©2006R.J.PENHEY. Latest edit 12 Apr 2010 http://penhey.name/ompwxb262Div(print(p).htm
The History of the British 62nd Division in the Great War
The
definitive work on this subject is Everard Wyrall’s “The History of the 62nd
(West Riding) Division 1914 – 1919”, and due acknowledgement is made to this
book for much of the information contained in the brief summary which follows.
1. Origins
On the outbreak of war in August 1914, the West
Riding (Territorial) Division was formed from territorial battalions of the
West Riding regiments. Thus:-
1st West Riding Infantry Brigade – 5th,
6th, 7th & 8th
2nd West Riding Infantry Brigade – 4th,
5th, 6th, & 7th Duke of Wellington’s
Regiment.
3rd West Riding Infantry Brigade – 4th
& 5th York and Lancaster Regiment together with the 4th
and 5th King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.
During September 1914 all these battalions were
redesignated ‘Service’ battalions and at the same time each battalion raised a
‘Reserve’ battalion bearing the same number. From the reserve battalions was
formed the 2nd (West Riding) Division.
Thus at this stage there were:-
1st (West Riding) Division – 1/1st
W.R. Infantry Brigade – 5th (Service), 6th (Service), 7th
(Service) and 8th (Service) battalions, West Yorks;
2nd (West Riding) Division – 2/1st
W.R. Infantry Brigade – 5th (Reserve), 6th (Reserve), 7th
(Reserve) and 8th (Reserve) battalions, West Yorks;
and so also with the other brigades.
In February 1915 the designations ‘Service’ and
‘Reserve’ were dropped and replaced by the prefixes 1/ and 2/ respectively.
Thus for example 6th (Service) Battalion became 1/6th
Battalion and 6th (Reserve) Battalion became 2/6th
Battalion. When the 1st (West
Riding) Division went to
In August 1915 a third West Riding division and its
corresponding brigades and battalions were formed. The 2nd (West
Riding) Division was then re-designated 62nd (West Riding) Division
and its three brigades became 185th, 186th and 187th
Infantry Brigades respectively. The 3rd (West Riding) Division never
became an active service division but remained in the
2. Home
Service
62 Div was stationed at various places during its
time in
3. Acclimatization
to the Front Line
On arrival in France 62 Div was posted to V Corps,
5th Army and sent to camp in the Beauval and Bus area, which it
reached on 23.1.17. Parties were attached to 19 and 32 Divs to gain experience
and between 13 and 15.2.17 62 Div relieved 32 Div in the line in the
Beaumont-Hamel Sector.
4.
German
Withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line
On 23.2.17 the German army started its voluntary
withdrawal from the front line established at the end of the
5. The
On 9.3.17 the BEF began its
6. Routine
Trench Warfare
62 Div were out of the line for some four weeks,
during which they trained and provided working parties. They returned to front
line duty at Lagnicourt between 25 and 26.6.17 and continued normal routine
trench duties in the Bullecourt, Noreuil and Lagnicourt sectors until handing
over to 3 Div between 9 and 12.10.17.
7.
On 12.10.17 the division went into the training
areas around Haplincourt and Barastre nearby for infantry training. Then on
30.10.17 they moved to Fosseux where they were in 3rd Army Reserve
but came under XVII Corps for Admin and IV Corps for training. From 2 to
12.11.17 the units of 62 Div received special training in attack with tanks at
Wailly and co-operation with aircraft at Berneville. The division was now
transferred to IV Corps in 3rd Army.
8. The
8.1
Background
This operation was first conceived as a one-day,
tank-led raid on the Hindenburg Line near Cambrai, where the ground was
suitable for tracked vehicles. But in the planning stage it developed into a
full scale attack on a two-corps front (10km). There was to be no preliminary
bombardment and strict secrecy was to be maintained during the preparatory
stage. The operation was to be called off after 48 hours if the situation then did
not look promising.
8.2
Order of
Battle
The operation was conducted by 3rd Army
with IV Corps on the left of the line, III Corps on the right and V Corps in
reserve. Within IV Corps, 36 Div were on the left to secure the left flank of
the advance, 62 Div were in the centre facing Havrincourt and 51 Div on the
right facing Flesquières.
