Quotes by H. C. Wylly: Difference between revisions

{{quote|text=The task assigned to the [[Glossary:Brigade, 97th|97th Brigade]] in general and to the 11th Border Regiment in particular was a very difficult one; the objective was [[Mouquet Farm]], but in order to effect its capture the 97th brigade on the right of the [[Glossary:Division, 3232nd|[32nd] Division]] &ndash; the 96th brigade being on the left and the 14th in support &ndash; had first to move north east and then swing to the east, while the Lonsdale battalion had to move north out of Authuille Wood for some little distance and then swing ''due'' east; this movement, moreover, had not only to be calculated exactly as to time, but had to be done under heavy fire. The companies moved out from the wood in "blob" formation<ref>Wylly continues to state: On a front of two men, each half-platoon being in a little column of its own, not immediately in rear of the one in front, but slightly to one flank, this being considered the best formation under distant shell fire.</ref>....On leaving the trenches in the wood, even before arriving at the front British trench, the Battalion came under terrific machine-gun fire &ndash; the shell fire was practically negligible while such musketry as came in its direction was too high. There was no question of flinching; the companies, men dropping every moment, moved steadily on, and, on leaving the advanced British trench, pushed on straight to their front for a time and then, as had been ordered, wheeled eastward. The attacking line, supported by the Lonsdales, was having a hard fight to try and reach the German trenches, but few were able to get so far since the enemy machine guns were taking a terrible toll, mowing down the men in scores and causing very heavy losses.|person={{col-wylly}}|source=''[[The Border Regiment in the Great War]]'', p.84}}