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Perspectives of nanoscience and
nanotechnology

Acta Materialia Gold Medal Workshop

Perspectives of nanoscience and
nanotechnology
Acta Materialia Gold Medal Workshop

Selected, peer reviewed papers from the

European Materials Research Society, Fall Meeting,
Warsaw University of Technology,
17th – 21st September, 2007

Edited by

Witold Łojkowski and John R. Blizzard

TRANS TECH PUBLICATIONS LTD

Switzerland • UK • USA
Copyright  2008 Trans Tech Publications Ltd, Switzerland

All rights reserved. No part of the contents of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form
or by any means without the written permission of the publisher.

Trans Tech Publications Ltd

Laubisrutistr. 24
CH-8712 Stafa-Zurich
Switzerland
http://www.ttp.net

Volume 140 of
Solid State Phenomena
ISSN 1012-0394
(Pt. B of Diffusion and Defect Data - Solid State Data (ISSN 0377-6883))

Full text available online at http://www.scientific.net

Distributed worldwide by and in the Americas by

Trans Tech Publications Ltd Trans Tech Publications Inc.
Laubisrutistr. 24 PO Box 699, May Street
CH-8712 Stafa-Zurich Enfield, NH 03748
Switzerland USA
Phone: +1 (603) 632-7377
Fax: +41 (44) 922 10 33 Fax: +1 (603) 632-5611
e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected]
THE EUROPEAN MATERIALS RESEARCH SOCIETY

The European Materials Research Society (E-MRS) is a non-profit making scientific society
founded in 1983 with its Headquarters in Strasbourg, France. The Society focuses its activities on
creating synergy from the interaction between interdisciplinary, innovative fields of materials
research. Great attention is given to disseminating and exchanging information and promoting
technology transfer from public institution to industry.

The primary objective of E-MRS is to promote and enhance the efficiency of research in Europe in
the field of Advanced Materials. E-MRS seeks to quickly inform researchers about the scientific
and technological developments in their fields of interest, taking advantage of the Society’s links
with other Materials Research Societies belonging to the International Union (IUMRS).

Since 2002, in parallel with the Spring Meeting held in Strasbourg, Fall Meetings have been held in
Warsaw, The 2006 Fall Meeting consisted of 10 symposia running concurrently, Plenary Sessions,
a joint session with other symposia and included an exhibition of relevant products and services as
well as training activities for young researchers and scientists.

E-MRS General Secretary P. Siffert

E-MRS
BP 20
67037 Strasbourg Cedex 2
France

Telephone: +33 3 88 10 65 43
+33 3 88 10 62 55
Fax: +33 3 88 10 62 93
e-mail: [email protected]

THE E-MRS FALL MEETING CHAIRPERSONS

Krzysztof J. Kurzydłowski, Warsaw University of Technology, Warsaw.

Małgorzata Lewandowska, Warsaw University of Technology, Warsaw.

Witold Łojkowski, Institute of High Pressure Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences,

Warsaw.

Andrzej Mycielski, Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw.

Paul Siffert, European Materials Research Society, Strasbourg, France.

 E-MRS FALL MEETING 2007

CONFERENCE ORGANISERS

Polish Materials Science Society

ul. Wołoska 141 Telephone: +48 (0)22 234 84 41
02-507 Warsaw Fax: +48 (0)22 848 4947
Poland e-mail: [email protected]

Institute of High Pressure Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences

ul. Sokołowska 29/37 Telephone: +48 (0)22 632 50 10
01-142 Warsaw Fax: +48 (0)22 632 42 18
Poland e-mail: [email protected]

Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences

Al. Lotników 32/46 Telephone: +48 (0)22 843 66 01
02-668 Warsaw Fax: +48 (0)22 843 09 26
Poland e-mail: [email protected]

Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering

Warsaw University of Technology
ul. Wołoska 141 Telephone: +48 (0)22 849 99 29
02-507 Warsaw Fax: +48 (0)22 234 85 14
Poland e-mail: [email protected]

E-MRS: European Materials Research Society,

Telephone: +33 3 88 10 65 43
BP 20 +33 3 88 10 62 55
67037 Strasbourg Cedex 2 Fax: +33 3 88 10 62 93
France e-mail: [email protected]

Local Organising Committee

J.R. Blizzard
H. Garbacz
M. Lewandowska
R. Pielaszek
A. Rytel
A. Szadkowski

E-MRS European Coordination Group

A. Slaoui EMRS President
F. Priolo EMRS Vice-President
P. Siffert EMRS General Secretary
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The organisers of the E-MRS Fall Meeting 2007

acknowledge the support given by:

EUROPEAN MATERIALS RESEARCH SOCIETY

Polish Ministry of Science and Higher

Education

The Polish Materials Science Society

Materials Design Division of the

Faculty of Materials Science,
Warsaw University of Technology

Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of

Sciences

Institute of High Pressure Physics “UNIPRESS”

Polish Academy of Sciences

ESTECO

Elsevier
Sponsors of the Acta Materialia Gold Medal Workshop

 The International Network of Nano and Micro Technology “Namic”, Poland

 Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education

 Elsevier.

 Institute of Nanotechnology, FZK, Karlsruhe, Germany

 Institute of High Pressure Physics, PAS, Warsaw, Poland

 E-MRS FALL MEETING 2007

Acta Materialia Gold Medal Workshop

Introduction
The Board of Governors of Acta Materialia took the decision to award the 2007 Acta
Materialia Gold Medal to Prof. Herbert Gleiter. Traditionally, the recipient of the medal
has the right to decide where the award ceremony, which is combined with an Award
Lecture, is to be held. Prof. Herbert Gleiter suggested that the ceremony should take
place in Warsaw. When this became known to the organisers of the E-MRS Fall
Meeting, they reacted quickly and invited Prof. Gleiter to make his Award Lecture as a
Plenary Session Presentation at the Fall Meeting. The Fall Meeting organisers also
considered that the occasion provided an opportunity to highlight the frontiers of
research in nanotechnology, and therefore this special Acta Materialia Gold Medal
Workshop was organised as one of the events at the Fall Meeting. The scope of the
workshop, Perspectives of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, focussed on the
presentation of the current status of the science and technology in various fields,
examples of industrial and commercial applications and other information that could
facilitate decisions and future directions of research.

On being awarded the Acta Materialia Gold Medal Professor Gleiter delivered his
Plenary Presentation which he entitled ‘Our thoughts are ours, their ends none of our
own – Are there ways to synthesise materials beyond the limitations of today?’

John R. Blizzard
Witold Lojkowski

Acta Materialia Gold Medal Workshop Organisers

Witold Łojkowski, Institute of High Pressure Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw,
Poland. [email protected]

Krzysztof J. Kurzydłowski, Faculty of Materials Science, Warsaw University of Technology,

Warsaw, Poland. [email protected]

Ottilia Saxl, Institute of Nanotechnology, Stirling, FK9 4NF, United Kingdom

[email protected]

Hans-Jörg Fecht, Ulm University, Ulm 89081 Germany and Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, ,
Germany. [email protected]
Our thoughts are ours, their ends none of our own – Are there ways to
synthesise materials beyond the limitations of today?

Professor Herbert Gleiter

Acta Materialia Gold Medal 2007

The methods available today to modify the structure and

properties of crystalline materials may be divided into the
following two groups: modifications arising from the
introduction of lattice defects and modifications arising from
alloying of two or more components.

In materials with grain sizes of 1mm or more, the introduction

of lattice defects modifies the microstructure. However, the
modifications of the atomic structure are limited to less than 1
volume percent of the material. The way to modify the atomic
structure by up to 50 volume percent of a material by
introducing defects was opened by reducing the crystal size of
polycrystalline materials to a few nanometers. Materials of
this kind are called nanocrystalline, or nanostructured
materials. The step towards modifying the entire atomic
structure of solid materials seems to be possible by means of
naonoglasses. Nanoglasses are glasses that are generated by consolidating nanometer-sized glassy
spheres at high pressure, of several GPs. The existing structural investigations on metallic
nanoglasses as well as studies by means of molecular dynamics suggest that nanoglasses consist –
in the as prepared state – of the following two structural components. Glassy regions – resulting
from the consolidation of spheres – and interfaces between the glassy regions. In these glassy/glass
interfaces, the free volume is enhanced and nearest neighbour co-ordination deviate from the ones
in the glassy regions. If these nanoglasses are annealed, the enhanced free volume in the glass/glass
interfaces seems to delocalize and, thus, modifies the atomic structure of the entire material. In fact
it is found that, after long annealing time, nanoglasses consist of a surface region with an enhanced
density (due to a high hydrostatic pressure) and a glassy core region with a significantly – up to
10% - reduced density. In other words, nanoglasses may pave the way to tune the free volume,
density, of glasses at constance chemical composition.

The modifications of solid materials by alloying may be divided into the following two groups:
components that can be alloyed by melting followed by solidification, and alloys of components
that are immiscible in the solid state, e.g. alloys of metals and ionics such as Au-NaCl. The
preparation of alloys of this type seems attractive because they are likely to exhibit new properties.
So far, apparently two approaches have been considered for preparing such alloys, In the first
approach, applicable to systems with mobile charge carriers, electronic screening effects at interface
boundaries are utilized, If nanocomposites of immiscible components are prepared with a crystal
size comparable to the electronic screening length, the electronic structure of the entire specimen is
modified due to the screening effects. As has been shown, this modification may result in the
formation of solid solutions of conventionally immiscible components, eg. of Ag and Fe. In
systems without mobile charge carriers, vapour deposition of ions of one of the components onto an
electrically charged substrate may be used to generate solid solutions.
 E-MRS Fall Meeting 2007

Participants in the Acta Materialia Gold Medal Workshop

Adamus, Zbyszek Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Physics,

al. Lotników 32/46, 02-668 Warsaw, Poland.

Ban, Irena FKKT, Smetanova 17, Maribor 2000, Slovenia.

Bedis, Hanene Faculté de Sciences Mathématiques, Physiques et Naturelles de

Tunis, Campus Universitaire Tunis 1060, Tunisia.

Bieńkowski, Krzysztof Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of High Pressure Physics

(UNIPRESS), Sokołowska 29/37, Warsaw, 01-142, Poland.

Celichowski, Grzegorz. University of Łódź, Department of Chemical Technology and

Environmental Protection, Pomorska 163, 90-236 Łódź, Poland.

