Lives in Cricket No 22 - Jack Mercer

17 real test of what military historians now describe as ‘the newly raised citizen army’, created following Lord Kitchener’s calls to arms. Whilst at Fleurbaix they took part in a series of training activities with further instruction about going into combat, including route marches around the surrounding area, designed to get boots and feet in order. During the mornings Jack and his colleagues regularly took part in bayonet training as well as having sessions with more advanced varieties of weapons and explosives. During the afternoons, the battalion took part in physical exercise, including some rudimentary games of football, and occasionally cricket. Like the others, Jack revelled in the opportunity to enjoy some light relief, including games with other battalions stationed locally. But everyone was brought back down to reality in early June when they were told that they should be ready to attack at short notice, and for the next few weeks regular briefings about the whereabouts of German troops replaced the afternoon recreation. 8 Throughout their time at Fleurbaix, there was plenty of decent food brought by the nightly convoy of trains from the northern ports, but it soon became clear that their excellent diet was part of a ‘fattening -up process’ prior to a phase of combat. 9 Jack – by now a second lieutenant, rather surprisingly given his social background and limited formal education – was well aware that the time for fun and games were over. After three weeks on standby, the time came for action as the battalion took part in a series of assaults at Richebourg l’Avoue, about fifteen miles west of Lille. Their activities were part of a larger programme of diversionary activities prior to the Battle of the Somme, some twenty miles or so to the south, which began in earnest the following day. At 3.05 am on the morning of 30 June, the battalion advanced on enemy lines following an artillery bombardment, but after making a swift initial advance, the battalion was soon facing superior German forces. Although they broke through to the support line, there was a massive counter- attack by the German troops. As an historian of the Battalion later wrote, ‘The Germans were ready for us, and many of the soldiers brought back a notice in English which read “Come on Sussex boys. We’ve been waiting for you for three days!”’ 10 Besides being aware of the pending assault, the troops in this particular section of the German lines had not been attacked since October 1914 so they had time to construct extensive lines of trenches and dozens of defensive positions where machine guns could be sited. Jack’s battalion had to withdraw hastily when their supply of ammunition gave out, and it was during this operation, moving back towards Richebourg, that Jack To Russia, with love 8 Further information about the regiment’s preparations for the Battle of the Somme is given in Owen Rutter, History of the Seventh (Service) Battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment, 1914-1919 , Times Publishing, 1934. 9 These daily briefings were important as the diversionary attacks were carried out at night and in the early hours, requiring the attacking troops to be very well acquainted with the locality and terrain. 10 G.D.Martineau A History of the Royal Sussex Regiment , Moore and Tillyer, 1953, p 185. Martineau was also the author of several cricket books and a contributor to The Cricketer magazine.