THE GRENADIER GUARDS
IN THE GREAT WAR OF
1914-1918
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MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED
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TORONTO
[Illustration:
_J. S. Sargent portrait_ _Emery Walker ph. sc._
_Field Marshal H.R.H. The Duke of Connaught K.G., G.C.B. &c._
_Colonel of the Regiment_]
THE
GRENADIER GUARDS
IN THE GREAT WAR OF
1914-1918
BY
LIEUT.-COLONEL
THE RIGHT HON. SIR FREDERICK PONSONBY
(LATE GRENADIER GUARDS)
WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY
LIEUT.-GENERAL THE EARL OF CAVAN
_MAPS BY MR. EMERY WALKER_
IN THREE VOLUMES
VOL. II
MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED
ST. MARTIN’S STREET, LONDON
1920
COPYRIGHT
CONTENTS
CHAPTER XVIII
PAGE
JANUARY 1 TO SEPTEMBER 1, 1916 (3RD AND 4TH BATTS.) 1
CHAPTER XIX
THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME (1ST, 2ND, 3RD, AND 4TH BATTS.) 27
CHAPTER XX
OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER 1916 (1ST, 2ND, 3RD, AND
4TH BATTALIONS) 148
CHAPTER XXI
JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH 1917 (1ST, 2ND, 3RD, AND
4TH BATTALIONS) 160
CHAPTER XXII
APRIL, MAY, JUNE, JULY 1917 (1ST, 2ND, 3RD, AND 4TH
BATTALIONS) 174
CHAPTER XXIII
BOESINGHE (1ST, 2ND, 3RD, AND 4TH BATTALIONS) 199
CHAPTER XXIV
AUGUST, SEPTEMBER 1917 (1ST, 2ND, 3RD, AND 4TH BATTS.) 235
CHAPTER XXV
THE CROSSING OF THE BROEMBEEK (1ST, 2ND, 3RD, AND
4TH BATTALIONS) 246
CHAPTER XXVI
CAMBRAI AND GOUZEAUCOURT (1ST, 2ND, 3RD, AND 4TH
BATTALIONS) 266
CHAPTER XXVII
JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH 1918 (1ST, 2ND, 3RD, AND
4TH BATTALIONS) 349
ILLUSTRATIONS
Field-Marshal H.R.H. The Duke of Connaught, K.G.,
G.C.B., etc., Colonel of the Regiment _Frontispiece_
FACING PAGE
Lieutenant-General The Earl of Cavan, K.P., K.C.B. 48
Major-General G. D. Jeffreys, C.M.G. 80
Brigadier-General C. E. Corkran, C.M.G. 112
Inspection of the Guards Division by Field-Marshal
H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught, K.G., November 1, 1916 150
The Grenadier Guards marching in Fours past their
Colonel, Field-Marshal H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught,
K.G., November 1, 1916 159
Brigadier-General G. F. Trotter, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O. 198
MAPS
Battle of the Somme, the evening of September 15, 1916 118
Battle of the Somme, the night of September 25, 1916 138
Boesinghe, July 31, 1917 200
Broembeek, October 10, 1917 246
Attack on Fontaine, November 27, 1917 306
Attack on Gonnelieu and Gauche Wood, December 1, 1917 332
CHAPTER XVIII
JANUARY TO SEPTEMBER 1916
THE 3RD BATTALION
[Sidenote: 3rd Batt. Jan. 1916.]
At the beginning of 1916 the officers of the 3rd Battalion were:
Colonel N. A. L. Corry, D.S.O. Commanding Officer.
Maj. M. E. Makgill-Crichton-Maitland Second in Command.
Capt. O. Lyttelton Adjutant.
Lieut. E. H. J. Wynne Transport.
2nd Lieut. L. St. L. Hermon-Hodge Bombing Officer.
Hon. Lieut. G. H. Wall Quartermaster.
Capt. R. Wolrige-Gordon No. 1 Company.
Lieut. the Hon. H. E. Eaton ” ”
Lieut. G. P. Bowes-Lyon ” ”
Capt. the Hon. R. P. Stanhope No. 2 Company.
2nd Lieut. E. R. M. Fryer ” ”
2nd Lieut. J. F. Worsley ” ”
2nd Lieut. W. Parker ” ”
Capt. G. G. Gunnis No. 3 Company.
Lieut. the Hon. F. O. H. Eaton ” ”
Lieut. F. J. V. B. Hopley ” ”
Capt. E. N. E. M. Vaughan No. 4 Company.
Lieut. the Hon. A. E. F. Yorke ” ”
Lieut. R. Asquith ” ”
2nd Lieut. R. W. Parker ” ”
Lieut. A. T. Logan, R.A.M.C. Medical Officer.
