THE HISTORY
OF THE
2/6th (RIFLE) BATTALION "THE KING'S"
(LIVERPOOL REGIMENT)
1914-1919
[Illustration: Photo by Houghton, Margate.
LIEUT.-COL. W. A. L. FLETCHER, D.S.O.]
THE HISTORY
_of the_
2/6th (Rifle) Battalion "The King's"
(Liverpool Regiment)
1914-1919
_BY_
CAPT. C. E. WURTZBURG, M.C.
_Adjutant, Nov. 1916-Nov. 1918_
WITH A FOREWORD BY
MAJOR-GENERAL SIR R. W. R. BARNES, K.C.B., D.S.O.
_Late G.O.C. 57th (West Lancs.) Division_
PRINTED FOR THE REGIMENTAL COMMITTEE
BY
GALE & POLDEN LIMITED
WELLINGTON WORKS, ALDERSHOT
1920
To the Memory
OF
LIEUT.-COL. W. A. L. FLETCHER, D.S.O.
THE OFFICERS
WARRANT OFFICERS
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
AND
RIFLEMEN
WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES
FOR THEIR
COUNTRY
_Not fearing death, nor shrinking for distress,
But always resolute in most extremes._
FOREWORD
As I had the honour of commanding the 57th (West Lancashire) Division
during the greater part of the time that the Division was fighting in
France and Flanders in the Great War, included in which Division was
the 2/6th Battalion "The King's" (Liverpool Regiment), I am very glad
that the Author has given me the opportunity of recording in print
my appreciation of the gallant and soldierly conduct of this fine
battalion whilst under my command.
Captain Wurtzburg's work in writing this history of the battalion in
which he served is, I am sure, of great value: to the survivors of
the battalion, as a record of their achievements; to the relatives of
the fallen, as showing that their sacrifice was not in vain; and to
the historians of the future, who will obtain inspiration as to the
realities of war from the experiences of this fighting unit.
The 2/6th "The King's" (Liverpool Regiment) took part with distinction
in all the fighting of the Division from February, 1917, up to the
Armistice. The battalion showed its offensive spirit in the third
battle of Ypres, the breaking of the Drocourt-Quéant switch of the
Hindenburg Line, the battle of Cambrai, and the capture of Lille; and
its steadiness in defence during the long periods of trench warfare,
and especially in the terrible gas bombardment of Armentières.
The battalion was always to be depended upon, and its fine "tone" was,
I think, largely owing to that good Commanding Officer and sportsman,
the late Lieutenant-Colonel W. A. L. Fletcher, who imbued his battalion
with his own personality, and than whom no man in the war more truly
gave his life for his country.
In these present difficult times of peace we are all, I think, inclined
to forget the great lesson of the war--that it is only by "comradeship"
we can overcome these difficulties; and the records of the 2/6th
"The King's" (Liverpool Regiment) should help to remind us that this
battalion gained its name and achieved its object by the equal and
united efforts of its Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers, and Riflemen.
Personally, I feel I cannot end these few lines without expressing my
intense gratitude to all my old comrades of the battalion.
R. W. R. BARNES,
_Major-General_.
LIVERPOOL,
_July, 1920_.
PREFACE
Shortly after the Armistice Colonel Fletcher wrote to me asking if I
would undertake to write a history of the battalion. All through the
war I had cherished a vague idea of doing something of the kind, and
with this view had devoted considerable care to the War Diary and to
the preservation of other records. I was, therefore, only too pleased
to accede to my old Commanding Officer's request, though I felt that
I should experience--as, indeed, I have done--some considerable
difficulty in dealing with periods during which I was away from the
battalion. These cover the time from January, 1915, to March, 1916;
the action of the battalion in the third battle of Ypres; and the
major portion of the second battle of Cambrai, for which I have had to
rely on information which has been readily supplied by those who were
present.
The work of compilation has, I must admit, been arduous to a degree,
and an active business life has necessitated the whole work being
written in my evenings and at week-ends. To this fact, I think, the
unevenness of the book may fairly be attributed, written as it had to
be at odd times, bit by bit, and in the varying states of mind in which
I found myself after my day's work at the office. It has, however, been
a labour of love, and if the book does in any way fulfil the objects
for which I mainly wrote it--first, to perpetuate the memory of our
gallant comrades who laid down their lives for their country; and,
secondly, to aid those who survived to recall to their recollection our
days of service, and to hand down to their descendants some written
record of their lives during those great years--I shall feel that my
labours have been amply repaid.
I have received so much assistance in the preparation of the book
that I am afraid it is impossible to make any adequate individual
acknowledgments of my debt. My thanks, however, are particularly due
to the following:--For continuous advice and valuable suggestions, to
C. W. Wilson, J. L. Heyworth, T. Sutherland, and A. L. Reade (whose
diary, placed freely at my disposal, has proved invaluable); for
contributions, to R. Barker, N. L. and W. A. Corkill, W. M. Ewan, E. A.
