The History of the 51st (Highland) Division 1914-1918Bewsher, F. W. (Frederick William)
History
The History of the 51st (Highland) Division 1914-1918
Bewsher, F. W. (Frederick William)
Great Britain. Army. Division, 51st (Highland); World War, 1914-1918 -- Regimental histories -- Great Britain
In the case of the former the Argylls overcame the resistance by
advancing in short rushes, while the advent of the tanks encouraged the
enemy to surrender in other parts of the front. During these operations
a private soldier led his platoon to its objective in Mole Trench, his
platoon commander and two sergeants having become casualties as the
advance began.
On the left of the 8th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders the 6th Black
Watch met no resistance until they had passed the Hindenburg front line.
In the later stages of their advance many machine-guns had to be
tackled.
The front line proved a serious obstacle to the tanks, in spite of their
fascines, four of them becoming ditched in it on this battalion front.
In consequence, portions of the second wave came under close-range
machine-gun fire. Of these guns one was disposed of by a sergeant, who,
crawling forward, threw a hand-grenade amongst its team. The remainder
were destroyed with the assistance of tanks.
In the advance to Mole Trench further resistance was encountered by the
6th Black Watch. First two machine-gun posts on the right held up the
advance; but in one case a sergeant, in the other a corporal, worked
forward alone and knocked out the teams with hand-grenades.
On the left the advance was held up by uncut wire; but the infantry
summoned by signals three third-wave tanks from the next battalion
front, which crushed the wire and enabled the advance to be continued.
On arrival in Mole Trench the 6th Black Watch were raked with enfilade
machine-gun fire from Sammy's Trench. A platoon was therefore
immediately detached, which, advancing by section rushes under cover of
the fire of its Lewis guns, wiped out the entire garrison of Sammy's
Trench. The Germans here offered a magnificent resistance, and fought
until the last man was killed.
Still further fighting occurred, heavy machine-gun and rifle fire being
opened on the advancing 6th Black Watch from the Grand Ravine.
Individual skill and initiative were again displayed. The first
machine-gun was put out of action by a private soldier, who, working
towards it alone, killed five and wounded two of the team with rifle
grenades. A tank at that moment arrived, and the Grand Ravine was
cleared, 6 officers and 100 other ranks being taken prisoner.
Meanwhile Lieut.-Colonel N. D. Campbell, commanding this battalion, in
making a reconnaissance of the captured ground, came across a dug-out
which had not previously been noticed, and with the help of his orderly
captured twelve prisoners in it.
On the extreme left the 5th Gordon Highlanders made a surprisingly big
bag in the outpost line, capturing 21 prisoners in one sap-head, and
capturing or killing 22 in another. The Hindenburg front line was
entered without difficulty with the tanks, the bulk of the garrison
having run back to Triangle Support. Up to this point 2 machine-guns and
200 prisoners had been captured.
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