8.3 62 Div Operations
8.3.1 First Tour
On 20.11.17, the opening day of the battle, 62 Div
broke through both the Hindenburg Main and Support Lines, occupying Havrincourt
and Graincourt, and by the end of the day had crossed the Bapaume to Cambrai
road. This represented an advance of 7 km in one day, an outstanding
achievement at that time. The next day the division took Anneux and the tanks
entered Bourlon Wood, but the infantry were too exhausted to follow them. That
night the 48 hour review point was reached and III Corps were ordered to
establish a defensive front while IV Corps attacked Bourlon Wood and village.
Most of the remaining serviceable tanks were now with IV Corps. On 22.11.17
German counter attacks drove the front line back south of the Bapaume to Cambrai
road, but later that day 62 Div attacks restored the front to that reached on
21st. During the night of 22/23.11.17 62 Div was relieved by 40 Div
and moved back to the area Neuville - Ruyaulcourt - Havrincourt Wood -
Bertincourt for rest and recuperation.
8.3.2 Interim
Between 23 and 24.11.17 40 Div captured most of
Bourlon Wood and entered Bourlon village, though without capturing it.
8.3.3 Second
Tour
On 25.11.17 62 Div relieved 40 Div in the line. The
next day a high level conference was held, the C in C, Sir Douglas Haig
presiding, to decide the next moves. The front line in the IV Corps sector now
lay in the low ground between Flesquières Ridge and Bourlon Ridge to the north,
a bad position in which to overwinter. So either Bourlon Ridge including the
village and wood, must be taken and held, or the British line must be pulled
back to the Flesquières Ridge. It was decided to attempt the former. The attack
was made on 27.11.17 by 62 Div, with the Guards Div on their right attacking
Fontaine. 62 Div completed the capture of the wood and about half of the
village, but a counter attack later the same day forced them back to their
start line of that morning. At this point the British offensive was virtually
at an end, and it was decided to withdraw the line to the Flesquières Ridge for
the winter. The 28.11.17 was a quiet day except for artillery exchanges and on
the night of 28-29.11.17 62 Div was relieved by 47 Div and moved to the
Beaumetz - Lebucquière - Bertincourt
area for rest. This marked the end of 62 Div’s active participation in the
battle. On 30.11.17 the main German counter attack began.
9.
After the
62 Div spent the next month resting or in reserve
behind the
10. The Battalion Disbandments
10.1 Background
By the end of 1917
10.2 The Disbandments in 62 Div
The 62 Div disbandments took place nominally on
31.1.18 and were 2/6 West Yorks, 2/6 Duke of
185
Brigade 2/5, 2/7 and 8 WYR
186
Brigade 2/4, 5 and 2/7 DWR
187
Brigade 2/4 Y&LR; 2/4 and 5 KOYLI
Pioneers
9 DLI
11.
After the Battalion Disbandments
The disbandments had taken place while 62 Div was
in the line in the Oppy - Gavrelle sector. Between 8 and 12.3.18 they were
relieved by 56 Div and moved to XIII Corps Reserve with Divisional HQ at
Villers-Châtel. Then between 28.2.18 and 3.3.18 they moved back into the line
in the left hand sector of XIII Corps (Arleux - Acheville) and there
experienced a further period of routine trench warfare. On 9.3.18 their four machine gun companies,
201, 208, 212 and 213 Coys MGC (Machine Gun Corps) were
amalgamated into the new 62 Battalion MGC. The division was still in this
sector when the German MICHAEL offensive opened on 21.3.18.
12.
The German MICHAEL Offensive
12.1 Background
The German spring offensives of 1918 were intended
to bring the war to a satisfactory end before the
12.2 62
Div’s Operations
On 21.3.18 all divisions in 5th and 3rd
Armies were attacked, together with 56 Div, the right flanking division of XIII
Corps, 1st Army, in the Oppy - Gavrelle sector. 62 Div, who were on the left of 56 Div and in
the Arleux - Acheville sector, were bombarded but not attacked. On 23.3.18
their relief by 3 Canadian Div began and they marched back to camp in the
Roclincourt area. As they came out of the line they were transferred brigade by
brigade to XVII Corps of 3rd Army and marched to the
13.
