War Memorial - Black Watch Corner
Near Zonnebeke
in Belgium
In 2014, a
statue of a Black Watch [officially the 42nd Royal Highland Regiment
of Foot] soldier was unveiled in Belgium to mark the
centenary of the battle that took place here in November 1914. The bronze
statue, designed by Edinburgh sculptor Alan Herriot, was installed in front of
300 regimental veterans at Black Watch Corner.
The official regimental history recorded:
Between 6.30 am and 9 am on 11 November, the heaviest
bombardment so far experienced by the British forces broke out; as it lifted, a
Division of the Prussian Guard, ordered by the Kaiser to break the British line
at all costs, attacked the front. Under cover of the bombardment, a strong
enemy force drove back D Company and the two platoons of A Company entrenched
at the south west corner of Polygon Wood. C Company under the command of
Lieutenant Anderson and in a strong point (point d’appui) 380 yards from the
south and west corner of Polygon Wood held out firmly. This split the attack
into small parties of 20–30 Prussians, many of whom were soon lost in the woods
behind. As they emerged from the back of the woods the guns of 41 Brigade Royal
Field Artillery, sited one thousands yards west of Nonne Bosschen Wood, opened
direct fire on the enemy at a range of 300–400 yards.
The effect was devastating and the German attack faltered.
At 3 pm a counter attack by the 2nd Battalion The Oxfordshire and
Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, supported by the Royal Field Artillery,
destroyed the remnants of the Prussian Guard and the line between the Menin
Road and Polygon Wood was re-established. At 3.30 pm three Companies of the 1st
Battalion The Northamptonshire Regiment, supported by parties of The Black
Watch and Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders, advanced from Nonne Bosschen Wood to
retake the south west corner of Polygon Wood. This corner was known on all
later maps as Black Watch Corner. Originally, however, it was the C
Company “strong point” south west of Polygon Wood which was given that name.
On 12 November 1914, the day after the battle, the strength
of the 1st Battalion The Black Watch had been reduced to 2 officers and 109
soldiers; the 1st Battalion Scots Guards to 1 officer and 69 soldiers and the
1st Battalion The Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders to 2 officers and 140
soldiers.
No comments:
Post a Comment