2nd Middlesex at Villers-Bretonneux

[JustinL]

Could anyone please tell me about the actions near Villers-Bretonneux at the end of April 1918?

I am particularly interested in the experiences of the 2nd Middlesex on the 24th April.

Would the war diary give a good account of the action?

Many thanks.

[Borden Battery]

Here is a research document from the Canadian General Staff (1926) regarding the actions of the 1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade and Brutinel's Brigade at and near Villers-Bretonneux in March 1918. This group also made up part of Carey's Force. My late Grandfather was with the Borden Battery, or "C " Battery in this action.

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CHAPTER I.

The FIRST BATTLES of the SOMME, 1918.

When the German Offensive began on the Western front on 21st March, 1918, four batteries of the 1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade were occupied in the construction of machine gun defences on VIMY RIDGE, the remaining battery being in camp at VERDREL.

On the afternoon of the 22nd instructions were received for the brigade to join the Fifth Army which was engaged on the AMIENS-ST. QUENTIN front. Batteries in the forward area were immediately withdrawn and the whole assembled at VERDREL. (Note: The brigade had to be clear of the Canadian Corps area by 6.00 a.m., next morning.) At 5.30 a.m., 23rd the brigade moved off in column as under:-

Headquarters.

"A" Battery.

"B" do.

"C" do.

"D" do.

"E" do.

The complement of each battery was 8 Vickers guns (total of 40); "A" and "B" Batteries were each mounted on four armoured cars - light box cars carried the guns of the remaining batteries.

On reaching AMIENS at 12.45 p.m., orders were issued for the brigade to proceed to VILLERS-BRETTONNEUX where it arrived at 4.00 p.m., same day. The arrival was most timely as the batteries of the brigade were the only available reinforcements the Army Commander (Genl. GOUGH) had at his disposal, and at a conference at Fifth Army Headquarters it was decided to utilize them in filling the most dangerous gaps along the Army front. The same afternoon and evening batteries were despatched to the forward area, viz. "D" and "E" to NESLE; "B" and "C" to CORBIE - "A" was held in reserve at VILLERS-BRETONNEUX.

(It might here be stated that the brigade during the day had travelled over 100 miles; by midnight batteries were in position on a front of 35 miles.)

1. Actions at Somme Crossings and First Battle of Bapaume -

24th - 25th March, 1918.

At 2.00 a.m., (24th) "B" and "C" Batteries received orders to proceed to MARICOURT, but congestion of traffic prevented arrival until 6.00 a.m. Two hours later they were at the junction of the MARICOURT-CLÉRY and CLÉRY-HEM Roads.

Guns were immediately dismounted but there was only time for two guns to be got into action in CLÉRY sur SOMME before the enemy broke through, forcing the infantry to retire. One gun was blown up: the crew of the other had become casualties but the gun was kept in action and got out of the village as the enemy entered it from the North. The guns now took up positions in a shallow trench on both sides of the CLÉRY-MARICOURT Road on high ground in front of Wood East of BOIS de HEM and from there succeeded in stemming the advance. The armoured cars which had been halted on the MARICOURT-CLÉRY Road below the crest of slightly rising ground between BOIS de HEM and CLÉRY were taken back a short distance to a bend in the road to escape heavy hostile shelling. Reinforcements began to arrive at 11.30 a.m., but a subsequent withdrawal of the batteries to a trench some fifty yards in the rear caused several casualties. By 5.00 p.m., only two guns were left in action and these were manned by one Officer, one N.C.O., and two other ranks. Two powerful attacks North and South of CLÉRY again forced a retirement; the two machine guns, however, remained in action until practically surrounded and heavy casualties were inflicted on the enemy.

Four guns of "E" Battery were in action at HOMBLEUX at 11.30 a.m., and all day engaged the enemy causing him severe casualties. The other guns were held in reserve at NESLE.

It was the intention to launch a counter-attack at about 11.00 a.m., against the village of BÉTHENCOURT in which "D" Battery was to co-operate; the enemy, however, forestalled us by an assault. The battery was therefore hastily deployed and took up position one and half miles W. of BÉTHENCOURT, coming into action at noon. The guns covered the withdrawal of the infantry, who were fighting a rearguard action while daylight lasted, and only when outflanked did the guns retire; at dusk they were in position half a mile N.W. of NESLE. Our troops sadly lacked the help that could have been rendered had machine guns been more plentiful, and it was asserted that Canadian machine guns were the only ones in action on this front during the day.

