The Third Battle of the Scarpe, 1917, is of special interest to all East Yorkshiremen, for the third Victoria Cross won for the Regiment was gained by a young officer in the terrible struggle for Oppy Wood
Six Battlions of the Regiment are entitled to place the operations between 3rd and 5th May 1917, amongst their Battle Honours.
They are the 1st, 8th, 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th, though only the 8th, 10th, 11th and 12th were actively engaged with the enemy
The 1st East Yorkshires (21st Division) after their hard fighting on 11th April, had moved back from Boisleux au Mont to Adinfer thence successfully to Mercatel and Boyelles. On 25th the Battalion was in Brigade Reserve on the road between Henin and Croiselles
On 27th "A" and "B" companies moved up to the Hindenburg line to support the 9th K.O.Y.L.I., who, having been ordered to establish themselves in the line were making a bombing attack down the trench system towards the Sensee river. On the western outskirts of Fontaine-les-Croiselles there was a sunken road running north-east to south-west which cut through the Hindenburg line, and here the K.O.Y.L.I.had established blocks which "A" and "B" Companies of the East Yorkshires took over on the 28th, "C" Company supporting "A" and "D" supporting "B". About 7:30 a.m. on 29th the enemy suddenly attacked this block and "B" was temporarily forced to withdraw. An immediate counter-attack, however recaptured the block
But the enemy was evidently dtermined to eject East Yorkshiremen, for two more attacks were made on "B" Compny's block, each for the time being successful. Nevertherless, immediate counter-attacks restored the situation, and at the end of the day the gallant 1st Battalion held the line intact. Three officers were wounded in thi affair, and in other ranks, the losses were 7 killed and 45 wounded
Six Battlions of the Regiment are entitled to place the operations between 3rd and 5th May 1917, amongst their Battle Honours.
They are the 1st, 8th, 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th, though only the 8th, 10th, 11th and 12th were actively engaged with the enemy
The 1st East Yorkshires (21st Division) after their hard fighting on 11th April, had moved back from Boisleux au Mont to Adinfer thence successfully to Mercatel and Boyelles. On 25th the Battalion was in Brigade Reserve on the road between Henin and Croiselles
On 27th "A" and "B" companies moved up to the Hindenburg line to support the 9th K.O.Y.L.I., who, having been ordered to establish themselves in the line were making a bombing attack down the trench system towards the Sensee river. On the western outskirts of Fontaine-les-Croiselles there was a sunken road running north-east to south-west which cut through the Hindenburg line, and here the K.O.Y.L.I.had established blocks which "A" and "B" Companies of the East Yorkshires took over on the 28th, "C" Company supporting "A" and "D" supporting "B". About 7:30 a.m. on 29th the enemy suddenly attacked this block and "B" was temporarily forced to withdraw. An immediate counter-attack, however recaptured the block
But the enemy was evidently dtermined to eject East Yorkshiremen, for two more attacks were made on "B" Compny's block, each for the time being successful. Nevertherless, immediate counter-attacks restored the situation, and at the end of the day the gallant 1st Battalion held the line intact. Three officers were wounded in thi affair, and in other ranks, the losses were 7 killed and 45 wounded
The 1st East Yorkshires were in Brigade Reserve on 3rd May when the 62nd Brigade of the 21st Division attacked the enemy west of Fontainles-Croiselles, the line of advance being from north-west to south-west. But the enemy clung tenaciously to his position and at the end of the day the situation was the same at Zero hour-3.45 a.m. At 8.15 that night the East Yorkhires moved forward and relieved the 15th D.L.I., the attacking Battalion, in the Hindenburg line remaining in that position throughout the 4th until relieved on the 5th by the Durhams
The 8th East Yorkshires had relieved the 1st Royal Scots in the front line on the night of 30thApril/1st May. The line taken over was on a north and south line immediately east of Monchy-le-Preux, thence round the south-eastern exits of the village. It was a nosiy part of the line and Moncy was heavily shelled intermittently throughout the 1st May
Continuing the line from south to north the main objectives of the Third Army (Fontaine-le-roiselles has already been given) were Cherisy, St Rohart Factory, Bois du Vert, Bois du Sart, Plouvain Station, Square Wood. The Bois du Vert and Bois du Sart to be attacked by the 8th Brigade, lay east of Moncy. The 2nd Royal Scots 9right) and the 1st R.S. Fusiliers (left) were the attacking troops of the Brigade, the 7th K.S.L.I. (right) and the 8th East Yorkshires (left) being in support.
