Book Extract

On the 10th the 123rd Brigade began the relief of troops holding the line in front (north) of Delville Wood, the 23rd Middlesex relieving the Liverpool Scottish. At this period the line was being gradually pushed forward towards Flers by means of sapping, so as to provide suitable positions from which, on the 15th September, the assault was to be made. The enemy’s shell fire was heavy, and on the 11th the 23rd lost two other ranks killed and 15 wounded. On the 12th “B” and “D” Companies were sent back to Montauban, casualties for the day numbering eight other ranks killed, 22 wounded, and 2 missing. All companies were back in Montauban, from which place, at 11 p.m. on the night of the 14th, the Battalion moved forward again to take up assembly positions in Carlton and Savoy Trenches, for the operations to begin on the next day.

The 41st Division was to attack with the 124th Brigade on the right and 122nd Brigade on the left, the 123rd Brigade being in reserve, but the 23rd Middlesex became actively involved in the operations during the day, with disastrous results to the Battalion, though it fought gallantly and gained ground. By 1 a.m. on the 15th the 23rd were in their assembly trenches — Carlton and Savoy.

The attack began at 6.20 a.m., led by tanks. At 10 a.m. the Middlesex men were sent forward to the left of Flers road, on the left of previous positions held in Delville Wood. In moving, the Battalion had taken shelter on several occasions from the enemy’s barrage, then falling heavily. About midday Divisional Headquarters ordered the 41st Brigade to move battalions forward to Flers Trench, Scimitar Trench, the old British first line and Carlton and Savoy Trenches. The Middlesex were then ordered up to Scimitar Trench.

The Battalion set off up the Flers road, “B” and “D” Companies on the right, “C” and “A” Companies on the left. They had not gone far before the Adjutant (Capt. H. W. R. Warneford) was wounded. A little later the Battalion was ordered by the G.O.C., 124th Brigade, to push on beyond Flers Trench, along the right of Flers Wood, and assist the 124th Brigade. Flers had been captured, but the position north and north-east of the village was still obscure. The Battalion was then formed up for the attack, “B” and “D” Companies (personally led by the C.O., Lieut.-Colonel W. C. C. Ash) leading, with “A” and “C” Companies in support.

At 5 p.m. Lieut.-Colonel Ash fell severely wounded. A little later the O.C., “A” Company, was told by the G.O.C., 124th Brigade, that the strong point north of Flers Wood, known as the “Hog’s Head,” must be held at all costs, but as the Middlesex men reached the north-east corner of Flers village about 250 survivors of units of the 124th Brigade, who had taken part in the attack, were met streaming back from the front line. These men were rallied, and “A” Company, with the help of “B” and “D” Companies, re-occupied the strong point. Just before 7 p.m., as the enemy was making a flank attack on the right, the Middlesex were ordered by the O.C., 10th Queen’s Own, to retire to the line east of Flers village at nightfall. The retirement was carried out at 7.30 p.m. O.C., “A” Company, 23rd Middlesex, who had taken command of the Battalion after Colonel Ash had become a casualty, handed over command to Major Beatty, of the 10th Queen’s Own. In the position they held east of Flers village the Middlesex hung on all night.