13th Battalion, Rifle Brigade

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The following account of an action on the 4th November, 1918, at Louvignies was written by Lieutenant R.N.R. Blaker of the 13th Rifle Brigade, an action in which he won the M.C.

I had the pleasure of reading this some little while ago, and knowing of a forum members research into one of the officers, I managed to get a copy sent to the member in question. By some little quirk of fate the original has now landed in my library of documents to the Regiment.

At the request of some of my relatives and also because I thought it might in later years be of interest to my son and daughters, and possiblt to their children, I have set out the following account of the part I - then a Lieut. in the 13th Battn. Rifle Brigade - took in the attack on the Germans with "D" Co., the 13th Rifle Brigade, at Louvignies (France), on 4th November, 1918. I do not propose to insert any technical details but to try to make it into an intelligble account.

At this time the main German armies were retreating everywhere, but leaving behind very strong rear-guards in chosen positions and a great number of machine guns.

The Germans were in possession of Le Quesnoy (France) near the Mormal Forest and the ground up to Louvignies and the railway. The position of the 13th R.B. had to attack was, first, a railway line (partly an embankment and partly a cutting); and secondly, orchards (both very strongly held - the orchards particularly so - according to our information). The 8th Lincolns were holding the line where we were to attack, and were (roughly) in possession of and just in front of the village of Ghissignies and about 100 yards from the railway.

We were in reserve at the village of Neuville, about four and a half miles from the front line.

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We had orders to attack on the morning of the 4th November, 1918. Zero time was at 5.30 a.m. There were, as usual, countless conferences, until everyone was quite conversant with their duties, etc.

We had some aeroplane photos which gave us a very fair idea what the country we were to attack was like - but the actual location of any machine guns in the orchards had not been reported. I was told however that the position I was to be directly in front of and I should probably have a difficult job and must get on to the orchards as soon as possible, leaving the supports to clear up the railway.

I must say here that as we came through the country before reaching Neuville I always, when I got the chance, went and had a look at the positions over similar country which the Germans had been driven out of and got a good idea where they were likely to put their machine guns, etc.

We started off from Neuville at night, 12.15 a.m., to get to our positions, and after a tiring and muddy march over ploughed fields, and with a certain amount of shelling too, we were met a mile outside Ghissignies by guides from the Lincolns and taken to spots near our starting points. The guides, however, took some of us wrong and 2nd Lieut. Macaulay, 16th Platoon, and I (15th Platoon) were taken a quarter of a mile too far away, but after an hour we discovered this and had to get the men out of the cellar we had found for them and go through a pretty heavy shrapnel fire to a small stable right on the front line. We finally got settled about 3 a.m., but of course no one could smoke or speak, except in whispers, as we were only about 100 yards from the enemy and they kept putting down machine gun fire and Whizz-bangs, and as there were no cellars and practically no cover we had to be careful. We were very lucky coming up as we didn't have a single casualty.

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The arrangement of the Battalion for the attack was as follows:-

"C" Co. on the left (in touch with New Zealanders on their left).

"D" Co. on the right (in touch with 13th K.R.R.C. on their right).

"B" Co. in support of "C" Co.

"A" Co. in support of "D" Co.

As soon as I had the men settled in I went to find Capt. Davey, O.C. "D" Co., and report to him, and he told me to go with 2nd Lieut.'s Park and Macauley and take our Platoon Sergeant's and arrange our positions to start off from. As this was in front of the Lincolns and out in No Man's Land, it wasn't pleasant, and as we came out of the cellar where Capt. Davey was, two Whizz-bangs pitched within 10 yards of us, right in our line, but beyond putting the "wind up" and covering us with mud, fortunately we escaped. We then - after tripping over wires, tree trunks, etc. - managed to get into our positions, but were very nearly fired on by the Lincolns, as no one had told them we were going out. I only just stopped them in time.

