Archibald Bolton KRRC 9TH BT

[bolton7403]

I am trying to trace the medals of my relative, they are not with our family, they may have gone down a different line of family as he had 11 siblings.

Also how he earned his MM.

I have information from here as to where and when he died but not on the anything else, did the dead at hospitals get a death certificate as that would give the cause of death.

can any one help please

What medals would he have been entitled to.

Thanks for looking.

Archibald Bolton MM KRRC 9TH BAT 41ST DIV

DIED of wounds 5.4.19 18

[Guest]

There may be people here who can help you with how he won MM.

I take it you have seen his service record on ancestry.co.uk.I have to say you have got much more than most people ever get.You are very lucky.

Not sure if you will find cause of death,is there no mention in his record? i never read it all.

Cheers Mike

[jay dubaya]

Hi bolton7403

Here's a link to his MIC.

And here's a link to his service papers, (search says 22 pages)

Jon

[MBrockway]

I have information from here as to where and when he died but not on the anything else

Bolton,

Can you be a bit more explicit as to what exactly you have already got? The period March/April 1918 saw the virtual anihilation of all three of the 14th Division KRRC battalions (that's 7/KRRC, 8/KRRC and 9/KRRC) in the Kaiserschlacht, and many pages are devoted to this tragic episode in the 1918 KRRC Chronicle - I don't want to transcribe loads of stuff you already have!

Where have you got 41st Division from? 9/KRRC was in 14th (Light) Division. 41st Division did include 18th (Arts & Crafts) Battalion, KRRC and 21st (Yeoman Rifles) Battalion, KRRC though, and returned from winter on the Italian Front in March 1918, at which point 21/KRRC was disbanded (on 16th March 1918) and the riflemen dispersed to other KRRC battalions including 9/KRRC. Are you saying that Archibald had been in 21/KRRC?

Luckily there is an actual mention of Rifleman Bolton in the 9th Battalion War Record in the 1918 KRRC Chronicle. It's for 23rd March:

"Major Lacey took up a line along the Cugny-Flavy Road, ... and made a determined and valuable resistance until obliged to fall back ... He mentioned the Regimental-Sergeant-Major and his two runners, Rifleman Evans and Rifleman Bolton, as having done particularly well."

I suspect this may well be the Military Medal Action. Mentions of Riflemen by name are very rare in the

KRRC Chronicle.

The Roll of Honour section in the 1918 KRRC Chronicle mentions Bolton's MM with a date of 29 Aug 1918. I assume that is the Gazette date since he died of wounds on 5th April 1918, but I haven't found the LG entry yet.

Cheers,

Mark

[stiletto_33853]

Hi Mark,

I think Bolton meant the 41st Brigade

Andy

[MBrockway]

Hi Mark,

I think Bolton meant the 41st Brigade

Andy

Now why didn't I think of that? It is kinda obvious, isn't it

Here's the Gazette entry for his MM:

[source: London Gazette #30873 26 Aug 1918]

Cheers,

Mark

[MBrockway]

What medals would he have been entitled to.

Bolton,

Archibald would have been entitled to the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal and he was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry.

For more detail on these (including pictures) have a look on the Mother site here:

The British campaign medals of 1914-1918

and for the MM:

The British gallantry awards of 1914-1918

Cheers,

Mark

[Esskay]

Bolton - you can order a copy of his death certificate for GBP7.00 from - http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/

It's an overseas death from the series - WAR DEATHS ARMY OTHER RANKS (1914 to1921)

The references you need are

Year 1918

volume I 78

page 387

His service number was shown as Y/341 K.R.R.C and he was shown as a Rifleman (Rfn) - not sure how much of this info you need to include

You may or may not learn much from it - from what I've read on here if he was KIA - that is normally all you get - the concensus seems to be that the further behind the lines a death took place the more information is likely to be on the certificate - but till you order it - you won't know

Good Luck

Sue

[bolton7403]

Bolton,

Can you be a bit more explicit as to what exactly you have already got? The period March/April 1918 saw the virtual anihilation of all three of the 14th Division KRRC battalions (that's 7/KRRC, 8/KRRC and 9/KRRC) in the Kaiserschlacht, and many pages are devoted to this tragic episode in the 1918 KRRC Chronicle - I don't want to transcribe loads of stuff you already have!

Where have you got 41st Division from? 9/KRRC was in 14th (Light) Division. 41st Division did include 18th (Arts & Crafts) Battalion, KRRC and 21st (Yeoman Rifles) Battalion, KRRC though, and returned from winter on the Italian Front in March 1918, at which point 21/KRRC was disbanded (on 16th March 1918) and the riflemen dispersed to other KRRC battalions including 9/KRRC. Are you saying that Archibald had been in 21/KRRC?

