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
Prisoners captured on various parts of the front also reported that the
Germans were building tanks in large numbers. Two measures of anti-tank
defence were therefore taken. Fields of anti-tank mines were laid,
covering all the main avenues of approach, such as valleys and roads.
The mines used were the old 60-pounder trench-mortar bomb, fitted with a
special fuze, which were sunk just level with the surface of the earth.
In laying one of these mines, a most unfortunate accident occurred. A
bomb from some unknown cause exploded, killing and wounding one officer
and eighteen men of the 152nd Trench-Mortar Battery.
Seven 18-pounders and three 15-pounders were also employed as anti-tank
guns, being placed in positions about the support and reserve line from
which they could cover the main avenues of approach over open sights.
By the middle of March the trench system consisted of the following: The
front system, composed of the front, support, and reserve lines, the two
former being continuous trenches held by section and double-section
posts, the third a series of defended localities and portions of
trenches, all heavily wired. The intermediate line, running from the
north of Hermies, north of Doignies, north of Louverval, through
Louverval Wood to the Divisional boundary.
The Corps line--_i.e._, the Hermies-Beaumetz-Morchies line.
Behind this trench system the Army (Green) line traversed the Divisional
sector. It consisted of an old German trench, heavily wired, running
from Ypres to Beugny, and thence northwards.
By this time the brigades had all been reduced from four to three
battalions, the 9th Royal Scots, the 5th Gordon Highlanders, and the 8th
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders having been transferred to the 62nd
Brigade. The departure of these units was a great blow both to the
Division and to the battalions, but it was due to a definite change in
organisation throughout the Expeditionary Force in France, to which no
exceptions could be made. With only nine infantry battalions available,
all three brigades were in the line--154th Brigade on the right, 152nd
in the centre, and the 153rd on the left. Each brigade had two
battalions holding the trenches in depth from the front line to the
Corps line inclusive.
The order of battle ran from right to left, 4th Gordon Highlanders, 7th
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 6th Gordon Highlanders, 5th Seaforth
Highlanders, 7th Black Watch, 6th Black Watch, the battalions in brigade
reserve being the 4th and 6th Seaforth Highlanders in Lebucquière, and
the 7th Gordon Highlanders at Beugny, all ready to man the
Beaumetz-Morchies line (Corps line) if required.
Each brigade was covered by a brigade of field artillery as follows:--
154th Brigade by the 293rd Army Brigade, R.F.A.,
Lieut.-Colonel A. Main, D.S.O., commanding.
152nd Brigade by the 255th Brigade, R.F.A., Lieut.-Colonel
F. Fleming, D.S.O., commanding.
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