Edwin Thorn

EDWIN THORN

Edwin Thorn was the seventh of nine children born to Amy and Walter. Amy and Walter came from agricultural families in Flamstead were they married in 1881. Their first daughter Ellen was born in Markyate the following eight children are registered as coming from Hemel Hempstead. When Edwin was only 3 years old his mother died on 8th October 1896 of Puerperal Mania following the birth of little William, the last child born 8 days previously.

Mr Matthew Leno of Cox Pond farm put an advert into the Gazette seeking help for William, one of his farm workers, after the death of his wife aged 34 and leaving him with 9 children. QA fund was set up and donations were sent in. By the time the fund closed in December around £10.00 had been collected.

By 1901 Walter aged 38 a widower with nine children worked as a cattleman living at Little Coxpond farm with Ellen (Nellie) aged 18, Annie 15, Minnie 13, and Daisy 11, who are all recorded as workers, mill hands manufacturing envelopes. Daisy was only 11 years old. The youngest two children both boys are 10 year old Ernest and 8 year old Edwin, both attending the village school. Herbert aged 17 was not living with the family at this time. Six year old Florence was living with her mothers brother, a shop keeper in Luton and Four year old William was living with his fathers uncle in St Albans. By 1911 the family lived at number 6 Bennetts End and Edwin aged 18 was a Domestic gardener.

Edwin began his war by enlisting at St Albans 13 days after the war's beginning. Completing the 3 months basic training and embarked for France as a casualty replacement to the 1st battalion Bedfordshire regiment, arriving in France on 3rd December 1914. John Biswell was serving with this battalion and the two would spend Christmas together, perhaps with others from Leverstock Green.

Edwin would serve in the army for almost the entire war, enlisting at the start and was tragically killed in action 18 days from its end. He would become a Lewis gun operator and be awarded the Military Medal on two separate occasions for his bravery.

Below is an extract from the war diary for the battalion which notes the first reinforcements arriving during December the 8th , this could have included Edwin.

WAR DIARY FOR DECEMBER 1914

7 Dec 1914 3 officers & 200 men left in trenches were relieved & arrived at billets about 10 p.m.

8 Dec 1914 - trenches near Wulvergem Reinforcements numbering 140 Sergeants, Rank and File arrived from BAILLEUL. Battn unexpectedly received orders about 12.45 p.m. to return to firing line. Proceeded to WOLVERGHEM and took over line near there from 1st Norfolk Regt. at dusk

9 Dec 1914 Quiet day in trenches except for occasional sniping & shrapnel. 2 killed & 1 man wounded.

10 Dec 1914 Patrols & scouts reconnoitred German trenches during early morning: found Germans alert, & trenches protected by wire. Casualties 2 killed 3 wounded. Relieved by 1st R.West Kent Regt. at dusk, & returned to billets at St.JANS CAPPEL about 8 1/2 miles away.

11 Dec 1914 - St-Jans-Cappel Arrived in billets about 1 a.m. Billeted in farms some distance apart. The Brigade in Divisional Reserve.

11-12 Dec 1914 Reorganized companies, made up numbers of acting ranks to complete vacancies amongst N.C.O.

13 Dec 1914 Orders received about 4 p.m. to move early next morning. No opportunity of washing clothes or men, as Battalion's turn at baths, Bailleul, on 14th cancelled owing to move.

14 Dec 1914 - Nieuwkerke Brigade in Corps Reserve, marched from billets arriving at DRANOUTRE 8 a.m. Spent day bivouacking in muddy field whilst attack on enemy's trenches taking place near WYSCHAETE [sic]. Moved after dark to billets at NEUVE EGLISE

15-16 Dec 1914 Remained at Neuve Eglise in Reserve. Arranged baths for about 1/2 Battalion.

17 Dec 1914 - trenches near Wulvergem Brigade took over line of Trenches. Bedfords on left, close to WOLVERGHEM, between R.W.Kent & Dorset Regt. Communication trenches full of water, other trenches wet in parts. 1 Company 6th Cheshire Regt. (Territorials) attached to Bedfords for duty. Half Battn in trenches, remainder in support at NEUVE EGLISE. 1 casualty.

