Constable, vol. ii., p. 269, there is detailed a conversation, on
7th April, 1918, with General Gough, the Commander of the Fifth
Army. After some particulars of the great struggle there occurs the
sentence, “He brought with him some of Maxse’s notes, which mentioned
particularly the fine conduct of the 61st Division, under Colin
Mackenzie.” Lieut.-General Maxse commanded the XVIII. Corps.
The despatch of 20th July, 1918, deals also with the Lys battle which
began on 9th April, 1918 (see 55th, 49th, 50th and 51st Divisions).
Paragraph 58 shows that several divisions were brought straight from
the Somme fighting to the Lys area. Among these was the 61st. Dealing
with the 12th April, the despatch states: “On the left of the 51st
the 61st Division was coming into action about the Clarence river.
Both the 3rd and 61st Divisions had been engaged in many days of
continuous fighting south of Arras; but with the arrival of these
troops, battle-weary though they were, the enemy’s progress in this
sector was definitely checked.”
The fighting 12th-15th April is now the “Battle of Hazebrouck.”
Paragraph 65 deals with the great effort made by the enemy on 18th
April on the southern front of his salient. “At certain points there
was severe and continuous fighting.... Elsewhere the enemy failed
to obtain even an initial success, being repulsed, with exceedingly
heavy loss, at all points, by the 4th and 61st Divisions.” And,
referring to a few days later: “Further west the 4th Division,
in co-operation with the 61st Division, carried out a series of
successful local operations, north of the La Bassée canal, resulting
in the capture of some hundreds of prisoners, and a considerable
improvement of our positions between the Lawe and Clarence rivers.”
The action on 18th April is now the “Battle of Béthune.”
The Division joined the XVII. Corps early in October 1918, and with
it took part in the “Advance to Victory.”
The despatch of 21st December, 1918, as to the final British
offensive, paragraph 47, Battle of the Selle River, 17th-25th
October, shows that the 61st Division, as part of the XVII. Corps of
the Third Army, attacked on 24th October. “About many of the woods
and villages which lay in the way of our attack there was severe
fighting, particularly in the large wood known as the Bois L’Évêque,
and at Pommereuil, Bousies Forest and Vendegies-sur-Écaillon. This
latter village held out till the afternoon of the 24th October when
it was taken by an enveloping attack by troops of the 19th Division
and 61st Division.”
Paragraph 49, “The Battle of the Sambre,” 1st-11th November: As a
preliminary to the main attack it is stated that on 1st November
“the XVII. Corps of the Third Army and the XXII. and Canadian Corps
of the First Army attacked on a front of about six miles south
of Valenciennes and in the course of two days of heavy fighting
inflicted a severe defeat on the enemy. During these two days the
61st, Major-General F. J. Duncan, 49th and 4th Divisions crossed the
Rhonelle river, capturing Maresches and Preseau after a stubborn
struggle, and established themselves on the high ground two miles
to the east of it. On their left the 4th Canadian Division captured
Valenciennes and made progress beyond the town.”
The fighting on 1st-2nd November is now designated the “Battle of
Valenciennes.”
On the 3rd November the enemy withdrew, and the British line was
advanced.
The XVII. Corps was again employed on the left of the Third Army
in the Battle of the Sambre on the 4th November when “the enemy’s
resistance was definitely broken.”
Battalions from the Division were selected for the Armies of
Occupation, as follows: Western Front, 2/6th and 2/7th Royal
Warwickshire Regiment, 2/5th Gloucestershire Regiment and 1/5th
Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry (Pioneers). For Egypt, 2/8th
Worcestershire Regiment, 2/4th Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light
Infantry and 2/4th Royal Berkshire Regiment.
62ND (WEST RIDING) DIVISION
SECOND LINE
The 62nd Division, under the command of Major-General W. P.
Braithwaite, who had gained distinction as chief of Sir Ian
Hamilton’s staff in Gallipoli, left England for France on 11th
January, 1917, and, on arrival, was taken to the Albert-Arras area.
On 13th February they entered the line about Serre, thereafter until
the end of March they were one of the divisions employed in pressing
the enemy, and in causing him to hasten his withdrawal from the old
Somme front. The pursuit came to a standstill near Bullecourt on the
Hindenburg line. The capture of that place was to involve much hard
fighting. The Division at this time was in the V. Corps, Fifth Army.
