Berrington Hospital, autograph book of Mary Maria Squire, item 65

• April 16, 2017 19:50:50 Cheryl Ellsworth

  3rd DIVISION

       

       The General Officer Commending the VI Corps is at a loss

  to find words adequate to express his intense admiration for the

  unconquerable spirit and Spartan-like valour which the 3rd Division

  has displayed during the fierce fighting of the past nine days. The

  repeated efforts, made in great force by a determined enemy, to break

  through the left of the Corps where the Soldiers of the 3rd Division

  stood were repulsed time after time, and where ground had to be

  yielded to maintain an unbroken line, every foot was contested with

  a resolution which can hardly have been surpassed in the annals of

  the British Army. Had the 3rd Division, much weakened and exhausted

  by several days' hard fighting and nights devoid of rest, not

  maintained an unbroken front on the 28th March, it is difficult to

  believe that the enemy could have failed to attain his objective - 

  the capture of ARRAS.

       To maintain for more than a century a reputation for

  fighting such as the 3rd Division possesses is no easy matter; but

  not only has the Division succeeded in doing so, but in the last few

  days has actually surpassed its earlier glories in its magnificient

  bearing in battle EAST of ARRAS.

       The Corps Commander deeply regrets the heavy loss of

  gallant Officers, non-commissioned Officers and men which the

  Division has sustained since the 21st March, but all ranks of the

  Division may feel assured and will recognise that those valuable

  lives have not been thrown away or needlessly sacrificed, but were

  freely given to help in saving the British Empire at the hour of its

  greatest trial.

       The G.O.C., VI Corps, has to congratulate and thank

  warmly Major-General C. DEVERELL for the able manner in which he has

  commanded his splendid Division. He desires also to convey to the

  Staff of the Division his appreciation of their strenuous work.

  To all ranks of all arms of the Division who have borne themselves

  so bravely in the fierce battle of the past few days and who, before

  it took place, gave their unstinted efforts to make their ground

  secure, Lieutenant-General Sir A. HALDANE expresses his heartfelt

  thanks.

  
  

  30th March 1918

  (sd) A. HALDANE

  Lieutenant General

  Commanding VI Corps.

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