Garrod, H. M. Griffiths, J. K. Harris, J. L. Henderson, J. B. Herbert,
F. C. Hildred, F. Hooper, V. J. Kneen, G. L. Lane, J. Longridge, R. E.
Noon, J. Payne, W. Penrice, K. V. Stevenson, H. Taggart, C. W. Walter,
and T. A. Williams; for compilation of addresses, to J. McCoy; for map
work, to A. S. Brown and J. T. Hazell; for photographs and drawings
(the reproduction of which, on grounds of economy, had drastically to
be curtailed), to W. T. Barrow, J. Beavan, W. A. Belk, C. S. Freeman,
E. Fryer, T. H. Louden, F. V. Smith, and A. E. Williams; and for
unfailing courtesy and ready assistance, to the War Office and No. 1
Infantry Record Office, Preston.
To my father, E. A. Wurtzburg, I owe a great debt for assistance of
every description, the value of which I cannot adequately express. He
has, further, revised all the proofs.
I should also like to record the help rendered by my publishers,
Messrs. Gale & Polden, Ltd.; throughout the long period that has
elapsed since the work was first commenced their interest and
assistance have never flagged.
In conclusion, I must add that financial responsibility for the
production of the book was generously accepted by a small body of
gentlemen who shall be nameless, but in the absence of whom it is
certain that the work could never have been undertaken.
C. E. W.
3, LAWN ROAD,
HAMPSTEAD, N.W. 3.
_August, 1920_.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I PAGE
FORMATION OF THE BATTALION--THE
DEPOT--BLACKPOOL--CANTERBURY--MARGATE--UPSTREET CAMP--CANTERBURY--GORE
STREET CAMP 1
CHAPTER II
PREPARATION FOR OVERSEAS--BOURLEY CAMP--INKERMAN
BARRACKS, WOKING 17
CHAPTER III
OVERSEAS--STRAZEELE--FLEURBAIX--BAC ST. MAUR--RUE DU
BOIS--RUE MARLE--RUE DORMOIRE 30
CHAPTER IV
ARMENTIÈRES UP TO GAS ATTACK 68
CHAPTER V
FROM GAS ATTACK TO ST. HILAIRE--PASSCHENDAELE (FIRST
TIME)--LOUCHES 126
CHAPTER VI
PASSCHENDAELE (SECOND TIME)--ARMENTIÈRES--ST. HILAIRE
(SECOND TIME)--ARREWAGE--FLEURBAIX 148
CHAPTER VII
MERVILLE--PERIOD IN RESERVE--GOMMECOURT--FAMPOUX 172
CHAPTER VIII
BATTLE OF CAMBRAI 204
CHAPTER IX PAGE
RUITZ--LILLE--FROYENNES 231
CHAPTER X
ARMISTICE--LILLE--ARRAS--FINALE 252
APPENDICES
APPENDIX I
BRIEF NOTES ON SPECIALISTS 269
APPENDIX II
ROLL OF COMMANDING OFFICERS, SECONDS IN COMMAND, ADJUTANTS, }
AND QUARTERMASTERS }
} 281
ROLLS OF COMPANY COMMANDERS (OVERSEAS) AND WARRANT }
OFFICERS (OVERSEAS) }
APPENDIX III
NOMINAL ROLL AND RECORD OF SERVICE OF ALL OFFICERS,
WARRANT OFFICERS, NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND
MEN 286
INDEX OF PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL PLACES 361
ILLUSTRATIONS
LIEUT.-COLONEL W. A. L. FLETCHER, D.S.O. _Frontispiece_
_Facing page_
BATTALION CAP BADGE, TITLE, AND DISTINGUISHING PATCH 1
COLONEL G. A. WILSON, V.D. 16
THE BATTALION--BLACKPOOL, 1914 33
GROUP--CANTERBURY, 1916 33
THE OFFICERS--MARGATE, 1915 48
THE KING'S INSPECTION, REVIEW GROUND, LAFFAN'S PLAIN,
1916 65
THE OFFICERS--WOKING, FEBRUARY, 1917 80
SERGEANTS' MESS--WOKING, FEBRUARY, 1917 97
THE BATTALION--WOKING, FEBRUARY, 1917 104
RUE DE LILLE, ARMENTIÈRES 112
HOUPLINES ROAD, LOOKING TOWARDS ARMENTIÈRES 129
BOCHE FRONT LINE OPPOSITE LEFT SECTOR, HOUPLINES.
FRELINGHIEN IN BACKGROUND, AND RIVER LYS IN FLOOD 129
HOUPLINES--BRITISH AND GERMAN TRENCHES ON LEFT COMPANY'S
FRONT. RIVER LYS, HOBBS AND EDMEADS FARMS.
