OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER 1915
Diary of the War
The marshy condition of the ground and the bad weather made operations
on any large scale impossible, and, with the exception of raids in
various parts of the line, no serious offensive movement was attempted.
In December Field-Marshal Sir John French resigned command of the
British Army in France, and took over command of the Forces in the
United Kingdom. He was succeeded by General Sir Douglas Haig.
In October the Bulgarians, under the impression that the Central Powers
were winning the war, decided to join them, and declared war on the
Allies.
In Mesopotamia the British Forces reached Kut-el-Amara with a view to
the capture of Bagdad.
The campaign in Gallipoli having reached a deadlock, it was decided to
withdraw the British Forces and abandon the attempt to reach
Constantinople by that route. The whole of the Forces were successfully
withdrawn with only three casualties.
The 1st Battalion. Roll of Officers.
Lieut.-Colonel G. F. Trotter, M.V.O., D.S.O., Commanding Officer.
Major C. R. C. de Crespigny, Second in Command.
Lieut. E. H. J. Duberly, Adjutant.
Lieut. P. K. Stephenson, Machine Gun Section.
Lieut. the Earl of Dalkeith, Bombing Officer.
Lieut. Lord Stanley, Transport Officer.
Lieut. J. Teece, Quartermaster.
Capt. M. E. Makgill-Crichton-Maitland, King's Company.
2nd Lieut. F. G. Bonham-Carter, King's Company.
Capt. F. L. V. Swaine, No. 2 Company.
Lieut. R. P. le P. Trench, No. 2 Company.
2nd Lieut. F. E. H. Paget, No. 2 Company.
2nd Lieut. C. Leeke, No. 2 Company.
2nd Lieut. the Hon. I. A. Charteris, No. 2 Company.
Capt. C. H. Greville, No. 3 Company.
Lieut. O. Wakeman, No. 3 Company.
2nd Lieut. E. Heneage, No. 3 Company.
Capt. W. S. Pilcher, No. 4 Company.
Lieut. Viscount Lascelles, No. 4 Company.
2nd Lieut. A. A. Moller, No. 4 Company.
Capt. G. Petit, R.A.M.C., Medical Officer.
During October the 1st Battalion remained either in or just behind the
trenches until the 26th. The casualties in the other battalions
necessitated a certain redistribution of the officers, and Captain R.
Wolrige-Gordon, who had returned from sick leave, was transferred to the
3rd Battalion, while Captain Greville and Second Lieutenant F. G.
Bonham-Carter went to the 4th Battalion. On October 3 the 1st Battalion
relieved the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in the
trenches, and came in for a good deal of shelling, during which it had
twenty-six casualties. On the 6th it was relieved by the 6th Buffs, and
went into billets at Vermelles, where it lived in cellars. From
Vermelles to the trenches was a march of one and a half hours through
communication trenches practically the whole way, and fatigue parties
sometimes amounting to over 150 men were constantly sent up to the front
line. Lieutenant O. Wakeman and Lieutenant Lord Lascelles were
recommended for the rank of temporary Captain on account of their
gallant conduct, and the efficient manner in which they handled their
platoons under fire.
On the 7th Second Lieutenant R. W. Phillipps and a draft of 50 men
arrived, and on the 9th Second Lieutenant F. C. St. Aubyn and Second
Lieutenant H. Alexander joined the Battalion.
On the 14th the Battalion moved up into the trenches near the
Hohenzollern Redoubt and occupied the front line south-east of "Big
Willie," the name given by the men to the largest of the two German
trenches connecting the Hohenzollern Redoubt with the main line of the
German trenches.
[Sidenote: Oct. 17.]
On the 17th Lieut.-Colonel G. Trotter received orders to direct a
bombing attack against the German line towards Slag Alley. The attack
was to be undertaken by No. 3 Company under Lieutenant O. Wakeman, and
the men went out over the top with the expert bombers leading, but on
arrival they found two German machine-guns enfilading the front of the
German block. Second Lieutenant the Hon. I. Charteris and Second
Lieutenant H. Alexander, two very promising officers, were killed at
once, and a large number of men were killed and wounded. Lieutenant O.
Wakeman behaved with great gallantry, and went forward to see whether
anything could be done. He found that to attempt an advance was
impossible, and was just sending back for more reinforcements when he
was shot through the top of the skull and was completely paralysed in
both legs. Colonel Trotter now sent up Lieutenant Lord Lascelles to take
command of the Company, telling him, if possible, to keep all that had
been gained, but to use his discretion as to what should be done in the
circumstances. Lord Lascelles, on coming up, quickly grasped the whole
situation. He saw that while the two German machine-guns were in
position, it was a practical impossibility to take the trench, and he
very wisely withdrew what remained of that Company to our trenches. It
was well that he did so, for soon afterwards the Germans commenced a
heavy bombardment, which lasted till noon. The casualties were 2
officers killed and 3 wounded, with 125 of other ranks killed and
wounded.
