(Extracted from Pilgrimage, with the kind persmission of David Parsons.)

THE ROYAL NEWFOUNDLAND REGIMENT was going into reserve following a tour of front line duty in front of Ypres. They travelled to St. Jans ter Biezen on their way to join the rest of the 29^th Division near Estaires, but there was to be no rest or billets. A critical situation had developed near Bailleul. The 34^th Division had evacuated Armentieres on April 10. The Germans were advancing so quickly that it was likely this withdrawal would be cut off. The 25^th Division had pulled back from Ploegsteert to the edge of Nieppe. The 88^th Brigade was diverted to Bailleul under command of the 25^th Division to secure the road from a threat caused by the Germans advancing from the south.

Near-Breakthrough by Germans April 10

The Newfoundlanders were bussed to Bailleul and on to La Creche. A little after 4:00 P.M., April 10, 1918, they left the busses at La Creche, a village one and one-half miles from Bailleul. The Germans had occupied Steenwerck and were advancing towards Bailleul. C and D Companies went forward toward Steenwerck Station, coming under machine gun fire and suffering casualties. The low railway embankment made a good defensive position and the foremost troops of the Division were along one and one half miles of this track. They warded off German attacks during the day and dug in for the night, with the 40^th Division on the left and the 34^th Division on the right.

That night, the Newfoundlanders went into reserve, but were held in readiness for a counter-attack at any time. On April 11, the 88^th Brigade came under the orders of the 34^th Division. At midday, April 11, they were moved to De Broecken Farm, north of the Bailleul-Armentieres Road in order to protect the 88^th Brigade from encirclement. At dusk, the 34^th Division withdrew from Nieppe, back through the 88^th Brigade.

April 12 Crisis

April 12 was a day of crisis. The Germans had pushed the British from Estaires. The enemy were now in the rear of Bailleul.

The defensive position of the 34^th Division held. The 88^th Brigade was facing east on a front of 5000 yards from Steenwerck Station to the Bailleul Road behind Nieppe. The Royal Newfoundland Regiment was in the front line with the Hampshires on the right and the Monmouth Regt. on the left. At noon C Company was forward in the line, the other Companies were in support.

At 4:00 P .M., a strong attack against the Monmouth Regiment started. That Regiment was ordered to hold its position astride the Bailleul Road, but was cut off and suffered over four hundred casualties. To cover the open flank, a platoon of C Company of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, commanded by Lt. L. Moore, turned his front to face west and caught the advancing Germans in enfilade. The platoon held on stubbornly but was overwhelmed. Lt. Moore was wounded and taken prisoner. This heroic action allowed the rest of C Company to fall back in good order to the railway tracks north east of Steenwerck. Here, they were joined by A Company and the battalion HQ and stragglers from other units, to make a stand, commanded by Capt. G. Patterson. B and D Companies came up from reserve to join them. The Germans were halted by the determined fire of the Newfoundlanders.

That night, they withdrew to De Suele Crossroads, where the lateral road from Neuve Eglise meets the Bailleul Road. The Battalion was relieved by the Northumberland Regt. of the 34^th Division. They retired to their reserve position, on call in case of a counter attack by the enemy.

Re-Newed Crisis April 13

That call came the afternoon of April 13. At 5:00 P.M., a determined assault by the Germans had penetrated the British line and advanced along the De Broecken Road. This time, it was D Company's chance to catch the Germans in the open. At 6.30 P.M., as the Germans advanced over open ground, D Company was in position to pour devastating fire into the advancing enemy. The rest of the Battalion joined D Company in this action. This stopped the enemy advance.

Later that day, the Regiment were ordered to Ravelberg Ridge to dig in at a previously selected position north from Bailleul to Crucifix Corner. They held this line on April 14.

On April 15, the Newfoundlanders marched back to Croix de Poperinghe (two miles north of Bailleul, on the slope of Mont Noir). Their stay in Nissen Huts here was less than twenty-four hours. The Germans had captured Bailleul and Ravelsberg Ridge. The Regiment went forward to dig with the rest of the 88^th Brigade, about half way between Croix de Poperinghe and the ridge. While there were no German assaults during their stay in this line, there was heavy shelling but without serious loss.

Re-assignment and Relief

On April 21 , the Battalion Was relieved by the 401 Regt. of the French 133 Division. They marched to billets near Steenvoorde and joined what remained of the 10% left out of battle. The next day, a short bus ride to Hondeghem, near Hazebrouck, reunited the 88^th Brigade with the rest of the 29^th Division.

The German Offensive continued until the end of April in this sector, but little progress was made after the rapid advance in the first week. By the end of April, the offensive had been called off. They now concentrated their forces on the French front towards Soissons and the Marne River, advancing to within thirty miles of Paris. By the end of July, the German Army had exhausted their resourses of manpower and material. The offensive was finished and the Allied counter attacks began.