The 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles - ElectricCanadian.com

THE LAST HUNDRED DAYS 129under Captain E. A. Steer to getordered the remaining companies to re-assemble andprepare to push forward to give every possible assistance.At noon Captain Steer reported that he was occupying"Welford" and "Bayonet" trenches, had driven out theenemy machine-gun posts near the river and was in touchwith the 1st C. M. R. Battalion.At 1.10 p.m. the Commandingin touch with them andOfficer ordered hiscompanies to move forward into closer support to thefiring line. The 7th Brigade s attack had started at9.30 a.m., passing through the 8th Brigade and attackingon a line running south from Pelves. On account of abend in the Scarpe the 49th Battalion passed a little to thesouth of the 4th C. M. R. and the only evidence that ithad advanced was the lively action in the valley by Pelvesin front of Jig Saw Wood.Up to this time the shelling had not been severe andthe general resistance weaker than anticipated. There wasmore shelling after the Battalion had reached its objectives. The enemy appeared to have adopted a newscheme of defence by withdrawing his men to a secondline and making a stand there, relying on strong machinegunpositions to allay the original assault and disorganizethe attacking troops. He had a concentration of gunson the heights behind Monchy and with these laid downa heavy fire throughout the area during most of the day.At 4.15 p.m. the companies had just been reorganizedand allotted to different trenches when the Brigadeordered the Battalion to support the 49th Battalion on theleft flank of the 7th Brigade. It was found on reconnoitring that to move forward would mean occupyingpractically the same trenches as the 49th and probablywould cause a confusion in commands. So it was arranged between the commanding officers that the Battalionremain where it was. "A"Company was in "Junker":trench, and "B "C"Companies in "Jamaica" and:"Johnston" trenches and D Company in "Welfordand "Bayonet" trenches with advanced posts in touch withthe 1st C. M. R. The Battalion remained in this positionwithout incident during that night and the day of the 27th.w