The American 27th division arrived in France at the end of May 1918 send to a trainings camp 20 kilometres north of Abbeville. On the 30th of June they were attached to the British second army, two days later they moved to the Ieper Salient and were attached to the British 19th corps. They received orders to proceed to a sector near Dikkebus and Scherpenberg. By the 22nd of August they had to relieve the British 6th division. The frontline covered an area of nearly 2 km from Elzenwalle to North of Kemmel hill. There was hardly any activity and by the 30th of August the 19th British corps had strong suspicions that the Germans were retreating. So patrols were send out and by the next day they came to the conclusion that the Germans had left Kemmel hill.
Evening report 30/08/1918 AEF 27th division : Five explosions at west end of Kemmel. Intermittent shelling at Loker Chateau at long range.
Morning report 31/08
Our patrols reported to be in Dranouter. On Scherpenberg front enemy trenches have been crossed without opposition and patrols are advancing. Enemy is occupying his posts on left of Scherpenberg front. Hostile artillery very slight.
23 prisoners passed through division cage. In addition, two 0.R.( other ranks) wounded, were evacuated one having died since.
IDENTIFICATION of German regiments
153 I.R. 8th Division, north of Vierstraat 11 O.R.
459 I.R. 236th Division, N.6.a. &c 5 O.R.
93 I.R., 8th Division, N.15.d 7 O.R.
The prisoners of the 153d I. R. were from the 8th Company and stated that orders for withdrawal were given 3 days ago. The withdrawal would extend back to good sound ground on Messines Ridge where entrenchments were being prepared. Prisoners further state that it is generally understood that Kemmel had been mined in anticipation of our occupancy. Prisoners of the 459th I.R. belong to the 6th Company. State that company has been in line for three days and expect relief in about 3 days .It has been expected that the division would be relieved. Prisoners stated they did not know by what division relief would be made, although one prisoner stated he understood the trenches would be taken over by Bavarians. Prisoners all agreed that the strength of company was about forty men. Further stated that orders for withdrawal have been treated with unusual secrecy. One prisoner stated reason for withdrawal was that they were too weak to hold the line as it was at present. Left boundary of division was said to be at Voormezeele and right boundary of the regiment was at Zillebeke Lake. Prisoners confirmed order of battle from south to north:
459th I.R., 458th I.R., 457th I.R.
From das 1 Pommersche feldartillerie regiment Nr. 2
The infantry had already occupied the Prussian position in the night of 27.8.1918 with the standby battalion. This shifted the emphasis of the defence to the Prussian position. In the night of 28 August, the 58 JD was withdrawn. The 8 JD relieved them and finally cleared the Kemmel position on 29 August, unhindered by the enemy.
Oblt. der Reserve Rathge 9/2 reports on the Kemmel evacuation: “When the order came to evacuate Kemmel, we all realised for the first time how serious our situation was. It filled us with anger and melancholy that we had to give up this piece of soil without a fight, which we had conquered with so much blood shedding and hardship, we had held it for four months,. The 9/2 was the foremost battery on the enemy and was the last to retreat. It was not, however, an overly comfortable feeling The retreat was delayed by the fact that it was a long way back. In addition, my own infantry already appeared in the position and told me that there were only very thin patches in front, which would immediately fall back in the event of an enemy attack. It was easy to guess how this would happen, given the already declining resistance of our infantry. That’s why it was a load off my mind when the wagons finally appeared; but once again my patience was put to the test when the last piece of protection, of all things, got caught in a deep shell crater and it took a lot of effort to pull it out. To top it all off, an enemy parachute launched flares that lit up the area as bright as day. Fortunately, he did not spot us.
All the staffs and batteries. of the regiment were pulled out of their positions on the night of 31.8 and marched to the protzen quarters in and around Bousbecque.
Part of these batteries are back by 01/9, east of Hollebeke, Geluveld.
Sources : John R O’Ryan the story of the 27th division part two
Pommersche feldartillerie regiment N° 2
Images : Pommersche feldartillerie regiment N° 2
There is more to come on this area next week