The History of the 2/6th (Rifle) Battalion, "the King's" (Liverpool Regiment) 1914-1919Wurtzburg, C. E. (Charles Edward)
History
The History of the 2/6th (Rifle) Battalion, "the King's" (Liverpool Regiment) 1914-1919
Wurtzburg, C. E. (Charles Edward)
Great Britain. Army. King's Liverpool Regiment; World War, 1914-1918 -- Regimental histories -- Great Britain
The enemy now concentrated his artillery fire on the village, and both
companies sustained somewhat serious casualties. Moreover, some of the
enemy had gone to ground, and, reappearing after the leading wave had
passed through, came up and opened fire on them from behind. A section
was consequently detached to put a stop to this, and successfully drove
the enemy back into the arms of "D" Company, who were "mopping up,"
twenty-one Germans being taken prisoners.
During the passage of the village 2nd-Lieutenant Anderson (No. 5
Platoon) became a casualty, and Sergeant Adlington took over command;
while in "C" Company 2nd-Lieutenants Upward and Paterson were both
wounded. Corporal Stevenson, finding both his platoon officer and
sergeant out of action, assumed command of his platoon and led them
successfully to their final objective in a masterly fashion.
After passing through the village, where numerous prisoners had been
taken, the companies advanced steadily over difficult country to their
final objectives. These were reached by "B" and "C" Companies at 7.10
p.m. and 7.15 p.m. respectively.
Shortly before this 2nd-Lieutenant T. L. Williams (No. 11 Platoon)
was most unfortunately killed by a shell, and his place was taken by
Sergeant Warren, who took the men over to their objective, which he
consolidated with marked ability.
The enemy still held out with one very determined machine-gun party at
Wolf Alley, and the advance was slightly checked. Rifleman Dury, with
the utmost coolness, scored a direct hit on the gun at point-blank
range with a rifle grenade, and the whole gun team were taken prisoners.
At 7.25 p.m. the contact aeroplane passed over as prearranged, and
the flares were lit. By 9 p.m. both companies had completed the
consolidation of their objectives, and on the right were in touch with
the Scots Fusiliers. The left company, however, had not succeeded in
getting touch with the 2/7th K.L.R., so Captain Robinson and Corporal
Lee set out at 9.45 p.m. to try and find the right post of the left
battalion. Soon after starting they ran into a party of the enemy,
consisting of one officer and twenty-one men, which was apparently
working round our left flank. The enemy proceeded to get his machine
gun into action, but the officer and N.C.O. who were attending to it
were promptly shot dead by Robinson and Lee, while five men of the
party were killed as they tried to take cover, whereupon the remainder
at once surrendered. For this fine performance and his general conduct
throughout the operations, of which too much cannot be said, Captain
Robinson received a bar to his Military Cross, while Corporal Lee was
awarded the Military Medal.
The left battalion was located about 10 p.m., but being 500 yards away
two sections were moved up from "D" Company to fill the gap, the rest
of that company forming supporting posts. They had done their "mopping
up" well, and took fifty prisoners in Riencourt itself.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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