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Park and I fixed up our positions roughly, we were greatly aided in getting them by a very light the enemy kindly put up, and it also enabled us to get a good view of the railway, but we had to stand very still while it was up. It's a very funny feeling standing there waiting and hoping they won't spot you, as you have the impression that you must look very prominent. Macaulay went away to the left as he was in touch with "C" Co. on his left and he and I had arranged before as to where we would be in touch, i.e., just on the road at right angles to the railway.

We then all went back and had a talk to the Section Commanders and the men, and then, as time was getting on, got them out of the stable and by degrees to their positions. Shell fire was pretty heavy as the enemy were rather "windy" and seemed to suspect there was something up, but fortunately we escaped, although I thought my left section were "done in," as both machine gun fire and Whizz-bangs for a minute or so seemed to be directed right on them, however, I went there and found they were all right, but it had been very close.

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My Platoon was only 22 men and was divided into three sections - Riflemen and Rifle Greanadiers on the left and right and Lewis gunners slightly behind in centre. We had to cover about 150 yards with the Platoons.

Nos. 13, 14, and 16 Platoons, "D" Co., only had 21 men each. 2nd Lieut. Ackroyd was in command of 13 and was in touch with the K.R.R.'s on his right.

After a good deal of walking about, at last I managed to get the section in position, and just before 5.30 a.m. the barrage started, it was suposed to land on the railway (but it turned out that it was about 6 yards to far and went over the railway). It was a grand sight. The whole front along the railway seemed to be one vast sheet of flame, and earth, etc., was flying about, we immediately advanced so as to get up close to the barrage, so that when it lifted we could be on the enemy before he could resist, but unfortunately there was a thick hedge with barbed wire between us and the cutting, which was not touched by the barrage, and when I got there it was difficult to see any opening, as it was still dark, but I ran along the hedge and found a small gap near the ground and we scrambled through on hands and knees, my Sergt. (Packer_ was just ahead. As I went down the cutting (which was 15 feet) two Germans came out of a dug-out almost under my feet, I managed to kill them both, then I went over the single line and a German officer came out of a dug-out and fired at me from 5 yards but missed, I then killed him and went up the bank the other side and found my Sergt. there firing at some Germans who were running away towards the orchards.

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I could see the outline of the orchards about 180 to 200 yards away across a turnip field, and as there was no cover I at once made up my mind that if we went across the open we would be wiped out (in my opinion) before getting there, so I told Segt. Packer to bring the men on and pointed out the way and said I was going to try to have a go at the machine guns in the orchard on our front, before they could get at us. Sergt. Packer went back to the railway for the men and I went on alone. To get to the orchards I had to walk through our barrage, which was going at the rate of 100 yards per 4 minutes, but although I had some extremely narrow shaves and a very unpleasant time I managed to get there safely.

As I said earlier, I had studied the positions where the enemy were likely to put machine guns and I now found this very useful. It was still fairly dark but beginning to get light. I immediately saw in a corner of an orchard a place where it was practically certain there would be a machine gun and got there without being seen, and my surmise was right as I got right up to a machine gun dug out with two Germans on the look-out, but they had missed seeing me in the dark and also no doubt they didn't expect anyone so soon and were doing more sheltering than watching, on seeing me they immediately tried to put their hands down for their revolvers, but I killed them both before they could do so, as I was very close on them, thereupon yells came from the dug-out and I shouted "come-out," and out came five pretty scared looking Germans with "hands up."

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I motioned them to go back through the barrage towards our lines, and after a slight hesitation, they had to do so. I then went to another likely place on my front and managed to do exactly the same as before to another machine gun crew. I then looked about but could see no more machine guns on my front.

It was then my intention to wait for my Platoon to come up with me after the barrage had lifted, but as it was getting lighter and I could see better, I saw all dotted about just round by the orchards and in the green fields beyond, enemy heads occasionally peeping out, so I thought it better to try to get them out of their holes, so I went on and did so, making them come out and drop their arms, the didn't like coming out into the barrage and why they didn't fire at me, goodness knows, I suppose it was funk a good deal as the hedges and ground were getting pretty well knocked about by the shell, and shrapnel was flying too, anyway I cleared out all I could see and sent them on their way to our lines.

