THE STORY OF THE

6th BATTALION

THE DURHAM LIGHT

INFANTRY

France, April 1915—November 1918

EDITED BY

CAPT. R.B. AINSWORTH, M.C.

LONDON

THE ST. CATHERINE PRESS

STAMFORD STREET, S.E.

1919

CONTENTS.

FOREWORD.

During one of the short periods of training in 1917,
it was suggested that lectures should be delivered to
the troops on the history of their battalions in France.
Accordingly Capt. G. Kirkhouse, then Assistant Adjutant,
set to work to collect material for this purpose. Owing to
there being no officers, and very few men, who had served
continuously with the Battalion since April, 1915, the task
was not easy, and it was found impossible to complete the
information in time for a lecture before the Battalion returned
to the line. The material was carefully preserved,
however, and was the only portion of the records which
survived the disaster of the 27th May, 1918. As soon as
time permitted, the task was continued, but owing to there
being very few survivors of earlier days, many details have
probably escaped notice. Imperfect and incomplete as the
story is, however, it is hoped that the details related will
serve to recall other incidents, both pleasant and unpleasant,
to those members of the Battalion who have been fortunate
enough to survive.

It is regretted that it has not been found practicable to
include a chapter on the inner life of the Battalion which
centred round the characters of some of its members. So
many names occur to one’s mind that a chapter would be
inadequate to mention all, and the exclusion of any would
have involved an invidious and unjustifiable selection.

R.B.A.

July, 1919.

CHAPTER I.

The “Salient.”

First Phase.

The end of March, 1915, found the 50th (Northumbrian)
Division of the Territorial Force awaiting orders to proceed
overseas. The infantry of the Division consisted of the
149th Infantry Brigade (4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Battalions
Northumberland Fusiliers), the 150th Infantry Brigade
(4th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment, 4th and 5th Battalions
Yorkshire Regiment, and 5th Battalion The Durham
Light Infantry), and the 151st Infantry Brigade (6th, 7th,
8th and 9th Battalions The Durham Light Infantry).
Early in April, when the 6th Battalion The Durham Light
Infantry were in billets at Gateshead, the orders arrived and
on the 10th April Capt. F. Walton proceeded to Havre to
make arrangements for the arrival of the transport section.
The first detachment of men to leave Gateshead consisted
of the transport and machine-gun sections which, under
Major J.E. Hawdon, Second in Command, and Lieut. H.T.
Bircham, Transport Officer, entrained at the Cattle Market,
Newcastle, on the 17th April for Southampton, en route for
Havre.

Two days later the remainder of the Battalion entrained
at the Central Station, Newcastle, with the following officers:
Lieut.-Col. H.C. Watson in command, Capt. J.W. Jeffreys,
Adjutant; Major W.M. Mackay, Medical Officer; Capt.
A.P. Cummins, commanding A Company; Major S.E.
Badcock, commanding B Company; Capt. W.H.D. Devey,
commanding C Company; and Capt. J. Townend, commanding
D Company. Arriving at Folkestone the same
day, the Battalion embarked for Boulogne, where it arrived
about midnight and marched up to Ostrohove Camp.

The following day it entrained at Pont de Briques Station,
on the train which brought the transport and machine-gun
sections from Havre. The complete battalion detrained at
Cassel, and after marching all night arrived in billets at
Hardifort at 5 a.m. on the 21st April.

On the 23rd April orders were received to march at very
short notice to Steenvoorde, where the whole of the 151st
Infantry Brigade, commanded at this time by Brig.-General
Martin, was assembled in a field at the eastern end of the
town. During the remainder of the day the men were
allowed to rest. At dusk two battalions of the Brigade,
the 7th and 9th Battalions, marched off in fighting order.
The other two Battalions (the 6th and 8th) proceeded by
‘buses through Poperinghe to Vlamertinghe, where they
took over a hut camp recently vacated by the 9th Royal
Scots.

It was now evident that the lessons which the Battalion had
learnt during its long period of training were very soon to
be put into practice. The 24th April was spent in testing
rifles and making final preparations for action, and in the
evening an order arrived from the Brigade to get ready to
move quickly. This order was given out and within half an
hour the Battalion was on the pavé road, marching towards
Ypres. It entered the town as night settled on it. At this
date the town was not ruined and the results of the shelling
were hardly noticeable. As the Battalion was passing the
Cloth Hall a shell came screaming faintly towards it, and,
passing over, burst with a dull roar in the city a quarter of
a mile away. There had been no talking in the ranks nor
any sound except the beat of ammunition boots on the pavé,
but when this shell screamed overhead and burst, ejaculation
in the good old Durham tongue could be heard passing
cheerily up the length of the column. Two or three more
shells passed over, but none burst near the Battalion.

Reaching the top of the hill to the east of the city and
leaving the white walls of Potijze Château on the left, the
Battalion turned off the road and filed into the G.H.Q. line,
a Battalion of the Shropshire Light Infantry climbing out
to make room. This trench was of the breastwork type,
and a novelty to the men whose idea of a trench was a ditch
below the ground level. The dispositions of the Battalion
were as follows: A Company were on the south side of the
Potijze road and the remainder on the north side, with
B Company on the right, D Company in the centre, and
C Company on the left. The machine-gun section was with
D Company. Transport lines were established just behind
the Château near to a Canadian Battery. The position was
unfortunate, for the section came under heavy shell fire and
had several men and horses hit.

Sunday, the 25th April, was the first day spent by the
Battalion in the trenches. There was a considerable amount
of shelling, but fortunately the Battalion in the trenches did
not suffer. In the evening, as it got dark, the Battalion
moved out of the trench and, forming up on the road which
it had left the previous night, marched in fours for about a
mile to Velorenhoek village, which was then almost intact.
There the Battalion came under the orders of the 85th
Infantry Brigade, and halted. All ranks slept for some hours
on the roadside, or in the fields, gardens or cottages close to
the road. Before dawn the Brigadier ordered the Battalion
to vacate the village, and the column moved a few hundred
yards up the road to the east. Here the Companies left
the road and the men improved with their entrenching tools
the little cover in the form of ditches and trenches which was
to be found, and then lay down. Throughout this and the
succeeding days the men were in marching order with full
packs. The transport moved back to Potijze Wood, except
the ration limbers, which went back to Poperinghe.

About 10 a.m. on the 26th word was passed for the Commanding
Officer and Adjutant, who accordingly reported to
the Brigadier of the 85th Brigade. He was standing on the
north side of the road on a little rising ground from which
there was a view for a mile or two to the eastward. He
gave the following order verbally: “The Germans have
broken through our line and are advancing south-west.
The Durham Light Infantry (6th Battalion) will advance
and take up positions between Zonnebeke level crossing and
Hill 37.” He described the position of the crossing, later
known as Devil’s Crossing, by pointing out the direction
and stated that the hill with a few trees on it to the E.N.E.
was Hill 37. He further stated that the Shropshire Light
Infantry would be on the right and that Lieut.-Colonel
Bridgford, of that Regiment, would be in command of the
6th Battalion.

Orders were accordingly issued to Company Commanders
verbally by the Adjutant as follows: The Battalion is to
occupy the line between Hill 37, which can be seen on the
left front, and Zonnebeke crossing, which lies on the road.
Captain Cummins’s Company (A) will march on the crossing
and Captain Townend’s Company (D) on Hill 37. Major
Badcock’s Company (B) and Captain Devey’s Company (C)
will divide the space between. Advance in artillery formation,
take advantage of the cover afforded by the ground, and
each Company Commander should accompany one of his
rear Platoons. When Companies had gained suitable positions
on this line they were to deploy and attack by fire any
bodies of the enemy who might attempt to cross their front.
The whole operation was under direct observation by enemy
balloons, and as soon as the Companies moved an intense
barrage was put down. B Company, on the right, however,
had a comparatively good time and suffered very few casualties,
whilst No. 5 Platoon, under Lieut. A.B. Hare, had none
at all, and reached Zonnebeke Crossing in safety. The
remaining Companies got the full effect of the barrage,
which included gas shells, and lost direction towards the left.
Capt. W.H.D. Devey, commanding C Company, was
wounded, Capt. J. Monkhouse killed, and 2nd Lieut. H.H.
Nicholson wounded. As a result of the loss of direction a
gap was formed, and A Company were pushed forward to
fill it. In spite of heavy casualties the line was maintained,
and continued to advance, firing all the time on the enemy,
who could be seen from the new positions. It was not till
they had advanced a considerable distance that the officers
and men found that there was another line of British troops
ahead of them, holding out in shell-holes, on hillsides, etc.

When this was discovered, Lieut. T.B. Heslop, with No. 11
Platoon and part of No. 9 Platoon, joined the London Rifle
Brigade; 2nd Lieut. R.V. Hare, with No. 10 Platoon, joined
a Battalion of the Shropshire Light Infantry, and 2nd Lieut.
G. Angus, with the remainder of No. 9 Platoon, took up a
position in support on the hill. By this time A and D
Companies were in the forward positions. As already
described, A Company had moved up to fill the gap between
B and C Companies, and D Company had also moved to the
assistance of C Company. As a result, the men of all Companies
were mixed together, and it is difficult to say how
they were distributed, but A Company seem to have been
in two parts, one with D Company and one next to B
Company. The former passed over Hill 37 and eventually
joined the London Rifle Brigade in some ditches which
formed the front line. There they suffered many casualties.
Amongst others, Major S.E. Badcock and 2nd Lieut. Kynoch
were killed and Capt. F. Walton and 2nd Lieut. G. Kirkhouse
were wounded. As soon as the advance had commenced,
the Adjutant, Capt. J.W. Jeffreys, had galloped through
the barrage to find Zonnebeke crossing. Having shown it
to the Company on the right flank he proceeded along the
line and found a Platoon of D Company under 2nd Lieut.
Lyon digging themselves in. A little further along another
Platoon was found, and whilst showing them the line he was
heavily fired on. After returning to Brigade Headquarters
for a fresh horse he went to Hill 37 and there heard of D
Company from some men of the Rifle Brigade. Before
dusk all formed parties had got into touch with Battalion
Headquarters, which were at Zevencote barn, beside Zonnebeke
level crossing.

About 4 p.m. Lt.-Col. Bridgford, who was in command of
all troops in this sector, issued orders for an attack to be made
to clear the enemy from the Fortuin-Passchendaele Road.
The attack was to be made by two Companies of the Shropshire
Light Infantry, with the 7th Durham Light Infantry in
support and the 6th in reserve. The attacking troops were
to pass through the front line and establish a new line on
the road when captured. A conference of officers was held,
and it was ascertained that the men available for the attack
were as follows:—No. 3 Platoon under 2nd Lieut. Blenkinsop,
Nos. 5, 7 and 8 Platoons, under Capt. T. Welch, with Lieuts.
A.B. Hare and H.C.W. Haythornthwaite; No. 9 Platoon
under 2nd Lieut. G. Angus, and about forty men of D Company
under Capt. J. Townend and 2nd Lieut. P.H.B. Lyon.

The Battalion, which was lying in a trench near the road,
began to advance about 7 or 8 p.m., moving in artillery
formation and following the 7th Durham Light Infantry
towards the ridge to the north of Zonnebeke.

On reaching the ridge, which was found unoccupied, the
7th Battalion moved off to Zonnebeke and the 6th Battalion
was ordered to send three Companies to the support of the
Hampshire Regiment on Gravenstafel Ridge further to the
north.

In accordance with the orders issued by Lt.-Col. Hicks,
commanding the Hampshires, B Company, who were about
90 strong, left the remainder of the Battalion, who were
now at Hicks’ Farm and moved to reinforce 2nd Lieut. Ball
of the Royal Fusiliers (28th Div.), who, with 100 men,
was holding a position on the Gravenstafel Ridge. This
position consisted of a much battered breastwork, of which
only isolated portions offered any cover. The remainder of
the Battalion was then divided. C Company were sent to
garrison a strong point near a neighbouring farm, leaving
No. 9 Platoon, under 2nd Lieut. G. Angus, to form a ration
party. A Company was held in reserve in isolated trenches.
Battalion Headquarters and D Company moved back to
Zevencote barn, where the Company occupied some trenches.

