Chapter I: Preface

In the autumn of 1916 I was asked by the Union Government to undertake the official History of the South African Forces in Europe. At the time I was serving in France, and had therefore an opportunity to see something of the Infantry Brigade. For various reasons I was unable to begin the work until after the signing of the Armistice: since which date I have had at my disposal all official papers, and have received the assistance of many South African officers. I desire to express my gratitude to Major-General Sir H. T. Lukin, Brigadier-General Dawson, Brigadier-General Tanner, and the various battalion and battery commanders for the help they have given me. I would especially thank Major H. P. Mills of the Third Regiment, but for whose unwearying co-operation the book could not have been written. My aim has been to tell as simply as possible the story of a great military achievement, to my mind one of the finest in the whole history of the campaigns; and, at the same time, to provide a detailed account of the operations of the infantry and the other services, which, I trust, may be of interest as a war record both for the men who fought and for the country which sent them forth.

J. B.

CONTENTS.

I. THE RAISING OF THE BRIGADE 11

II. THE CAMPAIGN IN WESTERN EGYPT 23

III. THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME: DELVILLE WOOD 43

IV. THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME: THE BUTTE DE WARLENCOURT 83

V. THE BATTLE OF ARRAS 104

VI. THE THIRD BATTLE OF YPRES 128

VII. THE EVE OF THE GREAT GERMAN ATTACK 148

VIII. THE SOMME RETREAT: GAUCHE AND MARRIÈRES WOODS 165

IX. THE BATTLE OF THE LYS 193

X. THE SUMMER OF 1918 216

XI. THE ADVANCE TO VICTORY 228

XII. CONCLUSION 257

APPENDICES.

I. THE HEAVY ARTILLERY 267

II. THE SOUTH AFRICAN SIGNAL COMPANY (R.E.) 279

III. THE MEDICAL SERVICES 317

IV. THE RAILWAYS COMPANIES AND MISCELLANEOUS TRADES COMPANY 333

V. THE CAPE AUXILIARY HORSE TRANSPORT COMPANIES 337

VI. VICTORIA CROSSES WON BY SOUTH AFRICANS DURING THE WAR 341

VII. HONOURS WON BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN FORCES IN FRANCE 349

INDEX 387

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Delville Wood _Frontispiece_

Major-General Sir Henry Timson Lukin, K.C.B., C.M.G.,
D.S.O. _Facing page_ 18

“Nancy,” the 4th Regiment Mascot, on the Somme Battlefield ” 46

Lieutenant-Colonel F. A. Jones, C.M.G., D.S.O. ” 54

Longueval Village after the Battle ” 58

Brigadier-General W. E. C. Tanner, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O. ” 60

Lieutenant W. F. Faulds, V.C. ” 66

Lieutenant-Colonel E. F. Thackeray, C.M.G., D.S.O. ” 70

Brigadier-General Frederick Stewart Dawson, C.M.G., D.S.O.,
A.D.C. ” 102

Second-Lieutenant W. H. Hewitt, V.C. ” 142

Lieutenant-Colonel E. Christian, D.S.O., M.C. ” 170

Lieutenant-Colonel F. H. Heal, D.S.O. ” 186

Lieutenant-Colonel D. M. MacLeod, D.S.O., M.C., D.C.M. ” 232

Lieutenant-Colonel W. H. L. Tripp, D.S.O., M.C. ” 276

Lieutenant-Colonel N. Harrison, C.M.G., D.S.O. ” 286

Colonel P. G. Stock, C.B., C.B.E. ” 318

Lieutenant-Colonel F. R. Collins, D.S.O. ” 334

Lieutenant-Colonel G. Helbert, C.B.E. ” 348

LIST OF MAPS.

1. Operations on the Western Frontier of Egypt. _Facing page_ 24

2. Scene of Earlier Operations near Mersa Matruh ” 28

3. The Advance to Agagia and Barrani ” 32

4. Barrani to Sollum ” 36

5. Longueval and Delville Wood ” 56

6. The Fighting before the Butte de Warlencourt ” 92

7. The Scene of the Advance of the South African Brigade
against the Butte de Warlencourt Position ” 96

8. The South African Brigade at the Battle of Arras: First
Stage of the Advance ” 118

9. Battle of Arras: Final Stage of the Advance ” 124

10. The South African Attack at the Third Battle of Ypres ” 134

11. The Third Battle of Ypres ” 146

12. The Positions held by the South African Brigade at the
outset of the German Offensive of 1918 ” 162

13. The Somme Retreat ” 166

14. The Retreat of the South African Brigade ” 174

15. The Fight at Marrières Wood ” 180

16. The Action of the South African Brigade on Messines Ridge ” 198

17. The Scene of the Fighting round Mont Kemmel ” 206

18. The Fighting about Méteren ” 220

19. The Victorious Advance. Operations of the XIII. Corps
up to 11th November 1918 ” 230

20. The South African Attack beyond Beaurevoir, 8th October
1918 ” 234

21. The Advance from Maretz to Reumont ” 238

22. The Fighting for the Crossing of the Selle ” 246

THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN FORCES IN FRANCE.