to its being inspected by Sir John French will be found under the
46th. In his despatch of 15th June, 1915, Sir John French mentioned
that the First Army made an effort to advance its line in the Neuve
Chapelle-Festubert district during May, the Battle of Festubert,
and said, paragraph 5: “On 24th and 25th May the 47th Division (2nd
London Territorial) succeeded in taking some more of the enemy’s
trenches, and in making good the ground gained to the east and
north.” Various writers say that in this, the Division’s first big
battle, they made a very fine advance and held the ground gained
against many counter-attacks, during the succeeding days.
In Sir John French’s despatch of 15th October, 1915, as to the
Battle of Loos, etc., he said that the 47th Division was on the
extreme right of the British Army on 25th September. Paragraph 10:
“The 47th Division on the right of the IV. Corps rapidly swung its
left forward and occupied the southern outskirts of Loos and a big
double slag-heap opposite Grenay known as the Double Crassier.
Thence it pushed on and by taking possession of the cemetery, the
enclosures and chalk pits south of Loos, succeeded in forming a
strong defensive flank. The London Territorial Division acquitted
itself most creditably. It was skilfully led and the troops carried
out their task with great energy and determination. They contributed
largely to our success in this part of the field.”
Paragraph 11: “As the success of the 47th Division on the right of
the IV. Corps caused me less apprehension of a gap in our line near
that point I ordered the Guards Division up to Nœux-les-Mines.”
Paragraph 15, 27th September: “The 47th Division on the right of the
Guards captured a wood further to the south and repulsed a severe
hostile counter-attack”; and later: “The Division made a little more
ground to the south, capturing one field gun and a few machine guns.”
Sir Douglas Haig’s despatch of 19th May, 1916, Messrs. Dent’s
edition, paragraph 3, shows that the 47th (Major-General Sir C. St.
L. Barter) and 25th Divisions were holding positions on the Vimy
Ridge on 21st May, 1916, when the enemy attacked, making “a small
gain of no strategic or tactical importance.”
The Division was taken to the Somme, and the despatch of 23rd
December, 1916, paragraph 27 (Dent’s edition), shows that as part of
the III. Corps, Fourth Army, it was in the attack of 15th September,
1916. “On our left High Wood was at last carried, after many hours
of very severe fighting, reflecting great credit on the attacking
battalions of the 47th Division.”
Paragraph 31, note, shows the Division was employed on 1st October,
1916, in a successful attack on Eaucourt l’Abbaye and the defences
east and west of it.
A week later the Division made an attack on the Butte de Warlencourt,
an extremely strong point, but were not successful. Already the
mud was making movement almost impossible. The fighting 15th-22nd
September is now designated the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, and that
between 1st and 18th October the “Battle of the Transloy Ridges.”
The despatch of 25th December, 1917, paragraph 33 (Dent’s edition),
contains an account of the Messines battle on 7th June, 1917. “Heavy
fighting took place in Wytschaete and further north. London troops
(47th Division, Major-General Sir G. F. Gorringe) encountered a
serious obstacle in another strong point known as the White Château.
This redoubt was captured while the morning was yet young.” The
41st and 47th had further resistance in Ravine Wood, “killing many
Germans.” In this battle the 47th Division was in the X. Corps,
Second Army.
The 47th Division was in the later stages of the Third Battle of
Ypres in the autumn of 1917, see _History of the 25th Division_, by
Col. Kincaid-Smith, Harrison and Sons, page 94. They were in the
undesirable Glencorse Wood area. About the third week of August they
relieved the 8th Division, and as part of the II. Corps had heavy
fighting about 22nd to 24th August when, at serious cost, their line
was advanced. On 9th September they took over from the 25th in the
same district.
In Sir Douglas Haig’s despatch of 20th February, 1918, dealing with
the “Battle of Cambrai, 1917,” he said, paragraph 11, German attack
of 30th November, 1917: “In the northern area the German attack was
not launched until some two hours later. This was the enemy’s main
attack and was carried out with large forces and great resolution.”
“After a preliminary bombardment and covered by an artillery barrage
the enemy’s infantry advanced shortly after 9 a.m. in dense waves, in
the manner of his attack in the first battle of Ypres. In the course
of the morning and afternoon no less than five principal attacks were
made in this area, and on one portion of the attack as many as eleven
waves of German infantry advanced successively to the assault. On the
whole of this front a resolute endeavour was made to break down by
sheer weight of numbers the defence of the London Territorials and
other English battalions holding the sector.”
