CHAPTER XXIV

AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER 1917

_Diary of the War_

[Sidenote: 1917.]

There was much fighting on the British front during these two months. Early in August the Germans counter-attacked near Ypres, and succeeded in regaining St. Julien, but only for a short time, for it was retaken by the British a week later. On the Ypres――Menin road there was fierce fighting; the British gained some ground north-west of Lens, and also reached the Bois Hugo. In co-operation with the French they made good progress in the direction of Langemarck, and crossed the Steenbeek River. A general offensive east of Ypres was undertaken in September, and the line was advanced considerably.

The French launched a determined attack at Verdun on an 11-mile front, and captured several villages.

The Italians advanced in strong force on a 30-mile front from the Isonzo to the sea, and captured the Austrian front-line trenches beyond the Piave. They also had successes at Monte Gabriele and Val Sagana.

The Russian _débâcle_ continued, and the Germans captured Czernowitz and Riga. General Korniloff, finding that the Army was in a state of mutiny, marched on Petrograd, apparently with the intention of taking over the Government of Russia, but his insurrection ended in failure, and he was forced to submit to the Provisional Government under Kerensky.

In Mesopotamia Sir Stanley Maude defeated the Turks at Ramadie, and there was some further fighting in East Africa. China declared war on the Central Powers.

During these months several air raids were carried out against England, and not only London but many other towns were severely bombed.

THE 1ST BATTALION

[Sidenote: 1st Batt. Aug.]

After the operations at Boesinghe the 1st Battalion retired for a few days’ rest to Forest Area, but returned to the front trenches on August 5. While it was being relieved by the 3rd Battalion Royal Fusiliers, Second Lieutenant H. G. Johnson was killed. On the 8th it proceeded to Putney Camp near Proven, where it remained for four days, and then moved on to Reinforcement Camp at Herzeele. On the 12th Captain J. C. B. Grant, R.A.M.C., who had been attached to the Battalion for over a year, left, and Captain P. H. Wells arrived to take up the duties of Medical Officer. On the 26th Second Lieutenant W. A. Fleet joined from the base, and on the 22nd Captain A. T. G. Rhodes arrived. At the end of the month the Battalion moved to Rugby Camp in the Bluet Farm Area.

[Sidenote: Sept. 1917.]

On September 1 it went into the line for four days, and came in for a certain amount of shelling. Second Lieutenant R. H. Carson received a bad wound in the side from a shell, and although he was carried down to the dressing-station, where it was at first thought that his wound was not serious, he died the next day. Second Lieutenant S. Y. P. Gardner was wounded, and Second Lieutenant W. A. Fleet was gassed. On September 5 the Battalion entrained at Lunéville Siding for Ondank, whence it marched to Cariboo Camp. On the 13th it moved to Harrow Camp, and on the 21st to Purbrook Camp. The following officers joined during the month: Lieutenant A. A. Moller, Lieutenant J. F. Tindal-Atkinson, Second Lieutenant F. H. Ennor, Second Lieutenant C. C. Mays, Second Lieutenant R. Hall-Watt, Lieutenant J. P. Bibby, Second Lieutenant W. U. Timmis, Lieutenant C. Wilkinson, Second Lieutenant F. T. Maurice, Lieutenant the Hon. P. P. Cary, Second Lieutenant J. A. Lloyd.

[Sidenote: Oct.]

The first few days in October were spent by the Battalion at Putney Camp, and on the 3rd it moved to the Elverdinghe Area, where the following officers rejoined: Captain Spence, Captain Chamberlain, Lieutenant Bevan, and Second Lieutenant Timmis.

