THE SOMME, THE LYS AND THE AISNE.
_First Phase._
On detraining at Longeau, the Battalion marched to billets in Corbie,
where it stayed for one night. The following day it moved to the south of
the main Amiens-Peronne road to Marcelcave, and was then in Fifth Army
Reserve. Here, for about a fortnight the finishing touches were put to
the training. Included in the programme were the final stages of the Army
Rifle Association competition, in which No. 6 Platoon were defeated by a
Platoon of the 8th Durham Light Infantry in the final of the Brigade
contest. The officers were taken up to certain areas near Peronne, where
the Battalion might have to deliver counter-attacks in the event of a
German success. About the middle of March rumours of the impending attack
became more numerous, and the intelligence reports containing prisoners'
statements, etc., were not reassuring. At last, the date of the attack,
the 21st March, became fairly certain, and the drum fire heard in the
distance on that day was not unexpected.
Orders were issued during the morning for a "stand-to" in readiness to
move at very short notice, and about 3.45 p.m. instructions were received
to entrain at Gouzeaucourt. In less than an hour the Battalion was on the
march, the transport moving at the same time by road. After a short
journey it detrained in the pitch dark at Brie, where Lewis guns, etc.,
were placed on lorries, the orders being to move into billets near
Peronne. Whilst waiting for guides, however, a staff officer of the
Division arrived with fresh orders. Instead of proceeding to billets the
Battalion was to move straight into the fight. The Lewis guns were
removed from the lorries and replaced by blankets, and the Battalion
marched off in the direction of Tincourt. Just to the south of that
village and in front of Beuzy a reserve system of partially dug trenches,
known as the Green Line, was at once occupied. This line was the next
defence system behind the Brown Line, where the 66th and other Divisions
had been overwhelmed in the morning. On the morning of the 22nd March the
men watched with interest tanks moving up to counter-attack, but on the
whole things were quiet. In the afternoon the shelling became heavier,
and in the distance large massed bodies of the enemy could be seen. The
first contact occurred when a German scout was wounded and captured by a
patrol. Orders were then received that the line was to be held at all
costs. The apparent strength of the position, however, inspired
confidence, and it was not till towards dusk that the first serious
casualties occurred.
About 9 p.m. further orders were received to withdraw to a ridge in the
rear, in front of Cardigny. The movement was successfully carried out in
the dark, and at dawn the new position was reconnoitred and the
dispositions completed. At 7 a.m. the startling orders were received that
the Fifth Army was about to withdraw to the west of the Somme, and
detailed instructions as to the rearguard action were issued. The
Battalion was to cover the retirement of the 5th Durham Light Infantry,
which would in turn cover a further withdrawal. Accordingly the village
of Cardigny was occupied with a view to a temporary stand. No sooner was
this done than the enemy were on the outskirts and their snipers and
machine guns were giving considerable trouble. The position soon became
untenable, and permission was obtained to withdraw. This was done without
loss, largely owing to the courage of Y Company, who, under Capt. J.F.G.
Aubin, M.C., formed the rearguard to the Battalion.
The next line of defence was a trench system on a ridge near Le Mesnil,
which overlooked the Somme to the rear. Here things were quiet, though it
was known that the enemy was working round the flanks, through Peronne on
the left and Le Mesnil on the right. There was still a considerable
amount of transport on the east of the river, and it was expected that a
fight would follow to allow this to get away. After about two hours,
however, orders came to cross the river by the Eterpigny footbridge. A
route was taken across country towards this bridge, but there being no
gap through the marshes and undergrowth, the Battalion was forced to turn
aside through Le Mesnil village and, incidentally, to pass under a light
shrapnel barrage. It was not known that the village was in the enemy's
hands, but as soon as Z Company, who were leading, had reached the far
side, the remaining Companies were attacked. Again Y Company
distinguished itself, as did W and X Companies. They at once deployed,
and though driven towards the marshes, successfully checked the enemy and
eventually followed Z Company over the partially destroyed footbridge,
about 300 yards long, with the loss of only two officers, Lieut. D.F.
