THE SOMME
I. SUMMARY OF EVENTS
In so far as the principal or Western theatre of war is concerned
the chief events of 1916--and they were events of stupendous
magnitude--were the resolute attack on the French troops around Verdun
and the most magnificent and successful defence by our allies. In all
their warlike and heroic past the gallant French never fought such a
fight, and even the greatest of their historic victories, such as Jena,
Austerlitz and the like, pale in renown when compared to Verdun. After
many German offensives west of Soissons and about Ypres, the enemy
appears to have definitely made up his mind to relinquish the idea
of seizing Calais and the Channel ports as hopeless, and by forcing
the French lines at Verdun to revert to his original plan of reaching
Paris--this time by another route. It was on the 21st February that
this great battle commenced, and the hostile lines swayed to and fro
for days and weeks as the tremendous struggle continued. Men died by
thousands and thousands, but never were our allies broken; “on ne passe
pas” was the war cry, and the enemy never got through the Frenchman’s
line.
The battle of Verdun may have said to have lasted till the end of
June, and there were not wanting many who murmured that we English
were deserting our comrades and that some great attempt on our part
should be made to bring aid to our exhausted allies in their desperate
straits. We had, however, our work cut out to defend our own line, for
our armies were not yet at full strength nor all our new soldiers fully
trained for war. What could be done was done. The British line was
extended, on the 23rd March, to include Souchez, and, as Sir Douglas
Haig, the new Commander-in-Chief, pointed out, the principle of an
offensive campaign during the summer was early decided on.
Preparations of a very extensive nature, however, had to be made: Haig
was in close consultation and agreement with Joffre, but the date was
dependent on many doubtful factors; the British armies were growing in
numbers and the supply of munitions steadily increasing; also training
was daily improving the new levies. On the other hand, the Germans
were continuing to press their attacks at Verdun, and both there and
on the Italian front, where the Austrian offensive was gaining ground,
it was evident that the strain might become too great to be borne
unless timely action was taken to relieve it. It was in June no secret
throughout France or England that an attack by us on a great scale was
in contemplation. The different units, brigades, divisions and so on
were all preparing for a very big event, and were moving to the several
points from which action was to take place. It was on the 1st July
that the Battle of the Somme actually took place or rather began, and
it started by a grand combined Anglo-French offensive on a twenty-five
mile front, north and south of the river of that name. The Somme
operations lasted many weeks and are divided in Haig’s description
into three phases: firstly, the successes gained between the 1st of
July and the 17th, during which the southern crest of the main plateau
between Delville Wood and Bazentin le Petit was gained; secondly, a
long and severe struggle for the mastery between the contending armies,
which may be said to have resulted in our favour by the first week in
September; and thirdly, the advance, which was pushed down the forward
slope and extended so that the whole plateau was in our possession.
There are many works now available, as well as the despatches
themselves, which will give a military student a good and clear
description of all this fighting; but the short sketch given above must
serve one who reads merely to understand what the Buffs were doing in
France during this momentous period.
II. 6TH BATTALION--1916
The 6th and 7th Battalions were the first of those engaged on the
Western front to take their parts upon the Somme, and we will now note
their story since the conclusion of 1915, when the 6th was in trenches
at Givenchy--very cold, and waist deep in water. The New Year opened
with a bombardment, and there were eighteen casualties on the 2nd
January. After a short spell out of the line, the battalion returned
to the trenches and for the next three months went through a time that
was probably the severest of the whole war: the trenches were almost
filled with mud--indeed, in some cases men were actually drowned in
it; the cold was intense; fighting was continuous and the wastage by
casualties appalling. The enemy had a preponderance of artillery and
an unbelievable number of that most nerve-shattering of all engines of
war--the heavy minenwerfer (mine-thrower). Mines were blown, all and
every day and night, by both sides alike, and the orders then in force
were to occupy at once any craters made, if within sixty yards of our
line.
There was a somewhat notable attack on one of these craters made by
the Buffs on the 6th March, 1916, which unfortunately, however, proved
a failure owing, as the brigadier reported, firstly to the heavy
condition of the ground, and secondly because the enemy had assembled
in some force, presumably with the object of driving us out of our
craters; consequently very much more opposition was met with than was
anticipated. A short narrative of this minor operation may give an
idea of certain incidents that are liable to occur in trench warfare.
A scheme had been drawn up and the necessary orders issued for an
attempt to seize what was known as the “triangle” crater, as well as
certain portions of the trenches in the immediate neighbourhood of
the Hohenzollern Redoubt, which were on the 6th March, 1916, in the
hands of the enemy. C Company The Buffs was detailed for this minor
enterprise and it was divided into three distinct parties, which were
to emerge from craters in our own possession. The attempt was commenced
at 6 p.m., but in ten minutes two of the attacking parties were held
up by a barrage of bombs and the third by heavy ground--the mud being
found to be knee deep. The party on the left managed, indeed, to reach
their objective, but the fact that the others were not up necessitated
their retirement, and at five minutes to seven the company had to
report that its advance was absolutely stopped. Half an hour later
another attempt was made, notwithstanding the fact that in the interim
the enemy had attacked in his turn. At 8.5 and again at 8.35 p.m. the
Buffs called urgently for more ammunition and grenades. They also
requested reinforcements, and a company of the 6th Royal West Kent was
ordered up to their support. Meanwhile the 7th East Surrey Regiment,
which was on the left, was attacked, and, though the assailants were
driven off, much damage was done to their trenches. There were two
more attacks on this regiment before eleven o’clock, but they were
unsuccessful. By midnight the situation on the Buffs’ front was exactly
similar to what it had been previous to the attack; the enemy had
made several bombing attacks against our own craters, but they were
successfully repulsed and during the remainder of the night the enemy
was quiet.
Later in the month on two separate occasions the battalion was brought
into the line from a hurriedly snatched two or three days’ rest
at Bethune, in order to resist German assaults or make a hurried
counter-attack.
Amongst the many individual acts of heroism was that of Corpl. Cotter
who, though himself at the time severely and, later on in the same
engagement, fatally wounded, directed a bombing attack, throwing bombs
himself after both his legs had been shattered, and thus saving a
trench from being rushed by the enemy. Another regimental hero to be
remembered for all time. It was sad that this glorious corporal died
in hospital at Lillers, but very gratifying to know that he lived long
enough to learn that his gallantry had been recognized by the award of
the V.C.
The following official announcement was published on the 31st March,
1916, in the list of winners of the Victoria Cross:--
“No. 6707 Lance-Corpl. (Acting Corporal) William R. Cotter, East
Kent.--For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. When his
right leg had been blown off at the knee, and he had also been wounded
in both arms, he made his way unaided for fifty yards to a crater,
steadied the men who were holding it, controlled their fire, issued
orders, and altered the dispositions of his men to meet a fresh
counter-attack by the enemy. For two hours he held his position, and
only allowed his wounds to be roughly dressed when the attack had
quieted down. He could not be moved back for fourteen hours, and during
all this time had a cheery word for all who passed him. There is no
doubt that his magnificent courage helped greatly to save a critical
situation.” His wonderful performance is still more remarkable on
account of the fact that he had a glass eye. Unfortunately, he did not
survive long to enjoy the great honour. At first he made good progress,
but he died on the 14th of March.
For the following details of the hero’s life we are indebted to the
_Folkestone Herald_:--
“Corporal Cotter was born at Folkestone thirty-four years ago,
being the eldest of six sons, all of whom entered the Navy
or Army. He joined the Buffs when he was about twenty years
old, and was on the Reserve at the outbreak of the War. Being
called up, he went to Canterbury, and was sent to France,
notwithstanding that he had a glass eye, having lost the sight
of his right eye through an accident some years ago. Excepting
two intervals, he had been at the front ever since, and right
up to March 6th he remained unwounded, although he had several
narrow escapes from being shot. His letters home were always of
a cheery type, and in the trenches he was one of the happiest
and best of men. He kept his comrades in good spirits, and he
was always ready to help the wounded or dying. Corporal Cotter
distinguished himself on several occasions in bayonet fighting,
and in December last he was recommended by his officers for
conspicuous bravery. He was then, it appeared, recommended for
the D.C.M.”
