Sergeants' Mess Annual Mess Dinner 1975
Sergeant Leon Jensen successfully recites the Battle of Nery at the Warrant Officers’ and Sergeants’ annual Mess Dinner for his indiscretion as a junior Sergeant.
The following is an account of the action on the morning of August 31st, 1914, from the book "The First Seven Divisions" by Captain Ernest W. Hamilton, 11th Hussars, and on the staff of Sir John French: "The same morning witnessed a very heroic little action at Nery. During the preceeding night, the First Cavalry Brigade had billeted in the little village, together with L Battery RHA, which was now attached to the Brigade. The village lies low in broken hill country. To the South and East of it, the ground rises suddenly and very steeply forming a long ridge which juts out into the plain from the North. Along these heights, Lieut. Tailbv of the 11th Hussars was patrolling in the early morning, and in a very thick fog, when he suddenly bumped right into a column of German Cavalry. He had hardly' time to gallop back and warn the Brigade, before shot and shell began to fly thickly into the village, The German Force, as it afterwards turned out, consisted of no less than six cavalry regiments with two batteries of six guns, each attached and there is every reason to believe that they were just as surprised at the encounter as was the First Cavalry Brigade. However that may be, the advantage in position, as well as in numbers was greatly on the side of the Germans, who from the heights they were on, completely dominated the ground below. Even the sun favoured them, for when that broke through about five o'clock, it was at the back of the enemy and in the face of the defenders.
The lifting of the fog soon cleared up any doubts in the minds of all concerned, as to how matters stood. On the heights above, with the sun behind them, were the six German Regiments dismounted with twelve guns, down below in an open orchard on the western side of the village, there were the Bays and L Battery Royal Horse Artillery'. They were still in position in which they had been in the night previous. Beyond them was the 5th Dragoon Guards, the 11th Hussars were on the south-east side of the village nearest the enemy, but more or less hidden from view and protected from the enemy's fire by the lie of the land. Then began -one of those rare episodes which will live forever in history and romance.
The position of L Battery had not been chosen with a view to action, except for the fog, it would have never been caught there, but having been caught there, it accepted the situation. Owing to the broken nature of the ground, only three of its guns could be brought to bear on the enemy’s position, but these three were quickly at work. The Bays who were the Regiment, chiefly in the line of fire, got their horses to safety and then joined in with the rifle and machine gun fire. Taking what shelter they could, but this did not amount to much, and the sun was in their eyes. None of these disadvantages made themselves felt in the case of the 11th Hussars, who from their sheltered position, were able to bring a most effective machine gun fire to bear on the flank of the German position. Their doings, however, we may pass by. The focus point of German attention was the Iittle Horse Artillery Battery down in the apple orchard. This now became the target for their practised, perfect tornado of shot and shell, and at the range of only 400 yards, two of the three guns were quickly' knocked out, and the fire of batteries, rifles and Maxims became concentrated on the one that remained. Men and Officers combined themselves on one gun, Captain Bradbury in command had one limb taken off by a shell, but he propped himself up and continued to direct the fire till he fell dead. Lieut. Campbell died as did the Brigade Major, who came up with orders from Headquarters. Lieut. Gifford and Lieut. Mundy both feel wounded, and Sgt. Major Derell took over command. With the support of Sgt. Nelson, Gunner Darbyshire and Driver Osborne, he cheerfully continued this absurd and unequal dual. In the meantime, the 5th Dragoon Guards had been ordered to work around to the north-east in order to make a diversion from that flank. This they were able to do to a certain extent, though at some cost. Col. Ansell being shot through the head, and killed at the very outset. The Regiment, however, were not strong enough single handed to make more than a demonstration, and the whole situation was far from promising. When by the mercy of providence, the 4th Cavalry Brigade most unexpectedly arrived on the scene from the direction of Compiegne. They lost no time in dismounting and joining up with the 5th Dragoon Guards, and the four combined Regiments poured a heavy fire to the flank of the enemy.
This new development entirely changed the aspect of the affair, and finding the situation getting too hot for them, the Germans made off hurriedly in the direction of Verrines, abandoning eight of their guns and one Maxim.
They tried in the first instance to man-handle their guns out of action, but the steady fire of the Cavalry on their flank supplemented now by the frontal fire from the Bays, who had by this time, installed their machine gun in the sugar factory to the west of the village, proved too much for them. They abandoned the attempt. The whole affair had lasted little over an hour, but the last word had yet to be said for the 11th Hussars jumped on their horses, galloped off in pursuit, captured fifty horses and a number of prisoners. The German casualties killed and wounded were also considerable, and on our side the troops in the open orchard suffered very severely. The Bays showed great daring activities throughout. Mr. De Crerpingny particularly distinguished himself; they lost seven Officers out of L Battery, only three men emerged unwounded. The survivors of this Battery, however, must forever be a source of gratification to reflect that the last shot in the most preposterous duel was fired by the Batteries blood-stained 13-pounder down in the apple orchard, and that was fired at the backs of the enemy. Captain Bradbury, Sgt. Major Derell and Sgt. Nelson were awarded the Victoria Cross, the former posthumously, the last two named were also given their commissions, Lieut. Gifford got the Cross of the Legion of Honour, and the entire Battery earned a name which will live as long as history Here is a sequel to this gallant little affair, in which is sufficient satisfactory to record, the 1st and 4th Cavalry Brigade billeted that night at Borest, and continued their Progress south next day through the Foret-o-Ermenonville here abandoned among the birch trees of the forest, they found two of the guns which the Germans had succeeded in getting away from Nery. It was a small incident, but very satisfactory as a finale."