The night of 2nd May was spent in final preparations and in moving up to assembly positions The weather was warm and fine; the morning had been quiet and uneventful though Monchy was treated to its usual dose of shelling.
The Divisional artillery responded by subjecting the German batteries to a heavy gas-shell bombardment. At night, whilst reliefs were taking place
and the attacking troops were moving up, the enemy retaliated.
The air was thick with the pungent smell of gas and smoke from bursting shells. The whole area was an inferno;
indeed, as a diarist said, "It was a horrible night, quite one of the worst at this period"
The attack began at 3.45 a.m. on 3rd, the enemy quickly replying with his barrage. The 8th East Yorkshires were formed up behind the Royal Scots Fusiliers.
The 7th K.S.L.I. were on the right of the East Yorkshiremen. Intense darkness prevailed at Zero hour and no sooner had the British barrage fallen on the German trenches, and the assaulting troops had begun their advance, than the sky was lit up by scores of Very lights. The hostile barrage fell 10 minutes after the British barrage, was heavy, and before the Battalion left the assembly positions and Liieutenant G.C Knee was killed
From the storm of the machine-gun and rifle bullets which met the advance it was obvious that the barrage had neither silenced the enemy's machine guns nor reduced his riflemen to impotence
Tool Trench was found strongly held and from Infantry Hill a murderous machine-gun fire was maintained with the result that the Royal Scots and Royal Scots Fusiliers
suffered heavy casualties and the attack was brought to a standstill
Again and again gallant efforts were made to get forward. Along the southern front of the line an advance of only a few yards was made; in the centre of the situation was very little better and still further to the north the continuation of Tool Trench was reached and passed
In the darkness the troops soon becam=e scattered and siorganised and in parties of twos and threes found shelter in shell holes. Whenever they attempted to leave the holes and advance they were met with a hail of bullets. In one part of the battleield a number of men found themselves isolated
with the enemy to the west of them they managed to crawl back to their outpost line, the friendly darkness covering their retirement. The net result of the attack was the establishment of a line of posts out in front of the Brigade sector
The 8th East Yorkshires lost heavily in the attack. The Rev. Captain C.W.Mitchell ("our good padre") fell mortally wounded during the afternoon. Utterly forgetful of his own self, bent only on carrying out his duty and in responding to the call of His Holy Order, this gallant clergyman was out under heavy shell fire attending to wounded men when he received his fatal wound. Other officers killed were 2nd Lieutenants H.M. Dalton, A.J Cox, F.T.McIntyre and J.M. Bibby; 2nd Lieutentant W Price wa wounded, and died of his wounds; 2nd Lieutenant Le Breton Edwards was wounded.
In other ranks the losses were 35 killed, 161 wounded, 39 missing.
During the night of the 3rd/4th the Royal Scots Fusiliers (whose casualties had been very heavy) were replaced in the front line by the 88th East Yorkshiresand, in view of further operations, the Battalion received orders to reorganise. Through-out the 4th wounded were collected from No Man's Land under the Red Cross Flag. The German were similarly engaged, both sides refraining from firing while the work of mercy proceeded
At nightfall the Battalion reorganised and work on posts and trenches was begun
No mention is made in the official despatches of the attack carried out on Gavrelle and Oppy by the 51st Division, yet hard fighting took place in this sector during the Third Battle of the Scarpe, many gallant lives were lost and at least one Victoria Cross was won and that by 2nd Lieutenant J Harrison M.C., of the 11th (S) Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment.
