Page 238 - The Bugle 2018

AND WHAT OF PRIVATE BURGESS? HE WAS MY GRANDFATHER AND WAS IN THE FOURTH WAVE DURING THE ATTACK ON THE HILL HE RETURNED TO IRONBRIDGE IN MAY 1919
of the Croix de Guerre avec Palme, the highest award for a unit. Only six other such awards were issued during the war.
Exactly 100 years to the day nearly 70 ex KSLI and 5LI members stood on the hill and listened to a stirring account of the KSLIs attack, written by Lieutenant Bright himself and told by Major Mark Adams, his grandson. With the group were French veterans, local dignitaries and school children. The tour, organised by the KSLI Officers’ Association and the Bligny Officers’ Club, followed the exploits of the battalion during the final German offensive and the Last Hundred Days.
Looking at the ground over which the battalion advanced from what were now the German positions made one appreciate just how open the area was. Although there were about 100 casualties during the advance it could have been a great deal worse and makes one wonder if the speed of the advance was not appreciated by the German gunners.
Following Mark’s telling of the attack a memorial service was held at the Bligny Memorial itself. This was followed, rather impromptly at the request of the French dignitaries, by a further memorial service at
a Commonwealth War Graves site a few kilometres away. A French wreath was laid and the local digni- taries sang ‘God save the Queen’. In response we all attempted to sing ‘La Marseillaise’ - rather badly to be truthful. But no-one seemed to notice.
This was followed by a Vin d’Honneur and splendid lunch provided by the Lady Mayor of Chambrecy. Lieutenant Colonel John Marsham presented the Mayor with an engraved silver bugle on behalf of the Bligny Officers’ Club. In return we were treated to some rather nice champagne! It was a struggle to get away, but we had to return to our hotels in Rheims as we were hosting a formal reception for the local dignitaries that evening.
A splendid day was rounded off by small groups enjoying the balmy evening at various outside restaurants in the city.
And what of Private Burgess? He was my grandfather and was in the fourth wave during the attack on the hill. He returned to Ironbridge in May 1919, one of only a handful of survivors from those mobilised in 1914. He passed away in 1976.
Ron Gittings
Bligny Battlefield Tour Organiser
KSLI and French wreaths side by side
A French veteran, local mayors, French Government official and Lt Col John Marsham pay their respects