10. Beginning September 21 it was sent to Laon. About the 28th it went into line in the Malmaison sector. On October 23 the French attack commenced and caused them very heavy losses (1,800 prisoners, of whom 50 officers, and many wounded). Relieved on the 25th and its regiments, much reduced in strength, were sent to the Region of Vervins.
11. In the middle of November it held the sector of St. Mihiel, Forests of Apremont. The regiment received replacements from the interior and from the Russian front taken from the 226th Division.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The 2d Guard Division had the reputation of being a good division. It suffered heavy losses in the Aisne sector in May, 1917. However, even after this attack the morale of the men on the whole seemed quite high. At the Malmaison attack, October 23, the troops of the division, after three days, were completely defeated.
During the last battles the division showed only moderate fighting value.
1918.
1. The 2d Guard Division was relieved by the 201st Division January 11 and went to rest at Metz.
2. Here the division underwent a 10 weeks’ course of training. March 18 it entrained at Metz and traveled via Thionville to St. Amand, where it detrained on the evening of March 19. It went then via Marchiennes (Mar. 20–21), Montigny (Mar. 21–22), to Lambres, where it arrived the evening of March 22. After 5 days’ rest here the division moved up to the line at Vitry-en-Artois (Mar. 27) to reinforce the front for the attack north of the Scarpe on the 28th. Except for one battalion of the 1st Guard Grenadier Regiment, the division took part in the fighting, as the attack was unsuccessful.
Moreuil.
3. The following day it marched via Arleux-Morchies-Beaumetz-Haplincourt-Le Fansloy-Les Boeufs-Maricourt, crossing the Somme at Suzanne-Proyart-Framerville-Caix-Mézières. It went into reserve east of Mailly-Raineval, where it remained until April 5, when it came into line north of Rouvrel. It was relieved by the 6th Reserve Division May 2.