On the 1st the 3rd Battalion marched from Merville to Laventie, and
went into billets vacated by the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards. On the
3rd it took over the left sector from the 1st Battalion Scots Guards,
with the Battalion Headquarters at Wangeric Farm. Forty-eight hours in
the trenches followed by forty-eight hours’ rest was the regular
routine for the next fortnight. The trenches in this sector were in a
very good state, and it was possible, therefore, to go in for
refinements and erect splinter-proof shelters; but the enemy’s
artillery was very active, and expended a great deal of ammunition on
the reserve trenches and communications. During this fortnight a troop
of Wiltshire Yeomanry was attached to the Battalion for instruction,
and did very well although it was quite new to trench warfare. On the
12th Colonel Corry relinquished command of the Battalion, and on the
14th Lieut.-Colonel Jeffreys took charge of it temporarily, pending
the arrival of Major Sergison-Brooke.
On the 14th the Battalion marched back to La Gorgue, where it remained
in billets for ten days, after which it returned to Laventie. Great
activity was noticeable behind the enemy’s lines, and as this might be
the prelude to an attack every precaution was taken. There seemed some
possibility of a gas attack, and special warnings were conveyed to
each company, but although the enemy’s artillery shelled the strong
points in our line, Elgin Post, Fauquissart Cross Roads, and
Hougoumont Post, no infantry attack was made by the enemy.
[Sidenote: Feb.]
On February 1 the 3rd Battalion proceeded to Merville, where it
remained until the 7th, when it marched to Riez Bailleul. The usual
routine of two days in and two days out of the trenches was observed
until the 16th, when it was relieved by the 9th Battalion Royal Welsh
Fusiliers, and marched back to La Gorgue. The only incident worth
recording during this tour of duty in the trenches was an unfortunate
accident that happened to Lieutenant R. W. Parker. He was returning
with a patrol early in the morning, and as he came in over the parapet
he slipped, and fell on a bayonet which penetrated his leg below the
knee. On the 17th Lieutenant W. Champneys and Second Lieutenant G. D.
Jackson arrived, and on the 19th the Battalion marched to Eecke. The
following day it proceeded to Wormhoudt, where it remained for two
days, and then marched to Poperinghe.
[Sidenote: March.]
Major-General G. Feilding gave a lecture to the officers on March 1,
and impressed on them the importance of making the line north of Hooge
strong and defensible, since it was the left flank of the whole
British line. This could be done only by ingenious concealment of any
new work and by unremitting efforts of all ranks. He added that, if
the enemy concentrated opposite the Ypres salient, a withdrawal would
be made to the Canal line. Any ground that could not be held against
the enemy’s artillery fire would be defended by strong points and
machine-guns concealed in natural features, and placed apart from
entrenchments and other works.
On the 5th the 3rd Battalion proceeded to Calais, and marched to Camp
Beaumarais, where it remained until the 18th. Here a most unfortunate
bombing accident occurred. No. 4 Company bombers were practising under
Lieutenant L. Hermon-Hodge behind a thick sand-bag wall, when a bomb
exploded prematurely on leaving the thrower’s hand. Five men were
killed and sixteen wounded in addition to Lieutenant Hermon-Hodge
himself, who received fragments of the bomb in his right arm. On the
18th the 3rd Battalion left Calais, and went by train to Cassel, where
it detrained and marched to Oudezeele.
On the 26th it reached the Ypres salient, and went into the support
trenches. Lieut.-Colonel Sergison-Brooke was on leave, and the
Battalion was commanded by Major Maitland. Special precautions with
regard to gas were taken, and on the wind becoming favourable it was
arranged that the Brigade would send the message “Gas alert,” when all
sentries would be doubled, and men would be placed at the entrance of
each dug-out to give the alarm. Warnings were also issued with regard
to the aeroplanes, which required careful watching, since the enemy in
that sector was very active, and if any movement was seen on the Canal
bank or in the town shelling immediately began. During the sixteen
days the Battalion spent at Ypres there were a certain number of
casualties, and the number of sick increased slightly.
On the 30th the 3rd Battalion had to relieve the Scots Guards under
very trying conditions, for not only was the front line being shelled,
but the communication trenches were also included in the bombardment.
The three leading companies succeeded in reaching the front line
without casualties, but No. 2, under Captain Stanhope, came under
shrapnel fire as it passed through Potidje, and had seven casualties.
Communication between the Battalion Headquarters and the companies was
cut, and there was considerable difficulty in transmitting the orders.
The leading companies, which were ordered to hold from Duke Street to
Roulers railway, found the front trenches devastated and swept by
shrapnel fired both frontally and obliquely from Pilkem and Belleward
ridge. The 1st Battalion Scots Guards had suffered considerably and
was in great difficulties, as communication along the front line was
impossible under cover. Men were cut off from the remainder of their
company and were covered with mud and debris, some even being buried.
Relieving a battalion under such conditions required time, and it was
not till 4 A.M. that the relief was complete.
