The Seventh Manchesters: July 1916 to March 1919Wilson, S. J.
History
The Seventh Manchesters: July 1916 to March 1919
Wilson, S. J.
Great Britain. Army. Manchester Regiment. Battalion, 7th (Territorial); World War, 1914-1918 -- Regimental histories -- Great Britain
The post captured the previous night was the "jumping off" place, and
the plan was to work along the enemy trench to the right, clear it by
bombing, and so get to the Triangle. The whole operation was a huge
success, and never did the eager fighting qualities of the Fleur de Lys
show up to prouder advantage than in the display given by "D" company
that night. The unexpected direction of approach took the enemy
completely by surprise, for our men had not proceeded far before they
caught a working party out in the open. There was a short scrap, but
most of the poor Jerries had no weapons handy, and they ran off
squealing and chattering like a lot of monkeys, leaving their dead and
wounded behind. Our men pushed on quickly, anxious to make the fullest
possible use of the surprise element, until the northern corner of the
Triangle was reached. Here they split up into two parties, Gresty
continuing the original direction, and Gorst turning along to the right.
The latter party found the trench strongly occupied, but the enemy were
so oblivious of what was happening that they were busy "dishing out
stew" for the evening meal. When they were surprised a few of them
indeed showed plucky fight, hurriedly seizing bombs and throwing them
wildly in the direction of the attackers. Others succeeded in grasping
their rifles, and Gorst received a nasty bullet wound in the shoulder,
but not before he had accounted for one or two Huns with his revolver.
Sgt. Horsfield, who understood perfectly the meaning of "Carry on,
Sergeant!" continued this part of the show, and the Huns were chased
along the trench to the western apex. Here a pitched bombing battle
ensued, and very soon the enemy got out and raced across the open in the
direction of the farm. Meanwhile, Gresty had led his men over a sort of
switch back trench, for it had been so heavily pounded by our Newton
T.M's. that it was difficult to make it out at all in the dark.
Nevertheless they struggled along, and finding the far corner of the
Triangle occupied, quickly bombed the enemy out of it and proceeded to
consolidate. At the same time other parties, each of one N.C.O. and six
men, had been detailed in the work of manning various posts en route,
digging L.G. emplacements, and wiring and constructing of communication
trenches. In fact, in a very short time the whole place, which had been
a Hun strong point, was swarming with British soldiers busily working to
turn round the defences.
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