Charlton (killed) and 2nd Lieut. A. Dobson (prisoner), and about 20 men.
For his action Capt. J.F.G. Aubin, M.C., was awarded the D.S.O.
When all the Companies had been assembled on the west of the river a line
was formed, along with the remnants of another Division, overlooking the
marshes. By this time the day's fighting had died down, and things
remained fairly quiet throughout the night.
Early on the following morning, the 24th March, orders were received to
withdraw the Battalion to Foucaucourt. The Companies were therefore
assembled on the road and marched back by the main Amiens-Peronne road to
an old prisoners of war camp near Foucaucourt village. Further orders
awaited them there to be ready to move up again, and in about two hours
they were again marching eastwards. About 8 p.m. they were again in
position, in reserve, in a line north-east of Estrées.
The next morning the Battalion was hurriedly assembled and moved to
Genermont, south of the main road, coming under the orders of the General
Commanding the 8th Division. The situation here appeared to be very
serious, as the enemy was advancing rapidly. Without any very definite
orders the Battalion moved in artillery formation towards Marchelepot,
but before reaching it the 8th Division, who were holding the line, had
retired to the railway behind the village. Gaps along the line of the
railway were accordingly filled by W and Z Companies, but it soon became
necessary to put in Y Company also. No further developments occurred till
about 5 p.m., when Y Company on the right found that the 24th Division on
their right was withdrawing to Chaulnes ridge. A defensive flank was
formed, and X Company moved to the north-east of Hyencourt to deliver a
counter-attack if necessary. For a couple of hours the prospect looked
very black, but the enemy did not press his advantage, and about 7 p.m.
orders were received to withdraw the Battalion to a line of old trenches
south-east of Pressoire. Here a quiet night was spent, with only a few
casualties from shell fire.
About 9 a.m. the next day the enemy renewed his attacks and a hurried
withdrawal of the whole of the 8th Division was ordered. The instructions
which reached the Battalion were somewhat confused, but along with the
Battalions of the 24th Infantry Brigade they moved from the trenches in
artillery formation, and passing through the ruins of Lihons--which was
under observation, and consequently was heavily shelled as the men passed
through it--continued the withdrawal almost to Rosières. About a mile
south-east of that village a line was formed, but no further attack took
place. In this position the Battalion had the 2nd Northants on its left
and a Labour Battalion on its right.
At 9.30 a.m. the next day (the 27th) the Labour Battalion withdrew and
forced the two forward Companies of the Battalion to do the same. A
counter-attack was delivered, however, and the line restored by the end
of the day. The enemy renewed his attacks on the following morning, and
the 24th Division on the right retired to Warvillers. Y Company then
moved to Vrely to cover the withdrawal of the remainder of the Battalion
to a line near Caix. It was during these operations that Lieut.-Col. F.W.
Robson, D.S.O., was killed. He had commanded the Battalion for nearly a
year, and could truly claim that he had realised his ambition of making
it one of the finest in France. The best type of the Territorial officer,
his death was a personal loss to every officer and man who served under
him. The same day Capt. H. Walton, M.C., commanding Z Company, was also
killed.
The three Companies in the Caix valley occupied a wired trench facing
Rosières, and were told that the troops in front would retire and occupy
the line with them. Instead, however, these troops passed through them,
and the whole line fell back to the wood south-east of Caix. Here the
remains of the Battalion were re-organised, and going forward again,
re-occupied the Caix line. For this action Capt. G.E. Cardew and 2nd
Lieut. R. Wilson received the Military Cross.
