War is often the setting for strange occurrances- both scary and miraculous. World War One was no exception. August 1941 saw reports of British troops at Mons, France fighting side by side with "angels". Mons was also the site of the Hell Hound of Mons- a large vicious grey hound that would murder any soldier that ventured out into "No Man's Land" in between the opposing forces trenches.
The trench lines between the Belgium city of Ypres, and the French towns of Arras and Bailleul were the site of another ghostly and miraculous event... That of a ghostly troop of cavalry. At this time, horse cavalry was still in use, thought quickly being replaced by armoured cavalry- tanks.
A Captain Wightwick was the British Intelligence Officer for that region, and had his headquarters in the town of Bethune. Casualities were heavy and supplies low. The country of Portugual had entered the Great War on the side of the Allies, landing in France in March of 1918. At the same time, Germany sent forth more and more men and weapons, hammering the allies relentlessly. By the end of March, Wightwick was informed that some Portuguese soldiers would be coming through his area to relieve the British soldiers there, and take over the defence of that part of the front lines. It was feared that with the enemy being so vigorous in their attacks, that the sector would be lost by June.
The German artillery pounded the Portuguese troops, until a gap was opened in the front lines- allowing the enemy soliders to "go over the wall", and push the Allied troops back. Portuguese soldiers, as they fled towards Bethune had dropped their weapons and equipment.
The "Angels of Mons" were reported to have been summoned by the united prayers of the British people back at home. As the battles near Bethune raged, a cry went out for the citizens of England to unite again in prayer for their brave troops. Across the Atlantic, the call to prayer was echoed.
Then it seemed that the prayers were answered...
The intense artillery that the Germans forces were directing towards the Bethune lines lifted one day, and redirected outside the town. According to reports, it was all open field with trees a few houses, and little else. For some reason, the Germans started directing not just their artillery barrages, but also their machine gun fire towards this location. Captain Wightwick wondered what the enemy was up to, and went to investigate.
Wightwick and his troops stood amazed as the Germans blitzed the naked ground. Craters grew where artillery rounds thundered, and puffs of dirt showed where machine gun rounds struck the ground. They couldn't figure it out- had the German Commander lost his mind? What was going on?
Stealthily moving along the canal, the Captain tried to see what could cause the Germans to shift their attacks to an apparently empty area. As he moved through the rubble of the town, all went silent- the only sound coming from a lark flying into the sky singing a song. A Sergeant and some of the British troops were waving their hats at Captain Wightwick, and yelling that the enemy was retreating. Over the rise, he could see a line of German soldiers halting, then depsite being well trained soldiers, throw down their weapons and packs in fear before running in the opposite direction.
The whole time, Captain Wightwick saw nothing that could explain what was happening...
The Sergeant managed to capture two German soldiers- both of the officers. According to the prisoners, the two were checking the areas around Bethune in case any British reinforcements were approaching. What the two saw, coming out of the some was a horse cavalry brigade. Each member of this brigade was mounted on a white horse, and wore a white uniform. The German Lieutenant assumed their British Colonial troops, but had never heard of any of the British cavalry wearing white uniforms.
Despite the chaos of the thundering shells landing around them, this strange group of riders moved forward at a slow and steady pace. The prisoners stated that it was likey they were on parade, rather than at battle. Machine guns revved up- firing at the advancing horse troops, but not a single horse or rider dropped... they just kept coming.
Leading this seemingly invulnerable brigade in white was a man whose hair shone like spun gold- almost like an aura or halo. His horse was massive, and bore him proudly forward. One hand held a sword, and the other held his horse's reins. The Germans described them as advancing, "remorseless as fate, as the incoming tide..." At that moment, the troops broke in fear, and fled- defeated by this ghostly brigade of riders.
Captain Wightwick had a chance to question other prisoners from that battle- each soldier recounted the same story of the strange White Cavalry advancing from the battle smoke as if they were some terrible punishment from beyond. And all the while, not a single British soldier saw their phantom defenders...
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