THE SOMME FIGHTING.
On the 27th of June we were bombarded by all calibres, but sustained no
casualties.
On the 28th the raiding party of three Officers and 56 Other Ranks
mentioned in the last chapter left our lines at the junction of GAMBLER
STREET with the fire trench at 5 35 p.m. The raid was preceded by the
discharge of cloud gas and artillery fire.
This party was working in conjunction with raiding parties from all
Battalions in the Division. They advanced by two rushes to within a few
yards of the enemy trenches, where they came under heavy fire and were
held up. At 5 50 p.m. they established communication with our lines
and reported that they could get no further and were suffering heavy
casualties. A Sergeant returning and reporting that the enemy were in
strong force and further progress was impossible, Major Crump ordered
them to retire, which they did in good order in spite of losses which
included the whole of the leaders.
The wind seemed to be uncertain and blew back the smoke curtain
diagonally across the front so as to disclose our party, which was on
the right flank of the Division, to the enemy.
The enemy wire had been well cut and presented no obstacle, but the
enemy were seen in force in the trenches to the north of BLAIRVILLE
WOOD, some of them wearing box respirators. The gas, however,
apparently did not reach the wood, but near our lines a number of enemy
dead were observed who had obviously been killed by the gas. Corporal
Thompson did admirable work in maintaining telephonic communication
between the advanced portions and the Headquarters of the Brigade
raiding parties in our own front line. Private Clarke and Corporal
Thompson remained in a shell hole not far from the enemy wire until
after nightfall and saw them come out of their trenches and carry some
of our men who were either dead or wounded across the bridge into their
trenches. The ten killed of the raiding party included Captain E. M.
Gregson and Second Lieutenant A. Martin, whilst Second Lieutenant A. S.
Walker was amongst the 18 wounded.
The Lancashire Fusiliers’ party (who also came under command of Major
Crump) advanced quickly and rushed the last few yards before effecting
an entrance into the enemy trenches. They divided into three parties,
which bombed along the fire trench before being attacked by enemy
bombers coming across the open. They were then ordered to retire, which
they did after suffering casualties. A private of the left party did
good work with his bayonet, keeping the enemy at bay until the last of
his party had left the trench; for this he was awarded the Victoria
Cross. All the parties came under machine gun and rifle fire, but they
inflicted a large number of casualties before returning. There were
no trench boards in the enemy line where our men entered them, and
the trenches had obviously suffered considerably from our artillery
fire. The enemy threw “stink” bombs into their own wire, but most of
the wounded were brought in by our men, who, however, brought back no
prisoners and no material, except a cap taken from a German soldier for
identification purposes.
Captain G. C. Hutchinson, of the Lancashire Fusiliers, though severely
wounded in the German wire, did capital work in this raid, as he
continued to direct operations after being hit. Lance-Sergeant Russ and
Private Bennett, of the same Battalion, assisted several wounded men
back to our lines and later brought in Captain Hutchinson. Sergeant
Entwistle, who brought back reports on the progress of the raid,
returned to assist in carrying out the retirement, whilst Private Ward
and another collected five wounded in a shell hole and brought them in
one at a time under heavy machine gun and shell fire.
A Private who was with the party writes:--“Captain Gregson was there; I
never saw him look better--he was always one of the smartest Officers
in the Battalion, but he seemed to have been got up for the show with
greater care than usual. The smoke lifted like a curtain. We were in
full view of the Boche trench. We went on till within 50 yards of it
and then he opened out with machine guns, rifles, and trench mortars.
It was Hell let loose, but someone shouted ‘On the Kellys,’ and on
we went, but were cut down like corn. The ‘Jerrys’ were two-deep in
their trench, and we realised we were done.” Sixteen men answered the
roll-call out of 76. “The worst part of a stunt is always after, when
they have a roll-call. To stand there and listen to names being called
and try to answer ‘He’s killed’--no one can picture it who hasn’t seen
one.”
The total casualties for the month were two Other Ranks killed, six
wounded, and 26 sick, including four Officers.
On the afternoon of July 1st, the enemy shelled our reserve and support
trenches and also the village of AGNY with 4.2’s, whilst late at night
he opened fire on the front line with “whizzbangs” and 4.2’s, trench
mortars, rifle grenades, and machine guns. He also sent up a large
number of flares, but our artillery replied and activities ceased
within an hour.
The following day Lieutenant-Colonel Hindle went to hospital, and Major
Crump again assumed command of the Battalion. There was considerable
enemy activity with artillery and trench mortars, whilst our aeroplanes
were active. The trenches were damaged by enemy gunfire the following
day, when Second Lieutenant Jump and three Other Ranks were wounded.