AEROPLANE PHOTO DATED 1/1/18 144
THE PONT BALLOT SALIENT HOUPLINES. BRITISH AND GERMAN
TRENCH ON RIGHT AND RIGHT CENTRE COMPANIES' FRONT.
AEROPLANE PHOTO DATED 28/12/17 144
THE TRAIL TO PASSCHENDAELE 161
NEAR LANGEMARCK 161
LIEUT.-COLONEL HON. N. C. GATHORNE-HARDY, D.S.O. 176
GOMMECOURT PARK 193
GENERAL VIEW OF FAMPOUX 193
MŒUVRES, INCHY AND CANAL DU NORD. OBLIQUE AEROPLANE
PHOTOGRAPH 208
QUÉANT 225
INCHY 225
PRONVILLE 225
"CHEERIO" 232
THE CANAL DU NORD 240
CANAL DE L'ESCAUT NEAR CAMBRAI 240
THE CAMBRAI--BAPAUME ROAD, NEAR FONTAINE NOTRE DÂME 240
APPROACH TO CAMBRAI--RIFLE RANGE IN FOREGROUND.
PHOTOGRAPHED BY AEROPLANE, 1/10/18 248
HÔTEL DE VILLE, ARRAS 257
LIEUT.-COLONEL C. L. MACDONALD, D.S.O. 264
LIEUT.-COLONEL C. C. STAPLEDON 264
MAPS
_Facing page_
BOUTILLERIE SECTOR 40
RUE DU BOIS SECTOR 58
HOUPLINES 72
PONT BALLOT SALIENT HOUPLINES 106
IN FRONT OF LANGEMARCK 140
HOUTHULST FOREST SECTOR 150
SITE OF RAID, MARCH, 1918 170
GOMMECOURT 188
FAMPOUX 200
THE CAPTURE OF RIENCOURT 210
THE ROAD TO CAMBRAI 216
OPERATIONS 21-23 OCTOBER, 1918, NORTH OF TOURNAI 242
HAZEBROUCK, 5A } _In_
LENS 11 } _Pocket_
CAMBRAI AREA } _at end_
LILLE AND TOURNAI }
[Illustration: _Battalion Cap Badge, Title, and Distinguishing Patch_]
THE HISTORY
OF THE
2/6th (Rifle) Bn. "THE KING'S"
(Liverpool Regiment)
CHAPTER I
FORMATION OF THE BATTALION--THE
DEPOT--BLACKPOOL--CANTERBURY--MARGATE--UPSTREET CAMP--CANTERBURY--GORE
STREET CAMP
Owing to the rush in the early days of the war, when recruits were many
and records few, the actual date of the formation of the 2/6th (Rifle)
Battalion "The King's" (Liverpool Regiment) is obscure, but from
general evidence we can assume the date to have been September 10th,
1914. Certain it is that recruiting for the Second Line opened on that
date.
Before going further it may be worth setting forth the reasons which
prompted the War Office to create ours and similar battalions.
The Territorial Force was planned for Home Defence, and presumably
it was considered that there would be time and opportunity to train
recruits to replace the casualties and normal wastage of war. The
wholesale volunteering of battalions for Foreign Service altered
the situation completely, and it became necessary to create Reserve
Battalions. Their duty was twofold: first, to replace the battalion
that went abroad and relieve it of its function as a defensive force;
and, secondly, to supply it with the necessary drafts.
Consequently enlisting for the Reserve Battalion included both men
for Home and Foreign Service, and it was not until the following
spring that the success of the Territorial Battalions abroad prompted
the authorities to go one step further, and make the Second Line
Battalions, as they were then called, into Overseas Battalions. To make
this possible, Home Service men were transferred to Home Defence units,
known as Provisional Battalions, while Third Line Depots were created
for training drafts for the battalions on active service.
A clear understanding as to the position is necessary, so that the
reason why we remained in England till February, 1917, may be grasped.
Owing to the call on us for drafts throughout 1915 and early 1916,
our strength was much reduced. The Third Line Depots, however, owing
to the falling off in recruiting, were never strong enough to repair
the wastage of the First Line Battalion already overseas, much less
bring us up to strength. The necessary troops had, therefore, to be
raised from broken-up divisions in England, and it was from one of
these in 1916 that we were to receive the necessary men to complete our
strength. However, the terrible casualties of the Battle of the Somme
diverted to France as reinforcements the men that we were to have had
(some of them found their way to us in 1917 at St. Hilaire), and we
found ourselves with a couple of hundred "Derby men" in their place,
with a promise that we should go overseas as soon as these were trained.
