{"id":185,"date":"2016-12-24T14:52:27","date_gmt":"2016-12-24T14:52:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.4thbnnf.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=185"},"modified":"2021-05-15T14:07:43","modified_gmt":"2021-05-15T14:07:43","slug":"battle-st-quentin","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/www.4thbnnf.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=185","title":{"rendered":"Battle of St Quentin"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pl-185\"  class=\"panel-layout\" ><div id=\"pg-185-0\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-185-0-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-185-0-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"0\" ><div class=\"panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-185-0-0-0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p><strong>Thursday, 21st March 1918 <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>At <strong>8pm<\/strong> the Bde boarded trains bound for Brie. The 1st train carried the 4th Bn along with Bde HQ, the 149th MGC and 149th Light TMB. The 2nd train carried the 5th Bn, 6th Bn and 1\/1st Field Ambulance. Arriving in Brie at 3am the following morning, orders were issued on the railway siding in the rain and wind.<\/p>\n<p>The 50th Divn were destined to man the rear zone defences, referred to as the Green line, between <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Villevecque<\/span> <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><span id='easy-footnote-1-185' class='easy-footnote-margin-adjust'><\/span><span class='easy-footnote'><a href='http:\/\/www.4thbnnf.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=185#easy-footnote-bottom-1-185' title='&lt;\/span&gt; &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000;&quot;&gt;Villevecque&lt;\/span&gt; - Village 2km south of &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000;&quot;&gt;Amiens&lt;\/span&gt; to &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000;&quot;&gt;St Quentin&lt;\/span&gt; road. Shown on map 1 &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff9900;&quot;&gt;'><sup>1<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span> and<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"> Boully<\/span> <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><span id='easy-footnote-2-185' class='easy-footnote-margin-adjust'><\/span><span class='easy-footnote'><a href='http:\/\/www.4thbnnf.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=185#easy-footnote-bottom-2-185' title='&lt;\/span&gt; &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000;&quot;&gt;Boully&lt;\/span&gt; &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff9900;&quot;&gt;'><sup>2<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span> and covering <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Flechin<\/span> <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><span id='easy-footnote-3-185' class='easy-footnote-margin-adjust'><\/span><span class='easy-footnote'><a href='http:\/\/www.4thbnnf.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=185#easy-footnote-bottom-3-185' title='&lt;\/span&gt; &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000;&quot;&gt;Flechin&lt;\/span&gt; - Village shown on map 1 &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff9900;&quot;&gt;'><sup>3<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span>, <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Bernes<\/span> <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><span id='easy-footnote-4-185' class='easy-footnote-margin-adjust'><\/span><span class='easy-footnote'><a href='http:\/\/www.4thbnnf.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=185#easy-footnote-bottom-4-185' title='&lt;\/span&gt; &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000;&quot;&gt;Bernes&lt;\/span&gt; - Village 3km north of &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000;&quot;&gt;Amiens&lt;\/span&gt; to &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000;&quot;&gt;St Quentin&lt;\/span&gt; road '><sup>4<\/sup><\/a><\/span> and <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Nobescourt<\/span> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Farm<\/span> <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><span id='easy-footnote-5-185' class='easy-footnote-margin-adjust'><\/span><span class='easy-footnote'><a href='http:\/\/www.4thbnnf.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=185#easy-footnote-bottom-5-185' title='&lt;\/span&gt; &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000;&quot;&gt;Nobescourt Farm&lt;\/span&gt; - 4km north of &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000;&quot;&gt;Amiens&lt;\/span&gt; to &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000;&quot;&gt;St Quentin&lt;\/span&gt; road\u00a0&lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff9900;&quot;&gt;'><sup>5<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span> The 149th Bde was assigned the right flank with responsibility for the line between the crossroads one-mile south west of <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Villeveque<\/span>, to <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Poeuilly<\/span> <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><span id='easy-footnote-6-185' class='easy-footnote-margin-adjust'><\/span><span class='easy-footnote'><a href='http:\/\/www.4thbnnf.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=185#easy-footnote-bottom-6-185' title='&lt;\/span&gt; &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000;&quot;&gt;Poeuilly&lt;\/span&gt; - Village just north of the Amiens to St Quentin road. Shown on map 1 &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff9900;&quot;&gt;'><sup>6<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span> (inclusive). The 24th Divn were to the right and the 150th Bde to the left. In the front line the 149th Bde disposed the 4th Bn on the right, the 6th on the left and the 5th in reserve in <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">St Martin<\/span>. The Bn marched to <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Caulaincourt<\/span> <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><span id='easy-footnote-7-185' class='easy-footnote-margin-adjust'><\/span><span class='easy-footnote'><a href='http:\/\/www.4thbnnf.