Cieplak, Marta Z.. Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Physics,

al. Lotników 32/46, 02-668 Warsaw, Poland.

Dietl, Tomasz Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Physics,

al. Lotników 32/46, 02-668 Warsaw, Poland.

Dommann, Alex Cente Suisse d’Electronique et de Microtechnique (CSEM),

Jaquet-Droz 1, Neuchâtel 2002, Switzerland.

Dzwolak, Wojciech Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of High Pressure Physics

(UNIPRESS), Sokołowska 29/37, Warsaw, 01-142, Poland.

Fecht, Hans-Jörg Ulm University, Albert Einstein Allee 47, Ulm 89081 Germany
Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, Institute of Nanotechnology,
POB 3640, Karlsruhe 76021, Germany.

Fichtner, Maximilian Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, Institute of Nanotechnology,

POB 3640, Karlsruhe 76021, Germany.

Fidelus, Janusz D. Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of High Pressure Physics

(UNIPRESS), Sokołowska 29/37, Warsaw, 01-142, Poland.

Fuchs, Harald Physikalisches Institut, University of Munster, (WWU),

Wilhelm Klemm Str. 10, Munster 48149, Germany..
Centre for Nanotechnology (CENTECH), Heisenbergstr. 11,
Munster 48149, Germany.

Gburski, Zygmunt University of Silesia, Institute of Physics, Uniwesytecka 4,

Katowice 40-007, Poland.
Gleiter, Herbert D. Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, Institute of Nanotechnology,
POB 3640, Karlsruhe 76021, Germany

Godlewsi, Marek Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Physics,

al. Lotników 32/46, 02-668 Warsaw, Poland.
Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University, College of Science,
ul. Dewajtis 5, 01-815 Warsaw, Poland.

Goesele, Ulrich Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics (MPH),

Weinberg 2, Halle 06120, Germany.

Grigorjeva, Larisa Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia, 8 Kengarava,

Riga 1063 Latvia.

Grzybowska-Świerkosz, Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Catalysis and Surface

Barbara A Chemistry, Niezapominajek 8, 30-239 Kraków, Poland.

Hahn, Horst W. Darmstadt University of Technology, Institute of Materials

Science
Petersenstrasse 23, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany.

Jaworek, Anatol Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Fluid Flow Machinery,

Fiszera 14, 80-231 Gdańsk, Poland.

Jaworowicz, Jerzy Laboratoire de Physique de Solides, UniversitéParis-Sud (CNRS

UMR8502), Orsay 91405 France.
University of Białystok, Institute of Experimental Physics,
Lipowa 41, 15-424 Białystok, Poland.

Kapusta, Czesław AGH University of Science and Technology, Nano-Materials

Research Centre, Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Kraków, Poland.

Kelly, Anthony Cambridge University, Cambridge CB21EW, United Kingdom

Kimmel, Giora Institute for Applied Research, Ben Gurion University of the
Negev, Beer-Sheva, 84105 Israel.

Kisielewski, Jan University of Białystok, Laboratory of Magnetism, Institute of

Esperimental Physics, Lipowa 41, 15-424 Białystok, Poland.

Kosec, Marija Jozef Stefan Institute, Electronic Ceramics Department,

Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Koutzarova, Tatyana I. Institute of Electronics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IE-BAS),

72, Tzarigradsko Chausee, Sofia 1784, Bulgaria.

Krawczyńska, Agnieszka Warsaw University of Technology, Faculty of Materials Science

T and Engineering, Wołoska 141, Warszawa 02-507, Poland.
Kurzydłowki, Krzysztof Warsaw University of Technology, Faculty of Materials Science
J. and Engineering, Wołoska 141, Warszawa 02-507, Poland.

Le, Minh Q. Institute of Materials Science, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Hanoi 8404,
Vietnam.

Lewandowska, Warsaw University of Technology, Faculty of Materials Science

Malgorzata and Engineering, Wołoska 141, Warszawa 02-507, Poland.

Lojkowski, Witold Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of High Pressure Physics

(UNIPRESS), Sokołowska 29/37, Warszawa 01-142, Poland.

Manna, Indranil Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur (IIT), Kharagpur, India.

Massalski, Tadeusz B. Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburg, PA 15213, United States.

Maziewski, Andrzej University of Białystok, Laboratory of Magnetism, Institute of

Esperimental Physics, Lipowa 41, 15-424 Białystok, Poland.

Millers, Donats Institute of Solid State Physics, University 0f Latvia, 8 Kengarava,

Riga 1063 Latvia..

Mohlala, Sarah M. National Centre for Nano-Structured Materials,

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria, 0001,
Republic of South Africa.

Neumann, Peter Max Planck Institut fur Eisenforschung, Department of

Computational Materials Design, Max Planck Str. 1,
Düsseldorf 40237, Germany.

Novikov, Vladimir Y. MISA, Treptower Str. 74d, Hamburg 22147, Germany.

Opalińska, Agnieszka Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of High Pressure Physics

(UNIPRESS), Sokołowska 29/37, Warszawa 01-142, Poland.
Warsaw University of Technology, Faculty of Materials Science
and Engineering, Wołoska 141, Warszawa 02-507, Poland.

Pan, Caofeng Beijing National Centre for Electron Microscopy,

Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.

Pankratov, Vladimir Institute of Solid State Physics, University 0f Latvia, 8 Kengarava,

Riga 1063 Latvia

Paul, Heiko Ulm University, Albert Einstein Allee 47, Ulm 89081 Germany

Philibert, Jean UPS, Saint Germain en Laye 78100, France

Pietrzyk, Mieczyslaw A. Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Physics,

al. Lotników 32/46, 02-668 Warsaw, Poland.
Przewoźnik, Janusz J. AGH University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Physics
and Applied Computer Science, Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Kraków,
Poland.

Rabkin, Eugen Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Technion City,

Haifa 32000, Israel.

Raczyński, Przemysław University of Silesia, Institute of Physics, Uniwesytecka 4,

Katowice 40-007, Poland.

Roy, Debdas Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur (IIT), Kharagpur, India.

Salas-Adame, Blanca Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Instituto de

Investigaciones en Materiales (UNAM), Circuito Exterior S/N Cd.
Universitaria Coyoacan Mexico D.F., Mexico 70-360

Saxl, Ottilia Institute of Nanotechnology, 6 The Alpha Centre, Stirling,

FK9 4NF, United Kingdom.

Schimmel, Thomas Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, Institute of Nanotechnology,

POB 3640, Karlsruhe 76021, Germany.
Universität Karlsruhe (TH) Institut für Angewandte Physik,
Wolfgang Gaede Str. 1, Karlsruhe 76131, Germany.

Schneider, Krystyna AGH University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Physics

and Applied Computer Science, Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Kraków,
Poland.

Semenova, Irina Institute of Physics of Advanced Materials, Ufa State Aviation

Technical University, 12 Karl Marx St., Ufa 450000,
Russian Federation.

Shvindlerman, Lazar S. Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Solid State Physics,

Chernogolovka 142432, Russian Federation.

Siejka-Kulczyk, Joanna Warsaw University of Technology, Faculty of Materials Science

and Engineering , Wołoska141, Warszawa 02-507, Poland.

Sikhwivhilu, Lucky M. National Centre for Nano-Structured Materials, CSIR,

1-Meiring Naude Road, Brummeria, P.O. Box 395,
Pretoria, 0001, Republic of South Africa.

Skierbiszewski, Czeslaw Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of High Pressure Physics

(UNIPRESS), Sokołowska 29/37, Warszawa 01-142, Poland.

Smith, George D. University of Oxford, Department of Materials, Parks Road,

Oxford, OX1 3PH, United Kingdom.

Smits, Krisjanis Institute of Solid State Physics, University 0f Latvia, 8 Kengarava,

Riga 1063 Latvia.
Sobczyk, Arkadiusz T Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Fluid Flow Machinery,
Fiszera 14, 80-231 Gdańsk, Poland.

Sobczyk, Joanna. Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of High Pressure Physics

(UNIPRESS), Sokołowska 29/37, Warszawa 01-142, Poland.

Stobinski, Leszek Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Physical Chemistry,

Kasprzaka 44/52, 01-224 Warsaw, Poland.

Strachowski, Tomasz Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of High Pressure Physics

(UNIPRESS), Sokołowska 29/37, Warszawa 01-142, Poland
Warsaw University of Technology, Faculty of Materials Science
and Engineering, Wołoska 141, Warszawa 02-507, Poland.

Thomas, Gareth University California Berkeley and San Diego, 2415 Campus Dr.,
Irvine Cal., Berkeley, CA 92612, United States.

Tsakalakos, Thomas Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Rutgers

University, 607 Taylor Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, U.S.A.

Tuliński, Maciej Poznań Techncial University, pl. Marii Skłodowskiej-Curie 5, 60-

965 Poznań , Poland.

Van de Voorde, Marcel Universtity of Technology Delft, Rotterdamseweg 137,

Delft 2628 AL, Netherlands.

Vitek, Vaclav University of Pennsylvania (PENN), 3231 Walnut Street,

Philadelphia 19104, United States.

Wawer, Kinga Warsaw University of Technology, Faculty of Materials Science

and Engineering, Wołoska 141, Warszawa 02-507, Poland.

Webster, Thomas J. Brown University, Division of Engineering, 184 Hope Street,

Providence, RI 02917, United States.

Wei, Pai-Chun Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National tsing

Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
Center for Condensed Matter Sciences,
National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.

Wejrzanowski, Tomasz Warsaw University of Technology, Faculty of Materials Science

and Engineering, Wołoska 141, Warszawa 02-507, Poland.

Werner, Matthias R. Nano and Micro Technology Consulitn (NMTC), Soorstr. 86,
Berlin 14050, Germany.

Widlicki, Pawel Warsaw University of Technology, Faculty of Materials Science

and Engineering, Wołoska141, Warszawa 02-507, Poland
Wojnar, Ryszard Polish Academy of Sciences, Inst. of Fundamental Technological
Research, Świętokrzyska 21, 00-049 Warsaw, Poland.

Yavari, Alain R. LTPCM-CNRS, Institut National Polytechnique de Grenoble,

1130 rue de la Piscine, BP 75, Grenoble 38402, France.

