CHAPTER II. FESTUBERT 21
CHAPTER III. PICARDY 32
CHAPTER IV. ARRAS 48
CHAPTER V. THE SOMME 58
CHAPTER VI. YPRES 73
CHAPTER VII. THIRD BATTLE OF YPRES 82
CHAPTER VIII. GIVENCHY 110
CHAPTER IX. CONCLUSION 134
APPENDICES I–XX
INDEX XXI–XXIV
FOREWORD
_These notes have been compiled, more or less in the form of a diary,
with a view to placing on record the services of those who voluntarily
came forward to serve their country in its hour of need._
WALTER F. A. WADHAM.
_February, 1920._
THE FOURTH BATTALION
THE KING’S OWN REGIMENT
AND THE GREAT WAR
NOTES BY LIEUT.-COL. W. F. A. WADHAM, V.D.
CHAPTER I.
EARLY DAYS.
The year 1914 will for ever be looked back upon as the most memorable
in the history of the Battalion.
The outbreak of the Great War in the month of August of that year
caused the Mobilization Scheme, over which for years past each
succeeding Adjutant had, in his turn, burned much midnight oil in
endeavours to bring up-to-date the efforts of his predecessor, to be
put to the test.
On Sunday, August 2nd, of that year, the Battalion proceeded to Camp at
Kirkby Lonsdale to undergo the usual fourteen days’ Annual Training as
one of the units forming the West Lancashire Brigade of the Territorial
Force. War and rumours of War then filled the air, and, upon arrival at
Kirkby Lonsdale, a warning was issued by the Brigade Commander (Colonel
G. L. Hibbert, D.S.O.) for the units composing the Brigade not to make
themselves too comfortable, nor to make preparations for any lengthened
stay, as orders had been received to detain the trains in which the
troops had arrived, and further orders for the troops to return to
their peace stations were hourly expected. These orders duly arrived in
the early hours of Monday, August 3rd, and at 9.30 a.m. the Battalion
started on its homeward journey, after the shortest Annual Training on
record.
The Detachments proceeded to their various peace Headquarters, and the
men were dismissed to their homes, with a warning that, in the event
of the expected Mobilization taking place, they would be immediately
recalled.
Germany having violated the neutrality of Belgium by attempting to
utilize that country as a high road to Paris, Great Britain declared
war on Germany on the 4th August, 1914, and on the night of the
4th/5th, orders were issued throughout the country for the Mobilization
of the Territorial Force. The Mobilization telegram reached
Headquarters about 6 p.m. on the 4th, and notices were at once issued,
and the Battalion began to assemble at 5 a.m. on the 5th, for Medical
Inspection. At 7 a.m. the Headquarter Companies had been medically
inspected and at once left to guard the Kent and Leven Viaducts and
by 4.30 p.m. that day, with the exception of the guards left by the
Ulverston Detachment to protect the Kent and Leven Viaducts and by the
Millom Detachment to protect the Duddon Viaduct, the Battalion had
assembled in Barrow, and, under the command of the Officer Commanding
Barrow Coast Defences, taken over important duties in connection with
the protection of the works of Messrs. Vickers and the Harbour and
Docks of the Furness Railway Company. Headquarters were established
in the Holker Street Schools, and the surplus men, not required for
guards, were billeted there.
Little of any importance or worthy of note occurred during the time the
Battalion was stationed in Barrow, an air-raid scare, involving the
standing to arms of all ranks for several hours in the middle of a very
cold night, forming the only excitement.
The time was chiefly devoted to obtaining mobilization stores,
ammunition and equipment (not forgetting transport, which, in these
early stages of the war, was a most heterogeneous selection, varying
from a milk float to a motor lorry, with water carts commandeered from
the Local Authorities). The animals necessary for their haulage were an
equally varied selection, including about every kind of “hairy” from a
polo pony to a Clydesdale.
It was generally expected that the Battalion’s next move would be to
Ireland, and the advance party started off for that destination on the
morning of August 8th, only to be recalled from Liverpool later in the
day, owing to an order having been received cancelling the move.
