How Sergeant Alfred Bull, of the 2^nd Battalion East Surrey Regiment, Won The D.C.M. At Stanbroek Molen

    The action at Stanbrock Molen, on March 12^th 1915, was only one of the subsidiary operations in the great battle of Neuve Chapelle.  Nevertheless, it produced some fierce and sanguinary fighting, and afforded not a few opportunities for individual distinction.  One of these fell to the share of Sergeant Alfred Bull, of the 2^nd East Surreys, who found himself with seven men, all that were left of five officers and eighty-five men, isolated in a trench, parts of which had been demolished by shell fire, within thirty yards of those of the enemy.  It was a situation to test the courage and endurance of the boldest, and man would have accounted it no shame had the little band surrendered.  But no thought of yielding ever entered Bull’s head, and though the trench was choked with the dead bodies of their comrades, and though rifle and machine gun bullets came streaming through the gap in the broken parapet until there was not one of the defenders but could show a wound-the sergeant himself being wounded in the knee with grim determination they stood their ground, resolved to die, every man at his post.

            And their heroism was not in vain, for as dusk was falling, and they were momentarily expecting the enemy to rush the trench in overwhelming numbers and bayonet every one of the survivors, relief occurred, and the position which they had so bravely defended was saved.  Sergeant Alfred Bull, who was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, “for conspicuous gallantry,” is twenty-eight years of age and a Londoner, his home being at Stoke Newington. Extracted from 'Deeds That Thrill The Empire'

How Second Lieutenant Benjamin Handley Geary, Of The 4^th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment (Attached 1^st Battalion) Won The V.C. At Hill 60

  In the early summer of 1914, a traveller on the Ypres-Lille Railway might have noticed, about three miles southeast of the former town, a slope some two hundred and fifty yards long by two hundred deep.  This slope is Hill 60, which before many months had passed was to become so famous that no future visitor to the battlefields of Flanders will ever consider his tour complete until he visited it.  At the beginning of the third week in April 1915, Hill 60, which had more than once changed hands since the beginning of the previous autumn, was in German occupation, and it possession was of great importance to the enemy, since it afforded them excellent artillery observation towards the west and northwest.  If, on the other hand, the British could retrieve to capture it, it would give them a gun position from which the whole German front in the neighbourhood of Hollebeke Chateau would be commanded.  Our men fully appreciated this fact and had been carefully mining the ground, and the evening of Saturday, April 17^th, were the time selected for the mines to be fired and the Hill captured.  At 7 p.m. on the day in question a more tranquil spot than Hill 60 could not have been found along the whole length of the Western front; a few second later it was like a volcano in eruption, seven mines being exploded simultaneously, and a trench line and about one hundred and fifty Huns blown into the air.  The explosions were the signal for every British gun in the vicinity to come into action, and rapid fire to be opened all along our trenches.  “It was,” writes one who present, “like one contentious roar of thunder, while the rifle fire sounded like hail on the slates, only much louder.”  Under cover of the bombardment, the 2^nd King’s Own Scottish Borderers and the 1^st West Kent’s dashed up the hill, won the top, entrenched themselves in three huge craters made by the explosions, and brought up machine guns.  During the night they were heavily shelled and had to sustain several determined counter attacks, which were repulsed, after fierce hand-to-hand fighting; but in early morning of the 18^th the Germans advanced in great force, and though mown down in heaps by our machine guns, succeeded, by sheer weight on numbers, in forcing back the troops holding the right of the hill to the reverse slope, where however, they hung on throughout the day.