After the MICHAEL Offensive
For the first few days of April, 62 Div enjoyed a
period of rest and refitting until the night of 6 to 7.4.18 when it returned to
the front to relieve 42 Div in the Bucquoy sector. The next fortnight or so was
comparatively quiet and the division spent that time in strengthening its
defences. During the nights of 23 to 24 and 24 to 25.4.18 37 Div relieved 62
Div, which then moved back to the Authie area in Corps Reserve. The division
remained out of the line for three weeks until returning to relieve 37 Div on
16 and 17,5,18. They remained in position for the following five weeks, during
which trench warfare was carried on with patrols, raids and heavy bombardments
mounted by both sides. During the month of June, in consequence of the losses
incurred by the BEF in the German MICHAEL, GEORGETTE (
185
Brigade 2/5 & 8 WYR, 1/5
186
Brigade 2/4 & 5 DWR, 2/4 Hants Regt.
187
Brigade 2/4 Y&LR, 2/4 & 5 KOYLI
Pioneers 9 DLI
The division was now losing its West Riding character:
its personnel had, of course, long since ceased to be wholly West Riding
territorials. 62 Div were relieved by 37 Div on 24.6.18 and went into GHQ
Reserve in the Pas – Authieule – Amplier – Terramesnil – Hénu – Thièvres and
Couin area, being warned to be ready to join XXII Corps at nine hour’s notice.
14. Second
14.1Background
After the MICHAEL and GEORGETTE (Battle of the Lys)
offensives, that had been directed against the BEF, the third, codenamed BLÜCHER,
fell on the French VI Army – which at that time included the British IX Corps
(21, 50, 8 and 25 Divs, later reinforced by 19 Div) – on the Chemin des Dames
front. The battle lasted from 27.5.18 to 4.6.18 and created a salient on a base
of 80 km from Noyon to
14.2 The Move to the
After 62 Div had been in GHQ (General Headquarters) Reserve for three weeks, orders were received
transferring it from IV Corps to XXII Corps, which would then consist of 15,
34, 51 and 62 Divs. The Corps was to travel south to the French sector, where 15
Div would join the French XX Corps and 34 Div the French XXX Corps, both in the
French X Army located on the western flank of the BLÜCHER salient, while 51 and
62 Divs were to constitute a depleted British XXII Corps and join the French V
Army on the eastern flank of the salient. On 14.7.18 62 Div began entraining at
Doullens and Mondicourt; on 16.7.18 they reached Mailly-le-Camp and detrained
at Mailly, Arcis and Sommesous. When detrained, the division moved by bus to
billeting areas at Juvigny, Recy and Aulnay, in the French IV Army area and
close to the River Marne. On arrival there they received orders to go to the
French V Army the next day. Accordingly, on 17.7.18 they moved on, some by bus,
others by marching, to Tours-sur-Marne, Plivot, Athis, Cherville, Bisseuil and
Mareuil. By 19.7.18 they were in their concentration areas for the forthcoming
operations, viz Saint-Imoges,
Germaine and Ferme-d’Eceuil near Chamery. XXII Corps’ headquarters was at
Vertus.
14.3 XXII Corps Operations in the
The plan was for XXII Corps to attack down the Ardre
valley at 8 am on 20.7.18 with 51 Div on the left side of the river and 62 Div
on the right. 62 Div’s start line was Pourcy to Bois de Pourcy. French and
Italian artillery were to support them. Above the start line the valley was
heavily wooded and difficult to penetrate, while below, it was 2 to 3 km wide
with corn-fields near the river and enclosed by steep, heavily wooded hills
each side. The attack began on time, and after a hard day’s fighting Courmas
had been captured, and the XXII corps front passed just east of Espilly, Marfaux
and Cuitron, thence through the woods, west of Courmas and on to the cross-roads
between Bouilly and Onrézy. Next day, 21.7.18, attempts were made to clear the
woods on the right of the 62 Div sector of enemy machine guns so that Marfaux
and Cuitron could be assaulted, but they failed with heavy casualties. That
evening the XXII Corps cyclist battalion, from the New Zealand Cyclist Corps,
was placed under 62 Div orders. On 22.7.18 further action was taken to clear
the woods and this time was partially successful. Fighting patrols were sent
against Marfaux but could not enter it. On 23.7.18 the woods were finally
cleared of the enemy with assistance from the French on the right, whereupon
Marfaux and Cuitron were captured. During the night of 23 to 24.7.18, 62 Div HQ
moved up to Hautvillers. The 24.7.18 was a relatively quiet day, though Marfaux
and Cuitron were heavily shelled by the Germans. During the day the 62 Div
front was shortened by the French on the right taking over the responsibility
for the wooded upper slopes of the valley. During the night of 24 to 25.7.18
there was a very heavy German air attack on Épernay and the area as far as Châlons-en-Champagne,
during which the French ammunition and petrol dumps were hit and destroyed. One
account says that 62 Div’s ammunition column was attacked on the
15.
