rest it was at Ovillers on January 2, 1917, and during February and March moved slowly eastward, following the German retreat. In April it was engaged against the Hindenburg line, and had a share in the fierce fighting around Bullecourt. In July and August it had a position at Croisilles, some 2,000 yards from the enemy front. One sector moved north on 31st August to a position just outside the Menin gate at Ypres, and the rest of the Battery followed on 15th September. There it took part in the Third Battle of Ypres, supporting the attack of the South African Brigade on 20th September, the first occasion when it was in action along with its own infantry. Its position was badly exposed, and it suffered many casualties from enemy shell fire and air-bombing, till it was relieved on 22nd October.

Much worn out, it now moved to Liévin, in the Lens area, where for a little it had a quieter life. On 8th November it handed over its guns to the 73rd (S.A.) Siege Battery, and with the guns of the latter went south to Bapaume. Its new position was in the outskirts of Gouzeaucourt, where, on 20th November, it shared in the Battle of Cambrai. The German counter-attack of the 30th came very near its position, and during those stormy days the Battery, under the command of Major P. N. G. Fitzpatrick, did brilliant work under great difficulties. Unhappily, on 14th December, at Beaumetz, Major Fitzpatrick was killed by a chance shell. On the 18th the guns were withdrawn to Beaumetz, and by the end of the month the Battery was on the front between Béthune and Lens, one section going to La Bourse, and the other to Beuvry. Here it became part of the 44th (S.A.) Brigade.

THE 125TH SIEGE BATTERY, R.G.A.

The 125th Battery was first organized on April 4, 1916, under the command of Major R. P. G. Begbie. It arrived at Havre on 21st July, and reached the Third Army area on 26th July, during the fourth week of the First Battle of the Somme. Its position was at Sailly-au-Bois, on the extreme left of the battle-ground, where its principal targets were the German batteries at Puisieux, Bucquoy, and Grandcourt. On 19th October it moved to the eastern edge of Englebelmer Wood, where it was attached to Sir Hubert Gough’s Fifth Army. Here it “prepared” and participated in the attack on Beaumont-Hamel on 13th November. It was a difficult task, for its gun positions were remote from the road, and every 100 lb. shell had to be carried some 400 yards through a swamp, until eventually a line of rails was laid. On January 20, 1917, the Battery moved to a new position on the Auchonvillers road, half a mile north of Mailly-Maillet, where for the next few weeks it was engaged by enemy batteries and a German heavy calibre naval gun, and suffered many losses. On 22nd February it moved into Beaumont-Hamel, where it had better quarters.

On 22nd March, over impossible roads, the Battery moved north to Arras, where its first position was beside the Faubourg d’Amiens. On the second day of the battle of Arras it moved east to St. Sauveur, and on 16th April it went forward a mile east of Tilloy-lès-Mofflaines, on the Arras-Cambrai road. Here it was much exposed, and three days later it moved back to the wood of Tilloy. For the next month its guns were constantly in action by day and night. On 11th May it pulled out for a much needed rest, during which time it received reinforcements which brought it up to strength. On 18th June it moved to Roclincourt, in the Oppy section, where the first leave to England was granted. On 21st July it took up position at Vermelles-lès-Béthune, in the Lens area. Here it came under the First Army, and from the 15th to the 23rd August was heavily engaged in supporting the attack of the Canadians on Hill 70, east of Loos. On the evening of the latter day it moved forward into the ruins of Loos, and rendered brilliant service in the action of the 24th. Its cables were constantly cut by shell fire, and on 5th September it had 28 casualties from a deluge of German gas shells. The _personnel_ of the Battery was withdrawn to rest between the 9th and 21st of September, but from the latter date till 8th October it resumed its work in that section. When the four guns were brought back to Béthune, it was found that not one was fit for further action.

The Battery was now attached to the Belgian Army as one of the thirteen siege batteries constituting the XIV. Corps Heavy Artillery. Its position was in the swampy country in the neighbourhood of Steenvoorde and Oostkerke. On 3rd December it moved to the La Bassée area, and rejoined the First Army, taking up position at Annequin. On January 9, 1918, there came a short space of rest near Lillers. Major Begbie handed over the command to Major J. G. Stewart, and the Battery became part of the 44th (S.A.) Brigade.

THE 44TH (SOUTH AFRICAN) HEAVY ARTILLERY BRIGADE.

On January 29, 1918, Lieutenant-Colonel T. H. Blew, D.S.O., of the South African Defence Force, took command of the Brigade, with headquarters at Beuvry Château. The four batteries were in position east and south of Béthune. During February and March this was a quiet sector, but the batteries were busy preparing reserve positions in depth in view of a possible German attack. From the first day of April the guns were actively engaged in counter-battery work.

The German assault came on 9th April, and one of its main objectives was the right pillar of the British front at Givenchy, held by the 55th Division. All the battery positions of the Brigade, except that of the 125th, had been located by the enemy, who from the early morning drenched them with high explosives and gas shells. For a time all communications with Brigade Headquarters were cut. The falling back of the division on their left allowed the enemy to advance almost up to their gun positions. The 73rd Battery was in the most hazardous case, and owing to the shelling it was impossible to bring up motor transport to evacuate its guns. Major Brydon, who had returned the month before from hospital to the command of the Battery, was ordered to blow up his guns, but instead he served out rifles and a couple of machine guns to his men, and bade them stand to. At one time he had to send the breech-blocks to the rear for safety, but the attack was stayed before it reached the guns, and the breech-blocks were brought back. Though wounded and gassed, he refused to leave his Battery. Finally he was compelled to retire. The men dragged the guns for nearly a mile under cover of darkness, and by 2 a.m. on the morning of the 10th a new position had been found, and the Battery was again in action. The casualties of the Brigade that day were 13 men killed, and 6 officers and 29 men wounded.

The stand on the 9th checked the enemy for a time, and all batteries were able to take up less exposed positions. They suffered, however, from a continuous bombardment, and on the 12th the heroic commander of the 73rd was killed by a shell. He had left the doctor’s hands when a severe burst of German fire began, and had hurried forward to see to his guns. No officer in the British Army had a finer record for gallantry and devotion to duty. His Battery was known everywhere on the front as “Brydon’s Battery,” and he was beloved by his men, for his only thought was for them. During the 9th, though wounded himself, he helped to dress the other wounded, and when the men at the guns began to show signs of exhaustion, he himself dealt out rum to them. Finally he went through a downpour of shells to find a doctor and more dressings. It was one of the many ironies of the war that he never received the Victoria Cross, for he won it a dozen times. Let his epitaph be the words of a gunner in his Battery, who had served with him only a few weeks, and who on the 9th had his arms and legs shot away. Major Brydon stopped and asked if he could do anything for him. The dying man raised himself on his stumps. “By God, Brydon,” he cried, “you are a man. I’m only good for the parson now, but I’m proud to die under you.”

The 18th of April saw another severe bombardment, when five officers of the 73rd Battery were gassed—Captain P. A. M. Hands, the second in command, and Second-Lieutenants Maasdorp and Brown dying of the effects. This meant a loss to the Brigade, since the 9th, of five officers dead. The expenditure of ammunition during that period had been enormous: the 71st Battery, for example, fired 11,000 rounds. The Brigade remained on the same front till the 27th June, when it was brought out to rest. On the 27th July Lieutenant-Colonel Blew relinquished his command, being succeeded temporarily by Major E. H. Tamplin, who, on 17th August, handed over to Lieutenant-Colonel G. M. Bennett, formerly commanding the 74th Battery.

On returning to the line on 2nd August, the Brigade took up positions farther south in the neighbourhood of Hulluch. On the 22nd its Headquarters were heavily shelled, and one member of the staff was killed. During August and September the batteries supported the steady pressure maintained along this sector in anticipation of the German retirement, all moving to forward positions. On the 2nd October the enemy fell back three miles to the line of the Haute-Deule Canal, and the advance of the Fifth Army began. As soon as roads were repaired, the guns moved up to Douvrin, Hulluch, and Wingles, and on the 12th October assisted in the capture of Vendin by the 15th Division. Owing to the difficulty of bridging the many canals, siege batteries could only follow very slowly, and the Germans were on the line of the Scheldt before they came again into action. The enemy kept up a heavy bombardment during the first week of November, and on the night of the 6th the Brigade suffered its last casualties in the war. The bridging of the Scheldt was in rapid progress, and the batteries were preparing to advance across the river, when on the 11th hostilities ceased.

THE 74TH SIEGE BATTERY, R.G.A.

The 74th Battery landed at Havre on April 30, 1916, under the command of Major Pickburn. It proceeded to Authuille, and on 4th May took up position at Bienvillers-au-Bois. On the first day of the First Battle of the Somme its four guns fired 1,733 rounds, supporting the unsuccessful attack of the infantry at Gommecourt. It then took over the position of the 73rd Battery, and later on, 27th August, moved to the Martinsart-Aveluy road for the operations against Thiepval. On 7th October it was in the orchard at Colincamp, a place without cover and a favourite target for the enemy. There it spent some desperate weeks. On 7th November the battery-commander, Major Pickburn, was killed. On the 20th November the enemy kept up a severe bombardment all day, and four gunners lost their lives. It was the same on the 29th, when an armour-piercing shell penetrated to a cellar protected by seven feet of earth and bricks, and killed the three occupants. The position was really untenable for a heavy battery, but it was held till early in December, when a move was made to Auchonvillers. It presently moved to Gouy-en-Artois, and then to Arras and the Faubourg d’Amiens. In the early weeks of the year it was at Rivière, opposite Ficheux, and then again in a suburb of Arras.

In the battle of Arras the Battery supported the advance of the South African Infantry Brigade, and on the 12th its right section was in the old German line at Point de Jour, supporting the fighting in the Oppy, Gavrelle, and Rœux area. At that time they were the farthest forward siege guns on the British front. There the Battery continued till the battle died away. Major Tamplin was gassed and returned to England, Major Murray-MacGregor taking over the command. By 5th July the whole Battery had moved to the Ypres neighbourhood, where it took up ground on the canal bank near “Shrapnel Corner.” There, during the first stages of Third Ypres, it suffered the usual fate of combatants in the Salient. Major Murray-MacGregor was succeeded in the command by Major G. M. Bennett. Presently it moved to a position on the Verbranden-Molen road, and a little later to Hooge. This was its station during the remainder of the battle. It had many casualties from shell, fire, and gas, and the reliefs coming by the Menin road had to face an incessant enemy barrage. The total men available on each shift were only seventeen for all four guns, and had not three of the guns been knocked out the task would have been impossible. When at last the Battery was withdrawn, it was reduced to 1 gun and 70 men.

On 21st December the Battery, now brought up to strength, went back to the line as part of the 50th (S.A.) Brigade, R.G.A.

THE 72ND SIEGE BATTERY, R.G.A.

The 72nd Battery landed in France on April 21, 1916, under the command of Major C. W. Alston. Its first position was at Mailly-Maillet, where with a very short allowance of ammunition it entered upon its field experience. It was sent to Ypres on 3rd June along with the 71st to assist the Canadians, where it had some hard fighting, Major Alston being severely wounded, and Captain A. G. Mullins taking over the command. Returning to Mailly, it took part in the opening days of the First Somme, and then moved first to Englebelmer, and then to Authuille. This last was an excellent position, with a steep bank in front of the guns and the Ancre in the rear. The Battery remained there for eight months, until the retirement of the enemy enabled it to advance to Thiepval and Grandcourt.

On March 22, 1917, it moved to the Arras neighbourhood, taking up ground near Berthonval Wood, a few miles east of Mont St. Eloi. From this position the Battery shared in the battle for Vimy, after the fall of which it moved forward to Souchez, under the northern end of the ridge. On 30th April it retired to Houdain for its first spell of rest since it arrived in France. On 12th May it was at Thélus, and four days later it was transferred to the 1st Canadian Heavy Artillery Group, and took up position at Zouave valley, near Givenchy, in the Vimy area. There it remained for three months, supporting the Canadian attack at Lens.

On 25th October the Battery went north with the Canadian Corps to Ypres, where it relieved the 73rd (S.A.) Siege Battery in a peculiarly unhealthy spot between Zillebeke and Observatory Ridge. There, during the first twenty-four hours, it had twelve casualties. On 17th October the command was taken over by Captain C. P. Ward. On January 11, 1918, after a period of rest, the Battery took up position behind the Damm Strasse, near Wytschaete. It was now brigaded with the 50th (S.A.) Brigade.

THE 75TH SIEGE BATTERY, R.G.A.

The 75th Battery reached France on April 24, 1916, under the command of Major W. H. L. Tripp. It took up its position on the outskirts of the town of Albert, near the hospital, being attached to the III. Corps. It participated in the “preparation” for the First Battle of the Somme, and on 1st July fired 1,312 rounds before noon. On 14th July it moved to Bécourt Wood, and on the 29th to a position north of Fricourt Wood. Here it supported the attack of 15th September. On the 21st of that month it moved to the wood of Bazentin-le-Grand, where it was in touch with the South African Infantry Brigade during its fight at the Butte de Warlencourt. On January 29, 1917, it moved back to Albert, and early in February went south of the Somme into the old French area. There it advanced as the Germans fell back, crossing the Somme at Péronne on 25th March, and occupying ground successively at Templeux-la-Fosse and Longavesnes. On 6th April, at St. Emilie, it fired its first shot against the Hindenburg Line, and remained in that area till the end of June, when it moved north to Flanders.

[Illustration: LIEUTENANT-COLONEL W. H. L. TRIPP, D.S.O., M.C., Commanding 75th Siege Battery, S.A.H.A., August 1915-January 1918, then 50th (S.A.) Brigade, R.G.A.]

By 13th July all four guns were in position on the Vlamertinghe-Elverdinghe road, where, owing to the flat country, the Battery had great difficulty in finding suitable O.P.’s. On the night of 30th July it moved forward to the bank of the Ypres Canal, where it supported the opening of the Third Battle of Ypres. Later it advanced to the Pilckem ridge, where in a much exposed position it supported the attack on Houthulst Forest and Passchendaele. It was exceptionally fortunate, for in all the period from 31st July to 20th December it had only one officer casualty. In the middle of December it went south to the Zillebeke lake, and on January 11, 1918, it moved to the Damm Strasse, near Wytschaete. It was now part of the 50th Brigade.

THE 50TH (SOUTH AFRICAN) HEAVY ARTILLERY BRIGADE.

This Brigade was formed during January 1918, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel W. H. L. Tripp, D.S.O., M.C., formerly of the 75th Battery. On 28th January it was attached to the Australian Corps, occupying positions between Zillebeke and Wytschaete. On 26th February it went into General Headquarters Reserve, being encamped near Bailleul. On 6th March the 496th (S.A.) Siege Battery arrived, and was split up between the 72nd and 74th Batteries, making these six-gun batteries. On 10th March the Brigade was ordered to prepare positions behind the Portuguese divisions, but the orders were cancelled. On 13th March it was attached to Sir H. Plumer’s Second Army. On the 24th, after the great German attack had been launched at St. Quentin, it began to move southwards, and on the 28th was at Neuville St. Vaast during the German assault on Arras. On the 30th it was attached to the Canadian Corps.

During April the batteries were in position at Roclincourt, to the north-east of Arras, and settled down to the familiar type of trench warfare. Since the whole military situation was uncertain at the moment, much time had to be spent on the preparation of reserve battery positions. Five series were selected, varying from three to fifteen miles behind those in use. On 1st May the Brigade was ordered north, the 72nd and 74th Batteries joining the I. Corps near Mazingarbe, and the others going to the XIII. Corps, in the vicinity of Hinges. By the 3rd these orders were changed, and the whole Brigade was sent to Arras to the XVII. Corps. There it remained till the end of August, engaged in normal trench warfare. On 7th August Captain E. G. Ridley, M.C., was promoted major in command of the 74th Battery, to replace Major Bennett, who had gone to command the 44th Brigade.

On 26th August the Brigade supported the advance of the Canadian Corps and the 51st Division, which resulted in the capture of Monchy. The batteries now began to move forward along the Arras-Cambrai road, where they were engaged in cutting the wire of the Drocourt-Quéant switch. On 1st September the medical officer of the Brigade, Captain G. R. Cowie, was seriously wounded, and died two days later. On the 2nd the Canadians carried the Drocourt-Quéant switch, all the guns in the Brigade assisting in the preliminary bombardment and the subsequent barrage. Next day the Brigade passed under the XXII. Corps, which held the line of the Sensée, in order to protect the flank of the Canadian thrust towards Cambrai. No serious operations took place for more than three weeks; but on the 27th came the great advance of the Canadian and XVII. Corps towards and beyond Cambrai, and it became clear that a general enemy retirement was a matter of days. On 3rd October Major Ridley left for England to form a new 8-inch S.A. battery, and his place in command of the 74th was taken by Major C. J. Forder. On the 11th the Brigade came under the Canadian Corps.

On the 12th the batteries advanced, first to Tortequesne, and then to Estrées and Noyelle. On the 19th they were at Lewarde. On the 20th a section of the 74th Battery moved to Wallers to support the Canadian attack. This was the last engagement of the Brigade in the War, for on the 24th it was placed in army reserve, and remained there till the armistice on 11th November.

APPENDIX II.

THE SOUTH AFRICAN SIGNAL COMPANY (R.E.)

INCEPTION AND ORGANIZATION—AUGUST-OCTOBER 1915.

At the beginning of the war the service of communications in the Imperial Army was organized as the Signals Branch of the Corps of Royal Engineers. This provided and maintained all communications, comprising Telegraphs, Telephones, Visual Signalling, and Despatch Riders (Horse, Motor-Cycle, and Cycle). A Signal Service Company, suitably equipped and organized for its multifarious duties, was provided in war establishments as a part of the headquarters of each of the higher formations—Division, Corps, and Army. The development of scientific trench warfare on the Western Front vastly increased both the importance and the complexity of the communications of the contending armies; and when, towards the close of the campaign in German South-West Africa, the composition of the Union Oversea Contingent was decided, the offer of a Divisional Signal Company was willingly accepted by the Imperial authorities.

The raising of this Company was entrusted to Major N. Harrison, Engineer-in-Chief of the Union Post Office, who had acted as Director of Signals to the Union Forces during the Rebellion and the German South-West African Campaign. For the acceptance of his recruits Major Harrison set such a high standard of specialized knowledge, character, intelligence, and military experience, that the assembling of the two hundred and thirty men of the original Company occupied the whole of August and September 1915. Eventually a magnificent body of picked men were assembled in Potchefstroom Camp fully representative of all South Africa, from the Zambesi to Cape Town. In view of the technical nature of the new unit’s duties, it was natural that a high proportion of the recruits should come from the Transvaal, and particularly the Witwatersrand. The relative figures were—

Recruited in Transvaal 53.7 per cent. (Of these, 64 per cent. from Johannesburg.) Cape 25 ” Natal 12.7 ” Orange Free State 6.6 ” Rhodesia, etc. 2 ”

The standard of physique was very high, and fully correspondent to the maturity shown by an average age of 28.4 years. The backbone of the Company consisted of skilled telegraphists and linemen from the Union Post Office, the majority of whom had served in German South-West Africa, and in previous wars. The drivers, whose excellent horsemanship impressed every one at the training centre in England, were recruited mainly from the farming population, and included many young Dutchmen.

By the beginning of October all the officers, who had been selected from officials of the engineering branch of the post office and electrical engineers of the Witwatersrand, had joined, and on the 17th October the unit, in company with the S.A.M.C. and details of the South African Brigade and S.A.H.A., sailed for England on the _Kenilworth Castle_, with a strength of six officers—Major N. Harrison commanding—Lieutenants J. A. Dingwall, R. H. Covernton, J. Jack, F. H. Michell, F. M. Ross—and 229 other ranks. The Company arrived at Bordon Camp, Hants, on 4th November.

REORGANIZATION AND TRAINING OF THE COMPANY IN ENGLAND—NOVEMBER 1915-APRIL 1916.

Owing to the demands of the German East African Campaign, in which the Union Government was now engaged, there was no prospect of infantry units for the Western Front beyond the one brigade already in England. As the South African Brigade would, therefore, constitute only one-third of the infantry of some Imperial division, the Company could not serve with the Infantry Brigade in the capacity of a divisional signal company, as originally contemplated. On the other hand, new army corps were in course of formation, and corps signal companies had to be raised and trained for them. A corps signal company requires a high proportion of skilled technicians in the ranks, and as, owing to the commanding officer’s care in selecting his recruits, the company possessed such a proportion, the War Office decided that it should be reorganized in order to form a Corps Signal Company, and proceed to the Signal Service Training Centre in Bedford for the necessary specialized training. The Company accordingly entrained for Hitchin on the 23rd November, and during the next few days was reorganized.

A Corps Signal Company exists primarily to provide communication between the headquarters of an army corps and the infantry divisions with their associated divisional field artilleries which constitute a corps. For this purpose it staffs and equips a Corps Headquarters Signal Office, including telephone exchange, telegraph and despatch rider offices; constructs such telegraph and telephone lines to divisions as may be necessary or possible; provides operators at the divisional ends of the lines, and runs and maintains local telephone lines to the different sections of the corps staff, and to the different units of the corps troops. The corps troops—which are those units directly commanded by corps headquarters—though negligible at the beginning of the war, increased enormously with the development of the Heavy Artillery, the Flying Corps, and the rest of the complicated technique of modern position warfare, until finally their communications dwarfed all others. In addition, the Corps Signal Company acts as a repair workshop, and issue store for the signal material and apparatus required by all units and formations within the corps; assists with and correlates their signal arrangements, and provides electric lighting for corps headquarters.

To provide for the night and day working and the manning of an advanced headquarters, the Headquarter Section was organized in three reliefs, each under a sergeant superintendent. To increase the number of lines which can be simultaneously run out during a general move, both Air Line and Cable Sections were divided into two detachments, each under a sergeant or corporal. Each air line detachment carried material for five miles of poled line on its lorries, and, after training, became capable of erecting this line at the rate of a mile an hour. Each cable detachment carried nine miles of cable, and learned to lay this out at the gallop when necessary, or at a normal rate of three miles an hour along roads where precautions for the preservation of the line had to be taken.

On January 17, 1916, all sections were concentrated in order to continue their training as a company, and billeted in the small villages of Clifton, Shefford, and Broome, a few miles from Haynes Park. The following months were spent in continuous unit training, interspersed with periods of combined training, known as “Signal Schemes.” In these “schemes” numbers of signal units awaiting their turn for oversea were organized as armies—imaginary in all except their communications—and flung a moving network of lines across the Eastern Counties. It was an extremely valuable and realistic training for mobile warfare. The drawing of the Company’s mobilization equipment and the completion of the motor transport, with the A.S.C. _personnel_ to operate it, followed the news of Verdun, and the day of embarkation for France was eagerly awaited. The men grew restive at the idea that the Infantry Brigade had already been in action in Egypt while they were still training in England.

Towards the end of March Major Harrison went to France in order to acquire the atmosphere of the trenches. During his absence the great blizzard of 1916 destroyed much of the post office and railway telegraph systems in the Midlands. All experienced men in the Company were turned out to assist in repairs, and the order to move to Southampton for France arrived when 51 Air Line and portions of all cable sections were scattered on this work up to a radius of forty miles from headquarters. Nevertheless the Company was assembled in a few hours, and was ready to move off at noon next day, with its mass of stores packed complete in all respects. The headquarters and 51 Air Line moving by road in their lorries, and the cable sections by train from Hitchin, reassembled at Southampton on the 10th April, and, sailing in the S.S. _Investigator_ with one of the S.A.H.A. batteries, landed at Havre on the 21st.

IN FRANCE: THE FRICOURT SECTOR—APRIL 1916.

After a day at Havre the move was continued—motor transport sections by road and cable sections by train—to Vignacourt. At this village in the Somme Valley, between Abbeville and Amiens, the headquarters of the newly constituted XV. Corps was concentrating under Lieutenant-General Horne, and Major Harrison, on the 23rd April, was appointed Assistant Director of Army Signals—_i.e._ Staff Officer for Signals to the Corps Commander. The Company now became the XV. Corps Signal Company, and served continuously with that Corps throughout the remainder of the war. A few days later the Corps moved into line between the III. and XIII. Corps, becoming a part of the Fourth Army under General Sir H. Rawlinson, and took over the sector fronting Fricourt and Mametz, between Bécourt and Carnoy. On the 30th April the Company took over from the XIII. Corps Signal Company at Heilly, a village on the Ancre, near Corbie. B.F. and B.G. sections were sent to join the headquarters of the two divisions in line—the 7th and 21st respectively—and B.F. section proceeded to Ville-sur-Ancre, where Brigadier-General Napier, commanding the Corps Heavy Artillery, had his headquarters, and took charge of the Heavy Artillery’s communications on the 27th April.

The experience of previous battles had shown that, next to an adequate artillery, the primary technical condition for a successful offensive was good and reliable communication between the assaulting infantry, the directing staffs, and the supporting artillery. Overground wires, no matter how multiplied, failed immediately under the counter-barrage. Visual signalling, slow at the best, was generally ineffective because of the smoke and dust of the barrage, the exposure of the _personnel_, and the unsuitability of the terrain, so faith was now pinned on cables laid in deep trenches for thousands of yards in rear of the front line, carrier pigeons, and runners. As soon as the area could be thoroughly surveyed, a programme of work was drawn up covering:—

(_a_) Reconstruction of and additions to the inadequate open wire routes in the back area, from Corps headquarters up to behind Méaulte, Morlancourt, and the Bois des Tailles, sufficient to cope with the number of units and formations to be thrown in for the battle, and suitably designed and located for rapid extension along the probable roads of the anticipated advance.

(_b_) A complete network of cable trenches extending from the heads of the open wire routes to the front line, providing telephone communication down to company and battery command posts and artillery observation posts.

In the early part of 1916 the deficiencies of technical equipment, in the supply of materials and of labour, were still great. The Signal Sections were then equipped for mobile warfare only, and found themselves carrying out heavy semi-permanent work with scarcely any of the usual tools and appliances. The work of the Ministry of Munitions had not yet produced its full fruits in supply, and though the Deputy-Director of Army Signals—Colonel R. G. Earle—did everything possible to meet the Company’s requirements, signal material—particularly cable—was scanty, and deliveries of a hand-to-mouth order. The Labour Corps was then a thing of the future, and, therefore, the whole of the massive works required for the offensive—roads, railways, dumps, dug-outs, etc.—had to be performed by the infantry in their turns out of the line. In such circumstances there was never enough labour to go round, and it required all the commanding officer’s tact and persuasiveness to secure the minimum of digging labour required for the cable trenches; all other unskilled work had to be thrown on the skilled sappers of the Company, and to free the outdoor men for construction, the telegraphists, after a long day at their instruments, had often to spend half the night loading and off-loading in the forward area masses of cable, poles, and line material.

Labour for the Heavy Artillery cable trenches was not secured till June, when two battalions from each division were placed under the direction of Lieutenant Ross for this work. Digging the trenches and laying cable were then pressed forward continuously night and day. Much of the work was only possible at night, as the ground was under direct observation, and the few skilled sappers available, after working most of the night with infantry digging parties, had to be turned out again at dawn, day after day, to take charge of scratch cable-laying parties made up from the signallers of batteries. The Heavy Artillery allotment for the XV. Corps in the coming battle was twenty-three batteries, organized in five groups, and an independent railway battery. The tactical conditions made the communication problem one of peculiar difficulty, because they enforced the siting of the batteries in two main clusters—one in the valley of the Ancre and the other in Happy Valley—both on the extreme flanks of the Corps’ frontage. Further, owing to the enemy’s tenure of the Fricourt salient, many batteries, to carry out their work, had to establish communication with observation posts sited on the opposite flank of the Corps area to the position of the batteries, and the most favourable O.P. positions lay far outside the Corps boundaries. The fact that many of the batteries only took position and settled on their O.P.’s in the last few days was an additional complication.

When these difficulties had been more or less successfully disposed of and laying commenced, a minor but vital detail in the material threatened disaster. The cable coming forward proved to be mainly single D 5—_i.e._ the standard army cable as supplied for overground use in mobile warfare, when few lines are laid and there is no objection to the earth constituting the return circuit. The results already known to have been obtained by the enemy in picking up our messages through earth by means of sensitive listening telephone apparatus, had already caused the issue of stringent orders that all lines within 1,600 yards—later increased to 3,000 yards—of the front line must be metallic circuits—_i.e._ each line had to consist of a pair of insulated wires. Also, owing to inductive effects when a number of pairs of wires are laid closely parallel to each other, as in a trench, a conversation over one pair will be heard in the other circuits unless each pair is twisted. The use of the single cable, therefore, not only doubled the work of laying (as each line necessitated two separate wires), but the untwisted pairs so formed would render the lines noisy and possibly entirely unworkable. Utilizing the frame of a cable wagon trail, and one of its wheels as a foundation, a machine was rapidly improvised by the section on which the drums of single cable were mounted as received, spun into twisted cable, and simultaneously reeled off on other drums for the laying parties. This apparatus was kept going and running at high pressure by the section wheeler, Sapper Page, with a few Artillery Headquarters’ grooms and batmen as his only available assistants.

By such strenuous efforts the programme was completed, and when the preparatory bombardment opened, 500 miles of cable had been laid and joined up in over twenty miles of cable trench, and every battery had excellent and reliable communication forward to its observation posts and back to its group commander. Two dug-outs had been constructed on each flank, into which all O.P. lines were led and terminated on special switchboards, designed and made up at the Company Headquarters.

Through these O.P. exchanges any battery could be connected to any O.P. for control of fire, which proved most valuable in the changing circumstances of the fighting. At that date the establishment of neither groups nor batteries included switchboards for metallic circuit lines. The necessary number—over thirty—were improvised in a few days at the Company workshops out of electric light fittings purchased in Amiens.

Meanwhile the other sections working at similar high pressure had completed the main communications from Corps Headquarters to the Battle Headquarters of the divisions, the 7th in dug-outs near Groveton, and the 21st in dug-outs on the edge of the plateau above Méaulte, and B.F. section had established and staffed a Corps Advanced Exchange at Morlancourt. The Carrier Pigeon Service had been organized and arrangements made for the systematic distribution of pigeons to the assaulting brigades from the main lofts in Heilly, Albert, and Méaulte, and the most rapid circulation from the pigeon lofts to all staffs concerned of information contained in messages brought by the birds returning from the front line.

A wireless detachment was supplied from Fourth Army Signals, and the _personnel_ completed by skilled operators selected from the Company. The Headquarters Station was fixed on the high ground near the Bray-Albert road on the cable trench between the two O.P. exchanges, and provided with direct communication to Corps through the underground system, and mobile stations were attached to the Signals of the attacking divisions. The Corps Staff Observation Posts in Péronne Avenue trench and the Grand Stand above Bonte Redoubt were connected by direct lines to the General Staff at Headquarters in Heilly, about ten miles off, and the special linemen provided to look after these lines kept them through without interruption during the attack.

THE SOMME BATTLE—JULY-NOVEMBER 1916.

In the early morning of the 1st July, after a continuous bombardment from the 25th June, the XV. Corps attacked with the 7th Division on the right, the 21st on the left, and the 17th in support. Hopes of a decisive victory ran high, and all signal arrangements for a rapid advance were in readiness, including the lines necessary to divert communications to Vivier Mill, outside Méaulte, which was to be the first bound of the Corps Headquarters, while the cable sections stood by with wagons packed during the morning. In spite of the gallantry of the infantry assault—which several of the Company were privileged to witness from the advanced trenches—by the evening it was clear that no great depth would be attained.

[Illustration: LIEUTENANT-COLONEL N. HARRISON, C.M.G., D.S.O., Commanding South African Signal Company (R.E.).]

The village of Fricourt was still holding out, and had repulsed a frontal attack with heavy loss, while the converging attacks of the 7th and 21st Divisions on the flanks of the salient, which were to have pinched it out, had carried Mametz, but just failed to link up behind Fricourt. The III. Corps on our left had taken La Boisselle and entered Ovillers, but had been driven out again; Montauban had fallen to the XIII. Corps on the right, but heavy fighting continued. Fricourt was bombarded all night by heavy howitzers, and deluged with a new gas shell by a brigade of French 75’s, which, together with an additional brigade of heavies, had been attached to the Corps Heavy Artillery shortly before the battle. When the infantry advanced next morning the village was found evacuated, and a party from B.E. section were able to make a preliminary reconnaissance for pushing forward the artillery routes. Our tenure of the high ground between Mametz and Montauban was now sufficiently secured, and the roads Méaulte-Fricourt and Carnoy-Mametz repaired to such an extent as to permit the advance of the heavy batteries to positions about our old front line. The artillery moves having thus begun, B.E. section thenceforward found itself taxed to the limit to keep pace with them. There were now seven groups to keep in touch, including the two attached French groups.

It was evident from the map that while the fighting for Mametz Wood continued, the new centre of observation would be about Pommiers Redoubt—the highest point of the Mametz-Montauban ridge—and after a hasty reconnaissance which located our advanced line down the forward slope about Caterpillar Wood, it was decided to lay a few pairs of armoured cable up the old German trenches from the new battery positions about Carnoy and Fricourt. The only armoured cable to be obtained was a portion of that already laid in the trench between the two O.P. exchanges. A few signallers having been collected from the batteries, this heavy armoured cable was recovered from the trench, conveyed forward by wagon, and again laid out up to Pommiers Redoubt. In doing this work the effect of the appalling road and traffic conditions which clogged all effort throughout the Somme was first clearly appreciated. The XV. Corps was unfortunately placed, in that no main road ran forward through its front. From beginning to end of the battle, the only traffic artery was the narrow country by-road from Méaulte to Fricourt, and thence by Mametz to Montauban.

