Elouges - First Gunner VC of the Great War

On the 24th August 1914 the 5th Division of the British Expeditionary Force were withdrawing south from the Conde- Mons canal. To protect their flank the divisional reserve was ordered from their position in Dour to form a flank guard in a blocking position between Audregnies and Elouges.

The flank guard at Elouges consisted of 1st Norfolf Regiment and 1st Cheshire Regiment, their artillery support being provided by 119th Field Battery Royal Field Artillery. The battery was commanded by Major EW Alexander and part of 27th Brigade RFA.

Action at Elouges

Despite intense artillery and infantry fire, the flank guard checked the initial German advances.  However , as German pressure continued, and with the 5th Division now withdrawn from the area, the order to retire was received by the Battery.

VC Action Elouges

Two guns from the 119th Battery withdrew , leaving the four remaining guns. The gunners had been under effective fire from three German Batteries and casualties were heavy. As the order to withdrew came there were insufficient men to move the guns. Seeing the situation the gunners were in, Captain Grenfell of the 9th Lancers asked if he could assist. He called on volunteers from his unit to help the remaining men from the 119th Battery to manhandle the guns to a position where they could be limbered up and then extracted from the area.

For their actions in withdrawing the guns from Elouges, Battery Commander Major EW Alexander and Captain FO Grenfell were awarded the Victoria Cross.

For the Royal Artillery this was to be the first VC awarded to the Gunners in the First World War.

Major EW Alexander VC
119 Field Battery RFA

Ernest Wright Alexander VC

 

[ London Gazette, 18 February 1915 ], Elouges, Belgium, 24 August 1914, Major Ernest Wright Alexander, 119th Battery, Royal Artillery.

For conspicuous bravery and great ability at Elouges on the 24th August 1914, when the flank guard was attacked by a German corps, in handling his battery against overwhelming odds with such conspicuous success that all his guns were saved, notwithstanding that they had to be withdrawn by hand by himself and three other men. This enabled the retirement of the 5th Division to be carried out without serious loss. Subsequently Lieutenant Colonel Alexander ( then Major ) rescued a wounded man under a heavy fire, with the greatest gallantry and devotion to duty.   

Captain FO Grenfell VC
9th Lancers

Francis Octavius Wright VC

The citation was gazetted on 16 September 1914:

For gallantry in action against unbroken infantry at Andregnies, Belgium, on 24th August 1914, and for gallant conduct in assisting to save the guns of the 119th Battery, Royal Field Artillery, near Doubon the same day.^[2]

He was killed in action on 24 May 1915 and is buried in the Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery.

CWGC Captain FO Grenfell

Mons - Action Elouges Cheshires Last Stand

At Elouges the initial attack by German infantry was checked, however  increasing numbers of German troops continued to put pressure on the flank guard. With the 5th Division now retreating safely, orders were issued by Lt. Col Ballard commanding the troops at Elouges at 2;30 pm for the flank guard to retire.

The 1st Norfolk and the British artillery began their withdrawal, but despite sending three messages to 1 Cheshire they failed to receive the order to retire. The Cheshires together with small parties of Norfolks continued to fight until they were surrounded and overwhelmed, the action finishing at 7 pm in the evening.

Looking over the Battlefield at Elouges
Cheshires last stand

Action at Elouges - Cheshires last stand

Mons - Action at Elouges Cavalry Charge

As the British Expeditionary Force withdrew from Mons 24th August 1914, the 5th Division was in contact as it retreated. The Divisional Commander, General Ferguson became concerned about the security of his left flank, and consequently ordered the divisional reserve to blocking positions between Elouges and Audregnies. In addition the 2nd and 3rd Cavalry Brigades who were in the process of retreating south, were ordered back into the area.

The German Army continued their wheel south and were moving along the road towards Valenciennes, north of the British Flank Guard.



Action at Elouges

View across the Elouges battlefield looking north form the British positions

 

The 5th Divisional Reserve (1 Cheshire and 1 Norfolk) supported by 119 Battery Royal Field artillery deployed into blocking positions around lunch time and were soon engaged by German Aartillery., and the German infantry advanced in two columns.

To disrupt the attack, the 9th Lancers, tgether with two troops 4 Dragoon Guards  were ordered to attack north into the German flank. Attacking along a roman road the cavalry thundered towards the attacking Germans.

Audregnies - Roman Road along which 9th Lancers charged

The charging cavalry were halted by intense German infantry and artillery fire, as well as by ordinary agricultural barbed wire fences,their limit of explotation being a sugar factory. They were forced to withdraw south east following a railway track to Elouges. .



9th Lancers charge at Audgregnies

Audregnies - Sugar Factory