PILGRIMAGE
TO YPRES.
The Ypres Times.
81
On the morning of 26th the general attack started as arranged at 5.50 a.m. and
Capt. MacEwen and Lieut. Taylor had the satisfaction of seeing the Australians, with
great dash and vigour, clear Polygon Wood and far out of sight beyond Cameron House,
while the Scottish Rifles and Suffolks passed through the line the 93rd had regained and
exploited on the previous day, and, with little difficulty, also obtained their objective.
When succour was assured, Aand C Companies withdrew and rejoined the
remainder of the Battalion in Brigade reserve in Sanctuary Wood."
This is the outline of the engagementthere are many stories related of incidents
that occurred during its course. The Australian C.Q.M.S., who lost his way and fetched
up in D Company is the hero of one. In the words of The Times correspondent, who
came to us on the 27th, for particulars, he fortunately was provided with a jar of rum
and put new heart into the men." Another is of the Staff Captain of the attacking
Australian Brigade who, on the nights of the 25th, 26th, established advanced Brigade
H.Q. in a pill-box in Capt. MacEwen's ("A" Company) front line; with one of his
battalion was a mule, which was ridden round the race-course in Polygon Wood after its
capture on 26th.
Instances of personal gallantry are numerous and the following immediate awards
were granted to the Battalion Bars to D.S.O., 1 M.C., 5 D.C.M., 3 M.M., 12
Bars to M.M., 2 M.S.M., 1.
But the most sustained heroism was perhaps displayed by the two linesmen who
repaired the telephone to Brigade H.Q. on an average of three times an hour throughout
the action, and the Company runners, who spent the whole time moving backwards and
forwards through the incessant barrage. And lastly, Capt. R. McGowan Hill, D.S.O.,
R.A.M.C., who, from the time of his arrival on the 24th until his relief on 26th, without
sleep dressed the wounded of all units that streamed through his Aid Post in a shallow
trench in the open, stopping only once for half-an-hour when wounded severely himself
in the back, to allow his orderly to bandage him up.
It is significant, too, of the spirit of the Regiment that only five months before, on
the 23rd April at Fontaine-les Crossilles, A and B Companies and two companies
of the Middlesex Regiment were completely surrounded for nearly 24 hours by the enemy
in a similar way to this, and held out stubbornly until relieved.
The casualties incurred during the period 24th-20th September, out of a total strength
of 19 officers and 480 men taken into the line, were 4 officers and 201 other ranks, killed
and wounded.
The outcome of these few days' fighting was that the big attack, staged by the
2nd British Army for 26th September, attained all its objectives as originally planned, in
spite of a great German counter-offensive twenty-four hours before zero on the whole
front held by the 33rd Division.
[Compiled by) CAPTAIN G. H. A. MACMILLAN, M.C.
August.
Leave London Saturday, July 31st.
Return Tuesday, August 3rd.
Prices.
Second Class return, including hotel
board and accommodation £4 os. od.
Third Class ditto £3 10s. od.
Note.For the organisation of any of the
above Pilgrimages a minimum of twenty-
five persons is necessary.
For further particulars apply to the
Secretary, Ypres League, 9, Baker Street,
Portman Square, London, W.i.