However, to return to September, 1914, the early destinies of the
Reserve Battalion were placed in the hands of Captain J. Howard Temple,
who, with Captain H. K. Wilson and Captain Broad, had been sent back
to the Depot from the original 6th Battalion to organize the new unit,
and they could not have been placed in better hands. During the first
two days about 200 men were enlisted, and the work that devolved on
the head of Captain Temple may be better imagined than described. The
staff at his disposal were Colour-Sergeants Taggart, Firth, Ramsay,
Staff-Sergeant Miller, and Sergeants Blackburn, Cormack, Pender, Lee,
and Leask. In addition some budding officers with O.T.C. experience
helped to fill the gap, and the work of training and organization
proceeded apace, though most of the staff for a considerable period had
to sleep and eat at the Depot.
As the numbers increased the men were formed into eight companies,
and from the ranks men with some experience were picked out and
appointed Acting Lance-Corporals, amongst these being Heyworth, Batson,
Higginbottom, H. Lewis, Hockenhull, Hinde, C. E. Peck, Brunner, Pryce,
and Beeston.
Those early days are amusing to look back upon. We came daily to
the drill-shed for training in every form of costume that can be
imagined--some men in everyday clothes of a clerk, some in shooting
coats and grey trousers, others in khaki bought at their own expense,
and so on. Bowler hats were early discouraged, but except for that
there were no restrictions as to dress.
Little by little khaki began to appear and our regulation black
puttees, though the regimental "walking out" uniforms had for some time
to be used as a temporary arrangement, which made us look a motley
crowd.
"Bugles" were soon formed, and behind these we marched gaily to the Old
Farm Field in Sefton Park for drill, and to Allerton or Arrowe Hall for
field days. In those early irresponsible days life proceeded easily;
the "King's Regulations" and the "Manual of Military Law" were volumes
unknown except to a very few. Keenness and enthusiasm were the keynotes
of our life. Someone murmured the word "inoculation," and forthwith
we trooped in gay crowds to the Medical Officer to undergo that
much-discussed but very innocent operation. The 1/6th Battalion wanted
men to complete their numbers: the draft could have been made up ten
times over. How proudly we marched through the streets of Liverpool!
How we envied the New Army Battalions--the "blue-eyed boys" of the
War Office--who called themselves "Regulars," and on whom everything
seemed to be lavished. Beyond frequent inspections, we got no serious
assistance for two and a half years, and equipment was doled out but
sparingly up till the last moment. The reason of this apparent neglect
was probably sound and in accordance with policy, but it was none the
less heart-breaking at times.
With the beginning of November things began to move apace. Colonel G.
A. Wilson, V.D., was appointed Commanding Officer, and to this fact we
can attribute the smartness and _esprit de corps_ that distinguished
the battalion up till the end of its history. The sound principles on
which Colonel Wilson proceeded to train his battalion produced the best
and most lasting results, and, without wishing in any way to overstep
the mark, one may say that few, if any, battalions were brought from
the early chaotic state to a well-organized and self-contained machine
in such a short time as our own. It was not only, however, in his
scheme of training that Colonel Wilson was so successful, but also in
his choice of officers. He gathered round him officers of many kinds:
not only young and enthusiastic members of School and University
O.T.Cs., but older men also--some without military experience, it is
true, but with that broader outlook and ability that more mature years
bring with them; others, again, who had much military experience to
their credit, and--precious above all--experience of war itself. Of
the latter, Captain W. A. L. Fletcher, D.S.O., Captain C. W. Wilson,
Captain G. L. Fletcher, and Captain G. P. Rogers had all served with
distinction in the Boer War, and, be a war great or be it small, the
knowledge that comes from actual shells and bullets is worth the having.
Captain W. A. L. Fletcher, who came as Adjutant, requires further
mention. One of the greatest oarsmen Oxford ever produced, a great
traveller and big game shot, he represented the very finest type of
Englishman, and his presence with the battalion first as Adjutant and
later as Commanding Officer, was an asset impossible to estimate.
Strong and self-reliant, capable and far-seeing, he had a natural
genius for military science, while for personal gallantry the deed
that won him the D.S.O. when a subaltern in South Africa was more than
sufficient testimony. From the day he joined till the day of his death,
in 1919, his thoughts were centred on the success and the welfare of
the battalion with the most whole-hearted devotion.
The organization of the battalion into eight companies, which
had been roughly sketched out, was now completed, the Commanders
being respectively--Captains Wilson, G. L. Fletcher, W. R.
Clarke, Rogers, Lawrence, A. T. Miller, Herschell, and Wurtzburg.
Colour-Sergeant-Instructor Kelly was appointed regimental
sergeant-major provisionally, and Regimental Sergeant-Major Barnett, of
the 1/6th "The King's" (Liverpool Regiment), was gazetted Lieutenant
and Quartermaster.
Training proceeded on the normal lines of arms drill (with twenty old
D.P. rifles circulated in turn), outposts, guards, musketry (including
miniature range practice), route marching, and physical training. The
foundations were also laid of the scout and signal sections.