On the night of the 27th April, A Company with about
twenty men of D Company were sent to fill a gap between the
Hampshires and the Shropshires, where they dug themselves
in. The following day Capt. A.P. Cummins and Capt. D.
Park were seriously wounded by a sniper firing from behind
their line, and 2nd Lieut. Blenkinsop took over command
till the arrival at night of Lieut. R.V. Hare. C.S.M.
Lancaster of A Company was also badly wounded.

The men on the left of B Company, under Lieut. H.C.W.
Haythornthwaite during these days, were in very close
touch with the enemy, being separated from them in the
same trench by a block about ten yards wide. They were
the first of the Battalion to use rifle grenades, which were
taken up to them by a party of the Buffs. On the night of
the 28th April No. 6 Platoon was sent up to join the
Company, but it was found that they could not be accommodated
in the trench and they returned to Battalion
Headquarters. All through this period the Company was
existing under very difficult conditions. The evacuation of
wounded was almost impossible, and Corpl. Hardy did
excellent work in establishing an aid post and attending to
wounded for four days and nights. He was subsequently
mentioned in dispatches for this good work. Their only
rations were taken up on the night of the 28th by a party of
No. 9 Platoon under Corpl. Hall, and water was collected
from shell holes in empty ammunition boxes.

Whilst in the front line, both A and B Companies were
constantly under fire from trench mortars (“sausages”)
and snipers, some of whom were firing from the rear. Several
of the posts held by B Company were blown in, and in one,
occupied by Sergt. Bennison and ten men, all were hit
except Ptes. Walters and Fenwick. In another post the
shelter was blown in and several men wounded and buried.
Pte. Robinson, the only man not hit, crossed the open to
the next post, but was unable to obtain assistance. He
thereupon went back, and under constant fire, dug out
several men. For this action he was awarded the D.C.M.
and Croix de Guerre.

The machine-gun section was in action on the 26th April,
and for his good work in handling them Lieut. W.P. Gill
was awarded the Military Cross. After being withdrawn
on the night of the 26th the guns were kept in reserve at
Battalion Headquarters.

During the whole of the four days the Battalion was in
the line, parties from D Company under 2nd Lieut. G. Angus
did good work in distributing rations, which were brought up
from Poperinghe to Zonnebeke Crossing by limber. The
exact location of the different parties was doubtful, and the
absence of roads, tracks or landmarks made the delivery of
rations to the men a very unpleasant task.

On the 30th April came news of relief. A Company were
relieved at night by the 1st Battalion Northumberland
Fusiliers and moved back to the Convent near Velorenhoek.
B Company had further unpleasant experiences. Their
relief by a Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers took place nearly
at dawn, and it was impossible to get further than Hicks’
Farm before it was too light to move. They were accordingly
put into a barn and some trenches for the day, being
still only about 300 yards from the enemy, whose aeroplanes
were very active directing fire on to the position. This fire
was fairly successful, and the barn was hit and set on fire
and Lieut. A.B. Hare wounded. The men showed excellent
discipline on this occasion and stood fast till led out to occupy
a neighbouring trench. At night the Company rejoined the
rest of the Battalion at the Convent, where the whole were
accommodated in trenches near the road.

In addition to the honours already mentioned the following
were subsequently awarded for work during this period:—Capt.
T. Welch received the Military Cross for his work with
B Company on Gravenstafel Ridge, being the first officer
in the Brigade to win the decoration; R.S.M. G. Perry, who
had been doing excellent work for the Battalion since
mobilization, was granted the D.C.M. for his work in organising
ration parties; and C.S.M.s McNair and Bousfield (afterwards
commanding 15th D.L.I.) also received the D.C.M.
for gallantry after casualties to officers. Others, who did
excellent work, but received no decoration, were Lieut.
W.F.E. Badcock, Signalling Officer, and his Sergeant, H.
Elliott; Sergts. Linsley and Wallace, of B Company; Pte.
Newton of A Company, and Pte. Hall of C Company.

The casualties had been fairly heavy, and included fifteen
officers, amongst whom was Lieut.-Col. H.C. Watson, who
left the Battalion sick on the 28th April. Capt. J.W. Jeffreys
had assumed command with Lieut. R.V. Hare as Adjutant.

Second Phase.

On the 30th April the enemy delivered another attack,
using gas. This fell mainly on the Irish Regiment, but the
6th Battalion in reserve occupied battle positions, and
collected many men who were driven back by the gas. At
night the Battalion marched back to huts in Brielen Wood,
where it rested for 24 hours. Leaving there, it marched to
St. Jansterbiezen, where it was inspected on the morning of
the 2nd May by Sir John French, who thanked the men for
their good work and praised especially A and B Companies.
On the 8th May a draft of officers joined the Battalion, and
the following day a move was made back to Brielen Woods.
Here the Battalion, living in bivouacs, was in Divisional
reserve for one day. The transport and Q.M. Stores moved
into a field near Poperinghe.

After this short rest the Battalion learnt that it was to
return to the scene of its first experiences. On the 10th May
it marched to Potijze and occupied the G.H.Q. line near the
railway and some dug-outs in the cutting south-east of
Ypres. Here the men were shelled at intervals, particularly
on the 13th, and spent the nights on working parties. It
was whilst in this area that the new gas respirators, consisting
of a pad of cotton wool and a strip of muslin, were issued on
a scale of one to every twelve men. On the 19th May
Major W.E. Taylor, York and Lancaster Regiment, arrived
and took over command from Capt. Jeffreys. Two days
later the Battalion was relieved by the East Surrey Regiment,
and returned to Brielen huts.

During the next few days the artillery fire increased
considerably on both sides, and just before dawn on Whit
Monday, the 24th May, the Germans launched their gas
attack. The gas cloud drifted towards Brielen and the men
were roused and moved about half a mile from the camp to
which they returned for breakfast and to prepare to move
into action. The morning had turned out bright and fine
when they paraded and marched off to Potijze. In those
days the road leading out of Ypres eastwards was still
marked by leafy trees, and as the Battalion marched along
it, trees, branches and leaves were lying about, brought
down by the heavy fire. Arriving at the wood, which was
being heavily shelled, the men were put into ditches and
half-dug trenches. Later in the day packs were collected,
and in the lighter “Fighting Order” the men manned the
G.H.Q. line in front of the wood, being in reserve to the
3rd Battalion Middlesex Regiment, who were under orders to
deliver a counter-attack. Whilst taking up this position
Major Taylor was wounded and 2nd Lieut. J.M. Hare killed,
and Capt. Jeffreys again assumed command. The counter-attack
was cancelled and the Battalion moved back to dug-outs
on the Menin Road, where it stayed all the next day.

On the night of the 25th May the whole Battalion paraded
as a working party to dig a front line trench to fill a gap
caused by the German attack. The right of this trench was
on the railway cutting, the enemy being on the other side
of the cutting. The men worked magnificently and finished
the task in less than two hours. As soon as it was completed
the new trench was occupied by a Battalion of the Buffs.
After two more nights spent on working parties the men
were relieved and marched back to bivouacs in Brielen
Wood. On the 2nd June orders were received to move
further back, and they marched through Poperinghe to a
field on the south of the town, where they spent the night
and the next day, moving again on the 4th to bivouacs at
Ouderdom.

The organisation of the Battalion was now to undergo a
change which did not meet with universal approval amongst
its members. On the 8th June it was amalgamated with
the 8th Durham Light Infantry, the new Battalion being
constituted as follows: Lieut.-Col. J. Turnbull, V.D. (8th
D.L.I.) in command; Capt. G.A. Stevens (Royal Fusiliers),
Adjutant; A Company (8th D.L.I.), Capt. T.A. Bradford;
B Company (A and B Companies of 6th D.L.I.), Lieut.
W.P. Gill; C Company (6th D.L.I.), Lieut. T.B. Heslop;
D Company (6th D.L.I.), Capt. F.H. Livesay; Machine-gun
section, 2nd Lieut. R.A. Howe (6th D.L.I.); transport
section, Lieut. Ramsay (8th D.L.I.); Quartermaster, Lieut.
W.M. Hope (6th D.L.I.). All supernumerary staff were sent
to the base at Harfleur. At the same time the 7th Battalion
became Divisional Pioneers and the 5th Battalion Loyal
North Lancashire Regiment joined the 151st Brigade.

On the evening of the 11th June the new Battalion marched
by Companies to dug-outs in the grounds of Kruisstraat
Château, south of Ypres. The following day the march was
resumed via the Lille gate and Maple Copse to Sanctuary
Wood, where the Battalion was lent to the 149th Infantry
Brigade to provide working parties for the improvement of
the Hooge defences. It was during this move that the transport,
on the 14th June, had its worst experience of the
famous Hell Fire Corner, where it was shelled and a water
cart was completely destroyed.

Wednesday, the 16th June, had been chosen for an attack
on Hill 60 by the 3rd Division, the 50th Division being
ordered to co-operate by making a demonstration. At
2.30 a.m. the Battalion moved into the support trenches,
twenty minutes before the bombardment commenced. At
4.15 a.m. the 3rd Division assaulted, and their apparent
success which could be seen from the rear was greeted with
much enthusiasm by the men. About two hours later a
message was received from a commanding officer in Zouave
Wood that he was about to attack north-east of Hooge.
Accordingly, two Companies under Major Hawdon were
sent in support, the others being assembled ready to follow.
The attack was cancelled, however, and at 7.30 a.m. the
Battalion re-assembled in its original trenches. At night it
moved up and relieved the 7th Northumberland Fusiliers in
the Hooge defences. The disposition of Companies was as
follows: B Company, under Lieut. Gill, were in “B9”
trench. A Company, under Capt. Bradford, in “H13”
and “H14” trenches; C Company, under Lieut. Heslop,
in the Hooge Château stables; and D Company, under
Capt. Livesay, in support in “H16” trench. The trenches,
especially those occupied by B Company, had been much
battered, and a considerable amount of work had to be done
on them during the night. At this time the Château and
stables were still standing, and though C Company were in
occupation of the stables, the Germans held the Château,
from the windows of which their snipers were able to give
considerable trouble.

The following day was marked by considerable shelling,
and at night a successful bombing enterprise was led against
a sap head. For two days the position remained unchanged,
the Battalion being engaged in repairing the trenches and
carrying up rations and ammunition, till on the night of
the 18th it was relieved by a Company of the 7th Northumberland
Fusiliers and a Battalion of the Wiltshire Regiment,
and went to F. hutments south of Vlamertinghe.

This concluded the Battalion’s first tour in the “Salient.”

CHAPTER II.

ARMENTIÈRES AND THE RETURN TO THE “SALIENT.”

First Phase.

On Sunday, the 20th June, the Battalion marched off from
Vlamertinghe at 8.30 a.m. through Ouderdom and Locre
to Dranoutre, where it went into bivouacs at Corunna Farm,
being now in the II Corps commanded by Sir Charles
Ferguson, who inspected and addressed the men the following
day. In the evening, after their inspection, they moved
up to the front line and took over the trenches from “E1” to
the barricade on the Kemmel-Wytschaete Road—a quiet
sector except for trouble from snipers.

A few days after taking over, an interesting incident
occurred. A notice board was put up in the German trenches
bearing the words “Lemberg is taken.” It was accompanied
by cheering and the lighting of flares, to which the
front line Companies replied by rapid fire in the direction
of the board. The same day (23rd June) work was started
on the mines, which were eventually blown up in the successful
attack on the Wytschaete Ridge in June, 1917. Apart
from this, nothing of interest occurred beyond the usual
reliefs till the middle of July. An announcement which
aroused considerable delight was made on the 15th July to
the effect that leave to England was to be granted, two
officers and three other ranks being allowed to be away at a
time for periods of six and four days respectively.