18 Dec 1914 Attack on our left against WYTSCHAETE continued. Heavy bombardment of Enemy along our front, combined with bursts of Infantry fire from our trenches ordered at intervals throughout the day. Remainder of Battn. sent up to reinforce at 6 a.m. but no room for them in trenches, so were sent back again to Neuve Eglise. Wolverghem & neighbourhood of trenches shelled intermittently by Enemy; shells fell in some cases very close to trenches, or almost into them, but no actual casualties caused in Battn.

19 Dec 1914 'B' Company from Support in Neuve Eglise sent to front, so as to arrive by 6 a.m.. with instructions to crowd into trenches or failing room to get any cover available in Wolverghem (N.B. Wolverghem, owing to shelling has no complete houses standing). Reconnaissance of front ordered with view to ascertaining possibility of advancing. Enemy's trenches in front form more or less arc of a circle so that any advance on our part likely to be partially enfiladed.

20 Dec 1914 Heavy bombardment of enemy's trenches, to cooperate with attack from other parts of our line, during yesterday, & to a lesser extent today. Enemy did not respond with much rifle fire, but shelled our trenches. About 12 yards of our front trench blown in by heavy explosive shell, & machine gun damaged. 2 men killed, 2 wounded by 'snipers'.

21 Dec 1914 No change in situation. Enemy put two heavy shells through Hd Quarters of Battn., a partially damaged farm: 1 shell an 8 inch armour piercing pierced three walls & fortunately failed to explode. Several shells struck the trenches, but owing to amount of water in trenches the portions damaged happened to be unoccupied.

22 Dec 1914 No change: frost in early morning rendered the situation in the wet & muddy trenches very unpleasant. Enemy shelled the roads along which rations were coming at dusk, but without result.

23 Dec 1914 No change

24 Dec 1914 Relieved by Manchester Regt. at 8pm. Battn took over a section on their right from Dorset Regt. at about 9 pm. without any casualties. Wolverghem & Battn. Hd Qrs shelled by enemy. Reinforcements 69 R & File arrived.

25 Dec 1914 Christmas cards from Their Majesties the King & Queen distributed to all ranks of the Battn. Also present from Her R. Highness Princess Mary. Cold & frosty day. Quiet day. Germans semaphored over that they were not going to fire. Hard frost all day. [note that a private diary by a battalion member records fraternisation between men of B Company and the Germans in No Man's Land]

26 Dec 1914 Another quiet day. A little shelling by both sides. Some Germans came forward unarmed apparently with a view to friendly intercourse. A few shots fired in their direction as a hint to withdraw. Later, enemy shelled trenches & Wolverghem: damaged several rifles, but only wounded 1 man.

27 Dec 1914 No change in situation. Enemy shelled trenches & section generally. 2 men wounded. New fire trench dug in advance.

28 Dec 1914 No change. Heavy outburst of rifle fire from enemy's line at dusk.

29 Dec 1914 - Bailleul Battn. relieved by Duke of Wellington's Regt. at about 8.30 pm. & moved into Divisional Reserve along with remainder of 15th Bde. Billeted at BAILLEUL. Lt.Col. [Charles Richard Jebb] GRIFFITH D.S.O. temporarily takes over command of 15th Brigade from Br.Gen.Count Gleichen who proceeds to England.

30 Dec 1914 In billets in Bailleul

31 Dec 1914 All men inoculated against Enteric who have not been inoculated within past 2 years.

 During his war service Edwin would be awarded the Military Medal on two occasions. Both whilst serving with the 2nd battalion Bedfordshire regiment. The first was gazetted on 18th July 1917 the second on 29th August 1918.

The Gazette carried the following article which tells of Edwin’s actions which led to the award of his first Military medal.

No 7136 private Edwin Thorn, Bedfordshire Regiment, 

has been awarded the Military

Medal for gallantry rendered at Messines

Ridge on the 7th June for sticking to

His post after being buried three times (and

Losing five of his comrades) until reinforcements

were sent to relive, being then only

20 yards from the German front line. He is

The third son of Mr Walter William Thorn,

Of Bennett’s End, Leverstock Green. Mr

Thorn has now four sons and five son-in-laws

Serving with his majesty’s forces, seven

Abroad and two in England.

