5th K.O.Y.L.I. :- The Advance To Victory

The tide of the War had finally began to turn in the Allies favour in early August. On the 8th, the Battle of Amiens resulted in the Canadian and Australian Armies, cooperating with the French First Army, advancing eight miles at a great cost to the Germans in men and materiel.

The 62nd Division mounted two offensive operations in the month of August. On the 24th, the division attacked high ground in the area of Mory and Ervillers, and on the 27th, operations were mounted to harass the retiring enemy at Vaulx-Vraucourt. Both these actions resulted in heavy casualties to the division.

On the 2nd September, the British First Army attacked a section of the Hindenburg Line known to the Allies as the Drocourt-Queant Switch Line. The 62nd Division would advance eastwards from the village of Vaulx-Vraucourt towards Morchies, the 187th Brigades attack supported by eight  Mark IV tanks. The attack proved successful but once again proved very costly in casualties particularly to the two attacking battalions of the K.O.Y.L.I.

The German Army had by now, retreated to positions located along the eastern banks of the Canal du Nord. The next phase of the Allies assault involving the 62nd Division would take place in the Havrincourt Sector near Cambrai, thus, the division would find itself attacking over familiar ground which it had previously attacked in November 1917. At 5.25 a.m. on the 11th September the 5th K.O.Y.L.I, in brigade attacked, and by noon had taken all its objectives including the capture of the village itself. Further objectives were added later in the day in which the 5th Battalion, in fading light, and in a difficult military manoeuvre performed without sufficient reconnaissance, occupied positions east of the village. Once again, the attack had proved to a resounding success albeit at a high price. The enemy had been well beaten by well trained and determined attackers. The road to victory was open.

The Battle Of The Canal Du Nord

This attack was to be made by both the Third and First Armies on a frontage of about thirteen miles from Gouzeaucourt, south-west of Cambrai, to Sauchy-Lestree to the north-west of Cambrai. Just to the north of Moevres, it was vital that First Army seized the crossings over the Canal du Nord, thus securing the northern flank of the Third Army. The Canal in this sector was heavily defended with a veritable spider web of various defensive lines converging in the locality and it would require a complex military manoeuvre, once the Canal had been crossed, to maintain the momentum of attack. Fourth Corps, Third Army, in which the 62nd (West Riding) Division were contained, had already witnessed their fair share of action during the month of September. In these actions, the Authors Great Aunt's husband, one Sergeant Harry Drage, 18805, a native of Ackworth, was awarded the Military Medal. Harry had previously witnessed service with both the 7th and 8th Battalions of the Regiment, entering the theatre of war in August 1915.

The objective of Fourth Corps was to engage the enemy and drive them back across the Canal at both St. Quentin and de l'Escaut. The 3rd Division were to launch the initial stages of the attack on the right flank, in conjunction with the Guards Division on the left flank respectively. Following on behind the 3rd Division, the 62nd Division were then to leapfrog the latter division, the 2nd Division performing a similar manoeuvre behind the Guards Division. The advance of the 62nd Division was to be conducted by the 187th Infantry Brigade on the right flank, the 185th Infantry Brigade on the left flank, "Zero" hour being set for the 5.20 a.m. on the morning of the 27th of September. The objectives of the 62nd Division were thus as follows;

The 187th Infantry Brigade were, upon the capture of the Brown Line, east of Flesquieres by the 9th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Division, to pass through this latter brigade and press on to Marcoing and secure the crossings over the Canal de St. Quentin. The advance would be led by the 2/4th York and Lancaster's and the 2/4th King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry with the 5th K.O.Y.L.I. in Brigade Support. On the night of the 26th/27th, the 187th Brigade moved forward to their assembly positions from Fremicourt, the 2/4th Y. & L. to Jargon Trench, west of Hermies, the 2/4th K.O.Y.L.I. to the east of Velu and the 5th K.O.Y.L.I. to Hermies Switch, just to the north-west of Hermies. Brigade Headquarters were established just to the west of Hermies near Jaw Trench whilst the 187th Trench Mortar Battery, minus one section attached to the leading assault battalions were positioned near the southern aspect of Jargon Trench. "B" Company of the 62nd Battalion Machine Gun Corps established themselves to the west of Havrincourt Wood near Long Valley (map reference P.5.).