THE SALIENT
_June 20th, 1915._ _October 1st, 1915._
The Canadian's description of it as "Bloody Ypres," referring
doubtless to the Salient in general, was very apt, and will be
endorsed by all who ever had the misfortune to sample it at any period
of the war. We have never met anyone who boasted of having found a
"cushy spot" in it, and so far as we ourselves were concerned, the
three months spent in the Salient were very nearly, if not quite, the
hardest months of the war.
Leaving Locre on the evening of June 20th, we marched with the rest of
the Brigade to the Ouderdom Huts on the Reninghelst--Vlamertinghe
Road. These were the first "huts" ever occupied by the Battalion; they
were absolutely exposed to view, the surroundings being open ploughed
fields, and when the Boche "Sausage" went up "Silent Percy," a German
long-range gun, warned anyone walking about that movement must cease.
There were, however, deep shelter trenches round the huts, which
afforded good protection, and we escaped without casualties, though
the Transport having had a few shells in the horse lines, deemed it
wise to move back a little. We left there on June 23rd, and marching
via Kruistraat and Zillebeke proceeded to "Sanctuary Wood," where we
relieved the 5th East Yorkshires in trenches 7 to 12. These trenches
were good, being both narrow and deep. There was a good deal of
liveliness on both sides, and things were anything but pleasant in the
region of a wood. whose title was something of a misnomer. The
Transport too, had many good runs for their money when bringing up
rations and stores. The congestion on the road each night was intense.
Only one bridge, "14," over the Ypres-Comines Canal was available for
the transport of all units occupying the centre of the Salient, and
the journey from the transport lines to the dump and back, took
something approaching seven hours. We were not particularly envious of
their job here on many occasions, though never once did they fail to
get supplies up to the dump. This was at the South-West corner of
"Sanctuary Wood," and a very unhealthy spot, where we were lucky
indeed in not getting very heavy casualties. There was hardly any
water fit for drinking in the front area, so that one of the water
carts had to be brought up full every night and left in the shelter of
the wood, and the empty one taken back.
Rain made the trenches very uncomfortable, and we had plenty to do in
keeping them in order, and in building shelters, of which we were very
short. These consisted for the most part of two or more waterproof
sheets laced together, and held in position across the trench, by
stones placed on the ends on the parapet and parados. Little was done
by us in the way of active operations during our first tour, except a
certain amount of patrolling, in which 2nd Lieut. Adams and Pvte.
Needham were the leading lights, and got some useful information. A
Company had rather a bad time, suffering over 20 casualties from
"Whizz-bangs" (77 mm. shells) and salvoes of 5.9's.
We were relieved on the night of June 29/30th, after a seven days'
tour, by the 5th Lincolns, and moved back to bivouacs at a charming
camp near Poperinghe, where we spent 12 of the most enjoyable days we
ever had in France. The weather was glorious, and we made the most of
it. We were spared strenuous work as far as possible on the very hot
days, but carried out much useful training of a general kind, and
reorganised and refitted all the units in the Battalion. Two new
Officers, 2nd Lieuts. R. E. Hemingway, and E. S. Strachan joined us,
the former eventually succeeding Lieut. A. Hacking, who had just been
appointed our first Battalion Grenade Officer. A draft of 69 men also
arrived, together with 11 rejoined men,--a most acceptable addition to
our numbers. Several quite interesting cricket matches were played,
the last of which, Officers v. N.C.O's., was won by the Officers. We
managed one concert, which was given entirely by our own artistes, and
went off very successfully. Poperinghe was quite close, and though
possessing no great attraction, yet it was a change to walk or if
possible get a horse for the afternoon and ride over there sometimes
to see what was going on, and call on our little friend "Ginger" at
the café, and do any shopping that was wanted. Here for the first time
we encountered a Divisional Troupe, and enjoyed many a pleasant
evening with the 6th Division "Fancies," with their Belgian artistes
"Vaseline" and "Glycerine." But perhaps the greatest source of
pleasure to all ranks now, was that great institution "Leave" which
had just been started. True it was but four days, and for an extremely
small number, but it was something after all, and encouraged those who
were not lucky enough to have it at the moment, that their turn would
eventually come to get out of the war for a brief space, and return to
their families at home. Capt. Ashwell left us whilst we were here to
take charge of reinforcements at St. Omer. During his absence of five
or six weeks A Company was commanded by Lieut. J. V. Edge.
We left camp with much regret on the afternoon of July 11th, and
proceeding via Kruistraat, where a halt was made for tea, at the
"White Château," we eventually took over trenches B 2, 3, 4, 7 and 8,
in the Hooge sector, from the North Staffords. The trenches here were
close together, at some points not more than 25 yards apart. This
nearness necessitated in some cases the erection of small-mesh wire
netting to prevent the enemy throwing hand-grenades into our trenches.