It was found impossible to hold the line much longer, and about 4 p.m.
the Battalion withdrew along the Beaucourt road and received verbal
instructions to move to Moreuil. The cooks, storemen, buglers, etc., who
had been left behind when the Battalion had moved up on the 21st March,
and had since been in action as part of a composite battalion, had been
collected by Major T.B. Heslop, and with some stragglers were now at
Ailly-sur-Noye. These were ordered up to the line on the 29th and moved
to Demuin Wood, where they arrived after having marched 30 kilometres
over congested roads during the previous 20 hours. They remained in the
area for several days, and had a very strenuous time with several
casualties. After this party had moved up, stragglers were collected by
Capt. Aubin at Boves, and these, with the transport, moved by stages to
Saleux, passing large numbers of French troops moving up to check the
advance. At Saleux the remnants of the Division, except the details who
were still in the line, were re-organised in case of emergency, and
eventually entrained to Rue and marched to billets at Vron. Here Major
Heslop and his party rejoined. These billets were not far from the coast,
and it was expected that after the strenuous fortnight there would be a
short rest. This was not to be, however, but, as an alternative, rumour
suggested a tour of duty in an easy part of the line. This appeared to be
confirmed when after two days the Battalion moved by 'bus to the Bethune
area.
_Second Phase._
On debussing just west of Bethune, the Battalion marched through the town
to billets at Beuvry, which was about four miles behind one of the
quietest sectors on the British front. Here a draft of about 400 men
arrived, and preparations were being made for a relief of the 55th
Division near La Bassée. These arrangements, however, were not carried
out, and after a few days the Battalion moved by a short railway journey
to Estaires, where it occupied billets in the town, all the
officers--except the Commanding Officer, Adjutant, Transport Officer and
Capt. Cardew--being in one billet, the Convent. At this time Estaires,
though a very short distance behind the line, was a flourishing town.
After a quiet day and night, alarming rumours of the second German
offensive spread, and the next night there was a "stand-to." The day
following, the officers and a few N.C.O.'s reconnoitred a line of posts
in support which were to be occupied in the event of an attack, and in
the evening instructions were received for a relief of the Portuguese
Division, which was holding the line, the relief to take place the night
after (9th April).
On the night of the 8th April, there was another "stand-to," and at 4
a.m. the threatened attack commenced with a heavy bombardment of the
town. One of the first shells burst in the Convent, and all the occupants
with two exceptions became casualties. The men, however, got out of their
billets in safety, and the highest praise is due to the N.C.O.'s, who
gave valuable assistance to the three surviving Company Officers in
getting the Battalion into its battle positions in the Cockshy, Marais
East and West, and Drumiez posts. Amongst the officers killed in the
Convent were Capt. G. Kirkhouse, Capt. J.F.G. Aubin, D.S.O., M.C., and
Lieut. C.L. Tyerman, all of whom had seen much service with the
Battalion.
The morning was misty, and beyond the fact that the Portuguese were being
driven back in confusion, nothing definite could be ascertained as to the
situation. The first reports which reached the Commanding Officer (Major
T.B. Heslop) were to the effect that three Companies (W, X and Z) had
been completely overwhelmed, and that two of his three Company Officers,
Capt. Cardew (killed) and 2nd Lieut. Railton (prisoner) were casualties.
The remainder of the Battalion, however, under Lieut. A.N. Brown, held
its ground till the afternoon, when it was forced to withdraw to the
railway near La Gorgue.
At dusk, orders were received to cross the river Lawe and to hold the
Western bank. This withdrawal was successful, and the opportunity was
taken to reorganise the Battalion, which was divided into two companies,
one under Lieut. Brown, with Sergt. P. Finn, M.M., and Sergt. Field; and
the other under C.S.M. T. Sordy, M.C., with Sergts. Bell and Cooper. The
strength of the Battalion was now barely 100, and when touch had been
established on the flanks it was found that it was holding a frontage of
about 2,000 yards.
Assistance was therefore asked for, and a company of the Corps Cyclists
and a company of the 7th Durham Light Infantry were attached. The latter
were sent to fill a gap on the right flank between the Battalion and a
Battalion of the Black Watch (51st Division). It was now about 10 a.m. on
the 10th April, and the enemy had renewed his attack and gained a footing
in Lestrem. From this, however, he was driven by the 7th Durham Light
Infantry company, but further to the south he had pressed back the
Highlanders.
Orders were then received to withdraw in a N.W. direction to the line of
the Lys canal, the company of 7th Durham Light Infantry being moved over
to the left flank to fill a gap which had been caused by the readjustment
of their line by the 5th Durham Light Infantry. Meanwhile, the 8th Durham
Light Infantry, which was in rear, was ordered up to occupy the line
between the right flank of the Battalion and the 51st Division.
