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 Quarries, on the west edge of the village, had been well fortified
and formed a very strong point. It only remains to take note of two
roads, one leading from Wedge Wood to Ginchy, and the other, known as
Mount Street, running east and west through Guillemont to the north
corner of Leuze Wood.
The Divisional boundaries and the front line are shown in Sketch “B.”
The boundary between the brigades was Mount Street.
The essence of Major-General Douglas Smith’s plan was to attack
Guillemont from the north side as well as from the west and on the
south.
To carry out this plan it was essential to dig assembly trenches north
of Guillemont station. These were completed in time, thanks mainly to
the untiring efforts of the 11th D.L.I. and the R.E.
Acting on the plan designed by Major-General Douglas Smith,
Brig.-General Shute decided to put only a weak force on his left, and
to dispose his greatest strength on the right flank, so as to encircle
the village. His operation orders were a model of lucidity.
The first objective may be taken as the west and north sides of
Guillemont; it included the eastern sunken road, the Quarries, and a
road bounding the north of the village. The advance to this objective
was to be made at noon.
The second objective, to be attacked at 12.50, was formed by a road
passing through the eastern outskirts of the village and branching off
from the north-east corner of it towards Ginchy.
The third objective was the Ginchy--Wedge Wood road, the attack on
which was to be made at 2 P.M.
The fourth and final objective was a line running from the western
corner of Leuze Wood, north-west towards Ginchy, as far as the railway.
On the right of the 20th the 5th Division was to advance against
Falfemont Farm and Leuze Wood; on the left the 7th Division was to
capture Ginchy.
During the night of the 2nd/3rd of September the 59th Brigade, with
the 6th Oxford and Bucks L.I., returned to its position in the
line, and the troops of both the attacking brigades took up their
battle positions. There was luckily very little shelling during this
night--none with gas shells--and units were able to complete their
assembly before dawn. The enemy seemed unaware of the concentration
that was being carried out against him. This was largely due to the
splendid work of our aeroplanes. The last two days had been warm and
sunny, and a complete rest and plenty of good food had restored the men
wonderfully. They showed remarkable keenness as they went back to the
line.
The following was the disposition of the troops on the morning of the
3rd of September:
_Right Attack._
59th Brigade (Brig.-General C. D. Shute), with headquarters at the
Briqueterie, south of Bernafay Wood.
Front line, from right to left, 11th R.B. (Lieut.-Colonel A. E.
Cotton), 10th R.B. (Lieut.-Colonel W. V. L. Prescott-Westcar), 10th
K.R.R.C. (Lieut.-Colonel C. A. Blacklock), plus one company of the 11th
K.R.R.C.
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