Zhou, Wuzong University of St. Andrews, School of Chemistry, St. Andrews,

Fife, KY16 9ST, United Kingdom.
Table of Contents

Organisation
Intro
Participants

Nanostructures for Photonics

How Can the Intra-Shell Emissions of Rare Earth and Transition Metal Ions in Thin Films
and Nanoparticles Be Stimulated?
M. Godlewski, S. Yatsunenko, A. Opalińska and W. Łojkowski 3
Optical Properties of Nanocrystalline YAG:Ce
H. Paul, D. Kessler and U. Herr 9
Blue Laser Diodes by Low Temperature Plasma Assisted MBE
C. Skierbiszewski 17

Oxide Nanostructures

Stability, Instability, Metastability and Grain Size in Nanocrystalline Ceramic Oxide

Systems
G. Kimmel and J. Zabicky 29
Mesoporous Crystals of Transition Metal Oxides
W.Z. Zhou 37
Structural, Magnetic and Electronic Properties of Surface Oxidised Fe Nanoparticles
J. Przewoźnik, T. Tyliszczak, D. Rybicki, J. Żukrowski, W. Szczerba, M. Sikora, C. Kapusta, H.
Stepankova, R.F. Pacheco, D. Serrate and M.R. Ibarra 47
Nanosized Barium Hexaferrite Powders Obtained by a Single Microemulsion Technique
T. Koutzarova, S. Kolev, K. Grigorov, C. Ghelev, I. Nedkov, M. Ausloos, R. Cloots, T. Mydlarz
and A. Zaleski 55
Synthesis of Titania Nanostructures and their Application as Catalyst Supports for
Hydrogenation and Oxidation Reactions
L.M. Sikhwivhilu, S.S. Ray and N.J. Coville 61
Magnetic Anisotropy of Co Films Annealed by Laser Pulses
J. Kisielewski, K. Postava, I. Sveklo, A. Nedzved, P. Trzciński, A. Maziewski, B. Szymański, M.
Urbaniak and F. Stobiecki 69

Carbon Nanostructures

First Principle Investigation of Structural Properties of Potassium Doped Fullerene Clusters

– Kn(C60)2
M. Sokół and Z. Gburski 77
MD Study of the Endohedral Potassium Ion Fullerene Cluster (K+@C60)7
A. Piątek, A. Dawid, K. Górny, R. Nowak and Z. Gburski 81
Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study of the Liquid Crystal Phase in a Small Mesogene
Cluster (5CB)22
W. Gwizdała, A. Dawid and Z. Gburski 89
Preparation and Characterization of Polymer/Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube
Nanocomposites
M.S. Mohlala and S.S. Ray 97
Formation of Carbon Fibres in High-Voltage Low-Current Electrical Discharges
A.T. Sobczyk, A. Jaworek, E. Rajch and M. Sozańska 103
A Titanium-Decorated Fullerene Cluster – A Molecular Dynamics Simulation
A. Piątek, R. Nowak and Z. Gburski 109
b Perspectives of nanoscience and nanotechnology

Nanostructures for Medicine

Nanotechnology for Treating Damaged Organs

J. Lu and T.J. Webster 119
Electrospray Nanocoating of Microfibres
A. Jaworek, A. Krupa, A.T. Sobczyk, M. Lackowski, T. Czech, S. Ramakrishna, S. Sundarrajan
and D. Pliszka 127
Nanomaterials in Dental Applications
M. Lewandowska, J. Siejka-Kulczyk, M. Andrzejczuk and K.J. Kurzydłowski 133
The Influence of Graphene Sheet on the Dynamics of Cholesterol Molecules in the
Lodgment Located near a Transmembrane Protein – MD Study
P. Raczynski, A. Dawid and Z. Gburski 141
Computer Simulation of the Dynamics of Homocysteine Molecules Surrounding a Carbon
Nanotube
P. Raczynski, A. Dawid, Z. Dendzik and Z. Gburski 147
Dielectric Relaxation of a Cholesterol Domain Near a Graphite Wall - A Computer
Simulation
P. Raczynski and Z. Gburski 153

Bulk Metal Nanostructures

The Mechanical Properties of Nano-TiO2 Dispersed Al65Cu20Ti15

Amorphous/Nanocrystalline Matrix Bulk Composite Prepared by Mechanical Alloying and
High Pressure Sintering
D. Roy, R. Mitra, T. Chudoba, Z. Witczak, W. Łojkowski, H.J. Fecht and I. Manna 161
Enhanced Fatigue Properties of Ultrafine-Grained Titanium Rods Produced Using Severe
Plastic Deformation
I.P. Semenova, G.K. Salimgareeva, V.V. Latysh and R. Valiev 167
Nanostructure Formation in Austenitic Stainless Steel
A.T. Krawczynska, M. Lewandowska and K.J. Kurzydłowski 173
Nanoscale Nickel-Free Austenitic Stainless Steel
M. Tulinski, K. Jurczyk and M. Jurczyk 179
The Effect of Grain Size Distribution on the Mechanical Properties of Nanometals
T.B. Tengen, T. Wejrzanowski, R. Iwankiewicz and K.J. Kurzydłowski 185
The Influence of the Initial State on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of
Hydrostatically Extruded Titanium
K. Topolski, H. Garbacz, W. Pachla and K.J. Kurzydłowski 191
Influence of Hydrostatic Extrusion Parameters on the Microstructure and Mechanical
Properties of 6082 Aluminium Alloy
P. Widlicki, P. Wiecinski, H. Garbacz and K.J. Kurzydłowski 197

Additional Oral Presentations

NANOSTRUCTURES FOR PHOTONICS
Solid State Phenomena Vol. 140 (2008) pp 3-8
© (2008) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland
doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/SSP.140.3

How can the Intra-shell Emissions of Rare Earth and Transition Metal
Ions in Thin Films and Nanoparticles be Stimulated?

M. Godlewski 1,2, a, S. Yatsunenko 1, b, A. Opalińska 3, c and W. Łojkowski 3, d

1
Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Al. Lotników 32/46, 02-668 Warsaw,
Poland
2
Deptartment of Mathematics & Natural Science, Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University,
01185 Warsaw, Poland
3
Institute of High Pressure, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sokołowska 29/37,
01-142 Warsaw, Poland
a
e-mail: [email protected]; b [email protected]; c [email protected];
d
[email protected]

Keywords: nanoparticles, luminophors, wide band gap oxides, rare earth ions,
luminescence

Abstract. Nanoparticles of the wide band gap oxides doped with rare earth (RE) ions are
prospective materials for application in optoelectronics as phosphors in a new generation of light
sources. In this paper the mechanisms of the excitation of efficient 4f-4f intra-shell transitions in
RE doped nanoparticles are discussed. These mechanisms either enhance the rate of host to
impurity energy transfer or stimulate the intra-shell transitions of RE ions.

Introduction

The widely used incandescent lamps, of which there are about 9 billion items in the world, are very
inefficient as they have an efficiency of only about 3-4 percent, i.e., only 3-4% of the energy
supplied is converted into visible light. For this reason they will soon be replaced by new
generations of more efficient lamps. These will be compact fluorescent (CF) lamps and/or GaN-
based white light emitting diodes, w-LEDs. The replacements will result in a huge financial saving,
more than 80 billion USD per year, and reduced energy consumption, which will also result in
reduced emission of CO2 gas to the atmosphere.

These modern light sources both require luminophors to convert UV (in CF lamps) or violet/blue
emission (in w-LEDs) to a visible emission. The currently available UV light conversion phosphors
are optimized for down-conversion of the emission of mercury vapours, which emit in UV (55 % at
254 nm, 9 % at 185 nm) and only 5 % at the visible and near UV spectral regions. Unfortunately,
light conversion efficiency is only very high if we count number of absorbed and emitted photons,
i.e., it is 100 % if absorption of one UV photon results in emission of one visible photon. However,
conversion efficiency is usually below 50 % if we calculate the photons energy.

In the first generation of commercialized w-LEDs 400 nm blue/violet emission from InGaN
quantum wells was mixed with a yellow emission of YAG:Ce phosphor to achieve an impression of
a white light. This concept (hybrid LED) is still used in the more efficient recent w-LEDs. One can
expect an improved efficiency if more efficient phosphors are developed.

There are several alternative methods for the improvement of the currently used luminophors. In
this paper two of them are briefly described. The first relates to a study of a small size of powder
particles and the benefits of introducing such nanopowders will be explained. The second takes the
advantage of the intra-shell emission of Praseodymium Pr3+ ions, for which one UV photon can
Another random document with
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 CHAPTER V.
The Somme.

K its were now reduced to the required minimum.

