Article about the Battle of Arleux

Battle of Arleux (28th and 29th April) Capture of Gavrelle Windmill

On 28th the 1st and 2nd Battalions Royal Marines were ordered to attack; the objectives of 1/R.M.L.I. being the German trenches in their front, and of the 2/R.M.L.I. the Gavrelle Windmill and the German trenches to the south of it; The Ansons were to form a defensive flank on the right of 2/R.M.L.I. as the Army on the right was not to advance.

1 /R.M.L.I. were to attack the line that ran from Oppy to Mericourt, and endeavour to come up into line with the 2nd Battalion, but as zero hour was fixed at the same time for both Battalions, it was obvious that the 2nd Battalion would have both flanks in the air at the commencement of the attack.

Zero hour was 4-30 a.m. 28th, the Windmill to be attacked by the 2nd Battalion stood out very conspicuously on the sky line. The enemy were evidently expecting an attack as their guns replied immediately to the barrage. Our artillery had failed to cut the wire and when the Battalion advanced they found the wire absolutely impenetrable and were forced to consolidate in shell holes in front of it; one officer and about 30 men apparently did force their way through and when their ammunition was expended they were made prisoners ; the Essex Regiment also had failed to penetrate the wire as did the Battalions detailed to attack the following night.

Lieut.-Colonel Cartwright, soon after the attack commenced, in getting out of the trench to redirect a Lewis gun section, was shot in the stomach and died of his wounds on 30th April; a very great loss to the Battalion and Corps where his splendid character was highly appreciated.

The enemy constantly counter-attacked the 1/R.M.L.I. who maintained their position though unable to make any further progress in spite of the assistance of the very gallant bombing attacks by the H.A.C. from the flank. Major Huskisson was awarded the Military Cross for his gallantry in reconnoitring the position, and for his good work in organising the guides and aligning his company as a mark which enabled the Battalion to be formed up for the assault; the attack failed owing to several causes : the enemy were aware of the intention to attack, there was inadequate artillery preparation, and the jumping off place was on a forward slope so that all movements were visible against the sky line.

Meanwhile on the right, the 2/R.M.L.I. attacked the Windmill and trenches to the south of it. The Battalion advanced on its objective under the barrage, but the Anson company which was to form the defensive flank came under heavy fire and owing to their serious casualties were unable to connect up and a reserve company was sent up. The 2/R.M.L.I. had already passed on and at 7-45 a.m. Colonel Hutchison reported that the first objective had been taken and that the troops were going well to the second line.

Machine-gun fire and sniping from both flanks made it almost impossible for information to get back. The Commanding Officer reported later that the Battalion had gone on to its objective, but that the enemy had closed in on the flanks ; as a matter of fact the barrage was bad and the wire was only cut in one place, “ A ” " C ” and “ D ” Companies streamed through and reached their objective but they had overlooked a trench immediately behind the wire and were cut off; after very heavy losses the remnants were captured by the enemy.

In the meantime Lieutenant Newling with his platoon of Major Eagle’s company advanced and captured the Windmill with about 100 prisoners, whom they sent back without escort; he then most gallantly held the Windmill all day against violent counter-attacks ; the other three platoons of “B ” Company had followed the other companies but were held up by machine-gun fire and dug in. For many hours the old front line was held by the orderly room sergeant (Sergeant W. Love, Portsmouth) and two privates who patrolled it.

During the day, one of the headquarter runners (Private London) went out four times to the Windmill with messages, and Colonel Hutchison also visited the post to make what arrangements were possible ; "B ” Company had seized and were holding the German front line and during the night 28/29 they reinforced Lieutenant Newling at the Windmill; Lieutenant Newling was awarded the Military Cross for his gallantry and determination.