The 6th Battalion remained in the same sector until Easter, when it
went back for a well-deserved rest near Lillers. Here it was refitted
and reorganized and given plenty of hard work and hard training with a
view to what was to come. It benefited much from the complete change;
football and sports were indulged in, and at last there came some
decent spring weather.
On the 19th July six officers were mentioned in despatches, but only
two of them, Lea-Smith and Smeltzer, were alive. The names were Major
Soames, D.S.O., Captains Furley and Smeltzer, and 2nd Lieuts. Brodie,
Lea-Smith and Jelf.
During this month the battalion moved south to Amiens, and everybody
knew where the ultimate destination would be. On the 28th the real
warlike move took place. All surplus kit was left behind and a
position finally taken up behind Albert, as the brigade was not to
come into action just at first, but to form part of a reserve force.
On the 30th three thousand Mills grenades were issued out and a move
made to Bresle, from which place during the night tremendously heavy
shelling from our guns was heard.
The 1st July was the opening day of the great Somme struggle and
the Battle of Albert, 1916. Zero hour found the 6th just outside
Lavieville, and when the moment came it marched through Millencourt
and halted in a field north-west of that village--being, of course,
in reserve. A great deal of firing was heard and some rumours caused
a good deal of excitement: at first “all objectives had been gained,”
and then “the assault on Ovillers had failed”--which latter was
unfortunately fairly true, as the attack on this sector did not achieve
much success on the first day. At 5 p.m. orders came to be ready to
move at a moment’s notice into the intermediate line and the brigade
actually moved off at 7 o’clock, finding the greatest difficulty in
getting through the congested streets of the village of Millencourt,
but at 8.15 orders were changed again and the 12th Division was now
to relieve the 8th, which had suffered many casualties. This move was
accomplished at night time, the Buffs, with the rest of the division,
being all in the trenches by about 2.45 a.m. The 2nd of the month did
not bring another important effort by our troops at this part of the
line, though Ovillers was heavily bombarded.
At 1.15 a.m. on the 3rd, however, orders came that this village would
be attacked by the 35th and 37th Brigades at 3.15 a.m., after an
hour’s intense bombardment. The order of battle for the 37th Brigade
was 6th Battalion The Queen’s on the right, supported by two companies
of the Buffs; 6th Battalion Royal West Kent on the left, supported by
two companies of the Buffs; the 7th East Surrey Regiment in support.
After a few casualties, sustained by reason of the usual retaliation
to our bombardment, the Queen’s and West Kents attacked. Very heavy
machine-gun flanking fire met the Kentish men from the left and the
Queen’s from the right. A Company of the Buffs “went over” by platoons
about 3.30 a.m., and the first wave suffered few casualties until the
German wire was reached; but the succeeding waves of this company, and
those of C Company also, suffered heavily in their advance. The few men
that succeeded in getting into the German trenches, under 2nd Lieut.
Farmer, at once commenced to bomb the dug-outs. Eyewitnesses report
that the accuracy and regularity of this advance was remarkable, and
reminded them of field-day work. Two communication trenches were found
to be blocked. Owing to casualties amongst bomb-carriers the supply of
these necessities was soon exhausted, and casualties were inflicted by
German bombs. Finding at length that it was impossible to remain any
longer in the trench, 2nd Lieut. Farmer collected all the men around
him and brought them back to the English lines. The intense enemy
machine-gun fire held up also the attack on the right, and B and D
Companies did not go into the struggle. The German artillery maintained
a heavy fire on our trenches with great accuracy and weight.
About 7.30 a.m. a message was received that the 10th Corps was making
another attack, preceded by artillery preparation, at 8.15 a.m. If
successful, the 35th Infantry Brigade would co-operate. A message was
also received that if the 37th should again attack, the 6th Buffs were
to lead it with the two companies that had not suffered, and that they
would be supported by the Queen’s. However, it was decided that no
further efforts should be made on this sector for that day; the East
Surrey took over the front-line trenches and the brigade settled down
to be shelled. During the night a number of wounded were brought in.
The casualties of the 3rd July were, for the 6th Battalion The Buffs:
killed, Captain J. C. T. Leigh and 2nd Lieuts. H. G. Cox and S. T.
Hinkley; wounded, Captain Child, Lieut. W. W. Chapman, 2nd Lieuts.
Free, Carter and Madden; missing, Lieut. G. W. M. Burton and 2nd Lieut.
L. H. Batson, both of whom it was afterwards ascertained had been
killed. Total casualties, 11 officers and 263 other ranks.
It sometimes most unfortunately occurs that in war all casualties
cannot be discovered and collected. A man may be killed outright or
he may be wounded, perhaps in such a way as to prevent his crawling
or staggering away. Every effort is always made to retrieve and bring
away the sufferers, and it is most distressing to think this cannot
always be done. After the fight on the 3rd, the Buffs, together with
the rest of the brigade, had a comparatively quiet time, but on the 7th
2nd Lieut. Bond left the trenches with a patrol. He reported on the
German wire as being in bad condition, and he brought in five wounded
men who had been lying out, poor fellows, ever since the early morning
of the 3rd. Lieut. Lea-Smith was killed by a chance shell during the
morning of the 7th. The battalion did not go into the trenches again
till the 27th July, when the whole brigade took its place in the
Ovillers section once more after being hastily refitted and brought up
to strength.
What is described by Sir Douglas Haig as the first phase of the great
fight was now over, and the discovery had been made that the enemy
was in an immensely strong position, fortified, line behind line, to
an extent perhaps never before known in war, unless it be compared
with Wellington’s lines at Torres-Vedras, which Massena never dared
to assault. On the 3rd August, the Battle of Pozieres Ridge being
then in full swing, orders were issued for an attack to be delivered
by the 6th Battalion The Buffs on a certain German strong point and
for it to be carried out in conjunction with the 36th Brigade on the
right; this brigade was to assail what was known as the Ration Trench,
which communicated with the strong point in question. The attack was
to be launched at 11.15 p.m. B Company was on the left, D Company on
the right and A and C Companies in reserve. About 9 o’clock the enemy
shelled our trenches heavily, but some French ·75 guns were turned
on the German batteries with gas shells and completely stopped their
fire. Had it not been for this timely action, due to the initiative of
Lt.-Colonel Cope, commanding the Buffs, the casualties would probably
have been very severe. At 11 p.m. 2nd Lieut. Hanmer and a party of
bombers crept out under the barrage to be ready to bomb an enemy’s
machine gun should it open upon our men when they advanced.
Punctually to the hour ordered B Company went over the parapet and
was immediately joined by D, the barrage lifting at the same moment.
D Company then went through B to take the trench on the left of the
strong point, but during its advance eased off a bit too much to its
right; so A Company was brought up from the reserve and soon after C
Company also, and these two took and consolidated the objective and,
together with a company of Royal Engineers, pushed on a bit further;
but when dawn came B Company found itself in the Ration Trench.
However, touch was secured with the 36th Brigade, and the Buffs had
done their job. Lieut. A. J. Hanmer did most gallant work during this
action. He won the M.C., but was so severely wounded that he died of
his injuries on the 7th October.
2nd Lieut. Routley and a Sussex officer made a reconnaissance as far
as Mouquet Farm. The enemy tried a counter-attack from this place, but
it melted away before our Lewis guns. Two German officers and 87 other
ranks, mostly Prussian infantry, were unearthed from the dug-outs of
the captured works. The battalion was relieved, about 11 a.m. on the
4th, by the 6th West Kent, and went back to huts in Martinsart Wood,
having lost 4 officers wounded and 114 casualties of other ranks.