Interim
After leaving the French V Army, 62 Div arrived
back in the IV Corps area on 5.8.18 and camped at Pas, Vauchelles and Saint-Léger.
From 6 to 12.8.18 they were engaged in reorganization and training, then on
8.8.18 orders were received to disband 2/5 WYR. The men were to go to 8 WYR to
fill it up to establishment of 900, the rest to go to other
185
Brigade 8 WYR, 1/5 Devon Regt, 2/20
186
Brigade 2/4 and 5 DWR, 2/4 Hants Regt
187
Brigade 2/4 Y&LR, 2/4 and 5 KOYLI
Pioneers 9 DLI
Only six of the ten battalions were now from West
Riding Regiments, though all were still territorial battalions. On 21.8.18 the
62 Div artillery supported 37 Div of IV Corps, 3rd Army, in an attack north of
the River Ancre between Miraumont and Moyenneville. On 23.8.18 the Battle of
Albert ended and 62 Div received orders to join VI Corps that night and relieve
3 Div around the railway east of Courcelles-le-Comte on 24.8.18.
16.
The Last Hundred Days.
16.1
Background
This name is commonly given to the last three
months of the war, during which the allies made their final, uninterrupted
advance to the Armistice line of 11.11.18. For the BEF it can be considered to
have begun with the opening of the Battle of Amiens on 8.8.18. 62 Div
became involved in the advance when, after its participation in Second Marne,
it returned to the BEF, joined VI Corps of 3rd Army and took its
place in the line in the Ervillers - Sapignies sector on 25.8.18.
16.2 The Advance to Vaulx-Vraucourt
On 24.8.18 orders were received from VI Corps that
the advance on Vaulx-Vraucourt was to be continued on 25.8.18. that the relief
of 3 Div was postponed, and that 62 Div was to relieve two brigades of 2 Div
instead. The next day, 25.8.18, 62 Div attacked on a 4 km front between
Ervillers and Sapignies eastwards towards Mory. Mory was taken and the line
Mory - Favreuil reached. That evening heavy enemy counter-attacks were beaten
off and 37 Div (in IV Corps and on the right of 62 Div) took Favreuil. On 26.8.18
the front was advanced about 1 km to a line through Beugnâtre. On 27.8.18 little
progress was made but on 28.8.18 the division pushed forward to a line roughly
following the Beugnâtre – Écoust-Saint-Mein road. During the day Maj Gen Sir
Robert Whigham KCB DSO took over command of 62 Div from Maj Gen W.P.Braithwaite
CB, who left to command IX Corps. The following day, 29.8.18, little progress
was made despite hard fighting. On 30.8.18 Vraucourt and Vaulx-Vraucourt were
attacked with the assistance of eight Mk V tanks. This attack continued with
varying fortune through 31.8.18 and the next day, but by the end of 1.9.18
Vraucourt and Vaulx-Vraucourt had been cleared and the 62 Div line ran north to
south just east of Vaulx-Vraucourt. (These operations took place on the
southern edge of the Battle of the Scarpe 1918 – 21.8.18 to 31.8.18 – though
just outside the area of the battle as defined by the Battles Nomenclature
Committee.)
16.3 The Drocourt - Quéant Switch
This was the central of the three branches of the
Hindenburg Line at its northern end – see paragraph 16.5.1 below. The
westernmost branch of the Hindenburg Line from Quéant to
The 62 Div operations lay immediately to the south
of the main battle, Quéant being 5 km to the north-north-east of Morchies.
