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
The advance to the Red dotted line was now accomplished without
difficulty. On the right the 5th Seaforth Highlanders passed through the
6th Gordon Highlanders, reached the Red dotted line, and made a
reconnaissance in force towards Cantaing with a total of fourteen
casualties. On their left the 8th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders also
reached the Red dotted line, having killed five Germans and captured
thirty-three in an attack by section rushes against a sunken road. They
also reconnoitred towards Cantaing, but found it strongly held.
Similarly, the 6th Black Watch and the 5th Gordon Highlanders occupied
the Red dotted line with a total of two and three casualties
respectively. The former captured three field-guns and four 4·2
howitzers, and the latter three field-guns.
During these operations the 154th Brigade, which had assembled at Metz
at 5 A.M. on the day of the attack, had at 10 A.M. moved two battalions
to the old British front line and two just clear of Metz, in readiness
to move forward should Flesquières fall.
On the evening of the 20th it was decided that should the Red dotted
line be captured during the night, the 154th Brigade should pass through
the 152nd and 153rd Brigades, capture the Cantaing Line and Cantaing,
and advance on the village of Fontaine Notre Dame.
Of these objectives Cantaing and the Cantaing Line proved themselves to
be formidable obstacles. The latter, though the trenches were for the
most part only traced out, contained numerous completed dug-outs and
machine-gun emplacements, and was for the greater portion of its length
protected by a double belt of wire some fifteen yards in depth. The
defences of the village of Cantaing were also considerably strengthened
by a well-traversed trench encircling its south-western corner.
The 154th Brigade began its advance with the 4th Gordon Highlanders
covering the front of the 152nd Infantry Brigade, and the 7th Argyll and
Sutherland Highlanders covering the 153rd. In rear were the 9th Royal
Scots on the right, and the 4th Seaforth Highlanders on the left.
The 4th Gordon Highlanders passed through the Red dotted line at 10.30
A.M., and continued their advance at first uneventfully. As, however,
they began to approach Cantaing Trench, machine-guns from the trenches
and from buildings in the village, as well as light trench-mortars,
opened on them in sufficient volume to hold up the advance until shortly
after noon. At that hour ten tanks arrived from Premy Chapel, and made
towards the village, followed by "B" Company of the 4th Gordon
Highlanders. Cantaing was entered, and after a little street fighting
300 prisoners were taken from it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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