The attack of the 31st Division was carried out by the 93rd Brigade on the right (Gavrlle) and the 92nd on the left (Oppy)
The assaulting batteries of the East Yorkshire Regiment of the latter Brigade were the 10th were the 10th (Lieut-Colonel C C Stapledon) on the right, 11th (Lieut-Colonel C H Gurney) on the left: the 13th Battalion (Lieut-Colonel R H Dewing) was in reserve. Each battalion was on a three-company frontage in four waved. The 92nd Brigade had relieved the 99th Brigade (2nd Division) in front of Oppy on the night 30th April/1st May, with orders to attack the wood and village at about 4 a.m. on 3rd May The
enemy's defences in the Oppy sector were of a very powerful nature. The wood in itself, was an admirable protection to the village, for it covered the latter from attack from the west. But in front of the wood was a well-organised system of trenches, well wired, with numerous communications which covered Oppy from flanking attacks and practically enclosed both the wood and the village in a veritable maze of defences
The wood contained a large number of machine-gun posts and all along the German front lines machine guns and mortars were well placed to repel any attack from the west. Altogether the East Yorkshiremen were confronted by an extremely difficult task.
Moreover Oppy Wood and Village were held by German Guardsmen, some of the bravest of the enemy's troops.
At 11.30 p.m. the 10th East Yorkshires moved up to their assembly positions, a new trench which had been dug by the 2nd Division before the Battle of Arleux which had taken place on the 28th/29th April. The northern boundary of the frontage of attack allocated to the Battalion was along the southern edge of Oppy Wood to Oppy Support Trench. The latter trench ran from the north-west to south-east about 200 yards east of the village
The move forward was carried out in brilliant moon-light and was apparently observed by the enemy who, however did not open fire immediately. The Battalion was in position before midnight. The 11th Battalion left the trenches on the ridge between Bailleul and Roclincourt at 9 p.m. and moving via the small-gauge railway running due east of the former village, met guides provided by the 13th Battalion who led the Companies to their respective assembly positions facing Oppy Wood. At one point the march up crossed a rise less than 1,000 yards from the German trenches and with the moon behind them the East Yorkshiremen must have been silhouetted against the skyline. Also while assembling, the German Verey lights fell west of the Companies as they took up their alloted positions. The line of assembly was only from 100 to 200 yards away from the parallel with, the western edge of Oppy Wood. The frontage of attack of the 11th Battalion wa Oppy Wood and Village and Oppy Support Trench beyond
The 12th East Yorkshires moved up at 11 p.m. over quite unknown country to their assembly trenches on the left of the 11th Battalion. Their frontage of attack included a portion of Fresnoy Trench, Cruciiix Trench, Crucifix Lane and finally Oppy Support Trench
Zero hour had been fixed for 3-45 a.m. but twice before that hour the enemy very heavily barraged the front line. Reports are conflicting as to the actual time the barrage fell, the 10th East Yorkshires reporting it as 12.30 a.m.
and the Brigade as 1.40 a.m. The former also states that it continued for some time. The 10th Battalion also records the second hostile barrage as beginning at 1.20 a.m. and continuing until Zero hour, while the Brigade Diary says that it opened at 2.55 a.m. and went on until 4 minutes before Zero hour. The results of these barrages were not serious so far as casualties were concerned, but they caused some confusion as several platoons moved so as to avoid the intense part of the barrage. Indeed, owing to the barrage "D" and "A" Companies of the 11th Battalion could not form up properly, though they were more or less in their correct positions and when Zero hour arrived they had been lying out in the open for just over two hours. At 3.45 a.m. there was a roar as the British barrage opened. It was timed to advance at 100 yards per 4 minutes. Almost immediately the German guns replied and soon clouds of smoke and dust added their pall to that of the darkness, and it was impossible to see when the barrage lifted from the German trenches.With shells bursting all round them, the air whistling with machine-gun and rifle bullets, and all the infernal din of the battlefield deafening their ears, into the clouds of dust and smoke the advancing troops disappeared. On the right the 10th East Yorkshires found the German front line strongly held. The assaulting companies had gone forward behind their barrage, but ere they reached the hostile lines the curtain of fire had lifted and they were at once subjected to heavy machine-gun and rifle fire. Hacking at the barbed-wire entanglements where they had not been cut by the guns, or rushing through gaps which had been made, a considerable number of men of the 10th Battalion undoubtedly got into and beyond the first German line; some even penetrated to the first objective and one gallant man brought back eight prisoners to his own credit. All four Company Commanders had become casualties and the smoke and dust, added to the darkness, made it impossible to see what was going on on the flanks and, indeed, blotted out the objectives. In the struggle for the German first line the barrage had been lost, and it was tolling on far ahead by the time that small parties of men had penetrated the front system.