The extract below is from the war diary of the 2nd Bedfordshire battalion

War Diary for June 1917

1 Jun 1917 - Observatory Ridge, near Zillebeke Battalion in Trenches at OBSERVATORY RIDGE (ZILLEBEKE Sector). 2nd Lieutenant C.Haywood rejoined from Hospital. Casualties 1 O.R. KILLED. 5 O.R. Wounded.

2 Jun 1917 Trenches OBSERVATORY RIDGE. Casualties 6 O.R. Wounded. Captain R.O.Hopkins appointed Chief Lewis Gun Instructor at II Corps School. Sick Wastage week ending 2nd 24 O.R.

3 Jun 1917 Trenches OBSERVATORY RIDGE. Casualties 5 O.R. Wounded. Major & Qr.Mr.H.Cressingham proceeded on leave.

4 Jun 1917 Trenches OBSERVATORY RIDGE. Casualties 3 O.R. Wounded. Lieutenant L.A.L.Fink, M.C. Proceeded on leave.

5 Jun 1917 Trenches OBSERVATORY RIDGE. At 1.30 a.m. a party consisting of 2nd Lieut.K.C.J.Jones and 24 O.R. raided enemy's Front Line and Sap at J.19.c.97/45 and J.19.c.13/55. The object was to secure an identification. The raid was quite successful, the party leaving our Trenches at 1.30 a.m. and returning at 1.37 a.m. with one prisoner, an N.C.O. of No.5 Company, 2nd Bn.58th I.R., 119th Division. His name was NEUMANN. Our Casualties were: - 4 O.R. Wounded (3 Slightly). For the above successful operation the following were granted leave to England for 10 days: -

2nd Lieutenant K.C.J.Jones,

No.33034 Cpl.C.Jeeves

No.202669 Pte.H.Medcraft.

The following received decorations: -

2nd Lieutenant K.C.J.Jones MILITARY CROSS.

No.33034 Cpl.C.Jeeves MILITARY MEDAL.

No.9214 A/L.Cpl.H.Preston MILITARY MEDAL.

Casualties during remainder of day: - 2 O.R. Wounded. At 4.30 p.m. Battalion Headquarters moved from DORMY HOUSE to CRAB CRAWL. 2nd Lieutenant H.H.Harman, 32nd Royal Fusiliers rejoined from Hospital.

6Jun 1917 Trenches OBSERVATORY RIDGE. Casualties 6 O.R. Wounded.

7 Jun 1917 Trenches OBSERVATORY RIDGE. Battle of MESSINES RIDGE commenced by Second Army. Ref: - Trench Map ZILLEBEKE, 1/10,000. WE were in the Line from I.24.d.65/05 to I.18.d.30/10, but did not take part in the Actual attack OBSERVATORY RIDGE being the pivot of the attack. On our Right were the 23rd Division (the Regiment on our immediate Right was 8th Bn.K.O.Y.L.I.) they were forming a defensive flank for the Main Attack. The left of 23rd Division attack was about 300 yards to our Right, at about I.30.b.40/50. ZERO was at 3.10 a.m. and at that hour a number of large Mines were exploded, the nearest of these to us was one at Hill 60. Immediately our guns opened a heavy barrage. The hostile artillery retaliated, and our two Right Companies "A" and "B" were shelled fairly heavily and their trenches somewhat damaged. The Main attack proceeded satisfactory, our counter-battery being most effective. At 9.30 a.m. 2nd Lieutenant A.W.JOYCE and 20 O.R. got across NO MANS LAND, to Boche Trenches, and were just getting into trench, when they saw it was crowded with Germans. The Patrol got back safely. About 10.30 a.m. a party of about 300 Germans came across to Front Line Trenches about 300 yards to our Right. Our Vickers and Lewis Guns took advantage of this target and accounted for a large number, a few however got into our lines, but these were soon driven out by bombing party under 2nd Lieutenant T.G.SEARLE. Some men of the 2nd Canadian Tunnelling Company rendered valuable assistance in this little operation. From this time on to the time of our relief (10th June) we had to extend our Right to DAVIDSON STREET, I.30.b.45/65, as the Brigade on our Right were not strong enough to hold this piece of trench. WE had "B" Company 17th Bn. Kings Liverpool Regiment attached to us for this purpose. For the remainder of our tour nothing unusual occurred on our Battalion Front, but the Germans made a strong counter-attack on the evening of 8th June a little further to the South, but were not successful in regaining their lost ground. During this spell in Trenches we had considerable trouble with our own artillery, 18 pdrs and 4.5 hows: who were shooting short. Casualties: - 2nd Lieut.A.D.GREENWOOD - Wounded. Lieut.H.HARGREAVES - Wounded and remaining at duty. Other Ranks: - Killed 7 Wounded 28. Shell Shock 2.

