Loos
Hill 70
Following the capture of Loos village the 15th (Scottish) Division had orders to continue up the slope on the far side to a fortified position: Hill 70 Redoubt.
By 0800 hours the Scots were in what can be described as a form of disorganised order. They knew what they were supposed to be doing but following the loss of so many officers and the entangled street fighting the battalions were a jumbled mass surging towards the German line.
Whilst its title might suggest that this is a mighty ridge overlooking all surrounding it, the reality is somewhat different as it rises perhaps twenty metres above the village. As an observation post it governed the town of Lens. With the industrialisation of the ridge in modern times it is very difficult to gain an impression as to how it looked devoid of trees and buildings. The redoubt would have been close to the current roundabout near the hospital.
The sight of 1,500 Scots coming at them (disorganised or not) put the garrison of the redoubt to flight — fleeing towards the Cité St Laurent to the south, the Scots close on their heels. The men of the 44th Brigade tending towards the Dynamitière on the western side of the road and the 46th Brigade on the eastern side.
The actual orders for the Division were that it was to advance up the slope with their right on the redoubt. The redoubt would be taken and fortified but the advance was to continue towards the Cité St Auguste.
The Scots then, in pursuing the Hill 70 garrison, had completely changed direction and run headlong into a stout defence offered by the Reserve Infanterie Regiment Nr 22. The Scots were surrounded on three sides.
Digging in
Realising that any further advance towards the east was now out of the question Lt Colonel Sandilands of the 7th Bn Cameron Highlanders did his best to gather up (Or retrieve) as many men as he could. Reinforced by the 7th Bn Royal Scots Fusiliers (45th Brigade in reserve) Sandilands set about preparing a defence line on the Loos village side of Hill 70.
A trench was dug across the valley with its left near Chalet Wood (also known as Bois Rasé), its centre at Hill 70 and the right near the Loos crassier.
Sir Henry Rawlinson at IV Corps HQ had no idea that having reached Hill 70 the Scots had effectively turned right instead of continuing straight on. Preparing to continue the thrust of the attack towards Cité St Auguste the artillery was ordered to bombard the German lines in front of the village, leaving the Scots in front of the Cité St Laurent unaided.
By 1300 hours the thin German defences had been bolstered by reinforcements and although the first attempt to dislodge the Scots was beaten off, the balance had tipped in favour of the Germans. The Scots were running out of ammunition and an attempt by some to get back to Hill 70 was interpreted as a retirement.
Some Germans leapt out and charged, their battle cries inspiring others to do the same. The Scots defended the Redoubt as best as they could but the tide of enthusiastic Germans was too much for them and eventually the line was held in the new position created by the Camerons.
2nd Lieutenant Frederick Johnson from 73rd Field Company RE (who had been moved forward to consolidate the redoubt) was instrumental in rallying the men and attempting to retake the redoubt. His example and courage despite being wounded was rewarded with the Victoria Cross.
He was killed during the Battle of Cambrai on 26th November 1917. By then he had been promoted to Major. His body was never recovered/identified and he is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial to the Missing.
With the Germans back in control of Hill 70 it was impossible for the 15th Division to progress any further without further reinforcements.