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J.D. Hills - The Fifth Leicestershire

J >> J.D. Hills >> The Fifth Leicestershire



[Transcribers note: Many inconsistencies appeared in the original book
and were retained in this version.]



[Illustration: OFFICERS, 1914.]




THE FIFTH LEICESTERSHIRE.

A record of the 1/5th Battalion the Leicestershire Regiment, T.F.,
during the War, 1914-1919.

BY

CAPTAIN J.D. HILLS, M.C., Croix de Guerre.

With an introduction by

LT.-COLONEL C.H. JONES, C.M.G., T.D., Legion d'honneur
(officier).

LOUGHBOROUGH.

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED AT THE ECHO PRESS.

1919.

THE FIFTH LEICESTERSHIRE.

[Illustration]

XVII.

5.




To

COLONEL HIS GRACE DUKE OF RUTLAND, K.G.,

who has watched over us and lived with us
in all our losses and in all our joys,
this book is gratefully dedicated.




PREFACE.


No literary merit is claimed for this book. It is intended to be a diary
of our progress as a Battalion since mobilisation until the signing of
peace, and the return of the Colours to Loughborough. I have written the
first chapter, the remainder, including the maps, has been done by
Captain J.D. Hills.

This is scarcely the place to attempt an estimate of what the members of
our County Territorial Force Association, individually and collectively,
have done for the 5th Leicestershire Regiment. We would merely place
this on record, that there has ever been one keen feeling of brotherhood
uniting us all, from President or Chairman, to the latest joined recruit
or humblest member of the regiment, whether actively engaged on the
battlefield, or just as actively engaged at home. Never has the
Executive Committee failed us. And to Major C.M. Serjeantson, O.B.E., we
would offer a special tribute for his untiring work, wonderful powers of
organisation and grasp of detail, and hearty good fellowship at all
times.

To the men of the regiment we hope that the incidents which we narrate
here will recall great times we spent together, and serve as a framework
on which to weave other stories too numerous for the short space of one
book.

C.H. JONES.

MEADHURST,
UPPINGHAM,

_Sept., 1919._




AUTHOR'S NOTE.


The following narrative is based mainly on the Regimental War Diary. For
the rest, my thanks are due to Lt.-Colonels C.H. Jones, C.M.G., T.D.,
and J. Ll. Griffiths, D.S.O., Major C. Bland, T.D., Captains D.B. Petch,
M.C., J.R. Brooke, M.C., and A.D. Pierrepont, and R.Q.M.S. R. Gorse,
M.S.M., for sending me notes and anecdotes; to Captains G.E. Banwell,
M.C., and C.S. Allen, Corpl. J. Lincoln, and L/Corpl. A.B. Law, for
taking me round the battlefields and explaining the Lens fighting of
1917; to 2nd Lieut. G.H. Griffiths, for supplying me with many of the
battle-field photographs; to all officers, N.C.O.'s and men of the
Battalion who have always been ready to answer my questions and to give
me information; to Major D. Hill, M.C., Brigade Major, for the loan of
his Brigade documents; and lastly to Mr. Deakin of Loughborough, for
undertaking the publication of this book and for giving to it so much
time and personal care.

J.D. HILLS.

16, SOMERSET ST.,
LONDON, W.1.

_Sept., 1919._




CONTENTS.


CHAPTER PAGE.

1. ENGLAND 1

2. EARLY EXPERIENCES 16

3. THE SALIENT 39

4. HOHENZOLLERN 70

5. FLANDERS MUD TO THE MEDITERRANEAN 90

6. THE VIMY RIDGE 106

7. GOMMECOURT 127

8. MONCHY AU BOIS 145

9. GOMMECOURT AGAIN 163

10. LENS 179

11. HILL 65 196

12. ST. ELIE LEFT 206

13. CAMBRIN RIGHT 227

14. GORRE AND ESSARS AT PEACE 253

15. GORRE AND ESSARS AT WAR 267

16. PONTRUET 279

17. CROSSING THE CANAL 298

18. FRESNOY AND RIQUERVAL WOODS 325

19. THE LAST FIGHT 352

20. HOME AGAIN 372


APPENDIX.

I. OFFICERS, FEB., 1915 376

II. HONOURS 377

III. THE CADRE, 1919 379


ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE.