Sir Douglas Haig’s despatch of 25th December, 1917, as to the
campaigns of that year, paragraph 16 (Dent’s edition), describes
the fighting on 11th April in the Battle of Arras. “In combination
with this attack on the Third Army front, the Fifth Army launched an
attack at 4.30 a.m. on the 11th April against the Hindenburg Line
in the neighbourhood of Bullecourt (4th Australian Division and
62nd Division, Major-Generals W. Holmes and W. P. Braithwaite). The
Australian and West Riding battalions engaged showed great gallantry
in executing a very difficult attack across a wide extent of open
country. Considerable progress was made and parties of Australian
troops, preceded by tanks, penetrated the German positions as far as
Riencourt-lez-Cagnicourt.” As the Third Army was held up on this day
the Fifth Army had to withdraw. Progress was made on the 12th.
Paragraph 27: “To secure the footing gained by the Australians in the
Hindenburg Line on 3rd May it was advisable that Bullecourt should
be captured without loss of time.... On the morning of the 7th May
English troops (7th Division) gained a footing in the south-east
corner of Bullecourt. Thereafter gradual progress was made in the
face of the most obstinate resistance and on the 17th May London and
West Riding Territorials (58th and 62nd Divisions) completed the
capture of the village.” The operations 3rd to 17th May are now the
“Battle of Bullecourt.”
Throughout the summer of 1917 the 62nd remained in the district south
of Arras, but had no heavy fighting until the “Battle of Cambrai,
1917.”
Sir Douglas Haig’s despatch of 20th February, 1918, as to the
“Battle of Cambrai, 1917,” 20th November to 3rd December, paragraph
3, dealing with the attack on 20th November, said: “The 62nd (West
Riding) Division, T., stormed Havrincourt where also parties of the
enemy held out for a time.... West of Flesquières the 62nd Division
operating northwards from Havrincourt made important progress. Having
carried the Hindenburg reserve line north of that village it rapidly
continued its attack and captured Graincourt, where two anti-tank
guns were destroyed by the tanks accompanying our infantry. Before
nightfall infantry and cavalry had entered Anneux although the
enemy’s resistance in this village does not appear to have been
finally overcome until the following morning. This attack of the 62nd
(West Riding) Division constitutes a brilliant achievement in which
the troops concerned completed an advance of four and a half miles
from their original front, overrunning two German systems of defence
and gaining possession of three villages.”
Paragraph 4, 21st November, stated: “Following upon the capture of
Flesquières the 51st and 62nd Divisions, in co-operation with a
number of tanks and squadrons of the 1st Cavalry Division, attacked
at 10.30 a.m. in the direction of Fontaine-Notre-Dame and Bourlon.”
After drawing attention to the strain on the troops engaged in these
operations Sir Douglas Haig said, paragraph 7: “It was decided to
make another effort on 27th November to capture Fontaine-Notre-Dame
and Bourlon village,” etc. “In this attack in which tanks
co-operated, British Guards temporarily regained possession of
Fontaine, taking some hundreds of prisoners, and troops of the 62nd
Division once more entered Bourlon village. Later in the morning,
however, heavy counter-attacks developed in both localities and our
troops were unable to maintain the ground they had gained.” The
Division was relieved by the 47th on the night of the 28th-29th. It
was in reserve on the 30th November when the enemy counter-attacked
in great force—see paragraph 9 of despatch, also under 47th, 55th,
and 56th Divisions.
In the beginning of 1918, the Division was about Arras, on 5th
January it took over from the 56th between Gavrelle and Oppy.
Soon after the launching of the German attack from the St. Quentin
district, on 21st March, reinforcements were sent to the southern
portions of the British front. On 25th March the 62nd Division
arrived at Bucquoy and joined the IV. Corps of the Third Army. Along
with the 42nd Division they formed a new line through which the
worn-out 19th, 25th, 41st and 51st Divisions withdrew. The 62nd,
which entered the front line on the 25th, had very heavy fighting
on the 26th, 27th and 28th. On the afternoon of the 26th alone five
attacks by regiments of the Prussian Guard were repulsed. After a
magnificent stand the Division was relieved by the 37th on 31st March
and 1st April. The fighting on 24th-25th is now the “First Battle of
Bapaume,” and that on the 28th the “First Battle of Arras, 1918.”
Under the 42nd Division a quotation has already been given from the
telegraphic despatch of 23rd April, 1918, in which the part played by
the 42nd and 62nd about Bucquoy is referred to.
The written despatch of 20th July, 1918, paragraph 42, mentions that
on 27th March the enemy made a series of strong attacks when he
gained Ablainzevelle and Ayette. “Elsewhere all his assaults were
heavily repulsed by troops of the 62nd Division (Major-General W. P.
