| World War One in Ledbury - C J BEVAN |
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World War One in Ledbury - Gunner C J BEVAN Battery of the Royal Horse Artillery
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Ledbury Guardian Newspaper 07-11-1914 THE BATTLE OF THE MARNE LEDBURY GUNNER'S THRILLING EXPERIENCES AN HEROIC BRITISH BATTERY The heroic deeds of British gunners during the battle of the Marne were told in vivid language to a representative of the "Guardian" this week by a member of the now famous "L" Battery of the Royal Horse Artillery, in the person of Gunner C. J. BEVAN, who is at present staying with his stepfather. Mr. F. JONES, The Firs, Bridge Street, Ledbury, Gunner BEVAN who is one of the best types of the British gunner, said that as a result of the fighting which took place on the River Marne nearly all the horses attached to his battery were killed, and several of the guns rendered useless. The men who survived were sent back to England until fresh horses could be obtained for them and guns made ready for active service. In other words the battery, or what was left of it, came home to be made up afresh. Thus Gunner BEVAN was able to secure a short holiday in order to visit his mother and stepfather. He has been in the Royal Horse Artillery for five years, and for three years he had been attached to "L" Battery. For twelve months he was stationed in South Africa. When war was declared he was among the first of the British soldiers to land in France, and went over with the Expeditionary Force. He spoke in high terms of the reception accorded them by the people of Boulogne on their arrival and he showed our representative a miniature looking-glass he was presented with in exchange for a button off his uniform. The people gave them anything they wanted and made a great fuss of them. After their arrival at Boulogne they were soon sent to Mons and were in action almost straight away. It was not long before the Germans found the range, said Gunner BEVAN, who remarked upon the superiority of the enemy's guns over the British. "It is wonderful how they get the range" he proceeded. " No sooner had our guns taken up their positions than the Germans had got their range. Aeroplanes undoubtedly lent valuable assistance in this respect and they could not always be seen. At the Battle of Mons the Allied Forces were obliged to retire slowly for three weeks and at the end of that time the enemy were almost at the gates of Paris. During that period a great responsibility rested upon the Royal Horse Artillery because it had to cover the retirement of the general army. It was a terrible strain upon the men, who go no sleep and were fighting all the time with the exception of one day. During the three weeks mentioned they were rearguard fighting which was the most difficult task they could be called upon to perform. Gunner BEVAN said the splendid way in which they retired was due to the fact that in times of peace the army always made a great point of practising rearguard fighting. To this he attributed their escape from Mons. TRAPPED IN A FOG It was in covering the retreat of the Allied Forces on Compiegne that "L" Battery, with cavalry support, made itself famous. As already stated, for three weeks the men fought unceasingly and the only sleep they obtained was when in their saddles. The great bravery shown by the Battery enabled the force they were covering to retreat almost unmolested, but it was on the eve of the advance that the Battery were called upon to make their great effort. On the following day "L" Battery were told to limber up and await orders. But owing to the fact that the telegraph wires were cut or for some other cause the order did not reach them, and a thick mist blotted out from their view the retirement of the French cavalry. The order to retire not having arrived the Battery waited, limbered up, ready to move at a moment's notice. Soon after 5 o' clock the mist cleared and they were suddenly subjected to a terrible enfilade fire from the ridge which they had supposed to be still occupied by the French. Subsequently they learned that after the French cavalry left that position in the early hours of the morning a strong German force with ten field guns and two maxims had, under cover of the mist, advanced and occupied the position. When the mist had lifted sufficiently all twelve guns were brought to bear on the unsuspecting battery 600 yards away. The first volley killed practically all the horses of the gun teams. Thus retirement with the guns was made impossible and with all speed the men of "L" Battery, inspired by their commander Captain BRADBURY, unlimbered and commenced to reply to the German fire. Owing to their position they were only able to brig three of their guns to bear on the enemy, but these were promptly manned by such of the men as had not been killed during the first few moments. With magnificent coolness and splendid courage these three guns replied to the German fire with such good effect that one by one the German guns were put out of action. The British gunners however, were so terribly outnumbered and the firing of the Germans was so effective that in a very short time two of the British guns had been silenced and only one remained to defend the position. By this time very few men of the Battery were left, but the gallant little band worked the gun with such skill that they continued to silence the German guns. Many of the officers and men had been killed or wounded and at last only three men, Driver OSBORNE, Gunner DERBYSHIRE, and Major DARRELL were left to serve the gun. Although all wounded these three men, crouching behind the shield kept up a deadly fire with such effect that eventually all but one of the German guns were put out of action. This equal duel went on for some time until as one of the survivors remarked "We'd both had enough of it." and the enemy and the three brave gunners ceased fire, practically at the same moment. Thus, crouching behind the shield of their last gun the three heroes were found by the strong force of cavalry and infantry who subsequently came to their rescue. It was afterwards found when the relieving force advanced to the German position that all who had survived the British fire had retired leaving their guns in the hands of the Allies. For their bravery the three gunners have been recommended for the Victoria Cross. Gunner BEVAN who was in charge of No. 1 gun, contradicted the statement made that all the officers and men of the battery were killed or wounded. As each gun was silenced the surviving men made a dash for British lines and in this way a fair number escaped. Gnr. BEVAN and a comrade were the only two who escaped from No. 1 gun, the rest being killed. They had to make a dash for the British lines amid flying German shells and bullets which were like hailstones. Gunner BEVAN went through the fighting without a scratch and his many friends in Ledbury will hope that the same good fortune will attend him when he returns to the front. The survivors of the Battery had a month's rest in France and instead of it being made up in that country, the men received the joyful news that they were to return to England for the Battery to be equipped. FOOD SUPPLY VERY REGULAR Gunner BEVAN said the food supply at the front was very regular. Of course they had to prepare it themselves in some cases, such as bacon which was provided for breakfast. They were also regularly provided with tobacco but those who did not smoke a pipe did not fare so well and sometimes found it difficult to obtain cigarettes. Matches were very scarce. Gunner BEVAN said the German prisoners he saw appeared to be half-starved and seemed glad to be captured. He was inclined to the view that the Germans were oftimes compelled to fight at the point of their officers' revolvers. The Germans, he said were to some extent better equipped than the British and wore high-top boots. As regards the atrocities committed by the Germans, Gunner BEVAN said he thought the newspapers had been guilty of exaggeration. At the same time he did not say the Germans had not been guilty of barbarous deeds. Returning again to the Germans, Gunner BEVAN said he quite believed that a large proportion of the Germans did not know what they were fighting for, but the British soldier did, and realised what depended upon the issue of the war. Gunner BEVAN's last word was with regard to the Army organisation, which he described as being splendid. Everything was worked out to the smallest detail and he thought great credit was reflected upon the military authorities. Sources 1914 - 1919 Ledbury Guardian Newspaper - Herefordshire History |
Ledbury Reporter
![[Ledbury Reporter]](/lr.jpg "[Ledbury Reporter]"){kind=small} The Reporter now has Archive photographs for the years 2005 - 2009 which you can view and order. Select a year then make sure Ledbury is the keyword entered before pressing GO. I have spent many an hour in the Ledbury Library looking through the old Reporters which are on microfiche. Support this great local paper.
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