On the 16th July the Battalion was relieved and moved
from Kemmel at 7.30 p.m. proceeding via Dranoutre and
Bailleul to Armentières, where it arrived at 1 a.m. the next
morning and went into billets at the Blue factory. The
following night it moved up to relieve Battalions of the
Royal Scots and Monmouths. B Company under Lieut.
R.V. Hare, took over “67” trench, C Company under Lieut.
T.B. Heslop, “68” trench, A Company under Capt. Ritson
(8th D.L.I.), “69” trench, and D Company under Capt.
Livesay, Lille Post. The sector proved to be very quiet
and the trenches exceptionally good. It is interesting to
note that about this time the training of bombers was
organised, and 2nd Lieut. P.H.B. Lyon of the Battalion
was appointed first Brigade Bombing Officer.

The men were now beginning to realize that their first
taste of conditions in France was not typical of the whole
front, and that war had its more pleasant side. After the
“Salient,” the Armentières trenches were a picnic, and
though there is little of historic interest to record concerning
the tour, it formed the subject of many conversations and
jests when harder times followed. Many times, probably,
in the water-logged shell holes of Passchendaele in 1918
was it recalled how once at Armentières even the duck boards
were cleaned daily and men were crimed for throwing
matches on them. It is not forgotten either how the
Battalion Band first came into being at Houplines.

On the 11th August, the 6th and 8th Battalions once more
assumed a separate identity. Major Borrett, D.S.O., the
King’s Own, took over command of the 6th Battalion with
Capt. Jeffreys once more as Adjutant. Four days later
Major Borrett left and handed over the command to Capt.
Jeffreys, 2nd Lieut. P.H.B. Lyon becoming Adjutant.
On this re-organization the Companies of the Battalion
became known as W, X, Y, and Z. About the same time the
5th Battalion Loyal North Lancashire Regiment left the
Brigade, and was replaced by the 5th Battalion Border
Regiment.

Early in September, some excitement was caused by the
rumour that the “Mushroom,” a circular trench in the
Battalion sector, was mined and likely to be blown up.
Bombers of W Company patrolled it and slept in it for six
nights without result. On the 25th September the heavy
firing at Loos caused a little anxiety. The day after this the
Battalion sector was slightly altered by the taking over of
the Houplines trenches from the 12th Division. A little
more excitement than usual occurred on 13th October, when
a demonstration was made by the artillery and the throwing
of smoke bombs.

The tour ended on the 10th November, when the Battalion
was relieved and marched to billets at La Creche, near
Bailleul, where it stayed for a month enjoying its first rest
since embarkation.

Second Phase.

Early in December it was known that the next tour was
to be once more in the “Salient.” On the 17th December
the Battalion entrained at Steenwercke for Poperinghe,
from where it marched to Dickebusch huts, which are
always remembered as being built on islands in a sea of mud.
The following night another march via Kruisstraat and
Zillebeke brought the men to Maple Copse where they
relieved the 11th Royal Scots (9th Division). The trenches
were found to consist of holes and ditches which were worked
on till they were quite good and dry. It was here that
arrangements were first made for the prevention of trench
feet.

Sunday, the 19th December, was marked by a German
gas attack north of Hooge, but the Battalion was not involved.
The following day the artillery activity continued,
and Lieut.-Col. Jeffreys was wounded whilst going round a
new piece of the line which had been taken over from the
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Major G.A. Stevens
(8th D.L.I.) took over command, and the following day
Capt. R.B. Bradford (afterwards Brig.-Gen. Bradford, V.C.)
joined as Adjutant. An unusual occurrence took place on
the 22nd December, when two Russians, who had been
prisoners in Germany and had been working behind the
line, escaped and came into the trenches in the Battalion
sector. On Christmas Day the Battalion was out of the
line and in the huts at Dickebusch. Capt. Bradford left
on the 31st December to join the 7th Battalion, and was
succeeded as Adjutant by 2nd Lieut. C.E. Yaldwyn.

On New Year’s morning the Battalion had its first experience
of a really heavy British bombardment of the enemy’s
trenches. The bombardment was so intense that it was
possible to find one’s way about Sanctuary Wood by the
light of the gun flashes. The only other incident of importance
in the first month of 1916 was the departure of the
machine-gun section which, under 2nd Lieut. L. Brock, was
sent to form part of the Brigade Machine Gun Company.
To replace the guns, the first Lewis Guns were issued and put
under the command of 2nd Lieut. J.P. Moffitt. It was
also about this time that the Battalion journal, The Whizz-Bang,
came into existence, edited and run by 2nd Lieut.
Yaldwyn. Its illustrations by Lieut. Catford and articles
were much appreciated, but, unfortunately, its publication
ceased in November of the same year.

Throughout January and February there were local
artillery combats which terminated with the capture of
Hill 60 and “The Bluff.” On the 1st March there was a
demonstration at 5 p.m., which consisted of artillery and
infantry fire and cheering as if for an attack. The following
morning at 4.32 a.m. the 3rd Division attacked and
captured International and New Year trenches and “The
Bean” with over 200 prisoners. On the 18th March,
the Battalion was relieved and moved to Poperinghe by
train from Ypres. Four days later it returned again by
train and took over the recently captured Bluff trenches
from the 10th Royal Welsh Fusiliers (3rd Division). These
trenches were round the edge of the Bluff crater and were in
a very bad condition due to the rain and heavy shelling,
and were littered with remnants of German equipment and
their dead. X Company were on the right in New Year
trench supported by Y Company in Gordon Post. W Company
were in the centre in “The Loop,” and Z Company
on the left in “The Bean.”

On the 27th March, at 4.15 a.m., the 3rd Division on the
right attacked at St. Eloi, and during the attack the Medical
Officer (Capt. White) and a party of stretcher bearers rendered
valuable assistance. A few days later (2nd April) the
Battalion was relieved by the Canadians, who had suffered
heavily from shell fire in coming up, and moved again to
Dickebusch, where there was a stay of two days before
moving South to Scottish Lines at Westoutre and La Clyte.

A week later, on the 8th April, the Battalion was again
in the line, this time relieving the 7th Battalion Shropshire
Light Infantry in trenches N and O, in front of Wytschaete,
with back area at La Clyte. These trenches were of the
breastwork type. About this time there was a good deal
of fighting on the left, where the Germans were trying to
retake the St. Eloi craters.

On the 24th April the Battalion was relieved and marched
to rest billets at Berthen. These billets were found to be
farms scattered over a large area. A few days after arrival,
Lieut.-Col. Jeffreys, D.S.O., returned and took over command
from Lieut.-Col. Stevens, who went as Brigade Major
to a Canadian Brigade. Early on the morning of the 30th
the Battalion was roused by the news of a gas attack, but
after standing to till daylight it was not required to move.
A week later, 2nd Lieut. G. Kirkhouse was appointed
Adjutant in place of 2nd Lieut. Yaldwyn, and on the 8th
May the Battalion returned to La Clyte for four days working
parties. The only other incidents of importance during
May were an inspection by Sir Douglas Haig and the farewell
inspection and address on the 16th by Brig.-Gen. Shea prior
to his departure to take over command of the 30th Division.
He was succeeded by Brig.-Gen. Westmorland.

On the 28th May the Battalion returned to the trenches it
had left a month before, and on the 2nd June the men were
able to watch the German attack between Hill 60 and Hooge
and the Canadian counter-attacks on the following day.
Lieut. Ebsworth, M.C., D.C.M., East Lancashire Regt.,
joined as Adjutant on the 7th June. During this tour the
first Battalion raid was made by men of Y Company under
2nd Lieut. H.C. Annett and 2nd Lieut. J.F.G. Aubin,
who was Battalion Bombing Officer. The party consisted
of 24 men, including two bombing squads, and had as its
object identification of the enemy on the immediate front.
The night of the 6th June was chosen and the party went
out as arranged. In No Man’s Land they met a large enemy
wiring party and their object was not attained. Three
nights later, however, a German was captured, and again
on the 12th the raiding party went out, this time with the
object of killing Boches. They entered the enemy trench,
and after doing considerable damage with bombs and rifles,
returned without casualty.

Apart from these incidents the sector was on the whole
quiet, except for a certain amount of sniping. The principal
feature was the daily enemy bombardment with trench
mortars, which lasted from one to three hours, and was on
occasions very heavy. The front line, however, was thinly
held and very few casualties resulted. After receiving two
drafts of 190 and 110 men respectively the Battalion was
relieved on 7th August by the 7th Battalion King’s Own
and moved to its old billets at Berthen.

This ended the second phase of its war history, and a few
days later it moved South to the Somme area.

CHAPTER III.

THE SOMME.

First Phase.

On the 10th August, 1916, the Battalion entrained at Godewaersvelde,
and detraining at Candas, marched to Heuzecourt
and spent four days resting. The 15th, 16th and 17th
were spent in marching through Vignacourt and Villers
Bocage to Baizieux, where the men bivouaced in the wood.
Here two accidents occurred. Major F. Walton, Second in
Command, and Lieut. Ebsworth, M.C., Adjutant, were
thrown from their horses and sustained broken limbs.
2nd Lieut. Kirkhouse resumed duties as Adjutant.

Nearly a month was spent in the wood, the time being
devoted to training in the new wave formation for the
coming offensive. It was about this time that distinguishing
marks were adopted in the Division and the Battalion
began to wear the red diamonds which came to be regarded
with almost as much pride as the cap badge, and continued
to be worn as long as the Battalion existed as a unit in
France. On the 6th September Brig.-Gen. N.J.G.
Cameron took over command of the Brigade. Four days
later the Battalion moved to bivouacs in Becourt Wood,
and there the final preparations were made for action, and
amid the growing violence of the artillery preparation it
moved again on the 14th September to Shelter Wood.

Zero for the second phase of the Somme battle was 6.20 a.m.
on the 15th September. The 149th and 150th Infantry
Brigades were then in the front line between High Wood
and Martinpuich with the 151st Brigade in reserve. At
zero the Battalion moved from Shelter Wood by way of
Sausage Valley to an old German trench at the south-west
corner of Mametz Wood. About noon a further forward
move was made, Y and Z Companies to the northern edge
of the wood, and W and X Companies to a position a little
further forward between Mametz and Bazentin-le-Petit
Woods. So far the Battalion had escaped shell fire, and
the men were much interested in prisoners who were being
escorted to the rear. About 11 a.m. a message was received
that the 47th Division had failed to take High Wood, and
that the two Brigades of the 50th Division had secured their
objectives. Later came a message that the 47th Division
had taken High Wood at the second attempt.

Rations arrived about 5 p.m., and whilst they were being
distributed Lieut.-Col. Jeffreys returned from Brigade Headquarters
with orders to move up at once. Accordingly
the Battalion paraded and marched up the road to the
Quarry at Bazentin-le-Petit. By this time the area was full
of movement. Guns, ammunition, ration wagons and
troops were everywhere moving up after the advance.

After a conference at Brigade Headquarters orders were
again issued for a move, and at 9 p.m. the Battalion in fours,
led by the Commanding Officer and a guide from the
Northumberland Fusiliers moved from the Quarry with
orders to attack from Eye and Clarke’s trenches at 9.30 p.m.
The attack was to be made in four waves, with the 9th
Durham Light Infantry, who had been in position all the
afternoon, on the right, the 6th in the centre, and the 5th
Border Regiment on the left. Unfortunately the guide lost
his way, and after unnecessary wandering the head of the
Battalion arrived in Clarke’s trench, at the junction with
Bethel sap, at 9.15 p.m. After considerable difficulty,
owing to ignorance of the ground, the Companies got into
position. W Company, under Capt. J. Cook, was on the
left of the first wave, and X Company, under Capt. W.F.E.
Badcock, on the right, with Z (left) and Y (right) in support.
Just as they got into Clarke’s trench 2nd Lieut. Annett,
commanding Y Company, was killed, and 2nd Lieut. B.J.
Harvey, though wounded, took command.