In view of the probability of an attack while the relief was being
carried out, three batteries of 18-pounder guns were ordered to put
down a barrage on the German front line. This proved to be a great
help, and no doubt prevented the 3rd Battalion from suffering as heavy
losses as the Scots Guards. There were in all five men killed and
sixteen wounded, in addition to Captain R. Wolrige-Gordon, whose leg
was grazed by a bullet. The front line was wrecked, but by placing men
in the wreckage under what cover there was the trench was made
defensible. The enemy, however, showed no signs of life, and the
following days were quiet. Meanwhile it was found difficult to drain
the trenches, which were in a very dilapidated condition after the
bombardment. The whole ground was cut up, and water stood in the
shell-holes, while the wooden revetments had been torn to pieces and
buried beneath the parapets and parados. The work of clearing away the
debris was necessarily slow, and the water could not be got rid of in
spite of the good fall in the ground towards Belleward Beer. At first
it was impossible to go down the front line for more than a few yards,
but after two days’ hard work the trench was so far improved that men
could crawl along it, although not without difficulty. On April 3,
instead of returning to Ypres, the 3rd Battalion went into camp just
west of Vlamertinghe.
[Sidenote: April.]
The officers of the 3rd Battalion at that time were:
Lieut.-Colonel B. N. Sergison-Brooke Commanding Officer.
Maj. M. E. Makgill-Crichton-Maitland Second in Command.
Capt. O. Lyttelton Adjutant.
Lieut. E. H. J. Wynne Transport Officer.
Lieut. G. H. Wall Quartermaster.
Lieut. the Hon. H. E. Eaton No. 1 Company.
Lieut. G. P. Bowes-Lyon ” ”
Captain the Hon. R. P. Stanhope. No. 2 Company.
Lieut. J. F. Worsley ” ”
Lieut. E. R. M. Fryer ” ”
2nd Lieut. R. W. Parker ” ”
Capt. E. S. Ward No. 3 Company.
Lieut. F. J. V. B. Hopley ” ”
Lieut. the Hon. F. O. H. Eaton ” ”
Lieut. W. Champneys ” ”
Capt. E. N. E. M. Vaughan No. 4 Company.
2nd Lieut. G. D. Jackson ” ”
Capt. G. G. Gunnis Bombing Officer.
Lieut. the Hon. A. E. F. Yorke Lewis Gun Officer.
Monsieur Minne Belgian Interpreter.
_Attached_――Capt. A. T. Logan, R.A.M.C.
After four days’ rest the 3rd Battalion returned to the same line of
trenches it had occupied before, and found them worse than ever. The
Scots Guards who had been there had again been subjected to a severe
bombardment, and all the work that had been done was now obliterated.
On the 4th Lieutenant Worsley left to take up his appointment as
Trench Mortar Officer. The four days spent in the trenches proved to
be very quiet, as the Germans seemed to have expended all their shells
on the Scots Guards, and nothing of any interest occurred. On the 11th
the Battalion moved to Poperinghe, where most unfortunately four men
were killed and two wounded whilst unloading the officers’ kits. On
the 12th Captain Wolrige-Gordon rejoined, his wound not having proved
very serious, and Second Lieutenant M. Thrupp arrived. Two days later
Captain A. K. Mackenzie, Captain W. A. L. Stewart, and Second
Lieutenant F. J. Heasman joined the Battalion.
The system of reliefs was changed at this time in order to avoid the
inconvenience of two brigades relieving on the same night. The tour of
duty was divided as follows: five days at Ypres, five days in the
front line, three days at Camp B, three days in the front line. On the
18th the 3rd Battalion moved up into Ypres, and went into support
trenches. The men were provided with steel helmets, and left their
service caps with the transport and their unnecessary kit in sand-bags
at the prison. On the 24th they relieved the 1st Battalion Scots
Guards in the front line, where the trenches proved to be fairly good,
although there was still a lot of water standing everywhere. As the
ground was so much cut up, the draining of the trenches was not easy;
and since any movement during the day was impossible, all the work had
to be done at night. Lieutenant Thrupp was knocked down by a shell
during these operations, but was fortunately unhurt, and there were a
few casualties every day. On the 29th the 3rd Battalion was relieved
by the 1st Battalion Scots Guards, and retired to B Camp near
Vlamertinghe.
[Sidenote: May.]
On May 1 Second Lieutenant M. Duquenoy arrived, and was appointed
Transport Officer. The Battalion returned to the trenches on the 2nd,
when the relief was carried out in most favourable circumstances. The
three days in the front line were uneventful, although the patrols
reported great activity in the enemy’s lines, and the time was spent
in draining operations and in wiring and repairing the parapet. A good
many high-explosive shells were sent over by the enemy’s artillery,
which became fairly active during the third day, but the casualties
were few. On the 5th the Battalion was relieved, and went by train to
Poperinghe where it went into billets, but it was by no means free
from shell-fire, as the German artillery periodically bombarded the
town.
After a week’s rest it returned to Ypres, and was employed on nightly
fatigues, carrying wood for mining parties and wiring the support
lines. On the night of the 16th it returned to the trenches from Duke
Street to Roulers railway, and came in for a good deal of shelling,
chiefly behind the lines. The usual work was continued, but forty
yards of the line had been completely blown in, and accordingly the
trench had to be re-dug. On the 21st the Battalion returned to
Poperinghe after having been relieved by the 10th Battalion Rifle
Brigade, and marched to Camp N, where it remained till the end of the
month.