Braithwaite) and of the 42nd and the Guards Divisions.”
Paragraph 45 as to the attack near Arras, 28th March, states: “The
62nd Division with an attached brigade of the 4th Australian
Division beat off a succession of heavy attacks about Bucquoy with
great loss to the enemy.”
The despatch of 21st December, 1918, paragraph 11, shows that in
July the XXII. Corps, Lieut.-General Sir A. Godley, consisting of
the 15th, 34th, 51st and 62nd Divisions, was sent to the south to
assist the French in their counter-attacks against the salient which
the Germans had created between the Aisne and the Marne. The 51st
and 62nd went to the east side of the salient and had heavy fighting
for a period of ten days—a quotation as to this, now the “Battle
of Tardenois,” is given under the 51st. Both these divisions were
complimented by General Berthelot commanding the French Fifth Army.
The 8th West Yorkshire Regiment (Leeds Rifles) of the 62nd were
awarded the coveted _Croix de Guerre_ with palms, for a brilliant
assault on Mont de Bligny on 28th July.
In the supplementary telegraphic despatch of 13th September, 1918,
as to the work of certain divisions, Sir Douglas Haig said: “The
62nd Division assisted to check the enemy’s advance in March at
Achiet-le-Grand and Bucquoy and since that date took part with
credit in the French offensive south-west of Reims. On August 25th
it attacked and captured Mory. The Division was involved in heavy
fighting about this village and around Vaulx-Vraucourt and Vaulx Wood
and beat off several determined counter-attacks with great loss to
the enemy.” The capture of Mory is again referred to in the despatch
of 21st December, 1918, paragraph 23. Between the 25th August and 2nd
September the Division had some very stern fighting and suffered
heavy losses before its opponents were overcome. The fighting 31st
August-3rd September is now the “Second Battle of Bapaume.”
Paragraph 30 of the despatch, “The Battle of Havrincourt and Epéhy
12th-18th September,” stated: “On the 12th September the IV. and VI.
Corps of the Third Army attacked on a front of about five miles in
the Havrincourt sector, employing troops of the New Zealand, 37th,
62nd and 2nd Divisions. The villages of Trescault and Havrincourt
were taken by the 37th and 62nd Divisions respectively, and positions
were secured which were of considerable importance in view of future
operations.” This is now designated the “Battle of Havrincourt.”
It will be remembered that the Division stormed Havrincourt in the
battle of 20th November, 1917. It was on familiar ground.
In “The Battle of Cambrai and the Hindenburg Line, 27th September-5th
October,” the VI. Corps was again employed, the 62nd being in
support of the 3rd Division. (See paragraph 35 of the despatch and
map opposite p. 280 of Messrs. Dent’s edition.) On 27th and 28th
September the 62nd captured Marcoing and Masnières and established a
bridgehead on the St. Quentin canal. On the 29th they made a further
advance. The Official List has altered the designation given in
the despatch. This is now the “Battle of the Canal du Nord, 27th
September-1st October.”
Paragraph 46. “The Battle of the Selle River, 17th-25th October,”
shows that the 62nd was one of the divisions employed on the 20th.
The fighting was severe but all objectives were gained on the high
ground east of the river. A quotation as to this action has been
given under the 42nd Division. Unofficial accounts agree that both
the 42nd and 62nd did particularly well on the 20th October about
Solesmes.
Paragraph 50, “The Battle of the Sambre, 1st-11th November,” dealing
with the 4th November, stated: “Opposite Orsinval the 62nd Division
of the VI. Corps attacked at 5.20 a.m., and as soon as that village
had been taken the Guards Division of the same corps attacked on the
left of them. Both Divisions had hard fighting but made good progress
capturing Frasnoy and Preux-au-Sart, and reaching the western
outskirts of Commegnies.”
Paragraph 51, “The Return to Mons”: “The enemy’s resistance was
definitely broken. On the 9th November the enemy was in general
retreat on the whole front of the British Armies. The fortress of
Maubeuge was entered by the Guards Division and the 62nd Division
(Major-General Sir R. D. Whigham), while the Canadians were
approaching Mons,” which they entered on the 11th, Armistice Day.
The final despatch of 21st March, 1919 (the anniversary of the great
German offensive), paragraph 5, gives the composition of the troops
selected to form General Plumer’s Second Army, for the march into
the British sector in the Rhine provinces; to the 62nd Division was
awarded the signal honour of representing the Territorial Force. The
Commander-in-Chief may have been influenced by many reasons in making
this choice, but unless its marks had been “very good” the 62nd
would not have been selected.