LIST OF OFFICERS OF THE 1ST BATTALION AT THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER

Lieut.-Colonel M. E. Makgill-Crichton- Maitland, D.S.O. Commanding Battalion. Major H. G. C. Viscount Lascelles Second in Command. Capt. P. J. S. Pearson-Gregory Adjutant. Lieut. D. H. S. Riddiford Transport Officer. Capt. and Quartermaster J. Teece, M.C. Quartermaster. Capt. L. G. Fisher-Rowe, M.C. King’s Company. Lieut. T. P. M. Bevan, M.C. ” ” Lieut. L. de J. Harvard ” ” 2nd Lieut. R. B. St. Q. Wall ” ” 2nd Lieut. R. C. Bruce ” ” Capt. A. T. G. Rhodes No. 2 Company. 2nd Lieut. L. G. Byng ” ” 2nd Lieut. W. U. Timmis ” ” 2nd Lieut. R. Hall-Watt ” ” Capt. P. M. Spence No. 3 Company. Lieut. P. G. Simmons ” ” Lieut. J. P. Bibby ” ” 2nd Lieut. F. H. Ennor ” ” Lieut. A. A. Moller No. 4 Company. Lieut. the Hon. P. P. Cary ” ” Lieut. R. P. le P. Trench, M.C. ” ” Lieut. J. F. Tindal-Atkinson ” ” 2nd Lieut. A. S. Chambers ” ” 2nd Lieut. C. C. Mays ” ” Capt. P. H. Wells, R.A.M.C. Medical Officer.

THE 2ND BATTALION

[Sidenote: Aug.]

The 2nd Battalion reached Plumstead Camp between Herzeele and Proven on August 3, and remained there training until the 21st, when it moved into bivouacs at Bluet Farm. On the 28th it went to Harrow Camp, and was employed in carrying up material to the front line. There was a great deal of promiscuous shelling by the enemy’s artillery, and one shell pitched on the cookers of the 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards, killing 3 men and wounding 14, while later two of its travelling cookers were blown to pieces, but the 2nd Battalion only had one man wounded. On the 31st it moved back out of the shelled area. During the month the following officers joined: Lieutenant H. White, Captain C. N. Newton, M.C., Second Lieutenant R. H. R. Palmer, and Second Lieutenant H. B. G. Morgan.

[Sidenote: Sept.]

On September 8 the Battalion took over the front trenches immediately to the left of the Staden Railway, where the line was held by a series of posts running across the Broembeek. This was a very unpleasant line to occupy, as it was wet and marshy, and the enemy was able practically to overlook the trenches. Captain Walker, M.C., commanded the Battalion, while Major Rasch temporarily took command of the Brigade. During the three days in the line, 6 men were killed and 32 wounded. Second Lieutenant H. B. G. Morgan and three other ranks were slightly wounded, but remained at duty. On the 10th the Battalion spent four very disagreeable days at Rugby Camp, where it was continually bombed, shelled, and gassed. The men were employed in carrying up material to the front line, but considering they were constantly subjected to shell-fire they suffered very little: 3 men were killed, 3 wounded, and 11 gassed. Just as the Battalion was leaving camp, six 8-inch shells fell close by, but fortunately without causing any casualties. After a fortnight at De Wippe Camp, where it was employed on fatigues, the Battalion moved on the 23rd to Plumstead Camp, where it remained until October 6. On September 22 Brigadier-General G. D. Jeffreys, C.M.G., having been given command of the Nineteenth Division, left the 1st Guards Brigade to take up his new appointment, and was succeeded by Lieut.-Colonel C. R. C. de Crespigny. Lieutenant R. Y. T. Kendall and Second Lieutenant H. D. Stratford joined the Battalion on the 14th, and Second Lieutenant G. H. Hanning on the 21st.

[Sidenote: Oct.]