Such transport conditions bore more hardly on signals than any other service. With activities spread over the whole area, a very limited _personnel_ and transport, and ever-changing conditions, which often stultified by nightfall all the laborious effort of the day, the difficulty of getting parties to a given spot at a given time, co-ordinating the supply of materials and labour, controlling the working parties and switching them to meet emergencies as they arose, was a splendid schooling in patience, temper, and too often in resignation to fate. This remained the paramount factor in the Company’s experience throughout the Somme. As an example, a cable wagon of B.E. section took its place in a melancholy queue at 7 a.m., and arrived at its working point near Montauban at 2 p.m., to lay a short line required urgently at noon, and involving about half an hour’s work. The party returned via Carnoy in accordance with the traffic circuit, and encountering similar conditions, reached headquarters near Méaulte at 10 p.m., with horses and men exhausted. Under the same difficulties, 51 Air Line Section was engaged in following up the advance with a light open wire route up to Fricourt, and B.G. and B.F. Sections were worked with the 21st Division Signals and the Corps Observers respectively.

The commencement of active operations brought the work of the operators and the despatch riders at headquarters and with the heavy artillery to a point of extreme pressure, which was maintained with little variation throughout the following months. Up to two thousand telegrams, and a larger number still of D.R.L.S. packets, were received or despatched daily. The telephone exchanges at Corps and Heavy Artillery Headquarters, with over sixty and thirty connections respectively, worked hard day and night, handling urgent priority calls; but so keen and expert were the operators that a service was maintained equal, if not superior, to the highest civilian standard. The destruction of lines by hostile shelling and traffic was met by the skilful use of alternative routes and by the quickness and energy of the maintenance linemen. However, the incessant strain to which the operators were subjected soon began to affect their nerves, and before the Company was withdrawn men resting off duty could be heard answering imaginary calls in their sleep.

On the 10th July B.G. Section, under the command of Lieutenant Covernton, did a notably fine performance in laying and maintaining lines through the intense barrages surrounding Mametz Wood. One of the first Valve Amplifying Listening Sets supplied to the British forces for use in intercepting enemy messages, by picking up weak leakage or induced currents through earth or along parallel conductors, had been issued to the Company for trial. As a large number of enemy cables ran through Mametz Wood, and some extended to enemy territory behind it, favourable results seemed probable. Lieutenant Collins took up the set, and tracing the cables into No Man’s Land, tapped in there. Though, owing to the excellent discipline of the enemy in obeying the limitations prescribed for use of wire communication in the front line, no tactical messages were obtained, this officer afterwards obtained recognition of his courageous and enterprising efforts.

On the 14th July another general assault secured the line along the ridge between Bazentin-le-Petit and Longueval. Accordingly, heavy batteries were moved up as far as Caterpillar Wood in the valley in front of Montauban, and on the 15th a party of B.E. section reconnoitred for lines to Bazentin-le-Petit, in which village it was proposed to establish H.A. Headquarters. The German reaction had, however, already begun, and the party found the conditions in the village highly unsuited for a headquarters, so much so that a warm infantry combat was proceeding in the outskirts. High Wood had to be evacuated as too advanced to hold, and the memorable struggle of the South African Infantry Brigade for Delville Wood had begun. Nevertheless, over a mile of ground had been gained, and the corresponding extension of communications necessarily taxed all sections to their limit. The advanced headquarters of divisions moved up to the famous dug-outs in the chalk under the ruins of Fricourt Château, in which, thirty feet underground, with the amenities of electric light, panelled walls, and artificial ventilation, the German Staff had dwelt during the bombardment of the village. A twenty-four wire heavy route was rapidly constructed by the 4th Army Signals from Méaulte to this point, and thence to Mametz, in readiness for the advance, and the wire light route built by the Company was extended by the Air Line Section past Fricourt, up Death Valley, to Mametz Wood. The next deep advance was not, however, to occur till two months later, as the corps front was now becoming a salient, and it was necessary to clear the flanks and broaden the base of the attack. Therefore, while the Anzac Corps and III. Corps on the left, and the XIII. Corps succeeded by the XIV. Corps on the right, hammered away round Pozières and Ginchy respectively, the XV. Corps was engaged in continuous auxiliary attacks, and its heavy artillery co-operated largely with the operations of the flanking corps.

This situation did not bring any relaxation to the Signal Company. The German artillery, whose work behind the front line had been feeble immediately after the 1st July, had now been heavily reinforced, and the salient position of the Corps inevitably drew much enfilade fire. One of the effects was the continuous destruction of lines back to points thousands of yards from the front. In moving up after the 14th July, all units had finally passed beyond the buried cables laid down for the battle. Forward lines were now entirely overground, and if not blown up by direct hits, were cut by the smallest splinters.

As the month of July wore on the demand for additional forward communication and the strength of the hostile fire increased. It was obvious that no satisfactory communication could be secured beyond Fricourt except by burying, and Major Harrison finally succeeded in securing a small labour party from the Corps Cyclist Battalion for this purpose. It was decided to commence by burying sixteen pairs of armoured cable from the head of the open route at Mametz to Pommiers Redoubt dug-outs, where there were now Brigade Headquarters and Divisional Report Centres. The work was entrusted to B.G. Section and proved difficult, not only because of the maze of old trenches, barbed wire, and shell-holes through which the cable trench had to go, but also because of the frequent shelling of Mametz and along the ridge. On the 28th Lieutenant Covernton, while superintending this work, was badly wounded. Lieutenant Baker took over B.G. Section, completed the trench, and subsequently extended the cables to Caterpillar Trench. At the same time, 51 Air Line Section diverted the open wire route between Fricourt and Mametz, by constructing a substantial pole route skirting both villages, which carried eight pairs of twisted D 5 cables hung in slotted boards. This cable route was not only much less frequently shelled down—a daily occurrence with the open route—but could be quickly repaired, as the cable when cut could be rejointed and worked, even if lying on the ground.

This method of substantial poled cable routes could and would have been used to a greater extent but for the deficiency of material. The consumption of cable by units in line was appalling. Artillery Observation Post Lines, laid overground, were badly cut about by shell fire, and had to be renewed every few days, and sometimes daily. In the case of the heavy batteries, these lines were often of great length, and ran to more than one O.P. For instance, the 34th Siege Battery, sited to the left of Fricourt, had about this period lines out to O.P.’s at Longueval and at the windmill in front of Bazentin-le-Grand, a total line length of over eleven miles.

During the comparative lull towards the end of July the shelling of the Fricourt area became so pronounced that, pending the next general attack, the headquarters of the divisions in line were moved back to Bellevue Farm—between Méaulte and Albert—and the opportunity was at once taken to transfer the Corps Exchange in Fricourt into the dug-outs so vacated. The Armstrong hut had luckily escaped so far, but several shells had pitched within a few yards of it, and the operators deserved great credit for the way they stuck to their duties without the slightest protection through the periodical shellings. A new route was built by 51 Air Line from Bellevue Farm to link up this new position with the main forward route at Vivier Mill, and was calculated on a scale sufficient to meet requirements in the event of the headquarters of the Corps moving to Bellevue Farm when the advance resumed.

Throughout the war, but particularly in this earlier period, the difficulties of Signals did not arise exclusively from the terrain and from enemy action, but to a great extent from careless and thoughtless conduct on the part of the other arms. Much damage to lines was done by cross-country traffic at night, largely unavoidable but much also avoidable, if a better understanding of the importance of communication had existed in the non-technical units. When an infantryman found himself in reserve a few thousand yards behind the front line, and lacking a piece of cord to fix up his bivouac, cut a few yards out of a cable which had been strung across the ground in his vicinity, he did not realize that the line so put out of action might well be the observation line of a heavy battery, that the damage he had done in a few seconds might take an over-worked lineman hours to locate and repair, and that meanwhile the battery would be blinded and his comrades in the front line deprived of its instant and effective support. A typical instance occurred on the night of the 3rd July. The group of French 75’s attached to Corps Heavy Artillery had moved suddenly late in the evening to support operations at Mametz Wood next morning. Communication was established through one of the buried trenches by 10 p.m., but an hour later this and other lines in the trench went full earth. At 3 a.m., after tracing the cable inch by inch through a dark night, and tapping in at intervals as he progressed, the exhausted lineman found that a company in support had decided that the cable trench would make a good temporary cook-house, and, of course, had burnt all the twelve pairs of wires in the trench. To the infinite relief of the H.A. Signal Officer, this proved to be the only damage done, and the wires were set going again before dawn and in time for the operations.

Long before the Somme Battle, the exigencies of trench warfare had altered the original organization of army corps. The corps had ceased to be a unit composed of specific divisions, and divisions were no longer affiliated permanently to one corps, but moved at frequent intervals from quiet sectors to active ones to take part in an offensive, and after a short period of heavy losses and extreme exertion would be again withdrawn to another quiet sector or a training area for rest, recruitment, and refit. Therefore, on a front like the Somme, a continuous stream of divisions passed through the corps, each taking its share of the fighting and being in turn relieved. As the Corps Signal Company, like the brook, “went on for ever,” it had to fit each fresh division into the frame of the existing communications as they chanced to stand at the moment, and assist the divisional signals to pick up and utilize the available lines. The organization had, also, to be elastic enough to meet the requirements of administering anything from two to seven divisions simultaneously. During the Somme, nineteen different divisions passed through the XV. Corps, and as many of them went through the furnace more than once, there were altogether fifty-three divisional changes. What work this involved to the Corps Signal Company in the transferring of lines, the directing of traffic, the continuous alteration of records, and the supply of material can be readily imagined.

The excellence of the work of the B.E. Section with the Heavy Artillery was recognized in a communication addressed to Major Harrison, in which the Corps commander stated that he much appreciated the work done by Lieutenant Ross and his party, and considered that the work of this section was typical of the whole South African Signal Company. When General Horne himself left the Corps at a later date, to take command of the First Army, he had evidently seen no reason to alter his opinion of the Company, for in taking leave of the A.D.A.S. he congratulated him on commanding a unit second to none in France.

The operations continued to be hampered by rain at each of the critical phases, but by the beginning of September the flanking corps had made the necessary progress and everything was in readiness for the great attack of 15th September. The vital importance of secure communication being fully appreciated by the Staff, the necessary labour was made available for a considerable buried scheme. A buried water-pipe laid by the enemy between Longueval and Montauban had been located, and considerable effort was expended by B.F. section in investigating the possibility of using this pipe for running cable through. It was finally decided that its exploitation would not be justified in view of the small depth of the bury, and the extensive damage already done by shell fire. The first section of the new bury consisted of a six-foot-deep cable trench, extending from Pommiers Redoubt _via_ the famous Cosy Corner, where the Carnoy and Mametz roads join outside Montauban, and thence to York Trench on the left of Longueval. This trench had nine framed test points let into the walls every four hundred and forty yards, and contained forty-five pairs of cable. The accumulation of the necessary quantities of cable suitable for the work presented great difficulty, and the trench probably set up a record for the number of different varieties it contained—from nineteen pair V.I.R., as thick and heavy as a hawser and supplied on drums weighing over half a ton each, to one pair G.P. Twin about as stout as a double boot-lace. The actual digging was done by a battalion of the 7th Division, the work being under the charge of Lieutenant Collins, assisted by Lieutenant Baker, with B.G. section and most of the sappers of B.E. and W.W. sections. The mud of the Somme will go down to history: and as the line of the trenches included some excellent samples of it, the distribution along the trench of the heavy cable drums and the pipes for crossing under tracks presented great difficulties. The jointing, terminating, and testing of the wires had to be completed against time, and with a limited number of expert men, as the maintenance of the widespread network for which the Company was responsible had absorbed many of the best men out of all sections. The lines were, however, ready in time for the divisions who had moved Headquarters up again to Fricourt and Pommiers Redoubt, with Advanced Headquarters at York Trench, and also for the Heavy Artillery, most of whose batteries took positions along the Mametz-Montauban ridge and in folds of the forward slope towards Caterpillar Wood and Longueval. To cope with the steady forward drift of the Corps units, and to provide another advance maintenance point, a new Corps Forward Exchange was established in a dug-out at Pommiers, and after the attack B.E. section staffed this exchange and maintained the area.

The attack on 15th September proved highly successful and not too costly in life, a depth of over a mile being made good, including the villages of Courcelette, Martinpuich, and Flers. Communications held well throughout the day, and the good liaison between infantry and artillery so secured played an important part in the result. The recently introduced Power Buzzers for transmitting high-power buzzer signals through earth to be picked up by Valve Amplifying Receivers at distances up to three thousand yards, were used with fair success in the advance. These sets were controlled by the Wireless Section, but the forward stations were manned by signallers of the attacking battalions. The comparative inexperience and lack of special training of these signallers prevented the best being got out of the instruments, but the limited establishment of the Signal Service prevented any other procedure.

The advance rendered a further extension of the cable trench urgent, but for the moment suitable cable for a permanent bury was not available. Another section of trench, however, was dug immediately in order that units might have the benefit of its protection in running temporary field cables forward. This section extended from York Trench through the corner of Delville Wood to Switch Trench, and the digging proved a gruesome task, as Delville Wood and neighbourhood was a huge graveyard. In the sides of the trench were visible more than one pitiful reminder that our heroic comrades of the Infantry Brigade had fought and died there. To prevent confusion and facilitate maintenance, the left-hand side of the new trench was assigned to divisions and the right to the Heavy Artillery, the Headquarters Signals of which prepared and erected along the trench fixtures for cables in the shape of angle iron high-wire entanglement pickets, each having a piece of two-inch by two-inch wood screwed to it with a dozen diagonal slots cut in it for the cable. The cutting and slotting of so many pieces—upwards of one thousand five hundred—was a task beyond hand methods, but was accomplished in three days by obtaining a power-band saw from a factory in Albert, and connecting it up with the water wheel at Vivier Mill by a belt extemporized from the driving bands of the cable wagon winding gears.

During this period occurred a noteworthy performance in rapid repair of cable routes. The main cable trench about midnight received a direct hit from a large shell, severing all communication; but fortunately a party of B.E. section was returning down the trench from forward work, and came on the shell crater soon afterwards. Though already worn out with a long day’s work and struggling through the mud, they at once started to dig up the cable ends, sending a man to summon assistance by tapping in at the next test point in the trench, and succeeded in getting all the forty-five pairs of wires rejointed and working again in _three hours_.

Liaison lines had grown formidably in numbers. Direct lines were now demanded not only between Heavy Artillery Headquarters and the Artillery Headquarters of all divisions in line, but between the divisional artilleries and the majority of the Heavy Artillery Groups. There had been a great development of the service of Observation in the shape of artillery aeroplanes, kite balloons, of which there were now three sections attached to the Corps and Observation Groups of the R.E. Survey battalion. Whenever possible lines were now required from these units, not only to the artillery groups, but to the batteries specially assigned for counter-battery work. To co-ordinate and render fully effective this work of the systematic location and destruction or neutralization of hostile batteries, a special staff, commanded by a colonel, had been added to the H.A. Headquarters, and this staff, in its turn, required additional direct lines and communication facilities to enable it to function promptly and effectively.

The evil luck that, except in the initial push, caused every successful attack to be followed by broken weather, still held good and hampered all preparations for the assault on the next entrenched line; but by herculean efforts the necessary organization for another general attack on the 25th September was completed. Road conditions up to a certain point forward were now beginning to improve under the triple influences of the introduction of Décauville tramways for the conveying of the heavy ammunition in the forward area, the extension of broad-gauge ammunition railheads to Fricourt and Caterpillar Wood, and the removal of water lorries from the roads by the completion of a vast system of pipe lines extending back to the Ancre and the Somme through which the river water was pumped after treatment in chlorinating plants.

On the 25th the intermediate German line, including Morval, Lesbœufs, and Gueudecourt, succumbed, and the Corps front again advanced over a mile. On the 26th the victory was completed by the Fifth Army’s capture of Thiepval, and once again the roseate prospect of a great victory and of reaching Bapaume before winter cheered the tired troops, and kept the Signal Company’s hands full with preparations for forward moves of all headquarters. The weather, however, intervened on the side of the Germans, and breaking decisively on the 26th, remained miserably cold and wet thenceforward, and largely stultified the heroic efforts repeatedly made throughout October.

During this period, the heavy batteries of some of the H.A. Group Headquarters moved up to and in front of Longueval, necessitating the running of many new cable lines. Permanent cable was laid in the second section of the main cable trench up to Longueval, and a third section of trench was dug forwards to the sugar works at Factory Corner in front of Flers. An experimental trench was started near Longueval, with a trench excavator loaned by the French, which was, in effect, a small land dredge mounted on a motor lorry chassis and driven by its engine. This machine could excavate a cable trench eighteen inches wide and up to seven feet deep in ordinary soil with ease, but it was immobile on the terrain of the Somme, and could not be manœuvred except with the assistance of an artillery caterpillar tractor. Consequent on this trial improved machines were ordered from America for next year’s campaign, but the Corps Signal Company did not have the opportunity of using them.

At the end of October the Anzac Corps, under General Birdwood, relieved the XV. Corps commanded by Sir John Ducane since the departure of General Horne. As there was then no other Corps Signal Company in France formed from Colonial troops, it appeared possible that the Company would be retained in line with the Anzacs. It is no disparagement of the spirit of the men to state that every one heaved a sigh of relief when it became known that “K” Corps Signal Company was to take over. In truth, nearly all were bone-weary and temporarily played out, and every section badly needed a spell out of the line to reorganize and refit. There had been no leave granted in the line, and those with ties in England eagerly anticipated its reopening.

In view of the extensive system to be taken over, the relief by “K” Corps Signal Company was conducted gradually, and B.E., the last section to leave the line, did not reach the new headquarters at Long until the middle of November. Long proved to be a tiny old-world village on the left bank of the Somme a few miles upstream from Abbeville. A liberal allotment of leave permits was soon issued, and a batch of men were sent off daily, while the less fortunate ones overhauled, cleaned, and repaired equipment, improved billets and horse standings, and carried out the signal work still required. For Signal Companies in the field there is no such thing as “complete rest,” even in the rest area.

On Major Harrison’s promotion, Captain Dingwall now assumed the executive control of the Company, but scarcely had the sections completed their refit, when orders were suddenly received for the Corps to take over a portion of the French front in the Péronne sector, with the 4th, 8th, 33rd, and 40th Divisions then in rest.

THE WINTER CAMPAIGN ON THE SOMME—16TH DECEMBER-17TH MARCH.

The move into line commenced on the 3rd December, and was completed on the 6th. The cable sections, so depleted by the large numbers on leave that they were unable to fill the saddles of the mounted men, moved with the Divisional Signal Companies, and were directed—B.E. and B.G. on Bray, and B.F. on Maricourt.

Headquarters and the air line section joined the Corps Headquarters at Etinehem, a village on the right bank of the Somme, a mile or so west of Bray. In their weakened condition all sections had a most strenuous time taking over communications as released by the French, testing the routes out, reorganizing the lines and connecting up units as they arrived. The Corps front extended from the XIV. Corps boundary on the north at Combles, previously the extreme right of the British line, to near Bouchavesnes, and ran in front of St. Pierre Vaast Wood, where the most desperate French attacks in the autumn had, like our own in the north, been stifled in the mud. The terrain as a whole was of similar nature and condition to that in the Longueval sector, but the roads were better, Décauville tramways existed, and best of all, from a signal point of view, a very fair network of deep cable trenches had been dug in the forward area. Though the cable used in these “buries”—mainly one pair lead covered with impregnated paper insulation—proved unreliable in insulation, and much trouble was caused and many circuits lost thereby, yet the “buries” proved very useful, and, supplemented by the construction system of several new open routes in rear, enabled a communication system to be rapidly completed, sufficient for the needs of the defensive winter campaign. Corps forward exchanges were established with the Heavy Artillery Headquarters in excellent French dug-outs at Bois Louage in front of Maurepas, as at Maricourt, in charge of B.F. section, and with B.G. section at Bray, where the horse lines of all cable sections were shortly concentrated. The sappers of B.E. section remained with H.A. Headquarters under Lieutenant Collins, who replaced Captain Ross as H.A. Signal Officer, while the latter did duty at Headquarters during the successive sick leaves of Lieutenant-Colonel Harrison and Captain Dingwall.

Etinehem proved a most miserable headquarters. The village was much overcrowded, and the billets so wretched that some of them did not even afford an adequate shelter from the weather of the most severe winter known in France for over twenty years. The only redeeming feature of the place was that its situation on the river enabled the many tons of heavy signal stores now in the Company’s possession to be brought up the Somme from Long by barge, so releasing the lorries for urgent construction work. The pressure of duty on the limited numbers of men available, as well as the shortage of material, fuel, and of daylight, made it difficult for some time to improve conditions. Authority for additional blankets and for the issue of waterproof clothing to the linemen was obtained, but the poor conditions, the severity of the weather, and the lowered vitality, due to the lack of a sufficient recuperative period after the summer campaign, resulted in a heavy and increasing sick list, reaching forty daily, and the evacuation of considerable numbers to hospital with pulmonary complaints. This state of affairs, coupled with difficulties experienced in obtaining reinforcements, kept the Company much below normal strength for several months.

During December it was understood that the French contemplated launching an attack against Mont St. Quentin and Péronne, and to this end they retained a frontage on both banks of the Somme. However, early in January 1917 the project was abandoned, and orders were received for the XV. Corps to extend its front to the right, taking over to the river by Cléry, and simultaneously handing over a divisional frontage on the left to the XIV. Corps. The divisional sectors were taken over successively, and the move completed by the 22nd January without interference by the enemy, the Headquarters of divisions in line being established at P.C. Chapeau and P.C. Jean, ex-French divisional command posts judiciously and inconspicuously sited under the high bank running parallel to the Somme bank. H.A. Headquarters with B.E. section moved also to P.C. Chapeau, and the Corps Forward Exchange at Maricourt was transferred with B.F. section to Suzanne. This change of frontage was a nasty jar to the Company, as nearly all the new routes, on which the sections had toiled early and late to complete the communication scheme for the winter, were now outside the Corps area, and the same work had to be started afresh in the bitter frosts of January. The weather, that had been vilely cold and wet from the beginning of December, now turned to snow and hard frost. The latter penetrated the ground to such an extent that by the end of the month all digging became impossible, and work on a buried cable trench between Ouvrages and Oursel, to provide forward communications for the 33rd Division, had to be suspended. The ex-French bury forward of P.C. Jean proved very faulty, and a section of twelve pair open-wire heavy route was put in hand early in February, running forward to Monac, partly to supplement the bury and partly to carry forward the head of the main route in anticipation of the advance next spring. The ground was found to be frozen as hard as concrete to a foot from the surface, and after ineffectual struggles with picks and crowbars, excavations for the pole holes were finally blasted with gun-cotton. As the forward end of this route came under direct observation, the last few hundred yards were run in cables hung on short stakes, each cable from a small bobbin insulator nailed to the side of the stake. This method was copied from the French, who had used it extensively in the area, and proved very satisfactory in this instance.

In the meantime, aeroplane night-bombing and the shelling of back areas by long range guns, initiated in the latter stages of the Somme Battle, had developed to an unpleasant extent. Rarely did a day pass without some main route suffering from one or other of these agencies, and the consequent necessity for diverting the limited working parties from urgent construction to still more urgent repairs. The railheads of Maricourt and Bray were favourite targets, and again and again the unfortunate sappers were turned out of their blankets to stumble along a route in the pitch black night, and then struggle for hours with numbed fingers to evolve order out of a chaos of tangled wire and broken poles.

This hostile aeroplane activity caused a rapid increase of anti-aircraft units. Batteries and searchlights were now dotted over the area, and the installation and maintenance of a separate and complete system of communication for the Anti-Aircraft Defence of the Corps area was now added to the Company’s duties, and the H.A. Signal Officer found himself occupied with communications for the Survey Groups and the installation of lines to their O.P.’s, and to the Microphone positions of the Sound Ranging Section now added to the H.A. Counter Battery organization.

Though the duties of the H.A. Signal Officer were somewhat reduced by the appointment, in January, of a R.E. Signal Officer to each H.A. Group, the commencement by the enemy of systematic counter battery work, in imitation of the British methods initiated in the previous year, made it more than ever difficult to keep the forward lines in continuous operation. A scheme for the forward extension of the buried system, till recently used by the French, was prepared under the greatest transport difficulties, the drums having to be man-handled about half a mile across country by night, and a portion of the material was got up to Marrières Wood, next year the scene of the South African Brigade’s fine stand in the March retreat. But the deep crust of frozen ground prevented digging, and the important local attack of the 8th Division on the 4th March on Fritz Trench above Bouchavesnes had to be carried through without the assistance of the new buried communication, and as most of the above-ground cables were cut, the first news of the assaulting troops was brought by pigeon to the Corps Loft at Etinehem. The attack was fully successful, and the effective use made by the artillery of the excellent observation secured by it, no doubt expedited the general retirement of the enemy in this sector.

A few days later symptoms of this retreat became obvious in the shape of villages burning and large transport movements in the enemy back area. The general withdrawal began on the 15th March, the enemy falling back on the Corps front across the Canal du Nord. As the Fourth Army was not destined to play a part in the spring offensive, it had been heavily depleted both to swell the concentration northwards in preparation for the coming Arras battle, and to take over additional ground from the French, the sector on the XV. Corps right south of the Somme having been occupied by the III. Corps during February. Apart, therefore, from the tremendous transport difficulties due to continuous wet weather succeeding the frost, and the methodical destruction of bridges, roads, and railways, there was not sufficient strength to press the enemy closely, but the advance was conducted methodically, touch with the enemy rearguards on the Corps front being maintained by the Wiltshire Yeomanry and the Corps Cyclist Battalion until a Cavalry Division could come up.

The Signal Company’s share in the work was first to maintain direct touch between the Corps Staff and the advanced troops, for which purpose D.R.’s were attached to the cavalry, but by a special effort of B.E. section direct telephone communication was soon secured and maintained. Secondly, the main communication network had to be extended forward at the same rate as the advance, and, as a counter-attack was very possible, the full organization for position warfare accompanied the Corps. The Signal difficulties were doubled on the 25th March, by the sudden withdrawal from line of the XIV. Corps on the right and the consequent extension of the already wide Corps frontage which then stretched from Péronne to Le Transloy.

The Imperial Signal Sections attached for assistance at intervals during the winter had been withdrawn, and, worst of all, the needs of the fighting fronts northwards entirely shut off for a time the supply of line construction material. Consequently, before a single pole or wire could be erected, it had to be released from service in rear, salvaged, and transported forward by the company’s lorries over extremely bad and congested roads. Much heavy material had again to be relayed forward over tracks impassable to lorries by teams from the cable sections, and finally carried on the sappers’ shoulders over shell-shattered ground impassable even for wagons. Under such handicaps, and in the teeth of continuous blizzards of snow, sleet, and rain, which continued till the end of April, over forty miles of poled route, including much of a heavy permanent nature carrying twenty-four wires, was erected, and two successive moves of the Headquarters of Corps and all subordinate formations accomplished without any loss of communication. The skill, endurance, and ready zeal of the A.S.C. Motor Transport drivers attached to the Company played a great part in the results achieved. They had never failed to meet the severe calls made upon them from time to time during the Somme fighting, but now both the distances and the masses of material to be moved were greater, and the road conditions but little, if any, better.

Early in April the advance reached its limit, and was definitely held up in front of La Vacquerie and Havrincourt—outlying strong points of the Hindenburg Line. On the 17th, Corps Headquarters was established in hutments and tents near Haute-Allaines, after a short interval at P.C. Chapeau. Then the weather at last broke, and with a genial spring sun overhead, a rapidly drying country underfoot, and good news coming through from the Arras front, life under canvas, even in this devastated zone, became pleasant.

Little relaxation of effort was possible however. The Germans on their retreat had accomplished as thorough work in the demolition of signal communications as in their wanton spoliation of civilian property. As every house and every fruit tree was destroyed, so was every pole sawn through when not bodily removed. Scarcely a yard of usable line—cables or open wire—existed in the new area, and the whole of the immense network of communications for stationary warfare had to be reconstituted under continuing supply and transport difficulties, while the hasty work done in the advance had to be overhauled and made permanent.

Scarcely was this task well under way when orders were received to prepare signal plans for an offensive and commence the necessary works as early as possible. The position in regard to materials was alleviated in May by the organization of a temporary Corps Signal Salvage Unit, composed of B.F. section, a platoon of a Labour Company, and the necessary horse and motor Transport under Lieutenant Jack. This made it possible to push forward work on two heavy open-wire routes, running from Corps Headquarters, through Nurlu and Fins, and through Sève Wood, Liéramont, and Heudicourt respectively, with the necessary spur and lateral routes. To economize cable, which remained very short in supply, the subsidiary routes were run as far as possible in light iron wire (60 lb. to the mile), on air line or light hop poles, and considerable use was made of a light type of French cable with all copper conductors salvaged in the back area. This use of low resistance conductors, and the maintaining of good line conditions, made clear speech possible between O.P.’s and H.A. Headquarters, and on special occasions Corps Headquarters, a point of great value in securing rapid and effective counter-battery work. Up to this time all the British field cables, except D 5—too heavy and too scarce for ordinary forward use—had steel conductors, and were, therefore, of high resistance, and good speech could only be obtained on short lines. Plans were also elaborated for a buried cable scheme covering the area between the front line and heads of open wire behind Gouzeaucourt and Gonnelieu respectively. The permanent routes had progressed beyond Fins and Heudicourt, when, towards the end of May, orders arrived for the XV. Corps to hand over to the III. Corps and proceed to Villers-Bretonneux. The cable sections of the Company joined various divisions, and, at the end of May, accompanied them out of the area to unknown destinations.

The remainder of the Company reached Villers-Bretonneux on the 3rd June, and settled down very comfortably in this pleasant little town, destined to be the storm centre of the fighting for Amiens next spring. A small allotment of leave was obtained, making it possible to send away some of the men who had now been fifteen months continuously in the field. The usual refitting proceeded, and opportunity was taken to complete the reorganization necessitated by certain changes in signal establishments that had recently taken effect, and by the increasing numbers of valuable and experienced N.C.O.’s and men who left to take up Imperial commissions in the various branches of the service. The numbers so lost to the Company constituted a striking testimony to the high quality of its _personnel_, and aggregated over eighty before hostilities ceased.

The great and continuing growth in the demands on the Signal Service, particularly in connection with the Heavy Artillery, had for long unduly taxed the available _personnel_, and increase in establishments was overdue. To the Corps Signal Company was, therefore, now added a Heavy Artillery Headquarters Signal Section, with a strength of one officer and thirty-seven other ranks. The _personnel_ for this section was obtained from drafts built up on a nucleus of experienced men, mainly from R.E. section. At the same time, a signal sub-section of one officer and twenty-seven other ranks was formed for each H.A. Group, but as H.A. Groups were frequently moved from Corps to Corps, these sub-sections were organized from Imperial R.E. _personnel_. The Company Headquarters Section was also strengthened by the withdrawal of four telegraphists from each cable section, the vacancies being filled with additional pioneers. The Signal Section forming part of the Headquarters of S.A. Infantry Brigade was now affiliated to the Company, and thenceforward drew its reinforcements therefrom. This Section was originally formed by Lieutenant F. W. S. Burton of the Union Post Office and the 3rd Regiment from signallers selected from the infantry battalions. As, however, the Brigade only chanced to serve for two short periods in the same formation as the Signal Company, the story of this Signal Section is that of the Brigade and need not be separately recounted.

The signal instruction for infantry and artillery units, commenced at Long, and so abruptly suspended by the move into line, had during the spring become a permanent feature of the Company’s activities. Classes in Carrier Pigeon work had been immediately resumed at Etinehem, and were thenceforward carried on till the end of the war under Lieutenant Egleton and Corporal Jorgenson, with the most valuable results. In the middle of March the Corps Signal School was reconstituted at Chipilly, with a separate establishment, and Lieutenant Johnson was seconded as Commandant with a staff of four Sergeant-Instructors from the Company. The School then constituted continued to function till after the Armistice, moving with the Corps from point to point, and many hundreds of officers and men passed through the six weeks’ courses held at it with a most marked and beneficial effect to the efficiency of Signal work among the fighting troops. Lieutenant Johnson’s vacancy was filled by the promotion of C.Q.M.S. C. H. Ison, whose untiring energy had done much to help the Company through its difficulties in the past year.

The interlude at Villers was abruptly cut short by orders to move on the 10th June for a secret destination. As there were no cable sections to accompany, all _personnel_ travelled in lorries, and the move was accomplished in two days. The secret was extremely well kept, however, and not until the convoy actually entered Dunkirk on the 11th was it realized that the Corps was to take over the Nieuport Sector—the important bit of line running from the sea along the Yser, which had been held by the French since the momentous days of the first battle of Ypres. Corps Headquarters were established on the 11th in the Casino of Malo-les-Bains, a suburb of Dunkirk, and arrangements for the relief of the 36th French Corps at once put in hand.

THE BELGIAN COAST AND THE BATTLE OF THE DUNES—NOVEMBER 1917.

Though this sector had been for a long period a quiet one, the German artillery concentration opposite it was already great, especially in heavy long range guns, partly because the arc of many of their coast defence batteries covered more or less of the land front, and for the most part were already behind concrete emplacements. Normal trenches in this terrain were impossible, and both sides stood behind breastworks that in the dunes were merely gabions filled with sand; but here, as on the Ypres front, the liberal use of concrete by the enemy had given his front-line troops, as well as his batteries and command posts, the protection of many “pill-boxes” and concrete shelters of various forms. For a long period the French had held the sector comparatively lightly; consequently the whole of the titanic task of mounting a trench warfare offensive fell on the incoming corps. On such terrain the preparations presented extreme and unique difficulties, and those of Signals were enhanced by the fact that not only did the nature of the ground forbid deep cable buries, but very few shallow ones existed; while the existing communications—naturally inadequate—were almost entirely open wire to within four thousand yards of the front line, and sited along roads certain to be heavily shelled.

British divisions began to arrive in the area on the 15th, bringing the absent cable sections of the Company with them, and between the 20th and 23rd the French divisions in line were relieved by the 1st and 32nd Divisions. Thereafter the Corps Heavy Artillery commenced to move in, the H.A. Signal Section and B.E. Section proceeding to the late French Heavy Artillery Headquarters, D.C.A.L. to a small copse about two miles south of Nieuport, and B.G. Section to Coxyde to prepare for the establishment of a forward exchange.

