Desmond7 Posted 23 July , 2006 Share Posted 23 July , 2006 The battle on the Schwaben Redoubt on July 1 1916 was memorably described as a 'Belfast riot on Mount Vesuvious' .. Was in the shade today, drawing wee soldiers! Brits man a barricade of sandbags as German bombers close in during the afternoon counter attacks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Take on me Posted 23 July , 2006 Share Posted 23 July , 2006 Very good, the chaos is well represented. Given the direction that that Lewis gun is pointing I would not give the three Germans much chance. JGM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Landsturm Posted 23 July , 2006 Share Posted 23 July , 2006 Great work! Hopefully you still have energy for the next MGWAT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Noble Posted 23 July , 2006 Share Posted 23 July , 2006 Des. Think you caught the action and its ferocity well. Regards, Chris. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soren Posted 23 July , 2006 Share Posted 23 July , 2006 Ces, You are the new Otto Dix! fab! Soren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gporta Posted 23 July , 2006 Share Posted 23 July , 2006 Great drawing, Desmond! (Now call it a coincidence. I have been doing sketches of a British bombing team in action on the last days, none too satisfying, for the moment) Gloria Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike10764 Posted 24 July , 2006 Share Posted 24 July , 2006 Like it Des, I like it.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marina Posted 24 July , 2006 Share Posted 24 July , 2006 When is that Lewis gunner going to open fire!!!! Marina Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Landsturm Posted 24 July , 2006 Share Posted 24 July , 2006 When is that Lewis gunner going to open fire!!!! The sound that always silences the battlefield... *CLICK* (believe me, I know ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Augustine Posted 25 July , 2006 Share Posted 25 July , 2006 Great use of color--especially with the explosions (really conveys the intensity and motion). Well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desmond7 Posted 26 July , 2006 Author Share Posted 26 July , 2006 Thanks folks .. have gander. Could be anywhere ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Take on me Posted 27 July , 2006 Share Posted 27 July , 2006 The above is very good, but surely the Germans would have been wearing helmets. JGM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Augustine Posted 27 July , 2006 Share Posted 27 July , 2006 The above is very good, but surely the Germans would have been wearing helmets. JGM I thought so too, but my husband mentioned that earlier in the war, a number of Germans did wear caps as portrayed in the drawing. I guess it depends on when the drawing takes place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desmond7 Posted 27 July , 2006 Author Share Posted 27 July , 2006 Section from 12th R I Rifles War Diary .. why I did the soft hats! Now a bugbear with me to see hoardes of coalscuttled Germans in 1st July context! 'A' COMPANY'S ATTACK 'A' Company who were on the extreme left of the Battalion front, were in touch with the 29th Division. They left their new Trench before zero and assembled along the Sunken Road. At Zero they began to advance, and at once came under very heavy Artillery and machine-gun fire. No. 4 Platoon led the attack, and were badly cut up, but what men remained entered the German front line. They were closely followed by No. 3 who at once reinforced them. The wire was well cut here but there were two machine-guns on each side of the gap and three or four in the Salient, as well as a German bombing party. Lieut. McCluggage at once collected his men and tried to rush on to the German second line but was killed in the attempt. The Germans in the front line it was noticed all wore caps while those in the second line wore helmets. The German second line was full of men and there was a very considerable number at the back of the large mound on the left. All these men fired at Nos. 1 and 2 Platoons while they were advancing and threw bombs at Nos. 3 & 4 while in the German front line. The men of Nos. 3 & 4 Platoons bombed three Dugouts and shot a good many Germans. All these four Platoons suffered very heavily from exceedingly intense Machine-gun fire. An order to retire was passed along, and as there were no supports on the spot 'A' Company did so. Lieut. T. G. Haughton had been wounded in the leg soon after leaving our front line but led his Platoon on. He was wounded a second time during the retirement and killed. The Company then retired to the SUNKEN ROAD when 2/Lieut Dickson, who was the only officer left assembled the men there and ordered another advance. The men advanced again but were met with a terrific fire from all the Machine-guns in the Salient (Q.17.B.) and had to ultimately retire to the New Trench. Rfmn. McMullen, being the only man left of his team of Lewis Gunners, entered the German line with Lewis Gun and two magazines and fired from his shoulder at the Germans in the second. line. He retired with the company and brought the Gun with him. All companies had now been badly cut up, and had very few men left. We were ordered to attack again at 10-12 a.m. with what men we could collect. Major C.G. Cole-Hamilton D.S.O. took command of the front line, collected all the men he could find (about 100) and assembled them in the New Trench and prepared to launch the attack. Sergt. McFall and Sergt. A Smith of 'D' Company and L.Cpl. W Harvey of 'C' Coy. were conspicuous for their coolness and skill under a very heavy fire in helping Major C.G. Cole-Hamilton D.S.O. to form up the men and carry out the attack. The attack was made under very heavy shrapnel fire from the time of the assembly and was finally stopped by Machine-gun fire. When in advance of the Sunken Road, the same three N.C.O.s did magnificent work in steadying the men, while L.Cpl. Harvey brought a wounded man in on his back. About 11 a.m. another attack was ordered for 12-30 p.m. in conjunction with the 29th Division. Every available man was collected and assembled in the New Trench. The total number this time was 46. The men went forward before 12-30 p.m., and were lying in cover by 12-30 p.m. Major C.G. Cole-Hamilton D.S.O. , finding that 29th Division did not launch an attack at 12-30 p.m. and not having a sufficient number of men to carry out an attack, sent a message to the Commanding Officer to this effect. The Commanding Officer ordered the men to be brought back and the front line to be re-organised and held. Sergt. McFall, Sergt. A. Smith and L.Cpl. W Harvey again did splendid work in getting the men back and re-organised under very adverse conditions. By 2 p.m. all the men were back and sentries were posted all along the line. This state of affairs continued until the few men who were left in the line were relieved by the York and Lancs at 6-30 p.m. G Bull Lieut. Col. Commanding 12th (S) Bn Royal Irish Rifles. Field 8th July 1916 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CROONAERT Posted 28 July , 2006 Share Posted 28 July , 2006 The sound that always silences the battlefield... *CLICK* (believe me, I know ) yeah...ok! Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soren Posted 29 July , 2006 Share Posted 29 July , 2006 on the same topic, a British bomber: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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