June 1918 ... The Beginning of the End
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After resting the Division took over the line in front of Auchonvillers on June 23rd and the period to July 25th was very quiet despite the enemy being expected to renew their attacks. As was always the case in trench warfare, despite this period being quiet the Division was still suffering casualties. To prevent a repeat of the withdrawals of the March offensive lines and chains of posts had now been virtually abandoned and instead defensive zones based around a number of tactical features were being employed. Each of these was entrusted to isolated units. German bombardments were decreasing and their defences started to crumble under the Allied artillery with very little effort made to repair the damage.
On the night of July 12th the Drake Battalion undertook a raid that captured over twenty men and a machine-gun with an even greater number being put out of action at the cost of only one casualty. Events from this point were to move quickly. With the enemy in retreat it became a war of positions rather than major battles and on August 8th the Division was ordered to the Montigny area just south of the Albert-Amiens road and transferred to the control of the Fourth Army. Marching at night between the fifteenth and nineteenth the Division arrived at Souastre.
On August 21st at 04:55 the Fourth Army launched its attack. The first objective of the German front line positions at Bucquoy, Ablainzeville and the Ablainzeville Spur were taken by the 37th Division and the 5th and Royal Naval Divisions pushed on through with the objective of taking the Irlea-Bihucourt line and then north along the Achiet-le-Grand-Arras railway. The 188th and 189th brigades were to take the railway with the 190th in support. An intermediate objective was set to the east of Logeast Wood with tanks supporting the attack from this point as it was beyond the range of the artillery.
In thick mist and with very little opposition this intermediate objective was taken as the Germans had retreated to the east. The Division secured lodgements on the railway on the left and right with the support of the tanks but the centre met with sterner resistance and was held up on the outskirts of Achiet-le-Grand by machine-guns and anti-tank guns. At 11:00 the sun burnt off the mist and the Division attacked but without the support of the tanks as they had been disabled by the guns. Heavy casualties were suffered and the centre of the Division fell back, the flanks having to withdraw as a result. By 18:00 the battle was at a standstill and the front was reinforced by the 190th Brigade. On the twenty-second three German counterattacks were launched but by this time the artillery had come forward and with the machine-gun teams was able to beat back the assaults. During the third of these attacks the Germans were able to break the line but
were driven back by the Marines. On the night of the 22nd-23rd the 188th and 189th brigades were relieved by the 37th Division with the 190th Brigade remaining in support.
On the twenty-fourth the line moved forward but not substantially and German outposts were still holding out. That night the Royal Naval Division was to advance to the right of New Zealand troops to renew the attack on Grevillers. At 19:30 the Division was to assault the villages of le Barque and Thilloy. As the battalions were due to move to Logeast Wood to launch the attack there was considerable confusion as to who actually held the area. A small group of officers reconnoitred the position and, finding it to be clear, the troops moved forward arriving only fifteen minutes before the attack was due to commence. Due to the lack of time there was no chance to explain the detailed plan to the troops. Almost immediately the Hawke and Hood battalions were subjected to an aerial bombardment from a group of enemy aircraft. There was great doubt as to whether the Division would be ready for the attack and it was postponed by the commanding officer on the
ground, Brigadier-General de Pree, and rescheduled for 06:00 the following day.
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With Anson to the right of the Marines then Hawke and, finally, Hood the attack was launched in thick mist with four thousand yards to the first objective. Drake was set the task of clearing a communication trench. The attack was held up on the left flank and the Marines made slow progress through the centre but good progress was made by Anson. Hood and Hawke came up against strong resistance in the trenches and suffered severe losses. The 189th Lewis gun teams tried to ease the situation and around 12:00 the resistance was broken but it is possible the Germans were following a timetable for their rearguard action. The high ground either side of the ravine was seized and extended to the outskirts of le Barque and Anson were on the outskirts of Thilloy. In these positions the attack died down as the Germans occupied the villages in great numbers. The artillery prevented a serious counterattack developing during the afternoon but due to the
strength of the enemy it was impossible to press on through Thilloy to Riencourt. The attack was a remarkable success, the enemy's communications were cut, Bapaume isolated and over eleven hundred prisoners had been taken. Four further attacks were launched by the Division over the next two days but all were beaten back by machine-gun fire. The units on both flanks were no more successful and the Division was relieved on the night of 27th-28th.
The Germans were fighting hard and only retreating when the manoeuvres of the Allies threatened their line of withdrawal. However these initial successes lead to the Germans hold on the western bank of the Somme falling within days. On the thirtieth Major-General C. Blacklock was appointed commander of the Royal Naval Division replacing Major-General Lawrie. Lawrie was greatly admired by the ranks for his unfailing consideration of all officers and men under his command and Blacklock would also prove to be a popular commander.
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Captured German doctors dressing the wounds of the RND at Grevillers | | IWM Cat Ref: Q 11265 |
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