            On the evening of the 18^th, the Borderers and the West Kent’s were relieved by the other two battalions, the 2^nd West Ridings and the 2^nd Yorkshire Light Infantry, who again stormed the hill under cover of heavy artillery fire, and drove the enemy off at the point of the bayonet.  The following morning another fierce attack was launched against the British, with the aid of artillery and asphyxiating bombs.  It was repulsed, but during the greater part of the 19^th and 20^th our men were subjected to a tremendous bombardment from three sides.  During the night of the 18^th-19^th two companies of the 1^st Surreys, from the 14^th Brigade, were brought up from their billets at Ypres, and took over a part of the support trenches.  About 5 p.m. on the 19^th, the enemy started shelling them, but seemed unable to find the range, and were, after a time, silenced by the British guns.  The east Surreys spent the night in improving the communication trenches and endeavouring to extend their own trench, in the course of which one of their officers, Captain Huth, was killed.  Next morning the Germans started shelling them heavily again, and continued the bombardment for several hours.  This time they managed to get the range and the adjutant of the battalion was blown to pieces by a shell, while the parapet of the trench was breached in several places.  Upon the gaps thus made in their defences the enemy directed an incessant rifle and machine gun fire, which rendered the task of filling them up a most hazardous operation.  Towards five o’clock in the afternoon, the Germans resumed their bombardment, and the officer in command of the East Surreys, Major Patterson, was mortally wounded.  The enemy’s shellfire cut the telephone wires between the trench and our batteries in the rear, with the result that the British guns were unable to make any effective reply.  Presently a messenger arrived with a request for reinforcements, and Second-Lieutenant Benjamin Handley Geary assembled his platoon and led them up the Hill.  The communication trenches had been so badly knocked about that it was impossible to make use of them, but Lieutenant Geary and his men succeeded in reaching the left crater, which was being held by a handful of the 1^st Bedford’s, who greeted their arrival with loud cheers.  The young officer placed his men around the inside of the rim of the crater, and there they hung on for the next few hours.  All the ground about them was being fiercely shelled, but the enemy seemed unable to put their shells inside the crater itself.  However, their trenches were only a little distance away, and they kept up an almost continuous shower of hand grenades from which our men suffered severely, and gradually the crater became so full of dead and wounded that the ground was almost invisible.  The Germans also had a machine gun trained on the only way by which reinforcements could come up, and though repeated attempts were made by the East Surreys and the Bedford’s to send support to their hard pressed comrades, comparatively few men succeeded in getting through, while practically everyone of the officers who led them was shot down, so that at one tie Second-Lieutenant Geary was the only unwounded officer on the Hill.  Meanwhile darkness was coming up, and our men were in complete ignorance of how matters were going with their comrades on there right and left.  All the ground in rear was now swept by shellfire that it was impossible for reinforcements to reach them, and it looked as though they must be completely cut off.  No order had reached Lieutenant Geary, and he was obliged to act on his own responsibility.  Presently the Germans began to advance up their old communication trenches, one of which led to the left crater.  They were obliged, however, to advance in single file, and Lieutenant Geary, aided by a private named White, who loaded his rifles for him, shot down man after man, until at last the Huns had had enough and prudently abandoned the attempt.  But they succeeded in making their way up another communication trench, leading to the right of the middle crater, and began firing into the backs of our men on the left.

            Thinking it advisable to make an attempt to ascertain what was happening on either side of him, Lieutenant Geary despatched a corporal and a couple of men to try and get into touch with the officer in command of a trench on the left of the Hill.  But none of them returned having probably been killed on the way.  He himself, at great personal risk, hurried across to the trench on the right, and, reaching it in safety, found that our men were still holding on to the greater part of the trench, though the Germans had succeeded in occupying the extreme left of it.  There were two officers remaining in the trench, one of his own battalion and one of the Bedford’s.  They, like himself, had received no orders; but, after discussing the situation, the three officers decided that it was their duty to hang on as long as possible and not to think of abandoning the Hill, so long as there remained any chance of reinforcements reaching them.  On his way back to the left crater, Lieutenant Geary met a Major Lee, an officer of another battalion, bringing up a detachment, wit orders to drive the enemy out of the part of the trench which they had captured; and this officer told the lieutenant to get together what men he could and, on seeing two or three flare lights go up, to lead them across the middle crater and attack the Germans on the right, while he himself attacked on the left.  Lieutenant Geary rejoined his men and directed some of them to dig a trench in the rear of and commanding the middle crater.  While they were engaged on this work, which was carried out under a heavy fire, a German flare light went up and afforded the young officer an excellent view of the portion of the trench which the Germans had captured.  Observing that on the side nearest to him the parapet of the trench had been destroyed by shellfire as to afford the occupants very little protection, he directed a man to load for him, and began potting away at the Huns with considerable effect.  Then, ordering the man who had been loading for him to continue firing in his place, he went away and posted another man in a position, which would enable him to fire into the communication trench down which the enemy would have to retire.  As he was returning, he found some of the Queen Victoria Rifles-a Territorial battalion which greatly distinguished itself and suffered cruel losses on that terrible night-carrying up ammunition, but uncertain as to the whereabouts of their comrades.  He directed them and then went to the left crater, where he found his men holding on most gallantly, but in sore need of ammunition.  Meanwhile, he had been expecting to see the flares go up-the signal for him to lead his men across the middle crater to attack the Germans in conjunction with Major Lee-but, as none appeared, he went to find that officer, and learned that the enemy had already evacuated the portion of the trench they had captured and had retired to their communication trench.

