operations in the desert east of the canal, in particular with the
fighting on 3rd, 4th and 5th August, 1916, an attack by the Turks,
the British counter-attack, etc. Paragraph 5: During the 4th, the
enemy made several attacks against the Romani-Mahemdia defences,
from the east, south and south-west. “These were repulsed by the
garrisons, composed of Scottish and Welsh infantry, with considerable
loss, and in spite of heavy artillery fire from the enemy’s heavy
howitzers, which in one or two cases inflicted severe casualties on
our troops, who behaved with admirable steadiness.” “Vigorous action,
to the utmost limits of endurance, was ordered for the next day, and
the troops, in spite of the heat, responded nobly. At daybreak the
Scottish Territorial infantry, assisted by Australian and New Zealand
mounted troops, took the remainder of Wellington Ridge by assault,
capturing about 1500 prisoners.”
Paragraph 6: “The Scottish troops, commanded by Major-General
W. E. B. Smith, C.M.G., not only showed great steadiness under
heavy artillery fire, but were responsible for the assault which
recaptured Wellington Ridge, on 4th August, and for clearing Abu
Hamra on the 5th.”
The troops mainly responsible for the recapture of the ridge were
the 7th and 8th Scottish Rifles. These moved out from Romani, about
two miles from the Ridge, at dusk on the 4th. The 7th, on the left,
linked up with a work, 22a, garrisoned by the 5th Royal Scots
Fusiliers. The 8th under Colonel Findlay pressed up the hill, and
when the leading lines were about 50 yards from the crest they were
fired on; they then dug in. The 7th moved forward until in line with
the 8th. At dawn mounted troops came up on the right and about the
same time a company of the 5th Royal Scots Fusiliers arrived. An
assault had been ordered when the Turks surrendered. The 8th Scottish
Rifles took 360 prisoners and the mounted troops prevented the
remainder from escaping.
The fighting 4th-5th August is now designated the “Battle of Rumani.”
The Division was in reserve in the first Battle of Gaza on 26th
March, 1917 (see 53rd Division), but had stiff fighting in the second
attempt made by Sir A. Murray’s force to capture Gaza on 17th-19th
April, 1917.
The despatch of 28th June, 1917, paragraph 9, shows that on 17th
April the 52nd Division was in the centre, the 53rd on the left
and the 54th on the right. The Abbas-Mansura ridge was seized by
the 157th Brigade of the 52nd Division, with little opposition,
and preparation was made for a further advance on the 19th. The
arrangement of the divisions was as on the 17th. The 52nd in the
centre unfortunately found its task too heavy.
“The left brigade of the 52nd Division” (the only one, as stated in
paragraph 10, which could with advantage be employed owing to the
configuration of the ground) “made good Lees Hill, the nearest point
to our line of the enemy defences on the Ali Muntar ridge by 8.15
a.m., but on advancing beyond the Lees Hill this brigade came under
very heavy machine-gun fire from Outpost Hill, which checked its
progress.” At 10 a.m. a lunette on Outpost Hill was captured.
Later “the left brigade, 52nd Division, was shelled out of its
position on Outpost Hill, but the position was most gallantly retaken
on his own initiative by Major W. T. Forrest, M.C., K.O.S.B.,
subsequently killed, who collected a few men for the purpose. All
further attempts to launch an attack from Outpost Hill were shattered
by fire at their inception.”
Paragraph 10: In the afternoon the position was that the 52nd could
not advance. A large area of extremely broken ground had been made
exceedingly strong by the enemy, and the nests of machine guns could
not be located and destroyed. The attack was eventually abandoned,
the British losses being about 7000 men, but all ground gained
was consolidated and kept. The “left brigade” was the 155th, the
156th was on the right and the 157th in reserve. The capture of the
objectives involved an advance of two miles, with little cover, and
only moderate artillery support.
At paragraph 15 Sir A. Murray recorded his appreciation of what
his troops had done. “Particular commendation is due to the
infantry—52nd, 53rd and 54th Divisions.” “Under severe trial they
have now given ample proof of the finest soldierly qualities.”
Sir E. Allenby took over the command of the Egyptian Expeditionary
Force on 28th June, 1917. In his despatch of 16th December, 1917,
he recounts the progress of the operations which culminated in the
surrender of Jerusalem. The Army had received increases of strength
and this enabled the commander to deal with a wider front and to
avoid a direct attack on Gaza. Beersheba at the other end of the line
was taken on 31st October. The Lowland Division was second from the
left of the British line, opposite Gaza.
