The Night of March 24-25
About midnight on the 24th-25th the 127th Brigade was in position, facing south-east, with outposts on the Bihucourt—Sapignies road, and the 6th Manchesters on the right, near Bihucourt, established touch with the 41st Division. At 1 a.m. on the 25th Sapignies and Behagnies were reported clear of the enemy by the Lancashire Fusiliers, who took up a line facing east on the high ground east of the Arras—Bapaume road, covering those two villages. Stragglers from other divisions passed through and gave much conflicting information as to what had happened and was happening. A telephone message from Corps H.Q. stated that the enemy had possession of Ervillers, as well as of Mory, but this report, like many others received from the rear at this time, proved unfounded, for patrols of the 10th Manchesters discovered that Ervillers was clear of the enemy. This battalion was then ordered to push two companies forward and take up a position on the south-western edge of the village, and send patrols through it. This was done and touch obtained with the 31st Division.
Thus the Division went into battle on the morning of March 25 with all three infantry brigades in the line. It possessed neither transport for units nor horses for reconnoitring, and the lack of means of rapid reconnaissance and inter-communication was sorely felt. Though the Motor-Cycle Dispatch Riders of the Signal Company proved invaluable, the Signal Company was unable to function properly until its transport arrived; and during the following two or three days a heavy expenditure of cable was caused by the continual moving of Divisional and Brigade Headquarters. The Division was not covered by its own artillery, and two infantry brigades of the 40th Division and one of the 59th Division were still in the line. However, Major-General Solly-Flood took over the command of the sector, and the Division was then transferred from the 6th Corps to the 4th Corps under Lieut.-General Sir G. M. Harper.
At dawn the enemy attacked along the whole divisional front. The 10th Manchesters pushed two companies forward through Ervillers to the north-eastern outskirts, and brought up a third company on their right into a trench which ran parallel with the Ervillers—Behagnies road. In this trench were men from various brigades, practically “done in” after four days of hard fighting without rest; but when Lieut.-Colonel Peel enrolled these oddments among his own men it was found that they could still fight gallantly. At 8.45 a.m. a message was received from the 125th Brigade reporting that other troops were falling back, and asking whether the Division was to conform. The Divisional Commander replied that the Division would fight on the position taken up, and no withdrawal would take place without orders. This message was repeated to the other infantry brigades, and two M.G. companies were moved up to cover the flanks. Machine and Lewis gunners had carried their guns into action a distance of seven to ten miles, and in the absence of transport all ammunition had been carried by the troops. It was not the ideal prelude to a thirty-hours’ battle against odds.
Between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. (March 25), owing to the withdrawal of troops of the 40th Division, the enemy penetrated the north end of Sapignies, in spite of a gallant attempt to check their advance on the part of the 5th L.F. and a company of the 7th, who held an angle in the line a little way beyond the village. The enemy massed his machine-guns, and brought up a battery of field-guns, concentrating his fire upon this point. “A” Company of the 5th L.F. was enveloped on three sides, but fought until all ammunition was spent. A dozen men got away, and a few were captured, but the rest of the company became casualties. Lieut.-Colonel Holberton, commanding the 5th L.F., brought up two companies of the 8th L.F., who were in support, and Major M. G. Bird and Captain Fairhurst, the O.C. and Adjutant of the 8th, collected headquarters details and led them forward. The counter-attack was a brilliant one, and Sapignies was regained, and a line established east of the village. Major Bird, who was awarded the D.S.O., was unfortunately seriously wounded. Shortly afterwards the enemy again succeeded in entering and pushing through Sapignies, but was met by the 5th Manchesters on the Sapignies—Bihucourt road, and driven back into the village.
March 25
As the enemy was reported to be assembling east and south-east of Bihucourt, a company of the 6th Manchesters under Captain S. L. Bridgford was ordered there. It arrived simultaneously with the Germans, and, in spite of their great numerical superiority, immediately attacked them. Fighting desperately, the company was forced out of the village step by step, but in a brilliant counter-attack the ground was regained by sheer grit, backed by superiority with the bayonet. Again overwhelming numbers prevailed, and the survivors of the company were once more driven out. With the handful that remained Bridgford made another gallant effort, but he was severely wounded and died in the enemy’s hands. The prompt and determined action of this company gained time for troops to be moved in support, and prevented the enemy debouching from Bihucourt. Had they been able to do so and reach Achiet-le-Grand, they could have commanded the reverse slopes of the ridge on which rested the centre of the Brigade. The O.C. 6th Manchesters was ordered to deny Achiet-le-Grand to the enemy at all costs, and the Pioneer Battalion (7th N.F.) was placed at his disposal. The 6th Manchesters, however, accomplished their task, though heavily engaged and under increasing artillery fire, without calling upon the Pioneers.
Towards midday the situation about Bihucourt on the right of the divisional front having become critical, the Tanks in Logeast Wood were ordered to counter-attack, and the 62nd Division, which had moved up to Bucquoy during the morning, was called upon to support the right flank of the Division about Achiet-le-Petit. This manœuvre was successful, four Tanks with a detachment of the 127th Brigade inflicting heavy casualties. About 2 p.m. scouts of the 5th East Lancashires on the left confirmed the report that the enemy had seized Behagnies and were advancing on Gomiecourt in strong force.[13] Lieut.-Colonel Clare, commanding the 5th East Lancashires, seeing that this move threatened to cut off his own battalion and also the 10th Manchesters between Gomiecourt and Ervillers, immediately sent forward headquarters details to hold the enemy back for a few precious moments. The handful of scouts, police, signallers, and runners reached the ridge in front of the enemy and, having good targets at short range, did great execution. Time was thus gained for two companies of the battalion to advance from the cross-roads south-east of Gomiecourt in artillery formation, shaking out into extended order below the crest, and doubling forward into fire positions from which they opened rapid fire, breaking up two lines of infantry in extended order not more than 200 yards away. Two Lewis guns were then brought to bear upon a large body in close formation farther back, scattering it. The remaining companies were brought up, and the battalion linked up with the 125th Brigade. The enemy’s losses were heavy, and the position appeared to be satisfactory.
Meanwhile the 10th Manchesters had achieved fame by their defence of Ervillers, and Oldham folk will always regard with pride the distinction their men earned here. Eight separate determined attacks upon the battalion had been made by superior numbers, but the 10th, assisted by a company of machine-gunners which had been pushed up to cover their left flank, had repulsed them all, losing good men, but inflicting far greater loss upon the enemy. For this day’s work the 10th Manchesters had the honour to be one of the very few battalions mentioned individually in Sir Douglas Haig’s despatch. But, owing to the withdrawal to the Courcelles line of a brigade of the division on their left, they were forced to withdraw from the village about 9.30 p.m., and take up a position 1000 yards east of Gomiecourt. The Divisional Artillery, which had arrived about noon, and had immediately come into action, now covered the divisional front, some of the batteries being within 800 yards of the front line, and Battery D/211 had every gun knocked out.
About 10 p.m. (March 25), the 125th Brigade, which had dug in on the ridge between Gomiecourt and the Ervillers—Behagnies road, with the 7th L.F. on the right, the 5th on the left, and the 8th in support, was again heavily attacked. Lieut.-Colonel Holberton, with his habitual disregard of personal safety, walked along the line encouraging and heartening his men, and was shot through the head and killed instantly. Colonel Holberton, who went out with the Division in September 1914 as Adjutant of the 6th Manchesters, was a fine soldier and cheery, gallant comrade, whose death was deplored by all ranks throughout the Division.