The British Campaign in France and Flanders, 1915Doyle, Arthur Conan
History
The British Campaign in France and Flanders, 1915
Doyle, Arthur Conan
World War, 1914-1918 -- Campaigns -- Western Front
It may be noted that the losses of the two supporting divisions were
about 8000 men. Their numbers in infantry were about equal to the
British troops at Waterloo, and their casualties were approximately
the same. Mention has already been made of the endurance of
Mitford's 72nd Brigade. The figures of the 63rd and their comrades
of the 64th are little inferior. Of these troops more than 40 per
cent of the rank and file, 65 per cent of their officers, and 75 per
cent of their commanders lay upon the field of battle. When one
recollects that 33 per cent was reckoned a high rate of loss by the
greatest authorities upon warfare, and when one remembers that these
were raw troops fighting under every discomfort and disadvantage, one
feels that they have indeed worthily continued the traditions of the
old Army and founded {215} those of the new. There were isolated
cases of unordered retirement, but in the main the regiments showed
the steadiness and courage which one would expect from the good
North-country stock from which they came.
The divisional artillery of the Twenty-first Division had come into
action in the open behind the advancing infantry, and paid the price
for their gallant temerity. The 94th Brigade R.F.A. lost especially
heavily, eight of its guns being temporarily put out of action.
Major Dobson of this brigade was among the killed. It is to be
feared that the guns did not always realise the position of the
infantry, and that many of the 64th Brigade especially were hit by
their own shrapnel. Such painful incidents seem almost inseparable
from modern warfare. The artillery kept its place, and afterwards
rendered good service by supporting the advance of the Guards.
[Sidenote: Reorganization.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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