Captain hon Herbert Asquith RFA

[Jerrymurland]

Does anyone know which Battery Herbert Asquith was serving with on 21 March 1918. He was with the battery that near Manchester Redoubt I think.

jerry

[Alan Tucker]

Location correct. There are several pages (439-446) on the defence and retreat to Ham in 'The Asquiths' by Colin Clifford. John Murray. 2002. Lots of of detail. Uses a letter he wrote to his brother Arthur 10.4.18 and Herbert's own memoir 'Moments of Memory' c1937. But no mention of which 18 pounder brigade. They were part of 30th Division to narrow it down and commanded by Major MacFarlane. He had joined this battery in summer 1917 (it had suffered heavy casualties) from another one.

[Jerrymurland]

Thanks Alan - I have 'Moments of Memory' but will look at 'The Asquiths'.

Jerry

[rflory]

From the best I can tell in March 1918 he was serving with one of the batteries of 149th Brigade, RFA in the 30th Division. This is based on the following passages from his book, ˆMoments of Memory":

1. page 278: "Before our advance to the Battle of Arras our own division (the 30th) was in line . . ."

2. page 308: in discussing the events of November and December 1917 he mentions that "Oxley was killed during the last phase when the Germans made a direct hit on our observation post.' The only RFA officer of that surname who was killed was 2nd Lieut. Allan Hayes Oxley of 149th Brigade, RFA who was KIA on 10 Dec 1917. 149th Brigade served with the 30th Division.

3. page 311: in discussing the events of January through March 1918 he states 'I returned from leave in January 1918 and rejoined my battery. . ."

[Jerrymurland]

I think you may be correct, I have just completed a similar exercise - although I thought initially he was in 148 Brigade - Thank you very much for that - I think it is Allan Oxley's death that pins Asquith down to 149 Brigade. Thanks again.

Jerry

[castellane]

From my recollection of 'Moments of Memory' Lieutenant Herbert Asquith was with 'C' battery close to Holnon Wood during the German artillery barrage on 21 March 1918. He describes directing fire onto the German attacking in the area of the Manchester Redoubt later in the day and then much the subsequent retreat from St Quentin to Moreuil. Unfortunately he succumbed to 'flu' sometime around the end of April and was invalided back to England and so wasn't present to describe the Croix de Guerre award ceremony in June.

When I was a small boy I can remember hearing my uncle describing a pill box hit very much like the one described by Dick in his post about 'Moments of Memory'. My uncle was posted to 149th brigade on 29 September 1917 so I think it very likely that this was the incident in which Lieutenant Oxley was killed

Ian

Edited 23 December 2013. I have just read the diary of Noel Mason Macfarlane (IWM London) who was acting Major in March 1918 and probably commanding B Battery. On a number of occasions he mentions Asquith by name - either giving orders or describing him in terms of B battery activity - e.g. manning an O.P. In Moments of Memory Asquith praised Major Macfarlane's abilities during the retreat in March 1918 in finding firing positions for the guns.