TALES OF THE V.C.

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 206, 20 May 1918, Page 6

TALES OF THE V.C.

HERO OF THE LONDON RIFLE BRIGADE

LIKE HORATIUS OF OLD

(By Lieutenant J. P. Lloyd.)

(Published by authority of the War Office, per favour of Ihe Royal Colonial Institute,)

On the night of May 12, 1915, the London Rifle Brigade relieved the Dnblins in trenches south of the village of St. Julien, in tho salient of Ypres. Since that April evening, when tho.gas came rolling down the north-east wind upon the French and Canadians, the Second Battle of Ypres had raged unceasingly. This Territorial battalion, which, formed part of the 11th Brigade of tho Fourth Division, in days and nights of stern fighting stood firm against the shock of repeated attacks, but it paid a heavy price. a On April 29, near Fortuin, on the right of Shell Trap Farm, where (he 11th Brigade held a front of no less than 5000 yards, the Ride Brigade last many men from shell-firs alone, but when the German infantry poured across next morning the remnants of the battalion manned tho broken parapets, and drove them back into their trenches with rifle and machine-gun.

The battalion had achieved much and suffered more. The men were greatly exhausted, but there could be no rest while the enemy bent at Ihe gates. They had lost very heavily, but the Dublins were iD even worso plight. So the mnchreduced battalion marched at midnight up the road that leads from Wieltje to St. Julien, and took their place once more in the line of battle on the right of the 4th Division. The trenches which the "L.R.8." look over wero lnaTnly on the left of the St. Julien Road, bn't on the right of it they held in part a small breastwork, which served to link up their line with that of the Ist Cavalry Division on their right. Tho positions astride the St. Julien Road were vital ,to the defence of the salient. If the Germans over succeeded in <lrivinn a way through them, tho flank of tho 4th Division would Iks turned, with consequences disastrous lo the whole British line. Tho enemy had recognised this, and it was a deadly legacy that tho Dublins bad bequeathed to tho "L.R.8." All through the previous day Ihe German puns had pounded and battered tho trenches, until in ninny places they wero Merely a chaos of torn sandbags and ptf.vth. Thero was no material at hand to repair the damage, no wire oven to precl n barricade across tho road. So the L.R.B. took their stnnd amidst tho ruins, and waited patiently until dawn for tho attack which was sure to come.

Wardens'of the Gate. The i breastwork on the right of tho road was held by Sergeant Douglas Walter Belcher, and eight men. He wns worthy of the responsibility, for he had already been recommended for gallantry in the field. His orders were "on no account to let the Germans break through on Hie Toad." Let us see how lie fulfilled them. Sergeant Belcher and his eight men were almost alone. Tho remainder of their battalion were some fifty yards in front of them across the road. A little to their right ran tho main cavalry trench. The breastwork was very much the worse for wear, and, during the few honre oi darkness that remained, Sergeant Bekher and hi? eight men strove mnnfnlly to build it up again. But thoir labour was in vain. At 4 a.m., on May 13, the bomlijirdment started afresh. The great part of tlift shells foil astride the road, on the right of tlife LJC.B., trench and the breastwork. Serjeant Belcher saw his night's work crumble before his eyes. . So for a full hour the little-, party hung on grimly behind their shattered barricade. The slorm increased in fury; by 5.30 a.m. thron of his men had been badly wounded. Ho had now only five men left. By this tbrie tho breastwork had been blown to piews, and Sergeant Belcher moved to an empty trench on his right. Thero ho held out for nearly threo hours.

He Saved the Whole Line.

The now position was no bettor than the old. Shells were bursting all round them, but the jallant band more than held their own.' Several times the Germans massed behind their trench, evidently intending to attack, and each time Sergeant Belchor pulled his men together, opened rapid fire, and dispersed them. Shortly after 8 o'clock a platoon of the Essex and six or seven men of tho L.R.8.. succeeded in reachina them Together they held that trench for tho remainder of the day. There can be no doubt that Sergeant pelcher's uallant Brand saved the whole line from disaster. An officer of tho L.R.8.. who was with his battalion on tho St. Julien Road that day, paid high tribute to his bravery. "If Sergeant Belcher had left tho trench," wrote his commander afterwards, "tho Germans could have broken through on tho road, and probably the whole of tho nth Brigade would have bc'ti taken in the flank, as his po3t wag behind thn rest of the line. He displayed tho utmost coolness throughout, constantly keeping in I ouch with us'. Tho whole action of his party was fully visible to r.f> in the L.R.B. trench, and the sieht of it cheered us up immensely. Tho only thin." I cannot understand about it is how any of them came out alive."