Lieutenant Trench had asked the Commanding Officer the night before
whether he might lead the bombers, but his request was refused, as his
business was to remain in our trenches and see that every bomb was
properly fused before it was passed along to the front. When Lieutenant
Charteris, however, was killed, his men, not knowing what was expected
of them, started to come back. Lieutenant Trench rallied them, and took
them up again, when he was knocked down with a bit of a bomb through his
right arm. On the previous day only he had had a nasty blow from a piece
of shell on the shoulder, but had refused to take any notice of it.
Lieutenant St. Aubyn was also wounded during this bombing attack, but
not seriously. In the evening the body of Lieutenant Charteris was
recovered, and buried at Sailly-la-Bourse, Lord Stanley superintending
the funeral.
On the 10th the Battalion was relieved by the 3rd Battalion Coldstream,
and went into billets at Sailly-la-Bourse, but returned to the trenches
on the 26th, when Second Lieutenant R. Phillipps, who had only joined
the Battalion a fortnight before, was killed. On the 20th Lieutenant G.
Inglis and a draft of sixty-eight men arrived. On the 26th the Battalion
marched about fifteen miles to Allouagne, where it remained in billets
for a fortnight. The King, who was in France, had expressed his
intention of inspecting the Guards Division on the 28th, and all the
battalions were actually marching to the ground when the news arrived
that, owing to an accident to His Majesty, the inspection would not take
place. It was known afterwards that while the King was inspecting some
troops his horse, frightened by the cheering, had reared up, falling
back on His Majesty, and crushing him severely. Before he left France,
the following was published in orders:
SPECIAL ORDER OF THE DAY BY HIS MAJESTY THE KING
I am happy to have found myself once more with my armies.
It is especially gratifying to me to have been able to see some of
those that have been newly created. For I have watched with interest
the growth of these troops from the first days of recruit drill and
through the different stages of training until their final
inspection on the eve of departure for the Front as organised
divisions. Already they have justified the general conviction then
formed of their splendid fighting worth.
Since I was last among you, you have fought many strenuous battles.
In all you have reaped renown and proved yourselves at least equal
to the highest traditions of the British Army.
In company with our noble Allies you have baffled the infamous
conspiracy against the law and liberty of Europe, so long and
insidiously prepared.
These achievements have involved vast sacrifices. But your
countrymen who watch your campaign with sympathetic admiration will,
I am well assured, spare no effort to fill your ranks and afford you
all supplies.
I have decorated many of you. But had I decorated all who deserve
recognition for conspicuous valour, there would have been no limit,
for the whole Army is illustrious.
It is a matter of sincere regret to me that my accident should have
prevented my seeing all the troops I had intended, but during my
stay amongst you I have seen enough to fill my heart with admiration
of your patient cheerful endurance of life in the trenches; a life
either of weary monotony or of terrible tumult. It is the dogged
determination evinced by all ranks which will at last bring you to
victory. Keep the goal in sight, and remember it is the final lap
that wins.
GEORGE, R.I.
_November 1, 1915._
On October 31 Major M. Maitland was transferred to the 3rd Battalion.
[Sidenote: Nov.]
On November 1 the 1st Battalion went into Brigade Reserve, and moved
into billets on the La Bassée road. On the 10th Lieutenant G. Wilson
joined from the Yorkshire Light Infantry, and on the 18th Lieutenant the
Hon. P. P. Cary and Second Lieutenant H. V. Cholmeley arrived. On the
16th it went into the trenches at Chapigny with two Companies in the
front line, one in support and one in reserve in Rue Bacquerot, where
the Germans were very quiet, but the inevitable sniping made it
dangerous to any one who exposed himself. A great deal of work had to be
done improving and draining the trenches, but the men were wonderfully
well equipped during the cold weather, for they had high waders, leather
waistcoats, mackintosh caps, and good gloves.
[Sidenote: Dec.]
On the 26th the Battalion retired into billets at La Gorgue, and went up
into the trenches, relieving the 4th Battalion every two days, until
December 20, when it went into Brigade Reserve at Laventie. On the 21st
the 1st and 4th Battalions Grenadiers dined together, the dinner being
arranged by Captain Morrison. On the 23rd Second Lieutenant C. Wilkinson
joined the Battalion. On the 22nd the Battalion returned to the front
line, again taking turns with the 4th Battalion, and as the trenches
were ill suited for Christmas festivities, it was unanimously agreed to
postpone the Christmas dinners until January. Captain G. Petit,
R.A.M.C., who had been attached to the 1st Battalion for over a year,
left to take up another appointment. He had followed the fortunes of the
Battalion, and had fought with it in all the battles in which it had
taken part during the last twelve months. His departure was therefore
much regretted by the officers and men, with whom he was very popular.
The 2nd Battalion.
ROLL OF OFFICERS
Lieut.-Colonel G. D. Jeffreys, Commanding Officer.
Major Lord Henry Seymour, Second in Command.
Capt. the Hon. W. R. Bailey, Adjutant.
Lieut. D. Abel-Smith, Machine-Gun Officer.
2nd Lieut. the Hon. A. V. Agar-Robartes, Machine-Gun Officer.
Lieut. W. E. Acraman, Quartermaster.
Lieut. J. N. Buchanan, No. 1 Company.
Lieut. E. W. M. Grigg, No. 1 Company.
