The History
_of the_
33rd DIVISIONAL ARTILLERY
in the War
1914-1918.
_By_
J. MACARTNEY-FILGATE,
Late Major R.F.A. [S.R.]
_With a Foreword by_
GENERAL LORD HORNE
G.C.B., K.C.M.G., A.D.C.
LONDON:
VACHER & SONS, LTD.,
GREAT SMITH STREET, WESTMINSTER, S.W.1.
To our Men
Who in this, as in all other units,
bore the full fury and sacrifice of War,
this book is dedicated.
FOREWORD.
"Yet the record of their actions is their best memorial." Field-Marshal
Earl Haig wrote the above words in his foreword to the Royal Artillery
War Commemoration Book. When it is recalled that during the Great War
some three-quarters of a million of men fought guns of all calibres in
every quarter of the globe, it may be realised that to write the history
of the part taken by the Royal Regiment of Artillery as a whole must
prove an impossible task.
All the more important therefore that each unit should take steps to
place on record its own doings.
The 33rd Divisional Artillery fought in many important battles and
engagements, and always fought with distinction and with the devotion
worthy of the tradition of the Royal Regiment. This record bears witness
of the high stage of efficiency attained by the Brigades and Batteries
of the New Army, and we may say with our great Commander-in-Chief "The
record of their actions is their best memorial."
HORNE OF STIRKOKE,
_General_.
H.Q., EASTERN COMMAND.
_May 31st, 1921._
CONTENTS.
PAGE
FOREWORD v
LIST OF MAPS ix
INTRODUCTION xi
CHAP.
I.— EARLY DAYS 1
II.— FIRST EXPERIENCES OF WAR IN THE LA BASSÉE SECTOR 6
III.— THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME, 1916 24
IV.— DAINVILLE, HEBUTERNE AND THE BATTLE OF THE ANCRE 52
V.— WINTER ON THE SOMME, 1916-1917 62
VI.— THE BATTLE OF ARRAS AND VIMY RIDGE, 1917 78
VII.— THE HINDENBURG LINE AND THE OPERATIONS ON THE COAST 100
VIII.— THE AUTUMN BATTLES OF YPRES AND PASSCHENDAELE, 1917 112
IX.— WINTER IN THE SALIENT, 1917-1918 135
X.— PART I. THE GERMAN OFFENSIVE IN FLANDERS, 1918 147
PART II. HOLDING THE ENEMY IN THE NORTH 168
XI.— THE BRITISH OFFENSIVE ON THE THIRD ARMY FRONT, 1918 174
XII.— FINALE 194
APPENDIX I. 199
APPENDIX II. 202
APPENDIX III. 203
INDEX 205
LIST OF MAPS.
PAGE
CUINCHY, CAMBRIN AND THE LA BASSÉE SECTOR 12
THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME 28
HEBUTERNE, DAINVILLE AND GOMMECOURT 56
ARRAS, MONCHY AND THE SCARPE 84
ZILLEBEKE, MAPLE COPSE AND THE PASSCHENDAELE BATTLES 114
PASSCHENDAELE, GRAVENSTAFEL AND ZONNEBEKE 138
KEMMEL AND THE GERMAN OFFENSIVE 150
THE FINAL BRITISH OFFENSIVE—PEIZIÈRE—VILLERS OUTREAUX 176
CLARY—FOREST 182
OVILLERS—ENGLEFONTAINE 186
INTRODUCTION.
To write the history of a unit in the war must, even to the most able
pen, prove a mighty task, for it is not given to many to be able in
words to describe deeds greater almost than human intellect can grasp.
But when the task falls to the lot of one who, himself neither author
nor historian, can claim as a sole reason the fact that it was his
humble privilege to serve with the unit in question, the work becomes
doubly and trebly difficult. In a book of this nature it is probably
desirable that personal experience should have preference to powers of
rhetoric, and a knowledge of facts to fluency with the pen, and for this
reason, after much hesitation, the work was undertaken. No skilful
framing of words can portray in any way adequately a war history; far
better is it that in simple language should be recounted the story of
the batteries, so that each man may judge of it according to his lights.
