‘Will you thank the 148th Infantry Brigade for all they did in holding on to Neuve Église? It is, of course, greatly due to them that the place was held as long as it was.’
Similar praises were bestowed by the Brigadier-General Commanding the 74th Brigade (25th Division) on the Battalion of the 148th Brigade, which had been under his orders. He placed on record,
‘his great appreciation of the services rendered by the 5th Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment during the time it was attached to the Brigade under his Command. The gallantry and endurance of all ranks throughout the operations are worthy of the highest traditions of the British Army, and it was a pleasure to the B.G.C. to have such Troops under his Command. He was much impressed by the dashing manner in which the Battalion carried out the attack on Cabaret du Saule on 11th April, and by its stubborn resistance on 14th April on Mont de Lille.’
We come, last in this summary, to the 146th Infantry Brigade (49th Division).
On April 10th, it was in line in the Ypres salient, under the orders of the 21st Division.
Next day, very early in the morning, its 1/7th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, became attached to the 62nd Infantry Brigade, which had been detached from the 21st Division and placed under the orders of the 9th (Scottish) Division, commanded by Major-General G. H. Tudor. That Division (the 9th), we may note, in anticipatory compensation for its terrible losses in this area in April, was to have the honour on July 19th of capturing Meteren with great éclat. This reversal of misfortune lay in the future. To-day the situation was very grave, and the part played by the 1/7th West Yorkshires, in attachment to the attached Brigade, may best be told, in advance of the more detailed narrative, in the Report of the Brigadier-General Commanding the 62nd Brigade, which was transmitted by General Tudor to General Cameron (49th Division). It was dated April 20th and ran as follows:—
‘I should like also to draw attention to the very gallant behaviour of the 1/7th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment, of the 146th Infantry Brigade.
‘On the critical afternoon of the 11th April, when the Brigade holding the Messines Sector was driven back, leaving my right flank perilously exposed, the 1/7th West Yorkshire Regiment was moved up at very short notice from Parret Camp to form a defensive flank on the Bogaert Farm-Pick Wood Spor, and to fill the gap on our right.
‘Under very heavy shelling the Battalion moved forward splendidly, and their steadiness undoubtedly saved the situation. From that evening until the morning of the 16th the Battalion held the right sub-sector of the Brigade front from Bogaert Farm to Pick Wood; on the night of the 15/16th they handed over from Bogaert Farm to Scott Farm to the 1st Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment, and took over to Spanrock-Molen inclusive. On an extended front they encountered the full force of the enemy attack on the morning of the 16th, and fought most gallantly until overwhelmed by superior numbers. As in the case of other Battalions the mist placed them at an enormous disadvantage, and deprived them of the full use of their fire power.’
Major-General Cameron, in communicating this message to the Brigadier of the 146th, added the expression of his ‘great hope, that you will find that you have sufficient old hands remaining to carry on the spirit which has animated the 146th Brigade, and infuse it into the new drafts which I hope to see joining you soon, in order that the name of the 146th Brigade may live for ever. Please let your Battalions know that I feel deeply proud of them.’