Page 33 - Last Chargers example

Michell’s horse had been shot from under him almost immediately after coming over the crest. Despite this, he continued on foot but had not gone far when a bullet struck him in the mouth and killed him instantly. Corporal Gore was shot through the heart. On seeing this, Private Lawrence made for the Dragoon who had shot Gore and ran him through just below the neck. Lance Corporal Martin90 and Private Coote91 were both badly wounded in the scrimmage that ensued while Sergeant Carter92 was wounded in the thigh, with the size of the wound reported to be almost as big as a plate93. These terrible wounds and the apparent ease with which the horses were felled was later attributed by some to the Germans having reversed their bullet heads to create a more devastating short range effect especially on the horses94.
The Rally
As soon as C Squadron had ridden completely through the German position, they were rallied by Lieutenant RSWR Wyndham- Quin and charged back through the position, shouting themselves hoarse95 and accounting for the few remaining Germans who were still showing ght. It was at this moment that some of the Germans who had surrendered on the rst pass of the charge and had been spared decided to open re on the Lancers once they had passed through. A bullet passed through Private Lawrence’s left sleeve, just grazing his arm, before he then engaged another Dragoon who was running away. The point went into the German’s back, and Lawrence found dif - culty withdrawing his lance96. Corporal Webb,
90 4537 Private WH Martin
91 3620 Private C Coote
92 5115 Sergeant AH Carter
93 Lawrence
94 Whelan p20
95 Lawrence
96 Lawrence
Cpl Webb (circa 1924)
having lost his lance in the rst charge, had to draw his sword for the second charge97.
Having completed a second pass, the Squadron rallied yet again and moved once more towards the top of the hill, the third pass nishing off any of the Germans who remained. Nothing now remained but the dead and dying, the exception being four wounded Germans who were found cowering in the crops and were taken prisoner98. Another twenty wounded German soldiers hid in the hollow of a road99 until the ‘rider’s storm’100 had passed before re-joining their regiments that night101.
The Greys and the 20th Hussars
While this chapter concentrates on the role of the 12th Lancers, they were not acting in
97 Webb
98 Charrington – 1 (Part 3, p12)
99 Leche p15
100 Gayling p21
101 Gayling p21
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