http://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/register/surprise-tactics-at-grandcourt-gj5hzkjsj
A German trench system defended it on the west side, along the Grandcourt-Thiepval road. We discovered that the front trench was unoccupied the day before yesterday and took it. Yesterday morning our patrols got out to explore towards the village, found things were much easier than used to be expected from the Boche, and signalled for troops. These felt their way amid the ruins of houses, farms, barns, and orchards, and with very little fighting got out of the village on the east side. There was some machine-gun work, but only enough to give it a name. Some prisoners were sent back, and our men established themselves along a line running south from Grandcourt on the east side.
An operation stealthily made from another direction had brought us further north, meeting our success through the village from the westward. Our lines were adjusted from two directions to put the village wholly and securely within our territory. Where the Germans’ new line may be this side of Miraumont can be only surmised from the fact that erratic convolutions of the Ancre, a deep ravine, and a steep hill protect that larger and practically intact village from the south.
With the occupation of Grandcourt another move was possible on the north bank of the river. Beyond the trenches we won there last Saturday midnight and opposite the east end of Grandcourt is Baillescourt Farm, an ancient and strongly-built quadrangle of home and barns, well fortified by the Germans. That also has fallen. Its garrison of Hamburgers (85th Regiment of Infantry) made some sharp opposition which did not last, and 80 men and one officer were made prisoners. Naturally we had some good guessing as to the German withdrawal from the position I have described, and, acting on well-grounded assumption, our batteries did not give the enemy an easy job. The Germans were heavily punished, though they did not stay.
FEBRUARY 10, 1917
Surprise tactics at Grandcourt
Grandcourt is a straggling village of one street, running along the south bank of the Ancre. It has been badly knocked about, though, unlike Pozieres, you can still see it was once a pleasant place. None of its buildings has any roofs, but the walls still stand to some extent.A German trench system defended it on the west side, along the Grandcourt-Thiepval road. We discovered that the front trench was unoccupied the day before yesterday and took it. Yesterday morning our patrols got out to explore towards the village, found things were much easier than used to be expected from the Boche, and signalled for troops. These felt their way amid the ruins of houses, farms, barns, and orchards, and with very little fighting got out of the village on the east side. There was some machine-gun work, but only enough to give it a name. Some prisoners were sent back, and our men established themselves along a line running south from Grandcourt on the east side.
An operation stealthily made from another direction had brought us further north, meeting our success through the village from the westward. Our lines were adjusted from two directions to put the village wholly and securely within our territory. Where the Germans’ new line may be this side of Miraumont can be only surmised from the fact that erratic convolutions of the Ancre, a deep ravine, and a steep hill protect that larger and practically intact village from the south.
With the occupation of Grandcourt another move was possible on the north bank of the river. Beyond the trenches we won there last Saturday midnight and opposite the east end of Grandcourt is Baillescourt Farm, an ancient and strongly-built quadrangle of home and barns, well fortified by the Germans. That also has fallen. Its garrison of Hamburgers (85th Regiment of Infantry) made some sharp opposition which did not last, and 80 men and one officer were made prisoners. Naturally we had some good guessing as to the German withdrawal from the position I have described, and, acting on well-grounded assumption, our batteries did not give the enemy an easy job. The Germans were heavily punished, though they did not stay.