“In this fighting the 47th (London) Division, T.” (Major-General
Sir G. F. Gorringe) (which had entered the battle on the night of
the 28th-29th November), “the 2nd Division and the 56th (London)
Division, T., greatly distinguished themselves and there were
accomplished many deeds of great heroism.” After describing attacks
made during the day, which were driven back, the enemy’s losses
being enormous, the despatch says: “Early in the afternoon the enemy
again forced his way into our foremost positions in this locality
(west of Bourlon), opening a gap between the 1/6th and 1/15th
Battalions, London Regiment. Counter-attacks led by the two battalion
commanders with all available men, including the personnel of their
headquarters, once more restored the situation. All other attacks
were beaten off with the heaviest losses to the enemy.
“The greatest credit is due to the troops at Masnières (29th
Division), Bourlon and Mœuvres for the very gallant service performed
by them on this day. But for their steady courage and staunchness in
defence the success gained by the enemy on the right of our battle
front might have had serious consequences.”
Paragraph 13, withdrawal from Bourlon, etc., night of 4th/5th
December, 1917: “Much skill and courage were shown by our covering
troops in this withdrawal, and an incident which occurred on the
afternoon of 6th December, in the neighbourhood of Graincourt,
deserves special notice. A covering party, consisting of two
companies of the 1/15th Battalion London Regiment, 47th Division,
much reduced in strength by the fighting at Bourlon Wood, found their
flank exposed by a hostile attack further east and were enveloped
and practically cut off. These companies successfully cut their way
through to our advanced line of resistance, where they arrived in
good order after having inflicted serious casualties on the enemy.”
As to the Cambrai battle see also under 51st, 55th, 56th and 62nd
Divisions.
The Division was moved south, and in January 1918 took over in the
Ribecourt area of the Flesquières salient, east of Havrincourt Wood.
As part of the V. Corps, Third Army, it was involved in the March
Retreat although perhaps not so seriously as the Fifth Army further
south. In his despatch of 20th July, 1918, paragraph 17, speaking of
the events of 21st March, Sir Douglas Haig said: “The enemy’s advance
south and north of the Flesquières salient rendered a withdrawal
by the V. Corps and by the 9th Division on its right necessary
also.” Orders were issued accordingly. These different withdrawals
were carried out successfully during the night. Paragraph 21: “The
Divisions holding the Flesquières salient were not seriously involved
during the morning of 22nd March but in the evening strong attacks
were made both at Villers Plouich and at Havrincourt. All these
attacks were repulsed with great slaughter.”
Paragraph 28, 23rd March: “At the junction of the Third and Fifth
Armies the situation was less satisfactory and as the day wore on it
became critical.”
As the result of the withdrawal of the VII. Corps, Fifth Army, a
gap was formed between the flanks of the V. and VII. Corps though
“vigorous efforts were made” by the 47th Division of the V. Corps
and the 2nd of the VII. Corps to establish touch. These were
unsuccessful; consequently, “The right of the V. Corps was forced
back by pressure from the south-east first to Four Winds Farm, south
of Ytres, where troops of the 47th Division made a gallant stand
until nightfall.”
Paragraph 30, as to 24th March: “The 47th Division held the village
of Rocquiny from sunrise until well into the afternoon, beating off
all attacks with rifle and machine-gun fire until the enemy worked
round their flank and forced them to withdraw.”
On the 25th the Division, now very exhausted, was again heavily
attacked near Contalmaison but successfully repulsed the enemy. The
retreat was continued across the Ancre to about Bouzincourt north of
Albert and, with intervals of rest, the Division remained in that
area till the British advanced in August, although not always exactly
in the same portion of the line.
The fighting 21st-23rd March is now designated the “Battle of St.
Quentin,” and that on the 24th-25th the “First Battle of Bapaume.”
The Division was engaged near Albert when the enemy attacked the four
British Divisions in that neighbourhood, 4th, 5th, and 6th April, the
“Battle of the Ancre, 1918.” The attack was pressed by large forces
with great vigour and determination, but the line, though dented,
remained unbroken. The depleted and weary ranks of the 47th responded
to every call.
