The breaking of the Hindenburgh Line

Cambrai, 1918: and the Pursuit to the Selle River.

8th-9th October 1918

In this Battle no less than six battalions of the Regiment took part, or are entitled to the Battle Honour as being in the immediate area of the operations. They are the 1st and 18th Battalions (33rd Division), 4th (37th Division), 1/7th and 1/8th (56th Division) and 13th (24th Division).

On the evening of the 7th of October the front of the Fourth, Third and First British Armies from north of St. Quentin, at about Thorigny (where we joined up with the left of the First French Army), ran northwards through Montbrehain, Beaurevoir, thence crossing the road between Aubencheul and Villers-Outreux to Crevecceur, round the western outskirts of Cambrai and Abancourt, thence along the southern bank of the Sensée to Ecourt St. Quentin.

The great battle which was to open the next morning was the second and concluding phase of the British offensive in which the Fourth and Third Armies, with the right of the First Army, were to move forward with their left flank on the canal which runs from Cambrai to Mons, their right covered by the First French Army.

9th October 1918

The 1st Middlesex (33rd Division) had been moving slowly forward in rear of the advanced troops. On the morning of the 9th October the Battalion reached assembly positions west of Villers-Outreaux, as the 19th Infantry Brigade (the Advanced Guard of the Division) had passed through the outpost line of the 38th Division, the advance progressing well, Clary having been captured. At 9.30 that night a message reached the 1st Middlesex that "Bertry had been taken and some troops of the 19th Infantry Brigade are believed to be in Troisvilles, but latter not yet confirmed."

Bertry ! Troisvilles ! The 19th Infantry Brigade knew these two places well in 1914 in the Battle of Le Cateau: the 1st Middlesex then formed part of the Brigade, and it will be remembered how the Battalion with the 2nd Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, in a gallant effort to cover the retirement of troops just west of Le Cateau, had a desperate fight with the enemy on the high ground north-east of Reumont.

And here again in 1918, just over four years after that fierce contest, they had come again to the scene of what was almost a titanic struggle: but on this occasion the Bosche was the fleeing enemy.

Late at night on the 9th of October the 98th Brigade was ordered to continue the advance at dawn next morning, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders on the right, 4th King's on the left, 1st Middlesex in support moving in rear of the King's men and protecting the left flank of the Brigade.

10th October 1918

At 3 a.m. on the 10th, therefore, the Middlesex moving off passed through Clary to a position east of Bertry, thence south of Troisvilles to the Inchy-Le Cateau road. From this position companies took up position just south of Rambourlieux Farm.

At 5 a.m. the Highlanders advanced under a heavy barrage to secure the high ground south-west of Forest to the cross-roads some two thousand yards west, the Middlesex being warned to be prepared to advance east and continue the defensive flank facing Montay, in touch with the 4th King's who were on the Le Cateau- Neuvilly railway on the left. During the day 2/Lieut. E. F. Johnson was wounded.

11th October 1918

At 1.45 a.m., 11th October, the Middlesex were ordered to form a defensive flank, with "A" and "B" Companies, against Neuvilly, under Captain Beisham: "C" and "D" Companies to "stand fast." At 9.10 a.m. the general situation was that a line was held just west of the Selle, with a small party of the Highlanders in a strong point on the eastern bank of the river* the Middlesex were on a line north and south from north of Rambourlieux Farm to south of the Le Cateau-Inchy road. *(The 2nd Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders had made their attack with great gallantry and determination, having to wade and, even in places, swim across the river.)

12th October 1918

Orders then came to hand that the 100th Brigade would pass through the 98th Brigade and attack the high ground east of the river. The attack took place at 5 a.m. on the 12th. This attack proceeded well at first, but both flanks were in the air and later the Middlesex were ordered forward to support the 100th Brigade. The 1st Battalion then dug in, in a ravine west of the Selle.

Subsequently the Middlesex were ordered to attack the enemy, capture first the crossings over the Selle on their front, and then a portion of the cross-roads north-east of the river. But, apparently, before the attack could take place the enemy had retired, for instead of attacking, the whole Brigade (98th) was reorganised, the Middlesex taking over a sector along the western bank of the Selle between Montay and Neuvilly with posts on the river, Battalion Headquarters being established in Rambourlieux Farm at 3.30 a.m. on the 13th of October. Thus the 1st Battalion had also reached the line of the Selle.

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