[Sidenote: June.]
On June 1 the 2nd Guards Brigade proceeded to Volckerinchove, where it
marched past Lieut.-General Lord Cavan, the Corps Commander, and
Major-General G. Feilding, the Divisional Commander. In order to try a
new method of attack, a complete representation to scale of the German
trenches revetted with sand-bags was constructed, while the British
line was also roughly indicated. The assault on the German trenches
was then practised on the following lines: the assault was to take
place in five waves, the fifth wave being a carrying company, provided
by a battalion other than the actual assaulting battalion. The two
leading companies were to assault in two waves, the second following
about fifty yards in rear of the first. These two waves were to cross
the German front-line trench without getting into it, and push on to
the objective, roughly speaking, the German third line. The third wave
was to pass over the German front line and take the German second
line, which was to be consolidated. The fourth wave was to take and
consolidate the German front line. Strong bombing parties were to be
placed on both flanks of all companies, with centre bombing parties
dispersed roughly opposite the German communication trenches. Bombing
parties of the two leading waves were to establish blocks in the
German communication trenches, while the bombing parties of the rear
waves were to clear the communication trenches forward and get into
touch with the two leading waves. All the men were to carry two Mills
grenades and four sand-bags, tucked through the web equipment in
front, and every third man was to carry a shovel slung. The R.E.
material and trench-mortar ammunition was to be carried by the fifth
wave. At night the men were to carry Roman candles to show the
position of the waves. All the battalions in the Brigade carried out
this form of attack, and when they had mastered the new features it
was practised by the Brigade.
On the 14th the 3rd Battalion moved to Vlamertinghe in motor lorries
to relieve the 9th Canadian Battalion, which had suffered heavy
losses, and remained there for three days, with one company at Ypres
and three companies at the west end of Zillebeke Lake. On the night of
the 18th it took over from the 1st Battalion Scots Guards the front
trenches in Sanctuary Wood, and found the whole ground much cut about
by shell-fire. The wire, which the Germans had put up whilst in
occupation of the old British front line, combined with the natural
obstacles, such as fallen trees and debris, made any approach on the
part of the enemy very difficult. Reconnaissance proved that the
Germans had withdrawn to their original front line, leaving the old
British line full of dead, equipment, and ammunition. Over 350 rifles
and a large quantity of ammunition were thus collected. Both on the
19th and 20th the Battalion was subjected to heavy shelling, and even
during the relief suffered casualties, among whom was Lieut, the Hon.
H. E. Eaton who was wounded. After a week’s rest in Camp D, the
Battalion took over the left reserve sub-sector, at the junction of
the British and French armies on the Yser Canal, where it remained for
three days, and on the night of the 30th it went up again into the
front line.
[Sidenote: July.]
During the three days the Battalion was in these trenches there was a
great deal of activity on the part of the artillery on both sides.
Preparation was being made on our side for an attack by the Welsh
Guards on Morteloje Estaminet, while the enemy replied by laying down
a heavy barrage over our communication trenches; but as the men had
been withdrawn from the first trench the casualties of the 3rd
Battalion were not heavy. On the 3rd the Battalion withdrew into
support by the Canal bank, and returned again to the front line on the
8th. On the 7th Major Maitland left to take command of the 1st
Battalion, and on the 9th Second Lieutenant W. W. S. C. Neville
arrived. On the 12th the Battalion retired to the Canal bank, and
three days later proceeded to Camp E, where it remained for ten days.
On the 25th it proceeded to Volckerinchove, and left the Ypres area.
On the 31st it moved down to Le Souich, where it was employed for a
week in digging for another Division.
[Sidenote: Aug.]
On August 3 Lieutenant G. F. R. Hirst and Lieutenant W. A. Stainton
joined the Battalion, and on the 6th Second Lieutenant A. H. Penfold
and Second Lieutenant H. St. J. Williams arrived. On the 9th His
Majesty the King paid an informal visit to the 2nd Brigade, but there
was no actual inspection or parade. On the 13th the Battalion went up
into the trenches in front of Bertrancourt, and beyond the usual
amount of shelling nothing of interest occurred. On the 15th
Lieutenant C. G. Gardner and Second Lieutenant G. M. Cornish joined
the Battalion. Two days later the Battalion went into camp at
Sailly-au-Bois, where it was packed rather closely together; and when
the enemy began shelling that locality it had to be taken out of the
camp and placed in artillery formation in the fields in rear. The
remainder of the month was spent in training, during which the
Battalion was encamped at Bus-les-Artois, Amplier Naours, and finally
Morlancourt.
THE 4TH BATTALION
[Sidenote: 4th Batt. Jan. 1.]
The officers of the 4th Battalion on January 1, 1916, were:
Lieut.-Colonel Lord Henry Seymour Commanding Officer.
Capt. J. A. Morrison Second in Command.
Capt. H. S. Lambert Adjutant.
2nd Lieut. H. H. Sloane-Stanley Bombing Officer.
