Book Extract

An incident in the Ypres area was an operation carried out by the 74th Brigade in which our 13th Battalion was engaged on the 10th and 11th August, but which was not awarded a battle honour. It was, however, so successful, that a full account of it is warranted.

The object of the raid was to improve the observation to the East and South East, in other words, to complete the capture of the West Hoek ridge. The left of the Brigade was on the Roulers railway. It rained incessantly the whole day. The 13th Battalion, under Colonel L. H. K. Finch, advanced at 4-25 a.m. in four waves. The first wave reached the objective without much difficulty, after capturing an enemy strong-point. The fourth wave was to push through to a covering position, which was to be held until the original line had been consolidated. But, unfortunately, it was caught in heavy shell fire and reached the covering line with only 1 N.C.O. and 14 men. The right flank was reinforced by parties of the 7th Bedfordshire Regiment from another division. A gap was caused by the heavy casualties on the left which was not closed till after dark.

Meanwhile, evacuation of Glencorse Wood by troops on the right laid the right flank of the 13th Battalion open to fire from snipers and machine guns. Hostile artillery failed to pick up the new Brigade line except in the case of our 13th Battalion. However, consolidation was pushed on under cover of posts in front. Counter-attacks were made throughout the day and night, which were mostly annihilated by machine gun and gun fire.

At 11-23 the O.C. 3rd Worcestershire Regiment took over command of the 13th Battalion whose C.O., second-in-command and all senior officers had become casualties.

Very fine work was done by the machine guns supporting the 13th Battalion. Some of them were in action for 30 hours, up to their waists in water, enduring heavy shelling and sniping. Supplies were carried up for the attacking troops by other Brigades with the greatest difficulty.

The total casualties of the Battalion were 2nd/ Lieut. P. B. Silcock killed, 10 wounded, including Colonel Finch and Major Nares, 106 men killed or missing and 266 wounded.

The tactical importance of West Hoek ridge is fully brought out in Haig’s despatch of 25.12.17 para. 44. “During the night of 31st July and on the following days, the enemy delivered further counter-attacks against our new line, and in particular made determined efforts to dislodge us from the high ground between the Menin Road and the Ypres-Roulers railway… in this he completely failed.”