AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER 1917
_Diary of the War_
[Sidenote: 1917.]
There was much fighting on the British front during these two months.
Early in August the Germans counter-attacked near Ypres, and succeeded
in regaining St. Julien, but only for a short time, for it was retaken
by the British a week later. On the Ypres――Menin road there was fierce
fighting; the British gained some ground north-west of Lens, and also
reached the Bois Hugo. In co-operation with the French they made good
progress in the direction of Langemarck, and crossed the Steenbeek
River. A general offensive east of Ypres was undertaken in September,
and the line was advanced considerably.
The French launched a determined attack at Verdun on an 11-mile front,
and captured several villages.
The Italians advanced in strong force on a 30-mile front from the
Isonzo to the sea, and captured the Austrian front-line trenches
beyond the Piave. They also had successes at Monte Gabriele and Val
Sagana.
The Russian _débâcle_ continued, and the Germans captured Czernowitz
and Riga. General Korniloff, finding that the Army was in a state of
mutiny, marched on Petrograd, apparently with the intention of taking
over the Government of Russia, but his insurrection ended in failure,
and he was forced to submit to the Provisional Government under
Kerensky.
In Mesopotamia Sir Stanley Maude defeated the Turks at Ramadie, and
there was some further fighting in East Africa. China declared war on
the Central Powers.
During these months several air raids were carried out against
England, and not only London but many other towns were severely
bombed.
THE 1ST BATTALION
[Sidenote: 1st Batt. Aug.]
After the operations at Boesinghe the 1st Battalion retired for a few
days’ rest to Forest Area, but returned to the front trenches on
August 5. While it was being relieved by the 3rd Battalion Royal
Fusiliers, Second Lieutenant H. G. Johnson was killed. On the 8th it
proceeded to Putney Camp near Proven, where it remained for four days,
and then moved on to Reinforcement Camp at Herzeele. On the 12th
Captain J. C. B. Grant, R.A.M.C., who had been attached to the
Battalion for over a year, left, and Captain P. H. Wells arrived to
take up the duties of Medical Officer. On the 26th Second Lieutenant
W. A. Fleet joined from the base, and on the 22nd Captain A. T. G.
Rhodes arrived. At the end of the month the Battalion moved to Rugby
Camp in the Bluet Farm Area.
[Sidenote: Sept. 1917.]
On September 1 it went into the line for four days, and came in for a
certain amount of shelling. Second Lieutenant R. H. Carson received a
bad wound in the side from a shell, and although he was carried down
to the dressing-station, where it was at first thought that his wound
was not serious, he died the next day. Second Lieutenant S. Y. P.
Gardner was wounded, and Second Lieutenant W. A. Fleet was gassed. On
September 5 the Battalion entrained at Lunéville Siding for Ondank,
whence it marched to Cariboo Camp. On the 13th it moved to Harrow
Camp, and on the 21st to Purbrook Camp. The following officers joined
during the month: Lieutenant A. A. Moller, Lieutenant J. F.
Tindal-Atkinson, Second Lieutenant F. H. Ennor, Second Lieutenant C.
C. Mays, Second Lieutenant R. Hall-Watt, Lieutenant J. P. Bibby,
Second Lieutenant W. U. Timmis, Lieutenant C. Wilkinson, Second
Lieutenant F. T. Maurice, Lieutenant the Hon. P. P. Cary, Second
Lieutenant J. A. Lloyd.
[Sidenote: Oct.]
The first few days in October were spent by the Battalion at Putney
Camp, and on the 3rd it moved to the Elverdinghe Area, where the
following officers rejoined: Captain Spence, Captain Chamberlain,
Lieutenant Bevan, and Second Lieutenant Timmis.
LIST OF OFFICERS OF THE 1ST BATTALION AT THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER
Lieut.-Colonel M. E. Makgill-Crichton-
Maitland, D.S.O. Commanding Battalion.
Major H. G. C. Viscount Lascelles Second in Command.
Capt. P. J. S. Pearson-Gregory Adjutant.
Lieut. D. H. S. Riddiford Transport Officer.
Capt. and Quartermaster J. Teece, M.C. Quartermaster.