The new position was being fairly well held when it was reported that the
5th Durham Light Infantry on the left had been forced to retire. Both
flanks being now uncertain, the Battalion was withdrawn towards Merville,
under very heavy machine-gun fire. A stand was made on the outskirts of
the town, but before night the fighting was taking place in the streets
of the town.
The next day the retirement continued towards the Forêt de Nieppe, and a
line was taken up near Le Sart. By this time the strength of the
Battalion was very small, and with the remnants of the 8th Durham Light
Infantry, a composite battalion was formed under Lieut.-Col. P. Kirkup,
M.C. Eventually, all were withdrawn from the fighting, and moved to the
grounds of La Motte Château, where they came under very heavy shell fire
for a short time. For a few days longer they remained on the western edge
of the Forest and provided working parties on new trenches in the forest
itself on a line in front of the Rue des Morts. At the end of this time
they were taken out to billets at Cohem, near Wittes, where they remained
for about a week reorganising and cleaning. Here Lieut.-Col. F. Walton,
M.C., returned and took over command of the Battalion from Major T.B.
Heslop, who was subsequently awarded the D.S.O. for his services whilst
in command. Other honours gained in the Lys battle were the Military
Cross by Lieut. A.N. Brown, the bar to the Military Cross by C.S.M. T.
Sordy, M.C., the D.C.M. by Sergt. P. Finn, and Military Medals by Sergts.
Bell and Cooper.
Having now shared in two great battles within a month, a rest was
confidently expected, and very soon orders were received to move by 'bus
to Lapugnoy, near Bethune, to entrain for an unknown destination, though
rumour suggested somewhere near Paris.
_Third Phase._
After a twenty-four hours' journey, the Battalion detrained at Serzy, and
marched to a hut camp at Arcis-le-Ponsart. Maps were scarce, but it was
found that this village was somewhere east of Soissons, and that the
nearest part of the line was the famous Chemin des Dames. The men of the
Division were the first British troops to visit these parts, and the
limited knowledge of the French language which they had found sufficient
in Belgium and the North was found to be useless. Other Divisions were
expected to come South, but for a short time the 50th occupied the unique
position of being the only British troops in the Sixth French Army.
In the camp at Arcis-le-Ponsart were all the battalions of the 151st
Brigade, and the ceremony of Brigade guard mounting was revived. This
took place daily in the centre of the village with the massed buglers and
bands. On the occasion of a visit of the French Army Commander to
Divisional Headquarters, a guard was provided at very short notice by the
Battalion, and was complimented on its smart appearance and bearing. It
may be mentioned that the bugler of this guard carried the silver bugle
presented to the Battalion in 1861 by the ladies of Coundon.
It was generally understood that the tour on this sector, which was one
of the quietest in the line, was to be a period of rest and training
prior to a return to the fighting further north. Accordingly, the days at
Arcis were devoted to training, mostly in field work. The men whose
training was not up to standard, including a certain number who had
recently been transferred from the Inland Water Transport section of the
Royal Engineers, were detached for separate instruction, and eventually
went to form a Divisional School.
After about three weeks' training, during which an epidemic of influenza
visited the camp, the Battalion marched to billets in Glennes, a small
village near the Aisne. Here final preparations were made for the line,
and after a few days it moved up to relieve a battalion of the 73rd
French Infantry Regiment in the woods immediately east of the Craonne
Plateau.
The relief was very interesting. Arriving in the woods in the dark, the
men were led by French guides by bewildering tracks and trenches to the
front line. When daylight came, the support companies found themselves
amidst green trees, very different surroundings from those they had
previously known as the forward area. To add to the general comfort there
were practically no indications that the war was still on. The shelling
consisted at the most of half-a-dozen explosions daily, and generally
there was "nothing doing." The rations came up to Battalion Headquarters
by train, and the carrying parties lost their terrors.
