RICHEBOURG--MARSEILLES--CANDAS
_October 18th, 1915._ _March 5th, 1916._
We were now little more than a skeleton of a Battalion, so that the
arrival of 103 reinforcements, including Sergt. E. E. Deverall, was
very welcome, but so far as Officers were concerned we remained for
the moment very depleted. Capt. Turner remained in command of B
Company; Lieut. E. M. Hacking took over A; Lieut. Abrams C, and Lieut.
Gray D.
Major-General Stuart-Wortley came to see us on October 18th, when the
Battalion paraded in a field just outside Vaudricourt, and thanked us
for our work in the battle, and spoke to a few of the N.C.O.'s and
men, whose names had been forwarded as having done specially well.
The following day we were not sorry to leave our wretched billets and
march to Lapugnoy, where we got very comfortable quarters, and stayed
for a week. Here we were able to do a little reorganising, and were
fortunate in getting several new subalterns, viz.: 2nd Lieuts. A.
Andrews, H. R. Peerless, who shortly became Battalion Grenade Officer,
F. E. Kebblewhite, C. H. Powell, A. H. G. Cox, E. Hopkinson (formerly
Comp. Sergt.-Major of C Company) and H. B. Hammond. With their welcome
arrival. Companies got more or less into shape. We were unfortunate in
having to send a large party by 'bus one day to Sailly Labourse, to
help to fetch out the empty gas cylinders from the Hohenzollern
trenches, but on the whole the few days spent at Lapugnoy were very
pleasant. The "Whizzbangs" were in the same village, and gave several
good shows, which after our recent gruelling were very refreshing, the
more so as on this occasion they were assisted by two French ladies,
who, needless to say, added enormously to the attraction.
The "Vin blink" of Lapugnoy was also most attractive, and apparently
rather more than usually potent, for it was undoubtedly the cause of
casualties amongst all ranks. We left there on October 26th, and
marched to Béthune, where we were again fortunate in being comfortably
billeted at the Orphanage, with Officers' billets and Headquarters'
Mess in the Rue de Lille.
Two days later, on October 28th, a review of troops of the XI Corps,
was held by the King and the Prince of Wales at Hesdigneul.
Representatives of all units of the 46th Division were included in the
parade, to which we contributed a composite Company of six Officers
and 250 other ranks, under Capt. Davenport. The parade ground was a
newly ploughed field, and as for several days previously there had
been heavy rain the conditions were extremely unfavourable. After
taking the salute, the King went on to inspect another unit in an
adjoining field, where, unfortunately, he had a nasty accident, and
the last we saw of him was driving away from the parade ground and
looking very ill.
Further reinforcements joined us at Béthune, mostly from entrenching
Battalions, making our strength up to more normal figures, though for
many months to come, we seldom exceeded 600 to 700 all told. Capt.
Hill was appointed to command D Company, 2nd Lieut. Cox succeeding him
as Signalling Officer. Mounteney rejoined and resumed his duties as
Regimental Sergt.-Major.
Our next move was to the Richebourg sector--probably the most
miserable trenches we ever met with, and then held by Indian troops.
Leaving Béthune on November 4th, we proceeded via Epinette, where we
spent one night, to Vieille Chapelle and relieved the 58th Rifles
(Meerut Division) in front line trenches on November 6th, with
Battalion Headquarters in "Edward Road," just behind Richebourg
L'Avoué, and the front line a little in front of that village, and
just South of Neuve Chapelle. This was a bad country for trenches,
being flat and low lying, with the water level even at normal times
very near the surface. The Boche as usual had such high ground as
there was. This was mainly in the region of the Bois du Biez on our
left, from which he got a fair view over much of our area. The Indians
had done little trench work, and all that was taken over was a very
poor front line, with a few scraps of support trenches, and one or two
communication trenches, mostly full of water. It was during our first
tour that a waggish Hun called out one night, after one of our Very
lights had made rather a worse display than usual, "Better luck next
time. I'll shew you how to send them "--which he promptly did, adding
later, "I don't want to fight, I've had enough of the war." Towards
the end of our stay in this area, we came across another talkative lot
of Boches, who had a good deal to say one night, enquiring what
regiment we were, and making various remarks about cigarettes and plum
puddings.