It having been reported that the enemy was endevouring to cross the SOMME between ST. CHRIST and FALVY, "A" Battery was sent forward from VILLERS-BRETONNEUX (AT 1.00 P.M.,) to MARCHÉLEPOT with a view to filling a gap S. of ST. CHRIST-BRIOST. At 5.30 p.m., the cars proceeded via LICOURT to CIZANCOURT where the detachment turned south along the road by the SOMME Canal towards EPÉNANCOURT, one car coming in contact with the enemy at road junction N. of the village. Fire was opened up and many of enemy killed or wounded - the remainder scattered. Hand grenades were used by the enemy against the car but without effect. Parties of the enemy across the canal were engaged, and EPÉNANCOURT and fields near the village were searched with machine gun fire for three hours. The night was spent by "A" Battery in MARCHÉLEPOT.

The four guns of "E" Battery which went into action at HOMBLEUX slowly retired against heavy odds; in the evening they were withdrawn to ROYE. (The enemy in his advance on this front reached CRESSY.) These guns were later pushed forward to reinforce "D" in the vicinity of NESLE: - seven guns of this battery had become detached and involved with the French, and not until late in the evening were they able to withdraw to HYENCOURT-le-PETIT.

The French relieved "D" and four guns of "E"; these went into reserve at le QUESNEL.

About noon on the 25th when an attack appeared to be developing against VILLERS-CARBONNEL "A" Battery - which was operating around ST. CHRIST-BRIOST - was hastily despatched to that locality with a view of checking the advance. The armoured cars got as near as they could to the enemy and, while backing, poured a heavy fire into his massed formations. One car was captured by the enemy, all the crew having become casualties. Later, the remaining cars were withdrawn to HEBÉCOURT to reorganize.

2. Battle of Rosières - 26th - 27th March, 1918.

On the 26th (about 11.00 a.m.,) it was reported that the enemy had broken through and was advancing without opposition on ROUVROY, and it was known that hostile cavalry was working West along the valley of the AVRE, threatening HANGEST-en-SANTÉRRE. "D" and "E" were therefore ordered to the vicinity of FOUGUESCOURT. In one and a half hours guns of the batteries were in action at HANGEST, ROUVROY and WARVILLERS and the gaps closed, the advancing infantry and cavalry suffering heavily. Fighting continued all day with varying success, - the guns, however, maintained their original positions. ROUVROY was still in our possession at nightfall.

"B" and "C" Batteries were reorganizing in HEBÉCOURT and kept in readiness to operate on roads West of LAMOTTE; although the armoured cars of "B" were badly damaged and riddled with bullets they were still able to go into action.

It have been reported that hostile cavalry was massing near VILLERS-CARBONNEL, "A" Battery in VILLERS-BRETONNEUX was ordered to 'stand by".

Two furious attacks upon ROUVROY on the 27th compelled our infantry to vacate the town about mid-day. "D" and "E" Batteries, still in action East of ROUVROY, became isolated and, when outflanked, withdrew in the direction of WARVILERS keeping up a heavy harassing fire while doing so, and twice during the afternoon the advance of the enemy was brought to a standstill. Casualties had been heavy during the retirement, but the timely arrival of reinforcements obviated the necessity of withdrawing the guns.

A further advance by the enemy along the AMIENS-ROYE Road South of BOUCHOIR, meeting with no opposition, called for immediate action. Four guns (from "D" and "E") were therefore at once despatched from VARVILLERS to positions at the cross roads one mile West of BOUCHOIR with orders "to hold the enemy at all costs".

In less than half and hour the guns arrived - by way of le QUESNEL - and succeeded in checking the advance, the gunners having some good shooting as the enemy offered splendid targets for an hour and a half. (The excellent work of this detachment was specially commended.)

In the afternoon "D" Battery was successful in stopping the progress of hostile cavalry advancing on GUERBIGNY and WARSY.

"A" Battery moved from VILLERS-BRETONNEUX to CERISY (six miles East of CORBIE) where it was heavily engaged with the enemy who was attempting to cross the canal; the guns were dismounted from the cars and thousands of rounds were poured into the massed infantry with most satisfactory results. Again, at 1.00 p.m., the enemy was held up at MOURCOURT by two cars of "A". The battery had now been reinforced by "B" and both were used in patrolling the roads CÉRISY-LAMOTTE-on-SANTÉRRE.

