REGINA
The two outstanding features of the Canadian Corps operations on the
Somme in the late summer and autumn of 1916 are undoubtedly the capture
of Courcelette and the grim struggle for Regina Trench, but nothing
could be greater than the contrast between the two. Courcelette, as we
have seen, was captured by a swift and sudden operation, perfectly
planned and brilliantly executed--a clear-cut victory without flaw or
hitch. On the other hand, the Canadians fought for over a month to
obtain possession of Regina, attacking again and again according to
carefully laid plans, sometimes to gain by sheer valour a temporary
footing in the trench, only to be hurled back, fighting stubbornly, by
overwhelming numbers; at other times to face unsuspected and murderous
machine-gun fire which almost wiped the assaulting platoons out of
existence. Yet each successive attack pushed won a little nearer to
the goal, until at last, after a month and more of harassing
vicissitudes, a final rush secured the victory.
Regina Trench first came within the scope of Canadian operations during
the offensive of September 26th and 27th, when it was the ultimate
objective of the attack. At no time, however, did the attacking troops
get within striking distance of this last objective.
It was on October 1st that the first elaborate and comprehensive attack
was made, in conjunction with the III Corps on the right and the II
Corps on the left. The Canadian line at this date ran from the
north-western corner of Destremont Farm in a general westerly
direction, with a large loop to the north around the North Practice
Trenches, to the junction of Grandcourt Road and the recently captured
Hessian Trench. From this point the line followed Hessian Trench
westward to the Corps boundary on the left, a short distance west of
the junction with Courcelette Road. The task set the Corps was to
occupy a line from the above-mentioned point at Destremont Farm
north-westerly to the junction of Regina Trench and East Miraumont
Road, thence along Regina to a road running north and south near the
Corps' left boundary, where the line bent back sharply to the Hessian
Trench line.
The portion of Regina Trench which lies to the east of the junction
with East Miraumont Road was not included in the scheme of operations.
There were seven Battalions in the line of attack. These were, from
right to left, the 20th and 18th of the 4th Brigade, the 22nd, 25th,
and 24th of the 5th Brigade, and the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles and
the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles of the 8th Brigade. Thus the 2nd
Division, on the right, had five Battalions of two Brigades in the
line, and the 3rd Division, on the left, had two Battalions of one
Brigade taking part in the assault.
It will be as well, perhaps, to describe the general result of the
action before attempting to follow the fortunes of each Battalion in
detail. The greatest measure of success was attained on the right,
where the line was advanced some 500 yards in such a manner that both
flanks of the 4th Brigade line were brought up in line with the loop
around the North Practice Trenches in the centre of the Brigade area.
In the centre the 5th Brigade managed to maintain itself for a time in
Regina Trench, but was afterwards forced to retire. It succeeded,
however, in capturing and holding Kenora Trench up to within sixty
yards of the junction with Regina, and held posts up Courcelette Trench
and the West Miraumont Road about half-way between their attacking line
and Regina. The Canadian Mounted Rifles of the 8th Brigade on the left
also succeeded in reaching Regina at several points. Heavily
counter-attacked, they managed to hold on for a considerable time, but
in the end they were driven back to their starting line in the Hessian
Trench.
At 3.15 p.m. on October 1st--a clear, bright day--the attack was
launched. The 20th and 18th Battalions, on the right, advanced
respectively 400 and 500 yards over the open. This brilliant feat,
comparable to the famous advance over the open at Courcelette, was only
rendered possible by the cover afforded by the shell-holes. In spite
of severe machine-gun fire from the direction of Pys and Le Sars, the
20th had established themselves in their position, with their flanks
formed, before their flanking battalions, the Imperial on the right and
the 18th on the left, had come up. They had advanced to a point about
150 yards N.N.W. of their true objective, which would account for the
fact that the 18th Battalion appeared to be behind them to the left.
This was the situation on the morning of October 2nd.
Meanwhile, the 18th had advanced and dug in. Their left, however, was
in a very critical position, for the 22nd Battalion--the right
battalion of the 5th Brigade--had not come up. The French Canadians,
assaulting with their usual dash and intrepidity, had encountered a
withering machine-gun and rifle fire from the front and flanks. A few
who reached Regina Trench were either killed or captured. A few
wounded managed to return to our lines. So badly had the Battalion
been cut up that the 26th (New Brunswickers), in close support, took
over that part of the line.
