Vimy Ridge: Recollections from the Famous Battle by Alexander McKee

Author:Alexander McKee [McKee, Alexander]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lume Books
Published: 2019-10-16T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN — EASTER MONDAY MORNING

The 4th Division Hits Hill 145

THE 4TH CANADIAN DIVISION, commanded by Major-General David Watson, was to assault the highest (145 metres) point of the Vimy Ridge, which was, for this reason, the most strongly fortified and formidable part of the entire position. The attack arrangements were of comparable complexity, being in successive waves. Two brigades were to assault, their fourth wave being supplied from the third brigade, which was to remain in reserve ready, if all went well, to assault next day the knoll called the ‘Pimple’ in clear view from Hill 145 on the other side of the Souchez valley. On the right was the 11th Brigade (Brigadier V. W. Odium), which was to attack with two battalions up — the 102nd (Lieutenant-Colonel J. Warden) on the right and the 87th (Major Shaw) on the left. The next wave, their supports, would consist of the 54th Battalion (Lieutenant-Colonel V. V. Harvey) on the right, following the 102nd, and the 75th Battalion (Lieutenant-Colonel C. Worshop) on the left, following the 87th. As reserve, forming a third wave, was the 85th Battalion (Lieutenant-Colonel A. H. Borden); and the 47th Battalion of the 10th Brigade formed a further reserve. The objective of the 11th Brigade was Hill 145 itself. On its left would be the 12th Brigade (Brigadier J. H. MacBrien), to take the northern slopes overlooked both by the ‘Pimple’ and Hill 145, with three battalions up and one in support, plus a battalion loaned by the reserve brigade. From right to left, the assaulting battalions were — the 38th (Lieutenant-Colonel C. M. Edwards), the 72nd (Lieutenant-Colonel J. A. Clark), and the 73rd (Lieutenant-Colonel H. C. Sparling); in reserve was the 78th (Lieutenant-Colonel J. Kirkaldy). The 46th Battalion (Lieutenant-Colonel H. J. Dawson), of 10th Brigade was in further reserve. This left 10th Brigade (Brigadier E. Hilliam) with only two battalions — the 44th (Lieutenant-Colonel Davies) and the 50th (Lieutenant-Colonel L. F. Page); these were intended to assault the ‘Pimple’ next day in the ‘northerly Operation’, if the ‘Southern Assault’ succeeded.

Hill 145, the objective of the 11th Brigade, was held by Reserve Infantry Regiment No 261 (Oberst von Goerne), a unit of the 79th Division, holding Sector Fischer of Group Vimy. The especially formidable nature of the fixed defences it was manning spring to the eye from the German trench maps, which, although marked Das Mitnehmen dieser Karten in die vorderen Linien ist streng verboten!, doubtless fell into Canadian hands. The one in front of the present author belongs to Michael Volkheimer. There was the usual triple line of forward trenches, with a strong tunnel position, the Münchener-Lager, between the 2nd and 3rd lines. On the hill crest a double trench system incorporated a deep-tunnel defence, the Obere Hangstellung, supported on the reverse slope by the Untere Hangstellung, a twin-tunnel system for sheltering the reserves, plus, further north, the Hanseaten-Lager.

The northern boundary of this regiment was also the boundary between the Prussian 79th Reserve Division (von Bacmeister) and the 16th Bavarian Infantry Division (Generalmajor Möhl); between Group Vimy and Group Souchez.

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