On the 10th the Battalion was relieved from all duties in connection
with the Barrow Defences, these being taken over by another Battalion,
and on the 11th orders were received to move to Ulverston that day. The
Battalion left Barrow at 6.15 p.m. on the 11th, and proceeded by road
to Ulverston, arriving about 9.15 p.m.
In Ulverston the men were billeted in the Victoria Grammar School and
the Dale Street Schools, Headquarters being established in the former.
Whilst stationed at Ulverston the fitting out with equipment and
drawing of mobilization stores was continued, drill and route marching
filling up the time. On the 15th August orders were received (at 2.45
a.m.) to move to Slough for the purpose of guarding the Main Line of
the Great Western Railway, between Paddington and Maidenhead.
The Battalion left Ulverston on the 15th, in two trains (the first at
10.30 a.m. and the second at 12 noon), and arrived at Slough at 7.30
and 10.30 p.m. respectively. The second train was delayed owing to one
of the horse boxes falling to pieces at Crewe, thereby causing serious
injuries to the animals it contained, and our first casualty, one of
the horses being so seriously damaged that it had to be shot.
On arrival at Slough the Battalion was billeted in various schools
for the night, and the following morning divided up by Companies.
These were distributed amongst the different stations on the length
of line--from Paddington to Twyford--allotted to the Battalion.
Headquarters were established at Slough, in a large empty house with
spacious grounds surrounding it, which quickly acquired the soubriquet
of “Black Lead Castle,” owing to one of its former occupants having
rejoiced in the name of Nixey. A black cat, “which went with the
place,” succeeded to the title of the former occupant.
At the stations along the line the officers and men were accommodated
in the waiting rooms, without bedding, furniture, or comforts of any
description, and lived in these comfortless places for rather more than
three months, during which period the Battalion was carrying out the
duties of patrolling the line and guarding the bridges, etc., their
food being sent through from Slough in dixies.
Great ingenuity was displayed by the members of the various detachments
on the line in their endeavours to make their quarters, if not
comfortable, at least habitable. The palm must be awarded to the Millom
Detachment at Langley Park, where, under the able direction of the
Company Cook, and with the assistance of a refuse tip alongside the
railway, on which every conceivable kind of kitchen utensil seemed to
have found its last resting place, a quite substantial and up-to-date
kitchen was erected, and, with the aid of a huge Beecham’s Pills (or
other) advertisement board and some borrowed (?) waggon sheets, a
commodious lean-to shelter was constructed. The homeliness of the
shelter was completed by the addition of a tame fox, with which,
contrary to the usual laws of animal affection, an Airedale terrier
used frequently to indulge in gambols like those of a pair of kittens.
It was not to be expected that men fresh from the country, many of
whom had never seen an express train before, could carry out these
duties on a section of line such as the one for which the Battalion was
responsible, without some casualties occurring. During the time the
Battalion was employed on this duty several good men lost their lives
in the service of their country, who would no doubt have preferably
made the same sacrifice, had the opportunity been given them, against a
more vulnerable foe than an express train.
The Battalion Reserve (chiefly composed of recruits) remained at
Slough, where it underwent the usual course of Infantry Training,
including a certain amount of Musketry at Runnymede, a very different
thing however, at the beginning of the War, from the course of
training which developed as the War proceeded.
It would be difficult to exaggerate the strain upon discipline involved
in stringing out a Battalion of young and inexperienced soldiers upon
a 30 miles length of railway, in close proximity to London and other
places of interest and pleasure, or the additional responsibility thus
thrown upon the Officers and N.C.O.’s, especially when all were anxious
to proceed overseas at the earliest possible moment, and realized that,
after being withdrawn from the duties of guarding the railway, it would
be necessary for them to undergo a period of Battalion and Brigade
Training before being considered qualified to do so. Naturally, some
little impatience was displayed, but the Battalion’s reputation for
good discipline was well maintained.
Any spare time was chiefly devoted to football and cross country
running, with a view to getting the members of the Battalion as fit as
possible. The Battalion teams, drawn from all the stations on the line,
achieved considerable success in both these forms of sport.