Surplus kit was stacked and laid aside—with July, 1916
confidence this time that they would be available
on the return of less hectic times. G.S. wagons were laden and
limbers filled up to their limit, and the Battalion started off on
another pilgrimage, its ultimate destination as yet unknown, but only
one conclusion could be drawn from the thorough examination of
equipment, and the issue of trench maps delineating the battle-front
of the Somme. We made Sombrin on the first day after a tiring and
dusty march. On the 22nd July the personnel of the Battalion were
conveyed by motor bus to Berneuil, the transport moving
independently by road. Here we practised the attack by sectional
rushes. Before daylight had set in on the 25th the Battalion was on
the march, shaping its course through Fienvillers to Candas where
other troops, battle-stained and cheerful, laughed at us through the
mud and filth which days of incessant fighting had imprinted on their
faces. It was the first visible sign of the great offensive.
We entrained at Candas and crawled slowly away past Montrelet
and St. Ouen, following the beautiful valley of the Nievre. Optimistic
chatterers maintained that we were now pursuing a course directly
opposite to that which ought to take us to the front. They did not
know, however, that this branch line united with the main railroad
from Abbeville to Albért. And the crossing of the viaduct over the
Somme marshes soon brought us to the trunk line leading to the
heart of hostilities. To our disappointment the train passed through
the fine station of Amiens without stopping, the market gardens
slipped by, the little vignettes of Senegalese troops became a blur,
Corbie of old acquaintance faded from view, and at 2 o’clock we
steamed into railhead, Méricourt-Ribemont.
Those of us who had known Méricourt of old were amazed at the
change. Then it had been a sleepy little station with a few sidings
and a tent or two for the accommodation of prospective
permissionaires. Now it was the busy centre of all the traffic in men
and material feeding the firing line in the sector of Albért. Immense
stores of provisions and endless piles of ammunition lay stacked
ready for transport. German prisoners, mostly unshaven, were
engaged in road mending, or were lazily watching the new troops.
Under a blazing sun we marched out of the station. Buire-sur-Ancre
showed unmistakable signs of activity. Tired men were dragging
themselves along the hot, dusty road, traces of recent fighting plain
upon their faces. A few attempted to smile. Sweat ran down and
grooved the dirt upon their foreheads and cheeks. Many lacked full
equipment. Battalions came out under the command of subalterns,
careworn and ageing. Limbers and wagons were rushing up towards
the line with food for the men and ammunition for the guns. In
happy contrast to the stricken remnants returning from battle were
our fresh troops pouring in as reinforcements.
From Méricourt we marched to Méaulte, near Albért, where the
Town Major had a particularly trying experience in accommodating
Battalion after Battalion in a very restricted area. Confusion at such a
time and place, however, was unavoidable. We now formed part of
the 13th Corps, Fourth Army. On the 26th we marched to Happy
Valley, a comparatively quiet backwater, and took over bivouacs from
a Battalion of the 8th Brigade, 3rd Division. Here four days were
spent in training under Company arrangements, including much-
needed bathing parades to Bray-sur-Somme. There was also an
overdue presentation of decorations by Brigadier-General Edwards.
There had been a good many individual exploits, thoroughly meriting
recognition, and, indeed, recommended for such, which were met
with disapproval by the authorities on the ground that the time was
“inopportune,” and it was not until many more months had passed
that decorations began to flow with more facility. An enemy
aeroplane dropped bombs on the valley, but there were no casualties
amongst our men.
On the night of 30th/31st July the Battalion marched north and
took over trenches on a line running north and south between
Trones Wood and Guillemont, relieving remnants of the 30th
Division. In taking up position we were heavily shelled, losing
Second-Lieut. Lincey and three other ranks killed and twelve
wounded. Our artillery bombarded heavily all day, and we spent the
day digging in, including a shallow German trench in their old line.
The immensity of the push was now apparent to us, and our eyes
opened in astonishment at the awful havoc of the guns. We, who
had seen over twelve months’ service, astonished! A giant of steel
seemed to have ridden over the proud German defences. Villages
were wiped completely out of existence—Fricourt, Mametz, Carnoy,
Maricourt, Montauban, all a tumbled heap of rubble; woods were
laid waste. Saddest of all there was not a blade of green grass
visible. Trenches were everywhere blown out of recognition. In every
direction disused gun pits with piles of empty shell cases showed
how the artillery had advanced. Disrupted sandbags littered the
broken earth. A poignant reminder that victory is not purchased
without cost lay in the newly-delved earth, where blue flags were
fluttering over the dead.
The transport lay in bivouac in what had been German lines
between Fricourt and Maricourt. From this point of vantage much of
the terrible drama was visible. Not an inch of ground but was
covered by war material and troops resting. Mametz Road presented
an unparalleled scene of activity. Never for an instant was it idle.
There were up-roads and down-roads everywhere. Ammunition,
food, guns went up the one in constant streams; wounded and
fatigued men, empty ammunition and ration limbers, came rolling
back on the other. Whenever any portion of the road showed signs
of wear, either by shell fire or natural attrition, gangs of men from
labour battalions set to work, metalling and restoring. These men
were nearly all over age. They had none of the hot glory of conflict.
To them fell no stirring battle honours. Yet who but must admire the
spirit that sent these gallant veterans into the zone of shell fire.
The view of the fighting from the actual front was, of necessity,
local. But here a much broader outlook was possible. Looking down
Mametz valley—“Death Valley” as it was colloquially known—towards
Montauban on the left and Trones Wood on the right centre, a mile
away, the immense superiority of our guns in the first place struck
the observer. The guns were everywhere, “ubique” indeed. They
were literally wheel to wheel. Recalling those dark days of 1915,
when we asked for support, and asked in vain, it made one’s heart
rejoice, with a strange exultation to see those inexhaustible stacks of
shells and to hear the incessant roaring of the guns.
And then one could not fail to be impressed with our mastery of
the air. How effectively the enemy had been blinded became daily
more obvious. The hum of aircraft rung in the ears as the guns
slackened. All day long the droning battleplane wheeled over the
scene of carnage. Reconnoitring planes flew backwards and forwards
with information of enemy masses, train movements and gun
positions. The more humble contact planes hung a few hundred feet
over the advancing troops and reported progress to the artillery.
They flew unperturbed over the avalanche of our own shells.
Whenever an objective was attained by our infantry coloured flares
ascended and the contact aeroplane immediately conveyed the
intelligence to the gunners, who lengthened their range and
prepared the ground for further advance.
Not only in aeroplanes were we seemingly supreme.
Observational work by aircraft was necessarily hasty and brief. It
was the captive balloon that supplied the more detailed and
continuous information. These balloons were connected to earth by
telephone. As many as twenty-five could be counted swinging lazily
in the breeze. Indeed, the increasing salient of our battle-front, as
we bit deeper and deeper into the German defences, could be
gauged by the wide crescent of these aerial outposts.
Not only above, but underneath, had this amazing tornado
passed. Our human moles had burrowed with an uncanny sense of
direction right underneath those ingeniously contrived German
subterranean passages. They had prepared—with an immense
amount of patience, self-sacrifice and danger, daring not only
detection by the enemy, but the far more insidious peril of poison
gas—mines beside which those at La Boisselle shrunk into pettiness.
And then, in a moment, by the mere pressure of an electric button,
in a mighty convulsion they had overwhelmed all those galleries and
caverns where the enemy was cowering under the avalanche of our
shells.
“Death Valley” then was now the centre of this hellish activity.
Blinded as they were the Germans poured a prodigal amount of
ammunition into it, and they had their own old positions ranged to a
nicety. And it is easy to understand how effective such a mass of fire
could be, when this was the only avenue by which rations could be
brought up to the infantry or ammunition for the guns. One would
see a G.S. waggon, pair of horses and driver, careering down this
Satanic road with ammunition, a stray shell, and blankness—nothing
to mark the event but an additional shell-hole, which the devoted
labour corps hurried out like solicitous ants to investigate and repair.
In spite of the frightful punishment the enemy were undergoing at
our hands, inaction could never be laid to their charge. Each day
saw their defences, so seriously threatened, grow more formidable.
Their pioneers were tireless. Their “Betontruppen,” specialists in the
erection of concrete machine gun emplacements, or “strong points,”
and their “Hollenbankommandos,” for the construction of dugouts,
were organizing a newly-formed system of trenches on a scale of
great magnitude, and with the invaluable accessories of strong
points. Trenches, wired and traversed, emerged in a single night.
The favourable features of the ground were everywhere transformed
into miniature fortresses of amazing strength, from whose loop-
holed bastions machine guns in countless numbers pushed their
deadly muzzles.
The sector of trenches occupied by us lay on the
extreme right of the British position, before August, 1916
Guillemont. On our right were the 156th Regiment
of Infantry, 10th Corps, French Army, and on our left the 8th
Liverpools. Guillemont was marked for early attack, but the time was
not yet. Artillery activity on both sides was continuous. The enemy
appeared to be nervous. At 8.30 p.m. on 1st August “B” Company
attacked an advanced German strong point with one platoon. This
platoon was hung up and forced to retire, owing to enemy barrage,
which was very severe. At 8.45 p.m. another platoon went forward
under Second-Lieut. A. J. Brockman and was completely successful.
We had previously dislodged the enemy with Stokes Mortar bombs,
and as they were retreating in large numbers (apparently the enemy
was massing for an attack) our artillery barrage caught them and
inflicted very severe casualties on them. Our casualties were slight,
Second-Lieut. Rudduck being wounded. In this brisk encounter
communication by telephone lasted for exactly an hour under a most
severe and accurate enemy shelling. In the early morning of 3rd
August the Battalion was relieved by the 4th Loyals and moved into
Brigade Reserve, in Dublin and Casement trenches, in front of
Maricourt, that is, to the rear of the Mametz valley.
The enemy shelled the left of our trenches but
did not cause any damage. We found some fatigue August, 1916
parties, including two for the front line. On the
night of the 4th we were relieved by the 5th Liverpools, of the 165th
Brigade, and proceeded to bivouacs south of Carnoy and west of
Bronfay Farm. The weather was very hot and the next three days
were spent quietly with bayonet fighting, physical drill and bathing
parades. At 6 p.m. on the 7th sudden orders were received, and at
8.15 p.m. the Battalion left bivouacs and proceeded to trenches near
Arrow Head Copse, in sector south of Trones Wood and Guillemont
Road. There was an awful congestion of troops in the Sunken Road,
but, fortunately, no shelling, and the Battalion did not have a single
casualty during the relief, which was completed by 1 a.m., when
preparations were made for the attack on Guillemont.
The order of battle from right to left was “D,” “A,” “B” and “C”
Companies. At 3.45 a.m. on 8th August the first line, consisting of
two platoons of each Company, crept out in front of the advanced
trench, at the same time the remainder of the Battalion occupied the
advanced trench. At 4.10 the first line advanced a short way and
waited four minutes. Second line left the trench and took up a
position twenty yards in rear of the first line. The second line was
closely followed by two platoons of the 4th Loyals as carrying party.
At 4.15 the enemy placed a very violent barrage of artillery fire
(shrapnel) on the fire trench. The first and second lines crept
forward closer to our own barrage to escape enemy fire. At 4.20 the
Battalion went forward again and the first line immediately came
under heavy bomb fire. This was absolutely unexpected, caused
heavy casualties, and the attack was arrested. The enemy then
opened very heavy machine gun and rifle fire, which caught the
second line as it came up to reinforce the first line.
Further advance being impossible, owing to uncut wire, the
Battalion retired out of bombing distance from the German trench
and started to dig in, fifty yards in front of our original trench. These
operations occupied twenty minutes. The enemy maintained a very
heavy barrage of shrapnel on the Sunken Road during the whole of
this time. The only means of communication during this time, with
the exception of one Company, to which the telephone wire was
intact, was by runner. Communication with the Battalion on the left
was completely lost. It was ascertained that this Battalion was
reported to be in the village of Guillemont, and it was intended to
make an attempt to get into touch with their right. Stokes Mortars
were brought up and were ordered to destroy the barricade on the
Sunken Road leading to Guillemont, with the idea of attacking and
taking this point and which would have enabled an advance on the
left to be covered. There was a great deal of delay in bringing up the
Stokes Mortar ammunition, the difficulties of communication were
great, and it made it extremely hard for orders to reach their
destination. This delay gave the enemy a long period of rest, which
was unfavourable to the success of any further enterprise.
The Stokes Mortars bombarded the barricade, but were not
successful in damaging it. It was intended that a bombing party
should assault at 12 noon, but the situation was seen to be quite
hopeless for the success of such an enterprise.
Our artillery, in the meantime, kept up an intermittent
bombardment for a long period. They were firing very short and our
front line had to be cleared. It was with the greatest difficulty that
the artillery were informed of this, which caused some casualties to
the Battalion. It was decided that any further attack was
impracticable and efforts were concentrated on improving the
present position as far as possible and to render it easily defensible
in the event of any hostile offensive. The Battalion was by this time
greatly reduced in numbers and was also fatigued by the strain of
the heavy fighting. There was a shortage of Officers. It was not
known what had happened to the Battalion on the left, and although
all effort was made to ascertain their position no information was
obtainable. It was impossible to obtain accurate information, which
made the situation worse. The remainder of the night was spent in
trying to collect wounded, improve our original position, and clear
the battlefield. At 3.55 a.m. on the 9th we were relieved by the 10th
Liverpool Scottish and proceeded, sorely stricken and almost
unmanned by the terrific strain of the recent fighting and the
shambles around us, to bivouac south-west of Carnoy.
The Battalion arrived in small parties. Stragglers came in during
the day. Captain Huthwaite, of the charmed life, wandering about
like a distracted shepherd looking for his flock, collected a number of
these and brought them in. A roll call was made with lamentable
results, disclosing eight Officers killed, including the Commanding
Officer, and nine wounded; 254 other ranks, including 48 killed and
206 wounded and missing. The Officers were:—