After a rapid survey of the area, a communication scheme to meet the needs of Corps, Divisions, and the Heavy Artillery on a hitherto unprecedented scale was prepared. Meanwhile the various sections toiled at the familiar task of connecting up the units that were streaming into the area daily, and preparing the new Corps Headquarters at Bray-Dunes Plage—a small watering-place south of La Panne. The H.A. Section had, even with the assistance of B.E. Section, a particularly strenuous task in coping with the concentration of eleven groups of “heavies,” and found it necessary to endeavour to bring into use at once the incomplete French buries. By an evil stroke of luck, the material ordered for this purpose was delayed over a fortnight by the truck containing it being railed to Péronne instead of Dunkirk, owing to the extreme secrecy that enshrouded the movements of the Corps.

The movement of Corps Headquarters to Bray-Dunes was effected on the 29th June, having been somewhat expedited by one of the periodical shellings of Dunkirk by a German long range gun. On the morning of the 27th a twelve-inch shell dropped on the Corps Offices in the Casino at Malo, and inflicted a number of casualties—luckily for the Company, it just missed the Signal Office. A few days later the Heavy Artillery Quarters moved back to the village of Oost Dunkirk, about six thousand yards from the line, and occupied the Villa Rosarie. During the first week in July a considerable increase in hostile shelling was noted, but not to an alarming extent, though a direct hit on the H.A. sections’ store rooms put a few telephones _hors de combat_; and no immediate operations were anticipated.

The enemy, however, had decided to nip our attack in the bud by taking the initiative himself, and had only delayed to complete a crushing artillery concentration. Thus about 9.30 a.m. on the 10th July, when many batteries were not yet in position and many others not yet ready for action, an intense bombardment dropped over the whole Corps area up to nine thousand yards behind the front line. With the most admirable accuracy and thoroughness, every village and battery position was searched, and every road of approach swept by heavy shell fire. Forward communications failed almost at once, the bridges across the Yser below Nieuport were destroyed, the breastwork trenches melted away before the storm of high explosive, and when the infantry assault was delivered about 7 p.m. few survivors of the Brigade of the 1st Division that held the trenches across the Yser in front of Nieuport Bain, remained to resist, and the German front line was established on the Yser bank in this sector. On the other flank, at Lombartzyde, the 32nd Division managed by desperate fighting to retain most of the ground in front of Nieuport, but the main German object was achieved; the approaches to the bridgehead were now limited to the single entry of Nieuport, and the bridgehead itself was so reduced in area as to make a serious attack in force a very desperate venture.

This day was naturally a most trying one for the Signal _personnel_. Nearly all wire communication was lost in the first two hours, and all formations from Corps downwards had to fall back on despatch riders and runners. Very fine work was done by the Company’s despatch runners on the shell-swept roads, while the sections strove to patch up and keep going the vital command lines. Thanks to cool and quick repair work by the sappers, and to the use of a short piece of cable trench completed on the previous day, touch was kept with most of the Heavy Artillery Groups continually throughout the day. The observation lines could not, however, be kept going, and thus the batteries not put out of action were blinded, and could not effectively support the infantry across the river. Oost Dunkirk village suffered heavily, and after nightfall the H.A. Staff were forced to move into the sand dunes half a mile to the flank, when temporary cables were run back to the signal office at the Villa Rosarie, which enjoyed protection in a sandbagged shelter behind the house. As this shelter was the only place in the village enjoying any degree of protection, it became during that day and night a temporary aid post for wounded and a refuge for the few remaining villagers. Amid these conditions, and deafened by the crashing explosions of the shells among the houses, the telephonists managed to carry on with wonderful efficiency for twenty-four consecutive hours. Conditions at Coxyde Signal Office with B.G. section were very similar.

Much to the general surprise, the attack was not resumed on the following day, and while every nerve was strained to get the existing lines restored, work on the new communications began and was pressed forward night and day. The buried scheme originally planned provided for four forward trenches, one along the sea coast, one through the dunes, one partly French and already dug through the polder area, and one consisting of cable laid in the bed of the Nieuport Canal—all to be connected by a lateral trench running through H.A. Headquarters, which was to become the chief maintenance and test point. Lieutenant Collins with B.E. section and a rapidly increasing number of Imperial sections, loaned from Army Signals, was entrusted with this work, assisted by Lieutenant Dobson. In view of the experiences of the 10th, two additional trenches were added to the plan, one from a main open route junction point behind Coxyde, forward along the fringe of the dunes to H.A. Headquarters, and the other along the sea-beach above highwater mark from Corps Headquarters at Bray-Dunes to the same point.

This latter trench, which contained twenty-five pair dry core cable, was completed by Lieutenant Hill with skilled cable jointers from 51 Air Line. Labour was made freely available by the Corps Staff, and as material now came forward rapidly, up to two thousand men a day were employed on these works. The forward portion of the scheme presented great difficulty, as the area was now so sown with batteries that it was almost impossible to trace the trenches so as to avoid battery positions and the shelling which they attracted. The greater part of the work could only be done by night because of enemy observation; and, further, time did not admit of the usual detailed preparation for the working parties. Nevertheless, all works were completed for the attack; and taking into account the continuous heavy shelling, with light casualties.

The experiment made on the Somme of using a kite balloon to maintain communication with the front line, was now repeated; and as a separate balloon was now placed at the disposal of Second-Lieutenant Wilson and a visual signalling party, the result was satisfactory.

Though all other preparations were well advanced, including the seclusion of the 1st Division in a “hush” camp on the coast, where they were specially rehearsed in landing operations from the sea, the attack was postponed from date to date, until it finally became evident by the transfer of a large proportion of the heavy batteries to the Ypres front, that the slow progress made there owing to weather and “pill-boxes” was likely to postpone the Nieuport offensive indefinitely.

During the interval, the rival artilleries waged a furious and continuous duel. The forward buried system, unavoidably shallow from the nature of the ground, was continuously broken by shell fire. During September the cable trenches were blown up by direct hits on the average nearly twice a day. The repairs were most difficult and laborious owing both to the persistent shelling and the rise of the water level everywhere after the wet weather of August. Even with the sappers of three cable sections—B.F., B.E., and A.U. Imperial Cable Section,—and two area Signal Detachments from the Fourth Army, it became impossible to keep going satisfactorily the network of forty miles of trenches containing 1,200 miles of cable; and finally the assistance of the Corps Cyclist Battalion was obtained to dig diversion trenches in the worst shell areas, and a new trench in the Belgian area in substitution of the cable laid in the Nieuport Canal, the insulation of which began to fail soon after laying.

During this period the sappers stationed at the forward test points had a most trying experience. Owing to the frequent breakdowns, they were perpetually working on the cable trenches by day and by night, employed in testing and substituting lines. The frequent use of gas shell made it necessary that at their isolated points they should secure the gas blankets of their dug-out entrances at night, and this inevitably produced an atmosphere little inferior to the gas itself. Two concreted test points in the “polder” area, taken over from the French, were conspicuous after shelling had destroyed all arboreal cover. The Germans apparently decided that these were gun positions, and favoured them with special attention, managing finally to secure three direct hits—two innocuous, however unnerving to the inmates; but the third on P.C. 6 burst square on the roof, and though only slightly bending the steel rails embedded in the concrete, killed a sapper of B.F. section inside. One small dug-out on the canal bank, P.C. 18, disappeared altogether after an eleven-inch howitzer bombardment of a neighbouring battery, but fortunately there was no occupant at the time.

Corps Headquarters moved to La Panne at the beginning of September; but the location had evidently been given away by a spy, as it was heavily shelled by a long range gun a fortnight later, and consequently retransferred to Bray-Dunes. Though as the autumn drew on activity in the sector died down, all ranks had reason to welcome the relief of the Corps by the XXXVI. French Corps that commenced on the 19th November. On the 20th the Headquarters of the Company, under Captain Dingwall, who had been acting as A.W. Signals since September during Lieutenant-Colonel Harrison’s absence on sick leave, moved to Hinges near Béthune, and commenced to take over from the XI. Corps—then under orders for Italy—a sector between Béthune and Armentières.

THE LYS AREA.

After some readjustments of frontage in December, the XV. Corps settled down to hold the sector in front of the Lys, from Houplines to Laventie, with the Portuguese Corps on the right and the Anzac Corps on the left. In January 1918 Corps Headquarters were shifted from Hinges to La Motte-aux-Bois in front of the Forest of Nieppe, and Heavy Artillery, with the H.A. and B.E. sections, to Estaires, where 51 Air Line was already established. A further reorganization of the Company now took place. As cable sections rarely, if ever, performed the mobile work for which their horse transport was provided, the decision was reached to disband one cable section in each Corps, to reduce the strength of the Corps air line section to forty-two all ranks with one heavy and two light lorries, and with the surplus _personnel_ so accruing form an additional air line for each Corps. B.G. section was, accordingly, converted into the nucleus of the new 91 Air Line Section, to which Lieutenant Dobson was appointed. At the same time, “Q” Wireless Section became an integral portion of the Signal Company, and was taken over by Lieutenant McArthur, with 2nd Lieutenant FitzGeorge as second officer, the Imperial _personnel_ being rapidly replaced by South Africans. A second officer was also authorized for the Heavy Artillery Section, and Lieutenant M. Cohen, who had been attached to a brigade of the 8th Division since his arrival from England in November 1917, was appointed.

The communications here were such as would serve on a thinly held and lightly shelled front. Buries were few and becoming inefficient with age; the light open-wire routes which formed the bulk of the communication were run close up to the front line. The defection of Russia made it certain that the Allies would be thrown on the defensive in the spring; and as the Lys covered Hazebrouck and the direct route to Calais, it was probable that the sector would become a main front of attack. Ample and secure communications were, therefore, a first necessity, and a complete scheme was prepared on a scale of magnitude and thoroughness which surpassed any previous performance. All trenches were to be seven feet deep and carry no less than thirty pairs of wires.

Work could not be commenced before the 25th January, owing to the whole Lys Valley, which is very low lying, becoming water-logged by heavy rain. At first the labour available was very limited, owing to the urgent demands for defence works in the battle zone, and for the construction and wiring of a new emergency line of five trenches on the north bank of the river. Early in February the labour position improved, and frequently over one thousand five hundred men were employed simultaneously. The sappers had a strenuous time, and, but for the assistance of a party from the Corps Cyclists, who by long association with Signals had become relatively skilled, could not have kept up the pace. By unremitting effort the Corps Section of the trenches was completed by the beginning of March, and a portion of the work originally assigned to divisions taken over.

While the other sections were so engaged, B.F. was employed on another section of the scheme in and around Armentières itself. In this town a considerable underground sewer system existed, and though not comparable with the underways of Arras, yet these sewers proved extremely valuable as affording ready-made covered ways for cable. B.F. accordingly spent two months in laying securely many miles of cable. The new 91 Air Line Section meanwhile pushed on the necessary additions to the open-wire routes forward from Corps Headquarters. Hostile artillery activity began to increase considerably in March, and about the middle of the month became so marked that from this and other symptoms an immediate attack was expected. This cut off the supply of labour, but the sappers were busier than ever in bringing the cables already laid into use by temporary joints, without waiting for the construction of the test dug-outs.

This alarm proved for the time false, the offensive commencing instead on the Third and Fifth Army fronts on the 21st March. The immediate effect was the withdrawal of all the divisions in the Corps, and their replacement with exhausted divisions from the south—the 34th and 40th—who naturally could provide no labour. The greatest anxiety was now felt lest the communication should not be finished in time, and work was rushed day and night. With the assistance of the Corps Cyclists temporary sandbagged test points were erected where the concrete work was still lacking, and when the storm finally broke on the 9th April practically all cable laid had been joined up and was working, and three-quarters of the original scheme had been completed.

The attack began at 4.30 a.m. with an intense bombardment extending back to and beyond the river, followed by an infantry assault about 7 a.m., which immediately broke through the Portuguese on the Corps right. There were no reserves available to man effectively the new line dug on the northern bank, and during the afternoon the enemy crossed at Bac St. Maur, and by 7 p.m. had forced our firing line back behind the signal test point at Croix de Bac. Communications had held well so far; the 34th Division was still maintaining its ground on the left round Armentières, and there was hope of an immediate restoration of the situation by counter-attack. The lineman at this point—Corporal Shepherd of the H.A. section—was, therefore, instructed not to destroy the lines, but to leave them all through, and fall back on the next test point. He did so, but omitted to put through one of the lines. On ascertaining this when he reached H.A. headquarters, he voluntarily returned and managed to re-enter the dug-out, which was now in No Man’s Land, and put the line through. Though this dug-out passed into the enemy’s hands during the night, and after a temporary reversal of fortune again next morning, direct communication from Corps headquarters to troops in Armentières was maintained over the cables passing through it till afternoon on the following day, when the evacuation of the town began.

By next morning the Germans had forced the river to Estaires. This town had been intensely shelled all day, and B.E. Section billet was blown up early in the morning. Nevertheless, the Corps Exchange was kept going till a late hour that night by Lieutenant Hill with 51 Air Line and a party of operators from the Headquarters section.

During the following days, the 10th, 11th, and 12th, the Corps was steadily driven back by the heavy thrust made by the enemy for Hazebrouck. The 29th and 31st Divisions and the 4th Guards Brigade were successively thrown in, but their desperate fighting only succeeded in slowing the German advance, until the entry into line of the 1st Australian Division on the night of the 12th, when the enemy was finally brought to a stop on the edge of the Nieppe Forest. Thereafter the storm centre shifted gradually to the northward round Kemmel and Messines, while on the Corps front the battle died down to local combats.

The effort to keep up communications during these days tested every one to the limit. Units were changing location like figures in a kaleidoscope, and nearly the whole of the existing system of lines had passed into the enemy’s hands. However, by the most strenuous efforts, touch was maintained throughout the retreat, and the good work done was recognized by the Corps commander; for in a letter addressed to Colonel Harrison, he conveyed his appreciation of the work carried out by all ranks of the Company during the recent operations. He added that he realized that, owing to the untiring energy and devotion to duty shown by all ranks, a very high standard of communication was maintained, and thanked all for the efforts made and the results achieved. The general commanding the Heavy Artillery also made reference in a special order of the day to the particularly good work done by the H.A. Signal Section, under Lieutenant Collins, in the following words:—

“That the Heavy Artillery was able to cover the whole Corps front with its fire during each day, and to withdraw to fresh positions each night, testifies also to the excellence of the staff work—especially in connection with telephonic communication.”

On the 11th Corps Headquarters fell back to Wardrecques, between St. Omer and Hazebrouck, leaving an advanced Signal Office at La Motte until the evening of the 12th. During the next few days it became evident that the front was established again—at any rate temporarily—and the work of restoring the normal network of communication at once commenced, at first with great shortage of material, as all forward signal dumps had been captured.

Captain Dingwall, whose health had suffered under the continuous strain in France, now left the Company to join L Signal Battalion, and was replaced by Captain Ross, who was relieved of the Heavy Artillery Section by Lieutenant Collins. Lieutenant Hill took up duty at headquarters, and Lieutenant McArthur left the Wireless Section for 51 Air Line.

At this time also Lieutenant-General Sir J. P. Ducane was summoned to replace Sir Henry Rawlinson on the Versailles Council, and the XV. Corps was henceforward commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir B. de Lisle. The departure of General Ducane was much regretted by the Company, as he had always taken a close interest in communications, and showed keen appreciation of the work done, as is shown by the following extract from a letter written by him to Colonel Harrison after the termination of hostilities:—

“In the many bright spots of the XV. Corps, I have always maintained, and always will maintain, that the Signal Service was far away the best Signal Service of any other organization in France. Not only was there a very thorough grasp of the work, but always—what was so pleasant to find—there was a desire to go out of your way to help. It is with the greatest pleasure that I write to say how much I always appreciate having the South African Signal Company in the XV. Corps. They were not only highly efficient in all departments of this work, but I can honestly say they were the most energetic, hard-working, well-disciplined, and courteous body of men that I have come across in my experience of the Army.

“I always felt in dealing with you that nothing was ever too much trouble for you or your men, and that no matter how exacting the demands made upon you—and they were often very heavy indeed—no effort would be spared to carry them through successfully. Never were we let down during the most trying times—on the Somme, on the coast, or on the Lys. During the enemy’s attack on the Lys in April 1918, the truly remarkable way in which all our communications held out for three days, till we were compelled to abandon La Motte, greatly facilitated the exercise of the command of the Corps during those difficult days, and was an eloquent testimony of the thoroughness and skill with which the work of preparation had been carried out.”

The final holding up of the Germans at Kemmel on the 28th April made it possible to commence effective work on the defences at Hazebrouck, and during the next few months successive lines of trenches and belts of wire came into existence, and seamed the country as far back as St. Omer. The Company’s share in these preparations was work on a buried cable scheme which started early in May, and gradually developed as labour and material were obtainable, until, when the advance began, a network of trenches extended across the whole Corps area for 13,000 yards in depth and 7,000 in breadth, embodying thirty miles of seven-foot deep trench and nearly 1,200 miles of pair cable. This work, though never tested by another offensive, was of great value during the prolonged artillery duel which followed the Battle of the Lys. The open-wire routes were continuously shelled or bombed down, for in this sector, as on the coast, aeroplane bombing was a nightly event.

The series of successful minor operations carried out by the Corps in July and August, including the capture of Méteren, and the devastating effect of our superior and incessantly active artillery, no doubt quickened the German decision to evacuate the Lys salient. This evacuation commenced at the end of August, and thenceforward all ranks were occupied in the rapid restoration of communications through the devastated area, now as broad as the old Somme battlefield. An attempt was made to utilize the old buries laid down by the XV. and other Corps before the retreat; but these were too effectively destroyed by the enemy to admit of rapid restoration.

After the successful attack of the Belgian and Second British Armies at the end of September, in which the XV. Corps co-operated on the right flank, headquarters were moved to St. Jans-Cappel on the 4th October, and on the 21st, to Mouvaux, near Tourcoing, following the rapid retreat of the enemy to the Scheldt. On this occasion a fast piece of work was done by 91 Air Line and B.E. Cable Section, two lines being completed across the Lys to the new headquarters—a distance of nearly twenty miles—in one day.

The Signal portion of the preparations for forcing the passage of the Scheldt filled the period up to the 10th November; but as the enemy retired during the night, and the Armistice was proclaimed the following day, they proved unnecessary.

The Corps was not selected to accompany the advance to the Rhine, and so it fell to the lot of B.E. Section on the 12th to lay the last and farthest forward cable in France, from the Scheldt, crossing at Pecq to an observation point on the eastern side.

APPENDIX III.

THE MEDICAL SERVICES.

When the South African Expeditionary Force was organized on the termination of the campaign in German South-West Africa, Colonel P. G. Stock was appointed S.M.O., and in addition to the South African Medical Corps _personnel_ who volunteered for regimental duties, arranged for the mobilization of one Field Ambulance and one General Hospital. The former, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel G. H. Usmar, S.A.M.C., assembled at Potchefstroom with the 1st South African Infantry Brigade; while the General Hospital was formed at Wynberg, the _personnel_ being largely composed of volunteers from the staffs of No. 1 General Hospital, Wynberg, and No. 2 General Hospital, Maitland, and included representatives from each of the four provinces of the Union. It subsequently provided the _personnel_ for the Depot in England, and the South African Military Hospital at Richmond, which was afterwards built and organized.

No hospital equipment was available in South Africa, but the official Advisory Committee on Voluntary Aid, of which Sir Thomas Smartt was chairman, met the difficulty by voting £15,000 to purchase it on arrival in England, and a further £1,500 to augment the equipment taken by the Field Ambulance.

Both units accompanied the Infantry Brigade to England, the General Hospital embarking on H.M.T. _Balmoral Castle_ at Cape Town on 25th September, and the Field Ambulance on H.M.T. _Kenilworth Castle_ on October 10, 1915. On arrival there, they proceeded to the R.A.M.C. Depot at Twezeldown, near Aldershot. At the depot the training of the Field Ambulance proceeded under its own officers, and, with the rest of the Brigade, it was present at Bordon when her Majesty the Queen reviewed the troops on December 2, 1915. On 29th December the unit proceeded by route march to Farnham, there entraining for Devonport, where it embarked on H.M.T. _Corsican_ for Egypt, Alexandria being reached on January 13, 1916.

In the meantime, the _personnel_ of No. 1 General Hospital—which had been particularly fortunate in securing the services of some of the leading surgeons and physicians and most experienced nurses in South Africa—was temporarily detailed to strengthen the staffs of various Imperial hospitals in England. On 20th December, however, the unit was reassembled at Bournemouth, where it took over and staffed the Mont Dore Military Hospital, which, under an Imperial officer as commandant, had just been equipped for 520 patients.

In February 1916 the control of the “Grata Quies” Auxiliary Hospital was transferred to the Mont Dore, which became a “Central Hospital,” and on April 1, 1916, seventeen additional auxiliary hospitals, situated in the districts of Poole, Wimbourne, Swanage, Sherbourne, and Yeovil, were affiliated, increasing the number of beds controlled to over 1,200.

The first patients from overseas were admitted on 8th January, the majority being medical cases, and although a number of severe cases of “trench feet” from Gallipoli were taken in, few wounded were received up to the time the unit left on July 3, 1916, when it proceeded to Aldershot preparatory to joining the British Expeditionary Force in France.

When the decision to send South African troops to England became known, a number of prominent South Africans in London formed a committee under the chairmanship of Lord Gladstone—until recently the Governor-General—to start a fund for the establishment of a hospital and for the general comfort of the troops. On the arrival of the contingent in England this movement received renewed attention, a proposal then being under consideration to erect huts to accommodate some three hundred patients, as a South African wing to the Royal Victoria Hospital at Netley. On further investigation, however, it was found that the site, although in many respects an ideal one in the summer, would not have been suitable for South African troops during the winter, and further search had to be made. Many places and buildings were inspected, and finally a site in Richmond Park, for which his Majesty the King was graciously pleased to grant the necessary permission, was selected, and no more beautiful, convenient, and healthy spot could possibly have been obtained.

[Illustration: COLONEL P. G. STOCK, C.B., C.B.E., D.D.M.S., South African Forces.]

Much of the success of this hospital was due to the time and care spent over the plans, and Mr. Allison, the chief architect of the Office of Works, was always ready to adopt any recommendations made by Lieutenant-Colonel Stock and the expert sub-committee of officers of No. 1 General Hospital who were dealing with the project. The desire was to provide 500 beds, but for financial reasons it was decided to start with 300, on the basis of plans which provided for future necessary extensions.

The construction was begun early in March, and on June 16, 1916, the hospital was formally opened by its patroness, H.R.H. Princess Christian, being then taken over fully equipped as a gift from South Africans by the D.D.M.S., London District, on behalf of the Army Council.

On the opening of the hospital, the S.A.M.C. Depot in England was transferred to Richmond, and a redistribution of the _personnel_ of No. 1 General Hospital carried out, which enabled a South African Staff to be placed in charge of Richmond without interfering with the efficiency of the former unit. Major Thornton, the adjutant and registrar of No. 1 South African General Hospital, succeeded Lieutenant-Colonel Stock in command at Richmond, and Captain Basil Brooke was appointed adjutant and registrar of No. 1 General Hospital. Before, however, proceeding further with the history of the South African Hospital at Richmond, it will be convenient to follow the fortunes of the units which left England.

On January 13, 1916, No. 1 South African Field Ambulance arrived at Alexandria on H.M.T. _Corsican_, and marched the following day to Mex Camp, where the rest of the Brigade was encamped. Its history is included in that of the South African Infantry Brigade, with which it was associated from this date until the cessation of hostilities.

On the arrival of No. 1 South African General Hospital at Aldershot, the final touches were given to the unit, and about 400 shipping tons of stores and equipment drawn, which, by a special arrangement with the Army Council, had been paid for out of the £15,000 voted by Sir Thomas Smartt’s Committee in Cape Town.

On 12th July the unit entrained for Southampton, there to embark on H.M.T. _Huntcraft_. The ship berthed at Havre about 10.30 a.m. on the 13th, and as she was urgently required elsewhere, the unloading at once commenced; and on the following day the unit—together with its stores and equipment—left for Abbeville, which was reached on 15th July.

Here it was found that the hospital would be established next to No. 2 Stationary Hospital, an Imperial unit which had been there for some time. The necessity for not interfering with the ripening harvest considerably curtailed the choice of a site, the ground allotted being a ploughed field on the slope of the hills overlooking the valley of the Somme. Abbeville itself lay about a mile away in the valley, but the railway station and “triage” were on the far side of the town and must have been nearly three miles from the hospital.

Some hospital marquees had already been erected, but the layout of the hospital was greatly handicapped by the cramped area of ground then available. As the corn was reaped more ground became vacant, and, later on, by frequent striking and repitching of tents, the hospital gradually took a more symmetrical and workable shape.

When the unit arrived in France the First Battle of the Somme had begun, and hospital accommodation was urgently required for the large number of casualties. So, in the absence of any kind of building, a store tent was converted into an operating tent; an improvised sterilizing shelter erected; and within forty-eight hours of arrival patients were admitted and every available surgeon hard at work.

In those early days the wide surgical experience and considered judgment of Lieutenant-Colonel Ritchie Thomson proved invaluable. He had accepted the post of chief surgeon when the hospital was mobilized in South Africa, and many a sorely wounded man owes his life and limb to his skill and judgment.

The initial difficulties were many: buildings and engineering services were almost impossible to obtain, and it was not until the end of November that the operating block—the first building to be erected—was completed. All, however, were willing workers, and it was not long before additional tentage was pitched and Major Merritt had organized the kitchens, stores, and a hundred and one odd things appertaining to the Quartermaster’s Department, all of which mean so much to the efficiency and comfort of any hospital.

Until early in August the hospital was without its own nursing Sisters—these services being performed by members of the Q.A.I.M.N.S., the Canadian Military Nursing Service, and English V.A.D.’s, who did all that hard work and devotion to duty could do to make up for the shortage in number. On 5th August, however, Matron Creagh and twenty-one members of the S.A.M.N.S. arrived from England, and the greatest difficulties in this respect were over. The nurses’ camp had to be pitched in the wooded ground of a château some little distance off; but when the storm clouds rolled up the valley, and the winter rains set in, they had perforce to be billeted in the town until the huts which were contemplated for them were completed.

Situated as it was at the advanced base in a convenient position for their reception, the hospital, during the autumn of 1916, received a large number of wounded direct from the Somme battlefield. Amongst the earliest admissions in July 1916 were South Africans wounded at Delville Wood, and towards the end of July General Lukin was one of the first officer patients.

The most severely wounded journeyed by specially-fitted hospital barges, which, from the casualty clearing stations around Corbie, floated down the Somme to Abbeville, where the patients were disembarked and taken by motor ambulances to the hospital. The use of barges was restricted to those cases who were unable to stand the strain of a journey by train. Usually they travelled in pairs, but on more than one occasion during the autumn of 1916 patients from six barges were admitted during the twenty-four hours. Towards the end of 1916 the barges ceased running, as the winter rains had rendered the passage down the Somme too dangerous, and they were not again employed, as the advance in the spring of 1917 carried the fighting away from the river.

Fortunately, during the first few weeks after the arrival of the unit in France, the weather was fine, but even then difficulties were experienced in regard to the main road leading to the hospital. For part of the way this was formed by “sleepers,” but as the supply of them gave out beech planking had to be substituted. This quickly “warped,” and becoming displaced with the constant traffic, was always a source of trouble, as the underlying chalk during the dry weather quickly powdered to a fine dust, and later, when the rains set in, turned into a particularly greasy form of mud.

As soon as materials and labour became available, the “sleeper track” was continued, and a large “triage” constructed on which the ambulance wagons could turn; but it was not until many months later that it became possible to build a macadamized road connecting the hospital with the Route d’Amiens. The old entrance was then utilized as an exit for empty wagons, and the original signboard of the hospital, on which Major Merritt had painted the Springbok badge, was removed to the new entrance.

Progress was gradually made in the erection of temporary buildings, and by the end of 1916 there was accommodation in huts for 120 patients. It was obvious, however, that for that winter at least the majority of beds would be under canvas, and a particularly successful form of sliding door with windows at the top was designed; and with the funds available a local contractor was engaged, who quickly fitted them at each end of the tented wards. At the same time the Royal Engineers undertook the installation of stoves and wood flooring, and with doors closed and the sides of the tents fastened down the tented wards were really most comfortable. “Duck” boarding also gradually became more plentiful.

During the period July 23, 1916, to December 31, 1916, the total admissions were 6,436, of whom 3,032 were “battle casualties” and 3,404 “sick.” During the same period 5,719 were “discharged hospital.” Of these 673 were returned to duty; 548 transferred to convalescent depôts; 3,306 evacuated to the United Kingdom; and 1,192 transferred to hospitals at other bases in France. Five hundred and eighty-eight major operations were performed; and there were in all, for the same period, 236 deaths, or—calculated on the number of admissions—a percentage of 3.68. This comparatively high mortality is explained by the fact that practically every case admitted to this hospital was seriously wounded—the barges, from which the large majority of cases were received, only carrying those cases which were unfit to travel by other means of transport. The mortality was further increased owing to the fact that this hospital was the nearest General Hospital to the Somme front, and many moribund patients were taken off ambulance trains on account of their being too ill to travel to more distant bases. By the end of the year, in addition to the operation block, hutted accommodation for 120 patients was erected, and in the early part of 1917 hutted quarters for the nursing staff and rooms for officers’, sergeants’, and men’s messes were added, as well as buildings for part of the quartermaster’s stores.

Early in the year instructions were received from General Headquarters that the hospital was to be enlarged from 520 beds to a normal capacity of 1,120 beds, with a “crisis expansion” to 1,500 beds. The hospital remained on this basis, and during the latter part of 1917, and not infrequently during 1916, as many as 1,600 to 1,700 patients were accommodated at one time.

The total admissions for the year 1917 were 19,109, of which 7,613 were battle casualties and 11,496 were sick. During the same period there were 18,277 discharges. Of this number 2,638 were returned to duty, 4,253 were transferred to convalescent depôts, 8,749 were evacuated to the United Kingdom, and 2,637 were transferred to hospitals at other bases in France. One thousand two hundred and ten major operations were performed during the year 1917. For the same period, including eleven cases brought in for burial, there were 181 deaths in the hospital. Of these 128 were due to wounds—a percentage of 1.68; and 53 were due to sickness—a percentage of .46. The death rate from all causes for this year worked out at .94 per cent.

Promises of hutted accommodation, both for patients and personnel, were current for at least twelve months. Nothing, however, happened in this direction, except that an administration block and a new kitchen for the hospital were built; and in October 1917, with keen remembrances of the previous winter, it was decided to erect such huts as was possible with labour supplied by the staff of the hospital. A start was made, with the idea of housing the men of the company who were over forty years of age, and a hut was built, using discarded telegraph poles as the principals, covered with corrugated iron and lined with wood—the lining being bought from funds provided by the South African Hospital and Comforts Fund at a cost of, approximately, £120.

Stimulated by the success of the first, the building of the second hut was then taken in hand; and eventually, with the assistance of the engineer services, comfortable quarters for all the personnel were erected. In January 1918 six hospital “Adrian” huts were erected, but were not completed until the end of March, chiefly owing to the lack of labour and uncertainty as to whether the hospital would have to be evacuated. Three double “Nissen” hospital huts were subsequently added—the last not being quite finished when the armistice was signed. The erection of a further eight, which would have completed the building programme of the hospital, was cancelled.

For the first few months all traffic to the hospital had to pass through a neighbouring hospital—No. 2 Stationary, R.A.M.C.—this being not only inconvenient, but leading to congestion. Later, a metalled road was made through the South African Hospital leading to the Amiens road and looping within the hospital. This meant that traffic was easily managed, and made the handling of convoys infinitely easier. In the summer of 1918 a tarred surface was put on to this road, which proved a great help in keeping down the dust.

The necessity for a special railway siding for the three large hospitals in this area to avoid the long, rough, and frequently interrupted journeys by ambulance from and to the main station was also met.

A church was erected within the precincts of the hospital, the cost of which was defrayed partly by subscriptions received from the patients and personnel, and partly by a donation of £75 from the South African Hospital and Comforts Fund, London. It was dedicated in the name of St. Winifred to the memory of the late staff nurse—Miss Winifred Munro, South African Military Nursing Service—and as a tribute to her devotion to duty.

In December 1917 the hospital was specially selected for the reception and treatment of cases of fracture of the femur. Beds for the accommodation of 200 such cases were provided—50 being reserved for officers, and 150 for other ranks. The special bed and technique devised at the hospital were afterwards adopted as the standard for the British Army.

During the German offensive of 1918 the hospital passed through what was its period of most intense activity. The medical staff was depleted to replace casualties in the South African Field Ambulance and other units in the forward areas, while reinforcements from the male personnel were sent to the Field Ambulance. Practically all the female nursing staffs from this district were withdrawn, on account of the enemy advance and the frequent bombing at night by hostile aeroplanes of the back areas. Thus the number of medical officers in charge of wards was reduced to 8 instead of the normal 22; the male personnel fell to 188—the normal establishment being 212; while the female nursing staff, with a normal establishment of 88, was reduced to 8.

With this depleted staff it would have appeared almost impossible to look after a normal number of patients, but many more than normal had to be dealt with during the last week of March, 1,820 being admitted and 2,365 discharged.

Many of these received at the hospital their first medical attention since leaving the battlefield, and a very large number had to be operated upon immediately.

This involved teams working in the operating theatre day and night, but all members of the unit rose to the occasion and worked with a splendid will and cheerfulness under these trying conditions.

The huts recently erected for accommodating the _personnel_ had to be evacuated by them to make room for patients, of whom as many as ninety slightly wounded were packed into one hut on stretchers. The men were crowded into the remaining three huts, and the overflow slept on the football field.

Nor did the work end here, for, owing to the threat of hostile air attacks, it became urgently necessary to dig protective trenches for patients, sisters, officers, and other ranks, and also to erect sandbagged revetments around the wards which contained the helpless patients. Outside assistance at this time was unprocurable, as all labour was fully employed in the digging of a defensive system at Flixecourt to protect the town of Abbeville, and the task therefore fell on all ranks of the _personnel_. Soon after this air alarms became an almost nightly occurrence, and even when raids did not actually take place, sleep was broken. But the nursing staff and all inmates of the hospital passed through this prolonged period of physical and mental strain without failing to respond adequately to the demands made on them. Though no definite attack was made by hostile aircraft on the hospital, bombs on several occasions fell uncomfortably near, one actually falling inside the grounds. This fortunately buried itself before exploding, and, beyond tearing the roof of a tent used as a carpenter’s shop, did no damage.

