New CWGC Commemoration

[Terry Denham]

CWGC added the following 'new' WW1 casualty to its Debt of Honour database today – Tuesday 27th January.

Pte Benjamin Herbert GREAVES

3024 8th Bn, The King’s (Liverpool Regiment)

Died 16.06.15 Age 31

Commemorated: Le Touret Memorial, France

NOT FORGOTTEN

Pte GREAVES is a case from the In From the Cold Project. He was killed in action in France.

(Volunteer: Steve Morse)

[Stephen Nulty]

The fighting at Givenchy on 15th and 16th June 1915 was the first time the 1/8th (Irish) Battalion of the King's (Liverpool) Regiment had been in action. They had an exceedingly tough time of it and total casualties for the 15th - 17th June were 232 killed, wounded and missing.

Benjamin's MIC records that he had only arrived in France on 3rd May.

Duly remembered.

[stevem49]

Always remembered

Steve M

[chrisharley9]

May He Rest In Peace

[Will O'Brien]

Raising a glass to the memory of Benjamin & another to Steve to his work on the In From the Cold Project

[Promenade]

BENJAMIN HERBERT GREAVES
Private No. 3024
1/8 Battalion King's (Liverpool) Regt
Liverpool Irish

Please if you use this information I would be grateful if you would acknowledge 'National Museums Liverpool'
Benjamin Herbert Greaves was born in Halifax, Yorkshire on 28/12/83 the son of Walter and Florence Annie Greaves (formerly Ely - they married in Hunslet in 1881). There is a report that he was educated at Oxford although it is not clear whether this is a reference to the University or simply to one of the schools there. His siblings were Alice Irene Greaves b. Leeds 1889 (she later remarried changing her name to Walsh), Harold Leslie Greaves b. Barnsley 1895 and Harry Roland Ely Greaves b. 1887. His brother Harry served with the 5th Battalion King's Own Royal Lancaster Regt during the war as No 3894/241466. He was gassed in July 1917 and died from the effects of his injuries in December 1918; he now lies in a War Grave in Blackpool Cemetery. According to the 1901 Census the family was living at Heanor Notts with Walter Greaves earning a living as a manager of a retail furniture shop with his son Benjamin working for him. It seems that the family moved around a lot and on 6/6/08 Benjamin married Constance Bindle in Liverpool. They had three children:- Charles Walter, b. Liverpool 18/8/09; Leslie Herbert, b. Fylde 14/2/15; and Dorothy Irene, b. Fylde 5/5/11. At the time of the war the Benjamin, who was working as an advertising agent, and his family were living at 19 (later at 33) Woolman Rd Blackpool. On 16 November 1914 Benjamin enlisted in Blackpool as No 3024 in the 8th Battalion King's (Liverpool) Regt [Liverpool Irish] - at the time of his enlistment the 2nd/8th Battalion was stationed in Blackpool. At enlistment he was described as 5' 6" tall, weight 131lbs with good physical development - he was almost 31 years old. After a period of training he crossed to France on 2/5/15 and joined the 1st/8th Battalion in the Field. He was killed in action on 16/6/15 during the engagement known as the Second Action at Givenchy. His widow subsequently remarried changing her name to McIlroy.

War Diary for 1/8 KLR (some parts are difficult to read)
Tuesday 15/6/15
Le Touret - Trenches
Battalion in Brigade reserve for attack.
6:45pm: Orders received to move to support of attack of attacking Battalions. Battalion proceeds to Festubert and there collected tools and RE stores and carried them to the sector of trenches immediately south of La Quinque Rue. Battalion then occupies 5 trenches. Three other Battalions of the Brigade viz 1/4 Kings Own Royal Lancs, 1/4 Loyal North Lancs, 1/6 Scots Rifles being forward attacking ? German trenches. These three Battalions ultimately forced to withdraw from enemy trenches.

Wednesday 16/6/15
Withdrawal complete at 4.00am and this Battalion holds the fire trench. Lieutenant HL Downes the Battalion BMGO (Brigade Machine Gun Officer) is missing.
3pm: Orders received by Commanding Officer at advanced 154th Infantry Brigade to attack the German position east of L8 at 4.45pm.
4pm: Preliminary bombardment by our artillery commences.
Our Infantry attacks launched from front slightly to the north of L8. ‘C’, ‘A’, ‘B’,’D’ Companies in order as mentioned. Artillery fire so accumulating? and this with trench mortars apparently from old German communication trench east of L8. Machine Gun and rifle fire ultimately held up the attack. Although it has pierced the enemy lines.

