The British Campaign in France and Flanders—July to November, 1918Doyle, Arthur Conan
History
The British Campaign in France and Flanders—July to November, 1918
Doyle, Arthur Conan
World War, 1914-1918 -- Campaigns -- Western Front
August the 24th was a heavy day in the Sixth {107} Corps, who were
ordered to push on and gain ground to the utmost extent along the
whole front. In order to strengthen the movement, the Canadian Corps
had been very quietly and deftly removed from the right wing of
Rawlinson's Army and transferred to the left wing of Byng's Army, in
touch with the Fifty-second Division.
It will be remembered that the Second Division, though they had taken
Ervillers, had been pinned down there by German fire, while they had
failed to take Behagnies or Sapignies. Both these movements were now
resumed. In the night of August 23-24 the 1st King's Liverpools
advanced from Ervillers upon Mory, but were held up by very heavy
fire. The 3rd Guards Brigade on the north was advancing successfully
upon St. Leger and this had the effect of outflanking the Mory
position on that side. St. Leger was taken by the 2nd Scots Guards
and the 1st Welsh, who cleared it in the course of the afternoon.
They could get no farther, however, until the Second Division had
completed its task at Mory. This was now in the hands of the 99th
Brigade, who, headed by the 1st Berkshires, with the 1st Royal Rifles
behind them, and a spearhead of tanks in front, broke down all
opposition and captured Mory Copse, a very formidable position full
of emplacements and dug-outs. By this success the threat was removed
from the right of the Guards, and all was clear for their further
advance upon Ecoust.
[Sidenote: August 25.]
The Sixty-second Yorkshire Division had now moved up to relieve the
Second Division, but the latter were determined before their
withdrawal to complete their unfinished tasks. In the early morning
of August 25 the attacks upon the two obdurate villages {108} were
resumed, after a very heavy bombardment. The new venture was
splendidly successful. The 2nd Highland Light Infantry and the 24th
Royal Fusiliers rushed into Behagnies while it was still dark and
cleared out the whole village. This enabled the force to get to the
rear of Sapignies, which was stormed by the 2nd Oxfords--a battalion
with such proud traditions that even now in semi-official documents
it is still the 52nd Light Infantry. 300 prisoners and 150
machine-guns were taken in the village, a proportion which
illustrates how far machines were taking the places of men in the
depleted German Army. Having gloriously tidied up its front the
Second Division now stood out while the Sixty-second took its place.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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