For the mounted Officers, and those aspiring to become mounted, the
proximity of Windsor Great Park proved a great attraction, and effected
considerable improvement in their equitation. The Golf Clubs of Stoke
Poges and Burnham Beeches were kind enough to make the officers of the
Battalion honorary members, but no time was found in which to take
advantage of this privilege.
For the men a Club was organized by the Vicar, who was throughout most
kind in doing all in his power to make the visit of the Battalion to
Slough one which would call forth pleasant memories in the future. In
fact, the general hospitality and kindness extended to all ranks of the
Battalion during the time it was stationed in Slough was extraordinary,
and was most gratefully appreciated.
Whilst at Slough an enquiry was received from the War Office as
to whether the Battalion would proceed to Egypt to join the East
Lancashire Brigade. To this a reply was sent to the effect that the
Commanding Officer preferred that his Battalion should remain with the
West Lancashire Brigade. At a later date an order was received to send
two Companies to join the East Lancashire Brigade in Egypt, and these
were withdrawn from the line and equipped ready to proceed. In the
meantime a protest was made against the breaking up of the Battalion,
and, at the last moment, after two Companies from a Battalion from the
West of England had arrived at Slough ready to take over the duties
of the Companies withdrawn from the line, a message was received
cancelling the order, with instructions to return the two Companies to
the West of England.
On November 9th the Companies of the Battalion, except those at
Paddington and a few posts at other places, were withdrawn from the
line, and on November 26th orders were received to move to Sevenoaks to
join the remainder of the Brigade, which had moved there on the 11th.
The Battalion left Slough in two trains, the first at 11 a.m. and the
second at 1.15 p.m., on the 27th November, reaching Sevenoaks the same
evening.
At Sevenoaks the Battalion was billeted in the St. John’s end of the
town, in empty houses, which, like the railway waiting rooms, were
totally devoid of beds or furniture of any kind. The absence of any
large buildings or halls suitable for drill, recreation or social
purposes, in the area allotted to the Battalion, was also noticeable,
and hardly conducive to comfort or efficiency.
The time at Sevenoaks was devoted to Battalion training, various areas
for this purpose being allotted in turn to the Battalions forming the
Brigade, amongst these being Knole Park, The Wilderness, Chevening
Park, etc.
Musketry parties from time to time proceeded to Sandwich, Sittingbourne
and Shoreham. The Battalion was also called upon to furnish a guard
for the T.N.T. Store, which had been established in the caves at
Chislehurst, and a visit of inspection to this guard invariably
disclosed something of fresh interest.
Christmas, 1914, found half the Battalion still at Sevenoaks, and half
at Sandwich for musketry, and, though some disappointment was caused
at first by the edict that no Christmas leave was to be granted, all
pulled together to make the best of the circumstances, and, with the
kind and generous assistance of friends at home and newly made friends,
the day passed off most successfully.
On the 22nd February, 1915, the billets of the Battalion being required
for the accommodation of a Battalion of the New Army which was passing
through Sevenoaks, the Battalion moved to Margate, where, on its
arrival, it was received officially by the Mayor and Corporation, and
proceeded to billets in excellent and well furnished houses at the
Westcliff end of the town. During the time the Battalion remained in
Margate, every kindness was extended to its members, and the visit will
always be looked back upon by those who were fortunate enough to share
in it (the guard at Chislehurst and the Musketry Party at Shoreham
missed it) as a pleasant interlude in the hardships of training for
war; the only regret connected therewith being the brevity of its
duration.
On the 28th February the Battalion returned to Sevenoaks, only to
receive orders on the 1st March to proceed to Tonbridge before 11 a.m.
on the day following. During the period at Sevenoaks many warnings of
a sudden move, including one to the East Coast for immediate service
after the bombardment of Scarborough, which arrived just as the
Battalion returned from a twenty miles march, reached the Battalion.
Although none of these materialized, they naturally caused uneasiness
at the time.
The Battalion left Sevenoaks at 10.30 a.m. on March 2nd, and proceeded
by road to Tonbridge, arriving about 1 p.m. At Tonbridge the Battalion
occupied billets at the south end of the town, and was stationed
here until April 18th, the time being devoted to Battalion training.