The Battalion was relieved by the 2/5th Lancashire Fusiliers on the
4th, and went to billets at DAINEVILLE; Colonel Hindle returned the
same day, but on the 7th he again had to go to hospital. On the 10th
we practised over trenches similar to those we expected to attack.
The attack was practised several times, and on the night of the 11th
the Battalion relieved the 1/6th King’s Liverpools. Two nights later
the Brigade made a demonstration, Second Lieutenant Saunders being in
charge of a party which went over at midnight to bomb an enemy sap.
Though they were unable to enter the sap, owing to wire being uncut,
a number of bombs were thrown into it, and it was not until the party
returned that the enemy replied with light machine gun and rifle fire.
On the 16th, 76 reinforcements joined the unit, which was relieved
by the 1/4th King’s Own and marched to BARLY, where we rehearsed
trench attacks and signalling in conjunction with aeroplanes. Later
the Battalion marched by stages to CANDAS, where it entrained for
MERICOURT. Arriving there on the 11th, we marched to billets in MEAULTE
and on the following day to HAPPY VALLEY, where we bivouacked.
The weather was fine and the billets good at this time, and training
was carried out on an extensive scale, the work including practising
digging-in with entrenching tools. One afternoon men marched to BRAY
and bathed in the Somme, where, unfortunately, one man was drowned.
On the 30th July, Church Parade was held, at which Brigadier-General
G. T. G. Edwards presented Sergeants Entwistle and Lancaster with
Military Medal Ribbons won by them in the raids at BLAIRVILLE. Late
that afternoon orders were received to be ready to move at very short
notice, and the same night the Battalion left for the trenches at
GUILLEMONT, occupying some old German communication trenches (Dublin
and Casement trenches), which contained no dugouts. Within a few hours
of the Battalion’s arrival the enemy opened out on the trenches and
battery positions in the vicinity with 5.9’s and heavier shell. Second
Lieutenants Orrell and Crone were wounded, as also were 15 Other Ranks.
The total casualties for the month were three Officers and 34 Other
Ranks.
August was a trying month. The line held extended from MALTZHORN FARM,
where we linked up with the French on the right, to a point near ARROW
HEAD COPSE. The trenches were incomplete, as they were newly dug,
and besides being narrow and shallow, they had not been joined up in
several places. The enemy bombardment was more or less severe every
day, and on the 3rd Second Lieutenants C. S. Munro and J. Hunt were
wounded, along with 16 Other Ranks, whilst three men were killed. About
this time enemy snipers were very active along a ridge about 150 yards
ahead, where they appeared to have established themselves. This ridge
was on the south side of and abutted on the sunken road which ran from
our line to GUILLEMONT. Part of this sunken road was held as a trench
by the 2/5th Lancashire Fusiliers, who were thus enfiladed by the enemy
snipers on the ridge and consequently had a considerable number of
casualties daily, the losses among the Officers being especially heavy.
It was decided, therefore, to attack this ridge and establish a
strong point there which would deny that ground to the enemy. This
minor operation was considered important in view of the casualties
mentioned and also because it would afford facilities for reconnoitring
GUILLEMONT and the lines of approach, this being most essential in view
of the contemplated general attack on the GUILLEMONT--MAUREPAS line.
At a conference held by the Brigadier with Major Crump and Major
H. Parker, it was decided that Major Parker should carry out the
operation with two strong platoons of D Company on the evening of the
5th of August; that under Brigade arrangements communication trenches
(which were exceedingly narrow) should be kept clear to facilitate the
movement of the troops taking part in the attack up to the front line;
and that a barrage would be put down by the Divisional artillery who
would also do counter-battery work.
[Illustration]
When the attacking party commenced to move up to the starting-off
place, it was found that the communication trenches had not been
cleared as arranged, and it would have been impossible to get up in
time by using them. The party therefore moved up over the open and
managed to arrive in time, but, unfortunately, not till after dark.
Second Lieutenant A. Hague and his platoon attacked. The second platoon
with consolidating material was kept in reserve in our front line, but
the enemy was found to be in considerable force on the ridge, occupying
a strong point, and a switch line running back towards Wedge Wood.
The attacking platoon encountered heavy rifle and machine gun fire,
and our barrage brought down enemy artillery fire, which caused
considerable loss to working parties in communication trenches. Three
attacks in all were made, but finally the attempt had to be abandoned
for that night. Second Lieutenant Hague was reported missing, two men
were killed, and 25 wounded.