I could not hold them all in a bunch and so considered it would be better just to dis-arm them and send them back. I could see in the distance some of our men coming along and so I left them to escort the prisoners.

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It was practically light now and the barrage was very hot, I had some extraordinary narrow escapes - being blown along about 5 yards by a shell which pitched very near indeed and half deafened me for a minute, but on the whole I considered that the method of getting on to the enemy whilst they were still sheltering seemed so successful that it was worth while going on a bit and risking it, especially as my men were coming along. So on I went disarming and sending back Germans here and there - but there were not so many beyond the orchards - until I came to the main road leading from Louvignies to Le Quesnoy, and on this road I came on a solitary house standing right on the road. I came from the back of it and went round to the front, where there was no door, and peeped inside a room which opened into the road and saw there a crowd of Germans, some sitting down and some standing. I don't know who was more suprprised - they or I. Anyway I managed to pull myself together a bit quicker than they did and advanced just under the doorway holding a Mills bomb in my left hand and my revolver in my right, the only thing I could think of to say was "Kamerad," and so I said it, at the same time menacing them with my revolver, they didn't seem so very willing to surrender, so I repeated "Kamerad," and to my surprise and delight they "Kameraded," 2 officers and 28 other ranks. My idea is that they were holding a sort of conference, as the barrage was not then reaching them in full force. Both officers and three of the other ranks had Iron Cross ribbons on!

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My first idea was to hold them in the house, but they were a rather nasty looking lot and also I could see out of the corner of my eye as I stood in the doorway several heads beginning to peep out of dug outs, etc., along the road, so I made them drop their arms, i.e., those who had them, fortunately for me none of them had expected so early a visitor and so hadn't them actually ready for use, and then I made them file out of the house and pointing towards our lines I gave them to undestand that they had to go that way, they didn't seem to like the idea, especially as the barrage was getting hot again, bit I couldn't afford to stand any nonsense and so off they went. I saw two blown up by a shell, but couldn't waste much time beyond seeing that the others were actually going the right way, as I was getting a bit anxious about the heads along the road which were peeping up, so I went along collecting them out and succeeded without any trouble in getting the road quite clear and collaring two machine guns and a trench mortar and the crews. I can only suppose their officers and N.C.O.'s were among the lot in the house, or else I would have encountered more resistance, anyway, roughly 25 to 30 came in quietly including one pretty miserable looking young officer. I took them in front of the house, as it was some shelter from the barrage which was pretty nasty by now. One of the prisoners, when we got to the house, wanted to know where the men were who were in it, and I told them they had "Kameraded" he expressed great surprise to think they had done so to me alone. These prisoners seemed fairly harmless so I made up my mind to hold them, especially considering that I could see no more anywhere along the road and all our front for 200 yards at least was clear, so I lined them up along the front of the house and stood sentinel over them until my men came up later.

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The barrage knocked things about a good deal and the Germans got a bit uneasy at times and wanted me to go down with them into a cellar under the house and road, but I was not taking any risks. I got a small bit of shrapnel in the face whilst guarding them and one of them wanted to dress it, but again I was taking no risks, as my view of them would have been impeded.

Al;so whilst guarding them, a shell hit a telegraph pole just above me and brought some wires down round my neck, but I soon got rid of them, and none of the Germans went for me. I was getting a bit anxious now as Germans kept on coming back in twos and threes from the orchards, but none of our men appeared, I drove a few of these Germans back again and they never attacked me. At last to my relief I saw one of our men dodging along just by the road, and then another. I waved to them and think they saw me as they went back, and then the rest came along on to the road about 100 yards off with 2nd Lieut. Diao, "A" Co., and Sergt. Packer, together with about 14 men of my Platoon. I immediately marched the prisoners up to them and sent them off to the rear under escort and told 2nd Lieut. Dion that there were some revolvers and arms in the house and he went off with a few men and got them. I have in my possession now one of the German officer's revolvers from this house.

