Extract from A Gallant County

Meanwhile, 8th Gloucesters was the reserve battalion for an attack at 3.15 am on 3/4 July to capture La Boiselle, which had already been assaulted twice unsuccessfully. Lieutenant Colonel Carton de Wiart, who was commanding 8th Gloucesters, described the battle in his book Happy Odyssey: In this attack my battalion, the 8th Gloucesters, were in support. The battalion we were supporting soon advanced into a heavy German barrage, and in the noise and confusion imagined they had been ordered to retire. This battalion was retiring through my men, and a retirement is the most infectious disease, there was a moment of desperate chaos, when the issue hung in the balance. The officers and men of the 8th Gloucesters were truly magnificent, and the men rallied and responded to them. They advanced regardless of their appalling casualties until they had fulfilled their appointed task and captured La Boiselle.

The Battalion was relieved on the night of 5/6 July, having suffered 292 casualties, of whom 94 died, including 6 officers. During July 1916 fifteen platoon commanders in 8th Gloucesters were killed; the Battalion had 16 platoons. The Adjutant, Captain W. Parkes, who was severely wounded, was awarded an MC, and Private W. G. H. Lugg1 a DCM for going out some 200yds under heavy artillery and machine gun fire to bring back wounded comrades.

Carton de Wiart himself was awarded the Victoria Cross and his citation reads: “It was owing in a great measure to his dauntless courage and inspiring example that a serious reverse was averted. After three other C.O.s had become casualties, he controlled their commands and ensured that the ground won was maintained at all costs. He frequently exposed himself in the organization of positions and of supplies, passing unflinchingly through fire barrage of the most intense nature. His gallantry was inspiring to all”.

He had lost a hand the year before, and men of 8th Gloucesters saw their Commanding Officer tearing out the safety-pins of bombs with his teeth and hurling them with his one hand. The village of La Boiselle was ‘adopted’ in 1920 under the British League of Help Scheme by the City of Gloucester. Funds were raised by the citizens of Gloucester to help re-establish the community, which had been totally destroyed in 1916.

Wikipedia Entry

In the early hours of 3 July, 8th Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment and 10th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, both from 57th Brigade, attacked from the west and north of La Boiselle and with 58th Brigade captured the rest of the village. Shortly after, a German counter-attack regained the eastern end, and the remaining 57th Brigade battalions, 8th Glosters and 10th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment, were sent into the village. As the fighting raged on, the commanders of the other three 57th Brigade battalions became casualties, and the 8th Glosters' commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Adrian Carton de Wiart, assumed control of their commands. The village was finally captured on 4 July, and 8th Battalion was relieved the next day, having suffered 6 officers killed, 14 wounded and 282 other ranks killed, wounded or missing.

For his actions in averting a serious reverse at La Boisselle Lieutenant-Colonel de Wiart, attached to 8th Battalion from the 4th Dragoon Guards (Royal Irish), was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC), which he credited to the 8th, "for every man in the Battalion has done as much as I have". The battalion adjutant, Captain Parkes, was awarded the MC, and Private Lugg was awarded the DCM for rescuing the wounded under heavy fire.