The following is an account of the action on the morning of August 31st, 1914, from the book "The First Seven Divisions" by Captain Ernest W. Hamilton, 11th Hussars, and on the staff of Sir John French: "The same morning witnessed a very heroic little action at Nery. During the preceeding night, the First Cavalry Brigade had billeted in the little village, together with L Battery RHA, which was now attached to the Brigade. The village lies low in broken hill country. To the South and East of it, the ground rises suddenly and very steeply forming a long ridge which juts out into the plain from the North. Along these heights, Lieut. Tailbv of the 11th Hussars was patrolling in the early morning, and in a very thick fog, when he suddenly bumped right into a column of German Cavalry. He had hardly' time to gallop back and warn the Brigade, before shot and shell began to fly thickly into the village, The German Force, as it afterwards turned out, consisted of no less than six cavalry regiments with two batteries of six guns, each attached and there is every reason to believe that they were just as surprised at the encounter as was the First Cavalry Brigade. However that may be, the advantage in position, as well as in numbers was greatly on the side of the Germans, who from the heights they were on, completely dominated the ground below. Even the sun favoured them, for when that broke through about five o'clock, it was at the back of the enemy and in the face of the defenders.
The lifting of the fog soon cleared up any doubts in the minds of all concerned, as to how matters stood. On the heights above, with the sun behind them, were the six German Regiments dismounted with twelve guns, down below in an open orchard on the western side of the village, there were the Bays and L Battery Royal Horse Artillery'. They were still in position in which they had been in the night previous. Beyond them was the 5th Dragoon Guards, the 11th Hussars were on the south-east side of the village nearest the enemy, but more or less hidden from view and protected from the enemy's fire by the lie of the land. Then began -one of those rare episodes which will live forever in history and romance.
The position of L Battery had not been chosen with a view to action, except for the fog, it would have never been caught there, but having been caught there, it accepted the situation. Owing to the broken nature of the ground, only three of its guns could be brought to bear on the enemy’s position, but these three were quickly at work. The Bays who were the Regiment, chiefly in the line of fire, got their horses to safety and then joined in with the rifle and machine gun fire. Taking what shelter they could, but this did not amount to much, and the sun was in their eyes. None of these disadvantages made themselves felt in the case of the 11th Hussars, who from their sheltered position, were able to bring a most effective machine gun fire to bear on the flank of the German position. Their doings, however, we may pass by. The focus point of German attention was the Iittle Horse Artillery Battery down in the apple orchard. This now became the target for their practised, perfect tornado of shot and shell, and at the range of only 400 yards, two of the three guns were quickly' knocked out, and the fire of batteries, rifles and Maxims became concentrated on the one that remained. Men and Officers combined themselves on one gun, Captain Bradbury in command had one limb taken off by a shell, but he propped himself up and continued to direct the fire till he fell dead. Lieut. Campbell died as did the Brigade Major, who came up with orders from Headquarters. Lieut. Gifford and Lieut. Mundy both feel wounded, and Sgt. Major Derell took over command. With the support of Sgt. Nelson, Gunner Darbyshire and Driver Osborne, he cheerfully continued this absurd and unequal dual. In the meantime, the 5th Dragoon Guards had been ordered to work around to the north-east in order to make a diversion from that flank. This they were able to do to a certain extent, though at some cost. Col. Ansell being shot through the head, and killed at the very outset. The Regiment, however, were not strong enough single handed to make more than a demonstration, and the whole situation was far from promising. When by the mercy of providence, the 4th Cavalry Brigade most unexpectedly arrived on the scene from the direction of Compiegne. They lost no time in dismounting and joining up with the 5th Dragoon Guards, and the four combined Regiments poured a heavy fire to the flank of the enemy.
This new development entirely changed the aspect of the affair, and finding the situation getting too hot for them, the Germans made off hurriedly in the direction of Verrines, abandoning eight of their guns and one Maxim.
They tried in the first instance to man-handle their guns out of action, but the steady fire of the Cavalry on their flank supplemented now by the frontal fire from the Bays, who had by this time, installed their machine gun in the sugar factory to the west of the village, proved too much for them. They abandoned the attempt. The whole affair had lasted little over an hour, but the last word had yet to be said for the 11th Hussars jumped on their horses, galloped off in pursuit, captured fifty horses and a number of prisoners. The German casualties killed and wounded were also considerable, and on our side the troops in the open orchard suffered very severely. The Bays showed great daring activities throughout. Mr. De Crerpingny particularly distinguished himself; they lost seven Officers out of L Battery, only three men emerged unwounded. The survivors of this Battery, however, must forever be a source of gratification to reflect that the last shot in the most preposterous duel was fired by the Batteries blood-stained 13-pounder down in the apple orchard, and that was fired at the backs of the enemy. Captain Bradbury, Sgt. Major Derell and Sgt. Nelson were awarded the Victoria Cross, the former posthumously, the last two named were also given their commissions, Lieut. Gifford got the Cross of the Legion of Honour, and the entire Battery earned a name which will live as long as history Here is a sequel to this gallant little affair, in which is sufficient satisfactory to record, the 1st and 4th Cavalry Brigade billeted that night at Borest, and continued their Progress south next day through the Foret-o-Ermenonville here abandoned among the birch trees of the forest, they found two of the guns which the Germans had succeeded in getting away from Nery. It was a small incident, but very satisfactory as a finale."