8th Battalion War Diary, October 1916: Difference between revisions

Capt. Stewart<ref>Capt. John Ebenezar Stewart, MC. 8th Border Regiment (attd. South Staffordshire Regiment). 28/4/18 Commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial. Son of William A. Stewart of 37, Kildovan St., Coatbridge, and the late Isabella Shaw Stewart.</ref> realized what was happening and stopped a good many from going forward and got them to work at once in the trench. He found he was in touch with the 8th S. Lancs on the left but the right was held up. He ordered a block to be made up till he could collect some men as the line was thin & sent back a written report of the situation which was most useful as it arrived soon after a report came from Lt. (Willard?) as to the situation on the right. He said the trench had now been cleared but was now full of Borders & Cheshires. This turned out to be the bombers originally told off to clear the right & two details of [illegible] & about 30 men of the Cheshire Regt. who were unable to go on. Lt. Birnie<ref>Capt. Edward D'arcy Birnie, DSO, MC, KiA 22/3/1918. Age 26. Son of Robert and Isabella Birnie, of Sycamore Terrace, High Harrington, Cumberland. Buried at Denancourt Communal Cemetery Extension.</ref> was the sent up with the last remaining squad of Battn bombers at Batt HQ to try and get in touch with Capt. Stewart by bombing up the CT [communication trench]. On arriving at the dugout he found that the one just beyond the block was ablaze and he could not get in that way, but under cover of the smoke caused by it he managed to get his squad & 10 others from the CT over [illegible] German to Regina Trench where Capt. Stewart was only one man being hit on the way. He got to work at once in a very gallant manner, himself getting onto the parapet and [[sniping]] while his men worked up the trench. He accounted for at least 8 Germans killed, and within 20 minutes the remainder [illegible] to surrender. The trench was cleared and touch gained with the 13th Cheshires. Consolidation proceeded without opposition and several patrols were captured during the night. 3 machine guns were captured, 1 by the Borders, 1 by XI Cheshires, & 1 by the 8 Lancs. 251 Germans were captured and 50 killed were counted. The Coy of the XI Cheshire Regt. & the officers attached from that Battn rendered very useful assistance. Also the platoon of carriers who did excellent work carrying bombs and ammunition.