2nd Lieut. M. Chapman Lewis Guns.
Lieut. I. H. Ingleby Transport Officer.
Lieut. E. Ludlow Quartermaster.
Capt. C. L. Blundell-Hollinshead-Blundell No. 1 Company.
2nd Lieut. F. G. Bonham-Carter ” ”
2nd Lieut. B. Burman ” ”
Capt. C. R. Britten No. 2 Company.
Lieut. F. C. Lyon ” ”
2nd Lieut. C. G. Keith ” ”
Capt. Sir R. Filmer, Bart. No. 3 Company.
Lieut. B. C. Layton ” ”
2nd Lieut. G. C. Sloane-Stanley ” ”
2nd Lieut. E. W. Nairn ” ”
Capt. F. O. S. Sitwell No. 4 Company.
Lieut, the Hon. E. W. Tennant ” ”
2nd Lieut. D. O. Constable ” ”
_Attached_――Capt. W. Hilton-Parry, R.A.M.C.
The 4th Battalion began the new year in billets at Merville, where it
remained till the 13th, doing steady drill, route marching, Lewis gun
and bombing practice. On the 1st, Second Lieutenant B. Burman, Second
Lieutenant C. G. Keith, and Second Lieutenant D. O. Constable joined
the Battalion.
On the 13th it moved up to the trenches in front of Laventie, and
relieved the 2nd Battalion Irish Guards. There it remained for a
fortnight, spending two days in the trenches, followed by two days in
support billets. In the line it occupied were certain strong points, A
1 Redoubt, Flank Post, and Firework Post, and these were subjected
daily to a systematic shelling from the German artillery. Beyond a few
casualties, nothing of importance occurred until the 25th, when
Captain Sir Robert Filmer was mortally wounded. He had just left the
trenches when he found he had lost his glasses. Being very
short-sighted, he determined to go back and look for them, although he
was warned that the road was being heavily shelled at the time. With
that supreme contempt for all shells that had characterised his whole
conduct since he came out, he rode back when a shell burst close to
him, killing his horse and wounding him so severely that he died the
next day.
[Sidenote: Feb.]
On the 27th the 4th Battalion returned to billets at Merville for four
days, and on the 1st of February took over the Red House line at
Laventie, where it remained until the 15th, retiring into support
billets every two days. Numerous patrols lay out each night in the
hopes of capturing prisoners, but these ventures were not attended
with any success, and no prisoners were secured. Heavy shelling of the
front line of trenches continued daily, but although considerable
damage was done to the parapet the casualties were few. On the 12th
the enemy shelled Dead End Post, and burnt it to the ground. There
were fortunately no men killed or wounded, but all the rifles, S.A.A.,
bombs, and rations were destroyed. The same night Captain Layton sent
out one N.C.O. and four men, with two R.E. men carrying a Bangalore
torpedo, which was placed under the German wire, with its nose against
the enemy’s parapet. After the party had returned in safety the
torpedo was successfully exploded by means of an electric cable, and
our patrols later reported extensive damage to the enemy’s parapet.
On the 15th the 4th Battalion returned to billets at Merville, and the
next day entrained at Lestrem for Calais. On arrival at Calais it
marched to a camp at Le Beaumarais, where the Y.M.C.A. had hot drinks
and cakes ready. The sea air for which the men had come was somewhat
powerful when they arrived, as it was blowing a gale, and most of the
tents were laid flat. In fact, the whole time they were there the
weather was bad, with heavy snow and hail storms, which made camp life
unpleasant. On the 23rd forty-three officers of the 1st and 4th
Battalions dined together, and invited General Heyworth to join them.
On the 26th the Battalion went by train to Cassel, where it detrained
and marched to Herzeele. A great deal of snow had fallen, and the
roads were in a very bad state, which made it difficult for the
transport to move with any rapidity. The men were billeted in farms
round about, and, although very much scattered, the billets were good.
A new system of parchments, in recognition of good work done by
N.C.O.’s and men in the Division, was instituted. These were signed by
the Major-General commanding the Division and issued to the men, but
as there was every danger of their being lost if carried about, they
were re-collected, and sent through the Regimental Orderly Room to the
men’s relatives. The infinitesimal number of decorations allotted to
each battalion necessitated some other means of recognising
conspicuous services, and although it could hardly be said that these
parchments in any way compensated for the lack of decoration, they at
least gave the man the satisfaction of knowing that his services had
been brought to the notice of the Major-General.
[Sidenote: March.]
After spending a fortnight at Herzeele the 4th Battalion moved to a
camp of huts and tents near Poperinghe on March 6. A digging party 250
strong, under Captain Blundell, was sent on to work at Ypres, and
remained there for three days. On the 15th the whole battalion went by
train to Ypres, where it went into dug-outs, and on the following day
took over the line of trenches with its right 200 yards north of the
Menin road, and its left on the Roulers railway by Railway Wood. There
it remained until the 27th, retiring every four days into dug-outs at
Ypres, and although it became a mere target for the German artillery,
it had only nineteen casualties in its first four days in the
trenches.
