Posted originally on the 14th July 2021 on the @HorsebackSapper twitter feed
So 105 years ago today the 20th Deccan Horse and 7th Dragoon Guards crossed into No Mans Land to carry out a mounted attack onto High Wood. These units were supported by B Sqn Fort Garry Horse and the RE Field Troop of the Canadian Cavalry Bde.
The Sappers and Fort Garry Horse were with the Vanguard to help get the Cavalry across the British Trenches and to mark routes through the ground of No Mans Land, which was not totally churned up. There was still standing crops in front of the wood.
The point to remember that the cavalry were there to provide support and flank protection to 7th Infantry Division that was involved in the fight for Longueval. While they waited to be called forward the cavalry carried out mounted Recce of the flank areas.
The 91st Inf Bde was tasked to attack Highwould but was having difficulties and the Cavalry Vanguard was tasked to move forward to support the flank with an attack onto High Wood. This was about using mobile reserves to support and not the recreate the Charge at Waterloo.
The RE Field Troop had created cavalry crossings over the British Trenches and then moved forward with B Sqn FGH to mark routes, these would take the Deccan and the 7DG into the dead ground in front of the wood.
The Vanguard was engaged by MG fire from Longueval but only took a few casualties but pushed forward to clear German positions on the East side of the wood where they dismounted and formed a defensive line using shell holes and the standing corn crop as cover.
A Sqn of the Deccan Horse was then tasked with a mounted flanking attack supporting the 7th Inf Div’s attack on Longueval. As the evening wore on, the 7th DG and 20th Deccan stabilised the defensive line on the High Wood/Longueval road.
B Sqn FGH and the Sappers provided the link and support between the 2 cavalry units, holding a section of the line and also moving casualties and prisoners back to British lines. For all of the units their horses were held in the Dead Ground area while the units were dismounted.
The whole of the Cavalry Vanguard was relieved in place by infantry at 0330hrs on the morning of the 15th July. The attack showed a combined arms approach – Cavalry mobility supporting infantry, Sappers supporting Cav mobility, RFC providing info to the Cav on the ground.
In addition to the RE Field Troop going forward, the 1st Field Sqn RE was in the Cavalry Holding Area South of Montauban providing Water Supply and watering points to the remainder of the Cavalry.
5 years ago today I was fortunate to take part in a Horse Ride in full kit that followed the route taken by the Cavalry Vanguard starting at Chipilly and finishing with a wreath laying at High Wood. There were 14 riders from the UK and Australia, 4 of us were serving soldiers.
The Artist Graham Turner was one of the riders and he was kitted out as a 7DG trooper so that he could get an understanding of the Kit and equipment for his painting.
Crossing no mans land, into the dead ground in front of the wood and then to head to the east side gave a better understanding of the ground and also how you could get horses and men forward to take an objective. An incredible experience and one that I’ll never forget.