The 25th Battalion (Nova Scotians), the centre battalion of the 5th
Brigade, stormed Kenora Trench and moved on steadily towards Regina.
Machine-gun fire from front and flanks took heavy toll of them, but
those remaining reached the wire in front of Regina and started to dig
in. A few odd parties actually succeeded in forcing their way into
Regina. After fighting desperately for some time in an endeavour to
connect up with the 24th on their left, they were nearly all killed or
taken prisoners. A few managed to return wounded to the lines.
The right company of the 24th Battalion (Victoria Rifles of Canada)
crossed Kenora Trench and entered Regina east of the junction of Kenora
and Regina, and the centre and left companies succeeded in reaching
their objective in Regina Trench with their left on Twenty-three Road.
They were separated from the 25th on their right by a strong enemy
post, and on the left, owing to the repulse of the 5th Canadian Mounted
Rifles, their flank was in the air. Furious fighting ensued in Regina
Trench from Twenty-three Road to Kenora. "A" Company, which had
entered Regina just east of the junction with Kenora, fought fiercely
against superior numbers. Eventually what was left of them--for the
majority were either killed or captured--retired foot by foot. Batmen,
cooks, and servants were hurried up to help stem the overflowing tide
of Germans. On the left the Battalion was pushed back from
Twenty-three Road to a short distance from the junction of Kenora and
Regina Trenches. Here a dogged stand was made. Meanwhile, a few small
parties of the 24th and 25th, who were digging in in front of Regina,
east of the trench junction, gradually retired to Kenora. The whole of
Regina remained in the hands of the enemy with the exception of a post
held by the 24th between the point where Kenora and Regina join and
Twenty-three Road. During this struggle the 26th, holding the original
line of the 22nd with the remnants of that Battalion, could spare very
little in the way of reinforcements, only some fifty of all ranks being
available.
In the meantime, the 8th Brigade, on the left, had been having a very
rough time. From reports received very shortly before the attack took
place it became evident that in many places the wire in front of Regina
had not been thoroughly cut by the artillery. This was especially the
case on the front assigned to the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles, whose
left attack had to be modified in consequence.
The Brigade attacked with the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles on the right
and the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles on the left. The right of the
right attacking company of the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles was held up
by wire and ran into terrific machine-gun fire. The left attack came
under heavy fire about 50 yards from its objective, but as no further
opposition was encountered, it effected a lodgment in Regina. Work was
immediately started on the badly-damaged trench, and blocks were put in
on the flanks. And not a moment too soon. Repeated counter-attacks
were made, all of which were successfully repulsed, excellent use being
made of a captured machine-gun.
The right company of the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles' attack, with the
exception of one platoon which was hung up by wire, apparently reached
its objective, but heavy counter-attacks from the direction of the
sunken road were too much for its depleted strength.
The left of the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles was forced to modify its
assault on account of the uncut wire. A very unusual scheme of attack
was adopted. After moving down the communication trench the attackers
deployed on the German side of the wire. Unfortunately, a heavy
enfilading machine-gun fire from the north-east and north-west wrecked
the attack. One platoon, immediately to the west, advancing with the
greatest resolution, was almost wiped out, and a bombing party which
succeeded in effecting an entry into Regina was at length forced to
retire.
With the exception, therefore, of the successful advance of the 4th
Brigade on the right, the situation during the afternoon was that at
various points in Regina desperate hand-to-hand fighting was taking
place.
At 6.30 p.m. the state of affairs was approximately as follows. The
4th Brigade was consolidating its position and attempting to gain touch
with the 70th Brigade on the right. Parties of the 24th and 25th
Battalions were in Regina Trench, fighting manfully against superior
numbers and bombing towards each other against the enemy, who appeared
to be in considerable strength at the junction of Kenora and Regina
Trenches. Between the East and West Miraumont Roads the situation was
obscure, as the result of the attack of the 22nd Battalion had not yet
been accurately ascertained. They were thought to be in their
objective, whereas, as we have seen, they encountered machine-gun and
rifle fire of such intensity that success was out of the question. Yet
they had managed to push the assault home, for about 50 men entered
Regina and were only forced to retire after a short, sharp fight
against overwhelming odds.