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=185#easy-footnote-bottom-7-185' title='&lt;\/span&gt; &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000;&quot;&gt;Caulaincourt&lt;\/span&gt; - Village 1km south of &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000;&quot;&gt;Amiens&lt;\/span&gt; to &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000;&quot;&gt;St Quentin&lt;\/span&gt; road. Shown on map 1\u00a0&lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff9900;&quot;&gt;'><sup>7<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span>, arriving <strong>10am<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-185-1\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-185-1-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-185-1-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"1\" ><div class=\"panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-185-1-0-0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-6036 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.4thbnnf.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/st_quentin-400x211.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"211\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.4thbnnf.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/st_quentin-400x211.jpg 400w, http:\/\/www.4thbnnf.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/st_quentin-150x79.jpg 150w, http:\/\/www.4thbnnf.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/st_quentin.jpg 740w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 85vw, 400px\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-185-2\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-185-2-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-185-2-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"2\" ><div class=\"panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-185-2-0-0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p><strong>Friday, 22nd March 1918<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The march from <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Brie<\/span> to the Green line was a weary business for already everyone was tired. The dark, thick mist and heavy traffic on the main road, delayed progress. The men were carrying their packs and on reaching their bivouacs soon after dawn, were in an exhausted condition\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>The trenches were about one foot deep with one double apron of wire in front of the greater part of the line. Here they dug in. Hot food did not arrive until <strong>8.40am<\/strong> just as orders were received to man the defences immediately. This line was well wired but only from one to two feet in depth.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_614\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-614\" style=\"width: 100px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-614\" src=\"http:\/\/www.4thbnnf.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/lacythompsonta_capt.jpg\" alt=\"Captain T.A. Thompson\" width=\"100\" height=\"124\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-614\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Captain T.A. Thompson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>At <strong>4pm<\/strong> the enemy assault began, with eight waves of infantry, providing easy targets for rifle and machine gun. Within half an hour the Germans broke through the left flank of the 24th Divn south of the Omignon river <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><span id='easy-footnote-8-185' class='easy-footnote-margin-adjust'><\/span><span class='easy-footnote'><a href='http:\/\/www.4thbnnf.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=185#easy-footnote-bottom-8-185' title='&lt;\/span&gt; Omignon River - Running through the villages of &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000;&quot;&gt;Caulaincourt&lt;\/span&gt;, &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000;&quot;&gt;Tertry&lt;\/span&gt;, &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000;&quot;&gt;Monchy&lt;\/span&gt;, &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000;&quot;&gt;Devise&lt;\/span&gt; and &lt;strong&gt;Athies&lt;\/strong&gt;\u00a0&lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff9900;&quot;&gt;'><sup>8<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span>, and by <strong>5pm<\/strong> had broken through the left flank of the 4th Bn. With both flanks exposed, the Bn was forced to retire to <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Caulaincourt<\/span>. <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Lt Col. Robb<\/span> was wounded here, so command of the Bn devolved to the Adjutant<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> Capt T.A. Lacy-Thompson<\/span>.<\/p>\n<p>The 5th Bn counterattacked from<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"> St Martin<\/span> at <strong>5.15pm<\/strong>, driving the enemy back over the <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Caulaincourt<\/span>-<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Poeuilly<\/span> road and retaking the greater part of <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Caulaincourt<\/span>. At<strong> 5.50pm<\/strong> the enemy again drove the Bde out of <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Caulaincourt<\/span>, but a 2nd counterattack by one Coy of the 5th Bn partially retrieved the situation.<\/p>\n<p>However, the enemy had by now driven the 24th Divn over the <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Caulaincourt-Beauvois<\/span> <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><span id='easy-footnote-9-185' class='easy-footnote-margin-adjust'><\/span><span class='easy-footnote'><a href='http:\/\/www.4thbnnf.