At the time appointed for the attack the 5th Border
Regiment could not be located, so the 6th and 9th Durham
Light Infantry, after waiting about an hour, advanced. Crossing
Hook trench, which had been the enemy front line in the
morning and was now held by remnants of the 149th Brigade,
they moved down the slope towards Starfish and Prue
trenches, the first objective. They were met by a certain
amount of machine-gun and rifle fire, and had a few casualties,
including Capt. Badcock, who was wounded. The 6th
Battalion continued to advance, however, until completely
checked by machine-gun fire, and then took cover in ditches
and shell holes. It was then discovered that there was a
considerable gap on the right, but by moving men in that
direction touch was regained with the 9th Battalion.

About 3.30 a.m. on the 16th the Commanding Officer took
up Z Company to reinforce the front line, and the 5th Border
Regiment also moved up at the same time. The whole line
was then pushed forward and straightened. Battalion
Headquarters remained in Clarke’s trench.

Further orders were received to attack again at 9.15 a.m.,
but they never readied the Companies, and nothing happened.
Things were fairly quiet during the day, and at night a
shallow communication trench was dug over the ridge and
attempts made to improve the forward positions. Efforts
were also made to collect the Battalion into Companies, but
on the 17th the only parties under the control of Headquarters
were half of W Company, under Capt. Cook, part of
X Company, under Lieut. Harriss, a Platoon of Z Company,
under Lieut. W.B. Hansell, and Y Company, in reserve in
a sunken road, under 2nd Lieuts. McVicker and Richardson.
It was known that other isolated groups were in positions
in the front line. One of these was organised for defence
under orders of Private B. McLinden of X Company, who
subsequently received the Military Medal.

The chief obstacle to a further advance was an enemy
strong point called the Crescent. Accordingly a party was
organised to attack it, consisting of two bombing squads,
one each from the 6th and 8th Battalions under 2nd Lieut.
J.F.G. Aubin, now Brigade Bombing Officer. Leaving by
way of Crescent Alley at 6 p.m., they met with considerable
shell fire and were disorganised. Re-forming, however, they
went out again with the same result. The shelling proved
to be the preliminary to an attack on the 150th Brigade,
which was beaten off, Y Company being used to assist their
neighbours with Lewis guns.

The following day (18th) was misty, and it was thought
that the Germans were evacuating Starfish trench. An
attack was therefore ordered to occupy it. This attack was
made by the 6th Battalion on the left and the 9th on the
right, each providing 100 men. 2nd Lieut. W. Little, with
50 men of W Company, composed the Battalion’s front line,
and 2nd Lieut. W.F. Charlton, with 50 of Z Company, the
supporting line. A few men of other Companies were also
mixed with these two lines. Shortly after starting they
came under heavy machine-gun fire and had a number of
casualties, including 2nd Lieut. Charlton, who was killed.
Some of the party returned to their line during the day and
others at night. All who had been near the enemy trench
reported it to be strongly held.

During the morning Y Company were sent up to relieve
W, X and Z Companies in the front line. Owing to the
trenches being very muddy after rain, and at all places very
shallow, this was a difficult operation. To add to the difficulty
the 8th Battalion began to arrive to relieve the Battalion
before the Company relief was complete. However,
they at last got out and moved back to 6th Avenue East and
the intermediate line, where two days were spent in cleaning
up. Here Lieut. Ebsworth rejoined as Adjutant, and the
officers and men who had been left at the transport lines
also came up.

On the 20th September, the Battalion moved further
back to shelter in Mametz Wood, where a draft of 50 men
from the 2/6th Battalion, Essex Regiment, joined. After
four days’ rest it again went forward to the intermediate
line. The same day Major Wilkinson, of the 149th Machine
Gun Company, joined as second in command. The following
night the whole Battalion turned out to dig a jumping-off
trench. Lieut.-Col. Jeffreys took them as far as the Battalion
Headquarters of the 5th Durham Light Infantry from
where Lieut. Ebsworth and a guide led them to the position.
The guide lost his way, and after wandering about nearly
all night, the Battalion returned without doing any work.

On the 26th September Lieut.-Col. Jeffreys left the Battalion
to proceed to England for three months’ rest, and
Major Wilkinson took over command. The following day
a move was made to Hook trench, where the men lived in
small shelters and provided working parties at nights. This
trench was on the sky line, and as a result received considerable
attention from the enemy gunners. To prevent
casualties, and also to provide more room, two Companies
were pushed forward on the 28th to Starfish trench. From
these positions, in the afternoon, the Battalion relieved the
9th Battalion in the front line. The relief was observed,
and the communication trench shelled. The disposition of
Companies was, from right to left: Y, Z, W, X, each Company
having two Platoons in the front line (North Durham
Street) and two Platoons in the support line (South Durham
Street). At night they occupied battle positions, and
extended the trench they occupied by 150 to 300 yards.
The 9th Battalion was in support in Crescent Alley. On the
left were the 5th Border Regiment, and on the right the 47th
Division, but it was not possible to get into touch with the
flanks during the night. The Company Commanders were
now W Company, 2nd Lieut. Barnett; X Company, 2nd
Lieut. Lean; Y Company, Lieut. Catford; and Z Company,
Capt. Peberdy. By dawn all preparations, including the
alteration of watches to winter time, were completed for the
attack, which had been ordered for the 1st October.

The preliminary bombardment commenced at 7 a.m. and
continued till zero (3.15 p.m.), when it changed to a barrage.
Unfortunately there were some casualties from shells falling
short, the total casualties for the day being about 40, including
the Commanding Officer wounded. Lieut.-Col.
R.B. Bradford, now commanding the 9th Battalion, asked
for and was given permission to take command of the two
Battalions, and for his subsequent work that day was
awarded the V.C. He arrived at Battalion Headquarters at
zero, and at once went up to the front line.

The attack commenced at 3.15 p.m., but, partly on account
of the failure of the 47th Division on the right, and
partly owing to the wire not being properly cut, the attackers
were held up by machine-gun fire and suffered heavy casualties.
After considerable fighting with bombs and rifles
three Lewis gun teams of X Company, under 2nd Lieut. T.
Little and 2nd Lieut. C.L. Tyerman, and one team of W
Company under 2nd Lieut. Barnett, succeeded in getting a
footing in the first objective. These organised the position
and carried on bombing attacks, 2nd Lieut. Little being
killed. During these operations Lieut.-Col. Bradford arrived
on the scene, and immediately took charge of the situation,
and under his direction and leadership the whole of the first
objective was gained. A Company of the 9th Battalion
then came up, and using the new position as a starting point,
advanced and took the final objective after dark.

About dusk a counter-attack was attempted by the enemy
on the right front. Advancing in extended order, about
twenty of the enemy were challenged, and they all cheered,
shouting “Hooray.” As they showed no further friendly
signs they were fired on and driven off. During the night
a further counter-attack developed from the valley on the
right, but this also was repulsed.

The following day, by organised bombing, the whole of
the final objective was captured and held, and communication
trenches were dug back to North Durham Street.

The casualties during the two days had been very heavy,
and included amongst the officers, in addition to those already
mentioned, 2nd Lieut. Peacock, killed, and 2nd Lieut. Lean,
Capt. Peberdy, Lieut. Cotching, 2nd Lieut. Barnett and
2nd Lieut. Appleby wounded. Amongst the decorations
gained were Military Medals awarded to Corporal Dixon and
Privates Rushforth and Atkinson, all signallers, and Private
Turnbull of Y Company. Good work was also done by
Sergeants Gowland and Winslow.

On the night of the 2nd October Lieut.-Col. Bradford
handed over the command of the Battalion to Lieut. Ebsworth,
and it was relieved by the 7th Northumberland
Fusiliers the night after. Owing to the mud the relief did
not commence until 4 a.m., and it was almost dawn before
the Battalion reached Headquarters, from where it was
led by Lieut. Ebsworth to Starfish trench. Here it was
joined by R.S.M. Perry and the C.S.M.’s and a draft which
had been used as a carrying party. The officers left were
Lieut. Ebsworth, 2nd Lieut. Kirkhouse, Adjutant; 2nd
Lieut. K.B. Stuart, Signalling Officer, and 2nd Lieut.
Tyerman; the Medical Officer, Capt. J.G. Hill, arrived
later.

After a short rest the Battalion marched back to bivouacs
in Becourt Wood for one night.

Second Phase.

On the 4th October, the Battalion moved back to tents in
Henencourt Wood, where drafts arrived, and remained for
three weeks, reorganising and training. The Company
Commanders were now:—W Company, 2nd Lieut. A.S.
Tate; X Company, 2nd Lieut. J.H.F. Ludgate; Y Company,
2nd Lieut. R.H. Stewart; and Z Company, 2nd Lieut.
C.L. Tyerman.

At the end of this period, on the 23rd October, the Battalion
left the Wood and marched back to Becourt, where
two days were spent in tents. On the 25th October the men
were on the move again over familiar ground and soon found
themselves in tents just outside Mametz Wood. After a
week spent on working parties they moved up to the front
line, W Company, now under 2nd Lieut. R.H. Wharrier,
being in front in Snag trench and the other three Companies
in close support in the Flers line. On the night of Saturday,
the 4th November, X, Y and Z Companies took over the front
line in preparation for an attack on the Butte de Warlencourt
on the Sunday morning. Zero had been fixed for 9.15 a.m.
and the relief was not complete, owing to the extremely
bad state of the trenches, till 9 a.m. The Battalion was
disposed for the attack with X Company on the right, Y in
the centre, Z on the left and W in support, with the 9th
Battalion on the left flank and the 8th on the right. This
fateful day, 5th November, proved to be the most disastrous
the Battalion had yet passed through. The enemy position
was exceptionally strong, the trenches from which the
attack started were so muddy that several men were
drowned in them, and the time for preparation was so short
that the attack broke down almost as soon as it had started.
The casualties were very heavy, and included amongst the
officers 2nd Lieut. K.B. Stuart, 2nd Lieut. Fell, 2nd Lieut.
A.S. Ritson, 2nd Lieut. S. Robson, 2nd Lieut. T.F. Applegarth,
and 2nd Lieut. G.W. Robson, all killed, and all the
remaining Company officers, except 2nd Lieut. Wharrier,
wounded. Amongst the honours awarded were the M.C. to
2nd Lieut. Wharrier and the Military Medal to L.-Cpl. H.
Cruddace, who was also promoted to be sergeant. A monument
was afterwards erected on the Butte to the memory
of those of the Battalion who fell on this day.

On the following night the Battalion was relieved by the
5th Battalion and went back to Mametz Wood, where it
stayed till the end of the month supplying working parties
daily. Several new officers joined here, including Lieut.-Col.
H.M. Allen, Black Watch, who took over command; Lieut.
(now Major) Ebsworth becoming Second in Command.

Towards the end of the month came rumours of a rest, and
on the 30th the Battalion marched off once more to Becourt,
where it was this time accommodated in huts. After a night
there it marched back to billets at Warloy, where it stayed
during the whole of December, training and resting. The
rest was thoroughly enjoyed by all ranks. On Christmas
Day sports were held which included a mounted officers’
race won by Lieut. H.T. Bircham, M.C., transport officer.

On New Year’s Day the Battalion was on its way back to
the line. The first day’s march took it to billets in Albert,
the billets being partially destroyed houses. The following
day the march was resumed to a hut camp near the quarry
at Bazentin-le-Petit, well known to the few remaining survivors
of the 15th September. After a few days in this
camp, troubled only by an occasional shell, a move was made
into High Wood West camp, a cheerless place consisting of
black tarpaulin huts. From this and a similar camp across
the valley (High Wood East) the Battalion did two tours in
the front line at Factory Corner, where the line consisted of
more or less isolated posts. The support line, where a few
days were spent, was just in front of Flers. During these
tours the weather was exceedingly cold and the men suffered
considerably, both in the line and in the camp. There was
also a considerable amount of shell fire. Parties carrying
up rations and pushing trolleys up the light railway from
Clarke’s Dump had several casualties, and on one occasion
the camp was hit and all the signallers who had been left out
of the line for training became casualties. In the line itself
the only outstanding incident happened to a patrol which
found itself surrounded one night, but succeeded in getting
back safely. Towards the end of the month came rumours
of relief, and on the 24th January the Division was relieved
by the 1st Australian Division. The Battalion came out to
a new hut camp on the Beaver Road, between the Bazentin
and Mametz Woods. The next day it marched to Becourt
Camp, the air being full of rumours as to the future.

