The Grenadier Guards in the Great War of 1914-1918, Vol. 2 of 3

by Frederick Ponsonby

May.

May was spent in very much the same way, with three companies on railway fatigue and one company training. The Commanding Officer, Lieut.-Colonel Maitland, started competitions in all the various arts of war, and there seems no doubt that these competitions made the men keen and fostered a spirit of friendly rivalry between the various teams. There were also tactical schemes in open warfare, so that if by any chance the German line should break, the men would

know how to act. The latter part of the month was devoted solely to training, and the Commanding Officer was able to assemble the whole Battalion. Captain Viscount Lascelles arrived on the 2nd, and a few days later was promoted to the rank of temporary Major, and appointed Second in Command. Lieutenant G. F. Pauling, M.C., joined on the 2nd. On the 31st the Battalion went by train to St. Omer, and subsequently to Campagne.

June.

For the first fortnight in June it remained training at Campagne, and then proceeded to Zudausques. On the 18th it moved to Herzeele, where it remained until July 13.

July.

The officers of the 1st Battalion on July 1, 1917, were:

Lieut.-Colonel M. E. Makgill-Crichton-Maitland, D.S.O.	Commanding Officer.
Major H. G. C. Viscount Lascelles	Second in Command.
Capt. P. J. S. Pearson-Gregory	Adjutant.
2nd Lieut. O. F. Stein	Bombing Officer.
Lieut. W. H. Lovell	Lewis Gun Officer.
Lieut. D. H. S. Riddiford	Transport Officer.
Lieut. and Quartermaster J. Teece, M.C.	Quartermaster.
Capt. L. G. Fisher-Rowe, M.C.	King’s Company.
Lieut. G. F. Pauling, M.C.	”   ”
Lieut. T. P. M. Bevan	”   ”
Lieut. M. Thrupp	”   ”
Capt. C. D. Baker	No. 2 Company.
Lieut. B. L. Lawrence	”   ”
Lieut. E. G. L. King	”   ”
2nd Lieut. S. Y. P. Gardner	”   ”
Capt. P. M. Spence	No. 3 Company.
Lieut. W. J. Dashwood	”   ”
Lieut. P. G. Simmons	”   ”
Capt. R. D. Lawford	No. 4 Company.
Lieut. N. G. Chamberlain	”   ”
Lieut. R. P. le P. Trench, M.C.	”   ”
Lieut. R. F. W. Echlin	”   ”
2nd Lieut. F. W. Chapple	”   ”
2nd Lieut. A. S. Chambers	”   ”
Capt. J. C. B. Grant, R.A.M.C.	Medical Officer.

The 3rd Guards Brigade now moved up into the line in order to take part in the attack by the Guards Division on the 31st. The Battalion Headquarters were at Boesinghe Château, and all four companies had two platoons in the front line. The two days spent in the trenches were uncomfortable and noisy, but there were no casualties. The Germans raided the 1st Battalion Irish Guards which was on the right, and the platoon on the right of the Grenadiers’ line was involved, but Second Lieutenant Johnson, who was in command, succeeded in preventing the enemy reaching our lines.

On the 15th the 1st Battalion came out of the line, and retired to de Wippe Cabaret, where for ten days it was employed in carrying up ammunition and war material to the front line. This necessitated constant visits to the front trenches always under shell-fire, and there were in consequence many casualties. On the 22nd Lieutenant E. G. L. King was killed by a shell close up to the front trench while in command of a fatigue party. The loss of so promising and keen an officer just before the attack was most unfortunate for the Battalion. On the 24th Second Lieutenant R. H. Rolfe, who had only just rejoined from hospital, was wounded in the same way. Second Lieutenant