THE WAR HISTORY
OF THE 4TH BATTALION
THE LONDON REGIMENT
(ROYAL FUSILIERS)
1914-1919
[Illustration: _Frontispiece_
_Ypres Cathedral_]
THE WAR HISTORY
OF THE 4TH BATTALION
THE LONDON REGIMENT
(ROYAL FUSILIERS)
1914-1919
BY
CAPTAIN F. CLIVE GRIMWADE
4TH BATTALION, THE LONDON REGIMENT (ROYAL FUSILIERS)
LONDON
HEADQUARTERS OF THE 4TH LONDON REGIMENT
112 SHAFTESBURY STREET, N.1
1922
* * * * *
_Printed in Great Britain
by Turnbull & Spears, Edinburgh_
* * * * *
THIS HISTORY IS DEDICATED
TO THE MEMORY OF
COLONEL E. T. RODNEY WILDE, V.D.,
WHO COMMANDED THE BATTALION
FROM 23RD NOVEMBER 1890 TO 24TH JANUARY 1903
AND COMPILED ITS HISTORICAL RECORDS
FROM 1643 TO 1908
FOREWORD
It was considered by the past and present members of the 4th Battalion,
The London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers), that some permanent record of
the part taken by the Regiment in the European War should be compiled,
and a War History Committee was formed in February 1920 to consider the
preparation of such a record.
At the unanimous request of the Committee Captain F. Clive Grimwade
undertook to write the Regiment's War History.
The Committee desire to express their keen appreciation of the manner
in which he has overcome the difficulties of compiling such a History
and of his devotion in carrying out this long and arduous work.
The Committee wish to express their thanks also to Lieut.-Col.
Marchment, to Captains Boutall, Garratt, Croll and Hetley, and to
other officers who have given Captain Grimwade valuable assistance;
to the author's mother, Mrs Grimwade, for her assistance in arranging
information as to officers' personal services and in correcting the
drafts of the book; and to the Regiment's Honorary Colonel, Lord
Marshall, for facilitating the publication of the book.
THE WAR HISTORY COMMITTEE,
4TH BATTALION, THE LONDON
REGIMENT (ROYAL FUSILIERS).
LESLIE T. BURNETT, LIEUT.-COL. (_Chairman_).
G. H. M. VINE, MAJOR (_retired_).
H. J. DUNCAN-TEAPE, MAJOR.
S. J. ELLIOTT, MAJOR.
_February 1922_
CONTENTS
CHAP. PAGE
I. MOBILISATION--DEPARTURE OVERSEAS 1
II. THE 1/4TH BATTALION IN MALTA--FORMATION
OF THE 2/4TH BATTALION 8
III. THE 1/4TH BATTALION IN FRANCE--OPERATIONS
AT NEUVE CHAPELLE 18
IV. THE 1/4TH BATTALION IN THE SECOND BATTLE
OF YPRES, 1915 40
V. OPERATIONS DURING THE SUMMER OF 1915 58
VI. THE 1/4TH BATTALION IN THE 47TH DIVISION 73
VII. THE 2/4TH BATTALION IN MALTA, GALLIPOLI
PENINSULA AND SOUTHERN EGYPT 86
VIII. THE 3/4TH AND 4/4TH BATTALIONS AT HOME 115
IX. THE FORMATION OF THE 56TH DIVISION 132
X. THE 1/4TH BATTALION IN THE BATTLES OF
THE SOMME, 1916--I. THE ATTACK ON
GOMMECOURT 139
XI. THE 1/4TH BATTALION IN THE BATTLES OF
THE SOMME, 1916--II. THE BATTLES OF
SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER 177
XII. THE 1/4TH BATTALION DURING THE WINTER
1916/17 217
XIII. THE 2/4TH BATTALION IN FRANCE--GERMAN
RETIREMENT FROM THE SOMME 236
XIV. THE 1/4TH BATTALION IN THE BATTLES OF
ARRAS, 1917 251
XV. THE 2/4TH BATTALION IN THE BATTLES FOR
BULLECOURT, 1917 273
XVI. THE THIRD BATTLE OF YPRES, 1917--I. THE
1/4 BATTALION ON THE MENIN ROAD. 294
XVII. THE THIRD BATTLE OF YPRES, 1917--II. THE
2/4 BATTALION ON THE NORTHERN RIDGES 306
