Part I
The Battle of Bellenglise
(29th September, 1918)
Chapter I
Preliminary operations and preparations for the attack
“At an hour and date to be notified later, the 46th Division, as part of a major operation, will cross the St. Quentin Canal, capture the Hindenburg Line, and advance to a position shown on the attached Map A.”
Such was the opening paragraph of the preliminary order issued by the General Staff on the 25th September, notifying all concerned of the general scope of the operation which was fated to bring fame to the Division. At this period of the war the eyes of the whole of Europe were focussed in the main on one thing and one thing only. Would the Hindenburg Line suffice, as the Germans hoped and believed, to hold up the (up to that time) irresistible tide of conquest sweeping back slowly but steadily across France; or would that last bulwark of German Imperialism be broken asunder like lesser obstacles, and trampled underfoot by the victorious Armies of the Allies? The answer to that question was to be given on the 29th September, and in the solving of the
