In the footsteps of HEROES!

In the footsteps of Lieutenant Robert Hope Gordon, 1/8th Kings at Guillemont on 8th August 1916

On 8th August 1916 the 2nd and 55th Divisions attacked Guillemont: The 6th Brigade of the 2nd Division assaulted from the west of the village against the area of the Station and the Quarry; and the 164th and 165th Brigades of the 55th Division assaulted to the south of the village towards Wedge Wood and Falfemont Farm. The 1/8th King's Liverpool Regiment, which was part of the 6th Brigade, attacked and broke through the German lines to push in-between the Quarry and the west of Guillemont. They entered the village, but the Germans counterattacked and cut them off. One of their sister Battalions, the 1st Kings also from the 6th Brigade, attacked and broke through in the vicinity of the station and entered the north-western end of the village. Throughout the day both Battalions fought to hold on to what they had gained in the face of stiff opposition. As the day progressed the Germans continued to attack with ever increasing numbers and many of the British infantrymen were either killed, wounded or captured in terrible hand to hand fighting. Some pockets continued to hold out until the following day, 9th August when they were finally withdrawn. In this action the 1/8th Kings lost 570 officers and men killed, wounded and captured, and the 1st Kings lost 235.

Among those who died was Lieutenant Robert Hope Gordon of the 1/8th Kings. Robert had volunteered at the beginning of the war and enlisted on 10th September 1914. He had been a scholar at Exeter College, Oxford and was subsequently commissioned on 9th January 1915 having been a cadet in the Oxford University Contingent, Senior Division, Officer Training Corps. A letter sent to Robert’s father by another officer of 1/8th Kings, who was taken prisoner on the 8th, states that Robert volunteered to get a message back from Captain Murphy, the OC, when D and C Company had been cut off. He was unable to make contact with 1 Kings as by then the Germans had surrounded them. A private who had accompanied Lieutenant Gordon reported that Robert had been shot as they tried to get the message through.

The Action at Guillemont, 8th August 1916.

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