This History has been written primarily as a permanent record for all
those who served with the 33rd Divisional Artillery, a record which they
may keep for the benefit of themselves and their descendants when, in
years to come, the intervening space becomes blurred by the mist of
forgetfulness, and the story of those mighty days in France lies in
danger of being relegated to the shadowy past. Secondly, it has been
published in order that all those who were in any way connected with the
gunners of this Division may learn something of their doings in France,
may gain a little insight into the daily lives of those whose deeds they
can but dimly comprehend. Moreover, although many regimental histories
have already been published, this is one of the first to devote itself
to the doings of a Divisional Artillery, and, throwing much light as it
does upon the daily life of a field gunner in France, it must be of
considerable interest to all those who wish to know something of the
work of an artillery unit in the war. Lastly, since it deals in detail
with every battle in which the 33rd Divisional Artillery was concerned,
it will be found to contain records of minor incidents and operations
into which the wider histories of the war cannot enter, but which were
of vital importance to the actual troops concerned.
The expense of publishing the History has been borne entirely by old
members of the 33rd Divisional Artillery, and in this respect I must
express my deep gratitude to Captain Leonard Vestey, Major D. M. Coffin
and Colonel Sir Frederick Hall, by whose generosity, combined with that
of several others, the publication of this book has been rendered
possible. For personal help in collecting information and facts,
checking dates and generally verifying the accuracy of the work I am
also indebted to Brigadier-General C. G. Stewart, Lieut.-Col. O. M.
Harris, Lieut.-Col. E. J. Skinner, Major M. A. Studd, Major D. M.
Coffin, Major R. D. Russell and Major S. G. Taylor.
Finally, I wish to acknowledge the courtesy of the War Office in
permitting the reproduction in this volume of the official maps used in
France during the war.
JOHN MACARTNEY-FILGATE.
LONDON,
_May, 1921_.
CHAPTER I.
EARLY DAYS
August 1914 and its succeeding months will ever recall to the minds of
that generation which was privileged to live through those epic days
memories of a great turmoil, a chaos, a shattering of that normal—and in
many cases humdrum—existence which to the majority represented Life. The
outstanding impression will depend upon the character of the person who
looks back—to some it will be a sense of overwhelming surprise, to some
a rending and shattering of all their dreams of a long-awaited happy
future, while to some it will be the promise of Great Adventure, the
chance of seeing Life face to face and stripped of all its petty
adornments and falsities, a sight vouchsafed to few and one which of
necessity brings with it the presence of that companion Death, so
closely allied to Life in its fierce and primitive state. Yet whatever
the recollection and whatever may be the impressions retained, to one
and all remains that proud memory of the wild enthusiasm which greeted
the call to arms, the readiness to fight, to leave comfortable homes, to
give up everything because the Country called for men; because the
Country, whatever the cause of the war might be, was in peril.
The 33rd Divisional Artillery, as its number implies, was not one of the
first to be formed. So great was the early rush to the recruiting
stations that the machinery to deal with the enlistment of men was
unable to cope with it, and it was not until January 14th, 1915, that a
War Office letter addressed to the Mayor of Camberwell authorised the
recruiting of the 156th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, by Major
Frederick Hall M.P. in the Borough of Camberwell. So prompt was the
response to this call that in March further authority was granted for
the recruitment of the 162nd Brigade R.F.A. in the same neighbourhood,
the formation of this Brigade being completed by the middle of May, when
it was placed under the command of Major Duncan. It was then brought to
the attention of the authorities that there still remained masses of
excellent material in Camberwell, that the district was overflowing with
would-be recruits not yet enlisted, and that the whole of the 33rd
Divisional Artillery might well be raised from there—a scheme which was
received by the Borough with the greatest enthusiasm. The required
authority was obtained; the 166th and 167th Brigades R.F.A., the 126th
Battery of Heavy Artillery and the attendant Ammunition Column were
formed, and on June 1st 1915 the 33rd Divisional Artillery, as such, was
complete, manned to its full strength, and manned by the men of
Camberwell and Dulwich.
