The history of the Twentieth (Light) Division — John Shaqi
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 next few days were spent in harassing the enemy parties working on
their new positions, and in work on our own trenches. On the 8th and
9th the 6Oth Brigade was relieved by the 61st in the right sub-sector.
Though the 60th went into reserve, the troops had not much rest, for
by the 10th, 600 men of the Brigade were working nightly on the new
line from Cork Cottages to Dragoon Farm, and 200 men were employed
in burying cables. On the 11th an additional 600 men (300 from the
artillery and 300 from the reserve brigade) were required to bury
cables for the XIVth Corps.
The last phase of these operations was carried out on the 13th, when
the Canadians attacked in order to regain the lost ground. To assist
them, the 20th Division was ordered to discharge gas and smoke along
its front and then push out patrols, following these up by larger
raiding parties if possible, at four selected points in the German
line. Zero was 1.30 A.M. on the 13th. Owing to the short
notice that had been given, it was found impossible to get all the gas
cylinders into the trenches in time. By some mistake in one part of
the line, the smoke bombs were thrown three minutes before zero. This
unfortunately gave alarm to the enemy, who thus had time to put on gas
masks.
The gas, discharged at zero from 130 cylinders, went well and quickly.
In three minutes practically all the rifle and machine-gun fire from
the German trenches had ceased. The artillery barrage also began at
zero, and was most effective. After twenty-five minutes it lifted to
allow our infantry raiding parties to go forward.
On the right one party of the Somerset L.I., under Captain J. N. C.
Peard, was held up by the wire near Railway Wood. Owing to the gas
this party had to put on gas masks, and while attempting to cut a
passage through the wire 3 men were killed and Captain Peard and 10
men wounded. All the wounded, however, were brought back safely. A
party of the 11th K.R.R.C. under Lieut. H. A. Denison got in at the
Mound (south-west of Verlorenhoek), which was found to be practically
obliterated by our trench mortar bombardment. This party beat off a
counter attack, and returned with only five slight casualties. The left
party got as far as the German wire and reconnoitered the position,
but, being only a small patrol, did not attempt to enter the trenches.
The 1st Canadian Division in a most successful attack regained Mount
Sorrel and Observatory Ridge.
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