oli ▁as ▁a ▁captain ▁in ▁the ▁ ▁in ▁ 1 9 1 5 . ▁He ▁soon ▁distinguished ▁himself ▁by ▁his ▁courage ▁and ▁ten acity ▁and ▁received ▁two ▁Cro ix ▁de ▁guerre ▁on ▁ 4 ▁July ▁ 1 9 1 5 ▁and ▁ 2 7 ▁August ▁for ▁bra very ▁in ▁leading ▁his ▁batt alion ▁in ▁attacks ▁against ▁Turkish ▁tren ches ▁on ▁ 2 1 ▁June ▁and ▁ 4 ▁July . ▁ ▁Western ▁Front ▁W add ell ▁subsequently ▁served ▁on ▁the ▁Western ▁Front ▁and ▁was ▁promoted ▁to ▁Offic ier ▁of ▁the ▁Leg ion ▁of ▁Hon our ▁on ▁ 1 0 ▁June ▁ 1 9 1 7 ▁for ▁his ▁actions ▁during ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁the ▁Som me , ▁where ▁his ▁personal ▁example ▁helped ▁carry ▁an ▁attack ▁on ▁the ▁village ▁of ▁Bel loy - en - S anter re . ▁It ▁was ▁during ▁this ▁battle ▁that ▁the ▁American ▁poet , ▁Alan ▁Se eg er , ▁died . ▁Se eg er ▁was ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁W add ell ' s ▁Battalion . ▁Later , ▁W add ell ▁was ▁in ▁command ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 nd ▁Battalion ▁of ▁the ▁Rég iment ▁de ▁Mar che ▁de ▁la ▁Leg ion ▁et r ang ere ▁( R M LE ) ▁and ▁was ▁involved ▁in ▁the ▁successful ▁capture ▁of ▁A ub erv ie ▁during ▁the ▁N iv elle ▁Off ensive ▁in ▁April ▁ 1 9 1 7 . ▁In ▁August ▁ 1 9 1 7 ▁his ▁Battalion ▁played ▁a ▁leading ▁role ▁in ▁the ▁R M LE ' s ▁assault ▁at ▁Verd un ▁which