The VI Corps orders reaching 62 Div on 1.9.18 were
that the division would attack Morchies on 2.8.18, while 3 Div of VI Corps on
the left would attack Lagnicourt and 5 Div of IV Corps on the right would
attack Beugny. Eight Mk IV tanks would be available to support 62 Div. If
Morchies was taken, 62 Div was to pass on to Beaumetz, supported by six Whippet
tanks from VI Corps Reserve. In the event 62 Div met strong resistance on
2.9.18 and had only limited success. They pushed the line forward by 1 km and
in the early hours of 3.9.18 were relieved by 2 Div. The division retired to
the Ervillers - Béhagnies - Sapignies - Courcelles-le-Comte area, where they
went into XI Corps Support.
16.4 The
On 8.9.18 the GOC VI Corps came to 62 Div HQ to
inform its GOC that it was to make the attack on Havrincourt on 11.9.18. The
village would not, in the course of events, have fallen within the 62 Div
front, but in view of the division’s previous performance there (on 20.11.17)
the Corps boundaries had been adjusted to give them the opportunity to repeat
their success. In support of their operation 2 Div of VI Corps would attack on
the Canal du Nord on their left and 37 Div of IV Corps would take Trescault on
their right. No tanks would be available but substantial artillery and machine
gun barrages would be laid down in support. Later, the attack was postponed
until 12.9.18. On 10.9.18 the division moved forward from the VI Corps support
area and bivouacked in Havrincourt and Vélu Woods. On 11.9.18 reconnaissances
were made of the assembly positions, routes taped and communications cables
laid, and during the night of 11 to 12.9.18 attacking units moved up into their
assembly positions. Zero hour was 5.45 am on 12.9.18.
Shortly before this the enemy commenced a
counter-preparation bombardment, but at zero hour British artillery laid down a
creeping barrage and the advance began. By noon the Hindenburg Main Line had
been breached, and the village taken and cleared of the enemy. By early evening
the line lay just beyond the village to its north and east and extended to the
divisional boundaries. At 7 pm the enemy opened a violent bombardment of the
village, supported by aerial bombing, and then launched a counter-attack, which
was broken up by artillery fire. The official end of the battle was at midnight
of 12.9.18. The night of 12 to 13.9.18 saw some patrolling and between 4 am and
7 am on 13.9.18 the enemy again bombarded the village and a counter-attack
followed, during which the enemy entered the village. A subsequent British
counter-attack drove them out again and re-established the line. On 14.9.18
attacks were made to clear the enemy from the Hindenburg Main Line between the
village and the south divisional boundary and subsequent counter-attacks were
beaten off. 15.9.18 was a quiet day, during which a letter of congratulation
was received from GOC 3rd Army, Gen Byng, under whom 62 Div had also
made its 1917 capture of Havrincourt. During the night of 15 to 16.9.18 62 Div
was relieved by 3 Div and withdrew to the Béhagnies - Sapignies area.
16.5 The
16.5.1 Background
The most formidable part of the Hindenburg Line (Siegfried Stellung) ran from
A lesser arm then ran up the east side of the Canal
du Nord (which was dry, since it was incomplete at the outbreak of the war),
while the greater arm crossed the canal and ran up its west side to Moeuvres,
where it turned towards Quéant.