2nd Lieut. L. St. L. Hermon-Hodge, No. 1 Company.
2nd Lieut. H. G. W. Sandeman, No. 1 Company.
Capt. A. F. R. Wiggins, No. 2 Company.
Lieut. F. O. S. Sitwell, No. 2 Company.
Lieut. E. H. Noble, No. 2 Company.
Lieut. H. A. Clive, No. 2 Company.
2nd Lieut. H. F. C. Crookshank, No. 2 Company.
Capt. R. H. V. Cavendish, M.V.O., No. 3 Company.
2nd Lieut. W. H. Beaumont-Nesbitt, No. 3 Company.
2nd Lieut. I. H. Ingleby, No. 3 Company.
2nd Lieut. the Hon. B. B. Ponsonby, No. 3 Company.
2nd Lieut. E. R. M. Fryer, No. 3 Company.
Capt. A. de P. Kingsmill, No. 4 Company.
Lieut. J. C. Craigie, No. 4 Company.
2nd Lieut. the Hon. W. A. D. Parnell, No. 4 Company.
2nd Lieut. M. A. Knatchbull-Hugessen, No. 4 Company.
Capt. E. A. Aldridge, R.A.M.C., Medical Officer.
[Sidenote: Oct.]
In the redistribution of officers after the battle of Loos, Lieutenant
F. O. S. Sitwell and Second Lieutenant I. H. Ingleby were transferred to
the 4th Battalion, and Second Lieutenant E. R. M. Fryer and Lieutenant
L. St. L. Hermon-Hodge to the 3rd Battalion.
On the 3rd the 2nd Battalion returned to the trenches, and took over the
section of old British trenches east of Vermelles, where it remained in
support of the 2nd and 3rd Battalions Coldstream, who were in the old
German trenches south of the Hohenzollern Redoubt. It was hardly in
position when the Germans shelled the whole line heavily, and caused
some casualties. Two high-explosive shells landed in the trench occupied
by No. 1 Company, killing two and wounding five men. Second Lieutenant
Sandeman was knocked down, but not seriously hurt, and Lieutenant
Craigie was wounded.
This activity on the part of the German artillery was the prelude to a
counter-attack, by which the enemy retook the Hohenzollern Redoubt. On
the 4th the East Yorkshire Regiment tried to retake this Redoubt, but
failed. The 2nd Battalion Grenadiers, still in support, was engaged in
digging communication trenches towards the old German trenches which
were now our front line. It was an intricate piece of trench line, with
the Germans not thirty yards off, and required a great deal of work to
make it tenable. On the 5th the 2nd Battalion Grenadiers moved up in the
front line, and there was a certain amount of bombing on both sides. For
two days the Battalion remained in its trenches, and sniping was reduced
to a fine art, as hyposcopic rifles had been provided. On the 7th the
Battalion was relieved by the 3rd Battalion Coldstream, and retired to
billets at Vermelles, but even here the shells followed it, and fell in
and about the village.
On the 8th the Battalion returned to the trenches, and that night the
enemy attacked, but were easily driven off. On the 10th Lieut.-Colonel
Jeffreys determined to take the enemy's bombing post by surprise, and to
bomb up his trench as far as possible. No. 1 Company under Lieutenant H.
A. Clive was selected for the task, and the whole scheme of attack was
carefully planned and explained to every officer, N.C.O., and man who
took part in it. Second Lieutenant Sandeman was ordered to command the
party, but Lieutenant J. C. Craigie, the bombing officer, went first. It
was a pitch-dark night and very quiet, so that every man had to be
careful not to make any noise, more especially as every few minutes a
light went up silently. Slowly thirty crawling figures went out, and
made their way through the grass. A quarter of an hour went by in
silence, and Colonel Jeffreys, fearing that there was some mistake,
telephoned to Lieutenant Clive to ask why the attack had not begun, but
at that moment the first bombs exploded. Lieutenant Craigie reached the
German bombing post in safety, and as soon as the bomb-throwing began in
earnest, whistled back, which was the signal for Lieutenant Grigg to
come out with a chain of men carrying bombs.
The Germans, surprised by this shower of bombs, hastily retired, and
were followed by Lieutenant Craigie and Lieutenant Sandeman up the
trench. Having got 150 yards up the German trench, Lieutenant Craigie
sent back for reinforcements, and Lieutenant Clive came up himself with
another platoon carrying picks and shovels to consolidate the position.
