2nd Gurkhas reinforcing From Mons to Loos (1916) (14780389685)

Identifier: frommonstoloosbe00stew (find matches)
Title: From Mons to Loos, being the diary of a supply officer
Year: 1916 (1910s)
Authors: Stewart, Herbert Arthur, 1878-
Subjects: World War, 1914-1918 World War, 1914-1918 -- Campaigns Western Front
Publisher: Edinburgh and London : W. Blackwood and sons
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN



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ast and Vieille Chapellein support, the Indian troops being kept for the assault on Neuve Chapelle, which was planned for the following day. Artillery was lent by the French and also by the 5th Division, and at 11.30 A.M.on the 28th eighty guns concentrated their fire on Neuve Chapelle. Under that bombardment of shrapnel and high explosive the village disappeared from view under a pall of smoke and debris. It seemed as if nothing could exist in that hail of steel; but shrapnel is of little use against thick walls and well-constructed trenches, and at this early stage of the war the value of high-explosive shells from big-calibre guns was perhaps not sufficiently realised. As soon as the bombardment ceased the 47th dashed forward to the attack, led by their white officers and supported by the 9th Bhopals and the Sappers. No finer sight has been witnessed in the war than the charge of the Sikh soldiers. With splendid ela7i and little loss they entered the village,bayoneting every German they encountered
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"Image: 2nd Gurkhas reinforcing" o -a NEUVE CHAPELLE. 155 as they emerged from the shelters to which I they had crept when the bombardment commenced. At the end of the street, however, the German machine-guns still remained unharmed, and these deadly weapons now swept all approaches with a hurricane of lead. In face of that awful tornado no man could live, and those splendid Indian warriors melted away before the storm of bullets. The attack was broken, and the survivors dispersed, having lost more than half their white officers and many of their comrades. Such sadly glorious episodes there will be in every war, but the pity of such sacrifices must force a tear from the eye of even the hardest-hearted. This severe check at such a time was very depressing, but help was at hand. The Lahore Division had arrived. Its leading battalions, the Seaforth Highlanders and 2nd Gurkhas, were speedily on the scene, and joined the 2nd Cavalry Brigade in the trenches, reinforcing our greatly exhausted Division. Hourly the situation improved