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

by Frederick Ponsonby

were completely successful, and ejected the enemy, who made haste to retire some 400 yards. In order to ensure the stopping of the German attack, should it succeed, Captain Holbech had in the meantime made a strong point in rear of No. 4 Company. Another bombardment by the enemy seemed to indicate the imminence of a further attack, but the evening passed off quietly, the shelling being merely the fringe of the barrage, put down by the enemy farther to the right. There were further casualties among the officers: Lieutenant Orriss was mortally wounded, and Second Lieutenant Ellison was also wounded.

March 29-31.

The 3rd Battalion was then relieved by the 1st Battalion Scots Guards, and went into Brigade Reserve. No. 3 Company remained in slits along the ridge during the day of the 29th, but was withdrawn at night. On the 30th the 3rd Battalion returned to the front line, but except for a certain amount of shelling nothing of importance took place.

The 4th Battalion

January 1 to March 31, 1918

4th Batt.
Jan.

At the beginning of 1918 the officers of the 4th Battalion were as follows:

Lieut.-Colonel W. S. Pilcher, D.S.O.	Commanding Officer.
Major C. F. A. Walker, M.C.	Second in Command.
Capt. C. R. Gerard, D.S.O.	Adjutant.
Capt. M. Chapman, M.C.	Intelligence Officer.
Lieut. I. H. Ingelby	Act.-Quartermaster.
2nd Lieut. G. W. Selby-Lowndes	Transport Officer.
Capt. H. H. Sloane-Stanley, M.C.	No. 1 Company.
Lieut. E. R. D. Hoare	”   ”
Lieut. C. E. Irby, M.C.	”   ”
Lieut. E. H. Tuckwell, M.C.	”   ”
2nd Lieut. R. B. Osborne	”   ”
Capt. C. E. Benson, D.S.O.	No. 2 Company.
Lieut. the Hon. C. C. S. Rodney	”   ”
2nd Lieut. T. T. Pryce, M.C.	”   ”
2nd Lieut. R. L. Murray-Lawes	”   ”
Capt. G. C. Sloane-Stanley	No. 3 Company.
Lieut. the Hon. A. H. L. Hardinge, M.C.	”   ”
2nd Lieut. D. J. Knight	”   ”
2nd Lieut. C. J. Dawson-Greene	”   ”
Capt. B. C. Layton	No. 4 Company.
Lieut. F. C. Lyon	”   ”
Lieut. N. R. Abbey	”   ”
2nd Lieut. G. R. Green	”   ”
2nd Lieut. R. D. Richardson	”   ”
Captain N. Grellier, M.C., R.A.M.C.	Medical Officer.

On January 1 the 4th Battalion went by train to Athies, and moved into the support line with three Companies near Northumberland Lane, and one Company attached to the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards. Lieut.-Colonel Pilcher was at the time on leave, and the Battalion was commanded by Major Walker. On the 5th three Companies were moved up into the front trenches with one Company in reserve. On the following day Company Sergeant-Major W. Stretton, Lance-Sergeant C. Hatton, and Lance-Corporal W. Long, all non-commissioned officers of great gallantry and experience, were killed by a Grenatenwerfer, while Captain Layton of the same Company was wounded. There was a hard frost followed by a heavy fall of snow, and a German mistaking his way in the snowstorm

walked into our lines, and was taken prisoner. On the 9th the 4th Battalion was relieved by the 1st Battalion, and retired into the support line, where it remained till the 13th.