After four days the Battalion moved out to the support area, which
consisted of billets in the deserted village of Chaudardes. Here concerts
were organised, there was bathing in the Aisne Canal, the band played
selections in the centre of the village, and it was even possible to do a
certain amount of training when the enemy's observation balloons were not
up.
The four days in support being finished, a return was made to the line,
this time on the right sub-sector, with the 8th Durham Light Infantry on
the left. The conditions were still good, and everything pointed to this
being a rest sector for the enemy also.
Nothing unusual occurred till the evening of the 26th May, when a message
was received to the effect that a prisoner had stated that after a
three-hours' bombardment the enemy was going to attack at 4 a.m. on the
27th. Observers also reported that towards dusk the roads behind the
enemy's line were black with troops. The situation appeared to be so
improbable that it was difficult to regard it as serious. The necessary
precautions were taken, however; reserves of ammunition were sent
forward, surplus personnel were sent down to the transport lines, and
everybody warned to be on the alert.
Promptly at 1 a.m. on the 27th the barrage came down, and it was such as
had never been experienced by the Battalion before. The enemy flooded the
whole area to a depth of about 3,000 yards with high explosive, shrapnel,
and gas shells. Even the stores and transport, as was afterwards
disclosed, were shelled out of Muscourt, which was many miles back, south
of the Aisne.
Communication with the forward companies was maintained by telephone, and
an occasional runner, and at 4.50 a.m. a message was received at
Headquarters from the front line stating that the enemy had attacked in
force and had overwhelmed the forward posts. An enemy tank was also
reported to be tearing up the wire. The next information came from Capt.
Lyon who, finding his Company (X) had been wiped out, reported at
Battalion Headquarters that the enemy was advancing rapidly. The reserve
company (Z), under Capt. R. Green, M.C., were in position close to
Headquarters, and they reported the enemy on top of them, with machine
guns behind their right flank and bombers behind their left.
It was then decided to move Headquarters further to the rear, and it was
afterwards discovered that at this time parties of the enemy were
actually well in rear of the position.
After moving down the communication trench for about 500 yards,
Lieut.-Col. Walton, with the Adjutant and Signalling Officer, and Capt.
Lyon, collected all the available men, about forty of the Battalion, and
searched for the best place to make a stand. They were still under the
barrage, and the smoke made matters very difficult. Presently the 5th
Durham Light Infantry came up the trench to take up an allotted position,
which they found to be already taken by the enemy. They moved off to the
right of the main trench, however, and the forty men under Capt. Lyon
joined them.
A message was then received by the Commanding Officer telling him to
report at Brigade Headquarters. On arrival, however, the dug-outs were
found to be unoccupied. Enemy machine guns were now firing from the rear,
and it was realised that apart from about half-a-dozen orderlies who
formed the remains of the Headquarters personnel, the Battalion had been
practically annihilated.
In his search for the Brigadier, who, it afterwards transpired, had been
killed, Lieut.-Col. Walton arrived at the bridge at Concevreux. Here he
found a few men of the 8th Durham Light Infantry and the 5th
Northumberland Fusiliers, with whom the bridge was held till the
afternoon. Unfortunately, none of the Battalion joined this party from
the front, and for the next two or three days the two Commanding Officers
of the 6th and 8th Durham Light Infantry found themselves in command of
various bodies of men of other battalions.
Meanwhile those of the Battalion who were at the transport lines when the
battle started had been collected on the road from Muscourt to Romain
under Major T.B. Heslop, D.S.O., and placed under the orders of the
G.O.C. 74th Brigade. Whilst on the road they could see enemy troops and
guns on the far side of the Aisne valley and later saw these guns being
fired point blank at them. Various positions were taken up during the
day, the party being in close contact with the enemy and suffering many
casualties. On the 29th these details, which had rejoined the transport,
were ordered to move from Villers Argon to Baslieux-sous-Chatillon, but
before reaching the latter place, every available man was again collected
to form part of a Company under Major Heslop, representing the remnants
of the 151st Brigade in a Battalion to which each Brigade of the Division
contributed one Company. After a night in Quisles Château this Battalion
moved towards Ville-en-Tardenois to support the 74th Brigade. The enemy's
position was uncertain and the 151st Brigade Company were ordered to act
as advance guard and to seize the high ground north and east of Romigny.