From Quéant a short branch ran through Bullecourt
and ended at the River Scarpe facing Arras, while a longer and stronger branch
ran northwards past Drocourt to Lille, where it joined the defences around the
city. In the British nomenclature the Quéant to
16.5.2 62 Div Operations
On 17.9.18 62 Div received their orders from VI
Corps regarding the next stage of operations. VI Corps were to capture the Hindenburg
Support Line, Ribécourt and Flesquières and establish a bridgehead across the
St Quentin Canal east of Marcoing. In the first phase the Guards Div on the
left and 3 Div on the right would take the Hindenburg Support Line and Flesquières,
whereupon 2 Div and 62 Div would pass through them and continue eastwards to
Marcoing. On 25.9.18 62 Divisional orders for the attack were issued and
brigades began their planning, and at dusk 62 Div moved up to the staging area Beugny
- Frémicourt - Vaulx-Vraucourt. During the night of 26 to 27.9.18 the division
took up their assembly positions, one brigade on the west side of the Canal du Nord
and the other immediately south-west of Havrincourt on the east side of the
canal. At 5.20 am on 27.9.18 the 1st and 3rd Armies
attacked with IV, VI, XVII and Canadian Corps on a 21 km front from
Gouzeaucourt to Sauchy Lestrée. The vital point of the attack was the Canal du
Nord near Moeuvres. On the VI Corps front the Guards Div and 3 Div crossed the
canal in the face of strong machine gun fire. 62 Div stared their move forward
at 8 am, following close behind the reserve brigade of 3 Div. There was heavy
fighting all day and by 8.30 pm 3 Div had withdrawn and 62 Div held a line just
east of Ribécourt. In the early hours of 28.9.18 attacks were resumed towards
Marcoing and Masnières. Fierce fighting continued all the day, and by 6 pm
Marcoing had been taken, together with the trenches on the east side of the St
Quentin Canal. On 29.9.18 the attack was renewed with Masnières and Rumilly as
the objectives. By noon Masnières had been captured and cleared, but because of
fierce opposition Rumilly was not taken that day. The orders for the following
day, 30.9.18, were to take Rumilly and then drive on to Séranvillers and
Wambaix. But despite hard fighting Rumilly did not fall, so the advance beyond
was not achieved that day. At 6 am on 1.10.18 3 Div passed through 62 Div and
attacked Rumilly, and on being so relieved 62 Div withdrew to areas around
Havrincourt. That day the C in C, Sir Douglas Haig wrote to the GOC 62 Div
offering his congratulations and thanks to the division, and the same day a
message to the same effect was received from their old GOC Lt Gen Braithwaite,
whose own IX Corps (46 and 32 Divs) had broken through the Hindenburg Line in a
spectacular manner on 29.9.18 at Bellenglise. It is noteworthy that in these
operations VI Corps was advancing along the Hindenburg line in its sector
rather than across it. The battle continued until 5.10.18 but 62 Div took no
further part in it. At the end of the battle the whole of the Hindenburg Line
defences along the front attacked had been taken. This marked the end of the
first phase of the final advance: from now on there were no further carefully
prepared enemy defensive positions to be faced.
16.6 The
Capture of Solesmes
16.6.1 Background
From 1 to 17.10.18 62 Div were out of the line,
apparently in VI Corps Reserve, but were following up as the advance progressed
so that by 15.10.18 they were camped around Estourmel. That day 62 Div HQ
received orders to be ready to capture Solesmes and the high ground to the east
of the River Selle on or about 20.10.18. The River Selle at Solesmes was
normally about 6 metres wide and 1.5 metres deep, with a muddy bed and steep
banks, but was at this time swelled by heavy rains. Moreover, a demolished
railway bridge had partially blocked the river and so flooded the area south of
the village. The Selle flows south to north and joins the Escaut or
Phase 1. Take Solesmes and the adjoining Saint-Python,
including the crossing of the River
Selle;
Phase 2. Move forward to take the high ground about
2 km beyond, which overlooks Romeries.
16.6.2 62 Div Operations
During the night of 17 to 18.10.18 62 Div began to
move forward from Carnières and Boussières to the front line just west of
Solesmes, where it relieved a Guards brigade. The night of 19 to 20.10.18 saw
the divisional RE (Royal
Engineers) companies erecting under
fire twelve assault bridges and two pontoon bridges for artillery across the
swollen river, some upstream and others downstream of Solesmes/Saint-Python. At
the same time the attacking force moved up to the start line near the villages
from billets at Quiévy. Zero hour for Phase 1 was 2 am on 20.10.18. Because
there were French civilians in the villages, only shrapnel and machine gun fire
(from which they could shelter) were permitted in the creeping barrage. There
was fierce street fighting, but the whole of both Solesmes and Saint-Python was
taken by 7.15 am. Meanwhile another brigade of 62 Div assembled at Quiévy and
from there moved forward at 4 am. One battalion moved round the left and
another round the right of the village. By this time the rising water had
submerged the bridges across the Selle but a crossing was made and by 7 am
positions were taken up on the start line for Phase 2 just east of Solesmes. A
barrage opened at once and the attack on the high ground overlooking Romeries
began. The objective was reached by 10 am, contact was made with the flanking
divisions and a defensive front established. After bombarding the new front
line the enemy counter-attacked at 4.15 pm but was repulsed. Solesmes and Saint-Python
were bombarded during the night of 20 to 21.10.18. On 23.10.18 3 Div passed
through 62 Div, which then withdrew to the Quiévy - Bévillers - Cattenières
area for rest.