XVIII. THE 1/4TH BATTALION IN THE BATTLE OF
CAMBRAI, 1917 325
XIX. THE 1/4TH BATTALION, WINTER 1917/18--THE
RESERVE BATTALION 1916/17 345
XX. THE 2/4TH BATTALION IN THE SECOND BATTLE
OF THE SOMME, 1918 359
XXI. THE 1/4TH BATTALION IN THE DEFENCE OF
ARRAS, 1918 392
XXII. THE 1/4TH AND 2/4TH BATTALIONS DURING THE
SUMMER MONTHS OF 1918--THE RESERVE
BATTALION, 1918 409
XXIII. THE FINAL ADVANCE--I. THE 2/4TH BATTALION
IN THE BATTLES OF AMIENS AND BAPAUME,
1918 428
XXIV. THE FINAL ADVANCE--II. THE 1/4TH BATTALION
IN THE BATTLE OF BAPAUME, 1918 460
XXV. THE FINAL ADVANCE--III. THE 1/4TH
BATTALION IN THE BATTLES OF CAMBRAI
AND THE SAMBRE, 1918 478
LIST OF APPENDICES
I. MALTA 508
II. HONOURS AND DECORATIONS 510
III. THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE 4TH LONDON
REGIMENT IN 1920 518
INDEX 521
ILLUSTRATIONS
YPRES CATHEDRAL _Frontispiece_
TO FACE PAGE
GHAIN TUFFIEHA CAMP--MELLEHA CAMP--SELMUN
PALACE 8
MELLEHA--THE GRAND HARBOUR, VALETTA 16
ST JEAN VILLAGE IN APRIL 1920 56
ROUGE CROIX, LA BASSÉE ROAD--THE DOLL'S HOUSE
(FEROZEPORE BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS), LA BASSÉE
ROAD 64
SIGNPOST LANE, NEUVE CHAPELLE--RUINED FARMHOUSE,
NEUVE CHAPELLE 232
INVERNESS COPSE 304
PASSCHENDAELE RIDGE 320
ARRAS CATHEDRAL 416
SKETCH MAPS
BY CAPTAIN F. CLIVE GRIMWADE
NO.
1. NEUVE CHAPELLE--RICHEBOURG L'AVOUÉ 32
2. THE SECOND BATTLE OF YPRES, 1915 48
3. GALLIPOLI PENINSULA--CAPE HELLES TRENCHES,
1915 96
4. THE ATTACK ON GOMMECOURT, 1ST JULY 1916 144
5. THE BATTLE OF GINCHY, SEPTEMBER 1916 192
6. THE BATTLE OF MORVAL, SEPTEMBER 1916 204
7. THE BATTLE OF THE LE TRANSLOY RIDGES, OCTOBER
1916 208
8. LAVENTIE, WINTER 1916/17 224
9. THE GERMAN RETIREMENT, FEBRUARY-MARCH 1917 240
10. CAVALRY FARM, MAY 1917 266
11. BULLECOURT, MAY-JUNE, 1917 288
12. THE THIRD BATTLE OF YPRES, 1917 (1/4TH
BATTALION) 296
13. THE THIRD BATTLE OF YPRES, 1917 (2/4TH
BATTALION) 312
14. THE BATTLE OF CAMBRAI, 1917 336
15. THE RETREAT FROM LA FÈRE, MARCH 1918 368
16. THE DEFENCE OF ARRAS, MARCH 1918 400
17. THE BATTLE OF AMIENS, 1918 (2/4TH BATTALION)--THE
ACTION AT CHIPILLY RIDGE, 8TH-10TH
AUGUST 432
18. THE BATTLE OF BAPAUME, 1918 (2/4TH BATTALION) 448
19. THE BATTLE OF BAPAUME, 1918 (1/4TH BATTALION) 472
20. THE BATTLE OF CAMBRAI, 1918--THE CANAL DU
NORD 488
21. THE BATTLE OF THE SAMBRE, 1918 496
CHAPTER I
MOBILISATION--DEPARTURE OVERSEAS
Of the London Volunteer Corps the unit now known as the 4th (City of
London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers) is one of
the most ancient. Called out as a Trained Band in 1643 to share in
repelling a threatened Royalist invasion of the City during the Civil
Wars, it has had a practically unbroken history for nearly three
hundred years. After the regular constitution of the Volunteer Forces
in the middle of last century it achieved some distinction as the 1st
Tower Hamlets Rifle Brigade, and despatched a machine-gun detachment
to the fighting in South Africa in 1900. In 1903 it became affiliated
to The Royal Fusiliers, as the 4th Volunteer Battalion of that
distinguished Regiment. On the reorganisation of the auxiliary forces
in 1908 by Lord Haldane, it acquired its present designation, which we