The 2/4th West Riding Regiment and 2/4th Yorkshire Light Infantry
were chosen for the Army of Occupation, as was also the 1/9th Durham
Light Infantry, originally belonging to the 50th, but which served as
pioneers to the 62nd in 1918.[9]
FOOTNOTES:
[9] Much interesting matter regarding the achievements of the 49th
and 62nd Divisions will be found in _The West Riding Territorials in
the Great War_, by Major L. Magnus. Kegan Paul and Co. Price 15s.
66TH (EAST LANCASHIRE) DIVISION
SECOND LINE
The Division landed in France in the last week of February 1917, and
was employed for some months with the First and Second Armies about
the Bethune-Ypres-Nieuport area.
In the last week of September 1917 the 66th was relieved in the Coast
Sector by the 42nd, the senior East Lancashire Division. The 66th
then moved into the battle area and joined the Fifth Army, east of
Ypres. It came suddenly into prominence in October, when the closing
stages of the Third Battle of Ypres were being fought.
In his telegraphic despatch of 9th October, Sir Douglas Haig said:
“On the right centre a third-line Territorial Division, comprising
Manchester, East Lancashire and Lancashire Fusilier Regiments,
advanced one mile northwards along the ridge in the direction of
Passchendaele, capturing all its objectives under the most trying and
difficult circumstances with great determination and gallantry.”
It was not a “third-line” division in the ordinary acceptance of
the words, but it did contain a third-line battalion, the 3/5th
Lancashire Fusiliers, who were said to have done exceptionally well.
A quotation from paragraph 56 of the written despatch of 25th
December, 1917, as to this attack, now designated the “Battle of
Poelcappelle,” has been given under the 48th Division.
During the German offensive and British retreat of March 1918 the
66th formed part of the XIX. Corps, Fifth Army, the other division of
the Corps in the line on 21st March being the 24th.
On the 21st the XIX. Corps was attacked by the enemy in overwhelming
force. Both divisions fought splendidly and although their forward
posts were surrounded and eventually destroyed, the battle zone of
the Corps was held throughout the day. The enemy made progress,
however, round the left or north flank of the 66th, and the right or
south flank of the 24th Division, which compelled a withdrawal.
In the telegraphic despatch of 26th March, 1918, Sir Douglas Haig
said: “In the past six days of constant fighting our troops on all
parts of the battle front have shown the utmost courage,” and among
divisions which had shown “exceptional gallantry” he mentioned the
66th.
Sir Douglas Haig’s written despatch of 20th July, 1918, regarding
the great German offensive, paragraph 20, the position of affairs
on the 22nd March, stated: “At midday, after heavy fighting in the
neighbourhood of Roisel, the 66th Division, under the command of
Major-General N. Malcolm, D.S.O., still held their positions in
this sector, having, for the time being, definitely stopped the
enemy’s advance. To the south and north, however, the progress of
the German infantry continued, ... Roisel being threatened from the
rear. Accordingly our troops about Roisel were withdrawn during the
afternoon under orders, the enemy making no attempt to interfere.”
The fighting 21st-23rd March, 1918, is now the “Battle of St.
Quentin.”
In paragraph 43, regarding the fight for the Rosières line on 27th
March, now the “Battle of Rosières,” it was said by Sir Douglas
Haig that “the situation south of the Somme was serious.” “A
counter-attack by the 66th Division restored the situation about
Framerville.”
In paragraph 47 as to the fighting in the Avre and Luce valleys, on
29th and 30th March, Sir Douglas Haig said, “North of the Luce also
the enemy made some progress but in the afternoon was held up, and
finally driven back into Aubercourt by counter-attacks carried out by
troops of the 66th Division and the 3rd Australian Division.”
In his “Fifth Army in March, 1918,” Mr. Sparrow constantly refers to
the splendid conduct of the 66th. At p. 101 he mentions that they
fought continuously from the 21st to the 31st and that their losses
were nearly 7000 “apart from sick and spent.” At p. 134 he says that
their strength on the evening of the 30th was 104 officers and 2376
other ranks, excluding transport. “Thus to the last the 66th was in
the fire,” and speaking of the counter-attack which they made on the
30th he said, “seldom have exhausted men made an equal effort.”
Their losses were so severe that the Division was reduced to a
cadre basis, see note, paragraph 1, despatch of 21st December, 1918
(Messrs. Dent’s edition); but it was filled up in time to take part
in the “Advance to Victory.”