It was towards the end of our first tour that we had the first of our
happily few casualties in this area, Lieut. Houfton being killed early
in the morning of November 11th. He was endeavouring to make his way
with Lieut. Abrams along an absolutely water-logged trench to "Boar's
Head," the extreme right of our Battalion sector, and they were
evidently being carefully watched by a Boche sniper, who was
doubtless able from time to time to catch a glimpse of their caps
above the parapet. Eventually, when they got to a spot where the
parapet was particularly low, he fired, the bullet killing Houfton,
and passing through the peak of Abrams' cap. Sergt. T. Martin
gallantly went to Houfton's aid, across 400 yards of very difficult
and exposed ground.
The front we held was changed somewhat after a time, and we
side-stepped to the left, with Battalion Headquarters in dug-outs, at
the side of the Rue du Bois. The few odd houses left along this road
were mostly used by the Gunners as observation posts, the principal
being "Ritz," "Carlton," "Princes," and "Trocadero," and as the Boche
gunners probably had a very shrewd suspicion of this, the
neighbourhood of the road was often not a healthy spot, and on one or
two occasions was shelled fairly heavily. It was on one of these, when
we had some men wounded near "Factory Corner," that Pvte. Redfern, the
old bandsman, coolly went to their aid in the midst of the shelling,
and was dressing one of the men when he was himself mortally wounded.
L.-Corpls. W. H. Lacey and S. Matthews also shewed great bravery in
rescuing wounded men at the same time. In connection with this
shelling of areas behind the front line, a somewhat unhappily worded
order was received to the effect that daily reports frequently omitted
to mention the activities of hostile artillery, and that as an example
at a certain time on a certain day, "Guards Trench" was subjected to a
sharp bombardment, and that had it not been for the fact that "a Staff
Officer was accidentally in the front line at the time," nothing would
have been known of this at Divisional Headquarters!
The Boche machine gunners gave us a certain amount of trouble too,
particularly at night, when they regularly sprayed all the area from
the Rue du Bois to "Windy Corner," doubtless hoping to catch
transport and carrying parties. One particular artiste used to try to
play tunes with his gun and we had no difficulty in recognising his
favourite as an attempt at "Yip-y-addy." It was a very unlucky burst
from one of these one night that killed that very brave soldier Sergt.
Sheppard, who had previously been awarded the D.C.M. for gallantry at
Hooge. Lieut. Adams, our machine gun Officer, did his best to get his
own back against them, and used to stalk out nightly alone, contrary
to all regulations, and fire off his guns at odd times in the hope of
catching someone. He was rewarded one night, after patiently lying in
wait for a search light that the enemy had used occasionally from
their front line parapet, by knocking it out with a burst of fire
almost the instant it shewed itself. But on the whole there was very
little excitement; in fact, we hardly had time for much, as we only
spent a total of 16 days in the trenches here altogether. Cold winter
weather had set in, and there was little or no comfort possible for
the men holding the front line. It was here that we first really found
it necessary to use "gumboots thigh" when they could be got, and to
dress legs and feet daily with whale oil to try and ward off that
horrid complaint "trench feet," which might easily have caused many
casualties in such trenches as these. A most complicated form had to
be filled up with every case sent down to hospital suffering from
trench foot, and no mercy was shewn to any Commanding Officer who did
not take every precaution to prevent it. Fortunately we had a very
good record. Every effort was made to relieve the men in the front
line every 24 hours, and to take them back as often as possible to the
billets near Windy Corner, where they were able to get their clothes
dried, and a good night's rest before going back to the line.
