The Sound of Drums: To the Last Man - A Company of Heroes AAR
Part One
15th October 1939 - May 8th 1940
The 1st CFC Infantry Division had come together on the 20th October 1939, not long after the war had begun. The Peck-Nodikus Recruitment Act had recently been passed, designed at creating a massive 18 infantry divisions for the duration of the war. The intention was for these divisions to form the backbone of the British Army throughout the war - they would be trained, deployed, see victory and finally be disbanded.
Those that joined with what was to become the 1st CFC Infantry Division were only there through chance, nothing set them apart from any of the many thousands of other volunteers who would be assigned to other divisions. Similarly there was nothing particularly remarkable about the division itself, as it was given the same training and equipment other infantry divisions would receive. It was what the 1st CFC Infantry would come to do that would ultimately set it apart.
A platoon of the 1st CFC Infantry during a defence drill in southern England
There were just two months to train the men before deploying them to some part of the British Empire. This meant they had to be brought up to physical strength, learn the basics of small-arms combat as well as be taught the elementary aspects of infantry tactics. Sometimes they were taught tactics that had been created as a response to the unfolding battles on the continent - as the lessons of Poland were made clear to High Command, troops began to notice a stronger emphasis on anti-tank defence drills and stronger co-operation with the artillery regiments.
The 18th December 1939 saw the first three Peck-Nodikus divisions created. Two of those divisions, including the 1st CFC Infantry, were to go to France to reinforce the BEF. Poor weather over the Channel and a desire to let the newly trained troops enjoy Christmas saw their departure delayed until the 28th, arriving at Calais the next day. If any of the men felt queasy from their voyage, then they got the chance to walk it off as the division began an 8 day march south to Reims, finally arriving at their destination on the 7th January. Here they joined up with the 1st Infantry Division under General Wavells VII.Corps, and finally began the job of creating a defensive position for when the Germans turned west.
A clearly staged shot of Major-General Davo with his men.
From December, Major-General Whyte was in charge of the 1st CFC Infantry, and it was under his charge that the division prepared its defensive trenches and fortifications. He encouraged his regiments to work closely with the artillery brigade attached to the 1st Infantry Division, basing most of his strategy on heavy bombardment of the enemy to deter or weaken their attack, or even as a precursor move before launching a counter-attack. It was under his command that the 1st CFC Infantry became an efficient, cohesive fighting force, learning far more from Whyte than at any point in their training. It came as a double blow for the Division then, when he was killed by enemy aircraft on the same day the Germans launched their invasion of the west.
In his place came ComradeDavo. Despite coming from a traditionally military family, as well as having serving in the Great War and ending it as a colonel, he was a Member of Parliament when Germany declared war on Poland. He had attempted pursuing a political career following the wars end, joining the Conservative Party in 1921 but never really progressing from the backbenches. His active role in the Imperial Defence Council in its waning days got him noticed however, and when he announced his desire to return to military service he was granted a promotion to major-general and given command of the CFC 1st Infantry Division.
He had quite the legacy to live up to. Within a week of his arrival in Reims it was announced that the Netherlands was overrun, and that the Germans would be in France in days. He had very little time to prepare his division or effect any many changes, all he could do was wait for the German attack and trust that his mens training and organisation would be enough to hold the line