Meanwhile in front the Germans were making a stand, and soon a message
came back for stretcher-bearers, but the narrowness of the trench made
stretchers dangerous, as they might possibly block the trench, so the
wounded were carried back over the top. A message had just been received
that barbed wire was wanted in front, when the telephone wire was cut by
a shell. With a narrow trench full of men filling sand-bags and making
fire positions, barbed wire is an awkward thing to carry up, and
Lieutenant Clive therefore gave orders that it was to come up over the
top. Now carrying the wounded back over the top has a certain
sentimental attraction, for anything connected with the wounded is
associated in men's minds with the V.C., but carrying barbed wire up,
although every bit as dangerous, is mere coolie work. Nevertheless the
barbed wire arrived at its destination, and the farthest point taken was
consolidated. One thousand five hundred bombs had been thrown, and there
were no more available; so when Major Lord Henry Seymour came along, and
ordered a second attack to begin at 1 A.M., he found there were no more
bombs, and there was nothing else to do but to build up the trench. It
was hardly to be expected that Lieutenant Craigie, who had been in front
all the way, should escape unscathed, but he got off very cheaply with a
piece of a bomb in his leg. Lieutenant Sandeman was untouched. No. 3
Company under Captain Cavendish had remained in support, feeding No. 1
Company with reinforcements as the situation developed. Almost
immediately after the attack started, Captain Cavendish sent Lieutenant
B. Ponsonby up with one and a half platoons to help No. 1, and soon
after Lieutenant Beaumont-Nesbitt was ordered off to look after the
Lewis gun. The remaining three platoons were therefore without officers,
and were gradually sent up in small parties for various duties. Captain
Cavendish himself was ordered not to go up, as he would have been senior
to Lieutenant Clive, and would therefore have had to take command in the
middle of these operations. Moreover, owing to the telephone wire to No.
1 Company being cut, he became the connecting link between the
Commanding Officer and the bombing party. When, therefore, he was
ordered at 4.30 to relieve No. 1, he had some difficulty in finding
where all his Company had got to, but eventually collected it, and
carried out the relief.
The Germans made a further counter-attack early next morning, but failed
to regain any of their lost trench. They contented themselves with a
heavy bombardment of our line.
The next day the Battalion received orders to cut the wire near the
front line, to prepare the way for our attack, which was to take place
two days later, but the men had not started when the Germans suddenly
began to shell that particular portion of wire with shrapnel. There was
something almost uncanny in their accuracy as regards time and place,
and it conclusively proved that they must have tapped our telephone
wires. After waiting until the Germans had finished, a party went forth,
and carried out the orders.
On the 12th the 2nd Battalion remained in the same trench, and although
in the morning there was only intermittent shelling the bombardment
increased in intensity during the afternoon. The Germans made a severe
bombing attack on the trench which had been taken from them, but were
easily beaten off. Although at one time there was some anxiety on our
part as to whether the supply of bombs would hold out, the enemy was not
only driven off but our bombers succeeded in throwing bombs into his
bomb stores, causing two violent explosions. During the whole attack our
line was heavily bombed by aerial torpedoes, a particularly accurate and
powerful form of trench mortar, but when it got dark the enemy's attack
died gradually away. The new Mills grenades proved a great success, as
they could be thrown farther than those of the enemy. The Battalion was
to have been relieved at 6.45 P.M., but owing to this attack the
relieving Battalions did not arrive until nearly midnight, and the
relief was not completed until 3 A.M.
On the 13th Major Lord Henry Seymour left to take command of the 4th
Battalion, and the same day Lieutenant T. A. Combe arrived. The
casualties during the two days in the trenches were 150 killed and
wounded.
In a private letter dated October 13, Major-General Lord Cavan wrote to
Lieut.-Colonel Jeffreys:
I should like to come and thank all your Battalion for its splendid
and glorious work of the past week, but I cannot leave Headquarters
till the fight is ended, and I do not want to bother you and your
officers and men, but simply wish them rest. In case I cannot manage
to come, and we are wanted again quickly, I hope you will accept
this letter of my profound gratitude for, and intense admiration of
your splendid services. To the men who have repulsed attack after
attack on the trench they took so gallantly, I simply could not say
enough, and I hope you have already put in names for due reward of
those who actually win our battles for us. My heartiest
congratulations and undying thanks.
The Battalion went back into billets at Verquin on the 13th, and then to
Sailly-la-Bourse. On the 19th it returned to the trenches opposite Big
Willie, and owing to some mistake Nos. 1 and 2 Companies were crowded
into a trench capable only of holding one Company, with the result that
quite an unnecessarily large number of men were hit. On the 19th Second
Lieutenant F. A. M. Browning arrived, and on the 21st Major A. St. L.
Glyn joined the Battalion as second in command.
On the 22nd the shelling became so violent that a message was sent down
the whole British line to the effect that at any moment an attack might
be expected. On the 23rd the German artillery turned its attention to a
communication trench called "King's Head," which it blew in in several
places. Second Lieutenant H. Crookshank was wounded, and there was a
certain number of casualties among other ranks.
On the 26th Lieut.-Colonel Jeffreys was sent for to take command of the
35th Brigade, much to the regret of the whole Battalion. The Battalion
was formed up in mass near Fosse 8, and Lieut.-Colonel Jeffreys thanked
it for the splendid manner in which they had supported him during the
time he had been in command. He made touching references to his
predecessor Lieut.-Colonel W. Smith, and ended by congratulating it on
all it had done since the beginning of the war.
Thus the command of the Battalion devolved on Major A. Glyn, who had
only just arrived, and who wrote diffidently to General Feilding,
pointing out the difficulty in which he was placed by being in command
of a Battalion so soon after his arrival. On the 23rd Lieutenant Irvine
and on the 31st Second Lieutenant F. J. V. Hopley joined.
[Sidenote: Nov.]