LIST OF OFFICERS OF THE 2ND BATTALION AT THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER

Major G. E. C. Rasch, D.S.O. Commanding Battalion. Major the Hon. W. R. Bailey, D.S.O. Second in Command. Capt. A. H. Penn Adjutant. Hon. Capt. W. E. Acraman, M.C. Quartermaster. Lieut. G. G. M. Vereker, M.C. Transport Officer. 2nd Lieut. H. M. Wilson Intelligence Officer. Capt. J. N. Buchanan, M.C. No. 1 Company. Lieut. J. C. Cornforth (Battalion Bombing Officer) ” ” 2nd Lieut. P. A. A. Harbord, M.C. ” ” 2nd Lieut. S. H. Pearson ” ” 2nd Lieut. H. D. Stratford ” ” Capt. Sir A. L. M. Napier, Bart. No. 2 Company. Lieut. F. A. M. Browning (Asst. Adjutant) ” ” Lieut, the Hon. F. H. Manners ” ” Lieut. F. H. G. Layland-Barratt, M.C. ” ” Lieut. W. H. S. Dent ” ” 2nd Lieut. R. H. R. Palmer ” ” 2nd Lieut. H. B. G. Morgan ” ” Capt. C. N. Newton, M.C. No. 3 Company. Lieut. R. Y. T. Kendall ” ” Lieut. F. A. Magnay ” ” Lieut. A. W. Acland ” ” 2nd Lieut. H. White ” ” Capt. G. C. FitzH. Harcourt-Vernon, D.S.O. No. 4 Company. Lieut. G. R. Westmacott ” ” Lieut. R. A. W. Bicknell (Battalion L.G. Officer) ” ” Lieut. J. Tabor ” ” 2nd Lieut. G. H. Hanning ” ” Capt. J. A. Andrews, M.C., R.A.M.C. Medical Officer. Capt. the Rev. Hon. C. F. Lyttelton Chaplain.

THE 3RD BATTALION

[Sidenote: Aug.]

After three days’ rest in Forest Area the 3rd Battalion went by train to Elverdinghe, and marched up from there to the front line. While the relief was being carried out there was a good deal of shelling, and Second Lieutenant G. V. G. A. Webster, a keen young officer of great promise, was killed by a shell. After a week’s rest at Herzeele, the 3rd Battalion moved into Corps Reserve, while the Twentieth and Twenty-ninth Divisions attacked on the 16th. It returned to Herzeele on the 19th, and on the 22nd went to De Wippe Camp.

[Sidenote: Sept.]

On September 4 the Battalion moved to Eton Camp, which was close to the railway, and therefore exposed to attacks by the enemy’s aircraft. There were no less than forty casualties from bombs dropped from aeroplanes. On the 12th the Battalion moved to Rugby Camp, which was regularly shelled at night, and then took over the trenches in the Broembeek sector. For four days it was subjected to considerable shelling, and on the 20th it prolonged the line to the left, where the 10th King’s Royal Rifle Corps attacked, and took their objective. The casualties during the four days were 6 killed and 28 wounded, including Lieut. the Hon. A. M. Borthwick, Lieut. E. D. Tate, and Lieut. R. W. Eliot Cornell.

[Sidenote: Oct.]

The first week in October was spent in training at Herzeele and Proven.

LIST OF OFFICERS OF THE 3RD BATTALION AT THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER

Lieut.-Colonel A. F. A. N. Thorne, D.S.O. Commanding Battalion. Capt. E. D. Ridley, M.C. Second in Command. Capt. the Hon. A. G. Agar-Robartes, M.C. Adjutant. 2nd Lieut. L. Holbech Assistant Adjutant. Lieut. C. C. Carstairs Intelligence Officer. Lieut. M. Duquenoy Transport Officer. Lieut. G. H. Wall Quartermaster. 2nd Lieut. F. W. R. Greenhill ” Capt. J. C. Craigie, M.C. No. 1 Company. Lieut. E. R. M. Fryer, M.C. ” ” 2nd Lieut. E. G. A. Fitzgerald ” ” Lieut. E. W. Seymour ” ” Lieut. W. H. Beaumont-Nesbitt, M.C. No. 2 Company. 2nd Lieut. W. H. S. Roper ” ” 2nd Lieut. C. B. Hollins ” ” 2nd Lieut. J. Chapman ” ” Lieut. J. C. D. Tetley No. 3 Company. Lieut. G. P. Bowes-Lyon ” ” Lieut. N. Thornhill ” ” Lieut. the Hon. H. E. Eaton ” ” 2nd Lieut. A. C. Knollys ” ” Capt. G. F. R. Hirst No. 4 Company. Lieut. F. J. Heasman ” ” 2nd Lieut. C. W. Carrington ” ” 2nd Lieut. C. L. F. Boughey ” ” 2nd Lieut. F. S. V. Donnison ” ” _Attached_――Lieut. H. Dearden, R.A.M.C.

