there the real impact of the German army fell upon two Brigades of
the British. It was true that the British had fallen back from the
defence of a peninsular sweep of the canal, which created "a dangerous
salient" regarded from the outset as tactically indefensible; but,
when the British Commander-in-Chief received from the French the
fateful telegram which compelled his retirement, the battle was in a
state in which it was difficult to say who had won and who had lost.
The outstanding incidents in the masterly-conducted retreat were
finely told--the forced marches of the fatigued troops, "who had the
depression of defeat without understanding why they had to retire";
the heroic rearguard actions fought, notably by the Cheshires, the
Gordons, and the Munsters; the saving of the guns by the 9th Lancers;
the hopeless odds which General Smith-Dorrien encountered of three
to one in men and six to one in artillery, and the dauntless defence
by the remnant of L Battery. It was one of the misfortunes of a
widespread action, he said, that it was very difficult to keep in
touch with all units; they never knew what might become of their
messengers. Three times in the course of the Mons retreat, first in
the case of the Cheshires, then the Gordons, and thirdly the Munsters,
regiments were left without orders. Messengers were shot down, and
orders to retire never reached these gallant units, which fought
on and on, long after their comrades had retired, until, utterly
exhausted in strength and material, the remnants had to surrender. If
ever in the world surrender was justifiable, he remarked, it was under
these circumstances. In the case of the Cheshires, the Gordons, and
the Munsters, the same thing happened, showing that great attention
should be paid to the point as to how far troops lying at a distance
should be notified as to what was going on.
LETTER FROM LIEUTENANT-COLONEL G. J. RYAN D.S.O., TO A FRIEND
Yes, disaster again, eight of our best officers, including those
you knew--Thomson, Durand, Day, O'Brien and Pemberton--killed while
gallantly leading their men; three others, including the Colonel,
wounded, and two hundred men killed and wounded. A sad story when we
think of those, but a story, too, of bravery and endurance.
I will first tell you briefly what occurred, and then go on to give
details which you will want to hear. The First Division marched at one
hour's notice, at 6.30 p.m., on the night of Sunday, December 20th, lay
down for three hours before dawn, marched out at dawn on 21st, a halt
at 9 a.m. in heavy rain and cold for breakfast, and on again.
The leading Brigade deployed at 2 o'clock for an attack in relief of
the Indian Division. The Third Brigade followed, and were put in first
after 2 p.m., the Welsh Regiment and the Gloucesters, supported by
the Munsters and the South Wales Borderers. By dusk the Munsters were
taken from support, and put out to the right to fill a gap between the
Gloucesters and the next Brigade of the Division.
No food or rest came to the men with nightfall, and all that night was
spent in endeavouring to recover trenches originally held by Indians
from which they had been forced to retire. Before dawn came the order
that all trenches not retaken, originally in British possession, must
be captured, the general attack to continue at 7 a.m.
Still no food or rest for men continually under arms since Sunday
night. By gallant advances, often in the open, under heavy fire, in
swampy, boggy country and drenching rain, the advance continued.
The line was straightened out, but the enemy contested every foot,
and only retired when he saw the attack was serious, to his original
trenches. From that a continuous heavy fire was brought to bear on
exhausted and heavily tried troops, but when night came on Tuesday,
23rd, the Division was firmly established in its lines, and not one
foot of trench has been given up since, nor was a single British
prisoner taken. The Third Brigade had a nasty bit, and the Munsters
worst of all, an open bit, with dykes full of water, old trenches and
bog. The attack began at 7, and by 9 they came under a wicked fire. The
men went gamely on, most splendidly led by their officers, but it was
no good. Officer after officer was killed, and the companies, pinned
to the ground by fire, split up and extended. There they lay all day.
Night came, no orders--not a man back, except some wounded who trickled
back. By midnight came the order to get word out to the Munsters to get
their companies to a place of safety and retire. I only got the Colonel
in at 4 a.m., after two search parties had failed to find him. He had
been lying there badly wounded since 10 a.m. the previous day, and so
the companies got back one by one. I will now tell you how it came
about I was not touched myself.
I had been out the whole of the night before with Major Thomson.
