The British soldier, his courage and humour

23 August 1914

Battle of Mons

CHAPTER II

There are those who have courage to fight, but not to wait. Where duty says, " Go forward," to halt or to go in any other direction is cowardice ; where duty says, " Stand still," to go forward is cowardice. Our soldiers have shown themselves capable of both kinds of courage. At the battle of Mons they were brave enough to retreat when ordered, though they were driving the Germans before them at the point of the bayonet. They said that they could not understand why the order to retreat was given, but they trusted their leaders.

COURAGE AND DISCIPLINE 19

Describing the fighting at Mons, a sergeant of the Royal Berkshire Regiment said : '' Captain Shott, D.S.O., of our regiment, was, I think, the bravest man I ever met. On August 23rd, when we were near and were lying in our trenches with shell

COURAGE AND DISCIPLINE 35

Officers and men were always on the watch to help each other. At the battle of Mons an officer stood over the body of a private who had previously saved his Hfe until he had fired his last shot from his revolver, and then fell seriously wounded. A private soldier carried on his back for 800. yards a young subaltern, who afterwards died in hospital.

COURAGE AND DISCIPLINE 27

they were sore and disappointed at the order to retreat after the battle of Mons ! A General told the South Staffordshire Regiment that they were doing splendidly, but that they must retreat or they would be surrounded. They were all so un- willing to yield ground that one of them, expressing impatience, made a comment he would never have thought of doing in peace time. The General only smiled.

26 August 1914

Battle of Le Cateau (1914)

UP TO SAMPLE 5

A sergeant-major was so worn out with marching that at the battle of Le Cateau he fell asleep and did not awake until his regiment, which had been in reserve, was ordered to engage. Some men with rifles still hot in their hands and their heads resting on the barrels slept " the brave sleep of wearied men."

CHAPTER III

An officer of the Manchester Regiment was equally self-sacrificing for a soldier. Lieutenant W. G. Mansergh was hit in the leg at Le Cateau. Falling near an empty trench he crawled into it and was comparatively safe. Shortly after a soldier of the same regiment crawled up to the same trench. Mansergh pulled him in and got the man underneath him (it was a short " two-man trench " for kneeling). Mansergh was now exposed to shrapnel, though still protected by the trench parapet from rifle fire. A shell burst just in front of the trench low down. Mansergh was killed on the spot.

BOYS OF THE BULLDOG BREED 31

The following incidents have been mentioned in despatches : During the action at Le Cateau on August 26th the whole of the officers and men of one of the British batteries had been killed or wounded, with the exception of one subaltern and two gunners. These continued to serve one gun, kept up a sound rate of fire, and came unhurt from the battlefield.

27 May – 6 June 1918

Third Battle of the Aisne

BOYS OF THE BULLDOG BREED 31

Writing about his soldiers after the battle of the Aisne, a British officer used these words : " There is an extraordinary English atmosphere over the whole show. I mean that the men display a dogged, obstinate resistance in the face of any odds and absolutely refuse to consider the possibility of their being beaten. They won't admit at any time that the Germans have got the best of them. Their cheerfulness is extraordinary and nothing is able to depress them."

FIGHTS TO A FINISH 49

Private Fairweather, of the Black Watch, gives this account of an engagement on the Aisne : " The Guards went up first and then the Camerons, both having to retire. Although we had watched the awful slaughter in these regiments, when it was our turn we went off with a cheer across 1,500 yards of open country. The shelling was terrific and the air

READY TO RETURN 17T

A medical officer said to an interviewer, " I am glad to have been through the hottest part of the battle of the Aisne, and at the hottest comer, and only hope to get back in time to see the aftermath. The attitude of the wounded is wonderful, for all those who are not seriously hurt do nothing but talk about getting well and having another go at * those Germans.' "

CHAPTER XXV

Private Macnamara, of the Royal Fusiliers, re- lates that during the fighting on the Aisne a German called out to a company of Fusiliers : " Wait till we catch you in our barber's shop in London." The FusiHers wiped out the German company with the bayonet, a private shouting : " You won't get to London again."

28–31 May 1918

Battle of Cantigny

BOYS OF THE BULLDOG BREED 31

Writing about his soldiers after the battle of the Aisne, a British officer used these words : " There is an extraordinary English atmosphere over the whole show. I mean that the men display a dogged, obstinate resistance in the face of any odds and absolutely refuse to consider the possibility of their being beaten. They won't admit at any time that the Germans have got the best of them. Their cheerfulness is extraordinary and nothing is able to depress them."

FIGHTS TO A FINISH 49

Private Fairweather, of the Black Watch, gives this account of an engagement on the Aisne : " The Guards went up first and then the Camerons, both having to retire. Although we had watched the awful slaughter in these regiments, when it was our turn we went off with a cheer across 1,500 yards of open country. The shelling was terrific and the air

READY TO RETURN 17T

A medical officer said to an interviewer, " I am glad to have been through the hottest part of the battle of the Aisne, and at the hottest comer, and only hope to get back in time to see the aftermath. The attitude of the wounded is wonderful, for all those who are not seriously hurt do nothing but talk about getting well and having another go at * those Germans.' "

CHAPTER XXV

Private Macnamara, of the Royal Fusiliers, re- lates that during the fighting on the Aisne a German called out to a company of Fusiliers : " Wait till we catch you in our barber's shop in London." The FusiHers wiped out the German company with the bayonet, a private shouting : " You won't get to London again."