The approach of the enemy and the frequency Of bombing raids made the retention of cases of fracture of the femur in this hospital inadvisable, and on that account as many as possible were evacuated to the United Kingdom, together with the greater portion of the special equipment used for these cases.

Not long after the last consignment was despatched the Allied offensive began, and the heavy influx of fractured femur cases—amounting to more than 150 in the hospital at one time—made it necessary to use improvised apparatus for dealing with a number increased to this extent, in spite of the fact that as many of these cases as possible were at once evacuated to the United Kingdom.

During the months of June and July 1918 the admissions of sick to the hospital were large, owing to an epidemic of influenza. Since then admissions steadily increased, both of sick and wounded, due to the offensive which began in the latter part of July and which continued up to the signing of the armistice.

During September the admissions reached the figure of 3,276, while in October they numbered 3,214, and the discharges 3,318. For the period of January 1 to November 30, 1918, the total admissions were 20,089. Of these 8,716 were battle casualties, and 11,373 were sick; discharges for the same period amounted to 19,921. Of these, 4,196 were returned to duty; 4,229 were transferred to convalescent depôts; 9,028 were evacuated to the United Kingdom; and 2,468 were transferred to other hospitals in France.

All the tented wards were equipped with sliding doors, the first of which were provided out of South African funds. These were made by a French contractor to our design, and the type was afterwards adopted for all hospitals in this area. The engineer services eventually supplied the remainder of the wards with similar doors.

A considerable amount of extra equipment was also provided out of South African funds, notably, an extra operating table, portable ray apparatus for use in the fractured femur wards, additional surgical instruments, and the apparatus necessary for Ionic medication.

The appearance of the hospital grounds improved from year to year, grass lawns and flower-beds being laid out, and vegetable gardening being carried on each year on a progressively larger scale.

From the early days of the unit in France a field adjoining the hospital was available for purposes of recreation, the rent being paid from hospital funds. During all seasons of the year it was made full use of by the unit for football, hockey, cricket, and other games. Badminton and tennis courts were constructed in the officers’ and sisters’ quarters, and a tennis court was made on ground adjoining the recreation field for the use of other ranks of the unit.

In June 1917 a surgical team for duty at a casualty clearing station was provided by the unit, and performed continuous duty in the forward areas until December of that year. Since then a surgical team performed duty in the front areas on eight occasions. In addition, nursing sisters from time to time were detailed for duty on ambulance trains and for nursing duties and as anæsthetists at casualty clearing stations.

On July 10, 1917, the hospital was honoured by a visit from her Majesty the Queen and his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. Her Majesty inspected three of the wards in the Hospital and the operating theatre block, and before leaving was graciously pleased to express her entire satisfaction with the work of the Hospital.

* * * * *

To return to the South African Military Hospital at Richmond. In September 1916 the Army Council, on its own account, proposed to add to the accommodation; the Committee, however, considered that, in view of the fact that the provision of 500 beds had been originally contemplated, the additional accommodation proposed should be undertaken by the Committee. This necessitated a further appeal for funds; but, to avoid delay, Mr. Otto Beit generously gave a very substantial contribution. Eventually the total donations received from the issue of the second appeal assured the extension being carried through. The work was pressed forward, and the extension was opened for patients in February 1917. It was, however, hardly in use when a demand was made for further beds. This was met by the Committee converting into wards the quarters originally built for orderlies, and by renting a neighbouring house as an annex, so that in April 1917 the total accommodation for patients had increased to 620 beds.

Early in 1918 the War Office, seeing that the Richmond Military Hospital was almost entirely filled with South African patients, proposed to the Committee that the South African and the Richmond hospitals should be amalgamated, the combined hospitals to be known as the South African Military Hospital. The Committee readily agreed, and the two hospitals were completely amalgamated on July 1, 1918.

The enlarged hospital provided 1,098 beds; but even this was not sufficient, and 250 emergency beds were added by billeting patients in the neighbourhood. In addition, four auxiliary hospitals were attached, bringing the total number of beds to 1,321, or, including billets, 1,571.

The Park section of the combined hospitals stood on an enclosed site of about twelve acres, the actual area of the building being about two and one-third acres. The construction throughout was of timber with felt and weather-board linings on the outside, and asbestos board-sheeting on the inside of the walls and ceilings of all wards and principal rooms. A special feature of this section was the bath ward, with six fire-clay continuous baths for the treatment of patients suffering from severe wounds.

The Grove Road extension was a brick building, and consisted for the most part of modern infirmary wards supplemented by additional wards in old buildings.

The equipment of the Park section was entirely provided by the Committee, while that of the Grove Road section was found by the Board of Guardians and the War Office, and was only where necessary supplemented by the Committee.

Towards the end of 1916 the Committee offered the privilege of naming a bed in the hospital to any persons or institutions making a gift of £25, and of naming a ward for a donation of £600. The appeal resulted in 99 beds and 8 wards being thus named, approximately 265 of the beds being the gifts of schools in South Africa, the organization for these being initiated and carried out by Mr. Maskew Miller of Cape Town.

The principal corridors and rooms in the hospital were named after well-known streets or places in South Africa, all the principal towns in the Union being represented. The result of this, and of placing the tablets over the beds, was that familiar names greeted the South African visitor—a happy idea on the part of the Committee, and one which was much appreciated by the sick and wounded of the contingent.

The Committee expended approximately £45,000 on building the hospital and its extensions, and £19,000 on equipment. The former figure, however, includes a sum of approximately £2,000 expended in erecting a concert hall and certain workshops, while the latter figure includes considerable sums spent on replacements. That the money was well spent is shown by the fact that the hospital was always regarded as one of the model war hospitals in the United Kingdom.

The medical staff consisted of thirteen officers of the South African Medical Corps, and eleven civilian practitioners, who for various causes were not eligible for commissions in the S.A.M.C.

Various changes naturally occurred in the staff owing to interchanges being effected from time to time with the units in France. When Lieutenant-Colonel Thornton took over the command he was succeeded as registrar by Captain Coghlan, S.A.M.C., who in turn was succeeded by Major J. C. A. Rigby, S.A.M.C. The first quartermaster was Major G. Merritt, S.A.M.C., who left, however, with No. 1 South African General Hospital when that unit proceeded to France, his duties being taken over by Captain Lunney, S.A.M.C. In the autumn of 1917 Captain Lunney relieved Major Merritt in France, and Major Merritt then returned to Richmond, where shortly after he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.

The nursing staff under the matron—Miss Jackson, R.R.C., Q.A.I.M.N.S.—consisted of 2 assistant matrons, 23 nursing sisters, 55 staff nurses, and 88 probationers, the larger proportion of whom were South Africans. The trained members of the staff mostly belonged to the Q.A.I.M.N.S. (Res.), or to the S.A.M.N.S. The subordinate _personnel_ consisted, with a few exceptions, of N.C.O.’s and men who, having been invalided owing to wounds or sickness in the field, did duty at the hospital while regaining health and strength.

The hospital also served as the depot for the S.A.M.C. subordinate _personnel_; and 18 drafts, comprising 423 men, were sent to France as reinforcements for the First South African General Hospital and the First South African Field Ambulance.

The number of patients admitted up to October 31, 1918, was 274 officers and 9,412 other ranks—a total of 9,686. This does not include any patients admitted to the Richmond Military Hospital prior to the date of amalgamation. Of the 9,686 patients, 2,628 belonged to Imperial units, but included a good many South Africans, and 7,058 were members of the South African Contingent; 8,260 patients were discharged, including 6,230 members of the Contingent.

The total number of operations performed under a general anæsthetic was 2,125, and the number of medical boards held was 1,559.

Most of the swabs and bandages used in the hospital were manufactured in the South African workrooms, organized by a group of ladies attached to the South African Comforts Committee. The ladies responsible for these workrooms made most of the curtains and other similar articles required to equip the hospital, and undertook most of the mending. Under Mrs. Friedlander they rendered most valuable assistance to the hospital since its foundation, and their help was much appreciated by all concerned.

From the very first the Committee spared neither trouble nor money to provide for the comfort and welfare of the patients. At first the work of visitation and entertainment was organized under Lady (Lionel) Phillips, but later it was taken over by the Red Cross sub-committee of the Fund. For those sufficiently convalescent to enjoy them, every possible variety of amusement was provided. On four or five nights a week some form of entertainment was given in the large concert hall, while every week theatres or places of interest were visited, a special feature being the river trips arranged by the “African World” War Comforts Service, who also very generously provided gifts of fruit and other comforts. Further, in order that nothing should be left undone, Lady Phillips founded a riverside club in close proximity to the hospital, for the benefit of those patients sufficiently convalescent to enjoy the delights of its garden and picturesque river views.

Arrangements for bedside occupational work were, in the early days of the hospital, made by lady visitors. Material for fancy work and needlework was generously provided, and the making of regimental crests and other work of a like nature helped patients to pass in bed many a weary hour when they were still too weak to be doing the more serious vocational work.

Shortly after the hospital was opened the problem of dealing with the permanently disabled men of the Contingent had to be faced. After negotiations with the War Office, it was arranged that a Vocational Training School should be established in connection with the hospital. A commencement was made in November 1916, and the school was finally opened in February 1917. The scheme involved awakening the men while still in bed to interest in their future, so that when well enough they might go to the classrooms and undertake extensive courses of training. The South African Military Hospital was the first primary hospital in the United Kingdom in which permanently disabled men, while being restored to the best possible physical condition, were trained, with due regard to their disabilities, for a civil career to enable them on discharge from the army to become self-supporting members of the community. There was what was perhaps a natural reluctance on the part of the Home Government in giving sanction to this new venture, which was for many months looked upon as being at the best an interesting experiment. The New Zealand authorities, however, quickly saw the advantages of the methods, and in August 1917 a similar scheme for their hospitals was adopted.

The desirability of training permanently disabled soldiers while still undergoing hospital treatment was finally endorsed at the Inter-Allied Conference on Disablement Problems, held in London in May 1918, and committees were subsequently formed in each Command to organize similar work throughout the hospitals of the United Kingdom.

The South African Vocational Training Scheme was carried on side by side with the work of the hospital, and was successful both in improving the mental attitude—especially of limbless men—and in training many disabled men of the Contingent who would otherwise have been unproductive to the community.

The cost of the erection of the workshops—amounting to £2,335—was borne by the South African Hospital and Comforts Fund and the Governor-General’s Fund.

Much of the equipment was either given or lent, but about £1,200 had to be expended to obtain such tools and appliances as could not otherwise be obtained. The latter expenditure was defrayed by the Governor-General’s Fund. The scheme also necessitated the hiring of four houses in the vicinity of the hospital for housing students who had been discharged from hospital; the cost of the equipment of these, amounting approximately to £1,400, was also met by the two funds.

These hostels were managed by a small committee appointed by the General Committee. The expenditure on rents, rates, and taxes for the hostels was shared by the local fund and the Governor-General’s Fund, but all other expenditure was met by the sub-committee which received through the High Commissioner the sum of £1 per week for each inmate. This sum represented a ration allowance of 1s. 9d. per head per diem received from Defence Votes, the balance being made up by the Governor-General’s Fund. The Union Government also made itself responsible for the pay and allowances of the inmates, and entirely relieved the Imperial Government of all financial responsibility for the period during which the men were undergoing training after discharge from hospital. The number of crippled men who attended classes since their commencement was 393. Of these 167 remained on October 31, 1918, and 226 had left. Of those remaining, 112 were out-students—that is, men discharged from hospital—and 55 were patients still in hospital. The number of out-students dealt with was 215, of whom 103 have left.

The school was at first under the direction of Mr. Charles Bray, but on his resignation owing to ill-health, Staff-Sergeant Newell, B.Sc., of the S.A.M.C., and in civil life on the staff of the Natal Education Department, was appointed as educational organizer. He was subsequently granted honorary commissioned rank in the Union Defence Force. The propaganda work in the wards and the ward teaching were in the hands of Miss Edith Hill, also of the Natal Education Department.

The hostels for housing out-students were managed by a matron—Mrs. Lennox, of Lovedale—and a staff of ladies, whose efforts were attended with every success.

But the success of the school, in spite of many initial difficulties, was due to the keenness of the men themselves and to the excellent co-operative work of the whole staff of the hospital, with the result that in a number of cases of limbless men the earning capacity was undoubtedly increased as a result of the training they received at Richmond.

APPENDIX IV.

THE RAILWAYS COMPANIES AND MISCELLANEOUS TRADES COMPANY.

In 1916 the railways, roads, canals, and docks in the British zone in France were brought under the control of “Transportation,” which was under the command of Sir Eric Geddes. The War Office appealed to the Dominions for Railway Operating Sections, or Companies, each consisting of three officers and 266 men. In South Africa the position was such that the railways could, at the time, only spare sufficient men to form one company, but it was arranged to form a second from those not actually in the railway service but who had railway experience, or were in other ways fitted for the particular work required of them.

The first company assembled at Potchefstroom in November 1916, under Captain H. L. Pybus, and the second at Robert’s Heights, Pretoria, under Captain W. McI. Robinson. Fifty locomotive drivers and a similar number of firemen and guards formed the backbone of each company, the balance being composed of traffic controllers, blockmen, signalmen, with the necessary mechanics and clerical staff to enable each company to operate as a separate and a complete unit.

Lieutenant-Colonel F. R. Collins—a mechanical superintendent in the South African Railways—was appointed in command, and left for England in December 1916, the companies following later under the command of Captain (Acting Major) Robinson, and arriving at Bordon, Hampshire, in March 1917, at which place the depot was formed.

Both companies arrived in France at the end of March 1917, and were detailed for light railway work, which was then in its initial stage. The first section was renumbered “No. 7, South African Light Railway Operating Company,” and the second, “No. 8, South African Light Railway Operating Company,” the former being sent to Romarin on the Belgian border, while the latter proceeded to Savy, in the Arras district. Twenty-five drivers and a like number of firemen from each company were transferred to the Broad Gauge, and remained on that work throughout the war. No. 7 Company stayed at Romarin until the operations in connection with the taking of Messines Village and Ridge were completed in June 1917, during which time the Ploegsteert Light Railway system was built, over which the company was responsible for all traffic, the bulk being ammunition with delivery points at the different batteries. The 8th Company took over the Light Railway work from Marœuil to the north and north-east of Arras, whence lines were extended after the Vimy Ridge operations. In June 1917 both companies proceeded to Audruicq preparatory to taking up Broad Gauge work, and were designated No. 92 and No. 93 Companies respectively.

During most of this period Lieutenant-Colonel Collins was attached to Transportation Headquarters, and in May 1917 was appointed Assistant-Director of Light Railways, Fifth Army, which was then operating in the Bapaume sector. On the transfer of this Army to Belgium to take part in the series of operations known as the Third Battle of Ypres, light railways, in addition to serving batteries and Royal Engineers, were now required to prepare to follow up any advance. For this purpose the services of the 92nd and 93rd South African Companies were loaned to Light Railways, and took their place with five Imperial Operating Companies in the Fifth Army area. They shared in the operations up to November 1917, when the offensive ceased.

During this time the 92nd Company was employed on the system north-east of Ypres, eleven of the members being awarded Military Medals for individual acts of gallantry and devotion to duty. The 93rd Company worked from Elverdinghe through Boesinghe to Langemarck, and among other duties was responsible for the placing of field gun ammunition in position in front of the field guns on the eastern slopes of the Pilckem Ridge and in the Steenbecque Valley prior to the attacks during September and October 1917, which led to the front being advanced to the edge of the Houthulst Forest. Seven members received the Military Medal during this time.

[Illustration: LIEUTENANT-COLONEL F. R. COLLINS, D.S.O., Commanding South African Railway Companies.]

In January 1918 the Fifth Army took over the sector of forty-five miles on the extreme south of the British front, and, in anticipation of an enemy offensive, light railway construction on a considerable scale was undertaken under Lieutenant-Colonel F. Newell. Later, on the division of this system, Lieutenant-Colonel Collins took over the northern area—the 92nd and 93rd Companies being ordered south from Belgium. The 93rd arrived early in March and was sent to Noyon, where it remained until the 23rd, when, retirement being forced by the enemy advance, the company proceeded by route march to Flexicourt, west of Amiens, and was employed on the construction of defence works in company with many other transportation units whose usual employment had been suspended for a like reason. Later, they were employed on railway construction necessitated by the altered conditions. In July 1918 the Company Headquarters were established at Ligny, east of St. Pol, and the operation of the main trunk lines to Arras was undertaken. The German retreat caused a forward move, and the company, since November, operated over the section Douai to Mons inclusive, with headquarters at Somain.

The 92nd Company, after concentrating in Belgium in March for its projected move south, subsequently cancelled owing to the enemy’s advance, went to Crombeke and from there assisted in railway construction and other duties, until in September, when, with Berguette as headquarters, the operation of the newly-constructed line towards Merville and later towards Armentières was undertaken. In November the Company moved forward to Lille, and with headquarters at Tourcoing worked the section from Tourcoing to Tournai.

In 1917 the South African Union Government consented to the formation of a Miscellaneous Trades Company for service in France. This company began to assemble at Potchefstroom in June, and, as recruiting was brisk, it was able to embark fully organized at Cape Town as early as 25th July, under the command of Captain C. E. Mason, S.A.E.

Arriving at Bordon on 28th August, the company was given a short course of training at the Royal Engineers’ Depot there, and sent to France on 14th October. Here the company was renumbered the 84th Miscellaneous Trades Company, R.E. (South African), and sent to the Director-General of Transportation, Chief Mechanical Engineer Department, Locomotive Workshops, situated at St. Etienne-du-Rouvray, near Rouen, where five companies of the Royal Engineers, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Cole, R.E., were already stationed.

These were the largest locomotive workshops attached to the British Armies in France, and, by reason of its large percentage of skilled _personnel_, the 84th Company was enabled to take a very considerable share in the activities of the shops, Captain Mason being appointed Erecting Works’ Manager, and the N.C.O.’s of the Company in many instances being entrusted with positions of responsibility. On the recall of Captain Mason to South Africa, Captain N. S. Weatherley, S.A.E., succeeded to the command of the Company. When the armistice was signed in November 1918, Lieutenant-Colonel Cole ordered a special parade of the Company, in order to express to all ranks his high appreciation of their services, which he characterized in the most complimentary terms.

A depot for the companies in France was originally established at Bordon, and was temporarily under the charge of Lieutenant Arthur, of the 1st section. Advantage was taken of the Instructional Establishment at Longmoor to train as many men as possible in the operation of petrol tractors, which were largely used in place of steam locomotives in the forward areas on light railways. In June 1917 the depot was taken over by Captain M. J. Byrne, who, on his transfer to France in July 1918 to command the 93rd Company, was succeeded by Captain H. E. Greaves, M.C., R.E., the depot about the same time being transferred from Bordon to Longmoor.

APPENDIX V.

THE CAPE AUXILIARY HORSE TRANSPORT COMPANIES.

In February 1917 the Government of the Union of South Africa was asked by the War Office to raise eight companies of Cape coloured drivers for service with the Army Service Corps in France. The _personnel_ originally required was:—

Officers 50 Warrant officers 6 Non-commissioned officers 60 Artificers 131 Drivers 2,316

but this was eventually increased to—

Officers 67 Warrant officers 23 Non-commissioned officers 92 Artificers and drivers 3,482

Towards the end of February Lieutenant-Colonel J. D. Anderson (an officer who had considerable experience in transport work) was asked to take command, and to arrange for the recruiting and organization of the eight companies. Kimberley was selected as the most convenient centre for mobilization, and De Beers Corporation gave the use of its Nos. 1 and 3 Compounds. These had hutting accommodation for approximately two thousand men. They were provided with a hospital, kitchens, washing-rooms—in fact everything required—and there is no doubt that the loan of these compounds not only facilitated mobilization and saved a great deal of expense, but probably accelerated the departure of the contingent by at least two months. Lieutenant-Colonel Wynne was appointed camp commandant, with Captain MacKeurton as paymaster, and Captain Cooper as officer in charge of the Records, and by the 12th March everything was in readiness for recruiting to begin.

The results were at first disappointing, as recruiting for the Cape coloured battalions for service in German East Africa was at this time being undertaken, and recruiting committees for this purpose were at work at all the principal centres in South Africa. In addition there were many questions, such as the appointment of coloured N.C.O.’s, increased rates of pay, the rejection of all coloured drivers other than Cape coloured drivers, recognition by the Governor-General’s Fund, and other details, all of which had to be settled before the Coloured Recruiting Committees would lend their assistance. There was also a lack of Cape Auxiliary Horse Transport officers to conduct a special recruiting campaign. However, these difficulties were soon overcome, and recruiting proceeded with great rapidity. Johannesburg, where Captain Barlow, Captain and Chaplain Rogers, and Lieutenant Graham Moore inaugurated a vigorous recruiting campaign; Cape Town, where Lieutenants Gillam and Sawyer, Second-Lieutenant Tracey, S.S.M. Simmons, and C.S.M. Creagh met with considerable success; and Knysna, with Second-Lieutenant Anderson and C.Q.M.S. Steytler as recruiting officers, each produced five hundred recruits in a short time.

At the beginning the amount of clerical work entailed was very heavy, the work being increased owing to the necessity of having to reject a large number of drivers who were attested but subsequently found unsuitable. Every officer, warrant officer, and N.C.O., however, assisted the Records’ officer to such an extent that by the middle of April 1,500 men were ready to leave for overseas. Unfortunately, shipping could only be found for 867, and these sailed in the _Euripides_ on the 20th April. These were shortly followed by drafts under the command of Majors Jenner and Barnard, and a reinforcement draft under Lieutenant Smith.

On the arrival of the first detachment in France on 23rd May, the Director of Transport decided that the contingent should release for other service, and take the place of, the Army Service Corps _personnel_, forming the following companies:—

No. 22 Auxiliary Horse Transport Company, A.S.C., stationed at Dunkirk and Calais.

No. 5 Auxiliary Horse Transport Company, A.S.C., stationed at Boulogne.

No. 2 Auxiliary Horse Transport Company, A.S.C., stationed at Havre.

No. 8 Auxiliary Horse Transport Company, A.S.C., stationed at Rouen.

No. 10 Auxiliary Horse Transport Company, A.S.C., stationed at Rouen.

No. 11 Auxiliary Horse Transport Company, A.S.C., stationed at Rouen.

Arrangements were also made for a base depot to be established at Havre.

The reorganization was commenced at once, one company of the first draft going to Calais and the two others to Rouen. As other drafts arrived they were sent to the base depot for three weeks, where they were equipped, and went through a course of training before being distributed to the various A.S.C. companies. Thus by the 31st August the Cape Auxiliary Horse Transport detachments had released the whole of the white _personnel_ of six companies of the Army Service Corps, with the exception of five officers and a certain number of warrant officers and N.C.O.’s, whose services it was proposed permanently to retain, while after a few months in France the reorganized companies were all commanded by officers of the detachment.

Though the men did very excellent work at the base posts, Colonel Anderson felt that there were strong arguments in favour of them being moved to divisional trains or Army Auxiliary Horse Transport companies actually working in the army areas. The arguments in favour of the move from a South African point of view were unanswerable. The environments at the base posts were not good, and the work of the men chiefly lay in the lower quarters of the towns where liquor-sellers and their customary associates resided. It is greatly to the credit of the men that their general conduct was exemplary in spite of the adverse conditions under which many of them worked.

The views of the military authorities in France did not, however, coincide with those of Colonel Anderson. All the commandants of the bases at which the companies were employed recommended that they should remain where they were, and wrote highly of the men’s behaviour, bearing, and discipline. It was a great disappointment to all that the companies were not at once employed in the army areas; but a promise was given that, if reinforcements proved sufficient, an experiment would be made in employing them nearer to the actual scene of fighting. This was eventually done, and the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Army Auxiliary Horse Companies were taken over, the experiment proving an unmitigated success. The work of these companies consisted in conveying ammunition and supplies to the firing lines, and transporting metal for the new roads which had to be constructed as the armies advanced.

Of the other companies which were employed on the lines of communication, Numbers 2, 5, 8, and 22 Companies were employed at the docks, the bulk of the work consisting in conveying munitions and supplies from the docks to the different distributing centres. The work was hard, the hours long, and the drivers much exposed to weather conditions.

Numbers 10 and 11 Companies were designated as “Forest Companies,” and were employed almost entirely in hauling logs from the place where they were felled to dumping centres. In a report on the work in the forests in France, Lord Lovat, the Director of Forests, wrote that, without prejudice to other units, he wished to remark on the work done by the Horse Transport Companies manned by South African (Cape coloured) _personnel_, who had shown throughout both practical knowledge of the work and patriotic devotion to duty.

During their stay in France the health of the officers, N.C.O.’s, and men was much better than could reasonably have been expected. Casualties were estimated at 1 per cent. per month, but this figure was reduced by half.

APPENDIX VI.

VICTORIA CROSSES WON BY SOUTH AFRICANS DURING THE WAR.

LIEUTENANT (ACTING CAPTAIN) ANDREW WEATHERBY BEAUCHAMP-PROCTOR, D.S.O., M.C., D.F.C., No. 84 Squadron, Royal Air Force.

Between August 8, 1918, and October 8, 1918, this officer proved himself victor in twenty-six decisive combats, destroying twelve enemy kite balloons, ten enemy aircraft, and driving down four other enemy aircraft completely out of control.

Between October 1, 1918, and October 5, 1918, he destroyed two enemy scouts, burned three enemy kite balloons, and drove down one enemy scout completely out of control.

On October 1, 1918, in a general engagement with about twenty-eight machines, he crashed one Fokker biplane near FONTAINE and a second near RAMICOURT; on 2nd October he burnt a hostile balloon near SELVIGNY; on 3rd October he drove down completely out of control an enemy scout near MONT D’ORIGNY, and burned a hostile balloon; on 5th October, the third hostile balloon near BOHAIN.

On October 8, 1918, while flying home at a low altitude after destroying an enemy two-seater near MARETZ, he was painfully wounded in the arm by machine-gun fire; but, continuing, he landed safely at his aerodrome, and after making his report was admitted to hospital.

In all, he has proved himself conqueror over fifty-four foes, destroying twenty-two enemy machines, sixteen enemy kite balloons, and driving down sixteen enemy aircraft completely out of control.

Captain Beauchamp-Proctor’s work in attacking enemy troops on the ground and in reconnaissance during the withdrawal following on the battle of ST. QUENTIN, from March 21, 1918, and during the victorious advance of our armies commencing on 8th August, has been almost unsurpassed in its brilliancy, and as such has made an impression on those serving in his squadron and those around him that will not be easily forgotten.

Captain Beauchamp-Proctor was awarded the Military Cross on June 22, 1918; the Distinguished Flying Cross on July 2, 1918; a bar to the Military Cross on September 16, 1918; and the Distinguished Service Order on November 2, 1918.

CAPTAIN WILLIAM ANDERSON BLOOMFIELD, Scouts Corps, South African Mounted Brigade.

At MLALI, East Africa, on August 24, 1916. For most conspicuous bravery. Finding that, after being heavily attacked in an advanced and isolated position, the enemy were working round his flanks, Captain Bloomfield evacuated his wounded and subsequently withdrew his command to a new position, he himself being among the last to retire. On arrival at the new position he found that one of the wounded—No. 2475, Corporal D. M. P. Bowker—had been left behind. Owing to very heavy fire he experienced difficulties in having the wounded corporal brought in. Rescue meant passing over some four hundred yards of open ground, swept by heavy fire, in full view of the enemy. This task Captain Bloomfield determined to face himself, and unmindful of personal danger, he succeeded in reaching Corporal Bowker and carrying him back, subjected throughout the double journey to heavy machine-gun and rifle fire. This act showed the highest degree of valour and endurance.

No. 1630, SERGEANT FREDERICK CHARLES BOOTH, South African Forces, attached Rhodesia Native Regiment.

At JOHANNESBRUCK, near SONGEA, EAST AFRICA, on February 12, 1917. For most conspicuous bravery during an attack, in thick bush, on the enemy position. Under very heavy rifle fire, Sergeant Booth went forward alone and brought in a man who was dangerously wounded. Later, he rallied native troops who were badly disorganized, and brought them to the firing line. This N.C.O. has, on many previous occasions, displayed the greatest bravery, coolness, and resource in action, and has set a splendid example of pluck, endurance, and determination.

No. 4073, PRIVATE WILLIAM FREDERICK FAULDS, 1st Regiment, South African Infantry.

At DELVILLE WOOD, France, on July 18, 1916. For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. A bombing party under Lieutenant Craig attempted to rush across forty yards of ground which lay between the British and enemy trenches. Coming under very heavy rifle and machine-gun fire, the officer and the majority of the party were killed or wounded. Unable to move, Lieutenant Craig lay midway between the two lines of trenches, the ground being quite open. In full daylight Private Faulds, accompanied by two other men, climbed the parapet, ran out, picked up the officer and carried him back, one man being severely wounded in so doing.

Two days later Private Faulds again showed most conspicuous bravery in going out alone to bring in a wounded man and carrying him nearly half a mile to a dressing-station, subsequently rejoining his platoon. The artillery fire was at the time so intense that stretcher bearers and others considered that any attempt to bring in the wounded man meant certain death. This risk Private Faulds faced unflinchingly, and his bravery was crowned with success.

LIEUTENANT ROBERT VAUGHAN GORLE, “A” Battery, 50th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery.

For most conspicuous bravery, initiative, and devotion to duty during the attack at LEDEGHEM on October 1, 1918, when in command of an eighteen-pounder gun working in close conjunction with infantry. He brought his gun into action in the most exposed positions on four separate occasions, and disposed of enemy machine guns by firing over open sights under direct machine-gun fire at five hundred to six hundred yards range.

Later, seeing that the infantry were being driven back by intense hostile fire, he without hesitation galloped his gun in front of the leading infantry, and on two occasions knocked out enemy machine guns which were causing the trouble. His disregard of personal safety and dash were a magnificent example to the wavering line, which rallied and retook the northern end of the village.

MAJOR (ACTING LIEUTENANT-COLONEL) HARRY GREENWOOD, D.S.O., M.C., 9th Battalion, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.

For most conspicuous bravery, devotion to duty, and fine leadership on October 23-24, 1918. When the advance of his battalion on the 23rd October was checked, and many casualties caused by an enemy machine-gun post, Lieutenant-Colonel Greenwood, single-handed, rushed the post and killed the crew. At the entrance to the village of OVILLERS, accompanied by two battalion runners, he again rushed a machine-gun post and killed the occupants.

On reaching the objective west of DUKE’S WOOD, his command was almost surrounded by hostile machine-gun posts, and the enemy at once attacked his isolated force. The attack was repulsed, and, led by Lieutenant-Colonel Greenwood, his troops swept forward and captured the last objective with one hundred and fifty prisoners, eight machine guns, and one field gun.

During the attack on the “Green Line,” south of POIX DU NORD, on 24th October, he again displayed the greatest gallantry in rushing a machine-gun post, and he showed conspicuously good leadership in the handling of his command in the face of heavy fire. He inspired his men in the highest degree, with the result that the objective was captured, and in spite of heavy casualties the line was held.

During the advance on Grand Gay Farm Road, on the afternoon of 24th October, the skilful and bold handling of his battalion was productive of most important results, not only in securing the flank of his brigade but also in safeguarding the flank of the Division.

His valour and leading during two days of fighting were beyond all praise.

CAPTAIN PERCY HOWARD HANSEN, ADJUTANT, 6th (Service) Battalion, the Lincolnshire Regiment.

For most conspicuous bravery on August 9, 1915, at YILGHIN BURNU, Gallipoli Peninsula. After the second capture of the “Green Knoll” his battalion was forced to retire, leaving some wounded behind, owing to the intense heat from the scrub which had been set on fire. When the retirement was effected, Captain Hansen, with three or four volunteers, on his own initiative, dashed forward several times some three hundred to four hundred yards over open ground into the scrub, under a terrific fire, and succeeded in rescuing from inevitable death by burning no less than six wounded men.

LIEUTENANT (ACTING CAPTAIN) REGINALD FREDERICK JOHNSON HAYWARD, M.C., Wiltshire Regiment.

Near FREMICOURT, France, on March 21-22, 1918. For most conspicuous bravery in action. This officer, while in command of a company, displayed almost superhuman powers of endurance and consistent courage of the rarest nature. In spite of the fact that he was buried, wounded in the head, and rendered deaf on the first day of operations, and had his arm shattered two days later, he refused to leave his men (even though he received a third serious injury to his head), until he collapsed from sheer physical exhaustion.

Throughout the whole of this period the enemy were attacking his company front without cessation, but Captain Hayward continued to move across the open from one trench to another with absolute disregard of his own personal safety, concentrating entirely on reorganizing his defences and encouraging his men. It was almost entirely due to the magnificent example of ceaseless energy of this officer that many most determined attacks upon his portion of the trench system failed entirely.

No. 8162, LANCE-CORPORAL WILLIAM HENRY HEWITT, 2nd Regiment, South African Infantry.

At east of YPRES on September 20, 1917. For most conspicuous bravery during operations. Lance-Corporal Hewitt attacked a “pill-box” with his section and tried to rush the doorway. The garrison, however, proved very stubborn, and in the attempt this non-commissioned officer received a severe wound. Nevertheless, he proceeded to the loophole of the “pill-box” where, in his attempts to put a bomb into it, he was again wounded in the arm. Undeterred, however, he eventually managed to get a bomb inside, which caused the occupants to dislodge, and they were successfully and speedily dealt with by the remainder of the section.

SECOND-LIEUTENANT (ACTING CAPTAIN) ARTHUR MOORE LASCELLES, 3rd (attached 14th) Battalion, Durham Light Infantry.

At MASNIÈRES, France, on December 3, 1917. For most conspicuous bravery, initiative, and devotion to duty when in command of his company in a very exposed position. After a very heavy bombardment, during which Captain Lascelles was wounded, the enemy attacked in strong force but was driven off, success being due in a great degree to the fine example set by this officer, who, refusing to allow his wound to be dressed, continued to encourage his men and organize the defence.

