The Western Front 1918

The last year of the war opened with grave difficulties for the British Army in France. The Russian Revolution enabled Germany to move forty-six divisions from the Eastern to the Western Front by March, 1918. On the Allied side some five American divisions had arrived, but the Italian debacle at Caporetto had made it neces sary to send five British and four French divisions to that front under General Plumer, in whom our troops in France had great confidence. Actually, when the expected attack came, the number of Allied and German divisions on the Western Front was nearly equal, and the Allies disposed of about 1,000 more heavy guns. But whereas the German High Command had concentrated no fewer than ninety-six divisions at the front of attack, viz., the fronts of the Fifth Army and part of the Third Army on their left, the British troops attacked were less than a fourth of that strength and there were practically no British reserves except the Cavalry Corps. At this time the French Army had twenty-five divisions in the quiet Vosges sector.

Further, the British Fifth Army front, most of which had recently been taken over from the French, was so thinly manned that it had not been possible to complete the defences and many of the troops had been a long time in the line without relief. Also the Army was so short of reinforcements that in February infantry brigades were cut to three battalions instead of four.

The Military Representatives of the Supreme War Council, which had been formed at Versailles, had not failed to point out the dangers in the situation and had long urged the formation of a general reserve under General Foch, but for various reasons this step had not been taken.

On 21st March the German High Command opened their long-prepared offensive in these advantageous conditions and in overwhelming strength. Three days later Foch was appointed Generalissimo of the Allied Armies by the Supreme War Council and unity of command on the Western Front was achieved through disaster.

Disbandment Of Battalions

By the cutting down of brigades to three battalions the Regiment lost the 10th Battalion on 5th February and the 21st Battalion on 16th March. This was followed later by the disbandment of the 7th Battalion on 20th June, the 8th Battalion on 31st July, and the 9th Battalion on 2nd August. The 14th (Light) Division was never re-formed as a fighting formation after the German March offensive.