The Children's Story of the War Volume 4 (of 10): The Story of the Year 1915Parrott, Edward
History
The Children's Story of the War Volume 4 (of 10): The Story of the Year 1915
Parrott, Edward
World War, 1914-1918 -- Juvenile literature
Lieutenant George Rowland Patrick Roupell, 1st Battalion, the East
Surrey Regiment.
This young officer was in command of his company in a front trench on
that terrible April day when our men were clinging on to Hill 60 by
their eyebrows. Though wounded in several places, he remained at his
post, and led his men when they repelled a strong German assault. During
a lull in the shattering salvos of fire he had his wounds hurriedly
dressed, and then insisted on returning to his trench, which was soon
heavily shelled once more. Towards evening, when his company was
dangerously weakened, he went back to headquarters through a whirlwind
of fire, and returned, bringing with him reinforcements. With these he
held the position until his battalion was relieved next morning.
Lieutenant Roupell was one of the few survivors of his company. It was
his splendid example of courage, devotion, and doggedness that inspired
his men to hold out to the end.
Second Lieutenant Benjamin Handley Geary, 4th Battalion (attached 1st
Battalion), East Surrey Regiment.
Second Lieutenant Geary held the left crater on Hill 60 with his
platoon, a detachment of the Bedfordshire Regiment, and a few
reinforcements sent up during the evening and night. The crater was so
heavily bombarded by the enemy that the defences were broken down, and
throughout the night there were repeated bomb attacks which filled the
great hole with dead and wounded. Each attack, however, was splendidly
repulsed, mainly owing to the personal gallantry and inspiring example
of Lieutenant Geary. At one time he used a rifle with great effect, at
another time he threw hand grenades and held off the enemy. Again and
again he exposed himself with entire disregard of danger, in order to
see by the light of flares where the attack was to be made. In the
pauses between the attacks he was busy arranging for ammunition supply
and for reinforcements. Lieutenant Geary displayed all the ancient
virtues of his race--alertness in seizing opportunities, courage that is
heedless of self, leadership that inspires confidence, and steadfastness
that never knows defeat. He was severely wounded just before daylight
on 21st April. A bullet passed through his head from one side to the
other, completely destroying the sight of one eye, and seriously
injuring that of the other. He made, however, a rapid recovery.
Lieutenant Geoffrey Harold Woolley, 9th (County of London) Battalion,
the London Regiment (Queen Victoria's Rifles), Territorial Force.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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