10th (Service) Bttn. Queens Regt. (Battersea Bttn.

[PAB]

I think my GGF served in this Bttn. Any details of the service and action this Bttn. saw would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks in anticipation.

Regards,

P.

[HarryBettsMCDCM]

10th{Service} Queens R.W.Surrey Regt.{Battersea}

Raised 3.06.1915,By The Mayor & Borough Of Battersea

Joined 124 th Brigade,41st Division & by Feb 1916 Stanhope Lines,Aldershot.

Landed Le Havre 6th May 1916

November 1917 to Italy

5th March 1918 back to France

11.11.,1918 Tenbosch,Near Nederbrakel,Belgium.124th Bde;41st Divn.

[PAB]

Many thanks. I had been able to gain the basic details from 'The Long, Long Trail' site. I am now hoping to fill the basic facts with actual details of the Unit, it's personnel and the actions and trials they suffered.

Regards,

P.

[stiletto_33853]

10th (Service) Battalion ( Battersea )

124th Brigade, 41st Division.

Arrived Pont-Remy(23/8) and from there marched to billets at Buigny-l'Abbe. Entrained at Longpre for Ribemont(7/9) and from there marched to Dernancourt. To camp 1/2 mile north of Meaulte(9/9), Pommiers redoubt(13/19) and from there to trenches north east side of Delville Wood. Attacked(15/9) - war dairy records 4 lines enemies trenches immediate front assaulted - Flers taken - trenches north east of village occupied. Official History of the Great War notes - leading waves formed up in no mans land before zero hour - little rsistance at first - Switch line captured by 7am Flers trench taken 7.30am. Two enemy counter attacks repulsed(16/9), withdrew to support line on right of Flers road(17/9). To Dernancourt(19/9). Casualties - over 300. Moved forward beginning October - via Pommiers Redoubt to Gird lines. Regimental History by Colonel H.C. Wylly records Battalion under tremendous fire from its front beyond Thilloy Road(4/10). With 21st K.R.R.C. reinforced 26th and 32nd Royal Fusiliers in fornt line after attack on Bayonet trench(7/10) - Official History notes strength of whole brigade less than establishment of a single Battalion. Relieved and to Becordel(10/10). To Buire(13/10). Entrained for Airaines(15/10) and from Longpre to Meteren(18/10).

From Ray Westlakes British Battalions on the Somme

Barry Cuttels 148 days on the Somme will give you more details on this Battalions actions on the Somme.

Andy

[Geoff Reeves]

I just had a look through my "History of The Queen's Royal (West Surrey) Regiment in the Great War", by Col. H.C. Wylly, CB. Chapter 24 is dedicated to the 10th Battalion and runs about 14 pages. The book was published in the early 20's and has been reprinted by the Naval and Military Press. I think they have it listed for GBP22.00.

Just do a search for "Surrey" and you'll find the book:

http://www.naval-military-press.com/FMPro?...ameset.htm&-new

[Chris_Baker]

The Battalion was joined to 124th Infantry Brigade in 41st Division, which turned out to be the last fully equipped Division to move overseas when it moved to France on 6 May 1916.

All units were concentrated between Hazebrouck and Bailleul, and the Division began familiarisation with trench warfare in the areas of Ploegsteert and the Douve valley, south of Ypres, where it remained until 24 August 1916.

The first major engagement fought by the Division was the capture of the village of Flers, on the Somme, on 15 September 1916. This was the first time that tanks were ever used in warfare, and even though they were deployed in small numbers they made a considerable difference and assisted the Division in successfully achieving its objectives. The fine Divisional memorial is on the village green in Flers today.

The Division remained in the line, pushing on to Courcelette over the next few days before coming out for a rest and re-fit.

Between 4 and 10 October the battalion was back in action as the Somme offensive was continued, taking part in an attack on the Le Transloy ridge, once again assisted by the tanks.

A lengthy gap between the Somme and the next major offensive in June 1917 (the Division was not one that was used at Arras in April), allowed for much retraining.

During May 1917, the units of the Division were trained once again in open warfare, in preparation for the possibility of a breakthrough. On 7 June 1917, the British Second Army under Plumer opened what was possibly the best-planned, best-prepared and best-executed attack of the war, when it captured the Messines Ridge, south of Ypres. 41st Division was one of the formations that made the opening attack, capturing all of its objectives near St Eloi.