The following decorations were awarded for above operations: -

2nd Lieut.T.G.SEARLE MILITARY CROSS

No.17711 Pte.W.Battams MILITARY MEDAL

7489 Pte.G.Kempson MILITARY MEDAL

18817 Pte.D.Fynn MILITARY MEDAL

No.7138 Pte.E.Thorn MILITARY MEDAL

8 Jun 1917 Trenches OBSERVATORY RIDGE. Casualties: - 3 O.R. Killed. 10 O.R. Wounded. 1 O.R. Gassed.

October 1918

NARRATIVE OF OPERATIONS N.E. OF LE CATEAU - 23rd/24th OCTOBER 1918 

The 2nd Bn.Bedfordshire Regt relieved the 18th Bn.Kings Liverpool Regiment in the front line North East of LE CATEAU on the evening of 20th October with a view to carrying out an attack on the enemy position opposite this front. The Line taken over ran along the RAILWAY EMBANKMENT from the RICHEMONT BROOK to the Level Crossing on the LE CATEAU -RICHEMONT ROAD, and thence in a South East direction for 400 yards. The latter part of the Line was handed over to the 10th Bn.Essex Regiment early on the evening of 22nd October 1918. THE PLAN The Battalion was detailed to lead the attack for the 54th Inf.Bde. and the objective given was the Orchard South East of the village of Forest and surrounding area and thence along the Road which was our Southern boundary. We received permission from the 33rd Division who were attacking on our LEFT to use the ground up to the MONTAY-FOREST Road for the purpose of forming up and manoeuvre. It was decided to launch the main attack along the high ground North of RICHEMONT MILL and a subsidiary attack South of the MILL, the big valley running from RICHEMONT MILL being left empty, but subjected to heavy artillery and M.G.Barrages. I accordingly detailed Companies as under: - 

"C" Company under Lieut.H.D.CHESTER was to lead the attack North of the BROOK forming up 200 yards East of the Railway, the objective given to this Coy was RICHEMONT MILL and the three Gullies North and North East of it and the High Ground 

 "A" Company under Lieut.C.H.HART was to form up behind "C" Company and also East of the Railway and was to move along the high ground North of the Gullies. Two Platoons were to go to the sunken road running North East from WHITE SPRING and two Platoons were to go to the german practice trenches

 "D" Company under Capt.P.J.REISS, M.C., M.M., were to form up behind "A" Company but West of the Railway and follow "A" Company passing through them on the line of the WHITE SPRINGS and going on to the final objective.

 "B" Company under 2nd Lieut.H.B.LANG were to form up South of the RICHEMONT BROOK just East of the Railway and attacking in an East North East Direction were to establish themselves on the slopes of the Hill. 

Two Tanks were allotted to the Battalion, one being detailed to proceed with "A" Company and one with "D" Company. 

THE ATTACK. 

ZERO HOUR was fixed for 1.20 a.m. 23.10.18 and at 11 p.m. the Battalion Started to move into position. Tapes had previously been put out by 2nd Lieut.W.TYSOE, D.S.O., the Battalion Intelligence Officer, for the Southern Attack and by "C" Coys Officers for the Northern Attack. The work of forming up was carried out successfully in spite of two heavy bursts of hostile Artillery Fire at 11.15 p.m. and 12.15 a.m. and by 12.45 a.m. the Battalion was reported in position. Battalion Headquarters had moved to the Railway Embankment. 