Shortly afterwards the enemy again attacked and captured the trench, taking several of his men prisoners. Captain Lascelles at once jumped on the parapet, and followed by the remainder of his company, twelve men only, rushed across under very heavy machine-gun fire and drove over sixty of the enemy back, thereby saving a most critical situation.

He was untiring in reorganizing the position, but shortly afterwards the enemy again attacked and captured the trench and Captain Lascelles, who escaped later. The remarkable determination and gallantry of this officer in the course of operations, during which he received two further wounds, afforded an inspiring example to all.

CAPTAIN OSWALD AUSTIN REID, 2nd Battalion, Liverpool Regiment, attached 6th Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment.

At DIALAH RIVER, Mesopotamia, on March 8-10, 1917. For most conspicuous bravery in the face of desperate circumstances. By his dauntless courage and gallant leadership he was able to consolidate a small post with the advanced troops, on the opposite side of a river to the main body, after his lines of communication had been cut by the sinking of the pontoons.

He maintained this position for thirty hours against constant attacks by bombs, machine-gun and shell fire, with the full knowledge that repeated attempts at relief had failed, and that his ammunition was all but exhausted. It was greatly due to his tenacity that the passage of the river was effected on the following night. During the operations he was wounded.

MAJOR (ACTING LIEUTENANT-COLONEL) JOHN SHERWOOD-KELLY, C.M.G., D.S.O., Norfolk Regiment, Commanding 1st Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.

At MARCOING, France, on November 20, 1917. For most conspicuous bravery and fearless leading, when a party of men of another unit detailed to cover the passage of the canal by his battalion were held up on the near side of the canal by heavy rifle fire directed on the bridge. Lieutenant-Colonel Sherwood-Kelly at once ordered covering fire, personally led the leading company of his battalion across the canal, and, after crossing, reconnoitred under heavy rifle and machine-gun fire the high ground held by the enemy.

The left flank of his battalion, advancing to the assault of this objective, was held up by a thick belt of wire, whereupon he crossed to that flank and with a Lewis-gun team forced his way under heavy fire through obstacles, got the gun into position on the far side, and covered the advance of his battalion through the wire, thereby enabling them to capture the position.

Later, he personally led a charge against some pits from which a heavy fire was being directed on his men, captured the pits, together with five machine guns and forty-six prisoners, and killed a large number of the enemy.

The great gallantry displayed by this officer throughout the day inspired the greatest confidence in his men, and it was mainly due to his example and devotion to duty that his battalion was enabled to capture and hold their objective.

CAPTAIN (ACTING LIEUTENANT-COLONEL) RICHARD ANNESLEY WEST, D.S.O., M.C., late North Irish Horse (Cavalry Special Reserve) and Tank Corps.

At COURCELLES and VAULX-VRAUCOURT, France, on August 21, 1918, and September 2, 1918. For most conspicuous bravery, leadership, and self-sacrifice. During an attack, the infantry having lost their bearings in the dense fog, this officer at once collected and reorganized any men he could find and led them to their objective in face of heavy machine-gun fire. Throughout the whole action he displayed the most utter disregard of danger, and the capture of the objective was in a great part due to his initiative and gallantry.

On a subsequent occasion it was intended that a battalion of light Tanks, under the command of this officer, should exploit the initial infantry and heavy Tank attack. He therefore went forward in order to keep in touch with the progress of the battle, and arrived at the front line when the enemy were in process of delivering a local counter-attack. The infantry battalion had suffered heavy officer casualties and its flanks were exposed. Realizing that there was a danger of the battalion giving way, he at once rode out in front of them under extremely heavy machine-gun and rifle fire and rallied the men.

In spite of the fact that the enemy were close upon him, he took charge of the situation and detailed non-commissioned officers to replace officer casualties. He then rode up and down in front of them in face of certain death, encouraging the men and calling to them, “Stick it, men! Show them fight! and for God’s sake put up a good fight!” He fell riddled by machine-gun bullets.

The magnificent bravery of this very gallant officer at the critical moment inspired the infantry to redoubled efforts, and the hostile attack was defeated.

[Illustration: LIEUTENANT-COLONEL G. HELBERT, C.B.E., Military Staff Officer, South African Expeditionary Force.]

APPENDIX VII.

LIST OF HONOURS WON BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN FORCES IN FRANCE.

The ranks shown were those held at the date of the bestowal of the different awards.

Each asterisk denotes an additional mention.

V.C.

Faulds, No. 4073, Private W. F. Infantry. Hewitt, No. 8162, Lance-Corporal W. H. Infantry.

K.C.B.

Lukin, Major-General Sir H. T. Staff.

C.B.

Lukin, Brigadier-General H. T. Staff. Tanner, Brigadier-General W. E. C. Staff.

C.M.G.

Dawson, Lieutenant-Colonel F. S. Infantry. Jones, Lieutenant-Colonel F. A. Infantry. Pritchard, Colonel S. A. M. S.A.N.L.C. Tanner, Lieutenant-Colonel W. E. C. Infantry. Thackeray, Lieutenant-Colonel E. F. Infantry. Thomson, Lieutenant-Colonel G. R. S.A.M.C.

BAR TO D.S.O.

Dawson, Brigadier-General F. S. Staff.

D.S.O.

Baker, Major J. M. Staff. Bennett, Major G. M. Heavy Artillery. Blew, Lieutenant-Colonel T. H. Heavy Artillery. Brydon, Major W. Heavy Artillery. Bunce, Captain H. Infantry. Christian, Lieutenant-Colonel E. Infantry. Cochran, Major F. E. Infantry. Collins, Lieutenant-Colonel F. R. S. A. Engineers. Currie, Lieutenant J. Heavy Artillery. Dawson, Brigadier-General F. S. Staff. Edwards, Major S. B. Heavy Artillery. Forbes, Lieutenant E. C. Infantry. Greene, Captain L. Infantry. Hands, Major P. A. M. Heavy Artillery. Harrison, Major H. C. Heavy Artillery. Harrison, Major N. Signal Coy. Heal, Lieutenant-Colonel F. H. Infantry. Heenan, Major C. R. Infantry. Hemming, Major H. S. J. L. Infantry. Jacobs, Captain L. M. Infantry. Jenkins, Lieutenant-Colonel H. H. Infantry. Maasdorp, Major L. H. Heavy Artillery. MacLeod, Lieutenant-Colonel D. M. Infantry. Mullins, Major A. G. Heavy Artillery. Murray, Major C. M. S.A.M.C. Ormiston, Major T. Infantry. Power, Major M. S. S.A.M.C. Pringle, Lieutenant-Colonel R. N. S.A.M.C. Sprenger, Captain L. F. Infantry. Tanner, Lieutenant-Colonel W. E. C. Infantry. Thackeray, Lieutenant-Colonel E. F. Infantry. Tomlinson, Captain L. W. Infantry. Tripp, Major W. H. L. Heavy Artillery. Ward, Lieutenant-Colonel A. B. S.A.M.C. Ward, Major C. P. Heavy Artillery.

C.B.E. (MILITARY DIVISION).

Anderson, Lieutenant-Colonel J. D. Cape Aux. Horse Transport. Baker, Lieutenant-Colonel J. M. Staff. Duff, Colonel C. de V. General List. Helbert, Lieutenant-Colonel G. G. Staff. Stock, Colonel P. G. S.A.M.C. Thornton, Lieutenant-Colonel E. N. S.A.M.C.

O.B.E. (MILITARY DIVISION).

Baker, Major H. C. S.A.M.C. Balfour, Lieutenant-Colonel H. H. S.A.M.C. Bamford, Lieutenant-Colonel H. W. M. Infantry. Bowles, Captain E. General List. Cameron, Captain and Quartermaster C. S. S.A.N.L.C. Collins, Captain F. S. A. Engineers Deane, Major R. Infantry. Emmett, Lieutenant-Colonel J. J. C. S.A.N.L.C. Fawcus, Lieutenant-Colonel A. S.A.N.L.C. Geddes, Captain W. L. S.A.N.L.C. Green, Major J. A. Staff. Harris, Major J. J. F. Infantry. Jacobsby, Lieutenant-Colonel J. S.A.N.L.C. Jenner, Major L. W. Cape Aux. Horse Transport. Knight, Acting Major R. C. General List. Lennox, Captain and Chaplain J. S.A.N.L.C. Long, Captain W. Cape Aux. Horse Transport. Marshall, Captain H. E. C.C.L.C. Mills, Major H. P. Infantry. Pearson, Major M. G. S.A.M.C. Pepper, Major A. L. Staff. Rann, Major A. E. Heavy Artillery. Rigby, Major J. C. A. S.A.M.C. Ross, Captain F. M. Signal Coy. Sandes, Major T. L. S.A.M.C. Sproule, Major H. C.C.L.R. Thornton, Lieutenant-Colonel E. N. S.A.M.C. Usmar, Lieutenant-Colonel G. H. S.A.M.C. Wakefield, Major H. S. General List.

M.B.E. (MILITARY DIVISION).

Balfour, Lieutenant-Colonel H. H. S.A.M.C. Bowles, Captain E. S. A. Pay Corps. Coghlan, Captain G. S. S.A.M.C. Deane, Major R. Infantry. Ellis, Lieutenant N. N. S. A. Pay Corps. Jamieson, Captain E. C. K. S. A. Pay Corps. Kimberley, No. 17409, Reg. Sergt.-Major H. S.A.M.C. Knibbs, Lieutenant A. R. Staff. Legge, Captain E. A. Infantry. Rann, Major A. E. Heavy Artillery. Sandes, Major T. L. S.A.M.C. Tucker, Captain W. E. Infantry. Walker, Captain E. B. Infantry. Walker, No. X235, Staff Sergeant-Major J. H. Staff. Whyte, Captain J. E. S.A.N.L.C.

BAR TO M.C.

Green, Lieutenant G. G. Infantry. King, Captain W. L. Infantry. Lawrie, Captain M. B. S.A.M.C. Morrison, Lieutenant R. E. Infantry. Neille, Lieutenant P. C. Infantry. Phillips, Second-Lieutenant S. G. Infantry. Ridley, Captain E. G. Heavy Artillery. Roffe, Captain T. Infantry. Smith, Captain W. S.A.M.C. Ward, Captain A. E. Infantry.

M.C.

Allen, Second-Lieutenant V. W. Infantry. Backeberg, Second-Lieutenant H. W. Infantry. Bailey, Lieutenant H. Heavy Artillery. Bamford, Captain H. W. M. Infantry. Begbie, Major R. P. G. Heavy Artillery. Begley, Lieutenant E. R. Infantry. Beverley, Lieutenant R. Infantry. Beyers, Captain G. A. S.A.M.C. Boustead, Second-Lieutenant H. Infantry. Bower, Second-Lieutenant E. W. Heavy Artillery. Browne, Captain C. M. Infantry. Burgess, Captain E. J. Infantry. Burton, Second-Lieutenant F. W. S. Infantry. Carding, Lieutenant W. H. Infantry. Cawood, Second-Lieutenant R. C. Infantry. Charlton, Captain W. D. Infantry. Cohen, Lieutenant M. Signal Coy. Collins, Second-Lieutenant F. Signal Coy. Connock, Second-Lieutenant C. O. Infantry. Covernton, Lieutenant R. H. Signal Coy. Cragg, Second-Lieutenant J. C. Infantry. Crooks, Lieutenant A. S. Infantry. Culverwell, Second-Lieutenant D. Heavy Artillery. Davies, Captain E. A. Infantry. Dickson, Second-Lieutenant E. G. H. Infantry. Dingwall, Captain J. A. Signal Coy. Dobson, Lieutenant F. L. Signal Coy. Duminy, Second-Lieutenant F. J. van H. Heavy Artillery. Elias, Lieutenant D. H. Infantry. Ellis, Captain P. H. Infantry. English, Second-Lieutenant F. H. Infantry. FitzGeorge, Lieutenant F. S. L. Signal Coy. Forbes, Captain A. G. S.A.M.C. Forbes, Lieutenant L. H. Infantry. Goodwin, Lieutenant B. W. Infantry. Gray, Lieutenant S. E. G. Infantry. Green, Lieutenant A. P. Heavy Artillery. Green, Second-Lieutenant G. G. Infantry. Greene, Captain L. Infantry. Hallack, Lieutenant M. H. Infantry. Hands, Captain P. A. M. Heavy Artillery. Harris, Captain and Chaplain H. S. A. Chap. Dept. Harris, Second-Lieutenant W. E. Infantry. Hatchard, Second-Lieutenant F. H. F. Infantry. Heeley, Lieutenant H. N. Infantry. Hennessy, Second-Lieutenant B. P. Infantry. Hewat, Second-Lieutenant R. D. Infantry. Hill, Captain and Chaplain E. St. C. S. A. Chap. Dept. Hill, Lieutenant J. L. Signal Coy. Humphrey, Captain J. T. Infantry. Ingarfield, Lieutenant G. P. Infantry. Jack, Lieutenant J. Signal Coy. Keith, No. 2300, Reg. Sergt.-Major P. Infantry. Kilpin, Second-Lieutenant T. Heavy Artillery. King, Second-Lieutenant W. L. Infantry. Kirby, Second-Lieutenant W. H. Infantry. Kirkham, Captain G. H. Infantry. Lawrence, Captain H. R. S.A.M.C. Lawrie, Captain M. B. S.A.M.C. Leighton, Second-Lieutenant G. A. Infantry. Lewell, Second-Lieutenant E. Infantry. Liebson, Captain S. S.A.M.C. Lunn, Captain W. S. Heavy Artillery. Maasdorp, Lieutenant A. Heavy Artillery. Macfarlane, Lieutenant B. N. Infantry. MacFie, Second-Lieutenant T. G. Infantry. Mackie, Second-Lieutenant D. C. Infantry. Maddison, Lieutenant E. A. J. Heavy Artillery. Marshall, Captain R. B. Infantry. Martin, Second-Lieutenant H. A. Infantry. M’Donald, Captain A. W. H. Infantry. M’Gregor, Major A. M. Heavy Artillery. M’Intosh, Second-Lieutenant R. Infantry. M’Lean, Lieutenant W. Infantry. Mellish, Lieutenant F. W. Heavy Artillery. Meredith, No. 5755, Reg. Sergt.-Major G. Infantry. Methven, Second-Lieutenant N. W. Infantry. Middleton, Lieutenant E. Infantry. Miller, Second-Lieutenant R. S. Heavy Artillery. Mitchell, Captain F. McE. Infantry. Money, Lieutenant A. G. Infantry. Morrison, Second-Lieutenant R. E. Infantry. Murray, Second-Lieutenant A. S. Heavy Artillery. Neille, Second-Lieutenant P. C. Infantry. Nicholson, Lieutenant C. F. S. Infantry. Page, Second-Lieutenant P. T. A. Heavy Artillery. Pentz, Second-Lieutenant H. F. Infantry. Pepper, Captain A. L. Staff. Perrem, Second-Lieutenant C. H. Infantry. Peters, Second-Lieutenant J. Infantry. Phillips, Second-Lieutenant E. J. Infantry. Phillips, Second-Lieutenant S. G. Infantry. Poole, Lieutenant R. P. Signal Coy. Pougnet, Second-Lieutenant V. N. Infantry. Rann, Captain A. E. Heavy Artillery. Reid, Captain E. L. S.A.M.C. Ridley, Captain E. G. Heavy Artillery. Roberts, Second-Lieutenant C. W. Infantry. Roddy, Captain G. Infantry. Roffe, Captain T. Infantry. Roper, Captain A. W. F. Heavy Artillery. Rose-Innes, Second-Lieutenant F. G. Heavy Artillery. Ross, Captain F. H. Infantry. Ross, Captain F. M. Signal Coy. Rushforth, Lieutenant A. H. Heavy Artillery. Sampson, Captain B. S.A.M.C. Saphir, Second-Lieutenant M. Infantry. Scheepers, Second-Lieutenant J. C. Infantry. Shenton, Lieutenant J. L. Infantry. Smith, Captain W. S.A.M.C. Sprenger, Captain L. F. Infantry. Solomon, Lieutenant A. C. Heavy Artillery. Stapleton, Lieutenant P. R. Infantry. Stewart, Lieutenant J. G. Heavy Artillery. Style, Captain S. W. E. Infantry. Sumner, Lieutenant H. L. Infantry. Symons, Captain T. H. Infantry. Infantry. Morrison, Second-Lieutenant R. E. Infantry. Murray, Second-Lieutenant A. S. Heavy Artillery. Neille, Second-Lieutenant P. C. Infantry. Nicholson, Lieutenant C. F. S. Infantry. Page, Second-Lieutenant P. T. A. Heavy Artillery. Pentz, Second-Lieutenant H. F. Infantry. Pepper, Captain A. L. Staff. Perrem, Second-Lieutenant C. H. Infantry. Peters, Second-Lieutenant J. Infantry. Phillips, Second-Lieutenant E. J. Infantry. Phillips, Second-Lieutenant S. G. Infantry. Poole, Lieutenant R. P. Signal Coy. Pougnet, Second-Lieutenant V. N. Infantry. Rann, Captain A. E. Heavy Artillery. Reid, Captain E. L. S.A.M.C. Ridley, Captain E. G. Heavy Artillery. Roberts, Second-Lieutenant C. W. Infantry. Roddy, Captain G. Infantry. Roffe, Captain T. Infantry. Roper, Captain A. W. F. Heavy Artillery. Rose-Innes, Second-Lieutenant F. G. Heavy Artillery. Ross, Captain F. H. Infantry. Ross, Captain F. M. Signal Coy. Rushforth, Lieutenant A. H. Heavy Artillery. Sampson, Captain B. S.A.M.C. Saphir, Second-Lieutenant M. Infantry. Scheepers, Second-Lieutenant J. C. Infantry. Shenton, Lieutenant J. L. Infantry. Smith, Captain W. S.A.M.C. Sprenger, Captain L. F. Infantry. Solomon, Lieutenant A. C. Heavy Artillery. Stapleton, Lieutenant P. R. Infantry. Stewart, Lieutenant J. G. Heavy Artillery. Style, Captain S. W. E. Infantry. Sumner, Lieutenant H. L. Infantry. Symons, Captain T. H. Infantry. Thomas, Second-Lieutenant W. F. G. Infantry. Thorburn, Lieutenant W. Infantry. Unwin, Captain H. W. Heavy Artillery. Van Ryneveld, Second-Lieutenant T. V. Infantry. Vincent, Lieutenant S. C. Infantry. Vivian, Captain E. V. Infantry. Walker, Captain E. B. Infantry. Walsh, Second-Lieutenant F. G. Infantry. Walshe, Captain and Chaplain P. J. S. A. Chap. Dept. Ward, Lieutenant A. E. Infantry. Wardill, No. 907, Batt. Sergt.-Major A. J. Heavy Artillery. Wells, No. 6163, Reg. Sergt.-Major R. Infantry. Welsh, Captain T. S.A.M.C. Whales, Second-Lieutenant G. Heavy Artillery. Whelan, Second-Lieutenant M. E. Infantry. Wilson, No. 5266, Reg. Sergt.-Major J. Infantry. Wood, No. 6386, Company Sergeant-Major J. Infantry.

THE ROYAL RED CROSS.

MEMBERS.

Bester, Nursing-Sister H. L. S.A.M.N.S. Creagh, Matron E. R. S.A.M.N.S. Fynn, Nursing-Sister M. A. S.A.M.N.S. Purcell, Matron A. M. Q.A.I.M.N.S. (Res.) Wessels, Nursing-Sister E. S. S.A.M.N.S.

ASSOCIATES.

Barber, Nursing-Sister M. E. S.A.M.N.S. Blake, Nursing-Sister E. C. S.A.M.N.S. Campbell, Nursing-Sister M. H. S.A.M.N.S. Conyngham, Nursing-Sister A. B. S.A.M.N.S. Francis, Staff-Nurse G. E. S.A.M.N.S. Goulden, Nursing-Sister K. S.A.M.N.S. Loosemore, Nursing-Sister A. H. M. S.A.M.N.S. Redpath, Staff-Nurse V. M. S.A.M.N.S. Ross, Nursing-Sister K. S.A.M.N.S. Tilney, Nursing-Sister M. E. S.A.M.N.S. Wagstaff, Staff-Nurse B. S.A.M.N.S.

BREVET RANK.

BREVET-LIEUTENANT-COLONEL.

Green, Major J. A. Staff. Pearson, Major M. G. S.A.M.C. Purcell, Major (Temp. Col.) J. F., D.S.O. Infantry. Sandes, Major T. L. S.A.M.C.

BREVET-MAJOR.

Jamieson, Major E. C. K. S. A. Pay Corps.

D.C.M.

Alexander, No. 2471, Sergeant C. G. Infantry. Beckman, No. 4768, Sergeant G. H. W. Infantry. Bell, No. 4699, Company Sergeant-Major F. Infantry. Borland, No. 6016, Reg. Sergt.-Major J. C. Signal Company. Brown, No. 5258, Company Sergeant-Major D. Infantry. Cawthorn, No. 5573, Lance-Corporal W. Infantry. Chapman, No. 689, Corporal R. L. Heavy Artillery. Craig, No. 902, Corporal J. Infantry. Dacombe, No. 5099, Batt. Sergt.-Major S. G. Heavy Artillery. Davis, No. 9996, Battery Sergeant-Major W. Heavy Artillery. Dewar, No. 3110, Corporal W. R. Infantry. Dollery, No. 700, Gunner R. N. Heavy Artillery. England, No. 3558, Sergeant W. J. Infantry. Fernie, No. 2658, Sergeant G. S. Infantry. Fisher, No. 5664, Sergeant M. H. Infantry. Govan, No. 972, Private F. G. Infantry. Guest, No. 5913, Sergeant W. Heavy Artillery. Healey, No. 1106, Private W. Infantry. Hean, No. 11511, Corporal D. McK. Infantry. Hilson, No. 2179, Sergeant J. C. Infantry. Hodges, No. 469, Sergeant E. C. Heavy Artillery. Hogarth, No. 13004, Sergeant F. Infantry. Hope, No. 5293, Private C. J. Infantry. Horne, No. S6, Lance-Corporal F. C. Infantry. Howells, No. 1010, Sergeant W. K. Heavy Artillery. Hughes, No. 572, Bombardier F. Heavy Artillery. Hurr, No. 571, Sergeant B. F. Heavy Artillery. Hutchins, No. 6165, Sergeant F. G. Infantry. Ison, No. 3161, Coy. Q.M.-Sergeant C. H. Signal Company. Jordan, No. 8431, Coy. Sergeant-Major A. J. Infantry. Keit, No. 4916, Coy. Sergeant-Major M. W. Infantry. Keith, No. 2300, Company Sergeant-Major P. Infantry. King, No. 5540, Reg. Q.M.-Sergeant M. Infantry. King, No. 3782, Coy. Sergeant-Major W. L. Infantry. Lilford, No. 920, Lance-Corporal A. F. Infantry. Loubser, No. 4152, Private A. J. Infantry. Mack, No. 15543, Sergeant J. G. Infantry. Mallett, No. 5575, Sergeant H. F. P. Infantry. Marshall, No. 2834, Sergeant G. E. Infantry. Meyer, No. 2299, Sergeant J. W. Infantry. Mundy, No. 9175, Sergeant P. Infantry. Naisby, No. 1813, Sergeant J. Infantry. Prebble, No. 348, Coy. Sergeant-Major E. E. Infantry. Rodgers, No. 6612, Coy. Sergeant-Major A. F. Infantry. Rynhoud, No. 12781, Lance-Corporal F. A. Infantry. Schroeder, No. 10907, Sergeant A. E. Infantry. Shapcott, No. 4914, Lance-Corporal H. Infantry. Sinclair, No. 509, Sergeant W. N. Heavy Artillery. Smith, No. 4087, Sergeant A. Infantry. Spence, No. S4, Sergeant F. H. Infantry. Stafford, No. 9089, Private T. Infantry. Starke, No. 834, Corporal S. J. Infantry. Stewart, No. 713, Lance-Sergeant T. T. Infantry. Stuart, No. 7389, Corporal W. Infantry. Tanner, No. 1607, Private G. G. Infantry. Thomson, No. 3058, Coy. Sergeant-Major J. M. Infantry. Townes, No. 5241, Private L. A. Infantry. Tye, No. 362, Sergeant R. C. Heavy Artillery. Vlok, No. 429, Private N. J. Infantry. Walsh, No. 216, Staff-Sergeant L. H. S.A.M.C. Warman, No. 50, Batt. Sergeant-Major H. G. Heavy Artillery. Watson, No. 1546, Sergeant J. Heavy Artillery. Wellensky, No. X633, Private B. Infantry. Wilkie, No. 3657, Company Sergeant-Major F. Infantry.

BAR TO MILITARY MEDAL.

Black, No. 3309, Sergeant A. J. Infantry. Cawthorn, No. 5573, Lance-Corporal W. Infantry. Cole, No. 8334, Private H. J. Infantry. Cox, No. 588, Corporal H. F. Infantry. Edgar, No. 68, Sergeant C. W. E. S.A.M.C. Evans, No. S2, Corporal S. D. Infantry. Flack, No. 2024, Corporal C. Infantry. Hoaston, No. 6286, Corporal A. Infantry. Lang, No. 13287, Corporal B. G. Infantry. Langlands, No. 5032, Private W. G. Infantry. MacLachlan, No. 2302, Corporal G. H. Infantry. M’Gregor, No. 498, Lance-Sergeant D. Infantry. Pullen, No. 823, Gunner C. E. Heavy Artillery. St. George, No. 10599, Private R. T. Infantry. Stober, No. S20, Lance-Corporal F. Infantry. Willcocks, No. 4979, Corporal W. Infantry.

MILITARY MEDAL.

