Although the men were dog-tired "B"
company sent out a large fighting patrol to try to get in touch with
him, but they traversed well beyond Bus, the next village, and returned
according to orders without seeing him. Meanwhile a squadron of cavalry
(Scots Greys) had been ordered up, and they preceded the advance of the
125th brigade who by this time were marching through in accordance with
previous plans. They encountered Hun rearguards near Ytres, but the
attack was resumed at once, and in the course of the next two days the
enemy was pressed back into the Hindenburg system in the vicinity of
Havrincourt.
The Manchesters had now the opportunity of seeing how great an
organisation must follow in the wake of advancing infantry. First came
the field guns, drawn by teams of mules, followed by the 6-in.
howitzers, bouncing along in jolly fashion over the uneven roads behind
motor lorries containing their ammunition. Then the observation balloons
appeared, still observing, at a height of about 100 feet, being pulled
steadily by motor conveyances. Intermingled amongst these were staff
cars, ambulances, motor lorries for all purposes, infantry transport,
D.A.C. waggons and various other impedimenta of a moving army. Most of
these people took up their abode around Barastre, occupying old British
huts, or erecting tents and bivouac sheets, so that ground which twelve
hours previously had been Hun land, gingerly approached by us, had
become a huge camp seething with an active soldier population of
Britishers.
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