United States or Philippines ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
After passing the enemy front line all danger from his barrage was over, but his machine guns were active, and every now and then a man dropped in many cases not to rise again. At length the river Steenbeek was reached. Numbers were few and hopes of success were rapidly vanishing. How the fight had progressed on the right or left no one knew.
In front was a strong position on the other side of the Steenbeek Valley, which turned out ultimately to be Bank Farm. The enemy in the dim light was firing his machine guns and causing casualties, but with a final rush the men were in the centre of a German strong point.
In the center and on the left British divisions swept the enemy from positions to a depth of two miles, and secured crossings at the river Steenbeek, thus gaining all their objectives. In carrying out this attack British troops captured two powerful defensive systems by assault, and won against fierce opposition the villages of Verlorenhoek, Frezenberg, St.
One of these structures, entirely surrounded by water except for a narrow causeway, successfully defied all attempts at capture. Meanwhile, our four Companies had varied experiences just behind this all-day battle. A Company on the right, advancing over the Steenbeek at zero, caught the full blast of the barrage. Brooke, wounded. 2nd Lieut. Buck was then sent from Headquarters to take command.
... Presently the shattered pollards of the Steenbeek are left behind and flickering Verey lights cast into weird relief the rugged surface of the earth. At Pommern Castle our front trenches, in which figures of men loom indistinctly, are reached. From the trench we proceed further into No-Man's-Land, where the Bucks are said to have linked up shell-holes since nightfall.
C.S.-M. Heath obtained the M.C. D Company, contrary to their experience at Ronssoy, had the easiest time of the four. Held back on the western bank of the Steenbeek by the congestion at the bridges until 5.15 a.m., they crossed when the barrage, always lighter on our left, had greatly slackened and suffered only slight loss.
This opinion is thoroughly shared by others more competent to pass judgment than myself. The order of battle for the Brigade was as follows: Starting from the line of the Steenbeek the three Battalions, covering a frontage of about 1,200 yards, were to take the fortified line of the Langemarck road from the crossroads at Winnipeg to those just west of Keerselare.
Although no general attack was found practicable until the 20th September, it was apparently deemed essential first to gain a footing on the low ridge of Gravenstal, which, though it rose only 60 feet above the Steenbeek Valley, dominated the country as far as Ypres, and gave the enemy eyes to see our preparations.
Word Of The Day