At the same time the left company of the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles
("A" Company), reinforced by parties from "C" and "D" Companies, was
fighting desperately to maintain its foothold in Regina. Repeated
counter-attacks were heroically repulsed.
The situation was rapidly becoming clearer. Reinforcements were
ordered to be sent up to all units which had succeeded in reaching
their objectives. Bombing parties were to converge against the German
parties in the trench, and every effort was made to improve and
consolidate the positions won.
A determined attempt was made by the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles in
Regina to join up with the 24th on their right. One company of the 1st
Canadian Mounted Rifles was placed at the disposal of the O.C. 5th
Canadian Mounted Rifles for the purpose, and two platoons, with the 5th
Canadian Mounted Rifles' bombers in front, pushed eastward along the
trench to the point at which they expected to get into touch with the
24th. The trench they traversed was found to be exceptionally strong,
seven feet deep, with twelve-foot dug-outs every second bay. It had
not been damaged by artillery. On reaching their objective they
perceived a large body of men ahead of them, which they naturally
assumed to be the expected 24th Battalion party. Unfortunately, this
was not the case; it was, in fact, a German counter-attack advancing in
force. These Germans attacked and drove them back, foot by foot, to
their starting point. A second attack was then organised, which again
succeeded in penetrating to the objective point. This point, with the
intervening stretch of trench, was stubbornly held throughout the night
until 5 a.m. on the 2nd, when heavy counter-attacks pushed in both
flanks and compelled the evacuation of the trench. Even then the forty
or so survivors clung to a line of shell-holes south of the trench for
some time before being forced to retire to Hessian Trench. From this
time the 8th Brigade held the original line until it was handed over to
the 7th Brigade on the night of October 2nd-3rd.
On the right the dawn of October 2nd revealed the situation to be
approximately as follows. The 20th Battalion, with the flanks secured,
was established, as has been described, about 150 yards N.N.W. of where
they were supposed to be with the 18th Battalion consolidating on their
left slightly to the rear. The British on the right (70th Brigade, 2nd
Division, III Corps) had reached the southern position of the Le Sars
line on the previous evening and were apprehensive as to their left
flank. Patrols were sent out by both British and Canadians in an
endeavour to establish contact; yet although they came into touch
during the evening of the 1st, it was not until the evening of the 2nd
that proper contact was effected and connecting posts planned.
The left flank of the 18th Battalion, left in the air owing to the
failure of the 22nd to come up, was secured by the Battalion Lewis guns.
The parties of the 24th and 25th Battalions of the 5th Brigade[1] which
had fought so strenuously in Regina were unable to maintain themselves
in the trench as long as did the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles on their
left, but were driven out during the night.
The 6th Brigade, waiting to relieve the 5th, was finally ordered? in
the very early hours of October 2nd, to take over the line as it
stood--that is, the captured portion of Kenora Trench, the post in
Courcelette Trench, and the new trenches to the west of Kenora.
This Brigade also took over the 4th Brigade line as far east as the Pys
Road.
There were no fresh developments during the day. Every nerve was
concentrated on strengthening and consolidating the positions won. The
20th Battalion had already a shallow trench dug across their whole
front. The 18th likewise were consolidating their position. In the
centre the 6th Brigade, similarly engaged, had a rather quiet day, and
on the left the 8th Brigade, terribly depleted, was holding its
original line in the Hessian Trench.
The Battalions of the 4th and 8th Brigades which had borne the brunt of
the offensive were relieved as soon as possible--the 8th by the 7th on
the night of October 2nd-3rd, and the 4th and 6th on the night of the
3rd by the 9th Brigade. The fresh Brigades were warned to prepare for
a renewed offensive.
In spite of the wretched weather which now set in, there was no
diminution in the active preparations for renewing the attack or in the
ardour of the troops. Jumping-off trenches were constructed and orders
were expected from day to day. Postponements, however, were
inevitable. More time was required for adequate artillery preparation.
Wire had to be cut and ammunition to be accumulated in the forward
positions, which were now at a distance from any practicable roads.
