Regarding the attack on 25th September 1916

‘In brief the plan for the 25th September was ... for the Guards Division to take the rest of Lesboeufs. This time the 1st and 3rd Guards Brigades. were to be involved in the frontal advance. The 1st Guards Brigade. was on the right and the 3rd Guards Brigade. to their left. In the front of the 1st Guards Brigade. were the 2nd Grenadier Guards. and the 1st Irish Guards and they were supported by the 2nd and 3rd Coldstream Guards. On their left in the 3rd Guards Brigade. the 4th Grenadier Guards. and the 2nd Scots Guards. were to the front and were supported by the 1st Welsh Guards. The creeping barrage came down at 12.35pm which was zero hour and its seems that the enemy were taken by surprise. Whatever the reason, quick progress was made by the attacking Guardsmen.  Unlike the situation on 15th September, close contact was kept up between the flanks and the 3rd Guards Brigade sent the 1st Grenadier Guards forward at 3.30pm to enter the north part of Lesboeufs. After they had both been captured, Lesboeufs and Morval were kept clear of troops and bombarded."

This is the letter that he wrote to his parents in North Tawton:

L/ Sgt W. Martin

4th Company, 1st Battalion

GRENADIER GUARDS

British Expeditionary Force.

Friday 29th September 1916

My dear Mother and Father,

I can just guess what joy this letter will bring, letting you know I am safe and well: thankful indeed to God I have come through alright once again.

It has really been terrible times again this past week, and no doubt you will have read in the papers of our splendid advance again by the Guards and other Regiments.

You will have  been anxious for certain as to my welfare, seeing as it was about 10 days ago I was able to write  home.  We have been 7 days in the trenches - 5 days we were working hard, making and consolidating new trenches, and on Sunday we were told we were for an attack the next day - cheerful news indeed - however we hoped we should have a safe and successful time.

I have thrilling experiences to relate again, having very little time for writing just at present. I will just give a brief account of our  happenings.

Sunday evening, we took up our position for the attack, and at a given hour the next day, we were to move forward - the artillery had been pounding away at the enemy's lines and they must have suffered greatly, for there was never a minute's cessation from our numerous guns and they did wonderful work for us. One would think it was impossible to live in that terrific bombardment, but we found out going across, that many of the Boches (sic) had survived through that Hell of fire by hiding away in deep dug-outs,  and we ran into machine guns and rifle fire that played havoc in our ranks, but the boys swept on - nothing could stop them. All objects were gained that we set out to get, and we got Fritz fairly beaten all the way. No pen could describe the wonderful way the Guards Division went over - no praise is too great for them - they go through that Hell of fire as though on parade - never a flinch - never a waver - and if a man fell to the ground, another took his place.

The stretcher bearers attended to them, coming up in the rear - no halting to bandage a comrade, and in one straight line we push forward until our object is gained - splendid indeed were the gains we made on Monday, sweeping all  before us, and right on the other side of the village where we dug ourselves in and made our new line. This is just a brief account of our doings on the front we attacked.

© The contents of this letter are the copyright property of Alan Martin