1. OFFICERS, 1914 (Frontispiece).

2. R.S.M.S SMALL AND LOVETT,
R.Q.M.S. GORSE 34

3. YPRES 35

4. HOHENZOLLERN MEMORIAL 50

5. VERMELLES WATER TOWER 51

6. LENS FROM THE AIR 130

7. OFFICERS AT MARQUEFFLES 131

8. RED MILL AND RIAUMONT HILL 146

9. HOHENZOLLERN CRATERS, 1917 147

10. COMPANY HEADQUARTERS, LOISNE, AND
GORRE CANAL 322

11. PONTRUET 323

12. LIEUT. J.C. BARRETT, V.C. 338

13. THE CADRE AT LOUGHBOROUGH 339


MAPS.

PAGE.

1. YPRES DISTRICT 44

2. BETHUNE DISTRICT 82

3. ATTACK ON GOMMECOURT, 1/7/16 130

4. MONCHY DISTRICT 154

5. LENS DISTRICT 190

6. ATTACK ON PONTRUET, 24/9/18 286

7. ADVANCE, 24/9/18 to 11/11/18 314 & 315




CHAPTER 1.

ENGLAND.

4th Aug., 1914. 25th Feb., 1915.


The Territorial Force, founded in 1908, undoubtedly attracted many men
who had not devoted themselves previously to military training,
nevertheless it took its character and tone from men who had seen long
service in the old Volunteer Force. Hence, those who created the
Territorial Force did nothing more than re-organise, and build upon what
already existed. In the 5th Leicestershire Regiment there crossed with
us to France men who had over 30 years' service. At the outbreak of war
in 1914, R.Q.M.S. Stimson could look back on 36 years of service, and,
amongst other accomplishments he spoke French fluently. Other names that
occur to us are Serjt. Heafield, with 28 years, and C.S.M. Hill with 16
years, both of Ashby, and both of whom served in the Volunteer Company
in South Africa. R.S.M. Lovett (27 years), of Loughborough, also wears
the South African medal for service in the same Company. Then there are
Pioneer-Serjt. Clay (27 years' service), C.S.M. Garratt, of Ashby,
C.S.M. Wade, of Melton, R.Q.M.S. Gorse, of Loughborough, Signal-Serjeant
Diggle, of Hinckley--all long service men. The senior N.C.O. in Rutland
was C.S.M. Kernick, who had done 18 years' service when war was
declared.

The infantry of the 46th (North Midland) Division consisted of the
Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, the Lincolnshire and Leicestershire, and
the Staffordshire Brigades. Our brigade, the 138th, was commanded at
first by General A.W. Taylor, who was succeeded a few days before we
left England by General W.R. Clifford. Staff officers changed
frequently, and we hope we did not break the hearts of too many.
Staff-Captain J.E. Viccars survived most of them, and we owe him much
for the able and vigorous assistance he was always ready cheerfully to
give us.

The 5th Leicestershire was a County Battalion, organised in eight
companies, with headquarters respectively at Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Oakham,
Melton Mowbray, Hinckley, Market Harborough, Mountsorrel, Shepshed, and
one at Regimental Headquarters at Loughborough. The companies thus were
much scattered, and it was only at the annual training camps that we met
as a battalion.

The Territorial Force was better prepared for mobilisation than is
generally supposed, and if the history of the assembly of the regiment
at Loughborough in the first week, their train journey to Duffield in
the second week, the purchase of horses, the collection of stores, the
requisitions for food and the sharpening of bayonets, be demanded, it
can be read in the orders printed many months before war even
threatened. The orders were drawn up by Lt.-Colonel G. German, T.D., our
former commanding officer, now D.S.O., and by his conscientious and
indefatigable adjutant, Captain W.G. King Peirce, who was killed early
in the war fighting with his old regiment, the Manchesters. It is due to
these officers to record that every detail was studiously followed and
found exactly correct. We heard of one officer who, at the time the
printed book of orders was issued, was so fearful lest it should fall
into the hands of some indiscreet or improper person, that he packed and
sealed it, addressed it to his executors, and locked it up in a safe, so
that even sudden death on his part would not force him to betray his
trust.

Of all hard-worked people in the early days it is possible that upon
Major R.E. Martin fell the greatest share. Not only did he see that
supplies were forthcoming, and that dealers delivered the
goods expected of them, but he set himself to design water-carts, and
troughs-water-feet-for-the-washing-of, and cunningly to adapt stock
material to the better service and greater comfort of all, many of whom
were for the first time dragged from the civilities and luxuries of home
life.