He and I insisted we would not go on into nothingness to be cut up
piecemeal. We went out in the dusk towards the enemy's trenches,
made a good line about a thousand yards out, sent back for spades,
dug in, made good, left one company out, and were back about 4 a.m.
and reported to the Colonel, who was in Reserve with the other two
companies; lay down to rest for an hour or so, and the Colonel woke us
saying: "Orders just come; the attack must be continued at 7 a.m., and
all trenches formerly occupied by the Indians must be retaken."
Soon after 6.30 I was just going out with all the rest, and the men
ready to move off, when the Colonel said to me: "Ryan, I am taking
every man out on this show, and nobody quite knows where we are
going or what is in front of us. I have no time to write. You must
go back to Brigade Headquarters, see the General, and arrange about
ammunition and transport. Collect anything you can and report where
and how the Battalion is gone; the whole Brigade attacked, much split
up." I collected six men, all I could find, got back to Brigade
Headquarters, all under fire, reported, and was sent to fetch up
doctor, stretcher bearers, ammunition, food, and stragglers, everything
having disappeared in the furious advance of the previous day and
night. The men were without food or water for 46 hours, except what
they had on them. By 11 o'clock I was back at Brigade Headquarters,
reported I had done all I could, that the Regiment had disappeared
into nothingness--not a trace of them--no reports in--heavy firing
everywhere. We were the right regiment of the Brigade, the first
Brigade on our right, and pushed into a gap. I kept my six men and
went out to locate the Battalion by yelling out, using my glasses
and meeting wounded men. I sized up trouble. I went to the Brigadier
and reported. He had no help to give, no men left to put in. I sent
out again, splitting my men into patrols of two each, promised them
anything if they could get to the companies and get reports.
They went out and were back again by 8 o'clock (it was dark at 4) all
of them under fire, with reports. "Very few officers left, companies
lying out under fire, search-lights of the enemy going up, many
casualties, no orders, Colonel wounded, two Senior Majors killed. Send
us orders, please." I reported to the Brigade again, saying something
_must_ be done, for, if still there when daybreak came, not a man would
be left. All this time they were getting no support from any regiment
on their right or left, in a bad gap of bog, and dyke and mud. By 9
a.m. no orders had got to me to try and get them back.
The Brigade people, quite unable to communicate with them themselves,
the rest of the attack hung up by fire, and things looked rotten.
I had collected odds and ends--food, cookers, everything I could--but
at my wit's end to know what to do as I realized only too well the
impossible position the Regiment was in. Wounded came trickling in; to
make matters worse, it was pitch black night and beastly cold, with
heavy rain--not a light or a sign or a road or a path, only dykes,
knee-deep in mud and slime, and always the German rifle fire and ours,
intermittent, and flames shot up like rockets by them.
It was 10 o'clock before the Brigadier's orders got to me to get orders
out to them to retire, and even by then I had not a single unwounded
man left of all the four companies that had gone out at 7 a.m. to show
me where they had got to. Once more I called on my trusty six who had
located them at dusk, and sent them out in three parties, again with
definite orders to come back to me at a certain point where I was alone
but for a few stray men and no officers.
By midnight, to my relief, I got the remnant of the four companies in,
worn out, scattered, and starved, as their officers had fallen and many
men in the advance. All they could do was to follow my guides in. I
fed them and put them away. Result--wounded and some others left out.
I called for volunteers and took a party out with stretchers and got
some in, but we drew a blank for the Colonel and Major Thomson. The
Adjutant had come in not wounded, but dead beat, and could not quite
say where the Colonel was. At 2 a.m., or nearly 3, I think it was, I
went round again and collected the exhausted non-commissioned officers
who had come in, called for volunteers again, put the machine-gun
officer in charge, and said, "Do not come back without the Colonel
and Major Thomson." I had some bad suspense until the party returned
carrying the Colonel wounded and poor Thomson dead. All the rescue work
was done under rifle fire and many wounded brought in. All next day we
could not get more, the ground so swept by fire. At dusk I moved them
to a village 1-1/2 miles in rear of Brigade Reserve. From that day on
we have two companies out of four at a time always in trenches about
one mile from our disaster; eternal sniping and shooting, no one can
move up to the trenches by day. Rain had fallen still, in torrents, the
trenches knee-deep in water. I have had many sick since Christmas Day.
Last night I had three killed in relieving. To-night I took the two
relieving companies up myself, right off the road into bog and dirt,
but off the beaten track, and got the relief through with no loss. The
Colonel is at Boulogne and doing well there. Of the officers the last
two regulars left have knocked up since Christmas and must go home.