THE 4TH BATTALION

[Sidenote: Aug. 1917.]

The first few days in August were spent by the 4th Battalion in Forest Area; its strength was made up to 32 officers and 882 men. From the 5th to the 7th the Battalion went up into the trenches, where it came in for a good deal of shelling. The casualties were 15 killed, 35 wounded, 3 missing, 1 case of shell-shock, total 54. Lieutenant J. B. Burke was slightly wounded, but remained at duty. A patrol under Second Lieutenant D. J. Knight was sent out to reconnoitre the ground on the far side of the Steenbeek, and returned without having encountered any Germans. On the 8th the Battalion marched to Zonnerbloom Cabaret, where it entrained for Proven, whence it marched to Penton Camp. On the 27th it proceeded to Herzeele, where Lieutenant M. Chapman joined, and on the following day moved up into the line, where it remained for four days. At first all was quiet, but later shells began to fall very heavily. Second Lieutenant Benson took out his platoon from No. 4 Company, and advanced the bridgehead positions a distance of 100 yards, thus gaining a fresh field of observation over three-quarters of a mile. He also went out with a daylight patrol to locate the enemy, and succeeded in going as far as 200 yards before two machine-guns opened fire on his party. One man was killed by a low-flying aeroplane, which flew along the front line firing a machine-gun, and the total casualties during the four days in the trenches were 4 killed and 7 wounded.

[Sidenote: Sept.]

On the evening of September 1 the Battalion retired to Rugby Camp near Bluet Farm, where it remained for a week. On the 5th a German aeroplane flew over the camp, and dropped bombs, which wounded Lieutenant R. G. West and Lance-Sergeant S. G. Bull. After a week at Dublin Camp a move was made to Charterhouse Camp, where Lieutenant R. Farquhar, M.C., was killed by a shell. He was a fearless officer who had seen much fighting, and already distinguished himself; his death was a great loss to the Battalion. On the 21st the Battalion moved to Herzeele, and on the 24th to Penton Camp, where it remained training until the operations of October 5.

[Sidenote: Oct.]

LIST OF OFFICERS OF THE 4TH BATTALION AT THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER

Lieut.-Colonel Viscount Gort, D.S.O., M.V.O., M.C. Commanding Battalion. Major W. S. Pilcher, D.S.O. Second in Command. Capt. C. R. Gerard Adjutant. Capt. G. C. Sloane-Stanley Assistant Adjutant. Lieut. M. Chapman Intelligence Officer. Lieut. I. J. Ingleby Act.-Quartermaster. 2nd Lieut. N. A. Pearce Transport Officer. Capt. J. N. F. Pixley No. 1 Company. Lieut. C. E. Irby ” ” 2nd Lieut. E. H. Tuckwell (Battalion L.G. Officer) ” ” 2nd Lieut. G. R. Green ” ” 2nd Lieut. J. M. Chitty ” ” Capt. the Hon. F. E. Needham No. 2 Company. 2nd Lieut. C. E. Benson, D.S.O. ” ” 2nd Lieut. T. T. Pryce, M.C. ” ” 2nd Lieut. R. C. Denman ” ” 2nd Lieut. H. W. Windeler ” ” Capt. J. B. M. Burke, M.C. No. 3 Company. Lieut. C. S. Nash (Battalion Bombing Officer) ” ” 2nd Lieut. D. J. Knight ” ” 2nd Lieut. R. L. Murray Lawes ” ” Capt. G. H. T. Paton, M.C. No. 4 Company. Lieut. H. H. Sloane-Stanley ” ” Lieut. E. R. D. Hoare ” ” 2nd Lieut. B. J. Hubbard, M.C. ” ” 2nd Lieut. F. R. Oliver ” ” 2nd Lieut. N. R. Abbey ” ” Capt. N. Grellier, M.C., R.A.M.C. Medical Officer.