The Battalion remained in billets at Lapugnoy until November 10, when it
marched to Chocques, where it stayed till the 14th, and then marched to
La Gorgue. On the 18th Lieut.-Colonel Jeffreys returned to the
Battalion, as his appointment to the 35th Brigade had only been
temporary, and it was not till some two months later that he was given
command of the 58th Brigade. On the 20th Major the Right Hon. Winston
Churchill was attached to the 2nd Battalion Grenadiers for instruction.
The 1st Guards Brigade took over the line of trenches opposite Pietre,
all in a very bad condition--communication trenches flooded, and
front-line breastworks crumbling and not bullet-proof. There was
consequently a great deal of work to be done, which the incessant
shelling retarded, while the weather, being cold and raw, with snow at
intervals, made things generally unpleasant. For the rest of the month
the Battalion remained in this part of the line, retiring occasionally
as far as Merville in reserve.
[Sidenote: Dec.]
The suspected presence of a German mine had for some time caused
anxiety, and it was therefore decided to send out a party to find and
destroy the shaft in the German trenches. Lieutenant the Hon. W. A. D.
Parnell, Sergeant Lyon, and eleven men volunteered for the expedition.
As soon as the moon had gone down the party started off over the
parapet, and advanced cautiously through the long grass which covered
the ground between the two lines. They had to cross a stream which was
composed of water pumped from the enemy's trenches, but fortunately
found a shallow place through which they were able to wade. On arrival
at the German trenches they cut the wire, and silently one by one
dropped down in the trench, but not a soul was to be seen. They moved
slowly forward until they reached the communication trench, where they
left two men to look out, and then went down the communication trench,
but after going on for about forty yards they heard voices. Their
mission was not to alarm the enemy, but to find out if there was an
entrance in the German trench to a shaft of any description; so having
satisfied themselves that none existed, they returned by the same route
they had come, and reported all they had seen to Lieut.-Colonel
Jeffreys.
On the night of the 17th two patrols were sent out to explore the
enemy's front trench. Lieutenant the Hon. W. Parnell, accompanied by
Sergeant Lyon, again started off with eight men. No rifles were carried,
but each man was armed with a bludgeon about eighteen inches long, with
an iron ring round the head. Two men carried six bombs each. A second
party was sent off by the 2nd Battalion Coldstream, and left at the same
time. On arrival in the German trench, which they again reached without
opposition, the Grenadiers went to the left and the Coldstream to the
right.
The party of Grenadiers advanced slowly down the German trench. They had
not gone far before they observed a faint ray of light from a dug-out.
Lieutenant Parnell halted the party, and directed Sergeant Lyon to go on
ahead and see whether there was any sign of a sentry. Sergeant Lyon
crept on, and saw that not only was there a sentry, but that on each
side of the trench there was a small place hollowed out large enough to
hold a man, and, what was more, there was a man in each hollow. Having
located the exact position of these Germans, Sergeant Lyon returned, and
reported what he had seen.
The whole party then advanced, and Sergeant Lyon flung himself on the
sentry, who made no attempt to alarm the others, and did not offer any
resistance. The man was accordingly bound and gagged. One of the other
Germans in the hollow managed to get out and fire off his rifle before
he was bludgeoned. The other made a similar attempt, but was killed
before he could manage to fire.
This one shot, however, was sufficient to alarm the whole German line,
and soon the whole trench was in an uproar. Parties were seen to be
advancing from all directions. Lieutenant Parnell therefore decided that
no farther reconnaissance was possible, and that the only thing to do
was to take his party back. So they returned the way they had come as
quickly as they could, with the loss of one man, who was killed when the
alarm was given.
Lieutenant Parnell was awarded the Military Cross, and Sergeant Lyon the
D.C.M. The Coldstream patrol reported it had gone some way down the
German trench, but had seen nothing.
For the remainder of the month the Battalion remained in billets at
Merville, and afterwards at Riez Bailleul. The Christmas dinner took
place at Merville. On the 30th Second Lieutenant T. W. Minchin, Second
Lieutenant H. G. Carter, and Second Lieutenant N. McK. Jesper joined the
Battalion.
The 3rd Battalion.
ROLL OF OFFICERS
Colonel N. A. L. Corry, D.S.O., Commanding Officer.
Major G. F. Molyneux-Montgomerie, Second in Command.
Lieut. G. G. B. Nugent, Adjutant.
Lieut. E. H. J. Wynne, Transport Officer.
Lieut. G. H. Wall, Quartermaster.
Lieut. G. G. Gunnis, No. 1 Company.
Capt. C. F. A. Walker, No. 2 Company.
Lieut. A. Anson, No. 2 Company.
Lieut. the Hon. F. O. H. Eaton, No. 3 Company.
Lieut. G. P. Bowes-Lyon, No. 3 Company.
2nd Lieut. the Hon. A. G. Agar-Robartes, No. 3 Company.
Capt. E. G. H. Powell, No. 4 Company.
Lieut. C. M. C. Dowling, No. 4 Company.
Lieut. G. F. R. Hirst, No. 4 Company.
Lieut. A. T. Logan, R.A.M.C., Medical Officer.