The British Official History tells the story “The 41st Division assaulted with the Surrey, Kentish, and Royal Fusilier battalions of the 124th and 123rd Brigades. The 124th was to converge on the St Eloi salient after the explosion of a mine at head of the salient. The crater, 50 ft deep and 90 yards in diameter, made the neighbouring mine craters of previous underground fighting in this area appear like shell-holes, and little opposition was met other than that offered by the great concrete blocks of shattered shelters and a broken ground of the crater-field.”

On 31 July 1917, a much larger offensive began, which was to drag on until November and cost a total (both sides) of approaching a million casualties. This immense affair is now called the Third Battle of Ypres, more popularly known as just Passchendaele after one of the objective villages. 41st Division was deployed a number of times during this action: early on, in the Battle of Pilkem on 31 July, the Division attacked across the Comines Canal towards Hollebeke. Advanced units of the Division were attacked by the enemy near Hollebeke on 5 August, but East Surreys and 15th Hampshire Regiment made a determined counter-attack and recaptured their positions. The Division was relieved on 15 August.

The next action was on 20 September 1917, another successful stage of the Passchendaele called the Battle of the Menin Road. Attacking at 5.40am, the Brigade moved through the shattered and flooded woodland south of the road, towards the immensely strong enemy position called Tower Hamlets, west of the village of Gheluvelt. Such were the conditions of the ground and the exhausting nature of fighting under constant shellfire that the Division was relieved again on 23 September after only three days in the line.

Soon afterwards, the Division was selected as one of five British Divisions to be moved to Italy, as part of a reinforcement action taken by the Allies following a disastrous defeat of the Italian Army at Caporetto. They arrived at Mantua on 17 November 1917. The British units held a part of the line on the River Piave. However, the crisis had passed and two Divisions were hurried back to the Western Front in March 1918, the 41st being one of them.

Arriving at Doullens on 9 March, the Division found itself in the midst of a near-catastrophe soon afterwards. The German Army, having been reinforced by many Divisions freed by the end of the fighting on the Eastern Front, made a huge attack against British Fifth and Third Armies on 21 March 1918. The units in the forward positions were soon overwhelmed, and all possible reserves were deployed, often in chaotic conditions. 41st Division was brought into this action near Bapaume, where on 24 March 1918 several of its units lost very heavily.

By the time the enemy attack was finally halted in early April, the Division had suffered some 3,600 casualties. The 41st Division was withdrawn, and sent north to Flanders where it held a sector near Ypres that was, for once, relatively quiet.

By September 1918, the tables had turned against the German Army. In late July and early August, the Allies had launched what soon became an unstoppable sequence of attacks and the enemy was in considerable disorder and retreat in Artois and Picardy. Between 28 September and 2 October 1918, the British Second Army alongside the Belgian Army, attacked and finally broke out of the Ypres Salient. Over the next weeks it pushed on through Courtrai and deep into Belgium. The Division played an important part in the crossing of the River Scheldt on 21 October.

When the Armistice was called on 11 November 1918, the advanced units of the Division were near Grammont on the River Dender.

The Division was selected to be part of the Army of Occupation, in the Cologne Bridgehead. Movement from the Armistice line began within a few days, although demobilisation and reduction in force commenced at much the same time. It was renamed the London Division on 15th March 1919.

Should give you something to go on!

[Chris_Baker]

You might also find the story of Albert Robson interesting.

[PAB]

Many thanks for the information so far. I have already read the account of Lt. Albert Robson with great interest and I shall look out for the History by Col. Wylly. This is all helping to build a fuller picture of his war service.

Regards,

P.

[Guest Russell.Gore@crawley.gov.uk]

38 men of 10 Q.R.W.S. are buried in Bertenacre Cemetery,old vet i knew said they were out on rest under canvas,gerry bomber on night raid spotted a light and bombed them.

[PAB]

Many thanks. Any idea or the rough date when the air attack osccured?

Regards,

P.

[Guest Russell.Gore@crawley.gov.uk]

42 Queens men buried in this cemetery,Air raid took place on the night of 18th of August 1917.

[PAB]

Many thanks once again.

Regards,

P.