The Lancashire Fusiliers, 1914
- 1918
The Crossing of the Steenbeck near Langemarck
1st Battalion
On 9th
August 1917 the 1st Battalion (Major T. Slingsby, M.C.) relieved the
2nd Royal Fusiliers in the line on the south-west side of the Steenbeck
stream about a mile west of Langemarck, and officers reconnoitred
the crossings over the stream the same night. They found that, owing
to the rain, the Steenbeck had by now become a serious military obstacle
in many places. Since it was necessary that a firm footing should
be obtained on the far bank before further operations on a large scale
could be undertaken in this direction, orders were issued for posts
to be established about one hundred yards beyond the river on the
morning of 11th August. The task was entrusted to three platoons of
the 1st Battalion and a body of equal strength from another battalion,
the former finding two posts from "C" Company on the right
and four from "B" Company on the left. Each post was to
consist of two sections. The operation was preceded by a barrage ;
and zero was at 4.15 a.m. on the 11th. Shortly before that time the
various parties moved forward and crossed the river, establishing
the posts in the areas indicated without loss under cover of the barrage,
though "C" Company's right post, near the Ypres-Staden railway,
was later driven back by bombs to the bridge carrying the rails over
the river. The battalion on the left was met by such heavy machine-gun
fire from Passerelle Farm, close to Wejdendrift, that it was unable
to establish its post there. "B" Company's two left parties,
under Second-Lieutenant H. Latham, were therefore compelled to form
a defensive flank. Latham moved constantly backwards and forwards
under heavy shelling and rifle fire, supervising the dispositions
; and at one stage he led a section across the open in order to fill
a gap which had occurred. Second-Lieutenant T. A. Harrop was wounded
during the morning, but he refused to leave his post and continued
to superintend its consolidation until the battalion was relieved.
During the night 11th/12th, "A" Company carried up trench
stores to the posts and was to have come back for rations. But it
was unable to do so before daybreak owing to hostile shelling and
rifle fire, and consequently had to stay in the forward positions
till the following night, having only its iron rations to eat on the
12th. At 4.2o a.m. on this day the battalion on the left attacked
and captured Passerelle Farm. The left of "B" Company was
then able to move forward to its proper place and the complete new
line was consolidated during the day, the battalion being relieved
at night, while advantage was being taken of its success to establish
twelve double wooden bridges over the stream in readiness for the
forthcoming operations. Second Lieutenants H. Latham and T. A. Harrop
received the Military Cross for their work during this operation.
The casualties had been light-8 men killed, 1 officer and 48 men wounded,
and 3 men missing. The difficulties of campaigning in a foreign country
are shown by the fact that, in a report by the officer commanding
"C"
Lt H Latham MC |
