[57] It will be remembered that the Division, being in reserve, was directly under the orders of the Corps Commander.
[58] The award to Sgt. Sanders, V.C., was notified in the London Gazette of September 9th, 1916, in the following well-merited terms:—
‘For most conspicuous bravery. After an advance into the enemy’s trenches, he found himself isolated with a party of thirty men. He organized his defences, detailed a bombing party, and impressed on his men that his and their duty was to hold the position at all costs.
‘Next morning he drove off an attack by the enemy and rescued some prisoners who had fallen into their hands. Later two strong bombing attacks were beaten off. On the following day he was relieved after showing the greatest courage, determination and good leadership during 36 hours under very trying conditions.
‘All this time his party was almost without food and water, having given all their water to the wounded during the first night. After the relieving force was firmly established he brought his party, 19 strong, back to our trenches.’
[60] Despatches, page 26. In a footnote to this passage, Sir Douglas Haig writes: ‘In the course of this fighting, a Brigade of the 49th Division, Major-General E. M. Perceval, made a gallant attempt to force Thiepval from the north.’
[61] Despatches, pages 25, 27, 30.
[62] Despatches, page 51.
[63] The 1/7th West Yorkshires.