Luckily there is an actual mention of Rifleman Bolton in the 9th Battalion War Record in the 1918 KRRC Chronicle. It's for 23rd March:

"Major Lacey took up a line along the Cugny-Flavy Road, ... and made a determined and valuable resistance until obliged to fall back ... He mentioned the Regimental-Sergeant-Major and his two runners, Rifleman Evans and Rifleman Bolton, as having done particularly well."

I suspect this may well be the Military Medal Action. Mentions of Riflemen by name are very rare in the

KRRC Chronicle.

The Roll of Honour section in the 1918 KRRC Chronicle mentions Bolton's MM with a date of 29 Aug 1918. I assume that is the Gazette date since he died of wounds on 5th April 1918, but I haven't found the LG entry yet.

Cheers,

Mark

Many thanks for all the info from every one, I suspect you are right about the division, the letter in his file on ancestry from his brother serving in the same unit says he died of wounds that he recieved in the act that eanned him the MM, and that he was in a hospital around Rouen so that is well behind the line I believe so he could have been wounded on the 23rd but some thing tells me it was later nearer the death date.

Is there is any chance could I find out if his medals have been sold by the family. what would be the best channel.

[bolton7403]

Many thanks to all who replied you have given great advice and some new info, I do not have any more details on where and when he may have been wounded and what his unit were engaged in a the time any info from the chronicles would be of great help. thanks in advance to all who reply.

Regards

M. Bolton

I have just managed to find out from the papers on ancestry he was wounded on the 4/4/18 - died the 5th if this helps narrow anything down.

[MBrockway]

I suspect you are right about the division

Bolton,

All the sources seem to confirm that Archibold was in the 9th Battalion KRRC.

This battalion was in the 42nd Brigade, which in turn was part of the 14th (Light) Division.

41st Brigade was also in this Division and contained the 7th and 8th battalions of the KRRC. We wondered whether this might have been where you got your reference to the 41st Division from, but no matter as we have confirmed he was in 9/KRRC anyway.

I'll try and get the relevant sections of the KRRC Chronicle transcribed for you as soon as I can.

For a broader idea of what happened to the British Army on the first day of the German 1918 Spring Offensive, I can recommend Martin Middlebrook's The Kaiser's Battle - though there are some rather contraversial references to KRRC units surrendering, which other authorities have questioned.

Cheers,

Mark

[MBrockway]

Is there is any chance could I find out if his medals have been sold by the family. what would be the best channel.

Bolton,

Your best chance is to grill your extended family I'm afraid - selling medals is as likely to leave an "audit trail" as selling any other property belonging to Archibold.

You could try making some posts on medal collectors forums, but I think the odds are against you. Perhaps one of the Pals who specialise in medals could advise better?

One final option would be to contact the Regimental Museum - since the set would have included the Military Medal it would have been a little more unusual and they may know its whereabouts. Again, the odds are against you I'd say

Cheers,

Mark

[MBrockway]

I have just managed to find out from the papers on ancestry he was wounded on the 4/4/18 - died the 5th if this helps narrow anything down.

Bolton,

On 4th April 1918, 9th KRRC were in support trenches at Hamel, which is in the Somme sector, in the valley of the River Ancre about 4 miles north of Albert.

They were still severely under-strength from the losses of the previous week and the battalion consisted of 4 officers and 146 other ranks. A battalion would normally be about 800 men.

Of the rest of 42nd Brigade, the 5th Ox & Bucks LI were in the front line ahead with the 9th Rifle Brigade on their left. The whole Brigade came under sustained German artillery bombardment. At about 9 a.m. the 41st Brigade to the right began to retire in confusion. Cavalry was sent forward to try to stop the gap there. Later the 5/OBLI retired through the 9/KRRC and established a new line behind them on the crest of the ridge in front of Vaire.

9/KRRC in turn were shortly afterwards obliged to retire, but the party to the NW of Hamel could not be contacted with these orders. Under bombardment and heavy machine gun fire, a new defensive line was eventually established just behind the 5/OBLI's line on the crest.

By this time the battalion's strength had been whittled down to 57 men.

There's no specific mention of medals or individual acts in this section, but when I get time I'll add it to the section I'm transcribing where Archibold gets his mention on 23rd March - the whole 9th Battalion War Record for 1918 is best read as a complete narrative anyway: it's spine chilling marking as it does, the virtual annihilation of this unit.

You will also find this Topic about a soldier in the same Brigade interesting: Cpl Arthur Osborne MM, 9th Rifle Brigade, died 6 April 1918

Cheers,

Mark

[bolton7403]

Mark, and others, many thanks for your information, the picture is slowly coming together.

again many thanks.

regards M.Bolton

[MBrockway]

Bolton,

Finally finished typing out the 9th Battalion War Record from the 1918 KRRC Chronicle - as I said above, it's best to read the narrative as a whole, so I've typed out the complete section.