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=185#easy-footnote-bottom-9-185' title='&lt;\/span&gt; &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000;&quot;&gt;Beauvois&lt;\/span&gt; - Village shown on map 1 &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff9900;&quot;&gt;'><sup>9<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span> road to the west of <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Treicon<\/span> <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><span id='easy-footnote-10-185' class='easy-footnote-margin-adjust'><\/span><span class='easy-footnote'><a href='http:\/\/www.4thbnnf.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=185#easy-footnote-bottom-10-185' title='&lt;\/span&gt; &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000;&quot;&gt;Treicon&lt;\/span&gt; - Village shown on map 1 &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff9900;&quot;&gt;'><sup>10<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span> and exposing the right flank of the 4th Bn. The Bde line now ran from the road south of the \u2026 in <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Caulaincourt<\/span> to <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Poeuilly<\/span> the whole of which was still held by the 6th Bn.<\/p>\n<p>By <strong>8pm<\/strong> the artillery had been withdrawn by four thousand yards and were therefore quite useless.<\/p>\n<p>Casualties, especially amongst the officers were heavy with all the Company Commanders either killed or missing.<\/p>\n<p>At <strong>11pm<\/strong> 50th Divn ordered a withdrawal to a line running from the crossroads one-mile south west of <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Vraignes<\/span> to <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Merancourt<\/span>. This was completed under protection of a rear guard and \u2026\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n<p><em>\u2018During the night orders were issued from Divn HQ for all three Bdes to retire to a line running from <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Monchy-Lagache-Vraignes<\/span>-east of <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Beaumetz<\/span> to <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Brusle\u00a0<\/span><span id='easy-footnote-11-185' class='easy-footnote-margin-adjust'><\/span><span class='easy-footnote'><a href='http:\/\/www.4thbnnf.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=185#easy-footnote-bottom-11-185' title=' &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000;&quot;&gt;Brusle&lt;\/span&gt; '><sup>11<\/sup><\/a><\/span> and to defend it at all costs. All units immediately began to move in order to get dug in before dawn\u2019.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The Bn withdrew by orders through <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Tertry<\/span> <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><span id='easy-footnote-12-185' class='easy-footnote-margin-adjust'><\/span><span class='easy-footnote'><a href='http:\/\/www.4thbnnf.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=185#easy-footnote-bottom-12-185' title='&lt;\/span&gt; &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000;&quot;&gt;Tertry&lt;\/span&gt; - Village 1km south of &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000;&quot;&gt;Amiens&lt;\/span&gt; to &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000;&quot;&gt;St Quentin&lt;\/span&gt; road. Shown on map 1\u00a0&lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff9900;&quot;&gt;'><sup>12<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span> to <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Monchy Lagache\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><span id='easy-footnote-13-185' class='easy-footnote-margin-adjust'><\/span><span class='easy-footnote'><a href='http:\/\/www.4thbnnf.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=185#easy-footnote-bottom-13-185' title='&lt;\/span&gt; &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000;&quot;&gt;Monchy&lt;\/span&gt; - Village 2km south of &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000;&quot;&gt;Amiens&lt;\/span&gt; to &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000;&quot;&gt;St Quentin&lt;\/span&gt; road. Shown on map 1 &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff9900;&quot;&gt;'><sup>13<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span>. In accordance with general instructions received by <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Capt Thompson<\/span> the whole line was withdrawn, under cover of darkness, to <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Mereaucourt<\/span>, where the men were provided the men with hot tea and food, and later through<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"> Devise<\/span> to the river at<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"> St Christ<\/span>.<\/p>\n<p>However, while the withdrawal was in progress fresh orders were received at Divn HQ from Corps HQ; the 50th Divn was to withdraw as rapidly as possible to the line of the Somme during the 23rd, crossing to the west bank by the<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"> St Christ<\/span>, <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Brie<\/span> and <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Eterpigny<\/span> Bridges.<\/p>\n<p>Divn HQ issued orders at <strong>7.30am<\/strong> stating that Bdes were to withdraw to a line running between <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Le Mesnil<\/span> <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><span id='easy-footnote-14-185' class='easy-footnote-margin-adjust'><\/span><span class='easy-footnote'><a href='http:\/\/www.4thbnnf.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=185#easy-footnote-bottom-14-185' title='&lt;\/span&gt; &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000;&quot;&gt;Mesnil&lt;\/span&gt; &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff9900;&quot;&gt;'><sup>14<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span> and <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Athies<\/span> <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><span id='easy-footnote-15-185' class='easy-footnote-margin-adjust'><\/span><span class='easy-footnote'><a href='http:\/\/www.4thbnnf.