I am keeping fit and well, having what I want, responsibility and
command, and have just got to do my best to get officers and men
through, now that the best of our officers are gone. Night and day
are the same, the indoor part spent in the most utterly be-shelled
and ruined village you can imagine, and every other mark a shell or
bullet hole. I had eight of the saddest letters to write home, besides
three others of news of the wounded, but have not had time to write
a full account to anyone but you, and that not until to-night, when
I feel fitter and not so tired, but you will tell all who want to
know--all who care for the Regiment and feel for the losses--all they
may be proud to hear, that the Regiment did all and more than they
could; the officers killed all died most gallantly leading their men,
and the men did all that men could do--played up splendidly. I have
never known men do so much, and I am very proud of them. In a special
order by Sir Douglas Haig he mentioned the Munsters first in order. He
said:--"Seldom have troops so nobly responded to such a test of their
bravery and endurance."
LETTER FROM Q.M.-SERGEANT WAINWRIGHT, 2ND R.M.F. (SINCE PROMOTED 2ND
LIEUTENANT FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE IN THE FIELD), TO COLONEL D. G.
JOHNSTON, LATE R.M.F.
_27th January, 1915._
We were making preparations for spending our Christmas at this place,
and giving the men as good a show as possible. On the evening of the
20th December, at 6 p.m., we received the order to march at 6.15 p.m.
It was a bit of a rush, but in spite of short notice we marched to time.
The night was very cold, and about 10 p.m. it started to rain, which
added very much to the men's discomfort, as the roads were in a fearful
state and over ankle deep in mud; about 2 a.m. on the morning of the
21st December we got a two hours halt and rested in a broken-down
factory as best we could. Marching again at 4 a.m. we kept on the move
until 10 a.m., and were then kept lying about the road soaked to the
skin--as the rain had not ceased since the previous night--waiting
orders to move on. These orders came about 3 p.m., when we found that
we were to go into the trenches.
Early on the morning of the 23rd, the order came that the trenches
which had once been occupied by our troops, and were at this time in
the enemy's hands (having been lost by native troops) were to be taken
at any cost. The attack started at 7 a.m., led by Colonel Bent, Major
Thomson being second in command. The following officers were commanding
companies:--
"A" Company--Captain Woods; "B" Company--Major Day; "C"
Company--Captain Hugh O'Brien; "D" Company--Major Ryan, D.S.O.
The ground to be crossed was very open country, and owing to the heavy
rains a very sea of mud. From this you will understand the task the
Munsters were put to. Two nights and a day with only two hours rest,
and in this case very little food. Add to this the wet and cold, which
was intense.
The attack was carried out, well controlled, and the trenches reached,
but with very heavy loss; eleven officers-- all of whom we could ill
afford to lose--and 240 rank and file.
On the night of the 23rd, about 11.30 p.m., all we could muster were
Major Ryan, one carriage machine-gun officer, and 150 men. Search
parties were organised and sent out. Captain Pakenham was brought in
wounded in three places, Captain Emerson exhausted and frost-bitten.
By dawn on the morning of the 24th all who were left, including
the wounded, were brought into the village, under heavy fire, in a
thoroughly exhausted condition. The communication trench was waist-deep
in water and mud, and some of the poor wounded had to be actually dug
out of this quagmire.
The following day we moved to a different part of the line, and were in
the trenches until the 8th January, when we were relieved for a rest
until the 13th, when we again came up to the trenches, where we are
now hard at it, with not much likelihood of another rest for some days
to come. Since the 13th, up to date 27th, we have lost, including a few
men to hospital, one officer (Major Ryan, D.S.O., shot dead) and 140
men.
On the 25th the enemy made a general attack along the whole of our
line. This was evidently paving the way for the surprise birthday
gift to the Kaiser on the 27th. About 6 a.m. on the 25th the attack
was started with a heavy rifle and machine-gun fire, and then all our
positions were shelled with heavy guns. Under the fire of these the
attack was pressed home, but although some Regiments had to vacate
their trenches owing to force of numbers, counter attacks were made and
the positions re-taken.
You will be glad to hear that in this attack made by the enemy the
_Munsters_ _did not lose an inch_, but hung to their ground in
spite of the heavy cannonade, which lasted some five hours. We were
congratulated by the Brigadier and Sir John French for the splendid
work done, and were fortunate enough to lose very few men, and mostly
slight wounds.