will abbreviate to the more convenient title by which it became known
in the Great War, namely, The 4th London Regiment.
Prior to the War the training provided for the Territorial Force was
only such as to furnish the nucleus of a Second Line Army. Fourteen
days in camp each summer, an easy musketry course, and a few drills
at headquarters could not develop a soldier fit to meet fully trained
troops. That this was recognised by Lord Haldane is evidenced by the
fact that his scheme provided for a period of six months' training at
home for all Territorial soldiers should war break out, prior to their
despatch on active service.
But they were none the less given a definite rôle in the defence of the
Motherland. Possibly this was not always realised to the full by all
the officers and non-commissioned officers of the Regiment; but it was
unmistakably brought home to them one evening in February 1914 when a
secret meeting of officers was convened at Headquarters in Hoxton for
the explanation of the scheme of mobilisation and of the task which the
Regiment would be called upon to execute should war occur.
At that date the scheme of Mobilisation was already complete. Under it
the 1st London Infantry Brigade, of which the 4th London formed a part,
was entrusted with the supremely important task of guarding the London
and South Western Railway between London and Southampton during the
mobilisation and embarkation of the Expeditionary Force from the latter
port. The section allotted to the 4th Battalion was the main line from
Waterloo Station to Farnborough (inclusive); the Alton branch from its
junction with the main line near Brookwood to Bentley Station; and the
branch from the last-named station to Borden Camp. These dispositions
were worked out in the greatest detail, and arrangements were made
for the efficient guarding of all railway stations, signal boxes,
junctions, tunnels and bridges, and for a system of constant patrolling
of the line.
The Infantry of the Territorial Force not being supplied during peace
time with war scale of transport, ammunition, etc., provision was made
for this necessary equipment to be drawn on mobilisation, and waggons
and horses in civilian employ were "earmarked" beforehand for this
purpose.
The scheme having been explained, arrangements were made to detail all
guards, patrols, and requisitioning parties in readiness.
When the war cloud over South-eastern Europe began to spread in July
1914 and threatened to envelop this country in the storm, the finishing
touches were put to the scheme at a memorable secret meeting at
Headquarters on the evening of Thursday, 31st July 1914. After that
meeting few who attended it had any doubt as to what was about to take
place.
The annual camp in 1914 for the 1st London Division (Major-Gen. W. Fry,
C.B., C.V.O.) had been arranged for Sunday, 2nd August, and on that
date, this country still not having declared its intentions as to the
war, the 4th London Regiment entrained for Wareham, in Dorsetshire,
where the camp was to be held, with a strength of 23 officers and about
650 other ranks under Lieut.-Col. G. P. Botterill.