Mining was carried on unceasingly, and with both sides displaying
abnormal activity with every kind of war machine invented, life was
not at all pleasant. Possibly we had the greatest dislike for the
rifle grenades which the Hun was in the habit of showering over on
every possible occasion, but his shelling of the whole of our sector,
which he carried out with great regularity, was extremely
uncomfortable, and casualties mounted rapidly. To the more normal
means of trying to wear down the enemy, we were now able to add fixed
rifles and rifle batteries. These were laid on definite targets, and
fired according to a time table specially arranged, and we hope had
the effect desired. Sergt.-Drummer Clewes too, in charge of the
Brigade Sniping Section, was always worrying the Huns on every
possible occasion, and made some splendid "bags." Work in the trenches
was of a more or less normal kind, consisting chiefly of strengthening
fire and support trenches and putting out wire, not forgetting the
never-ending efforts to drain away the water. Good patrols were
carried out by Lieut. James and Corpl. Hotson.
After a heavy tour of 12 days we were relieved on July 23rd, by the
7th Battalion, and marched back to bivouacs near Ouderdom, a long
trek, the last Company not getting there until 7 a.m. the following
morning. We were shelled out of this camp almost immediately,
doubtless because a Staff Officer anxious for the comfort of the
Officers had had four beautiful white tents put up. Unfortunately they
had been pitched on the Eastern slope of the field in full view of the
"Sausage" already mentioned, and "Silent Percy" soon got busy! On
July 25th, we took over another field near Busseboom, where we were
left in peace, so far as the Hun was concerned, though as the field
had just previously been used by Gunners for horse lines we had in
other ways quite a lively time. Here we were joined by 2nd Lieut.
Everard Handford and an excellent draft from the 2/8th Battalion.
We had little time during this six days' rest to do more than the
usual refitting and cleaning, as large fatigue parties were required
on two days for Divisional work. Bathing was an easier matter, as we
were now able to use the new Divisional baths at "Pop." So far as the
washing of clothing was concerned, the men did their own, laundries
being very few and far between.
We had now in front of us what turned out to be the longest and most
trying of all the Battalion's experiences in the trenches, for after
relieving the 7th Battalion in trenches B 3, 4, 7, and 8 at "Sanctuary
Wood" on the night of July 29/30th, we did not get out for 19 days.
Col. Fowler at this time was on leave, whilst Major A. C. Clarke was
unfit, and a little later had to return to England. Major Becher, who
succeeded him as Second-in-Command was, therefore, in temporary
command of the Battalion. Much to our regret our old friend "Doc"
Stallard had also just left us for a tour of home duty. Well had he
stuck it all through, but he was beginning to feel the strain of his
strenuous duties, which were now taken over by Surgeon-Lieut. C. B.
Johnstone. The latter had a memorable journey to join the Battalion,
which was then in the line, riding up on the front of the horse
ambulance that used to go nightly to "Maple Copse" to evacuate the
previous twenty-four hours' wounded. The road was very rough and
mostly shell holes full of water, and he had a decidedly rough
passage. Other arrivals about this time included three new
subalterns, Lieut. C. M. Houfton, and 2nd Lieuts. R. V. Harvey and A.
H. Date, whose first experience of trench warfare was to be rather
more exciting than the average! Comp. Sergt.-Major J. A. Green was
temporarily acting as Regimental Sergt.-Major in place of Sergt.-Major
Westerman, who had just left for England.
The trench system taken over ran partly on the outskirts of "Sanctuary
Wood," and partly through the wood itself, which in those days was
most picturesque, with delightful wild flowers and thick undergrowth.
The right was held by B Company (Lieut. J. W. Turner) and C Company
(Capt. G. S. Heathcote) and the left by D Company (Lieut. E. C. A.
James), whilst A Company (Lieut. J. V. Edge) were in reserve. By a
very happy coincidence, we had with us A Company of the 10th Sherwood
Foresters, sent into the line for the first time for instruction.
Capt. G. P. Goodall, subsequently killed at St. Eloi, was in charge of
this Company, amongst whom our men found many friends.
We occupied the left of the 46th Divisional sector, with the 5th
Battalion on our right, the 7th Battalion in immediate support in
"Maple Copse," and the 6th Battalion in Brigade Reserve.
The 14th Division, which had only been in France a few weeks, and had
been with us for instruction at Kemmel, had recently taken over the
sector on our left, where there had been much fighting during the past
few weeks for the possession of Hooge, which centred about the stables
and wall running near the Château. It was there that in our last tour
we had seen a brilliant assault by the Gordons and Middlesex, after a
terrific mine explosion.