On the 10th August a somewhat curious accident occurred. In the early
morning our 60-pounder trench mortars bombarded a German sap with good
effect. 2nd Lieut. McDermott crossed over to it when the bombardment
lifted. After he had dropped a Stokes Mortar bomb down a dug-out the
Germans all fled. It was therefore arranged to take this sap after
some bombs had been got up. These were duly carried up and stacked
ready for use, and Captain Ward and Lieut. Sir R. Onslow were ready to
conduct operations. About 2.30 our trench mortars opened fire again by
way of preparation, but unfortunately one shot fell short, right into
the middle of our stack of bombs, exploding about 1,500 of them and
wounding both the officers named and an orderly. As the bombs were lost
the affair had to be given up.
On the 12th August the brigadier was informed that the attack on this
portion of our line was to be in future of the nature of a holding
one, and was not to be pushed home if much opposition was encountered.
On this day news from England came that Captain Farmer and 2nd Lieut.
Bond had been awarded the M.C., Corpl. Tamblin the D.C.M., and that
there were Military Medals for Sgt. Fox and Ptes. Anderson, Blackshaw,
Browning, Hughes, Luchford and Setterfield.
On the 14th August the brigade marched away from the Somme area to the
northward and did not return to this district till the 29th September.
It relieved the 34th Brigade in the neighbourhood of Beaumetz and
Betrencourt, which are villages some seven miles or so south-west of
Arras. Except for some trench-mortar activity this sector was fairly
quiet. The battalion was here for about six weeks and then returned
to the Somme, where by this time the British line had been very
considerably advanced. The 1st October found the 37th Brigade about
Lonqueval, whence it passed into a reserve line south of Guedecourt.
The ground was now so bad and the roads north of this part of the Somme
so inferior that transport became a great difficulty, and troops had to
rely almost entirely on pack animals for the supply of the necessary
food and warlike stores. Indeed, an attack arranged for the 4th October
had to be postponed for forty-eight hours on account of rain and bad
weather. On the 6th of the month the Buffs were in the front line of
their brigade.
Then an operation order was issued commencing with the words: “The
general advance of the Allies will be resumed.” This order was, as
usual, clear and minute as to detail, and it gave both a first and a
second objective. The Buffs were on the right of their brigade and the
Royal West Kent on the left. Of the Buffs themselves, A Company was
on the right, B in the centre and C on the left, and each of these
companies was given its own individual objective. D Company sent three
platoons as carrying party to the other three companies, while its
fourth was directed to construct a strong point. The attack was ordered
to be carried out in four waves at fifty yards interval; each platoon
extended to two yards interval, bayonets to be fixed and magazines
charged. Each man carried 220 rounds of small-arm ammunition, and the
carrying parties had a further supply. The artillery was to lift every
minute and fifty yards at a time. Arrangements were made to signal to
the contact aeroplanes. The zero hour was fixed at 1.45 p.m. on the 7th
October, but the enemy must have known what was coming, for an hour
before that the Buffs were heavily shelled, and at 1.30 the Germans
opened a tremendous machine-gun fire and shrapnel barrage on the front
trenches. However, at the correct moment the attack opened, and it
was met with an excessively heavy machine-gun and rifle fire which
came from an unexpected quarter. This held up C Company, but A and B
reached the first objective, suffering, however, somewhat severely. On
trying to advance further they were completely stopped by the German
machine guns, as were the West Kent on their left. About twenty men
of A Company succeeded in joining the 61st Brigade on the right and
they advanced with it; this brigade attained its objective. The first
objective gained by our men was bravely held all the day until relieved
at midnight by the 6th Battalion The Queen’s. Throughout the afternoon
the lines had been subjected to a great deal of bombing from the high
ground above them and to enfilade fire from the flanks. Lt.-Colonel
Cope was severely wounded, and Captain T. Pagen, R.A.M.C., was killed
in attempting to go to his assistance. The battalion, forty strong, was
taken out of action by the adjutant, Captain Page, the only officer who
was not either killed or wounded. It was for no slight reasons that the
6th Buffs were stopped in their advance. Eight officers were killed:
Lieut. P. R. Hatch, 2nd Lieuts. A. E. S. Ommanney, G. S. M. Norrie,
E. G. Routley, Loft, D. A. Harnett and R. B. N. Moss, and Captain
Pagen, R.A.M.C.; and twelve wounded: Lt.-Colonel Cope, D.S.O., Lieuts.
Cumberbatch, Bond and Chapman, 2nd Lieuts. Kidd, Woolbridge, Taylor,
Springay-Mason, Turk, Taylor and Jacobs. There were 347 casualties
amongst the rank and file--killed, wounded and missing. Yes, the 7th
October, 1916, was another dreadful day in the long history of the
regiment, as well as in the short one of its 6th Battalion, but the
ancient honour showed no sign of deterioration at this Battle of the
Transloy Ridges.
Now reduced to a mere skeleton of a battalion, though drafts began to
arrive almost daily after the 16th of the month, it was necessary after
a few days’ rest near Lonqueval to remove it, on the 21st October, to
the quieter sector of Reviere, in the district from which it had come
to the Somme at the end of September.
There was a certain amount of official correspondence about this great
fight, as there always is when full success is not gained by British
efforts; it seems clear that the artillery barrage was not strong
enough to keep down the hostile fire, that our front line was not
continuous, but had gaps in it, and that the ground was not suitable
for forming for attack.
Major Dawson assumed the acting command of the battalion, rendered
vacant by Lt.-Colonel Cope becoming a casualty.
III. 7TH BATTALION--1916
The commencement of the year 1916 found the 7th Battalion in billets
at Dernancourt. Early in January Lt.-Colonel Elmslie was invalided,
and Major Birch took his job until the arrival of the new commander,
Lt.-Colonel A. L. Ransome, of the Dorsetshire Regiment. In February the
battalion moved to St. Gratien, where it remained for fifteen days,
being employed in making the Daours-Contay railway; and then, in March,
it took over a position south of Maricourt about Corbie and Suzanne,
where it remained till the end of the month.
The incidents worthy of note at this time were not very numerous, and
the important move of the spring was to Picquigny, where strenuous
preparation for the coming great battle was continuously and
methodically engaged in: dummy trenches were laid out on a replica
of the ground over which the men were to attack, and one full-dress
rehearsal for the brigade took place with contact aeroplanes and
flares, the Commander-in-Chief being present. This special preparation
went on till the 10th June, when the battalion started for the line
itself, and it is not too much to say that the soldiers were remarkable
for keenness and zeal. There is always more of excitement and dash in
an offensive than in the somewhat tame and monotonous business of
a passive defence, though quite as much heroism can be exhibited in
the one as in the other. “Let us get at them” is, at any rate, a more
popular sentiment than “Stand fast, here they come.”
From the 11th June onward all work was concentrated in preparing
assembly trenches, communication trenches and dumps for the forthcoming
attack. The battalion was at Bray sur Somme on the 17th June and
remained there till the last day of the month, when it marched into
its assembly trench in Lapree Wood ready for the assault. It may be
remembered that on this day, the 30th June, 1916, the 6th Battalion was
at Bresle, about nine miles away.
On the great 1st of July the 55th Brigade, a unit of which was the 7th
Battalion The Buffs, to whose part in the struggle we will now refer,
held the line in front of Carnoy, and its objective was a trench about
two hundred yards north of the Montauban-Fricourt road. Zero hour was
7.30 a.m., and the following was the order of battle for the attack:
the 7th Queen’s were on the left, the 8th East Surrey on the right,
the 7th Buffs in support, with the special task of clearing the Carnoy
craters, and the 7th Royal West Kent were in reserve. At 7 a.m. our
barrage became intense and remained so till 7.22, at which time all
guns of the Trench Mortar battery opened for eight minutes, and at
the zero hour the whole brigade went forward to the assault. Local
conditions necessitated the breaking up of the Buffs for several and
separate duties: two platoons of B Company, under 2nd Lieut. Tatam,
were to clear the Carnoy mine craters; two platoons of the same company
to assist the assaulting battalions by clearing up captured trenches
or ground;[15] C Company to consolidate and garrison a certain trench
called the Pommiers Trench. Two platoons of D Company to act as
carrying parties. Two platoons of A Company to garrison two selected
localities in rear of the Pommiers Trench.
