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
The 12th K.R.R.C. on the 3rd sent forward a platoon of “A” Company,
under 2nd Lieut. J. C. Mackenzie, and a platoon of “B” Company,
under 2nd Lieut. J. S. Langworth. In spite of strong resistance
the platoon of “A” Company established a post in the enemy’s front
line. Second-Lieut. Langworth was wounded, and after heavy fighting
his platoon was surrounded and only two men got back. Second-Lieut.
Mackenzie, although hard pressed, held on to his position throughout
the following day, and on the 5th “D” Company established two more
posts in the German line south of Acheville. Heavy machine-gun fire
prevented any further advance.
On the front of the 61st Brigade, on the 3rd, parties of the 12th
King’s bombed their way up several communication trenches but met with
strong opposition, and the battalion made no progress that day. On
the right the 7th D.C.L.I. advanced on a two company front, with “D”
Company, under Lieut. Chegwin, on the right, “B” Company, under Capt.
Davis, on the left. Both made good progress and occupied the German
front line between Fresnoy and Acheville, where they captured twelve
prisoners and a machine gun, and a number of documents, aeroplane
photographs and maps, which gave very valuable information. The
D.C.L.I. then found themselves in advance of both the units on their
flanks, as the troops on their immediate right had also been unable to
gain their objective.
On the following day the 12th King’s, attacking behind an artillery
barrage, entered the German trenches, thus advancing their line 500
yards. On the front of the D.C.L.I. “D” Company was relieved by “A”
Company, under Lieut. Parkes. Well supported by artillery, by machine
guns and by the 61st Light Trench Mortar Battery, the leading companies
gained Fresnoy Wood; they pushed from there to the village, but being
unsupported on the flanks withdrew to the wood again.
On the 5th the line of both battalions was established in the German
trench system between Fresnoy and Acheville. The King’s established
themselves in the trenches north of Fresnoy, and in the evening pushed
two platoons of the right company forward to the west end of Fresnoy
Park. Patrols which entered the park met a good deal of opposition,
entirely from machine guns. During the day touch was gained with the
11th K.R.R.C. on the left, and the battalion was relieved on the night
of the 6/7th.
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