Major King, who is at present commanding, slightly wounded by shrapnel
in the arm, and also two young officers just joined but not belonging
to the Regiment, received slight cuts from shell splinters. Major Ryan
was killed returning from his visit to the trenches about 11 a.m. on
the 23rd. After he was hit he only lived some few minutes, but was
unconscious to the end. He was an officer of exceptional abilities, and
when the news of his death spread everyone in the Brigade, from the
General down, owned to having lost one of the best men here. He never
spared himself for a minute, and was always doing all he could for the
comfort of his men--spending a lot of his time in the trenches among
the men. On returning from one of these visits he was shot.
I have not given you the names of the officers who fell on the 23rd,
as they have already appeared in the _Gazette_. Colonel Bent was hit
in the front line of trenches, also Major Thomson, who fell across the
trench when wounded; he would not allow himself to be moved, but lay
there directing operations until late in the evening, when he was again
hit, this time the wound being fatal. Captain O'Brien was hit first
badly, but turned to his men saying, "Now is your chance to get your
own back, boys." He fell forward and died facing the enemy. Major Day
was also killed leading his men and died fighting to the end.
_6th February, 1915._
I had to stop writing this letter on the 27th January, owing to another
attack on our lines, followed by a counter attack, in which our troops
succeeded in dislodging the enemy, inflicting heavy loss and taking
some ground. Our Brigade was relieved a few days after. We are now in
a village billeted, resting and reorganising. The regiment was again
addressed by the Brigadier yesterday and thanked for their work, and
before going the General said from the look of the men it would hardly
be credited that only a few hours ago they were in the trenches in very
severe weather and trying conditions. It is wonderful to see the great
change a few days' rest works on our men, and they now look fit for
anything.
Major Rickard arrived yesterday, and has taken over command of the
Battalion from Major King of the 4th Battalion.
At present we are having very fine weather, and we all hope it
continues, as it will give the men in the trenches a chance to dry
themselves and make their trenches more inhabitable. The rains have
been so heavy, add to this the sudden bursts of thaw and frost, the
country is like a large jelly, and it is almost impossible to keep
the trenches from falling in, especially under heavy shell fire, and
one has to be constantly throwing back the falling earthy liquid with
scoops and improvised ladles made of old tin biscuit boxes, etc.; yet
in spite of all this hardship the men are in wonderful spirits, and
laugh and joke through it.
OFFICERS IN ACTION AT FESTUBERT
Lieut.-Colonel A. M. Bent, wounded.
Major E. P. Thomson, killed.
Major F. I. Day, killed.
Major G. J. Ryan.
Captain A. Gorham.
Captain G. A. Woods.
Captain H. C. H. O'Brien, killed.
Captain W. Emerson.
Captain R. E. M. Pakenham, died of wounds.
Captain F. W. Durand, killed.
Captain F. W. Grantham.
Captain O. Pemberton, killed.
Lieutenant J. F. O'Brien, killed.
Lieutenant H. H. Lake.
Lieutenant W. E. Molesworth, wounded.
Second Lieutenant C. H. Carrigan.
Second Lieutenant R. A. Young, killed.
Second Lieutenant T. Price.
Second Lieutenant W. J. King, wounded.
Officers not in the action but present with the Battalion at the time:--
Major A. E. King (Regimental Transport Officer).
Lieutenant W. J. Hewett (Temporary Brigade Transport Officer).
Lieutenant P. Devanney (Quartermaster).
TOTAL CASUALTIES
OFFICERS
Killed 8 Wounded 3
N.C.O'S. AND MEN
Killed 21 Wounded 105
Wounded and Missing 5
Missing 61
LETTER FROM SERGEANT-MAJOR RING, 2ND R.M.F., TO COLONEL A. M. BENT,
C.M.G.
