Book Extract

The Story of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment by Charles Lethbridge Kingsford.

For the 2^nd Royal Warwickshire the months of June July and August were uneventful, but on September 25 came at the battle of Loos. In the attack that day the line of the 7th division was facing Cite St. Elie and the Hulluck Quarries 5 miles north of Loos. The Royal Warwickshire went over the top at 6:30 in the morning. In the face of a terrific fire they reached the first line trenches do you find that the wire was not cut. Private Arthur Vickers VC on his own initiative and with the upmost bravery ran forward in front of his company, and standing up in broad daylight under heavy fire cut 2 gaps in the wire. His gallant action contributed largely to the success of the assault that was justly rewarded with the Victoria Cross, the first that had been won by soldier of the Royal Warwickshire.

Continuing to advance through the Quarries the Battalion carried the second line also without much difficulty, but on reaching St. Elie at 9.30 were checked. Nevertheless they held on till dusk, when owing to the retirement of the 9^th Division on their right they were compelled to fall back. When the Battalion mustered at midnight there were present no officers and only 140 men. Lieut-Colonel LeFroy and two of his officers had been mortally wounded . 7 other officers were killed, 7 were wounded and 1 was a prisoner. Of the men 64 were killed, 171 wounded and 273 were missing. Lieut. H.P. Williams Freeman was attached to the Battalion next day and under his command the remnant remained in the trenches till September 29^th.

Loos was the last great action in which the British in France were engaged before the Battle of the Somme. During the intervening months there is no incident in the history of the Royal Warwickshire which calls for special record. But one after another eleven battalions of the Regiment were sent south and in June 1916 they were all in readiness to take part in the mighty conflict which was then about to begin.