The Carnoy mine craters took six hours to clear, and six hours’ very
heavy fighting it was, carried out under 2nd Lieut. Tatam, whose
excellent work was rewarded by a M.C. C Company was soon called away to
aid the East Surreys, as were later on two platoons of A Company. In
fact, these two platoons of A, together with one of C Company, under
Lieuts. Dyson and Budds respectively, reached the final objective
and held that part of it allotted to the East Surrey Regiment until
relieved by other troops. Again it became necessary about noon to
send up half D Company to make good part of the final objective of
the 7th Queen’s. This was done successfully, but the company lost its
commander, Captain G. T. Neame, during the operation.
There is no doubt that during the whole operation, which was carried
out more or less as planned, our troops encountered far more opposition
than was anticipated; particularly was this the case at the craters, to
attack which only two platoons were originally assigned, a number of
men quite inadequate. The whole position, indeed, proved to be a very
strong one, consisting of four lines.
The battalion lost the following casualties on this day:--
_Killed_: Captain G. T. Neame; Lieuts. P. G. Norbury and E.
H. A. Goss; and 2nd Lieut. J. F. Baddeley and 48 other ranks.
_Wounded_: Captain C. K. Black; 2nd Lieut. H. Owen and 144
other ranks; and 7 missing.
The Buffs remained in the front-line trenches till the night of the
4th/5th July and were heavily shelled, the enemy relaxing nothing of
his activity and energy in this respect. The Pommiers line had been
consolidated and it was now the special mark of the German gunners.
The battalion reached Bronfay Farm about 3.30 a.m. on the 5th after a
very strenuous four days. The 5th was spent in resting, and the 6th in
necessary reorganization.
The time allowed in the back area was not a long one, however, and, on
the 12th July, the Buffs moved by companies via Maricourt to relieve a
battalion of the Liverpool Regiment about Maltz Horn Farm, which is in
the immediate vicinity of Trones Wood and marked the extreme right of
the English line. Here the French were on the right of the battalion,
and as the enemy still held Trones Wood and, as an old German
communication trench running at right angles to the front was now held
by us, it was necessary to have sentries facing both ways. On the 13th
July orders came that the 55th Infantry Brigade was to attack this
wood, and the following order was arranged for the Battle of Bazentin
Ridge in so far as the brigade was concerned: the 7th West Kent to
attack the southern half of the wood from the south; the 7th Queen’s to
attack the northern half from the west; the 7th Buffs, less B Company,
to remain in Maltz Horn Trench, mentioned above as running at right
angles to this line--one platoon to attack a certain strong point.
B Company was lent to the 7th Queen’s, attacked with them and suffered
very severe losses. 8th East Surrey to be in reserve.
At 7 p.m. one platoon of D Company, under 2nd Lieut. Scott, attacked
the strong point mentioned above. A bombing party moved along the
trench and entered it by a tunnel, but, on its entry, the enemy
was encountered in strength and its force appeared to increase,
reinforcements apparently coming in from the direction of the wood.
The consequence was that Scott withdrew his party and reorganized it.
He then proceeded to attack his objective over the open by parties
from the flanks, but he was met by heavy rifle and machine-gun fire
and was compelled to withdraw with loss. Verbal messages came over the
telephone about 10 p.m. that the holding of Maltz Horn Trench, the
defensive flank, was of the first importance and the line was not to
be thinned in order to attack the strong point again. Nevertheless,
attacks were continued on the morning of the 14th, and about 9 a.m.
the point was evacuated by the enemy, and patrols were sent forward
down the trench which led to Guillemont. No opposition was met with, as
the enemy was retiring towards that place. Touch was then established
with the 54th Brigade, and in the evening of the 14th the battalion
(less the company attached to the Queen’s) was lent to this brigade and
remained with it in the front line, after their own had been relieved,
until the early morning of the 18th, when it was withdrawn to Grovetown
Camp; there it stayed till the 21st, on which date it was withdrawn
temporarily from the Somme fighting and entrained at Mericourt for
Longpré and later to St. Omer. From there it marched to Recquinghem,
and finally to Hondeghem, about half-way between St. Omer and Ypres.
A fairly quiet life was now the portion of this battalion for a few
weeks, spent at first in the line near Bois Grenier, and afterwards
resting at Monchy Breton, near the little town of St. Pol, reorganizing
and training, always training, and absorbing fresh drafts from England.
At the end of September the battalion moved south again for the great
struggle at Thiepval. This village is about a mile from the River
Ancre, on the eastern bank, which is here very high and steep. Indeed,
the place is quite four hundred feet above the stream. It had been
taken from the Germans on the 26th September, and on that same date the
Royal West Kent Regiment (of the 55th Brigade) had reached Crucifix
Corner, though the Buffs were only at Hedauville but were still on the
march, so that the battalion bivouacked that night somewhat nearer the
scene of action. On the morning of the 27th, starting at 5.30, it moved
by platoons to Crucifix Corner, where the men got into dug-outs and
there remained till the afternoon of the 29th, when it relieved the 8th
Suffolk Regiment, A and C Companies proceeding to Wood Post, and B and
D to the old German line. One platoon of A Company acted as carrying
party to Thiepval for the 8th East Surrey Regiment. At 7 a.m. on the
following day came the S.O.S. signal from the northern edge of the
Schwaben Redoubt and the Buffs were ordered to stand by in readiness.
The Schwaben Redoubt was in shape roughly an oval and certainly not
a square, though the terms north face, west face, etc., are used for
convenience in the following narrative of the fight there. It was
somewhere about five hundred yards long and two hundred broad, and the
original parapets were so knocked about by the 1st October that they
were mere mounds and ditches with shelving sides. For defence they had
to be roughly and rapidly improved and adapted as occasion required,
but on account of the constant bombardment it was impossible to shape
them up properly.
What had happened in this place was that the enemy, making a somewhat
sudden and resolute attack, had driven the defenders back from the
southern face of the work, considerably weakened one of the East Surrey
companies and captured the whole of the western face. Counter-attacks
were immediately organized and, in connection with this, D Company of
the Buffs was, at 9.35 a.m., sent up to occupy the northern defences of
the village of Thiepval, and at 1.25 this company got orders to send
two platoons to act in conjunction with the East Surrey in attacking
and capturing the Schwaben Redoubt. These two platoons were given
definite objectives and the zero hour was fixed at 4 p.m.
A Company moved up to Thiepval and reported to the O.C. 8th East
Surrey. At 9.15 in the evening, the attack on the west face having
failed, and that on the north one having succeeded, it was found that
the Surrey battalion had suffered too much loss to be of much further
use, and the rest of the Buffs went forward to take over the redoubt,
together with the western defences of the village.
Soon after midnight came a short message from 2nd Lieut. Carman, who
commanded the two platoons of D Company that had gone forward to attack
with the Surrey men. It was to the effect that his men were almost
entirely wiped out directly the starting-point was left.
One of the most difficult periods the battalion ever had to face during
the war commenced with the month of October. The commanding officer
held a consultation with the chief of the East Surrey and they decided
that B Company of the Buffs (Captain Brice) should take over the whole
of the front line occupied by the Surrey men, and this relief was
completed by 5.45 a.m. on the 1st October. At 12.50 B Company was able
to report that Point R.19.d.45 was taken and touch got with the Royal
West Kent, so now the Buffs held part of the northern and part of the
southern face of the redoubt, and the West Kent held the country down
to the River Ancre.
