History of the 1/4th Battalion Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment, 1914-1919.Bales, P. G.
History
History of the 1/4th Battalion Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment, 1914-1919.
Bales, P. G.
Great Britain. Army. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment; World War, 1914-1918 -- Regimental histories -- Great Britain
When the captures came to be totalled up it was found that there were
no less than 37 prisoners, and, in addition, three enemy machine guns
had been brought back by the raiding party. Among the prisoners was the
little bald-headed man, who had been the source of so much amusement to
the front line troops the previous tour. Also, many dead and wounded
were lying about round the pill-box, not counting a number who had
certainly been wounded in escaping to the rear. All this had been
accomplished by a total force of one officer and thirty-three other
ranks--less than the total number of prisoners--with a loss of only two
killed and eight wounded. Unfortunately, two of the wounded afterwards
died. The greatest loss to the Battalion was Cpl. H. Kane, D.C.M.,
M.M., who was severely wounded in the back and, after dragging on for
several weeks in hospital, died. He was one of the most gallant N.C.O’s
the Battalion ever had--the sort of man who would have won the Victoria
Cross had the chance come his way.
[Illustration: Major W. C. FENTON, M.C.]
[Illustration: Capt. N. T. FARRAR, M.C.]
[Illustration: Capt. A. KIRK, M.C.]
[Illustration: Capt. P. G. BALES, M.C.]
So great had been the success of the raid that, when the first estimate
of prisoners--30--was telephoned through to Brigade H.Q., they were
too sceptical to forward the news to the Division. When the prisoners
began to appear over the crest line, they were seen by some artillery
observers who, never dreaming that such success had been gained, sent
frantic messages through that the enemy was counter-attacking. When
this was denied they declared that they could see the enemy in crowds
coming down the hill.
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