In his _Fifth Army in March 1918_ (John Lane, 1921), perhaps the
most searching, fearless, and able work published in Britain on the
war on land, Mr. Sparrow comments on those passages of the despatch
which deal with the withdrawal from the Flesquières salient and the
subsequent loss of connection between the Third and Fifth Armies. Mr.
Sparrow thinks that the gap was caused primarily by the delay on the
part of the V. Corps in withdrawing from the salient, and secondly
because that corps, of which the 47th was the right division, tended
north from the boundary line previously laid down by G.H.Q. He shows
that the VII. Corps of the Fifth Army, although hardly pressed, did
its best to maintain connection, and with that object crossed the
boundary into Third Army ground. He concludes that the northward
trend of the V. Corps was partly attributable to the break in the
Third Army front about Lagnicourt. Doubtless this was the case.
Certainly the Third Army was in very serious difficulties between
the 21st and 29th, and its withdrawals were sometimes more rapid
and carried further than those of the Fifth. To assume that all the
“breaks” were on the front of the Fifth is to ignore the despatch
itself.
In his telegraphic despatch of 13th September, 1918, as to the
work of various divisions, Sir Douglas Haig said: “The 47th was
continuously engaged in March throughout the retreat, fighting
successful rearguard actions from La Vacquerie to Albert. Going
into line on August 13th, in the neighbourhood of Morlancourt, it
fought its way forward to St. Pierre-Vaast Wood, which it cleared of
the enemy, overcoming fierce hostile resistance and capturing many
prisoners and several guns in the course of its advance. Included
among the latter was a German field gun battery which was rushed
while in action firing over open sights.”
The Division was then in the III. Corps, Fourth Army.
The despatch of 21st December, 1918, paragraph 21, shows that the
III. Corps including the 47th, 12th and 18th Divisions attacked on
22nd August, during the “Battle of Albert, 1918”; the 3rd Australian
and 38th Divisions co-operated. The left of the Fourth Army was
brought forward and over 2400 prisoners and a few guns were taken.
Paragraph 22. The III. Corps again attacked on the 23rd and progress
was made. At 1 a.m. on the 24th the latter was renewed, the 3rd
Australian Division took Bray-sur-Somme and the 47th, 12th, and 18th
Divisions carried the line across the high ground between Bray and La
Boisselle and took prisoners.
Paragraph 24. In support of the operation against Mont St. Quentin
“on the morning of 31st August the left of the Fourth Army (3rd
Australian Division, 58th London, 47th and 18th) attacked towards
Bouchavesnes, Rancourt and Frégicourt, and by successful fighting
on this and the following day, captured these villages and several
hundred prisoners.” The fighting 31st August-3rd September is now the
“Second Battle of Bapaume.” See also under 58th Division.
In the _History of the Fourth Army_ (Hodder and Stoughton) there will
be found an account which correlates the doings of the III. Corps
and the Australian Corps in the fighting between 22nd August and
4th September. On several occasions the task of the 47th Division
was a very hard one as at the “Happy Valley” on 22nd August and
subsequently. At page 111 there occurs the following sentence:
“The operations of the III. Corps were also worthy of the highest
praise. The advance of this Corps from the capture of Albert on
August 22nd, until they crossed the Canal du Nord on September 4th,
covers a distance, as the crow flies, of some fourteen miles, over
the desolate, shell-pitted area of the old Somme battlefields.
The operations require to be studied in greater detail than is
possible here before the magnitude of the task the troops were asked
to perform, and the demands on the officers and men which such an
advance in face of determined opposition entailed, can be fully
realised. The spirit, however, of the young soldiers of the 12th,
18th, 47th and 58th Divisions successfully overcame every difficulty,
and well did they answer every call made on them, and uphold the
best traditions of the British soldier by their cheerfulness and
endurance.”
The Division left the III. Corps on 7th September and moved north to
join the Fifth Army, and it was not thereafter in any hard-fought
battle. Shortly thereafter Headquarters of the III. Corps also moved
north to the Flanders area, where they were employed during the
closing weeks.
For a time the 47th was in the line in the Lys area and after a short
rest moved through Armentières to Lille, and, continuing to press
and follow up the enemy, the Division was east of Tournai when the
Armistice was concluded.