It may be remarked that the contending forces were a good deal mixed in
the Schwaben Redoubt on the 1st October. In fact, about half-past eight
o’clock a German officer and twenty-six men emerged from a dug-out and
gave themselves up to Captain Brice’s men. The curious situation led
to very extensive use of bombs on both sides. B Company was ordered to
work the northern face with bombing parties, and great attempts were
made to clear the Redoubt by these means throughout the day, but no
substantial improvement was made. C Company relieved B on the 2nd and
was itself relieved next day, and still an indecisive bombing fight
went on, alternating with rather heavy shelling. At noon on the 4th
October it was decided that the only way to clear the redoubt of the
enemy was by bombing, and bombing alone, and in still greater intensity
and continuity. Orders came that this mode of fighting was to go on day
and night with the greatest vigour, and that bomb-stops were to be made
down all communication trenches which led northward.
The companies were by this time terribly depleted, and the brigade
gave orders that all positions were to be held, but no further advance
made. This was at 3.45 p.m., and it was not till 11.40 p.m. that the
welcome news came that at 6 o’clock in the morning the 8th Norfolks
would attack with bombing parties along the western face of the
redoubt, Stokes and Vickers guns co-operating. At 3.30 a.m. on the 5th
October, therefore, Norfolk bombing parties arrived at Thiepval in
search of guides, and, these being supplied, they went on. The Buffs
had received the simple orders to hold their own and nobly was that
order obeyed: the conditions were terrible; heavy rain had reduced the
shell-pitted ground to a sea of mud and it was thick with dead; German
heavy artillery was concentrated on the position and bombing attacks
were constant; but not an inch of ground was given up. The brothers A.
S. and C. D. Hayfield and the regimental doctor, Captain McCullum Orme,
particularly distinguished themselves. A. S. Hayfield was unhappily
mortally wounded, another very fine officer being lost to the army.
News came in the morning that the battalion was to be relieved in the
afternoon and, by 5.15, this relief was effected. At 2.30 next morning
(the 6th October) the battalion arrived by motor buses at Hedauville
and the next day to Candas, which is not far from Doullens. The 1st-6th
October was a terrible time and not to be forgotten by the survivors.
The estimated casualty list being: one officer killed, 2nd Lieut. D. M.
Taylor; one died of wounds, 2nd Lieut. A. S. Hayfield; and nine others
wounded. 26 men killed, 152 wounded and 23 missing.
[Illustration: THIEPVAL]
Up to the 14th there came a rest, with training and the usual football
and amusements, and then a three days’ march back to Albert and into
the Fabeck and High Trenches from the 22nd to the 26th. This proved
a very strenuous tour and involved some casualties, a few being from
shell-shock. We will leave the history of the 7th Battalion here. The
great Somme struggle was considered at an end on the 18th November, and
up to this date trench work and rest at Albert came each in their turn.
It is pleasant to note, however, that the 7th November brought the M.C.
to Captain Brice, 2nd Lieut. C. D. Hayfield and Captain Orme, R.A.M.C.,
and the D.C.M. to Sgts. Stewart and Steel.
IV. 8TH BATTALION--1916
The story of the 8th Battalion for the first half of the year 1916
is that of practically all the infantry units on the Western front.
Tours of trench work alternated as a rule with periods of so-called
rest. The misery of the former depended, as regards intensity, on the
period of the year. When the weather was fine, rats and lice were the
chief enemies in addition to the recognized foe; when the weather was
bad, then wet and frozen extremities were added. There were always a
few casualties in killed and wounded, and even the cheeriest-hearted
were bound to find a turn of trench work a bit depressing. When it
was the turn for rest, men crowded into leaky barns, 80 to 100 in
each, sleeping one above another in tiers. Training and instruction
of new drafts from England gave plenty of occupation, but in addition
there were amusements, football, running and other sports by day, and
entertainments by night in many cases. There were also baths.
At the beginning of January the battalion was at La Panne. On the 6th
the Buffs were transferred to the 17th Infantry Brigade, still in the
24th Division, and on that day they entrained for their new divisional
area about Poperinghe. The 14th of the month saw them in trenches
near Ypres, where plenty of work in the way of digging, draining and
revetting awaited the men. The 26th of January brought a welcome visit
from the 1st Battalion which was still in the Ypres area. Lt.-Colonel
Lucas, at the commencement of the war adjutant of the 1st Battalion,
took over command of the 8th on the 16th March from Major Cunningham,
a staff officer, who had relieved Lt.-Colonel Trueman a month earlier,
Trueman having been taken into hospital.
The 4th June brought the birthday honour list; Lieut. C. Lindsay
received the M.C., R.S.M. Brooker and Pte. Peet the D.C.M., Ptes.
Buzzard and Hall the M.M., whilst 2nd Lieut. Shafto heard a week later
that he also had the M.C.
On the 17th June, about midnight, there arose a cry of “gas,” and the
S.O.S. signal went up from the Royal Fusiliers who were on the left of
the Buffs and, almost at once, a brisk bombardment broke on our front
line. The gas itself arrived three or four minutes after the warning
and lasted half an hour. However, it missed our companies in the front
line, but spread somewhat over the reserves and headquarters.
On the 22nd June, after some rehearsal work at Bulford Camp, the
battalion marched, via Bailleul, to St. Jans Capelle, where it was
billeted in farms and continued its rehearsals. About this time Corpl.
C. Batchelor was awarded the M.M. for his conduct during the recent
gas attack.
Although they may not very greatly or directly influence the winning of
the war, raids were found to be of great use in fostering a manly and
martial spirit amongst our soldiers. There is something about perfectly
passive defence which makes for despondency and depression, but a raid
on the enemy evokes a spirit of enterprise. These are perhaps very
minor military enterprises in many cases and no description of them
will be found in the military despatches, but they are naturally of
intense interest to all concerned and show the enemy that the spirit of
those opposite them is quite undismayed.
On the 28th June, then, a detachment of the Buffs under 2nd Lieuts.
Anderson and Temple, to prove the value of the rehearsals, carried out
a raid on the German trenches at a point known as Ash Road Barrier,
which is near Ploegsteert. The men moved out in two parties so as to be
in position outside our wire at 11.31 p.m., at which moment an intense
bombardment commenced, directed on the points to be assaulted. Under
cover of this the men crept forward, the guns lifting fifty yards at
a time. Unfortunately the thing failed as a surprise, but Anderson’s
party succeeded in entering the enemy’s front-line trench and then,
after a bomb engagement, the raiding party withdrew successfully,
bringing back with them all their wounded and some much-treasured
trophies for the folks at home. The left party found the enemy’s wire
in front of them still uncut and it withdrew when the recall signal
sounded, leaving one dead man. Lieut. Hall commanded the covering
party, and Captain C. D. Gullick the whole operation. Three officers
and a hundred men went over the top. Four men were killed and twenty
wounded, and it is probable that the German loss was about the same.
After a few days’ careful training in the area north of Meteren this
battalion left Bailleul by train for Longueau, which is two miles east
of Amiens, and then fifteen miles back along the line to Le Mesge.
This journey was memorable not only because it took our people into
the vicinity of the great battle which was then raging, but also
because of the tremendous reception given to the soldiers by the good
folk of Amiens. This city is, of course, on the Somme river and was
within sound of the guns. Had the enemy succeeded in some of their
counter-attacks during the long and continuous struggle which was
going on, Amiens would have been the first important city to feel his
cruelty: the people were first of all Frenchmen, but they were Amiens
citizens as well. They were hearing daily of the gallant deeds of
their English friends almost at their doors, and they received those
soldiers, who were on their way to join in the struggle, as perhaps
only the French know how. After a week spent in training at the
business of the attack, the brigade proceeded by train to Mericourt and
marched to Morlancourt, some four miles south of Albert.
On the 6th of August the brigade got orders to take over the line
between Guillemont and Delville Wood and elaborate arrangements were
made accordingly, but they were altered at the last moment, and on
the 9th the battalion found itself in reserve on the Carnoy-Montaubin
road where, on the following day, an unfortunate accident occurred:
something went wrong with the working of one of our own artillery guns
which began firing short, so that our Battalion Headquarters found
itself being shelled by our own gunners and a few casualties occurred
before the matter was reported by a pigeon message. The 12th August
brought an unusually severe hostile shelling. On this day two poor
wounded fellows who had been lying out for three days were brought in
by B Company, and, in an attempt to bring in a third, Ptes. Jordan and
Stevenson were themselves wounded by a machine gun from Guillemont. On
the night of the 17th troops moved into the assembly trenches ready for
the morrow.