One has but to read an aeroplane report for confirmation of the success of the armoured cars. In part this says: "600 huns debouching from CÉRISY S.W. towards WARFUSÉE-ABANCOURT. Huns are being held up by armoured cars at cross roads W. of CÉRISY."

This day "C" Battery was in reserve at HEBÉCOURT.

The main lines of the enemy's advance now (the 28th) lay between VILLERS-BRETONNEUX and CAIX, and between LAMOTTE-en-SANTÉRRE and HAMEL; the task of checking it was allotted to "A" and "B" Batteries which were operating on the roads in these localities.

"D" and "E" were resting and reorganizing in HEBÉCOURT having been relieved early in the morning by the French.

The situation on the Fifth Army front had by this time - the 29th - became serious and a last line of organized defence was being held by about 3,000 mixed troops known as "CLAREY'S FORCE". This line was later pierced at HANEL, LAMOTTE-en-SANTÉRRE and MARCELCAVE.

At 1.00 p.m., gaps were ordered to be covered between the SOMME and the LUCE at HAMEL, MARCELCAVE AND AUBERCOURT. Batteries ("D" and "E") which had been resting and refitting at HEBÉCOURT were called upon and despatched to the line at 2.00 p.m., arriving at a rendezvous West of VILLERS-BRETONNEUX at 3.00 p.m. They were augmented by the addition of 16 guns manned by scratch British crews. Having received an outline of the situation from General CAREY guns were disposed of as follows:-

4 to HAMEL.

4 to cross roads one mile South of HAMEL.

10 from cross roads one mile South of HAMEL and MARCELCAVE.

10 from MARCELCAVE to heights North of AUBERCOURT.

These groups were in action by 6.00 p.m. A subsequent report stated that the enemy was expected to cross the river at AUBERCOURT that night. The ten guns on the slopes above ABERCOURT were therefore reinforced by four withdrawn from the cross roads South of HAMEL: these were in position by 9.00 p.m.

"C" Battery was still held in reserve at HEBÉCOURT.

The enemy made the attempt to cross the river at 3.00 a.m., on the 30th when he attacked in force opposite AUBERCOURT. The advance was held up for several hours and proved very costly to the Germans. Failing to make any headway here, the enemy worked in a westerly direction along the south side of the river. With the aid of a despatch rider his movements were watched from the northern bank and, anticipating another endeavor to gain a crossing this time at HANGARD, some guns were quickly got into position on the heights North of HANGARD. At this point also was the enemy denied a crossing. The operations here were carried out in conjunction with the French.

Heavy fighting took place at MARCELCAVE and HAMEL, but our guns everywhere held their ground.

An attack on DOMART on the 31st was held up by "A" and "B" Batteries operating on the AMIENS-ROYE Road, the guns of one car, which had been put out of action after severe fighting, being dismounted and used with telling effect from nearby positions.

The roads East of VILLERS-BRETONNEUX were still being patrolled by cars of "A" and "B" Batteries and many hostile patrols were broken up, thus effectively checking the enemy.

Although heavily engaged all day the guns of "D" and "E" Batteries maintained their positions in the vicinity of HANGARD.

That machine guns of the brigade were in the closest touch with the enemy is evidenced by an incident which happened on this date. Under the impression that there were no longer troops nearer than the infantry a thousand yards away, the enemy brought a trench mortar battery into action in the open, but fire from a machine gun placed well forward in a carefully concealed position was opened up at the opportune moment and the personnel of the battery wiped out.

Thirteen guns - three had been destroyed - manned by scratch British crews, and attached to "D" and "E" Batteries since the 29th, were now withdrawn.

"C" Battery, which had been in reserve at HEBÉCOURT, went into the line this evening in relief of "D".

All batteries, with the exception of "D" which was in reserve, were still in action on the 1st April in areas occupied yesterday and, although hostile shelling increased, at no point was the enemy able to advance. In fact this day some ground was gained along the AMIENS-ROYE Road where the 2nd Cavalry Division attacked and RIFLE - or - DODO Wood was cleared by the Canadian Cavalry Brigade.

The 2nd April found batteries located as on the 1st.

The situation on the 3rd was quieter, and the Fifth Army was taken over by the Fourth. Commencement of the relief of the Canadian M.M.G. Brigade was begun by British batteries.

