When Manchester hears of this new proof of your prowess, she may
well be as proud of her sons as I am of commanding such soldiers.
ANTHONY HENLEY, _Brig.-Gen._,
Commanding 127th Inf. Brigade.
_3rd September, 1918._
The fortnight at Warlencourt was spent in refitting, and intensive
training in attack. One day was occupied by a demonstration of an
assault by a company, using live ammunition. This was carried out by "D"
company in the presence of the corps commander and large numbers of
officers and N.C.O's. of the division, and was followed by educational
criticism by the General.
THE HINDENBURG LINE.
It was obvious that all this had a specific purpose, and we were not
left long to wonder what the purpose was. A tremendous battle was
brewing, and rumours placed its magnitude at from three army fronts to
the whole allied front. Anyhow, the chief thing that concerned us was
that the 42nd was to take part in the cracking of the hardest nut in the
German defence, namely, the Hindenburg system. The enemy had had three
weeks in which to consolidate his already perfected ramification of
trenches and dug-outs, and there was no doubt as to their determination
to definitely stop the British advance there. If this failed they had
lost the War.
On September 22nd the division marched up, and took over the front from
the 37th division, the 125th brigade occupying the forward positions
just east of Havrincourt Wood.
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