At Loos, in September 1915, the 47th Division had earned and received
the praise of the Commander-in-Chief, Sir John French. In the next
big battle—the Somme—at High Wood, September 1916, it had fought
so well as again to be commended by the then Commander-in-Chief,
Sir Douglas Haig, and at Bourlon Wood on 30th November, 1917, it
“greatly distinguished” itself. Few if any divisions in the British
Army received such recognition on three separate occasions. This most
brilliant reputation remained, as will be seen from the foregoing
extracts, absolutely untarnished to the end.
The 1/6th London Regiment, originally belonging to the 56th, but
which served with the 47th Division, was selected for the Army of the
Rhine.
NOTE.—In _Happy Days with the 47th and 49th Divisions_, by Benedict
Williams (Harding and More, 1921, 7s. 6d.), there will be found
many graphic descriptions of scenes in the Great Retreat, in the
Advance from Albert in August and September, and in the final
movements through Lille and Tournai.
48TH (SOUTH MIDLAND) DIVISION
FIRST LINE
The 48th Division sailed for France in March 1915. The outstanding
features in their war experiences are their long and memorable
services in the Battle of the Somme in 1916, and in the Third Battle
of Ypres, 1917, and their most successful advance in Italy in the
last few days of the war with Austria.
The Division was present as part of the VIII. Corps at the Somme on
1st July, when the battle commenced, but fortunately for them they
were in support that day and had an opportunity of learning from the
misfortunes of the divisions in the front rank at that part of the
line. The fighting 1st-13th July is now designated the “Battle of
Albert, 1916.” About 15th July the Division was transferred to the
III. Corps.
On 16th July the 143rd Brigade made a very fine advance in the
“Battle of Bazentin Ridge,” and the capture of Ovillers was
completed, the Division securing ground to the north and east of the
village. During the ensuing fortnight the Division had constant and
very heavy fighting.
Pozières was the next objective. The Australians attacked from the
south on 23rd July and the 48th on their left from the south-west.
Both attacks were pushed home with splendid resolution and by the
29th July the 48th had secured its objectives north of the village.
On the 27th the 145th Brigade did exceptionally well. After a short
rest the Division was, about 10th August, again in the line, pushing
towards the ridge. A strong counter-attack was driven back on the
17th and on the 18th the 143rd Brigade captured a big stretch of
trenches and 600 prisoners. The fighting 23rd July-3rd September is
now designated the “Battle of Pozières Ridge.” There were few tougher
struggles in the whole course of the war.
When the arrival of winter and oceans of mud made offensive
operations an impossibility, the Division, as part of the III. Corps,
was still on the Somme.
In the despatch of 23rd December, 1916, paragraph 14 (Dent’s
edition), Sir Douglas Haig said: “On the 16th July a large body of
the garrison of Ovillers surrendered, and that night and during the
following day, by a direct advance from the west across No Man’s
Land, our troops (48th Division, Major-General R. Fanshawe) carried
the remainder of the village and pushed out along the spur to the
north and eastwards towards Pozières.”
Paragraph 17: “An assault delivered simultaneously on this date—23rd
July—by General Gough’s Army (1st Australian Division and 48th
Division) against Pozières gained considerable results, and by the
morning of 25th July the whole of that village was carried, including
the cemetery, and important progress was made along the enemy’s
trenches to the north-east.”
Paragraph 19: “Apart from the operations already described others of
a minor character, yet involving much fierce and obstinate fighting,
continued during this period (August). Our lines were pushed
forward,” etc. Among the troops mentioned in a note as engaged was
the 48th Division.
In February 1917 the enemy opposite Gough’s Fifth Army commenced to
withdraw, and early in March the Fourth Army found a similar movement
commencing on their front. The 48th were then in the Fourth Army.
The despatch of 31st May, 1917, as to the German Retreat, paragraph
13 (Dent’s edition), states: “At 7 a.m. on the 18th March our
troops (48th Division, Major-General R. Fanshawe) entered Peronne
and occupied Mont St. Quentin, north of the town.” Paragraph 16
shows that the Division “after fighting of some importance” on
4th and 5th April took part in the capture of Ronssoy and other
villages. At this time the Division formed part of the XV. Corps,
Fourth Army. In the _History of the Fourth Army_ by Major-General
Sir A. Montgomery (Hodder and Stoughton) at page 93, the Advance to
Peronne, on 29th August, 1918, there is a note which says that the
whole ground was familiar to the Fourth Army as they had crossed it
in the early spring of 1917. “The first troops to reach the eastern
bank on that occasion had been those of the 48th Division. They had
secured Biaches and La Maisonette and then, forcing a crossing where
the embankment of the Canal du Nord crossed the Somme south-west of
Halle, had seized Mont St. Quentin.”
