1 Copy of letter from Captain Spender)
to General Hacket Pain.) 5th July, 1916. My dear General :- I know I ought to send you and Sir George an
account of the wonderful deeds of the Division, which you and he
raised, but it is not easy.
I was in a forward observation post, and could
therefore see better than anyone else, and I am a very proud, but a
very sad man in being associated with such splendid men. I honestly
believe that in the history of mankind no more wonderful feat has
been done than their attack.
Our attack was on both sides of a river up a steep
valley, one flank having to deploy in a wood on the slopes of a hill.
It had been a wood, but it is now a mass of debris. The wood was
enfiladed by the enemy's guns on the one side, and by a village on the
other.
Our total front to attack was 3,000, with an unfordable
river in it.
The men lost very heavily in the Assembly Trenches
from intense bombardment, and two Companies of the 10th R.I.R. ,
were reduced to 2 Platoons before they left the awful wood of death.
The place was covered with smoke and explosions of
heavy shells, and I felt that no attack was possible, but suddenly,
out of the clouds, I saw men advancing as if on Parade, quite slowly.
It seemed impossible, and yet they went on; stormed on the left by
high explosive and shrapnel, and on the right by enfilade machine
gun-fire.
Suddenly they charged, and when I could next see througg
through the clouds at the slope (less than a mile away) I saw that we
had taken the front Trench, and in another minute the B line trench
followed, as our men shouting: 'Remember the Boyne', and 'No surrender',
got through - God knows how.
As they advanced, the fire of the Guns became more and
more enfilade, but nothing could stop their steady progress. Platoons
in 'Artillery formation', but very much reduced, pushed on to the 3rd
Line. This fell in a few minutes.
Between the 3rd and 4th Lines was a bigger interval,
and a Parallelogram Redoubt, with a net-work of Trenches, flanked it
on the right. I saw our men form up towards it, with Artillery
pounding them in their rear. They took the Redoubt, and the 4th line,
and were busy consolidating, though pounded on every side, so that it
looked as if no human being could live.
The orders had been for the Divisions on our right and
left to advance with us, and the tragedy was that they were not 2 able to take even the 1st trenches of the Germans, so that
our men were in a long narrow salient.
The 3rd Brigade was to take the last and the 5th line of
Defence. How they got up to the 4th line through the open zone,
I do not know, nor whether it was intended that they should not
attack. Anyhow, our men, who were determined to make the name
of Ulster ring throughout the world, and not let the Regular
Division on our left - one with a very big name - beat them,
(alas there was no chance of their doing so) went straight ahead
in little parties, and got into the enemy last line.
No supports could reach them, nor ammunition be sent up.
How long they stayed, I do not know. Some bodies for 36 hours.
we had to fall back, and when relieved, handed our part of the
first two, and a bit of the 3rd line, to the Troops who relieved
us.
One of the Brigades sent forward a relieving Party,
organised by Crozier (who was not allowed to go himself) and sent
Woods who behaved most gallantly) -- a splendid thing for worn out
men.
I cant write more now of the deeds of Heroism I saw, or know
of - my eyes were a little bothered by the Gas-shells, but some
day I will try and do so.
All who watched were amazed, and I hope the Ulster name will
ring even in the deaf ears of the 'Wait and Sees'.
The General has refused to mention any special Battalion
when all the twelve did so well. He now knows he has commanded
the best troops in the world, and confesses it.
We hope to get back a large number of wounded later, to
give a stiffening of 50% to the newcomers; but we can only
honour and imitate. We cannot replace men like Davidson
(Machine Gun Commander) who fought his Gun with his leg off.
Craig who directed movements while unable to move himself, and
who lies a preisoner. Bell ,and a host of others, including
gallant Colonel Bernard, shot getting his men out of the trenches.
It was rather a bad time, being practically safe oneself,
watching others in the Battle, and unable to help.
Yours very sincerely,