You'll see it was an eventful year for the battalion

Here you go ...

9th BATTALION THE KING'S ROYAL RIFLE CORPS - WAR RECORDS

January to August, 1918 (disbanded).

Jan.

At 10.30 p.m. on New Year's Day we entrained for the Somme area. It was a bitterly cold night, and we did not reach our detraining station, Edgehill, until 7.30 a.m. the next day. After a short halt here, we marched to Suzanne, passing through many places familiar to those who had taken part in the operations in that neighbourhood during 1916.

SUZANNE

During our stay at Suzanne we were kept hard at work on progressive training, but in the intervals of leisure and recreation we managed to do a little pot hunting. We won the Divisional Football Cup, playing the 14th Divisional Train in the final, and beating them, after a clean and exciting game, by 1-0. Major- General Sir V. A. Couper, K.C.B., presented a magnificent cup and medals.

On the 20th the Division held the A.R.A. Competition. In this we were not so successful. No.1 Platoon carried off the Brigade Competition, Commanded by 2nd Lieut. J. G. Broadbent. But the Divisional prize for the Inter-Platoon Efficiency Competition was kept in the family, being won by the 7th Battalion.

On the 22nd we commenced our journey south to relieve the French, and, passing through Rosieres, Warsy, reached Berlancourt on the 25th.

In the trenches, BENAY

The next day we went to Montescourt, where the French received us with open arms, and on the night of January 27th- 28th we relieved part of the 413th and 414th French Regiments in the trenches in front of Benay, our Battalion taking over the right sector of the Brigade, with the 43rd Brigade on our right and the 5th K.S.L.I. on our left.

The method of holding the line being by posts in the front line (two companies and two platoons), with the support line (two companies, less one platoon each) as main line of resistance.

The country was entirely bare, all woods and buildings having been destroyed by the Huns in the retreat. The trenches were good and wire plentiful. Artillery on both sides very quiet.

Thanks to the most careful arrangements made by the French, the relief was most successfully carried out. The only incident of note in a dull tour of six days was the arrival of a German deserter in our lines, who said he was a Pole, and professed an undying hatred of the Germans. Doubtless he is now happy amongst them in England.

Feb.

We were relieved on the night 2nd-3rd February, and returned to Montescourt.

We now heard, with the greatest regret, that owing to the formation of three battalion brigades, the 5th Bn. K.S.L.I., who have fought side by side with us on many occasions during the last three years, and have always been most faithful and gallant friends, are being taken out of the Brigade.

February passed with suspicious quietness. The Higher Command in rear were undoubtedly uneasy. Yet, in spite of this, very few of us thought that the Hun offensive would really take any definite shape. Work was continued all the month on the defences around Benay, and progressed rapidly during the fine weather. Little did we think that the results of our labours would be swept away in a few short hours.

We did two tours in the trenches during the month, alternating with the 9th Rifle Brigade. Patrolling was carried out at night with considerable activity. On one occasion a party, under 2nd Lieut. H. D. Toogood, had a brush with a strong enemy patrol near Pendulum Alley, without much result.

Our casualties during February were seven other ranks wounded, and we received reinforcements of 136 other ranks.

March

March 1st found us holding the Bois d'Urvillers sector, where the Huns showed little aggressiveness.

On the same evening the front suddenly flared up. At 8.30 p.m. the Germans opened a barrage on the whole Corps front. S.O.S. signals went up on both flanks and were repeated right through to Divisional Headquarters. There was a moment of intense excitement, for this was the first time the Battalion had ever sent up the S.O.S. Eventually it transpired that the 36th Division, north of us, and the 15th Division, south of us, had been raided by the Germans fairly successfully.

We were relieved on March 2nd, and went back into Brigade support at Montescourt. Here we remained for eight days, furnishing working parties for work on the battle zone. On the 12th we moved to Jussy, into Brigade reserve, and carried out a few days training, returning to the same sector of the front trenches on the 19th.

The tour commenced without any unusual incident.

19th-20th Mar.

At 2.40 p.m., 20th March, the Brigade received the following line: "Battle zone take precautionary action." On receipt of these orders, Captain Griffiths took up D Company from Les Saules dug-outs, where they were in Battalion reserve at Brigade Headquarters, and manned the Lambay Switch. At the time few realized that the Intelligence Department had timed the commencement of the great German offensive to the very hour.

The following graphic account of what actually befell the 9th Bn. on the night of March 20th and morning of March 21st, by Colonel C. Howard Bury, D.S.O., who was in Command at the time, shows clearly the gallant stand that was made and how they were overwhelmed.

21st Mar.