On November 4th a draft of 240 men left for Redhill to join the 1/6th
Battalion, and a very fine body of men they were. In addition, four
officers were dispatched--2nd-Lieutenants G. Hughes, T. E. Rome, E. H.
Tyson, and N. B. Ronald. We also received a draft of men in exchange,
composed of those too young or unfit for active service, with a
sprinkling of those unwilling to undertake foreign service obligations.
On November 10th the battalion proceeded to Blackpool with the
remaining reserve units of the Liverpool Regiment, under the command
of Colonel Wilson as Acting Brigadier. Captain Broad remained as O.C.
Depot. The route to Exchange Station was thronged with people to wish
us good-bye and God-speed. The battalion was now entering its first
real stage on the road to active service. We arrived at Blackpool to
find the sun shining brightly, and all were as cheerful as could be.
The men were billeted with subsistence, at a heavy cost, in streets at
North Shore, the officers being quartered at Stretton Private Hotel on
the front.
Military life now assumed a more stern aspect. Early morning parades on
the cold and breezy front, hours of drill on the sands or on the bleak
and wind-swept slopes of Norbreck Hill, were somewhat more severe than
our easy training at Liverpool. However, we meant to get efficient, and
though we worked all day and every day, including Saturday afternoons,
with lectures in the evening, life at Blackpool was happy enough, and
the local attractions all the more alluring by reason of our hard work
and fine condition.
We found ourselves forming, with the Reserve Battalions of the 5th,
7th, and 8th Liverpools, the Reserve Liverpool Infantry Brigade, under
the command of Colonel S. H. Harrison, an old "King's" officer--a
most courteous and kindly Irishman, and a very keen and enthusiastic
soldier. Our Divisional Commander, Brigadier-General F. A. Adam, C.B.,
lately commanding the British brigade at Malta, had been appointed to
command a division earmarked for immediate service in France, but had
most unluckily been injured in an accident while riding. A most capable
and efficient soldier he was, and his misfortune was the good fortune
of our division.
On November 28th we were inspected by our Brigadier at Singleton Hall,
the owner of which kindly lent his grounds for the purpose, and we
were complimented on our bearing and steadiness. This was our first
introduction to the intricacies of the "Manual of Ceremonial."
Christmas leave was our great anxiety at this time, and, after having
been at first disappointed, we were at length allowed to go in batches
to our homes. From Christmas till the move down south we were actively
employed--guards on the pierheads, piquets on the North and South
Shores, drill, and, later, musketry with real rifles at Fleetwood.
The battalion was now organized into four companies in accordance with
"Infantry Training, 1914," which were respectively commanded by Major
H. K. Wilson ("A" Company), Captain C. W. Wilson ("D" Company), Captain
G. L. Fletcher ("C" Company), and Captain Lawrence ("B" Company).
Colour-sergeants were divided into company sergeant-majors and company
quartermaster-sergeants to meet the new organization; and R. Smith
was appointed regimental sergeant-major, Kelly being made company
sergeant-major of "B" Company.
Many more officers meanwhile had joined--so many, in fact, that we were
for a time over strength. Captain Wurtzburg was attached as Acting
Staff Officer at Brigade, and was subsequently gazetted as a Brigade
Major.
On January 12th a draft of 210 men were dispatched to Canterbury, many
N.C.Os. gladly giving up their temporary stripes to join the draft.
That was ever the spirit. Two days later General Sir R. Pole Carew,
Inspector-General, Territorial Force, inspected us on the South Shore
field, and expressed himself much pleased with our steadiness on parade.
Transport, consisting of requisitioned civilian vehicles, had recently
arrived, and Lieutenant L. G. May was appointed as Transport Officer.
His men were not long in appearing clad in riding breeches and spurs,
and lent a slightly military aspect to their antique civilian carts.
Route marching formed a considerable part of the training programme,
and on January 20th the battalion marched to Garstang and back, a
distance of thirty-three and three-quarter miles. It was congratulated
by General Adam on being "so hard and fit that it can perform a long
march in such good order." On February 1st a more ambitious scheme of
marching to Liverpool and back was entered upon. Rifles had arrived
that morning, and were issued on parade, string being provided in lieu
of slings. The first day's march was to Preston, where we billeted for
the night. The next day it rained steadily, and we were glad enough
to reach Ormskirk, where the popular reception was such that the
orderly-room was deluged with requests from people asking if they could
not entertain at any rate one man. The spirit of Ormskirk was, indeed,
conspicuous all along the route, and the arrival on the Exchange flags
the next day produced a rousing reception. After breaking away for
the rest of the day, the battalion set off for the return march the
following day, and completed its 100-mile march in splendid form, only
a few men having become casualties, and these because of ill-fitting
boots. "Rip," the battalion dog, led by the Commanding Officer's groom,
attracted no little attention during the march.
Forms of recreation at Blackpool were manifold, the town going out of
its way to entertain the troops. The Salford Harriers put up a military
run of seven miles, and this was won by Rifleman J. N. C. Davies in 45
minutes 18 seconds.