After the battle of Loos Colonel Corry returned, and resumed command of
the 3rd Battalion. Captain Wolrige-Gordon was transferred from the 1st
Battalion, and Second Lieutenant L. St. L. Hermon-Hodge and Second
Lieutenant E. R. M. Fryer from the 2nd Battalion to the 3rd Battalion,
while Captain Sir R. Filmer, Bt., went from the 3rd Battalion to the 4th
Battalion.
The 3rd Battalion remained in billets till the 4th, when it took over
from the 5th Liverpool Regiment a line of trenches resting on the
Hohenzollern Redoubt, and there it remained until the 10th. The Germans
were now in possession of the Hohenzollern Redoubt, and the position
thus perilously close to them was anything but pleasant. On the 8th the
enemy made a determined attack on this line, and surprised our bombers,
killing most of them. Lieutenant A. Anson, who was with the bombers,
stoutly refused to give way, and was killed with all his party. The
bombs with which our men were armed proved useless, as they got very
damp and refused to detonate. It therefore became a very one-sided
contest, but a machine-gun under Lieutenant R. Williams barred the way
to the Germans, and this had to be disposed of before they could
advance. Bombs and shells rained down on this machine-gun, and
Lieutenant R. Williams was killed. He was replaced by three sergeants in
succession, who fought on as gamely as he had done, and who met with the
same fate. The gun was soon afterwards put out of action.
The situation now looked ugly. The enemy was bombing down the trench,
and Nos. 2 and 3 Companies had retired somewhat precipitately before the
advancing Germans. The 3rd Battalion Coldstream on the right grasped how
serious this attack might become, and sent off some bombers who managed
to stop the rush. Later on Lieutenant Eaton and Lieutenant Gunnis
reorganised the men, and went forward to support the 3rd Battalion
Coldstream after they had succeeded in regaining the trench. The Germans
fought well, but were forced to retire, when they lost many men. The
total casualties in the 3rd Battalion were 137 all ranks, including
Lieutenant A. Anson and Lieutenant R. Williams killed, and Captain C.
Walker and Lieutenant the Hon. A. G. Agar-Robartes wounded.
On the 10th the Battalion retired into billets at Vermelles, and on the
12th to Vaudricourt, where it remained in reserve until the 14th. On the
9th Captain E. O. Stewart, Lieutenant the Hon. R. P. Stanhope, and
Lieutenant P. M. Walker; on the 10th, Second Lieutenant R. W. Parker;
and on the 15th Captain Lord F. Blackwood and Lieutenant O. Lyttelton
joined the Battalion. The last was appointed Adjutant.
The Battalion returned to the line opposite Big Willie on the 15th, and
at once set to work to improve the trenches, but the continual bombing
and shelling rather hampered its movements. On the 17th the enemy's
shelling became unpleasantly accurate, and the Battalion had 11 men
killed and 32 wounded. Lord F. Blackwood was blown up by a shell, and
was badly wounded. Captain Dowling and Lieutenant Hirst were buried in
their dug-out by a high-explosive shell, and were extricated just in
time. That night Major Montgomerie went out with a rifle and fixed
bayonet, and tried to ascertain exactly where the sap joined the
Coldstream trench. Having gained this information he took out a party
and finished the sap.
During the time in the trenches the casualties had been constant and
often very heavy: the Battalion lost all four Company Sergeant-Majors.
Company Sergeant-Major Tyson was killed, and Company Sergeant-Majors
Eason, Aston, and Day wounded. On the 21st the Battalion suffered a very
severe loss in the death of Major Molyneux-Montgomerie, who was shot
through the head whilst superintending work on Kaiserin Trench under
heavy fire.
The constant sniping and bombing caused many casualties, and the total
number of killed and wounded since the Battalion came to Loos was 19
officers and 500 non-commissioned officers and men, which proved how
dangerous the trenches in the neighbourhood of the Hohenzollern Redoubt
were.
On the 25th the Battalion left the front line and marched to Bethune,
where it entrained for Lillers, and on arrival went into billets at
Norrent Fontes. On the 28th the whole Guards Division was to have been
inspected by the King, but this had to be cancelled owing to an
unfortunate accident to His Majesty.
On the 25th Captain E. N. E. M. Vaughan and Lieutenant Raymond Asquith;
on the 29th Lieutenant the Hon. H. E. Eaton, Second Lieutenant B. E.
Yorke, and Second Lieutenant E. G. Worsley; and on the 31st Major M.
Maitland joined the Battalion.
[Sidenote: Nov.]
On November 8 the Battalion marched to La Gorgue, a very long and tiring
march of twenty-six kilometres, and went into billets. There it remained
until the 14th, and then marched to the trenches just north of Neuve
Chapelle. The line here seemed very quiet after the perilous trenches
opposite the Hohenzollern; but if the shells were less, the water
difficulty was greater than ever. Men had again to stand knee-deep in
water, and in the cold weather many felt that the constant bombing and
shelling was preferable. Two days in the trenches and two days out was
the routine until the 20th, when the whole Brigade moved back again into
billets at La Gorgue, and remained there until the end of the month.
[Sidenote: Dec.]
