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

by Frederick Ponsonby

4th Batt. April.

The officers of the 4th Battalion on April 1, 1917, were:

Lieut.-Colonel G. C. Hamilton, D.S.O.	Commanding Officer.
Major W. S. Pilcher	Second in Command.
Capt. R. S. Lambert, M.C.	Adjutant.
Lieut. I. H. Ingleby	Act.-Quartermaster.
Lieut. J. B. M. Burke	Intelligence Officer.
2nd Lieut. C. E. Benson	Transport Officer.
Capt. C. G. Keith, M.C.	No. 1 Company.
Lieut. J. N. F. Pixley	”   ”
2nd Lieut. E. H. Tuckwell	”   ”
2nd Lieut. G. R. Green	”   ”
Capt. the Hon. F. E. Needham	No. 2 Company.
Lieut. G. H. T. Paton	”   ”
Lieut. the Hon. A. H. L. Hardinge	”   ”
2nd Lieut. M. P. B. Wrixon	”   ”
Capt. C. H. Greville	No. 3 Company.
Lieut. R. Farquhar, M.C.	”   ”
Lieut. G. C. Sloane-Stanley.	”   ”
Lieut. C. S. Nash	”   ”
2nd Lieut. T. T. Pryce, M.C.	”   ”
Capt. E. G. Spencer-Churchill	No. 4 Company.
Lieut. E. R. D. Hoare	”   ”
Lieut. R. H. G. Leveson-Gower	”   ”
Lieut. C. E. Irby	”   ”
2nd Lieut. B. J. Hubbard	”   ”
2nd Lieut. N. A. Pearce	”   ”
Capt. N. Grellier, M.C., R.A.M.C.	Medical Officer.

Lieut.-Colonel G. Hamilton, having been given a command in England, left to take up his duties and was succeeded by Captain (Brevet Major) the Viscount Gort, D.S.O., M.C. , M.C. After a fortnight at Clery the 4th Battalion moved to Cartigny, where it remained for six weeks. On arrival it had to pitch camp on sodden ground. Though it was snowing hard and almost dark, the men managed in an incredibly short time to collect timber from the ruined houses, bring up braziers and pitch tents, so that a tolerably habitable camp soon sprang up. On the 14th Captain M. Williams assumed temporary command of the 58th Prisoners of War Company.

The greater portion of the Battalion worked on the railway, but each company in turn remained behind to do steady drill.

By degrees the Battalion made itself very comfortable, and a canteen with a recreation room was built, two football grounds were made, and a cricket-ground begun. The pioneers of the Battalion collected the debris from the neighbouring ruins and erected stables and various other buildings. On the 23rd the work on the railway ceased, and all the companies were left at the disposal of the Commanding Officer.

May.

The 4th Battalion remained at Cartigny until May 18, practising all the latest developments of the attack, but the work on the railway again claimed three companies, and it was only occasionally that the Commanding Officer had the whole Battalion at his disposal for training purposes. Second Lieutenant R. G. West joined the Battalion on the 1st of May, Second Lieutenant R. C. Denman on the 2nd, Second Lieutenant H. W. Windeler on the 16th, and on the 12th Second Lieutenant N. A. Pearce was appointed Transport Officer. On the 18th the Battalion marched to Bronfay, and on the way was inspected by Major-General Feilding commanding the Guards Division. The following day it proceeded to Corbie, where it remained training until the end of the month.

June.

At the beginning of June it moved on by train to Le Rons. Second Lieutenant J. M. Chitty joined the Battalion on the 4th, and Second Lieutenant F. R. Oliver and Second Lieutenant J. J. M. Veitch on the 7th. Company training