The Great German OFFENSIVE of 1918

BOIS D'URVILLERS SECTOR

The night of March 20th-21st found the 9th Bn. holding the Urvillers Wood sector of the front line, with the 8th Bn. K.R.R. on their left and the Somerset Light Infantry on their right. In support, at Montescourt, were the 5th Oxford and Bucks L.I., with the 9th R.B. in reserve at Jussy. The front, consisting of about 2000 yards, was held by posts, three or four hundred yards apart, with no lateral communication. From the support line communication trenches ran out to each post. C and B Companies were holding the front line, each with two platoons in the front line and two in -support. A Company was holding the three so-called strong points, with one platoon, on the St. Quentin Road. D Company was in reserve, over two miles behind, at Brigade Headquarters, so that the Battalion was very much scattered in small groups over a wide extent of country. The whole system of defence depended, therefore, on accurate rifle and machine-gun fire, coupled with accurate information which would enable the artillery to co-operate and put down a barrage wherever required.

The night was an exceptionally fine one, and at midnight the moon was shining brightly. The Germans had for some time past been keeping very quiet on this front, and during the night the only unusual sign was the constant rumble of their transport, which lasted all through the night. This was reported to our artillery, who opened a harassing fire along the roads and approaches in the German lines.

Everyone had been warned that the Germans would probably make an attack in the early morning, but as the same warning had already been given out on several previous occasions, no especial anxiety was felt. This time, however, the information proved to be correct, and at 4.30 a.m. a heavy bombardment opened all along the line, and extended to the north and south as far as the eye could reach. The darkness at the time was intense, as a thick fog had rolled up since midnight, and it was impossible to see a yard in any direction. A great number of guns must have been used during the bombardment, as shells appeared to be falling everywhere, with a great many passing overhead on their way to the batteries behind. The majority of the shells at first appeared to be gas shells, and the air rapidly became impossible to breathe without respirators. By the time the bombardment had lasted two hours every telephone line from Battalion Headquarters had been broken. At the start Battalion Headquarters were in touch with the battalions on their right and left, with all the Companies and with Brigade Headquarters; but in this weakly-held sector, where communications and early accurate information were of the most vital importance, no attempt whatever had been made to bury any of the telephone lines.

When the Battalion were supposed to be out resting, instead of being able to train the men they were all taken for working parties, digging new strong points or new trenches, which were overrun by the Germans in the first few hours, owing to there being no men to hold them for want of accurate information. The bombardment equally broke the telephone lines between Brigade and Divisional Headquarters, owing to their being laid on the surface of the ground instead of being buried.

At 9.30 a.m. the hostile barrage gradually moved backwards until it rested behind us. The fog was still as dense as ever, and it was impossible to see five yards in any direction, so that our visual signalling, S.O.S. rockets or pigeons, were quite useless.

At 10 a.m. a runner came from C Company to say that the enemy had come over in the fog and were already on the Pechine Line (our main line of resistance in the outpost line). Immediately afterwards a runner from A Company came in to say that the Company Commander, Captain Singlehurst, had been killed, and that the Germans had reached the St. Quentin Road.

This information was sent off by power buzzer and by runner immediately to Brigade Headquarters, but it is doubtful whether either message reached its destination.

Shortly afterwards Rfn. Blackwell dashed out into the fog and returned with a German officer, who, when asked what he was doing there, said that he was looking for his men, who had gone on ahead. On looking at his maps, I found that his objectives were places five and six miles behind us. The maps were at once sent off to Brigade Headquarters, but never reached their destination, as the Germans were already far behind us. The officer also told me that their Divisional front for the attack was two kilometres, and that they were attacking on this front with three divisions in depth, news which was not very cheerful for us. Several small parties of Germans stumbled on to our trench in the fog, but were quickly driven away again.

About midday the fog began to lift, and it was possible to gain some idea of what had happened. Most. of our scattered posts had by this time been surrounded and mopped up one by one. Germans were to be seen everywhere: parties of them were to be seen hurrying along the St. Quentin Road, and to the south they were seen bringing up their artillery on to the ridge behind us. Our Lewis guns for a while had the time of their lives, and caused much confusion and delay to their artillery.

At 1 p.m. we fired off rockets to shew that we were still holding out, and had also sent a pigeon message saying that we were hard pressed, as the Boches had got into both ends of our trench and were trying to bomb us out. In this they were not successful, as Lieut. Mackie at one end and Lieut. White at the other end, with a few men, managed to keep them at bay.

The only effect of the rockets was to attract the attention of more Boches, who thereupon brought up an sorts of engines of war against us, flammenwerfer, trench mortars and machine guns. The flammenwerfer were soon put out of action by rifle grenades, which were also very useful in searching out the dead ground, of which there was only too much around us, where the Germans were collecting preparatory to charging. The hostile machine guns proved much more troublesome, as they completely enfiladed our trench.