            From this, however, they were keeping up a storm of grenades, which would make it very difficult for us to hold the trench, which they had abandoned.  Going back again to the left crater, he found his men so reduced in numbers and so short of ammunition that he saw that, unless they were speedily reinforced, they would be obliged to withdraw from the crater and dig themselves in behind it.  He was on his way to inform Major Lee of the necessity of doing this without delay, as the day was now beginning to break, when he was severely wounded by a bullet in the head, an injury which put him out of action and subsequently deprived him of the sight of an eye.  His men, however, succeeded in holding the crater which they had so gallantly defended until relief arrived.  Second Lieutenant Geary was awarded the Victoria Cross “for most conspicuous bravery and determination at Hill 60,” the Gazette adding that the attacks upon the crater were repulsed “mainly owing to the splendid personal gallantry and example of Second-Lieutenant Geary,” who “exposed himself with entire disregard to danger.”  Some five months previously to gaining the Victoria Cross at Hill 60, this most gallant young officer had given an earnest of the wonderful courage and sang-froid, which characterized his actions upon that occasion.  He volunteered for a scouting expedition to reconnoitre the German trenches, which were about one hundred and thirty yards from our own lines.  Flattened to earth, he crawled forward by slow stages, and succeeded in reaching the enemy’s parapet and, looking over it, perceived a mackintosh supported by a detached bayonet.  Without a moment’s hesitation, Lieutenant Geary seized this bayonet and succeeded in bringing back the trophy to his own battalion.  After possessing himself of the bayonet, he had intended to enter the trench itself, but as he was still leaning over the parapet to satisfy himself with regard to its formation, a figure suddenly appeared round the corner of the trench not a dozen yards away, upon which Lieutenant Geary ducked down and wriggled back to the British lines with all possible expedition. Like Lieutenant Geoffrey Wooley, of the Queen Victoria Rifles, who also won the V.C. at Hill 60, Second-Lieutenant-now Lieutenant-Geary entered the army straight from Oxford.  He went into residence at Keble College in 1910, and had just taken his B.A. degree when the war broke out.  He is twenty-four years of age.  Extracted from 'Deeds That Thrill The Empire'           

How Private Edward Dwyer, Of The 1^st Battalion East Surrey Regiment, Won The V.C. At Hill 60

  About three miles to the southeast of Ypres and just east of the hamlet of Zwartelen, where our dismounted Household Cavalry made their decisive charge on the night of November 6^th 1914, lies an earth heap from the cutting of Ypres Lille railway, some 250 yards long by 200 yards deep, which is known to fame by the name of Hill 60.  Desperate, indeed was the fighting of which Hill 60 was the scene towards the end of April 1915. Its importance to the British consisted in the fact that it afforded an artillery position from which the whole front in the neighbourhood of the Hollebeke Chateau could be commanded, and we were determined to get possession of it.  Accordingly, bout seven o’clock in the evening of April 17^th we exploded seven mines on the hill, which played havoc with the defences, blowing up a trench line and 150 of the enemy with it, and enabled our men to win the top of the hill, where they entrenched themselves in shell craters and bought up machine guns.  Next day the enemy delivered a series of most determined counter attacks, which resulted in desperate fighting at close quarters.  But they were all repulsed, and by the evening the Germans had been driven from the slopes of the hill, and the Glacis was littered with their dead.  However, the position was of far too much importance to the enemy for them to desist from their efforts to recover it, and during the next three days our troops had no respite.  All through the 19^th and 20^th they were subjected to a terrific bombardment from three sides, and lived through a veritable inferno; while on the evening of the latter day they were called upon to withstand another fierce infantry attack.  The 1^st East Surreys were terribly hard pressed, and Lieutenant George Roupell won the Victoria Cross, as described elsewhere, for the splendid courage and tenacity with which, though several times wounded, he held his post with the remnants of his company until he came.  But he was not the only member of his battalion to gain the crown of the British soldier’s ambition.

