BATTLE OF RICHEBOURG.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIX, Issue 122, 26 May 1915, Page 4

BATTLE OF RICHEBOURG.

BRITISH OFFICER * SNA RR A-

TIVE

HEROES OF THE TRENCHES

ADVANCE IN FACE OF TERRIBLE LOSSES.

[Press Association.] (Received May 25, 9.40 p.m.) LONDON, May 22. ■In. a letter a British officer describes the battle of Ric-hebourg: Between the 9th .and the 17th. the Sussex, Northamptons, Ministers, and. Black Watch regiments opened an attack, but met •■with a henry fire, which was totally unexpected. After the bombardment. which equalled that of Neuve ■ Chap ell c-, the Munsters and Black .Watch seized the trenches, but shortly afterwards were driven out.The reserves were called up on the 9th for a fresh attack, including tho Worcester*, Liniskilling' Fusiliers, King's Royal Rifles, and Liverpool Regimenl-/ By ten in the evening four linos A men were lying in the open, in front of the breastwork, with others in trenches belli nd. -The attackers rose at 11.13 in pitch darkness and went forward :it a walk. They had hardly started, whoa a flare came from the German trenches. Hie men continued walking. Other flares Mazed up, a.nd then came a hail of lpa-'l.

The men. clashed ahead, and the King's Rifles and Li\ rerpoo's soon won tho- trench. They wont on to the second, but the Worcesters found tilre task impossible. The Inniskillin^s pushed on line after line, despite terrible losses, and won the first trench. They immediately made for the second, which was captured. The three successful regiments joined nr> at dawn.

Many heroes in the British trem-hes during the day shouldered boxes of bombs and bandoliers of .ammunition and attempted to dash 300 yards to the German, trench, Many fell, and some did no': got across at all. The trenches were Subjected to a terrific bombardment, in which the wounded suffered terribly. It was impossible to mov> them, until dark. The Oxfordshires and the Highland Light Infantry pushed on on Monday and won more ground, and the .advance was continued.