The despatch of 25th December, 1917, Third Battle of Ypres, as to the
attack on the 16th August (Dent’s edition), states, paragraph 46: “On
the left centre West Lancashire Territorials and troops from other
English Counties (48th and 11th Divisions) established themselves on
a line running north from St. Julien to the old German third line due
east of Langemarck. This line they maintained against the enemy’s
attacks and thereby secured the flank of our gains further north.”
Officially this is the Battle of Langemarck, 1917.
Paragraph 54, as to the attack on 4th October: “On the left of our
attack South Midland troops (48th Division) forced their way across
the valley of the Stroombeek, in spite of difficulties due to the
rain of the previous night, and gained their objectives according to
programme, with the exception of a single strong point at the limit
of their advance.” Officially this is now the Battle of Broodseinde.
Paragraph 56, as to the attack on 9th October: “Australian troops,
East Lancashire, Yorkshire and South Midland Territorials (66th, 49th
and 48th Divisions) carried our line forward in the direction of
Passchendaele and up the western slopes of the main ridge capturing
Nieuwemolen,” etc. Officially this attack is now the Battle of
Poelcappelle.
During these operations the Division was in the XVIII. Corps. No
division had a longer spell of the great struggle known as the Third
Battle of Ypres, and to say that any did better would be making a
bold claim. They were in support on the opening day, 31st July, and
apart from the actions mentioned in the above extracts, they made
successful advances on 19th, 22nd and 27th August and had heavy
fighting on many other days, while they endured very great hardships
for nearly three months.
Before the close of 1917, the Division, along with other troops,
was taken to Italy to assist in arresting the Austrian invasion.
In the Earl of Cavan’s despatch of 14th September, 1918, as to the
operations of the British Army in Italy, he said: “Early in the
morning of June 15th, after a short but violent bombardment, in which
smoke and gas were freely employed, the Austrian attack was launched.
The fronts of attack extended from St. Dona di Piave to the Montello
on the plains and from Grappa to Canove in the mountains, fronts of
25 miles and 18 miles respectively. The whole of the British sector
was involved.
“The British front was attacked by four Austrian divisions. It was
held by the 23rd Division on the right and the 48th Division on the
left. On the front of the 23rd Division the attack was completely
repulsed. On the front of the 48th Division the enemy succeeded
in occupying our front trench for a length of some 3000 yards and
subsequently penetrated to a depth of 1000 yards. Here he was
contained by a series of switches which had been constructed to meet
this eventuality. On the morning of June 16th the 48th Division
launched a counter-attack to clear the enemy from the pocket he had
gained. This attack was completely successful and the entire line was
re-established by 9 a.m.
“Acting with great vigour on the 16th both divisions took advantage
of the disorder in the enemy’s ranks and temporarily occupied certain
posts in the Asiago plateau without much opposition. Several
hundred prisoners and many machine guns and two mountain howitzers
were brought back in broad daylight without interference. As soon
as No Man’s Land had been fully cleared of the enemy we withdrew to
our original line. The enemy suffered very heavy losses in their
unsuccessful attack. In addition we captured 1060 prisoners, seven
mountain guns, 72 machine guns, 20 flammenwerfer and one trench
mortar.”
In a telegram of 3rd November Lord Cavan mentioned that the 48th
Division was advancing on the Asiago plateau and had taken 100 guns.
In his despatch of 15th November, 1918, as to the concluding
operations on the Italian front, Lord Cavan stated, paragraph 30,
that the 48th Division, Major-General Sir H. B. Walker, K.C.B.,
D.S.O., had been employed on the Asiago plateau as part of the 6th
Italian Army. It formed part of the XII. Italian Corps. “Successful
raids were carried out on the 4th, 11th and 23rd October, which
resulted in the capture of 445 prisoners and 12 machine guns.”
Raids and patrols on 29th and 30th October found that the enemy
were moving back, and a general advance of the 6th Italian Army was
ordered. The 48th British and a French Division were the first to
move. On 1st November the 4th Royal Berkshire Regiment captured Mont
Catz.