As, however, it was called upon to furnish guards at Dungeness,
Birling Gap and Cuckmere Haven, in addition to that already provided
at Chislehurst, the strength was considerably diminished, and there
was little opportunity for the Battalion to assemble as a complete
unit. In spite of this, steady progress was made in the training,
and frequent route marches with full equipment, combined with night
operations at intervals, contributed towards the hardening of the men,
who were rapidly getting into first-class fighting form. Games were not
neglected, and, on Easter Monday, most successful Athletic Sports were
held on the grounds of the Tonbridge School, very kindly placed at the
disposal of the Battalion for the occasion.
On the 14th April warning was received that the Battalion was shortly
to move to Bedford to join a Lancashire Brigade in the 51st (Highland)
Division, and to proceed overseas with that Division at an early date.
The Battalion left Tonbridge at 5.55 a.m. on April 18th, and arrived at
Bedford at 9.20 a.m., its arrival creating a most favourable impression.
At Bedford the time was chiefly occupied in handing in old clothing and
equipment, and receiving and fitting new. This exchange included new
transport--both animals and vehicles--the mixed assortment which had so
far served the purpose, together with a large assortment of antiquated
and superfluous stores of every variety, having been left behind at
Tonbridge.
The long period of training at home came to an end on the 3rd May,
1915, and in the afternoon of that day the Battalion left Bedford to
join the British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front.
During this early period of the war, various problems as to how to
obtain a sufficient number of men to send overseas and to retain an
adequate number to carry on the work in munition factories, seemed to
be perplexing the minds of the authorities, the uncertainty as to the
right course to adopt having anything but a beneficial effect either on
recruiting or training.
At first, returns were called for asking for the number of men willing
to transfer from the Territorial Force to the Line Battalions, but
this met with little response. Then returns as to how many men would
volunteer for foreign service with the Line Battalions were called
for, with similar results. Eventually, and happily, it was decided to
ask the Territorial Battalions to volunteer for service overseas as
complete units. This they did practically without exception. At first
each man was given the opportunity of deciding for himself whether
he would serve overseas or be transferred to a second line unit for
service at home, but, later, only men unfit for general service were
posted to the second line.
As regards the men required for munitions, the fact that the Battalion
was drawn from an area in which the Barrow works of Messrs. Vickers
were situated, caused great difficulty in obtaining the necessary
number of men to recruit its ranks up to war strength. In addition
to this, the constant withdrawal of men--chiefly those formerly
employed by Messrs. Vickers--who had already undergone a lengthened
period of training, and of whom several had become efficient N.C.O’s,
was a severe handicap. The result of these conditions was that the
Battalion was not sufficiently up to strength to proceed overseas with
the remainder of the Brigade, the units of which commenced to leave
Sevenoaks during the second week in February, 1915.
This caused much chagrin and disappointment, which was, however,
somewhat mitigated by the confidence in the efficiency of the Battalion
manifested by the higher authorities in entrusting to us so many
onerous and responsible duties and, eventually, sending it overseas
when very considerably under strength, and at a time when the situation
in the war area was extremely tense.
The route was via Folkestone and Boulogne, the transport having
proceeded in advance via Southampton and Havre. The channel was
crossed in the dark, darkness still prevailing on arrival at Boulogne,
and deluges of rain added to the discomforts of disembarkation. The
remaining hours of the night were spent in the camp on the top of
the hill, a wind-swept place where the Indian tents, at that time,
provided poor shelter.
After breakfast the following morning (May 4th), the Battalion started
off down the other side of the hill to the station, and here joined
the train conveying the transport from Havre, speculation as to its
destination being somewhat rife. So far as the railway journey was
concerned the destination proved to be Berguette, from which station
the Battalion marched to Ham-en-Artois, and joined the Brigade.
Here the Battalion had its first experience of close billets in
a foreign land, and those to whom a barn, with some hay or straw
in it, was allotted, considered themselves literally, as well as
metaphorically, in clover.