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=185#easy-footnote-bottom-15-185' title='&lt;\/span&gt; &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000;&quot;&gt;Athies&lt;\/span&gt; - Village 2km south of &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000;&quot;&gt;Amiens&lt;\/span&gt; to&lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000;&quot;&gt; St Quentin&lt;\/span&gt; road&lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff9900;&quot;&gt; '><sup>15<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span>, at the discretion of Brigadiers. From this line, a withdrawal to the Somme was to be carried out under orders from Divn. The 149th Bde was to cross the Somme by the <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">St Christ<\/span> bridge, the 150th Bde at <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Brie<\/span> and the 151st Bde at<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"> Eterpigny<\/span>.<\/p>\n<p>At <strong>10am<\/strong>, under the orders of 50th Divn HQ a withdrawal to the line <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Devise-Mons en Chausee<\/span> was made in preparation for a further withdrawal to the line of the Somme river. The Bde reached the line <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Athies<\/span> road junction west of<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"> Prusle<\/span><span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"> <span id='easy-footnote-16-185' class='easy-footnote-margin-adjust'><\/span><span class='easy-footnote'><a href='http:\/\/www.4thbnnf.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=185#easy-footnote-bottom-16-185' title='&lt;\/span&gt; &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000;&quot;&gt;Prusle&lt;\/span&gt; - On &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000;&quot;&gt;Amiens&lt;\/span&gt; to &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000;&quot;&gt;St Quentin&lt;\/span&gt; road\u00a0&lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff9900;&quot;&gt;'><sup>16<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span> at <strong>10.30am<\/strong>, fighting the whole way. The 150th Bde was in contact but echeloned about 1500 yards to the west. The Bde order of battle from right to left was 5th, 4th and 6th Bns with the 149th MGC distributed along the line and the 149th TMB on the inner flank of the 5th Bn, as they had no ammunition left for the guns.<\/p>\n<p>The withdrawal to the western bank of the Somme began at <strong>11am<\/strong> with one coy from the 5th Bn providing cover from <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Ennemain<\/span> and the high ground immediately east of the village. This coy was heavily engaged by the enemy, but managed to hold its ground while the rest of the Bde crossed the Somme at <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">St Christ<\/span> and took up defensive positions between <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Crancourt<\/span> <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><span id='easy-footnote-17-185' class='easy-footnote-margin-adjust'><\/span><span class='easy-footnote'><a href='http:\/\/www.4thbnnf.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=185#easy-footnote-bottom-17-185' title='&lt;\/span&gt; &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000;&quot;&gt;Crancourt&lt;\/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff9900;&quot;&gt; '><sup>17<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span> (excl) and <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Happlincourt<\/span> <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><span id='easy-footnote-18-185' class='easy-footnote-margin-adjust'><\/span><span class='easy-footnote'><a href='http:\/\/www.4thbnnf.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=185#easy-footnote-bottom-18-185' title='&lt;\/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000;&quot;&gt; Happlincourt&lt;\/span&gt; &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff9900;&quot;&gt;'><sup>18<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span> (excl). The 4th Bn had retreated through <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Devise<\/span> <span id='easy-footnote-19-185' class='easy-footnote-margin-adjust'><\/span><span class='easy-footnote'><a href='http:\/\/www.4thbnnf.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=185#easy-footnote-bottom-19-185' title=' &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000;&quot;&gt;Devise&lt;\/span&gt; - Village 2km south of &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000;&quot;&gt;Amiens&lt;\/span&gt; to &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000;&quot;&gt;St Quentin&lt;\/span&gt; road. Shown on map 1 &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff9900;&quot;&gt;'><sup>19<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span>, supporting the 6th Bn in action along the way and eventually after some confusion and straggling crossed the canal and took up a position commanding the bridgehead. 'C' Coy was ordered to hold the bridgehead, which they did until relieved by the 8th Divn. By <strong>2.45pm<\/strong> the Bde was in position and the order of battle from right to left was 4th, 5th and 6th Bns with the two remaining machine guns in the line. <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">St Christ<\/span> <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><span id='easy-footnote-20-185' class='easy-footnote-margin-adjust'><\/span><span class='easy-footnote'><a href='http:\/\/www.4thbnnf.