It is a sad irony that the very ground that was fought over by the 1st Royal Scots and 2nd Royal Norfolks in May 1940 had been fought over by the 8th Royal Scots in April 1918, another rear-guard action against a German Offensive, The Battles of the Lys, which was firstly on Merville and Béthune, secondly on Hazebrouck and finally the Ypres Salient and the Channel Ports.
In response to the offensive the 8th Royal Scots were marched up to Mont-Bernanchon* on the 9th April. The next day they were ordered forward to Pacault* where they came under German Artillery fire, sustaining casualties, who are buried in the CWGC Cemetery in Mont-Bernanchon Churchyard. Fallen of The Royal Scots and Royal Norfolks including a large number of undentified British Soldiers from May 1940 are buried alongside them. After dark on the 10th April B Company moved to a position in front of Paradis (near Lestrem) in support of the 7th Gordons who were West of the River Lawe. Heavy fighting on the 11th April pushed back the Gordons and the rest of their Division from the line of the Lawe, and B Company fell back with them holding the German Advance on the line of the railway near Merville.
In the meantime C Company had a before dawn that day from Pacault and dug in about 500 yards east of Paradis Church and broke a dangerous German attack which started at 8 am sustaining many losses. A Company meanwhile had moved at about 7 am west of Pacault and dug in about 1,000 yards south-west of C Company. The attack reached them at midday with the Germans establishing themselves in groups of houses nearby. Artillery fire was directed on them and they were brought down by small arms fire from A Company as they moved out into the open. C Company fought off a violent assault at the same time and elements of B Company moved up to reinforce C Company’s left flank. This still left both Company’s flanks exposed and so the acting CO withdrew them slightly to maintain liaison with the Units on their flanks. By the night of the 11th/12th April it seemed the worst of the offensive had passed, and then just before dawn on the 12th April a tremendous attack was launched along the whole of the line. The Germans broke through on the left and got behind The Royal Scots position, surprising Battalion HQ. A and C Companies though surrounded fought on. A Company crossed La Bassée Canal near Mont-Bernanchon and C Company formed a line with a party of Sappers through Pacault Wood and kept the Germans at Bay until dusk, and then crossed the Canal under cover of darkness, ending the 8th Royal Scots part in fighting in the area that would be fought over again by the 1st Royal Scots twenty two years later.

* Note spelling has changed: Mt. Bernenchon to Mont-Bernanchon, Pacaut to Pacault and Paradis to Le Paradis (locals still say “Paradis”, as does Satnav).

The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) WW1 Battalions