On February 8th the battalion moved down to Canterbury to replace the
1/6th Battalion, and at Blackpool we left behind many friends and a
high reputation, of which the battalion may well be proud. Captain
Lawrence left us at this point, _anno domini_ having proved too much
even for his dauntless spirit.
At Canterbury we found the band and 170 details of the 1/6th, the
former being a great asset under the able direction of Sergeant
Hodgson. Billets were different from those at Blackpool. We now
had at the most two or three men to a billet, and we also had army
rations. However, the "occupiers" were most kindly and made us
very welcome, though they were apt to resent the rigorous daily
inspection--apparently a novelty to them. Our transport was further
augmented by some quaint vehicles and still quainter mules discarded
by our predecessors, also one or two pack ponies. The mules were
productive of considerable amusement. On March 15th, after this brief
stay in Canterbury--due to the congestion of troops--we marched down
to Margate, and were given billets in Cliftonville. We were the only
battalion of the Division in Margate, the rest of our Brigade being
at Canterbury. That we were popular at Margate, and that Margate was
popular with us, need hardly be added. The behaviour of the battalion
fully justified the continued and generous attention which we received
from the authorities and people of the town.
We had now left the reserve training area of the north, and were in the
zone of possible invasion. The First Line Division had gone overseas
piecemeal, and their Divisional and Brigade Staffs now took charge of
us. Major-General J. B. Forster, C.B., commanded our Division, which
was a unit of the Central Force, commanded by General Sir Ian Hamilton;
while our Brigade was commanded by Brigadier-General A. R. Gilbert,
D.S.O., with Major Fulton, of the Worcesters, as Brigade Major, and
Captain Beazley, of the 1/6th, as Staff Captain.
Soon after our arrival in Margate, Major Temple, to our great regret,
left us, being seconded to the Navy for special service, with the rank
of Commander. He had been the principal pioneer of our battalion, and
had done all that industry and money could do to further our interests.
Though detached from us, we are glad to think he followed our movements
and furthered our schemes by every means in his power.
We now entered on a series of inspections by many Generals, including
Lieutenant-General Hon. Sir Frederick Stopford, Commanding the Second
Army, Central Force, in Dane Park, when he was good enough to say that
we were one of the best units he had seen.
Equipment now began to arrive, and Japanese rifles, which we could
really fire, and we began to feel that we were becoming a fighting,
and not merely an ornamental, battalion. We were responsible for the
Margate defences, and alarms, practice or otherwise, occurred at
most inconvenient moments with most unpleasant frequency. Many are
the stories connected with these alarms, but lack of space prevents
their narration. Easter Monday morning, in particular, saw us marching
hurriedly to Broadstairs at 5.30 a.m., where the remainder of the
Brigade met us from Canterbury. This was believed to have been a
genuine alarm, but it ended in nothing. Zeppelins were the only form of
enemy we saw, and they dropped no bombs on Margate while we were there.
Musketry parties were now busy at Sandwich, where they were billeted
in the Golf Club-house; and a Vickers' machine-gun was received, which
enabled Lieutenant Bowring to teach his most efficient section with
something more satisfying than a wooden dummy.
In the middle of April those who had not signed the form in which the
obligation to serve overseas was accepted were separated, and formed,
with others, the 43rd Provisional Battalion for Home Defence. This left
us only 700 strong, but the defence of Margate and the entrenching in
connection with it passed from our hands, and left us more time for
training. It may be worth recalling that some of the men who elected to
join a Home Service Battalion actually proceeded overseas, by reason of
the Military Service Act, before we did.
On May 17th the Third Line Depots were formed, and a nucleus of
officers and N.C.Os. were dispatched to Weeton Camp, near Blackpool, to
organize our new unit. Amongst the former were Captain G. L. Fletcher
to command and Captain A. T. Miller to act as Adjutant. Captain Clarke
also left us to take command of the Depot at Liverpool. Captain Moon
soon after was appointed to command "B" Company, vacated by Captain
Miller, which had been temporarily commanded by Lieutenant R. L.
Dobell, who was attached to us for a short time. "C" Company was given
to Captain Parker on Captain G. L. Fletcher's departure.
About this time the Central Force was amalgamated with the Eastern
Command, and we came under the orders of that Command for operations.
General C. L. Woollcombe, C.B., lost little time in coming to inspect
us, and confirmed the good reports already made by inspecting officers.
Two serious changes now occurred in our Battalion Headquarters Staff.
Lieutenant Barnett, while acting as umpire at a big field day, was
knocked down and sustained a fracture of the skull. He was away for
some time, returning eventually as Captain and Adjutant; his place
as Quartermaster, after it had been held as a temporary measure by
Lieutenant Kelk, being taken by Sutherland, till then orderly-room
sergeant, who more than filled the post he took over. In addition,
Colonel Wilson on June 20th resigned command owing to pressure of
business which demanded his personal attention. As has already been
said, he had laid the best foundations that a battalion could wish for.