On both the 30th July and on the 7th August, before the arrival of the
17th Brigade, the village of Guillemont had been entered by British
troops, but in each case they had ultimately to withdraw again because
of the failure of simultaneous attacks on the flanks of the place.
It being obvious to the higher command that this position could not
be taken as an isolated operation, arrangements had been made by
both French and English commanders for a series of combined attacks
in progressive stages on Maurepas, Falfemont Farm, Guillemont, Leuze
Wood and Ginchy; and, with this in view, each unit had been given its
particular objective which it was to endeavour to gain on the 18th
August, starting at 2.45 p.m.
As far as the Buffs were concerned their orders were clear, and, with
the elaborate and carefully prepared trench maps, easy to understand:
two platoons of A Company under 2nd Lieut. D. Grant were to seize what
was known as the Machine Gun House and convert it into a strong point,
wherewith to assist the advance of the Rifle Brigade; the battalion
bombers were to bomb out from the posts they had occupied to fill in
the gap between the Machine Gun House and the left flank of the Rifle
Brigade, which was attacking on the right of the Buffs. A third platoon
of A Company was to be at the disposal of Grant as supports. C Company
(Captain C. D. Gullick), with half B in close support, was to attack
what was then known as the “Z.Z.” trench and to form a strong point.
Remainder of B to be at the disposal of Captain Gullick. The battalion
reserve to consist of D Company, the remaining platoon of A and one
company of the Royal Fusiliers. These were in what was called Trones
Trench.
At 2.45 the attack commenced and the 8th Battalion plunged into the
Battle of Delville Wood. C Company, with half B, rushed out of their
trenches and, keeping close under the barrage, successfully reached
their objective with very few casualties, although 2nd Lieut. W. J.
L. Peacock was killed about half-way across. On reaching the hostile
trench, our men found the enemy completely unprepared. One man indeed
was stark naked, and the greater part of the garrison surrendered at
once. One officer with a machine gun and crew certainly made a fight
of it, but the gun was captured and turned on the Germans. Captain
Hodgson brought up the remainder of his company to reinforce and
actually suffered more casualties than the assaulting party. He found
himself in command, for Gullick had been hit several times and was very
badly wounded. Two platoons of the Royal Fusiliers followed our men
and consolidation at once commenced, a good deep trench being quickly
made. A few dug-outs were found, but they were choked with German dead.
2nd Lieut. Grant and his party got safely across, and Machine Gun
House was occupied, but the trench thereby was found to be strongly
held. Lieut. Harrington, who had the right bombing party, was attacked
by some Germans who had hidden in some shell holes with their bombs,
but he succeeded in killing or driving them away and soon joined up
with Grant. The left bombing party met with considerable resistance
as they worked up the trench to where C Company’s right flank should
have rested. However, the men managed to capture the machine gun which
was causing most of the annoyance. Machine Gun House was quickly
consolidated and the communication and other trenches greatly improved.
During this action communications were kept up with remarkable
completeness by runners.
It may be well to note here that the Medical Officer, Captain Rankin,
had been wounded in the face and part of his dressing station had been
blown in, but he continued to work for several hours until ordered by
the commanding officer to report himself wounded.
The casualties on this occasion were: 1 officer and 38 other ranks
killed; 6 officers and 297 other ranks wounded and 16 other ranks
missing; and the list included all the officers of C Company and all
the company sergeant-majors, Dumbleton being among the slain.
On the 19th August the wounded officers were relieved and Captain
Pearce assumed charge of the front line. 2nd Lieut. T. W. Underhill
and four men were killed by shell fire during the evening and ten men
wounded. On the 21st another attack was made by the Rifle Brigade, and
the Buffs did what they could to help, particularly by sending up a
bomb-carrying party under 2nd Lieut. Rainey over the open, which drew a
tremendous fire on the Buffs’ trenches. Our friends did not reach their
objective.
The battalion spent the last week of August in comparative quiet near
Bray, but on the last day of the month news came that the 73rd Brigade
had been heavily counter-attacked between the Delville and High Woods,
and the 17th Brigade went back into the line to their support. The
Buffs took, however, no part in the successful attack which ensued on
the 1st September. On this day D Company was placed at the disposal of
the 72nd Brigade and moved off on the 2nd to join it.
On the 3rd September the Buffs were entrusted with an attack to start
from the Worcester Trench, but, owing to the fact that all the runners
sent to synchronize the time with the brigade on the left were killed,
the battalion started too late and so met the enemy’s barrage actually
on their parapet as they started and also heavy machine-gun fire.
Within one minute all the officers and the C.S.M. of B Company were
casualties and the attack was held up. The attempt had been made at
noon, and in half an hour’s time news of the failure reached Battalion
Headquarters and the commanding officer, after personal reconnaissance,
ordered Major Hamilton, who was in command of the front line, to
organize a fresh attack. This was arranged for 4 p.m. and an artillery
programme drawn up, Lt.-Colonel Stewart, commanding the group of guns
that was helping our infantry, being fortunately met with exactly at
the right moment. At 4 p.m. the second attack took place, but, owing to
the artillery not lifting and to heavy machine-gun fire from a strong
point, it was stopped. The bombers managed to work their way up the
trench towards the strong point, but all the supporting infantry were
hit. The following day the three companies were withdrawn and went into
the reserve brigade camp, having suffered the following casualties: 2nd
Lieut. T. Firminger killed; six officers wounded: 2nd Lieuts. Grant,
Hamilton, Twyman, Eyre, Rainey and Varge; other ranks, 16 killed, 81
wounded and 9 missing.
[Illustration:
_Imperial War Museum_ _Crown Copyright_
BRINGING UP WIRE]
Meanwhile D Company, temporarily attached to the 72nd Brigade, as has
been noticed, had gone up to support the 9th East Surrey Regiment in
Delville Wood, and these had suffered very severely from shell fire.
About 4 p.m. on the 3rd September Pte. Crick, one of D Company’s
stretcher-bearers, arrived at Battalion Headquarters, having made his
way for about a mile along the trenches, and informed the commanding
officer that all his company officers had been killed and most of the
remainder wiped out also. 2nd Lieut. Morrell was sent to take charge of
this company, but was only able to discover a few stragglers; Captain
D. G. Pearce and 2nd Lieuts. B. G. Bowles and B. B. Blackwell were
all dead. The assault delivered on the 3rd September had been a
tremendous and most important one. It was delivered along the whole
line: Guillemont was stormed; Leuze Wood and the Falfemont Farm were
taken; and this meant a great deal more than the mere advancing of
our line a few hundred yards or so. It meant that the quadruple and,
as it was thought by our enemies, the impregnable positions, which
had resisted all assault for seven weeks, had at last been broken and
the fact established that no elaborate series of earthworks could be
reckoned on as a safe preventative to the progress of the Allies.
The 5th of September took the 8th Battalion back to the reserve camp
by Fricourt, and thence it proceeded to the rest area near Abbeville,
where it got into excellent billets at Yaucourt and received drafts
and, of course, trained. The 27th of the month brought welcome news of
honours: to Lt.-Colonel Lucas a D.S.O.; Captains Gullick and Rankin
(R.A.M.C.) and 2nd Lieut. Grant the M.C.; the D.C.M. for C.S.M.
Carpenter, Sgt. Butler and Pte. Sheward; whilst a day or two later came
news of M.M.’s for L.-Corpl. Tinmouth and Ptes. Baker and Hart.
