Unknown - The Story of the 6th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry
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Unknown >> The Story of the 6th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry
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.
ARMENTIERES 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 Armentieres, 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 Armentieres 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 Armentieres 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.