Capt. L. G. Fisher-Rowe, M.C. King’s Company.
Lieut. T. P. M. Bevan, M.C. ” ”
Lieut. L. de J. Harvard ” ”
2nd Lieut. R. B. St. Q. Wall ” ”
2nd Lieut. R. C. Bruce ” ”
Capt. A. T. G. Rhodes No. 2 Company.
2nd Lieut. L. G. Byng ” ”
2nd Lieut. W. U. Timmis ” ”
2nd Lieut. R. Hall-Watt ” ”
Capt. P. M. Spence No. 3 Company.
Lieut. P. G. Simmons ” ”
Lieut. J. P. Bibby ” ”
2nd Lieut. F. H. Ennor ” ”
Lieut. A. A. Moller No. 4 Company.
Lieut. the Hon. P. P. Cary ” ”
Lieut. R. P. le P. Trench, M.C. ” ”
Lieut. J. F. Tindal-Atkinson ” ”
2nd Lieut. A. S. Chambers ” ”
2nd Lieut. C. C. Mays ” ”
Capt. P. H. Wells, R.A.M.C. Medical Officer.
THE 2ND BATTALION
[Sidenote: Aug.]
The 2nd Battalion reached Plumstead Camp between Herzeele and Proven
on August 3, and remained there training until the 21st, when it moved
into bivouacs at Bluet Farm. On the 28th it went to Harrow Camp, and
was employed in carrying up material to the front line. There was a
great deal of promiscuous shelling by the enemy’s artillery, and one
shell pitched on the cookers of the 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards,
killing 3 men and wounding 14, while later two of its travelling
cookers were blown to pieces, but the 2nd Battalion only had one man
wounded. On the 31st it moved back out of the shelled area. During the
month the following officers joined: Lieutenant H. White, Captain C.
N. Newton, M.C., Second Lieutenant R. H. R. Palmer, and Second
Lieutenant H. B. G. Morgan.
[Sidenote: Sept.]
On September 8 the Battalion took over the front trenches immediately
to the left of the Staden Railway, where the line was held by a series
of posts running across the Broembeek. This was a very unpleasant line
to occupy, as it was wet and marshy, and the enemy was able
practically to overlook the trenches. Captain Walker, M.C., commanded
the Battalion, while Major Rasch temporarily took command of the
Brigade. During the three days in the line, 6 men were killed and 32
wounded. Second Lieutenant H. B. G. Morgan and three other ranks were
slightly wounded, but remained at duty. On the 10th the Battalion
spent four very disagreeable days at Rugby Camp, where it was
continually bombed, shelled, and gassed. The men were employed in
carrying up material to the front line, but considering they were
constantly subjected to shell-fire they suffered very little: 3 men
were killed, 3 wounded, and 11 gassed. Just as the Battalion was
leaving camp, six 8-inch shells fell close by, but fortunately without
causing any casualties. After a fortnight at De Wippe Camp, where it
was employed on fatigues, the Battalion moved on the 23rd to Plumstead
Camp, where it remained until October 6. On September 22
Brigadier-General G. D. Jeffreys, C.M.G., having been given command of
the Nineteenth Division, left the 1st Guards Brigade to take up his
new appointment, and was succeeded by Lieut.-Colonel C. R. C. de
Crespigny. Lieutenant R. Y. T. Kendall and Second Lieutenant H. D.
Stratford joined the Battalion on the 14th, and Second Lieutenant G.
H. Hanning on the 21st.
[Sidenote: Oct.]
LIST OF OFFICERS OF THE 2ND BATTALION AT THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER
Major G. E. C. Rasch, D.S.O. Commanding Battalion.
Major the Hon. W. R. Bailey, D.S.O. Second in Command.
Capt. A. H. Penn Adjutant.
Hon. Capt. W. E. Acraman, M.C. Quartermaster.
Lieut. G. G. M. Vereker, M.C. Transport Officer.
2nd Lieut. H. M. Wilson Intelligence Officer.
Capt. J. N. Buchanan, M.C. No. 1 Company.
