Page:Breaking the Hindenburg Line.djvu/79

Rh platoon of corps cyclists and a troop of Cavalry, was of more use. But even here trouble was experienced. The roads were badly cut up behind our lines and were non-existent in front of them, so that motor-cycle despatch riders were forced to work on foot. Here again the fog was a serious obstacle; Formation Headquarters were almost indiscoverable, and orderly after orderly left Divisional Headquarters not to return until well on in the afternoon.

In a similar manner, stretcher-bearers going out after wounded cases were again and again lost, and were in some cases several hours before returning to their unit.

One such case is worthy of particular mention as typical of the initiative which was perhaps the most characteristic feature of the behaviour of the rank and file throughout the action, and which helped to make the Battle of Bellenglise, which, like the Battle of Inkerman in the Crimean War, was essentially a soldier's battle, such a marked success.

Private H. Mosley, of the 1/2nd North Midland Field Ambulance, together with Private H. George of the same unit, were attached to the 1/5th Leicesters and followed them up closely in their advance. They then found a wounded infantryman, dressed him, and, having no stretchers with them, they took waterproof sheets from four German prisoners and made them carry the case, intending to make for the Advanced Dressing Station at Jeancourt.

On the way down, groans were heard from a dug-out, so Mosley went down and found six wounded Germans, who gave him to understand that our men had thrown a bomb into the dug-out. The two men dressed the Germans, and, taking waterproof sheets from a further twelve prisoners, they made up rough stretchers and forced these men to carry their wounded comrades.