Our rest billets and Transport were at Vieille Chapelle. The field
where the latter had their lines was nothing but a mass of mud, in
most places knee-deep. The Transport at this time shewed remarkable
activity, limbers going backwards and forwards all day to Lacouture on
some mysterious duty, which was by no means unconnected with the
excitement which arose in "A" Branch of Divisional Headquarters
towards the end of our stay, about some houses missing from that
village! They had been removed piecemeal to the transport lines, where
they were used to form standings.
During one tour spent in Brigade support, Battalion Headquarters and
two Companies were in that village, and two Companies in billets in
Richebourg St. Vaast, or finding garrisons for "St. Vaast," "Grotto"
and "Angle" posts. An interesting discovery in the rafters of a ruined
house at Richebourg St. Vaast was a pepper box found to contain
several gold _louis_. Capt. E. M. Hacking was the means of their being
handed over to the French authorities and, we hope, eventually
restored to their owner. The billets at Lacouture were not very good,
but we had a great find there in the shape of what had once been a
billiard table in the remains of the Village Institute. At the same
time curiously enough, and for some time afterwards, the
Quarter-Master reported that the demand for green cloth for putting
behind cap badges was extraordinarily small!
The main drawback to our periods of rest was those wretched working
parties, which seemed to pursue us everywhere. Here the work in hand
was the building of a solid breastwork in continuation of Guards
Trench, just East of the Rue du Bois. Two nights out of each four we
were at rest, we had to send large parties to Richebourg to carry on
this work, which was being done "by the piece." A certain number of
sandbags were issued to each man about half-a-mile before he got to
his work, and he was told that when these had been filled and laid he
could return. It is perhaps needless to say that many of the sandbags
found a resting place in the nearest ditch, not far from the Royal
Engineers' dump, where they were issued, and that the building of the
breastwork did not proceed very rapidly.
During our stay here several new Officers joined, including 2nd
Lieuts. H. K. Simonet, G. A. P. Rawlings, and A. H. Michie from the
2/8th Battalion, and 2nd Lieuts. A. Bedford, G. G. Elliott, and W. W.
Pitt. We were also given as Second-in-Command, Major E. H. Heathcote,
from the 6th Battalion, whilst his brother Capt. G. S. Heathcote,
rejoined at the end of November and resumed command of C Company. At
the same time Capt. E. M. Hacking went to Brigade Headquarters to
learn Staff duties, leaving A Company under Lieut. Andrews, until
taken over a little later by Capt. A. Hacking, who rejoined from
Brigade. We also lost 2nd Lieut. Pickerell, who was invalided home.
Our losses in other ranks during our stay amounted to three killed and
15 wounded.
On December 2nd--we retain most pleasant memories of that night--we
were relieved by the 7th Battalion in the left sector, and on one of
the darkest nights known, made our way back in the usual way to
Vieille Chapelle. About 9.30 p.m. a message was received from Brigade
that the Commanding Officer or Adjutant was wanted at once. The
Adjutant was sent and came back with the news that we were to be
"prepared to move at short notice to an unknown destination." At 5.0
a.m. the next morning further orders were received and we left Vieille
Chapelle at noon the same day, marching via Merville to Haverskerque,
where we got very good if scattered billets. There we proceeded to
clean off some of the mud of the Richebourg trenches. During our march
we met units of the 19th Division, moving up to relieve the troops in
the trenches, and could not help feeling a touch of sympathy for them
having been suddenly fetched away from comfortable billets, to take
over such water-logged trenches, and we felt that for once fortune had
favoured us.
Rumours of all kinds began to float around, and of all quarters of the
globe that were mentioned "Egypt" was believed to be "it," and it was
not long before we found out that that indeed was our intended
destination.
Everyone was happy, and we were soon looking smart once more; in fact,
so splendid was the effort at cleaning up, that the Battalion was
congratulated by our Divisional Commander at his inspection on
December 7th, as being the smartest Battalion of the eleven he had
inspected.
