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Western Mail, Thursday 15 June 1933, page 2
The Lagnicourt Affair.
Dear “Non-Com,'' - The letter by "One of the P.B.I:" in your columns of May 11 re myself and Lagnicourt, did, as you hoped, meet my eye. I assure you it awakened memories of a stirring, morning in April, 1917, and an experience that I have come to regard as too fantastic ever to have been mine.
Your correspondent, whose identity I can guess, was quite correct in saying that I am a survivor of that outpost fight, end correct also in his surmise that there are others - some 5 or 6 - all of whom Including myself, were taken prisoner. I should say, from memory, there were as many killed including, of course, Lieut. Pope, V.C. The survivors were all more or less wounded and in a state 6f collapse when overwhelmed by Fritz.
My recollection of the closing stages of the fight is a wild confusion of whiz-bangs, stick bombs, revolvers, curses and. grey uniforms - but enough!
Some day soon, perhaps, I'll sit down, and write the story of that great stunt and send it along to you.
The official-report in Army Orders of April 15, 1917, states:- "The body of Lieutenant Pope, along with those of most of his men, was found in close proximity to 80 enemy dead." Wishing your columns I continued success.
R.J.L., Millendon.
(That's a promise, Robert, I am sure you will have an appreciative public when you tell your detailed story on this page. “Non-Com.”)