As it was impossible to get forward or to consolidate the line, the survivors of the 10th Battalion withdrew to the assmbly trench occupied before the attack began, and to shell holes in the neighbourhood where they remained until the night of the 3rd/4th May, for all day long the whole area was swept by artillery and machine-gun fire, whilst the enemy's snipers in Oppy Wood were continually on the watch for anyone who incautiously
exposed himself
Similar conditions met the attack of the 11th East Yorkshires. The assaulting Companies of the Battalion had followed about 50 yards behind the barrage, but the dust, smoke and darkness, added to the blackness of Oppy Wood beyond, made it impossible to tell when the screen of fire had lifted from the German front line. Raked by galling machine-gun fire from the posts in the Wood and subjected to withering rifle fire from the hostile
front-line trenches, admirably led by their officers, the right Company ("B"), nevertherless, went forward bravely
The first attack was repulsed, but out in No Man's Land, still under heavy fire, Officers and N.C.Os re-formed their men
and again they were repulsed. A solitary platoon, smarting under repeated rebuffs, again attacked.
This platoon waqs led by 2nd Lieutenant J Harrison who rallied his men with words of confidence and led them forward most gallantly.
Three belts of thick wire had to be negotiated. From the extreme southern point of Oppy Wood a German machine gun was playing havoc amongst the platoons. Ordering his men to take shelter in a shell hole, but to keep the machine gun under continuous rifle grenade fire, Harrison, carrying a Mills bomb in his hand, attempted to rush the gun single-handed
He had almost reached the gun and had just hurled his bomb at the German crew when his men saw him fall, face downwards. But he had accomplished his self-imposed task - the machine gun never fired again. For this very gallant deed 2nd Lieutenant Harrison was awarded the Victoria Cross and no man deserved it more. he had given his life to save others. Jumping to their feet, the platoon rushed on. but, finding themselves isolated again took shelter in shell holes, staying there all day until nightfall when they returned to the Battalion's outpost line
The first and second waves of the Centre Company ("C") got into Oppy Wood and through the wood to Opy village
They were reported there by aeroplane at 6 a.m. But they were isolated, some were killed and the remainder captured. The left company - which, owing to the enemy's barrage had not been able to organise into waves - lost direction and pentrated Oppy Wood too much to the right
Every officer had become a casualty and many other ranks as well, a great number being among the "missing"
The 12th East Yorkshires fared little better. The first wave of the right Company entered the German front-line trench, which was strongly held; the second wave followed, but was forced to withdraw, and eventually the first wave was beaten back out of the enemy's line....under heavy shell fire the East Yorkshires remained all day in their original assembly trenches and were relieved during the night of 3rd/4th May by the East Lancashire Regiment
Of the 13th East Yorkshires there is little to record save that the battalion supplied guides for the three other Battalions during the assembly operation, and on the night of 4th May relieved the 11th Battalion in front of Oppy Wood
The 8th East Yorkshires had relieved the 1st Royal Scots in the front line on the night of 30thApril/1st May. The line taken over was on a north and south line immediately east of Monchy-le-Preux, thence round the south-eastern exits of the village. It was a nosiy part of the line and Moncy was heavily shelled intermittently throughout the 1st May
Continuing the line from south to north the main objectives of the Third Army (Fontaine-le-roiselles has already been given) were Cherisy, St Rohart Factory, Bois du Vert, Bois du Sart, Plouvain Station, Square Wood. The Bois du Vert and Bois du Sart to be attacked by the 8th Brigade, lay east of Moncy. The 2nd Royal Scots 9right) and the 1st R.S. Fusiliers (left) were the attacking troops of the Brigade, the 7th K.S.L.I. (right) and the 8th East Yorkshires (left) being in support.