By this time more than half the small garrison were casualties, and the Lewis guns, which had done excellent work, refused to fire more than single shots. All this time the Germans had been collecting in large numbers, and just before 4 p.m. quite five hundred of them rushed in on us suddenly from all sides, and it was all over.

As a minor tactical operation, it was very well done, and they told me afterwards that they had had some months training in this type of warfare.

Their signalling and staff work appeared to be very good: their staff officers were well up in the front, and when taken to their Brigade Headquarters we found it already established behind us on the way to our old Brigade Headquarters.

The second division that was attacking on our Battalion front were the ones that finally mopped us up, and our captors proved to be Bavarians. They could not believe that only one Battalion was holding this front, and kept enquiring why we had already withdrawn our troops and guns.

Of the Battalions in our Brigade that were in support and reserve we never saw a sign.

(Colonel Howard Bury's narrative ends at this point.)

By the evening of March 21st the Battalion had apparently ceased to exist; a few stragglers were colIected, however, at Petit Detroit on the morning of the 22nd, under Sergt. Beresford, of B Company, and attached to the 9th Battalion, Rifle Brigade.

22nd Mar.

On the night of the 22nd, Major Lacey reported at the 42nd Brigade Headquarters; he had with him some 400 details, amongst whom were included a few men of the 9th Battalion. His instructions were to cover the arrival of reinforcements who were coming to occupy the line Ugny-le-Gay–Cugny, or in the event of a break through from the north to hold the Cugny–Flavy line.

23rd Mar.

By the morning (7.30 a.m.) of the 23rd the position was again very serious, the enemy having forced a crossing of the Crozat Canal between St. Simon and Jussy. Major Lacey took up a line along the Cugny–Flavy Road, with his right on Flavy Station, and made a very determined and valuable resistance until obliged to fall back to conform on to a line round Riez de Cugny in the late afternoon of the 23rd. During the evening he was wounded and evacuated. He mentioned the Regimental- Sergeant-Major and his two runners, Rifleman Evans and Rifleman Bolton, as having done particularly well.

24th Mar.

On 24th March the line was withdrawn from Riez de Cugny and the Brigade collected as far as possible near Guiscard, our details remaining attached to the 9th Rifle Brigade. Those with Major Lacey had not, however, come in when a further retirement to Crisolles, and again the same evening across the Canal to Sermaize, was ordered.

25th Mar.

The morning of March 25th found the Brigade holding the Canal at Sermaize, and the Regimental-Sergeant-Major, with the details who had been with Major Lacey, rejoined here. Captain de Courcy Ireland also arrived, with Colonel Bligh, of the 9th Rifle Brigade.

On the evening of the 25th the Brigade withdrew again to Le Dive Blanc, and later to Thiescourt. .

26th Mar.

The Division, now about 2000 strong, concentrated and marched to Ecuvillon, and later to Elancourt, where it billeted. The Battalion, though still attached to the 9th Rifle Brigade, now began to take the form of a separate Unit again, under the command of Captain de Courcy Ireland. .

On 27th March the Battalion moved to Remy, and on the 28th March, after a long march in pouring rain, to Sarron.

On 29th March we received orders, one minute before the time for departure, to march to Nogent, where we would embus for Vth Army area. We arrived at Nogent at 5 p.m.

30th Mar.

Buses did not arrive till 2.0 a.m. We started on our journey, and, after every lorry containing the Battalion had had at least one breakdown, we reached our destination, Tilloy les Conty, about ten miles from Amiens, at 10.30 a.m.

31st Mar.

The Battalion having had no opportunity of reorganising, at last made great progress, and we were able to form a small platoon in each Company.

Our losses in killed, wounded and missing during these opera- tions were 23 officers, 620 other ranks.

We were not left in peace long to carry out our efforts at reorganisation, but we did succeed in issuing such clothing and equipment as were available, and forming the nucleus of Companies. We had with us now Captains Young and de Courcy Ireland, 2nd Lieuts. P. Gordon, J. Whitehead, and A.J. Elwick- Harrison, and about 130 other ranks. It was sad to reflect that this was all that remained of our fine Battalion.

But there was little enough time for reflection. In the after- noon of April 1st the Brigade moved off, and, after a march to Loeuilly, embused, and reached St. Nicholas, near Boves, on the Somme, two hours later. We found the situation here very indefinite, and no one seemed to know quite where our line ran with any degree of certainty. It was obvious that it was lightly held, as the Division was at once moved forward into support. We, however, remained in Brigade reserve.

In the early morning of April 2nd the Battalion moved up to Brigade Headquarters. Matters seemed wonderfully quiet; there was practically no fighting, and nothing to indicate that the enemy were already in Moreuil, only a few kilometres away.

It appeared later that we were only brought up as a pre-cautionary measure, to await the French, who were to take over the line that afternoon. They duly arrived, and we moved to a place of concentration in Blangy Wood, where we arrived after a long march, tired and very wet, only to find we had the choice of a ploughed field or the Wood in which to bivouac until the morning.