At Loughborough from the 5th to the 11th of August we did little more
than pull ourselves together generally, and enjoy the good will of the
inhabitants, led by our firm friend, the oft-repeated Mayor, Mr. Mayo,
J.P.

It did not demand much wit to foretell that sooner or later we should be
asked to offer ourselves for service abroad. The question was put for
the first time on the 13th of August, at Duffield. A rough estimate was
made that at least 70 per cent. would consent gladly and without further
thought, and of the others hesitation was caused in many cases because
men wondered whether in view of their positions in civil life they had
the right to answer for themselves. It should be understood that a very
large number were skilled men, and had joined the home army merely
because they thought it a good thing to do. And because they liked it,
and knew it was a good thing to do, they were content to accept humble
places in a force formed for home service and home defence only. Also,
at that stage it was not perfectly certain that everyone would be
wanted, and when the question of war service abroad was raised, and
other men were not serving at all, it is only natural that the thought
passed through some men's minds that the appeal was not for them. We
think that the battalion might be congratulated upon the general spirit
of willingness shown, especially as in the 17th August when the question
was put again more definitely, the percentage of those ready to extend
the terms of service was estimated at 90.

There were other phases of this call for extension of service, too
numerous to detail here; for example, on one occasion we were asked to
get six companies ready at once. This for a time upset everything, for,
as we have said, the original eight companies were taken from different
parts of the county, and there was a strong company comradeship, as well
as a battalion unity; and if six be taken out of eight it means
omissions, amalgamations, grafts, and all sorts of disturbances.

We left Duffield on the 15th of August, and marched to Derby Station.
Our train was timed to start at 11 p.m., and seeing that we arrived at
Luton at 2 p.m. the next day, the rate of motion was about 6 miles an
hour, not too fast for a train. But the truth is we did not start at 11
p.m., but spent hours standing in the cattle yard at Derby, while trucks
and guns were being arranged to fit one another. As that was our first
experience of such delay, the incident was impressed upon our minds, and
it counts one to the number of bars we said our medal should have.

As in Loughborough, so in Luton, our billets were schools. There was one
advantage about the Beech Hill Schools of Luton, namely, that the whole
battalion could assemble in the big room, sit on the floor, and listen
in comfort to words of instruction and advice. But day schools were not
intended for lodging purposes, and here again was displayed Major
Martin's skill in the erection of cookhouses and more wash-tubs and
other domestic essentials. The moment we got settled, however happened
to coincide with the moment at which the education branch of the Town
Council determined that the future of a nation depended upon the
education of her children, and thus it came to pass that on the 28th of
August we moved out of the schools, and entered billets in West Luton.

The long rows of houses were admirably suited to company billets.
Occupiers dismantled the ground floor front and took in three, and
generally four men at various rates. On the 2nd of October a universal
rate of 9d. a day each man was fixed. That made twenty-one shillings a
week towards paying off a rent which would average at the most twelve
shillings. The billets delighted us, and we hope the owners were as
pleased. We thank them and all we met in those billeting times for their
kind forbearance.

The headquarters and billets of senior officers were at Ceylon Hall. The
building was owned by the Baptists, and we found their committee most
willing and obliging. On one occasion they lent us their chapel and
organ for a Sunday service, and set their own service at a time to suit
ours, when churches in the town could not help us.

Altogether we were in Luton just 3 months training for war. To a great
extent the training was on ordinary lines. A routine was followed, and
all routines become dull and wearisome. We had been asked to go abroad,
we had expressed our willingness to go. This willingness grew into a
desire, which at intervals expressed itself in petulant words of
longing--"Are we ever going to France?" The answer was always the same:
"You will go soon enough, and you will stay long enough." This increased
our irritation. Suddenly, on one still and dark November day, parade was
sharply cancelled, we clad ourselves in full marching order, there was
just a moment to scrawl on a postcard a few last words home, tender
words were exchanged with our friends in the billets, and with heavy
tread and in solemn silence we marched forth along the Bedford Road.
There was a pillar box beside the road. It was only the leading
companies that could put the farewell card actually in the box, for it
was quickly crowded out, and in the end the upper portion of the red
pillar was visible standing on a conical pile of postcards.

Never had a field day passed without some reference to the 16th
milestone on the Bedford Road, but on this particular day orders did not
even mention the milestone. This in itself was sufficient to convince us
that real war had at length begun. Long before the 16th milestone was
sighted, we were diverted into a field, our kit was commented upon, and
we marched back to the same old billets. For convenience of reference
this incident is entered in our diary as the march to France along the
Bedford Road, and no bar was awarded. The march formed a crisis in our
history, for subsequent to it leave home was not sought so eagerly.
Positively the last words of farewell had been said, and it was
difficult to devise other forms of good-bye nearer the absolute ultimate
with which to engage our home friends, who, to our credit be it said,
were just as anxious as we were.

