Samuel LAKIN

THE BORDER REGIMENT IN THE GREAT WAR by Colonel H.C. Wylly, C.B. (Gale & Polden, Ltd.)

BEAUMONT HAMEL

The only other Battalion of the Border Regiment which had any share in the early [1917] operations undertaken by our far-flung battle line was the 11th, the Lonsdale Battalion, which at the beginning of 1917 was stationed in the Mailly-Maillet area; but early in February it was withdrawn to Lythan Camp near Beaussart, where the attack was practised over ground which had been carefully laid out so as to correspond in every detail with an attack which was shortly to be made on the enemy position. The whole of the 9th February was spent in making the necessary preparations, equipment and bombs were drawn, and the operation orders were read and discussed, and on the following afternoon the ‘Lonsdales’ paraded and marched to Beaumont Hamel, the 97th Brigade being detailed to drive the enemy off the ridge and out of Ten Tree Alley on the night of the 10th-11th.

At 6 p.m. the first platoon of ‘D’ Company moved off from the Quarry in Beaumont Hamel, where rifle and Lewis-gun ammunition had been issued, and as it marched off guides were dropped along the route to be followed up to the tape–Wagon Road-Walker Quarry-top of Walker Avenue and across it to Gough Road-Frankfort Post. The platoons in the rear followed at intervals of 100 yards along this route, ‘C’ Company (under Captain Ross) being the first to move, and taking up a position on the tape in four waves, viz. two platoons in front forming first and second waves, two sections of each platoon being in extended order in front and two in rear at 20 yards distance; one platoon 40 yards in rear again extended right across the company front and formed the third wave; one platoon 70 yards in rear, making the fourth wave, in sections in file. ‘B’ Company (commanded by Captain Walker) followed ‘C’ Company, and took up its position on the tape in the same formation. ‘A’ Company (Captain Greenhill) followed ‘B’ and took up a position on the left, but in a different formation–one platoon being in front to form first and second waves; two platoons close in rear of the left flank to deal with any hostile posts; one platoon as reserve in artillery formation. ‘D’ Company (under Lieutenant Harris), with two platoons close up in rear of the right flank of ‘C’ Company to deal with enemy posts and two platoons as Battalion Reserve.

The Battalion was in position by 7.30 p.m. on a frontage of 350 yards, while the Headquarters was established at Frankfort Post.

At zero hour (8.30 p.m.) the artillery barrage opened, when the Battalion moved forward from its position–a line running from a point S. of Frankfort Post to Kyle Trench–and followed closely behind the creeping barrage towards the objective.

The first message came back at 9.30 from the Reserve Company, ‘D’ reporting that all objectives had been captured and that consolidation had commenced, and the first batch of 35 prisoners soon followed. Colonel Girdwood, commanding the Battalion, moved his Headquarters forward, and then examined the ground won and the dispositions of the troops, sending two platoons of the Reserve Company across to the exposed left flank, while posts were established in front of the captured line–Gunpit Trench–and this was at once put in a state of defence.

Two officers and approximately 100 other ranks were captured and sent to the rear by the Battalion, but one dug-out, from which the enemy had refused to emerge, was bombed and unfortunately caught fire, the inmates perishing. Patrols were now pushed out to the front and others sent to establish communications with the 2nd K.O.Y.L.I. on the left; and a strongly held enemy post being discovered on the Battalion left, some Stokes mortars, under Second-Lieutenant Simcocks, were sent in that direction and opened with effect on the enemy post.

At 4.30 a.m., on the 11th, the enemy delivered a counter-attack from a N.E. direction, but on rapid rifle fire in conjunction with Lewis- and Vickers-gun fire being opened, the German attack wavered and was held up, except on the left, where, under cover of the smoke from the burning dug-out, the enemy managed to get close up; here a bomb-fight ensued and the attackers were repulsed. The area concealed by the smoke was swept by rifle and Lewis-gun fire and barraged with all available rifle grenades; the S.O.S. signal was sent up for artillery support, and on our guns opening, the enemy attack was completely broken and the German infantry retired into the valley and up the slope beyond.

Observation had been much hampered by a thick, low-lying mist, but at daybreak a patrol was sent out, and on return reported that the enemy was still in strength on the left and was holding a post with 3 machine guns. But the rest of the day passed quietly, except for sniping and occasional outbursts off shell fire.

When it became dark two attempts were made by the company on the left to capture the enemy post above-mentioned, but these were unsuccessful.

At 8.30 p.m. orders were received that the Battalion was to act, in conjunction with the Naval Division on the right, in another advance to be made along the Puisieux Ridge; and ‘C’ Company (under Captain Ross) with two platoons of ‘D’ Company having been detailed, these took up a position on the left of the Naval Division, and, on the barrage opening at 9 o’clock, the advance commenced on a frontage of 300 yards, the direction being at right angles to the line held by the Battalion, and a fresh line of posts was now established connecting up with the Naval Division.

On the night of the 12th the Lonsdales were relieved and withdrew to dug-outs near Beaumont Hamel, and on the 62nd Division taking the place of the 32nd in this sector, several further moves took place, until by the end of February the Battalion was stationed in Le Quesnel for training.

[It was in the attack on the night of the 10th-11th February that Private Samuel Lakin lost his life]