The next day, April 3rd, the Brigade moved into the line again. The Battalion marched into Hamelet, and the line ran in front of that village. The 41st and 42nd Brigades were to take over the line itself, whilst the 43rd Brigade remained in reserve. Of the 42nd Brigade, the Oxford and Bucks L.I. were to hold the line from Hamel east to Bois de Vaire, with the 41st Brigade on their right, the 9th Rifle Brigade on their left, and the 9th K.R.R. in support. Both the Oxford and Bucks L.I. and the Rifle Brigade were largely made up of drafts from the 13th Entrenching Battalion.

After remaining in billets a few hours at Hamelet, the Battalion moved forward to Hamel. We were a sadly attenuated Unit, only consisting of Captain Young, 2nd Lieuts. Cordon, Elwick-Harrison, and Whitehead, and 146 other ranks.

We then took over three support positions from the 11th Hussars, the Battalion being formed into three parties, two just east of the village and the third, under 2nd Lieut. Whitehead, was to the north-west, communication with the latter being very difficult. The two former parties were in small shelters cut under two steep banks. No view of the front was possible even from the top of the banks.

At 5 a.m. on April the 4th, before the relief was complete, the German artillery became very active, which increased to a severe bombardment by 5.30 a.m.

This continued and increased in violence until 9.30 a.m. Casualties were fortunately few, but it was impossible to move about, and communication with Whitehead's party was quite hopeless.

During this period Sergeant Watkinson behaved particularly well, and in fact the example set by all Officers and N.C.O.'s was admirable, and the men were in good heart and quite ready for the attack which was obviously impending.

At about 8.30 a.m. Major Labouchere, Commanding the- 5th Oxford and Bucks L.I., came to our Headquarters and informed us that although he had received no news from the front line, a wounded man had stated that the casualties were not severe and the wire was still in good condition.

Half an hour later the 41st Brigade could be seen retiring in some confusion on the right flank near Bois de Vaire. 2nd Lieut. Gordon did all he could to rally them, but could only check the men in his immediate neighbourhood.

Major Labouchere then went up to the front line, and it was arranged that he should send back word if he required support for the Oxford and Bucks. No message ever came either from him or his Battalion. It was later ascertained that he was severely wounded before he reached his men.

Meanwhile the Battalion remained in its positions ready to move forward, and we saw the cavalry gallop forward to endeavour to restore the situation on the right.

April

We were still in the dark as to what was going on forward, as no forward observation was possible from Battalion Headquarters, and the first indication we received that our line had gone in front, was when the Oxford and Bucks dropped down the bank and made their way in some disorder through our positions. The reason for tbis retirement has never been satisfactorily cleared up. The right flank had admittedly gone and the left flank went shortly afterwards, but the trenches and wire were practically intact; these troops had moreover gallantly withstood a severe bombardment without flinching, and no serious attack having developed the movement was inexplicable. It must, however, be remembered that the men were very tired, and that orders to retire were most certainly given by someone.

The Battalion fortunately was not involved in this retirement and held its ground. Our position was a difficult one; no observation, both flanks gone.

The officers of the Oxford and Bucks L.I. stated they proposed to form a defensive line on the crest behind, some 300 yards in rear. When, therefore, the last of the front line troops had passed through us, and we were coming under machine-gun fire from Hamel, and also from our right flank, orders were given to retire in artillery formation beyond the further crest. No news had come in of Whitehead's party, and no message could be got to him.

The men moved off in good order, but after passing the crest some confusion occurred, and by the time Battalion Headquarters arrived only about thirty other ranks could be collected. Others had to be moved off by various officers who were endeavouring to rally the men, about twenty had become casualties, and there was no sign of the left party. Officers and N.C.O.'s then assisted to rally the men of mixed units, and a line was eventually formed. The Germans then quickly occupied our old positions, but were there checked by our artillery fire, and the new line was not attacked.

BLANGY TRONVILLE

Orders then came from the Divisional Commander that the Battalion was to be collected, taken down to the transport, fed, and rested. Some fifty-seven men were marched to Blangy Tronville, where the details of the Battalion were found.

Ultimately our casualties proved to be 2nd Lieut. Whitehead and 12 other ranks wounded, 20 other ranks missing (believed killed). The latter included C.-S.-M. Stamford and C.-S.-M. Ephgrave, who were probably buried in the original Battalion Headquarters.

It was a bad day for the Division, but the Battalion to a man behaved extremely well, and it is only regretted that they did not have the chance of doing more.

We remained at Blangy Tronville on April 5th, and were glad of the rest and an opportunity to refit. The next day we moved to a reserve position, which the Division occupied in rear of Aubigny.

