OPERATIONS OF the MACHINE GUN COMPANIES OF the 33rd DIVISION, PLUS 207th MG COMPANY ATTACHED, DURING the THIRD BATTLE OF YPRES

24th to 26th SEPTEMBER 1917

Already [I.e. by 22^nd September 1917] orders had been issued for a second attack upon the great Belgian Ridge to include the capture of Polygon Wood, the Reutelbeke and Polderhoek Chateau on the 33rd Divisional front. Very little time was available for reconnaissance and for the dumping of ammunition in the forward area, which entailed a "carry" from Valley Cottages to Inverness Copse, and in the case of one Company as far as Northampton Farm, of about two miles, across very broken and boggy country. For the 33rd Divisional attack, the 98th Brigade was selected to attack on the left and the 100th Brigade on the right. The 19th, 248th and 207th (Independent) Machine Gun Companies were selected as the Barrage groups. The 19th Brigade was ordered in support.

By 12 midnight on the 24th-25th September, both the 98th and 100th Brigades were concentrated for the attack. In the 98th Brigade, the 2nd Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 1st Middlesex and 4th King's; and in the 100th Brigade the 9th H.L.I. and 1st Queen's being the leading Battalions with the 98th and 100th Machine Gun Companies concentrated to support their own Brigades. The 207th Machine Gun Company, under Captain Gelsthorpe, was ordered to be in position by 1 a.m. on the morning of the 25th, about 150 yards behind our front posts, close to Northampton Farm, disposed in two batteries of eight guns each; the 19th Machine Gun Company was ordered to be in position by 3 a.m. just West of Inverness Copse, disposed in two batteries of eight guns each; the 248th Machine Gun Company was ordered to be in position by dawn on the 25th September, disposed in two batteries of eight guns each, opposite Bodmin Copse. The attack of the Second Army, including the 33rd Division, was ordered for dawn on the 26th instant. At about 3.30 on the morning of the 25th, the enemy opened a bombardment of hitherto unparalleled intensity upon our front. The S.O.S. Signal was seen at every point, and our Machine Guns of the 19th and 207th Machine Gun Companies, which were in position, opened fire.

So intense was the bombardment and in such great depth upon our rear communications, that it was impossible to get the transport of the 248th Company up the roads. An attempt was made by Lieutenant Franklin and Sergeant Tyson, but the Company suffered such severe casualties in vehicles, animals and personnel, that it was determined to await a lull before proceeding. Lieutenant Franklin, who was commanding the 248th Company, himself went forward and reported to Major Hutchison. Meanwhile, at dawn, following up their bombardment, the enemy counter-attacked in massed formation upon our lines, no less than five Divisions being used in this attack upon the Divisional front. We had already suffered exceedingly heavy casualties from the bombardment. Inverness Copse, in particular, in which were concentrated two Battalions having been swept as though with a scythe. The posts of the Queen's were driven in and two Companies at least either slaughtered or captured. The Glasgow Highlanders, fighting with great courage, were driven back as were the 2nd Worcestershires and the 4th King's. The 1st Middlesex and Ninety-third [Argyll and Sutherland] held their ground, two Companies of the latter Regiment being completely cut off from the rest of their Battalion, with the enemy in between them and their friends. It was during this attack that most valuable services were rendered by Lieutenant Huskisson, Sergeant Heanley, Corporal Gates, Corporal Hudson and Private Samuels, of the 100th Machine Gun Company, in support of the 2nd Worcestershires and 4th King's. Two gun teams were cut off and attacked with Flammenwerfer. The teams fought to the last, being either shot dead or hideously burnt, wounded and captured. Private Rogers, M.M., who was taken prisoner and now released, wrote confirming the heavy casualties inflicted on the enemy. Lieutenant Adams and Sergeant Harris of the 98th Company, on the flank of the Division co-operating with the Australians in Polygon Wood also did fine work.