The despatch, paragraph 9, states: “As Umbrella Hill flanked the
advance against the Turkish works further west, it was decided to
capture it by a preliminary operation, to take place four hours
previous to the main attack. It was accordingly attacked and captured
at 11 p.m. on November 1st, by a portion of the 52nd (Lowland)
Division. This attack drew a heavy bombardment of Umbrella Hill
itself and our front lines, which lasted for two hours, but ceased in
time to allow the main attack, which was timed for 3 a.m., to form up
without interference.”
The 7th Scottish Rifles had the principal rôle in the capture of
Umbrella Hill.
In the main attack almost all objectives were reached. Between the
1st and the 6th progress was made east of Gaza and on the 7th it
was found that the fortress had been evacuated. The fighting 27th
October-7th November is now the “Third Battle of Gaza.”
The British at once pursued, the 52nd Division following the
coast. In paragraph 15, Sir E. Allenby speaks “of the rapidity of
our movement along the coast and the determination with which his
rearguards on this flank had been pressed.”
“The advanced guard of the 52nd (Lowland) Division had forced its way
almost to Burkah on the 11th.”
After describing the position taken up by the Turks the despatch
states that an attack for the 13th November was arranged. “This
Katrah-El-Mughar line forms a very strong position, and it was here
that the enemy made his most determined resistance against the
turning movement directed against his right flank. The capture of
this position by the 52nd (Lowland) Division, assisted by a most
dashing charge of mounted troops, who galloped across the plain under
heavy fire and turned the enemy’s position from the north, was a fine
feat of arms. Some 1100 prisoners, 3 guns and many machine guns were
taken here. After this the enemy resistance weakened, and by the
evening his forces were retiring east and north.”
“In fifteen days our force had advanced sixty miles on its right,
and about forty on its left. It had driven a Turkish army of nine
infantry divisions and one cavalry division out of a position in
which it had been entrenched for six months, and had pursued it,
giving battle whenever it attempted to stand, and inflicting on
it losses amounting probably to nearly two-thirds of the enemy’s
original effectives. Over 9000 prisoners, about 80 guns, more than
100 machine guns, and very large quantities of ammunition and other
stores had been captured.”
It is pardonable to point out here that the infantry of Sir E.
Allenby’s army was up till April 1918 composed, to the extent of
four-fifths, of Territorial Divisions.
Jaffa was occupied on 16th November, 1917.
The despatch, paragraph 17, states that the “52nd Division in nine
days covered 69 miles.” Much of this was over heavy sand or very poor
tracks.
Paragraph 20 refers to various attacks by the Turks: there was
“particularly heavy fighting” towards the close of November near El
Burj, “but Yeomanry and Scottish troops successfully resisted all
attacks and inflicted severe losses on the enemy.” A large number of
prisoners were taken. Officially the fighting, 17th-24th November, is
now the “Battle of Nebi Samwil.”
Jerusalem was surrendered to troops of the 53rd and 60th Divisions on
9th December. See also 53rd, 54th and 60th Divisions.
In his despatch of 18th September, 1918, Sir E. Allenby stated that
his next operations were designed to increase the security of Jaffa
and Jerusalem. To the XXI. Corps, 52nd and 54th Divisions, was
assigned the task of increasing the distance, between Jaffa and the
enemy, from three miles to eight miles.
Paragraph 3: “The weather was unfavourable. Heavy rains made the
roads deep in mud and brought down the streams.”
Paragraph 4: “The chief obstacle lay in the crossing of the Nahr El
Auja. This river is only fordable in places and all approaches to
it are overlooked from Sheikh Muannis and Khurbet Hadrah. At these
places two spurs running from north to south terminate abruptly
in steep slopes some 500 yards from the river.” These two places
“and the high ground overlooking the river had to be captured, as a
preliminary to the general advance, in order that bridges might be
built.
“The chief difficulty lay in concealing the collection and
preparation of rafts and bridging material. All preparations were
completed, however, without attracting the enemy’s attention, and on
the night of December 20th-21st, the 52nd Division crossed the river
in three columns. The enemy was taken completely by surprise. The
left column, fording the river near its mouth, at this point four
feet deep, captured Tell Er Rekkeit, 4000 yards north of the river’s
mouth; the centre and right columns crossing on rafts, rushed Sheikh
Muannis and Khurbet Hadrah at the point of the bayonet. By dawn a
line from Khurbet Hadrah to Tell Er Rekkeit had been consolidated,
and the enemy deprived of all observation from the north over the
valley of the Nahr El Auja.