The night of 2nd May was spent in final preparations and in moving up to assembly positions The weather was warm and fine; the morning had been quiet and uneventful though Monchy was treated to its usual dose of shelling.
The Divisional artillery responded by subjecting the German batteries to a heavy gas-shell bombardment. At night, whilst reliefs were taking place
and the attacking troops were moving up, the enemy retaliated.
The air was thick with the pungent smell of gas and smoke from bursting shells. The whole area was an inferno;
indeed, as a diarist said, "It was a horrible night, quite one of the worst at this period"
The attack began at 3.45 a.m. on 3rd, the enemy quickly replying with his barrage. The 8th East Yorkshires were formed up behind the Royal Scots Fusiliers.
The 7th K.S.L.I. were on the right of the East Yorkshiremen. Intense darkness prevailed at Zero hour and no sooner had the British barrage fallen on the German trenches, and the assaulting troops had begun their advance, than the sky was lit up by scores of Very lights. The hostile barrage fell 10 minutes after the British barrage, was heavy, and before the Battalion left the assembly positions and Liieutenant G.C Knee was killed
From the storm of the machine-gun and rifle bullets which met the advance it was obvious that the barrage had neither silenced the enemy's machine guns nor reduced his riflemen to impotence
Tool Trench was found strongly held and from Infantry Hill a murderous machine-gun fire was maintained with the result that the Royal Scots and Royal Scots Fusiliers
suffered heavy casualties and the attack was brought to a standstill
Again and again gallant efforts were made to get forward. Along the southern front of the line an advance of only a few yards was made; in the centre of the situation was very little better and still further to the north the continuation of Tool Trench was reached and passed
In the darkness the troops soon becam=e scattered and siorganised and in parties of twos and threes found shelter in shell holes. Whenever they attempted to leave the holes and advance they were met with a hail of bullets. In one part of the battleield a number of men found themselves isolated
with the enemy to the west of them they managed to crawl back to their outpost line, the friendly darkness covering their retirement. The net result of the attack was the establishment of a line of posts out in front of the Brigade sector
The 8th East Yorkshires lost heavily in the attack. The Rev. Captain C.W.Mitchell ("our good padre") fell mortally wounded during the afternoon. Utterly forgetful of his own self, bent only on carrying out his duty and in responding to the call of His Holy Order, this gallant clergyman was out under heavy shell fire attending to wounded men when he received his fatal wound. Other officers killed were 2nd Lieutenants H.M. Dalton, A.J Cox, F.T.McIntyre and J.M. Bibby; 2nd Lieutentant W Price wa wounded, and died of his wounds; 2nd Lieutenant Le Breton Edwards was wounded.
In other ranks the losses were 35 killed, 161 wounded, 39 missing.
During the night of the 3rd/4th the Royal Scots Fusiliers (whose casualties had been very heavy) were replaced in the front line by the 88th East Yorkshiresand, in view of further operations, the Battalion received orders to reorganise. Through-out the 4th wounded were collected from No Man's Land under the Red Cross Flag. The German were similarly engaged, both sides refraining from firing while the work of mercy proceeded
At nightfall the Battalion reorganised and work on posts and trenches was begun
No mention is made in the official despatches of the attack carried out on Gavrelle and Oppy by the 51st Division, yet hard fighting took place in this sector during the Third Battle of the Scarpe, many gallant lives were lost and at least one Victoria Cross was won and that by 2nd Lieutenant J Harrison M.C., of the 11th (S) Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment.
