Page:Breaking the Hindenburg Line.djvu/86

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70
Through the Hindenburg Line

the front, while the attacking troops were galled by heavy machine-gun and rifle fire from the right flank. It was one of those moments when battles are won and lost, but the man capable of dealing with the situation was there to meet the emergency. Lieutenant-Colonel B. W. Vann, M.C., of the 1/6th Sherwood Foresters, seeing that his men were held up and that the barrage was gradually outstripping them, with a corresponding increase of enemy resistance, rushed forward to the firing-line, exposing himself without thought for his own safety. Running from group to group of his men and encouraging them with precept and example, he reorganized and led the whole line forward. By his prompt action and absolute contempt of danger the whole situation was changed, the men were encouraged, and the line once more swept forward, catching up with the barrage and proceeding without further hitch to the Green line. In the final assault on the village of Lehaucourt, this officer again distinguished himself, rushing the team of a field gun which was firing at point-blank range. He shot with his revolver one of the gunners who was on the point of firing and clubbed two others. The success of the day, in fact, was in no small degree due to the splendid gallantry and fine leadership displayed by him.

After passing the first Green objective, the fog commenced to clear considerably, and the whole right flank of the attack was much troubled by the enemy occupying the high ground to the south of the Canal. Machine guns from this direction swept our right flank continuously, and enemy field guns firing over open sights quickly put out of action all five tanks allotted to the 139th Infantry Brigade. This battery was in its turn, however, put out of action by a small party of our men, who, with great gallantry and on their own initiative,