The following
two days required only short distances to the Hazebrouck district, but
the fifth day was longer, and, marching past the divisional commander in
Aire, we arrived at Mazinghem, a small village just off the main Lillers
road.
The battalion spent a few days here, and a really happy time it was. The
villagers had not become blase to British soldiers, and they gave our
men a hearty welcome in their billets. It was with no small pride that
the cure, with whom the padre and myself were lucky enough to be
billeted, informed us that General Petain had at one time spent many
happy days in his house, for his uncle had been the cure here. Whilst in
this village we received the news of the wonderful Cambrai attack by
General Byng, and we had a curious feeling that he had no right to do
that without asking the 42nd to help him, for we naturally possessed a
fatherly interest in Havrincourt and all its works. The first flush of
news gave us no details, and we were perplexed to know what had happened
to "Jerry's Wire" which we knew was formidable enough. Then the stories
of tanks upon tanks drifted through, and we began to understand it.
It was here that Lt.-Col. Bromfield, of the Leicestershire Regt. first
saw the 7th and assumed command. He was due for leave, however, and had
just emerged from a trying time at Paschendaele, so Major Allan was soon
left in charge once more. We did not remain long at Mazinghem for our
duty was to relieve the 25th division in the line at Givenchy, before La
Bassee.
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