Adlam, No. 4618, Private C. E. Infantry. Allen, No. 7018, Sergeant T. H. Infantry. Allen, No. 5471, Private V. W. Infantry. Anderson, No. 441, Bombardier H. K. Heavy Artillery. Arnold, No. 5925, Private C. M. Infantry. Aupias, No. 2422, Private F. G. Infantry. Badcoe, No. 550, Sergeant T. J. Infantry. Bain, No. X282, Sergeant C. S. Signal Company. Baker, No. 893, Private G. F. Infantry. Baker, No. 4798, Private G. T. Infantry. Ballantyne, No. 5329, Lance-Corporal A. Signal Company. Ballot, No. 1181, Gunner D. W. F. E. Heavy Artillery. Baragwanath, No. 7958, Private A. J. Infantry. Barrable, No. 2436, Lance-Sergeant E. M. V. Infantry. Bayman, No. 3853, Private W. Infantry. Becker, No. 16871, Private L. D. Infantry. Bell, No. 4250, Sergeant T. Infantry. Benson, No. 3871, Sergeant R. H. S.A.M.C. Bertram, No. 9016, Corporal F. S. Infantry. Bester, No. 16897, Private C. Infantry. Bettison, No. 1251, Gunner C. M. Heavy Artillery. Biccard, No. 1326, Private R. C. Infantry. Biebuyck, No. 2915, Lance-Corporal M. F. Signal Company. Black, No. 3309, Lance-Corporal A. J. Infantry. Black, No. 26, Sergeant S. C. S.A.M.C. Boden, No. 12, Private T. H. S.A.M.C. Borchers, No. 14586, Private O. Infantry. Botha, No. 8548, Private C. Infantry. Botterill, No. 4865, Corporal H. Infantry. Bowen, No. 76, Corporal E. J. Infantry. Bowley, No. 2025, Corporal D. D. H. Infantry. Brampton, No. 8505, Sergeant T. C. Infantry. Brand, No. 533, Bombardier T. J. Heavy Artillery. Brickhill, No. 5570, Coy. Sergt.-Major F. H. Infantry. Broussow, No. 6896, Private E. J. Infantry. Brown, No. 10557, Sergeant N. F. Heavy Artillery. Burgess, No. 265, Gunner S. Heavy Artillery. Butler, No. 1831, Sergeant J. D. A. Infantry. Cabrita, No. 133, Lance-Corporal W. M. Engineers. Calder, No. 3252, Corporal K. Infantry. Carlson, No. 5170, Private W. Infantry. Carter, No. 536, Lance-Corporal E. Infantry. Casey, No. 3464, Corporal T. P. Infantry. Cawthorn, No. 5573, Lance-Corporal W. Infantry. Celliers, No. 7379, Private J. D. Infantry. Christie, No. 697, Gunner J. Heavy Artillery. Church, No. 2498, Sergeant J. Infantry. Clarke, No. 629, Gunner A. D. Heavy Artillery. Clarke, No. 9572, Private W. W. Infantry. Cleverley, No. 3821, Private F. Infantry. Cloete, No. 1826, Lance-Corporal S. B. Infantry. Coaton, No. 1303, Gunner W. H. Heavy Artillery. Codd, No. 11434, Corporal E. W. Infantry. Coetzee, No. 12073, Private A. J. P. Infantry. Coetzee, No. 14633, Lance-Corporal J. D. Infantry. Cole, No. 8334, Private H. J. Infantry. Collins, No. 769, Sapper H. P. Engineers. Collins, No. 9040, Private R. M. Infantry. Collocott, No. 4269, Sergeant C. D. Infantry. Conacher, No. 16232, Private A. J. Infantry. Conradie, No. 32, Private J. A. S.A.M.C. Cook, No. 427, Private T. Infantry. Coomber, No. 5303, Sergeant E. L. Infantry. Cooper, No. 9226, Private C. Infantry. Cosser, No. X568, Gunner S. C. A. Heavy Artillery. Cox, No. 588, Corporal H. F. Infantry. Cragg, No. 698, Lance-Corporal J. B. Infantry. Croft, No. 8625, Private J. B. Infantry. Cronje, No. 2290, Private J. J. Infantry. Cummings, No. 4503, Sergeant A. Infantry. Cunningham, No. 923, Lance-Sergeant J. J. Infantry. Cuthill, No. X290, Sapper J. D. Signal Company. Davenport, No. 54, Lance-Corporal J. Engineers. Davies, No. 192, Gunner W. A. Heavy Artillery. Davies, No. 12354, Private W. J. Infantry. Davis, No. 2022, Corporal C. S. Infantry. Davis, No. 423, Corporal W. J. Heavy Artillery. Dawson, No. 228, Lance-Corporal A. E. Engineers. Dawson, No. 16888, Sergeant J. E. Infantry. De Beer, No. 13451, Private W. A. Infantry. Dent, No. 13263, Corporal H. C. Infantry. Dey, No. 12783, Private H. Infantry. Dickson, No. 611, Corporal J. Heavy Artillery. Dignon, No. 10336, Private H. A. Infantry. Dinnes, No. 3240, Lance-Corporal J. Infantry. Dixon, No. 3488, Lance-Corporal C. Infantry. Doig, No. 197, Sapper E. H. Engineers. Dowaithe, No. 3100, Private R. Infantry. Doyle, No. 669, Sapper J. R. Engineers. Duffy, No. 709, Gunner J. Heavy Artillery. Duncan, No. 1579, Private R. Infantry. Dunstone, No. 1186, Private S. T. Infantry. Du Preez, No. 5636, Private F. J. Infantry. Du Toit, No. 3882, Private J. J. Infantry. Edgar, No. 68, Sergeant C. W. S.A.M.C. Edgar, No. 15959, Private H. M. S. Infantry. Egan, No. 6514, Sapper C. D. Signal Company. Ellis, No. 1356, Gunner A. W. J. Heavy Artillery. Ellis, No. 11522, Private G. W. J. Infantry. Ellwood, No. 7062, Private W. B. M. Infantry. Erlank, No. X613, Private G. Infantry. Estment, No. 4787, Lance-Corporal A. Infantry. Evans, No. 3185, Sergeant J. A. Infantry. Evans, No. S2, Lance-Corporal S. D. Infantry. Fairburn, No. 112, Lance-Corporal G. Infantry. Farmer, No. 17744, Private E. F. C. Infantry. Fennessy, No. 90, Private C. E. Infantry. Ferreira, No. X297, Sapper B. P. Signal Company. Flack, No. 2024, Private C. Infantry. Flanagan, No. 546, Lance-Corporal W. N. Infantry. Flannagan, No. 17182, Lance-Corporal W. M. Infantry. Foden, No. 8451, Corporal G. W. Infantry. Forbes, No. 2175, Private J. Infantry. Forman, No. 2177, Lance-Sergeant J. L. Infantry. Fourie, No. 624, Sapper J. J. Engineers. Fritz, No. 6407, Private E. H. Infantry. Gardiner, No. 7628, Sergeant T. H. Infantry. Gardner, No. X727, Private E. H. Infantry. Garland, No. 3241, Lance-Corporal F. L. Infantry. Gaskon, No. 8130, Corporal A. H. Infantry. Gaston, No. 11342, Lance-Corporal J. A. Infantry. Gerber, No. 6155, Sergeant H. J. Infantry. Gibson, No. 8523, Private P. A. Infantry. Giles, No. 1064, Gunner E. H. Heavy Artillery. Glennie, No. 15130, Private S. A. Infantry. Goldsworthy, No. 8455, Private F. Infantry. Goodwill, No. 3865, Corporal H. P. S.A.M.C. Gourlay, No. 6210, Lance-Corporal J. H. Signal Company. Graham, No. 14829, Private C. F. Infantry. Granger, No. 4418, Private J. L. Infantry. Gray, No. 425, Private A. Infantry. Gray, No. 591, Corporal W. A. Infantry. Green, No. 9672, Lance-Corporal G. P. Signal Company. Greenhough, No. 6346, Corporal P. R. Infantry. Greenish, No. 8752, Lance-Corporal M. T. Infantry. Grenfell, No. 8970, Private G. A. Infantry. Guerini, No. 6874, Corporal V. Infantry. Hall, No. 3351, Private J. Infantry. Hamilton, No. R1783, Private B. B. Infantry. Hammond, No. 6310, Corporal L. H. Signal Company. Hands, No. 9626, Sergeant C. Infantry. Hansen, No. 6213, Sergeant W. Signal Company. Hansen, No. X149, Gunner W. C. Heavy Artillery. Hardwick, No. 7065, Sergeant R. E. S. Infantry. Hare, No. 888, Private H. L. Infantry. Harris, No. 5027, Private W. F. Infantry. Harris, No. 5687, Lance-Corporal W. S. Infantry. Harrison, No. 3458, Private R. W. Infantry. Hart, No. 4278, Lance-Corporal G. A. Infantry. Hawke, No. 2955, Sergeant W. C. Infantry. Hawkins, No. 1004, Private C. W. Infantry. Hawthorne, No. 7368, Lance-Corporal J. Infantry. Healy, No. 7785, Private P. W. Infantry. Heathcote, No. 880, Lance-Corporal L. S. Infantry. Hein, No. 466, Gunner B. Heavy Artillery. Hemmings, No. 749, Gunner W. Heavy Artillery. Hendry, No. 54, Sergeant A. Heavy Artillery. Henning, No. 9468, Corporal J. A. Infantry. Heunis, No. R1769, Sergeant C. M. Infantry. Hincks, No. X154, Sergeant H. T. Heavy Artillery. Hinwood, No. 128, Sergeant S. J. Infantry. Hoaston, No. 6286, Corporal A. Infantry. Hodgson, No. 793, Private J. Infantry. Holborn, No. X15, Sergeant J. S. Infantry. Holdsworth, No. 4476, Private W. Infantry. Holiday, No. 906, Private T. H. Infantry. Hollenbury, No. 5726, Private W. Infantry. Holliday, No. 12768, Private M. A. Infantry. Hollington, No. 5381, Private E. E. Infantry. Holmes, No. 4399, Private R. J. Infantry. Hook, No. 746, Private T. C. Infantry. Hopkins, No. 1785, Gunner D. A. J. Heavy Artillery. Hosking, No. 14070, Private J. F. Infantry. Howard, No. 16253, Private C. L. Infantry. Howard, No. X121, Bombardier H. W. Heavy Artillery. Hugo-Brunt, No. 196, Gunner H. Heavy Artillery. Hume, No. 4855, Private D. M. Infantry. Humphries, No. 8573, Private W. Infantry. Hunter, No. 259, Sergeant W. F. Engineers. Huntley, No. 12798, Private W. B. Infantry. Hurd, No. 15058, Private H. K. Infantry. Huskisson, No. 100, Sergeant D. S. S.A.M.C. Ind, No. 8484, Private H. G. Infantry. Inglis, No. 15436, Lance-Corporal W. B. Infantry. Jackson, No. 4825, Sapper V. D. Signal Company. Jacobs, No. 123, Private C. J. S.A.M.C. James, No. 5956, Sergeant W. N. Infantry. Johnson, No. 1358, Private J. Infantry. Jones, No. 10162, Corporal A. Infantry. Jones, No. 583, Lance-Corporal A. Engineers. Jones, No. 8861, Private P. D. Infantry. Jordan, No. 5088, Private M. Infantry. Jorgensen, No. 527, Sergeant W. H. Signal Company. Juul, No. 10624, Sergeant A. W. Infantry. Keates, No. 150, Lance-Corporal F. J. Engineers. Kerwin, No. 15150, Private A. T. K. Infantry. Kikillas, No. 1592, Private T. N. Heavy Artillery. Kirkland, No. 125, Private F. G. S.A.M.C. Kirkland, No. X286, Corporal J. Signal Company. Kretschmer, No. 12216, Lance-Corporal H. F. Infantry. Kriel, No. 2965, Sergeant J. Infantry. Kruger, No. 8449, Private P. S. Infantry. Lagerstroom, No. 5211, Lance-Sergeant J. Infantry. Laidler, No. 7606, Lance-Sergeant J. Infantry. Lang, No. 13287, Private B. G. Infantry. Langlands, No. 5032, Private W. G. Infantry. Laverack, No. 4706, Sergeant A. Infantry. Lawrence, No. 11941, Private R. J. Infantry. Lazarus, No. 7843, Private C. M. Infantry. Lee, No. 16767, Lance-Corporal F. E. Infantry. Lee, No. 10130, Corporal J. Infantry. Lees, No. X233, Gunner J. S. Heavy Artillery. Leith, No. 295, Gunner G. B. A. Heavy Artillery. Lerche, No. 16796, Private H. F. Infantry. Levey, No. 16114, Private H. G. Infantry. Levinson, No. 2656, Private L. Infantry. Liebenberg, No. 1707, Private B. J. Infantry. Lotz, No. 14169, Private J. C. Infantry. Loubser, No. 1138, Lance-Corporal J. J. Infantry. Lowe, No. 12481, Private C. V. Infantry. Lowings, No. 22, Private B. A. Infantry. Lubbe, No. 4920, Private G. J. J. Infantry. Lubbie, No. 1266, Corporal T. A. Infantry. Lumb, No. 651, Sapper F. Engineers. MacDonald, No. 8591, Sergeant D. Infantry. MacGuire, No. 3304, Private J. N. Infantry. MacIntosh, No. 4691, Private A. G. M. Infantry. Mackay, No. 10415, Private W. Infantry. Mackay, No. 12432, Private D. Infantry. MacLachlan, No. 2302, Private G. H. Infantry. Magnussen, No. 453, Private M. A. S.A.M.C. Makepeace, No. 4106, Private R. B. N. Infantry. Maloney, No. 3760, Private W. Infantry. Manzie, No. 13533, Private A. J. Infantry. Marshall, No. X305, Lance-Corporal C. E. Signal Company. Martin, No. 8473, Private A. Infantry. May, No. 3614, Private G. H. Signal Company. M’Clelland, No. 6852, Lance-Corporal J. Infantry. M’Donald, No. 6845, Sergeant W. S. Infantry. M’Donald, No. 13351, Private C. A. Infantry. M’Dougall, No. X111, Gunner J. S. Heavy Artillery. M’Gregor, No. 498, Lance-Sergeant D. Infantry. M’Innes, No. 6462, Sergeant N. Infantry. M’Kendrick, No. 159, Lance-Corporal M. Infantry. M’Kenna, No. 157, Lance-Corporal J. P. Engineers. M’Kenzie, No. 14203, Private A. C. Infantry. M’Lean, No. 7069, Lance-Sergeant D. Infantry. M’Lellan, No. 6987, Sergeant A. W. Infantry. M’Millan, No. 4074, Private J. Infantry. Meggy, No. 761, Lance-Corporal R. S. Infantry. Messum, No. 1600, Gunner G. G. Heavy Artillery. Meyers, No. 6571, Private L. C. C. Infantry. Milella, No. 8346, Sergeant O. A. Infantry. Miller, No. 3479, Sergeant D. H. C. Infantry. Mills, No. 1281, Corporal S. G. Infantry. Mitchell, No. 6291, Lance-Corporal G. F. Infantry. Mitchell, No. 8453, Private T. Infantry. Monoran, No. 1356, Private F. G. Infantry. Moore, No. 7814, Sergeant C. V. Infantry. Moreton, No. 2898, Corporal H. B. Signal Company. Munro, No. 300, Gunner G. W. Heavy Artillery. Munro, No. 8928, Private H. W. Infantry. Murray, No. 6067, Corporal J. W. Infantry. Nelson, No. 161, Private R. W. S.A.M.C. Nicholl, No. X124, Gunner G. Heavy Artillery. Nicholls, No. 5444, Sergeant H. Infantry. Nicholls, No. 1941, Sergeant T. H. Infantry. Nicholson, No. 2418, Private L. Infantry. Nicolle, No. 4817, Corporal J. Signal Company. Noble, No. 3198, Corporal C. A. Infantry. Noble, No. 1458, Lance-Corporal J. E. T. Infantry. Norvall, No. 6415, Sergeant W. A. Infantry. O’Boyle, No. 16, Gunner L. N. Heavy Artillery. O’Connor, No. 3886, Lance-Corporal C. J. Signal Company. Oliver, No. 5291, Corporal S. Infantry. Oosthuizen, No. 10386, Private W. J. J. Infantry. Orsmond, No. 16703, Lance-Corporal S. Infantry. Owen, No. 7102, Corporal A. E. Infantry. Paddock, No. 9082, Private J. R. Infantry. Page, No. 7032, Corporal R. Infantry. Page, No. 1591, Corporal S. A. Signal Company. Pains, No. 590, Gunner J. F. Heavy Artillery. Parfitt, No. 165, Private F. W. S.A.M.C. Parfitt, No. 145, Lance-Corporal W. H. Engineers. Parker, No. 118, Sergeant E. H. Heavy Artillery. Parkinson, No. 1512, Lance-Corporal J. G. Infantry. Patience, No. 12998, Private J. Infantry. Paton, No. 211, Gunner R. Heavy Artillery. Patterson, No. 3140, Sergeant W. Infantry. Pownall, No. 3863, Driver C. S.A.M.C. Peacock, No. 827, Bombardier E. M. Heavy Artillery. Pearce, No. 172, Private H. S. S.A.M.C. Pearce, No. 8182, Private W. C. Infantry. Pentz, No. 10516, Lance-Corporal H. F. Infantry. Perrett, No. 614, Sergeant W. J. Heavy Artillery. Perrie, No. 705, Lance-Corporal J. Infantry. Prentice, No. 5097, Private W. Infantry. Preston, No. 17806, Lance-Corporal S. Infantry. Price, No. 84, Corporal S. Heavy Artillery. Pringle, No. 6617, Private G. G. Infantry. Pritchard, No. 17620, Private E. E. Infantry. Pullen, No. 823, Gunner C. E. Heavy Artillery. Raats, No. 11230, Private P. J. Infantry. Reece, No. 704, Corporal A. O. Engineers. Reingold, No. 8446, Lance-Corporal J. Infantry. Rennie, No. 5827, Private A. Infantry. Reynolds, No. 12281, Sergeant G. J. Infantry. Rhodin, No. 12739, Private W. H. Infantry. Richardson, No. 7961, Lance-Corporal J. Infantry. Richardson, No. 7955, Private T. L. Infantry. Ritchie, No. 5762, Private F. Infantry. Robertson, No. 5250, Sergeant F. Infantry. Robinson, No. 409, Corporal H. E. B. Heavy Artillery. Rodgers, No. X295, Sapper H. C. Signal Company. Ross, No. 1534, Lance-Corporal F. W. Infantry. Ross, No. 841, Gunner W. T. W. Heavy Artillery. Rowley, No. 9013, Sergeant E. Infantry. Rundle, No. 15860, Private S. P. Infantry. Ryder, No. 3114, Corporal A. Infantry. St. George, No. 5599, Private J. C. Infantry. St. George, No. 10599, Private R. T. Infantry. Salsbury, No. 869, Corporal E. Heavy Artillery. Scholes, No. 213, Bombardier C. E. Heavy Artillery. Schultz, No. 11904, Private H. Infantry. Schuur, No. 544, Gunner H. M. Heavy Artillery. Scott, No. 10114, Lance-Corporal R. C. Infantry. Seddon, No. 4725, Lance-Corporal L. J. Infantry. Shapcott, No. 1971, Lance-Corporal F. R. Infantry. Sharman, No. 522, Coy. Sergt.-Major W. Engineers. Shearer, No. 10437, Sergeant J. Infantry. Shepherd, No. 6479, Sapper J. Signal Company. Sheppherd, No. 7491, Private G. S. Infantry. Sherman, No. 423, Private H. J. Infantry. Simpson, No. 7703, Sergeant J. N. Infantry. Sinclair, No. 509, Sergeant W. N. Heavy Artillery. Sjoberg, No. 373, Private A. B. Infantry. Slade, No. X302, Bombardier A. J. Heavy Artillery. Smith, No. 979, Sergeant A. Infantry. Smith, No. 4087, Sergeant A. Infantry. Smith, No. 7217, Private A. W. C. Infantry. Smith, No. 6796, Sergeant H. C. Infantry. Smuts, No. 582, Private M. R. Infantry. Snibbe, No. 9742, Sergeant M. J. Infantry. Sobey, No. 8116, Private W. N. Infantry. Somerville, No. 2291, Corporal W. Infantry. Spangenberg, No. 10074, Private J. M. Infantry. Speed, No. 4683, Lance-Corporal T. H. Infantry. Spencer, No. 8032, Private J. G. A. Infantry. Sprague, No. 15663, Private H. G. R. Infantry. Stafford, No. 9089, Sergeant T. Infantry. Steele, No. 877, Bombardier G. Heavy Artillery. Steele, No. 1905, Private H. Infantry. Stephen, No. 1052, Lance-Sergeant R. G. Infantry. Stephen, No. 616, Bombardier W. Heavy Artillery. Stewart, No. 713, Lance-Sergeant T. T. Infantry. Stewart, No. 2037, Private W. A. Infantry. Still, No. 13, Sergeant J. F. Infantry. Stober, No. 20, Lance-Corporal F. Infantry. Strickland, No. 4959, Lance-Corporal G. C. Infantry. Sumner, No. 3677, Corporal H. L. Infantry. Super, No. 451, Private E. S. S.A.M.C. Surman, No. 9537, Corporal M. W. Infantry. Sutherland, No. 2542, Corporal N. Infantry. Suttie, No. 3811, Private L. H. Infantry. Swan, No. 9351, Private V. E. Infantry. Swanepoel, No. 16823, Private J. J F. Infantry. Swaraston, No. 50, Sergeant H. D. Engineers. Swart, No. 14796, Private J. J. L. Infantry. Symonds, No. 10661, Sergeant J. Infantry. Tanner, No. 101, Lance-Corporal A. D. Engineers. Tasker, No. 631, Gunner G. T. B. Heavy Artillery. Taylor, No. 6285, Private H. M. Infantry. Taylor, No. X24, Corporal J. H. Infantry. Taylor, No. 886, Sergeant O. Heavy Artillery. Taylor, No. 2581, Corporal W. Infantry. Tennant, No. 8064, Sergeant J. R. Infantry. Thomas, No. 9335, Private C. D. Infantry. Thompson, No. 160, Private B. Infantry. Thompson, No. 7747, Sergeant D. Infantry. Thompson, No. 11114, Private J. Infantry. Thompson, No. 290, Sergeant W. G. Infantry. Thomson, No. 6586, Private A. Infantry. Thomson, No. 5871, Lance-Corporal A. R. Infantry. Thorpe, No. 5835, Corporal H. S. Infantry. Thow, No. 212, Private J. M. S.A.M.C. Thurgood, No. 9092, Sergeant A. H. Infantry. Thurman, No. 416, Bombardier E. G. Heavy Artillery. Tomsett, No. 213, Private R. S.A.M.C. Topp, No. 885, Gunner R. M. Heavy Artillery. Tregonning, No. 890, Gunner W. J. Heavy Artillery. Trehoeven, No. 8711, Private W. H. Infantry. Tucker, No. 205, Private S. S.A.M.C. Tuer, No. 4969, Sergeant J. Infantry. Turnbull, No. 3875, Driver D. S.A.M.C. Turnbull, No. 11, Bombardier J. M. M. Heavy Artillery. Twynham, No. 11928, Lance-Corporal W. C. Infantry. Usborne, No. 7981, Batt. Sergt.-Major H. H. Heavy Artillery. Van Buuren, No. 10383, Sapper N. A. A. Signal Company. Van Heerden, No. R1678, Lance-Cpl. J. L. Infantry. Van Rensburg, No. 16820, Private P. Infantry. Van Rensburg, No. 258, Sapper J. A. J. Engineers. Van der Walt, No. 11990, Private N. Infantry. Vice, No. 51, Sergeant J. H. B. Heavy Artillery. Vimpany, No. X193, Private A. Infantry. Walker, No. 7455, Private J. Infantry. Wall, No. 7701, Sergeant A. W. Infantry. Wanliss, No. 4197, Private J. Infantry. Ward, No. 9511, Sergeant E. Infantry. Waterhouse, No. 11935, Private J. Infantry. Wattrus, No. 585, Bombardier C. E. Heavy Artillery. Waugh, No. 11078, Private P. Infantry. Wells, No. 11860, Sapper A. Signal Company. Wentzel, No. 9704, Sapper E. J. Signal Company. Whillier, No. 16599, Private C. E. Infantry. White, No. 10216, Private J. R. Infantry. White, No. 4122, Sergeant W. M. Infantry. Wilkins, No. R1473, Sergeant W. T. Infantry. Willard, No. 7944, Private W. F. Infantry. Willcocks, No. 4979, Corporal W. Infantry. Williams, No. 15300, Private A. R. Infantry. Williams, No. 315, Bombardier C. Heavy Artillery. Williams, No. 5752, Corporal G. W. Infantry. Williams, No. 913, Staff-Sergeant W. Heavy Artillery. Wood, No. 13123, Corporal T. C. P. Infantry. Woolgar, No. 217, Private C. S. S.A.M.C. Wright, No. 4116, Corporal A. J. Infantry. Wright, No. 13860, Corporal C. H. Infantry. Wright, No. 17091, Private G. F. Infantry. Young, No. 5095, Sergeant J. J. Infantry. Yuill, No. 652, Corporal A. Engineers. Zahn, No. 7440, Sergeant F. S. T. Infantry.

MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL.

Barends, No. 959, Lance-Corporal H. A. Labour Corps. Bayne, No. 3346, Coy. Q.M.-Sergeant W. Infantry. Berry, No. 4554, Staff-Sergeant A. Infantry. Blackwell, No. 266, Bombardier M. C. Heavy Artillery. Bonacina, No. 6148, Sergeant L. Infantry. Bothwell, No. 5051, Sergeant-Major H. Pay Corps. Boyce, No. 3189, Sergeant D. R. Infantry. Brown, No. 3504, Sergeant J. Infantry. Burton, No. 5639, Lance-Corporal J. Signal Company. Burton, No. 6211, Sapper R. J. Signal Company. Butlin, No. 83, Reg. Q.M.-Sergeant H. Labour Corps. Clatworthy, No. HT4185, Coy. Sgt.-Maj. W. M. Cape Aux. Horse Transport. Clews, No. 4, Company Sergeant-Major J. C. Labour Corps. Coombes, No. 3121, Sergeant A. S. Infantry. Craig, No. 1347, Reg. Sergt.-Major W. Infantry. Cruickshank, No. 4812, Coy. Q.M.-Sergeant P. Signal Company. Dalton, No. 6334, Sergeant W. J. Signal Company. Evans, No. 4180, Sergeant W. D. Infantry. Ferguson, No. 2004, Coy. Q.M.-Sergeant A. Infantry. Field, No. 129, Sergeant W. C. Labour Corps. Forsyth, No. X12, Sergeant J. R. Infantry. Gadd, No. 167, Sergeant W. P. Labour Corps. Glencross, No. 3120, Sergeant C. M. G. Infantry. Gonsalves, No. 5026, Coy. Q.M.-Sergt. M. A. Infantry. Gordge, No. 80, Quartermaster-Sergeant J. H. S.A.M.C. Greenwood, No. 21654, Private J. H. Infantry. Guy, No. 1361, Sergeant E. A. Heavy Artillery. Hall, No. 5332, Sergeant P. C. W. Signal Company. Hickman, No. 6294, Reg. Q.M.-Sergt. C. S. Infantry. Holborn, No. X15, Corporal J. S. Infantry. Horridge, No. 19322, Sergeant-Major J. D. Staff. Hudson, No. 2817, Sergeant-Major T. Infantry. Jamieson, No. X503, Staff-Sergeant T. C. Labour Corps. Kenny, No. 2330, Staff-Sergeant P. Infantry. Knox, No. 306, Quartermaster-Sergeant A. J. S.A.M.C. Lightfoot, No. 344, Staff-Sergeant R. S.A.M.C. Lowe, No. 4700, Sergeant T. E. Infantry. M’Callum, No. 3650, Sergeant J. A. Signal Company. M’Dowell, No. 41, Reg. Sergt.-Major A. H. Labour Corps. M’Farlane, No. 4317, Sergeant J. Infantry. M’Feggans, No. 125, Colour-Sergeant A. Labour Corps. M’Pherson, No. 4011, Sergeant C. Infantry. Melrose, No. 20, Superintendent-Clerk G. M. Labour Corps. Orchard, No. 165, Coy. Q.M.-Sergeant A. O. Labour Corps. Phillips, No. 11764, Corporal L. D. Infantry. Powell, No. X523, Staff-Sergeant H. E. Pay Corps. Reeves, No. 10585, Sergeant J. H. Infantry. Rhind, No. 53, Company Sergeant-Major F. Staff. Ritchie, No. 6658, Sergeant H. Signal Company. Roxburgh, No. 1, Reg. Sergt.-Major A. Labour Corps. Russell, No. 9110, Coy. Q.M.-Sergt. E. E. R. Infantry. Sayer, No. 3112, Colour-Sergeant A. Infantry. Sheard, No. 3616, Sergeant O. F. Signal Company. Shepherd, No. 4340, Coy. Sgt.-Major D. D. Infantry. Sowden, No. 4716, Sergeant C. H. V. Signal Company. Stanley, No. 75, Colour-Sergeant A. E. Labour Corps. Stearns, No. 2164, Private E. Infantry. Stirton, No. V50, Sergeant-Major S. A. Engineers. Stokell, No. 1929, Coy. Sergt.-Major E. R. Infantry. Summers, No. 1046, Gunner H. Heavy Artillery. Thompson, No. 160, Private B. Infantry. Trimmer, No. 1375, Reg. Q.M.-Sergt. H. W. Infantry. Truss, No. 955, Sergeant W. G. Heavy Artillery. Walker, No. X235, Sergeant-Major J. H. Staff. Watson, No. 7546, Lance-Corporal W. Infantry. Weddell, No. 425, Staff-Sergeant A. C. S.A.M.C. White, No. 408, Quartermaster-Sergeant J. H. S.A.M.C. White, No. 896, Bombardier T. W. Heavy Artillery. Wilkinson, No. 910, Sergeant F. Labour Corps. Williams, No. 5906, Sergeant A. E. Infantry. Willson, No. 6393, Sergeant H. B. Signal Company. Wilson, No. HT2499, Coy. Sergt.-Major. H. J. Cape Aux. Horse Transport. Witney, No. 3536, Coy. Sergt.-Major. A. W. Infantry. Woodhead, No. 3208, Sergeant H. C. Infantry. Zeederberg, No. 85, Superintendent-Clerk H. Labour Corps.

MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES.

OFFICERS.

Allin, Captain H. G. W. Labour Corps. Alston, Lieutenant-Colonel C. W. Heavy Artillery. Anderson, Lieutenant-Colonel J. D. Cape Aux. Horse Transport. Bailey, Lieutenant H. Heavy Artillery. *Baker, Lieutenant-Colonel J. M. Staff. Barnard, Major A. J. C. Labour Corps. Bendlestein, Lieutenant A. Heavy Artillery. *Bennett, Lieutenant-Colonel G. M. Heavy Artillery. Blaine, Captain C. H. Heavy Artillery. Blew, Lieutenant-Colonel T. H. Heavy Artillery. Bond, Lieutenant C. H. Heavy Artillery. Brydon, Major W. Heavy Artillery. Cameron, Q.M. and Hon. Captain C. S. Labour Corps. Campion, Lieutenant R. R. Heavy Artillery. Chester, Second-Lieutenant R. S. Heavy Artillery. Christian, Lieutenant-Colonel E. Infantry. *Cochran, Major F. E. Infantry. Collins, Lieutenant F. Signal Company. *Collins, Lieutenant-Colonel F. R. Engineers. Cooke, Lieutenant F. A. Signal Company. Crooks, Q.M. and Hon. Lieutenant A. S. Infantry. Currie, Second-Lieutenant J. Heavy Artillery. Davis, Captain F. M. Infantry. ****Dawson, Brigadier-General F. S. Staff. Dickerson, Captain F. J. Labour Corps. Drummond, Captain J. S.A.M.C. Duff, Colonel C. de V. Labour Corps. *Edwards, Major S. B. Heavy Artillery. Ellis, Captain P. H. Infantry. Emmett, Lieutenant-Colonel J. J. C. Labour Corps. Farmer, Lieutenant P. D. Infantry. Farrell, Captain T. Infantry. *Fawcus, Lieutenant-Colonel A. Labour Corps. *Forbes, Lieutenant E. C. Infantry. Geddes, Captain W. L. Labour Corps. Goodwin, Second-Lieutenant B. W. Infantry. Gordon, Captain W. L. S.A.M.C. Grady, Captain E. E. D. Infantry. Green, Second-Lieutenant A. P. Heavy Artillery. Greene, Captain L. Infantry. *Hands, Major P. A. M. Heavy Artillery. Harris, Major J. J. F. Infantry. Harrison, Lieutenant-Colonel N. Signal Company. Heal, Lieutenant-Colonel F. H. Infantry. Heenan, Major C. R. Infantry. Hemming, Major H. S. J. L. Infantry. Hill, Lieutenant W. J. Infantry. *Hunt, Major D. R. Infantry. Hunt, Second-Lieutenant V. A. Infantry. Ison, Lieutenant C. H. Signal Company. Jackson, Captain J. W. Infantry. Jacobs, Captain L. M. Infantry. Jacobsby, Lieutenant-Colonel J. Labour Corps. *Jenkins, Lieutenant-Colonel H. H. Infantry. Johnson, Captain W. J. Signal Company. Jones, Lieutenant-Colonel F. A. Infantry. Joseph, Second-Lieutenant H. A. Infantry. Kernick, Second-Lieutenant R. G. Infantry. King, Second-Lieutenant F. Infantry. Lawrence, Second-Lieutenant G. G. J. Infantry. Lawrence, Captain H. R. S.A.M.C. Lawrie, Captain M. B. S.A.M.C. *Lennox, Captain J. Chaplains Dept. **Lukin, Major-General Sir H. T. Staff. Maasdorp, Major L. H. Heavy Artillery. MacLeod, Lieutenant-Colonel D. M. Infantry. Mallett, Lieutenant S. Infantry. Marshall, Captain H. E. Labour Corps. M’Lean, Lieutenant W. Infantry. Medlicott, Second-Lieutenant G. H. Infantry. Mellish, Second-Lieutenant F. W. Heavy Artillery. Miller, Captain R. S. Heavy Artillery. Mills, Second-Lieutenant F. E. Infantry. *Mullins, Captain A. G. Heavy Artillery. Mullins, Major H. R. S.A.M.C. *Murray, Major C. M. S.A.M.C. Murray-M’Gregor, Lieutenant A. Heavy Artillery. Ormiston, Major T. Infantry. Owen, Captain J. W. W. Chaplains Dept. *Page, Lieutenant P. T. A. Heavy Artillery. Palmer, Major J. E. Labour Corps. Pickburn, Major W. H. Heavy Artillery. *Power, Major M. S. S.A.M.C. Preston, Lieutenant W. G. Labour Corps. *Pringle, Major R. N. S.A.M.C. *Pritchard, Colonel S. A. M. Labour Corps. Purcocks, Captain G. F. Heavy Artillery. Pybus, Captain W. H. L. Engineers. Rann, Major A. E. Heavy Artillery. Richardson, Q.M. and Hon. Lieut. W. S.A.M.C. Ridley, Captain E. G. Heavy Artillery. Roberts, Second-Lieutenant C. W. Infantry. Roper, Captain A. W. F. Heavy Artillery. Roseby, Lieutenant P. R. Infantry. *Ross, Captain F. M. Signal Company. Ross-Garner, Lieutenant-Colonel C. R. J. Labour Corps. Scheepers, Captain J. C. Infantry. Solomon, Lieutenant A. C. Heavy Artillery. Sprenger, Major L. F. Infantry. Sproule, Major H. Labour Corps. Symmes, Major H. C. Infantry. ****Tanner, Brigadier-General W. E. C. Staff. Tarboton, Second-Lieutenant C. C. Infantry. Tatham, Second-Lieutenant E. V. Infantry. **Thackeray, Lieutenant-Colonel E. F. Infantry. Theron, Captain F. H. Infantry. Thomas, Second-Lieutenant W. F. G. Infantry. *Thomson, Lieutenant-Colonel G. R. S.A.M.C. Tomlinson, Captain L. W. Infantry. Tripp, Major W. H. L. Heavy Artillery. Unwin, Second-Lieutenant H. W. Heavy Artillery. Usmar, Lieutenant-Colonel G. H. S.A.M.C. Van der Byl, Lieut.-Colonel V. A. W. Labour Corps. *Van Ryneveld, Captain T. V. Infantry. Wakefield, Major H. S. Infantry. Walsh, Captain F. G. Infantry. Ward, Lieutenant-Colonel A. B. S.A.M.C. *Ward, Major C. P. Heavy Artillery. *Williamson, Captain E. Labour Corps. *Wolff, Lieutenant-Colonel H. P. Labour Corps.

NURSING STAFF.

Bester, Nursing-Sister H. L. S.A.M.N.S. Brookshaw, Staff-Nurse F. S.A.M.N.S. Burgess, Nursing-Sister E. S.A.M.N.S. Child, Assistant-Matron J. C. S.A.M.N.S. Conyngham, Nursing-Sister A. B. S.A.M.N.S. Creagh, Matron E. R. S.A.M.N.S. Dawson, Nursing-Sister L. Q.A.I.M.N.S.R. Freshney, Nursing-Sister F. H. S.A.M.N.S. Gilson, Nursing-Sister M. A. S.A.M.N.S. Johnson, Nursing-Sister M. E. Q.A.I.M.N.S.R. Kingon, Nursing-Sister H. A. S.A.M.N.S. *Northard, Staff-Nurse C. A. S.A.M.N.S. Northard, Nursing-Sister M. S.A.M.N.S. Thomson, Probationer Nurse D. M. S.A.M.N.S. Van Niekerk, Nursing-Sister D. N. K. S.A.M.N.S. Waters, Nursing-Sister I. G. S.A.M.N.S.

WARRANT OFFICERS, N.C.O’S, AND MEN.

Anderson, No. 271, Staff-Sergeant R. D. S.A.M.C. Atwood, No. 12731, Sergeant E. E. Infantry. Bantjes, No. 4371, Private M. J. Infantry. Barker, No. 3877, Private J. G. Infantry. Beasley, No. 3855, Coy. Q.M.-Sergt. N. Infantry. Bentley, No. 5846, Sergeant P. Infantry. Blackie, No. 2878, Lance-Corporal F. T. Signal Company. Borland, No. 6016, Coy. Sgt.-Major J. C. Signal Company. Brown, No. 49, Coy. Sergeant-Major J. Labour Corps. Butler, No. 16, Colour Sergeant F. Labour Corps. Cullen, No. 2913, Lance-Cpl. R. V. V. Signal Company. Cursley, No. 5811, Private F. Infantry. Dalton, No. 6334, Sergeant W. J. Engineers. Davis, No. 1895, Sergeant J. Infantry. Elliott, No. 382, Sergeant R. P. Heavy Artillery. Emery, No. 17, Lance-Corporal E. H. Infantry. Ewin, No. 2142, Sergeant E. F. Infantry. Ferguson, No. 1580, Corporal J. Heavy Artillery. Gattons, No. V35, Sergeant J. Engineers. Gillholm, No. 59, Coy. Sergt.-Major H. P. Labour Corps. Gordge, No. 80, Q.M.-Sergeant J. H. S.A.M.C. Grant, No. 78, Sergeant J. A. F. S.A.M.C. Hall, No. 3613, Coy. Sergeant-Major A. Infantry. Hall, No. 5332, Sergeant P. C. W. Signal Company. Harrison, No. 289, Sergeant J. G. Heavy Artillery. Helfrick, No. 3977, Private W. Infantry. Henderson, No. 5351, Sergeant W. Infantry. Hewitt, No. 141, Reg. Sgt.-Major W. H. Labour Corps. Hopkins, No. 540, Staff-Sergeant C. Heavy Artillery. Hughes, No. 572, Gunner F. Heavy Artillery. Hukins, No. 242, Colour Sergeant L. C. Labour Corps. Hulett, No. 179, Coy. Sergt.-Major A. C. Labour Corps. Jessop, No. 107, Colour Sergeant W. H. Labour Corps. Jones, No. 10951, Private W. E. Infantry. Jorgensen, No. 527, Corporal W. H. Signal Company. Kenyon, No. 4807, Corporal A. J. Signal Company. Krige, No. 1067, Gunner P. H. Heavy Artillery. Lee, No. 1491, Gunner F. L. F. Heavy Artillery. Lenz, No. 388, Sergeant F. Labour Corps. Lodge, No. 1838, Sergeant H. Infantry. Long, No. 1665, Lance-Corporal C. E. Infantry. Lowe, No. 4700, Sergeant T. E. Infantry. Loxton, No. 5620, Lance-Corporal C. Infantry. Mackay, No. 622, Batt. Q.M.-Sergeant A. Heavy Artillery. Magor, No. 282, Sergeant H. C. Labour Corps. M’Conachie, No. 1933, Sergeant J. Infantry. Meredith, No. 5755, Reg. Sgt.-Major G. Infantry. Morgan, No. 245, Private R. H. Infantry. Munro, No. 3890, Corporal W. Signal Company. Nicholls, No. 45, Reg. Q.M.-Sergt. G. R. F. Infantry. Nicolle, No. 4817, Corporal J. Signal Company. Northend, No. 5330, Corporal G. F. Signal Company. Parsley, No. 7728, Staff-Sergeant A. J. Infantry. Perrett, No. 614, Sergeant W. J. Heavy Artillery. Petters, No. 497, Sergeant A. T. Heavy Artillery. Prebble, No. 348, Coy. Sergt.-Major E. E. Infantry. Price, No. 745, Sergeant F. W. Labour Corps. Prior, No. 1998, Private E. C. Infantry. Purcell, No. 6031, Lance-Corporal I. Signal Company. Ritchie, No. 6658, Sergeant H. J. Signal Company. Robey, No. 5275, Coy. Sergt.-Major J. E. Infantry. Rowe, No. 3655, Corporal H. J. Engineers. Salsbury, No. 869, Gunner E. Heavy Artillery. Schoeman, No. 18, Private A. J. Infantry. Schuring, No. 3550, Sergeant D. Infantry. Sewell, No. 545, Sergeant-Major W. E. Heavy Artillery. Shaw, No. 2, Colour Sergeant R. G. Labour Corps. Skinner, No. 4146, Sergeant W. T. Infantry. Stidworthy, No. 8781, Sergeant G. A. Infantry. Truss, No. 955, Sergeant W. G. Heavy Artillery. *Van Hoof, No. 2893, Sergeant A. C. Signal Company. Vlok, No. 429, Private N. J. Infantry. Walter, No. 9004, Corporal B. C. Infantry. Wedderburn, No. 3188, Sergeant A. Infantry. Westley, No. 14561, Private L. F. C. Infantry. Whitnall, No. 4280, Q.M.-Sergt. E. C. Infantry. Wilson, No. 5266, Reg. Sergeant-Major J. Infantry. Beckman, No. 4768, Sergeant G. H. W. Infantry. Dewar, No. 3110, Lance-Sergeant W. R. Infantry. Hilson, No. 2179, Sergeant J. C. Infantry. Husband, No. 2146, Lance-Sgt. W. J. M. Infantry. King, No. 3782, Coy. Sergt.-Major W. L. Infantry.