It soon became known, however, that the Division was
moving south to take over a section of the line hitherto
held by the French, still in the Somme area, just south of
Peronne. From Becourt the Battalion continued its march
to Ribemont. The march was uneventful except for the
fact that the two rear Companies took a wrong turning, and
after a roundabout journey arrived late at the halting place
for dinner. At Ribemont it stayed for about three weeks,
during which training was carried out, the men being accommodated
in barns. Col. Allen was still in command with
Lieut. T.J. Arnott (Gordon Highlanders) as Adjutant.
There was little of interest during this period and, on the
whole, everybody was pleased when the move was resumed
to huts at Hamel. After a few days there the Battalion
marched to billets at Proyart, where Lieut.-Col. J.W.
Jeffreys, D.S.O., returned and took over command. Again,
in three or four days it marched to Foucaucourt, where it
was in Divisional Reserve. This village, which had at
one time been in the front line system, was practically
nothing but ruins and the Battalion was accommodated in a
large camp of French huts, fitted with wire beds, each hut
holding about 150 men. Here, final preparations were made
for the line, which was visited by officers who reported that
the trenches were dry and in good condition. It was very
frosty weather at this time, but unfortunately before the
Battalion moved up a thaw had set in. The relief of the
5th Yorkshire Regiment will never be forgotten by those
of the Battalion who took part in it. Following on the
methods adopted by the French the relief took place through
very long communication trenches, running from Estrées
through Berny to the line in front of Misery. These
trenches, as a result of the thaw, were everywhere knee
deep in mud and usually waist deep, and men arrived in the
line without boots and in a few cases without trousers, having
lost them in the mud. The experiences of X Company were
perhaps the worst. Leaving camp at about 5 p.m., then 130
strong, they were met by guides, who lost their way, and
eventually arrived in the front line at dawn, having lost over
100 men stuck in the mud. The relief was not reported
complete till 4 p.m. the next day. The front line trenches
were worse if possible than the communication trenches, and
the days that followed were most unpleasant. There was
very little cover from enemy snipers, who were pretty active,
and there were several casualties from fishtail trench mortars.
One night was marked by a very intense “strafe” for a
short time with rifle grenades and trench mortars. It
afterwards appeared that this was the enemy’s parting
shot, for soon after the Division was relieved the enemy’s
extensive retirement on this sector took place. After two
tours in the front line, one in support in trenches round
Berny, and one in reserve at Foucaucourt, the Battalion
was relieved early in March by the 2/5th South Staffordshire
Regiment (59th Division), who had just come from Ireland
and had not previously seen any fighting in France. On
relief the Battalion returned to Foucaucourt.

Towards the end of the tour Lieut.-Col. Jeffreys left the
Battalion for a few days in hospital, during which time
Major Little, of the 5th Border Regiment, and Major Crouch
of the 9th Durham Light Infantry, both held command.
He returned, however, when the Battalion came out of the
line.

This ended the tour in the Somme region, but the Battalion
did not leave the area till the end of the month, the period
being spent in huts at Morcourt, where an energetic programme
of training and sports was carried out. The
principal feature of the sports was the success of members
of the Battalion, including Sergt. Young and Ptes. Nimney
and Moody in the Brigade and Divisional boxing contests.
Although there were no outstanding incidents to record of
this training, Morcourt seems to mark one of those turning
points in the history of the Battalion from which all subsequent
events date. So many small things occurred there that
it was remarked by later comers that it appeared to them
that the Morcourt training must have lasted for months.
One event, however, can be pointed to as a turning point.
On the 25th March, Lieut.-Col. Jeffreys, who had never fully
recovered from the wounds received in Sanctuary Wood,
was ordered to return to England on account of ill-health,
and handed over command to Major W.D. Carswell Hunt,
M.C., of the 7th Durham Light Infantry. Colonel Jeffreys’
personal influence and fighting qualities, strongly reflected
even in his absence in those officers who had received their
early training under him, had been largely responsible for the
reputation and the success of the Battalion during its first
two years of fighting and his departure was greatly regretted
by all ranks.

A few days after he left, the Battalion was on the move
to take part in the battle which was about to begin at Arras.

CHAPTER IV.

Arras.

First Phase.

From Morcourt the Battalion moved by motor ‘buses through
Amiens to Talmas preparatory to a long trek on foot. The
first two nights were spent at Wargnies and Havernas.
Here a famous Church Parade was held, at which the Commanding
Officer, in the absence of a Chaplain, preached his
first and, as it proved, his last sermon. From there the
Battalion marched to Longuevillette and then to Vacquerie-le-Bourcq,
spending a night at each place. About this time
Lieut. Arnott left the Battalion and Lieut. G.D.R. Dobson
(7th Durham Light Infantry) became Adjutant. The next
day Blangerval and Blangermont were reached and a short
stay made, half the Battalion being accommodated in each
village. From here Major Hunt went up by car to see the
forward area and died of heart failure on the journey. He
was brought back to St. Pol, where he was buried in the
cemetery, representatives of several battalions forming the
funeral procession. Major A. Ebsworth, M.C., took over
command.

When the march was resumed the direction was changed,
and, moving eastwards, billets were reached at Neuville-au-Cornet.
Rumours were now spreading of the forthcoming
battle and a further march to Villers-sur-Simon left no doubt
that the Battalion would be involved. These were the last
billets occupied by the men, the next portion of the trek
bringing them to huts at Montenescourt, about six miles due
west of Arras. Here Lieut.-Col. F.W. Robson, D.S.O.
(5th Yorkshire Regiment) arrived to take over the command,
which he held for nearly a year.

On the evening of the 11th April, in a blinding snowstorm,
the Battalion moved forward to the fight. Marching through
Arras, they came to the caves at Ronville. These caves
were like nothing seen before. Excavated by Spanish
prisoners in the middle ages to provide stone for the building
of the city, they extended over an enormous area, and were
capable of holding thousands of men. The sensation of
finding oneself in this huge underground town, complete
with electric light and water supply, after stumbling down a
long, uneven stairway, will not be forgotten by those who
survive.

After one night here, the caves had to be evacuated next
morning to make room for more troops coming up. The
Germans had now been driven back as far as Wancourt, which
was captured the previous day. On leaving the caves,
cellars in Ronville village were occupied. No sooner were
the men in, however, than orders were received to move further
forward. The Battalion paraded on the road leading to
Beaurains, which was crowded with vehicles and men, and
marched off in the afternoon. After their experiences of
trench warfare the sight of open, rolling country, the scene
of yesterday’s fighting, was very strange and, to some, invigorating.
Passing through the ruins of Beaurains and
Neuville Vitasse, the route turned across country towards
Wancourt, and about dusk the Battalion reached a sunken
road, where it halted. Owing to a delay in the arrival of
the Lewis gun limbers, the Lewis gunners were behind the
rest of the Battalion, and some difficulty was experienced
by them in locating the sunken road. Up to this point
there had been no firing or signs of activity. After a conference
of Commanding Officers a relief of the 14th Division
was arranged. W, X and Y Companies moved a little
further up and occupied Niger and Nepal trenches, which
were some distance behind the front line, and Z Company
were sent to dig a trench a little further forward near Wancourt
cemetery. Here they remained for the day. At
night detailed orders were received for an attack at dawn,
the Battalion’s frontage being near Wancourt Tower.

At 1 a.m. on the 14th April the men moved to the assembly
position in the dry bed of the Cojeul River, with the 8th
Battalion in support and 5th Border Regiment in reserve,
the 9th Battalion being already in a line just south of
Guemappe. The original orders had now been considerably
altered, and zero hour arrived before fresh orders had been
circulated to the Companies. The result was that at
4.30 a.m., after moving in file from the assembly position to
a bank, some 200 yards in front, the Battalion advanced
under a barrage in four waves of Companies, W being front
and Z in rear, with no orders except a rough indication of
the direction.

As they advanced they were met by very heavy machine-gun
fire from the front and from Guemappe in their left rear.
W and X Companies reached the ridge 500 yards from the
starting point, and passing down the other side, were not
seen again during the day. Y and Z Companies also reached
the ridge, but could get no further. Later they were joined
by the 8th Battalion, which was also held up.

The fighting then died down, but apart from one brief
message from X Company no trace could be found of the
two front Companies, and the casualties in the remaining
two were very heavy. To add to the confusion, the 56th
Division on the right had lost direction, and men of the
London Regiment were everywhere mixed with those of the
50th Division.

At dusk orders were received that the line on the ridge
would be taken over by the London Rifle Brigade. As soon
as the light permitted search was made for W and X Companies.
Eventually the remnants consisting of 4 officers
and about 20 men were discovered. Having reached a
small system of trenches, they had organised their defence
and successfully beaten off determined attempts to surround
them. About 80 men were finally assembled after the relief,
and more joined the Battalion during the next few days,
but the casualties amounted to over 200, or more than 50
per cent, of the total fighting strength. The officers killed
were Capt. Brock, Lieut. Richardson, and 2nd Lieuts.
Greener, Payne and Newton, whilst many were wounded.
Capts. R.S. Johnson and H. Walton, commanding W and X
Companies, were subsequently awarded the Military Cross,
and Corporal Betts the D.C.M. and Croix de Guerre.

After burying as many bodies as could be recovered, the
remnants of the Battalion moved back to dug-outs in the
Hindenburg Line on Telegraph Hill, which were reached,
after a roundabout march, at dawn.

From these dug-outs the Battalion returned next day to the
caves at Ronville, where it was re-organised and re-equipped
ready for further action. After four days’ rest it again moved
up, on the 21st April, this time to dug-outs in the trench system
known as “The Harp,” the Q.M. Stores remaining in Arras,
where on the 22nd April Lieut. Lewis, acting Q.M., was
killed by a shell. In “The Harp” fighting stores were
issued, as the Battalion was to be in reserve for the attack
on the 23rd April. At zero hour, just at dawn on that date,
St. George’s Day, the bombardment commenced, and the
sight of the gun flashes against the red sky as the Battalion
moved forward will not readily be forgotten. After two
halts in sunken roads orders were received to occupy Niger
trench once more, but by this time the fighting had died
down. Although constantly on the alert, no further orders
were received, and after two nights there, the Battalion was
relieved by the 14th Division and returned to Telegraph Hill.
One night was spent there, and the following day, the 27th,
it entrained at Arras for Mondicourt, from where it marched
to billets at Humbercourt, arriving about 3 a.m.

Here a few days were spent resting and training, and on
the 1st May a march was ordered to Berles-au-Bois, which
was found to be a village of ruins without inhabitants.
After one night there the Battalion marched to Riviere-Grosville,
where the billets were quite good. Here Lieut.
G.D.R. Dobson went to hospital, and Lieut. R.B. Ainsworth
became Adjutant. Two or three days were spent
there, and on the 3rd May a return was made to Humbercourt.
Here very pleasant days were spent in training,
particularly those on the range at Lucheux Forest, where
elaborate field firing schemes were carried out.

After about a fortnight there the Battalion was ordered
up in reserve for an attack by the 33rd Division and marched
to Monchy-au-Bois, where the accommodation was found to
consist of an open field in which was a trench line and much
wire. Shelters were erected of ground sheets, and a few
tents obtained, and in these the men lived for five days,
training being continued. Their services were not required
in the line, however, and they marched back to Laherliere.
Here a long stay was expected, but the following day the
journey was resumed to Souastre, where the Battalion spent
perhaps the most enjoyable month in its history. The men
were accommodated in a hut camp built round a large
parade and sports ground. As a result of easy training,
plenty of recreation and fine weather, the moral of the men
reached a very high level.

Second Phase.