Camp was reached shortly after noon, but scarcely had the Battalion
marched in when an order was received recalling it to London. By
2.30 p.m. it was once again entrained, quivering with excitement and
well-nourished on the journey to town with the most impossible rumours
of gigantic battles, most of which apocryphal happenings it swallowed
with gusto. At 2 a.m. on the 3rd August the 4th Londons marched into
Headquarters, and after a few hours' rest began to put the wheels
of the carefully assembled machine of mobilisation into motion. All
went without a hitch. Field dressings, identity discs and small books
were issued: separation allowance and next-of-kin rolls prepared. The
"earmarked" horses and vehicles were collected, and with the aid of
these, ammunition drawn from the Hyde Park Magazine.
Blankets, lanterns and other stores sent up the River from Woolwich
were unloaded and conveyed direct to the platform at Waterloo Station,
ready for issue to the Battalion on its arrival there. The machine was
moving steadily. During the day the Regimental Colours were handed over
to the Lord Mayor of London for safe keeping.
Shortly after midnight the 4th London Regiment entrained at Waterloo in
two trains, from which at each stop the allotted platoons detrained: so
that by the time the end of the sector was reached in the early hours
of the 4th August 1914, the railway was already guarded. Eighteen hours
before the declaration of war the Battalion was on its war station: a
good lead from Territorial troops to the rest of the country!
The distribution of the Battalion was as follows:
Battalion Headquarters, Lieut.-Col. G. P. Botterill, Surbiton.
A and B Companies (forming No. 1 Double Company), Headquarters at
Clapham Junction, under Capt. H. J. Duncan-Teape.
C and E Companies (forming No. 2 Double Company), Headquarters at
Woking, under Capt. G. H. M. Vine.
D and F Companies (forming No. 3 Double Company), Headquarters at
North Camp, under Capt. R. J. Jackson.
G and H Companies (forming No. 4 Double Company), Headquarters at
Bentley, under Capt. E. H. Stillwell.
The Transport Section returned to Headquarters at Hoxton to complete
the formation of the Battalion transport on a war footing.
Brigade Headquarters were at Waterloo Station under command of
Brigadier-General the Earl of Lucan. The Brigade Major was Major
R. F. Legge (Leinster Regiment); and the Staff Captain, Captain
Cornelius-Wheeler (3rd London Regiment, Royal Fusiliers).
On the evening of the same day Lord Grey of Falloden (then Sir Edward
Grey), in the House of Commons, made his never-to-be-forgotten
indictment of the duplicity of Germany's action in the pre-war
negotiations and in her violation of Belgian neutrality, and the formal
declaration of war followed.
The order for General Mobilisation, which was applicable to the
Territorial Force equally with the Regular Army, immediately ensued,
and orders to report forthwith were issued to all members of the
Battalion who had not paraded for the summer training two days
previously. It is to the credit of the Battalion that within twelve
hours no member had failed to reply. The N.C.O.'s and men thus
reporting for duty were as quickly as possible despatched from peace
headquarters and reported to their respective companies on the line.
As the N.C.O.'s and men of the Battalion reported for duty they
were subjected to medical examination, and a certain number were
unfortunately unable to pass fit at the high standard required during
the early days of the war, so that the strength of the Battalion on the
6th August was 24 officers and 785 N.C.O.'s and men.
The early days of August on the railway line afforded unmistakable
proof, if such were needed, of the extraordinary power of the London
soldier to adapt himself to circumstances. Men from offices, factories
and docks, suddenly taken from their occupations and their homes,
settled down to patrols and guards, to cooking their food and taking
responsibility, as to the manner born. All were swept forward on the
high flood of a great enthusiasm, and buoyed up amid minor discomforts
with intense pride that their country needed them and had given them
a job of work to carry out. This enthusiasm certainly bid fair at
times to show signs of excess of zeal. But the zeal was tempered with
an immense sense of the dignity of each and every one as a soldier
in the 4th Londons: the days on railway guard thus formed the basis
of the _esprit de corps_ which is essential to military success and
which in pre-war days it had been difficult, by the nature of things,
to develop. Scattered though the Battalion was over some 50 miles of
railway, disciplinary trouble of a serious nature was conspicuous by
its absence.