This was done, but the enemy attacked in force, with the result that the
Company were driven to a position south of the village which they held
till reinforcements arrived.
Eventually, the remnants of the Division, except the Composite Battalion,
were assembled at Vert-la-Gravelle, south of the Marne, when a Composite
Brigade was formed, consisting of a weak Battalion from each of the
original Brigades. This Brigade, after about a week spent in
reorganisation, moved up to Chaumuzy and the Bois de Courton, where it
did good work in a counter-attack on the Bligny ridge. Meanwhile, the
transport and stores moved back to Broyes, near Sezanne, where they were
eventually joined by the members of the Composite Battalion. For actions
during the whole of the operations, the Military Cross was awarded to
Capt. A.B. Hare, Lieut. T. Rushworth, 2nd Lieut. J. Woodhead, and R.S.M.
J. Taylor. The last named was wounded and was succeeded by C.S.M. T.
Sordy, M.C. The Military Medal was awarded to Sergt. Malone, L.-Cpl.
Ripley and Pte. Dinsley, and the French Croix de Guerre to Corpl. Nield.
At Broyes still another Composite Battalion was formed from the Brigade
in case of emergency, and though orders were received to proceed into the
line, they were cancelled.
Then came the news that owing to the military demands, the 50th Division
was to be broken up. Nothing definite, however, could be ascertained, and
early in June the remnants entrained at Sezanne for the Abbeville area.
On detraining at Longpre they marched to billets at Caumont, where orders
were received that the battalions were to be reduced to the strength of
Training Cadres (10 officers and 50 other ranks). After a few days they
marched to Warcheville, from where the surplus men (about 120) were sent
to the Base. It may be mentioned that the total casualties in the
Battalion during the months of March, April and May had been 60 officers
and over 1,200 other ranks.
In a few more days the Battalion, now a Training Cadre, moved by 'bus to
a camp just outside Dieppe, and there a month was spent awaiting further
orders. The time was spent in the training of the N.C.O.'s who were to be
instructors on special subjects, and in visits to the town. The band had
been lent to the 50th Division, which had been filled up by new
battalions from Salonica and was able to play selections in the camp, and
on one occasion in the town.
At the end of the month's stay, about the middle of August, it was
announced that the battalions were not to be disbanded, but retained for
training purposes. A few days later the Cadres of the 5th, 6th and 8th
Durham Light Infantry moved by train to Rouen, where they were to build a
camp and start a new institution, that of instructing reinforcement
officers at the Base in tactical schemes. The officers of the Cadres
therefore began the latter work, whilst the N.C.O.'s and men worked, or
superintended the work on the new camp. In this somewhat monotonous way
two months dragged on, during which, in the temporary absence on sick
leave of Lieut.-Col. Walton, Lieut.-Col. Montgomerie, M.C., of the
Norfolk Regiment, was in command. The band still remained with the
Battalion and after the Armistice was granted permission to play on the
Joan of Arc statue, being the first British band to do so. They also had
the unique experience of playing "Blaydon Races" in Rouen Cathedral.
About the middle of October came rumours of the splitting up of the
Cadres, and on the 18th October Lieut.-Col. Walton was ordered to proceed
to take command of the 18th Durham Light Infantry. He was succeeded by
Lieut.-Col. A.L. MacMillan of the Seaforth Highlanders, who commanded,
however, for only a few days, for on the 6th November the Battalion was
demobilised, and within a few days the personnel had been scattered to
various battalions all over France.
So within a few days of the Armistice, ended the career of the 6th Durham
Light Infantry in France, after three and a half years of good work which
had made for it, right up to the end, a reputation which bore not a
single stain, and which on more than one occasion had caused it to be
held up as an example of the efficiency of the Territorial Force to which
it had the great honour to belong.
APPENDICES.
APPENDIX I.
OFFICERS KILLED OR DIED.
