11th November 1914

[AndrewThornton]

Extract from the Diary of Lieutenant-Colonel H.R. Davies
2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.

Entry for 11th November 1914:

"At about 10 a.m. we were turned out, as there had been a German attack on 1st Brigade, who were holding the ground a little to the north of the Ypres-Menin road. I was ordered to take the Regiment to Westhoek, and get into touch with the 1st Division, who were bringing up reinforcements on the right.

A certain number of shells were dropping about in different places, but by watching where they were being put, I was able
to avoid them, and we reached Westhoek without loss. Here I got the companies into any cover that was available, and I could see the Northamptonshire (1st Division) advancing, on our right, into the southern part of the wood lying to the south of Westhoek. I also found here Colonel Lushington, commanding a Brigade of artillery, in a dug-out near a shrine just beyond the village. He told me the Germans were in Nonne Bosschen Wood, and that his adjutant had collected some gunners, cooks, etc., armed them with rifles, and put them out facing the Germans in front of us.

A message now came from 5th Brigade that I was to clear the Nonne Bosschen Wood of the enemy, and that the Highland Light Infantry, who were in reserve at the western edge of Polygon Wood, would join in the attack on the trenches captured by the Germans, which extended southwards from the south-west corner of Polygon Wood.

Almost at the same time an order came from the G.O.C., 1st Brigade, that I was to bring the regiment round to the south-east corner of the wood south of Nonne Bosschen, to combine with 1st Division troops in an attack on the captured trenches. These contradictory orders could not both be obeyed, but it was obvious that the Germans must be cleared from Nonne Bosschen, as they were in dangerous proximity to some of our guns and to some French guns. I therefore decide to carry out the 5th Brigade orders, and to send a message to the 1st Brigade to say what I was doing.

I sent "A" and "B" Companies to clear Nonne Bosschen, advancing from the north-west to south-east. This they did most successfully, driving the Germans before them, and killing and capturing a good many. "C" and "D" Companies followed in support. When "A" and "B" Companies came out on the south-eastern edge of the wood they were joined by the Northamptonshire on the right, and by some Connaught Rangers and Sappers on the left. Led by Dillon, they charged the Germans out of the trenches, some of the enemy turning and running when the attack was thirty or forty yards off, and others surrendering. Most of those who ran were shot. The men with whom we had this fight were the Potsdam Guards. They were very fine, big men, but the time we came across them they did not seem to have very much fight in them, as they had been under our artillery fire for some time, and this, no doubt had shaken them considerably.

Our casualties altogether amounted to 27, of whom 5 were killed. Lieutenant C. S. Baines was wounded, and Colour-Sergeant J. Jones ("A" Company) was unfortunately killed, just at the moment when he had been promoted 2nd
Lieutenant, though we did not know it at the time.

There was still another trench held by the Germans in front, and there is no doubt that this would also have to be taken; but unfortunately, the French artillery, not realising that our attack had progressed so quickly, began firing shrapnel into our front line, so that the attack could not get on. It took some time to inform the French artillery, and by then it was dark.

I now collected the whole regiment at two or three houses just east of the south edge of Nonne Bosschen Wood, and I found the 5th Brigade headquarters on the north edge of Polygon Wood. It was then proposed to try and retake the trenches, which the Germans had captured, the idea being to make a flank attack on them from the south-west corner of Polygon Wood. As, however, it was absolutely pitch dark, it was decided to postpone that attack until 1 a.m., when the moon would be well up.

I returned to the Regiment and just as I arrived it came on to pour with rain and hail, but I managed to squeeze all the men into the houses for shelter, though many of us got thoroughly wet before we could get under cover. It cleared up later, and I was trying to snatch a little sleep when, about 11 p.m., the Staff Captain of the 1st Brigade came in, and I went with him to see General Fitzclarence, commanding that brigade, whose headquarters were in a house on the southern edge of the wood south of Nonne Bosschen. From him I learned that he also had orders to attack from the south-west corner of Polygon Wood, at 4 a.m., with the 2nd Grenadiers and Irish Guards (of the 4th Brigade), and the Munster Fusiliers. I then returned to the Regiment."


Account by Captain C. S. Baines
Officer Commanding “B” Company
2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry

“I told my platoon sergeants, having no other officers in the company, what we had to do, and set off. When we topped the ridge we saw a big stretch of open field, with a few khaki figures lying about - whether dead or alive I don’t know. Beyond was a big wood, and looking through my glasses I could see Germans wandering about in it. More were lining the edge and shooting at us. My heart sank and I decided that I at any rate could never reach that wood – and I was not sure that I wanted to. If I became a casualty, Sergeant Hudson would have his chance at leading “B” Company in action, which was his ambition. However, I decided that what had to be done was best done quickly.

We all did a sprint and then lay down and shot at the Germans. Up again and hard as fast as we could, down and shooting, up again and into the wood, sweating in every pore, more from fright than exertion! I do not know how many were hit running across the open, but the men went like hell and shot between times. I believe “C” Company was shooting at the wood from somewhere or other. When we got into the wood, I was bewildered to find so many Germans there. But, thank God, not so bewildered as they seemed to be, as they put up no fight at all. There seemed to be crowds of them – literally crowds – because they were in no sort of formation and were wandering aimlessly about, and most of them put their hands up as soon as they saw us.

