Ανδρείη τας άτας μικράς έρδει.*
- Democritus
Courage makes misfortunes seem small.*
After the German advance on 30 November 1917 during the Battle of Cambrai, the British counter-attacked on 1 December. 4th Battalion Grenadier Guards attempted to recapture Gonnelieu, just south of the Péronne-Cambrai road, south-west of Bonavis, which had fallen to the enemy the preceding day. During this action, Acting Captain G H T Paton commanded the support company. The attack failed but it prevented the Germans from advancing out of Gonnelieu. Meanwhile to the south, the British mounted several cavalry attacks south of Gauche Wood towards Villers-Guislain which had also been captured by the Germans the day before. One of these involved 2nd Lancers (Gardner’s Horse), 5th (Mhow) Cavalry Brigade.
They came under very heavy fire and were soon pinned down. Lance Dafadar Gobind Singh volunteered three times for carrying the messages over open ground under constant fire.First, he carried a report on the position to Brigade HQ and brought back the reply. He then carried another report back to the HQ but was refused permission to return to the front. His regiment eventually completed a successful withdrawal after nightfall.
Gobind Singh received the Victoria Cross, the highest British and Commonwealth award for gallantry in the face of the enemy.