The night was moonlight with thick ground mist in the Valleys which made direction difficult to keep. A very heavy barrage opened at 1.20 a.m. and at 1.24 a.m. the Companies commenced to move forward. "C" Company had little difficulty in capturing the first two Gullies, but experienced considerable opposition from M.G. fire in crossing the high ground to attack the third Gully and suffered Casualties. Here the attack was temporarily held up but good leading by   Lieut.H.D.CHESTER and 2nd Lieut.W.ASHTON, M.C. got the Company going again and the third Gully was then cleared and the Company's objective reached. 

Meanwhile "A" Company had been moving North of the Gullies and after suffering some opposition and Casualties where Lieut.C.H.HART was killed, the Company pushed on to their objectives. A large number of the enemy were encountered in the Sunken Road running North West from WHITE SPRING and heavy fighting took place here, many of the enemy being killed. All four platoons eventually reached their objectives. 

"D" Company had become involved in the fighting about the RICHEMONT MILL gullies early in the attack but Capt.REISS managed to detach half a platoon under 2nd Lieut.W.H.WALDOCK and send them forward with a Tank. This party reached their final objective under the barrage. Later on Capt. REISS was able to collect the rest of his Company and led them forward to their objective. 

In the meantime "B" Company, South of the RICHEMONT BROOK, had encountered considerable opposition right at the Start from Enemy M.G's who were located inside our Barrage. The Company was held up for some time and it was entirely due to the splendid leadership displayed by 2nd Lieut.H.B.LANG and other Officers and N.C.O's, who led the men forward in the face of intense Machine Gun Fire and Bayoneted the gunners, that the Company was got going again. The Barrage had been lost but by sheer determination the Company fought its way forward, crossed the brook, and arrived on its final objective soon after its scheduled time. I consider the greatest credit due to 2nd Lieut.H.B.LANG and his Company for reaching their objective in spite of such strong opposition. A subsequent examination of the ground showed the Hill both North and South of RICHEMONT MILL to have been very thickly held by a large number of Light and Heavy Machine Guns. By 5 a.m. all Companies were reported on their final objective. 

The Battalion Casualties up to this time were: -

Lieutenant C.H.HART - Killed

2nd Lieut.C.J.VOWLES - Wounded

2nd Lieut.W.F.S.WILFORD, M.M. - Wounded, Died of Wds 25.10.18.

2nd Lt.W.ASHTON, M.C. - Wounded and at Duty.

OTHER RANKS Killed in Action: - 30 Wounded: - 122 Missing: - 8 Wounded & at Duty: - 5.

Great loss was inflicted on the enemy, whose dead were numerous all over the Battlefield. the captures amounted to 100 prisoners, 3 Guns, 3 trench Mortars, 2 Anti-Tank Rifles and upwards of 60 M.Guns. Battalion Headquarters moved forward to WHITE SPRING and Coys were re-organised on the Field. At 5 p.m. the Battalion received orders to move into FOREST and billet there for the night. 

A.E.Percival Lt.Colonel Commanding 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment 29.10.18

Following Congratulatory Wire received from General Sir Ivor MAXSE (late Commander of 18th Corps) Inspector General of Training and general MORLAND, French Comdr. Sir T.L.N.Morland From Gen.MORLAND To 18th Division 25.10.1918

“Hearty congratulations to yourself, staff and all ranks on their great success of last two days which reflects the greatest credit on all concerned" Sd. MORLAND

From Sir Ivor MAXSE “Hearty congratulations to 18th Division on their splendid fighting successes this week.” Sd. MAXSE

Edwin and twelve of his comrades were originally buried at Richemont Mill this could place him in C or D company as A company were buried just north of the mill and D company were buried up by the springs, all would be re-buried after the war.

Edwins death on 23rd October 1918 was less than 3 weeks before the end of the war.

The Gazette had the following poem from the family. 

THORN, - In loving memory of Pte.E.

Thorn, Beds Regt, killed in action

October 23rd 1918, aged 25 years.

