A Soldier's Diary from the Western Front, item 2

• December 5, 2016 15:11:15 Jake Warren

  10 K.R.R.C. Nov. 30, 1917.
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  Our reports show that the 10 K.R.R.C were holding the line to the right of Cambrai on Nov. 30, 1917. The Germans attacked in force and the Battalion was obliged to retire. One whole Company was cut off and surrounded, and comparatively few got back. Official lists were afterwards received of the large number of our men who were taken prisoners. One informant tells us that eventually we drove the enemy back and held the ground. Place-names mentioned are Masnieres, Marcoing, Gouzeaucourt, the canal at Cambrai, and the Sunked Road just in front of the Hindenburg Line about 500 years East of La Vacquerie. Statements made by eye-witnesses of the attack on that day are as follows:
  "On Nov. 30, about 100 yds across the Cambrai Road, we were holding the line. The Germans rushed us, we had to retire: when we got back about 150 yards we made a stand."
  "We were holding the line on the right of Masnieres, near Bourlon Wood. The Germans made an attack soon after dawn: we were driven back, then we drove them back and held the ground."
  "We were retiring fast and the Germans were right on top of us. No one was allowed to stop during the retirement."
  "I saw a man hit by a machine gun bullet from a German aeroplane. There were many casualties that day, and a number of bodies were not buried."

• November 16, 2016 14:40:30 Monica Paramita
  10 K.R.R.O. Nov. 30, 1917
  -------------------------------------
  Our reports show that the 10 K.R.R.C were holding the line to the right of Cambrai on Nov. 30, 1917. The Germans attacked in force and the Battalion was obliged to retire. One whole Company was cut off and surrendered, and comparatively few got back. Official lists were afterwards received of the large number of our men who were taken prisoners. One informant tells us that eventually we drove the enemy back and held the ground. Place-names mentioned are Masnieres, Marcoing, Gouzeaucourt, the canal at Cambrai, and the Sunked Road just in front of the Hindenburg Line about 500 years East of La Vacuerie. Statements made by eye-witnesses of the attack on that day are as follows:
  "On Nov. 30, about 100 yds across the Cambrai Road, we were holding the line. The Germans rushed us, we had to retire: when we got back about 150 yards we made a stand."
  "We were holding the line on the right of Masnieres, near Bourlon Wood. The Germans made an attack soon after dawn: we were driven back, then we drove them back and held the ground."
  "We were retiring fast and the Germans were right on top of us. No one was allowed to stop during the retirement."
  "I saw a man hit by a machine gun bullet from a German aeroplane. There were many casualties that day, and a number of bodies were not buried."
  

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• September 22, 2016 21:53:44 Elizabeth Reilly
  10 K.R.R.O. Nov. 30, 1917
  -------------------------------------
  Our reports show that the 10 K.R.R.C were holding the line to the right of Cambrai on Nov. 30, 1917. The Germans attacked in force and the Battalion was obliged to retire. One whole Company was cut off and surrendered, and comparatively few got back. Official lists were afterwards received of the large number of our men who were taken prisoners. One informant tells us that eventually we drove the enemy back and held the ground. Place-names mentioned are Masnieres, Marcoing, Gouzeaucourt, the canal at Cambrai, and the Sunked Road just in front of the Hindenburg Line about 500 years East of La Vacuerie. Statements made my eye-witnesses of the attack on that day are as follows:
  "On Nov. 30, about 100 yds across the Cambrai Road, we were holding the line. The Germans rushed us, we had to retire: when we got back about 150 yards we made a stand."
  "We were holding the line on the right of Masnieres, near Bourlon Wood. The Germans made an attack soon after dawn: we were dri-ven back, then we drove them back and held the ground."
  "We were retiring fast and the Germans were right on top of us. No one was allowed to stop during the retirement."
  "I saw a man hit by a machine gun bullet from a German aeroplane. There were many casualties that day, and a number of bodies were not buried."
  

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