(b) When patrols were definitely held up, and the enemy located, the artillery would bombard points of resistance, and patrols would advance under a creeping barrage.
(c) If the patrols were again held up, a set-piece attack would be organized.
In making these attacks the enemy’s position would be turned from one or both flanks. Machine-gun sections were to be pushed up behind patrols close enough to give effective support by direct fire. At least one section R.E. to be with the advance-guard, and also parties of Tunnelling Companies, R.E., to locate and destroy road-mines and “booby-traps.” The Pioneer Battalion would be available under the Divisional Commander’s hand. The Commander of a higher formation must explain attack orders, personally or through a Staff Officer, verbally to the Commander of a lower formation, and wherever possible the objectives must be pointed out on the ground to the subordinate commanders who had to carry out the operation. Briefly, the policy was to command the battle from horseback and not by telephone from a dug-out.
The important village of Miraumont, situated to the south-east of the Dovecot on both banks of the River Ancre, and strongly held by the enemy, was the next objective. Its fall would force the Germans to abandon the line of the Ancre, so a stiff resistance was expected. On the night of the 23rd-24th August the 21st Division on the right had crossed the Ancre further south and obtained a footing upon Thiepval Ridge. On the morning of the 24th the British were above Miraumont on three sides, and about midday the 126th and 127th Brigades fought their way round the outskirts from the north and south respectively until they met on the eastern side. The river was low and there was little difficulty in finding fordable passages. To the south these were secured by patrols of the 6th and 7th Manchesters, while the 5th East Lancashires and the 10th Manchesters turned the position from the north. The capture of this place was a noteworthy example of well-planned and well-carried out co-operation between the artillery and infantry of the Division. Heavy guns pumped shells into the centre of the village; field-guns smothered the outer circumference with shrapnel to keep down the enemy machine-gun fire, while the two infantry brigades worked round outside. When the two columns met on the farther side the guns ceased fire, and at noon infantry patrols entered the town from all sides and “mopped up.” Some snipers had to be disposed of, and there were a few house-to-house chases, but the majority of those who had been unable to withdraw before the completion of the encircling movement, were found ready, and indeed anxious, to surrender to any one. A stretcher-bearer of the 127th Brigade, who had fallen into German hands when searching for wounded in the mist of the early morning, proudly conducted about twenty of his now docile captors to meet the advancing patrols. A column of about 300 Germans, waving white flags, marched east out of Miraumont and surrendered. Many other prisoners, a complete battery of 5·9-inch howitzers, some 4·2-inch guns, and many machine-guns were captured. Our casualties were light in proportion to the success attained and to the loss inflicted on the enemy. The stretcher-bearers carried the wounded long distances over badly torn-up ground, in great heat, and under artillery and machine-gun fire.
Capture of Pys and Warlencourt
The capture of Miraumont was promptly followed up, and within a few hours of its fall fighting patrols of the 126th Brigade had entered Pys, a village more than a mile to the east, on the heels of the enemy. The straggling village of Warlencourt—Eaucourt, about a mile and a half farther east, was the next objective. The forward move began at 7.30 p.m., the two brigades moving along parallel lines, the 126th Brigade to the north and in advance of the 127th Brigade. In spite of the difficulties of a night advance through unknown country against strong enemy forces, well furnished with machine-guns, the 5th East Lancashires made steady progress, pushing the enemy rearguard in front of them, following up warily but resolutely, and adding to their bag of prisoners from time to time. On the outskirts of the village the opposition increased in intensity, and the enemy line of resistance, 400 yards west of Warlencourt, was found too strong to be attacked without artillery preparation. The troops on the right and left were already some distance in the rear. An outpost line was put out, and both brigades took up positions affording cover from the heavy machine-gun fire with which the enemy swept the valley west of Warlencourt throughout the night. The 126th Brigade lay across the Loupart Wood road, north and north-east of the village, and the 127th on the western outskirts. After dawn the German fire slackened and patrols of the 7th Manchesters advanced. They encountered opposition which weakened by degrees, and at 10 a.m. on August 25 a company of the 7th entered Warlencourt and passed through it. The advance was then stopped, as the north-eastward advance of the 63rd Division squeezed out the 42nd, which withdrew to concentrate in the Miraumont—Pys area, where two days were passed in rest and recuperation.
The Corps Commander wired his congratulations to the Divisional Commander on the successful issue of these operations, and asked him “to convey to all troops under your command my thanks for their work during the past three days and to congratulate them on their success, which could only have been attained by great fighting capacity and endurance.”
The Divisional Artillery was quickly called upon to assist the 63rd Division, which was in difficulties west of Le Barque and Thilloy, the troops being mown down by numerous enemy machine-guns posted in a sunken road between the two villages, and no amount of courage could prevail against the storm of bullets. After hurried reconnaissance the 210th and 211th Brigades, R.F.A., were rushed to positions by Loupart Wood, which was being heavily shelled at the time. A race between the two brigades ensued, the batteries trotting and even galloping to the positions by different routes. It was a perfect example of artillery manœuvre. At one moment an empty grass plain; a moment later a plain covered with the guns, wagons, and horses of eight batteries! The instant the trails were dropped—before the horses had got clear of the positions—the S.O.S. went up, and forty-eight guns were belching fire practically simultaneously.