Meantime, from the day on which the first recruits had arrived, training
was carried on with the utmost vigour. N.C.O. instructors were scarce,
very few officers had been posted to the Division, and any kind of
uniform was noticeable by its absence. The early training of recruits in
those days was not calculated to enhance in their minds the glamour of
war; clad in the roughest and, in many cases, most tattered of civilian
clothes, shod in the boots which they had brought with them, they were
taught—day in, day out—that there were many accomplishments which they
must learn before they would be fit for service in the field; that
personal gallantry, a feeling of complete superiority over the enemy,
and a fixed intention of "sticking it with the best" would not alone
take them to France. They must learn to indulge in that strange form of
recreation known as "knees bending with arms raising," and all its
accompanying acrobatics; they must be initiated into the mysteries of
knotting and lashing, of horse management, of dismounted drill and a
hundred and one other matters which go to form the training of a
soldier. And then, when their knees ached with bending and stretching,
when their brains whirled in trying to fashion some especially important
and therefore, to their minds, difficult knot, when some of the most
tender portions of their anatomy felt as though one more minute in the
saddle would cut right through to the bone, Gunnery descended upon them.
Gunnery, with its drill and its intricate and complicated mechanism,
opened out a completely new item of training, a hitherto untrodden part
of the long and tedious road which led from Camberwell and Dulwich to
the battlefields of France. Yet to the weary mind of the recruit there
was one great consolation. Here at last was something tangible; here was
something which spoke of War, which brought him much nearer to the goal
of his endeavours. "Physical jerks" and the lurid remarks of riding
masters were all very well in their way, but the average recruit had no
intention of lying on his back outside a trench in France and of
solemnly raising his feet in the air to let them have a look, as it
were, at fresh surroundings; he had no desire to trot along a road
behind the Line without stirrups or reins, although he was quite
prepared to recognise that it was a useful feat to be able to perform.
No, he wanted to fling shells at the enemy, to be able to inflict upon
the "other side" all that extreme discomfort which artillery is capable
of administering; he wanted, in short, a gun, and at last he saw one
before him.
It was this shortage of guns for drill and instructional purposes which
of necessity delayed the training of the batteries. During the time the
brigades were at Dulwich there were only dummy loaders and three
15-pounders available, nor was it until July that four 18-pounders
arrived to be divided up amongst the whole Division. Training, however,
in other essentials was briskly carried on in and around Dulwich. Cold
shoers were sent to Herold's Institute at Bermondsey, cooks to St.
John's Wood, artificers to Woolwich, while every officer on joining was
sent on a course of instruction to either Larkhill or Shoeburyness.
Map-reading classes were conducted by Army-Schoolmaster Wilmot, and Lady
Bathurst, with the assistance of ladies of the district, gave lessons in
French and German twice a week. As far as billeting was concerned, the
men of the 156th Brigade and the Divisional Ammunition Column were
allowed to live at their own homes; the 162nd Brigade was housed at
Gordon's Brewery, the 166th Brigade at the Tramway Depôt, Peckham, while
the 167th Brigade was partly billeted at home and partly at the East
Dulwich Baths. Such an arrangement of scattered billets could hardly be
hoped to succeed, especially when it is remembered that in the earlier
days the men were without uniform—a red, blue or white armlet alone
denoting the exalted presence of a Sergeant, Corporal or Bombardier
respectively. Yet gradually and steadily a change became visible; slowly
there appeared from out of the disorganised and shapeless mass of men a
clear-cut, firm formation, a sense of discipline and orderliness, the
beginnings of a unit of the British Army.
