The Territorial Divisions, 1914-1918Stirling, John
History
The Territorial Divisions, 1914-1918
Stirling, John
World War, 1914-1918 -- Regimental histories -- Great Britain
Paragraph 4, 21st November, stated: “Following upon the capture of
Flesquières the 51st and 62nd Divisions, in co-operation with a
number of tanks and squadrons of the 1st Cavalry Division, attacked
at 10.30 a.m. in the direction of Fontaine-Notre-Dame and Bourlon.”
After drawing attention to the strain on the troops engaged in these
operations Sir Douglas Haig said, paragraph 7: “It was decided to
make another effort on 27th November to capture Fontaine-Notre-Dame
and Bourlon village,” etc. “In this attack in which tanks
co-operated, British Guards temporarily regained possession of
Fontaine, taking some hundreds of prisoners, and troops of the 62nd
Division once more entered Bourlon village. Later in the morning,
however, heavy counter-attacks developed in both localities and our
troops were unable to maintain the ground they had gained.” The
Division was relieved by the 47th on the night of the 28th-29th. It
was in reserve on the 30th November when the enemy counter-attacked
in great force—see paragraph 9 of despatch, also under 47th, 55th,
and 56th Divisions.
In the beginning of 1918, the Division was about Arras, on 5th
January it took over from the 56th between Gavrelle and Oppy.
Soon after the launching of the German attack from the St. Quentin
district, on 21st March, reinforcements were sent to the southern
portions of the British front. On 25th March the 62nd Division
arrived at Bucquoy and joined the IV. Corps of the Third Army. Along
with the 42nd Division they formed a new line through which the
worn-out 19th, 25th, 41st and 51st Divisions withdrew. The 62nd,
which entered the front line on the 25th, had very heavy fighting
on the 26th, 27th and 28th. On the afternoon of the 26th alone five
attacks by regiments of the Prussian Guard were repulsed. After a
magnificent stand the Division was relieved by the 37th on 31st March
and 1st April. The fighting on 24th-25th is now the “First Battle of
Bapaume,” and that on the 28th the “First Battle of Arras, 1918.”
Under the 42nd Division a quotation has already been given from the
telegraphic despatch of 23rd April, 1918, in which the part played by
the 42nd and 62nd about Bucquoy is referred to.
The written despatch of 20th July, 1918, paragraph 42, mentions that
on 27th March the enemy made a series of strong attacks when he
gained Ablainzevelle and Ayette. “Elsewhere all his assaults were
heavily repulsed by troops of the 62nd Division (Major-General W. P.
Braithwaite) and of the 42nd and the Guards Divisions.”
Paragraph 45 as to the attack near Arras, 28th March, states: “The
62nd Division with an attached brigade of the 4th Australian
Division beat off a succession of heavy attacks about Bucquoy with
great loss to the enemy.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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