Bridge Demolition 3rd Battle of the Aisne - Help Needed

[John D-E]

My grandfather Chester Button was a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers at the 3rd Battle of Aisne.  He was in charge of blowing a number of across the river and canal.  He received a Parchment Certificate for "conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty: on the morning on May 27, 1918.  The certificate states: 

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8th Division

Parchment Certificate of Gallant Conduct

And Devotion to Duty awarded by the

General Officer Commanding 8th Division to

 

2nd Lieutenant Chester Button

15th Field Company R.E.

 

Action for which Commended

 

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on 27 May, 1918,

when in charge of a section detailed to blow up bridges on the AISNE

River and Canal.  He carried out his duties in a most successful manner

and himself repaired the fuse of one of the charges when it had been

broken by enemy shellfire.  In spite of heavy rifle and machine gun

fire he blew up all the bridges under his charge, but was soon afterwards

seriously wounded.

 

8th October 1918

 

[signature]

 

Major General

Commanding 8th Division

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He told me that he was shot in the leg as he dived back into the British trenches after fixing the explosives on the bridge that would not blow.  I would really like to locate the bridges that were under his charge.   Given this was 8th Division I have located a map of the "Dispositions of 8th Division -  1 a.m. 27th May, 1918".  This shows the area between Pontavert and east of Berry-au-Bac that was defended by 8th Division.   I therefore presume his bridges were in this zone.  Is there any way of finding out which were in his charge and especially the bridge he exhibited his little piece of bravery?

 

I look forward to any information or assistance for this matter.- thanks.

 

In closing I note that some WW1 history books state that the bridges across the Aisne River and Canal were captured by the Germans before the Brits could blow them.   Not so according to the text of the certificate.

 

 

Edited 22 August , 2019 by John D-E

[charlie2]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

I can‘t help with which bridges your Grandfather was responsible for but I can help to narrow it down. The Official History records that all but one of the bridges in the divisional area were destroyed.

 

Lt Garbutt and No1 Section successfully destroyed the bridges 1, Stone Berry au Bac, 2, 2 bis, 5 river and 4 & 5 canal. Lt Strong with No4 Section, if I have interpreted the attached report correctly, destroyed the bridges on the divisions left. 

 

Part of the report regarding the actions of 15 Fld Coy on the 27th May written by the Company‘s Commanding Officer, Major EC Hillman  MC RE :-

 

Proceeded up the Canal to inspect bridges - was in BERRY AU BAC when the German barrage opened at 1 a.m. Returned to Company H.Q. as quickly as possible. Heavy H.E. and gas shelling along Canal and River. On reaching H.Q. I ordered everything to be packed and preparations made for immediate departure if necessary.

LIEUTENANT GARBUTT and No 1 Section were living in shelters near BERRY AU BAC. Their orders were to blow bridges 1, 2, 2 bis, 5 River and 4, 5 Canal as soon as it became evident that the enemy had broken our front in the vicinity.

Nos. 2, 3 and 4 Sections were living along the Canal bank in shelters as near as possible to the bridges each Section was detailed to destroy.

At Company H.Q. were LIEUTENANTS LARKCOM, BUTTON and STRONG. Immediately on arrival at Company H.Q., I gave Lieuts. LARKCOM and BUTTON written orders to blow the bridges in their sectors as soon as it became evident to them that the enemy were advancing and that the blowing of the bridges was necessary to prevent the enemy from crossing the RIVER. The Canal bridges were to be blown after the River bridges. Lieut. BUTTON end LARKCOM then proceeded to join their Sections.

Lieut. BUTTON later sent me a message asking whether I wanted a squad of men to stay at each bridge-bead or to shelter in the dug-outs. I replied that he must use his discretion; but that if the shelling was not too severe he was to keep men “standing to” on each River bridge. At all costs he was to keep a sharp look-out to prevent the enemy gaining possession of the bridges before he had time to blow them up.

Telephonic communication was broken at about 3 a.m. and I received no message from either division or corps.