Major S.E. Badcock }
Capt. T.J. Monkhouse }26th April, 1915.
2nd Lieut. C.S. Kynoch }
2nd Lieut. J.M. Hare 24th May, 1915.
2nd Lieut. G.C. Robertson 21st July, 1915.
2nd Lieut. L.M. Peberdy 22nd Dec., 1915.
2nd Lieut. L. Meyer 11th June, 1916.
2nd Lieut. R.J. Harris 16th June, 1916.
2nd Lieut. J.C. Miller 27th July, 1916.
2nd Lieut. H.C. Annett 15th Sept., 1916.
2nd Lieut. N.F. Charlton 18th Sept., 1916.
2nd Lieut. W. Little 1st Oct., 1916.
2nd Lieut. D.R. Peacock 2nd Oct., 1916.
2nd Lieut. C.H.B. Catford[A] 5th Oct., 1916.
2nd Lieut. G.W. Robson }
2nd Lieut. A.S. Ritson }
2nd Lieut. S. Robson }5th Nov., 1916.
2nd Lieut. T.F. Applegarth }
2nd Lieut. K.B. Stuart }
2nd Lieut. H. Fell }
Major W.D. Carswell Hunt, M.C.[B] 5th April, 1917.
Capt. A.L. Brock }
Lieut. W.H. Richardson }
2nd Lieut. J.W. Payne }14th April, 1917.
2nd Lieut. H. Greener }
2nd Lieut. W.L. Newton }
2nd Lieut. D.D.R. Lewis[A] 22nd April, 1917.
Lieut. D.F. Charlton 24th March, 1918.
2nd Lieut. T. Sharkey }
2nd Lieut. A.R. Burn }26th March, 1918.
Capt. H. Walton, M.C. }
Lieut. T.J. Burton[A] }27th March, 1918.
Lieut.-Col. F.W. Robson, D.S.O. }
2nd Lieut. A.A. Horwood 28th March, 1918.
Capt. J.F.G. Aubin, D.S.O., M.C. }
Capt. G.E. Cardew, M.C. }
Capt. G. Kirkhouse }
Capt. Mackenzie (R.A.M.C.)[A] }9th April, 1918.
Lieut. C.L. Tyerman }
Lieut. D.B. Scott }
2nd Lieut. R.A. Wilson, M.C. }
2nd Lieut. F. Shirtliffe }
Capt. W.B. Hansell }27th May, 1918.
Capt. A.N. Brown, M.C. }
2nd Lieut. J.C. Garritt. 30th May, 1918.
[Footnote A: Died of wounds.]
[Footnote B: Died.]
APPENDIX II.
(_The ranks shown are the highest held by the respective officers during
their service in France_.)
COMMANDING OFFICERS.
Lieut.-Col. H.C. Watson 19th April-28th April, 1915.
Lieut.-Col. J.W. Jeffreys, D.S.O. 28th April-19th May, 1915.
Major W.E. Taylor (York and 19th May-24th May, 1915.
Lancaster Regt.).
Lieut.-Col. J.W. Jeffreys, D.S.O. 24th May-11th Aug., 1915.[C]
Brig.-Gen. O.C. Borrett, C.M.G., 11th Aug.-15th Aug., 1915.
D.S.O. (King's Own Regt.).
Lieut.-Col. J.W. Jeffreys, D.S.O. 15th Aug.-19th Dec., 1915.
Brig.-Gen. G.A. Stevens, C.M.G., 19th Dec., 1915-27th April, 1916.
D.S.O. (Royal Fusiliers).
Lieut.-Col. J.W. Jeffreys, D.S.O. 27th April,-23rd Sept., 1916.
Major G.E. Wilkinson, M.C. 23rd Sept.-1st Oct., 1916.
(Northumberland Fusiliers).
Brig.-Gen. R.B. Bradford, V.C., 1st Oct.-2nd Oct., 1916.
M.C.
Lieut.-Col. A. Ebsworth, M.C., 2nd Oct.-6th Nov., 1916.
D.C.M. (East Lancashire Regt.).
Lieut.-Col. H.M. Allen, C.M.G., 6th Nov., 1916-Feb., 1917.
