A hundred years ago today, the 9th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry (9 DLI) were preparing for action in the Second Battle of the Marne.
On 19 July, they marched to St Imoges, then moved into a reserve position in Courtagnon Wood. According to Harry Moses' book 'The Gateshead Gurkhas', 9 DLI remained in the wood throughout 20 July, under shellfire. The next day, they were ordered to capture the Bois de Petit Champ and Bouilly Ridge. At 8:30am on 21 July, the battalion moved forward ready to commence the attack at 10:30am. B Company was on the right, C Company on the left, with A Company in the centre.
On 19 July, they marched to St Imoges, then moved into a reserve position in Courtagnon Wood. According to Harry Moses' book 'The Gateshead Gurkhas', 9 DLI remained in the wood throughout 20 July, under shellfire. The next day, they were ordered to capture the Bois de Petit Champ and Bouilly Ridge. At 8:30am on 21 July, the battalion moved forward ready to commence the attack at 10:30am. B Company was on the right, C Company on the left, with A Company in the centre.
In a scrapbook belonging to Colonel William Douglas Baird Thompson, is his field message book from this battle, when he was captain commanding C Company of 9 DLI. The message below is dated as 20/7/18 12:30am, which does not seem to fit with the timeline of 9 DLI’s action in 'The Gateshead Gurkhas'. It may be that it was written on 22 July. Captain Thompson uses an interesting method to provide is location.
The company went over the corn field without casualties.
On entering the wood, heavy MG [machine gun] fire was encountered causing many casualties, and owing to the closeness of the young trees it is impossible to attack the MGs. Observation was very difficult.
I now hold a position approximately 1/2 inch above the second T in du PETIT CHAMP and continuing for 3/8 inch, bending back again and forming the point of a right angle where I join up with A Company.
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| D/DLI 7/701/2(194) Diagram illustrating the C Company position, July 1918 |
Officer Commanding C Company
Also in the field notebook is the commendation Captain Thompson wrote for Lieutenant William Ewart Meikle. This formed the basis of the citation for Meikle’s Military Cross award:
“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When an attack was held up by the density of the forest, he organised sections and led them forward under heavy machine gun fire and established a position on which the battalion was able to form a line. Throughout the whole operations his conduct was distinguished by a complete disregard for his own safety and an energetic spirit of initiative that impressed all who were with him”.
You can read more about 9 DLI at the Second Battle of the Marne in Harry Moses' book The Gateshead Gurkhas.
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