By the middle of August the greater part of the Expeditionary Force had
been embarked to France, but the Brigade remained at its war station.
During the dark days which ensued, when telegram after telegram told
always of withdrawal before overwhelming forces of the German Army
after the glorious resistance at Mons, the Battalion continued to guard
the railway, and was busily occupied in recruiting to full strength
and in completing its equipment. The strength of the Battalion rose
steadily and rapidly, and by the end of August 941 N.C.O.'s and men
were at duty on the railway line.
The duties on the railway were extremely heavy, and no training was
possible except the rudimentary instructions of the recruits who were
retained at peace headquarters.
On the night of 31st August / 1st September orders were issued to the
Brigade to withdraw from the line and return to peace headquarters.
The move was satisfactorily completed by 12 noon on the 1st September,
the duties of the Brigade on the railway being taken over two days
later by the 3rd London Infantry Brigade. On return to headquarters the
Commanding Officer informed the Battalion that the whole Brigade would
be despatched on overseas garrison duty almost immediately, and called
for volunteers, a call which met with a favourable response from all
ranks.
The two following days were actively occupied with medical inspections,
recruiting to fill the few remaining vacancies, etc.
On the afternoon of the 3rd September the Battalion was paraded
for inspection by Major-Gen. W. Fry, C.B., C.V.O., commanding 1st
London Division, who, in an address to the troops, announced that the
destination of the Brigade was Malta; and conveyed to the Battalion,
to the great satisfaction of all ranks, the direct assurance of Earl
Kitchener that the Battalion would be retained in Malta only until it
should be passed fit to take the field. This announcement was received
with enthusiasm as it served to allay the disquieting rumours of the
possibility of the Malta station proving to be a "sidetrack" for the
period of the war.
Shortly after midnight on the 3/4th September 1914, the Battalion
(strength 29 officers and 976 other ranks, fully armed and equipped)
paraded and marched to Waterloo amid scenes of enthusiasm and
excitement in Hoxton which will probably never be forgotten by those
who witnessed them, and entrained at 3.30 a.m. on the 4th September
for Southampton, embarking on arrival in H.T. _Galician_ (Union Castle
Line).
The following officers proceeded overseas with the Battalion:
Lieut.-Col. G. P. Botterill, in command.
Major L. T. Burnett, second in command.
Capt. G. B. Scott, Adjutant (2nd Battalion The Leinster Regiment).
Major R. J. J. Jackson, commanding F Company.
Capt. G. H. M. Vine, " E "
" H. J. T. Duncan-Teape, commanding A Company.
" R. N. Arthur, " H "
" H. P. L. Cart de Lafontaine, commanding D Company.
" W. Moore, commanding B Company.
" W. G. Clark, " C "
Lieut. C. R. Saunders, " G "
" S. Elliott (Machine Gun Officer).
" V. W. Edwards.
" F. C. Grimwade (Signalling Officer).
" P. B. K. Stedman (Transport Officer).
Lieut. H. W. Weathersbee.
2/Lieut. A. L. Long.
" J. T. Sykes.
" R. L. Herring.
" R. V. Gery.
" E. W. Bottomley.
" T. I. Walker.
" A. B. Lucy.
" A. R. Moore.
" T. Moody.
" J. R. Pyper.
" E. Giles.
Hon. Lieut. and Q.M., E. S. Tomsett (Quartermaster).
Major J. F. F. Parr, R.A.M.C.T., Medical Officer attached.
At 4 p.m. that afternoon anchor was weighed, and the transport convoy,
conveying the first Brigade of Territorial troops to leave this
country, dropped down Southampton water.