            A lad of nineteen, Private Edward Dwyer, who earlier in the day had displayed great gallantry in going out into the open, under heavy shellfire, to bandage the wounded, found himself alone in his trench, from which his comrades had been driven by a strong party of German bomb throwers.  The Germans were in a trench only some fifteen or twenty yards distant, so close that Dwyer could hear them talking; and the brave lad, aware that if they took his trench behind would be at their mercy, resolved to hazard his own life to save his comrades.  Collecting all the grenades he could find, he climbed on t the parapet of the trench and began throwing them at the Germans.  His appearance in this exposed position was, of course, the signal for a hail of bombs; but happily the Germans aim was bad, while his own throwing was most accurate and effective.  In fact, he succeeded, single handed, in keeping the enemy at bay until reinforcements arrived, and the trench he had so heroically defended was saved.  Dwyer was wounded on April 27^th, and sent to the military hospital at Etretat, and it was not till nearly a month later that he learned that he had been awarded the Victoria Cross, “for most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty.”  The King himself, at Buckingham Palace, on June 28th 1915, His Majesty shaking hands with him very cordially and complimenting him on his performance, decorated him.  While in England, he rendered excellent service at recruiting meetings.  Private, now Lieutenant, Dwyer is the youngest soldier who has ever been awarded the Victoria Cross.  He was born at Fulham, where his parents still reside, on November 25^th 1995.  He enlisted in the Army when he was only sixteen, previous to which he had been a greengrocer’s assistant.  Extracted from 'Deeds That Thrill The Empire'      

How Sergeant Walter Edward Packard Of The 1^st Battalion East Surrey Regiment Won The D.C.M. At Richebourg L’Avoue

    In mid-October 1914, our Second corps, under Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien, occupied a line, which extended from Givenchy in the South, northeast to the village of Herlies, and thence northwest to Aubers.  To hold this position and prevent the enemy from breaking through to Bethune and the West, Smith-Dorrien had only at his disposal the 3^rd and 5^th Divisions-a total perhaps of thirty thousand men-while opposed to him was the entire left wing of the Crown Prince of Bavaria’s huge army, which in the course of the ten days struggle which followed, was reinforced by the whole of the German 14^th Corps, a division of another corps and a brigade of a third.  The first big German attack was delivered on the morning of October 22^nd, when the 5^th Division on our right was driven out of the village of Violaines, about a mile north of Givenchy.  But a dashing counter attack by the 3^rd Worcester and the Manchester prevented the enemy from advancing.  Late in the afternoon, just as dusk was falling, the Germans advanced in great numbers against the 1^st east Surreys, who were entrenched east and west of the road from Givenchy to Lorgies, and close to the ruined village of Richebourg l’Avoue.  In preparation for the assault their artillery had been bombarding the trenches of the East Surreys all day with high explosive shells, until in places they were nothing but a mass of debris and mutilated bodies.  Nevertheless, thanks to the bravery and resourcefulness of a young non-commissioned officer of the battalion, Acting Sergeant Walter Edwards Packard, the attack was not only beaten back, but also ended in an utter fiasco.   Packard was sergeant of the machine gun section of the East Surreys, whose guns played upon the advancing enemy with great effect, until, when within about eighty yards of our trenches, the Huns threw themselves flat on the ground, to avoid our fire and to take breath for the final rush.

              Now it happened that between the hostile trenches, and at right angles to them, there was a wide ditch of some little depth, and it occurred to Packard that if he could get a machine gun down the ditch which began at the foot of our parapet and continued up to that of the Germans-he would be able to enfilade the enemy with most deadly effect when they got up to charge.  He determined to chance it, and, with the assistance of a private, got the gun over the parapet, unseen by the enemy, and down the ditch, until he was nearly opposite the prostrate line of Huns.  Then he mounted the gun and began blazing away.  He had emptied four or five belts of ammunition, when, happening to glance to his left, he saw a strong party of Germans creeping up the ditch towards him, from the direction of the enemy’s trenches.  They were within twenty paces of him before he could swing round his gun and turn it upon them.  But once he had done so, it was all over with them; in a minute or two the party was literally wiped out.  Swinging the gun round again to his first target, Packard waited until the order came for the Germans to get up and charge.  The moment they rose to their feet, the machine gun began to vomit forth its torrent of death, and before that murderous enfilading fire, where every bullet accounted for its man, combined with that from the British trenches, the Germans broke and fell back in disorder, leaving the ground piled with their dead and wounded.  Sergeant Packard, who was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, for conspicuous gallantry throughout the campaign, notably in the action, which we have just described, is twenty-five years of age, and his home is at Balham.  He has served eight years with the 1^st East Surreys.    Extracted from 'Deeds That Thrill The Empire'      