Lieut. J. C. Cornforth (Battalion
Bombing Officer) ” ”
2nd Lieut. P. A. A. Harbord, M.C. ” ”
2nd Lieut. S. H. Pearson ” ”
2nd Lieut. H. D. Stratford ” ”
Capt. Sir A. L. M. Napier, Bart. No. 2 Company.
Lieut. F. A. M. Browning (Asst.
Adjutant) ” ”
Lieut, the Hon. F. H. Manners ” ”
Lieut. F. H. G. Layland-Barratt, M.C. ” ”
Lieut. W. H. S. Dent ” ”
2nd Lieut. R. H. R. Palmer ” ”
2nd Lieut. H. B. G. Morgan ” ”
Capt. C. N. Newton, M.C. No. 3 Company.
Lieut. R. Y. T. Kendall ” ”
Lieut. F. A. Magnay ” ”
Lieut. A. W. Acland ” ”
2nd Lieut. H. White ” ”
Capt. G. C. FitzH. Harcourt-Vernon,
D.S.O. No. 4 Company.
Lieut. G. R. Westmacott ” ”
Lieut. R. A. W. Bicknell (Battalion
L.G. Officer) ” ”
Lieut. J. Tabor ” ”
2nd Lieut. G. H. Hanning ” ”
Capt. J. A. Andrews, M.C., R.A.M.C. Medical Officer.
Capt. the Rev. Hon. C. F. Lyttelton Chaplain.
THE 3RD BATTALION
[Sidenote: Aug.]
After three days’ rest in Forest Area the 3rd Battalion went by train
to Elverdinghe, and marched up from there to the front line. While the
relief was being carried out there was a good deal of shelling, and
Second Lieutenant G. V. G. A. Webster, a keen young officer of great
promise, was killed by a shell. After a week’s rest at Herzeele, the
3rd Battalion moved into Corps Reserve, while the Twentieth and
Twenty-ninth Divisions attacked on the 16th. It returned to Herzeele
on the 19th, and on the 22nd went to De Wippe Camp.
[Sidenote: Sept.]
On September 4 the Battalion moved to Eton Camp, which was close to
the railway, and therefore exposed to attacks by the enemy’s aircraft.
There were no less than forty casualties from bombs dropped from
aeroplanes. On the 12th the Battalion moved to Rugby Camp, which was
regularly shelled at night, and then took over the trenches in the
Broembeek sector. For four days it was subjected to considerable
shelling, and on the 20th it prolonged the line to the left, where the
10th King’s Royal Rifle Corps attacked, and took their objective. The
casualties during the four days were 6 killed and 28 wounded,
including Lieut. the Hon. A. M. Borthwick, Lieut. E. D. Tate, and
Lieut. R. W. Eliot Cornell.
[Sidenote: Oct.]
The first week in October was spent in training at Herzeele and
Proven.
LIST OF OFFICERS OF THE 3RD BATTALION AT THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER
Lieut.-Colonel A. F. A. N. Thorne, D.S.O. Commanding Battalion.
Capt. E. D. Ridley, M.C. Second in Command.
Capt. the Hon. A. G. Agar-Robartes, M.C. Adjutant.
2nd Lieut. L. Holbech Assistant Adjutant.
Lieut. C. C. Carstairs Intelligence Officer.
Lieut. M. Duquenoy Transport Officer.
Lieut. G. H. Wall Quartermaster.
2nd Lieut. F. W. R. Greenhill ”
Capt. J. C. Craigie, M.C. No. 1 Company.
Lieut. E. R. M. Fryer, M.C. ” ”
2nd Lieut. E. G. A. Fitzgerald ” ”
Lieut. E. W. Seymour ” ”
Lieut. W. H. Beaumont-Nesbitt, M.C. No. 2 Company.
2nd Lieut. W. H. S. Roper ” ”
2nd Lieut. C. B. Hollins ” ”
2nd Lieut. J. Chapman ” ”
Lieut. J. C. D. Tetley No. 3 Company.
Lieut. G. P. Bowes-Lyon ” ”
Lieut. N. Thornhill ” ”
Lieut. the Hon. H. E. Eaton ” ”
2nd Lieut. A. C. Knollys ” ”
Capt. G. F. R. Hirst No. 4 Company.