Major Parker subsequently reported to the Brigadier that he thought
that he could attain his objective on the evening of the 6th August,
provided he was allowed to attack at dusk without barrage but with
only five minutes’ preparation with two Stokes’ Mortars, and this plan
was assented to. The same troops were employed, having been brought up
to strength. The attacking platoon, led by Lieutenant R. S. De Blaby,
attacked at 20.30 hours. The attack was successful, the position was
consolidated, and our troops were relieved by the 1/5th Liverpool
Regiment just before dawn. During consolidation Major Parker went out
with a patrol and located the enemy switch line, finding it heavily
wired and strongly held.
The troops engaged in this operation rejoined the Battalion (which had
been withdrawn to reserve) on the morning of the 7th August.
After a night in bivouacs, preparations were made to go over the ground
prior to an attack on GUILLEMONT on the 8th. The Battalion returned
to the line that night and assembled in trenches east and west of the
road which ran south from the east corner of TRONES WOOD, C Company
being detailed to consolidate the right of the enemy line and D Company
the left on the west side of GUILLEMONT. A and B Companies acted in
conjunction with the 1/4th Royal Lancasters and the 1/8th Liverpool
Regiments respectively. The attack was not a success. The right was
held up from the start by the switch line which had been reported by
our patrol on the 6th, such report having been either overlooked or
ignored, and the men had to fall back to the original line, though the
1/8th Liverpools went through the village on the left, and D Company
of our Battalion commenced to consolidate, but were driven off by the
enemy coming behind them and cutting them off from the Liverpools.
Considerable confusion was caused owing to the mist and the employment
by the enemy of smoke bombs, the four platoons in reserve not being
called upon for this reason, though all their officers were killed and
they suffered many other casualties. The operation was a costly one.
Nine Other Ranks were killed, 97 wounded, and 107 reported missing;
whilst of the Officers, Captain E. M. Rennard and Captain H. Lindsay
were killed, Second Lieutenants O. H. Ducksbury and J. H. Holden
missing (afterwards found to be prisoners of war), and Lieutenants De
Blaby and A. T. D. Evans and Second Lieutenants E. L. Fairclough and T.
A. Bigger wounded. Lieutenant De Blaby died the following day.
On the 9th of August the remnant of the Battalion was relieved by one
Company of the 1/5th South Lancashires and marched to bivouacs, where
Lieutenant-Colonel Hindle again took over command.
Three days after coming out of the line a large permanent working party
of 150 men, under Major Parker, proceeded to the trenches to the 2/5th
Lancashire Fusiliers, who were also detailed for the same work, and
on the 14th August Major Parker was wounded. The Brigade subsequently
left the area. The Battalion which had been strengthened by drafts of
100 men from the Manchesters and one Officer and 110 Other Ranks from
the East Lancashire Regiment, entraining at MERICOURT and detraining
at ABBEVILLE, marched to billets in SAIGNEVILLE, via CAMBRON and GOUY.
Here training proceeded on the usual lines, whilst a lecture was given
to the Officers and N.C.O.’s of the Brigade by Major-General H. S.
Jeudwine. The General used the tail of a cart as a platform--without
warning it tipped up and sent him sprawling in the road. This was too
much for the gravity of the troops--and of the General himself. No one
laughed more heartily than he did as he picked himself up and resumed
the thread of the lecture--this time from the ground level.
Battalion sports were held whilst the unit was at rest, and in
the closing days of the month the Battalion returned by train to
MERICOURT, marching to a camping ground at MILLENCOURT, whence Captain
L. Duckworth went to hospital, whilst the Battalion again moved a
short distance to another area, where all ranks were accommodated
in tents. The total casualties for the month were 13 Officers and
289 Other Ranks. After a couple of days’ “rest” at MILLENCOURT, the
Battalion was sent for instructional purposes to take over the left of
an old Corps line trench running between the ALBERT--AMIENS road and
the ALBERT--MILLENCOURT road. On relieving the 8th King’s Liverpool
Regiment in the Corps line, the Battalion spent the night rehearsing
the numerous phases of trench warfare, one Company building a “strong
point.” The following day this was repeated, and some of the time was
spent in wiring and patrolling. The Battalion was relieved by the 1/8th
(Irish) King’s Liverpool Regiment on the night of September 3rd. Three
days later the Battalion moved from MILLENCOURT to a camping ground
near FRICOURT, where it was joined by Captain S. B. Donald, of the
5th East Kents (Buffs), and Captain C. B. Bolingbroke, of the 1/6th
Norfolks. Orders to go into the trenches were received the following
day, and the Battalion marched to MONTAUBAN where it was met by guides
of the 8th Devons. The sector taken over by the Brigade extended from
the eastern edge of DELVILLE WOOD in the direction of GINCHY, the 1/4th
Loyal North Lancashires being in the front line alongside the 2/5th
Lancashire Fusiliers, and the remainder of the Brigade in support.