MENTIONED IN WAR OFFICE COMMUNIQUÉS.

OFFICERS.

Ashmead, Lieutenant J. E. W. Infantry. Balfour, Lieutenant-Colonel H. H. S.A.M.C. Bamford, Lieutenant-Colonel H. W. M. Infantry. Byrne, Captain M. J. Engineers. Chave, Lieutenant A. F. Infantry. Covernton, Captain R. H. Signal Company. Davison, Major G. L. Labour Corps. Deane, Major R. Infantry. Ellis, Lieutenant N. N. Pay Corps. Jamieson, Captain E. C. K. Pay Corps. Knibbs, Lieutenant A. R. Infantry. Legge, Captain E. A. Infantry. Macdougal, Major I. Infantry. Marillier, Second-Lieutenant F. L. Infantry. M’Cubbin, Captain J. S. Infantry. Metelerkamp, Second-Lieutenant L. Infantry. Millar, Captain E. S. Infantry. Mills, Major H. P. Infantry. Money, Captain A. G. Infantry. Montgomery, Captain H. Infantry. Paxton, Captain A. L. Infantry. Rae, Lieutenant N. E. Infantry. Rigby, Major J. C. A. S.A.M.C. Riley, Captain J. W. Infantry. Thomson, Captain A. M. Infantry. Tucker, Captain W. E. Infantry. Young, Lieutenant-Colonel B. Infantry. Walker, Major E. B. Infantry. Whiting, Captain E. Infantry. Whyte, Captain J. C. Labour Corps.

NURSING STAFF.

Adendorff, Staff-Nurse M. A. S.A.M.N.S. Allen, Staff-Nurse P. W. S.A.M.N.S. Aves, Staff-Nurse D. S.A.M.N.S. Cloete, Probationer-Nurse R. F. S.A.M.N.S. Donaldson, Nursing-Sister A. E. S.A.M.N.S. Fraser-Wood, Nursing-Sister K. Q.A.I.M.N.S.R. Pearson, Staff-Nurse E. M. S.A.M.N.S. Thom, Probationer-Nurse H. S.A.M.N.S.

WARRANT OFFICERS, N.C.O.’S, AND MEN.

Ardouin, No. 10758, Corporal W. Infantry. Augustus, No. 200, Q.M.-Sergeant I. S. Pay Corps. Bailey, No. X558, Staff-Sergeant J. S. Pay Corps. Bell, No. 4699, Coy. Sergeant-Major F. Infantry. Blackmore, No. 8667, Corporal W. Infantry. Boam, No. 1918, Staff-Sergeant H. N. Pay Corps. Bothwell, No. 5051, Staff-Sergeant H. Pay Corps. Brampton, No. 8505, Sergeant T. C. Infantry. *Bromehead, No. 2098, Sergeant E. C. Infantry. Bruno, No. 2779, Corporal H. A. Infantry. Buchanan, No. 5562, Sergeant D. K. Infantry. Burns, No. X661, Staff-Sergeant J. F. Pay Corps. Burns, No. 8673, Sergeant W. R. Infantry. Burrage, No. 3144, Staff Q.M.-Sergt. F. L. Pay Corps. Church, No. 6298, Q.M.-Sergeant R. L. Infantry. Cooper, No. 6811, Sergeant W. P. Infantry. Coyne, No. X44, Sergeant W. B. M. Infantry. Craig, No. 1347, Reg. Sergt.-Major W. Infantry. Crocker, No. 4558, Sergeant W. T. H. Infantry. Crowson, No. 6299, Q.M.-Sergeant E. Infantry. Dagnin, No. 1623, Lance-Sergt. A. A. F. Infantry. Davenport, No. 6074, Reg. Sgt.-Major B. Infantry. *Davidson, No. X19, Sergeant C. Infantry. Driver, No. 8522, Sergeant E. M. Infantry. Easterbrook, No. 6262, Lance-Cpl. E. H. Infantry. Fearnhead, No. 400, Staff-Sergeant E. A. Pay Corps. Fletcher, No. 13834, Lance-Corporal C. A. Infantry. Foster, No. 11594, Sergeant W. M. Infantry. Fromant, No. 4893, C. Q.M.-Sgt. J. W. G. Infantry. *Furley, No. 1518, Sergeant E. H. Infantry. Glencross, No. 3120, Sergeant C. M. G. Infantry. Hall, No. 1474, Sergeant O. H. Infantry. Harris, No. 1065, Sergeant E. W. Heavy Artillery. *Hickman, No. 6294, Reg. Q.M.-Sgt. C. S. Infantry. Hudson, No. 2817, Coy. Q.M.-Sergeant T. Infantry. Impellezzenie, No. 13957, Private G. A. Infantry. Janion, No. 1058, Lance-Corporal J. R. Infantry. Johnstone, No. 4456, C. Sgt.-Major C. E. Infantry. Kelly, No. X256, Staff-Sergeant G. Pay Corps. Levell, No. 787, Q.M.-Sergeant W. J. Heavy Artillery *Lightfoot, No. 344, Staff-Sergeant R. S.A.M.C. Murgatroyd, No. 3207, Lance-Cpl. T. C. Infantry. Newall, No. 478, Sergeant W. S.A.M.C. Pauley, No. X255, Staff-Sergeant H. E. R. Pay Corps. Phillips, No. 2946, Staff-Sergeant D. T. Infantry. Pool, No. 10093, Lance-Corporal W. Infantry. Popkiss, No. 3146, Staff Sergt.-Major R. J. Pay Corps. Pretorius, No. 6238, Corporal J. L. Infantry. *Priest, No. 388, Sergeant-Major F. D. S.A.M.C. Reid, No. 3315, Sergeant H. Infantry. Rhind, No. 53, Sergeant F. Staff. *Rose, No. 414, Private R. S.A.M.C. Rowley, No. 5883, Reg. Q.M.-Sergt. A. B. Infantry. Russell, No. 9110, Coy. Q.M.-Sergt. E. E. Infantry. Sayer, No. 3112, Sergeant A. Infantry. Scherger, No. 5711, Corporal B. Infantry. Shearer, No. 10077, Sergeant J. Infantry. Sherman, No. 423, Corporal H. J. Infantry. Shires, No. 2212, Corporal A. Infantry. Sim, No. 11041, Lance-Corporal A. E. Infantry. **Smith, No. 315, Staff-Sergeant C. G. W. S.A.M.C. Stead, No. 15343, Corporal F. H. Infantry. Swanby, No. X23, Staff-Sergeant C. F. S.A.M.C. Thomas, No. 639, Bombardier B. J. A. Heavy Artillery. Tuck, No. 9122, Lance-Corporal F. G. Infantry. *Walker, No. X235, Staff Sgt.-Major J. H. Staff. Walton, No. X522, Staff-Sergeant A. E. Pay Corps. Wasser, No. 2673, Private J. Infantry. White, No. 403, Corporal H. W. S. S.A.M.C.

FOREIGN DECORATIONS.

FRENCH HONOURS.

CROIX DE GUERRE.

Clunnie, No. 4080, Sergeant R. J. Infantry. Edwards, Major S. B. Heavy Artillery. Fraser, No. 6212, Corporal C. M. Signal Company. Glascock, No. 6317, Sergeant E. W. Infantry. Goodwin, Second-Lieutenant B. W. Infantry. Harrison, Major N. Signal Company. Hunter, No. 1197, Private H. P. Infantry. Maasdorp, Major L. H. Heavy Artillery. Meredith, No. 5755, Reg. Sergeant-Major G. Infantry. Nelson, No. 943, Sergeant T. D. Heavy Artillery. Ross, Lieutenant F. M. Signal Company. Smith, No. 4087, Sergeant A. Infantry. Sowdon, No. 4716, Sergeant C. H. V. Signal Company. Steele, No. 1905, Private H. Infantry. Thackeray, Lieutenant-Colonel E. F. Infantry. Wilkie, No. 3657, Coy. Sergeant-Major F. Infantry. Wilson, Lieutenant C. K. Signal Company.

LÉGION D’HONNEUR, CROIX D’OFFICIER.

Collins, Lieutenant-Colonel F. R. Engineers.

MÉDAILLE MILITAIRE.

Davenport, No. 6074, Reg. Sergeant-Major B. Infantry. Hodges, No. 468, Bombardier T. E. Heavy Artillery. Mann, No. 13298, Sergeant A. Heavy Artillery. Stevens, No. 7071, Private J. B. Infantry.

BELGIAN HONOURS.

ORDRE DE LA COURONNE.

Little, Second-Lieutenant H. G. Heavy Artillery.

CROIX DE GUERRE.

Clegg, No. X93, Corporal W. D. Heavy Artillery. L’Estrange, No. X123, Bombardier G. E. F. Heavy Artillery. Little, Second-Lieutenant H. G. Heavy Artillery. Stiger, No. 968, Corporal W. T. M. Heavy Artillery. Tanner, Brigadier-General W. E. C. Staff. Truss, No. 955, Sergeant W. G. Heavy Artillery.

ORDRE DE LÉOPOLD.

Tanner, Lieutenant-Colonel W. E. C. Infantry. Truss, No. 955, Sergeant W. G. Heavy Artillery.

DÉCORATION MILITAIRE.

Gourlay, No. 6210, Sergeant J. H. Signal Company. Page, No. 1591, Private S. A. Signal Company.

ITALIAN HONOURS.

SILVER MEDAL FOR MILITARY VALOUR.

Charlton, Captain W. D. Infantry. Shenton, Captain J. L. Infantry. Unwin, Lieutenant H. W. Heavy Artillery.

BRONZE MEDAL FOR MILITARY VALOUR.

Allison, No. 3554, Lance-Corporal C. J. Infantry. Knowles, No. 777, Gunner J. D. Heavy Artillery.

SERBIAN HONOURS.

ORDER OF THE WHITE EAGLE.

FOURTH CLASS WITH SWORDS.

Christian, Lieutenant-Colonel E. Infantry.

FIFTH CLASS WITH SWORDS.

Pepper, Captain A. L. Staff.

CROSS OF KARAGEORGE.

FIRST CLASS WITH SWORDS.

Wells, No. 563, Coy. Sergeant-Major F. W. Infantry.

SECOND CLASS WITH SWORDS.

Jenner, No. 3447, Lance-Corporal D. Infantry.

GOLD MEDAL.

Hoy, No. 1469, Lance-Corporal J. D. Infantry. Pringle, No. 4137, Private N. Infantry. Tuer, No. 4969, Sergeant J. Infantry.

SILVER MEDAL.

Bower, No. 4225, Private T. Infantry. Hunter, No. 142, Private H. J. Infantry.

MONTENEGRIN HONOURS.

ORDER OF DANILO.

FIFTH CLASS.

Medlicott. Captain R. F. C. Infantry.

SILVER MEDAL FOR MERIT.

Morgan, No. 245, Private R. H. Infantry. Naisby, No. 1813, Sergeant J. Infantry.

EGYPTIAN HONOURS.

ORDER OF THE NILE.

THIRD CLASS.

Lukin, Brigadier-General H. T. Staff.

ROUMANIAN HONOURS.

MÉDAILLE BARBATIE SI CREDINTA.

SECOND CLASS.

Digby, Second-Lieutenant C. R. Cape Aux. Horse Transport.

CHEVALIER OF THE ORDER OF THE CROWN OF ROUMANIA.

Havery, Lieutenant J. N. Infantry.

SUMMARY.

1. V.C. 2 2. K.C.B. 1 3. C.B. 2 4. C.M.G. 6 5. Bar to D.S.O. 1 6. D.S.O. 35 7. C.B.E. (Military Division) 6 8. O.B.E. (Military Division) 29 9. M.B.E. (Military Division) 15 10. Bar to M.C. 10 11. M.C. 134 12. D.C.M. 64 13. Bar to M.M. 16 14. M.M. 431 15. M.S.M. 75 16. Royal Red Cross 16 17. French Decorations 22 18. Belgian Decorations 11 19. Italian Decorations 5 20. Serbian Decorations 9 21. Montenegrin Decorations 3 22. Roumanian Decorations 2 23. Egyptian Decorations 1 24. Brevet Rank 5 25. Mentioned in Despatches 218 26. Mentioned in War Office Communiqués 107

FOOTNOTES

[1] On January 1, 1917, the pay of privates was raised to 3s. a day, but other ranks continued to draw pay at Imperial rates.

[2] About 15 per cent. of the original Brigade was Dutch. The proportion rose to something like 30 per cent. before the end of the campaign.

[3] The regiment wore the tartan of the Atholl Murrays. The story of the Atholl Highlanders may be read in _The Military History of Perthshire_, by the present Duchess of Atholl.

[4] See Appendix I.

[5] A medical unit with South African _personnel_ for service with the French Army was formed in South Africa in the autumn of 1914 by the Société Française du Cap. Early in 1915 this unit was established by the French military authorities at the Hôtel Beau-Rivage at Cannes, which was equipped as a hospital for the reception of French sick and wounded. It did admirable work under the auspices of the French Red Cross, with which it was affiliated.

[6] Troops could not be moved to Dabaa by rail from lack of rolling stock.

[7] The phrase is Sir John Maxwell’s in his dispatch of March 1, 1916.

[8] The Duke of Westminster received the Distinguished Service Order; he was recommended for the Victoria Cross.

[9] The 9th Division was now composed of the 26th Infantry Brigade, comprising the 8th Black Watch, the 7th Seaforths, the 5th Camerons, and the 10th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders; the 27th Infantry Brigade, comprising the 11th Royal Scots, the 12th Royal Scots, the 6th K.O.S.B. and the 9th Scottish Rifles; and the South African Infantry Brigade. The Pioneer Battalion was the 9th Seaforths.

[10] Both of these brigades belonged to Major-General Shea’s 30th Division.

[11] The XX. Corps held the Grand Couronné of Nancy in September 1914, and delivered the counter-attack at Douaumont on February 26, 1916, which turned the tide at Verdun.

[12] If we take the casualties from the 1st of July, the total is 2,815—made up of 502 killed, 1,735 wounded, and 578 missing. Tanner, MacLeod, and Thackeray were all wounded. General Lukin was slightly gassed.

[13] Lieutenant-Colonel Tanner was wounded on 17th July and his second-in-command, Major Gee, took over the 2nd Regiment. Major Gee was killed almost at once, and as there were no senior officers of the 2nd left Major Heal of the 1st took over command. This he held till the arrival from England at the end of August of Lieutenant-Colonel Christian, who took command of the 2nd Regiment. After the death of Lieutenant-Colonel Jones the 4th Regiment was under Major D. M. MacLeod. He was wounded on 17th July, after which Major D. R. Hunt took over, and continued in command till December 31, 1916.

[14] In its origin it was probably a big-gun emplacement.

[15] “One saw a large party of South Africans at full stretch with bayonets at the charge—all dead; but even in death they seemed to have the battle ardour stamped on their faces.” Lieut.-Col. Croft’s _Three Years with the 9th Division_, p. 84.

[16] When the Nose was finally occupied by the 6th K.O.S.B. they found over 250 German dead lying around it.

[17] The atrocious condition of the ground was partly due to our use of the delay-action fuse, which caused shells to explode well below the soil and so led to big subsidences which speedily became mudholes.

[18] The Butte de Warlencourt was never taken during the Battle of the Somme, though early in November the 50th Division made a gallant attempt. It was occupied by us in the last week of February 1917, when the enemy retreated.

[19] Their right flank was in a marsh, where duck-shooting could be enjoyed within 800 yards of the German trenches.

[20] The casualties of the 27th Brigade in this ill-fated action were nearly as high as those of the South Africans.

[21] MacLeod took over the 4th from Christian on 25th April when he returned from sick leave, Christian going to the XVII. Corps School of Instruction as Commandant.

[22] On some maps this is given as the Hansbeek, or Hannebeek, but it is more convenient to keep this name for the larger stream which runs by St. Julien.

[23] Private C. E. Fennessy was awarded the Military Medal for this exploit.

[24] He was mortally wounded on the 20th, and died the day after.

[25] Of Lukin Sir Douglas Haig wrote: “Coming to France in April 1916, his skilful command of the South African Brigade soon induced me to select him for command of the 9th Division. This division he has commanded with skill and ability in many hard-fought battles, and I have looked on him as one of the most reliable divisional commanders in France.” Lieut-Col. Croft in his _Three Years with the 9th Division_ has this pleasant tale of Lukin at Third Ypres: “In the early stage of the night march we met the divisional commander, who, like all the divisional commanders of the 9th Division, spent most of his time near the front lines. He was on his way back, and this good old regimental officer insisted on getting off the track and up to his knees in mud while the men went by, saying, ‘I have a comfortable dug-out to go back to,’ when we offered to make way for him.”

[26] Up till this, Chapel Hill had been in the area of the 21st Division, but Dawson that afternoon was ordered to assume responsibility for it.

[27] Major C. M. Murray, another distinguished officer, had been recalled in September to take up work in England. He was with the ambulance during the heavy fighting of the first half of 1918.

INDEX.

Aa, River, 196.

Abbeville. See _Hospital, S. African General_.

Abeele, 194.

Addison, Sec.-Lieut. E. C., 214.

Agagia, Battle of, 32-5.

Ailette, River, 231.

Ailly-sur-Somme, 47.

Aisne, River, 106, 126, 128, 129, 216.

Aitken, Sec.-Lieut. A., 144.

Albert, 189.

Alexandria, 22, 26, 27, 41.

Alim Tejdid, 38.

Allenby, Field-Marshal Sir Edmund (Viscount Allenby), 103, 113, 126.

Alston, Major C. W., 20, 275.

Alwyn Farm (Méteren), 222.

American Armies in France, The, 158, 217, 228, 230.

Amiens, 194, 195, 214.

Ancre, River, 50, 51, 87, 104.

Anderson, Lieut.-Col. J. D., 337, 339, 351.

Anderson, Sec.-Lieut., 223.

Arbre de Guise, 246.

Armentières, 45, 195.

Armin, General Sixt von. See _Sixt von Armin_.

Armistice, The, 255-6.

Armoured cars, 30; at Agagia, 33; in advance on Sollum, 36, 39, 40.

Army, British— First, 83, 105, 113, 225, 231, 255. Second, 44, 134, 217, 231. Third, 85, 102, 104, 113, 159, 161, 170, 177, 191, 230, 231, 232, 233, 249. Fourth, 85, 90, 230, 231, 232, 233, 249, 253, 255. Fifth, 88, 104, 132, 133, 134, 135, 146, 159, 161, 170, 171, 176, 177.

Army, German— Fourth, 130, 196. Sixth, 151, 196.

Arnold, Sec.-Lieut. L., 153.

Arras, 49, 83, 88, 103, 104, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110-12, 178, 195, 218; Battle of, 115-126, 258.

Artillery, Heavy (South African), 16, 19, 20, 21, 267-278. See also under _Battery, Heavy Artillery_; and _Brigade, Heavy Artillery_.

Artillery, Royal Garrison. See _Artillery, Heavy_.

Artillery, Royal Marine, 19.

Athies, 116.

Atholl, Duchess of, 17 _n._; Duke of, 21.

Aulad Ali tribes, 36.

Australian Camel Corps, 36, 38.

Australian Forces in France. See under _Corps, British_; _Division, British_.

Avelu, 235.

Avesnes, 252.

Bagbag, 37, 38.

Bailleul, 44, 195, 203, 204, 205, 206, 218.

Baillon Farm, 246.

Bain, Capt. J. T., 144.

Baker, Lieut.-Col. J. Mitchell, 18, 351.

Baker, Private, 66.

Bamford, Lieut.-Col. H. W. M., commands Composite Battalion, 209, 210; commands 2nd Regiment, 225, 233.

Bancroft, Lieut., 167, 175.

Bannockburn, 114.

Bapaume, 48, 50, 51, 60, 86, 87, 109, 230.

Barisis, 159.

Barrani, 25, 32, 35, 36, 37.

Basutoland, 19.

Bate, Lieut., 59.

Battery, Heavy Artillery (S. African)— _71st_, 20, 267, 269-70, 273. _72nd_, 20, 267, 268, 275-6. _73rd_, 20, 267, 268-9. _74th_, 20, 267, 268, 274-5. _75th_, 20, 267, 268, 276-7. _125th_, 267, 268, 271-2. _496th_, 267, 277. _542nd_, 267.

Baudimont Gate (Arras), 111.

Bavai, 252.

Bazentin-le-Grand, 56.

Bazentin-le-Petit, 56, 86.

Bazuel, 241, 242, 247.

Beaumont, 253.

Beaurevoir, 231, 232, 234.

Beauvois, 176.

Beck House, 138.

Begbie, Major R. P. G., 271, 272.

Beit Hussein, 25.

Below, General Otto von, 151.

Bennett, Lieut.-Col. G. M., 274, 275.

Bernafay Wood, 48, 51, 52, 54, 55, 56, 76, 77.

Berthonval, 84.

Bertry, 236, 237.

Bethell, Maj.-Gen. H. K., 226, 232, 238, 245, 248, 253, 254.

Bethlehem Farm, 198, 200.

Béthune, 195, 196, 217.

Beugnies, 253.

Beverley, Capt. R., 172, 184, 188.

Beviss, Lieut., 167, 175.

Beyers, General, 13.

Billon Valley, 52.

Bir Abdih, 32.

Bir Asisa, 39.

Bir-el-Augerin, 37, 38.

Bir Shola, 27, 28, 29, 30.

Bir Tunis, 26.

Bir Warr, 39, 40.

Birrell, Sec.-Lieut., 234.

Blacklock, Maj.-Gen., 211.

Blanchard, Sec.-Lieut. W. J., 144.

Blangy, 111.

Blew, Lieut.-Col. T. H., 272, 273, 350.

Bliss, Lieut., 35.

Boehn, General von, 228.

Boesinghe, 132.

Bois de Madame, 254.

Bois de Martinsart, 256.

Bond Street (Delville Wood), 61.

Bony, 233.

Borry Farm, 138.

Bostin Farm, 141.

Botha, General Louis, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 193.

Bouchavesnes, 177, 179, 180, 183, 191.

Bourlon, 151.

Brahmin Bridge (Méteren), 222.

Brandhoek, 134.

Bray-sur-Somme, 51, 184, 189.

Bremen Redoubt, 136, 141.

Brigade, Heavy Artillery (S. African)— _44th_, 268, 269, 270, 272-4. _50th_, 268, 275, 276, 277-8.

Brigade, Cavalry (British)— _5th Cavalry_, 253, 254. _Canadian Cavalry_, 237.

Brigade, Infantry (British)— _2nd Guards_, 152. _4th Guards_, 205. _8th_, 147. _10th_, 123. _21st_, 52, 53. _26th_, 44, 57, 59, 60, 64, 71, 84, 91, 92, 98, 100, 101, 107, 108, 116, 119, 123, 125, 135, 161, 163, 189, 207, 208, 211, 218, 221. _27th_, 44, 52, 54, 57, 58, 59, 65, 67, 91, 103, 107, 116, 123, 125 _n._, 126, 134, 135, 138, 139, 144, 172, 177, 178, 180, 209, 218, 221, 224. _44th_, 92. _48th_, 190. _55th_, 55. _57th_, 198, 199, 203. _58th_, 198, 199. _62nd_, 208. _64th_, 208. _76th_, 69, 70, 72. _89th_, 52. _108th_, 201, 202, 203. _116th_, 158. _125th_, 137. _141st_, 85, 91. _142nd_, 85. _149th_, 244. _150th_, 246. _151st_, 244. _174th_, 127. _198th_, 226, 234, 235, 238, 241, 246. _199th_, 226, 234, 235, 238, 241, 254. _1st Australian_, 220.

Brigade, Infantry (S. African), 11; inception of, 15; formation, 16-19; arrival in England, 21; ordered to Egypt, 22; Egyptian campaign of, 23-42; training in Flanders, 43-47; at Battle of Somme, 47-58; at Delville Wood, 48-82; in Vimy area, 83-85; at Butte de Warlencourt, 85-103; in Arras area, 103-115; at Battle of Arras, 115-122; in action at Rœux, 123-6; at Third Ypres, 128-147; return to the Somme, 151-5; memorial service at Delville Wood, 157-8; before German attack, 158-164; in the Somme Retreat, 165-180; the stand at Marrières Wood, 180-192; brigade re-formed, 194; at Battle of the Lys, 196-209; re-formed, 225; in advance on Le Cateau, 232-9; capture of Le Cateau, 239-248; becomes advanced guard, 253-5; at hour of armistice, 255-6; achievement of, 257-8; quality and characteristics of, 258-263; tributes to, 35, 78, 126, 153, 157, 189-191, 193-194, 204, 205, 226, 248. See also under _Regiments, South African_; _Lukin_; _Dawson_; _Tanner_; _Raids_; _Casualties_.

Briqueterie Trench, 52, 53, 54.

Brits, General, 13.

Brook, Lieut. E. J., 234, 244.

Brown, Lieut. W. N., 53.

Browne, Major, 138, 175.

Brussilov, General, 48, 87.

Bryant, Capt. E. C., 153.

Brydon, Major Walter, 20, 268-9, 272-3, 350.

Buchanan Street (Delville Wood), 61, 63, 69.

Bullecourt, 170.

Bunce, Capt. H., 169, 174.

Burges, Major E. T., 70, 79.

Burgess, Capt., E. J., 59, 79, 175, 189, 200, 353.

Burrows, Lieut., 119, 121.

Butte de Warlencourt, 89, 91; action at, 91-103.

Byng, General the Hon. Sir Julian (Lord Byng), 113, 149, 151, 159, 160, 170, 176, 189, 191, 230, 231, 233, 235, 247, 249, 252.

Cadorna, General, 151.

Caestre, 219.

Cambrai, 109; Battle of, 149, 151, 152, 230, 231, 233, 235, 236.

Campbell, Maj.-Gen. David, 161.

Campbell Street (Delville Wood), 61.

Campion, Lieut., 268, 269.

Canal du Nord, 127, 230, 231.

Candas, 194.

Cape Auxiliary Horse Transport Companies, 337-340.

Cape Province, The, 13, 16, 19, 20.

Cape Town, 19.

Caporetto, 151.

Carency, 84.

Carstens, Lieut., 200.

Cassel, 218.

Casualties (of Infantry Brigade), 54; at Delville Wood, 74, 79-82; at Butte de Warlencourt, 102; in early months of 1917, 108; at Battle of Arras, 121; at Rœux, 125; at Third Ypres, 144; in winter 1917-18, 155; during first days of Somme Retreat, 175; at Messines, 205; at Méteren, 223; of Composite Battalion, 225; in Le Cateau operations, 248; total, 258.

Cawood, Sec.-Lieut. R. C., 255, 353.

Champagne, 160.

Chantecler, 116.

Chapel Crossing, 162.

Chapel Hill, 162, 168, 169, 171, 172.

Charles, Maj.-Gen., 238.

Chemical Works, The (Rœux), 123.

Chimney Trench, 53.

Christensen, Lieut., 200.

Christian, Lieut.-Col. E., 27, 84 _n._; at Butte de Warlencourt, 91; at Arras, 117, 136 _n._; commands 2nd Regiment, 147, 153; in Somme Retreat, 174, 179, 186, 188, 350.

Clapham Junction (Ypres), 133.

Clarke, Lieut., 200.

Clerk, Major, 175, 245.

Cléry, 179, 184.

Clifford, Capt. H. E., 54.

Cochran, Major F. E., at Third Ypres, 136, 141, 143; in Somme Retreat, 173, 180, 184; his death, 185, 188, 350.

Cojeul, River, 110.

Cole, Lieut.-Col., 336.

Collins, Lieut.-Col. F. R., 333-5, 350.

Collins, Capt. F., 298, 308, 313, 314, 351, 353.

Cologne, River, 176.

Combles, 87, 184, 191.

Composite Battalion, The, after Marrières Wood, 189; after Messines, 209-214; in summer of 1918, 216-225.

Condé, 252.

Confusion Corner, 212.

Congreve, Lieut.-Gen. Sir Walter, 51, 58, 68, 152, 176, 177, 179.

Contalmaison, 51, 52, 90.

Cooper, Lieut., 185.

Cooper, Sec.-Lieut. A. B., 144.

Corbie, 47.

Corps, Infantry (British)— IV., 83, 127. V., 134, 178, 232, 234, 342. VI., 103, 107, 112, 114, 121. VII., 114, 152, 176, 177, 225. IX., 196, 197, 204. XIII., 51, 232, 235, 238, 241, 242, 245, 246, 247, 248, 253. XVII., 107, 113, 121, 126. XVIII., 146, 176. _Australian_, 189, 219, 231. _Canadian_, 87, 107, 110, 113, 118, 147, 230, 252, 255.

Corps, Infantry (American)— II., 232, 238, 246.

Corps, Infantry (French)— XX., 53.

Corps, Infantry (German)— Guard Reserve, 87, 254. Bavarian Alpine, 206. _3rd_, 73. _4th_, 72, 73, 130. _5th_, 87. _54th_, 240.

_Corsican_, The, 27.

Courcelette, 86, 87, 89.

Cousolre, 256.

Coxen, Lieut., 138, 144.

Craig, Lieut. A. W., 66, 79.

Crewe, Sir Charles, 16, 18.

Croft, Lieut.-Col., his “Three Years with the 9th Division” quoted, 98 _n._, 156 _n._

Croisilles, 113, 116, 164.

Crown Prince, The German, 45.

Crozat Canal, The, 176.

Cruddas, Lieut., 94, 144.

Currie, Lieut. J., 268-9, 350.

Dabaa, 25, 27 _n._

Dalrymple, Colonel W., 18.

Davis, Capt. F. M., 144.

Dawson, Brig.-Gen. F. S., appointed to command 1st Regiment, 18; at Agagia, 33; at Delville Wood, 66, 70-71; at Butte de Warlencourt, 96-101; commands S. African Brigade, 103; at Arras, 121; at Third Ypres, 134, 139, 143, 145, 155; in Somme Retreat, 167, 168, 169 _n._, 171, 172, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 186, 187, 188, 190, 191, 349, 350.

Débeney, General, 231, 233, 235, 247, 249.

Delhi, Ridge of, 192.

Delville Wood, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60; description of, 61; Battle of, 61-82, 142; memorial service at, 157-8, 181, 258.

Desinet Farm, 206, 208.

Destremont Farm, 90.

De Wet, General Christian, 13.

Dickebusch, 209, 212.

Dickerson, Sec.-Lieut. V. S., 153.

Dingaan, 192.

Dingwall, Capt. J. A., 297, 298, 310, 314, 353.

Division, Cavalry (British)— _1st Cavalry_, 188.

Division, Infantry (British)— _Guards_, 87, 152, 153, 252. _1st_, 142. _2nd_, 142, 178. _3rd_, 69, 72, 118, 147. _4th_, 114, 120, 122, 123, 125. _9th_, 44, 45, 51, 53, 56, 57, 64, 67, 69, 83-5, 91-102, 103, 107, 114, 116-26, 127, 134-47, 152, 158-64, 170-89, 196-211, 217, 220, 225, 226. _12th_, 114, 118. _14th_, 73, 114, 118. _15th_, 85, 91, 92, 114, 118, 123. _16th_, 22, 190. _18th_, 55, 56, 64, 232, 248. _19th_, 196, 197, 198, 199, 201, 202, 203, 204, 206, 208, 209. _21st_, 114, 161, 166, 168, 169, 171, 172, 173, 178, 179, 180, 183, 184, 208, 211, 212, 213. _23rd_, 91. _25th_, 196, 201, 202, 211, 212, 213, 232, 238, 248. _29th_, 205. _30th_, 47, 52 _n._, 53, 54, 114, 211, 213. _31st_, 205. _33rd_, 204, 205. _34th_, 107, 113, 122, 201, 202, 206, 208. _35th_, 107, 184, 186, 188. _38th_, 233. _39th_, 158, 211, 213. _40th_, 201. _41st_, 147. _47th_, 85, 90, 91, 161, 178. _48th_, 146. _49th_, 205, 208, 210, 211, 212, 213. _50th_, 90, 232, 233, 242, 244, 246, 248. _51st_, 18, 107, 113. _55th_, 135, 141, 143, 196, 201. _56th_, 114, 118. _66th_, 225, 231, 232-39, 241-8, 252-6. _1st Australian_, 205. _2nd Australian_, 135. _New Zealand_, 87. _Portuguese_, 196.

Division, Infantry (French)— _39th_, 53.

Division, Infantry (German)— _2nd Guard Reserve_, 141. _6th Bavarian_, 90. _10th Bavarian_, 62, 73. _5th_, 73. _8th_, 72, 73. _17th Reserve_, 238.

Doignies, 170.

Doingt, 177.

Dompierre, 253.

Donaldson, Lieut., 94.

Dorward, Lieut., 121.

Douai, 110.

Douglas, Sec.-Lieut., 223.

Douve, River, 196.

Dranoutre, 212.

Drocourt-Quéant Switch, The, 109, 116, 121, 122, 230.

Dublin Redoubt, 53; trench, 53.

Duisans, 103.

Dunkirk, 196.

Dutch in South Africa, The, 15, 261.

Earl Farm, 199.

East Africa, German. See _German East Africa_.

Eaucourt l’Abbaye, 86, 90, 91.

Edgar, Sergeant C. W., 145, 362.

Egan, Lieut., 234.

Egypt, Campaign of S. African Brigade in, 23-42.

Elincourt, 235.