The attack eventually took place on October 8th.
In the interval the most noteworthy incident was the occupation of
Kendal Trench on October 4th by the Royal Canadian Regiment, who
succeeded in establishing a post within 25 yards of the enemy.
One-third of this trench--nearest our lines--was found to be
practically obliterated.
On October 8th the offensive on a large scale was resumed. In
conjunction with the 23rd and 25th British Divisions, on the right and
left respectively, the Canadian Corps attacked on a two-division
frontage, the 1st Division being on the right and the 3rd on the left.
Each Division had two Brigades in the line. The Battalions engaged,
from right to left, were the 4th and 3rd of the 1st Brigade, the 16th
and 13th of the 3rd Brigade, the 58th and 43rd of the 9th Brigade, and
the Royal Canadian Rifles and 49th of the 7th Brigade.
The objective of the 1st Division was to depend upon the degree of
success attending the preliminary operation undertaken on the 7th by
the 23rd Division. If this Division attained its second
objective--i.e., the remainder of Le Sars Village with its left on the
Chalk Pit--the 1st Division would attempt the whole objective assigned
to it. In the event of partial failure on the part of the 23rd
Division, the 1st Division would not attempt to carry the
quadrilateral. The 23rd, however, were completely successful, and
accordingly the objective of the 1st Division became as outlined below.
The 1st Brigade, on the right, was to capture and hold a line running
approximately north-west from a point in Below Support Trench just west
of the Dyke Road to the junction with Gallwitz Support Trench, thence
south-west to the junction of Regina and Farmer's Road. At this point
the objective of the 3rd Brigade began. It followed Regina Trench west
as far as the point M.13.b.6.1 (see map).
To the left of this lay the portion of the objective allotted to the
9th and 7th Brigades of the 3rd Division. Of this the 9th Brigade was
to attack and occupy the line of Regina from M.13.b.6.1 west to the
junction with Pys Road, north-west to the German cross-trench between
Courcelette Trench and West Miraumont Road, and then due west along
this trench to, but not including, West Miraumont Road itself.
The 7th Brigade was to form a defensive flank from the junction of
Twenty-three Road to West Miraumont Road down the latter to Regina
Trench along the trench to the junction with the communication trench
(see map), at which point the flank was turned back to Hessian Trench.
In the event of success the 7th Brigade was to push out from West
Miraumont Road and establish a flank along Twenty-three Road after dark.
At 4.50 a.m. the long line of attack moved forward. The 4th Battalion,
on the right, was held up by wire in front of the first Below Trench.
Compelled to work round to the left, thereby rather crowding the 3rd
Battalion, they entered the first, Below Trench just south of the
quadrilateral and proceeded to bomb south of Dyke Road. Connection was
established with the 23rd Division on the right and with the 3rd
Battalion on the left. Owing to the greater resistance which the 4th
Battalion encountered at first, their supply of bombs became exhausted
in spite of gallant attempts to replenish it. In consequence, they
were compelled to borrow some from the 3rd Battalion, which had had
less resistance to overcome. This generosity on the part of the 3rd
Battalion cost them dearly later on. Having also lent bombs to the
16th Battalion on their left, they found themselves, when heavily
counter-attacked about 2.15 p.m., hopelessly short of munitions. The
enemy attacked in great force and with great determination. They
poured down the first and second Below and the first and second
Gallwitz Trenches, rushed the three posts which had been established in
the captured trenches, and drove a wedge through the quadrilateral,
even coming over the open from the second Below Trench.
The situation of the 3rd and 4th Battalions was now extremely
precarious. Attacked by a superior force and without an adequate
supply of bombs, they fought tooth and nail to maintain their foothold.
The S.O.S. signals failed. A wedge was driven between the two
Battalions. The 3rd was bombed down Regina Trench with a few of the
4th, while the 4th was bombed down the first Below Trench.
On account of the congestion in Regina Trench which naturally resulted,
a number of men of the 3rd Battalion occupied shell-holes in front of
the trench, doing considerable execution with their rifles.