The attack of the 31st Division was carried out by the 93rd Brigade on the right (Gavrlle) and the 92nd on the left (Oppy)
The assaulting batteries of the East Yorkshire Regiment of the latter Brigade were the 10th were the 10th (Lieut-Colonel C C Stapledon) on the right, 11th (Lieut-Colonel C H Gurney) on the left: the 13th Battalion (Lieut-Colonel R H Dewing) was in reserve. Each battalion was on a three-company frontage in four waved. The 92nd Brigade had relieved the 99th Brigade (2nd Division) in front of Oppy on the night 30th April/1st May, with orders to attack the wood and village at about 4 a.m. on 3rd May The
enemy's defences in the Oppy sector were of a very powerful nature. The wood in itself, was an admirable protection to the village, for it covered the latter from attack from the west. But in front of the wood was a well-organised system of trenches, well wired, with numerous communications which covered Oppy from flanking attacks and practically enclosed both the wood and the village in a veritable maze of defences
The wood contained a large number of machine-gun posts and all along the German front lines machine guns and mortars were well placed to repel any attack from the west. Altogether the East Yorkshiremen were confronted by an extremely difficult task.
Moreover Oppy Wood and Village were held by German Guardsmen, some of the bravest of the enemy's troops.
At 11.30 p.m. the 10th East Yorkshires moved up to their assembly positions, a new trench which had been dug by the 2nd Division before the Battle of Arleux which had taken place on the 28th/29th April. The northern boundary of the frontage of attack allocated to the Battalion was along the southern edge of Oppy Wood to Oppy Support Trench. The latter trench ran from the north-west to south-east about 200 yards east of the village
The move forward was carried out in brilliant moon-light and was apparently observed by the enemy who, however did not open fire immediately. The Battalion was in position before midnight. The 11th Battalion left the trenches on the ridge between Bailleul and Roclincourt at 9 p.m. and moving via the small-gauge railway running due east of the former village, met guides provided by the 13th Battalion who led the Companies to their respective assembly positions facing Oppy Wood. At one point the march up crossed a rise less than 1,000 yards from the German trenches and with the moon behind them the East Yorkshiremen must have been silhouetted against the skyline. Also while assembling, the German Verey lights fell west of the Companies as they took up their alloted positions. The line of assembly was only from 100 to 200 yards away from the parallel with, the western edge of Oppy Wood. The frontage of attack of the 11th Battalion wa Oppy Wood and Village and Oppy Support Trench beyond
The 12th East Yorkshires moved up at 11 p.m. over quite unknown country to their assembly trenches on the left of the 11th Battalion. Their frontage of attack included a portion of Fresnoy Trench, Cruciiix Trench, Crucifix Lane and finally Oppy Support Trench
Zero hour had been fixed for 3-45 a.m. but twice before that hour the enemy very heavily barraged the front line. Reports are conflicting as to the actual time the barrage fell, the 10th East Yorkshires reporting it as 12.30 a.m.