The Battalion was now reduced to eighty, and on April 7th we got orders to move back across the Somme to St. Fuscien via Longneau.

Here we remained until the 10th, being strengthened by a large leave party under 2nd Lieuts. Pinch and Dilley, and on that day moved to Gamaches. Rumours were now current that the Division was to be broken up, and we received orders to send six officers to the 20th Division, leaving the Battalion with only six to carry on, including the Quartermaster and the Transport Officer. We did not remain long at Gamaches, but proceeded the same day to march to Menasties, thence via Fouquieres and Henoville to Fruges.

By April 12th we had reached a strength of 250, and by dint of great efforts on the part of Capt. G. B. de Courcy Ireland, M.V.O., M.C., who was acting as Adjutant, and with the assistance of the R.-S.-M., we managed to muster quite a creditable parade. The men had turned themselves out well, the band was reorganized, and the normal routine resumed. Things were looking up, and our prospects of rebuilding the Battalion were rosy.

But, alas, our hopes were short lived. The Brigade-Major came over on the 13th and told us of a scheme for the formation of a composite Brigade from the Division. This was to consist of four Battalions-( a ) The 11th King's Liverpools, ( b ) 5th Oxford and Bucks L.I. and The Somersetshire L.I., ( c ) a 60th Battalion, ( d ) a Rifle Brigade Battalion. We were selected to form the nucleus of this new Battalion, and furnished the greater part of the Battalion Staff.

Lieut.-Col. Curling was placed in Command, and on the 14th it was decided, after a conference at Reclinghem with the Adjutants of the 7th and 8th Battalions, that the new amalgamation should take place whilst on the march.

Leaving Reclinghem at 8 a.m. on the 15th, the three Battalions halted at Estrees St. Blanches at 1 p.m., and two hours later the new Battalion moved off, 960 strong, and complete and with every promise of making a fine Battalion.

But this promising state of affairs did not last long, as it was decided on the 27th to reduce the Division to a skeleton formation. Composite Battalions were to be disbanded and the original Battalions left with a training staff of ten officers and fifty-two other ranks, the remainder being sent to the Base.

The lack of men, no doubt, rendered such a step necessary, but it was a tragic end to all our hopes.

The training staffs of the 7th, 8th, and 9th Battalions marched to Crepy on the 28th and on the 29th to Fressin, where the 7th and 8th remained, and we moved to Cavron St. Martin.

2nd. Lieut. J. J. Whitehead was wounded during the month, and twenty other ranks were reported missing, believed killed, twelve other ranks wounded.

May

The nucleus of the Battalion, with Capt. G. B. de Courcy Ireland, M.V.O., M.C., as Adjutant and Capt. W. Palmer, Quartermaster, were now to be employed for purposes of training units of the American Army, and came under the 16th Division.

During May the Officers and N.C.O.'s attended courses at St. Denoeux.

June

We returned to our old billets at Lebiez on June 12th, and on the 17th June the old 14th Light Division left for England, and we ceased to belong to it. The G.O.C. came to wish us "good-bye," and we came under the 34th Division.

On the 19th we moved to Courset, and were affiliated to the 319th American Regiment to start schools for Lewis gun training, bombing, scouting, etc.

We moved to Desvres on the 29th, on the departure of the 34th Division, to be reorganised into a fighting Division, and so came under the 39th Division.

We remained here until August 2nd, when we received our final coup de grace, the Battalion being broken up, and everyone except the C.O. received orders to join the 16th Battalion.

It was some consolation to think that the survivors would still remain Riflemen.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Apologies for any typing errors that I've missed - LOL!

Hope you find this useful!

Cheers,

Mark

[bolton7403]

mark , many many thanks for your time in putting this on here for me, a very sad and interesting at the same time account of the battles of that time of the war.

Would you know on a map where they were on the 4th APRIL when he got wounded.

AGAIN THANKS FOR YOUR HELP

Regards Mark.B

[MBrockway]

Bolton,

On 4th April 1918, 9th KRRC were in support trenches at Hamel, which is in the Somme sector, in the valley of the River Ancre about 4 miles north of Albert.

Cheers,

Mark

Mark,

Ooops - it's a different Hamel!

Having read the War Record more carefully with a map open next to me, 9th KRRC were in fact at Hamel on the southern slope of the Somme Valley about 20km due east of Amiens. It's a little to the east and south of Corbie and about the same distance east, but north, of Villers-Brettoneux.

This is about 20km south of the other Hamel.

The actions on and after 21st March began at Benay about 10km due south of St Quentin then falling back in a roughly SW direction to the line of the Canal du Nord near Noyon, then W and NW towards Amiens. This is all in the Somme Sector.

Cugny and Flavy, where Rfn Bolton gets his individual mention on 23rd March, are about 15km SW of St Quentin.

