The Ypres Times.
97
The German guns now commenced a heavy bombardment of the wood, and in order
to reduce casualties, General Lukin was about to issue instructions that the troops in the
wood should be thinned out. Before these orders could be issued the Germans launched
several counter-attacks against the edge of the wood. One attack was delivered at 3 p.m.
astride the Ginchy road and was followed at 4.30 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. by other attacks
from the direction of Flers, but all were repulsed by rifle and machine-gun fire before they
reached the wood. The South African casualties were, however, heavy, and two com
panies of the 1st Regiment from support south of Longueval village and two companies
of the 4th Regiment were sent up to reinforce the front line. At nightfall the perimeter
of the wood was held by 12 companies, now much reduced in strength. The 2nd Regiment
held the northern and the 3rd Regiment the southern port ions of the wood with a company
each of the 4th Regiment in close support. Two companies of the 1st Regiment held the
defensive flank along the Strand, the other two companies of the 1st Regiment were in
The bombardment of the wood by the German batteries continued throughout the
night of the 15th, while the South Africans, in accordance with their orders to hold the
wood at all costs; consolidated their positions along the. edge of the wood.
Early on the morning of .the 16th General Lukin received orders to co-operate with the
27th Brigade in clearing the Germans out of the northern portion of Longueval village
and the north-western corner of the wood. The latter task was allotted to the two
companies of the 1st Regiment which were in position along Prince's Street, while the nth
Royal Scots attacked the village. The opposing lines were too close together to admit of
a preliminary bombardment, and only trench mortars could be employed to cover the
infantry advance.
When the attack was made at 10 a.m. heavy machine-gun and rifle fire was immediately
encountered and the enemy's bombardment of all approaches to Longueval village and
LONGUEVAL AND DELVILLE WOOD.
position along
Prince's Street
between Bu
chanan Street
and the market
place of Longu
eval. The re
maining two
companiesV of
the 4th Regi
ment had been
sent to assist
the 26th Bri
gade in the cap
ture of W aterlot
Farm, south
west of Longue-
val on the
G u i 11 e m o n]t
road. Colonel
Tanner's H.Q.
had been es-
tablished at
the junction
of Prince's
and Buchanan
Streets.