On the 15th June the Battalion returned to hold the line
which it had helped to gain in April. Leaving Souastre, it
marched to support at a camp near Henin-sur-Cojeul. There
was practically no accommodation here and ground sheets
had to be used as shelters. The following day it relieved
the 10th Battalion Essex Regiment in the front line, just
south of the Cojeul River Valley, opposite Cherisy. After
four days in this sector it went out to Divisional reserve near
Boisleux-au-Mont, where, on the 27th June, it was visited
by Col. the Hon. W.L. Vane, the Honorary Colonel of the
Battalion. A regular system of reliefs, which lasted for
three months, now commenced. Under this system the
Battalion had two periods of four days in the front line and
one in support at Henin or Neuville Vitasse, followed by
eight days in reserve in camp near Mercatel. The weather
was good on the whole, and the trenches in excellent condition.
The enemy was only moderately active and there
were very few casualties. One of the Battalion areas in
this sector was the bank from which the attack started on
the 14th April, and whilst there a cross was erected to the
memory of those who fell on that day.

As a result of their long stay here, the men became very
familiar with the whole area, and their experiences in the
communication trenches, Foster Avenue, Shikar Lane,
Kestrel Avenue, Avenue Trench and others were talked of
for long after. Neither did they forget Lone Sap, from which
the enemy captured two of their comrades, Cable Trench,
which was raided by a party under 2nd Lieut. B.R. Leatherbarrow,
Concrete Trench, the Hindenburg Line, the caves
in Marliere Village, which on one occasion produced some
interesting souvenirs left by the Boches, and many other
localities.

Apart from minor raids and counter-raids, the only outstanding
incident was the double raid of the 15th September.
This operation was carried out by the 9th Durham Light
Infantry in the afternoon and repeated by the 8th Durham
Light Infantry in the evening. The Battalion was holding
the sector immediately on the right of the raiders, and its
function was to draw the enemy’s attention and fire by the
exhibition of dummy figures and a dummy tank, which
were later on view at the United Services Museum in Whitehall.
2nd Lieut. Leatherbarrow was in charge of these
dummies, assisted by Sergeant P. Finn, who was awarded
the Military Medal for his work.

Other decorations earned during this period were Military
Medals awarded to Corporal Nesbitt and Private Allison of
X Company for digging out a man buried by shell fire,
under very dangerous conditions.

Apart from good work in the line not only in patrolling,
etc., but also in improving the trenches till they were probably
as good as any on the whole front, considerable work
was done on the erection of reserve camps and horse standings.
It was with some regret therefore that when at
Northumberland Lines, a very comfortable hut camp near
Mercatel, the men heard that they were to leave the area
before the winter.

Early in October they marched to a canvas camp at
Gomiecourt, just off the main Bapaume road, and stayed
there a short time training. The arrival of representatives
from Divisions in the “Salient,” to instruct in the methods
adopted in the recent successful fighting there, left no doubts
as to the next move.

CHAPTER V.

Return to the “Salient.”

About the end of October the Battalion marched one night
to Bapaume, where it entrained for Esquelbecq, north-west
of Cassel. On detraining it marched to billets at Eringhem
for two nights. From there the march was continued to
Arneke, and there the men were told that a short stay would
be made, but early the next day orders were received to
march to Proven, just inside the Belgian frontier. On the
road, however, fresh orders were received, and the latter
part of the journey, from Wormhoudt, was done by train.

On arrival at Proven the Battalion occupied Piddington
Camp on the Poperinghe road, and incidentally, renewed
the acquaintance of Belgian mud. After one night there it
moved for the next night to bivouacs known as Sarawak
Camp, in the woods north of Poperinghe. This will probably
be remembered as one of the dirtiest camps ever occupied.
The last stage of the journey eastwards was done by train
from Proven to Boesinghe. Arriving at the latter place in
the morning, the men proceeded to Hulls Farm Camp close
by, on the Ypres road. This camp was occupied, however,
by the 4th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, which was
moving up in the afternoon to take part in an attack along
the Ypres-Staden railway north of Poelcapelle. Whilst
lying in an open field waiting to occupy the camp a visit was
received from a squadron of Gotha bombing planes, and
about 20 casualties were suffered. About 5 p.m. the camp
was taken over. Here the Battalion remained for three
days, and had considerable experience of Hun aeroplane
bombs, fortunately without further casualties. Exceptionally
large working parties were demanded on each of the three
nights, and their experiences were perhaps worse than those
of the tour in the line which was to follow.

The third battle of Ypres was still in progress at this time,
and Passchendaele had not yet been taken. On the front
between the railway and Houthulst Forest, due north of
Poelcapelle, the 149th Infantry Brigade had attacked and
advanced the line slightly. A further attack by battalions
of the 150th Brigade had partially failed, and about the
beginning of November the battalion moved up to occupy
the left sector of the line which was just inside the forest.

The journey up to the front line was far from pleasant.
After crossing the canal it consisted of a six-mile walk along
a duck-board track across one of the most devastated areas
on the whole front, and to add to the difficulties, the enemy’s
artillery was very active. Owing to lack of roads for the
transport, each man carried four days’ rations. The position
consisted of a series of water-logged shell holes, which were
troubled considerably by low-flying aeroplanes. Battalion
headquarters were in a pill-box known as Egypt House, which
received very assiduous attention from the Boche gunners.

As it had been decided to make no further attack on this
sector, though an improved position was desired, the nights
were spent in pushing forward the posts as far as possible
under cover of darkness. This was done very successfully,
and the battalion line was advanced during the tour by
200 yards with very few casualties. Several decorations were
obtained for this work including the Bar to the Military
Cross to Capt. J.F.G. Aubin, M.C., commanding Y Company;
and the Military Cross to Capt. P.H.B. Lyon, commanding
X Company. Sergts. Britton and Cruddace were awarded
Bars to the Military Medal.

After four days in the line, orders were received to move
back to the neighbourhood of the canal for two days and
then return. In view of the dangerous nature of reliefs,
however, an alteration was asked for and obtained, and the
Battalion completed its tour of six days. On relief by the
9th Battalion, it moved to Marsouin Farm Camp, near
Pilkem, and spent a very unpleasant morning under fire
from high velocity shells. Fortunately there were no casualties,
and in the afternoon after the relief it again moved to a
camp at Elverdinghe for a few nights.

From there it entrained to Watten, and marched to billets
at Houlle. Here a very enjoyable month was spent. The
maltery, where W and X Companies were billeted, was one
of the best billets they had been in for some time. The
great feature of this month’s training was the sports. After
winning the Brigade Football and Cross Country Cups, the
battalion won a great triumph by obtaining the Divisional
Cross Country Shield. This was given to the unit which had
the largest proportion of its ration strength over the course
in a certain time. The percentage obtained, 64 per cent.,
reflected the high state of efficiency to which the Battalion
had now attained. For this high standard, a large amount
of credit was due to R.S.M. G. Perry, D.C.M., who was
unfortunately compelled by ill-health to leave the Battalion
at Houlle, and subsequently went home, after nearly three
years’ active service. At his best on the parade ground and
in his lectures on the history of his Regiment, his influence
continued to be felt long after his departure, especially as
he was succeeded by one whom he had trained in soldiering,
C.S.M. J. Taylor, of X Company.

During the first week in December the visit of officers to
the line disclosed the new sector to be taken over, which
included Passchendaele village, recently captured by the
Canadians. A few days later the Battalion entrained at
Watten for Brandhoek, where it spent a short time in a hut
camp in Divisional reserve. From there it marched up
through Ypres to a camp just west of Potijze Wood, the
scene of its first action in April, 1915. After two days there
a further move was made to the forward area, into a number
of shelters known as the Seine area. The next step was to
the front line, which consisted of a series of shell hole positions
on the Passchendaele Ridge. Not only were these uncomfortably
wet, but they were very difficult to locate in the dark,
and many will remember the trouble experienced in selecting
the routes from the heap of debris of what had once been the
village church. Battalion Headquarters were in a German
pill-box known as Hamburg. Four days were spent in the
front line, and the Battalion then went to Divisional reserve
again at Brandhoek. After another tour in the line, it again
moved to Brandhoek on Christmas Day, and there completed
the 24 days which entitled it to a similar period of rest and
training. The whole tour had been without any exciting
incidents, and casualties were small, in spite of persistent
shelling which made the duck-board tracks (H, K, R.A.M.C.,
tracks, etc.) very unpleasant. The Christmas at Brandhoek
was thoroughly enjoyed by the men. On Boxing Day a
Christmas dinner was provided, consisting of turkeys,
puddings, port wine, beer, etc., the orderly work being done
by the N.C.O.’s, and the carving by the officers. A visit
was paid to the Battalion here by the Corps Commander
(Lieut-Gen. Sir Aylmer Hunter-Weston), who congratulated
the men on their appearance and bearing immediately after
an uncomfortable trench tour.

From Brandhoek the Battalion moved by ‘bus to the
Steenvoorde area, where it was accommodated in very
scattered billets for about ten days, during which it was
training and resting. It then entrained at Eecke for Wizernes,
near St. Omer, and marched to billets at Acquin. A stay of
about a fortnight there was occupied in the use of an exceptionally
good training area. A return was then made to the
former front line, and detraining again at Brandhoek, the
Battalion went this time to another hut camp known as
Toronto. A similar system of reliefs as before was carried out
and the tour was divided up into short periods at Brandhoek,
St. Jean, and the Passchendaele sector. The line was somewhat
quieter than on the previous occasion. The route to
and from the trenches was now a new track called Judah
track, a stretch of about three miles, which reflected great
credit on the Pioneer Battalions. From Brandhoek to
St. Jean and the return journeys were usually done by ‘bus
or light railway. The tour ended with a night in the cellars
in the town of Ypres, and from there the Battalion marched
to Ypres station and entrained to Wizernes again, and so to
billets in St. Martin-au-Laert, a suburb of St. Omer. These
billets were very good, and the advantage of being near a
town was fully appreciated. The story of the Battalion would
not be complete without a reference to the band, which,
under the direction of Sergt. T.O. Hann, M.M., had reached
a very high standard, and was second to none in the Division.
With the buglers, whose smart appearance attracted much
attention, a selection of music was played in the town daily
at “Retreat.” At this time, also, the Battalion concert party,
the “Red Diamonds,” trained by Capt. Cardew and Capt.
Lyon, provided several very good entertainments.

It was now March, and the great enemy offensive on the
Somme was expected. After three weeks, the rest was
abruptly terminated by orders to entrain for Amiens, and
about the second week in March the Battalion marched off
from St. Martin, and entrained at Arques. At this time it
was perhaps as efficient as any on the Western front, having
had few casualties during the past year, and also having had
a large proportion of rest and training. The officers knew
their men both in and out of the line, and it was confidently
expected that in the coming active operations great credit
would be earned—but the overwhelming disasters of the next
three months were never anticipated.

CHAPTER VI.

The Somme, the Lys and the Aisne.

First Phase.

On detraining at Longeau, the Battalion marched to billets
in Corbie, where it stayed for one night. The following day
it moved to the south of the main Amiens-Peronne road to
Marcelcave, and was then in Fifth Army Reserve. Here,
for about a fortnight the finishing touches were put to the
training. Included in the programme were the final stages of
the Army Rifle Association competition, in which No. 6
Platoon were defeated by a Platoon of the 8th Durham
Light Infantry in the final of the Brigade contest. The
officers were taken up to certain areas near Peronne, where
the Battalion might have to deliver counter-attacks in the
event of a German success. About the middle of March
rumours of the impending attack became more numerous,
and the intelligence reports containing prisoners’ statements,
etc., were not reassuring. At last, the date of the attack,
the 21st March, became fairly certain, and the drum fire
heard in the distance on that day was not unexpected.