On the 23rd the following officers joined the Battalion: Lieutenant C.
G. Goschen, Second Lieutenant A. F. Newey, Lieutenant M. F. H.
Payne-Gallwey, and Second Lieutenant J. P. Bibby. On the 24th Second
Lieutenant B. G. H. Maclear rendered a very good patrol report, and on
the information he gained a further reconnaissance under his guidance
was sent out the next day, to be followed, if successful, by a bombing
raid. The patrol was unfortunately seen by the enemy, and a hot fire
was opened on them all down the line. This completely precluded all
possibility of surprise, and consequently the enterprise was
abandoned. That evening the German artillery heavily shelled the
Canadian trenches on the right, and inflicted considerable damage. On
the 27th the Battalion returned to Poperinghe, where the men washed in
the Corps baths, and received clean underclothing.
The officers of the 4th Battalion at that time were:
[Sidenote: April.]
Lieut.-Colonel Lord Henry Seymour Commanding Officer.
Major J. A. Morrison Second in Command.
Capt. R. S. Lambert Adjutant.
Lieut. H. H. Sloane-Stanley Bombing Officer.
Lieut. M. Chapman Lewis Gun Officer.
Lieut. I. H. Ingleby Transport Officer.
Lieut. E. Ludlow Quartermaster.
Capt. C. L. Blundell-Hollinshead-Blundell No. 1 Company.
2nd Lieut. B. Burman ” ”
2nd Lieut. A. F. Newey ” ”
Lieut. C. G. Goschen No. 2 Company.
2nd Lieut. C. G. Keith ” ”
2nd Lieut. B. G. H. Maclear ” ”
Capt. B. C. Layton No. 3 Company.
Lieut. G. C. Sloane-Stanley ” ”
Lieut. M. F. H. Payne-Gallwey ” ”
Lieut. E. W. Nairn ” ”
Capt. F. O. S. Sitwell No. 4 Company.
Lieut. the Hon. E. W. Tennant ” ”
2nd Lieut. D. O. Constable. ” ”
2nd Lieut. J. P. Bibby ” ”
On April 3 the 4th Battalion moved to Camp B at Vlamertinghe by
companies, and on the 8th returned to the trenches, relieving the 1st
Battalion Grenadiers as right battalion of the left sector of the
Division. There it remained until the 20th, placing two companies at a
time in the front line. There was a great deal of work to be done in
strengthening and heightening the parapet, which in some parts was in
a lamentable condition. On the 17th Second Lieutenant M. H. Ponsonby
and Second Lieutenant R. A. Gault arrived. The enemy was very active
in this sector, and frequent raids occurred. On the 19th the German
artillery began a systematic bombardment of our first and second lines
by way of a barrage, while they launched an attack somewhat to the
left of the line occupied by the 4th Battalion. At first this attack
hardly seemed to affect Nos. 2 and 3 Companies, which were at that
time in the front trenches, but when a message arrived from the
Brigade-Major to the effect that the enemy had occupied Wieltje in
front of the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards, which had held it lightly, it
was clear that something had to be done. It afterwards turned out that
the enemy had made a determined attack on the Sixth Division, and had
taken 600 yards of trench, while a raiding party had got down the
trench occupied by the Scots Guards. Lieutenant C. G. Goschen, who was
an old hand at this type of fighting, at once sent a strong patrol,
under Second Lieutenant Maclear, up the trench to the left to clear up
the situation, and if necessary support the Scots Guards. This
manœuvre proved eminently successful, and, in spite of the bombs which
rained on them the party of Grenadiers carried all before them. In the
meantime the Scots Guards ejected all the Germans who had succeeded in
penetrating into their trench. There was necessarily some very stiff
fighting, but although there were 3 men killed and 24 wounded, of whom
3 died later, the party returned with no men missing. Lieut.-Colonel
Lord Henry Seymour afterwards attributed the success of the operation
to the coolness and resource displayed by Second Lieutenant Maclear,
Lieutenant Goschen, and Captain Blundell. He also praised the marked
ability shown by Second Lieutenant Keith and Second Lieutenant
Constable in the control of their men under very difficult
circumstances.
One particularly gallant act was performed that night by Private James
Grundy, who was on duty with his telephone under very heavy fire, when
he suddenly discovered that the wire had been cut by a shell. He at
once went out in the open to mend the wire, although he was only 120
yards from the enemy, and had hardly returned when the wire was cut a
second time. Again, without a moment’s hesitation, he went out to find
where the wire was broken. This time, however, he was severely wounded
as he was engaged in repairing the line, and when rescued was found
still working away in spite of his wounds. Even then he refused to be
taken out of the trench until he had handed over the secret code to an
officer. Shells, bullets, wounds made no difference to him: he had his
duty to do, and he meant to do it. For this act of bravery he was
awarded the D.C.M.
On the 20th the 4th Battalion returned to Vlamertinghe, where it
remained resting for a week, after which it moved up to Ypres, and
took over the right of the right sector at Rifle Farm on the 27th for
four days.
