Page 24 - Last Chargers example

whole Brigade supported by Captain Graf von Roedern’s Artillery Battery from the 1st Mounted Battalion of the 1st Field Artillery Regiment of the Guard41.
Unbeknown to the British cavalry as they rested, the Germans had started to push for- ward of cer reconnaissance patrols south from St Quentin, gradually increasing in strength. Between 12 and 2pm, several patrols had advanced east of the main road,but were driven back by the Scots Greys. By now C Squadron of the Greys, with that Regiment’s two machine guns and the two machine guns from the 20th Hussars, were well concealed, having taken positions in the hedgerows surrounding the two small woods on the forward edge of the high ground overlooking the north-facing valley. This valley which separated the con- verging forces was steep sided, with a gradient of perhaps 1-in-10 to 1-in-15, with open elds of cut corn in stooks and others planted with root crops.The British position lay some 200 yards north of the Moÿ de l’Aisne – Cérizy road, looking north across the valley approx- imately 1200 yards to where the Germans appeared on the opposite crest.
Stand To
As he wrote, Captain Charrington was bliss- fully unaware that the outposts of the Greys had already sighted the Germans moving south down the main road from St Quentin. Suddenly the soldiers were awoken by the “tock! tock!” – the unmistakable sound of German Mauser42 ri es43. The Regiment was ordered to saddle up. Shirts, socks and puttees were overlooked by the bathers as others came rushing out of the farm picking up their trousers or putting their legs into their riding breeches and sticking their puttees into their
41 Poseck p77
42 Kar 98a
43 Stewart p251 attributed to Edward Whelan
pockets44. Private Lawrence was still only half shaven45.
Lieutenant Colonel Wormald gave orders to the Regiment to saddle up at once, and gal- loped on ahead with the Adjutant, Captain CE Bryant, to see what was happening. C Squadron (Captain JC Michell)46, which had remained saddled, was ready in an instant, followed a few minutes later by the Machine Gun Section (Lieutenant Styles)47.
This advance party cantered through the vil- lage, getting half-a-mile beyond it when, from the crest of a hill, they observed the enemy force of about 200 Dragoons at a distance of about a 1000 yards. They cantered down the slope before wheeling to the left and putting the horses under cover in a hollow48. The Squadron then formed a dismounted r- ing line and began to engage the Germans to
44 Whelan p20
45 Lawrence
46 Capt Michell assumed command of C Squadron on 23rd
August 1914 when Major Bailey was accidentally wounded.
47 Charrington – 1 (Part 3, p11)
48 Martin
Lt Styles
18