Item 0024
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| Accession number | 912L : 2090/14 |
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| Transcription |
CAPT . FRANCIS GRENFELL , V.C. THE STORY OF THE GUNS . TO THE EDITOR OF " THE DAILY TELEGRAPH . " STR - On the day that a memorial service is to be held for Captain Francis Grenfell you may like to print in your paper a few lines as to the rescue of the guns of the 119th Battery , Royal Field Artillery , on Aug. 24 , which was one of the grounds of the award to him of the first V.C. of the war . I have two brief accounts . of the incident , one from my son , Lieutenant Geoffrey Blemell Pollard , who was serving as a subaltern in the battery under Major ( now Colonel ) Alexander , to whom also , I am glad to say , a V.C. was subsequently granted for his services on that day . My son's account is as follows : I think sufficient time has now elapsed for it to be safe for me to tell you something of our great day in the battery . We gave and received a terrific fire ( another officer has told me that they had silenced one German bat tery , and were attacked by three others from different directions ) , and many experts say it was a very hot place indeed . When finally ordered away , after about one and a half hour of it , it was quite impossible to get horses near the guns , so I was sent down to ask some cavalry who were sheltering with our teams if they would help the guns out by hand . I found a most gallant captain , and we collected volunteers , while the major started bringing down a gun with what men we had left . The captain and I then rushed up with more men , and we got away all the guns , and most of the wagons , as far as our sheltered teams . We then had to get the whole show away over a crest under a heavy fire . All got away except one wagon , which they dropped a shell on . 23 My son was killed in action two months later ( Oct. 24 ) , and had not the pleasure of knowing either the name of his " most gallant captain " " or the honour which was conferred on him . When the " Gazette came out I offered Captain Grenfell my congratulations and heart felt thanks for having saved my son from the sorrow of losing his guns . He could not answer at first because of his wounds , but on March 12 wrote a very kind letter , in the course of which he said : It was our good fortune to be thrown by Providence , after a good , hard fight , which threw us into complete confusion , behind a railway embankment near the 119th Battery . The brave way the two officers there behaved and the dignified way the guns , still challenging , remained there , filled me with an admiration which I know will last a life time . No English regiment could have stood by without saying , Can we give you a hand ? What we did was forced on ng by the splendid example of the battery which had been set them by their two officers . The letter ends : was I have lost my twin brother , from whom ver separated until the day I last sav your son , so I can appreciate the grea sorrow that has fallen on you and Mrs Pollard in the loss of a son who has done wha we all would like to do - die for England . The death which Captain Grenfell desired ha come to him . May the British Army never lac officers filled with the same modesty , courag and devotion . ALFRED W. POLIARD 40 , Murray - road , Wimbledon . 24 August 1914 With all Good Wishes for Christmas , from . Brigadier Genl . D. G. M. Campbell , and Regth Christmas Caro 1914 . To the 1st Army . We are about to engage the enemy under very favourable conditions . Until now in the present campaign , the British Army has , by its pluck and determination , gained victories against an enemy greatly ' superior both in men and guns . Reinforcements have made us stronger than the enemy in our front . Our guns are now both more numerous than the enemy's are , and also larger than any hitherto used by any army in the field . Our Flying Corps has driven the Germans from the air . 9th March , 1915 . Officers 9th Lancers . On the Eastern Front , and to South of us , our Allies have made marked progress and caused enormous losses to the Germans , who are , moreover , harassed by internal troubles and shortage of supplies , so that there is little prospect at present of big reinforcements being sent against us here . 1st Printing Co .. R E. In front of us we have only one German Corps , spread out on a front as large as that occupied by the whole of our Army ( the First ) .. Special Order . We are now about to attack with about 48 battalions a locality in that front which is held by some three German battalions . It seems probable , also , that for the first day of the operations the Germans will not have more than four battalions available as reinforcements for the counter attack . Quickness of movement is therefore of first importance to enable us to forestall the enemy and thereby gain success without severe loss . GHQ At no time in this war has there been a more favourable moment for us , and I feel confident of success . The extent of that success must depend on the rapidity and determination with which we advance . 673 . Although fighting in France , let us remember that we are fighting to preserve the British Empire and to protect our homes against the organized savagery of the German Army . To ensure success , each one of us must play his part , and fight like men for the Honour of Old England . ( Sd . ) D. HAIG , General , Commanding 1st Army . |
