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194
The Ypres Times.
position to be taken up, and for him to get into touch with Divisional H.Q. as to the
situation. The command of the 64th Infantrv Brigade passed to Lieut.-Col. Holrovd-
Smvth, O.C. 15th D.L.I.
Meanwhile the 9th K.O.Y.L.I. and the 15th D.L.I, advanced up the hill-side and
passed over the crest as dawn was breaking on the morning of the 24th August. Enemy
rearguards were established on the East Miraumont Road (which was sunken), and they
opened up an annihilating machine-gun and rifle fire. The Brigade (less the 1st E. York.
R., who were still engaged near Grandcourt) had reached the hill top, and were hurried
into a position of all-round defence, but soon had to get down flat because of the enemy's
harassing fire. The German groups rapidly surrounded the hill and repeatedly counter
attacked the Brigade, but the enemy lost heavily in killed in these attempts. The-
Leicester Brigade, which was keeping touch with 17th Division, was some distance to our
right rear. The 64th Brigade was surrounded, but was an intact body, embedded in.
the enemy position, but out of communication with flanks or rear.
However, about 10.30 a.m. on the 24th, Capt. Spicer, M.C., Brigade Major, managed'
to crawl through the German line of sentries. He passed the 1st E. York. R., who had been
heavily shelled during the morning, and he told them the line still held, but was thin in
numbers. He got through to the 21st Divisional H.Q. at Maillv-Maillet, and reported the
situation, which was confirmed by aeroplane reconnaisance. One of the 'planes dropped
messages on the H.Q., 64th Brigade, on the hill, promising speedy assistance.
Quite suddenly, about mid-day, all was quiet for the enemy had withdrawn to Pvs-
under the cover of his shelling. The morning mists in the valley had cleared, and troops
were seen advancing on Miraumont. Steps were then taken to consolidate the position
on the hill and in the afternoon the noth Brigade came up on the right, and Miraumont
was taken by the 42nd Division. Late in the afternoon the 62nd Erigade was pushed
through on our left to join up with the 42nd Division in front of Pvs. Thus the 64th
Infantry Brigade was relieved from its dangerous situation. To the south, the 38th
Division, and the 17th Division, which advanced between the 21st Division and the 38th
Division, had now come into line, and so the difficult Thiepval Ridge had been taken by
a concentric attack, of which our Division had been the northern arm.
The operation of sweeping down the valley of the River Ancre on the south side of
the river from a point opposite Beaucourt to Petit Miraumont, over country pitted with
craters, shell-holes, etc., in a single night, is no doubt a matter for self-congratulation
for the 64th Brigade and all concerned for as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle says
It was indeed a wonderful feat to advance three miles over such country upon a
pitch-dark night and to reach and hold an objective which was outflanked on both sides
by the successful German defence."British Campaign in France and Flanders, Yol.
Julv-November, 1918, p. 88.
S. W. HOWARD.
12th June, 1927. M.C., Cert. Assoc. Inst. Bkrs., F.R.Econ.S.,
formerly Lieut. E. York. K., Intelligence
Officer of the 64ih Inf. Bde. during these
operations.
