Norman MULLER

THE WEST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT IN THE WAR 1914-1918, Vol. II, by Everard Wyrall

CAPTURE OF THE MONTAIGNE DE BLIGNY

During the afternoon of the 27th [July 1918] the 186th Brigade received orders to move forward to positions north of Chaumuzy, preparatory to an attack being carried out on the 28th, in conjunction with the 185th Brigade, on Bligny and the Montaigne de Bligny. The 186th Brigade was to be on the right and the 185th on the left. Of the latter the 1/5th Devons were to attack on the right and the 8th West Yorkshires (Lieut.-Colonel N.A. England) on the left; the 2/5th West Yorkshires (Lieut.-Colonel R.H. Waddy) were to support the 8th Battalion.

During the night of 27th/28th the 8th West Yorkshires moved up to their assembly positions on the immediate left of the Chaumuzy-Sarcy road and just clear of the former village; the 1/5th Devons were on the right with their right on the Ardre; the 2/5th West Yorkshires, the supporting battalion, were in the neighbourhood of Nardi Farm, north of Chaumuzy.

The objectives of the 186th Brigade (on the right) were a line between Bligny and the Arbre de Villers, and Bligny and the trench line west of it. That of the 185th Brigade, the old French line on the Montaigne de Bligny.

‘Zero’ hour for the attack was 4-30 a.m. 28th July.

At 4 a.m. the troops began to move forward to the attack, but almost immediately ran into the hostile barrage, while heavy machine-gun fire swept the line of advance. The 186th Brigade, though suffering from extreme exhaustion, pushed on gallantly, won all its objectives, captured Bligny and consolidated the old French line.

On the left of the 186th Brigade the 185th had also been splendidly successful.

The 1/5th Devons, though met with heavy machine-gun fire, particularly from Bligny, which had not then been captured by the 186th Brigade, but pushing on with dogged determination, reached the line of their objective about 7 a.m.. But touch had not been obtained on the right with the 186th Brigade and ‘A’ Company of the 2/5th West Yorkshires (from support) was sent up to form a defensive flank on the right of the Devons; this company arrived at 10-30 a.m. and established its position on the right of the Devons, thus protecting the right flank of the latter battalion.

Meanwhile the 8th West Yorkshires had advanced on the left of the 1/5th Devons. The battalion went forward in artillery formation, companies being disposed as follows: ‘D’ (Capt. D.P. Reay) on the right, ‘C’ (Capt. N. Muller) on the left, ‘B’ (Lieut. H.R. Burrows) behind ‘D’ and ‘A’ (Capt. G.M. Hirst) in rear of ‘C.’ “The men went forward in splendid style,” recorded the Battalion Diary. It will be remembered that on the 27th a third party of ten officers and 200 other ranks had arrived as reinforcements, and the battalion had only just been reorganised into four companies of three platoons each before going forward to the attack. Platoon sergeants had mostly to be drawn from young lance-corporals who were quite strangers, while the Lewis gun teams could be given no more than two trained gunners. Amongst the reinforcements were many youngsters just out from England, who had never before been under fire. When these facts are borne in mind it will be conceded that the results of these operations were even more remarkable considering the disadvantages under which the battalion attacked the enemy.

It was still dark when the 8th advanced with only the faintest suggestion of approaching dawn. All went well until the foot of the Montaigne was reached. But by this time dawn had broken. Suddenly the sharp report of a rifle rang out, and then from all sides rifles and machine-guns spluttered and cracked from scores of hidden emplacements on the hillside. There was a check which, however, did not last long, for the West Yorkshires changed their tactics of a steady advance to one of quick rushes by sections. Gradually progress was made and the line crept slowly up the hill. Soon there was hesitation amongst the enemy troops and the West Yorkshires, rushing in with the bayonet, completed the discomfiture of the Germans for, though they gallantly tried to stay the advance of the British troops, they could not do so; eventually they turned and fled, and the whole line of the attacking troops pressed on and drove the enemy from the crest of the hill. As the attack progressed so the usual ‘clearing’ operations had to be carried out. Dug-outs were searched, the wood was ‘mopped-up’ and, pushing on up through the vines, the attackers reached the line of old disused trenches where a few lingering Germans were captured.

The whole line was then consolidated, 1/5th Devons on the right, 8th West Yorkshires on the left, ‘D’ and ‘A’ Companies of the 2/5th West Yorkshires being attached, one to the former battalion, the other to the latter, the remaining two companies remaining in close support.

Thus the Montaigne de Bligny fell to the 8th West Yorkshires after a most gallant fight.

The battalion losses were Capt. N. Muller killed, three officers wounded and two missing; in other ranks thirteen killed, ninety-three wounded, nine missing and two gassed. The battalion captured sixty-nine prisoners and nine machine-guns. The 2/5th West Yorkshires had only three or four casualties.

[The 8th Bn. Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire Regiment) (Leeds Rifles) had the rare distinction of being awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French for its action during the capture of the Montaigne de Bligny.]

England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966

1919

MULLER Norman of 28 Park Grove Bradford captain 6th battalion West Riding [sic] Regiment died 28 July 1918 in France Probate London 7 January to Roland Spencer Jennings and William Whitehead spinners. Effects £2964 9s. 10d.