Killed.
Lieut.-Col. J. L. Swainson, D.S.O.
Capt. R. D’A. Morrell.
Capt. A. A. Wright.
2nd-Lt. Hodkinson.
2nd-Lt. Brockman.
2nd-Lt. Lawson.
2nd-Lt. L. Metcalf.
2nd-Lt. Hilton.
 Wounded.
Capt. Neill.
2nd-Lt. Welch.
2nd-Lt. Ferns.
2nd-Lt. Withey.
2nd-Lt. Clark.
2nd-Lt. S. F. Walker.
2nd-Lt. Wilcock.
2nd-Lt. Jackson.
2nd-Lt. Metcalfe.

The loss of the Commanding Officer was a stunning blow.

Although he had only been with us six weeks his influence on the
Battalion was marked and beneficent. We found ourselves guided by
a firm hand, directed with understanding. It was not given to every
regular Officer at that time to see eye to eye with the aspirations
and latent qualities of the Territorial Army. Captain Jackson, our late
Adjutant, had possessed this rare faculty and was ready to admit
and proclaim that in some essential military respects, of which
trench-digging was only one, the Territorial Army could more than
hold its own. Colonel Swainson was another with this gift of insight,
and with his regular experience, his knowledge of what to do, and
perhaps more important, what not to do, the Battalion seemed set
for a period of what can best be termed happy soldiering, when he
met his untimely end. The Command now devolved upon Major G. B.
Balfour.
For many days no recollection of these horrors was permitted to
diminish the enthusiasm of the Division. Concerts were held nightly.
On the bare slopes near Carnoy the infantry, worn out by their
recent trials, engaged themselves in innocent relaxation.
The theatre party of the Division, under our own Lieut. Leslie,
addressed themselves to their congenial offices with a diligence no
less justified of the times than it was deserving of support. Blood
had freely flowed and would flow again as freely. In the meantime
no dejection of spirits must be allowed to usurp the place of
contentment and good cheer. The guns were still ranged solidly
against the enemy and pulverising his trenches. His own artillery,
admittedly well-handled, was redoubling its opposition. More and
more troops, eager to win renown, and excited by the unwonted
activity, were pouring up towards the line. Defeated and despairing,
the Germans, stung to a paroxysm of frenzy, were hurling
themselves on their lost positions. Forfeitures of ground, privations
unproclaimed, renunciation of hope, submission and subjugation—all
these things they had been taught to abhor. And now, as we forced
them to accept adversity, they resisted with fierce courage.
The weather continued very hot. On the following day the
remnants of the Battalion paraded by companies for inspection, re-
organisation and checking deficiencies in equipment. Major-General
Jeudwine, commanding the Division, inspected us and cheered us by
his very austerity. A working party of one Officer and 70 other ranks
went into the front line to dig forward communication trenches. They
were heavily shelled by enemy artillery but only two casualties were
caused. We observed one of our forward trench balloons break away
from its moorings and sail away over the enemy lines. The occupant
was equal to the occasion and got out of his difficulties by the aid of
a parachute. On the 14th we left bivouacs at Carnoy and marched to
Méricourt with the Brigade, via Sand Pit, Meaulte, Ville-sur-Ancre
Treux, the transport travelling under Brigade arrangements via Bray-
sur-Somme.
The Battalion rested in billets in Méricourt, the time being spent in
refitting, re-organisation and steady drill. Bathing, too, received
attention, the weather being still very hot. A draft of 100 other ranks
from the 3/10th Manchester Regiment joined us and proved a good
lot of men. For the present the Division was not to be re-engaged on
the Somme, and at 4 a.m. on the 19th the Battalion paraded at
Méricourt Station and entrained for Abbeville, arriving at 11.30 a.m.
Time did not admit of the hoped-for coffee and omelette at the
“Bull’s Head,” and at 11.40 we were off again on the march, over the
bridge leading to the south side of the Somme, through Rouvroy and
Cambron, until at 4 p.m. we arrived in billets at Lambercourt.
We shall never forget that sweet corner of France. The fresh
profusion of green grass and yellow stubble, the prodigal wealth and
variety of arboreal treasures with abundant foliage, fruit trees laden
with their gracious burden. The scattered houses of the village,
nestling within bowers of roses and other sweet-smelling flowers, a
thin blue reek ascending from some chimney in a thatched roof.
Sharply and suddenly contrasted with the din and horror we had left
so recently these quiet scenes brought tears to the eyes and a sense
of realisation that a beneficent Power was still in charge of human
destiny.
A cavalry regiment had been dislodged in order that the P.B.I.
might have a fleeting respite in this corner of paradise. Whence they
had departed was a matter of conjecture, probably to another
delectable billet, as their turn had not yet come in the maelstrom.
For ten days the Battalion enjoyed the seclusion of this peaceful
retreat. The time was given over to platoon training, whilst drafts of
reinforcements continued to arrive. On the 23rd all Officers and
N.C.O.’s attended a lecture at Brigade Headquarters, given by
General Jeudwine, on the recent operations. A pleasing feature at
this time was the special short leave granted to small parties to St.
Valery-sur-Somme and Tréport. These were delightful little watering-
places on the estuary of the Somme, and it was whispered that the
delights of a casino awaited visitors to either place. Plans were in
preparation to extend these privileges to Paris, when the bolt fell
from the blue and the Battalion again turned its face to the east.
At 11.15 p.m. on August 29th we left
Lambercourt in light marching order, the men’s Aug.–Sept., 1916
packs having been despatched separately by motor
lorry, and marched via Cambron, Rouvroy, St. Marguerite, Mareuil,
Bray-les-Mareuil and Duncq to Pont Remy, where we arrived at 5
a.m. and had breakfast. Entraining and leaving Pont Remy at 8
o’clock we passed through Amiens and Corbie and arrived at
Méricourt-Ribemont at 11.40 a.m., on the inner edge of hostilities
once more. The Battalion moved to a point adjoining the main
Albert-Corbie road where billets in tents and hutments awaited us.
The weather was now unfavourable. Ten Officer reinforcements
joined from the base. Battalion training occupied us during our stay
in billets, and at midnight on September 7th we moved into trenches
in Montauban Alley, where we were in Brigade reserve, relieving the
1st South Staffords. On the 10th the Battalion moved up and helped
to man our front line trenches in Delville Wood, after the failure of a
previous attack. Here the Companies were all split up and it was
difficult to acquire accurate information. At 6 p.m. orders were
received from Brigade to carry out an attack by surprise at 5.15 a.m.
on to Hop Alley and German trenches on the western side of Delville
Wood. This attack was duly carried out with “D” Company on left
flank, “A” and “B” Companies in the centre, and “C” Company on the
right. All ranks were dead tired and there was no dash in the attack,
which failed directly the Germans opened with machine gun and rifle
fire. Our casualties in this encounter were not very heavy, but Lieut.
E. Spearing, commanding “D” Company, and Second-Lieut. G. R.
Glenie, Lewis Gun Officer, were both missing and were later found to
have been killed in action. The remainder of the 11th and 12th was
spent in holding the front line, which was heavily shelled, causing
heavy casualties. We were relieved by the 8th King’s Royal Rifles and
returned to bivouac at Becourt.
On the 13th the Battalion marched to Ribemont
and bivouacked in canvas shelters. Four officers September, 1916
reported here for duty, including Captain R.
Gardner, who rejoined the Battalion on recovery from his unlucky
adventure with a Very light some months previously, and Second-
Lieut. T. H. Middleton, having been appointed to a commission from
Sergeant-Signaller. From Ribemont to Buire, where we found
comfortable billets for both officers and men, and where we saw 850
German prisoners being marched to the rear. The 17th, being
Sunday, we attended a Brigade Church Parade, when the Padre’s
sermon was based on St. Peter “warming himself at the fire,” with
personal reminiscences of training in England during the early days
of the war. From Buire to Becordel, where we went into bivouacs in
drenching rain near Mametz prisoners’ camp.
The new bivouacs were devoid of any comfort whatsoever. A few
shelters were improvised for the night, but very few enjoyed
satisfactory shelter. Funkholes were dug at irregular intervals, in case
the enemy opened artillery fire. In the murky and rainy night, when
men arrived in driblets from heavy working parties, covered with
mud from head to foot, limping with fatigue, and hungry as only
men are hungry when much strenuous labour is required, there were
often no means of showing these poor wretches the many pitfalls
that lay in their path. Stumbling over the tangle of brushwood and
falling into the soft oozy mud lining the bottom of the funkholes, I
have heard them groping blindly for shelter, swearing roundly at
everything. But I have never failed to hear them sing when, under
equal conditions, they have found a few inches of tarpaulin ready to
shield them from the bitter cold, or a scattering of straw to serve as
their pallet. One is apt to grumble at home over little things. Let him
not grumble till he has passed a night under such conditions as
these.
Our front line had advanced considerably, and the next area of
operations was Longueval and Flers, well in front of Delville Wood.
After Holy Communion on the 24th the Battalion proceeded to
occupy reserve trenches known as Green Trench and King’s Walk.
Officers reconnoitred the lines of approach to Flers, and Second-
Lieut. Beazley was wounded. Our bombardment developed in
severity, and on the 26th orders were received to move forward,
three platoons to strong points at the end of Cove Alley and one
company and one platoon to Smoke Trench, while Battalion
Headquarters moved up to east of Flers.
On the 27th the 55th Division resumed active operations. The 8th
Liverpool Irish were detailed to assault and capture Gird and Gird
Support trenches, and the 4th King’s Own to furnish the fifth wave in
attack. Parties carried R.E. material for making strong points to
Grove Alley and Gird Support trenches. The trench was easily
captured by the 8th Liverpools, and the carrying parties carried out
their duties successfully and without casualties. These parties then
occupied a position on Factory Corner—Gueudecourt Road, keeping
in touch on the left with the 4th King’s Own. Arrangements were
made later to relieve the 8th Liverpool Irish in the captured
trenches. Several casualties were sustained in a bombardment
subsequent to the attack. At 2 a.m. on the 28th the 4th King’s Own
took over Gird and Gird Support trenches from the 8th Liverpools.
The trenches were heavily bombarded during the day by the enemy.
Three patrols with Lewis guns were sent out to locate the German
position and harass a working party which had been seen earlier in
the morning. At 2 a.m. on the 29th the Battalion was relieved in the
trenches by the Royal West Surreys and re-assembled at Mametz,
where a contretemps all but ended in minor disaster. The
Quartermaster had been handed over a paragon of bivouacs in the
form of tents, one of the best we had experienced, and was keeping
watch and ward over this treasure, when he was horrified to see a
battalion of New Zealanders descend upon him like the Assyrians of
old, or the plague of locusts, and take possession. Protests from a
mere Quartermaster of Infantry were met with airy nonchalance.
Other and prompt steps had to be taken. Olivette was saddled and
made short work of the journey to Brigade Headquarters, where a
sympathetic Staff Captain got busy, wires were set sizzling, and the
anxious Quartermaster eventually had the satisfaction of seeing
these unconventional soldiers march out of one end of the camp as
his precious Battalion hobbled in at the other, happily unconscious of
their narrow escape from homelessness. We moved thence to very
crowded billets in Dernacourt.
This was to be the close of our memorable association with the
Somme, for the present, at any rate. The approach of winter placed
an insuperable barrier on hopes of much further advance. Progress
had been definite, if it had not met the most sanguine expectations,
but the courageous tenacity and marvellous organization of the
enemy revealed the magnitude of the task yet to be completed.
 CHAPTER VI.
Ypres.