At 3.30 a.m. on July 30th, immediately after stand-down, and within a
few hours of our arrival in the trenches, on a perfect summer morning,
the whole of the wood was suddenly surrounded by a ring of fire,
while at the same time a heavy bombardment was opened, concentrating
apparently on the trenches around "Hooge Crater." Under cover of this
bombardment, and behind "flammenwerfer," the enemy attacked the point
of the salient held by C Company, at the same time throwing the
greater weight of his forces against the Hooge sector occupied by
units of the 14th Division. The latter, who like ourselves had only
come into the line the night before, were undoubtedly surprised by the
sudden attack, and by this first use of "flammenwerfer." Their men,
dead tired, had just got down to sleep, and the rapidity of the enemy
attack left little opportunity for organising successful defence.
The result was that the enemy succeeded at once in gaining the whole
of the front and support trenches on our left, pushing forward into
the North end of the wood, and threatening to cut off the whole of the
salient, and leaving the trenches held by D Company in imminent danger
of being turned from the rear.
The first attack on the point of the salient was driven off by rifle
and machine gun fire. Here Pvte. Grantham displayed conspicuous
gallantry in remaining at his post, in spite of being surrounded by
flames, and killing several of the enemy at close quarters. Very few
of the enemy succeeded in getting into our lines, though for a short
space of time there was a dangerous gap on the left of C Company,
which was filled up by the presence of mind of 2nd Lieut. Hindley and
Sergts. Sheppard and Smith, and a platoon of B Company, one of whom,
Pvte. Tyne, did particularly fine execution by throwing back
unexploded enemy bombs. This platoon lined the parapet, and by opening
rapid fire prevented the attack from developing. Unfortunately, an
enemy machine gun traversed the parapet, killing many of the men of
this gallant platoon, until a bomb thrown a prodigious distance by
Sergt. G. F. Foster appears to have fallen on the top of it, evidently
knocking it out, and by the volume of smoke produced wrecking a
"flammenwerfer." Several of the enemy were seen to be killed or
wounded by this lucky bomb.
Further attacks by the enemy on the point of the salient were made
during the day, and a more serious one early next morning, but they
were readily driven off with loss. We should like here to pay a
tribute to the magnificent courage and coolness of the men of the 10th
Battalion, which contributed very largely to the entire defeat of the
enemy's attack on this front.
Meanwhile the position on the left was uncertain and very alarming,
and Sergt. A. Phillipson in particular, in command of the left
platoon, No. 13, had a most anxious and trying time. Elements of the
14th Division straggled from the left with stories of the German
advance. These accounts might easily have demoralised our
Battalion but for the magnificent example of Lieut. James, his
Second-in-Command, 2nd Lieut. Vann and Sergt. A. Phillipson, and the
coolness and courage of every man of D Company. The situation on this
flank was serious indeed. All the trenches on the left had been
captured, and the enemy were reported as pushing into the wood in the
rear of our trenches. James acted promptly, and immediately pushed out
a left flank-guard. Major Becher at Headquarters sent forward
reinforcements from the Reserve Company, and eventually the 7th
Battalion from "Maple Copse" were despatched by Brigade and did
splendid work in spite of heavy shelling, in digging a switch line
connecting the trenches in the neighbourhood of "Zouave Wood" to our
left flank.
Early in the afternoon the Reserve Brigade of the 14th Division, who
had only reached bivouacs near Poperinghe at three in the morning,
returned and made a gallant but fruitless counter-attack to recover
the lost trenches. Could it have been expected that men, who had been
in the trenches for a week, marched back during the night no less than
12 miles, only to turn once more, march back those interminable 12
miles, part of the time under heavy shell fire, dog-tired, without
sleep or food, could without adequate artillery preparation perform a
feat which later required a Division of fresh troops, after one of the
most carefully planned and destructive bombardments at that time
known? The Brigade could but have failed, and to the onlooker it
seemed a tragic blunder, but to those who have read the pathetic story
of a tragic day, the title given by "The Student in Arms" of "The
Honour of the Brigade" alone provides the excuse for an operation
which from every other point of view, was one of the costly blunders
of the war.
On August 9th, the 6th Division attacked after a very heavy
bombardment and re-established the situation. No troops could have
done finer work. The enemy who had manned the redoubtable "Hooge
Crater" in great strength, suffered very heavily, but the total
prisoners captured in a hard fought attack amounted to five. The 2nd
Sherwood Foresters, under that magnificent Officer Col. Hobbs, who in
pre-war days had at one time been Adjutant of our Battalion,
eventually endeavoured to hold the crater on our left, but this was
soon found to be untenable, and remained in No Man's Land.
