ANCRE HEIGHTS

The Battle of Ancre Heights
The battle honour “Ancre Heights” represents one of the grimmest and most costly chapters of the Somme campaign for both of the Regiment’s perpetuated Great War units—the 2nd Battalion, CEF (the “Iron Second”) and the 77th (Ottawa) Battalion, CEF.
The Struggle for Regina Trench: For the 2nd Battalion, the battle is synonymous with the grueling, bloody assaults on the heavily fortified German stronghold of Regina Trench. During the major assault on October 8, 1916, No. 3 Company (under Captain Hilliard Lyle) and No. 4 Company (under Captain P. N. Alexander) were committed to directly support the 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade’s advance. Moving forward in the grey half-light of dawn, they occupied the old front line west of Le Sars, while the rest of the Battalion stood to in Candy Trench and Courcelette.
Heroism Amidst the Mud: Under continuous, crushing German artillery fire, the GGFG companies worked tirelessly to carry ammunition forward and evacuate the wounded. Kilted Canadian Highlander battalions repeatedly charged against uncut wire and erupted volcanic shellfire. Despite magnificent tenacity, the October 8th assault failed to breach the trench. The cost was heavy: the 2nd Battalion suffered 10 killed and 43 wounded, including Captain Hudson (commander of No. 2 Company), who was killed in a communication trench while reconnoitering the front.
The Loss of a Legend: Just days later on October 14, 1916, while still holding the line west of Le Sars, the Regiment suffered a devastating blow when Sergeant Leo Clarke, VC—who had single-handedly fought off a German counter-attack to win the Victoria Cross at Pozières Ridge just over a month prior—was mortally wounded by shelling.
The 77th Battalion’s Massive Contribution: While the 77th Battalion was broken up in England to serve as a reinforcement stream, its legacy is deeply bound to this battle. A remarkable 807 other ranks originally of the 77th Battalion fought in the mud of Ancre Heights under the banners of other Canadian units (principally the 87th and 38th Battalions).