Monday, May 27, 1918

Page 163

of a Farm-house on the square of the town, there is not a “heap” to this farm, the very first time I have ever seen them use a pit-

May 27th Sunday, H.C. at Auchel Parish Church, after general Absolution,

May 28th Fritz spoils a route march of the 38th, killing six, and wounging 13, the next day he dumps one into a Chinese Labour camp. killing the O.C. and several of the Chinks, we get a few through the station. about this time he seems to have a bad habit of shelling the Fosse, and we get quite a few casualties, men, women, and children, he also bombs Hell out of the place at night time, but he does not seem to have very much luck, he gets very few people considering, and the damage to

▸ Where was he?

▸ The war at this time

Third Battle of the Aisne

On May 27, Germany launches Operation Bluecher-Yorck with 17 divisions on the Aisne. Two million shells fall in four hours. The Allied line on the Chemin des Dames is shattered; the German advance crosses the Aisne on the first day. The French Sixth Army commander, General Duchêne, had concentrated his forces in forward positions rather than adopting Pétain's defense-in-depth doctrine, making them easy targets. British divisions sent there to rest are caught in the attack. Over 50,000 Allied soldiers and 800 guns are captured by May 30.

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