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Wark was in command of the 32nd Battalion which
crossed the start line at 9am moving south of Bellicourt. When the
advance was held up by two machine guns he employed a passing tank
to deal with them. He then gathered together 200 leaderless
Americans and attached them to his own command. With the support of
tanks his men swept through Nauroy at 11.30am taking forty
prisoners. When he observed a battery of 77 mm guns firing on his
rear companies and causing heavy casualties, Wark collected a few
men and rushed the battery, capturing four guns and ten of the crew.
With only two non-commissioned officers he pushed forward and
surprised and captured fifty Germans near Magny-la-Fosse. At about
3pm Wark halted his troops near Joncourt.
At 7am next day the unit attacked again and
advanced 1500 metres to a point just north of Etricourt. Another
attack took place at 6am on 1 October and the troops pushed through
Joncourt and beyond. Wark’s gallantry was often exhibited as he
again led from the front. Regardless of personal risk he dashed
forward and silenced machine guns which were causing heavy
casualties. This and other successes enabled the division to
complete its task of forcing through to the Beaurevoir line. |