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Remembered Today:

The "redoubt" attacked by the Hawke Battalion on 13/11/16


Americal

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Does anyone have detailed information, maps or photos, either from the Great War, or currently, of the unknown prior to the battle, heavily fortified "redoubt" which held up the Hawke Battalion during the Royal Naval Division assault during the Battle of Beaumont Hamel on 13/12/16? The fire from that redoubt virtually destroyed both the Hawke and Drake battalions.

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I cannot recall seeing that redoubt pinpointed on a map. The main firing point was roughly in the German second line of trenches and just right of the dividing line between 189 and 188 Brigades,but it was much more extensive than that implies. It had entrances from the German first, second and thrird line trenches, from No Man's Land and a light railway from Station Road. It was directly in the line of advance of Hawke and Nelson Battalions. It was these two battalions (not Drake) which ran head on into the fire from the redoubt, but Howe and Anson Battalions on the left were alo enfiladed by redoubt fire from their right. Drake Battlaion was futher to the right, towards the River Ancre, following in the tracks of Hood Battalion. Drake (60+) had only half the number of casualties of Nelson (130+)  and Hawke (130+).

Two German oficers and 400 men were captured when the redoubt surrendered the following day.

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The following is a description of the redoubt on capture. It was "...found to be three stories deep and had wire beds and matresses for 300 men. ... It consisted of innumerable small rooms, officers' messes, kitchens and store rooms, all of which were scattered with clothing, food and equipment, all hurriedly abandoned. One room was an aid post and a model of its kind, lined with red canvas, lit by electric light and replete with innumerable splints, bandages, instruments and drugs. Opening out of this was a ward with twelve beds. The officers'mess was lined with tasteful red wallpaper and pictures, a gilt mirrot, mahogany table and comforrtable red plush chairs. There was also a well filled wine cellar and well appointed kitchen.

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Not sure of the exact date of this IWM / WFA photo, but here is the location, showing a position well suited for frontal and enfilade fire.

image.png.c1715382a3bc0a61275787a1f7f9fcc5.png

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The chalk spoil in the immediate area displays the description provided above by Horatio. The first image is dated September 1916 and the second is dated 22nd November 1916.

 

183468514_RedoubtQ17bSeptember1916.jpg.02074075bc5c3acd406b745df0b3762a.jpg

1920945212_RedoubtQ17b22-11-1916.jpg.f269c14bbbb0d1ef26b8928d713f7154.jpg

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A shame that the OP cannot be bothered to respond to any of the threads they have started. There have been several contributions from members none of which have had any form of acknowledgment from americal even though they have revisited this particular thread on at least two occasions since it’s last post.

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11 minutes ago, jay dubaya said:

A shame that the OP cannot be bothered to respond to any of the threads they have started

Not ecxactly a GWF pandemic but, regrettably, @Americalis not the only GWF member who considers even the briefest of acknowledgements, of work done on their behalf, to be beneath his dignity. 

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To All,

My sincere apologies. I am most grateful for all of your replies, they are most helpful. I have no excuse for not replying. The depth and breadth of the knowledge exhibited on this forum is outstanding. Please again accept my apologies to all.

 

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  • 3 weeks later...
On 15/02/2022 at 19:05, horatio2 said:

Two German officers and 400 men were captured when the redoubt surrendered the following day.

The attack on 14 Nov 1916 was supported by two tanks from D Company Heavy Section MGC.   These were not available the previous morning as they had been withdrawn on 12 Nov; the ground being considered impossible for their deployment. 

At 1130 hrs on 13 Sep, six tanks of No 1 Sect (Capt Harold Mortimore) were order to return to their forward base at Auchonvillers; they arrived four hours later, By this time, GOC 63 Div (Maj Gen Cameron Shute) had requested tanks to assist the follow-on attack against the strong point at Q17b 7,4. Two tanks (Lts Harry Drader and Eric Robinson) were allocated to the task with a third (Lt Hugh Bell) in reserve. Zero was at 0600 hours on 14 Nov; first light was at 0624 hours and sunrise at 0659 hours.