Odd men who had been detached for duty with other units rejoined. We
had a few small drafts, and one new Officer, 2nd Lieut. W. H. B.
Rezin.
We now settled down for drill, interior economy, and lectures.
Particular attention was given to guard drill and guard mounting
ceremonies, as the Divisional Commander expressed a wish that we
should turn out like the Guards Division, who were in the same Corps.
Fur coats and other winter kit were handed in. A horrid pro forma
certificate reached Orderly Room, and the Commanding Officer found he
had to sign a certificate to the effect that the Battalion was in
possession of every article enumerated in A.F.G. 1098 (Mobilisation
Store Table). This document contained such items as "screws, brass,
buckle roller 1 in. × 7/8 in.--2" "awls, brad--1;" "cordage, tarred
spun yarn,--lbs. 14," and other luxuries which had long been
considered superfluous, and mostly lost in the Salient. We had been
told to indent for anything we wanted in the way of clothing or
equipment, so that there was some consternation on the arrival of a
new and fierce Deputy Assistant Director of Ordnance Services just at
this moment, who told Quarter-Masters that during the last month, the
whole of the Guards Division had not used the number of articles they
were indenting for. Formal indents for "awls, brad," etc., were
therefore out of the question. The Quarter-Master accused the
Transport Officer, and the Transport Officer accused the
Quarter-Master, but in the end the mess cart, which had a good cover,
was requisitioned, and made two or three secret journeys by night to
Merville, and when surprise was expressed that everything on the
Mobilisation Store Table was present, both the individuals concerned
looked supremely innocent, and no more was said about it. It has since
transpired that a jar of rum played a prominent part in this incident.
Here we parted with "Big Ben," "Old Bob," and other heavy draught
horses, which had been with us since leaving Newark, and received in
exchange mules from the Guards Divisional Ammunition Column, two of
which rejoiced in the aristocratic names of "Harry Thaw," and "Legs
Eleven."
We were inspected by the Assistant Director of Medical Services; we
had lectures on "Duties on board ship" and "Entraining." Special short
leave was granted to a few lucky ones, and all preparations were made
for a big move. Our billets were very comfortable. We could get good
dinners at the "Corner Café," and those of us who were there, will
never forget the wonderful concert given by the 19th Divisional
Ammunition Column who were billeted there, in which two ladies from
Merville assisted.
On December 19th, we marched to Wittes, a small village on the La
Bassée Canal, near Aire. This was a short march on a bright Sunday
morning, chiefly memorable for a wonderful equestrian feat on the part
of a certain Company Commander, who went with his horse into a dyke
at the starting point, and instead of coming out with the animal,
stayed in by himself, and for the fact that an unfortunate mistake in
map reading, caused the Battalion to perform a most startling and
snake-like turning feat in a lane only a few feet wide, the mistake
being discovered just as the last transport vehicle had entered the
lane. However, as it was a bright day and we were going away, great
good humour prevailed, and each Company played "Here we go round the
water cart" in its own good time, and the tangle was soon sorted out.
Our before breakfast parade at Wittes on a few occasions took the
novel form of the whole Battalion doubling up and down along the Canal
side to the accompaniment of the drums. This was entertaining for a
brief space, but the novelty soon wore off. Ordinary training was
continued, and included several route marches. It was during one of
these that the C Company "wag" brought forth a spontaneous remark one
day when passing one of those little dog-carts one used to see so
often. It was very heavily laden and the dog was straining every
nerve. A big, powerful looking woman was walking at the side carrying
a horse whip, but taking no share in the burden. As the Company
passed, our friend remarked "Eh, mum, you've forgotten your spurs!"