The following is taken from the Regimental History
The Second Action at Givenchy 15-16/6/15
With the object of gaining ground in the direction of Violaines, the IV Corps, on the 15th and 16th June, attacked the German positions along the Rue d'Ouvert from L. 12, on the north (a point in the German trenches east of Festubert), southwards via Chapelle St. Roch through Points 117 and 115 (both in the German lines) to south of H.2 (just opposite the village of Givenchy). The northern section of the attack was allotted to the 51st Division, the southern section to the 7th Division, whilst H.2 and H.3 were attacked by the Canadian Division, which had orders to form a defensive flank through Points I17, I16 and H.2.
This was the first attack in France made by the 51st Division; it was, therefore, the first in which the 1/8th (Irish) Battalion of the King's Regiment (Liverpool) was involved, and, as will be seen later, these Territorials acquitted themselves bravely in their first ordeal of battle.
The attack of the 51st Division was launched by the 154th Brigade, to which the 1/8th Battalion belonged, the Liverpool Irish (as the 1/8th was called) being brigaded with the 1/4th R. Lancaster Regiment, 1/4th North Lancs. Regiment, and 1/6th Scottish Rifles. The Commanding Officer (Lieut-Colonel Neale) was on sick leave, and the battalion was therefore commanded throughout the operations by Major J. A. C. Johnson.
The brigade attacked the line L.12, L.11, L.13 and K.7 - houses along the Rue d'Ouvert, both protected by a powerful system of trenches. Indeed it is obvious from the trench map that at least one portion of the attack (opposite L.12) had to be made under enfilade fire.
The attack of the 154th Brigade was launched at 6 p.m. on 15th June by the 1/4th North Lancs. on the right and the 1/4th Scottish Rifles on the left; the inner flanks of both Battalions resting on the line of the German communication trench L.8 - L.10, i.e., a trench which ran eastwards from the point of the salient in the enemy's lines. But despite gallant efforts to get on, the attack penetrated only as far as the Rue d'Ouvert, though no permanent lodgement was effected in this part of the line. Strong wire entanglements protected the Rue, and the mass of the attacking troops were unable to break a way through, though small isolated parties, including bombers, got across. They were, however, beaten back by the arrival of German reinforcements.
At 6.45 p.m. the 1/8th King's were ordered up to the front‑line fire trenches. The battalion at this period was in the second‑line works at Le Touret, but on receipt of orders went forward, via Festubert, where tools, R.E. stores such as sand‑bags and wire, were picked up en route to the trenches. When the battalion reached the old British front line the three other battalions of the brigade were attacking the enemy. At 7.45 p.m. the fire and communication trenches were very heavily shelled by the enemy's artillery, and casualties became heavy.
When darkness had fallen the gallant fellows across "No Man's Land" found themselves in a desperate situation. They had no knowledge as to whether their flanks were secure, they were continually assailed with bombs and machine‑gun and rifle‑fire, and as the Brigade Narrative states, "a good many verbal orders were heard which can only be accounted for by supposing them to have been ruses used by the Germans." There were shouts of "This way the King's Own," and every officer or man who went that way was shot. Then there were cries of "Retreat the Loyal North Lancashires" and "The Order is to retire" ‑ all of which could not have been given by British officers.
Finally a retirement did take place and the troops were all back in the old British line by midnight. The attacking troops were then withdrawn to reforming points near Le Touret - the 1/8th King's held the front line, the 1/7th Black Watch holding the support and reserve trenches.
About noon on 16th Brigade Headquarters received orders from the division to launch a fresh attack at 4.45 p.m., and preliminary orders and instructions were issued to the Officer Commanding, 1/8th King's - the battalion having been detailed for the attack.
Major Johnson received these orders at 3 p.m. and there was then not much time left for making the necessary preparations and dispositions, and the fact that his battalion was ready in time reflected considerable credit upon the Commanding Officer. At 4 p.m. the preliminary bombardment began.
The attack was made by the Liverpool Irish in the following order of companies - "C," "A," "B," and "D." They attacked just north of L.8, the point of the salient in the German lines, and they lost heavily.
At 4.45p.m. precisely, and in the face of extremely heavy shell‑fire from the enemy's guns, the leading platoon of "C" Company cleared the parapet and made for the German trenches. It is doubtful whether a single man ever reached the enemy's front line, for the King's men were shot down by rifle and machine‑gun fire almost as soon as they got into "No Man's Land." They went forward most gallantly, though, be it remembered, this was their first attack.
Undaunted by the terrible fate which had already met their comrades, platoon followed platoon, all incurring heavy losses. At 6.44 p.m. the last company ("D") left their trenches and tried to rush across that now ghastly space between the two lines of trenches, where the killed and wounded lay thick upon the ground. Eventually, at about 7 p.m., a small number of men did succeed in penetrating the enemy's line about Z.1 and began to work up the communication trench towards L.io. But unable to maintain themselves in the German lines in the face of fierce attacks, the gallant fellows had to withdraw, and by midnight the survivors of the battalion were back in their own lines.
The 153rd Brigade now took over the line held by the 154th Brigade, and about 4 a.m. on 17th, the weary King's men marched back to the trenches at Le Touret, thence to billets in Pacaut Wood.
Casualties of the 1/8th Battalion during the 15th, 16th and 17th June, totalled 232 all ranks. The officer casualties were Capts. H. M. Finegan and G. Brown killed, Capts. G. Williams and R. P. Keating wounded; Second-Lieut. H. M. Drake wounded and died of wounds on the 16th; Lieut. H. L. Downes, 1/8th King's, Brigade Machine Gun Officer, first reported missing, but later killed.
In his report to Divisional Headquarters the Brigadier said: "I desire to bring to your notice the very creditable way in which battalions of this Brigade acquitted themselves in this, their first engagement with the enemy."
This first action indeed gave promise of that fine fighting spirit which afterwards animated the whole of the 51st Division during its distinguished career in France and Flanders.