31 July 2017
One hundred years ago today 1/1st Cambridgeshire fought at the Battle of Julien in one of the opening actions of what became known as Third Ypres. Part of the 39th Division, the Cambs were in the same brigade as 1/6th Cheshires, 4/5th Black Watch, and 1/1st Hertfordshire. Commanded by Lt.Col Riddell, the Cambridgeshires were in the reserve of the advance. Although the village of St. Julian was taken it was abandoned later that day,the Germans retaking it. 1/1st Cambs started out with 19 officers and 451 NCOs and men, losing 16 officers and 286 men, killed wounded or missing. Below, some notes compiled by a Cambs officer: 31.7.17 4.45 a.m. Breakfast, and then marched 2 miles to front line passing a tank on the way. D Company sang ‘Oh oh oh it’s a Lovely War’. Regiment now in open country, and in drill order marched through heavy fire and splitting up into sections in file headed for St.Julien. So far 2 officers wounded and 35 N.C.O./en either wounded of killed and still no rounds fired by regiment. Mist by 11.00 a.m. and turning into fog. Cheshire’s and Hertfordhire’s in danger of being wiped out. The regiment attacked advancing Germans, dug in, and using machine guns taken from damaged tanks, or from the enemy, held enemy advance for a time. Battalions short of ammunition and no covering fire due to our heavy guns being fast in the mud. Confusion all around and some units lost due to misguiding. Germans attacked again to the right of Hill 90 and artillery fire intense and also fired on by own guns. Desperate position with many officers and runners killed. Colonel received the following message from our advanced position which was originally held by C Company consisting of Whittlesey and Wisbech men. They had formed a defensive position in two former German concrete Dug Outs. Sir I received a message, by orderly, to retire, but as Capt. Jonas before he was killed, said we were not to retire, without written orders from the C.O., I am holding the Dug Out. There are only three of us left and two of these chaps is wounded. I am holding on until I get written orders.’ Signed: Private Muffet 7.30 p.m. (This soldier was instructed to withdraw from his precarious position. He had run out of ammunition several times but had replenished his supplies by creeping out during the cover of darkness and taking some from an abandoned tank. He was recommended for a V.C. but granted a D.C.M. When he tried to join the Army after the War he was rejected as being below the required physical standard. He was a Wisbech man. With so many officers becoming casualties that day, NCOs and soldiers stepped into the breach to take control as the situation deteriorated. One such man was Company Sergeant Major George Burbridge of ‘D’ Company: His Military Cross citation reads. “When all officers of his company had become casualties, and exposed to fire on three sides, CSM Burbridge took command of the Company and under his leadership fought off several counter-attacks before retiring, but not before he personally destroyed two German machine guns in the process.” CSM Burbridge’s MC can be seen in the Cambridgeshire Regiment Gallery at IWM Duxford’s Land Warfare Hall. LEST WE FORGET |
1 May 2017
A short video using Ken Pearce images and video clips of 1 Royal Anglian exercising their Freedom of Gibraltar. To view the video click HERE |
22nd January 2017
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Other pages from 2017
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