The 207th Company, which, as already noted, was close behind our front line grouped in batteries, opened fire with sixteen guns at almost point-blank range into the massed hordes of the enemy. The enemy was concentrated behind Polderhoek Chateau Ridge, and as soon as their bodies were seen down to the knee topping the lines, Captain Gelsthorpe's batteries opened a murderous fire into their ranks. Low flying enemy aeroplanes soon, however, detected him and both by machine gunning and directing artillery upon the 207th Machine Gun Company, the enemy inflicted very severe casualties amongst the gunners. Capt Gelsthorpe realized that his position was untenable and withdrew his guns, excepting four which had been totally destroyed, in perfect order to a new position East of Stirling Castle, dug in, re-laid his lines and personally reported what he had done. During the whole period Captain Gelsthorpe and his two remaining Officers, one of whom was wounded, and his whole Company, such as were left of them, displayed the most conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty and inflicted enormous losses on the enemy. No less gallant work was done by the 19th Machine Gun Company, which, although more fortunate in its position, answered twenty-one S.O.S. calls, being the whole time exposed to the heaviest shell fire. Every prisoner taken reported the annihilating effect of the Machine Gun Barrage, and the hideous losses inflicted both on their attacking and supporting troops. Lieutenant Stokes was killed whilst gallantly directing the fire of his guns.

In the 207th Machine Gun Company, Captain Gelsthorpe was awarded the D.S.O., and two Officers the Military Cross. Two D.C.M.'s and five Military Medals were also awarded to this Company. In the 19th Machine Gun Company, Lieutenant G. Harrison was awarded the Military Cross, Sergeant H. Bull the D.C.M., and Sergeant Rose and Lance-Corporal Clark the Military Medal. In the 98th Machine Gun Company, Lieutenant Adams was awarded the Military Cross, Corporal Dean, Lance-Corporal Boast and Private Campbell the Military Medal, and in the 100th Machine Gun Company, Sergeant Heanley was awarded the D.C.M., and Corporal Gates, Corporal Hudson, Lance-Corporal Samuels, D.C.M., Private Barrass and Private Joyce were awarded the Military Medal.

During this action, so heavy was the German counter-battery bombardment, that despite the fact that we had undoubtedly a preponderance of artillery, the guns of all calibres being locked almost wheel to wheel along the whole front, and in many lines, our artillery could appreciably be felt to grow weaker and weaker. Except for a lull of about twenty minutes the intensity of the bombardment never lessened during the whole of the 25th and the night of the 25th-26th. At 9 p.m. orders were received from the higher command, that although the Division had by this time suffered about 5,000 casualties, the original attack would be carried out according to plan on the morning of the 26th. During the night of the 25th-26th, 700,000 rounds of ammunition were got up by the pack train of the D.A.C. [Divisional Ammunition Column] to replenish the dumps at our battery positions, and such reliefs of gunners as were possible were carried out.

Captain Lewthwaite arrived to take over command of the 19th Machine Gun Company, replacing Captain Falkner who had been wounded on the 20th. No more severe trial of Machine Gunners has probably ever been made. Everything was ready by zero on the 26th. The attack swept forward along the whole 33rd Divisional front with extreme bitterness. Very few prisoners were taken. Enormous numbers of the enemy were found dead, and the Ninety-third and Middlesex, who were cut off, were found to have maintained their original position of the 25th intact, having endured not only the enemy attack, but our own bombardment. The feat of the 33rd Division in thus capturing the whole of its objective after having endured a bombardment and counter-attack of such intensity on the day preceding, is best described in a telegram sent by Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig and General Sir H. Plumer, hereunder:

From the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief, British Armies in France.

To General Sir H. C. O. Plumer, Commanding 2nd Army.

G.H.Q., 27th September, 1917.

"The ground gained by the 2nd Army yesterday, under your Command, and the heavy losses inflicted on the enemy in the course of the day, constitute a complete defeat of the German forces opposed to you. Please convey to all Corps and Divisions engaged my heartiest congratulations, and especially to the 33rd Division, whose successful attack, following a day of hard fighting, is deserving of all praise."

From X th Corps.

To 33rd Division.

G.G. 131. 26th September, 1917.

"Following received from General Plumer: 'Please accept my congratulations on success of to-day's operations, and convey them to the troops engaged. The 33rd Division have done fine work under extraordinarily difficult circumstances, and the 39th Division have carried out their task most successfully.' The Corps Commander adds his own congratulations."

The above note is extracted from the History and Memoir of the 33^rd Battalion Machine Gun Corps, which was written and illustrated by members of the Battalion and printed privately in 1929.

The text may be taken from the Company War Diaries now held in the Public Record Office, but is likely to have been collated by Lt Col G.S. Hutchison, eventually CO of the 33^rd Battalion. At the time of the action he was, as Major Hutchison, the CO of the 100^th MG Company and Divisional MGO.