Orders were issued during the morning for a “stand-to”
in readiness to move at very short notice, and about 3.45 p.m.
instructions were received to entrain at Gouzeaucourt. In
less than an hour the Battalion was on the march, the transport
moving at the same time by road. After a short journey
it detrained in the pitch dark at Brie, where Lewis guns,
etc., were placed on lorries, the orders being to move into
billets near Peronne. Whilst waiting for guides, however,
a staff officer of the Division arrived with fresh orders.
Instead of proceeding to billets the Battalion was to move
straight into the fight. The Lewis guns were removed from
the lorries and replaced by blankets, and the Battalion
marched off in the direction of Tincourt. Just to the south
of that village and in front of Beuzy a reserve system of
partially dug trenches, known as the Green Line, was at
once occupied. This line was the next defence system
behind the Brown Line, where the 66th and other Divisions
had been overwhelmed in the morning. On the morning of
the 22nd March the men watched with interest tanks moving
up to counter-attack, but on the whole things were quiet.
In the afternoon the shelling became heavier, and in the
distance large massed bodies of the enemy could be seen.
The first contact occurred when a German scout was wounded
and captured by a patrol. Orders were then received that
the line was to be held at all costs. The apparent strength
of the position, however, inspired confidence, and it was not
till towards dusk that the first serious casualties occurred.

About 9 p.m. further orders were received to withdraw to
a ridge in the rear, in front of Cardigny. The movement was
successfully carried out in the dark, and at dawn the new
position was reconnoitred and the dispositions completed.
At 7 a.m. the startling orders were received that the Fifth
Army was about to withdraw to the west of the Somme, and
detailed instructions as to the rearguard action were issued.
The Battalion was to cover the retirement of the 5th Durham
Light Infantry, which would in turn cover a further withdrawal.
Accordingly the village of Cardigny was occupied
with a view to a temporary stand. No sooner was this done
than the enemy were on the outskirts and their snipers and
machine guns were giving considerable trouble. The position
soon became untenable, and permission was obtained to
withdraw. This was done without loss, largely owing to the
courage of Y Company, who, under Capt. J.F.G. Aubin,
M.C., formed the rearguard to the Battalion.

The next line of defence was a trench system on a ridge
near Le Mesnil, which overlooked the Somme to the rear.
Here things were quiet, though it was known that the enemy
was working round the flanks, through Peronne on the left
and Le Mesnil on the right. There was still a considerable
amount of transport on the east of the river, and it was
expected that a fight would follow to allow this to get away.
After about two hours, however, orders came to cross the
river by the Eterpigny footbridge. A route was taken
across country towards this bridge, but there being no gap
through the marshes and undergrowth, the Battalion was
forced to turn aside through Le Mesnil village and, incidentally,
to pass under a light shrapnel barrage. It was not
known that the village was in the enemy’s hands, but as
soon as Z Company, who were leading, had reached the far
side, the remaining Companies were attacked. Again
Y Company distinguished itself, as did W and X Companies.
They at once deployed, and though driven towards the
marshes, successfully checked the enemy and eventually
followed Z Company over the partially destroyed footbridge,
about 300 yards long, with the loss of only two officers,
Lieut. D.F. Charlton (killed) and 2nd Lieut. A. Dobson
(prisoner), and about 20 men. For his action Capt. J.F.G.
Aubin, M.C., was awarded the D.S.O.

When all the Companies had been assembled on the west
of the river a line was formed, along with the remnants of
another Division, overlooking the marshes. By this time
the day’s fighting had died down, and things remained
fairly quiet throughout the night.

Early on the following morning, the 24th March, orders were
received to withdraw the Battalion to Foucaucourt. The
Companies were therefore assembled on the road and marched
back by the main Amiens-Peronne road to an old prisoners
of war camp near Foucaucourt village. Further orders
awaited them there to be ready to move up again, and in
about two hours they were again marching eastwards.
About 8 p.m. they were again in position, in reserve, in a
line north-east of Estrées.

The next morning the Battalion was hurriedly assembled
and moved to Genermont, south of the main road, coming
under the orders of the General Commanding the 8th Division.
The situation here appeared to be very serious, as
the enemy was advancing rapidly. Without any very definite
orders the Battalion moved in artillery formation
towards Marchelepot, but before reaching it the 8th Division,
who were holding the line, had retired to the railway behind
the village. Gaps along the line of the railway were accordingly
filled by W and Z Companies, but it soon became
necessary to put in Y Company also. No further developments
occurred till about 5 p.m., when Y Company on
the right found that the 24th Division on their right was
withdrawing to Chaulnes ridge. A defensive flank was
formed, and X Company moved to the north-east of Hyencourt
to deliver a counter-attack if necessary. For a couple
of hours the prospect looked very black, but the enemy did
not press his advantage, and about 7 p.m. orders were
received to withdraw the Battalion to a line of old trenches
south-east of Pressoire. Here a quiet night was spent, with
only a few casualties from shell fire.

About 9 a.m. the next day the enemy renewed his attacks
and a hurried withdrawal of the whole of the 8th Division
was ordered. The instructions which reached the Battalion
were somewhat confused, but along with the Battalions of
the 24th Infantry Brigade they moved from the trenches in
artillery formation, and passing through the ruins of Lihons—which
was under observation, and consequently was
heavily shelled as the men passed through it—continued the
withdrawal almost to Rosières. About a mile south-east of
that village a line was formed, but no further attack took
place. In this position the Battalion had the 2nd Northants
on its left and a Labour Battalion on its right.

At 9.30 a.m. the next day (the 27th) the Labour Battalion
withdrew and forced the two forward Companies of the
Battalion to do the same. A counter-attack was delivered,
however, and the line restored by the end of the day. The
enemy renewed his attacks on the following morning, and
the 24th Division on the right retired to Warvillers. Y Company
then moved to Vrely to cover the withdrawal of the
remainder of the Battalion to a line near Caix. It was
during these operations that Lieut.-Col. F.W. Robson,
D.S.O., was killed. He had commanded the Battalion for
nearly a year, and could truly claim that he had realised his
ambition of making it one of the finest in France. The best
type of the Territorial officer, his death was a personal loss to
every officer and man who served under him. The same
day Capt. H. Walton, M.C., commanding Z Company, was
also killed.

The three Companies in the Caix valley occupied a wired
trench facing Rosières, and were told that the troops in
front would retire and occupy the line with them. Instead,
however, these troops passed through them, and the whole
line fell back to the wood south-east of Caix. Here the
remains of the Battalion were re-organised, and going forward
again, re-occupied the Caix line. For this action Capt. G.E.
Cardew and 2nd Lieut. R. Wilson received the Military
Cross.

It was found impossible to hold the line much longer, and
about 4 p.m. the Battalion withdrew along the Beaucourt
road and received verbal instructions to move to Moreuil.
The cooks, storemen, buglers, etc., who had been left behind
when the Battalion had moved up on the 21st March, and
had since been in action as part of a composite battalion,
had been collected by Major T.B. Heslop, and with some
stragglers were now at Ailly-sur-Noye. These were ordered
up to the line on the 29th and moved to Demuin Wood,
where they arrived after having marched 30 kilometres over
congested roads during the previous 20 hours. They remained
in the area for several days, and had a very strenuous
time with several casualties. After this party had
moved up, stragglers were collected by Capt. Aubin at Boves,
and these, with the transport, moved by stages to Saleux,
passing large numbers of French troops moving up to check
the advance. At Saleux the remnants of the Division,
except the details who were still in the line, were re-organised
in case of emergency, and eventually entrained to Rue and
marched to billets at Vron. Here Major Heslop and his
party rejoined. These billets were not far from the coast,
and it was expected that after the strenuous fortnight there
would be a short rest. This was not to be, however, but, as
an alternative, rumour suggested a tour of duty in an easy
part of the line. This appeared to be confirmed when after
two days the Battalion moved by ‘bus to the Bethune area.

Second Phase.

On debussing just west of Bethune, the Battalion marched
through the town to billets at Beuvry, which was about four
miles behind one of the quietest sectors on the British front.
Here a draft of about 400 men arrived, and preparations were
being made for a relief of the 55th Division near La Bassée.
These arrangements, however, were not carried out, and after
a few days the Battalion moved by a short railway journey
to Estaires, where it occupied billets in the town, all the
officers—except the Commanding Officer, Adjutant, Transport
Officer and Capt. Cardew—being in one billet, the Convent.
At this time Estaires, though a very short distance behind
the line, was a flourishing town.

After a quiet day and night, alarming rumours of the
second German offensive spread, and the next night there
was a “stand-to.” The day following, the officers and a few
N.C.O.’s reconnoitred a line of posts in support which were
to be occupied in the event of an attack, and in the evening
instructions were received for a relief of the Portuguese
Division, which was holding the line, the relief to take place
the night after (9th April).

On the night of the 8th April, there was another “stand-to,”
and at 4 a.m. the threatened attack commenced with a
heavy bombardment of the town. One of the first shells
burst in the Convent, and all the occupants with two exceptions
became casualties. The men, however, got out of their
billets in safety, and the highest praise is due to the N.C.O.’s,
who gave valuable assistance to the three surviving Company
Officers in getting the Battalion into its battle positions in
the Cockshy, Marais East and West, and Drumiez posts.
Amongst the officers killed in the Convent were Capt. G.
Kirkhouse, Capt. J.F.G. Aubin, D.S.O., M.C., and Lieut.
C.L. Tyerman, all of whom had seen much service with the
Battalion.

The morning was misty, and beyond the fact that the
Portuguese were being driven back in confusion, nothing
definite could be ascertained as to the situation. The first
reports which reached the Commanding Officer (Major T.B.
Heslop) were to the effect that three Companies (W, X and Z)
had been completely overwhelmed, and that two of his three
Company Officers, Capt. Cardew (killed) and 2nd Lieut.
Railton (prisoner) were casualties. The remainder of the
Battalion, however, under Lieut. A.N. Brown, held its
ground till the afternoon, when it was forced to withdraw
to the railway near La Gorgue.

At dusk, orders were received to cross the river Lawe and
to hold the Western bank. This withdrawal was successful,
and the opportunity was taken to reorganise the Battalion,
which was divided into two companies, one under Lieut.
Brown, with Sergt. P. Finn, M.M., and Sergt. Field; and the
other under C.S.M. T. Sordy, M.C., with Sergts. Bell and
Cooper. The strength of the Battalion was now barely 100,
and when touch had been established on the flanks it was
found that it was holding a frontage of about 2,000 yards.

Assistance was therefore asked for, and a company of the
Corps Cyclists and a company of the 7th Durham Light
Infantry were attached. The latter were sent to fill a gap
on the right flank between the Battalion and a Battalion of
the Black Watch (51st Division). It was now about
10 a.m. on the 10th April, and the enemy had renewed his
attack and gained a footing in Lestrem. From this, however,
he was driven by the 7th Durham Light Infantry company,
but further to the south he had pressed back the Highlanders.

Orders were then received to withdraw in a N.W. direction
to the line of the Lys canal, the company of 7th Durham
Light Infantry being moved over to the left flank to fill a
gap which had been caused by the readjustment of their
line by the 5th Durham Light Infantry. Meanwhile, the
8th Durham Light Infantry, which was in rear, was ordered
up to occupy the line between the right flank of the Battalion
and the 51st Division.

The new position was being fairly well held when it was
reported that the 5th Durham Light Infantry on the left had
been forced to retire. Both flanks being now uncertain, the
Battalion was withdrawn towards Merville, under very heavy
machine-gun fire. A stand was made on the outskirts of the
town, but before night the fighting was taking place in the
streets of the town.

The next day the retirement continued towards the Forêt
de Nieppe, and a line was taken up near Le Sart. By this
time the strength of the Battalion was very small, and with
the remnants of the 8th Durham Light Infantry, a composite
battalion was formed under Lieut.-Col. P. Kirkup, M.C.
Eventually, all were withdrawn from the fighting, and moved
to the grounds of La Motte Château, where they came under
very heavy shell fire for a short time. For a few days longer
they remained on the western edge of the Forest and provided
working parties on new trenches in the forest itself on a line
in front of the Rue des Morts. At the end of this time they
were taken out to billets at Cohem, near Wittes, where they
remained for about a week reorganising and cleaning. Here
Lieut.-Col. F. Walton, M.C., returned and took over command
of the Battalion from Major T.B. Heslop, who was subsequently
awarded the D.S.O. for his services whilst in command.
Other honours gained in the Lys battle were the
Military Cross by Lieut. A.N. Brown, the bar to the Military
Cross by C.S.M. T. Sordy, M.C., the D.C.M. by Sergt. P.
Finn, and Military Medals by Sergts. Bell and Cooper.