It was about this time that our attention was drawn to the anomaly of
the discharge rule. A man who had served for four years could take his
discharge as a time-expired soldier. At the same time men were enlisting
freely. One young man of under 21 was said to have claimed his discharge
on the very day that his grandfather, newly enlisted, entered upon three
days' "C.B." for coming on parade with dirty boots.

It was in Luton, too, that we overcame our distrust and dislike of
vaccination and inoculation against typhoid. We remember C.S.M. Lovett
being inoculated in public to give a lead to others, and we smile now to
think that in those days it was power of character and leadership only
that accomplished things, and incidentally made the way smooth for a
Government's compulsory bill.

We were inspected several times, in fact so often that the clause "We
are respected by everyone," which comes in our regimental ditty--(and
how could it not!!)--was given the alternative rendering "inspected."
Twice his Majesty the King honoured us with a visit, and in addition
General Ian Hamilton, Lord Kitchener, and others.

Regiments differ much; each has its peculiarities. The 5th
Leicestershire a county battalion, if in nothing else, excelled
individually in work across country. Though all may not have been as
clever as "Pat" Collins (G.A.), who acted as guide to the commanding
officer for many months--and we have the commanding officer's permission
to add "counsellor and friend"--there was never any difficulty in
finding the way in the day or at night. If we may anticipate our early
days in France, a few months hence, we can remember being occupied all
one night in extricating parties of men who had lost their way
hopelessly in open country in the dark. Those were men who came from a
city battalion, brought up amongst labelled thoroughfares, street lamps,
and brilliantly-illuminated shop windows. We practised night work at
Luton, and all was easy and natural, though we added to our experiences,
as on the night when in the thrilling silence of a night attack the fair
chestnut bolted with the machine gun; and having kicked two men and lost
his character, reverted to the rank of officer's charger.

On a day in October the whole division had entrenched itself in the
vicinity of Sharpenhoe and Sundon. To enliven the exercise night
manoeuvres were hastily planned. Our share was to march at about 11
p.m., after a hard day and half a tea, and to continue marching through
the most intricate country until five o'clock the next morning. At that
time we were within charging distance of the enemy, and day was
breaking. Filing through a railway arch we wheeled into extended order
and lay down till all were ready. When the advance was ordered, though
we had lain down for two minutes only, the greater number were fast
asleep. Despite this hitch the position was taken, and then a march home
brought the exercise to an end at 8.10 a.m. For this operation we voted
a second bar to our medal.

To those who knew all the details of the plan the most brilliant feature
was the wonderfully accurate leading of our Brigade Major, now
Brigadier-General Aldercron. He led us behind the advanced posts of the
enemy and it was their second line that we attacked.

Many officers were joining us. Since war had been declared, E.G.
Langdale, R.C.L. Mould, C.R. Knighton, S.R. Pullinger, C.H. Wollaston,
G.W. Allen, J.D. Hills, and R. Ward-Jackson had all been added to our
strength. Later came D.B. Petch, R.B. Farrer, and J. Wyndham Tomson, of
whom Petch was straight from school, and he, with the last two named,
served a fortnight in France before being gazetted. Their further
careers can be followed in later chapters with the exception, perhaps,
of Hills, who himself writes those chapters. As his service is a
combination of details, many of which are typical of the young officer
who fought in the early days of the war, for general information we
narrate so much. John David Hills, though not 20, had already seen six
years' service in his school O.T.C., including one year as a Cadet
Officer. He surrendered his Oxford Scholarship and what that might have
meant in order to join up at once. He passed through the battalion from
end to end, occupying at various times every possible place: signalling
officer, intelligence officer, platoon commander, company commander,
adjutant, 2nd in command, and finished up in command of what was called
"the cadre." For some time, too, he was attached to the brigade staff,
and when we add that he excelled in every position separately and
distinctly, and won the admiration and love of all, we may spare him
further embarrassment and let the honours he has won speak for him.