D.S.O. (Black Watch).
Lieut.-Col. J.W. Jeffreys, D.S.O. Feb.-25th March, 1917.
(During this period the command was held for short intervals by
Lieut.-Col. W.B. Little, D.S.O., M.C. (East Lancashire Regt.), and
Lieut.-Col. E. Crouch, D.S.O., D.C.M. during the temporary absence in
hospital of Lieut.-Col. Jeffreys.)
Major W.D. Carswell Hunt. M.C. 25th March-5th April, 1917.
Lieut.-Col. A. Ebsworth, M.C., 5th April-11th April, 1917.
D.C.M.
Lieut.-Col. F.W. Robson, D.S.O., 11th April, 1917-27th Mar., 1918.
(Yorkshire Regt.).
Lieut.-Col. T.B. Heslop, D.S.O. 27th March-April, 1918.
Lieut.-Col. F. Walton, M.C. April-18th Oct., 1918.
(During this period the command was held for a few days by Lieut.-Col.
E.W. Montgomerie, M.C. (Norfolk Regt.), during the temporary absence of
Lieut.-Col. Walton.)
Lieut.-Col. A.L. MacMillan (Seaforth 18th Oct.-6th Nov., 1918.
Highlanders).
ADJUTANTS.
Lieut.-Col. J.W. Jeffreys, D.S.O. 19th April-28th April, 1915.
Lieut. R.V. Hare 28th April-19th May, 1915.
Lieut.-Col. J.W. Jeffreys, D.S.O. 19th May-24th May, 1915.
Capt. P.H.B. Lyon, M.C. 24th May-20th Dec., 1915.[C]
Brig.-Gen. R.B. Bradford, V.C., 20th Dec.-31st Dec., 1915.
M.C.
Lieut. C.E.G. Yaldwyn 31st Dec., 1915-May, 1916.
Capt. G. Kirkhouse May-20th Sept., 1916.
Lieut.-Col. A. Ebsworth, M.C., 20th Sept.-2nd Oct., 1916
D.C.M.
Capt. G. Kirkhouse 2nd Oct.-10th Nov., 1916.
Lieut. T.J. Arnott (Gordon 10th Nov., 1916-5th April, 1917.
Highlanders)
Major G.D.R. Dobson, M.C. 5th April-3rd May, 1917.
Capt. R.B. Ainsworth, M.C. 3rd May, 1917-6th Nov., 1918.
QUARTERMASTER.
Capt. W.M. Hope, M.C. 19th April, 1915-6th Nov., 1918.
(With short interval when wounded in 1918.)
TRANSPORT OFFICER.
Lieut. H.T. Bircham, M.C. 19th April, 1915-June, 1918.[C]
[Footnote C: With interval from 8th June-11th Aug., 1915 during the
amalgamation of the 6th and 8th Battalions.]
APPENDIX III
(_The ranks shown are the highest held by the respective officers during
their service in France_.)
DECORATIONS WON BY OFFICERS SERVING WITH THE BATTALION.
D.S.O.
Lieut.-Col. J.W. Jeffreys.
Lieut.-Col. T.B. Heslop.
Capt. J.F.G. Aubin.
M.C. & BAR.
Capt. J.F.G. Aubin.
M.C.
Lieut.-Col. F. Walton.
Capt. T. Welch.
Capt. R.H. Wharrier.
Capt. H. Walton
Capt. R.S. Johnson.
Capt. R.B. Ainsworth.
Capt. P.H.B. Lyon
Capt. W.M. Hope
Capt. G.E. Cardew.
Capt. A.N. Brown.
Capt. T. Rushworth.
Capt. A.B. Hare.
Lieut. W.P. Gill.
Lieut. G.R. Angus.
Lieut. B.J. Harvey.
Lieut. H.T. Bircham.
2nd Lieut. R.A. Wilson.
2nd Lieut. J. Woodhead.
The V.C. was won by Brig.-Genl. R.B. Bradford whilst in command of the
6th and 9th Battalions.
THE ARDEN PRESS
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