[Sidenote: May.]
The Battalion remained at Ypres until the 15th, taking over various
portions of the line every four days. Nothing of interest occurred
until the night of the 3rd, when it was found that the enemy had
undermined our front line. In order to destroy the enemy’s shaft, our
miners exploded a mine fifteen yards in front of our trenches. The
shock of the explosion was very great, and the crater that was formed
was roughly 200 feet in diameter and 80 to 100 feet deep. The far edge
of the crater was about seventy yards from the enemy’s trenches.
Immediately after the explosion Lieutenant Payne-Gallwey dashed over
with a N.C.O. and ten men, and occupied the far edge of the crater to
form a covering party, while Lieutenant Nairn, with a similar party,
occupied the near edge of the crater, and commenced placing
previously-filled sand-bags in position to form some cover while
digging. Each of these parties took with them long ropes, which proved
of the greatest assistance in keeping the men together and showing the
line along which they were to dig. One man shot in the chest fell
half-way down the crater, and was pulled up with this rope.
While the consolidation of the crater was in progress, Captain Layton
determined to link up the wire entanglements and bring them round in
front of the crater. He despatched another party from his company for
this purpose, and ordered them to report themselves to Lieutenant
Payne-Gallwey, but as the enemy was clearly visible, when the lights
went up, the erection of barbed wire entanglements within seventy
yards of their line was perilous work. The wiring of the crater,
however, was successfully accomplished, although the enemy threw a
quantity of bombs. Fortunately most of them pitched short, but seven
casualties occurred from splinters. Meanwhile Lieutenant H. H.
Sloane-Stanley on the right sent out similar wiring and digging
parties from No. 2 Company to join up with No. 3 Company, and the two
parties had got within thirty yards of each other when they were
discovered by the Germans, and a storm of bullets from the enemy’s
machine-guns put an end to the work. The trench between the two
companies had, however, been finished, and as there was no immediate
hurry about the wire, the parties were withdrawn.
General Heyworth the next day, in a letter reporting the incident,
wrote:
I personally inspected the crater this morning and was
enabled to walk through the trench which was dug, and which
now connects H.17 to H.19. The work done last night reflects
the greatest credit on those officers and men who took part
in it, more especially on the wiring party, who for some
time had to work under the most trying circumstances, as the
Germans turned a machine-gun on them. It was in this party
that all the casualties occurred. The Officer Commanding the
4th Battalion Grenadier Guards must also be congratulated on
the excellent arrangements made. The defence of this
sub-sector has been considerably strengthened by this trench.
This was the last time General Heyworth saw the 4th Battalion, for he
was killed on the 9th whilst going round the trenches of the 1st
Battalion Grenadiers.[1]
On the 18th the 4th Battalion retired to Poperinghe by train, and on
the 19th marched to Wormhoudt, and remained there till the end of the
month, going into the trenches in various parts of the line, where it
was continually under shell-fire, but nothing of interest appears to
have happened.
[Sidenote: June.]
On June 1 the 4th Battalion moved to Poperinghe again, and was
employed on fatigues and digging. On the 5th Second Lieutenant J. B.
M. Burke and Second Lieutenant C. S. Nash arrived, and on the 7th the
Battalion marched to Honbeghem. The next day after a march of fifteen
miles, it moved to Tatinghem, and on the 17th returned to Poperinghe.
These were two long, hot marches, but no man fell out on the line of
march either day. On the 18th the Battalion moved up to the Canal Bank
at Ypres, and then back into the trenches on the right of R sector,
with the Battalion Headquarters at Irish Farm. The line was very much
disconnected, and consisted chiefly of a chain of posts, most of which
were in bad order, while what trenches there were, were mostly
derelict, and required a good deal of work. On the 28th Lieutenant H.
H. Sloane-Stanley took out a patrol with the object of capturing an
enemy post, but it was surprised by one of the enemy’s patrols, which
opened fire on it, wounding every man in the left party of the patrol.
One wounded man was left behind when the party retired, and although
Lieutenant Sloane-Stanley, Lance-Corporal Holland, and Private Heap
returned and searched for him, he was never found.
[Sidenote: July.]
After four very wet days in the trenches the 4th Battalion retired to
Ypres for four days’ rest, and on the 4th returned for two nights to
the trenches. The days spent in the trenches proved uneventful, but on
the 7th a raid was made on a part of the enemy’s line known as the
Canadian Dug-outs. A party under Lieutenant H. H. Sloane-Stanley and
Second Lieutenant D. O. Constable was sent out, and crawled up quite
close to the enemy’s position. Unfortunately the ground was very wet
and muddy, and this made a noiseless advance a matter of some
difficulty. There seems no doubt that the enemy heard it, and took
precautions. The barrage was timed to commence at 1.5 A.M., and this
was to be the signal for the assault. At 1 A.M. the Battery covering
the Twentieth Division on the right opened fire, and the raiding party
mistook this for their barrage. Immediately Lieutenant Sloane-Stanley
and Second Lieutenant D. O. Constable sprang to their feet, and were
about to lead the assault when they found themselves confronted at
fifteen paces by a party of the enemy who opened a sharp fire on them.