Clothing was a lasting trouble. We were now wearing out our first suits,
and from time to time there confronted us statements that sounded rather
like weather reports, for example--"No trousers to-day; tunics
plentiful." Then the question arose as to whether a man should wear a
vest, and, if so, might he have two, one on the man, the other at the
wash. Patient endurance was rewarded by an answer in the affirmative to
the first part of the question, but the correspondence over the second
portion has only just reached the armistice stage.

And as with men, so with animals. "The waggon and horses" sounds
beautifully complete as well as highly attractive, but in the army we
must not forget to see that harness comes as well. And this thought, the
lack of harness, carries us to another great event in our history, the
end of the Luton days, the march to Ware.

Why was the march to Ware planned exactly like that? It is not in the
hope of getting an answer we ask the question. Waggons and horses and no
harness, and whose fault? Waggons and horses with harness, and carrying
a double load to make up,--no fault, a necessity. Officers away on
leave,--but let us set things down in order. Barely a fortnight after
the march to France along the Bedford Road, on Saturday, the 14th of
November, a proportion of officers and men went on leave as usual till
Monday, and all was calm and still. At 1 a.m. on Monday, orders were
received to move at 7 a.m., complete for Ware, a distance, by the route
set, of 25 to 30 miles,--some say 50 to 100 miles. Official
clear-the-line telegrams were poured out recalling the leave takers.
Waggons were packed--(were they not packed!)--billets were cleared, and
we toed the line at the correct time. For want of harness, the four
cooks' carts and two water carts were left behind; for want of time,
meat was issued raw; for want of orders, no long halt was given at
mid-day. One short and sharp bit of hill on the way was too much for the
horses, and such regimental transport as we had with us had to be
man-handled. This little diversion gave regiments a choice of two
systems, gaps between regiments, or gaps between sections of the same
regiment, and gave spectators, who had come in considerable numbers, a
subject for discussion. But the chief feature of the day was that we
reached Ware that day as complete as we started. We arrived at 7-20 p.m.
except for two Companies who were detached as rear guard to the
Division. The tail end of the Divisional train lost touch and took the
wrong turning, and for this reason the two Companies did not come in
till 11-30 p.m. We understand that the third bar on our medal will be
the march to Ware.

Amongst those who watched us pass near the half-way post we noticed our
neighbour, General Sir A.E. Codrington, then commanding the London
District, who as an experienced soldier knew the difficulties and gave
us, as a regiment, kindly words of praise and encouragement.

We have often wondered what was the verdict of the authorities upon this
march. As this is regimental history only, it may be permitted to give
the regiment's opinion. We fancied we accomplished passing well an
almost impossible task. It is true that not long afterwards we were well
fitted out and sent to France. We are persuaded, too, to add here that
we said we owed one thing at least to our Divisional Commander, General
E. Montagu-Stuart-Wortley; we were the first complete Territorial Force
Division to cross the seas and go into action as a Division against the
Germans. And it may be that the whole Territorial Force owe to our
General, too, that they went in Divisions, and were not sent piecemeal
as some earlier battalions, and dovetailed into the Regular Army, or,
perhaps, even into the New Army. We live in the assurance that the
confidence the Army Council extended to us was not misplaced.

Having rested a day at Ware, we marched to Bishops Stortford, where we
cannot say we were billeted neither can we use again the word rest, for
the town was over-crowded, and queues were formed up to billets; queues
composed of all arms of the service, and infantry did not take the front
place. Let us say we were "stationed" there one week. The week was
enlivened by strange rumour of German air attacks, and large patrols
were kept on the watch at night.

On the 26th of November, the time of our life began when the regiment
marched into billets at Sawbridgeworth. The town was built for one
infantry regiment and no more. The inhabitants were delightful, and we
have heard, indirectly, more than once that they were pleased with us.
We soon learnt to love the town and all it contained, and we dare not
say that our love has grown cold even now. The wedding bells have
already rung for the regiment once at Sawbridgeworth, when Lieut. R.C.L.
Mould married Miss Barrett, and we do not know that they may not ring
again for a similar reason. In Sawbridgeworth, our vigorous adjutant,
Captain W.T. Bromfield, was at his best. Everyone was seized and pulled
up to the last notch of efficiency, pay books were ready in time,
company returns were faultless, deficiency lists complete, saluting was
severer than ever, and echos of heel clicks rattled from the windows in
the street. Best of all were the drums. Daily at Retreat, Drum Sergt.
Skinner would salute the orderly officer, the orderly officer would
salute the senior officer, then all the officers would salute all the
ladies, the crowd would move slowly away, and wheel traffic was
permitted once more in the High Street.

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