On October 4 a great attack was made on a front of seven miles from the Menin road to the Ypres-Staden railway. On the left, near Langemarck, the Seaforth Highlanders and the 3/10th Middlesex were the assaulting battalions in the 10th Brigade. They had to advance over 1200 yards of badly shelled ground, and found a difficult obstacle in the Laudet beek Marsh. On reaching Beek Street they came under heavy machine-gun fire, and the 87th Brigade having failed to reach it’s objective, their left flank was exposed. Early in the afternoon two companies of the 1st Royal Warwickshire were sent forward to cover the flank, with a third in support. On reaching the front line they were ordered to capture Hill 19 and hold it at all costs.
They advanced accordingly at 5.30, gained the hill, and sent out a patrol under Lieut. J.S. Morriss which captured two pill-boxes, and enabled the line to be advanced 200 yards further to a position on the reverse slope of the hill. In the Course of the night patrols successfully established connection with the 2nd East Lancashire on the right and the 1st Royal Dublin Fusiliers on the left. The advance of the Royal Warwickshire was described by the brigadier-general as most opportune; it was well directed and well executed, and had filled a gap which might have been serious in the event of a counter-attack. The battalion remained in its advanced position for the two following days. The casualties were 2 officers (one was Lieut. Morriss) and 10 men killed, with 2 officers and 92 men wounded or missing.
The success on October 4 marked a definite step in the advance. In spite of the late season and the continued bad weather Sir D. Haig judged it for various reasons desirable to continue his operations. Accordingly on October 9 the attack was renewed on a front of six miles from the east of Zonnebeke to the north-west of Langemarck. The 4th Division attacked towards Poelcapelle. On the first three days the 10th Brigade was in support, whilst the 12th Brigade made progress under difficulties. On October 12 the 1st Royal Warwickshire in their turn attacked. Advancing in good order, and thanks to an efficient barrage, with slight casualties, they captured Landing Farm, Water House, Besace Farm, and Bower House, with little resistance.
Then they were held up bye enfilading fire from Requete Farm, which the Household Battalion on the right could not capture, since they were in their turn enfiladed from the Brewery. Both the ground and the weather were adverse, but our men maintained their position and dispersed a threatened counter-attack, the Royal Warwickshire being in touch with the 17th Division on the left. The bad weather prevented relief till October 13. The total casualties in the Royal Warwickshire were 116.
Bron: The story of the Royal Warwickshire regiment; van Lethbridge Kingsford C.