With aching hearts we shook his hand,

Tears glistened in our eyes:

We wished him luck but little thought

It was his last goodbye.

First when his hopes were brightest,

First when his thoughts were best,

He was called from this world of sorrow

To the home of eternal rest.

From his sorrowing Father, Sisters and brothers.

Memorial

Edwin was 25 years old when he died and is named on the order of service for the village church at Easter 1919, the village school memorial, the village memorial and Hemel Hempstead town memorial and is buried at,

Highland Cemetery, Le Cateau PLOT.II ROW.B GRAVE.12

The family had the following engraved on Edwins grave stone at a cost of 13 shillings and 5 pence

HE DID HIS DUTY NOBLY 

HE OBEYED HIS COUNTRY'S CALL

AT REST

The Commonwealth War graves Commission would supply a grave stone but any inscription on the stone. This had to be paid by the family.

Walter lived during 1920 at 5 Bennett’s End in Tile Kiln Lane.

Edwins oldest brother, Herbert was a pre war regular soldier and went over to France with the original British Expeditionary Force, The B.E.F. 12 days after the declaration of war with the Royal Field Artillery. Brother Ernest was called up for military service during 1916 wishing to join the Royal Navy he was posted to the infantry.

During the last 100 days of the war the British Armies captured 188700 German prisoners along with 2840 artillery guns. The combined French and American armies over the same period captured 196700 prisoners along with 3775 artillery guns.

Haig strikes south of Ypres

Brilliant victory on a nine-mile front | Over 5,000 prisoners taken | Attack led off by terrific and long-prepared mine explosion | Sir Douglas Haig's reports

Messines June 7th the British detonated 24 huge mines beneath the German lines on Messines ridge causing a huge artificial earthquake

Friday June 8, 1917

Thursday, 11 05 noon

We attacked at 3 10 this morning the German positions on the Messines-Wytschaete ridge, on a front of over of nine miles.

We have everywhere captured our first objectives, and further progress is reported to be satisfactory along the whole front of attack.

Numbers of prisoners are reported already to be reaching the collecting stations.

9 50 night

Our operations south of Ypres have been continued methodically throughout the day and have been attended by complete success.

The Messines-Wytschaete Ridge, which for over two and a half years has dominated our position in the Ypres salient, was stormed by our troops this morning.

In this attack we captured the villages of Messines and Wytschaete and the enemy defence systems, including many strongly organised woods and defended localities, on a front of over eight miles from south of La Douve brook to north of Mont Sorrel.

Later in the day our troops again moved forward in accordance with the plan of operations and carried the village of Oosttoverne and the enemy's rearguard defence system east of the village on a front of over five miles.

In the course of this advance an attempted counter-attack against the southern portion of our new positions was completely broken up by our artillery fire.

The enemy's casualties in to-day's fighting have been heavy. In addition to his other losses, up to 4 30 p.m. this afternoon, over 5,000 German prisoners had passed through our collecting stations. Other have still to be brought in.

We have also captured a number of guns and many trench mortars and machine-guns, which have not yet been counted.

There was again great activity in the air yesterday, and many fights took place.

Five hostile formations, one of which consisted of over 30 machines, were attacked and dispersed with heavy casualties. In the course of the fighting nine German aeroplanes were brought down and at least nine others were driven down out of control.

Six of our aeroplanes are missing.

War correspondents' Headquarters, Thursday

Today we dealt the Germans as hard a blow as we have ever struck them. On a front of 17,000 or 18,000 yards from Observatory Ridge, south-east of Ypres on the north, to before Ploegsteert on the south, we have shattered all his long-prepared defences, and the famous Messines Ridge is in our hands.

The attack was made by General Plumer's army, which so far has had no chance of an offensive, but for more than two years has been continuously on the defensive, and has had the terrible job of holding the Ypres salient. The object of the attack was the capture of the Messines Ridge, which really is hardly a ridge at all, but only a long, low slope which reaches its culminating point of approximately 250ft. near the village of Wytschaete. Looked at from this side - and how familiar we are with it! - it is merely a gentle slope, which presents to the eye a fairly clear-cut skyline running north and south. The importance of a height such as this, however, is purely relative. Though itself a mere ignoble rise in the ground, it is the final height before the plains of Flanders, and, above all, it dominates from the south side the Ypres salient. What that has meant during these last two years we have known when no troops, no transport, no guns, and hardly any individuals have been able to move by the roads in the southern Ypres area without being under the immediate observation of the enemy on the Messines ridge.