The East Surrey Regiment

 The East Surrey Regiment-Regimental District No.31-is composed of the 31^st and 70^th regiments.  The 31^st were originally Marines, and were formed into a regiment of foot in 1715.  Their first important fighting was at Dettingen, where they gained the approbation of George II., and at the same time as a consequence the sobriquet of the young Buff’s, the king having mistaken them for the famous 3^rd Regiment.  Fierce fighting, too, did they have at Fontenoy, where it is recorded, only eleven men of the grenadier company came out of action.  Four years later they served at Minorca, then, after a short sojourn at home, in Florida, and the Carib War in St. Vincent, where they did good service.  In 1776 they were quartered in Canada, some garrisoning Quebec, others participating in the misfortunes which attended General Burgoyne’s army at Saratoga.  In 1794 the flank companies served at Martinique, Guadaloupe and St. Lucia, and returned home in 1797, “reduced to a mere company.”  Soon after a 2^nd battalion was formed, which obtained, for the East Surrey the Peninsular distinctions on their colours. They fought at Talavera; at Albuhera the 31^st alone of the splendid regiments that charged against the advancing column of the enemy “being formed in column, stood their ground,” and escaped the disastrous onset of the French cavalry.  Yet their loss was very heavy, and-as had been recorded in connection with the “Die Hards,”-“at the close of the action the dead and wounded men of our gallant 31^st and 57^th Regiments were found lying in two distinct lines on the very ground they occupied when fighting.”  In his account of the action, Lord Wellesley wrote: “This little battalion alone held its ground against all the Colonnes en masse.”  The story of “Vittoria” and “The Pyrenees,” of “Nivelle” and the “Nive,” has before been told, and the 31^st bear these names on their colours.  At St. Pierre they formed part of the right wing under General Byng, and the important part they played in that most brilliant victory may be gauged by the fact that when their gallant leader was elevated to the percentage as Earl of Stafford, the regimental colours of the regiment formed a portion of his coat-of-arms.  They fought at Orthes, and bear that name as well as the “Peninsula” on their colours.  Like many other 2^nd battalions they were disbanded at the Peace, leaving a record of services of which any corps might be proud.  The 1^st battalion meanwhile had been serving in Sicily, Egypt, Spain, Genoa, and various other places, all of them witnesses to the courage and discipline of the regiment, though the names of none of them are found amongst the distinctions.  In 1824 they were ordered to India under Colonel Pearson and Major McGregor, and wee on the ill-fated Kent East Indiaman when she foundered.  As the official record expresses it: “In the midst of dangers against which it seemed hopeless to struggle-at a time when no aid appeared, and passively to die was all that remained-each man displayed the manly resignation, the ready obedience, and the unfailing discipline characteristics of a good soldier.”  Fortunately the great majority were saved, only seventy-six out of a total of nearly five hundred being lost.  During their stay in India they took part in the Afghan and Sikh Wars, and were with Pollock’s avenging army after the massacre of Cabul.  They fought at moodkee; at Ferozeshah fell Major Baldwin of the regiment; at Ailwal they were remarked as being “emulous for the front;” “Sobraon” gives the final gleam to the lustre of their Indian achievements.  Then followed a period of comparative peace till, in May 1855, they arrived in the Crimea.  In this war they took part in the assaults on the Redan of the 18^th of June and 8^th of September, and bare “Sevastopol” in commemoration of their gallant conduct.  After peace was declared they were dispatched to the Cape and in 1858 to Bombay, their next service of note being the China Campaign of 1860.  Here they were in the First Division, and after the fall of the Taku Forts marched to Tientsin, detachments being subsequently stationed at Ho-see-woo and Yung-tsan to keep the road clear between that city and our camp.  The regiment returned home in 1863, since which date they have not been engaged in any operations, which call for notice.