Captain C. H. Cockrill reported for duty from the 1/6th Norfolks on the
8th, on which day we had four killed and 19 wounded.
The DELVILLE WOOD battle started on the 9th September. The British
artillery were in action all day, and at 4 p.m. the barrage started; at
4 45 the Division on our left attacked. Our objective was to capture
HOP ALLEY with B and C Companies, whilst the Lancashire Fusiliers were
to go over with us and take ALE ALLEY. At 5 25 the Battalion went over
and the first objective--HOP ALLEY--was gained, but the second wave
did not succeed in reaching ALE ALLEY, and as HOP ALLEY had become
untenable under intense machine gun barrage and gunfire, the remnant
of B and C Companies withdrew and fell back to their original line.
Supporting Companies from the 1/8th King’s Liverpool Regiment and 1/4th
Loyal North Lancashire Regiment were sent up to strengthen the lines,
whilst working parties consolidated the position. Sergeant H. Farnworth
was awarded the D.C.M. for work in this attack.
[Illustration]
The casualties were heavy; amongst the 24 killed were Second
Lieutenants W. E. Pyke and E. F. Falby, whilst, in addition to 125 men,
Captains Donald and Bolingbroke, Lieutenant H. W. Strong, and Second
Lieutenants W. V. Gray, P. Pollard, F. R. Vipond, C. H. Forshaw, and
W. H. Berry were wounded. Under the heading of missing were the names
of 79 of the rank and file. As the result of these heavy losses the
Battalion was withdrawn from the front line to the supports and rested
for the day. In the afternoon we stood-to in view of a possible attack
by the enemy. Though remaining in support, the Battalion was moved
1,000 yards nearer the front line for the remainder of its stay until
the 41st Brigade came up as relief on September 12th, when we marched
to bivouacs near FRICOURT.
The customary routine was followed during the “rest,” during which
a move was made to BUIRE. Brigadier-General Edwards handed over the
Brigade to Brigadier-General C. I. Stockwell, who was quickly dubbed
“Strafing Jimmy.” He was a good soldier, and his methods, though often
resented by individuals, were effective. He continued to command the
164th Brigade till the Armistice.
[Illustration]
On the 19th, after being ordered to go into the line at FRICOURT, where
were the 1/8th King’s Liverpool Regiment, we were suddenly ordered
to vacate the trenches and proceed to bivouacs at MAMETZ, where six
days were spent in Company training, during which specially large
working parties were employed in digging a communication trench through
LONGUEVAL.
On the 24th a Battalion of the 165th Infantry Brigade was relieved by
us in front of DELVILLE WOOD close to FLERS. On the 25th and 26th one
Other Rank was killed and 22 wounded. On the latter day we relieved the
1/7th King’s Liverpool Regiment in GIRD TRENCH, close to GUEDECOURT.
That day we had 17 wounded and 3 missing.
Following great activity by our artillery, the 164th Brigade attacked
in the afternoon of the 27th, the Battalion being in support. The 8th
Irish captured the part of GIRD SUPPORT still occupied by the enemy,
and in the course of the evening we relieved the Irish in the captured
trench, one Company occupying a sunken road running into GUEDECOURT.
The casualties were very slight, but Second Lieutenant R. Forrest was
killed and Second Lieutenant G. Duerden and 4 Other Ranks were wounded.
The following morning mist hung low over the battlefield, and when
it cleared a large enemy party was observed to be digging-in along a
line rather more than half a mile away. Rifle and machine gun fire
was directed at them, and they ceased work abruptly after suffering
a number of casualties. During the afternoon the enemy artillery
retaliated, killing 6 men and wounding 30.
The 10th Royal West Kents relieved us on the 29th, and we went into
billets at DERNANCOURT. Thus ended an eventful month, in which the
Battalion had suffered somewhat heavily, the total casualties being
3 Officers and 33 Other Ranks killed, 9 Officers and 211 Other Ranks
wounded, 82 Other Ranks missing, and 2 Officers and 54 Other Ranks
sick.