* * * * *

Now you have the position roughly.  The tactics of our Division were simple.  In the early days, when we thought that we had merely a determined rearguard in front of us, we attacked.  Bridges—­you will remember the tale—­were most heroically built.  Two brigades (14th and 15th) crossed the river and halted at the very foot of the hills, where they were almost under cover from alien fire.  The third brigade was on their right in a position I will describe later.

Well, the two brigades attacked, and attacked with artillery support, but they could not advance.  That was the first phase.  Then orders came that we were to act on the defensive, and finally of our three brigades, one was on the right, one across the river, and one in a second line of trenches on the southern bank of the river acted as divisional reserve.  That for us was the battle of the Aisne.  It was hard fighting all through.[13]

Under these conditions there was plentiful work for despatch riders.  I am going to try and describe it for you.

When D.H.Q. are stationary, the work of despatch riders is of two kinds.  First of all you have to find the positions of the units to which you are sent.  Often the Signal Office gives you the most exiguous information.  “The 105th Brigade is somewhere near Ciry,” or “The Div.  Train is at a farm just off the Paris-Bordeaux” road.  Starting out with these explicit instructions, it is very necessary to remember that they may be wrong and are probably misleading.  That is not the fault of the Signal Office.  A Unit changes ground, say from a farm on the road to a farm off the road.  These two farms are so near each other that there is no need to inform the Div. just at present of this change of residence.  The experienced despatch rider knows that, if he is told the 105th Brigade is at 1904 Farm, the Brigade is probably at 1894 Farm, half a mile away.

Again, a despatch rider is often sent out after a unit has moved and before the message announcing the move has “come through” to the Division.

When the Division is advancing or retiring this exploration-work is the only work.  To find a given brigade, take the place at which it was last reported at the Signal Office and assume it was never there.  Prefer the information you get from your fellow despatch riders.  Then find out the road along which the brigade is said to be moving.  If the brigade may be in action, take a road that will bring you to the rear of the brigade.  If there are troops in front of the brigade, strike for the head of it.  It is always quicker to ride from van to rear of a brigade than from rear to van.