[Borden Battery]

Here is an excerpt from Official History of the Canadian Army in the First World War - Canadian Expeditionary Force, 1914-1919, Colonel G. W. L. Nicholson

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Other Canadian forces to be actively involved in this first German offensive were the

machine-gunners and some railway troops. The 1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun

Brigade had been ordered from its positions at Vimy Ridge to the Fifth Army area on the

second day of the initial battle. It moved without delay to Villers-Bretonneux (ten miles east

of Amiens), whence its five batteries (above, p. 171,n.) were divided among three British

Corps to aid in checking the enemy`s advance and to fill dangerous gaps on the Army

front. The Fifth Army was virtually without support or reserves, and a large proportion of

its artillery and machine-guns had been put out of action or captured. In these

circumstances the arrival of the Canadian batteries with their 40 machine-guns was most

timely aid, particularly as the mobility provided by their eight armoured cars greatly

increased the effectiveness of their fire-power.

An action typical of what the machine-gun units accomplished was that of "C"

(Borden) and "B" Batteries, employed with the 7th Corps behind the Canal du Nord,

north-west of Péronne. Early on the 24th the two batteries went into action about Cléry, on

the north bank of the Somme, and for eight hours played a major role in holding up the

German advance along the Péronne-Albert road. When they fell back that evening,

covering an infantry withdrawal, the two batteries had only two guns left in action - manned

by an officer and a small handful of men. Their casualties for the day numbered 47 all

ranks.

On the night of 25-26 March, when the threat to Amiens was becoming increasingly

serious, General Gough ordered the disused Amiens Defence Line, east of

Villers-Bretonneux, to be put in order and manned by all available troops. To that end a

forcc of some 3000 was raised. Composed mainly of British engineers, it included also

500 American railway troops, 400 officers and men of the 2nd Battalion Canadian Railway

Troops, and a ten-gun battery organized from newly arrived reinforcements for the 1st

Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade. "Carey's Force", so called from the name of the

divisional commander who took over command on the 24th, made a valuable contribution

in establishing and holding its line of resistance until the night of 30-31 March, when

Australian troops relieved it. By that time the number of machine-guns manned by the

Canadians had risen to 32 - their commander having "scraped up another sixteen from

among stragglers and the infantry".46 Although the Amiens Defence Line was never

attacked in strength, the Railway Troops saw some minor action and were subjected to

considerable shellfire.

[CROONAERT]

I am particularly interested in the experiences of the 2nd Middlesex on the 24th April.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Justin.

The next 3 posts cover the 2/Middlesex on this date. (from "Diehards in the Great War" and based heavily on diaries)...

Dave.

1.

[CROONAERT]

2....

[CROONAERT]

...and 3...

[JustinL]

Dave and 'Borden',

After a very busy weekend (son's birthday), I have got around to reading your replies. Thank you both very much indeed. Excellent!

[Simon Furnell]

Hello Justin.

I thought this may help,and is part of the official historyVillers Bretonneux.

All the best.

Simon.

[JustinL]

Simon,

Thanks very much the tip, it's a very detailed interesting account indeed. You might see more posts now.

Cheers,

Justin

[PhilW]

Some really interesting stuff in that reply and quotes from the official war history, especially this bit

"A gap of about fourteen hundred yards from the left of the 2/Devonshire in the Cachy Switch to the 2/East Lancashire, north-west of Villers Bretonneux, had now been formed in the British front, and through this gap the enemy had penetrated into Bois d'Aquenne. His advance had not been sufficient to involve the loss of any artillery, except six guns of the 290th Brigade R.F.A., covering the 58th Divn, and all those of the 291st Siege Battery, which had been pushed forward among the field batteries."

My grandfather (J.A.Watson)was in 291SB and my father has done research on his service. He has established that the guns were in no-mans land for a day until the Germans were pushed back by a counter attack. Major Kurten of 291SB was killed during the initial attack. My father had vague recollections (he was told in the 1930's when a schoolboy) as follows:-

"The story I heard many years ago was that the gun position of which he (JAW)was 2 i/c to "Woody" was left stranded by the retreat of the infantry but they stayed in position and continued to engage the enemy at short range. I cannot remember any details ( I was very young when told the story) but he and Lt. Wood were both recommended for the M.C., and various O.Rs for the M.M. etc. In fact, Lt. Wood got the M.C. and J.A.W. got his Mention in Dispatches. The other M.C. went to an officer at Brigade H.Q. who had merely told them to stay where they were. "Woody" was so incensed he was going to refuse to accept his M.C., but eventually J.A.W. persuaded him otherwise.