F or the present we were not to be re-engaged

upon the Somme, but, transported to Longpré, October, 1916
were moved into quarters for the night of October
1st at Bouchon. The following day we entrained at Longpré and
moved to the north. In the early afternoon we passed through
Abbeville. The tented dunes of Etaples swarmed with
reinforcements. As darkness descended we entered the region of the
flats of Flanders. The coast line receded. Boulogne and Calais were
left far behind. St. Omer and Hazebrouck were before us. Soon
these, too, were swallowed up in the night. At midnight we
detrained at Hopoutre and marched away. As dawn was breaking
officers and men threw themselves down to snatch a little sleep in
billets already provided at Poperinghe, ten miles west of Ypres. From
here, after bathing parade, the Battalion marched to “O” Camp, a
few miles nearer Ypres and just off the main Poperinghe-Ypres road.
This camp consisted of the usual pattern army huts, nearly new,
and, being weather proof, provided excellent accommodation, and
were much appreciated by the men after their rough experiences of
the past two months.
This, then, was our first introduction to the Ypres salient. Many
times in the early days we had hovered on its brink, and it seemed
strange that we should be only now making its close acquaintance,
eighteen months afterwards. Although we felt ourselves a little
disappointed with our renewed acquaintance with the Flemish fogs
and flats, we gradually adapted ourselves to the changed conditions.
A year had made a vast difference in our powers of appreciation.
Casting back to those grim days of Festubert there stood out in bold
relief pools rotting with dead, trenches constructionally weak, and an
enemy gunnery the mastery of which was denied us for many a long
day to come. But the passing of twelve months had shown us, week
by week, such striking improvements that there was now no limit to
our confidence. All these things reacted favourably on our outlook.
Our fickle minds recalled only the monotony of the rolling Picard
uplands. They were now touched by the vision of a new beauty.
For ten days the Battalion enjoyed immunity from the strain of
exacting work. The usual parades were held to preserve discipline
and efficiency. After the routine of daily parades and inspections it
was customary for a few of us to ride or cycle into Poperinghe,
about six kilometres distant. Poperinghe was the point of
convergence for the military in the Ypres salient, as Béthune was for
the La Bassée sector, Doullens for Arras, and Amiens for the Somme.
One of the first things to meet the eye was the prominence given
to “Gas Alarms.” A large notice was exhibited on a building in the
main square, where the road to Ypres left the town, which read
“Wind Dangerous” or “Wind Safe.” Otherwise its amenities bore
comparison with towns of greater pretensions. There was an
attractive Officers’ Club, established in a spacious building named
Talbot House, after its founder, Colonel Talbot, of an ancient lineage
and a staff officer. Here resided the Padre, the Rev. “Tubby” Clayton,
who afterwards was to render Talbot House famous as the original
home of its illustrious offspring, “Toc H.” This club had the air of
quiet decorum associated with its kind, and it was held by the
irreverent that any shell—from which, alas, Poperinghe was not
immune—from the German “Long Tom,” more impetuous than its
fellows and ill-advised enough to invade those awful precincts, would
shrivel to impotence in its frigid atmosphere. This was, of course,
uncharitable, but the painful fact must be recorded that the younger
element preferred the freer delights of Skindle’s and Kiki’s, two
restaurants whose air of gay animation made an irresistible appeal
to war-worn youth. Here the unheard of luxuries of fresh fish and
even oysters were included in a generous menu. These arrived daily,
we were informed, by canal from Dunkerque. Here also was
established the Divisional Concert Party, which had now attained a
high standard of efficiency in the exacting art of entertainment.
These played nightly as to the manner born to crowded audiences,
whose plaudits testified to the quality of the entertainment and their
own high spirits. One of these artists was a young imp of the 4th
Loyals, who made up in startling fashion as “Poppy Poperinghe.”
The appointment of Lieut.-Colonel G. B. Balfour to the command
of the Battalion, which he had held since the death of Lieut.-Colonel
Swainson, and that of Major H. A. Brocklebank as second-in-
command, was here confirmed. The appointment of Adjutant was
vacant about this time and was not filled permanently until
Sergeant-Major J. Way was commissioned and appointed on
December 23rd, 1916. Lieut. Mudie held the acting appointment for
one period of the interim and probably another officer, whose name
does not emerge.
On the 13th the Battalion was inspected by Brigadier-General
Stockwell and was complimented on its turnout. The Brigadier took
the opportunity of presenting decorations and medals—the Military
Cross to Company Sergeant-Major R. A. Williams, the Distinguished
Conduct Medal to Private C. Milton, and Military Medals to Second-
Lieut. T. H. Middleton, Sergeants H. W. Percival and P. Stalker and
Privates W. Nicholson and H. Jackson. At 5.15 p.m. on the 14th we
marched to Brandhoek Station and entrained for Ypres, arriving at
7.30. Here we went into quite good billets in the town—or what
remained of it—some in the ramparts and the remainder in the
school.
Of all the ghostly and melancholy ruins along the western front
Ypres stands out almost unchallenged. Right from the beginning it
had borne the brunt of the enemy’s insensate fury, and withstood it.
It still stood four square to the foe and marked the eastern boundary
of that tiny strip of Belgium, still held by the gallant Belgian army on
our left and ourselves. The deplorable ruin of its once beautiful
structure bore evidence of the cost of its retention. The square and
its surrounding buildings, including the ancient and lovely Cloth Hall,
were a heap of powdered rubble, with here and there a stark stump
of wall and an arched window still surviving. These maimed
remnants were periodically repulverised by senseless bombardment
by the enemy even as a dog returns to its vomit. I have known no
more eerie feeling than that experienced when crossing this desolate
square on a quiet night. Many of the houses in the remoter suburbs
were less damaged, and their cellars made excellent shelters when
the Hun carried out his frequent bombardments of this martyred
town. The civilian population had long been evacuated.
The trench system was divided into two sectors, the left, or
Potijze, and the right, or Railway Wood. The latter was approached
by way of the Menin Gate and road, past the notorious Hell Fire
Corner, and over the railway connecting Ypres and Menin in normal
times. The trenches were fair and there were some good dugouts.
The communication trenches leading up to the front line,
however, left something to be desired. These were named West
Lane and Mud Lane (afterwards re-named Beek Trench, so as not to
damage the morale of reinforcements!).
On the right of this sub-sector were two or three craters left by
previous mine operations, and the width of these craters
represented the distance between the enemy and ourselves, who
manned the opposite lips. A deathly silence usually reigned at this
point, the slightest movement or sound being audible on either side.
Still further to the right the line was incomplete. A line of “grouse
butts” connected it with the Menin Road (the left-hand boundary of
the Division on our right). These “grouse butts” were not held during
the day but were occupied at night by Lewis Gun Sections and
carefully patrolled.
When visiting these posts one night Captain R. Gardner was
“captured” by the Division on the right and marched down to their
Battalion Head Quarters so that his identity might be established!
At 6.30 p.m. on the 15th the Battalion moved off by platoons and
took over trenches in the right sub-sector at Railway Wood. On our
left were the 8th Liverpool Irish and on our right the New
Zealanders. The trenches needed repair and there was not much
rest for the Companies. There was some activity by the enemy, who
threw over many trench mortar bombs. One of these made a direct
hit on one of our cookhouses, killing one man and wounding
another. On the other hand our snipers reported having bagged
three Bosche. On the night of the 19th we were relieved and
marched back to our old billets in Ypres.
Twelve new officers, from the Lancashire Fusiliers, now joined us
—Captains F. H. Williamson and F. C. Slater and Lieuts. W. R.
Pattinson, G. Topham, J. H. Simpson, Second-Lieuts. C. W. Ford, J.
C. Alexander, R. A. Mudie, J. S. Patterson, R. Willett, J. Pearson and