Lieut. F. J. Heasman ” ”
2nd Lieut. C. W. Carrington ” ”
2nd Lieut. C. L. F. Boughey ” ”
2nd Lieut. F. S. V. Donnison ” ”
_Attached_――Lieut. H. Dearden, R.A.M.C.
THE 4TH BATTALION
[Sidenote: Aug. 1917.]
The first few days in August were spent by the 4th Battalion in Forest
Area; its strength was made up to 32 officers and 882 men. From the
5th to the 7th the Battalion went up into the trenches, where it came
in for a good deal of shelling. The casualties were 15 killed, 35
wounded, 3 missing, 1 case of shell-shock, total 54. Lieutenant J. B.
Burke was slightly wounded, but remained at duty. A patrol under
Second Lieutenant D. J. Knight was sent out to reconnoitre the ground
on the far side of the Steenbeek, and returned without having
encountered any Germans. On the 8th the Battalion marched to
Zonnerbloom Cabaret, where it entrained for Proven, whence it marched
to Penton Camp. On the 27th it proceeded to Herzeele, where Lieutenant
M. Chapman joined, and on the following day moved up into the line,
where it remained for four days. At first all was quiet, but later
shells began to fall very heavily. Second Lieutenant Benson took out
his platoon from No. 4 Company, and advanced the bridgehead positions
a distance of 100 yards, thus gaining a fresh field of observation
over three-quarters of a mile. He also went out with a daylight patrol
to locate the enemy, and succeeded in going as far as 200 yards before
two machine-guns opened fire on his party. One man was killed by a
low-flying aeroplane, which flew along the front line firing a
machine-gun, and the total casualties during the four days in the
trenches were 4 killed and 7 wounded.
[Sidenote: Sept.]
On the evening of September 1 the Battalion retired to Rugby Camp near
Bluet Farm, where it remained for a week. On the 5th a German
aeroplane flew over the camp, and dropped bombs, which wounded
Lieutenant R. G. West and Lance-Sergeant S. G. Bull. After a week at
Dublin Camp a move was made to Charterhouse Camp, where Lieutenant R.
Farquhar, M.C., was killed by a shell. He was a fearless officer who
had seen much fighting, and already distinguished himself; his death
was a great loss to the Battalion. On the 21st the Battalion moved to
Herzeele, and on the 24th to Penton Camp, where it remained training
until the operations of October 5.
[Sidenote: Oct.]
LIST OF OFFICERS OF THE 4TH BATTALION AT THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER
Lieut.-Colonel Viscount Gort, D.S.O.,
M.V.O., M.C. Commanding Battalion.
Major W. S. Pilcher, D.S.O. Second in Command.
Capt. C. R. Gerard Adjutant.
Capt. G. C. Sloane-Stanley Assistant Adjutant.
Lieut. M. Chapman Intelligence Officer.
Lieut. I. J. Ingleby Act.-Quartermaster.
2nd Lieut. N. A. Pearce Transport Officer.
Capt. J. N. F. Pixley No. 1 Company.
Lieut. C. E. Irby ” ”
2nd Lieut. E. H. Tuckwell (Battalion
L.G. Officer) ” ”
2nd Lieut. G. R. Green ” ”
2nd Lieut. J. M. Chitty ” ”
Capt. the Hon. F. E. Needham No. 2 Company.
2nd Lieut. C. E. Benson, D.S.O. ” ”
2nd Lieut. T. T. Pryce, M.C. ” ”
2nd Lieut. R. C. Denman ” ”
2nd Lieut. H. W. Windeler ” ”
Capt. J. B. M. Burke, M.C. No. 3 Company.
Lieut. C. S. Nash (Battalion Bombing
Officer) ” ”
2nd Lieut. D. J. Knight ” ”
2nd Lieut. R. L. Murray Lawes ” ”
Capt. G. H. T. Paton, M.C. No. 4 Company.
Lieut. H. H. Sloane-Stanley ” ”
Lieut. E. R. D. Hoare ” ”
2nd Lieut. B. J. Hubbard, M.C. ” ”
2nd Lieut. F. R. Oliver ” ”
2nd Lieut. N. R. Abbey ” ”
Capt. N. Grellier, M.C., R.A.M.C. Medical Officer.