Unfortunately there is no separate War Diary for 291 S.B. for this period It is included in 69 Bde R.G.A. War Diary, which only rarely and with very variable standards mentions individuals. However, the fact that J.A.W. took photos of this scene in 1929 and the extract quoted below from 69 Bde War Diary makes it very likely that this is the event for which he received his Mention.

“24 Apr. The Battle opened & all Batts fired on Counter Preparation & SOS lines to defend VILLERS BRETONNEUX. The Batts had been subjected to almost continuous shelling with gas from previous afternoon until early morning when an intense H.E. bombardment from the enemy started at 4.30 am. & continued most of the day. The guns of 291 SB had to be temporary (sic) abandoned & after being in "No Man's" land throughout the day were recovered the next day after the counterattack which took place during the night driving the enemy back 2000 yards. Major P.P. Kurten (291) killed.”

One thing of interest is the photos mentioned. My grandfather went back to the battlefields in 1929. He took photos of where the guns were abandoned 11 years earlier by the Cachy Road near Bois l'Abbe. The fuse tins they had used were still there by the side of the road in 1929! The photos are labelled with the gun positions, the Battery Command post and where JAW was at the time Major Kurten was killed. My father and I made several visits in the 1990's to this site and took photos - good job we did because it has now been obliterated by the new A29 (?) motorway.

For anyone interested I also have photos of 69 Brigade RGA (which 291 SB was part of) and also several photos of the members of 291 SB - names such as Major Parton, Ayton, Johnson, Cyril Batten, Capt Kurten, Mills, Coni, Pascoe, Wood and later (Dec 1918) in Beauval of Poole, Burrell, Parrish, Hill, French, Woodley, Whittaker, Bridle, McKenzie, Duncan, Price and Bentham.

They must have had some time of at this stage because there are also photos of the guns (6in Hows) in Beauval, and of three of them sitting on the ruins of Albert Cathedral. If anyone wants copies of photos please let me know.

Sorry for long post - hope someone might find it of interest - I find it quite interesting that the nearest the Germans got to Amiens in 1918 was my Grandads abandoned gun - though rumour has it that they kept firing as long as possible but the Germans got so close that they couldn't lower the Hows far enough to hit the Germans - hence they fled to the woods!

Incidentally, my grandfather also kept a diary in 1915 -16 when he was in 13th and 76th SBs at Loos and Somme. A basic version is at

http://www.soar100.freeserve.co.uk.

Thanks for excellent website and some intriguing information.

[Guest Simon Bull]

One thing of interest is the photos mentioned. My grandfather went back to the battlefields in 1929. He took photos of where the guns were abandoned 11 years earlier by the Cachy Road near Bois l'Abbe. The fuse tins they had used were still there by the side of the road in 1929! The photos are labelled with the gun positions, the Battery Command post and where JAW was at the time Major Kurten was killed. My father and I made several visits in the 1990's to this site and took photos - good job we did because it has now been obliterated by the new A29 (?) motorway.

Phil

It is something of a long shot, but I would be very interested in the knowing a little more about the contents of the photographs which you refer to. This is because my grandfather was in a Whippet tank which was knocked out in this area on 24 April 1918, following which he was taken prisoner. I have reason to believe that his Whippet tank would have remained on the battlefield for some time. The tank was knocked out at approximately the intersection of a line drawn due south from the centre of Villers Bretonneux with a line drawn due west from Crucifix Corner Cemetery, in the open area between Cachy and Villers Bretonneux. I would be most interested to know if these photographs show any indications of knocked out tanks or the wreckage of tanks.

Forgive me if I'm slow to reply to any posting you make as I am off to Verdun early tomorrow.

[PhilW]

Simon,

Sounds like the tank (wasn't this the first tank v tank engagement?) might have been slightly further east of "grandads guns". The photos I have are of the Cachy-Fouilly Road (1250 yds to the south of the VillersBret-Amiens road, 750 yds north of crossroads in Cachy) where it reaches the plateau on which Cachy is located. One photo looks along the Cachy road towards Cachy, the other looks west at the road. I can't find evidence of tanks, though I do remember my father and I stood there a few years ago discussing whether the large field to the east of this road was where the Whippets had fought.

If you would like copies of the photos, plus ones that we took of the site in the 1990s so that you can check them I would be only to pleased to e-mail them to you. Let me know.

Enjoy your trip to Verdun - an awe inspiring site.

Phil

[Guest Simon Bull]

Thanks Phil - I will reply in more detail by e-mail.