Page 237 - The Bugle 2018

Bligny Battlefield Tour – 4-8 June 2018
The story of the 1/4th Battalion King’s Shropshire Light Infantry’s (KSLI) involvement in the Great War is a fascinating and extraordinary story. As a Territorial Battalion they were mobilised at the onset of hostil- ities and sent to their wartime station at Pembroke Docks. As a Territorial unit they were not permitted to serve overseas at that time, but asked if they would, and thinking they would be sent to France, their Commanding Officer readily agreed.
To their surprise they were sent to the Far East where they were kept busy putting down riots. Several companies were detached and D (Ironbridge) Company was sent to Hong Kong where Private George Burgess became the Inter Services boxing champion. Just what constituted ‘Inter Services’ at that time remains a mystery.
Returning to England during the summer of 1917, and expecting at least some small amount of leave, they were disembarked, still in their tropical uniforms, and immediately re-embarked for the crossing to France. They were involved in the Second Battle of Passchendaele and later the bitter fighting at Welch Ridge.
By the middle of March 1918 their strength was reduced to about 300 all ranks from the 1100 that had returned from the Far East, many of these were young men straight from the depot who had not seen combat. Amidst intelligence reports of a major German offensive (Operation Michael) they were sent to a ‘quieter’ part of the front behind Bapaume to support the French Army and to regroup.
On the evening of 5th June, the battalion was the brigade reserve, situated in shallow trenches about a mile from the front line on Bligny hill, when the brigade came under steady shelling with a mix of gas and high explosives. The two battalions holding the hill were pushed back, fighting a rear-guard action as they withdrew. Shortly afterwards the KSLI received orders to retake the hill. Under the command of Lieutenant Bright, the Senior Officer present, the battalion advanced a mile over open ground in four waves, each of some 75 men, and 100 yards apart, all the while under fire from low bursting shrapnel and machine guns. Moving quickly, they reached the foot of the hill, and pausing briefly to collect the survivors from the withdrawing battalions, they
took the hill using bayonets and bombs. Fearful of a counter attack the much-reduced battalion held the brigade until they were relieved later that same night.
Three soldiers were immediately awarded Croix de Guerre gallantry awards by the French Government and later the whole battalion was cited for the award
THEIR STRENGTH WAS REDUCED
TO ABOUT 300 ALL RANKS FROM THE 1100 THAT HAD RETURNED FROM THE FAR EAST
Captain Bright, who led the attack
Major Mark Adams relates the story of the attack with a French veteran and tour members looking on
THE RIFLES
REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS 243