Lieutenant Chatterton behaved with the greatest gallantry. He got some
of his men out on the north side of Regina Trench and attempted a
bayonet charge. His charge was repulsed, and he himself was shot
through the shoulder. Crawling back into the trench and tying up his
arm in a sling, he rallied some men and got out on the south side of
the trench. Another bayonet charge was attempted, in which the
intrepid Lieutenant was killed. Major Haddon, Major Mowat, and Major
Bennett led a similar charge, Major Mowat being killed. All attempts
to stem the onrushing tide were unavailing. In the end about 100 men
got back to the original line.
Meanwhile, the 4th Battalion was being bombed down the first Below
Trench. For hours a desperate conflict raged in the trench. Whenever
the 4th Battalion was able to borrow bombs from the 23rd Division on
their right, they gained ground; whenever the supply of bombs ran low
they were forced to give way. This give-and-take combat lasted until
about 6 p.m., when the survivors, about 120 in number, dropped over
into the Dyke Road in the 23rd Division lines.
The attack of the 3rd Brigade, on the left of the 1st, developed along
very similar lines. Early reports were to the effect that the
objectives had been gained by the 16th and 13th Battalions.
"Everything looks very well" and "Situation well in hand," were the
reports sent up to the Brigade. Soon, however, a more unfortunate
state of affairs was revealed. The 16th Battalion, it appeared, had
indeed reached its objective, but the left flank had been bombed cut.
The remainder, on the right, fought for a long time with great
stubbornness and tenacity. Lieutenant Hall sent in a message about
7.30 a.m. to say that, so far as he was aware, he was me only unwounded
officer left.
The German counter-attack in the early afternoon which drove back the
3rd and 4th Battalions dashed itself in vain against the right flank of
the 16th. The position of the Battalion was, nevertheless, far from
secure. On the left the 13th Battalion had encountered heavy wire in
front of the German trench. A few men of the Battalion apparently
managed to get in with the 16th. The attack against a position
strongly held and protected by impassable wire was necessarily doomed
to failure, and a message from Major McCuaig, about 8 a.m., stated that
the 13th had been compelled to retire. Their casualties were very
heavy. They lay on the far side of the crest, in full view of the
enemy, whose snipers cut off communication.
The left flank of the 16th was thus left in the air throughout the day.
Their right flank was left exposed when the 1st Brigade was driven back
in the afternoon. In this precarious situation they held on grimly,
even though, owing to the exposed nature of the ground, snipers and
machine-guns made it practically impossible to get a supply of bombs
up, until, late in the evening, all possibility of success elsewhere
having ceased to exist, they were ordered to abandon the position they
had so stoutly held and to retire to their jumping-off trenches. The
situation had to be accepted as it stood; the battalions were
consolidated, removed as soon as possible in favour of the supporting
battalions, and the line generally linked up and strengthened.
The ill-luck which had attended the assault of the two Brigades of the
1st Division also dogged the gallant efforts of the 9th and 7th
Brigades of the 3rd Division.
During the few days' preliminary bombardment of the front-line wire,
careful reconnaissances of the wire were made. Reports received just
prior to the attack indicated that the wire in front of the objective
had been well cut for the most part, and both Brigades expressed
confidence on this point. But, as in the operations of October 1st, it
was discovered later that a considerable amount of wire remained.
This fact materially affected the success of the operations. Yet the
reports were not, on the whole, inaccurate, as on the night before the
attack the Germans threw out large quantities of loose wire, which
formed an awkward obstacle, and a second line of staked wire was
encountered immediately in front of the trench at various points.
Direct observation of this wire, particularly between Twenty-three Road
and the junction of Regina and Kenora Trenches, had been particularly
difficult and uncertain.
In spite of adverse weather conditions, jumping-off trenches were
prepared along a large portion of the divisional front, and at 4.50
a.m., zero hour, the two Brigades advanced to the assault. A heavy
rain, which commenced shortly afterwards and continued throughout the
greater part of the day, contributed largely to the difficulties of the
situation.
At zero hour the 9th and 7th Brigades moved forward with the rest of
the long line of attack. From early reports, received from wounded
men, it seemed that both Brigades had obtained their objectives.
Unduly optimistic reports of this sort are easily explained. A wounded
man sees his comrades advancing steadily within striking distance of
the objective, and in perfect good-faith reports that apparently his
unit has attained its objective. Appearances, however, were never more
deceptive than in the present instance.