and the Brigade as 1.40 a.m. The former also states that it continued for some time. The 10th Battalion also records the second hostile barrage as beginning at 1.20 a.m. and continuing until Zero hour, while the Brigade Diary says that it opened at 2.55 a.m. and went on until 4 minutes before Zero hour. The results of these barrages were not serious so far as casualties were concerned, but they caused some confusion as several platoons moved so as to avoid the intense part of the barrage. Indeed, owing to the barrage "D" and "A" Companies of the 11th Battalion could not form up properly, though they were more or less in their correct positions and when Zero hour arrived they had been lying out in the open for just over two hours. At 3.45 a.m. there was a roar as the British barrage opened. It was timed to advance at 100 yards per 4 minutes. Almost immediately the German guns replied and soon clouds of smoke and dust added their pall to that of the darkness, and it was impossible to see when the barrage lifted from the German trenches.With shells bursting all round them, the air whistling with machine-gun and rifle bullets, and all the infernal din of the battlefield deafening their ears, into the clouds of dust and smoke the advancing troops disappeared. On the right the 10th East Yorkshires found the German front line strongly held. The assaulting companies had gone forward behind their barrage, but ere they reached the hostile lines the curtain of fire had lifted and they were at once subjected to heavy machine-gun and rifle fire. Hacking at the barbed-wire entanglements where they had not been cut by the guns, or rushing through gaps which had been made, a considerable number of men of the 10th Battalion undoubtedly got into and beyond the first German line; some even penetrated to the first objective and one gallant man brought back eight prisoners to his own credit. All four Company Commanders had become casualties and the smoke and dust, added to the darkness, made it impossible to see what was going on on the flanks and, indeed, blotted out the objectives. In the struggle for the German first line the barrage had been lost, and it was tolling on far ahead by the time that small parties of men had penetrated the front system.
As it was impossible to get forward or to consolidate the line, the survivors of the 10th Battalion withdrew to the assmbly trench occupied before the attack began, and to shell holes in the neighbourhood where they remained until the night of the 3rd/4th May, for all day long the whole area was swept by artillery and machine-gun fire, whilst the enemy's snipers in Oppy Wood were continually on the watch for anyone who incautiously
exposed himself
Similar conditions met the attack of the 11th East Yorkshires. The assaulting Companies of the Battalion had followed about 50 yards behind the barrage, but the dust, smoke and darkness, added to the blackness of Oppy Wood beyond, made it impossible to tell when the screen of fire had lifted from the German front line. Raked by galling machine-gun fire from the posts in the Wood and subjected to withering rifle fire from the hostile
front-line trenches, admirably led by their officers, the right Company ("B"), nevertherless, went forward bravely
The first attack was repulsed, but out in No Man's Land, still under heavy fire, Officers and N.C.Os re-formed their men
and again they were repulsed. A solitary platoon, smarting under repeated rebuffs, again attacked.
This platoon waqs led by 2nd Lieutenant J Harrison who rallied his men with words of confidence and led them forward most gallantly.
Three belts of thick wire had to be negotiated. From the extreme southern point of Oppy Wood a German machine gun was playing havoc amongst the platoons. Ordering his men to take shelter in a shell hole, but to keep the machine gun under continuous rifle grenade fire, Harrison, carrying a Mills bomb in his hand, attempted to rush the gun single-handed
He had almost reached the gun and had just hurled his bomb at the German crew when his men saw him fall, face downwards. But he had accomplished his self-imposed task - the machine gun never fired again. For this very gallant deed 2nd Lieutenant Harrison was awarded the Victoria Cross and no man deserved it more. he had given his life to save others. Jumping to their feet, the platoon rushed on. but, finding themselves isolated again took shelter in shell holes, staying there all day until nightfall when they returned to the Battalion's outpost line
The first and second waves of the Centre Company ("C") got into Oppy Wood and through the wood to Opy village
They were reported there by aeroplane at 6 a.m. But they were isolated, some were killed and the remainder captured. The left company - which, owing to the enemy's barrage had not been able to organise into waves - lost direction and pentrated Oppy Wood too much to the right
Every officer had become a casualty and many other ranks as well, a great number being among the "missing"
The 12th East Yorkshires fared little better. The first wave of the right Company entered the German front-line trench, which was strongly held; the second wave followed, but was forced to withdraw, and eventually the first wave was beaten back out of the enemy's line....under heavy shell fire the East Yorkshires remained all day in their original assembly trenches and were relieved during the night of 3rd/4th May by the East Lancashire Regiment
Of the 13th East Yorkshires there is little to record save that the battalion supplied guides for the three other Battalions during the assembly operation, and on the night of 4th May relieved the 11th Battalion in front of Oppy Wood
The History of the East Yorkshire Regiment in the Great War: Wyrall
The citation for his VC describes events in more detail:
T/2nd Lt. John Harrison, M.C., E. York. R.For most conspicuous bravery and self-sacrifice in an attack.