You already understand that the line of all this western front was of the Germans' selecting, and they selected well. Almost everywhere they made their positions along the high ground, and we have had to work as best we could in the flats below or on the opposing slopes. From Ypres downwards there were especially three ridges opposed to the British front which have left us at the mercy of enemy observation. These, counting from the south, were Albert Ridge, Vimy Ridge, and Messines Ridge. The Albert Ridge we wrested from the enemy in the Battle of the Somme. Vimy we snatched from him in the Battle of Arras. Today we have grasped, and I hope hold firmly, the last of the three.

The Terrific Bombardment

It would have been difficult to believe that any bombardment could surpass in power and spectacular effect those which ushered in the Battle of the Somme a year ago, or the Battle of Arras last April. But unquestionably this morning's bombardment did so. It was terrific beyond words. Seven days we have been shelling the enemy's positions pitilessly, never letting them rest, and occasionally subjecting one portion of the line or another to a hurricane bombardment of greater or lesser duration. Twice, indeed, we have poured upon the whole front to be attacked, by way of rehearsal, a tornado on the same scale as this morning. Under this treatment the whole topography of the front has changed. Woods have been swept out of existence, hill slopes have been stripped and laid bare, and villages like Wytschaete and Messines have disappeared. At the same time we have kept continually raiding the enemy trenches up and down the line. Certain Irish troops in the attack made five raids in 40 hours. From prisoners taken in these raids we have learned of the tremendous havoc wrought by our shelling, and those captured in more than one part of the line have told the same story - that it has been impossible to get food up to the front line for five days.

Before The Attack

During the hours immediately preceding the dawn we did not shell heavily. According to the standard of even two years ago it would have been considered a fairly continuous and sustained bombardment, but as such things are reckoned now it was mere desultory shelling which gradually fell as the morning approached. As we ceased an almost perfect hush descended for a while, in which one heard the fluting notes of a distant nightingale. Then, however, the Germans grew more active, and to the left where I was the air was full of the whining ping of shrapnel searching for certain batteries of ours, almost as if it had been full of bees.

600 Tons of Explosives

How many mines went up at once I do not exactly know, but it was nearly a score. Many of these mines were made over a year ago, and since then have lain under German feet undiscovered. In all I believe over 600 tons of explosives in twenty or so blasts were touched off along an arc of ten miles.

Personally I can only vouch for having seen nine of the great leaping streams of orange flame which shot up from that part of the front immediately before me, each one of the nine a huge volcano in itself. And each vast sheet of flame, as it leaped roaring upwards, threw up dense masses of dust and smoke which stood like great pillars towering into the sky all illuminated by the fires below.

It was terrifying as a spectacle, and what was more terrifying was that the earth shook like a house of cards. I stood on a solid hill, and it quaked like jelly or like some small house on the edge of a railway line when a heavy train thunders by.

An officer of our party, worn out by a night's vigil, had fallen asleep on the ground in spite of all the noise and the German shells. He leaped to his feet, muttering, "Earthquake, of course, earthquake!"

Then, even before the echoes of the awful explosions died and while the pillars of smoke still towered and grew, all our batteries awoke at once. As in one instance, the whole horizon blazed into one flickering flame, with the flash of our guns and stabs of bursting shells and streams of lights and flares. Imagine the whole sky ringed with lightning which flickers white and yellow and orange, red, and green. Imagine thousands of giant fireflies of all the colours of the rainbow. Imagine the sky one diamond with a million facets being shaken in a giant hand. Imagine what you will, and still you will get no picture of it. All this to the eastward, while overhead the sky, now clear, was a pale translucent blue in which the moon swam serenely.

My thanks to Veronica Pickett for letting me know about the two youngest children