Lieut.-Colonel Lord Henry Seymour did his best, and ordered No. 3 Company under Captain Stewart to move off to the left, its place in the line being taken by No. 4 under Captain E. Spencer-Churchill. Captain Stewart eventually got touch with a company of the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards, which had been sent up in support of the Welsh Guards. Noticing this movement of troops, the enemy imagined that an attack was in preparation, and sent up a succession of lights, presumably to call for a barrage. In answer to these signals the German artillery despatched a regular flow of 5·9 shells, and one pitched in the trench occupied by the 4th Battalion Grenadiers; Second Lieutenant R. F. C. Tompson and Sergeant Todd of No. 4 Company were killed, and Captain C. G. Goschen of No. 1 Company was wounded very slightly in the face. All that day the Welsh Guards in their advanced position were very heavily attacked, but managed to retain their trenches with the help of a company from the 1st Battalion Grenadiers.
Sept. 12.
An attempt was made at 1 o’clock next morning to secure the Quadrilateral, and No. 2 Company from the 1st Battalion carried out a bombing attack; this proved unsuccessful, and Captain Graham, Lieutenant Corry, and a number of other ranks were killed. No. 4 Company from the 4th Battalion went up in support, but as it was found impossible to advance beyond
a certain point, its services were not required. At 3 A.M. the 4th Battalion was relieved by a battalion of the Suffolk Regiment, and No. 2 and No. 4 Companies were placed at the disposal of the officer commanding the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, while No. 1 and No. 3 Companies retired to Bernafay Wood, which they reached at 5.30 A.M. While No. 2 Company was moving up to support the Welsh Guards, Lieutenant R. Y. T. Kendall was wounded, being shot through the lungs.
In the course of the day efforts were made to connect the various parts of the line, and the 1st Battalion Grenadiers and 2nd Battalion Scots Guards were sent up by companies to strengthen the weaker portions. By the evening the line, though not by any means straight, had been joined together in one continuous trench. Even when No. 2 and No. 4 Companies got to Trônes Wood they were still under very heavy shell-fire. Captain Spencer-Churchill reported this by telephone to the Brigade-Major, who inquired whether he wanted any retaliation. “Very much,” replied Captain Spencer-Churchill, and instructions were accordingly given. The effect was wonderful, and after a few minutes the German artillery turned their attention to another part of the line. Later on No. 3 Company was sent up and placed at the disposal of the O.C. 1st Battalion Grenadiers. At 10 P.M. the 4th Battalion Grenadiers was relieved by the 1st Battalion Scots Guards and marched back to Happy Valley Camp, remaining there until the 14th.
During the evening of the 14th the Battalion
moved to Carnoy, and afterwards to a small copse east of Trônes Wood, where it stayed till the following morning.
The officers of the 4th Battalion who took part in the attack of the 15th were:
| Major (temp. Lieut.-Colonel) Lord Henry Seymour, D.S.O. | Commanding Officer. |
| Lieut. (temp. Captain) R. S. Lambert | Adjutant. |
| 2nd Lieut. R. A. Gault | Sapping Platoon. |
| 2nd Lieut. A. F. Newey | No. 1 Company. |
| 2nd Lieut. B. Burman | ” ” |
| 2nd Lieut. A. C. Flower | ” ” |
| Lieut. (temp. Captain) C. R. Britten | No. 2 Company. |
| 2nd Lieut. G. H. T. Paton | ” ” |
| 2nd Lieut. C. G. Keith | ” ” |
| Capt. W. A. L. Stewart | No. 3 Company. |
| Lieut. R. Farquhar | ” ” |
| Lieut. M. H. F. Payne-Gallwey | ” ” |
| Capt. E. G. Spencer-Churchill | No. 4 Company. |
| Lieut. L. Abel-Smith | ” ” |
| 2nd Lieut. J. W. F. Selby-Lowndes | ” ” |
| Capt. N. Grellier, M.C., R.A.M.C. | Medical Officer. |
Sept. 15.