192
The Ypres Times.
(Lincoln) Brigade assumed responsibility for this front. The Lincolns recovered their
position shortly afterwards.
Early on the morning of the 23rd August, the 15th D.L.I, bridge-head patrols reported
little strength of the enemy across the river and immediate to it. Further south, the
38th Division had crossed the river, and attacked Usna and Tara Hills. During the
afternoon of the 23rd August, the 64th Infantry Brigade (under Brig.-Gen. A. J. McCulloch,
D.S.O., D.C.M.) was ordered to attack down the Ancre Valley by night to the high ground
south of Petit Miraumont (Hill 135), and hold it until the 42nd Division took Miraumont
and the 110th (Leicester) Brigade came up on our right. The attack was to take place
as soon as possible and was a modification of one which was to have started at 1 a.m. on
the 24th August. Warning orders modifying the previous instructions were issued, and
that the 64th Brigade (less H. Q. and three companies of the Durhams, which could not
safely be relieved until dark) was to concentrate as soon as possible after dusk at a rendez
vous indicated, opposite Beaucourt on the south side of the river, where detailed orders
would be issued. Scouts from each battalion were taken by the Brigade Intelligence Officer
over the river to the rendezvous, and then were sent back to guide their respective units
over the river. The concentration took place quietly, but not without some difficulty.
The assembly was completed by 11 p.m. The Brigadier assembled the commanding officers
there, and as it was pitch dark and raining a little, and time was short for elaborate written
orders, they were given their final instructions as to the advance to Hill 135, south of
Petit Miraumont.
The Brigade was formed up with the gth King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
(under Major H. Greenwood, M.C.), on the right, with two companies in the line and one
in support, and the 1st E. Yorks (under Lieut.-Col. F. L. du Moulin, M.C.) were formed up
similarly on the left. Major Constantine, of the gth K.O.Y.L.I., commanded the Brigade
Reserve of one company from each of the battalions of the Brigade and eight Vickers guns,
and his formation moved about one hundred yards in rear of the attacking battalions
Brigade Headquarters followed the Reserve. Capt. Ennals, of the gth K.O.Y.L.I.,
acted as guide to the Brigade, and moved in front of the centre of the front line of attack,
and kept his direction by compass bearing, and performed his task extraordinarily well.
About 11.30 p.m. our artillery barrage opened on Battery Valley, but owing to the
alteration in plan, it was thin, and then the advance commenced. To the left of the
E. Yorks R. was the GrandcourtSt. Pierre Divion road, which acted as a guide for the
battalion's left and from it the glint of the river could be seen. Flank patrols advanced
between the road and the river. The Brigade kept its formation well, and attacked Battery
Valley, the German front line, about midnight. The Germans allowed the attacking line
to get close to them before firing on them, when some of our men in the first line shouted
Charge! and the shouting from the enthusiastic fighters echoed and re-echoed in the
valley, for the valley was little more than a mile wide and the flanking heights about
350 to 400 feet. Several Germans were killed and many prisoners taken. Hand-to-hand
encounters followed, and then the attackers pushed forward in advance of the valley to
re-organise for the next advance. The support and reserve companies of the 1st E. Yorks
were sent to mop up Grandcourt, which they quickly over-ran and took many prisoners.
Whilst the attackers were re-organising, for they had got somewhat mixed up in the
fighting about Battery Valley, the right flank of the 9th K.O.Y.L.I. was attacked by
Germans coming back over the hill, but the Brigade Reserve and the K.p.Y.L.I..with
the aid of the machine-guns, soon dealt with them. The three companies and H.Q.,
15th D.L.I, (under Lieut.-Col. C. E. R. Holroyd-Smvth, M.C.) followed the line of our
advance when they were relieved, and joined us here and took up a position on the right
of the gth K.O.Y.L.I.
In the early morning the final advance commenced and considerable opposition was
met in Boom Ravine. At first the fighting was fietce and four field guns were captured