The South African Brigade, which had gained very great distinction
on many occasions, as part of the 9th Division, was incorporated
in the reconstituted 66th, and it was also joined by the following
battalions from the Mediterranean: the 6th Lancashire Fusiliers, 5th
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, and 6th Royal Dublin Fusiliers, forming
the 198th Brigade; the 18th Liverpool Regiment (formerly Lancashire
Yeomanry), 9th Manchester Regiment and 5th Connaught Rangers, forming
the 199th Brigade, with, as pioneers, the 9th Gloucestershire
Regiment. (See _The Story of the Fourth Army_, p. 322.)
The despatch of 21st December, 1918, paragraph 42, “Second Battle
of Le Cateau, 8th to 12th October,” now officially designated the
“Battle of Cambrai, 1918, with pursuit to the Selle,” shows that the
Division formed part of the troops attacking on 8th October, being
then in the XIII. Corps, Fourth Army, when “on the British front
infantry and tanks penetrated the enemy’s position to a depth of
between three and four miles, passing rapidly over the incomplete
trench lines.”
To the north of the 30th American Division which had “captured
Brancourt and Prémont the 66th Division (Major-General H. K.
Bethell), attacking beside the 25th Division (Major-General J. R. E.
Charles), captured Serain.” The advance was continued on the 9th; “by
nightfall our troops were within two miles of Le Cateau.” A further
forward movement was made on the 10th and in _The History of the 25th
Division_, p. 329, it is stated that by the evening of the 10th “the
66th Division, which had got well forward on the left, had a few
advanced patrols in Le Cateau itself.” This is correct, but there
was to be very heavy fighting before the town was captured. The Selle
runs through the town, and the portion on the eastern side of the
river was not taken till the 17th.
Paragraph 46, “The forcing of the Selle River crossings, 17th-25th
October,” now the “Battle of the Selle,” mentions the 66th as again
employed by the XIII. Corps. “The enemy was holding the difficult
wooded country east of Bohain and the line of the Selle north of it,
in great strength, his infantry being well supported by artillery....
By the evening of the 19th October, after much severe fighting, the
enemy had been driven across the Sambre and Oise canal at practically
all points south of Catillon, whence our line followed the valley of
the Richemont east and north of Le Cateau.” That town was taken by
the 66th Division.
On the night of the 16th the 9th Gloucestershire, Pioneers to the
Division, and the Divisional Engineers threw eight bridges across
the Selle, here twenty feet wide and five feet deep, and the South
African Brigade crossed to the east bank. Later they forced their
way through the wire entanglements and carried their objectives. In
the _Story of the Fourth Army_, p. 224, there occurs this sentence:
“The position attacked by the 66th Division, and especially by the
South African Brigade, requires to be studied on the ground before
the difficulties overcome by the initiative and leadership of the
regimental officers and non-commissioned officers, and by the
gallantry of all ranks, can be fully realised. None but the very
best troops could have attempted, let alone have succeeded in,
such an enterprise, and the crossing of the Selle at Le Cateau will
always remain, like the struggle in Delville Wood in 1916, a lasting
testimony to the fighting qualities of the South African soldier.” A
captured German order contained the sentence: “The English must not
cross the Selle on our front.”
Sir A. Conan Doyle, vol. vi. pp. 187-190, gives a detailed and
excellent account of the attack on 17th October. He says: “It had
been a very desperate battle, the laurels of which rest with the
South African Brigade, who had carried out so remarkable an assault,
and also with the 50th Division which had held on with such a
bull-dog grip to its purpose.”
The XIII. Corps was engaged in “The Battle of the Sambre,” commencing
on 4th November, the 66th being in support of the 25th, which
captured Landrecies. (See under 48th Division, three battalions of
which did great work.) See also paragraph 50 of the despatch and map
opposite p. 294 of Messrs. Dent’s edition.
On 7th November the 66th relieved the 25th and continued the advance
beyond Avesnes, being practically advance-guard to the Fourth Army.
At the date of the Armistice the Division held the front from Sivry
to a point west of Beaumont.
The work of the 66th Division between 8th October and 11th November
is fully described in _The Story of the Fourth Army_ already referred
to.
APPENDIX
APPENDIX
SHOWING THE BATTLES, AS NAMED IN THE OFFICIAL LIST PUBLISHED IN
1921, IN WHICH THE TERRITORIAL DIVISIONS TOOK PART.