Fortunately the shooting was very wild, and only four men were
wounded. The fighting then resolved itself into a bombing and
Lewis-gun contest, but the Grenadiers were well hidden and suffered no
loss. Lieutenant Sloane-Stanley’s orders were not to assault unless it
could be done by surprise, and he therefore decided to withdraw his
party four at a time, covered by the Lewis gunners, who behaved with
great coolness. So successfully did they cover the retreat that the
whole party returned without loss. This raid alarmed the enemy, who
opened a heavy bombardment on our line, during which 4 men were killed
and 18 wounded, in addition to Captain M. Chapman, who was struck by
splinters of a shell in the leg and hand.
On the 8th the Battalion retired to Poperinghe, and on the 10th Second
Lieutenant L. R. Abel-Smith joined the Battalion. The first
anniversary of the formation of the Battalion was celebrated on the
15th in a befitting manner, and a programme suitable for the occasion
was carried out. At the men’s dinners at 12.30 free beer and extra
vegetables were issued. In the afternoon there was a football match
between the right half and left half battalions, followed at 5 P.M. by
a sergeants’ and corporals’ dinner, At 6.15 there was a Battalion
concert, after which the officers had a dinner. Lord Cavan, who
attended the football match, gave away the prizes, and afterwards
addressed the Battalion. He visited the N.C.O.’s at dinner, and made
them a short speech on the work done by the Division, giving especial
praise to the Battalion for its initiative in raids and patrols.
Major-General G. Feilding and Brigadier-General C. Corkran attended
the officers’ dinner.
That night the 4th Battalion moved up again into the line, and became
the right reserve Battalion, Nos. 1 and 2 Companies going into
dug-outs on the canal bank, and Nos. 3 and 4 remaining at Château
Elverdinghe, which was a large and comfortable house with a park and
gardens. The shelling was continuous, and even back at the Château the
shells fell at times in large numbers. On the 19th “a dummy raid” was
carried out with the object of surprising the enemy with artillery
fire when he expected an infantry attack. All the usual preparations
for an attack were gone through, and at 12.30 A.M. our guns, assisted
by the Belgian artillery, opened an intense bombardment for three
minutes on a selected portion of the enemy’s front line, while the
infantry indulged in a rapid fire supplemented by Lewis guns. After
three minutes the fire was lifted on the enemy’s second and third
lines, following the procedure observed when an infantry attack was
about to be launched. It was then hoped that the Germans would come
out of their dug-outs and man their trenches in order to repel the
attack. The artillery at once shortened their range, and gave the
front German trenches a sound shelling. The result of this manœuvre
was of course unknown, but judging by the very feeble reply made by
the enemy, the ruse must have been fairly successful.
Second Lieutenant G. H. T. Paton joined the Battalion on the 23rd, and
Second Lieutenant A. C. Flower on the 24th. Nothing of interest
occurred during the days the Battalion was in the trenches until the
26th, when a party of the enemy raided No. 2 Company trench. About
half-a-dozen Germans suddenly got in over the parapet and bombed a
working party, which was completely taken by surprise. Second
Lieutenant Maclear, hearing the bombing, rushed to the spot, and was
instantly killed by a bomb thrown at close quarters. But the German
occupation of the trench was only momentary, for bombing parties soon
arrived from the right and left, and ejected the raiders, who did not
wait but made their escape as fast as they could in the darkness.
Second Lieutenant Maclear was an officer who could be ill spared, as
he had proved himself to be absolutely fearless and self-reliant, and
his loss was felt by every one in the Battalion. Captain Layton was
hit in the foot during the repulse of the enemy’s raid, and Sergeant
Aiers, senior sergeant of the Battalion, was wounded for the third
time.
[Sidenote: Aug.]
The Guards Division now left the Ypres area and moved down farther
south by easy stages. Having been relieved by the 1st Battalion
Hampshire Regiment, the 4th Battalion Grenadiers marched to
Poperinghe, where they entrained for Bollezeele and then marched to
Millain. During the first fortnight in August they moved _via_
Bollezeele, Millain, Arqueves, Mailly-Mallet to the line of trenches
at Beaumont-Hamel. On the 7th Lieutenant J. F. J. Joicey-Cecil and
Second Lieutenant R. Y. T. Kendall arrived, and on the 18th Captain C.
Mitchell, Lieutenant R. Farquhar, and Second Lieutenant J. W. F.
Selby-Lowndes joined the Battalion. The four days spent in the
trenches at Beaumont-Hamel proved uneventful, although there was a
good deal of shelling in addition to the Minenwerfers. On the 19th the
Battalion started off for the Somme area, but this necessitated going
a long way round by Vauchelles, Gezaincourt, Vignacourt to Ville. Here
it rested for ten days, and on September 8 moved to Carnoy. On August
31 Captain E. G. Spencer-Churchill joined the Battalion.