History - World War I (8)

…… mess gear as possible to leave officers’ quarters without delay. A shell had fallen in the farmhouse immediately alongside these quarters but it was impossible to tell whether the quarters were being deliberately shelled. A considerable quantity of shrapnel was falling all round. Several officers had very narrow escapes and an English sergeant from one of the local units was wounded in the face. He was sent to the sick bay on the Aerodrome for treatment. On my way over to the Aerodrome by car I was several times stopped by Portuguese officers imploring me to give them a lift, though I could not understand what they said. By this time only soldiers were falling back. I received a verbal message from a RFC cyclist, through one of my officers, that the enemy had advanced and were in Laventie. I got in telephonic communication with XV Corps Headquarters, being the only line left intact, and was informed by an officer of the Intelligence Branch that the enemy had attacked the Division on our right and on the whole of the Portuguese Front, and was coming forward. I reported the message I had received from the RFC orderly, re Laventie,

but they could not confirm it. I then sent a despatch rider as far up to the line as he could get, but he returned, reporting that he spoke to three British officers east of La Gorgue who informed him that the enemy had taken Laventie and were Just east of Estaires. XV Corps were unable to confirm this, but I told them I was preparing to evacuate the Aerodrome. G.O.C. XV Corps asked me if I could carry out a reconnaissance, but I had to definitely refuse, it being impossible to see across the Aerodrome through the fog. The General did not wish me to leave La Gorgue, but said if it was to save the machines from shell fire we could fly them away. I replied it was quite impossible to fly at all. I told him that I should act on my own as it was probable that the line would go at any moment. They intimated that this was possible as their other lines were down. I sent a second despatch rider up to the front, but he could not get through La Gorgue village and returned without information. “As far as I could judge, practically all our guns had been captured, as they were not firing at all. On the other hand the enemy artillery became increasingly active immediately in the vicinity of the Aerodrome. I think they were endeavouring to shell the railway and bridge immediately to the south of the Aerodrome. “After careful deliberation with my Flight-Commanders I decided that I was not justified in risking personnel by flying away in the fog, though the majority volunteered to try. We then collected the machines in one bunch in the middle of the Aerodrome, the idea being for everyone to clear out and leave one officer with a cycle and side-car to stand by

…...continued

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