16.7 The 3rd
Army Plan
On 30.10.18 62 Div HQ received notice that the
advance was to be continued on 4.11.18 and that the objective lines selected
for the 3rd Army’s final thrust were as follows.
1st
Objective Locquinol - Herbignies
- Frasnoy
2nd
Objective Saint-Rémy - Pont-sur-Sambre
- Bavay - Montignies sur-Roc road
3rd
Objective Avesnes - Maubeuge -
Mons.
VI Corps was to be directed on Maubeuge with 62 Div
on the right, Guards Div on the left and 2 and 3 Divs in Corps Reserve.
16.8 The
Capture of Orsinval, Frasnoy and Gogniaux
During the nights of 2 to 3.11.18 and 3 to 4.11.18
and the day between, 62 Div moved up from its rest area towards the start
line for the advance on 4.11.18. This was a line running north-westwards from
the west side of Le Quesnoy. Zero hour was at 5.30 am on 4.11.18, when 62 Div
advanced against light opposition, leapfrogging its brigades. Orsinval was
taken and by the end of that day the division had progressed 7 km and reached a
north-south line lying between Frasnoy and Gommegnies. Thus the first objective
had been reached. On 5.11.18 the advance resumed at 6 am and by 9 am the Bavay
to Le Cateau road bordering the west side of
16.9 The
Crossing of the River Sambre and Capture of Maubeuge
On 7.11.18 orders were received by GOC 62 Div that,
as the enemy were retiring along the whole front, the division was to push
forward to Maubeuge on 8.11.18 and establish outposts beyond. Zero hour was
6.30 am on 8.11.18 and the start line the Hargnies to La Longueville road. By 8
am a north-south line through Vieux-Mesnil was reached and consolidated in
depth. At this point enemy machine gun fire became intense and artillery was
called in to lay down a barrage to assist the next advance. This started at 2
pm and the Hautmont to Feignies road was reached by 2.30 pm. The advance
continued that afternoon and through the following night so that next morning,
9.11.18, 62 Div was at the outskirts of Maubeuge. At 6.30 am they reached the
villages of Sous-le-Bois, Louvroil and Saint-Lazare, which together form the
southern suburbs of Maubeuge, and crossed the River Sambre with little
opposition. They entered Maubeuge from the south as the Guards Div were entering
it from the west, then set up outposts. The 10.11.18 was an uneventful day
except for some desultory shelling of Recquignies, Rousies and Saint-Lazare. Early
in the morning of 11.11.18 the divisional outpost line of resistance was advanced
to the River Solre (here 2½ km east of Maubeuge and flowing northwards to the
River Sambre) and a picket line was established to the east of the River Solre
with observation posts east of Rousies. A cyclist patrol was sent out to the
line Cerfontaine - Recquignies without encountering the enemy. Thus the third
and final objective was reached. The Armistice became effective at 11 am on
11.11.18.
17. The March to
On 11.11.18 the GOC 62 Div received information
from VI Corps HQ that the division was to become part of the occupying force in
The route followed by 62 Div was as follows:-
Maubeuge
(Sous le Bois) 18.11.18
Ham-sur-Heure
Loverval
Bioul
Yvoir (
Spontin
Leignon Halted
27.11.18 to 11.12.18
Hamoir
Vielsalm
German
border crossing 15.12.18
Malmedy
Schleiden 24.12.18.
Final destination
The dates refer to the leading troops of the
divisional column, which could take up to three days to pass through a given
location. On 28.11.18 at Leignon, information was received that 62 Div had been
transferred from VI Corps to IX Corps, which was still commanded by their
old GOC, now Lt Gen Sir W.P.Braithwaite KCB.
18.
Casualties
The casualty figures given in Wyrall’s 62 Div
History contain some small discrepancies which cannot be reliably rectified. A
reasonable set of figures derived from that source for the period of service in
Dead Wounded Missing Total
Officers 210 740 80 1030
O R’s 3100 16800 3600 23500
Total 3310 17540 3680 24530
19.
Envoi
62 Div remained nearly three months in
Later, a memorial to the dead of 62 Div was erected
at Havrincourt and unveiled on 7.1.22.