An incident which is not without its humour, while illustrating the
tiredness of our men, may be worth recalling. During the bombardment
preliminary to the counter-attack, when the noise of our own artillery
was deafening, and the proximity of the enemy shelling far from
assuring, a platoon commander discovered one of his men fast asleep on
the firestep. With some difficulty he was aroused and, rubbing his
eyes, he exclaimed, not without a certain degree of indignation that
his slumbers had been cut short--"What's oop?"
Our casualties during the activities of July 30th and 31st, amounted
to 21 killed and 40 wounded, and the 10th Battalion had ten casualties
in addition. This total was increased from day to day by incessant
shelling, trench mortars and rifle grenades, and by the unfortunate
inaccuracy of one of our 6-inch naval guns, which persisted in firing
into our trenches until its identity was eventually discovered. During
the first fortnight in the line here, our casualties were no fewer
than four Officers wounded (Vann, E. M. Hacking, Hindley and G. G.
Elliott); 36 other ranks killed, or died of wounds, and 90 wounded.
Included amongst the killed were Sergt. A. Phillipson, who throughout
had shewn the utmost coolness and gallantry, and Sergt. E. Layhe, who
had done very good work as Scout Sergeant. "Jimmy" James, who had
struggled on manfully in spite of being very unfit, eventually had to
give up and go to hospital, D Company being taken over by Vann.
During these days there was much active patrolling in order to make
certain of the dispositions of the enemy, and much daring work was
carried out by Lieuts. Vann, Turner, and H. B. S. Handford, 2nd
Lieuts. A. & E. M. Hacking, Corpl. Gadd, L.-Corpl. Wilson, and Pvtes.
Nicholson and Thompson. Vann in particular was much in the good books
of General Allenby, the Corps Commander, for his splendid work, though
he was once the cause of his very nearly spoiling an immaculate pair
of breeches when showing him with much glee a particularly
un-get-at-able loophole plate in a very muddy trench. We are led to
believe, however, that this crime was forgiven, as Vann was later
honoured by the General with an invitation to dinner.
[Illustration: MAP TO ILLUSTRATE FIGHTING AT SANCTUARY WOOD.
JULY-AUGUST. 1915.]
Apart from shelling, which continued intermittently, the rest of our
stay in the line was uneventful. It was not, however, until August
17th, that the Battalion, reduced in numbers but tried at last in real
fighting, were relieved by the 7th Battalion, and marched back to
bivouacs near Ouderdom, dead tired but happy in the thought that they
could hand over intact the trenches which they had taken over three
weeks before.
The attack had evidently not been an attempt to break through. The
enemy no doubt had hoped to seize our front line system from the right
of B 4 trench northwards. There can be no doubt that had this
succeeded the difficulty of the counter-attack would have been largely
increased. Indeed, at a time when troops could ill have been spared,
it is probable that the Ypres Salient would have been considerably
reduced, and the morale of the enemy proportionately increased. This
was pointed out by General Allenby, who, addressing the Battalion on
parade on August 25th, said: "I have read with great pleasure and
pride the report of the General commanding your Division, telling of
the arduous work which you recently did in the neighbourhood of Hooge.
By your boldness, tenacity, and gallantry, you did work of very great
importance. Perhaps you do not know that not only did your action have
an important bearing on that particular bit of line, but on the whole
campaign, because of the political reason for holding the Salient. The
town of Ypres is nothing to us, but if the Boche took it they would
publish it to the world that they had captured the fortress of Ypres,
which we have held since November, 1914."
The Battalion also received the special thanks of the Field Marshal
Commanding-in-Chief on their efforts during the tour. To the delight
of everyone, especially all ranks of B Company, John Becher was
awarded the D.S.O., a very well-deserved honour for most splendid
work whilst in command of the Battalion, during one of the most
anxious periods in its history; Vann for his gallantry here and
previously at Kemmel got the M.C. Mention must also be made of the
splendid work of our new Medical Officer (Johnstone), his assistants
Corpls. Sissons, Martin, and Bescoby, and all the stretcher-bearers,
who worked indefatigably day and night, often in circumstances of
great personal risk in dressing and evacuating the wounded, not only
of our own Battalion, but of the King's Royal Rifle Corps, the Rifle
Brigade, and the 2nd Sherwood Foresters. In these operations they
established a reputation for gallantry and devotion to duty which in
the whole Brigade was conspicuous throughout the war.
Our bivouacs were in a nice spot sheltered from view by a small wood.
