‘Major Chadwick asked if any information could be given as to whether the French Government had awarded the Croix de Guerre to the 8th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment (Leeds Rifles).
‘Lord Harewood replied: The Croix de Guerre has been offered to the Battalion of the Leeds Rifles referred to, but whether or not the War Office will allow the Battalion to accept it I do not know.’
The Fifth French Army Commander’s Order on the subject, dated October 16th, was worded as follows:
‘Le 8th Bataillon du West Yorkshire Rgt.
‘Bataillon d’élite; sous le commandement énergique du Lieutenant-Colonel Norman Ayrton, England, a participé brillamment aux durs combats du 20 au 30 Juillet, qui ont valu la conquête de la Vallée de l’Ardre. Le 23 Juillet, 1918, après s’être frayé un chemin dans les fourres épais du Bois du Petit Champ, s’est emparé d’une position importante malgré un feu nourri des mitrailleuses ennemies. Le 28 Juillet, 1918, dans un brio magnifique, a enlevé la Montagne de Bligny, fortement défendue des forces ennemies supérieures en nombre, s’y est maintenu malgré les pertes subies, et les efforts désespérés de l’adversaire pour reprendre la position.’
It was a great and almost a unique compliment; and, as we shall presently see, the 8th West Yorkshires enjoyed at a later date another striking opportunity of proving their gallantry in action.
July 29th, to return to our recital, was a comparatively quiet day. On the 30th, the 2/5th West Yorks. successfully carried out a small attack to complete the capture of the Mount Bligny, and, meanwhile, the remaining Troops of both Divisions had reached their final objectives.
We subjoin the official account of these ten days’ ‘continuous fighting of a most difficult and trying nature. Throughout this period,’ runs the statement, ‘steady progress was made, in the face of vigorous and determined resistance. Marfaux was taken on the 23rd July, and on the 28th July British Troops retook the Montagne de Bligny, which other British Troops had defended with so much gallantry and success two months previously. In these operations, throughout which French Artillery and Tanks rendered invaluable assistance, the 51st and 62nd Divisions took one thousand two hundred prisoners from seven different German Divisions, and successfully completed an advance of over four miles.’[128] The total casualties for the period in the 62nd Division alone amounted to 4,126:
| Killed. | Wounded. | Missing. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Officers | 28 | 108 | 10 |
| Other Ranks | 521 | 3,063 | 406 |
Apart from the victory which was gained, the whole operation, as shown above, afforded very useful lessons in the new conditions of warfare, and it was utilized to the full in this sense. Particular attention may, perhaps, be drawn to the experiment of Machine-Gun Battalions, which was found to have more than justified the change of system. The M.G. Battalion of the 62nd Division had now fought in two battles: in a defensive battle in the previous March, and now in an offensive battle on the Marne, and the improvement in the Machine-Gun service was estimated at sixty per cent. at least. Partly, its success might be ascribed to the fact that the Commanding Officer of the Battalion was not selected for expert gunnery, but was a good Infantry Officer, with an eye for country, a knowledge of tactics, and a power of command.