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
A tank made its appearance at 6 A.M., and slowly crawled along on the
left of the Division towards the Gird trench, where the brigade on the
left had been checked. This trench was very strongly held by the
enemy, but when the tank arrived and fired into it 300 Germans
surrendered, and the Durham Light Infantry moved up and took
possession of it. The Leicester Regiment continued the line to the
left towards Gueudecourt. At noon a large number of Germans were seen
to leave their trenches between Gueudecourt and Le Transloy and retire
across the open in great disorder, dropping their rifles and equipment
as they went. Frantic messages were sent back by telephone to our
artillery, which opened fire on them and inflicted heavy losses.
A squadron of our cavalry rode up towards Gueudecourt, and a cavalry
patrol from the 5th Lancers went towards Lesbœufs, but Lord Cavan
decided that the situation did not permit of cavalry going through,
and they retired. Between 8 A.M. and noon the enemy ceased shelling,
but between 12 noon and 2 P.M. a barrage was sent over by the enemy’s
artillery on our two front support lines. Subsequently this died down,
and the evening was comparatively quiet. Throughout the day the
companies in the front line suffered a good deal from small parties of
snipers concealed in shell-holes, but the patrols eventually cleared
the ground. At 10 P.M. the 4th Battalion was relieved by the 2nd
Guards Brigade, and went into bivouacs at Carnoy.
From the 18th to the 26th the casualties in the 4th Battalion were
445, exclusive of officers. Among the officers Captain C. G. Goschen,
Captain W. A. L. Stewart, Lieutenant the Hon. E. W. Tennant,
Lieutenant J. F. J. Joicey-Cecil, Second Lieutenant D. O. Constable,
Second Lieutenant M. H. F. Payne-Gallwey, and Second Lieutenant A. C.
Flower were killed, and Captain E. G. Spencer-Churchill, Captain C. R.
Britten, Second Lieutenant A. R. Ellice, and Lieutenant H. C. S. Maine
were wounded. Second Lieutenant A. R. Ellice died of wounds three days
later.
The King, on hearing the result of the attack on the 15th, sent the
following telegram:
_September 16._
GENERAL SIR DOUGLAS HAIG,
Commander-in-Chief, British Armies in France.
I congratulate you and my brave troops on the brilliant
success just achieved. I have never doubted that complete
victory will ultimately crown our efforts, and the splendid
results of the fighting yesterday confirmed this view.
GEORGE R.I.
To which the Commander-in-Chief sent the following reply:
_September 16._
HIS MAJESTY THE KING,
Windsor Castle.
I have communicated to the troops your Majesty’s gracious
and inspiriting message, for which all ranks respectfully
offer grateful thanks.
SIR DOUGLAS HAIG.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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