Our rest was not a long one, and was much of the usual type, but had
an additional interest in that we were fortunate in getting two very
good entertainments from the 46th Divisional Concert Party, the
"Whizzbangs," which had lately been formed, and was to be a source of
much pleasure from now on to the end of the war. Whilst there we were
joined by two new Officers, 2nd Lieuts. A. H. G. C. Moore and P. C.
Hemingway, and 107 other ranks, but we wanted men badly now, as in
addition to our heavy casualties in the line, we lost during the month
of August 41 N.C.O's. and men, whose term of enlistment expired on the
completion of one year's war service. These included many old hands
who were difficult to replace.
On August 29th, we took over trenches at "Middlesex Wood," where the
Brigade were holding the line astride the Ypres-Comines Canal, near
St. Eloi, and there we stayed, with one short rest in bivouacs, for a
month of more or less normal trench warfare. Perhaps the main points
of interest were that we were covered by Belgian gunners, who were
not too particular where or when they fired, that we were now getting
a supply of sniperscopes (specially constructed rifles, fitted with
periscopes, for firing from a trench without looking directly over the
parapet), which formed most useful additions to our trench stores, and
seemed to cause the enemy considerable annoyance, and that we were
able on one or two occasions to make good practice with Col. Fowler's
Elephant Gun against some of the enemy's loophole plates. On September
25th, in conjunction with attacks by the French and British, on
various other parts of the Western front, we had to "demonstrate" by
means of artillery, machine gun and rifle fire, and a dummy gas and
smoke attack, which was to be provided by burning on the parapet of
the front line trenches large quantities of damp straw, which had been
carried up with much labour, and a good deal of very frank comment.
Much to the relief of those intimately concerned with this bonfire,
the wind on the day of the attack was unfavourable, and the straw at
least did not end in smoke. The demonstration provided some amusement
to our Grenadiers, who, with the assistance of a "Gamage" catapult,
and two West Spring Throwers succeeded, to their immense delight in
bursting the old Béthune bomb as shrapnel over the German trenches. It
was only when the last bomb was thrown that Sergt. G. F. Foster, the
stoutest Bomber that ever lived and fell, ended a demonstration which
can hardly have caused a flutter in the dove-cotes of the German
Higher Command.
Here, as on many other occasions, all ranks would have worked more
intelligently, and with greater personal satisfaction, if they had
known something of the general plan, and the part they were being
asked to play. This plan really must have been a big thing, for some
one was kind enough to send us a lot of literature on such subjects
as "How to guard against spies in newly captured territory," and
generally how to behave there; whilst maps and other documents gave us
the most intricate detail of every well, and other supply of water for
at least 20 miles East of where we were. Evidently the sender was an
optimist!
On the 30th September, the 8th Lincolns took over from us in support
in the Canal dug-outs. The enemy having already given us an extremely
unpleasant afternoon chose this very inconvenient occasion for
"putting up" a mine under the trenches held by the 6th Battalion, on
the South side of the Canal. This operation and the accompanying
bombardment involved a stand-to, and caused a certain number of
casualties both in the trenches and among the troops in the support
dug-outs. The relief was, however, duly carried out, and the Battalion
marched back to tents near Ouderdom in the early hours of October 1st,
where a little later in the day General Allenby came to say goodbye
and wish us luck in our new sphere of action.
We had previously, on September 21st, had the honour of being
inspected by General Plumer, commanding the Second Army, who expressed
himself as very satisfied with the smart turnout of the Battalion. We
were still very weak, though we had continued to receive small drafts
of reinforcements, and had been joined by five new Officers, 2nd
Lieuts. G. H. F. Payling, R. T. Skinner, R. A. Abrams, G. H. Fisher,
and C. Pickerell; "Dolly" Gray also came out again and rejoined. We
had, however, lost Capt. Collin, the Adjutant, who had just left to
take up a Staff Captaincy, and his place after being held for a few
days by Lieut. A. Hacking, was now taken by Lieut. Weetman, who had
just rejoined. Capt. Piggford had gone home sick, and 2nd Lieut. P. C.
Hemingway wounded; and we had also recently lost M. Lacolle, our one
and only Battalion Interpreter. Henceforth we were not to be allowed
this luxury.
It is, perhaps, not out of place to mention here an interesting little
episode which had taken place at home, namely the depositing of the
Colours in Newark Parish Church. This ceremony was carried out on July
24th, and was attended by the Mayor and Corporation of Newark.
Lieut.-Col. G. S. Foljambe was in charge of the parade, and Capt. R.
F. B. Hodgkinson commanded the escort to the Colours, which were
carried by 2nd Lieuts. R. J. Shipley and C. Pickerell.