For some time after the attack began no definite news could be obtained
about the 9th (right) Brigade. At 8.50 a.m. they reported that their
left Battalion (the 43rd) had been held up by wire, and that only a
portion of the right Battalion (the 58th) had effected a lodgment in
Regina, from which they were later driven out. The left company and
left half of the centre company of the 58th suffered severely before
they reached Regina Trench. At the trench itself all three companies
encountered heavy wire. The wire had been very little damaged by our
artillery, and presented a formidable obstacle. Heavy machine-gun fire
was brought to play upon the three companies in front of the wire.
The greater part of the right company were able to force an entry
through a small sally port. Having gained a foothold in the trench,
our men worked along to the right and held for about thirty minutes
some 100 yards of the trench, up to a strong bombing post situated
approximately on the right flank of the Battalion's objective.
The left portion of this company meanwhile entered Regina through
another sally port, made their way as far as a communication trench on
the left, and on the right established contact with the remainder of
the company on the right.
All this time the centre and left companies were striving, heroically
but unsuccessfully, to penetrate the wire. This left the right half of
the Battalion, in Regina Trench, most precariously situated. Both
flanks were in the air; on the right of the 58th the left Battalion
(the 13th) of the 1st Division had been repulsed, and on the left the
left section of the Battalion had failed. The Germans, taking
immediate advantage of the opportunity, attacked right and left from
the bombing post and communication trench already mentioned. After a
fierce struggle the survivors of the 58th were expelled, and made their
way, as best they could, back to their lines.
The 43rd Battalion, on the left of the 8th Brigade, also managed to
establish themselves for a time in Regina Trench. Uncut wire
effectually stopped the right and centre companies, even though a few
individuals here and there succeeded in getting into the trench, never
to return. But the left company, like the right of the 58th, got in.
Some of them lost direction, and entered Regina with elements of the
Royal Canadian Regiment on the western side of West Miraumont Road.
A counter-attack in overwhelming force followed almost immediately, and
only about ten men of this company returned to our lines.
Meanwhile, on the left the 7th Brigade had also effected a lodgment in
Regina. On the Brigade's right the Royal Canadian Regiment occupied
Regina for a distance of 100 yards west of the West Miraumont Road.
The enemy were still between them and the 49th on the left.
The 49th had also succeeded, according to reports, in pushing through
to their objective. Two companies were reported to be at the junction
of Kenora and Regina Trenches with some men of the Royal Canadian
Regiment. They were bombing eastward in an endeavour to connect with
the latter battalion. This was the situation at 7 a.m. As it appeared
altogether likely that complete success would result if supports were
brought up and the attack pushed resolutely home, the Princess
Patricias, in support, were moved close up (two companies in the
jumping-off trench and two in the Fabeck Graben), ready to advance
whenever called upon.
On the Brigade right the Royal Canadian Regiment attempted to reinforce
their troops in Regina by moving a company up the West Miramont Road.
Heavy machine-gun fire foiled this attempt.
More definite information regarding the situation now began to come in.
It was ascertained that the right and centre companies of the R.C.R.
had entered the trench without serious casualties, but that the left
company had been hung up by heavy machine-gun fire. The two companies
which had entered Regina proceeded to mop up the numerous dug-outs in
this portion of Regina and pushed out a strong patrol along the West
Miraumont Road. A bombing party also bombed their way westward along
Regina in an attempt to gain touch with the 49th, who were reported to
have effected a lodgment to their left.
This report, however, was unduly optimistic. The right company of the
49th, bearing a trifle too far to the right, eventually reached Kenora
Trench and occupied it under heavy fire. The centre and left
companies, advancing straight on their objectives, passed through a row
of well-cut wire, only to find further progress blocked by the presence
of an unsuspected new row of wire, entirely undamaged. With dogged
resolution they made their way along the front of the wire, seeking a
gap. None was found, and after losing heavily they finally got into
Kenora Trench. Animated by the most intense determination to reach
their objective at all costs, they pushed three bombing parties up
Kenora Trench. Every party met the same fate--wiped out by the Germans
concentrated at the junction of Kenora and Regina Trenches.