The Battalion had about eight miles to march to the trenches, and
the Brigadier rode with Major V. G. H. Rickard at the head, and was
delighted with the men and the high spirits they were in. At 5 a.m.
the artillery started the bombardment, which lasted half an hour, to
cut the wire in front of the Germans' first line. The infantry went
forward to the attack--the Welsh Regiment and ours were the assaulting
Battalions. At 5.30 the assault took place. When the C.O. gave the
order for the attack, every officer and man mounted the parapet with a
cheer. It was really magnificent to see the way they attacked; every
man tried to beat the others to get there first, and were splendidly
led by their officers. Major Rickard was so delighted at the way the
men went about their work that he could not stay, as he had arranged,
to go forward with the second line. He cleared the parapet, but did
not go far, as he was hit by a bullet through the spinal column of
the neck. Death was instantaneous. B Co., led magnificently by
Captain Dick, 5 and 6 Platoons, led by Second Lieutenants Price and
Horsfall, charged and succeeded in reaching the German trenches,
under a hellish fire from artillery and machine-guns. Captain Dick,
as he reached the parapet of the enemy's trenches, turned and waved
his cap, encouraging his men, and then went forward again, and just
as he was about to enter the trench he was hit, and tumbled into the
trench. Another brave officer--his fate is unknown at present. Second
Lieutenants Horsfall and Price, with what was left of the platoons,
cleared the first line of trenches and went to attack the second
line. They were not seen again. A and B Co.'s, who were assaulting,
lost all their officers and N.C.O.'s before covering half the ground.
The supporting companies, C, D, came under a terrible fire, and lost
all their officers and a good many N.C.O.'s, so eventually had to
retire. Out of the two platoons of B Co. who succeeded in doing their
job, only three men came back. The way the Battalion behaved under
the terrible fire directed against them drew words of admiration from
the artillery officers who were observing. We were the only regiment
in the Brigade who succeeded in doing the job we were put to do, but
eventually found ourselves in the same place as we started, with only
three officers left--Captain Filgate (Adjutant), Lieutenant Carrigan,
and Second Lieutenant Harcourt (machine-gun officers). About 12 noon
we were relieved in the first line by the 1st Brigade. Major-General
Haking, Commanding the ---- Division, expressed his appreciation of the
splendid conduct of the Battalion in the following terms: "The G.O.C.,
---- Infantry Brigade.--... I wish you also to convey to the C.O., 2nd
Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers, my appreciation of the fine example
set to the Division by the successful assault of part of the leading
line--a feat of arms which the Battalion must always be proud of, as
this Battalion was the only one in the Brigade whose men succeeded in
storming the enemy's breastworks." For great gallantry and leading, I
think Captain Dick, Second Lieutenants Price and Horsfall, also the
N.C.O.'s and men that followed them, deserve the greatest distinction
going; also, if any one earned a V.C., Sergeant Gannon (machine-gun
sergeant) and Private Barry did. Sergeant Gannon went out several times
and brought wounded men in, also a wounded officer; Private Barry,
although wounded twice, brought in Captain Hawkes, who was severely
wounded in three places and could not move. Poor Barry lost his life,
as he was hit again while bringing in Captain Hawkes, and died from
wounds. Except in a few cases of exceptional gallantry, every man was a
hero, and I hope this time will meet with the recognition they deserve.
The total casualties are as follows (all ranks):--Killed, 46; wounded,
205; missing, 128; total, 379.
EXTRACT FROM LETTER TO MRS. VICTOR RICKARD FROM SERGEANT LOUIS MOORE,
DATED MIDNIGHT, 25TH MAY, 1915
DEAR MADAM,
I have just returned from the trenches, and Captain Filgate told me you
would like me to write you.
Since this terrible war commenced we have had many losses, as you know,
but I do not believe any one has been as severely missed as he has. I
believe Captain Filgate told you all about the funeral, and the spot
where he was buried. I visited the little graveyard yesterday and saw
everything was well. Later I intend to get a photo of it and will send
it on to you. The cross is marked in paint and inscribed--
R. I. P.
VICTOR G. H. RICKARD,
Commanding 2nd Royal Munster Fusiliers,
Killed in action, 09/05/1915.
In case anything should happen to me, I have marked the exact place on
my map. Did Captain Filgate tell you how nice he looked after death? If
not let me tell you. Through all the war I have seen no one who looked
so much at peace. As in life, he looked bonny. I know, and am certain,
that he met his death in friendship with the whole world. That he was
happy at the moment I also know, for when he saw the way our brave men
jumped from the breastworks and started the charge, he was overjoyed.
I am enclosing two pictures. It was quite late when I took them.
However, I know you will like them; they were the last he had taken.
Perhaps you would like to know the names of the officers.