           The 70^th-the 2^nd battalion of the East Surrey Regiment-was formed in 1756 from the 2^nd battalion of the 31^st, so that the recent amalgamation has replaced it in its original position.  Colonel Archer cites the fact that a few years after the incorporation of the regiment, “five companies were embarked on board a naval squadron as reinforcements for Madras, but nothing more is known of them.”  In 1764 the 70^th were ordered to the West Indies, where they remained for some ten years, subsequently serving for four years in Canada, during which time they received the territorial designation of “The Surrey Regiment.”  To anticipate for a moment the order of events, we find that in 1812 they were officially styled the “Glasgow Lowland Regiment,” but during a subsequent sojourn in Canada-namely in 1825-they received their original and present title again.  In 1794 they took part in Sir Charles Grey’s expedition in Martinique, and during the operations connected therewith gained the distinction of “Guadaloupe.”  For many years following their sphere of duty lay mainly amongst our various colonies and possessions, chiefly in Canada.  In 1848 the 70^th were ordered to India, and during the mutiny were engaged on the Pewhawar frontier.  In 1863 they were with Sir Duncan Cameron in New Zealand, and took part in the attack on the Gate Pah, the evacuation of which by the Maories was discovered by Major Greaves of the regiment, who, regardless of the possible fatal result to himself, made a reconnaissance of the position.  Returning to England in 1866, they remained on this country for some five years in 1871 being again ordered to India.  In the Afghan campaign of 1878-79 the 70^th were in the Candahar column, and afterwards served with the Thull Field Force.  Their last active service was in the Egyptian campaign of 1884, during which they acquitted themselves with great credit, under General Graham, in the fighting which took place round Suakin, Hasheen, and Tamaa.  Extracted from 'Her Majesty’s Army'       

How Private Frederick Ruffell, Of The 2^nd Battalion East Surrey Regiment Won The D.C.M. At Spanbroek Molen

Another of the countless instances which the Great War has afforded of the readiness with which our brave fellows are prepared to risk their lives to succour their wounded comrades was given by Frederick Ruffell, a young private f the 2^nd East Surreys, in the 28^th Division, during the attack on the German position at Spanbrock Molen, on March 12^th 1915. This action was one of a series of movements along the British front designed to support the great attack on Neuve Chapelle, by preventing any sudden massing of reinforcements on the part of the enemy. It had been intended to begin the attack soon after dawn, but owing to the bad weather, which would have seriously interfered with artillery observation, it was three o’clock in the afternoon before our men advanced. Ruffell did not take part in the attack, being one of a small party who were left behind in the East Surreys trenches. When it was over, he caught sight of two wounded men lying about eighty yards out-midway between our own and the German lines-and, though it was still broad daylight, and the ground destitute of cover, the brave lad at once resolved to go to their assistance. Climbing over our parapet, he threw himself flat on the ground, and began to crawl towards his wounded comrades. He reached one of the men, raised him up, and thought heavily fired upon succeeded in bringing him safely back to our trench; after which he went out again, and through a storm of bullets brought in the second. Private Ruffell, who was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, "for conspicuous gallantry," is only eighteen years of age, and is, therefore, one of the youngest soldiers who has received this covered honour. He is a North Londoner, his house being at Clapton.  Extracted from 'Deeds That Thrill The Empire'      

How Lieutenant George Rowland Patrick Roupell, Of The 1^st Battalion East Surreys Won The V.C. And Company Sergeant Major Alexander John Reid, Of The Same Battalion, Won The D.C.M. At Hill 60

