The British Campaign in France and Flanders, 1917 — John Shaqi
The British Campaign in France and Flanders, 1917Doyle, Arthur Conan
History
The British Campaign in France and Flanders, 1917
Doyle, Arthur Conan
World War, 1914-1918 -- Campaigns -- Western Front
During the night of April 10 the Twelfth Division was withdrawn into
reserve, and the advance was resumed in the early morning by the
remaining divisions and the cavalry. At 5 A.M. the infantry was
closing in upon Monchy under a heavy fire. The line of advance
extended right across the Cambrai road, the 76th Brigade finding
itself opposite to the village of Guémappe. Here they were exposed
to a very heavy fire of machine-guns, and this famous brigade
sustained heavy losses, which were increased by a second attempt to
get forward in the afternoon. The 76th Brigade finally entrenched
itself some half a mile to the west of Guémappe and waited for
developments. The 8th Royal Lancasters were particularly hard hit in
their attack.
In the meantime the 111th Brigade of the Thirty-seventh Division had
advanced directly upon Monchy, and after severe fighting, in which
the splendid infantry struggled onwards in the face of every possible
difficulty of German resistance and of driving snowstorms, the place
was carried by assault. The three regiments of cavalry from the 8th
Brigade, the Royal Horse Guards, 10th Hussars, and Essex Yeomanry,
advanced at a gallop and did splendid service by taking {48} part in
the attack, following closely upon the infantry, and helping to
consolidate the village. By nine o'clock in the morning the 13th
K.R.R. and 13th Rifle Brigade, greatly aided by a very active and
efficient tank, had driven their way to the farthest houses upon the
eastern side. About 150 of the garrison remained in their hands,
while very many lay dead among the ruins of the shattered buildings.
The cavalry, who lost their brave leader, General Bulkeley Johnson,
emerged on the eastern side of the village and lost heavily at that
point, especially in horses, some 500 of which were hit. They had
the satisfaction, however, of getting their light guns fairly on to
the Germans, as they streamed across the open. One who was present
says: "The cavalry filled the gap between us and the 112th Brigade.
They lost heavily, and their conduct was magnificent." The new gain
was instantly consolidated by the Colonel of the Rifles.
The Fifteenth Division upon the left of the Thirty-seventh had been
fighting its way forward upon the north, endeavouring to keep in line
with the Thirty-seventh. It had got somewhat ahead of the Fourth
Division, however, which was to the north of the Scarpe, and in
consequence had to face the whole fire from the strong village of
Rœux, which held them up. The general line of the corps that
night was La Bergère, Monchy, and then the line of the Monchy-Fampoux
road as far as the Scarpe. To the north of the Scarpe there had been
no forward movement, as the Chemical Works to the east of Fampoux
presented an obstacle which was beyond the immediate scope of Sir
Charles Fergusson's operations.
[Sidenote: April 11]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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