From the end of September to the 16th November, which date being taken
as the end of the Somme fighting, must be that from which the reader
will be asked to switch off his attention from France to other regions,
the 8th Battalion led the life so usual during the Great War and so
well known to all men: that is to say one week, or other short period,
found it in the trenches and the next in billets a bit in rear. Gouy
Servins was the usual resting-place, but there were other places,
notably Mazingarbe, where the men were in proper huts fitted with
electric light. The turns at the trenches were taken at Carency and at
Loos, and as the year wore towards its close the old trouble of the wet
came on again. The trenches got out of repair and began to fall in,
involving work for everybody and much discomfort.
At the end of October Sgts. Batchelor and F. Elson; L.-Corpls. Stevens
and Wynne; Ptes. Abbott, Barge, Bignell and Kerman found themselves
entitled to mount the M.M. ribband, and Corpl. Norrington got the
D.C.M. On the 1st November Lt.-Colonel Green and some of the officers
of the 1st Battalion came over from Bethune for a short visit.
V. 1ST BATTALION
The opening of the year 1916 found the 1st Battalion with its
headquarters at Forward Cottage, which is only a mile north of the
village of St. Jean and, of course, quite close to Ypres. On the 6th
January the battalion was cheered by finding that Captain Cattley, 2nd
Lieuts. Clouting, Dangerfield, Davies and Ferguson, Corpls. Wren and
Duff, Pte. Gunn and the late Captain Homan, together with the good
regimental doctor, Captain K. W. Jones, R.A.M.C., had been mentioned
in despatches. On the 17th, too, came a welcome message from Admiral
Jellicoe telling all and sundry of the high appreciation and esteem of
the various bodies of the sailors, who had by arrangement visited the
trenches in parties, and their admiration of the spirit of the troops.
On the 25th of this month several officers and sergeants of the 8th
Battalion dined with the 1st, and the opportunity of fraternizing was
naturally made the most of. The two units were under the command of
majors, namely Gould and Hamilton, Colonels Finch Hatton and Trueman
being both on leave.
A curious incident seems worth recording as showing a fighting spirit
a little out of the common, perhaps. On the 13th of February Pte.
A. Ralph reported himself at the headquarters as a deserter--of all
things. He had escaped from the home-keeping 3rd Battalion at Dover,
made his way over to the port of Havre, presumably as a stowaway, and
walked from that place to Poperinghe, where the fighting battalion was
at the moment. His trial by Court Martial was dispensed with.
On the 16th March the battalion entrained at Poperinghe and proceeded
to Calais for a rest and for fresh training, for training and
instruction was never allowed to drop during the war. New inventions,
modes and methods were constantly taken into use, and any relaxation
from manning the trenches was taken advantage of to bring a unit up to
date and to teach the new drafts what could only be taught in France
and Flanders. This rest lasted ten days, and then a three days’ march
brought the men back to Wormhoudt and into the Ypres area once more,
and it was not long before the old trenches round La Brique and St.
Jean were occupied by them again.
On the 19th April, while in the La Briques trenches, at 5.30 p.m.,
after a considerable amount of shelling all day, a heavy bombardment
was opened on the 2nd Scots Guards on the Buffs’ right, and on the 8th
Bedfordshire on their left. No. 15 platoon of our battalion suffered a
good deal, but the attack which followed the bombardment came chiefly
on the right and left of the regiment. Soon after eight o’clock Captain
Causton was able to get in touch with the Guards and learnt that on
their side the enemy’s attack had failed, but this was not so on our
left, where the Germans had succeeded in penetrating several of the
front-line trenches in the Morteldje sector; but two days afterwards
all the ground so taken was recaptured by the King’s Shropshire Light
Infantry, who suffered several casualties, including the gallant
Colonel Luard, D.S.O., who died of his wounds. The Buffs lost 21 killed
and 36 wounded during these few days.
On the 4th May Captain Cattley took a staff appointment. He was the
only officer who had never left the 1st Battalion since it arrived in
France. On the 4th June Colonel Finch Hatton, who had just rejoined
and taken over command again, was awarded the C.M.G., Captain Cattley
the M.C., Sgts. Trigg and Viggers, who had been killed, Corpl. Cullen
and L.-Corpl. Jenrick got the M.M., and on the 12th July Colonel Finch
Hatton went away again--this time to command a brigade. On the 16th
July C.S.M. Ralph was awarded the M.C.
A very important move commenced on the 2nd August. By this time the
fighting on the Somme had been raging for a month. It now fell to the
lot of the 1st Battalion to emulate in that district the deeds of the
6th and 7th, so on that day came a start from Poperinghe by train,
followed by marching and camping, till the 9th August found it in the
trenches south of Beaumont Hamel with the 2nd Durham Light Infantry on
its right and the 2nd Sherwood Foresters on the left. The Buffs were
now under the command of Major H. W. Green, who was made a temporary
Lt.-colonel on the 12th August. A period of strict and hard training
now ensued. It was a preparation for the fighting that was to come. As
has been explained, the constant arrival of fresh drafts from England
necessitated much teaching in France and teaching by men who were very
up to date indeed. During the time devoted to this work the battalion,
and indeed the whole brigade, was gradually approaching the fighting
line, having been at Villers Bocage on the 6th September, Corbie on the
7th and so on. It marched to Carnoy on the 11th September and relieved
the 167th Infantry Brigade in the line behind Guillemont and Combles.
By this time the fighting on the Somme was two months old. There had
occurred, as has been seen, a great deal of heavy fighting on the
3rd September and following days, and this had on the whole been
successful. The Allies had from the first been slowly but steadily
pushing forward and gaining one position after another. The enemy had
made a most determined resistance, but he had gone back. One line of
elaborate defence after another was falling into our hands, and Sir
Douglas Haig determined to keep up the pressure as long as the weather
and consequent state of the country permitted it. A general attack then
was opened on the 15th September, the objective being the rearmost of
the enemy’s original lines of defence, between Morval and Le Sars;
and when the advance on this front had gained the Morval line the
Commander-in-Chief arranged to bring forward the left of the British
troops across the Thiepval ridge.
There is a road running from Ginchy to Morval, and as it approaches
the ridge, on which the latter village stands, it is sunken and of
course conceals anything in it, and just about half-way between the
two villages a railway to the south of the sunken road almost touches
it. Where the road and railway most closely approach, the Germans had
constructed a very strong work which was known as the Quadrilateral
and which was but a very little way from the edge of Bouteaux Wood.
On the 13th of the month the 71st Infantry Brigade had attacked this
Quadrilateral, but the attack had failed. The 15th was the first
occasion on which tanks were used. Three of these new weapons had
been told off to assist at the attack of the Quadrilateral, and
consequently a gap in our barrage had been arranged so that these could
advance before the infantry started. However successful the tanks
were afterwards, these three proved worse than useless, because two
of them broke down, and the third was so knocked about that it could
do nothing, having amongst other injuries lost its periscope, so that
it could not see. The unfortunate thing was, that there remained the
gap in the barrage, exactly opposite the main face of the work to be
assaulted. At 6.20 a.m. the 8th Bedfordshire advanced gallantly over
the open, a bombing party attacking up a trench from the south-east.
The enemy’s machine guns caught the Bedfordshire men on the top of the
ridge and, though they tried in the most manly way, they could make no
progress.
The Buffs supported the Bedfords with the finest courage, but could not
stand against the very heavy machine-gun fire opposed to them. They
suffered more casualties than any other unit in the brigade. A great
number of men found cover in shell holes and managed later to get back
into the lines. Captain Causton assembled as many of the battalion as
he could in the trench originally occupied by the 8th Bedfords. The 2nd
York and Lancaster Regiment had advanced behind the Buffs and had also
assembled in the Bedfords’ trench. On reorganizing there were found in
this trench about forty Buffs, two to three hundred York and Lancaster
and forty Bedfords.
