Commemorative plaque in Nery of the 1st September 1914 action of L Battery RHA which won 3 VCs
In 1914 L Battery supported 1st Cavalry Brigade of the BEF in the Great War. The greatest exploit in it's history occurred during the "Retreat from Mons" in "The Affair at Néry", an action at that village, about 33 miles north-east of Paris, On the evening of 31 August 1914, the 1st Cavalry Brigade & L Battery bivouacked in the village of Néry. The horses were picketed in enclosures around the village, those of L Battery, tied to long ropes stretched between the parked guns & ammunition wagons. It was intended to continue the retreat at 0430 next day, but a dense fog formed overnight, so the move was put off until 0530. Unknown to the British, the German 4th Cavalry Division had spent the night just beyond the plateau, about two miles from Néry. German patrols discovered the British at dawnt. An immediate German attack from both flanks took place, with 12 guns firing from the plateau. The fog suddenly lifted & the whole village was swept by the fire of the German guns. Men and horses, in the open & packed together, were shot down in swathes Closest to the enemy, on the east side of the village, the Battery received the full weight of fire from 12 guns at a range of 800 yds. Capt Bradbury,raced for the guns with the subalterns, Sgt Nelson and some men and unlimbered 3 guns. Bradbury took one, Lt Gifford another & Lts Campbell and Munday the third. Ammunition was brought through constant fire from 20 yards away and casualties mounted. Lt Campbell's gun had a direct hit before firing a round then Lt Giffords gun, was hit with severe casualties Bradbury's gun remained in action reinforced by some of the survivors and soon after Sgt Maj Dorrell returned. The last gun bore a charmed life and despite a constant flow of casualties, Bradbury kept in action against 3 enemy batteries under 1000 yds away. Bradbury was mortally wounded bringing ammunition to the gun leaving just BS Dorrell and Sgt Nelson. As the ammunition ran out the gun fell silent.
Size: 4032px × 3452px
Location: Nery France
Photo credit: © Niall Ferguson / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
Keywords: 1914, 1st, artillery, battery, cemetery, front, grave, horse, memorial, memory, military, nery, plaque, poppy, remembrance, rha, royal, september, vc, western, wreath, ww1