Having now shared in two great battles within a month,
a rest was confidently expected, and very soon orders were
received to move by ‘bus to Lapugnoy, near Bethune, to
entrain for an unknown destination, though rumour suggested
somewhere near Paris.

Third Phase.

After a twenty-four hours’ journey, the Battalion detrained
at Serzy, and marched to a hut camp at Arcis-le-Ponsart.
Maps were scarce, but it was found that this village was
somewhere east of Soissons, and that the nearest part of
the line was the famous Chemin des Dames. The men of
the Division were the first British troops to visit these parts,
and the limited knowledge of the French language which they
had found sufficient in Belgium and the North was found to
be useless. Other Divisions were expected to come South, but
for a short time the 50th occupied the unique position of
being the only British troops in the Sixth French Army.

In the camp at Arcis-le-Ponsart were all the battalions
of the 151st Brigade, and the ceremony of Brigade guard
mounting was revived. This took place daily in the centre
of the village with the massed buglers and bands. On the
occasion of a visit of the French Army Commander to
Divisional Headquarters, a guard was provided at very short
notice by the Battalion, and was complimented on its smart
appearance and bearing. It may be mentioned that the
bugler of this guard carried the silver bugle presented to the
Battalion in 1861 by the ladies of Coundon.

It was generally understood that the tour on this sector,
which was one of the quietest in the line, was to be a period
of rest and training prior to a return to the fighting further
north. Accordingly, the days at Arcis were devoted to training,
mostly in field work. The men whose training was not
up to standard, including a certain number who had recently
been transferred from the Inland Water Transport section of
the Royal Engineers, were detached for separate instruction,
and eventually went to form a Divisional School.

After about three weeks’ training, during which an epidemic
of influenza visited the camp, the Battalion marched to
billets in Glennes, a small village near the Aisne. Here final
preparations were made for the line, and after a few days it
moved up to relieve a battalion of the 73rd French Infantry
Regiment in the woods immediately east of the Craonne
Plateau.

The relief was very interesting. Arriving in the woods in
the dark, the men were led by French guides by bewildering
tracks and trenches to the front line. When daylight came,
the support companies found themselves amidst green trees,
very different surroundings from those they had previously
known as the forward area. To add to the general comfort
there were practically no indications that the war was still on.
The shelling consisted at the most of half-a-dozen explosions
daily, and generally there was “nothing doing.” The rations
came up to Battalion Headquarters by train, and the carrying
parties lost their terrors.

After four days the Battalion moved out to the support
area, which consisted of billets in the deserted village of
Chaudardes. Here concerts were organised, there was bathing
in the Aisne Canal, the band played selections in the centre
of the village, and it was even possible to do a certain amount
of training when the enemy’s observation balloons were not up.

The four days in support being finished, a return was made
to the line, this time on the right sub-sector, with the
8th Durham Light Infantry on the left. The conditions were
still good, and everything pointed to this being a rest sector
for the enemy also.

Nothing unusual occurred till the evening of the 26th May,
when a message was received to the effect that a prisoner had
stated that after a three-hours’ bombardment the enemy
was going to attack at 4 a.m. on the 27th. Observers also
reported that towards dusk the roads behind the enemy’s
line were black with troops. The situation appeared to be
so improbable that it was difficult to regard it as serious. The
necessary precautions were taken, however; reserves of ammunition
were sent forward, surplus personnel were sent down
to the transport lines, and everybody warned to be on the alert.

Promptly at 1 a.m. on the 27th the barrage came down,
and it was such as had never been experienced by the
Battalion before. The enemy flooded the whole area to a
depth of about 3,000 yards with high explosive, shrapnel, and
gas shells. Even the stores and transport, as was afterwards
disclosed, were shelled out of Muscourt, which was many
miles back, south of the Aisne.

Communication with the forward companies was maintained
by telephone, and an occasional runner, and at
4.50 a.m. a message was received at Headquarters from the
front line stating that the enemy had attacked in force and
had overwhelmed the forward posts. An enemy tank was
also reported to be tearing up the wire. The next information
came from Capt. Lyon who, finding his Company (X)
had been wiped out, reported at Battalion Headquarters
that the enemy was advancing rapidly. The reserve company
(Z), under Capt. R. Green, M.C., were in position close
to Headquarters, and they reported the enemy on top of
them, with machine guns behind their right flank and
bombers behind their left.

It was then decided to move Headquarters further to the
rear, and it was afterwards discovered that at this time parties
of the enemy were actually well in rear of the position.

After moving down the communication trench for about
500 yards, Lieut.-Col. Walton, with the Adjutant and Signalling
Officer, and Capt. Lyon, collected all the available men, about
forty of the Battalion, and searched for the best place to make
a stand. They were still under the barrage, and the smoke
made matters very difficult. Presently the 5th Durham Light
Infantry came up the trench to take up an allotted position,
which they found to be already taken by the enemy. They
moved off to the right of the main trench, however, and the
forty men under Capt. Lyon joined them.

A message was then received by the Commanding Officer
telling him to report at Brigade Headquarters. On arrival,
however, the dug-outs were found to be unoccupied. Enemy
machine guns were now firing from the rear, and it was realised
that apart from about half-a-dozen orderlies who formed the
remains of the Headquarters personnel, the Battalion had
been practically annihilated.

In his search for the Brigadier, who, it afterwards transpired,
had been killed, Lieut.-Col. Walton arrived at the bridge
at Concevreux. Here he found a few men of the 8th Durham
Light Infantry and the 5th Northumberland Fusiliers, with
whom the bridge was held till the afternoon. Unfortunately,
none of the Battalion joined this party from the front, and
for the next two or three days the two Commanding Officers
of the 6th and 8th Durham Light Infantry found themselves
in command of various bodies of men of other battalions.

Meanwhile those of the Battalion who were at the transport
lines when the battle started had been collected on the
road from Muscourt to Romain under Major T.B. Heslop,
D.S.O., and placed under the orders of the G.O.C. 74th
Brigade. Whilst on the road they could see enemy troops
and guns on the far side of the Aisne valley and later saw
these guns being fired point blank at them. Various positions
were taken up during the day, the party being in close
contact with the enemy and suffering many casualties. On
the 29th these details, which had rejoined the transport, were
ordered to move from Villers Argon to Baslieux-sous-Chatillon,
but before reaching the latter place, every available man
was again collected to form part of a Company under Major
Heslop, representing the remnants of the 151st Brigade in a
Battalion to which each Brigade of the Division contributed
one Company. After a night in Quisles Château this
Battalion moved towards Ville-en-Tardenois to support the
74th Brigade. The enemy’s position was uncertain and
the 151st Brigade Company were ordered to act as advance
guard and to seize the high ground north and east of
Romigny. This was done, but the enemy attacked in force,
with the result that the Company were driven to a position
south of the village which they held till reinforcements arrived.

Eventually, the remnants of the Division, except the
Composite Battalion, were assembled at Vert-la-Gravelle,
south of the Marne, when a Composite Brigade was formed,
consisting of a weak Battalion from each of the original
Brigades. This Brigade, after about a week spent in
reorganisation, moved up to Chaumuzy and the Bois de
Courton, where it did good work in a counter-attack on the
Bligny ridge. Meanwhile, the transport and stores moved
back to Broyes, near Sezanne, where they were eventually
joined by the members of the Composite Battalion. For
actions during the whole of the operations, the Military Cross
was awarded to Capt. A.B. Hare, Lieut. T. Rushworth,
2nd Lieut. J. Woodhead, and R.S.M. J. Taylor. The last
named was wounded and was succeeded by C.S.M. T.
Sordy, M.C. The Military Medal was awarded to Sergt.
Malone, L.-Cpl. Ripley and Pte. Dinsley, and the French
Croix de Guerre to Corpl. Nield.

At Broyes still another Composite Battalion was formed
from the Brigade in case of emergency, and though orders
were received to proceed into the line, they were cancelled.

Then came the news that owing to the military demands,
the 50th Division was to be broken up. Nothing definite,
however, could be ascertained, and early in June the remnants
entrained at Sezanne for the Abbeville area. On detraining
at Longpre they marched to billets at Caumont, where orders
were received that the battalions were to be reduced to the
strength of Training Cadres (10 officers and 50 other ranks).
After a few days they marched to Warcheville, from where the
surplus men (about 120) were sent to the Base. It may be
mentioned that the total casualties in the Battalion during
the months of March, April and May had been 60 officers
and over 1,200 other ranks.

In a few more days the Battalion, now a Training Cadre,
moved by ‘bus to a camp just outside Dieppe, and there a
month was spent awaiting further orders. The time was
spent in the training of the N.C.O.’s who were to be instructors
on special subjects, and in visits to the town. The band had
been lent to the 50th Division, which had been filled up by
new battalions from Salonica and was able to play selections
in the camp, and on one occasion in the town.

At the end of the month’s stay, about the middle of August,
it was announced that the battalions were not to be disbanded,
but retained for training purposes. A few days later the
Cadres of the 5th, 6th and 8th Durham Light Infantry moved
by train to Rouen, where they were to build a camp and start
a new institution, that of instructing reinforcement officers
at the Base in tactical schemes. The officers of the Cadres
therefore began the latter work, whilst the N.C.O.’s and men
worked, or superintended the work on the new camp. In
this somewhat monotonous way two months dragged on,
during which, in the temporary absence on sick leave of
Lieut.-Col. Walton, Lieut.-Col. Montgomerie, M.C., of the
Norfolk Regiment, was in command. The band still remained
with the Battalion and after the Armistice was
granted permission to play on the Joan of Arc statue, being
the first British band to do so. They also had the unique
experience of playing “Blaydon Races” in Rouen Cathedral.

About the middle of October came rumours of the splitting
up of the Cadres, and on the 18th October Lieut.-Col. Walton
was ordered to proceed to take command of the 18th Durham
Light Infantry. He was succeeded by Lieut.-Col. A.L.
MacMillan of the Seaforth Highlanders, who commanded,
however, for only a few days, for on the 6th November the
Battalion was demobilised, and within a few days the personnel
had been scattered to various battalions all over France.

So within a few days of the Armistice, ended the career of
the 6th Durham Light Infantry in France, after three and
a half years of good work which had made for it, right up
to the end, a reputation which bore not a single stain, and
which on more than one occasion had caused it to be held up
as an example of the efficiency of the Territorial Force to
which it had the great honour to belong.

APPENDICES.

APPENDIX I.

Officers Killed or Died.

APPENDIX II.

(The ranks shown are the highest held by the respective officers during
their service in France.)

Commanding Officers.

Adjutants.

Quartermaster.

(With short interval when wounded in 1918.)

Transport Officer.

APPENDIX III

(The ranks shown are the highest held by the respective officers during
their service in France.)

Decorations won by Officers serving with the Battalion.

D.S.O.

• Lieut.-Col. J.W. Jeffreys.
• Lieut.-Col. T.B. Heslop.
• Capt. J.F.G. Aubin.

M.C. & BAR.

• Capt. J.F.G. Aubin.

M.C.

• Lieut.-Col. F. Walton.
• Capt. T. Welch.
• Capt. R.H. Wharrier.
• Capt. H. Walton
• Capt. R.S. Johnson.
• Capt. R.B. Ainsworth.
• Capt. P.H.B. Lyon
• Capt. W.M. Hope
• Capt. G.E. Cardew.
• Capt. A.N. Brown.
• Capt. T. Rushworth.
• Capt. A.B. Hare.
• Lieut. W.P. Gill.
• Lieut. G.R. Angus.
• Lieut. B.J. Harvey.
• Lieut. H.T. Bircham.
• 2nd Lieut. R.A. Wilson.
• 2nd Lieut. J. Woodhead.

The V.C. was won by Brig.-Genl. R.B. Bradford whilst in
command of the 6th and 9th Battalions.

THE

ARDEN PRESS

W.H. SMITH & SON

STAMFORD STREET

LONDON: S.E.