“The successful crossing of the Nahr El Auja reflects great credit on
the 52nd (Lowland) Division. It involved considerable preparation,
the details of which were thought out with care and precision. The
sodden state of the ground and, on the night of the crossing, the
swollen state of the river added to the difficulties, yet by dawn
the whole of the infantry had crossed. The fact that the enemy
were taken by surprise, and that all resistance was overcome with
the bayonet without a shot being fired, bears testimony to the
discipline of this Division. Eleven officers, including two battalion
commanders, and 305 other ranks, and ten machine guns were captured
in this operation.”
Despite “considerable hostile shell fire” bridges were completed,
and by dusk on the 21st the whole of the Divisional artillery had
crossed. On the 22nd, the 54th captured certain villages, and the
52nd not only reached all their objectives but consolidated a line
two miles beyond “to deny direct observation on Jaffa harbour to the
enemy.”
For their particularly fine work the 52nd received the
congratulations of the Army, Corps and Divisional commanders. All
three brigades shared in the work and the distinction it brought. The
155th took Khurbet Hadrah, the 156th Sheikh Muannis, and the 157th,
the brigade which forded the river, captured Tell Er Rekkeit.
The fighting 21st-22nd December is now designated the “Battle of
Jaffa.”
At the close of the despatch, paragraph 15, Sir Edmund Allenby
remarked that the 52nd Division embarked for France in the first week
of April 1918. On 7th-8th May the Division took over a portion of the
line east of Arras. They were now in the VIII. Corps under Commander
Sir A. Hunter Weston, with whom they first fought at the Dardanelles.
In the middle of August they moved further south to take a part in
the big effort to be made there.
A quotation from Sir Douglas Haig’s telegraphic despatch of 13th
September, 1918, as to good work by various divisions, which contains
a reference to the 52nd attacking along with the 56th on 23rd August,
is given under the 56th, London, Division.
In the despatch of 21st December, 1918, paragraph 22, Sir Douglas
Haig mentioned that the 52nd was employed with the VI. Corps, Third
Army, in the main attack on 23rd-24th August, a phase of the “Battle
of Albert, 1918,” in the sector north of Albert. “On the left of the
56th, the 52nd Division (Major-General J. Hill) took Hénin-sur-Cojeul
and gained a footing in St.-Martin-sur-Cojeul.”
Heavy fighting on 24th August and following days brought the 52nd
into the Hindenburg line. On the 26th they made good progress on
the north of the Cojeul and took Hénin Hill, getting well into the
Hindenburg line, and moving down it on the 27th, they gave assistance
to the 56th on their right.
The fighting in this area 26th-30th August is now officially
designated the “Battle of the Scarpe, 1918.”
After three days’ rest the 52nd relieved the 56th and, on 1st
September, cleared the famous Bullecourt, round which there had been
a great struggle; as there was in April 1917. This was a necessary
preliminary to a big attack fixed for the 2nd September.
Paragraph 28 of the despatch deals with “The storming of the
Drocourt-Quéant line” on 2nd September. “The maze of trenches at the
junction of that line and the Hindenburg system was stormed and the
enemy was thrown into precipitate retreat on the whole front to
the south of it. This gallant feat of arms was carried out by the
Canadian Corps of the First Army,” with “the 4th English Division,
and the XVII. Corps of the Third Army, employing the 52nd, 57th and
63rd Divisions.”
After referring to the fine work of the Canadian Corps, Sir Douglas
Haig said: “On the right the attack of the XVII. Corps, launched,
at the same hour by the 52nd and 57th Divisions, directed its main
force on the triangle of fortifications, marking the junction of
the Hindenburg and Drocourt-Quéant lines, north-west of the village
of Quéant. Pressed with equal vigour it met with success equally
complete. There was stern fighting in the net-work of trenches, both
north and south of Quéant, in which neighbourhood the 52nd (Lowland)
Division performed distinguished service, and, by the progress they
made, greatly assisted our advance further north. Early in the
afternoon our troops had cleared the triangle and the 63rd Division
had passed through to exploit the success thus gained.”
The fighting on 2nd-3rd September is now the “Battle of the
Drocourt-Quéant line.”
In a telegraphic despatch of 20th September Sir Douglas Haig said:
“On the 17th a corporal and six men of the 1/5th Highland Light
Infantry, 52nd Division, forming garrison of one of our posts just
north of the village, were surrounded and believed to have been
captured. During two days Germans held the village this party
maintained their position and inflicted many casualties on the enemy.
