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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.
PAGE
FOREWORD 7
CHAPTER I.
THE "SALIENT" 9
CHAPTER II.
ARMENTIERES AND THE RETURN TO THE "SALIENT" 20
CHAPTER III.
THE SOMME 25
CHAPTER IV.
ARRAS 35
CHAPTER V.
RETURN TO THE "SALIENT" 41
CHAPTER VI.
THE SOMME, THE LYS AND THE AISNE 45
APPENDICES.
OFFICERS KILLED OR DIED, COMMANDING OFFICERS, DECORATIONS, ETC. 57
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 pave 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 pave, 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 Chateau 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 Chateau 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 Chateau, 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
Chateau 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 Chateau and stables were still
standing, and though C Company were in occupation of the stables, the
Germans held the Chateau, from the windows of which their snipers were
able to give considerable trouble.