I did not know what to do with them all, so passed the word down to send all prisoners to the centre of the wood where I was, on a ridge through the wood. The picture left in my memory is of a few little khaki men making noises like wild animals, very hot and out of breath, shouting and swearing at a mob of the most enormous men in field grey I have ever seen. But the Germans gave no trouble at all, and urged by the bayonets of our men, collected on the ridge. Eventually we detailed one slightly wounded man to escort them all back. I have no idea how many there were or what happened to them.

Starting through the wood, we strung out in a very thin line, two men at intervals of twelve to fifteen yards. Many of the trees had had their tops or branches knocked off by shells, which together with the thick undergrowth made progress difficult. We moved slowly forward like a line of beaters and kept coming on bunches of Germans. Some loosed off their rifles without bothering to take aim, thank goodness, then turned tail and ran. I fired fifty- two rounds through my revolver, and burned my left hand on the barrel in reloading. It is not difficult to understand when I say that the longest range at which I fired at a German was thirty yards and the huge bulk of the average Prussian Guardsman made one easy target, even on the run.

We struggled on, Sergeant Hudson roaring like a bull, and doing great execution with the bayonet. The Bosches kept on breaking cover just in front of me up the ridge and giving me wonderful shooting. Hudson was with me on the ridge and had shots when a bunch came out. But if a single one appeared he invariably shouted, “Your bird, Sir!” I was so excited by this time that the sweat was streaming down my face and pouring off the points of my collar, which, having no tie-pin, was outside my jacket. I was wet through, but I had almost forgotten to be frightened.

About this time we got held up on the left and I took a dive into the undergrowth. I broke through a thick bit and stumbled right on top of a bunch of about thirty Bosches, who promptly put their hands up. By a stroke of luck, out the corner of my eye I saw one German just getting up from the ground a little apart from the rest. He seemed different and as I looked at him he raised his pistol, but I was just before him and shot him dead at about ten yards range. The only effect this had on his men – he was their officer – was that their hands seemed to go a bit higher in the air than normal. They had all dropped their arms. I herded them out on to the ridge to be received by Hudson, who nearly bayoneted the first of them, before he realised the situation.

Having got back on the ridge I found a big bunch of Germans collected there, and was conferring with Hudson what to do with them, when a slightly wounded man came along most conveniently and took charge of the fifty odd hulking Prussians. We went on collecting more Bosches, and left a party of them sitting on the ridge because we had no spare men to send back with them. Hudson kept on looking back at them to see that they were still there, when suddenly I saw him taking a dozen leaps back and he was amongst them with his bayonet, yelling like a madman. I dashed back and he swore he had seen them collecting rifles. My own belief is that they were far too frightened and much too thankful to be out of the fight to wish to arm themselves even if they had had the chance. However, eventually we were able to detail one man to stay with them and collect any others that were sent back. A lot of shells were bursting overhead and the noise was terrific. Suddenly I had a colossal blow on my right side, which sent me reeling. I was furious and turned on Hudson and said: “Who the hell hit me?” I was getting rather stupid with excitement and exertion. He said “You have been hit Sir”, I said “I know that, but who hit me?” He said “You have been wounded”. “Oh” I replied, “I thought somebody had hit me with a stick.” I could not move my arm, it hung useless, so I carried my revolver in my left hand, Hudson telling me all the time I ought to go back. I heard myself saying to Hudson: “I am not going back yet, I am all right”.

So we went on again and I actually forgot my wound for a time. I heard a ghastly noise coming from the right and taking a plunge into some undergrowth I came upon a little man in khaki, cursing and swearing and crying all at once and making the most agonising noises. He was trying to get his bayonet out of a large Bosche. I gathered that the Bosche had surrendered and had then picked up his rifle and tried to shoot his captor, who was so frightened that he shoved his bayonet right into the bony part of the Bosche and then got still more frightened when he found he could not get his bayonet out again. He was simply howling with rage and fright and tugging like a maniac. I told him to leave his bayonet where it was and take the German rifle and bayonet, and pick up another English one when he could find one.

I got back to the ridge again and had some more good shooting, but the shells overhead were damnable and branches of the trees were falling all around us. The artillery seemed to be concentrating on us, but as it was just as bad as in front, we decided to push on. After a bit, I saw the end of the wood and open space beyond. Just as we got to it I received a message from “A” Company commander to say that the French were shelling our line and we were to stay where we were, until he had sent a message back. Just at that moment a big shell landed somewhere behind us and turning round I saw a German officer walk on the ridge. He had a look at me and then ran towards our rear. It was the last shot I had that day – and the best – running at thirty yards and a bull. When we got to the edge of the wood we saw a few Germans disappearing across the open, but when they had gone we could see no sign of life although there seemed to be a lot of bullets flying about and the shells were terrifying. I began to feel sick and then the trees went up in the sky and the sky came don to earth. I found Hudson bending over me and saying in his gentlest tones, “This is no place for you, Sir. I will get the men to line the edge of the wood. They will be all right and I have some nice Bosche to help you. It will be dark before you get back if you do not go now.” I do not remember more. Loss of blood had me rather stupid. I remember walking back along the ridge we had come up, with some Bosches, one of whom was an officer. Another, who talked English fluently, carried my equipment for me. The officer gave me his field glasses with his name and regiment – 1st Battalion, 1st Guards Corps – engraved on them. They were all over 6 ft. 4 ins., and the one carrying my equipment was 6 ft. 7 ins.”

