North Staffordshire Regiment 8 Battalion 18/11/1916-19/11/1916

[Ancre1917]

A friend is doing some research on the men on the Fenton (Stoke-on-Trent) war memorial who were killed at Grandcourt on 18-19 November 1916. In particular he wants to track down the the war diary and relevant map to explain the battalion's attack on Grandcourt. Can anyone help on this? Please pm me and I'll give you my email address. Thanks.

Richard

[johnboy]

Have you tried The National Archives site to see if the War Diary is available? If it is you can download it for £3.30.

[woollamc]

As Johnboy suggests, the War Diary is available at the National Archives (here).

Considering that 17 officers and 317 other ranks were killed, missing or wounded, the 1921 Battalion history is remarkably brief. It reads:

"A general ignorance of the situation was apparent from the first, which was characteristic of the whole Somme offensive. Delays, postponements,orders and counter-orders had succeeded in shaking the confidence of all ranks. It was therefore with not a very high standard of enthusiasm that the 57th Brigade took over the line on the night of the 17th November (1916) with a view to attacking Grandecourt on the 18th November at 6 am, at which hour the attack was launched. It must be here mentioned that for the last two days the ground had been hardened by frost, but again became a quagmire on the morning of 18th, owing to a thaw setting in, and to add to the difficulties a blizzard of fine snow made observation impossible for more than a few yards ahead.

The Battalion was commanded by Lt-Colonel Anderson, and Companies by 2nd Lieut. Duffy, Lieut. Mackay, Captain James, and Captain Maughfling.

At "Zero" hour on 18th November the 57th Brigade attacked in line with four Battalions. The two left Battalions advanced well and reached their objectives, but the two right Battalions were not so successful.

This Battalion advanced a long way, but in the darkness and blizzard passed over the enemy's trench system, and the Germans, moving up from their dug-outs, cut off practically the whole of the Battalion.

The Battalion, at the commencement of this operation, consisted of 18 Officers and about 420 other ranks. Only one Officer and about 100 other ranks returned. Captain G P Smith, who had been left behind as a first reinforcement, proceeded to "Stuff Redoubt" to collect and command the remnants, and to arrange for defence until they were relieved.

The total casualty list was 17 Officers, and 317 other ranks: Wounded and prisoners - Lt Col Anderson, Captain G F James, Captain Maughfling. Killed - Lieut F C Mackay, 2nd Lieut P G H Howells. Wounded - Lieut F C Good, Lieut N F Cooke. Missing - Lieut C V Turner, 2nd Lieut A N Duffy, 2nd Lieut S F London, 2nd Lieut H L Gwynne, 2nd Lieut G B Bolton, 2nd Lieut J H Adams, 2nd Lieut W D Henderson, 2nd Lieut A S Hughes, 2nd Lieut E Campbell. Severely wounded and missing - Captain and Adjutant Standbridge, RSM A Wilson.

From the very few names of Officers and men received later as actually prisoners, and from stories told by those who eventually got back home after the Armistice, there is little doubt that the Battalion made a great fight for it before, attacked from the front and rear, they were overwhelmed.

It is much regretted that no further details can be given regarding the missing. In some cases confirmation of death has been received by relatives, in other cases death has been presumed".

C

[Ancre1917]

Thanks for getting back to me with this. I've just posted a request for a map showing the NSR attack. I wonder if the reason for the paucity of the war diary entry and the the lack of detail in the battalion history is down to the fact that the colonel and the adjutant plus the company commanders were either dead or prisoners. A check shows that the following officers were all killed in action: Mackay, Howells, Adams, Duffy, London, Gwynne, Bolton, Henderson, Hughes, Campbell, Standbrige and RSM Wilson. I think that the following were POWs: Turner, James, Anderson and Maughfling. Most of the officers and men killed are in Grandcourt Road cemetery, which I hope to visit in July.

Richard