The situation on the 3rd Divisional front at 9 a.m. was therefore as
follows. On the right the 58th Battalion of the 9th Brigade, had
effected a temporary lodgment from which they had shortly afterwards
been expelled. The 43rd Battalion had failed to get in on the left,
the R.C.R. had got in with two companies, but the 49th, on their left,
reported successful at first, had failed to obtain any footing in the
objective.
At this stage of the operations the Corps Commander visited the 3rd
Divisional Headquarters. After studying the situation, he gave orders
that every effort should be made to secure the portion of Regina Trench
held by the 7th Brigade westward from the West Miraumont Road, and
that, if necessary, supports and reserves were to be sent up to ensure
success. With West Miraumont Road as the right flank, efforts were to
be made to gain as much ground as possible, but not beyond Regina
Trench. If necessary, the 8th Brigade and the remainder of the 9th
Brigade would be used, as Regina Trench had to be gained at all costs.
All available reserves were pushed up. The 60th, in support of the 9th
Brigade, moved up two sections of bombers. The 43rd of this Brigade
was ordered to assist the R.C.R. on their left in maintaining their
position in Regina. The support Battalion of the 7th Brigade, the
Princess Patricias, also moved up as close as possible.
Unfortunately, before a fresh offensive could be launched, reports
began to come in that the R.C.R. had been unable to maintain their hold
in Regina Trench. The men of the Princess Patricias sent up to
reinforce the R.C.R. met the gallant defenders of the outpost returning
to our trenches. A strong counter-attack had been too much for the
weakened and wearied garrison. All returned together to Kenora Trench.
Early in the afternoon it became evident that the attack had failed all
along the Corps' front. The line was consolidated during the night by
the wearied troops in the line, aided by the supports. Little progress
could be made on account of the weakness of the garrisons. On the left
flank the depleted R.C.R. and 49th were combined into a composite
Battalion.
On the following night the 8th Brigade relieved the 7th and 9th
Brigades.
The undeniable failure of the operations of October 1st and 8th did not
dishearten the Canadians. Rather did it merely increase their
determination to "get" Regina, whatever the cost. It was intolerable
that such a series of checks should follow the glorious triumph of
Courcelette. Nevertheless, it is not to be wondered at that we should
have met with these temporary checks, which were, indeed, far from
diminishing the prestige of the Canadian Corps[2] as a fighting force.
The victories of the 15th and immediately following days had had a
double effect. They had severely reduced the numbers of the Canadian
battalions while bringing them into contact with positions yet more
formidably defended. At the same time they had forced the enemy to
concentrate upon this sector, so imminently menaced, great
reinforcements of men and guns. Their task had doubled, while their
means of dealing with it had diminished. The quality of an army is
sometimes manifested no less brilliantly in reverse than in success;
and the scant result of these sanguinary struggles before Regina Trench
in no way lessened the confidence of the Higher Command in the capacity
of our troops.
A renewal of the offensive was daily expected, and active preparations
were made in anticipation of the event. Meanwhile, the arrival of the
new 4th Division during this period of waiting and recuperation was
hailed by the hardened campaigners of the three older Divisions with
feelings of liveliest satisfaction.
[1] The 5th Brigade began their tour in the line 1,717 strong (all
ranks). Their casualties during the tour amounted to 944 all ranks,
making their strength on coming out 773 all ranks.
In the 5th Brigade on October 2nd the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles, with
attached details, numbered only 250 effectives, and the 4th Canadian
Mounted Rifles but 175.
The casualties of the Canadian Corps from September 27th to noon on
October 4th were as follows:
OFFICERS. OTHER RANKS.
Killed . . . . 25 Killed . . . 847
Wounded . . . 89 Wounded . . . 3,364
Missing . . . 8 Missing . . . 1,176
Total . . . . 122 Total . . . . 5,387
Grand total all ranks . . . 5,509
[2] The casualties of the Canadian Corps from noon, October 4th, to
noon, October 11th, were as follows:--
OFFICERS. OTHER RANKS.
Killed . . . . 20 Killed . . . 344
Wounded . . . 109 Wounded . . . 1,793
Missing . . . 29 Missing . . . 390
Total . . . . 158 Total . . . . 2,527
Total . . . . . . . . . . . 2,685