Page 122 - The Royal Lancers Chapka 2018

120 REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL LANCERS (QUEEN ELIZABETHS’ OWN) Home Headquarters Mons Battlefield Tour 2018
It was decided that as a continuing part of the amalgamation process that HHQ would conduct a battlefield tour with the intention of looking at all the antecedent’s role in the regiment’s principle battle honour, Mons. It became apparent from the out- set that the collective understanding of all the RLOCA and the parts that all regiments of lancers was far from complete, and especially the untold stories of the participation of the 17L and 21L, who on the outbreak of the Great War were serving over- seas. The first bombshell during our research was the list of the 50+ 21L who had been attached to the 9L in Tidworth to make up their manning shortfall on the outbreak of war. Their details are included in the regimental magazines and the list of the fa- talities are included on the 9L memorial at Canterbury.
We knew that the 16/5L and many others would congregate at Mons for the centenary, and to commemorate the death of Pri- vate George Ellison in November, so we decided to go in the summer and be at Mons on the 100th anniversary of the first day of the battle, the 23rd August, and try where possible to be at each location on the anniversary of each action of event. The first day was run primarily by Captain Mick Holtby, and that was up at the Mons-Condé canal, Casteau and the Saint. Sym- phorien cemetery. It was designed to be a scene-setting day, and to look at the actions in and around Mons by I Corps, before moving to the west of Mons the following day to look at the ac- tions conducted by the cavalry division and II Corps.
After visiting Casteau and looking at the action of Major Tom Bridges and the 4DG regarding the first engagement and first
shots we moved to Nimy Bridge to discuss the terrain and the double-Victoria Cross action of Lieutenant Maurice Dease and Private Sidney Godley of the 4th Bn Royal Fusiliers. We were most fortunate to find the grandson of Sidney Godley also pay- ing his respects at the bridge, this was something we could have never planned for, and was not only a very special moment for photos and selfies, but a poignant historic moment. Little did we know we would continue to bump into him for the rest of the day! After we had finished at the canal we moved to St Sym- phorien and paid our respects and laid a wreath at the grave of Private George Ellison. While at the cemetery we visited the graves of Musketier Oskar Niemeyer, who was killed trying the wind back one of the bridges over the canal and was the first recipient of the Iron Cross for the Germans during the Great War. We also went to complete the story of Nimy bridge and visit the grave of Lieutenant Maurice Dease VC, only to find Sidney Godley’s grandson there as well, he was more than happy to pose for photos behind the grave of the man who stood beside his grandfather and died. This was a photo opportunity that would never happen again! The day was concluded with lunch back in Mons where the party joined in with the civic commemorations at the town hall in the town centre.
The following day was a long day, when in the morning we looked at the actions to the west of Mons covering the actions at Hensies, Thulin, Audregnies and Élouges. The main action of the morning was the 9L action at Audregnies and Élouges where the 9L lost nearly a squadron’s worth of men in their first action of the war, and Captain Francis Grenfell won his Victoria
Colonel Martin Todd MBE at the grave Grave of Private George Ellison 5L Major Watson at Casteau of Private Charles Smith 16L