[Bill Tomlinson]

fascinating account Andrew an area on the salient of great intrest to me particularly around that date

Bill

[Geoff Reeves]

Andrew - thanks for posting this. This time frame and area of the Ypres Salient are of great interest to me too.

[Mike Cross]

This day was covered in a feature in the Oxford Mail last week, prepared with help from the OBLI Museum....

"....OBLI.....launched an attack just before 3pm. The troops covered the open ground in a series of short rushes, before dashing into the trees.

They formed a line, like beaters for a pheasant shoot, and pressed forward, coming upon groups of Germans. They shot those who resisted and captured others.

Some tried to flee, but if they were not hit by fire from the Ox & Bucks - Lieutenant Baines fired 52 rounds from his revolver and burned his hand on the barrel because it got so hot - British units on the flanks targeted them as they ran south of the wood.

...the charge through the wood cost the Ox & Bucks five dead and 22 wounded. German casualities were far heavier. More than 700 dead were found in the area the British had recaptured and more bodies could be seen in no man's land."

MC

[armourersergeant]

Thanks for that,

Really interesting articles. Did Baines continue to write throught the war? Also did he survive?

regards

Arm.

[j.r.f]

THANKS

my great uncle was a connaught ranger killed 11/11/14.so i also an most interested.

cheers.

john

[AndrewThornton]

Baines did survive the war, but he was to be wounded twice more, at Richebourg on 16th May 1915, when the 2nd Battalion sustained their heaviest losses since the siege of Badajoz in 1812 when they were the 52nd Light Infantry, and also whilst serving in Russia in 1919. This account was written shortly after the war finished.

6970 Sergeant Tom Hudson – later Company Sergeant Major and awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal - was not to survive. He was killed in action on 25th September 1915 and is buried at Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy. He was remembered as a man who weilded the bayonet and bible with equal ferocity!

[armourersergeant]

I guess that makes Baines one of a rare breed, an officer who surivied not only 1914 but the war.

thanks for the follow up info.

regards

Arm.

[Mike Cross]

(Hope you don't mind the continuation of this 'story')

The Dillon refered to in the extract from the Diary of Lieutenant-Colonel H.R. Davies must be Captain Henry Dillon. From his letters............

"I am gladyou have kept my letters as it is impossible to keep a diary, and if alive I should like to look through them later and write up the gaps ... Just fighting like hell ...

As soon as it was light the Germans opened up with all guns, lots of men were buried in their trenches but were got out and into others, and remarkably little damage was done; but at about 3pm to my horror I saw adjoining battalion retiring. This was the absolute devil as it meant I had to get out and go rushing along and report. They told me to retire and try to stop the Germans getting past a certain road. From then on it was awful; as soon as we left the trenches they opened up on us with every gun and rifle, we got back however, neither of my officers was hit and I got the new position and collected about 150 men. Things looked real nasty as the Germans by this time were pouring through the gap and filling the wood we were in.

Under the circumstances I thought that to do something unexpected might upset their apple-cart, so fixed bayonets and went straight in; we soon came across them and had the finest fight that ever was fought. I make no pretence at liking the ordinary battle, and anybody who says so is a liar; but this was quite different We first came upon fifty of the grey swine, went straight in and annihilated them. We were very quickly into the next lot and in a few minutes we were shooting, bayoneting and annihilating everything we came across..... five holes in my coat as a souvenir..... "

Eventually becoming a Major, Dillon died of influenza in January 1918, and is buried in Spelsbury Oxfordshire.

MC

[AndrewThornton]

The Dillon refered to in the extract from the Diary of Lieutenant-Colonel H.R. Davies must be Captain Henry Dillon. From his letters............

Yes, it is the same man. Harry Dillon was known as "Rabbit" within the 52nd.

[Mike Cross]

Andrew

Thanks for the follow-up about Harry Dillon(why Rabbit?). Some personal stuff now !! I am a little unsure of the Dillon family relationship, but at that time my great-grandad was gamekeeper to Lord Dillon of Ditchley Park (more famous in WW2), as was my grandad after the war. Grandad served with Dillon in OBLI 2nd Batt before being downgraded and moved to the Labour Corps. His brother in the Rifle Brigade died at Ypres 31/7/1917 and the display case that still holds his medals, including DCM, plaque, badges, photo, dog-tag and scroll was made at the behest of Lord Dillon, perhaps acknowledging his own loss along with that of his gamekeeper. Major Henry Dillon and Sjt Alfred Cross are remembered together on the local war memorial.

Mike C