In these early days of the war everything was exceedingly primitive,
not only with regard to the billets, but also the food and feeding
arrangements. However, stout hearts and good spirits overcame all
difficulties, and the time for which all had been waiting so long,
viz., to get overseas, having at last arrived, the realization of this
ambition caused all hardships and discomforts to be accepted cheerfully.
The Battalion remained at Ham until the evening of May 6th, when it
moved via Busnes, Robecq, and St. Venant, to Calonne-sur-la-Lys, to
form a reserve for the Fromelles show. A long distressing march was
carried out by the Brigade in darkness and rain lasting throughout the
night, during which progress was frequently delayed by other troops at
cross roads, railway crossings, etc.
At Calonne the billets were very similar to those at Ham, the
Headquarters being established in an old Mill House. Whilst here the
Battalion thankfully made acquaintance with the baths improvised for
the troops, and the opportunities offered for a change of clothing.
The members also had their first introduction to Indian Native Troops,
units of the Meerut Division coming in to rest and refit during the
time the Battalion was at Calonne. The town was well within the
sound of the guns at the front, and at night the sky was brilliantly
illuminated by their flashes.
On 13th May the Battalion moved to Meteren (in readiness to proceed
to Ypres), via Merville, Neuf Berguin and Vieux Berguin, taking over
billets from the Canadian Royal Field Artillery. Whilst the Battalion
was in Meteren the first Artillery of the New Army to arrive in France
passed through, and the Horse Show provided thereby provoked the
admiration of all beholders.
May 19th saw the Battalion move southwards once more, through Bailleul
and the two Berguins, to La Gorgue, near Estaires--another long wet
night march. Here it occupied the filthiest billets so far met with.
Large numbers of both officers and men were allotted the buildings,
including the Chapel, of a Convent School, the floors of which were
inches deep in mud, whilst the grounds surrounding the buildings seemed
to have been used for some time as the town refuse tip.
Luckily, another move further south to Locon, was made next day. This
was a much more habitable and congenial spot, where the proximity of
the La Bassee Canal afforded facilities for bathing, and the town of
Bethune, in spite of daily shell fire from the Huns an excuse for a
ride.
The only incident to be recorded during the stay of the Battalion in
Locon was an ear splitting competition between a battery of French
“75’s,” which arrived in the village one evening, and a thunderstorm,
which seemed to resent its presence. The thunderstorm won, and,
incidentally, did considerable damage.
Whilst in Locon one N.C.O. and two men from the Lincolns, with
experience of trench warfare, were attached, as instructors, to each
Company, prior to their going into the trenches at Richebourg L’Avoue.
In later days New Army Battalions were sent into the trenches in
driblets--“opposite numbers”--Platoons and Companies, to mix with
trench troops and become well acquainted with trench duties before
taking over duty as units, but the Territorial Force had no such
preliminary training. The Battalion subsequently had the honour of
initiating several Battalions of the New Army into their duties.
The night of the 24th/25th May, 1915, marked the Battalion’s first
introduction to the trenches. It was allotted a section near the
Ferme-du-Bois, in the neighbourhood of Richebourg L’Avoue, which it
took over in the dark hours of the night, and where it underwent
its baptism of fire with singularly little protection, owing to
the inadequate and dilapidated condition of the trenches. However,
it survived the ordeal with considerable credit, and, luckily, few
casualties, a congratulatory order being issued by the Brigade.
On taking over the trenches at Richebourg L’Avoue, the first duty was
to open up communication with the front line, and turn the parapet of
the recently captured fire trenches round the other way so as to face
the enemy, also to remodel and establish second and third line trenches
and construct communication trenches and dugouts, the existing ones
being simply rivers of mud and quite impassable. When taken over there
were practically no dugouts and the men not actually on duty had to
rest lying in the mud in the trench bottom, not even on duck boards,
these luxuries being few and far between.
The bodies of troops engaged in the last assault lay unburied, and the
collection of identity discs, the burial of the dead, heavy labour at
trench construction, and constant readiness to repel a counter-attack,
heat and overpowering smell in the day, and intense cold at night, and,
withal, a shortage of water, were the first experiences.