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=185#easy-footnote-bottom-20-185' title='&lt;\/span&gt; &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000;&quot;&gt;St Christ&lt;\/span&gt; - 3km south of &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000;&quot;&gt;Amiens&lt;\/span&gt; to &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff0000;&quot;&gt;St Quentin&lt;\/span&gt; road&lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff9900;&quot;&gt; '><sup>20<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span> bridge was blown up and burned.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_615\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-615\" style=\"width: 184px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-615\" src=\"http:\/\/www.4thbnnf.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/robbw_capt.jpg\" alt=\"Captain W. Robb\" width=\"184\" height=\"150\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-615\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Captain W. Robb<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Heavy fighting took place around the partially destroyed bridge that night with the enemy making repeated and desperate attempts to gain possession. Around <strong>9.30pm<\/strong> they actually succeeded in crossing, but 'C' Coy managed to destroy or drive them back with concentrated rifle and Lewis gunfire.\u00a0 The assistance of the 22nd Entrenching Bn bridge was obtained to repel attack. <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Cpl Steele<\/span> was one of the men covering the bridge with his Lewis gun that night, until compelled to withdraw when it was put out of action, he was subsequently awarded a Military Medal. Bde HQ by this time had moved to <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Misery<\/span>.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_616\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-616\" style=\"width: 100px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-616\" src=\"http:\/\/www.4thbnnf.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/hickswb_capt.jpg\" alt=\"Captain W.B Hicks\" width=\"100\" height=\"135\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-616\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Captain W.B Hicks<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><em>'Our Battalion had taken up its position on the ''Green Line,'' knowing that the Bosche hordes had succeeded in breaking our front defences. It was on the ''Green Line'' that we joined battle with the enemy, and the fight waged fiercely through Friday afternoon. Casualties, especially amongst officers were heavy from the first, the Commanding Officer (<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Lieut-Col William Robb, MC<\/span>) being wounded, and all Company Commanders killed or missing. The story of <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Capt W.B. Hicks<\/span> and 'A' Company will be told later; suffice it to say here that on Friday evening they were regarded as missing, probably captured. <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Captain T.W. Gregory<\/span>, of 'B' Company, was wounded, but continued to fight; was wounded again in several places, and died in the Field Ambulance in the neighbouring village of <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Tertry<\/span>. <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Captain A. Finlayson<\/span>, of 'C' Company, was wounded in the arm, but refused to go back, fighting with a number of his men from behind the shelter of a broken wall in the village. It is feared that this officer, an unyielding, indomitable Scot, fell at the spot from which not even wounds could dislodge him.<\/em><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_617\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-617\" style=\"width: 101px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-617 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/www.4thbnnf.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/gregorytw_capt.jpg\" alt=\"Captain T.W. Gregory\" width=\"101\" height=\"150\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-617\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Captain T.W. Gregory<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><em>Equally gallant, scarcely varying in a word, is the story of <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Captain King<\/span>, of 'D' Company, another officer who never came back. <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">2nd Lieut Chevreau,<\/span> a Franco-British officer, holder of the Croix de Guerre, was in charge of an advanced position with a platoon of ''B'' Company. He and his 34 men fought until they were reduced to 8, of whom several were wounded. Though badly wounded himself he continued to fight, in order to cover the escape of his wounded men to the Aid Post. He gave no ground to the last and died at his post. <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Lieut Lund<\/span> was wounded in two places, treated at the Aid Post and not seen again. <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">2nd Lieut Cockburn<\/span> was wounded at the opening of the action. 2nd Lieut Tibbs was missing, being last seen heroically defending his position.'<\/em>\u00a0) [zotpressInText item=\"{NH3TRT6B}\"]<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-185-3\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-185-3-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-185-3-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"3\" ><div class=\"panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-185-3-0-0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p><strong>Saturday, 23rd March 1918<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>At <strong>10pm<\/strong>, Divn HQ, at <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Foucaucourt<\/span>, issued orders stating that early on the 24th the 50th Divn would be relieved by the 8th Divn, and that the former was to begin withdrawing from the line of the canal at <strong>3am<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>The Battle of St Quentin officially ended on this day.