A. T. Sheahan. Companies were reorganised—Captain Gardner to “A”
Company, Captain Slater “B,” Captain Huthwaite “C,” and Captain
Williamson “D” Company. Half the Battalion were moved into the
prison along with Battalion Headquarters. These billets were not
bad, but cold. Working parties were provided nightly for duty in the
trenches. On the 23rd we moved into trenches in the Potijze sector
on the left. The weather was bad and much labour was expended in
pumping water out of the trenches and in reveting. Everyone wore
gum boots, water being over the duck boards. The enemy was fairly
quiet, but five of our men were hit by shell fire.
The Brigadier was insistent upon repairs to trenches and to wire,
and upon obtaining command of No Man’s Land by constant
patrolling. Patrols visited the ruins of Oder House, situated between
the lines, and examined (from a respectful distance) a salient in the
German lines known as Kaiser Bill.
On the 27th we were relieved and went back to
billets in Ypres, moving thence on the 30th to Nov.–Dec., 1916
Elverdinghe, a little further to the rear, where we
found good billets for all, Battalion Headquarters being
accommodated in the chateau. Here a Defence Scheme was in
operation, and working parties were provided to maintain the trench
system and strong points, and test-manning of these points was
carried out periodically. Lieut.-Colonel G. B. Balfour went on leave
and Major H. A. Brocklebank took over temporary command. Captain
H. Y. Huthwaite reported sick and was transferred to England and
later to the Indian Army, greatly to the Battalion’s loss.
 The campaign now took the form of monotonous routine, life
alternating between the many camps round Ypres—“C,” “D,” “O” and
“P,” and quite good they were.
When out of the line the Battalion found a great many working
parties for the laying of telephone cables from the Reserve Areas up
to Ypres, especially round Machine Gun Farm.
Ypres itself, with an occasional turn in the front line trenches at
Potijze, St. Julien and Railway Wood. The Higher Command were
curious to learn the composition and quality of the enemy in front,
and for some time a raiding party of the 4th King’s Own had been
organising and rehearsing a sudden descent on the enemy. These
rehearsals were very practical in their value. A replica, as far as
possible, of the enemy’s position to be raided was marked out by
tapes on the practice ground and times and distances were carefully
noted. On December 21st there was a full and final rehearsal at “O”
Camp, and the raiding party of 200, under Captain J. A. T. Clarke,
were inspected by the Commander-in-Chief, Sir Douglas Haig. On
the evening of the 22nd the raiders dined in the large hall of the
Prison in Ypres, and at 1.30 a.m. on the 23rd they were armed and
inspected prior to their departure for the operation. With their faces
and hands blacked to minimise refraction of light and to facilitate
recognition of their own side during the actual raid, they looked a
grim lot. The raiders commenced to leave the Prison in small groups
at 3.15 a.m. and journeyed to the “jumping-off place,” a ditch
running north and south in the St. Julien sub-sector.
Their objective was to enter the German
trenches and penetrate to the Cameron support December, 1916
trench, with a view to killing or taking prisoners
and thus securing identification. At 5.25 a.m., under a very effective
artillery barrage, our men entered the enemy trenches according to
plan and penetrated as far as the support line. These trenches were
very badly knocked about by our barrage and, unfortunately, no
prisoners were taken and no identifications were obtained, the
Bosche evidently having abandoned his trenches when the
bombardment commenced. Our casualties were two officers,
Second-Lieuts. Smith and Hart, wounded, two other ranks killed,
three missing, and thirty wounded. This was a brisk and well carried
out minor action, and if the main result was disappointing, this was
due to the discretion of the Hun and perhaps defective preliminary
action on our part. Registering and preliminary bombardment having
been carried out by us for a week the fact of the raid had been
effectively advertised. Surprise methods which were adopted later
were more successful. Sergeant M. Caddy was killed—a good
experienced N.C.O. and a loss to the Battalion.
We must not omit to devote a little space to the remarkable
personality of the Corps Commander. The ubiquity of General Sir
Aylmer Hunter-Weston was phenomenal. He was fond of touring the
front line, and on coming to a sentry post, to mark his estimate of
the importance of that duty, he would stand in front of the
bewildered sentry, saying, “I, your Corps Commander, salute you,”
and, suiting the action to the word, did actually give the sentry a
most ceremonious salute. He was keen on researches on the roofs of
and behind cookhouses, while at Battalion parade inspection he
made men take off their boots, and exposed officers’ ignorance of
the “innards” of a water-cart. That legend should gather round his
name is not surprising. He was a fine officer whose sterling work in
France commenced with a Brigade in the original British
Expeditionary Force.
Wintry weather of the severest description now
gripped the land. Snow was frequent and frost so Jan.–Feb., 1917
intense that anything liquid was quickly turned to
ice. This condition persisted to the end of March, when there was a
welcome break.
The Division was relieved early in January, 1917, by the 39th
Division. The 165th and 166th Brigades went out at once, but the
164th Brigade, to which we belonged, was kept back in Reserve in
view of a possible attack against the junction of the British and
Belgian lines north of Ypres; the enemy might raid over the frozen
canal. It was bitterly cold in the camps. There was much
reconnoitring of the Elverdinghe defences and of the approaches
thence to the front line.
On February 3rd the Battalion left “D” Camp and marched by
Companies to the Cheese Market, Poperinghe, where it entrained at
5.50 for Bollezelle, arriving there at 10.15 p.m., and went into billets
in the village. Here Battalion training was carried out so far as
weather conditions would permit, but this training was often reduced
to snow shovelling and even to snow balling! On the 7th we
returned to “O” Camp, and on the following day the Brigadier
presented Military Medals to Company-Sergeant-Major Crichton,
Sergeant White, and Lance-Corporals Pedder and Taylor. We were
doing well in the football field hereabouts, and defeated the Welsh
Regiment, the A.S.C., and the 8th Liverpools in succession.
On February 27th we moved up to Ypres again,
but a thaw having set in made road transport and Feb.–Mch.–April,
1917
marching extremely difficult. When back in the line
we moved over to the trenches in the Left Brigade Sector, and got to
know Saint Jean, Wieltje and the trenches immediately north,
including a dangerous spot north of Dixmude Gate, known as Well X-
Roads. Headquarters were established at La Brique Post. On March
8th, 1917, Major P. E. Robathan, from a New Army Battalion of the
Royal Welch Fusiliers, was posted to the Battalion and appointed
second-in-command. In the trenches a great deal of patrolling and
investigation of the “Canadian Dugouts”—the old gun pits dating
back to the First Battle of Ypres—which lay half-way between the
lines. Lieut. (afterwards Major) J. H. Evans was very active in this
patrol work. Trench life on the whole was uneventful, although
enemy trench mortars were occasionally active. After the transition
period, October to December, 1916, the Battalion had shaken down
and the new organization was working smoothly—new commanding
officer, new second-in-command, and new adjutant. Reinforcement
officers had settled down, and the Battalion was gradually attaining
the fine condition it enjoyed before the Third Battle of Ypres.
 On April 16th we were relieved by the 10th Liverpool Scottish and
proceeded to “Z” Camp. The following day the Battalion marched to
Herzeele and went into billets, where a day or two was spent in
cleaning up, organization, and bathing. On the 22nd we marched to
Buysscheure and stayed the night in billets. The following day the
Battalion reached its destination, Moulle, near St. Omer. This
pleasant region was all that could be desired. The severe winter had
given way to glorious spring, and feathered songsters, no less than
ourselves, revelled in its advent. The silence of the clear moonlight
nights was varied by the song of the nightingale in almost
embarrassing volume.
For some time the Quartermaster, Lieut. J. Crossley, had shown
signs of the strain of the campaign, and on May 7th he returned to
England for a rest, after two years at the front, and was relieved by
Lieut. P. W. Powell.
 CHAPTER VII.
Third Battle of Ypres.

July 31st, 1917.

