# Breaking the Hindenburg Line

His Majesty King George V inspecting the Battlefield of Bellenglise
Breaking the Hindenburg Line
The story of the
46th (North Midland) Division
By
Major R. E. Priestley, M.C., R.E.
With an introduction by
Major-General G. F. Boyd, C.B.,
C.M.G., D.S.O., D.C.M.
With two maps and seventeen illustrations
London: T. Fisher Unwin, Ltd.
Adelphi Terrace
First published in September 1919
Second impression, November 1919
All Rights Reserved
To
our comrades who have fallen in the great adventure
May we prove worthy of them in the days to come
Foreword
Major Priestley's book is not intended as an official record; nevertheless it affords a graphic and accurate account of what took place on a small but decisive sector of the Western front during the “Battles of the Hundred Days.”
It was my good fortune to take over command of the North Midland Division at a critical moment of its career, and just before we marched south to join General Sir H. Rawlinson's Fourth Army. To my predecessor, Major-General W. Thwaites, must be ascribed the credit of having organized and trained the Division into a fighting machine in which every officer and man was imbued with a real soldier's spirit.
It is to this fixed determination to win through at all costs, regardless of incidents on flank and in rear, that I mainly attribute the successes won by the Division.
We joined the IX Corps, commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Sir Walter Braithwaite, and consisting of three distinguished fighting units, but the 46th were determined to make a name for themselves second to none.
No man can say that they failed.
Gerald F. Boyd, Major-General.
Contents
Introductory Chapter
| | Page |
| Outline of the previous history of the 46th (North Midland) Division, 1914–1918 | 17 |
| By Lieutenant-Colonel T. C. Newbold, D.S.O., T.D. (1/5th Sherwoods), and Major E. A. Lewis, D.S.O., R.E. |
Part I
The Battle of Bellenglise
(29th September, 1918)
| Chapter | Chapter | |
| I. | Preliminary operations and preparations for the attack | 22 |
| II. | The Staffords cross the St. Quentin Canal and breach the Hindenburg Line | 44 |
| III. | Success exploited by Sherwoods, Lincolns and Leicesters | 61 |
Part II
The Battle of Ramicourt
| Chapter | Chapter | |
| IV. | The victory at Ramicourt | 81 |
| V. | Enemy counter-attacks repulsed—the advance to Bohain | 110 |
Part III
The Battle of Andigny
| Chapter | Chapter | |
| VI. | The clearing of the Bois de Riquerval and the Battle of Andigny les Fermes | 132 |
Part IV
The Last Phase: Catillon to Sains
| Chapter | Chapter | |
| VII. | The advance to Sains du Nord | 158 |
Appendices
| I. | German Divisions encountered and defeated by the 46th Division between the 24th September and the 11th November, 1918 | 174 |
| II. | Casualties between the 24th September and the 11th November, 1918 | 175 |
| III. | Immediate rewards granted to the Division from 24th September to 11th November, 1918 | 176 |
| IV. | Order of Battle, 28th February, 1915 | 177 |
| V. | Order of Battle, 29th September, 1918 | 180 |
| Index | Index | 197 |
Illustrations
| His Majesty King George V inspecting the Battlefield of Bellenglise | Frontispiece |
| Facing Page ||
| Captain J. C. Green, V.C., R.A.M.C. (T.), and Captain C. G. Vickers, V.C., Early V.C. Heroes of the 46th Division | 18 |
| Lieutenant J. C. Barrett, V.C., 1/5th Leicesters. Severely Wounded in the Attack on Pontruet, and awarded the Victoria Cross for his Bravery and Leadership during the Action | 28 |
| Air Photograph of the St. Quentin Canal at Bellenglise, showing the Defence System to the East of the Canal and the German Bridges | 32 |
| St. Quentin Canal, showing the Brick Facing of the Canal and its Steep Banks. In the Distance the Remains of a German Footbridge | 34 |
| Brigadier-General J. V. Campbell, V.C., C.M.G., D.S.O., Brigade Commander 137th Infantry Brigade | 44 |
| Air Photograph of Bellenglise and the St. Quentin Canal from above the Hindenburg Defences West of the Canal | 56 |
| St. Quentin Canal with Requeval Bridge. From this Picture the Value of Captain Charlton's Work in preserving the Bridge from Destruction is well seen | 58 ​ |
| Lieutenant-Colonel B. W. Vann, V.C., M.C., 1/6th Sherwoods. Killed in Action at the Battle of Ramicourt | 70 |
| Major-General G. F. Boyd, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., D.C.M., G.O.C. 46th Division | 72 |
| Sergeant W. H. Johnson, V.C., 1/5th Sherwoods. The Hero of the Attack on the Beaurevoir-Fonsomme Line | 98 |
| Lance-Corporal W. H. Coltman, V.C., D.C.M., M.M., 1/6th North Staffords, whose Constant Bravery in Action has added a Glorious Page to the History of the 46th Division | 118 |
| Brigadier-General F. G. M. Rowley, C.M.G., D.S.O., Brigade Commander 138th Infantry Brigade | 126 |
| Brigadier-General Sir Hill Child, C.M.G., D.S.O., C.R.A. 46th Division | 142 |
| Brigadier-General J. Harington, D.S.O., Brigade Commander 139th Infantry Brigade | 160 |
| Memorial Cross erected on the High Ground near Bellenglise in Memory of the Fallen of the 46th Division | 172 |
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1929.
The longest-living author of this work died in 1974, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 49 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.
Public domainPublic domainfalsefalse