In December the Battalion occupied the trenches from Sion Post Lane to
Moated Grange North, and continued alternately two days in the trenches
and two days out. This portion of the line was in itself comparatively
quiet, but the relief was not altogether pleasant, since it was
necessary for the relieving companies to go over the top of the ground
to get into the front trench. The enemy was, however, singularly
inactive in the neighbourhood, and very few casualties occurred. The
patrols sent out by the Battalion encountered no opposition, although
they boldly went close to the German trenches and explored the craters.
The men of the Battalion were mostly employed in extensive draining
operations, carried out under the supervision of Colonel Corry himself,
and many improvements were thus effected.
On the 24th a new artillery commander seems to have taken over the
German guns, for the front trenches were subjected to a sound and
perfectly accurate fire, which contrasted strangely with the previous
desultory and usually ill-directed fire. The Battalion spent Christmas
Day in the trenches, and a plum-pudding and a pint of beer were given to
each man. On the 26th it left the trenches and marched to Merville.
The 4th Battalion
ROLL OF OFFICERS
Capt. J. A. Morrison, Commanding Officer.
Lieut. R. S. Lambert, Acting Adjutant.
Lieut. M. G. Williams, Machine-Gun Officer.
Lieut. C. E. M. Ellison, Machine-Gun Officer.
2nd Lieut. E. Ludlow, Quartermaster.
Capt. C. L. Blundell-Hollinshead-Blundell, No. 1 Company.
2nd Lieut. G. A. Ponsonby, No. 1 Company.
Lieut. C. R. Britten, No. 2 Company.
Lieut. E. F. Penn, No. 2 Company.
Capt. E. D. Ridley, No. 3 Company.
Lieut. B. C. Layton, No. 3 Company.
Lieut. the Hon. E. W. Tennant, No. 4 Company.
Lieut. R. D. Leigh-Pemberton, No. 4 Company.
Lieut. E. R. Brunton, R.A.M.C., Medical Officer.
[Sidenote: Oct.]
After the heavy casualties it had suffered at Loos, the 4th Battalion
had to be reorganised; and Captain Morrison, now in command,
redistributed the officers and non-commissioned officers, and as far as
possible made up the deficiencies. The Battalion remained in billets at
La Bourse until the 3rd, when it was ordered to occupy the trenches on
the left of the Hulluch--Vermelles road. Here there was a certain amount
of shelling. The system of trenches was highly complicated, and
extensive works were being undertaken. The Battalion was ordered to
prepare communicating trenches running parallel to Hulluch--Vermelles
road, and this work kept the men fully employed for two days.
On the 5th the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards was in trouble, and sent for
assistance, as it had had a portion of its trench blown in, and was
harassed by the enemy's bombs. Captain E. Penn was sent off at once by
Captain Morrison, with 100 men of No. 2 Company and 20 bombers, and told
to report himself to Lieut.-Colonel Cator. Lieutenant Sitwell, with No.
4 Company, was ordered to be ready to follow, but no real attack on the
2nd Battalion Scots Guards developed, and neither company, therefore,
was wanted. That evening the Battalion retired into billets at
Vermelles, but were not free from the shells there, and three
high-explosive shells pitched quite close to its billets. Lieutenant E.
R. Brunton, R.A.M.C., who had come out with the Battalion, and been with
them through the battle of Loos, was killed by a shell on the 8th as he
was going round the billets.
On the 9th the Battalion returned to the trenches, and relieved the 1st
and 2nd Battalions Scots Guards. Second Lieutenant M. Chapman, Second
Lieutenant G. C. Sloane-Stanley, Second Lieutenant E. W. Nairne, and
Second Lieutenant H. H. Sloane-Stanley joined the Battalion that day,
and on the 10th Captain Parry, R.A.M.C., arrived. On the 12th Major Lord
Henry Seymour came to take over temporary command of the Battalion.
On the 17th bombing attacks by the 1st Battalion Grenadiers and 2nd
Battalion Scots Guards began, and the 4th Battalion Grenadiers was
ordered to form a continuous chain of men to pass up bombs, sand-bags,
ammunition, and tools, and to hold all positions vacated by the Scots
Guards as they advanced. Lieut.-Colonel Cator sent back for assistance
as his bombers had been knocked out. The 4th Battalion Grenadiers
bombers accordingly went up, followed later by 100 volunteers, many of
whom had never seen a bomb before. Lieutenant C. Britten on his own
initiative took charge of a party of Grenadiers and Scots Guards, after
the two Scots Guards officers had been shot, and with great gallantry
and coolness successfully drove off the enemy.
The next day Lieut.-Colonel Cator expressed his indebtedness to the 4th
Battalion Grenadiers for its timely assistance; and the manner in which
the bombers of the Battalion had behaved on this occasion was specially
referred to by the Brigadier.
On the 18th the 4th Battalion mourned the loss of a brave and popular
officer. Captain Eric Penn was in his dug-out when a shell struck it. He
was completely buried, and although still alive when he was extricated,
he died a few minutes later.
