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
153rd Brigade by the 256th Brigade, R.F.A., Lieut.-Colonel
L. M. Dyson, D.S.O., commanding.
These brigades were disposed with nine forward 18-pounders and four
forward 4·5 howitzers, and with the remainder of the guns in main
battery positions 3500 yards behind the front line. The forward guns
only were active, the remainder remaining silent so as not to disclose
their positions.
Four 6-inch Newton trench-mortars covered the front line in each brigade
front, while four were in positions from which they could cover the
intermediate line.
The guns of all four machine-gun companies were in position with the
exception of six held in reserve. They were distributed for the most
part in pairs as follows: Fourteen in the support line, fourteen in the
reserve line, sixteen in the intermediate line, eight in the Corps line,
and six in supporting points between the intermediate line and Corps
line. The positions of these guns were all selected entirely with a view
to obtaining good fields of fire over the sights, their uses for
purposes of firing a barrage being treated as a secondary consideration.
On 11th March 1918 Major-General Sir G. M. Harper, K.C.B., D.S.O., was
promoted to the command of the IVth Corps. Though his promotion came as
no surprise, and was indeed confidently expected, the departure of the
General came nevertheless as a severe blow.
There were strong feelings towards the General which animated the
Division other than those of confidence in his command, and deep respect
for his qualities as a soldier. General Harper's personality was one
which won for him the genuine affection of all ranks with whom he came
in contact. In constant touch with his troops, both in and out of the
line, he was known personally to many of them. He never confined his
conversation with them to matters of military interest alone, and in
consequence they appreciated that he regarded them in the light of
normal sympathies, and not merely as units in a fighting machine.
It can safely be said that the Jocks regarded "Uncle" or "Daddie," as
the General was known to them, not merely as a commander in whom lay the
origin of their success, but as a friend who had their constant welfare
in mind.
Being in the IVth Corps the Highland Division now found General Harper
as its Corps commander, and fought its last fight under him in those
very trenches which had been constructed under his presiding genius.
General Harper was succeeded as commander of the 51st Division by
Major-General G. T. C. Carter-Campbell, C.B., D.S.O., Scottish Rifles,
who remained in command until after the armistice. General
Carter-Campbell had been seriously wounded at Neuve Chapelle, in which
action his battalion sustained more severe casualties to officers than
had ever before occurred in a single engagement. For his conspicuous
gallantry and leadership in this action he had received an immediate
award of the D.S.O.
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