Christmas, 1915, spent at Wittes was a very cheery one. All sorts of
good things had been received from home, including a present for every
Officer and man from the Nottingham Comforts Fund, and altogether we
had a most enjoyable time. Football matches and sports of all kinds
were indulged in, and one has vivid recollections of Sergt. Deverall
giving a wonderful boxing display, and of a poor Frenchman waking up
one morning to find his best wagon at the bottom of the Canal.
[Illustrated: MAJOR J. P. BECHER, D.S.O. Died of wounds, Jan. 1st,
1916.]
On Boxing-Day we marched via Aire to fresh billets at Molinghem, which
were probably the most verminous we ever found. In spite of this
drawback we had a very good time, and on January 6th, 1916, had the
pleasure of welcoming the 11th Sherwood Foresters, who marched over
from a neighbouring village and played us at football. After a good
game we beat them by two goals to one. A Brigade inter-Battalion
football competition was also played, in which after beating the 5th
Battalion one--none, and the 7th Battalion three--none, we won the
Brigade championship and some very neat medals.
Whilst at Molinghem, we got our long expected orders to move South,
and on January 7th, A and C Companies, and half the First Line
Transport vehicles, under Major E. H. Heathcote entrained at
Berguette, and were followed by the remainder of the Battalion on
January 9th, except the horses, which were entrained at Lillers on
January 11th. Eventually, after a train journey of nearly three days,
the Battalion was concentrated at Marseilles, where after some
rearranging, Battalion Headquarters and B and D Companies were
billeted at Camp Moussot, and A and C Companies under Major Heathcote,
at Camp Borely.
At Marseilles we spent what was probably our happiest fortnight in
France. It is not difficult to imagine the pleasure everyone
experienced at being transported to the shores of the Mediterranean in
January after the filth and mud in the trenches, and wet and fogs of
Northern France. The change was marvellous, and the turnout and
appearance of the men splendid, and indeed the subject of comment by
English people arriving from abroad, who said they could not help
being struck on landing at finding the place full of well set-up and
healthy English Tommies. Truly the change was delightful, though the
Officers who had the misfortune to be billeted for a time in the
draughty bathing establishment opposite Borely Camp, are not likely to
forget the cold nights they spent there. Sea bathing, which we got
almost next door to the Camp, was a great delight, and of course the
town itself was full of attractions. We need only mention such names
as the Cannibière, Theresa's Bar, Lindens, The Alcazar, Castell Muro,
The Palais Crystal, The Bodega, and The Novelty, to recall many
incidents to all those who were fortunate enough to be with us. It was
certainly delightful, but played havoc with our banking accounts, and
must have given Mr. Cox a very busy time. We did a certain amount of
training in our more serious moments, which were not many, ordinary
work normally finishing about 1.0 p.m., and the men being allowed out
from 2.0 p.m. onwards. Many guards and camp and town fatigues had to
be found, however, almost daily, which much depleted our numbers on
parade. Training was mainly of the barrack square type. There was a
certain amount of interest for those at Moussot Camp, in watching the
Indian Troops, whilst those at Borely spent much time either in
dodging the loose horses and mules, which wandered at will about the
Camp, or the Camp Commandant, who had a violent dislike to orange
peel, and if he found any at once arrested the nearest man, whether
guilty or not!
Four new Officers joined us there, viz., 2nd Lieuts. C. G. Tomlinson,
E. C. Marshall, A. A. Hodgson, and W. S. Jones, and a draft of 39 men,
all of whom no doubt thought it a very "bon" war.
Plans for our sea journey had got so far advanced that our transport
vehicles had actually been taken down to the docks for loading, when,
alas for us, our hopes of going East were shattered on January 24th,
by the receipt of orders to entrain the next night.
What exactly caused the sudden change of plans we did not know at the
time, but subsequently heard it was due to the unexpected ease with
which Gallipoli had been evacuated. Needless to say there was much
regret on all sides, especially when we found that we were to go back
to the North of France and join the Third Army on the Western Front.