F rom April 23rd to May 6th we remained in

Moulle under perfect conditions. The time was May, 1917
given over principally to practising the attack and
consolidation of trenches. Training began early in the mornings and
the afternoons were devoted to relaxation. The downs west of St.
Omer formed ideal country for the re-conditioning of troops from the
Salient, while by way of relaxation inter-Company league football
matches were played. These were keenly contested and aroused
close interest. St. Omer, too, lay within easy reach and a visit amply
repaid the tedium of the brief journey. It was a sort of half-way
house to Calais, and its amenities could not be excelled in another
town of equal size. Its parks, even in wartime, were beautifully laid
out and kept in irreproachable condition. The beau monde of St.
Omer loved to dawdle in the gardens during these fine spring
evenings, and an attractive wartime gaiety pervaded the whole
town. Troops of various nationalities strolled about the boulevards or
sat sipping coffee in the restaurants. Blue and khaki uniforms
intermixed in the streets everywhere. Cadets wearing green bands
were to be encountered at every corner. Flying Corps officers
seemed to monopolise the club in the Grand Place. About the easy
manners of the boulevardier there was an inexplicable charm, which,
try as we might, we could never hope to imitate.
These pleasant days came to an end all too quickly, and on May
6th the Battalion began its return journey, marching to Buysscheure,
where it went into billets for the night. The march was resumed the
following morning to Arneke, where we entrained for Poperinghe
and thence by march to “A” Camp, near Vlamertinghe, once more.
Camp was shelled by long-range guns, causing some casualties.
 On the evening of the 8th the Battalion relieved
the 4th South Lancashire Regiment in the right May–June, 1917
sub-sector of the Potijze Sector, and started work
immediately on the trenches and patrolling. During the night of the
11th the battalions on our left and right made raids on the enemy
line, and we suffered a few casualties in consequence. During the
night of the 13th our patrol of two officers and three other ranks
encountered a strong enemy patrol of fifteen to twenty men and
dispersed them. Life hereabouts alternated between the trenches in
the Potijze Sector and billets in Ypres, and was of a more or less
routine character. The Battalion played no part, save that of
spectators, in the Second Army’s capture of the Messines Ridge on
June 7th. But before that operation lavish use of scaling ladders and
shrapnel helmets was made in our trenches in order to deceive the
enemy as to the front from which the expected attack would be
delivered. At 3.10 a.m. on June 7th the Battalion saw to the south-
east of Ypres nineteen gigantic poppies rise out of the darkness, the
firing of the mines upon which the tunnelling companies had been
occupied for two years; and even to-day the sight remains imprinted
upon the visual memory.
On the evening of June 9th a smart little raid was carried out to
ascertain if the Messines operations had resulted in any transfer of
enemy troops from other areas. A party of thirty other ranks of the
Battalion, under Second-Lieut. J. C. Alexander, entered the German
lines at Ibex Trench, capturing six Germans and killing three others,
with no casualties amongst our men. This was a most successful
operation. Second-Lieut. J. Alexander was awarded the Military Cross
for his leadership, while Lance-Corporal C. F. Cooper and Private J.
McAlarney each received the Military Medal for bravery displayed
during the raid.
On the morning of the 11th the Battalion marched to Poperinghe,
entrained for Esquelbecq, and thence by route march to billets at
Bollezeele for training. On the 13th, after cleaning up and bathing
parades, Companies were inspected by the Commanding Officer,
Lieut.-Colonel G. B. Balfour. On the 16th we moved by road to billets
and bivouacs at Grand Difques (Headquarters and “B” Company)
and Petite Difques (“A,” “C” and “D” Companies), and Battalion
training was resumed in the familiar downlands west of St. Omer.
The training was of a more advanced nature than in April, and
included Brigade field-days with preparation for offensive warfare on
a large scale. Training was generally completed by the early
afternoon, so that many hours of sunshine remained to be enjoyed
each day.
On June 30th Companies were inspected, and
the transport moved by road to Wallon Cappel en July, 1917
route for the line once more, while on July 1st the
Battalion marched to Lumbres and entrained for Brandhoek,
relieving the 4th Liverpools at Derby Camp. On our return to the
forward area we found great activity everywhere: formation of
dumps, preparation of gun positions, construction of tracks leading
towards Ypres through the country between Vlamertinghe and
Brielen.
On the 2nd we relieved the 6th Liverpools in the Wieltje right sub-
sector of the line, and commenced work on trenches, sand-bagging
and repairing wire. The usual patrols were sent out nightly. There
was increasing activity and unrest on both sides, and we received a
heavy bombardment on the 3rd when the Brigade on our left carried
out a raid. On the 7th the Brigade on our right carried out a
successful raid on the enemy trenches, and he retaliated with a gas-
shell bombardment. On July 9th we were relieved by the 4th Loyals
and proceeded to billets at Derby Camp.
Nominally in billets, but truly in name only. July 9th to 19th—a
period of intense strain. Companies lived in dugouts and strong
points between Derby Camp and Ypres. About 7 p.m. “A” Company
(Captain R. Gardner, M.C.), like all the others, used to parade for a
night’s work in the trench area east of Ypres—mostly carrying up
materials and munitions from dumps at Potijze and St. Jean to
selected positions for new dumps in the front line system—very
trying, as Ypres and the forward area were shelled with gas the
whole time and the parties had to work for long periods in box
respirators. In the end the allotted tasks were all carried out, with
heavyish casualties from shell fire and mustard-gas poisoning;
mustard gas began to be very bad from that point onwards. On
getting through the gas area to the west of Ypres again the working
parties not infrequently received salvoes of machine gun fire from
hostile aeroplanes a mile or so from their dugouts. Breakfast on
return (5 to 6 a.m.): sleep 6 a.m.—dinner (12 to 1 p.m.): afternoon
spent in administration and “paper” warfare with higher authority;
then back again to Ypres about 7 p.m. Ypres a grim sight: a mass of
flames from burning dumps. Every evening until the 19th the
Battalion paraded as strong as possible for work in the forward area.
Intense activity was apparent everywhere, and there were visible
signs that operations on a large scale were in early contemplation.
The objective of the Flanders offensive was the freeing of the
north-west of Belgium. The attack was delayed, partly owing to the
vastness of the preparations to be made on ground largely
overlooked by the enemy, partly to the policy of associating the
hard-hit French with the work of freeing part of Belgium. Three
armies were to be employed in the attack—the Second and Fifth
British Armies and the First French Army. Refitting and organization
proceeded apace, and on the morning of the 23rd Brigadier-General
Stockwell addressed all Officers and N.C.O’s regarding the
forthcoming operations. On the 26th Companies were inspected and
addressed by the Commanding Officer, Lieut.-Colonel G. B. Balfour,
and on the evening of the 29th the Battalion, in fighting order with
packs, proceeded to the concentration area.
We concentrated, under cover, in an assembly area just south of
Vlamertinghe and were ordered to get as much rest as we could
during the 30th. Some no doubt, slept as ordered, and others, like
Julius Cæsar’s troops before the battle with Ariovistus and his
Germans in 58 b.c., began to think of making their wills.
In the early evening of the 30th the Battalion moved up by
companies through the ruins and fires of Ypres towards Potijze and
assembled in Congreve Walk, between Potijze Road and Lone Street,
to wait for zero hour on the 31st. Major P. E. Robathan was in
command, Colonel Balfour, with other Officers, N.C.O.’s and men
forming B. Echelon at the Transport. We had a long wait through the
night while the first stage of the attack was carried out by the 165th
and 166th Infantry Brigades. At 3.30 a.m. on July 31st, under a
barrage of more intense power than any previously recorded in the
war, nine Divisions of the Fifth Army “went over the top,” while
attacks in co-operation were carried out on the right by the Second
Army and on the left by the French.
By 9 a.m., after severe fighting, the assaulting battalions of the
165th and 166th Infantry Brigades had captured their objectives,
known as the Blue Line and the Black Line, on the north side of the
Ypres-Roulers railway, penetrating about one to one and a half miles
from Wieltje into the German system. To the 164th Infantry Brigade
fell the second stage of the attack, to pass through the 165th and
166th Infantry Brigades and capture the enemy’s third line system,
the Green Line or Gheluvelt-Langemarch Line, about one mile
beyond the Black Line.
At 8.20 a.m. the 164th Infantry Brigade began its advance on a
two-battalion frontage. The right front was formed by the 1/4th
North Lancashire Regiment with the Battalion in support, and touch
was to be kept on the right with battalions of the 45th Brigade (15th
Division); the left front was formed by the 2/5th Lancashire Fusiliers
supported by the 1/8th Liverpool (Irish). The slow advance from
Congreve Walk towards the Black Line was carried out in its early
stages according to schedule, and, in spite of a heavy retaliatory
barrage, without serious loss. But before the Black Line was reached
it was found that the enemy still held some of his concrete “pill-
boxes” (the term “farms” being a courtesy title) and fighting became
very severe, the support battalions becoming involved.
But the advance from the Black Line to the Green Line was the
Battalion’s real task. Wonderful as the barrage had been at the
outset it lost a little in intensity as the ranges lengthened and as
time progressed. The Green Line was reached by all units of the
Brigade and was held for about three hours. Among many who
fought with gallantry and devotion Lance-Sergeant T. F. Mayson
behaved with a distinction which won him the Victoria Cross. Single-
handed he put out of action two machine guns and their crews and
during the enemy counter-attack later in the day held up the
advance at an isolated post by Lewis Gun fire.
It was not possible to occupy the Green Line permanently (it was
many weeks before British troops again trod ground east of the
Kansas Cross roads). Although touch had been established on the
Green Line with the 15th Division on the right, the 39th Division on
the left had encountered such serious difficulties that, although their
right battalion gained touch with the Lancashire Fusiliers on the
Green Line, a defensive flank had to be formed.
Moreover, in the early evening the enemy
delivered a most determined counter-attack against August, 1917
the Green Line, and the Battalion, contesting, like
the other units, every inch of ground, was compelled to withdraw to
the Black Line, which it held against counter-attack, and at 1.30 a.m.
on August 1st received orders to withdraw to the old British front
line. Battalion Headquarters moved from Pommern Redoubt, and
about 5 a.m. reached the mined dugout in Oxford Trench, where
they joined Lieut.-Colonel Hindle, D.S.O., of the 4th Loyals, and his
battalion headquarters.
The remnants of the Battalion and those of the 4th Loyals,
manned the old front line from the top of New John Street to
Warwick Farm. It was not until mid-day that all the survivors were
collected—about 150 in all. Lieut. C. E. Withey took command of the
front line, having under him Second-Lieuts. Lauder, Newbold,
Gribble, Latham and Ellwood, and Second-Lieut. Lonsdale, of the 4th
Loyals. Information was received that the enemy had driven back
our advanced posts upon the Frezenberg Line and was preparing to
assault that line. Preparations were accordingly made to hold the old
front line as strongly as possible and a defence was quickly
organised.
Heavy rain had rendered the old trench almost untenable, and the
task of reforming trench duties and taking round the rations was
extremely difficult. Towards midnight fifty stragglers were brought
up from Transport lines, under Second-Lieut. Lingford, to reinforce
the garrison. No casualties were sustained in the fire trench,
although it was intermittently shelled. On August 2nd information
was received that the Brigade was to be relieved by the 108th
Brigade. The relieving troops arrived at 1.30 p.m., and relief was
reported complete by 2.30. The situation was quiet during the
morning, and no further casualties were sustained.
Upon relief by the 9th Royal Irish Rifles, Companies moved off
independently, and by 5 p.m. had all reached the old concentration
area at Vlamertinghe. Battalion Headquarters boarded a motor lorry
outside St. Jean and had not proceeded very far when a heavy shell
exploded just behind. Three were seriously wounded (two of whom
afterwards died) and two slightly wounded. Colonel Hindle, of the
4th Loyals, Major Robathan, and the other occupants of the wagon
had very narrow escapes. On reaching the concentration area
everyone received a welcome rum ration—an indulgence which in a
few instances produced curious effects! Food was ready and also
baths and clean clothes. Colonel Balfour and the Officers and
N.C.O.’s of the “B” List were assiduous in their attentions to the
survivors. They had had information of the progress of the battle
from wounded Officers passing through the Clearing Station at
Vlamertinghe Mill. At 8.45 the Battalion left the concentration area
and proceeded by buses—in a long convoy with the other units of
the Brigade—to the Watou No. 3 Area, via Brandhoek and
Poperinghe.
Camp outside Watou was reached about 1 a.m. on the 3rd,
rations and transport arriving a little later. Heavy rain had fallen and
the camp was a quagmire, but the exhausted troops threw
themselves down thankfully and were soon oblivious to their