The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-07-11
Shelton Flag, Given by
Princess Pat" Still Flies
at Front.
VIVID DESCRIPTION
OF TERRIFIC BATTLE

talon accounted for large numbers Of
the enemy in the course Of this attack.
but 1t suffered seriously itself. Capt.
Hill. Lieuts. Martin. Triggs and De Bay
were all wounded at this time.
G1nners Show CALAMITY.
AT $50 Lieut.. Niven established con-
tact with the Kings Own Yorkshire
Light Infantry on the left and with the
Rifle Brigade on tho right. Both were
suffering heavy casualties from enfilade
fire. and neither. Of course. could afford
any assistance. At this time the bonn
bardment recommended with great in
tensity. The range or our machine guns
was taken with extreme precision. All.
without ono exception, were buried.
Those who served them behaved with
the most admirable GOODNESS and gal
lantry. Two were dug out, mounted
and used again. One was actually dis
Inferred three times and kept in action
till a shell annihilated the whole section.
Corp. Dover stuck to his gun through
out, and. although wounded. continued
to discharge his duties with a. much
GOODNESS as If on parade. In the explo-
sion that destroyed his gun he lost q
leg and an arm. and was completely
buried in the debris.
Conscious or unconscious, he lay there
in that condition until dusk, when he
crawled out of all that was left Of the
obliterated trench and moaned for help.
Two Of his comrades sprang from the
support trench-by this time the fire
trench-and succeeded in carrying In his
mangled and bleeding body. But as all
that remained of this brave soldier was
being lowered into the trench a bullet
mt to NJ
could put an end to his glory.
IAN hour later the left half Of the
right fire trench was completely de-
stroyed, and Lieut.. Denison ordered
Lieut.. Clarke to withdraw the remnant
Of his command invo the right COM
municating trench He himself. with
Lieut.. Lane. was still holding all that
was tenable of the right fire trench with
a few men still available for that pur-
pose. Lieut.. Edwards had been killed.
The right half of the left fire trench suf-
fered cruelty. The trench was blown in
and the machine gun put out Of order.
"Sergt. Scott and the few survivors
who still answered the call made their
way to the communication trench and
chung tenaciously to it until that. too,
was blown in. Lieut. Crawford, whose
spirits never failed him throughout this
terrible day, was severely wounded.
Capt. Adamson. who was handing out
small arms ammunition. was hit in the
shoulder. but continued to work with a
single arm. Sergt. Mai. Fraser, who
was similarly engaged feeding the sup
port trenches with ammunition, was
killed instantly by a bullet in the head.
At this time only four Officers were left
-Lieuts. Papineau. vandenberg. Niven
and Clark. of whom the last two began
the war in the ranks.
RA-AHRnp~~-A~t.
From IL a. m to 1:so p. m. the bat
talon held on under the most desperate
difficulties, until q detachment of the
Rifle Brigade was sent up In REINFORCE
ment. The battered defenders of the
support trench recognized old friends
coming to their aid IN their moment OF
extreme trial and gave them a loud
cheer as they advanced in support.
Lieut.. Niven placed them on the ex-
treme right, in order to protect the bat
talon flank. They remained in line with
the Canadian support trenches. protected
by trees and hedges. They also sent a
machine gun and section. which rendered
invaluable service. At p. m. a detach-
ment of the Kings Shropshire Light In
fantry, who were also old comrades in
arms Of the Princess Particias reached
the support line with twenty boxes Of
small arms ammunition.
lneSS were Q1StTlDuteO, ana JnS party
bringing them came into line as a re-en-
forcement. occupying the left end Of the
support trench. Shortly after 4 o'clock
news was brought that battalions to the
left had been compelled to withdraw.
after q stubborn resistance, to a line Of
trenches q short distance in the rear.
AT this moment the Germans made
their third and last attack. 1t was ar
rested by rife fire, although some indi-
kaI lvnk4 H.
on the right. At this point all the Prin-
cess Particles had been killed. so that
this part Of the trench was actually ten
antless Those OF the enemy who estab-
lished q footing were few in number, and
they were gradually dislodged. And 40
the third and last attack was routed as
successfully as those which had preceded
1t. The afternoon dragged on. the tale
Of casualties constantly growing. and at
10 o'clock at night, Sne company COM
manders being all dead or wounded.
Lieuts. Niven and Papineau took roll
call. 1t disclosed q strength of 150 rifles
and some stretcher bearers.
stu Holds the CoIors.
eat n:U at night the battalion was
relieved by the Kings Royal Rifle Corps.
The relieving unit helped those whom
they replaced in the last sorrowful duty
Of burying those Of their dead who lay
in the support and communicating
trenches. Those who had fallen in the
fire trenches needed no grave. for the
obliteration Of their shelter had Afforded
q decent burial to their bodies. Behind
the damaged trenches, by the light OF
the German flares. and amid the unceas-
ing rattle Of musketry, believers and re-
lieved combined in the last service which
one soldier can render another.
Beside the open graves, with heads
uncovered, all that was left Of the regi-
ment stood while Lieut.. Niven, holding
the colors Of Princess Patricia, battered.
bloody, but still intact. tightly In his
hand, recalled all he could remember Of
the Church Of England service for the
dead. Then. led by Lieut. Papineau.
they marched back, $50 strong. to reserve
trenches. On arrival they were instruct
ed to proceed to another part Of the po-
sition, where during the day they were
shelled and lost five killed and three
wounded.
ION May 10 the regiment was In biv-i
ouac at the rear The news arrived that
the Rifle Brigade, their old and trusty
comrades in arms, was being desperately
pressed. Asked to 20 to the relief. the
Princess Patricias formed . composite
battalion with the Kings Royal Rifle
Corps, and successfully made the last ex-
ertion which was asked Of them at this
period of the war.
"On May Is MAI. Pelly arrived from
England. where he had been invalided
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