THE HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT
TOWARDS THE ARMISTICE - 1918

Allied operations during the last six weeks of the war saw 1st and 2/4th Hampshire engaged in Third Army’s thrust eastwards through the Hindenburg Line and past Cambrai towards the River Sambre. The 2nd and 15th Hampshire took part in Second Army’s separate, but simultaneous, offensive in Flanders while 11th Hampshire advanced with Fifth Army. The 2/4th Hampshires in Third Army and the 1st in First Army both overcame similarly formidable obstacles on the Scheldt Canal and the Canal du Nord respectively.

2/4TH HAMPSHIRE AT MARCOING, 27TH SEPTEMBER – 1ST OCTOBER 1918

The 2/4th Hampshire, which had been strengthened by a substantial draft of fresh men and a dozen new officers, saw no action on 27th September when Third Army captured Ribecourt and the Hindenburg Support Line as far as Flesquieres. However, it was ordered into action the following day with the village of Marcoing its principal objective. The fight for Marcoing was one of the 2/4th Hampshire’s most successful efforts. It cost nearly 100 casualties, including 20 killed or missing, but the battalion captured four field guns, two trench mortars and no fewer than 46 machine-guns and many prisoners. These exertions earned the Hampshires nearly three weeks’ well-earned rest.

2ND AND 15TH HAMPSHIRE AT YPRES, 28TH SEPTEMBER – 2ND OCTOBER 1918

The extension of the Allied attacks to Flanders brought the 2nd and 15th Hampshire into the fighting. The 2nd Battalion joined the attack on 28 September from Ypres astride the Menin Road ridge. The battalion suffered just 40 casualties while seizing more than 1,000 prisoners along with many guns and machine-guns. It was a substantial success – never before had more than five miles been gained in one day at Ypres. The following day saw further gains limited to the flanks as the Germans threw in reinforcements opposite 29th Division, whose guns were struggling slowly forward over the devastated ground. After advancing half a mile towards Koelenberg.

Meanwhile, 41st Division, which included 15th Hampshire, had enjoyed similar success. Both Hampshire battalions now found themselves confronted by the Gheluwe Switch, a strong German defensive position which held up the advance for three days. The attack was renewed on 2 October with 2nd Hampshire in the lead. In the fight for the village, which raged for most of the day, a number of men and officers distinguished themselves, including Private Bone who rushed a troublesome enemy pill box on the eastern side of the village, capturing a machine-gun and nearly 30 prisoners in the process. 

The attack by 15th Hampshire (on the immediate right of 2nd Hampshire) also met stubborn resistance. The battalion lost its commander, Lieutenant Colonel Puttick, and Adjutant, Captain S.H. Wigmore, wounded the day before the advance, leaving Captain Good in command. The assault went in at 5.30am and initially made good progress before German counterattacks forced the battalion to relinquish land gained. The 15th Hampshire was relieved that evening for a fortnight’s rest having lost one officer and 33 men killed or missing and 120 men wounded. The battalion had captured a dozen machine-guns and many prisoners.

The 2nd and 15th Hampshire were both in action again when the Flanders offensive resumed on14th October. The battalion achieved all its objectives for the loss of a dozen killed and missing. To the north, 2nd Hampshire was in reserve as 29th Division attacked. The Hampshires pushed on through the lead battalions to reach the Driemasten-Gulleghem road, an advance of three miles. The following day the 2nd Hampshire retained their position and on 19 October 2nd Hampshire led 29th Division across the Lys, securing a bridgehead. 2nd and 15th Hampshire and the advance to the Scheldt, October 1918. 

On 20 October 2nd Army started the thrust which gave both 2nd and 15th Hampshire their last battle of the war.

1ST AND 2/4TH HAMPSHIRE AND THE ADVANCE FROM THE SELLE,
20ND OCTOBER – 2ND NOVEMBER 1918

On 20 October 1st and 2/4th Hampshire came back into the line for the attack on the so-called Hermann Position on the River Selle. Fighting took place in open country barely scarred by war, a new experience for officers and men who had spent the previous two months battling across the old Somme battlefield and beyond, an area of utter devastation. Both battalions fought bravely and effectively. 

The 1st Hampshire, by now reduced in strength by influenza and battlefield casualties to just 400 men, attacked again on 1 November. The assault across the River Rhonelle began at 5.35am. This was the 1st Hampshire’s last action of the war. Among the 13 dead, sadly, was 2nd Lieutenant Cancellor who had so distinguished himself at Monchaux just a week earlier.

‘IN AT THE DEATH’ – THE 2/4TH AND 2ND HAMPSHIRE, 4TH – 11TH NOVEMBER 1918

The 2/4th Hampshire enjoyed ten days rest after its success at Solesmes. On 4th November it was back in action with 62nd Division near Le Quesnoy. The battalion’s final objective lay to the north-west of the village, but the attacking Companies first had to negotiate a stubbornly defended wooded ravine. Within just three hours of the start of the attack the battalion had achieved all its objectives, for the loss of 20 killed and another 80 wounded. 

The 2/4th then enjoyed two days’ rest before moving up again on 9 November in preparation for an attack across a canal. The battalion crossed the River Sambre the following day to take up an outpost position east of Mauberge. It was here that news of the Armistice was received on 11 November. Rather than excitement, it appears the news was greeted as something of an anti-climax. There was no enthusiasm – perhaps most men were too tired and too strained to realise that they had finished with fighting. 

The 2nd Hampshire in Flanders also ended the war in the front line before the Armistice came into effect at 11am.