On the afternoon of the 14th April 1917 men of the 1st Essex and the Newfoundland Regiment were given the unenviable task of attacking and holding Infantry Hill, just to the east of the small but strategically vital village of Monchy le Preux.

By mid-morning, not a single man remained unwounded to the east of Monchy and men were being captured in their hundreds by the rapidly advancing Germans.

A party of just ten men commanded by Lt Col Forbes-Robertson collected weapons and ammunition from the dead and with only a hedge for cover mounted one of the most remarkable holding actions of the entire Great War.  For over 11 hours, these ten brave men held off over 300 German soldiers and prevented Monchy from falling into German hands.

This is their story. 

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