The continual casualties and the strenuous digging were beginning to
tell on the Battalion, and although every two alternate days were spent
resting in billets, the high-explosive shells which reached it prevented
the forty-eight hours in billets from being a complete rest. The
Battalion went on the 21st for two days to Annequin, but on the 23rd
returned to the trenches opposite the Hohenzollern Redoubt, where again
there was a great deal of work to be done. The zeal which the 4th
Battalion showed in its digging operations elicited praise from
Brigadier-General Heyworth when he came round on a tour of inspection.
[Sidenote: Nov.]
On the 25th the Battalion retired to Allouagne, where it remained until
November 14, and then marched _via_ Estaires, La Bassée road, Pont du
Hem, to the trenches from Chapigny to Winchester road. Every alternate
forty-eight hours it went into billets, but during the days in the
trenches nothing of interest occurred.
[Sidenote: Dec. 12.]
The same routine continued until December 12, when a most successful
raid on the enemy's trenches was carried out. At 8.15 P.M. Captain Sir
Robert Filmer, accompanied by Sergeant Higgins and three men in No. 3
Company, went out to make a preliminary reconnaissance. By crawling
right up to the enemy's trenches he succeeded in locating the exact
position of the German machine-guns, and was able to confirm the report
as to the gap in the enemy's wire entanglements. Captain Sir R. Filmer,
who had already earned a name for bravery, crept quite alone down the
entire length of the German trench, and carefully noted all he saw. On
his return to our line the final orders were issued to the raiding
party, consisting of thirty-three men from No. 3 Company, and the
Battalion bombers under Lieutenant G. Ponsonby. The night was very dark,
and it was difficult to see any landmarks. Sergeant Higgins led the
party over the parapet at 11 P.M., and was followed by Captain Sir R.
Filmer and a covering party. Silently they advanced, but lost direction
slightly to the left, with the result that they missed the gap and found
themselves held up by low wire entanglement. Sir R. Filmer came up to
ascertain the cause of the delay, and after considering the situation
decided to cut the wire and rush the trench. The wire-cutting was
successfully done, although only a few yards from the German line, and
the party, headed by Sergeant Higgins, dashed into the trench. At the
same time our artillery, in accordance with a previously conceived
arrangement, opened a most effective barrage of fire, which continued
until the party returned.
Then bombing and bayoneting began in earnest, and the Germans were
completely cleared out of the trench. The machine-guns, which were found
to be too securely fixed to take away, were destroyed by bombs. It was
during this trench fighting that the bombing officer, Lieutenant G.
Ponsonby, was badly wounded in the leg. Private W. Sweetman, finding him
unable to move, carried him on his back under heavy fire to our lines.
The other casualties were one man missing and three wounded. This small
number of casualties proved how well arranged the raid had been, and how
brilliantly it had been carried out.
General Sir Douglas Haig commanding the First Army specially mentioned
this raid in his report, and wrote: "A well-planned and well-executed
operation, reflecting the highest credit on all concerned, from Colonel
Lord H. Seymour commanding the 4th Battalion Grenadier Guards downwards.
The immediate rewards asked for have been well earned, and I shall have
very great pleasure in recommending the names put forward."
The following day at Riez Bailleul, Major-General Lord Cavan sent for
and congratulated Captain Sir R. Filmer, Sergeant Higgins, and Private
Sweetman on the success of the raid. He also congratulated the Battalion
on having gained such a good reputation for digging and trench work.
The rest of December was spent either in billets at Laventie or in the
trenches in the neighbourhood. The monotony of trench life was relieved
by various schemes to catch the enemy's patrols, who were constantly
reported to come out at night. Occasionally parties were sent to lie out
and capture any Germans who might venture in front of their line.
Whether any of their efforts were successful or not it is impossible to
say, but reports of any movement on the part of the enemy ceased.
At the end of the month Major-General Lord Cavan was promoted, and
consequently gave up the command of the Guards Division.
The post of Divisional Commander is perhaps the one that presents more
difficulties and demands a more remarkable combination of qualities than
any other in the Army of to-day. It is essential that a general
commanding a division should combine the characteristics of the fighting
man with those of the strategist. In the higher commands personal
bravery so essential in a brigadier or commanding officer is a secondary
consideration. Of a brigadier, on the other hand, whose programme is
mapped out for him in the minutest of instructions, there is not
expected nowadays anything of the precise chess-playing skill of the
professional strategist. Hence it often happens that a brigadier
promoted to command a division is found to lack the necessary qualities
of strategy, while the born strategist, though not deficient in courage,
may be totally unable to think clearly and act decisively when under
fire.
Brigadier-General Feilding, who was now appointed to command the Guards
Division, possessed in a marked degree the two necessary qualifications.
A man of strong and resourceful character, fearless and independent in
judgment, he was gifted with that indefinable quality which enables men
to form prompt and wise decisions in moments of great emergency. His
practical experience of war under modern conditions was great and
extensive. He went all through the retreat from Mons, as well as the
subsequent advance, when he commanded first the 2nd Battalion Coldstream
and later the 4th (Guards) Brigade, and he had played an important part
in every battle in which the battalions of the Guards had fought. When
the Guards Division was first formed, he was placed in command of the
1st Guards Brigade, and carried out his duties with such distinction
that he was clearly marked out as the prospective successor of Lord
Cavan.