The Grenadier Guards in the Great War of 1914-1918, Vol. 2 of 3Ponsonby, Frederick
History
The Grenadier Guards in the Great War of 1914-1918, Vol. 2 of 3
Ponsonby, Frederick
Great Britain. Army. Grenadier Guards; World War, 1914-1918 -- Regimental histories -- Great Britain
With the forward progress of the Battalion the menace to the left
flank increased, and Captain Sheppard threw back his left flank to
protect the advance, but this naturally made it difficult for him to
keep pace with the King’s Company. No. 4 Company under Lieutenant
Lawford was therefore ordered to come up between the King’s and No. 2
Companies, and the advance continued in perfect lines, never
hesitating for a moment in the face of a terrific fire. Lieutenant
Healy was wounded, and Sergeant Brooks, who led No. 14 Platoon,
behaved with great coolness and gallantry, although all his men but
two were killed or wounded. He himself was not touched in the morning,
but later in the afternoon had his right hand and wrist blown off by a
shell. Sergeant Martin, who was in charge of a Lewis gun, had all his
team knocked out, but borrowed some men from No. 2 Company, and kept
his gun in action for the rest of the day. He was afterwards awarded
the D.C.M.
As the King’s Company advanced and took the third objective, its
Commander, Captain Drury-Lowe, was killed by a shell, while he was
consulting Captain Hargreaves of the Irish Guards. He had already
gained the D.S.O. in the artillery battery, in which he had fought all
through the first years of the war, and would no doubt have earned
further distinction had he lived, for he was a man without fear and a
worthy commander of the King’s Company. Lieutenant P. M. Spence took
command, and directly the Blue line had been secured, ordered the men
to dig themselves in, which they did, in a narrow and deep trench.
In order to protect the left flank. General Corkran sent up two
companies of the Welsh Guards to watch the left of the Division, and
as soon as these arrived No. 3 Company of the 1st Battalion Grenadiers
under Lieutenant Pauling, who had been sent up to take charge of this
Company, now without officers, was once more free to join the rest of
the Battalion. When it reached the front line it was ordered to form a
strong point 400 yards in front of the junction of No. 2 and No. 4
Companies. Strong patrols were sent out to deal with any of the
enemy’s snipers who might still be lurking about in front, and they
continued their search well into the night. One patrol under Sergeant
Carter did particularly well, and managed to secure a German map
showing all their dispositions. Application was made that evening to
the Guards Division Headquarters for the cavalry to come through, but
this was refused on reference to Lord Cavan, on the ground that the
situation on the flanks of the Division was still very uncertain.
[Sidenote: Sept. 26.]
On the 26th the Germans shelled Lesbœufs with their heavy guns, but
the trenches that had been dug were good and little harm was done. No
counter-attack was made by the enemy, and that night the 1st Battalion
Grenadiers was relieved by the 1st Battalion Scots Guards, and
returned to bivouacs at Carnoy.
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