From Mons to Loos, being the diary of a supply officer . ix times their numbers. These preparations for defence made byour troops created consternation among theinhabitants, who had apparently all thistime been under the impression that wewere going to drive the Germans before us. To now adopt defensive instead of offensivemeasures was the first shock, but a stillgreater surprise was yet in store for theseunfortunate people. The German attack on Jemappes andCuesmes was supported by a tremendousartillery fire, the shrapnel raining on thechurch of the former place like hail. Onlyafter a vigorous
From Mons to Loos, being the diary of a supply officer . ix times their numbers. These preparations for defence made byour troops created consternation among theinhabitants, who had apparently all thistime been under the impression that wewere going to drive the Germans before us. To now adopt defensive instead of offensivemeasures was the first shock, but a stillgreater surprise was yet in store for theseunfortunate people. The German attack on Jemappes andCuesmes was supported by a tremendousartillery fire, the shrapnel raining on thechurch of the former place like hail. Onlyafter a vigorous resistance, when the enemywas threatening our flanks, did our gallantbrigade evacuate these towns, leaving theirwounded in the hands of the enemy, andinflicting upon him enormous losses. TheGerman attacks were all made in denseformation, an exceedingly expensive methodwhen employed against highly-trained, well-disciplined, quick and accurate shootingtroops such as ours. About 7 I received an order to pro-ceed at once to the Train and bring up the. ADVANCE ON MONS. 23 Supply Section to the troops. After a greatdeal of searching, and just before dark, Ifound the Train parked in a field beside theroad near Hon. It was nearly midnight before it wasloaded and ready. However, just as wewere about to start, we received fresh in-structions that the Train was to remain atHon. I then lay down to get a few hoursrest, and at 2 we were again orderedto proceed to the troops, and as the Traincommenced its march, I was told to push onand report to Second Corps Headquarters. I arrived at General Smith-Dorriens head-quarters at Sars-la-Bruyere about 3 onMonday, 24th August, and was told toimmediately return to the Train and directthe officer commanding to retire with theutmost despatch towards Beaudignies. After delivering my message I started tomotor back to join my brigade. By thistime it was a beautiful bright summer morn-ing, and from a cloudless blue sky the sunshone down on
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Keywords: ., boo, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectworldwar19141918