On the night of 19th-20th, when Mœuvres was retaken, the whole party
regained their unit without loss.”
The very gallant N.C.O. was awarded the Victoria Cross. The village
was retaken by the 52nd Division.
The XVII. Corps was again employed on 27th September, “the Battle
of Cambrai and the Hindenburg line.” Paragraph 35 of the despatch
states: “In the centre the 52nd Division, Major-General F. J.
Marshall, passing its troops across the canal by bridgeheads
previously established by the 57th Division,[6] on the opening of the
assault, carried the German trench lines east of the canal and gained
the high ground overlooking Graincourt.”
The advance was continued successfully by the XVII. Corps between
27th September and 1st October, the 52nd doing particularly well, not
only at the crossing of the Canal du Nord but in the capture of the
heavily wired defences on either side of it.
The designation of the fighting 27th September-1st October, has been
altered by the Nomenclature Committee and is now the “Battle of the
Canal du Nord.” They have fixed the dates of the “Battle of Cambrai,
1918,” to be 8th and 9th October.
Early in October the Division left the XVII. Corps and later that
month took over from the 12th Division in the VIII. Corps, Fifth Army.
With short intervals of rest the Division continued in the line of
the advance until Armistice Day. They crossed the Belgian frontier
south of Péruvelz, and moving eastward by Sirault, were about ten
miles north of Mons on 11th November. During these last few weeks
there was frequently stubborn opposition which involved sharp
fighting.
The 5th King’s Own Scottish Borderers, 8th Scottish Rifles, and 5th
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of the 52nd served during the last
five months in the 34th Division (Major-General Nicholson), which
after suffering heavy losses in the German offensive of March and
April was reconstituted largely with battalions from the Palestine
Divisions. It served with the French Tenth Army, south of Soissons
in July 1918, and was highly complimented by General Mangin, the
Army Commander. The battalions from the 52nd seem to have done
exceptionally well both south of Soissons and at the capture of
Gheluwe in Belgium, 14th October, and Anseghem, 31st October, when
the 34th was advancing as part of the X. Corps, Second Army. The 34th
Division reached Halluin.
The 5th and 6th battalions, Scottish Rifles, and 9th Highland Light
Infantry lost their places in the Division through going to France
early in the war. Indeed the 5th Scottish Rifles was one of the
first Territorial battalions to be employed in that theatre, the
5th and 6th were eventually amalgamated. The fine work of all three
battalions when in the 33rd Division was very frequently praised by
unofficial historians.
These three units were replaced by the 4th and 7th Battalions, The
Royal Scots, and the 5th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, all from
“Army Troops.”
The following units were selected for the Armies of Occupation on
the Western Front: the 5/6th Royal Scots, which served as separate
battalions in the Near East, the 5th Battalion landing at Helles
with the 29th Division, and, after amalgamation, in France with the
32nd Division; the 1/4th Royal Scots Fusiliers; the 1/5th King’s Own
Scottish Borderers; the 5/6th Scottish Rifles; the 1/8th Scottish
Rifles; and the 1/9th Highland Light Infantry.
The 32nd Division formed part of the Fourth Army throughout the
“Advance to Victory.” In Major-General Montgomery’s _Story of the
Fourth Army_ there are several flattering references to the work of
the 5/6th Royal Scots, as at p. 178, 3rd October, where he refers to
their capture of Sequehart and its retention after the third time of
capture—“partly also to the stubborn manner in which the 5/6th Royal
Scots clung to the village it had three times captured.”
FOOTNOTES:
[5] In _The Fifth Highland Light Infantry_, 1914-18 (MacLehose and
Co., 1921, p. 29), there is a statement that Sir Ian Hamilton had
been misinformed as to the right of the 157th Brigade giving way
before a party of bombers. It is admitted that a portion of trench
had been vacated through an order having been misunderstood, but it
is stated that another company at once occupied it and was holding
it when the afternoon attack commenced. There may have been other
incidents of which the “Fifth” were unaware.
[6] At page 281 of Messrs. Dent’s edition of _Sir Douglas Haig’s
Despatches_ the following note occurs at this point: “This is
incorrect. There were no bridgeheads at this time and the crossings
were forced by the 52nd Division at the opening of their attack.”
53RD (WELSH) DIVISION
FIRST LINE
The Division landed at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli, between 7th and 10th
August, 1915, and became a part of the larger force which landed a
few days earlier.
