A CLASSIC
A strong platoon of D Company with 2 tanks were to co-operate in an outflanking movement from the north to attack Schuler Farm. The tanks got stuck in mud and didn’t arrive. The platoon met unexpected resistance for a machine gun post about 150 yards in advance of the farm. The capture of this post, which produced 16 prisoners and 2 guns, cost the lives of 2/Lieut William Duncan Warren (22) of Rothsay, Bute, and the whole platoon except Sgt B.A.Watson and 6 men. The delay caused, moreover, was serious, and by the time the survivors of the platoon were able to continue their advance, the barrage had passed beyond Schuler Farm. Sgt Watson, being of the opinion that the strength of his party was insufficient to justify an attack on the main position, sent back his prisoners and established himself with the captured machine-guns at a point about 250 yards south-east of Winnipeg crossroads.
The Battalion was awarded 1 D.S.O., 3 M.Cs, 5 D.C.Ms & 4 M.Ms for the this action. Cpl Watson probably received the DCM ribbon from the Divisional Commander 19/10/1917 (from War Diary). From 400 men who started out, 276 men were either killed, wounded or missing. When the 4th Regiment was reconstructed in 1920, Watson was appointed C.Q.M. Sgt for B Company.