At about 4.30 a.m. I received a message from 25th Brigade saying that the Rifle Brigade had reported their right flank had been penetrated by the enemy. Stragglers and wounded coming along the Canal bank informed me that the enemy were advancing rapidly. I sent Lieut. STRONG to join his Section at about 6 a.m. At about 6.15 a.m. Lieut. GARBUTT returned to Company H.Q. with No.1 Section and reported he had blown all the bridges in his Sector (1 Stone BERRY AU BAC 2, 2 bis, 5 River and 4 and 5 Canal. At 6.30 a.m. I sent a message to C.R.E. 8th Division to the effect that the above bridges were demolished and that 2nd Rifle Brigade had reported their right flank penetrated. Lieut. GARBUTT reported that the enemy was being prevented from working up the Canal from BERRY AU BAC by some machine Gunners. I thereupon sent a Sergt-Major up to Nos. 2 and 3 Sections to find out if possible what the situation was and also to convey orders to the effect that these Sections were to hold the Canal bank and prevent the enemy from crossing the River. The Sergt-Major did not return and is believed to have been killed. No. 1 Section I kept at Company H.Q. as reserve if necessary. By this time a number of wounded had passed by Company H.Q. and I realised the whole front had been broken. All stragglers were stopped and preparations made to hold the Canal bank. At about 7 a.m. Lieut. LARKCOM returned to Company H.Q. with a wound in his face. He said the enemy could be seen at CHOLERA and that they were working up the River (North Bank) under cover of the hedges etc. I sent Lieut. LARKCOM to the rear and at the same time sent messages to Nos.2, 3 and 4 Sections to blow all River bridges (7 a.m.). Enemy aeroplanes circling over-head had evidently seen that the Canal bank was held; my force consisting at the time of about 150 men including three Infantry Officers. Machine-gun fire from the North bank of the River from time to time swept the Canal bank without causing casualties as far as I am aware. Shelling had died down by this time and although I could see large numbers of the enemy advancing Westwards our fire effectually prevented the enemy from making any serious attempt to cross the river. About 9 a.m. having received no message from Lieut. STRONG (No. 4 Section) I sent Sergt-Major O’BRIEN down the Canal to investigate and to make sure all the River bridges were demolished. At about 9.30 I heard that the enemy had apparently crossed the River on my left near PONTAVERT and was working up the Canal bank towards me. What had happened to Lieut. STRONG and his Section I do not know. Acting on the information I sent an Officer and about 30 men down the Canal towards PONTAVERT with orders to hold the left flank.

 

 As my Grandfather‘s brother was captured on the 27th while serving with 15 Fld Coy, I would be interested if you have any other details regarding the Company on the 27th.

Charlie

Edited 22 August , 2019 by charlie2

[PJS]

I put this timeline together last year. The times are from the Divisional and R.E. War Diaries. It's interesting to see the timeline of bridges being blown going from right to left as the Germans made their way from top left to bottom right passing through the 25th and 24th Brigades. The bridge at Pontavert was not blown and that was the main crossing point but the Germans had crossed the Aisne at La Pecherie by around 8am I think.

 

 

My Grandfather was captured at Bois de la Miette on May 27, 1918 which is why that is highlighted in the Map.

 

Peter

[John D-E]

Thanks for all the info supplied.  I am afraid that the parchment certificate is all we have to go on. I checked with my sister and she advised that our grandfather had shrapnel in his leg for the duration.  Nothing more at the moment therefore but I imagine that if records still exist regarding his commendation it might shed some more light on matters.   

 

From the text of the report above BUTTON looked after sectors 2 or 3 as the other sectors are notes as to responsibility.  If we assume the names LARKCOM, BUTTON and STRONG were in order of sectors 2, 3, and 4, (STRONG was 4) then BUTTON was 3.  

 

I have attached a few photos.

[PJS]

On 24/08/2019 at 12:23, John D-E said:

Thanks for all the info supplied.  I am afraid that the parchment certificate is all we have to go on. I checked with my sister and she advised that our grandfather had shrapnel in his leg for the duration.  Nothing more at the moment therefore but I imagine that if records still exist regarding his commendation it might shed some more light on matters.   

 

From the text of the report above BUTTON looked after sectors 2 or 3 as the other sectors are notes as to responsibility.  If we assume the names LARKCOM, BUTTON and STRONG were in order of sectors 2, 3, and 4, (STRONG was 4) then BUTTON was 3.  

 

I have attached a few photos.

 

 

 

 

It looks to me that your grandfather was responsible for (at least) the following bridges over the Aisne and the Canal:

 

Aisne Bridges 6, 6 Bis and 7 and possibly also 5 bis and 5 ter (based on reports by Sapper Jordan)
Canal Bridges 7, 7 ter, 7 bis* (based on reports by 2/Cpl Byard)

 

Screenshots below from the war diary of Headquarters Branches and Services General Staff, WO 95/1678/3:

 

 

 

 

As mentioned above, the bridges appear to have been blown generally in a East to West sequence and so I would suggest that 2/Lt. Button was likely wounded blowing Canal Bridge 7 bis.

 

Peter

 

 

[David_Blanchard]

Just found this impressive thread- fantastic photographs!

[John D-E]

Excuse my ignorance but can someone advise regarding the meaning of the suffixes on the bridge names,  i.e. "bis" and "ter"?

I visited the area in September during a Europe trip (live in Canada now) and will post some photos of the area in the next few days.

 

Thanks

[PJS]

3 minutes ago, John D-E said:

Excuse my ignorance but can someone advise regarding the meaning of the suffixes on the bridge names,  i.e. "bis" and "ter"?

I visited the area in September during a Europe trip (live in Canada now) and will post some photos of the area in the next few days.

 

Thanks

 

It's Latin. bis means two/2nd and ter means three/3rd (aka tertiary).

 

Peter