A keen "rifleman" himself, he had never been content with anything but
the best. If he worked us hard, if he was stern and exacting, he always
himself set the example, and the spirit of leadership with which he
inspired Officers and N.C.Os. remained with the battalion till its last
days.
Training at Margate was carried out with zeal and energy of no
mean order. As a rule the battalion formed up in companies in line
opposite Lancaster House, to the strains of the band. After that the
programme varied between route marches round Thanet, Minster and Sarre
generally figuring somewhere on the route; field days on Thanet Golf
Course; battalion drill--always a prominent and important feature in
our training; bayonet fighting, under Sergeant Bowling; bombing with
tiny bags filled with sand; or general training in a field at the
North Foreland end of Margate. A cold ration was usually taken, and
the battalion returned about 3 p.m., and, after marching past the
Commanding Officer by companies, dismissed for the day, and found its
way severally to "Bobbie's" or other popular cafés for tea. Night
operations occurred weekly, and resulted in many amusing contretemps.
Church parades were carried out with full military ceremonial, and the
sight of the battalion marching back on a gorgeous Sunday morning, with
the band playing at its head, was a sight to be remembered, and evoked
the unstinted admiration of the people and visitors of Margate. The
parade ended with "Officers, take post," after which the companies
moved off under their senior warrant officer or N.C.O.
Upstreet Camp, some miles along the Canterbury Road, was in the
meantime being prepared, and our advanced party was busy putting up
tents and other necessities.
If we had been worked hard at Margate, we had certainly had a good
time. Sea bathing, concerts, Sunday afternoons on the promenade
with our band playing in the Oval, and other pleasurable forms of
recreation abounded. Mention must also be made of two most successful
singing competitions organized under the auspices of the Mayor and
Corporation, for which the proprietors of the Winter Gardens very
generously provided their magnificent hall free of charge. Some 3,000
people were present, and the success of these concerts, not only for
the prizewinners, but for all present, was undoubted. The reports in
the local press are eloquent on the subject, as they were, in fact, on
the "unfailing kindness, courtesy, and general behaviour" of the 2/6th
(Rifle) Battalion (as we were now styled) of "The King's" (Liverpool
Regiment).
On July 13th we marched to Upstreet Camp, set close to the Thanet
Marshes, a pleasant spot in summer, but a quagmire in the autumn, as we
found out later to our cost.
While in camp at Upstreet, except for occasional field operations
towards Reculvers and one memorable Brigade field day at Whitstable,
the battalion was engaged practically continuously digging trenches,
wiring, and revetting in the vicinity of Upstreet and St. Nicholas.
The effect of the three months' hard manual labour on the physique
of the battalion was very marked, the men growing and broadening out
almost beyond recognition. There was considerable movement of men at
this period. On August 3rd Captain Wilson conducted 96 men overseas,
and on August 6th 112 men were received from the Third Line. Officers
were also proceeding at intervals overseas, and others recruiting
from hospital were also attached to us for varying periods of time. In
November our establishment was reduced to twenty-three officers, and
all the remainder were dispatched to the Third Line.
On August 8th Major W. A. L. Fletcher, D.S.O., was gazetted
Lieutenant-Colonel, and took over the command of the battalion. Captain
Gilling had meanwhile assumed command of "A" Company.
By October 10th we were more than pleased to vacate our camp, where we
were wellnigh drowned and frozen, and moved to billets at Canterbury
once more. Our move was made more dignified by the presence of
regulation transport, which had been received at Upstreet Camp, in
place of our miscellaneous collection of almost prehistoric civilian
vehicles.
Headquarters at Canterbury were at Dagmar House in Dane John, the men
being billeted in all the neighbouring streets, Wincheap, York, Oxford,
Guildford, and Martyrsfield Roads being the chief. A number of mules
were received, of varying dispositions, the most notorious rejoicing in
the name of "Lusitania."
The end of 1915 found us plodding steadily on with the now somewhat
monotonous round of general training, the only excitement being an
occasional Zeppelin scare or a more serious "stand to." The latter,
during the earlier days of 1916, kept us for nearly a week in a state
of readiness to move at half an hour's notice. Transport vehicles were
kept fully loaded, and meals were served from field kitchens, while
trains stood waiting with steam up in the station.
During the first three months of 1916 fourteen drafts of "Derby"
recruits were received, numbering in all 319 men. Some of these men
we thought were rather old at first, but they turned out splendidly.
These drafts were distributed into squads under specially selected
instructors, whence they were drafted as they became qualified into
the companies to which they had been posted. The care and attention
lavished on these men were productive of excellent results, as the
records of many of them can testify. A Brigade N.C.Os.' class was
also held during this period at Old Park, and was conducted by Captain
Barnett.