About 12.30 p.m. a number of the battalion was still lying in shell
holes in the open, and at that hour a message was received from 2nd
Lieut. Hills: “Am in a series of shell holes about two hundred yards
from German line. German line was apparently untouched till midday
bombardment. We got to present position and were unable to proceed
owing to machine guns. No sign of Bedfords ahead. Baly killed, Kesby
and Miller wounded. Have about twelve men with me and can’t get in
touch with anybody. Our shells fell first right beyond German line,
second just short, third very short. People in valley on left have just
retired on account of our shell fire. Machine guns are not touched,
as all opened on retiring line. We have fire from left and right and
just off central sweeping us occasionally.” During the night of the
15th/16th the Buffs were withdrawn to a trench running south-east of
Guillemont after losing the following in casualties: Lieut. C. J. P.
Baly, 2nd Lieuts. G. W. P. Wyatt and G. R. Reid, and fifty-three men
killed; 2nd Lieut. Hills wounded; Captain T. H. Kesby, 2nd Lieut.
Miller and seven others wounded and missing; 2nd Lieut. Smith, Captain
Jones, R.A.M.C., Lieut. Tuke and 2nd Lieut. Goodheart wounded. It was
afterwards ascertained that Kesby was amongst the slain. One hundred
and eighty-three other ranks wounded.
During the night the mass of wounded was cleared up with the greatest
energy. At 7 a.m. on the 16th strong German reinforcements were seen to
enter the Quadrilateral. On the evening of that day the K.S.L.I. made
what proved to be an important move. That battalion got round to the
south-west and dug themselves an assembly trench, the left of which
rested on the railway.
On the 18th September at 5.30 a.m. the gallant Salopians advanced. The
guns started to time and a party of the York and Lancaster bombed up
the trench on the right flank of the Quadrilateral, the Stokes mortars
bombarding as fast as possible. At 6.28 a wounded man, passing Brigade
Headquarters, reported that the objective was taken. This was confirmed
by Lieut. Marsh, K.S.L.I., half an hour later, and at 2.20 Germans
were seen massing on Morval Hill. It is a pity that the Buffs were not
amongst the troops that took the great obstacle. The battalion was too
knocked about to be so, as were the Bedfordshire, but there was much
rejoicing at the success of their good comrades.
On the 19th September the battalion, being relieved, marched sixteen
miles back to billets at Morlancourt, expecting a good long rest and
very, very weary. It got one day’s rest only and, on the 21st, it moved
up again to relieve a Guards brigade which occupied a sector of our
line with a frontage of only about two hundred and fifty yards. This
frontage, which was in the vicinity of and about one and a half miles
to the west of the Quadrilateral, was occupied by the Buffs with the
8th Bedfordshire in support, the remainder of the brigade remaining
back in the Braquelerie area. A new attack had been arranged for the
23rd, but the dreadful weather caused a two days’ postponement.
In the interval a very useful piece of work was done by a Buff patrol
under Sgt. Dowman (afterwards recommended for V.C.): this patrol was
very nearly cut off, but got back safely with valuable information. The
following is the wording of the recommendation referred to:--
“1st The Buffs. 5032 Acting Sergeant Edward Dowman. For most
conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on the 23rd, 24th and
25th September in front of Morval. He several times reconnoitred
in daylight a trench held by the enemy and threw bombs on
them, inflicting casualties; when an attack was made on our
trench on the 24th, he organized the defence and himself led
a counter-attack in the open, which drove back the enemy and
ascertained the exact position they were holding.
“On the 25th he was killed whilst leading, with conspicuous
gallantry, a bombing party which took the German trench,
capturing a machine gun, and about 50 prisoners. His excellent
reconnaissance before the attack and his gallantry and
determination in carrying it out were undoubtedly mainly
responsible for the success of the attack on this most important
trench.
“He gave his life in his supreme devotion to duty.”
The enemy seemed to know what was coming, for on the 23rd, the day our
attack should have taken place, they assaulted the whole of the front
occupied by the 6th Division in which the 1st Battalion served, but
they were driven back. During the night of the 24th/25th the Buffs cut
all the opposing wire before them and, as far as possible, that in
front of the 15th Infantry Brigade. The operations of the next few days
were a glorious success, and the following short extracts from the
official despatches on the subject may serve to make clear the parts
taken by the Buffs, both the 1st and the 7th Battalions, in the good
work:--
“At 12.35 p.m. on the 25th September, after a bombardment commencing
early in the morning of the 24th, a general attack of the Allies was
launched on the whole front between the Somme and Martinpuich. The
objectives on the British front included the villages of Morval, Les
Bœufs and Gueudecourt and a belt of country about one thousand yards
deep, coming round the north of Flers to a point midway between that
village and Martinpuich. By nightfall the whole of these objectives
were in our hands with the exception of the village of Gueudecourt....
In the early morning of the 26th September the village (Combles) was
occupied simultaneously by the Allies. The British to the north and the
French to the south of the railway.... On the same day Gueudecourt was
carried.... Accordingly at 12.25 p.m. on the 26th September, before the
enemy had been given time to recover from the blow struck by the Fourth
Army, a general attack was launched against Thiepval and the Thiepval
Ridge, the objective consisting of the whole of the high ground still
remaining in the enemy’s hands extending over a front of some three
thousand yards north and east of Thiepval and including, in addition
to that fortress, the Zollern Redoubt, the Stuff Redoubt and the
Schwaben Redoubt with the connecting line of trenches.... The attack
was a brilliant success.... Schwaben Redoubt was assaulted during the
afternoon (of the 27th September) and, in spite of counter-attacks
delivered by strong enemy reinforcements, we captured the whole of the
southern face of the redoubt and pushed out patrols to the northern
face and towards St. Pierre Divion.”
As far as the 16th Brigade was concerned the attack commenced with
the Buffs knocking out with trench mortars two German strong points
and capturing two machine guns. At 12.50 the infantry had their first
objective. This was seized by the Buffs, and the second objective was
the spoil of the K.S.L.I. and York and Lancaster. At 3.10 the whole
objective was reached and the infantry was digging in. At 4.30 enemy’s
guns opened from Le Transloy and our side sent out advanced posts, Les
Bœufs and Morval being in our hands. At 5.45 came a telegram from the
Corps commander: “Hearty thanks. Sincere congratulations to you all.
A very fine achievement splendidly executed. Cavan.” The brigadier
recorded his opinion in the following words: “A most successful day
and casualties slight. Success due to fine artillery work, 1st Buffs
excellent surprise attack on strong posts, and the parade-like steady
advance of the 1st K.S.L.I. and 2nd Y. and L.”
On the 26th September the brigade was relieved and retired to
Briqueterie for a day or two and thence to billets at Meaulte, seven
miles away. The battalion was now sadly depleted, but the men had borne
their hardships well and were still full of fight. On a special parade
at Meaulte on the 1st October the battalion could only turn out 341
strong, with seventeen officers.[16]
Another short spell in the trenches near Givenchy with casualties every
day, but amounting in all to eight killed and thirty-two wounded,
and then a complete change of scene.
[Illustration:
_Imperial War Museum_ _Crown Copyright_
MORVAL]
On the 21st October the move came to Daours and a week later to
Bethune, where we may leave the unit for the present, only mentioning
that October brought some welcome honours to the 1st Battalion, namely:
on the 4th, Military Cross for Captain Causton and 2nd Lieut. Brown;
and Military Medals for Sgts. Randall and Langton and Ptes. Smith and
Baines; a few days afterwards the Military Cross for Captain Corrall
and Lieut. Jacobs, and Military Medals for Corpl. Twelftree and Ptes.
Boseley, Ashdown and Gambell. While on the last day of the month came
notification of no less than twenty-two Military Medals viz., to--
C.Q.M.S. Vincer.
Sgt. Denny.
Corpl. Earl.
„ Mutton.
„ Rose.
L.-Corpl. Bevan.
„ Sheen.
„ Taylor.
„ Wood.
Pte. Baker.
„ Black.
„ Ellen.
„ Heathfield.
„ Jamieson.
„ Page.
„ Minns.
„ Roberts.
„ Scrivener.
„ Spencely.
„ Todd.
„ Watkins.
„ Wren.