I'm still looking for a good map for 4th April for you. I've got some good ones of the wrong Hamel - LOL! Meantime if you look up Villers-Brettoneux on Google Maps, then move ~4km NE you should find Hamel.

Cheers,

Mark

[MBrockway]

Mark,

I just found this excellent map on the Mother site from the Official History showing the locations of all the relevant units on 21st March 1918:

It's on the 36th (Ulster) Division page

Cheers,

Mark

[RAMSAY]

Mark,

I know your post concerning the 9th Battn War Record from KRRC 1918 Record was laboriously input in November 2008, but I would like to thank you for this information, as it has succeeded in filling a massive hole in my accumulated knowledge on my Grandfather who was in the 14th Division Signals Company RE. Even after a visit to Kew in 2012 to go through the WAR DIARY I was unclear on his specific link with the Brigades of the 14th Div. My analysis had gone as far as charting the various locations the Signals Company passed through following the rearguard retreat after the 21st March attack.

I extracted the info from the War Diaries and transferred it on to a French road map. Clearly, they were always detached from the Brigades by some distance.

Only today I realised that my Grandfather was promoted to Second Corporal when he won the MM in April 1918. Reported in the Fife Press 25th May and Gazetted in 6th August 1918. Without a citation it was guesswork why he won the award. I always felt it was connected to some event near Aubigny, close to Bois de Vaire and Hamel.

The Long Long Trail outlines the structure of a Signals Company. In civil life he was a linesman with the GPO. Sections 2,3 and 4 of a Signals Company were responsible for communication with the Brigades of the Division. Only these sections included the 2nd-Corporal position within the Telephone section.

Section 1 - communicated with Brigade 1, Section 2 - communicated with Brigade 2, Section 3 - communicated with Brigade 3.

Thanks to your detailed extract I believe that my Grandfather was in the Signals Section supporting 42nd Brigade and when the Oxford and Bucks retired to form a defensive line on the crest behind some 300 yards you relate that there was some confusion, and by the time Battn HQ arrived only about 30 other ranks could be collected. Officers and NCOs then assisted to rally the men of mixed units, and a line was eventually formed. The new line was not attacked.

I'm guessing that my Grandfather's Signals section was by this time in the "thick of it" and this was the place where he won his MM.

I'm still of course not 100% certain, but it would seem to have been an excellent opportunity for a Signaller to display conspicuous bravery.

The great thing is that I have uncovered a hidden piece of WW1 history which I can share with my family.

Many thanks.

Ian

[Jon1906]

Mark, you helped me earlier today with a query about the KRRC, and I'd like to thank you again for the information provided in this thread. Not only did it give me the information typed in (which was great) but it directed me to exactly the type of source I wanted: the chronicle. I was able to access the full text to get the narrative of the other battalions as well. Here's the link to the KRRC Chronicle for any future readers of this thread. 

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015062976819;view=1up;seq=310

[MBrockway]

Jonathan - you're very lucky to be able to get access all the way to the KRRC Chronicles via that route.  Those of us in the UK are blocked from doing so by US Copyright Law, even though UK copyright law gives us legitimate access to the material, which originated in the UK anyway.

 

Extremely ironic and VERY frustrating for KRRC specialists!

 

Are you able to download these KRRC Chronicles as PDFs or similar?

 

Mark

 

 

[Jon1906]

It will let me download pdf files, but only one page at a time. Hathitrust does have the option to download the whole book, but only if you are part of a partner institution, so I had to do it one page at a time. Fortunately the parts covering the 7th, 8th and 9th KRRC weren't too long. (I believe that under US law, anything from 1923 or older can be freely made available online (starting Jan 1st 2019). Next year, it'll be 1924, and so on.)

I got several works via Hathitrust after I first read this story: http://fortune.com/2019/01/02/public-domain-1923/

 

Edited 17 January , 2019 by Jon1906

[MBrockway]

2 minutes ago, Jon1906 said:

It will let me download pdf files, but only one page at a time. Hathitrust does have the option to download the whole book, but only if you are part of a partner institution, so I had to do it one page at a time. Fortunately the parts covering the 7th, 8th and 9th KRRC weren't too long. 

 

When I looked at this first a few years back I tried via an academic guest account hosted by University of Michigan and set up through reciprocal arrangements with my own UK alma mater - it didn't work!

 

I also tried using a VPN set-up which spoofed my location as a US IP Address.  I managed to open the pages, but it was unusably slow.

 

Very vexing!

 

[Jon1906]

I edited my last post while you were replying, adding some new information ... Jan 1st this year changed a few things (for the better!)

[stiletto_33853]

Have no fear Mark, most of the best articles regarding the war come from after the war years. The war records of the battalions are just a précis of the war diaries.

 

Andy

Edited 17 January , 2019 by stiletto_33853