Medal & Mortality index
The Military Cross was instituted as a Decoration on December 28th, 1914, to
reward Distinguished Services rendered by Officers of certain ranks in the army
in time of war. Bars may be added for additional acts of gallantry. Since August
1st, 1918, it has, like the D.S.O., been awarded for "services in action" only.
September 1917 :
During this period the Battalion was joined by the following officers :
Capt. E. E. Spicer, Lieuts. A. Bath and A. M. Duthie, and 2/Lieut. E. L. Mills.
and by the following attached officers :
C Company, which also took up a preliminary position in the old German outpost
line, was first told off to replenish the supply of bombs from the brigade dump
in Houndsditch. The fresh supplies were carried to London Scottish Headquarters
; and this task completed, the company occupied the rectangular work in the
support trench to the east of Tadpole Copse, a portion of the second Hindenburg
trench in rear of the Copse, and the communication trench connecting it with the
Hindenburg third hne, 2/Lieut. Mills being responsible for this communication
trench and the advanced block about 250 yards along it. 2/Lieut. Stuckey
occupied the main trench. These latter trenches were taken over from the 2nd
Londons early on the 24th.
At 5.30 a.m. on the 24th B Company (Beeby) moved forward, also coming under the
orders of the London Scottish, and at first took up a position in support in the
old outpost line outside the Hindenburg system. Almost immediately the company
was ordered forward to relieve the 2nd Londons in the communication trench
leading to the rear from the Quadrilateral held by C Company.
The morning passed comparatively quietly though the duty of keeping wicket
behind the bombing blocks was a trying one, which entailed the constant
alertness of all ranks in readiness to meet a sudden emergency. At noon,
however, the enemy put down a heavy barrage on the captured portions of the
Hindenburg trenches, and this was followed at 2 p.m. by a most determined attack
on the advanced blocks held by the London Scottish. This met with considerable
success, and though the Scottish fought with gallantry they were overcome by the
weight of the enemy's onslaught, and by 2.45 p.m. the German bombers had reached
the block held by Mills (C Company), Avho put up a stout resistance, under
orders from his company commander to hold his post failing further orders. In
this he was helped by the company's Lewis guns, which gave covering fire to
Mills' platoon and the London Scottish, and also engaged the enemy at the Inchy
Road Factory. Three of the guns were destroyed by the enemy's shell fire.
The trench was already uncomfortably filled with casualties in addition to the
men who were keeping up the fight, but in a few moments the congestion was
greatly increased by the numbers of Scottish troops who began to come back and
file along the trench. At about 3 p.m. about 50 of the London Scottish were seen
to leave the Hindenburg support trench in the hidden valley referred to, with
the object of making their way over the open towards the front trench. Realising
that this vacation of the trench might enable the enemy to surge forward along
it and so cut off Mills, who was still holding his own up the communication
trench, Barkworth promptly ordered Stuckey to advance and form a block beyond
the side trench held by Mills. Stuckey's losses, however, had been severe, and
with only five men at his disposal he was unable to cope with the task in view
of the great congestion of the trench. Rather than risk the sudden cutting off
of his remaining slender resources in men and the laying open to the enemy of
the whole Tadpole Copse position, which would inevitably result, Barkworth now
decided to withdraw his advanced positions and concentrate his company, and
accordingly Stuckey was ordered to block the support trench at the west entrance
to the Quadrilateral, Mills gradually withdrawing and holding the enemy off till
the new block was completed. In this retired position the remnants of C Company
were in touch with B Company and also with the 2nd Londons, and here the enemy
was finally held up.
This gallant little defence in which C Company put up a really good fight and
inflicted considerable loss on the enemy, cost it about 40 per cent, of its
strength in casualties and, as already stated, three of its Lewis guns.
The 25th November also witnessed very severe fighting in which the l/4th Londons
bore an important part and achieved considerable success. The fighting this day
fell to D Company who had not yet been engaged, and the objective allotted to
them was the recapture of the lost portion of the Hindenburg support trench as
far as its junction with the communication trench, which had been defended by
Mills the previous day. At the same time the Rangers were to make good the two
communication trenches leading back from the front trench to the support on the
east side of the Inchy Road, and also the support trench in prolongation of
Duthie's attack.
At 11.30 p.m. on the 26th the Battalion was relieved by the Kensingtons,
withdrawing on relief to its former position in the Brigade support area behind
the old British front line. This relief brought to a close the Battalion's
active participation in the British offensive, which was now practically spent.
During the very trying three days spent behind the bombing blocks in
circumstances which required particular vigilance and fortitude, all ranks had
behaved splendidly, and it is difficult to mention individuals when all had
rendered such excellent service. A few names, however, call for outstanding
mention, among these being Capt. S. J. Barkworth, M.C., M.M., and Capt. A. M.
Duthie, the commanders of C and D Companies, on whom the brunt of the work had
fallen, and their subalterns Rowlands and Mills. The Padre, the Rev. S. F.
Leighton Green, did splendid service throughout, being always about the
Hindenburg lines and going up to the advanced blocks. At night he was constantly
visiting and helping with casualties and administering the last rites to those
who had fallen.
The honours awarded for services rendered in the Battle of Cambrai were as
follows :
M.C.— 2/Lieuts. C. W, Rowlands and E. L. Mills.
On the last day in the line, the 19th, a raid on a large scale was carried out
by one company of the London Scottish on the right, and one platoon of the l/4th
Londons on the left, with the object of advancing the outpost line on the whole
sector, and establishing it an average of 500 yards in front of Tilloy Trench.
The assaulting platoon was drawn from C Company under 2/Lieut. E. L. Mills,
M.C., and afterwards (Mills having been hit) under 2/Lieut. J. L. Backhouse.
Zero was at 4.30 a.m., and eight minutes later the l/4th London platoon rushed
their objective after Stokes Mortar preparation. Unfortunately the enemy
garrison bolted and no identification was obtained, though they left a
machine-gun and many documents and maps in our hands. The London Scottish also
reached their objective and touch was gained with them. This advanced line was
held all day under German artillery fire, which steadily increased until the
Battalion was compelled to call for protective fire from our guns in
retaliation.
Military Cross
2/Lieut. E. L. Mills ; London Gazette 4. 2.18