The Battle of Courcelette
The Second Division had not long to wait for action after reaching the Somme. The four Canadian division were given the line in front of Courcelette on the afternoon of…
From: 1916 C.E. To: 1916 C.E.
Location: Courcelette, France
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“The Battle of Courcelette” from History of the Great War: and Verses Written in the Trenches by Corporal Adalard Audette, 1919.
The Second Division had not long to wait for action after reaching the Somme. The four Canadian division were given the line in front of Courcelette on the afternoon of September 15th 1916.
An eastern Ontario Battalion (the censor has not yet given us their number) was given a sugar refinery in the outskirts of Courcelette as an objective for attack. They carried it with such facility that the divisional commander decided it was a good time to gather in the village.
The 5th Brigade was in reserve two miles behind the line. At noon nothing was further from thought of officers and men than a sustained charge in the open against the enemy. But unexpectedly the opportunity came and every man was ready. The plan was for the entire brigade to advance a mile behind the sugar refinery, penetrate the village as far as possible and hold on.
Counting on the French clan in attack, were the 22nd Battalion placed in front for the attack on the right half of the village; the 25th Battalion on the left. The 26th followed closely on the heels of the 22nd; and for this reason, it was pointed out, suffered more heavily from the shell fire of the enemy. The 24th Battalion was given a similar position in supporting the 25th.
It was a day of record breaking. It was said afterward that the G. O. C. on the Somme declared that the Second Canadian Division that day had accomplished more than any other division since the offensive was launched two months and a half before. The 5th Brigade was said to have been the first British Brigade since Mons to advance in the open under heavy shell fire, and obtain all their objective—a record which of course has been broken again and again since that timeAs for the 26th they made a new record of capturing more prisoners that day than their entire strength in action. With wild cries and irresistable dash the 22nd Battalion, after crossing the mile, swept with artillery and rifle fire, met the German defenders hand to hand and broke through line after line of trenches. They were not to be withstood and dashed madly through the streets leaving many isolated parties of Germans in strongly fortified posts in the rear. Right through the village went the sons of the habitant, and not until they had reached concrete trenches far in the rear where they halted.
Close behind came the men of the 26th. It was their duty to clear the cellars and take the last desperate Huns from the dug-out. It was desperate work, for these places were strongly fortified and some of the enemy fought to the last. Six hundred prisoners were gathered in.
Cpl. A. Audette.
Audette, Adalard. History of the Great War: and Verses Written in the Trenches. 1919.
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