The history of the Twentieth (Light) DivisionInglefield, Valentine Erskine
History
The history of the Twentieth (Light) Division
Inglefield, Valentine Erskine
Great Britain. Army. Division, 20th (Light); World War, 1914-1918 -- Regimental histories -- Great Britain
Although the Decauville railway line was broken early in the day,
the evacuation of wounded by hand, by wheeled stretcher, and by hand
trolley went on smoothly and without congestion, but the long carry
from the R.A.P.’s in the front line to the forward A.D.S. at Gallwitz
Farm threw very heavy work on the bearers.
Gallwitz Farm was heavily shelled and had to be abandoned. Here Capt.
G. Adam, 62nd Field Ambulance, won the M.C.--one of many honours
awarded to the R.A.M.C. for this battle. Capt. Adam attended the
wounded in the open under heavy shell fire until the dressing station
was destroyed. He then got his cases safely away and went on with his
work at another point until he was utterly exhausted.
Two hundred stretcher bearers, detailed by the Division for clearing
the battlefield, were given a short training and organised as the
Divisional Stretcher Company. They were an unqualified success and did
valuable work on the afternoon of the 16th and that night.
After the capture of the second objective the rest of the morning
was spent in consolidating the position, involving on the part of
the 60th Brigade preparations to deal with a counter attack on the
dangerous right flank. The line was held from right to left by the 6th
K.S.L.I., the 12th K.R.R.C., the 12th King’s, and the 7th D.C.L.I.
The Oxfords were on the first and second objectives, and the 12th
R.B., who had been employed during most of the fighting in carrying
bombs and ammunition to the front line, occupied a position east of
the Steenbeek. The Somersets and the K.O.Y.L.I. were on the second
objective.
From mid-day onwards various reports were received stating that the
enemy appeared to be crawling up along hedges in front of the position.
At 4 P.M. he attacked the junction of the two brigades about
Schreiboom and drove back the 12th K.R.R.C. and the 12th King’s for
a distance of 200 yards. The left company of the 12th K.R.R.C. was
practically wiped out, and a company of the Oxfords was sent up as
reinforcements. Nearly all the ammunition had been spent in fighting
this attack, and a further supply was sent up by parties of the 12th
R.B., two companies of which battalion moved forward to ensure the
safety of the second objective.
At 7 P.M. the two battalions of the 38th Division were placed
at the disposal of brigade commanders, the 10th Welch coming under the
60th Brigade and the 15th Welch under the 61st. They did invaluable
work in bringing up water, rations, and ammunition, besides helping in
the work of consolidation.
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