Training, owing to the weather, was apt to be confined to the "vicinity
of billets" or the Presbyterian Hall. Dane John was generally tenanted
by signallers or other specialists. We also had occasional field
days at Bridge, and withheld stoutly the attacking Germans who had
invariably landed at St. Margaret's Bay.
In February our first Lewis guns were received, and the number went
on increasing from that time till about the spring of 1918, when we
reached a total of twenty-eight. Rumours of the separation of machine
gunners into a new machine gun corps had been for some time afloat,
and on May 2nd twenty-two men of the battalion were discharged and
re-enlisted in the Machine Gun Corps. The quick promotion which
practically all these obtained is a proof of the good tone of the
battalion and of the magnificent instruction which the men had received
under Lieutenant Bowring. A draft of 150 men had been sent just prior
to this to the Third Line _en route_ for overseas, but the majority
reappeared shortly after. A party, under Captain Gilling, was detached
at Birchington for some time, working on the defences, and a small
observation post for hostile aircraft was stationed at Wootton, and a
party was also kept at the R.F.C. ground, Bekesbourne.
On April 19th the battalion was inspected at Sturry by General Right
Hon. Sir Arthur Paget, who expressed himself favourably impressed; and
on May 8th the Commanding Officer went to France for a tour in the
line, bringing back many valuable hints. He spent his time in front of
Gommecourt, a spot that was to be very familiar to us later on.
Musketry was now resumed at Sandwich in intensely hot weather, the
march--some sixteen miles--proving too much for some of the men who had
not experienced that training in march discipline with which the older
members of the battalion were acquainted. The balance of the battalion
not so employed were inspected, with the rest of the 57th Division (we
had ceased to be the 2/1st West Lancashire Division and 2/1st Liverpool
Infantry Brigade, the latter now being designated the 171st Infantry
Brigade), at Westbere by Sir John French, who had recently been
appointed Commander-in-Chief Home Forces. He endeavoured to explain
our continued presence in England, which was in no way connected with
inefficiency, but was due to the lack at the moment of any adequate
force of trained troops for Home Defence.
The continued rumours of early foreign service, however, still buoyed
us up, in spite of their failure to materialize, and it speaks wonders
for the battalion that they endured two and a half years of training in
England, with every kind of alteration in policy, without losing to any
extent their cheerfulness and their keenness.
Canterbury, with its church parades in the Cathedral, with its general
training at the Parsonage Farm, its company training and battalion
operations, its company concerts and its comfortable billets, was now
about to join Blackpool and Margate among the memories of the past.
Advanced parties were now at Gore Street, where a joint camp was being
constructed for the 2/5th K.L.R. and ourselves. Excellently situated on
a branch from the main road between Monkton and Minster, it was only
some four miles from our old camp at Upstreet. Standing, however, on
higher ground, it looked over the Thanet Marshes, and so escaped the
disadvantages of damp and mist which belong to such low-lying ground.
The tents were also particularly good. The only disadvantage was a lack
of space, the area, limited as it was, being further cramped by the
presence of the Wessex Field Ambulance, a pleasant party though they
were.
Digging operations now recommenced, in addition to the usual round of
general and specialist training. A visit by Sir Francis Howard with an
Ordnance inspector who murmured of "foreign service" filled us with the
highest hopes. Our equipment was condemned, and likewise our rifles,
which had replaced the Japanese weapons some months previously.
Apparently we were to have everything we wanted, proceed to Aldershot
for final training, and then to France. Before we left Gore Street some
very successful sports were organized in conjunction with the 2/5th
K.L.R. and many amusing sideshows were added. A practice night alarm
for hostile aircraft caused some merriment when Captain Moon was seen
hurrying to report attired in a service cap, nightshirt, British warm,
and a pair of gum-boots. One memorable field day must be recorded,
which was known for long after as the Battle of Pluck's Gutter, the
scene of operations.
The command of "C" Company passed to Captain Eccles about this time. He
had relieved Lieutenant May as Transport Officer when the latter joined
the Home Service unit, but had handed over this duty shortly after to
Lieutenant Hutchinson.
On July 15th, after vast preparations--we had made no considerable
move for eighteen months--we entrained at Canterbury, after a long and
tiring march, for Aldershot, getting a magnificent send off from our
Canterbury friends, not to mention ample supplies of fruit from the
manager of the Queen's Hotel, Margate.
With what high hopes we set off on our journey! Now at last we felt
that the final stage in our education had been reached. Aldershot and
Salisbury Plain were the universities of the military student, whence
he was launched into the vortex of war complete with all the necessary
knowledge. That we had now at last been admitted to this select academy
must mean that our days in England were strictly numbered. Alas for our
hopes!
[Illustration: Photo by Houghton, Margate.
COL. G. A. WILSON, V.D.]