The Territorial Divisions, 1914-1918Stirling, John
History
The Territorial Divisions, 1914-1918
Stirling, John
World War, 1914-1918 -- Regimental histories -- Great Britain
The despatch of 25th December, 1917, paragraphs 13 and 14, and note
to paragraph 13 (Dent’s edition), describes the opening stages of the
Battles of Arras which began on 9th April, 1917. The 51st, then in
the XVII. Corps, Third Army, attacked east of Roclincourt, north-east
of Arras; they were near the left of the line and next the Canadians
whose task it was to seize the main Vimy Ridge. The 51st and its
neighbour on the right, the 34th, had heavy fighting. “Their advance
was delayed, not checked.” The whole attack on the 9th was a great
success. The fighting between the 9th and 14th is now the First
Battle of the Scarpe, 1917. On the 12th the Division left the line,
re-entering it on the 15th-16th and remaining in the battle till the
24th-25th.
Paragraph 21 deals with a big attack which our troops made on 23rd
April on a front of nine miles, the Second Battle of the Scarpe,
1917. “North of the Scarpe Highland Territorials (51st Division)
were engaged in heavy fighting on the western outskirts of Rœux Wood
and the chemical works.” “During the afternoon many counter-attacks
developed all along the line and were repeated by the enemy with
the utmost determination regardless of the heavy losses inflicted
by our fire.” “North of the Scarpe fierce fighting continued for
the possession of Rœux, the chemical works and the station to the
north without producing any lasting change in the situation.” The
attack was renewed on the 24th and more progress was then made, the
enemy’s resistance weakening. For their “splendid” work on the 23rd,
the Division was thanked and congratulated by the Corps and Army
Commanders.
The losses of the Division during April amounted to about 4500.
Paragraph 27, as to the fighting in May, Third Battle of the
Scarpe, 1917: “On the night of the 13th-14th our troops (51st
Division) captured Rœux.” The Division drove back some very heavy
counter-attacks. Fighting continued for some days. The Army Commander
again wired to the Division his congratulations “on their great
gallantry at Rœux and the chemical works.”
The Division was relieved on the 31st May, and a few days later was
taken to the Ypres sector, there to refit and prepare for another
great battle.
Paragraph 41 of the despatch deals with the assault by the British
troops on 31st July, 1917, the “Battle of Pilckem Ridge” at the
beginning of the Third Battle of Ypres. The note in Messrs. Dent’s
edition, p. 113, gives a list of the divisions employed. Among these
is the 51st, then in the XVIII. Corps, Fifth Army. They were near
the left of the British line. “Highland Territorials (51st Division)
Welsh and Guards battalions secured the crossings of the Steenbeek.”
All objectives were taken early in the day. The losses of the
Division were about 1600 and they took about 650 prisoners.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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