Inspections were numerous at this time; during the months from March to
July the Divisional Artillery was, in fact, inspected no fewer than
seven times by Major-General Sir Francis Lloyd, Major-General Sir T.
Perrott, and Colonel M. Peake. At the earlier inspections the men were
still in civilian clothes, as was the 167th Brigade at the recruiting
march on Peckham Rye which took place on May 1st, but shortly after that
date a full supply of uniform was received, and the men were properly
and thoroughly equipped in every way. Much could be related,
incidentally, with regard to the recruiting march just mentioned; it was
the march of the men of a district through that district, and aimed at
getting more recruits for the men's own unit. Suffice it to say that
those recruits were obtained, and if the enthusiasm of the proceedings
gave rise to some curious and amusing situations, if there rode upon the
ammunition wagons (with which the batteries were now fully equipped)
some whose right to ride there might well be questioned, who could
object? The war was still young, enthusiasm was still high, men were
still wanted.
It was probably in the first two weeks of August that Camberwell really
grasped what the 33rd Divisional Artillery meant to it, for in those
days it lost it. It is a curious irony of life that few things are
really appreciated until they are gone, and then appreciation comes too
late. Through all these earlier days of training the men had been living
in or near their homes, but now there came a change, Adventure became
Reality, for the batteries were moved for the rest of their training
from London to Bulford. Night after night, from August 4th till August
10th, there crept out of Waterloo station trains bound for Bulford,
packed with horses, men and wagons, setting out on the second stage of
their work; night after night there were left in Camberwell homes very
empty, hearts very dreary at the arrival of that time which all had
known must come, but the coming of which was in no wise softened by this
fore-knowledge.
Bulford wrought a tremendous change in the Divisional Artillery, which
was now under the command of its own C.R.A. Brigadier-General Stuart.
Here there was room to move; there was different country to work over
each day; there were schemes on a far more elaborate scale than had been
possible at Dulwich. The official syllabus of training was steadily
worked through, and gradually this training became more interesting,
more attractive as dull routine was left behind and sham warfare put
into practice. The batteries were fully equipped with guns, even the
167th Brigade, which was a 4·5 in. howitzer brigade and had been greatly
handicapped by a total inability to get howitzers from anywhere, being
finally fitted out, and at last, in the early part of November, the
batteries were given a chance of putting into effect on the practice
ranges all that they had been learning by tedious and hard work during
the period of training. One hundred rounds per battery were fired, and
in most cases the results were very satisfactory when the shortness of
training and the utter lack of previous experience were taken into
account. The batteries were complimented by General Drake on the good
service and drill at the guns, and returned to camp more anxious than
ever to get to France, more keen than ever to fire a shot in anger now
that they had fired one in cold blood. Rumour, already in high activity
throughout the camp, became trebly busy since there appeared no further
obstacle to keep the Division in England, and rumour was strengthened by
the granting to the men of that last leave—overseas leave—which was
given prior to departure for France.
It was in December that it came, December 6th to be quite accurate. Just
a bald official order to proceed overseas, accompanied by a mass of
typewritten time-tables, march tables and all the paraphernalia
inevitable in a move of such dimensions. The great moment had arrived at
last, the moment for which all had waited so long, so eagerly and with
such excitement, and any pangs which might naturally have been felt at a
parting such as this, any dark forebodings which a look into the future
might have called up, were mercifully and naturally effaced by the
bustle, the excitement, the "fever," if you like, of the whole affair.
On December 10th, at 4 P.M., the entraining of the batteries began at
Amesbury and continued at intervals throughout the night. Fifty-one
trains in all it took to move the batteries and their attendant
ammunition columns, the last train leaving Amesbury at 4.5 P.M. on
December 12th. Two days of bustle and excitement, two days of movement
and stir around Amesbury, two days during which the station was crowded
and packed with horses, guns and men sweating, heaving, swearing—and
then silence. As though by a magic hand the 33rd Divisional Artillery
was picked up and disappeared, and for a space it was hidden from the
sight of man.