There has been no more obstinate and Sanguinary fighting on the blood soaked soil of Flanders than that which took place towards the end of April 1915, for the possession of the coveted position known as Hill 60, two miles east of Ypres; and in that desperate conflict there is no more stirring episode than the Heroic defence of one of the forward trenches by a company of the 1^st Battalion East Surreys, during the night of April 20^th-21^st. That the East Surreys were enabled to hold the post against overwhelming numbers and in the face of the greatest difficulties was mainly due to the splendid gallantry and devotion of two men., Lieutenant George Rowland Patrick Roupell and Company Sergeant Major Alexander John Reid, the first of whom was stationed on the left of the position, and the second on the right. Except for the discharge of a few shells from the batteries on either side, the forenoon of April 20^th had been very quiet; but about four o’clock in the afternoon the German artillery began a terrific bombardment of our position, which was the only two evidently the prelude to a determined counter attack to regain possession of the Hill. For several hours shells of every description rained upon the British trenches; but though some battalions suffered severely the East Surreys had but few casualties. Their comparative immunity did not continue long, however, for at dusk the counter attack commenced, the method employed by the enemy being to send forward strong parties of bomb throwers through a series of communication trenches which ran from their trenches to ours. The trench occupied by the East Surreys was assailed in the most desperate manner, and though the bombers were received with a heavy rifle fire, they continued to advance with the utmost courage and determination, and buried their deadly missiles with great effect. Some of the bombs fell on the parapet, portions of which they completely demolished, and others fell into the trench itself, causing great havoc. On the right flank, where Sergeant Major Reid was stationed, the position of affairs son became most critical, for not only were the men falling fast, but ammunition was running short. Unless reinforcements and a fresh supply of cartridges could be brought up, it would be impossible to stem the advancing tide of Germans much longer. But how was help to be summoned? The communication trench leading to our reserve trenches had been so badly damaged that it afforded little or no shelter, while in places it was quite impassable; and the German shells seemed to be searching every yard of the open. A man must bear a charmed life to cross it in safety.

Darkness fell-the intense darkness of a night unrelieved by moon or stars, and the obscurity was rendered the more profound by the smoke from the bursting shells. This made matters even worse for our men, for they had no very light pistol with them. There they stood, firing only when they felt certain that a cartridge would not be wasted, and waiting for the rush they knew must overwhelm them, no matter how gallantly they might struggle. It was then that company Sergeant Major resolved to take the fearful risk of crossing the zone of fire to our reserve trenches. Leaving the trench, he started at a run across the open, which was so torn up by the terrific shelling to which it was being subjected that it was fast becoming a mass of huge holes, and negotiating these craters successfully, a fall into one of which might have entailed a sprained ankle or even a more serious injury, reached our supports, hastily explained the critical situation of affairs, and hurried back with what men and ammunition he could obtain, and a promise that further reinforcements should be sent for.

He regained the trench in safety, and not a moment too soon, for the East Surreys were falling fast, and but few cartridges remained in their bandoliers. He posted the men he had brought with him in the places where they were most needed and distributed the ammunition; but he very soon perceived that, unless further aid could be obtained, it would be impossible to hold the trench. He therefore again made the hazardous journey to our supports ad returned with a party of the Bedfords. By this time the trench was reduced almost to ruins and littered with the dead and wounded. But the arrival of the Bedfords, who brought with them a Very light pistol and very lights as well as a further supply of ammunition, put fresh heart into the survivors of the gallant little hand. With the aid of the very lights they were now able to estimate the strength of the enemy, who they saw, outnumbered them by two or three to one; and, towards dawn, after consolation of the Bedfords, the brave sergeant major for the third time ran the gauntlet of the enemy’s fire, and guided a party of the Queen Victoria Rifles, under the command of a major, to the assistance of his hard pressed comrades. The arrival of these last reinforcements probably saved the situation, for, as day was breaking, the Germans made a most determined attempt to carry the trench, only, however to be repulsed with considerable loss. While the right of the East Surreys was being so hard pressed, their comrades on the left were in equally desperate case. But here again the heroism of one man saved the situation. During the terrific bombardment of our position, which preceded the German counter attack, Lieutenant Roupell was wounded in several places; nevertheless, he refused to quit his post and led his men in repelling a determined assault by the enemy. During a lull in the bombardment he retired to have his wounds dressed, when the surgeon who attended him did everything possible to dissuade him from returning to the firing line. He insisted on going back, however, and when towards evening he saw that it was impossible for his men to hold their ground unless assistance could be procured, he, though faint from loss of blood, made his way, like Sergeant Major Reid, across the shell swept open to the reserve trenches and brought up reinforcements; with the aid of these he held the position throughout the night. At two o’clock in he morning of the 21^st, the East Surreys were relieved by the Devons, when it was found that only a mere handful of them had come scathless through that terrible ordeal. Two of their officers had been killed and three wounded, while one hundred and twenty-five N.C.O.’s and men were killed, wounded, or missing. In short, that gallant company, as a fighting unit, had ceased to exist. Lieutenant Roupell was awarded the V.C., for "most conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty," while Company Sergeant-Major Reid received the D.C.M., for conspicuous gallantry and valuable service." Company Sergeant Major Reid, who is twenty-nine years of age, is a Londoner. Extracted from 'Deeds That Thrill The Empire'