I found my Lewis gun and three of the team had been knocked out just before reaching the railway, but the rest of the Platoon had had very little opposition after getting over the railway, but the Platoons Nos. 14 and 16 on our right and left had practically been wiped out by machine gun fire from the orchards, together with, I am sorry to say, Capt. Davey and 2nd Lieuts. Park and Macauley - all killed.

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We are now only about 200 yards from our first objective, and after reforming, we went on - behind the barrage now - to the first objective and reached that without any serious opposition. "C" Co., on our left, we nowhere to be seen and it turned out that they were held up by machine guns for some time. However, at the first objective, Lieut. Gosney of "D" Co., who was with "A" Co. for the attack, came along with a few men and told me the 2nd Lieut. Ackroyd had got through and was in touch with the K.R.R.'s on the right, and after a few minutes he turned up and we ro-organised the men we had left of the Co. and decided to go ahead, as we knew the New Zealanders were on our left, although there was the gap between us and them where "C" Co. should be, but there seemed to be very little opposition now after we had got past the main road.

There is not much to say except that we tried to start three times from our first objective to our final objective (which was one and a half miles on), but on each occasion were forced back as some of our guns were firing very short right into us, but finally we got off and then kept in touch on the right with the 10th Fusiliers, who were going through the 13th K.R.R.'s, they being left to clear up the village of Louvignies. We finally got to our objective, just in front of Jolimetz, about 8.45 a.m., 10 minutes late according to programme, but our barrage, firing into us at the first objective, was responsible for this.

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We then had about 30 men between us, but men kept on coming in and we dug in quickly, and after an rather anxious time for half an hour or so, in case of a counter attack, we got word the Essex Regiment had got through on our left to follow up the enemy, and we had a bit of a breathing period, but shells came pretty freely from the enemy and we nearly all had very lucky escapes. However, beyond posting the men and getting the rest into shelter of a barn with a cellar, we had much to do, and my servant, Tubbs, who had come up at the first objective, managed to get me some tea to drink (without milk), but still it tasted excellent as I was very tired and thirsty.

We hung on to this barn and our line until 9.30 at night, when orders came for us to march back to Beaurain, about nine and a half miles. Poor old infantry, after all that, we had to march back, absolutely dead tired too, however, we had to do it and we did.

As we were forming up to march off we were in an orchard and three shells came over, one on top of another, missing my Platoon by 8 yards, we got the dirt and bits of hedge they blew up, but no casualties, but the men moved pretty quick after that.

I found next day I had 14 men left out of my 22 - 3 killed near railway and others wounded at various times.

I also found that some pieces of shrapnel had gone right through my leather jerkin at the back, just missing my spine, and also a hole was blown right through the top of my torch which was strapped to my belt.

The attack was completely successful and the enemy never stopped again till the armistice.

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This officer received the Military Cross for this action

Blaker, Lieut. R.N.R. (13th Btn.) M.C. 2.4.19
For most conspicuous courage and good work on 4th November, 1918, near Louvignies. While leading his platoon in the attack, he was temporarily cut off from it, and came single-handed on two enemy machine guns in action. He dashed between the guns, capturing them both and their teams. Seeing his men a short distance ahead, and held up by machine gun fire from a house on their flank, he again single-handed took them in the flank, clearing the house and capturing two officers and twenty-eight other ranks.


Andy

[6th Shropshires]

Thanks Andy a very interesting read, the detail is great.

Annette

[paul_adam]

This is very interesting to me. I am a new member, basically researching former Kent Cricket Club players who fought in the Great War and RNR Blaker is one I had only recently added to my list and found his MC citation. Many players whose names I typed into google had a hit for this site, hence why I joined - seems to be a fantastic pool of information.

Paul