The three tanks set off in the early hours of the morning and successfully reached the RV one hour before dawn.  Their guide from there was Lt Allan Campbell RNVR of 63rd Div’s Trench Mortar Battery. Campbell got into the leading tank (Drader’s) which he then directed towards the enemy’s front line. Before they could move, Robinson’s tank was hit and knocked out by a German shell. As it was still dark, and also misty, the shot must have been lucky. Bell’s reserve tank was brought into action and followed Drader towards the objective. Drader’s driver found the planned route across no man’s land difficult and had to drive south to find a suitable place to reach the front line. He was successful and crossed the front line, the crew using their guns to enfilade the trenches 

Having cleared the trenches, Drader’s tank headed for the support trench but became ditched before reaching it. Bell’s tank, which could not cross the German front line, then ditched. However, it was now after first light and both tanks targeted the German position using their 6-pounder guns to good effect. Drader described what happened next thus.

' On opening the front flap [hatch] of the tank and obtaining a better view, it was seen that all the German garrison, some 400 in number, had found something white to wave in token of surrender. The situation was rather an embarrassing one for so small a number as the two crews to deal with. Fortunately, it was possible by signs, and the assistance of the infantry, to mop up these 400 before they realised that both tanks were stuck in the mud.'

Drader’s account is modest compared with the report in D Company’s War Diary which states.

At Zero (6 am) tanks advanced to the attack and at 50 yds range Lt Drader opened fire with 6 pounder guns. The tanks still advanced and crossed the first line of the strong point doing good enfilading work. Simultaneously the enemy hoisted the white flag. The tanks at this moment became ditched and an awkward situation arose, which was handled splendidly by both officers. A machine gunner was detailed to watch for any sign of treachery on the part of the enemy, and the officers and crews then left the tanks and entered the German trenches with loaded revolvers. They coaxed the enemy out of their dug-outs and, after about an hour, the prisoners who numbered over 400 were despatched to rear with an infantry escort. When the adverse conditions as regards ground are reckoned with, this must be considered a very fine performance and all ranks engaged in the operation are to be congratulated’. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by delta
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37 minutes ago, delta said:

Their guide from there was Lt Allan Campbell RNVR of 63rd Div’s Trench Mortar Battery.

An interesting officer, originally serving in Anson Bn, Lt Alan Urquhart CAMPBELL MC* RNVR commanded 188 LTMB of the RND. At Gallipoli in September 1915 he had been appointed in command of the Howitzer Section (Dumezil Group) so would have been one of the few RND officers with mortar experience. For Gallipoli he was MiD and awarded the French Croix de Guerre.

188 LTMB was first formed as 3rd Bde LTMB on 14 June 1916. The re-shaping of the RND brigades in early July 1916 saw the battery re-named, briefly, as 1st Bde LTMB and finally, on 21 July, as 188 LTMB. Lt Campbell would go on to win the MC “for distinguished service in the field” and a Bar, both at the Battle of the Ancre. The Bar citation stated: For conspicuous gallantry in action. He brought his guns into action with good effect. Later, he guided two Tanks to the enemy first line system, and materially assisted in taking over 400 prisoners.”

He commanded 188 LTMB until July 1917 and was then appointed 2i/c Howe Bn. He briefly commanded the Howes in late-1917 and was k.i.a. as 2i/c Howe at Welsh Ridge on 30 December 1917. He and his OC, Cdr Charles S WEST DSO RNVR, were killed together when a shell hit their battalion HQ.

Alan CAMPBELL was the son of the actress Mrs Patrick Campbell (Mrs G Cornwallis-West). He shared with Winston Churchill the pleasure of having George Cornwallis-West (ex-Scots Guards, Lt Col RM and, briefly, the incompetent OC Anson Bn) as a step-father.

Edited by horatio2
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2 hours ago, horatio2 said:Lt Alan Urquhart CAMPBELL MC* RNVR

He briefly commanded the Howes in late-1917 and was k.i.a. as 2i/c Howe at Welsh Ridge on 30 December 1917. He and his OC, Cdr Charles S WEST DSO RNVR, were killed together when a shell hit their battalion HQ.

Alan CAMPBELL was the son of the actress Mrs Patrick Campbell (Mrs G Cornwallis-West). 

Yes, quite a guy! - buried Metz en Couture Communial Cemetery, British Extension. His mother was the actress for whom George Bernard Shaw specifically wrote the part of Eliza Doolittle for in Pygmalion.

MB.

 

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