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-185-4\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-185-4-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-185-4-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"4\" ><div class=\"panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-185-4-0-0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p><strong>Summary compiled from:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>[zotpress items=\"WPX27IS4\" style=\"harvard1\"]<\/p>\n<p>[zotpress items=\"HUXKQ9EA\" style=\"harvard1\"]<\/p>\n<p>[zotpress items=\"4R6FADJ9\" style=\"harvard1\"]<\/p>\n<p>[zotpress items=\"NH3TRT6B\" style=\"harvard1\"]<\/p>\n<p>[zotpress items=\"5MC7CZF6\" style=\"harvard1\"]<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-185-5\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-185-5-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-185-5-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"5\" ><div class=\"panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-185-5-0-0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p><strong>Casualties<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>For information on <a href=\"http:\/\/www.4thbnnf.com\/wordpress\/personnel\/burial-memorial-sites\/bm-sites-somme-crossings\/\">4th Bn burial and memorial sites <\/a>for casualties sustained in this sector, select the here.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-185-6\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-185-6-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-185-6-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child\" data-index=\"6\" ><div class=\"panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-185-6-0-0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p><strong>St Quentin - Military Units<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>8th Division - Consisted of the 23rd, 24th and 25th Bdes.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">The 23rd Bde Comprised of the 2nd Bn - Devonshire Regt, 2nd Bn - West Yorkshire Regt and 2nd Bn Middlesex Regt.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">The 24th Bde Comprised of the 1st Bn - Worcestershire Regt, 1st Bn - Sherwood Foresters and 2nd Bn - Northamptonshire Regt.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">The 25th Bde 2nd Bn - East Lancashire Regt, 2nd Bn - Royal Berkshire Regt and 2nd Bn - Rifle Brigade.<\/p>\n<p>24th Division - return Consisted of the 17th, 72nd and 73rd Bdes.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">The 17th Bde - Comprised of the 8th Bn - Queen\u2019s (Royal West Surrey), 1st Bn - Royal Fusiliers and 3rd Bn - Rifle Brigade.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">The 72nd Bde - Comprised of the 9th Bn - East Surrey Regt, 8th Bn - Queen\u2019s Own (Royal West Kent Regt) and 1st Bn - North Staffordshire Regt.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">The 73rd Bde - Comprised of the 9th Bn - Royal Sussex Regt, 7th Bn - Northamptonshire Regt and 13th Bn - Middlesex Regt.<\/p>\n<p>50th (Northumbrian) Division Consisted of the 149th , 150th &amp; 151st Bdes.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">The 149th (Northumberland) Bde comprised of the 1\/4th, 1\/5th &amp; 1\/6th Bn - Northumberland Fusiliers.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">The 150th (York &amp; Durham) Bde - Comprised of 1\/4th Bn East Yorkshire Regt, 1\/4th and 1\/5th Bn Green Howards.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">The 151st (Durham Light Infantry) Bde - 1\/5th, 1\/6th and 8th Bn - DLI.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">149th Light TMB - Brigade Light Trench Mortar Battery<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">149th MGC - Brigade Machine Gun Company<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">1\/1st Field Ambulance<\/p>\n<p>22nd Entrenching Bn - The Entrenching Battalions were formed from the small surplus of men left after the break-up of many infantry battalions in early 1918. For further details visit The Long Long Trail website at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.1914-1918.net\/entrenching.htm\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/www.1914-1918.net\/entrenching.htm<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-185-6-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor\" data-index=\"7\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p>If would like to read the full story of the 4th NF in World War 1, then please<a href=\"http:\/\/www.4thbnnf.com\/wordpress\/home\/login\/\"> select here<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-185-6-0-2\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-last-child\" data-index=\"8\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Thursday, 21st March 1918 At 8pm the Bde boarded trains bound for Brie. The 1st train carried the 4th Bn along with Bde HQ, the 149th MGC and 149th Light TMB. The 2nd train carried the 5th Bn, 6th Bn and 1\/1st Field Ambulance. Arriving in Brie at 3am the following morning, orders were issued &hellip; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.4thbnnf.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=185\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Battle of St Quentin&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":180,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0},"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Battle of St Quentin - 4th Northumberland Fusiliers<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"http:\/\/www.4thbnnf.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=185\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Battle of St Quentin - 4th Northumberland Fusiliers\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Thursday, 21st March 1918 At 8pm the Bde boarded trains bound for Brie. The 1st train carried the 4th Bn along with Bde HQ, the 149th MGC and 149th Light TMB. The 2nd train carried the 5th Bn, 6th Bn and 1\/1st Field Ambulance. 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The 1st train carried the 4th Bn along with Bde HQ, the 149th MGC and 149th Light TMB. The 2nd train carried the 5th Bn, 6th Bn and 1\/1st Field Ambulance. 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