Elliott, Lieut., 100, 101, 118, 119.

Ellis, Capt. P. H., 118, 137.

Emperor, The German, 191, 253.

Engineers, The Royal, 117, 255. _63rd Field Co._, 220. _64th Field Co._, 51. _430th Field Co._, 253.

Equancourt, 172, 176.

Escaufourt, 237.

Estaires, 201.

Estill, Lieut., 95.

Estment, Lance-Corporal A., 66, 362.

Estrées, 86.

Fampoux, 116, 121, 123, 124, 176.

Fanshawe, Lieut.-Gen. Sir E. A., 134, 178.

Farrell, Capt. T., 138, 207.

Fatimite invasion of Egypt, The, 40.

Faulds, Sec.-Lieut. W. F., 66, 343, 349.

Fennessy, Private C. E., 140, 362.

Fergusson, Lieut.-Gen. Sir Charles, 107, 113.

Fernie, Sec.-Lieut., 234.

Feuchy, 109.

Field Ambulance, 1st S. African, 16, 20, 21; at Delville Wood, 76, 77; at Arras, 122; at Fampoux, 125-6; at Third Ypres, 144-5, 225; at Le Cateau, 251-2.

Fins, 154, 174.

Fitzpatrick, Major P. N. G., 270.

Flag Ravine, 152.

Flers, 57, 65, 66, 70, 86, 87, 89, 90, 93, 96.

Flesquières, 170.

Flêtre, 218, 219.

Foch, Marshal, 194, 217, 224, 228, 230, 231, 239, 252, 253, 254.

Fonsommes, 231.

Forder, Major C. J., 278.

Forder, Sec.-Lieut. W. G. S., 144.

Forest, 238, 239.

Fosse 8 (Loos), 44.

Four Huns Farm, 199.

Francis, Sec.-Lieut., 234.

Franks, Maj.-Gen., 184.

Frelinghien, 196.

Frévillers, 83, 84.

Frezenberg, 136.

Fricourt, 48.

Frohbus, Sergeant, 139.

Fruges, 152.

Furse, Maj.-Gen. Sir W. T., 44, 52, 58, 59, 67, 68, 69, 92, 103.

Gaafer, 24, 25, 32, 33, 35.

Gallipoli, 22.

Gattignies Wood, 235, 236.

Gauche Wood, 152, 162, 166, 168, 170, 171, 181.

Gavrelle, 123.

Gee, Major H. H., 80, 83 _n._

Gemmell, Capt. D., 138, 144.

General Hospital, No. 1 S. African. See _Hospital, General_.

Genin Well Copse, 168, 169, 171.

German East Africa, 13, 14, 258, 260.

German Emperor, The. See _Emperor, The German_.

German South-West Africa, 13, 14, 15, 19, 260.

Gheluvelt, 133, 136, 140.

Giddy, Sec.-Lieut., 234.

Ginchy, 57, 86, 87.

Givenchy, 196, 201, 202; en-Gohelle, 113.

Glatz Redoubt, 52, 53, 55.

Godfrey, Lieut., 121.

Gommecourt, 50.

Goodwin, Lieut. B. W., 108, 213, 353.

Gordon, Lieut.-Col. J. L. R., 28, 29.

Gorringe, Maj.-Gen. Sir G. F., 161.

Gough, General Sir Hubert, 88, 132, 134, 159, 160, 176, 177, 179, 189, 191.

Gouraud, General, 249, 250, 252, 253.

Gouzeaucourt, 152, 162, 163, 170, 174.

Government Farm, 179.

Grady, Capt. E. C. D., 82, 118, 125.

Grandrieu, 254, 256.

Gray, Lieut. S. E. G., 119, 243, 353.

Green, Capt. Garnet, 72, 80, 167-8, 173, 174, 353.

Greene, Capt. L., 54, 80, 202, 350, 354.

Greenland Hill, 123, 126.

Grenville, Sir Richard, 188.

Grieve, Pipe-Major, 157.

Griffiths, Lieut., 200.

Grove Town, 51.

Gueudecourt, 86, 88.

Guillaumat, General, 231, 249, 252.

Guillemont, 57, 65, 86.

Gunn, Sec.-Lieut., 234.

Hadlow, Lieut., 167.

Haig, Field-Marshal Sir Douglas (Earl Haig), 22; in spring of 1916, 45-6, 47; at Battle of the Somme, 50, 52, 56, 57, 78, 86, 87; his plans for 1917, 104-107; reviews S. African Brigade, 108; at Battle of Arras, 109-111; strategy of Third Ypres, 128-30, 133-4, 147; tribute at Delville Wood memorial service, 157; position at beginning of 1918, 158-61; message to Botha, 193-4; at Battle of Lys, 195; verdict on fight of 13th April, 205; his order of 11th April, 214-15; advance on Siegfried Line, 230-31; in the final stage, 235, 241, 247, 249, 250, 251, 252.

Halazin, Battle of, 28-30.

Haldane, Lieut.-Gen. Sir Aylmer, 69, 103, 114.

Halfaia Pass, The, 38.

Hamage Farm, 234.

Hamilton-Gordon, Lieut.-Gen. Sir A., 196, 204.

Hands, Major P. A. M., 269, 273, 350, 354.

Hannebeek (Ypres), 136 _n._

Happy Valley, The, 72, 74, 78.

Hardwich, Lieut., 121.

Hargicourt, 170.

Harp, The (Arras), 118.

Harris, Lieut. W. E., 95, 354.

Harrison, Major H. C., 20, 269, 350.

Harrison, Lieut.-Col. N., 279, 282, 283, 290, 297, 298, 310, 313, 350.

Harvey, Lieut., 221.

Haute-Allaines, 178.

Havrincourt, 127.

Hazebrouck, 195, 204, 206, 217, 218.

Heal, Lieut.-Col. F. H., takes command of 2nd Regiment, 84 _n._; of 1st Regiment, 103; at Arras, 117; at Third Ypres, 136, 139, 140, 141, 143; in Somme Retreat, 174, 179; his death, 186, 188.

Heavy Artillery. See _Artillery, Heavy_.

Hell Farm (Messines), 200, 202.

Hem, 188.

Hendry, Sec.-Lieut. N. T., 144.

Hengest, 83.

Hénin-sur-Cojeul, 176.

Henry V., King, 48.

Henry, Lieut., 59.

Hermann Line, The, 240.

Hestrud, 254, 255.

Heudicourt, 154, 155, 158, 163, 172, 173, 174, 189.

Heuringhem, 218.

Hewat, Sec.-Lieut. R. D., 242, 354.

Hewitt, Sec.-Lieut. W. H., 143, 345, 349.

Highlanders, 77th (Atholl), 17; Cape Town, 16.

High Wood, 56, 85, 94, 101, 102.

Hill, Capt. the Rev. E. St. C., 77, 80, 354.

Hill, Lieut. R., 237.

Hill 37 (Ypres), 141; 60 (Ypres), 196, 211; 63 (Messines), 202.

Hindenburg Line. See _Siegfried Line_.

Hinwood, Sergeant S. J., 234, 363.

Hirson, 240, 249, 252.

Hogg, Lieut., 208.

Hohenzollern Redoubt, The, 44.

Hollebeke, 197, 200, 202.

Hondeghem, 218, 219, 221.

Hong-Kong and Singapore Mountain Battery, The, 35, 36, 38.

Honnechy, 235, 236, 237.

Honours won by S. African Forces in France, 349-84.

Hopgood, Lieut., 200.

Hopoutre, 209, 211.

Horne, General Sir Henry (Lord Horne), 113, 160, 231, 249, 252, 255.

Hospital, No. 1 S. African General, 16, 21, 317, 318, 319, 320-7.

Hospital, S. African Military, 21, 317, 319, 327-32.

Houlle, 145.

Humbert, General, 230.

Hunt, Major D. R., 64, 84 _n._, 93.

Hunt, Lieut. V. A., 121.

Hunter, General Sir Archibald, 21.

Hutier, General von, 151, 216.

Hyde, Lieut., 119.

Hyde Park Corner, 212.

Hyderabad Redoubt, 121, 123, 125.

Infiltration, Method of, 150, 245.

Jack, Lieut. J., 303, 354.

Jackson, Maj.-Gen., 242.

Jacobs, Capt. L. M., 194, 199, 202, 245, 350.

Jeffreys, Maj.-Gen., 197, 204.

Jenkins, Lieut.-Col. H. H., 97, 175, 209, 225, 237, 254, 350.

Jenner, Lieut., 189, 200.

Joffre, Marshal, 45.

Johannesburg, 18.

Jones, Lieut.-Col. F. A., appointed to command 4th Regiment, 15; death at Battle of the Somme, 55, 84 _n._

Keeley, Sec.-Lieut., 223.

Keith, Serg.-Major P., 184, 354, 358.

Kemmel, 203, 205, 206, 208, 210, 211, 213, 217, 218.

Kennedy, Brig.-Gen., 189.

Kennedy, Lieut., 167.

Khedival Highway, The, 24, 31, 36.

Kimberley, 18.

King, His Majesty the, visits the S. African Brigade, 84.

King, Capt., 247.

King Street (Delville Wood), 61.

Kruisstraat Cabaret, 203, 204.

La Bassée, 195, 196, 203.

La Clytte, 196, 197, 204, 211, 212.

La Crèche, 206.

La Polka, 206, 208.

La Sablonnière, 234.

Lagnicourt, 170.

Lambton, Maj.-Gen. the Hon. W., 116, 120, 121, 123.

Langdale, Capt., 98, 99, 100.

Langeberg, 19.

Langemarck, 133, 136, 140.

Larisch, General von, 240.

Larmuth, Capt. W. A., 200.

Lassigny, 216.

Lattre St. Quentin, 103.

Laurent-Blangy, 116.

Lausanne, Treaty of, 23.

Lawe, River, 201, 202.

Lawrence, Lieut., 139, 200.

Lawrie, Capt. M. B., 77, 122, 145, 352, 354.

Lawson, Private J. A., _quoted_, 74-6.

Le Cateau, 191, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 241, 242, 246, 248, 251; capture of, 258.

L’Enfer, 203.

Le Sars, 86, 90, 91, 92.

Le Transloy, 86, 92.

Le Verguier, 170.

Le Waton, 224.

Lee, Lieut., 119, 121.

Lens, 109, 116, 119.

Lesbœufs, 86, 87.

Lestrem, 201.

Libyan Desert, The, 24, 25, 39.

Liebson, Capt. S., 82, 172, 354.

Liége, 250.

Ligny-Thilloy, 92.

Lilburn, Lieut., 85.

Lille, 195, 240.

Locon, 202.

Locre, 211, 212, 213, 218.

Long, Mr. Walter, 109.

Longueval, 52, 53, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 65, 67, 71, 72, 76, 77, 86, 188.

Longuyon, 252.

Loos, Battle of, 22, 44.

Losses. See _Casualties_.

Lucas, Lieut. E. D., 144.

Ludendorff, General, 148, 149, 151, 158, 160, 164, 171, 182, 194, 195, 197, 203, 210, 214, 216, 228, 230, 240, 245, 250.

Lukin, Maj.-Gen. Sir H. T. appointed to command Infantry Brigade, 19; at Agagia, 31-35; in advance on Sollum, 36-40, 52, 53; at Delville Wood, 58-74; reviews remnant of Brigade, 78; at Butte de Warlencourt, 93-100; commands 9th Division, 103; at Third Ypres, 134, 135, 156 _n._; relinquishes command of 9th Division, 155-6; Sir D. Haig’s tribute, 156 _n._, 349.

Lumbres, 224.

Lumm’s Farm, 198, 199, 201.

Lys, River, 132, 195, 196, 201, 202, 217; Battle of, 195-214.

M’Carter, Lieut. R. G. A., 234.

M’Cubbin, Capt., 138.

M’Donald, Capt. A. W. H., 72, 81, 144, 354.

Macfarlane, Lieut. B. N., 54.

MacFie, Sec.-Lieut. T. G., 209, 354.

MacGregor, Sec.-Lieut. R., 247.

Mackay, Lieut., 223.

Mackie, Sec.-Lieut. D. C., 223, 354.

MacLeod, Lieut.-Col. D. M., commands 4th Regiment, 55; at Delville Wood, 74 _n._, 82, 84 _n._; at Third Ypres, 136; in Somme Retreat, 169, 174, 175, 188; in advance on Le Cateau, 225, 236, 350.

M’Millan, Lieut., 243.

Machine-Gun Battery, 9th, 181; company, 28th Brigade, 51, 74.

Mackensen, General von, 22.

Maedelstaede Farm, 203.

Maitland, 20.

Malcolm, Maj.-Gen. Neill, 226.

Male, Sec.-Lieut., 223.

Mallett, Lieut., 95, 96.

Malta, 26.

Maltzhorn Ridge, 52, 53, 64.

Mametz, 48, 85.

Mandy, Sec.-Lieut. G. J. S., 153.

Mangin, General, 224, 230, 231, 249, 252.

Maretz, 235.

Maricourt, 47, 50, 83, 189.

Maritz, Colonel, 13.

Marne, River, 216, 224.

Marrières Wood, 180; the stand of the S. Africans at, 181-8, 193, 214, 229, 258.

Martinpuich, 86, 87, 91.

Marwitz, General von der, 177, 191.

Masnières, 151.

Mason, Capt. C. E., 335, 336.

Matruh. See _Mersa Matruh_.

Maubeuge, 241, 252.

Maurois, 235, 236, 237, 238.

Maxse, Lieut.-Gen. Sir Ivor, 56, 146, 176.

Maxwell, Brig.-Gen. F., 134, 144.

Maxwell, Maj.-Gen. Sir John, 27, 30 _n._, 40.

Méaulte, 48.

Medean Pass, 37.

Medlicott, Capt. R. F. C., 62, 81.

Medlicott, Lieut., 95, 96.

_Megantic_, The, 43.

Menin, 133, 134, 135, 142.

Merris, 203.

Mersa Matruh, 25, 26, 27, 30, 31, 35.

Merville, 202.

Messines, 105, 130, 196, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 209, 214, 258.

Méteren, 211, 218, 219, 220, 221; capture of, 222-4.

Méteren Becque, 218, 220, 222, 224.

Methuen, Field-Marshal Lord, 26.

Metz, 252.

Meuse, River, 230, 231, 249.

Mex Camp, 27.

Mézières, 240, 249, 252.

Middle Farm (Messines), 199, 201, 202.

Miscellaneous Trades Company, 335-6.

Mitchell, Capt. F. M., 175, 355.

Mitchell’s Farm (Ypres), 138, 141.

Moislains, 152, 154, 174, 175, 178, 179.

Moltke, 23.

Monchy-Breton, 126.

Monchy-Lagache, 176.

Money, Lieut. A. G., 118, 119.

Monro, General Sir Charles, 83, 84, 85.

Mons, 255.

Mont des Cats, 206, 218, 221.

Mont Rouge, 212, 213.

Mont St. Quentin, 178.

Montagne de Paris, 224.

Montauban, 51, 52, 59, 60, 71.

Montay, 238, 239, 242.

Montbliart, 256.

Montgomery, Capt., 94.

Montmédy, 252.

Moore, Sir John, 46.

_Moorina_, The, 25, 39.

Morbecque, 47.

Morland, Lieut.-Gen. Sir T. L., 231.

Mormal, Forest of, 241, 247, 249, 252.

Morrison, Lieut. R. E., 118.

Morval, 86, 87.

Mosilikatse, 192.

Moulin de l’Hospice (Messines), 201.

Mount Pleasant, 123.

Mouquet Farm, 86.

Mudie, Lieut.-Col., 207.

Mulcahy, Lieut. C. L. H., 54.

Mullins, Major A. G., 275, 350.

Murray, Lieut.-General Sir Archibald, 41.

Murray, Major C. M., 251 _n._, 350.

Murray-MacGregor, Major A. M., 275, 354.

Namur, 251, 252.

Nelson, Private R. W., 126, 336.

Neuf Berquin, 202.

Neuve Chapelle, Battle of, 149.

Neuve Eglise, 197, 202, 203, 206, 208.

Neuville Vitasse, 118.

Neville, Lieut., 200.

Newbery, Lieut. J., 138, 144.

Newell, Lieut. W. F., 335.

Nieppe, 201, 202, 221.

Nieuport, 147.

Nivelle, General, 106.

North Midland Farm (Messines), 203.

North Street (Longueval), 65, 66, 70.

Nose of the Switch, The (Butte de Warlencourt), 97, 98, 99, 100 _n._, 101.

Notts Battery, R.H.A., The, 31.

Nourrisson, General, 53.

Nuri Bey, 24, 32.

Nurlu, 172, 174, 175, 177, 178.

Observation Hill (Arras), 118.

Oise, River, 159, 164, 235.

Oise-Sambre Canal, The, 247, 249.

Omignon, River, 170, 176.

_Oriana_, The, 43.

Ormiston, Major T., at Butte de Warlencourt, 100, 101; in Somme Retreat, 185, 350.

Ostreville, 108.

Otavifontein, 14.

Oughterson, Lieut., 53.

Oultersteene, 203.

Ovillers, 51.

Passchendaele, 133, 146, 147.

Pay of Infantry Brigade, 15.

Pearse, Capt., 94, 175.

Pearse’s Trench, 94, 99.

Peirson, Capt., 190, 191.

Pepper, Major A. L., 18, 351.

Péronne, 86, 87, 161, 175, 176, 177, 178, 184.

Perrem, Sec.-Lieut. C. H., 247, 355.

Perry, Sec.-Lieut. H., 237.

Pershing, General, 249, 251, 252, 253.

Pétain, General, 45, 158, 160.

Petite Folie Farm, 234.

Petits Puits (Messines), 200, 201.

Peyton, Maj.-Gen. Sir W. E., 30, 31, 35, 36, 38, 41.

Phillips, Lieut. E. J., 71, 72, 355.

Phillips, Lieut. S. G., 352, 355.

Piave, River, 151.

Pick House (Messines), 198, 199, 201.

Pickburn, Major, 20, 274.

Pietermaritzburg, 18.

“Pill-Boxes,” Tactics of, 131, 132, 135.

Pimple, The (Butte de Warlencourt), 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101.

Ploegsteert, 196, 201, 202.

Plumer, General Sir Herbert (Lord Plumer), 44, 47, 134, 160, 202, 205, 206, 211, 217, 231.

Point du Jour, 116.

Polygon Wood, 146.

Pont d’Echelles, 202.

Pope-Hennessy, Lieut. B., 153, 200, 354.

Poperinghe, 211.

Porteous, Lieut., 125.

Potchefstroom, 18, 20.

Potgieter, Andries, 192.

Potsdam Redoubt (Ypres), 138-9.

Powell, Sec.-Lieut. C. H., 247.

Power, Major M. B., 251, 350.

Pozières, 56, 86.

Prémont, 235.

Princboom, 219.

Princes Street (Delville Wood), 61, 63, 67, 69, 70, 71.

Pringle, Lieut.-Col. R. N., 251, 350.

Pulteney, Lieut.-Gen. Sir W., 85.

Quast, General von, 196.

Queen, Her Majesty the, reviews Infantry Brigade, 21.

Queen’s Cross, 163.

Quentin Redoubt, 162, 166, 168, 171.

Quentin Ridge, 152.

Raids, by S. African Brigade, at Vimy, 84-5; at Arras, 105, 115.

Railton, 171.

Railway Companies, 333-5.

Railway Triangle, The (Arras), 118; (Le Cateau), 244, 245, 246.

Ramillies, 209.

Rancourt, 180.

Ravelsberg, 206.

Rawlinson, General Sir Henry (Lord Rawlinson), 78, 92, 230, 231, 233, 235, 247, 249, 252.

Regent Street (Delville Wood), 61.

Regiment, Cape of Good Hope. See _Regiments, South African, 1st_.

Regiment, Natal and Orange Free State. See _Regiments, South African, 2nd_.

Regiment, Transvaal and Rhodesia. See _Regiments, South African, 3rd_.

Regiment, Transvaal Scottish, 16.

Regiments, Cavalry (British)— 12th Lancers, 253, 254. 20th Hussars, 254, 255. Australian Light Horse, 25, 28. Scottish Horse, 17. 4th S. African Mounted Rifles, 68. See also under _Yeomanry_.

Regiments, Infantry (British)— Coldstream Guards, 74, 153. 11th Royal Scots, 44, 66, 171, 173. 12th Royal Scots, 44, 54, 139. 1/6 (T.) Royal Scots, 29, 31, 32. 2nd Royal West Surrey, 55. 18th King’s Liverpool, 226, 238. 6th Lancashire Fusiliers, 226. 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers, 74, 209, 211, 212, 213, 219, 221. 5th South Wales Borderers, 199, 202. 6th King’s Own Scottish Borderers, 44, 54, 101, 180. 9th Scottish Rifles, 44, 209, 211 212, 218, 220, 224. 5th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 226. 9th Gloucester, 226. 8th Black Watch, 44, 57, 211, 224. Middlesex, 26; 7th, 55. 9th Manchesters, 226. 18th Manchesters, 53. 7th Seaforth Highlanders, 44, 207, 208, 219. 9th Seaforth Highlanders, 44, 57. 1st Gordon Highlanders, 70. 5th Cameron Highlanders, 44, 57, 60, 64, 211, 215, 221, 223. 1st Royal Irish Fusiliers, 203. 5th Connaught Rangers, 226, 238. 10th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 44, 57. 6th Royal Dublin Fusiliers, 226. 15th Sikhs, 25, 28, 29, 30. New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 25, 28, 29.

Regiments, Infantry (German)—6th Bavarian, 62.

Regiments, South African— _1st_, 16, 18; at Agagia, 32-5; in Somme area, 52, 53, 56; at Longueval, 58-9; at Delville Wood, 59, 64, 66, 67, 70, 71, 74; at Frévillers, 84; at Butte de Warlencourt, 93, 94, 96, 97, 99; in Arras area, 103; raid by, 115; at Battle of Acre, 117-23; at Rœux, 123-5; at Third Ypres, 136, 139, 140, 146; in Gouzeaucourt area, 152, 153, 155; at Quentin Redoubt, 166, 170; in Somme Retreat, 173, 174, 175, 179, 183, 188; at Battle of Lys, 194, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 206, 207, 208, 209; re-formed, 225; in advance on Le Cateau, 233, 234, 237, 238, 241, 242, 243, 245, 247; as advanced guard, 254, 255. _2nd_, 16, 18; at Halazin, 27-30; in Somme area, 52, 53, 54, 56; at Delville Wood, 59, 62, 63, 67, 68, 74; raid at Vimy, 85; at Butte de Warlencourt, 91, 92, 93, 94; in Arras area, 103; at Battle of Arras, 117-123; at Rœux, 123-5; at Third Ypres, 136, 140, 141, 146; in Gouzeaucourt area, 152, 153, 154; at Gauche Wood, 162; in Somme Retreat, 169, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 181, 185; at Battle of the Lys, 194, 198, 199, 201, 206, 207, 208, 209; re-formed, 225; in advance to Le Cateau, 233, 234, 235, 237, 241, 242, 243, 245, 247. _3rd_, 16, 18; at Agagia, 32-5; in Somme area, 52, 56, 58; at Delville Wood, 59, 62, 63, 69, 71, 74; at Butte de Warlencourt, 93, 94, 95, 96, 98, 100; in Arras area, 103; raid by, 108; at Battle of Arras, 117-23; at Third Ypres, 135, 137, 138, 139, 140, 146; in Gouzeaucourt area, 152, 153, 154; disbanded, 155, 157. _4th_, 16, 17, 18, 21; in Somme area, 52, 53; at Trônes Wood, 54-6; at Delville Wood, 59, 60, 62, 64, 71, 74; at Butte de Warlencourt, 93, 94, 99, 100; in Arras area, 103; at Battle of Arras, 117-123; at Rœux, 123-5; at Third Ypres, 136, 137, 140, 146; in Gouzeaucourt area, 152, 153, 155; in Somme Retreat, 169, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 179, 184; at Battle of the Lys, 194, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 206, 207, 208, 209; re-formed, 225; in advance to Le Cateau, 233, 234, 236, 237, 241, 243, 244, 245.

Reid, Capt., 118, 194.

Reninghelst, 206.

Rethel, 253.

Reumont, 237, 241.

Revelon Farm, 163, 169, 171, 172.

Ridge Wood, 211, 212, 213.

Ridley, Major E. G., 278, 352, 355.

Riga, 151.

Roberts, Sec.-Lieut. C. W., 234, 355.

Rœux, 123, 124.

Roffe, Capt. T., 115, 352, 355.

Rogers, Capt., 175.

Rommen’s Farm (Messines), 201.

Ronssoy, 170, 231.

Rorke’s Drift, 192.

Roseby, Lieut. F. R., 58, 68, 79.

Ross, Capt., F. H., 93, 100, 355.

Ross, Capt. F. M., 298, 314, 355.

Ross, Lieut. J. M., 125.

Rotten Row (Delville Wood), 61.

Roulers, 135, 136, 139.

Royal Engineers. See _Engineers, Royal_.

Roye, 105.

Rumania, 87.

Russell, Capt., 55.

Russia, 22, 43, 50, 105, 128, 129, 148.

Sailly-le-Sec, 47.

Sailly-Saillisel, 86.

St. Benin, 238, 242.

St. Jans-Cappel, 211.

St. Mihiel, 230.

St. Pancras Trench (Arras), 107.

St. Pierre Vaast Wood, 179.

St. Pol, 83.

St. Quentin, 159, 160, 230, 231.

St. Sauveur (Arras), 111.

St. Souplet, 241, 242.

Salient. See _Ypres Salient_.

Salonika, 232.

Sambre, River, 252.

Sanna’s Post, 144.

Sarrail, General, 87.

Sautain, 256.

Savernake Wood, 182.

_Saxonia_, The, 27.

Scarpe, River, 104, 107, 109, 110, 116, 121, 125, 230.

Scheepers, Capt. J. C., 115, 223, 355.

Scheldt, River, 110, 231, 232, 241, 249.

Scherpenberg, 196, 197, 211, 213.

_Scotian_, The, 43.

Scottish Regiment, South African. See _Regiments, S. African, 4th_.

Scottish troops. See under _Divisions_, _9th_, _15th_, and _51st_.

Sedan, 249, 250, 253.

Selle, River, 235, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 244, 245, 246, 247, 248, 251.

Sensée, River, 110, 170.

Senussi, The, 24, 25, 29, 31, 35, 36, 39, 41.

Senussi, The Grand (Sidi Ahmed), 24, 26, 36, 41.

Sequehart, 233.

Serain, 234, 235, 249, 252.

Shea, Maj.-Gen., 52 _n._

Sidi Barrani. See _Barrani_.

Siegfried Line, 105, 106, 109, 131, 230, 231, 233, 235.

Signalling Company, The South African, 16, 21, 225, 279-316.

Sivry, 254.

Siwa oasis, The, 41.

Siwiat, 38.

Sixt von Armin, General, 130, 131, 196, 201, 206, 208, 210, 212.

Smith, Lieut. G., 118, 189.

Smuts, Lieut.-Gen. J. C., 14, 18, 114, 155.

Snag Trench (Butte de Warlencourt), 92, 93, 95, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101.

Snow, Lieut.-Gen. Sir Thomas, 114.

Société Française du Cap, 21 _n._

Solesmes, 239, 241.

Sollum, 24, 25, 31, 35-8, 40, 41.

Solre-le-Château, 253, 254.

Somme, River, 176; Battle of the, 47, 48-50, 51-2, 56-8, 86-91, 105, 117, 131, 147, 149. See also under _Delville Wood_; _Butte de Warlencourt_.

Sorel-le-Grand, 154, 169, 173, 174.

Souter, Lieut.-Col., 34.

South-West Africa, German. See _German S.W. Africa_.

Spanbroekmolen, 203, 206.

Sprenger, Major L. F., 95, 96, 137, 138, 233, 235, 236, 237, 242, 245, 350, 355.

Sprenger, Lieut. A. W., 175.

Spyker, Lieut., 144, 200.

Stapleton, Lieut. P. R., 98, 355.

Steenbecque, 47.

Steenbeek (Ypres), 136.

Steenebeek (Messines), 198, 201.

Steenstraate, 132.

Steenwerck, 201, 202.

Stein, Capt., 175.

Stewart, Brig.-Gen. Ian, 248.

Stewart, Major J. G., 272, 355.

Stock, Colonel P. G., 18, 317, 319, 351.

Stokes, Lieut., 214.

Store Farm (Messines), 207, 208.

Strand, The (Delville Wood), 61, 68, 69, 70.

Strannock, Lieut. W. G., 30.

Suez Canal, 23.

Suvla Bay, 30.

Swayne’s Farm (Messines), 199.

Sweeney, Sec.-Lieut. W. P., 144.

Symmes, Major H. C., 121.

Symons, Capt. T. H., 234, 356.

Tabruk, 39.

Tail Trench (Butte de Warlencourt), 92, 93, 95, 97, 98, 100.

Talus Boise, 52, 54, 55, 72.

Tamplin, Major E. H., 273, 275.

Tanner, Brig.-Gen. W. E. C., commands 2nd Regiment, 18; at Halazin, 27-30; at Delville Wood, 60-69, 78, 80, 83 _n._; at Arras, 117; commands 8th Brigade, 147; commands S. African Brigade, 194, 196; at Battle of the Lys, 197, 204, 207, 208, 210, 211, 212; in advance to Le Cateau, 237; at capture of Le Cateau, 245; with advanced guard, 253-6, 349, 350.

_Tara_, The, 25, 39.

Telegraph Hill (Arras), 118.

Templeux, 170.

Terry, Lieut., 175.

Thackeray, Lieut.-Col. E. F., commands 3rd Regiment, 18; at Agagia, 33; at Delville Wood, 69-72, 74, 81; at Butte de Warlencourt, 94; at Arras, 117; at Third Ypres, 136, 143, 349, 350.

Thélus, 109.

Thesiger, Maj.-Gen. George, 44.

Thiepval, 86, 87, 88, 89.

Thieushoek, 219.

Thomas, Lieut. W. F. G., 108, 119, 356.

Thompson, Lieut. W. H., 202.

Thompson, Sergeant D., 224, 369.

Thomson, Capt. A. M., 243.

Tilloy-lès-Mofflaines, 109.

_Tintoretto_, The, 43.

Tobias, Capt., 200.

Tomlinson, Capt. L. W., 41, 62, 137, 236, 350.

Tortille, River, 177, 178.

Tournai, 252.

Training School for Disabled Men, The, 330-1.

Trench Mortar Battery, S. African Brigade, 51, 71, 225.

Trescault, 127.

Trethewy, Sec.-Lieut. B. D., 144.

Tripoli, 23, 41.

Tripp, Lieut.-Col. W. H. L., 20, 276, 277, 350.

Trônes Wood, 48, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 64, 188.

Tudor, Maj.-Gen., 156, 178, 179, 180, 184, 189, 196, 206, 207, 220, 226.

Tulip Cottages (Ypres), 141.

Tyndale-Biscoe, Brig.-Gen., 28.

Ulundi, 19.

Unjeila, 26, 31, 32, 35.

Usigny, 233.

Usmar, Lieut.-Col. G. H., 20, 317, 352.

Uys, Lieut., 221.

Valenciennes, 237, 240, 247, 249, 252.

Vampir Farm (Ypres), 138.

Van Damme Farm (Messines), 207, 208.

Van Deventer, General Sir J. L., 13.

Van Ryneveld, Lieut. (R.F.C.), 30.

Van Ryneveld, Lieut. T. V., 119.

Vaucellette Farm, 168, 169.

Vaux, 176.

Vechtkop, 192.

Vendhuile, 151.

Verdun, 22, 45, 48, 49, 73, 130, 142, 158.

Vesle, River, 231.

Victoria Crosses won by S. Africans, 341-8.

Vierstraat, 206, 209, 211, 212.

Villers, 233.

Villers-Guislain, 162.

Villers-Outréaux, 233, 234.

Vimy, 84, 105, 110, 111, 113, 116, 118.

Vivian, Capt. E. V., 118, 120, 137, 138, 144, 356.

Voormezeele, 211, 212, 213.

Voyennes, 176.

Vraignes, 176.

Wadi Senaab, 25.

Walfisch Bay, 19.

Wallace, Maj.-Gen., 25, 26, 27, 30.

Walsh, Capt. J. D., 30.

Walsh, Lieut. F. G., 85, 356.

Wanquetin, 103.

War, S. African (1899-1902), 19, 26; Zulu, 19.

Ward, Capt. A. E., 175, 200, 352, 356.

Ward, Major C. P., 276, 350.

Warnave, River, 196.

Waterend Farm, 141.

Waterloo, Battle of, 114, 252.

Waterlot Farm, 64.

Watson, Maj.-Gen., 41.

Watts, Lieut.-Gen. Sir H. E., 176, 177.

Webb, Lieut. M., 174.

Webber, Major, 126.

Wellington, Duke of, 252.

Welsh, Capt. T., 76-7, 126, 356.

Wepener, 19.

Western Frontier Force, The (Egypt), 25, 30.

Westminster, Major the Duke of, 33, 38, 40.

Whelan, Lieut. M. E., 243, 356.

Williams, Sec.-Lieut. D. A., 144.

Wilson, Field-Marshal Sir Henry, 83.

Windhoek, 14.

Wulverghem, 202, 203, 204, 208.

Wynberg, 20.

Wytschaete, 195, 197, 198, 199, 200, 202, 203, 204, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210.

Yeomanry, Bucks (Royal Bucks Hussars), 28, 31, 34; Dorset, 28, 31, 34, 35, 36; Herts, 28; Duke of Lancaster’s, 28.

Young, Lieut. A., 82, 100.

Young, Lieut.-Col., 174, 189, 194.

Ypres, 146, 218, 221, 231; First Battle of, 74, 142, 158, 209; Third Battle of, 138-47, 248, 258; Salient, 44, 73, 105, 130, 131, 133, 142, 200.

Ypres-Comines Canal, 212.

Zandvoorde, 132.

Zevenkote, 136, 141.

Zillebeke, 132.

Zonnebeke, 136, 146.

[Illustration]

PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN AT THE PRESS OF THE PUBLISHERS.