Tuesday 17th April 1917
Lord Ampthill
has been in contact again this evening, to relate the latest in the little war
his battalion, 8th Bedfords, is fighting south of Loos. At dawn this morning,
under gruelling artillery fire, the battalion again moved forward down the
enemy trenches, using bombs. Whilst A Company was held up by a strongpoint C
Company, under Captain G D Brewster, took all their objectives, as well as 27
prisoners and a machine gun with a trench mounting. Captain Brewster and his
second-in-command, Second Lieutenant W T Lyons, did “excellent work”, according
to Lord Ampthill.
Lord Ampthill [X550/1/82]
For the rest
of the day the Germans have bombarded the ground newly taken by the battalion
as well as the back areas, with heavy howitzers. In his lordship’s words: “despite
casualties and difficulties met with in getting up supplies the ground taken
towards Hill 70 was held. In this attack the 1st King’s Shropshire Light
Infantry were on our left and also gained their objective. The battalion was
congratulated for their good work by the Brigadier and General Officer
Commanding 6th Division”. His Lordship’s voice was full of pride.
We have heard
that the French have again met with success in their great offensive on the
Chemin des Dames. There is talk that by the time the offensive begins again
here at Arras the enemy may be under severe pressure in two places fifty miles
or so apart and may crack in either one of them.
Sources: X550/9/1
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