Mousetrap Farm 13/5/15

[stiletto_33853]

1st Battalion Rifle Brigade take over the trenches on 8th May around Mousetrap Farm from being in Reserve. Mousetrap Farm, a group of buildings surrounded by water, on the high ground north of Wieltje overlooking St. Julien and the valley of the Steenbeek.
On the 13th at 4am an intense bombardment heralded thecoming of an attack. The enemy having driven in the British to the south was about to make a bid for the remainder of the Frezenberg Ridge position. The gleam of fixed bayonets in his front lione trenches told unmistakenly of his intentions.
By 4.50am the trench of "I" Company's left platoon had been obliterated, and the platoon had ceased to exist. This created a gap between the 1st RB's and the Hampshires. A platton of "C" Company was detailed to fill it but meanwhile the Hampshires extended to their right and maintained touch.
At 7am the attack came, and failed completely on the left and in the centre. This was followed by further bombardment until at 7.30am the attack was renewed on the right and the East Lancashires were driven back. The position of the advanced post in Mousetrap Farm was becoming highly precarious. The post was inaccessible by daylight - doubly so under the intensive shell fire of that morning. At 7.05am British soldiers had been seen falling back from south of the farm, and it seemed probable that the enemy had occupied it. At 7.30am re-inforcements from the 2nd Essex Regiment (12th Brigade) came up on the right to counter attack, by which time some of the enemy had penetrated through the gap and were behind the British Line, where they were engaged by the 1st RB's machine guns firing actually over the parados of the trench. The counter attack was carried out with magnificent dash and success. It drove back the enemy, passing over the front line and forward through the farm buildings. But the situation in the centre and left of the battalion grew more serious. Two further attacks developed. Each was heavliy repulsed, but by now the casualties were mounting high, and the trenches for the most part had been blown in. "C" Company was brought forward to thicken the firing line. There then came a short lull, during which the enemy was seen to be digging in about thirty yards north east of the farm.
A little before 11am the shelling began again. At noon a company of the East Lancashire Regiment was brought forward in support of the 1st RB's. Everything pointed to a renewal of the battle, but half an hour later the enemies efforts died down and the attack was not repeated.
At dusk the East Lancashire Regiment went forward to the farm and re-occupied it without opposition. But of the garrison (2 platoons under 2nd Lieut. J.A.L. Stewart) there was no trace. They had been killed or captured to a man.
The 1st Rifle Brigade was relieved that night by the Royal Irish Rifles. Corporal H.E. Sunnuck and Rifleman J.J. Halls, both of "B" Company, each gained the DCM. Cut off from their company for nine hours by the destruction of their trench, they had held out in their post and, by their accurate shooting, had defeated all attempts by the enemy to dig in on the right front. Acting Corporal J. Parker also gained the DCM for conspicuous gallantry in continuing to distribute ammuntioin along the front trench under a heavy fire, although he had been wounded aerly in the day.


Andy