During the time of its occupation of these particular trenches, the
Battalion produced a marked improvement in their condition. The only
grievances given vent to by the men were their inability to reply to
the Huns’ game of long bowls, the noise created by the continuous night
firing of the Ghurkas’ Maxim Guns on the left, which disturbed their
rest, and the difficulty of locating snipers.
On the night of May 28th/29th the Battalion was withdrawn from the
trenches to take up its “rest” quarters at the Redout, near Le Touret.
However, owing to the too assiduous attentions of the Huns, who
commenced to shell the place heavily immediately on the Battalion’s
arrival, inflicting a few casualties, a further withdrawal to the
village of Le Touret was made the following morning, and on the 1st
June, still further back to the village of Riez-du-Vinage. Here the
Battalion remained until the night of the 5th/6th June, when it again
proceeded to the trenches.
This time the section allotted was a portion of the old German trench
in the much-fought-over Festubert area, and these, again, were of very
indifferent construction, both as regards their protective value and
the facilities afforded for comfort. The Battalion was here subjected
to several daily bursts of shelling at more or less regular intervals,
the casualties inflicted being mercifully altogether disproportionate
to the amount of ammunition expended.
On June 9th the Battalion found itself once more at Le Touret for a
spell of rest, and on the 10th was moved further back to Cornet Malo,
just as the Huns were getting the range of Le Touret.
It was with much regret that on the 10th June I was compelled to leave
the Battalion and proceed home on sick leave, the command thereof
devolving upon Colonel (then Major) Thompson.
This did not, however, entirely sever my connection with the Battalion
as, upon recovering my health, I assumed command of the 3rd/4th
Battalion at Blackpool on 13th December, 1915. This Battalion proceeded
to Oswestry on 19th April, 1916, and subsequently (having absorbed the
3rd/5th Battalion) became the 4th Reserve Battalion in which--during
my period of command--approximately 250 officers and 4,500 other ranks
were trained and despatched in drafts to units serving overseas; the
majority joining my old Battalion, the writing of the further history
of which I am content to leave in the able hands of one who continued
to serve with it.
WALTER F. A. WADHAM.
_13th November_, 1935.
FOREWORD TO PART II
_The task of writing the following pages has fallen to me. Now
that the duty has come my way, I have done my best, after a lapse of
more than fifteen years, with the material available, and am aware
of many omissions and imperfections. These have been kept as few as
possible._
_The record is written primarily for friends in the Battalion. No
literary merit is claimed, and should the book fall into the hands
of the general reader, his indulgence in this respect is solicited.
It has been pleasant labour (bearing in mind our glorious dead), and
up to May, 1917, when I left the Battalion, I am not dissatisfied
with the result. From that time onwards is another matter. I was
reluctant to attempt a story in which I was a non-participant, and
used every means to get this part written by someone more qualified
for the task. I was unsuccessful, and it became a question of the
record remaining unwritten, or myself making the most of the position
as it stood. Fortunately, powerful support was at hand in the person
of Lieut.-Colonel R. Gardner, M.C., who served with the Battalion
throughout, and, towards the end of the war, attained Command. This
Officer has edited, and largely re-written, considerable sections
relating to this later period. More would have been warmly welcomed
(especially dealing with the remarkable stand of the Battalion at
Givenchy), but he is a busy man, and scholastic duties intervened. My
very real thanks are due to Colonel Gardner._
_Major N. E. Barnes, T.D., Major W. G. Pearson and Captain P. W.
Powell, M.C., have been helpful, and I have drawn gratefully on Captain
R. B. Ross’ charming book, “The Fifty-First in France.” (Hodder &
Stoughton). Acknowledgement is due to the courtesy and assistance
given by the Committee of Imperial Defence, the War Office, and
Lieut.-Colonel R. J. Brook, C.B.E., D.S.O., the Officer Commanding 4th
Battalion The King’s Own Royal Regiment._
JAMES CROSSLEY.
_Ulverston_,
_December_, 1935.
1/4th BATTALION THE KING’S OWN
(ROYAL LANCASTER REGIMENT)
AND THE GREAT WAR
_This narrative commences on the 10th June, 1915, the date on which
Lieut.-Colonel Wadham’s notes entitled “Early Days” ends._