Owing to darkness and to smoke from the enemy barrage, and from our own, and to the fact that our objective was in a dark wood, it was impossible to see when our barrage had lifted off the enemy front line. Nevertheless, 2nd Lt. Harrison led his company against the enemy trench under heavy rifle and machine-gun fire, but was repulsed. Reorganising his command as best he could in No Man's Land, he again attacked in darkness under terrific fire, but with no success. Then, turning round, this gallant officer single-handed made a dash at the machine-gun, hoping to knock out the gun and so save the lives of many of his company.
His self-sacrifice and absolute disregard of danger was an inspiring example to all. (he is reported missing, believed killed.)London Gazette
The Capture of Oppy Wood 28 June, 1917
Although Oppy Wood was captured by the 94th Brigade of the 31s Division, the 92nd Brigade lent valuable assistance , three Battalions of the East Yorkshire Regiment, i.e. 10th, 11th (less two companies) and 13th taking part in the operations; the 10th forming the Brigade Reserve, the 11th holding the front line during the attack and the 13th furnishing carrying parties.
The attack took place on 28th June, but a few days previously (on the night of 22nd/23rd June) the four Battalions of the Regiment made a combined raid on that part of the enemy's trenches known as Cadorna. Lieut-Colonel S. H. Ferrand, commanding the 11th Battalion, was in command of the raid.Cadorna Trench fprmed part of the enemy's front line about 99 yards north of Gavrelle, the British trenches running from east of that village in a north-westerly direction some 250 yards west of Oppy Wood. Oposite Cadorna trench the 92nd Brigade held Railway Trench and here the raiding parties formed up, each Battalion (10th, 11th, 12th and 13th) supplying two officers and 50 other ranks; each party organised into four sections consisting of two rifle sections and two bombing sections. The raiding parties were on a 40 yards frontage with gaps of 50 yards between each Battalion.The only existing account of this raid is a brief report with the Brigade Diary.
Zero hour was 10.20 p.m. and at that hour a heavy barrage was placed on the enemy's trenches during which the raiders left Railway Trench in two lines. Immediately the barrage lifted off Cadorna, the raiders rushed the trench under desultory machine-gun fire from the direction of Oppy Wood. small parties of the enemy were encountered in front of Cadorna Trench; they were engaged, some were taken prisoners and others killed.
These Germans had evidently come out into the open in preferance to remaining in the trench which, after the guns had lifted from it, was practically obliterated. Indeed, the first line of the raiders advance over and beyond the trench ithout knowing it. In rear of Cadorna were several hostile posts, but the German garrison fled as the East Yorkshiremen approached
Pursuded by the latter almost to Windmill Trench (which lay beyond Cadorna) he enemy again ran into the British Barrage and suffered further lossesThe raiders having almost reached Windmill Trench, close up to their own barrage, were then ordered to withdraw. During the withdrawal a German machine gun, chained and pegged to the ground, was found 50 yards east of the Gavrelle-Oppy raod, and as it could not be removed was damaged with knobkerries, During the raid, the enemy tried to outflank the raiders from the direction of Wood Alley, a trench running in an east to west direction across the northern end of Cadorna, but the left flank guard, consisting of a Lewis-gun section and 10 men drove the Germans off, inflicting severe casualties on them. The raid was most successful, a considerable number of casualties were inflicted on the enemy and seven unwounded prisoners were brought back. The total casualties suffered by the raiding parties of all four Battalions were 1 other rank killed 1 officer and 31 other ranks wounded and 11 other ranks missing
Of the attack at Oppy on 28 June there are no details either in the Battalion or Brigade Diaries of interest to the Regiment. The attack was, however, entirely successful.
Source: East Yorkshire Regiment in the Great War 1915-1918 : Wyrall
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