In his despatch of 11th December, 1915, Sir Ian Hamilton describes
the attempt made on the 9th August by the 11th Division to seize
hills north of Anafarta-Sagir. He remarked, “The line was later on
prolonged by the remainder of the 34th Brigade and two battalions of
the 159th Brigade of the 53rd Division. Their right was connected
with the Chocolate Hills by the 33rd Brigade.” “Some of the units
which took part in this engagement acquitted themselves very bravely.
I regret I have not had sufficient detail given me to mention them
by name. The Divisional Commander speaks with appreciation of one
freshly landed battalion of the 53rd Division, a Hereford battalion,
presumably the 1/1st Herefordshire, which attacked with impetuosity
and courage.” “During the night of the 8th and 9th and early morning
of the 9th the whole of the 53rd (Territorial) Division (my general
reserve) had arrived and disembarked.... I had ordered it up to
Suvla.” “The infantry brigades of the 53rd Division (no artillery
had accompanied it from England) reinforced the 11th Division.”
The next paragraph shows that the 53rd Division took part in another
attack on the 10th which failed. “Many of the battalions fought with
great gallantry and were led forward with much devotion by their
officers.”
The 53rd Division along with the 54th were engaged on the 21st
August, the “Battle of Scimitar Hill.” They were to hold the enemy
while the 29th and 11th Divisions attacked. The attack was not
successful.
The troops at Suvla were evacuated in December 1915, the operation
being successfully completed on the night of 19th-20th December.
The Division was taken to Egypt, and in his despatch of 1st June,
1916, paragraph 1, Sir A. Murray stated that the Division was early
that year “occupied in operations on the Western Frontier of Egypt.”
Sir A. Murray in his despatch of 1st October, 1916, paragraph 5,
refers to the fighting in August, to the east of the Suez Canal, and
a quotation as to the repulse of heavy attacks on 4th-5th August has
already been given under the 52nd Division. This is now designated
the “Battle of Rumani.”
In his despatch of 28th June, 1917, paragraph 1, Sir A. Murray refers
to the reconstitution of the “Desert Column” and mentions the 53rd
Division as one of its units in March.
The Division bore a leading part in the “First Battle of Gaza,”
26th-27th March, 1917. Paragraph 2 of the despatch last mentioned
shows that the 53rd Division was “to attack Gaza in front,” their
left being covered by the Gloucestershire Hussars among the sandhills
on the coast. The approach march was made on the 25th and early on
the 26th.
Paragraph 3: “Meanwhile the 53rd Division, under the command of
Major-General A. G. Dallas, C.B., C.M.G., having thrown forward
strong bridgeheads before dawn,” (on the 26th) “crossed the Wadi
Ghuzze at a point some three miles from the sea-coast, with one
brigade on the right directed on the Mansura Ridge, and another
brigade on the left directed on El Sheluf, some two miles south of
Gaza, on the ridge running south-west from that place. A brigade was
held in reserve.” A brigade of the 54th was placed at the disposal of
the G.O.C. 53rd Division when required.
“The deployment of the leading brigades commenced at 11.50 a.m.,
and the brigade in reserve moved forward shortly afterwards to
its assigned position. In co-operation with artillery fire and
long-range machine-gun fire, the brigade on the left pressed forward
along the ridge, and the remaining brigades over the flat, open
ground, practically devoid of cover. The final advance, which began
just after 1 p.m., was very steady, and all the troops behaved
magnificently, though the enemy offered a very stout resistance, both
with rifle and machine-gun fire, and our advancing troops, during the
approach march, the deployment and attack, were subjected to a heavy
shrapnel fire.”
In the afternoon the mounted troops attacked Gaza from north and
north-east, and enveloped it, having heavy fighting among the gardens
and enclosures.
Paragraph 4: “Meanwhile the infantry attack was being pressed with
great vigour, and by 4.30 p.m. considerable progress had been made.
Portions of the enemy’s positions were already in our hands and
shortly afterwards the Ali Muntar Hill, a strong work known as the
Labyrinth, and the ground in the immediate neighbourhood fell into
our hands. The Australian and New Zealand Mounted Division was
already exerting pressure on the enemy, and by 5 p.m. the enemy was
holding out in the trenches and on the hill south of the Mosque only.
The G.O.C. 53rd Division called on the brigade of the 54th Division
(Brigadier-General W. Marriott-Dodington) which had been placed
at his disposal to take this position. The brigade responded with
the greatest gallantry in face of a heavy fire and after some hard
fighting it pushed home its attack with complete success, so that
when darkness fell the whole of the Ali Muntar position had been
carried and a footing gained on the ridge to a point about 1200 yards
north-east of that position.”