On the evening of the 25th January, we marched down through cheering
crowds of French people to the Gare d'Arenc, where after waiting about
for four hours, we entrained at 4.10 a.m. on the 26th. It is sad to
think that this wait gave an opportunity once more for light-fingered
people in the Transport Section to annex eight or nine P.L.M. goods
sheets, which were carefully stowed away, one on each limber, and
later proved of great value in several places where there was a
scarcity of billets.
We detrained at Pont Remy on the morning of January 28th, after a
peculiarly uncomfortable journey, and owing to our guide preferring to
go three miles uphill to one on the flat our march to Ergnies was a
somewhat lengthy business. In this area we followed the Ulster
Division, and we are glad to add that the billets taken over from them
were invariably scrupulously clean, and had evidently been vastly
improved under their able medical authorities. We stayed here for
several days, and had an opportunity of resting the men after their
long journey, and of carrying out a little training. Some of this was
in preparation for a Brigade ceremonial parade, which took place on
February 3rd, when General Shipley spoke of the splendid work done by
the Brigade in France up to that time, and read out a list of the
honours and decorations awarded, of which we had had a fair share. At
Ergnies we had flying visits from Col. Huskinson and "Doc." Stallard,
both of whom we were delighted to see looking very fit.
On February 10th, we marched to Ribeaucourt, where we stayed for a
little over a week. Here on February 16th, we parted with Lieut.
Adams, 2nd Lieut. Rezin, and 35 N.C.O.'s and men of the Machine Gun
Section, who went to form part of the newly created "Brigade Machine
Gun Company." In place of the Vickers gun thus withdrawn, we were
issued with the new light Lewis Machine Gun, air cooled, mounted on a
bipod and easily carried. Each Company had two of these and the whole
were supervised by a Battalion Lewis Gun Officer, 2nd Lieut. Simonet
being the first to be appointed to this duty. Musketry was carried out
on a 300 yard range, which we fitted up near the village, and bombing
practice under the guidance of 2nd Lieut. Peerless, who made
considerable progress in the use of the West Spring Thrower. Capt. A.
Hacking had been again taken to Brigade Headquarters, to act as
Grenade Officer, and Capt. Lawson who had rejoined at Wittes, was
appointed to command A Company in his place. All this time we were
well in the back regions out of harm's way. The only journey made to
the front area was that by a party of Officers, who one day had to
reconnoitre some reserve lines of trenches near Forceville and Mailly
Maillet. We once had orders to be prepared to take over the line at
Beaumont Hamel, but this fell through.
Ribeaucourt we shall always remember, owing to the exorbitant claims
made by the inhabitants for damage to billets. Never before nor after
did we receive such demands as those made by the good people of that
village, headed by the Maire, who after showing much hospitality to a
few of us, seemed to want to give the villagers a lead in their
demands! How they were eventually settled we never found out. Here,
too, Capt. Davenport and Sergt. Blunt were chased down the village
street one day by two infuriated women armed with broomsticks, their
store of bully beef and army shirts having been discovered by the
former, when looking for odds and ends to hand into the Deputy
Assistant Director of Ordnance Services in exchange for new articles.
The D.A.D.O.S. had just issued an ultimatum to the effect that he
would issue nothing except on the return of the old article. Transport
men, therefore, scoured the country side for bottoms of nose-bags,
backs of dandy brushes, pieces of rope, etc., which were cleaned and
handed in and quite a good stock of new articles was obtained in
return.
On February 20th, we were taken in motor 'buses by a somewhat
circuitous route to fresh billets at Candas, where we stayed until
March 6th. Most of this time the weather was extremely cold and there
were several heavy snowstorms. Navvying on new railways was our chief
work, under the supervision of the 112th Company Royal Engineers,
either about Puchevillers, or the station at Candas, in preparation
for the offensive that was to take place later on. Our fortnight at
Candas completed three whole months of what was practically "rest" in
the back areas. We were now to play a more active part in the war.